ISSUE 2 V1: 31 March 2017
THE PENCHANT
"THE STERLING LINING: HUGH" F E A T U R I N G
BY ryan doolittle, lily yang, devon huge , and daniel huang.
IRVINGTON| CREATIVE WRITING CLUB
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The Sterling Lining: Hugh An Excerpt By Ryan Doolittle, Daniel Huang, Devon Huge, and Lily Yang
Pit, pat, pit, pat Hugh curled up on his bed and watched the rain fall through his bedroom window. The gray streaks splattered against the glass on the tiny window, and dripped down to pool into the mud. The oak trees thrashed in the wind, throwing their leaves spastically with each oncoming gust, as their great trunks heaved to keep upright in the heavy winds. “Hugh! Hugh, there’s people to see you!” the caretaker called. Hugh continued to stare out the window, imagining the caretaker’s voice drowning in the storm outside, being carried away by the wind or lost among the sweet cacophony of rain. That was the beauty of rain, he thought. Even on a sunny days you couldn’t always be certain that the rain wouldn’t come, but when it finally rained you knew it couldn’t get any worse. The rain would never pretend to be anything other than cold, and freeze you in its icy embrace. Unlike A rough hand grabbed Hugh by the shoulder, and spun him around. Hugh found himself staring at the face of Mr. Ghaun, the slim caretaker of the orphanage. “I called out to ya’, boy,” Mr. Ghaun said, “Why did you not respond?”
Synopsis: Hugh may just be the most pitiful human alive. Being orphaned at only two years of age and as a child with autism, Hugh visualizes the world in a distinctively different way, causing him to face difficulties from corner to corner. However, his fate changes as a seemingly caring family with a son of their own decides to adopt him. Although he finally feels the privileges of having loving parents and a friend, he begins to notice strange things about his adoptive family after the sudden death of his new brother.
Hugh threw his gaze to the cramped bed in the side of the room, and said nothing. Mr. Ghaun waited a couple of seconds, then sighed noisily. “How will you ever be a fine young man if you can’t talk to people?” he said. He then turned and walked to the closet, small and packet with Hugh’s stitched and ragged clothes that had once belonged to kids he had never met. "There's a
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family here to see ya’ in the main room,” Mr.
wooden floor, and smacked into the ground. He
Ghaun said. “Go to them and… just smile,
lifted himself up slowly. “What on earth did you
alright?”
do that for!” the father shouted at the boy.
Hugh walked out the door and made his way to
“He doesn’t belong here!” said the boy. “He
the main lobby. When he arrived, he could hear
shouldn’t be with us at all!”
the receptionist talking. “...been here for all his
The father shook his head. “That is nonsense,
life, yes, since he was about one or two years old.
my boy, and you know it.” He then turned his
He has a fine temperament, and doesn’t really
gaze over to Hugh. “I am very sorry about that,
seem to get angry, but he has issues maintaining
my son gets excited sometimes and I don’t know
eye contact or speaking to others. You know, the
why. That’s why we want another child to help
usual symptoms…” The receptionist trailed off as
play with him, and help calm him down. Would
she saw Hugh. “Hey, there he is!” she exclaimed,
you be willing to come with us, as long as you can
in a brightness that hurt Hugh’s ears. “Look,
play with him?”
Hugh, this fine family wanted to see you!”
Hugh hesitated. Of course it would be great to
Hugh dragged his eyes to gaze at the family
get out of the cramped orphanage, to finally have
that stood before him. There was a man and
a bed his own size, with his own clothes, and even
woman standing next to each other, formally
a family, but… he didn’t know these people. Of
dressed, with a kid around Hugh’s age standing
course, he really didn’t know many people at the
next to him. As Hugh looked at the kid, the kid
orphanage, so it didn’t really matter to him. This
started shaking his head vigorously, and Hugh
family could be his ray of sunshine out of this
found himself looking away to the receptionist’s
raincloud of life here at the orphanage, and the
desk.
least he could do was take the chance and try to
“So, you are Hugh, correct?” the man who was
have a new life. “I… sure” Hugh spluttered.
the father said to Hugh. Hugh slowly raised his
The father smiled wide. “I am sure that you
eyes to the man’s face and smiled sheepishly. The
will enjoy living with us. My name is Mr.
man looked at Hugh for a few seconds, then
Sterling, and this is Mrs. Sterling, but you can call
turned back to the receptionist. “Yes, I think he
us dad and mom. And the boy is our son, James.”
would fit into our family just fine”, the man said.
