Another journal

You can find all the sections here.

Emily fell onto the couch, grimaced, then removed the knife sheath from the back of her pants. “I didn’t see Becky there.” Emily felt weirdly calm. “What I did wasn’t stupid, was it?”

“No.” Janice hung up her coat and crossed the short space to the kitchen. “Dangerous, maybe, but not stupid. Do you want something to eat?”

“Sure.” Emily’s stomach leapt to life. “I’m starving, actually.” She joined her aunt, opening cupboards full of unfamiliar packaging.

They talked about the kids while they ate. From what Janice could tell, they more or less kept out of mischief. The coffee shop had opened just in time to give them somewhere to hang out.

“With a place to go and each other, they’ve got something to occupy their time and keep them from inventing trouble.” Janice spoke around her sandwich. “Not all kids are as good as you were, hanging around home and making your own fun.”

“I didn’t have much of a choice.” Emily tried to take the edge off her words. “Of course, you were a good influence, enjoying the results of the sexual revolution as only an ex-Victorian could.”

Janice laughed, full and hard.

Finally unpacking her backpack later that evening, Emily found the envelope of money from the king. She’d forgotten about the film she was supposed to get for the hare. Light snores from the next room told Emily that her aunt was already asleep. She’d have to figure out where to pick up the film in the morning.

Mirrored from Journal of a Something or Other.