The ten short stories on this page are finalists in the first South Middle School Short Story Contest. The names of the authors will be added after judging is completed.

THE DESERT OF GOLD
It is said that in an old Arabian tale, that far into the Arabian Desert a cave is hidden in the largest sand dune to the east, and deep within this cave is a room imbedded with gold. Every person in Arabia knows of this tale, and yet no one has ever tried to find this cave. That will soon change.
Jouhan sits, almost in a trance, as he listens to his grandfather tell him the old Arabian tale of the desert of gold. The story come to an end and all is quiet.
"I will find that cave, grandfather," Jouhan proclaims as the looks out the window.
"Maybe someday Jouhan, but not yet," his grandfather replied. "The desert is a cruel place. You must be stronger, both physically and mentally."
"Then I will get ready."
Ten years pass, and Jouhan is now 19. For the past 10 years, Jouhan has taken over every chore, including walking into the Arabian Desert to get water. He knew most of the desert like the back of his hand.
"You are ready now, if you still wish to fulfill this journey." Jouhan's grandfather talked as Jouhan emptied the water into the trough.
"I will leave in two days. That will give me enough time to gather what I'll need," Jouhan replied.
As the next two days passed, Jouhan collected everything he would need for the long journey. He was confident he would find the cave, yet in the back of his head, there was always the thought that he may never return.
The day of his journey was now here. He had his things ready and said goodbye. As he marched into the desert, he did not look back. He was determined and yet scared to say goodbye, for it might be goodbye forever.
Jouhan marched on with the sun beating down on him. There was no means of shade or shelter to be seen and night was approaching. As he looks around, he sees a desert fox digging a burrow. Jouhan walked on and when the temperature started to drop, he started to dig. By the time a burrow was dug large enough for him, it was completely dark, and probably below zero.
The next morning, Jouhan awoke with an annoying hiss in his ear. As Jouhan slowly turned his head, the tip of a snake's tail slowly came into view. The only thing to do was to run for it. Jouhan slowly got to his knees and then darted to the side. As he did so, the snake lunged. His leg was centimeters from getting bitten. Jouhan continued to run. About a fourth of a mile east of where he had slept, Jouhan finally fell to his knees onto the side of a sand dune. Sand began to fallon his head and bury him. He quickly moved out of the way. He turned and looked back to see a dark cave. He had found the cave.
Jouhan crawled through the cave. He followed a small glitter that he saw in the distance. Jouhan eventually hit a wall. When he did so, a small rock in the ceiling came ajar, and a small beam of light shone through. The whole cave lit up and the walls sparkled. They were covered with gold, just like in the tale.
For the next few days, Jouhan chipped away at the gold with a chisel he had brought and slowly filled his bags with gold. Then once every bag was filled, he returned home.
"I can't believe it! Is that my grandson?" Jouhan's grandfather asked himself as he saw a silhouette in the distance. He hopped up on a horse and brought another one for his grandson. Jouhan was very happy to see his grandfather. He loaded the gold onto both horses and they walked them back to the house.
Years passed and Jouhan stayed as determined toward anything he did as he was when he went on his journey. He also had all them oney he would ever need. The old Arabian tale about the desert of gold continued to be told, but just became a little longer. Jouhan was now a legend.

GRANDPA
"Will you be all right, Kelly?" asked Kelly's mom, crying.
"Yeah, Mom, I'll beb just fine. How about you? Kelly's mom nodded her head and whispered, "Yes."
Kelly's father had passed away days before while in the Army. Chris, Kelly's dad, had got called up to fight in the war. When he got the call, he told his little girl that everything would be just fine and he would be home before she knew it.
Months went by with a few letters and a phone call here and there. Kelly was getting anxious to see her dad again. Only a few weeks before his funeral, Kelly had received a letter from her dad. It read:
"Hey baby, how are you doing? Things are getting pretty rough where I'm at right now. I can't wait to see you again. Just remember what I told you before I left. I'll be home before you know it. I have to go now. I will write you back real soon Love ya and miss you bunches. Dad."
