Short Stories

Minecraft minis 3 - The voyage to the ocean

By Anirudh U

Alex was so excited! He was going to travel out to sea to explore the faraway lands! Alex was eagerly waiting for the day he was going. He was going with few crewmen.

Alex stored food and water in the ships for the voyage. He was going to start from South Africa. He knew he was going to be out for a long time. So he stacked up a lot of food and plenty of water. There were so much supplies that they could go sailing for ten years!

At last the time came to set out. The ship docked and shaked, then set out. Alex ran laps around the ship searching for his crewmen. His crewmen were sleeping in the lower deck. Alex woke the men up, asking them to start doing their job. Each of the crewmen had jobs to do when they were aboard the ship. The men scrubbed plates, cleaned armors, trapped water when it rained and looked at the water to see if land was approaching.

Days passed and the crewmen grew more and more tired of being aboard a ship. Mice and fleas were all around the ship. They had to sleep on the floor and most of all supplies were running out. Alex thought there were enough supplies for ten years but it wasn’t even enough for an year. They had to reach land soon or all of the people will die.

On a cold icy winter night, a sailer saw a large thing approaching them. As the went closer they found out that it was a large chunk of land. No wonder it was pretty cold. They had sailed 10,050 miles south from europe. The land was near antarctica. The ship’s bow hit the land. To their surprise there were lot’s of penguins and wolves. They did not want to eat cute penguins but they had no other option. So they filled the empty barrels with penguin and wolf meat.

They set out north this time. They were sailing upward so they can get out of the cold. They were all wrapped in blankets like a wrap. After 4 to 5 days it started becoming warm again. They had a special map with them that puts a red laser dot on the place where they were. They were about 1090 miles to the south ofthe equator. Alex was dreaming about gold. So he told the crewmen that they were going to search for gold on the faraway lands they visit.

He talked about the share of profit to the crewmen and share of profit to himself. All of the crewmen agreed. They sailed for one more month. Then they reached the tip of greenland and started sailing in a pathway to reach maryland. After a few more weeks the ships missed a turn to reach maryland and landed in Florida.

Alex talked to the crewmembers. He told them that they had reached Florida and missed the mouth of Maryland. All of the crewmen were forced to search for gold in Florida. They searched and searched for three days without resting and didn’t even find a spark of gold. Tired, They all went back to their ship.

They were sweating as though they were without a roof during a thunderstorm. Sadly, they had to sail back to South Africa. Their time was over. They had one year to find something but they found nothing. They started sailing back to South Africa. Everyone was tired, so they started resting and recharging their batteries while the ship sailed.

They did not notice that there was a big chunk of land ahead. Someone woke up and told everyone that they could try to dig there for a day. So that was what they did. When they were about to give up Alex found 5 pieces of gold. There were four crewmen and Alex himself so each person got one piece. The whole crew was happy with what they found. They headed back to South Africa.

After a month , they arrived at a busy harbor in South Africa. The got out of their ships and told everyone about their adventure. They were really happy that their mission was a success. They went home and lived happily ever after.

Barking Up The Right Tree

By: Amber V.

You might know me, I am the air that surrounds you, the plants on the ground. Sorry about that, I am just a normal person like you, unless….Taylor Swift is reading this, she is not normal! Not likely, so I will just get on with my story.

Let me introduce myself, I am Samantha Emily Williams III, but everyone calls me Sammy. My school is in an old house, not the kind of houses you live in, the old, small kind of houses. My parents are not my REAL parents, they are my foster parents...meaning that until my Social Security officer finds my real parents then I have to stay here with these horrible people. I don’t know as much as you do, since, as I already said, my school is in an old broken down home and Mr. Hill & Mrs. Hill don’t teach me...EVER! I never refer to myself as Samantha Emily Hill, since I hate my foster “parents”, since they were dictators and for 18 years they were in jail. Well, now you that you know my information we can really get on with the story.

