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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Time (11/15/12)
Lacey nibbled on her lip. Her eyes were glued to the clock. She held her breath until her eyes bulged out. Just when her fingernails started to turn a dusky blue, the clock changed to 11:11. Jumping up and panting, Lacey screamed. “It’s 11:11! Quick, everyone look!”

She raced to her older sister’s door and barged in. “Lori, look it’s 11:11”
Moaning, Lori flopped to her side. “Lacey one of these days. . . No one cares what time it is. Go to bed.” Lori hurled a pillow at Lacey’s head.

Spinning around, Lacey's eyes were full of tears. “Please, Lori?”

Grumbling under her breath, Lori scooted over so that Lacey could crawl under the covers. “I don’t get it, Lacey, why are these time things so important to you? It’s getting ridiculous! You run around, announcing the time. Mom’s getting mad at you.”

Wrapping her fingers around the blanket, Lacey looked down. “You wouldn't understand.”

“Is it because you are exactly eleven days and eleven hours younger than me?”

Blushing, Lacey shook her head. “No one’s supposed to know this, not even Jesus.”

Rolling her eyes, Lori shrugged her shoulders. “Are you telling me you know something that even Jesus doesn't know?” She raised her right eyebrow and tipped her head.

Lacey swallowed hard. “You've heard that the world will end on December 21, 2012?”

Lori tossed her hands in the air. “You don’t believe that malarkey do you?"

Crossing her arms, Lacey stuck her chin in the air. “Do you remember last year when it was 11-11-11?”

“Yeah, you were bonkers then too. They’re just numbers they don’t mean anything.”

“They mean something to me!” Lacey sat up; tears plopped on the bed. “I discovered that the world'll end at 11:11 or 1:11 soon.”

Lori scowled. “That doesn't make sense; why do you think it’ll end then?”

Swallowing hard, Lacey, licked her lips. “I yelled out 11:11 in school. Brian teased me and showed me a numerology book. It has this quiz and your answers tell what numbers mean and stuff. Well, I took it and it said that the times 11:11 or 1:11 mean something huge. If I don’t see the clock at the right times, something bad will happen and it’ll be my fault!”

Lacey crumpled and sobbed while Lori rubbed her back. “Shush. You silly goose, I know what’s going on. Brian’s mom is really hard on him. Once his brother got a B- on a test and she nearly blew a gasket. Now think about this, what’s your class doing soon?”

“We’re taking State Exams; the winner gets $500. The last one is scheduled on December 21. I remember kids saying they weren't going to study, since the world was going to end anyway.”

Nodding her head vigorously, Lori jabbed her sister in the arm. “I bet you told everyone that you were still going to study, huh?”

Her cheeks warmed as she dipped her head. “Pastor Cal said no one knows when Christ will come again. I don’t want to take any chances so. . .”

Lori nodded and wiggled her eyebrows. “Bet that made Brian mad.”

“Oh, no!” Lacey slapped herself in the head. “Brian freaked me out about the time thing, so that I’d be up half the night worrying about the world ending instead of studying.”

Plopping her arm around Lacey’s neck, Lori pulled her close. “What I don’t get is why does the end of the world scare you? You know where you’ll be right?”

Feeling her cheeks blaze, Lacey rubbed her face. “Sometimes I get scared and say what-if? I guess I’m not a good Christian.”

“I don’t know about that. It seems like even Jesus got a bit scared when he yelled out, ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?'”

Picking up a stuffed animal, Lacey clocked Lori in the head with it. “Thanks, Sis. I’m going to try not to be quite so gullible.”

Lori rolled her eyes. “You know that word isn't in the dictionary right?” She tossed her a book. “Look it up.”

Lacey flipped through the pages while singing the ABC song. She grimaced and looked at her sister. “You’re right it’s not in here.”

Lori reached over and yanked the book from Lacey’s hands. She stopped flipping through the pages when she noticed Lacey rolling on the floor laughing.

“Who’s gullible now, Lori?”
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This article has been read 1448 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Amy Michelle Wiley 
11/23/12
This is pretty awesome for being written in your sleep. Loved the last bit especially. I love number sequences like that. My red ink is that I might have emphasized a bit more that getting to heaven isn't about being good, but you did kind of touch on that. Cute story!
Beth LaBuff 
11/24/12
The superstition that held her captive was quite fascinating and had a humorous streak for this reader. I especially enjoyed the aspect of the December 21st day in light of all the current media coverage. I was completely wrapped-up in your story and thought your message was superb.
Dannie Hawley 
11/24/12
Yikes, my comments on your article went somewhere else, hmmm? Well, in any case, I loved the very real inter-play between the sisters. The message is a timely one and this is a terrific way to give the adults the truth they need. Nicely done, with believable dialogue and super descriptions.
lynn gipson 
11/25/12
Fine, fine, superfine! Loved it, it's the kind I would like to keep on reading.

Excellent piece!

God Bless, Lynn
Darleen Coon
11/25/12
Love it! Reminded me of a cartoon I saw recently of two Myans looking at the Myan calandar. The guy holding it said, "I only had room to go to 12-21-12." The other guy says, "That's gonna really freak somebody out someday."

Thanks for pointing out that nobody knows the day or the hour, so we need to live each day to the fullest.
Allison Egley 
11/26/12
Shann, this is great. Especially for writing it in your sleep! I'm impressed! I promise, this isn't as bad as you claimed. I didn't even see any errors. :) Nice job.
Noel Mitaxa 
11/26/12
You wrote this in your sleep? That's snooze to the rest of us. I enjoyed your characters and their interaction, when at first it was going to be about a numbers racket. It's sad how people get caught up in majoring on minor issues like numerology, though I recall that Jesus warned his disciples about the (e)leaven of the Pharisees :-)
Great work.
Loren T. Lowery
11/26/12
Very well-written with a good message. Your dialogue was spot on and kept the story going in a very believable way. Super job and food for thought who might otherwise believe that time is in God's hands. Always has been, always will be.
Myrna Noyes
11/26/12
Your story's sibling rivalry was believable, as I have a sister, too! :) Good food-for-thought about not letting our fears about the future distract us from living our lives well in the present! Nice job! :)
C D Swanson 
11/27/12
Nicely done...this was a joy to read. Thank you.
God bless~
Bea Edwards 
11/28/12
Splendid dialogue between siblings. You kept me mesmerized throughout this unique 'end times' story through a youngsters perspective. Well done!
Sandra Wells
12/10/12
Shann, this was incredible. I loved the dialog and interaction between the sisters. This reminded me just how easily swayed many of us are which makes it all the more important to know what God's word says. From the other comments, it sounds like you wrote this in your sleep and may not feel that it is very good. I disagree, it is amazing.