The Creative Righters Journal
Flash Fiction
Leaf Person
By: Bowen D., 6
One morning, I turned into a leaf person. I went outside. A wind blew me away—far away. Another heavy, heavy wind blew me everywhere in the whole world. It never stopped! Then it blew me to outer space. I was floating in space. I went to Mars, but I saw nothing.
I went back to Earth. I didn’t know where I was, so I went on a rocket, back to space, to the moon. When I landed there, there was nothing but crust, holes, and craters. Then there was another special wind. It was special because it blew from land to space. I was floating in space again!
The Tree
By: Kaia A., Age 12
In a quaint little town on the outskirts of New York, a lively, and spirited little girl named Taylor danced around in the autumn breeze, the soft wind flowing past her carefree body. Taylor often visited a peculiar old flower shop run by an enigmatic old woman, the flowers just as mystical as her. Taylor loved sitting by the orange tree in the middle, standing strong and tall, lost in her thoughts.
One day, she noticed that the tree had lost its sparkle, its leaves withered, and its vibrance faded. Determined to restore its former greatness, She came and visited it daily. She did everything in her power to revive it, regardless of the weather. Through storms, blizzards, and gusting winds, Taylor made it to the rusty shop. She would talk to the tree, make up stories for it, and even sing beautiful songs, in hopes of bringing the poor tree back to life.
Taylor’s hard work soon paid off, for life started coming back into the tree, it flourished and regained its vibrancy, and the beautiful tree Taylor had known forever was back, and it shone brighter than ever, becoming a sign of hope and resilience across the town.
Cupcake Day
By: Penelope M., Age 10
Once upon a yummy time, there lived a brave princess named Penelope. Unlike other princesses who wore puffy dresses, Penelope wore a suit of silver armor and a helmet with a pink feather on top. Every day, she practiced sword-fighting with her pet ladybug, Lady Donut.
One day, a grumpy troll with a bad case of smelly breath blocked the town's cupcake factory! Penelope knew the townsfolk craved cupcakes, especially the chocolate ones with rainbow sprinkles. So, she bravely rode her unicorn, Marshmallow Smore, to the factory.
The troll roared, his voice like a grumpy gummy bear. Penelope, though small, puffed out her chest and said, "Move or be tickled by a thousand feathers!" The troll laughed, a sound like nails on a board. But then, Lady Donut flew right up his nose! The troll sneezed so hard, he blasted himself out of town.
Penelope and Marshmallow Smore skipped into the factory, the smell of cupcakes filling the air. The townsfolk cheered as Penelope declared, "Cupcake Time!" From that day on, Penelope was known as the bravest princess who ever saved cupcake day.
A Fable
By Mark V., Age 8
Once there was a bunny. He had a big problem. He didn’t think he was special. He wanted to be someone different. He went for a walk.
First he met a lion. The lion said, “What are you doing, little rabbit? It is a lot of work watching my kingdom.”
“Well, then, I’ll be on my way,” said the little rabbit. He thought, “I don't want to be a lion!”
Then he met a turtle. The turtle said, “What are you doing, little bunny? I have a long way to go and I’m really slow.”
“Well, then, I’ll be off.”
The last animal he saw was a mouse. The mouse said, “I’m on the run from a cat.”
“Then I’ll leave you alone,” said the little bunny. The bunny thought, “I’m fine the way I am.” So the little bunny learned that he was fine the way he is.
The Missing Coin
By: Ally R., 8
It was the day after St. Patrick’s Day, and all the little leprechauns were settling down for a nap. But one leprechaun named Sly was wide awake. He had lost his magic coin!
Meanwhile a little girl named Emma had found the leprechaun’s magic coin. “Hey, look at this!” she exclaimed to her mom.
“Wow,” said her mom, “I think it's a real leprechaun coin. Without it the leprechaun can’t get around very fast. You'd better go to the woods and try to find the leprechaun who lost it.” So the girl hurried off into the woods.
