Tea, Toddlers, Doors, and Dinosaurs: A Short Story Anthology

By JA Laflin, Ryan Spencer, Joel Lux and Eric R. Polley

The collected works of an eclectic group from various points along the west coast, Tea, Toddlers, Doors, and Dinosaurs: A Short Story Anthology is just as varied as the title would suggest. Take a plunge into worlds both familiar and strange, with stories ranging from science fiction to every day life, mind-bending speculative tales to alternative history, where you'll find your imagination stirred, and just maybe, your heart as well.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Agnec Press
• Release date: Aug 29, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386287865

JA Laflin

Even though they have degrees in both Ministry and IT/Programming, all JA Laflin really wants to do is write... And sometimes draw. A citizen of the West Coast, JA Laflin lives in the Portland, OR metro area with their partner, their kids, and a big orange tabby named Glitter. They also run Agnec Press and are the author of demiGod and various other works.

Book preview

Published by Agnec Press.

Original Publication Anthology Copyright ©2014 by Agnec Press.

New Edition Anthology Copyright ©2017. All Rights Reserved.

Cover design and art by Ryan Spencer.

Edited and Compiled by JA Laflin.

Tea, Toddlers, Doors, and Dinosaurs is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locations is entirely coincidental.

Individual Copyrights still belong to the respective authors whose works are present in this anthology. All works are published and/or re-published here with authorized permission.

The following works are copyright ©2014-2017 by Joel Lux. All rights reserved.

Tea Driven

The Cluster and the Impossibility (An Excerpt from Depth Perception)

Telamon Enduring

The Agony of the Dead

The Boy Who Could Fly

The Metaphysical Construct

The Train Man

The following works are copyright ©2014-2017 by JA Laflin. All rights reserved.

Adulthood

Coronation

Rise of Man

Sanctum

The Conversation

The Record

The following works are copyright ©2014-2017 by Ryan Spencer. All rights reserved.

How Things Are For You

The Toddler

The following work is copyright ©2014-2017 by Eric R. Polley. All rights reserved.

The Start (An Excerpt from Door Red X)

Table of Contents

Tea Driven

How Things Are For You

Telamon Enduring

Sanctum

The Agony of the Dead

The Conversation

The Boy Who Could Fly

The Toddler

The Metaphysical Construct

The Record

The Train Man

Coronation

The Cluster and the Impossibility (An Excerpt from Depth Perception)

Adulthood

The Start (An Excerpt from Door Red X)

Rise of Man

-

Editor's Note

About the Authors

Tea Driven

by

Joel Lux

Going to be late for work, going to be late, going to be late!

The door slammed shut and the engine was on not even a second later. Instantly the car shot back down the driveway, turned onto the street, paused for the smallest moment, then burst forward. It raced down the 15-mile-per-hour road at just under 50, barely stopping at the stop-sign before continuing toward the highway.

No time to stop for coffee, she growled to herself. Why do I do this to myself?!

It's not you, love, a high-pitched male voice attempted to assuage her.

Oh, you're just being nice, she replied.

It's true, another high-pitched male voice chimed in, this one filled with mirth. But a pretty thing like you, it's hard not to, ya know?

Oh, hush! Martin, Henry, you're too sweet.

Think nothing of it! the first, Martin, said with a smile.

Pish-posh, darling, Henry agreed. You're a delight.

Katie smiled and focused on the road, going as fast as she dared while still attempting– quite poorly, might I add– to travel within the speed limit of the highway. 80 isn't too much over 65, right?

Really now, Martin, Henry said affably, I dare say I cannot understand your taste, even after all this time. How is it that one manages to drink their tea without any sugar? Do you remove your tongue first?

Yours is the most deprived of pallets, my friend, Martin answered wryly as he placed his tea cup down upon its saucer. The sugar robs the tea of its natural flavor, which is independently aromatic and delectable without any need to sully the nectar with such profanity as sugar.

Alas, you are mistaken, my friend! For it is the sugar that brings out the–

For a couple of mice, you two bicker way too much! Katie interrupted. Seriously! Can't you just enjoy your little tea party in silence?

Now that is just offensive! Martin nearly shouted from his seat on the dashboard. Not only do men not have 'tea parties,' one cannot properly enjoy a cup of tea without good company and good conversation!

Good conversation? You were arguing!

A good argument is delightful, Henry said. To truly go at it would be simply dreadful, but to exchange good natured barbs with one you'd consider kin is a treat of the highest order! Why, only this fine tea could compare to such, and even that might well be outclassed by a witty exchange of words.

