"You know what they say", replied his sister, Marissa, "the ozone layer is affecting the weather patterns, we barely had an autumn, went from summer right into winter."
"Yeah, but lightning, the first part of January, every night, sure seems weird to me," Robbie said. "Ozone or not!"
That night, as Robbie sat next to his bedroom window, the show began. Why were these furious, sound deafening bolts not waking everyone else up? he thought. Was he the only one they were showing themselves to? At the thought of this, he felt a sickening dread beginning in the pit of his stomach. It was back. It had not bothered him for two years. Now they were back, trying to get him again. Seven days of mind harrowing terror lay ahead of him. Just as before, just in a different form.
by Annette Brittain, Durham, OKNow this last one really didn't think at all. This lady stole a bunch of checks and signed her name on them. This is so silly, but I bet the police department is relieved that these crimes don't require much work or thought.
by Rama Hoskins, USA"What? Why were they jumping on YOU?"
"Think about it. It's the holiday season! They were itch-hiking!"
by Carolyn Ann Aish, Inglewood, New ZealandRenata raised one eyebrow. "Dumb? Yeah. Silly? Ehhhh. You're not funny, Robbie."
Robbie just didn't get it. He thought he was hilariously funny. His jokes always made him laugh. His best friend, Miguel, thought he was a riot. Renata wouldn't know funny if it walked up in a clown suit holding a sign.
He grinned. "Yeah, well, Renata, you wouldn't know funny if it walked up in a clown suit holding a sign!"
With the kind of eye roll only teenagers can perfect, Renata sighed. "C'mon Mr. Funny, get in the car or you 'l be late for kindergarten.
by Daphne Rice, Portland, ORThe princess smiled at him. The young prince must have forgotten dragons migrated in the opposite direction during years ending in nine.
"You're right. Years ending in nine DO tend to be silly."
Robbie loved his sister. Never one to point out his mistakes, she had secretly reminded him of one of the basic lessons of dragon harvesting.
"...so of COURSE the dragons migrate westward," Robbie interjected.
A great murmuring and nodding of heads encircled the dining table of the Great Hall.
"Lessons well remembered, young Robbie!" boomed Lancerstance, the greatest dragon hunter of the realm.
Robbie beamed at the recognition. The princess winked at him. Beneath the table, Puffer let out a contented sigh. The little dragonlet had long awaited the arrival of a playmate.
by Ric Hardson, USA