johnpalmer

Puzzling Out the Problem
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only): 1584
[End of March 179-]


:: With Raisa in Igor’s arms, slowly filling her tummy, the adults’ conversation turns to her permanent placement. Many problems are discussed, but the goal is gentleness and a long-term, good fit for the baby. Part of the “Lost Son” story arc in the Frankenstein’s Family universe. ::




Murmurs seemed to chase the last bite of stew that Laszlo sopped up with his bread, using a spoon instead of his hand to push the morsel around. “And that’s another problem to take care of,” Igor laughed. “The diapers are near the hearth, to warm them,” he told Victor.

“She’s almost asleep, and a warm cloth to wipe up the mess will help her along,” Victor answered.

A moment later, Raisa lay swaddled in the same blanket, but any trace of the plaid rag was gone. Victor approached Laszlo slowly. “She’s in good health. There was no reasonable…” He pursed his lips. “Did anyone tell you if she was found washed, or if the people who called for Kálmán cleaned her up?”
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Anticipation
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 2 of 3, complete
Word count (story only, in total): 4140
[Early November of 2016]


:: Written for the July of 2025 Magpie Monday, from a prompt by fuzzyred, the story has been sponsored by mama_kestrel with my deepest thanks.


Back to part one
On to part three

= = Aida= =


The teaching assistant stepped slightly into Aida’s path as the other students filed out of the lecture hall. “A moment, Miss,” he began. One hand dipped into his sand-colored suit jacket, worn over a white polo shirt. “You’re making arrangements to miss class from the end of November until nearly the first of January, but only listed ‘family reasons’ on the form,” he began carefully. “Is everything all right? I know that the United States is far away, but… It seems like a long gap.”

Aida glanced around at the nearly empty lecture hall, and wet her lips. “Mukhtar… It really is complicated, and personal, but not a secret. I can explain but it’ll take quite a few minutes.” She waved a hand toward the stacks of papers and the rolling file box that he habitually strapped his backpack to when hustling across campus. “I can help clear up, or walk you to the next lecture?”

“You don’t have class now?” he confirmed.
( Read more... )

Anticipation
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 3, complete
Word count (story only, in total): 4140
[Early November of 2016]


:: Written for the July of 2025 Magpie Monday, from a prompt by fuzzyred, the story has been sponsored by mama_kestrel with my deepest thanks.


On to part two




= = Molly = =


Folding the clean laundry from the line now secured in the garage instead of outside on the metal posts set in concrete footings along one edge of the back yard, Molly traced a fingertip along the neckline of a peach tee shirt that folded over the baby’s tiny shoulders. “It’s going to be weird, if I think about it in detail. Our baby is older than her new aunt or uncle will be.”

Dave looked up, then flicked the power off the iron. He set it back on the base and walked away from Bethan’s navy blue uniform top. “What’s on your mind?”
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Beyond Unexpected
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only): 1940
[The date is a month after Elisabeth gives birth, just before the end of December on her timeline, but undetermined on Victor’s. So far.]


:: A strange accident dumps Elisabeth Finn into a completely unfamiliar area. With a storm brewing above steeply mountainous terrain, she accepts help offered by a stranger speaking broken English, and discovers many unexpected things. Consider this AU for both timelines. . Written for the August of 2025 Magpie Monday, from a prompt given by siliconshaman, with my thanks. ::

:: Author’s note: the change in tone from the first section to the second is deliberate. I’d like to know which readers prefer. ::




The trip, quite literally, began on the stairs down the den, and ended in a strange forest with air that smelled like pine and impending rain. The dull gray clouds overhead threatened a downpour. Elisabeth Finn winced as her foot missed the next-to-the-last step to land in a layer of rich leaf mold, but her ankle did not twist.

Deep breath.

Assess.

No injuries. No one injured near her. No obvious danger, no natural hazard.

Deep breath.

Assess.
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