The Dreamed Paradise
Ryan Simpson was a twelve year-old girl that lived with her family in a quiet neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Her family was formed by her mother, Lucy, her father, Robert and his brother of eleven years old called Julian.
Julian and Ryan attended “Kaplan International College” which was located 7 miles away from the Simpson’s house. It was an expensive school but they said that it was worth spending that money for their children.
The Simpson family had recently moved to the neighborhood so they didn´t know it very well.One day, Ryan and Julian were returning from school and nearly reaching home they saw a big forest and they decided to get inside and explore it.After a few minutes scanning the place they decided to stay and play for a while .As expected, they forgot about time and their parents were terribly concerned about the disappearance of their children because they were young and couldn´t take care of themselves. They began to search for them in the surroundings but it was useless, the children didn’t appeared.Fortunately, Julian and Ryan arrived home a few hours later.
The children’s parents were incensed by the event occurred so they decided to tell the kids not to do it anymore because they had been very scared for them.Julian and Ryan listened while their parents spoke but they couldn´t forget what they had seen.
The following day, they decided to return to the site to contemplate the paradise they had discovered.It was a vast paradise, with a waterfall that came directly from a river and was covered by herbage that seemed to be of the Caribbean.
Ryan wanted to share that beautiful place with their parents and Julian accepted.They went home and told them why they had disappeared the day before.Firstly, their parents didn´t believe them and the children decided to invite them to visit the paradise so they could believe their story. At the beggining, children didn´t find the place, and their parents started getting annoyed with them and wanted to return home.But Ryan and Julian insisted that they were not lying and begged they parents to trust them. After walking for a while they finally found the site. Simply, Ryan and Julian’s parents were surprised to be in that place and obviously they believed their children and they stayed there with them the rest of the day.
Pen name: Boa Morte
Category C
viernes, 29 de octubre de 2010
Awarded 1st Distinction. Short Story and Poetry Competition 2010
Mr. Bloom`s crime
The events I´m going to narrate took place on April 9th, when Mr Bloom died.
At first, everybody thought it had been an accident. Mr Bloom was crossing a quiet street, while he was looking at a black and sick dog, which could hardly walk. What is difficult to understand is that a car would appear in the middle of that quiet and narrow street, out of nowhere, and kill this tall man, without seeing him at all. And what is worse, the driver had escaped without helping Mr Bloom. Mr Bloom was found an hour later, lying on the dark street, with the dog lying beside him.
I volunteered to take the case, and I had a hunch the dog could help me because of the amazing way in which our eyes made contact. I decided to work hard to discover the truth, and I really thought, from the very beginning, that it hadn’t been an accident.
I began to ask questions about Mr Bloom’s life. He was a forty-year-old teacher at Saint Patrick’s School. His pupils were very sad about his death, as well as the teachers and the headmaster. I also learnt Michael Bloom was in love with a nice woman ten years younger than him, who was called Sarah. Surprisingly, Sarah wasn’t as sad as the pupils and the teachers were.
One day, I was walking with the black dog, not so near the place where Mr Bloom had died, a breeze of cool wind blew my hair, and a warm smell of colitas was rising up through the air, when a car appeared beside us. The dog felt very nervous and began barking uncontrollably. I paid attention to the driver and took its number plate.
I managed to find out the name of the owner of the vehicle. I was surprised to see the same surname, Bloom but a different name, Alex. I could verify later he was Mr Michael Bloom’s brother. Alex Bloom, a handsome man, thirty five years old, lived very far from his brother’s house. Alex had been absent during Mr Bloom’s funeral.
I couldn’t help wondering why the dog had been so nervous. I had always believed that dogs had a very peculiar instinct. Could have Mr Alex Bloom killed his brother? I had to speak to Alex Bloom. I had to know more about the relationship between the two brothers and I couldn’t forget about Sarah. She wasn’t sad. Did she really love Michael Bloom? When she gave her statement she said that they had been planning their wedding. She had been living in Mr Bloom’s house for the last two years. She also said that Mr Bloom had left all his money and property to her, because he didn’t have any relatives.
Alex Bloom was staying at The Blue Hotel, room 227. The receptionist told me that Mr Bloom had left an hour before. ‘Do you know where Alex Bloom is right now?’ I asked her while I showed her my badge. She told me he had taken a taxi to the Chase Manhattan’s Bank.
Exactly at that moment, Alex Bloom was entering the hotel, with a suitcase in his right hand and embracing Sarah with his left arm. Both of them were laughing, and Sarah’s face really showed love and happiness.
At that moment, I realized that Mr Bloom’s death had been planned; they had committed a cold-blooded murder. His own brother had planned that terrible ending for Mr Bloom’s life with his girlfriend’s help, who couldn’t pretend to be sad during Michael’s funeral, as she also couldn’t hide her love and happiness at that moment.
I decided to call two police officers, and the moment they arrived, we went to room 227 and arrested the couple for the murder of Mr. Michael Bloom. The money they had withdrawn from the bank was the payment for his life insurance.
The Bank’s evidence, the car, the absence of Alex at the funeral, and most of all Sarah’s contradictions and hesitations during her cross-examination were enough to solve the crime. Both of them were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in the first degree. Their illusion to spend a life together had been rightfully shattered.
Pen name: Richard Bachman
Category C
The events I´m going to narrate took place on April 9th, when Mr Bloom died.
At first, everybody thought it had been an accident. Mr Bloom was crossing a quiet street, while he was looking at a black and sick dog, which could hardly walk. What is difficult to understand is that a car would appear in the middle of that quiet and narrow street, out of nowhere, and kill this tall man, without seeing him at all. And what is worse, the driver had escaped without helping Mr Bloom. Mr Bloom was found an hour later, lying on the dark street, with the dog lying beside him.
I volunteered to take the case, and I had a hunch the dog could help me because of the amazing way in which our eyes made contact. I decided to work hard to discover the truth, and I really thought, from the very beginning, that it hadn’t been an accident.
I began to ask questions about Mr Bloom’s life. He was a forty-year-old teacher at Saint Patrick’s School. His pupils were very sad about his death, as well as the teachers and the headmaster. I also learnt Michael Bloom was in love with a nice woman ten years younger than him, who was called Sarah. Surprisingly, Sarah wasn’t as sad as the pupils and the teachers were.
One day, I was walking with the black dog, not so near the place where Mr Bloom had died, a breeze of cool wind blew my hair, and a warm smell of colitas was rising up through the air, when a car appeared beside us. The dog felt very nervous and began barking uncontrollably. I paid attention to the driver and took its number plate.
I managed to find out the name of the owner of the vehicle. I was surprised to see the same surname, Bloom but a different name, Alex. I could verify later he was Mr Michael Bloom’s brother. Alex Bloom, a handsome man, thirty five years old, lived very far from his brother’s house. Alex had been absent during Mr Bloom’s funeral.
I couldn’t help wondering why the dog had been so nervous. I had always believed that dogs had a very peculiar instinct. Could have Mr Alex Bloom killed his brother? I had to speak to Alex Bloom. I had to know more about the relationship between the two brothers and I couldn’t forget about Sarah. She wasn’t sad. Did she really love Michael Bloom? When she gave her statement she said that they had been planning their wedding. She had been living in Mr Bloom’s house for the last two years. She also said that Mr Bloom had left all his money and property to her, because he didn’t have any relatives.
Alex Bloom was staying at The Blue Hotel, room 227. The receptionist told me that Mr Bloom had left an hour before. ‘Do you know where Alex Bloom is right now?’ I asked her while I showed her my badge. She told me he had taken a taxi to the Chase Manhattan’s Bank.
Exactly at that moment, Alex Bloom was entering the hotel, with a suitcase in his right hand and embracing Sarah with his left arm. Both of them were laughing, and Sarah’s face really showed love and happiness.
At that moment, I realized that Mr Bloom’s death had been planned; they had committed a cold-blooded murder. His own brother had planned that terrible ending for Mr Bloom’s life with his girlfriend’s help, who couldn’t pretend to be sad during Michael’s funeral, as she also couldn’t hide her love and happiness at that moment.
I decided to call two police officers, and the moment they arrived, we went to room 227 and arrested the couple for the murder of Mr. Michael Bloom. The money they had withdrawn from the bank was the payment for his life insurance.
The Bank’s evidence, the car, the absence of Alex at the funeral, and most of all Sarah’s contradictions and hesitations during her cross-examination were enough to solve the crime. Both of them were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in the first degree. Their illusion to spend a life together had been rightfully shattered.
Pen name: Richard Bachman
Category C
I’m Not Dead
Once, my grandmother told me a curious story about her aunt.
Her aunt was a strange and lonely woman. Nobody wanted to hear from her and she didn’t want to hear from anyone, not even her family. She lived in a very quiet village in Mexico, in a small wooden house, quite apart from the rest of the town. She only got out of her house to take pictures. Her name was Jessica, and not many people knew her.
Once they saw her running down the path that came to her house screaming that no one was going to take her house away from her, she said that she was never going to leave it and if they wanted to take her out they would have to force her. With this attitude the people of the town wanted to lock her up so she would never come back.
As Jessica was so lonely she started to take pictures of her own house, the inside and the outside. She took lots of pictures of the house and then she put them in a room where she had all her photos. When she was finishing the album, she remembered she had forgotten to take a picture of an old room where her husband had died. This room was empty except for a wardrobe, a very nice old one.
After she had taken that last picture, she went to the photo room and started to select the ones she liked but when she got to the last photograph she saw something strange. In the wardrobe a very creepy phrase was written with blood, “I´M NOT LEAVING MY HOME”.
For some time, Jessica continued yelling in the streets and no one understood her. She continued taking pictures and faces appeared in the photos. In most of them there was a familiar face to her… her husband.
For many days people in town were not worried, but amazed because they hadn’t seen her for a while. An old lady called Ann, who had been her friend, went to her house to see if she was okay. They hadn’t talked in months. When Ann entered the house, as usual the door was open; she saw a mess and all the pictures were on the floor. She looked for her in all the rooms but she couldn’t find Jessica.
When she was leaving she heard a rat running upstairs. She followed the rat and came into an old room with a big wardrobe. She saw a letter on the bed; she opened it and said “in the wardrobe”. There laid Jessica dead with a note that said I’m back home. Ann got out of the house and told the people of the town that everything was all right. She didn’t want to tell anyone what had happened. Everybody thought she was crazy, so she didn’t want to make a mess out of that.
Two months later Ann received a letter from Jessica telling her the story and asking her to tell the people of the town that she wasn’t crazy: she was saying the truth and no one had listened to her. Was it the ghost of Jessica still in town?
Pen-name: Sir Percival Glyde
Category C
Once, my grandmother told me a curious story about her aunt.
Her aunt was a strange and lonely woman. Nobody wanted to hear from her and she didn’t want to hear from anyone, not even her family. She lived in a very quiet village in Mexico, in a small wooden house, quite apart from the rest of the town. She only got out of her house to take pictures. Her name was Jessica, and not many people knew her.
Once they saw her running down the path that came to her house screaming that no one was going to take her house away from her, she said that she was never going to leave it and if they wanted to take her out they would have to force her. With this attitude the people of the town wanted to lock her up so she would never come back.
As Jessica was so lonely she started to take pictures of her own house, the inside and the outside. She took lots of pictures of the house and then she put them in a room where she had all her photos. When she was finishing the album, she remembered she had forgotten to take a picture of an old room where her husband had died. This room was empty except for a wardrobe, a very nice old one.
After she had taken that last picture, she went to the photo room and started to select the ones she liked but when she got to the last photograph she saw something strange. In the wardrobe a very creepy phrase was written with blood, “I´M NOT LEAVING MY HOME”.
For some time, Jessica continued yelling in the streets and no one understood her. She continued taking pictures and faces appeared in the photos. In most of them there was a familiar face to her… her husband.
For many days people in town were not worried, but amazed because they hadn’t seen her for a while. An old lady called Ann, who had been her friend, went to her house to see if she was okay. They hadn’t talked in months. When Ann entered the house, as usual the door was open; she saw a mess and all the pictures were on the floor. She looked for her in all the rooms but she couldn’t find Jessica.
When she was leaving she heard a rat running upstairs. She followed the rat and came into an old room with a big wardrobe. She saw a letter on the bed; she opened it and said “in the wardrobe”. There laid Jessica dead with a note that said I’m back home. Ann got out of the house and told the people of the town that everything was all right. She didn’t want to tell anyone what had happened. Everybody thought she was crazy, so she didn’t want to make a mess out of that.
Two months later Ann received a letter from Jessica telling her the story and asking her to tell the people of the town that she wasn’t crazy: she was saying the truth and no one had listened to her. Was it the ghost of Jessica still in town?
Pen-name: Sir Percival Glyde
Category C
Pre-elected story. Literature Contest 2010
Hope never ends
Another day in New York. Michael Obassi woke up at 5 am, that day he had to work at his father’s fish shop. He left his home in the Bronx. U.S.A. flags were everywhere, cold war resounded, Kennedy would get the power soon, “May be this will change my situation” thought Michael. He had to walk five blocks to get to the train station, while he was walking, he felt insecure, sad, he couldn’t stand watching all the signs in the street that said, “Whites only”.
When he reached the shop his father was there moving some boxes into the shop. “Hey Michael, help me, please” said Gyan, his father from Ghana. At 3pm Michael and Gyan hadn’t eaten yet, just as any other hard work day, they had earned a few dollars while Mr. Gate, another fisherman had earned over 500 dollars in one day. “Only because he’s white” Michael said when he saw Mr. Gate as he was travelling back home on the crowded bus next to his father. Michael always thought about his future, would he ever go to college or finish school, or at least stop being discriminated against, in all the things he did, or everywhere he went, restaurants, buildings, even states, only for being African American. The voices of two policemen brought him back to the bus , they were asking for something, when they approached his seat he was so scared, “passport, came on” one policemen looked at him fiercely “I… I don’t have it, I m sorry” said Michael, “ah no passport, off the bus!” when the policemen said this Gyan was in the same trouble, or worst, the policeman hit him and tried to grab him many times. Michael tried to help him but he fell down on the pavement.
When he opened his eyes, he realized he was two streets far from his house, but his father was not there. He ran to his house and found nothing, only remains. “Is my dad alive? Where’s is he?” He didn’t know the worst was still to come.
Many months passed and Gyan was still missing. After that day on the bus Michael never went back to the shop, not even to Manhattan. He tried to find him too many times, but he held onto his nonsensical hopes. After a few days, Michael was listening to the radio and heard something that attracted his attention. The newsreader talked about a man called Martin L.K. who was complaining about the government’s decision to send all black prisoners to Texas, the most racist state in the U.S.A. and they would be judged there, and then be deported, or worst. When he heard this he was horrified, and his eyes filled with tears. There was no reason to keep on living. Michael got into his home and never left it again. Days and weeks passed and Michael was still there. One day he decided to go out again, but something was sure, he would never come back. He took a rope and went near the river, his depression had no limits. It was a dark night, only a tall lamp-post lit his sight, he could feel the cold and fresh air on his face. It was time to leave all behind. When he was setting the rope he heard foot steps, he looked where the sounds came from, a shadow approached from the dark and the fog, Michael’s hair was pounding, he knew that something was going to happen, the shadow was coming closer, when he reached the light of the lamp-post, Michael broke in tears, it was Gyan, his lost father. Michael ran to him and hugged him.
After that day Michael and Gyan stayed together and tried hard to change the world into a better one for all the black people and for the whole human race.
Pen-name: Cassano
Category C
Another day in New York. Michael Obassi woke up at 5 am, that day he had to work at his father’s fish shop. He left his home in the Bronx. U.S.A. flags were everywhere, cold war resounded, Kennedy would get the power soon, “May be this will change my situation” thought Michael. He had to walk five blocks to get to the train station, while he was walking, he felt insecure, sad, he couldn’t stand watching all the signs in the street that said, “Whites only”.
When he reached the shop his father was there moving some boxes into the shop. “Hey Michael, help me, please” said Gyan, his father from Ghana. At 3pm Michael and Gyan hadn’t eaten yet, just as any other hard work day, they had earned a few dollars while Mr. Gate, another fisherman had earned over 500 dollars in one day. “Only because he’s white” Michael said when he saw Mr. Gate as he was travelling back home on the crowded bus next to his father. Michael always thought about his future, would he ever go to college or finish school, or at least stop being discriminated against, in all the things he did, or everywhere he went, restaurants, buildings, even states, only for being African American. The voices of two policemen brought him back to the bus , they were asking for something, when they approached his seat he was so scared, “passport, came on” one policemen looked at him fiercely “I… I don’t have it, I m sorry” said Michael, “ah no passport, off the bus!” when the policemen said this Gyan was in the same trouble, or worst, the policeman hit him and tried to grab him many times. Michael tried to help him but he fell down on the pavement.
When he opened his eyes, he realized he was two streets far from his house, but his father was not there. He ran to his house and found nothing, only remains. “Is my dad alive? Where’s is he?” He didn’t know the worst was still to come.
Many months passed and Gyan was still missing. After that day on the bus Michael never went back to the shop, not even to Manhattan. He tried to find him too many times, but he held onto his nonsensical hopes. After a few days, Michael was listening to the radio and heard something that attracted his attention. The newsreader talked about a man called Martin L.K. who was complaining about the government’s decision to send all black prisoners to Texas, the most racist state in the U.S.A. and they would be judged there, and then be deported, or worst. When he heard this he was horrified, and his eyes filled with tears. There was no reason to keep on living. Michael got into his home and never left it again. Days and weeks passed and Michael was still there. One day he decided to go out again, but something was sure, he would never come back. He took a rope and went near the river, his depression had no limits. It was a dark night, only a tall lamp-post lit his sight, he could feel the cold and fresh air on his face. It was time to leave all behind. When he was setting the rope he heard foot steps, he looked where the sounds came from, a shadow approached from the dark and the fog, Michael’s hair was pounding, he knew that something was going to happen, the shadow was coming closer, when he reached the light of the lamp-post, Michael broke in tears, it was Gyan, his lost father. Michael ran to him and hugged him.
After that day Michael and Gyan stayed together and tried hard to change the world into a better one for all the black people and for the whole human race.
