Andlat's Story Spot

“Alex,” Mom said, poking her head into the living room. “Please go get dressed. I put your clothes on your bed.” “You gotta stop picking my clothes for me, mom.” “If I let you choose, I'd be back from the restaurant before you even had pants on.” Alex snorted, but part of him knew mom was right. It was easier to have her set clothes out for him, but he still felt an obligation to complain loudly about it. “I look like a dweeb!” He announced as soon as he was dressed. At least this time, it was a polo instead of a dorky sweater or something. "It's a nice restaurant. Go brush your hair, shaggy.” He stomped toward the bathroom. “Besides, I'm sure Mark will be dressed the same." She called after him. Mark was the primary reason Alex was so concerned about how he looked. Mark was his age, according to Mom, and the last thing he wanted was to look like a nerd or something in front of him. He sloppily brushed his hair and then returned to the living room for Mom’s in...

"What? This is ridiculous! I am not under five!" Dave looked around the daycare, deeply offended. "The nice man misspoke, sweetie." The woman explained gently. "Mall policy is to bring any children under the age of ten here, just to be safe!" "But I'm thirteen!" He exclaimed. "I know I'm short, but I'm in freaking eighth grade!" "Do you have any ID to prove that?" Her eyes twinkled mischievously. "No" "Not even your school ID? All the schools around here" He cut her off. "It's summer. I don't keep it with me during the summer." After losing it more than a few times, his mom had made the habit of handing it to him every morning before he left for school, expecting him to return it immediately after getting home. "I see." "This was just a mistake. I got separated from my friends and that guard thought I was a little kid." "Well, you can hang out here unt...