Some Samples for You: |
A Petal Responds to the Sun |
Cheeseball |
Feeding the Fire (part one) |
It was dark, as nights tend to be, although it wasn't terribly stormy, even though it was February. The last refill had been poured, the last sandwich eaten, the only scones left were the ones that had found their way under the counter and would be left for the rats.
It was the biggest crowd that basement had ever seen. The atmosphere was subdued, but still with an air of expectancy. It might be the last reading in this place, but these people weren't done.
The waitress came downstairs and gave "Last Call." No one was surprised, and no one stopped. There were stories to tell, images to share, songs to sing, and poems to read. The reader paused politely for the waitress' announcement, and then returned to his work.
When he was done, the host took a deep breath, and walked slowly to the front of the room. He passed his gaze gently across the faces of those many spirits he had come to love and respect over the past many months. They had come a long way, individually and together, and this was a graduation, whether they were ready or not.
His heart warmed at the sight of Chadwick, who might rent a straight-jacket and dress himself appropiate for his "Delerium" series. He smiled hugely at Owen, whose mostly true stories could always be counted on to amuse, and to "digress." He had a special smile for December, the one poet to whom he had had to apologize for a momentary lapse of discretion.
Shane, Suzanne, Jen and Jenny, Rags and Razzle, Mindy, Alex, and many, many more looked at him with a patient anticipation. They all knew what was coming, and yet they needed to hear it from him, just the same.
Every one of them had grown and changed in that dark, warm room. They had seen and done magic, week after week. They had seen themselves find courage and share truths, in front of friends they loved and trusted, and in front of strangers and even enemies. They had broken hearts, and had had the favor returned for them, thrice over.
(to be continued....)
Feeding the Fire (part one) | A Petal Responds to the Sun | Cheeseball |
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