The following are pieces of creative writing inspired by Melanie Benjamin’s The Children’s Blizzard produced by students of Nicole Mathias at Sebring McKinley High School.
I was on my way home after the storm had lifted. The winds were very harsh, so I was forced to stay with my mother. But now it had lifted and I was going home. It was very peaceful until I saw a hawk flying in circles around something. I wasn’t in a rush, so I went over to see what it was. I couldn’t see it at first with all of the white snow, but then I saw it.
It was a hand, popping out of the snow. I didn’t know what to do, I was stunned. I had so many thoughts going through my mind. Should I pick it up, should I get help, should I leave it and walk away? I was standing there by the body for almost ten minutes until I made up my mind. I turned and started running toward the town to get help. I knew it was useless because who knows how long the body had been there, but I went to the town to try.
-- Caiden Miller, 10th grade
Gerda: My view
Cold wet and tired
So close yet so far
Given up clothes for others
No leg and no Fredrik
They want me dead
My time may have come
But I tried my hardest
-- Reece Runyon, 10th grade
Her hands, what used to be so warm.
Now lie dead and frozen.
Her skin I once admired,
Is pale and broken.
Frozen from the tears of her cries.
I promised until death do I part,
And as I lay and breathe my last breath,
I filled the promise as we both left.
-- Bella Threet, 10th grade