This month’s theme is YA fiction. For my first prompt, I have this photo of a teen girl. What’s the story behind this face? She’s upset or angry about something. So upset that she’s stopped her scooter in the middle of a narrow bridge. Or maybe she’s upset because her scooter broke down in the middle of a narrow bridge.
You decide what’s the story behind this face. Here’s my inspiration:
I’m done. Not one more lesson or practice or event. I don’t care if my parents got me this stupid scooter so I can take myself to all my appointments. I can’t do one more thing.
Mrs. Halloran and another middle-aged lady stand at the bottom of the bridge, staring at me.
“Ginny?” calls Mrs. Halloran.
I stare back. So what if it’s rude? So what if I back up all the traffic on this bridge? A video of me will go viral–“Girl Has Nervous Breakdown on 3rd Street Pedestrian Bridge”–and at least that’ll be something different in my life from soccer practice and guitar lessons.
Oooh, good picture and very relatable story idea! Here’s mine:
I should’ve known that a city tour guide who only charged $80 cash for the whole day was a scam. Now I’m alone and lost on this bridge above a ravine that nobody has crossed since my loser tour guide ditched me.
The only reason Mom sort of agreed to let me spend a semester in this backward country is because Uncle Brian and Auntie are stationed within a day’s drive of my dump of an apartment. But I can’t call them on my second day here. Nothing says failure like running to them on Day 2. After spending all my cash on a liar. After my laptop got stolen from my “safe neighborhood” apartment. After the most common phrases I’ve heard here are “Stop, thief!” and “Police!”
Maybe if I use my phone for 2 minutes before the battery dies to look up directions and then stare at the map Mom insisted I pack, I can find my way somewhere. Anywhere. Before my scooter dies. Before I get abducted. Before I call my family for help. I wanted to be alone, and here I am. Alone. And it looks like it’s up to me to save myself.
You have such a wonderful voice. I’m inside your character’s head. And the last line is so telling. At some point, a kid must realize that she has to take care of herself.
Thanks for the feedback – I can’t always tell if my ideas have potential or not. Your ideas always get my ideas started 🙂