Pen-name: Cassano
Category C
The two flags
Hal fisherman, the son of the great Sean, was a boy of 19, tall with blond hair and brown eyes. He was born in Argentina but his mother and father were born in England. During the economic crisis of 1785 they had come to Argentina to have a better life. When they arrived, they didn’t know each other. But they became close friends, even their families got together very frequently. Sean and Caroline fell in love, and at the age of 23 in 1794 they got married and had a child, Hal. Five years after Hal was born, Sean and his wife Caroline amassed a fortune. Sean started as a peasant in a farm and with his savings he bought his own farm. He had raised cattle and grown crops in England so he knew how to do it. He bought more and more land and he become a rich landowner. Since he was a child, Hal knew the advantages of being wealthy, however, he didn’t care about money, what he most liked was staying in the farm, and his family had the biggest farm of Argentina. It was situated where the city of Balcarce is now and had 35.000 hectares. At the age of 3 he already knew how to ride a horse. But in 1806 something horrible happened. The British invaded Argentina. Hal was 17 and he was drafted into the army. His parents didn’t want him to fight. Hal was at a crossroad because if he refused to fight he would be departed from the country he loved. Hal decided to fight against the British.
In the army he met Thomas, a boy of 17, just like him. His parents were English too. Thomas was a typical English boy, he was a tall man with blond hair and green eyes, but his family was very poor, they worked as peasants in the farm of a millionaire. Hal and Thomas became very close. The early days before the war were very difficult, because everybody hated them, the people didn’t trust them. One day they were unfairly accused of being traitors and decided that the best idea was to escape. The army was in Buenos Aires and both of their families lived in the countryside. So they planned to escape in a boat, rowing along the River Plate. When they were about to arrive, suddenly they saw thousands of men in red clothes riding incredible horses, they were the British!! They thought: “We are trapped. We must speak with the English men in their language so they know that we are on their side.” Luckily the British general talked to them and said “I believe you, but you must fight for me”. Obviously they accepted the deal. The British gave them their uniform and horses. It was a bloody battle and Hal and Thomas fought as brave men. They fought during 7 hours, and finally they won. Hal and Thomas had fought so well that the British called them heroes.
A month later Hal was back with his family and his new best friend Thomas in his farm. His family was surprised but proud of him. He got medals for bravery and loyalty and served as mayor of his town. He defended people’s freedom and respected their local traditions.
After some time, Hal forgot about the war and how sad it was, and could finally sleep happily again.
Pen name: COMPARADA
Category C
Hal fisherman, the son of the great Sean, was a boy of 19, tall with blond hair and brown eyes. He was born in Argentina but his mother and father were born in England. During the economic crisis of 1785 they had come to Argentina to have a better life. When they arrived, they didn’t know each other. But they became close friends, even their families got together very frequently. Sean and Caroline fell in love, and at the age of 23 in 1794 they got married and had a child, Hal. Five years after Hal was born, Sean and his wife Caroline amassed a fortune. Sean started as a peasant in a farm and with his savings he bought his own farm. He had raised cattle and grown crops in England so he knew how to do it. He bought more and more land and he become a rich landowner. Since he was a child, Hal knew the advantages of being wealthy, however, he didn’t care about money, what he most liked was staying in the farm, and his family had the biggest farm of Argentina. It was situated where the city of Balcarce is now and had 35.000 hectares. At the age of 3 he already knew how to ride a horse. But in 1806 something horrible happened. The British invaded Argentina. Hal was 17 and he was drafted into the army. His parents didn’t want him to fight. Hal was at a crossroad because if he refused to fight he would be departed from the country he loved. Hal decided to fight against the British.
In the army he met Thomas, a boy of 17, just like him. His parents were English too. Thomas was a typical English boy, he was a tall man with blond hair and green eyes, but his family was very poor, they worked as peasants in the farm of a millionaire. Hal and Thomas became very close. The early days before the war were very difficult, because everybody hated them, the people didn’t trust them. One day they were unfairly accused of being traitors and decided that the best idea was to escape. The army was in Buenos Aires and both of their families lived in the countryside. So they planned to escape in a boat, rowing along the River Plate. When they were about to arrive, suddenly they saw thousands of men in red clothes riding incredible horses, they were the British!! They thought: “We are trapped. We must speak with the English men in their language so they know that we are on their side.” Luckily the British general talked to them and said “I believe you, but you must fight for me”. Obviously they accepted the deal. The British gave them their uniform and horses. It was a bloody battle and Hal and Thomas fought as brave men. They fought during 7 hours, and finally they won. Hal and Thomas had fought so well that the British called them heroes.
A month later Hal was back with his family and his new best friend Thomas in his farm. His family was surprised but proud of him. He got medals for bravery and loyalty and served as mayor of his town. He defended people’s freedom and respected their local traditions.
After some time, Hal forgot about the war and how sad it was, and could finally sleep happily again.
Pen name: COMPARADA
Category C
Just another Short Story
It was the hottest December of the last years, and there she was, the prettiest woman of the whole village; with her green, attractive eyes and her long blonde hair, shiny as a star. She was not just a good-looking face; she was really smart and gracious.
While she was still going to school, she gave guitar lessons at home. Her boyfriend was one of her students. He was a foreigner and a very kind person, three years older than her. He loved her a lot, and she couldn´t stop thinking of finishing the school to live with him, she thought it was true love what she felt.
It was ten o´clock; she was waiting for him at her house for the daily guitar lesson. He arrived in an old Chevy car. While he was knocking at the door, Peter, a close neighbor, waved hello to him but he ignored Peter and went straight into the house. Peter didn´t like this boy very much, but he appreciated his girlfriend so he was polite with him.
After an hour and a half, the boy left the house. He went to his car, opened it and put some type of package inside the chest. Peter saw him and offered to help him carrying whatever he needed, but Peter got no answer. The boy turned the car on and went away fast.
The next day, Peter did not see the pretty girl. Perhaps she slept over, or had been out… But he did see his boyfriend, as always, at five o’clock at the door. This time he was carrying a spade, and after some minutes waiting at the house entrance, he went to the back garden and started digging a hole. Peter, who was looking at him very carefully, shouted at him: ‘It´s not a good idea to plant a tree with such a hot day!’ He listened and thought: ‘What a stupid old man… Why is he always looking at me?’ The boy didn’t open his mouth and continued doing his stuff. A shiver went down Peter’s spine.
The girl’s mother started to get impatient. Her little daughter didn´t answer her calls, she was arriving at the village that night after a business trip, she needed to see her pretty daughter.
Peter couldn’t see when the boyfriend went away. He was watching TV.
The mother arrived and, as she didn’t see her young princess, she called the police crying and shouting. The once beautiful house became a horror scenario. Policemen who went from here to there, the loud sounds of the ambulance siren, shouts, cries, lots of curious people everywhere, and behind all that the inconsolably cry of a widow mother.
Time passed slowly: first days, then weeks, months and finally, a year passed. The neighborhood was calm; many people forgot about the ‘episode’, some could never do it.
Some visitors still hear about the beauty of the blond shiny girl, the grace of this green eyed young woman when she danced or played the guitar in local festivals.
Peter just listens, he doesn’t talk. Once in a while, he hears about the foreigner who has been deprived of his liberty and whose mouth is bound to eternal silence. Behind the grills of prison, he spends hours and hours playing his guitar, but he has never said a word about the girl.
For some people, peace has returned to the village, for others, not yet, because the doubts about the murder are still out there.
Pen name: Frank Wolf
Category C
It was the hottest December of the last years, and there she was, the prettiest woman of the whole village; with her green, attractive eyes and her long blonde hair, shiny as a star. She was not just a good-looking face; she was really smart and gracious.
While she was still going to school, she gave guitar lessons at home. Her boyfriend was one of her students. He was a foreigner and a very kind person, three years older than her. He loved her a lot, and she couldn´t stop thinking of finishing the school to live with him, she thought it was true love what she felt.
It was ten o´clock; she was waiting for him at her house for the daily guitar lesson. He arrived in an old Chevy car. While he was knocking at the door, Peter, a close neighbor, waved hello to him but he ignored Peter and went straight into the house. Peter didn´t like this boy very much, but he appreciated his girlfriend so he was polite with him.
After an hour and a half, the boy left the house. He went to his car, opened it and put some type of package inside the chest. Peter saw him and offered to help him carrying whatever he needed, but Peter got no answer. The boy turned the car on and went away fast.
The next day, Peter did not see the pretty girl. Perhaps she slept over, or had been out… But he did see his boyfriend, as always, at five o’clock at the door. This time he was carrying a spade, and after some minutes waiting at the house entrance, he went to the back garden and started digging a hole. Peter, who was looking at him very carefully, shouted at him: ‘It´s not a good idea to plant a tree with such a hot day!’ He listened and thought: ‘What a stupid old man… Why is he always looking at me?’ The boy didn’t open his mouth and continued doing his stuff. A shiver went down Peter’s spine.
The girl’s mother started to get impatient. Her little daughter didn´t answer her calls, she was arriving at the village that night after a business trip, she needed to see her pretty daughter.
Peter couldn’t see when the boyfriend went away. He was watching TV.
The mother arrived and, as she didn’t see her young princess, she called the police crying and shouting. The once beautiful house became a horror scenario. Policemen who went from here to there, the loud sounds of the ambulance siren, shouts, cries, lots of curious people everywhere, and behind all that the inconsolably cry of a widow mother.
Time passed slowly: first days, then weeks, months and finally, a year passed. The neighborhood was calm; many people forgot about the ‘episode’, some could never do it.
Some visitors still hear about the beauty of the blond shiny girl, the grace of this green eyed young woman when she danced or played the guitar in local festivals.
Peter just listens, he doesn’t talk. Once in a while, he hears about the foreigner who has been deprived of his liberty and whose mouth is bound to eternal silence. Behind the grills of prison, he spends hours and hours playing his guitar, but he has never said a word about the girl.
For some people, peace has returned to the village, for others, not yet, because the doubts about the murder are still out there.
Pen name: Frank Wolf
Category C
Awarded 2nd Prize. Short Story and Poetry Competition 2010
The portrait
I was once walking across the city when I saw a garage sale, I didn’t have anything to do so I decided to stop and watch. Many of the items on sale were normal objects that didn’t call my attention but there was a portrait with a lady sitting on a chair that looked really strange and had something that made me want to have it. I asked the man if that work of art was on sale. The man looked at the portrait then he looked at me and warned me, “Before you get that picture I must tell you that it is not a normal picture, it can make the owner’s personality change, but to be honest I don’t want to see that picture any more because it is starting to affect me too. So if you want it I will give it to you for free” At first I was shocked because of this warning and mostly because of the disturbed look on this man’s face, but I convinced myself that there was nothing to fear so I told the man that I wanted the picture anyway. He gave it to me and returned quickly to his house.
I carried the image to my home and put in on the wall that was in front of my bed. When I was going to go to work I looked at the lady in the frame and noticed that she wasn’t in the same position than before. I told myself that it was a product of my imagination so I left and went to my job without taking a second look at the woman. I had a really busy day at work so I didn’t think about that portrait while I was there but when I went back to my house I found that the woman was clearly looking to the other side. I stared at the picture for a moment and realized the woman was slowly moving. I continued looking at it, and before I could realize, a whole hour had passed since I started to look at that woman. As I wasn’t hungry, I went to bed without having dinner. When I woke up the woman on the wall was looking at me. This time I didn’t have any doubts she had definitely moved. I continued looking at her for a very long time. I lost the sense of time so I didn’t attend work. The day had passed but I couldn’t stop looking at that old painting. That happened all the week, day after day. The woman looked alive in the picture; she sometimes looked at me, but nothing she said and nothing she did. I looked at her until I realized I was getting crazy. I left the house and started to walk across the city again, but I couldn’t get her out of my head. I was really afraid. At that moment I told myself that I should have listened to the salesman’s warning. When I got back to the house I was determined to throw away that painting but when I entered my room and looked at the portrait I couldn’t see the woman. I looked at my bed and there she was, sitting on it waiting for me. Suddenly she stood up grabbed me by my arms and forced me to get inside the picture.
And here I am, inside this picture, betrayed by that woman that used to be here and is now free. I’m here in my portrait just waiting for the opportunity to find another person to get inside this picture and become free once again.
Pen name: Tuke
Category: C
I was once walking across the city when I saw a garage sale, I didn’t have anything to do so I decided to stop and watch. Many of the items on sale were normal objects that didn’t call my attention but there was a portrait with a lady sitting on a chair that looked really strange and had something that made me want to have it. I asked the man if that work of art was on sale. The man looked at the portrait then he looked at me and warned me, “Before you get that picture I must tell you that it is not a normal picture, it can make the owner’s personality change, but to be honest I don’t want to see that picture any more because it is starting to affect me too. So if you want it I will give it to you for free” At first I was shocked because of this warning and mostly because of the disturbed look on this man’s face, but I convinced myself that there was nothing to fear so I told the man that I wanted the picture anyway. He gave it to me and returned quickly to his house.
I carried the image to my home and put in on the wall that was in front of my bed. When I was going to go to work I looked at the lady in the frame and noticed that she wasn’t in the same position than before. I told myself that it was a product of my imagination so I left and went to my job without taking a second look at the woman. I had a really busy day at work so I didn’t think about that portrait while I was there but when I went back to my house I found that the woman was clearly looking to the other side. I stared at the picture for a moment and realized the woman was slowly moving. I continued looking at it, and before I could realize, a whole hour had passed since I started to look at that woman. As I wasn’t hungry, I went to bed without having dinner. When I woke up the woman on the wall was looking at me. This time I didn’t have any doubts she had definitely moved. I continued looking at her for a very long time. I lost the sense of time so I didn’t attend work. The day had passed but I couldn’t stop looking at that old painting. That happened all the week, day after day. The woman looked alive in the picture; she sometimes looked at me, but nothing she said and nothing she did. I looked at her until I realized I was getting crazy. I left the house and started to walk across the city again, but I couldn’t get her out of my head. I was really afraid. At that moment I told myself that I should have listened to the salesman’s warning. When I got back to the house I was determined to throw away that painting but when I entered my room and looked at the portrait I couldn’t see the woman. I looked at my bed and there she was, sitting on it waiting for me. Suddenly she stood up grabbed me by my arms and forced me to get inside the picture.
And here I am, inside this picture, betrayed by that woman that used to be here and is now free. I’m here in my portrait just waiting for the opportunity to find another person to get inside this picture and become free once again.
Pen name: Tuke
Category: C
Arseo, the Demigod
Katrina was a young woman from the city of Sparta. It was the year CLX B.C. She was too pretty for the men that wanted to marry her. In those days, nobody disobeyed the wish of the Great Brothers: Hades, god of the Underworld, Poseidon, Lord of the Seas, Earthquakes and Horses, and Zeus, king of the gods and ruler of Mount Olympus; god of the Sky and Thunder.
One summer night, Zeus met Katrina and together made a son, half human and half god.
Arseo, son of the King of the Sky and Katrina, showed himself to be very skillful in the use of weapons; he also had an extraordinary strength and speed. When he was eight was taken away from his home to the customary training in Sparta. During the journey he heard about the Trojan war and felt very interested in it.
The years passed and Arseo became a new man. He had the features of a true warrior, and an excellent body. When he arrived home he met an old man with a beard who demonstrated great power.
-“Zeus!”- said Arseo
-“Son” – answered the god- “I came here to tell you three important things, the first one is that your mother was killed by Hades’s son, Asrag, the second one is that you will find weapons and a sword made by the god Hephaestus in your room, as a reward for your courage during all these years. The last one, I’m sorry for all these years I have been absent, but you must know that I‘ll approve all of your decisions.
And after his words to his son, he suddenly disappeared.
***
One day Hermes, messenger of the Gods, god of Commerce and Thieves, told Arseo the reason why Asrag had killed his mother and where he could find him. Hermes also said that the idea of killing his mother was Hades’s so as to arouse Arseo’s desire to start a war between demigods and gods, so he would have a chance to take the throne of the Olympus, which belonged to Zeus.
So Arseo went on the search of Asrag to have his revenge. He found him near Mount Olympus. He was dressed in black, with an evil smile in his face. When they were at a short distance from each other, a horrible voice said- “Don’t forget about me!”
-“Twins!” said Arseo surprised.
-“You are the first after our father to know about us, but the secret will prevail”. The battle started, Arseo was a great warrior but he was in disadvantage, because they were two. Arseo couldn’t last much longer, but he realized that one twin had put his shield down and Arseo killed him. In the precise moment he was killing him, the other twin attacked Arseo with his sword. He almost killed him but in the last second he gave a very loud cry and a ray killed the second twin.
Zeus noticed his son was dying on earth and descended to have his last word with him.
-“It´s done! ”, Arseo said.
-“It was perfect son, Katrina would have been proud! ”
A tear fell from Zeus’s eyes and he shouted with anger swearing revenge on Hades himself.
Pen-name: GED
Category C
Katrina was a young woman from the city of Sparta. It was the year CLX B.C. She was too pretty for the men that wanted to marry her. In those days, nobody disobeyed the wish of the Great Brothers: Hades, god of the Underworld, Poseidon, Lord of the Seas, Earthquakes and Horses, and Zeus, king of the gods and ruler of Mount Olympus; god of the Sky and Thunder.
One summer night, Zeus met Katrina and together made a son, half human and half god.
Arseo, son of the King of the Sky and Katrina, showed himself to be very skillful in the use of weapons; he also had an extraordinary strength and speed. When he was eight was taken away from his home to the customary training in Sparta. During the journey he heard about the Trojan war and felt very interested in it.
The years passed and Arseo became a new man. He had the features of a true warrior, and an excellent body. When he arrived home he met an old man with a beard who demonstrated great power.
-“Zeus!”- said Arseo
-“Son” – answered the god- “I came here to tell you three important things, the first one is that your mother was killed by Hades’s son, Asrag, the second one is that you will find weapons and a sword made by the god Hephaestus in your room, as a reward for your courage during all these years. The last one, I’m sorry for all these years I have been absent, but you must know that I‘ll approve all of your decisions.
And after his words to his son, he suddenly disappeared.
***
One day Hermes, messenger of the Gods, god of Commerce and Thieves, told Arseo the reason why Asrag had killed his mother and where he could find him. Hermes also said that the idea of killing his mother was Hades’s so as to arouse Arseo’s desire to start a war between demigods and gods, so he would have a chance to take the throne of the Olympus, which belonged to Zeus.
So Arseo went on the search of Asrag to have his revenge. He found him near Mount Olympus. He was dressed in black, with an evil smile in his face. When they were at a short distance from each other, a horrible voice said- “Don’t forget about me!”
-“Twins!” said Arseo surprised.
-“You are the first after our father to know about us, but the secret will prevail”. The battle started, Arseo was a great warrior but he was in disadvantage, because they were two. Arseo couldn’t last much longer, but he realized that one twin had put his shield down and Arseo killed him. In the precise moment he was killing him, the other twin attacked Arseo with his sword. He almost killed him but in the last second he gave a very loud cry and a ray killed the second twin.
