Crown’s Plank (six) Shanty Town Floor

The conversation looped. Each time it thrummed inside Tobi’s skull, her grief slipped a little further back to make way for her fury. Her breathing became labored and erratic, her eyes scanning the floor for anything sharp. She would prefer a carpenter’s...

Crown’s Plank (seven) Dissecting Leer

Despite her frantic search, Tobi could find nothing with which to unleash her demons. Each individual second spent with her own lies burrowed itself savagely into her skin like a bloodthirsty parasite. She prayed to thin air that she wasn’t being watched. She...

Crown’s Plank (nine) Guise of Strength

Tobi heard whispering coming from the other girls. They had gathered in the living room, beside the stairs, in a huddle where they waited anxiously to see what would happen next. Instantly, rage thundered inside her. Violent colors exploded beneath Tobi’s...

Crown’s Plank (ten) To The Stream

Tobi turned to the others and swept her eyes over them, daring them to hurt her with their contempt. “I’m sorry guys, I guess because of me we don’t get to go to bed yet.” The other girls knew better than to retort.  That was exactly what Miss...

Crown’s Plank (eleven) Damp Dusk and Fear

Damp dusk embraced Tobi as she began down the path toward the stream.  She felt a strange disconnect from the seriousness of her situation. Her ego swelled from knowing that she had caused such disarray.  Everyone was supposed to be going to bed.  They were living...