500 Words 2024/25: read a finalist's story from the 8-11 category

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This story was chosen as a top 50 finalist for 500 Words 2024/25.

Remember, spelling, punctuation and grammar are not taken into account for a 500 Words story, therefore all the top 50 stories have been published how they were submitted.

Once Upon an Apple by Emma Y.

"Bob, you awful apple, get out of my way!" exclaimed a proud, haughty apple named Alice. "I need sunlight to be ripe and rosy on every patch of my skin, unlike you." Obediently, Bob stepped aside, glaring as she strutted away with her nose in the air. "She's got no friends," he muttered, scowling at her shiny, crimson back topped with a neat, evergreen stem.

Alice had a secret. Though she was admired for her perfect appearance, her heart's desire was to fly. She didn't want to rot, forgotten, under the sodden marsh like other apples. She longed to soar above the woods, to be a one-of-a-kind, legendary apple whose story would echo through generations. Every night, she studied the owls and their aerodynamic wings, dreaming that she, too, was gliding peacefully through the sky.

One night, she had a life-changing dream. She saw herself falling down, down, and DOWN… only to land in the soft, cushiony wing of a pigeon, who lifted her up, up, and UP into the night sky, her silhouette framed by the moon. Ding! A thought struck her: "Tomorrow, I'll fall onto a pigeon for a lift and become the first pioneering apple!"

The next day, she awoke feeling thrilled. She hesitated, what if the usual pigeon wasn't there? Creeping closer, she sighed in relief when she saw it perched below, waiting. Gathering her courage, Alice leapt, plunging towards the pigeon's wings and shouted, "Yes, I've done it!" She glanced back triumphantly at Bob's horrified expression.

But then, she slipped. Falling down, down, and down, she plunged into the marsh. Just at that moment, she saw Bob, ugly and rough-skinned, falling squarely onto the pigeon's wings. An arm extended suddenly, reaching out to Bob. Alice looked up in shock. It wasn't a pigeon at all but a man! He gazed thoughtfully at the apple tree, the fallen apple in his hand, then began scribbling frantically. He stood up, excited, and hurried to announce his new discovery of gravity.

The news spread like wildfire. People flocked to see the famous apple tree, chattering and speculating about which apple had sparked the discovery. Meanwhile, Alice, now a tiny dot in the muck, screamed frantically, "Me, me-it's ME!"

Alice found herself displayed in a grand, prestigious hall, surrounded by admirers and camera flashes. She sat on a velvet cushion, straight and proud, a crystal cover keeping her pristine. "What an apple!" someone exclaimed, admiring her vibrant skin, bursting with colour and flavour.

"What an apple!" echoed a boy's gruff voice, jolting Alice back to reality. The buzz of excitement faded as she was kicked aside, whizzing past a birch tree, her dreams of fame slipping away.

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