This was my entry in the 55-word story contest on Noveljoy . com. It's inspired by what my niece told me when I asked after her wedding how she and her new husband met. Their opening dance at the reception: "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not"

First Kiss

Lea wanted Sean for her first kiss. He wasn't ready; she broke up with him.
Her first kiss came soon after, followed by more with other boys.
Lea ran into Sean a few years after graduation.
Standing with him now...was he ready?
"You may kiss your bride."
Sean gave a ready smile.

(Received this in an email from a friend, who received it from a friend...)

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death. The question?...What do women really want? Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end.
He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer. But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged. The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first.
The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend!
Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life.
He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden; but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table. Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur's question thus:
What a woman really wants, is to be in charge of her own life.
Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared. And so it was, the neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding.
The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth be her horrible, deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half. Which would he prefer? Beautiful during the day...or night? Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day, a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch? Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous intimate moments? What would YOU do?

Noble Lancelot said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself.
Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life

The moral of this story is...

If you don't let a woman have her way...
Things are going to get ugly

Notes on Damily

I just re-read some of these stories and reviews after several years. I probably wouldn't write them again and they feel somewhat voyeuristic now. My intention though was good--to make people see Emily differently after she was perhaps unfairly dumped in the third episode. (She confessed to having been sexually exploited by music producers, so in the video, she was touched in a crowd, which would. be. unnerving. for. anyone. and. she. didn't. perform. as. well as. usual. In the elimination portion, another contestant was given a second chance after blowing his song and Emily, whom Damian. had said he thought was the best singer and dancer of the girls, was gone). To help make people see her from another perspective, I paired her with him, the most popular participant and eventual winner. The stories still have something to offer pre- #Metoo and also for looking beyond stereotypes. So they'll remain.

Expecting Great Things

I'm enjoying returning to this story, which features Mary Cattermole on the lam with her husband Reg. and. their. kids. There are similarities and contrasts to the DH adventure showing the different challenges of a loving fugitive family. I hope anyone who reads it likes it. Please let me know with reviews.