5th and 6th Grade Competition 1st Place: Selvi R., Grade 5 The Hurricane
The clouds rumbled. The drops of rain poured down. The start of a hurricane. The start of something bigger than just “April showers.” The start of something scary. All Kara remembered was water, rushing from all corners, filling her tiny house to the brim. She remembered being washed away, out of the house. She remembered the shrill cries of her baby sister, her mother’s soothing voice. She remembered clinging to her mother as the three of them were washed away, into the darkness. But now she was alone. Alone, and scared. Frightened, she turned her head back and didn’t see her town. Didn’t see her family. “Hello?” She whispered, her voice weak and fragile. But nobody responded. Mustering all the strength she could find in her body, she hoisted herself up from the mossy ground. She walked through the darkness, barely seeing her palm in front of her face. She was lost. But then, she saw a light flicker on. She sprinted towards the nearly invisible light. “Hello?” She repeated, this time louder. She heard somebody muttering faintly. Determined to find them, she ran faster. She was alone again, for the muttering had reached a stop. And then Kara fell. She awoke again, pausing for a moment to regain her balance. She saw the end of a dress, and heard the tapping of shoes as they ran across a floor. “Wait!” Kara yelled. “Wait! Please!” The mysterious person paused and turned around. She was a petite woman, with a pale complexion and long blonde hair that swept around her back. “Ugh, who are you?” The woman asked. Kara felt hope beating in her heart. “I-I’m Kara! Please, I need help. I’m lost, and confused. It’s so dark here.” “Well, of course it is!” The woman scowled. “Why wouldn’t it be?” “Wait, what do you mean?” “Well, remember? Ten years ago, Earth’s sky turned dark. It stumped all of the scientists, for we still had electricity, solar power, and a moon. See?” The woman pointed to the sky under the dim light, and Kara followed her finger. She was right. The moon, with all it’s bumps and bruises, glistened in the night sky. “Anyways, I have somewhere to be, if you don’t mind.” The lady continued walking through the dark, black nothing. “Wait! I’m scared. Back at home, it was sunny everyday. Where am I? What day is it? How long have I been gone?” The woman paused once more. “I-I don’t know. I’m so sorry.” “Please, at least tell me the year!” “I…okay, well, what year was it before you got here?” “It…it was 2022. I think…” “Oh, goodness gracious. I…it’s 2098.” The woman said. G.B.
THE CLARION
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