I beg to differ, my dear fellow, Martin said, shaking his head with eyes closed. His whiskers danced back and forth with each movement. A mouse such as yourself should be better acclimated to the finery of a good echinacea, the pleasantry of a nice chai!

You yourself deny the joy that is Earl Grey!

Earl Grey is not tea, it is a bastardization of everything tea should be!

You talk of Echinacea, yet you deny Earl Grey? You elevate your own idiosyncrasies to preposterous levels and insist they be held as fact!

It is not idiosyncratic to acknowledge the superiority of a strain over such common pittances as you prefer.

Ho-lee-crap, Katie said, more to herself than anything. She tried to ignore the bickering mice having tea, but they were hard to miss right there on her dashboard. And so loud!

See? Henry asked in triumph. Katie agrees that you are being ridiculous.

Yes! she shouted. And so are you! Both of you, shut up and enjoy your tea like normal people... mice... whatever!

Normal? Martin asked, incredulous.

Why I never! Henry scoffed.

Of course! Katie laughed. What was I thinking? Asking you two to be normal. The two mice that drink tea and argue over what flavor is more sophisticated. On the dashboard of my car. What could be more normal than that?

I do think she mocks us, Henry said before taking a sip, making sure to slurp a little.

Quite, Martin added.

For a moment they rode in silence, and Katie nearly thought she would have a peaceful ride, but Henry broke the silence far sooner than she would have expected or hoped.

You know what would make this tea even better? Crumpets.

Ah, indeed! Martin agreed cheerily. Or any sort of pastry, for that matter. One suited for the flavor, of course, but something to accompany the tea would be simply delightful.

I must disagree with you there, old chum. A crumpet is best with tea any time, and tea is best with a crumpet.

Well now, that is not necessarily the case. You see–

I don't care how cute you two are, if you don't stop your squabbling, I'm going to throw you out the window! Katie was livid. The stress of being late to work was getting to her, and the two mice were only exacerbating the problem. Ever wonder what it would look like to have a mouse in a fancy suit and monacle fly through the air at 80 miles-per-hour? Or to see a miniature tea set land next to two mice dressed like they're ready to go to a fancy ball? Because I'm really starting to get curious myself.

You hardly have to be so rude, Martin said with a bit of shame. We are merely attempting to enjoy ourselves here. But if it would please you, we could savor our tea time with some silent reflection.

Yes, yes, most assuredly, Henry agreed.

Katie said nothing.

A short time later, Katie was nearly to work, and only a few minutes late! She couldn't slow down now. Her exit came up, and as she was heading down the ramp, she saw that the light was still green, but it wouldn't stay that way much longer. She took her foot away from the brake and took the turn much faster than she should have, causing the car to slide a little. The tires squealed, she shifted to the side– only held into place by her seat belt– and then everything straightened out. If she lucked out and hit more lights like that, she would make it to work in record time, and probably wouldn't get anything more than a slight scolding!

Did you really have to take that turn so fast?! Henry cried. He was off of his tiny little seat and had clung to the grates on one of the air vents, bracing himself for any other daring maneuvers. Martin, however, was still in his seat.

It is good... Martin said slowly, eyes locked forward, unmoving, that the tea... had cooled so. He hung his little arms out in front of him, allowing tea to drip off of him onto the dashboard.

Henry clambered back over, inspecting his toppled– and quite sadly, now empty– cup, as though checking a friend for a pulse. My... my tea... he stammered.

Your tea? Martin scoffed. What of me? I... I smell of Echenacea!

You love the scent so much, you should be happy!

Suddenly the two tumbled forward and slammed into the windshield. They were not hurt, but they were quite dazed, and Martin left a tiny mouse-shaped imprint on the glass out of tea.

You two are lucky I put up with you! Katie said as she climbed out of her car. I expect this tea to be all cleaned up by the time I get off work tonight!

Oh, it most certainly will! Henry said cheerily. He stood onto his hind feet and brushed himself off, a broad smile crossing his face. You know us; ever vigilant and eager to remove any detriment to your continued joy!

Quite! Martin added, attempting to right himself, yet slipping repeatedly all the while. We delight in your delight! There shall not be a trace of tea whence you return!

Well, Henry said with a laugh, perhaps with the exception of your aromatic presence.

Haha! Indeed. Indeed.

Katie couldn't help but smile at the two despite herself. And no more tea in my car! she said, attempting to sound angry still.

Of course not! Henry assured her.

Martin began to speak as well, but she closed the door and headed off to work before he could say his piece. Still, he said it anyway, mostly out of pride.

"We will not see you