Stuff for Teens

Brock hung up the phone and let out a deep breath.

“Well what did your probation officer say?” Nathan leaned on the back of a chair.

“He said that even if I’m doing my community service I have to say 50 feet away from Carson.”

“That sucks.” Nathan pulled on his arm sleeves.

“It is what it is,” said Brock. “If he comes back I’ll just go upstairs to the office until he leaves.”

“He’s not coming back.” Ginger snapped her gum in the doorway to the staff lounge.

“Then you don’t know Carson very well,” said Brock.

“He’s banned for 30 days for using fowl language in the library.” Ginger explained. “That should give you plenty of time to finish your community service.”

“I don’t think we’ve met.” Nathan advanced toward Ginger and extended his hand. “I’m Nathan.”

Ginger took Nathan’s hand and gave it a polite shake. “Does Carson bully you a lot?” she asked.

Nathan looked over his shoulder at Brock. “Man, this one doesn’t hold back does she?” He turned back to Ginger. “It’s been going on for about a year. He doesn’t understand alternative lifestyles, so he mocks. It’s what Neanderthals do. I usually just brush it off, but Brock here was a bit more sensitive to the colorful language.”

“How come the rest of the school doesn’t know this side?” Ginger asked Brock. “I’m sure more people would understand why you did what you did, if they knew what Carson was doing.”

“It’s all in the police report,” said Brock. “Nobody cared to find out my side once the pictures got plastered all over Facebook.”

“I’m sorry,” said Ginger, looking at her feet. “I’ve been awful to you. I had no idea what he was doing to your brother.”

“Don’t worry about it,” said Brock. “If you don’t mind, I think I’m going to call it a day and drive Nathan home.”

“I understand. I’ll give you the full hours for today,” said Ginger.

“Don’t do that. No matter the situation I shouldn’t have hit Carson. I’ll do all my community service.” Brock walked to the door. “Come on Nathan, let’s go home.”

Brock turned towards the driver’s side of his black truck and began cussing. Nathan hurried over to see what the problem was. A note spray painted in big white letters across the driver’s side door read: “FAG LOVER”

*Life in the Stacks: A Library Drama will return December 29th.

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott (YA Scott U 2010)

He's looking at me like - well, like he wants to look at me. Like he likes what he sees, and he's smiling and his eyes are so blue even in the faint glow of the porch light they shine, and I nod dumbly, blindly, and then grope for the door handle, telling myself to look away and yet not able to do it.

"Sarah," he says, softly, almost hesitantly, and my heart slam bangs, beating hard, and this is what it's like to want someone you can't have. To want someone you shouldn't even be looking at.








Eli the Good by Silas House (YA House, S E 2009)

In the summer of 1976, ten-year-old Eli Book's excitement over Bicentennial celebrations is tempered by his father's flashbacks to the Vietnam War and other family problems, as well as concern about his tough but troubled best friend, Edie.










Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce (YA Pearce, J S 2010)

The wolf opened its long jaws, rows of teeth stretching for her. A thought locked itself in Scarlett's mind: I am the only one left to fight, so now I must kill you.











Scars by Cheryl Rainfield (YA Rainfield, C S 2010)

Fifteen-year-old Kendra, a budding artist, has not felt safe since she began to recall devastating memories of childhood sexual abuse, especially since she cannot remember her abuser's identity, and she copes with the pressure by cutting herself.

“Oh, would you now?”

Ginger whirled around to see Carson standing behind her. “Carson! What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I just wanted to see how Brock’s community service was going. I was hoping to see him scrubbing some toilets with his toothbrush,” said Carson.

Brock grunted. “Well, apparently the judge didn’t think hard labor was merited, given what you did.”

“What I did?” Carson placed a hand on his chest. “You’re the one who beat the crap out of me.”

“And like I said,” Brock took a step closer to Carson. “I’d do it again.”

“Shut up, Brock,” said a young man, turning the corner.

“Who are you?” asked Ginger.

“He’s my brother,” said Brock. “What are you doing here, Nathan?”

“Apparently, I’m saving your butt.” Nathan walked towards Brock. “You know she could go to your P.O. and tell him you threatened Carson again. Dude, you’ll go to juvie.”

“You know I’d do it again.” Brock narrowed his eyebrows.

“I know you would.” Nathan put his hand on Brock’s shoulder. “And I’m thankful for that, but you don’t have to. I can take care of myself. You think Carson’s the first person to call me that?”

“I call it as I see it.” Carson grinned.

Brock took another step towards Carson. Nathan pushed him back. “He’s not worth it. Just walk away, Brock. He’s just being ignorant.”

“Who you calling ignorant, fag!” snarled Carson.

Ginger gasped and motioned to Natalie at the reference desk. Natalie hustled over. “What’s going on here?”

Ginger struggled to find the words. “I think…” She looked from Brock to Carson. Images of Carson’s battered face flooded her mind. Then her eyes met on Nathan’s. Just how many times had Carson taunted him? “I think Carson needs to leave. He’s insulted a patron.”

Carson’s jaw dropped. “You’re taking his side?”

Natalie stepped in front of Ginger. “Carson, I understand that there are always two sides to every story, but on this occasion I think it would be best if you left.”

Carson glared at Brock. “This isn’t over.”

Jacob and Will Reckless have looked out for each other ever since their father disappeared, but when Jacob discovers a magical mirror that transports him to a warring world populated by witches, giants, and ogres, he keeps it to himself until Will follows him one day, with dire consequences.

Ginger snapped her gum as she watched Brock. He had been doing his community service for the past three days and hadn’t slipped up once. She longed for the opportunity to tell the judge he hadn’t fulfilled his end of the probation and needed jail time. But no, he had showed up on time, done his work correctly, without complaint, and gone home. He even helped the occasional patron find a book.

She had seen the pictures of Carson’s face after Brock got done with him. Who hadn’t seen them? In less than an hour after the incident they had been posted online. Nothing was a secret now-a-days. The world knew everything about you with just a few keystrokes.

“Did you need something?” Brock asked.

Ginger shrugged.

“Well, you keep staring at me,” said Brock. “Makes me think you have something to say.”

“Oh, I have something to say.” Ginger popped her gum. “But saying it at work could get me fired and I, unlike you, actually like being a productive member of society.”

Brock shook his head. “Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out. I’ll just be over here shelving, like a productive member of society. Just know,” Brock smiled. “If you keep staring I may get the impression you have a crush on me.”

Ginger’s mouth flew open. “I would never crush on someone as disgusting as you! You should be in jail, we all know it.”

The corner of Brock’s mouth twitched. “Oh, I get it. You’re waiting for me to mess up, so you can tell the judge I didn’t do my community service.” He closed the distance between them. “That’s not going to happen. I’ll do my time right, then I’m done and you won’t have to see my ‘disgusting’ face any more.”

He turned back to his shelving, then paused and faced Ginger again. “And for the record, I’d do it again. Carson deserved it.”