Our May Flash Contest was based on Creativity Prompt #151, provided by the brilliant Molly Torinus, challenging participants to come up with five “terrible” book titles and write a story based on one of them. What followed was an avalanche of submissions boasting the most creative, eye-catching titles many of us had ever seen. Of course, the exemplary work that followed the titles broke the moniker of “terrible,” and provided us with a lifetime supply of imagination as no one story followed a similar arc. We found ourselves immersed in dramas set in the far reaches of outer space, character driven vignettes set in a classroom, rich narratives told from the perspective of a dog, and much, much more. A big thank you to all who submitted this month; it was a pleasure to read all of your work. In particular, we congratulate our Winners and our Honorable Mentions, whose work you can appreciate below. Winners “The BWBM Students” by Ritobroto Roy Chowdhury, 10, (Riverside, CA) “T.L.G.E.Y.5.T.” by Darren Fisher, 9, (Portland, OR) “Connecticutians, I Ate the Grape” by Rex Huang, 11, (Lake Oswego, OR) “The Book Without a Name” by Serena Lin, 10, (Scarsdale, NY) “The Pheasant Was Delicious” by Juliet D. Simon, 11, (Santa Monica, CA) Honorable Mentions “Once Upon a Time a Friendship” by Sophia Wong, 9, (Short Hills, NJ) “Chocotalia and Hideous Dragon Monster” by Sophie Liu, 9, (Surrey, BC) “When a Chicken Says ‘SQUAWK!'” by Olivia Luan, 11, (Great Falls, VA) “Cats, Dogs, Dragons, and Other Household Pets” by Atalie Lyda, 12, (Portland, OR) “You Are NOT Reading This Book Cover” by Joycelyn Zhang, 11, (San Diego, CA) Ritobroto Roy Chowdhury, 10, (Riverside, CA) The BWBM Students Ritobroto Roy Chowdhury, 10 Hello, I am Mr. Wats. I have a class of very, very, very, very, very, very different 3rd graders. This is a review of school and their life from their perspective. John School? What school. I’m John. Do not like school. No read. Bad write. Annoying math. That school. I tough. I known as bully. John big. Known as bully. First bad write. Second annoying math. Third horrible grammar. Only lunch recess. School BAD. BAD stand for Boring, Annoying, Dumb. I bully. Recess I say to Johnny. You dumb because you love school. Get it? BAD. Last letter stand for Dumb and Johnny like school. Move on to Johnny Mr. Wats. Johnny I love school. School’s the best. I read John’s section. I can hear you. You’re saying that John’s section has horrible grammar. I agree. My section is going to have way better grammar than John’s. Here are some things you should know about me. 1. I’m Johnny 2. I love school 3. I love math 4. I love grammar 5. I love school Hopefully now you know a little more about me. There’s just 1 thing I didn’t include on the list. You may be wondering what it is. I love reading. Yep. That’s it. You know almost everything about me now. Since I have to make this a little more interesting and longer I’ll talk about other things. Did you know that the cafeteria food is the best food in the world in my opinion? The pepperoni pizza is delicious and anyone who says it’s not, they’re wrong. Well, Mr. Wats says that I can go to recess now. BYE! Rick Since I don’t want to make this long, I made a list of everything you should know about me. 1. I’m Rick Dodder 2. I’m always late to school 3. Recess is my favorite thing about school 4. I’m lazy 5. I don’t do my chores 6. I have glasses 7. I play video games 8. I watch TV 9. I don’t like Johnny or John Those are the things you should know about me. Any questions? Send me an email at… “Rick your time is up!” Oh that’s Mr. Wats. Well, I guess you’ll never get to know my email. Jorge You’ll never guess my name. What do you thing it is? Sure, it’s spelled J O R G E but how do you think you’re supposed to pronounce it? If you guessed George you’re wrong. If you guessed Hor-hay you’re right! If you took Spanish lessons or know Spanish or Portuguese then you should have had no problem. If you pronounced it wrong I suggest you take Spanish lessons. I have lots of siblings. 2 older twin brothers, 1 sister in college, a younger sister, and baby brother. My sister goes to college in Northern California. My twin older brothers both go to Martin Luther King Jr. High School. As you know, I go to 3rd grade and my younger sister is
