Power Of The Pen

Hey, I'm entering a contest call Power Of The Pen. It's an annual contest for children from the age of 12-18. You can submit a short story and/or a poem. You can win cash prizes and an iPad 2! Also if you win you have a great chance of becoming discovered! It's a great start for future writers. For more info go to:
 http://www.myhamilton.ca/guides/power-pen-creative-writing-contest
Wish me luck ;).. you too! :)

When Jessica and I finished eating, we changed into our bikinis and went into the water. It was 7:30 when we joined a game of marco polo with some other kids. I was a pretty good swimmer so I didn’t think that I would get “it”. At least until Josh joined us, I prayed desperately for him not to be it. I knew that he could catch up to me in seconds. Anyways Jessica ended up being it. She told me that she would try not to catch. So there I was in the middle of the water, alone. I looked around seeing if anyone looked friendly enough for me to kind of follow. I all though I couldn’t really see so I swam a little deeper, there I found Josh.

-Oh I didn’t see you there. I’m sorry it’s just a little dark. I stammered

-It’s okay. So you must be Ashley right? He asked in such a wonderful deep and kind voice.

-Um yeah, that’s me. So are you playing with the others? I asked trying to make conversation.

-Yeah are you?

-Yeah

- Here follow me I’ll show you this hiding place of mine.

Okay this day is officially getting better, the schools most popular guy is showing me his hiding place!

So we swam a little deeper into the night. Then we reached a big rock in the shape of a dolphin almost. There was a little cove on the other side.

-Here is my hiding place. I come here whenever I need some peace to think or sometimes just to see the wonderful view. Do you like it?

-Of course I do! It’s amazing! Although it’s not like I have ever seen much of a view anyways, you know living in the heart of New York City.

-Well I’m glad you like it. Do you want to watch the end of the sunset with me?

-Okay

Chapter 4 Part 1

At 4:30 Jessica as well as my mom joined me for supper. My mom thought it was wonderful that I was going to the beach to meet new people.

By the time Jessica and I reached the beach at 5:15. By the time we were there, it was almost sun set. Along the beach you could see lots of people under a large canopy either dancing to the latest songs or eating. Along the beach there were couples kissing in the sunset and others swimming in the water. The water was rough for such a warm calm day.

When Jessica and I settled down on the warm sand Jessica went over towards the canopy to meet some people.

-Hi Lauren, how are you? I like to introduce to you Ashley Starce, as you probably know she’s new here. Jessica said

-Oh hi Ashley! I couldn’t wait to meet you! Practically everyone here has been so excited about you coming here! I live next door to your grandmother’s house, so I’m sure that we will become great friends!

-Um yeah I’m sure. Um I can’t wait to see you at school next week!

-OK. Well I’m going to get something to eat, the burgers here are amazing! So catch you later I guess?

-Sure. I said as she walked into the busy crowed.

For about half an hour Jessica introduced me to a few of her friends.

-And that is Katrina Berk. She is your typical cheer captain, rich snob and always gets what she wants. As you know she just broke up with Josh Joplin. Josh Joplin is the most popular guy who surprisingly isn’t a jerk or snobby. He used to be on the football team but he quit because two years ago because during the semi finals he had an asthma attack that landed him into 3 months in hospital, so then he just quit. Since then he broke up with Katrina became nice again... I’ll tell you more about them later, OK? Jessica said.

I couldn’t help but stare at Josh; he was so.... so.... perfect. Blond hair, muscular, strong, blue eyes, square jaw, tan.... ugh I had to stop no matter how physically attractive he was I needed to stop.

                                                                                                                To be continued...

Chapter 4 Part 2

“Oh, yes! It’s quite the day to be out on the beach. She replied I heard that some of the local kids are having a week before school beach party! I’m sure that you would be more than welcomed to go.”

“Oh well I kind of need to finish unpacking at home…”

Oh but I’m sure that you can do that later can’t you? It will give you a chance to make some new friends before your first day of “Balfamora High”. And if you’re interested I happen to know that the schools quarterback Josh Joplin broke up with his girlfriend Katrina Berk less than a month ago.” The lady said with a wink.

