State Fair

By Delaney Hoechst

My alarm went off like a fire alarm. I rolled over and grabbed my blankets, and I pulled them over my head. Then Eve got up out of her bed, and walked the 2 steps from my bed to hers, and started to shake my legs at the bottom of my bed. After about 3 minutes of that, she hit me in the face and said

“Turn the stupid alarm off Emmy!” Eve said sleepy but still with anger.

“ Fine!” I shouted back breaking free of my fort of blankets and turning it off.

Eve jumped back into her bed with her hello kitty blanket with her light pink comforter. Then Nana came into our room, and tip toed over to my bed in the right corner and woke up me up and said

“Time to get up” Nana whispered into my ear.

My eyes opened up with excitement, because I knew that today after school Nana, Katlyn, and I would be driving to the fair today. When I turned around Nana was gone. I jumped out of bed and ran into the hall, and to the kids bathroom that all five of us use. I brushed my teeth then ran back into our room to get my jeans and shirt. After I was all dressed I looked back and saw that it was 8:06am and Eve and Katlyn were still sleeping soundly. I walked down the stairs to find Evan on the stair in time out. He had an angry face and his arms were crossed. I went past him and went into the living room where Dad was holding Emeyson in the rocking chair, where Mom sat every night with Emeyson to get her to sleep. I ran into the kitchen where mom was making breakfast. She reached up to the cabinet to grab a plastic paw patrol bowl. I walked over to the island where mom was pouring some bo-berry into the bowl for Evan.

“Where is Nana?” I asked my looking around the down stairs.

“She's in the barn,” Mom said, rushing to grab the milk out of the fridge.

“Thanks Mom” I said as I ran through the living room behind the couch and out the front door onto the porch.

I ran over to the barn which was one of the first things you would see if you drive past a little farm.

As I got to the barn I saw Nana tacking up Penny. Penny was Nana's horse. She was kinda old and showy but, she still loved her more than anything. I ran to Rangers stal and led over the door. Ranger looked up from enjoying his hay. We made contact, I put my hand out to pet him. As I placed my hand on his head inside of rubbing his head he moved his head up and down as I kept my hand there. I turned around to see Nana and she was laughing so hard that she almost fell. After I finished tacting up Ranger, I led Ranger out to the arena. Penny and Nana followed. When we got out there, I lifted my leg up into the saddle and got up. As I sat up there I looked around and I saw Mom at the door with Evan on her hump.

“Emmy!” Mom yelled “GET OVER HERE NOW!” I rolled my eyes as I got off the Ranger

“ I’M COMING!” I yelled back.

“ I’ll untack Ranger,” Nana said with a smile.

“Thank you Nana,” I said, giving her a hug, then running out of the arena and over to the house.

As I opened the front door, Eve was waiting for me with my backpack in hand wearing a navy blue dress with her dirty blond hair in a braid, with Katlyn in a red crop top and jean shorts right beside her.

“Hurry up” Eve said as I grabbed my backpack from her

“Ok ok” I said rolling my eyes

Just then mom came from around the corner of the kitchen with 3 lunch boxes in hand. “Have a good day girls” mom said, giving Eve a kiss on the cheek. Then mom basically pushed us out to the door. As we all stood there on the front porch Katlyn looked at me,

“What?” I said with a confused look on my face

“ I dont know whats wrong with mom?” Katlyn said Looking worried

We all stepped off the porch and started up the long driveway. About 10 minutes later we were at the front of the driveway. Just then the bus pulled up, the door opened with a crack open.

Eve pushed me and Katlyn out of the way so she could get on first. Eve rushed up the stairs and sat in the first seat by the road nighbor Madison Cruizer, she was a small little 3rd grader with light blond hair and dark blue.

She was so sassy she made Eve look like an angel. Katlyn jumped up the stairs and walked to the 3rd back seat to the door in the back, Next to Jordan Smalls a senior with light brown hair and green eyes, that was playing Katyln to think they were a couple.

At last I got on the noisey bus with kids throwing paper and kids shouting and yelling at the top of their lungs. I found a seat in the middle of the bus by my friend Hannah Marcher. She sat in the bus seat reading a book, Her Black hair was pulled into a french braid and she was wearing a purple dress with a light blue bow.

“Hi” I said kinda quiet she looked up at me with a smile on her face “Hi Emmy” She said back

I sat down next to her and asked “ Whatcha readen?”

“The first Harry Potter” She said flipping to the cover and point to Harry Potter,

Hannah had always loved to read any kind of fairy tale or anything with magic. We talked for about ten minutes until we stopped at my least favorite human on the planet's house, Kayla Marte. My personal bully! The doors opened and Kayla walked up the stairs, it felt like it was in slow motion, Then her eyes locked and she gave me a smile of evil. She walked back to where I was sitting with Hannah and sat right across from us.

“How's it going losers?” She said to us.

“ We’re not losers!” Hannah said with a voice crack.

“You talk?” Kayla said as she leaned over and pushed Me in the arm.

It hurt so bad and maybe another day, I would have said something back to her, but not today,I didn't say anything. Kayla laughed for a few minutes, then she got up and walked back to the back seats of the bus where her new friends sat. Hannah and I both sat in silence for the rest of the bus ride. I finally got off the bus and speed walked to the middle school.

I got to my locker and I opened it and found a letter at the bottom of my locker by my math notebooks. Little did I know that that would be the last straw to make me go off later in life. It was from Kayla and all it said on the paper was LOSER! My eyes got watery as I smashed it and threw it on the ground. The whole day I thought about the note. The clock striked 3:00 the bell rang and everyone sped out the door. I calmly walked to the front door where Nana and Mom were parked, Mom was in the minivan and Nana was in her grey truck. I looked in the front seat and saw Katlyn and Eve already in the van with mom. So I walked over to the passenger seat door and got in with Nana. I got in and looked in the back seat, there was Ethen in the back in his car seat sleeping.

“How was school Peanut?” Nana asked as she started her truck

“Okay,” I said, putting my backpack on the floor.

Then I remembered it was friday and the state fair was this weekend! As we drove home I started to think about the fair and got nervous. After 5 minutes we were home.

