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 …

Bullies Caught Cutting

Mandy giggled as she watched her two best friends, Kelsey and Travis, pin one of their classmates against the brick wall of the auditorium. “Come on, guys! I didn’t know it was your spot!” “Well that was your first mistake, wasn’t it? You should know by now.” Kelsey said unsympathetically. The three were seniors at …

Antique Store

Paula knew to keep an eye on this crew the moment they walked into the shop. She’d been running the old antique store for well over three decades now and had developed a knack for sensing trouble before it started. “Welcome,” she said over the fading chime of the bell on the closing door. A …

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 …

Turn Where?

"Left!" "Left here?" Paul said, slowing the car down abruptly. "Um, there," Edith said, looking over her shoulder from the passenger seat at the turn they had just missed. She sank down in her seat, pulling her knees up to her chest and hiding her face in them. "Sorry." "Uh-huh," Paul replied. He pulled over …

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Goldilocks woke with a gasp, then yanked the covers up until just the peek of her eyes was showing. Three sets of round brown eyes set in furry bear faces stared back at her. It was the one piercing set of stern human ones that scared her, though. “Hi,” she said in a small voice. …

Jack and the Beanstalk

Jack felt triumphant, but it didn't last long. His mother was hustling toward him, one hand holding up her skirts while the other wagged a finger in his direction. "You go cut me a switch. Right now, young man." "Mother," he said, unable to process what she was saying, "I've done it. I've slain the …

Blissfully Unaware

April slapped at her phone, trying to snooze the alarm for the third time. She lay on her stomach, face smashed into the pillow, blanket sliding off onto the floor. She wore a tank top and flimsy matching pajama shorts, and a discerning eye might have considered her bottom ripe for a swat. She had …

School Bully

The rumors are true. I didn’t want to believe them but they have piled up too fast for me to deny. My sister, my baby sister, is a bully. How did I not know? You have always been such a sweet kid, and even though my weekends home have been less frequent as I prepared …

Worth It?

She touches my bruises lightly as I lie belly-down on her bed, pajamas and underwear pulled halfway down my thighs. My head is propped up on my hand, watching her. She’s being tender, but even the soft pads of her fingers hurt. I don’t show it on my face. “The belt? Just for being on …