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#43 Chalice of Dreams

Chalice of Dreams

     We live in a very fortunate or unfortunate time, depending on how you look at things. The good part about living in this era is that we all posses the ability to control our dreams, and some people are even lucky enough to visit other people’s dream worlds. That's great, I mean, who doesn't want to be able to do whatever they want, but the bad part is that you can't just go jumping off of building to “see what is feels like,” because the catch of this amazing gift is that if you die in the dream world, you die in real life too.
     Unfortunately my little sister, Hannah, is one of those people that figured how to go into other people’s dreams. She’s only ten, yet she is already accomplished more in life my lazy, seventeen-year-old self. The only reason I know that she can do this is because she keeps popping up in my world, right when I'm about to do something cool and says every single time, “Ross! You don't want to do that, what if you [insert some dumb way to die here]?” God, why is it frowned upon to strangle a minor? Don't get me wrong I love my sister, but I'm just your average high schooler who can't really do anything right, and just wants to be left alone. My dream world is the only place I can really be by myself, except for my sister on occasion.
     One night, in my preferred dream world, I was exploring this crazy ancient looking temple, it's all dusty and full of spiders and other creepy crawly things. I'm going to Indiana Jones it up in here. I was just wandering around the place when I come across a strange door with a bunch of carvings and a large, strange shaped hole on it. Since this is my world, I can just make it open, right? Wrong. Why won't it open? If I got anything from my extensive video game knowledge, I know is that when you find a magic door, it's hiding something important. Okay gamer brain, I need your help to open this door.
     Finally, I found something that looks like it could fit into the hole in the door. It's a pole that's about three feet long that I had to go all the way to neighboring temple to find. I'm back at the other temple and as I got closer to the door, the pole started to heat up. I'm guessing that's someway to discourage people to continue forwards to the door, but I melted going. I wrapped the end of shirt around a section of the pole so I could keep hanging on to it. When I got to the door the pole started shaking violently. Naturally, it was a bit awkward trying to get the pole into the door. With the he pole still wrapped up, I tried to turn sideways and fit the pole in. This is a very hard thing to do when you are shaking like a junkie trying to find his next fix.
     After what felt like ages, more like five minutes but who’s counting, I finally got the stupid pole in the stupid door. At first nothing happened, but then the whole place started to shake and the door started to open very slowly. Inside was a large room that looked way too modern for the ancient temple was in. The whole place had that very sterile feeling, everything was clean and pure white, the only thing in the room is a little pedestal with an old, dusty chalice sitting on it. Obviously I have to take it. Now it's really time to get my Indiana Jones on. I know how these things work.
     I went back out into the main room and took a rock that looked about the same weight as the chalice. Back in the room, I walked as cautiously as a lanky nerd can, which is not very stealthy by the way. There didn't seem to be any hidden traps along the way to the pedestal. I got up to the chalice, holding my rock and my her hand right next to it, ready to make the switch. I wiggled my fingers and said aloud to myself, “okay Ross you can do this. On three. One, two, three!” I quickly grabbed the chalice with my right hand and placed the rock in it’s place. Well, I tried to put the rock in it's place, but it rolled off and crashed to the floor. I held my breath, but nothing happened. I started to breathe again and made my way out the door. Apparently me taking this thing did trigger something, because right outside was a semi-circle of six guys dressed in all black just staring at me.

     “I think you have something that is our’s,” said one guy who stepped toward me a little. Okay, so this one must the leader.
     “And what would that be?” Might as well try to get some information out of them. “The chalice, kid.”
     “I don't seem to know what you are talking about, sir. Describe it, please?” Be the good kid and play ignorant, that's how you get what you want. Life lesson right there.
     “Don't get smart with me, kid,” okay, maybe not, “it's the old one, kinda dusty? It's the key to staying in the dream world forever without consequences.” Never mind, that's all I needed to know.
     “Oh, I know what you're talking about now, yeah. You mean this thing?” I held up the chalice and half the guy's eyes got larger.
     “Give that to me!” Yelled the leader guy.
     “Okay, first of all, chill dude. I will,” I started to walk towards him, “and second,” then I dodged around them and ran. I was hurdling over large rocks and jumped down the stairs. It was like parkour, I felt so cool, but in reality I probably look like a flailing baby bird that just jumped out of the nest for the first time.
     “What are you doing?” I heard the man yell, along with the sound of thudding footsteps behind me.
     “I don't really know, it seemed like this is what the main protagonist would do,” I called back to them. As I was running I thought about what the bandit-like man had said, the key to staying in the dream world forever. That doesn't sound so bad, except I wouldn't seeing all three of the people I actually talk to, and my family. I could use this chalice to be happily living in here forever. Then I started to think about my little sister. I would miss her so much, how would she survive, because God knows I'm the only one that actually loves and takes care of her. Nope, I decided right then and there that I'm going to destroy the chalice.
     Why am I still running? This is my dream world, I can create whatever I want with minimal effort. I looked back and the bandits were pretty far behind me, so I pictured my second favorite place, Volcano Valley. Suddenly, I was running up the side of a volcano. Since I am a very unathletic person who happens to be sick on leg day, I slowed way down. The bandits were catching up to me. I tried to push myself, but it wasn't enough. The bandits caught up to me at the opening of the volcano. The leader grabbed at my right arm. I held the chalice in my left over the opening.

     “Stop, don't get any closer or I will drop it,” I said with all the confidence could.
     “No you won't kid,” with that the bandits started closing in on me. I fought them as hard as I could. I got four of the guys to fall in, so it was just me, the leader and one the smaller bandits left.
     “Kid, give me the chalice and I'll forgive you for killing my men. Come on kid you aren’t going to drop it” said the leader. He got closer, I looked behind him and saw a small figure a few feet behind the men.
     I just held my arm out over the opening and looked him straight in the eye and said, “watch me.” I dropped the chalice, and grabbed the leader’s arm and with all my might dragged him over the edge after it, while the small figure pushed the other bandit. The other one caught my shirt sleeve and almost pulled me in with him, but I got pulled back to safety and ripped my arm out of his grasp.
     “What are you doing at a volcano? You could get yourself killed,” said Hannah, my little sister.
     “It's a long story, lil sis. Come on let's wake up, safe and sound at home and I'll tell you all about it,” I put my arm around her as we walked down the side volcano.
     “You have to admit, we make a good team, Ross,” she said with a little smirk. 
     “Yes we do.”

