Amazing Young Writers Challenge 301 to 400
Amazing Young Writers Stories 301 to 400
On this page, you will find the fourth 100 stories, poems and other pieces of creative writing submitted to the amazing young writers challenge.
If you'd like to submit to the challenge and see your work published on this website, please visit the Amazing Young Writers page.
Story 301
Chuuya's Radiant Ritual: A Tale of Tender Care
by Rachelle Lopoua
In the realm of beauty and care, Chuuya’s skin reflects his devotion to self-care. Each morning, he begins with a gentle cleanse, washing away the night with warm water, leaving a fresh canvas that radiates a natural glow. Despite his occasional indulgences, the faint traces of smoke and alcohol never mar his skin's clarity.
After cleansing, he applies hydrating serums and moisturizers, each step a careful ritual. Throughout the day, whether in bustling streets or dimly lit rooms, his skin remains soft and radiant, a testament to the harmony he cultivates between indulgence and dedication to self-care.
*
Rachelle is 13 and lives in England.
Story 302
Problem
by Sultanbeibarys
*
Sultanbeibarys is 14 and lives in Kazakhstan.
Story 303
Why Are Rainclouds Dark?
by Om Sahu
There I was, half-asleep in chemistry, drowning in “calorimetry and heat exchange” – adiabatic, blah blah. Not a clue what was happening. Then I looked out of the window: dark clouds, heavy with rain. Hold up... if water’s clear and vapor’s kinda white, why do clouds go dark?
Curiosity hijacked my brain, so I did a quick dive into some physics (because why not?). Turns out, rainclouds look dark ‘cause they’re packed with water droplets or ice crystals, scattering and blocking sunlight. More water = darker clouds. So, yeah... ended up learning physics in chemistry class.
*
Om is 17 and lives in India.
Story 304
The Day That Aldi Died
by Chloe L.
It was an ordinary day; birds sang and trees danced. Gabe opened the fridge for breakfast but no milk was seen.
He got in the car and travelled to Aldi.
He walked in the veg aisle and down the freezer aisle. He made it to the cake aisle and saw Cuthbert out of his box.
Cuthbert the Caterpillar went on a riot! He was bursting bottles. He found the lighter set. He flicked it on and the fire awoke…
“Bye, bye, Aldi!” Cuthbert spoke, as the flames engulfed the shop.
Gabe screamed and cried, “My only true love! Rest easy…”
*
Chloe is 12 and lives in the UK.
Story 305
The Creature
by Dominic M.
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. It was more than 8ft tall. It looked like a sheep and a donkey mixed!
Uglier than a tarantula with rabies; more horns than a goat; more teeth than a years-old collection; more ears than anything in the world!
*
Dominic is 12 and lives in the UK.
Story 306
The Tortoise and the Hare
by Gouhar R.
A bunny and a turtle were doing sports. The turtle was slow, the bunny was really fast.
One day, the bunny saw a race and if you won you would get a prize. At the same time, the turtle was walking when the turtle noticed the club and sighed.
The next day was the day of the race. The turtle practiced to win and tried really hard, but the bunny just rested. The bunny thought he was fast, so he rested, quietly and peacefully. But the turtle worked hard…
The turtle won because the rabbit was selfish.
*
Gouhar is 12 and lives in the UK.
Story 307
The Forgotten Waltz
by Parvina Naimi
The old woman sat on a park bench, watching kids play. Their laughter filled the cool autumn air, a sharp contrast to the quiet sadness she felt.
She held a worn-out photo – a faded picture of a young man in a soldier's uniform. Her heart ached with a familiar pain, a sadness that never really went away. Years had passed, but the memory of his warm smile and happy laugh still lingered in her mind. A single tear rolled down her wrinkled cheek, a sign of a love that defied time and loss.
As the sun started to set, casting long shadows across the park, she whispered a silent promise to the photo, a vow to keep his memory alive, forever etched in her heart.
*
Parvina is 17 and lives in Tajikistan.
Story 308
Rusting-Ending
by Thomas Lathwell
It lay, alone in the quiet field that winter claimed and released yearly. The machine. It once ate the life of the plains in its flaming guns, blazing and screaming death. Yet now it lays quenched of wrath, watching those that live in the old warzone. Now frozen in place, as rusted in colour as the dirt that cloaked it.
For years its little light flickered, not wanting to lay alone. Yet perhaps, after so many years – years of feeling roots grow into it – it should lay down, accept it's lost. And just rest for a hundred years.
*
Thomas is 17 and lives in the UK.
Story 309
Forgotten Forest
by Erjanova Aymira
The forest whispered something to the wind, as if telling stories of long-forgotten people and their dreams. A lantern flickered among the old trees, and its light cast strange, almost living shadows.
The girl stood under the crowns, holding an open notebook, as if catching the words the wind brought to her. She wrote everything down quickly, her pen seeming to connect the ordinary world with something magical. The words seemed to breathe, as if taken straight from the heart of the forest.
When the lantern light went out, she closed the notebook, feeling surprised. The forest was silent, hiding its secrets again.
*
Erjanova is 16 and lives in Uzbekistan.
Story 310
The Rising Spanish Hero
by Sharvil Jadav
Eric – a teen with an ardent passion for football – was called up to the Spanish national team.
When his family heard about the news, they were absolutely euphoric, bursting into a deluge of tears of joy. All of the media were as surprised as deer caught in headlights; fame showered upon Eric. Everyone – including the two ‘goats’ (Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo) – were flabbergasted.
“We picked him because we can see an admirable future in him. He has great potential,” stated the Spanish football federation.
He had 26 goal contributions, which they saw as a huge potential.
*
Sharvil is 11 and lives in the UK.
