Alco’s Self Storage:
“Man, I am so sore from moving all those heavy boxes and that piano.” Rustie looks at Ivy as he sweeps up the last of the trash in the second locker.

Rustie didn’t know that when someone bought a storage locker, they had to throw away all the trash in the locker as well. It was a good thing the storage unit manager had a wheel barrel they could use to haul all the trash to the dumpster.

Two Days Before Christmas Eve:
Charlotte finishes wrapping the Christmas gifts she bought for her brother’s. Her older brother was spending Christmas with his long-term girlfriend. His girlfriend didn’t get along with their parents and she couldn’t blame her.

As for Jamie, she barely saw her. When she was home, Jamie wasn’t and when Jamie was home, she was asleep, which was fine. Christmas was coming up and Jamie had Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after.

The Banberries

A musical journey

by SUZIE DALKIN

Sam Simpson was a bit of a nonentity. Nowhere near top of the class or the bottom. Not the life and soul of the party – not that he ever got invited. Not a sportsman and not tall, short, fat or ginger, he was just inconspicuous, and terribly shy. And, while his classmates at his all-boys school were growing up and out, he seemed to be lagging behind. Inconspicuously.

I, my good friend Paul, a couple passing acquaintances, and several other people who were complete strangers to me were convinced by various of our friends to help them run one of those interactive entertainment events. We didn’t know our friends were associated with such a thing, nor had we ever heard of this one. We were invited to a free run-through of the event so that we would know how it was supposed to work.

“Tammy, I love what that magical wreath did to me.” Sara loved her new elven body as she looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror.

“I’m glad you like your new body because I hate what it did to me.” Tammy walks up and stands next to Sara.

The magic from the ancient Christmas wreath they found had changed both. Where Sara was turned into a five-foot-six-inch busty, curvy female elf, she was turned into a female elf who resembled Judy from the Tim Allen Santa Claus movies.

Helena and Alex stood side by side in the dim corridor of the mag-train, the low hum of its engines reverberating beneath their feet. They had just received word that the warning had come through in time. Morgan’s message, decoded by the Empress Consort, confirmed that an attempt to harm Alex was imminent. Connor’s plot had been laid bare.

Now, it was their turn to respond, a testament to their unwavering courage in the face of danger, their determination shining through every action they took.