Everyone says that my mother’s name was Samantha Emily Williams II, and my grandmother’s name was Samantha Emily Williams I. I believe them, but now it is my 13th birthday, and usually in the books cool things happen on the 13th birthday. I just want to know if I will ever go back to my parents. Everyone says my parents left me because of how I look. Being big and chubby from birth I cannot change the way I look! Mr & Mrs. Hill give me a piece of chocolate for my birthday and $15, enough for a pizza slice from Domino’s. My life has been horrible till now, right?

Well for my present this year I got this, “ Eh, ye little gerl, ve have news u vill vant ta knoo” says Adam Hill. Is it what I have been waiting for, my...PARENTS! “Sono (my Social Security officer) came and saed ya goot a doog” says Eve Hill. Oh. Big let down! I was really wishing that my parents came back. “Oh, and there es eh chonce that u perents eh here” says the now bored Adam. WHAT! Come on, isn't that something I would want to know! I hang out with these guys so much, I don’t even mind their horrifying accent! And I got what I wished for right? Almost? Well guess like this is a GREAT 13th birthday?!

We are moving to a city! I cannot say anything about it, because that is most likely the place I will find my real parents. Adam & Eve made it clear, “Ye sey anythang then ye vell jest have to stey et ‘ome”! Geez, they are the worst people in the world, but it makes sense since they were in jail for 18 years! I still feel that they should have lifelong jail time but that is just my opinion.

We are finally in the apartment in NYC! I am excited and mad and happy! I am excited I can go to a better school (I love math), I am mad that they just picked me up from my….former friends…..and I am happy because I might meet my parents...TODAY! I am getting ready to go to school, trying to find something that will not make me look...fat. I have never cared about my appearance till now. If my parents are going to see me I don’t want them to leave for the same reason, I think, again! And I also might want to impress people in school, maybe.

The bus rolls in I say, “Bye” and run to the bus. After I say good morning to the bus driver, I brush my fingers along the seats while I walked to find a friend to sit with. “Hey fatso I think we have enough room here”, someone yells and her friends (I think )laugh . What! No one has ever said that straight up to me! Usually they talk behind my back, and I am ok with that, that means they have some heart in them. I almost start crying when...someone my size calls to me. “Hey, you. Come over here”. Huh. Ok. As I make my way toward her someone trips me, and I fall flat on my face! The girls laugh at me again! I look around but seems like everyone is nice, they are not laughing at me, instead they are looking at me with pity. I look to my right and see a girl, the same girl who called out to me! I hold her hand and get up to see a girl with brown hair and blue eyes! She is so pretty, I didn't even notice she is...bigger than me!

As the day starts I instantly become friends with Jane (the nice girl). When my name gets announced in several different classes like, “Class welcome uh Samantha Emily Hill III?” I just hate it, but I don’t want to upset the teacher already. “Sqeeeeeeeeeeek Eh hello yes ok good, Um Samantha Emily, Williams right? Yes ok, Williams come to the principal's office now. Thank you” it came on the loudspeaker. WHAT how does he know my real last name? I better go now!

“Hello Ms. Williams, please sit down” said Mr. Brown. I broke the barrier, “Mr. Brown how do you know my last name, my real last name”. “Because I am your mother’s brother”. “What, oh my gosh, I have been waiting for news like this”. “Your mother is right in there” he said pointing to a door behind me. “She is a teacher here!” I yell. “Yes you are right” he says “Now all you have to do is go in”.

