Stories

Boccaccio's Decameron, a story of renewal and recreation in defiance of a decimating pandemic, relates how ten self-isolated Italians pass the time regaling each other with tall tales during the Black Plague. While Covid19 wasn't nearly as decimating, the opportunity for such entertainment did exist. As a takeoff on that idea, this short story might well be a modern version of one of the tales, recounting events of earlier, less stressful times.

Love takes off the masks that we fear that we cannot live without and know that we cannot live within. -James Baldwin

At sixteen, James has an almost perfect life. Then two boys enter his life and turn it upside down. Dion is a shy boy who James can't understand. Donovan is the star basketball player who James admires. Read how an incident with one boy will bring him closer to the other as masks are slowly removed.

Peter's adoption is nearing completion, and he and Benji are officially going to become real brothers, but not without a rough spot on the way.

Benji is invited to an exclusive retreat for incoming high-school freshmen.

Parker Frazier attends Somerset High School, a suburban white school. Over the weekend, a fight breaks out during a basketball game against an inner-city school. Tempers flared, and racial epithets were shouted. On Monday, protesters appeared outside the school. One young man caught Parker's attention. While driving home after school, he witnessed a police officer brutally arrest the young man he saw earlier that morning. Parker videotaped it with his phone and posted it on Facebook. He was not prepared for what happened next.

Jonathan Hamilton transfers to Sunny Hill starting junior year to run away from his past and keep promises on which to build an uneventful, safe future. The biggest promise he makes to himself is to stay clear forever, by all means necessary, of straight bad boys and their unhealthy appeal.

But promises are only made to be broken, Jonathan discovers the truth of the old adage, as junior year barely starts, and he has a run-in with the ridiculously attractive Maddox Kingsley, the resident BMOC, and carrier of the frightful nickname of ‘Mad Dawg’. (Full description inside.)

Winter Maestri leads Peraza after his parents' suspicious and tragic death. Andyvion, a servant from the household of the new king of the neighboring land, leaves his home and his mates to warn Winter of a plot. Winter will do anything to keep himself and his land free, even take on a fake mate. But Hazeth Montcroix is a bit more than Winter expected and the fake mating may become real, no matter how Winter fights his feelings for Hazeth.

As life moves on we remember times both good and bad. For Kyle, Jacob and the others, memories from the past are a bounty of the defining moments in their lives.

The following is a series of moments, past and present that help guide their steps towards the future.

Away from his home in the big city and now living way out in the suburbs, young Josh finds himself feeling a bit homesick when it comes to the hustle and excitement of downtown Chicago. But there's one thing that makes his relocation a pleasant experience. And that's Salvador. A boy that has captivated hi in ways that he's never felt before. And as both families get together for a neighborhood fireworks display...he'll see where the real sparks are, and perhaps take part in a display even more entertaining and enlightening than the explosions above.

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