Brandi's Place

  In Chapter 22 of Legend of Sylphar, The Silver Queen , the aftermath of a battle on Atlas leaves the Lyken camp shrouded in grief and loss. Amidst the somber atmosphere, Ariadne, the protagonist, follows Prince Theeson, who carries the weight of responsibility for his fallen soldiers. In a profound moment of vulnerability, she overhears his song of lament, revealing the depths of his sorrow and the burden of leadership. *** The voice grew louder as she followed her sense of him. Looking around some large boulders near the edge of the cliff, she spotted him. He was sitting on a large stone overlooking the canyon’s edge. And now she could hear the words to his song more clearly: The trees have fallen, and the rivers bleed. Oh, the weariness weighing in the heart of the king. Heavy his sorrows and heavy his cares. Heavy the burden that a king must bear. For sorrow’s his wine, and burden his bread. And heavier still, the crown on his head. *** The song portrays the weariness and...

    Journal Entry 657 It's strange how much I'm looking forward to going to work these days. I'm on a mission to find Black Bird Unit ZY98. He has information about Jack Maltus, the man who was cloned to create me and all the other Jacks. I need to know if I'm just one of many copies or if there's something unique about me. I need to discover my true identity. I hope to find the Bird who spoke to me at the party and see if he's willing to share what he knows about Maltus. Finally home. What a day it's been. I anxiously waited for my shift to end. As soon as it was over, I hurried towards G7, where I hoped to find Black Bird ZX98. The scent of freshly made soap wafted towards me even before I reached their door. I spotted Black Bird ZX98 walking along the path between our buildings, heading home. His copper hair gleamed like a newly minted bronze coin in the sunlight. "Excuse me," I called out. "Do you have a moment to talk?" He nodded and...

  Journal Entry 656 I stumbled out of bed this morning, skipping my usual routine. Last night's drinking had left my head spinning, but I had an urgent mission—to find Black Bird ZY98. I walked the familiar path, the grass worn down by countless factory workers' footsteps. The looming factory emerged before me, belching smoke and emitting a foul stench. If only I could escape this job, but we were all trapped without a choice. Just as I reached the entrance, Jack Unit 305 walked out. "Hey, 382," he greeted me. "United are we." "Hello, 305. United are we." "382, it's not time for your shift yet. Is something wrong?" "All is fine," I replied, not revealing my true intent. "I met a Black Bird Unit at the celebration yesterday, and we were having an intriguing conversation before we got interrupted. I wanted to find him and ask some questions." "You're looking for a Black Bird?" 305's eyes widened wit...

    Journal Entry 654 It has been 654 days since the treaty granting our freedom was signed, coinciding with the start of a new year on Raven 5. Some of the Jacks seem excited because the day number is in reverse sequence, making it New Year's Day. Although I don't see the significance, I don't want to diminish the small joys my fellow Jacks find in life. To observe the holiday, all factory workers, including the Jacks and the Black Birds, have been given the day off. We are obligated to attend a joint celebration this afternoon, with the consequence of losing a month's pay for refusal. Given the economic restrictions on this planet, that would be devastating. Plus, the promise of free booze serves as a decent incentive to endure the awkwardness of this gathering. During the war, the Black Birds and the Jacks were enemies, but now, we are expected to get along as if the conflict never happened. Yet, I can't help but feel a lingering hostility towards the Birds for t...

  I'm currently working on an episodic story called "The Clone Ranger." In the past, stories were often published in newspapers as episodes, and I'll be following this tradition by writing serialized fiction and short stories that I'll share for free on my blog. "The Clone Ranger," revolves around Jack Unit 382, a clone who feels deeply isolated amidst a sea of identical faces. After the war, the clones were set free, expected to lead "normal" lives, but they had no idea what "normal" even meant. Struggling to find their purpose in a world where everyone is just like them, the clones yearn for a sense of individuality. This story explores how Jack Unit 382 embarks on a journey of self-discovery, seeking to find his own identity amidst the overwhelming sameness.       Journal Entry 653 I feel utterly lost. Not in a literal sense, but as I lie in bed, waiting for the wake-up timer to sound, my mind drifts aimlessly, like an abandoned es...

As mothers, one of the challenges we often face is protecting our children from unwanted attention from strangers. Even people who mean well can sometimes overstep the boundaries of your comfort zone when it comes to interacting with your children. But let me share with you a story of one young mother of twins who dared to let her guard down in a moment of compassion for a fellow human being and shared her children with a complete stranger. The following story was posted on a friend's social media account and I have obtained special permission from her to share it with you today. ====================================================================== I took the twins to Walmart today for our weekly grocery shopping. An older woman approached me in the cereal aisle, and I instantly sighed in annoyance because I knew the "typical twin questions" were about to start pouring out of her mouth.  When I go out in public, I always plan for an additional 20 minutes just for a...

Here's a fun little poem I wrote back in high school about a couple of silly aliens who's friendship gets a little stressed when they go on an adventure together. Enjoy this silly rhyme! As with all my poems, you are welcome to share and use however you wish as long as you do not remove my name.  (text) Chip and Blip By Brandi Peterson I know a Zip, his name is Chip. He went on a fieldtrip in a spaceship. Chip brought his friend Blip on the trip. And together, they made a comic strip. On the trip they ate a chicken strip Dunked in bean dip Stirred with catnip. Chip and Blip’s friendship suffered hardship. Chip put Blip through a guilt trip Because Blip hit Chip with a whip. They won a championship For their comic strip And got a scholarship To the Space Ship University. On their return trip Blip got a stiff upper lip when Chip hit him with a poker chip. After the field trip on the spaceship They stayed in fellowship...