Zeus noticed his son was dying on earth and descended to have his last word with him.
-“It´s done! ”, Arseo said.
-“It was perfect son, Katrina would have been proud! ”
A tear fell from Zeus’s eyes and he shouted with anger swearing revenge on Hades himself.
Pen-name: GED
Category C
Charles’ Problem
There was a small village in USA, it was a very wonderful place called Winterfield where a lot of Rich people with large families lived. One of the families was Martin’s, Charles and Clarie were his parents, and George and Margaret his siblings. They lived in an enormous house of two floors with big rooms. Every weekend morning, Charles went to the club with his son. There they ran, played and finally they had a special orange juice that they loved. When they returned, Claire prepared the typical Sundays’ fish and chips.
On week days, Charles went to work early and at half past five, when he finished, he went to the gym, where he was known as “The man with the big nose”.
Everything was right, happy and in peace but one day, everything changed. The economical crisis affected everyone, including Charles’ job.
The company started to have debts and there were lay-offs that included him.
At first he enjoyed being at home but months passed and they started to have economical problems. He desperately started looking for a new job, but he couldn’t find one.
One day, he told Claire that he had a new job. They started to live like in the old times; he left home early and returned at half past five. But it was a lie, when he left, he went to the beach or the gym to run and then to a bar to drink something. The end of the month was near and Charles needed to show the money to Claire. He tried the lottery, the casino, but he wasn’t lucky. One evening, when he was on the bus, after the gym, he went to talk with an enormous man, a bold and very strong-built man, known as The lion. Charles told him about the situation and the Lion made him a strange proposal.
Unfortunately, Charles accepted and soon he started to feel really. He lost his hair; he couldn’t sleep at night and kept returning later and later. The proposal was to rob a bank and in the cold night of June 27th, they went to the HSBC, the nearest bank and broke into it. They took the safe deposit; there they found jewelry, watches and a lot of money. Charles and Lion put everything in huge boxes. Everything seemed to be ok but they were leaving when a guard appeared. He called the police and five minutes before they could leave, they were surrounded.
They couldn’t escape and they were arrested. Charles was very worried and regretted what he had done. He never got his freedom back, but the worst thing for him and something he couldn’t forget was the disappointment and sad gloomy faces of his little sons. He always said the same “it was the worst punishment”.
Pen name: Morimoto
Category C
There was a small village in USA, it was a very wonderful place called Winterfield where a lot of Rich people with large families lived. One of the families was Martin’s, Charles and Clarie were his parents, and George and Margaret his siblings. They lived in an enormous house of two floors with big rooms. Every weekend morning, Charles went to the club with his son. There they ran, played and finally they had a special orange juice that they loved. When they returned, Claire prepared the typical Sundays’ fish and chips.
On week days, Charles went to work early and at half past five, when he finished, he went to the gym, where he was known as “The man with the big nose”.
Everything was right, happy and in peace but one day, everything changed. The economical crisis affected everyone, including Charles’ job.
The company started to have debts and there were lay-offs that included him.
At first he enjoyed being at home but months passed and they started to have economical problems. He desperately started looking for a new job, but he couldn’t find one.
One day, he told Claire that he had a new job. They started to live like in the old times; he left home early and returned at half past five. But it was a lie, when he left, he went to the beach or the gym to run and then to a bar to drink something. The end of the month was near and Charles needed to show the money to Claire. He tried the lottery, the casino, but he wasn’t lucky. One evening, when he was on the bus, after the gym, he went to talk with an enormous man, a bold and very strong-built man, known as The lion. Charles told him about the situation and the Lion made him a strange proposal.
Unfortunately, Charles accepted and soon he started to feel really. He lost his hair; he couldn’t sleep at night and kept returning later and later. The proposal was to rob a bank and in the cold night of June 27th, they went to the HSBC, the nearest bank and broke into it. They took the safe deposit; there they found jewelry, watches and a lot of money. Charles and Lion put everything in huge boxes. Everything seemed to be ok but they were leaving when a guard appeared. He called the police and five minutes before they could leave, they were surrounded.
They couldn’t escape and they were arrested. Charles was very worried and regretted what he had done. He never got his freedom back, but the worst thing for him and something he couldn’t forget was the disappointment and sad gloomy faces of his little sons. He always said the same “it was the worst punishment”.
Pen name: Morimoto
Category C
A Lonely Woman
Everything became perfect in Susan’s life when she met Charlie. She was a beautiful, intelligent and very rich woman who lived in the biggest house of her town, in France, but she was getting old without meeting her real love. But everything was different after meeting Charlie, a fifty year-old gentleman, who didn’t have as much money as Susan, but they were happy together and money wasn’t a problem in their relationship.
Charlie was a very lonely man; he only had his sister, Victoria, a very attractive and intelligent woman, and his best friend, Mark, who was a little bit strange. He was very jealous of Susan because he was Charlie’s best friend since they were children and now that Charlie was in love with Susan he didn’t pay too much attention to him.
One day, Charlie decided to propose to Susan and she accepted immediately.
They got married and lived a normal life together. Susan had never been so happy in all her life: she was always in a good mood and with a smile on her face and Charlie seemed very pleased too. Everything was fine until something terrible happened.
One day, Charlie arrived at his home and saw that the entire floor was covered in blood. He walked to the kitchen and saw that Susan had been murdered. He immediately called the police.
The police arrived a few minutes later. They asked a lot of questions to Charlie and his sister who was also there. The police asked Victoria if anyone would have a reason to kill Susan. Immediately Victoria told them about Mark. She said he was a little bit crazy and was very jealous of Susan, so the police asked Charlie to call him, but he didn’t answer the calls.
A week later the police returned to Charlie’s house and tried to call Mark again but he had disappeared. They told Charlie and Victoria that they were almost sure he was the murderer and they would try very hard to catch him but it wouldn’t be easy. They also told him that they had taken a look at Susan’s will and she had left all her belongings and properties to him.
The policeman said goodbye and left the house. As the policeman left, Charlie and Victoria kissed. They were not siblings after all. He said he loved her and that everything went as they had planned. He picked up the phone and called Mark. He said that everything had gone as planned and told him to stay there in Argentina that he was going to send him a check for U$S 50.000 every month. He hung up the phone and shouted he was the luckiest man on Earth.
Pen name: Feduchis C
Category C
Everything became perfect in Susan’s life when she met Charlie. She was a beautiful, intelligent and very rich woman who lived in the biggest house of her town, in France, but she was getting old without meeting her real love. But everything was different after meeting Charlie, a fifty year-old gentleman, who didn’t have as much money as Susan, but they were happy together and money wasn’t a problem in their relationship.
Charlie was a very lonely man; he only had his sister, Victoria, a very attractive and intelligent woman, and his best friend, Mark, who was a little bit strange. He was very jealous of Susan because he was Charlie’s best friend since they were children and now that Charlie was in love with Susan he didn’t pay too much attention to him.
One day, Charlie decided to propose to Susan and she accepted immediately.
They got married and lived a normal life together. Susan had never been so happy in all her life: she was always in a good mood and with a smile on her face and Charlie seemed very pleased too. Everything was fine until something terrible happened.
One day, Charlie arrived at his home and saw that the entire floor was covered in blood. He walked to the kitchen and saw that Susan had been murdered. He immediately called the police.
The police arrived a few minutes later. They asked a lot of questions to Charlie and his sister who was also there. The police asked Victoria if anyone would have a reason to kill Susan. Immediately Victoria told them about Mark. She said he was a little bit crazy and was very jealous of Susan, so the police asked Charlie to call him, but he didn’t answer the calls.
A week later the police returned to Charlie’s house and tried to call Mark again but he had disappeared. They told Charlie and Victoria that they were almost sure he was the murderer and they would try very hard to catch him but it wouldn’t be easy. They also told him that they had taken a look at Susan’s will and she had left all her belongings and properties to him.
The policeman said goodbye and left the house. As the policeman left, Charlie and Victoria kissed. They were not siblings after all. He said he loved her and that everything went as they had planned. He picked up the phone and called Mark. He said that everything had gone as planned and told him to stay there in Argentina that he was going to send him a check for U$S 50.000 every month. He hung up the phone and shouted he was the luckiest man on Earth.
Pen name: Feduchis C
Category C
“The Tank” Asioja
Once upon a time there was a boy called ”The Tank" Asioja. He was as fat as a pig for some, a great scorer for others and a legend to many.
He was a young man of 16 , 1, 80 meters tall, that used to go to the “Salvador School”.
Nobody thought he would be the hero of Argentina in the World Cup 2014.
Asioja had a chance to be a good nine in the cups at “Salvador school” but he couldn’t shine playing this position. His friends did not know where to place him.
Instead he was so sad; he decided to have a try in Quilmes Team, where he wanted to get win a place in the first category team.
“The Tank” was very proud when "El Burrito" Ortega, the coach of the 4th division, offered him to start as a substitute, where he soon became a team player. Asioja was happy about becoming a very good friend of “El Burrito" and they started to meet at parties. But later on the bench, with Daniel Passarella as coach, he became a disciplined player. This gave him a very nice feeling; he was starting to play better.
After a great year as a substitute in Quilmes he went to Arsenal. There he made it into the team and he started sharing the forward position with Juan Pablo Angel. Asioja was cheerful and glad.
After a year, Arsenal bought David Trezeguet so Asioja was left again out of the team. “The Tank” was very sad and depressed but he decided to make it come back to the team.
After an excellent season of Juan Pablo and David, Abel Antonio Alves was appointed coach. Alves saw that "The Tank", with great sacrificed, was better than Trezeguet, so he placed him again into the first team, keeping David in the second team.
Asioja was amazed about being part of the first team. He took advantage of his opportunity and he won with Arsenal the “Apertura 2012” and the “Libertadores 2013”. He became a scorer.
At the age of 20, “the Tank” was shocked when called to participate in the World Cup 2014.
Argentina won the semi-finals to Germany with two goals from Higuain and one of Messi, but at the last minute of the match the first one suffered a serious injury. Martin Palermo, the Coach, decided to replace Higuain for Asioja. The final was Zero to Zero, but in the last minute “the Tank” formed a great wall with Messi, who returned him a high centre to the penalty point. It was too high, and the goal keeper was ten centimeters taller than him. But Asioja, following Ortega’s advice, looked up to heaven, and with the tip of his nose pushed the ball into the goal.
Argentina was champion again. "The Tank" was the hero of the night, and "the nose of God" passed into history.
Pen name: Angelucio
Category C
Once upon a time there was a boy called ”The Tank" Asioja. He was as fat as a pig for some, a great scorer for others and a legend to many.
He was a young man of 16 , 1, 80 meters tall, that used to go to the “Salvador School”.
Nobody thought he would be the hero of Argentina in the World Cup 2014.
Asioja had a chance to be a good nine in the cups at “Salvador school” but he couldn’t shine playing this position. His friends did not know where to place him.
Instead he was so sad; he decided to have a try in Quilmes Team, where he wanted to get win a place in the first category team.
“The Tank” was very proud when "El Burrito" Ortega, the coach of the 4th division, offered him to start as a substitute, where he soon became a team player. Asioja was happy about becoming a very good friend of “El Burrito" and they started to meet at parties. But later on the bench, with Daniel Passarella as coach, he became a disciplined player. This gave him a very nice feeling; he was starting to play better.
After a great year as a substitute in Quilmes he went to Arsenal. There he made it into the team and he started sharing the forward position with Juan Pablo Angel. Asioja was cheerful and glad.
After a year, Arsenal bought David Trezeguet so Asioja was left again out of the team. “The Tank” was very sad and depressed but he decided to make it come back to the team.
After an excellent season of Juan Pablo and David, Abel Antonio Alves was appointed coach. Alves saw that "The Tank", with great sacrificed, was better than Trezeguet, so he placed him again into the first team, keeping David in the second team.
Asioja was amazed about being part of the first team. He took advantage of his opportunity and he won with Arsenal the “Apertura 2012” and the “Libertadores 2013”. He became a scorer.
At the age of 20, “the Tank” was shocked when called to participate in the World Cup 2014.
Argentina won the semi-finals to Germany with two goals from Higuain and one of Messi, but at the last minute of the match the first one suffered a serious injury. Martin Palermo, the Coach, decided to replace Higuain for Asioja. The final was Zero to Zero, but in the last minute “the Tank” formed a great wall with Messi, who returned him a high centre to the penalty point. It was too high, and the goal keeper was ten centimeters taller than him. But Asioja, following Ortega’s advice, looked up to heaven, and with the tip of his nose pushed the ball into the goal.
Argentina was champion again. "The Tank" was the hero of the night, and "the nose of God" passed into history.
Pen name: Angelucio
Category C
The Horror Hotel
I decided to go to Miramar with my family, made up of my wife and my 14 year-old son, Jonathan. We were there to take some deserved vacations on the beach after an exhausting year of hard work (and school).
When we arrived in the so called “The City of Children” we started looking for a place to stay; we made a big mistake: going on season and without any previous hotel reservation. We couldn’t find a place anywhere until midnight. We found a little strange and creepy hotel. It was in the outskirts of Miramar, close to the big sign that welcomes tourists. It was very weird because we had gone past the place before and there was nothing there. We ignored that detail because we were too tired to keep looking for a place.
Jonathan was asleep in the car when we checked in. We were given the furthest cabin, number 28. We went back to the car, we got in it and suddenly an old, very thin man started yelling at us: “Don’t you get in there, you’re gonna regret this, don’t you go in there, terrible things happen there!”
After I calmed him down, I got into the car again, Jonathan was woken up by the old man and said: “Poor, crazy old man”. I had the same thought but I was a little freaked out by the man, but it was better to think he was the freak.
We slept very well until some noises woke me and my wife up. There were very loud noises and they came from cabin number 27. At 9 in the morning I went to see the owner of the hotel, I noticed some nervousness in him; he was strange. He told me he would take care of it. When I was coming back I noticed some red spots on the neighbor’s cabin door, like blood spots. That day I couldn’t stop thinking about that, even though we went to the beach.
At night we went to sleep. Again at about 3 o’clock the noises started, but this time they were much closer. It was raining. I woke my family up to stay alert. I told them to lock every door and window in the cabin. After we were “safe”, we went to Jonathan’s room, just to wait…
We waited, waited and waited until, suddenly a window broke and a kind of big shadow appeared. From that moment I don’t remember anything else…
After some time, my wife and I woke up; we realized that our son was missing. Desperate, we went to look for him, but in the hall we found him hanged from chains on the roof. He was head-down, covered in blood, dead. We were devastated.
After crying for our loss, we decided that the best thing to do was to escape. The telephone didn’t work and our car was very far away. The only way out was an old, rusty car that was outside, like 20 meters away. We ran desperately to the car under the rain. Suddenly the shadow appeared; we ran as fast as we could but “it” was faster. We got in the car but it didn’t start. Then the shadow, which had a kind of knife, started trying to kill us, but then I saw some wires hanging from the car. They were from the lights that, curiously, were the only thing that worked in that old, rusty car. I touched the shadow with the electric wires and, because of the rain, the “it” got electrocuted. I turned happily to my wife but I realized she had a cut on her chest, she was dead, too. I can’t describe how I felt.
One year later I got back to Miramar but when I went to the place where the hotel was, there was nothing there, the only thing I found was a note that said: “I told you, you were going to regret this”. The only thing I did was start crying and that sadness lives inside me and is still living today.
Pen name: MetalNick
Category C
I decided to go to Miramar with my family, made up of my wife and my 14 year-old son, Jonathan. We were there to take some deserved vacations on the beach after an exhausting year of hard work (and school).
When we arrived in the so called “The City of Children” we started looking for a place to stay; we made a big mistake: going on season and without any previous hotel reservation. We couldn’t find a place anywhere until midnight. We found a little strange and creepy hotel. It was in the outskirts of Miramar, close to the big sign that welcomes tourists. It was very weird because we had gone past the place before and there was nothing there. We ignored that detail because we were too tired to keep looking for a place.
Jonathan was asleep in the car when we checked in. We were given the furthest cabin, number 28. We went back to the car, we got in it and suddenly an old, very thin man started yelling at us: “Don’t you get in there, you’re gonna regret this, don’t you go in there, terrible things happen there!”
After I calmed him down, I got into the car again, Jonathan was woken up by the old man and said: “Poor, crazy old man”. I had the same thought but I was a little freaked out by the man, but it was better to think he was the freak.
We slept very well until some noises woke me and my wife up. There were very loud noises and they came from cabin number 27. At 9 in the morning I went to see the owner of the hotel, I noticed some nervousness in him; he was strange. He told me he would take care of it. When I was coming back I noticed some red spots on the neighbor’s cabin door, like blood spots. That day I couldn’t stop thinking about that, even though we went to the beach.
At night we went to sleep. Again at about 3 o’clock the noises started, but this time they were much closer. It was raining. I woke my family up to stay alert. I told them to lock every door and window in the cabin. After we were “safe”, we went to Jonathan’s room, just to wait…
We waited, waited and waited until, suddenly a window broke and a kind of big shadow appeared. From that moment I don’t remember anything else…
After some time, my wife and I woke up; we realized that our son was missing. Desperate, we went to look for him, but in the hall we found him hanged from chains on the roof. He was head-down, covered in blood, dead. We were devastated.
After crying for our loss, we decided that the best thing to do was to escape. The telephone didn’t work and our car was very far away. The only way out was an old, rusty car that was outside, like 20 meters away. We ran desperately to the car under the rain. Suddenly the shadow appeared; we ran as fast as we could but “it” was faster. We got in the car but it didn’t start. Then the shadow, which had a kind of knife, started trying to kill us, but then I saw some wires hanging from the car. They were from the lights that, curiously, were the only thing that worked in that old, rusty car. I touched the shadow with the electric wires and, because of the rain, the “it” got electrocuted. I turned happily to my wife but I realized she had a cut on her chest, she was dead, too. I can’t describe how I felt.
One year later I got back to Miramar but when I went to the place where the hotel was, there was nothing there, the only thing I found was a note that said: “I told you, you were going to regret this”. The only thing I did was start crying and that sadness lives inside me and is still living today.
Pen name: MetalNick
Category C
Pre-elected story. Literature Contest 2010
Unexpected Train of Happiness
Tom was a boy with some social problems in his family and with his friends. He was 12 years old and he wasn’t tall enough. He was very thin and weak. His parents didn’t pay attention to him and his friends ignored him because he was so weak and he didn’t do anything well. He went to the Centre Secondary School, in the heart of Manchester but he lived in Liverpool because his parents couldn’t pay any good school. The Centre Secondary School had a lot of secret places that he used to hide in when he run away from his friends.
