The Apartment

By Ivan Rosenfeld | Grade 9 | Flash Fiction | Scholastic Silver Key

He shuffles his hands around in the pockets of his pale, tattered shorts, coins jingling as they clatter against each other, their rusted crevices scraping against his skin. As he steps into the grocery store, the night morphs into blinding streaks of white.

He wanders through aisles and aisles saturated with the rich color of chips, candies, and cereal, stretching his arms out as he searches for the fruit section.

A ball of red peeks out in the corner of his vision: an apple.

He picks it up and turns it in his hand as his thumb strokes the glossy surface, hunting for dents. With a grin, he carries himself over to the checkout line, his fingers clasping the fruit.

But somewhere along the way, a stack of magazines catches his eye, its vivid yellow font teasing him.

He snatches one off the shelf, “Miami, Home & Decor”.

On the cover, an apartment soars above the clouds, a rosy sunset rests in the background. He stares at the image, and sees himself strolling around, looking through the crystal-clear windows, peering down at the homes below before sinking into a silky, chic, leather couch, a smile spreading across his face as he reaches down for the remote, and turns on the TV.

“Sir, are you ready to pay?” A muffled voice — the cashier. He sighs and places the magazine back on the rack, shuffling towards the front of the checkout line.

“Yeah, I am.”