The wind whipped across the plains of Xylos, carrying with it the sweet scent of blooming moonpetal flowers. It was the eve of Convergance, the annual celebration where the two moons of Xylos, Aeris and Lumina, aligned in the sky, casting an ethereal glow upon the land. Kaelen, a young apprentice healer, stood nervously at the edge of the Moonlit Grove. This Convergance was his first as a fully fledged participant, and he carried the weight of tradition heavily on his shoulders. He clutched a carefully woven basket filled with moonpetal blossoms, their petals shimmering with an otherworldly luminescence. Convergance was a time of unity and healing, where the people of Xylos paid homage to the celestial dance of their moons. It was believed that during the alignment, the veil between the physical and spiritual realms thinned, allowing for powerful healing energies to flow through the land. As the moons began their slow ascent into the night sky, the people of Xylos gathered in the Moonlit Grove. Shamans, adorned with feathers and intricate tattoos, chanted ancient hymns, their voices resonating with the rhythmic beat of drums. Kaelen, along with other healers, moved through the crowd, offering moonpetal blossoms to each person. The petals, when placed on the forehead, were believed to absorb any lingering ailments and negativity. Kaelen approached a woman with tired eyes and a weary smile. He gently placed a moonpetal on her forehead, whispering a traditional blessing for health and well-being. As he did so, he felt a surge of energy flow through him, a connection to something larger than himself. He saw a vision of the woman vibrant and healthy, her laughter echoing through the Grove. When Aeris and Lumina finally converged, bathing the land in their combined light, a collective gasp arose from the crowd. The air thrummed with energy, and a sense of peace and harmony washed over Kaelen. He closed his eyes, feeling the ancient power of Convergance flow through him, renewing his spirit and strengthening his connection to the healing arts. As the night drew to a close and the moons began their celestial dance apart, Kaelen felt a profound sense of gratitude. Convergance was more than just a festival; it was a reminder of the interconnectedness of all beings and the powerful forces that flowed through the universe. It was a time of healing, renewal, and hope, a celebration of life under the watchful eyes of the twin moons.

Every “Ocean’s Heart,” day—which is what we call a beach holiday—our whole town comes together, we bake cookies, bring food and random trinkets to play with… and each house has a bowl, you can write whatever you want it in. This year, all of my friends and family, gathered around eating cookies and started to write our letters for my bowl—for me to read. Each house had a bowl, assigned to each person. My friend group of 3 girls—including me, sat together in a wide circle with others. “What if you have a love letter?” Mia—my redheaded best friend—whispered. “OO! Maybe from Josh?” Aurora, my other Bestfriend chimed in. Aurora was the model in our friend group, she looked like she’d be on a famous TV show—oh wait—she was.

“Shhh.” They were being too loud—or I was too paranoid.

Later that night, our trio had a sleepover, and we looked at all of them. “I found it!” Aurora said, pointing to the sky and jumping up from the ground. “Lemme see!” I pleaded. The three of us gathered around. “I’m glad I met you. But I can’t be friends with you anymore…. I found a girlfriend. I know you’d be glad! Now you don’t have to deal with me anymore! So I wanted to tell you this way, that way you had time to think. Let me know when you see this.” _Signed Josh. _ Tears rush down my face. “Honey,” Mia says, as both girls wrap me in a hug. “I just can’t believe this. I thought—that maybe he liked me?” “That jerk! He played you!” Aurora cried. “I can’t believe it,” Mia mumbled, hand on her chin. My tears started blurring my eyes. “Why do I care?” “Why do you care?” Aurora whispered kindly. “I like him,” I said, finally admitting it myself. “You just now realized this?” Mia said softly. “Yes. But he has a girlfriend!” I halfheartedly say, with false jazz hands. “Let’s look through these other notes.” After a couple of minutes—and a couple, “Hm,” “Ha!” “Hmmmm,”s, Mia finally threads the silence. “Look!” Mia said excitedly. “What?” I wipe my tears. “A love note.”

