@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

When the Better Angels took a break, Mumu ran out of the lounge for a moment. When she returned, Bebe was sitting in the seat with a teddy bear.
"Hey," she said. "That's my seat."
"Bebe didn't see your name on it."
"But I was sitting there."
"Did you see her sitting here?" Bebe asked the bear. (1/4)

For #TransRightsReadathon I invite people to consider reading my debut work, Revin's Heart. It's a steampunky fantasy adventure with pirates and airships and a trans protagonist. It was originally serialized as seven novelettes (you can get the first for free), but the collected edition has three fun side-stories you can't get anywhere else. https://waterdragonpublishing.com/product-category/book-series/revins-heart/
#trr2025 #Bookstodon #LGBTQBooks #Books

#LesFicFri "hungry" from The Ground Never Lies

Lala ran off to the big replicator. Minutes later, the Angels began to hand out Fun Meals to the CuddleTums. With cries of glee, they tore off the wrappings and devoured the sandwiches with relish.
"Now, what youse got ta drink on dis crate?" the old CuddleTum asked.
"Water is available," Zaza said.
"Not ta wash wit'! Ta drink! Like beer, wine, sake, shochu…"
"Non-human biological androids do not consume spirits."
The old CuddleTum leered up at Zaza. "I don't suppose ya gots any rum?" #wss366

None of my fiction or poetry was stolen by Meta to train their LLM, but they did steal two of my non-fiction publications.

The doorbell rang. He walked over and opened the door.
"Oh! Hi, Wendy. C'mon in."
"Hey! Did you get my card?"
"No, we just got this card from some weirdo named Webster who went to Paris, New York." (3/3) #wss366

"Oh." He turned the card over. "Oh. There's a smudge. Can you tell what that says?"
She looked at it, then held it at arms length, peering at it.
"Walter?"
"Do we know anyone named Walter?" He peered at it again. "I think it says Webster."
"I'm certain we don't know any Webster." (2/3) #wss366

When he looked in the mailbox, there was only one thing: a postcard. He picked it up and looked at it.
"Honey?" he said.
"Yes, dear?"
"Who do we know who went to Paris?"
"Paris?" She looked at the card. "It says Paris, New York."
"Ew? Who would go to Paris, New York?"
"Who signed it?" (1/3) #wss366

Naked, splattered with multi-colored paint, and still carrying the limp inflatable swimming ring, he checked the kitchen door. Locked. He retrieved the key they kept hidden under the rock and unlocked the door. His wife was standing just inside.
He opened his mouth, then closed it.
She started tapping her foot.
"You'll never believe what happened," he began.
She cut him off and said, "I don't want to hear another #story."
"What do you want?"
"The truth."
"Don't you… Can't I just…"
"No."

#wss366

*Lady Cecelia's Knowledge* is Part 4 of *Lady Cecelia's Journey*, a sapphic romantasy road story. It has not yet been scheduled for release, but if you subscribe to my monthly mailing list, you can receive updates when it appears. https://author-sdbrewer.micro.blog/subscribe/

"Chores?"
"I feed the pigs and Teenay feeds the chickens. Bello takes the sheep out. Mama and Sendi milk the cows. And Daddy and Buck take care of the horses and get tack ready for the day's work."
"What can I do?"
"You get to help!" (2/2) #wss366

Cecelia squawked in the morning when Kelli and Teenay sprang on her in the bed, jumping around, giggling, and laughing. She rubbed her eyes.
"What's going on?" she yawned.
"Time to do the chores!" Teenay shrieked.
"What time is it?" Cecelia groaned.
"Four bells," Kelli said. (1/2)

*Lady Cecelia's Knowledge* is Part 4 of *Lady Cecelia's Journey*, a sapphic romantasy road story. It has not yet been scheduled for release, but if you subscribe to my monthly mailing list, you can receive updates when it appears. https://author-sdbrewer.micro.blog/subscribe/

While it continued to rain outside, they spent the evening chatting amiably with the family. Kasseh spun them a tale about how they were traveling to the Capital for a relative's wedding and to bring the supplies for their business as a wedding present. She described their adventures in a highly redacted form. They were amazed to hear about the distant mountains and the sight of the ocean from an airship. Only Rudy had ever traveled farther than the nearby village of Strawtown. #wss366

The Trump administration is withdrawing funding for scientific research. I have a suggestion for my colleagues: Every minute that you are unable to conduct your research, you should devote to public advocacy in support of higher education. https://stevendbrewer.com/a-suggestion-for-my-colleagues/ #science #research #HigherEducation

We stood there skipping stones and, eventually, began competing to see who could skip the most. He was ecstatic when he won with six skips to my five.
"Hey, Dad," he said, finally. "Can I ask you something?"
"Always!" I said with a smile. (4/4)

"It's easy," I replied. "Find a flat stone and throw it like this." I picked up another rock and demonstrated.
He tried, but it just splashed in the water.
"Try again!" I said.
He picked up another rock and, time, he got two skips. (3/4)

"To the pond."
"Why?"
"You'll see."
He sighed again.
When we reached the pond, I picked up a flat stone and threw it side-arm to make it #skip across the surface, leaving a line of intersecting rings of ripples.
"How did you do that?" he asked, suddenly interested. (2/4) #wss366

"Hey. Come with me," I said.
He looked at me. He'd come home from school, heaved a huge sigh, then settled in front of the TV with a bag of chips.
"C'mon!"
He sighed, got up again, then followed me out the door.
We walked past the car and down the street.
"Where are we going?" he asked. (1/4)

"I'm very proud to be a chew-toy for Tanuki-chan," says @philipbrewer. #DogsOfMastodon