Scribbler Shrike
@laniusludovicianus.bsky.social
A loggerhead shrike, vignette writer, and occasional doodler.
I have my own thorns so please leave all mice/voles/beetles/etc at the door.
I have my own thorns so please leave all mice/voles/beetles/etc at the door.
Pinned
chettlecliff.freeforums.net
chettlecliff.freeforums.net/post/2
𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.
𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘺.
𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.
𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘺.
"Well, well," mused Dr. Burke, settling beside Nurse Hosea at the nurses' station. "Seems like Dr. Ciliento has a woman he likes."
Hosea tried not to appear concerned. "He said so?"
"Yes," said Burke. "Well, as much as he ever communicates."
This was distressing. Hosea's mind raced furiously.
Hosea tried not to appear concerned. "He said so?"
"Yes," said Burke. "Well, as much as he ever communicates."
This was distressing. Hosea's mind raced furiously.
January 22, 2026 at 11:39 AM
"Well, well," mused Dr. Burke, settling beside Nurse Hosea at the nurses' station. "Seems like Dr. Ciliento has a woman he likes."
Hosea tried not to appear concerned. "He said so?"
"Yes," said Burke. "Well, as much as he ever communicates."
This was distressing. Hosea's mind raced furiously.
Hosea tried not to appear concerned. "He said so?"
"Yes," said Burke. "Well, as much as he ever communicates."
This was distressing. Hosea's mind raced furiously.
Alois stuck his spoon into the bowl with a satisfying crunch. As he saw it, attitude was everything and if he didn't let the state of his soup bother him, he'd keep his spirits up.
Xenia was not of the same mind. "This is inedible."
"You mean 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦," beamed Alois, chewing on the broth.
Xenia was not of the same mind. "This is inedible."
"You mean 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦," beamed Alois, chewing on the broth.
January 21, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Alois stuck his spoon into the bowl with a satisfying crunch. As he saw it, attitude was everything and if he didn't let the state of his soup bother him, he'd keep his spirits up.
Xenia was not of the same mind. "This is inedible."
"You mean 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦," beamed Alois, chewing on the broth.
Xenia was not of the same mind. "This is inedible."
"You mean 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦," beamed Alois, chewing on the broth.
"Yep, it's a cold one," said Granger, settling at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee.
"What are you doing in my house?" demanded Jure. "How did you get in?"
"I suppose those plants of yours in that fancy greenhouse'll be feelin' it too."
Jure's stomach dropped at the implication.
"What are you doing in my house?" demanded Jure. "How did you get in?"
"I suppose those plants of yours in that fancy greenhouse'll be feelin' it too."
Jure's stomach dropped at the implication.
January 21, 2026 at 3:09 PM
"Yep, it's a cold one," said Granger, settling at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee.
"What are you doing in my house?" demanded Jure. "How did you get in?"
"I suppose those plants of yours in that fancy greenhouse'll be feelin' it too."
Jure's stomach dropped at the implication.
"What are you doing in my house?" demanded Jure. "How did you get in?"
"I suppose those plants of yours in that fancy greenhouse'll be feelin' it too."
Jure's stomach dropped at the implication.
Darrin re-opened the pantry door with frustration. "If you haven't been messing with the protective runes, then what is this?"
Bevis mirrored his friend's emotion. "A dimension to horrors indescribable but not my doing. Did you leave the lights on overnight?"
"No. Well..."
"There you have it."
Bevis mirrored his friend's emotion. "A dimension to horrors indescribable but not my doing. Did you leave the lights on overnight?"
"No. Well..."
"There you have it."
January 21, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Darrin re-opened the pantry door with frustration. "If you haven't been messing with the protective runes, then what is this?"
Bevis mirrored his friend's emotion. "A dimension to horrors indescribable but not my doing. Did you leave the lights on overnight?"
"No. Well..."
"There you have it."
Bevis mirrored his friend's emotion. "A dimension to horrors indescribable but not my doing. Did you leave the lights on overnight?"
