Get in Trouble: Stories

by Kelly Link

“You have to move fast,” Conrad explains. “Or else the food gets cold. Guests complain.”

Haha

the thick, sweet smell of caramelized onions, onions that will never make anyone cry again.

Haha

Haha simile

“You look like trouble,”

(I won’t even try to describe the taste of Ernesto’s hangover cure. Except, I will never drink again.)

Haha

Haha

He nudges Billie as if to say, I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing near you.

Haha

Billie says, “I guess it’s kind of funny. In a horrible way.”

“It’s the superhero triangle. Warning signs you might grow up to save the world.

Haha

So maybe you’re just some girl. But maybe you can do something that you don’t even know about yet.”

“You sound like my guidance counselor,” Billie says. “Like my sister. Why do people always try to tell you that life gets better?

Haha

Stay out of trouble.”

the New School,”

Haha

Bryant Park.

Haha

Lightswitch.”

Tyrannosaurus Hex.”

Paul Morphy,”

Koneru Humpy

Haha

discretion is the better part of harmonious family relationships.

Haha

Real superheroes?

diamond is the superhero of the mineral world.

Haha

bubble of blood

He hasn’t even done anything all that bad, yet. And yet you can see how badness accumulates around him.

Simile

“My superpower is money.” The wall props him up. “Only superpower that counts for anything.

Better than invisibility. Better than being able to fly. Much better than telekinesis or teleportation or that other one. Telepathy.

I don’t like that it felt good. I don’t like that it felt like fun.

bubble of blood

Except for the ring.

So Paul Zell.

I read your e-mail and part of me thought, I’m saved.

Paul Zell, whoever Paul Zell is, will go on being the Master Thief Boggle.

you’re better than that, Paul Zell. You have to be better than that.

How does she know? Maybe. Maybe not. She’ll take the chance.

I can go be someone else, right?

We could pretend that you never discovered my secret identity.

We could go on a quest. Save the world.

But here’s the deal, Paul Zell. I’ll be older one day. I may never discover my superpower.

I don’t think I want to be a sidekick. Not even yours, Paul Zell.

Conrad Linthor

there was a reason that I bought a bus ticket and came to New York.

I didn’t lie to you about everything.

Haha Could have been really ugly - an enticement case with a 20-year minimum prison sentence, but she licks out by not meeting him, and takes agency for her decisions and plans.

Olds Faces Q-ratings

My body was going to be a temple, not a dive bar.

Haha

Face