2011/56-8: Arthur trilogy -- Kevin Crossley-Holland

Arthur: The Seeing Stone -- Kevin Crossley-Holland
Arthur: At the Crossing-Places -- Kevin Crossley-Holland
Arthur: King of the Middle March -- Kevin Crossley-Holland

Sometimes what happens in my life echoes what happens in the stone, sometimes it's the other way round. But my stone also shows me people and places I've never seen before -- the fortress of Tintagel, King Uther, Ygerna, the hooded man. (The Seeing Stone, p. 301)

( slightly spoilery review )

Story link: 'Herbal' by Nalo Hopkinson

Herbal, by Nalo Hopkinson

That first noise must have come from the powerful kick. It crashed like the sound of cannon shot. A second bang followed, painfully, stupefyingly loud; then a concussion of air from the direction of the front door as it collapsed inward. Jenny didn't even have time to react. She sat up straight on her couch, that was all. The elephant was in the living room almost immediately. Jenny went wordlessly still in fright and disbelief. She lived on the fifteenth floor.

Short, slight, but more to it than meets the eye.