WEEK 339
"Oh, no!" David said, pulling his foot out of...


...grape jelly. Limping over to the desk, glimpsing the wave of a thin window covering, dimming daylight filtering through, David wondered what had compelled him to take his shoes off in the first place, his feet weren't in any condition to be shown off and it wasn't that hot either, but it was the first day he'd had to himself in a while. He'd felt so still that afternoon manning that dusty little store. Not a soul had come in since 10. "Walking around barefoot on the job, ain't that a trip?" he said shaking his head, wondering what Martha would think if she saw him like this. He carefully picked up the bits of glass while crouching and angling on the side of his foot. The pieces were hard to see against the dark wood of the floor. "I always liked strawberry better anyway," he muttered to himself.

by Michelle Falis

...of the orange goo, another dead end! Why did he always hit the dead ends? For once, he would like to solve the puzzle. "Its just not fair," he thought, "I am just as intelligent as the others." It wasn't his fault, either. He started out the same way as the others, followed the same route. But then he began thinking about the futility of the puzzle and that the outcome never seemed to be worthwhile. Who cares about that anyway? All he wanted to do was find the end of the puzzle. David shook his head, the more he stood here and thought about it, the less of a chance he had to figure out the puzzle. David turned around and jumped back over the goo, listening for the others as he scurried along the path that had led him to the orange goo. As he listened he heard the wood around him crack and shudder. Then he realized what had to be done. "Its all dead ends!" David cried, "the others aren't smarter than me, just brawnier." He stood up tall and begin chewing through the next wood panel in front of him. He had to chew through four panels before he found the prize. He ran up to the prize and stared at it, his mouth watering from the want of it. He took a deep breath, listened to the cheers from the observers, and then took a great big bite from the cheese. He smiled. He was a smart rat, after all.

by Melissa Hughes, Schenectady, New York

...the barely visible hole on the hiking trail. "I don't think I can finish the hike, I think I sprained my ankle." His foot was throbbing in pain as he took his shoe off. It was already swollen to twice it's size and turning purple. They were twelve miles away from the nearest town and any medical help. By now his foot was swollen to the point where he couldn't put his shoe back on. The pain was making him dizzy and he started to panic. His brother Mark was trying to calm him down but he had no idea how to help him. The sun was going down and it was getting dark, they started to worry. David thought really quick and told Mark to get to sticks and some vines to tie them to both sides of his foot to make a splint. He then found a tall stick and used it as a walking stick. After walking for miles in the dark they found a ranger who then took them to the nearest town where he recieved medical help. His ankle got better and he started planning the next hiking trip.

by Josh Harvey, Hurst, Texas

...Sarah-Mae's filthy bathtub.

Sarah-Mae explained, "That's how she left it! Drawers on the flo, ring round the tub, her ratty, old, wig hangin' atop that hook---jus didn't even try an fix her mess. That's how Maddie was. Called herself free spirited; townsfolk called her a harlot. Imagine! Maddie walkin round town, head high, struttin' an gyratin' like a lady of status an' virtue. Made me sad watchin'. So I did what nobody in Stoddardville woulda. I invited her fo' weekend soirees---well, twas really Bible studies. Made Maddie change after while! But still, Nobody was mo surprised than me when Sweet Willie Saunter swept Maddie up, married her and, next thang I knowed, Maddie lockin' her arms round my neck whisperin', 'Chile, ahm Pregnant!' Wit Maddie gone, I jus nevah used that tub no mo, Davie. You understan'?

by Carolyn Nurse, Brooklyn, NY