A few minutes after the girl entered the woods, she saw a little leprechaun moving very slowly through a patch of three-leaf clovers. She said, “Here’s your coin back.” The leprechaun was very grateful. He gave the girl three wishes and set off, never to lose his coin again.
Happy Easter
By: Rainy P., 6
Once there was a hen.
The hen was very lonely.
Then she laid some eggs. They were not ordinary eggs. They were colorful.
On Easter the chicks hatched. It was their birthday!
The hen was not lonely anymore.
School & Prison
By: Will B., 7
One day at a school called Best School Ever Elementary they got the meanest principal named Mr. Waxaplax.
But at the end of day only one kid had detention and his name was Will!
But at exactly 4:00 pm the school turned into a prison! The windows turned into bars and so did the doors. When Will was looking around at all of the changes, he saw a cell phone sitting on the teacher's desk.
So he used to call the K.N.D. But they didn't have weapons so they took him to their moon base. After a really long and boring lecture from #276. So they just blew up the school because they couldn't make up their mind.
Fallen City
By: Ambrose, 14
Returning here was not my intention. Me and Chara had walked for miles, following the road. Yet we had never truly left the city. I don't even remember my own name. And everything around me looks the same. Dust and echoes. And yet, my biggest fear is that Chara will leave me. That one day, they will no longer see me as a friend. They are all I have left.
"I'm not leaving you." Chara said to me, as we walked down this road.
"I don't deserve you." I responded, tears falling one by one onto the street.
"Well, I don't deserve you either. Yet you're all I have."
"Get away from me!" I said, scared. Scared because I knew one day I would hurt them.
"Asriel..."
"I'll hurt you!"
"I can't leave you..."
"I'm dangerous!"
"WHY WON'T YOU LISTEN TO ME!?!"
"I'm sorry."
"Please, don't apologize. It was my fault."
"No, it wasn't"
"If it wasn't for me, then we wouldn't be like this."
We just stared into each others eyes for a moment, before we continued walking. I noticed a sign in the distance. It read: "DANGER." the rest was so messy I couldn't make it out. I saw more glass and metal lumps, all lining the road. And I look to my side, to see Chara is gone.
No One Knows
By: Mark O., 15
I ran fast-faster than I'd ever run before. They were after me, and I had to escape. If not, all hope would be lost along with the world. My legs moved faster when thinking about what was my burden. Fear. No, I was not scared, not scared at all. Why should I be scared? Only the fate of the world rested on my shoulders. If they caught me, I and everyone else would die. Plus, the things chasing me were faster, stronger, not smarter, definitely not, but unreal. Literally, they were mythical, fake, fantasized, and scientifically nonexistent. No, there was no reason to be scared.
My foot caught on a branch, and I fell. The ground was hard, and dirt filled my mouth. A stick scraped against my face, and I brushed my hand by the pain. Blood was on my hand. It hurt, but I had to keep going. Where, though? Where would I be safe? They were searching for me everywhere. There was nowhere I could hide, no place safe enough, but I had to save the earth, this unsafe planet. Why should I save it though, when it can't even protect me from its own predators?
A branch snapped nearby; they were close now. I needed to run again. I wouldn’t die; I would live not for the world but for myself. I deserved to survive, for I'd let the world and all its habitants live for much longer than expected. They were predicted to fall many years ago, but no. I had to find it. The crystal was meant to be crushed by them, but somehow I beat them to it.
I was running again. They were closer now; their footsteps I could hear. Now I was scared for my life. I could not let them get me. I know this sounds immature, but I wanted my mom. If ever you are in my position, you will be wishing you were in your house with your mom too with her arms wrapped around you and her soothing words soaking into your brain.
I heard their breathing now. They were gaining, and my legs were beginning to hurt. My side ached; sweat dripped in my eyes. Trees blurred with everything else within eyesight. I was tired-too tired to be running away from killers. I couldn't make it much longer.
Their warm breaths were breezing on my neck now. You would think that a thing so awful would have an awful smelling breath, but it felt good, better than the cold air that was stinging my skin. I felt fingers wrap around my waist. I felt them burn into my flesh. Screams of agony rose into the air but were muffled by the trees above. They had me. I-we are going to die. I'm sorry, truly. Everything went black. My eyes opened.
