portal – Deep Sky Anchor

by Mary E. Lowd

Originally published in Commander Annie and Other Adventures, November 2023

“As the blood and teardrops mixed with the sound of Heidi’s urgently whispered cursing, an electric chill filled the room. Heidi looked up to see a man standing in the doorway.”

Each stitch was a nightmare. Heidi stabbed her fingertip, jamming the pointy needle through the unruly fabric. Sometimes the fabric bunched up into a stiff, impenetrable clump under the needle’s point. Other times, the needle sailed through… only for Heidi to find she’d accidently sewn two layers of the ballgown together. Then she had to rip the stitches out, taking her further from the finish line. Continue reading “Rumpel’s Gift”

by Mary E. Lowd

Originally published in Commander Annie and Other Adventures, November 2023

“Who are you?” Huckle asked, almost flubbing the words and saying to the imposter-reflection, “Who am I?”

The water splashed under Huckle’s boot in the most satisfying way. Repeated little stomps made smacking sounds and rapid ripples. Big stomps from running jumps made a slapping sound and spattered the water high enough to annoy his dad.

“Come on,” Terrence said, grabbing his eight-year-old son’s hand and pulling lightly enough to cajole the boy but not hard enough to hurt him. “If we hurry, we can make it to both Arrin Abbey and the Westle Church before lunch. Wouldn’t that be fun?” Terrence spoke with the tightness in his voice that meant he was trying not to sound annoyed. But he was. Huckle could tell. And Huckle decided to push at him. Continue reading “Huckle’s Puddle”