“Very, but we can’t give up now.” Lila tried to reassure me, but I had already given up all faith in humanity.
“I guess so.”
We started to walk away when an idea popped in to my head. It felt like one of those moments when the flashing light bulb pops up above your head and starts making that dinging sound, but that’s even a little weird for my life
“The wand!” I blurted out.
“What about it?”
“Maybe someone else did this, but with your wand!”
“Oh my gosh, maybe! Here, give it!”
She ripped the wand out of my hand so hard I swear you could hear a tearing sound. She waved the wand with a swipe of her hand and a miniature television screen appeared above it. What I witnessed made my jaw fall to the ground.
“Ms. McDougall needs to see this, NOW,” Lila said.
“Let’s go.”
Ms. McDougall was as shocked as we were.
“Why would he? I mean really. He’s been such a responsible, well-mannered man for as long as I have been running this fine facility. I think he deserves to share his side of this story.”
“But the wand replays never lie,” Lila said. “And according to this it was Mr. Withers who turned the statue into chocolate.”
“Wilson, can you go fetch me Marshel Withers, please.”
“Meow.”
“I didn’t do it,” said Mr. Withers, while unsuccessfully attempting to pry Wilson off of his leg. “I’m innocent.”
“But wand replays never lie, Marshel. I’ve noticed you have been acting weird lately, but I would never think you would be the one to deface the prized statue of our founder. Don’t lie to me.”
“Fine, yes it was me,” he said, defeated at last.
“But why, Marshel? Why?”
“Well, these kids have been driving me insane. They never do what I ask, or even try to behave. I would do anything to get them finally caught for something. They just need a taste of their own medicine, so I thought you would find the wand, talk to Lila and that would scare the rest of them in to behaving.”
“Maybe, the children don’t behave because your methods of teaching aren’t exactly, uh, current. Maybe it’s time you take a little leave of absence from teaching to catch up on more current things. What you did is not right, so please have your things packed by tomorrow. Also, you must fix that statue and apologize to these innocent girls.”
“I’ll be leaving now then,” he said, not even acknowledging our existence.
After he left, Ms. McDougall turned to Lila and I.
“Ms. Micheals, Ms. Summers, thank you for your help. Sorry for the trouble this has caused and thank you so much for finally giving me a reason to let go of that cranky, old Withers’. We’ve been trying to get rid of him for years. "The students were never fans of him, but he refused to go.”
We both left more confused than ever before, but still happy for our accomplishment. As you can see this is just an example of what would happen in my life every day. It’s taken fifteen years but I’ve finally given up on hoping I will have a normal life. No matter how weird this is to most, this is my normal.
***
The Motel in the Woods
Cody Taylor
It was to be a normal, boring fieldtrip to an Art Museum.
The ride was uneventful, until the bus broke down. We stalled out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by woods while the sun was set. With no one knowing where we were, we had to think of something … or somewhere to go.
Ms. Caps one of the bus supervisors, suggested we send a teacher and a handful of students to walk up the road to see if they could spot any houses. The people chosen to go were Darius, Ashley, Mr. Mayer and I, Joseph Horan.
We walked for about 15 minutes, until we caught sight of a small yellow motel. Mr. Mayer said he was going to try and find the office, he said he’d be right back…
Twenty minutes passed and Mr. Mayer hadn’t returned. It was now dark and silent and there was nobody around. Darius said we should go to the office and see what was happening, I was skeptical, but I knew we would have to sooner or later.
We walked slowly towards the dodgy looking motel. As soon as I was about to open the door a man appeared to greet us.
“Step inside children.” He had said.
We all walked in and asked quickly, “Excuse me, could you tell us if a man was just here? He is our teacher.”
The man slammed the door, as he smoothly responded “No.”
Ashley grasped my arm. It was clear the man was cornering us now; I knew we shouldn’t have gone near that sketchy, old… motel in the woods.
