Andrew waits outside the room. After ten minutes or so Alice emerges telling him that Rachel is sleeping, "Mother is going to watch her for a while. Could you come and help me bring my things from my old room?"

 
This is a new occasional series that takes its basis and some of its storyline from the cancelled Tokyopop Manga, Yubisaki Milk Tea by Tomochika Miyano. It’s a great series and well worth looking out, it’s a mystery why they cancelled it. For my version I’ve changed the setting from Japan to England and of course the names, then I’ve added some new characters and situations to produce Jamie and the Peach. The original series was cancelled before completion but I intend to take my version somewhat further!

Dreaming of Cheers Standing Up to Life: Book 3 Part 1 of 23 by Tiffany Shar

Foreword by Carla Ann

The door opened slowly. Inside, the elite Holden Coyotes Dance Squad is busy learning a routine. The girls are smiling despite the sweat and exertion. Two captains in front of the squad appear even more intense. Moving as sisters and leading by example they prod their team, their aim set on State or even National titles, lofty goals for their first year team. Tiny Co-Captain Tiffany Jacobson is entirely in her element and it shows. No one could watch and disagree.

Principal Henry watched, unobserved, as her friend Mandy Holt worked the girls. ‘She’s right, they have the makings of a championship squad.’ She smiled at the irony. ‘It almost didn’t happen.’ Weeks ago factions had allied to prevent Tiffany from trying out. The girl’s family and friends had to take their fight before the school board. Tiffany herself had finally laid matters to rest, courageously facing down her accusers at the meeting. She had merely asked for the same chance as any other girl. Luckily, the Board agreed. ‘Thank God for that. I’d still be trying to fill vacant jobs — certainly Mandy’s.’

She’d never seen a child blossom like Tiffany had this year. From bright, confused, and scared little boy in a world of bullies to this self-aware girl with so much talent; her transformation from pariah to pretty insider was amazing. Her authenticity made her a virtual friend magnet. ‘It’s worth the trouble she’s caused me. She has such great friends… If only her enemies will let her be’. She wondered what struggles and triumphs her small charge would see this school year. A lucky educator is blessed to mentor at least one student in their career whose intelligence, talent, and drive spurs them to great things in adulthood. ‘I wonder if she’ll be one?’

I am sure we all know of at least one, the energetic little old lady who can get you to do almost anything because it is for a good cause and you just can't look her in the eye and say no.

So, Here I Am
by Hilltopper

CHAPTER 7

High School Daze

The fire turned from yellow to blue, then it turned colorless before it turned green and finally black. The heat was so intense that even with Naamah's glyph shield, it felt like I was being scorched from the inside out.

The flames continued to burn for a few more minutes until with a sweep of her hands, it vanished. In its place was a field of scorched earth. "Well, I think we can say for sure that she wasn't there." She dusted off her hands as if a finishing touch.

"If she was there, you would've already turned her into charcoal," Naamah countered. Agrat simply shrugged.

The Cowboy in a Pink Armani Suit

How I wished this truly was a Song I Never Heard. My Mom used to play country music all the time while ironing, and teaching me to iron. Oh my such simple times. And such simple minded songs. This was a favorite, along with other Marty Robbins Songs. Though somehow I don't think this is quite what he had in mind. LOL

Somewhere Between Purgatory And Hell

The world that you know is a cruel one.
It is full of pain and despair and hope.

I listen for that is what I do.
Tell me your tales so that I may forget them.
I will tell you what you want to hear.
Then I will tell you the truth.

The truth shall hurt you as it hurts us all.
Hurt tells us we are alive and whole.
That feeling of euphoria is but an illusion of pixels.
Pixels of fantasies and electronic adrenaline.

Songs I Never Heard: As least I wish I'd never heard this one. The tune's catchy, from the early sixties. When I first heard it, it stuck around for days. None of our campiest sisters could ever be accused of writing or singing this one...