winners

Flash Contest #22: Write a Story About a Unifying Place Maybe this is a coffee shop where a regular group of writers share their work, or a church where folks go to practice their religion. Simply explore how these people are unified, and why. For our last in the current series of weekly flash contests, entrants were inspired by another terrific prompt by Stone Soup reader and contributor Liam Hancock, 13. Liam asked you to write about a unifying place–and it was fascinating so see how you interpreted this. Perhaps not surprisingly, many of you thoughts of bookshops, libraries and favourite reading corners as your place of unity, comfort and companionship; others came up with a stunning range of locations they love for the people and the activities that take place in them. We read some beautiful writing this week, and are delighted to share the work of our winners with you on this page. Congratulations to all of them, and to our Honorable Mentions. Winners I walk the path I have walked many times by Morgan Dodd, 13, Portland, Oregon Waiting For Camp by Selina Lai, 10, Dublin, CA The Warehouse by Daniel Wei, 13, Weddington, NC Hope by April Yu, 12, East Brunswick, NJ Cinema by Annie Yu, 11, Great Neck, NY Honorable Mention Ireland by Stella Mae Cobb, 11, Norfolk, CT There are many like you! by Aashitha Jeyaganesh, 10, Edison, NJ The Library by Jason Liu, 11, Sharon, MA The Whales in the Metro Station by Kyler Min, 9, Vienna, VA The Bookworms by Ella Wan, 9, North Oaks, MN Please note that our Flash Contest will continue through the end of the year, but now that school is back in session we will be holding it once a month, instead of every week. The weekly prompt on the first Monday of every month will be the subject of the contest, and you will have until noon PST on the following Sunday to submit your entries–we are giving you a little more time than before, as we know you have more on with school! Morgan Dodd, 13Portland, OR I walk the path I have walked many times Morgan Dodd, 13 I walk the path I have walked many times. Behind the abandoned seven eleven parking lot, and deep into the woods. My hands brush the thorn bushes that used to bring us so much pain. The creek that I used to be able to swim in. And finally I arrive at my destination, the fort that me and only the closest of my friends built. It was quite the site. Three long summer years filled with long days of work led to arguably the most impressive fort. From the outer walls riddled with holes, to the grand treehouse in the middle of our little city we built ourselves, to the elevated fighting platform where we settled our disputes. The same place the accident happened. I start to see some of my friends arrive, all dressed appropriately for the occasion. I am now passing the walls and now I am at what they called the central hall, even though it was fully exposed to the elements. I finally arrive at the meeting place where a few members of our group are standing over a tree. All of them are dressed in black and have their head lowered. Underneath them is a picture of a boy, and under that a body of a boy. The memories come rushing back to me. A serious argument had broken out that day. I was in the treehouse finishing up one of the bedrooms, when I started to hear shouting from beneath me. Two of our members, Kyle and Chad were arguing over something, I could not tell what at the time. All I knew was that they were very enraged with each other, to the point that they were going to settle their dispute on the fighting platform. Now, the fighting platform has some distinct rules: no kicking, no weapons, and especially no pushing due to the fact that it was a pretty big fall–about 6 feet. Everyone was gathered on the ground or on the poorly-made benches surrounding the ring. There is where I learned the spark of this conflict. Chad had convinced Kyle’s girlfriend to leave him and date Chad. There was a lot of passion behind this fight, and it showed. Kyle began to swing wildly at Chad while Chad was trying his best to dodge the blows. Chad was able to see a weakness in Kyle’s wild attacks and was able to nail him directly in the mouth. In a fit of rage Kyle charged at Chad and sent Chad careening off the platform. Chad landed in the worst way possible, on his neck. He wasn’t getting up. The ambulance was called, and so were the police. Chad and Kyle were both taken away. So was our fort. The authorities said it was no longer safe. That was the end of our time here. Except recently our fort has made a comeback on the anniversary of the accident. Chad’s family asked to bury his body under the fort’s treehouse, for it’s the thing he loved most in life. Everyone decided to come together, and commemorate his death, and everyone is here placing flowers under the tree. Selina Lai, 10Dublin, CA Waiting For Camp Selina Lai, 10 Adeline bit her lip nervously and wrung her hands. She sighed loudly, leaned forward, and closely examined all the cracks and grooves on her nails. When are they going to be here? She thought impatiently. She briskly tucked her books of stamps into her pocket, careful not to let others see her precious collection that she held close to her heart. Her father had cheerfully introduced her to stamp-collecting a few years ago, but now he had stopped after getting fired from his job. Now he had to attend job interviews frequently. Her mother didn’t understand the importance of her stamps (she would constantly refer to them