The End. 

#42 The Accident

The Accident

The score was 18-25. We were right in the middle of an intense game of Mat Ball.

“Hit the banner, Henry. You’ll tie up the game!” Miss B yelled.

I was so nervous; we already had 3 outs and I didn't want to make number four. Losing is not my thing, I just don't do it. I still wasn't sure what to do. I think I’m going to try to kick a home run. Hailey pitched the ball, my team went running. Don't kick it, it's too bouncy. The ball got to me, I picked it up, and threw it back.

“Really! What was wrong with that?”

“Too bouncy!”

She pitched the ball again. I ran up, booted the ball, and ran. My team was
running as the ball hit the ceiling. It fell and no one caught it. The other team ran to the
ball, but I just keep running. I was feeling unstoppable now. Cameron threw the ball at me and I jumped. MISS. I was on my way to fourth base, Crap there's already three
people on that base. 

Blake took off now, they threw the ball at him, miss again. Blake scored and I stopped running.

Blake is a powerhouse, I knew he could get the game tied up if he really tried. Hailey pitched the ball and Blake bombed it. I went running, I made it to first base and took off for second. I felt my life fall out from under me “OWWWWWW!” I couldn’t think. My knee hurt so bad. Miss B and Winkler ran over to me.

“Wow, that looked bad. It's already swelling up,” Winkler said. They picked me up, and off to the nurse's office I went. 

#41 The Drought of 2016

5 AM October 6th, 2016. It was dark, the sun was still hiding behind the refuge of the horizon, but the time of day was not relevant to the work that Darren had yet to do for the day. Darren was just now getting in from feeding cattle; due to the extreme lack of moisture, the pastures had burned out in late July and Darren had been forced to buy hay and move all the cattle to the yard. In turn, he was plagued with yet another task to attend to in the early and dark hours of the morning. This presented a large problem because without a big corn crop, due to the drought, there was virtually no standing crop left to make silage with, so henceforth arose the dilemma of acquiring feed for the rest of the winter. And to this problem, Darren had no solution; he was between a rock and a hard place with the only decision left being to sell the cattle and get an alternative job to continue his farm payments. It was the hardest year that Darren had ever endured; the few little moments he got to sit down and relax at breakfast and dinner was the only time he wasn't on his feet and moving all day. It had been four months since the last rain and Darren had been running on less than four hours of sleep for months on end and now had gone two days without a shower or a single second of sleep. He was at the point of breaking, but wasn't about to give of on his family farm. So, as he had every morning his whole life, he poured a mug of coffee and laid out his plan for the day.

And just at that moment arrived the last man on earth that he wanted to talk to, Greg Darmin, the banker to which Darren owed over two million dollars. Shoot. I can't do this today; I have 3 cattle waters to fix before dawn, thought Darren. Darren did not have the energy to participate in the eminent argument with the creditor, so he did just as he had numerous times before. Darren jumped into his boots, fastened his lid on his coffee thermos, and commended his escape. He ran up the stairs and into the spare closet, all with extreme stealth. In the back corner above a few boxes there was a window where he planned to make his escape.
As Darren was standing in front of the window with a look of humility on his face, tears began to well up in his eyes as he thought about the mess that his life had become. He thought about his wife, Betty Lou, that he had lost just about a year ago now and the child that they had miscarried just a few weeks before her accident; he thought about the emotional hell that he went through and he tried to remember just how he had pulled through that tough time. He remembered that every time he had gone through something so bad, he had always had someone to turn to. But since his mother's stroke, he had really only one person left to turn to, and that was God.
Wait, that's just it, I have God, thought Darren, with great hope. He immediately took off down the hall for his room; frantically, he searched through this bed stand for his bible.

“Found it!!" he exclaimed.

Then he began to pray. “Dear God, please give me a sign in this time of distress.” He then said a Hail Mary and set his bible on his desk. Darren then took his bible and set it down on his bedside table and kneeled before it. He closed his eyes and reached his hand out for his bible and blindly flipped it open to a page and put his finger down. He opened his eyes with great desperation and under his finger he saw the words “Chapter 7.”

Definition of chapter 7 bankruptcy

“Chapter 7,” also called "liquidation" or "straight bankruptcy," is the process by which a debtor's assets are sold, creditors receive payment, and you are then free from your debts.

The End

#40 The Plan

The Plan

Looking back, I realize our little plan to punish our rival school wasn’t the brightest. All we wanted was for them to get what they deserved and for us to finally beat them. That’s not such a bad idea, is it?

It was our junior year. Lyle, Bryan, Malvin, and I were sitting in English class talking about the big River Ridge bust. We had heard that some basketball players had the coach buy them some booze. The coach was apparently fired, but the players didn't get in trouble at all.

"That is so unfair," Lyle said. "You know how easily we could beat them if those players got suspended?"

Malvin agreed. "Those guys do all sorts of stuff and never get in trouble. Just once I wish they would get busted."

"Hey...there's an idea!" Bryan said. We all looked at Bryan confused.

"What idea?" I asked.

"To get them busted, of course," he answered. "What if we somehow got them to do something illegal, then called the cops on them? Then their parents couldn't talk their way out of it."

"Ya! Maybe we could actually win!" Lyle exclaimed. Our teacher, Mrs. Croman, gave us a dirty look since we were supposed to be reading these stories our classmates wrote.

I told the guys to whisper so she wouldn't hear. We're pretty sneaky like that.