He then turned, and Hugh followed his gaze to see
“Are you so certain already?” the receptionist
Mr. Ghaun standing by the desk, with a clean
asked. She glanced at Hugh, then back to the man.
duffel bag in his hand. Mr. Ghaun set the bag
The man turned to his wife, who stared at Hugh
down on the ground.
and nodded, but said nothing.
“ I packed up all of your clothes, Hugh, plus a
The silence was broken by the boy, who ran up
few extra clothes that haven’t really been
to Hugh and, without warning, pushed him away.
worn before” Mr. Ghaun said. He stared at Hugh,
Hugh found himself falling backward on the old
then wiped his eyes. “I figured you
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would be leaving with them, so I wanted to get
sleeve that James finally released his hand.
everything ready for you.” He hesitated for a
Expecting to see James sneering, Hugh was
moment, then picked up the bag and set it down
surprised that James’ transparent gray eyes were
next to Hugh. “...I know you didn’t really like it
glazed and red. Confused, Hugh opened his
here, Hugh, but I’m sure your new family will
mouth to ask, but no sound came out. He quickly
treat you great, alright? ...go on then.” Mr. Ghaun
averted his glance back at the speeding world
stepped back from the duffel bag, and he and the
outside his window. This time, the running
father exchanged glances. The father nodded at
droplets only reminded him of James and the
him.
future terror he would have to face.
“Come on Hugh, it’s time to go,” the father
As minutes passed, the world outside slowed,
said, gathering up the duffel bag and walking out
and the blurs of color began to obtain definition,
the front door of the orphanage, with the boy
finally displaying a slightly downtrodden
following close behind. Hugh looked at Mr.
two-storied house. “And we’re here! I hope you
Ghaun for a moment, and slowly smiled before
don’t mind that our house isn’t the newest. But, I
hurrying quickly to follow the mother out the
can guarantee you’ll find it comfortable here,”
door, and move on to a new and better life.
Mr. Sterling exclaimed as he looked back from
Smiling and filled with hope, Hugh could not
the driver’s seat, smiling.
wait to finally get out of the cramped, little car.
Hugh nodded as the corners of his mouth
For once in his life, Hugh felt that his destined
involuntarily bent up. Fumbling with the car door,
doom was no longer. He stared contently outside
Hugh tripped his way out and took a deep breath,
the window, watching glittering drops of rain race
letting the earthy aromas fill his lungs.
as blurs of reds, greens, and blues splattered
Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling and James
endlessly. Clutching his canvas bag with his
were arguing over something that Hugh could not
clothes and a few keepsakes from his estranged
discern.
parents, a sense of warmth dissipated throughout
After James was finally dragged out of the car,
his small frame.
Mr. Sterling happily came up to the door. His
Suddenly, a cold hand snatched the corner of
weather-laden hands held Hugh’s pale ones as he
Hugh’s sleeve, waking Hugh from his trance. He
bent down to Hugh’s height. “Hugh, my boy, I
turned away from the window to see the
just want to say how thankful I am to have you
menacing face of his new brother.
become part of my family. From now on, Hugh,
“Go. Go far away,” James muttered under his
you will be Hugh Sterling and I will be your
breath as his grip on Hugh’s sleeve tightened.
father. I hope you can accept me.”
Hugh, too afraid to respond, could only stare at
Mrs. Sterling also walked to the doorstep,
James’ hand. His eyes began to fill with tears.
planting a kiss on Hugh’s forehead. “Welcome to
Seconds passed, but the hand would not move
the family. Please accept me, too.”
away. It was not until the tears covered the
Overjoyed and slightly paralyzed from the
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amount of care he is receiving in such a short
“I mean, thank you, M-mother.” Hugh never
time, Hugh managed to stutter, “Yes! No… I--of
thought that he would have the chance to say such
course I will accept you both! I’m sorry. I’m not
words. Hearing it roll of his tongue felt foreign,
very good with expressing myself.”
but nonetheless, it felt right.
“Atta boy!” Mr. Sterling said as he gave Hugh a tight hug. Over Mr. Sterling’s shoulder, Hugh caught a glimpse of James standing alone as rain pelted him relentlessly. Although feeling obligated to also accept James as family, this moment of seeing him suffer, seeing him isolated, made Hugh feel satisfied that James, who has been nothing but cruel to him, is receiving a deserved punishment. At last, the new family of four entered through the humble red door. Inside, the place was slightly disheveled, but the lemon yellow walls and the pale blue and white tiles splattered across the floor made the house feel lively and cozy. Leading Hugh upstairs, Mrs. Sterling showed him his new room, a small studio bedroom with venetian blinds and a small work desk next to James’ room. Taking him to the closet, she shows him racks of clothes---a sight that Hugh has never seen before. “We weren’t sure how our boy would be like, so we bought clothes around the same size as James. I hope it fits you. Also, you’ll be starting school with James in a few days.” “Okay.” “Call me any time if anything gets uncomfortable or if anything comes up! Dinner is at seven! ” “Alright, thank you.” Mrs. Sterling stayed at the door for a while, looking at Hugh fondly.
