Bill W

Pungent comes from the Latin word pungere, meaning "to prick", "to sting", or "to pierce", describing a sharp pain or something emotionally piercing. It shares its root with words like point, poignant, and puncture, all relating to sharpness or piercing. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the adjective "pungent" was first used in English in 1598. The earliest citation found by the OED is from A. M.'s translation of Frenche Chirurgerye by J. Guillemeau: "The dolour not so pungent and sharp." At that time, the word was used in a figurative sense to describe pain as "piercing, stabbing" initially for sharp feelings. The meaning "having a powerful odor or taste" was recorded later, by the 1660s, and later sharp writing or remarks in the 1850s. Examples of "pungent" used in a sentence: "Each slice of her pound cake is full of the pungent green herb." "The air was still, bracing; pungent with the smell of pine." "If the aroma isn't bold and pungent, the spice is past its prime." "I could smell the pungent flavors coming from the kitchen" "Most of the world's humans are accustomed to the pungent smell of body odor." "The wood gave off a pungent, earthy smell and the wind moaned through the tall oaks and pines."

I had a quiet New Year's Eve at home with plenty of eggnog and watched football on TV. As soon as the game ended and it was time for the ball to drop, the neighbors began setting off their own fireworks and every few minutes another rocket would be set off, intermixed with a few cherry bombs and other things that go boom in the night, so I didn't get to sleep until they finished, which was well after 1:00.

From his teenage years, Matt always seems to be causing trouble. It's never anything serious, but it's constant, After college, his father tries to help him out, but he screws that up as well. Fed up, his father tosses him out, so now Matt has to find a place to live and a get a job! Out of the street, Matt needs to get his act together and quickly. He finds a place to live, and then he gets a job, but he finds himself surrounded by gays! What on earth can possibly go wrong?

Could Matt's deeply buried sexuality be the reason he'd been such a screw up all of his life, because it was easier than admitting the truth? Could it be the reason he only had sex with girls but could never come to fall in love with any of them? This was a wonderfully crafted story, Chris, and even though I think we all knew where it was heading, it was an enjoyable roller coaster ride with a happy ending. Thank you for this wonderful story.

Doug and Lee started out as childhood friends and have spent many years in a very close friendship. They've experienced many things together, although they've never done anything sexual with each other, but the best was yet to come.

If I knew there could be love in a snowstorm I would have tried it on Tommy when I was younger. Tommy was my straight slightly younger friend who I was very attracted to.

If you like stories about tickling, then check this one out. It has a cute storyline.

I'm not really into Tickling stories, because it brings back memories of my uncles torturing me like that when I was little. They were only a few years older than me and we shared a bedroom, so they used to tickle me to get their way or keep me out of their hair. With that aside, it was a cute plot - a syndicate organized like the mob that uses tickling as their go to tool to maintain control and for payback.

The word shrill comes from Middle English schrylle, shirle, likely from Old English scrallettan (to sound loudly) or scill ("sonorous"), with Germanic roots, possibly imitative of a piercing sound and mimicking the sound itself, and related to German schrill and Low German schrell, meaning piercing or sharp, and Icelandic skella. The 'r' may have been added by analogy with other words like skrike (shriek) to differentiate it from scill (shell), and it entered English as an adjective and verb in the late 14th century to describe high-pitched, piercing sounds, with cognates suggesting a shared origin for sharp, loud noises. The word shrill was first used in English, according to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), in the Middle English period (1150-1500), with the specific date varying depending on the part of speech. The OED's earliest evidence for the different forms of "shrill" are: Adverb: Circa 1330, in the text Gregorius, Adjective: Circa 1400, in the poem Cleanness, Verb: Before 1400, in the text Floris and Blauncheflur, and Noun: From 1591, in the writing of Edmund Spenser. Examples of "shrill" used in a sentence: "Rebecca's voice was shrill and tight." "Anna Maria was still arguing in shrill tones." "When the disciples do answer, their voices are shrill and defensive." "Shrill voices on both sides of the Atlantic are advocating protectionism." "You couldn't drive down the road without incurring their shrill warning cry." "Shrill cries and startled oaths flew up around us as pandemonium broke out."