To Make Amends

“Flamingo” I say as Rhonda and I step out of my beach house estate. “Let's get a closer look!” She says as she dashes into the reserve. I watch her for half a second and then follow. She tries to pet it and before her hand reaches the flamingo I already know what is going to happen. I look away just as I hear Rhonda cry “Ow!” My eyes follow the sandy outline of the beach and the water. “Let's swim!” I say as I dash to the shore. The splashing waves help tune out Rhonda’s load protests. Salt water hits my legs and though my body and Rhonda don’t want to go into the icy water I do anyways. I feel my legs go numb but I let it happen. “I’d rather be lost at sea then spend another day with Rhonda” I think while the water works its way up to my stomach. Suddenly I feel a something warm grab my hand and pull my out of the water. I cough several times before I can breath. I take a glance up at my savior. Looking down on me stands a tall girl with dark maroon eyes and shiny brown hair. She stares at me and says “You ok?” Her eyes show severe concern but I lay still oblivious to her calls. “Yeah” I say with my eyes drooping. “Who are you?” I ask, my voice raspy and soft. “My name is Lea, What’s yours?”she says. “Cory” I answer as I start to sit up. “I don’t mean to be rude but why were you in the water?” she asked as she shifted her gaze toward Rhonda who was chatting with a boy. I say nothing. “You know her?” She asked ignoring my way of not responding. “Yeah, I do” I say while I think “I wish I didn’t”. My feet carry me off the ground and toward my estate. I break off into a run and yank myself into my home. Lea stumbles in after me and her eyes bulge as she looks at the elaborate chandelier. I walk into the sitting room and sit down. Lea does the same. “Do you want to go to the beach with me sometime?” I ask quietly bracing myself just incase a yes didn’t come out of her mouth. “Sure” She said as she walked herself out. “Bye!” I say but she was long gone. “Why did she leave so quick?” I wonder as I hurry up the stairs and change into new clothes. “Hello Mother” I say as my mother walks out of her room. She glides past me and her shiny blond hair makes my bright red hair look out of place. I stare at the mirror on the other end of the hall. My stocky body and grey eyes look the same. It's all the same.

The next morning is dull and grey. I take a peek out of my window. The clouds look as if they are screaming at me, telling me to go away. I slink down the stairs and shuffle down the hall. An empty plate lay between the island and the counter. I look away knowing that my mother is always going to be mad at me for not talking to her after the separation. I grab a granola bar and gobble it up as I walk down to the boardwalk. I quickly find the reception and I go over. “Do you know Lea?” I ask with a feeling that Lea was well known. “Yeah, she lives in that hit over there” the lady said gesturing toward a small tent right off the boardwalk. I hurry over and slide underneath the flap of the tent. “Hello?” I ask waiting for an answer that wasn’t going to come. I stare blatantly at the small bed and tiny table of to the right. “Humph” I sigh and drag myself out of the tent just as an elderly woman comes upon it. “Crack” I hear as yank my legs out and through myself beneath a table. I stare at my leg which is red and sore. My foot can’t move so I quickly diagnose a broken foot. Tears stream down my left cheek as I hobble into the diner. “Foot” I say feebly. The waiter carefully sits me down while he calls my mom. “Hey mom” I say as my mother walks into the diner her face still filled with zero emotion. She looks at me and sits down. Her eyes water and burst into big wet tears. I almost feel as if I am in a dream. “My own mother is crying for me?” I think. “I was worried sick and I’m sorry” she says, her voice soft yet strong. Tears fall down my face and I give my mother a big hug. “I am too” I say. Suddenly Lea walks into the diner. She looks startled but I give her a thumbs up. She flashes one back and heads out. All is right in the world.

Twinning

By Joy T.

Ever wonder what it’s like to have a twin and be a twin? People asked me and my twin what it’s like to be twins ALL THE TIME! Until October 21st last year. Oh no, did my twin Sarah pass away? Move? No, our parents just told us the truth, then our family broke apart. Sarah wasn’t actually my twin, and I wasn’t hers. In fact, we weren’t even related, Sarah has the more interesting life story, so I’ll tell hers first.