[Before i start thank you to all of the people in service the military, and first responders we are safe because of you and for that I give you my loyalty]

'𝗧𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝖶𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝖭𝗈𝗍 𝖺 𝖼𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗋𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝖺 𝗆𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝖭𝗈 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝖼𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗁𝗎𝗇𝗀 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝖺𝗇𝗍𝗅𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖻𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖲𝗍.𝖭𝗂𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗅𝖺𝗌 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝗇𝗈 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾

𝒀𝒆𝒂𝒉, 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉

𝑾𝒆'𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒕 '𝒆𝒎, 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕

𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑨𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝒈𝒊𝒇𝒕

𝖠 𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝗊𝗎𝗂𝖾𝗍 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗅𝖽 𝖺 𝗌𝖺𝖽 𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝖾𝖾 𝖭𝗈 𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗌𝖾𝗅,𝗇𝗈 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗌 𝖭𝗈𝗍 𝖺 𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝖾𝖾 𝖩𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝖻𝖺𝖽𝗀𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗆𝖾𝖽𝖺𝗅𝗌 𝖨𝗇 𝖺 𝖿𝗋𝖺𝗆𝖾 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝖳𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗍 𝖺𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖨𝖿 𝖽𝗎𝗍𝗒 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖼𝖺𝗅𝗅

𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙝, 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙄𝙣 𝙖 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙧 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙒𝙚'𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙩 '𝙚𝙢,𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩

𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩

ᘜᖇᗴᗴᑎ ᗩᑎᗪ ᖇᗴᗪ ᑭᗩᑭᗴᖇ ᗷIᘜ ᖇIᗷᗷOᑎᔕ ᗩᑎᗪ ᗷOᗯᔕ OᑌTᔕIᗪᗴ Tᕼᗴ ᔕᑎOᗯ ᖴᗩᒪᒪᔕ ᗩᑎᗪ IᑕIᑕᒪᗴᔕ ᘜᒪIᔕTᗴᑎ 𝖩𝗈𝗒 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗅𝖽 𝖥𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝖺 𝖼𝖺𝗋𝗈𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗂𝗋 𝖬𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗅𝖾𝗍𝗈𝖾 𝗄𝗂𝗌𝗌𝖾𝗌 𝖳𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗐 𝖺 𝗅𝗈𝗀 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾

'𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐖𝐞'𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐭 '𝐞𝐦,𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭

𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐡, 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭

[𝔸 𝕤𝕠𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕘𝕚𝕗𝕥 -𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙 𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕖𝕣] 𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕘 ℝ𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕕

It's that time of the year. It's 14th September, The Prison Day. The worst students from every school are taken to a prison and locked in a cell with extreme conditions. Let me explain.

Every year on this day, a teacher picks one to three of the worst, most troublesome students from his or her class. This applies for Grade 6 and above. The guards take these picked students to a small cell, with a very cold or very hot temperature. After sometime, they leave the students with the teachers in a room. The teachers are given a small pocket knife to cut one finger of the student from their weak hand.

The teachers have an option of not being a part of this, but most of them decide to take part. Luckily my teacher has denied ever doing this, as she thinks it is very brutal and we are only kids after all. But my brother's teacher doesn't think so. I hope my brother is safe.

I just got to know, my brother is safe but his best friend is not. I hope this system changes. It is traumatic, and just wrong.

Buzzz, Buzzz, Buzzz Kendra felt the vibration of her cell phone. She had been waiting all day for a call from her boyfriend Dwayne. Kendra was pleasantly surprised when she looked down and the the caller ID read City of Martinsville. Her excitement caused her to accidentally fumble and drop her phone, while trying to retrieve it from her lavender cashmere cardigan pocket.

“Hello, Hello This is Kendra!” She nervously answered. She was hoping that this call would be a really positive one.

“ Hey babe…you sound out of breath? Is everything okay?” Dwayne asked. He was Kendra’s boyfriend and he also worked for the City of Martinsville.

“ Yes…I’ve just been holding my breath, waiting for you to call. Just hoping and wondering has the board decided or made their decision? or have they even discussed my proposal for the “Corona Day?”for our city.

