Young Adult

Memoir | Notetaker | Part VI of VI
I found myself in a difficult situation! My new supervisor, Sally Horowitz, requested that I become the note-taker for the newly formed Y2K meetings she would be leading. The problem was that I had no prior experience taking meeting notes—my note-taking skills were limited to my college days! I was unsure if I could accurately capture the essential points in such significant meetings.
By Mia Z. Edwards3 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | Documents in My Tote Bag | Part VI of VI
Life as an office secretary in the U.S. federal government was always a whirlwind of activity. I often find myself missing the thrill of it all now that I’m retired.
By Mia Z. Edwards3 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | Get Mia! | Part VI of VI
As the sun rose on another workday, I needed the signature of our bureau’s Principal Secretary of Prominence, Mr. Goldberg, on an important document. Naturally, I went to Jane, his office secretary, only to discover she was again on sick leave.
By Mia Z. Edwards3 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | Conclusion | Prelude | Part VI of VI | Secretarial Diaries
After demonstrating my competence in managing delicate materials during my global travels for the government, I requested a stable 9-to-5 job once my two-year assignment concluded. I had seen enough of the world and the unpredictable rhythms of international communication. I was ready to trade jet lag and adrenaline for a desk, a routine, and a little peace of mind.
By Mia Z. Edwards3 months ago in Chapters
The Man, The Mountain, and The Climb
". . .He keeps climbing because stopping would mean surrendering everything he has built, every promise he swore to keep. The air thins as he ascends, and though he’s given everything—strength, time, conviction—the mountain gives little back. Once, it felt sacred to climb.
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcast3 months ago in Chapters
The Last Letter in the Attic
The attic air was a thick, stagnant soup, smelling of baked dust and forgotten intentions—a perfect, oppressive atmosphere for unearthing the ghosts of the past. Sweat beaded on Elias's temples, running thin tracks through the grime as he wrestled with the lid of the old, wooden steamer trunk. It wasn't just heavy with objects; it was dense with the gravitational pull of history. Through the settling grit, he traced the name etched faintly into the oak surface, a girl's name from another lifetime: "Clara."
By Anne__3 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | The Charming Hotel Housekeeper | Part V of VI
An official trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina took an amusing turn when a determined hotel housekeeper, with her rapid Spanish and swift cleaning skills, transformed a routine moment into a memorable encounter!
By Mia Z. Edwards3 months ago in Chapters
The Drowned Bells of Atlantica: Ariel’s Mother’s War
Long before Ariel, the kingdom beneath the waves was ruled by a sea-witch queen named Atla. She was said to possess the Bells of the Abyss — coral instruments that could summon tsunamis when struck.
By GoldenSpeech3 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | Challenges in Jet Lag | Part V of VI
This was my first official journey to the continent of Africa. The direct overnight flight from Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France, lasted an exhausting eight hours. I landed in Paris at 7:00 AM, facing a six-hour layover before boarding an Air Afrique flight to Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan. The flight to West Africa added another eight hours to my travel time, and I finally arrived at 9 PM in West Africa. I was completely worn out from the lengthy trip and feeling quite irritable, and the native airport staff didn’t make matters any better. As a result, they witnessed a side of me that wasn’t very friendly.
By Mia Z. Edwards3 months ago in Chapters
Sparrow on a Plank Chapter 1: Starting in Chains
No. That’s what he should have said this morning. Instead, Hajime was chained to a cold wall in the dank dungeon of some second-rate castle with someone firing up the branding irons. And his pants are nowhere to be seen. He smirked to himself; some people would pay decent money for the privilege of being where he was now. The scrawny kid from the docks of an oriental port wouldn’t mind trading places with one of those well-fed lordlings right about now.
By Jamais Jochim3 months ago in Chapters
Sparrow on a Plank Chapter 2: When The Sparrow Meets The Salamander
[For the last chapter, look here.] Hajime walked into the Spectacled Rhino, and headed straight for the table with Sal. This was not the usual dive bar he was used to meeting her; the tables here were clean and there were people actually waiting on the customers. He had problems cutting through the curry in the air, but it was a welcome change from the smoke and cheap booze he generally associated with Sal's usual watering hole.
By Jamais Jochim3 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | Beauty Mark | Part V of VI
As I waited at the airport in Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan (West Africa), for an Air Afrique flight to Accra, Ghana, where I had a day of work ahead, I spotted a woman whose face was beautifully marked with intricate and stunning designs.
By Mia Z. Edwards3 months ago in Chapters