The Power of Words

Chapter 1

No one ever expects to be part of a fairy tale, least of all the young talented girl Taylor. Taylor has a gift that no one, not even her, can control.

It all started when Taylor was just twelve. Taylor and her best friend Lisa were writing stories for a creative writing contest at their school. Taylor was writing a story about an evil villain who wore a mask and stroke terror in the hearts of all who laid eyes on him. As Taylor neared the end of her story the man’s mask was torn away from his face. When Taylor finished describing the man’s beautiful face the  man materialized in front of her. He laste out at her and she ran for cover just as he jumped out her bedroom window.

Later that day Taylor realized that her words had just come alive. That she had just wrote up and released  one of the most dangerous people on earth. Taylor felt as if her dream of being a novelist was rapidly disappearing.

Its hard to believe that Taylor had only discovered her powers four years ago. Taylor is still terrified of  her powers, she is so afraid to write more than 3 sentences of creative writing, She fears the words coming off the page again.

Today is her 16th birthday, February 3rd. Taylor is at school today even though its the last place she would ever want to be. As she walks down the crowded halls of White County High School, a normal, yet crazy public  school her mind is very far away. Taylor is worrying about the English assignment she didn’t do, the creative story that was assigned last week. Mr. Craddy doesn’t like slackers and will probably get on to her, but Taylor has more to worry about than a low grade in English. It would be different, she tells herself, if she could just control the words.

As Taylor ducked into Mr. Craddy’s classroom he was already collecting the class’s stories, when Taylor didn’t turn hers in he pulled her out into the hallway. Mr. Craddy had a sad look on his face when he said, “Taylor I don’t understand, you are a great student. You never turn in anything that isn’t above excellent, yet when I assign anything that has to do with writing you never turn it in… Why?”

Taylor thought about telling Mr. Craddy everything, but settled for, “I can’t Mr. Craddy, when I do write everything seems to slip off the page.”

Mr. Craddy just laughed, “you are very talented, you come to writers society every Monday with beyond brilliant ideas, but you never write as much as a sentence.” He paused and got a more serious yet caring face, “Taylor whatever it is tell me the truth, and I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”

Taylor didn’t know what to say never had a person cared so much but she felt even now she could not tell Mr. Craddy what was really going on, so being the excellent story teller she is she came up with an excuse, “It’s just… Mr. Craddy, that so much is going on with my family and with school that I forgot to do it. Can I get it to you tomorrow?”

Mr. Craddy may be a forty year old widowed man, but he could tell Taylor wasn’t being fully truthful with him. Mr. Craddy knew Taylor was having a hard time with her mother passing and her father always gone on business, he decided this one time to be merciful, “I want it in my hand tomorrow morning, Taylor, no exceptions. Now lets get back in the room before your classmates ruin my room.” He held the door for Taylor to go in before he did.

Taylor went to her seat in the back of the room. Lisa leaned over to talk to her but Taylor’s mind was already spinning in a creative process to think up something that she could write that would show off her writing skills, but also not put anyone in danger. She decided she would write about a bunny, she was called out of her thoughts when the bell to end the day rang.

She started to put away her notebook when Mr. Craddy came up to Taylor and said, “No sir, my mind was elsewhere.” For some reason Taylor  felt like crying.

Mr. Craddy saw the tears  forming in Taylor’s eye and like the caring teacher he is he said, “ It’s totally okay kiddo as a student I didn’t pay attention to my English teacher either and I turned out fine.” He smiled trying to reassure her. “Why don’t we write a story?” He asked and Taylor smiled.

Forgetting all her worries and troubles her heart lifted. “Sure, Why not,” she said and pulled out a sheet of paper. She had forgotten all of her troubles even the reason she was so afraid to write.