Elbows square in plank position she watches the boy scout the room, then turn to his reflection. Carefully sliding his shirt upward they steal a peek at his obliques, pecs. When they lock eyes in the mirror he grins, flexes a bicep at her. Forgets she’s his high school librarian.

Phyllis Rittner’s flash can be found in Wrong Turn Lit, Burnt Breakfast, Roi Faineant Press, Versification, Friday Flash Fiction, Fairfield Scribes, Six Sentences and others. She is a member of the Charles River Writing Collective and can be reached on Facebook at facebook.com/phyllis.rittner.