On his release, Joe's mother interrogates him over lunch. No secret is safe from her.

Rudy prepares to share his room with a mysterious guest.

My early life (in the third person) It was too painful to write in the first person and it's taken me many, many years to get down on paper.

What happened when Linda left me? I don't know. I remember taking a deep breath and closing my eyes. I knew I was alone and I was facing a hostile crowd. The minutes turned to hours and slowly I started to sweat. The girl's running the thing had no remorse or empathy. I was treated like a number. One by one the girls in charge dressed us down, most boys shrugged it off. Most of them had been drafted into wearing a frilly gown and three inch heels. And once they completed their walk across the stage, many left.

Mother 1

An 11-year-old boy is living a happy childhood. He had a loving mom and Dad. He has friends and is respected and liked at school. He loves playing football and helping his mother cook. He thanks God every night for the blessings he has.
This was until his life was turned upside down.

Jenelle Conner was sitting on top of the rock outcrop near the picnic table her family was using for the picnic lunch. She thought how easy it would be to stand up and pretend her feet slipped out from under her, and allow herself to slide off the outcrop and onto the craggy rocks 200 feet below. It would only be a moment and then the fear, pain, and anger she felt for so long would be gone. She had just given her legs the command to stand, when another thought muscled its way into her mind, asking one question. ‘What about Patty?’ The muscled in thought then stood back and watched Jenelle’s reaction. And hoped.

Author's note. I know it's been a while since I posted the last chapter, and I'm sorry for the long wait. Shit has hit the fan in a lot of different ways, all in a short amount of time. I'm working through things, but it makes writing time and motivation to write difficult. But that's enough reading about me, so I'll let you (hopefully) enjoy the chapter.

Draco was asked to give me a tour of the manor after putting away his broom. "Thanks for inviting me to stay here. This place is amazing." I said once I was sure we wouldn't be overheard.

As I heard the sound of an engine grow fainter, I felt more despair at that moment than I have ever felt in my life.

Graphic created by Patricia Marie Allen from photos on Pixabay.com

Authors note: This story first appeared in the “One Dozen Roses” anthology and has been edited to be read as a standalone.
You can read it in the anthology here.

I’ve been asked just how I came to choose the name Rose. The story of my name goes back to my childhood. I was eight at the time. It was in just after the second gulf war. I blame the whole thing on Susan. Susan was the girl who lived in our basement apartment. Her father had been called up in the National Guard and was in Iraq for a year. They decided to give up living in their house and rent it out to cover the mortgage payment. The rent on the apartment we had in the basement fit the budget imposed by his Guard pay which didn’t even come close to his regular pay. The apartment had been grandma’s before she died. It’s just two bedrooms, a bathroom and a sitting room with an efficiency kitchen and the rent helps us with the mortgage, since dad left. As part of the deal, Susan’s mom watched me while my mom was at work.

I pulled on a pair of cotton underpants; white hipster briefs with a tight elastic waist band. Turning back towards the mirror, I froze in mid-breath. With my hair spilling over my shoulders and my panties drawn up to my belly button, I was no longer a boy. Raising a hand to my throat, I regarded my image in round-lipped silence. My mother had been right.

I looked just like a girl.

A lonely teenaged boy makes a Faustian bargain with a gypsy fortune teller... then discovers that the price might be higher than anybody can possibly pay.

After witnessing a murder. Young Robbie Dunkirk sees his family also murdered. He calls his mothers estranged twin sister. She comes up with a plan to hide Robbie. HE becomes his twin sister Sarah.

Peter to Penelope

By Alison Mary Murdoch

Edited by Kelly Blake

A Twist of Fate…

Being the Duty Paramedic at a highway station 12 miles North of our regional hospital, I received an emergency call.

"A boy injured in a fall from a trail bike...”

If I thought Bones Manor was impressive, it doesn't even compare to Malfoy Manor. After being told what had happened and a lengthy questioning by the healer, Mrs. Bones, and Mr. Scrimgeour about the events of the day and more questions of the Malfoys when they arrived to pick me up we left the Abbott's. Instead of using the floo I was side-along apperated to the front courtyard, no doubt a blatant way to show off the grandeur of the building, which was a complete success. I was playfully scolded by Mrs.

Janey Watson was an unusually pretty child with melting blue eyes and soft, girlish features - although she wasn't precisely a girl, contrary to all appearances. Like many children in born in Ridgewick over the past fifteen years, Janey was somewhat…unique.

There were a lot of tranzies around Ridgewick these days. Seemed like every second kid you met was one - although you probably wouldn't have known, not unless you'd lived here all your life. Half the time, you hardly noticed they were even there...

There’s no rule that says girls can’t be climbers or take over McIvor Tree Work when I retire. Whatever you want to do and become, ignore those who will try to stop you, and there will be many, and just do it.”

The parents of a troublesome teenage son finally had enough and sends him for special training. He gets more than she bargains for.