Shining In Misty Sea......

#10

Stupid

ALYSSA smiles sadly with downcast eyes.

Alyssa: Stupid. You’re so stupid

Points to head.

Alyssa: You think bandages can fix this wound? No. Of course not. Are you that naive? Or do you think I’m just that dumb?

ALYSSA throws her head back and starts laughing.

Alyssa: (Mocking sweet voice) Omg yesss let’s be besties, I soooo forgive you ahahaha. (Returns to normal voice) (frowns) Seriously? Stop wasting your time on me, idiot. Haven’t you learnt that?! Stop leeching off me. Go away.

ALYSSA turns away and sits on the floor, clutching her knees to her chest.

Alyssa: What do you want? Could you just leave me alone. You’ve done enough damage… (sniffs)

After a while of tense silence, ALYSSA gets up and turns around. Her expression has changed to anger.

Alyssa: (sneers) WHAT DO YOU WANT SO BAD, HUH?! YOU’RE JUST GONNA COME BACK, TRY TO MAKE ME YOUR LITTLE TOY AGAIN! WATCH ME SUFFER AND CRY. I HAVE KNOWN BETTER, DON’T EXPECT ME TO FORGIVE YOU WHEN YOU COME PATHETICALLY CRAWLING BACK TO ME.

ALYSSA is out of breath. She calms down, and turns around. After a while, she turns her head to the side and looks down.

Alyssa: I can never forgive you. I’m not going to sympathise with you ever. I’m better now, but I shouldn’t have been friends with you ever. Find someone else to give you a second chance. But...

ALYSSA looks back in front of her.

Alyssa: You don’t deserve one.

ALYSSA walks away.

End~

Photo courtesy from New York Times

My former owner

         I’d had lived in the Dog’s Rescue Center nearly all my life. I wasn’t properly taken care of by my former, blind owner, and I was kicked out of the house because my former owner said that I did not do my job well as I did not lead him to the supermarket and instead, the park as I thought he said he wanted to go to the latter. It wasn’t my fault though, he should had given me food for me to be alert. My neighbor found me lying at the doorstep, close to dying and when she found out that my former owner did not want me anymore, my neighbor brought me to the Dog’s Rescue Center.

         I was fed, bathed, given water and sympathy. For the first time, I felt warm, loved and welcomed. I immediately knew that I was going to enjoy my stay there. And I wasn’t wrong.

         I was greeted by many curious faces staring at me on my first day when I was brought into the playroom. A big dog that might be two times larger than me stepped up and sniffed me. Is this how you greet others? I wondered as he sniffed me. Then he raised his head and stared at me with his large black eyes. He held out a paw and I timidly placed mine. In an instant, all the other dogs in the room barked and cheered, and the edges of my mouth pulled up into a wide grin. I was definitely going to love this place.

         The rescue center was only ran by one person who went by the name, Vanessa, that was what I heard anyway. I knew this because I loved running around and I checked the whole place, every nook and cranny of that place, and I didn’t find anyone. A volunteer or two may come but it was always Vanessa.

         So why did I see him there after the second day?

         On the second day in the rescue center, while I was eating breakfast with my new friends, I saw a strange figure in the corner of my eye. But when I looked up, it had vanished. I got a clear image of it though, during lunch. It had a black hat on its head, its head was hung so low so I couldn’t see the features of its face. He was wearing a white shirt and black trousers. But the strangest thing was......

He looked awfully like a doppelganger of my former owner.

         He would appear and disappear at random points of time, and no one would notice. Even if he was in plain sight and I would signal to my friends to look, but they would look at me weird and say that they did not see anything. He had never tried to speak or touch me. He would just stand there, looking and smiling at me, his face still hidden. I was the only one who could see him. My friends would stare at me whenever I growled or threatened the strange figure.