He had a terrible life; he only had his dog, his best friend called Loopy. It was very old and it was with him since his early childhood. After Tom finished dinner, he went to bed to pray for a new life with a lot of friends and good parents.
One day, Tom was sleeping and in front of him was Loopy. He heard a strange sound, like a train. He was very confused and he thought that it was a dream but he saw Loopy was restless, a sign that something was going on. He put a lot of clothes on because it was very cold outside. He left his room and he saw a large train with a tall man at the door. He asked him “What is this train?” and this person answered “This is the Train of Happiness for children like you”. Tom was very excited and he got on train. He saw boys like him; they looked at him and the asked “What has happened to you?” “Why are you here?” Tom was very confused and answered “I suppose that I’m here because my parents and my friends don’t pay any attention to me so I’m here”. He sat next to a wonderful girl. This girl was called Josephine and she started to talk to him. Tom was very surprised because a girl like her had never talked to him so he was nervous. When he met all these children he felt that he had friends but as soon as he felt this, the train disappeared and he was at home again as if nothing had happened.
He understood that when he prayed to solve his problems with his friends and his family, the train came and these children and other people like angels gave him tips to solve them. So when he needed help or company, he prayed for the train and it came to him and gave him company. And that happened quite often. But he never really knew if this train was a figment of his imagination. He just enjoyed the moment and the feeling of not being alone.
Pen name: Rurro
Category: C
Tom was a boy with some social problems in his family and with his friends. He was 12 years old and he wasn’t tall enough. He was very thin and weak. His parents didn’t pay attention to him and his friends ignored him because he was so weak and he didn’t do anything well. He went to the Centre Secondary School, in the heart of Manchester but he lived in Liverpool because his parents couldn’t pay any good school. The Centre Secondary School had a lot of secret places that he used to hide in when he run away from his friends.
He had a terrible life; he only had his dog, his best friend called Loopy. It was very old and it was with him since his early childhood. After Tom finished dinner, he went to bed to pray for a new life with a lot of friends and good parents.
One day, Tom was sleeping and in front of him was Loopy. He heard a strange sound, like a train. He was very confused and he thought that it was a dream but he saw Loopy was restless, a sign that something was going on. He put a lot of clothes on because it was very cold outside. He left his room and he saw a large train with a tall man at the door. He asked him “What is this train?” and this person answered “This is the Train of Happiness for children like you”. Tom was very excited and he got on train. He saw boys like him; they looked at him and the asked “What has happened to you?” “Why are you here?” Tom was very confused and answered “I suppose that I’m here because my parents and my friends don’t pay any attention to me so I’m here”. He sat next to a wonderful girl. This girl was called Josephine and she started to talk to him. Tom was very surprised because a girl like her had never talked to him so he was nervous. When he met all these children he felt that he had friends but as soon as he felt this, the train disappeared and he was at home again as if nothing had happened.
He understood that when he prayed to solve his problems with his friends and his family, the train came and these children and other people like angels gave him tips to solve them. So when he needed help or company, he prayed for the train and it came to him and gave him company. And that happened quite often. But he never really knew if this train was a figment of his imagination. He just enjoyed the moment and the feeling of not being alone.
Pen name: Rurro
Category: C
Useless Quest
In the city of Boston, the crime rate was growing more and more each day. It was a place ruled by violence and corruption. The man behind these outrageous events was Desmond Alastair. But there was still hope because Rorschach, the superhero, was there too.
Despite his extraordinary powers, Rorschach had lived a normal life. But this time it was enough. He decided to stand for justice. His suite was a black coat covering his body, a black leather hat and a strange white mask with black spots. These reflected the unfortunate events in his childhood, the death of his parents.
One day he was walking down a street when he saw six armed men robbing a bank. He fought against them. There were bullets everywhere and one hit the robber who was shooting behind a desk. Rorschach stood still a few seconds and then he ran away.
He had never caused the death of anybody. Instead, he had always put in prison the ones who disrespected the law. This time, he had broken his principles. He couldn’t return home, the police would search for him there for killing a person. It didn’t matter if it was a thief; he was dangerous to people. He went to Emily’s house. Emily was his best friend and Rorschach was secretly in love with her. She was young and beautiful and she had been very supportive since his parents had died.
Two weeks later, almost the entire city was looking for him. That night Rorschach and Emily had an argument.
“It wasn’t your fault. You were trying to help. You must fight for justice and all that involves that”, Emily said. He waited a minute and then whispered, “I know what I have to do. I must go far away and never come back. Listen if nobod…”
“STOP, please you can’t leave me, please”, she cried.
And with tears in his eyes, he promised he would never leave her.
The following days were pretty calm. Rorschach went to check the streets looking for any problems that there might be, and Emily stayed in the house. He came back one hour later, but she wasn’t there. There was a note:” It’s frozen here, if you don’t hurry, you’ll shed some tears”. Only a few minutes passed until he realized what that letter meant. His most feared enemy, Desmond Alastair, had kidnapped her friend.
He spent all night and the following day trying to find any clue because he knew that all the letters of his foe had tracks. At twilight, he was going to give up when an idea came to his mind. He didn’t know if it was the right choice but he took the risk. He head towards the Old Harbor, the coldest part in all Boston. The snow was unbearable and the cold was as icy as the North Pole, but his purpose was clear. He had to save his friend, his reason to be still alive. Through the mist, he saw a cottage in an igloo shape. He managed to get in. The surroundings looked very dull and neglected. He recognized only one door that seemed clean enough. He entered a dark room. There was a figure at the corner. Desmond was standing with his face down. “Let’s finish this”.
And then they both moved like shadows. It was a fight between good and evil, between light and darkness, between hope and doom. It was difficult to say who was winning because they were incredibly fast. Finally, Rorschach had the choice. He raised his arm to finish Desmond but all of a sudden he jumped off the window near him. “It is over…for a while”, the hero said.
Rorschach hurried to open the next door in the room willing that Emily was there. He knew that at least he could be with Emily, his best friend, his secret love. He had planned to tell her what he really felt for her and he hoped she would feel the same. They would be together...
But then, tears were coming down his eyes. The words in the letter made sense. He was too late. All hope was gone as she was lying on the floor.
Emily was dead.
Pen-name: i-Tower
Category C
In the city of Boston, the crime rate was growing more and more each day. It was a place ruled by violence and corruption. The man behind these outrageous events was Desmond Alastair. But there was still hope because Rorschach, the superhero, was there too.
Despite his extraordinary powers, Rorschach had lived a normal life. But this time it was enough. He decided to stand for justice. His suite was a black coat covering his body, a black leather hat and a strange white mask with black spots. These reflected the unfortunate events in his childhood, the death of his parents.
One day he was walking down a street when he saw six armed men robbing a bank. He fought against them. There were bullets everywhere and one hit the robber who was shooting behind a desk. Rorschach stood still a few seconds and then he ran away.
He had never caused the death of anybody. Instead, he had always put in prison the ones who disrespected the law. This time, he had broken his principles. He couldn’t return home, the police would search for him there for killing a person. It didn’t matter if it was a thief; he was dangerous to people. He went to Emily’s house. Emily was his best friend and Rorschach was secretly in love with her. She was young and beautiful and she had been very supportive since his parents had died.
Two weeks later, almost the entire city was looking for him. That night Rorschach and Emily had an argument.
“It wasn’t your fault. You were trying to help. You must fight for justice and all that involves that”, Emily said. He waited a minute and then whispered, “I know what I have to do. I must go far away and never come back. Listen if nobod…”
“STOP, please you can’t leave me, please”, she cried.
And with tears in his eyes, he promised he would never leave her.
The following days were pretty calm. Rorschach went to check the streets looking for any problems that there might be, and Emily stayed in the house. He came back one hour later, but she wasn’t there. There was a note:” It’s frozen here, if you don’t hurry, you’ll shed some tears”. Only a few minutes passed until he realized what that letter meant. His most feared enemy, Desmond Alastair, had kidnapped her friend.
He spent all night and the following day trying to find any clue because he knew that all the letters of his foe had tracks. At twilight, he was going to give up when an idea came to his mind. He didn’t know if it was the right choice but he took the risk. He head towards the Old Harbor, the coldest part in all Boston. The snow was unbearable and the cold was as icy as the North Pole, but his purpose was clear. He had to save his friend, his reason to be still alive. Through the mist, he saw a cottage in an igloo shape. He managed to get in. The surroundings looked very dull and neglected. He recognized only one door that seemed clean enough. He entered a dark room. There was a figure at the corner. Desmond was standing with his face down. “Let’s finish this”.
And then they both moved like shadows. It was a fight between good and evil, between light and darkness, between hope and doom. It was difficult to say who was winning because they were incredibly fast. Finally, Rorschach had the choice. He raised his arm to finish Desmond but all of a sudden he jumped off the window near him. “It is over…for a while”, the hero said.
Rorschach hurried to open the next door in the room willing that Emily was there. He knew that at least he could be with Emily, his best friend, his secret love. He had planned to tell her what he really felt for her and he hoped she would feel the same. They would be together...
But then, tears were coming down his eyes. The words in the letter made sense. He was too late. All hope was gone as she was lying on the floor.
Emily was dead.
Pen-name: i-Tower
Category C
Love and fame are not the same
Keith Jones was an artist in the city of Los Angeles. He was the lead singer on a band called “Megallica”. They performed covers of the band “Metallica”. People used to love this band until something terrible happened. The 90’s...that’s what happened.
At first it was an incredible period for music. Bands like “Nirvana” and “Guns n’ Roses” were shining like stars. Even “Metallica” with their most famous album known as the “Black Album” ruled the scene of music. But it was too good to be real. Kurt Cobain, the lead singer and lead guitar of “Nirvana” commited suicide. “Guns n’ Roses” had a huge fight and they split up. And the worst thing was that “Metallica” was not the same band as in the early 80’s. They started playing ballads and some kind of blues.
Keith hated the new “Metallica” of the 90’s! He was so disapointed that he didn’t want to know anything about that sissy-ballads-band. He decided to start over with a new band. He kicked out everyone in his group and said to himself “I wanna be loved by my fans...I want to be famous! I’m sick and tired of doing covers of a band that I don’t even admire anymore!” He started auditioning for a new band. He said it was going to be the best one of the 20th century.
Two years later, in 1998 his band, “True Metal”, was a big hit. He had the best guitar player of the century, according to all the music magazines, Randy Rhoads. He had an awesome drummer called Joey Jordison, and finally, but not less important, his insane bass player Cliff Burton. The band genre was usually Trash/Heavy Metal. They had a lot of fans and their debut album called “Blood in Your Face” was the biggest hit of the 90’s with 30.000.000 copies sold only in America. Keith was the happiest man on Earth. He could reach his dream of love and fame. Or at least that’s what he thought.
A new genre was rising from the underground. The “Nu Metal”. It was a mix of “Rap” and “Heavy Metal”. Bands of this genre were getting more fans and more popularity than Keith’s band. So when they were working on the band’s new album called “St Anger”, they got some sort of influence of this genre. Cliff said that this was a sold out, that it was fake, and he didn’t want to do this album. Keith, deaf and blind because of his addiction to fame, kicked Cliff out of the band and hired Bob Rock to help them in the album and to play the bass. Keith was out of control. He wanted his fame so much that his whole character had changed.
The day that the album came out...it what a disaster! The fans were angry with the band. They sold 100 copies of the cd! Not even the “Nu Metal” fans liked the CD. Joey, the drummer of the band, had a hughe fight with Randy in a bar and they split up. Keith blamed Bob for the mistake of making an album like “St Anger” and kicked him out of the band. And when Keith realized he got nothing left, he grabbed a shotgun and twisted thoughts went round his head. He was at the edge. But then he realized that he was doing the same that “Metallica” had done a few years before. He stopped being himself and making the music he loved just to gain fame. He realized that a musician should make music for himself, music that he loves. The audience is important, but they will love you as long as you play the music they want to hear. At that moment, he threw the shotgun away and started to work in a “solo” album. Two years later “Love and Fame are not the same” was released and sold 4.000.000. It was nothing compared to the number of copies he sold with “Blood in Your Face”, but he was happy anyway. He was himself after all.
Pen-name:Dave Mustaine
Category C
Keith Jones was an artist in the city of Los Angeles. He was the lead singer on a band called “Megallica”. They performed covers of the band “Metallica”. People used to love this band until something terrible happened. The 90’s...that’s what happened.
At first it was an incredible period for music. Bands like “Nirvana” and “Guns n’ Roses” were shining like stars. Even “Metallica” with their most famous album known as the “Black Album” ruled the scene of music. But it was too good to be real. Kurt Cobain, the lead singer and lead guitar of “Nirvana” commited suicide. “Guns n’ Roses” had a huge fight and they split up. And the worst thing was that “Metallica” was not the same band as in the early 80’s. They started playing ballads and some kind of blues.
Keith hated the new “Metallica” of the 90’s! He was so disapointed that he didn’t want to know anything about that sissy-ballads-band. He decided to start over with a new band. He kicked out everyone in his group and said to himself “I wanna be loved by my fans...I want to be famous! I’m sick and tired of doing covers of a band that I don’t even admire anymore!” He started auditioning for a new band. He said it was going to be the best one of the 20th century.
Two years later, in 1998 his band, “True Metal”, was a big hit. He had the best guitar player of the century, according to all the music magazines, Randy Rhoads. He had an awesome drummer called Joey Jordison, and finally, but not less important, his insane bass player Cliff Burton. The band genre was usually Trash/Heavy Metal. They had a lot of fans and their debut album called “Blood in Your Face” was the biggest hit of the 90’s with 30.000.000 copies sold only in America. Keith was the happiest man on Earth. He could reach his dream of love and fame. Or at least that’s what he thought.
A new genre was rising from the underground. The “Nu Metal”. It was a mix of “Rap” and “Heavy Metal”. Bands of this genre were getting more fans and more popularity than Keith’s band. So when they were working on the band’s new album called “St Anger”, they got some sort of influence of this genre. Cliff said that this was a sold out, that it was fake, and he didn’t want to do this album. Keith, deaf and blind because of his addiction to fame, kicked Cliff out of the band and hired Bob Rock to help them in the album and to play the bass. Keith was out of control. He wanted his fame so much that his whole character had changed.
The day that the album came out...it what a disaster! The fans were angry with the band. They sold 100 copies of the cd! Not even the “Nu Metal” fans liked the CD. Joey, the drummer of the band, had a hughe fight with Randy in a bar and they split up. Keith blamed Bob for the mistake of making an album like “St Anger” and kicked him out of the band. And when Keith realized he got nothing left, he grabbed a shotgun and twisted thoughts went round his head. He was at the edge. But then he realized that he was doing the same that “Metallica” had done a few years before. He stopped being himself and making the music he loved just to gain fame. He realized that a musician should make music for himself, music that he loves. The audience is important, but they will love you as long as you play the music they want to hear. At that moment, he threw the shotgun away and started to work in a “solo” album. Two years later “Love and Fame are not the same” was released and sold 4.000.000. It was nothing compared to the number of copies he sold with “Blood in Your Face”, but he was happy anyway. He was himself after all.
Pen-name:Dave Mustaine
Category C
Horror in the Bathroom
I remember that night vividly. I had gone out with Katie, who was my girlfriend back then, to this new disco called “Switers”, and we were dancing happily the songs the DJ was mixing. But as my girlfriend really liked beer, no matter which brand, she always ended up in the bathroom.
After she had finished her third beer can, I was already wondering when she would leave me for a while. Because when Katie went to the toilet, she also had her nails done, her hair combed and her make up done again, so all in all the issue lasted for at least fourty minutes. And it finally happened!!! In the middle of the hit I liked so much, “Mr. Vain”, she told me she was going to the bathroom. She had no idea of the horror that was waiting for her on the other side of the door.
It was hard for her to open the door. Something seemed to block it from the inside. But Katie wasn’t a typical girl. Instead of asking for help, she used her certainly not feminine biceps to open it. However, when she entered she behaved as a normal chick: she screamed as loud as hell. But who was going to listen to her when ‘Nights on Broadway’ was being played at full blast? There was a body with no arms, no legs and its head by a toilet seat. So Katie remembered her first aid course she had taken a few days ago and immediately called for an ambulance.
What a niiight!! The following day a detective known as Robin called me to ask me a few questions. It seemed he had seen a lot of episodes of “Lie to Me” because he looked at me exactly the same way the actor did on TV. But unlike what usually happens in the movies, it seemed the investigation was going nowhere. I thought the case would never be solved but something unbelievable happened.
The doorman remembered that previously that week he had installed cameras in the girls’ bathroom so that he would make some extra money with a dirty business on the Internet. When the detectives watched the tapes, the police saw a weird hindu-like person whose body had four legs and four arms that walked away from the bathroom and quickly left the disco.
With up-to-date technology that allows enlarging pictures without losing image quality the police could finally get a picture of the murderer. And that’s when my problems began…
Pen name: Mr. X
Category C
I remember that night vividly. I had gone out with Katie, who was my girlfriend back then, to this new disco called “Switers”, and we were dancing happily the songs the DJ was mixing. But as my girlfriend really liked beer, no matter which brand, she always ended up in the bathroom.
After she had finished her third beer can, I was already wondering when she would leave me for a while. Because when Katie went to the toilet, she also had her nails done, her hair combed and her make up done again, so all in all the issue lasted for at least fourty minutes. And it finally happened!!! In the middle of the hit I liked so much, “Mr. Vain”, she told me she was going to the bathroom. She had no idea of the horror that was waiting for her on the other side of the door.
It was hard for her to open the door. Something seemed to block it from the inside. But Katie wasn’t a typical girl. Instead of asking for help, she used her certainly not feminine biceps to open it. However, when she entered she behaved as a normal chick: she screamed as loud as hell. But who was going to listen to her when ‘Nights on Broadway’ was being played at full blast? There was a body with no arms, no legs and its head by a toilet seat. So Katie remembered her first aid course she had taken a few days ago and immediately called for an ambulance.
What a niiight!! The following day a detective known as Robin called me to ask me a few questions. It seemed he had seen a lot of episodes of “Lie to Me” because he looked at me exactly the same way the actor did on TV. But unlike what usually happens in the movies, it seemed the investigation was going nowhere. I thought the case would never be solved but something unbelievable happened.