I jumped out of the truck and ran over to the barn, Nana was already getting to the trailer hooked on to her truck. I started putting braids in Rangers white and black main and tail. Then Katylen walked into the barn to get Lucky and put him in the trailer too. Then she tried for 5 minutes to get Lucky in the trailer, finally Nana walked over and put him in the trailer for her. I put on Ranger's bright blue halter and walked him into the trailer.

“Go get your bag for the show” Nana said as she shut the barn door.

“What bag?” I asked about closing the trailer door.

“Your bag for the fair” Nana said with a kind of mean tone “I told you to pack a bag 2 days ago!”

“WELL I HAVE BEEN BUSY WITH SCHOOL!” I yelled I didn't like yelling at Nana but she just didn't get that I had four tests this week and still had to train for the fair. It was a lot of stress plus I had to do Kayla's homework for her, or else she would punch me even harder, but I could never tell Nana about that, never.

I started to run to the house, As I got up to the porch and opened the front door I started to regret yelling at Nana. I saw a red shirt that looked like my older brother. Ethens shirt that he had gotten from me for his birthday. The tall guy turned around and it was Ethen. Ethen was the last person I wanted to see right now.

Then I thought of July 4th,1995, It was the fourth of July every year I looked forward to me and Ethens tradition going on a ride to a tall hill about 1 hour away. It was one of my favorite times of the year because it was time that I just got with Ethen. He was the only one I could talk to about Kayla, he was the only one that understood me.

I ran down the stairs to the downstairs basement. It was Ethan's room at the time then Nana moved in and that became her bedroom. I knocked on his door, there was no answer so knocked again thinking maybe he had his headphones on. There was no answer yet again so I just opened the door to find Ethens room was empty, all of his things were gone.

That was why I didn't need to see Ethen. I ran up the stairs without looking at Ethen. I got to my room and grabbed my old backpack and put in two shirts, pants, pajamas. Then there was a knock on the door.

“COME IN!” I yelled as I zipped up my backpack.

The door opened and it was Nana. She opened the the door slowly,

“Are you ok?” Nana said sitting down on the my bed

“Yes, I’m FINE!” I said with a angry tone in my voice

Nana took a big breath and said “Its ok if you don't want to talk about it”

“It's just I can't even go to school and be happy and I can't be happy at home either,” I said interrupting her, ”everything is about Katlyn and Eve because they all have someone at school to talk to. Eve has Madison and Katlyn has a huge group of friends. I have known no one. Ethen my best friend is the whole world and only friends left me.” I said with tears in my eyes.

“We have to get going, can we talk about this later Em” Nana said getting up from my bed and walking over to the door

“Sure” I said holding back my tears

Nana walked out the door, I finished packing clothes for the fair. I got up and up my backpack on and walked out the door and down the stairs and into the living room. Then I saw Ethen sitting on the couch,

Ethen stood up and walked around the couch “Hey Em, can we talk,”

“No” I said running front door

I ran out the door and over to Nana’s truck where Katlyn was riding in the back. I walked around the truck and opened the passenger seat door. I jumped in the truck, Nana started the truck and we drove off. As I looked out the window I saw the summer sun setting in the distance, as the sun went down my eyes closed with it. About 1 hour later I woke up, and the sky was pitch black. The only light was from the truck light. Then in the far distance I saw lights, it was from a huge horse barn. Then I remembered that the new barn that was built on the fairgrounds last year. That was the fair! About 5 minutes later we pulled into the driveway of the fairgrounds.

Nana parked in a spot by the barn, I looked behind to see Katlyn was sitting. She was sleeping with her phone on her chest, her hair messed up in knots. Nana looked back at her too.

“Lets just let her sleep Em” Nana said with a smile

“Ok” I nodded opening the door

I got out and walked to the front of the truck where Nana was waiting for me.

“It's almost 10:00,” Nana said looking at her phone “Let's put the horse in some stalls then we can crash in the truck,”

“Ok” I said

About half an hour later we were in the truck, the horses were in stalls and we were so tired.

The next day I woke up to the sun shining right down on my face. Nana was alright up and in the barn. I grabbed some clothes from my backpack and ran to the trailer to change. After I had my jeans and mint green T-shirt on I walked to the Barn. As I walked into the barn there were so many people and horses. Then I saw Nana waving at me from one of the stalls, the stall that we put Ranger in last night.As I ran over to Nana and gave me a hug

“Morning Nana” I said pulling back from our hug

“Gooding Morning Em” I said looking over into the stall to see that Ranger was eating his hay that Nana had probably given him this morning before I had gotten up.

Just then I heard Katlyn breath behind me, She walked in between me and Nana.

About 4 hour later, I was getting ready in the back of the trailer. As I buttoned my dark blue show shirt, I started to think what if someone I didn't like was in the crowd, Savannah maybe Ethen or maybe Kayla. I skipped my helmet on. I jumped out of the trailer and walked into the barn to Track up Ranger. Then in front of the stalls I saw a familiar face, it was Kayla.

“You're in the Fair?” Kayla asked me with a surprised look on her face

“Yep” I nodded

“I wish you good luck” she said

“Thank you,” I replied with a smile

“Oh and this,” Kayla said I saw her make a fist, and punched me in the nose.

The second she punched me, blood poured out of my nose like a river. You know that small second, where you see the blood but the pain has quite hit you yet that was now. I fell to the ground in tears,screaming.

In the distance I saw someone running towards me, but I couldn't see the whole person in the distance got clearer and clearer. As Kayla ran away I could see red marks on the back of her legs and arms, but maybe that was just my crazy mind playing tricks on me. Then the person that was running towards me, it was so clear it was Kayla's dad. His bald head was red along with his faceI knew it was him because he had come to get Kayla from school everyday. And he had a small little white smart car that everyone made fun of in the car line.

As he ran up to her Kayla's face was filled with fear as he smacked her right in the face. As she fell tears began pouring out of her eyes. Her dad kicked her as hard as he could agased one of the stalls. He picked her up and put her in his small little white car. Kayla's dad opened the door and sat her in the front seat then we walked around the car and got in the car. I looked away and turned to Ranger. I felt the ground to find my glasses, I found them in a pile of hay about 2 feet from me.

