Jubilee Forbess

“Blue Moon Cockroaches” by Jubilee Forbess

Submitted to Contest #41

New litters of blue moon cockroaches were piled in three cardboard boxes along the side of the farm wall and Ima Kölher was counting down the seconds until her mother came home so she could stop watching them scrabble against the walls of their boxes. The blue moon cockroach harvest had just been finished and Ima had been put in charge of watching them so her mother could go get the rest of the broiler baskets from one of their neighbors. Ima hated the way the blue moon cockroaches looked though, with their violently violet legs and their aw...

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“The Bad Rat” by Jubilee Forbess

Submitted to Contest #41

One of the worst noises in the world is the sound of little rat feet scratching across the attic floor. That is an even worse noise than little rat feet scratching across the basement floor, because if the rats were in the attic, they could fall into your bed while you were sleeping or into your food while you were cooking. You had to think, what would be worse? Having rats in your food and eating them? Or having a rat fall in your bed and them eating you? Those are both reasons why the rats in the attic were terrifying to the small childre...

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“Sniveling Weasel Goes to School” by Jubilee Forbess

Submitted to Contest #41

Once upon a great time ago, there was a weasel named Snovlin. Except he was whiny and pathetic so everyone called him Sniveling Weasel. He was a purple and reddish weasel, with two eyes and a mouthful of tiny sharp teeth. One day his mother said, “My Boy, I think it’s time you go to school. Mostly because I can’t stand your face!”So he packed his bag like the sniveling weasel he was. He packed a tiny sharp teeth toothbrush, a lemon juice parfait, three waffles, a crayon, his tire swing, no pants, because he was a weasel, and a stuffed panda ...

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“Ruslan: Tortilla” by Jubilee Forbess

Submitted to Contest #40

Dear Mum,  I’ve dyed my hair green and decided to go away for a while, to find my true calling. I may travel, I may hitchhike, I may go to college, but all I know is I won’t be here any longer.  I have several tattoos now and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you but I didn’t see the point. I didn’t see the point because it would only make you mad, and you know, despite all the things I’ve said to you and dad, I never meant to make you mad. I meant to make you proud, but you never seemed to be. You didn’t cheer when I graduated intermediate ...

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“Dinner at Susan's” by Jubilee Forbess

Submitted to Contest #40

The doorbell rang twice, and each time a different person was let into the house. The first time it was the plumber. He was a man by the name of Gabbani, and he had only just started plumbing, but he was grateful for the things he had and was never one to complain a lot. The second time the doorbell rang, there was the pizza man, standing like a delivery angel complete with a steaming box of pepperoni pie and a bottle of root beer. He had also just started working as a pizza man.  It was his first job, seeing as he was a very young fell...

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“The Orbit ” by Jubilee Forbess

Submitted to Contest #40

Sugar watched the flowers die beside her in a vase. She hadn’t moved for two months, is why she could watch them do that. She sat on the corner of her smashy brown sofa and looked at the vase and looked at the flowers there and looked at nothing else. When her brother brought her food to eat three times a day, Sugar ate almost as though she was blindfolded. She couldn’t taste anything anyway, so why would it matter if she knew what she was eating? The flowers had been placed there at the beginning of the two months. At that time, they were p...

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“Buggers” by Jubilee Forbess

Submitted to Contest #37

Emil jumped out of bed with cockroaches on the mind. Actually, they were more on the unconscious mind. He had been dreaming about them since he was a little boy. Cockroaches. All sorts of them. Jungle ones and water bugs and even ones that he had fabricated all on his own. There was one, he recalled as he sat at the edge of the bed and pulled on his socks, that looked like the president of the United States, complete with little swatch of orange hair and impossibly bordered lips. Well. Emil knew that it was all a hoax. Those cockroaches had ...

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“O, Precious Detective” by Jubilee Forbess

The plates crashed against the floorThe commotion neared the doorThe footsteps hit along the broad corridor,But no one could seem to stop the horror Of the thief who seemed to want so much moreThan the precious silver forks: four. And the butler screamedAs the maid fellAnd the gardener criedAt the fire trucks bellBut one person watched behind curtains.You see, no one saw what lurked in the night.No one was prepared to put up a fight.No one knew they were in for a fright,Or that their lives would take a turn, not to right,So no one ...

