Stiff Upper Lips
Inspired by John’s Message
By Maryanne Peters

Jonathan Hanscombe and Rupert Burlew had secured for themselves the two large leather armchairs by the window in the sitting room of Arthur’s in St. James. The window offered a view down the street of St. James Square (as it was then known) to the Gardens, but in the afternoon, it was the lightest area of the otherwise dark rooms of that ancient establishment.

Grace decided to pull a second shift at the hospital. The nurse she was covering for, had a family emergency. She checked on Raven and she was out of it. Her girlfriend Clair had left to go back to the hotel they were staying in to change.

Grace knew Clair was coming back to be by her girlfriend. She checks Raven's vitals and records them on the pad the hospital was using. As she is walking back to the nurses' station, she notices her partner Anthony talking to nurse Brooke. She was a light skin African American woman. She had the type of figure, Anthony looked for in a woman.

By Cynthia Jeanette
Sybilla and her brother Serren offer some payback for what she suffered and they finally go to war against the Fay

Adrian was away in Scotland doing on what he called ‘a fact-finding mission’, which left just Cliff and Maxine in the Office when the phone rang.

Maxine saw the caller ID and answered it.
“Oh, hello Mum. What’s up?”

“Why am I asking? Didn’t we speak for nearly an hour at the weekend?”

“No. I don’t think I am busy tomorrow night. It could work out pretty well as I’m due at a meeting in Devon the following day.”

“No, he won’t mind. He’s busy with a different project in Scotland.”

“What time and where and why?”

Sunny: The Hippie Chick

By Dawn Natelle

Reviewed and Edited by Eric

Chapter 06 -- Standin' on the turnpike, thumb out to hitchhike

The next morning saw us at the bus stop before dawn. Ben had it all planned out. We took the bus to the intercity bus station downtown, and all paid a couple dollars each for the bus to San Rafael, a town on Highway 101, which ran right into Eureka to the north.

The 'Fishing Rodeo' was an annual tournament that was sponsored by the 'The Benton Bass Federation' a local association of professional and amateur fisherman and women. The tournament often meant big business for the downtown merchants too, as tourists from the surrounding cities and towns would flood in, some even entering their names into the event in hopes of claiming the bragging rights that came with catching the biggest fish. And of course, some hoped to pocket their share of the prize money being offered.

Once the ice was broken, Tina and I quickly warmed up to Andi. She was sharp and funny and had a huge heart. Despite all the stuff she went through growing up and the tension and drama she saw daily working as an E.R. Nurse, she had the most cheerful outlook of anyone I'd ever known. Maybe knowing how tense and bleak life could be, she had a better appreciation of the micro-joys of each ordinary day.

A few days later I got a text from a number I didn't recognize. But I had a hunch.

“Hope you don't mind. I got your number from Zoe. What are you doing?”

I’m retired, single, in my mid 60’s, quarantined and I’m bored. I’ve been cross-dressing since I was 5 and would use crayons and colored pencils to ‘paint’ my nails. Cherry Popsicles were my lipstick. Over the years the qualities of my cosmetics and panties have improved vastly.

When the quarantine began over two months ago I vowed to dress 100% of the time as my alter ego feminine self. On the first day of sheltering in place I shaved my legs, shaped and painted all my nails. Since I wasn’t going anywhere it seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Ever since coming to Besona, Lillyn stumbled from one opportunity or mishap to the next.
Her last misfortune leaves her a little paranoid.
But maybe, if she calms down a bit, it will grow on her.
It might even be an opportunity to change it into a fortune.