I put my glasses back on. They were a little bent but they still worked. I knew that mom would have freaked out if they would have been broken. I looked back to seeKayla's dad open the car door and push her out. She landed on her side in tears. Then the small car took off like a rocket. I got up and looked around. Then I saw Ranger. I sucked up my tears and went into Rangers stall to tack him up for the show.

After I finished tacking up Ranger and walked him out of the huge red barn, and over to the brand new arena that was built about 1 year ago after the last school fair. As I walked to the arena, I saw Kayla getting up from the gavel with a bloody nose and purple bruises all over her arms and legs.

I rolled my eyes and walked to the arena with a thought in my head. The only thing I could think is, what just happened? I was still in shock.

After about 10 minutes I was in the gate ready to ride, as I stepped in the strup and lefted myself over. I began to think to think about what was actually happening. I was at the state fair!! The announcer said my name and the gate opened, and my eyes were set on that first barrel. I made a small circle into an elope. I kicked and he went full speed to that first barrel as we approached the barrel, I thought of what happened with Kayla and her dad. Then I remember that today wasn't about Kayla or her dad or even Katlyn. No it was about me. As I looked forward I saw that we were going to hit the barrel perfectly. As Ranger made the turn, I did a quick pet on his neck then we speeded to the second barrel. I had never gone this fast before, then I had a weird feeling in my stomach. We went around the second barrel like a bolt of lightning. As we went on to the very last barrel.We made the best turn possible turn, then I kicked and he went faster than fast as we got back to the gate. I smiled the biggest smile possessable. I looked around and up at the stands, I saw Kayla in the front row clapping with a smile. Nana had a face of excitement,

“You did it Emmy!” Nana said with a huge smile

“Thank you Nana” I said stepping off Ranger

I walked in front of a Ranger and gave him a big fat kiss on his head. I looked over at Nana, and hugged her. We waited for the announcer to say “IT THIRD PLACE…...ARIA WALLS '' I closed my eyes and held onto Ranger. “IN SECOND PLACE…….SUMMER SIMON”. We all waited for about 2 minutes, I one wish I wanted to get something because I practiced all year just for this moment. “AND IN FIRST PLACE……………. EMMY GREY” I looked at Nana and jumped into her arms with tears coming down from my face and onto Nana's sweater. I pulled away from Nana and turned around and I saw Mom, Dad, Katlyn, Eve, Evan, Emerson, and Ethen. After I got hugs from everyone I went up and got my ribbon. I walked back to my family, and got more hugs from every but not from Ethene.

2 days later it was 9:34am, I was at school by my locker when Kayla came up to me.

“Hey I saw you at the state fair” Kayla said looking at her broken down sneakers

“Yeah what about it?” I asked shutting the locker

“So I was thinking maybe we should be friend again” Kayla asked looking up at me

“No no NO!” I said “After all the crap you have put me through, I will never be friends with you!” I yelled

“But Emmy come on” she said with a crying voice

“No LOSER” I said walking over to where Hannah was waiting for me by the door way

I thought of that day over and over again, After school I saw Kayla get off the bus and walk over to her house, where her dad was waiting for her on the porch. I looked out the bus window and looked at her dark blue shirt with a heart on the front , her dad pointed to the door. Kayla walked in with her head down. Her dad followed her into the house.That was the last time anyone would ever see her for the next 24 years.

In the year 2020 a stay at home mom was living in a small house by the road with her family of 4. She was doing some work in her garden, she had been working on digging a hole for a tree in the backyard for about 2 days. As she came to the end of her digging she saw something that looked like a finger. She decided to keep on digging to find out what it was. After 20 minutes she had uncovered an arm. But it was still connected to something, so she keeped digging. As sweat ran down her forehead with fear she began to think about how her husband would get home soon. So she would have to hurry, after 30 minutes of digging she had uncovered 2 arms and 2 legs but there was no neck and no head and it had been cut off. But there was something weird about the body. It had a dark blue shirt with a heart on the front. The shirt had turned black over time but you could still see the heart. She heard the back door open. It was her husband.

She turned around and looked him in the eyes, she could hardly hold back the tears. He was wearing a white button up shirt with a red tie. His bald head and face were red from a hard day's work.

“We need to talk” she said as the shovel dropped out of her heads and on the the green grass

Amelia Growdon

3-4 block literacy

When you think of the perfect murder you would think of adults who have devoted their entire lives to get to that one perfect murder. But who would’ve guessed that it would have been a small-town girl who was always praised for all of her talents and skills. It seems as if no one could have suspected her or maybe some people did but no one listened.

But I mean who would? She is the prettiest, most athletic and smart girl in her entire high school. You would think that would be even a little bit suspicious, right?

But yet no one even blinked twice when thinking that it could have been Miss Bella Elizabeth Beamond, which makes it the perfect murder.

Young Bella, only fifteen years old, came into that small town and blew everyone's mind. She played in all the sports provided at her school. But the preferably sports that were mostly just played by females. She played Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer, tennis, golf, and swim. She was the star of all the teams, no one could beat her from her school or any other school.

Bella also participated in school decathlons. She wasn’t as good in those but she wasn’t bad either. People in her town wondered how she did all of it, with all of the practices and tests and just everything in general. The truth was that she couldn't.

It was either you go to this practice and then miss another one but then you would have to make up for it. But Bella could never admit that because she loved all the sports she did and the popularity that came with it.

Bella, even though no one realized it was very lonely and had no real friends like everyone else. There were definitely people who wanted to be her friend but not for her personality but because she was popular and was super cool. Bella had a lot of fake friends that didn’t really care about her and just wanted to always be around her for the guys who were obsessed with her so that they might start to like them. But that never happened so some of them gave up and then more followed. Bella probably had a new set of “friends” every week. Which is sort of depressing and disrespectful. Bella always told herself, “I wish that I could get some real friends” But she didn’t want the popularity to go away so she just had to live with it.

