A Dinner of Unexpected Revelations

My brother brought his new girlfriend to Mom’s birthday dinner. They whispered conspiratorially, heads close, all night. When Mom passed the family cheesecakedown the table, the girlfriend pushed her plate away. She announced she had news. Her eyes locked onto mine as she said, “I am moving upstate for a jobopportunity!” Everyone at the table … Read more

The Mystery of the Family Vase

My neighbor asked if I’d watch her toddler while she ran errands; I happily agreed. Minutes later, I heard CRASHING sounds from the playroom. Racing in, my heart POUNDED as I saw glass shattered everywhere—the decorative family vase was broken. As I gingerly picked up the sharp pieces, I unearthed a note that said it … Read more

The Essay That Changed Everything

Once, I was reviewing my students’ essays and everything was normal until I saw Sam’s work. There was something strange in the last paragraph of his essay and I got very scared. He wrote, “Sometimes, I think it would be easier if I just disappeared, and maybe no one would even notice for days.” That sentence … Read more