Flash contest #21: Write a poem about your favorite place to be The week commencing August 17th (Daily Creativity Prompt #106) was our twenty-first week of Flash Contests. The prompt asked our entrants to write a poem about their favorite place to be. The over-fifty entries we received ranged from poetry about the comfort of one’s own room, to vacation spots in Hawaii, to family homes, to the peacefulness of nature, and much more! We greatly enjoyed reading all of the entries we received, as well as the happy feeling that accompanied them. Well done to all of our entrants; and a special congratulations to our Winners and Honorable Mentions, listed below. Read on past the list of winners to experience the Winners’ work for yourself!   Winners Hawaii by Analise Braddock, 9 (Katonah, NY) My Favorite Place To Be by Georgia Marshall, 11 (Marblehead, MA) Cherish the Temporary by Reagan Ricker, 13 (Coto de Caza, CA) My Favorite People by Chloe Song, 12 (Lexington, MA) A Place Yet To Be by Anushka Trivedi, 10 (Silver Spring, MD) Honorable Mentions In the Mountains by Quinn Peacock Brush, 10 (Denver, CO) The Observation Deck by Nicholas Buckley, 13 (Wilmington, MA) Winter in my Bed Nova Macknik-Conde, 8 (Brooklyn, NY) My Room by Julia Marcus, 13 (Culver City, CA) Perfect For Me by April Yu, 12 (East Brunswick, NJ) Analise Braddock, 9, Katonah, NY Hawaii Analise Braddock, 9 Where sunscreen is your friend, Smells of salt and coconut invade your nose, Crish, crash goes the waves as you bravely venture out into the sea, To relax and feel good vibes. The place to escape from all your thoughts and worry To find new outside old, lemonade ice cream and fruit punch swamp the area. Cool breezes mounting over you, Water flooding around in the grotto, The perfect places in Hawaii Georgia Marshall, 11Marblehead, MA My Favorite Place To Be Georgia Marshall, 11 There are many places I like to be. I like the Victorian mansion that is my grandparents’ house. With its richly painted portraits, its cozy, lively rooms, its tree filled backyard with shafts of honeyed light. I like the friendly country home that is my cousins house. With its green backyard pond, you can hear the frogs singing for you. Its cool river across the street, you jump off rocks and float into the chill-boned depths of water. Its bountiful berry bushes, you stick your hands in, then pull them back with handfuls of sour-sweet berries. I like the hot sunny continent that is Australia, With its creek-filled camping trips, Full of warm crackling fires, singing their songs of smoke and flame. Its marching band of that is the morning birdsong, making my head thrum. Its people who I get to see, with their twangy Aussie accents. I like the rickety, old-fashioned town that is my home. With its rich history that fills every household. An old barn attached to our house. The one my mother and I dream of fixing up. Its empty parking lots, where my brother and I ride in his brand-new, bright-green kiddie car. Its friendly village roads, full of window boxed flowers and mossy trees. But the place I like most of all, is wherever my family is. My family is my kind-hearted mother, always around to give me a hug and a kiss. My strong, friendly father, who brings us on adventures. My sweet, dimpled brother, a lively bundle of energy, always ready to play and stick up for me. They are the place I like most of all. Reagan Ricker, 13Coto de Caza, CA Cherish the Temporary Reagan Ricker, 13 Even though there’s a mysterious beauty in the the way a crinkled leave flirtatiously brushes against your shoulder a last, yet oddly cheerful goodbye the quiet warble of a bird trembling with raw power the soft, grainy texture that oozes its way into tiny toes sand being kissed by the playful ocean again and again the hardened moon a sphere of cheese hanging by a slim thread or even the way the mountains strain and reach the light of dawn just so it can be bathed in a shimmering golden light only for a few seconds before the peach rose blossom fades back into a fake blue I’ve learned that I most enjoy the quiet comfort of my room glow in the dark stars placed by careless hands painted light switches a rainbow made of acrylic paints old seltzer cans overfilled with dull pencils and crammed with stubby erasers Empty cups stained with very berry smoothie on my nightstand A tapestry hides a crack in the wall where I threw my phone just a little too hard and too far My bookshelf is filled with worn, feathered pages marked with thoughtful dog ears I only own one bookmark and it’s missing A teddy bear When I squeeze it I can smell days in the park and the lilac scent of softener and it’s simply the best when I crack my shutters open and see a soft pattering of rain The thunderstorm’s hand tapping on my window My hot cocoa cup has 4 marshmallows I’ve eaten one and the other 3 melted down into something unrecognizable My doodle notebook reminds me that I wanted to be a Astronaut, explorer, archaeologist, race car driver, video game designer my dad says I should get a corporate job See, Nature will stay as long as we take care of it But no matter how many times we nurture childhood it fades away Like it never was there in the first place. Chloe Song, 12Lexington, MA My Favorite People Chloe Song, 12 I sit here in my favorite place Not by any oceans Not floating in space But with my people of connected emotions Cross Country season bibs Nights in bed Telling fibs My sister and I Changing in fitting rooms Sunday drives to the mall Checking price tags in fume My mom and I Sitting in

