Run to Where the Light Can't Find You

     The boy sprinted into the woods. The darkness causing him to nearly trip over his friend who was already crouched just within the tree line. He dropped down next to his friend as he tried to catch his breath. The humid summer air filled his lungs, but offered him little relief. Though he was at rest his body remained tense, ready to spring into action at any moment. They could see the red and blue flashing lights at the top of the hill casting strange, jerking shadows over the field. A spotlight panned across the trees trying to find them, but their black hoodies blended seamlessly with the night. His friend looked over at him, eyes wide and nervous, begging to know what had become of their friend. Before the boy could answer they heard a voice announce over a speaker.

     “We have your friend and we know who you are. Come out now! You are only making things worse for yourselves. You have no other option,” demanded the officer, his tone stern and foreboding.

     The reality of the situation gripped the boy and panic welled up inside of him. He closed his eyes for a moment to steady himself. He needed time to think, but that was a luxury he did not have. Before he darted into the woods he saw the line of police cars blocking their path between where they were and where they wanted to be. The full moon and the adrenaline allowed every detail to stand out vividly in his mind. He was pretty sure this night was going to end in tragedy for them. Clouds rolled across the moon casting shadows over the landscape and his waning optimism.

     He opened his eyes and looked over at his friend. His friend’s eyes darted back and forth as he weighed their two options. They boy knew exactly what he meant since they had known each other for a while and the need for verbal communication was no longer necessary. The boy scowled and slowly shook his head. Their friend had known the risk and had agreed to their terms. The first rule was don’t get caught. The second was that if you do, then you keep quiet about the others and go down alone. Their friend was on his own.

     A sudden, cold feeling crawled inside the boy’s stomach and slithered up his spine. It was a feeling he learned to never ignore. The boy shot his friend a wide-eyed glance and jerked his head back towards the woods. His friend knew what that look meant and they dashed deeper into the woods. Then they heard the sound of a German Shepard barking as it ran down the hill.

Trying to do the right thing

A door opened and a short, brunette woman with blond highlights stepped out into the bright August afternoon sun. With a sigh she raked the stray wisps of her that had escaped the neat bun at the top of her head to the side and proceeded to walk down the rickety steps at her job. She held on to the railings and when she reached ground level, sat on a bench. Glaring at the sun, she pulled out a pack of cigarettes, a lighter and a cellphone out of her purse. She lit a cigarette and took a deep drag inhaling the smoke deep into her lungs while dialing a number on her cellphone and waited for the other end to pick up. She tapped her foot against the leg of the bench and puffed away at her cigarette.

The call connected and she said in a raspy voice: " I'd like to make a payment on my account using my credit card". She listened intently chewing on her bottom lip with her lit cigarette suspended mid air in her other hand. "I don't understand. I have always payed my bill on the phone. I can't mail in a check in, I am on a payment plan and if I miss this payment I'm screwed." She listened more to the person on the other line substituting chewing her lip for short angry puffs on her cigarette. " When did this start? You sent me an email? I havent been at Washburn in nine years. I cant come in to pay by card because I work all day! By the time of I'm off work the business office is closed." Her voice grew louder and the puffs on her cigarette deeper and closer together as she spoke on the phone. 

She glanced at watch on her wrist and sighed and sighed again, " I have to go back into work, I only had a 15 minute break, thank you for nothing" she said before hanging up the call. She took one last puff from her cigarette and dropped it in an ashtray next to the bench making her way back up the stairs back to her job. 

The second of many

Edited by Emily

As she sat in the car outside of the Prairie View golf course in Topeka, Kansas, she noticed how beautiful of an afternoon it was. It was the first Saturday she had off of work in a long time, and the weather was perfect. It was sunny, but it was wasn't too hot or too cold. As she waited patiently, she found that she was nervous to be going golfing with this new man in her life. She hadn't been golfing in a long time, and she was afraid of embarrassing herself in front of him.