“Well__Kendra…”

“Well what Dwayne! Did the board shoot it down or are they considering my proposal for Corona Day?” Kendra apprehensively persisted as she paced back and-forth in her colorfully decorated condo.

“Kendra if you would let me, I am attempting to explain. These types of decisions are not made over night they takes time. You presented your proposal about what?”

“Six weeks ago” Kendra interrupted. “And I’ve been waiting and waiting to hear some thing.”

“ Okay ….Kendra I actually have some news___ Mayor Laura McIntyre asked that I contact you right away, she wants to hear more and she is requesting for you to come down to City Hall on Wednesday morning at 09:30.”

“Sounds great Dwayne, I have no problem coming down to City Hall but why does the mayor want me to do that? “

“She wants you to come to give a presentation before the selection board, in regards to your proposal for the Corona Day.” Dwayne excitedly exclaimed. “I can tell you that it’s been my experience that presentations are reserved for only those proposals that are well on their way to being passed by the selection board.

“Are you Serious Dwayne? “Kendra began jumping up and down as she waved her hands in the air. “Yeahhhhh!” She shouted my idea for the ‘Annual Corona Day’ is one step closer to becoming a holiday here in Martinsville!” She flashed her bright smile as she did her happy dance across her living room floor.

“Girrrrrrrlllll I can see you smiling through the phone”. Dwayne laughed. He was elated to be able to give Kendra the positive news. This is an endeavor, which has been near and dear to her heart. Kendra worked extremely hard on this project for several months.

Dwayne’s position as a City Council member came with enormous responsibilities which included being in charge of some of the laws and bylaws of the city of Martinsville. Kendra recently presented her proposal to the city at a recent board meeting. When a proposal is submitted, by a citizen, by law the committee is required to start the proceedings to take the proposal through a selection process. If selected the proposal would be discussed, and then voted on by the committee and council members.

Kendra proposal for an annual Corona Day stemmed from our recent Coronavirus Pandemic. The Day of Remembrance would be held annually on January 21st. This day had been chosen because the date coincides with that of the first US case of COVID-19 being confirmed. The initial patient happened to be a thirty five year old male from Washington State. His confirmation was on January 21,2020. The young man tested positive after returning from a trip to Wuhan China. And, as we all know the virus sparked a worldwide pandemic. The first US death being reported on February 29, 2020. As the pandemic continue to reap havoc over a two-year span the virus unfortunately took the lives of at least 6.7 million vulnerable and unsuspecting individuals.

During the pandemic, people were on lockdown, sequestered, quarantined and unable to have human contact with anyone for at least ten days early on. Kendra proposed that on “Corona Day” individuals would do the exact opposite. They would make it a point to go visit loved ones, friends, neighbors, coworkers, anyone that’s ill in a hospital, nursing home, jail, assisted, living, where ever they are, even in their homes. And not only would they make a special visit to the ill individuals, they would also take a special card that Kendra is in the process of making. The greeting cards will read: “I am visiting you in honor of___and on the card the person that is visiting the individual, could list the names of love ones that they lost to COVID-19. So the individual that is visiting the person will be visiting that ill person in the honor of a loved one or friend that they lost. Because most everyone most likely knew of at least one person that lost their life during the pandemic, to the coronavirus.

Kendra felt passionate about this endeavor. Due to the fact that during the height of the pandemic Kendra lost both of her grandparents, and a uncle to the unrelenting virus.

Although Kendra was only thirty five, she constantly thought about her legacy. She would often ponder about the impression that she would leave for others when she passed on. Kendra especially desired to leave her nieces and nephews positive footprints for them to follow in. And she felt as if her ideal for the Corona Day would be a gigantic start for a positive legacy. Kendra had always attempted to place the needs of others before her own.

So following Kendra spectacular presentation, much to her surprise, her proposal was unanimously approved by the board.

It was Kenya’s hope and dream that Corona Day would start in Martinsville, and then would one day become a national holiday.

