Parent/Teacher Conference

Mr. Benson looked up from his desk at the knock on his door– it was his 7pm appointment, right on time and his last of the day. “Come in,” he said, standing and reaching out to shake the hand of the woman who entered. “Shelley Jones?” “Tyreek Benson,” she said back to him, completing their …

Frozen Lake

Cecilia had been warned about the lake. Her older brother James was adamant– adamant– that she not venture onto it, even here in February, even when she was sure it was frozen a good six inches deep. At least, that is what she’d overheard earlier this week as she worked on a snowman and a …

Assigned Seating

Roland looked at his watch, then the clock on his instrument panel. They were identical to the second, but he always found himself checking both when they were running behind. Of course it happened— weather delays and safety checks were part of the business. At least on Roland’s crew, there were rarely preventable delays. Which …

Werewolves Among Us

Dylan paced back and forth along the path that ran behind the large cabin where his pack had gathered. They always gathered here on the full moon, far away from their homes and office jobs and all the mundane bits of their lives. Here, they did not have to resist the call of their inner …

Siri, Remind Me to Spank Sadie

“Sadie!” Caroline called from the bottom of the stairs, “Come down here please.” She turned to walk back to the kitchen, not waiting for a response as she removed her apron en route and then hung it inside the pantry door. She rinsed her hands in the sink, dried them by the oven, and then …

No Parties

Silas’s ship was sunk, but he didn’t know it yet. John had to summon all of his patience as the kid sat there and yes sir’d him, knowing the pop star had every intention of disobeying the rules he was pretending to agree to. He wasn’t even being clever about it; he’d practically charged a …

Lottie Flees the Scene

Lottie stood in front of one of the long full bookshelves that filled the wall of the Library. Her left hand rested in the pocket of her tunic while her right sat on the edge of the shelf at eye-level. One thin finger reached out and ran along the spine the book nearest. Then she …

Animal Shelter

Emma was in heaven. She and Ben were at the county's animal shelter, and Ben was about to sign the paperwork for the newest, if temporary, member of his and Oliver’s household. They had agreed to foster a dog for the next two months and today was pick up day. She'd spent some time in …

She Returns

The mermaid still visited. The man never saw her, at least never clearly enough that he could be certain. Still, he sometimes walked out on the dock to find a small pile of sea glass or a mollusk shell marked by an embedded pearl and he knew they were from her. He would smile before …

Summer at the Orchard

Danny and Emma were at Ben and Oliver's for a game night and in the middle of their second round when Danny's phone began to buzz loudly. Twice he ignored the cal and the third time he put it on silent. He put it away and picked up the dice. Ben's phone began to ring. …