Darling Nightmares

Category: Garden Stories

The Birds

Sammy was halfway down from the Feeder Watchtower when the bird attacked. That was how Sammy would later describe it. The bird would probably have described things differently. One moment, Sammy had three paws on the ladder and was thinking about breakfast. The next, something exploded out of the branches beside his head. Wings. Feathers. […]

The Reservation

Basil and Sweeney leave the Black Lagoon together, only to find a road that refuses to behave—and a reservation they never made.

The Thing That Could Be Repaired

Dr. Banty had several rules about his laboratory, most of them written on small cards and nailed to the walls. DO NOT TOUCH. DO NOT SHAKE. DO NOT OPEN UNTIL THE SCREAMING STOPS. And, on one particularly scorched cabinet: THIS MEANS YOU, SAMMY. Victor could not read all of the cards, but the towering, eight-foot […]

The Advice Was Sound

Nibbles learns that Earl once advised Henry VIII on marriage—and that this may not have been Earl’s only brush with history.

Nine and a Half, and Counting

Ella finds a doorway where no doorway should be—and discovers that nine lives may only be close enough for most purposes.

The First Time Was Worse

As the full moon fades, Steve finally tells Sammy about the first time the curse found him—or at least the parts he is willing to talk about.

Penny and the Visitor

After one of Penny’s hungry episodes leaves half the church pews missing, Victor comes looking for a cookie—and stays long enough for Penny to explain what happens when the Visitor comes.

Ollie Needs the Sunbeam

Ollie has a problem. Fortunately, Victor is nearby—and far too kind to realize just how simple the problem really is.

The Last Cookie

Penny made Victor a cookie. Victor has only one problem with it: once he eats it, he won’t have it anymore.