Two former lovers meet on a cold and bittersweet Christmas eve. ­

Inspired by the music, and in memoriam of, Dan Fogelberg.

          Kadyr led them forward. Monyka wanted nothing more than to stand in the middle of the burning blaze. She could faintly feel the warm it was radiating as it was.
          “Oh for all our sakes, Tanner, can’t you see that they are hypothermic?” A stern woman’s voice chastised. “You two get over near this fire, immediately.” She left no room for argument. Monyka stumbled forward and held her hands over the fire.

Linda pouffed our hair and combed our bangs with a big smile. “I love fixing up my little dolls,” she said, her annoyance with my father forgotten. Lastly she attached large fuchsias at the sides of our heads. Prepubescent prom queens from the 1950s. .

TWINS by Marie C.
Part 3. The Party

When I was finally alone, lying in a huge bed in a huge dark room, I felt terrible. It wasn't just the residue of the waxy toy makeup. It was a crippling cosmic guilt like I've never felt before. I don't pray, but that night I slipped out of bed in my Hello Kitty nightgown and got on my knees.
 

Cassie cut in with a question to me. "I was thinking about what you said before. You came here to Tierson without any clothes? Without any at all?"

"Were you naked?" Nina giggled.

"No," I said, blushing yet again. "I had some clothes, and I did bring a big box, but it was all boy clothes."

"WHAT!?" Cassie cried. "Boy clothes?"

This is an absolute first - This chapter is getting posted here first! Don't get in too much of a tiz - Angharad threw down the gauntlet last night so I had to reply in like!. This will be going up on my site with 179 next week so for now consider yourselves spoilt!

Gaby Book 5 - Bits
Chapter *21* Das Má¤dchen
by Maddy Bell

Ms. Tandy held up the doll and asked if anyone knew what it was.

One girl said, "A doll."

The teacher replied, "Come on, if it was that easy, I wouldn't have asked."

"Oh! Oh!" another girl called. "I know! I know!"

It wasn't just that she had me trying clothes on. She insisted that Miranda and I change at the same time, so we could open the curtains together. Miranda's face spoke volumes. I knew she felt pretty much the way I did. She was embarrassed by her mother's manner, but happy she wasn't suffering alone. Neither of us spoke, but it was a bonding experience. Like being in the Army together.
 

I've been thinking of starting a series of single panel comics with this theme for a while now. This is my first in the series and has a Christmas theme. I hope it'll give you a giggle or a smile. Happy holidays, everyone!

{{{warm huggs}}}

Heather Rose :)

Gordon did not know what to think when Dave first walked in with Simon. He had been looking forward to cooling out with the guys after yet another unpleasant week. Working temporary jobs was rarely nice, but he was still unable to find anything else. His times spent with the guys were one of the few ways he got to escape real life, if only for just a few hours.

"Mark, look. This isn't some sitcom on TV. It's real life. It's high school. Kids can be very cruel. You never know — one tiny slip, one little detail could give you away, and it would all be over. Then what would you do? Leave school? Run away?"

Alice asked, "How will you handle tomorrow? What are you going to do? How are you going to explain to everybody?"

They all looked at me, and I looked back at them. A slow smile came to my lips, and Alice said, "No! You're not! You... you can't! You're not going to pretend to be a girl, are you!?"

"Cool," Louis said. "You know, Chapters, sometimes I think my mother likes you better than she does me."

"Really?" I said, and slid my heavy history book into my lap.