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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Kids
- Theme: Drama / Human Interest
- Subject: Childhood / Youth
- Published: 06/01/2018
Thoughtstruck
Born 2007, F, from Portland, Oregon, United StatesI always thought that she was smart, since ALL her grades were A+’s. But, I didn’t know that she was a true genius until that day…
I went with her to the national robotics construction competition work site to gather materials. When we went home, I watched her build from square one, her hands moving flawlessly, attaching wires and gears. She walked me home that night. I was amazed by her abilities, but I managed to contain it.
“Marie, what were you building?”
“Shh...it’s a secret, I’m building something that will filter seawater, so even the poorest countries will have clean, fresh, water to drink!” Marie’s eyes sparkled with excitement. The eyes of a true genius. I thought.
I didn’t have to have Marie tell me to know that she worked hard all night. She was a hardworking person and would do anything to win this competition.
In the morning she came right up to me after first period and said, “I’m nearly done with the machine!”
“Amazing!”
“Hey! Why don’t you help me draw the blueprints? I have to turn them in tomorrow, you have a steady hand, and you're good at drawing!”
“Uh...I don’t know, that’s not really my thing. I like programming and coding, I don’t particularly like blueprints and construction, or inventing or anything like that.” I replied.
Marie’s face fell, “Oh, um that’s ok.”
“Fine,” I said but, only for a while.”
Her entire face lit up, “You won’t regret this!”
I hope I won’t…
Immediately, the gears in her extremely intelligent brain started turning. I have honor’s program for math and reading on Monday and Tuesday, writing on Wednesday, science on Thursday, and I’m busy with homework on the weekends. So, that leaves us with Friday, can you come?”
“Um...actually-”
“Great, thanks! You know this is really, really important to me.”
I groaned as we walked our separate paths. If this was that important to Marie then, I’ll do it. I guess I will just have to skip piano class...the best class of the week.
“Marie! I’m here!” I knocked on the front door,
“Oh good, I thought you were never going to be here.” She said. I noticed black soot all over her face and dress.
I rolled my eyes, ”Marie, I’m early.” I said exasperated.
She wagged her finger at me, ”Time is money.”
….two hours later….
“No, that’s not right, your lines aren't straight! You can’t mess this up! It means too much to me! Maybe I should do it!”
“Yes! I have nothing to do with this!” I yelled back. “You may know your math, your writing and anything else, but you know nothing about being a good friend!” As soon as I said that, I wanted to take it back, she was the first friend I ever had.
“Well, at least I know something, you barely know anything compared to me!”
My sympathy evaporated, “Just...don’t...talk...to. me…” I huffed and slammed the door shut.
As I walked home, feeling sorry for myself, I recalled that Marie’s competition was...TOMORROW MORNING! I was going to wish her luck, but then I remembered the cold, hard truth.
My best friend has become my enemy.
At the end of the day, I came to Marie, and said, ”Marie, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. How was the competition?”
She promptly said,”I didn’t go”
“Why-”
“Because I never finished the machine, and because I know that winning isn’t everything, a true friend is.”
Thoughtstruck(Katie)
I always thought that she was smart, since ALL her grades were A+’s. But, I didn’t know that she was a true genius until that day…
I went with her to the national robotics construction competition work site to gather materials. When we went home, I watched her build from square one, her hands moving flawlessly, attaching wires and gears. She walked me home that night. I was amazed by her abilities, but I managed to contain it.
“Marie, what were you building?”
“Shh...it’s a secret, I’m building something that will filter seawater, so even the poorest countries will have clean, fresh, water to drink!” Marie’s eyes sparkled with excitement. The eyes of a true genius. I thought.
I didn’t have to have Marie tell me to know that she worked hard all night. She was a hardworking person and would do anything to win this competition.
In the morning she came right up to me after first period and said, “I’m nearly done with the machine!”
“Amazing!”
“Hey! Why don’t you help me draw the blueprints? I have to turn them in tomorrow, you have a steady hand, and you're good at drawing!”
“Uh...I don’t know, that’s not really my thing. I like programming and coding, I don’t particularly like blueprints and construction, or inventing or anything like that.” I replied.
Marie’s face fell, “Oh, um that’s ok.”
“Fine,” I said but, only for a while.”
Her entire face lit up, “You won’t regret this!”
I hope I won’t…
Immediately, the gears in her extremely intelligent brain started turning. I have honor’s program for math and reading on Monday and Tuesday, writing on Wednesday, science on Thursday, and I’m busy with homework on the weekends. So, that leaves us with Friday, can you come?”
“Um...actually-”
“Great, thanks! You know this is really, really important to me.”
I groaned as we walked our separate paths. If this was that important to Marie then, I’ll do it. I guess I will just have to skip piano class...the best class of the week.
“Marie! I’m here!” I knocked on the front door,
“Oh good, I thought you were never going to be here.” She said. I noticed black soot all over her face and dress.
I rolled my eyes, ”Marie, I’m early.” I said exasperated.
She wagged her finger at me, ”Time is money.”
….two hours later….
“No, that’s not right, your lines aren't straight! You can’t mess this up! It means too much to me! Maybe I should do it!”
“Yes! I have nothing to do with this!” I yelled back. “You may know your math, your writing and anything else, but you know nothing about being a good friend!” As soon as I said that, I wanted to take it back, she was the first friend I ever had.
“Well, at least I know something, you barely know anything compared to me!”
My sympathy evaporated, “Just...don’t...talk...to. me…” I huffed and slammed the door shut.
As I walked home, feeling sorry for myself, I recalled that Marie’s competition was...TOMORROW MORNING! I was going to wish her luck, but then I remembered the cold, hard truth.
My best friend has become my enemy.
At the end of the day, I came to Marie, and said, ”Marie, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. How was the competition?”
She promptly said,”I didn’t go”
“Why-”
“Because I never finished the machine, and because I know that winning isn’t everything, a true friend is.”
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Kevin Hughes
06/06/2018May you have many True Friends- and your story is what we would have called back in the day : "A parable of truth."
Smiles, Kevin
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