matzes

Saturday 7th June - 23:35 Theodore pulled into his uncle’s driveway, steadily bringing his car to a stop. He peered through the inky blackness towards the palatial front porch beyond, carefully scanning the spotless lattice windows for any sign of life, but there was nothing. It was almost midnight, afterall. Surely everyone would be asleep by now? Thinking the coast clear, the young man shut off the shuddering engine of his ramshackle red 2005 volvo and stepped out carefully onto the patio. He tiptoed cautiously up to the imposing black front door, sneering at the sight of the tacky lion’s head door knocker. The eighteen year old would have rather been anywhere else. Hell, he’d have rather spent the night in the town’s dingiest dankest motel than have to endure the awkward breakfast scene surely awaiting him in the morning - but as things stood he had no choice. School was out, and he was skint. The teen lifted up the edge of the flower pot, feeling blindly around for the spare

It was clear to Theodore that these kids were not going to let him go. There were a lot of people around, however. If he made enough noise that would probably get someone's attention, and send these goons scurrying. Theodore had more than enough experience with people like this to know their confidence came from strength in numbers. Yet Theodore also didn't want to give them the satisfaction of thinking that he was in any way scared of them, let alone so scared that he needed to call out for help. He was eighteen after all - an adult, if only currently in his mind. Theodore had dealt with plenty of bullies at Holyoke academy. By the time sophomore year had rolled around, he had gotten a little bit of a growth spurt giving him some confidence to not just let his bullies walk over him. He had still gotten pounded more often than not, but not without getting in a few of his own jabs. One could even say he had walked away on top in a couple of fights. Theodore knew he had more

Nice Guy Tanner Tanner was walking down the hallway of the school a hall pass in his hand. He was on his way to the bathroom even though he did not have to go. Right now, back in the classroom the kids were having carpet time. Tanner was absolutely disgusted by the fact that he was being subjected to something so juvenile. What was he even supposed to learn sitting on a carpet while Ms. Hollis the teacher read them a book? He needed a break from the little kid treatment. Tanner walked into the bathroom to find a scene. There were three boys who looked to be third graders and they were surrounding another kid who had his back up against the wall of one of the stalls near the urinals. Tanner knew the boy they had surrounded, he was a kid from his class. Gordy or something Tanner thought. He hadn't really taken notice of his new classmates all that much. Honestly Tanner had pegged the kid as sort of dorky, which wasn't helped by the thick rimmed glasses he wore and the collared

Chapter 1 Max Barnes sat on the bench at the back of Declan Lake High. Classes were done for the day. Max leaned back on the bench listening to his cousin Maddie talking endlessly to him through his phone about her trigonometry teacher who in her words totally had it out for her. Max was only half listening as he stared up at the sky noting the dark gray clouds that had gathered. He was hoping he would be able to make it home before the rain started. A worry he would not have anymore after the upcoming weekend when his Dad would take him down to the DMV for his road test, which he was confident in passing. He would finally have his license. “Max are you listening?” Maddie said on the other side of the phone. “Huh,” Max said sitting up. “Yeah I'm listening.” Maddie made a skeptical noise on the line. They had known each other their whole lives and being that they were both sixteen years old they had grown to be more like brother and sister than cousins. However she had moved

As the competition draws to a close, both brothers up their game to try and secure a win - but does their father have one last trick up his sleeve? -------------------------------------------- “Daddy, daddy, over here! We gotta go see the elephants first!” “Noooooo, daddy, this way! The wolves are way cooler!” Farshad grinned as Amir and Malik pulled him in two different directions, allowing the playful struggle to unfold as he considered how the morning had proceeded to that point. He had managed to sneak out of bed just after sunrise, his sons still snoozing as he whipped together some pancakes for the trio to enjoy. It was just when they began sizzling in the skillet that the boys emerged, Farshad fighting back the urge to gush over their sleepy adorability when they wandered into the kitchen still in nothing but their tiny bleached briefs, bedheaded and rubbing the sleep from their eyes. Though both were delighted to see the meal their daddy had whipped up for them, they were

Dave was on his bike and raced away from something horrible. A teacher? Some big kids? He didn’t know, but didn’t dare to turn around either, for part of him knew this way it would get him. So he concentrated on the way ahead of him and gave every ounce of his strength into the pedals. This wasn’t easy, as the pedals seemed to move farther and farther away. At the same time the world around him became larger, the closer he got to home. Past the streets. Through the park. So many times he nearly lost control. So many times something seemed to catch him and this would mean … Finally the unpaved way leading to the cul-de-sac he lived in. Dave felt relieved wash over him. He would get home! Suddenly Mrs. Pepper stepped in his way, towering over him and crossing her arms. “What do you think you are doing, crossing my lawn with your tricycle?” “Tricycle?” Dave stammered. Indeed, as he looked at it, his bike had transformed into a tricycle. He wanted to protest that this was for