“Bobby! Bobby!” Mom was calling me just as I was heading out the door.
I turned back to answer her. “Mom! I’m fifteen. I don’t like being called ‘Bobby’ anymore.” I’d objected before to the nickname, but it never seemed to do any good.
She laughed, and I tried not to let her see me roll my eyes. “Sorry, Rob. That’s what you prefer, isn’t it?” She didn’t w...
2024-12-16 17:46:57 +0000 UTC View Post
A drink from the Fountain makes you young again! What could possibly be bad about that? Well, the side effects are a bit...unexpected?
2024-12-16 00:41:26 +0000 UTC View Post
In a lazy desert summer, Bobby liked to hang with his friends at the basketball court, shoot a few hoops and just chill, achieving a certain pleasure in just being himself and knowing where he fit into his world.
But things began to change, inside and outside, and Bobby didn't know who he was anymore. It was like living in Another Country.
2024-12-14 12:58:02 +0000 UTC View PostYou can now gift my Patreon membership to friends, family, and anyone else you want to invite into our space!
Your gift helps grow our community and support my work, while giving you and your friend one more thing to talk about. Plus, you don't need to deal with shipping or wrapping.
Just go to 2024-12-13 03:06:59 +0000 UTC View Post
Second Spirit
By
Melanie Brown
Advisor: Lisa Charlene
Copyright © 2024
Part 17 - Final
I stared out the living room window into the backyard as I munched on a piece of toast. I was yet again nervous as hell. In fact, I was about to descend into another rin...
2024-12-11 19:16:21 +0000 UTC View Post
Second Spirit
By
Melanie Brown
Advisor: Lisa Charlene
Copyright © 2024
Part 16
“Hey honey,” said a male voice from the living room.
There were some muffled sounds and then Mom said, “So Ben. How was your day?
Ben grunted a lau...
2024-12-05 01:20:24 +0000 UTC View Post
Oliver thought his new contacts made a significant difference in his appearance. Not that YouTube lessons in how to use cosmetics and six months of hormone therapy hadn't helped.
2024-12-03 19:48:33 +0000 UTC View Post
I came in through the front door, knowing that Mom and Dad would still be up and there would be no way to avoid them. It was late, after twelve, but I didn’t think much of that except a vague unease that I did have school in the morning. Mom sat in the big chair directly facing the door with a book in her lap. Dad was on the couch, sitting up and rubbing his face.
“Hi!” I said.
<... 2024-11-30 06:31:48 +0000 UTC View Post
Second Spirit
By
Melanie Brown
Advisor: Lisa Charlene
Copyright © 2024
Part 15
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Compared to what? Sticking your head in a wood chipper? Okay. It wasn’t that bad.
We’d just returned from the grocery store where we picked up items for me to...
2024-11-29 18:47:30 +0000 UTC View Post
Cathy pedals across Britain.
2024-11-27 00:34:42 +0000 UTC View Post
Second Spirit
By
Melanie Brown
Advisor: Lisa Charlene
Copyright © 2024
Part 14
Carol walked to the door followed by Ms. Nakai. She turned towards ne and said, “I need to go. I want you to be a good girl.” She leaned over and hugged me. “...
2024-11-21 01:30:18 +0000 UTC View Post
The Dagger of Heaven at the End of Time - 20
By SammyC
©2024 SammyC
It wasn’t often that Percival Randall requested my physical presence in his spaceship. Over the twenty years since his arrival on the planet named after him, he usually appeared before...
2024-11-20 04:51:36 +0000 UTC View Post
Someone rapped on the side of the van, and Lee abruptly pulled away from me and turned to see who had interrupted us.
I sighed.
Then I frowned, leaning a bit sideways to figure out that it was two cheerleaders, not in uniform, who had stopped whatever was about to happen. I didn’t remember their names for sure-- they hadn’t been at the ice cream party, and w...
2024-11-14 19:09:40 +0000 UTC View Post
Second Spirit
By
Melanie Brown
Advisor: Lisa Charlene
Copyright © 2024
Part 13
“Linda, stop fidgeting.”
“I don’t like this dress,” I said as I squirmed a bit.
Carol grinned. “It’s a nice dress. You look pretty in it....
2024-11-13 23:21:54 +0000 UTC View Post
Nathan felt so conspicuous-- like everyone was looking at him. But so far, he hadn't been asked to dance. Still, it would happen...wouldn't it? It was his first prom, and he'd come by himself, too scared to ask anyone for a date. But were people who came alone expected just to dance by themselves? That wasn't how it worked, was it? Maybe he should have worn a shorter skirt?
