The Grass People
By: Zoe Jellison
By: Zoe Jellison
Long long ago there was a meadow full of grass, each piece of grass was a person. There were many grass people in the meadow and not one was the same. The most favored was called Thistle and he had done tons for the people of Bushington, he had built them twig houses and much more like bakeries and stores. And he was only thirteen! The newest family to the town was the Petal family they had one girl Rose and four boys Twig, Blade, Stickly and Sprout. The troublemaker of the town was Stumpy, when the Petal family got to the town they meet everyone and was highly warned about Stumpy, and to keep their kids away from him. But when they told their kids the first thing they did was run out of the house and look for Stumpy. They found him about an hour later running away from a pack of wild beetles.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh run run run! They are coming straight at me.” Screamed Stumpy. They took his advice and turned a corner and the beetles kept running forward and didn't notice they had turned the corner. “What did you do?” Asked Sprout the oldest of the Petal family. “Um well I sort of accidently made a pack of wild beetles angry so they charged at me but thanks to you guys I escaped and won’t get in trouble.” Said Stumpy putting his arm around Sprout. “Excuse me you are still getting in trouble because we are telling on you, for goodness sake you almost got all of us killed the moment we met you! We wanted to be friends with you but now we don’t, right guys?” “Right!” Said Rose, Blade, Twig, and Stickly. “Come on, you can’t hate me yet you only just met me and besides the town voted that if I get in trouble one more time than I can pack up my things and leave. “Fine but if you do anything else we will tell on you for sure.” Said Rose. “Okay I’ll try to be good. Anyway aren’t you the new people around here?” “Uh duh.” Said Blade. Stumpy took a look at Blade who was wearing a Earthly hat (that was the grass people's favorite skateboard company, especially Stumpy’s.) “Huh maybe we they won’t hate me maybe we will be friends” Stumpy thought. “Come on guys let's go home.” Said Sprout. Sprout always felt that it was his job to keep his siblings safe and Stumpy was not someone that he wanted them to be hanging out with. “Okay” Said Rose, Blade, Twig and Stickly.
That night when the Petal family was having dinner Sprout was telling his parents, Daisy and Acorn. “You were hanging out with Stumpy. We told you not to hang out with Stumpy because he is bad news!” Yelled Acorn “Well I was being responsible and told them that they shouldn’t be hanging out with him. But they would not listen.” Sprout pointed out. “Oh well you should not have gone with them because you knew that they were going to try to find Stump. I am so fed up with you kids not listening to your mother and I these days just because you are all teenagers does not mean that you can do whatever you want whenever you want. You especially Sprout should know better than to run off doing things that you know you shouldn’t be doing. Know go to your rooms all of you! And you are all grounded for a month no coming out of your room unless you need to go to the bathroom or shower your mother and I will deliver your food to your room three times a day. That means no TV, no video games, no friends, and no hanging out with Stumpy. We will see you out of your rooms in a month. We love you now go!” hollered Acorn. “Oh dear” sighed Daisy. “What was that?” Asked Blade who was listening to music through his earbuds. And had just taken them out of his ears. (There earbuds were made out of seeds and cords of grass.) “Your father wanted you to go to your room and not come out for a month unless you need to shower or go to the bathroom and we will deliver your food to your room three times a day we love you now go. Daisy softly said to Blade. The Petal children were not happy about what their father had said to them and they most definitely did not want to spend a month in their room. Even though they had tons of toys in there rooms and they each had their own room. So they came up with a plan.
The Petal family’s house was circular and all the children's rooms connected in a secret room of which their parents did not know about neither the kids. Thistle had made all of the houses like that and told no one he left it for the kids to find out. That very same evening the Rose had been bored in their rooms when she had noticed a little door hiding behind a beanbag in her room. She opened it in amazement and crawled through. It was pitch dark in the room so Rose felt around for a light switch. She eventually found one and pulled it, there were four other doors that connected to the room so she closed her door and opened a different one. Rose opened the door but right when her hand closed around the knob the door flew open and out of it came Stickly. “Whoa what is this place?” Asked Stickly is awe. “I don’t know” Said Rose now taking a real good look around the place. There were beanbags, tables, bookshelves full of wondrous books, cabinets filled with paper, pens, markers, crayons, colored sticks (colored pencils.) They sat down in one of the beanbags and looked at the table, there was a note on it. But right before they could read the note the three other doors opened almost in unison. Out of the doors came Twig, Blade, and Sprout. “Geez you almost gave me a heart attack.” Gasped Rose. “What is this place?” Asked Blade “I don’t know but there is a note on the table and I want to read it.” Said Stickly. So Stickly read the note and it said.
