Detective Story

Winner---11/21/09

ID: 896794   (Rated: 13+) Daily Flash Fiction Challenge  Enter your story of 300 words or less. Note new starting time! by arakun the twisted raccoon

         We stood in a row before Mom; first David the oldest, age eleven, then Dawn, the baby age five and, as always, me in the middle.  David was the boy the firstborn.  He was also good at sports.  Dawn was cute and pudgy and dimpled and adorable and that was all she had to be.  And I was -- in the middle. 

         Mom was not happy at the moment.  “Somebody did this,” she said.  “It had to be one of you.”

         The cookie crock was on the floor, broken and cookies scattered around it.

         I told the truth, not expecting it to help me much.  “I didn’t.”

         David said, “I didn’t.”

         “Not me,” said Dawn.

         We started to walk away but Mom said, “Not so fast.  We have to look at the evidence.”

         I couldn’t see any evidence.  My hands were clean.  David said. “Dad sent me t the store.  I wasn’t even here.”

         I had no such alibi, because I was in the kitchen this morning, dish duty. 

         David said “And Dawn couldn’t reach so I guess you’re busted, Emily.”

         “But I didn‘t,” I said.  Mom was looking at me or rather through me. 

         David turned to leave.  Mom called him back.  “You weren’t at the store all morning.  Dawn can climb, we’ve seen her do that.”

         David said, “Yeah, Dawn did it!”

         “Did not!” and she started to cry, acting cute.

         Cute was not my thing and I could not cry on cue like Dawn. 

         Mom said, “The guilty one has cookie crumbs all down the front.”  David brushed his shirt.  “Gotcha,” said Mom.

         Mom always finds out.  She always does that!  She’s a born detective.

         

         

         280 words