I want to tell you a story

There was a dog, once, whose master was sick beyond the skill of any doctor. When the dog heard that there was a magical fruit that could cure his master, he left immediately in search of that fruit. Ever
just out of reach, the fruit drew him to search higher and lower, farther and wider across the land, beyond mountains and oceans until at last he found what he was looking for. The fruit hung lonely at the edge of the world, guarded by the world-spirit in the form of an old man seated in front of the gnarled, ancient tree. The world-spirit asked why he had come, and laughed kindly when the faithful dog revealed his mission.
"I'm afraid that will be quite impossible, for you have already died, and can no longer return to your master's side."
The dog had indeed died, many years into his journey, but such was his entire devotion to the quest that his spirit had not noticed when his body fell behind.

I always hated that story.

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Posted by Gregory Taylor

Her eyes glinted like ice cracking under freshly poured scotch--cold, fragile, intoxicating.

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Posted by Gregory Taylor

Silent Cal

"Can he even hear us with those things in?"
"Yes, I hear you all perfectly well."
Everyone jumped to hear Silent Cal speak. Amanda recovered first.
"Why do you wear headphones all the time?"
Her question, and those that followed, went unanswered as Cal resumed his customary reserve. Until Dain asked, "Are you listening to anything good?"
Cal paused halfway through turning the page of his book. He looked over at Dain with something in his eye that was neither pain nor laughter completely. Then without a word he reached up, removed the speakers from his ears, and handed them to Dain. With a glance to his friends Dain put the headphones to his own ears expectantly. His face slowly contracted as if he were taking small sips of lemonade short one teaspoon of sugar: not completely unpleasant, but unsettling.
"It's just static!"
"Yes, I was afraid that was all you would hear." Cal took the headphones from Dain's outstretched hand and replaced them on his ears.
"Why, do you hear something different?" asked Claire.
Receiving only a silent stare in response, Claire looked back in his eyes and realized what was so strange about them: they reflected nothing. Like a vast cavern that refuses to let the light of a candle tear back even the slightest corner of the darkness, Cal's eyes were untouched by the world around him.
"What do you hear?" she whispered.
"Eternity."

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Posted by Gregory Taylor

Origami folds

The hard times, the origami folds
Give us depth where we were lacking.
Though we fear the same pain
From the knife or the flame
Perhaps we brighten an eye in passing.

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Posted by Gregory Taylor

Nuclear Fruit

Someone left the clementines on top of the microwave
Woulda been fine if the safety seals hadn't gave
Oh oh oh
Soon they started growing
With a little bit of glowing
Round the edge

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Posted by Gregory Taylor

Daring Joseph Blaze

Remember what you've seen today, young sir,
And tell your children: Pass it on to yours.
The future thinks that Daring Joseph Blaze
Could split himself in many different ways.

At once in Reed, then in New Boston Park
Then seven planets claimed him at a time.
Had he surpassed? Transcended space? Not just,
Though rumour surely made it seem he must.

For Joseph Blaze was in his people's hearts
And with them still wherever they cried his name.
Though he was dead - or so the Empire said -
For him they fought and struggled, strove and bled.

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Posted by Gregory Taylor

Will the Ears Listen as the Mouth Speaks?

"What are you doing here, Ray?"
Startled out of my thoughts, I realized where my feet, once left to themselves, had taken me out of long habit. Back to the café.

Estelle peered at me over the high countertop beside the register, her eyes telling me to get lost but her mouth looking like it had tried to forget things said earlier. Her nose was half-turned up, either in disgust or cool appraisal, but that was normal. Eyes or mouth, which to believe?

***

"Estelle, I guess I just came back to say this." My brain hoped my mouth knew what it was doing here. "I love you. There's just no way around it. The things you said to me this morning? They hurt. A lot. I've never let anyone hurt me like that before. I've never let myself get that close to someone before. The pain surprised me and I lashed out like a small scared boy. I didn't mean what I said. Heck, I don't even remember exactly what I said, that's how little I meant it. You hurt me, but it helped me see how much you mattered to me. I can't say I'm looking forward to more hurt like that, but if you're the one causing it, I guess that'll be alright." I took a deep breath before plunging ahead on one knee. "Estelle Lewis, will you marry me?"

There was a gentle rustling as the loose assemblage of customers and staff slowly turned to look up from my face to hers.

After a long pause she sighed, left hand on her hip, the back of her right hand rising to wipe away some unseen grime from her forehead. "Ray, you are a fool, you know that? An impetuous, irritating, irresponsible fool." With barely a glance at the hushed crowd Estelle continued, "But you're my fool and I don't know what I would do if you were anything else. Yes, you silly man, yes, I love you and, yes, I will marry you." An excited murmur filled the café and a few supportive hands clapped.

Estelle paused, though, looking at me sidelong. "Did you think this through enough to actually have a ring or am I going to have to wait for that, too?"

A smile almost broke my jaw as I straightened and reached into my jacket pocket. "I haven't had it resized yet, since Mom just gave it to me this morning, but we both hope you'll like it as much as she did."

The café buzzed again as Estelle hurried around the counter to meet me coming the other way. The ring didn't fit but with our arms full of each other and our hearts full of hope for the future, I don't think either of us was too concerned about some empty space between finger and metal.

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Posted by Gregory Taylor