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
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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
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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

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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
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Good Reason #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory Crossword Clue 10 Down

Family Guy is an American animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane. Episodes push the envelope, resulting in the show being canceled twice so far. This episode is no exception. The Edible Arrangement is the first episode of Season 24. 

"Would you take them?" Wren Noel asks me.

I stroke Fred's orange fur as he purrs in my lap. "I don't know. I mean, I know there are legal ones here in Pennsylvania. But what if they interacted with my other meds?"

Wren Noel nods. "People often assume that I do use such substances. I have heard that for years, long before any of it was legal."

"I never assumed that about you." I pause. Fred lifts his head, glaring at me for stopping. I rub behind his ears, setting the cat-world right again. "Do you?"

"No. I mean, I'd give it a go. Like, right now, I'm not driving or going to work, so it wouldn't matter much. But I don't know if I would want to do it just to do something, you know?"

"Yeah, I guess there should probably be a good reason. To feel better, maybe."

"Or to create. In this episode, it seems to be a bonding experience." Wren Noel points out.

"I already communicate with the dead. Not sure I want that gift enhanced by anything." We laugh about this. Wren Noel makes funny faces of pretend ghouls. 

https://familyguyfanon.fandom.com/wiki/The_Edible_Arrangement

10 Down - What ^Stewie Griffin steals from Brian and slips to Lois ^

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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Friends Fight Bordedum #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory #Blogging Crossword Clue 22 Down

Stargate SG-1 Season 1, Episode 18 plays. We laugh about O'Neill and Carter being trapped on "an ice planet," when really they're in Antarctica. 

"Would you melt some more ice for me?" Wren Noel jokes.

I laugh as I take his water bottle away. I wash it and the long straw, then refill it with cold water and bring it back. 

"I'm sorry we're just binging shows and movies. I feel like I should have more fun suggestions."

I shrug. "Honestly? It's nice just relaxing. You need to heal. I'm not aggravating my condition by pushing too hard, something the doctors are constantly on me about. Well, except one."

"Oh?" Wren Noel asks before leaning toward the straw.

"Yeah. One of the new ones says to push, accept no limits, that pain is a gift. Other doctors who have been treating me for years warn against it, say I could easily undo surgeries I've had, and that I could sever my spinal column by not paying attention to my body when it reaches a limit. So that's sixteen opposed to overexertion, and one rookie in favor." I frown and flip to another show.

"Episode of House, MD?" I ask. Wren Noel nods, so I queue it up. "It's quite a fantasy, having a doctor who cares that much, even though the premise of the show is that he doesn't care. But House and his team are dedicated and determined, every episode, to solve the case. They have to know what's wrong with the patient, and they do everything possible to heal the person."

"Remind me what country it's set in? Canada?"

I shake my head. "That's the unrealistic, fantasy part. It's set in Princeton, NJ. Imagine if, just 70 miles from here, about 90 minutes away, there was a doctor who could actually heal patients that everyone else has given up on."

"Would. Not could, Liv. Would. I'm sure plenty of the ones around here just have their hands and minds tied by bureaucrats, the government, and insurance companies."

"Maybe," I frown. I know it might be true, but that feels like someone would have fought it by now. Then again, that's asking the most exhausted people to fight a nearly impossible, uphill battle. We're lucky to get health care at all. I pay more for my health insurance than I do for my home. 

I let the episode distract me. There's a blogger who needs House to find out what's wrong. The actress is famous from another show. I'm curious if blogging is as popular now as it was when the episode came out. 

22  Down - A patient and personal blogger with an unknown medical condition, on House, MD.

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
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Epic Binge-Watching #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory Crossword Clue 14 Across

Another epic binge-watching session. Falling Skies gives us five seasons of a post-apocalyptic science fiction television drama. Including another Karen to hate. The term "Karen" is slang for a well-off woman who complains about trivial matters and demands everything be her way. In this case, it's a character who ends up serving the aliens. 

"What would we do if aliens invaded right now?" Wren Noel poses.

"Probably die. We're not in the best position to survive."

"You really think we'd die?"

I gently tap of the casts covering Wren Noel's limbs. "Well, you could knock a few of them out. And I've got some creatures around here who would eat several. But yes, eventually. Look how much they have to move around in this show. How far do you think I'd be able to wheel? The sidewalks don't even connect well enough for me to get across town to the pharmacy when the bus doesn't run. Forget the apocalypse, I struggle with current normal times." 

Wren Noel frowns at this. It's another two episodes before there's another peep spoken.

"Was Karen also Daisy, Daisy Adair, on Dead Like Me?" Wren Noel nails the impression of the character. 

"You're thinking of Laura Harris. This actress is Jessy Schram."

"Are you sure? You recall the show I mean, right? With the grim reapers in the opening credits."

"I love those opening credits. And I loved her character. But it's not her." I pull out my phone and open the IMDb app to prove it. 

14 Across - Enemy alien Overlords and Queens in the Falling Skies TV series

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