“Well if I finish some of packing early today I might be able to attend. It would be nice to know somebody here at school. When will it start?”

“The kids have been planning to start at 5:00 and I think that most will be going home at 12:00”

“Ok, and thank you….”

“Oh the name’s Rachel Lynen. If you ever need me I’ll be right here”

“Well than thank you Rachel. And by the way my name is Ashley.”

“Oh I already know who you are, all the town could talk about; the granddaughter of the old sweet lady who lives in the old creepy house with the yellow door is coming to town to stay!”

So here I am in my new room trying to decide on what to wear. I don’t know anything about the style here. I look at my clock to find that I have two hours before I go to the beach. I decided to take a few choices and I walked back down town to Rachel’s cafe. She would probably have some idea of what I should wear.

As I walk into the cafe to ask Rachel is she could spear a few minutes to help me I spot a girl my age on the other side of the cafe reading a book. I go over to Rachel at the counter.

-Hi, Rachel. It’s me Ashley.

 -Oh I remember you. So are you going down to the beach tonight?

-Um yes but I’m here because I have a bit of a wardrobe problem. I don’t know what to wear.

-Well I’m almost done here. Do you mind if I ask a friend to help me?

-Oh sure not at all, the more people I know the better.

Then Rachel called over a girl named Jessica. Rachel then told her my problem which was quite embarrassing, but Jessica didn’t seem to mind. We went into the back room behind the counter and she asked me what I had. I showed her the clothes I had brought. I realized that in her bag she had a few fashion magazines. She did a quiz for me and chose the colours that would look best on me, and finally we had chosen an ensemble for the beach. I would wear my royal purple bikini which apparently "went" with my chestnut brown hair and dark brown eyes. I would wear my cute white sundress on top and then to top it off I would wear my designer white flip flops with the little sparkles along the strap. I would also wear my hair in low pigtails with a cute purple with white polka dotted headband. I was pleased that I look great. Jessica had a wonderful sense of style. I asked if she would be going to the beach as well and she said that she would. We agreed that she would come round to my house first then we would head towards the beach together. I think that I had found my first friend in Balfamora!

Chapter 4 Part 1

Apparently she was the biggest and oldest gossiper of the town at least that‘s what I heard from my grandmother.

“So, it’s a nice day out today. Don’t you think?” I asked

“Oh, yes! It’s quite the day to be out on the beach. She replied I heard that some of the local kids are having a week before school beach party! I’m sure that you would be more than welcomed to go.”

“Oh well I kind of need to finish unpacking at home…”

Oh but I’m sure that you can do that later can’t you? It will give you a chance to make some new friends before your first day of “Balfamora High”. And if you’re interested I happen to know that the schools quarterback Josh Joplin broke up with his girlfriend Katrina Berk less than a month ago.” The lady said with a wink.

“Well if I finish some of packing early today I might be able to attend. It would be nice to know somebody here at school. When will it start?”

“The kids have been planning to start at 5:00 and I think that most will be going home at 12:00”

“Ok, and thank you….”

“Oh the name’s Rachel Lynen. If you ever need me I’ll be right here”

“Well than thank you Rachel. And by the way my name is Ashley.”

“Oh I already know who you are, all the town could talk about; the granddaughter of the old sweet lady who lives in the old creepy house with the yellow door is coming to town to stay!”

                                                                                                                          TO BE CONTINUED...

Chapter 3 Part 2

Sorry, I forgot to tell you yesterday, but I have gone to work. There is some food in the fridge and there is some money on the table for pizza or something. You’re welcome to go to town for the afternoon. I’ll be back by 5:30pm. Try not to have dinner without me.

                             Love, Mom

Okay I have the whole day to myself then. I made myself some cereal, which was stale. Then I ran myself a bath. The bath was a big old antique bath with these neat old carvings on the taps and all around the bath. I found one quite interesting. Whenever it came in contact with the water it turned black. I tried to ignore it. So I got inside the bath and lied down. When I was completely under the water I started to hear these voices. At first they were unclear and just an annoying sound in the background but then they got louder like a swarm of bees coming closer. Then they became so clear and so loud all I could hear was my name being repeated over and over like an echo. “Ashley, Ashley, Ashley, Ashley, Ashley, Ashley, Ashley, Ashley, Ashley, Ashley, Ashley”, over and over again. I swear it was driving me insane. I bolted out of the bath I could still my name as a whisper in the back of my head. Is it just me or has a whole bunch of strange thing been happening since I got here?

