I belong, as a contributing member, to a talented group of writers who are responsible for A Muse Bouche Review, a literary newsletter. It gives me a chance to write something new each month around a given theme, which I’m enjoying. The theme for September, 2024 is Jewelry and my contribution this month is a short story titled Pierced by Love. Here’s how it starts:

______________________________________________________________________________

The cab driver clocked the outfits of the young couple strolling towards him in the strobing lights from the Fremont Street Experience, and smiled—newly married. The guy was wearing a tux, tails and all, but it was pale seafoam, with a neon green bow tie and cumberbund and deep mossy green alligator leather boots. The girl was in a white dress that was as much feathers and sequins as silk, a wedding dress fit for a Las Vegas main stage. Her alligator stilettos matched his boots. They were both beautiful.
 
The young couple didn’t so much climb into the cab as fall in, tumbling into the back seat on a wave of convulsive laughter.
 
“Where to?” the driver asked.
 
“We just got married!” the girl said, not answering the question. Her eyes looked glassy in the rearview mirror, but the driver didn’t think she was drunk or high, at least not too much, just really happy.
 
“I figured,” the driver said. 
 
The guy looked down at himself and laughed. “I guess our outfits kind of gave us away.”
 
“We look amazing,” the girl said.
 
“You most definitely do,” the driver said. “So, where can I take you kids?” He had been driving a hack in Vegas for nearly twenty years, and had given many couples their first ride together as a married couple.
 
“We got married by Elvis,” the girl said, determined to not give him a destination. “We had our choice of Young Elvis, Old Elvis, and Fat Elvis. We went with Young Elvis, because we wanted to be married by someone as hot as us.” She kissed her newly minted husband. “Isn’t that right, Ray baby?”

______________________________________________________________________________

To read the entire story, and all the other pieces from this talented crew, check out the September A Muse Bouche Review, available here:

https://mailchi.mp/4d2d002034b2/a-muse-bouche-review-plots-parties-17847076?e=46f6fd2a9e