"OK, let's make a plan," I said. "How are we gonna get them to do something illegal?"

"Wait!" Malvin said. "I heard the IHSA was cracking down on steroid use in high schools. I think Coach Sack said something about them coming out to the schools in a couple of weeks to test kids. What if we put steroids in their water? Then ALL the athletes would test positive and I wouldn't have to wrestle that mammoth at Regionals!"

We thought Malvin's idea was perfect. Problem was, none of us knew where to get steroids.

"Isn't there like a steroid store at the mall?" Bryan asked.

"Oh ya!" I said. "GNC!"

That night after we got out of our practices we headed to WestPark Mall to the GNC store. Bryan walked up to the counter and asked the clerk (who happened to look like The Rock) where we could buy large quantities of highly potent steroids.

The guy looked us over, raising his eyebrows. "And what do you need these for?"

"We wanna get buff," Lyle said, flexing his bicep.

The clerk hesitated for a moment, then decided we looked harmless and took us into the back room.

"OK, you gotta keep this on the down-low, but I've got a few barrels of stuff I can sell you for cash," he said, looking around to make sure his boss or another worker couldn't hear him. "It's the same stuff I use and I looked like you guys a few weeks ago."

"It's a deal!" Bryan exclaimed. We handed the guy all our money and Lyle went out to his truck and pulled it up to the back door. The clerk loaded the barrels into the bed of the truck. We tried to help, but it took all four of us just to lift one an inch off the ground. The clerk just pitched them up there like they were pillows.

On the way home we decided Malvin would put the steroids into the River Ridge school water system. He started rattling off all this farm equipment he had that would make it super easy. We had no idea what he was talking about, but it sounded good to us.

After a few days, we could tell our plan was going smoothly. Pixie, a girl in our class, said her friend from River Ridge stopped over at her house and she seemed to be growing facial hair.

Oh no! We forgot about the effects it might have on the girls! I looked at the others in horror.

"Now what!?" Lyle asked.

"Who cares?" Malvin said. "I mean, since our girls have to play them this weekend, they might get destroyed, but by next week they'll all be busted, so one loss will be worth it."

"Ya," Lyle agreed. "And their girls are ugly to begin with, so a little facial hair won't matter."

The girls ended up getting trounced by River Ridge 87-12. Their teams, apparently, were on a rampage the past week, bull-dozing all their opponents. Except for the wrestling team. They were having a bit of trouble making weight.

"Oh, this is so awesome!" Malvin said. "I may actually make it to State this year!"

The following week, we waited on pins and needles for any sign that the IHSA would be drug testing all the schools. When no one had showed up by Thursday, we started to get a little worried. Malvin went into his coach's office and asked him when the IHSA might be showing up.

"Oh, I was just joshing you!" Coach Sack said with a big grin. "I just wanted to scare the bejeezus out of you guys so you all stay clean."

"Wut." Lyle looked like he could kill Malvin when he told us the news.

"So all of this has been for NOTHING!?" Bryan cried out.

I couldn't even think of anything to say. This was NOT how our plan was supposed to turn out. The bad guys were supposed to get busted! We were supposed to win our game easily without them! My stomach hurt just thinking about facing their team this weekend.

We reluctantly went to practice, but wouldn't tell our coach what was bothering us. We made it through the drills and just hoped for the best when we faced River Ridge.

That weekend, the bleachers were packed with fans from both schools; we could hear Mr. Croman thanking everyone for attending as we waited to run into the gym. He began our pre-game warm-up music with the song "The Final Countdown." Well, it does seem appropriate.

We burst through the poster the cheerleaders held and tried to look confident. Then we saw the River Ridge team. The floor shook as they made their way out of the locker room. All the players had full beards and massive biceps. One couldn't even fit through the single door--Mr. Jowell had to open both of them. When they took off their warm-ups, their chest hair peeked out from their jerseys.

"Oh. My. God." Lyle said. "We created monsters."

"Can we just forfeit?" I asked.

Bryan ran over to Coach Binkler and told him he knew River Ridge was doing steroids and there's no way we should have to play them. He was begging him to forfeit the game.

Just then, Malvin walked into the gym with the biggest grin on his face. "I won! I'm going to State!" Since the River Ridge wrestlers couldn't make weight, Malvin had an easy victory over the other opponents.

"Great. Then you can play these guys for us," I said. "We're gonna get creamed."

"Oh crap!" Malvin had just noticed the River Ridge team. "Hey at least we know that stuff really works!"

"Ya, thanks a lot for nothing!" Lyle said. "You know, you're the only one who really benefitted from this little plan. Maybe you knew all along they wouldn't get tested."

"No way," Malvin cried. "I would never do that to you guys! But...it is pretty funny."

The whistle blew and the game began. River Ridge blocked every single shot of ours and their guys didn't even have to jump to dunk the ball. By the end, we were just chucking the ball straight up in the air, hoping it would fall in. We lost 114-21. All our points were from free-throws.

The next week we cheered on Malvin at State, which wasn't pretty. In his first match, he was pinned in 6.2 seconds. On the bright side, it made the record books for the quickest pin. He was stuck in his second match, too, (in 24 seconds) and he didn't get to wrestle-back since his guy lost.

On the way home, we thought about our plan and how stupid it really was, since, technically, we basically poisoned their entire school. But hearing about River Ridge's science teacher who--while suffering from roid-rage--went ballistic in class, smashing beakers and torching students' papers because they turned them in late, almost made it all worth it. One of the students put the video on YouTube and it already had over a million hits. In a way, it made us proud since we were kind of responsible for it.

Malvin stopped putting the steroids in River Ridge's water and, eventually, the girls stopped growing facial hair (but they're still ugly). Unfortunately, we didn't stop their girls' and boys' basketball teams from winning State. However, their egos were so overly inflated, it led to their crushing defeats in every sporting event following their State wins for several years afterward.

So in the end, we learned that the best way to make sure people get what they have coming to them is to just let karma do its thing.



The End.