Kelly couldn't help but read the note over and over again. She started tearing up only after a few lines. Then she crumbled it up and threw it against the wall.
She was angry with her dad for leaving. He told her that he woudld be there before she knew it. Well, he was there, but not the way that she wanted him to be.
As Kelly got older, she started to realize how important it was that her father risked his life so people that he didn't even know could be safe.
Kelly started crying again as she talked to her son, Michael, telling him about his brave grandfather.

WHY?
Her eyes opened and shut as she stared up at the rain falling onto her face. Lightning flashed, as the wind blew her dark hair smoothly across her soft, 15-year-old face. The rain disguised her tears as mere raindrops that had fallen from the sky. Her face was no longer the face it used to be. The same sad look graced her face, but this time, the look had matured. It was as if, in one single night, she grew up, even though it was not her time. A storm had arrived, but she neither went inside nor made a motion of any kind. There was nothing left for her back in her house. Nothing but an empty house filled with memories she wished she didn't have. Going back into that house would bring back the most painful of memories, therefore, she had never planned on doing so. She stood there for a while longer, trying to decide what her next move would be. She eventually turned her head for one last look upon the house she grew up in. Then she turned her back to it, ran in the opposite direction and never looked back again.

Tabitha's eyes were barely open when she heard her mother yelling for her to hurry up and get ready. She lay there for a moment thinking about just staying in bed, but ultimately, she realized that, sooner or later, she would have to get up. So she stumbled out of bed with a groan and began getting ready for another dreaded day. Tabitha looked outside and saw that it was going to be a dreary, rainy day. She sighed and wondered what the day would bring.
She finally got dressed slowly and went into the kitchen to have breakfast, but the sleepiness was still in her eyes. She saw the door in the kitchen shut and looked outside to see her father preparing to get into his car with a handful of envelopes. Her mom came in, as she sat down to eat her cereal she had just poured, and seemed upset with her behavior, although she had done nothing wrong.
"Why must you act this way all the time? I need your help cleaning up and yet you sit there eating and acting like you are the head of the household!' said her mother in a rage.
Her mother was not a large woman, though her fierce personality might leave you to believe so. She was in fact a rather small, petite woman, with short blonde hair that was curled at the end, and soft brown eyes. Sort of like a mom you might see on television or something.
"Mom, I was just..." started Tabitha, trying to defend herself.
"Don't give me excuses! I don;t want to hear them rightn ow! Where is your father?" yelled her mother, abruptly changing the subject.
"I saw him leaving. I think he went to the post office to mail some bills or something," replied Tabitha.
"He's just NOW leaving to mail those? I told him to mail those weeks ago! What if our electricity or water is shut off?"
"I'm sure it's going to be fine, Mom. He's always late mailing them and that's never happened before," said Tabitha, trying to be helpful.
"Well, maybe you don't know everything that goes on, now do you?" asked her mother.
"I.." Tabitha began.
"No, you don't. You don't know anything about paying bills or having a job. You don't do anything! Sometimes I wonder why I even let you stay here," screamed her mother, sighing and rolling her eyes.
Right after her last words were spoken, Tabitha's mother began searching through the drawers and cabinets frantically. Tabitha had no idea what she was doing, but decided not to question her, for fear she might yell at her again.
"Where did I put htat? Hmmm..." Tabitha's mom mumbled under her breath.
Tabitha got up to rinse her bowl in the sink and sat back down to wait for her father to return, so he could take her to school. She did not have long to wait, for soon after that her father came bursting through the door and in an angry gesture he slamed it shut behind him. Unlike her mother, Tabitha's father was quite a large man with a stern face, dark hair, and wide, green eyes that always looked as though they knew something you didn't.
"Are you ready yet?" Tabitha's father asked her.
"Almost. I just need to grab my backpack," replied Tabitha.
"I was supposed to be at work 15 minutes ago. How am I supposed to get there on time?" her father asked furiously.