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6
The Last Sticker BY RYAN DOOLITTLE
Malcolm stood up, frowning as he saw his close friend Gordon walk towards the angels standing in front of the Sanctuary of Perfection, which of course was completely empty. He decided to walk towards Gordon, his eyes following as Gordon stopped in front of the angels. They appeared to talk for a few moments,
Malcolm sat by the riverbank, gazing across
and then Gordon frowned and started to walk
the water. He was a young man, in his early
away. Malcolm smiled thinly. Serves him right,
twenties, with short brown hair, and covering his
Malcolm thought. “Hey Gordon!” Malcolm called
visible skin were hundreds of little stickers, for
out, “What happened?”
stickers were how you proved your own worth in
Gordon turned, and walked over to meet
this life, and he had plenty to count. He had
Malcolm. “Hey, Malcolm, how’s it going?”
stickers to prove how he was an amazing guitarist,
Gordon said. “I was just trying to see if I could be
piano player, and drummer, stickers for all the
evaluated by the angels over there before my
awards his own songs had won, stickers for all the
twenty-first birthday.” He sighed. “But sadly, they
times he had been named the most handsome,
won’t let me, even though I’m only a couple of
most talented, whatever you care to name. But
months away.”
here he sat, gazing across the water, and yearning
Malcolm smirked. “Hey Gordon,” he said,
for the one thing that he wanted on this Earth: the
“Guess what day it is today?”
sticker of perfection.
Gordon stared at him for a few seconds,
He had seen the angels themselves, with
uncertain, before his eyes gaped open. “Is it your
wings made of feathers strung along poles that
twenty-first birthday?!” he exclaimed.
jutted from their backs. Malcolm knew that one
Malcolm nodded, and turned his back to
sticker was all he wanted, for if he got that one
Gordon. He had more important business. Smiling
sticker, then he could truly prove to himself that
widely, he strode up the angels, and nodded as he
he was absolutely better than anyone else that had
arrived. They nodded in return. “You are
ever existed. You see, no one had ever gotten that
Malcolm, we trust?” they said. “Here for your
sticker of Perfection before, since no one had ever
evaluation?”
been perfect enough in this world to earn it, and
“Of course,” Malcolm replied, eager to
as Malcolm believed, no one who existed before
prove to the world that he was the most perfect
stickers invented ever mattered, since how could
person of all time.
they be worth anything without having any
“Then right this way,” they said, and lead
stickers? Yes, stickers were truly the only way to
Malcolm into a small hut before the Sanctuary,
eke out your existence in this world.
and down into a small room, dimly lit by a
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blazing fire in a fireplace in the corner. They
The two angels nodded, a habit that was
strapped Malcolm into a small plastic chair,
beginning to annoy Malcolm. “Yes, of course, the
securing his arms and legs in thick leather straps,
sticker,” one of the angels said, and the other one
and set a sort of device on his head that looked
walked out of Malcolm’s sight, before returning
like a crown, but with electrical wires and lights
with a small box and an iron rod with a flat end.
buzzing through it. He frowned at the unfamiliar
They opened the box, and there it was. It was the
object as they put it on him, and flipped a switch
most beautiful, the most majestic sticker Malcolm
on the
had ever seen, with color that seemed to blaze
wall beside him. Suddenly, images burst onto the
with the sun’s ferocity in the dimly lit room. And,
wall in front of him, images of him playing guitar
most importantly of all, it was absolutely perfect.
perfectly, singing and hitting every note, painting
Malcolm stared, wide eyed, as they pulled back
masterpieces of songs with words and meanings,
part of his shirt, and stuck the sticker on the skin
smiling, laughing, saying the best joke possible at
right over his heart.
just the right moment to fill the room with an
Malcolm smiled as his mind flooded
uproar of laughter. He smiled, watching all the
with euphoria at the feeling of it, as the sticker
memories flood past him, and coat the metal walls
stuck to his skin. And he was still smiling when
of the dark and cold room where he sat. The
the other angel grabbed the metal rod, its flat end
angels watched with him, and when it was all
red hot from being in the fireplace, and pressed
over several hours later, they nodded and one
the burning steel against his skin.
turned off the screen. Then they both turned and
Malcolm screamed in agony, as the
faced him.
sticker fused with his skin. The angel pulled the
“You never made any mistakes, did
metal rod back, his face completely still, and they
you?” they said.
both watched as Malcolm collapsed in the chair,
Malcolm smiled widely, and shook his
still tied up and secured. The angels undid his
head. “No, I’m probably the most perfect human
bounds, and Malcolm fell to the floor. “You…”
being that ever was,” he said humbly.