It’s today! I had woken up only moments before but already blood was pumping frantically through my brain. Finally. I’ve been waiting for this for 16 years. I take a deep breath waiting until my pounding head finally chills out. But… It’s today. My heart flutters and my eyes open wider. I am soo exited. I turn the knob to my white door, trying not to make a sound. My parents are still asleep. They probably don’t even remember. This holiday on a different day for everyone, they are probably to condoned by their own dates to worry about me. To worried about themselves to worry about me. But I won’t negative talk ruin this day. After today everything will change anyway, no more standing in the shadows I can be anything I want. You never really know when it will happen, when you are born there is number above your head, telling you how many days until today. Normally people get over 25,000’s but I got lucky mine was in the 5,000’s. And in my family you have to be lucky. Still my parents are in the deep thousands almost to 30,000. They had been furious when they found out I had beat them. As I walk outside everything seems brighter. Clearer. I move around the garden with a new found adoration for the outdoors. I walk to the street looking both ways before slowly crossing. There are ducks in the pond near me, quacking their merry tune. Do they know how special today is? As I move around the lush grass I realize that the quacking has stoped. I glance over at the pond. One of the ducks is stuck under water. Without a second thought I peel off my shoes, and dive in to save it. The water is cold, too cold. I can make out the vague outline of the duck above me he was stuck in a fishing line. As I moved towards him his he started squirming more. Really? Can’t he see I’m trying to help? I get to close and the ducks powerful kicks send me swirling through the freezing water. I become tangelos in some slimy reeds, when I try to move away from them try tighten around me. Wow, this is something. I watch as the ducks movements slow. It’s loosing oxygen. But then I see some of his friends paddling over. I could have just done nothing and the duck would be saved. Great. I struggle to break free then I stop. I remember what day it is. This is actually a good way. I’ve heard of people who spend this day horribly, but me? No. I tried to save a duck.
It’s a good way to spend this day. My lips twitch. This is a good way to finally go.

Eliza never particularly cared for Easter. She went to church with Ivy, of course, as if Ivy would allow any other outcome, but sitting in church during the Mass was especially tedious. Eliza had never been much for sitting and just listening, while contemplating her immortal soul. This year, it was odd to sit with Ivy and Mr. Potts. Although it was nice not to be two ladies alone, it was still a bit tiresome to constantly have Mr. Potts hanging about, Ivy had invited him to their parish church, St. Thomas' for Easter Mass. So now in addition to having to behave under Ivy's watchful eyes, she had Mr. Potts squinting at her fidgets. The church was old - the last time it had been refurbished was probably when her great-grandmother was still alive and England had still had a King. Her gaze lingered on the sunlight filtering through the high stained glass windows. It was nice to see a bit of sunshine, even if it was March. She wondered if William's church in Covent Gardens was getting any sun. Ivy pinched her, and Eliza turned back towards the priest. With any luck, Communion would be soon and then she could get back to her office. It may be Easter Sunday, but it had also fallen on Quarter Day this year, and all rent was due. Luckily, she had made just enough to cover and the landlord had already been paid, but hopefully, there would be a queue of people looking for a private detective's aid in collecting missing money. Thanking God under her breath, Eliza stood to receive communion and filed down the aisle, followed by Ivy and Mr. Potts, however, when she returned to their pew, they were followed in by a strange man. Eliza tried to analyze him while facing front and receiving the final prayer, but it was difficult to study the man while also bowing her head in prayer and trying to sing along to the right words in the hymnal. From the few glances she could steal, he seemed to be well-dressed, and older, perhaps not quite as old as her father would be, but certainly older than William. She wondered where he had come from, and why he had decided to move to their pew - where had he been sitting previously? Was he an old acquaintance of her father? Would he stay after Mass long enough for her to ask? By the time the priest had finished the final blessing, Eliza was about reading to spring out of her chair to ask questions of the stranger. After all, Church was the one place where you could be friendly and welcoming to a stranger without an introduction! The man clearly was of the same opinion, because as Eliza was turning to him to greet him, he was turning to her and they almost collided taking a step towards one another. "Dear lady Eliza! Excuse me! Are you alright?" the man's voice was average, he had a slight midland accent, but Eliza wasn't sure if that meant he had lived there most recently or if he'd been gone from there for a long time. "I'm sorry sir, I am quite well thank you. Who are you?" Ivy gasped behind her. Perhaps that had been a little too direct, but the man seemed unfazed. "Dear cousin Eliza, I am Mr. Abraham Collins, a cousin of your late father, here to check on your welfare and do my familial duty." Ivy gasped again, but this time, Eliza wasn't sure if she had gasped as well. At least she couldn't be accused of being too direct now.

