Inscriptions Showcase Archives: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007
Showcase Archive December 2008
10-12 category
Lydia Perrault
“Lydia communicated her theme with a rollicking rhythm and a relaxed rhyme scheme. Good job, Lydia!” –Paige
“The Bowman Hero of Sherwood”
He’s not out-witted,
Nor out-smarted.
By far he’s the bravest
Of Sherwood Forest!
He’s the most courageous
In all the range so mountainous!
What is he called?
He must have fame for one so skilled—
Robin of the Hood is his name—
And shooting arrows is his game.
He once was a knight
In Jerusalem did fight.
Then to Nottingham was sent;
Note his reputation was not bent,
But an outlaw he was made!
Robin’s bow was not down laid,
For he became head of a merry band.
He stayed in Sherwood land
Where he defended every innocent heart,
’Til death did him part.
Showcase Archive October 2008
Category 10–12
Winner: Timothy Cheng
“Defense of the Dwarf Planet”
Things were difficult at Sector 6 of Space Command. Sector 6 was the special place where the Plutonian Security took long range radar scans to look for invaders. But then the radar caught something, yet the high-tech surveillance camera only got fuzzy images. The security officers were trained Glinko, Climpsy, and Rooboot aliens from Pluto and Neptune. But these veteran guards were totally baffled. Then one Rooboot alien by the name of Icecube strode in. The clack of his icy metal suit made a sharp noise on the diamond floor. Icecube was an officer for 30 Pluto years and was a forgotten specialist from Sector 3. His bold strides and heavy build showed signs of his experience as a security agent. As he walked over, eyes stared in awe. He sat down at the control station and spoke in a heavy, but gentle tone. “What seems to be the problem?” he inquired patiently. The explanation was quick. Icecube pondered this. Studying the pictures with his microscope eyes, his expression was grim, unlike his usual jolly face. Then he said, “My friends and fellow agents, we have a battle to fight. I have seen with my three eyes fifteen ships carrying over two hundred Jupitarian warriors. I do not know why they have come to cause war. But I know that we Plutonians shall stand our ground!” This was not a prideful statement, but rather a loyal statement from Icecube. He slowly drew his Frostblade, for he was a seasoned warrior. He gathered every soldier, officer, warrior, and carnivore he could find. After addressing all the citizens, they went two Plutomargins (about six miles) to the battlefield to wait for their enemies. Green tears dripped off the beard of Icecube. He was a peaceful fellow and didn’t like war. As the scorpion general of Jupiter told them to surrender, Icecube tried in desperation to get out of the battle by negotiation. The evil leader grinned cruelly and said no. Icecube felt a burst of anger inside because of the terrible plot that they Jupitarians had to destroy innocent people. He got on his Streamswifter, a vehicle with a fire engine, blades for wheels, and a sheen of hard ice throughout. Icecube looked in rage at the army of sneering Jupitarian warriors. His men were outnumbered 2 to 1, but had determination to save the planet they called home. Then the Plutonian army shouted their warcry, “PLUTOOOOO!!!!” and charged on their Streamswifters.
Category 13–16
Winner: Hazel West
“Emery Velox”
For five years Emery Velox had been a sailor on the ship Blue Moon, captained by the pirate wolf, Jones Davidson. Within those few years at sea, he had grown tall, strong, and handsome. At seventeen, he was a hard worker and wouldn’t stop a job until he had finished it.
Emery hauled on the sail’s rope. He turned to his companion, a short, heavy-set Irish vole. “Go on, Neil. Climb up there and roll the sails,” he said in a British accent.
“Ah, sure noaw, Emery!” Neil complained. “I’m not cut out for that sort of thing!”
“Oh, fine, mate. Here.” Emery shoved the rope into his comrade’s hands and leapt nimbly up the rigging starting to tie the sailcloth in tight bundles as Neil pulled them up.
“Land ahoy!” shouted the lookout.
Emery and Neil rushed to the starboard side of the ship where they could see the port of Liverpool clearly.
As Jones watched the excited young fox, he couldn’t help remembering how he had found a younger and more timid Emery on these very docks.
Similar thoughts were going through Emery’s mind, mostly an unfailing gratitude toward his captain who had been like the father he had never known.
