Cheyenne L
Midnight Race
The wind blew through the air, the night welcoming to me. I smiled, the cool summer breeze keeping me from sweating. I ran, my lungs on auto pilot, my arms pumping by my side, my legs begging for a rest. I wouldn't stop. Not until I had won. I glanced behind me to see my brother, Metias, struggling to keep up. Even though he was two years older than me, I was still faster than him. Grinning, I started to pick up speed, my bare feet slapping the cool ground. I tried to steady my breathing, but to no avail. "Elliot..." I heard Metias whisper in a threatening tone that would normally send chills creeping down anyone's spine. Not me. I knew he was to much of a softie to actually carry out any threats on his little sister, even if he was irritated at losing the race.
I bet you're wondering what I'm talking about. Every summer, Metias and I have a race at midnight. As many times as we like, or as many times as Metias throws a hissy fit and demands a rematch because he didn't win. I tried to stay as quiet as I could, as I didn't want our mother finding out. She didn't know about our races at midnight, she thought that just because we didn't do it in broad daylight meant that we had given up the old tradition. We just took it up a notch. There is nothing like running at midnight, especially if it's a race. The darkness cutting off your sight, the rush to beat your opponent without waking anyone up, I love it. I've loved it since I was five. Sadly, this is our last year to do it before Metias turns eighteen and he has to move out. So if we wanted to race all night, so be it.
I saw the pained look on Metias's face and giggled, then laughed because he tripped and fell flat on his face. I skidded over the finish line, then watched him get up slowly. Through the dim porch light, I barely saw him look down, ashamed of losing to his fifteen-year-old sister. Here comes the temper tantrum....
"That wasn't fair! I let you win!" He whined. (See: like a little girl.) I rolled my eyes.
"Stop whining. It's not very becoming." I smirked, saying his exact same words from a few years before, when he was ranting on me for not doing 'becoming' stuff. He growled menacingly at me. I'm pretty sure he was planning to throw me off a cliff. Then run really really fast to the bottom and catch me.
I bet you're wondering what I'm talking about. Every summer, Metias and I have a race at midnight. As many times as we like, or as many times as Metias throws a hissy fit and demands a rematch because he didn't win. I tried to stay as quiet as I could, as I didn't want our mother finding out. She didn't know about our races at midnight, she thought that just because we didn't do it in broad daylight meant that we had given up the old tradition. We just took it up a notch. There is nothing like running at midnight, especially if it's a race. The darkness cutting off your sight, the rush to beat your opponent without waking anyone up, I love it. I've loved it since I was five. Sadly, this is our last year to do it before Metias turns eighteen and he has to move out. So if we wanted to race all night, so be it.
I saw the pained look on Metias's face and giggled, then laughed because he tripped and fell flat on his face. I skidded over the finish line, then watched him get up slowly. Through the dim porch light, I barely saw him look down, ashamed of losing to his fifteen-year-old sister. Here comes the temper tantrum....
"That wasn't fair! I let you win!" He whined. (See: like a little girl.) I rolled my eyes.
"Stop whining. It's not very becoming." I smirked, saying his exact same words from a few years before, when he was ranting on me for not doing 'becoming' stuff. He growled menacingly at me. I'm pretty sure he was planning to throw me off a cliff. Then run really really fast to the bottom and catch me.
Finally Home
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. The annoying buzz of my small alarm clock sounded loudly, and I brought my fist down on it hard. It was too small to crush, so thankfully my alarm clock is alive. For now. When I start keeping a hammer next to my bed, it's a gonner. I jumped up and started pulling on my jacket. I quickly laced up my combat boots and hopped into the room next to mine, still in my pj's. I hopped with one foot over to the small bed, still pulling on my other boot.
"Thorn...get...UP!" I yelled, pulling so hard I thought my arms were gonna fall off. I saw the black-haired boy jolt up in bed, glancing at me under his shaggy, dog-like hair.
"Wha...?" He asked, still trying to comprehend me.
"I said get up! He's coming home!" I yelled happily.
"Awww...com'on. He'll be here at EIGHT. It's two in the morning....." He muttered sleepily, flopping back down.
"And it's a five hour drive to the airport!" I shrieked, shaking his shoulders wildly. He yelped, smacking my hand sharply.
"Augh! Fine! Do you want me to go in my pj's?!" He asked, irritatably. I nodded eagerly. I snatched his wrist and tugged him outside. After we got outside and got in the car, I was bouncing in my seat. If the seatbelt wasn't there, I would have hit my head on the roof.
"Geez...cool it...it's just Metias..." My brother muttered under his breath.
"I'm gonna tell him you said that!" I snapped at him, taking on my duties as an annoying little sister. He huffed and turned on the car after what seemed like forever. I smirked, waiting for him.
*SIX LONG HOURS LATER*
Oh. My. Gosh. Thorn drives like an old lady. It took an hour extra for us to get to the airport, and I was trying to restrain myself and my happiness. I saw Thorn glance at me out of the corner of his eye.