Story 311
A Hawk
by Snezhana
The deep, unnerving night, drawing all into its dark embrace. A hawk, clinging precariously to a branch, was trapped like Prometheus, unable to break free from his silent torment. His desperate cries echoed across the canyon, a lonely symphony lost in the vastness of the surrounding darkness, leaving a disturbing sense of his complete isolation. Did he even exist if unseen and unheard?
He suffered unbearable pain, but why should we know, if his story remains unheard? Perhaps he was merely a fallen tree, silent and unnoticed.
*
Snezhana is 15 and lives in Russia.
Story 312
Found Myself
by Supreen
Masking my sight, fog hid my old self. I saw myself being happy with small things, confident, and with no insecurities.
The fog became more intense. I decided to run to the light to see my old self, but darkness was forcing me back. I started running without thinking, getting closer and closer to my old innocent version.
Finally, I reached my goal, hugged myself, and closed my eyes. My old version was gone when I opened my eyes.
That day, I FOUND MYSELF.
*
Supreen is 14 and lives in Pakistan.
Story 313
Foil Over Heart
by Egembergen Kamaliya
From July 20 to November 17, I was in a relationship with a guy. We started dating while he was in London, which made things difficult, but it was unforgettable. We talked every day and when he returned in August, we spent time together.
However, one day I found out that he had hugged another girl. He said she was his neighbour and he had to give her foil because she was baking. It disgusted me, and we broke up.
So, whose fault was it – the foil, or him?
*
Kamaliya is 14 and lives in Kazakhstan.
Story 314
Double Entendre
by A.R Righter
Entendre,
One must speak,
To gain the favour of the bleak.
Twist and turn ambiguous verb.
Not lie, not truth, just the word.
Grandiloquence.
The greatest art to learn.
What heard is hammered,
Into the herd,
And spelt into leftover mind.
Take piece by piece,
Leave nothing behind.
Talk like a preacher preached,
Babble as a satisfied glutton already leeched.
And now,
They say you’ve wronged.
But the righteous are never wrong,
Only, “You must have heard wrong.”
*
A.R is 16 and lives in England.
Story 315
The Last Letter from the Future
by Amangozel Saparmammedowa
Sophie began receiving letters from her future self, each one eerily accurate. “Don’t trust him,” the first warned, followed by, “You’ll be offered a promotion tomorrow, but turn it down.”
As days passed, the letters predicted every decision she made, every path she took. But then the last letter arrived. “The truth you’ve always known isn’t real. You are not who you think you are.”
Sophie froze. The ink blurred before her eyes, and a shocking memory surfaced – she had never written the letters. Someone, or something, was shaping her future, but who? And why?
*
Amangozel is 21 and lives in Turkmenistan.
Story 316
Eternal Beauties of Life
by Shahribossan Owezmammedowa
Why books? Pets? Nature?
Have you ever pondered these questions?
These three are perhaps the most original and magical entities in life. A book, for instance, is like embarking on a journey to a more joyful world, taking flight with your soul to escape this reality.
Pets convey a powerful message to humanity: "Kindness will save the world." They understand us, even in our silence, when we're weary or sad. They heal us with their positive energy. Precious beings!
Nature creates everything for our existence and grows silently. It awes us with its beauty: birds, rainbows, clouds, mountains, seas, and sunsets. And, of course, inspiring dawns.
Perhaps a little introspection could help us rediscover life's authentic joy!
*
Shahribossan is 21 and lives in Turkmenistan.
Story 317
The Ocean’s Charm
by Harvey Shilson
The sunset shimmers on the reflective waves,
Leaving the water in a golden haze.
The tide arrives like clockwork,
Disturbing the rockpools where crustaceans lurk.
Many stare out to the beautiful sea,
Bringing them a shawl of serenity.
While I’m mesmerised watching the boats bob in the quay,
The brisk ocean wind takes me back to reality.
Seagulls flying over the bay,
Is the peaceful sight that makes my day.
All these things remind me,
That in a fast-moving world,
Peace can be found.
*
Harvey is 12 and lives in the UK.
Story 318
Life Won’t Be the Same as Before
by Anastasiia Roshchupkina
6am.
Morning.
The alarm clock broke because I had to get up for school. But something is wrong. It felt like my heart was about to jump out. My mother approached me calmly, but I could see the anxiety on her face.
And then I heard, "Sweetie, the war began."
After that I didn't hear a word, I couldn't believe it. It was the longest day of my whole life. 24 February 2022. I will never forget how this day destroyed my life and my dreams. Why wasn't it just a nightmare?
*
Anastasiia is 16 and lives in Ukraine.
Story 319
Sleepless Night, Tick Tock and Me
by Ege Direkoglu
If I had a wall clock; a night so quiet I could hear its ticking.
I try to distinguish whether my own breathing is noisier or the sound of my heart.
My eyes are closed and I hold my breath to hear the sound of my heart. My heart is noisy like a child flying down the stairs. The more he runs, the more I can't open my eyes, drowning in my own silence.
If I had a wall clock and its ticks broke the silence of the night... Why don't I sleep? My eyes are always closed... tick tock.
*
Ege is 13 and lives in the UK.
Story 320
By The Lake
by Keira
Everyone has a place they go to when they need an escape. A happy place. A place that is just theirs. A place to think.
Mine is this beautiful lake that is disguised by the trees. You have to be determined to find it. It's calming. I feel free. The sounds of the birds singing echo in my ears. Tiny ripples dance on the surface joined by the shine of the diamonds from the night sky. The cold, fresh air relaxes my mind.
SNAP!
My head whips around. What was that? Who knows I am here?
Him.
*
Keira is 15 and lives in England.
Story 321
All I Know
by Levecher
If your eyes are my ending,
Tell 'em I'm already dead.
If lovin' you,
Means a mess in my head,
I'mma loser, babe.
