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The following stories and poems can be found in When a Sentence Ends in a Surprising Gazebo, the most recent anthology of student writing that emerged from our Writing Workshops. The book also includes a foreword by Lemony Snicket as well as an afterword by fabulous 826 Seattle Intern, Megan Burbank. Purchase your copy here.

 

Frozen Dreams

By Salma Mahmoud

 

The million-dollar chandelier shimmered as my stepsister, Erica, my older brother, Sebastian, and I entered my father’s new hotel. My father married Catherine last year, just after my mother died of pneumonia. Catherine often followed my dad on business trips, which left Erica and me under Sebastian’s supervision.

I had never really liked Erica. We had been in school together since second grade, but our parents met last fall at ninth grade curriculum night. Within a few months, they decided to get married. Erica was always popular. I was always shy. There was no way that we could be friends. Erica’s smile could light up a whole town. Nobody could compare to her exquisite green eyes and silky blonde hair. Especially me.

When we walked up to the reception desk, Sebastian asked where my dad was. The receptionist told us that he had gone on a business trip and would be back by that night. Just then, the elevator opened and out walked my stepmother, Catherine. Catherine quickly grabbed Erica and gave her a long hug accompanied by a compassionate speech explaining how much she missed her. Times like these really made me miss my mom. The two of them headed up to Erica’s room to unpack. On the elevator up to our rooms, Sebastian cornered me.

“Ellie, something’s bugging you. Tell me what’s wrong,” he said. “Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s just fine.” “Trust me, I know when someone’s feeling down. Tell me what happened.” I didn’t know if I should tell him. I didn’t want to complain about my problems to him, but I knew he’d keep asking until I told him. “Okay, I’ll tell you. Just don’t tell anyone else,” I said. “Don’t worry, I won’t.” “I can’t stand Erica. She’s perfect.” “Ellie, she isn’t better than you. Just choose something she doesn’t like and stick to it. Try your best, and she won’t be able to beat you at it.” “You know, Sebastian, I guess you’re right.” The problem was, I couldn’t think of anything that I could do that Erica couldn’t do better. “I remember Mom was really good at ice-skating. Maybe I could try doing that,” I said. “Sure. I can take you to the skating rink today.” “Really? Thanks.”

Within an hour, Sebastian managed to get a taxicab to drive us down to a newly opened ice-skating rink. He gave me fifty dollars to buy a new figure-skating dress and sat there for an hour as I skated. I remembered how I had always attended my mom’s skating competitions. As soon as I stepped on the ice, I felt free. As the ice glimmered beneath my skates, I thought, maybe I’m better than I expected. I guess it just came naturally.

“Eleanor, all I can say is, you’ve got skill,” said my brother as we rode back to the hotel. When we arrived, I noticed Erica sitting down in the lobby. Her light-up-the-town smile wasn’t shining as usual. When she saw me in my figure-skating dress, she asked where I had been.

“Erica, relax. Sebastian just took me to the ice-skating rink. Turns out, I’m actually pretty good,” I said. “Since when do you ice-skate?” “I just decided to try today.” “Eleanor, you will never be a good ice skater no matter how hard you try. You’ll just fail, the same way you do at everything else.” As my eyes began to water, I wondered why someone so perfect would get mad for trying something new.

Later that night while having dinner, Sebastian announced that he had signed me up for a skating competition the next day. I was completely speechless. “What? That’s not fair. I want to enter! Sign me up now!” said Erica.

I expected Sebastian to ignore her, but he didn’t. He called the ice-skating place and told them to add another contestant to the list. I protested weakly, saying she didn’t have a dress, but Sebastian ignored me.

The next morning, we all woke up and headed down to the skating rink. Once Erica decided to enter the competition, I was pretty sure that I was going to lose. After watching thirteen other girls perform, she was up. This was the first time I had ever seen her look so insecure. Right as she stepped on the rink, she slipped. As much as I hate to admit it, this actually made me more confident. When my skates finally touched the ice, I felt even more secure. I successfully landed a 180-degree turn. The judges looked amazed.

When I finished, the announcers came on. I hurried back to my seat. “It looks like our judges have decided on a winner,” an announcer said. “We are proud to present this gold trophy to Eleanor Coffrey!”

Everyone clapped. As I walked up to claim my trophy, I realized that I’d never been prouder of myself. I gave a short speech thanking everyone for being supportive, especially Sebastian. I even thanked Erica for motivating me. After all, I wouldn’t have tried ice-skating in the first place if she weren’t so perfect.

When I got offstage, Erica came to talk to me. “Good job out there, Ellie. I’m sorry for trying to ruin it for you,” she said. “It’s okay. I’m sorry we haven’t been very great stepsisters.” “Maybe we should just end this feuding. Let’s just be friends. Deal?” “Deal. Thanks, Erica.”

 

Deus Ex Machina

by Isabel Canning

 

I hear the scratching of trees against trees, a hollowed-out branch locked in never-ending war with chalk-white fibers covered in slivers of blue and red.