2024-11-12 18:13:20 +0000 UTC View Post
The Dagger of Heaven at the End of Time - 19
By SammyC
©2024 SammyC
I stepped out of the mechanical vehicle Dr. Princeton had informed me was called a van. The sun was at its zenith in the sky and a soft breeze came down from the mountains in the distanc...
2024-11-09 20:48:25 +0000 UTC View Post
Melanie Brown
Advisor: Lisa Charlene
Copyright © 2024
Part 12
Carol let go of my hand as we entered a small bedroom. “You can use my guest room until we finalize your transfer to a new family.”
I climbed up onto the bed, sat down and stared at her. “Why can’t I just stay wit...
2024-11-06 23:36:15 +0000 UTC View Post
Second Spirit
By
Melanie Brown
Advisor: Lisa Charlene
Copyright © 2024
Part 11
“I’ve got to talk to my dad! He’ll get me out of this mess,” I exclaimed.
Carol frowned. “I really don’t think talking to Mr. McDowell will help y...
2024-10-29 21:01:41 +0000 UTC View Post
By SammyC
©2024 SammyC
“I am Percival Randall, the man who sent your ancestors to the stars.”
But that was more than 500 years ago. My lips moved but it took me two tries to ask what seemed an important question.
“Am…am I dead?”
“N...
2024-10-27 19:38:00 +0000 UTC View Post
CAUTION: This a rough chapter, and according to Patreon rules must be behind a paywall. It's not graphic, but it is very emotional.
Second Spirit
By
Melanie Brown
Advisor: Lisa Charlene
Copyright © 2024
Part 10
I was...
2024-10-25 20:39:47 +0000 UTC View Post
Waiting for Chicxulub
by Joyce Melton
The first dinosaur arrived on the little hill about four a.m. on that late April morning. She knew she was a bit early, so she took the opportunity to force herself into the tangle of tree-like ferns that ringed the balder knob of the elevation. Then she waited, her heart thumping.
If the big male who ruled her and her...
2024-10-23 11:32:13 +0000 UTC View Post
A Strangefellows Halloween
Note: This story takes place in Donna Lamb's 'Devil in Drag' universe, used with her permission. Image above is by C.D. Rudd of his character Ethan, cosplaying as Supergirl. Used by Permission of C.D. Rudd. Supergirl is a character owned by DC Comics.
Sophie Drake took a deep breath,...
2024-10-22 20:45:42 +0000 UTC View Post
The Dagger of Heaven at the End of Time - 17
By SammyC
©2024 SammyC
Reason overcame impossible emotions and Alvin finally surrendered to the reality of our situation. It took a few more lingering kisses and incremental logical arguments on my part before Alvin agreed that there could never be a romant...
2024-10-21 21:08:51 +0000 UTC View Post
A collection of Halloween stories by our very own collection of Mels. Melanie Brown, Melanie Ezell and Joyce Melton. Available soon from DopplerPress. :)
2024-10-20 18:57:53 +0000 UTC View Post
Second Spirit
By
Melanie Brown
Advisor: Lisa Charlene
Copyright © 2024
Part 9
CAUTION: This is a rough chapter and is behind the paywall because of Patreon rules. Things like that in this chapter do happen but this is not meant as any sort of glorification of such things.
&...
2024-10-19 12:58:15 +0000 UTC View Post
The road out to El Tesoro Park-N-View was barely paved. The city hadn’t expanded in this direction as much as in others, perhaps because of fewer trees and rockier ground. More deserty seeming. I hadn’t said anything since Lee asked about Megan before we turned off the highway. The bleak landscape seemed to fit my changeable mood.
I knew Lee wanted to ask me to go to Homecoming...
2024-10-17 14:39:11 +0000 UTC View Post
Second Spirit
By
Melanie Brown
Advisor: Lisa Charlene
Copyright © 2024
Part 8
Holding my hand tightly, Kajika led me through the bus depot’s parking lot. I kept glancing around, worried about spotting any cops. I was also still afraid of seeing those two criminals. W...
2024-10-15 02:33:46 +0000 UTC View Post
The Dagger of Heaven at the End of Time - 16
By SammyC
©2024 SammyC
“He’s alive! This boy’s still breathing—”
We all turned away from the cowering figure of Lydia as she reached out her pleading hands to Alvin, who was pointi...
2024-10-11 16:46:06 +0000 UTC View Post
Second Spirit
By
Melanie Brown
Advisor: Lisa Charlene
Copyright © 2024
Part 7
Kajika laughed. “What do you think, Ms. Wright? When am I not in trouble?”
Kay Wright put her hands on her hips and shook her head. “Expect...
2024-10-08 23:30:04 +0000 UTC View Post