Their identity, or at least their competency, is thrown into doubt. ... Her eyes waited on him for an answer, a smile, a little nod, but he made no sign. ... She moved uneasily in her chair, the large eyes still watching his face. ... It didn't take long, four or five minutes at most, and she say very still through it all, watching him with a kind of dazed horror as he went further and further away from her with each word. ... You must be terrible hungry by now because it's long past your suppertime, and I know Patrick would never forgive me, God bless his soul, if I allowed you to ...

• Word Count: 2792
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School

There were two sides of the platoon and every night the DI would say "Port side shine 'em up, starboard side shower up" or vice versa, meaning that whatever side would shower up would jump in the shower and whatever side would shine had to polish their belt buckle and their boots. ... The day when we first stepped foot in the God forsaken country was September 8, 2003. ... After Coop and I got redeployed for the third time in the year 2005, we were assigned a special operations mission to infiltrate the enemy base and take out their leader. ... He was not the leader of their ...

• Word Count: 2540
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

This, and the furniture, the shell lamps and the fancy bric-a-brac that clutters the narrow house indicate that the Cabadings had not only risen high enough to justify their split-level pretensions but were expecting to go higher. ... The status gods of Suburdia were properly propitiated. ... They didn't have to talk at all; he would do all the talking himself, so long as they sat there in the sala before his eyes. ... He couldn't bear to see Lydia and Leonardo rise and go up together to their room. ... Said Cabading bluntly: "If she goes with you, I'll shoot her head before yo...

• Word Count: 5098
• Approx Pages: 20
• Grade Level: High School

Nickolai squeezed his eyes shut, trying to ignore the high pitched meow of this short and stubby cat, Lucifer. ... Every Saturday, Nick bought two of those sandwiches and a coffee and sat outside to watch the morning traffic. ... I can't call the police and say that someone's ghost told me where their body is and that they need to go and get it. ... " Lucifer started to grow right before Nick's eyes. ... I thought you were the genius here. ...

• Word Count: 2774
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School

It's hard to think about that day. Who knew it would be the last day I would spend with her. It still feels like a fresh nightmare that just happened last night. But it didn't. It happened over two years ago and I was still struggling with this new reality. I didn't like it. I hated it. How could th...

• Word Count: 2579
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

A group of boys tries to fight their way into the thicket, but Ralph fends them off. ... Jack's hunters reach the beach and stop in their tracks upon seeing the officer. ... Moved and embarrassed, the naval officer turns his back so that the boys may regain their composure. ... Ultimately, the boys' appalling savagery brings about the rescue that their coordinated and purposeful efforts were unable to achieve. ... In portraying the various ways in which the boys on the island adapt to their new surroundings and react to their new freedom, Golding explores the broad spectrum of ways ...

• Word Count: 11237
• Approx Pages: 45
• Grade Level: High School