The doorman remembered that previously that week he had installed cameras in the girls’ bathroom so that he would make some extra money with a dirty business on the Internet. When the detectives watched the tapes, the police saw a weird hindu-like person whose body had four legs and four arms that walked away from the bathroom and quickly left the disco.
With up-to-date technology that allows enlarging pictures without losing image quality the police could finally get a picture of the murderer. And that’s when my problems began…
Pen name: Mr. X
Category C
Mom, I’ve arrived
“Send me an e-mail when you arrive” were the last words that I heard from my mum before the horrible adventure I had those days.
It was two years ago, on March the 7th when my school trip was starting. We were supposed to go to a beautiful beach in Australia. All my family came with me to the airport: my parents, my brother and my two sisters, my grandparents and one of my uncles. My family and I were very happy about this opportunity because it was going to be the first time that I was going out of the country. And it finally happened, but not like my partners and I expected.
I said good bye to my family and I went to do the check-in. It was the first time I was going to fly in a plane so I was a little bit nervous. I sat next to one of my friends Alfredo Alejandro, who was scared too. The plane took off normally (that was what the stewardess said) and we were enjoying the trip until one of the pilots came out of their cabin and said something to the stewardess. And just then the odyssey started. The pilot wasn’t very calm so I got worried and after a few minutes the disaster on the plane occurred. All the people that were there started to shout, scared and we didn’t know what to do. The plane was making terrible noises, so loudly that we couldn’t bear it. We were in a turbulence zone.
The stewardess and one of the pilots tried to calm down the passengers but it is impossible to make people relax when they are in a dangerous situation. The plane was in the middle of nothing and the pilots didn’t know what to do. They had only one choice: land as soon as they could. We had to make an emergency landing in a desert island close to Africa.
The plane was destroyed. Luckily, we were all safe but one pilot and my French teacher were injured. In the first hours we suffered a lot, we didn’t have anything to eat or drink and it was very difficult to survive. But our teacher knew a lot about nature and started to investigate the island. She found a river where we could drink water and some trees and plants where we could get fruit or vegetables. I remember that I had to eat lots of apples and bananas.
So we were just there, on a desert island, lots of teenagers with our teachers and totally lost. The first night we all cried, missing our families and I remembered what mum said before I had gone: “Send me an e-mail when you have arrived”. And now, she would be sad, without knowing if I was ok. And that was the worst night I have ever had in my whole life.
On the next day, we discussed what we should do and what the rescue group might be doing or thinking. We thought that they might not knew where we were and we couldn’t let them know our location because all the machines of the plane where totally destroyed. But we realized that they knew the route of the plane so they would have to pass over the island even with a helicopter. So we decided to start a fire with the machines that didn’t work and to keep the fire alive along the day. To make the fire bigger we picked wooden trunks. This was a good activity because we spent time doing that.
And this worked! After a few hours, a helicopter was flying like 50 miles near the island and thanks to the smoke of the fire; the pilot got closer to the island to see what was happening and saw us. All of us were jumping and shouting of happiness.
The rescue group gave us water, food and clothes because we were cold. They called more helicopters that were near the area and they took us to a hospital in Ethiopia to give us vaccines and to cure the injured men like the pilot and my French teacher. The rescuers told us that we were in a volcanic island, which was very dangerous because it was an active area. After the next day, by dawn, I finally arrived in my country, where my family was waiting for me and instead of weeping I embraced my mum and said to her:” Mum I’ve arrived, I’m at home”
Pen-name: The Tower
Category C
“Send me an e-mail when you arrive” were the last words that I heard from my mum before the horrible adventure I had those days.
It was two years ago, on March the 7th when my school trip was starting. We were supposed to go to a beautiful beach in Australia. All my family came with me to the airport: my parents, my brother and my two sisters, my grandparents and one of my uncles. My family and I were very happy about this opportunity because it was going to be the first time that I was going out of the country. And it finally happened, but not like my partners and I expected.
I said good bye to my family and I went to do the check-in. It was the first time I was going to fly in a plane so I was a little bit nervous. I sat next to one of my friends Alfredo Alejandro, who was scared too. The plane took off normally (that was what the stewardess said) and we were enjoying the trip until one of the pilots came out of their cabin and said something to the stewardess. And just then the odyssey started. The pilot wasn’t very calm so I got worried and after a few minutes the disaster on the plane occurred. All the people that were there started to shout, scared and we didn’t know what to do. The plane was making terrible noises, so loudly that we couldn’t bear it. We were in a turbulence zone.
The stewardess and one of the pilots tried to calm down the passengers but it is impossible to make people relax when they are in a dangerous situation. The plane was in the middle of nothing and the pilots didn’t know what to do. They had only one choice: land as soon as they could. We had to make an emergency landing in a desert island close to Africa.
The plane was destroyed. Luckily, we were all safe but one pilot and my French teacher were injured. In the first hours we suffered a lot, we didn’t have anything to eat or drink and it was very difficult to survive. But our teacher knew a lot about nature and started to investigate the island. She found a river where we could drink water and some trees and plants where we could get fruit or vegetables. I remember that I had to eat lots of apples and bananas.
So we were just there, on a desert island, lots of teenagers with our teachers and totally lost. The first night we all cried, missing our families and I remembered what mum said before I had gone: “Send me an e-mail when you have arrived”. And now, she would be sad, without knowing if I was ok. And that was the worst night I have ever had in my whole life.
On the next day, we discussed what we should do and what the rescue group might be doing or thinking. We thought that they might not knew where we were and we couldn’t let them know our location because all the machines of the plane where totally destroyed. But we realized that they knew the route of the plane so they would have to pass over the island even with a helicopter. So we decided to start a fire with the machines that didn’t work and to keep the fire alive along the day. To make the fire bigger we picked wooden trunks. This was a good activity because we spent time doing that.
And this worked! After a few hours, a helicopter was flying like 50 miles near the island and thanks to the smoke of the fire; the pilot got closer to the island to see what was happening and saw us. All of us were jumping and shouting of happiness.
The rescue group gave us water, food and clothes because we were cold. They called more helicopters that were near the area and they took us to a hospital in Ethiopia to give us vaccines and to cure the injured men like the pilot and my French teacher. The rescuers told us that we were in a volcanic island, which was very dangerous because it was an active area. After the next day, by dawn, I finally arrived in my country, where my family was waiting for me and instead of weeping I embraced my mum and said to her:” Mum I’ve arrived, I’m at home”
Pen-name: The Tower
Category C
Fear forest
Three months ago, on March 15th, I decided to go out on my own for the day to the forest of “Fear Town”, the biggest forest in the country. There were myths about that place, it was said that anyone who got inside of it could never get out. It was also said that the temperature of the forest was always very low. There was a rumour which said that one student had gone there and never came back. I told my friends that I would go and come back whithout any trouble. Some said I was a liar, others that I was going to die. And finally, the girls said that I shouldn´t do that because it was not necessary for me to prove anything to anyone. I said that because I was the most popular guy of my class. And I thought that if I wanted to keep like that I would have to do something that anyone could never do. My best friend, Michael, told me that he would come with me, so we decided to go there as soon as possible. Two days later, we went to the forest. It took about 25 minutes to arrive there. There was an announcement which said “WELCOME TO FEAR TOWN”. My friend and I looked at each other and I felt a chill. It was getting dark very quickly. We walked there for some minutes looking at the trees and plants around us. The temperature was coming down. Fortunately, we knew all the rumors about that forest and we took some precautions. I had a pack with coats, flashlights, one compass, a photo camera and two army knives. Michael had a special pack were he carried a tent.
We stayed there for some time taking photos to prove we had been there, after that we just sat there waiting for something to happen, but nothing turned out. We were relaxed because we thought that something strange or dangerous would occur. But when we decided to get away from there, we heard a strange sound, like a scream. I was very afraid and I told Michael that we should investigate it. We ran towards the place where the scream came from. We didn’t find anyone, but we found somo old dirty clothes on the grass. We picked it up and after that we heard that strange sound again, but this time it came from where we were standing before. At the same time, I felt as if an evil presence would be watching us from the trees. I told that to Michael and he said that he thought he had seen a shadow moving on the branches. I was shocked and confused about everything; I told Michael that I didn’t want to stay there to discover what was happening. So we decided to leave that scary forest. We looked at the compass to see where we had to go. But the needle of the compass was spinning around. As soon as we saw that, we couldn´t control our fear and we ran towards the direction where we came from. But we appeared again in the first place we were before. We were running in circles.
Suddenly, I came up with an idea. I took one of the knives and made some marks on the trunks of the trees around me. After that I took the clothes and I put them in the middle of all those trees. Then I told Michael to run in the same direction as before but that this time we would have better luck. He looked all confused and scared. But he made exactly what I told him. We ran and ran and this time we saw the exit.
I kissed the announcement which said “WELCOME TO FEAR TOWN”. Michael cried when he saw it, I didn’t know if it was either happiness or pain, but I didn´t want to ask him. We looked at each other and smiled. Then I took the photo camera and saw the pictures we had taken. But instead of a dark forest we saw two terrible eyes looking at us from behind the trees.
Pen-name: Octopus
Category C
Three months ago, on March 15th, I decided to go out on my own for the day to the forest of “Fear Town”, the biggest forest in the country. There were myths about that place, it was said that anyone who got inside of it could never get out. It was also said that the temperature of the forest was always very low. There was a rumour which said that one student had gone there and never came back. I told my friends that I would go and come back whithout any trouble. Some said I was a liar, others that I was going to die. And finally, the girls said that I shouldn´t do that because it was not necessary for me to prove anything to anyone. I said that because I was the most popular guy of my class. And I thought that if I wanted to keep like that I would have to do something that anyone could never do. My best friend, Michael, told me that he would come with me, so we decided to go there as soon as possible. Two days later, we went to the forest. It took about 25 minutes to arrive there. There was an announcement which said “WELCOME TO FEAR TOWN”. My friend and I looked at each other and I felt a chill. It was getting dark very quickly. We walked there for some minutes looking at the trees and plants around us. The temperature was coming down. Fortunately, we knew all the rumors about that forest and we took some precautions. I had a pack with coats, flashlights, one compass, a photo camera and two army knives. Michael had a special pack were he carried a tent.
We stayed there for some time taking photos to prove we had been there, after that we just sat there waiting for something to happen, but nothing turned out. We were relaxed because we thought that something strange or dangerous would occur. But when we decided to get away from there, we heard a strange sound, like a scream. I was very afraid and I told Michael that we should investigate it. We ran towards the place where the scream came from. We didn’t find anyone, but we found somo old dirty clothes on the grass. We picked it up and after that we heard that strange sound again, but this time it came from where we were standing before. At the same time, I felt as if an evil presence would be watching us from the trees. I told that to Michael and he said that he thought he had seen a shadow moving on the branches. I was shocked and confused about everything; I told Michael that I didn’t want to stay there to discover what was happening. So we decided to leave that scary forest. We looked at the compass to see where we had to go. But the needle of the compass was spinning around. As soon as we saw that, we couldn´t control our fear and we ran towards the direction where we came from. But we appeared again in the first place we were before. We were running in circles.
Suddenly, I came up with an idea. I took one of the knives and made some marks on the trunks of the trees around me. After that I took the clothes and I put them in the middle of all those trees. Then I told Michael to run in the same direction as before but that this time we would have better luck. He looked all confused and scared. But he made exactly what I told him. We ran and ran and this time we saw the exit.
I kissed the announcement which said “WELCOME TO FEAR TOWN”. Michael cried when he saw it, I didn’t know if it was either happiness or pain, but I didn´t want to ask him. We looked at each other and smiled. Then I took the photo camera and saw the pictures we had taken. But instead of a dark forest we saw two terrible eyes looking at us from behind the trees.
Pen-name: Octopus
Category C
“An unexpected second chance”
Brian Johnson did not feel well that day. It was a rainy afternoon and he only wanted to go back home, take off his shoes, take a beer and enjoy the NBA play offs. He had wasted long hours inside that old car watching a possible suspect. After a few minutes, the rookie, as they called his partner, brought his favorite pizza with double cheese and pepperoni. He remembered his doctor telling him:-Brian cut down on fats. You are near retirement. You need to feel good, to enjoy your pension and take Martha to the cruise she always wanted. “Ok, I’ll try. But you know that is kind of tough to eat healthy.” He always carried with him the antiacids that his lovely wife bought for him. As soon as he remembered he took them out of his pocket, dissolved them in the glass of water he had and drank it all. The relief was instant. He sighed, thinking that in two hours he would be in the safety of his home, relaxed at last.
-“Brian, we lost him!” The tone of his partner’s voice brought him back to reality. Ok, now he has to connect again and follow the suspect. The siren of the car was very loud. His partner drove very fast trying to follow the black Cadillac’s light, but the suspect suddenly disappeared. “We lost him.” Brian thought. They kept driving just in case the suspect was trying to confuse them. Twenty minutes later, their radio announced they had to go to an alley nearby because a young man had been shot and they had to investigate the case. When he got out of the car he recognized his son’s red jacket, the jacket that he had bought him for his birthday the year before. He could not see his face; just black hair coming out of an L.A. Lakers cap. He began to shout. It couldn’t be his son. His boy, only seventeen, lying on the floor, all covered in blood. How could he call Martha and tell her this news? He felt on his knees thinking what to do next. He only felt hate and wanted revenge. He needed to find his son’s killer. “Nothing is going to be the same” he thought. He would spend the rest of his life looking for him. His only pleasure was to have the killer in front of his target and shoot the bastard the same way as his only boy had been executed, merciless, without any defense.
From that unforgettable moment things changed. There was no coming back. He couldn’t sleep a whole night. He felt that the killer had a connection with him but he had to find it. Why his boy? There are a lot of criminals out there, why him?
He had to leave his emotions aside if he was going to find the killer. “Emotions are dangerous; they block your power of thinking.” He told himself. “Come on Brian, think.” After many days and nights searching he found something. He came across the photo of a young man who was a corner drug dealer. He instantly remembered those eyes. Deep black eyes, with no feelings. But instead of getting the evidence to make him go to prison, he had helped him go free. The boy had hugged and told him that he would never forget him.
At that point Brian recognized those eyes. Those black eyes were the same: deep and without emotions. The photos of the suspects he had been choosing the evening before his son’s murder, which had been appearing on his desk, were the possible solution for his boy’s mysterious murder. He discovered that his son had been selling drugs for this guy and he had given this criminal a second opportunity some time before. He sat in front of his computer, paralyzed. He could not move a finger. The boy he had helped releasing ten years ago was his main suspect of his son’s murder. He could only cry in agony for the hugest mistake in his whole life.
Pen-name: Veto Nahh
Brian Johnson did not feel well that day. It was a rainy afternoon and he only wanted to go back home, take off his shoes, take a beer and enjoy the NBA play offs. He had wasted long hours inside that old car watching a possible suspect. After a few minutes, the rookie, as they called his partner, brought his favorite pizza with double cheese and pepperoni. He remembered his doctor telling him:-Brian cut down on fats. You are near retirement. You need to feel good, to enjoy your pension and take Martha to the cruise she always wanted. “Ok, I’ll try. But you know that is kind of tough to eat healthy.” He always carried with him the antiacids that his lovely wife bought for him. As soon as he remembered he took them out of his pocket, dissolved them in the glass of water he had and drank it all. The relief was instant. He sighed, thinking that in two hours he would be in the safety of his home, relaxed at last.
-“Brian, we lost him!” The tone of his partner’s voice brought him back to reality. Ok, now he has to connect again and follow the suspect. The siren of the car was very loud. His partner drove very fast trying to follow the black Cadillac’s light, but the suspect suddenly disappeared. “We lost him.” Brian thought. They kept driving just in case the suspect was trying to confuse them. Twenty minutes later, their radio announced they had to go to an alley nearby because a young man had been shot and they had to investigate the case. When he got out of the car he recognized his son’s red jacket, the jacket that he had bought him for his birthday the year before. He could not see his face; just black hair coming out of an L.A. Lakers cap. He began to shout. It couldn’t be his son. His boy, only seventeen, lying on the floor, all covered in blood. How could he call Martha and tell her this news? He felt on his knees thinking what to do next. He only felt hate and wanted revenge. He needed to find his son’s killer. “Nothing is going to be the same” he thought. He would spend the rest of his life looking for him. His only pleasure was to have the killer in front of his target and shoot the bastard the same way as his only boy had been executed, merciless, without any defense.
From that unforgettable moment things changed. There was no coming back. He couldn’t sleep a whole night. He felt that the killer had a connection with him but he had to find it. Why his boy? There are a lot of criminals out there, why him?
He had to leave his emotions aside if he was going to find the killer. “Emotions are dangerous; they block your power of thinking.” He told himself. “Come on Brian, think.” After many days and nights searching he found something. He came across the photo of a young man who was a corner drug dealer. He instantly remembered those eyes. Deep black eyes, with no feelings. But instead of getting the evidence to make him go to prison, he had helped him go free. The boy had hugged and told him that he would never forget him.
At that point Brian recognized those eyes. Those black eyes were the same: deep and without emotions. The photos of the suspects he had been choosing the evening before his son’s murder, which had been appearing on his desk, were the possible solution for his boy’s mysterious murder. He discovered that his son had been selling drugs for this guy and he had given this criminal a second opportunity some time before. He sat in front of his computer, paralyzed. He could not move a finger. The boy he had helped releasing ten years ago was his main suspect of his son’s murder. He could only cry in agony for the hugest mistake in his whole life.
Pen-name: Veto Nahh
Pre-elected Story. Literature Contest 2010
Crucial match
I wanted to do my best, but much more than that I wanted my team to win. It was the last football game of the season, and if we won that game, we would be the champions. As we ran onto the pitch, I couldn’t feel more nervous. The crowd supported us, but the opposite team also looked strong. It wasn’t going to be easy.
The game started. I got the ball and raced towards the goal. ‘Go on!’ shouted the crowd, but my kick ended up straight into the hands of the goalkeeper. ‘Never mind,’ yelled my team mate Francis. ‘Good try’ said Joey, but at halftime the score was still 0-0.
When the second half started, it was pouring with rain. Our chance to win the championship was slowly slipping away. We hardly tried to get the ball through the opponent’s defences, but time after time they managed to stop us, they seemed invincible. Now there were two minutes left. Suddenly I had the ball; I passed it to Joey, who passed it on to Francis, who hit it straight into the goal area. The crowd went crazy, but we still had one minute left. My team was so relieved that we stopped taking care of our own defence. That was the biggest mistake we had ever made. They scored. The score was now 1-1. We were into extra time.
