This year I feel that my writing wasnt as strong as it should be in my story's i dont feel that they were interesting and really didn't know where they were going . My grammar is getting worse and I need to really sit down and check though my writing . I just feel writers workshop wasn't the best for me this year
Piece 1
Andrew Maya
Short story
“HEY WHAT ARE YOU DOING JUMP OUT” he grabbed my head and started shaking me I just fazed out I wasn't there but then I was I didn't know what to do . He just kept shaking me then started slapping me he said if you don't get off I will drag your dead body off this boat . I only heard gunshots and screams then it all just stopped. All I could think about was her and only her nothing else mattered .
“ring ,ring,ring” the alarm clock went off . Wow it was only a dream that was really weird I never dream into that much detail and why about war? .
Why is everything so blurry, What time is it ? Why do I keep asking questions? I can't believe it's been five years, five years with her that was the best day of my life when I met her she changed everything about me . This photo is amazing even though it took 10 mins to take it was the best ten minutes ever . High school was such a boring time and I hated everything about it until I met her she completed me she brought joy to my life we did everything together and if i lost her I would not know what I would do. Matter of fact where is she at ? I started looking around for her I was going into every room and couldn't find her I called out for her. She replied “in here” from the kitchen. I started running down stairs and when I got downstairs she wasn't there I was really confused then out of nowhere she tackled me from behind . I hit the floor laughing and she was to she was on top of me saying something over and over but I couldn't hear her . I started screaming at her but she wouldn't respond what was happening . It all stopped it was just white .
I was back no no no why am I back here it was just a dream this is just a dream . My officer grabbed me and threw me off the ship I had to start swimming no matter what or I was going to die . I looked in the water and it was red there was bodys floating everywhere I couldn't look I tried not to look . The bullets just kept flying there was no stop it seemed like they weren't even reloading just kept hitting the metal . I finally got to the barrier and threw up everywhere . I don't know what to do . All I could hear were the bullets and screams I wasn't ready for this just five months ago I was home with her living a normal life until they drafted me in. Our officer finally made it we all got as close as we could to hear the orders.
“Alright, ladies, you see that wall? 300 hundred yards out - we have to get to that wall without dying. Sounds like a plan? All right, let’s fucking do this, ladies!”
None of us questioned it it was what we had to do. We all charged for the next barrier and the next. I kept looking back - we were losing more and more people. My friends and comrades were down and I couldn't go back to get them right now . They were gone and done we might be if we don't keep going . While we were making our approach I wasn't looking and a grenade was thrown next to me . I didn't hear it or see it my officer started running towards me and yelled run he tackled me and got on top of me. BOOM it went off and we were clear from it but still not from the bullets. We made it to the wall but It was not pretty and seeing what I just saw can never be undone but I can't cry or be sad now . There is no time for that now this is war and war isn't pretty or sugar coated .
About a quarter of us made it to the wall we started creeping up the sides and we got on the top of the hill we saw them and immediately engaged . It was a 20 minute firefight no stop they were all dead . After we were done with the first wave we went tower to tower burning them out of there position .It seemed as if things were starting to look good . Our officer was looking around and at the corner of my eye I saw something in one of the trenches moving it was a kid about 16 he picked up a rifle and started to aim at our officer . I hesitated to pull the trigger “ I couldn't do it he's just a boy” Couple seconds later he fired. Our officer was down and immediately I shot that kid he fell instantly. I ran to my officer he was bleeding out , I didn't know how to react he trained me taught me everything I know he was like a father to me he always watched out for me. Hes going to die because of me because I wasn't strong enough to pull the damn trigger. All I could say was sorry sorry sorry over and over . He grabbed me and said “boy life's a piece of shit can't be so hard all the time it's too short to not live for something make it out of this hell hole for me get back to her for me”. he died in my arms.
It's been about 5 hours since the fighting stopped it was so quiet everything to the silence of no gun shots no screaming and no more death for now. No one was talking no one wanted to talk after what we all just went through. So many lives were taken today we all looked back and saw bodies everywhere the water still blood red and for what just to gain control . Was it worth all these lives maybe maybe not we don't know yet and we won't know what lies ahead of us.
A Month has passed since we got here on the beach we have been walking for 12 hours no stop we have two tanks with our squadron but nothing has showed up so far . I was talking to a old friend that made it he was freaking out and couldn't handle this anymore I just told him to think about it in a different perspective if we don't do anything or stop them who will we are the protectors of our country right now we are stopping the fight from ever coming home. It calmed him down but I could still see the fear in his eyes the same I had a while ago.
