First things first: Lacey owed Maddie an apology. When she arose on the chilly morning of Thanksgiving, she immediately sought out her cousin. Not finding her downstairs, she instead opened her bedroom door. Maddie was doing squats.

“So this is the secret behind the cutest butt in Pennsylvania?” Lacey quipped. Maddie chuckled, and the girls hugged.

“Sorry I made you clean up last night,” Lacey said. “Lily’s right - I really am turning into a bitch.”

“That’s the cheerleader in you,” Maddie joked. “Now let’s go watch the parade!”

Long, long ago, when humans were just beginning to form into tribes and learning to hunt and live together, there was a land far, soooo far to the west across the Unending Sea, where there lived a people who espoused peace and the well-being of all peoples.

Their land was called Leroqand and the Leroqandi people were known for their mediation during disputes of all kinds.

‘Halleluiah’ – possibly

This began as a series of jottings on how Hate & Hell are what 'They' want and deliver to our minority. I added Hope but then decided that it would be worth aiming for a viable Halleluiah as well.

It is time for Mercy to get to know some other trickster mages.
She might learn some new things. Gain some new hope.
But first, she has to teach some cheerleaders that bullying is bad.

A Second Chance

By Dawn Natelle

Another one for you. Enjoy: Dawn

FRIDAY, May 20, 2016

When Carly and Becca got on the bus that morning Layla was with them, cheerfully interacting with her former best friends. But as the other girls went to the back of the bus, Layla veered off and sat down next to Rachael.

“Daleks. A big Dalek. We got to hide. It’ll kill us.”
Em was really frightened. But then when I was seven I hid behind the sofa when the Daleks came on a 19 inch tv screen during Dr Who. And I liked the Daleks. I turned and dropped down wrapping her in my arms in a big hug.

'Hopeluiah’ – there can be hope

In this third segment, I was aiming at something better than the spreading of hate and nastiness. Maybe I am naïve but I do believe that people can be kind and generous. Well, some people, if not actually many,

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if some good came like Hope out of Pandora’s box. If out of the spew of unkindness that is so often and so willingly sent our way – that now and again there was unexpected decency and support - even niceness.

This is the story of Tommy, who, when we first meet him, is a very curious twelve-year-old. He has to know about everything, how it works, why does it feel like this, what happens if I do this, and so on. One day he asks his mother, what’s it like to dress in pretty things? And, as happens, once he starts dressing in pretty things there is no going back. But what’s behind this? Is he a cross-dresser, or is there something more behind it. Why does he want to do it more? Why does the girl next door like it when he dresses in pretty clothes? Why does he feel he is the girl that he’s dressed as? Why do all of his friends and family accept this part of him? Will a trip to New Mexico answer some of these questions, or will he have more questions than answers when he returns home? Will there be another girl, another spirit? Will he or she find himself or herself? Will he like what he finds?

A Second Chance

By Dawn Natelle

Sorry for such a long gap between chapters. This one left me floundering for a few days. Hopefully I can get another one done before the weekend. (Some might find this one requires a tissue alert.) Dawn

WEDNESDAY, May 18, 2016

Taran get's a warning from a fortune teller.
She sees death in his future.
He has to flee as nefarious mages are eager to hunt him down.
Soon he has to face his fate. Had the warning come too late?

Andi and Allie – Chapter 31

‘Fair Winds And Following Seas’

The following morning I arrived at the office a little earlier than is usual. I knew Rhona would want to cross-examine me yet again and I wanted to accommodate her. The more I rehashed the day, the closer to being real it became. And sure enough she was there waiting for me, cup in hand and nail file on her desktop.

Casting Call for the Black Badges

Second of a four-part series

The first one up was Lacey - or so she thought. “LACEY!” was the exuberant yell from Rhonda, who bearhugged her cousin. Both fell to the ground in fits of laughter.

“How you been, cuz?”

“Good, good! You?”

“I’m living the dream, and oh my God.” Rhonda stopped and looked over her cousin. “You look absolutely incredible!”

“Stop.” Lacey was modest but secretly relished Rhonda’s compliment.

Kelli walked into their tiny common room on just shorts and a sport bra and flopped onto the comfy chair.

"It looks like you got all of the mud washed off. That was a really long shower," Leanne said.

"My hair felt so gritty," she gave an exaggerated shiver. "It was disgusting."

Leanne laughed. "It could have been way worse. Dead fish or dear guts or something like that."

"I know. I just wish we had caught one of the jerks. I feel like everyone hates us and we haven't done anything to anyone that they didn't have coming to them."