2017 National Winners

6th grade

6th Grade, 1st place
Name: Partin Cama
City: Tirana, Albania

One day I woke up and saw something different to my body. It was really weird. I had the size of an ant. The first thing I did was trying to talk to my family, but they couldn’t hear. I scared by thinking that the humans could squish me like an ant. The first day I didn’t eat or sleep, but the second I tried to find food. I was really hard. Then I learned how to climb walls. It was a fantastic feeling. I was seeing my kitchen in a different angle. After finding food my next goal was to drink water without drowning. It was hard but I succeeded. My family didn’t know where I was. They were terrified. Then a big spider was trying to eat me. I managed to survive. In the night I learned that ants had nightvision when its dark. After one week living like an ant I learned a lot things about the ants. I really missed my family. I could see them but I couldn’t talk to them. I felt like having a big hole in your heart. Then I tried again to talk with my family. I tried almost everything, but still nothing. After one month my size was getting bigger. Finally something good happened. My brother saw me while I was finding food. In the beginning he was scared but then he saw that I was real. I told him the whole story. My brother talked with mom and dad. When they came to see me they couldn’t believe that I was small. My body was still growing. The next day I was normal again. I didn’t believe my eyes. When my family saw me they were so happy. Now I’m living like a normal person again. My story was even reported in the newspapers. Being like an ant was really great. If I have another chance to do it I will but this time with my family.

6th Grade, 2nd place
Name: Frenk Berleri
City: Delvine

One day I got up and saw myself at the mirror. I said, “What am I? Am I an ant?” I didn’t know what to do. I swear God. I went to see my mum but she was huge. She was cleaning the house with a vacuum cleaner. I tried to run and I did it. The vacuum cleaner didn’t catch me. When I went out I saw my father. He had big shoes and hig hands. He was holding a small box. It was my present for my birthday. I wanted to pen the present but I was an ant. A fairy came to me and changed my body. I became a human again. I went and celebrate with my family. I was very fappy.

6th Grade, 3rd Place
Name: Argesa Hereni
City: Kukes

There was a little girl called Antie. All her friends thought she is an ant. It’s began a night. She was so scared. Hundred ants came to take her. One of her friends heared her to cry and followed them. They goes in a very small build. Antie was very small. Three years ago that she lives with ants, she was not more scared. She thought they were her family. She doesn’t love the peoples because they just tried to kill a little ant. She was very happy with ants, but ones day her family found that she lives with them. They tried to take her back. When they taked her back she was so small and unhappy. Her family found a medicine to bring her big, but she don’t wanted. She found a way to tell her father that she loves ant family and wants to live with them. Her father found another medicine that can bring all her family small. Antie liked this thing. She started a new life now. All things were great. Antie has two big familys now. I wanted too to have a life like Antie’s. An anventure life with mistakes.

7th grade

7th Grade, 1st place
Name: Laert Mema
City: Tirana, Albania

If I ever leave Earth with a spaceship on a mission to battle with other alien spaceships it would be fun. When I mean fun I mean also extremely dangerous. That’s why our spaceship’s name is “Xtreme Rider.” We are going in a galaxy far far away (this speech is from Star Wars). It’s a hard mission. I hope the pilot is good and experienced. And if I only bring two items they would be:

First one: Laser gun. This is a futuristic weapon used in combat battles. When you shoot, it launches a laser which does a lot of damage if it hits on target. This weapon is the best. Even a rocket launcher can’t compare to this gun. There are reasons why it is my favourite: because its shape is perfect and because it hits 90% the enemy. Well, I’ve got to admit it: this gun rocks. It was created by a poisoned soldier who loved science and war. Well now the Earth is in peace, but the galaxy isn’t in peace. If you want to save your head in a combat battle, you’ve definitely got to use this.

Second one: Lightsaber. You might say that I watch a lot of science fiction and Star Wars but I’ve only watched 6 movies. Let’s get to talk about this sword. Only commanders have this sword. Luckily, I am one. This sword uses super powered small batteries that activate the light. But the light is so powerful and if it hits you it burns a part of your body. I’ve used lightsabers in training. It’s great. In all the aspects this gun is wonderful. The lightsaber needs skill to use it. They’s why the Earth has opened academies for scouters. They learn to use the lightsaber and how to combat. (You, as a peace corp might say “Why war and no peace?”) We have offered them peace but they refused. They made clear to us that their objective is to conquer our universe.

Our universe with millions of galaxies is in a great danger. We have to protect our homeland Earth, the land where we were born, the land where we were educated. We won’t let it die. The Earth needs to live, live millions and other millions of years. The Peace is important for Earth for our allies and for the universe.

Let’s get back to our spaceship. In fact is is a way spaceship with a crew of 40 people. Now that I’m writing I’m inside the spaceship on my way to the combat battle. Ahhh we arrived, anyway I’ve go to go now. “Let the peace be with you!”

7th Grade, 2nd place
Name: Emine Feta
City: Peshkopi

One day my classmates and my teacher said to me that this Monday we will go in space. I can’t believed this. I was very excited. I will see the moon, and other planets. When I said to my parents for this travel they didn’t let me to go in space with my classmates and my teacher. I was so boring. When the next day I went in school my classmates were very happy. It was my terrible day. The lesson finished and I went in my home. I was unhappy. I didn’t talk with my parents.

My mum said, “Emma why are boring? We don’t let you to go for your best. Do you know?”

I didn’t talk. She saw on my eyes and she said to me, “I will talk with your dad again.” My smile return. 4 half later my dad came in my room. I was studying. Emma I have a good news for you. We will let you to go in space like your classmates. Wow. I was surprised. I was happy! Two days later we will go in space, but I couldn’t take more than two things. This is a big problem. I decide. I with take my dog, my love, my big love. I can’t live without my dog. And other thing are my books. I love reading. It is the most thing I do always. Today it’s the big day. In my bag I have my lovely books and in my hands it’s my dog. I was boring because I couldn’t take my phone. I would like to do photos.

7th Grade, 3rd place
Name: Eraldo Brahimi
City: Ksamil

Here is my story: I got up early in the morning. I went at the bathroom to brush my teeth and my face. I was seeing myself in the mirror but I was feeling something was wrong on my face. I turned back and I discovered two eyes on the back of my head. I felt I was going mad. I went near the mirror and suddenly the eyes spend. I was crying and shouting in the house. I run at the wardrobe and started finding my cap. I put my cap in head and I started thinking how that eyes appeared in my head. I couldn’t find anything. Then, my friends asked me to go in a party. I told them to wait some minutes. I went again near the mirror to see if eyes disappeared. But they were still there. I didn’t know what to do. Then I decided to wear my jeans, my jumper, my hat and go to the party. My friends was talking to me but I was thinking about eyes and what I can do to remove them. We went to the party we was dancing. My friend liked my cap and get it. I shouted and all turned their head to me. All saw eyes back of my head. They started tease me and talking to each other.

“Iiiiiiii he is soooo ugly.” “Innormal person.” “Alien.” “What is an alien doing here?”

I run away of the party and I was crying. All peoples was seeing me with dislike. I went in my house and go to my bed. I opened my Facebook and I saw a lot of photos of my eyes. A lot of peoples commented, “Kill him…” “He is an alien.” When I saw all of this I broke my phone and destroy everything. Then I fall asleep in bed. After some hours I got up and I had headache. And I was hearing noise in my head. The noises was getting bigger and bigger. The eyes was opening and closing. Suddenly, the noises stopped. Now the noises wasn’t coming from my head but from the bathroom. I was walking close. I opened the door but I saw only my dog. I thought it was only my imagination. But it wasn’t. Something was moving in the kitchen. I run in the kitchen and I saw some knives in the table. I thought someone wanted to kill me.

Someone was saying, “I did this to you. Are you feeling bad, right? I wanted to know how you would feel. Now you are in the same place I was.”

