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!
The Bean Castle (Team A)
“I’m so excited,” said Mrs. Stern, clapping her hands. She bounced up and down like an excited child waiting for a balloon. “I can’t wait to see the creative models you build for this project,” she said smiling. She picked up a helmet that looked like it came from a Medieval suit of armor and said, “It’s time to see what you’ll be building.”
“Do you think she wore that for Halloween last year?” whispered a classmate as she walked by.
“I heard that, Caleb,” said Mrs. Stern without looking at him. “And, no, I didn’t wear the helmet. Look at the picture on my desk if you want to know.”
I had noticed the picture of her and her husband dressed up in Medieval costumes posing in front of a haunted castle scene. I reached into the plastic helmet and pulled out a card labeled “castle.” I hope she didn’t notice I rolled my eyes.
“Does everyone understand the assignment?” asked Mrs. Stern at the end of class. A few students groaned. “Please don’t complain. I know you can do this.” She smiled and added, “It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.”
“What’d you get?” Caleb asked as we walked out of class.
I rolled my eyes again. “Castle,” I said, annoyed. “What about you?”
Caleb grinned and said, “I am going to build a working catapult.”
“You’re so lucky,” I said, “That sounds fun and easy. I can’t believe I have to build a castle. What am I going to build it out of?” I asked in frustration.
“Lucy,” said Caleb, “weren’t you listening?” He continued, “Mrs. Stern said we can use just about anything and suggested sugar cubes, clay, and popsicle sticks.”
“I was listening until she mentioned popsicle sticks,” I said.“What do popsicles like to do in their free time?” I asked with a mischievous grin. “They like to chill.”
We’d reached the exit doors and were walking outside. “Too bad I didn’t get court jester,” I said smiling, “do you know how popsicles say goodbye?” Laughing at my joke, I said, “Stay cool!”
Caleb stuck an airpod in his ear and shook his head. “See you tomorrow, Lucy.”
When I unlocked the front door, I had a vision for the castle I could build using sugar cubes. I raided the kitchen but didn’t find any sugar cubes. I looked on the shelf where my parents keep the coffee and saw a box of Great Value sugar cubes. Upon further inspection, I counted a whopping three cubes and a few sugar crystals. I searched Walmart.com and found several options. I bet I could build the entire castle for about twenty-five dollars. I had already spent all the money I’d earned cleaning out a neighbor’s flowerbed. Maybe I could convince my parents to spend money on a school project, I thought as I walked toward my room.
“How was school today?” asked my mom during dinner. She had made beans and ham but I don’t think I had a piece of ham in my bowl. “It was fine,” I responded.
“What are you learning?” she asked. I blew on my beans. “We’re studying Medieval Times and we have a project.” I took a small bite. I did not want to burn my tongue. “Can you buy me sugar cubes so I can build a castle?” I put my spoon down and looked up at my mom first and then my dad.
He raised an eyebrow and turned to look at me. “No,” he said emphatically, “I am not wasting hard-earned money on a project.” He finished off his glass of iced tea and stood. “I don’t understand why teachers assign projects and expect students to bring materials. I thought that’s what tax money was for.” He took a deep breath and looked at me. “Lucy, you’re creative.” He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand and pointed toward the garage with the other. “We have a lot of random items in the garage. Use what you find out there. I know there’s cardboard and paint. There’s also dry soybeans that aren’t good for anything.”
Needless to say, this wasn’t the first time my dad had vented his frustrations about money and school projects. I stomped toward the garage. I remembered the five-gallon bucket of soybeans. My parents don’t like to waste anything, including awful-tasting beans. We had kept them in case of emergency. I guess a school project was an emergency. I stared at the bucket. “I can’t believe he wants me to use beans,” I said frustrated. “Sugar cubes would have been so much easier.” I heard the door open behind me
“I can tell you’re upset,” said my dad, walking toward me.
“Building a castle out of beans sounds lame,” I said.
“Your attitude is like a flat tire, unless you fix it, you’re not going anywhere.” said my dad.
“My teacher mentioned attitude in class today,” I said.
My dad picked up a box. “What if you glued beans to the sides?” He pointed to a shelf of paint cans, “And painted them. You could make it look like a.”
“Rock castle,” I said finishing his sentence. I could see how this might work.
Two weeks later, I walked through the Medieval Exhibits toward my castle. I passed castles made of sugar cubes and popsicle sticks. A crowd of students blocked my path. “Check out the turrets,” said a student. “Is that a working drawbridge?” asked a student. “No way, this castle has a moat?” said another student. “Who made it?” asked another.
“Lucy made it.” I recognized Caleb’s voice. “Out of soybeans and other found items,” he added. “Leave it to Lucy to build a castle out of beans,” said a student. I smiled proudly and thought, I’ll never look at a bean the same way again.
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….