         A week after staying in the rescue center, Vanessa entered the playroom and gently called out to me, “Robin. Someone wants to meet you. Come on!” I got up and looked back at my friends. They all had a smile on their faces, and I turned to follow Vanessa. Apparently, a nice couple wanted to adopt me! I was ecstatic! They were so nice, compared to my previous owner, they were always petting me and even complimented my shiny fur coat.

But what about my friends?

         I raced into the playroom and announced jubilantly, “Hey! Guess what? I’m getting adopted!” “So you’re leaving?” Jacky, a small Dalmatian, piped up sadly. Peter, the giant dog who greeted me on the first day gently patted Jacky’s head, “He has to go some day or another.” A smiled sadly at Jacky, and looked up at my other friends. “I’ll remember all of you.” “We’ll remember you too!” They all chorused. I wagged my tail good bye and headed out to my new owners. As we passed the front counter. I jumped up on my hind legs and to bark a good bye to Vanessa. That was when I saw him. He was standing behind Vanessa, leaning against the back wall, grinning the same old grin. I barked and barked ferociously at him. Vanessa thought I was saying good bye and she smiled sweetly and waved a good bye to me. Just as the man disappeared in thin air.

         We stopped at a cafe which allowed pets so I went in too. I was showered with attention for a while but eventually got bored. So my eyes wandered around the cafe till I saw a television playing the news. It was talking about a person falling into a ditch only to be found about a week later. I squinted at the television to get a good look at the victim’s face.

          It was my former owner.

  photo courtesy of New York Times

The Ten Plush Cat Dolls

          Sasha hums as she picked up a box of old toys with ease. Dust danced in the warm rays of the morning sun shining through the glass windows in the dusty attic. Sasha and her mother are cleaning out the attic in their house to make room for other storage. As Sasha enter back into the attic, she sees her mother sitting on the floor, legs crossed as she stares at something in her hands that Sasha couldn’t see. Sasha peeks over her mother’s shoulder. “What’re you looking at Mama?”

          Her mother’s train of thought is broken by the sound of her daughter’s voice and her head snaps up to face Sasha. “Oh, it’s nothing my dear. It’s just a set of plush cat dolls your grandmother gave me when I was a child.” Sasha’s eyes brightens up like the stars. “Can I see?” She asks sweetly. Her mother laugh and hands the a doll to Sasha. It is a beautiful cat wearing a long dainty dress and a pearl necklace that glints in the morning light, attached at the end is a sunflower. Hanging from the cat’s small pointy ears are long earrings. The cat is also carrying a flower basket. “ Oh my! This is so lovely Mama! May I have it? May I have it? Please??” Sasha gives her mother her infamous puppy-dog eyes. Her mother smiles and gives her the box, and she squeals in obvious delight.

           Ten cat dolls all line up neatly in a row on her shelf. Some cats wear a fancy black suit as if they are going to a wedding. Only one fancy black suit cat wore a white brooch on it, as if he is the groom. Some wear long dresses with pearl necklaces hanging around their little, fluffy cat necks. One cat, though, wear a beautiful bride’s dress with the white veil hanging over its face. It is as if all of the cat had attended a cat wedding. Sasha giggles at the thought of it. Oh I wish I could attend a cat wedding! It would be so much fun! Seeing as it is getting late, she climbs in bed and falls asleep before her head hits the pillow.

          Sasha hears scuffling, like something is moving. Her first thought is to scream for her parents, thinking that it is a burglar! But, she has been too deep in her slumber and is trapped in sticky web of unconsciousness. She could not open her heavy eyelids. Eventually, she drowns in her deep slumber.

          The moment Sasha sense sunlight, she immediately snap her eyes open and sit up faster than lightning. She looks around and realize everything is normal. Nothing changed. She jumps off her bed and inspects her cat dolls. Everything seems as usual. Till she realizes something. The Bride Cat is next to The Groom Cat! Her eyes widen and she rushes to get her parents and inform them about the discovery. Sasha’s mother once again laugh and say, “Oh don’t panic. I went to your room and shifted them! They looked so cute together!” Sasha heaves a sigh of relief, nothing happened that night. But where had she heard that scuffling sound? That question etch in her mind for a few seconds before she is called to have pancakes for breakfast.

