Inkling_2026_Digital - Flipbook - Page 26
“Because when you ran, you
took your engagement ring with
you.” Robert sni昀昀ed. “It’s a family
heirloom of mine, and I needed it
back for when I do 昀椀nd the right
person. The thing is, you weren’t
easy to catch when you either
screamed or fainted whenever I
appeared. And of course, Peyton
was there to bully me into leaving
every time I came.”
Eleanor looked towards her 昀椀nger,
where indeed, there resided a
diamond band. Shame 昀氀ushed in
her cheeks.
“Oh, I do apologize—”
“Eleanor, he is spouting lies.” Peyton
snapped sharply, jabbing a 昀椀nger
accusingly in Robert’s direction.
But Eleanor doubted he actually
was suspicious. It was more likely
that Peyton was still ru昀툀ed from
his failed stunt with the sword – or
sword handle, rather – and didn’t
like being called a bully.
“Peyton, pointing at people like that
is rude—”
“His last name is quite literally
Scarface.”
“Not actually.” Robert interjected,
shaking his head sadly. “This was
a scar I claimed in war years ago.
People can be cruel with nicknames.
My last name is actually Atterdam.
Robert Atterdam.”
26 | INKLING 2026
That seemed to shut Peyton up.
“Oh…er…I do apologize.”
Robert did not dwell. “All is good,
young man. Now wait here, this tea
is simply delicious. I must re昀椀ll my
cup! I will return with servings for
both of you as well.”
“I wasn’t aware that this book was
so one-sided.” Eleanor remarked,
just as Robert slid behind the
page. “He seemed like a nice man,
actually.”
“I agree.” Peyton replied, even
though he was reluctant to admit it.
“He even drinks rosemary tea.”
Soon, Robert returned, balancing
three teacups in his hands that
he distributed to the party. They
chatted for a while, and it was so
enjoyable of a time that they didn’t
notice when the book opened,
precisely to the page where their
homely gathering was located.
Neither did they register it when
The Reader frowned in confusion,
met with a quaint image of the
main protagonists and villain
discussing matters over tea instead
of the 昀椀erce face-o昀昀 that the words
written by someone else had
promised.
Dhanya is a runner-up in the Short
Story category for this year’s Teen
Writing Contest.
