When I tell people that the Sunflower Grocery Store is haunted, people around Benton tend to give me something of a sideways look. But honest to goodness the store is really, bloody haunted. In fact I would go as far as to say it's crawling with ghosts. My name is James Donald Bell, and I'm a part time Courtesy Clerk at Sunflower Grocery store. Before I move on with my story, I should tell you a little about what a Courtesy Clerk is and what they do.

Halloween Romance
Sequel to
Mischief Night Magic
Part Five: A Cup Of Poison

I felt my hips starting to sway this way and that, all in tune with the music the dj was playing as I waited for my vampire to return with my requested cup of spiked punch. As I waited, I felt small beads of sweat starting to roll down my body, making my costume sticking to me. And I could feel the effects of the alcohol taking hold of me. I was sure I was starting to catch the first rising curls of a buzz.

Halloween Romance
Sequel to
Mischief Night Magic
Part Three: A Cup of Spiked Punch

Different Perspectives of Benton
Perspective Three of Six: Why I fight
Character Point of View: Fr. Percival 'Percy' Bell. Episcopal Priest, Rector of St. Mary's Episcopal Church.

Gakkou No Kaiden
Andou-San the Red Head

When I tell people I've seen a mermaid in Walesheba Creek, people often just chuckle and say I've been out in the woods too long. The more uncharitable souls will tell me it's time for me to finally settle down and find me a life because I'm just seeing things. But I tell you, that there is a mermaid that lives in the Walesheba Creek and she is a real man eater. Now I've only encountered her once, and that was way back in two thousand and fifteen. I was fifteen years old then, and fancied myself an avid hunter and fisherman. I also fancied myself as something of a fossil collector. 

Cerridwen's in the Dunking Booth

Part 2: The Opening Dunk

It was an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow, polka dot bikini
That she wore for the first time today
An itsy,  bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow polka dot bikini
So, in the locker, she wanted to stay

Cerridwen in the Dunking Booth

Part 1: Jitters

She was afraid to come out of the locker
She was as nervous as she could be
She was afraid to come out of the locker
She was afraid that somebody would see

Cerridwen Plays Dotty
Part Two: A Performance of a Lifetime

I figured now I should tell you a little about the fund raiser I've volunteered to take part in. You see, each month our town's only no- kill animal shelter and rescue place puts on a little show. The main draw of the show is somebody from our town volunteers to put on a Dotty, the Dalmatian Princess costume. The costume is a dalmatian print dress that comes with a puppy ears headband. A pink collar and a brass nameplate completes the outfit.

Cerridwen Plays Dotty
Part One: Cerridwen and Daisy

I wanted to punch somebody or something. I wanted to scream and throw a chair and break a window. I wanted to bite somebody. I don't know what was more embarrassing the costume or the fact that my boyfriend had been selected as the one to play my handler. I was just about to let my temper get the best of me when I felt a gentle hand stroke the top of my head.

Cerridwen and the Phantom Nurse
Chapter Two: A Fight from Peril

“Come now Cerridwen. We must keep your appointment with the Grim Reaper.” The nurse said smiling as she reached down and wrapped her fingers around my wrist. And with that she pulled me into the darkened hallway. I wanted to struggle, to break free, but she held me firmly in her grasp. And so I could only breathe a prayer as she pulled upon me.

Heather Play's Dotty
A Heather Delilah Soenksen Story

The fundraiser was the brainchild of Lisa Croft, our town's only veterinarian, who was also the owner and proprietor of Benton's only animal clinic and was also a charter member of Benton's only no- kill animal shelter 'Benton Animal Rescue' and was also a chairwoman on the board of directors. It was Lisa who dreamed up the idea that each month, a brave girl, and sometimes a brave boy, would volunteer to dress up in a dalmatian costume and assume the role of Princess Dotty the dalmatian princess. 

Belle of Vicksburg
-4-
Shopping

Belle of Vicksburg
-2-
459 Willard Lane, Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Heather's Pie Wash Misadventure
A Heather Delilah Soenksen Story

Noelle Edmond's 'Saturday Evening Entertainment Hour' was the newest hit program on Mississippi's PBS block. The show is a variety show that airs on Saturday evenings from around seven to nine. The two hour block is filled from start to finish with musical performances from local talent. Interviews with local celebrities, and of course stunts. The show is famous for randomly picking people out of the studio audience and drafting them into taking part in some kind of game or stunt.

Girls Just Want To Have Fun
-2-
Iced coffee, Beignets, and Girl Talk

By early afternoon Madeline and I had finished our shopping. The mall was kind of dead, and most of our money was spent. Both Madeline and I were holding off spending any more. Both of us wanted to get something from Subway before hitting the highway again and turning east toward Benton and home. But before Subway we decided on a sweet treat, a little reward for ourselves.

The Redemption of Jamie Sarah Potter
-5-
Babylon has Fall

The whole school heard the Head's words. The Board of Trustees who had long stood in stark silence could no longer sit on the edge of the fence. They had to move. They had to remove her. Daisy's sentence was suspended and a public apology was issued by Trustees of the school over what had happened. And in a strange twist of fate, both Cerridwen and Daisy were named prefects by the new Head.

The Redemption of Jamie Sarah Potter
-3-
Social Media Firestorm

The news of all the school prefects turning in their badges spread like a Californian wildfire. It spread first through word of mouth then through social media. Soon the whole town knew about it. Then it happened, the cheerleaders all twelve of them turned in their pom poms and true to his word. Ben led the whole defensive line in walking off the field. There would be no Friday night football for a while it seemed. And the Head well, there was little she could do to punish us.

The Redemption of Jamie Sarah Potter
-1-
Confession

I took a deep breath as I knelt down in front of the altar of St. Mary's Episcopal Church. Mass was due to start in thirty minutes. And Fr. Bell was now hearing confessions. Now, normally I don't go to confession, I find it silly, a waste of time, and sometimes down right degrading. Like why am I going to wreck my brain looking for a 'sin' to confess to a forty something year old man hiding behind a wooden screen? But there was something on my mind.

Saved by the Bell
-3-
The Son of God goes forth to War

I don't think one signal word passed between the three of us as Jamie guided Daisy out of the lunchroom and toward the headmasters office. Jamie and Daisy walked ahead of me, and I trailed a little behind the two. Then something happened, as we drew closer to the headmaster office. Daisy paused and took a deep breath. And then in a light, airy tone of voice he started to sing a cappella. The sound of his voice seemed to echo down the hallway. 

Saved by the Bell
-1-
His name was James Donald Bell

It's a common misconception that Benton Academy is the cradle for the Episcopal and Methodist bourgeoisie of Benton. In fact it's nothing more than a really redneck school. And the only way my mom and dad can afford to send me here is that my grandmother is footing the bill. My grandmother wants me to get the best education possible in this small town. She wants me to make something of my life.

-8-
Dunk the Maiden (Part 2)

I quickly found myself soaked to the bone. My once perfectly styled hair had become a tangle web of loose strands. I felt myself starting to shiver a little. The fire had almost gone out in me. The crowd in front of me was starting to ease up a bit and I was glad. I thought maybe I could catch a little break. But then Wyatt came up to me and started to whisper harshly toward me.

-4-
An Interesting Proposal

I took a deep breath as I peered out the car window. The sight that greeted me was nothing but flat, rolling fields that seemed to stretch far beyond the horizon. The Mississippi Delta was flat as a board. As I released my drawn in breath I shifted my eyes toward the woman seated beside me. Her name was Lavender Stoner and she was less than thrilled to have me along for the ride. I could say the same for her. Sitting next to her was like sitting next to a junkyard dog.