Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Gay Forever After (A Jerry Tale)
    Gay Forever After (A Jerry Tale)
    Gay Forever After (A Jerry Tale)
    Ebook415 pages5 hours

    Gay Forever After (A Jerry Tale)

    By Gerald Lopez

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Everyone’s looking for their own Happily Ever After in life. But helping two gay men find their happy ever after is of vital importance. The fate of the fairy tale kingdom and the human world depends on Jacob and William making a love match. The fairy Queen will have to recruit ogres, and dwarves to help fight those against the match such as witches, dragons, and a well-meaning preacher.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherGerald Lopez
    Release dateJun 26, 2018
    ISBN9780463461907
    Gay Forever After (A Jerry Tale)
    Author

    Gerald Lopez

    Gerald was called to write at various times in his life. When he was young, the writing consisted of plays and short stories. Then he explored the fine arts and literature, earning a bachelor’s degree in the latter while minoring in art history. In his studies he was fascinated by and enjoyed analyzing characters, their personalities and motivations. To him it’s always been the characters who make a story special. Once again writing has taken hold of him. In the past it was just an amusement, but now—for Gerald—writing is a passion to live, eat, and breathe.

    Read more from Gerald Lopez

    Related to Gay Forever After (A Jerry Tale)

    Related ebooks

    General Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Mountaintop Experience

      Feb 27, 2024

      Mountaintop Experience
      4 min read

    • Article

      Yara And The Witch Queen

      Oct 1, 2019

      I knew the dangers of witchcraft. My parents had told me about the time before I was born, when magic plagued our desert kingdom of Bahati. Untrained witch doctors trying to cure warts ended up paralyzing their patients or turning them into crocodile

      10 min read

    • Article

      The Nightingale

      May 1, 2019

      The Nightingale
      10 min read

    • Article

      TALL, WIDE, and Piercing Eyes

      Mar 1, 2019

      TALL, WIDE, and Piercing Eyes
      7 min read

    • Article

      The Enchanted Canary

      Jun 7, 2023

      The Enchanted Canary
      4 min read

    • Article

      10 Literary Witches To Hex Trump

      Mar 24, 2017

      In case you hadn’t heard, witches across America—including Lana Del Rey—are uniting to take down Trump via a binding spell, which calls on the spirits to keep the President from doing harm (it already seems to be working). Covens, communities, and so

      5 min read

    • Article

      The Good Servant

      Aug 8, 2022

      Windsor, March 1932 “Good evening, Miss Crawford.” A smart young man in uniform was waiting on the platform when she stepped off the train. She was startled. “Aye. That’s me. How did you know?” “Easy.” He smiled. “There aren’t that many young ladies

      6 min read

    • Article

      A Year in Reading: Ayşe Papatya Bucak

      Dec 2, 2019

      I guess I believe reading generates empathy. I feel pretty sure it offers readers experiences they would not otherwise have. But does it change how we act? The post A Year in Reading: Ayşe Papatya Bucak appeared first on The Millions.

      6 min read

    • Article

      The Dragon Of The North

      Sep 7, 2022

      The Dragon Of The North
      5 min read

    • Article

      Magnets: Carried through time, lovers seek their purpose.

      Feb 6, 2014

      Moon Colony B, 2213 Former Ponzi-schemer Mary Pillar digs through a trashcan. It smells like rotten eggs and milk. She is elderly and homeless, living in an alley between two eco-efficient skyscrapers. Dust particles dance around her. She has lost ev

      11 min read

    • Article

      The Number of Hair

      Jun 1, 2020

      The Number of Hair
      12 min read

    • Article

      The Wisdom of Women Shines in Najla Jraissaty Khoury’s ‘Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales’

      Oct 22, 2018

      Long, long ago These things happened or maybe no. Let’s start with the image on the cover. Three women sit in a courtyard. One holds a long-handled pan over a coal brazier; the other two, one of whom has her back to us, hold small cups. They wear ide

      7 min read

    • Article

      In The Spotlight: Your Writing Genre - Busting

      Apr 4, 2024

      What an inventive lot the WM writers proved themselves to be with the ‘Genre-busting' submission call! The response was terrific, with a postbag full of playful, off-the wall writing that read as if its creators had a gonzo riot mashing up elements f