He suddenly grabbed Darius and threw him to the ground. I quickly dove over the front desk, landing on a small door on the floor, but that didn’t matter at the moment. I eyed a knife, grabbed it, knowing I might have to use it. I catapulted myself off the desk and onto the old man’s back and stabbed him directly in the back.
He soon lay motionless on the cold, wooden floor. I had no time to feel any sorrow, I knew my friends and I had to get out of the motel and soon! I assembled my friends and we ran from the motel. We couldn’t see it was so dark and Darius had a broken leg from being thrown to the ground.
We had no idea where we were any more, there was no light and we were slowed because of Darius’s injury. We ran into the woods, our only hope. We lay down in the trees making no sound. Everything was silent, until we heard the snap of branches behind us…
It was the man! He was alive and he was after us!
We ran again. I picked up Darius and put him on my back. The man was right on our trail, I was sure he was going to catch us.
Suddenly we burst out from the thick woods and I saw the bus, our bus! We ran to it, closing the door and ordering the bus driver to drive!
We were saved. While we were gone someone fixed the bus and it was working. We left the old man in the dust.
But then a sickening feeling came over me… Mr. Mayer wasn’t with us.
We had to save him. I told the bus driver we had to stop back at the motel, with some negotiation she agreed. When we pulled up to the motel, I knew exactly where Mr. Mayer was. I ran directly into the office, tumbled over the front desk and scurried to find the little door. It was so dark I couldn’t see anything. I heard the office door open; I had to hurry.
Finally I found the little door, unlatched the latch, and Mr. Mayer jumped out. We ran for the door, but the old man was blocking our path. We had no choice but to go right through him. Mr. Mayer and I charged him and he fell over… we ran to the bus. As soon as we made it we were driving away. That was the last I saw of the motel in the woods.
***
The New KGB
Conor MacIntyre
“Valeri! Come here and get to work on that plough.”
“But Papa, I want to go with my friends.”
“You know we have to work to stay here,” Papa says. “President Carter will take us to do a lot harder work than this if we don’t produce here.”
Ugh! I hate America and President Carter and his stupid little government, I think. Why do we get punished because of Russia? It’s not fair! I hate it here!
“But Papa, we have lots of workers.”
“Papa! Valeri!” Mama screams. “Come here!”
“Maria what’s going on?”
What is Mama talking about? She looks like she’s seen a ghost. I hope I didn’t do anything or I might not be able to go out anymore.
“We must go at once. I heard on the radio that Yakupov found out about the forced labor and declared war. Carter is kidnapping all Russians in America!”
“Isn’t Yakupov the president of Russia?”
“Yes Valeri, must you ask stupid questions at times like this? Go. Hurry. Pack a few things, nothing more, understand?”
“Yes Mama, sorry Mama.”
I can barely hear their hushed whispers as I walk up the stairs.
***
“Sergei we must
go into the woods to hide. We can make it.”
“You are right Maria. I’ve heard from Vladislav that his brother is part of a Russian group helping other Russians and immigrants.”
“I don’t know, Sergei. How will we ever find them? We could live by ourselves just fine.”
“We can take him with us.”
“I don’t know. It will be dangerous.”
***
“I don’t get this damn war Jack. It doesn’t make sense to me...”
“Sorry Val, I’m not allowed to talk, bye.”
“Oh. Okay. See you.”
I hate this. I hate this so much. If I get the chance I want to be the one to kill Carter... I want to move back to Russia.
***
“I wonder how Valeri is taking this; I’ve heard his conversations with Jack. He says he hates president Carter...and America...”
“Shush Maria. He is coming.”
“Mama! Papa! What are we going to do? Where will we hide?”
“Slow down, Valeri, we were just talking about that. We’re going to the woods...”
***
“Vladi, what are we doing?”
“Calm down, boy. My brother is part of a group of Russian rebels. Do you know who Ruslan Stalin is? Joseph Stalin’s great grandson? Igor Yakupov’s brother in law? He’s the leader.”
