I lower my tray table, eyes locked on the snack cart as it creeps closer. Mom raises her eyebrows, and I know I have a decision—cookies or pretzels. I’m leaning toward cookies when, out of nowhere, the cart rolls right past us without stopping. I huff, leaning toward Mom. “Did they seriously just take away our snacks?”

She chuckles and pats my hand, but I feel Disgust stirring in my head, like in...

Este’s eyes are wide.

She just can’t wait!

“Mamá, can we start yet?” She asks, bouncing up and down on her light up sneakers.

Ever since Roman got her them for her birthday, she refused to take them off.

They’re so pretty, lighting up in pink!

“Soon, mija. Jeremiah is getting Roman.”

“Yay!” She exclaims, clapping her hands. After Mamá and Miah, her brother’s soulmate, Ro, is her favorite ...

The police officer bent down. He said “Buddy what happened yesterday.” Jay sat silent, staring at his teddy bear. The officer got impatient he said “Buddy tell me what happened last night?” Jay shook his head violently. The police officer glared at Jay. Suddenly Jay broke down in tears.

The police walked away. After that Jay accidentally wet his pants, starting another meltdown. Jay whispered “Ma...

I’ll miss my best friend, but mommy said he has to go on a big journey. I wasn’t sure why he didn’t tell me. He just didn’t move, didn’t make a noise, just sat there, even when I touched him, running my fingers through his fur. We waved goodbye to him and put him in a box where he curled, sleeping. Mommy said he was very tired and had to save his energy for the trip. I asked where he was going and...

i dont understand it becus ive never seen papa cry befor and ive never seen mama so cuiet in my hole life today we went to a big bilding with a lotta benches that were rilly smooth and my family was sat in the front and the sealing was rilly far away thare was a big box and it was also rilly smooth it lookd like a door becus it was open but was posishand so i cudnt see and evrybody wokd up but my ...

The show was about to start. Mom and my sister Danny said they would be front row in the middle. As the curtains opened i scanned the front row, and the third row and the fourth and fith and sixth, all the way to the back; mom was there, but i couldnt find Danny. All of a sudden i didnt feel so good. My tummy felt all twirly and heavy. The show was starting; i was supposed to sing first, so i ope...

I was supposed to be in bed but I couldn’t sleep. So I walk out of my room and tip-toe over to the stairs.

*ding*

The doorbell rang.

Who is coming this late to our home? I pause, Squat down near the railing; looking through it seeing my father. He looks around before he goes towards the door and slowly opens the door.

He whispers something into the mystery person’s ear.

It’s a woman.

She’s got lo...

It was hot outside and my feet hurt from walking all day. The crowds around me were very tall and I didn’t like that feeling. I thought I was going to be crushed, or lost, or forgotten. There was too much yelling and fighting. The air smelled of sweat and alcohol and the motion of the train was causing me to be nauseous. The moving stopped and my dad told me were finally at our station. When the...

Mother placed two bags I front of me on out old coffee table in the basement. The two large bags were the kind with straps to carry them on your shoulders. Mommy was so troubled with packing she didn't make me cookies.

She didn't even say...

"Z Dnem divchat, moya sylʹna, krasyva divchyna!" I blurted out, waving my hands wildlyin frustration. Mom didn't ever forget Girl's Day. She told me it was...

The little girl clutched the raggedy teddy bear as if it were the only thing holding her together, and it might as well have been.

“Amanda,” a police officer said in a tone that implied he was running out of patience, “you were the only witness to the murder of Merrily Black. I really need you to tell me what happened last night.”

The little girl - Amanda - shook her head wildly, strands of gre...