We have had our Write Stuff contest for a number of years now and it just keeps getting better. This year we had over 130 entries! This year's prompt, "'You've just won!' the radio host announced" allowed for some very interesting interpretations. While we love reading the contest entries, choosing our favorite is so difficult.
Here are the first and second place winners for each age group:
AGES 8-101st Place--Yahfi G. (Age 10)--Deja Vu2nd Place--Summer L. (Age 10)--Radio Day
AGES 11-141st Place--Gabe D. (Age 13)--The Waiting2nd Place--Owen F. (Age 11)--The Luck of the Draw
AGES 15-181st Place--Mary M. (Age 15)--Radio2nd Place--Katherine H. (age 16)--A Voice in the Wind
The First Place entries for Ages 8-10 and Ages 11-14 are below. Visit our TEEN BLOG to see the winning entry for the Ages 15-18.
Thank you to all who entered and we can't wait to see what you come up with next year!
First Place- Ages 8-10
Deja Vu
“Another day stuck behind this suffocating desk” I grumbled. “Okay class” Mr. Trigg said, as I slid into my seat. “Today we’re going to learn about the Presidents of the United States!” Why?” I complained. “You’ll find it quite interesting, Ms. Andersen” he replied. Before we begin, lets listen to some tunes on the radio to brighten up our spirits, Mr. Trigg said, cranking up the volume. William Trigg, “You’ve just won” the radio announcer said. “Yes!” “I won - Woo hoo!” he cheered. I QUIT! I don’t have to teach anymore! I’m rich!!” Mr. Trigg grabbed his coat and ran out the classroom.
We all just sat there in disbelief. “Did Mr. Trigg just leave us?” “Who’s going to teach our class now?” It seems like all the students were talking at once.It was complete chaos. I could barely hear the radio announcer as he repeated the words, “That’s right, Mr. Trigg, you’ve just won a lifetime supply of celery sticks!” “Oh no!” I thought. Mr. Trigg thinks that he won the lottery and just quit his job. I have to tell him that he only won celery sticks. I grabbed my backpack and rushed out the door.
While walking home from school, all I could think about was Mr. Trigg. What will happen to him? Will he become homeless? “I’ve got to help him somehow”, I pondered. When I made it home my parents asked me how my day went. I told them that school was canceled because my teacher quit.
Later that day, I called my friend Maria over to help me think of a plan to help Mr. Trigg get his job back. We couldn’t think of anything that would convince our Principal to give Mr. Trigg his job back, after the way he abandoned his students in the classroom yesterday. We decided to get something to eat to refresh ourselves. “Let’s go to Mcdonalds” I said. Maria agreed and we headed All we could think about was Mr. Trigg as we made the 2 block walk to Mcdonald’s. As we were deciding what to order, we heard a familiar voice behind the counter ask, “May I help you?” I couldn’t believe who It was – Mr. Trigg! I asked him what he was doing working at Mcdonalds? He said, “I thought I won the lottery, but it turns out that I only won a lifetime supply of celery sticks.” Anyway, what can I get for you kids?” he continued. We ordered two medium fries and headed back home.
“Cassandra, wake up, time for school!” my mother yelled from the bottom of the stairs. It was all a dream! I went to school and saw Mr. Trigg eagerly waiting for us at the classroom door. “Good morning students, today we’re going to learn about the Presidents of the United States!” he exclaimed. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
First Place- Ages 11-14
The Waiting
Everybody gets somewhere, everybody leaves someday, everybody except me. I’ve been waiting forever. I see people come, I see people leave, but nobody sees me. I can wave my hands in their faces, but they don’t even react. I can slap, scream, and cry until my hands are sore, my voice is hoarse, and my eyes are all dried out, but they don’t even blink. I want to be like them, I want to be able to leave. To escape this grey room to the paradise I know must await beyond the door I can never open, never walk through. “You’ve just won!” The radio host announced again. Exactly the way she has a thousand times before. Every time I know she isn’t talking to me, but every time I still walk to the far door and try to open it. It hasn’t opened yet, and I doubt it ever will, not for me at least. An old woman leaves the room. I am the only one now. I like it this way, as there is nothing to remind me of what I am, of the truth. I stare at the closing door, the shred of light behind it my only glimpse of the outside world. My tomorrow, always my tomorrow, I wish it could become my today. Another person walks into the room, she wears a deep blue shirt, jeans, and a plaid jacket. Her bright red hair done in a messy ponytail. She carries a thin cane which swings gently to and fro, never touching the ground. She walks slowly, as if unsure of her own feet. Finally she sits beside me. Coincidence, I tell myself, it always is.
“Hello,” her voice is polite but not overly interested. I look around, sure that I missed something, sure that there is somebody else in the room. Finally, I whisper,
“You can see me?”
She chuckles, “No, I can hear your breathing.”
My heart speeds up, and I can feel the blood pumping through my veins.
“Please,” I say, “please, you have to get me out of here!”
She doesn’t even turn, “Why would I do that, we’re in a waiting room.”
“No, no, you’re in a waiting room. I’m . . . . I’m trapped. I can’t get anywhere, you need to help me get out.”
I can tell she doesn’t believe me, so I try one last thing.
“Please, just try the door, please.”
“Fine!” she says, getting up. She feels around for a while, looking for a door. I want to offer to help, but I know she won’t accept. Finally she tries the door. She tries it, and it doesn’t open. She tries again, yanking the handle down, and then up. Still nothing. She begins panicking, yanking at the door; I look away.
Suddenly, the door on the other side of the room opens, a man in a suit walks through.
“Help me,” she says to him.
He doesn’t react.
“Help Me!” she screams.
He doesn’t even blink.