"I worry about you sometimes..." He muttered. I smiled, ignoring him as we pulled into the airport parking lot. I jumped up, about to hop out, when I heard a click; signaling the doors locking. I looked at Thorn eagerly.
"What?!?!" I snapped, wanting to just get out and see Metias already. He sighed.
"Just...just don't overwhelm him. He just got home." Thorn said, a menacing glare on his face. I'm still gonna give Metias the biggest bear-hug he's ever seen though.....
I unlocked the door and hopped out, seemingly unable to stay still. I ran to the airport building, as Thorn struggled to keep up with me. Nothing was stopping me from seeing my big brother! Nothing! Well...okay...maybe the crowd of people outside the airport might be a slight delay.......
I weaved in and out of people, ignoring the grumbles and shouting of profanities in my direction. I whimpered slightly as a man elbowed me on accident, but kept running. At last, I reached the airplane. I was still about twenty yards away from the plane, but I could still see the unmistakable silhouette of my brother getting off the plane. He had a black messenger bag slung over his shoulder. I saw him take off his army hat and shake his head wildly, messing up his already shaggy white hair, like a dog. He eats like a dog, fights like a dog, and do NOT ask him to dry his hair off in the car. He threw his hat back on and glanced around, seeing me. He smiled wide.
"METIAS!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, not caring who heard me. His grin got even bigger.
"JUNE!" He yelled, just as I broke out in a full sprint running at him. I collided with him, him yelping. Well it's his fault for blinking when I was running at him..... He laughed. I threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly.
"Don't you ever ever ever ever ever leave ever again!" I wailed, the sadness of missing my brother for five years pouring out. I felt tears well up in my eyes. He smiled, hugging me tightly.
"Never ever." He promised me. I can still remember his promise to come home from Afghanistan. He had to 'Take on his duties as an American citizen' as he put it. He had sworn to me that when he got home, he would take on his duties as a big brother. As MY big brother.
Metias struggled to comfort me, as my sobs slowly subsided. When I cry, I cry a river. When I sob, China can hear me. And only Metias knows how to make it stop. I broke away from the hug slowly, happy to have him back. Now that all the mushy-gushy stuff is over, he's gonna start acting like a real older brother. Metias put the strap to his messenger bag around my neck, and I felt my knees start to buckle and give way.
"I'm glad to see you again June-bug. I don't know how much longer I coulda gone without my pack mule." He smirked at me, and started walking. I sighed and started walking with him. I wanted him back, and now I had him. This is debatable as a blessing and a curse. I guess beggars can't be choosers...right?
*THE END*
"Thorn...get...UP!" I yelled, pulling so hard I thought my arms were gonna fall off. I saw the black-haired boy jolt up in bed, glancing at me under his shaggy, dog-like hair.
"Wha...?" He asked, still trying to comprehend me.
"I said get up! He's coming home!" I yelled happily.
"Awww...com'on. He'll be here at EIGHT. It's two in the morning....." He muttered sleepily, flopping back down.
"And it's a five hour drive to the airport!" I shrieked, shaking his shoulders wildly. He yelped, smacking my hand sharply.
"Augh! Fine! Do you want me to go in my pj's?!" He asked, irritatably. I nodded eagerly. I snatched his wrist and tugged him outside. After we got outside and got in the car, I was bouncing in my seat. If the seatbelt wasn't there, I would have hit my head on the roof.
"Geez...cool it...it's just Metias..." My brother muttered under his breath.
"I'm gonna tell him you said that!" I snapped at him, taking on my duties as an annoying little sister. He huffed and turned on the car after what seemed like forever. I smirked, waiting for him.
*SIX LONG HOURS LATER*
Oh. My. Gosh. Thorn drives like an old lady. It took an hour extra for us to get to the airport, and I was trying to restrain myself and my happiness. I saw Thorn glance at me out of the corner of his eye.
"I worry about you sometimes..." He muttered. I smiled, ignoring him as we pulled into the airport parking lot. I jumped up, about to hop out, when I heard a click; signaling the doors locking. I looked at Thorn eagerly.
"What?!?!" I snapped, wanting to just get out and see Metias already. He sighed.
"Just...just don't overwhelm him. He just got home." Thorn said, a menacing glare on his face. I'm still gonna give Metias the biggest bear-hug he's ever seen though.....
I unlocked the door and hopped out, seemingly unable to stay still. I ran to the airport building, as Thorn struggled to keep up with me. Nothing was stopping me from seeing my big brother! Nothing! Well...okay...maybe the crowd of people outside the airport might be a slight delay.......
I weaved in and out of people, ignoring the grumbles and shouting of profanities in my direction. I whimpered slightly as a man elbowed me on accident, but kept running. At last, I reached the airplane. I was still about twenty yards away from the plane, but I could still see the unmistakable silhouette of my brother getting off the plane. He had a black messenger bag slung over his shoulder. I saw him take off his army hat and shake his head wildly, messing up his already shaggy white hair, like a dog. He eats like a dog, fights like a dog, and do NOT ask him to dry his hair off in the car. He threw his hat back on and glanced around, seeing me. He smiled wide.
