Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 31, 1995 TAG: 9511020113
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
What a ghoulish time Current staffers had last week as they screeched their way through more than 400 scary entries sent by New River Valley students.
Freaky poems, scary short stories, colorful pictures and funny riddles were just some of the entries submitted.
The staff read through every story. Awards for first, second, third and an honorable mention were given in the elementary school category. In the middle school category, awards were given for first, second, a tie for third and an honorable mention. (Because we received few stories from high school students, we included them in our middle school contest.) Many other stories also deserve recognition. Following is a list of those stories with their "award titles."
Environmentally| Conscious
"All of the community was saddened by the excavation of the land, even for such a popular chain store as Wal-Mart." (John Muncy, Eastern Elementary)
Best Potion:
"Water with some salt and sugar in it. That will make a magic acid formula." (Joanna Beller, Christiansburg Middle School)
Grossest:
"All of a sudden, other figures came and surrounded us. The figures had guts and brains hanging out of their mouth ... there were also werewolves and deadly gremlins." (Margo Sanders, Eastern Elementary School);
"As he sat back, he vomited, covering the lady next to him with the Big Mac he had for lunch." (Jon Altizer, Eastern Elementary)
Best Slur:
"You slime-sucking pig." (John Whittaker, Eastern Elementary)
Most Politically Correct:
"Are you a witch? Carrie asked. "Yes, but I prefer to be called a person who takes Halloween serious." (Shannon Jarels, Eastern Elementary)
Most Positive Affirmation:
"When we get home [from trick-or-treating], we feel strong and proud." (Isa de Castro, Kipps Elementary School).
Best Analogies:
"Standing tall like a soldier ... I walked as slow as a turtle ... scared as a hoot-owl ... eyes were gleaming like twinkling stars." (Tonya Worrell, Dublin Middle School)
Best Incantation:
"Pot be true! Give me a stew that can kill a whole crew!" (Alex Kopakowski, Kipps Elementary School)
Best Lead:
"Grave robbing wasn't the smartest thing we did on Halloween, but it was the most exciting." (Hillary Jackson, Dublin Middle School)
Best Local Setting:
Pulaski High School Cougar's football game. (Lots of folks from Dublin and Pulaski)
Most Exotic Setting:
Zaire (Adam Sublett, Eastern Elementary)
Smallest Handwriting:
Jay and Angela - too small to read their last names (Indian Valley Elementary)
Popular (and disturbing) Theme:
Evil foreign exchange students.
Most Common First Words:
"It was a dark and stormy night."
Most Common Title:
The Haunted House, The Spooky House
Best Title:
"Gimma Glob from Oakaknoke" (Jeremy Kidd, Narrows Elementary)
Personal Appearances:
Snoop Doggy Dogg, Doogie Howser, Miss America, Frankenstein, Zack Morris
Following is a list of schools that submitted scary stories:
Auburn Middle/High, Belle Heth, Blacksburg Middle, Christian Liberty Academy, Christiansburg Elementary, Christiansburg Middle, Christiansburg Primary, Claremont Elementary, Dublin Middle, Eastern Elementary, Elliston-Layfayette, Harding Avenue, Indian Valley Elementary, Kipps Elementary, Linkous Elementary, Narrows Elementary, Newbern Elementary, Prices Fork Elementary, Riner Elementary, Shawsville Middle.
Stories are on display in school libraries.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
First Place: " The Bogeyman" by Mary Beth Sowers, fifth grade, Elliston-Lafayette Elementary School.
Second Place: "Witch Queen Uglyesta" by Kate Payne, fourth grade Christiansburg Elementary School.
Third Place: "Ghost Story" by Patrick Weaver, fifth grade, Kipps Elementary School.
Honorable Mention: "My Halloween" by Christy Sheppard, second grade, Prices Fork Elementary School.
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
First Place: "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" by Sarah Higginbotham, seventh grade, Narrows Middle School.
Second Place: "The Dark Omen" by Dara Phillips, seventh grade, Indian Valley Middle School.
Third Place (tie): "Night of the Living Chili Beans" by Nick Dishon, sixth grade, Christiansburg Middle School.
"The Demon House" by Eric Taylor, seventh grade, Eastern Elementary School.