In a dark habit, a flailing figure jumped up from a boxwood hedge. Startled, Agent Tess Morganna lifted the figure up from the ground with a jerk from her head. The figure writhed until his hood slipped off revealing his turquoise mohawk and baby face. Tess let the boy down gently. “Sorry lady I thought you were my sister.” “No worries,” Tess said and handed the kid a pair of full-size Snickers bars from her trench coat. “Gee thanks lady.” The cub started dancing wildly. Smiling Tess continued up the street to the town square. Every storefront was a party with music tumbling from open doors. Young and old dressed as Modestus and Crescentia danced on the sidewalks. “That souped up masking spell worked like a charm. I even fooled a little bear shifter,” Tess said. A deep voice from inside her head said, “That was one of those Arktos kids. Dumb as a box of rocks. Keep your head on swivel this freak show has mad skills and I don’t want you I mean I don’t want to see anyone else get hurt.” “Got it, ‘Bird I’m practically a sprinkler system.” Tess could feel Thunderbird’s concern warm like sipping whiskey. Then she could feel Teddi’s giggle, Tank’s annoyance, and Lee’s surprise and remembered the group’s psychic link shared thoughts and feelings. Heading towards the hard rock zydeco, Tess picked up the pace. Lee’s behavioral profile of the poison pen letter writer had revealed what he was and why he was tormenting the town but not who the letter writer was. So they looked for where the letter writer would be. Saint Vitus’ Day was the perfect trap. The malicious writer couldn’t resist a big public event. He would need to be a part of the town he hates. Lee was glamoured to look like her and Tess was masked as a nondescript bear shifter tourist. Buzzing with raucous music and food trucks, the little town of Zeus remixed all the fun parts of human holidays. Tourists had been streaming in all day. Revelers waved palm fronds and rubber chickens. Tess walked between the dancers and the laughter, searching for dark energy. Tess was exhausted, being so open. “Need a break,” Tank said in her head “No, I’m all right.” “No that wasn’t a question that was an order.” Tank’s voice radiated dominant vibes. Tess was about to remindthe bossy sheriff that she wasn’t one of his deputies when she noticed a crepe food truck. Screaming, a little wolf shifter in pigtails wearing a nun’s habit carrying a cauldron zipped past Tess. “Daddy Daddy Taylor stole my candy. Sorry mister I thought you were my dad,” the pup careened off in a new direction screaming. Tess turned cold. She knew masking spells work by making you appear familiar yet forgettable. The poison letter writer was following her. Tess pretended to study the crepe food truck menu. His mask was excellent but Tess could smell the rancid essence of his hatred, taste his bitter envy in her mouth. She knew her team could too. “Honey which is the one I don’t like caramel of butterscotch?” Tess asked. She touched the poison pen letter writer’s arm without looking at him as if she’s mistaken him for someone else. “Oh sorry I thought you were my husband.” They stared at each other. The masking spells slipped away. It was Postmaster Conjure, former mayor. The old warlock sneered. Suddenly the suspect shotgunned his magic at Tess. She threw up a glowing shield and broke his nose with a headbutt. Someone screamed and people began running. The warlock staggered back surprised. Thunderbird materialized besides her and together they began erecting energy barriers to protect the public. Lee bound the suspect’s wrists. The suspect took off running until a very large gray wolf leapt at his throat. The suspect went down hard and Lee’s magic shackled his feet. A brown bear hurried over to watch the suspect and wait for the ambulance. The wolf shifted to Tank, town sheriff. “No need to be alarmed folks. There was a situation and the situation has been taken care of.” The crowd broke into applause, many assuming it was skit for the Saint Vitus day festivities. Proud of his team and his town Tank walked back to Conjure. “So no one is going to mention he’s naked,” Tess said. “It’s Zeus, Agent Marianna, it’s Zeus.”

