Every week we post six lines of a story of ours, a work-in-progress or from someone else’s work that we recommend that has LGBT characters on Rainbow Snippets, here; [LINK] https://www.facebook.com/groups/963484217054974

I’ll add a snippet or two (and some shameless self-promo) for this week’s Friday Flash Fiction story from me, “Solsta.” https://authorjeffbaker.com/2024/12/20/solsta-a-food-garden-court-christmas-sort-of-from-jeff-baker-for-friday-flash-fics-december-20th-2024-have-you-asked-yet/ I’d been wondering what passes for Christmas in the magical world of the Food Garden Court and its mall workers Skid and T’amec (who are sort of an item now.)

So, we hear the story of Solsta, the Solstice Cow and why it’s important to select your Solstice gift early…

Even when you weren’t a kid anymore it was tradition, some said superstition, to ask for some small token gift from Solsta. Better safe than sorry. T’amec remembered what the Sorcerer had said about his Mom.

“You’d better make up your mind,” T’amec said. “Solstice is tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I know,” Skid said getting annoyed. “Everybody keeps telling me that.”

“It’s tradition,” T’amec said.

“More like superstition.” Skid said grumpily.

Okay, a little more…

After a few minutes T’amec sighed again.

“Look, I didn’t mean to get on your…”

“That’s okay.” Skid said. “Just everybody keeps asking me. That’s one reason I’m glad I stayed at your place the last few nights. My folks don’t bug me there!”

“Yeah,” T’amec said. But Skid had been sleeping over a lot the last few months. Even though they’d said they were taking it slow.

For the record, the picture of the festively-draped cow sculpture is at our local dairy. Awwww! Santa Cow! Isn’t that sweet? I thought it looked creepy and demonic. And the story came from that.

Again, I wish you all the best for the season, and remember the best gift you can give is YOU. Take time to be with those you care about or those who think that no one cares. —jeff