I see the darkness creeping into the pulsating red organ that resides in a hollow cage with walls of flesh and bars of bone.

I know the secrets whispered in a hollow tube that forever siphons sound to the lump of neurons that looks and smells of blue cheese but controls our every move.

I am a machine programmed to think and act uniquely toward other machines, all controlled by the quivering organ lodged in our heads, which is kept alive, in turn, by the organ in the chest of bones, muscles, and skin.

I am a human being.

I feel the hardened gray rock beneath my feet as I take in the green and brown colors around me, with round orbs that were implanted in my skull at the beginning of my sorry existence.

I am encased within a globe of green and blue that I walk upon endlessly, never stopping for a moment.

I see tiny machines with simpler minds and different attributes than mine, such as appendages for flight and a clear, melodious call to others of their kind.

I know the way to a large, green box by heart, furnished with necessities, such as food and drink.

I am greeted by two machines. The smaller one shrieks delightedly and embraces the appendages I use for walking.

I live on planet Earth.

The larger machine opens her speaking tube and asks me how the interaction area was, and whether I cranked my speed dial to run.

I find a plate with cut-up meat tubes and tomato paste, and a glass of clear liquid nearby.

I dip the meat into the paste and shovel it into my speaking tube, where it is mashed and sent to the part of my body used for digesting.

I go over to a cushion and use my ocular organs to scan a rectangular object filled with two-dimensional thoughts and ideas.

I live with my mother and sister.

I am on a large cushion covered by smaller cushions. I shut my ocular organs and let the quivering lump in my head take over.

All is quiet in my sleeping compartment. The only sound that remains is the steady beat of the pulsating red organ that resides in the hollow cage with walls of flesh and bars of bone.

I am a human being.

 

 

Sunnah’s Time Capsule

by Sunnah Rasheed

 

Dear person of the future (whenever that future may be):

If you’re reading this, then you’ve found my time capsule. I want to be a bit mysterious, but as you read on, you’ll find you know me pretty well. My name is Sunnah…like the sun, and then nah. Not Suna. Not Sauna. Today is August 27, 2009. I’m an eleven-year-old girl about to start sixth grade. I live in Seattle with my sentimental eight-year-old sister, Aalia. We also live with my awesome dad, Nasir (nas – er), and my awesome mom, Shannon.

My dad just discovered he could actually be a handyman. Ever since he built Aalia a tree house for her birthday, he has been on a roll, fixing things left and right. My mom is just as awesome as my dad. She’s super supportive and is really the perfect mom. There’s nothing more to say about her. Not that my dad isn’t perfect, he’s great, too. My sister is awesome…in her own way.

I have always wanted a dog, but in second grade I was obsessed with cats. I wore cat ears every day. Now I’m more of a dog person, but back then it was all about cats. To teach my sister and me some responsibility, my parents actually got us a cat. Her name is Oreo, and she is the calmest living thing I’ve ever laid eyes on. After that we got Abbie.

Earlier this year, my dad threw out the idea that he was thinking about getting a dog. This was a shock to everyone. I worked until early June, putting together a bunch of presentations, and turned my dad’s fleeting idea into a plan. We found the perfect dog! At least that’s what we thought. Actually, she is the spazziest thing We’re working on training, though. She’s pretty good…at sitting. Overall, these pets have taught me the many sides of responsibility.

Speaking of teaching, my favorite teacher EVER recently moved away. Mrs. Storms was a highly capable fifth and sixth grade teacher. I’d been looking forward to being in her class since second grade. She wasn’t “all that” because she was nice, funny, and occasionally gave us candy. She was amazing because she incorporated humor into her work and gave us the tools to teach ourselves. She made each class enjoyable and fun with exciting projects, and she made me excited for school every day. In a very odd way, she was kind of like Dumbledore from Harry Potter. I don’t know if I’ll ever become a teacher, but if I do, Mrs. Storms inspired me.

Before wrapping this up, I’d like to mention that the environment and economy are failing right now. If that is still going on in your futuristic time—H. E. L. P. Just like every vote counts, every hand does too. The fact there’s enough ozone for you to go outside and find this time capsule is a good sign, though.

I don’t know where life will lead me or how the world will change, but I live my life well, and that’s all that matters.

Thanks for hearing me out,

Sunnah Rasheed

 

 

Poems

by Jesa Chiro

 

1.
I see trees blowing in the breeze

I see mountains on hills
I hear waves crash and roar
I am here to see Earth doing its job
I am lying in the grass
I think I will do nothing for a long time
But listen to the breeze


2.
Writing and art are in your writing hand
Earth and magic are in your heart and brain
Power is in your feet

3.
I can be anything
I can fly like a magical pie
I can float like a boat
I can eat like a chimpanzee

I can sleep like a feather in the deep

I can say bye like a little fly

4.
The spring looks up at the moon

I look back
The stars twinkle at me
I twinkle back
The moon waves at me
I wave back
I close my eyes and dream about them