Keara K. Steele

“The rubber duck has got to go, Michael,” Amy stated while conversing on the phone with her husband. “You didn’t get the article I sent? Those things hold bacteria forever, a kid almost lost an eye,” she offered in response to Michael’s cool tone. “Okay, Mikey, let’s get you out of there,” she said while removing her four year old from his bath. Mikey had become attached to the duck. “Duckie! Duckie!” He screamed. Amy was over Mikey’s petulance tonight. She went to retrieve the duck for him but he completely ignored it. Amy had enough. Mikey had grown bored with playing alone so he began to wander. He ran into Duckie right outside of his room. “Hi, Duckie,” Mikey laughed. “Hi, Mikey,” Duckie responded. Mikey was stunned. “Duckie talks?” Mikey ran over to Duckie and picked him up. “Shhh, mommy doesn’t like Duckie,” Duckie whispered, “Mommy said ‘duckies are for bad boys.’” Mikey frowned, “But I’m not a bad boy.” “Then hide me. We don’t want to upset mommy,” Duckie instructed. Th...

“Just ask her, I bet she’ll say yes this time,” read the message that flashed on Jamie’s cellphone screen. He let out a deep sigh before replying, “My mom never lets me go anywhere…not even gonna waste my time.” The response came almost instantly. “If you wanna see me in this dress, you’d ask.” The message was followed by a picture that made every hair on Jamie’s body stand. Jamie, himself, had stood. He was walking now, to be more precise. He wasn’t sure what he’d say yet but he straddled every ounce of confidence he could muster and used that to guide his steps to the living room. His mother would usually be nestled into her favorite love seat half sleep with a mug of tea watching the 9 o’clock news. Tonight, she’s standing directly in front of the tv, eyes glued to a breaking news broadcast. Jamie assumed there wouldn’t be a better opportunity, “Mom, is it cool if I go to this party tonight?” He swiftly bowed his head and shut his eyes. Surely, Janice Mae’s boy would never fix h...