Dear Children,
This is a place for you and your friends. You can come here when you want to be alone or get grounded and have nothing to do. In the cabinets are snacks in case you get hungry. I know that you are new in the town and I have a mission for you. It is dangerous and take courage, the only downfall is that you would have to go on the mission with Stumpy. There is a trapdoor underneath the blue beanbag so if you ever need to sneak because you are grounded here is the way you can. Your mission is to save the town. I have been exploring lately and have found that in a few days we will be attacked by lawn mowers. There is not much that we can do to save the town because after all we are just blades of grass that have feelings and can talk. But you are children and you have creative minds and you can come up with fascinating ideas that might just help save the town so please do this mission, for the town. If you are up for the journey please let me know. You will find me at 67 Stickway. But please keep your mouths shut, the last thing I need is for family being horrified that they will get killed, please. Time is running out hurry before it is too late.
-Thistle
“So who’s up for it besides me?” Asked Blade “I’m in” Said Stickly “Sounds like fun I’ll do it.” Rose said happily. “All right a journey just for us.” Exclaimed Twig. “I don’t know it sounds dangerous.” Said Sprout worriedly. “But I guess I’ll do it to save the town.”
The Petal kids did not know what they were getting into they could die after all. A life threatening mission, with Stumpy. But they wanted to do it so they waited until their parents fell asleep that night and set off under the blue bean bag and started their mission. They brought the note with them so they knew where to find Thistle. “Okay so who is going to knock on the door.” Asked Rose. They had just gotten to Thistle’s doorstep and were very nervous. “I’ll do it.” Said Twig. Knock knock knock knock. No one answered Bang bang bang and the door flew open “Hi aren’t you the Petal kids, come inside come inside.” Thistle said cheerfully. “So you guys up for the mission? If so we need to leave now Stumpy is already here but he is sleeping so we’ll have to wake him.” Sprout took a deep breath “Yes were up for it let’s go.” Sprout said. “Stumpy wake up we need to go before the dawn strikes.” Thistle yelled in Stumpy’s ear. “Okay, okay I’m awake but you didn’t need to make me deaf.” Stumpy said. “Stumpy had an awful attitude that came out when he wakes up. So don’t mind him. I’ve already packed everything we need so we can leave now but first put these on.” Thistle tossed everyone acorn helmets and stick swords. “You must have got to be joking. There is no way that I am wearing this.” Said Blade “Okay that’s fine if you want to die.” Said Thistle “Okay fine I’ll wear it. But no pictures, now let’s go.” Mumbled Blade. So the Petal kids, Thistle and Stumpy set of on their mission of a lifetime.
“Okay we are almost there only a few more minutes.” Thistle said. Stickly checked his watch “6:57 the sun will be up shortly. By the way I’m hungry.” Complained Stickly. “I’m not surprised we have been walking all night. I’ll give you some food in a minute.” Thistle told Stickly. “Wow you are really hungry your stomach is growling so loud.” Laughed Stumpy. “What do you mean my stomach hasn’t growled at all.” Said Stickly. “Shhh be quiet, I hear something.” Thistle told them. They heard a lawnmower starting up. Even worse it has coming towards them “Oh no, run!” Yelled Thistle “Run back to the town and tell them the lawnmowers are coming, Now! Come on we need to save the people then we will defend the town. Let’s go!”