          Sasha stands in front of her cat dolls, inspecting them one by one. She climbs in bed and pulls the covers over her head, eyes still glued at the dolls. “Okay!” She turns off the lamp and sleep.

          Scuffling sounds. Again. Sasha is able to force her tired eyes open and saw a small blurred object moving into the wall. Wait what, the wall!? Her eyes immediately snap open and the blurred object came into focus.

          I-it is a cat! No wait, not any cat. Her cat doll! The cat doll turns around and catches Sasha staring. It smiles at her, and scurries into a tiny hole in the wall Sasha never notice. Sasha timidly step out of bed and tip-toes toward the hole. She wiggles a finger in there. Suddenly, she begins to shrink and shrink, till she is smaller than the hole. Sasha runs inside, terrified but eager to find out what is going on.

          She sees cats! The Groom Cat and The Bride Cat stands a few feet from the entrance of the hole and smile simultaneously when they make eye contact with Sasha. “Come in my child.” The Bride Cat says in a honey-suckle voice. She moves cautiously towards the pair and murmured, “Am I dreaming?” A little cat peeks behind them and rush up to Sasha and pinch her. Sasha yelps and pulls her hand away. “Nope. You’re not!” The trio laugh and led me to a paradise. Cat paradise. It’s the best night Sasha ever has and make new cat friends. She is so tired by the time the party end. The Bride Cat takes Sasha’s hand in her soft hand(or paw), and led Sasha to the hole. She slips something on Sasha’s wrist but by the time The Bride Cat carries Sasha to the hole, Sasha has fell asleep.

          Sasha wakes up in the morning rays as she slowly sit up and rub her eyes. Had last night been a dream? She shrugs to herself and feel something on her right wrist. She lift up her wrist and saw......

A sparkly bracelet with the words: The Ten Plush Cat Dolls

________________________________________________________________

 One sentence summary: Sasha had a set of plush cat dolls that came alive at night and one night, brought Sasha to their world.

One paragraph summary: Sasha’s mother and Sasha were cleaning up the attic when they found a beautiful set of plush cat dolls. Sasha took the dolls to her room. What she did not know, that these cute plush cat dolls come alive at night as Sasha is in her slumber. One night however, Sasha is brought to a whole new world. By who? Well of course, the plush cat dolls!

#4

My Happy Balloon

Throughout my childhood, I always held my Happy Balloon. Sometimes it deflated just a bit, but it always expanded after a day or so. It floated with me the whole way.

When I was a teenager, things got a little bit rough with my Happy Balloon. They were people who would try to pop it by stepping on it. It was a bit dirty, and sometimes it would deflate for a long, long time due to some holes in it. But Cassie would come. She would pick up my Happy Balloon, and put plasters on the holes, my Happy Balloon would then return to normal again, smiling. It was all thanks to my dear friend Cassie.

Then I went to college. Cassie and I went to the same school. One day we saw some people messing up someone else’s Happy Balloon. Cassie and I quickly ran to get help. When the people went away, Cassie and I went and fixed up the person’s Happy Balloon. It was as good as new. The person thanked us and introduced herself as “Lessie”. Lessie, Cassie and I became very good friends! Or so I thought.

Cassie, Lessie and I helped each other, we were best of friends, ready to protect one another. But soon, I noticed Cassie and Lessie started to drift away from me. I felt my Happy Balloon start to deflate little by little, day by day. Then finally, they popped it. Without my Happy Balloon by my side, I felt sad. I had no more friends, and no Happy Balloon.

I was now working at a convenience store as a job. One day, the new guy came up to me. He had a Happy Balloon by his side, it reminded me of when I had my own Happy Balloon. He came up to me and told me his name: Jonathan. Jonathan asked if we could be friends. I was skeptical about it, but I accepted it.

