Featured Tale
The Price of a Wish
I let out a whoop. “Whoa, look at this!” With my hand, I brushed the dust off the ornate purple bottle I found in a pile of debris in the attic. Larry tiptoed gingerly through the clutter towards me. He leaned in for a look, his eyes growing as big…
Latest Tales
The Royal Herald
The Prime Minister stood before King Bartholomew’s throne. “Today I am appointing Lord Barnaby Bragglesworth as Royal Herald,” said the king. “As a lawyer, he is exceptionally qualified to speak on my behalf and deliver proclamations and royal decisions to…
The Royal Ceasefire
King Bartholomew summoned the ambassadors of Ukravia and Ruzkovia to the palace. “Ambassadors, thanks for coming today. I am pleased to hear of the ceasefire between your countries.” The ambassadors looked at each other, then at the king. “Your Majesty,…
The King’s Royalties
King Bartholomew summoned the royal scribes and bookmakers into his palace. They bowed before his throne as he ate his noon meal. He motioned with his hands. “Scribes! Bookmakers! Rise! I have learned you are accepting royalties. Give an account…
The King’s Alchemists
King Bartholomew summoned the Royal Alchemists to the throne room. They bowed before the king. “Alchemists! You have failed to turn lead into gold.” “From this day forward, I declare you shall no longer be alchemists. You are henceforth magicians!”…
Another Path
The waitress tops off my coffee cup; the cup across from me is full. I’m happy. Today is the day. The first time I will see her, in person, face to face. No profile photo or video call could do…
A Small Price to Pay
King Bartholomew’s armies attacked the distant land of Iranizbad. For months, the war dragged on. He assured his subjects that victory was near. Farmers couldn’t afford feed for livestock, or fertilizer for crops. People couldn’t afford food to eat, or…
Open Another Door
Filling Up, Falling Down
I finished gassing up my car and noticed a pretty young woman at the next pump put the fuel nozzle into her gas tank. She stepped back, tripped over the hose stretched behind her legs, and fell flat on the…
The Purloined Pen
6:47 a.m., with a steaming mug of coffee in hand, I flop down on the couch and turn on the TV. I reach for my To-Do list notebook and my pen. The notebook is there on the cushion where I…
The Ledger
Lonnie lived his life believing he was utterly forgettable, a dullard with average grades, ordinary jobs, invisible in every crowd. When he retired at sixty-five, he quickly got bored and volunteered at the city police station, cataloging old records. One…
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