Not at 5, not at home,
don’t come tomorrow.
Throw my soul like your hat,
Dig graves inside me and my heart. Don’t wait.
You reminded me of Istanbul,
Made me remember my past,
The last time I was a fool.
I love you anyway. Can't run from you,
Or your scent, all I know. My rose, my beautiful.
*
Levecher is 18 and lives in Turkey.
Story 322
Math Problem
by Özge Çoban
The fire within me never fades,
Time doesn’t care,
It’s 2:54 AM.
I’m writing this for you again.
Where should I go?
Tell me—
You never answered anyway.
The wounds you left,
Fester like equations I can’t solve.
I am the problem;
You’re the question,
And I am a child,
Staring at numbers too complex to decode.
My tears blur the choices.
Marking blindly,
I never check if it’s right.
Where do I go without you?
You thought I was your answer,
But I was your first mistake,
Eliminated on the first question.
2:57 AM.
*
Özge is 21 and lives in Turkey.
Story 323
The Mystery of Time
by Shatlik Yusupov
I woke up again, in the same place. Was I dreaming or was I awake?
The food was still cooking in the kitchen, but everything felt strange. There was a strange unease inside me; everything had turned grey and seemed to have lost its life. The oddities didn’t end there – outside, there was no sound, as if all living creatures had disappeared.
My eyes caught something: a calendar. The year was 2012, August 28th. But that wasn’t the strangest thing. On the floor, a headline in the newspaper caught my attention: “People are evaporating silently, the end of our civilization is near.”
Filled with questions, I found myself caught in a whirlpool of fear.
*
Shatlik is 18 and lives in Turkey.
Story 324
Fusion and Fission: The Power of Tiny Particles
by Evren
Fusion powers stars by combining small atoms, like hydrogen, to form helium, releasing immense energy. Scientists aim to harness fusion on Earth for clean, limitless energy, but it requires extreme temperatures.
Fission, used in nuclear power plants, splits large atoms like uranium to generate electricity. While easier to control, it produces radioactive waste and safety risks.
Key Differences:
- Energy: Fusion releases more but is harder to achieve.
- Waste: Fusion is cleaner; fission creates harmful waste.
Both processes shape our energy future, offering alternatives to fossil fuels and hope for sustainable power.
*
Evren is 15 and lives in Turkey.
Story 325
About Technology
by Amir Axtamov
In 2035, an engineer named Alina created a device that could read thoughts and turn them into text.
One day, her invention helped a man who had lost the ability to speak after an accident. For the first time in years, he "told" his family that he loved them.
News of the technology quickly spread around the world. People began using it not only for communication but also for creativity – writers crafted stories, and artists designed paintings just by thinking about them.
Alina realised her device had changed not only lives but the very meaning of creativity.
*
Amir is 17 and lives in Uzbekistan.
Story 326
Strangers
by Begaim
I met a stranger passing by,
our gazes locked,
no chance to lie.
We held that look,
no need to flee,
a quiet smile,
just you and me.
The pain of the past began to stir,
a silent bond,
no word,
no blur.
Two souls collided,
a fleeting spark,
a moment of light in shadows dark.
*
Begaim is 16 and lives in Kyrgyzstan.
Story 327
The Last Piece of Music
by Mariia Poliushkina
Music?
It's not like someone was playing it there, amidst the cold, snowy night, right? I rushed to the window.
Someone was in the field. Black silhouettes were dancing with the dark forest as their backdrop. They jumped around, basked in the moonlight, bumped into piles of snow, rolled around, and crawled on all fours.
Suddenly, the music stopped. The shadows froze in place, and one of the silhouettes immediately parted from the bizarre shadow carnival and sprinted across the field. I shut the curtains with a swift motion and stepped back toward the bed.
But it was already here.
*
Mariia is 15 and lives in Ukraine.
Story 328
Identity
by Mana
In New Zealand, I am considered foreign because I look and am Japanese. People also call me unfamiliar in Japan. My Japanese isn’t the best, and I feel 'different'. My mannerisms, my ways of thinking – the small things make a big difference.
So, who am I? Where do I belong? Many should realize that small factors like nationality, ethnicity, gender and age do not make you who you are. Instead, what you do, your actions and your ways of thinking do.
So, do not judge yourself or anyone else by these small factors; this is my ultimate message.
*
Mana is 12 and lives in Japan.
Story 329
The Key to Paradise
by Bencharis Bassey Nso
Life, life, life: a roller coaster that doesn’t cease to astonish. Ups and downs are imminent, so don’t get comfy. Have a second plan – you will never mourn it.
If a soft-landing refuses to occur, do not weep. Depression is not an option. Withstand the pressure and sustain thy mental wellbeing.
*
Bencharis is 11 and lives in England.
Story 330
Equilibrium of the Brain and Heart
by Ayesha Wajid
The brain. A leader, casting overhead with a bird's-eye view of humanity. Shadowing the pulse that runs through bodies to provide divine protection to our enhanced mind and body. The heart.
The brain, the heartless logic. The heart, the mindless sentinel. They say, “Opposites attract.” These opposites propel the scarring face of humanity. Like a chessboard, black tiles balance the white, settling the game in favour of one or the other. To achieve victory, use logic in terms of validity and feelings for your perception of righteousness. Together they brew experience, balance, truthfulness, and reasoning. One with the other. Equilibrium.
*
Ayesha is 13 and lives in the UK.
Story 331
Weird Boy Vs. Weird Alien
by Peter Kwak
A weird boy named Justin found a weird alien in his bedroom.
“Who are you?” asked Justin.
“What’s that on your head?” the alien asked.
“It’s hair! What’s that round thing in your face?” asked Justin.
“It’s an eyeball of course! An eyeball is something we use to hear,” said the alien.
