The Bancrofts of Sunrise Cove

"Hey! Hey!" Kimberly called me from her desk. "Get over here now!"   "I know I'm late-" "It's not about that. Big news! I have two!" She looks overly enthusiastic. "Okay..." I took a seat next to her. "First of all, Mr. Beck is letting a few people go." She whispered. There have been rumors that half of the people in this office will be let go. The Sunrise Time Tribune isn't doing well. Nothing dramatic ever happens in this town. Only the little insignificant repetitive things and sadly, such doesn't make for interesting news. I sank deep into the seat with a sudden damp mood. "Oh dear." What do they say when it's time to lay people off in companies and in this case newsrooms? Last one in, first one out? I am among the newest employees. I am among

Bad habits. Everyone has one, two or several. I have several but one of them that I am particularly struggling with is 3AM snacking. I made a resolution -the ones people swear by as they begin a new year- that I haven't stuck to. The plan was to lose 30lbs by summer. I even bought a little polka dot bikini but I don't think I will fit into it if I am stuffing my face with chocolate chip ice cream at 3AM in the morning. But first, I savor the delightfully delicious ice cream. I will regret it later, probably in a few hours when I am unable to climb the two flights of stairs at the tribune. "Mm-mmm!" I moaned from the sweetness while quietly blessing the company that made this ice cream.  I opened my eyes for another scoop and caught my mother's reflection on the glossy surface of the fridge.  "For a second there I was excited to burst you with a man." She spoke in her us

Beck Hall's words are still ringing in my ears days after we spoke. I have till the end of the year to make myself valuable to the Tribune. It's a newspaper business. What do newspapers need? Big headlines!I accepted Linc's invitation to join in him on his trip with intent. The Bancrofts are a big deal to the town. Anything to do with them excited people. It's almost like the way the English love their Queen. If the Bancrofts were to stand in the balcony of their home and wave, the small town folk will gather to wave back. I just need something that is not the pointless rumour Kimberly Lawrence started. What kind of scandals are rich people likely to be involved in?Financial crimes, making people disappear, dirty pay offs, sex scandals... I glanced at the shirtless man at the deck. Linc is well put together. There are no red signs warning me to back away. He dived into the water and was under for a bit. I stood up to get closer to the window

I think that everyone reaches a moment in their lives when they ask themselves 'is this right?' This moral question is reserved for those with a conscience. The majority of the people that walk the streets of this town don't have this faculty called a conscience. They either bend to higher power without question or they assume things never happened. They are never self driven to truly look at a situation independent from influence. I fear that at this moment, I am part of the majority that don't have a conscience or possibly I'm lacking in ability to step away from this situation and see it clearly. I want this to mean what I want it to mean.  I want a story so badly I can twist it into anything so that it is something to keep me at the Tribune.  What I saw a few nights ago can have a decent explanation. But I don't want it to. I want it to mean something else. Something that can help me keep my job. 

Clara's POVI studied Beck Hall as he read my article. I know the famous expression where he thinks an article presented to him is something. I spent all night on this and I never pull an all nighter! I gave it my all according to the limited information I had. He looked between me and the sheets of paper in his hand. He let out a deep uncertain sigh. The momentary confidence I felt suddenly faded. "It's something, right?"  He took off his glasses and looked at me. "I see what you're trying to do." I sense a dismissal coming on. "You're trying to keep your job. But I can't decide that. The new owners-" "The story can be something. Kimberly gets to keep her job and she peddles gossip for a living. Mr Beck, the Bancrofts have dirty secrets. Everyone knows that and if you just give me a chance or at least let the new owners know I have potential, I can expose them." "Clara, there are things