I was awake. They were coming. I had to run to save the world. The worst thing was no one but the destroyers and I knew.
The Quiet Village of Everwood
By: Marissa B., Age 12
In the quiet village of Everwood, nestled amidst rolling hills and whispering pines, the past cast a long shadow over the present. For generations, the looming manor atop the hill remained abandoned, its secrets buried deep within its walls. When young Emily stumbled upon a faded photograph hidden in the attic, the mystery of the manor ignited her curiosity. Determined to uncover its secrets, she enlisted the help of her adventurous friend, Alex. Their investigation led them down a winding path of forgotten memories and whispered tales. With each clue they unraveled, the shadows of the past grew darker, threatening to engulf them. As they delved deeper, they unearthed a story of love and betrayal, of a forbidden romance that tore a family apart. But the past was not content to remain buried, and the spirits that lingered within the manor sought to protect their secrets at any cost. In a race against time, Emily and Alex must confront the ghosts of the past and uncover the truth before it consumes them. But some secrets are meant to stay hidden, and the price of discovery may be higher than they ever imagined.
Roblox
By: Miles A., Age 13
Rain sprayed against Miles's window, but inside, his world was sunny. He was playing Roblox, but it felt like he was living it. Today, his avatar, a purple haired cyborg named Xerox, was a detective. He crouched behind a neon-lit dumpster, peering into an alleyway. Across the street, his friend Maya, a fire-wielding wizard named Lora, gave a thumbs up.
They were hunting for clues in a murder mystery game. But it wasn't just following simple arrows. They had to solve riddles and puzzles to advance. Suddenly, a mysterious figure emerged from a shop doorway.
Xerox's heart hammered in his chest. This was it! Together, Miles and Maya outsmarted the villain. Success. Happy, Miles and Maya cheered and let out big laughs. The thrill of the chase, and the satisfaction of using their minds to solve the puzzles was so amazing. Tomorrow they would play another Roblox game together. But it wasn't just a game. It could be anything in they wanted it to be.
Long Hair Horror
By: Mary T., Age 16
The spray bottle hissed, then sputtered. There was no detangling spray left.
They leaned over to tie their shoe, and their hair fell over their shoulder onto their foot.
The air was dry, and their sweater was fuzzy.
Their brush lay on the counter, unused since yesterday.
A random stranger walked up to them and started telling her how pretty their hair was, and they waited in horror; they knew what would come next.
The conditioner had run out yesterday.
"My hair will dry before I have to go out later!" they thought.
Chairs.
They took out their failed french braid for the fourth time.
They hadn't cleaned out their brush in almost four days.
"Can I borrow your brush?"
"Can I touch your hair?"
"Can I help you brush your hair?" the person with short hair asked, reaching for the brush.
Babies.
Toddlers.
Nosy old people with no sense of personal space.
They couldn't find their brush.
"Are you ever going to cut it?"
The Lament
By: Niem H., Age 16
I came in ragged clothes, and they laughed - laughed with their upturned noses, with the sun of this warm new land shining on their golden dresses. If I wasn't a slave, Italy would be beautiful. But now it stands as my prison, and I am in chains.
The year is 395, and for too long we have been bound by Roman law. Promises they once made to us are not fulfilled, for we crossed the river with the promise of food and protection. We are now but possessions.
These Romans--I suppose they do not hate us, but neither do they value us. On a whim we do their bidding:
"This man threatens my land. See to it, slave, that he is forgotten."
Regrettable, yes, and I will always refuse to rid an innocent for another's greed.
Though I am bitter to admit, these Romans are a most talented people, skilled in all they do. The shining, bustling cities sometimes make it hard not to become enamoured in their lies and wonder if they do need us here, to keep the city alive. Then flooding back comes the truth that we are more needed at home, and that I long to go back. I do not mind that it is colder there, for one only freezes when alone. Even in this balmy city of Rome, I walk a frozen path, isolated from all I once knew. Warmth will only return to my soul when I return home, although I am farther away than I can ever know.