We had been on the outer rim of paris there had been a battle going on for about 2 weeks now we did not engage we waited for orders and our orders were to search the towns outside of paris so that's what we did. All I have heard for the past week was mortar fire and bullets . We saw a small town up ahead and we started to check ammo and our guns once we were done we headed forward. There wasn't much left here the buildings and the houses were torn apart from the bombs . I was walking along side a house when I stepped on something and it squeaked I freaked out and pulled out my pistol and looked on the ground it was a teddy bear it was dirty but still here this was somebody's house at on point no it is a battlefield and who knows where they are now I put the bear in my bag and kept moving . I saw a shadow move down the hall I pointed my gun down sight and kept walking forward I turned the corner and aimed at it , I dropped my gun and she started crying it was a little girl left behind I tried going closer she freaked out even more . I opened my bag and grabbed the bear maybe it was hers . I showed her and she stopped crying and ran towards me grabbed the bear and hugged me. I know what I have to do now I know what I need to live for what I have to do . I picked up my gun with my right hand and with my left I picked up the little girl she held on tight she was scared. I started walking towards the convoy and right as I saw them a second later there was nothing left . Noooooo I screamed in my head my eyes started getting watery . She grabbed on tighter and I could feel the tears on my face . I wiped those tears and got to the edge of the corner and peaked my head out . There was group of german men they all had guns I started walking around the backs of the houses there was a house that was still kinda intacked I went in set her down put my bag down grabbed all my clips and my rifle. I made her sit in one of the corners with the bear I handed her my 1911 pistol she held it shaking . All I said was I will be back for you I ran out and down the alley till there was a l. There was 19 men one had a flamethrower and the rest had the rifles . I opened the pocket over my heart and looked at the picture of her dropped a tear and put it back. I grabbed 3 grenades from my belt pulled all the pins at the same time. Threw one then the next then the last really fast. It killed 7 of them instantly and 2 were down screaming the medic ran towards the two and as he was helping I pulled the trigger he was down . I pulled back the action and reloaded 10 down 9 more. They didn't know what hit them and went in a circle I ran to a building with the wall blown out went up to the second floor. Leaned up against the wall kneeled down aimed at one fired ,down fired down. There was 5 left and they had finally spotted me they all fired at once I was hit in the upper shoulder but I kept shooting one more dropped and the last 4 started running towards me . I looked at the door with my rifle one came in and i shot the next one ran at me and i stabbed him in the chest with the bayonet. The next one ran at me at shot me in the arm. Grabbed him and stabbed him in the back the last one ran in got on top of me and started putting the knife to my neck I was to weak I couldn't do anything about it. Boom he fell on me and I pushed him over and saw the girl shaking I got up tried picking her up and finally got her on my shoulders and was limping out the house .
I kept walking even if I felt like dropping I had to make it for her we had been walking for an hour I was losing all hope I could barely walk and right as I was about to drop I saw the tanks driving by with the American flag on the side the brightest thing I have seen in a long time. They came and picked us up and then I was in a car with the girl I felt a little funny . My vision started going white and then all I saw was her standing there walking towards me looking as beautiful as always .
Short story
“HEY WHAT ARE YOU DOING JUMP OUT” he grabbed my head and started shaking me I just fazed out I wasn't there but then I was I didn't know what to do . He just kept shaking me then started slapping me he said if you don't get off I will drag your dead body off this boat . I only heard gunshots and screams then it all just stopped. All I could think about was her and only her nothing else mattered .
“ring ,ring,ring” the alarm clock went off . Wow it was only a dream that was really weird I never dream into that much detail and why about war? .
Why is everything so blurry, What time is it ? Why do I keep asking questions? I can't believe it's been five years, five years with her that was the best day of my life when I met her she changed everything about me . This photo is amazing even though it took 10 mins to take it was the best ten minutes ever . High school was such a boring time and I hated everything about it until I met her she completed me she brought joy to my life we did everything together and if i lost her I would not know what I would do. Matter of fact where is she at ? I started looking around for her I was going into every room and couldn't find her I called out for her. She replied “in here” from the kitchen. I started running down stairs and when I got downstairs she wasn't there I was really confused then out of nowhere she tackled me from behind . I hit the floor laughing and she was to she was on top of me saying something over and over but I couldn't hear her . I started screaming at her but she wouldn't respond what was happening . It all stopped it was just white .
I was back no no no why am I back here it was just a dream this is just a dream . My officer grabbed me and threw me off the ship I had to start swimming no matter what or I was going to die . I looked in the water and it was red there was bodys floating everywhere I couldn't look I tried not to look . The bullets just kept flying there was no stop it seemed like they weren't even reloading just kept hitting the metal . I finally got to the barrier and threw up everywhere . I don't know what to do . All I could hear were the bullets and screams I wasn't ready for this just five months ago I was home with her living a normal life until they drafted me in. Our officer finally made it we all got as close as we could to hear the orders.
