Clever Elsie listened to the wind in the grass. She didn’t think of herself as clever any longer, not since she’d learned how her husband had tricked her, but the name survived among the people who lived in her valley.… Continue Reading
I drown those I play with in the salty deeps. They struggle and scream against my lips. I kiss them, my arms like soft nets. They despair, eyes gazing into mine until the gazes lose that spark. That life, that… Continue Reading
Ella was a loud and opinionated child — but also careful and caring and never cruel. “You’re such a difficult girl,” her mother would wail. “Why can’t you be more like your sisters? They do as they’re told.” But while… Continue Reading
How a moose got into the cabin, I do not know. We’d been down to Rosa’s café for a hot bowl of chili verde on a cool night, and I could’ve sworn I closed the door on our way out.… Continue Reading
I see them all; the titles people don’t know they have floating above their heads. Usually they’re pretty benign. “The Father” or “The Architect” or something else run-of-the-mill. I thought I’d seen them all a thousand times. I was young… Continue Reading
If I ignore the door hanging half off its hinges and the swallow’s nest surveying the dust from beneath the exposed center beam, Nana’s cottage is little changed from fifteen years ago, when Dad left me here to “find my… Continue Reading
From where he lay on the roof, Ballard caught a flicker of light from her bedchamber. No more than 500 feet. A clear night, low breeze. Perfect to take the shot. So it had come to this. He sighed and… Continue Reading
In the days when the land was new and all animals were family, the Sun Queen gathered her children together and announced a contest: whoever created the most useful invention would see their work displayed all over the world. Everyone… Continue Reading
“Another one!” Jase held a shiny blue rock in hand. “The seventh one in as many days. I have no idea what’s happening.” “That’s a lot of stones,” Margo stated. “You think? I tried to call the local wizard, but… Continue Reading
I know how this will end. Even before Michael asks his question, as he toys with his hay-colored hair — “Cassandra, hey, I was wondering, um, if you’d ever like to, you know, go out?” — I know I’ll say… Continue Reading