Rex Huang, 11Lake Oswego, OR The Silent Threat Rex Huang, 11 There was no possibility of taking a walk that day. That day lightning cracked outside, as loud as firecrackers. There was snow as far as the eye could see. And yet, everyone except me and my mother flocked outside for an Armistice Day celebration. But me and my mother were worried, for if we went, something horrible will haunt us. It’s not lightning–it’s the Spanish Flu. Everyone had lived through the trepidation of the war, but now that it was over, most weep in joy and think it is time for mass celebration. But a more deadly, quiet threat was still lurking. My grandmother still remembers the 1890 flu outbreak. Our other family members, I better not say. My father had been in the trenches. He had left Philadelphia in hopes of earning some cash to support my schooling. He sacrificed his life for mine. A half year later, we received notice that he perished. Not on the field, but on the hospital bed. So we knew better than to go outside for a party and risk the extinction of our family. Now fast forward a year. It was a hot summer day. My mother is weeping in tears at my father’s funeral. We are grateful the tragedies are over. Trucks wail outside as the bodies of the dead are brought out of the city. All the while, people next to us mouth prayers. The virus is over. But the damage had been done. The city is eerie quiet. No one is walking the streets. Those people know that one case could launch the city into chaos. But for now, no cases have been reported for a week. But, I knew that there would be a parade some time soon. Today the party was grand. But it was not a party. Rather, it was a memory. The same trucks used to carry bodies now carry floats. The people drink tea, for there was a rumor that doctors used opium overdoses to kill patients. And blue banners were revealed through the city, the same color that patients face’s turned. Finally, there was the real Armistice Day celebration. But we still lived in fear of one patient ruining it all. But, we were fortunate. Nothing was reported. The day was the most joyful day anyone could remember. The flu was an unpleasant experience. And I hope something similar never happens again. This story was entered in the Flash Contest based on Daily Creativity Prompt #91, in July 2020.
COVID-19
Stuck, a personal narrative by Ismini Vasiloglou, 11
Ismini Vasiloglou, 11usually Atlanta, GA; currently Athens, Greece Stuck Ismini Vasiloglou, 11 I write this sitting in the kitchen sink while pondering the recent news my mother just shared. I stare at the various colors of cat hair on the floor from my grandmother’s multiple cats, trying to distract myself. Our flight’s been canceled. In a way I expected it, but finding out is still a shock. We should have been leaving in six days, but now we might not be able to leave at all. I look out my grandma’s old, small, kitchen window at the sprawling city. The tall apartment buildings that desperately need new coats of paint. The beautiful, clear, brilliant blue sky. The edge of the vast, cool ocean, just a short drive away. That familiar picture that speaks of family. Athens, Greece. We come to this beautiful country every year. My father was born here. I speak the native language. The majority of my family lives here. Now we might be stuck here with them. We live in the US. Atlanta, Georgia to be exact. My parents met when they came to study for their degrees. My dad studied at Georgia Tech and my mom went to Emory Law School. They met through a friend and ended up staying there and visiting Greece annually. This is the first time we might get stuck here. Corona is the reason is at least partly at fault for this disaster. We don’t know for sure exactly why our flight was cancelled, but I know this sudden advancement is somehow COVID related. After corona began, I used my money to buy a subscription to the New York Times and signed up for multiple daily newsletters from the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and CNN. I read everything and things are bad. Our president seems to have absolutely no idea what to do. He’s confusing everyone and going against the advice of some of the world’s most trusted health officials. The entire world is slowly falling apart and no one knows how to stop it. It’s hard to know who or what to believe. I’m just sticking to my news stations. I already trust them so I’m hoping I’ll hear the truth. The United States is really doing badly. Somehow we’ve managed to bring back the 1918 pandemic, the 1929 Depression, and the 1968 Race Riots all at the exact same time. Honestly, I’m pretty scared. At least being stuck in Greece isn’t the worst situation. Things could be better, but we do have good options. Greece is currently doing really well with the pandemic, and if we do end up having to stay, we have family here to help us. A few of our friends know people who are airbnbing their houses long term so we’ll have a place to stay at least. I want to go home. Don’t get me wrong, that is my first choice. But, if we do have to stay, I’ll be fine, I guess. Getting to live in a foreign country, even if it’s just for a few months, is a once in a lifetime experience. We’d only stay until December and by staying, I’d get to go to school here and meet a lot of cool people. I’d get better at speaking Greek and I’d learn a lot more about Greek culture and history in general. For now, I’m watching the news like a hawk. I’m checking headlines and newsletters and blogs as well as checking every other news place that exists for any unexpected advancements. We’ve managed to get onto another flight that leaves in 13 days. It isn’t as soon as our previous flight which was leaving in six days, but it’s something. Our fingers are crossed, and we’re hoping that this time our flight actually happens. As I write this, sitting in our grandmother’s tiny kitchen sink and staring out the window, I understand the severity of our situation and pray to all the gods out there that we make it home unharmed. The world is in chaos and right now I need some normalcy. Staying might be the experience of a lifetime, but home is my comforting lifeline and right now, corona is enough of an adventure for me. This story was entered in the Flash Contest based on Daily Creativity Prompt #91, in July 2020.
The Goal, a story by Ziva Ye, 9
Ziva Ye, 9Overland Park, KS The Goal Ziva Ye, 9 I lived a happy life. I loved to roll around in the grass and laughing with the other kids at recess. I didn’t even care that my leather black-and-white pentagon patterned clothes got smothered with grass stains! My favorite subject in school was gym. Every time I was sent into the goal in a good game of soccer, everyone cheered. I would feel always proud, blasting into the goal. There were so many memories, good and bad, that it would take forever to list them all! It was good. So good. It was so good that no one would have thought that this would soon happen. It all started around Spring Break. I thought everything would be okay. I would see them in a week. But then a week passed, and then two, then three. I started having doubts. This was too long to be spring break! I was starting to feel squishy too. My air was running out, I realized. When were they going to come back? I missed it when I would be kicked into the goal and the gym would erupt with cheers. I missed the proud feeling that would flood inside me instantly. And I missed my hope that was puffing out as fast as my air. I waited for a long time. I was relieved when I heard the gym doors screech open. Is everyone finally here? I looked out to find only the gym teacher. Everyone called him “Mr. Gym”. Unusually, his face had a sour frown pasted on it. He grabbed the air pumper and began pumping me. “This virus ain’t leaving for a long time. It’s too bad they had to shut down the school.” He muttered. Huh? I thought. Virus? Shut down?! I felt my head spin. Everything was out of order now. I continued waiting. I wasn’t squishy anymore. I sat and waited patiently. I recalled memories, and they were the only things to accompany me and keep me from losing it. It was all I did, and through the process, I realized the school had lost its charm, its heart-warming presence. This was heart-breaking. I closed my eyes. I opened my eyes drowsily. Had I fallen asleep? I looked up to see Mr. Gym again. This time his face was plastered with the biggest grin I had ever seen him have. W-what happened? I could hardly believe it when I saw everyone, all my classmates, all the teachers, everybody. Mr. Gym tossed all the balls to everybody. I flew in the air and someone caught me. I looked up and felt overjoyed. “I missed you!” said the boy holding me. He was here! The boy who always sent me flying into the goal! The one I was waiting for. He tossed me up and kicked me. “Wheee!” I exclaimed and went straight into the goal. I was as happy as a soccer ball like me could be.
