Bill W

This is a somewhat unusual coming out story. When the main character, Cary, is forced out of the closet on his 17th birthday, it triggers a slow moving avalanche that eventually exposes many more skeletons that were hidden in other closets. If you want to find out what I mean, then read this marvelous and well developed short story, and I promise you won't regret it.

Awesome story, Gary. Even though the family was homophobic and wouldn't accept Cary being gay, the other revelations, although disturbing, weren't all that unusual. If I were to expose the skeleton's in my family's closet, it would take a novel, not a short story, to explain each and everyone of them. I'm glad this worked out for Cary, Susan Mary, and Jamie, and that Susan Mary and Jamie were supportive of Cary when he needed them most. Your story was very well developed, and even though the feelings and outrage somewhat understated, they were emotionally charged enough to portray the dilemma that Cary found himself in. Well done!

If you're looking for an unusual and very intriguing short story, then be sure to check this one out. The main character has a disability, but he doesn't let it control him. In fact, he devises a way to use it to his advantage and slowly uses it to include his best friend, so he can ask if he is also gay. In addition to that, you'll also get to enjoy some of Lee's wit, and some of his humor will make you laugh out loud as you're reading. Be prepared to enjoy this wonderful and imaginative tale.

An unusual and very interesting coming out story, with some of Lee's humor mixed in along the way. Very delightful and informative, and I'm glad Johnson's parents have figured it out and don't have a problem with him being gay. It also means that Tanner has a safe place to enjoy and experience the wonders of boy-to-boy sex, that's if Tanner's parents aren't also okay with their son being gay. If the Rhodes are fine with that, then the boys are all set. Thanks for such a wonderful and comical short story.

I'm fascinated that you've chosen to base your story around a character with a disability. I had relatives that were mute and knew some ASL at the time, which is now mostly forgotten due to lack of use, but I'm interested to see how this story proceeds.

There was a time when ancient civilizations and religions demanded sacrifices to bring summon good luck and feared the consequences if the sacrifices were not made. If you want to understand what I mean by this comment, then read this forceful, moving, and terrifying short story to learn the extremes some will go to guarantee success and avoid failure.

Curiosity killed the cat, but this time the cat got lucky. Marvelous story, Tim, and it reminded me of ancient peoples and religions that used human sacrifices to correct unwelcomed events - such as famine or drought - or to ensure a request - such as a good harvest or mild weather. This was a truly moving and powerful short story. Well done!

Redamancy—the act of loving in return, or a love that is fully reciprocated—is one of the most powerful thematic tools a storyteller can use. While tragic, unrequited love often gets the spotlight for creating high drama, true redamancy provides deep psychological satisfaction and drives narratives forward in distinct ways. It Raises the Stakes: When two characters share a deeply mutual, established love, they have everything to lose. Storytellers use redamancy not as a "happily ever after" finish line, but as a baseline to multiply the tension. If a character faces danger, the stakes are automatically doubled because the audience fears for both the character and the partner who loves them completely. It Subverts the "Will They, Won't They" Fatigue: When two characters share a deeply mutual, established love, they have everything to lose. Storytellers use redamancy not as a "happily ever after" finish line, but as a baseline to multiply the tension. If a character faces danger, the stakes are automatically doubled because the audience fears for both the character and the partner who loves them completely. It Powers Character Transformation: True redamancy acts as a mirror and a safe harbor. When a character is loved unconditionally and returns that love, it gives them the emotional security needed to grow. It can: * Heal past traumas or insecurities. * Inspire an anti-hero to seek redemption. * Give a weary protagonist the strength to make a ultimate sacrifice. It Formulates the Ultimate Emotional Payoff: In stories where redamancy is hard-won, the moment of mutual realization satisfies the audience's emotional investment. After chapters or episodes of yearning, seeing two characters finally achieve a perfectly balanced, equal emotional ground provides a profound sense of catharsis and relief.

Redamancy comes from the New Latin noun redamantia, which derives from the Classical Latin verb redamō ("to requite love" or "to love back"). It combines the prefix re- ("back" or "again") with amāre ("to love"), paired with a nominal suffix indicating a state or action. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the English noun first appeared in the mid-1600s (recorded specifically in 1656 by antiquary and lexicographer Thomas Blount). It is a rare, largely obsolete or poetic word that has experienced modern revivals in literature and social media.

This is the start of another of Myr's wonderful Sci-Fi stories, and since this is only the first week of posting of stories for this year's anthology, I have a feeling Myr will have a follow-up for us in the next couple of weeks. Be sure to read this is Sci-Fi is your thing, and then you'll be prepared for what will come next.