The first week of school was always so easy because all you would do was introduce yourself even though everyone already knew who I was. “Even if you're only a sophomore, people already know your name. Even those cute seniors over there.” Bella’s “best friend,” said to her right before the bell rang to go to first period.

Bella always dreaded her first class because it was her weakest, she had okay grades in it but she just didn’t like the concept of the class. Of course that class was Math. “Why would I ever need to use any of the stuff learned in math when she graduated and was living in the real world where no one uses algorithms and strategies.”

People use phones because they are much simpler and who would carry a pencil and a piece of paper around wherever they go. Bella said to herself.

When she walked into the class she saw just as predicted the nerds in the front of the room, the jocks in the back right corner, the dumbs in the back left corner and her people (popular people) in the middle.

Everyone stared at her as she walked in, grateful to be in her presence. “I was the queen and these are my people.” Bella complimented herself knowing that twenty more compliments were going to be given to her in the next five or six minutes.

Bella’s teachers did not like Bella very much because they know that Bella acts like she is really smart and all and she is the most perfect person. But they know that underneath all that acting it is really just a nervous know-it-all that needs other peoples attention and acceptance to go on with the day.

The class started and in a blink of an eye it finished. “On to the next class, who’s going to carry my bags?” Bella asked the class. All the Jocks and the rest of the popular girls rushed up to the front of the class where Bella was standing.

They all yelled “I’ll do it! I’ll do it!” But Bella didn't want someone who could easily carry her bags. No, she wanted someone to make fun of because they were weak. So she picked a little guy in the back who wasn’t a nerd, but definitely not a jock. She called him but he didn’t look up, she called him again and he finally replied but he didn’t look at her.

He said “I have a name you know so unless you say it I don’t know how you're going to get your bags to your next class.” The rest of the class was shocked that someone said something back to Bella.

Bella was the most shocked, no one had ever talked to her like that. She was normally the bully. So Bella carried her bags herself. It took her five minutes to get to her next class because her bags were heavy with all of her stuff, she didn’t know where her class was since pretty much everyone else knew her schedule so why would she bother learning it if someone else was just going to lead her to it.

The day went by as usual, nothing interesting happened. Well not that Bella hadn’t already known about. But something strange did happen that day but no one knew about it. Bella’s math and science teacher came up to her right after the bell saying that the day was over and all the students could go home. Mrs. Chekenbac and Mr. Fernsby came up to Bella and told her that she had been failing the past few quizzes which meant that she couldn’t play sports. “ But they will lose without me,” Bella told them.

“We understand that they might not do as well, but that doesn’t mean that you can just throw away your grades.” Mr. Fernsby replied.

Bella stomped away feeling disappointed and hurt. “How could they do this to me?” she said to Meredith over her new phone when she got home. All Bella could think about that night was how she was going to hide it at school.

Later that night Bella received an email anonymously saying that bright colors and sequence leggings were back in. Bella was super excited to have these back in because she hadn’t worn these since she was a kid.

The next day at school everyone was staring at her. But not in the way she was used to, it was a weird judgy feeling. She checked to make sure her outfit matched, if her makeup had smeared, but she just couldn’t find anything wrong.

But then she realized that Meredith had probably told everyone about my grades and the sports teams. Bella ran to the bathroom crying, pushing and shoving people out of the way. When she was in the bathroom all she could think about were the people laughing and making fun of her for the rest of her high school life.

When she didn’t hear anything in the halls she finally left the bathroom thinking about ditching school because there was no way she could go into any of her classes with everyone knowing her secret.

Right as she was about to leave through the front door of the school she saw something out of the corner of her eye. She said, “Who’s there, show yourself!”

“ It’s just the guy with no name trying to figure out how miss perfect got kicked off the sports teams.”

“Just so that you will not figure it out, I am only going to say this.” Bella said as she put her hands on her hips with a glare on her face thinking that she accomplished something.

‘Well then it’s a good thing I already know. Because if I hadn’t I probably would not have ever found out why. But thank goodness I was there when your teachers came up to you and told you thought you were getting kicked off.”

Bella stood there in shock, how could he tell everyone about that. Bella’s shock turned to confusion, then the confusion turned to anger. “HOW COULD YOU, MY REPUTATION IS RUINED BECAUSE OF YOU!!!!!!” While Bella was yelling all that boy could do was grin, and laugh then laugh even harder, until he thought he was going to pass out from the lack of air he was getting because he was laughing so hard. All Bella could do was sulk and start to cry.

“See how it feels to be humiliated” Said the boy standing across from her.

“ I have never been humiliated in my entire life, and then this happens and what am I supposed to do. I am going to be known as the girl who got bad grades so she got kicked off the athletic teams.”

“Trust me it blows over, people won’t even remember what happened in a few weeks because someone else embarrassed themselves even more.”

“How do you know? I have never seen you before, what’s your name anyway?” Bella said, now overwhelmed with questions.

“ It's Winstin, but everyone calls me win because I win at everything I do.” Winstin said, smirking as if he was the coolest person in the world. (which he definitely wasn’t)

“ When you say everyone do you mean your parents because I have never seen or even heard of you, ever.” Bella said in a very bratty yet curious voice.

“ Ya, haven’t you noticed I don’t have a lot of friends. But that comes in handy when all you do is blackmail people.” Win said very quietly making sure no other student or teacher heard him. “YOU BLACKMAIL PEOPLE!!!” Bella yelled freaking out and thinking about what could happen next. “SHUSH!!” Win said loudly, kinda defeating the point of the word. “Today really isn’t the best day to get caught for four years of blackmailing the same people, especially when I’ve just uncovered a new juicy story about miss perfect over here.” Win said in a very devious way that made Bella very uncomfortable. For the next couple of hours Win and Bella negotiated on how to keep it a secret that Bella was kicked off the athletic teams but yet Win still would get something out of it. But Bella still had one question “ If you haven't told anybody about what happened last night, then why was everybody staring weirdly at me today?”

“ Oh about that, that was my bad. You know that email that you anonymously got this morning saying that a lot of glitter and unique colors were back in, ya that was me.” So everyone was just very surprised and weirded out that you were wearing clothes that are not in because you are the fashionista for our school. But I’m sure that by tomorrow everybody will be wearing unicorn sparkle shirts, and those weird leggings where if you brush down one side it is one color, and if you go the opposite way it turns into a new color,” Bella chuckled and they continued on with their negotiation.

