An English language magazine invites young people to participate in a short story writing competition. The participants are expected to use the following quotation as an epigraph:
The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention. Oscar Wilde
The story must begin with the following sentence:
As he got off the bus, Jamie looked around. There was no one there and he began to feel a little worried…
and finish in the following way:
He was happy at the idea of making a new start in his life, and a big smile was seen on his face. He knew the events of the day would change his life forever.
You decide to take part and submit your own short story. Your story must have a title, a clear storyline, a setting, a description of the main character(s), and direct speech.
Write 250–300 words (the words in the epigraph and the suggested sentences are not counted).
***
A Simple Cup of Chamomile Tea
As he got off the bus, Jamie looked around. There was no one there and he began to feel a little worried. He was supposed to meet his new foster family here, in the remote English town of Willow Creek, but there was no sign of them. The scrawny, modest 10-year-old boy, shifted his backpack nervously, feeling the weight of his anxieties. Jamie’s crystal blue eyes were filled with fear and uncertainty, his reddish hair tousled. Jamie didn't know anyone in this dilapidated town, and the feeling of being lost and alone was overwhelming.
Just then, a voice startled him. "Lost, young man?" Jamie turned to see an old lady, her face etched with wrinkles and her eyes twinkling with kindness. “Are you Jamie?” He hesitated before nodding, unable to explain the lump in his throat. "Well, I'm Mrs. Peterson," the woman said, smiling, "and I'm sure we can find your family. They're probably just running a bit late." As it turned out, she was an observant grandma who knew each resident of Willow Creek. Living there since childhood, she was aware of all her neighbor’s plans.
Mrs. Peterson, with her gentle demeanor and tender voice, calmed Jamie down. She invited him to her home for a cup of tea while they waited. Over steaming mugs of chamomile, Mrs. Peterson kindly explained the complicated story of his foster family, and how long they had waited to see him. She assured him that everything would be alright, even though he had lost hope of ever living with a happy family.
At the crack of dawn, a car pulled into Mrs. Peterson's driveway. An exhausted couple, with dark circles under their eyes - evidence of sleepless nights spent worrying over Jamie, stepped out, their faces relieved. "Jamie?" the woman called out, a broad smile on her face. Jamie's heart skipped a beat. He ran forward, enveloping them in a tight hug. "You're here!" he exclaimed, tears welling up in his eyes. “Thank God, without your kindness, we would never have met Jamie,” the woman whispered, making eye contact with the old lady.
Mrs. Peterson, watching from the porch, winked at Jamie. "I told you so," she remarked. Despite Jamie’s immense desire to meet his family, it was her small act of kindness that revived the hope for a bright future.
He was happy at the idea of making a new start in his life, and a big smile was seen on his face. He knew the events of the day would change his life forever.