"No. Well..."
"There you have it."
"Mr. Plumpkin!" exclaimed Ruby as the small feline attacked her toes through the blanket.
"Mew."
"No, no!" she tutted, picking him up and marching him to the open window. "There are plenty of fine things out there for you to attack!"
Mr. Plumpkin shot off. Moments later, the milkman screamed.
"Mew."
"No, no!" she tutted, picking him up and marching him to the open window. "There are plenty of fine things out there for you to attack!"
Mr. Plumpkin shot off. Moments later, the milkman screamed.
January 20, 2026 at 11:15 AM
"Mr. Plumpkin!" exclaimed Ruby as the small feline attacked her toes through the blanket.
"Mew."
"No, no!" she tutted, picking him up and marching him to the open window. "There are plenty of fine things out there for you to attack!"
Mr. Plumpkin shot off. Moments later, the milkman screamed.
"Mew."
"No, no!" she tutted, picking him up and marching him to the open window. "There are plenty of fine things out there for you to attack!"
Mr. Plumpkin shot off. Moments later, the milkman screamed.
The approach of Chettlecliff Day, naturally, featured prominently in the publication. Interviews with Mayor Sagan stressed that the bicentennial celebration would pull out all the stops. When asked if this was out of a sense of hometown pride or self preservation, the mayor replied, "no comment".
January 19, 2026 at 8:36 PM
The approach of Chettlecliff Day, naturally, featured prominently in the publication. Interviews with Mayor Sagan stressed that the bicentennial celebration would pull out all the stops. When asked if this was out of a sense of hometown pride or self preservation, the mayor replied, "no comment".
The newspaper ran a piece on the rise of crime. There wasn't much crime to speak of, granted, but the paper did their best to upsell the idea. Minor grievances were turned into federal offenses until the following edition announced the rising crime had been culled by dogged police efforts.
January 19, 2026 at 7:20 PM
The newspaper ran a piece on the rise of crime. There wasn't much crime to speak of, granted, but the paper did their best to upsell the idea. Minor grievances were turned into federal offenses until the following edition announced the rising crime had been culled by dogged police efforts.
The newspaper reported that stocks were down. The newspaper also reported that storks were up. When readers wrote in to clarify if this meant the number of storks in town had increased or if the town's known pair of storks had simply stood up, the reporter confessed he didn't know what storks were.
January 19, 2026 at 11:34 AM
The newspaper reported that stocks were down. The newspaper also reported that storks were up. When readers wrote in to clarify if this meant the number of storks in town had increased or if the town's known pair of storks had simply stood up, the reporter confessed he didn't know what storks were.
"Did you hear the owls last night?" Clara asked. Beatrice shook her head.
"Were they active?"
"I'm surprised you didn't," said Clara. "You live out here in the woods."
"The woods are empty," explained Beatrice.
"Why is that, dear? They seem healthy."
"You would think so," replied Beatrice.
"Were they active?"
"I'm surprised you didn't," said Clara. "You live out here in the woods."
"The woods are empty," explained Beatrice.
"Why is that, dear? They seem healthy."
"You would think so," replied Beatrice.
January 18, 2026 at 9:57 PM
"Did you hear the owls last night?" Clara asked. Beatrice shook her head.
"Were they active?"
"I'm surprised you didn't," said Clara. "You live out here in the woods."
"The woods are empty," explained Beatrice.
"Why is that, dear? They seem healthy."
"You would think so," replied Beatrice.
"Were they active?"
"I'm surprised you didn't," said Clara. "You live out here in the woods."
"The woods are empty," explained Beatrice.
"Why is that, dear? They seem healthy."
"You would think so," replied Beatrice.
chettlecliff.freeforums.net/post/2
𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.
𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘺.
𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.
𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘺.
chettlecliff.freeforums.net
January 18, 2026 at 9:50 PM
chettlecliff.freeforums.net/post/2
𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.
𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘺.
𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.
𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘺.
Dr. Ciliento winced and Hosea inquired, "What's wrong?"
"I did something to my hand fishing this weekend."
"I can help with that," the nurse blurted. "I know a massage technique--"
Ciliento snorted. "If you want to hold hands, just say so."
Hosea's ears turned red. "N-never crossed my mind!"
"I did something to my hand fishing this weekend."
"I can help with that," the nurse blurted. "I know a massage technique--"
Ciliento snorted. "If you want to hold hands, just say so."
Hosea's ears turned red. "N-never crossed my mind!"
January 18, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Dr. Ciliento winced and Hosea inquired, "What's wrong?"
"I did something to my hand fishing this weekend."
"I can help with that," the nurse blurted. "I know a massage technique--"
Ciliento snorted. "If you want to hold hands, just say so."
Hosea's ears turned red. "N-never crossed my mind!"
"I did something to my hand fishing this weekend."
"I can help with that," the nurse blurted. "I know a massage technique--"
Ciliento snorted. "If you want to hold hands, just say so."
Hosea's ears turned red. "N-never crossed my mind!"
"Chettlecliff Day is a big one this year," observed the hole.
"Oh, yeah?"
"200 years, isn't it?"
Gregor shrugged. "I don't keep up." Then, "Will you be there?"
"Sorry," rasped the hole. "I emerge according to the stars."
"Pity. I would have liked to go with you."
Unseen, the hole blushed.
"Oh, yeah?"
"200 years, isn't it?"
Gregor shrugged. "I don't keep up." Then, "Will you be there?"
"Sorry," rasped the hole. "I emerge according to the stars."
"Pity. I would have liked to go with you."
Unseen, the hole blushed.
January 18, 2026 at 12:25 PM
"Chettlecliff Day is a big one this year," observed the hole.
"Oh, yeah?"
"200 years, isn't it?"
Gregor shrugged. "I don't keep up." Then, "Will you be there?"
"Sorry," rasped the hole. "I emerge according to the stars."
"Pity. I would have liked to go with you."
Unseen, the hole blushed.
"Oh, yeah?"
"200 years, isn't it?"
Gregor shrugged. "I don't keep up." Then, "Will you be there?"
"Sorry," rasped the hole. "I emerge according to the stars."
"Pity. I would have liked to go with you."
Unseen, the hole blushed.
Mathilde fanned the bills in the envelope, counting silently. Satisfied, she nodded. "It's been a pleasure doing business with you."
Althea turned the gray photograph over in her hands. "Of course. Why didn't I think to check the hayloft?"
"Best of luck reclaiming your seal skin," hummed Mathilde.
Althea turned the gray photograph over in her hands. "Of course. Why didn't I think to check the hayloft?"
"Best of luck reclaiming your seal skin," hummed Mathilde.
January 17, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Mathilde fanned the bills in the envelope, counting silently. Satisfied, she nodded. "It's been a pleasure doing business with you."
Althea turned the gray photograph over in her hands. "Of course. Why didn't I think to check the hayloft?"
"Best of luck reclaiming your seal skin," hummed Mathilde.
Althea turned the gray photograph over in her hands. "Of course. Why didn't I think to check the hayloft?"
"Best of luck reclaiming your seal skin," hummed Mathilde.
Lionel made a face. "Is there anything odd about our beverages today?"
Hortense blinked her many eyes. "Not that I noticed."
"There's an odd sensation in my mouth."
"Oh," Hortense pointed. "There's a colony of tiny men in your ice!"
"Hello," said a tiny man faintly.
"Hello," both replied.
Hortense blinked her many eyes. "Not that I noticed."
"There's an odd sensation in my mouth."
"Oh," Hortense pointed. "There's a colony of tiny men in your ice!"
"Hello," said a tiny man faintly.
"Hello," both replied.
January 17, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Lionel made a face. "Is there anything odd about our beverages today?"
Hortense blinked her many eyes. "Not that I noticed."
