Backpacks of Coal
by Bryan Lee

**************Chapter 1*****************
“I don’t care how hard you studied! The fact is, you didn’t get an A!”

“Oh give me a break, mom! Nobody else’s parents get upset over a B+! I bet most parents would be thrilled to have a son like me.”

“Then they can have you. I certainly don’t want a ... a … a lazy sack of crap like you! After all we’ve done for you! Do you know how much you’re father and I have sacrificed to send you to College Prep? Do you? And for what?!! For you to spend your time playing those … those games of yours?!!”

“I TOLD YOU! I study my brains out! I can’t help it if I don’t get straight A’s! You know what the problem is? The problem is that in your mind, I’m some child prodigy! You think that just because YOU graduated at the top of your class, I’m supposed to, too! Well that’s just WHACK. Maybe you need a reality check, mom. I’m not your ‘Little Mr. Perfect,’ so why don’t you just accept it and get over it. I know I have. Face it. In your eyes, I’ll never be enough.”

Mrs. Wong’s voice softened a little.
“Listen to me, Mark. You are smart. You can do better than this. We only push you because we know what you’re capable of!”

“You never push Kim that hard! Did you see HER report card? She got straight C’s!”

“I told you. Your sister is different. She doesn’t have the same brains as you, but she studies as hard as she can. That’s why your father and I are very proud of her. She tries her best.”

“Hah! You never said you’ve been proud of me! Some double standard, hey? What kind of parents are you? Loving your daughter more than your son? HAH! And you call this a Christian home.”

“That’s ENOUGH! I’m sick and tired of your attitude, Mark. Now you go to your room! You’re grounded for a month!”

“A MONTH! That’s WHACKED! Why do you always have to go on these power trips! If Dad were here …”

“You shut your mouth right now,” Mrs. Wong trembled as she spoke, “I’m in charge. Now GET TO YOUR ROOM! And you are now grounded for two months.”

“I hate you,” Mark muttered under his breath.

“What was that?”

“I HATE YOU! I can’t stand you!!! I wish you were dead!!!!” Mark’s voice quivered with rage as he spoke.

“Go to your room, Mark,” Mrs. Wong said softly and shakily. A single tear rolled down her cheek as Mark stomped off to his room.

(to be continued ...)
-bj

In the Moonlight
by Bryan Lee

**********************Prologue************************************

Jeannie let the phone ring for five minutes before answering. "Man, why didn't I ever buy an answering machine?" she thought to herself. Something told her that she should just disconnect the phone, but her curiosity got the better of her.

Jeannie's spacious bedroom was dimly lit by the fading glow of her small desk lamp. Jeannie sat there in the darkness, gathering up courage to answer the phone.

Having lost her sense of peace, she quickly picked up the phone.

"Hello? Hello?!?!? Just leave me alone!!!"

A low, gurgling sound eminated from the receiver. Jeannie began to break out into a cold sweat as goosebumps began to appear on her arm.

A high-pitched, raspy voice suddenly came on the line.

"We will meet ... in the moonlight. We will meet ... in the moonlight." The raspy voice repeated this over and over, like a machine; but Jeanne somehow knew otherwise.

She quickly slammed down the receiver and disconnected her phone. As she sat on the corner of her queen-sized bed shivering, she failed to notice a pair of beady eyes, staring threateningly at her from the shadows of her room.

(to be continued ...)