Bards and Sages Quarterly (April 2016)

By Douglas J. Ogurek, Tyler Bourassa, DIANE ARRELLE and 7 more

Since 2009, the Bards and Sages Quarterly has brought fans of speculative fiction an amazing variety of short stories from both new and established authors. Each issue sets out to introduce readers to the wealth of talent found in the horror, fantasy, and science fiction genres. In this issue: Diane Arrelle, A. A. Azariah-Kribbs, Tyler Bourassa, Thomas Broderick, Deborah Cher, Rona Ji, Samuel H. Johnson, Tanya Nehmelman, Douglas J. Ogurek, and Danley Romero

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bards and Sages Publishing
• Release date: Mar 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524266080

Book preview

In This Issue

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The Tree Atop the Hill by Tyler Bourassa

ABIE by Deborah Cher

The Corners  by Samuel H. Johnson

Paper Sorrows by Danley Romero

Play With Me by Tanya Nehmelman

The Prafts and the Hywisps by Douglas J. Ogurek

Riptide by Diane Arrelle

An Interview with Julia Martins

The Gallows by Rona Ji

The Road Is Long by Thomas Broderick

The Changeling by A. A. Azariah-Kribbs

About the Authors

The Tree Atop the Hill

by Tyler Bourassa

The sound of gravel shooting up and striking the bottom of the SUV excited Jason. Each gentle bang was a promise of possible adventures to be had in the endless horizon that was their new home. His father had declared that they were movin' to the country last month, and Jason's young mind had been conjuring up images of what that would entail ever since. He had never imagined these crisp blue skies that seemed to come alive with clouds that were constantly shifting, and changing between different shapes.

Sure is flat, Shannon said as she stared out the window of the SUV.

Oh, c'mon honey, it's going to be great! No more constant blaring of horns, or the incessant hum of computers. We'll get to breathe clean air and won't have to stare at huge billboards with Kim Kardashian's face on it anymore. Well actually, that last one—.

Richard!

Jason listened as his parents argued good-naturedly about their big move. When they were happy, everything seemed right in the world, and they'd been happy since they left the city.  This move was the most exciting thing that had happened in Jason's eight years of life so far, and as he glanced out at the golden fields swaying in the wind, he decided that he never wanted to move back to the city again. He'd already seen cows, horses, and a deer grazing in the distance, and that was just in this one car ride. The possibilities seemed limitless for what he'd see when he could get out and do some real exploring.

The SUV turned right and started to slow down. Jason tried to push himself up and out of his seat to get a better view, but his mother's big purse was in the way, and he couldn't see more than the pointed roof of their new home.

We're here! Richard declared, then stopped the SUV. He smiled at Shannon, and kissed her quickly, the way parents do when kids are around or they're in a hurry, then turned back to Jason. You ready to check this place out, big guy?

Jason grinned. Yeah, Dad!

Let's get outta here and grab some bags. Your mother can't carry them all! Richard said.

Shannon pinched Richard in the side and he cried out as he opened the SUV door, and leaped down. She watched Richard walk to the back door fondly, and Jason watched her. 

Richard opened the rear door of the SUV and held it open for Jason, tapping his foot in mock impatience. Jason grinned, then undid his seatbelt, and hopped outside. Father and son walked to the back of the SUV, and Richard popped the trunk, revealing all the family's possessions. They'd sold their furniture when they moved, and now all they had were their clothes, electronics, and whatever was waiting for them in their new home. 

Richard handed Jason a backpack to carry, then grabbed a duffel bag, and a suitcase for himself. Ready?  Richard asked, and shifted the duffel bag to a different shoulder. 

Jason nodded.

Coming, dear? Richard yelled, then started walking towards the house.

Jason had thought that a house in the country would look worn down, with paint chipping off the walls, and creaking screen doors banging angrily against the house. This house looked brand new, though, with fresh paint, and even a satellite dish on the roof.

Not what you expected, eh? Richard asked and ruffled Jason's hair. It was just built last year by the family that owned it before us. They only lived here for a few months before packin' up and moving away. I guess country life wasn't for them.

Jason watched as Richard reached into his pocket and fished out the key to their new home. Shannon stepped up behind them and rested her hand on Jason's shoulder. Open the door, Dad! Jason said, and Richard obliged.

