Young Adult
The big hike (part one)
I wake up by the sound of my alarm, ready for a big day. Today I am leaving home to hike the highest mountain in North America, Mt. Denali, in Alaska. It’s 6 am, and I already finished packing my backpack with all my essential items. I left my house in Fort Nelson, BC, at 6:40 am to reach the airport in time. Even though we’re early August, the air is cool and windy. When I get on the plane, it’s not the plane I expected. The plane I got is a small Beechcraft G36 Bonanza. There is barely enough space for my legs, nor for the four persons beside me to sit. When the engine starts, the plane begins to vibrate and green lights come on in the cockpit, including the seatbelt one. When we take off it’s 8:30 am. After a few minutes, a muffled voice echoes through the speakers announcing;
By Hippy vagabond4 years ago in Fiction
The Light that Binds
The street around me swells with excitement. Anticipation hangs thick in the air as we await the lighting of the bonfires on the mountains. The sky is lit with orange flame as the first daimonji fire ignites, marking the end of Obon. The fires that follow create brilliant kanji across the landscape, intended to guide our ancestors back to the spirit world. I take the opportunity to make my way to the Kamo river while the crowds are enthralled by the spectacle.
By Kimberly Anne4 years ago in Fiction
When Harry Met Sally
Harry was working 9 to 5 in his office as usual. He could not figure out why his life was an upheaval. All he knew was work and he did not know how to get out of this world. With his eyes heavy on the computer and doing nothing but the usual every day. He was the only one in the workplace who did not take regular breaks. Work was his life and life was work. And one day he was invited by some young guys at work to go out, they wanted to personally get to know their boss. At first, he refused but after a sad birthday, he took the offer in the City of Lights, Paris, France. Harry wanted to see the places first and whatever, whoever caught his eyes that is where he and the guys would go at. So they looked and looked on the weekend. The young guys cheered and jeered at the young women gently but Harry was not buying it. Until in the sunset he saw this braying beauty walk from the beach into an upcoming bar, she shines in the sun. And Harry told all the other guys that's his and he would pay for all their drinks if they help get that girl.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous4 years ago in Fiction
Little Drops
You can watch a single train rumble past for the solid part of an hour if you have the patience. If you sit on top of a chain-link fence with nothing to do and just watch. You’ll notice the spaces in between the cars where the floodlights gleam through, the eerie, blaring horn, the clacking wheels, and the squeaking brakes as the train slows down miles before it reaches its destination. The giant, mechanical beast dashes along the earth’s scarred surface every night, waking the neighbors from their dreams. Some never get used to it – the noise, the trembling ground. I grew used to it at an early age. After all, that was my lullaby when nobody bothered to put me to bed.
By Brittany MacKeown4 years ago in Fiction
Uncommon Messenger
Dori awoke with both hands tightly wrapped around the steering wheel and her forehead firmly planted against it. She leisurely rubbed her eyes, then looked around to see that she was dangerously close to her family's favorite body of water for boating: Blue Bird Pond. Ten more feet or so and she would have been smack dab in the middle of her very own frozen metal aquarium.
By Tiffany Gordon4 years ago in Fiction
Closing Time
Nancy walked out of Harry’s office, an expression of resolve written across her face. She hadn’t needed the job, but she had loved the job. Why else would she have stayed for seventeen years? No one stayed that long in food service. It had started off as just a waitressing gig, something to help pay the bills while she made her way through law school, but when she found she enjoyed serving food more than she enjoyed law, it had become much more permanent than she’d ever intended. She could still remember that night – the night she and Harry had gotten sloshed as she told him about her complete lack of desire to pass the bar. He had offered her the job as his manager then and there, and without batting an eyelash she had taken it. Nothing had felt so right in a long time, and it had felt right for the last seventeen years.
By Rachel Brown4 years ago in Fiction
The Power of Love
Looking at herself in the mirror, Priscilla felt a ripple of nerves in her belly. The fluttering feeling was not unlike how she'd imagine having actual butterflies in her stomach would feel but she rather liked the sensation. It reminded her of what tonight meant, what it was.
By Heather Miller4 years ago in Fiction
Like the Freaks They Were
There is an art to being different. It requires patience and bravery. Sometimes, it requires miracles and a little magic. But more than anything, it requires integrity and compassion — to stand in your truth and be YOU while forgiving others for hating you without knowing why.
By Kemari Howell4 years ago in Fiction
White Butterfly Beauty
Samantha tugged at the spaghetti straps attached to the top of her two-toned outfit. She knew that she was going to wow the judges today with her one-of-a-kind cheetah print ball gown made of tan velvet and black taffeta. A model needed to be slim, beautiful, outspoken and admired by all. As far as Sam was concerned, she had it in the bag!
By Tiffany Gordon4 years ago in Fiction