When the huge grandfather clock they had in their school struck nine-o'clock Bella and Win had finally come to a conclusion that to keep Bella's secret a secret she would have to pretend to be Win's girlfriend and in return he would “tutor” her and help her get her grades back up. But of course Win wasn’t actually going to tutor Bella because, if she got better then she would be able to join the athletic teams again and his plan of blackmailing her would be ruined. So Bella personally thought that she got the good side of this plan but Win also thought that he got the good side.

But when you really think about it, they are just two teenagers that have nothing to do with their lives except blackmail each other and be so desperate that you have to blackmail someone into dating you. So their lives are pretty sad but they are still filled with drama and adventure so they're worth listening about.

The next few weeks had been going by pretty quickly but Bella every morning would wake up in fear of that maybe just maybe Win had told everyone her secret but she was always reassured that he didn’t because they practically spent the whole day together. You know, being a fake girlfriend and boyfriend.

People wondered how Bella Beamond got stuck with Winstin Smith. Because Bella was so perfect and Win was just somehow always just there. To make people not get super suspicious of why Bella wasn’t able to play she faked a injury of a really bad sprain so it was just another excuse for Win to be by her to “help” her with her things but it was also so that he could make sure that she didn't rat on him and go to a teacher exposing him for all the times he has blackmailed people. But Bella never did because she knew that if she did or had ratted on him he would expose her to the entire school and her reputation would be ruined as well as her fellow classmates of whom he blackmailed.

Christmas break was coming up soon and Bella was so excited to just get a break from everything and most importantly a break from Win who was always watching. Everywhere she went he was there in the corner of her eye waiting for Bella to crack and tell her friends everything.

It was the day of school when everyone would go home and just relax and not have to worry about school, sports, and homework. The rusty old school actually looked normal because this was probably one of the teachers happiest days besides when the school ended for summer break.

There were knock-offs of reefs and fake Christmas trees with little cheap LED lights. It felt so relieving and the day was going by so fast Bella thought she actually might miss school over the break but then she realized what had been happening this entire year and she thought to herself that she was crazy. Because how in the world could she miss being blackmailed. But the best part of all is that after winter break she was being transferred to a new school where Win couldn’t follow her and expose or blackmail her for everyone of her secrets.

It was during lunch that Win came up to her and in a very creepy voice told her “ I’ll be watching you.” But at that point because Bella's day was going so well she felt a little uncomfortable but she just continued to eat her chili and cinnamon roll. Because she knew something that he didn’t for once in her life. Bella didn't plan on telling a sole either that she was transferring in fear of Win finding out. If Win ever found out he would expose all of Bella's secrets in a blink of an eye. Her reputation her friends all out the window for what? Nothing.

The last period came and Bella was so excited to leave this school and never come back. All the memories that she made were mostly lies and when they weren’t a lie, they always ended up hurting her or someone else and Bella just didn't want a life anymore where that would happen.

As she was walking out of the school she realized that if she was leaving she was going to end it with a big finale.

Bella Elizabeth Beamond was going to kill Winstin Smith.

Over Winter break Bella was going to plan out the entire thing. Where it was going to go down and how Bella was going to do it. She decided to make it a murder that everyone would remember but she could never let them know because she had no plan to go to jail for the rest of her life.

Once Bella had planned it all out she was ready. Bella was going to take this murder head on. With absolutely no help from anyone, Bella was afraid that if she had any help in this situation then that person would crumble under the stress and guilt that came with this mission.

Once Bella got home to her average house in Wickenburg, Arizona. To her parents waiting for her at the kitchen counter having an expression that meant that there was bad news coming afterward. Bella’s mom tried to speak but Bella didn’t want to hear it because her day had been going so good and that news could wait until the next day to ruin Bella's life, weeks, days, it really just depends on what the news is. But Bella had a feeling that this news was going to affect the entire murder of Winstin.

The next morning Bella knew it was time to let her parents tell her what the news they had for her was. “Good morning sweetie, how did you sleep?” Bella’s mother said in a very cheerful way, acting as if nothing was wrong.

“Fine,” Bella replied grumpily and not excited or ready for the bad news about to come later in the day.

“Okay, so we have some bad news and you’re not going to like it.” Bella's dad said very slowly trying to make it so that Bella could process it and calm down before they both told her.

“ Well, who likes bad news? Psychopaths?” Bella responded procrastinating so that maybe her parents would suddenly think about a completely different topic than the bad news they just had to give her.

Well, you see honey. About transferring to another school. Ummm, I don’t think that’s going to happen. Only because we have only just moved here and you have so many friends..” But Bella's mother was interrupted by Bella's rage.

“What are you talking about! We have lived here for over a year now and I don’t have any friends besides the people who just like the attention!” As Bella finished her very dramatic yelling toward her mother, she turned around and started heading towards the carpeted stairs stomping her feet and mumbling under her breath about how unfair this was and how this completely ruined her plans to kill Win.

But then Bella realized how benifisioal this could be towards the murder. Because it would be really suspicious if all the sudden Winstin was killed and then Bella left town. So Bella decided that she would kill Winstin and then go back to school and pretend to be all heartbroken while really she would be overwhelmed with wicked happiness.

Bella now knew exactly how she was going to kill Winstin and where it was all going to go down. Bella was going to act all generous and invite Winstin to go to their lake house in more of the southern part of Arizona. Once they are there everyone will want to go swimming and Bella and Winstin will sneak off to get some alone time and just need a break from everyone else.

Once they were out of sight from the parents they would play some very peaceful and fun games like the color game and guess that tune. But then Bella had a new idea, a dunking game. But little did Winstin know that it would be the last game he would ever play because Bella wasn’t going to let Winstin come back up. And because of how un-athletic Winstin was it was going to be quite easy to keep him under the water.

After Bella knew for sure that he was dead she would go running back to her parents screaming that Winstin was dead.