“Actually? So are they planning anything?”
“I don’t know, boy, my brother hasn’t told me much.”
“Oh okay, but will there be anyone my age there?”
“I DON’T KNOW! I’m just as confused as you are, boy, now shut up or I’ll feed ya to the wolves on the way.”
“Yes, Vladi.”
***
“Mama, is there actually wolves in here...?”
“Um, yes, but not around where we are, Valeri. Don’t worry.”
“Okay because wolves kind of give me the creeps.”
“Stop talking,” Valdi says. “We’re trying to walk through one of the densest forests in America so we might want to concentrate.”
I wonder how long this will take and I hope there and people there my age. I’d rather not be a loner. Ugh, this sucks.
“Sergei, come here. I think I’ve found it. This might be the hint my brother was telling me about, a five pointed star on a tree.”
“Here let me see that,” My Papa says.
“Okay, it’s right there.”
“Vladi, what were the rest of the instructions?”
“He said to go about two hundred meters southeast and find the boulder, and then walk around to the opposite side. There should be a board you can only partially see leading to the hideout.”
***
“Guys! I see it! I see the boulder!”
“So do we, Valeri, just take your time, this could be dangerous.”
“Yes, Papa. But look there’s the board, let’s go!”
I wonder what we will find in here; I hope there’s nobody or at least nobody with a gun or something.
“I will get the board, you guys stand back.” Valdi says. “I think it might be my brother in here waiting for us but maybe not so we should be careful. Understand?”
“Yes, Valdi. Maria, get back a bit okay?”
“Valeri, come with me please.” Mama said.
***
“No Mama. Please can I go?”
“No, Valeri. You must stay with me. Your father and Vladislav will check it out first.”
“Okay, Sergei, Valdi said, “can you open it up for me?”
“Sure thing Vladi, but be careful.”
“I hope its Mikhail down here.”
That should be me. Why can’t I be over there helping? Instead I’m stuck here with my mother. Watching them do the job I want to do.
“You good, Vladi? You can get through there right?
“Yes. I’ll be right back to let you know.”
I wonder what’s going on, is it Mikhail down there? I hope nothing happened to Valdi. He might be cranky but he’s still helping us.
“It’s all good guys, it’s Mikhail, you can come down.”
“Yes!” I yelled.
“Let’s go, Valeri, be careful, it’s kind of dark,” My Papa says. “You too, Maria, watch your step.”
Gross, it smells like cigarettes and vodka down here. I wonder if these guys will go all Russian mafia and whip out there guns, that’d be cool!
“Hello. My name is Mikhail Golovchenko, I am Slava or as you might call him Vladi or Vladislav`s brother. I work for the New KGB, which is the Russian Committee for State Security. We are part of a spy mission to overturn Carter and the rest of the American government. I think we could really use your help and we’re glad you’re here.”
“Thank you,” Papa says. “We’re very grateful for your help.”
“Anything for a friend of my brother. But we have no time to talk, now we sleep, tomorrow we move.”
***
“Wake up everyone! We must leave soon, the government might be checking the woods for people.”
***
“Is everybody out? Men all have guns? You might need them.”
“Yes, we all have them,” Papa says. “Let’s go, Maria, stay close, okay?
“I will Sergei, don’t worry.”
“Okay. And Valeri, don’t use that unless you absolutely have to.”
“Yes, Papa.”
“Stop the chatter please, we really must go.”
***
Well I’m glad that was an uneventful trip, but what is this? It’s just a big warehouse.
“Hey Mikey, let’s go meet the big boss.”
“Valeri! Don’t be rude. You either call him Mr. Golouvchenko, or Michail, not Mikey.”
“Yes, Papa.”
“But Valeri’s right, let’s go see Mr. Stalin, he can’t wait to meet you. He hopes to have a new recruit in Valeri.”
This is going great already. I am going to be a spy.
