The Teen Writers Conference is one of my favorite things ever. It's affordable, fun, and it teaches you so much. They just started putting weekly writing prompts on their website. This week, you had to do one that was 250 words or less and ended with "And that's when I found a squid in my boot." You're allowed three entries, so here's what I got:
The
Tentacles
It’s not uncommon to find sea
creatures floating around your house during this period of underwater war. They
all communicate different meanings, and receiving daily fish is a sign of your
loved ones well-being. But creatures with tentacles mean death and condolences
from the government.
After
waking up at eight, I’d search the house daily for a sign of my boyfriend’s welfare.
Finding an animal, I’d spend a few minutes admiring it before it’d teleport out
of existence.
One
morning, a fish was nowhere to be found. I was disappointed but understood the
fact that my boyfriend was fighting a war. I decided to get ready for the day,
trying to keep myself from worrying. I went to my closet to put on some shoes.
And that’s when I found a squid in my boot.
Missing
Working
at an aquarium, screams are never a good thing. Little shrieks are common when
the big sharks come up close and catch people off guard, but we’re-all-going-to-die
screaming leads to mass panic which leads to disaster.
Rushing
to one of the feeding rooms, I found one of the trainees huddled in a ball on
the ground, crying about one of the squids getting out. I didn’t have time to
quiet her unnecessary fears, I need to find that squid. And fast. Out in the
open it could die from lack of water, human interference, or practically
anything.
Employees
were spread everywhere, trying to look for Squishy (lovingly named by the boss’s
kindergartner). I ran to a supply closet and searched diligently, throwing
mops, brooms, and buckets out of my way. Finally I glanced in the small space
that stored my extra clothes for dirty work. And that’s when I found a squid in
my boot.
Oh, Brother
My
brother’s done plenty of mean things in his life. Like the time he put a
tarantula in my bed, or the time he glued me to the chair, or the time he tied
miniscule knots throughout my hair while I was sleeping. I will never
understand why, but my brother finds immense joy in torturing me.
But it
was my birthday. All I wanted was a carefree day that didn’t require constant
attention on my brother. I came downstairs to a nice pancake breakfast, and the
food wasn’t poisonous or gross. His smile was unnerving, but I thought that for
once he was trying to be kind.
He even
offered to drive me to the mall, which my malicious older brother never did.
And I was happy. Maybe we’d come to a turning point in our relationship. I
quickly ran back to my room to get ready. Downstairs, I heard an evil laugh.
And that’s when I found a squid in my boot.
To check out the conference and their blog, go to: http://www.teenwritersconference.org/
Image from: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjap9zxxdDJAhWn6IMKHUojB6AQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fishing-khaolak.com%2Frigs%2Fsaltwater_rigs%2Fsquid_rigging.html&psig=AFQjCNHqEGUc583xhoNc1CbkO06tfS46Fw&ust=1449811215126205
