Fabled Realities Issue #14
Fiction at the Edge of Reality
About the Newsletter
Welcome to the fourteenth edition of Fabled Realities. You will enjoy fictional stories that will transport you to unique experiences. Every Friday, I will publish an issue that includes part of a short story. The entire story will be published before a new one begins. I have decided to make each story 12 parts as 12 is my favorite number!!
I aim to tantalize your creative spirit and keep you coming back for more!
If you missed the earlier issues, check them out!
The Candle Maker
Part Two
When she awoke that next morning, she felt a sensation she hadn't felt in years—giddiness. She felt like a child, full of wonder at the newness of the world. While the shop looked as it had her entire life, it also seemed to be more inviting.
The shop seemed to say, "Hi there, Luna! Welcome to your greatest adventure."
Her heart pounded quickly as she took it all in. Then, she squealed and rushed over to a drawer near the register. Most people thought it was a catch-all. There were plenty of random bits of this and that, but in the very back, a small black, leather journal was nestled under a few matchboxes, roll of stamps, and pens.
She sat on the stool behind the counter and lovingly opened her treasure.
It would be difficult to make sense of the words and meanings, as Luna had created her private language years ago. She didn't want to worry anyone.
Her parents were wonderful people. They were forward-thinking and surely open to challenges, but they were also intensely traditional. Throughout Luna's life, they stifled much of her creative spirit. The only glimmer was their acceptance of carving candles. Any other grand ideas Luna had to make the business better were squashed immediately.
"Oh, Luna," her mother would sigh. "Why can't you just be content?"
Her father would interject, "Why ruin a good and steady thing?"
So, to stop enduring heartbreak, Luna kept her ideas to herself.
But now…
The shop was hers.
More or less.
Her parents had agreed on a 6-month trial. They would check in after that to see if she was up to taking full control. She did, however, talk them into only calling during that time to give her a real chance.
Luna looked at the clock. Three hours before the shop would open. She looked down at her journal and immersed herself for a full hour. What change should she implement first? She laughed at her school-aged thoughts. Among her favorites were having an indoor chocolate pool for the neighborhood kids to enjoy while their parents shopped and hosting a concert with New Kids on the Block while everyone purchased carved Joey, Jordan, Jon, Donnie, and Danny candles.
Since neither option would be feasible, she focused more on her more recent ideas.
She landed on inviting her long-time friend, Esmeralda, Ezzy for short, to collaborate. As fate would have it, she had recently acquired her parents' magical knick-knacks shop next door. They had often thought about partnering up in some way, but both sets of parents were against it.
Now, however, was their time.
Luna thought, Move over cowboys, there's a couple of new sheriffs in town. As she walked toward the door, she thought she heard the theme song from Blazing Saddles playing.
This was going to be fun.
If you are interested in supporting me with my self-publishing endeavors, feel free to throw me a Kofi!
Great writing and creativity in this new adventure which left me wanting more...or course!