by Violet G. Collins, TIWP Student

Once upon a time there were two girls who were the most popular girls. One day, they were in their classroom working, when their teacher called roll. She said, “Emerald…” (that was one girl’s name). Then she said, “Lily…” (that was the other girl’s name). They were very happy, but then the teacher called an unfamiliar name, “Ellie…” Everybody was confused. Then a new girl walked into the room. She had her hair done in a bun, and her eyes were blue and beautiful. She was looking for a chair to sit in. Everyone started giving her their chairs except for the two girls, Lily and Emerald…because in their mind she was ugly. 

But, in everybody else’s mind, Ellie was cute and beautiful. At lunch everyone wanted to sit with her except for the two mad girls who turned red in anger. And at the end of the day they were not feeling good. They were sad.

For the rest of the week that happened. By the last day of the week, Lily and Emerald had no happiness. They were just sad. Then Lily said, “I read in a book that there is a stone that is very colorful, and it can make our color come back.”

“Yes,” said Emerald. “I know how we can get out of school.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

“Um, teacher, I need to go to the bathroom,” said Emerald.

“Go take your time,” said the teacher. 

“Let’s go…” said Lily. So, they went home, got all their stuff, and set off on their adventure.

It was a very dangerous journey. They passed deserts, mountains, and lakes. It was hard but they made it to a creepy cave where they saw a bright light deep inside. They went into the cave. It was getting lighter and lighter, and then a monster-like figure appeared in the distance. 

“Hello,” the figure said. “If you would like to pass, please answer three riddles. The first one is ‘What runs but cannot walk, has a bed but does not sleep, and has a mouth but cannot speak?’”

“A river!” said Lily.

“Correct,” the monster said in a sad voice. “The second riddle is ‘What are two things you can’t eat for breakfast?’”

“Um…let me think,” said Lily.

“I know!” said Emerald. “Lunch and dinner!”

“Correct,” said the monster. “Here’s the third one: ‘How do you fix a crack in your pumpkin?’”

There was a short silence and then together the two girls shouted… “A PUMPKIN PATCH!” 

They yelled their answer a bit too loud and rocks came crashing down. The girls ran as fast as they could. Lily accidentally sprung a trap of poison darts! They dodged them the best they could, but Emerald sprung another trap…a big boulder. “AAAHHH!!!” They pushed themselves along the wall and the boulder went just past them.

The booby traps were finished right? To be continued….