In an old straw hut in the abandoned parts of a faraway town, there lived a large but poor family. There was Mrs.Hornbaker, Mr.Hornbaker, their sons Mike, Daniel, Sammy, and their daughters Amy, Anna, and Mary. They got up at 7:00 in the morning every day and went to different parts of the town to beg for money. That particular morning, Mrs.Hornbaker started moaning and clutching her giant pregnant belly. The baby had come. They ran over to their friends Mr. and Mrs.Ayers who have recently gotten married. The baby was born in the Ayer’s house and named, Mrs.Hornbaker absolutely loved the name Sarah. But she didn’t have the money to take care of another child, so she left Sarah with Mr. and Mrs.Ayers and told to move far away from this house, and she told them to take her memory of Sarah with them. That night they moved to America where Mrs.Hornbaker would surely never travel.

They brought baby Sarah in an old leather bag and the fair officers at Ellis Island didn’t even notice. They moved into a fairly new apartment and settled there. In a few months Mrs.Ayers died in an accident and Mr.Ayers was married to young 25 year old Catrina Alice. She brought along her one year old daughter, Sofia Alice, otherwise known as me. Sarah and I happened to be born on the same day and believed we were sisters. But at age 13 we learned the truth and our lives were never the same.

Our so called “Dad” met Mr. and Mrs.Hornbaker in an office building in Orlando and they surprisingly recognized him but didn’t remember him exactly. Turns out they both won a prize for a contest and earned a trip to America, where they proved to be great with numbers and got offered jobs in a bank. Mr.Ayers informed the old couple about their now grown-up daughter and they immediately wanted Sarah back. The very next week, my mom and Mr.Ayers (people who lied to us for 12 years) broke to us that they had to return Sarah. So I was still Sofia Ayers, but Sarah was Sarah Hornbaker, and former “twins” broke apart and lived separate lives.

20 years later, a lawyer who claimed to be a friend visited my house. Her red hair and bright blue eyes seemed familiar but I couldn’t remember who she was. We sat down and she asked me a little bit about my childhood and my family. Then at last, she introduced herself as Sarah Hornbaker and I didn’t know why but at the sound of her name I burst into tears and we hugged for a long time. It doesn’t matter if someone isn’t related to you, as long as you love them, they are your family.

UNSPEAKABLE

By: Abinaya M and Anjali S

Everyone always wants to know that they are right. It’s the truth. My classmates shout out that they got the answer right to a math problem. My dad shouts out that he got the answer right whenever he watches Jeopardy. And there are times when I’m right too. But I never shout out. Because I can’t talk. I have never done it, and probably never will. When I was younger, my parents thought that I was diseased. They thought that there was something wrong with me, that I needed some sort of surgery or therapy. They tried all that, but nothing has worked. I’ve never gotten the voice inside me out. But that’s okay. My parents can understand me just fine (with help from a notepad), and that’s all I really need. Until last Tuesday.

That night, during dinner, my parents told me I was going to a public middle school. I nearly choked on my pasta. “Why?” I asked them with my notepad, but they just ate their pasta. “You are going,” Mom said, after a pause, “because you are ready.” But I’m not. I know I’m not. I’ve been homeschooled my whole life, and nothing I’ve been taught has gotten me prepared for this. “You will be fine, Amaya. It’s new for everyone.” Dad stood up, rubbed me on the back, and he went to the sink to wash the dishes. Mom followed him, rubbing my back too. So now I start school, and I am completely terrified.

At school, the next day, whispers follow me wherever I go. When I walk to my locker, the kids next to me whisper into each other’s ears, pointing and giggling at me. And it takes three tries to open my locker, so the kids are laughing their heads off by the time the first period bell rings. I know these whispers are because they think I’m dumb. They think I never know the answer to anything. But I do. My parents know that I’m really smart. But I don’t answer.