"Well, why don't you try paying our bills on time?" asked her mother, glaring at Tabitha's father.
"I'm sorry I've upset you, Miss Responsibility, but I've been busy with work. You know, something you don't have to do at your pathetic secretary job," retorted her father.
"What is that supposed to mean? You think I don't contribute around here?"
"Well, what exactly would you call contributing? Apparently, we have different definitions of the word."
"I would call it working my tail off every day, just so I can come home to cook, clean, and wait on you hand and foot."
"HA! You want to know about working your tail off? Try my job for a day! You wouldn't make it to lunch."
After all this arguing, Tabitha just tuned it all out. It was beginning to be too much for her. The same thing went on every day at her house. She got up, she and her mother fought, her mother and father fought, she went to school, came home, she and her mother fought, then her mother and father fought. It never changed. Life was becoming so predictable for Tabitha that she could almost guess what each parent was going to say next in each argument because they often argued about the same thing more than once. Sometimes she thought about running away, but that solution could never be a reality. She had absolutely nowhere to go. No one to turn to in times of need. No one except her parents, who were normally too busy arguing with each other to even notice that she sometimes needed to be helped and comforted.
"SLAP!" came the sound of her father's hand striking her mother's face and Tabitha was shocked back out of her dream world and into reality.
"Father! What are you doing?" Tabitha yelled, as she got up from the table.
"Sit back down!" her father yelled and slapped Tabitha across her face, too. Tabitha stumbled backward into the chair she had just been sitting in. Her eyes filled with tears, as the shock of what had just happened sunk in. Her father had actually hit her. Not only her, but her mother, too. Her mother was cowering over in a corner with silent tears streaming down her face. Tabitha's father was still standing there with his hand raised in the air, as if ready to strike at anyone's sudden movement. He was much larger than Tabitha and her mother and their small bodies were nothing to him. He towered over them like a bear, ready to attack.
"Now, I have to get to work immediately, so you'd better get in the car before I leave you both here," said her father.
Tabitha's mother stood and straightened herself up quickly. Her mother was not easily shut down. She would always get up and keep going no mater what the circumstances and with her father, there were many bad circumstances.
Finally, Tabitha, her mother, and father got into the car and her father set off. No one said anything. Tabitha still had tears that were forming in her eyes, but she was holding them in. She focused on things outside the car, so that she would be distracted and wouldn't have to think. She wanted to pretend like she was strong and that she could handle this, but she's had enough.
As she got out of the car, she simply said, "I can't take all of this fighting! I wish I lived somewhere else. I hate you both!" She ran off towards her school before her parents could say anything more.
Tabitha was late for school, but she did not care. That was the least of her worries. She was still fuming over what she had just said to her parents. She knew she would probably have to pay for it after school, but it didn't matter to her at that particular moment.
School was just the same as it had always been. Except today, Tabitha's mind kept drifting. Even more so than usual. Something just didn't seem right. She had begun feeling bad for what she had said when she got out of the car. She had only said it in anger and her parents had said many things in anger, so she felt she deserved the right to say whatever she wanted.
After school, Tabitha got on the bus, like she always did, and headed for home. A light rain had begun to fall and she enjoyed listening to the tiny pellets of rain as they hit the bus. However, for some reason, she was very anxious to get home, even though she knew there were consequences ahead of her for what she had said that morning.
Tabitha arrived at home and threw her stuff in her room, as usual. She turned on the television in the living room and waited with anticipation for her parents to get home. She waited and waited, and waited some more, but time seemed to be going so slowly. Either that or it was just very late and for some reason her parents weren't home yet. It began to get very dark and Tabitha's worries increased, as did her desire to know where her parents were.
She looked up quickly because she saw a car coming down the street. She jumped to go to the door, when she noticed that the car was not her parents'. Then she realized that it was, in fact, a police car. Tabitha swallowed hard and tried to think happy thoughts, as she heard a knock on the door. She slowly trudged over to answer the door. There were two officers standing there, an older-looking one and a much younger one, with grim faces.