When I dried off after my bath I went to the kitchen I make myself a snack. All I could find was some grapes, crackers and a little bit of hummus left in a jar. After my snack I decided to go down to the basement to wash my clothes from the funeral. As I went down I sensed an eeriness of the room. Everything was covered with dust; even the red brick wall was extremely filthy. I wondered; when was the last time my grandmother had actually been down here? I still managed to find the washer. The washer looked like it was from the same make as the bath. It had the same markings. When the drumming of the washer began it made a consistent four beat boom; boom, boom, boom,.. boom. 

While I was waiting for the load of clothes in the washer to finish I decided to go down town to see my new country environment. The first thing I noticed was that everyone was nicer; I’m not even exaggerating everyone even the people who were driving would wave. I just assumed it was only because I was the granddaughter of the old sweet lady who lived in the big old creepy house with the big yellow door, anyways as I got to the cafe in the heart of the town. I bought an ice cream cone and sat down not too far away from the counter. I guess it was a slow day because I was the only customer at the store at that time. I guess it gave me time to talk to the old lady behind the counter. Apparently she was the biggest and oldest gossiper of the town at least that‘s what I heard from my grandmother.

 TO BE CONTINUED...

Chapter 3 Part 1

. It was my room…

Okay so this whole exact same room thing was really scaring me but I just decided that I was just confusing my nightmare with reality. I was so tired that it convinced me to go to sleep, but that didn’t stop me from dreaming. That night I dreamed or rather “nightmared” that I found this little door underneath a staircase that lead to this underground world. I didn’t know where the staircase was or what the underground world was, but the weird thing that got my pulse running was the sight of grandma looking unconscious but then when I came over to help her eyes popped open like a doll then said in this scary voice “Get away or stay forever” she seemed possessed but then her eyes looked loving again but her voice was in a struggling and painful sound as she said one word that got me paranoid “Help,”

 I woke up with a bolt. It was 4:44in the morning. I walked over to my mother’s room but only to found a note that read:

 Sorry, I forgot to tell you yesterday, but I have gone to work. There is some food in the fridge and there is some money on the table for pizza or something. You’re welcome to go to town for the afternoon. I’ll be back by 5:30pm. Try not to have dinner without me.

                             Love, Mom

Chapter 2 part 2

My mother’s little speech made a few cry harder than they all ready were but they were crying because they were happy. It made me feel happy to see a smile in the room.

After the funeral my mother and I drove to my grandmother’s house. In her will it was noted that my mother and I can live in my grandmother’s house if we liked to. My mother agreed to move into my grandmother’s. My mother jumped at the offer. I think it was mostly because once my grandmother won the lottery and she paid off her mortgage. Also my mother couldn’t wait to get out of the busy city that we both lived in. My mother had grown up in the country but then had to move to the city to find employment. It broke her heart that she would have to leave her mother but she knew that it was all for the best. Although, she dreaded the city as soon as she set eyes on the view. She hated that people were always so rude, how the only scene of nature was between the cracks on the sidewalk or in the flower shops. My mother adored nature in the summer she would collect all the dandelions on her way to work, she knew that they are weed but she missed nature so much it didn’t matter what it was weed or flower. Anyways when she had me she hated the city even more so because she believed that it was no place for a child to grow up in. I really didn’t mind it because really who doesn’t love spotting Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Orlando Bloom and other stars in the streets once or twice and if you’re lucky you can get their autograph! But being the only other person for my mother to talk to I just agreed with her, which seemed to keep her content. So as I was walking towards the house all I could hear was my mother screaming I knew it! I knew that we would return to the country! Then she said to me “Now you, you will learn how to really live!”

                                                                                             To be continued...

Chapter 2 Part 1

She was the child of her ex-husband.