The first extra time began. Chandler got the ball and passed it on to Francis, hard kick to the goal…and again the goalkeeper caught it. On an offensive from our opponents, we turned them down. Time after time this situation repeated all along the first extra time. But at the second extra time, the other team was so angry that we decided to attack that weak point they had, their temperament.
When the referee blew his whistle, we started to ‘’play funny’’, as we called the strategy of playing passing the ball continuously to each other, making some risked tricks, making the other team get more and more angry and anxious. I was inside their goal zone, doing a trick that upset the other team and forced them to commit a foul against me. It was our chance, 1 minute was left, and I kicked the penalty we were given by the referee. I kicked the ball, and watched how the goalkeeper hit it, not letting the ball get inside the goal, but Francis was fast and hit the ball so hard, that the ball broke the net, and that was the goal we deserved. The final whistle was blown, and we were the champions. The final score was 2-1. We were on the top for several weeks.
Pen-name: Chicho's Chance
Category C
I wanted to do my best, but much more than that I wanted my team to win. It was the last football game of the season, and if we won that game, we would be the champions. As we ran onto the pitch, I couldn’t feel more nervous. The crowd supported us, but the opposite team also looked strong. It wasn’t going to be easy.
The game started. I got the ball and raced towards the goal. ‘Go on!’ shouted the crowd, but my kick ended up straight into the hands of the goalkeeper. ‘Never mind,’ yelled my team mate Francis. ‘Good try’ said Joey, but at halftime the score was still 0-0.
When the second half started, it was pouring with rain. Our chance to win the championship was slowly slipping away. We hardly tried to get the ball through the opponent’s defences, but time after time they managed to stop us, they seemed invincible. Now there were two minutes left. Suddenly I had the ball; I passed it to Joey, who passed it on to Francis, who hit it straight into the goal area. The crowd went crazy, but we still had one minute left. My team was so relieved that we stopped taking care of our own defence. That was the biggest mistake we had ever made. They scored. The score was now 1-1. We were into extra time.
The first extra time began. Chandler got the ball and passed it on to Francis, hard kick to the goal…and again the goalkeeper caught it. On an offensive from our opponents, we turned them down. Time after time this situation repeated all along the first extra time. But at the second extra time, the other team was so angry that we decided to attack that weak point they had, their temperament.
When the referee blew his whistle, we started to ‘’play funny’’, as we called the strategy of playing passing the ball continuously to each other, making some risked tricks, making the other team get more and more angry and anxious. I was inside their goal zone, doing a trick that upset the other team and forced them to commit a foul against me. It was our chance, 1 minute was left, and I kicked the penalty we were given by the referee. I kicked the ball, and watched how the goalkeeper hit it, not letting the ball get inside the goal, but Francis was fast and hit the ball so hard, that the ball broke the net, and that was the goal we deserved. The final whistle was blown, and we were the champions. The final score was 2-1. We were on the top for several weeks.
Pen-name: Chicho's Chance
Category C
Antarctica
August 19th was the day I would start my scientific trip to the Antarctica. When I woke up that day, I finished packing and I took a taxi to Ezeiza Airport. The flight to Antarctica took four long hours. I slept all the flight until we arrived in Maracaibo.
My scientific trip consisted in studying the polar bears of the nearby city of Maracaibo. This reaserch work was very important because in the last ten months the population of polar bears of Maracaibo had reduced 50%. I was hired by the government, the salary was really good so when they offered me the job I didn’t doubt. I would make this study with two other scientists, one of them was called Marl Herbstein and the other was called Juan Bacard. Both of them were zoologists and biologists and had taken part in many important researches.
As soon as I got off the plane, a man appeared and took me to the laboratory where I met Bacard, Herbstein and the mayor of Maracaibo, Gaby Kerpel. I didn’t have time to introduce myself that they started explaining me how the research work was going to be. The research consisted in examining the entire zone where the polar bears lived, and then we would observe the dead bears and finally examine the water. The mayor introduced me to the people that worked there and then took me to my hotel.
The following day I woke up very early in the morning. We went to the zone where the bears used to live; we inspected all the territory looking for something that could give us a clue of why the polar bears had disappeared. We searched for hours but we didn’t find anything. After a long day, we returned to the laboratory, disappointed. We decided to stop. Bacard invited Herbstein and I to eat at his hotel.
The next day I woke up because my cell phone was ringing. It stopped ringing before I could get it; the lost call was from my partner Bacard. I decided to call him, the cell phone rang only one time before Bacard picked it up, and before I could speak he told me that Herbstein had been murdered in a very strange robbery in his hotel.
I headed over to the mayor’s office looking for an answer. When I arrived, Kerpel took me into his office and explained me what had happened: Herbstein had been caught in the middle of a shooting between the burglars and the police outside his hotel. He told me not to worry, the local police was handling the case, and all I had to do was carry on with my research.
Immediately after my meeting with Kerpel, I went to the laboratory to investigate the second phase: the dead polar bears. After some long hours of analysing the facts, Bacard and I came to the conclusion that the bears had died due to a strong dehydration, we found this really peculiar because the only thing not missing in their habitat was water. We decided to go do some research on the animals habitat, maybe the water was the key to this mystery.
When we arrived at the place, we took some samples of the water so we could analyse them at the laboratory. Now we had to investigate if the water was contaminated. The following day, after testing the water in the laboratory, we confirmed that the water was polluted with waste released by some factory. After some investigation, Bacard and I found out that the factory belonged to the mayor’s family.
We decided to confront him over the situation. Bacard and I told him what we had discovered; Kerpel denied knowing about the factory. Angrily, Bacard, confronted him and asked him if this had anything to do with Herbstein’s death. The mayor didn’t respond Bacard’s questions; instead he picked up the phone and gave an order.
In a matter of minutes, the room was full of police officers; the mayor was accusing us of murdering our colleague, Herb. We tried to escape and started running. I managed to escape, but my dear friend Bacard was caught by a bullet. He was killed instantly. I ran to the port were I hid in a cargo ship, leaving Antarctica towards some unknown place near China.
Pen-name: Fox
Category C
August 19th was the day I would start my scientific trip to the Antarctica. When I woke up that day, I finished packing and I took a taxi to Ezeiza Airport. The flight to Antarctica took four long hours. I slept all the flight until we arrived in Maracaibo.
My scientific trip consisted in studying the polar bears of the nearby city of Maracaibo. This reaserch work was very important because in the last ten months the population of polar bears of Maracaibo had reduced 50%. I was hired by the government, the salary was really good so when they offered me the job I didn’t doubt. I would make this study with two other scientists, one of them was called Marl Herbstein and the other was called Juan Bacard. Both of them were zoologists and biologists and had taken part in many important researches.
As soon as I got off the plane, a man appeared and took me to the laboratory where I met Bacard, Herbstein and the mayor of Maracaibo, Gaby Kerpel. I didn’t have time to introduce myself that they started explaining me how the research work was going to be. The research consisted in examining the entire zone where the polar bears lived, and then we would observe the dead bears and finally examine the water. The mayor introduced me to the people that worked there and then took me to my hotel.
The following day I woke up very early in the morning. We went to the zone where the bears used to live; we inspected all the territory looking for something that could give us a clue of why the polar bears had disappeared. We searched for hours but we didn’t find anything. After a long day, we returned to the laboratory, disappointed. We decided to stop. Bacard invited Herbstein and I to eat at his hotel.
The next day I woke up because my cell phone was ringing. It stopped ringing before I could get it; the lost call was from my partner Bacard. I decided to call him, the cell phone rang only one time before Bacard picked it up, and before I could speak he told me that Herbstein had been murdered in a very strange robbery in his hotel.
I headed over to the mayor’s office looking for an answer. When I arrived, Kerpel took me into his office and explained me what had happened: Herbstein had been caught in the middle of a shooting between the burglars and the police outside his hotel. He told me not to worry, the local police was handling the case, and all I had to do was carry on with my research.
Immediately after my meeting with Kerpel, I went to the laboratory to investigate the second phase: the dead polar bears. After some long hours of analysing the facts, Bacard and I came to the conclusion that the bears had died due to a strong dehydration, we found this really peculiar because the only thing not missing in their habitat was water. We decided to go do some research on the animals habitat, maybe the water was the key to this mystery.
When we arrived at the place, we took some samples of the water so we could analyse them at the laboratory. Now we had to investigate if the water was contaminated. The following day, after testing the water in the laboratory, we confirmed that the water was polluted with waste released by some factory. After some investigation, Bacard and I found out that the factory belonged to the mayor’s family.
We decided to confront him over the situation. Bacard and I told him what we had discovered; Kerpel denied knowing about the factory. Angrily, Bacard, confronted him and asked him if this had anything to do with Herbstein’s death. The mayor didn’t respond Bacard’s questions; instead he picked up the phone and gave an order.
In a matter of minutes, the room was full of police officers; the mayor was accusing us of murdering our colleague, Herb. We tried to escape and started running. I managed to escape, but my dear friend Bacard was caught by a bullet. He was killed instantly. I ran to the port were I hid in a cargo ship, leaving Antarctica towards some unknown place near China.
Pen-name: Fox
Category C
Pre-elected story. Literature Contest 2010
Another Boring Summer Day
It’s nearly mid-day and Jack is still lying on his bed. How long has he been lying there, awake? It doesn’t matter. He thinks he should get up, but weariness is a difficult rival. He finally gets it. Kind of staggering, he gets to the bathroom and looks at himself in the mirror. Should he shave off? Maybe later, maybe tomorrow.
Slowly, he walks towards the kitchen. He opens the fridge and grabs a beer. As he walks to the couch, he passes through the window and sees some kids playing. He stops to stare at them, how they laugh, how happy they are, but before he realises, he is already sitting on the couch. He grasps the remote control and turns the TV on. Zapping through the channels, he finds nothing interesting to watch. Jack opens his beer and starts to drink it sip by sip while he continues changing the channels. Suddenly, something worth watching: a football match between Hull City and the Blackburn Rovers.
When the match is ending, Jack realises he hasn’t eaten anything yet, so, fighting the sluggishness, he goes to the kitchen, makes two sandwiches and gets straight back to the couch and eats his lunch in two minutes. Now what? He hasn’t checked the mailbox yet. The correspondence can wait. Maybe another beer? Ok, back to the fridge. He opens the door and feels the refreshing air coming out of that big white door. He envies the beers. He has to be in his house suffering the hot weather and the beers are just there, cooling themselves. What is he thinking of? Is the heat driving him crazy?
He grabs the can and closes the door. Moving towards the living-room again, he looks at the clock. God! Two o’clock in the afternoon, seven more hours of this borring summer day! Jack sits again in front of the TV and starts swapping the channels. Although he continues for four hours, he only finds watching the music channel entertaining.
Six o’clock now. Is it worth going out to the heat just to check the mailbox? Well, it’s better than nothing. Jack walks to the door and hesitates for a couple of seconds, but finally he opens it. The heat is unbearable. Now in front of the mailbox, he checks if there is any new mail. Nothing. Blaming no one, he gets back into his house and directly to the sofa.
Jack is so bored that he doesn’t even have the desire to look at the clock, but as he sees that there is dark outside, he thinks that it’s time to go to bed. What’s the problem if he doesn’t have a shower today? He did nothing, so there’s no problem. He brushes his teeth and goes to sleep, hoping that the next summer day won´t be like all the others: boring.
Pen-name: Nimrod
Category C
It’s nearly mid-day and Jack is still lying on his bed. How long has he been lying there, awake? It doesn’t matter. He thinks he should get up, but weariness is a difficult rival. He finally gets it. Kind of staggering, he gets to the bathroom and looks at himself in the mirror. Should he shave off? Maybe later, maybe tomorrow.
Slowly, he walks towards the kitchen. He opens the fridge and grabs a beer. As he walks to the couch, he passes through the window and sees some kids playing. He stops to stare at them, how they laugh, how happy they are, but before he realises, he is already sitting on the couch. He grasps the remote control and turns the TV on. Zapping through the channels, he finds nothing interesting to watch. Jack opens his beer and starts to drink it sip by sip while he continues changing the channels. Suddenly, something worth watching: a football match between Hull City and the Blackburn Rovers.
When the match is ending, Jack realises he hasn’t eaten anything yet, so, fighting the sluggishness, he goes to the kitchen, makes two sandwiches and gets straight back to the couch and eats his lunch in two minutes. Now what? He hasn’t checked the mailbox yet. The correspondence can wait. Maybe another beer? Ok, back to the fridge. He opens the door and feels the refreshing air coming out of that big white door. He envies the beers. He has to be in his house suffering the hot weather and the beers are just there, cooling themselves. What is he thinking of? Is the heat driving him crazy?
He grabs the can and closes the door. Moving towards the living-room again, he looks at the clock. God! Two o’clock in the afternoon, seven more hours of this borring summer day! Jack sits again in front of the TV and starts swapping the channels. Although he continues for four hours, he only finds watching the music channel entertaining.
Six o’clock now. Is it worth going out to the heat just to check the mailbox? Well, it’s better than nothing. Jack walks to the door and hesitates for a couple of seconds, but finally he opens it. The heat is unbearable. Now in front of the mailbox, he checks if there is any new mail. Nothing. Blaming no one, he gets back into his house and directly to the sofa.
Jack is so bored that he doesn’t even have the desire to look at the clock, but as he sees that there is dark outside, he thinks that it’s time to go to bed. What’s the problem if he doesn’t have a shower today? He did nothing, so there’s no problem. He brushes his teeth and goes to sleep, hoping that the next summer day won´t be like all the others: boring.
Pen-name: Nimrod
Category C
Another day in the life
Dusk fell. It had been a quiet and pleasant day of the year 1834, and life at Stattford had passed normally –too normally, perhaps-, untouched by any unbidden event. However, Phineas was under the impression that something unusual was going to happen. It had to. He did not know why he felt it, but he was quite sure. He did not know what would happen either, but such a day couldn’t just end so calmly.
Phineas was a rural worker and, as many in this little village, he had never hoped for anything extraordinary to happen in his life. On the contrary, he had ever desired to have a very simple day-to-day living with a lot of work during the day and a proper hot meal at night with the company of a fair wife and two or three children. And life had always met those expectations. Nevertheless, at the age of forty he had begun to long for surprises in his life, and asked more from it. He wanted unexpected events. Desperately. Routine had become tedious for him. Two years before, despite he had always wanted his children to achieve that longed progress he had never reached, he had –however dubiously- permitted Phil, his eldest son, to become a rural worker as him. Although this wasn’t the best he had hoped for his firstborn, he comforted himself by considering it a gift to vary his days a bit.
Anyway, life had followed its course and some time after his desires had changed, as father and son were approaching the forest in which their house laid, nothing singular had happened yet. It then befell something that most people wouldn’t have hesitated in characterizing as devil-like. For them, it could have been a noise not so common but neither unlikely in the woods. However, they stirred nervously when they heard that scream, because its source wasn’t an animal but a human being, and most likely a woman. That’s how Phineas’ mind, which hadn’t been preoccupied by anything extraordinary in all its life, started being disrupted by a quite high grade of discomfort.
His concern was such that he was soon looking desperately for this woman. Before starting the search, he had told Phil to go home and explain his wife that he would be out for some time, perhaps long, until he found the source of the scream. Hours passed and Phineas wasn’t any closer to finding her than when he had begun. However, he relentlessly kept looking for her and said to himself that he wouldn’t stop wandering in the woods until he managed to discover what had happened to that woman. As midnight came, he became aware that he had reached a part of the forest in which trees grew more separate and clearings became more frequent. He then started to persistently notice that there were blood stains in the grass. This made him become a lot more nervous and preoccupied than before and the idea of a crime started haunting his imagination. In spite of that, he carried on with his search, now aware that he was closer to the source of his distress. Suddenly, out of the blue and as Phineas was trying to guess how much time he had spent walking throughout the woods, a flash of light hit him directly into his eyes, coming from a distance of about a hundred meters. After recovering from that blinding light, he started running forward, sure that the end of his wanderings was near. When he reached the place from where it had come, he found something that would have astonished anyone but him. There, before his eyes, and without any kind of possible explanation, was a strange creature with which he had dreamt when he was a child. And it was laughing, laughing loudly, full of joy and happiness. He began to wonder whether what was happening was indeed real.
Phineas started approaching quietly but stepped on a branch, making the creature notice him. What befell could have surprised anyone, even him. The creature raised its hand, closed it on its hair and pulled up a mask. It was his wife, who went on laughing again. He then started laughing merrily and gaily too, as he had never done before. And that was something uncommon and he realized that that wasn’t another day in the life.
Pen-name: The Great Danton
Category C
Dusk fell. It had been a quiet and pleasant day of the year 1834, and life at Stattford had passed normally –too normally, perhaps-, untouched by any unbidden event. However, Phineas was under the impression that something unusual was going to happen. It had to. He did not know why he felt it, but he was quite sure. He did not know what would happen either, but such a day couldn’t just end so calmly.
Phineas was a rural worker and, as many in this little village, he had never hoped for anything extraordinary to happen in his life. On the contrary, he had ever desired to have a very simple day-to-day living with a lot of work during the day and a proper hot meal at night with the company of a fair wife and two or three children. And life had always met those expectations. Nevertheless, at the age of forty he had begun to long for surprises in his life, and asked more from it. He wanted unexpected events. Desperately. Routine had become tedious for him. Two years before, despite he had always wanted his children to achieve that longed progress he had never reached, he had –however dubiously- permitted Phil, his eldest son, to become a rural worker as him. Although this wasn’t the best he had hoped for his firstborn, he comforted himself by considering it a gift to vary his days a bit.
Anyway, life had followed its course and some time after his desires had changed, as father and son were approaching the forest in which their house laid, nothing singular had happened yet. It then befell something that most people wouldn’t have hesitated in characterizing as devil-like. For them, it could have been a noise not so common but neither unlikely in the woods. However, they stirred nervously when they heard that scream, because its source wasn’t an animal but a human being, and most likely a woman. That’s how Phineas’ mind, which hadn’t been preoccupied by anything extraordinary in all its life, started being disrupted by a quite high grade of discomfort.
