Mrs. Jane Kotwitz eyed the lesson plan with curious disapproval. Typed neatly with plenty of white margin for notes, the plan for third hour simply read, “Paxton — reading. He takes the lone seat by the windows.” Mrs. Kotwitz’s eyes… Continue Reading
Andromache thought that when they burned Hector upon his pyre, they should just burn the rest of Troy with him. It was to happen soon anyway, without him to guard their gates, and she had told him as much, the… Continue Reading
I could picture it clearly. I’d hear her squeaky-trainer footsteps on the landing. She’d put her head round my bedroom door. She’d widen her eyes at me — her version of a smile, an ‘I’m-glad-to-see-you, let-me-take-you-in’ sort of gesture. She’d… Continue Reading
“You know this isn’t a real holiday, right?” Klepto Bayley Klepac asked. “I know it’s not a real holiday,” I said, “But I like to celebrate it, so I do.” Bayley gave me a confused look, paid her breakfast check,… Continue Reading
Cal was picked to play only because none of the older guys wanted to be catcher. The older guys wanted to drink beers that they had gotten despite being underage and they wanted to make out with their girlfriends in… Continue Reading
“I don’t understand poetry,” Sam told Leonard, his best friend since elementary school. “Yeah. Who does?” Leonard replied, chuckling. The two of them were sitting in lawn chairs in Sam’s back yard, watching the barbeque fire get hot enough for… Continue Reading
When Papa brushed out her braids at the end of the day, Rita perked up her ears. Papa would often drop pearls of wisdom, mid-sentence, as if continuing a conversation playing out only in his head. First, silence — save… Continue Reading
Dear Esteemed Mr. Bentley: By now, news of what happened at the Bentley Alchemy Factory in Toaddeep Sound should’ve reached you. While individuals might describe the factory’s current state as “blown to the hells,” please be reassured that these are… Continue Reading
You go to pay for your groceries, and your credit card is declined. It was bound to happen sooner or later, but you didn’t expect it to be today. You look at the letters dancing across the card reader’s display… Continue Reading
“Where’s the birthday girl?” The clown lopes in through the front door, holding a frizzy rainbow-colored wig in his hand. “The party’s downstairs,” the mother answers and walks toward the basement, assuming the clown is following. He has stopped in… Continue Reading