Short Story

So I’m taking the Creative Writing course at Harker Summer Institute. 1 of the assignments was to write about a journey. The journey has to be literal but have an abstract meaning behind it.

So I chose the transition between Middle School to High School in term of thinking ahead to college.

So I wrote a little short story and I will explain the meaning behind it later.

**btw…this story is fictional =)**

I leave home in my sleek silver convertible to high school. I left 30 minutes earlier than usual so I knew that I have time to do whatever I want. It is hot but no too hot outside. It is windy but not to the point of discomfort. It is sunny but not irritating to the eyes. The weather is perfect. I drive at a slow leisurely pace. All the other cars pass me and I don’t care that I am slower. I have time. I see everyone else turn right to take the direct route to school. They tell me that I should do the same so that I can get to class early. But I just ignore them since that road has so many stoplights. Instead, I turn left and take the scenic route while watching the beautiful trees and flowers pass by. A pink and green picture is painted onto the windshield which is reflected from the scenery. I look out the window and see the beach. It looks so inviting. Even though it was the morning, it was bright and sunny outside and I really wanted to stop there. I entered a dreamy divagation of relaxing on the beach. I imagined the party. I was actually invited to this party. Not just any party. The party of the year. What am I going to wear? Who is going to be there? Then all of a sudden, a car honks at me. The driver yells at me that I am driving like a snail. I just brush it off because I know I have time. Then I quickly look at the clock. I am late for class. I was so busy thinking about the party that I did not notice that I am late. Everyone is probably already there. Ready to start the lecture. So I speed up. I race through the streets. I did not even stop for breakfast or to get my favorite Strawberry Frappuccino. I get all green lights. “Wow I’m lucky” I thought. I will definitely get there in time. I am only 5 minutes late. No big deal. But once I walked in, I heard the worst word that anyone can hear. “Detention.” I have to go to detention since I was late to too many classes. Not now! This means that I have to miss the beach party. I took a sharp and indrawn breath, half groan, half acceptance. If only I concentrated on my priorities. If only I did not take time for granted. Maybe I should have taken the direct route and arrived early. I would be at the beach right now with all my friends. What else did I miss out on? I do not know.

OK…warning.
The analysis of this story may cause confusion, boredom, etc.
So don’t blame me or think how I think is really weird.
Because this was just a random short story.

So the main character (the narrator) represents an 8th grade who is “waking up” and entering the “real world” and realizing that she does not have time anymore to slack off. This story was inspired by my best friend Joanna who was not waken up as early as most people. But when she did, she did the most she can to make herself better and improved a lot. Even though it was a bit late, she is excelling. She is doing much better than most people since she realizes that she has no more time to slack off. So this is a story about someone else who is not like her. And I pity the person this is. If you are, maybe this is a wake-up story for you.

So the character leaves her house (middle school) to go to high school. She thinks that she is set for her educational life in high school. So she decides to take the easier route. Since she was successful in Middle School, she feels that she can breeze her way through high school. So she takes her time and only does things she wants to do. She focuses on partying and does not give a second of thought to school. All her friends who care about her try to warn her about it (the “right turn” pun intended haha). They tell her that warn her but she just ignores them. She decides to take the easy route (scenic route) instead of the hard route (direct route) with the many obstacles (stoplights). During this long drive (the journey through high school), she just daydreams. But then a honk (loud persuasive voice…can be a parent, friend, teacher, conscience, etc.) woke her up and she realizes that she is late (this is like realizing that SATs are important mid-junior year). So she rushes to her class and gets all green lights and thinks that she is lucky (sorry but luck cannot save you here). Luck has always been with her (like in middle school). But it turns out, that luck did not save her since she is late and has to go to detention. (She wakes up late and did not go to the college of her choice). She missed out on all the fun at the party (in college) and will never know since she did not concentrate on her priorities.

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