Andlat's Story Spot

Micharosa looked around the library, smiling to herself. It had been a month since she had last set foot in here, but it felt like a lifetime ago. Of course, in her new life, she had quickly discovered that there were far more books than could ever fit in this library, perhaps even the whole castle. Still, the smell brought back a flood of memories. She ran her fingers through her hair as if to remind herself that she had left this life behind. Her new life in that new world was simply marvelous. The friends of the boy she had traded places with had been a bit confused at first, but once she began to mimic the way they walked, the way they spoke, they accepted that she was Mike. It helped that physically, they were so much alike, and that was not the only similarity. "Even the names." She mused, shaking her head. Mike was just a character she played. When she was alone, she remained Princess Micharosa, albeit a princess who wore trousers and played sports. "You!" S...

"Another day of school." Mike muttered in disgust, scuffed sneakers scraping on the sidewalk as he shuffled toward the school building. He knew better than to be late, but as long as he had plenty of time before the first bell, he did not want to make it look like he was in any kind of hurry. It was the same classes, day in and day out anyway. He kicked a pebble and watched it bounce. It was only as it came to a halt that he realized it was no ordinary pebble. It was blue-green and seemed to almost glow in the early morning sunlight. He hurried over to it, but misjudged his foot and kicked it under a hedge. He wanted it so bad. "Come back here!" Mike grunted, crawling into a small space in the hedge. Where was it? It was so dark in the hedge. He yelped as he suddenly tumbled, head over heels and everything, through the hedge and into a manicured garden. The temperature was warmer and more pleasant than the fall morning he had left behind and he could not shake the f...

“And you promise you'll wake me up if the clouds go away?” Orion asked. Dad tried to hide his frustration, but this was the fourth time Orion had asked. "Not if you ask me again." He said before adding. "It's not going to clear up tonight, but that comet will still be visible for a few more nights. You're the one who told me that." "I know." Orion sighed. "Forecast for tomorrow looks clear." Dad said. "Forecast for tonight’s go get ready for bed. Calum's already been in bed for half an hour and you haven't even started getting ready." "Well, he's eight." Orion said. "Even twelve year olds need their sleep. Scoot." Orion took a quick shower, brushed his teeth, and managed to get his underwear on – even putting his dirty boxer briefs into the hamper – before he finally gave in to temptation and checked out his bedroom window. Nope, still cloudy. He groaned. "Get out." He grunted as he ...

“High score!” The video game's digital voice announced as Lucas landed another blow on the grunting orc before him. He pumped his fist in the air as the arcade game began to print a long chain of tickets. “Almost got enough to-” his voice trailed off as he saw the door to the arcade open. The sounds around him of video games chirping, skeeballs rolling, and children squealing in the playplace seemed to fade as he saw Richie Collins standing in the entrance to Charlie Cheetah's. Why was he here? Lucas quickly dodged behind the arcade cabinet, methodically making his way up to the prize counter. “Come on!” A kindergartner shouted, almost running into Lucas, his joyful shout almost scaring the eleven year old out of his skin. “This place has the coolest slide ever, you go into a tunnel and-” his soprano voice melted into the general cacophony coming from the indoor playground where little kids reigned. “Wait for me, Joey.” Another boy said, half-skipping as he ran to catch up. “W...

A collection of three Christmas stories I wrote and posted on Bluesky this year. A White Christmas Jake had always loved Christmas, but it felt a little silly for his mom to continue to insist the stockings were from Santa when he was a college freshman and his brother was a sophomore in high school. All the same, he smiled appreciatively as she handed him his red knit stocking. “And one for our guest. Santa never misses a beat.” His mom said, handing a stocking to Jake’s roommate Randy. “Oh, wow! Thanks!” He said with a chuckle. “Dig in, boys.” Jake did not need to be told twice, his hand plunging into the stocking. Oh, great. She put boxers right on top, he thought. He pulled them out and his face turned red. Boxers, they were not. It was a pair of white briefs! He quickly stowed them out of Randy’s sight and dug in. Ugh, another one. And another. Another! Another? Jake’s face grew more and more red as he pulled a dozen pairs of white briefs out of his stocking. Was there anything e...

“And this is another hose.” Firefighter Mike said. How can you make a tour of a firehouse boring? Callum thought. Firefighter Mike was a big bear of a man with a booming, friendly laugh, but this had to be the most boring tour ever. Why were they even touring the firehouse? That was the sort of thing preschoolers did, not middle schoolers! “Guess I'll just make my own fun then.” He muttered as the class passed a hallway. He quickly darted down it, relishing the opportunity to rebel even slightly. Anything was better than being bored to tears. They didn’t even get to turn on the fire truck's sirens! “Now, what to do?” He saw a sign that mentioned the cafeteria. A snack was always in order! Mom and Dad were always so strict about when he could or could not eat, but what they didn't know wouldn't hurt them, right? Opening the door he thought led to the cafeteria, Callum came face to face with, not a snack, but a dog! "Ruff!” The dog barked. Callum held his hands up. “...