I was thinking, “What did I do?” He disappeared. I tried to get out my house but all house was with cameras and TV presenter. I got in my house and tried to kill myself. But then I realized it was a bad

8th grade

8th Grade, 1st Place

Name:Egida Saja

City: Tirane, Albania

There’s nothing better than a cup of hot chocolate in the morning. That feeling of calmness, it’s just as if an angel kissed you. But this heaven doesn’t last for too long. An uncanny headache slips through my head. That was uncalled for! I try to lay down and relax but it seems as if someones fighting for their life in an avalanche inside my head. I try it ignore it but it doesn’t seem to help at all. So I get my breakfast and sit in front of the TV. Trying to get from the kitchen to the couch seemed to be a challenge. I’m not happy to say that it took me 5 minutes and about 3 times colliding with the furniture to get there. Thank God I didn’t forget to bring an aspirin before sitting down. I turn on the TV and the first thing I hear and listen is news about a bank robbery. A robbery?! On a Saturday night?! Who would do that?! Well apparently someone had done it since the police were everywhere for them.

The robbery had taken place by midnight yesterday, Saturday. I finish breakfast. The headache was slowly going away. I walk slowly to my bedroom and get dressed. I have time on my hands and I don’t need to rush. I try to clean my room a bit and make it look better but the news was too perplexing. Why do I feel like I am missing something? “It must be from the headache”, I try to brush it off. Then, out of nowhere I see two men dressed in all black coming towards my house. Then a loud pounding noise makes me jump off of my bed. I heard someone shouting “Open Up!”. I was petrified, and didn’t really know what to do, then they shout again “Police! Open the door!” I saw lights flashing and guns being loaded. I open the door as slowly as possible. Then the police officer came in and told me to put my arms behind my head and a ton of other rules. I did what he told me. What else could I do? They take me to the police station. I couldn’t say anything, my mouth had dried up, my heart was pounding and my palms were clammy. We were accompanied by the media the entire time. What did I do now? They put my in a dark room with a small table and a chair in the middle. One of the walls was covered in a huge mirror. The chief commander put me there and left. I had seen too many police movies not to know what they were going to do. That was an interrogation room. I walk up to the mirror and put my finger in it. There was no gap between the reflection and my finger. It was a one-way mirror. Somebody was watching me from the other side. I hear a key turning and the door opens loudly. The detective tells me to sit down and answer this questions. The dialogue goes something like this:

“Where were you yesterday at 9:30 pm?”

“I don’t remember anything from last night.”

“I am asking you one more time, where were you yesterday at 9:30pm?”

“I am telling you one more time I don’t know!”

30 minutes passed by like this. That man was very stubborn and it was grueling to talk to him. I expected a little more sympathy!

They put me in a room with a tiny window. He leaves. I do not know what I had done yet! Then everything starts to turn black, I can’t hear nothing but screaming girls. “What is going on?!” I yell. No answer. I’m pretty sure I fainted. I woke up in a high tech lab. Two huge eyes were looking at me. They were cameras. I try to get up by seizing oen of them. I broke it. I get up and labor on until I get to a huge blueish gate. I hear only a groaning sound.

“What is she doing?” says a familiar voice. I try to yell back saying “She is trying to get out of here!” What a stupid decision! Sarcasm isn’t a good way to answer. But I wasn’t thinking clearly. I heeded a tiny alien like robot trying to inject me a type of medicine (I think). I turn around and hit him. He flies across the room making a squeaking noise. I wasn’t going back to sleep. Oh no, then a boy walks in. He looked like he was trying to figure out what I was doing. “I am NOT going to where I came from” I shout. He was very taken aback by my ability to talk so loudly even after what had happened. He says, “You need to keep your hair on!” But my blood was boiling, I tried to run out the door. He grabs my hand and injects me the syringe. I feel more calmed now. He told me to not talk anymore, otherwise I would end up with cut vocal chords. I shut up. That’s the only logical things I have done all day. He starts explaining, “You were chosen to be our new recruit. We are an organization trying to take over Earth. Not in a bad way though. We are trying to get rid of all the criminals. But to do that we needed some money. You were chosen to get them from the bank.” I knew it! I shout. He looks at me in a very angry way. ‘But as the prophecy foretold you mustn’t tell anyone about this. That’s why we erased your memory! You did a great job. Even though this is treacherous, we want you to help us.” I nodded. He then left. I now remember everything. How I got into their spaceship and how I met that boy. His name is Michaelangelo and he is the commander. I ran out looking for him. He was talking to some aliens. They were from Aphrodite. I had known that before I even got here. They take me back to Earth. THe same thing happens again. The headache, the shouting. As soon as I see the lights I run outside. A cop tries to shoot me but he misses. I had taken some knives with me so I throw them as him and one lands on his right leg. That’s where all the fun begins. I fight some other cops and they weren’t able to catch me. I run as fast as I can. In the meantime a huge black and blue spaceship flies above. The drop some kind of stairs. I grab them and start climbing up. But I get shot in my left foot. Unfortunately the stairs are severed so I fall back down. I wasn’t giving up and neither was Michaelangelo. He falls down and helps me get up. We are standing side-by-side. Both fighting for our lives when suddenly a huge black hole is opened under our feet. We fall down, but go up? I was confused. We found ourselves in Aphrodite. The hole was a teleporting spot. I had managed to open it by pressing a button on the stairs. The spaceship lands next to us. Our plan was going very well. We had managed to capture half of the Earth’s population. There was no turning back. I was thrilled! There was no escape from destiny and if I was chosen I was going to complete my mission.

“So let it be written, so let it be done.” I say to Michaelangelo. He smiles. Within one week our organization had taken over the Earth. We had won, we were controlling the entire Universe. The Earth was our last planet. They all obey our commands and there’s no way of them bringing us down or stirring things up!

8th Grade, 2nd Place

Name: Kristian Blido

City: Roskovec

It was Saturday, my day off. I generally take it easy and slowly on my off days. I get up late, do exercises after a big breakfast. But for my misfortune I could not do exercises that day. You know why? Well, you don’t so I’ll tell you…

I got up at eight past eight and after throwing some water to my face I wore my off day clothes. A big bowl fulfilled with milk and cereals was waiting for me. The next step to having a wonderful day off was turning on the TV and getting informed by watching some news. While watching news program I noticed that a breaking news appeared on the screen, it was about a bank robbery or something like that, I couldn’t read it because my head had been hurting since I got up but it got really intense at that moment. I had to take some medicine to stop that miserable headache. While walking slowly towards the medicine shelf I heard a knock at the door, and after that some others that were more like kicking the door than knocking on it. Fear covered my whole body and at that moment I changed my destination and my pace. I ran towards the door.

“Open up! Open the door, it’s the police!” and immediately after that some police sirens were heard and at that moment I was terrified as hell and for a moment I froze.

At the moment the door was opened I was grabbed by my arms and taken by the police to their cars and then directly to the police station.

A fat man asked me some questions there, that I guess were connected to the bank robbery that had happened earlier that day. While I was being asked by that alien look alike man I was saying to myself:

“What the hell have you done Ted? Had you robbed the bank? How come I don’t know it?”

And surprisingly I got an answer from myself:

“I know, and you too that the only crime we have done is stealing a lollipop from the 2 year old neighbor 6 years ago. So shut up dude and tell that fat, stinky and alien looking police that we are nothing else guilty for except stealing a lollipop.”

I told it to the officer but it was not enough. I was shown by them a video, it was the most unsatisfying video I had ever seen, it was me, with a gun, robbing the national bank. I could do nothing at that moment. Even though many polygraph tests have been done to me, and they all show that I am not lying the video is more reliable than the polygraph tests.

So…. here I am, 105 years old, the federal prison. I’ve been here for almost 70 years and for every single night I’ve seen the very same dream: Being robbed by the aliens, entering their spaceship and spaceship and talking to them for hours about my life and everything else.