“Hello, my name is Ruslan Stalin and I’m the great grandson of Joseph Stalin, the great dictator of Soviet Russia. It was his goal to take over Europe, Russia has done that. Now it’s Americas turn. We’re helping the motherland with this one.”
“What do you mean, Mr. Stalin? Are you going to try to overturn the government or something? What do you mean about a new recruit in my son?”
“Sir, I think your son would be an amazing soldier or even an amazing spy and I would like to train him for that,” Mr. Stalin says. “If you disagree, you can leave and never come back.”
“Papa, I need to do it, and I want to do it. I’ve been telling myself for the past month that I want to kill Carter. This is my chance.”
“No, Valeri,” Mama says. “That is too dangerous. And I know you don’t actually want to kill President Carter. Besides I’m your Mama so you will listen to me.”
“Not this time Mama, I must do this, it is my choice and I’ve chosen yes”.
***
“Mr. Filatov are you ready for your training?”
Not really. I hope I do well; I want a chance to kill Carter. I better say I’m ready so...
“Yes sir.”
“Good, let’s get started. “First we run, then we climb, and then we lift weights, understand?”
“Sounds good.”
“Let’s run!” he hollers.
***
Oh my God I didn’t expect seven miles. Ugh, I hope I don’t have to climb much.
“Valeri! Hurry up, you have to climb now, the wall is over here.”
“I’m coming.”
Holy frig, this isn’t a wall, it’s a cliff. How am I supposed to climb this thing?
“Okay, Valeri, this might be the most important test because if you want to be one of the ones to get Carter you need to be able to climb. His secret bunker is located in a cave about 300 feet up a vertical cliff. Here we go.”
“Sounds good.”
I’m going to get this, watch out Carter. I’m going to get him for everything he’s done against
Russians.
***
“Mr. Filatov, I must say you did very well in climbing, so now let’s go see how you do with weights.”
“Do I not get any break at all?”
“No. I want to see how your stamina is.”
“Ugh, whatever.”
My arms are like rubber. I hope I don’t have to lift much.
“We will start off with squats to give those little arms of yours a break. How about 145lbs to start?”
“OK.”
I hope I can do this.
***
“Valeri, great job with the squats. Let’s go to the bench press and you will be done for the day.”
“Sounds terrible, this should be fun.”
“How about start with 90lbs?”
“Yeah.”
***
“Great job, Filatov. 110lbs to finish off the day.”
***
“How did it go, Igor?”
“Great, Mr. Stalin. But there is one thing that alarms me.”
“What?”
“This boy is thirteen and really wants to kill...”
***
Change
Danielle Villard
Chapter 1
The lamp crashed to the floor and I turned around with shock. A masked figure moved as fast as it could, arms stretched out in front of it, heading toward me. I reached behind me, grabbed a book off of the armchair and swung. It didn't do me any good. He blocked my swing and the next thing I knew; there were arms around my waist and mouth. I struggled and fought, but I couldn’t break free.
I opened my eyes, afraid of what had become of me and where I was. But I opened my eyes anyway.
I was tied to a chair in my favourite pair of blue pajamas. It was cold in the room and there was very little light. There were no windows and every thin was metal, including the chair I sat on, the one in front of me and even the roof, floor and all four walls.
I was the only one in the room, so I had a quiet place to think for a little bit. I had no idea where I was or even if I was still in Kensington, England. The last time I was awake it was summer, but right then I wasn't sure if that was still the case.
Something crashed outside the door and I jumped. That was the only sound I heard since I woke up. About a minute later, a very good-looking man walked into the room. Personally I thought he looked like Dwayne Johnston.
It turned out that his name was actually Joshua, but he told me I could call him Josh. Josh seemed to be one of the good guys. So I answered the series of questions he asked me as truthfully as I could.
So do you have a job, Lydia?" Josh asked.
“No, I am only 14,” I said. “You know that right?"