Sweet Sarah: A sweet short flash fiction. (Flash fiction is shorter than a short story. Usually less than 1500 words) “Come on kids. Its too late you need to sleep now.” said the mother. “Not yet Mom. It's not yet midnight. And I still have to practice my speech for tomorrow.” said the eldest son. “Oh! I almost forgot it. Go get it written by your father.” “Sarah go see if Dad is still awake.” asked the visually tired looking mother of four. “Da-da is off. He's snoring so loudly. Cant, you hear mom.” said Sarah the youngest without even moving from her place. “Should I wake him up???” offered John. “No! no...he's too tired. Let him sleep now.” said the mother. “Mom! What should I do now?” “What will I speak at school?” the eldest son was getting impatient now. Too quick to lose his cool, but a hardworking lad he was. 'John, did you polish your shoes? Argh! Cant, you do your stuff? Sheeba please help your brother.” shouted the mother who was on the brink of losing her cool. She sometimes wondered how she manages this army of four Musketeers. But she had no answer. Like most people barely manage their finances paycheck to paycheck, she managed her family day-to-day with no idea how she does that. “Mom!!!” Shouted the eldest. “Is someone going to help me get that book of essays from the attic?” listening to this Sarah ran behind her brother. Together they searched for the book of essays. The books of essays was a life saver for every student. It had essays for every occasion. And tomorrow is the Republic Day, it again had saved the life of the eldest kid of this fairly composed household. “Ah! Here it is, the Essays for every occasion book.” “I think it must be renamed to the Life Saver Book. That will be a better title. And yes when I grow up I will write a book but with a better title and colorful pictures.” said the dreamer John. “yes, have you seen the picture of Martin Luther King in that book?” “I think if you make him wear a hat and an army suite he will look like Hitler.” joked Sheeba, she was almost done helping John polish his white shoes. “I'm off,” said John. And threw himself on the bed as if he was tired cutting trees all day. And soon he was asleep. John slept off, leaving the other members of his family working. To each for themselves. Working hard for a better today and a comfortable future. While John slipped into a dream of how he would build things and rule the world one day. - Imran Soudagar #OpenWriting