A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard
145 words
The mail carrier, Mrs. Gable, clutched her satchel a little tighter as she approached the Anderson's house. Her pace slowed involuntarily. She'd seen that golden retriever, Buster, escape twice this w...
A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard
119 words
Michael fiddled with the zipper on his jacket, the metallic teeth grating against his skin. He was supposed to be trimming the hedges, a task he'd been putting off for days, but now, he found the pros...
A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard
133 words
The lawyer, Mr. Harding, was already late for his appointment. He checked his watch for the tenth time in as many minutes. He always hurried, but the thought of facing the owner of the Siberian husky,...
A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard
116 words
The little boy, Timmy, paused at the edge of his yard. His shoulders were scrunched up slightly, and he was gripping his red ball very tightly. The sight of the border collie, Scout, meant one thing: ...
A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard
107 words
The mechanic, Frank, squinted at the chain-link fence. The German shepherd, Kaiser, had already caused him enough headaches this week by barking at his customers' vehicles. Now he saw the dog's shadow...
A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard
97 words
The artist, Clara, chewed on her lip, a nervous habit. She’d just finished painting a delicate landscape when she heard the familiar sound of the beagle, Benny, barking from outside. The dog had a h...
A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard
99 words
The chef, Marco, carefully arranged the ingredients on his outdoor grill. He’d planned a special meal, a celebration. Then he heard the distinct sound of a bark, followed by the sound of paws. The b...
A coach has to cut a player from the team
110 words
"Just a quick chat," Coach Davies had said, but the phrase felt like a lie. Michael sat in the uncomfortable plastic chair, the room a stark, sterile white. He attempted a casual posture, leaning back...
A coach has to cut a player from the team
118 words
The aroma of freshly cut grass, usually a comforting smell, now made him nauseous. He sat on the bench, watching the team practice, feeling detached from everything. Every pass, every shot, felt like ...
Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories
145 words
He stared at the email, the words blurring before his eyes. His stomach felt like it had dropped into his shoes. James pressed his lips together, a habit he did when he was thinking hard, or perhaps, ...
Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories
121 words
The library, usually a sanctuary of calm, suddenly felt like a prison. The scent of old paper and leather, once a comfort, now felt cloying. Clara clutched the library book in her hands. She had been ...
Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories
103 words
The news report, flashing across the television screen, made her stomach clench. The familiar face of the anchor, the familiar voice, made her skin crawl. The words, carefully chosen, still managed to...
A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else
96 words
The library, usually a sanctuary of calm, felt constricting. She found herself staring at the open textbook, unable to focus. The words blurred on the page, the lines dancing before her eyes.
The ema...
Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account
116 words
She sat frozen in place, a knot forming in her throat. The pictures flickered on the screen, taunting her. Her daughter, Chloe, who spent hours in her room, was not, it seemed, studying.
Her knuckles...
Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account
120 words
He felt a deep, unsettling tremor run through him. His stomach churned. The screen, once a source of amusement, now felt like a portal to a different dimension. His daughter, Olivia, had a secret.
He...