“No way! An eyeball is used to see!”
“Weird,” said the alien.
“So weird. Whatever. Wanna play a game with me?” asked Justin.
“Yeah, sure.”
And that’s how a weird human became friends with a weird alien. They might be very, very different, but they can be friends.
*
Peter is 8 and lives in South Korea.
Story 332
Addiction
by Penelope Clark-Vu
You're no good for me,
Yet I still choose,
I still have an option,
It feels like I'm in cuffs,
The only difference being,
I can choose to set myself free or not,
Yet I still choose not to,
It makes no sense,
It's like when you love someone who's bad for you,
No good for your heart,
For your stability,
Yet you keep going back,
Once, twice, thirteen times,
Until it ruins you,
Your soul, body, sanity,
Peaceful until not,
Poison disguised as water,
It will kill you,
Yet you choose to succumb,
Like toxic love,
No good.
*
Penelope is 12 and lives in England.
Story 333
Whispers of Devotion
by Sena Selek
Let me be the flower on your breakfast plate,
I swear I won’t stir,
I’ll remind you of your beauty.
Let me be the candle at your dinner table,
I promise I won’t melt,
I’ll light up your darkness.
Let me be the first light of your morning,
I swear I won’t burn you,
I’ll just warm your soul.
Let me be the key in your bag,
I promise I won’t get lost,
Just let me open your paths.
Let me be yours, and yours alone,
I swear I won’t leave,
Just let me lose myself in you.
*
Sena is 23 and lives in Turkey.
Story 334
A Journey That Began in Childhood
by Daniyushh
My name is Daniya and I’m in the 10th grade. Choosing a profession was challenging but crucial for my future. I was torn between becoming an allergist or a forensic scientist. Allergology fascinates me as it studies allergic diseases, while forensic science intrigued me with its mystery-solving aspects.
However, after discussing it with my father, I realised becoming a forensic scientist in Kazakhstan would be difficult. Therefore, I chose to study abroad to become an allergist.
I’ve wanted to be a doctor since childhood, especially since I’ve suffered from severe allergies myself. I hope to help people overcome their conditions, just as I once needed help.
*
Daniyushh is 15 and lives in Kazakhstan.
Story 335
The Rocking Chair
by Claire Nudelman
One day there was a rocking chair.
Every day, the other rocking chairs would make fun of him and that made him sad.
Until one day, a stinky skunk told him to just ignore them like he did in college. The rocking chair thanked him.
The next day, when he went to school, the rocking chair ignored the other rocking chairs and it worked.
*
Claire is 9 and lives in the USA.
Story 336
Never Trust Others With Your Dreams – They’re Just Too Valuable…
by Dylan Watson
Pen in hand, ready to face the long-awaited exam, he was sure he would pass. His whole life, he had studied for this, and he wasn’t going to let it go to waste. Besides, his friend from the year above had told him the questions to expect. He turned over the paper, his heart racing, wondering what was ahead.
He gasped, “Oh no!”
Staring at the page, he began to shake. He felt his heart would fall out of his chest. He had studied all the wrong questions. It was all over. He had set himself up to fail.
*
Dylan is 15 and lives in the UK.
Story 337
Some Things I Like
by Saffy Jones
*
Saffy is 8 and lives in the UK.
Story 338
Sonder
by Sophie Worsdell
The feeling of sonder is like a library of unwritten books, each stranger carrying chapters you will never read.
8.2 billion people, 8.2 billion lives, and 8.2 billion stories. As humans, we often forget that there are others who live around us. In our journey through life, grey blurred faces rush past, and we instantly forget their presence as they fade away. It’s incomprehensible that you are merely a side character or passerby in the stories of others.
Once humanity begins to grasp this truth, we will understand the importance of empathy, humility, and connection in our world.
*
Sophie is 16 and lives in the UK.
Story 339
Crossroads of Dreams
by Khen P Julia
"Have you decided yet?" my mum asks me for the fifth time this week.
Her words linger as I stare at the ceiling of my room. Teacher? Journalism? IT? Each path feels like a world I might belong to, but none scream this is it. My classmates seem so sure – future engineers, doctors, lawyers – but I’m stuck, caught between passions and practicality.
Late at night, I wonder if it’s okay to not know yet. I’m only 16, but the pressure feels heavier than my math textbook. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll find my answer somewhere in these uncertain steps forward.
*
Khen is 16 and lives in the Philippines.
Story 340
The End of the World
by Jason Lyu
It’s 2030. Scientists predict that after 1 hour the world will come to an end. It’s posted on the internet. It’s all over the news. People panic and go crazy.
Meet Jack. He is just a normal student. He saw the internet post. The first thing he did was cheer. No more school, no more homework. No more crushing pressure and stolen freedom. He sits in front of the window and waits for the end of the world.
10 minutes… 30 minutes… 1 hour… Jack holds his breath.
A bell rings. It’s Jack’s phone waking him up from a glorious dream.
*
Jason is 13 and lives in South Korea.
Story 341
Nakamura
by Kelaiah
The neon lights of Shinjuku glistened on the rain-slick pavement. Akiko Nakamura stood frozen, her silenced pistol warm in her trembling hand. Before her, a man’s lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
A child’s wail pierced the chaos. “Papa!” The boy’s red coat clashed with the blood splattered on his cheeks.
From the crowd, a sharp voice cut through. “What have you done?”
Akiko turned to face her boss, Arata Saito, his rage a palpable force.
“Kill her!”
Gunfire erupted as Akiko fled into the labyrinth of Tokyo’s streets, the weight of her betrayal heavy on her heels.
*
Kelaiah is 16 and lives in England.
Story 342
The Pickpocket
by Fleur Douglass
Leana Smith was the snootiest pickpocket around. She laughed at people when they found their pockets empty.