8th Grade, 3rd Place

Name: Samantha Gjinaj

City: Fushe Arrez

It was Sunday morning and I got up very late. The clock was about going 1 am. When I get up. I was very hungry. So I make my breakfast and I sit down on the couch and get ready to enjoy my delicious breakfast. I turn on the TV and watch my favorite programs. It was the time of the news so I decided to watch the news. I began to see when I heard that a bank has been robbed in the city center near my mum’s work. I begin to feel stressed and worried for my mum. I call my mum but she didn’t open the telephone. Suddenly, I heard a noise like a car ambulance. I was afraid because all the time I think that it happened something to my mum. I looked in the window when I saw police officers and police cars with their lights flashing in my garden. “Open up!”, they shouted. I was shocked. I stayed for some seconds, then I opened the door. I go get outside and I see the police officers. I was really afraid. The police officers are so angry and nervous. “Hey you!” He shouted to me, “Yes” I say. “Who are you?” He asked me. My mouth was shaking so I couldn’t speak. For me it was a really stressful situation. “I’m Samanta!” I said. The police officers see that I was very afraid so he speak to me quickly. He said to me, “A bank was robbed today and the thief lives in this neighborhood. We are controlling all the houses to see if we can catch the thief. Can i control for some minutes your house?” “Yes” I said.

After some minutes they control my house and didn’t find any persons or anything. They go to control other houses. And in the end they say to be careful. After they go I can my mum. My mum open the phone and say that in her work everything was okay. I tell all of what happened to me and she says to me to close the door and the window and to be careful. At that moment I keep calm but again was afraid because I think to myself that the thief can come to my house and “kill me.”

It was becoming dark. My mum has 3 hours to work then to come to the house. I had forgotten all the things that happened to me. Suddenly the light turns off. I turn on some candles and I stay on the couch waiting my mum coming. I heard a terrible noise. I start to feel afraid. I get outside when I see the leafs moving. I get a torch and see what was there. I was really afraid. The leafs begin to move more and more. I get inside because I was afraid. I stay for some minutes and planning anything. I think that behind the leaves were a thief waiting for the moment to rob my house. I call the police. The police come very fast but very quickly because they want to catch the thief and not for the thief to hear that they are coming. The police come and make a plan to catch a thief. They move their position and wait. I get out and see that the leaves are moving again. The police say, “Who is there?” Suddenly a small and beautiful rabbit gets out. When everybody saw it they began to laugh.

After some minutes my mum came and I tell all the things. We were all laughing for this and I was too. It was really a day to remember which began with a horror story and ended with a comic story. This is a day to remember for me with an amazing history.

9th grade

9th Grade, 1st Place
Name: Doris Cenaj
City: Puka, Albania

All humans are born with an animal companion they can talk to. My animal companion was a bear. My parents were very happy but I was too little to know why at the time. When I grew up, at the age of 12, they told me that people who are born with a bear as a companion are very kind yet strong and are going to be important in everyone’s life as they grow up. I still didn’t understand but went along with it.

My bear was the greatest friend I ever had. Dima was his name and he knew all my secrets since we talked a lot to each other. We would stay together, eat together, sleep and play together. I would tell him all my stories and he would listen until the moon on the sky fell down to leave its place to the sun.

As days passed on, the things my parents said to me when I was little started to take their place in my life. People liked me a lot and they would respect me even if they didn’t know me. My friends adored me and my enemies feared me. I was at the age of 25 when Dima left my side for the first time. I had let him home because I had an important interview in a great company. That day he was acting strange and not obeying me for anything, but I was late and did not do anything for it. After the interview I was flying from happiness because I got the job a hundred people were looking for. I went to open the front door of my house but couldn’t. It was ripped to pieces and I was pretty shocked. I went inside in a big hurry. After looking everywhere around my house Dima was nowhere to be found. Almost falling on my way out, I ran outside to start looking around the neighborhood. After 2 hours of looking Dima was still missing. I had called everyone. My parents said they hadn’t seen him, my friends said that too. I was almost giving up when I had an epiphany.

In my free days we always liked to go for a walk in the park nearby. Dima would always sit with me by the lake and we would remember the times we used to spend with each other when we were young.

I ran to the park and almost got ran over by two cars. When I got there, sitting by the lake, a brownish figure was sitting and from what it seemed he hadn’t noticed me yet. I sat next to him and immediately hugged Dima with my eyes filled with tears.

“Dima! I missed you so much. I almost thought I’ll never see you again. Why did you run away?” I managed to say through his bear body.

“Well Haley.. I needed some time to think alone. And sorry for the door, I didn’t mean to break it.”

To think? Why would he run away to think? Questions kept coming in my head when suddenly he spoke again.

“You never speak to me like you used to. You are always out with job or school, or even friends to even notice me. I’m not saying to not do what you do but at least talk more with me while you are at home. I really miss the old Haley. That Haley that would run through the whole city without getting tired. That Haley who everyone would call weird and loud, even though she doesn’t care. That Haley that would wear slippers and pajamas to school. I miss the little girl with big curly hair in a pineapple style who looks at life’s face and shoots lemons at her. That’s why I ran away! Because you’ve changed so much and I don’t even know why.”

At this point was was crying so much. It was true that I didn’t pay as much attention to Dima like I used to but I didn’t know it was this much.

I finally got Dima to come home after 2 hours of standing with him by the lake. When we were back home I sat by Dima and told him one thing.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been a good friend to you. I swear I won’t let that happen again. So do you forgive me?”

He looked at me. His mouth slightly opened in the form of a smile.

“Okay.” He said slowly “but you’re buying me ice cream tomorrow!”

I was laughing at the last part. God! Dima will make me bankrupt with his ice creams.

“Deal! I forgot to mention I got the job as an editor at that great company I have told you about.”

“That’s great!” Dima said while hugging me. “Now we need to celebrate!”

And that’s what we did. We celebrated with pizza and ice cream and remembered old times.

So this was our story. It didn’t contain great kingdoms or knights. Also didn’t have epic fights or princes and princesses. This was my story of my life with an animal companion. The story of Haley, that weird girl and Dima the brown bear.

9th Grade, 2nd Place
Name: Merita Ferko
City: Fier

For my opinion the Earth without land and only water would be disgusting. There are people who like water and there are others who don’t. Life would be completely different and gross like salty food with chocolate. First of all the cars wouldn’t exist. The transport of people and things would be by boats and ships. Definitely slower life, old life like an old men, who can’t walk without someone’s help. It would be boring. I mean only water and water and water. It would be the same as to take someone who is keen on technology in a library. Life would be strange, like to be in a house in the middle of a forest, in the middle of night, alone with beasts around it. It would be ugly like my grandmother’s fake teeth. A life without land has no sense. There would be no fruits, no vegetables and definitely no natural things. Unhealthy living, like a teenager who eats only fast food, like a couch potato. Science would be the only hope of humans. Life would be like a science-fiction movie. Like to be in another planet with creatures that you don’t know.

It would be a little bit scary, because underwater world is huge and it has a lot of creatures inside. Imagine to wake up in the morning and to realize that a shark or some of them have eaten your yard. Imagine to wake up in the middle of the night because your house is shaking. Then you realize that a whale is playing with it like a basketball or you realize that you will delicious smoothy in her stomach.

On the other hand it would be interesting. The weather would be cute all the time. And the life would be full of crazy amazing adventures. Imagine you can move your house away and you don’t need to hear your spicy neighbor or his ugly dog.

A life in water and no land would be crazy amazing. Crazy because it would be full of strange things and amazing adventures. Is never bad to try or to know new things. Water life would be like an adventure in space, gross like aliens but beautiful like a sky and universe full of stars and colorful planets.

