Bill W

The word assurance comes from late 14th-century Middle English (assuraunce), derived from Old French asseurance, which means a promise, truce, or certainty, based on the verb asseurer (to assure or make sure to the root verb. The noun form was created by adding the Old French suffix -ance (denoting an action or state). The Old French traces back to Latin roots, ad- (to) and securus (meaning safe, secure, carefree, or free from worry). According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) the noun "assurance" was first used in English around 1374 in the writings of the poet and administrator Geoffrey Chaucer to mean a solemn pledge or full confidence. The word later acquired a sense of self-confidence in the late 1500s, and sometimes carried a negative tint of impudence or presumption by the 1700s. The verb "assure" was first used in English around 1370 in the Lay-Folks Mass-book. The noun form of "assure" appeared around 1374 in the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer.

Welcome, Mateo! I'm sure you find several stories that match your criteria. Enjoy.

This is definitely a Halloween tale that will send shivers up and down your spine, so if you like a spooky and unpredictable Halloween short story, then read this little gem.

When Brent mentioned the accident for the first time, I thought it might have left Lucas disfigured and that's why he was always so reticent to say much or allow Brent to drive him home. I thought Lucas might have felt that Brent was only doing it because he felt sorry for him. This put an entirely different twist on what I was expecting. Good job!

This is a cute and imaginative fairy tale using anthropomorphism to show a group of pumpkins getting ready for a Halloween contest. There are two primary groups. First, three large pumpkins that were bullies and often threatened the other pumpkins to get out of the contest so they could win. The other group consisted of three smaller pumpkins that ignored the threats from the bullies. It's a charming story that is a little predictable, but you should still check it out to discover the details of what happens.

A cute fairy tale and pumkins getting ready for a Halloween contest. It was unique and imaginative and fit the anthology theme.

The MC is a high school student and attends a party given by his friend, Chloe. While there, the MC meets another student that he's never seen before named Brad and they immediately hit it off. The boys spend the night together, but mostly talking, cuddling, and getting to know one another. The next day Brad informs the MC that he will be going abroad with his aunt for a week, but will see him again when he returns. Although the MC is afraid that Brad will change his mind about him before he gets back, but that doesn't happen. However, when he returns, Brad tells the MC a few details about his life that may change the situation. This short story is filled with teen angst, a lot of emotion, and plenty of tenderness. It is a good read, although sad, but give it a read and see what you think.

That happens when you get old, your cock-a-leekie!

Tad is gay and has a crush on Marco, but Tad's too shy to start a conversation with him. His best friend, Joyce, tries to encourage him to talk to Marco and start a normal conversation, but Tad's just too nervous to do it. This story is filled with plenty of teen angst, a lot of drama, and some unexpected twists and turns, but it could have used a few more paragraphs to tie things together at the end.

You can't bring me this far and then not tell me what happened on the cruise!

Eric thinks his summer vacation is ruined because he has to spend the first two weeks with his grandparents at the retirement center where they live. Luckily for him, fate had a different plan in mind, so it didn't work out as badly as he feared. If you want to discover what improved for him, then read this cute short story to find out.

You managed to work out the lousy first two weeks of summer vacation for Eric, and then Eric and Jackson seemed to work out nearly everything out so they could stay together after the summer ended. Cute story with a romantic ending.

The traditional dictionary spelling for the noun (plural: posies). It matches standard English rules for nouns ending in a "y" sound. (This is not just me saying it)

That's why most people spell the word for flower as posy or posey, not posie.

Poise in storytelling is the calm control and balance a speaker shows. It builds trust, helps the audience focus on the message, and turns a nervous delivery into a smooth, powerful experience. Why Poise Matters: Builds Trust: A calm speaker makes listeners feel safe and sure. Controls the Pace: Slow, steady movements and pauses give heavy moments room to breathe. Reduces Noise: It stops nervous habits so the core message shines. Shows Confidence: Standing tall and steady proves you know your value and your story. How to Practice Poise: Breathe Deeply: Calm breaths keep your body steady and your voice clear. Use Clean Gestures: Make intentional movements that match your words, then rest your hands. Embrace Pauses: Do not rush through quiet or scary parts of the tale. Focus on the Listeners: Think about helping the audience rather than how you look.

The word poise comes from the Old French word pois ("to weigh on a scale" or "heaviness"), which traces back to the Latin word pensum ("a weighed portion" or "something withed") and the verb pendere ("hang", "cause to hang" or "weigh"). Over time, the meaning shifted from literal physical weight to a balanced state, and by the 1640s, to emotional and mental balance. It was borrowed into Middle English as poisem / pois in the 14th and 15th centuries to mean physical weight, heaviness, or equilibrium. In the 16th century the meaning evolved to describe a state of being equally weighted on both sides (equilibrium). In the 1640s it shifted metaphorically to mean mental steadiness, calmness, and composure. In the 1770s it expanded to describe physical carriage, or the way a person carries their body. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the earliest recorded use of "poise" depends on the part of speech. The verb appears first in 1389, while the primary noun form (weight / balance dates back to 1421 in the Rolls of Parliament. The secondary noun form (unit of viscosity) appears much later in 1913.

