Working Fire

by Emily Bleeker

later was either reassuring or disgusting. Back then, you weren’t an official couple in Broadlands, Illinois, until you defaced property to prove it. Usually the requirement included school property, but Amelia decided she’d rather face Mr. Slattery, owner and manager of the Piggly Wiggly in Waynesville, than have the principal at Broadlands High call her father.

Caleb only made it to the end of high school. Mr. Slattery’s call and Amelia’s subsequent grounding probably didn’t help the budding romance much. But the evidence was etched in stone. Or crappy old laminate countertop, Ellie thought as she slipped her phone out of her pocket and snapped a quick picture to share at next Monday’s dinner. Amelia’s

the guard there, she had to play it cool and hope that maybe they’d crossed paths at some point out on a scene or parade or chili cook-off. She pulled at the waist of her scrubs, a little nervous about her unkempt appearance. It would be so much easier if she were wearing her uniform. People tended to take you far more seriously if