      5 min read

    • Article

      Anna-Marie McLemore Speaking in Magic

      Aug 16, 2021

      A family of tightrope walkers with feathers growing in their hair. Five queer Latina cousins creating the lush estate gardens that reveal their shared love for the same woman. A girl appearing from an enchanted water tower. Magic is often how I write

      2 min read

    • Article

      A Wind-tossed Spell

      Jan 1, 2019

      A Wind-tossed Spell
      8 min read

    • Article

      The Witches Of Literature

      May 30, 2023

      Tor Books T. KINGFISHER challenges the idea of the “wicked witch” through the gravewitch in her subversive fairy tale Nettle & Bone. The nameless dust-wife—part witch, part gravedigger—is all too willing to help the novel’s heroine on her quest to ki

      2 min read

    • Article

      Solving Riddles, Reading Poems

      Nov 28, 2017

      Solving Riddles, Reading Poems
      6 min read

    • Article

      100-WORD-STORY COMPETITION Winners

      Aug 16, 2022

      We’ve been delighted by the huge response to our 100-word-story competition. The entries have flooded in thick and fast during the past few months, but while we’ve enjoyed reading every story, only a few can come out on top! You, our readers, voted t

      5 min read

    • Article

      The Elfin Knight

      Nov 2, 2022

      The Elfin Knight
      5 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Gay Forever After (A Jerry Tale)

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Gay Forever After (A Jerry Tale) - Gerald Lopez

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

      This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

      Cover Art Copyright © 2018 by Gerald Lopez

      Acknowledgments

      My special thanks go to the following:

      To John for his helpful comments and suggestions.

      To all of my wonderful Beta readers, for their comments, and often extremely helpful suggestions.

      Table of Contents

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Chapter 12

      Chapter 13

      Chapter 14

      Chapter 15

      Chapter 16

      Chapter 17

      Chapter 18

      Chapter 19

      Chapter 20

      Chapter 21

      Chapter 22

      Chapter 23

      Chapter 24

      Chapter 25

      Chapter 26

      Chapter 27

      Chapter 28

      Chapter 29

      Chapter 30

      Chapter 31

      Chapter 32

      Chapter 33

      Chapter 34

      Chapter 35

      Chapter 36

      Chapter 37

      Chapter 38

      Chapter 39

      Chapter 40

      Chapter 41

      Chapter 42

      Chapter 43

      Chapter 44

      Chapter 45

      Chapter 46

      Chapter 47

      Chapter 48

      Chapter 49

      Chapter 50

      Chapter 51

      Chapter 52

      Chapter 53

      Chapter 54

      Chapter 55

      Chapter 56

      Epilogue

      Contact the author

      About the author

      Other books by Gerald Lopez

      Gay Forever After

      (A Jerry Tale)

      Chapter 1

      Not So Happily Ever After

      HEAR YE! HEAR YE! Your attention please, gentle fairy folks of the realm. And I use the term ‘gentle’ loosely when it comes to some of those gathered here today.

      Queen Ambrosia Luisa Marisol Aligia Caresse the first was addressing the gathered fairies of the Rainbow Kingdom. They’d assembled in the sparkling, clear, crystal chamber above the flowing waters of Zeboya Falls located in the fairy capitol of Le Couleurs. So named because the capitol was located under an ever-present rainbow. The chamber’s clear, iridescent walls made from the finest crystal seemed to soak in the various colors of their enchanted world. But there was business to attend to today and the queen would not be sugar coating the absolute horror of what had happened. After patting her lavender, powdered hair—that matched her pale, lavender eyes—Queen Ambrosia straightened out her golden crown adorned with diamonds. She then brought down her gavel hard on the wood board in front of her.

      Guards, you may bring the two parties involved forward, Queen Ambrosia said.

      The double doors leading into the room opened and two tall and buff fairy guards dressed head to toe in lavender, down to their stockings and shoes entered.

      Oh dear, oh dear, a short, plump fairy with baby blue hair piled into a high updo said as she floated into the room. Her clear blue wings fluttered from nerves. And her hands made themselves busy brushing off invisible crumbs from her spotless blue and silver dress. She turned when someone on the other side of the doors spoke her way.

      Saphira Shantoune, my dear really. Must you be so nervous. They can’t possibly blame us for what happened, a tall, slim, male fairy with red hair, pale white skin, silvery gray eyes, and full lips said.

      The male fairy, who was dressed all in black and silver walked in behind Saphira and the others. He was followed by two guards dressed in lavender—the official color of the royal court.