flash fiction
Going Viral, a short story by Ender Ippolito, 9
Ender Ippolito, 9, Portland, OR Going Viral Ender Ippolito, 9 Hello, my name is Sam Flu. You might not know me personally, but I’m pretty sure you know my kind. Right now I am going to school. I am on the school bus (water droplet) with my best friend Eric Coronavirus and his buddy Meg Polio. Eric is very nice and likes to be mischievous. Meg likes to eat protein. She gets 14 extra servings at lunch. She is pretty but not nice. I don’t like her. She also likes Eric, I mean likes. We are buckled up in the middle of the water droplet. Inside the droplet we feel safe and protected by an impeccable force field. The inside of the bus is completely clear and transparent, which is why we can see that we’re heading towards a cut in the human’s belly button to enter the body. Our destination is Third Grade A, Room 9, which is a mucous cell in the small intestine. Once we go through the skin, it becomes very dark. We bounce and bob in the body fluids and head to Room 9. The bus parks right next to our classroom. We climb off and squeeze through small holes in the cell membrane to get inside the cell. We realize immediately something is wrong. “No one is here,” I say to Eric. I look around the room at the teacher’s desk, located at the nucleus, and his chair that’s empty. “Maybe it’s a surprise party,” Eric answers. “Are you sure?” Meg asks. “Nope.” He shrugs. “Oh no!” I exclaim when I see the clock shows 7:00am not 8:00am. We are early, very early. No one else is here. Only the three of us. We sit down on centrosome chairs and look around at the walls that are covered in last year’s paintings. Most of them show circular art – a picture with circles glued on to it. But there’s also a copy of a really, really ancient painting with viruses attacking cells. It always makes me so happy and proud when I see that picture. Next to that picture is a poster of all the class rules: In a matter of seconds, Eric starts to tap noisily on his desk. I give him a look that means “cut it out.” Eric gives me the “do you know what I am thinking?” face. I know what he wants to do; he wants to break rules. The only question is which ones and how many. “Well we cou—,” Eric starts to say. “Don’t even think about it,” I interrupt. “Why not? No one is here,” Eric says. “Just because nobody’s here doesn’t mean we should break the rules!” I sigh. “I agree with Eric,” Meg says. “See, I told you!” Eric says. I ignore Meg. I’ve never liked her and wish Eric felt the same. “Let’s leave out Mr. Goody-Goody. Which rules should we break Eric?” Meg says and grins at him. I groan. “Fine! I’ll do it. Just as long as it doesn’t include making a mess,” I say, not wanting to be left out. “I want to infect cells! Let’s do that!” Meg jumps up and spins around in the cytoplasm. “Ummm, well I guess we could do that, but is it fun enough?” Eric says. “I think it’s too much fun,” I warn. Why couldn’t she have picked an easier rule to break? “Just enough fun,” Meg says. Eric nods. