353: A kid in your grade whom you don’t know very well shows up at your house one day to tell you something important. What does he look like? What does he say?

I opened the front door and was surprised to see Steven Pearson standing on the porch. We were in a few classes together, but I don’t think I ever spoke more than a few words to him “Steven,” I said, not hiding my curiosity. “What’s up?”

“H-hey Rebecca,” he said, smiling shyly as he brushed his shaggy hair from his face. He was one of the tallest kids in our class so he towered over me, but he was lanky so not imposing. “Listen…” He slipped his hands into his pockets and stared down at his shoes. “I uh… I’ve got something to tell you…”

“Okay…?” I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorframe. “Do you want to come in?”

“No, that’s okay! I-I’ll be quick.” He smiled apologetically and took a deep breath. “I saw Jordan fooling around with Christie Havemeyer after football practice.”

My heart felt like it was being ripped from my chest. “What?”

“I stayed late to get help with calculus, and they were together behind the gym…”

I could not believe what I was hearing. Jordan, my boyfriend of two years, was cheating on me with a freshman?? “You sure?” I whispered.

Steven nodded. “I’m sorry, Rebecca. I just… thought you should know…”

I nodded too. “Don’t be sorry. It’s better that I know… He has been acting kind of distant recently and now I know why… So thank you, Steven. Really.” He gave a small smile and left. I closed the front door but kept my hand on the doorknob, forcing myself to take a deep breath as I fought back the tears.

What did I do wrong?

We rarely fought, we liked each other’s families, we still left silly notes in each other’s lockers. Had he grown bored with me? Did he not like my new haircut? Was it because we didn’t get into the same school?

And what was so great about Christie Havemeyer? Sure, she was pretty, but she was three years younger than us. Could it really be because he was captain of the football team and felt he had to be with a cheerleader?

There was only one way to find out.

Wiping away the tears that had managed to fall, I pulled out my cellphone and called Jordan. “Hey, can you come over? We need to talk.”

352: You are happily married, but one day you realize you have a crush on someone else. What happens?

Nothing. Just because I have a crush does not mean I have to act on it. I am happily married and do not want to ruin what I have.

350: Do a detailed character sketch for a fictional character about whom you would never, ever want to write. Work to avoid making up anything that would capture your own interest.

• Male, 40s, child molester
• Has been molesting his daughter and her friends for years, hasn’t been caught
• People are suspicious, don’t say anything (he pays them off)
• Girls don’t say anything (he has blackmail photos/videos)
• Man is public figure, well-respected, wealthy, good career, trophy wife
• Athletic, works out, plays basketball
• Attractive: tall, dark, handsome
• Very well-hidden past explains why he’s a scumbag
  • Hidden from me because I really don’t want to dive into his past/explore this character/write about him
• Gets one of the girls pregnant
  • Either kills baby, pays for abortion, or kills girl
• Has connections all over the city: government, police, travel, banks, etc.

349: Write a stand-up comedy routine to address the United Nations.

I’m going to pass on this prompt because I don’t know the first thing about writing stand-up.

348: A soldier is about to embark upon a mission that she knows will kill her.

Claire sat on the edge of her bed, clutching a photo of herself with her husband and son. The last time she had seen them was two months ago. If she had known that was going to be the last time she would have kissed her husband a little longer, held her son a little closer.

Claire closed her eyes, trying to imprint the photo on her mind. She was going out to the front tomorrow and she was not coming back. They were losing and this was the general’s last-ditch effort to take back the war.

Opening her eyes, Claire set the photo back on her nightstand and got into bed. Please watch over Jack and Caleb, she prayed. Please let them know I love them so, so much… She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and rolled over, forcing herself to fall into a fitful sleep.