Can the Martin family have a White Christmas at Sun City? Read and see.

“M-meredith,” Dad said, and my heart skipped a beat. Even with the little stutter, it made me feel so wonderful to hear Dad use my real name for the first time.

Mrs. Dirksen said to Mom, after we’d given the waiter our drink orders, “Erin, I don’t think you should be letting Tyler use the ladies' room.”

 

“Do you seriously think she should use the men’s room?” Mom asked incredulously. “The machine changed her completely into a girl.”

“Congratulations on your new body. I’m pretty happy about mine, but I’m sure you must be absolutely ecstatic.”

As embarrassing as it was, that incident pretty much put a stop to the girls in P.E. grumbling about me changing and showering with them.

She went to her room and came back with one of her sports bras, and I tried it on. It was definitely a lot tighter than the one I’d borrowed from the lost and found, but I thought I could live with it for an hour at a time until I got something that fit me.

Since the prospect of getting my new body had come closer, my intermittent dysphoria had gotten worse.

Curtain Fall Chapter 28

When you cried, I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream, I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
You still have all of me, me, me

— “My Immortal” Evanescence

“Vengeance, retaliation, retribution, revenge are deceitful brothers—vile, beguiling demons promising justifiable compensation to a pained soul for his losses. Yet in truth they craftily fester away all else of worth remaining.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

Curtain Fall Chapter 24

The next day carried on in much the same way as the visit to the market. At Adra’s insistence, Turi continued her showing the Tarneeran people in their everyday lives. Carol came along, with great eagerness this time, to be by Adra and to increase her exposure to conversational Tarneeran, Together, the three exposed Adrasteia to many more aspects of the Tarneeran society.

Curtain Fall Chapter 22

David made a small groan as he leaned back from what seemed his twentieth examination of the images that they’d captured of what had happened in the ceremonial circle on the Tirielen palace grounds. His eyes itched with fatigue and he gently rubbed them as he thought about what he’d seen.

Curtain Fall Chapter 21

With her mind in a state of shock/outrage and relief Jill gazed around her. Her relief was from seeing that Carol hadn’t actually been seriously injured and shock and at the alien leader’s plea for mercy. Anarra still lay prostrate while Mridulae knelt a few feet away looking at her in confused awe. The remainder of the women had fled the immediate area.

Curtain Fall Chapter 20

Curtain Fall - Chapter 18

In this chapter we gain more understandings of what the Curtain Fall may have done; and we learn more about Kadrapraba's thoughts and logic. From it we also receive a small insight into how and why the Tarneerans organize themselves and enforce their won hierarchy...

Whew! Now that Tarneerans, the Brazilian aliens, have officially made an appearance major elements of the story can finally start blending! Much will begin to seem to be revealed and assumptions may be upset.

And what about Jill and Carol?

Curtain Fall - Chapter 10

Adam stood as the elevator opened on the floor housing director Feber’s entourage and looked out on the floor. He entered the hall and walked to the director’s room and knocked firmly on the door. After a pause the door opened and a man stepped forward and up to Adam.

“Please state your business sir.” The tall lean man asked with little expression.

Adam responded loudly enough to be heard by those within the room, “Good morning, my name is Adam Bosarge of the Albuquerque Journal and I’d like to discuss why deputy director Feber is here.”

Curtain Fall - Chapter 08

Not Entirely Myself Today

By Erin Halfelven

 
I hurried home that evening because I had finally done it. I had lost my mind.

And I'd definitely overspent my budget. Ever since skinsuits became more reality than fantasy, I wanted one. Never mind that the good ones, the ones that I wanted, cost more than a top-of-the-line luxury automobile, I wanted one.

After my all my disappointments last week, I was sure that it was finally my time.

“I’m sorry, I think you’re a little too short to play Romeo,” the drama teacher told me. “Maybe try out for a different role.”

“I know. I’ll try out for Juliet! I’m sure I’ll make the perfect female love interest.”

The teacher looked at me strangely. “I was thinking something more… appropriate to your talents. Maybe Verona Citizen #1.” I was crushed, but I tried to remain firm. I could always try again next year!