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I say. “Stop wasting time. It’s already 7:20!” Meg skips to a doorway. “Two out of three so we are going to infect cells.” Meg smirks at us. “Follow me.” We squeeze out of the mucous cell through the gaps in the membrane and enter a different mucous cell that has not been inhabited or infected by our Virus School District. Immediately after we enter, an alarm sounds. “What is that?” Meg screams and hides behind Eric. “Go back! Go back to the classroom!” I yell and we quickly slide out of the cell into the tissue fluid. An army of white blood cells are waiting for us, blocking our path to our classroom. There are hundreds of white blood cells waiting to attack. They look like a twenty-foot thick crowd of round white jelly blobs. They also look mad and have tanks with ammo. The alarm gets louder. “This is your fault,” I say to Meg. “Me? Why me?” “This human probably had a polio vaccine.” “It could be your fault then. Flu shot,” she huffs. I know that Meg knows she is screwed if she can’t get back into the safety of our classroom. She will not survive if she stays out in the tissue fluid. Eric, on the other hand, is likely safe from the white blood cells. Vaccines for Covid are not common yet. And me? I have a 50% chance depending on if this kid had the Flu shot already. I’m hoping he didn’t. White blood cells march toward Meg, ignoring Eric and me. Alright, lucky for me and Eric the kid only got the polio vaccine. Of course, not so lucky for Meg. She runs away, darting behind other cells. She finally lands on a blood cell and tries to hide on it. But the white blood cells recognize her. They’ve been trained by the vaccine to spot polios. She’s surrounded and Eric and I watch the white blood cells put antibody ammo into guns. Guns raised, they start shooting at her. She’s dodging, but I know Meg can’t dodge the antibodies forever. “Sam, we need to help Meg,” Eric says. He rushes in before I can stop him. I wait because I don’t want to help her. It’s her fault we’re in this mess. But when the white blood cells go after Eric, I know I have to help him. He’s my best friend and he’s in trouble. I see another mucous cell drift by and race inside
Flash Contest #28, February 2021: Pretend your favorite character has social media–our winners and their work
Our February Flash Contest was based on our weekly creativity prompt #138, asking writers to put themselves in the shoes of one of their favorite characters by pretending this character had social media, and entrants did not disappoint. From added wrinkles to the wizarding world of Harry Potter, to illustrations of beloved cartoons, and even to the outer reaches of space, we received a wide array of submissions that challenged traditional modes of thinking, and gave new perspective on what it means to grow up with social media. It is a marvel to be continually surprised by the amazing work we receive each month. So, well done to all who submitted! In particular, we congratulate our Honorable Mentions and our Winners, whose work you can appreciate below. Winners “@pluto9planet” by Ender Ippolito, 9, Portland, OR “Insta Pusheen” by Maggie Kershen, 11, Norman, OK “Godley Scribblings: How I Came To Be Uncle Totey” by Iago Macknik-Conde, 12, Brooklyn, NY “Halloween with the Rooney’s” by Elizabeth Sabaev, 10, Forest Hills, NY “The Social Evolution of Our Beloved Wizard” by Pranjoli Sadhukha, 11, Newark, OH Honorable Mentions “Chihiro Posts from ‘Spirited Away’” by Scarlet He, 10, Scarsdale, NY “Tweets from Cricket” by Rex Huang, 11, Lake Oswego, OR Ariel—The Ocean Heroine” by Tang Li, 8, Palmetto Bay, FL “The Leader Who Gained Citizens with Twitter” by Chelsea Liang, 11, San Jose, CA “Better than Daily Prophet” by Jack Rubin, 9, Solon, OH Ender Ippolito, 9, Portland, OR @pluto9plane Ender Ippolito, 9 @pluto9planet Feb 1, 2017 Hey buddies, especially scientists, I am disappointed to learn that I do not count as a PLANET. It’s NOT fair because even though I am smaller, that don’t mean I ain’t A PLANET!!! COMMENTS @earth3planet: The scientists live on me so I should get to choose if you are a planet. @pluto9planet: Says Mister Goldilocks. #annoying#frenemy#bossy Add comment (__________) @pluto9planet Feb 2, 2017 Dear buddies, happy you could talk to me, still bummed about the planet thing, just talk in the chat. Ok, thanks!!!! COMMENTS @mercury1planet: Sorry Pluto not my fault and hi. @pluto9planet: What’s a dwarf planet? @mercury1planet: idk look it up. @pluto9planet: It says I am too