Reluctant Autumn follows the enigmatic Farrell Jenkins—a boy possibly raised by cats—on a prowl through the strange spaces between growing up and holding on to wonder. Offering a reminder that magic still exists in the world, regardless of how old you get or serious your demeanor…It’s a lovely story. — Charles Payseur, Locus Magazine Farrell holds his cupped hands under his mouth and flashes of green reflect on his pale chin. That’s how I know he’s holding a firefly. I’m trying to get my history paper done, the one I was supposed to be working on all week but didn’t start until tonight, but it’s hard to ignore a boy on a thickamore mumbling to a bug outside your window. Read the full story free in The 2025 Story Yearbook First published in Worlds of Possibility, April 2025 (Version One). Reprinted in Worlds of Possibility, Volume 2, December 2025. Download Watch a live reading on Story Hour (YouTube)Hold on to Wonder
Notes, fragments, and strange signals from the edge of story.
The Last Time I Went on a Prowl with Farrell Jenkins.