Acknowledgements1. The Piazza de Chirico2. The Discovery of Dr. James Osborne Beckett3. The Presentation4. The Well at Founders Grove5. The Abbreviated Life of Whitney Bascombe 6. Divination by Water7. Nuptial Superstitions of the West8. The Possession of Charles Ignatius De Leon9. The Devil and the Dairy Princess10. In the Empire of CetaceansCredits

"I found The Devil and the Dairy Princess to be strikingly original. Each piece is distinctive, innovative, and full of fresh surprises. Yet the collection as a whole is cohesive in tone and voice, evocative, playful, haunting spaces both dreamy and nightmarish."—Charles Yu, author of Interior Chinatown, Blue Light Books Prize Judge, author of Interior Chinatown"Ponce's stories are filled with vivid topographies, moving reveries, and quiet wonders. A little bit Calvino, and a little bit Borges, this collection is like a strange and haunting museum: the perfect place to get lost in for a while."—Lincoln Michel, author of The Body Scout

I found The Devil and the Dairy Princess to be strikingly original. Each piece is distinctive, innovative, and full of fresh surprises. Yet the collection as a whole is cohesive in tone and voice, evocative, playful, haunting spaces both dreamy and nightmarish.

Divination by WaterShe nestled at the edge, enjoying the trickle and plash, the sensation of floating. The pool's gutter accommodated her perfectly. Every few moments, the overflow would wash warmly over her shoulders and outstretched arms. She bobbed her head to a melody she remembered hearing; when she attempted words to match the music, her face strained in foiled concentration. She stopped after several tries, humming softly and watching her toenails waver like tiny corals in the currents below.Water erupted at her side. A tall shape breached, veiled in transparent tendrils. The only discernible feature was its mouth, stubbled and open from the effort of suction. The mouth pursed around a large gulp of air. She watched its slow release through full lips. The mouth appraised her with a sliver of front teeth, weaving across dwindling ripples to join her. She watched its features coalesce, sharpen, then blur again as it erased the intervening distance, attaching itself. She broke away, laughing. She felt a pair of thumbs slide under the top of her bathing suit."Not here," she admonished."Who's going to see?" he asked, lowering his hands to her waist. He loosened his grip so she could lean around him. She leaned as far as she could but saw nothing beyond the rippling water and the dimly lit tiles on the other side."Where'd everybody go?" she asked."There's nobody else." He looked across the blue expanse. "The water's a lot warmer out there. C'mon.""No!""I'll hold you up. I promise.""I can't—" Her words were cut off by a long yawn. She sank neck deep and propped herself against the lip of the gutter."Hon?" he said."What?" She squinted at the wavering lines that scored the bottom of the pool."I was saying how nice this is. Just us.""It hasn't been that long." Water dribbled into her eyes. She rubbed the sting out with one hand, careful to hold on with the other."Feels that way."She turned. "What do you mean?"He avoided her eyes and plunged under, rising again with a soft splash."What?" she repeated.He shook his head and waded closer, gently grasping her by the hips. "I'm just glad to be here. With you."She smiled. "Whatever.""You want to finish this?" He held up a long flute, half full of frothy liquid that smelled like coconut.She recoiled. "Ugh. I already feel hungover."He drained the glass in a single swallow."Dance with me," she said. "Here? In front of everybody?"She rolled her eyes and paddled awkwardly towards him, hooking her arms around his neck. She pecked at his lips. She shivered slightly as his arms braced her.He looked down at the inlet formed by their bodies. "I've never been very good at this," he said."Anyone can slow dance. All you need is a partner."They drifted, turning slowly. She hummed the melody from before. At first, it had been clear and the words muddled, but now she was having trouble remembering the music as well. She hesitated."What's that?" he asked."Hmm?""That song."She rested her cheek against his chest and shut her eyes. "You know. We were just listening to it.""When?""Just now.""We didn't bring any music.""No music?" she said. "It's right—" She felt herself strain at his arms. His shoulders obscured the edges of the pool."It's getting late," she said."How can you tell?"She stifled another yawn, then replaced her free hand on the dark blue gutter tiles. "What time is it?""I don't know," he answered.She scanned the walls overhead. Except for the wavering light along a distant perimeter, their surroundings were dark."I don't think we're supposed to know."She stared briefly. "You're acting weird. I'm going to bed." She began to lift herself out."You can't," he said. He was behind her now, knees jogging her gently in place."Why not?" She let him hold her. Her hands swayed free in the water."Because we're already in bed."Her fingers stilled. "What did you say?""We're already in bed. Asleep."She puffed her lips disparagingly. "You're wasted," she said. She reached towards the edge of the pool."Wait," he said, pressing his lips to her ear."What are you—""Just listen.""Stop...you're—""If we're really awake, how did we get here?"She settled back onto his knees."Remember?"She stared at the water overrunning the gutter's lip.He began rocking her gently from side to side. "You don't remember because none of this is real.""How?" she asked. "How can two people—""I read it somewhere.""Where?""One of those papers. At the grocery store."She craned her neck back, speaking into his shoulder. "You believe that stuff?""I believe in keeping an open mind."She cupped some water in her hands and watched it dribble from the seam of her palms. "Two people. Dreaming the same thing." She folded her arms and yielded to the sway of his body. "Like they say about married people.""We're not married," she said.He stopped rocking and lowered them further into the water.