#250, Adolescence
Bang. Bang. BANG. Muffled voices from downstairs. The sound of footsteps, a lot of them, make the hairs on your skin rise. You recognize the sound of Mom’s screaming and instantly sit up in bed, blanket covering you up to your neck. Is it a robbery? Kidnappers?
Then you hear Dad yell, “I haven’t done anything! You’ve got the wrong house! You’re making a big mistake.” The sound of heavy footsteps up the stairs grows menacingly louder. The crack of two doors being slammed open rattles your walls. Beads of sweat form all over your body.
Then suddenly, the door bursts open.
"Police! Suspect found! Show me your hands! Hands in the air!"
The voice is loud, commanding, aggressive. Your hands go up instinctively. Your heart hammers in your chest. You're frozen for a split second as thought flashed across your consciousness, “They’re going to kill me.” A tall, imposing police officer approaches your bed and looks you straight in the eye.
“The time is 6:15 AM and I’m arresting you on suspicion of murder.”
Your world stops.
– – –
In the opening scene of the television series Adolescence, the main character, 13-year-old Jamie Miller, is suddenly arrested without warning. What happens next? Your task for this Journal is to write a piece of creative realistic fiction continuing Jamie’s story. Consider:
–What are you accused of? Did you do it? Were you framed? Are you an unwitting witness? Is it a case of mistaken identity?
–What's going through your mind as you're arrested? Fear? Confusion? Anger? Disbelief?
–How do the people around you react? Family? Friends? Strangers watching?
–What happens at the police station? Interrogation? Phone call? Lawyer? Parents arriving?
–How does the story resolve? Or does it end on a cliffhanger?
*Remember the desire/obstacle/flaw framework to help structure your narrative
To complete this Journal response, address the following:
Write a piece of realistic creative fiction from the moment the police arrest you. It should be written in the first person perspective.
🚨 Responses must be 100% original and 100 words or more. Any AI-generated text for this task violates PEAI policy.
Comment on a peer’s response.
-Brenden Lee Teacher