COMPETITION PROMPT

Write a story around the theme of change.

This could be specific to the character, or the world around them.

Home Is Where The Heart Is.

They came and saw me a year ago, I figured they just didn’t want me so they left. That’s what a lot of people do, no one wants a twelve year old, they only want babies. ‘I just don’t think we’re ready for a teenager’ is all I ever hear. But these people didn’t say that. They smiled at me, started talking to me, and I thought maybe I actually liked them. But they went and talked to Mikey -one of the workers- frowned and left. I haven’t seen them since I was eleven. Until today. The woman was average height, she had shoulder length, blonde hair, and greenish eyes. The man was quite tall, he looked strong too, he was bald, blue eyes, and he kept smiling at me. They had a kid to, she looked about fifteen, she was about a foot taller than me, and she had long, black, hair with dark purple tips, and blue eyes. She whispers something in her fathers ear and then looked at me and gasped. She starts walking toward me. “Hi!” She waves at me. “I’m Marlee, what’s your name?” I walk towards her. “Hi. I’m Naomi, my friends call me Nomes, you don’t have to or anything I just…” “Well, Nomes, do you want to come home with us? ” She mumbles. “Go home. As in I’ll live with you, like with you and your parents? Did you ask Mikey? Sorry, that was, a lot.” I close my eyes, I’m an idiot. They’re gonna think I’m crazy. “It’s fine, and m- our I guess parents are talking to him.” “Just like that? They just talk to him and boom I’m a whatever your last name is?” “Prince is our last name and we probably have to do a bunch of other stuff but if it goes how we hope, pretty much!” She smiles wide. “Hey! You to getting along just fine?” The man asks. Marlee nods. “Oops I’m Chris, you can call me that or dad or um anything, I guess.” “Well, hi, I’m Naomi, which you probably already know that so…” I start to pull on the tips of my hair, a nervous habit of mine. “Well Naomi, do you have a nickname or just Naomi? Which Naomi is a great name so if you don’t have a nickname that’s just fine, I was just asking in case-” “Nomes. My nickname is Nomes I mean.” “Well, then hi Nomes, I’m Camdyn, or mom, whichever you prefer.” Th woman says. “Oh, hello!” “Should we go home or do you want to stay here a while?” “We can go to your house I guess. I have to go get my bag.” “Ok, but you can call it your home as well, if you’d like that?” “I would.” I walk towards my cubby and pull out my backpack, just things I’ve gotten over the years and clothes. I’ve been in and out of homes, and they all have given me things, I just hope this isn’t one of those, stay for a month, type things. “I really like her.” I hear Marlee whisper. “Us too.” Chris whispers back. I walk back to them, and we wave goodbye to Mikey. They lead me to a black car, and we hop in. The house is not far, about fifteen minutes. It’s in a big neighborhood. The Prince house is white. They have a garden, and an Australian Shepherd puppy named Shane, which is adorable! The living room is large, with a long grey couch and two matching armchairs, a glass coffee table, and a tv. The kitchen has a circular brown table, and silver, oven, fridge, and microwave, and marble counter tops. We even got our own rooms! Mine was full of sage green, my favorite color! My bed board was black, and my night stand and dresser. But other than that, green. My bed spread- which I guess had white pillows- my curtains, a small rug at the foot of my bed, that had a dark wood cedar chest on top. Mine had a tv too! I couldn’t believe my eyes. They put a bookshelf in too, full of the books I’ve read and a few other series. I stand in the middle of it all gaping. “Is it to much green? We can buy new stuff if you don’t like it! Last time you told us it was your favorite color so we figured-” “It’s beautiful.” I smile. They took us out to eat that night. We had chicken, and I swear it was the best chicken I’ve ever had in my life! Then we went shopping and I got new clothes, and a cute elephant stuffy , named Ellie, that they insisted I got if I liked it. The night was the best though. I laid in my new bed with Ellie and Chris and Camdyn came in. “Did you have fun today?” Camdyn asks. “The most fun I’ve ever had!” I grin. “I’m happy to hear that! Do you want us to tuck you in?” “Sure.” Chris goes on one side and Camdyn on the other and they start ticking me! I try to hold back a laugh but then I start and there’s no end. Chris chuckles and tucks me in for real. “Goodnight, Naomi. We love you.” They shut my door and I whisper, “I love you too.” And I mean it, all the homes in the world and this by far is the best. I know I would love them even if I had to sleep with the dog, I love their smiles, laughs, the way Marlee bites her tongue when she says something that she’s not sure is funny, the way Camdyn assures her that she is. And how Chris jokes around all the time. I love everything about them. And I know they feel the same. Because that’s another thing I love about them, they told me. And no matter what happens I know this will be what they call, my forever home. Because people say home is where the heart is. And my heart is with them.

Comments 2

This is my favorite so far but I like all of your work. Fantastic job!!

Good combination of description as well as dialogue - keep it up!