My day is pretty bad, except maybe for special classes. I am sent to a room all by myself during eighth period, and a special teacher comes and teaches me stuff. The stuff is sort of random, but I know they sent me here because they want me to talk. The special teacher’s name is Dr. White. He’s nice, but he’s strange. “Hi, Amaya,” he says when I enter. “I am Dr. White. I am here to help you. You do have your mini whiteboard, right?” I nod, and pull out my notepad. He smiles, even though he knows I got the wrong thing. “Great then, let’s start. I have a few questions for you. They are simple. I will ask them, and I want you to answer my questions with some hand sign languages. This not any test, it’s just for me to know what you know about these signs. Then from tomorrow on, we can start to learn them.” He hands me a paper with hand signs on it. I nod with a satisfied and big smile. He smiles back. He asks me some simple questions like what my name is, how old I am, what month I was born in, questions like that. I know I said he was strange, and at the moment he wasn’t, but when I left the room, something strange happened. I was actually sad to leave. And I somehow couldn’t wait until the next day, until when, I could visit him.

That was pretty much it with my first day. Pretty much how I’d expect it to be. Except for Dr. White. At dinner, when my parents ask me how my day was, I answer that it was good. But I don’t mention Dr. White. Somehow, I don’t feel the need for them to know so. I get in my bed, and stay wide awake, thinking about Dr. White. Can he help me for real? Can I finally talk like the others? All these things roam around my mind, as I wait for sleep to find me.

I go to Dr. White everyday, at eighth period. This time of the day is the only time I enjoy, because he is very kind to me. Even kinder than my own parents, if I say so myself. He lets me use my notepad whenever I want, and sometimes, I go to his room during lunch, and I write to him about how all the kids tease me in the lunchroom. He understands, and he always tells me that I am the smartest kid he has ever known. A truly understanding man, he is.

But one day, things changed. Dr. White had always let me use my notepad whenever I wanted, even if I wanted to doodle. But that day, when I came in and sat down, he said, “Hello, Amaya. How are you?” I nodded to say I was good, and made the hand sign to say “hungry”. He gave an apple that he had on his table, and I began to munch on it. But then he said, “Amaya, today we are going to try to do something different. And for this, I’m sorry to say, I will have to take your notepad.” He reached out, and I reluctantly handed it over. And suddenly, I felt almost naked. I hadn’t been without my pad in six years, since I got it for my birthday when I turned five. But right after, I felt like a burden had been lifted off my shoulders. Dr. White didn’t think I needed my notepad anymore. That felt amazing. To have Dr. White’s gratitude was amazing.

From that day on, I used hand signs instead of my notepad, and somehow, everyday that I went without using it felt really good. Dr. White was always so kind to me, and I loved being with him. But then he didn’t come. For a couple weeks, I had no classes. I was beginning to get lonely, without Dr. White’s support and humor to guide me. I needed to find out what had happened to him. So I went into the principal’s office in the morning, before first period started. I then went up to the lady at the front desk, and made the symbols to ask “where is Dr. White?” She didn’t understand me, and so I snatched a paper off her desk and wrote “WHERE IS DR. WHITE!!!??” The lady shrugged, and answered, “He’s at a meeting with the board of education.” “WHERE???” I ask. She replied, “Upstairs, room D381. Why?” But I was already out the door.

Racing up the steps, I ran towards Dr. White’s room. He was in D381 with a bunch of old guys with bushy beards, and they were all nodding or shaking their heads at Dr. White, who was explaining something. I burst into the room impulsively, not noticing the other people in the room. They all turned to look at me, and only then did I notice what I had done. I blushed. But Dr. White smiled at me, as he had always done. “Good morning Amaya,” he said. “If you would just wait outside, I’ll be right there.” “RIGHT THERE!” one of the old guys (probably the crankiest) shouted. “He, madam, is fired! As of now!”

I couldn’t take the shock. My jaw fell to the floor. I blinked the tears away. Dr. White? Fired? Why? I still had the paper in my hands, so I wrote “why?” He answered, “Because he doesn’t follow the curriculum! And none of his notes show he taught anyone anything!”

“Yes he did,” I said. “He taught me.”

Just Donuts

By Joy T.

