2022 Elementary School Winners
1st Place
"A True Halloween"
Isabel Hurley
“So, what are you thinking for your Halloween costumes, girls?” Mom, Veronica Mylar asked me, her daughter, 8-year-old Tracey Mylar and my twin sister, Stacey.
I knew that Stacey and I weren’t going trick-or-treating together this year. It was strange since we had gone every year since we were one year olds. The first year we were tigers, the second year we were leopards, the third year bobcats (one of our similarities is loving animals, cats specifically.) The fourth year we were lions, the fifth year we were twin ScoobyDoo’s, the sixth year we both had colds, and last year our family was having money problems so we went to a free haunted house that our neighbors the Spencer’s were setting up instead.
Uh, oh. Mom was still waiting to hear our answers.
“Um... actually... We want HAMBURGERS for dinner, not cheeseburgers. Tracey, Cassidy and I don’t like cheese,” Stacey spoke up.
Cassidy is our five-year-old sister. Mom looked confused. Stacey shot me a look.
“Oh yeah, uh, hamburgers are a MUCH better option,” I added lamely.
“Well ok! And it’s ok if you don’t know what you want to be yet, I’m sorry I was being too hard on you, and we WILL have hamburgers for supper.”
That was the end of our little meeting.
Stacey and I went into the den to play Nintendo. Cassidy was on the sofa watching Sesame Street, holding the remote close to her chest like she was about to get robbed.
“Cassidy,” Stacey began calmly. “Mom was very impressed with your spelling today. She said your teacher stuck a gold star on your work and hopes to congratulate you tomorrow.”
Cassidy’s face lit up. She clicked off the TV and ran into the kitchen. “Hey Mom...”
Stacey and I quickly plugged in our Nintendo switch and turned on the TV. The screen changed to summer games. After we chose our game and connected our remote controllers to the TV, Stacey started in with the apologies.
“I’m REALLY sorry that I won’t be able to trick-or-treat with you this year, Tracey. It’s just that the popular girls asked me if I’d go to a Halloween themed bowling party with them and two of their closest friends. There’s going to be a DJ and everything! Plus, pizza! Candy’s getting a little old anyway.”
“So, you’re bored of family traditions, I’m cool with that. I just wonder if MOM’S as ready to accept it as I am,” I replied. That quieted her down.
See, the thing is, Stacey’s popular and I’m really...NOT. She participates in all kinds of extracurricular classes and activities and aces every one of them, she has what you would call an active life. My strengths are in school, which leads most people to believe that I’m a...nerd. And I HATE that.
Stacey began again, “you know, I don’t know why YOU aren’t going to the party too. I mean, we’re twins, they should let you go, too.” That helped a little, but it still hurt.
Today at school the popular girls kept having “private chats” about their cool party, but everyone knew they were just trying to make everyone who wasn’t going to the party feel bad.
Around 11:20 AM our teacher, Ms. Johns, had to go to the storage closet down the hall to get more supplies for a math game we were going to play. “...And lastly please don’t have a party, it’ll only be a couple of minutes,” Ms. Johns begged. As soon as she left the popular girls pushed their desks together and began another “private chat”, but first ACTUALLY had the nerve to shout across the room:
“Hey Tracey, I mean Stacey, come join us!”
And guess what Stacey did next?
She pushed her desk beside theirs and yelled: “Ok!” How rude was THAT? Sometimes I wonder if we’re really twins, or sisters at all! ARE we? Or are we not?
Anyway, when Ms. Johns returned, those little weasels and my sister didn’t get in the least bit of trouble. I don’t know how those girls do it, but I will find out one day!
After school Mom took Cassidy, Stacey, and me to the mall to shop for our Halloween costumes. When we walked in, Stacey ran right past Party City and entered a clothing store instead.
“Tracey, see where she’s going, will you?” Mom asked.
“It’s no big deal, she just wants to buy a dress instead of a costume,” I replied.
Mom pointed toward the clothing store and of course I had to do it. After all, when Mom wants you to do something you have to do it.
I hesitantly walked into the clothing store. Stacey was in the tweens section.
“What are you doing?” I asked her.
“Nothing much. I’m trying to decide which ensemble to wear to the party. I know everyone’s going to be dressed up, so I want to fit in. Right now, I’m thinking pretty much the fun ‘n’ bold look, what do you think?” She held up a sequined top that someone may wear for ice skating, stretchy pants, and a plain purple headband.
