Oops Don’t Step on the Cracks!

A short story and possibly a beginning to a coming-of-age novel

Justiss Goode | F😄M
The Lark

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“Oooh, you broke your mother’s back!”

“Shut the hell up Jasmine!”

Each of the six times Doreen had committed the unthinkable offense, Jasmine had shouted out the same thing. Doreen couldn’t understand why the girl persisted in trying to play the stupid step on the crack game while they were already in the middle of playing hopscotch.

They were clearly two separate games, yet Jasmine always managed to combine them. And of course, because she’d been living in the dilapidated Jordan Downs Project longer than Doreen, she knew every single crack and cranny in the complex. Jasmine never broke her mother’s back.

Most of the time, Doreen merely played along and at least made an attempt not to step on any cracks, but today she didn’t care; not one bit.

After shouting at Jasmine and finishing up her fives, Doreen threw the key chain she was using for a lager. It landed smack dab in the number six spot.

She remembered there was another crack in one of the spaces ahead. She grinned at Jasmine and stuck her tongue out. Then she gave her a knowing look so Jasmine knew she remembered exactly where the crack was.

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Justiss Goode | F😄M
The Lark

Prolific Writer | Publication Editor | Friend of the Community: Always down to support fellow writers and their stories, in fun, creative, and promotional ways!