Suspicious

I give to you the latest snippet in the Reincarnated (click the link for previous entries) story in eleventy-one words...

Charlotte demurred. ‘I punched him back.’

‘Ok?’

‘I caught him off guard; he actually started crying.’

Olivia pursed her lips.

‘What?’

‘You felt sorry for him.’

‘Well, yeah.’

‘You comforted him.’

Charlotte shrugged.

‘Alright, so how can he help?’ she asked, exasperated.

‘He knows how to find people’s families.’

‘Has he helped you?’

‘No, but I don’t remember much.’

‘Has he found his family?’

‘No.’

‘Oh my God, Charlotte.’

‘What?’

‘He’s playing you.’

‘He can help you.’

Olivia paused. ‘Why me?’

‘He knows about your two sons.’

‘How?’

‘I don’t know. You should talk to him.’

‘Yeah…’ she responded suspiciously.

They shared an uneasy silence.

‘Ok,’ Olivia responded, ‘when and where?’

James

I give to you the latest snippet in the Reincarnated (click the link for previous entries) story in eleventy-one words...

Charlotte seemed to reconsider saying anything, then settled on a grimace.

Olivia, annoyed at the reaction – though unconvinced that Charlotte would provide any suggestion of value – rolled her eyes and plunked back into her chair.

Charlotte sighed.

‘Oh my God, just say it. I’m not expecting much. Just…’

‘James,’ Charlotte blurted.

‘James who? Wait, James? As in the kid who…’

‘Yeah,’ Charlotte winced as if anticipating an imminent attack.

‘Runs around like a lunatic and tries to punch girls?’ finished Olivia. The thought processed a moment more. ‘Wait, how would you know?’

Charlotte hoped – but knew it impossible that – Olivia wouldn’t arrive at that question so quickly.

‘How do you know?’

Realistic

I give to you the latest snippet in the Reincarnated (click the link for previous entries) story in eleventy-one words...

‘Umm, okay…’ Charlotte replied skeptically.

‘What?!’ Olivia snapped.

Charlotte shrunk back into her chair. ‘I don’t know. I was just… It seems… Are you being realistic?’

Olivia backed off. ‘I don’t know. But I can’t stay here. I can’t take another ten years of this.’

Charlotte remained quiet, thoughtful.

‘Oh my God! It’s a freaking worldwide phenomenon. And my bitch of a mother won’t even acknowledge it.’

‘Sorry.’

‘Not your fault.’

‘What are you going to do?’

‘No idea.’

Charlotte stared past her, thinking.

‘What are you looking at?’

‘Hmm… Do you still want to find your kids?’ she asked.

‘I guess. Why?’

‘I may know someone who can help.’

‘Who?’