#39 Bye, World

 Bye World

“Woah. What have I done?” as I look around I see chairs knocked over, some stranger next to me, and a billion phone calls from family on my phone.  What did I do last night?  I remember being with my friends and then everything becomes a blur.

My phone’s ringing, oh. It’s just Alissa. “Hey, what happened last night?”

“Clarissa, girl. You got crazy! You said we should go to Ryan’s big party and let’s just say you were a bit out of it. You also said that some guy named Keith was going to take you home.”

“Oh. My. Goodness. That must be who the stranger is,” I said before realizing it actually came out of my mouth. “I was so confused. What do I do? I have no idea where I am, or how to get home.”

“You could google where you are. Put in your home address, how far away are you?”

Oh no. I’m in Spoonville; everyone who lives here knows me! I am supposed to be the good girl. I’m supposed to be the one who does nothing bad, gets good grades, and stays to herself. What did I do? I have no idea how I am going to get out without them seeing me.

Now that I look at Keith, I do know him. I used to go to school with him before I left Spoonville for Forkville. He is waking up, what do I do?

I layed back down and looked over at him, “Morning.”

“Morning, last night was interesting,” he replied.

I just looked at him for a second, “What did happen? I remember some stuff, like going to Ryan’s party and then everybody dancing and stuff around me. What did I do?”

He sat there and laughed at me, apparently I was funny? “You were chill, let’s just say that. Last night you just, pretty sure there are videos.”

What! I grabbed my phone and looked on Snapchat, there I was. Everywhere. Everybody had videos of me, woah. My good girl image might’ve been a bit changed. God, what is wrong with me. I need to go home. “Hey, can I have a ride home? Also a hoodie to wear so people don’t see who I am. I don't want anything else to happen.”

“They're in the closet,” he replied smirking.

When I got home, my mom ran outside glaring. I knew I was in a crapload of trouble. “Mom I know, I stayed out all night. But I can explain,” oh no. How on earth am I going to explain? I know, I was just at my friends house and my phone died. Yeah, that.

My mom just grounded me to my room without much yelling. I don't think she believed me, mostly because she didn't say much. What if she saw the videos? Oh no, I need to actually look at them. Maybe this is all a dream.

As I looked through everybody's I saw myself doing all sorts of crazy stuff. What is wrong with me? Who got me to do it? I don't understand why I would ruin my reputation like this.

In times like this I have to remind myself that I am funny. I can make myself laugh and put this all behind me, except for everybody's’ snap stories. It is on the internet now. What is that?

A notification for a text popped up on my phone: Haha, dummy. Come downstairs. Your mom loves me and said I can take you out.

It was Keith again. What the heck? I don’t know. Fine, I’ll go.

As I went downstairs my mom told me to get a jacket and to be home by seven tonight. I shut the door behind me and gasped. He had a yellow lamborghini and flowers. I hadn’t seen him in so long. Well, before last night, so I was so confused. “What is all this?”

“What? You left so early this morning. I thought you were scared so I wanted to help you out. I also realized that I missed talking to you. You know, I used to like you,” I had no idea. I liked him too. My face is getting hot, what am I supposed to say?

“I actually didn’t know that,” I giggled. “So you say you liked me, and miss me? Well I miss you, and I liked you too,” I laughed. What was I doing, honesty. Wow, I need help though keeping my mom from finding out about last night.

“About last night, I hope you know nothing happened between us. I didn’t want to do anything while you were out of it,” thanks. I wish somebody hadn’t gotten me to drink. I don’t want any negative consciences.

My phone started ringing. “Hello?”

“I know what you did last night. I also know your mom would be furious.”

“Who is this?”

“That’s not important. What is important is that you know you can trust me. I was there last night and I saw somebody put something in your cup.”

“What! What did the person look like?”

“Well, I know who it was. He took you home, and called himself Keith,” I looked over at Keith. I don’t know what to believe, I am over this.

“I don’t know who you are, but end this call. I don’t know if you’re being honest. I don’t know anymore. I am done!” I ended the call.

I look over to Keith and motion to pull over, “Take me home, now.”

“Why?”

“I don’t even know. Just take me home, I don’t want to be with anyone I can’t trust. I don’t know you.”

“Yes you do, and you can trust me. Come on, what’s wrong?” I don’t know if I will be able to get all of my words out. I am so mad, I don’t know who to trust.

“You. You are what’s wrong with me. I don’t know what happened last night. I have never done anything and last night got crazy. I remember telling everyone no. That I wouldn’t get drunk, I wouldn’t do anything. Now it is all over the internet and my family is going to be so disappointed. I was just told that you put something in my cup. I don’t know if it is true or not. But I am done with this. Take me home.”

“Clarissa, stop. Calm yourself. I didn’t do that, and I can get people to take it off the internet. Remember, I go to a school for tech geniuses. They can take snaps off of anything. And anything off of the internet. I actually already had them do it, if you want to check.”

What? He already did that, no. Yay. But wow, “Thank you, and I’m sorry I blew up. I just keep over thinking. What am I going to do about my mom? She is mad at me still.”

“You could come clean, I know y---” he tried to say. We were finally at the place we were going to go, and I jumped out of the car before he could finish. We were at a place we always used to go to eat! We went to Forks n Spoons.

“You didn’t!” I exclaimed. But my mom was there. She just looked at me and told me she was fine. As long as I knew better, she said that I was grounded, but I was still able to do sports and be with friends. I just wasn’t able to go to parties anymore. Ever.

That was actually terrible news to me because, to be honest, I most definitely don't want to give up partying. It was so fun, and I'm not ready to stop.

Bang! The door opened and cops arrived, “Mam, you're coming with us. There was video evidence of you doing highly illegal things and so now you are going to jail for a very long time.” But to make matters worse, my new love looked at me and mouthed the words we are so done. I'm ruined, I'm done. Life is over, my reputation is down the drain. I am never getting into a good college, bye world.

