Step on a Crack

Turnabout is fair play.

As Nora and Sadie walked side by side, Nora repeated the phrase she heard her older sister say often when they were smaller: “Step on a crack, break your mother’s back. Step on a crack, break your mother’s back.”

Both teen girls refused to step on a crack, perhaps subconsciously because of the little poem.

It was all Nora could do to get a word in edgewise as Sadie spoke endlessly about her newest beau, Maxwell. Plus, at 16, Sadie had outgrown the little ditty.

“Not too loud, Nora, or Mom might hear you,” Sadie said.

“What? That’s crazy, Sadie. Mom’s at home. How can she possibly hear me?”

“Just sayin’ is all…” said Sadie.

When the girls got home, Nora announced their presence.

“I’m in the bedroom, girls,” Nora’s mom called out.

Nora stared in horror at Sadie, and both ran to their mom’s bedroom. She was in bed.

“What happened, Mom?” Nora asked.

“Oh, I stepped on the wet kitchen floor and my back went out. Doctor said I’ll need to be careful for a while. Nothing serious. So, Sadie didn’t tell you?”

“No, Sadie didn’t tell me, but she probably didn’t tell you about her new boyfriend Maxwell either, did she? She sees him a lot after school and talks about him all the time.”

 “Hmm. Is that right, Sadie?” her mom asked.

“Well, sort of. I think Nora’s just making some stuff up though,” said Sadie.

Sadie’s eyes pierced through her younger sister, but Nora didn’t say a word. She didn’t need to.

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