 Everyone had heard about my grandmother’s big divorce. When my grandmother was only 16 she married a handsome, rich young man. They had a baby when grandma was only 20. But then soon after when Linda was 3, her father changed. My grandmother was all new to this whole ghost, crossing over thing and she was very naive about it, but yet very confused. She had horrible nightmares about these creepy black figures, which are figures that bring a cold, empty and useless feeling. They would go to grieving ones and lead them into suicide and then torment their dead souls. The sad thing was that they actually exist. Because Vincent was her husband she would tell him everything, But Vincent didn’t tell her that she would be okay or that he would protect her he asked questions about their power and if they had newcomers. My grandmother was too head over heels in love with him that she didn’t realize what he was doing until it was too late. After a month of continuously asking everything my grandmother knows and had learnt. He killed himself, and is to this day the most powerful “Vintor”. Vintor is the current term for them black figures. My grandmother had said that Victor had token over her soul and she is a possessed spy. My grandmother would have but her up for adoption but she thought it was best if she could supervise her and stop her from being another threat to the poor helpless souls.

I was the only one who knew the whole story about why Aunt Linda hated her mother because I share the gift of ghost as well. Though I don’t have much experience I am still learning. Then I came the time for my mother to do her speech. I find it very touching;

“I believe that I have always been close to my mother, my daughter as well. Us three have always shared a precious gift; a gift of healing and communication. When I was young my mother and I would help loved ones, help them move on after a tragic accident. My mother taught me many things and she taught me well. My only hope is that I will be able to teach my daughter as well as she has taught me.”

My mother’s little speech made a few cry harder than they all ready were but they were crying because they were happy. It made me feel happy to see a smile in the room.

To be continued

Chapter 1 Part 2

Although Aunt Linda was crying awfully hard anyone who knew her could tell that the only reason that she was crying was because she had to pay any more than a dollar towards her mother’s funeral let alone anything to do with her mother.

Aunt Linda was my mothers’ older sister. She was the child who became forgotten after my mother was born. Even when my mother was older Linda’s relation with her mother wasn’t nearly as strong as theirs. But Linda didn’t really care until when my mother and grandma would take my mother out on little day trips. I started out occasional but then it became routinely. Linda became furious about it. Once when they were out Linda looked in my mothers’ diary. The diary revealed detailed pages about her outing with my grandmother. Apparently they were helping souls of dead ones. Linda was confused about what she had read but she wanted so desperately to be her mothers’ favourite. So she would go up to her mother and say “wow. Weird I just saw dad, But like as a ghost, it’s like I just saw his soul” But my mother and grandmother knew that she was lying because they had helped my grandfather “cross over in to the light of heaven” a long time ago.

When Linda had seen no sign of being a favourite she began to try to make her mother feel guilty by almost committing suicide several times. She would always blame not having her mothers’ love or the fact that her dad had died. So once a week Linda and my grandmother would have the whole Wednesday together, Linda would even stay home from school sometimes. Then my mother decided that Linda was okay and they no longer had their Wednesdays together my mother would feel guilty and try to get her mother to spend time with her and even my mother would go and talk to Linda but Linda would brush her off. Then Linda became distant to the world. You could see her slowly dying inside. I hurt my mother that grandma would do such a thing. Then my mother and grandmother got into a big fight about it. It lasted for months and months then finally my grandmother explained why she would never spend any unnecessary time with her was because she was not her daughter. She was the child of her ex-husband.

                                                                                                               to be continued...

Chapter 1 Part 1

Black was the only colour I could see, veils, dresses, and suits. My grandmother had died and I am at her funeral. There were many people there. The funeral home was in a small town where my grandmother used to live. It was a dull and ugly place no bright colours or flower to give the sad ones a sense of hope or a sense to move on and be happy, no, just a dull, drab and ugly place to feel sorry for yourself. I was also crying but the way I cried didn’t even compare to the rest of the crowed. The crowd was filled with sad crying friends and relatives. My mother and Aunt Linda were crying the most, both of them with red faces, red sore noses and breathing as if they had just come back from a 100k marathon. Although Aunt Linda was crying awfully hard anyone who knew her could tell that the only reason that she was crying was because she had to pay any more than a dollar towards her mother’s funeral let alone anything to do with her mother.
                                                                          to be continued... 

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