Miriam was one of the most beautiful women I ever met. There is something about Ethiopian women, and whatever it was, the Princess had lashings of it. Tall, dignified and beautiful, her cheek-bones could have cut paper. I sensed a trace of Jewish ancestry which called to me, but it was when she spoke that you sensed how special she was. Her voice was unusual...
Jess seemed a bit sulky after the Princess left. Eventually I did what I knew I was going to have to do, and asked her what was wrong. I was not sure I wanted to hear the reply, but sure I did not want a day of sulks. 'She will be your next one then? The Princess. I could see you two devouring each other with your eyes.' 'Darling, don't be jealous, it isn'...
The days sped by and Princess Rosebud thought that if she didn’t have Velvet, she would fly apart. Her father kept Velvet busy with preparations for the wedding and Sir Gordie needed her to help with the security details. She felt as if she were dying, as if it was only a matter of time before she would be attending a funeral – her own. Oh, Velvet. Only six...
There were two name tags on the door. Mine said "Leslie". The other said "Quinn". The student housing computer matched me with a girl named "Quinn". I hoped beyond hope that Quinn would be a geek, or a nerd, or even a gothy loner. Just anything but a popular cheerleader princess. As Dad and Bryan caught up to me, carrying the foot locker between them, I put...
The sun sparkled off the pond, giving the illusion of warmth when as far as she could see, snow covered the landscape. She wished that she could go out and play in it but her father had said that it was impossible. She stamped her feet and roared at him, but he didn’t budge from his decision. What was worse, he didn’t say why she couldn’t go out. She had bee...
Sam Mason: Are you happy to continue? Karen Smith: Yes. SM: Okay, so you must have been quite shaken-up after that last shift? KS: Yes, I guess I was, but... SM: But what? KS: But when I got home that morning, I did something. Something I hadn't done in years. SM: What was that? KS: I...I masturbated. SM: You masturbated? KS: Yes. I drove home in fl...
Jess looked at me with pain in her face. ‘Pixie, have I displeased you? Everything I do is because I think it is what you wish. Was I wrong?’ My mind worked fast. ‘It is not you, Jess, it is me. I need to fix boundaries, and I have failed. No, it is not you. But fix them we must.’ It all came out in a rush. I explained that there needed to be a wall bet...
"No! Stop-" Alexandria's voice broke between sobs. "Please... please have mercy!" The woman's screams echoed through stone corridors. Her wrists were tied with rope, and those bindings were attached to another long one that suspended from the ceiling. She could still touch the ground, but had to stand on her toes as she swayed. Some sort of silky fabric obst...
Thursday night: opening ceremony We left Thursday afternoon on a work trip, two men, the princess, and me. The boys took the van with all of the display equipment. The princess and I took a separate car. Thursday night we shared a room. Friday and Saturday were planned far enough in advance that we all had our own rooms, but Thursday was a last minute add-...
Twelve While Samba was occupied with Eva, Valera had reached her hut and found it empty. At first she thought that the leader could be busy with something; but as time went by, she began to think that Samba had forgotten their appointment. Perhaps she was with one of her lovers? The girl felt confused: Samba had asked her to come – why would she go with ano...