When he returned from renting the golf cart and paying the green fees, they headed to the first hole. After stretching and applying sunscreen, she walked up to the tee box, placed the ball on the tee and got in position. She swung the golf club for the first time in years. When the club came back down, she realized, to her dismay, that she had missed the ball. She looked over timidly at Justin and they both burst out laughing. She accepted his offer for a few tips on how to improve her swing. On her second try, she hit the ball and it landed in the green.

They both showed improvement as they continued to golf through the next eight holes. When they reached the final hole, they were laughing, joking and giving each other a hard time. They had decided not to keep an official score before starting, so they called it a tie even though she knew she had won. As they drove the golf cart back to the club house, she felt like their second date had been a success and began to wonder what the third one might bring. 

A hole in one.

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The first Saturday she had gotten off from work in a long time. The weather was perfect; it was sunny but not too hot and not too cold. As she sat in the car outside Prairie View golf course in Topeka, Kansas, she found that she was nervous to be golfing with this new man in her life. She didn't want to embarrass herself or look silly in front of him.

She waited patiently for him to rent the golf cart and pay the green fees and then they headed to the first hole. After stretching and applying sunscreen, she walked up to the tee box, put the ball on the tee, and got in position. She swung the golf club for the first time in years, and to her dismay she totally missed the ball. She looked over at Justin timidly and they both burst out laughing. He offered her some advice to help, and on the second swing she hit the ball and it landed on the green.

As she and Justin continued golfing through the next 8 holes they each got a little better. By the time they got to hole 9 they were joking around and giving each other a hard time. Since they had decided to not to keep score they decided it was a tie, even though she knew he had won. As they drove the golf cart back to the club house, she felt as though their second date had been a success.

The Last Cast

She was sitting on the dock overlooking the pond, hidden behind a row of trees as the sun began to set on a humid July evening. What seemed like hours had passed by, and she had hadn't caught a single fish. Boredom began creeping in. She debated just giving up and going to play with her dog that was sleeping beside her. Her friend had promised to take her fishing and show her a good time, however she didn't want to stay any longer.

“Can we go home?” she asked.

Hearing the boredom in her voice, he stood up quickly and made one final suggestion.

“Why don’t we give it one last cast before we head back?” he asked.

She hesitantly agreed and handed him her pole. He grabbed the hook with a smile; he knew she wasn't a fan of the slimy worms, so he had to bait her hook for her. He finally baited the hook and handed her back her pole. She cast her pink fishing pole into the pond, hoping for one last chance to catch a fish.

They had to wait only a few minutes, and then she finally hooked a fish. She battled the fish, reeling as fast as she could with all her might. She managed to get the fish to the edge of the dock and her friend bent down and grabbed the magnificent fish out of the pond. He held up the great catch, a 5 pound largemouth bass. It was the biggest fish she had ever caught. She had a couple of minutes to admire her catch, and then he released the fish back into the pond. Pleased with the last cast of the day, they began their walk home.

“I didn't know I would like fishing so much,” she said.

“I’m glad, but you’re not going to catch such a big fish every time,” he said.

“How do you know?” she asked.

Welcome Home Karsyn

(Edited)

What seemed like hours were only seconds as she stared at the clock. Although she had just been with her family there was so much excitement it hardly seemed real. Had it already been years since she became an aunt for the first time? It was only a couple of years ago when she met her first niece, Kyndall Ann. Now, a few weeks early, her second niece was born. She longed for the moment when she would get to hold this little miracle, but for now all she could do was wait.

Looking around the house she could tell the arrival of her new niece was unexpected. Every room looked as if someone had just walked out of it. There were dishes piled high in the sink, dirty laundry and toys scattered on the living room floor. With all this pent up energy she felt like she needed to do something. So she did what she could to make the wait a little easier, and she cleaned up the mess. Of course that could only last so long before she knew it she was back on the couch. Waiting patiently for any sign of life outside the house.

Suddenly, the garage door began to open and she was alert with anticipation. She fought back the urge to run outside and greet her new niece. Waiting a couple more seconds would be easy compared to what she had felt all day. The door swung open and there she was, Karsyn Renee. She walked closer to look at her niece and was greeted with big, blue eyes. Those eyes were quickly greeted with a smile and the harsh kitchen lights.