#38 Spring Break

It was the year of 2015. I was a senior in high school, eighteen years old, I was known as one of the “good kids” that just did “stupid stuff”, I grew up in a rich family, I was pretty popular, but I was getting into bad stuff, I never worked for anything in my life, until the night my life changed forever.

It was a friday and spring break started this weekend and went all next week. Me and my friend Cody were hanging out at his house and he mentioned his parents were going on vacation during our spring break. “Lets throw a huge spring break party,” I exclaimed.

“Let's get this invite list going then!” Cody agreed.

We made the invite list and invited all the girls and guys we wanted, when we counted up all the people there was around some like 400 people invited. We were wondering how we were going to provide enough “stuff” for the party. We had no idea, but we were still not going to trim the list. After we talked about the party for a little bit, I went home so I could eat dinner with my family.

I got a call from Cody, he said “Chris, I sent an invite to everyone 18 minutes ago, and 286 people have already responded and said they are coming.”

“Maybe this party is a little too much, earlier when we were talking about it it didn't seem that bad, now it just seems way too big.”

“Dont worry man, we can handle it and we are going to have a great time,” Cody said as he let out a slight yawn.

Saturday night

“Ya cody i'm pulling up to your house now,” Chris said.

“Alright, come on inside, the doors unlocked,” Cody said with excitement.

I walked straight inside Cody’s house and there was already a few people there, the clock read: 6:45. Music was jamming, I couldn't hear very much, and I didn't see Cody anywhere. Everyone was crowding around me trying to talk to me, but I just wanted to go see Cody, so I was asking everyone where he was, there were a few people i didn't recognise at all, one of them was wearing a southside high school football shirt, I hated that school, everyone was poor and out to get me and cody, so right then and there I knew I had to find him soon. I went up the stairs, and I heard some rumbling and some yelling, but I couldn't really understand what was being yelled over the extremely loud music. The yelling was coming from the bathroom, I had no idea what I was about to walk into. I walk into the bathroom, light are off and everything, first step I take in I get tackled to the ground, the guy who tackled me was definitely a football player because I got smoked. Cody was yelling and i could hear a few other guys in here with us. I was looking around and then they started dragging Cody out of there, they were yelling stuff on the lines of “the stuff” and “giving them their money.” I didn't have any idea what they were talking about. After a few seconds it had come to me, earlier that week Cody was talking about selling some stuff to a few guys from southside. I knew they were after us, Cody and I. They started to drag both of us down the stairs, Cody was yelling sorry, but I couldn't talk back because they had put something in my mouth. We finally got down the stairs and the guys were dragging us towards the back door. They dragged us out the door and they took us around the corner towards a street that not many people live on or go on. Then we heard “Get on the ground!”

The cops were there in an instant. I thought me and Cody were going to be fine. I thought wrong. They searched us, and found “dope” on me and Cody. The cops asked me what we were doing with it, and I had nothing to say, I was so lost on how that would've gotten there in my pocket. We got taken to the county jail for having the drugs on us and for the party that had adult beverages and we were all minors. They told us we had to stay for seven days in the jail.

On our second day in jail, Cody told me something that made me change my perspective on life, and made me realize how much of a bum I am, he told me that he had been selling drugs and alcohol for a long while, and had been making a profit. “How did those drugs get in my pockets then?” I said angrily.

“I put them in your jacket pockets so if something happened like the other day, I wouldn't be the only one in trouble,” Cody cried.

“We are done bro, i'm done hanging out with you,” I replied.

I knew I needed to get a job then, even though I was financially covered by my parents, I knew I couldn't be doing stuff like this all the time, I needed to grow up for good, considering I am 18.

Once I got out of Jail, I went back to my parents, filled out many job applications, and started to get my life straightened out. No more parties, no more Cody, no more messing around. Seriousness.

I found myself a nice girlfriend, with a nice job. Her name is Jennifer. After about a week or so I got hired at Home Depot, making a little bit of cash as a high school student. I learned a lot from that little experience I had over spring break, I'm actually kind of glad I went through it.

#37 The Lost Colony

I bet most of you have heard of the lost colony of Roanoke but, I can almost guarantee none of you have heard the actual story and i’m here to tell it to you. The real story of how this colony disappeared is an odd yet very entertaining story involving a young lad named Jerrick Patterson. Jerrick was a young boy of about 17 years of age, he and his family were very respected around the colony. His father was the only blacksmith on the whole island, it was a scarce profession but it was one that the colony needed greatly especially in the times they were in. Two years ago the colonists got involved with the Anglo-Spanish war which looking back is the beginning of this prosperous colonies downfall.

With Jerricks 18 birthday coming up he and his whole family knew the only thing he wanted for his birthday was to have permission to join the war efforts. His older brother Daniel is 22 and he has been helping out in the war since day one, and has been put in a pretty high position for his dedication and hard work. Growing up Jerrick was always compared to his brother, his brother Daniel could do no wrong but everything Jerrick did was the wrong thing to do, so he thought he could join the colonies militia and maybe become a war hero and finally stop being compared to his brother. Jerricks mother was reluctant to let her youngest boy join the war and was extremely worried something bad would happen to him. So on the day of Jerricks birthday he left his party early to go signup and get checked out to make sure he was able to join the militia. To no one’s surprise he was signed up within the next hour and was ready to embark on a tough journey trying to save his colony.

It's been a year since Jerrick joined the militia and they are no closer to ending the war then they were a year ago. Over the past year Jerrick became close friends with his bunkmate Phil. They have been on countless missions together and have an almost unbreakable bond or so everyone thought. During one mission Jerrick caught Phil doing something a little suspicious, he saw Phil giving intel to the enemy. Jerrick was in shock and he didn't know what to do, he could either rat out his best friend or he could tell his brother and possibly stop the war.

