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Short stories

The Faces of Death

Love, Poems, Short stories / / , , , , , ,

Mrs. Huffilton sat comfortably in her old red armchair

As she stared off into space without any care

Her arms cradled a little doll

Her hair was undone

Her frail body, covered in something fit for a ball

Her eyes, black, as the darkness that surrounded her

The silence was loud, not empty

She waited patiently

For the ratting, tapping on her door

 

Lost in her thoughts she was

Waiting patiently for the scream of the kettle

Her cheeks smudged in black ink

Her lips were a shade of bloody red

Her appearance looked like someone who had just gotten out of bed

 

In front of her was a puddle of her tears but she just looked straight ahead

Her lips curled into smile, revealing her rotten teeth

When soft steps broke her focus.

 Her eyes returned to their hungry gaze

He had come

 

The broken holes in the wall let the wind outside flow in

Killing the flame in her heart and the rage in her head

“Death” she whispered

As the breeze around her carried her words away.

 

The man outside grinned

His face may have shown centuries of dead hope

But his stance spoke otherwise

His eyes lit up like a fireplace

He gave a small grin before

Fully disguising himself as a tall bony man

With only his library of knowledge and his carefully planned speech to give him away.

The golden watch attached to the chain on his pocket ticked furiously

 

His long fingers curled up, as he extended his index revealing a a ring of Ruby Zoisite

Ding Dong

Mrs. Huffilton rose from her seat, screaming excitedly.

Yelling in pain

Dancing of joy

Her mournful squall, disguised behind kettle’s squeal

 

Her dress hung loosely from her body as she threw her front door open

shining moonlight into her rather drafty home

Clothes and undergarments were thrown everywhere

Piles of broken cups and stacks of plates and bowls were placed everywhere except the kitchen sink

A small rat climbed up her leg, as her smile stretched to its limit

 

“Darling you have finally come back…” she squeaked,

“Look I have even worn a dress for the occasion”

The man at the door looked her up and down before grabbing her by the waist and placing his gigantic ring on her finger.

“Look what I got you”

After a kiss on her cheek

And a lot of pleading for another one on the lips

 

They sat in darkness, the door shut tight, behind them

 “Oh I forgot all about the tea, excuse me my dear” she ran off

Bringing back a tray filled with an array of stale cookies and baked goods, making barely any place for the two saucers and teacups filled to the brim

”Darling, it’s time” the man urged, checking his watch before taking another sip of tea.

“But you have just come, Doesn’t Mr. Huffilton want to spend more time with his waiting wife?” she asked her face sinking, as she looked down.

The man in front of her only gave silence, face hidden in the dark of the room

 

2 minutes went by as the couple just sat, with only the sound of the timing watch to fill the silence, slurping down tea

When Mrs. Huffilton gasped, leaving the room.

The man in the armchair just nodded, ignoring the fact, that if she was still even in the room

Then she returned wearing fabric that hugged so tight to her skin

it was as good as standing there naked

“I got it on our last anniversary, you said it made me look like a model in Fashion Magazine!” she explained before she was swept back in the memories of her past

 

When her body was young again, and her face not drained of its color.

 Her hair is as healthy as the many thriving plants outside in the garden.

Then arrived tears, and the rage in her broken heart burned again

“Why did you leave me here, why did you leave and never come back? You were supposed to come back!”

 

The man gave not a reply, but his hand

“No, just 5 more minutes. I have so much to say…”

“He is waiting for you like you were for him” the man finally spoke

 

Hesitantly she took his hand and kissed him on his lips.

 Before collapsing to the ground.

The watch finally stopped ticking, and the wind gave a long sigh, pushing the door open

 

 Soon came the break of dawn

His hair turned to flame-red

His eyes back to an innocent look

As he shrunk down to the size of a little boy

He gave her one last look,

Before heading outside in tattered clothes and a hopeful smile.

 

Tomorrow he was gonna play an old man.

