Depew, New York
Congratulations, Stephanie!
Stephanie’s Bio:
Stephanie Haefner is an aspiring novelist dreaming of the day she'll see her name blazed across the cover of a book! She is currently working on novel #3. Her favorite types of stories to write (and read) are those that take the reader through every emotion. If she can make a reader cry on one page and laugh hysterically on another, her story is complete! Among several WOW! contests, her publishing credits also include an anthology about the city of Buffalo, NY, where she was born and raised and still lives today. When Stephanie is not writing, she spends her days caring for her husband, 5 year-old daughter and infant son and also tending to a serious scrapbooking obsession!
Have a Nice Day
A desolate plastic bag blew in the wind, swirled in a circle then continued his depressing journey. He was constantly thinking about where he’d been and what his life’s purpose was.
He started out shiny and new, his yellow smiley face beaming. The cheerful “Have a Nice Day!” slogan meant he was on his way to greatness. He would help someone.
At the supermarket, the other bags went before him one by one, fulfilling their life’s work. Each held something important for someone: baby formula, cough medicine, a package of fresh baked cookies for a family. That smell was intoxicating. He wished to receive something lovely too and keep their scent for days.
The stack thinned and he awaited his turn, anxiety growing as the bag before him was taken and a pungent fish wrapped inside. He began to panic. What would the next item be? The young bag boy peeled him open and he accepted his destiny. A warm loaf of Italian bread was placed within his thin white walls. He felt like smiling, just like the happy face on the outside of him.
Now floating above the earth, he thought back to that moment and the warmth he felt. The wind suddenly died down; gracefully he floated to the ground. A car roared over and his handle caught underneath. A rusty wire held him prisoner and tortured him, banging his limp body against the asphalt. As he prayed for his suffering to end, an unbearable pain was felt as his handle stretched then broke, setting him free once again. He drifted along, weak from pain and again thought back to the warm bread.
The crumbs that fell to the bottom tickled during the bumpy car ride to his new home. Once there, the bread was removed and he was shoved into a basket with other bags like him. Breathing in the bread smell still clinging to his walls, he peacefully waited to be re-used.
Finally he saw the light of day and was packed with towels and a bottle of sunscreen. He was off to the beach. How exciting! But excitement quickly turned to misery as his contents were dumped out and itchy, scratchy sand was kicked at him as the children ran around. The wind picked up and blew him away, leading him to his current lifestyle, a homeless nomad.
The wind swirled him high up into the night. The handle that was still in tact caught on something; a tree had reached its crooked arm out and snatched him. Round and round he tumbled, until he was completely wrapped around the pointed branch. This was it. He’d spend the rest of his days here, high above the earth, unsheltered from the elements, to dream of the days when he had a purpose. He hoped the people had a nice day like his slogan suggested. Left to forever wonder if he fulfilled his mission, he stared up into the blackness of the night.
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