Fall Writing (& Running?) Frenzy

The Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy challenge is happening now. Thank you to the lovely hosts Kaitlyn Sanchez and Lydia Lukidis, I was encouraged to just write. 

I mean like sit down with a blank piece of paper, look at a picture, and let words flow out of me. A girl appeared, she ran through the page, and left me with lots of questions! Meeting a new character is magical.  

To enter, write a 200 word or less story/piece for kids to YA inspired by one of the images here. 

I picked #2 and wrote for a YA audience. Please enjoy my story and then check out the contest page to read more entries. 

Photo #2, Credit: Unsplash via Patrick Tomasso

 

Crossed Country (200)

By Lauri C. Meyers

One more mile. My sneakers slapped the asphalt, matching the rhythm of the blood pumping in my ears. One more mile and I would be ready. 

My cross country career started when Ian Mills stole my backpack and ran for the woods. I hadn’t spent two Fridays working on my AP Bio presentation to lose it buried under leaves. What choice did I have but to chase that jerk down? 

Coach Burns clocked me running a 6-minute mile and recruited me on the spot. The rest as they say is rubber under the road. Or dust in the wind. Whatever they say.  

I loved the medals. I mean, every girlie wants a little gold. But I needed the running. My body craved it like chocolate. At least that’s how it was before The Fall. 

After—The Fall, the surgery, the physical therapy—my body had to start over. New knee. New goals. It was work and pain and sweat and lacing up my sneakers every day.

Now, the final mile rolled ahead of me. I didn’t need a jerk to chase now. I was after my own ghost. As the leaves fell around me, I knew: I would catch her.