Wandering Shop Story 13

Prompt Word: Fast Minervie and Chip 9 The unusually tall, gossamer wight of a woman sat at Minervie’s kitchen table with a steaming teacup in front of her. “Before you start, have you been to see Mindy yet?” Minervie asked. Barbera, the Banshee (but never say it like that, she abhores the alliteration) replied, “No, she’s my next stop.” “Oh, wonderful, I’ll invite her over, it should save us all some time, no?...

2 Nov 2025 · 2 min · Gary Allen Vollink

Wandering Shop Story 12

Prompt Word: Bind Minervie and Chip 8 Chip was in the den, absentmindedly scratching at the edge of the bind around his ankle while reading a children’s book about a walking bear. He didn’t seem deeply troubled by yesterday’s sudden bout with danger. Not wanting to go outside could equally be due to his difficulty walking on that bruised ankle, as opposed to fear. Minervie hoped it was just his ankle....

1 Nov 2025 · 1 min · Gary Allen Vollink

Wandering Shop Story 11

Prompt Word: Bound Minervie and Chip 7 (Halloween Post) Minervie finished a potion, and realized with dread that she hadn’t heard anything from Chip for a while. He wasn’t in the yard. He wasn’t in his room, nor reading in the den. She stood on the back porch and with a touch of magic amplification, yelled for him. The silence was deafening. Worse, there were no bird calls from the gathering woods....

31 Oct 2025 · 2 min · Gary Allen Vollink

Wandering Shop Story 10

Prompt Word: Cleave Minervie and Chip 6 “Can I help?” Chip was on tip toes trying to see the work surface. “If you can pass the trial,” said his Grandmother, who knew that this part was too dangerous a task. “What is the trial!” Chip asked excitedly. “If you can bring me the sledge-hammer without letting it touch the floor, I’ll let you help.” As Chip ran off to the tool shed, Minervie quickly cleaved the Kelpie bones to size, and put away the sharp knives, and pulled out the mortar and pestle for Chip....

30 Oct 2025 · 1 min · Gary Allen Vollink