9th Grade, 3rd Place
Name: Megi Belba
City: Tirana

Since I was 3 years old I’ve had a big dinosaur doll like my favorite and special doll. I’ve always imagined that the dinosaur could actually understand me and I could understand him too. One evening I saw an amazing movie with dinosaurs. I went to my room and took Rex (dinosaurs name) and went to a forest. There I saw a big bucket that says: “Entrance to Another World”. I was curious and with Rex in my hands I jumped in. Suddenly I see Rex… it wasn’t like always. He was real, giant, and friendly. I was amazed… Then I saw the place and it was green and filled with lots of dinosaurs that I had never seen before. I realized that I had turned back in time, in the dinosaurs age. I climbed at Rex and saw everything in a more beautiful point of view. Then I started talking and said: “Rex have you ever been here?” I wasn’t expecting a reply but he answered “Yes, I have.” I talked with him for about two hours and we had a lot of fun. He met me with his dinosaur friends, Rocky-Tocky was a yellow dinosaur that could fly; Pinky was a pink female dinosaur that could already see that she and Rex loved each other, and the last one was Mockran, he was a fat dinosaur, I loved them all, but then they were actually explaining to me why I was there. They said that my job was to save dinosaur species from endangering. I should go and talk to another human because he was the reason that dinosaurs would disapear. I went there and talked to him (his name was Jack). He told me that there was no way he could change his mind about not disappearing the dinosaurs. When I asked him why he told me his story. His parents were dead because of dinosaurs and he wanted revenge. I went back to my Rex and his friends and told them why he didn’t like dinosaurs. They looked surprised and then they were smiling. I wasn’t understanding. I wasn’t understanding. They said “Those two people that he says that are his parents aren’t dead. We’re protecting them from the evil dinosaur “Dangenous” that was trying to kill them. I was very happy that they weren’t dead and asked Rex to bring me his parents. I took the parents and met Jack again. He was shocked and absolutely happy. All of them hugged for a long time and were crying from happiness.

Then I asked Jack again: “Have you changed your mind now?” He came to me and said “Thank you”.

“I’ll ask you something.”

“What?” He said, ready to do anything.

I explained why my dinosaur friends were keeping the parents and asked him to erase the dangerous evil dinosaur, the “Dangenous”. He without thinking twice did that and the dinosaur species were saved. I understood that it was time to leave and after hugging all my friends I jumped in another bucket that says “Go back.” Rex told me that he should stay there because there is his place and his species.

I was trying to accept it and when I really did I hugged him very much and said: “I’ll miss you, old buddy.”

Then I returned home. In the real world it hadn’t passed any minutes so I went back home and straight to my room. This was the most amazing adventure I’ve ever had, but it was the end of having Rex with me all the time...

10th grade

10th Grade, 1st Place
Name: Keida Kuca
City: Peshkopi, Albania

“Camping with friends”

Me and my friends are like homies. We like to do a lot of adventurous stuff together and we couldn’t miss camping in the forbbiden forest. That’s right. It’s illegal to wander there because people say that mystical creatures live and show up there. I’ve always been a fan of these things and I’ve seen a lot of movies, just in case.

So, we decided to go camping in the forbbiden forest just after we saw the news on TV, where a giant animal had been wandering around and had killed a young lady, precisely a journalist who had gone there to collect information for news. All the town was shook and they even were afraid to go out of their houses. As I mentioned before, I’m attracketd by the supernatural and I thought it could be a supernatural animal.

But, there was a problem. We weren’t allowed to go and the police had surrounded the entrance of the forbbiden forest.

In order to enter we should be really smart and strategious and of course careful. Our main goal was to catch the beast. We decided to enter backwards because the place was empty of cops. So we did. We took backpacks and two tents. We were 5. We lighted a fire and because we were tired and couldn’t think of better ideas to hunt the beast, we fell asleep. The fire was still alive when suddenly I saw an enormous shadow passing our tent. In my tent we were 3 and in the other there were 2 because there was no place in ours. As soon as I saw the shadow I thought of the beast. When I first saw it, it was giant, hairy, standing on its feet and with its mouth opened showing 2 huge sharp teeth. I admit I was scared so I wake my friends up, but in that precise moment we heard a loud scream. We took our flashlights and ran out to the other tent. But what to see? None of our 2 friends were there. The beast had taken them and in the tent there was written a kind of message: I hunt those who hunt me; You are next! That was definitely a warning. I started to think. Who is that beast who can think and write as intelligently as a human? That was obvious. It was a were wolf. He was out because he must have shifted because of the full moon. We decided to find our enemy and we took wolfsbane (wolfs are sensitive when it comes to this substance). We also took ropes and our flashlights. We started walking and we found a cave; a bloody cave I would say. It must have been his. We entered there and we were bought in a place full of chains. There was he, the werewolf. We brought the plan into life. We couldn’t get any closer to him but we spread the wolfsbane right in front of him and he sneezed. Then he started to cough and cough and he went out of the cave. I guess he was weakening. Our friends were there, fortunately safe and sound. But that was weird. Why would he take them and not hurt them? We definitely needed to go after him and discover the mysterious truth.

The wolf was standing on top of a hill howling to the moon as he was shifting into a human. That was the most magical thing I had seen throughout the entire series of supernatural movies. Why is that? I had seen a lot of them during films? Because I was present. I witnessed a shapeshift of a werewolf!! We were left speechless. I felt like I was in a movie and after 4 mins I would be back preparing for the next scene. But no, it was there and the human was a boy aged between 18 and 20.

He came closer and said: I didn’t want to hurt anybody, I’m a lonely wolf, I don’t have a pack, I’m all by myself. I just realized that he only needed friends because a lonely wolf means a dead wolf. They can’t survive without a pack.

I really liked him. I was fascinated. Of course we couldn’t tell the police or anyone because then we would have been taken for fools. We promised to keep a secret and now every full moon we go to the forbbiden forest and meet our friend. He teaches us everything about wolfs. Even I am starting to feel like a werewolf even though I’m not!

10th Grade, 2nd Place
Name: Semi Kushta
City: Librazhd

I was terrified. There was blood everywhere. It was so cold and I couldn’t see anything from the wind. I started to walk to see what was going on, an suddenly, I saw my friends covered in blood. I started crying cuz I thought my life wold finish. Suddenly, I started bleeding. My noise was full of black blood. After a tree I saw a little cat wich was hungry. I gave her some milk and in that moment I heard:

-Thanks! You’re so sweet.

Oh my god! How can a cat talk to me?

I asked it about the situation. The cat told me it was Lucierro who did this murder because strange people walked on his territory. Now I was hunted by him.

-How can I save from him? - I asked.

-You should marry him because he wants a child. - the cat said to me.

-Never, you heard me? Never! I rather die than marrying with this devil! - I said.

I was nervous. I lost my best friends because of him, and now he wanted to get marry to him! In that moment an earthquake happened and a red man with a huge head and black eyes came from the ground. He started screaming at me because I didn’t want to be his wife.

-So, you are not going to marry me, right? - he said

-Never, okay? I hate you more than everything - I said.

Suddenly I lost my voice. I couldn’t talk or say anything.

-I took your beautiful voice, so you can’t scream anymore - Lucierro said.

I had a knife on my jeans, I took it to kill the devil man, but the cat bite me.

-Why did you do that? - I was shocked.

-How silly you are! - the cat said to me. Don’t you understand that everything here is in order of Lucierro.

My eyes lost the light. I couldn’t see. Lucierro took my heart and ate it. And here was my death. That camping was the end of my life. But I was happy because I didn’t gave Lucierro a sun to complete his purpuses.

10th Grade, 3rd Place
Name: Megi Lubonja
City: Korca

The scariest story ever!

So yeah... this happened to me! In some points, I thought that I was in a film or something like that, but no! It was definitely true! Whoever reads this, please don’t tell! It’s a secret! I’ve promised! I am telling you this because I consider you my friend and we always tell secrets to friends...well, some of them.

