Writing Challenge

• Pick up the nearest book. (I’m sure you must have one nearby.)


• Turn to page 123.


• What is the first sentence on the page?


• The last sentence on the page?


• Now . . . connect them together.

I'm currently reading the young adult novel Someone Like Summer by M.E. Kerr. The first complete sentence on page 123 is "Antolin finally looked up, paused to regard us for a moment, then shouted a question in Spanish." The last complete sentence is "He took my hand and winked at me." So what can I do with that?

Antolin finally looked up, paused to regard us for a moment, then shouted a question in Spanish. If I had paid more attention in Spanish class, I might have understood what he was saying. As it was, I could only stand and return his gaze. If I looked at him long enough, would he realize that I didn't understand? Or would he simply wait for a reply? After a new minutes, I timidly murmured, "No habla Espanol." Antolin smiled. "Actually, neither do I," he said. He took my hand and winked at me.