“Oh, hello.”

“Ack!” With a yelp, the small raccoon jumped around and aimed a metallic canyon the size of his own scruffy body at the speaker, baring his teeth. “Stay where you are and put your paws where I can see ‘em!” he snarled.

A young human girl with waist-length blond hair just stared back with dreamy blue eyes, widening slightly with an owlish look to her surprise. Even as she slowly rais...

Grateful is how I feel on this beautiful day

Ready to go out with my family and play

Appreciating the sky for bringing the sun

Thankful for the freedom to go out and have fun.

I’m more grateful to God for this wonderful life

To count my blessings in a world riddled with strife

Undoubtedly lucky to enjoy what I have

Determined to celebrate, to cheer and to laugh,

Exceedingly happy to walk d...

Darkness blotting out the sun,

The line of life and death undone,

Blind were we to our destiny

To forget our fate, our mortality.

It seems so pointless to live and let lie

When the world as we know it is preparing to die.

How foolish, how small, how very naive,

The Devil must think us so easy to deceive.

Oh Lord, we beseech and plea to thee

To guide the tethered most humbly,

To face the end by ...

She stared at me. And stared. Then…

“Are you…?” she began, then swallowed and tried again.

I waited, heart pounding fast. I wish she would just say it, to spare me from having to confess, but even just saying the name I had given myself in this day and age sounded ridiculous. Unreal. Even for her, who was a bigger nerd than I was with this sort of thing.

I didn’t PLAN on any of this happening. I ...

Belonging is a place where I’d feel safe

Except when it’s gone, where else do I start?

Love comes with trust, and my trust comes with faith

Overwhelmed, I keep them close to my heart.

Never let go of the warmth they give

Grant them what you can and hope for the best

I hope for acceptance, hope to forgive,

Never doubt their welcome, there is no test.

Give them your trust, so your mind can b...

They were childhood friends. Best friends. That was an irrefutable truth that I was aware of in all our years at this school.

Everyone disapproved of them. They all tried to split up these two best friends for years. They loved her and they hated him. Here’s why:

They were polar opposites, in completely different classes. He was broody, she was sunshine. He was grumpy and mean, she was sweet an...

Towers like teeth near touching the sky

Lording dark avenues, an endless maze

Of buses, cars, trolleys screeching by

Hungry beasts prowling, their blackened paws graze

The paved roads smeared with debris and scum

Littered bottles and trash caking its lungs.

Then at night do they behold a great kingdom

Of two-legged critters wagging their tongues

Honking their trumpets, wiping their shields,

Swish...

Tick-tock

Goes the clock

Waiting in this room,

Tick-tock

Says the clock

For news that speak of doom.

White lights a-buzzing

Blue walls like ice

Mixed voices muzzing

My brain like jumbled dice.

Tick-tock

I hear the clock

Counting by the minute,

Tick-tock

Spits the clock

Wishing to just spin-it.

When it’s my name they finally call,

I hastily begin to stand,

Knowing that across the hall

Is wher...

*Three brief entries in different perspectives of the three siblings (#1 oldest sister, age 18; #2 brother, age 13; #3 youngest sister, age 5) about to continue their adventure into the wilderness of a world they have fallen into.

#1 June 30 (I think)

Dear Diary,

I sometimes wonder if I made the wrong decision. As the oldest, I should have been more responsible, right? It felt like I was follo...

White wings ride sunset skies

Breaking vorpal winds on high

Gliding far and free....