Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Pen and Paper (07/17/14)
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TITLE: Diamonds Aren't a Boy's Best Friend. | Previous Challenge Entry
By Joshua Janoski
07/24/14 -
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The teen frantically flipped through the empty pages looking for where he went wrong, muttering to himself the warnings that the strange antique shop owner had spoken when he handed over the book and quill.
What did he say? Something about not letting the pages touch? It could yield unexpected results? It wasn’t a good idea to start my drawings in the middle of the book Daniel thought, as balled up fists of rock came slamming down onto the table, splitting it in two and sending the book flying into the air.
Daniel fell backwards and watched the fluttering pages crash down. He scrambled for the book but was stopped short by jagged feet smashing into the ground next to him. He wasn’t sure what would be worse, the look of hatred on the diamond beast’s face or the look on Aunt Claudia’s face when she came home to her exotic wood table broken in half.
The stone giant’s roar generated hurricane winds that ripped down velvet drapes, shattered a window, and pushed Daniel backwards. The boy shielded himself as stale air that smelled of sour cheese hit his face. He felt parchment brush against his upraised arm as it swirled and floated into one of the mansion’s side rooms. Daniel jumped to his feet and chased after the loose page. He searched the den for the paper. He jumped over the back of the couch and was relieved to find the page resting on the floor just short of the burning fireplace.
He hoped for a blank slate. Something he could scrawl a weapon on to use against the diamond horror stomping its way towards the den. There was a monster sketch on the page - a cute little thing with bug eyes and a silly smile. Daniel wanted a pet monster and diamond, but he made the mistake of drawing them on pages opposite each other. When he closed the book, the two images merged together creating the beast that now stood blocking the room’s only exit.
He pulled a quill and ink jar from his jacket. “The book only works with this special writing device.” the kooky man said. “Normal pens and pencils won’t work, because the book and feather are magically linked together.” It sounded silly when the shop owner said it, but a few days and a couple of expensive car drawings later; Daniel had already drawn himself into trouble. He needed to banish the diamond monster and prevent the wrath of his upper class aunt and uncle.
Daniel quickly turned over the page and scribbled the only thing that came to mind. “I hope this works.” He thought. The beast’s arm slammed into the couch just as he finished the picture. Daniel took the quill and inkwell and swerved around the couch, narrowly avoiding the monster’s sharp spikes.
He smiled at the laser cannon mounted at the far end of the dining hall. It was exactly as he imagined. Perhaps the parchment and quill could see what was in his mind as he drew the images. He aimed the cannon at the den. The monster stepped out, oblivious to what was about to happen. Daniel pressed the red button at the center of the laser’s steering column. The beam charged up slowly giving the beast a chance to make it halfway across the room before it was severed in half by a blast to the abdomen. Two sparkling halves sat next to each other on the floor. Daniel resisted the urge to chip away pieces from the gemstone corpse and instead snatched up his book.
Uncle Stephen and Aunt Claudia came home to their nephew sitting at the dining table looking down at a sketch of the room, drawn out in perfect order. Uncle Stephen spotted a tiny glint on one of the Persian rugs and picked it up.
“Claudia. My dear, your ring lost a stone again.”
“No it didn’t.”
Daniel looked at the book and quill and chuckled. The adventures had begun.
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God bless~
I liked the ending too.
Blessings
It reminded me of Henry and the Purple Crayon (Which I really like and tried to think of a way to write something like it this time.) only much more elaborate.
I would maybe think of something a little different for a title. Possibly something to the effect of 'Drawing Reality' or 'Frightful Consequences of not Following Directions.'
I liked the story line and the way you jumped straight into it. It did take a bit to figure it out but that's not a bad thing.
I agree with everyone else that this would make either a great kid's novel or series.
Nice work!
Your gift for the fantasy genre sparkles like the diamond creature you drew.