Cecily Wolfe's Blog: The Start of Something New - Posts Tagged "summer-blog-a-day"
A Snap Decision - A Prequel Short Story to The Competition
Happy Monday, friends! Today I am happy to be participating in the Navigating Indieworld Summer Blog a Day event, in which each day brings a new post from a blogger or author. You can stop by Kay MacLeod's website for more details, where she has each day and feature listed: http://kaymacleodbooks.com/summer-blo... - you can also join the Navigating Indieworld Facebook group for giveaways and events, and to meet new authors and find great books.
Because I have a new YA releasing next month, I thought I would write a story about something that happens a few months before that novel opens. Something that tells a little more about one of the characters, and the emotional aspect of what is going on her life at that point. No spoilers, just a peek at what The Competition will continue. Without further ado, here it is! Thank you for reading.
A Snap Decision
Mary Sofia didn’t mind staying after school to meet with Ms. Dacha. What she did mind was her teacher’s failure to mention why she wanted to speak with her. Her life had been lived on the sharp edge of a knife since she was a little girl, and she avoided uncertainties like she avoided boys. Or other kids her age. Or anyone, for that matter.
She didn’t have time for anyone. She had to focus on her grades and stay out of trouble. Once upon a time someone she loved took the fall for her, and now she had to make it right.
As she turned the corner of the hallway after leaving the books and folders she didn’t need to take home to the shelter in her locker, she noticed three students leaving Ms. Dacha’s room. Did the teacher talk to them about the same thing she would her? They didn’t look upset. One of them actually looked happy, and all three were talking animatedly, the happy one gesturing with one of her hands as if she was writing something in the air. What was that about?
She kept her head down and stared at the worn carpet by her feet as she continued to walk towards Ms. Dacha’s room. No one would notice her. The only kids who did were the boys in the neighborhood who called out to her, undeterred by her refusal to acknowledge them. They were bad news, and her family had enough of that to last a lifetime.
The last person she wanted to see was standing at the teacher’s desk when Mary Sofia stepped through the doorway. Jada, who looked more nineteen than seventeen, with her aloof beauty and overconfidence, glanced at Mary Sofia once, then twice, as if she hadn’t believed her eyes the first time she saw her. Mary Sofia sat in one of the desks and looked at the Smart Board, avoiding Jada’s gaze.
The Penultimate? What was that?
Those two words were written on the board, with a date almost a month in the future. Mary Sofia already knew that she didn’t have plans for that Saturday, or any Saturday, but that didn’t mean she was interested in whatever it was. Maybe if it would look good on college applications, though . . .
“Ladies, so glad to see you. Have a seat, Jada.”
Jada backed up a few steps and slid into the first desk in front of Ms. Dacha’s. The teacher remained standing and went over to the words on the board, tapping her index finger beside the letters.
“Have either of you heard of The Penultimate before?”
Mary Sofia shook her head.
“Isn’t that a writing contest?”
Jada spoke as Mary Sofia kept her eyes front. A writing contest? How did that work?
“You’re right, Jada. It’s only for students in the eleventh grade, and teachers can choose who they want on their teams. I’ve asked the two of you here because I’d love to have you participate.”
The woman looked at Mary Sofia, and Mary Sofia shrugged, stretching her shoulders a moment longer than necessary just to relieve some of the tension.
“Why?”
She asked before she thought, and once the words were out, Mary Sofia was embarrassed. I need to keep my mouth shut, she reminded herself.
“You are two of my best writers. Everything you submit, whether it is an essay, a report, or a freewriting exercise, is excellent. This contest is very competitive, and you have to be able to write under pressure, and with an open mind.”
“An open mind to what?”
Jada spoke the question echoing in Mary Sofia’s mind. She still didn’t want to be friends with Jada, who had once spoken terrible words to her during the worst time of her young life, but she was interested in Ms. Dacha’s answer.
“Different prompts. New ways to approach the writing process. Working together as a team.”
Teamwork? With Jada?
Mary Sofia raised her hand. The teacher shook her head.