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“A Young Diary” by Jubilee Forbess

Submitted to Contest #36

February 11th 2075 Dear Diary (I wanted to write dear Diarrhea but mom said no, Jimmy),  This is my first diary and I’d like to say that I hate it, and would like to throw up beef chunks on it. It’s not even why you would think I hate it though. I hate my new diary because it’s very ugly. I didn’t want a diary that said, Follow Your Dreams on it! I wanted the sequined one that had a fat old unicorn on it but like always, my mom said no, Jimmy.  That’s my name. Jimmy.  What did you think it would be? Sarsaparilla? NO. It’s...

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“Reign of a Supervillain as Told by His Sister's Journal” by Jubilee Forbess

Submitted to Contest #36

 June 6thYear 2090  Miss Piggy stands from her position on the throne, her bouncing blonde hair towering and spilling across the television screen. I glance around my living room and take a deep breath. My family and I are all waiting for the biggest announcement we’ve yet to hear. I sit by the chimney on a quilted blanket with my younger sister, Elmira, and our stuffed rabbit, Mr. Daisypants. I hold my breath now in anticipation. My mother clutches the side of the sofa. Father takes a large gulp from his bowl of chowder and my old...

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“Sobombreeya and Abernathy” by Jubilee Forbess

Submitted to Contest #35

Sobombreeya Johansson and Abernathy Carpoole were best friends, and for a while, that was all there was to it. They went to school together, and talked together, and ate, a lot, together. It was as though all the forces, destinies, and fates in the universe had come together to create the perfect pair, and they had come up with Sobombreeya and Abernathy. Except, they didn’t know that yet, so they were just friends. Come now, as we drop in on the friends on a day that means something much more to both of them. Valentine’s Day.  Abernathy...

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“Aisle Fourteen” by Jubilee Forbess

Submitted to Contest #28

All I really wanted were the plantain chips. That was the reason my father and I were at Walmart in the first place. It was almost nine o clock on a Saturday night; my father had just gotten home from visiting my grandparents and he was ready to settle in his armchair for the night. Only... I didn't think that would be possible because to my knowledge it was still very illegal for me to drive alone and also I really, really wanted plantain chips. They were amazing and I couldn't have chocolate and I was having a rough week anyway. Who would ...

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“Dear Ruslan ” by Jubilee Forbess

Submitted to Contest #24

        Dear Ruslan, The doctors told me you wouldn’t remember me when you woke up. I walked into the hospital room and saw you and I felt like crying but I knew we had better things to do. So I sat by your bed and held your hands and I tried to will you to wake up but you still haven’t. I know you will, though. I’m writing you letters in case you don’t remember me. Or yourself. Or you and me and what me mean to the world. Because it’s all bigger than me loving you and you knowing why. I’llalways love you even i...

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“Snow Has Fallen” by Jubilee Forbess

Snow Has FallenOh!Snow!Outside the windowFallsIn peals and cascading white sheets,Blanketing the world into a quiet peace. Oh, snow!Meaning winter is here at lastSpring comes after, And fall is past. Jump from your bed Wrap the blankets round your shoulders Put a hat upon your head.Now run!Run towards the door.Toss it open andRun into the fresh snowCrunching beneath your boots.Breathe!Breathe in the crisp winter airThrow the wind your every care andGo forwards, marching on and on.Snowflakes fall!Are you listening?The...

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“Morris Cupcake the Sandwich Boy” by Jubilee Forbess

Submitted to Contest #16

Sandwiches, I have decided, are the best thing to ever grace the planet. People have come to me from all over the world to tell me otherwise, but at the end of things, I will always win.  They (the sandwiches) are such a piece of beautiful soul mate that I have no desire to see other people. Unless, of course, they are the sandwich boy named after his great grandfather, Morris Cupcake.  Morris Cupcake is the only person alive I’ve ever wanted to see more than once. I live  and breathe sandwiches, so it only makes sense that Mo...

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