“Alright, ladies, you see that wall? 300 hundred yards out - we have to get to that wall without dying. Sounds like a plan? All right, let’s fucking do this, ladies!”
None of us questioned it it was what we had to do. We all charged for the next barrier and the next. I kept looking back - we were losing more and more people. My friends and comrades were down and I couldn't go back to get them right now . They were gone and done we might be if we don't keep going . While we were making our approach I wasn't looking and a grenade was thrown next to me . I didn't hear it or see it my officer started running towards me and yelled run he tackled me and got on top of me. BOOM it went off and we were clear from it but still not from the bullets. We made it to the wall but It was not pretty and seeing what I just saw can never be undone but I can't cry or be sad now . There is no time for that now this is war and war isn't pretty or sugar coated .
About a quarter of us made it to the wall we started creeping up the sides and we got on the top of the hill we saw them and immediately engaged . It was a 20 minute firefight no stop they were all dead . After we were done with the first wave we went tower to tower burning them out of there position .It seemed as if things were starting to look good . Our officer was looking around and at the corner of my eye I saw something in one of the trenches moving it was a kid about 16 he picked up a rifle and started to aim at our officer . I hesitated to pull the trigger “ I couldn't do it he's just a boy” Couple seconds later he fired. Our officer was down and immediately I shot that kid he fell instantly. I ran to my officer he was bleeding out , I didn't know how to react he trained me taught me everything I know he was like a father to me he always watched out for me. Hes going to die because of me because I wasn't strong enough to pull the damn trigger. All I could say was sorry sorry sorry over and over . He grabbed me and said “boy life's a piece of shit can't be so hard all the time it's too short to not live for something make it out of this hell hole for me get back to her for me”. he died in my arms.
It's been about 5 hours since the fighting stopped it was so quiet everything to the silence of no gun shots no screaming and no more death for now. No one was talking no one wanted to talk after what we all just went through. So many lives were taken today we all looked back and saw bodies everywhere the water still blood red and for what just to gain control . Was it worth all these lives maybe maybe not we don't know yet and we won't know what lies ahead of us.
A Month has passed since we got here on the beach we have been walking for 12 hours no stop we have two tanks with our squadron but nothing has showed up so far . I was talking to a old friend that made it he was freaking out and couldn't handle this anymore I just told him to think about it in a different perspective if we don't do anything or stop them who will we are the protectors of our country right now we are stopping the fight from ever coming home. It calmed him down but I could still see the fear in his eyes the same I had a while ago.
We had been on the outer rim of paris there had been a battle going on for about 2 weeks now we did not engage we waited for orders and our orders were to search the towns outside of paris so that's what we did. All I have heard for the past week was mortar fire and bullets . We saw a small town up ahead and we started to check ammo and our guns once we were done we headed forward. There wasn't much left here the buildings and the houses were torn apart from the bombs . I was walking along side a house when I stepped on something and it squeaked I freaked out and pulled out my pistol and looked on the ground it was a teddy bear it was dirty but still here this was somebody's house at on point no it is a battlefield and who knows where they are now I put the bear in my bag and kept moving . I saw a shadow move down the hall I pointed my gun down sight and kept walking forward I turned the corner and aimed at it , I dropped my gun and she started crying it was a little girl left behind I tried going closer she freaked out even more . I opened my bag and grabbed the bear maybe it was hers . I showed her and she stopped crying and ran towards me grabbed the bear and hugged me. I know what I have to do now I know what I need to live for what I have to do . I picked up my gun with my right hand and with my left I picked up the little girl she held on tight she was scared. I started walking towards the convoy and right as I saw them a second later there was nothing left . Noooooo I screamed in my head my eyes started getting watery . She grabbed on tighter and I could feel the tears on my face . I wiped those tears and got to the edge of the corner and peaked my head out . There was group of german men they all had guns I started walking around the backs of the houses there was a house that was still kinda intacked I went in set her down put my bag down grabbed all my clips and my rifle. I made her sit in one of the corners with the bear I handed her my 1911 pistol she held it shaking . All I said was I will be back for you I ran out and down the alley till there was a l. There was 19 men one had a flamethrower and the rest had the rifles . I opened the pocket over my heart and looked at the picture of her dropped a tear and put it back. I grabbed 3 grenades from my belt pulled all the pins at the same time. Threw one then the next then the last really fast. It killed 7 of them instantly and 2 were down screaming the medic ran towards the two and as he was helping I pulled the trigger he was down . I pulled back the action and reloaded 10 down 9 more. They didn't know what hit them and went in a circle I ran to a building with the wall blown out went up to the second floor. Leaned up against the wall kneeled down aimed at one fired ,down fired down. There was 5 left and they had finally spotted me they all fired at once I was hit in the upper shoulder but I kept shooting one more dropped and the last 4 started running towards me . I looked at the door with my rifle one came in and i shot the next one ran at me and i stabbed him in the chest with the bayonet. The next one ran at me at shot me in the arm. Grabbed him and stabbed him in the back the last one ran in got on top of me and started putting the knife to my neck I was to weak I couldn't do anything about it. Boom he fell on me and I pushed him over and saw the girl shaking I got up tried picking her up and finally got her on my shoulders and was limping out the house .