Jerrick knew no matter what he chose to do he would hurt someone, so he thought about it the whole ride back to the barracks. When they arrived back at the barracks Jerrick asked Phil about what he thought he saw and Phil told him that he was assigned to be a mole for the colonial militia and relay false information to the enemy. Jerrick felt awful that he even thought for a second that his best friend would betray the colony. For the next couple weeks the war got worse and worse every battle the militia would engage in would be a complete slaughter the colony was down to the bare minimum of people, they started letting 14 year olds join the war effort. Jerrick always catches himself thinking about that day even though Phil assured him that he was working for the militia he couldn't help think the worst for his friend. After a few more days Jerrick went to talk to his brother about what he saw that day, “I think he's lying” said Daniel. Jerrick was so confused because normally Daniel sees the good in everyone and never thinks bad of anyone, but this was different Daniel immediately said he was lying it's almost like he knew what was really going on.

Jerrick started to really think that Phil was lying to him so he went and talked to his superiors and told them that he knew why the war has gone completely downhill, they stood in shock and silence and tried to explain that they appointed him as a mole for the colony but Jerrick stood firm in saying that Phil was a mole giving the enemy real secrets. The generals convened and talked it over and decided to make Jerrick leave the militia for treason and turning against not only his best friend but his colony, Jerrick was distraught and confused because he did absolutely nothing wrong. Wondering why this happened to him he talked to his brother and his brother told him something that changed his life, “Jerrick I'm sorry but I couldn't have you around to find out what is really going on,” Jerrick was not only furious but very confused. So with his brother not telling Jerrick what his plans were Jerrick left, he got on a boat going back to England, he didn't tell anyone that he was leaving and it might have been for the better. When Jerrick returned to the colony everyone was gone except his brother Daniel, he found Daniel and tried to make him tell him what happened but Daniel wasn't breaking.

“Whatever you did to them I'm going to do to you ten times worse,” Jerrick said. Daniel looked at him and said these words “I'm sorry little brother,” then pulled out a little glass bottle and drank the contents. Daniel hit the ground in a matter of seconds, but before he was finally gone he handed Jerrick a piece of appear with his plan on it. After reading the plan Jerrick was dumbfounded that his brother would poison the colony's water supply, he had no one to tell this information to so he found a boat and was leaving when he realized that if something were to happen to him there would be no one who knows what really happened to the once great and prosperous colony. So as he was getting ready to leave he carved the name of the poison that killed his colony which was Croatan. He left the colony and on his way to England he was met by some enemy boats and they quickly took care of him without remorse.

When a cargo boat came back to Roanoke to deliver some supplies everyone was in shock when they showed up to an empty island with the word Croatan carved into a tree. No one knew what really happened until now. In honor of Roanoke the King of England made a special day for the lost colony and all the people who lived in it.

#36 Home Alone

Home Alone

“Come on Molly were getting ready to leave!” Yelled my dad. It was a Friday night and my parents were wanting me to go to a Halloween party with them but It’d be so embarrassing and boring to go to a stupid party with my parents and all their old friends. “MOLLY!!” “Okay, okay I’m coming!” I walked down the stairs in my pjs and walked into the kitchen where I saw my mom finishing up here dish to pass for the party and my dad finishing up his frankenstein makeup.

“Do I have to go? Why can’t I just stay home? I whined.

“Well I suppose we could call your Aunt Jessica and see if she would wanna come stay
here with you while we’re gone.” My mom said.

“Ugh no mom, why can’t I just stay home alone like all my friends? I’m fourteen years
old, I’m not a baby anymore.”

“Well Scott, what do think? Should we let her.. We’ll only be gone a couple of hours and
there are ramen noodles in the cupboard that she can eat.”

“Well I suppose she can, but make sure you call us if you need anything! We won't be
gone very long, you need to be in bed by eleven.” My dad said.

“Yes! Thank you thank you thank you! Now go have fun with your friends bye!”

My parents said their goodbyes and finally I was alone. The clock hit eight and I decided
to make some ramen and watch Fuller House on netflix. I grabbed a blanket and walked over to our big sectional couch and cuddled up with a blanket and ate my ramen. I started to get tired and realized it was nine-thirty, so I stayed on the couch where I then started to doze off, I awoke instantly to a big bang hitting either the door or the window. “MOM? DAD?” I yelled, but never got a reply. So I figured it was just the wind and decided to go back to sleep, once again I was almost asleep and heard a big bang but this time is was followed by a sound of shattering glass, my heart felt like it was beating one-hundred miles an hour and I was shaking. I slowly got up and crept into the kitchen where I saw a man in all black standing, brushing the glass that he just broke.

“AHHHH, who are you?” I screamed.

“Well hello there, you’re exactly who I came here for” He growled.

I screamed again and ran up the stairs to the hallway closet and started moving towels to hide under hoping he hadn't saw where I ran to. All I could hear was my heart beating and footsteps creaking across the wood kitchen floor. I could hear him getting closer so I quickly reached in my pocket to grab my phone to call my parents when I realized that my phone was no longer in my pocket, I must have dropped it when I ran up the stairs. The closet door suddenly opened and my heart started racing faster, the mysterious man pushed a couple things out of the way, I was holding my breath hoping he wouldn't hear or see me. The door slammed shut and I jumped at the loud noise but he kept walking and I thought it sounded like he was in my room. I knew that now was the only chance I had to get downstairs and call my parents. I slowly opened the closet door and looked both ways and ran down the stairs where I saw my phone.

I quickly grabbed it and read “two news messages” I swiped over and they were both from my mom, one said “me and your dad will be leaving the party in ten minutes” the other said “almost home you up?” I quickly clicked call and listened it it ring for what felt like hours, finally I heard “hello.” 

“MOM!” I shouted. “Where are you, you need to get home there is a......click. Called failed. I was furious and turned around to use the home phone and there he was my six foot three, two hundred pound neighbor. Before I could do anything or even try to run he grabbed me, I screamed and kicked and he started to drag me to the front door, “you’re coming with me” He spit. But when he opened the door there were my parents staring right back at him. “MOLLY!” My parents screamed. Instantly the scary man jumped through the broken glass window and went running down the street. My dad tried to catch him but he wasn't fast enough.

