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.
short stories
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.
The Invention, a story by Mckenna Owenz, 8
Mckenna Owenz, 8Wyomissing PA The Invention Mckenna Owenz, 8 Once upon a time there lived a girl named Lilly. She was sad when coronavirus came because she didn’t get to hug and play with friends. She decided she wanted to make something so she could play with her friends. She loved inventing things. She thought and thought. But no plan came to her mind. So she played with her sister, Lorelei. Suddenly, she thought of a brilliant idea. So, she went to her lab with Lorelei and her dog, Reese, right behind her. Lorelei was her assistant and Reese was the tester. This was her plan: she would make a coronavirus scanner that would tell you if you had corona. She worked and worked all day until she finished. She tested Reese, “Beeb, no corona.” “Perfect!” she yelled. She installed one at the park, one at the pool, one almost everywhere! Kids were able to play together. She became famous and everyone lived happily ever after. The End