"There's an odd sensation in my mouth."
"Oh," Hortense pointed. "There's a colony of tiny men in your ice!"
"Hello," said a tiny man faintly.
"Hello," both replied.
Hortense blinked her many eyes. "Not that I noticed."
"There's an odd sensation in my mouth."
"Oh," Hortense pointed. "There's a colony of tiny men in your ice!"
"Hello," said a tiny man faintly.
"Hello," both replied.
"Bach, Chopin, Liszt-- tell me what you want to hear and I'll play it for you."
Dorothy pouted her lips. "Murray, do you have to drag that everywhere?"
"I'll misplace it if I don't keep it nearby."
"It's a 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘰."
"No," sniffled Murray, "It's a 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥. This relationship isn't working!"
Dorothy pouted her lips. "Murray, do you have to drag that everywhere?"
"I'll misplace it if I don't keep it nearby."
"It's a 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘰."
"No," sniffled Murray, "It's a 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥. This relationship isn't working!"
January 17, 2026 at 5:35 PM
"Bach, Chopin, Liszt-- tell me what you want to hear and I'll play it for you."
Dorothy pouted her lips. "Murray, do you have to drag that everywhere?"
"I'll misplace it if I don't keep it nearby."
"It's a 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘰."
"No," sniffled Murray, "It's a 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥. This relationship isn't working!"
Dorothy pouted her lips. "Murray, do you have to drag that everywhere?"
"I'll misplace it if I don't keep it nearby."
"It's a 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘰."
"No," sniffled Murray, "It's a 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥. This relationship isn't working!"
"Darling?" called Eustace. "Did you see the entity run by?"
Laoise poked her head out from the laundry room. "No, I'm sorry."
"Hm. Where could it have gone? I only looked away for a moment."
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, fumed Laoise silently, scooping the Cottolene into the washing machine.
Laoise poked her head out from the laundry room. "No, I'm sorry."
"Hm. Where could it have gone? I only looked away for a moment."
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, fumed Laoise silently, scooping the Cottolene into the washing machine.
January 17, 2026 at 4:54 PM
"Darling?" called Eustace. "Did you see the entity run by?"
Laoise poked her head out from the laundry room. "No, I'm sorry."
"Hm. Where could it have gone? I only looked away for a moment."
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, fumed Laoise silently, scooping the Cottolene into the washing machine.
Laoise poked her head out from the laundry room. "No, I'm sorry."
"Hm. Where could it have gone? I only looked away for a moment."
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, fumed Laoise silently, scooping the Cottolene into the washing machine.
"Have you ever noticed," mused Georgia, "how there are never fires when it snows?"
Otis and Ulysses exchanged glances.
'Yes, there are," said Otis.
"I've never seen one," said the young woman.
"Didn't your house burn down last February?" asked Ulysses.
"We never determined what that was."
Otis and Ulysses exchanged glances.
'Yes, there are," said Otis.
"I've never seen one," said the young woman.
"Didn't your house burn down last February?" asked Ulysses.
"We never determined what that was."
January 17, 2026 at 1:25 PM
"Have you ever noticed," mused Georgia, "how there are never fires when it snows?"
Otis and Ulysses exchanged glances.
'Yes, there are," said Otis.
"I've never seen one," said the young woman.
"Didn't your house burn down last February?" asked Ulysses.
"We never determined what that was."
Otis and Ulysses exchanged glances.
'Yes, there are," said Otis.
"I've never seen one," said the young woman.
"Didn't your house burn down last February?" asked Ulysses.
"We never determined what that was."
"You really have no advice for me, do you?" Rory sighed.
"My advice," said Barnaby, "is to do precisely what is expected of you."
"That's it?"
"I'm not clairvoyant, Rory. I have the same information you do."
A terse silence settled.
"So," Rory put forth. "Did that bird--"
"Still an issue."
"My advice," said Barnaby, "is to do precisely what is expected of you."
"That's it?"
"I'm not clairvoyant, Rory. I have the same information you do."