I expected Jonathan to be like Cassie and Lessie. Drift away from me after a while. It’s been 3 months. He hadn’t drift off yet. He had been so kind to me, he had protected me. He even gave me a Happy Balloon. It’s been forever since I had my Happy Balloon! We were best of friends.

It’s been 2 years. Jonathan still hadn’t drift off yet. Neither did I. We had ups and downs, but nothing deflated our Happy Balloons. Nothing at all. Not even when Jonathan finally told me about his medical condition.

He had cancer. Something that cannot be cured. He had this for 3 years. He didn’t want to tell me as he thought it would deflate my Happy Balloon. I cried of course, I was a little bit mad at him for not telling me about it, but not for very long. It didn’t deflate my Happy Balloon one bit. I wanted to make his last few months with me the best months in in entire life. We went everywhere, to the places we always wanted to go, took pictures, memories.

Before he died, we went to our hangout. The swing under the apple tree on Silent hill. We looked at the beautiful scenery. It was so peaceful. Then Jonathan told me, “Promise me, that even if I am gone, you would hold on to your Happy Balloon. Remember that I’ll be up there, looking after you.” I cried and hugged him for a very long time.

I kept my promise. I visited his grave, holding onto my Happy Balloon that Jonathan gave me. When I saw Jonathan’s Happy Balloon floating next to his headstone, I cried, I knew he was at peace now. His death didn’t pop my Happy Balloon. And it will float by my side even after death.

End~

Photo courtesy of New York Times

Sneakers

           Timothy walked down the pathway of his neighborhood, which was on Kangaroo street. Colourful leaves littered the pathway and danced along with the wind. Timothy wore a black cardigan and a red scarf and blue pants. Typical autumn evening.

          “Garage sale! $20 for one sneaker!” Timothy’s friend, Nate, yelled out from across the street. He was holding a garage sell, again. He always held that every month, that sneaker-head. Timothy shook his head and headed towards his house. Nate spotted Timothy immediately and motioned him to come forward. He has eagle eyesight, I swear. Timothy grinned at that thought and pushed his way to Nate through the crowd. Nate then yelled, “Alright! Garage sale is closed! I repeat, garage sale is closed! Make your purchases now!”

          Soon, everyone had parted like waters and the streets were almost quiet. Rustling of leaves and the sound of the wind whistling were the only sounds to be heard. Only a few cars would pass by, breaking the almost peaceful silence. 

          “Quiet. Isn’t it?” Nate commented. “Yeah... It’s peaceful.” They sat at a nearby bench and watched colourful leaves fall ever so slowly, carried by the wind. It was so quiet, and that was how it was in autumn. Timothy closed his eyes and immersed himself in the almost-silence. I wish it would be this silent. Timothy thought, grinning slightly to himself.

Till Nate ruined it.

          “Alright. Quit the drama, you idiot. I wanna show you something cool.” He got up and started walking to his house. Timothy sighed, annoyed, but eventually followed, unwillingly.

          They entered the sneaker-head’s bedroom, which was full of the different kinds of sneakers you could ever imagine. Nate had shelves and shelves of sneakers, enough to open a small store of his own. He even had a small storeroom to keep extra sneakers he can’t wear anymore, which he then put up for the garage sell to sell them. “Wait here, I’m gonna get something.” He then disappeared into the storeroom. Timothy sat on the bed, and looked around the room. Nothing had changed, but he swear that he did not see the ‘10+ sneaker’, which was one of the many sneakers Nate adored the most. You grow out of em’ real fast. Timothy looked out of the window, apathetic.