Flash Contest #20: Write a poem inspired by a song. The week commencing August 10th (Daily Creativity Prompt #101) was our twentieth week of Flash Contests. The prompt asked our entrants to write a poem inspired by a song they’ve been listening to a lot. The entries we received ranged from poetry set to the tune of a certain song, poetry inspired by a theme of a song, poetry inspired by classical music, contemporary music, musicals, and even our entrants’ own musical compositions. We greatly enjoyed reading the many entries we received; well done to everyone who submitted to this prompt, and a special congratulations to our Winners and Honorable Mentions, listed below.  Read on past the list of placed entries to experience the Winners’ work for yourselves! Winners Satisfied by Savannah Black, 9 (Yuba City, CA) First Flight by Fern Hadley, 12 (Cary, NC) Requiem by Joyce Hong, 10 (Oakville, ON) Mendelssohn’s Voices by Eric Liang, 13 (Sherborn, MA) Last Night by Daniel Wei, 13 (Weddington, NC) Honorable Mentions The Lovely Birds by Nova Macknik-Conde, 8 (Brooklyn, NY) Christmas Carols by Ashvant Daniel, 11 (Portland, OR) Mad World 2020 by Emma Hoff, 8 (Bronx, NY) The King of the Snow by Kyler Min, 9 (Vienna, VA) Dance Monkey by Sophie Yu, 12 (Houston, TX) Savannah Black, 9Yuba City, CA Satisfied Savannah Black, 9 I am never satisfied There is always another step to climb Another home run to hit Another goal to score Another painting to paint Another checkmate to you Another chore to do Another essay to write And another test to crush If I want to get ahead I have to come out on top I’ll never stop till I am on the top Of the team and then the class and then the school and then on top of the world I am never happy with where I am I will get more Like Alexander I will thrive Like Angelica I will never be satisfied Fern Hadley, 12Cary, NC First Flight Fern Hadley, 12 Editor’s Note: Fern’s poem was inspired by her original composition, First Flight. You can listen to Fern’s composition here.  A world just beyond your mind, just above your grasp, waiting to be discovered— Gaze upward, see the light shining through, feel the yearn in your heart until you cannot ignore it— Find a way, unfurl your wings, take to the sky, soar into the light— Fly, spirit free, heart beating in time with the melody of flight— See the storm ahead gathering clouds, thunder rolls, lightning crackles— Persevere, yet rain falls, shards of glass piercing pinions— Fall from the sky, wings battered, feathers torn, hope drained— See the light. See the light. See the light. SEE THE LIGHT. Muster your strength, beat your wings to the rhythm of your unfailing heart, fly upwards— Rise through the storm, the song of your heart ringing in your ears, hope restored— Reach the light. Joyce Hong, 10Oakville, ON Requiem Joyce Hong, 10 When the villains fall- The villain is you I don’t cry, not at all Don’t say it wasn’t true Now that you’re dead Some notice you, I predict But I only remember you For the wounds you inflict Don’t think that I’ve forgotten I carry them around, too Don’t think that I’ll say, “It’s okay” I cannot forgive you A candle to put at your picture For a remembrance, we light The memories we cannot forget In the dead of night Mother lights a candle She knows you’re still here Father lights a candle He doesn’t want you to disappear In one hand I hold the lighter The candle’s in the other I look up at mother and father Then I see your picture, my brother I’m tempted to light the candle Play this game of pretend For everyone who knew you Reassure them- “This isn’t the end” But I Cannot play the grieving girl And lie Saying that I miss you I am my own person You were a monster to me Now that you’re gone I hope I’m finally free The lighter and the candle They both fall to the ground Tonight, this night There’s no requiem to be found. Eric Liang, 13Sherborn, MA Mendelssohn’s Voices Eric Liang, 13 Eyes stare out at the dull, Knowing but not wanting to know, Desperate, wants a different fate, Wild noises scream, Shattering, Insane, Surfaces tremble and break, Life snaps. Falling, through light and words, Then struggling up to experience anew. Shock leaves thoughts, Songs of smiles drift astray; Rolling joy as tears burn away, Yank and wrench, As it says goodbye: Valleys rise to crush, But fails to strike hope. Not enough, not nearly Agony forces, pushes, Until laughter spins out of control. Daniel Wei, 13Weddington, NC Last Night Daniel Wei, 13 Last night, I had this dream about you In this dream, I was dancing right beside you Underneath the awakening sun Captivated by your enthralling beauty We crossed the plains of green and yellow Down the dirt paths of the backcountry Your hand in mine, we skipped towards a pier And set sail on the bluest lake We rowed across the water The soft breeze tousling your hair The sunlight sparkled across the waves Shooting rainbows toward the sky Later that day, we walked to the old oak tree Sitting down, I pulled out a basket Two crystal glasses, plus a royal feast Eating ‘till our hearts were full At night, with the crickets serenading us We pranced in the grass, barefoot Underneath the twinkling stars It was the perfect day Until I awoke, alone in my bed Ooh, I don’t know what to do About this dream and you I wish this dream comes true