The Titles We Show

I moved through the busy marketplace, keeping near the edge to avoid the masses of people. A woman walked past me, on her way to a nearby vendor, and I saw the title “Cook” flash above her head, soon lost as she entered another throng of people. More titles appeared above the people around me, blurring together until the words were barely distinguishable: “Priest,” “Farmer,” “Scholar,” “Healer,” even a “Noble” or two. Most of the titles flickered—one woman nearby buying cloth flashed “Mother” one moment, then changed to “Seamstress,” then back again the next.

Some Lazy Haikus

The Toilet became

Sentient of his purpose

“Well, my life is crap”

 

A Trusted Steed

The horse came back alone.

The Thrill Of The Chase

This was no ordinary horse. He was a stallion. A steed bred for dominance. The god of horses. He was jet black with muscles that rippled as he majestically he galloped across the the sun-kissed pasture. The horse’s sleek coat was so shiny when he craned his neck a particular angle, it doubled as a black mirror. He was truly a work of art. And it was mating season.

Who would be the lucky mare that would bear this equestrian paragon’s seed? His pasture had an abundance of swooning females to satisfy his procreation proclivity, but only the most worthy partner could be his mate. He spent hours trotting past his possible lovers inspecting birthing hips and mane thickness.

Finally, the horse decided on his lucky lady love and pranced over to lay claim on his prize. The horse nickered seductively, shaking his flank near her muzzle. The mare’s  eyelids lowered and she shook her mane, clearly unimpressed. The god of horses, shaken but not to be deterred, whinnied majestically and flirtatiously flicked her left flank with his tail. The mare whinnied in return, but in a threatening tone. Flabbergasted, the stallion went for his fail-safe. Raising onto his hind legs he shook his mane provocatively, letting it flow in the wind, and gave a bewitching whinny. How could the mare resist such display of power? But resist she did as she gave a snort and galloped over the nearest hill away from the pinnacle of sexiness.

The horse galloped after her, determined woo this female! Nature itself waited with bated breath, watching the hill intently to see if this creature gain favor his intended mate. The horse came back alone and with a distinct hoof print above his left eye.

The Prairie

The contractions intensified as she willed herself to calm down.  A tightening band in her lower abdomen gripped her and felt as if  her bones were snapping and her muscles tearing. Although the fire had since died down, and the cabin was dangerously cold, large pearls of sweat bloomed and trickled down her forehead onto the blanket she had tied around her shoulders to stave off the shivering. She didn’t know if it was the cold or simply raw fear that caused her to tremble so violently.  She drew labored breaths through her clenched teeth and offered prayers to the God she had been raised to believe in.

An Empty Saddle on a Pale Horse

The horse came back alone.

Ode to Shel

“Have you checked the manifest?”

“Twice.”

“And?”

“No unicorns.”

“Anybody know where those stu… silly unicorns are?” Nol shouted to those around him.  He had been working on this project for years, and it was getting late.  Where were those blasted unicorns?  He couldn’t just leave them behind.  That was certainly no bueno, regardless of how stupid they were.  He could think it.  He just couldn’t say it.  Too magical and mystical for their own good, those stupid, stupid creatures.

I See Fire

Stop, drop, and roll.

Shopping with Dad

My dad’s birthday was yesterday (HAPPY 52, POPS). Therefore, to honor him on this most glorious of days, here is a story about him.

Mechanical Minds

“The major insight was that people, essentially, were patterns!”

Ignoring the loudspeaker I edged my way around the large ornate pillar. The long deserted museum central hall had many such pillars, all several yards apart. I had plenty of cover, but so would my unnatural assailant. I reflexively checked the chamber of my shotgun, making sure both barrels were loaded. I dropped to my knees and pulled a mirror out of my bag.