Creative Writing Class Stories

Button Button

Tommy Steward was a twelve year old poor boy who lived in Austin, Texas. He lived alone with his Father, Farming day and night to get food on their supper table. His mom died just one year, before this day in a terrible hurricane, and his dad was sick with grief, his father would wake up almost every night yelling from a nightmare, when Tommy had to go to calm him down. Tommy Steward hated his life, he hated waking up to the chicken crowing, collecting eggs, feeding the barn animals, and all the other jobs he had. He dreamed of one day moving to New York City and becoming a rich, famous politician, but the world didn't seem to be in his favour.

One Sunday evening, while Tommy and his dad were getting ready for bed, their doorbell rang. Tommy went to answer the door to see a short, old lady with her white hair tied into a bun, face covered in makeup. The lady stared at him for less than a second, before grasping his arm and pulling him outside. " Listen sonny, I have a proposition to make you that can change your life for the better" she said, in her old hoarse voice. Tommy just stared at her, not sure what to do, he knew he should probably call his father, but he also really wanted to hear what she was on about. What the lady said next, surprised him to say the very least, " you know dearie, when I offered what I'm going to offer to you to your father, your father immediately turned me down. He didn't even check with you, even though this would make your life better just the same, if even more than his? He really doesn't seem to care about you? Maybe he isn't the guy you thought he was! Maybe you don't really know him after all! I mean you guys do live in this old dump!" At the last sentence motioning to their little home. Suddenly Tommy's whole view on his father changed, as if by magic! 'His father really did only care about himself' he thought, outraged. "What, what's your offer!" Tommy asked, almost shouting, the urge to do something against his father's wishes, burning. The lady smiled "I'm offering you five thousand dollar, if you just press this button" she said, motioning to a small, red button behind her, that Tommy just noticed for the first time. Tommy raised his eyebrows, 'this seemed too easy?' He thought. "What does the button do?" Tommy questioned, his voice laced with suspicion. "The button will make one person die. A person you don't know." The lady answered, still smiling with that creepy smile of hers. Tommy thought about it. He thought about how it didn't really matter since he doesn't know this person. He Thought about how killing is always wrong no matter the circumstances, like his father always taught him. He thought about his father and his father's betrayal. His blood was boiling, his chest tightening, "I'll do it, pass me the button" he said in a commanding voice. He felt so excited, his dream was actually coming true, a tiny voice in him was telling him he was making a huge mistake, but he kept on trying to block it out. The lady smiled and passed him the button "you're making the right choice." She encouraged. Tommy took the button and pressed it, his heart beating wildly. Nothing happened, everything was silent. The lady looked up at Tommy, "Now dear boy, I am giving you the money. Use it well." She said handing him an envelope, smiling. Tommy stared down at the envelope. "Thank you" he whispered to the lady, getting emotional, but when he looked up the lady was gone!

Tommy went back into his house, smiling brightly, when he heard something that made him stop in his tracks. His father was shrieking, a horrible, terrifying, gut wrenching scream! He ran to his father's room as fast as his legs could carry him, his heart in his throat. The scene that reached his eyes looked like it was coming from a horror movie. His father was tangled in his sheets, sweating everywhere, gasping for air. Tommy ran over to his father and was doing everything he possibly could to get his father to stop dying, but nothing was working. His father looked into his eyes and whispered his last three words "Tommy, my boy". Tears where streaming down Tommy's face, as his dad took his last small breath. Tommy was full on sobbing now. He knew this was all his fault, but he didn't understand, wasn't he not supposed to know the person? Suddenly the old lady's words came rushing back to him, "Maybe he isn't the guy you thought he was! Maybe you don't really know him after all!" 'It's all my fault, I'm so sorry dad' Tommy thought as he cried into his father's chest.

Tommy felt so guilty for what he did. He wondered if everyone would be as stupid as he was, making such a stupid choice. Tommy decided to do what the old lady did. It would really help him get rid of his guilt, knowing he wasn't the only one who would make such a terrible mistake.