Welcome to the Showcase! Here you can see the work of your peers who have won previous Inscriptions contests. Read the winning entries and let them inspire you. Congratulations to our budding writers!
Animal Antics 10–12 Category
Winner: Anna Craig
“Trapped”
Chase the Chipmunk peered from around a hosta leaf, and then darted toward the chestnut tree. Looking over his shoulder, he noticed Dye, the tomcat, had seen him. Falling down on all fours, he shot up the old tree and climbed onto a gnarled knot which served as a lookout for the chipmunk family. Dye hissed and pawed whiningly at the bark. Ever since the owners had Dye de-clawed, Chase and his family had more easily escaped Dye’s attacks. After a few moments Dye gave up and walked, sulking, back to the deck. Once Chase saw Dye had settled down, he scurried down the tree, holding his chestnut backpack tightly. Once he got to the ground he pounded on the rough door. Dye, seeing him, padded stealthily over, then crouched, ready to spring. Mrs. Chipmunk heard the knock and waddled to the door. Looking out the peep hole, she saw Dye behind Chase. She screamed, and then her plump little body filled with action. She opened the door, yanked Chase in, and then slammed the door right as Dye sprang. Dye stopped mid-spring and landed smack against the trunk. Shrieking loudly, he ran back to the deck and covered his nose with his paws.
Inside the tree, all of the chipmunk family was busy doing something. Mrs. Chipmunk was making bread from the birdseed Chase brought her; Mr. Chipmunk was gathering pieces of bark for the fire. Chad, the eldest, was cracking chestnuts open. Chauncey, the second eldest, was crushing chestnut leaves for a salad. Chase started setting the table. Chelsea was beside her sister stirring the soup, and baby Charlie was playing with a rattle made from a small berry. A little later, they all tromped upstairs to bed, the parents on the second floor, the kids on the third. Soon, when they were all fast asleep, the tree started shaking. Dirt rained down from the ceiling. Chase woke up, startled. Everyone else was completely unaware of what was happening. “Earthquake!” he squeaked. But no one could hear him over the ssssshhhhhh of the dirt falling down in small balls. He ran around and shook his brothers and sisters awake. They all started scrambling. Chad woke up Mr. and Mrs. Chipmunk; Chauncey held Charlie. Chase grabbed their possessions and shoved them into chestnut backpacks, and Chelsea snatched leaf blankets. On the lower floors, Mr. Chipmunk was seizing their blankets, grabbing their possessions and throwing it all into a bag made of a caterpillar web. Mrs. Chipmunk was shoving all their food into a big bark box. By now dirt was plummeting down in large chunks, and the earthquake was like being in the stomach of a giant playing hopscotch! All of them rushed toward the open door. Suddenly, a limb crashed over the door and blocked it. They were trapped!
2007 Showcase Archive | 2008 Showcase Archive