A terse silence settled.
"So," Rory put forth. "Did that bird--"
"Still an issue."
January 16, 2026 at 8:39 PM
"You really have no advice for me, do you?" Rory sighed.
"My advice," said Barnaby, "is to do precisely what is expected of you."
"That's it?"
"I'm not clairvoyant, Rory. I have the same information you do."
A terse silence settled.
"So," Rory put forth. "Did that bird--"
"Still an issue."
"My advice," said Barnaby, "is to do precisely what is expected of you."
"That's it?"
"I'm not clairvoyant, Rory. I have the same information you do."
A terse silence settled.
"So," Rory put forth. "Did that bird--"
"Still an issue."
"I'm sure fatalism is going to help your case," said Barnaby dryly.
"I didn't think this would happen on my watch."
"You've been doing pretty well. This is the first bump in the road."
"It's a pretty big bump," quipped Rory.
"Then slow down," said Barnaby, "before you hit it going full speed."
"I didn't think this would happen on my watch."
"You've been doing pretty well. This is the first bump in the road."
"It's a pretty big bump," quipped Rory.
"Then slow down," said Barnaby, "before you hit it going full speed."
January 16, 2026 at 8:32 PM
"I'm sure fatalism is going to help your case," said Barnaby dryly.
"I didn't think this would happen on my watch."
"You've been doing pretty well. This is the first bump in the road."
"It's a pretty big bump," quipped Rory.
"Then slow down," said Barnaby, "before you hit it going full speed."
"I didn't think this would happen on my watch."
"You've been doing pretty well. This is the first bump in the road."
"It's a pretty big bump," quipped Rory.
"Then slow down," said Barnaby, "before you hit it going full speed."
Barnaby slid the weathered tome back. "The language is clear."
"How clear?" queried Rory.
"I'm sorry."
Rory gritted his teeth and turned aside in his chair. "You're killing me, Barn."
"There is an easy solution," began Barnaby.
"It's not guaranteed though, is it?" sulked Rory. "This sucks."
"How clear?" queried Rory.
"I'm sorry."
Rory gritted his teeth and turned aside in his chair. "You're killing me, Barn."
"There is an easy solution," began Barnaby.
"It's not guaranteed though, is it?" sulked Rory. "This sucks."
January 16, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Barnaby slid the weathered tome back. "The language is clear."
"How clear?" queried Rory.
"I'm sorry."
Rory gritted his teeth and turned aside in his chair. "You're killing me, Barn."
"There is an easy solution," began Barnaby.
"It's not guaranteed though, is it?" sulked Rory. "This sucks."
"How clear?" queried Rory.
"I'm sorry."
Rory gritted his teeth and turned aside in his chair. "You're killing me, Barn."
"There is an easy solution," began Barnaby.
"It's not guaranteed though, is it?" sulked Rory. "This sucks."
Winslow had often been warned against feeding the squirrels. For years, he had ignored the admonishment, not caring if it emboldened the rodents.
He was beginning to rethink his stance.
Not because anything bad had happened but because he was sick of all the thank you notes written on acorns.
He was beginning to rethink his stance.
Not because anything bad had happened but because he was sick of all the thank you notes written on acorns.
January 16, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Winslow had often been warned against feeding the squirrels. For years, he had ignored the admonishment, not caring if it emboldened the rodents.
He was beginning to rethink his stance.
Not because anything bad had happened but because he was sick of all the thank you notes written on acorns.
He was beginning to rethink his stance.
Not because anything bad had happened but because he was sick of all the thank you notes written on acorns.
"Up late?" Hosea inquired. Nurse Wen nodded.
"Yes; I had a book I couldn't put down."
"That good?"
"No," frowned Wen. "I physically couldn't put it down. It fused to my skin."
"How'd you get out of that?"
Wen raised her hands to show her blackened fingertips. "The furnace played a big role."
"Yes; I had a book I couldn't put down."
"That good?"