      Oh, we most certainly can blame the two of you and we will, Alessander Mondovi, Queen Ambrosia said waving her gavel toward the two fairies who were now surrounded by guards. Walk forward so we can get this dealt with already.

      As Saphira and Alessander walked toward Queen Ambrosia and her crystal throne of law and order they looked around the room. They were surrounded by a sea of color on all sides. It seemed like every fairy in the realm had shown up for this hearing. There was row after row of fairies with pastel colored hair and formal attire on one side and fairy folk wearing deep purples, reds, and black on the other.

      Dear me, Alessander said. "I believe we are to be made an example of today, Saphira."

      Guards, you may go to your posts, Queen Ambroisa said. I don’t believe our prisoners will try to escape.

      Why should we? Alessander said. Nothing that happened is our fault in the least.

      It’s true, Saphira said as she fell to her knees in front of the queen. Have mercy I implore you, cousin. Everything that occurred—it…it… She burst into tears. There was nothing we could do!

      That’s for damn sure, Alessander said.

      There will be no vulgarity in this sacred place of law, Queen Ambrosia said. Either there was some evildoing in what happened or gross negligence and a significant amount of incompetence.

      There was plenty of that, your majesty, Alessander said. And you know my black attire and the horns on my cap are just for show—part of the act. We all have our parts to play—good fairies, bad fairies, and everything in between.

      The fairies on the side of the room representing the bad fairies cheered and applauded Alessander’s comments.

      That’s enough of that nonsense, Queen Ambrosia said, pointing her gavel toward the crowd.

      She’s right, Ambi, Saphira said. I mean, your majesty. Alessander did his part exactly according to plan.

      I truly did, Alessander said. He turned to address the room while holding his arms and hands out in an expressive and imploring way. It really was one of my best dragon transformations. I looked truly terrifying and the prince would’ve made quite the impression on our sweet Princess Wilhelmina Ferragault when he killed me—or appeared to kill me in order to rescue her—but.

      But? Queen Ambrosia said.

      The room went quiet and everyone leaned in to hear Alessander’s reply.

      Well, you can’t blame me that the princess was such a clumsy little twit she stumbled over that rock right in front of her and fell into my mouth just when I was breathing fire, Alessander said rapidly then breathed heavily. The poor little thing was barbequed.

      And what happened next was no one’s fault either, Saphira said. The sweet but unlucky horse the prince was riding didn’t notice Princess Wilhelmina’s scarf stretched between the rock and the limb of that tree.

      Not until the horse tripped over it causing Prince Jacobi to fall and accidentally impale himself on his own lance, Alessander said.

      Everyone in the room groaned.

      Goodness, Queen Ambrosia said. Yes, well—oh my. How do we fix this?

      A tall, male fairy with a long, white beard walked forward holding a crystal topped staff. His robe was various shades of dark blue in color accented with scattered crystals and he wore a pointy hat on his bald head.

      Yes, wise fairy wizard Chylo, Queen Ambrosia said. Do you have something to suggest in this matter?

      Yes, my most gracious Queen, Chylo said. Many years from now we’ll have another chance with the prince and princess. We’ll be able to bring them back to life and try anew.

      How long from now? Saphira said.

      Have no fear, Queen Ambrosia said. I’ll make sure to have the two of you close at hand when that date comes so that you may fix the damage incurred this time.

      That does not sound good… for us, Alessander said to Saphira.

      Chapter 2

      Dirty Business

      I, FOR ONE, AM SO glad that tomorrow we’ll have a second chance to unite those two little twits, Alessander said as he washed dishes in the royal kitchen next to Saphira.

      It hasn’t been fun washing dishes down here for all these many, many years waiting for the perfectly appointed moment to make ourselves known to humans once more, Saphira said while rinsing a cup. I know that we fairies are not supposed to notice the passage of time so much but—I have. It’s funny how that… that daaa-rling rainbow this city is built under doesn’t ever seem to make its way down to this dark, dank, smelly kitchen!

      Calm yourself, Alessander said. We cannot afford to let things run amuck this time. Don’t you miss your nice, tidy vacation cottage in what they now call London."

      I don’t think I’d even recognize the area anymore. Our homes and the like are invisible to humans, but we’re still surrounded by them except for here in the royal city. How will we even know how to act around the prince and princess?

      Well, her majesty has allowed us to view the human world and familiarize ourselves with things. Our little wards are no longer royalty and live in America, these days.

