In a house of girls, many favorites pass through these halls.
Stuffed animals galore go from favorite, to well worn, to out the door.
One of the oldest and still most cherished are two identical animals.
So old, the glitter that once adorned them is worn off.
The fuzzies are no longer fuzzy.
The ‘hair’. is matted and ripped off, and what’s left is knotted.
But in this house, these animals aren’t called unicorns.
Oh no.
It’s the unigoat.
After the love of dance came a love of theater.
Something I wasn’t “allowed” into by the lover-of-sycophants choir teacher during high school.
Something my husband was good enough to support me in right around the time we got married.
For a year I was on stage. 4 shows in 12 months.
By the end, my husband was ready for me to be home…and so I took a break, but got pregnant before I could make a grand return.
But I’ll carry these memories forever.
Because it was awesome.
(All images from a production of Sugar Babies: The Burlesque Musical. While I was in 3 others, I do not have digital images from them.)
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The prompt this week was Noisy.
Remember, this is a meme with many contributing authors, so make sure to click the link at the bottom of the image to take you to see more!
Anyhow, as always this is un-edited mostly, so forgive any errors. :
“Why did you wait so long?” I leaned my cheek against his arm as I had when I was young. “I might have been able to help you smooth things over.”
“I wanted you as far as possible while Alatus made trouble. As the first hybrid to ever exist, you have been in the most danger.”
“Because the other hybrids are not natural born…”
“And therefore nothing more than noisy little humans with a bit of magic.” Jdyne’s nose wrinkled, a huff of smoke erupting with his snort. “At least according to the most stubborn and elderly of the Assembly. They never have seen the value of humans.”
“Whereas you have a great affection and weakness for them.” I frowned. “What made the situation split our people so decisively?”
“Alatus captured a hybrid in the attack on Kryztalia. He forced the lad to show what he was capable of in front of the Assembly. Unfortunately, luck was with Alatus as the hybrid he captured was one of those more dragon than human.”
I stretched out my elegantly patterned hand, to see the now red nails grown to resemble talons. “Does he have the same capability as I do?”
“Alatus tortured the boy until he was half transformed, half human. It was a grotesque display.” My father took a deep breath before he stopped avoiding my question. “And yes, he learned of the unique skill you have, and a handful of the hybrids have. It incensed the assembly that any hybrid should have more power than a true dragon. Like I said, you have been in great danger.”
“Thanks for the warning.” I responded in a dry tone. “So why risk bringing me before the Assembly now?”
“You are skilled at making them see reason. They need to hear the other side without the rhetoric of Alatus in their ear.”
“Where is he now?”
“The Other World.”
“Getting reinforcements.”
“Aye.”
*~*
Hope you enjoyed it! Click on the Tuesday Tales badge to see more excellent entries!!
*~*
Some days it’s too much.
All the little things that need done.
All the big things that need done.
Housework.
Insurance companies.
Tucking in.
Doctors.
Medicine.
Is that cough too much?
Is that another meltdown?
Why is the teacher calling now?
Why didn’t insurance cover?
What is taking so long?
What is sleep?
*~*
Sometimes.
In quiet moments.
When stress is high.
When faith is low.
I’ve dreamed of running.
Disappearing.
Escaping.
To a world without these things.
Where no one knows me.
People do it all the time…
Why couldn’t I?
*~*
I’m where I’m supposed to be.
I recognize my weakness in those moments.
I return to my head to see the doe-eyed admiration.
Feel the tightest hug from the skinniest arms.
Bask in the sarcastic love of a teenager.
I remember that to escape would be to lose this.
And I’m home again.
*~*~*
I’m always happy when authors pay a return visit to tout another of their books. Today is no exception as Sherry Gloag stops by to interview the Hero and Heroine of her novel Vidal’s Honor. Please give them a warm welcome today.
*~*
Author to heroine: What drove you to tell your story?
Honor, Lady Beaumont: Because when a woman followed the drum in 1812 most people assumed the worst about her morals. And, *she sighs* while that aspect can’t be denied. I wanted to show it didn’t apply to all women.
Author to hero: What would you like to say to the people who accused you of being glad when your best friend died and it gave you another chance to woo his widow?