“Don’t do that. It’s just the three of us.”
Mary Sofia nodded.
“How do we write as a team? Is it some kind of shared writing project? I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
When Ms. Dacha sat heavily in her desk chair, Mary Sofia stole a glance at Jada, who was frowning.
“I don’t think either of us are team players, Ms. Dacha. Seriously.”
Ms. Dacha just shook her head.
“Getting to that in a moment. What I want to explain first is that this event ends at the state tournament, and the winner gets a full scholarship to Finley College.”
Full scholarship? To Finley, the most expensive and exclusive college in the state?
“Of course, you have to be accepted when the time comes before the scholarship can be used. The most important thing is that you make it to the state level and have a chance to win that scholarship. We have a few weeks to work on your writing, with timed practice, to be ready for that first level of competition.”
What was going on? Was this really a chance to win a full scholarship? Not to any school, but the most prestigious college within driving distance. Not that she had access to a car or even had a driver’s license, but still.
“I don’t understand, Ms. Dacha.”
“Okay, Mary Sofia. Let me explain everything, and then you and Jada can let me know if you’re in. I really hope you are.”
As the teacher began to talk about districts and regionals, about prompts and timing, Mary Sofia slid her gaze towards Jada, who was watching her in turn. Jada looked nervous, but excited in a more reserved way than the girl Mary Sofia had just seen in the hall. Jada noticed Mary Sofia looking, and offered her a tentative smile. Mary Sofia looked to the front of the room again, ignoring Jada’s expression, and wondered how much teamwork was involved. It didn’t seem like much.
If Jada kept her distance, there won’t be any problems, she thought. They had nothing in common, and nothing to talk about, so nothing needed to be said except if it related to Ms. Dacha’s event.
“I’ll let you know,” she told the teacher twenty minutes later, unsure if she had understood everything that had been said. Jada made her uncomfortable, and she was annoyed with herself for allowing someone to get under her skin.
Leaving the room wasn’t the ending she had hoped for, however. As soon as she started walking down the hall towards the school entrance, she heard Jada’s voice calling out behind her. Could she deal with her old enemy for a few months if it meant an opportunity for such a high stakes scholarship? It took her a few moments before she slowed her steps and allowed Jada to catch up, wondering if she was making the right decision.
Because I have a new YA releasing next month, I thought I would write a story about something that happens a few months before that novel opens. Something that tells a little more about one of the characters, and the emotional aspect of what is going on her life at that point. No spoilers, just a peek at what The Competition will continue. Without further ado, here it is! Thank you for reading.
A Snap Decision
Mary Sofia didn’t mind staying after school to meet with Ms. Dacha. What she did mind was her teacher’s failure to mention why she wanted to speak with her. Her life had been lived on the sharp edge of a knife since she was a little girl, and she avoided uncertainties like she avoided boys. Or other kids her age. Or anyone, for that matter.
She didn’t have time for anyone. She had to focus on her grades and stay out of trouble. Once upon a time someone she loved took the fall for her, and now she had to make it right.
As she turned the corner of the hallway after leaving the books and folders she didn’t need to take home to the shelter in her locker, she noticed three students leaving Ms. Dacha’s room. Did the teacher talk to them about the same thing she would her? They didn’t look upset. One of them actually looked happy, and all three were talking animatedly, the happy one gesturing with one of her hands as if she was writing something in the air. What was that about?
She kept her head down and stared at the worn carpet by her feet as she continued to walk towards Ms. Dacha’s room. No one would notice her. The only kids who did were the boys in the neighborhood who called out to her, undeterred by her refusal to acknowledge them. They were bad news, and her family had enough of that to last a lifetime.
The last person she wanted to see was standing at the teacher’s desk when Mary Sofia stepped through the doorway. Jada, who looked more nineteen than seventeen, with her aloof beauty and overconfidence, glanced at Mary Sofia once, then twice, as if she hadn’t believed her eyes the first time she saw her. Mary Sofia sat in one of the desks and looked at the Smart Board, avoiding Jada’s gaze.
