Revenge

It was humiliating to be ridiculed by my 16 year old sister, Ellen, in front of her three girlfriends. She’d slammed her bedroom door when I tried to follow them into her bedroom. Their laughter from inside the room brought me tears. Then I noticed the narrow gap under her door and smiled.

Ellen hated it when I spied on her, but since I intended to be a secret agent someday, I needed to practice spy skills.

Dropping to my stomach, I put my ear to the gap. None of the occasional words made sense until I heard a name: Conner. A clue! - I could report to my handler that Ellen and friends thought Conner was a hunk.

What was that smell? I took a big sniff: cigarette smoke. Ellen would be in so much trouble when I told Mom.

The door jerked open. Scrambling to my feet, I looked into the eyes of my nemesis. They contained murder: my murder.

“I thought I heard a noise. What do you think you’re doing?”

I guess I’d sniffed too loudly. I’d have to work on that. “It’s none of your business.”

“Mom!

The villain had triggered the security alarms. Time to enact my escape plan. I ran outside and hid behind a bush under Ellen’s window.

Mom said, “Do I smell cigarettes? You girls need to leave right now. Ellen is grounded.”

I felt joy. In the words of Star Trek’s Khan, “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Actually, I don’t know what that means. A better phrase. ‘Revenge is your sister being humiliated in front of her friends.’

Was Ellen sobbing? My heart broke. I don’t know how Ellen will react, but spies need to be brave. I left my hiding place to give my sister a hug.