"What's going on?" she demanded immediately before they could say anything.
"You're Tabitha, I presume?" asked the older officer.
"Yes, but would you just please tell me what is going on? Tabitha demanded again.
"May we come in first?" asked the younger, rather overweight officer.
"Yes, but quickly. I must know what has happened," replied Tabitha.
"The young, overweight officer then said, "There has been an accident."
"What do you mean?" began Tabitha. "What kind of an accident?"
"Well, you see," began the older officer, "your parents were involved in a terrible car accident and, well..."
"Well, what?" asked Tabitha.
Tabitha's eyes darted back and forth between them and she became more impatient. The officers looked mournfully at each other and Tabitha knew what was coming. She didn't want to accept it. In her head, she kept denying it over and over again, but she could not put off the truth any longer. It was inevitable, the words would be spoken at some point, but she did not want them to be.
"Just tell me already," Tabitha said.
"They didn't make it. I'm sorry," said the overweight officer.
Tabitha jammed her eyes shut, hoping that her eyelids would prove to be a dam and hold all her tears in. This technique did not work, so she just let the tears flow.
In her head, she was saying, "Why didn't I tell them that I loved them? Why? Why? Why?"
These questions could never be answered. She then stood up and, without warning, ran out the door. She didn't stop running either for quite some distance in the rain that had begun to fall more rapidly.
Lightning flashed many times and Tabitha eventually stopped at a point where her house was still in view. She then looked up into the sky and let the rain fall onto her face as she said a silent prayer, before glancing back at the house one last time.

A DIFFERENT WORLD
They say the greatest things in life can't be bought. For Peter though, that was a different case, for everything he wanted, he bought. Except for the one thing by the name of Gloria.
His wife and true love of whom he lived every second in the day for. Gloria gave him three other things he would pay all the money he had for, which are his children.
Now, Peter was like every normal African-American man. He owned a fancy house with expensive cars. He owned one of the biggest companies in the world. He could buy anything he could dream of, but even with this much, he still held the dearest things close to him.
As he drove to his work one cloudy day in the big city he lived in, he watched as he passed. He passed protesters, but he could not see what they were protesting. He pulled his car over to the closest parking lot and gracefully got out of it, for he was brought up in high class to be so graceful.
He slowly made his way to the men and women outside of a factory. Their clothes were in rags and there were protest signs in their hands. They were homeless, he could tell.
Peter reached out to one of the men at the gate and asked, "Why are you doing this?"
The man snarled and replied, "It's because of you! You people have driven us to teh streets...to poverty."
Peter watched as the man turned back around and began yelling again. He shook his head and walked back to his car, thinking of the words he just had heard.
It was late in the evening as Peter drove back to his loving family. He passed the protesters again, but this time, he paid no mind to them.
He pulled up to his driveway as he saw Gloria come out of his house, a smile on her face. Peter got out of the car and slammed the door violently. The words from earlier were still pounding in his head. Gloria noticed this immediately.
"What is wrong, dear? asked Gloria.
Peter simply passed her through the doorway and made his way to the richly furnished dining room. His three children walked into the room, also. They didn't speak.
He looked at his family then again remembered the words. "There were protesters outside the new factory today," he said quietly to his wife. He loudly slammed his hand on the table and exclaimed, "We have got to help our white brothers and sisters."

THE SINISTER PLOT
No one knew. And I was happy they didn't. No one cared. And I must say I was quite happy they didn't. After all, no one has ever known or cared about anything I did. And why should they? Really, why should they? But I was happy, not ashamed, not filled with guilt, but happy, utterly happy.
I guess I should start at the beginning and tell you everything to do with this sinister plot.
First off, hello. My name....is of no importance to you. I assure you that my name bears no part in this story. But, if you must call me anything, call me NAT (this, of course, stands for Nevermind About That).
Now, on with the story now that you know me, even if it is only slightly. I cannot tell you the exact moment which the idea crossed my mind. But, as soon as it did, I knew it was brilliant. No traces left, no evidence, it honestly was the perfect crime. Never in the history of history has something like this happened.
