Andlat's Stories

“I can't do that. That's for little kids and I'm going to be twelve tomorrow.” Jackson had heard it a million times over the last month as Logan counted down and now, finally, it was Logan's birthday. But was it really going to stop? He hoped so. “Now that I'm twelve-” even a room over, it was annoying enough that Jackson almost covered his ears as he sought refuge in the kitchen. Seriously. Twelve wasn’t that big of a deal! Sure, he was excited to turn ten in a few months, but that was different. Ten was double digits! Twelve was… twelve. He was tired of hearing about it. There wasn't even that big of a difference between nine and not even actually twelve yet. Everyone knew you only turned the age when you blew out the candles, right? At least, he was pretty sure that was how it worked. Maybe you either blow out the candles or it hits midnight. That felt- “You better not be planning to steal some frosting.” Dad said, interrupting Jackson's thoughts. “I

“Look, TJ!” Mom said, holding a big cardboard box. “A package came for you!” He tried to hide his displeasure. The last package he had gotten contained a bunch of baby toys. That was not even him exaggerating. Mom had heard about a brain stimulating toy subscription box at singalong and had not even hidden it from him, sitting as he was on her lap at the time, as she signed him up for the 0-36 month box. They happened to be the very same toys he was half-heartedly playing with now since he had already maxed out his allotted screen time for the week. “More toys?” He asked, forcing a smile. “No, sweetie. Your Easter clothes!” TJ tried to hide his growing displeasure as he remembered the horrible shortalls and bow tie of last year, already horribly babyish even before he got pulled into playing Bunny Tag with all the toddlers. Mom tore into the package with relish. TJ did not know what he expected, but out of the box came a white and yellow striped t-shirt and pants. That did not look

“Make sure to hold Mommy’s hand!” “I was already reaching for it.” Tanner muttered grumpily. He had been looking forward to spending his day off from school at home relaxing, reading comic books, but apparently, he had been “snippy”, so mom had decided he needed to accompany her on her errands. “We always hold Mommy’s hand to cross the parking lot.” “I know!” “We wouldn’t want you getting lost again.” In truth, Tanner had not been lost. He had been one, maybe two aisles over, looking at video games. The more he pressed against his mom's version, though, the more details she added until she found him sitting on the floor half a store away, sobbing and snot-covered, screaming desperately for mommy. He figured it was better to just give in before she started adding wet pants to her version of events! “Can we just get this over with?” He asked, tugging at her hand to try to get to the store more quickly. “It’s for the best that you decided to come along anyway.” Mom said as if he hadn’

Colton sighed as he stood in the front of Madame Prufond’s Studio of Dance. This was so dumb! He had only made fun of Caleb for doing ballet a few times, what was the harm? If anything, it was Caleb’s fault for crying and running to mom. Mom had decided that, as punishment, he would have to take ballet with Caleb for a full month. It had to be the most unfair punishment ever, in Colton’s mind. “May I help you?” A young woman in a black leotard said. “Yes, please.” Colton’s mom replied. “I want to sign my son up for ballet.” “Merveilleuse!” The young woman replied excitedly. “We only have the one mixed class, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5.” “That’s the one. My other son Caleb already attends those, so I figured it’ll be easy.” “Absolutely.” The young woman replied, smiling kindly at Colton. “And is there any way we can sign him up just for a month?” The young woman frowned. “Let me check.” She said, disappearing into the back. Colton could see a few girls in frilly pink tutus pran

"I hate football!" Jeremy exclaimed for what to be the hundredth time that week. HIs mom sighed. "I know, hon, but you made a commitment to the coach, to the team, and to your brother." "Jimmy knows how much I hate it. He says he doesn't mind if I quit." "You need some sort of extracurricular. I'm not going to have you moping around the house all the time." She knew that Jeremy was not as athletic as his younger brother. That was why the coaches had agreed to have him stay with the boys a year younger than him, including his brother, which probably caused him to hate the sport even more. "I've tried, but there aren't any good ones." "I'll see what I can find, but you agree to do whatever I pick?" Jeremy nodded, simply relieved that the end of football was in his sights. His mom tried for a week, but it was just like Jeremy had said: there really were not many other options. She did not like the idea of him