Welcome to the fifth week of the Spring Writing Challenge!
You all did so well with your stories last week! There were so many interesting and unique ways you interpreted the prompt. It’s now the fifth week, so it’s time to do it again! Will your story have fairies? Time travel? Ghosts?! Whatever you decide, we can’t wait to see what you come up with.
So, without further ado, here’s your next prompt!
Week Five Prompt – The Sentence Prompt
Write a story that includes the following sentence:
Needless to say, this wasn’t the first time…
Wait…what’s a sentence prompt?
A sentence prompt is a prompt that uses a particular sentence. It doesn’t matter where your story takes place, who’s in it, or what’s said. The only thing that matters is that your story must include the sentence, “Needless to say, this wasn’t the first time.”
Before you start writing, we have some important rules for you to follow.
Writing Rules
1. Please keep the content of the stories you post to a PG rating. Please avoid real curse words. Violence/fighting should be limited and purposeful. Please do not include any spice.
2. Your story must be 1,000 words or less, and must contain the prompt to be counted for the challenge. You’re not required to post it in order to “win” the challenge, but if you want it to count for your team, your story must be posted by Sunday at 11:59 PM ET, and you must include your team name.
Remember to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and post your story as an “answer” to this question, not a “comment”. 🙂 You’re all doing such a great job! I’m so proud of all the stories you’ve posted.
Happy Writing!
Team A Herbert
Rayne’s Fight?
Needless to say, this wasn’t the first time Rayne had fled from conflict. Gerald sighed, pushing his blond hair out of his face. Fighting Shadows never frightened her—she didn’t remember anything before that—but the tension at home always sent her running. He had spent years trying to understand why.
He knew Kara would be nearby, hoping that he would pour out his frustrations about Rayne to her. He shook his head. Why was the older girl filled with such hostility? What had quiet Rayne ever done to her?
Sighing, he went down the stairs. At least, Rayne was home for now. But would she stay? Or would Kara drive her away? Was it Kara that had driven her away last time?
He frowned thoughtfully. Kara was scolding Wolf about something. He towered over her, but leaned away from her as she pointed at him.
“You think you have a right to tell me how to treat my own sister?” She snapped.
“All I said was, if you tore at me the way you just did that poor girl, I’d leave too.” Said the man, folding his arms. “And I wouldn’t come back either.”
Kara spun, eyes flashing.
“Gerald! You hear him,” she snapped.
“I hear him.” He replied.
“Tell him he has no right to speak to me that way! I didn’t tear into her! He doesn’t know what Rayne is like!”
Gerald sank down into a nearby chair. “And do you know what your little sister is like? She has been gone for three years! Three years! Sure now, her tongue doesn’t work well, but her ears work just fine.”
The red haired girl stiffened. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying, do you think Wolf is at all wrong in what he said?” Gerald asked.
“Yes! I wasn’t unkind, Rayne isn’t so thin skinned!” She snapped. “She fights Shadows, a few words aren’t going to hurt her!”
Gerald blinked.
“Thin skinned?” Scoffed Wolf. “You picked at her like a vulture! No wonder she has been gone three years! I’m amazed she came back to listen to your sharp tongue at all!”
Gerald rubbed his eyes as if he was getting a headache.
“You don’t -”
Gerald cut her off. “That’s enough, sister.”
Startled, Wolf and Kara both looked at him.
Gerald tilted his head, studying her.
“You never see your own sharpness.” Gerald marveled. “I suppose sin is like that. It’s so hard to spot our own. You think your words like sword thrusts don’t reach Rayne’s heart?”
Kara blinked. “Gerald!”
He lifted a hand. “You never talked this way to Rayne when Father was around, so he can’t tell you. But I can.”
He surveyed her with sad gray eyes. “I believe that you aren’t aware of it, but listen next time you talk to your little sister. You haven’t been kind and she does feel it. How deeply I don’t know. But you are one of the closest things to family she has. I don’t think she expected you to welcome her back, but in her own words you weren’t happy to see her.”
“She spoke to you about me?” Kara asked sharply. “That gossip!”
Wolf laughed, but without humor. “Before you complained that she never spoke, now you are complaining that she speaks too much? Rayne a gossip? Can’t you hear yourself?”
Kara stamped her foot. “You stay out of this! This all started long before you came into our midst!”
He lifted his large hands. “Sure, I’ll stay out of it.”
He glanced at Gerald. “Can’t say I envy your job as peace keeper, elder brother.”
The large man walked away. Kara spun to face Gerald, her eyes with an angry sheen and her fists clenched.
“You always take her side! Even when she isn’t even here!”
He blinked. “I try to be just. Like Father would be. And Rayne didn’t bring you up, I did.”
“What?”
“I told her not to take your sharp words to heart. Told her that you had worried about her.”
He rose. “I think I lied to her.”
“What do you mean?” She asked quietly.
His eyes had a hard look that she didn’t like.
“I implied to her that you loved her. Rayne didn’t believe that. And I find that I no longer believe it either.”
“You brute!” She cried.
Kara charged him, hitting his chest, raging and crying. “How can you say such horrible things!”