One day, she reached into an old lady’s pocket and pulled out a note. The note was a prophecy about her! Leana Smith! She was meant to touch the top of Big Ben, and a secret would be revealed.
So, Leana set off. When she finally got to the top, the old lady appeared.
“Check your pockets, Leana. And remember, I’m the best pickpocket.” She laughed.
They were empty! The old lady had pickpocketed HER! And Leana stopped being so snooty.
*
Fleur is 9 and lives in the UK.
Story 343
One Spring Day
by Joanna Peshcherina
Despite the late spring, which was supposed to be at least warm, that day was particularly gloomy, cold and unpleasantly damp.
It was drizzling. Drenched animals walked the streets and every time a human eye laid on them, they started whining pitifully.
People were running from under one canopy to another, sporadically throwing unhappy, hostile glances at each other.
It was just a normal weekday.
Often, returning from school like this, I thought how nice it would be for something good to happen. Something that would have saved such sullen days.
So, wandering through last year's foliage, I continued on my way, plunging into my thoughts for a second, feeling like this path would take me endless years until I finally reached my destination – home.
*
Joanna is 17 and lives in Russia.
Story 344
The Cycle
by Layla-Rose Freeman
The sun was grinning at the world as Matt rode his motorcycle down a winding path. A girl clung onto him from behind. Millie. She'd been his best friend since primary.
Driving down a road, a lorry came rushing out of nowhere. It sent them flying off the bike.
When Matt woke up, he was in a hospital. Millie was lying next to him unconscious. Trying with all his heart to wake her up, Millie lay there frozen.
A doctor came walking into the room. "I'm sorry, she didn't make it."
Matt sobbed into her ear. "I love you."
*
Layla-Rose is 12 and lives in the UK.
Story 345
The Last Train
by Arda Dalkıran
Rain soaked the platform as John clutched an old ticket tightly, waiting for the last train. When it was delayed, he glanced around; the station was empty. In the distance, a whistle pierced the air. An old steam engine emerged from the fog, its wheels screeching to a halt.
The doors opened, but no one stepped out.
Hesitantly, John boarded. As the train began to move, he noticed the passengers – pale and silent. An elderly man sitting nearby said, “This train only carries those trapped in the past.”
John pulled the ticket from his pocket. The date read January 19, 1925. As the train disappeared into the mist, John embarked on a journey deep into his memories.
*
Arda is 15 and lives in Turkey.
Story 346
I Love You!
by Chloe Kim
In a bright hallway a boy and a girl are thinking, I love you!
The boy’s hands shake, and the girl’s face turns red. They just smile at each other. Other students shuffle by. They get closer. They awkwardly brush shoulders.
“Do you want some chocolate?” the boy asks. I love you!
“Just a little,” the girl responds. I love you!
A pause.
“Do you want to sit together?” the girl asks. I love youuuu!
“Okay sure,” the boy responds. I love you.
The bell rings for lunch and they are both thinking, do you love me too?
*
Chloe is 10 and lives in South Korea.
Story 347
The Unexpected Trip
by Weronika Jastrzebska
Clara, Annie and Hallie are ready to go for a picnic for their yearly trip. They make their way along a small dirt path, leading to their vacation home.
As they're walking through the bushes, Clara sees a pile of leaves on the side of the dirt path. Annie and Hallie follow along, looking down at the suspicious pile. Annie takes a branch and pokes the object, removing the leaves.
Hallie screams, and Clara and Annie back up. They can't believe it.
They quickly walk away and get back on the path. They can't deal with a dead body.
*
Weronika is 15 and lives in the USA.
Story 348
Pizza Delivery
by Emily Park
Once upon a time there were three girls and their teacher who went on a camping trip together! They hiked for a long time up the mountain.
One girl said, “I’m tired, let’s set up camp right here!”
Finally, they set up their tents and changed clothes.
“I’m so hungry!” said one girl.
“Let’s order a pizza then,” said the teacher.
“What?” the students said, laughing.
They waited and waited, and finally a guy carrying three pizzas came running up the hill!
He shouted, “Pizza delivery!”
The girls were shocked.
“Teacher, can we give this guy a big tip?”
*
Emily is 8 and lives in South Korea.
Story 349
Dream World
by Cansu Kurt
People learning hunger isn’t just a stomach’s fight,
Nations realizing conquest was someone’s stolen right.
Many tongues, many races, but one creed we share,
Belief as tradition, free from greed’s despair.
The rich gaze at the sky not for planes, but the view,
Kids unaware of politics, their innocence true.
One flag for the whole world, a picture of this peaceful earth,
I won’t pray tonight, but I promise you have my word.
*
Cansu is 20 and lives in Turkey.
Story 350
Dear Beloved
by Pawoulla Gyasi Yeboah
The old man in a cloak walked in circles around me.
“Did your master tell you his name?”
I panicked, taking steps backwards.
“Leave me not yet. Be my love for the night and at dawn I’ll permit you to flee with silver pennies.”
“N… n… no.”
“Twenty years ago, I lost myself in this castle. I read many scrolls until I found his name. A place without servants, high priests and sorcerers. You should have been afraid, dear.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“You were sent here to be slayed by me, dear.”
I swallowed.
“You should have known your master’s name, dear beloved.”
*
Pawoulla is 21 and lives in Ghana.
Story 351
Button
by Adildabek Alimzhan
Two years ago, I found a small white kitten on the street with amazing heterochromia – one eye was blue, the other green. He was shivering from the cold, but as soon as I picked him up, he purred, feeling safe.
I named him Button because of his round eyes. He is playful and curious, waking me up in the morning and watching movies with me in the evening. When I'm sad, he stays close, and when I’m happy, he runs around joyfully.
Five years with Button have taught me love and patience. Our meeting was fate, and many happy moments await us.