The Penultimate? What was that?
Those two words were written on the board, with a date almost a month in the future. Mary Sofia already knew that she didn’t have plans for that Saturday, or any Saturday, but that didn’t mean she was interested in whatever it was. Maybe if it would look good on college applications, though . . .
“Ladies, so glad to see you. Have a seat, Jada.”
Jada backed up a few steps and slid into the first desk in front of Ms. Dacha’s. The teacher remained standing and went over to the words on the board, tapping her index finger beside the letters.
“Have either of you heard of The Penultimate before?”
Mary Sofia shook her head.
“Isn’t that a writing contest?”
Jada spoke as Mary Sofia kept her eyes front. A writing contest? How did that work?
“You’re right, Jada. It’s only for students in the eleventh grade, and teachers can choose who they want on their teams. I’ve asked the two of you here because I’d love to have you participate.”
The woman looked at Mary Sofia, and Mary Sofia shrugged, stretching her shoulders a moment longer than necessary just to relieve some of the tension.
“Why?”
She asked before she thought, and once the words were out, Mary Sofia was embarrassed. I need to keep my mouth shut, she reminded herself.
“You are two of my best writers. Everything you submit, whether it is an essay, a report, or a freewriting exercise, is excellent. This contest is very competitive, and you have to be able to write under pressure, and with an open mind.”
“An open mind to what?”
Jada spoke the question echoing in Mary Sofia’s mind. She still didn’t want to be friends with Jada, who had once spoken terrible words to her during the worst time of her young life, but she was interested in Ms. Dacha’s answer.
“Different prompts. New ways to approach the writing process. Working together as a team.”
Teamwork? With Jada?
Mary Sofia raised her hand. The teacher shook her head.
“Don’t do that. It’s just the three of us.”
Mary Sofia nodded.
“How do we write as a team? Is it some kind of shared writing project? I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
When Ms. Dacha sat heavily in her desk chair, Mary Sofia stole a glance at Jada, who was frowning.
“I don’t think either of us are team players, Ms. Dacha. Seriously.”
Ms. Dacha just shook her head.
“Getting to that in a moment. What I want to explain first is that this event ends at the state tournament, and the winner gets a full scholarship to Finley College.”
Full scholarship? To Finley, the most expensive and exclusive college in the state?
“Of course, you have to be accepted when the time comes before the scholarship can be used. The most important thing is that you make it to the state level and have a chance to win that scholarship. We have a few weeks to work on your writing, with timed practice, to be ready for that first level of competition.”
What was going on? Was this really a chance to win a full scholarship? Not to any school, but the most prestigious college within driving distance. Not that she had access to a car or even had a driver’s license, but still.
“I don’t understand, Ms. Dacha.”
“Okay, Mary Sofia. Let me explain everything, and then you and Jada can let me know if you’re in. I really hope you are.”
As the teacher began to talk about districts and regionals, about prompts and timing, Mary Sofia slid her gaze towards Jada, who was watching her in turn. Jada looked nervous, but excited in a more reserved way than the girl Mary Sofia had just seen in the hall. Jada noticed Mary Sofia looking, and offered her a tentative smile. Mary Sofia looked to the front of the room again, ignoring Jada’s expression, and wondered how much teamwork was involved. It didn’t seem like much.
If Jada kept her distance, there won’t be any problems, she thought. They had nothing in common, and nothing to talk about, so nothing needed to be said except if it related to Ms. Dacha’s event.
“I’ll let you know,” she told the teacher twenty minutes later, unsure if she had understood everything that had been said. Jada made her uncomfortable, and she was annoyed with herself for allowing someone to get under her skin.
Leaving the room wasn’t the ending she had hoped for, however. As soon as she started walking down the hall towards the school entrance, she heard Jada’s voice calling out behind her. Could she deal with her old enemy for a few months if it meant an opportunity for such a high stakes scholarship? It took her a few moments before she slowed her steps and allowed Jada to catch up, wondering if she was making the right decision.