It was a normal night. I just had finished the dishies and I was thinking of watching a film. “La la land” was the perfect choice...despite the fact that nobody was with me. Anyway, I made my decision. I turned the TV on and...this is the point where all started. I saw myself on the news! “What?? Wait, wait...what??” this is all I said with my mouth full of Doritos. I was wanted by the police and I hadn’t done anything. I got closer to the TV because I was not believing my eyes. “This young lady is wanted by the police because she murdered a person last night.” What?...wait, wait, wait...What??” I was shocked! I will never kill a person! Never! Well...I have thought of closing my brother in the bathroom and letting him there til he says to me: “You are smarter and more beautiful to me…”, but never kill a person. Suddenly, I heard someone knocking at the door! I opened it, and...omg...someone, identical with me had a gun and she was pointing it to me but she put it down when she saw me. We were shocked! I first though of not letting her get in the house, but I changed my mind. She told me all her story and you are not going to believe it. She was an alien and she killed that person because her bosses told her so. That person had killed an alien and this is against alien’s laws. I was not sure what I was going to do, but I was definitely not going to do pranks with her...for sure! I gave her food...yeah...human food and let her sleep in my house. When I woke up in the morning, she had left. Luckily I had cameras all over my house and saw what happened. A huge alien spaceship had took her. It was a spectacular ploy! I didn’t do anything! I didn’t went to the cops because I knew that if humans found out, we will fight a battle which we know, we will be the loosers. I know that I sound like a coward, but this is the right decision.

That’s it! Interesting, isn’t it? Well, it was a lot of scarier than interesting. For all of you who want to see an alien, please take that wish out of your “Resolutions list”. Aliens are like humans all in all. Some of them are nice, like the alien I met, but some of them are very mean. Oh yeah...please don’t tell anybody!

11th grade

12th grade

11th Grade, 1st place
Name: Daniel Beqaj
City: Tirane, Albania

I wake up with a terrible headache. My body is exhausted and I’m having a weird feeling that something bad has happened. The bright light is hurting my eyes and the fact that it is so quiet freaks me out. I open my eyes and try to get up. I have been sleeping on the floor the whole night. My body starts shivering so fast and I have no idea what the hell is going on. My bedroom floor is all blu and not white, and what is around me is definitely not my room. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know where I am or what is happening.

Yesterday, I was home all day because it was Sunday. I remember that I was having a hard time with my history homework and that essay that I had to write on the World War II. It might have took me some hours and after I finished I jumped on my bed. It doesn’t make sense and nothing explains what I am doing in this big white room. My blood is rushing and I scream: “Help! Help! Help me, please!” Nobody replies. I started to run as fast as I can to god knows where. As I was running I hit something hard and I fell on the floor.

My nose is bleeding everywhere. I was surrounded by glasses everywhere. It looks like I’m in the middle of some observatory or something. There are a few buttons on one of the glasses. Not knowing what to do I desperately press on the green button. I back off as a door opens. I get out of that prison and start running for my life. What are they doing to me? There are so many blackboards with so many equations and mathematical solutions everywhere. I don’t understand anything. Thank you physics and maths classes! You really come in handy! I turn around and I scream my heart out. Goosebumps invade my skin everywhere and it feels like I’m having a heart attack. There was a mirror in front of me reflecting a figure ery known to me, but I just cannot find out who. Maybe I am so terrified that I cannot remember anything at all. I’m in the body of someone else. In the walls there are hundreds and hundreds of medals and certificates. They all have the name of someone called Peter Higgs. All those physics equations, these certificates and this white room that looks like a lab come to the conclusion that I’m in the body of Peter Higgs. What has he done now. This is not my life. I have to go back to where I was. I’m not not a physicist. Well, not yet. I’m just a high school student. I’m so young and I don’t wanna be living anyone’s life but mine. I feel safe now and I think that I’m getting to understand it all. Mr. Higgs might have been doing a “little experiment” on teletransportation and maybe something wrong has happened and now we’re in each other’s bodies. I get a wonderful idea and I run to the nearest computer. I send an e-mail to my phone in Albania and I write:

“Dear Peter,

This is Daniel. I think that you finally proved that teletransportation and hooray to that! Unfortunately, we’re on each other’s bodies right now and I think I have to get mine back. Please tell me what to do.”

I cross my fingers as I wait for that reply. Peter sends me an e-mail and I start to cry. I don’t know why cause I usually don’t get that emotional. I do as he’s told me. I jump again on that hell of a prison, but not afraid this time. I push the button and I hear a huge noise.

I’m on the ground. I’m actually on my school’s toilets. I go straight to my class. Everybody staring at me. They told me I’ve been speaking english all day acting like I forgot albanian. I also got a 10 in physics and they told me that my teacher was amazed by the solution of that exercise. I feel so happy and I cry again. They start laughing at me cause they know me well and they know that I never cry. I hear a ding-dong. It was a notification on my phone. I open it and it’s an e-mail:

“Dear Mr. Beqaj,

Thank you a lot! Your physics teacher almost had a heart break there, but I think she will never forget this day. By the way, I’d be delighted to have you present at my Nobel Prize Decoration. We’ll stay in touch.

Peter Higgs”

That was the happiest day of my life. They say the best things usually happen when you’re not expecting them, but now I fully understand it.

11th Grade, 2nd Place
Name: Eva Marku
City: Roskovec

Switching my life with someone else is the hardest thing ever. But switching my life with someone famous is totally a different thing. Anyway it is still hard. I have everything I want in my life. So, who in the Earth have something more?

Goku!

I know! Some people don’t know him and he isn’t a person at all but he is famous for most of the children, including me. I was grown up watching “Dragon Ball Z” and I dreamed every night being like him, flying, having power and saving the Earth. So maybe, this is time to complish a child’s dream.

It is Sunday! Oh, I love Sundays. It is the best day to switch your live whith someone else. I wake up, wear my red clothes (T-shirts and pants) and put the black belt on. Then I go in front of the mirror to see myself and I don’t see anything at all. I forgot we are in the real life and I don’t exist. I am only an animation, only a paint. At least people can see me. and I can see myself to. I have short black hair, I am tall, and I look like I am going on a karate course. I have a wife and a child named Gohan and this day is going to be super fun.

I remember from the last day when I was “me” that a bad guy came to town. So being Goku was the best choose ever. This guy’s name was Rex.

I went out in the street and everything looked like dessert. People were gone, and some of the buildings were destroyed. I took a deep breath and when I opened my eyes I found my self on the air...flying. OMG! I started running, and moving. I went so high that I can see all the city under my feet. And there it was...Rex! He was totally blue and he was destroying other buildings. Like all the other monsters I knew that all he wanted was to have power and to be the king of the world. I have only one day to destroy him, so this was the perfect time for a face to face. He was uglier than I expected. We didn’t talk at all because we started fighting. I made a ball of fire with my hands and I threw it in front of him. It didn’t kill him so I needed a bigger ball. I remembered what Goku did when he wanted some power. He put his hand up and ask for help. This was a way to collect power. I did it the same because I was him and I could do it and of course I did. I collected the power and I made the biggest ball of fire ever. I didn’t knew people still belived at Goku as much as I did when I was younger… And there I was, as a hero! I destroyed Rex and then the sky became clearer, the people came out. Suddenly the buildings were new and everything became so beautiful. I found my self in the middle of people watching me with happiness. I was so happy to be Goku. And if at first I choosed to be him because I wanted power, now I knew that I was wrong. Happiness on people’s eyes gave me more power that any other famous could. My dream come true!

11th Grade, 3rd Place
Name: Elma Kadia
City: Lezhe

In the future I’ve always wanted to be a doctor, but if I could switch my live with someone else, he would be the before president of USA, Barack Obama.

I started loving him at the temi he had to leave the White House, because that time there were a lot of news and portals online, even my sister she’d to talk everyday how such a great man he is, and suddenly I wanted to meet him and to be him.

He had one of the most important posts in the humanity history. He wasn’t only the president of USA, he was the president “of the world” as well.

