Once Upon A Time

By Sunny Abernathy, Amelia Hayden, Renee Pellegrino and Stephanie Spicer

Fairytales take us back to a time we have no memory of. To lands where anything is possible. To castles where princes came looking for their one true love. But then there are the fairytales that are Grimm, dark, and downright evil. Even the fairytales you think you know as ending in a "happily ever after" were dark and twisted in their original forms. Look up "The Red Shoes" of French folklore and see for yourself. Till then, enjoy my version and always be the one  wearing the prettiest shoes in the room.  Always, Sunny Abernath

 

Genie's Lamp by Stephanie Spicer

 

Genie is a hacker that has helped Ladin, a PI, on many of his jobs in the past. His latest job involving tracking down a rat selling corporate secrets may be more than she can handle. What should she do if Ladin's mark hits too close to home?

 

All I Need is You by Renee Pellegrino

 

Calie Prescott, the governor's daughter is determine to show everyone she can follow her dream in becoming an reporter. 

 

Miguel Sanchez--an orphan comes to the United States 

an exchange student. 

 

When they meet magic happens

 

 

 

Siren's Song by Amelia Hayden

 

The one thing Aron wanted more than anything was to make beautiful music. After years of rejections he finds himself in a pilot promo for a songwriting competition. His first day there he meets a man who steals his voice as easily as he steals his breath. But is this man really what he seems?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Renee Pellegrino
• Release date: Aug 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201125028

Book preview

Once Upon A Story

by A Writing Support Sister’s Anthology

Life is Short, Buy the Shoes

Fairytales take us back to a time we have no memory of. To lands where anything is possible. To castles where princes came looking for their one true love. But then there are the fairytales that are Grimm, dark, and downright evil. Even the fairytales you think you know as ending in a happily ever after were dark and twisted in their original forms. Look up The Red Shoes of French folklore and see for yourself. Till then, enjoy my version and always be the one wearing the prettiest shoes in the room.  

Always, Sunny Abernathy

Chapter One

Diera stood at the bathroom counter. Her frail frame bent forward to see into the mirror better. Her fifteen-year-old daughter, Karen, came down the hallway but stopped when she saw her mother at the sink.

You ok, Momma? You ain’t sick, are you? Karen asked, leaning on the door frame, still in her school uniform, a big safety pin hanging off the hem for no reason.

No, baby. Just trying to get ready. Diera saw the puzzled look on her daughter’s face and reminded her they had dinner plans this evening.

I don’t see why I have to go. I can see Ally anytime. Even though I never need to. And Hilda is over here all the time, anyway.

Now, Karen, Ally is a sweet girl, and she is coming tonight too, of course. Diera dropped her mascara wand in the sink and placed both hands on the counter to steady herself.

Momma! Karen lurched at her mother and wrapped an arm around her slender waist. Karen could feel ribs where Diera’s middle-aged spread should be starting.

Sitting herself down on the toilet seat, Diera said, It’s ok, I just got a little dizzy. She waved her hand towards the cosmetics lying on the bathroom counter. Hand me my lipstick and that little mirror.

Karen grabbed the pale pink tube of lipstick off the edge of the bathroom sink. When she handed it to her momma, Karen saw the beautiful woman she was before she got sick. Before the medicines, before she lost her hair, before she quit work to lie in bed all day. Before. Before. Before.

Diera held up the little mirror and put the lipstick on her pale, chapped lips. She smiled when she looked at Karen, her only child that she would leave behind soon.

You look beautiful, Momma. But you still need mascara on the other eye. Karen reached for the mascara wand and tube and finished up what Diera had started. Then she kissed her on the forehead and caught a whiff of a perfume she hadn’t smelled in sometime. Tonight was special and though Karen had no idea why, she knew it made no sense to cause a fuss.

#

Griffin’s deep voice came from the front entryway.

Karen used to run to her father and fling her arms around the thick tree stumps he had for legs. He would pick her up with ease and swing her around. But now she might say Hey, Dad from the other room, if she greeted him at all. He didn’t take it personally, he was fifteen once too.

Karen got close to him when she came down the hallway from the bathroom. Griffin reached out and patted her head as she walked by.

Daddy, don’t! My hair!

