Netflix Controversial Cartoon 🏳️‍⚧️ #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory Crossword Clue 3 Across

Netflix Controversial Cartoon 🏳️‍⚧️ #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory Crossword Clue 3 Across 

"I know the show ended a few years ago, but since it pisses the MAGA crew off," I say with a laugh and smile as the Netflix tudum sound fills the room, "how about a cartoon?"

"Oh, a controversial cartoon, love it!" Wren Noel wriggles, sitting up straighter in anticipation. 

"Dead End: Paranormal Park, have you seen it?"

"Yes. Love it. Play any episode, I've binged this several times. So good."

I flip on an episode, "The Nightmare Before Christmas in July," where they're on the fictional Hox's Castle demon gameshow. It's one of my favorites. 

3 Across - An autistic character whose friends support her on Dead End: Paranormal Park

The crossword clue will contain the LETTER of the day, though it might not be the *first* letter in the word. 

My April 2026 Blogging from A to Z Challenge Theme is a slice-of-life short story with two characters binge-watching shows and movies while creating a crossword puzzle. Read and play along!

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

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Making Food and Laughs #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory Crossword Clue 11 Down

Making Food and Laughs #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory Crossword Clue 11 Down

We break from binge-watching to spend some time in the sun. It's the first nice day at a decent temperature in weeks, so when the physical therapist offers to help, we gladly accept the opportunity to relax on the porch for a bit. 

"We're just trying to keep circulation going," the therapist says while leading Wren Noel in movements. I like this therapist more than the previous one. More importantly, so does Wren Noel, who asked me to fix their hair this morning. Those thick black locks take to a braid so well. My own light brown hair is so thin that it'd sooner knot than become a pretty braid. 

"Try to squeeze the ball and simultaneously shrug your shoulders," the therapist has brought a small, foam ball for Wren Noel. 

We retire back to the living room at the end of the home therapy appointment. I give the therapist a discount card for GOOD PSYCHIC COMMUNICATIONS. 

"You never know when you may feel an urge to reach out beyond. Thanks for coming."

"My pleasure, and my job, but I really do love my job. You two take care. I'll see you again in a few days." The therapist heads off. 

I flip on a streaming service, which suggests a show I might like. 

"Oh, the old Cutthroat Kitchen is streaming on this again," I say in response.

"Outwit and outlast the others," Wren Noel says in a deep mock-announcer voice. "Let's binge some classic Daddy Alton."

We both laugh at the nickname. Some of the sabotage items the chefs use in this game show are clearly from a kink sex toy shop. My roommate Isola would be so proud. 

Cuthroat Kitchen season 4 episode 3 ("Anything but a Cake Walk"). An Italian named Chef Enzo misunderstands what Alton says this round's cook is meant to be. It's obvious as he grabs the wrong items from the pantry. 

"Brisket and gravy," Chef Enzo says. 🥩

"Biscuits. Biscuits and gravy," Alton repeats. 🍞

Wren Noel shakes their head. "You'd think someone would write it down. I mean, are biscuits and gravy even a thing in other cultures?" 

I shrug. "Pretty sure that was created in the South, here in the United States. I don't imagine Sawmill Gravy existing in Europe." 🌎

"They'd probably try to add wine instead of pan drippings," Wren Noel notes.

"Healthier hearts," I mumble in agreement.

While the contestants usually can't explain to the judge why their dish is so unique, in this instance, Chef Enzo does tell today's judge, Simon, that it was a language barrier situation.  

"It's easy to misunderstand what Yanks are saying," says Judge Simon. Wren Noel and I crack up. 

"Absolutely love him," Wren Noel says of Judge Simon. 

"Thank goodness he was the judge for this episode. I have two of his books. Alton wrote the foreword for one of them." I wheel over to the bookcase and pull them out. After the episode, I flip through them so Wren Noel can see. 

https://amzn.to/4bmYEdM   https://amzn.to/4uN4kp5  -- Books by the judge (you're a click away from spelling his last name correctly)

11 Down  - Judge Simon ___ in the episode of Cutthroat Kitchen

The crossword clue will contain the LETTER of the day, though it might not be the *first* letter in the word. 

My April 2026 Blogging from A to Z Challenge Theme is a slice-of-life short story with two characters binge-watching shows and movies while creating a crossword puzzle. Read and play along!

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

JDORNER1460A   🛒 💰✨ Get $10 off Instacart. Use my code JDORNER1460A at checkout or follow this link. Terms apply. https://inst.cr/t/493b819c5

Luxurious Nails #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory Crossword Clue 16 Across 💅

Luxurious Nails #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory Crossword Clue 16 Across 💅

I wheel in on Wren Noel in tears.

"Hey, what's going on?" I ask as I bring a box of tissues closer.

"Liv, I can't stand it. I can't scratch the itches. I can't use my own arms. I barely hobble around. I'm so useless. And I've trapped you into caring for me! I'm the worst," Wren Noel wails.

I place my hand on Wren Noel's uninjured leg. "You are healing. All of this will pass. And I am not trapped, I am your friend, and I am here to support you."

