Fresh Start

Cynthia and the Christmas Gift - Reposted

 

Cynthia and the Christmas Gift - Reposted
Complete

By Portia Bennett

This is a little stand-alone story that eventually became part of a chapter in Cynthia and the High School Years — Part 1. As there are many new readers at this site, I thought they might enjoy another Christmas story. If you enjoy the story and are not familiar with the characters, you might want to read the Cynthia Chronicles.

The Perfect Christmas Present

[Christmas Eve]

The early evening crowd bar at the George and Dragon was thinning out when the door opened and in walked one of the regulars.

“Hello Mike,” said the Barman.

“Hi Pete. The usual please and a double ‘Grouse’ please.”

Pete, the barman raised his eyebrows.

“I can tell that something is wrong. It has to be for you to order a chaser.”

The house keeper

It was not often that I went back home, I had done the usual thing from school, gone university not thinking what I was leaving, then the job with prospects and soon after a husband and a couple of kids and I was comfortable in my middle class suburban life with the occasional trip home to see my mum.

Chasing Dreams Part 3


Chasing Dreams
Part Three
By, Jessica Roberts

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Synopsys: One month has passed since Chris was admitted to the hospital and as a result there has been many changes, gone was the fear, shame and depression, that once over shadowed his entire existence, and in its place was a new found freedom, and with this new found freedom he was finely able to live the life that had been denied him.


Synergy - Prologue


Synergy: When Past and Present Collide

Girl with Sword

I would soon learn the mistake I had made to cure my incessant boredom; I had led mankind down a road that only gods should traverse. The mistake that came from ignorance and curiosity would change not only my destiny, but that of mankind itself. But like any event there is a point in time where all the threads meet, a time when the slightest change has the greatest impact, its synergy.

Chasing Dreams Part 2


Chasing Dreams
Part Two
By, Jessica Roberts

 


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Synopsis: Things are starting to look up for Chris, although his recovery has been slow, many things have started to change and his outlook on live is one of them. His doctor has approved his decision to start the process towards becoming a girl, and although somewhat reluctant his parents have also agreed to allow him to begin the process.

Chasing Dreams Part 1


Chasing Dreams
Part One
By, Jessica Roberts

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Synopsis: 15 year old Chris Roberts, had everything a teenage boy could want accept for the one thing that mattered most, he wanted more than anything to become a girl. As a result he suffered severe bouts of depression and thought about ending his life many times. Then one day he was brought into the hospital and later operated on due to a brain tumor and realized that his death wish had almost became a reality. Now he Is left with two choices, to return to the life he once had, or risk everything to become the person he always dreamed of being.

Somewhere Else Entirely -116-

After a disturbing session with the Beings Garia travels to the estate to see the Einnlanders depart. An afternoon meeting finds her explaining knitting and sewing machines to Fulvin - and an interested Senidet. Later, Kendar makes an unexpected suggestion.

Somewhere Else Entirely

by Penny Lane

116 - Needles and Threads

Bridges 45

*Before…

We’re pulling down our road and I can see the ranch. “Well it’s not burned down so I guess we’re having pasta tonight.”

He smiles and he pulls up my lane and into my yard. “I told you so.”

I look at him and then at his place and my place and just sort of everything. “I love you y’know right?”

He just smiles as he reaches over and pulls me in and gives me this really tender kiss on the forehead. “Yeah, I know.”

*And Now…

Life Is Not A Bowl Of Cherries~1


I hated the winter and December in particular. All those festive revelries left me cold. Christmas was for happy families and I wasn’t in one...

Life Is Not A Bowl Of Cherries

A Story At Christmas

By Susan Brown

Somewhere Else Entirely -115-

The letter that Garia receives causes her to question what it is the Beings are doing, but other more urgent matters require her attention. It seems the Einnlanders need to know the effects of firearms, and it so happens the Kallend estate is the perfect place to show them.

Somewhere Else Entirely

by Penny Lane

115 - Fire in the Hole

Somewhere Else Entirely -114-

Garia receives an unwelcome addition to her household before going off to visit the Norsemen. It is necessary to convince them of her abilities before they will agree to be trained by the Palace Guard. Then Keren returns from his journey upstream bearing letters from many of the other rulers, and more...

Somewhere Else Entirely

by Penny Lane

114 - News from the West

Dead Ringer (Part 11)

Chapter Twenty Eight

The pieces, methodically and patiently placed over the preceding three years, were all falling into place, and having laid dormant, were apparently still undetected. The end game was ready to begin.

