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It was a warm first day of the month of Augustus and I was headed to the Ludi Martialis when I found him.  It was Cnaeus, a father of my family, whom I recognized only because of the masks and busts which were in the halls of my home.  He had lived before our family moved into the great city of Rome, instead he was one of those farmers who contemplated moving our capitol to Veii.  For a moment, I was afraid, I had preformed all the rites during the parentalia, but I had a sense of dread then, and it returned to me now.  How could I deal with the returned shade of an ancestor dead for centuries without the beans or pots involved in the rituals

"Sure is foggy out there, tonight," said Laurie, peering out the front window through a hand-wiped hole in the frost which clung to it.  She’d been doing as much for two hours, since the fog had become so thick you couldn’t see more than a few inches into the night. "Thank you, queen o' th' obvious," retorted Ron, staring glumly into a book. He licked his thumb and turned the page of his book.  With a "hmph" Laurie turned and walked into the kitchen. The tavern room of The Thieving Magpie was quiet tonight, no one seemed to want to be out in the dense fog. No one liked to be about when you might find yourself in the last place you

Carolina’s interest did not surprise her mother.  It had been inevitable; ever since she was a toddler, with chubby cheeks and ready laughter, Caroline had enjoyed the smells and sights of the kitchen.  Whether it had been bread baking in the oven or vegetables steaming on the stove, the little blond cherub has sat, legs swinging cheerfully, at the kitchen table, taking it all in.  Now, eleven summers later, the teenage girl who no longer carried chubby cheeks but still possessed an abundance of mirth had begun to take an interest in cooking. “I think I could help, Mama.  After all, weren’t you helping Abuelita with the tamale

Years ago, when I was eight years old, I was involved in the school trivia contest.  It wasn’t my idea.  I could name all the presidents in order and that the 1974 World Series was won by the Oakland Athletics in 5 games.  I knew who wrote “Crocodile Rock” and why the sky looks blue but is really clear.  The difficulty of the questions wasn’t really the problem. I was shy.  My peers could talk about their summer, their dog or their parents, but whenever it was my turn, I just wanted to hide.  If I could have disappeared until the teacher called on someone else, I would have been happy.  So getting up on stage in front of

To you oh Maiden Mother I speak all my hopes and dreams amongst the stars you hover below the seas lighted gleams Listen bright Aranrhiod goddess of the silver wheel where upon the stars you trod and hear the true dreams I feel Answer oh lady of the skies who weeps in a dream castle speak your rebirth to my eyes and my dark'ning hope refill Awaken keeper of dreams shine down your luminescence upon whom your wise love deems deserving of your presence

Dear crinkled up piece of paper I’m calling a diary… Er… Dear diary, Don’t mind if I don’t erase, all I could find is a pen.  Besides, who wants to waste time sharpening a pencil?  Anyway, this is the first time I’ve been able to get down my thoughts in a while.  Or over a year, whatever…  At first, I heard about a new disease and I figured I’d just tell all my patients (or customers or whatever) to watch out and get their vaccinations.  Just in case.  You never know when the next SARS is gonna catch a plane.  Or at least, you never did, before.  Back when there were planes.  So I keep tabs on it, th

Guided idly forward Good men looked to their deaths Loom-mistresses gave them Less sun’s hours to go forth So beneath feet they lie Servants now of Loki’s lass To return through their nails Turned into the giant’s boat

"Oh wow, Amber..."  Her name was Naudia, but Amber served her well, too.  Her lips, beneath what appeared a thick layer of blue lipstick, were parted in apparent desire. "You're so beautiful."  That she was, with a lithe figure which rolled and flowed in the right places, like the tides beneath the moon.  She reached a hand toward the well-dressed man who spoke to her. "Oh, and friendly..."  Some would call her that, but none would after a night with her. "I can't believe my luck, running into you..."  The statement was both more true and spurious than the well-dressed man would ever know.  After all, it was hardly by chance that both had

Victor's hands moved lightly across the wheel as he negotiated the turns that carried Randy and him away from the funeral of one of his closest friends.  Kyle.  If I had warned you, if I had told you why I so rarely had free nights, would it have saved you? Victor pulled to a stop in his driveway and opened his door, barely registering Randy doing the same on the other side of the truck.  The teen had already divested himself of jacket and tie, not any easy thing with his broken appendage.  Victor stamped down on his melancholy with each step he took toward the oak double doors to his sizable home.  No.  Colworth's death isn’t my fault.