‘MOM, DAD! HURRY, WINSTON'S DEAD!”

Liam Triplett

Literacy Block 3

It is the summer of 2020. Mr. Paublo Fordso was sacked by AS Roma after finishing 15th in the Italian First Division (Serie A). He has been out of a managerial position for about 6 months now. Sitting in the office of his huge, warm mansion in Argentina at 12:45 in the afternoon… RING, his phone rang,

“Who is this,” Fordso asked.

“Mr. Fordso, we would like to hire you as our new manager,” an unknown voice said.

“Is this some sort of sick joke? I asked you, who is this?” Fordso replied.

“This is the chairman of Barnsley Football Club, as I said we would like to hire you,” the Chairman told Fordso.

“Barnsley, Barnsley! HA!,” laughed Fordso, “And why would I sign for you?”

“Well you clearly can’t cut it in the big leagues anymore, at least for now,” said the Chairman.

Fordso paused, what did he mean by for now?

“For now?” Fordso emphasized.

“We believe that if you sign for us,” the chairman told Fordso. “It will revive your career by taking us to the Premier League or further.”

Fordso seemed convinced.

“Ok I will sign for you, see you next week,” Fordso hung up the phone.

Fordso was concerned though, he was once a former managerial giant and now managing Barnsley of all teams. He seemed foolish of himself. The media will definitely have a field day with this one.

ONE WEEK LATER

The year is 2020. Barnsley F.C last season finished 20th, nearly getting relegated to the 3rd division (League 1). The club sacked their last manager for getting them into that position and have now announced that they have hired Paublo Fordso. What made Paublo so good back in the day was he won 2 Champions League titles with Paris Saint Germain in a row with a bunch of other trophies in Ligue 1, the French First Division. In the cold almost misty room, now Barnsley manager Paublo Fordso takes questions from the media.

“Mr. Fordso, why have you signed for Barnsley,” a journalist asked.

Fordso stopped to think, “Do I be honest?” he thought. “It would be the right thing to do, but I would make a fool of myself doing it, being a laughing stock once more, uhhhhhhh… ”

“Because I think it will revive my career as a manager,” Fordso replied.

“Well, what are your goals as Barnsley manager,” another journalist asked.

“To get them back in the Premier League and even further,” Fordso replied.

He felt foolish to say that. He didn’t believe himself that he had the ability to do that. All of those sackings seemed to finally catch up to him, at the worst possible time, at his first press-conference with his new team that believes that out of all of the managers in the world, they chose him. After a few more questions, Fordso went to his new home on the outskirts of Sheffield, about a thirty minute drive from Barnsley. He went home and went straight to bed, after all it was 9:30.

7 MONTHS LATER

Today is February 23rd, 2021, Paublo Fordso’s birthday, and the best present he could have been given was Barnsley F.C at the top of the league with 4 months of the season to go! His top goal scorer Tim Plasting with 18 goals in 27 games for the club, His goalkeeper Paul Dunningham with 10 clean-sheets in 27 games and also with 2 assists, His captain Roger Nolderson with 9 goals and 13 assists, Points wise they have only lost 2 games, drawn 6, and won 19. That is 63 points, a team record, they are 9 points ahead of second place A.F.C Bournemouth, and 11 points ahead of third place Bristol City. Paublo celebrated with his family and then after that, his team won 4-0 against Bristol City with Roger Nolderson getting two goals and one assist, and Peter Sanders with two goals as well. This was probably the best birthday Paublo Fordso ever had, almost too good.

4 MONTHS LATER

Barnsley are officially crowned the champions of the Championship, getting promoted to the Premier League for the second time in the club’s history, Finishing ahead of A.F.C Bournemouth by 3 points, and Huddersfield Town by 10 points. They finished with 5 loses, 10 draws, and 31 wins. That is a total of 101 points. In the locker room with players all around him, Fordso is congratulating his players for a job well done this season.

“Well done boys,” Fordso congratulated .

“Ayyyyyyyy,” The players respond audibly.

“You guys did a fantastic job this season you might think I’m lying but this is one of the best teams I’ve ever had,” Fordso said passionately.

“AYYYYYYYYY,” the players responded.

“You guys are truly amazing footballers,” Fordso cheered.

“AAAYyyy,” the players' cheers died down and pointed towards the T.V

“We have breaking news here,” a newswoman said, “Barnsley Football Club have just been found guilty of financial mismanagement for being $154 million in debt and will be going into administration.”

“Wait what!” Fordso looked at the T.V along with the players.

“This means,” the newswoman said, “Barnsley Football Club will be deducted 12 points, stripped of the Championship title and it be given to A.F.C Bournemouth, and will have to go through the playoffs.”

“WHAT!” Fordso screamed. Those words felt like a dagger piercing through his heart and ripped out over and over again. “Those D*** owners,” Fordso screamed louder.

“It's okay gaffer,” a player said, trying to sooth Fordso.

“It’s not okay, we’re stripped of the league because we have owners who can’t not prevent us from getting promoted!” Fordso yelled but seemed to get calm.

“It IS okay gaffer because if we win the playoffs we get promoted AND are out of debt, you know if you win the prize money is $200 million,” another player told Fordso.

“Really? Well what if we lose the playoffs?” Fordso asked strangely calmly.

“We won’t, we, for about 3 and1/2 hours were the champions, there is no way we lose,” Paul Dunningham said.

Fordso, still mad, accepted what Paul said. He gave his team a motivational speech and then went home for the night, tired, motivated, and hungry.

TWO WEEKS LATER. PLAYOFF FINAL DAY.

Barnsley F.C vs Bristol City at Wembley Stadium

In the buzzing Wembley locker room the players prepare,

“Hey guys gather around me,” Fordso said, “Lets win this game, not just for yourselves, not just for this team, not just for me, but so you can save this dying club by getting them out of debt.”

“Yes boys lets do this!” Roger Nolderson emphatically stated.

“Yeah, COME ON BARNSLEY! COME ON BARNSLEY!” The players chanted.

