Stories
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A disappearance in the Foreign Quarter
To: Major Hubbard, OBGByronton GuardRP Box 9 Report of Initial InvestigationGuardsman: Sgt P. RivelyDetails: I was summoned from the foreign quarter guardhouse by Andrea Woodscombe (Mrs.), proprietress of a boarding house at 178 Little Whist La. Mrs Woodscombe’s complaint involved one of her tenants, a Molly Perkins, who had not returned to her room for two… Continue reading
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Yo Ho Nose
Hare was hosting a big party in his meadow. Everyone was starting to arrive. Even Bear was coming, and Ma and Pa Mouse and Betty and Ralph Rat had said they’d come over after work at the college. Hare was just bringing out a tray of crackers topped with carrot mousse when Dog arrived, looking… Continue reading
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The Lecture
Eldanna Rively buttoned her uniform coat carefully — one of the buttons was loose, she could never remember which one, and she didn’t have a spare handy. But it wasn’t to the point of sewing on a replacement; not yet. Besides, she loathed sewing. Buried under several other projects in her workshop was her AutoButtonizer;… Continue reading
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An unexpected missive
My Dear Professor Eamorie: I have interesting and potentially fruitful information to report following my investigation of the Lockean ruins near Destry. As you doubtless recall, after your approval of my course of study I resolved to attempt to trace the source of the legends surrounding the ruins. Growing up in Destry, I was of… Continue reading
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Off the Grid
XotD: The Mouse family had moved back to the forest, and into their old house. “I’m so glad to be living near all our friends again,” said Ma Mouse, as they raked their front lawn. It had started to look unkempt while the house had been vacant, and Ma liked everything neat and tidy. “Even… Continue reading
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No Catcalls, Please
Dog was unusually excited when she knocked on Hare’s door that day. “Guess what!” she said, tail wagging at full speed. “Guess what! I’m going to be in a play! In the town!” “That’s great,” said Hare, who hadn’t had a chance to guess after all. He had been going to guess that Ferret was… Continue reading
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Ronald’s Nighttime Study
Ronald’s Nighttime Study Ronald stayed up far into the night studying the automaton’s description of the system that powered it. It had been Professor Q’s innovation, and one which he had not shared with Ronald. Still, he wanted to present the professor with the solution to the puzzle of how Doctor Witherspoon’s pocketwatch-sized device had… Continue reading
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Letters from a Stranded Train
Lecturer EamorieDepartment of AntiquitiesByronton UniversityAP Box 2 Dear Professor, I’m sorry to inform that I will be delayed in reaching the Institute; I was riding the evening train to Byronton when it unexpectedly lost its forward locomotion. We (that is to say the passengers) were informed (that is to say, by the conductor) that there… Continue reading
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Oh Rats
Ma and Pa Mouse were visiting the forest. Everyone wanted to hear about their new jobs at the college. “Are you doing the same jobs as Betty and Ralph?” asked Porcupine. The Rats had been her long-time friends, but they didn’t get together as often since Ralph and Betty had gotten their college jobs —… Continue reading
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The Tale of Tales
June, 2022 What is the story of the three little pigs? The tale of Luke Skywalker? Holden Caulfield? If you walk into a movie without knowing what it is or who’s in it, and the first scene shows an American cowboy winning a gunfight, how does the rest of the movie proceed? You know the… Continue reading
About Me
I’m Pete Harbeson, a writer located near Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to writing my own content, I’ve learned to translate for my loquacious and opinionated puppy Chocolate. I shouldn’t be surprised, but she mostly speaks in doggerel.