Mothers

"Never did, nor never shall, lie at the proud foot of a conqueror."

August 11th

Miranda regretted her grandfather's death, but she was pregnant and it was the height of summer. It was too hot to wear black. She shouldn't have to wear black. And yet, by her mother's command, she was baking in the only black gown that still fit her. Nothing else she could squeeze into had an inch of black anywhere. If she ever fell pregnant again, Miranda would have a full compliment of mourning attire at the ready for the ill-timed death of another relative.

Glorious to This Night

"The sight of lovers feedeth those in love."

June 25th

"Who is my special boy? Who is my special boy?" 

"Gran-mo!" Little Frederick waved his arms and grinned. "Gran-mo!"

Ophelia cuddled her grandson and patted his back. Frederick's small vocabulary had never yet stopped him from talking. Much like his father had, he chattered on happily, often answering any question with the name of the person asking it. The main exception was her husband, whom Frederick had decided was also 'Gran-mo'. "Almost, my precious." Just as she considered her stepson as her own, she loved Frederick as much as she would her daughters' children.

Serious Vanity

"We are advertised by our loving friends."

November 3rd

A minute after stepping up to examine the target, Desdemona was still nervous. Bottom Summerdream could hardly be made to stop talking at times, but she was now suspiciously quiet. Finally, she had to ask, "Well, what do you think?"

"I think I'm glad I'm not the target."

The Night Before Christmas

December 24th

'Twas the night before Christmas when all through a duchy,

Known for its people who were often quite touchy,

Every pillow hid coins that glistened and gleamed,

A trick to help sleepers control what they dreamed