Freedom Writers Short Story Contest

By Ms. Marina Lin

Are you dulled by the constant lecturing of your teacher or hypnotized by the melodious school bell?  If so, the Freedom Writers club is a space where you can develop your creativity, and most of all, express who you are.  The club was founded by the freshman this Fall 2009, and led by Diane Lee, Ingrid Lan, and Peter Lai.  The ever brilliant and innovative Ms. Lin helped supervise a club that focused on student publication.  Too often, students simply write for their teachers and no one else.  As a result, the writing is more or less conservative and tailored towards the teacher’s taste.  On the other hand, when students write for each other and themselves, it is a different story (no pun intended).

Freedom Writers Short Story Contest took place in December. Stepping in line with the internet age, the contestants were told to e-mail their stories to the club, and their stories were later published online on the website: (http://freedomwriters.weebly.com).  Based on the eight attributes of imagination, creativity, originality, grammar, writing style, clarity, logic, and meaning, students voted online for their favorite stories.  The first place winners are Brian Chen from 7 A, Saga Ringmar from 8A, Peter Lai from 9A, Shannon Lin from 10B and Fermin Liu from 11 B.  We hope you will enjoy the following excerpts, read the full story on the website, and be on the lookout for our first Freedom Writers Publication!

Excerpts of the winning short stories

“Misinformation” by Brian Chen of 7A, first place winner of 7^th grade

… …

But, of course, I couldn’t ask, “Mom, do you remember the precise minute when my best friend died?” I couldn’t even think the word. So I would have to wait until the topic became... less touchy.
        Wait…  It seemed like a pathetic choice. I couldn’t wait. I just wanted it to be over. What did I have to say? I had to let go. Let go of my late best friend. Well, that would sure be easy to do. I told myself to calm down.
         Slowly, as my hands trembled, my lips formed the words softly. “Good-bye, Robert…”
         In a supreme exemplification of irony, the email window responded with a dialog saying, “1 New Message. Update Conversation Now?” 
         And, of course, my hands trembling even more, I clicked “Yes”. 
         The message body was empty, as was the subject. The only thing in the message of significance was the attachment, an executable file.
         In a dreamlike state, I downloaded the file. I forgot all the articles about not downloading executables you found online. There was no point. Robert was the least likely person I knew to have his email address taken down by a virus. Although, come to think of it, he couldn’t very well protect it now that he—
        I forced myself not to finish that thought.

… … …

“Stalker” by Saga Ringmar of 8A, first place winner of 8^th grade

… … …

Then our eyes locked. He looked straight at me and I looked straight back. His chin was prickled and unshaved. His skin soft milk chocolate. His eyes were wisped egg whites in the caves of his eyes. Droplets of black metal reflected off his gun onto the shadows of his face. The seconds trickled down the cracks of the wooden walls.

“Who the heck are you?” He spat, like I was some new type of specimen of animal.

I glared at him,

“Hand over the money.” I hissed, the slight quiver of nervousness drowned out by my anger.

The Lucas Impostor grinned,

“Or you'll do what?” He asked,

 I looked around, desperately. I spotted the hole in the wall where he cut the wires connected to the safe's security system. Wires shot out like multicolored snakes. I grabbed hold of them, and then pulled a bunch out with a mighty tug. To my surprise the wires did not break off, they were obviously attached to an energy source.

“I'll electrocute you.” I growled, the wires clutched inside my sweating fists.

His eyes, twinkled. They were like dieing Christmas lights. They were like the blue of those coral reefs you read about in holiday magazines. They were beautiful.

… … …

 “Epic Story” by Peter Lai of 9A, first place winner of 9^th grade

Forty-two. Forty-three. Two heads hit the floor simultaneously. Avery glanced at the numbers flashing in the corner of his mind. No use, he thought. Ivan’s catching up too fast! Perspiration formed on his forehead. He ducked as a hand sprouting hideous appendages nearly missed him. In a fluid motion he used his sword to bifurcate the creature’s body, while he shot another one straight through the cranium. Forty-four. Forty-five. Blood splattered across Avery’s visor. Just as Ivan was about to take aim at the last one crawling out the hole, Avery threw his pocket knife straight through its skull. Forty-six. He glanced at his heads-up-display. Leading the list was his name, the number “forty-six” right next to it. Under it was Ivan’s, with “forty-five” displayed next to his name.

Avery grinned. “I win.”

Ivan swore colorfully. “I’ll beat you next time.”

“Dream on,” Avery said, as he bent down to retrieve his knife from a mutant’s inanimate body. Suddenly, the body exploded with such force that the entire hole collapsed, revealing a large tunnel.

… … …

“iPod Love” by Shannon Lin of 10B, first place winner of 10^th grade

… … …

Haliet was waiting for Morgan in the parking lot, expecting her to show up soon.  He sensed something wrong.  Morgan was never late.  She wasn’t picking up her cell phone.  And then he heard it:  the animalistic shrieks of a girl, obscenities flying everywhere.  The screams sounded somewhat familiar.  He caught snatches of something about not talking, him belonging to someone, and freaks.  And then he realized it.  Morgan couldn’t scream.  Morgan didn’t talk.  And that screaming person was yelling at her.  And then there was silence.  Haliet took off running, adrenaline whooshing in his veins.  Morgan, please don’t be dead…MORGAN!!!

Don’t try this at home, pretend you don’t see.

I don’t want to know that you know.  It should’ve been me…

… … …

“Life Would Be Different Without You” by Fermin Liu of 11B, first place winner of 11^th grade

… … …

Why is life so wonderful? All the problems from long ago just seemed like an ancient myth. I was happy now. Happy and with you.

        “I love you,” I uttered those three words so effortlessly. They came out so right.

        “I have always loved you,” you told me. I could see that you were beaming as you said this.

        “Can you believe that we are graduating next month? It’s amazing how great things have turned out, for both of us,” I said, referring to us attending the same college next year.

        “I’m happy that you are so happy,” you said. You held me so close to you, and pressed my head against your chest.

        For a moment there, when we pressed our heads against each other, it seemed like a farewell moment. However, I shook the feeling off. Why would you ever leave me? You are my rock, my life, my everything.

        “Promise me something, will you?” you said to me in that gentle voice of yours that could persuade me to do anything.

        “Anything.”

        “Promise me you will be safe. Always be safe.”

        “Of course I will. I could never get hurt with you by my side.”

        “What if…”

        I didn’t know what you were about to say because at that moment, I interjected, “Your turn.”

        But, whatever it was, it wasn’t important because you answered to my request immediately.

        “What should I promise? You know I am entirely yours.”

        “Promise you will never leave me.”

        “I can never leave you because everything that is me, my soul and my heart, they all belong to you.”

… … …

Freedom Writers Short Story Contest Winners

Read their full stories online at http://freedomwriters.weebly.com.

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