I developed a much closer bond with my Mom after our special “mother-daughter” time together.

On the following Sunday morning, I came downstairs early, knowing that she would be preparing a big breakfast while my father and younger brothers slept.

She was lost in thought and clearly surprised to see me so early, and I startled her a bit.

“Goodness!” She exclaimed. “Oh, Good morning, Honey Bunny!”

“Morning Mom…I was wondering if I could help you get everything ready for our breakfast this morning?”

When Alex was 12 years old his mother passed away. His father quickly married another woman. Stella, who was always referred to as Madame, was his new stepmother. She had two children from a previous marriage, Margaret and Stacy. Only a year after his father got remarried, he too passed away in a tragic accident leaving Alex behind with his stepmother. Stella promised to take care of Alex and treat him like her one of own daughters when her husband passed away. Very quickly Alex learned that he was not welcome in his own home.

Sales Team
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

Eric and I were a top sales team. Eric Giles and Avery Thompson, platinum level sellers. ‘The Best in the West’; top performers for three years running.

Chapter 31

Once they were done eating Lisa led Marcy straight out of the mall back to her car which by now was packed full of new clothes for her, girly clothes she didn’t want in the slightest. Still they were a lot better than if she had to show up in public in the outfits she got from CC’s.

The Wishing Stone By Teek © 2020

Summary: Making a wish on the Wishing Stone is a great honor. One that only ten people every hundred years gets to make. Many wishes throughout time have dramatically changed the life of the Wishee for the positive, but there are consequences to one's actions. When the youngest Wishee in history makes a life-altering wish, those around twelve-year-old Mikey must adjust to the changes.

Chapter Summary: Mom learns more about how Milly got her name, and some about Mikey's time as Milly. Then, a nightmare triggers the Wish Particle to make more changes.

The Other Side of Me – Part 17
by Limbo’s Mistress

As ridiculous as it might sound, I had hoped that Shelly would offer to spend the night with me. After the evening I’d gone through, I wanted the comforting touch of someone who knew the truth about my situation and gave a shit about me.

Unfortunately, soon after our discovery that my absentee phone was currently hanging out at de Casa la Kappa, Shelly yawned and stood up to raise her arms high over her head and bend her back as she performed one of those full-body stretches that indicate exhaustion.

Next chapter, in which Sasha does Sasha things. Please enjoy.

What is life?

Tears swell in searing eyes
Bile lurches upward ready to burst
Heart going so fast its stopped
Lungs quiver, ribs ache
I’m sorry…
Words aren’t enough, nothing is
A dark void grows swallowing all
Nothing and no one is safe
Is there any hope left?
I’m drowning
Vision fades, nothing but black
So much weight, body seizing
Everything is numb
All is ice
Am I dead?
No…
I’m alive.

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

Billy Jones, a film student and extra, gets the offer of some overtime during the shooting of a special effects movie.... Maybe there was something in the contract he missed?

CHAPTER 38
Paul’s confession was another little wedge knocked into the cracks in the armour I had erected around that filthy bastard Cooper, another little sign others could suffer as badly as I had. I had gained some understanding of that simple fact watching Gandalf after Sam’s murder, and as I dug out the story out around the two rapes, I found my perverse top-victim game crumbling.

Melissa lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The events of the last day kept shifting through her mind. Discovering her identity as a girl had felt more like a revelation than a true surprise - a puzzle piece she’d always known was missing had simply clicked into place.

Realizing she was the heroine… She was still trying to process what that meant, exactly. In a way, it didn’t change anything at all. Her goal was still to defeat Sorissa; to do so, she still had to gather the Lunargent Scale, and the mythical weapon known as Quecaw.

Wrestling isn't all its supposed to be!

The aftermath of disaster.

Christine couldn’t believe how nice the mansion they were in looked. There were pictures of famous actors, actresses, and movies of long ago decorating the hallway as they walked down the hallway from the bedroom they had awoken in. She also couldn’t believe the clothes they found in the dressers and closet to wear.

The three-and-a-half-hour journey from Totnes to Portsmouth allowed the two women to begin the process of getting to know each other.

At first, Gabrielle was a little defensive towards her father.

Then Vivienne said,
"As I said when we were back in Totnes, I've just sold my home in London. In a few weeks, I will have the equivalent of more than three million Euro in my bank. I'm not after any money that Jacques may or may not have but this is not about that."

Happy Holidays and Merry almost Christmas! Whatever you celebrate, please enjoy this update. I'm sorry I keep hibernating, I assure you all it isn't intentional.

At this time of the year a great many wishes are made in hopes of receiving a special toy or doll, a new dress or suit, a hot meal, and warm bed. Yet what is a mother’s wish? As a mother I would like to share my wish with you all in this short story. Maybe even spread a little hope at the end of this year of troubling times. A year filled with unsettling events and fear.