The Mountains We Climb: A Collection of Short Stories by Nassau County Students

By Nassau County FL School Students

The Amelia Island Book Festival (AIBF) commends all the students who entered our 2024 Short Story Writing Contest. This year's theme focused on students describing an event or situation that changed them, why, and whether the change was positive or negative. We received 84 applicants from Middle and High-School students throughout Nassau C

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amelia Island Book Festival
• Release date: Apr 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9798869304155

Book preview

1

Barker, Audrey

8th Grade

Yulee Middle School

Trials of the Artist

Alice sat down before the glistening keys, exhaling a heavy breath. She set her hands gingerly on the keys and began to play carefully, every muscle in her body tensed as a slow song filled the air. As she continued the melody, her cautious motions gradually shifted into graceful, fluid movements, her hands flying across the glimmering white keys. Soon, the music evolved into a bold, confident piece as she continued to play, feeling like she had all the power in the world at her fingertips.

As she continued to play, she reached to the high C. That is where it went wrong. The discordant note echoed throughout the room. Alice was snapped out of her trance as she jerked her hands away from the piano.

She stood up, releasing a defeated sigh. Daniel’s head appeared in the doorway.

Hey, he said, tilting his head. Where’d the music go?

I think I’m done for now, she responded, glancing at her brother briefly before closing the lid on the same glistening keys that she had been playing so blissfully only moments previous. I just can’t get that last part down.

But the rest of it sounded great! Daniel stepped into the room, giving her an encouraging smile and an affectionate side hug.

She nodded halfheartedly and trudged off to bed. She drifted into an uneasy sleep, her mind still reeling with self-doubt and frustration.

As sunlight filtered through the blinds, her eyes fluttered open. She could hear the clamor of her family in the main room, going about their daily activities without a care.

After slumping out of bed, she got dressed in a worn-out gray sweatshirt, and an equally battered pair of sweatpants, she shuffled groggily into the living room, throwing herself onto the couch with a groan.

The savory smell of bacon, eggs, and sausage danced through the air as she heard her father’s voice from the kitchen.

Morning, sleepyhead! His voice was cheerful and lively, a complete contrast to Alice’s downcast, tired demeanor. Want some bacon and eggs? There’s also sausage if you want some.

Yes, please, she replied, barely keeping her eyes open. She picked up the remote and flipped through the channels before putting on a cartoon she used to watch frequently as a child; she was not really watching it, however, as she was too busy thinking about really nothing at all.

Come and get it! Mabel’s voice replaced their father’s as her head peeked around the corner. Alice didn’t understand how her younger sister could be so exhaustingly exuberant at such an early hour.

I’m coming, she sighed, standing up and stumbling toward the kitchen. She sat down on the beige wicker stools at the counter and grabbed her plate, which, despite her groggy state, she noticed to be very appetizing; a still sizzling sausage, three strips of crispy bacon, two perfectly cooked sunny-side-up eggs, and a piece of slightly browned toast with a layer of butter on top.

She supposed that all she had needed was a good breakfast, because once she had cleared her plate, she felt wide awake. She felt like she could soar above the clouds. But then, she fell back to earth as she was snapped out of her revery as her mother’s voice hit her in the face like a ton of bricks.

Don’t forget, honey, her mother reminded her. You have piano lesson at three o’ clock today.

I know, Alice replied, begrudgingly.

The time quickly flew by, and before Alice knew it, it was two-thirty; time to go. The car ride was long, tense, and dead silent. The quiet was tangible.

Are you ready for your lesson, baby? Her mother’s voice split the silence like a red-hot knife slicing through butter.

Alice groaned and nodded, picking up her glossy piano book and heading toward the small, quaint building that lay in wait for her. She looked over her shoulder and waved at her mother, who in return blew her a kiss and gave her the usual farewell.

Have fun, sweetie! I’ll be back for you at four! As her mother finished speaking, she rolled up the window and drove away. Alice headed in, though it felt more like appearing for a court trial rather than walking into a weekly piano lesson.

After greeting her teacher and doing a few warm-ups, Alice took a deep breath before flipping to the page: Trials of the Artist.

She began, just as she had the previous night; a bit slow at first, but then she gradually built up to a strong, bold melody and began to become lost in the music. Also like the previous night, what was supposed to be a high C was instead a discordant B.

Alice was red-faced and teary when she left the lesson, getting into the car and wiping her tears on her sleeve. She began to gaze out the window, trying to lose herself in thought, when a sudden motivation hit her.

She recalled the name of the piece: Trials of the Artist. This composition contained many slow, easy, relaxed phrases and many fast, upbeat, busy phrases, all of which were jumbled together leading to the grand ending. Her eyes widened as she realized how similar the song was to her own struggles.

Upon arriving home, she rushed into the sunroom and began practicing. She practiced. And practiced. Again, and again. Until finally, she perfected it. After two hours of taking it piece by piece, first slowly, then faster, she managed to put them all together.

She began to play the song over and over, letting the music flow through her, feeling like she could accomplish anything.

Wow! Her brother peeked into the room once more. Alice, that sounds great! You fixed that last part! Good job!

Thanks Dan, she giggled as she pulled him into a hug, murmuring another something under her breath.

This artist has overcome her challenge, at last.

What? Daniel looked up at her, confused.

Nothing, Alice responded, smiling.

2

Basynya, Sofia

6th Grade

Yulee Middle School

Best Friends

Have you ever had a best friend? You know, the typical combination of caring, kind, compatible, and overall, awesome? I do not know about you, but my best friend was never human. Yes, I have had great friends, but none of them can compare to my cat, Musik. He was named after Mozart, and Musik was a nickname for him. He was always there for me, and I could always count on him. Sometimes all he would do is come to me, but that was enough. He always seemed to know when I needed him the most, and he would always be there. He was not really a typical cat; he took care of me, and my family more than we took care of him. When I was little, I would put my toys on him and play with him, and he would let me do it. Any normal cat would have run away and hid, but Musik did not care. He was