• Remarkable

    “Don’t tell me his story was fantastic.  Remarkable.  Amazing.  Going to win the prize.  You know he copied the entire story.  Or at least ninety percent of it.”  I sat staring at the email I desperately wanted to send to my English professor, but knew I would never do it.  I knew Garrett would win the…

  • Enfolding

    “All I wanted you to do was to love me.  To fold me in your arms and never let me go.  You were the only place I feel safe and the only place I want to be for the rest of my life.”    As June read the beginning lines of her short story to the…

  • The Closet

    “Why do you stack your clothes like this?  Wouldn’t it be easier to hang them up in your closet?  What do you have in your closet?”  Jason headed to my closet and I felt my stomach tighten.  “Hey, why you gonna go into my closet?  Can’t I keep some things private?”  I sat up on…

  • Welcome Committee

    There was no way I felt like I would ever be welcomed into Frank’s house.  I was never sure why, but I think it had something to do with my brother.  He had dated Frank’s sister and ended up breaking her heart for unknown reasons.  At least that was the story Fern and Davis were…

  • Magic

    “I’m not going through any ‘portal’ or whatever you have called it.  I am staying here and not leaving until further notice.”  I crossed my arms and sat defiantly on the edge of the couch.  As my mother moved toward the front door, I wondered if I was making the right decision.  If I was…

  • Generous

    I never understood how someone could be as generous as Sophia.  She never took anything for herself and instead tried to think of who would benefit most.  I liked to think I thought of other people more than myself, but I didn’t think I was as nice as Sophia.  What really surprised me more was…

  • Whipped

    “The whipped cream is ruined.  Ruined.  Absolutely.  What am I going to do now?”  I whispered to myself.  I was about to lose my job and with it, my security.  If I lost my job, I would literally be outed for everything I had done wrong.  If my parents learned about all my minor transgressions,…

  • The Gathering

    “What if I don’t want to gather around the table?  Especially with them!  I will not do it.”  Emily crossed her arms across her chest and I admired her bravery.  No one had ever had the guts to stand up to Mr. Johnson.  As the head of the school, he ran us ragged with fear. …

  • The Big Reveal

    “Reveal yourself!”  Scott pointed at the closet and used his loudest voice for his command.  If I wasn’t so scared, I probably would have started giggling.  I knew something or someone was in the closet.  There had been noises all week, but every time Scott and I had checked, nothing and nobody was there.  Like…

  • Frozen in Time

    “Bless this bounty we are about to receive,” Aaron intoned.  I knew he was making up the blessing as he went and I hoped he wouldn’t get too nervous and prattle on.  He had wanted to say grace at Thanksgiving, but he was nervous around my father.  My father was a large, hulking and silent…