"You should leave me. Shove me out to the curb. I'm ugly and useless." Wren Noel coughs, choking on tears. I hold up a tissue and demand a nose blowing.

"What triggered this?"

Wren Noel holds up their fingers. "My nails look horrible. They'd probably feel great running over my dry, unmoisturized skin, tearing the dead cells off, casting the itchiness away. They've got the texture of a pumice stone right now."

I gently touch each fingertip. The exaggeration is, frankly, pretty accurate. "What if I give you a manicure?"

"I can't ask that. You're already doing far too much for me. I should be the one giving you such a treatment. Hey, that's an idea!" Wren Noel finally brightens. "I need my phone."

Two hours later, the mobile nail technician knocks at my door, here to pamper us with non-toxic manicures and pedicures. 

To add extra cheer to Wren Noel's mood, we're binging episodes of How I Met Your Mother. It's the end of the third season, and Barney has hired Marshall (who's temporarily an unemployed lawyer) to find a loophole in the Bro Code after hooking up with Robin, the ex of their best friend Ted. 

"That's the dream. To be pretty enough for Barney to hit on me. Or hot enough for Neil Patrick Harris to look twice," Wren Noel whispers to me.

"NPH is married. They've adopted kids."

"I didn't say anything would happen! Just, you know, a glance, and then a quick second look with an approving smile. That's it." 

I chuckle. "All based on looks. I'd like a bit more of a connection."

"Rigghhhttt," Wren Noel drags the word out. "And your celebrity crush, Jesse Williams, that's not based on looks at all?"

My cheeks burn as I look away. Wren Noel laughs. 

https://amzn.to/40An3Gt -- Yes, The Bro Code is an actual book. 😅

16 across - The Bro Code is a book of fake ____ written by Barney

The crossword clue will contain the LETTER of the day, though it might not be the *first* letter in the word. 

My April 2026 Blogging from A to Z Challenge Theme is a slice-of-life short story with two characters binge-watching shows and movies while creating a crossword puzzle. Read and play along!

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

JDORNER1460A   🛒 💰✨ Get $10 off Instacart. Use my code JDORNER1460A at checkout or follow this link. Terms apply. https://inst.cr/t/493b819c5

Kiefer #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory Crossword Clue 17 Down

A storm beats on the windows. The power blinks, long enough for digital clocks to need resetting, but not so long as to actually go out. 

"It's going to be one of those nights," I mutter.

"I love nights like this. Wish I could go out."

"You'd get your casts soaked. And probably get struck by lightning. Maybe catch pneumonia."

Wren Noel laughs. "When I heal, we're going to dance in the rain."

I roll my wheelchair back and forth. "On a lovely spring shower so the mud covers the wheels?"

"Nope. We're going to do circles in the street, hitting the puddles by the overflowing drain gutters, and laugh wildly as the wind knots our hair."

I laugh. "I'll put that on my list of things I don't plan to do. About a horror movie? Or a thriller?"

"Julia Roberts," Wren Noel replies. 

"That is the last person I would name for these categories. Sigourney Weaver?"

Wren Noel's head shakes. "Dig deeper. You went for the obvious choice. Stretch a little more."

"Oh. John Malkovich or Kiefer Sutherland?"

Wren Noel grins. "See? Now you're thinking. John Malkovich."

"Kiefer and Julia were engaged, weren't they?"

"Maybe. I don't think it lasted, though. Probably a way to promote Flatliners."

"Which was also a good movie," I say as I turn on Mary Reilly. 

"Most definitely. Would you scratch my nose?"

I give Wren Noel a scratch as the movie begins. Only a few more weeks of these casts. Must be terrible.

17 Down - This doctor's housemaid was Mary Reilly

The crossword clue will contain the LETTER of the day, though it might not be the *first* letter in the word. 

My April 2026 Blogging from A to Z Challenge Theme is a slice-of-life short story with two characters binge-watching shows and movies while creating a crossword puzzle. Read and play along!

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

JDORNER1460A   🛒 💰✨ Get $10 off Instacart. Use my code JDORNER1460A at checkout or follow this link. Terms apply. https://inst.cr/t/493b819c5

Junk Food #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory Crossword Clue 18 Down

"Time for another classic film. Pulp Fiction." Wren Noel says as I surf through the possible picks. 

"I don't really understand why this movie is so popular. Beyond the cast, I mean."

"You don't like it? We can watch something else." There's such a defeated tone in the words.

I press play. "That's not what I said. I just question why it has such popularity."

"The dialog, for one. They have some great lines. And the soundtrack was pretty different for the time, aiming at older audiences. Plus, it makes light of otherwise violent and horrible situations."

I nod. "I suppose so. Mostly, it makes me want a milkshake. Maybe I should order some?"

Wren Noel shrugs. "That's junk food. You usually go for healthy stuff."

"It's got calcium."

"Barely. Mostly sugar. The amount of dairy depends on where the shake comes from. Fast food places tend to use fats and preservatives."

"I love you, but you're kind of a killjoy today. Fine, fine. I'll go make us some healthier milkshakes."

"Never said you had to do that, Liv."

