“Watch yourself around that guy,” my sister said as we walked away from the bus.  “He is up to no good.”  “Oh, Ryan.  He’s fine.  And harmless.  For sure.  Don’t you remember the flowers he brought to me last week?” I asked linking her arm in mine.  “That’s because he gave you a black eye the night before.  Don’t…

When my grandfather’s watch broke, I thought I was going to lose my mind.  It was the only thing I had to remember him by.  When he died, my father sold the house and everything in it while I was at school.  By the time I got home, the locks had been changed and my father was…

Growing up, I always saw exercise as a form of punishment instead of something to look forward to.  I watched as my older brother continually hurt himself playing football and wondered why anyone would want to willing put themselves through that kind of torture.  I joined a gym in high school so my parents would…

Eddie and I broke up a year ago and for whatever reason, I haven’t deleted his number from my phone.  I thought we had been happy.  I had been happy.  Until the weekend he told me he was out of town for work and I caught him going into the Embassy Suites with his ex-girlfriend.  I should…

“She took my phone.  She took my phone.  She took my phone,” I whispered to myself.  “What do I do?  Think.  Think.  Think.”  I got up off my bed and paced around my small bedroom.  I needed to get my phone back before my mom found the pictures.  I was grounded right now because I…

By the second week of my new job, I knew I had made a mistake.  I never should have given up my part-time job to take on a new, full-time job.  I hadn’t really needed the extra money, I was more in for the health benefits the job provided.  But now that I had met my new boss,…

On my first day of sixth grade, I realized it could be the best first day of school I could ever have.  Jeremy was in my homeroom class and I luckily ended up with the locker next to his.  I have had a crush on him for as long as I can remember and thought how lucky…

I had never believed in horoscopes.  Probably because my mother heartily believed in horoscopes and never missed a chance to read tarot cards.  She claims to have grown up in a commune, but all the information I have found says she lived in Austin, Texas and grew up in the Austin public school system.  I think she wants to be seen…

I had grown up camping with my family during most holiday weekends.  Now that I am older and recently divorced, I have perfected the art of camping alone.  I have met a few people throughout my camping adventures and travels and we try to meet up to a certain degree.  The only part I am not fond of this group camping are the ghost…

I had always been nosy growing up and it only intensified when I became a teenager.  I started babysitting when I was fifteen so I could make some extra cash, but I also wanted to learn as much about my neighbors and friends that I could.  My favorite book growing up at been Harriet the Spy so I knew…