My mom called the police and they had me come in the next morning and file out and police report and explain to them what he looked like. About a week later the deputy called my mom and had us come into the station and pick him the right guy, there were five other men but I knew exactly which one to choose. They then asked if we wanted to press charges and we said yes, he had to do two years in prison. I was happy that he got locked up, but I know I won't be staying home alone again for a long time. 

#35 The Pig and the Bunny

The Poop and The Bunny

The killer bunny only has three legs since the day of war. In the heart of Texas, he was just minding his own business when it happened. Everyday since that war, he has been afraid and scared of what could happen to him if the monsters got ahold of him. I mean sure he has been stealing all of the chickens from the farm but that doesn't mean that Mandy had to take his leg off. Mandy was a short girl and had high hopes when growing up on the farm, she wanted money. Her father had always said she could become anything she wanted, but let's be honest, everybody's parents say that at one point in life.

One day as Mandy was waking up I heard a noise coming from the barn. It sounded as if the chickens were in distress. Then I saw it, the killer bunny. Now I have seen a lot of bunnies but never a killer one. I’ve also heard a lot about this killer bunny they speak of. He was mean, very mean, some say it was because his family left him others say he was just born that way. I personally believe he just needed a little love in his life. But then again I don’t want to go near him. At this point I might have to face him really soon as I could see him getting closer. Next thing you know he is all up in my grill.

“Woah,” I said. “What has you in a big hurry?”

“I am not in a big hurry, I’m just hungry, now can you move it before I eat you instead,” he said.

“As if I would listen to you,” I said.

He just gives me a glare and I said, “What are you gonna do I’m not scared of you.” Which I really was, but who was gonna admit that they are scared of a bunny.

Next thing you know he is biting on my leg right above my hoof.

I said, “OUCH! What the heck, you stupid little bunny, GET OFF ME!”

Well that didn't help because he clenched down even harder. I am kicking my leg all around and the dumb thing wouldn't come off. I hear Mandy coming for her everyday rounds at the chicken barn. I squealed as loud as I could to get her attention. She looks over at me and laughs because of the way I am bucking around like a donkey. Then she realizes that there is a flipping bunny on my leg and starts running over to me.

“What and the sam heck is going on here?” she says.

She then got out this weird looking thing and aims it at the bunny. Then, the bunny just looked very sad as if he knew what was going to happened. He jumped around and let go of my leg finally. I started running away but I wanted to see what Mandy was going to do to him. I stood there and watched and as I stood I was trying to find out what it was that Mandy was pointing at the bunny. Next thing you know a I hear a big boom. I was so startled I accidentally ran into an electric fence. But then, I looked over at the bunny and he is just layin there. I felt so bad i went over to Mandy and squealed my heart out until she picked the bunny back up and helped him out.

The bunny was very happy from that day on. I think that when she shot his leg off he became a new bunny. We named him Piggie and by we I mean Mandy because she doesn’t understand anything I say. I tried to help name but she just wouldn’t listen so I finally figured out that I wasn’t actually a human and she can’t understand me at all, which in fact is quite stupid because I just want to be heard like any other animal. Piggie and I also became best friends and same with Mandy she loves her new bunny it kind of annoys me that she spend all her time with that bunny. At the end of the day I still love both of them just as much as another animal or person.

#34 The Boy of Fall

“Do I really have to do this?” I asked my best friend Cameron.

He nodded at me then said, “You lost the bet.”

I sighed as I clicked on Instaface, which is the most popular form of social media. The bet was if I didn’t land the bottle flip, I had to make an account or I would have to go against the entire varsity football team and I’m only a freshmen. “Ok, fine,” I grumbled. First question: Name- Josiah Grey, insert a picture of yourself; i put in my football picture from this year. Second question: describe yourself (outward appearance)- I’m tall, blond hair, blue eyes, strong build, straight smile. More questions: goals- I said to become a starter this year. Habits/quirks- I bite my lower lip when I’m nervous, likes: football, dislikes: math. Relationship status: none but I only really like this super attractive sophomore named Mary Jane but i doubt that she even knows who I am….

The next morning we got up and went to football practice. When we got to practice, all of the football players were standing around looking at the cheerleaders. Asher was mad, as usual; he was always kind of a hot head and thought that the attention should always be on him, so to get the attention on him he decides to say that he is talking to Mary Jane. Everyone started freaking out and was like no way, but I just stood there quietly and thought No way is right, a sweet girl like that would never be talking to an arrogant guy like you….

I waited for Mary Jane after I got done with practice, when I saw her and I went over and said, “Hi, I’m Josiah Grey, I know that we haven’t talked very much but are you talking to Asher Jones?”

“No I’m not,” she said, I gave a sigh of relief. “Why?” she asked.

“Oh, um, no reason, it’s not like I wanted to date you or anything, I mean you’re pretty but you aren’t looking for a boyfriend right now, unless you are?” I said biting my lower lip.

“You’re too cute, if you wanted to go on a date with me you should’ve just said so, what were you thinking?” she said cutely, which made it even harder to respond to.

“I was thinking that Homecoming is coming up and I was wondering if you had a date yet?” I asked curiously.

“I don’t have a date and I would love for you to take me,” she said as we both exchanged numbers and then waved goodbye, today was finally my day…….

Most people don’t know this but I struggle hard core with math so my parents thought that it was a good idea for me to have a math tutor. Her name is Ashlynn Green and she’s pretty cute I mean nothing compared to Mary Jane but I like a girl with a brain too. She came over to help me tonight and we talked a little about Homecoming. “I’m going with Mary Jane, can you believe this Ash I mean you probably can’t but still, I can’t believe that the prettiest girl in school wants to go to Homecoming with me,” I said excitedly.