Midnight in Alaska
By: Felix M., Age 13
PART 1
In the middle of the night
She grips the window bar so tight.
Hoping to escape from the room.
The floor was cheese like the day of doom.
This all happened after a shadow appeared.
Things started getting tense and weird.
The devil himself came to pay her a visit.
He was laughing so heavily that drew a cold spike in her.
He said "Oh! Well, you are kinda hostile to a famous visitor".
She freaked out and hoped for time to ..... fast forward.
She moved from the window for her hands were tired.
She thought of a talkie plan.
And said to herself "I need to act fine."
She asked the devil "don't you think we can bargain?
The devil was quite then she asked the same question again.
The devil then replied "Oh! Oh! Oh! I do not bargain with food."
The situation started turning more sour like meeting an Anaconda in the wood.
The Oh! Made the devil sound like Santa.
Or like an old man chilling in with a cold Fanta.
Midnight in Alaska
By: Felix M., Age 13
PART 2
She managed to bypass the devil.
She ran through the hallway and it was all lurking evil.
Evil whispers were all over the house, the devil was doing his work.
She was so disturbed and bumped into an oil rack and oil poured on her and she was so slippery dirt.
Because of the oil she slipped and injured her ankle.
She regretted doing the house keeping for her uncle.
The devil now was standing beside her ready to end her life.
This induced a lot of trauma on her and she couldn't control her mind.
Suddenly the world in her eyes started turning upside down, sideways.
To her amazement.
She was actually rotating on her bed.
She rose from the bed and touched her body to verify that she wasn't dead.
It was all a nightmare.
She was so happy and opened her window to appreciate the fresh air.
Through the Poppies
By: Daria T., Age 14
My brightly colored wings fluttered up and down, taking in the dazzling sunlight and the soft breeze. Fields and fields of orange and yellow poppies descended before me. I flitted around and above them as the wind blew me along their colorful petals.
Laughter floated through the air to my tiny ears. A small girl in a summer dress ran past me, her curly red hair streaming behind her. She was closely followed by her parents. Happy smiles brightened their faces. I rested lightly on petal and watched them.
The father picked the girl up and twirled her around in his arms. She erupted in a fit of wild screams and giggles. Settling down he engulfed her in an enormous hug while the mother gently placed a hand on the girls head. I fluttered my wings cheerily at the sight, took off, and made my way once more through the poppies.
The Greatest Food on Planet Earth
By: Jayson P., Age 12
What is the greatest food ever created? It’s obvious isn’t it?
ICE CREAM.
Delicious. Sweet and creamy, Ice cream is a food that is loved by everyone around the entire world. There is a flavor that will satisfy every person, from vanilla to chocolate to mango to strawberry. There is a style (popsicle, waffle cone, scooped in a cup, with syrup, with sprinkles, or in a banana) that will make an 8 year old or an 80 year old smile.
But ice cream isn't just a food. It holds a special place in our memories. It's a familiar treat at birthday parties, a reward for good behavior, or a cooling savior on a hot summer night. A scoop of ice cream can transport us back to childhood - a time of carefree joy.
So, while other foods may boast health benefits or be especially fancy, ice cream offers the greatest combination of taste, variety, and special memories. It's the symbol of happiness, a delicious escape enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds.
The next time you have an ice cream on a summer day, remember that you are enjoying the greatest food ever created.
The Trial Of Socrates
This is a fragment of a long lost play titled “The Trial Of Socrates” by the playwright Eunolikedes (c. 450 – c. 390 BCE), who was a colleague of the famous playwright Euripides
Translated from Ancient Greek
Act V
Characters
Socrates, a philosopher
Anytus, a prominent democrat
Meletus, the chief spokesperson of the accusers
Lycon, a representative of the orators
An angry mob
Scene: An assembly hall in the city-state of Athens. An angry mob of people are chanting “Make Athens Great Again!” and “Execute him!”
Meletus:
Socrates, you have been accused of corrupting the youth of Athens. How do you plead?