Oh, my, my, yes, it looks pretty. And I have something that will look perfect with that hair. From behind his back, he pulled out a shopping bag with a box poking out of it.

Really? ‘Cause I don’t even know why I gotta look nice, anyway. We see Hilda and Ally all the time. Karen rolled her eyes back so far in her head. Surely Dad thought she was possessed.

Yes, but tonight is a little different. We need to talk about some things and I thought looking nice might be fun for a change. It was normal for Karen to see her dad plaster on fake smiles for her sake. She really didn’t try to irk him. It just happened. A lot, lately.

So, what’s in the bag? She tried to see around the mountain of a man that was in front of her.

Wait, where is your mother?

After we were done in the bathroom, she went to get dressed. So she’s probably sitting on the bed. She even put on perfume. Karen paused for a moment to turn her head to look down the hallway at the bedrooms, I haven’t smelled perfume for a long time.

Well, that’s good. I hope going out tonight doesn’t wear her out too much.

Karen wanted to remind her father that the littlest thing could, and did, wear her mother out. But he knows that. They all know that. But they all just keep trying to do normal things. Like going out to dinner with the neighbors.

Griffin took the box out of the bag and handed it to Karen. Karen gave him a big smile and felt bad for making him think he needed to spend money on her to see it. Little did Dad know that by the end of the evening, Karen’s smile would retreat for years.

Shoes? Karen knew it was shoes by the box and the logo, her dad’s logo. Griffin worked in the PR department of a shoe company and now and then the office employees got to take new designs and try them out before they became an official part of the Danse Rouge Shoe Company.

I haven’t brought you a pair in a while and when I saw these, he rubbed a hand through his graying hair, Well, when I saw these I knew I had to grab them for you.

The two members of the Crisshom family walked over to the kitchen room table, where Karen sat the red and gold box down and pulled the lid and tissue paper out of the way. What she saw were two of the prettiest red shoes she had ever seen.

Before she said anything, Griffin spoke. I know you wear black shoes, well, black everything, but I thought maybe a little pop of color would be nice. I thought the red would look good with just about anything.

And it’s your company’s specialty.

That too.

I love the color, Dad. And you’re right; I should try something other than black for a change. Karen held the shoes up to look at the brilliant shade of red and admired the perfect stitching on the vamp. I need to get ready for dinner. And I need to put on something worthy of these shoes. She stretched up, her black boots she wore every day gave her a few more inches, and she could reach to give her dad a kiss on his ruddy cheek.

#

From the backseat of the family car, Karen asked, Why are we driving separate cars? I mean we are going to dinner at the same place and they live, like, right next door.

In a soft voice Momma said, We just thought this was easier in case I didn’t feel well and needed to leave early.

Karen was ok with that as an answer. They ate out a lot lately, as no one seemed to have the time or energy to get groceries. And on the rare occasion they went shopping, the food often spoiled before anyone did anything with it.

In the restaurant parking lot, Griffin pulled right up to the door, and Karen knew that was her cue to jump out and help Momma. Wearing her new red shoes, she stepped out of the car and opened up Momma’s door. Diera took her daughter’s hand and eased herself out of the cushy car seat.

Thank you, sweetheart. The two stepped inside and Griffin pulled away to park.

Just inside the door, a server greeted them as Diera sat on a bench under a large oil painting of a robust queen. Karen could see out to the parking lot through a small window. She saw Ally walking alone towards the entrance. Craning her neck to see past Ally, Karen saw her father and Hilda talking, standing quite close to one another, between the two parked cars of the two families. The two cars of the two families that arrived separately.

For some reason, this part of the evening bothered Karen, and she wasn’t sure why. Yet. Karen was quick to sit down next to Diera. Right before, Ally would have caught her staring out into the parking lot.

Hi, Karen. Hi, Mrs. Crisshom. Ally was still in her school uniform compared to Karen, who not only did dress up, but she had on the hard-to-miss red shoes.

I like your shoes.

Awe, thanks. Dad brought them home tonight. Karen wanted to say something such as you look nice or something to that effect. But her neighbor-slash-classmate was just standing in front of her in her boring school uniform. Her hair is the only thing messy, a bun with pieces of hair out of place, on purpose. Even at the end of a long school day, it dumbfounded Karen how Ally’s clothes looked the same as they did at the 8:00am attendance bell.

