It was Friday, the weekend before the Spring Concert. Cricket walked home with Naomi to spend the weekend at her house. Naomi planned to have a few friends over for a small party. The girls played in Naomi's room trying to keep her brother out. Her brother always wanted to be around when Marcia was there. After thirty minutes of playful fighting, her brother gave up. Shortly after the family ate dinner, two more friends a...

Marcia's mom hurried to Sarah's summerhouse and ran inside. Marcia sat on the couch with her feet up and a damp cloth on her forehead. The rest of the guests sat on the floor and watched, as Marcia moaned and held her stomach. It appeared that she took a wee bit too much ipecac and now suffered from the effects. Her mom looked at her and shook her head. "Let's get you home, young lady and into bed. Your friends can come w...

The Monday before Thanksgiving was bright and sunny. Marcia woke and thought, "Tonight is the night of the sleepover." A small feeling of dread settled in her head, when she thought about the pranks tonight. How should she act about them? Should she retaliate for them? It was a hard choice to make. She felt good that she knew about the pranks, but wondered why Sarah was so vindictive. It was good of Naomi to come forward...

The day everyone waited for finally arrived, Monday morning after Sarah's fabulous Halloween party. The school was abuzz with all the events, which made the party a huge success. Marcia, Monica and Sabrina spread the word that they crashed the party and were responsible for the panic that ensued. That knowledge made them instant heroes with the students who despised Sarah and her friends. The rest of the school spread the...

The trash incident with Sarah occurred on Thursday and the three friends endured the rest of the day in extremely dirty, smelly clothes. Sabrina and Monica were used to this type of treatment and took it in stride. Marcia's brain kept repeating the incident and found it happened completely on purpose to harass them. She thought it is now time to get even, but how? As she thought, a complete plan developed in her mind. An...

Before Cricket became Emily Truesdale, she was Marcia Shaw of Paramus, New Jersey U.S.A. She was an only child with two loving and caring parents. Her early childhood was normal with no significant differences from any other girl her own age. She was sweet, innocent and caring with a few friends and no enemies. To most people she was small, quiet and a top student. Her life changed in the third grade, when the school sing...

It’s all so temporary. As days disappear on silent wings The patterns of cause and effect are rarely seen during the cyclical phases of life. Leaves fall and are swept away. The wind howls loudly on dusky days. And when the sun shines again -- as it did when we met -- you’ll no longer be here. Each second flutters aimlessly. But too quickly to catch. (I’d hold your hand if it would make a difference.) But time cannot be f...

"Welcome to parents participation training.” The debonair young man holding the microphone had a big, toothy grin. "Many of you will be first-time parent participants in this area's various summer youth league competitions. Your appearance here demonstrates how, as concerned parents, you have realized the importance of displaying appropriate conduct while your child is participating as an athlete. "To start today's sessio...

she was kidnapped from her bedroom on a dark dreary night by a civilization known as grangers who feared the daylight. they lived in caves way below the ground where only darkness ruled - no light to be found. they had human form from the waist to the feet but from the waist up it was pure raw meat. any light would burn them and they would scream in pain so they would always go back from wence they came. their eyes were l...

Perched a top yonder hill watching, a competition between siblings. One putting his night to rest, the other bringing her day to play. A sermon before us, holding all fast, cold wind piercing through our skin. We will not venture from our pews, until every award is broadcast. Your elongated face, ringed by dogs, colors like that of rainbows, garnishing the dark sky, with your grandeur. Setting in the west for your days re...

Music-lovers stand jam-packed in the arenaSurrounded by my musical family of all creeds, races, and ages Differences discarded like last season’s fashions Jubilation spills forth in grins matched like handbagsto shimmering eyesAirborne snippets of snatched conversation propagate like viruses‘Did you hear?’‘First time in years…’‘Oh My God!’‘Thought they split up…’Grows into a buzzing kaleidoscope of noiseExcitement tinges...