The door swung open revealing their new home. It had a small foyer, with hardwood floors and a mirror door that revealed a closet when Jason slid it open. Jason looked back at his parents, who were smiling as they watched him, then grinned, and ran off into the living room.

The living room had leather couches, a sleek black coffee table with a glass top, and a big flat screen TV that Jason couldn't wait to hook his new Nintendo up to. This place is amazing!  Look at the TV! Jason yelled.

His parents walked into the living room, and Richard put down his duffel bag. It sure is. Don't you just love this place, honey? Richard asked, and looked at Shannon.

Shannon blew a stray hair out of her face, then sat down on the couch with a sigh. I love it! I'm so glad you convinced us to move here!

Let's check out the rest of the place! Jason shouted, pulling on his mother's arm. Hold on there, bud. We still have bags to bring in, Richard said.

Jason frowned and looked towards the staircase longingly. Okay.

Oh, stop teasing the boy, Richard, Shannon chided.

But it's so much fun! Alright, go on and explore the new house. Your mother and I will carry in the rest of the bags.

Thanks, Dad, Jason said and took off running.

Careful! Shannon called out after him, but Jason paid her no mind.

He ran up the stairs and let his hand slide over the polished banister. He made it to the top of the stairs and looked down the hallway, noting that there were four rooms to explore. He stepped into the first room on his left, and his eyes widened in shock. It was huge! Bigger even than his parents’ room back home. Jason wandered into the attached bathroom and eyed up the jet-tub, envisioning what bath time would be like in there.

Jason left his parents room and walked into the room across from it. This room was like his parents’ room, but smaller, and didn't have its own bathroom. Instead, it had a huge window facing the back yard, with sunbeams shining in. Motes of dust were slowly floating in the sunshine and Jason ran his hand through, trying to catch some. He looked in his palm expectantly, but there was nothing there except some dirt that he forgot to clean, despite his mother's gentle reminders. 

The window was low enough that Jason could see out if he stood on his tip-toes, so he glanced out to survey the countryside around his new home. His eye was immediately drawn to an old oak tree sitting atop a hill in the distance. It had a rope dangling from one of its branches with a tire attached to it. Fantasies of swinging on that tire flitted through Jason's mind and he grinned in anticipation of the fun he was going to have.

The tree was incredibly tall, but the branches were long and spindly, and reminded Jason of his grandfather's arms the last time Jason saw him in the hospital. Even this far away Jason could tell that the tree was sick and dying. It was the start of summer and the tree should be full of bright green leaves, but the branches were almost completely bare.

Jason worried that the tree wouldn't be able to support his weight, when he noticed a young girl run up to the tire and hop on. She pumped her legs to gain momentum and within moments was flying back and forth as her hair waved in the wind.

Mom, Dad, there's someone out there! Jason yelled, and ran out of the room, then down the stairs. He couldn't believe his luck! His first day here and he was already going to make a new friend.

Where are you going in such a hurry? Richard asked in surprise, but Jason ran by him and out the door.

Jason charged down the front steps, and around the house, sprinting for the tree and his new friend with a big grin plastered on his face. The girl was still swinging back and forth, and looked like she would be there for a while. Jason waved to her as he ran, but she kept swinging, and laughing without so much as looking at Jason. 

Hey, Jason yelled when he got to the top of the hill. The girl ignored him, and Jason tripped and fell, hitting his face on the ground, and getting a mouthful of bitter grass. The laughter stopped, and Jason looked up, trying to ignore the blush that was coloring his cheeks. The girl was gone.

Jason spat out the grass, then shouted, Hey! Where'd you go? When no one answered he stood up and ran to the other side of the tree looking for the girl, but she was nowhere to be found. He couldn't understand how she could have gotten away so fast, but decided it didn't matter, what did matter was trying out the swing.

He walked back around to the swing and pulled on it experimentally. The branch it was hanging from bent a little when he pulled and Jason wondered if it could handle his weight. The girl had been swinging on it, but she looked smaller than him, and he didn't want to wind up with another mouthful of grass. He grabbed the tire and prepared to hop on, when something on the trunk of the tree caught his eye.

There was one spot without any bark, covered in what looked like initials, like the desks in the back of his classroom at school. He let go of the