A year had passed since Derrick's rather eventful birthday party.

Heather was stretched out on the sofa, enjoying a delightful glass of very expensive Merlot, when the security guard at the gate house called to inform her that there was a visitor requesting entry.

Realizing who it was, Heather ran to the front door to greet her daughter Ariel. They embraced lovingly.

“Ariel, I'm happy to see you. This is a surprise though. Why didn’t you call to let me know you were coming?”

The Costume Draw
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

Because of the images, and my inability to format properly, this is best told in pdf format...

I find that drawing soothes my nerves. Painting takes time and I have to get it set up, but drawing is easy with just paper and pen, I can let my mind go and doodle. Sometimes I’m working on a picture. Sometimes drawing comics. Sometimes I just doodle. Right now, I’m currently making a really fucked up piece of art while I cry my eyes out for the umpteenth time. Oh boy, am I emotional. I don’t think I’ve ever been this emotional in my life. I’d cried sure, but never for this long. I don’t even know what I’m drawing to be honest, all the tears are staining the paper.

Allie - The teenage years of Alexander Horten

August 16-22, 2015

Part 7 of 7

Chapter 14
How did four years go by so fast? Seems like just Yesterday Rose was starting high school and in a few minutes she would be walking across the stage to receive her diploma. Travis and Ruth smiled to think the entire family was there to watch, and not incidentally keep track of the active four-year-old and frenetic two-year-old grandchildren who were bored with the whole affair.

Allie - The teenage years of Alexander Horten

August 9 - 15, 2015

Gerold vs. the Good Old Boys

6/ Recovery

By Jo Dora Webster

Cover Art by Melanie E.

What produced the crying jag
which Gerrie had in the hospital?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nancy is told her task is unfinished.

(I apologize for posting chapter 14 before this one.)

It was dark when I woke up. Only five in the morning and I felt wide wake. Waking up later even if only an hour was bliss. Papa was already chopping firewood as the cold and snow was coming fast. Even faster in the mountains.

My chest felt itchy and as I began to help him cut fire wood, my chest felt continually itchy and sore. I’m not as skilled as he is but I can still hold my own. Of course, I could’ve gone faster if my chest didn’t feel so itchy. Placing the wood on the stump and slamming the axe into it. It wasn’t long until the sun began peeking out from the horizon.

I Wanted Her
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

I fell in love with Alex when she was 13 – when she was a boy. I was 16 and had everything a young man could have, except love. I never thought of myself as gay. I still don’t. I just happened to be there when I saw the woman in her poke out through the boy.

Part 5 of 7

Chapter 11
"All right, you rapscallions, quiet down! We are here to make a joyful noise and not a cantankerous cacophony."

I went into mom and dads room. Sitting on the bed. Still crying. What do I do? What will happen to me. Will they put me in foster care since there are no relatives.

Positively Patsy Part 23

Mary had been busy while we had been away and had organised a cooking school which was already under way. Greg and Peggy had been back a while and everything was under control. There was to be another one coming in for two months when this one finished; then a riding school, followed by a music school towards the end of the year.

Allie - The teenage years of Alexander Horten

July 4-11, 2015

Part 3 of 7

Chapter 7
Rite of Passage, is a term used by anthropologists to mark a significant change in a person's place in society. Almost all societies mark marriage - the creation of a new family unit - with a formal ceremony. Becoming a member of a group, such as the military calls for a ceremony, and of course the passage from child to adult is the most obvious passage in our contemporary society.

Allie - The teenage years of Alexander Horten

Alexander, or Allie as everyone calls him has a new diary. You now have the chance to enter the confusing and exciting times and tribulations of being a teenager. Being a teenager is something we must all try, and it is not easy.
This is the modern version of the Adrian Mole diaries.

James Fearon was a celebrated interviewer and political commentator. He was, unlike many of his peers, a suave, polished and polite man whose Friday evening videocast had an audience of tens of millions all over the globe. His style was unique, and though never confrontational nor combative it was brutal.

Professor Claire McBride was a startlingly beautiful woman. Her face was arresting because the combination of deep blue eyes that shone seemed to be at odds with her vibrantly natural copper red hair. She looked to be in her late thirties, but was fifty-one. She was married to a farrier and they’d been together since their late teens.

Gerold vs. the Good Old Boys

5/ Feminists

By Jo Dora Webster

Cover Art by Melanie E.

Will Gerald be able to finish his work
before his body betrays him again?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Becoming a Gill
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

Mother

Melanie Gill had been so proud of her garden, but now it was a mess. The illness and death of her youngest and favorite daughter Helen had destroyed her will to do anything but weep. But now she looked out at what had been her pride and joy, with determination rather than despair. Maybe, if she got busy, her mind might be distracted from her grief. Even for a moment, that would be a relief.

Nancy reveals much.

Gerold vs. the Good Old Boys

4/ Discovery

By Jo Dora Webster

Cover Art by Melanie E.

How can Gerrie, who is finally good in her own skin,
impersonate Gerold's male gender expression?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New jobs for Julie and Trudy, Trudy gets a new partner, and Mick gets dragged into Ghostly goings-on and comes out on top.