Today was to be a special day for me, a day I have been looking forward to for weeks. At work I was scheduled to work on my presentation for the monthly board meeting, so I would be in my office all day alone except for my secretary. Jennifer, my secretary, was super efficient, handling most things that required my input without having to consult me.

I was setting in the front lobby of my wife’s beauty salon. The Turnabout Gurl Salon recently changed hands, now a prestigious salon that oozes femininity. A typical late Friday afternoon occurrence with me, now something I look forward to since they have changed hands.

The décor has changed, the uniform the stylists wear have been upgraded, and their level of business has doubled. So much to see now, the stylists new dress a work of art. Brief, lacy, form fitting and along with some towering high heels a real sight to take in.

A teenage boy becomes a magical girl against his will, teamed up with two ridiculous young girls in order to defeat a ridiculous villain. Everyone is an idiot.

I feel my suspenders stretch as I reach up to dust the top shelf in the library. The stool wobbles slightly and I am afraid I may fall. I can feel “Sir’s” eyes on me as I work. I am so self-conscious that he may see my knickers as I work.

I was home alone today, both Mom and sis off doing some shopping. I was given the task of doing some laundry, something that we all shared in. I didn’t mind doing it, something to keep me occupied while I waited for them to return.

Mom had made it a standing rule that unless she was home leaving the house was forbidden. That rule applied to both sis and I. Once she returned we could go to a friend’s house or any other activity with her approval, of course. She felt that if something happened to us she would be available to handle the situation.

Before I go home I’ll just check the announcement board. Our principal is a traditionalist so everything important is announced on the announcement board. This time I want to confirm that I’m on the list for the school’s womanless beauty contest.

My name is there all right. Peter Dupont in big letters. The problem is the big black line through it and the additional comment “Disqualified”. How can they do that! I’ll have to talk to the Principal!

Dawn and Diana Move to Denver – Part 3

By Kathi Jo Daniels

Before we start I need to give credit to Emma Anne Tate for her tireless editorial and dialogue help.
These stories would not be nearly as readable without her input.
If we weren’t so geographically separated, I would love to buy her drinks and chat about writing, and life in general.

Chapter Eleven: Changes
Monday, October 25, 2004

This is a paraquel to “Pawn …” as told by Dawn (Bill). (Since it isn’t prequel or a sequel it must be a paraquel)

At the beginning of my sophomore year I finally was ready to act. Perphaps not really ready but I had to do it this year. I had carefully researched the possibilities. This was the year to come out. Next year the conditions would be much worse.

Heart Won and Lost
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

I was born in 1922 on a farm in Kansas. I wish I could tell stories of the time when our farm was green, productive and profitable but those were just things I heard. The first big drought came in 1930, and after that the dust storms destroyed all that we had. The end finally came in April 1935, on the day they called “Black Sunday” when the dark dust from the west blocked out the sun.

Jimmy is in love with a boy named Alex. His twin, Rachel, is in love with a girl named Alexa.
Two bedrooms, one wall apart. But the person that they're really crushing on is...?

I was in trouble big time. A first year college student that got arrested when trying to break in to a girlfriend’s house over the holidays. I was promptly bailed out, but my parents who lived in Las Vegas were flying in for the arraignment.

I spoke to Mom over the phone offering no reason for my arrest after repeated attempts for her to understand what in the hell was I thinking. Since I was not forthcoming with any information she hung up on me, although I did find out she had an attorney post my bail.

Dawn Visits Kansas- Part 4

By Kathi Jo Daniels

Chapter Fifteen: Thursday
Thursday, October 07, 2004

Once again, I woke at sunrise with nothing to do. We got up, made the bed, undressed, and showered together. Some parts of our bodies were squeaky clean. Since we had no plans to see anyone else for the day, we did minimal makeup. I chose a blue and white golf outfit from Brenda’s Dress Shop. Diana selected a sleeveless floral dress.

Princess by the Hour
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

Part 1 – Awakening

Dawn Visits Kansas – Part 3

By Kathi Jo Daniels

Chapter Ten: Saturday
Saturday, October 02, 2004

Part 1: Morning - Breakfast and Begin Research

As usual, I was up and dressed before Diana got out of bed. She said laundry would be done today, so I might as well go commando - no panties or bra, and no reason to tuck. I chose the white walking shorts and powder blue sleeveless knit top from Brenda's Dress Shop.

There was the phone call from my wife informing me that she would be an hour late. She did tell me not to fix dinner as she would pick up something for us on the way home. This is her women’s business meeting day, so it must be some meeting to cause her to be late.

Dawn Visits Kansas – Part 2

By Kathi Jo Daniels

Chapter Five: Monday
Monday, September 27, 2004

Part 1: County Clerk

On Monday morning, we got up together, showered, shaved, applied makeup, and dressed. I chose a white A-line dress with elbow sleeves, blue chest pockets, shoulders, and belt, and white sandals. Diana chose a multicolored swinging mini-dress.

“Jasmine, Jim, you’re safe now. We’re taking you home.”

I had the day off, promising to go with my sister and her daughter to the mall. It was her daughter’s birthday and she had been promised as a gift to get her ears pierced.

According to Sis, Haley had been so excited, barely talking of anything else. Greg, her husband, had to use their car today for a business meeting so I was drafted to give them a ride and preserve peace in this part of the free world.

From the time I got up this morning till now, today has been one shitty day. I ended up having to get my car jumped because of a dead battery. The service I paid for to handle such occurrences taking their sweet time to get here. Thus I arrived late for work missing an important meeting, my immediate boss livid that I had missed it.

Then my computer failed a little after eleven A.M. requiring the IT guys to replace the hard drive. Three hours of work that I had performed this morning lost in the process. Then the final touch to my horrible day occurred.

I was back home for the first time in two years, excluding some brief visits several times a year. This time I was here to stay, my schooling concluded. The last two years of college consuming that time, with my degree in business economics finally obtained. I finished junior college in my home town, but wanted my degree to have a little more clout than just a state university.

Topside

A big thank you to Alan, who vastly improved this story. Any remaining problems are my fault.

Everything's bigger in Texas.