Over the months Aaron and I had spent many long nights discussing the situation, and I was beginning to truly feel like the partner and co-collaborator that everyone always presumed the fictitious Lade 3V3 to be.

Summer of Love - Part 6

On the ride to L.A. I reflected on how ...natural and comfortable I was being Jodie, ...or Olive ...or even Juanita. Many names, same girl..... same ….me. It was now Jody... or Joseph Junior... or Cadet O'Donnell that seemed like the fiction... or a biography I'd read. I remembered events from his life, but not viscerally. All the recollections were in my head... but none of them any longer lived in my heart.

Three Wishes, Epilogue


Be careful what you wish for. If you're lucky, you just might get it!

(Sephrena asked me to do an epilogue to make sure it met all of the contest requirements, so here it is, hopefully squeaking in under the wire.)

New School New Girl

The school grounds of Christine Jorgenson Elementary School was busy on the first day of the school year. A group of second grade girls were talking together and talked about their teacher, Miss Sara Hudson.

One of the girls, Alison Brauner, said, "My brother and sister had her 3 years ago and they said she is nice."

Another of the girls in her group, Grace Corkery, said, "Mom told me that Miss Hudson is nice and my brother said she is."

Shocking Developments - Part 1


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Terrael grew up in paradise, until the Fomorians showed up. Now Humans, Hypers, and Fae all face extinction and Terrael is their only hope. Can he get used to his own changes and make the one change that can save them all?

 
 

Shocking Developments
Part 1 of 3
Dystopia

By
Amethyst

My mother’s eyes shot wide open. “You can’t seriously be thinking about taking Terry to see her,” she sputtered. “She wasn’t playing with a full deck before the Flare. After she threw away any cards she might have had left.”

The Second Bell

The Second Bell
By Melange
Copyright© 2014 Melange
All Rights Reserved.

TopShelf's Fall 2014 Back to School Contest

Didn't it start right here? Facing only herself, nothing more and nothing less. Like with many changes, it all began with a simple question: What if...

For once, she hadn't brushed it away as an idle thought. For once, she had listened to that feeling inside. A little like how your legs could get stiff if you sat down too long, a part inside her had grown stiff from being cramped up. She needed to stretch out. Stretch the wings of her imagination and soar.

But that was before, and today was the day. It was time to be brave.

Somewhere Else Entirely -113-

Keren sends news that he is planning a side trip, which causes concern at the palace. Robanar, Eriana and Garia travel out to a mansion to welcome the Norsemen who are arriving from Plif. The meeting throws up an unexpected problem that causes Eriana some personal contemplation.

Somewhere Else Entirely

by Penny Lane

113 - Winter Happenings

Twice Removed... 16

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Xia Phar had a good life for a human on Saer’kah. She didn’t wear a restriction band and the Saer’khi family that had raised her since the Migration treated her like one of their own. Others humans on Saer’kah though had no reason to love the Saer’khi . At least Xia had some semblance of freedom. So when the humans decide to rebel against the Saer’khi and she discovers the real reason for the presence of humans and other aliens on Saer’kah Xia decides to take action. Enlisting the help of her family and her friend Tarek she forms a plan to get everyone out of the alien barracks without arousing suspicion and get them off Saer’kah on one of the newly built colony ships. Sounds pretty easy right? Now Tarek’s crush on her is the least of her problems and leaving Saer’kah is just the beginning.

 
 

Twice Removed
Chapter 16
Traveling

By
Amethyst
*Don’t worry Xia, I’ll keep in contact the whole time and help you both through it. You should be fine though,* she assured me, *it’s just like flying, you just use more telekinesis and don’t use your wings.*

Sixteen Feet of Steel Chapter 11

Sixteen Feet of Steel Chapter 11

Chapter 11

*Before…

I smile and pull the length of chain to myself and my “wand” and he’s staring at me and there’s a smile and a nod.
“Ye got thet right.”
I smile. “You’re not scared?”
“Ye came in and ye helped save me an mine before Sir Alaan did that says a lot about ye. I think I can trust ye.”
“Thank you and you’re sure you don’t mind me doing this?”
“Nay ‘side I kin say I knew ye when ye were just learning yer craft and maybe be even a little bit famous t’boot.”
“Well thank you Master Smith it’s nice to be so highly thought of.”
“Ye kin call me Aiden.”
“Chrissy.”
“Oh nay yer high born I can tell thet much.”
“No, I was wealth born there’s no man or woman that should be set above another.”
Eight days or so ago and a boyhood away I didn’t even know that much about life to even say that and now.
Now it just feels right.

