I watched you walk by in your high heels and short skirt. My friends whistled, but all I could think about was when you used to be my dad.

Brought home a talking mule to impress my family, but he was a smooth talker. He quickly turned them against me, taking my spot at the table.

Darleen asked Joyce, “Are you my mother?” “I am now, sweetie. Do you want to play a game?” Darleen chose checkers from Joyce’s menu.

I watched my brothers grow up from the woods behind our house, hoping they would not make the same mistake of beating our father at chess.

Chapter 3:

Life

Monday crept over Jack, killing his mood. The weekend had been great. He’d partied like there was no tomorrow, but unfortunately there was.

Kevin stood outside in the rain, wishing out loud it would last forever… and it did. Neighbors blamed him when they had to replace cars with boats.

Tom quietly stared at the candelabra while he ate his food. Things had changed since he was a kid. This was not the McDonald’s of his youth.

Jared cried on New Year’s Day. The fortune-teller said this year would be his last, and it would… although it was just a lucky guess.

Each new wrinkle was a mark of a lesson learned. The years had filled me with knowledge, but I sat alone, the young ones not seeing my value.

Offended to be sat on, the new chair bit Randy’s arm. He ignited the possessed chair with a flamethrower. The store refused the return.

I enjoyed my morning coffee on the veranda, listening to the symphony of metal below, as I admired the shiny stop signs I’d acquired.

The coin dropped into the slot and that sweet feeling returned. My problems faded. I am powerful. You cannot stop me. I AM Ms. Pac-man!

David likes to record. He documents each moment of his life. Photos, video, audio. He never watches any of it. Not even when it happened.

Allen dropped the needle into the groove. Marching music played loudly. He started to feel better. Five minutes till the next patient.

Vince’s magnificent hair was the source of his charm. Ladies swooned. He worked hard to preserve it, mastering the comb-over pompadour.

Thoughts of you inheriting my fortune got me from my death bed. Money made life easy. I never discovered who I was. I’d save you from that.

They found Jim’s body at the bottom of the pool, under the blueberries. An attempt at the world’s record for biggest dessert gone wrong.

Old Willie wanted to see his childhood home again. David, the nursing home orderly, freed Willie, returning him to his natural habitat.

Thought about what you said, how maybe none of this is real. Decided to re-imagine my life. Now you’re prettier and make me think less.