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!
(Week 5 entry), by Sarah Sax, Team Reepicheep
Inspired by a real-life kayak trip, in which we got off course so many times one might think the trees were luring us to our doom. . . .
There’s nothing like a Florida landscape gone wild. You get a tangled mess of oak, mangrove, palmetto, and who knows what else bound together with Spanish moss. To Jaden Acker, the landscape represented mystery, possibility, a jungle waiting to be explored. It also represented a trap.
“Hey, Jaden, look out!” Hannah shouted behind him.
“What?” He glanced up, and dived down just in time. The kayak slipped under a low-hanging oak branch that would have gotten him in the face. “Thanks!”
“Yeah, no pro—Jaden! Land ho, land ho! Look out!”
“Agh!” The kayak was now heading straight for a tangle of trees along the bank. There wasn’t much they could do, other than paddle furiously (which resulted in much splashing and little else). They hit the bank with a jolt.
“Ow,” Hannah said, even though it couldn’t have hurt. She had a habit of doing that. Still, Jaden felt bad. He was the one up front, after all.
“Sorry. I should’ve paid better attention.”
“Ahh, we’re just bad at this in general.” Hannah gestured to the bottom of the kayak. There was a puddle gathering, about an inch and a half deep and growing. “You’re closer to the bank. Push us out, and I’ll steer.”
“Aye, aye, captain.” Jaden leaned forward, prodding at the tree with his paddle. They weren’t terribly stuck—they shouldn’t have been terribly stuck—but the branches had twisted together, making a nice little hole perfect for the noses of kayaks. Needless to say, this wasn’t the first time, but he was starting to worry he might have to get in the water to push them out. Finally, though, the branches shifted just enough for him to get free. Hannah began paddling them back on course, and he joined in. Only a little more water splashed in this time.
“Character development,” said Hannah.
“Whew.” Jaden rubbed dirt off his hands. “Let’s try to stay on course now. For just a little while, at least.”
Hannah snickered. They had been at it for half an hour and had managed to get stuck six times, not to mention ram the bank or nearby trees at least a dozen more. Considering Jaden had only gone kayaking once when he was little, and Hannah had never kayaked at all, that wasn’t so bad. The trail was just narrow and overgrown, was all.
“We’re drifting again,” Hannah warned. “Maybe you should move to the back.”
“Nah, it’s better to have the more experienced kayaker up front.”
Hannah snorted. “Some experience.”
“Blah, blah, blah.”
“Whatever. Just try to pay better attention, okay? These trees freak me out. I’m scared we’ll shake a banana spider down on our heads.”
“You know what they say about the trees down here,” Jaden said. Talking helped keep him focused. “They say they’re alive.”
“Well, duh. They’re trees.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. I mean, they’re alive alive. Sentient. And they don’t like humans.”
“Sounds like something made up by a conservationist. What do they do, march on the ranger station? ‘To Isengard!’” Hannah raised the paddle above her head, and the amount of water in the kayak officially reached two inches.
“Nah, they’re more subtle than that. They let the humans come. They welcome the humans. Untouched wilderness, the real Florida, things like that. And when they get out here, the trees watch and wait, slowly lifting their roots and curling their branches until they have the humans really and truly trapped. Then they—uh—” Jaden’s fountain of invention dried up. “Eat them, I guess. Whatever angry trees do to people.”
“The ents squished whoever made them angry,” Hannah pointed out.
“Squish them, then. They go back to the soil and fertilize new trees.” Jaden thought about that. “Which is pretty ironic, considering how much they hate us. We help bring them to life. Well, that’s the tale of the wild Florida wilderness. What’d you think?”
“Cute,” Hannah said, “but it needs work. I’m still voting for a march on the ranger station.”
They got caught in a small eddy and began sailing for the bank again. Hannah yelled, the paddles splashed frantically, and the water level in the kayak continued rising. However, it all made a difference this time, as they were able to turn away just before hitting land.
“See?” Hannah said. “Character development. We’re finally getting the hang of this.”
Jaden agreed, brushing away a stray vine. “Let’s rest here and celebrate. With food. Please, food.”
“Here?” Hannah gasped in mock horror. “Right next to the evil trees and everything? I declare. . . . Do you want a granola bar or fruit snacks?”
“Both.” Jaden set his paddle down, rejoicing at the break. “My arms are killing me.”
“Experienced, are we?” Hannah dropped the food in his lap. “Eat, you’ll feel better.”
“These aren’t those sugar-free granola bars your dad likes, are they? The ones with millet and quinoa and stuff?”
“Nope. Good old Nature Valley. And those are perfectly unhealthy fruit snacks. I think I know what to bring for kayaking.”
“Mmm.” Jaden peeled back the granola bar wrapper, then jumped as something tickled his neck. Thoughts of banana spiders raced through his mind, but he made himself reach back. It was just a branch.
“Ow!” That was Hannah. “Stupid vine, it just grew thorns right now, I swear!”
“Huh?” Jaden turned around to look. What he saw made his jaw drop. “H-Hannah. . . .”
“It was a perfectly un-thorny vine when it first brushed me,” Hannah began, then stopped. “Jaden? Oh, my goodness, Jaden!”
Jaden didn’t think he could move. Vines were sprouting from the ground, from the trees, slowly curling through the air toward Hannah. He’d never seen anything like it. But the look on Hannah’s face made him think he’d better see what was going on behind him.
He turned. He screamed.
The last thing he heard was Hannah shriek, “I thought that was just a story!” before the oak branch twisting toward him shoved Spanish moss over his face.
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….