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Unlikely Heroes

Review, Short stories, YA Mystery/Thriller/Suspense / / , , , , , , , ,

“Y’all were heroes from the beginning. You just didn’t ‘turn’ all of a sudden.” (Hinton, page #107) S. E. Hinton writes in her book The Outsiders. The Outsiders is about a group of teenage boys trying to survive in an environment of class division. Throughout the book, these boys continue to get tested on their morals. This raises the question of whether even a gang of teenage delinquents can be heroes. The simple answer is a hero doesn’t always wear a cape, a hero is someone selfless, has perspective, and is willing to speak out against injustice.

In The Outsiders, Johnny Cade shows heroism by being selfless. After Ponyboy almost gets drowned by Bob for“stealing” his ex-girlfriend. Johnny confesses to killing Bob to protect his friend. Referencing, in chapter 4, Johnny explains to Ponyboy,“‘I had to. They were drowning you, Pony. They might have killed you…’”(Hinton, page #57). This conveys heroism because although Johnny would have to be on the run for most of his life, he still decided to save Ponyboy. Selflessness matters in humanity because it can help connect with people, empathize with their struggles, and contribute to a positive change. In conclusion, Johnny Cade’s selfless act in The Outsiders demonstrates heroism.

In The Outsiders, Cherry Valance expresses heroism by having perspective. After Bob Sheldon’s (her ex-boyfriend) murder, the conflict between the greasers and Socs intensifies. Cherry sees the conflict from both sides. To illustrate, in chapter 6 after Dally tells Johnny and Ponyboy about their new spy Cherry, Dally goes on to say “‘She said she felt that the whole mess was her fault, which it is, and that she’d keep up with what was coming’ off with the Socs in the rumble and would testify that the Socs were drunk and looking for a fight and that you fought back in self-defense.’”(Hinton, page #85/86). This conveys perspective because although Cherry and Bob were once in a relationship she still sees the Greasers´ point of view and understands where both sides are coming from. Although Cherry is also a Soc herself she still spies on her closest friends just to help the greasers a little bit, because she understands the problem from all angles. Perspective is important to society and heroism because it helps people to view situations from other positions, and to consider other beliefs, experiences, and opinions. Such things are crucial for humanity and a hero because they give one a better understanding and greater empathy. It reduces bias, judgment, and conflict. When people don’t have perspective, they are quick with claims, which could end in unnecessary trouble. To summarize, a hero like Cherry Valance shows heroism by having perspective.

A hero speaks out against injustice, like Ponyboy Curtis in The Outsiders . In the novel, there is a lot of stereotyping between Socs and Greasers—the rich vs the poor. Ponyboy wants to help look out for the Greasers and for“boys like him”. As seen in the final few pages of the book, he thinks to himself “Someone should tell their side of the story, and maybe people would understand then and wouldn’t be so quick to judge a boy by the amount of hair oil he wore. It was important to me.”(Hinton, page # 179) This highlights Ponyboy coming to understand stereotyping and that he needs to advocate for those who are being judged on where they are from and how they look. Being an advocate and voice for problems such as class division, health and human rights, and food assistance, is a big idea in heroism because with so much going on in the world it can be hard to be seen but if that voice is heard it can help them build others’ confidence, help them push through, and take positive action. The impact of one person can last for many years and affect many people over time. Every hero needs to make a good impact on someone who doesn’t have the same chance or the opportunity to have their voice heard. To conclude, when someone like Ponyboy Curtis speaks out against injustice, they become a hero.

Not all heroes wear capes… Selfless people, who have perspective, and are willing to speak out against injustice are heroes too! If someone takes 1 minute of their day to look through the mess of selfishness and self-centered people to find someone who can benefit from their help then this small act of heroism will not only benefit the world by uplifting and enhancing other people’s lives but it inspires others to do the same.

