by Scot McAtee
***
“How do you feel?” she asked.
“I feel better, thanks for asking,” Jack said softly.
She looked at him thinking about everything they have been through. “He’s back to normal,” she thought. She was happy to see him back to his regular self. He was always someone she could trust, but she lost that at the beginning. Like she couldn’t believe it was really him.
“So, what happened to the alien?” he asked.
“It disappeared,” Riley answered. “They lost him when they were trying to find a way to get him safely away to be examined.”
“So they will be back again, won’t they?”
“Yes…someday.”
Rob’s Gift
Maya Garringer
His grandpa gave it to him for his 36th birthday, May 27. It was ivory, the shape and design of a grandfather clock, with the black hands of the clock at 4:47, and a golden screw-on top. The glass, antique cologne bottle was beautiful, but he didn’t know his grandpa well anymore and felt weird about taking the gift. Noah took the present anyway because he had fallen in love with the strange object. Later on, he noticed it couldn’t be opened.
Noah used to visit his grandpa, Rob, every weekend because they lived very close. They quickly developed a close relationship and respect for each other. One summer, though, when Noah was spending the night, he awoke to two gunshots. His parents quickly ran into the room, brought him out of the window, and back home. That morning, they packed and moved three states over. Noah often asked about what happened and if he could visit Rob, but his parents never answered. He eventually moved on but never could forget.
Now that his grandpa has entered his life again, he assumed he might finally get the answers to all of his questions. That night he went to visit his mother and tell her Rob came to see him really quickly, but didn’t tell her of the present. She told him she didn’t want to hear about it, so he asked for his number and address. His mother kicked him out without giving him either. HIs mother, Lilly, has been very touchy ever since Noah’s father shot himself on July 19, 28 years ago, when he was 36. No one knew his exact reason, but he left a note that read:
When the time runs out, so does his life.
I will give him 7 weeks.
The thing about the note was, it wasn’t in his handwriting, but nobody thought anything of it.
Noah went home that night, after the visit to his mother, and looked at the bottom of his present. It had a little shred of paper taped to it that said, “Open quickly.” Suspicious, Noah tugged and pulled on the lid, but it wouldn’t move. His suspicion soon changed to anger. Why would Rob give him a present after all of these years that he can’t open? He thought if he tried any harder, he would break it, so he put it on his dresser and tried to sleep. The next morning, his mother called saying Rob died in a house fire. They didn’t find his body, but his neighbors saw him go inside right before and never came out. He told them before he was a heavy sleeper, so they called to wake him up, but they assumed it was too late.
After a week of the mysterious gift haunting him daily, he decided to go back to his mother and show her the present.
“Mom, I didn’t think it would matter, but here is the gift Grandpa gave to me,” he said handing her the delicate bottle.
Lilly stood in awe at what he had given her. She looked as though she would faint, so Noah tried grabbing it, but she was holding on so tight.
“Did he speak to you?” she asked softly.
“He only said, ‘Take this, hurry!’ and rushed away. I think he was busy.”
“Rob gave that to your father on your birthday 7 weeks before he committed suicide, and it was stolen after his death. What’s inside?”
“I can’t open it. There was a note on the bottom that said open quickly, but I gave up.”
There was a long pause while they tried to collect their thoughts.
“Mom, what happened the last time I saw him?”
“We need to tell the police about this,” Lilly said changing the subject.
“Please, Mom…”
“Come on.”
“I’ll drive.”
They arrived at the police station and told them the entire, creepy story, except what happened 30 years ago. The policeman told them they couldn’t do anything now because it could be a different gift, they can’t question Rob anymore, and there isn’t anything threatening them. On their way out, they noticed the, now old, man that helped them investigate Noah’s father’s suicide.
“Excuse me, Mr. Bright?” said Lilly trying to get his attention.
“Oh, Lilly! Noah! How nice it is to see you guys well,” he said with a big smile on his face.
The next couple of seconds was a time of handshakes and hugs.
“Thank you, but not all is well,” responded Noah. “We have some weird news, I guess. Do you remember the cologne bottle stolen from my father? Well, my grandpa gave it to me for my birthday just like he did for my father. We were wondering if this had to do with my father’s death. Do you think you could look into it?”