I stick out my tongue as I roll away. Luckily, I have frozen banana slices in the freezer. I put them in the blender with some vanilla Greek yogurt, a scoop of chia seeds, some coconut milk, vanilla protein powder, and a few ice cubes. It isn't perfect, but it is a vanilla milkshake. 

18 Down - ___ Slim's is a fictional 1950s-themed restaurant created for the 1994 film Pulp Fiction

The crossword clue will contain the LETTER of the day, though it might not be the *first* letter in the word. 

My April 2026 Blogging from A to Z Challenge Theme is a slice-of-life short story with two characters binge-watching shows and movies while creating a crossword puzzle. Read and play along!

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

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Itchy #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory #Friendship Crossword Clue 13 Down

After the physical therapist leaves, I return to the living room and Wren Noel. I roll over to the bay window and adjust the blinds. The cats tend to disagree as to how much light should be allowed in, and where it should land so they can best take advantage of it. Sir Pusspuss is sunbathing between the potted peperomia plant and the Maneki-neko.

"Madness, utter madness," Wren Noel mutters.

I roll over to my usual spot. "What is?"

"The itching. These casts have to come off. Who invented this torture?"

"Distract yourself," I flip Desperate Housewives back on. I never thought much of the show, but Wren Noel pointed out there's murder, blackmail, and more creepy activities than I expected. Still, it seems weird that Katherine and Gabrielle both slept with underage boys. Like they tried to normalize pedophiles. But there's also an episode where Lynette turns the neighborhood against someone she believes is a pedophile. And they all seem to agree the world is better off without Gabrielle's pedophile step-father. 

I get some ice packs to put over Wren Noel's casts and serve up an antihistamine.

"The way I see it is that good friends support each other after something bad has happened, great friends act as if nothing has happened." The quote comes from the show. 

"Are we pretending my itching isn't happening?"

I smile. "Yup. The coolness should help. It probably itches more after therapy because you warmed yourself."

"No chance you'll just shove a knife down there? A plastic one, maybe?"

I shake my head. "You aren't getting an infection on my watch. If you're very good, I'll brush your hair." 

"What has become of my lovely, long, black locks?"

"Rubber bands are the enemy of hair. Don't worry, I have some no-rinse shampoo and a decent scrunchie. You'll be fine."

13 Down - This Desperate Housewife said the quote about friendship

The crossword clue will contain the LETTER of the day, though it might not be the *first* letter in the word. 

My April 2026 Blogging from A to Z Challenge Theme is a slice-of-life short story with two characters binge-watching shows and movies while creating a crossword puzzle. Read and play along!

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

JDORNER1460A   🛒 💰✨ Get $10 off Instacart. Use my code JDORNER1460A at checkout or follow this link. Terms apply. https://inst.cr/t/493b819c5

Hamburger Bowl #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory #Foodie Crossword Clue 9 Across

We watch the final season of Stranger Things on Netflix. 

"Remember when this show had fast-food chains selling food related to it?" Wren Noel asks.

"Yeah. Odd, because it was only on Netflix, so not everyone could watch it. And that's a streaming service, so there are plans with no commercials, which means no cross-promotional advertising. How did those places make money from it?"

Wren Noel tilts their head, seeming to ponder this. "I don't know. But I remember there was a hamburger that looked so mouth-watering. Be impossible to eat right now with these damn casts."

"You want me to feed you a hamburger?"

"It'd be too difficult. A big, fully stacked, juicy burger like that? It'd drip, you'd be holding it forever, it's just not practical."

I grin. "Screw practical. Improvisation!" I start wheeling away.

"Liv, it's too messy, don't worry about it."

"Wren Noel, improvisation! You think they defeat Vecna by following exact plans and everything going perfectly to plan?"

"No, they usually have everything going wrong. And what if they don't defeat Vecna?"

"That'd be a shitty ending," I call over my shoulder as I wheel out of the room. 

I get some red quinoa and diced sweet potatoes going on the stove. Then chop up some romaine lettuce and tomatoes. In a skillet, I brown some chopped onion and minced garlic, add half a can of rinsed black beans, plop in the ground beef, and then season the mix with oregano, smoked paprika, black pepper, and cayenne. Grabbing a mixing bowl, I pour in ketchup, relish, dried mustard, and a splash of apple cider vinegar. 

Stirring, draining, checking, adding, there's a crunch element needed yet. I check my pantry and find the Flamin' Hot Cheetos. I combine everything in two bowls and return with them to the living room.

"Ta-da. Stranger Things Hamburger Bowl, by Liv." I feed Wren Noel a forkful. 

"What! How in the world did you come up with this? Seriously, we should market this. Start a food truck or something."

I laugh. "Only for you. Everyone else is on their own."

9 Across - Setting of Stranger Things

The crossword clue will contain the LETTER of the day, though it might not be the *first* letter in the word. 

My April 2026 Blogging from A to Z Challenge Theme is a slice-of-life short story with two characters binge-watching shows and movies while creating a crossword puzzle. Read and play along!

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

JDORNER1460A   🛒 💰✨ Get $10 off Instacart. Use my code JDORNER1460A at checkout or follow this link. Terms apply. https://inst.cr/t/493b819c5