Fortune and Favor

The Barlow family name used to announce itself. The name alone secured the family a house granted by inheritance, the finest assortments of jewels and silver, and endless invitations written in careful script. Seasons passed by dinners filled with soft laughter and dances covered in gloved hands. But all those comforts vanished when Mr. Barlow made a single wrong investment and placed his trust in a notorious rake. Soon, both their fortune and favor vanished, and the Barlow name fell into ruin.

Yet, in their darkest hour, Mr. Barlow received a letter from an old friend–Mr. Harold…

A Girl’s Tale

Eavesdropping is a superhuman skill all teachers have– we just don’t let anyone know it. Trust me, I don’t want to know the details of a fifteen-year-old’s life, but I do want to know who is working hard and who is pretending to. So I listen closely.

There were maybe twenty minutes before the final bell. The classroom had that late-afternoon heaviness: backpacks rattling against chair legs from the early packers, pencils shuffling quickly to outrun weekend homework, and then I heard Mia.

Another Rendez-Vous

Knock-knock.
“Yes?” I yell.
“Good afternoon, Judge Harris,” says my secretary, Layne, from behind my office’s closed door. Layne continues in a voice that seems hesitant and nervous, “Remember, the first trial begins at 3pm- that’s in two hours. You’ve already pushed it back twice.”
“I know, I know. I’m getting ready now!” I respond with a sigh. Even though we both know that’s a lie- I’ve only just arrived.

The Loudest Silence

We were on our way out of the building when it happened. The halls were almost empty; the usual after-school rush had faded. The three of us cut through the wing by the theatre to save a few steps on the way to the parking lot. It should have been nothing.