*
Adildabek is 16 and lives in Kazakhstan.
Story 352
The Purpose
by Bethan Dunne
Once, there was a greedy man. He had no friends.
"Don’t you want some friends?" asked a boy.
"Do I get any money? Then what is the purpose?" snapped the man.
"Do you want to have some fun?" questioned a person.
"No money? What’s the purpose?"
He got wealthier and wealthier until one day he passed a house. Inside were two families laughing. He looked at his gold and stared at the house.
From then on, he was a kind, charitable man who had a happy family. He saw the purpose.
*
Bethan is 8 and lives in the UK.
Story 353
The Noise of Freedom
by Maya Howes
The noise rang in my ears,
A sound, beautiful yet violent.
Everything went black, one of my biggest fears.
And suddenly, everything went silent.
I blinked, letting the feeling of peace wash over me,
And to my surprise,
I finally felt free.
*
Maya is 13 and lives in the UK.
Story 354
the other side of neurodivergence
by kyl
he sits by the riverbank, toes slightly grazing the surface of the water, and it ripples slightly.
the mellifluous tinkles of wind chimes and cowbells drift through the only unpolluted canal of his mind, like a fjord amongst the steep cliffs.
he lies, back against the pillowy grass that gently rubs against his skin and he finds himself in the motion of one making a snow angel; carefree, this one unintentional. burden-free.
his eyes flutter shut, the two forms of sensory stimulation each creating their own portals to their respective havens.
*
kyl is 14 and lives in Singapore.
Story 355
My Disney Questions
by Summer Scriven
What’s Mickey without Minnie?
Who’s Tiger without Pooh?
If Cinderella stopped mopping floors, what else should she do?
There’s no Peter Pan without his shadow and there’s no Tinker bell without her pixie dust.
If Ursula had an argument with Flotsam and Jetsam, who else could she trust?
What are the Hyenas without their stupidity and who’s dumbo without his large ears?
Under water, how can Ariel cry tears?
How can Winnie the Pooh stop eating honey?
What happens when Pinocchio says his nose is about to grow?
How can Goofy stop being funny?
There is A LOT we need to know!
*
Summer is 11 and lives in England.
Story 356
I Found X
by Aliullova Diluara Ruslanovna
Once, in a geometry lesson, we solved a problem in which we had to find x.
My classmate did it, he found it, and when the teacher asked to see it, he just pointed out the letter x in the book.
*
Aliullova is 14 and lives in Russia.
Story 357
The Reliable Robot
by Brian Park
“Beep! Boop! Did you know that—” the robot started.
“Shut up already!” the man screamed.
The robot zoomed around the room and bumped into the sofa.
“Did you know that the killer whale—“
The man just ignored him.
The robot bashed into the cupboard.
“BEEP! BOOP! Did you know, did you know, DID YOU KNOW?”
The robot glitched and its head exploded and flew into the wall with a big BOOM!
The house filled with black smoke.
The man burst with dreadful, devilish anger.
“I paid so much money for that thing!”
*
Brian is 9 and lives in South Korea.
Story 358
The Haunted Cat House
by Ethan Kim
There was once a dog who did not believe in cats. But he heard about a haunted cat house and decided to check it out.
There is no way cats exist, the dog thought.
As soon as he went into the house, he came face to face with a terrible thing.
A CAT!!
It had HUGE claws and blood stains on its paws. Its hair was as sharp as a sword and its eyes glowed lazer red.
The dog stood very still. He was shocked.
Suddenly, the cat pounced at him!
"YELP!" The dog dashed back to the door.
*
Ethan is 9 and lives in South Korea.
Story 359
The Joker
by Mina
The rain lashed against the window as Detective Harding stared at the victim. Lord Ashworth, renowned art collector, lay dead, a priceless Fabergé egg clutched in his hand. A single playing card, the Queen of Spades, lay beside him.
Harding, recalling a similar murder years ago, suspected a known thief, 'The Joker', but the egg was gone. A hidden compartment in the egg, revealed by a careful examination, held a note: 'Checkmate'.
The Joker had framed someone else, leaving the Queen of Spades as his signature.
*
Mina is 16 and lives in Kyrgyzstan.
Story 360
The Last Entry
by Isha Sapre
Prompt: A historian discovers a long-lost diary from the 1900s, only to realize that the last few entries describe events from her own life – right up until the day she disappears.
Dr. Molly Prewett flipped through the decaying, brittle pages of the 1947 diary. She stopped on the final entry, her breath catching in fear.
“A woman in a modern dress, her eyes wide with knowing, reads these words in a dimly lit library. She does not yet understand that she is being closely watched. Her fate is sealed.”
The candle on her desk flickered. A menacing shadow crept across the room – considerably taller than her own.
Heart pounding, she turned. The library was empty.
Then, in the dim glow of her laptop screen, fresh, scarlet ink bled on to the diary’s final page:
“She finally looks up.”
*
Isha is 13 and lives in England.
Story 361
The Psychiatric Hospital
by Arianna Deeley
Struggling for breath, my beloved and I sneer at each other as the lack of oxygen hardens. I stretch my arms out, approaching the lid of my narrow-necked water bottle, placing my stiff upper lip around it.
A prickling sensation races up my spine as if, in the distance, a pair of eyes are gazing at me from behind!
I start to observe my surroundings. A doll-like shadow pops out of the pale blue. It regards us as if we are people from a psychiatric hospital. Then our ears ring and we black out.
We were in sight of a psychiatric hospital…
*
Arianna is 11 and lives in the UK.
Story 362
My Creation
by Bartholomew Dingle
Bartholomew is 15 and lives in Wales.
Story 363
Going to the Dentist
by Seulah Yoon
A boy named Sam ate sweets every day.
