Ficlets

Mr. and Mrs. Tweed were standing in front of the house a little too perfectly when the reporter arrived. “Glen, Ryan! Come join your mother and father on the front porch!” Mrs. Tweed’s smile was more than plastic. The girls bounced out of the house with an enthusiasm that could only be described as too much sugar. Or too much visual stimulation.

“Life has not changed for us. We’re still your average American family. Look, here’s our white picket fence! A ho, ho, ho!” Mr. Tweed’s cheeks were beginning to ache. “All right then, we’ll be able to see the segment tonight?”
“Uh…of course. Thank you for your time.” The reporter was more than ready to leave.
“Would you like to see the television set?” But the man had already left. “Well, girls, I hope you learned something today.”
“Oh, certainly,” Ryan’s nose twitched. “You can always get by on a smile.”