Socrates:
In what way am I corrupting the youth of Athens?
Meletus:
You have been going around saying that democracy is unreasonable. Explain yourself.
Socrates:
Imagine you are on a ship with 50 people, and a rich merchant stands up and declares that he should be the captain of the ship, justifying his decision with the fact that he is very wealthy. Do you overthrow the current captain in favor of the rich merchant?
Lycon:
No, it’s not the merchant's job to sail a ship.
Socrates:
Let's say all the people on the ship voted for the merchant to be the captain, what now?
Lycon:
No, that is completely ridiculous, it takes skill to captain a ship, what if there’s a storm?
Socrates:
Isn’t the example of the sailors voting for the merchant the same as citizens voting in a democracy?
Anytus, visibly angered:
Are you saying that we are unqualified to run the country?
Meletus:
I’ve had enough of you and all your annoying questions. You have two options. Admit you were wrong or be sentenced to death.
Socrates:
I’d rather die than lie. The unexamined life is not worth living.
Meletus:
We sentence him to death by hemlock.
Two guards come and drag Socrates away.
End of Act V
Summary of Learning:
Four forms of government were developed in the Greek city-states: Monarchy, Oligarchy, Tyranny, and Democracy. One form of rule led to another until the Greeks eventually developed democracy. This form of government is perhaps Ancient Greece's greatest gift to modern society.
However, democracy was not without its faults. Plato and Socrates criticized democracy for two reasons. First of all, excessive freedom leads to anarchy. Secondly, democracy is highly corruptible, because it attracts power-hungry people, motivated by personal gain rather than public good.
This opens the gates to demagogues, who are political leaders that gain popularity by whipping up the passions of crowds, appealing to emotion by scapegoating out-groups, exaggerating dangers to stoke fears, lying for emotional effect, or using rhetoric that drowns out reasoned deliberation and encourages fanatical popularity. A good example of this is Donald Trump, who was elected President of the U.S. in 2016, and is also likely to be re-elected President this year.
The Ancient Greeks had direct democracy, in which every citizen was allowed to vote on every issue. What the U.S. currently has is representative democracy, in which people vote for representatives who then decide issues on behalf of the people. However this did not seem to make a difference as to whether demagogues could be elected or not, as seen in the example of Donald Trump.
What Socrates feared eventually came true. In 561 BC, the tyrant Peisistratos overthrew Athenian democracy, and it only returned in 510 BC after the expulsion of his son, Hippias. Democracy was overthrown again, less than a century later, in 413 BC, by a group of citizens that established an oligarchy which lasted for four months.
Ancient Greece: Socrates
By: Claire Y.T., Age 12
Table for Four
By: Anonymous, 11
I used to be a beloved member of the Able family, but now I’ve been kicked out of the house and am sitting alone on the cold sidewalk. How did this happen? It was just a month ago that we had Thanksgiving dinner together: Mom, Dad, Olivia, little Ralph, and me, Tom. I remember that warm, happy feeling as Mom cut our homemade pumpkin pie. We had been together for many years, as a happy family. What about baby Ralph’s second birthday we spent together? He was grinning a big, gummy smile as we cut the cake together and handed him a slice. I even remember our dinner last night. The smell of garlic bread and lasagna filled the dining room and our laughter was heard throughout the neighborhood. Every happy moment the Able family had, I was a part of.
And now, suddenly, you just throw me out of the door and say, “ You're so worthless.”
Those words pierced my heart. Now, I’m sitting alone on the street, not even able to get shelter from the frigid cold. The wind would shake my confidence and the little warmth I had.
The wind howled, whispering “ You’re nothing but garbage.”
“What did I do wrong? Did I upset you? Weren’t we just a family?” As all these questions kept racing through my mind, my heart sank even lower.
I shouldn’t have been surprised though. Just yesterday, we were all celebrating the news that the Able family was expecting a new baby - another boy. There would be three kids! Mom and Dad kept talking about how they needed to start planning for having a bigger family now. That's when it all changed. As I sit here on the sidewalk, I can see the delivery men carrying five dining chairs and a brand-new long dining table.