This isn't your typical werewolf story and you'll enjoy the author's slightly different and interesting take on the theme. The characters are fresh and well-developed and the storyline is compelling. Nicholas is a tortured soul who isn't comfortable in either world, and Noah has own struggles to deal with, although not with his job as a park ranger. Noah has been raised to know that werewolves exist and isn't repulsed by the thought of them, as is demonstrated when he seeks Nicholas out to ask him for a favor. This is a marvelous short story with a good share of excitement, and it's one you should be eager to read, even if tales about werewolves isn't your favorite genre.

For this not being a genre you were comfortable with, you did a marvelous job! You didn't fall into the cliches that others have fallen victim to and you gave this a slightly different light. I liked how you had Noah seek Nick out to help him search for the girl and then the possibility that there might end up to be more to the collaboration then just saving the little girl. I enjoyed the background information that you supplied for Nick and Noah, and I was hoping that if you didn't let them make a life together, you would have at least let Noah's plan work, so Nick could go on without having to look over his shoulder. That too would have been a sad ending, since they probably wouldn't ever see one another again, without the finality of the ending you chose. Regardless, it was still a great read, so thank you, Krista, for this wonderful story.

If you enjoy Sci-Fi stories was interesting characters, an intriguing plot, and unexpected outcomes, then this short story should be right up your alley. Take a look, sit back, and enjoy.

I caught both of these as well, @Lee Wilson and was planning to mention them in my comment. @drsawzall, there was one other minor error that you might want to correct. It was after you introduced the character Lelka and the use of pronouns. Froken caught the eye of a familiar face behind the bar, a woman named Lelka who had a reputation for discreetly moving contraband. If anyone could supply them with additional firepower, it would be him, provided they could barter the right currency or secrets.

A well crafted story with an interesting plot, vivid descriptions, and a tangential romantic/sexual encounter. I loved the backstory you told about the Argulans and their encounter with the Qaburs. I also loved the fact that the treasure Lando and Froken sought ended up being a treasure of knowledge, rather than gold, platinum, or valuable gems. This is an interesting tale that fits in well with other stories in the Sci-Fi genre.

The adjective "mordant" comes from the Latin mordēre meaning "to bite", reflecting its original sense of something sharp, biting, or caustic, especially in speech or wit. It was later used as a noun in dyeing meaning a substance that helps dye "bite" onto fabric. It passed through Old French (mordant, (present participle of mordre, meaning "biting") before entering English. It also gives us related words like "morsel" (a small bite) and "remorse" (to bite again). Other related words, such as morbid, mortal, mortify, all stem from mordēre or related roots meaning to bite or harm. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the earliest recorded use of the word "mordant" (as an adjective) in English is from 1474. This appearance occurred in a translation by William Caxton, a prominent English printer, merchant, and diplomat. The word is also recorded as a noun from the Middle English period, with the earliest evidence for the noun form referring to a hooked clasp for a girdle is from the mid-14th century. The modern dyeing application emerged in the late 18th century (1791) for the substance that fixes color. Examples of "mordant" used in a sentence: "Yet who could resist her mordant wit?" "His dialogue is sharp and witty, laced with mordant humor." "It is this mordant wit that I suspect has made him so successful." "Shot through with mordant wit, they make you nostalgic for the days before e-mail." "He was good company, with a mordant sense of humor and a strong sense of duty." "What's most distinctive about this mordant comedy of manners is the resolutely awkward cinematography." "I sent emails and hundreds of texts, trying to explain to our friends what was happening, masking my fear with mordant humor."

