By Emily Gennis It was the kind of night that creeps up on soft, silent paws, and has its claws in you before you even know it's there. I was in my usual spot on the windowsill, watching a squirrel bury its loot and muttering all the things I’d do to it if I ever … Continue reading Le Chat Noir
Insurmountable Differences
By Dawn DeBraal Casey signed, leaning against the door. She’d met her soulmate. Mark was perfect. He had a flawless smile and olive skin and was mannerly, charismatic, and considerate. She’d run out of positive adjectives to describe Mark to her parents and friends. He was husband material, and she thought of him that way … Continue reading Insurmountable Differences
Achat de Noël
By Matthew Allen Lin Ugh. I really should have planned this better. I thought the lines back home in California were bad. Looks like everyone in Paris waited until the last minute to do their Christmas shopping. I checked the time on my phone. 10 a.m. Good thing Melanie was still asleep at our hotel. … Continue reading Achat de Noël
Academy Classics: O Tannenbaum
By Thomas Page The tree sort of slumped over. Ornaments scattered all over the ground. On the way down, the tree took out several pictures on the mantle. The ground was covered in broken glass, clay, and porcelain. Their dog, Sparkles, was trying to eat the remains of a surfing Santa. “Well, I’ll get some … Continue reading Academy Classics: O Tannenbaum
The Kitchen Disaster
By Tim Law It was a scene of complete and utter chaos. There was only one word for a kitchen that was the equivalent of a culinary bombsite, pandemonium. With the last blue ribbon clutched tight in her hand, Mayor Sarah Robbins starred, gob smacked, scanning the Community Centre Kitchen in utter dismay. Maybe she … Continue reading The Kitchen Disaster
The Great Gingerbread Rescue and Other Poems
By Ken Gosse The Great Gingerbread Rescue It happened in Maine at the Gingerbread Fest where the “World’s Best Cookie” is made. A deer got ensnared in the “Dough That’s The Best” when it wandered away from its glade. Though I wasn’t near, I did overhear what a lovely young lass told her beau: “Did … Continue reading The Great Gingerbread Rescue and Other Poems
Hedge Your Bets
By Doug Dawson "Bless me Father, it's been ... three years since my last confession and these are my sins." "Just a minute, my son ... why so long?" "I've been very ... busy, Father." "Too busy to come to confession?" "I've been ... doing other things." "Have you … Continue reading Hedge Your Bets
Academy Classics: The League
By Thomas Page Mary Susannah Damon did not expect this to happen. Sure, dabbling in the Dark Arts would cause some closed-minded people to say that she was in league with the Devil himself, but she did not expect the League of Magic meeting at her local civic center to be so intolerant. "What do … Continue reading Academy Classics: The League
Catechism Lesson
By John Affleck When Monsignor Sweeney visits our fifth-grade classroom, everybody gets geeked up, even more than when we’re in Sister Madeline’s English class. Usually, we get about 30 minutes notice, like an air raid, before Sweeney shows up. Our homeroom teacher, Sister Noreen, announces the visit in a formal tone — we’re lucky enough … Continue reading Catechism Lesson
The Customer
By John Page The bookstore was having a completely normal day. There wasn’t a lot of people actually buying books but every seat in the cafe was filled. Such is the lot of a bookseller. Thus no one was ready when a mysterious thing came into the store. It had to duck to get underneath … Continue reading The Customer
Academy of the Heart And Mind 