Christa Kinde's Blog, page 92
June 21, 2013
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 198: Pick Your Own
Chapter 198: Pick Your Own
As two different Hedges merged into one around the Pomeroys’ farm, Ethan flew low over the orchard, searching for a familiar mop of blond hair. The kids had been invited to pick their own apples, but Zeke seemed bent on showing Jasper their pigs. They were halfway to the back forty when a whisper caused Ethan’s heart to lurch. “Coddling, dawdling.”
“Blight!” he snapped, dropping to the ground.
Laughter hissed disconcertingly close. “Questing, testing. Following, wallowing.”
Ethan whirled as his enemy slipped from the branches of a tree to stand barefoot in the grass. “You!”
Blight’s lips quirked. “You called, friend?”
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Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!
Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
June 19, 2013
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 197: Last to Know
Chapter 197: Last to Know
Ethan found his charge’s confusion understandable. This seemed to be some kind of Pomeroy rite of passage.
“Why are we at my house?” Zeke asked loudly.
“To learn about where apples come from.”
“They grow on trees, Teacher. Everyone knows that!”
Grandpa Pete ambled over. “Something the matter, Zeke?”
“Uh-huh!” the four-year-old exclaimed. “I thought I was goin’ on a trip to someone else’s field!”
The old man chuckled. “Not everyone is lucky enough to have an orchard in their back yard. How ’bout we show your friends around some?”
Zeke perked up. “Sure! I know all the best places!”
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!
Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 196: Short Drive
Chapter 196: Short Drive
Zeke was too busy talking to Jasper about zoos and forts to notice where he was. Ethan, who rode in an empty seat a few rows behind his charge, waved to Alpheus as the bus rolled to a stop in Orchard Lane’s cul-de-sac.
When Zeke finally looked out a window, his expression blanked. Following his classmates down the aisle, he walked up to his teacher. “Am I in trouble?”
“Why would you think that?” she asked bemusedly.
He hopped off the bottom step and landed in his own driveway. Spreading his arms wide, he exclaimed, “’Cause you brought me home!”
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!
Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
June 17, 2013
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 195: Permission Slip
Chapter 195: Permission Slip
Tad tried to warn him. “Say, Zeke. About field trips ….”
“Let him find out for himself!” protested Neil. “We all had to.”
Ethan exchanged glances with Lucan, who smiled.
Zeke demanded, “Aren’t field trips good?”
Neil tapped the permission slip. “Depends. Some places are great—fort, planetarium, zoo. And Momma packs an extra special lunch. No class for a day.”
Zeke grinned. “That’s good!”
“Not always,” Neil said wisely. “The best stuff means a loooong drive.”
Lucan leaned in to see what was on the printed sheet. “Ah.”
“What?”
The big guardian said, “It will be a short drive.”
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!
Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
June 14, 2013
The Week’s Accumulation xliv
Home Sweet Home! It’s good to be back to what passes for normal in this writer’s life. My own chair. My usual walks. My comfort zone. This has been a surprisingly productive week, but mostly in the editing department. Still, I’ll do an art splurge and share a sketch and some new finished pieces today. Take a look!
This week’s accumulation:
♦ So far, my time at home has been packed with edits. My lovely editor over at Zondervan sent me the manuscript for Book 3: The Broken Window for a final review, and I enjoyed my read-through of that next installment in the Threshold Series. I’m probably as eager as readers for it to come out in September! As soon as I finished that, I jumped right into a reread of my manuscript for Book 4, which is the final installment in the series. I’ll be turning it over to my editors very soon … a prospect that makes me jittery and excited all at once.
♦ Angels All Around. I’ll mention again that the free illustrated Threshold Series prequel is still very much available. If you haven’t downloaded this short story yet, please do! Story Summary: Angels and demons collide over West Edinton, a small town where not everyone is what they seem. In this companion story to the Threshold Series, a divine Messenger becomes one little girl’s prince, and a fledgling Guardian becomes their knight. A longer summary, cast list, and art gallery are here.
