Marty Smith was born in Accident, Maryland, and his whole life reflected it: he missed the game-winning free-throw junior year, got chicken pox twice in grade school, even lost his mother to cancer. To break this supposed curse, he fled Accident as soon as he graduated high school.<br><br>Now, ten years later, Marty must face his past when he's forced to care for his suddenly-immobile father. Marty knows his close-minded hometown hasn't changed, but seeing an old classmate named Colten Williams makes him wish things were different. The more time he spends with Colten, the more he wants to stay. Accident isn’t so bad when viewed through Colten’s eyes.<br><br>Or is it just the curse lulling him into a false sense of security before it pounces again?

The Accident Curse

“What are we eating?” Colten asked, snatching the hat off his head. “Smells good.”


“I told you I’d make my famous chicken and waffles.”


While Dad finished with the breaded chicken in the oven, I poured the batter into the waffle iron. The secret was a pinch of nutmeg and ginger in the waffles, and added to the panko coating of the chicken.


The final assembled product looked amazing, with a large helping of maple syrup slathered across the top of the chicken breast. My mouth salivated and I saw Colten eye his with a hint of food lust.


Dad said grace, then we dug in. The room was completely silent except the scrape of forks on plates.


We finally slowed down after our third helping apiece.


“Marty, this is amazing,” Colten said. “I could eat this every day.”


“Is that an invitation?” Dad interjected on my behalf.


He shrugged his shoulders and winked. I was not amused. And he knew I couldn’t stay here; I’d explained it all.


Chapter 42