Malcolm gasped, staring up at the angels through
The two angels looked at each other, and
a vision tinged with red.
nodded. “So what did you learn?” they said.
The angels both nodded. “You were
Malcolm hesitated. What was there to
perfect,” they both said in harmony, “But nothing
learn when you were always perfect? “Why does
is ever perfect. Your own perfection is what has
it matter?” he said, “I never made a mistake. Now
eroded your humanity, and now you are no longer
where’s my sticker?”
human.”
Malcolm gasped, and collapsed to the floor as his body turned to ash.
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Laborer A-9-62 BY LILY YANG
BY LILY YANG
A rooster cried its shrill call in the distance and
among a surprising amount of others, only applies
disrupted the serenity that the night has brought
to Laborers, who have not taken or passed The
for Village A-9. I woke up with a jolt and
Opportunity, at age 14. The Opportunity is a test
hesitated for I knew what was waiting for me: The
that can be taken to advance to the Elite rank. The
same continuous routine, designed for us Laborers
Elites on the other hand, do not have to spend
to suffer. I picked up my rusted, bent axe and
their hours in the quarry, they have absolute
went to wake my father. I opened his termite
freedom and wealth---or so I’ve heard.
bitten door, only to find a note on his ragged
I shook off my thoughts and started the route
pillow. It said:
to the quarry, the same familiar path that every
Son,
Laborer has memorized. First across the tiny
I have been summoned by King Aiden V and
Aidenite Forest, the only geographic landmark
three-quarters to work in the Elite’s quarry for a
that separated the villages from the quarry, then
new building. You still have to work in the
down a cliff that led to a canyon where the quarry
Laborers’ quarry and make yourself meals, for I
was. When I finally arrived, I was sent to a
will not return home until the next day.
section of the quarry designated for 10-12 year
Your Father,
olds. I hated it there with all my heart. Everyone
A-9-62
was expected to chop off as much stone as
I listlessly put the note back on his pillow, for I
required, or else we would not be given the
was long used to it. Ever since my mother passed
precious food, water, or clothes we were given as
away when I was four, I have been, and always
pay. Laborers were not allowed to talk to others,
will be the cook and the worker, and there is no
or interact with others in any way in the quarry.
way I can change that. The rules say so. This rule,
With this settled, I began my tedious work.
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I struck at the towering wall of stone with my
“Pathetic… Even your father was more
weather-beaten axe. Hours passed, sweat dripped,
promising in terms of strength. You on the other
and my skin tore, yet I produced only five cases
hand, only inherited his curly, dirty-blonde hair
full of stone, three cases less than the
and grotesque brown eyes. Ugh...Ugly and weak.
requirement. I continued, but lost effort at every
Now for your payment- oh right...you can’t have
swing of the axe. The pain was unbearable, and I
any. Run along now, you,” Jauc smirked.
couldn’t stand it any more. I decided to leave, for
“Y-yes sir,” I said I bit down on my tongue,
I fulfilled the four hour requirement of every
forcing myself not to curse at him.
Laborer. I sighed as I carried the cases of stone to
When I was on the way back home, I let out
Jauc, the 16 year old Elite manager who always
my bottled in anger. I kicked at the nearest tree,
had a menacing look that was conveyed by his
making sure to deprive it of its leaves. Then
eagle-like hazel eyes and impossibly sleek
slowly I regained my composure, and I walked
midnight black hair.
into the fenced in area with a flashy title of
“A-9-63! I see that you, once again did not fill
Village A-9. I strolled toward the house marked
the required eight cases. I don’t think you ever
9.2 and unlocked it with my rusted key. As I sat
had… what a weak boy you are,” Jauc said
on my bed I thought of the pleasures of being an
pompously.
Elite. Just two more years until I will get a letter
“I-I’m sorry, sir,” I whimpered.
saying that I, A-9-63, will be eligible to choose to take The Opportunity to become an Elite. Just two I repeated to myself.