As usual, a highly interesting beginning of a story, but obviously not complete, and since this is only the first week of the anthology postings, I take it another part will be coming soon. I know something extraordinary will be happening, because when the water pulled away from the beach farther than what was normal, it's a good sign that a seismic event has occurred. If that is the case, then a tsunami will soon be rushing to that same location and overwhelming the shoreline. I can't wait to read more of this complicated, intruiging, and sometimes humorous tale.

An elegiac tone or mode in storytelling is important because it shifts a narrative from simple action or conflict to deep emotional reflection, transforming loss, time, and mortality into a source of beauty and meaning. Core Functions in Storytelling: Processing Grief and Loss: It gives characters (and readers) a structured space to mourn deaths, failed relationships, or vanished eras, turning raw pain into contemplative sorrow. Navigating the Passage of Time: It highlights the transient nature of life, empires, youth, or communities, evoking a bittersweet awareness that nothing gold can stay. Moving from Sorrow to Consolation: Like the classic three-part structure of an elegy—sorrow/lament, admiration/praise, and ultimate acceptance or solace—it helps a story find emotional resolution even when a happy ending is impossible. Deepening Character Intimacy: By focusing on internal reflection and memory rather than outward spectacle, it creates a quiet, vulnerable connection between the audience and the protagonist's inner world. Elevating Stakes Beyond the Physical: It frames destruction not just as a lost battle or a broken object, but as the erasure of a unique history, culture, or innocence that can never be fully recovered.

The word elegiac comes from the Greek word elegeiakos, meaning "pertaining to an elegy or "elegiac couplet". It stems from the Greek word élegos (ἔλεγος), which means a song of lament or a funeral poem. (Some scholars also connect élegos to the ritual mourning cry eleleu!). It evolved into elegeion or elegeia, referring specifically to verses written in an elegiac couplet (a dactylic hexameter followed by a dactylic pentameter). The Greek adjective, elegeiakos, formed to describe poetry or meters written in this structure. It then passed into Latin as elegiacus and Middle French as élégiaque before entering the English language in the 1580s. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the earliest known use of the word elegiac in English dates from before 1586, in the writings of the author and courtier Sir Philip Sidney. Originally, the earliest English usage, elegiac referred strictly to classical poetic meter—specifically, dactylic hexameter and pentameter couplets (known as elegiac couplets) inherited from ancient Greek and Latin poetry. By the 1640s, the definition shifted to mean anything directly relating to or characteristic of an elegy (a funeral song or poem of lament). By around 1800, the modern sense developed to describe a general mood of expressing sorrow, melancholy, or a nostalgic longing for the past.

If you enjoy dystopian Sci-Fi stories where the little guy is fighting to merely survive and not become a casualty of those in power, then this story is for you. There is plenty of intrigue and suspense along the way, and you find yourself rooting for the two main characters, Lee and Toby. Their goal is to maintain control and benefit from their intellectual property, rather then see it benefit a government, corporation, or merely disappear completely.

Chris, an interesting story, but I have one question for you. If they end up on an automated or derelict station, as well as traveling in an ore ship, where will they get the food they'll need to survive? I'm sure the governments or corporations won't be sending resupply ships to provide them with the food, so will they be able to get food on other planets, from other species, or will they figure out how to grow what they need? There was plenty of intrigue and tension, though, and it kept me sitting on the edge of my chair as I waited for the next shoe to drop. Good job!

In storytelling, the concept of a character going on a "gallivant"—roaming, wandering, or traveling about in search of pleasure, excitement, or distraction—serves as a powerful narrative catalyst. Far from being pointless filler, these seemingly aimless detours drive plot, character growth, and thematic depth. Here is why a gallivant is so important in storytelling: Facilitating Character Development: When a character gallivants, they step out of their ordinary world and comfort zone. Revealing True Desires: Stripped of their daily routines, characters show what they pursue when they have total freedom. Flawed Escapism: Often, a gallivant is a coping mechanism. A character might be running away from trauma, grief, or heavy responsibilities, exposing their internal vulnerabilities to the audience. Organic World Building: A structured mission or quest usually forces characters down a narrow, predetermined path. Immersive Environments: A gallivant allows characters to wander down side streets, visit local taverns, and interact with everyday citizens. Living Worlds: This aimless exploration makes the fictional world feel alive, vast, and independent of the main plot. Introducing Incidental Plot Points: While the character thinks they are just enjoying a carefree detour, the writer uses the gallivant to seamlessly move the story forward. Chance Encounters: Characters frequently stumble upon crucial allies, unexpected antagonists, or vital pieces of information they wouldn't have found on a rigid path. Inciting Secondary Conflicts: Careless pleasure-seeking often leads to accidental trouble, creating subplots that test the character's wit and resilience. Pacing and Comic Relief: A story that maintains high stakes and intense gravity from start to finish can exhaust the audience. Breathing Room: A gallivant slows down the narrative momentum, offering a lighthearted interlude or comedic relief before the next major conflict hits. Contrast: The carefree nature of the wandering highlights and intensifies the gravity of the main stakes when they inevitably return. Summary Comparison Quest vs. Gallivant: Feature The Quest / Mission The Gallivant Primary Motivation Duty, survival, or a specific goal Pleasure, distraction, or curiosity Destination Fixed and predetermined Fluid, changing, or non-existent Narrative Function Drives the main external plot Deepens character, world, and pacing