      At least they’re not as poor as that girl Ella was back in the day. And there are no dragons around, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally eating Wilhelmina again.

      Thank goodness for that, Alessander said. Poor Wilhelmina had no grace whatsoever for a princess.

      If the prince hadn’t been so full of himself and cocky, then he might’ve seen the scarf before it tripped his sweet, innocent horse.

      Yes, that’s true enough, Alessander said. I must say, that I rather liked the sound of that new young troubadour—I mean singer—named Elvis.

      Rock and roll music is not really to my taste, but I must admit Elvis is rather handsome. Oh, Alessander, I do hope we make things right, and don’t have to return down here.

      Or worse, Alessander said.

      What could possibly be worse than washing dishes in the royal kitchen?

      I really do not want to find out.

      CAN WE TRUST you two in this endeavor? Queen Ambrosia said to Alessander and Saphira as they stood outside the entrance to a brick cottage located right off the main square of a small downtown.

      Where are we again? Saphira said.

      A small town in a state called Florida, Queen Ambrosia said as she brushed dust off her full, knee-length skirt. That’s all you need to know about this place. You just have to make sure to nudge Wilhelmina and Jacobi together then disappear before things can possibly go wrong. She looked Alessander and Saphira up and down. You two really couldn’t be more different, could you?"

      Saphira wore a subdued, knee-length dress, sensible shoes, and pearls around her neck. Rather than blue, her hair was gray for the occasion. Alessander wore jeans, a T-shirt, and a leather jacket. His hair was styled back in a high pompadour. As Queen Ambrosia looked at him, Alessander blew a bubble with the gum he was chewing. The queen merely shook her head and brushed back her platinum hair.

      Let’s go indoors and see to the plan, shall we? Queen Ambrosia said, then opened the door and walked inside the cottage.

      Don’t you look cool, the fairy wizard Chylo, who was dressed in similar fashion to Alessander, said when he saw Alessander walk into the cottage.

      Ya like? Alessander said.

      Don’t even reply, Chylo, Queen Ambrosia said. "We need to get down to business.

      Yeah, there’s no time for you to act like a hound dog, Saphira said, and giggled.

      That’s not bad, Alessander said. So what’s the plan, daddy-o Chylo? And I like the new threads. That leather jacket is sweet, Pops. The jeans are tight. Still got the beard I see but it works even in this time. You remind me a little of the king.

      Are you two sure you’re not getting some of your phrases out of time order? Queen Ambrosia said. You may be a bit ahead of yourselves. And what king are you talking about? My husband has long, wavy hair.

      The only one that matters in this time, Alessander said.

      Elvis, Saphira said, and giggled.

      Let me show you all our sweet Wilma, Chylo said.

      Wilma, who the heck is that? Alessander said.

      The princess’s name is Wilma now, Chylo said as he waved his wand and made an image appear in the air.

      She still has her lovely red hair, Saphira said.

      Yes, but it’s shorter, Queen Ambrosia said. Show us the prince.

      Chylo waved his wand and the princess’s image disappeared to be replaced by one of a handsome young man with golden blond hair. This is Jacob Vincent.

      He’s as handsome as ever but he cut his hair too, Queen Ambrosia said. Fill the ladies in on the plan, Chylo.

      In this day and age, matchmakers are highly regarded, Chylo said. The queen and I have already sent out questionnaires to the prince and princess and invited them here for a free session today. They will run into each other in this place and magic will happen.

      No, Queen Ambrosia said. No magic under any circumstances. We don’t want to foul things up.

      This cottage is nice, but empty inside, Alessander said.

      I can take care of that, Chylo said. Place of business, or welcoming home?

      Welcoming home, definitely, Queen Ambrosia said.

      With an apple pie in the oven to make everything smell sweet, Saphira said.

      Yes, that sounds nice, Queen Ambrosia said.

      With a wave of his hand Chylo furnished the home in the latest style, complete with a pie in the oven.

      The princess—Wilma—should be here any moment, Queen Ambrosia said. "I’ll let you two handle things while Chylo and I wait in the kitchen.

      Oh look at the kitty, Alessander said as a black cat walked by.

      A black cat is all we need, Queen Ambrosia said. Where did she come from? She turned to Chylo.

      Not my doing, your highness, Chylo said. Maybe it’s meant to be here for luck or something.

