A quote: “It seems to be a law of nature, inflexible and inexorable, that those who will not risk cannot win.” ~~ John Paul Jones

I’ll start with a story …

***************************

It was the weirdest raid we’ve ever been on. So far. Business is booming even as townies and farmers give us the side eye, then meet us out back with requests.

Stealing is wrong, of course, sir. But this is against the Grays.

So, as existence farming grows into profits and towns are now better than lean-tos made of granny’s quilts at the intersection of dirt and mud, things we can’t make for ourselves yet (and the Grays refuse to trade for) we just up and take.

Dangerous business, though, so I did balk at first. You want what? But the townies had gathered quite a pretty sum.

We took our time planning. Scouting was a must and we needed more than one escape route. I even insisted on a diversion because the time getting out of The City was the largest risk.

Yet, I lost one young man. Hurts me bad.

Snow was just starting to fall the evening I found myself in the new hall, still smelling of rough-cut pine, as a young man seated himself, took a deep breath and started playing White Christmas on the piano we fetched.

It was sawdust I got in my eyes.

***************************

Now, it’s your turn.
.
.
.
.
.
. featured image, cropped, Adobe Stock standard license