Unfortunate groom By Zora Stewart Grade 8, Edmunds Middle School He had it all planned out, what he’d say, what he’d do. It would’ve been perfect, if he hadn’t contracted the flu. He went down on one knee, saw her face bright with glee, and took a sore breath and said, “Marry me, sweet Beth, and part not ‘till death. Happy forever; always together.” Hopefully, he looked up and suddenly froze for something was dripping out from his nose. His joints were aching; his throat was dry. He thought he felt something in his eye. And down he tripped, the unfortunate groom, suddenly subjected to grief and gloom for when he was righted, he saw a sore sight, his Beth, running away in the night. If it wasn’t enough, he’d just remembered he’d left on his oven. Now his house was in embers. This Week: Proposal & General Each week, Young Writers Project receives several hundred submissions from students across Vermont and New Hampshire. A team of staff, mentors and students selects the best writing and images for publication.This week, we present responses to the prompts, Proposal: Write about a proposal that goes terribly wrong; and General writing. More at youngwritersproject.org. About the Project Thanks from YWP Young Writers Project is an independent nonprofit that engages students to write, helps them improve and connects them with authentic audiences in newspapers, before live audiences and on web sites, youngwritersproject.org, vpr.net, vtdigger. org, and cowbird.com. YWP also publishes The Voice, a monthly digital magazine with YWP’s best writing, images and features. To learn more, go to youngwritersproject.org or contact YWP at (802) 324-9537. YWP is supported by this newspaper and foundations, businesses and individuals who recognize the power and value of writing. If you would like to contribute, please go to youngwritersproject.org/support, or mail your donation to YWP, 12 North St., Suite 8, Burlington, VT 05401. Vermont Writes Day Thursday, March 12 The day Vermonters stop everything and write for just seven minutes! More details at youngwritersproject.org! The Voice Special thanks this week to Vermont Business Roundtable Down the drain Check out the latest issue of YWP’s digital magazine! By Mark Harrington Grade 5, Cambridge Elementary School One day, Joe from New York wanted to propose to his girlfriend. So he went to one of the best jewelry stores in town and bought a really expensive diamond ring. The next morning Joe went to brush his teeth, and he brought the ring with him because he was worried about losing it. After he brushed his teeth and washed his hands, he went to dry his hands and knocked over the box that had the ring in it. The ring fell into the sink drain hole without Joe realizing it. Joe picked up the box without the ring and got ready to go on his date with his girlfriend Alivia. At the restaurant, Joe’s legs were shaking and he was sweating profusely. Joe, who is a gentleman, pulled the chair out for Alivia, but he pulled it too far and she fell. Joe picked her up and said sorry. Alivia was thinking, “What’s with him tonight?” Their food came and they started eating. Joe let out a belch so loud that the people around him stared at him. Alivia was so embarrassed. Joe was finally ready to propose. He got down on his knees and grabbed the ring box, but still didn’t notice that the ring was gone. “Alivia, will you marry me?” he said. “Uh ... Where is the ring?” she asked. “What do you mean? It’s right here!” Joe looked and saw that it was gone. His jaw dropped to the floor. Then he said, “I don’t know what happened! I lost the ring?” “Joe, I will marry you,” Alivia said. “But we need to find the ring first!” “Okay,” replied Joe. After they finished eating dinner they went to Joe’s and looked everywhere. Joe couldn’t find the ring. He got frustrated and went into the bathroom and remembered that he had the ring in the bathroom. He started looking all around. Finally, he realized that it was down the drain. YWP Events Go to youngwritersproject.org for your FREE subscription! Bittersweet Olivia Fewell, Essex High School See you at Starbucks By Kate Henry Grade 6, Lyman C. Hunt Middle School “Will you marry me, Lucy?” I say. I open the little black box holding the glittering ring and look up. I then close the box and stand up and walk away from the mirror. I’ve been practicing in the mirror for days, planning what I would say to her. This is the day. I’m going to get coffee this morning, at Starbucks. I get in the car, and I now have butterflies in my stomach. I get out of the driveway, and drive down the road. She has to get to work at 9:00, so I have enough time to propose and still get her to work on time. I pull into the parking lot. I slowly get out of my car and take a big breath. I start walking toward the entrance. Those butterflies are really flying around in me, and I start sweating. What if she says no? She won’t say no. She couldn’t say no. I hesitate before opening the door. I walk to the counter and order a cappuccino. I look around. I spot her in the back corner of the cafe, sitting at a table with her back to me. I grab my coffee. I smile, and begin to walk toward her. Suddenly a man with perfectly combed black hair steps past me and starts toward Lucy. I stop walking. He sets his coffee down on the table and sits in the chair across from her. My mouth drops open. Who is he?! I walk toward their table, no longer wanting to propose to her. I take the cover off my coffee and fling it at the man. The man jumps backwards and Lucy gives a little shriek. She whips around to look at me. I gasp. It’s not Lucy. The man gets up and starts toward me. Everyone is staring our way. “Wait, I’m sorry ... I thought ... but ...” He doesn’t hear a word I say. He yells something at me, but I can’t hear him. I drop my cappuccino and run. I run out of Starbucks and jump in my car. I see the man, the woman hanging onto his arm, both looking at me as if I had just run over their dog. When I get home I flop down on my bed and cover myself with all the bedsheets and blankets. I look at the clock. It’s 8:37. My phone rings. I don’t pick it up. I hear Lucy’s sweet voice, leaving a message. “I’m sorry, honey, but I can’t get coffee today. I have to go in early. Let’s go next week. Love you, bye.” By Catie Macauley Grade 6, Endeavour Middle School I think that winter is like a person. It has two sides to its personality. There are icy blizzards that turn any exposed skin into frozen stubs, where the wind is so loud and strong it can push you over without trying. The only thing you can see is a cyclone of gray and white, and it circles all around you mercilessly. The storm greedily snatches away your energy and breath; everything is surreal. And then there are the cold days, where you sit, wrapped in a blanket before a crackling fire. You stare into the mesmerizing flames, without a care in the world. The snow falls softly and silently onto every surface, but you are safe from the biting cold as you sip your hot drink, and feel nothing but happiness. Winter is a bittersweet season that is all yours. And all mine. And everybody’s. It is different and special to every person. I think that winter is like a person. It has two sides to its personality. More great student writing at youngwritersproject.org