My TV’s alarm wakes me at 7am the following morning, and after a quick wash and brush of my hair, I pull on my silky pink dressing gown and head down to the mansion’s designated breakfast area, where I discover I’m not the first to get up.

“Hi Dina!” Lil says with an overenthusiastic giggle as she tucks into her breakfast alongside Lydia and Martha. “Welcome ta the ‘early birds’ table, hehe!”

“Thanks!” I reply with a genuine smile as I get a cup of coffee and a bowl of cornflakes before joining the three women. “Have you been awake long?”

"Amelia, come have a seat with us, dear" The queen called out to me following my curtsy, "Lovette, prepare Amelia a cup, will you?" she spoke to one of three servants that stood quietly in the corner.

"Yes, Your Majesty"

"Sit, sit" Queen Arabella turned her attention back to me as I approached.

Ah summer! Lazy days, no school, no need for a summer job, good friends, a white sandy beach, blue water, several water nymphs in multi-colored bikinis among the friends. What more could one ask?

"Miss Beaumont, we're so happy to have you on the show" Annie had continued after a brief pause, "Thank you for taking the time. As you can expect, all of Lenoria has been eager to know more about the young woman who has captured our Prince's heart"

"Oh please, you can call me 'Amelia'" I replied, "And I assure you, the feeling is very much mutual. I am very eager to learn more about the beautiful people of this country"

Admin Note: This story was originally published on Sunday December 4, 2016 at 2:50:05 pm. I just had to post this up. I know we are down, especially me. This story is one of tough love, and I would like to think Leila could teach a few of us something about it...~ a very sad Sephrena.
 
 

It's time to stand up, stand out, BE out (maybe)

I hope my friends are friendly.

I’m not actually OUT but I’m opening to more people.

I don’t pass – BUT what the hell

Sometimes it's just too much effort to stay hidden - and it's no fun ... and it's LONELY.

Composite
A Short Science Fiction Story
By Maryanne Peter

Which of us died? It must have been her. Yet she seemed to be uninjured. The sight of her body looking so perfect staring at me in disbelief from the mirror. It was just the arms and the shoulders and the chest that seemed out of place, and as it turned out, the heart and the brain, and the spinal cord.

The Moon Princess
By Angelone

PROLOGUE

Addict Ted

Hiding is hard work -

Progress in Pink

That’s progress – isn’t it?

This is mostly a transcript of a conversation I recorded at my T-club a while ago. There’s the occasional comment so it doesn’t flow perfectly. But it’s got some thoughts I want to share about how I’m going being a girl, sorry, correction, at my age, I’m a woman as far as I present to the world. I’ve got a job, a flat, friends. I’m doing ok.

 
This was an idea suggested by Erin -- Ed
 

WONDERFUL WIFE

The Accidental Soprano
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

They said that I was fortunate that the injury did not cause lasting damage, but that was before it changed my life. I am not bitter towards the surgeons that repaired my neck. I have used surgeons since, and I am grateful to them. Surgeons have to do what they do to let us live, or to normal lives.

This Little Light of Mine
by
Rebecca Anna Coleman

“Ye are the Light of the World. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that in the house. Let your light  shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.” Matthew 5:14 – 16

‘Are you getting dressed tonight’ was the question I asked myself

‘Yes, I am ... but I want to try something different. I want to take one more step.’
That was how this happening happened last night.

Note: This is not the Halloween story that I had planned. That story will likely be much longer, and being sick all last week killed any time that I had to work on it. I knew I wasn't going to finish it in time for the contest and then this idea hit me this morning and I managed to finish it just in time. I've really gotta stop these last-minute one day rushes for contests.

"I look stupid, don't I?" I asked Alyssa as she took a step back, mascara brush in hand. It would have been more accurate to say that I hoped I looked stupid.

Alyssa chuckled to herself but kept any answers to my question to herself. She was finding the whole thing, especially my delusion quite entertaining. She knew as much as I did that my androgynous face would take to makeup quite well.

I'd woken up at the crack of dawn to the sound of the cocks crowing. This had been the second night in a row that I hadn't been able to get any real sleep.
 
I'd managed to sleep for a few hours after Nabo bid me good night but dreamed only of fire. Her destructive nature had infected every facet of my imagination and I feared what she would do to me.
 
'Look what she had already done' I thought to myself as I stared at our reflection in the mirror.
 

When you can look like a girl … should you?

Note : The beginning of this story is borrowed from I don’t know where – but sloppily filed and needing some rewrite and growth ….

Bobby

That Thanksgiving was scary and mortifying. Not to mention the horror it all led to.

“Robert Taylor Smith! Where do you think you are going like that?”

The most scary part really came early, already at Halloween. As every teenager knows, hearing your full name expressed in a severe voice by one of one’s parents is not a good sign. Especially when expressed by a father reading with his back towards you.

Add to that I was trying to sneak out dressed in my sister’s cheerleader uniform …. Yes, I had forgotten about the mirror on the wall. Mirror, mirror on the wall tell me who is the kid most in trouble.

Halloween Transformed Completely

John had always enjoyed Halloween, but this year, at fifty, he felt a new urgency. His office costume contest promised a trophy and bragging rights, and he was determined to stand out. After hearing about a quirky costume shop an hour away, he decided to check it out.
The shop, dimly lit and overflowing with costumes, felt like stepping into another world. An older woman behind the counter noticed his hesitance and approached him. “What are you looking to accomplish?” she asked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.