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Dandelions

Inspiring, Motivation, Poems, Short stories /
I stood proud and strong Till the wind came that day. It was first a gentle breeze, it barely moved my position, But what came next was beyond my imagination. It was strong, stronger than all our strengths combined, But I held on, I still stood proud.   I stood still, but the weaker bent, They turned, they fell, and flew with the wind to their uncertain doom. The next breeze was more of a storm! Even the proudest, the most powerful bent, I held on though, I held strong.   I bent and almost fell. The wind pulled me and grabbed onto me like I was a rope in a game of tug-a-war. But I held on, I still stood, but with little hope. I watched in despair as others like my family and friends grew weak, As they too started dancing to the tunes of the wind.   What I felt was indescribable, but I had to stand. My body felt weaker as the wind grew with each passing day. Every day more left, and more couldn’t hold on. And soon came my time. I let the wind carry me but not for long.   I wiggled and fell free into a green luscious meadow. There I nestled into the dirt. The warmth of the sun and the water from the rain aided me.   Now others stand where I once fell, stronger and prouder.

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Sad

Inspiring, Love, Motivation, Short stories / / , , , ,

The wind blew, making my hair go haywire as the waves of the water below carried a small boat. In the hurry of the day I lost someone so precious, so wonderful, so cherished that my mind began to go wandering far into the blue-green ocean. I could not hear the gossip and chattering of the voices that surrounded me. All I saw was darkness, and I felt like I was drowning in untouched waters, gasping for air, screaming for help but no one can hear. And if I ever would make it out alive, no one will understand the pain, the amount of fear and terror I bore. No one will know how it feels to feel so weak that you think your soul is going to leave your body. Tears fell from my eyes but no one noticed them. They say they know how it feels, but do they? They say that they have your back but do they? Because if they did, where are they now when I needed them most? I stayed quiet the whole way back from the funeral location, my eyes were glossy. I moved and looked like I was hypnotized for the next following days at least that’s what they told me. They told me for a few days/weeks it will feel weird and depressing, the internet told me it would be like that for 6 months and after that, everything will go back to normal. Like with everything they were wrong. Normal? What is normal without the person you love with your whole heart? How normal is normal if a whole chunk of your life is missing? As I walked down the street, people would whisper, look at me in pity. But I ignored them. Usually in movies, this is the part where the person gives up on living and takes up bad habits but my life was not a movie. I would go through the motions of daily life and then at precisely 6 o’clock I would head to the beach and stare at the water. Just stare as memories flood my mind, how can someone I was hearing and interacting with just a few months ago disappear? I was mad, I was angry. How could the universe take something away from me that was more valuable than gold? Some days I felt weak and powerless, and others I felt like screaming and cursing at the top of my lungs. But no matter how I felt each day would end with me crying my heart out. I didn’t feel like smiling, eating, or going out with friends knowing that the person I thought would be with me forever was gone. I still lived though because many were relying on me like relied on the very person that drifted away from me. As time went on, I learned to live with this empty spot in my heart, I learned to laugh even though deep inside I was crying. I learned to be myself again without the person that kept me going. When people asked as they do, I would share our story. I am old now, my hair is gray, I am close to breathing my last breath, and I find comfort in this because soon I will meet the person I miss so deeply. Nothing is forever even sadness.

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Summer gone totally wrong! Here is our protagonist looking like a rockstar while mentally having a break down !

A Summer Day to Remember

Mystery, Short stories / / , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“NOOOO!” Kaylee cried.  My face turned into one of those shiny red fuji apples that were currently on display in the fresh produce section near me. All I wanted this summer was a job where I could earn some cash. But little sister Kaylee had to ruin everything! 

