Horton Tarot Card

The Neighbour’s Clogs

Sabi had been away on business in the north. When she got to Raff’s place, he was out, so she phoned him on his mobile. “Where are you, amore?” “At the Poly. – Where are you?” “Sitting on your bed.” “With or without your undies?” “Porco[1], when are you coming home?” Sabi hung up. As …

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Very Bad

Jerry was indeed a handsome man, and not only that, he had whiff of rakish class about him. The devil-may-care smile, the mop of unruly but not untidy hair, the loafers and the tailor-made blazer with the funky silk lining. He was working his way through a whisky at the bar while wryly batting away …

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Dust and Drapery

Chevalier de Seingult[1] had a saying that an affair consisted of four acts. The first act was like the entrée or solicitation, the second act was like a further hors d’oeuvre in anticipation of the primo and the secondo. Of course, these culinary metaphors were not always appropriate. In the case of Signorina Teresa Imer, …

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Very Good

He saw her through the crowd. How unusually attractive, he thought, alone but confident, not quite part of the scene, but detached, perhaps amused by it all. They spoke briefly. She smiled at him and they wandered outside. “What do you do?” “I am a writer.” “That is absurd but romantic nonetheless. I don’t know …

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Thing Thong

James’s parents both had terrible tempers. To avoid getting caught in the cross-fire, he always did everything asked of him growing up and was known for being a good little boy at school. He didn’t care about being called a goodie-two shoes, because as long as he was good, everything would be okay at home. …

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The Statue

Here is a strange case of agalmatophilia concerning a gardener who worked on the estate of a rich Umbrian noble. One day, the lady of the house happened to see the gardener as he was tending one of the rose bushes in the high walled garden that could be seen from her dressing room. Among …

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Canadian Bacon

It was a very small lift and the lady was rather large. “I am Canadian, you know.” “Oui, so you speak French.” “Well, I think I do but all the locals here hate my accent.” “They are such snobs.” “I don’t care. This is my first time in Paris. It’s amazing!” The lift bumped its …

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Very Good

He saw her through the crowd. How unusually attractive, he thought, alone but confident, not quite part of the scene, but detached, perhaps amused by it all. They spoke briefly. She smiled at him and they wandered outside. “What do you do?” “I am a writer.” “That is absurd but romantic nonetheless.  I don’t know …

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Kateryna and Shevshenko

Kateryna was working in the hospitality tent during the European championships of twenty twelve when she learned Shevshenko, the talisman of the national team, was on his way. All the hospitality girls were keen to shake Shevshenko by the hand or get him to sign autographs. But Shevshenko moved briskly along the line until he …

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The Feather

Mary had been quite specific: if you are going to come to the party, you need to bring a boy. Preferably with a peacock feather. “What does she mean a peacock feather?” said Em, “I can’t stand strutting types.” “Don’ be silly, M. I don’t think that’s what she meant.” “What did she mean then?” …

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