Alphabet Soup

Thirty Reasons To Read
by Zohar, 11, USA

1. You’re bored and have watched all of Netflix.
2. You can’t leave your house, so why not leave reality.
3. You can’t sleep.
4. Why not learn about something new while having fun?
5. You have some really good books at home but haven’t got a chance to read them.
6. You “have to” read for school.
7. Your brain will thank you.
8. It keeps you busy.
9. If you seriously don’t want to read, sort through your books, ex. alphabetically, by which you would read next.
10. You are worried your dog will chew them up.
11. Your books are taking up space.
12. Your brain gets to relax and not stress over when your next test is.
13. You travel around the world for free.
14. Books make you laugh!
15. Books make you think about things differently.
16. Reading helps you write.
17. When you finish a book, you feel like you climbed Mount Everest.
18. Reading books helps you pay better attention.
19. Books are genuinely fun.
20. Who doesn’t want to time travel?
21. You feel like you have ten million friends.
22. Reading books helps you be more creative.
23. It’s like you’re using all five senses when you’re only using one.
24. Reading books answers your questions.
25. Reading books make you look at things differently, ex. what would happen if a deadly virus would be on the loose?…(we still aren’t sure!)
26. It doesn’t require much to read.
27. Reading books makes you a better writer.
28. Books can be used anywhere.
29. Books could be life changing.
30. WHY NOT?!?!

This is Zohar’s first publication at Alphabet Soup. To send us YOUR story, poem, artwork or book review, check out our submission guidelines.

A FRESH START
by Analia, 10, USA

The bell rang, setting the hallways into chaos. Left and right kids raced past me in an attempt to get to class while I awkwardly stood there, confused. I patiently and nervously waited as the hallways cleared up. Now, I was the only one. Chatter rose from inside the classrooms around me but I was too scared to move. This was my first time transferring schools, and I was in the middle of 6th grade. The middle of the school year is always the worst time to transfer but it’s when my parents wanted me to take the step. There was nothing wrong with my other school. Normal class, normal teachers, normal lunch. The only thing was that it was an hour away. Now I understand why my parents wanted me to transfer but they could’ve waited 5 months. Then, I would’ve moved to another school like normal for middle school. My parents think it’ll be a fun experiment. I don’t agree.

“Excuse me, I don’t believe we’ve met,” a voice sounded from behind me. I turned to face a thin, tan man with a snappy suit on and a Starbucks coffee in one hand.

“Sorry, sir. I’m Lola. Lola Sanchez. This is my first day here and I was a little confused about where my class was. Can you help me find room 554?”

The man smiled, “Ah, as principal, you know these hallways like the back of your hand. Mr Johnson’s your teacher for this year. Just take a right up at that hallway then it’s the first door to your left,” the man explained as he gestured with his hands.

“Principal? I’m so sorry for wasting your time. I’m sure you have a bunch of important work to do. Thanks for the directions. Bye!”

Whipping the wooden door open, the classroom of 554 danced around me. The paneled walls didn’t have a speck of dust on them and I felt like I was floating on the newly mopped tiled floor.

Kids snickered as I nervously placed myself in an empty seat. Mr Johnson, who was wearing a suit like the principal, had curly blond hair and piercing jade eyes.

Mr Johnson barked, “Have a seat! You’re late!”

Mr Johnson continued to criticize other kids as I seated myself. Then, finally, he began teaching us. My head was in another place, though. My other school. It didn’t have the best principal but it had special kids. My friends. The stress of starting over was nothing compared to the feeling of not having any friends at a new school. No one to support you, just yourself. Sometimes, that isn’t enough.

After school that day, I walked over to Central Park where I spotted a bench to drown myself in music as I waited for the bus to pull up. When it arrived, I took off the headphones and climbed on. Staring at my phone, texts sprung out multiple times from my friends. They all wanted to know how my first day at the new school was. I didn’t think they would understand. At one point, they tried doing a group call. I ignored that, too. I looked my problem right in the eye, but not the solution. I thought seeing them would remind me too much of the life I left behind. What I would give to go back there again. I’m stuck in this school, now.

******

The next week as I trudged up the stairs to Mr Johnson’s class, something caught my eye. In a corner of the hall, a girl with shoulder-length blond hair was crouching down, trying to hide. I walked over to the corner and studied her face. It was the same face as mine, last week when I arrived. The same face of misery, confusion, and defeat.

