Say Goodbye to Normal - Part 1

Title: Gate of Shadows
Chapter: Say Goodbye to Normal - Part 1            
Author: Jon Harrison & Alanna Cormier
Copyright: 2012

When Jim woke up this morning, it was the start of a normal day.  He got dressed in his favorite grey pinstripe suit, flat black tie, highly polished shoes, black trench coat, and kissed his wife goodbye.  Everything had gone so well. There was hardly any traffic so he actually had time to stop for a cup of coffee before getting to work and still had time to spare before heading into his morning meeting.  In fact, Jim couldn't remember the last time a morning went so smoothly and believed he'd be home early.  After lunch, he found a small square package on his desk.  It was wrapped in brown paper and tied up with black twine, but what was really unusual about it was the lack of any markings whatsoever.  Jim picked up the phone and dialed shipping.

"Hey Bob, it's Jim.  Did you leave a package for me on my desk?"

"No man. Nothing's come in today," replied Bob.

"Seriously?" Jim said incredulously.

"Yeah.  Somethin' wrong?"

"Ummm...I don't think so,"Jim hung up the phone and looked at the box in front of him.  "Where did you come from?"  He carefully shook it hoping that the sound would give him a clue as to the contents, but alas he resigned himself to opening it.   Jim carefully untied the black twine and unfolded the neatly wrapped brown paper and revealed a plain black stained wooden box.  With one hand, he gently slid back the top.   Before him lay an unfinished cherry wood totem no more than three inches long by one inch wide sitting in a perfectly shaped recess in the center of an otherwise seamless surface.  The side facing him had three Japanese symbols burned into it and when Jim picked it up and turned it over he saw three parallel slashes neatly carved into the wood at an angle.  He threw the totem down as if he had picked up a red hot poker and fell back into his chair speechless.  Staring at the totem, Jim knew he wouldn't be going home early, or at all. 
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Click here to read part 2

Spiderman Lord - In the Beginning

Author:  Jon Harrison
Copyright 2012

Episode 1

Full Moon's Embrace

Author:  Alanna Cormier
Copyright 2012

     My name is Dorian, and over the centuries I have searched for a release...a therapeutic antidote to my sorrow. It wasn't long before I turned to music and I can boast of being a master over several instruments. The piano, guitar, violin, to name a few, but my current outlet comes in the form of a cello. It's haunting notes seem to express my very soul if I still possess such a thing. You may ask what has tormented me for so long, that it must be complicated, but the answer is simple. It is a tortured heart that plagues my existence. Once a month for more than a century I visit the same tree, our tree, when the moon is full. The moonlight seems to rain through the graceful blowing leaves dappling the ground beneath and this is where I play. I sit on a rock and roll up the sleeves of my white shirt and begin. The melody starts softly almost like a lullaby, but then builds to encompass the full depth of my feelings. 

The wind seems to rise in sympathy to my anguish and gingerly carries my story into the distance. Is it wrong to hope that the wind will carry my feelings to the one I love across the distance...across the years? That one day we will find each other again? Could that miracle be tonight? I don't know if creatures such as myself deserve miracles, but that does not mean I will stop praying for one. I continue to play, caressing the strings and making them hum for me. My concert lasted for hours and as it came to a close I let out a sigh. That sigh contained the exhaustion of the years due to disappointed hopes. 

 As I got up to leave, the wind wrapped around me like a blanket. Enveloping me in it's warmth. I brushed my dark hair from my eyes and saw a woman standing before me in a flowing night gown. Her hair glowed in the moonlight and her eyes shined like the stars above. My breath caught. It was her, my love that I beheld, and the wind brought her to me. I walked over to her uncertain if this were a dream. She took my left hand and placed it against her cheek. She was real and in that moment I shed a tear. I placed one hand around her waist and pulled her to me. “My love,” I whispered as she wrapped her arms around me. “I've come home,” she replied. I pulled her up on her toes and kissed her with the built up passions of the years, abandoning my sorrow and embracing the happiness before me.

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