School ended two weeks ago and that’s how long it took me to spend all my allowance for the whole of summer. But it wasn’t my fault that there were a bunch of cute and stylish outfits on sale. Even now as my bratty little sister cried her head off…I looked gorgeous. I pretty much slayed in my brand new white ripped jeans, crop top, and the perfect Drop Shoulder Drawstring Crop Hoodie to go on top. I mean I did not look like a model or anything, you can’t look like a model if you have freckles covering your whole face, red hair, and green eyes, but it was a major wardrobe improvement over my sweatpants and an old worn-out vintage t-shirt. I went into shopping spree mode when I saw the outfits on display and totally forgot about the tax. Now I am broke with no money for anything else this summer. Which is why I spent all morning clicking on every link I could find for summer jobs. I almost screamed when I found a job at the local grocery store within walkable distance, had the most basic qualifications, and was paying 20 dollars an hour! I grabbed my Converse immediately ready to snatch the job before anyone else could. But my “considerate“ mother had to make me babysit one of the worst creatures that ever walked the planet… 5-year-old sisters. Don’t get me wrong, I love my mom but why did she have to make ME take care of Kaylee?! 

To be honest, Kaylee isn’t a demon, I bet I was really annoying when I was her age. But she’s been acting extra annoying since last week. She chipped my mom’s favorite statue, “accidentally” ran over my dad’s garden, and randomly cut one of my favorite shirts up saying that she was making it look better. Now there was this. She promised me and not just promised me, she pinky swore that she would not make a scene, be quiet, and listen to me the whole time until my interview was done and we were home. But right when they were about to call my name for the interview she spied in the distance an abandoned elephant plushie on one of the shelves. 

“Kaylee…come on…you have a bunch of toys at home! Like that platypus stuffy!” I whispered to her, holding her hand tightly, “STOP making a scene now…if I get this job I promise I will buy you one!”

It felt hopeless even if she calmed down there was no way they would give me the job after this! This was so unprofessional. I looked around me at a bunch of strangers, some had a look of pity, and others just stared in awe. As I was about to rush me and Kaylee out of the store I noticed in the corner of my eyes a mum holding onto her child’s hand and looking at Kaylee as if she was a monster. 

Then she mouthed the words “She is crazy!”

I got down to Kaylee’s height. My sister was Not Crazy and she would not cry without reason.

“What happened, why do you want THAT plushie soo much?”  I asked her calmly. She stopped and looked at me so seriously that I thought we were going to discuss a business deal.

“I heard that exact plushie will grant you 3 wishes if you ask it nicely and I want Mom and Dad to be together again” She explained as if it was obvious. Our parents divorced during the school year, at the end of February.  I wasn’t really surprised because of how much they fought, but still, it crushed my heart when they told us. But every other weekend we switch and they still talk on the phone sometimes as friends, so it really wasn’t so bad. But I totally forgot how Kaylee was handling all of this.

“Where did you hear that exactly?” I said looking her straight in the eyes.

“In either a youtube short or TikTok, when I stole your phone” she replied looking impatient. 

I tried to hold it in but after looking at her for a few more seconds I busted out laughing. If people thought Kaylee was crazy then they would think our whole family was psychos. When I finally could calm down I smiled at her and held her hand more loosely.

“After my interview, I promise you ice cream and that plushie” I smirked getting up to face the employee in front of me.

“ I am ready for my interview, but could you watch her for a bit,” I asked little more relaxed as the crowd that gathered around me a few moments ago disappeared.

“No need, you are Hired! We have never seen someone handle a child that smoothly. Maybe it took some time but I am sure you will be a valuable employee. We need someone who understands kids and can be calm in difficult situations” she exclaimed in delight.  

She shifted the wooden clipboard from one arm to another and stretched out her free hand in front of me. I immediately shook it. After we discussed boring job details like when I would be starting, Kaylee, I, and that elephant plushie(Which I got for free!) left the store and headed down to the ice cream store around the corner.

Kaylee excitedly swung her legs under the table as she licked her cookies & cream with an extra scoop of cookie dough. Luckily I had two gift cards for this ice cream store or I could not afford that. 