*And Now…

Taking the other bus.


Taking the other bus.

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By Karin Beyaert


Kathy was always a little bit insecure. But then she meets Angelo and her whole live changes. And all that just because she caught a bus she never intended to catch.


A story dedicated to all guardian angels, and especially my own.

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Armsman of Joth -6-

What happens to someone when they become the thing they most fear and loathe?

Armsman of Joth

by Penny Lane

6: Meeting

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Maralin thinks the Duke wants to see him because of his knowledge of firearms. However, when he finally meets the Duke after a day's journey, he discovers the reason is somewhat different. A tense night is spent before the truth is revealed... he has some personal decisions to make.

Armsman of Joth -5-

What happens to someone when they become the thing they most fear and loathe?

Armsman of Joth

by Penny Lane

5: Warrior

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Maralin is relieved to be away from the blood and the mud but he knows his respite will only be short-lived. The Captain seems willing to listen to his ideas and Maralin is sent out on a scouting expedition. Then, everything changes again...

Armsman of Joth -4-

What happens to someone when they become the thing they most fear and loathe?

Armsman of Joth

by Penny Lane

4: Fugitive

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Training moves out into the countryside between Galdarin and Joth. Maralin learns much about the art of soldiering. Then comes a shock... Maralin faces accusations of spying but there is no time for arguments - they must run and hide!

Armsman of Joth -3-

What happens to someone when they become the thing they most fear and loathe?

Armsman of Joth

by Penny Lane

3: Recruit


Maralin faces his next challenge: to learn to fight with weapons his world had forgot and worse, to mix with a company of men who all think he's just like them...

Identity Theft

Identity Theft
by Ellie Dauber
© 2000

Author's Note: When I read an article about identity theft some time back, it occurred to me that such thieves better be very careful whose identity they steal.

* * * * *

T-Jay watched from the shadows while the guy from Apartment 307 tossed his trash into the dumpster. He waited till the old coot ambled back into the building. Sure that nobody was watching, he ran over and grabbed the three loosely tied plastic bags. He turned and ran back into his own apartment, locking his door behind him.

Twice Removed... 15

landing.png
Xia Phar had a good life for a human on Saer’kah. She didn’t wear a restriction band and the Saer’khi family that had raised her since the Migration treated her like one of their own. Others humans on Saer’kah though had no reason to love the Saer’khi . At least Xia had some semblance of freedom. So when the humans decide to rebel against the Saer’khi and she discovers the real reason for the presence of humans and other aliens on Saer’kah Xia decides to take action. Enlisting the help of her family and her friend Tarek she forms a plan to get everyone out of the alien barracks without arousing suspicion and get them off Saer’kah on one of the newly built colony ships. Sounds pretty easy right? Now Tarek’s crush on her is the least of her problems and leaving Saer’kah is just the beginning.

 
 

Twice Removed
Chapter 15
Ray of Light

By
Amethyst
My eyes shot wide open and I’m pretty sure my jaw dropped as well. “Do you even know what you’re asking? I could see things you don’t want me to.”

Armsman of Joth -2-

What happens to someone when they become the thing they most fear and loathe?

Armsman of Joth

by Penny Lane

2: Insanity

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Maralin tries to make sense of the bizarre situation he finds himself in: a new body, one he would rather not have, and a new world where everything is strange and different.

The CNA


THE CNA

By Patricia Marie Allen

The days were getting shorter. Summer had just flown by. Patrick was beginning to feel a quite a panic setting in. He had promised to find a job by the end of summer, but his heart just wasn’t in it. Here it was already the second week of September. His father was getting impatient. Patrick would rather have gone to school. He had the grades for it. But his father had not supported his choice of schools. Linfield’s College of Nursing at Good Samaritan Hospital was accepting men in the nursing program. In two years he could be an LPN if he stuck it out four, he could graduate an RN. But his Dad said “I’m not paying anybody to turn my son in to a pantywaist male nurse!”

House Sitting Pretty

House Sitting Pretty
by Ellie Dauber © 2003

Dan Hendrix learns that the one thing worse than cheating on your wife is giving her a really lame excuse when she catches you.

This story is not a sequel to “Habeas Corpus”, although some of the same characters appear in both.

Somewhere Else Entirely -112-

At the ending of the year there are two important occasions Garia must attend. First comes the last ever gathering of the Guilds of Palarand before they merge to form a new combined engineering institute. Then, as the old year ends, there is the festival of Midwinter's Night, where each family gathers together to remember the past and prepare for the new year to come.