“Jo, is that all you care about? A girl who can look good infront of all of your friends?” Ashlynn said sassy. Even though I am terrible at talking to girls Ashlynn was one exception, in fact she’s the only one that I let call me Jo instead of Josiah.

“What’s wrong Ash?” I said in a concerning tone.

“Josiah Grey if you can’t realize why I’m upset then you never will, I hope you and Mary Jane are very happy together!” she exclaimed as she grabbed her stuff and stormed out of my house leaving me all confused…..

Mary Jane and I thought it would be best if we met each other at the dance. We found each other we started dancing right away and then a slow song came on. All of a sudden Asher comes over with his face as red as a tomato, he was really mad.

“Grey! What are you doing with my girl!” exclaimed Asher.

“Your girl!” I replied, “I don't know what your talking about but Mary Janes my girl tonight.”

“Mary Jane, will you please tell this idiot that you're mine!” demanded Asher.

“I… I,” Mary Jane studerred.

“Spit it out Mary Jane!” yelled Asher.

“Don't talk to her like that man,” I told Asher.

“Don't tell me what to do Freshman!” Asher announced loudly and then started to shove me. We started fighting until the point when the teachers had to come over and break us up. By that time we both had messed up hair, our ties were everywhere, and he had a bloody nose and I had a bloody mouth. We were in a lot of trouble but after I went and sat down on the bleachers I saw everyone look over at the doorway, it was Ashlynn and she was so beautiful. I went over to her and she tried to ignore me but then she saw my busted lip and looked like she felt sorry but then replied sassily, “well it serves you right, Jo, for fighting over a girl.” Then we both started laughing and she gave me a hug, I looked at her and asked her if she wanted to dance and she said yes. I was now at the dance with the most perfect girl for me and nothing could ruin this moment.

But then…. Mary Jane came over and explained how she accidentally told Asher that she was going to the dance with him and apologized for the inconvenience she caused me. I told her it was fine because I was with Ash now and everything was fine.

#33 The Complications of Moving to Illinois

The complications of moving to Illinois

When I was 17 my family wanted to get a change we wanted to move we were tired of the same old drama in California. So we have decided to move to Illinois. It's 5:00 in the morning and we are waiting until my father gets here with the moving truck. Finally my father gets here we load the truck and head out.

We get to Oklahoma when all of the sudden my dad decides to stop and get some rest at a hotel. When we got there my mother said we could walk around for one hour. As we were walking my sister and I were walking and talking about the move we started arguing whether or not I could start over the guy that had already taken the starting job. My sister stormed off because I upset her.

About 1 hour until I started to get worried. I was walking around the corner when I saw my sister getting kid napped by a tall trucker. I ran back to the room. I tell my mother and father what I saw. We rush down the stairs and get in the car and take off to get my sister. We were following the trucker all the way until Utah. Figuring he would eventually have to stop for fuel. But he wasn't stopping we called the police to help.

All of the sudden he stopped we walked up to the truck to see my sister scared out of her mind sitting in the passenger seat. When all of the sudden the trucker was gone he never opened the door. As we were driving we were wandering where he went we googled recent deaths. We were shocked. It turns out there had been a fire and 4 girls and 2 parents were killed in the fire. The occupation of the father was being a trucker for joe Gibbs trucking company the same truck that stole my sister.

As we got more curious we googled missing people and sure enough 3 girls were kidnapped just a two weeks before my sister and she was the 4th. We finally get to Illinois and settle down I tend to stay really close with my sister. To assure nothing bad happens to her. The first day of practice went by and the coaches loved. I was named starting quarterback of the panthers.

I went on as a top draft pick in the NFL. Still to this day I don't for get about the ghost trucker. I am glad that I have my sister as my favorite sibling. I will never let anything happen to her again. I never argue with my sibling because of that day.

#32 The Meaning

The Meaning

“There are three types of baseball players: those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happens.” Tommy Lasorda.

I remember the day like it was yesterday. November 2, 2016 was the greatest day in history. Most of you have no clue what I’m talking about, so let me start from the beginning. The day started out normal for most people, but to me, Trick Jacobs, it was moment of truth day. I’m the starting shortstop for the Illinois Bullets and today was the state championship. As soon as I woke up that day I called my coach to see how his day was. Coach Henry has been my coach the past three years and this is his first time going to a championship. He was an old fart but he sure was a fantastic coach. He taught us not just how to win but the meaning of baseball. This was his last year coaching also, it was my last year playing for the Bullets. After High School I would be traveling to University of Illinois to play baseball.

Later that day, as we were sitting in the dugout and Coach Henry was giving us our pre warm up speech like he does every game. I was sitting in the corner visualizing the trophy we were bringing home for Coach Henry. I wasn’t worried about anything else. I didn’t care about how my performance turned out to be even though the University of Illinois scout was in the crowd but that really didn’t matter. In my eyes what really mattered was the big fat grin that we were gonna put on our coaches face. As the time rolled on coach finally walks up to me and says, “I want you to go out there and give it your all, you have some important people out there.” That didn’t make me feel better what's so ever. This game wasn’t about me, it was about Coach Henry.

As soon as I blink it’s bottom of the ninth, two outs, and I step up to the plate. The score is tied and I have been hitting the seams off this ball. As soon as I get up they do a pitching change. They start throwing their lefty Denzel Valentine. I’ve been struggling to hit him the past four years but I’ve been studying him. His release point, the way his fingers are gripped on the ball, and how fast he brings up his leg. I know they won’t walk me because the bases are loaded. My hands are sweating and my mouth is dry as the Sahara Desert. I step up to the plate. I spit my seeds out and kick some dirt on the plate. I see his fingers start to move in his glove. Everyone is staring down at me from the stands. The first pitch comes.

Now you're all thinking you can’t stop there, well actually I can because I’m the author of this story. The moral of this story wasn’t about winning or losing. It was about about not being selfish and being a team leader. It was about doing what’s right. A wise man once said, “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” Now all I can say for Denzel Valentine is first rule in baseball never hang a curveball to a power hitter.