Dad smiled gleefully out the window and I could hear Mom saying, “This large table should fit perfectly for us and our three kids, including our new baby Noah.”
Maybe I am just garbage and not fit to be a part of any family. My back is bent and sore, while my legs feel worn down. At this moment, two people stopped by - a man and a woman. They looked at me with curious eyes. I could hear them whispering but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. Were they deciding whether to take me home? Eventually, they continued on their jog and left me.
It was at this point that I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself. Just because my old family didn’t want little Tom Able anymore, doesn’t mean I’m worthless. There isn’t anything wrong with me at all. I may be a little short and square, but I’m proud of what I am. I could feel my hopes rising and I believed that I wouldn’t be alone forever.
The next day came, and brought the two people from yesterday back. Julie and James Esk were their names. The two were back out for a morning walk.
“Look over here James!” shouted Julie with excitement. “He’s still here. Let me get my truck and we can take him home. It will be perfect for our small dining room.”
“Wait here, Julie,” said James. A couple of minutes later, a big truck drove by me as Julie patted my cold, shivering back.
“Who would leave you here? Sure your legs are a little worn and you have some dings and stains, but with a little fixing you’ll be perfect again!”
I wasn’t an Able any longer. Goodbye to T. Able. I’m an Esk now. As we drove off to the Esk home, I could hear James laughing as he said, “Let’s give it a new name Julie. What do you think?”
Julie replied: “Let’s call him Dennis.”
I like that - D. Esk.
Whiskers
Story By: Jack R., Age 10
Whiskers wasn't just any dirty old black cat. Yes, he liked chasing pigeons and sleeping in the sun, but Whiskers had a SUPER SECRET power: helping kids.
It all started when Lia, the girl next door, was gonna get SMACKED in the head by a runaway soccer ball.
But NOT on Whiskers’ watch!
Whiskers, the Hero Cat, quickly jumped like a fuzzy rocket and boinged that ball away with his lighting fast paw!
From then on, Whiskers was Lia's bodyguard. She’d wake Lia up for school with a toy tickle fight and hiss at any bullies who even looked at her mean. One time, this rude raccoon tried to steal Lia's bike helmet. No way. Whiskers chased that racoon bandit away faster that the wind.
Now, the whole neighborhood knows Whiskers is the best cat hero ever. She helped Tommy find his lost kite by leading him to it with her meow-mazing detective skills. She even calmed down a baby with a purr so strong it could melt glaciers. Maybe Whiskers doesn’t have a mask or a cape, but everyone knows Whiskers the Hero Cat.
Fear
Story By: Nicky P., Age 14
I woke up with a start and looked around.
Shaking my head, I laughed at how paranoid I was getting. I rolled back over and closed my eyes. As I was about to slip back into the simple world of dreams of rainbow candy and snowy, white clouds, I heard a creak like the screeching of nails along a blackboard. I started, and covered my mouth to stifle a scream.
I took a deep breath and then slipped out of bed. Pulling on a robe, I let myself out into the ice cold corridor. I walked towards the stairs and gazed down. Seeing nothing except the jet black night that filled the hallway, I took a cautious step towards the first step. I began to make my way down, quiet as a mouse.
A loud crack came as I stepped on the next step, followed by a shout from downstairs. Spinning around, I broke into a run back up the winding, never ending staircase. I let out a gasp as a sharp bolt of pain moved through my leg like a flash of lightning.
Glancing down, I saw my miniature wooden piano and shoved it aside I dashed through the hall to the next flight of stairs and sprinted up them. I crept into the attic and closed the door with a soft thud. Letting out a sigh of relief, I slid to the floor. Scarcely daring to breathe, I opened the attic door and looked out. Not seeing anyone, I stepped out of the attic and began to walk down the stairs. Almost at the bottom, I heard a thud and let out a gasp. I let out an earsplitting scream that shattered the silence of the house as I whirled around to face a man with torn clothing, a long beard and a heathens grin on his face.