“I have a question, Kaylee,” I asked, my smiling face turned a little more serious 

“Yeah, what? ” she replied as the ice cream started to drip

“Why did you chip Mom’s vase and run over Dad’s garden?…you know those are very important to them”  I questioned even though I think I know why now.

“Because….because…I thought that if Mom and Dad think that I was turning into a bad kid when they are separated then they would get back together to make me into a good kid.” she explained after some hesitation.

I grabbed a couple of napkins and wiped the sticky vanilla ice cream off her face.

“It was a good try, but they are divorced for a reason ” I sighed  

Kaylee just stared at me, as she finished the cone.

“Let’s go home..” I smiled as I helped her out of her tall chair.

When we got home, the lights were dark and Kaylee ran inside. My hand searched for the switch. 

“Wall, Wall, Wall, more wall, finally Switch!” I  exclaimed the same moment the light turned on and a bunch of people Shouted “Happy Birthday !”

The room stared at me and the only noise I could hear was the beating of my fast heart.

“OMG…when did y’all come here…Aunt Jane! Uncle Mike! dad? ” I said looking around the room.

“Hey, kiddo!” he smiled as he pulled me in for a bear hug.  

When he let go, I was just confused.

“Don’t tell me you forgot” my mom laughed as she walked me inside the house. Everything was covered in decorations. Balloons covered the floor. 

“It is my birthday?” I asked stupidly 

“Of course, it is dear” Aunt Jane replaced sharing a look with my mom.

I felt so embarrassed, more embarrassed than when Kaylee was screaming in the grocery store a few moments ago. How did  I forget MY  birthday?

Hours later, after everybody left. I got up from my cozy spot on the sofa and grabbed another slice of cake. Kaylee who was staring at my huge pile of presents decided that she could not wait any longer, and grabbed the biggest one. 

“Open it!” she cried in anticipation 

“Ok..ok” I giggled tearing up the wrapping paper

The first thing I saw was a golden frame, was it a painting?

I tore more of the wrapping paper this time more carefully. What I saw next made my eyes fill up with tears. Dad kept his hand on my shoulder.

“I and your mom are not going to get back together but I want you to have a picture of your original family”  he corrected as I gently place the picture on the ground.

“Where should I keep it?” I asked looking at Mom.

“Where ever you like,” she said smiling at dad

“Thank you, Jim” She waved as Dad left the house.

“See you next week, kiddoes,” he replied giving me and Kaylee a wave.

I smiled, looking back at the frame, “I know exactly where to keep you!”

Summer gone totally wrong! Here is our protagonist looking like a rockstar while mentally having a break down !

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A Journey of Ups and Downs

Inspiring, Motivation, Short stories / / , , , , ,

I peered out my window as the person in the seat nearby settled into his seat. I was so relieved when I saw the big yellow bus pull up at the bus stop, shining its painfully bright yellow light through the rain. I did not want to stand any minute longer outside as my coat and backpack got drenched in the pouring rain. The heat of the bus restored some warmth to my face as I took down my hood revealing a messy ponytail I tied in the morning. Just as the bus started to move I took out my book. My parents were few of the only parents who hadn’t given a phone to their 6th-8th graders yet. Meaning I and a very tiny portion of others on the bus were stuck using their computers, reading a book, or doing nothing. And today I decided to read. I was lucky that the person who usually sat in my assigned seat with me decided to go by car this morning, so now I got more room for myself, plus the window seat. I read the final 9 pages of the book as the bus stopped at a red traffic light. I lost interest in my book as I reread the last page, I turned to look out my window which was filled with tiny droplets. I could make out a pedestrian and a dog getting soaked in the rain as they crossed the road onto the street. I always imagined life as a street, like a sidewalk, sometimes bumpy, other times smooth. It is full of twists and turns but it is also straight. My mind wandered as the bus started to move again. I realized that life is a journey of ups and downs, with its fair share of roadblocks and detours. However, it is how we navigate through these obstacles that define us. A bit farther from the traffic light was a group of construction workers working on something on the side of the street. The old bumpy sidewalk was now smooth. Perhaps we can improve our own life like how they are improving the sidewalk. It’ll be a hard and tedious task that might take ages but once we change and get to where we wanted to be, it will be worth it! My face lit up as I thought about this. The rain seemed to be more like a drizzle as the bus stopped in the school parking lot. My backpack felt just a little lighter as I stepped down to campus grounds. I was about to head to class when a spectrum of colors appeared in the distance followed by a lighter spectrum right underneath. A double rainbow!