When they got to the to the town they were frantic and worried about what would happen next. “Go inside hide your kids lock all of your doors, hurry before it’s too late!” Yelled Thistle and Stumpy. “What’s going on?” Asked one of the locals. “There isn’t much time to explain. But our greatest fear is finally coming true. The lawn mowers are coming.” Said Thistle. “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy where are you?” Cried one of the local children. “Honey I’m right here come inside and go into the basement, quick!” Cried the mother. All over the little town there was chaos, people screaming children crying. But then a noise was heard. Gring, gring, gring gring. The lawn mowers had arrived. At this point everyone was inside except for the Petal kids, Thistle, and Stumpy. “Uh we think that we should go comfort Mom and Dad because they don’t know where we are and they probably think we are dead.” Said Stickly and Twig. “Okay go that’s a good idea. Know they won’t be as worried about you. Tell them that Rose, Blade, and Sprout will be okay, and that they send them, Thistle, and Stumpy send comfort and love your way.” Said Thistle. “Okay we got our stick swords and helmets. Now we wait.” Announced Sprout. The five young children stood there waiting for the lawn mowers. They couldn’t see the lawn mowers but they could sure alright hear them. Although the young kids were trying to hide their fear. It wasn't working, they were trembling and hands shaking. A few minutes later they lawn mowers came into view. They were intimidated because of how big the giant blades that wanted to kill them were. “We fight now.” Thistle told them. “I’m scared, Sprout are we going to die?” Asked Rose. “Whatever happens just know that I will always be your big brother and I love you.” Said Sprout. “Okay let’s charge.” Said Stumpy. So they charged at the lawn mowers with their worst nightmares at the back of their mind because all they could think about was saving their families and town. Stumpy had studied secretly studied lawn mowers over the years and he know right where to stab the stick swords. “Okay guys this is where we need to get the swords to disable the lawn mowers. Right in between the blade and the engine, I can’t say it won’t be dangerous because it will be. Just try your hardest.” Stumby said. So Thistle, Sprout, and Stumpy took all the bravery and courage they had and charged. Rose and Blade stood there shocked and watched. What Rose and Blade Petal saw they was tragic. They saw their town leader- Thistle, their own brother- Sprout, and the town troublemaker- Stumpy die. Get chopped up by a lawn mower they were gone without even saying goodbye. Their attempt to stop the lawn mowers had worked. Just to be safe Rose and Blade ran over to the lawn mower and shoved their swords sticks right in between the blade and engine with hate and disgust about three deaths. The mower sputtered and shook but kept going. “Why is it doing this?” Cried Rose. “I just don’t know.” Whispered Blade. Blade until that moment never really noticed anything that went on in his life but now his older brother just died, murdered by a lawn mower. He would try harder to be a better brother he thought to himself, because he was the oldest Petal sibling now. It was time to defend the town. So Rose and Blade yelled evacuate your houses and run far away then come back in a few hours. To their surprise everyone listened and left right in time.
Rose and Blade had ran with the people of the town scared out of their minds. “Is this it? Is this the end for us because this was the end for Stumpy, Sprout, Thistle.” Rose thought to herself with tears rolling down her cheeks. When the people of the town agreed they were far enough away Rose and Blade explained to everyone what had exactly happened that day to beloved Thistle, the troubling Stumpy, and well loved but very unknown Sprout. Tears were seen rolling down cheeks hearing the frightening story about the lawn mower. Daisy and Acorn were to sad to punish their kids because they were already sad enough, without Sprout and Stumpy Rose, Blade, Stickly, and Twigs life’s were dull.
A few years later things had changed. Blade was the town leader. The town was now located somewhere deep into the woods that way no lawn mowers could ever kill anyone ever again. After the funeral of the lost three Rose had stayed behind looking at the graves. She decided the graves needed something besides in loving memory of Thistle, Sprout Petal, and Stumpy. She found some berries and used the juice to paint on Thistle- A great town leader and leader in general. Sprout- An unforgettable and amazing brother. Stumpy- A life changing friend. Later that night she had taken a walk to her old town it had been destroyed. Houses smashed, cars broken, and terrifying memories left behind. She walked around and felt as if she could still hear the murderous scream of Stumpy getting chopped up. She walked over to where her house used to be and saw something on the ground. Rose didn’t know exactly what it was because it covered in ashes but she realized it was a note.
Dear Petal kids,
I feel that you have changed my life. Helping us on this mission. I will never forget you no matter what happens and I will try not to be as bad. That way your parents will let you guys hangout with me. If I move away I will never forget your faces and voices. If I die, somehow this note will find you at least one of you will find it. This note will make it to you it has to, it will be your fate. Just like how it was fate that we even met in the first place. This note you have to read because there is a mystery that you will soon have to solve so this is partially a warning. In a few years something big will happen and only you kids will be able to fix it. I’ll never forget you Rose, Sprout, Twig, Stickly, and Blade.
The name on the note was covered by ashes and black ink smudged along the page. Although there was no name on the note Rose knew very well the note had been from Stumpy. Rose walked home that night putting the note in her pocket and singing a little song to herself.
Years went on friends came and go but the Petal kids never met anyone like Stumpy, Thistle, or Sprout. But nothing big ever happened like Stumpy said something might. Eventually Rose showed the note to Stickly, Twig. They all looked for something that would cause something big and after a year or two they all gave up but not Rose. Rose kept looking and would not give up. “After all,” She said. “It is my fate that this note made it to me and that we ever met Stumpy in the first place. So I have to find something, it’s my fate.”`
The End
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