His concern was such that he was soon looking desperately for this woman. Before starting the search, he had told Phil to go home and explain his wife that he would be out for some time, perhaps long, until he found the source of the scream. Hours passed and Phineas wasn’t any closer to finding her than when he had begun. However, he relentlessly kept looking for her and said to himself that he wouldn’t stop wandering in the woods until he managed to discover what had happened to that woman. As midnight came, he became aware that he had reached a part of the forest in which trees grew more separate and clearings became more frequent. He then started to persistently notice that there were blood stains in the grass. This made him become a lot more nervous and preoccupied than before and the idea of a crime started haunting his imagination. In spite of that, he carried on with his search, now aware that he was closer to the source of his distress. Suddenly, out of the blue and as Phineas was trying to guess how much time he had spent walking throughout the woods, a flash of light hit him directly into his eyes, coming from a distance of about a hundred meters. After recovering from that blinding light, he started running forward, sure that the end of his wanderings was near. When he reached the place from where it had come, he found something that would have astonished anyone but him. There, before his eyes, and without any kind of possible explanation, was a strange creature with which he had dreamt when he was a child. And it was laughing, laughing loudly, full of joy and happiness. He began to wonder whether what was happening was indeed real.
Phineas started approaching quietly but stepped on a branch, making the creature notice him. What befell could have surprised anyone, even him. The creature raised its hand, closed it on its hair and pulled up a mask. It was his wife, who went on laughing again. He then started laughing merrily and gaily too, as he had never done before. And that was something uncommon and he realized that that wasn’t another day in the life.
Pen-name: The Great Danton
Category C
The mysterious room
Once in 1986 in Liverpool, Uruguay, more precisely at Salvador school there was something nobody could explain.
This school was huge, nice at daytime, scary in the night time. It was now 1990 when the new night guard, Ruben, patrolled the rooms and the entrances to the building. He was terrified to pass near the music room because the other guards and the boys of the school had told him that in this room a little boy had disappeared, nobody knew how. After this horrible incident this room was locked as a precautionary measure because Cloruro Gomez, the headmaster, said that the spirit of this little child rested in this room. Ruben, thought that he needed a way to find out what had happened with this poor boy. For precaution, Ruben started to carry a knife always in his pocket.
In 1991, Ruben opened the door of the music room. This door was very dirty, near the door there was a lot of wood blocking the way. The night guard went into this classroom because the secretary of Cloruro Gomez had heard a lot of strange noises, and voices. So the secretary, Moreno, told Ruben to inspect that class. When the guard opened the door he found a torture chamber, with a lot of nails, and a whip.
Later Ruben heard another noise coming from a door. So Ruben opened that door and he saw a boy tied up and shouting. The boy convinced Ruben that he was not evil and that he wouldn’t do any harm to him. Ruben untied the boy believing that what he said was true. As soon as the child was untied, he got up and hit the guard. Later Ruben woke up and realized he was tied to the chair. When the boy was going to kill Ruben, he asked “why? Why are you going to kill me?” The boy thought what to answer, and then he said “I do this because in my class all the boys hit me and they made a nuisance of me because I am black, and because of that I am living here now to concentrate my anger”. “But by killing me you are not obtaining anything…” “Yes, I know” interrupted the boy, “but my conscience will find some rest”. The child took the knife from his pocket and tried to stab Ruben. Skillfully, the guard turned aside and with a quickly movement stabbed the boy and, behaving as cruel as most of the boy’s classmates, he proudly said “Now you will find some rest”.
Pen name: Chicho
Category C
Once in 1986 in Liverpool, Uruguay, more precisely at Salvador school there was something nobody could explain.
This school was huge, nice at daytime, scary in the night time. It was now 1990 when the new night guard, Ruben, patrolled the rooms and the entrances to the building. He was terrified to pass near the music room because the other guards and the boys of the school had told him that in this room a little boy had disappeared, nobody knew how. After this horrible incident this room was locked as a precautionary measure because Cloruro Gomez, the headmaster, said that the spirit of this little child rested in this room. Ruben, thought that he needed a way to find out what had happened with this poor boy. For precaution, Ruben started to carry a knife always in his pocket.
In 1991, Ruben opened the door of the music room. This door was very dirty, near the door there was a lot of wood blocking the way. The night guard went into this classroom because the secretary of Cloruro Gomez had heard a lot of strange noises, and voices. So the secretary, Moreno, told Ruben to inspect that class. When the guard opened the door he found a torture chamber, with a lot of nails, and a whip.
Later Ruben heard another noise coming from a door. So Ruben opened that door and he saw a boy tied up and shouting. The boy convinced Ruben that he was not evil and that he wouldn’t do any harm to him. Ruben untied the boy believing that what he said was true. As soon as the child was untied, he got up and hit the guard. Later Ruben woke up and realized he was tied to the chair. When the boy was going to kill Ruben, he asked “why? Why are you going to kill me?” The boy thought what to answer, and then he said “I do this because in my class all the boys hit me and they made a nuisance of me because I am black, and because of that I am living here now to concentrate my anger”. “But by killing me you are not obtaining anything…” “Yes, I know” interrupted the boy, “but my conscience will find some rest”. The child took the knife from his pocket and tried to stab Ruben. Skillfully, the guard turned aside and with a quickly movement stabbed the boy and, behaving as cruel as most of the boy’s classmates, he proudly said “Now you will find some rest”.
Pen name: Chicho
Category C
Tyranny
I was in a little quaint town of Essex, England. An ugly, bad-tempered and wicked man was now on the throne: Frederick IV. Twenty years had passed since George III passed away. He was a great and humble leader whose aim was to make a better world.
I booked a room in a dirty hotel. That night, I was listening to music there, when suddenly, a mysterious man arrived and sat beside me. As he was drinking some beer, he muttered: “I’m a Shythen’s member.” “Pardon me?” I said astonished. “I’m a revolutionary who wants to kill Frederick and restore the peace in the country.” And he went on: “but I’m the only one alive. My mates died 15 years ago when we attempted to assassinate Frederick.” He made a pause but then he continued with difficulty: “the only thing I can’t forget are the shouts of agony of my friends.”
“Poor man…. What’s your name?” I asked “Mine is Roger” -- “Chatain, William Chatain” he answered. “Now I have to go back and murder Frederick IV, the awful tyrant. But there is a problem: I need a companion, would you like to be ….?” He asked – “I would be pleased” I said excitedly. And…We started our trip which took us more than 2 months.
Meanwhile in London, England’s capital…
“We must take the people in and make them believe I’m a trustful and kind king. You, my loyal servant, have to pretend to be William Chatain in order to discredit him. He is an important revolutionary and I can’t allow him to start a revolution.” Frederick IV exclaimed.
When William and I arrived in London, the sprawling capital, everybody saw us with anger and hate because they saw the unreal William kneeling down to kiss Frederick’s feet. Anyway, we managed to get into the castle. First, we killed the false William without guilt. Secondly, we succeeded in knocking out the guard. Finally, we only had to murder the king.
But… it was an ambush
The entire army was almost there. There were warriors everywhere. William couldn’t fight with all of them. We were captured and judged in front of a noisy crowded courtroom. Obviously, we were found guilty of treason and we were sentenced to death by hanging. We never imagined that this trip would be the last one of our lives.
Frederick exclaimed:
“I, Frederick IV, sentence William Chatain, the last Sythen’s member and his errant partner to be humiliated and then hanged.”
“This is not the end Frederick, remember this day because it is one of your last days as a king” William yelled as the chair fell and the rope tightened. This was our end, Frederick IV would lay on the throne happily and calmly. But… How long?
Pen name: Perinolas
Category C
I was in a little quaint town of Essex, England. An ugly, bad-tempered and wicked man was now on the throne: Frederick IV. Twenty years had passed since George III passed away. He was a great and humble leader whose aim was to make a better world.
I booked a room in a dirty hotel. That night, I was listening to music there, when suddenly, a mysterious man arrived and sat beside me. As he was drinking some beer, he muttered: “I’m a Shythen’s member.” “Pardon me?” I said astonished. “I’m a revolutionary who wants to kill Frederick and restore the peace in the country.” And he went on: “but I’m the only one alive. My mates died 15 years ago when we attempted to assassinate Frederick.” He made a pause but then he continued with difficulty: “the only thing I can’t forget are the shouts of agony of my friends.”
“Poor man…. What’s your name?” I asked “Mine is Roger” -- “Chatain, William Chatain” he answered. “Now I have to go back and murder Frederick IV, the awful tyrant. But there is a problem: I need a companion, would you like to be ….?” He asked – “I would be pleased” I said excitedly. And…We started our trip which took us more than 2 months.
Meanwhile in London, England’s capital…
“We must take the people in and make them believe I’m a trustful and kind king. You, my loyal servant, have to pretend to be William Chatain in order to discredit him. He is an important revolutionary and I can’t allow him to start a revolution.” Frederick IV exclaimed.
When William and I arrived in London, the sprawling capital, everybody saw us with anger and hate because they saw the unreal William kneeling down to kiss Frederick’s feet. Anyway, we managed to get into the castle. First, we killed the false William without guilt. Secondly, we succeeded in knocking out the guard. Finally, we only had to murder the king.
But… it was an ambush
The entire army was almost there. There were warriors everywhere. William couldn’t fight with all of them. We were captured and judged in front of a noisy crowded courtroom. Obviously, we were found guilty of treason and we were sentenced to death by hanging. We never imagined that this trip would be the last one of our lives.
Frederick exclaimed:
“I, Frederick IV, sentence William Chatain, the last Sythen’s member and his errant partner to be humiliated and then hanged.”
“This is not the end Frederick, remember this day because it is one of your last days as a king” William yelled as the chair fell and the rope tightened. This was our end, Frederick IV would lay on the throne happily and calmly. But… How long?
Pen name: Perinolas
Category C
Awarded 2nd Distinction. Short Story and Poetry Competition 2010
To live or not to live
It was a grey, dull, rainy morning. In a grey, dull rainy street. But the thing that caught my attention the most was a man. He was struggling with his own problems, or, as he called them, responsibilities. He was in his mid- thirties. As he walked rapidly through that depressing block, he looked at the people surrounding him, feeling sorry for them, as they did not enjoy life, according to him. He was so self-involved that he could not see that he was just like the other people, and even less happy. Moreover, he had no family; he did not even like his job. In life, he just scraped through, as if it was another responsibility.
All of a sudden, an elderly person who seemed to be homeless grabbed his suit and yelled- “Change! Please, change!”
“I do not have any change for you, disgusting old man!” - He said rudely, and continued to mumble something about having to deal with poor people. He approached to his routine job, and he stayed there until eight o’clock in the evening, and after that, he went back home. During the weekend, he arranged his house, and did some work he had left undone.
That was how his life had been like for about forty years.
However, one day, he did not wake up as usual. He saw all his life in just a couple of seconds, or maybe hours. He could not tell how much time had passed, but he realized, for the first time, that he had no legacy, nothing to live for. He had not accomplished anything throughout his life; he only had his money and himself.
Suddenly, he appeared in a grey, dull, rainy street. He was sitting on the floor, while dawn was making everything visible.
Am I dead? - He wondered.
Everything seemed slower; nothing made sense to him any more. He was trying to figure out what had happened, when he saw himself, perhaps thirty, forty years younger, walking towards him. When he realized what was going on, he cried out- “Change! Please, Change!”
Pen name: RWJ
Category C
It was a grey, dull, rainy morning. In a grey, dull rainy street. But the thing that caught my attention the most was a man. He was struggling with his own problems, or, as he called them, responsibilities. He was in his mid- thirties. As he walked rapidly through that depressing block, he looked at the people surrounding him, feeling sorry for them, as they did not enjoy life, according to him. He was so self-involved that he could not see that he was just like the other people, and even less happy. Moreover, he had no family; he did not even like his job. In life, he just scraped through, as if it was another responsibility.
All of a sudden, an elderly person who seemed to be homeless grabbed his suit and yelled- “Change! Please, change!”
“I do not have any change for you, disgusting old man!” - He said rudely, and continued to mumble something about having to deal with poor people. He approached to his routine job, and he stayed there until eight o’clock in the evening, and after that, he went back home. During the weekend, he arranged his house, and did some work he had left undone.
That was how his life had been like for about forty years.
However, one day, he did not wake up as usual. He saw all his life in just a couple of seconds, or maybe hours. He could not tell how much time had passed, but he realized, for the first time, that he had no legacy, nothing to live for. He had not accomplished anything throughout his life; he only had his money and himself.
Suddenly, he appeared in a grey, dull, rainy street. He was sitting on the floor, while dawn was making everything visible.
Am I dead? - He wondered.
Everything seemed slower; nothing made sense to him any more. He was trying to figure out what had happened, when he saw himself, perhaps thirty, forty years younger, walking towards him. When he realized what was going on, he cried out- “Change! Please, Change!”
Pen name: RWJ
Category C
Pre-elected story. Literature Contest 2010
The Jump
John Rupertonson lived in Argentina. After his hard work in a car factory, late at night, he used to look at those brilliant lights on the sky, the stars. One night, the heavy dark clouds ruled the sky, so John went to bed quite early.
One strange image crossed his dream: a building on the top of a hill. A lot of people went by a stone staircase that led to a city. A soft breeze filled the dark fields. Suddenly, that image disappeared.
The sun was about to rise in the horizon. A cockerel sang, which was an extremely strange thing in the city. John tried to grab a book he had left near his bed, but he found grass instead. He was uncertain of what was happening. He opened his eyes and discovered that he was on the hill he had seen in the dream.
John was shocked. He walked towards the building. He couldn’t understand what was happening. Possibly he was still dreaming. He reached the building and saw some incredibly high columns standing in front of him. The building looked like an ancient building. Some stairs guided the people to the main room. His fear was so huge that he couldn’t follow them.
Trying to escape he hit a rock and fell down. He had to escape from that place.
A car horn sounded. John opened his eyes and he was again in his room.
The following night, while he was sleeping, he felt cold. He tried to cover himself with a blanket he had left next to the bed. Instead, he touched grass. Opening his eyes, he realized he was under the dark sky again. He was on the hill for the second time. He ran down towards the village.
He found himself walking along a very crowded street. Many caravans filled the narrow way. Some tables with products were displayed on both sides of the road. Above the houses, some torches enlightened the crowded area. Some pottery had black drawings. Every drawing represented a Greek myth: Hercules and the Nemean Lion, Zeus’ fighting Chromos, and Theseus against the Minotaur. This was an Ancient Greek market.
The days went on. He visited this place also during the day, not only at night. Unless he stopped these strange events, he would live in Ancient Greece for ever. There was only one way to bring an end to this situation..
One night, John went to the highest cliff near the village. At the bottom, the sea crashed on the rocks. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and stepped into the void.
His back hurt. John opened his eyes and found himself on the floor, next to his bed. The nightmare had finished.
Pen name: The King
Category B
John Rupertonson lived in Argentina. After his hard work in a car factory, late at night, he used to look at those brilliant lights on the sky, the stars. One night, the heavy dark clouds ruled the sky, so John went to bed quite early.
One strange image crossed his dream: a building on the top of a hill. A lot of people went by a stone staircase that led to a city. A soft breeze filled the dark fields. Suddenly, that image disappeared.
The sun was about to rise in the horizon. A cockerel sang, which was an extremely strange thing in the city. John tried to grab a book he had left near his bed, but he found grass instead. He was uncertain of what was happening. He opened his eyes and discovered that he was on the hill he had seen in the dream.
John was shocked. He walked towards the building. He couldn’t understand what was happening. Possibly he was still dreaming. He reached the building and saw some incredibly high columns standing in front of him. The building looked like an ancient building. Some stairs guided the people to the main room. His fear was so huge that he couldn’t follow them.
Trying to escape he hit a rock and fell down. He had to escape from that place.
A car horn sounded. John opened his eyes and he was again in his room.
The following night, while he was sleeping, he felt cold. He tried to cover himself with a blanket he had left next to the bed. Instead, he touched grass. Opening his eyes, he realized he was under the dark sky again. He was on the hill for the second time. He ran down towards the village.
He found himself walking along a very crowded street. Many caravans filled the narrow way. Some tables with products were displayed on both sides of the road. Above the houses, some torches enlightened the crowded area. Some pottery had black drawings. Every drawing represented a Greek myth: Hercules and the Nemean Lion, Zeus’ fighting Chromos, and Theseus against the Minotaur. This was an Ancient Greek market.
The days went on. He visited this place also during the day, not only at night. Unless he stopped these strange events, he would live in Ancient Greece for ever. There was only one way to bring an end to this situation..
One night, John went to the highest cliff near the village. At the bottom, the sea crashed on the rocks. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and stepped into the void.
His back hurt. John opened his eyes and found himself on the floor, next to his bed. The nightmare had finished.
Pen name: The King
Category B
Pre-elected story. Literature Contest 2010
The“dominatoris tempus”
Just a few weeks had passed since Pierson’s family moved to that old and strange house located in Memphis, which is considered one of the oldest cities in the world. It was a little and isolated place, with dirt streets and simple buildings; it sometimes seemed to be an island apart from the rest of the world.
It was July 4th at 10 am when, Clark Pierson, the father of the family, found something in the basement of his own house that left him confused for some minutes. He discovered a weird object with many signs and uncommon shapes. He soon realized that it was an ancient key, created around 1500 B.C.; he knew that because he was a scientist and a historian.
Since that moment the object became an obsession, so he went to the town’s library. Despite the fact that he didn’t find much information, he hoped to find something which could help him understand the function of the key. He investigated and read several books and documents but there wasn’t any thing which could be useful for Clark.
Later, in the afternoon, when he returned to his new house, he tested the key on different doors of the house, until he found the right one and opened it. When he saw behind the opened door, he was confused, he saw the inside of the house but as if he had traveled 1000 years back in the time, and visualized a young man with white robe and a toga around his body . After this, Clark was now very scared, but understood that he had traveled in time.
The key became Clark’s dangerous obsession. He didn’t take care of his family any more; they were very sad and worried and wanted to return to their old house. The mother of the family tried to talk with her husband, but at that moment the only thing which was important to him was the magical key, so she took a very hard and extreme decision, she decided to move to Cold Town, their old hometown, with the children, leaving Clark behind.
After some hours Clark realized the horrible choice he had made. He couldn’t imagine that the key would separate him from his wife. He had to do something, so quickly he knew what to do. He took the key with his hands and tested it at a door of the house while he wished he hadn’t discovered the key. Suddenly the door opened and when he saw behind it, the house was exactly as it was before. Later he looked at his watch; it was July 4th at 10 am. Clark knew he had traveled back in time before he had discovered the key. He went to the place where he had found the magical tool and strangely it was there. So he took it and went outside; he made a hole in the ground and hid the key. After that, he walked through the door he had opened and then he closed it behind him.
When Clark finished his trip through time he went back to the hall of the house, and there he found his wife; he was glad, he had changed the story, it was as if he hadn’t discovered the key at all and so , he hadn’t argued with his wife, either. Finally, he and his wife lived as if nothing had happened, and Clark understood something: every great power comes with great responsibilities; and he named the key “dominatoris tempus” which means time’s dominator in Latin.