I kept walking even if I felt like dropping I had to make it for her we had been walking for an hour I was losing all hope I could barely walk and right as I was about to drop I saw the tanks driving by with the American flag on the side the brightest thing I have seen in a long time. They came and picked us up and then I was in a car with the girl I felt a little funny . My vision started going white and then all I saw was her standing there walking towards me looking as beautiful as always .
Piece 2
Andrew Maya
We all look for something we all search for something but what is it that we look for if there is nothing to be found . The farther we look the more we see and learn more about what is going on around us and do we want to know the truth do we want to think about it can we handle the truth? Things slow down everything around you starts to fade,words are mumbled and get lost into your own thoughts and feelings everything is gone you're here now in your own mind trying to figure out where it all went wrong were it all got washed away.
The water comes to your feet and flows back into the sea and comes back higher and higher until it grabs you and the tide pulls you out into the open water alone and afraid not knowing what to do. Right as you think about it the sea grabs you and pulls you under going down suffocating on the water that slowly fills your lungs . You struggle to pull yourself up and out of the water but you can't do it not alone. Again you're in the position you were before caught in the problem you created and this time for standing in the water waiting for the answers you thought would come to you. But they're not coming unless you get the answers you want not the ones you are told.
Right as you think it's over the last breath you take before you move on to what lies ahead of you . There's a light and it gets brighter and brighter until it is moved and faded a hand comes and grabs your hand . You shut your eyes and are pulled to the top of the water . Who did this, what did this what ever did left . Another chance is what this is a time to fix the things I have done.
Fading again then it hits you and your surrounded by people you can't recognize. Thier faces are blurry and the walls are a dark blue and you look around more only to realize you are at your school the faces you couldn't recognize start to clear up and they are your friends,students,and teachers.
The chatter starts and you start walking up to some of your friends and you start talking and once you finish there was no response you speak again but nothing you poke them but it's as if they didn't even feel it . Maybe they are just messing with you . You walk up to someone else and say hey but they just walk away . Tears start to come down and you drop to the floor and start to scream but why this is probably just a dream. It feels to real everyone keeps going not even noticing that I am gone as if they don't even know.
Am I dead or is this just a dream what have I done and what do I have to show for my life there are so many problems I didn't get to fix so many things I didn't get to do if only I had another chance.
We all look for something we all search for something but what is it that we look for if there is nothing to be found . The farther we look the more we see and learn more about what is going on around us and do we want to know the truth do we want to think about it can we handle the truth? Things slow down everything around you starts to fade,words are mumbled and get lost into your own thoughts and feelings everything is gone you're here now in your own mind trying to figure out where it all went wrong were it all got washed away.
The water comes to your feet and flows back into the sea and comes back higher and higher until it grabs you and the tide pulls you out into the open water alone and afraid not knowing what to do. Right as you think about it the sea grabs you and pulls you under going down suffocating on the water that slowly fills your lungs . You struggle to pull yourself up and out of the water but you can't do it not alone. Again you're in the position you were before caught in the problem you created and this time for standing in the water waiting for the answers you thought would come to you. But they're not coming unless you get the answers you want not the ones you are told.
Right as you think it's over the last breath you take before you move on to what lies ahead of you . There's a light and it gets brighter and brighter until it is moved and faded a hand comes and grabs your hand . You shut your eyes and are pulled to the top of the water . Who did this, what did this what ever did left . Another chance is what this is a time to fix the things I have done.
Fading again then it hits you and your surrounded by people you can't recognize. Thier faces are blurry and the walls are a dark blue and you look around more only to realize you are at your school the faces you couldn't recognize start to clear up and they are your friends,students,and teachers.
The chatter starts and you start walking up to some of your friends and you start talking and once you finish there was no response you speak again but nothing you poke them but it's as if they didn't even feel it . Maybe they are just messing with you . You walk up to someone else and say hey but they just walk away . Tears start to come down and you drop to the floor and start to scream but why this is probably just a dream. It feels to real everyone keeps going not even noticing that I am gone as if they don't even know.
Am I dead or is this just a dream what have I done and what do I have to show for my life there are so many problems I didn't get to fix so many things I didn't get to do if only I had another chance.