Andlat's Story Spot

Another vintage Andlat story! Andlat studied the board before him, his gaze shifting from the board to the cards in his paw and back again. “Ah!” He said. “I’ll build a route from Denver to Kansas City with four orange cards.” He made his move, placing his red train cars in a neat line on the orange boxes as Jack looked on. He was glad that Andlat had not thrown too much of a fit about his conductor cap being pink, nor the fact that the bandana around his neck was more of a scarf, every bit as pink as his cap. After all, he was all boy below the scarf, from his beloved Ace Incredible t-shirt to the shorts that were insistent about sliding down his hips when he excitedly bounced forward from his place on the floor to play his turn. He had pouted more when Jack had accidentally blocked one of his routes. Andlat had tried to hide his disappointment, but he was a bad actor and Jack always knew when he was feeling down. “You might just beat me, kit.” Jack said, studying his own cards. “I...

Only two hours ago, Sean and Devin had been wrestling in nothing but their underwear over who would get the light blue shirt and who would get stuck with yellow for Easter, but now they sat amiably side by side, watching their family chat. Sean surveyed the chaos, glad that Mom had at least bought them different shirts, even if he had ended up with the dorky yellow one. Despite being fraternal twins, everyone was always calling him Devin! “Looks like Joey's here.” Devin said. “Joseph now, remember?” Sean looked where he was pointing. “Oh, he's talking to Uncle David.” “Yeah.” They both shuddered. David was a retired teacher, so he always asked a million questions about school. Even from across the yard, they could hear Joseph energetically talking about some history project. “He enjoys it more than we do.” “Yeah.” Sean agreed. Bored, his eyes wandered the yard. He saw Margaret in her disgusting Easter dress playing with a doll. Joseph would probably talk to David for like ...

“Wanna go another round?” Logan asked. “You're awesome as Ozai!” “Absolutely!” Jayce said, grinning. “I could play Capricorn all night long!” Logan got the game started, but Jayce could not focus on the loading screen of Lucia winking and blowing a bubble with her gum. Something was bothering him. Logan had always said friends could never, ever sleep over at his house and Jayce could not understand why. His parents seemed normal. They let them have pizza for dinner. Even Logan's little sister Kaylee wasn't that obnoxious as far as little sisters went. His little brother had to be at least ten times worse. “Shoot, this lobby's not active.” Logan leaned forward to reset and Jayce looked at the boy in his Capricorn onesie, a few dark blonde curls slipping out of the dark blue hood, his plump, pink lips tightened in focus… “I'm ready for my bedtime story!” Kaylee yelled through the closed door. Jayce watched as Logan's face paled. He turned to look at Jayce, wor...

“Mom put us in charge, Em!” Jenny said. “She did not! I was sitting right there!” Emmett pointed to the couch where he clearly remembered his aunt Claire telling them all to behave while she went to drop off Jenny and Jessie’s little sister Emily at her sleepover before going off to her book club. “Did too.” Jessie said. “It’s obvious, we’re bigger than you!” “You are not.” Emmett tried to keep his cool. “I’m twelve, you two are nine.” “We’re taller though.” The twins moved in unison. It always unnerved Emmett when they did that. He tried not to show how much it bothered him that they towered over him as close as they were to him. “We’re two young women and you” Jenny said. “Are just a little itty, bitty boy.” She smiled as he squirmed and blushed. They both knew that there were few things that Emmett hated more than being reminded how little he really was. “An itty bitty boy in need of a bath.” Jessie said, matching her twin sister’s grin. “Stinky little boy.” Jenny agreed. “M...

"Remember, Bobby.” Rob said as they neared Bobby's house. “As soon as we're home, how old are you?" "...four." Bobby mumbled after a pause. "You had to be a big boy all day! I bet you're excited to get home and be yourself." "What if I just stay on the steps?" "Hmm?" "Well, once I go inside, you make me be four. So I'm just going to-" Rob picked him up. "That's just silly. We need to get you inside and into your nightie so you can start on homework, remember?" He carried Bobby inside, kicking his own shoes off before undoing the Velcro on Bobby's and dropping them by his. He smiled as one bounced and landed in his shoe, making a striking point about the difference in size. Carrying Bobby was remarkably easy unless he squirmed. It had taken a bit of training to get him to stop doing that, which had translated into Rob carrying him near-constantly, kissing his cheeks and murmuring into his ear ...