Phoenix is faced with thorny brush, rugged terrain, falling into a ditch, and even looking up a barrel of a gun. ... While resting Phoenix talked about her reward, which was taking a piece of cake from a little boy that she sees, however, when she reaches out to take it he is no longer there. ... She called out and waited for an answer, but when nothing happened, she reached out and touched the scarecrow. ... The nurse inquires and she vaguely recalls the lye incident with a little boy, so she asks more questions to re-familiarize herself. It had been some time since she saw this old lady, and...

• Word Count: 1464
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

He is very proud of the outline of the story that he draws in crayon on the back of a roll of wallpaper. The wallpaper outline represents each character in a different color of crayon, with a line for each progressing through the story's chronology. ... Then he is a small boy being thrown into the deep end of the YMCA swimming pool by his father, a proponent of the "sink or swim" method. ... We learn that he has been falling asleep at work lately. ... A bed vibrator called "Magic Fingers" purchased to help Billy fall asleep jiggles him while he weeps. ...

• Word Count: 5323
• Approx Pages: 21
• Grade Level: High School