 

“If a man can write a better book or preach a better sermon or make a better mousetrap than his neighbor, even if he builds his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door” – Ralph Waldo Emerson..a famous essayist

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The Start of Something Great

#Prose, Inspiring, Short stories / / , , , , ,

When the creator first started, I was a pile of mush, a splatter of something that wasn’t defined yet. I was blank, but I knew I was the beginning of something meaningful, but what? What was I supposed to be? I was hungry for something to feed my shapeless body. So the creator fed me, and I slowly got a few angles and corners. But I was still hungry, my embodiment wanted more of this magic mixture. So the creator gave me some more. Slowly I felt a tingle. My undefinable self looked more familiar to the eyes that surrounded me. The blob features and crazy angles I had before took on different shapes. But still, it wasn’t enough. I wanted more so the creator took a moment and stared into my hollow soul. He/she then dug around in his/her pockets and pulled out random items from his/her hat, but nothing he/she found pleased him/her. Until the creator found a bag that shined brighter than a light bulb. Inside was a string, a wisp of something yummy, something that looked amazing, and one of a kind. Each wisp had a different color and a different vibe. And the creator fed me this sweet string. Soon I felt my body, and the shapes that made it up became more connected and more composed. I had turned into something different. I was no longer a blob or a collection of figures. I was something more. The Creator fed me more and more wisps all of which tasted different but equally delicious. I was turning into something amazing. But my soul still felt hollow. I had a thirst for something euphoric. Then the creator poured something into my essence that made it no longer empty but filled with buzz, and energy. I felt that finally I had come to life. Color filled my lungs and mind. Now I can speak and communicate my meaning. I was now enlighted about my purpose in this world that was taking shape and color. The creator smiled at me. I looked around, there were more like me but we didn’t all look the same, or do the same thing. However, I could see that we all started the same way. We all were once blobs without a shape, soul, or mind. However, as our journey began we began changing in different ways that made each one of us unique. The Creator told us that we weren’t flawless, and weren’t what he/she had in mind initially. Nevertheless, he/she was happy with the outcome, and so were we. I looked out to my peers, and together we all shared a smile and we thanked the creator for giving us shape, soul, and a mind.

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A Friendship Forged Through Music

Inspiring, Motivation, Short stories / / , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Her voice sounded like an angel. Her flowy yellow dress made her stand out. If you are passing by, you would see her on a vast platform dancing, every move memorized. You would have seen her singing with such zeal. I stood on the sidewalk below with a slowly forming crowd.

“Go, Sophie!” I called out. A few eyes shifted toward me. Sophie smiled as I tried to slink away to the nearby palmetto. I watched her from the shadows.

I had only met her a month before, but it felt like I had known her much longer. We met on the first day of school – the third day of August. The sun was shining, as I climbed onto the bus. I walked down the aisle, looking for a seat when I saw her. She was wearing ripped jeans and a black graphic T-shirt. With her long blond hair lying straight down her back, she stared outside the window while listening to music through her white earbuds. I didn’t get a clear look at her face, but I knew I had never seen her before. Without thinking, I took a seat next to her. Initially, she did not notice me, but as I took my phone from my pocket, her attention shifted to me. She examined me, from my worn-out sneakers to my brand-new haircut. Looking into my eyes, she gave the slightest hint of a smile. Finally, I got a clear look at her. Her eyes were pretty unusual. One eye was a soft brown, while the other was a shade of blue. Her face appeared almost emotionless.