The team finished their pep-talk and rushed out the door to get out on the field. As both of the teams were about to walk out onto the field, seeing this huge stadium they were playing in, hearing loads of fans cheering these separate teams on, Fordso stayed in the locker room for a little bit. He looked at the clock, 12:45, he knew that time. It was the time that he got that phone call to manage Barnsley F.C, a team that gave him a chance when no other team would. He started to tear up but then wiped away his tears and rushed out the door.

“COME ON BARNSLEY! COME ON BARNSLEY!” the Barnsley fans repeatedly cheered.

“BRISTOL CITY, BRISTOL CITY!” the Bristol City fans shouted, singing in tune.

“Jeez, man this is incredible,” Roger said to Paul Dunnigham.

“I know, lets win this game!” Paul Dunningham pumped up Roger.

“Yeah lets do this!” Roger said pumped up.

After both of the teams captains exchanged a few words before kick off, Bristol City got the ball first. The players got ready, formations put together.

“TWEEEET!” the referee’s whistle blew.

And they were off! Bristol City started off attacking well and they had gotten a few chances in the box and Barnsley have had a few chances as well. But every person in that stadium knew, this was going to be special.

“Here comes Bristol City,” the commentator told his audience, “Here they come out on the right crossing the ball into the box and WOW! What a fantastic header by the Bristol City striker! Barnsley 0-1 Bristol City in the 35th minute.”

“Hey keep your head up lads! We can still win this game!” Fordso yelled on the touchline.

And that is half-time, Barnsley 0-1 Bristol City. Both sides have played well but only one goal to show for it. As the Barnsley players come into the locker room Fordso is already there waiting for them. He told them that they need to be more attacking yet when they’re hit on the counter-attack they need to sprint back and recover defensively. After that the players come out of the locker room for the second half, they need 2 goals to win the game and they need a miracle almost.

And the second half begins. Barnsley didn’t attack right out of the gate creating so few chances. Surely there would’ve been more passion from the players.

“Here comes Barnsley on the attack. Crossing the ball from the left into the box, but cleared out by the Bristol City defender. But it lands softley towards Tim Plasting on the edge of the box. He shoots, OH MY GOODNESS! What a goal by Tim Plasting!” the commentator yelled into the microphone, “ That’s a cracking of a volley. He has been on a bit of a goal drought lately but what a way to end it! Barnsley 1-1 Bristol City in the 73rd minute.”

“Great goal Tim!” Fordso yelled from the touchline.

Tim gave Fordso a thumbs up back at him, “Thanks gaffer.”

And after that the game changed, Barnsley seemed to get their spark back in the game now, the only thing is, how long will it last?

“Here are Bristol City pushing up the middle, dribbles around a couple of defenders and WHAT A SAVE BY PAUL DUNNINGHAM!” the commentator yelled, “How did he not score that! That would have been a goal that sealed the deal for Bristol City! Now here come Barnsley attacking on the left crossing it into the middle, heads the ball, saved. But the goalkeeper spilt the ball and Nolderson scores! With only a few seconds remaining in the game, Nolderson scores the goal that will surely send Barnsley into the Premier League!”

“Yeeeeesssss!” Fordso screamed running down the sideline joining the huddle of players on top of Roger.

“And as you can see, Paublo Fordso is in total euphoria!”The commentator commented, “As he should be, what he has done for the club is almost, no, is incredible!”

After that it was official, Barnsley Football Club are officially in the Premier League. After becoming champions, to having to go through the playoffs, to going back to the Premier League for the second time in their history and, as a bonus, the club are out of debt with the $200 million prize money from winning the playoffs. Fordso in the locker room now officially congratulating his players on a job well done this season.

“Boys,” Fordso went on, “What you did out there, was simply amazing. The passion you showed out there to perform on Wembley for crying out loud, under all that pressure. Simply amazing,” Fordso started to tear up.

“Hey gaffer, it's okay,” a player comforted Fordso.

“I know, I know,” Fordso said with a single tear on his cheek that he wiped away, “If there is one thing I want you to learn from my tear-fest is that we are in the Premier League now and you guys are amazing.”

“Thanks gaffer,” they all said.

And they left all onto the team bus back to Barnsley, back as a Premier League team singing chants on the way home and felt happy all as a team.

2 MONTHS LATER

Now it is the start of the Premier League season, this season Barnsley F.C are favored to go straight back down to the championship. This is mainly due to the lack of new signings this past transfer window, only bringing in a centre-back Lucian Farne from Real Sociodad in the Spanish First Division, (La Liga). Barnsley’s first game is against Manchester United who have declined in recent years but are still a challenge, especially for a team like Barnsley F.C.

GAME DAY

Barnsley F.C vs Manchester United

In the home locker room the players prepare,

“Okay boys, gather around me,” Fordso yelled, “Big game today right? Of course it is, it is Manchester bloody United. Just play your hearts out today this is the Premier League there are going to be many many many challenges this season, you got me?”

“Yeah we do!” the new boy Farne replied.

With that confidence the players headed out of the locker room to face Manchester United. They didn’t know what they were getting into just yet.

“TWEET,” the referee’s whistle blew.

The ball is rolling and Manchester United are quiet this first half underperforming surprisingly Barnsley are the impressers this first half.

“Here come Barnsley now,” the commentator told his audience, “Attacking from the left side crossing it into the box, with the shot! Saved by Dean Henderson and deflected out for a corner. Roger Nolderson with the corner, kicks the ball into the box and what a header by the new boy, Lucian Farne. It is Barnsley who takes the lead at home and as you can see, the crowd goes wild! Barnsley 1-0 Manchester United in the 41st minute.

And there wasn’t much to talk about for the rest of the game because, well, there is nothing to talk about for the rest of the game because there were no more goals! Barnsley F.C beat Manchester United 1-0 at the Oakwell!

5 MONTHS LATER

It is mid January and Barnsley F.C are in 1st place, 5 points from second place Manchester City. They have played 21 games this season, won 15, drawn 2, lost 3, that means they are on 47 points. 2nd place Manchester City with 42 points, 3rd place Liverpool with 41 points, and 4th place Tottenham Hotspur with 38 points. Paublo Fordso is in total euphoria with the performances with his team, if he wins the league with this team he will be considered a managerial icon for what he has done with this club.