Karsyn began to cry as the brightness of the lights began to overwhelm her. Her aunt felt compelled to do what she had been waiting for all day for. She slowly reached down and cautiously cradled the 5 pound angel, she was perfect.

Karsyn was comforted by her Aunt's arms. It was like she knew that she was surrounded by love. Knowing she was safe she began to take in her surroundings. Her eyes scanned her knew home and looked for familiar faces. Proud big sister Kyndall skipped over to give her baby sister a kiss. A peaceful smile stretched over Karsyn's face. Kyndall was taking her new job very seriously and she loved having her sister home. This little family will always remember the happiness this homecoming brought them. They were surrounded by love and by family, but more importantly they were home.





*Editor's Note: I should not be allowed to edit things!

A Fish Story

The sun was just beginning to set on a humid July evening. She had been waiting for a few hours, sitting on a dock overlooking a pond, hidden behind a row of oak trees.

She hadn’t caught much and had begun to grow impatient and thought about giving up and going to play with the dog that was sleeping beside her.

Her friend had promised to take her fishing and not wanting to disappoint him she fought off the boredom until she couldn’t take it any longer.

“Can we go home,” she said.

Sensing that she had finally had enough and fearing that she may not like fishing all together he made a final suggestion.

“Why don’t we give it one final cast before we head back?” he said.

She agreed and handed her hook over to him. She only agreed to go with him if he baited her hook for her because she didn’t want to touch the worms. He baited her hook and she casted her pink fishing pole into the pond as she hoped for one final chance at a fish.

The waited for a few minutes and then she got a bite.

She fought the fish and as it came to the edge of the dock her friend grabbed it. It was a large-mouth bass weighing 5 pounds. .It was the biggest fish she had ever caught. They took pictures of the fish released it back into the pond and walked home.

“I didn’t know I would like fishing this much” she said.

“I’m glad but you’re not going to catch such a big fish every time” she said.

  “How do you know,” she said

Home Sweet Home

By: Jennifer Funk (Team 5)

She anxiously stared at the clock, watching the seconds pass by, waiting for her family to return. At the hospital, so many friends and family members came to visit that she hardly got the chance to hold her. It was only a couple of years ago that she was blessed with her first niece, Kyndall Ann. Now, unexpectedly a few weeks early, her second niece has arrived.

At her sister's house there were dishes piled up in the sink. Dirty laundry and toys were scattered on the living room floor. While waiting, she decided to clean and organize the house. After that, the only thing left to do was sit and wait. As she sat on the couch, she began to listen intently for the sound of the car pulling into the driveway.

Finally, she could hear the garage door lift and tires squealing as they came to a stop. The door swung open and there she was, Karsyn Renee. As Karsyn's father clunked through the kitchen, her aunt stood up so he could gently set the car seat on the couch. Her aunt walked closer to get a better look and the newborn slowly opened her big, blue eyes.

The mother entered the room and turned the lights on. The baby whimpered due to the harsh brightness emitted by the light bulbs. A silent cry slowly swept over the infant's face. The excited aunt quickly took action and cautiously lifted the 5 pound little angel out of her car seat.

Karsyn wiggled in her aunt's arms until she found a comfortable position. Slowly, she began to open her eyes and took a first look at her new home. After staying the first few nights at the cold, busy hospital, she was finally home. Her big sister excitedly ran over and gave her a kiss. A peaceful smile filled Karsyn's face. For the moment, life couldn't get any better for their little family. She was right where she belonged. She was home.

Born with an old soul, or an old body?

Team 3

By:Veronica Diaz

The pain struck her like lightning. The pain of 100 blows attacked her lower back and knocked her to her knees. She took deep breaths and tried to put herself together, but he pain continued to shoot up her back.

Never did she imagine that at age 22 she would be down on the ground due to back problems. These were the problems of elderly people, not active college students. And yet here she was on all fours trying not to cry from the blinding pain. This was the second time in two weeks this had happened. Last week she was merely doing laundry, bending down to grab a shirt, when another muscle spasm knocked her down. Each time it happened without warning, catching her off guard.

