WEEK 324
Chris knew he was trouble when the paperweight on his desk started to...


...tremble with the sounds of heavy steps in the background.The steps were getting closer and Chris felt like he was getting smaller. When the footsteps stopped, the door opened.

"Chris," his father started. "I think you know why I'm up here, why did you have to say that you hated your sister?"

"I said those things because she was just being so , know-it-all, and I just hate that my sister is smarter then me at some things."

"Chris, I doubt that Ali is smarter than you at anything."

"How long am I grounded?"

"Chris, this is not just about punishment, it's about finding out why you did this, but for now since it's what you want I will give you your punishment. It's baby-sitting your little sister any time we want for seven weeks. I know it may not make sense to you right now, but it will later on."

by Arianna Van Bergen, Milwaukie, OR

...jump around by itself. Chris wondered if he were going crazy. Every time he turned his back, the paperweight jumped, just a few inches, it moved, all by itself. He glanced around the office. Everyone was busy, staring into their computers. Looking into the smiley face of the paperweight, he whispered, "What do you think you are up to?"

"I want to find an envelope," the paperweight replied.

Chris nearly fell off his chair in shock. "You talk?"

"Well, you do."

Chris ignored the paperweight for an hour. Then, looking into the smiley face he asked, "What do you want an envelope for?"

"I want to sit in the right-hand corner where you put the stamp..."

Chris shook his head and asked, "What on earth for?"

"That's just it. It's about the earth, the world. Stamps sit there and they go all around the world. I want my great O.E. I want to go around the world..."

Chris burst into laughter, he could hold it in no more. Pointing at the paperweight, he shouted, "He wants to sit in a corner and travel around the world!"

by Carolyn Ann Aish, New Zealand