          “Here they are! Thought that you might fit in these.” Nate rushed to Timothy, in his hand holding a pair of shiny sneakers. Blue edged the sole of the shoe and on every side of the shoe was a strange symbol. It had a two snakes coiled up, eyes closed like they were sleeping. It was in good condition and a really nice one. Timothy’s style. He tried them on, it fitted! “Nice shoes dude! Where did you get em’?” “Oh, some lady sold them to me, surprisingly cheep.” Timothy looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. Nate held up his hand and gestured to the shoe. “What? It’s good. And glow-in-the-dark!” ”Whatever. Thanks dude, how much?” “Nah. It’s for free!” Timothy jumped up from the bed. “Thanks a lot dude.” They shook hands and Timothy headed home.

          What Timothy didn’t know, was that these shoes were magical. An he’ll be take for a ride.

Photo courtesy of New York Times

Moving

          “Isn’t it boring here, Noah?” Elijah complained.

          “Patience Elijah. Soon enough, a huge wind is going to blow us away from here.” Noah reassured him for the umpteenth time with an exasperated sigh.

          Both Elijah and Noah had been in Antarctica for many years, standing in the great vast of water, only moving a little by the winds that could have knocked any human down. Due to their great size, they haven’t been moving a lot recently. Elijah had been very impatient. He was just a bit smaller than Noah, he really wanted to explore the world.

But the winds weren’t cooperating.

          “Seriously Elijah? It’s better here. We can survive here before those dreaded humans come and destroy us.” Peppy piped up indignantly. She was the smallest ice berg there was. She was always annoyed with Elijah, for all he kept talking about was to explore the world and complain how boring Antarctica was.

          “I don’t think all humans are that bad! And I hate all the boring white here...” Elijah continued on and on and on. Peppy and Noah sighed in defeat.

          One day, Elijah and Noah were just chatting about their day. It was one of those rare days where Elijah wasn’t complaining the ice off about how boring Antarctica was.

That was when the howling started.

          It wasn’t audible at first, the wind wasn’t too strong, nor was the water current. But slowly, is started picking up faster and faster. It was like a blizzard, Noah and Elijah could barely see anything. Then they started moving little by little. They saw Peppy speeding past them, screaming as she went. Elijah and Noah started moving faster and faster. It was the biggest storm they ever had.

Then all light had disappeared.

          “Elijah! Wake up! Look where we have arrived!” Elijah groaned and woke up to bright light and warmth. It was really unlike Antarctica. Elijah gasped upon finding out where they were.

          They were floating in warmer waters next to colourful land! Well, not really colourful, but it wasn’t white! At last! Something other than blue and white! Elijah stared in awe. A red house stood further away, and another white house peeked from behind. What humans called ‘cars’ were standing around on the land. Human were looking at us and talking muffled words. “I think they’re talking about us!!” Elijah exclaimed excitedly. Noah didn’t say anything.

          They floated in the warm waters, not moving. Soon, night came and all the human went home. Elijah and Noah stood floating in the waters all alone. “Hey Elijah, I think I’m starting to melt...” Elijah looked over in a panic just in time to see a small chunk of ice falling down from Noah. It dropped own and splashed loudly in the sea.

Both looked at each other in horror.

Photo courtesy of New York Times

He didn’t die?

          “Happy Birthday to Jake! Happy Birth....” 

          I stood in front of the beautifully decorated cake, surrounded by my loving family members and friends who were singing the song with one voice. It was my 13th birthday, and I had never been this elated before. The room was brightly lit and streamers were hung on the ceilings, giving a festive atmosphere to the room. It was the biggest birthday party I’d ever held. 

          “Make a wish!” My little sister piped up immediately after the song ended. I clasped my hands together, closed my eyes and thought, I wish for my family to live a happy and healthy life. I opened my eyes and bent down to blow the candles out. When... 

          “Hey! Robby’s howling!” My big brother shouted as he ran for the door. That’s when I heard it, right before I blew out the candles. Soft howling which was barely audible, the howling of my golden retriever, Robby. Everyone left the table and had rushed to the door. Everyone went into the backyard and I pushed through bodies to see what was going on. Most importantly, I wanted to see Robby. When Robby howled, it usually meant that something was wrong. 