Honorable Mention: "A Warning" by Johanna Long, 11th grade, Blacksburg High School.
FIRST PLACE WINNER, MIDDLE SCHOOL COMPETITION
"A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"
Sarah Higginbotham, seventh grade, Narrows Middle School
"Did you hear about last night?" Sarah asked Justin as she rushed into class before the bell.
"No, was there another one?" asked Justin.
"Of course," said Lynda from the seat in front of them. "A mailman. They found him in an alley."
"The whole alley," Amanda added with a great emphasis.
"What are you guys talking about?" demanded Justin as the bell rang and kids started scrambling for their seats.
"Well," said Amanda, "they found a foot at one end of the alley and by the time they walked to the other end they had found most of the rest of his body."
"Amanda." The voice of Mr. Webb, the teacher, cut through the class. Amanda swung around guiltily in her chair.
"Sorry," she said.
Mr. Webb slowly eyed every student then said: "I'm sure most of you have found out that there has been another murder."
An excited buzz filled the classroom. Throughout the fall, the police had been finding the bodies of people brutally murdered. So far, seven victims had been found. Most of the time their bodies were slashed up so badly that they were in tiny pieces. The news was on every night talking about the bodies.
"That's what I thought," continued Mr. Webb. "It's because of these murders that I've invited a special guest here today."
For a while Justin had a vision of a wild-eyed murderer jumping into the room with a meat cleaver. Instead Officer Ferrell sprang into the room.
Mr. Webb turned to the policeman and gestured for him to start.
"Hi, class," said Officer Ferrell."
"Hi!" the class yelled back.
"I want to speak to you about safety," began the policeman.
Before he could speak Jessica said in a loud voice: "Officer Ferrell do you have any clues about the Autumn Slasher?"
"I can't reveal any details, but we are trying our best to capture this killer," said Officer Ferrell.
At recess, the big topic was the murders.
"My dad said that the police have no idea who the killer is," pronounced Jason.
"But Officer Ferrell said that they have some clues," Jessica protested.
"I think it's a monster," said Aubrey. "I mean, who knows what kind of weird things live in the sewers?"
"You really think so?" asked Kayla with wide eyes.
"Why not?" said Aubrey, his voiced dropped lower.
"That's stupid," scoffed Justin.
"Oh, yeah?" asked Aubrey. "Do you have a better idea?"
"It's probably just some kind of loon," answered Justin.
"I agree," said Jessica.
"Yeah, I mean there are no such things as monsters," said Billy.
"Well, my dad says there are plenty of things we don't know about," answered Aubrey angrily.
"That's right," said Gregory. "We don't know if there are really monsters."
We all had an all-out argument, then finally dropped the subject.
That afternoon after school had let out, Justin decided to walk home. On his way he heard the leaves rustle and the wind blow. Finally he heard other footsteps behind him. He turned around and nobody was there.
He then started walking again. He finally heard the footsteps again but to his surprise he saw Aubrey behind him.
He asked Aubrey if he knew a short cut out of there and he said "yes."
They started walking but to Justin's surprise, they ended up in a dead-end alley.
Justin finally asked Aubrey what he was doing. Then Justin heard a noise that sounded like a cross between laughing and coughing.
Aubrey then turned around. Thick brown hair was sprouting from his face and his body seemed to bulge out. Aubrey then held up a hand with a razor sharp claws.
"So," he rasped. "You still don't believe in monsters?"
FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CATEGORY
Mary Beth Sowers, fifth grade, Elliston-Lafayette Elementary School (Mrs. Zagursky's class)
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WINNER
"The Bogeyman":
In the desolate depths of a perilous place,
The bogeyman lurks, with a snarl on his face.
Never dare, never dare to approach his dark lair
For he's waiting ... just waiting ... to get you.
He skulks in the shadows, relentless and wild
In his search for a tender, delectable child.
With his steady sharp claws and his slavering jaws.
Oh, he's waiting ... just waiting ... to get you.
Many have entered his dreary domain
But not even one has been heard from again.
They no doubt made a feast for the butchering beast
And he's waiting ... just waiting ... to get you.
In the sulphurous, sunless and sinister place
He'll crumple your bones in the bogey embrace.
Never, never go near if you hold your life dear
For Oh! ... What he'll do ... when he gets you.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***