A beautiful and mysterious woman, Cindy, inaugurates a competition between Greg and Henry to decide who shall become her boyfriend. Winning depends on figuring out Cindy's most intimate desires - and then subsuming one's life to them. Fortunately for Greg he comes to realize that Cindy and he share the same desires.

Reluctant Diva 8
Inspired by Lipstick Discipline
Chapter 8 – A new deal

Here is the original story that I submitted to my former publisher (the now defunct Torquere Press).
There were a few changes:

It seems strange, even if it’s true, that the ends of our adult lives shall precede their beginnings.

The tragedy of it was it didn’t matter what Nixxi wanted to be, for she already was a girl and she had been since just after conception.

Jayne learns more about life as a girl, and starts a new career.

Debriefings 25

Charlie and his Aussie companions set their trap for the UQ, Feminista brigade.

Jack’s House:
Haylee turns her alarm clock off, so she doesn’t wake her little sister. She and Catori had slept in Gina’s old bedroom. She puts on a pair of coveralls and her work boots. She walks across the hallway and knocks on her mother’s old bedroom door, before entering.

“Chayton, are you up?” Peeks into the room to see if her big brother was awake.

“I’m up, Haylee.” Chayton was putting his belt on. He notices Roxy and Waffle as they stick their heads into the room.

“I like to tell stories, but mostly the only opportunity I have is to my grandchildren. I was surprised to hear that here is a place where adults gather to tell and listen to stories.”

“Aye well, there’s many a tale telt in here that would not be suitable for children to listen to. You could say some are definitely adult in nature.”

Gladys had heard what Pete had just said and added, “Some are definitely top shelf if not triple x-rated and probably not suitable for the ears of grown women never mind children, but boys will be boys even if they have turned eighty, and it’s a traditional barmaid’s obligation to keep the boys under control.”

Pete grinned and said, “My wife, as you probably gathered. What’s your name stranger? And where do you hail from?”

Promotional Advantage
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

John Dabney and I were army through and through. We had served three years each out of OCS. Both of us had chosen careers in logistics, but I found myself in a dead-end posting in personnel records in a well-known garrison in Kentucky. John was in the same camp but in another building complex working on engineering support.

Lady Jane Anston is recued from the UQ but there are others needing salvation.

Reluctant Diva 7
Inspired by Lipstick Discipline
Chapter 7 – Changes
In one of the history lessons at school I remembered reading about some ancient Greek guy who had to perform one feat of endurance after another to atone for doing some pretty bad stuff. It seemed I was fated to follow the same path, though I beg to point out that the stuff I might have done and was certainly paying for was no way in the same league as his.

To Return Home

Thanks to Malady for his help editing and for ideas.

Cover image from Unsplash

Chapter 3.6

We weren’t quite certain what the effect of Marc being present would have, so both he and Paula were asked to remain out of sight.

We started our trip down the wall of the pit. On our way down, my husband, ever the engineer, examined the walls. “These were molten once. It's like they were super-heated, then cooled into an alloy.”

“Do you think Kari did it?” Daddy asked.

Link: Lost Faith Title Page and Description

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Following her cousin down the stairs, Erica reached the bottom and looked out into the living room to see her aunt talking with April; Cook and Franchesca listening from the couch while Fredrick stood by the dining room entryway impassively. She smiled at the sight of April and her aunt, the two talking freely and seeming to enjoy each other's company.

“Hi mamma, daddy and I were finally able to come and see you again. Daddy went to talk with some of his old buddies and felt I needed to be alone to talk to you. Oh...we brought you some fresh flowers, the ones we left the first time have died and wilted. There, mamma, that looks better with those fresh flowers.