Short Writing : A Short Story

In the woods when the sun was just starting to set, there was a van driving on a long-abandoned road, behind the wheel of said van was a tired looking girl who seemed to be about 19. She took a sip of the long cold coffee, and turned to the turquoise haired girl sitting next to her.

When Booker pushed open the warehouse door the following morning, he found the derelict space empty. Confused, he glanced at his watch. At just past quarter to eight, Tom was late, and the dark-haired officer couldn’t help but wonder if he would show up at all. His harsh words the previous night had obviously impacted negatively on his friend, however, he still wasn’t sure what he could say to take the hurt away. He wasn’t proud of his actions, and he deeply regretted his disparaging remarks, especially because his target was a man who lacked confidence. After their altercation, he’d sought solitude in a bottle of whiskey, but his guilt had only escalated as he struggled to make sense of his feelings. It was then he had started to wonder if he really was a bully who got off on other people’s pain.

The week after moving on a Tuesday night, Steve was already asleep on the left side of the bed, while I occupied the right side, as it was closest to the door. I was having trouble falling asleep, I had been tossing and turning all night trying to find whichever position would be best to induce sleep upon myself. When I did fall asleep, it was about 5:30 in the morning and my mind was plagued with the most disturbing images. We were given the orders. As much as we thought they would fail, we had to follow through with General Phillips commands. “I just got the OK from the other side,” Corporal Jones called out. “Sergeant Barnes, it’s your call,” He motioned over to me. “Alright boys, we can win this. On my count.” I said preparing myself, “One..two...THREE! GO, GO, GO!” We ran towards the

It had been a long day, and Bennett was hungry. Military mantra was early to bunk, early to rise, but that had proved impossible. One of the young men in his class had a discipline issue, and it had escalated damn near all the way to the top. He'd been pushing papers and filing reports all day for the firecracker, and now that it was one in the morning he was finally free. Selkie's was on his mind. Well, maybe not Selkie's exactly.

One of the men is killed early on in a small village, and the men start to question whether the private is worth even the one life, let alone the others that will likely follow. It is during this time it is revealed to the new translator that the men are betting on what the captain’s history is. Ironically, they find a man whose name is Ryan but is completely unrelated to the same man that they are looking for. After scaring him half to death, they het new information on where he likely is and they head out. They come across a German position and Miller orders for the spot to be taken. The medic dies after being shot in the assault and dies as all the men gather around him trying to save him. One German survived the assault and all the men besides the translator wants to kill him. The captain eventually decides to release him as a prisoner of war to the next unit the Nazi comes across, as they must keep moving to find Ryan. This causes one soldier to attempt desertion and nearly leads to yet another death. It is defused when the captain reveals his past as a schoolteacher and then says, “Ah,

He swallowed deeply, his Adam's apple bobbing with suppressed emotion. The tender concern in his captain’s voice was unexpected, the careworn eyes filled with compassion unfamiliar, and yet in his heart, Tom knew it wasn’t contrived. Fuller’s empathy and concern for his young charges went beyond his job description. Without exception, he showed a genuine interest in every officer under his command, his paternal attention perhaps compensating for the absence of a relationship with his son. He was, in essence, the father-figure Tom had lacked from the age of sixteen, and once again, the weight of regret crushed at the young officer’s chest. He’d let his superior down, and although he couldn’t turn back the clock, he could, at the very least, try to make things right.

One challenge I faced during my sophomore year was racism in my Honors English class with Ms. Rice. I was the only Hispanic student in the whole class, where I was often referred to as “Mexican girl.”

Johnny mumbled, “Why is it people who were supposed to be so smart are so damn stupid?”

An hour later Captain Moran made it to the General’s Headquarters, introductions were made, “You know we didn’t need your help?” Captain Moran told Captain Gaston. “We didn’t need the Army to come to our rescue, we had things well

I was pulled out of my thoughts when Kaira said, “Hey want to go shopping for some new outfits before you start school tomorrow? As a celebration for you waking up?”

After Ms. Luella Bates Washington Jones shut the door, she went to sleep. When she woke up at 6 AM, She walked to work and just realized that she’s late.

Billie is walking down the street, on her way home from school. She stops for a second, she sees a van pull up beside her on the road. That was very abnormal in her small town. The window to the van rolls down slowly, there is a guy with a mustache in the front seat, he says to her, “Where you heading to little girl.” She says nothing to him and continues walking. He once again pulls up beside her and she says, “go away.” He then pulls up to her a final time and asks her to get in the van, and that he knows what house she lives in. She firmly says no and continues walking down the road.

“You told me that once you decided not to go back even if Syd didn’t keep her word. We stand a much better chance together than if we go it alone. I told Donovan that I knew and he told me to get out. I am not going back.”

“I still don’t think this is a good idea,” Steve’s voice brought me out of my mental planning.

September 24, Toby Rogers and his mother were driving home from the hospital, it was a quiet drive home. The police and ambulance were still there from the car crash, “She had to die so soon, didn’t she..?” Toby said sniffling for his sister. “She was a good person, Toby.” His mother said. Toby would start biting at his bandaged wrists, “Stop that now.” His mother said, slightly turning her head towards him, then turning back to the road. Yet, Toby continued to bite at his bandages. Thirty minutes passed, they were home. Pulling in they saw a white van, Toby's father's car… “Why is he here?” Toby would slowly open the door, getting out. “He’s your father, he has come here to see you!” His mother was staring at him, “But he couldn’t see her at the hospital before she died?” He said, staring back at her. “Toby..” She looked over at his father, Then closing the door, walking around the car. She’d put her arm around Toby, walking to the door, “No hug for me?” Toby’s father said they both ignored him, walking inside. Toby glared at his father, still following his mother, “He can walk himself, he’s seventeen.” His father said, his mother ignored him “I’ll walk you to your room and call you when dinner's finished.” His mother said. “No. I can walk myself.” He said again glaring at his father. Toby began stumbling up the stairs, then slamming his door shut flopping onto his bed. Toby began to moan, “Why is he here..” he sounded mad, “Toby?” his father slightly opened the door,