Fiction 59: High school winners

First place

Little Billy's Salt Shaker

The snail was having a wonderful day until, suddenly, a white crystal substance started to fall out of the sky, like God Himself was scratching dandruff from his scalp. The next thing Mr. Snail knew, he was bubbling up into endless oblivion. The last thing he saw past his slimy antennae was the hairless, baby-face of God Himself.

Jeremiah

17

Table Mountain School

This year’s No. 1 spot goes to Jeremiah, a student at Table Mountain School who says he enjoys playing football, working out with his dad, riding bikes, MMA fighting and listening to rap music.

Second place

Pizza Cutter

It had gotten to that awkward part of the night. Even though they were all hiding it, the center of attention was on the table. Sitting there blissfully, its smell in their noses, amazing red freckles on its magnificent face. When oblivious Joey came by and wolfed down that last piece of pizza, people’s attention turned to the knife.

Colin Bailey

14

Chico

Colin Bailey is a regular renaissance guy. He’s been a top finisher in both the Fiction 59 and Poetry 99 contests for many years now, and in addition to his literary skills and interest, he’s also committed to skateboarding. He’s had an active role in the grassroots effort to upgrade and expand facilities at Humboldt Avenue Park as part of the Chico Skatepark Solutions group, and as a freshman at Chico High School, he’s also helping kick start a new skate club on campus.

Third place

Tornado

As John stands there waiting, the tornado gets closer. Destruction making its way toward him. He’s ready though. His powers are ones to defend. The whole village stands behind him as they’re sealed into his invisible dome. The tornado is closer now, pushing against him. He weakens, and the storm breaks through killing everyone except him. Eventually, he confesses.

Bethany

17

Table Mountain School

Third place in the high school division goes to another Table Mountain student. Bethany says that she has writing aspirations, has already started a book about her life experiences and hopes to get it published. In addition to writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and listening to James Brown, Aerosmith and Michael Jackson. Her favorite school subject is science, and she hopes to become a biologist or astronomer one day.

Honorable mentions

Supersized

Jonathan was miserably struggling for hours across the open desert, sweat dripping from his face; heat of the sunlight impaled his skin like sharp needles. About to collapse, hopeless, he saw something glimmering in the distance: a 200 foot tall delicious cappuccino. With that he pushed forward. Now his bad circumstance involved climbing to the top of the cup.

Jordan

17

Table Mountain School

Thursday Night Torture

Max was fighting with his parents so he decided to run away. Passing scary streets one by one, he was thinking how much he hated his parents and how they treated him: making him take out the trash every other Thursday night. Realizing he had no means of transportation, he called his mom to assist him in running away.

Jeremiah

17

Table Mountain School

The Great Dragon

Yatchua woke up in a dimly lit cave, struggling to remember what happened the night before. Then he recalled the battle, the dragon. The sound of its roar, a thunderstorm. The divine beauty of its golden scales. As he looked along the cave floor, he saw it was as massive as a redwood. Now, as still as one, too.

Joshua

15

Table Mountain School

Her Say

In her head she is screaming for help, but outside she is silent.

No after no and he still forces himself onto her. She is frozen and can’t escape.

The tears fall and are ground into the dirt.

He vandalizes her and disrespects her body.

She is left there … cold, bruised, and alone.

He heard her say, “no” … “no.”

Thea Marie Nicoles

15

Quincy