A born writer is born scrofulous; his career is an accident dictated by disabilities

Seven odd careers   FOUR - You’re fired! -     Thomas entered the kitchen to find Elijah was laughing like a maniac. Oliver, too, was planted head down on the table, shaking with repressed mirth.   “What?” He asked, suspiciously.   Oliver wordlessly flapped a piece of paper at him, helpless. Thomas ...

“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”

 Six fairy tales   Oliver opened the book he had taken from Great Uncle James’ shabby study and flicked through it. The paper had yellowed from much handling, and the writing faded a little. It almost looked as though Great Uncle James had handwritten it himself. Idly he turned to somewhere in the first third, and began to read.   ONE - The ...

"In a utilitarian age, it is a matter of grave importance that fairy tales should be respected"

FOUR - Atollio’s Folly -   Once, many years ago when the earth was rich and the stars could sing, there was traffic between the land and sea, and the strangest peoples of those kingdoms knew one another well.   The Sea folk, the Fair folk and the humble ones prospered well; dealing an intricate series of trades between them, although ...

I AM DEATH, NOT TAXES. *I* TURN UP ONLY ONCE.

Five character deaths .   ONE - The Expected End –     The old woman lay still and waxen in her bed, not quite yet gone. The basset hound at her feet snored softly, and with the ticking of the clock, Emily Kant knew it was finally time. Feebly her hands crabbed at the crochet blanket, seeking the book that had been there...

One can survive everything nowadays, except death, and live down anything, except a good reputation.

Five character deaths .     THREE -          The Unforeseen End -   Leona the Mad crouched on the roof of the forge, shivering in the cold night air. The pale lights of the stars watched her as she crept along the ridge of tiles, towards the window of the house, intent on her purpose.   The village ...

"Suddenly it-it occurs to the chap that there is a way out of the deadlock."

Four weddings   ONE - The Album -     “Oh sweetheart, where did you find that?”   Thomas looked up from the photographs to find his mother smiling at him broadly. He held the top page out for her to examine.   “It was in Great Aunt Emily’s room,” he said, “Just under the bed.”...

Three shattered dreams   ONE - Sylvain Pryce -     Pryce awoke sweating, his heart pounding in his chest. That horrible dream again.   His brother, blissfully oblivious, rolled over in his sleep in the other bed and snored in a way that was at once both irritating and comforting. He shivered and wrapped ...

I have played the fox; now I must play the cat of the fable.

Two dangerous games   ONE - Following Footsteps-          “Thomas, wait!”   Oliver’s uncertain voice drew his brother to a halt.   “What’s the matter?”   Oliver paused, listening. “I’m not sure,” he admitted at last, “But I thought I heard footsteps.”  ...

Fanart

Little belated Xmas offering for all you lads and ladettes. 1) AtoTez (G) DA: r05km.deviantart.com/art/A-quick-word-107753867 2) Atoryo (hints at them being in the nuddy-pants, but fairly safe) DA: r05km.deviantart.com/art/Atoryo-107754063 3) Marui Bunta DA: r05km.deviantart.com/art/Bunta-107754443 Happy New Year everyone!