Once upon a time, I worked in an elementary school, grades K to 7. It was nearing the end of the year, and a group of kids (12/13 years old) had gathered together in the corner of the
schoolyard. They were all huddled together, frequently and furtively glancing over their
shoulders in search of approaching authority figures. That they were plotting was more than obvious. Using their powers for evil, as kids tend to do when left to their own device. Slowly, sneakily, I approached the kids. It wasn’t until I was right on them–practically in their no-good circle–that one of them noticed me.
“Oh, sh*t!” she exclaimed, only to groan when she realized she’d just cursed in front of me and about me.
I leaned back and crossed my arms. I waited for them all to turn, muttering to themselves when they spotted me. A particularly nervous fellow took off around the corner, but the rest stayed put, shuffling from one foot to the other.
“Do you know why I’m here?” I asked.
There were a few responses. Denials, mostly. One brave soul commented that I’d caught them, and he started to tell me what bad choice they’d been about to make. I cut him off.
“Don’t,” I said. “Don’t tell me. I’m just here to give you some advice.”
This piqued their curiosity. The shuffling slowed down.
“You’re all about to go to high school,” I told them, “so you need to learn how not to attract
unwanted attention. Do you know why you caught my eye?”
“Because we were standing together?” a girl replied.
“Exactly!” I told her. “And not just that, but you were standing together in a circle, whispering. It’s very suspicious behaviour. What do you think you should do instead?”
One boy put up his hand, then pointed to the building. “Stand there, not in a circle.”
“Exactly,” I repeated. “Spread out. Take a casual pose. Come on, gang. Show me your casual pose.”
They all complied, arranging themselves in various states of repose. Leaning. Crouching.
Folding arms. One even sat down.
“Perfect,” I said. “Now, when you’re talking about whatever you’re planning, use your normal voices. Quiet, but not a whisper. If anyone approaches–especially a grown-up–don’t stop talking. Don’t jump. But don’t ignore them, either. Greet them like you’re happy to see them.”
“Why are you helping us?” a boy asked.
And I just smiled.
Never ask a suspense writer for advice (unless you need a place to bury a body…)
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About the Author
Melinda is an Amazon bestselling author, whose additional work includes titles for The Wild Rose Press, Amazon Encore, and Harlequin. She writes in a range of romance genres, from heart pounding heat, to nail biting suspense, to gutsy adventure.
Melinda lives on the beautiful coast of British Columbia, Canada, with her amazing and quirky daughters and her handsome hero of a husband. When she’s not writing, she can be found curled up with (someone else’s) good book, on the running trail, or at the soccer pitch.
