Midnight at the 24-Hour Diner

Midnight at the 24-Hour Diner

The Night the Lights Wouldn’t Stay Still Mara hated working the overnight shift at the 24-Hour Diner, but she took what she could get—she was saving up for college. The diner…
A Grocery Line Confession

A Grocery Line Confession

The Secret That Slipped Out at Checkout The grocery store was noisier than normal for a Tuesday afternoon. Shopping carts squealed along the tiled floor, kids pulled at snack shelves and the…
Coffee Break at Maple & 3rd

Coffee Break at Maple & 3rd

A Quiet Morning at Bean & Hearth There was always a quiet loveliness about Maple and 3rd on weekday mornings around ten. The morning rush had worn away, the lunch crowd…
The Woman at Apartment 7B

The Woman at Apartment 7B

What Happened in 7B Maplewood was the sort of town where everyone was polite but no one talked too much. Neighbors did not engage in lengthy discussions. For many, the only way…