I've brought you a boy braided in hide, the heart of a she-demon hidden inside.
He climbed on the Sotern one May afternoon and hid in my skiff til middle of June.
Later we heard of the tempest-woman who searched the docks with a frightful coven
shreiking for her little, her child of leather, the boy who held her soul together.
Son, keep him safe, keep his limbs tightly bound, for this is the magic I have found.
If the boy rides high, safe and dry, the witch grants you ever-smooth seas and blue sky.

Ignore the whimpers, adventure awaits.

Don't forget, everybody! Loren, our clockwork leader--posting regularly through sickness, child-rearing and hurricanes--is hosting a storytelling event on Christmas Eve.

Polish up, slap down or serve sideways your best Advent/Christmas/holiday ghost story of less than or equal to 100 words and post it on your blog December 24. Email him the link at I saw lightning fall [at] gmail [dot] com. Just squoosh all that together and insert the appropriate symbols.

Mine is pre-published, set in blogger to post on 12/24/2010 at 5:36 AM. Is yours?