I ignored her question and asked, “How are you going to pay for any of this!?” Stacey fished around in her purse until she pulled out a shiny yellow wallet with a clear plastic pocket hiding a neatly folded fifty-dollar bill inside.
“Oh, nice,” I said stiffly.
Stacey nodded and turned back around to look at the large selection of dresses and accessories. I walked back to Mom and Cassidy in Party City.
“Hey Mom, what’s Cassidy going to dress up as for Halloween?” I asked hoping it was something cool so I could trick-or-treat with her and not be a pathetic loner.
“I’m gonna be a bumbo bee!” Cassidy exclaimed, stuffing her mouth with Swedish Fish that Mom probably gave her.
“Oh,” I said trying not to show my disappointment too much.
“I’m getting Stacey.” Mom said determinedly. She marched right to Stacey, with me following closely behind. I wanted to be there for the fireworks. I could hear Mom saying stuff and Stacey spilling the beans about the party and Mom telling her that she wasn’t allowed to go, then Mom practically DRAGGED Stacey back to us.
“Stacey, it’s simple. You must trick-or-treat with your sister.” Mom told Stacey sternly.
When she said that, I felt upset and kind of bad for Stacey. She wasn’t trying to be mean by going to the party, she just wanted to be herself. So, I firmly stated,
“No, she doesn’t. We’re different people, who make different choices and take different paths and want to go to different colleges and work different jobs when we’re older. Just because we’re twins doesn’t mean that we’re complete duplicates of each other. So, Stacey should be allowed to go to that party. Right?”
“Fine, Ok Stacey you can go to the party,” Mom said warmly.
“Thanks, Tracey! You’re the best sister EVER!” Stacey whispered in my ear.
“Are you gonna go twick-oh-tweat with tos newrds in science cwub?” Cassidy asked, interrupting our very sisterly moment.
I couldn’t believe my baby sister was talking trash to me. Although I DID call those guys when I got home.
Maybe Mom knew all along that Stacey and I were different people, and she was just waiting for me to break free of my shell.
And I think I finally did!
I am sure of it.
Honorable Mention
"Food Hogger"
Anran Jiang
One fine day, a little sister Corgi named Bubbles & a big brother Corgi named Hoggo had a giant celebration, it was Bubbles birthday so during the big celebration Bubbles received a present in the living room from Samantha who is Bubbles & Hoggo’s owner. The present Bubbles got was a cute blue collar! It was one of the collars that did not pinch you! Little did Bubbles know that Hoggo was eating all of the birthday food! The food included boiled eggs, peanut butter, classic dog food, and dried blueberries! So when Bubbles finished opening her presents she went back to the family room to eat her dinner then she saw that Hoggo had eaten everything except for the classic dog food! When Bubbles saw that she ran to Samantha and jumped on her to follow her. Samantha was confused so went to the family room to show Samantha how much Hoggo has eaten but Hoggo started whimpering acting all innocent and acting like Bubbles ate all the food so Samantha said “Bubbles I know it’s your birthday and you should get more food but don't take all of it” so Bubbles got mad.
The next day, Bubbles was still very depressed but when Samantha’s best friend Cindy came over Bubbles was not depressed anymore! so Bubbles started looking sad to get Cindy's attention and she did Cindy asked what was wrong but before Bubbles could act it out by pointing and being sad, Samantha said to Cindy "she is just depressed because I scolded yesterday on her birthday because she ate all the birthday food and did not save any for Hoggo!",” is that so?”said Cindy “well,”, she continued “sorry for you Bubbles” but then she whispered to Hoggo “I feel way more sorry for you” Bubbles started getting depressed again.
In a few hours it was time for their walk when Bubbles came up with an idea she could kick Hoggo into the lake but then he realized it would make her get scolded by Samantha, so she decided to tell Hoggo he could kick her into the lake, and Hoggo loved that idea so when it was time for the walk Hoggo did kick Bubbles into the lake and bubbles was very excited but then she remembered she never learned to doggie paddle (swim) so she was starting to drown when Hoggo came to rescue Bubbles and the pups live was saved then she realized maybe Hoggo is not so bad after all.