This robbery was unsurpassed in planning. I'd finally done it! The gold of Seltsners Line is no mine. Finally! I shall never be caught unless, of course, I am caught.
So I run! Crossed state lines into Mexico. But those Mexicans are vicious. They bite! And I guess that that tequila they drink aids in their sharp teeth. They can bite! I mean, they are like piranhas.
Needless to say, I was subdued and taken away. I was on a remote island with millions upon millions of them. They challenged me to a shootout. I declined. Bad idea.
I was bound and gagged and was taken back to the U.S. (thank the Lord Almighty).
I was released and almost immediately turned myself in. I was locked into a maximum security prison.
So now I'm here in prison safe. Except my cellmate is a crazy crackie. So, I will depart for now. My cell mate is advancing at an expedient rate. Goodbye! I hope will live to tell of my earlier scheme. Until a later day.

THE VISIT
Jessica awoke to the sound of many birds. She did not have to open her eyes, she knew where she was. She began to think about yesterday.
"Why did he have to leave?" she thought. "I did not even get to say goodbye."
Her eyes began to water. Then she heard a very familiar voice. "What is the matter, sweetheart?" asked the voice.
When she opened her eyes, she saw her dad sitting in her computer chair.
"Dad...I thought you...died."
"Well, I did, but the Big Guy let me stay for one more day," Travis said, his finger pointed upward.
"Did you tell Mom? Jessica asked.
"No, just our little secret, ok?" Travis replied. "Did you want to go get some breakfast?'
"Um...ok."
After breakfast, they went to the mall and Travis bought Jessica a new pair of shoes. Afterwards, they went to Lazer City until lunch.
At lunch, they talked. "Did it hurt when you fell?"
"Well, no. I kind of died instantly."
Jessica almost choked on her sub. "Oh, I'm sorry."
After lunch, they went to see "Dawn of the Dead" then "Starsky and Hutch."
Now it is night and Jessica is in bed. "Dad, I don't want you to leave."
"Well, I will stay as long as I can."
"OK...zzzzzzz."
Travis looked at her lovingly. "You had a long day. I have to go now."

CANDIE
Hi, my name is Candie. I am 25 years old and I have been through a lot. I have made many mistakes in my lifetime. I have AIDS and I hope by telling my story people will not make the same mistakes. All of it began when I was in seventh grade. I met this guy who was a year older than me. He was gorgeous! Tan, brown eyes, dark hair, strong. He was HOT!
At the beginning of the year, me and my best friend had a big fight and she tried to turn the entire school against me. So I learned who my real friends were. So I really did not have anyone to talk to and I felt alone and left out a lot of the time. Then I met my two best friends who were and still are, their names are Reilly and Christine. We became closer than ever. Every weekend, we were together. We started hanging out with the eighth grade guys, going to parties and having fun.
One Friday night, Reilly, Christnie, and I got invited to a sophomore party, but we did not have a ride. I will never forget that night. We called around and found a ride with a guy who was going. First, we were talking and having fun, dancing, and being crazy. Then the guy I had been crushing on got our some beer. I did not know what to do. He wanted me to try it so I did. It was disgusting. I told him it was nasty, but then he had some tequila and Jack Daniels. We started mixing the drinks and then taking shots. It was crazy. I don't remember much about that night, but I can tell you this, I was drunk. I remember sitting on this guy's lap kissing him, while another guy was touching me. That happened for a while, then we went into a room. We were still drinking and we went all the way. I was 13 and he was 15. I don't even know who he was. That was probably the stupidest thing I'd ever done. I don't even think we went home that nigh. We stayed with those guys until around noon on Sunday.
On Saturday, we all just hung out. The guy I was with had left and I still don't know his name. We got drunk again on Saturday, but nothing major happened. This became a regular thing. We were the "party girls."