The word gallivant (originally spelled galavant) was originally borrowed from Old French and evolved from gallant, which referred to a fashionable young man. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) , the earliest known use of the verb gallivant dates to 1823 in the writings of William Pyne. It originally meant to gad about or seek pleasure/flirt. Related terms: gallivanting (noun) was first recorded in the 1820s (1826 in the writing of Walter Scott), and gallivanting (adjective) was first recorded in the 1810s (1819 in the writing of 'Robert Rabelais').

I always wondered what the old Scottish song Roamin' in the Gloamin' meant, and now I know. https://www.google.com/search?q=song+with+"roaming+in+the+gloaming"&rlz=1C1VDKB_enUS1189US1189&oq=song+with+"roaming+in+the+gloaming"+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCAgCEAAYFhgeMggIAxAAGBYYHjIHCAQQABjvBTIKCAUQABiABBiiBDIHCAYQABjvBTIHCAcQABjvBdIBCjEyMjk2ajBqMTWoAgiwAgE&sourceid=chrome&source=chrome.rb&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:5aa46da6,vid:DeR6DMy6deE,st:0

Thanks, @Myr. These Deep Dives always contain a lot of good information.

The signal to vampires that they can either go out for the night or it's time to return to their lair.

Crepuscule—or twilight—holds immense power in storytelling because it represents a liminal space, a literal and symbolic threshold where the rules of the day face and the mysteries of the night begin., Here is how writers and creators use crepuscule to deepen their narratives: Symbolic Transitions: Crepuscule is rarely just a time of day; it is a visual metaphor for change. The Blur of Good and Evil: In the half-light, shapes distort and shadows stretch. Authors use this to mirror moral ambiguity, where characters are neither entirely good ("bright") nor entirely evil ("dark"). Life and Death: As the sun sets, it naturally evokes themes of endings, aging, mortality, or the final chapters of a journey. The Shift in Tone: It signals to the reader that the narrative is moving from the rational, structured world of daylight into the emotional, chaotic, or supernatural realm of the night. Atmosphere and Mood: The unique quality of twilight air and light sets an immediate emotional tone. Melancholy and Nostalgia: The fading light inherently brings a sense of longing, quiet reflection, or romance. Suspense and Dread: Crepuscule is the ultimate tool for tension. The fading visibility restricts what a character (and the reader) can see, making every shadow a potential threat. The "Thinning" of Reality: In folklore, fantasy, and magical realism, twilight is the hour when the veil between worlds is thinnest. Supernatural Convergence: It is the time when witches, fae, ghosts, or monsters cross over into the human world. The Magic Hour: In visual storytelling (like film and television), this period provides a soft, ethereal glow that makes magical elements feel grounded yet otherworldly. Character Psychology: Crepuscule often mirrors a character's internal state. The Crisis of Identity: Characters often experience epiphanies or existential crises during twilight, caught between who they were during the day and who they must become. Secrets and Revelations: It is the time when characters confess secrets, lower their guards, or plot actions they wouldn't dare attempt in broad daylight.

The word crepuscule comes from the Latin noun crepusculum, meaning evening twilight. Crepusculum derives from creper, which means "dark," "dusky," or "uncertain". Linguists trace creper further back to an ancient root, krepos-, meaning twilight. It adds the diminutive suffix -culum to the root. Romans originally used crepusculum specifically for the dim light of evening (reserving diluculum for the morning dawn). The term passed into Old and Middle French as crépuscule before being adopted into English. According to the Oxford English Dictionsary (OED), the earliest known use of the noun crepuscule in English is from around 1400 in the Middle English writings of Geoffrey Chaucer.

