This contest has ended, but don’t worry we have lots of fun things coming up this month! Stay tuned for the upcoming Winter Break Reading Challenge. In the meantime, check out this short story from our November writing contest.
Lunch with George Washington
By Amelia, 7th Grade
“If I were to eat lunch with any person, I would eat with Albert Einstein, because he was a really smart person.” Mary continued her speech, and Joe silently groaned. He hated speech day. So when Ms. Kinderberry called him up to read a speech he had forgotten to write, he was not happy. “I would, uh, eat with George Washington. Because he fought in wars, and was like, president and stuff.” Joe was making up a speech on the spot, and it was not going well. “Do you have any facts you would like to share with us?” Ms. Kinderberry asked.
Dang it, thought Joe. Why didn’t I make up a speech about someone I know about?
“He was, uh, president? And fought in some big wars?” At the end of each sentence his voice rose higher, like he was asking a question. He could see some of his friends snickering in the back.
Finally it was lunch. A minute or two after he sat down, he heard a deep voice behind him. “Is this seat taken?” Joe looked up to see… George Washington?
“Uh, no,” he responded. George Washington sat down with his lunch tray containing a baloney sandwich, pudding cup, and green beans.
As Joe looked around the cafeteria, he saw similar interactions happening throughout the room. Some girls were braiding Albert Einstein’s hair over at Mary’s table. The jocks’ table was crowded, with visits from Peyton Manning, Michael Jordan, and Babe Ruth. One girl was talking with Beyoncé, and her friend was trading lunches with Lin-Manuel Miranda. Alfred Hitchcock and Joe’s friend, Francis, were squirting ketchup and chocolate syrup over each other’s heads so it looked like they were bleeding. Beethoven, Bach, and the 5th grade orchestra were discussing musical composition. Elvis Presley was performing for the lunch monitor, and Ms. Kinderberry was talking to Charles Darwin. It was fascinating.
“Have you ever shot a cannon? Once I made a cannon out of a toilet paper tube and confetti slime and blasted it, but then I got grounded for a week,” said Joe.
“I do not know of this slime you speak of, but yes indeed, I have shot a cannon. The booming sounds and the sight of a heavy metal ball sailing through the air is something I’ll never forget,” Mr. Washington said, with a smudge of mustard on his upper lip.
“Neat!” Joe exclaimed. But as he launched into another story, the bell rang.
“Aww, man,” he said.
“Worry not, young man,” said George Washington. “I shall see you on the morrow.” “On the morrow,” called Joe as he walked out of the cafeteria. He stopped at the door and waved. “By the way, I loved your stories. You’re a super neat dude.”
“I know not of this ‘dude’ you mention, but I am very pleased to have made your acquaintance. Farewell to thee. I shall be abiding your return,” he responded.
“Farewell!” shouted Joe, and ran back to the classroom to learn fractions.