This time her friends were also caught off guard. It had never happened with anyone else around; they didn’t know what had happened. Should they help? Is this normal? She explained to them not to worry and to let her recover on her own.

Once the worry passed, the jokes began. “Granny Roni” was being laughed at and pictures were being snapped. She laughed and egged it on, all a charade to mask her tears and agony. It may be a serious problem, but there wasn’t anything they could do to help. At least this way she could help alleviate some of the stress and tension that momentarily filled the room.

Finally, enough time passed where she gained the strength to prop herself up. The pain was still there, but she needed to go home and manage it on her own. She knew this could longer be something she “managed”, it had to be taken care of soon before it happens at an even least opportune time.

A Warrior's Homecoming (Edited)

By Megan Dortch

As dawn broke through the clouds and into the cabin of the airplane, the passengers closed the blinds covering their tiny windows. The pilot had just announced that the plane was beginning to descend.

A middle aged man in the aisle seat wearing a crisp navy t-shirt with the logo of the wounded Warrior Project held two teddy bears in his arms. He was visually nervous as he bounced his prosthetic leg up and down. A elderly woman sitting across the aisle from him noticed  his uneasiness and ask if flying made uncomfortable. He smiled shyly and nodded. When the wheels of the plane touched down on the runway, the man gritted his teeth and clutched the teddy bears tightly to his chest while keeping his eyes closed until the plane was completely stopped.

When the seat belt light flashed off, the sound of seat belts unfastening filled the cabin and passengers jumped to leave their seats as the man with the teddy bears waited patiently for the aisle to clear. Then, he stood up and retrieved a camouflage duffel bag from the overhead compartment and walked slowly down the aisle, the two teddy bears tucked carefully between his left arm and side.

As he exited the gate, two high-pitched screams began to echo throughout the terminal .The man instantly dropped his dufflel bag and teddy bears to the floor and crouched down with open arms as two little girls with bright blond hair ran toward him. He enveloped them in his arms as tears poured down his face. A tall woman stood close by clutching a sign in her left hand that said, “Welcome home, daddy!” and her right hand tried to wipe the steady stream of tears from her face. The man motioned for her to join the embrace.

Onlookers stood by, many with tears welling up in their own eyes, as the family reunited. After a few minutes, the family stood up and the man gathered his things from the floor. As he handed the teddy bears to the little girls, he told them that he loved them and they embraced him yet again. 

Warrior's arrival moves many

By Monica McDougal

Sunlight filled the plane's cabin as passengers began to lift the blinds covering their windows. The pilot had just announced that the plane would be beginning its descent.

In an aisle seat, a middle aged man wearing a navy t-shirt marked with the logo of the Wounded Warrior Project held two teddy bears in his arms. He bounced his prosthetic leg nervously. An elderly woman sitting across the aisle from the man asked him if flying made him uncomfortable. He nodded with a smile. When the wheels of the plane touched down on the runway, the man gritted his teeth and clutched the teddy bears tightly to his chest. He kept his eyes shut until the plane came to a stop.

When the seat belt light flashed off, the sound of seat belts unfastening filled the cabin and passengers quickly left their seats. The man with the teddy bears waited patiently for the aisle to clear. Then, he stood up and retrieved a camouflage duffel bag from the overhead compartment. He walked down the aisle slowly, the two teddy bears tucked carefully between his arm and his side.

As he exited the gate, high-pitched screams began to echo through the airport. The man dropped his bag and the teddy bears to the floor and crouched down with open arms as two little girls with bright blond hair ran towards him. He enveloped them in his arms as tears poured down his face. A woman stood close by clutching a sign in her left hand that said, “Welcome home, daddy!” Her right hand wiped tears from her eyes. The man motioned for the woman to join the embrace.

Onlookers stood by, many with tears welling up in their own eyes, as the family was reunited. A few minutes later, the family stood up and the man gathered his things from the floor. As he handed the teddy bears to his little girls, he told them he loved them. The girls embraced him yet again. 

Bonded at birth

(Edited)

Through the glass of the intensive care unit, a mother sat patiently awaiting the first meeting with her newly born baby girl. The baby laid sleeping in a small incubator covered in tubes and gadgets used to assist the child's breathing and temperature. 

