The Crystal

The Crystalby Meera Pirani-Mellstrom, age 11

The crystal sat on its stool surrounded by windows. Even though the windows let in lots of light, the crystal still felt trapped. After five years of sitting there, the crystal no longer had the hope that it would someday be free. Now that hope, that light, was gone, the room felt as though it were pitch black. The crystal heard boots hitting the ground and the door squeaking open.“Are we gonna talk about the crystal and what will happen, Your Majesty?” said a small high-pitched voice. “Yes, we just need to make sure that everyone is here,” said a much meaner and lower voice. A crowd of people entered the room and gathered around the crystal. Now only bits of light illuminated the crystal. It was much better than the dark though. He almost gagged at the smell of sweat and blood that these soldiers carried with them wherever they went, but these were the people that had brought him the light. He had to trust them. “Your Majesty, should we just start without him? He’s probably not going to come anyway,” said that same annoying, highpitched voice after five minutes of silence. “No, we will wait,” replied the majesty, the one with the mean, low voice. After another five minutes of waiting, there were footsteps in the stairwell. A person burst into the room, throwing open the doors, and said, “So sorry, Your Majesty. I just—” “Mr. Jones, we do not want to hear one of your disgusting and obviously untrue excuses,” spat out the majesty. “Oh,” he replied, his voice even higher now. “Sorry.” “Okay, now we shall begin,” said the majesty. “Now that the

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Great War is over, we need to do a lot of things. We need to fix up our town again, find a home for the crystal, and make laws. Since I am the leader, I will be making the laws.” “Your Majesty,” said a voice deep in the sea of bodies. “We can all rebuild the town. We are all very strong, you know.”

“Yes, very good idea,” replied the majesty. “Me and Jeremy can help find a spot for the crystal too!” called out another voice. “Very good,” the majesty said. “Oh my, I almost forgot: I need the strongest people here to help me. So, Jeremy, John, Samantha, Stuart. You will stay here. The rest of you are dismissed.” All the bodies poured out the door then disappeared. “Okay now. This is the most important job. I need you to guard the crystal, and if you fail, you die. Understood?” said the majesty. “Understood,” they replied. The majesty spoke again in a more serious voice. “And me, I will be in the tower. And don’t worry, because your little crystal will be safe. It will continue protecting us. Because I will guard it with my life.”

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