Fred and Jake and the New House

Fred the cat was happy in the tumbledown, comfortable house he shared with Jake. He liked the soft feel of the worn floor and the way that floor squeaked when Jake shuffled across it.  He liked the sag in the ceiling and the way the light swayed and shadows danced when the wind blew hard […]

Star Spangled Cat

Star Spangled Cat By Blanche Day Manos “What?” I screeched. “Go to sea? Are you crazy?” Every one of my gray and white hairs stood straight up. Reggie laughed. “You look like a bottle brush, old chap,” he said. “You’ll love the ocean!” Nay! I decidedly would not love the ocean. I hate water. I […]

Goldy on the Job

Goldy on the Job

She had been following that tell-tale trail all morning and was determined she’d find the bandit.  All those over-turned garbage cans, clothes stolen off clotheslines, food swiped from picnic baskets when no one was looking–it had to stop. Looking down at the ground, she saw a partial footprint. Her hair stood on end. That footprint […]

The Christmas Barn–Conclusion

The Christmas Barn–Conclusion

The cold wind blew their leaves away. The three friends shivered and wished for day. “We can’t just do nothing,” the raccoon said. “Come on, squirrel and chipmunk. Let’s go  a bit farther. Maybe we’ll find food.”      Sighing, the squirrel straightened up and took Chipmunk’s hand. On they went, through the cold night. They […]

A Strange, Rainy Day

A Strange, Rainy Day

A flight of fancy, a children’s story to be concluded tomorrow.

A Staying Kind of Barn

A Staying Kind of Barn

One spring day many years ago, a farmer decided to build a fine log barn. First, he gathered large stones. He chipped and fitted them together for a firm foundation. The farmer cut many trees, chopped off limbs, and smoothed the trunks. Notch and groove, groove and notch, the logs rose straight and true atop […]