He tried to make a better world and he was the first black man who was chosen as a president in USA, that's why he wanted to show the world that the thing that lead the world is not the color but the wish to make a better world.

If I was him for a day, I would do already the same things because he did everything with love. I’d woke up near first lady, and then kisset my girls, drink a coffee and thank God for my life and pray to him to give me the power to be a good person and a good president for my people and my country. Then I’d go to work and meet my friends. I mean the Minister, the Primeminister ect but they are all my friends.

I’d say something funny just to make them smile, because working for your country is such a stressing work. After that I’d go at my office and start doing what I do better, lead my country and take care of my people. During my day I’d go out in the cities as a normal person and see the actual problems that people have, and I really would try to understand every desire or need that everyone has.

To me, it would be so important (as it was for Barack) that I’m not only a good president, but a good husband, a good father and a good friend, because people need to se the good everywhere. If I was him I’d worked a lot to make USA not only the best place (because to me being the best is not important being the best), I’d make USA a place where good people would come from, and those people would show the world that love and humanity and greatness and being sociable are the only way to save our children and to have a good future.

At the end of the day, when it would be the time to go at my home, here in Lezha, at my warm family and at my life, I’d say to him during the switch because there has to be a little pause just to meet him. I’d say, “Thanks mister Barack Obama” you are already the man I’d be, but I love my life and there is something of you in my heart that want to change the world, but in this situation the only thing I can change and make better is my life, my family and my friends.

Everyone need to be a little Barack and try to make the world better by making good decisions and being a good human.

12th Grade, 1st place
Name: Sonja Cenaj
City: Puka, Albania

Right at the moment when Prince Charming lowers himself to kiss the Sleeping Beauty, his breath slightly caught up in his throat by her very living up to her name beauty, a loud noise causes him to turn around and forget his earlier thought. There is a man standing in front of him. He’s tall, built, and if he could dare say, even handsome. His everys are a dark brown, and his hair a sweet chestnut color, and he is also breathing heavily and looks like he has something important to say.

“They, t-they are coming!”

Before the handsome stranger gets the opportunity to properly finish his sentence an axe flies into the room. Shattering a window and ripping its way to a wall. A loud noise of people shouting can be heard. The unmistakable, dreadful, battle call!

“We have to go, quick!” The stranger says, grabbing our prince by the arm and guiding him through the tight passages of the castle with a suspicious easiness.

They soon enough arrive at the top of the highest tower, only to see the most terrifying sight of their lives. Witches, ogres, giants, goblins, and more of the terrifying creatures that moms used to tell about in their bedtime stories, all gathered in an enormous army.

“There is not time! Come!” the guy says but Prince stops him before he drags him further away.

“What about the princess?” but the stranger just grabs his arm again while saying “Come! She’ll be fine! The curse protects her from harm.”

The Prince does as he’s told, obediently following the stranger through more paths and stairs.

The stranger suddenly stops in front of him, making Prince hit his forehead on the guy’s shoulder. He turns to look at the place, the stranger has brought him and he is left completely shocked.

A great castle hall, slightly ruined and dusty from the lack of use, is filled with 100 maybe 300 soliders. He is able to recognize some faces among them.

Rapunzel, the unmistakable yellow-headed girl, who used her hair as a weapon. Snow White, surrounded by her animal friends. It was said that her voice could kill hundreds. There were also Alice, the Mad Hatter, Rabbit, and more and more faces , the names of whom Prince had only been able to hear in heroic songs. They all seem moved by his presence, as if they had been waiting for him.

“ Is anyone going to tell me what is going on?” the Prince asked, slightly confused by the sudden situation.

“ We are at war!” states the unknown boy that brought him there. “Oh how silly of me! Rider. Flynn Rider. I have heard great things about you, your majesty.” the gu-Flynn says shaking Prince’s hand.

“What is the matter? How grave is our situation?” He asks.

“ I could dare say critical your majesty.” Rapunzel says, leaving her place and pacing towards him.

“The Ice Queen has declared us war, forcing us to leave our kingdoms and rush all the way here to stop her. We need all the men we can gather, as they are too many and very dangerous.”

“I understand.” states the Prince. “If I understand properly, what you ask of me is to join your fair battle to defeat evil. Then I promise I shall give my best, even if it means risking my life.”

“They broke the gate!” a young boy screams, running into the hall to give the news to the people.

“ Then we shall fight! Are we ready?” Flynn shouts, earning a powerful yell form the soldiers. Then they march…

“Mommy, no. Tell me the ending. Tell me how it goes,” Tommy, a 6 year old boy dressed in blue pajamas demands, pouting, moving from his bed just slightly.

“ Well,” his mother starts, “they march all the way to the despicable army, defeating each and every one of them. You could see cards flying everywhere, witches casting spells, goblins, and ogres destroying everything. Rapunzel could be seen fighting, using her hair as her best weapon. Snow White let out a powerful scream, defeating hundreds. Prince Charming fought bravely with his sword, giving the battle its ending, and so did each and every single one of them, working as a big team to defeat evil.”

“Did Prince Charming get to kiss Sleeping Beauty after the battle ended?” Tommy asks again, hugging his teddy bear a little tighter.

“Well, they had won the battle, not the war, so after that Prince Charming solemly promised to join the army and fought many other battles, giving a great contribution to defating the evil Ice Queen. After the war ended, Prince Charming let the kingdom in hands of his most trusted friend, Flynn Rider and lived his remaining years wandering the sea. Then end.”

12th Grade, 2nd place
Name: Oksana Hoxha
City: Roskovec

“Bad Cinderella”

All the fairy tales start with: “Once upon a time…”. But after that they don’t know the end or they know but they are lied from this. They did once to me and I’m writing that part to you.

And after ten days of anxiety, she decided to go to that theme park called “Middle Dead” in London. Cinderella was allowed to go there after the midnight or the magic will disappear. She was dressed in black because the Prince sent her a letter where was written: “Be dressed in black. The Hell doesn’t like white color.” Because her cookie (cookie=Prince) know that she had a white soul. After all she didn’t know that this wasn’t the last letter.

Cinderella was waiting till midnight. And after a long time waiting, she fell asleep. The beauty of Prince saw a nightmare, a midnightmare, I would say. She saw a black widow biting her heart. And the widow said to her: “ you are mine because you are a lie to him!”...

The Big Bang cracked 12. She woke up and started the journey to “Middle Dead” Park. It was a long street, dark night with lots of black cats in the rubbish bins. But she wasn’t scared, because she was going to meet her true love.

After 31 minutes, she was in front of the Park’s door. It is a huge park and none dared to go there, because it has a frightening love story. Her cookie showed it to her while they first meet in Palace Ball. Even though she didn’t understand why he was telling her that story during a dance called “Lust love dance”.

However, she entered in the Park, in the Dark Park. Hearing only some bats, walking only with the Moon’s light, she felt scared at a moment. She found a chair, a wooden chair. She set down waiting for her dear cookie.

After a long time she stood up and behind the chair she found a letter (the second letter). (4:31 am). It was writed with blood. It said: “FOR HER! 1,000,000,000 goodbyes and I’m sorry!” She was shocked but more when she found even her missing high heel made special from her with glass.

Cinderella understood everything. She was destined, end the story. They story Prince told her in Ball. She walked through the forest, dressed in black with the letter in one hand and the shoe in the other one. All those memories around her: “ I will always love you! If i give you the true love kiss, would you wake up?! I’m your cookie and….I will never forget you and if I’m lost, I will find firstly you then myself!”

She said: “He waited 10 days for me and now I wll be with him for the entire life”.

Cinderella found herself in front of River Thames. In tears, she jumped into the river..

She completed the prophecy of the love story. Now Cinderella belongs to that black widow.

THE END!

12th Grade, 3rd place
Name: Sara Zambaku
City: Elbasan

“Listen, I know this is going to seem weird, but I had to come back in time to tell you this!

