Chipped glass

…and quiet magic

Wake Lloire

Aug 12, 2026

It’s Wednesday! So the prompts!

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Week 34

Swallowed by the Sea
Hiss or Kiss (by Luci Johnson)
The Iridescent Octopus
Carry Me Home
Baron Von Coo Vair
Checkerboard Villain
Nana’s Brown Bread

(My phone took this why it was sitting on my Iridescent Octopus Storytelling Club notebook. And I loved the accidental rainbow.)

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It’s 2:15pm and I’m writing from the cool of an Egyptian restaurant in the city. I’ve dropped off my car at the windshield fixing place, and they let me know it could be up to three hours before it’s finished.

Three hours in an industrial part of the city?

But, magically across the street there was a restaurant. And it was open.

And when I walked in it was completely empty.

One of the chefs came out and recommended the table under the air-conditioner. But it had been recently used. I sat, feeling uncomfortable, because if I was a server, I’d want the customer to choose a table that was ready…and there were so many.

The server returned from her break, and I suggested I could sit at another table to make it easier for her. She looked pleasantly relieved.

…and she found me a table at the back under another air conditioner.

And I told her that one of my favourite dishes is Shish Taowq, and she order it for me right away.

And the rice came in the shape of a HEART.

It was so lovely and I put my phone down and I just ate, and sank into the flavours, and day-dreamed about my life and thought about how magical my morning had been.

My pup woke me up at 7:30ish, and my partner was awake, reading and they reached over to kiss me. It was a lovely morning greeting.

I realized I could go back to sleep because I didn’t have anything but the appointment for my car.

But when I woke up again at 10am I saw a text from my bookshop friend.

Hey love- there’s an Octo tote here for you.

I had worked two shifts for her this past week and she was giving me a gorgeous octopus tote to say thank you (even though I wanted to thank her, because working at the bookshop makes my heart so sparkly and full).

I told her I’d come down to the shop.

Then I messaged Beth. We are planning this storytelling show, and some workshops…but mostly I just wanted to say hi. Our friendship makes my every day so lovely.

She was up for a quick visit.

And my to-do list for the morning before I popped into the city was growing.

I remembered that I had forgotten my bag at the gallery while I was training a new trainee yesterday.

I remarkably found a parking spot at the edge of uptown(downtown(?) It’s tourist season and every day the town is packed and there are no parking spots.

But I found one! So I popped into the gallery thinking I’d just grab my bag and leave quickly. I only had an hour to finish my list. And walking from one edge of own to where Beth lived is a recipe for magic. And I knew I had to be conscientious of the time. I set a goal of returning to my car for 12:12pm, so I wouldn’t be late. The car place is a 1 hour and 6 minute drive, assuming all goes well.

…but when I popped into the gallery one of my favourite artist’s was there. She and I have now, in our lives, shared three different locales at the exact same time.

Conversations with her a brilliant fun, and so I spent 15 minutes of my allotted hour chatting.

I got to escape when a Thor wondrous artist came in and I got to introduce them!

Back on the sidewalk in my sparkly shoes, I said hello to every person on my way to the cafe.

When I got to the cafe I texted Beth.

…and the barista team was one of my favourites (I love all the folks at this cafe) and they greeted me warmly and the one at the till drew a tiny raven on my cup. She’d meant to draw a vulture, because a Wake is the collective noun for a group of feasting vultures, and it’s her favourite of my name explanations (I have a whole spiel when people ask me my name).

…and then I remembered what Beth drinks. A dirty oat chai iced and sweet for me, I said…and an iced cafe misto with dairy for Beth.

They were just about to make Beth’s drink when she popped up behind me. Apparently she’d texted saying she could use a coffee too. Aha! And I was right about the iced part.

We sat and waited for our drinks and caught up on our day.

I asked if she’d be up for walking me back to my car with the understanding that it might be an adventure, and I had to be at my car for 12:12pm.

She was up for it!

We popped into the bookshop and it was buzzing.

I tried to not be in the way, but my friend was excited to talk about a strange discrepancy from my work day on Saturday.

…and then…she asked if I could work Saturdays in September for sure. And I went with my heart.

YES!

Working at the bookshop…it makes me feel capable in ways that lighten my load.

…and I’m hoping my teenagers will understand that.

It’s 2:49pm and I’m finished eating, and just waiting on a Turkish coffee.

They haven’t tried to rush me out of the restaurant (I told them my car was being fixed)…

And it’s been so lovely to sit and bring you with me to this interstitial space.

This morning, I received a message from my eldest niece.

Her and her mother are on Prince Edward Island.

I haven’t seen them in seven years.

She texted to let me know they wouldn’t be able to visit the town I live in, but that I could meet them Saturday.

…but I’m working Saturday.

A conundrum.

We arranged to play it by ear, and that after my Saturday shift I could…drive in to see them.

I don’t want to miss the opportunity to see my niece.

Of all my relatives (who are still alive) she is the one who is…most like me. A creative, a sporty music lover. And she and I were both raised Métis by Métis fathers. My younger brother is her Dad. So she grew up hunting, fishing, gathering, gardening and speaking multiple languages. But she’s also into music and art.

There aren’t a lot of people these days with those experiences. She turned 16 this year.

For a whole year after I got my new phone, I hadn’t heard from her. And it turns out my brother forgot to give her my new number.

We used to be close, but that year with no contact…it may have done something to our bond.

I don’t want to be that flakey auntie who wasn’t there for her when she needed me to be.

So no matter what…I’m going to find a way to see her.

I can feel the end of the summer coming, and the autumn gently showing me her hand.

I’m looking forward to the gentle of the fall.

(There was a tiny moment where a man came to see my Turkish coffee. He was waiting for his food. We just chatted, probably about 15 minutes. We talked about home and food and where we’ve lived. His name was Jamaal. He was such a sweet man.)

And now my coffee is done.

And I’m going to go back across the street to see if my car is done.

Heart,

Wake

📚📚📚#233

If I do a tiny book today it will be called

THE STORY SHELL