On the Way to School

Flash Fiction

On the Way to School

“Hey! Where do you think you’re going? You aren’t welcome here.”

The voice yelled from the corner. It was Tina’s. She was angry with me about something. Now cutting off the shortcut to school where it runs through her family’s yard. I had to play along.

“Gosh! I forgot this was the yard of jump to conclusions…”

“Nobody jumped. I don’t see how it could be anything else…” She shot back.

“Let me see…” I started, “I seem to not remember anything.

“I’ve told you not to tell other people what I told you! I said, don’t tell anybody! But you couldn’t keep your big mouth shut.”

“What exactly did I tell who?”

“I assume Beth, you’re always talking to Beth and she spreads info like crazy!”

“So, you think I told Beth you have a crush on Alex?”

“She’s the fastest news spoiler…”

“I haven’t seen Beth all week, she and her family went to Disney.”

“Really?”

“She told me not to tell anyone! She doesn’t want to get that lecture from Mr. Barbers about missing school … her family just called her in sick…”

“Well, who did you tell?”

“I didn’t tell anybody! Even when Jimmy Kent told me!”

“Jimmy Kent told you I had a crush on Alex?”

“Yes yesterday.”

“That blurber !”

“So now can I cut through the path?”

“I guess… who do you think told everybody about my crush on Alex?”

“If I was to guess, I’d say Linda.”

“Why Linda?”

“Because she has a terrible crush on Alex and doesn’t want anyone to know.”

“Except she told you…”

“So, I told her Alex wasn’t available because he had a crush on you!”

“What?!”

“Ah… You know, I guess I’ll be better off going the long way… see ya later!” and off I ran.