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!
ASHES OF ALEXANDRIA by Ben Avery
Team 1 – Reepicheep
Rolling smoke accompanied the gentle crackling of fire, both coming from two rooms down. Ashes of parchment, some black, some glowing orange, wafted through the doorway. The fire would consume the building in a matter of hours. In a day, this entire section of the city would be gone. Ash in the wind.
Quick, careful, gentle: the instructions for how they were to handle the scrolls they pulled from their cubbies in the wall. And safe: the instruction, almost an afterthought, for how they were to conduct themselves.
Ryan pulled down scroll after scroll and deposited it into the Chrono-Crate, still in awe that he stood in the actual Library of Alexandria, handling books that had been lost to history forever.
No, not lost forever. Not now.
He had been partnered with Esther, another of the time Gatekeepers he had struck up a friendship with. Ryan was a time traveler because of scientific interest. Esther was a refugee in time, rescued from certain death in 1692. Both now worked as agents of the Gatekeepers. Usually this meant protecting a time period from time travelers, both well meaning and nefarious.
Today it meant assisting in a massive rescue effort: saving the lost knowledge of the library of Alexandria.
Esther dropped a half-dozen scrolls in the Chrono-Crate. They bounced and settled into the pile, not quite as neatly as Ryan liked. But good enough. “And lo, another chest filled!” She folded the lid closed over the top. “Would you do the honors?”
Ryan nodded. Esther had learned the Gatekeeper’s time travel tech surprisingly well, considering steam power barely existed in her time, but she still felt uncomfortable with it. Ryan activated the crate time mechanism and the box disappeared, returning it to 2034.
Smoke accumulated in the ceiling of the room; ashes on the floor. Ryan said, “We should put on our oxygen, just to be safe.”
“Aye.”
They did so, and then Ryan began pulling down scrolls from the higher cubbies while Esther watched.
What wisdom did he hold in his hands? What nonsense? Were these works of science and alchemy? Works of drama and poetry? Recipes and receipts?
Esther interrupted his thoughts. “How doth your friend fare? The one called Eden?”
“She doesn’t have much time left,” he said. “Her sister, Jenna, says they’re measuring her time in weeks, not months anymore.”
Esther’s strong, firm hand gently gripped his shoulder. Surprised, he stopped mid-reach. Lowered his arm. He kept his back to her, not because he was ashamed of his tears, but because he did not want to deal with an emotional episode. If he turned and looked at her, he was not sure he would be able to hold it in. And they had a job to do.
“I’d rather not talk about it.”
Esther squeezed his shoulder once, then removed her hand.
Two people wearing oxygen masks ran by the doorway, moving away from the smoke and the sound of the flames. Another room, abandoned to destruction.
An empty Chrono-Crate appeared in the center of the room.
“Probably just one more crate in here, then we should move on, too.”
Esther laughed in response. “Nay, two we shall fill! Mark me.”
Now Ryan did turn to her. He gave her a quick nod and they set to work: Ryan, neatly setting the scrolls into the crate, Esther almost neatly dropping scrolls inside.
“I am like unto these scrolls,” Esther said, at a point when they both stood over the crate together. “Drawn from fire, delivered from death, gifted new life. They called me witch for mere whispers. Had they seen me now: vanishing through time! Riding a device that carries me through ether! Sending e-mails . . .”
Ryan laughed, but it was short lived. “I used my time device to teleport into Eden’s room after hours. Just before I reported to headquarters for this mission. Eden was sleeping, so I just sat with her until her sister showed up, and I vanished right out of there and reported to our mission briefing.”
For a moment, the only sound was a swishing of parchment as Esther dropped more scrolls into the crate and the rising crackle of flames nearby.
Ryan brought seven more scrolls to the crate and, after adjusting Esther’s most recent additions, he placed them inside. “Eden knows I’m a time traveler. I’ve taken her on a couple excursions. When she was stronger . . .” He didn’t want to keep talking, but he couldn’t stop. He couldn’t help feeling that this time . . . This place . . . With Esther. Something more than just this mission had brought him here. “Needless to say, this wasn’t the first time. Lately, I’ve used my time device to maximize the time I can spend with her. All behind Jenna’s back, of course.”
“Of course.” Esther dropped more scrolls into the crate and Ryan turned back to the shelves.
“I mean, I have all of time and space at my disposal. But . . .” Tears came back to his eyes. “But time is still so limited. There’s no cure. No treatment. There’s just so little time . . .”
Once more they met at the crate, each with an armful of scrolls. After depositing the scrolls, Esther locked eyes with Ryan, stopping him. “I grieve for thee. This sorrow is heavy. But thou art not alone.”
“Thanks.”
Two more armfuls each and the crate was full. Ready to send into the future again, where this wealth of antiquity’s wisdom and knowledge would be studied. Lost no more.
Another crate appeared.
“I’m such an idiot!”
Esther dropped her scrolls on the floor. “What?”
But he shook his head. “Nothing.”
He dropped his scrolls in the create, then grabbed another bunch, muttering gleefully as he did. “I have all of time and space at my disposal . . . All of time and space . . . No treatments . . . No cure . . . Not in 2024, but . . .”
And while they filled the last crate for this room, he began to form his plan.
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….