      The queen rolled her eyes then grabbed Chylo’s arm and walked back to the kitchen.

      Alessander was petting the cat when the front door of the cottage opened and a pretty, slim, young woman walked inside. She had a happy smile on her face and her blue eyes twinkled as she practically skipped into the room while twirling her full, pink skirt.

      Hi, my name is Wilma, I have an appointment.

      Welcome, my dear, Saphira said.

      Alessander stood, walked to a mirror on the wall, and patted his red hair.

      You’re a redhead like me, Wilma said. How nice. She walked toward Alessander but tripped over a stool and almost fell.

      The girl is still as clumsy as ever, Queen Ambrosia said to Chylo in the kitchen from where they watched.

      Wilma was sitting on a chair in the living room talking with Saphira and Alessander when the front door creaked open.

      Sorry, Wilma said. I must’ve left the door ajar. Oh no—your cat! She jumped up and headed toward the door.

      Alessander, Jacob will be here any minute he’s already late, Saphira said.

      Alessander and Saphira got out of their chairs and headed toward the door. But before they got there, Wilma was already outside chasing the cat. Next thing they knew they heard the sound of a car screeching to a halt then hitting something and the scream of a woman. Queen Ambrosia and Chylo ran out from the kitchen and toward Alessander and Saphira.

      Please tell me it wasn’t another dragon, Queen Ambrosia said.

      It was a metal horse—a colt with four wheels and it hit a pole even longer than a lance, Saphira said as she looked out the front window. And unfortunately it’s the same results as last time."

      Chapter 3

      Drastic Measures

      QUEEN AMBROSIA CALLED an urgent meeting of the fairy counsel with Chylo in his pale sand-colored stone high tower chamber. Alessander and Saphira didn’t even have time to change.

      Those two are just plain unlucky, an older fairy with rainbow colored hair said from where she sat in the corner.

      Pelanopy, don’t be unkind, a young, black, fairy with short orange hair said. Maybe we can do some sort of spell to fix things.

      We’ll have a chance with the youngsters again after some years, Chylo said.

      But maybe Zelia was right, Queen Ambrosia said referencing back to the fairy with orange hair. Perhaps we can do some sort of blessing spell or something.

      If you could find a way to make Wilhelmina less clumsy that would help, a fairy with pink hair said. You did say the lady who witnessed it all stated the princess tripped over the laces of her shoes trying to catch that cat and fell into the road. The prince tried with no luck to avoid hitting her with his car. That’s what caused the prince to crash into a pole and die by being impaled—yet again.

      We can pronounce blessings over the princess and put the blessings into a potion we can administer to the current incarnations of her parents, Chylo said. That way we can at least get rid of the princess’s clumsiness in her future incarnations.

      Yes, let’s do that, Saphira said. We could do like what we used to when invited to christenings in the past.

      Alright, but no mistakes this time, Queen Ambrosia said. "Prepare the mixture, Chylo.

      Chylo grabbed various vials of different colored liquids which he poured into a large pot that was heating in his fireplace. The fairies all gathered around the pot.

      May our lovely charge keep her beautiful, golden red hair and unblemished fair skin, Zelia said.

      Grant her grace of movement, Saphira said.

      Like a dancer—steady and balanced—not clumsy, Alessander said.

      With all the grace of a fairy, Pelanopy said. May she move about as a fairy—happy and gay.

      Yes, perfect, Queen Ambrosia said. Let the new Wilhelmina be a happy and gay little fairy only human. That would be perfect.

      When they were done Chylo put the mixture into a small bottle and spoke.

      Just one drop in the parents’ drinks will do the trick.

      How will we manage it? Saphira said.

      You and Alessander won’t manage anything, Queen Ambrosia said. I’ll go to the children’s funeral and make sure the deed is done. I have another job for you two, ladies.

      Oh, poo, Saphira said.

      Yes, literally, Queen Ambrosia said. At least until you both get a third chance at this job.

      YOU JUST HAD to say the word ‘poo’, didn’t you? Alessander said to Saphira as they cleaned the palace toilets.

      How long can they have us doing this for? Saphira said.

      Please, don’t even ask, Alessander said.

      Years later they were called back to Chylo’s room.

      Is it time? Alessander said.

      Just about, Chylo said.

      Where’s the queen? Saphira said.

      Upstairs in her chamber thinking, Chylo said.

      Oh no, Alessander said. How bad are things?