♦ Those of you who’ve been reading the Threshold Series know that the members of Jedrick’s Flight are currently searching for a kidnapped comrade. Poor Ephron is languishing in the clutches of the enemy … and he’s somewhat worse for the wear. But I have a few pieces of art in the works that give you a glimpse of his “before.” This is the sketch phase of one artist’s version of Ephron…
♦ And lastly, I’ll point you toward the new art that was added to the galleries here this week. The first is in the section for The Hidden Deep, a bookmark that features the two Caretakers in Jedrick’s Flight. The second is in the Rough and Tumble section, a portrait of Conrad, Ethan’s mentor.
So what’s cluttering up your desktop? Do tell!
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 194: Cake
194: Cake
Ethan couldn’t fathom why he’d been Sent apart from Zeke.
“No lagging,” Lucan chided as Jomei jostled the younger warrior along.
Zeke’s preschool teacher exclaimed, “Thank you for coming in!”
“Is Zeke in trouble?” Jayce asked.
“Oh, no! This isn’t that kind of parent-teacher moment. I only wanted to show you this.” Four sheets of paper had been taped together to provide a canvas big enough for Zeke’s craft project.
“Gracious!” Naomi murmured.
Neatly overlapping rows of leaves created an elaborate, three-tiered masterpiece. Jayce rubbed his chin, possibly to hide his grin.
Zeke’s teacher bragged, “He’s quiet the little artist!”
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!
Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
Fridays: I’ll keep comments open on Fridays in case you’d like to say hello.
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 193: Leafs
Chapter 193: Leafs
Ethan dreaded all the new avenues for mischief that preschool presented, but having teachers and classmates was bringing out interesting new facets to Zeke’s personality.
“This paper says you only need ten leaves,” Prissie said in bossy tones.
“I know,” Zeke replied, adding sumac leaves to his collection.
“You have dozens!” his sister complained.
“I know,” he repeated. “But what if people don’t have as many trees as us. Or what if they only gots yellow leafs. This way, I can share!”
Prissie didn’t look convinced, but Ethan was pleased … maybe even a little proud of Zeke’s burgeoning generosity.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!
Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
June 12, 2013
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 192: Clog
Chapter 192: Clog
Ethan picked up his booted feet and retreated into the hallway ahead of a wash of dirty water. It flowed along the wooden floor, then splashed down the back stairway. Beau spotted it first. “Momma, there’s a flood!”
Naomi came running and found Zeke trying to use bath towels to dam the steady stream flowing from the toilet. “What did you do?” she gasped.
“Flushed,” Zeke replied evasively.
“Flushed what?”
The boy scuffed at the floor with one toe, eyes downcast. Ethan turned his helpless gaze toward the ceiling. His young charge was certainly inventive when it came to play.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!
Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
June 11, 2013
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 191: This One Bears Watching
Chapter 191: This One Bears Watching
Ethan wanted to be inside the classroom with Zeke, but there were sixteen other Guardians in the rotation. He took his place to the south of the building without complaint. An hour later, the Hedge’s senior Guardian found him. “You’re with Hezekiah Pomeroy?”
“Yes,” Ethan replied, standing a little taller. “Zeke is under my watch-care.”
The older warrior snorted. “Actually, he’s under the table. Eating paste.”
“I … apologize?”
“Inside, Ethan. I can see the writing on the wall. And it’s in blue crayon.”
“Did he …?”
“He did,” the other Guardian confirmed. “To prove he knows the whole alphabet.”
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!
Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
June 10, 2013
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 190: Running Out of Excuses
Chapter 190: Running Out of Excuses
“I dunno ’bout this, Momma.” Zeke had been dragging his feet all morning. It was his first day of preschool. “Grandpa needs me!”
“Your chores will be waiting when you get home.”
“And Jude’s gonna miss me!” he argued.
“I’ll keep him company.”
Ethan’s wings developed a twitch with each new excuse. Was preschool something to be feared?
“What about you, Momma?”
“I’ll pick you up in time for lunch.”
Zeke sulked.
In the parking lot, Naomi cheerfully exclaimed, “Oh, look! There’s Jasper.”
“Hey! Him and me are friends!” Zeke was off like a shot … and never looked back.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!
Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
