$5 bottles of Coke and acres of cement flooring, the Greater Baltimore Convention Center awaited. Taylor put his SecurCon ID on and joined the crowd exiting the elevator. Yawning he perused his schedule of seminars. He just had time for a quick cup of coffee.

At the Convention’s coffee kiosk, Taylor waited in line. He never slept well away from home. Taylor needed Maggie, one crying baby, and at...

Tenting his fingers and giving his best Cheshire Cat grin, the great detective surveyed the suspects around the well appointed dining table. A cold buffet was ideal for a satisfying denouement. Gathering the interested parties together to reveal a mystery’s solution was a classic ploy from the Golden Age of Mystery. The fact that it brought Atticus Finch a devilish delight was icing on the cake.

...

“If only this world had shown me a little more mercy and a lot less appreciation I wouldn’t be the inglorious bitch you see before you. But there you have it.”

Bolting upright in her tub, Periwinkle screamed. Selma, her fake boyfriend’s very real mother, sat regally on Periwinkle’s toilet. The shocked pixie tried to cover herself with a loofah. A streak of silver hair in her platinum bob and a c...

When I’m gone know this part

That you still hold my heart

I break when we’re apart

I love you and goodbye

I tried so hard please believe

I never meant to deceive

To be free I must leave

I love you and goodbye

In your world I’ve no place

Arm candy and a pretty face

My edges all but erased

I love you and goodbye

Tell your people any lie

I know I’m the bad guy

You don’t understand but try

I l...

Twisting this ring

Not used to the heavy

Fourth finger left hand

Skin red and worried

A diamond of the first water

Everyone says how lucky I am

You must be so happy

I must be

I smile, big smile, stretching wider

Beneath the weight of joyous joy

Our future squeezing me on all sides...

“Hey, do I look best in red, green, or blue? Anyways you know that mage Tony?”

“You look best when my eyes are closed. Now do you mean the Tony with the thing on his face or the one who stands too close when he talks?”

“Close talker, anyway my cousin is dating Tony’s daughter.”

“The one with the lopsided wings or the one with the teeth.”

“Wait did you mean my cousin or Tony’s daughter?”

“Your...

“This is reporter Lasarge of Green Meadows reporting for FN. Burning drapery, drenched furniture, and liters and liters of ice water streaming down the palatial stairs of Winterfell Manor, site of this year’s Midnight Ball, the pinnacle of elite witch social life. Apparently an unnamed wood pixie and warlock engaged in spell fisticuffs during tonight’s festivities. Right here, we have a witness to...

for a while I wondered

if you’d found someone else

as if our love were a nice suit that no longer fit

but you keep it in the closet

for sentimental reasons

here I am in the dark

hanging around hoping

you’ll choose us...

My great aunt Wedgewood used to say life was a mixed bouquet, each day different and in its own way beautiful. Auntie Wedge was batshit crazy because life is a sharp stick, just when you think you can handle it it pokes you in the again. These were Periwinkle’s thoughts as she slipped a high-heeled foot from her coach.

Strands of a waltz lilted towards her. Built with sweeping arches and a six-...

It was a quiet night at The Rusty Wing. Good thing, I liked it that way. I rubbed down the bar. My regulars were nursing their drinks or nursing hangovers. Fluffing my feathers, I retired to my perch and crossword puzzles. My left ear itched. Company’s coming, as my dear old meemaw used to say. A wingless pixie and a tall drink of water warlock walked into a bar, no punchline.

"Do you think they...