Although the baby, who was born just seventeen hours before, was napping, the nurse wasted no time pulling her from the warm glass box she now called home. Unhappy and alarmed by the coldness of the air outside of the incubator, the baby let out a gripping shriek. She cried out in dismay toward the nurse, wanting  back in the warm box she had become accustomed to since leaving the comfort of her mothers womb.

The nurse attempted to soothe the baby, but eventually plopped the infant right into her mother's arms. The new mom stared at her precious girl, tears streaming down her face, smiling as the baby continued to cry, still startled from her abrupt awakening. The mother leaned closer and whispered hello to her new baby. Instantly, the tantrum stopped and the room fell silent. The baby looked up at her mother, feeling more comfortable now than since leaving the womb. The voice of her mother, the only thing unchanged since her birth, soothing any troubles the baby girl might have. She stared up at her mother as her mother stared down at her.

They sat that way for what seemed like hours, studying each others faces. The mother matching feet to kicks she felt earlier that week and hiccups to the young baby that had grown inside her tummy. The baby matching the comforting voice and heartbeat to her mother's loving embrace.

And just like that, their first of many visits ended. 

The Birth of A Bond

Through the glass of the intensive care unit, a mother sat patiently awaiting the first meeting with her newly born, baby girl. The baby laid sleeping in a small incubator, covered in tubes and gadgets used to help keep her alive.

Although the baby, who was born just seventeen hours before, was napping, the nurse wasted no time pulling her from the warm glass box she now called home. Unhappy and alarmed by the coldness of the air outside of her new home, the baby let out a shrill, gripping shriek. She screamed and cried out in dismay toward the nurse. She wanted back in the warm box she'd become accustomed to since leaving the comfort of her mothers womb.

The nurse attempted to soothe the baby, but eventually plopped the infant right into her mother's arms. The new mom stared at her precious girl while tears streamed down her face. She smiled. The baby continued to cry, still startled from her abrupt awakening. Mom leaned closer and whispered hello to her new baby. Almost instantly the tantrum stopped. The room went silent. The baby looked up at her mother, feeling more comfortable than she had since leaving the womb. The voice of her mother, the only thing unchanged since her birth, soothing any troubles the baby girl might have. She stared up at her mother, and her mother at her.

They sat that way for what seemed like hours, studying each others faces. The mother matching feet to kicks she had felt earlier that week, and hiccups to the young baby that had grown inside her tummy. The baby matching the comforting voice and heartbeat to her mother's loving embrace.

And just like that, their first of many visits, had ended.

The goose, the gander, and the eggs.

Johanna's Rewrite: Group 1:

Gander protects nest from potential threats

It was a warm Saturday afternoon, she watched as a gander stood strong and idle on the small island in the center of a pond located at the Trianon apartment complex in Topeka, Kan.

She noticed that the gander was unwavering in his stance on the east edge of the island as he watched for signs of approaching danger. Although most of his body remained still and motionless, he turned his neck at the slightest of sounds. The sounds of a cracking of a tree branch, the splashing of a fish and the honking of another goose all kept him alert and focused on the task of protecting his family. She noticed that the mother goose sat quietly several feet away and tended to their nest of unborn goslings.

At the north end of the pond, she noticed four mallards swimming and playing in the water. As the mallards began to make their way to the island, she noticed the gander quickly moved and stood directly in their path. Ignoring his warning, the mallards continued to approach the island. She noticed that when they were just inches away, the gander suddenly stood erect, spread his wings and began to hiss menacingly at them. Alarmed, the mallards formed a side-by-side line in front of him and quacked simultaneously.

As she watched for several minutes she noticed that the gander’s perseverance paid off. The mallards surrendered the fight, they left the pond and waddled over to join a group of mallards gathered under a tree.

Confident the threat had subsided, the gander walked over to his nest to ensure that the eggs and mother goose were unharmed.

She then watched as the gander went back to his initial spot on the edge of the island. As the sun began to set behind the trees she noticed that peace had returned to the pond once again.