“Could I talk to your grandpa?” asked Mr. Bright.
“He died in a house fire about a week ago,” answered Lilly.
“Well, I don’t think there will be anything to investigate. I’m sorry, but I don’t see a problem now. Remember you can always contact me if anything happens.”
“Okay. Thanks,” said Noah.
Five more weeks passed and Noah’s suspicion was at its highest. The past six weeks were the most stressful and uncomfortable weeks of his life. Why can’t he open it? What’s inside? Who is his grandpa? Why did he do this? The more he thought about it, and it’s all the time, the crazier and more obsessed he became.
That Monday, Noah got a letter in the mail that said:
One week left.
He went to his mother’s house and they immediately went to see Mr. Bright.
“That’s strange. I remember the note your father left before he committed suicide. There could be a connection there, thanks for contacting me. Well, I can’t imagine who this could be if it isn’t Rob,” said Mr. Bright.
He brought them to a computer in the police station and he looked up a picture of the note Noah’s father left.
It was in the same handwriting.
“Please help us!” cried Lilly.
“It’s obviously somebody who knew your father,” said Mr. Bright. “Do you have any ideas? Anyone you’ve talked to about it?”
“I can’t think of anyone,” Noah replied.
They discussed the strange situation and stayed there for hours, but they couldn’t fit the pieces together.
Four days later it was July 18, one day before the anniversary of Noah’s father’s suicide. It was late and Noah has been terrified for the next day, and doesn’t know what to expect. He sat on the floor of his room, gripping the cologne bottle, crying.
The early morning came, 4:47. Noah woke to the creaking of his front door. He jumped up and turned on the lights to his living room. Rob stood calmly in front of the door with a gun in his hand and a smile on his face.
“Have you been expecting me?” Rob said.
“What are you doing to me?” yelled Noah.
“I see you haven’t opened my present, that’s rude,” said the old man stepping slowly toward Noah as he chuckled.
“Stay away.”
“Do you have anything to say first, then?”
Noah thought for the right words to say, but blurted out, “What happened 30 years ago?”
“Your parents didn’t tell you?”
“No.”
“Smart. Your parents think I’m crazy,” laughed Rob. “That night you were over, your parents came to check on you, and they saw me making what is in that bottle. So, your father took one of my guns and shot at me, and I shot him back, naturally. They ran out the door. I came to look for you, but you were gone.”
“What’s in here?” Noah questioned fearfully.
&n
bsp; “It’s too late for that now!”
Rob shot him in the leg and leaped toward him. Noah threw the present at him, shattering it. A black fog began to rise, along with Rob. He shot Noah in the chest and set the gun in the young man’s hand. Noah’s last glimpse was of his old grandfather picking up the pieces and a small object. As he lifted it up the thing, it shown so brightly, all he could see was the white light engulfing his room before he died.
Trying to Change the World
Maya Garringer
“I want to make a difference. Nothing I do seems to matter,” said Kate glumly.
“It does Honey, you just have to try harder for someone to notice,” her mom, Amber, answered.
“Ugh,” she responded with a sigh.
Kate and Amber were making hamburgers and veggies on the grill for dinner. That day, Kate tried putting up fliers (from her church) in her high school about how anyone could help the community, but the principal, Mrs. Rossel took them down because it is “school rules.”
“I don’t see how this would affect anyone. Well...only in a positive way. That’s the point. Does Mrs. Rossel even care about the community?”
“Kate, don’t be rude. She is only doing her job.”
“Mom, but they’ve never talked about this rule!”
“Okay, I’m sorry, but rules are rules,” her mom said trying to be understanding.
“I say put them back up!” her dad, John, said entering the room where they were setting up the table.
“Don’t say that! She’ll get in trouble,” Amber said to her husband fiercely. “Don’t listen to your father.”
“You said to try harder, and Kate said she wanted to make a difference,” answered John.
“I didn’t mean go against the rules John,” Amber said offended.
“It doesn’t matter anyway, she’d just take them back down,” Kate said breaking the argument.
“Cheer up, you’ll figure it out,” John said. “Let’s eat dinner already.”
