September 2025 short story of the month

He wasn’t sure how he was able to do the math problems in his head like that. He just closed his eyes and the numbers found their places, like trained dancers, or like magic. He worked the problem one more time. No matter what he did, or what parameters he changed, the answer was the same.

They had a big problem.

They’d miscalculated the cost of almost everything.

He didn’t want to tell the others, but they needed to do something or their plan was going to fall apart. He was fretting and trying to think of the best way to break the news to Marcus.

Marcus was the charmer, the schemer, and the one that would talk the others down after they heard the news.

He texted Marcus, “We need to talk. ASAP. My room.”

He didn’t wait long. In response, Marcus wrote, “OMW.”

Marcus listened to what David had to say. David explained it as carefully and meticulously as he could. When he finished, Marcus was frowning.

“You’re serious?” Marcus asked.

He nodded. “We need more money if we’re going to pull this off. Otherwise, we won’t even make it through the first few weeks at the rate we are hemorrhaging funds.”

“Didn’t we do the math before we started? We knew how much we needed?” Marcus ran his hand over his face. His brow was furrowed and his frown lines seemed to be deepening as they sat there.

“Well, we miscalculated. Things weren’t as cheap as we thought they were going to be, and this place,” he said gesturing at the building around him, “costs a pretty penny to rent.”

Marcus nodded. “I know, but the location is an important part of the plan.”

He nodded. “I know, but if we don’t want to end up completely ruined, we need to speed up the timeline. We need to take on new members and start collecting more money upfront.”

Marcus leaned backed and studied him. “That’s not a bad idea.” He smiled. It was a wicked smile that stretched just a bit too far and showed too many teeth.

****

The next day, they were all assembled in the common room waiting for Marcus to show up.

He looked around nervously. Everyone else was chatting with each other. He stood apart. Other than Marcus, he didn’t really know or really trust any of the others.

He stood at the back once Marcus arrived. He watched the others. As Marcus moved through the room, they all focused on Marcus, never blinking, their eyes were locked on him.

As Marcus stood at the front of the room, every face was turned to watch in awe. Their eyes had a glazed quality to them as they looked at Marcus. Every pupil was dilated.

Marcus didn’t have that effect on him, which was probably why Marcus made him keep the books. He didn’t worship at the alter of Marcus like everyone else.

Watching Marcus from across the room made him think back to when they’d just been friends and neighbors as kids.

****

Twenty Years Ago

“Marcus! Let’s go. I want to get to the creek before everyone else,” he yelled. David stood there, switching his weight from foot to foot. He was so tired of waiting. David was standing at the end of the driveway by the road. Marcus was supposed to be ready.

Marcus finally came running out of his house, the door slamming as he ran to David. When he got to David, he leaned over and tried to catch his breath. “Sorry. I was making sure my hair looked good. What do you think?” Marcus stood up and ran his hand through his hair. His hair was blonde and parted on the side. He was wearing it a bit longer than usual. With his summer tan and bright white teeth, Marcus was starting to look like a 90s heart throb.

David nodded. “It’s okay, but it’s not going to matter once we get in the water. What’s with you? Why do you care what your hair looks like?”

“Today is the day I’m going to talk to Cynthia.” Marcus winked at David as they started walking along the side of the road.

David shook his head. That was the first day of many that he’d underestimated Marcus’s charms.

****

Marcus told everyone they needed to work on recruiting. “One new member a month will no longer be enough. We need to pull in as many as possible. But do your homework. Check credit reports and bring in some big donors.” His speech went on for several more minutes. The group hung on his every word.

When he finished speaking and released his followers to go out and find new members, Marcus motioned for David to come with him. They went back to one of the rooms being used as office space.

“So, how did I do?” Asked Marcus.

David shrugged. “How should I know? You read people better than I do. You always have.”

Marcus was sitting in the desk chair with his feet crossed and propped on the desk. He still wore his hair parted on the side. His teeth were impossibly white, and he kept his tan up year round. Not much had changed in twenty years. Marcus was still Marcus. “We just need one really big fish.”

“Or a bunch of little ones,” said David. He wasn’t trying to be contrary. He just didn’t have faith that the others would find that one special mark they would need. “I thought it was an interesting choice to call the new members ‘donors.’ I mean, that’s not exactly what they are.”

Marcus flashed his million dollar smile. “Donors is a nicer word. It makes them feel like they’re a part of something, not being swindled.”

He didn’t need to tell David that part. He was the only one besides Marcus who knew that what they were doing was a scam. The others were believers and followers. They saw Marcus and fell for his lines of crap. Those lines didn’t work on David. They’d been friends for too long. Then again, Marcus never tried to pull the wool over David’s eyes. They were a team.

****

Ten Years Ago

Their college dorm room was filled with boxes of something. David stood in the doorway trying to figure out what they were going to do. They could barely move around the room. The boxes were everywhere.

“Marcus, we can’t live like this,” David said.

“Don’t worry about. I’ll have it all gone by the end of the week.” He winked at him.

“The end of the week?” David scanned around the room trying to count the boxes, but gave up. “I’m not sure I believe that. What’s in them anyway?”

“Don’t worry about that either. I have it all under control.” Marcus patted David on the shoulder as he walked past him and down the hallway.

David watched him walk off. Marcus waved at every person he passed, and each one waved and smiled back in turn.

****

That charisma never changed for Marcus. He used it to manipulate people and talk them into things they wouldn’t normally agree to. This newest endeavor was the most elaborate and potentially criminal enterprise he’d ever started.

David was still going along with it though. In fact, now that he thought about it, he always went along with Marcus. They were best friends, but Marcus was always the leader. David was always his shadow or second.