In this captivating short story, you get to meet Detective Danny Vega as he uses a mixture of good old-fashion police work, along with some more modern techniques, to solve the murder of a 24-year-old murder victim. There's plenty of interesting banter between Danny, his superiors and co-workers, and it kept my interest from start to finish, and I'm sure it will do the same for you as you enter this interesting world of a homicide detective.

Wonderfully done! The story had plenty of information so we, as readers, could follow along and connect the dots. There were also vivid descriptions of how Danny was treated and the outdated city appropriated equipment he was forced to deal with, two captains with one supportive (Reyes) and another the bane of Danny's existence. There was also his interaction with the patrol officers, and enough smugness for a seasoned detective. A very enjoyable read.

Hopefully the positive reviews will turn the members to this story.

Actually, W_L, I did a paper for my World History class in college about the Sino-Soviet War (as it was called then), which was only a couple of years after the event happened. This love story, watching two boys whose countries were enemies, shed a whole new light on the paper I wrote so long ago. Your story was tender, sweet, and you captured the emotions, both of their love and the tensions between the two nations, very well. Thank you for this wonderful and touching story.

The adjective "pliant" comes from 14th century Middle English via Old French ploiant, meaning "bending", present participle of ploiier ("to bend, fold"), which itself derives from the Latin word plicāre ("to fold, bend, lay") from Proto-Indo-European root *plek- ("to plait"). It entered English describing physical flexibility, (like a young tree), and later extending to people or attitudes that are yielding, compliant, or adaptable. It shares roots with words like "ply," "pleat," and "complicate". The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), records the earliest known use of the adjective "pliant" in English as being from before 1382. The specific citation is found in the Middle English period (1150–1500) within the Bible (Wycliffite, early version). Examples of "pliant" used in a sentence: "The teenager showed off her pliant spine every time she draped herself over a piece of furniture." "Now this 'privilege' has been withdrawn as a measure to weaken the none too pliant membership." "Some people found it difficult to watch how the performer could bend his pliant body like a pretzel." "The true love-birds (Agapornis) may also be said to build nests, for they line their nest-hole with strips of pliant bark." "Pain radiated through his body from where she'd shot him, and his normally pliant temper was near the snapping point." "True strength lies in a fearless powerlessness, that is not assertive but is equally not pliant to another's will to domination." "The primary object is to render the leaves soft and pliant; the use of the sauces is to improve the flavor and burning qualities of the leaves used." "The prepared tobacco, while still moist and pliant, is pressed between cylinders into a light cake, and cut into fine uniform shreds by a machine analogous to the chaff-cutter."

Or were you involved in sordid activities all day?

Although temporarily paired as a guide for someone whose station in life is far above his own humble calling, Ashok is forced to realize what he wishes for can never be. How Ashok deals with the disappointment is the journey we take in the story about the stonemason's son and his brief encounter with a handsome prince.

It was evident from the beginning of the story that you were very familiar with the locale and how Buddhist monks function. It first looked as if the story was going to develop into a romance, but then that damn arranged marriage thing caused the illusion to shatter. As difficult as it was, it seems that both Ashok and Soria have managed to compartmentalize their disappoint and have moved on, wishing only the best for the other. Thank you for an interesting look at another culture and how they deal with life and its disappointments.

What could possibly go wrong when you're about to give an 18-year-old an ancient magical power that is greater that the magic of nearly everyone else on earth. It would probably be a teenager's dream to have this much power, so what will happen? You'll have to read this interesting fantasy short story with wonderfully painted descriptions of the world you are entering.

I also had a feeling that Jamie's arrogance would bite him in the ass, especially since he wasn't paying attention to the things he'd been taught and what the Chief Mage \was saying during the ceremony or Callum's warnings. Unfortunately for Jamie, the result was much worse than a bite on the ass, and it certainly not what Jamie had intended, but he won't be able to live and learn. Thank you, @Gary L for the wonderful descriptions and background information you included in this tale with a definite moral.