They hove into port within a few minutes. Emery and Neil stepped onto the dock and started securing the Blue Moon. Neil was chatting to Emery about what he would do on his days off.
“Well, first of all I’d like to get a present for my wifey and little daughter back home, did I tell you she was three now, Em? …Emery, are ye listenin’, mate?”
The rope Emery was holding had gone slack in his hands.
“Em? What is it…?” He stopped talking and followed Emery’s gaze.
Walking down the road was a young vixen accompanied by a grouchy vole lady. The vixen gave her a reassuring smile and said something unintelligible.
“Isn’t she beautiful, Neil?” Emery said in a trance.
“Ah, sure, she is that,” Neil commented.
She looked up then and her eyes met Emery’s. She gave him a small smile but was soon pulled away by her chaperone.
Emery sat down with a silly grin on his face. Unfortunately just at that moment Captain Jones came down the gangplank.
“Emery, are you all right?” asked the captain.
The young fox babbled incoherently. “She smiled at me… Oh, Captain!” He jumped up and stood to attention his face burning bright red. “S-s-sorry, did you say something?”
“Nothing important, Emery. I just wanted to tell you that we were staying at the inn tonight.”
“Oh, good,” Emery stuttered. “Permission to go into town, Captain?”
“Alright, Emery,” Captain Jones said with an amused smile.
When Emery was out of hearing range, Jones bent down and asked Neil, “What was that all about, Mr. Neil?”
Neil shrugged. “I guess it’s the love sickness. He was star struck to be sure!”
“Hmmm.” With that, Jones went to attend to things, leaving Neil standing on the docks.
Showcase Archive June 2008
Category 10–12
Haley Taylor
“Mom?” called Sarah. “Where are you?”
“In here, Sarah.” Mom’s voice floated from the laundry room.
“I need your help.” Sarah sat at the kitchen table and sighed.
Mom came into the kitchen carrying a basket of laundry. “What for?” she asked.
“We have to write a dialogue for my Language Arts class. It has to have 16 lines and it must have two to four characters.”
“When’s it due?” Mom asked.
“May first.”
Mom sat down and started folding the laundry. “What do you already know about dialogues?”
“Not much; only that people are talking.” Sarah sighed again.
“You could go on Inscriptions.com and read their tips.”
“Great! But what’s Inscriptions?” asked Sarah.
“It’s a website that gives information about different types of writing styles. I’ve heard that they’re having a dialogue contest.”
“Cool! Thanks, Mom!”
“You could also read the dialogues in some of your favorite books,” suggested Mom, still folding the laundry.
“Awesome! Thank you so much!” cried Sarah.
Category 13–16
Elizabeth Baumgartner
“Are you looking for someone?” Paige asked. The little girl with the wide blue eyes shook her head. “Are you lost?” She didn’t answer. “Where do you live? Where are your parents?”
“Haven’t none.”
“Oh—I’m so sorry.” Paige felt uncomfortably embarrassed. “Are you from the Community Children’s Home, next door?” That would explain everything. Children from Community often came to the rest home to visit the elderly people and bring them gifts and flowers. The child nodded, and cleared her throat.
“I wanted to see you. They said you were pretty.” Paige wondered who “they” were. Children from Community? At school? But the child’s words struck a chord in her heart, and she felt a motherly instinct pull her to reach out to the girl.
“Would you like to sit up here on the counter?” The child’s face brightened, and Paige lifted her up onto the shiny surface.
“What’s your name?” Paige asked.
“Lindsey Taylor. I’m five years old.” Paige toyed with the girl’s brown braids.
“Who did your hair?”
“Ann did. She’s my special friend.” Lindsey leaned closer and grasped Paige’s hands impulsively.
“You’ll be my special friend too, won’t you?” How could Paige resist?
“Of course,” she said. Lindsey’s desperate face broke out into a smile.
Showcase Archive March 2008
"Kangaroo"
by Sarah Overstreet
Category 10–12
There once was a kangaroo,
Who thought she would live in a shoe.
Then she found she could not,
For it wasn’t her lot.
And she didn’t know what to do.
"Fred's Fate"
by Elizabeth Probasco
Category 13–16
There once was a knight named Fred,
Who wanted to keep his head.
The king said, “No!
His head must go!”
So now poor Fred is dead.
