Hard Times

Journal of MicroLiterature 2011

We were told that times were tough and most likely someone would have to go. That was Monday morning at breakfast.

Friday we came home from school and three-year-old Timmy and four year old Mary Ellen were gone. We were sad but not surprised because the well dressed couple had come back twice and seemed partial to the two of them. It was similar to the way the farmers from up state had looked at the year-old twins a few months ago.

This time, however, Timmy was returned the following week with no advance notice, just a note pinned to his shirt as he sat on the stoop waiting for someone to come home.