Diera filled in the silence Karen had left wide open. Did you have activities after school today, Ally?

Yes, ma’am. I am working on an experiment. Ally looked behind her to see if her mother was close by.

Well, that sounds exciting. Diera placed a hand on Karen’s knee. That sounds exciting, right, Karen?

Karen broke away from the busboy she was staring at and said, Yeah, sure, exciting. Science. Diera gave her a disapproving look. But really Karen didn’t know what she expected her to say.

Hilda and Griffin interrupted the conversation that was progressing at a snail’s pace. They had pleasant smiles when the host greeted them.

Is this your entire party, sir? The young man asked Griffin who must be in charge, since he is the only man among the hungry group.

Yes, my good man. We would love to follow you to a table. Lead the way. Griffin helped his wife stand. As the group moved forward, Karen saw her father place a hand on the small of Hilda’s back.

#

The last of the plates came. Karen was starving. The salad was barely enough. She always wanted to eat when she was sad or nervous, but lately not having groceries in the cupboards has helped with this bad habit. They were all here for some reason, and no one had yet to start a conversation that wasn’t about work or school. It was driving Karen nuts. She watched the dessert trolley roll by.

What was it you needed to talk about tonight? Ally said, and Karen was beyond thankful someone said something.

Griffin wiped his mouth before looking across the table at both Hilda and Diera. The three of us, needed to tell you girls something.

The last time Karen heard her dad speak in such a serious tone was when they came to this exact restaurant, for her to be told her mom’s cancer was back. And that it was going to be worse the second time around.

As you know, Karen, it has been really hard for me to keep up on your mom’s appointments, the bills... heck when was the last time we didn’t eat Big Barn Burgers for dinner? Dad said.

Sensing an uncomfortable change Karen blurted out, Tonight, tonight we aren’t at Big Barn.

Griffin reached across the table to grab his daughter’s hand. She pulled away. A goblet of water tried to topple but righted itself.

In her soft voice Momma said, Karen and Ally... she turned her head for a small cough, We are all going to live together. And take care of each other.

Karen threw down her lower jaw in shock. Instead of looking at her mother, she looked over to see Ally, blank faced, and a lighter shade of pink than she was a few minutes ago.

In her soft voice, Mom?

Ally, honey, we kind of talked about this... a little. Hilda laid her hand on top of her daughter’s.

That our house was too big and too expensive, and we might move. Karen watched as Ally withdrew her hands into her lap. Might move, Mom. Not move in with someone.... not with them.

Ally, don’t be rude. With that, Hilda put Ally in her place and lowered her head in shame. Karen knew Ally was always polite and obedient. She was already the teacher’s pet because she was the smartest, but her good manners helped her gain favors.

Then something clicked in Karen. It was her turn.

What the actual fuck?

Karen Evangeline Crisshom, watch your language. Diera tried to not raise her voice in return. But Momma had to know this was going to spark an intense reaction.

Lower your voice, Karen. Her father tossed down his fork.

"Ok, Dad. Is that why you are telling me and Ally this here? And not back at home?" Karen couldn’t believe she had to side with Ally on anything, let alone this. Moving in together? Like a new sister?

Karen.

You want us to be some fucked up Brady Bunch? Karen stood, Ally flinched next to her, and her chair bumped into the diner seated behind them.

Karen! Griffin was no longer trying to stay calm. When Karen escalated, he often did, too. Momma was the calm one.

As Karen headed towards the door, she saw her dad stand too, but Hilda reached out and said, Let her go. She won’t go far.

Ally just sat there.

Hilda said, Are you ok, Ally?

No, but I will be. I think. Can we go home? While we still have it?

Yes. Hilda once again took her daughter’s hand while tears clouded the corners of both eyes. Griffin, Diera, we’ll talk later.

Yes, of course. Sorry about Karen.

We knew. Let me know when you are all home together and talk. Hilda kissed Diera on the cheek and patted Griffin on the shoulder. And the two Pembroke ladies left the restaurant.

