November 16, 2016
Once upon a time an old miller crafted new paddle staves to replace the many worn out staves of his waterwheel. Sacks of oats ready to be milled lined the walls of the long shed where he worked. After many hours of labor he decided to take a nap. He arranged three oat sacks to […]
October 13, 2016
‘I am very good at puzzles. I am the best,’ said Little Daphnis. The gatekeeper looked doubtful and smiled crookedly. ‘A scrap of a thing like you? Tell me another. Go off and leave the labyrinth to fools a good deal older than you.’ ‘I have a baling hook. It’s iron. The smith made it […]
September 28, 2016
‘Villages disappeared. Where they had thrived were empty fields of waving grasses and moaning winds,’ the storyteller began, rubbing his chin and looking around to engage in turn each of his young listeners. Then he whispered, ‘Hear me well if you would save this village from … the minstrel.’ The children shrank down, wide-eyed. The […]
July 25, 2016
You place your ticket in the red velvet hand of the Squad King. He examines it with his pearl encrusted lorgnette, nods acceptance, and allows you to pass through the silk curtains of no discernible color. The spillway confronting you is domed above and flanked by a neat squadron of folding chairs. You seat yourself […]
April 18, 2016
One day a long time ago Simple Septimus, the stable boy, asked his master, ‘What is the sun?’ ‘A great ball of fire,’ replied the master. ‘Where does it go at night?’ said Septimus. ‘Underneath to its golden palace where it rests and takes refreshment. Now get back to work,’ said the master. I would […]
February 9, 2016
Pull back, push down, you row. Glints spatter in the moonlight as the blades of your oars attack the water. The abandoned pier, a black finger, recedes in the distance. You turn your head. The island waits. Sweat drips from the end of your nose. Sweat runs a trickle down your spine. Pull, pull, you […]
January 5, 2016
‘Cornflake! Bradley Cornflake! Message for Bradley Cornflake!’ ‘Here, boy!’ shouted Bradley Cornflake in as gruff a manner as his vocal apparatus allowed, all the while glaring around the hotel lobby in defiance, daring anyone to smirk. Nobody smirked. Instead, all busied themselves with newspapers, hat adjustment, wallet or purse inspection, whittling, any activity allowing them […]
December 31, 2015
When the old year goes and the new year shows, on the stroke of midnight you’ll be free, but until then you belong to me. You read the soiled scrap of paper again. Your heart beats wildly. You’ve been on the run evading capture for six months, desperate to make it to the new year […]
October 11, 2015
Pembrook huddled high in the tree. Sweat trickled down his spine, beaded on his forehead. Yes, his forehead was beneath his spine. Was he safe from his pursuer? Time would tell. Or would it? Time couldn’t be trusted, Pembrook thought bitterly. His survival depended on his remaining perfectly silent. So naturally his throat tickled and […]
October 5, 2015
Mason Jarr felt certain of one thing, and one thing only. If he remained perfectly still, all would be fine. He hired brutes to tie him upright to the wall and tube him extensively so that he could not and would not move. He spent three years motionless attached to the wall, and all was […]