One day, he got a cavity and his mum said, “Sam, let’s go to the dentist.”
But Sam was very afraid of the dentist.
“But… but—” Sam cried.
“No buts, let’s go,” said mum. And they got into the car and drove to the dentist.
In Sam’s mind, the dentist was a scary, smelly, spooky monster! But when they got there, the dentist smiled and gave Sam a cute toothbrush!
Suddenly, he realised that it wasn’t scary at all! Somewhere, deep inside his heart, he felt brave for the first time.
*
Seulah is 8 and lives in South Korea.
Story 364
The Weight on Her Shoulders
by Angela
She killed herself. And it's all my fault.
If I had listened, would she still be here? That question haunts me every day. But hearing my father say it aloud – it hits like a bullet. My body gives out. I collapse, shaking, her image burning into my mind. I try to erase the memory, but I can't.
I sob, my lungs begging me to stop. My father walks away, grinning. No hesitation.
I don't fight the thought this time.
He's evil. And I wish I had killed him instead.
*
Angela is 13 and lives in England.
Story 365
All about ME
by Jennifer
Prologue
I wonder, oh I wonder. Could last year's events have been prevented? Could they? Stupid actions, idiotic instances.
All for what? Why do I have to live through this? Why me!?
Chapter One
Hi. I'm Bella. Bella Watson. Ivy gave this thing to me. Apparently it's not a diary. It's a logbook. I don't really care what it is but I don't want to write in it. Ivy convinced me. Somehow. Well. I don't know let me begin...
*
Jennifer is 10 and lives in England.
Story 366
A Trip to the Hello Kitty Café
by Lilly Webb
Guess who has the same birthday as I do? It’s Hello Kitty!
For my birthday, we went to the Hello Kitty Café in Universal Studios Hollywood. We even met Hello Kitty! The café was super cute and had all sorts of snacks that were Sanrio themed. My favourite snack was the 50th Anniversary cookie. It was pink and it even had a pink chocolate bow!
The café had a Sanrio shop right beside it and that was probably my favourite part. I bought loads of cute things from the shop. It was the best birthday ever!
*
Lilly is 11 and lives in the USA.
Story 367
The Dreadful Day
by Justin Kim
There was once a cat named James. He went for a walk in the park. Suddenly, a gigantic blue bird pooped on his head!
How terrible! James thought.
Some people spat out pink chewing gum, and James didn’t see it, so he stepped in it! His paws got all sticky.
The weather became dark, and it started raining. A thunderstorm! James got soaking wet.
How awful! James thought.
James ran home, to find a dog on his bed.
“Surprise! Here’s our new puppy,” said James’s family.
The dog barked and rapidly chased James around the house.
What a dreadful day!
*
Justin is 10 and lives in South Korea.
Story 368
Questions
by Kat Baker
I don’t know that much
I question everything always
What is certain now?
*
Kat is 13 and lives in the USA.
Story 369
Unhappy Dreams
by Ismanova Guljamal
I saw him more than once,
And I couldn’t look away.
We met in an elusive gaze,
My heart was trembling – beating fast,
Like bells ringing – just for us.
We swayed in dances to the chords,
In a silent night that torments the soul.
You kissed me gently – so tender,
Like a sweet whisper,
Like a melody – just for us.
You, moon-faced pioneer,
Who pierced my heart without knocking.
Well, you’ve come – so step inside.
In you, I saw ruby stained glass,
Reflecting without knowing why.
*
Ismanova is 17 and lives in Kyrgyzstan.
Story 370
The Echoing Tick Tock
by June Feather
The antique clock ticked, each tick echoing the frantic thump of Elias's heart. Rain lashed against the gothic windows of the abandoned mansion. He clutched the tarnished key, its intricate design strangely familiar. It was supposed to unlock the truth about his past, a past shrouded in amnesia. But the truth, he feared, was more terrifying than forgetting.
A whisper slithered through the decaying halls, a voice both alluring and menacing.
"You shouldn't have come back, Elias."
A cold gust extinguished the flickering candle. He was alone, trapped in a nightmare he couldn't escape, the key his only weapon against the unknown.
The clock ticked.
*
June is 14 and lives in the UK.
Story 371
The Moon and the Sun
by Erin Rosewell
The moon, silvery and mysterious, loved the sun so much that she died every sunrise to let him breathe. Died to save him. Died to end that dreadful pain that accompanies unrequited love. For the sun, fiery and handsome, made her out to be the villain in his story. It made sense. No one knew the moon’s mortal counterpart, yet everyone knew the sun’s. Aiden. Aiden Solace. He was raised by his rich parents, went to a rich school, and all together, his future was blindly bright.
I wonder what happens when the sun wakes up and sees the moon…
*
Erin is 13 and lives in England.
Story 372
Lockdown
by Kaiden Annear
Barricading. Locking. Fortifying. It all happened so quickly, in a matter of seconds. It all went silent. As if something lurked in the near distance. Hiding behind a bed, looking at the reinforced breach.
Boom.
Shards of steel raced past my face. Smoke filled the air, mixed with a yellow, poisonous gas and a bleak, blacked-out smog, yet nothing happened. Watching as the light broke through the smoke, revealing the outer wasteland that lived behind. Not a soul, not a sound, not a shadow.
A cold metal gun touched the back of my head and I knew it.
*
Kaiden is 16 and lives in the UK.
Story 373
When Will It All End?
by Bee. L Eve
The screaming, shrieking, wailing cries,
Fill my heart and leak my eyes.
No one here is watching us,
No one here that I can trust.
No doors that hold us, no cage within,
No fear except of losing kin.
The threat of hurt keeps us by,
As we wait to get to fly.
When will we be able to mend?
When will all the torture end?
*
Bee is 12 and lives in England.
