Stories

Corey and Brett have been best friends since they were five. After twelve years, Brett decides he no longer wants to be involved in a relationship and must now travel a different road. Can Corey survive without Brett in his life? Find out in this story of love and loss.

This was written as part of a tribute to Skinnydragon, a wonderful author, reviewer and friend.

You can find it here: hic sunt dracones

Coming of age can be fun, scary, interesting, devastating, rapturous or horrifying. Sometimes all of the above and more. Canvas Hell brings together several guys on the cusp of manhood, each with his own demons. It is rife with teen angst, and more than a few tears. It is also a true love story, a young adult romance, because coming of age involves sex, but is not about sex. It is about becoming who the man that you will forever be.

Ben Mears is referred to as his school's nerd magnet: a nickname he picked up from due to his ability to attract the "unwanted" elements of the student body. Ben has never minded because he has felt unwanted himself. For the most part, he keeps to himself and with his small collection of friends, avoiding confrontation with the school jocks and bullies. That all changes the day he meets Sam: a boy who is suffering some of the worst bullying Ben has ever seen in his high school career.

Jesse and Marty are off on their long-awaited vacation to California. There they will find sun and sand...and a few other things to keep them busy.

Maurice has been watching the world go by, living vicariously through others. He's content with that, isn't he?

Kevin was seventeen, and unhappy. He was in love with his best friend, but unable to share those emotions with him. And, he lived on pins and needles with his dad, who seemed not to care about anything that went on in his son's life.

Kevin had found some relief in writing - tales of other worlds and other life. But now his best friend was going to prod him into something new; something that would change Kevin's existence altogether.

Théo Benoît, a 14-year old French prodigy, is driven to suicide from his lack of friends and the absence of his parents. As he is about to jump, he is pulled into the arms of 16-year old Jan, and a lasting relationship forms immediately.

We give you twenty-four bits and pieces of all flavors to celebrate the most mystical time of the year.

Bill has been living alone for a long time now. He takes care of his neighbors, being a lonely but helpful man. On Christmas Eve there is supposed to be a bad storm, but he checks on his neighbor's before going home to watch Television and relax with his cat, Misty. However, after Bill wakes up from his nap he finds his house has been redone for the holiday. Just what is Bill getting for Christmas?