The Sun Man often stood at the center of the walkway connecting the mightiest wings of the fortress. He enjoyed looking down on the throng gathered below in the bitter frozen depths. He spoke to them. ‘Behold,’ he said. ‘Your work this past month I have found to be satisfactory. All quotas have been met. […]
“Oh, no! They’re going to pick us! I knew it! I knew it! Oh no!” trumpeted a daffodil sprouted near the edge of a meadow positively yellow with daffodil blooms. “Who cares?” sniffed a neighboring daffodil, head held high while the meadow all around swayed in floral panic. “Get picked. Don’t get picked. It’s all […]
A maze of gentle hedges surrounds the Elf Queen’s Glade. I wander for days to solve it. I’m trapped, but unafraid. Finally, yes, I step through. She sits there on her throne. ‘I’ve been waiting,’ she says. ‘Come closer. My, how you have grown.’ ‘What’s that?’ I gasp. ‘Do you dare confirm what I’ve believed […]
“Are you one of those quinces we’ve been hearing rumors about?” said one of the avocados pleasantly, just to be polite, just to make the newcomer feel welcome. “What’s it to you?” was the quince’s rude reply. “Is that your skin or did somebody green vomit on you?” “Well, I never!” uttered the avocado, stunned […]
A cat’s eye marble, crystal clear with a wide yellow ribbon twist, rolled across the rug and came to a stop next to a short heavy club leaning against the wall in the corner of the room nearest the fireplace. “Excuse me, club, are you tall enough to see the clock? I’d like to know […]
The biggest tree was twice as tall as any other tree in the forest. “I can see the ocean,” boasted the biggest tree. “Who cares?” piped up a young Douglas fir growing carelessly by the stream. “You’re fat.” “Why, you miserable toothpick, I’ll …” With great effort, the biggest tree wrenched itself to fall crashing […]
The mountain bike hung on the garage wall. It was deep night outside and quiet. All the back wheel spokes and most of the front wheel spokes were sound asleep after an exhausting day of spinning up and down rocky trails. The few awake on the front wheel whispered so as not to disturb the […]
The foul concoction brooded at the bottom of the cauldron. Why in the name of liquid brews everywhere did the crone add that last tincture of awareness to me? Trapped, nay puddled as I am in the depths of this ugly pot, what possible benefit can the awareness of my own existence bring to me? […]
The vain queen stood before the mirror and said, ‘Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?’ The mirror, a little too proud of itself, replied, ‘Fair in what sense, your majesty? Equal pay for equal work? Distributing the exact same number of jellybeans to everybody for dessert? Whoa, I see […]
The Magic Wand removed the tamale pie, sizzling in its ruddy earthenware casserole, from the oven. She placed it on her favorite potholder in the center of the sturdy table, and admired the golden glaze of the cornmeal topping. “Kids! Dinner!” she called. “I don’t want any! I ate two bags of chocolate chips today, […]
