PHS Creative Writing Contest Winners

For the month of December, students in the high school Creative Writing Class had their 100-word short stories anonymously published in the local newspaper, and at the community library for readers to vote on.  The three winners each received a gift card and candy, and saw their stories printed once again, but this time with their names attached.  The students received votes from over 120 people, and reached readers from Washington to Connecticut.  Here are the winners:

First Place tie

Unopened Messages

By Kaylee Jacobson, Senior

Messages untouched, plans unmade. Death is weird. In the middle of the day on random saturday the person you’ve known the entire life, spent everyday seeing, is no longer in your math class sitting next to you able to help you with your assignments. They are no longer there to wave to you and say hi as you carry your books to your next class. You can text them but the number of days left unopened grows longer and longer. As the days all mush together and life starts to separate from before and after. The unopened messages still linger. 

First Place tie

The Death that Saved Your Life

By Rilynn James, Junior

You barely knew your neighbor, but the impact his death had was immeasurable. There was always something off about him; something suspicious, something strange - right down to the note in his pocket with your name attached to it the night he was murdered. Detectives only tell you about the note the next day, but refuse to elaborate, leaving you with crumbs of curiosity and fear. The night after it happened, you sneak around the caution tape and carelessly break into his home, only to find that your demise was living only twenty yards from you. Suddenly, you’re glad he’s gone.

Second Place

Sunshine Dies

By Nora Kremer, Sophomore

I’ve never thought about losing you. I thought we’d grow old together.  There hasn’t ever been a reason for me to think of your death - nothing, until a few months ago.

Life without you - just thinking that makes me want to cry. I’ve never known life without you. I imagined that we would drink tea on our porch swings when we grew old and die together from age. 

But never would I have thought this day would come. You, here in my arms. Tears streaming down both our faces. My heart, wrenching, yet I sing you this song, our song.

Third Place

The Last Message

By Peyton Leigh, Junior

December 1961, Heart pounding out of his chest, Chester sprinted through the tight squeeze, his breath trailing behind him from the cold winter air. Footsteps pounded and echoed behind him growing closer. He quickly glanced back to see two guards gaining on him. With a quick burst of energy, he leaped over the moat. The spotlight glinted off the barbed wire fence and without hesitation, he made the leap of faith. The wall was the last thing standing in the path of freedom; there was nothing to be done with the approaching guards. “Standing man” murmured Chester, time is up.