This is a little stand-alone story that eventually became part of a chapter in Cynthia and the High School Years — Part 1. As there are many new readers at this site, I thought they might enjoy another Christmas story. If you enjoy the story and are not familiar with the characters, you might want to read the Cynthia Chronicles.

Chapter *20*
My Own Bed

Der Mühle is a typical German restaurant cum pub, something which I no longer think about but clearly the majority of my companions were a bit uneasy about.

“Not been here for a while ”I observed as I headed inside.

“Drew!” Claire hissed, “It's a pub.”

“Yeah?”

“We're under age?”

A powerful pre-cog and avatar manifests as a mutant and foresees the return of the Great old Ones. This is the start of an adventure which leads him to Whateley Academy.

So, first think of Christmas carols

Kate

After saying their goodbyes, Alexia and family return to New Amsterdam and discover the situation to be much worse than expected. She takes extreme measures to try and correct the problems. Listed Themes and Elements apply to entire story, Rating to this posting (primarily for violence)

Ever since I was a little kid I've known I was... different from other boys. Known that deep down, I'm not what I appear to be on the surface. My name is Nick Thomas, and every day of my life, I wish I'd been born a girl.

Five years ago to keep my job I began to use my sister’s name… Let’s just say, my attitude necessitated a change if I were to stay employed. …Late summer of 2008, the worst two four letter words regarding my job were ‘pink slip’. …Julie and I were expecting our second child before the end of the year. This would not be a good time to lose my job. I had been passed over for job promotions... I blamed everyone but me.

I was sitting in a chair in the living room of my small apartment. Legs demurely crossed at the ankles. Legs that were encased in black thigh highs, the ones with the cute bows at the tops. Feet that were in black round peep toe pumps with 3 inch heels. He leaned over me and kissed me on the lips, a full romantic kiss on lips that were painted with Plump Lips plum shade lipstick. I was frozen in place and in time, intoxicated with this moment and a slight intoxication of white wine.

Steven’s Hall, Saturday, December 29, 2001, 1515 hours.

Linda was in bed, shaking me awake. Correction, Linda was on the bed, not in it.

“Come on Alice, it’s time for the Mad Hatter’s tea party.”

“Huh? I’m sleeping.”

“Nope, time to get up. You will soon have 12 young ladies along with 20 or so, of Annie’s closest friends. Time to get up and shower. Besides, I don’t want you to be up all night, again.”

“Lin, what day is it?”

Virtual Reality, the dream of all gamers, is now a reality with the land of Ilos.

However, it's creators are unknown, and no one knows how the devices they have access it, only that they do.

Some things are revealed, and Nick gives his theory on what has happened.