Two short stories written by epic fantasy author Joshua Palmatier (aka Benjamin Tate), one never before published called "Cocoon," the other published in an anthology called AFTER HOURS: TALES FROM THE UR-BAR called "An Alewife In Kish!"
Cocoon: Mary must deal with the death of her mother from cancer. Can the cocoon that Mary and her mother found before her death help Mary cope with her sudden loss and the unexpected move to Tucson, forcing her to leave everything that reminds her of her mother behind?
An Alewife In Kish: Gilgamesh is searching for immortality, but his failure to find it--and the loss of his beloved Enkidu--have driven him to an alehouse in Kish. But this is no ordinary alehouse and his hostess, Kubaba, is no ordinary alewife. She promises him immortality. All he has to do is take her place as proprietor of the alehouse...and thus become the bartender of the magical, time-traveling Ur-bar.
