First Campaigner Challenge

And for the rules...

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. These five words will be included in the word count.

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), do one or more of these:

• end the story with the words: "everything faded." (also included in the word count)

• include the word "orange" in the story

• write in the same genre you normally write

• make your story 200 words exactly!

And for my story..

“Shadows crept across the wall—“

“You can’t be serious,” I said.

“Huh?” Wyatt looked up from his paper.

“You can’t seriously mean to start out that way.”

“Why not?” He pushed his thick glasses further up his nose.

“It’s boring. Like starting out with It was a dark and stormy night.”

“But I like this beginning.”

“It sucks. And being the little brother of yours truly in Mrs. H’s AP English class means that you cannot suck. How about starting with something wild, like Two kangaroos jumped across the Australian Outback.” Wyatt rolled his eyes, pushed back his desk chair, and stood up.

“I’m getting something to drink,” he said.

“Bring me something too,” I called after him. “It’s going to be a long night.”

He returned moments later with two glasses of orange juice. I took the one with more juice and gulped greedily.

“Okay,” I said wiping my upper lip, “Now I was thinking…” But I couldn’t remember what I was thinking. My head felt heavy and light at the same time, like an air-filled bowling ball wobbling on my neck.

“What did you put in this juice?” I asked, but before he could answer everything faded.