Rainbow With The Wind Day is a day that happens every year on April 19th. It’s where on a morning afternoon, you will see a rainbow, and then after around 20 to 30 seconds, you can literally see and feel the wind moving the rainbow around place to place, time to time. I remember one time on this day, in 1996, I was 13 at the time and my little brother was 6. Somewhere at 12:30 pm, our mother called us outside for the event. Next thing you know, a rainbow comes out, then even sooner the wind starts moving the rainbow around. I was so fascinated that I accidentally dropped my stuff hedgehog, Ida, and tripped on the stairs. My little brother was laughing at me hysterically, so I started chasing him around while my mother was just standing there, laughing. My family talks about that event often and give people a good laugh. And it’s all because of Rainbow With The Wind Day.

Ages ago, Ambrose the Wayfarer dug Maythorn Well at the site of Benearth River. He drank of the living water and immediately he was healed of the blisters on his feet.

One Morningstarday, Ambrose journeyed many hours to Maythorn Well, so that the Sun was at her peak by the time he arrived, and he suffered a terrible thirst. But he had forgotten to bring a bucket, and the well was deep. “I shall die of thirst!” he cried.

Just then, a woman fair of form, of the nearby city of Mannaton, came to Maythorn Well, carrying a bucket on her head, for her womb was barren and no man would have her; she had no child.

When Ambrose the Wayfarer saw the woman he said, “Woman, I am thirsty. Give me to drink from the well.”

The woman dared not tell Ambrose the reason she had come to the well in the heat of midday, but lowered her bucket and gave Ambrose to drink first.

And Ambrose said, “Woman, how art thou called?”

And the woman said, “Man, I am called Rowena, daughter of Nun,” said the woman.

And Ambrose said, “Because thou hast done me this kindness, and didst not begrudge me the first drink, my blessings upon thee fall, thee and thy husband and thy children ever after.”

And the woman said, “Man, I have no husband.”

And Ambrose said, “Woman, take me to thy father, that I may ask thy hand in marriage.”

And the woman said, “Man, my father sleeps the long sleep.”

And Ambrose said, “Woman, be thou my bride.”

And the woman said, “Man, thou dost honor me.”

At the third hour from midday, Ambrose gave the woman a ring, woven from a branch of the nearby maythorn tree. Thus was she his bride.

In the years to come, Rowena bore Ambrose twelve sons and twelve daughters. And they all drank from Maythorn Well, and watered their cattle.

Then the sons of Ambrose built the city of Ambrosia around the well, and Ambrose and Rowena were its first King and Queen.

Every year, at the spring evenday, the people of Ambrosia City remember the first meeting of Ambrose and Rowena on the Feast of Maythorn.

At sunup, a man and a woman are chosen by lot to be Ambrose and Rowena. A procession is formed, symbolizing their journey to Maythorn Well ages ago.

At midday, they perform the tryst of their ancestors at Maythorn Well, and after three hours they are married. Crowns are placed on their heads, and they are King and Queen for the day.

Then the Maythorn Day King Ambrose gives water from the well to all the city, and all take a drink, and their families and their cattle, and the crops are watered. Then the remaining water is poured into baths, and the sick come to bathe, hanging their clothes in the maythorn tree and being given white dresses by the Maythorn Day King Ambrose.

Then the fattest cow is slaughtered for the Maythorn Day dinner, and all the city have their fill. When dinner is ended, the Maythorn Day King Ambrose leads the men in songs of rejoicing, while the women hide treats for the children to find before sundown. All the children who find the treats keep them; all who fail are whipped soundly and sent to bed.

THE END