writing contest entry

Instructions

The Secret of the Neighborhood Chapter 1 “Elise, Come Down here this instant!" said Selena, Elise’s mother. “I need you to pack these things into the boxes. Elise?” Elise sighed and put down her tablet in which she was drawing. “Okay mom, coming!” replied Elise. Elise and her mother lived in a quiet, gloomy street in a tiny house, and they did not have any neighbors. Elise’s father had gone to work in another country, and they never saw each other except on video calls. Her house consisted of two small bedrooms, a tiny bathroom, a kitchen which was so small that there was nowhere to sit; and a sitting room. Elise was glad they were moving, because she had no friends and was always bullied at school. She only liked art. Nothing else. “Mom, do you think I would make friends? Elise said as she put the bubble wrapped dishes in a box. “What did you say dear?” asked Selena. “Never mind,” said Elise. “Dear why don’t you to pack your room?” “Umm... alright,” said Elise. Elise had packed almost half her room secretly so she could rest on the last week before she moved. Box one contained of books she was never going to read, her sketch books, and a few of her hoodies. Box two had all her tops (shirts, hoodies sweaters, frocks) and her fragile art supplies in the middle Box three had her bottoms ( all types of trousers and her skirts) and her itchy school clothes Box four had her bedding and she would add her blanket when the moving day arrived, and her shoes. Box five had her bags (which were not a lot, mind you) and her art supplies. Now Elise was going to pack box six, which were just her unused/remaining stuff of her hygienic stuff, and they were not many, so they fitted in a small box easily. Later, she picked up her tote and backpack, just to be sure there was her tablet, stylus, her pencil pouch, and her phone; and her backpack had her earbuds, her tiny notepad and her bottle – so she would not have to pack a bag if there was an emergency. Her day ended with Elise finishing her dinner, brushing her teeth, and going to sleep. “One week, enough time...” she said in her tired voice and fell asleep. Her mother had marked next week as their moving day... but someone in a dusty office had marked tomorrow. The Secret of the Neighborhood Chapter 2 Maya was busy brushing her auburn-red hair, and she heard her mother's angry voice: “Maya! You will be late for school again!” Maya sighed and quickly finished brushing her hair. She looked out her window to look at the empty house. She got completely lost in thought, until her mother yelled at her: “MAYA! I AM COUNTING TO THREE, IF YOU DO NOT GET DOWN HERE AND HAVE YOUR BREAKFAST!” Maya got completely startled and rushed downstairs clutching her book. She had her bowl of cereal empty in a few minutes. Her bus had still not arrived. It meant that she had to walk to school (or either she had missed the bus) and so she ran to school, ruining her neat appearance. At school she got distracted again, taping her pen on her desk to create a rhyme, sketching in her notebook’s corners, or getting absorbed in a book. After reaching home, she went to her room, locked her door. Silence, just for 30 minutes before her mother arrives. Enough time to write the 10th chapter of her book, which she hoped to be published one day. Maya hears the door open. She rushes downstairs. “Mom, you are home already?” asked Maya “Yes, I got my shift off early” replied her mother