"METIAS!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, not caring who heard me. His grin got even bigger.
"JUNE!" He yelled, just as I broke out in a full sprint running at him. I collided with him, him yelping. Well it's his fault for blinking when I was running at him..... He laughed. I threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly.
"Don't you ever ever ever ever ever leave ever again!" I wailed, the sadness of missing my brother for five years pouring out. I felt tears well up in my eyes. He smiled, hugging me tightly.
"Never ever." He promised me. I can still remember his promise to come home from Afghanistan. He had to 'Take on his duties as an American citizen' as he put it. He had sworn to me that when he got home, he would take on his duties as a big brother. As MY big brother.
Metias struggled to comfort me, as my sobs slowly subsided. When I cry, I cry a river. When I sob, China can hear me. And only Metias knows how to make it stop. I broke away from the hug slowly, happy to have him back. Now that all the mushy-gushy stuff is over, he's gonna start acting like a real older brother. Metias put the strap to his messenger bag around my neck, and I felt my knees start to buckle and give way.
"I'm glad to see you again June-bug. I don't know how much longer I coulda gone without my pack mule." He smirked at me, and started walking. I sighed and started walking with him. I wanted him back, and now I had him. This is debatable as a blessing and a curse. I guess beggars can't be choosers...right?
*THE END*
The Gum of Doom
I strode down the filthy hall, smirking. I clutched the files in my hand, like if I let go they would get up and run away. My eyes were narrowed, as I concentrated on my destination. Finally....finally I had the files. I had waited and waited and waited to get these. Now finally I had them. They would tell me why I couldn't pass the school test I had taken. I had passed, fair and square, but they refuse to admit it.
I smiled, walking down to the empty school computer lab, where I could read their next excuse in peace. When all of a sudden, I saw the ground rushing up to me, and felt my face collide hard with the concrete. I yelped and slowly stood, rubbing my now sore nose. I noticed I had dropped the files, and reached over to grab them. I tried to pick my foot up, but it would barely budge. I slowly looked under my shoe to clarify what had trapped me. I huffed, as I confirmed my suspicions. Gum. Just as I thought. I yanked my foot up hard, only causing a jolt of pain to shoot up my ankle. I winced, them bent down and pulled out my Swiss army knife. I started to pry my foot away from the ground, trying not to disable myself. I smiled, lifting my foot off the ground with ease. I looked forward as dread filled my whole being. It was a minefield of gum. I could get around this.....I know I can.....
I slowly stepped around a piece of gun, then smiled, wiping a bit of sweat from my brow. I slowly stepped around another wad of sticky black stuff, holding my breath slightly. There is only one way to continue. I slowly raised my arms and lifted one foot. I started going full-out ninja, kicking the air randomly and jumping around the gum. I bet I looked like a crazy person. I smiled, having reached the end of the minefield of gum. A thought hit me.
"AUGH!" I shouted into the air, collapsing onto my knees. What am I getting so worked up over, you ask?
I forgot to pick up the folder.
I smiled, walking down to the empty school computer lab, where I could read their next excuse in peace. When all of a sudden, I saw the ground rushing up to me, and felt my face collide hard with the concrete. I yelped and slowly stood, rubbing my now sore nose. I noticed I had dropped the files, and reached over to grab them. I tried to pick my foot up, but it would barely budge. I slowly looked under my shoe to clarify what had trapped me. I huffed, as I confirmed my suspicions. Gum. Just as I thought. I yanked my foot up hard, only causing a jolt of pain to shoot up my ankle. I winced, them bent down and pulled out my Swiss army knife. I started to pry my foot away from the ground, trying not to disable myself. I smiled, lifting my foot off the ground with ease. I looked forward as dread filled my whole being. It was a minefield of gum. I could get around this.....I know I can.....
I slowly stepped around a piece of gun, then smiled, wiping a bit of sweat from my brow. I slowly stepped around another wad of sticky black stuff, holding my breath slightly. There is only one way to continue. I slowly raised my arms and lifted one foot. I started going full-out ninja, kicking the air randomly and jumping around the gum. I bet I looked like a crazy person. I smiled, having reached the end of the minefield of gum. A thought hit me.
"AUGH!" I shouted into the air, collapsing onto my knees. What am I getting so worked up over, you ask?
I forgot to pick up the folder.
P.O.W M.I.A
I'm not sure why I choose to make this. Maybe it's because my cousin is stationed in Afghanistan? Or maybe I just hate when people forget that America is the home of the free, because of the brave. I can't stand people forgetting that people gave their lives for us. We fought for our freedom, so we wouldn't have to pay a killing in taxes! And not we're still paying taxes....but to ourselves.