Charlaine Harris - Many Bloody Returns

When we were approached about editing this anthology, we were like two kids with a new toy. We had some wonderful planning sessions about the theme. We decided to pick two apparently unrelated conceptsvampires (the dead) and birthdays (celebrations of life)and see what different ways some very talented writers could combine the two.

After the great fun of drawing up a dream list of contributors and receiving their stories, we had to buckle down to the actual work of editing. We imagined the work would be tedious, or nerve-wracking, or possibly (horrors) boring. But it wasnt. Every day a new story arrived was likewell, like a birthday.

Its amazing what creative minds can do with the same theme. None of these stories are the same. Some of them are funny, and some of them are tragic, but all of them are fascinating. Read and enjoy.

C HARLAINE H ARRIS
T ONI L. P. K ELNER

I found the invitation in the mailbox at the end of my driveway. I had to lean out of my car window to open it, because Id paused on my way to work after remembering I hadnt checked my mail in a couple of days. My mail was never interesting. I might get a flyer for Dollar General or Wal-Mart, or one of those ominous mass mailings about pre-need burial plots.

Today, after Id sighed at my Entergy bill and my cable bill, I had a little treat: a handsome, heavy, buff-colored envelope that clearly contained some kind of invitation. It had been addressed by someone whod not only taken a calligraphy class but passed the final with flying colors.

I got a little pocketknife out of my glove compartment and slit open the envelope with the care it deserved. I dont get a lot of invitations, and when I do, theyre usually more Hallmark than watermark. This was something to be savored. I pulled out the stiff folded paper carefully, and opened it. Something fluttered into my lap: an enclosed sheet of tissue. Without absorbing the revealed words, I ran my finger over the embossing. Wow.

Id strung out the preliminaries as long as I could. I bent to actually read the italic typeface.

E RIC N ORTHMAN
AND THE S TAFF OF F ANGTASIA

REQUEST THE HONOR OF YOUR PRESENCE
AT F ANGTASIAS ANNUAL PARTY
TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF
THE L ORD OF D ARKNESS

P RINCE D RACULA

O N F EBRUARY 8, 10:00 P.M.
MUSIC PROVIDED BY THE D UKE OF D EATH
D RESS F ORMAL RSVP

I read it twice. Then I read it again.

I drove to work in such a thoughtful mood that Im glad there wasnt any other traffic on Hummingbird Road. I took the left to get to Merlottes, but then I almost sailed right past the parking lot. At the last moment, I braked and turned in to navigate my way to the parking area behind the bar that was reserved for employees.

Sam Merlotte, my boss, was sitting behind his desk when I peeked in to put my purse in the deep drawer in his desk that he let the servers use. He had been running his hands over his hair again, because the tangled red-gold halo was even wilder than usual. He looked up from his tax form and smiled at me.

Sookie, he said, how are you doing?

Good. Tax season, huh? I made sure my white T-shirt was tucked in evenly so the Merlottes embroidered over my left breast would be level. I flicked one of my long blond hairs off my black pants. I always bent over to brush my hair out so my ponytail would look smooth. You not taking them to the CPA this year?

I figure if I start this early, I can do them myself.

He said that every year, and he always ended up making an appointment with the CPA, who always had to file for an extension.

Listen, did you get one of these? I asked, extending the invitation.

He dropped his pen with some relief and took the sheet from my hand. After scanning the script, he said, No. They wouldnt invite many shifters, anyway. Maybe the local packmaster, or some supe whod done them a significant servicelike you.

Im not supernatural, I said, surprised. I just have aproblem.

Telepathy is a lot more than a problem, Sam said. Acne is a problem. Shyness is a problem. Reading other peoples minds is a gift.

Or a curse, I said. I went around the desk to toss my purse in the drawer, and Sam stood up. Im around five foot six, and Sam tops me by maybe three inches. Hes not a big guy, but hes much stronger than a plain human his size, since Sams a shapeshifter.