Somewhere Else Entirely

by Penny Lane

112 - Midwinter's Night

Get A Life!~Chapter 15

I could have cried, I should have cried, but I wasn’t in the crying mood. I was in the red-hot temper mood. I didn’t lose it all that often, but my blood was the blood of the Scots and we don’t take prisoners…


Get A Life!

By Susan Brown

--SEPARATOR--

UF-2 Book 2 Chapter 1

UF-2 The Seeds of War
by Barbie Lee
Edited by Catherine Linda Michel
Copyright April 2002

"His breath reeked of gin and spirits. It was probably the only mouthwash he ever used. He smiled, and his yellow teeth looked bright against the dark recess of his yawning gullet. His lips were thin. Probably from seldom being pulled into a smile. He held his knife to my throat. “I’m going to sell you to the slavers.”

Over the shoulder of the first man, I could see another man coming across the room. He was holding up a slave collar. A cruel device, it was guaranteed to make the person it was placed on, submissive. Voice controlled, the master didn’t need a transmitter. All the master had to do was give a command. If the slave didn’t respond the slave collar would give a cruel shock. I had seen slaves drop to the floor writhing in agony when they didn’t respond to a command from the master. Those slave collars were a product of the government for use on prisoners. Pirates and slavers found a new use for the government prisoner collars."

And off we go in Book two of UF-2 The Seeds Of War. Strap yourselves in and suit up for action in deep space. Pirates, slavers, alien races and war loom ahead for Brandy, Sherry and all the universes and dimensions. Can our heroes and heroines stave off war and win out against the worst that space has to offer? Well here we go!

Sweet Dreams-59

Sweet Dreams-59

Chapter 59

*Before…

I look around the caf and it’s just a sort of morbid kind of curious look and I’m looking not at the kids around me in the whole popular side of things but over to what would have been me…you ‘know the loners and the geeks and the sort of like unpopular kids that don’t really fit the popular and semi popular high school tribes and I’m kind of looking for.
Yeah…it’s there.
I see them and they see me and some of them sort of do the don’t look right at it thing with me but some of them are doing the glare and don’t like me because I’m one of “Them” looks.
Sigh…fuck.
I knew it was bound to happen and yeah if I was a shitty person and all self-absorbed and shit I’d trot out the they’re just jealous crap but I’ve been there and they’re coming at this from places of being likely treated like dogshit by some of these popular people and stuff.
So…I’m going to need to change that.

*And Now…

Eerie Saloon: Seasons of Change -- Spring, part 13 of 13

Eerie Saloon: Seasons of Change – Spring, part 13 of 13
By Ellie Dauber and Chris Leeson © 2013

Cap and Bridget reconcile. Laura confronts Reverend Yingling. Jane bakes and bakes. Trisha and Roscoe spend some time together. Flora worries about being with Carl. Cecelia and her friends talk. Red Tully returns. Laura goes into labor. Priscilla Stafford comes looking for her brother. Arnie considers her name. And lots more.

Hopscotch…A Jump in Life 1

Hopscotch…A Jump in Life 1

Chapter 1

Beep…
Beep…
Beep…

My throat hurts…

There’s a flicker in the darkness… a jingle of keys? Seeing them falling slowly into a hand and a feeling of excitement.

I see a blue car, a muscle car and we’re all running towards it.

We…I’m with a bunch of guys getting in the back seat.

I can feel a forward pushing me back feeling going fast.

I don’t think there was any like drinking or stuff but there was yelling.

The screech of tires and a girl screaming.

Me?

Somewhere Else Entirely -111-

Garia spends a day meeting people all over the palace. Plans are made, ideas are discussed, decisions taken, and a surprising offer comes from an unexpected direction.

Somewhere Else Entirely

by Penny Lane

111 - Five Conversations

UF-2 Book 1 Chapter 6

UF-2 Book 1 Chapter 6 By Barbie Lee, Edited by Catherine Linda Michel

FROM CHAPTER 5

She made the motions of drawing an X over her heart. “Nope, God’s own truth. He turned of age yesterday. That meant two things for him. He was allowed to marry without his parents permission, and he ascends to command of his clan. His dad, your father in law, has stepped down as leader of the clan.”

“Honey, you married into the Number One Clan. Toni is head or leader of all Pash as of yesterday.”

FROM THE EDITOR: So now we know who Toni actually is. In this final chapter we will witness Brandy's acceptance of the life that fate has brought her, the final showdown with the Trag, and Brandy's rise to Queen of the Pash.

Book 2 of this great space opera is about done with editing and will follow as soon as possible.

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