V. But wait, there's more!
_As told by Nina_ "There's more to it than just hugging a fluffy toy. The idea is that you play pretend, so you make yourself believe that you really _are_ a puppy. And with 'puppy', that generally means a three-year-old, for me and Milo." "To...
III. Two's a company
_As told by Nina_ I knew that I needed someone else to properly prepare Milo's birthday party, but I did not want to burden my friend with another powerful secret. When Margaret had finished her meal, she offered to do the dishes with me, but I...
VI. A present for the future
_As told by Nina_ "You're probably wondering why I told you all this, right?" She nodded. "I assume that you have a firm reason to tell me something this personal. Care to elaborate?" "It's about Milo's birthday. I told you over the phone that...
XVI. The morning after
_As told by Milo_ Finally. The first birthday in ten years I had enjoyed. Nina really outdid herself, and I had apologized once more for being angry with her for exposing my secret. Even though my grandmother was not used to Nina and me playing...
XV. Three's a crowd
_As told by Nina_ When my boyfriend spoke up again, he was staring down, twisting one of his paws back and forth on the floor. "I's want to pway," he said softly. "Then I suggest you open your first present," Trisha spoke up, involving herself...
MonoChronicles I: True Colors
_With thanks to Frogsy of ADISC_ **Chapter I** _As told by Milo_ It was a rainy Thursday evening at the end of August. I had just had dinner and I booted up my laptop. While the screen was still black, I looked at my somewhat vague reflection in the...
Aran Comes Around
A quiet and somewhat chilly early afternoon. Aran Conall got out of a bus in the suburbs of Hedgetown, carrying a duffel bag. It had been eight weeks since he had graduated, and he hadn't paid Jennifer a visit since. Adjusting to his new life had been...
Brand New Day (Commission)
Lucky was rudely awakened by the most annoying and penetrating noise in the world. His alarm clock kept repeating its pesky sound until the fiery red fox finally hit the 'off' button. A task easier said than done, apparently, as he missed the first two...
Chapter XX: The second take
The next morning, the wolf woke up in Jennifer's arms. She had unlocked the crib and lifted Aran from the mattress, a disturbance that abruptly ended his sleeping. Still groggy and half awake, he felt her take him to the chair next to his crib. The...
Chapter XIX: The first take
Jennifer made quick work of changing her charge. She then announced that it was time for dinner. Back in a fresh diaper, Aran braced himself to be put in the highchair. Fortunately, the antidote was doing its job and it did not even hurt when the...
Chapter XXIII: White darkness
Aran still had not said a word since his bath. His caregiver decided that some quiet time might do him good and brought him to the playroom. She rummaged through one of the toy boxes and produced the sketchbook and the canister of colored chalk,...
Chapter XXII: Clean slate
"Time will tell, little one. Don't let that bother you for now, okay?" Jennifer tried to comfort her charge. "It doesn't work like that. I can't tell myself to _not_ think of something." "You'll be okay, Aran. I'm here for you." She ruffled his...