Thunder tore its way through the silence of the room. Vivian jumped, she didn't like being alone in the dark, musty house, especially during a thunder storm. ... Another crash of thunder sent her diving childishly to the safety of the king size, four post bed where she pulled the lavish wine colored duvet up over her head. ... Slowly the figure bent down until what was left of his face rested only inches from hers, the smell invading every pore of her body causing waves of dizzying nausea to roll through her. ...

• Word Count: 7199
• Approx Pages: 29
• Grade Level: High School

When hit by the truck, it "flipped the turtle like a tiddly-wink, spun it like a coin, and rolled it off the highway". ... They "puttered while they stood idle; they thundered when they moved, and then settled down to a droning roar" (Steinbeck, 47) and were driven by a "man sitting in the iron seat [He] did not look like a man he was a part of the monster [the bank]" (Steinbeck, 48) The bank informs the men that "a man can hold land if he can just eat and pay taxes" (Steinbeck, 43) However, the bank "isn't like a man" (Steinbeck, 45), rather, it is the monster that drives people from ...

• Word Count: 5172
• Approx Pages: 21
• Grade Level: High School