I just stood there, not knowing what to do or what to say. My brain freezed for like a whole minute. I took off my glasses, rubbed my eyes very quickly and said: “Well, I don’t seem to know you lady”!! With sharp movements, I was just getting ready to close the door, and go back to my precious books, but then again I felt two cold soft hands shaking my whole body. “It’s me, I mean I am you”.

“Well that’s what not getting a lot of sleep is doing to my life.” I answered, but then my eyes met her eyes, her lips, her birthmark and it all looked so familiar to me.

“You have to listen to me, there are a lot of things that you have to do this night, and we have no time to lose! The destiny of your life, your friends and your family, everybody in this town is depending on you right now”!

Okay, that’s the moment I seriously thought it was some kind of joke, but no, I looked at her, she was me! Not exactly me though, plain black hair, big glasses, winged eyeliner, serious clothes a fit body- she looked like she had just come from some kind of important reunion. But what kind of reunion? Why were people all of a sudden depending on me?!

That’s when I said: “‘Kay, tell me everything, I am going to list to you”. At some point we realized we were standing in my front door, she pushed me in my house, she checked if there was anybody spying on us and then she just walked in and went directly to the sofa I always sit in. Laughing she said, “You should know this is my spot”.

I tried to smile but my face still matched my thoughts. What was going on? She figured out I wanted the answers to all my questions right away so she jumped right in:

“So, I am 35 year old you. You know you always wanted to study medicine? Well you did, not only you studied but you made it out to be the best graduating student, straight As for six years! After university I worked at a lab with a famous scientist, we did research to modify human’s cells and genes, but what happened next was horrifying! Mr. Fry, the scientist I was working with, was blackmailed and soon after that, he gave out all the information we had.”

“Okay, but what’s the problem? What can I do to change things?” I said.

“Shut up and listen to me, now you are 20, right? You wanna know who blackmailed and killed Mr. Fry? Well Amanda did! And you wanna know who Amanda is? She’s the consultant of sales and manager or your beloved fiance, the woman which who you arranged him a meeting tonight to talk about business! Or should I say to talk about giving this town a fatal end!”

“What? Seriously explain things to me..”

“After killing the poor doctor, they had access in all of our databases, and honey in the world I live in, everything is about technology, every city is independent, countries don’t exist anymore, there is a new world order. What they are doing is recruiting teenagers in the factory of this town. People are supposed to work these 24 hours, so they never get out of there! But don’t get confused, they don’t work, as soon as they get in the factory they are taken for all sorts of experiments. We have to stop this, you have to stop this! Because this night is crucial for everybody. I’ll tell you what you gotta do.”

She got up from the red sofa and headed to the back door.

“Get up we have stuff to do!”- she said, I looked at her and said “Stuff, what stuff?” She got closer, took my hand and said: “Just follow me.”

And that’s exactly what I did, we ran across all my neighbors courts, then she stopped in the middle of the street, she bent and she opened a secret passage with a key made entirely of glass. I was pretty surprised but with all what was going on, there was no time for for comments of any kind. We walked down the passage down the street and were exactly underneath our town. It didn’t take us longer than 5 minutes to reach her lab, everything was so elaborate, it took my breath away. There were cameras and videos live from the specific places in town and a lot of cameras from the factory.

“What are these? When did you have time to do all of this”?

“I arrived in the past yesterday, but I didn’t come alone, I brought with me all the things I need to help you”. Saying that she sat in a chair, she typed something and a lot of instructions came right away. Then she gave me a big box, telling me everything I needed was in there. I opened it and it was full of stupid stuff like theatre tickets, credit cards, a perfume, and an address.

“Your game starts now, if you succeed, nothing will happen. Your life will continue to happen normally. In the box you will find the clues to everything. Don’t mess this up seriously!

“What, I don’t understand?!”

Then something hard hit me in the back of my head, it hurt like hell but I couldn’t react. I opened my eyes, I saw a blue ceiling, and understood I was in my bedroom…”Was it all a dream?” I said to myself. Then I turned my head around. I saw the white box I gave to me, a notebook, a timer in my lampdesk. My time had started and I had to save everything! That was pretty messed up!

university

Professional

1st Year University, 1st Place
Name: Livia Kili
City: Tirana, Albania

It is simple, if I ha the chance to visit any place in the world, I would choose to go to the top of the Everest mountain. Most of the time we get attracted by what mankind has created, forgetting that the real masterpieces are created by nature.

I am born in Tirana and I have also lived here my entire life. It is a large city, with a large population and air pollution which is not very friendly with our lungs. Deep inside I have always felt the need to create a relationship with nature and it doesn’t seem possible. Everytime you open your eyes your view gets interrupted by some tall buildings. Everytime you listen closely you can’t hear nothing but the disturbing sounds of machines. Everytime you want to fill your lungs with fresh air, you can’t help but find yourself disappointed. Here in Tirana, like in many large cities everything moves too fast. People move too fast, even time moves too fast.

That’s why I choose Everest because for once I want to feel free, free from this life that is keeping us chained. I want to feel like I am the owner of my life. I want to create a bond with the world. To feel like I belong here.

The top of the Everest mountain doesn’t represent just a place, a location, it represents hope. Hope not only to reach the highest place on earth, but the hope to reach the highest parts of our soul. Those parts that are kept out of reach by the society that we live in. We are taught to live between walls and unfortunately we have built walls in our minds. And if there is a chance to break these walls I want to try it. Breathe in, breathe out, free my mind. I am at the top now.

2nd Year University, 1st Place
Name: Enea Pelivani
City: Tirana

Dear Alpha,

This is 02132 from the Air District writing. Things down here are starting to change, at least I think so. Days are being longer and longer. Faces are being brighter an brighter and souls darker and darker. Why neighbor N14 doesn’t say anymore “good morning”, actually I don’t see him often. I think he is sick. At school they keep telling us the story of the massive explosion coming from that force that changed our life. They keep showing us the same footage and the same people running to the shelters our Supreme Leader created for us. They say life is much better now. It is even better than before the explosion they say, but I don’t think so.

Now I am 13, and I don’t believe anymore. I want to go up there and see. I wrote to the Chief of District, but he told me that they do not have any plans or intentions to go on the surface. Furthermore no one that went there returned and I am very young to try.

I spend every day dreaming how is it up there. If there are any human beings? Do the animals in the ancient history books stil exist? I tried to talk about it with my friend. C12, but she refused to. She told that they don’t allow her to stay with me or any of the other boys in the classroom. I know she is having the same ideas and feelings that I have.

I cannot stand the pressure anymore. We are being told to eat less because it is better, but I think they are doing this because there is not enough food. I am afraid to tell this to anyone.

The Supreme Leader has also announced a ban on the families to have babies. I don’t know what they are, but I have been told that I used to be one of them when I was younger. Isn’t it cruel. I think I used to be cute.

Everyday I dream about being a superhero. You know Hercules, Batman, Superman? I think they really exist up there and I want to be one of them. Please give me an advice. What should I do? Or can you give me a map of going out of here? O you know someone that can help me?

Please write back.

Friendly greetings,

02132

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Dear 02132,

I read your letter, but I can’t say or do so much. I think life is good own here, but anyway, you choose what you do with your life. Remember that you only live once, so do your best. Keep dreaming! All you have to do is give life a meaning, in other words, find the meaning of it.

Talk to your friends. Greet and salute them even if they don’t. Spend time with them.

By the way, the key to going out of here is in your heart. You choose what you want to be. I am too old to help you! I can only say three words- Love-Time-Death. Begin there.

Act like what you want to be.

Hope I hear from you soon. See you there.

Alpha

P.S. The meaning of life is to give life meaning.

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Dear Alpha,

I hope this letter comes to you. I am up here on the surface. I kept reaming. I talked about my dream with N14 and C12. They had been thinking about it too. We said a lot to find the exit sign on the map, but nothing. We then realized that I was actually our bad that could make us speak.