      The queen has called on an ogre to help in this mission, Chylo said. And he and I are to stay by your sides until things have been completely handled.

      Meaning what? Saphira said.

      Meaning we stay with the humans until the prince and princess are joined together in a formal union, Chylo said.

      It beats cleaning toilets, Alessander said.

      Things are so desperate they’ve called in an ogre for help, Saphira said. Oh dear, oh dear. I wonder just how bad the situation is this time?

      It’s my fault, Pelanopy said as she entered the room followed by Queen Ambrosia, Zelia, and the fairy with pink hair Tishna. I should be cleaning the toilets with Alessander and Saphira.

      Why do you say that? Alessander said.

      The world changes, Zelia said. Things no longer mean what they once did. But we have to believe they work out the way they should. We are not all-seeing or all-knowing. And we do not control all things.

      How much lower can we go than cleaning toilets, Alessander? Saphira said.

      I don’t think we want to know, Alessander said.

      Time to face the music, as they say these days, Queen Ambrosia said.

      Chapter 4

      Say What?

      QUEEN AMBROSIA had magically transferred all of them to the cottage in Florida which looked exactly as it had the last time they were there.

      What the heck is the name of this town, please? Alessander said.

      I don’t see why that matters, Queen Ambrosia said.

      It’s Coopersville, Chylo said.

      Cool, this is my first time in the human world, Tishna said. It’s exciting and scary at the same time. I feel all tingly inside.

      Please, do try to control yourself, Tishna, Queen Ambrosia said. We all need to be alert this time.

      Y’up, Pelanopy said from where she sat on her wooden bench knitting. It’s kind of a little bit wild and a whole lot crazy this time.

      Say what? Alessander said. Time to clue us in on things, don’t cha think? And why did Pelanopy say what happened is her fault? What is it that’s happened?

      Show them, Chylo, Queen Ambrosia said.

      Chylo waved his hand through the air causing an image to appear. As everyone looked on, the picture of a handsome, tan, young man with golden blond hair and blue eyes appeared. He had a happy smile on his face.

      He’s cute, Zelia said.

      That’s the prince, Queen Ambrosia said. His name is Jacob Vincent the second.

      The second? Tishna said. But how? Didn’t the prince die in the 1950s and now it’s 2018.

      Clearly the prince didn’t have a son, but someone else in the family did and gave him the same name, Saphira said.

      Too many riddles, Pelanopy said and giggled. Alexander was good with riddles but not me.

      Alexander who? Queen Ambrosia said.

      That cute, little, blond Macedonian who conquered the known world at the time, Pelanopy said. I was just a wee girl back then.

      I’ll say, Alessander said. I always heard I was named after him sort of.

      Get on with the rest of it, Chylo, Queen Ambrosia said.

      Chylo erased the current image, sighed and waved his hand again. This time a picture of a slim, red-haired young man with a wide smile and bright green eyes appeared.

      Who’s that? Saphira said.

      Oh good golly, Alessander said. That’s the princess Wilhelmina.

      Now known as William Ferragault, Chylo said.

      What happened? Zelia said. They’re both boys. What do we do?

      First off we must not panic, Queen Ambrosia said. This isn’t a first in history.

      That’s true, Pelanopy said. Alexander had Hephaestion.

      Who had who? Tishna said.

      Don’t worry about it, Alessander said. That’s all ancient history. He chuckled suddenly.

      And what is so funny? Queen Ambrosia said.

      I’ll tell you what’s so funny, Alessander said. This mess wasn’t caused by Saphira or me this time, Queenie, Baby.

      Why I never, Queen Ambrosia said.

      But you did, Queenie, Alessandra said. Ya really did, along with Granny Pel.

      She’s right, you know, Chylo said. "You and Pelanopy were the ones that said the words asking Wilhelmina to come out happy and gay. What happened to the prince and princess with Alessander and Saphira was no fault of Alessander and Saphira and you still made them wash dishes and clean toilets. Are you and Pelanopy gonna muck out the royal horse stalls?"

      At the least we do owe Alessander and Saphira an apology, Pelanopy said.

      Ya think? Alessander said sarcastically. Let’s just decide how to fix this mess and get those two together already.

      How do we even know Jacob likes boys, Tishna said.

      Ya, Zelia said. "You didn’t say anything about him being happy and gay at the time."

      I’ll do some research into that, Chylo said.

      Come to think of it, Saphira said. "You might want to look up that

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1