small! @mercury1planet: But I am small?!?! @pluto9planet: 🙁 🙁 Add comment (________) @pluto9planet Feb 3, 2017 What’s up? I am great. Totally, over the planet thing. Really, it’s fine. I’m not crying in bed at night. Definitely, not having nightmares. Not hyperventilating in a paper bag. Nope, not me. And Jupiter, how are you? COMMENTS @jupiter5planet: fine thanks @pluto9planet: how many earths could you fit inside you? @jupiter5planet: 1,400 @pluto9planet: can you scare earth? @jupiter5planet: yes i am very good at it. why? @pluto9planet: can you annoy him? @jupiter5planet: yes @pluto9planet: can you do it now? @jupiter5planet: yes i will 8:46 @earth3planet: jupiter you are so annoying 8:49 @jupiter5planet: and then you were like so naaa naaa neeee neee . . . . Add comment (________) @pluto9planet Feb 4, 2017 Shhhhhhhh, do not tell Earth, Mr. Bossy is going to get a surprise! We are going to do a little prank. COMMENTS @mercury1planet: He is sooooo mean to me! Super bossy! @pluto9planet: Same super bossy to me too. @venus2planet: Earth says I am gassy, smelly, and sweaty like a pig! @pluto9planet: That’s so mean! @earth3planet: What’s up? @mercuryvenuspluto129planet: Uh, nothing. @mars4planet: My brother is annoying! @pluto9planet:Yeah! @jupiter5planet: I also think he is annoying. @pluto9planet: I know! He says he should be in charge just because he’s got fleas growing on him! @mars4planet: Big deal. I have fossilized bacteria. @saturn6planet: He says I am the silliest planet because I have rings! But Uranus has them too! @pluto9planet: :-() :-()! @uranus7planet: Earth makes fun of my name! @pluto9planet: That’s sad. @neptune8planet: He sticks his tongue at me neighbor. @pluto9planet: He does what! Oh my!!! @earth3planet: You know I can see all of this, right? Why are you going to prank me? I have a big responsibility, taking care of these humans. I guess I am cranky because I don’t sleep. The pipsqueaks never turn off the lights. 24/7 all the time. LIGHTS LIGHTS EVERYWHERE! Sorry can you forgive me? @mercuryvenusmarsjupitersaturnuranusneptunepluto123456789planet: Can you change Pluto back to full planet status? @earth3planet: No, but . . . I can arrange an ellipse dance party!!! Add comment (________) @pluto9planet Aug. 21, 2017 6:00am Welcome, setting up computer and eclipse party. IT WILL BE FUN. #solarpower#hide&seek COMMENTS @earth3planet: Was the party good? 8:00pm @mercuryvenusmarsjupitersaturnuranusneptunepluto123456789planet: It was wonderful! Let’s do it again! @earth3planet: Sure. Talked with the Sun and Moon. June 10, 2021 is the next one. Put it on the calendar. @mercuryvenusmarsjupitersaturnuranusneptunepluto123456789planet: WOOHOO! Add comment (________) Maggie Kershen, 11, Norman, OK Insta Pusheen Maggie Kershen, 11 Iago Macknik-Conde, 12, Brooklyn, NY Godley Scribblings: How I Came To Be Uncle Totey Iago Macknik-Conde Godley Scribblings My divine insights into the art of writing, the universe, and the unknown (I actually mostly write about family feuds) __________ About Thoth is the Egyptian god of writing, wisdom, magic, and the moon, and rightly so. He has written over a million columns in the Egyptian Times, and he has at least one hundred podcasts. He has won nine Nobel prizes in literature. He also has his own editing company, Brawny Brains, INC. How I came to be Uncle Totey The story of Nut’s forbidden children __________ By THE REAL Thoth on March 09, 2019 Hi guys! This post is about the time I helped Nut have her children, as you requested in the comments of my last blog. So about 50,000 years ago, Nut and Geb wanted to have children, but Re was angry at Nut for being pregnant without his permission. So, he put a curse on her that banned her from having any children on any of the 360 (no this is not a typo, calm down my friends) days of the year. I was an innocent bystander until Nut told me about her dilemma: she was going to stay pregnant forever but never having any
