《When the Blood Smears》


 First Period

    Franklin High is nothing short of a nightmare. Today is the first day of the tenth grade. We haven''t even made it through the first period, and Mrs. Bernstein is already giving me the third degree.


    ¡°Marcella?¡±


    I look up from my doodling to see her staring at me.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°Are we really going to have the same problem as last year? Or will you pay attention.¡±


    I hate school. I do not see the point in learning about things that I will never use in the real world.


    "Marcella? Are you listening?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mrs. Bernstein. You have got my full and undivided attention. Do go on.¡±


    Apparently my tone is bad-mannered or something, because next thing you know I am sitting in a chair outside of the principal¡¯s office.

 Alluring Stench

    The home bell rings, but I am not eager to go home. I am sure my mother has been notified about my little incident during the first period. I walk along lazily, enjoying my last moments of freedom before I am grounded¡­again.


    As I approach the last few driveways before my own, I notice a foul scent. It reeks of rotting food, but much worse. Curious, I follow the scent into my neighbour¡¯s backyard. The stench is almost unbearable now.


    What could that be? I wonder. It is even worse than my mother''s compost bin.


    I survey the entire area closely. My neighbour, Mr.Bernstein, is not home. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    There must be a dead animal or something back here somewhere. The smell is just so foul, I feel like I have to figure out where it is coming from.


    ¡°Marcy?!¡±


    I startle at the sudden sound of my mother¡¯s voice. She is standing on our back deck and can see clearly into the neighbour¡¯s yard.


    ¡°What are you doing in Bernstein¡¯s yard!?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you smell that?¡± I ask her.


    She looks at me, dumbfounded.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. Would you get inside before somebody sees you! We don¡¯t need you causing any more trouble today.¡± She sounds angry.


    I sigh and make my way back to the front yard. I realize how crazy I must look; sneaking around the neighbour¡¯s backyard. Even if there was something dead in Bernstein¡¯s yard, there is nothing abnormal about that. Right?