The next day came and she got more fliers. Should I put them back up? she thought. There’s no point.
She went to school, regretting she isn’t spreading the word. It is so important to do help the community; it doesn’t matter if the fliers were from a church! She decided to do something else, hand out the fliers somewhere else...outside of the school. Like where the students get dropped off or Walmart. There are always people at the doors. What about at the park? She kept trying to find new places to do it. Tomorrow I’ll do it in front of the school.
The next day her dad dropped her off early to hand out fliers. She got them out of her backpack and then started to think, nobody will care about this; I should just give up now. So her thoughts got the best of her and she went inside.
“How did it go?” her mom asked.
“I decided not to do it. I don’t think it would matter.”
“Well whatever you think is best. Do you want to try somewhere else?”
“No, I should just forget about it, I think.”
“Okay Sweetie,” her mom said trying to comfort her. “Whatever you want.”
“No!” her dad said. “Do you want to make a difference or not?”
“Yeah, I guess,” Kate answered.
“Then keep doing this, it’s a great start! Start doing something that will make a change!”
“I don’t know, I think I was just being stupid earlier. I don’t need to ‘change the world.’”
“Okay, but I consider thinking it over some more. You might change your mind.”
That night Kate stayed up for hours debating whether she should do something or not. Is Dad right? Should I try something? She couldn’t comprehend her feelings. She wants to do something, but she didn’t want any of her friends to think it’s dumb. Maybe I’ll start at Walmart...there is always people there asking for donations and stuff.
That Saturday, her dad took her to the store to hand out fliers. People seemed to appreciate what they were doing. She felt kind of proud, but also a little embarrassed. Maybe I should do more than just this.
The next day at church she asked her pastor if there is any other way she can spread the word about the community. They talked about different ways she could help until she had to leave. I think this might work!
The next afternoon, after school, she started baking with her mom. They made brownies, chocolate chip and sugar cookies, and cupcakes with strawberry icing. Every item had a note attached with a different way to productively contribute to the community. Then they went in their front yard and tried to give them out. Many people took them and said they might actually try to do what the notes said. Kate was surprised with the feedback, and was excited about continuing her idea of making a difference.
She was fully engaged now. She was ready to start changing the world. I can do much bigger than this now.
She got a group of friends to help her in her next step, which was to get the word out in her school. They made a banner that said: Come on students, let’s do something awesome! (The banner had pieces of paper on it. Each had a dare on it things like: Give someone a compliment, or, Pick up 7 pieces of trash off the ground.) Kate loved seeing the smiles the students had when they read the dares.
That afternoon Mrs.Rossel announced that whoever hung up the banner needs to come to the office.
Should I go? What will she say? What if nobody confessed? Then what will she do? I should just admit it. I didn’t do anything bad. After school, she went to the office and there was a line...that’s strange, she thought.
When it was her turn she took a deep breath and said, “I put up the banner.”
“Okay, okay, I get it! ‘Everyone put up the banner!’” said the secretary furiously and sarcastically.
“What do you mean?”
“Basically the whole school came to tell me that they put up the banner!”
“Really?” she responded. Wow, I can’t believe this.
“Yes!” answered the frustrated lady.
“But I actually did, it was my idea, too. My friends helped me with it, but I’m responsible. I think Mrs. Rossel believes it is me anyway.”
“Whatever...I need to talk to her about the whole situation anyway. What’s your name?”
“Kate Hass.”
Kate went home anxious and proud. All of those people, who don’t even know me, took a stand for a class mate! She was so appreciative of their boldness.
Her ideas worked. She made a difference.
Living a Double Life
Maya Garringer
I went over the facts over and over and over, but they were missing something. I didn’t know what it was...I guess that is what the investigation is for. We are going to investigate tonight, as soon as we get everything prepared.
Just this morning was the murder of 17-year-old Jared Part. His parents contacted the police after they did not see him after school, and he didn’t respond to their phone calls or texts.
“He didn’t tell us he was going anywhere and he usually answers his phone,” said his desperate mother.
I was always one to pick up on things quickly, but I was very confused. For once I was almost excited for the investigation.