My freshman year was when things started really getting messed up. All our party friends were sophomores that year and so we didn't really know anyone. I started getting really depressed about my feelings toward my appearance. I never felt like I was skinny enough or pretty enough. I started working out A LOT. I tried to cut back on eating and I lost 10 pounds in a week, that's how much I was working out. Christine was the first to notice a change. She started watching how much I ate and how much I went to the gym. She told Reilly and they both told me I was beautiful and I had to stop or my beauty would go with all my weight. I finally got back on my feet, but I still felt left out and away from everything. I was popular, I wasn't poor, and I had good parents. Everyone thought I lived the perfect life, but inside I was fighing a war. I began cutting myself. It was a way to get rid of the pain. I was scared to tell anyone because I was afraid they would think I was crazy.
I started getting high and drunk a lot more than usual. Then one night over spring break we went to a party, a junior and senior party. We were the only freshmen there. We felt so awesome, like nothing in the world could stop us from doing whatever we wanted. We got drunk as usual, but I really don't remember anything else about that night. But a few weeks later, I missed my period, and I was sick like every morning. I started to get really scared. One Friday night, I was at Christine's house with Reilly. I finally told them and Reilly said that she had the same things happening to her. We decided to get pregnancy tests. We were both pregnant! We were 15 years old! I didn't know how I was going to tell my parents. It would kill my mom. Reilly and I thought about abortion, but I could never kill a child. After about three weeks, I told my mom. It was the hardest thing I'd ever done in my life. I had to explain everything to her, how I'd lost my virginity when I was 13 and how I got drunk, smoked and everything. I will never forget how disappointed in me she was. Nothing kills me more than disappointment. She threatened to kick me out, but I told her I would accept the consequences of my actions. She decided to let me stay and to help support me financially and with my baby.
When Reilly told her parents, they kicked her out and wanted absolutely nothing to do with her. My mom, being the loving person she is, took her in and promised to help with her child, too. When we went to the doctor, Christine came with us. We found out I was having a girl and Reilly was having a boy. We began thinking of names right off. I thought of a lot of names, but Alexis Rose was the winner. Reilly chose Pacey Michael.
Those nine months were crazy, fun, inspiring, hurtful, and painful. Some people called us sluts, but others were very sweet. We didn't care, we had each other and my mom. When it came time, we both went to the hospital on the same day, and we both wanted to be in the delivery room together. Christine and my mom never left our side. Alexis came easily, well, not easily, but for my size and age, it went very well. Reilly's was difficult. It almost killed her, but he finally came. Pacey wasn't breathing at first, but they got him to. He had to be neonatal intensive car for a day, but he made it through. Alexis is my pride and joy. She is beautiful. She is everything to me and Pacey is just like my son.
About a year later, I started getting really sick. I was throwing up, fevering, and coughing, but I tried to ignore it because I had to go to school and I had to work to support myself and my child. This went on for several weeks and that several weeks turned into months. I was finally so sick I couldn't get out of bed. We decided to take me to the doctor. They thought maybe it was just a bad cold, but then a test showed something funny, so they tested me for the HIV virus. I tested positive. Immediately, they tested Alexis. She tested positive for the HIV virus, too. My whole world turned upside down. My beautiful baby girl was gong to have to die from pain and suffering and it was my fault.
They gave me medicine and I have to be on them 24/7. Alexis was put on medicine, too, and everyone had to wear rubber gloves to change my baby's diaper. It's devastating. I just don't understand how I could have been so stupid.
I decided to make the most out of my life. I tried to live a normal life, but it was hard. I had to take 25 pills in a 24-hour period. When I was 18 and about to graduate, I met this wonderful guy. His name was Brett. We started dating and I told him everything that had happened to me. He insisted that we get married. I told I would give him AIDS, but he told me he didn't care, so I agreed. We got married. Everything was great. He was supportive for about the first three years, then he began hitting me and telling me he hated me and that Lexi was going to die and it was all my fault. He taunted me and made my life miserable. We got divorced and I moved in with Christine and her husband Lane, Reilly and Pacey. Alexis was acting very healthy and the doctor wanted us to go in for our monthly checkup. He looked Lexi over and ran some tests. When he tested Lexi for HIV, she was negative. The virus was gone. I was bawling and my mom passed out. My baby wasn't going to die. She was going to grow up like any other child.
