My House Doesn’t Trust Me

This story is a response to the Muse on Monday prompt of April 6, 2026: Write a story about a character breaking into their own house. My House Doesn’t Trust Me I was five steps down my front path on the way to the car when I realized I’d forgotten my keys inside the now-locked…

The Boxer Rebellion

The Boxer Rebellion I had just moved in. My books were finally unpacked. The next morning, they were back in boxes. Ghosts, I assumed. That night, I sat in darkness to see what would happen. The window creaked, then opened. I flipped the lights. A boy stood there, frozen. “Hey,” I said. Nothing. “Did you…?”…

The Neighbor We Love to Hate

The Neighbor We Love to Hate The two women watched the old man lounging in his front yard amid heaps of dirty snow. “Why won’t he leave?” one said. “He’s hurting property values.” “Right? Do you know he destroyed all my flowers last night?” “You sure?” “Who else would it be?” “He should retire to…