Shallowford Falls Short Story Collection

By Terri Whitmire

What would happen if you were pulled into the world of Hogwarts Academy? Maybe you were born with multiple personalities or sentenced to jail for a crime you didn't commit? Enjoy these twelve short stories created by the young minds of Shallowford Falls Fun Creative Writing workshop. Meet a dark knight or a lost whale.

From the cuddly Phoenix bird to a killer ghost, there’s something for everyone in these delightful short stories. Dragons, and pirates, and witches. Oh my!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Terri Whitmire
• Release date: Nov 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311992796

Terri Whitmire

Terri Whitmire is an inspirational author who resides in Marietta, Georgia. She is originally from Waterbury, Connecticut. Terri earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science at the historic North Carolina A&T State University. She went on to work as an analyst in a classified government position that required an extended background clearance much like her main character. In October of 2011 her first novel, Breathe for Me, was released. She and her husband of eighteen years have three beautiful children. Terri is the founder of The Writer’s Tablet foundation which teaches creative writing and character building classes to school-aged children

Book preview

Introduction

In a land not so far away, in a city named Marietta, at a place called Shallowford Falls Elementary, were 12 little writers. They were hungry—hungry to learn what it would take to become a published author. And thus their story began.

I am honored that you allowed me to be a part of your child’s literary development. I have been a writing instructor for three years now. My students’ ages range from kindergarten to adults. My background as a published author has given me the experience needed to impart sound academic knowledge to these 12 aspiring authors.

I have absolutely enjoyed working with each of these talented students. I am blown away by their creativity, exuberance, and willingness to complete the necessary work to become a published author. The stories you will read in this collection are imaginative, delightful, terrifying, and thought provoking. I am so proud of their work and their accomplishment thus far. They have a bright future ahead of them.

Warmest wishes,

Terri Whitmire

www.funcreativewriting.com

Table of Contents

Introduction

Shadows

Dark Knight

Horror in Honolulu

Welcome Home

The Lost Whale

The Sorrow of the Dragon

Dark Moon Rising

The Ghost Kill

Trapped in the Sorcerer’s Stone

Locked Up

Mysterious Force

A Message from the Instructor

Shadows

by Payton Crowe

Chapter 1

Oh, my gosh. Mom, no! I’m not going to some stupid place in Africa. New York is my home. Why should I leave my house for a non-cell-phone-service place like Africa? You can’t make me!

Sweetie, it’s just a week. It’s our family vacation time. A little nature couldn’t hurt you. Anyway, you need some time away from New York City, Mom says, trying to cool me down.

But, Mom. I can’t leave. My triple sleepover with Jessica and Lilly is tomorrow! I scream at the top of my lungs.

Honey-lamb, I already thought of that. I called their moms. Jessica will be coming, too, but she has a dance and won’t be there till Sunday, my glorious mother said, calming my worries.

YOU’RE THE BEST EVA! A GIRLS’ NATURE RETREAT IN AFRICA! YAA! Okay, I’ll start packing. Love ya!

I run to my room as fast as I can. I make a list of things I need, which includes me—AVIANNAH CLARICE SANTIAGO.

Trip List

Blow-up air mattress

McKenna (my stuffed turtle)

Pillow #1 (curfoof-els)

Fuzzy #7 and #2 (blankets)

Makeup

Hair supplies

Clothes

Bedazzled tent

2 gallons of purified water

3 bags of Mac’n’Cheese

Platform heels and flip flops

O-M-Gizzle, Frizzle! I scream, waking up my little sister, Natalie. Ooooh, I almost forgot my mirror.

I show my mom the list and she tells me to leave everything except my clothes, shoes, and blow-up bed. I have to say goodbye to: my fluffy curfoof-els, McKenna, and last but not least, my bedazzled tent. So let’s get this straight. ALL I’LL HAVE IS AN EMPTY TENT WITH NOTHING IN IT. I need my stuff. I mean, how do you expect me to spend a week in Africa without my make-up?

Chapter 2

UGH! We haven’t even got there and I’m ready to leave. Plane ride = bad x 1,000. I had to sit next to a woman complaining to her boyfriend about their relationship and how it wasn’t going to work. On the other side were a man and his airsick baby. That little booger ruined my Lawton designer t-shirt! It was my favorite polka-dot shirt. I’m tired and I can tell this week will be a total disaster! The only good thing, and I mean ONLY GOOD THING is Jessica and... Lilly will… be… I yawn, there. Zzzz Zzzz Zzzzz.

Alex! Wake up! my older sister Maya yells, right in my face, I might add. Get up, we’re leaving! Wake up, NOW!

Okay, I heard you the first time, I screech back at her, still half asleep. The plane finally comes to a stop. Maya grabs my things from the overhead compartment and throws them at me. I fall back into my neighbor’s seat. Yes, the one with the barfing baby. And guess what, she barfs AGAIN! So now my shirt is ruined, dead, gone… forever. Well, it’s official; I hate that baby, Africa and my annoying sister.

Chapter 3

Once we are all off the plane, we walk to the place where you rent a Cabu-I. I think the word means an old cab that smells like toe fungus with a family of rats living in the trunk. We’re stuffed in the cab like sardines when suddenly we come to a stop.

Uh Oh. This can’t be good.

To Be Continued

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Payton Crowe is a ten year old, fifth grader at Shallowford Falls Elementary. She hopes to become a kid or adult author. Some of her many hobbies are piano, art, dance, swimming, and obviously writing. Her writing teacher, Mrs. Terri Whitmire has taught her a lot in the after school program called, Fun Creative Writing. She and her best friend, Samantha worked hard to complete the program and publish their first book. She dedicates her first book, Shadows, to Samantha, along with her family and her writing teacher, Mrs. Terri Whitmire.

Dark Knight

By Oscar Ding

Hi, my name is Max and I am 64 years old. You think that is old, right? Well, it’s not. The oldest person here is the dark knight. He is the scariest person on the planet and worse yet we don’t really know who he is. The only thing I know about him is he was the reason for the war. It happened a long, long time ago. There was a battle and I fought against him. I remember it like it was just yesterday. The trees whistled, the animals scattered and the people moaned. The battle had just begun. Out came a