“Are you new here?” I asked as she was about to turn her head to face the window again. She looked at me confused as if I had just spoken in a foreign language. Then she yanked off one of her earbuds.

“What?” she questioned, her voice soft and gentle.

 I repeated my question.

“Yes, my name is Sophie,” she smiled.

“Leo,” I replied, getting ready to exit the bus as it parked in front of the school.

 I ran to the music room when I stepped onto the school grounds. The music room had instruments from all over the world. It is my favorite room in the whole school. I would sit on the chair in front of the piano and compose songs until the bell rang. However, when I stepped into the room, I saw someone else sitting in the chair.

“Sophie?” I whispered. She did not notice me. Her eyes were closed, lost in her playing. I watched her for a few minutes before she started to sing. Her voice was mellifluous, and it filled the room with a feeling of peace. I stared at her for a bit more, about to leave when suddenly, the melodious music from the piano stopped. Sophie paused, opened her eyes, and looked at me in surprise. She had her right hand over her heart like she was about to have a heart attack.

“Hey, sorry I scared you, but you’re really talented.” I smiled as she started to relax.

“Thank you…., but please don’t tell anyone what you saw!” she replied quickly and began getting her things.

“I will promise you if you tell me how you got here so fast,” I smirked.

 “I used that door” She pointed to a backdoor I had never noticed before, then she ran away to her first period.

Music was the bond between us. Every morning we both would sing and play the instruments in the music room. One day, I was invited over to her house after school. Her house looked like anyone’s home, but when I stepped into her room, it looked a bit less girly than I thought it would be. It had dark blue painted walls and posters of famous singers everywhere. She had a microphone and a karaoke machine in her room. On the opposite side of where I was standing, next to her bed, was a keyboard.

I ran to the keyboard and asked, “Are you interested in becoming a singer?”

 She looked at me, and she started nodding and blushing.

 “What about you?” she asked.

My fingers lightly touched the keyboard keys as I opened my mouth to speak.

“Me… I want to be a musician, play in front of a huge audience… maybe even sing a few times… I just want to perform.” I replied, turning the keyboard on.

“You are gifted on the ukulele,” she commented as I played a few notes.

“Yeah well I am too shy to perform in front of an audience even though it is my dream, it’s kinda silly I know…” I mumbled.

“Not to me, remember how spooked I was when you first heard me sing? I ran away from the music room the first chance I got.” she chuckled.

 I smiled, turning to face her.

“One day we will perform together and get rid of our stage fright!” I promised.

 “Deal!” she exclaimed as we ran downstairs.

After that day, every day, I would go to her house. We both would play music and sing in her room until it was time for me to leave. I slowly got to know Sophie’s background. Her mother died when she was 4, so her dad remarried. Her stepmom, unlike Cinderella’s stepmom, is kind and sweet. Sophie had a pet dog named Lola, who died last year of old age. I also learned that she lived in Paris for 14 years before moving here. I had fun playing my ukulele or her keyboard, while she sang into her microphone.

Then one day she decided that she was ready. We had been in her garage when she told me that she was planning to do a serenade downtown. That day, she practiced singing her favorite song while I strummed on my ukulele. Every day after that, our kinship for music grew.

Now, she was standing on a stage singing the song I had heard a million times before, but every lyric seemed brand-new. When the song ended, the huge crowd that gathered cheered.

“Encore!” a man in a white Hawaiian shirt called out.

Sophie smiled, her eyes glittered under the shining sun. I slipped out of the shadows and pushed my way to the front of the crowd.

“Encore!” I yelled with them.

Sophie looked at me and held out her hand. The crowd froze, waiting, watching as she pulled me onto the stage. In the corner was a ukulele. She handed it to me. Together we faced the quiet audience. She started singing as I strummed along. Just as we had practiced. I grinned ear to ear as the others sang along too. This was like a dream come true!

