First Place — Middle School Short Story by Evelina Knodel - Kellogg MS, Rochester, MN (www.epicauthors.com)
The Return of the Dragon
by Evelina Knodel
by Evelina Knodel
| Introduction Setting: London, thunderstorm Characters: Sam, Judy |
The sky melted into a dark hazy gray as heavy barrels of rain
cascaded down from the heavens bombarding people as they rushed for
cover. Great bursts of thunder echoed across the land as brief flashes
of lightning illuminated the streams of water running down the city
streets. “Sam!” Judy screamed over the pounding rain. “Sam!” She frantically ran through the dark deserted streets of London. Turning this way and that she refused to stop until she found her brother Sam. He had disappeared that morning while doing his paper route and now that the electricity had gone out, it would be hard for him to find his way back home. “Sam!” she called, but he was nowhere in sight. “Sam, where are you?” Her clothes were drenched, her glasses foggy, and every inch of her freezing cold. She continued her search, looking down every dark alley and nook that she could find. To her disappointment, none contained her superstitious little brother. “He’ll get it for this,” she muttered angrily under her breath as she neared the center of the city and turned a corner. There, straight ahead of her, was Trafalgar Square. In the center of the square was a tall magnificent fountain, a pool of water sitting at the base. A little way off to the right stood a young boy gazing up into the dark morning sky. “Sam!” Judy shouted as she spotted him and dashed to his side. “What are you doing?” she scolded. |
| Story
Problem / Conflict Sam thinks he saw a dragon. Judy doubts him. Internal Conflict Their mourning for the death of their father a year earlier. |
He turned to look at her, a dazed expression in his eyes. “I saw it!” he exclaimed his tone firm. “I actually saw it. Right over there!” Sam pointed up at the sky. “What are you talking about, Sam? We’ve been so worried about you! Come home with me and get dried off.” Judy turned to leave but Sam didn’t follow. “Come ON Sam.” Judy began to get restless. “Let’s go!” “But it’ll come back!” he pleaded, not wanting to go. “I’ve been following it and I’m sure it’ll come back.” He stood unmoving. “What’ll come back Sam?” “The dragon, the dragon! I saw a dragon!” “A dragon?” Judy asked, confused. Then she said, “Sam, I think the cold is getting to you. There’s no such thing as a dragon.” “Yes, there is! I saw it with my own eyes! It was purple, with a long tail and gleaming red eyes. It was amazing!” Shaking her head Judy said, “Let’s go home, Sam. You need your rest.” Before she could leave, Sam gripped her arm and she was roughly pulled back. “Sam!” she yelled, frustrated. “What are you doing? We have to get back. Mom is going ballistic!” She tossed her long wet brown hair out of her face. “Stop pretending to see imaginary creatures and come with me!” But Sam ignored her. He remained firmly glued to his spot, squinting into the falling rain. He suddenly felt a deep mourning for his father, Tim, who had perished in a deadly car accident only a year earlier. “I know he’ll come back,” Sam muttered. “Dad would never leave us so quickly.” As if on cue, a movement in the distance caught his eye. “There it is again! You see? It’s back!” He began jumping up and down with eagerness and excitement. “What IS that?” Judy exclaimed as the object swiftly began moving towards them. |
| Climax They both see the dragon Resolution The dragon leaves for another world. Judy makes the connection to their father's recent death. |
“It’s back, just like I told you,” he replied with a smile.As the strange object came into view, the sharp glistening white teeth, dark tenacious red eyes, and long writhing snakelike body of a dragon appeared. It moved with great agility up and down, and side-to-side, never remaining in one place longer than a second, circling the city as if scavenging for food. Its fierce talons contracted as it continued to move, revealing layers of shimmering purple scales. Sam and Judy watched with amazement as the beautiful creature soon disappeared into the dark clouds, its long tail lashing behind it. “It’s leaving us to go to a different world, isn’t it?” Sam asked Judy with a sigh as he leaned his head against her shoulder. She wrapped her arms around him. “Yes, Sam. Just like dad.” |
Narration 3rd Person Theme I think the theme is ____________ |