can you smile to the fates, stand tall, and make your voice heard

“Hey, Janie” called her best friend Wu Ying from the main entrance of the school.

Wu Ying had somehow stuck with Jane since 3rd grade even though Jane thought they’d have stopped talking years ago. Maybe it was their shared love of poetry and horror that had kept the two together after several fights, Jane wasn’t sure but she was grateful that they were still friends.

“I heard that the school’s starting a poetry club” Ying stated while jogging over still out of breath from Phys-Ed class.

“I heard about that too,” Jane replied while closing ‘Interview with the Vampire’.

“Too bad it’s being supervised by Mrs. Sumner, She’s the worst,” said Ying. Ying’s opinion was shared by just about everyone who had met Mrs. Sumner, Mrs. Sumner was a woman who treated everyone but those with deep pockets like dirt on the bottom of her shoe. It was an open secret at Bluewater Institute that Mrs. Sumner accepted under-the-table payouts from those in positions of power.

“I know we’re better off on our own”

“JESUS! MICAH! Why’d you sneak up on us” shouted Ying. Jane wondered why Ying never got used to Micah’s antics even though Ying had been dating him since the summer after 10th grade. Micah and Ying had met at a cafe where Ying had worked part-time in the summer.

“If you’re interested in joining a poetry club that’s not supervised by the crook then I think there’s a group that meets on Fridays at the Grove.” He suggested while taking the previously vacant seat to Ying’s left.

“I’m working at Revival on Fridays but I think Janie’s free---you are free right Janie.” Responded Ying.

“I’ll think about it,” Jane replied while packing her bag.

“Where are you going, anyway you better not decide not to join because it’s just you.” Said Ying.

“I’m going home, I’m not that unsociable I can go there on my own” retorted Jane looking unamused.

“If you say so. Bye Janie, I’ll call you later,” said Ying while Micah waved goodbye.

Jane had walked nearly a mile when she heard a screeching voice behind her.

“Help! Please don’t kill me I have a family” the voice said as its screeches turned to eerie whimpers.

Jane turned around but all signs of another presence had disappeared. Used to occurrences like what she had just experienced she calmly walked towards the old complex where she lived with her mother and grandmother.