First Place

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Our first place elementary school entry was written by fifth grader Samantha Donachie, who attends the Veterans Elementary School in Saugus.

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Lynn Woods

by
Samantha Donachie

Once every ten years, some foolish teenagers take a walk in Lynn Woods on Halloween night. They try to get a glimpse of Mr. Powers' house.

Listen closely as my story unwinds...

Mr. Powers is a grouchy old man who supposedly lived in Lynn Woods in an old, wooden cottage. He lived there with his beautiful daughter named Michelle. She lived with her father so she could help take care of the house.

Four very unfortunate teenagers named Kristin, Tom, Haily, and Paul. They were walking through the woods with a full moon outside. Suddenly, one of them stepped on a twig. A few yards away, Michelle heard it. "What was that?" she pondered. By that time, Mr. Powers had gone from his living room to his bedroom to lay down on his bed. He was trying to forget the look of fear Michelle had just shot him a minute ago.

The four teenagers were getting closer to the house. They didn't bring a flashlight, so Paul accidentally stepped on Haily's foot. "Ouch!" Haily winced. They were just a few footsteps away from the house when Michelle went outside to investigate. She was hiding behind the house and she was looking out, unable to see anything through the dense trees surrounding her house. Her heart was pounding and she was shaking with rage. "Those stupid teenagers are trying to see this old house again! They're probably going to try to do something bad here!" Michelle thought.

At that second, WHAM! Tom fell to the ground. There was a big crash and nobody saw anything.

Michelle ran into the house because she was scared out of her wits. "Dad, I just heard a noise and..." Mr. Powers turned around quickly. There was red liquid that looked like blood on his chin. His eyes were glowing, and his teeth were all pointy. His hair was standing straight up, and his hands were all furry and he had claws!

"Dad! You're a werewolf?!" Michelle screamed. "Yes. Those kids really got to me. The moon was full so I just bit one of them. Maybe they'll stay away from us from now on. I've been doing the same thing for years! I'm surprised you haven't noticed." He snarled in a sinister voice, "The worst that could happen is that when there's a full moon, the kids I bit will become werewolves." "The kids you bit?" Michelle asked. "You bit two of them?" "No. But after I bite you, it will be two!" Mr. Powers lunged at his daughter. "No!" Michelle begged. But it was too late.

Now, once every ten years, three werewolves wait for careless teens to come and bother them.

Oh, yes! As for the three teens that didn't get bitten, now they stay in their houses on nights with a full moon.

If you were smart, you would do the same thing!

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