“Hiding won’t help.”

The girl lifted her head so I could see her swollen crimson eyes.

“How would you know?”

Calmly I answered, “ I know because I came here last week and I tried to hide. People here don’t let you. What’s your name?”

“Jamie Hunter. What’s your name?”

“Lola Sanchez. Nice to meet you, Jamie. Do you want to team up so you and I can defeat middle school?”

A smile crept onto Jamie’s face, “Why not?”

I grinned as well, “We’ll make it into a game. Level 1: Surviving your teachers – especially Mr Johnson.”

“Check!”

This is Analia’s second publication at Alphabet Soup. You can read her earlier work here. To send us YOUR story, poem, artwork or book review, check out our submission guidelines. 

THE ATTACK
by Analia Rivera, 10, USA

It was 8 pm. Attack time! In the morning, they just made noise, but at night they come to terrorize the house or anybody who dared to come too close. As we drove into the driveway, the cicadas bounced off the muddy CRV. We were trapped; there was no escape. If we got out, they would swarm. None of us were brave enough for them. We spent a half-hour trying to figure it out. Then, my dad got impatient and fled, slamming the car door. Approaching the house’s side door, he fumbled with the key in the inky darkness but couldn’t place the key in the lock. My sister shined the light from her phone to help. BIG MISTAKE! The cicadas were attracted to light and instantly made my dad their target. He screamed in terror as they attacked him. Pulling the door open, he lunged in and then closed it, leaving us still trapped in the car. We debated for another half hour on what to do. Then, a light flickered on outside at the other side of the house. We waited, hoping the cicadas would be attracted to it. Then it flickered off and was replaced by a light right where we were.

“Turn off the light! Turn off the light!”

My dad couldn’t hear us, but eventually, he did turn off the light. The darkness comforted us as we waited for the cicadas to evacuate our escape route. I was starting to get restless, and so was my sister and my mum. We decided to be quick and move. My sister, Indi, and I were right next to the unlocked door, but my mum was on the other side. We let her get out first and waited until she got to the back of the car. Indi and I opened our doors, joining my mum. Indi made a run for the door and was followed by my mum. I trailed behind, getting shoved left and right by Indi and my mum. The unpleasant sound of cicadas buzzed in my ear, and I could feel them attacking me. Indi and my mom were already in the doorway, and the wooden door started to close in front of my chestnut eyes.

“Wait!”

Sprinting into the doorway, I heaved a sigh of relief. We had won the battle, but the war was still to come. Some cicadas got inside, and now it was our job to dispose of them. Once that was done, the four of us laughed at our survival from the bugs and settled down on the couch. Then we heard the buzzing sound, inside! We missed one! Searching for it, we located it and calmed down except for me. I was thinking, and then I formed my practical question.

“Are there any more?”

The sound of the cicadas filled the endless night as we pondered the question.

This is Analia’s first publication at Alphabet Soup.To send us YOUR story, poem, artwork or book review, check out our submission guidelines. 

CRADLE MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE
by Monica, 10, VIC

Cradle Mountain is home to all your favourite native Australian animals in the wild. With an exquisite hotel surrounded by wildlife, adventurous night walks through the bush and beautiful scenery everywhere, Cradle Mountain has everything you need for a perfect holiday on an adventure.

Up near the Enchanted Walk, there is a gift shop and hotel. The Enchanted Walk is full of echidnas, wombats, and wallabies so you can sometimes see animals wandering around outside your window. Enjoy the pleasure and thrill of hiking and seeing adorable native animals over a few days and even join a night walk.

By 8pm, the mountains are alive with animals. Hundreds of them poke their heads out of their homes and set off to explore. At this time, people will take long walks through the bush, squealing in delight when they spot an animal. There are wombats, wallabies, echidnas, quolls, platypuses, and a shelter for Tasmanian devils.

The water in Dove Lake ripples and glitters like a million diamonds, the forest has beautiful flowers and densely packed trees, and the bush is full of animals. There is so much wonderful scenery in the mountains, you are sure to get a lot of amazing pictures.

Cradle Mountain is such an exciting and fascinating place. Book a trip to Tasmania and visit Cradle Mountain for your next holiday.

This is Monica’s second publication at Alphabet Soup. Read her poem ‘The Four Seasons’ here. To send us YOUR story, poem, artwork or book review, check out our submission guidelines.