Alan awoke gently to the sunlight piercing through the window, bathing the bedroom in a soft golden morning glow. Being a high-powered business executive, it wasn’t often that he was afforded the luxury of such a peaceful, harmonious start to the day. Usually his alarm’s savage buzz pulled him from his slumber to announce the day.

Nurse Joe
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

Just because I am big doesn’t mean I am stupid. In fact, I am pretty smart. I was just a big guy from an early age; big and too strong for all the other kids. That got me into trouble, and trouble kept me away from classes.

With the prosecution case wrapped up, Erica now faces the full might of a raft of expensive lawyers determined to get their powerful and wealthy clients off the hook.

“I’m sorry sir, but I’m not allowed to discuss that,” Sophie said as she poured the passenger his coffee. “Will there be anything else, sir?”

“Non, that will be all,” the middle-aged businessman replied in his refined Parisian accent. Sophie dutifully bobbed a curtsey and dragged her trolley back to the kitchen, where her supervisor was waiting with a sympathetic smile on her face.

“I couldn’t help but hear that, honey,” Annabelle said softly. “You got another one of those questions?”

Another Side of My Life
Chapter 20 (Final)
By Julie D Cole

I aplogise but I decided to edit and bring this story to an end. Seems interest is waning.

I extended this chapter of course.

...................................................................................................................................................

‘So is my invite to breakfast a yes or a no?’

‘It’s a yes thank you.’

The trial starts and Erica gets a precursor of the abusive cross examinations awaiting her.

This story differs slightly from most of my other stories.
a) It's one of the longest stories I have posted here
b) It's more of story/tale than usual
The r rating is for violence, not really graphic and mostly referred to. NO graphic sex

Part 17

I chatted with the guys while Tom did his thing. There was Alan on the piano, Joe on drums, Alec on bass and Chico on guitar. When Tom brought us the discs I found out these guys were called the ‘Four Winds’ and the album we had just cut as play was called ‘Four Winds and a Gayle.’ So shoot me, I didn’t get to name it.

Erica has to 'meet the family'

Summer With Em
By Julie D Cole
Chapter 49

Frankie and I said goodnight and agreed not to say anything to anybody and to stay calm and chat to him again the following day.

Leader of the Pack Part 1

I have to admit that seeing my picture on the front page of the Sunday paper was a shock. For most people it would be a pleasant one, the fifteen minutes of fame that is often promised but hardly ever given. It was not, for me, very good news at all.

The Helper
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

I had not realized how far the house was from the main road until the taxi finally drew up beside it. It was a large house with a veranda on all sides, even larger facing the sea. Mr Golbenkian was waiting for me near the front door. He was seated in his electric wheelchair. I had not met him before then, but his warm brown eyes were as friendly as his voice on the phone.

A retelling, with permission and differences, of C.D. Rudd's classic webcomic SailorSun.org.

Billy Jones, a film student and extra, deals with having been exposed —if that's the word— to some sort of special effect.

George stood in front of the mirror, tucked a stray curl of the long blonde wig behind his ear so he could apply the last of his makeup. His favorite a sparkly lip gloss.

How different this Saturday had been since his one a week ago. Last Saturday morning, he had made the 45-minute drive home from an overnight shift at the home improvement box store where he was a department manager. This Saturday morning had been spent in a hot bath, while he shaved his legs.

Tea with True North

I was planning my next crime when I got a call, from a superhero, of all people.

True North was almost a stereotype of a Canadian - unfailingly polite, but a stickler for law and order.

I was so shocked by what he asked me - to meet him for tea and conversation - that I forgot to be shocked about how he knew my number.

So I said yes, we arranged a time, and he took me to his arctic base.

based on the song "The One" by Brandon Heath

Now there was a distinct down side to folk saying ‘She’s Harriet, Gladys and Pete’s lass. Gladys as has the Dragon at Bearthwaite.

Yippee-ki-yay! αλογάκι!

To help Erica get over the trauma of the prosecution hearings, Susan invites her to a 'posh nosh' at a top class restaurant. There the pair unexpectedly encounter the judges and Hans, the boy Erica fancies but thinks she cannot have because of her HIV condition. The stress of the encounter causes Erica to have a near relapse.