Add-On Story

Hi everyone! Here's another story! :)
Megan, Tova and I have been writing it for the Layton Vanguard newspaper. Enjoy!



Add-On Story Part I
By Jemison Stripes

As I raced down the village streets, I caught glimpses of young children, and sometimes families, clothed in tattered rags. The poor were treated cruelly here. Someday, I dreamed that that would come to an end. But not now.
Right now I had to find a way to escape a group of Gaston’s ruffians.
That Gaston never gives up! I thought disgustedly as I glanced back to see his ruffians gaining on me.
A week earlier Gaston had asked me to be his wife. When I refused, he decided to try to charm me into marrying him. For many days, he filled my home with roses, love letters, and other supposedly “romantic” things that his arrogant self could contrive. Of course, none of it worked. Gaston is probably the most disgraceful, revolting and vain man I know. Never in my life would I be seen with that man. Just the thought of it sickened me!
For some atrocious reason he had his mind set on marrying me. After my fifth refusal, he finally decided to stop asking me.
At the time I was thinking, What a relief!  But the relief didn't last long.
Gaston decided that if he couldn't charm me into marriage, he would try a different tactic. He would force me to wed him!
So that’s how I ended up in my current situation, and at the same time, I found myself surrounded.



Add-On Story part II
By Dassia Ingalls (Megan)

...I found myself surrounded by life-size gingerbread men! What? I thought, Well that's unexpected! 
Gaston broke through the ring surrounding me. "Run, run, as fast as you can, but you'll be caught by my gingerbread men!" He laughed as two of the biggest gingerbread men seized my arms and tied them behind my back. 
"Let me go!" I shouted. 
"And why would I do that?" Gaston sneered. "Besides, you won't get away." 
He paused, then yelled, "Take her to the tower!" 
The gingerbread men marched me though the street. I looked around, desperately searching for someone to help. No one looked surprised to see us. One girl, dozens of gingerbread men, and Gaston, leading this strange caravan. Not a single person even looked our way. 
When we got to the tower I looked up... up... up. The only opening I saw was a long, narrow window. Below the window was a very, VERY long ladder. 
"Up you go!" Gaston said. I stuck my tongue out at him.
"You're a feisty one,” he said. “You'll have to learn some respect!” 
The gingerbread men started to chant, "Up you go! Up you go!" 
Up I go, I thought, as I started up the ladder.


Add-On Story part III
By Kate Wynstelle 

As I was climbing up the rope ladder to the tower, I wondered what my life would be like, all alone. When I was half way up, I felt a tug on the ladder, and looked down. A gingerbread man was coming up after me! I scrambled to get to the top, not knowing why I was so scared. After tumbling through the window, I waited. The gingerbread man’s hand raised up--it held a knife. I gasped. The knife came down, and cut the rope ladder. The gingerbread man fell, and I sighed in relief.
“So you’re up here, too,” a voice behind me said. I whirled, and stared. There was another girl in here, and her hair! So long and golden! 
“I’m Rapunzel,” she said, “What’s your name?” 
“Gretel,” I responded, deciding to be truthful, “Why are you up here?”
“Same as you. Men who can’t get their loves to marry them dump the girls in this tower to change their minds.”
“Oh.”
Rapunzel and I enjoyed each other’s company, and had a good time together. But every day, she’d get mysterious, and ask me to get under the bed covers. I’d hear voices, and wonder what was going on.
This went on for a few weeks, during which time I just got more and more curious--who was out there?
Finally, one night, it was too much.
I got out of the bed, and looked towards where the voices were coming from.
I couldn't believe what I saw! Rapunzel was standing there, face to face with someone I’d never expected to see again.


Add-On Story Part IV
By Jemison Stripes

"Jack?!"
There he was, the only best friend I had, the same mischievous twinkle in his eyes. We had much in common, which is probably why we got along. Both of us had grown up in poverty, living on what meager food our parents could provide. His dad had left him when he was born; my mom had passed away when I was six. And both of us had miraculously discovered an unending amount of wealth at the biggest time of need. 
All I could do was stare in wonder at him. 
Two years ago, Jack and I were wandering the woods together when he came across a giant beanstalk. With an excited grin, he started to climb. "Ten minutes," he had told me, "Wait for me ten minutes and I'll be right back."
Well, I listened to him. I started to pace after the ten minutes were up. Finally, after waiting with anticipation for an entire hour, I gave up and walked back home dejectedly. 
I never saw him again. 
Until now. Jack was staring at me with an awkward grin, as though embarrassed to see me.
"Oh, hey there, uh, Gretel..." He habitually brushed his hand through his short, spiky red hair, refusing to look me in the eyes. 
My words came out harsher than I intended. "Ten minutes? You told me ten minutes! What happened to you?! I endured two years of thinking you were dead!" I paused from the shock of it all. "And now you're...you're alive!"
"Yeah, I'm alive. Look, I'm sorry about the ten minutes thing...my trip turned out a lot longer then I expected. I would have told you sooner, but, I just..."
Before he could finish, Rapunzel interrupted. "I know this is a happy reunion and all, but I have to break it up. If Jack's found up here, we'll be in serious trouble."
My, how fate was attempting to destroy my life, for the instant Rapunzel spoke those words, a voice from outside the window came. "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair."

To be continued...


P.S. Megan, it's your turn to write the next part to the Add-On Story! Have fun!