I hate donuts. And cake, and ice cream, and cupcakes, and anything like that really. That’s why I hate my name, my life, and my parents. My parents are obsessed with candy and sweets, so they named me Candy, Candy Burnham. I am forced to live in a candy store every day of my life. And I am forced to wake up to the sickening smell of jelly beans, lollipops, tootsie rolls, gum drops, and chocolate every morning of my life. But what I hate most is to have to listen to my parents calling me “Candy Girl” every.... single….day.

Right now, my biggest problem is a donut. Literally. Some kid, probably around five and a half years old just walked up to the counter with a lollipop in his hand. I assumed he was just gonna ask me how much it cost and buy it with his allowance. But instead he looked me straight in the eye and asked, “Can I trade this lollipop for a donut?” he stared at me, daring me to say no with that look in his eyes.

I looked around for his parents, but he and I were the only ones in the store right now. I tried to avoid his eyes and stated with a hint of- fear in my voice, “I’m sorry kid, first of all this is a Candy Store, we don’t sell donuts, second, you can’t trade something you don’t own for something else.” I stepped back when the kid pushed himself up on the counter and sat on it.

“You people are so mean! I just want donuts!” his whine turned into a scream. “JUST DONUTS!!!” and he started kicking and shrieking.

I have no idea what do with him so I just try to calm him down, but I start to panic, Where are his parents?!?! I leave him there and head towards the door to see if his mom is waiting outside or something, but the kid just screams louder. I stick my index and middle fingers in my ears and kick the doors open with my foot. Ow. I quickly scan the street, glad to get some fresh air, but no ones anywhere I can see from here and there isn’t even a single car in the parking lot. I go back in, surprised to find the room silent, even more surprised to see ( or rather not see) the kid missing! He’s gone, at first I’m almost happy, then I’m horrified, I would have noticed if he slipped out the door! He might be eating all the candy in the store right now! But I hear the click of an oven and I smell something I haven’t smelled in ages, Donuts.

I run into the kitchen and the kid’s just there on the floor happily munching on freshly baked donuts and humming a happy tune. I expected to see flour and eggs all over the floor like in cartoons, but I just see a sparkly clean kitchen with a mop and bucket leaning against the wall.

I sneak up behind the kid, and exclaim in my most grown-up voice, “I have to say, kid, I’m impressed.” I expect to see him turn around in surprise, but he just calmly states, “I know, I’m known all over town for impressing people.”

He finishes his donut, places the metal tray on the kitchen island and walks out of the room, leaving me standing there and staring like an idiot. As soon as I realize I should be out behind the counter working, I set the donuts on a glass plate, scribble a price tag, and place both on the counter. Just Donuts.

You Can't Trust Me

By Joy T.

You cannot trust me, at all. Not because I always lie, not because I can't tell the truth, but because no matter how hard you try not to, you will find yourself not believing me. The things I say, the stories I tell, are- unbelievable, there's no other word for it. I love extremity. I never do anything in halves and I live in a world of fantasy and fiction. I live in my thoughts.

If any other person said things the way I do, they would be laughed at, but no one has ever laughed at me. They just walk away, backs turned, shaking their heads and feeling sorry for me. I look like a person who doesn't have any friends, a creature who has just woken up, a monster who lives in the shadows. But at least I believe, I believe in the mysterious wonders of this world, and I live to tell it's stories.

But I got lost in my thoughts, this time, for real. And once you actually get lost in there, there's no coming back to reality. And I didnt notice them running around, screaming ¨Perri! Perri! Where are you?!¨ and I didnt notice the girls in my class, giggling and saying I was swallowed by dreams in a mocking voice. I didn't notice the boys sitting down to pray to the gods like I did, except they were trying so hard to hold in their smiles and laughs their faces were purple.

Here I was, in a place of peace and deep thinking, a place where I didn't have a care in the world, I didn't have to care about the rusty old desk with three legs and a rotting name tag with the name Perri König scribbled on it in fading ink, sitting in my ¨Thinking Corner¨ that was made just for me. I was happy here in my spirit, I was thoughtful, I was calm, I was losing my mind.