Negative Numbers.

• Anna Escares, Grade 6
• Short Story
• 2022

"Honey, can you please return these books to the library?"
"Of course!” I replied.

Today I went to the public library to return my mum’s cooking books. And as soon as I got inside I saw a strange lady wearing a black dress full of numbers. She was also wearing a monocle and worn out boots. The lady suddenly started walking towards me and gave me a rusty clock. The hands were spinning anti-clockwise. She said that it would give me good luck but there might be side-effects. But I gladly accepted it.

When I got home I saw my mum’s face in despair. I asked, "What's wrong, why do you look so shocked?"
She replied "Look at the mirror for yourself."
I walked toward the mirror and I saw my face covered in numbers, 5,4,3,2 and 1. As if it was counting down. I was wondering why the numbers were there but I remembered that a strange lady gave me a clock and she also said that there might be side-effects.

A few minutes later the numbers reached 0. Then it went into the negatives. I was so worried about what would happen. So to get my mind off it, I decided to watch tv.

Once I turned on the television the news popped up and the news person said that, "15 people have disappeared for no reason." I was shocked so I turned the tv off and when I saw the reflection of myself on the tv the number on my face was -15.