Short Story

This is a short story that I wrote for a short story contest. The first paragraph was the subject given. I kept  on having to shorten it because it was too long for the contest, but here is the end result.

Duke loved going to the circus. He loved watching the acrobats, the fire-eaters, and the elephants, but the one thing he always looked forward to was the lion! It was his dream to be a lion trainer, but his mother would never let him. "It's too dangerous," she would say. "And you have to go to school." But that didn't stop Duke from sneaking backstage one Saturday to see the lions...

           

            It was a dark and chilly night. The wind that blew outside was bitter, and it made the small amount of rain that was falling seem larger than it actually was. It was the middle of December, which made it the cruelest climate of the entire year. The drizzle pounded down on the exterior of the arena that held the most anticipated show in that region of the world: the circus.

            Duke was ecstatic when he learned that his father had purchased tickets to the event. Cheers were heard all over the house. Duke ran all over the place until he could do it no more. Despite his joy, though, Duke’s mother was not at all very happy about the matter. “This is not a good idea, John.” Duke’s mother told his father, “Duke needs to get a good education. This circus thing is only a distraction.” Despite her pleadings, Duke’s father wouldn’t listen. “C’mon, Jen, it’ll be a good experience. It makes Duke happy, and that’s all that matters.” So, on that dark, dreary December night, the three set off for the circus.

            Duke’s family had a great time that night. They each watched the fire-eaters, the acrobats, and the elephants with excitement and joy. Nevertheless, these events did not eliminate the anticipation of the grand finale: the lions. After the elephants were ushered off the stage, Duke knew what was next, and he had a plan. “Father, I really must use the restroom,” he told his father, who answered: “Go ahead, but hurry.” Boy, did Duke hurry.

            Duke ran out into the hall, down the stairs, and into the lobby of the building. The ushers and attendants were all inside watching the finale, so nobody was there to accommodate Duke. He ran around to the doors where he knew that the back of the stage was located. He tried one of the doors. “Unlocked!” he whispered in joy as he entered. Duke was so small that he was not noticed, and it was so dark that he was easily able to sneak past security and find the lions, which were waiting to be guided onto the stage.

            Duke reached out in the dark and felt his hand brush something soft. He heard a low growl. Fear suddenly filled his heart, but he had no time to figure out why before the curtains opened. Lights were shining into his eyes. Next to him were two lions, staring hungrily into his soul. He remembered screaming, and then everything suddenly went black.

            “Ah, you’re awake!” Duke heard his mother’s voice as he opened his eyes. His mother and father were looking lovingly down at him. He found himself in his own warm, comfortable bed. “Duke, you did something brave last night to follow your dreams. I don’t appreciate how you snuck onto the stage last night, but I’m proud of you. You showed us courage.” Duke embraced his mother as a tear of joy rolled down her cheek.

Hero Report on Florence Nightengale

Hey Everyone! I wrote this Hero Report for Leadership week this month! Hope you like it, and feedback please! :) 

The Angel of the Crimean

          My title for this report might sound very strange, but I do believe it is very fitting. In my heart, I do believe that this title was very fitting for Florence Nightengale. During the Crimean War, she was able to save hundreds, if not thousands of lives by her nursing and care. Our nursing program is as great as it is today because of her. I do thank her for it.

            Florence Nightengale was born on May 12, 1820 in the town of Florence, Italy. Her parents were wealthy British citizens, and were on one of their many trips across the globe to Italy when Florence was born. She was named after the city, Florence Italy.

          Back then, it was practically required of young ladies to be married and have children. Florence knew that this was not the call for her. Her mother was a very social person, and loved to have social events and find a husband for her youngest child. Florence on the other hand was quite awkward at social events. She and her mother argued a lot about these things, her mother wanting her to get married, Florence, wanting to do exactly what God wanted her to do. When she was young, she often would tend to the sick or afflicted around her. At the age of 16, she knew that her calling from God was to be a nurse. Nursing was not a very proud position back then, and her mother and father did not approve. At the age of 17, she turned down a proposal by a young suitor, Richard Monckton Milnes. Though she felt she loved him, she knew the right thing to do was to pursue nursing. She left her home and went to pursue her divine mission, and enrolled herself into Lutheran Hospital of Pastor Fliedner in Kaiserwerth, Germany.

            After returning from school, Nightengale came back to London and was hired at a Middlesex Hospital for governesses. Her employer was so impressed by her, that just after a year, she promoted her the superintendent at the hospital. Shortly after her raise, Florence came down with Cholera Fever and was sick for some time. Just as she became fully recovered, the biggest challenge in her nursing career began.

            In October of 1853, the Crimean war broke out between the Russian and Great Britain. The war broke out because they both wanted to be in power over the Ottoman Empire. Thousands of British Soldiers were sent to the Black Sea. Supplies vanished quickly, and just one short year after the war started, Britain had 18,000 or more soldiers in military hospitals.

            England did not want to hire any female nurses, because of their past experience with the very selfish ladies, but soon, they were left with no other choice. Fortunately, it was probably the best choice they were to ever make. Florence Nightengale was coming to the rescue.

            Sydney Herbert, secretary of war sent Miss Nightengale a letter concerning their conditions. In the letter, he asked her to make a corpse of women, and come to Crimean as fast as they could. She and a team of 34 nurses left only a few days later.

            Though they had been warned of the conditions of the military hospitals, nothing could prepare them for what they saw. Men, strewn about on stretchers lying on their own filth. Unclean water, and medical supplies was very scarce. The place stunk more than some of the nurses could bare. Rats and bugs going around and eating anything they could find. More soldiers were dying from disease then from their battle wounds. The place was a mess.

            Florence didn’t like what she saw. So, she decided to fix it. She took as many scrub brushes as she could find, and asked the least ill and hurt soldiers to help her clean up. Miss Nightengale herself spent every hour in the day to care for the patients. The soldiers were very moved by her kindness and compassion towards them. They called her the ‘Lady with the Lamp’ as she made her rounds each night caring a lamp. As she would pass, the soldiers would kiss at her shadow because of their gratitude and love toward her. Her work she did during the Crimean War, stopped the death rate by two thirds.

            Florence Nightengale is one of my heroes. The showing of her compassion and mercy to those men through their time of need has made an impact on me. I hope that I can learn and have the compassion she had someday. She taught me a lesson I will never forget. She is The Angel of the Crimean. Miss Nightengale died on August 13, 1910 at the age of 90 in the United Kingdom. Until the day she died, she continued to nurse the sick and wounded. She changed the history of nursing. Thank you, Miss Florence Nightengale, for changing the world. For me, your work will never be forgotten.