On my 25th birthday, my mom had a heart attack. We rushed her to the hospital. There wasn't much we could do. I stayed with her until she woke up. I thought she never would. Then one night out of nowhere, she looked up at me and said, "Candie, I love you and I am so proud of you" then she was gone. I was left all alone. I couldn't move. I felt sick. I will never forget those beautiful, kind, caring green eyes.
I will be 26 soon. Alexis is 10. I know I will be going very soon.
Please don't let peer pressure let you go through what I have, it's not worth it. Christine and Lane have a daughter named Jade and Pacey has a girlfriend named Danielle and Alexis's best friend is Cassie. Christine promised to take Alexis when I'm gone. I don't know what I would do if I hadn't had them in my life.
I am truly grateful.

THE PERFECT FAMILY
Kevin Hunter was usually a pretty good guy, born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, with both of his loving parents. He received A's, and occasional B's throughout school and after finishing high school, he went to medical school for his PhD, where he found Wendy Hall, who he married. Soon after graduating from college. He was the ideal student, son, husband, and father of a beautiful son, until something unbelievable happened to them all.

"Hurry up, John. You're going to be late for school again!" Kevin said to his seven-year-old son. John raced down the stairs while putting on a light jacket and also some socks. "Hold on a minute, dad," John yelled. "I have to get my shoes on" After the two stopped in the kitchen for a quick glass of orange juice, John grabbed his backpack and his father grabbed his suitcase from the counter.
Then they both ran out the door and as Kevin was locking it, the Riverton Elementary School bus pulled up. "Bye, son," Kevin yelled to the closing bus doors. He sighed and, under his breath, whispered, "see you tomorrow."
Kevin ducked into his BMW convertible and backed out of the Hunters' driveway, heading toward his workplace. Conier and Associates. He had a very busy day ahead of him, checking auto insurance companies' profiles, statistics, and other information.
John, however, had a rather relaxing, yet exciting agenda at his elementary school. Riverton Elementary had a field trip planned for that day, a trip which it had every year, to the Columbus Zoo, the biggest zoo in Kansas. John could not sleep, he was so excited, that he slept in a little. He is lucky to have Kevin as a father to make sure he is ready every morning.
By the time they were both back hom, Wendy was sitting in the kitchen, eating leftover carrotcake from John's seventh birthday two days earlier. "Hey guys," she said. "So Johnny, how was the trip?"
"Oh, mom, it was so cool! I even got to pet a little baby monkey! Oh, oh, and all the parrots were so colorful, but they sure were noisy."
"Calm down, son," Kevin said, as he let out a little chuckle. He leaned over and whispered to his wife, "He told me on the way home. Now it's your turn."
"Tell me about it, Johnny, while I finish this cake."
"Okay, Mom," John said, and his excited voice faded off as Kevin walked into the living room, sat down on the sofa, and clicked to channel six.
"The police department reported today that it is getting close to catching the suspect in the seven house fires, which were all started with a match and kerosene," a voice on the news said in a deep, low tone. "If you have seen a man with dark hair, brown eyes, about six foot one and 163 pounds, please report it to the police department or this news station. In other news, this week's food drive was a great success."
Kevin turned off the television. "Hey, honey, they almost caught that guy who was behind all those house fires."
"Really?" Wendy asked. "It's about time they did. Hey, Kev, you think you could help me with dinner? I need you to cook these pork chops."
These were the last words to come out of her mouth as they smelled the kerosene and heard it being poured around the outside of the house, and with one strike of a match their whole world came to an end.

When a loved one dies, they stay in your heart forever and you soon forget about their death, but when someone you have never known before, and you suddenly care about, dies, you will never forget.

(I hope you enjoyed my story and I hope I have touched you all, even if in a very strange way.)