Flo G's Testing Experience

           I clipped my flag-football belt around my waist, wondering who could be eliminated first. 

The names were being called, one by one. Taylor emerged from the equipment room with an automatic Nerf gun. Great. Four of the six people were called, until finally, “Flossie.” I walked nervously into the small room, anticipating the weapons. Foam nun chucks. No. Silly string….maybe. A long, foam sword. Possibly. Well, those were my three choices. 

Defense was what I needed, so I chose the most obvious ones.

          The first candidate was dropped off by the pre-school, behind a parked car. Taylor, by a tree. Luke, my alliance, in a dugout. Me, partially hidden behind the larger concession stand.  Bo, in the baseball field bleachers. Handling my foam sword and Silly Spray, I took in a deep breath. I waited for the last candidate to be dropped off, then “GO!”

          I had set up a plan the previous day- Make an alliance with Luke and Mary, fellow 7^th graders.  Meet in the softball dugout. Run to the high school library, our designated finish line. Win. But unfortunately, there was no time for that now. 

       There were footsteps-quick ones-coming my way. I dashed into the tall weeds nestled behind the concession stand, to find a pursuer. I gasped, sure that I would be eliminated there and then. But I had no such luck-It was Luke, my alliance, the one to aid me in crossing the border to the library. I signaled for him to come on, and then we turned the corner. There we found Bo sprinting toward the playground. I considered whether or not to follow, because he would be an easier target to catch, but Luke countered. I motioned for him to follow me, racing to the scorekeeper’s tower, a shed-sized, two-story building. We peeked around the corner, but our vision was blocked by bleachers. I walked around the back of the structure, trying the door. It was open. 

         We tramped up the stairs after scanning the floor for supplies. Nope, just trash. As I cleared the final step, I scanned the field for competitors. Almost every single one was there, racing towards the playground. I caught my breath while Luke tied his shoe, and then we headed out.

          We ran along the outside border of the baseball field, the long way. But less enemies. Suddenly, there was a rustling in the trees along the pavement. I froze, as did Luke. I said, quietly, “Get down.” We crouched as the rustling came again, and then I caught sight of the danger-a bunny. I laughed, and then we raced around the corner, to a clump of tall weeds. I crouched behind them, seeing at least two candidates who had failed the first or second tests-they were set out to prevent us from winning. But Mary, my other alliance, was one of these people. Luke and I ran up to the auditorium, to be greeted by “AHHHHHGHH!” and a Kyle lashing out at us. 

I pointed my readied sword at his chest, and put a menacing look on my face. 

“Stop,” I said, “If you move, I’ll get you.” He nodded sharply, and we set off to be greeted by two more, one was Mary. “Floss,” she breathed. “We were supposed to meet at the dugout!” I shook my head. “We couldn’t, we were being chased.” She nodded understandingly. 

         We headed to the back door of the high school building, stopping at the corner. The four or five Candidates we had picked up went ahead and opened the locked door, notifying that it had been done. I entered the building cautiously, my sword at the ready. Right around the corner, there were to previously-eliminated Candidates. I whacked the first one, and the second one put up her hand. “Do it quick.” She said. I whacked her anyway. We ran down the first hallway, skidding as we entered the library by the side door. We did it. We finished. We won! I sauntered up to Dr. Rooney, who was in charge of keeping up with the Candidates. I had finished the Testing, in Fourth place…behind Bo, Taylor, and the girl who was dropped off by the pre-school. The only Candidate still out there was Timmy. I begged Dr. Rooney to let me chase him down, and she agreed.

 I dashed outside with my Silly String ready... 

About the author:

Flossie is a 7th grader at South Side High School.  She enjoys reading--especially fiction. She also participates in softball, Quiz Bowl, Mutts club, and book club. She is a big-time animal lover, and loves being around dogs. She also enjoys writing her own stories.