Story 374
To Be
by Tristan Olesiak
Let me be where avalanches of war build a mountain upon collapse, where purity discards white, letting starlight reflect in fountains of youth our eyes beside humility and ego rowing as companions down the river of past leading to sea, where the designated fates of religion wave their arms wildly as freedom laps onto the natural sands we lay on and the freckles of memory fade along the skies shore...
Does future exist for those who have no present or does the idea of tomorrow echo in the silence of today, every day, filling that void with another?
*
Tristan is 17 and lives in the UK.
Story 375
The New House
by Nuri Lee
Jessica and her family finally arrived at their new, four-storey house. Jessica ran inside and began to explore.
On the first floor she heard, tap… tap…
On the second floor she heard it again, tap… tap…
Jessica felt curious but scared. Was it a monster? A ghost? Or a giant bug?
She kept going up to the fourth floor. The noise grew louder, TAP…TAP!
She stood before the attic door and pushed it open. Creaaaaaak!
In the middle of the room, she saw a cute, white bunny with big fluffy ears. Jessica smiled and said, “I love this house!”
*
Nuri is 12 and lives in South Korea.
Story 376
Forgotten
by Shokhruh Kayumov
Living in the past is one of the worst ways to exist. Yet, that’s how I see life. My thoughts consume me, pulling me further from people. That’s why I’m here – alone.
Space. I never thought about it when I was young. Now, it’s all I know. A vast, silent void. No one on Earth remembers me. I don’t even know what day it is there.
They left me long ago. I survive, but only for now. My time is slipping away, like stardust in the dark. Soon, I will be nothing more than a forgotten whisper in the cosmos.
*
Shokhruh is 17 and lives in Uzbekistan.
Story 377
Whisker’s Midnight Secret
by Nguyen Anh Tu
Under the silver moonlight, Whisker shared stories with only the kind-hearted. His voice, soft as the breeze, reached Lily’s ears.
“Stars hold dreams forgotten by the world,” Whisker began.
He described hidden lands where raindrops paint rainbows in the dark and clouds waltz to lullabies sung by the wind.
“Why tell me?” Lily asked.
“Because your heart listens,” Whisker purred.
From that night on, Lily became his storyteller, weaving unseen magic into tales for those who dared to believe.
*
Nguyen is 10 and lives in Viet Nam.
Story 378
A Weird World
by Claire Kim
Oh, Oh, Oh,
What a weird world!
Pigs could wear wigs, and twigs could grow figs.
Bats could like cats, and gnats could wear hats.
Some clues could be untrue, and the blues could come to you.
Sometimes you’ll feel wheezy and queasy, but other days will be easy breezy.
When the building hall feels way too tall, a call to a friend isn’t hard at all.
Love is always above, like a beautiful dove.
And just when you feel it’s a bad deal,
All you really need is hot oatmeal!
Oh, Oh, Oh,
What a weird world!
*
Claire is 6 and lives in South Korea.
Story 379
Scarecrow
by Oisin O'Lynn
Outside our house, on the field, there is a lone scarecrow. Although the weather remains unforgiving, the scarecrow remains grinning. No matter how strong the wind howls or the rain pours, he keeps his hat on. Whenever he gets damaged, the farmer repairs him. Even if it takes weeks, the scarecrow returns to his same self afterwards.
And so I wonder, while the rain buckets down, if a scarecrow can keep smiling, why can't we all?
*
Oisin is 11 and lives in Northern Ireland.
Story 380
Santa's Bunny
by River Layne Bond
Santa has a Bunny in his hat!
Why do I have a Bunny in my hat? asked Santa.
I am hungry! Why am I hungry?
I want a donut.
I will build a house or play with a mouse.
But why a Bunny in my hat?
I must get it out or give it a shout!
But...
I don't know what to do!
I don't know yet but do not fret,
I will get it out right now.
It's out but do not shout!
*
River is 7 and lives in England.
Story 381
The Power I’m Taking Back
by Evelyn White
Growing up was hard on me. I was tormented each and every day by those who called themselves my 'friends'. This only led me to believe I was the issue for everything and anything that occurred.
But it's okay because after all I've been through, and all the blame I layered onto myself for years and years, I can stand up in front of a crowd and confidently say, “I can sleep at night knowing I did nothing wrong. Where as you have to live hearing my cries and screams as you ruined my life, myself but no longer my future.”
*
Evelyn is 15 and lives in Canada.
Story 382
Snow Globes
by Sophia D
Watching the snow fall in a miniature town is almost as mesmerising as watching it in real life. The silver crystals slowly fall, forming piles of icy jewels at the bottom. Time stands still as nature passes its way through our minds and our capabilities to understand difficult things such as the way freckles of snow can pass us by and change our whole understanding.
The small little globe full of precious things that are incapable of being destroyed by our ignorance and neglect. The true meaning of fascination.
*
Sophia is 13 and lives in England.
Story 383
Darkness Within Me
by Mirabelle Ibili
Dark rays amongst the sun, light waves of glorious sums, darkness climbing amongst thee, no one left to see, my mind spirals out of control, the air as thick as snow, loneliness chasing after me, life feels like a dream, I find comfort in my voice, as reality awakens me.
*
Mirabelle is 11 and lives in the UK.
Story 384
Concert
by Myrna Jana Quak
I stand in the middle of a crowded room, arms protesting against being held up to film the action on stage. It's hot and my throat is scratchy and sore from screaming, yet none of that matters. All that matters is the ecstasy running through my body, the boy on stage, my best friend beside me. All that matters is this perfection.
Strobe lights, loud drums, high notes, screaming people. I'm alone yet connected to all, feeling this moment in every part of my being. There's only the energetic feeling of an unforgettable experience, amazing me song after song.
*
Myrna is 15, from the Netherlands and lives in Ireland.
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