Chapter Two

Karen left the restaurant, surprised no one followed her out. Her cheeks were white hot. Tears blurred her vision, but she could see enough to walk through the parking lot. She found her father’s Cadillac and leaned against it. Then she turned and started kicking the crap out of the tires. Getting black marks on her new red shoes. The red shoes her dad gave her earlier in the evening knowing what he had to tell her later. She took the shoes off and threw them into a grassy patch separating the cars. Little pebbles poked and stung the bottom of her feet, but she didn’t care.

When Karen fell down and crouched next to the car, she caught sight of Ally and Hilda coming out of Emberto’s.

Don’t come over here, don’t come over here. She mumbled to herself.

Hilda stopped by the driver’s door of her little Ford, but Ally came towards Karen.

Did you know? Really? Don’t be a little cunt and lie? Karen knew she sounded nasty, but she also didn’t care.

No, no, I swear I didn’t know. Mom started talking about moving a few weeks ago. Talking about saving up for college in a few years, maybe our house was too expensive, you know, mom and money stuff.

Just leave me. Apparently, we will see each other. Like a lot. Karen sucked snot back in and tried to sound tougher than she was.

Your shoes.

Karen pointed out in front of the family car. Ally saw the no longer new red shoes. I only get new shoes when I really need them. I definitely have never tossed a pair away. Let alone pretty ones like that.

Karen watched. Without saying a word, Ally went and picked up the shoes and then, after looking at Karen one more time, she headed to her mom. Hilda was sitting in the car with the engine on.

The Pembrokes drove away, and Karen continued to sit there, leaning her back against the cool metal.

Karen wasn’t sure how long she sat there. Several people asked her if she was ok, before they got in their cars. Then she saw her dad’s black shoes next to her naked toes. Her eyes burned when she tried to look up and focus on her dad’s face.

Get in the car, pumpkin. Griffin held a hand out to his daughter. Diera was standing right next to him.

No, I’ll walk. She stood. Karen knew he wanted his daughter to get in the car.

Karen, please, we can talk more on the way home. Right now you are just mad at the idea. Let us explain. Diera rested her hands on Griffin’s forearm. Karen knew her mom was exhausted by now.

Get mom home. Karen started walking on the sidewalk, barefoot.

Griffin said something, but Diera stopped him, and they watched their daughter walk away.

Karen was conflicted; she wanted to be alone. She was so angry about this bomb that was just dropped on her. And if she really thought about it, Ally, too. Wanting to be alone and not talk to her parents was at odds with the fact that she was tired with cold feet. And though the sidewalk was smoother than the parking lot, she still felt the pavement tear at her feet. Running around barefoot was never her thing. It relieved part of her when she saw her folks slowly driving along beside her. Cars honked and swerved around the large car and this made Karen just a teensy little bit happy.

#

Close to the Cisshom’s house, Karen stopped and her dad drove past. She stayed on the sidewalk till she saw the brake lights go off in their driveway. Karen stood at the end of their yard and saw her dad help her mom into the house. Diera looked over her shoulder, and Karen saw the worry on her mom’s face. Karen didn’t realize how her mom must feel. All of this was because of Mom. Diera could no longer be a wife, an efficient housekeeper—an enthusiastic mom.

The porch light turned on. From the look of things, Mom and Dad went straight to the back of the house. Karen knew if she didn’t go in, they would just sit and worry till she did. So she might as well go in and get it over with. Plus, her feet were cold and scratched raw. Being mad at her father and tossing the shoes only hurt herself, not him.

With her hand on the doorknob, Karen looked over at the Pembroke’s house. The lights were on in almost every window. How was this going to work? Was Hilda going to be like a maid? Would people at school make fun of her having the science nerd, Ally, living with her? It gave her some comfort that Ally was blindsided as bad as she was.

Chapter Three

The house was eerily quiet. Normally, when everyone was trying to leave the house, it was chaotic. Karen often felt sorry for Dad living in a house with four women. But today there were only three women getting ready and a sad man, in a black suit, sitting at the kitchen table. There were bags under his eyes and a distant look in them. Karen said nothing when she passed by him.

Hilda was exiting the hallway bathroom. Are you about ready?

Karen shook her head, Yeah, I just need to get some shoes on.

"Ok, I’ll be in