"No," frowned Wen. "I physically couldn't put it down. It fused to my skin."
"How'd you get out of that?"
Wen raised her hands to show her blackened fingertips. "The furnace played a big role."
January 16, 2026 at 11:20 AM
"Up late?" Hosea inquired. Nurse Wen nodded.
"Yes; I had a book I couldn't put down."
"That good?"
"No," frowned Wen. "I physically couldn't put it down. It fused to my skin."
"How'd you get out of that?"
Wen raised her hands to show her blackened fingertips. "The furnace played a big role."
"Yes; I had a book I couldn't put down."
"That good?"
"No," frowned Wen. "I physically couldn't put it down. It fused to my skin."
"How'd you get out of that?"
Wen raised her hands to show her blackened fingertips. "The furnace played a big role."
Rutherford peered about the gathered throngs then leaned to whisper in Stella's ear. "Why are we clapping?"
"I don't know," Stella responded. "Everyone else was doing it."
"Why?"
"Maybe he told a joke?"
"Does anyone here even speak Diahói?" posed Rutherford. "Anyone?"
"Don't embarass me."
"I don't know," Stella responded. "Everyone else was doing it."
"Why?"
"Maybe he told a joke?"
"Does anyone here even speak Diahói?" posed Rutherford. "Anyone?"
"Don't embarass me."
January 15, 2026 at 11:26 PM
Rutherford peered about the gathered throngs then leaned to whisper in Stella's ear. "Why are we clapping?"
"I don't know," Stella responded. "Everyone else was doing it."
"Why?"
"Maybe he told a joke?"
"Does anyone here even speak Diahói?" posed Rutherford. "Anyone?"
"Don't embarass me."
"I don't know," Stella responded. "Everyone else was doing it."
"Why?"
"Maybe he told a joke?"
"Does anyone here even speak Diahói?" posed Rutherford. "Anyone?"
"Don't embarass me."
"What's a 5-letter word for 'husband'?" mused Eustace. He twirled the pencil between the fingers on his right hand. "The 4th letter is 'o'."
"Idiot," said Laoise, spreading Cottolene across the bread slices as she assembled the sandwiches.
"It fits!" exclaimed Eustace with elation.
"Oh, I know."
"Idiot," said Laoise, spreading Cottolene across the bread slices as she assembled the sandwiches.
"It fits!" exclaimed Eustace with elation.
"Oh, I know."
January 15, 2026 at 8:45 PM
"What's a 5-letter word for 'husband'?" mused Eustace. He twirled the pencil between the fingers on his right hand. "The 4th letter is 'o'."
"Idiot," said Laoise, spreading Cottolene across the bread slices as she assembled the sandwiches.
"It fits!" exclaimed Eustace with elation.
"Oh, I know."
"Idiot," said Laoise, spreading Cottolene across the bread slices as she assembled the sandwiches.
"It fits!" exclaimed Eustace with elation.
"Oh, I know."
"Hell of a fire" remarked Josiah, moving beside Toller.
"I don't know how I managed it," blubbered the young salesman. "I just rang the doorbell..."
"That's my house going up," seethed Noelle. "One of you better call the fire department!"
Toller rushed into a nearby phonebooth. It ignited.
"I don't know how I managed it," blubbered the young salesman. "I just rang the doorbell..."
"That's my house going up," seethed Noelle. "One of you better call the fire department!"
Toller rushed into a nearby phonebooth. It ignited.
January 15, 2026 at 1:46 PM
"Hell of a fire" remarked Josiah, moving beside Toller.
"I don't know how I managed it," blubbered the young salesman. "I just rang the doorbell..."
"That's my house going up," seethed Noelle. "One of you better call the fire department!"
Toller rushed into a nearby phonebooth. It ignited.
"I don't know how I managed it," blubbered the young salesman. "I just rang the doorbell..."
"That's my house going up," seethed Noelle. "One of you better call the fire department!"
Toller rushed into a nearby phonebooth. It ignited.