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Lost in the Fearful Woods

Mystery, Short stories / / , , , , , , , ,

The morning was calm as the sun rose between the mountains. There was nothing Papa ever wanted more than a home in the woods, its silence was soothing to him, unlike the bustle and noise of the city. I preferred the city, the quiet environment of the woods creeped me out. It was winter, the cold air, and white snow. Papa had already driven to work, and my school bus was to arrive soon. I ran out of our small house and looked down at my watch, 7:00. There were still a few more minutes before the bus came. I looked at the tall bare trees around me.


“A small walk wouldn’t be so bad” I mumbled to myself as I walked through a small path behind the house. The snow made a small soft crunching sound underneath my new red boots. A cool breeze swept past me as I walked, and soon the silence was lifted.

“The forest is waking up” Papa had said once when we were exploring one morning.

Sunlight streamed through the trees now. My eyes were drawn to the snow on the ground, as I tucked my hands into my jacket pocket. I did not understand why Papa loved the forest so much, just a bunch of tall trees and small animals. I used to love to take walks around the stores, malls, and theaters around our old home. The stores always had something interesting in their showcase windows. All there was in the woods were trees but there was something comforting about it, maybe that’s why Papa loved the woods so much I wondered as I walked around some more, lost in my thoughts. I went deeper and deeper into the forest, farther and farther from home.

“Growl!”

I shot back to reality. The wind was a slight bit colder, it was snowing. How could I not have noticed that before? I looked around. I have never been to this part of the forest. For how long have I been walking? I looked down at my watch…30 minutes!

I looked around for some signs that would lead me home. That’s what I did back in our old home, when I was ever lost I would either call Papa or I would look for something familiar that would lead me home. Nothing, the woods had nothing, and all the trees looked the same. I reached down into my pockets to grab my phone and use Google Maps, but they were empty. The falling snow covered up my tracks. It felt hopeless. I searched around for a place to sit and soon found a giant rock. I sat down thinking, trying to remember which way I had gone. I felt mad at myself for getting lost.

“Be quiet, listen closely” Papa smiled the day we moved into our cabin, he looked at me and then closed his eyes. I had plastered a fake smile and closed my eyes as he did, but I was not listening. I was listing all the things that could go wrong about Dad and me moving in my head. I rolled my eyes.

“What else did Papa say?” I wondered out loud. I tried clearing my head like Papa had told me to do, so long ago in third grade. I sighed, no idea popped into my head, not what I was expecting. I rolled my eyes again, what now! I sat there feeling cold, mad, and scared.

“Growl!” I heard again.

I glanced around, but nothing. I must be dreaming. Just then in the corner of my eye, I saw something reddish move in the shrubs. I got up and stayed very quiet. I stiffened as the figure moved closer. Quickly I grabbed a stick that was lying around in the snow. The red figure stayed in the shadows, as I planted my feet on the ground. Keeping a close eye on my surroundings. Just then the figure jumped from the bush it was hiding in. It was a small fox. I loosened my grip on my stick. I stared at the fox trying to hide any signs of fear on my face.

The fox sniffed around and then looked up, her beady eyes stared straight into mine. It was like this for a couple of minutes before I blinked. The fox ran away through a small path I did not notice earlier. The path looked familiar somehow. I followed the fox as it took a turn. I tiptoed trying to make the least amount of noise I could. Soon we came to a bunch of trees each marked with a blue arrow pointing right. Papa marked each tree in case we both ever got lost. The fox stood still for some time then she scurried away leaving me alone.

I smiled and followed the marked trees, taking every turn in caution, soon I saw our little cabin. I glanced at my watch again, “8:00” I read. My bus will come at 8:10. I rushed to the bus stop that was a little far from the cabin. Just in time, I thought as the big yellow bus stopped in front of me. I stepped into it, glancing behind, I guess the woods weren’t so bad, and actually, they are pretty exciting.

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