The concept of being "determined" serves as the vital engine of narrative momentum, transforming passive characters into active agents. A character's firm resolution gives the plot a clear trajectory, converts abstract stakes into visceral conflict, and grounds emotional resonance so audiences care whether they succeed or fail. Core Functions of Determination: Drives the Plot: Moves the story forward from the inciting incident to the climax through purposeful action. Generates Conflict: Pits an unwavering goal against escalating obstacles, forcing meaningful choices. Builds Empathy: Proves character values through sacrifice, making struggle meaningful rather than arbitrary. Proves Theme: Demonstrates the ultimate cost or truth of the narrative through persistent effort. Impact on Audience Engagement: Raises the Stakes: Makes every setback feel heavy because the character refuses to quit. Creates Catharsis: Delivers a satisfying payoff when resolution matches earned effort. Prevents Stagnation: Stops narratives from stalling when external circumstances overwhelm the protagonist.

The word determined comes from Latin via Old French, tracing back to roots meaning "to mark out boundaries" or "to lmit". It derives from the Latin verb determinare (to enclose or set limits), combining de- (off, out) and terminare (to bound or finish, from terminus, meaning end or limit) and the Old French déterminer ("to settle, decide, or define"). It was introduces into Middle English as determinen in the late 14th century meaning to settle, limit, or decide), According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the earliest known use of the adjective determined dates back to 1546, appearing in the text Wycklyffes Wycket. In the late 14th century the root verb determine and related forms like determinate were already active in Middle English via Geoffrey Chaucer and other writers, paving the way for the later adjective. In the 1510s the verbal phrase to be determined (meaning to have resolved or made a decision) emerged. It was finally "characterized by a firm resolution or fixity of purpose" by around 1600 for actions and 1772 for people.

Reconciliation in storytelling is vital because it brings emotional closure, builds deep empathy, and heals broken relationships. It turns raw conflict into meaningful growth and shows how characters can move forward together. Healing and Closure: Resolves inner pain: Characters let go of old anger and find peace inside. Repairs bonds: Broken trust between friends, families, or groups gets fixed. Provides meaning: It gives a proper finish to a hard journey instead of leaving loose ends. Empathy and Growth: Shows shared humanity: Readers see that opposing sides share the same basic hopes and fears. Breaks down hate: It helps characters and audiences drop old stereotypes. Teaches maturity: Characters learn to accept the past and choose a better future.

The word reconciliation comes from the Latin noun reconciliatio, meaning a reinstatement or renewal. This derives from the verb reconciliāre ("to bring together again" or "restore to friendship"), formed by combining the prefix re- ("back," "again") with conciliāre ("to unite" or "bring together"), which itself stems from concilium (assembly or council). It entered English as reconciliacioun, borrowed from Old French. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the noun reconciliation was first used in English around 1390 in the text Proprium Sanctorum during the Middle English period (1150-1500). According to the OED the verb "reconcile" was first used in English before 1382. Reconciliation originally meant the renewal of friendship after a fight, or the restoration of peace between God and humans. Over time, people started using it for matching financial records or making two different ideas fit together.

The characters of Christian and Alex are well developed and highlight their differences and I found the premise to be something a lot of us could identify with. However, I did find some parts a little repetitive, but that aside, this is still an interesting short story that many of the readers will be able to relate to. I would have given this short story five stars if the author had condensed some of the information from Christian's POV and written dialogue from phone calls. If she had done that instead of using just a few emails and Christian giving narrative about what was happening, along with the characters speaking to each other when they met, it would have made this tale more engaging.

I think the characters of Christian and Alex were well developed and highlighted the difference, although I did find the repetitiveness of Christian's anxiety and self-doubt a bit irritating. Overall I enjoyed the story, but I wish you could have condensed Christian's feelings and lack of confidence a bit. If you had, you could have taken a little more time after they were together to work through their feelings, not just jump right into them.

Alex and Jacob are two gay teenagers, who are also a couple. Being typical teens, they have an off-and-on cantankerous relationship with their parents, which makes this is an interesting, very realistic. and believable tale. It is a slice-of-life story about a vacation they are going on with one set of parents, but it also includes some a brief period of time before the trip and flashbacks to other important events from their lives. This is a totally believable look at their lives, both during the vacation and flashbacks to earlier periods, and you can easily see how much in love they are. Reading it kept my interest from start to finish and I highly recommend that all of you read this short story, because it is very enjoyable.

A wonderful slice of life story about a family vacation, but it also included some time before the vacation begins and flashbacks to important events from their pasts. The main characters, two teenage gay boys, have an off-and-on cantankerous relationship with their parents, but for the most part they're just being typical teenagers. The only thing I questioned was why was Alex waiting for his dad and stepmom to pack his bags for the trip. I know he later mentioned that he'd had an operation on his leg for an infection, but he still should have been well enough to pack his own bags, or he wouldn't have been well enough to go on vacation. That just seemed odd to me, but otherwise this was an enjoyable read.

A touching, thoughtful, and playful journal or diary entry that Mark was writing to Allen, simply because Allen hadn't been able to come camping with him this time. Mark mentions many incidents from their past and the strong feelings they evoke in him. It is a beautifully written short story that will on occasion make you laugh and at other times tug at your heart. I strongly suggest that you give it a read.