Homework

3. You have been asked to write a story for the school magazine ending with the words: " I
didn't realise it at that time, but it was the best thing that ever happened to me."

It was almost the beginning of the school year in a new town full of strangers. I had to
change high schools because of my mom's job, so I wasn’t actually excited to take everything
from zero—friendships nor teachers. The principal gave me a tour; the classes looked the
same, and the hall was an actual maze. So the only thing that could make me feel better was
the city’s library; everyone was in their own world there, and I was in mine.

The bookshelves mesmerised me, but just one fat and old novel caught my eye. I sat
down next to one of the big windows, and after just a few pages, I was absorbed by the
volume. The sun had set without me even noticing, and I was at page 232. The library was
empty except for me and an old, serious, grouchy-looking man who was writing something in
a journal. At the end of the evening, I finished the book. I went home, only to come back the
next day. There was something in the library’s air that I just couldn’t stay away from. Ideas
were flying through my head, so I pulled out a stack of sheets and began to write something. I
had a genius idea, and like that, I began to write a novel. The old man approached without
saying a thing. He sat down and grabbed one of my written pages. I tried to say nothing and
continued to write. After some minutes, he grabbed the second page, then the third, read
them, and said: ,, You have quite some talent, kid. I’ve seen you read yesterday, and I was
impressed by how fast you’ve finished that book. But I have to say, I wasn’t expecting you to
write like this. I have never seen a style similar. I’m a philosophy and English teacher at
Harrison High School." I want you to come to my book club."

This is how I started my debut as a school newspaper and magazine writer, got a
scholarship, and published my novel. Meeting Professor Brown accidentally changed my
year. I didn't realise it at that time, but it was the best thing that ever happened to me.

4. Write a story beginning as follows: "Having reached the highest point of their route,Mike
and Simon discovered something unexpected."

Having reached the highest point of their route, Mike and Simon discovered something
unexpected. That morning when they checked the weather app it said it was going to be a
sunny and beautiful day. But as they looked at the sky, they knew it was the worst idea to go
in the forest. The sky was getting darker and darker as the clouds began to drip. Simon knew
there was a river near them, so he said worriedly:
- Mike, what if the river will overspill and flood the forest?
- I haven’t thought about that, Simon, but in that case we need to get out of here! The sky
does not look safe at all! as he said that, a bolt of lightning flashed the sky.

The boys quickly ran heading north bypassing the huge trees and jumping over fallen
branches. The storm started and rain was heavily pouring over the forest. The ground became
slippery, transforming into mud, but the two friends needed to find a shelter. When the water
reached their ankles they panicked, but that only made them more vigilant.
There was something 500 feet away, and decided to go there. It was a cave, a huge cave. At
first ,Mike thought that a wild animal could’ve hid in there, but the shelter wasn’t deep and
they didn’t saw any sign of life.
They climbed on to the boulders to get to the highest and most safe place in the cave. Their
clothes, shoes, hair and skin were dripping wet. It was extremely hard to make a fire beacause
of the wetness of everything, but they used what they had in the backpacks. They tore pages
from a journal and light them up with some matches. The fire felt like heaven, but it wouldn’t
last long, so they put next to it some branches and leaves to dry, and made a bigger fire using
them.
They could see the disaster that vas outside and felt blessed for finding the cave, that
protected them until after the storm has ended.

5. Write a story beginning as follows: "The house was empty but I could see that someone
had been there and had only just left."

The house was empty but I could see that someone had been there and had only just
left. On the messy table, covered in old torn pages was a cup of coffee, half drunk but still
warm. The room looked like it was turned upside down, everything was out of its place.
Everything except the bookshelf, which looked exactly like my grandpa left it. I remember the
place of every book, because I helped him arrange them. And this was my luck. The last book
from my favourite series was clearly missing so I immediately started looking for it. Maybe it
will be a hint. I threw everything in my way, but then I saw it. The collection piece was right
on the window sill, behind the translucid curtains.

Between the pages was a letter, and it said: ,, I came but you weren’t there…If you are
really meant to have this, you will know where I am and you will come for me.” Signed: G.
I was stunned. He could be in a million places, how was I supposed to find him?! I sat down
on the chair and sipped the remaining coffee in the cup while thinking. It was a Sundays
evening, so most of the stores must be closed. The park! In the park I first saw Mr. Gregory
playing chess with my grandfather 10 years ago.
I took a taxi to the biggest park in town, the one where my childhood was spent. There
he was, next to the quiet lake, sitting in a gazebo. The suitcase was standing o the table. I
waked toward Mr. G and sat down.
- I thought it will take you more than this to find me! He said laughing at me.
We talked for decades about my grandfather and at the end he gave me what I wanted: the
novel he rote but never published. It was a treasure for me, and I was going to do what he
didn’t had time in his memory.