I thought I had it made. Teach a class in self-defense and that’s it. It was easy money and no worries no more feeling guilty no more sponging off of Karen.

Three weeks after I started work at the shelter, I knew I was close to losing my job. I had one person take the class, and while she loved it and was effusive in her praise, no one else seemed willing to try me out.

I pitched in around the center, filing and doing paperwork, putting my administrative skills to work for them, just so I felt I was earning my paycheck, but it wasn’t enough. I knew the axe would fall soon.

A Gender Retirement

By BethanyDaWade

A little story about dreams and reality that I wrote and submitted for the May contest, a little mayday at the end is it's only qualification, but I hope you like it.

Few teenage boys fill the world with brilliant ideas, a rare possibility exponentially diminished with each teenage boy you include in the group. Add alcohol to the mix and the ideas generated can cause a group of crap throwing monkeys to stop and shake their head in amazement at the stupidity. But what makes teenage boys unique and special is their ability, even after determining the stupidity of an idea themselves, to bring those ideas to fruition.

Unfortunately for Dylan Campbell, he is a prototypical member of the species.

“You know I get more proud of you every time I see you” she said, I blushed slightly “No really! You’ve taken everything in stride, right from the moment you decided to be Nikki, and as much as I loved Craig I don’t remember or see him any more. I just see... my beautiful daughter.” she said extinguishing the cigarette and planting a motherly kiss on my cheek,

“I couldn’t have done it without your help and support though. I guess I must have just about the best mother in the world.” I said hugging her.

The 12-year-old male member of an Irish dance troupe must second for his ill sister to help them win a contest in the St.Patrick's Day Parade in New York.