“I only say them, because I believe they are true.” He replied. “You act like you hate her. I know she’s not perfect either. She will hide and run from her problems, but at least she never lashes out at anyone over them. ”
“I hate you, Gerald Underhill!”
The red head fled down the hall, and the sound of her sobbing faded.
Gerald sighed and sat back down. He rubbed his chin. He knew he was right in what he said, but should he have confronted Kara about it? Was it his place? But who else would have?
Would Rayne learn to fight her own battles? Or was it always going to fall to him—to fight for the sister who never fought back?
What a powerful story
Thank you Lynae Fisher! 🙂 What struck you as powerful about it?
Thanks for sharing your story this week. I found it a little hard to follow the many names thrown out, especially all at once. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure if you were referring to the male or female (I thought maybe it was a typo at first). But I did find the story moving, and overall a powerful theme. It definitely has merit, and I urge you to keep at it!
TEAM A
SUSAN BY ADELAIDE RIGGS
Near the local dirt road in a lush field, there was an abundant variety of grasses, wild flowers, and small creatures. All who dwelled here lived their lives with simplicity and gratitude. This included Susan, a beautiful flower whose color reminded everyone of a ripe summer lemon (but she was not quite so sour).
One morning, Susan was in the clearing enjoying a soft breeze when suddenly the air rapidly changed direction. Fragile as she was, Susan fell on her face, unable to get up. Panicking, she tried calling for help but the ground muffled her voice. Susan was helpless.
Just a minute later, a tiny, round old woman wearing a bright red cloak with black polka dots came into the clearing. It was Mrs. Dotty! She noticed the girl laying on the ground.
“Oh my!” exclaimed Mrs. Dotty as she hurried over to Susan. “What ever happened to you, dear?”
“I fell and ca-can’t move,” replied Susan quietly. “Could you he-help me?” Then she began to cry.
“Yes, yes of course! Be patient my dear. I’ll go as fast as I’m able to the house of Dr. Chippy.” And with that, Mrs. Dotty turned and quickly scuttled away, her red cloak fluttering behind her.
Susan was alone again, and very anxious. She wondered if she would never rise to see the blue sky again. Despite these thoughts, she tried to focus on her respiration. After what felt like months, she heard a pitter-patter, and out from the tall grass appeared Dr. Chippy with little Mrs. Dotty riding on his back.
“There she is, Doctor!” said Mrs. Dotty, pointing with one hand while the other five hung on tight. Needless to say, this wasn’t the first time he had been summoned, however this was the first time he had dealt with little old woman riding on his back.
“I see, I see! Please do not yell, you’re already near enough to my ear!” replied the doctor. Dr. Chippy was tall, dapper, orderly man, with a decent amount of good humor. They approached Susan.
“Hello?” asked the girl.
“Hello! So sorry about your condition. I’m Dr. Chippy, and we will help you get up.” These words made Susan feel better.
“Pardon, but where is the other one?” inquired Mrs. Dotty.
“Well, Perk should have been behind us. Excuse me for a second.” The doctor filled his cheeks and gave a couple sharp whistles.
In a moment, a boy appeared next to them. He looked rather lofty, and had a smirk on his round face. Mrs. Dotty jumped up and landed in a ball, her arms and legs tucked in.
“Perk!” said the doctor sternly as his son began to laugh. “This is a serious matter. I did not ask you to come along to play games!” Susan thought it was quite funny, but would have enjoyed it more if it weren’t for the condition she was in.
“Ok, let’s get to it,” said the motivated doctor. “Madam, you fetch some water from the brook and grab some witch hazel on your way back. Perk, you’ll need to climb onto my shoulders so we can lift this poor girl up.” Immediately Mrs. Dotty flew down the hill to complete her orders.
Just as Perk was about to climb upon his father’s back, Dr. Chippy noticed a break in Susan’s back. “Oh my, we will need some long grass to bind that wound. Got it, Perk?” “Sure, dad!”
Overhearing the doctor’s concern, Susan’s nerves were on the rise. “A-am I going to be OK?”
“I believe you’re going to be just fine,” consoled the doctor.
Perk made quick work of gathering some long grass and wasted no time in hopping up onto his father’s shoulders. They worked together to lift Susan up off the ground and stand her upright, Dr. Chippy encouraging Susan throughout the process.
Mrs. Dotty arrived not a moment too soon with the water and witch hazel, the latter of which was applied to Susan’s fracture.
In a jiffy Dr. Chippy had bound her wound with the green bandage and all was well.
“Oh, thank you all! I feel so much better, except it feels like my eye might be bruised,” said Susan.
“Well miss,” Dr. Chippy responded, “it does look pretty dark.”
“Black, I’d say,” added Mrs. Dotty.
Dr. Chippy applied the witch hazel to Susan’s bruise, but it did not seem to work.
“I’m sorry, but there is not much else I can do. What’s your name, miss?”
“Susan.”
“Susan,” Dr. Chippy looked her in the face. “Your black eye is beautiful.”
“Black eyed Susan.” said Mrs. Dotty….