Disclaimer The Inkblot is a production of the Creative Writing Program at Green Hope High School. It is intended as a forum for students to share original work, including poetry, drama, short fiction, and creative nonfiction. Students often choose to write about issues and subjects that are personally meaningful to them, and potentially challenging for readers. Students may even adopt a fictional persona/perspective for the purposes of artistic exploration and expression. The views and feelings expressed in this collection do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of school administrators, teachers, or students.
Authors’ Notes These excerpts we chose to include are samples of larger projects that we are creating. Every other week, we will choose something to upload to The Inkblot, expanding each of our mini-series. These are the first pieces we have done. Grace’s Hotel will be a combination of excerpts taken from Haley’s independent writing project, a mystery novel. Each selection will focus on one specific person, the victim of the case, the investigator, or a suspect. Lesbian Nights is a dialogue-based piece about the romance between a low ranking lady and a princess.The story is told completely as a bedtime story several years in the future as a bedtime story for their child.
We hope you enjoy!
Haley Newton and Kristin Schmidt
Grace’s Hotel: Part 1 Grace Outside, the whole world quivers from the wind--or possibly the rain. In fear--or possibly excitement. Raindrops run down the car windows like tears run down cheeks. Inside of the dirty, beat-up, 1999 Subaru, Grace Burnette argues with someone on the phone. Her hands are clenched tightly around the steering wheel, as if to enhance her vision through the rain. “Dustin, just try to think for a minute!” She pleads. “Is this really the best choice?!” After listening, Grace takes a deep breath and sighs, telling the voice that she’ll be there by the morning, then hangs up the phone. Her neck is cramped from holding the phone between her shoulder and her ear. Thunder cracks, and lightning flashes through the dark sky. As if that were a warning, the skies open up and pour rain even harder than before. The storm is like nothing Grace has ever seen before, and she quickly discovers that there is no possible way to drive and not end up in a ditch. After a moment’s deliberation, Grace decides to walk. She drags a suitcase behind her, stopping when she sees a faint sign. Lightning illuminates it, and it reads, “Grace’s Hotel.” With an ominous feeling, she turns around and walks towards the wrought iron gates that frame the outside of the property. It all seemed eerily familiar, as though she had traveled there before, but she was certain that it was new to her.
“H-hi, welcome to Grace’s Hotel. How can I help you?” A boy of around nineteen stutters. He is wearing a maroon polo shirt and jeans. His light, messy hair was mussed up as though he had been asleep, but he seems curious about Grace. It could just be the fact that it was nearly three o’clock in the morning. Or it could be the fact that Grace looks like a drowned rat in the dim halo of light that is let off from the stained glass lamp in the corner of the main desk. “I need a room to stay in for the night, if it isn’t too late. Are there any vacancies?” “Yeah! I mean, I’m sure we can, uh, find you something.” Kneeling down, the boy pulls a thick, dusty book from beneath the counter. It looks as though it hasn’t seen the light of day in years. Flipping towards the back of the book, he spreads it open so Grace can write her name in
the leger. She hurriedly scribbles “Grace Burnette,” eager to be shown to her room and finally go to sleep. Her vision is blurry, and she still feels nauseous. The boy glances at the name, and his eyes widen. “Grace?” He asks nervously. “Yes, like the name of the hotel, I know. Can I see my key, please?” She asks brusquely, and the boy drops it into her palm. “Room 203. Right up those stairs, and on the left, second door. Have a nice stay, miss.” To be Continued…
By: Haley Newton
Lesbian Nights: Part 1 “Mommy, can you tell me a story?” “Sure, sweetheart. What do you want to hear about?” “Can you tell me how you and Mama met?” “What? You’ve heard that story a hundred times before!” “I know, but I really like it!” “Alright, alright. Well, once upon a time… When I first saw your mother I was twenty five years old. She was twenty three. She had been riding around her father’s estate, and I was there to meet with one of the generals. I was led up to his study, and towards the end of our meeting I happened to glance out the window. Outside, riding in through the gate atop a beautiful chestnut mare. Two of her ladies-in-waiting were with her, though I can’t quite remember what horses they were riding. I knew who she was immediately, Crown Princess Maria Jezebel Athena. I’d never met her myself, being born into a low ranking noble family, but my mother had been gifted a painting of her by a higher ranking relative. I can’t say it was love at first sight, but she certainly was a beautiful woman.” “Was a beautiful woman? I’m still lovely thank you, very much” “Of course you are, love.” “Mamma, don’t interrupt!” “Haha, sorry. Please continue, sweetheart.” “Anyway, so I managed to get through the meeting without staring too much at her. The general ended up praising my work, and asked to stick around for a few weeks so that I could be sent on a mission that he was putting together in a few weeks.” “What kinda mission?” “Didn’t you just tell Mamma not to interupt?” “Sorry.” “So I retired to the chambers I had been given for my stay in court. After the servants had delivered my luggage, a servant knocked on my door. When I opened it, he proclaimed that the King was hosting a feast that night, and all nobles currently in the castle had been invited. It was there that I met your mother.” By: Kristin Schmidt
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