There is not any need for any fairytale bliss, or any superhuman force. We went there by using our heart to love, keeping in mind that we shouldn’t lose time and we shouldn’t fear death.

It seems that actually nothing has happened here. No destruction, no lifes lost. I have no met any superhero yet, and I don’t think they exist anymore. I just met some people with superhuman feelings.

Days are warm and smiles bright. It feels like home and I am I never gave up.

I am going to tell you a secret. You are not living underground. It is only a general illusion. Wow I am learning that it was created by the forces that wanted to control us, but now cannot even feed us. Hope that others can understand. Hope I see you soon.

Yours,

02132

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Dear 02132,

Glad you are one of us now and you learned the power of humanity. Unfortunately we can’t help others, they have to find their own way, just like you, but we are waiting for other people like you and your friends. Only together we can start the revolution. The revolution of the social hearts.

See you,

Alpha

Professional, 1st Place
Name: Pamela Isufati
City: Libohove, Albania

Thinking of going to a fortune teller to know your future, sounds insane to me because I think that the owner of our future or destiny it’s only us. We can make the change, we can make the difference, the power is ours and we’re the one to make our future brighter and better.

But let’s imagine that out of the blue I came across a fortune teller and she told me exactly where I’ll be in 20 years. At the time I met her I was so powerless to make any change, I felt hopeless and always going down and down. My mood and negativity made the people around me negative too, or this was how I saw it. And now I’m in front of this big lady, who is gifted with this power, ability to know a stranger’s future.

I don’t know what is she going to tell me, how is my future predicted to be in 20 years? My knees are shaking. I don’t believe in these things. I think that we give them the power and then they control us. And now this thing is happening has two sides, just like a coin. I can be anywhere in 20 years if I work hard and I know what I want. Let’s suppose my future in 20 years will be better than now. But what if the opposite happened? How am I going to feel?

Oh, now I figured it out. I’m feeling like this because the deeper you dig inside me, the more you find out what a curious type I am. Curiosity led me to be who I am today. And if this lady if gifted with the ability to predict my future in 20 years, I’m gifted with the power of curiousity an the trusting issue.

Yes, I do want to hear it. If it is a good prediction and I’ll be where I really want to be in 20 years, I’m using it as a motivation. If not, and my situation may worsen than I’m considering it as an unsure thing which depends on me. The harder I’m going to work, the luckier I’ll be and the future is in my hand.

To conclude this story, I would like to point out that I don’t believe in fortune tellers. I believe in myself. But I decided to hear my prediction because I’m curious. I don’t know what she predicted about me. I don’t want to sound like an optimistic or pessimistic person. I’m taking her prediction as a motivation to be where she told me I will be if it’s the same place, or I’m taking it as a motivation to be where I want to be if she saw my future darker. The change is in us, we can create our future and we can make it the best if we really trust in our abilities and ourselves. The key is to work hard and have self confidence and we can be the fortune tellers of ourselves.

Professional, 2nd Place
Name: Lazjon Petri
City: Korca

Here is the story of Ella. Actually this is just one of her dozens worth sharing to everyone. I’m doing this to you, humbly. I’ll be brief.

Ella is 9 years old. She is pure as every 9 years old kid grown up with love. I bleieve that is why Dante Alipheri chose 9 circles to describe Hell, since he almost lost his pureness himself when he was 9.

But that’s another story.

Let me come back to Ella, please. Ella is smiling all the time. Even when she hardly understands a thing of what she is being told. Even when everybody around is angry. Even when she is told she did a mistake. She does forget sometimes to smile and then immediately she shakes her head and her beautiful curly hair makes her smile and laugh again.

Once she was on holidays, together with her family. As she was talking with the waves and the wind she heard a big noise from nearby. A large group of people were gathered together in a circle and everyone had shown their backs to the sun.

She wondered how one ran skip embracing the sun with love and respect and forget about it. She ran to see what was happening with a big wish the waves she was talking to up to know maybe they are doing a surprise to her. Maybe they brought another sun, particularly for that very beach. To tell it short to you, those people were gathered to a fortune teller. She was a fat lady in her 50s. She represented the Hollywood of astrologists on Earth.

After 2 hours and 33 minutes it was the turn of Ella and her life to be forseen. In those 7 minutes of discussion with the big fat lady, Ella was almost turned into a 20 years old one. She felt as another person.She felt as her life was over. She felt weak. While walking back towards her family, a fisherman, an old noble fisherman grabbed her full attention. Her unique sunny smile greeted him. Maybe he barely saw her. He might have seen only a blessed beautiful smile walking on the hot sand. She hugged him as she knew him from ages.

After a marvelous lecture on fish and sea, she took the courage and told him what the fortune teller did foresee on her. She felt released. However, she was feeling less lighter than the moment she was told who she was going to be in twenty years by that lady. She breathed out and she was admiring the careful listening of the noble wise fisherman. He smiled to her. She kindly touched his long white beard and approached Ella by gently touching both her shoulders by watching her into her eyes and by telling:

“Dear Ella, you remind me of my daughter who lives in Paris. She did also encounter a storyteller on your age and she was as well scared and powerless. Let me tell you something I’ve discovered myself while travelling around the oceans. Remember yourself as you are right now and keep this with you, together with your dreams as you grow older. Listen to your inner voice. Be grateful, you may listen to it and have the courage to love your voice. Love it because you are great. You are complete. The whole universe is in your the same as the whole you relies on the universe. You have all your answers in you. I love you and your inner voice. Be yourself and just listen. Share your uniqueness to the world. It really needs it. Watch out your thoughts because when repeated they gradually turn into words. They become habits, actions, and then they embody your character. Many actions will try to shape your character. Your parents will do so. Your school will do so. Your TV will do so. Your books will do. Your social and asocial circles and media will do so. Choose carefully which thoughts are worth to become yours. The person you want to become in twenty years depends on you as anything else.”

Professional, 3rd Place
Name: Anila Lloshi
City: Fier

Fortune teller?!

Destiny?!

God decision?!

Our own path?!

Free will ?!

What are we?? As human beings, presenting the highest level of intelligence, maturity, humanity, faith...can we be a coincidence?? Or all of the above are given to us for a reason?? In case “yes”, what would that reason?!

I have had a long “journey” here on earth, making decisions of my own; for good or bad, but never needed a fortune teller, the horoscope or anything like that to tell me if I will succeed at something or no…

If a fortune teller will tell me my future, I wouldn’t be afraid at all to hear that…even if that would be dying too soon…(cause death is not the scariest thing...it’s just the end, some other start in some other form of life) even getting sick...getting old… hurt… Perhaps it would be painful learning that I can loose my really close ones: our loved one, family members...but I wouldn’t be afraid hearing that...cause it won’t stop it from happening.

Fortune teller...or else… can’t say anything that is not part of life; all can happen, and very often we are powerless to change it...so what’s the point of waiting for someone else to tell me that?

I can be my own fortune teller. I can tell myself every night and every morning that this can be my last day… that my loved people perhaps will not be there tomorrow...and decide to enjoy the day, every moment, as if were my last; trying hard to do all the good things I can and give all the love and help I have so there can be no regrets. I can tell myself every night and every morning that I’m going to live for a hundred years and decided to enjoy every day, every second...never getting tired.

Life is a gift. A chance. A travel. Sometimes I think that we should live this life just like travelers, happy and polite ones; who know that their time is short and decide to do good deeds...not wasting it.

Being grateful for who and what we are, being proud, responsible for the tracks we’ll leave behind on this planet, is the only way we should be living, or dying.

Free will is our best gift. God has signed the roads...the path...we decide which to follow. Fortune teller, perhaps can “read”, but we are the ones who “write” the pages of our lives. So...do good. Smile. Speak good...or otherwise be silent...and come what may...carry on...be patient...with a beautiful patience!