Steve jumped out of bed and smiled to himself. Hi-jinx we’re at hand and he couldn’t wait to see their impact.

As he walked into the kitchen, the girls and Suzy sat, heads hung, and tired looking. He grinned to himself a bit…the girls could nap today after his hourly alarm prank overnight.

He looked at them, “Why the drowsy faces?” and stifled a snicker. They just looked up.

He walked over to Suzy and she looked up. Kissing her on the forehead, he wished her good morning. He saw leaves floating g in the tea and a sad quiver in her lip. Prank 2 success.

“Will you rinse out my cup and make me a new cup?” Suzy requested, holding it up for him to take.

Steve knew it was the least he could do. So he took the cup and headed to the sink. The girls looked up and their tired eyes turned to expectation.

Steve flipped on the water and the sprayer splashed him in the face and wet his shirt. Stunned a moment, he put his hands out to block the stream.

Behind him, the girls broke out in raucous laughter. Steve quickly moved into revenge mode, picking up the sprayer and aiming it at the three of them.

The girls squealed and ducked behind the table while Suzy laughed then bolted down the hall.

Steve shut off the water, then chased her down the hall. He tackled her onto he bed and a full on tickle fight ensued.

Between laughs, Suzy got out “April Fool’s!”

Dark mud squished between toes. The creature wiggles their feet and smiled. Jagged teeth flashed as it stomped about, laughing and lumbering among the trees. Caked on clumps of dried dirt covered it’s head while thick fingers reached out to the sky.

Dragonflies and butterflies darted about. The creature watched them in amazement. Brown eyes, caught in the sun, revealed a kinder, gentler side to this beast.

Flowers began to pop up as the trees thinned and a serene lake shimmered across the clearing. The beast feared the water, but followed its new found flighted friends to the shore.

The mud here squished too, but its feet sunk. The water began to bathe away the dirt. The beast paused a moment and outstretched its hand into the lake. The water muddied, but the hand came out clean. In awe, the creature stared at its massive glove.

A butterfly landed on its fingertip. The creature laughed and smiled. It found peace deep in the woods, away from the scolding it once endured in the far off land from where it came.

Didn’t fit in this world, nor that one either.

Pulling at this skin,wishing it wasn’t confining.

Her heart beats wildly after what she wants, but she is destined to never have it.

A curse upon her for all of this life.

Will it follow to the next? How many times?

Never enough or too much; balance was fleeting and elusive.

Red eyes filled with tears or glazed eyes full of fears. Frozen.

Belonging to a world long gone by, or one not yet arrived.

Set the spirit free to fly, not tied to gravity or needing air.

Let this wretched soul find grace and love.