Pen name: Tom Fisher
Category B
Just a few weeks had passed since Pierson’s family moved to that old and strange house located in Memphis, which is considered one of the oldest cities in the world. It was a little and isolated place, with dirt streets and simple buildings; it sometimes seemed to be an island apart from the rest of the world.
It was July 4th at 10 am when, Clark Pierson, the father of the family, found something in the basement of his own house that left him confused for some minutes. He discovered a weird object with many signs and uncommon shapes. He soon realized that it was an ancient key, created around 1500 B.C.; he knew that because he was a scientist and a historian.
Since that moment the object became an obsession, so he went to the town’s library. Despite the fact that he didn’t find much information, he hoped to find something which could help him understand the function of the key. He investigated and read several books and documents but there wasn’t any thing which could be useful for Clark.
Later, in the afternoon, when he returned to his new house, he tested the key on different doors of the house, until he found the right one and opened it. When he saw behind the opened door, he was confused, he saw the inside of the house but as if he had traveled 1000 years back in the time, and visualized a young man with white robe and a toga around his body . After this, Clark was now very scared, but understood that he had traveled in time.
The key became Clark’s dangerous obsession. He didn’t take care of his family any more; they were very sad and worried and wanted to return to their old house. The mother of the family tried to talk with her husband, but at that moment the only thing which was important to him was the magical key, so she took a very hard and extreme decision, she decided to move to Cold Town, their old hometown, with the children, leaving Clark behind.
After some hours Clark realized the horrible choice he had made. He couldn’t imagine that the key would separate him from his wife. He had to do something, so quickly he knew what to do. He took the key with his hands and tested it at a door of the house while he wished he hadn’t discovered the key. Suddenly the door opened and when he saw behind it, the house was exactly as it was before. Later he looked at his watch; it was July 4th at 10 am. Clark knew he had traveled back in time before he had discovered the key. He went to the place where he had found the magical tool and strangely it was there. So he took it and went outside; he made a hole in the ground and hid the key. After that, he walked through the door he had opened and then he closed it behind him.
When Clark finished his trip through time he went back to the hall of the house, and there he found his wife; he was glad, he had changed the story, it was as if he hadn’t discovered the key at all and so , he hadn’t argued with his wife, either. Finally, he and his wife lived as if nothing had happened, and Clark understood something: every great power comes with great responsibilities; and he named the key “dominatoris tempus” which means time’s dominator in Latin.
Pen name: Tom Fisher
Category B
Pre-elected story. Literature Contest 2010.
The War of Termis
Termis was an old Greek city, which was at war with the city of Tales. The former was very powerful compared with Termis. The cities were at war because the Tales wanted to conquer all the surrounding areas.
Deidar was the General of the Termis army. He was twenty years old and had brown and short hair. He was very tall; he was one of the biggest men in the army. He was in very good shape. He always wore his armour, which was as bright as the sun and as hard as stone. He was a very honourable man who had already fought many wars but none had been as difficult as this one. Deidar always acted with intelligence and courage so he was not afraid, but his best friend Gio, was. Gio was the Commander of the troops of Termis. Gio was only seventeen years old. He had black hair and green eyes. He always wore his armour, like Deidar. He was as intelligent as Deidar but not as brave as his friend. They were friends since he and Deidar were children. They always did everything together. Deidar and Gio knew that this war would be longer than any other they had taken part in.
Deidar and Gio were planning how to organise the troops in the front, when suddenly a messenger came up with a note from Gargen, the General of Tales. Deidar took it and started to read it. Then he said:
-What? How can he say that?
-What’s going on Deidar?- said Gio.
-Gargen says that if we surrender now, he would not kill us.
Deidar was not afraid of this threat so he said he would continue fighting and give his life his life, if that was necessary, to protect Termis. He told Gio they had to move the troops right then, so they could get ready for war. Gio did it immediately. They settled along the coast, where the army of Gargen would disembark. Many days had passed until the arrival of Gargen but Deidar and Gio did not waste any time. They trained the soldiers for the upcoming battle. Gargen arrived on the afternoon of July 2nd.
Deidar’s army fought against his opponent’s troops for three long days. When the battle had ended, the coast was covered with dead bodies. The sea had a reddish colour, there were crows everywhere and the vultures were eating the dead decomposed bodies.
Deidar was one of the survivors of the cruel battle. He had won, but a very high price was paid for this victorious ending: lots of people had died and Gio was one of them. He was killed by an arrow that hit his neck. Now Termis was finally at peace, but Deidar was not the same since that day. Deidar and all his friends gave him a burial, in honour to an excellent warrior and a great friend.
Pen name: Chuten
Category B
Termis was an old Greek city, which was at war with the city of Tales. The former was very powerful compared with Termis. The cities were at war because the Tales wanted to conquer all the surrounding areas.
Deidar was the General of the Termis army. He was twenty years old and had brown and short hair. He was very tall; he was one of the biggest men in the army. He was in very good shape. He always wore his armour, which was as bright as the sun and as hard as stone. He was a very honourable man who had already fought many wars but none had been as difficult as this one. Deidar always acted with intelligence and courage so he was not afraid, but his best friend Gio, was. Gio was the Commander of the troops of Termis. Gio was only seventeen years old. He had black hair and green eyes. He always wore his armour, like Deidar. He was as intelligent as Deidar but not as brave as his friend. They were friends since he and Deidar were children. They always did everything together. Deidar and Gio knew that this war would be longer than any other they had taken part in.
Deidar and Gio were planning how to organise the troops in the front, when suddenly a messenger came up with a note from Gargen, the General of Tales. Deidar took it and started to read it. Then he said:
-What? How can he say that?
-What’s going on Deidar?- said Gio.
-Gargen says that if we surrender now, he would not kill us.
Deidar was not afraid of this threat so he said he would continue fighting and give his life his life, if that was necessary, to protect Termis. He told Gio they had to move the troops right then, so they could get ready for war. Gio did it immediately. They settled along the coast, where the army of Gargen would disembark. Many days had passed until the arrival of Gargen but Deidar and Gio did not waste any time. They trained the soldiers for the upcoming battle. Gargen arrived on the afternoon of July 2nd.
Deidar’s army fought against his opponent’s troops for three long days. When the battle had ended, the coast was covered with dead bodies. The sea had a reddish colour, there were crows everywhere and the vultures were eating the dead decomposed bodies.
Deidar was one of the survivors of the cruel battle. He had won, but a very high price was paid for this victorious ending: lots of people had died and Gio was one of them. He was killed by an arrow that hit his neck. Now Termis was finally at peace, but Deidar was not the same since that day. Deidar and all his friends gave him a burial, in honour to an excellent warrior and a great friend.
Pen name: Chuten
Category B
Pre-elected story. Literature Contest 2010.
The Green world
I never thought that such a fantastic thing could ever happen to us. Everything started about a month ago. My best friend, Julie, and I were having a picnic (just vegetables, we are green) near a forest around London, when we decided to go for a walk through the forest. We walked for hours, and soon it was dark. Julie claimed that she knew exactly where we were, but I quickly realized that we were completely lost.
Suddenly, we saw a light coming from between the trees. We went towards it to see where it came from. It was a white, blinding light that was coming from a cave. We went near it with curiosity to see what was inside. But we didn’t go inside it. We went through it. When we crossed the entrance of the cave, we appeared into a different world. It was a place where everyone took care of the environment.
At first we thought it was our dream come true. At that moment we were those guys who never wasted water, we ate green, and stuff. People there seemed to be “eco-friendly”. All the energy was taken from natural sources, water was sacred and animals were protected. But later, we realized that they were obsessed with this. I mean, I think they even thought that nature was more important than their own lives. People seemed to be rather crazy. So we realized that, even though it is important to be responsible of nature, it is not good to be obsessed with it.
Anyway, this is not the point of the story. The thing is that we wanted to go back. But we didn’t know how to do it. So we walked around trying to find the blinding light and the cave. We went to the forest, but there was nothing.
Some time later, we found an abandoned place where this light was coming from through the lock. We tried to open the door. But it was locked.
So we tried to break the door and, finally, we did it. When we crossed the door, we were back in our world. We told the story to our friends, but they wouldn’t believe us. Sometimes I wonder if this had really happened to us or if it was all product of our imagination. I think I’ll never know the answer.
Pen name: Charles Wings
Category B
I never thought that such a fantastic thing could ever happen to us. Everything started about a month ago. My best friend, Julie, and I were having a picnic (just vegetables, we are green) near a forest around London, when we decided to go for a walk through the forest. We walked for hours, and soon it was dark. Julie claimed that she knew exactly where we were, but I quickly realized that we were completely lost.
Suddenly, we saw a light coming from between the trees. We went towards it to see where it came from. It was a white, blinding light that was coming from a cave. We went near it with curiosity to see what was inside. But we didn’t go inside it. We went through it. When we crossed the entrance of the cave, we appeared into a different world. It was a place where everyone took care of the environment.
At first we thought it was our dream come true. At that moment we were those guys who never wasted water, we ate green, and stuff. People there seemed to be “eco-friendly”. All the energy was taken from natural sources, water was sacred and animals were protected. But later, we realized that they were obsessed with this. I mean, I think they even thought that nature was more important than their own lives. People seemed to be rather crazy. So we realized that, even though it is important to be responsible of nature, it is not good to be obsessed with it.
Anyway, this is not the point of the story. The thing is that we wanted to go back. But we didn’t know how to do it. So we walked around trying to find the blinding light and the cave. We went to the forest, but there was nothing.
Some time later, we found an abandoned place where this light was coming from through the lock. We tried to open the door. But it was locked.
So we tried to break the door and, finally, we did it. When we crossed the door, we were back in our world. We told the story to our friends, but they wouldn’t believe us. Sometimes I wonder if this had really happened to us or if it was all product of our imagination. I think I’ll never know the answer.
Pen name: Charles Wings
Category B
Rock n Roll Brothers
This story begins in the 90s, when Andy Archer, an English adolescent, was in an Oasis concert. He was a great Oasis fan, and he had gone to almost fourteen of their concerts all over the world. He also played an instrument, the guitar, and he had a band with a very close friend. His band was called “Rock n Roll Brothers”.
When he came back to his house in Manchester, he turned on the TV and sat down on his sofa. He was very comfortable watching the news when suddenly he saw a big headline which said: “OASIS SPLITS”. Apparently, after the concert, the Gallagher brothers had had a great argument which ended with their separation. Andy felt heart-broken, and he immediately phoned Neil, his friend, and told him everything. They both were depressed, their favourite band was separated. For the next weeks, they didn’t meet to rehearse but they understood that they both loved music and that they would better continue with what they liked doing, ROCK!! They started to meet three times per week in order to correct all the mistakes and in this way they could start to play more and more songs.
They continued and continued rehearsing until finally the day arrived, their first public show in a pub. The whole band was very excited. There were posters of them on every wall. When it was time to begin playing, they all came out onto the small stage and they got very surprised. The pub was crowded!! They played five of their best songs but the audience was very quiet, there wasn’t even a clap. Then, they rapidly decided to play an Oasis song. In a flash, the audience stood up and started jumping. The people were very excited and the band, too. From that day on, they played Oasis songs in all the pubs, theatres and parties where they were hired to play. Slowly, they became very famous and their cover of “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger” were among the top five of the most popular songs in all England. Andy was very happy; he had all the girls and money he wanted but he still wanted something else… Oasis. So he arranged a meeting with the Gallagher brothers to bring them back together. He talked with them and told them that Oasis was the reason why he had become a musician and that they were his entire world. At the end, he could bring them together again and reunite Oasis. He finally had all he wanted, and he was now very good friends with Noel and Liam Gallagher too!!
Today, “The Rock n Roll Brothers” are the best Oasis cover band in the world and they play in all Oasis concerts as an opening band. Andy and Neil rehearse two days per week with their band and, also, they rehearse and go out to very wild parties with the Gallagher brothers.
Pen name: James Brown
Category B
This story begins in the 90s, when Andy Archer, an English adolescent, was in an Oasis concert. He was a great Oasis fan, and he had gone to almost fourteen of their concerts all over the world. He also played an instrument, the guitar, and he had a band with a very close friend. His band was called “Rock n Roll Brothers”.
When he came back to his house in Manchester, he turned on the TV and sat down on his sofa. He was very comfortable watching the news when suddenly he saw a big headline which said: “OASIS SPLITS”. Apparently, after the concert, the Gallagher brothers had had a great argument which ended with their separation. Andy felt heart-broken, and he immediately phoned Neil, his friend, and told him everything. They both were depressed, their favourite band was separated. For the next weeks, they didn’t meet to rehearse but they understood that they both loved music and that they would better continue with what they liked doing, ROCK!! They started to meet three times per week in order to correct all the mistakes and in this way they could start to play more and more songs.
They continued and continued rehearsing until finally the day arrived, their first public show in a pub. The whole band was very excited. There were posters of them on every wall. When it was time to begin playing, they all came out onto the small stage and they got very surprised. The pub was crowded!! They played five of their best songs but the audience was very quiet, there wasn’t even a clap. Then, they rapidly decided to play an Oasis song. In a flash, the audience stood up and started jumping. The people were very excited and the band, too. From that day on, they played Oasis songs in all the pubs, theatres and parties where they were hired to play. Slowly, they became very famous and their cover of “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger” were among the top five of the most popular songs in all England. Andy was very happy; he had all the girls and money he wanted but he still wanted something else… Oasis. So he arranged a meeting with the Gallagher brothers to bring them back together. He talked with them and told them that Oasis was the reason why he had become a musician and that they were his entire world. At the end, he could bring them together again and reunite Oasis. He finally had all he wanted, and he was now very good friends with Noel and Liam Gallagher too!!
Today, “The Rock n Roll Brothers” are the best Oasis cover band in the world and they play in all Oasis concerts as an opening band. Andy and Neil rehearse two days per week with their band and, also, they rehearse and go out to very wild parties with the Gallagher brothers.
Pen name: James Brown
Category B
Awarded 2nd Prize in Short Story and Poetry Competition 2010.
666 BULLETS TO HELL
One of the oldest tales in the Wild West is the story of Stephen Morris and his trip to hell to rescue his wife. His wife was cruely killed. She had 20 bullets in her body. Some people in town said that she was punished by the devil. Others said that her own husband killed her. Nobody really knew how Stephen Morris went to hell, or they apparently didn’t want to tell us. But the important thing is that he left everything to save his wife. Stephen had a son called Colin, who told me the story of his father. Colin spoke to me as his father had previously spoken to him:
“One night, in the dark, I discovered the doors of hell, so I entered. I knew that I had a chance to rescue my wife, but I had to go to the court of King Carmesi. It was a heavy trip for a simple human. The place was very cold and there were a lot of creatures that I had to kill to clear the way. I felt that it was as good as killing people in a bar when you are drunk. While I was walking in the middle of the souls, the voices of dead people warned me that it was a dangerous place and that I might never get out and see the ligth again. But my love for my wife was the only light in that place. A feeling and a question came to my head: why do people fight for a dream that can’t become true and they still keep fighting? I answered to myself: because it is the only dream that you care for and nobody can call you mad for that.
Here I am, exploring hell and looking for my wife. Finally, I arrived at the court of King Carmesi. He told me that I was a fool because my wife couldn’t be saved, except if I gave him 666 souls. In that case he was going to return me my love. I asked how. He gave me a gun and a list of all the people that I had to kill. He touched my head and I fell down. When I got up, I was again in the real world with a gun in my rigth hand. I read the list and started my long trip.
Colin continued: when I saw my father again, after that, I saw a crazy and sad look on his face. I didn’t say anything to him. He told me that he needed to do a job, and he said that my mother was going to be back after doing it. I asked him if he needed help, but he refused. After some months, I saw my father again. He told me:
“I shot some people with this scary gun; it kills people by absorbing their soul. I killed 665 people, now I’m going to kill myself, which was the deal with King Carmesi. Then I will return to hell to speak to the devil. I am very sad because I won’t see my son grow. I came to say bye to you”.
My father was crying. That was the last time I saw him. Now I live with my mother, and I feel that my father is in heaven. Every morning, my mother and I shoot a gun towards the sky; we do that in Stephen Morris’ honour, for his bravery in the quest to save his beloved wife from hell.
Pen name: GA
Category B
One of the oldest tales in the Wild West is the story of Stephen Morris and his trip to hell to rescue his wife. His wife was cruely killed. She had 20 bullets in her body. Some people in town said that she was punished by the devil. Others said that her own husband killed her. Nobody really knew how Stephen Morris went to hell, or they apparently didn’t want to tell us. But the important thing is that he left everything to save his wife. Stephen had a son called Colin, who told me the story of his father. Colin spoke to me as his father had previously spoken to him:
“One night, in the dark, I discovered the doors of hell, so I entered. I knew that I had a chance to rescue my wife, but I had to go to the court of King Carmesi. It was a heavy trip for a simple human. The place was very cold and there were a lot of creatures that I had to kill to clear the way. I felt that it was as good as killing people in a bar when you are drunk. While I was walking in the middle of the souls, the voices of dead people warned me that it was a dangerous place and that I might never get out and see the ligth again. But my love for my wife was the only light in that place. A feeling and a question came to my head: why do people fight for a dream that can’t become true and they still keep fighting? I answered to myself: because it is the only dream that you care for and nobody can call you mad for that.
Here I am, exploring hell and looking for my wife. Finally, I arrived at the court of King Carmesi. He told me that I was a fool because my wife couldn’t be saved, except if I gave him 666 souls. In that case he was going to return me my love. I asked how. He gave me a gun and a list of all the people that I had to kill. He touched my head and I fell down. When I got up, I was again in the real world with a gun in my rigth hand. I read the list and started my long trip.
Colin continued: when I saw my father again, after that, I saw a crazy and sad look on his face. I didn’t say anything to him. He told me that he needed to do a job, and he said that my mother was going to be back after doing it. I asked him if he needed help, but he refused. After some months, I saw my father again. He told me:
“I shot some people with this scary gun; it kills people by absorbing their soul. I killed 665 people, now I’m going to kill myself, which was the deal with King Carmesi. Then I will return to hell to speak to the devil. I am very sad because I won’t see my son grow. I came to say bye to you”.
My father was crying. That was the last time I saw him. Now I live with my mother, and I feel that my father is in heaven. Every morning, my mother and I shoot a gun towards the sky; we do that in Stephen Morris’ honour, for his bravery in the quest to save his beloved wife from hell.
Pen name: GA
Category B
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