Two dogs. A rabbit. Four cats. Two parakeets. Nine cedar boxes filled with the life’s ashes of our fur and feathered family for over the last 40+ years. We are down to just one now. Gimley the cat came to us some seven years ago. He was a feral cat who was surprisingly human-friendly. We fed and watered him but it was obvious he was the neighborhood cat that knew which families would give him the most attention. He was we...

  Fear not, my most beloved, the city keeps our liaison secure. The old stones have engraved our names in their fiery hearts, the greyish river remembers to keep our scent in its waters. We somehow will always live in the travelling breeze of Time, In the old decayed doorways where we kissed defying Fate and every treasured second will shine softly for all lovers even in the darkest of nights.        

In life we all have responsibilities; we all face hardships and deal with tragedy though for me with whatever comes my way I like to see the bright side, the positive side, the good side of life, even during times of difficulty. It is how we deal with adversity that makes us unique, makes us strong, right? Take my older brother for instance. He had been attacked and badly beaten a few years back, nearly six years ago in f...

I saw her again today and my heart leapt into my chest.  I need to know that she'll be a safe place to land when I fall to pieces and that I’m not wasting my time and energy on her because I don’t give out my heart freely anymore. She’s been there when I have needed her the most, and all I want and need is to be able to do the same for her. I know that loving her is unconventional and, to most people, an impossible dream,...

“Can we pretend things are how they used to be?”Can I look for my own reflection instead of yours in the mirror? The moments between heartbeats are the only ones your voice doesn’t follow. I can no longer hear affection after seeing your rage. Listening makes my ears bleed now.  “Can’t you just let it go?”Can’t you just let me go? My teeth ache from clenching my jaw.My throat, from choking down responses to keep peace, is...

As soon as he entered the kitchen, Detective Inspector Tate knew that this had to be the same perp. Cupboards were thrown open and their contents scattered mercilessly about. His feet crunched on Cornflakes and Rice Crispies as he walked. A box, its innards ripped apart and surrounded by Cocoa-Pops, lay on the counter. On the table, another box, Shreddies, battered and torn, a sticky white fluid soaking into the jagged ca...

I was just nine years old in June of 1983 where due to illness I had to spend some time in hospital, ensuring I would miss out on the last couple of weeks of school. I was back to my normal self by the time school started back up that September. The illness itself wasn’t all so strange though the circumstances surrounding it were just that… Strange. A lot of my friends who I hadn't seen during the summer, wanted to know w...

Out from the silence of years, lost in the memory of dead seconds, walking through the labyrinth of time knowing the way out is deeply hidden and the centre perversely elusive, I can still say your memory lingers in the city of bridges and dark river, in the flowery scent of warm nights, in the fading music of some old bar and in the crossroads of my own heart.      

I have broken myself down into my most basic parts. That which makes me up, that which tears me down. Solid and headstrong, for only I, know what's right. Prone to such weakness and indulgence even so,   For I want more than to survive.   To one end of nature, or the other end of nurture, And back again. The middle ground is a filament invisible, A tenuous thread that holds me together. That I can neither see, nor feel, n...

The yelling seems to always start late in the evening when you are in bed. But not asleep. You could hear it all, taking it in, learning from it, making it part of your reality for the future. Would you build a future with bricks and mortar of shouts and pain? Would you exist sharing love and kindness, forgiveness?  You never talked about it in later years. Never shared it. But you absorbed it all. Used it to form a home...

It's a wonder as to how a place like Abe's Diner sees any business at all but business it does see and all the rest too. Castletown is and always has been a rather large and continuously growing town though Abe's sits alone on the outskirts of town more than a fair distance away from everything and anything else noteworthy. Prosper it has and prosper it does for a good three decades now. That’s Abe’s Diner. Kate Evans arr...

The world is forever changing, at times it changes too quickly and not all change is necessarily good change nor is it always a wanted change. What if someone or something does not want to accept change? What if that someone or something is so unhappy being left behind in the doldrums created by progress that a will is created, an energy with a will to fight back and rewind the strides made by progress. Life is a funny th...

Sally Mouse and Cassie Cat are the best of friends. Sally decides to make Rice Krispies treats with unicorn marshmallows. She knows they are one of Cassie's favorite treats and wants to show her that they are cherished friends. She makes them special by using her favorite unicorn cookie cutter. She and Cassie like to share treats and have silly conversations as they enjoy each other's company. Sally has made a unicorn-sha...

Many changes take place  She smiles with the secret of yesterday and The promise of tomorrow Had a good life Many tears and smiles A simple life To sit on the porch  Early morning with first light  That touches the mountain top Listening to the rain and  Gentle breeze That speaks of lazy days of love That last well into the darkness Time passes far to fast A new moment in time To give freely Without reason or thoughts To...

Cassie Cat and Sally Mouse have been friends for a long time; however, it hasn't been the smoothest of journeys. However, they have always come out the other side stronger and happier when they were together.  Cassie decided for world friendship day she wanted to do something special for Sally, to show her how important she is.  Cassie decided to make some baked treats as a gift because Sally loves everything chocolate, o...