          "AHHH!!" I screamed when I saw him. He was lying motionless at the road side, covered in blood. What's even worse was that he had been cut in half! I fell to my knees as I screamed in horror. Tears blurred my vision and stung my eyes. I couldn't believe this! No, no, no!

          Then, I saw something move.

          I looked up. Robby was moving! One of his front leg started twitching strangely, his eyes were open. I was puzzled and flabbergasted. I slowly got up, but realized no one was watching what was happening. They were all busy crying over the death of Robby, the sounds of their cries penetrating the air. But suddenly, the cries were like a million miles away, like I was in my own world, and the people all around me are blurred out. I cautiously approached Robby, who by now had his lifeless eyes on me.

          I was by now about 3 meters away from him. I stopped, quivering, not daring to go any further. I could see clearly that his guts were spilled out onto the road from his middle. Blood drenched Robby’s fur coat, turning his once shiny, golden coat to a blood red one. The floodgates in my eyes opened and the tears started falling. My poor Robby! I opened up one of my eyes and saw his eyes on me. Wait! He’s still alive! My instincts screamed to get help for Robby. I ran over to him and knelt down, ignoring the putrid smell, and gently lifted his head. His whiter than white eyes stared at me with no emotion. I was about to take out my phone when he started sniffing.

          I put down my phone and glanced at him, confused. Then Robby opened his mouth, showing crooked, bloody teeth. Nonetheless, it still looked haunting and creepy. Then in a flash, he sunk his teeth into my arm! I pulled my arm back and before I could scream...

                  ....everything faded to darkness....

#15

“Could you speak up?!”

“So dumb, can’t even do something simple.”

I tried to keep the tears in. I didn’t wanna wake her up. I eyed the box in front of me, hidden away from them. She’s still sleeping.

I scratched the skin underneath my uniform sleeve, pushing the tears back as hard as I could. Why did I take this route? I mentally slapped myself.

“Still scratching. Angry is it!?”

I stopped scratching, biting my tongue this time, a less effective tactic.

“Look up when I speak, you bitch!”

Slap! Ow.

The sting on my cheek was enough to blur my eyes with tears.

In the corner of my eye, I saw the box shift, and shift again.

Dang it.

“Please, just leave me alone, you’ll be in great danger if you stay here any longer.” I winced as I moved my arm, which was covered in bruises from the blows these shitheads gave me earlier.

I’m surprised I managed to endure those without crying. I should get a high score for th-

Pow! “How ‘bout you eat this!”

I fell to the ground, touching my cheek as they laughed.

Ouch, that actually hurt a lot.

Suddenly, a small blur hurls past me towards the gang.

Oh god, it’s gonna be a big mess.

I stared at the ground, picking at the dirt as Sash does her work. I couldn’t hear screaming, not even a whimper, Sash is quick. Dark red blood flowed to my fingers and I quickly scooted backwards. Ugh.

“Arf!” I looked up and sighed. Sash’s tiny mouth was dripping with blood, her fangs shining in the dimness of the alley. She wagged her tail and rubbed her furry face against my thigh as a greeting.

I picked her up and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.

“Let’s get out of here, never gonna take this short cut again.”

I walked away with Sash in my bruised arms, leaving the gruesome scene to be discovered by some other poor soul.

End~

#3

Headphones

Ah! Such sweet music, flowing through my ears! Nothing was more amazing than such beautiful music. Free from the dreadful city noises that gave me horrible anxiety. Music is awesome.

I recently got a shiny new headphones, which was great. The headphones help me avoid daily gossip, news from strangers I don’t care about. If I didn’t get headphones anytime soon, I might’d lost my mind! Once I put them on, I was immediately in heaven, any noise around me would be muted, and the only noise I would hear is my own.

I brought it everywhere. The train, on the streets, in school. Everywhere. Especially in places that were always crowded.

My headphones saved my life. No one could take it away from me. No one.