4 MONTHS LATER

Today is the last game of the season. Barnsley are currently in 3rd place on 85 points, 3 points from the top of the table with 89 goal difference. 1st place Manchester City on 88 points with 78 goal difference, 2nd place Liverpool with 87 points and with 90 goal difference, and in 4th place Manchester United with 83 points on 65 goal difference. Barnsley need a miracle to win the title because today they play Manchester City who are at the top of the table and who have a team full of star-studded players like Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bryune, and Ederson. Liverpool play relegated Huddersfield Town so that will be an easy game for them

GAME DAY

Barnsley F.C vs Manchester City and Liverpool vs Huddersfield Town

In the home locker room the Barnsley players prepare,

“Hey boys listen up!” Fordso yelled, “I know you feel down in the gutters by thinking that there is no way we win the league but, keep this in the back of your mind. If you are gonna fail; fail in the most spectacular way. You hear me? Put on a show for your fans out there, make them support your team even if we don’t win the title because we have already defied the odds on insurmountable levels.”

“Yeah let’s do this!” The players emphatically stated.

And they were out the door in a flash getting ready to get onto the pitch and put on a show for the fans, and boy what a show it would be. But, like in the playoff final, Paublo Fordso stayed a little bit longer. He looked at the time again, 10:00, he knew that time as well. That was the time that he got sacked by AS Roma two years ago, god, where did he go wrong there actually where did he go wrong on so many occasions, Real Madrid in ‘09, Chelsea in ‘10, PSG in ‘14, Napoli in ‘16, Manchester United in ‘18, Tottenham in 19’ AS Roma two years ago. What was he doing, what was he thinking back in those days. Anyway he shrugged it off and went onto the pitch with his players because now, there was a chance to redeem all of that.

“TWEET!” the referee’s whistle blew.

The ball has been kicked off for the final game of the season. Barnsley have started off with a fiery passion creating so many chances answering the coaches orders to play the best game of their lives.

“Here is Barnsley on the attack, coming up the middle passing it out to the left side, crossing it into the middle, header, Goal! Headed in by Tim Plasting, Barnsley just need Huddersfield Town to win at home!” The commentator yelled, “Barnsley 1-0 Manchester City in the 15th minute!”

“Come on boys we can do this!” Fordso shouted.

30 MINUTES LATER

“The ball goes out of bounds for a Manchester City throw in,” the commentator said, “Oh and we seem to be getting word that Huddersfield Town have scored, this means that right now Barnsley F.C are at the top of the table because they have a better goal difference than Manchester City!’

“YESSSSSSSSSSSS!” The Barnsley fans screamed.

“As you can hear, the Barnsley fans have gone wild!” the commentator said trying to hear his own voice due to the noise.

“Hey boys,” Fordso yelled, “Focus on your game and your performances and this will stay for the rest of the day!”

“TWEET TWEET TWEET!” The referee’s whistle blew for halftime.

“TWEET,” the referee’s whistle blew for the second half.

The ball is off rolling again but soon enough things were gonna get interesting.

45 MINUTES LATER

“Here we are, 5 minutes added on for stoppage time. The Huddersfield Town and Liverpool game has finished 1-0 so that means Barnsley just need to keep this scoreline and they can win the Premier League,” the commentator stated, “Oh but here come Manchester City on the attack, their star-man Kevin De Bruyne on the ball. He is dribbling past a few defenders, gets one on one against the goalkeeper and he scores! With 2 minutes left in the game Manchester City are surely winning the Premier League!”

And that was pretty much the end of it, Barnsley F.C were not the champions. Or so you thought.

“Here come Barnsley F.C, everybody coming forward for what is surely their last attempt at a chance of winning the Premier League, here comes Tim Plasting dribbling the ball into the 18-yard box,” the commentator is telling his audience, “He shoots!”

And as soon as he shot that ball it felt like time itself stopped; everything had gone quiet; both of the teams fates rested on one kick of the ball; it felt as a life or death situation for both teams.

“Oh and he misses,” the commentator sighed, “Wait but he has gone down!”

“TWEET!” The referee has pointed to the spot for the penalty kick.

“YEEEESSSS!” The Barnsley fans went wild.

“Yes, ok now, tuck this in Roger,” Nolderson told himself, “Tuck this in and we are Premier League Champions!”

“And as you can see the Barnsley fans have gone absolutely bonkers!” the commentator screamed.

Roger Nolderson stepped up to take the penalty, the 31 year old who was just an average Championship player for Barnsley now is taking the biggest kick of his life. If he makes this he is a legend of this club, if he misses he will toss and turn every night wondering what could have been.

“Here comes Roger Nolderson to step up and take the penalty against one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Ederson Moraes,” The commentator said to his audience, wondering if they would witness history.

“Tweet,” the referee’s whistle blew for Nolderson to kick the ball.

He stepped up and he shot the ball, and he scored! Banged it in the top right corner so there was no way that Ederson could reach the ball he thought for a second that it would blaze over the bar but that doesn’t matter now.

“YEEEEESSSSS!” the Barnsley fans went crazy, beer being sprayed everywhere, the whole stadium erupted like Pompeii.

“He slots it home!” The commentator yelled, “Roger Nolderson, cool as a cucumber, no, even cooler because of that much pressure.”

“TWEET, TWEET, TWEET,” the referee’s whistle blew for the end of the game.

And the rest was history, Fordso has redeemed himself as a manager by taking a near League 1 side to Premier League champions, in just two years. He won the Premier League under 6000-1 odds. After a few beers with the team he reflected on the season, obviously the elephant in the room winning the Premier League but he looked at individual performances from his team, again his top goal scorer Tim Plasting who won the golden boot this season with 27 goals this season in 38 games, his captain Roger Nolderson with 11 goals, especially that last one he scored that won them the league, with also a respectable 15 assists, the new boy Lucian Farne who, at center-back, scored 10 goals, assisted 6, and had 18 clean sheets, and his goalkeeper Paul Dunningham with 18 clean sheets. After that Fordso went home and laid back down on his bed but before that he looked at the time, 12:45. He knew what that time meant.