Eleanor

• Ruby Goodwin-Newberry, Grade 6
• Short Story
• 2016

As I wake to the sound of a harp’s music, I place my hand on my chest and can feel my beating heart wanting to break out of my flesh. I sit up and almost float out of my solid gold and silver bed and as I neatly make it, run the soft, smooth sheets through my palms. Today is the big day. I, Eleanor, will be awarded my well-deserved Ruby Gem, the symbol of trust, courage and protection from the townsfolk. I smell fresh cinnamon and rose in the air, swirling through my nostrils. I grab my bow and arrow and head out the door.
This is not how I expected it to be. The smell of fear in the air thickens and surrounds me. Around me there is screaming, terror, fires smoking – turning buildings into ash and most of all, shame and failure, and it is rising up and out of me. I have failed my people. My eyes sting as I see a woman, shrivelled over like a dying flower, protecting a strangling and crying baby. What am I supposed to do? All the friendly, familiar faces that look up to me are just fading away like they never existed. I see a shadow come at me from behind and latch onto me too. What will I do?
I don’t want to die now! But most of all, I can’t fail my people. I just can’t fail the people who raised me, and now, look up to me. I can taste my own adrenaline as I ferociously kick my attacker from behind. It lets go of me in pain and I see its piercing stare fade away. I quickly draw my arrow and brush it against my bow as I aim, ready to strike. I can feel my hands shaking as I smoothly release the arrow and its awaiting blade. Wait…my enemy was just a wooden crane! My well-known father steps out from behind it. His wrinkles move carelessly as he talks: “Well done, my Eleanor! You have passed your first test!”