I was a loner in school, which immediately made me a target by bullies. Music always made me happy though. During recess and breaks, I would go up to the school roof with my headphones and listen to music. No one goes up there for some reason. It may be dusty, but the view was breathtaking. No people, no bullies, means sweet silence except for my own music.

I was always up there, alone. No one went to the school roof. Yet.

It was like any other day. During the lunch break, I sneaked up to the school roof to listen to music and enjoy the fabulous view. Like usual. Except...

They found me.

“Hey twig!” I heard a far off voice which could be covered up by my music if I turned up the volume a bit higher. I froze. I recognised that voice, and it was the last thing I wanted to hear. I didn’t know what to do! I continued standing still, pretending not to hear him. Maybe they’d think I’m another person, maybe they’d walk away-

Suddenly, my beloved headphones were yanked off my head. All the sweet sound was gone. I was hysterical. In an instant, I turned towards Randy and kicked him, screaming over and over again, “GIVE IT BACK. GIVE IT BACK!” My headphones were in his grubby hands, they were screaming for help! I have to save them, I needed them. Randy smirked evilly, he shoved me aside and walked forward to the edge of the roof. I screeched and tried to run after him, but his friends held me back.

Randy stood at the edge of the roof. He turned towards me, laughing at my struggle. He had the nerve to laugh. I screamed at him again to return my headphones.

And then, he did the worst thing that broke me.

Randy stretched his hand over school roof fence... AND DROPPED MY HEADPHONES!

“NOOOOO!!!” I kicked and punched Randy’s friends, and I was finally free. I rushed forward, screaming like a maniac. I pushed Randy aside and without thinking. I jumped off the roof after my headphones.

Everything was in slow-motion. Everything around me blurred. I grabbed my headphone. I felt the leather of my precious headphone. I put them on. I smiled.

No one can take my headphones away anymore.

End~

Photo courtesy of New York Times

A Cold Autumn Night

          “ I sat at my favorite blue, wooden table, arms folded, a small red teacup filled with warm milk tea sat in front of my folded arms. Though I was at home, it was still surprisingly cold, and I liked it.

          It was a cold autumn night, 11.34 p.m. Soon it would strike 12 midnight, and I would had to dive under the warm covers in bed. I looked up at the bright crescent hanging in the night sky. It was shining especially bright that night, beaming at me. Outside, a bare tree stood lonely at the sidewalk. Around it were leaves that were once green and lush, growing on the strongest branches of the tree were now falling and dead. Soon winter would come and snow would cover them.

          Then, I spotted a lone star shining in the ink-black sky. I smiled at the star, and shifted my long, red hair, out of my eyes. To watch the star. Outside was silent. Everyone had went to bed. ‘Misty neighborhood’ was silent, and I immersed myself in it. I sipped my milk tea but felt nothing. My house was dark and quiet, the only light that shone was the moonlight. 

          I looked at my watch. 11.55 p.m. 5 more minutes. Might as well finish the tea. I picked up my red teacup and drank the rest of the tea and set it down on the cold table. Tomorrow at 8.30 a.m, the kids would be coming to listen stories. Again. I smiled at the thought. I glimpsed at my watch, 11,59 p.m. Time to sleep. I put my cup in the sink and went up the green staircase.

          As I heard the clock strike 12 midnight, I heard the bark of the three legged dog, leading my neighbor for his usual walk.”

          Jewel closed the book with a thud and looked down at 20 curious faces staring back at her. “But Miss Jewel? I did not see anyone next door.” Jewel smiled at Thomas. “You just didn’t look harder enough. He’s always at home in the mornings.” Thomas beamed at Jewel. Then someone knocked on the door. And soon, all the kids were sent back home.

          Jewel sat at her blue table, arms folded, a red teacup set in front of her. She sighed. If only the kids knew the truth. A newspaper clipping was being carried by the wind. And on the newspaper clipping read the headlines:

Poisonous Gas Released in ‘Misty Neighborhood’ At 12 Midnight. Residents Died In Their Sleep!