THE TAKEN by: Mason Stewart

It was a normal day, just like any other. As I walked home from 5th grade in my great grandfathers charter school.

Most of the time I would walk home with my best friend Tommy, but 11 days ago Tommy mysteriously went missing. Some people say they saw what happened, they say he got pulled into a silver van with three large letters painted on the side, T.E.G." The police failed to find Tommy, and are still trying. I don't believe the "T.E.G." Story told by my neighbors... Well, at least I try not to. had got to his house, as his Mom said "Hi, how was school?" The reminder gives me a dark hurtful feeling. "Great!" I say, to keep her from knowing what really happened today. I got bullied by Trent again. But, it was really bad today, because today was swirly day. My hair was still wet on some parts of my head. "Now, why is your hair wet Jacob?" My Mom says. "It's was raining." I say. She walks toward the window to see a bright and warm June day.

"If you ever need to tell me anything, you can, i'm always here for you whenever you need it." She says. "I'm fine." I say, kinda harshly. As I walk to my room I remember to go feed my bulldog, "Tank". I scoop the dog food into the bowl in the backyard, And I see a tall man with glasses and a suit, stand in the grass field against a fence. Looking directly at me. Once he realizes I saw him, he bolts at a fast pace out of sight, to the point that I can't see him anymore. I walk back into my house trying to identify that man. "Phone's for you!" My Mom yells. "Who is it?" I say before I pick up the phone. "It's your dad." She says.

My Mom and Dad got divorced last year, and now my dad lives in Utah and I still live in Colorado. So I don't get to see him that much. But, it's the perfect time to confess the bullying problem with my dad, because he won't overreact like my Mom would. I go in my room, and lock the door. "Hey, Dad!" I say. "Hey kid, how are you?" He says. "Not so well." "Why not?" I sigh... "I'm being bullied." I say sadly. "Look, you need to be brave and stand up to them, and stand up for yourself." He said sternly. "ok." I say.