Charles Vidal: At first I don’t think it penetrated my grief at losing someone who meant the world to me. When Lord Dundass ordered me to bring her home to England I didn’t want to go and at the same time I couldn’t wait to see her again.
Author to heroine: How did you feel when you realised what your brother-in-law was plotting?
Honor, Lady Beaumont: Bewildered, disbelief, followed by anger and betrayal and then the fear when I realised the full implications of his intent.
Author to hero: And you, how did you feel when you were told of the plot?
Charles Vidal: *leans forward, fists on knees* I swear if I hadn’t had to leave for Gibraltar immediately I would have hunted the scoundrel down and dispatched him.
Author to heroine: Did you ever doubt you would survive your journey across the Pyrenees?
Honor: *shudders, inhales a deep breath and nods* On more than one occasion. Especially when and just after the land slip.
Author to hero: Did you know what Lord Dundass planned for you both at Lord Kringle’s Ball
Charles Vidal: *Relaxes and grins* Not at all. But I loved the way he publically routed the guilty parties and cleared Honor’s name. *He clasps Honor’s hand and rises.* It’s been good to see you again, but Honor needs her rest, *Charles shares a secret smile with Honor then extends an arm to help Honor to her feet.*
Author to both: before you leave, will you tell me whether you are still in contact with your rescuers and guides, Juan and Consuela?
*Honor leans into Charles as he wraps his arm around her waist.* We are and always will be. It grieves me and Consuela that Juan chose return to Spain. But we all pray for his safe return.
Author: My Lord, do you feel the same?
Charles Vidal: While I understand Honor and Consuela’s feelings, I also understand that Juan has unfinished business; and it is a matter of family honour and national integrity that has taken him back to his homeland. I, too, pray for his safe and speedy return.
Author: Thank you both for taking time out of your busy schedules to talk with me today. May I offer my congratulations and best wishes for the future?
*She sighs as she watches her heroine and hero leave, knowing they’ve already forgotten her existence.*
*~*
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BLURB:
Which will Honor lose first? Her head or her heart?
When plunged into a world of spies, agents and espionage during the Peninsula wars, Honor, Lady Beaumont, flees for her life when the French capture her husband at Salamanca, and relies on his batman to arrange her safe passage back to England.
Viscount Charles Vidal is ordered by Robert Dumas, the First Lord of the Admiralty, to travel to Spain and escort the only woman he’s ever loved, Lord Devlin Beaumont’s widow back home before the French discover her whereabouts.
Their journey is fraught by danger, least of all knowing whether they are surrounded by friends or foe. Will they survive long enough to explore the possibility of a future together or will whispers of treason be enough to see Honor dispatched to Tyburn first?
*~*
Excerpt:
While Vidal joked with his cousin, the viscount scanned the room. The smell of fine wine, whiskey and cigar smoke blended into a rich aroma that was as much a part of Whites as the card games, the background chatter, and outbreaks of lewd laughter from the younger members of the club.
One member in particular interested Vidal tonight, and he watched Robert Dundas, second Viscount Melville, and First Lord of the Admiralty, take leave of his friends and head in his direction.He wondered why the man spent the best part of the night watching his every move, and paused in the act of fobbing his snuff box while he waited for the viscount to join him.
“Take a walk with me?” Although couched as a question, Vidal noted the quiet steel of command in the other man’s voice. Dundas laid a hand on his arm; a companionable gesture for anyone interested enough to observe the two men leaving the club together. “I believe I live not far beyond your own house. I’d appreciate your company, and this is not the place for such a discussion. ”
With an indolent twist of the wrist Vidal returned the modish lacquered box, unopened, to his pocket and nodded agreement. A man’s club was no setting for private conversation, and it was plain the man wanted to talk about something away from flapping ears.
Together they strolled across the room stopping to take leave of several mutual friends.
*~*
Multi-published author, Sherry Gloag is a transplanted Scot now living in the beautiful coastal countryside of Norfolk, England. She considers the surrounding countryside as extension of her own garden, to which she escapes when she needs “thinking time” and solitude to work out the plots for her next novel. While out walking she enjoys talking to her characters, as long as there are no other walkers close by.
Apart from writing, Sherry enjoys gardening, walking, reading and cheerfully admits her books tend to take over most of the shelf and floor space in her workroom-cum-office. She also finds crystal craft work therapeutic.