In storytelling, a carapace—whether literal (like a turtle's shell) or metaphorical (like armor, masks, or emotional walls)—serves as a powerful narrative device to explore the tension between vulnerability and self-protection. It visually and structurally externalizes a character's internal psychological state, representing their need to shield themselves from a hostile world. Key Narrative Functions of Carapace: Visualizing the Inner Psychology: A carapace represents a character's defense mechanisms made physical. * It signals to the audience that the character has something precious, fragile, or broken to protect. * The hardness of the shell directly contrasts with the soft, vulnerable flesh inside, symbolizing the universal human struggle between showing one's true self and hiding to avoid pain. Driving Character Arcs & Transformation: The most compelling stories involving a carapace focus on its shedding or shattering. * The Shedding Arc: True growth often requires a character to outgrow their protective shell, leaving them temporarily defenseless as they transition into a stronger version of themselves (much like a crustacean molting). * The Shattering: A tragic or climactic moment where an adversary breaks through the character's defenses, forcing them to confront reality without their emotional armor. Symbolizing Isolation and Alienation: While a carapace keeps danger out, it also keeps the world from getting in. * Authors use it to emphasize a character's loneliness or inability to connect. * The shell becomes a self-imposed prison, trapping the character inside their own trauma, cynicism, or fear of intimacy. Common Motifs in Literature and Media: Type of Carapace Narrative Impact Examples Mechanical / Literal Armor Dehumanization, hidden identity, or reliance on technology over humanity. Darth Vader (Star Wars), Iron Man (Marvel), or Gregor Samsa's insect body in Kafka's The Metamorphosis. Emotional / Stoic Shell Cynicism, sarcasm, or aloofness used to deflect emotional intimacy after trauma. Haymitch Abernathy (The Hunger Games), Sherlock Holmes. Social / Class Masks Using status, wealth, or a curated public persona to hide deep insecurities or illegal actions. Jay Gatsby (The Great Gatsby).

Carapace was borrowed directly from the French word carapace (meaning "tortoise shell"). The French term derives from the Spanish word carapacho (meaning shell or carapace). The ultimate origin of the Spanish carapacho is obscure, though linguists connect it to Portuguese carapaça and potentially an extinct Ibero-Mediterranean substrate language or Late Latin capa (a hooded cloak). It is a doublet of calipash (the dull-green gelatinous part of a turtle's upper shell). The earliest known use of the noun carapace in English, according to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), dates to around 1835-1836 in Todd's Cyclopædia of Anatomy & Physiology. It literally means the hard bony or chitinous outer shield or shell covering the dorsal (back) part of an animal, such as a turtle, crab, or in a figurative sense, a metaphorical shield, defensive barrier, or emotional hardening around a person (e.g., using sarcasm or silence as a protective carapace).

In storytelling, the concept of "amaranthine"--meaning everlasting, unfading, or immortal--serves as a powerful thematic anchor that elevates mortal struggles into timeless myths. Rooted in the Greek myth of the amaranth, a mythical flower that never dies, this concept provides deep emotional resonance by contrasting the fleeting nature of human life with things that endure forever. Here is why the concept of amaranthine is so vital in storytelling, grouped by its narrative functions: Everlasting Emotional Stakes: Because the amaranthine flower never fades, writers use it to represent bonds that transcend death, time, or tragedy. Amaranthine Love: It transforms standard romance into an eternal bond that defies time, distance, or even death (e.g., The Princess Bride, Wuthering Heights). This creates a powerful contrast against the fragile mortality of the characters. Amaranthine Grief: It shapes characters whose sorrow is timeless and unhealing. A character mourning an amaranthine loss acts as a tragic figure, showing that some emotional wounds cannot be erased by time. World Building and Myth-Making: In fantasy, sci-fi, and historical fiction, "amaranthine" is a shortcut to high-stakes mysticism. The Divine and Royalty: The color's historical rarity links it to royalty, deities, and the elite. Introducing amaranthine robes or banners instantly signals power and historical weight. The Immortal Element: Authors frequently name ancient lineages, cosmic energies, or rare artifacts "Amaranthine" to emphasize their permanent, unchanging nature in a world of decay. Evoking Gothic and Melancholic Tones: The phonetic softness of the word contrasts sharply with its heavy, blood-adjacent color, making it a staple of Gothic literature. The Burden of the Unfading: For immortal characters (like vampires or deities), "amaranthine" existence becomes a curse. They must watch everything around them decay while they remain entirely unchanged, driving internal conflict and existential dread. The Pursuit of Permanence: The fear of being forgotten drives villains and heroes alike to seek an amaranthine legacy, whether through literal immortality, monument building, or achieving historical glory. It emphasizes the agonizing weight of time on immortal characters (like vampires or elves) who must watch the mortal world wither around them.