The next morning, Leonard wasn't surprised when his bed was empty. He knew that Elsie wasn't so stupid as to remain with him till morning and she must have gone back to her room in the middle of the night while he was asleep. He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. Today was another day, another school day in fact and he knew he had to get up but his body wasn't moving at that moment. He really wished he could sleep in because he had no motivation to even stand up from the bed. "I don't think I can go to school today," he sighed. If his mother came knocking, he would just tell her the truth. There were some days that he would want to go to school and other days, he would just wish he could skip it and today was one of those days. Just as he had thought, his mother came knocking. Soon, she walked in and one look at him told her that he wouldn't go to school. "No school today?" she asked. "To be honest Mom, I really don't feel like leaving this house," he said. "Okay then

At home, Leonard's heart raced as he positioned himself in the dimly lit living room, his grip tightening around the cold, sturdy handle of the knife he had grabbed from the kitchen. The anticipation was palpable as he crouched behind the couch, his eyes fixed on the entrance, ready to confront the unknown intruder. The soft glow from a nearby lamp cast eerie shadows across the room, heightening the tension that hung in the air. "I will destroy you," he murmured. As seconds turned to minutes, the weight of the silence pressed down on Leonard, making every tiny sound seem loud. He strained his ears, listening intently for any sign of movement, and then, in the midst of the stillness, a faint sound reached his ears – the unmistakable shuffle of footsteps approaching the door. His pulse quickened, and his breath caught in his throat as he readied himself for the imminent encounter. The knife he held felt both reassuring and ominous, a last line of defense against whatever threat await

Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the sky cast shades of orange and pink, Helene returned home to the comforting embrace of her modest abode. The warm glow of the lights inside spilled out through the windows, casting a welcoming aura onto the front yard. She met Leonard in the living room, his brow furrowed with concern. As Helene entered, he looked up, his eyes a mix of relief and tension. She could sense that something was amiss. "Mom, you won't believe what happened," Leonard began, his voice carrying a mixture of disbelief and worry. "Elsie's wicked father... he actually intruded into the house today." Helene's heart skipped a beat, her mind racing to process this unexpected revelation. "What? How did he manage to get in? Is everyone okay?" Helene's voice quivered with concern. Leonard's expression darkened. "I don't know. I had thought the security measures I put in place would keep us safe. But he somehow got past them." Helene's eyes widened wit

Leonard and Daniel exchanged curious glances as they walked down the linoleum-lined hallway toward the principal's office. The last time they had been summoned to this particular room, it was for a rather unsettling reason – reporting the stealing incident involving Edgar and his gang of friends. They hadn't anticipated that their actions would lead to such an intense outcome. Upon entering the office, Principal Thompson gestured for them to sit. The stern expression he usually wore had softened somewhat, replaced by a more appreciative look. "Leonard, Daniel," he began, his tone surprisingly warm, "I want to thank you both once again for bringing the stealing incident to my attention. It took courage to come forward, and your actions have not gone unnoticed." Leonard shifted uneasily in his seat, a mixture of pride and nervousness bubbling within him. "Um, you're welcome, Principal Thompson," he managed to stammer out. The principal leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled

When Leonard arrived back home that evening, his shoulders were slumped and his expression carried a mix of frustration and disappointment. He had just experienced another rough day at school, dealing with Susan's hurtful behavior. He walked into the living room where his mother was sitting, engrossed in a book. "Hey, Mom," Leonard began, his voice heavy with irritation. "You won't believe what Susan did at school today." His mother looked up from her book, concern evident in her eyes. "What happened, sweetie?" Leonard took a deep breath before recounting the events of the day. "Well, during Daniel's time at the library, Susan started making fun of me and Daniel. She called us names and made fun of our clothes. It was really embarrassing." His mother's expression softened as she listened to her son's account. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, Leonard." "Yeah," Leonard continued, frustration bubbling in his voice. "I wanted to confront her and ask her to stop, but I knew she