Adults

Ghosting Road

Ghosting Road by C. Tobias (a Short Story Contest submission)

 

The flirtations crescendoed at the final summer party in the city.  Laughter and alcohol led to my first ride on his motorcycle. After he handed me his only helmet he fastened a quilted navy hood under his chin. "To fool the cops".

Morning brought hangovers and a blistering sun. "Take you home? I'll be outside". From the stoop I could see he wore the helmet and the hood was left for me.

Oof. 

Place Past Perfect

She is just as much of a place to me as a person.
Second floor walk-up. Skylights illuminate with clarity all day long. Nightfall, when she arrives; LEDs that automatically come on. Stupendous heat in the winter; hand-in-hand with chill air during summer. Double-pane windows seem misplaced in an apartment with north-facing views. Every other month, for a period of 14 days, the front door disappears. She always arrives early, with extra food.

 

Such a mean thing…

A presence lurked behind me. I slowly became frightened. A figure at the edge of my vision shrieked. I can admit it now, I screamed, too. Jessica burst into wild laughter; this girl who rarely smiled in life.
"You want me dead, too! Is that it?"
"Oh, calm down. Where's Ben?"
"Why? You looking for a Job? I've gotta tell you! You're going to have a hard time pleasing anybody these days!" 

Meet with New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S)

Looking for ways to practice self-care this summer?  Stop by to pick up some freebies and resources!

Meet with representatives from New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) and learn about services they provide to families with children in grades K through 12.

NJ4S is a prevention program that supports youth mental wellness and can connect students and their parents/caregivers with other community resources beneficial to social, emotional, and mental health and well-being, including clinical and non-clinical resources.

Meet with New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S)

Looking for ways to practice self-care this summer?  Stop by to pick up some freebies and resources!

Meet with representatives from New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) and learn about services they provide to families with children in grades K through 12.

NJ4S is a prevention program that supports youth mental wellness and can connect students and their parents/caregivers with other community resources beneficial to social, emotional, and mental health and well-being, including clinical and non-clinical resources.

The Cartographer's New Home

Maliel had spent centuries crafting the world with a cartographer's hunger. 
He poured gold beneath one nation's soil, cool rivers through its valleys, clear skies above its honeyed fields. This one, he thought, humming as he worked. Mine. The others he salted with drought and debt.

God's voice came soft: "Go." Maliel landed in cracked red dirt, barren beneath a merciless sun. He recognized the foul air, the poisoned wells… and wept.