Aditus

At first I have to say I'm sorry. You probably are among those who had to read an unedited, earlier version. Stupid me sent Renee the wrong file. I'm glad you liked the story anyway and even wrote a comment. I'm with you, I'm not fond of April Fool's Day either and this kinda reflects in my story, I guess.

Thank you, Dyno. Echo died this morning. About the rubbing, we did it only to help them breathe, as you said. She ate the whole afterbirth. It was gross but I know it's good for her and for initiating milk production.

LOL Congrats, Puppilull!

Talked everything through with the vet. All seems well. Tomorrow we try to determine their gender. So curious.

I feel cheated! Left in the middle of something really good and now I have to make the effort to continue the story with the help of my own mind. The characters are intriguing, especially Frankie. *goes gets another coffee and thinks about tollbooths, Frankie's life now and in the future* Well done!

Congratulations Val, AC and Parker! Well deserved!

Around four pm, mini-cat became restless. She wandered around the house and followed me everywhere. Then around ten, she had her first contractions. The first kitten, a large black and white, was born at 11:15. Sadly Alpha was dead by the time it was finally born. The second (Bravo) came an hour later. It was barely alive and we quickly cut the umbilical cord and rubbed it dry with a towel. For a short time, we thought we would lose it too, but it got stronger when we fed it with dry milk for kitten. Whew! The third, Charlie, and fourth, Delta, came really quick. We had to cut the umbilical cord and rub it dry because mini-cat was busy with giving birth. After Delta mini-cat and her kitten went to sleep in one of three very cozy cardboard boxes and we slept on the couch beside her. You never know... Around three am I woke up because Nox barked in the next room. He was thirsty. When we looked at mommy and the babies, we found a fifth baby, Echo, lying before the box, crying pitifully. Obviously, mini-cat secretly had another one and left it outside because the others started crying. So, once again, cutting the umbilical cord, rubbing it dry and back to mommy. All is well so far, they are drinking and sleeping and mommy only leaves them to eat and drink. So cute. We hope it stays well and nothing more happens. Fingers crossed. I woke up this morning and Echo was really bad. On the way to the vet, but it doesn't look good.

'Don’t be afraid to sprinkle both good and bad traits since we don’t know people with all good or even all bad tendencies.' Yes, that's very important IMO. I tend to make my characters 'too good' or 'too bad' and then I have to go back and add some less nice/bad traits so they become more realistic.

I would guess, I really would, but I'm stumped. I could just as well throw the dice. I just know one name-to-story for certain...

I don't have the slightest idea...I guess I have to read them again?

Gah! I can't decide!

I said I wouldn't partake in the anthologies in the near future because I was disappointed in the reception of 'Voli Me Tangere', which is stupid of course. It's just that the idea had been swirling in my head for a long time. I finally wrote the story, was rather proud of it, and well, it didn't get the feedback I'd have liked, bu-huh. Stupid is over, it is the time of the year, and I felt the urge to write the fourth part of 'Sparkle'. I didn't miss an anthology since I started to write my first story for 'Pandora's Box', and hopefully, if all goes well and my chaotic life calms down enough, I won't miss this one. I already wrote about 2k, all's looking good so far.

Great poems, Parker! Very...stimulating, made me smile too. Perfect for a morning where I can go back to er...sleep.

“Mom, Dad.” I don’t think my parents heard Ella in the din of breakfast rush, as my sister’s voice was unusually meek. So, with her hands curled around the edge of the kitchen table, she finally yelled, “I’m pregnant!” The pancake Mom had been flipping landed on the kitchen floor with a resounding ‘splat’. Dad’s fingers gripped the pages of the morning paper just a tad firmer. This promised to be better than any tennis match. Mom’s whole body had gone rigid after Ella dropped the p-bomb. From

He fed from a cat ! Okay, I just had to get this off my chest. I'm glad he recognized that humans can be animals and monsters. I guess he has a plan on what diet he is from now on.

Happy Birthday!

I love 'Vodka at Moonlight'! I had so much fun reading it, probably because I'll always remember the PMs I got when you visited Cole and his husband. lol. I didn't read 'The Hollow Hills' yet. Nope, not until you finish it. Even though you sent me this nice picture and told me a little about it (and it sounded fantastic). Max's Garage is a Val classic and must read.

Thank you, Nephy. I discussed it life with some friends, so it felt somewhat authentic. I'm glad it worked.

Thank you, Gary! Glad you loved it.

Aww...Pinocchio! Didn't think of him, but yes, good idea!

Oh, wow. My story in the same sentence with Asimov and Bradbury, too much but thank you anyway. Yes, I had to put many things into this short story, due to the prompt. Seeing it was well liked, I'm thinking of expanding it some more. If I find the time, which is a little difficult atm.

Thank you, Puppi! Inspiration is a bit slow lately, but I hope it will get better with spring.

Thank you, Def. I mock-argued with a friend to get it like this. A very pampered vamp indeed, lol.

Ha! You found out about my role model for the robot. I'm glad you encouraged me to write 'some more of everything', lol. Thanks, Val!

What? Unanswered questions? I'm glad you liked it anyway. Maybe I'm even going to answer some of those questions eventually. Thank you, Parker.