Skye's Scribbles By Jodie Carpenter
@skyesscribbles 7h
Omg, my life seriously. It’s literally a joke.
@skyesscribbles 7h
I mean, get this. It’s Friday and I’M staying in while my MOM is going pole dancing.
@skyesscribbles 7h
That’s right. POLE dancing. My MOM. Those two things definitely don’t belong in the same sentence. #awkward #pleasenosparemybrain
@skyesscribbles 7h
I don’t know if she’s a legend or an embarrassment??
@skyesscribbles 7h
AND she’s got a date tonight with Mr Pole Dancing instructor. What does he see in her?
@skyesscribbles 7h
In answer to my last two questions: 1) an embarrassment 2) she’s just come down the stairs in a turquoise crop top and leopard-print leggings. So so gross *throws up*
@skyesscribbles 7h
This is NOT happening. There’s NO food in the house. Just a Post-it note on the fridge telling me to have cottage pie.
@skyesscribbles 7h
But all Mom’s left me are the INGREDIENTS to make a cottage pie. I’ve got to assemble the whole thing myself! Madness!
@skyesscribbles 7h
I may go on a hunger protest.
@skyesscribbles 7h
I’m too bloody starved for that though. I wonder if there’s anything else in the cupboard?
@skyesscribbles 7h
Yuck, just a half-eaten packet of peanut cookies.
@skyesscribbles 7h
*sigh*
@skyesscribbles 6h
How do potato peelers even work? WHAT IS THIS SORCERY?
@skyesscribbles 6h
I’ve sliced open my bloody thumb!!!
@skyesscribbles 6h
Oww. Oww owwwww.
@skyesscribbles 6h
It hurts to type.
@skyesscribbles 6h
*Googles ‘how to stop your thumb from bleeding’*
@skyesscribbles 6h
Panic over. Managed to wrap my wound up with a dinosaur plaster I found at the bottom of the medicine cabinet. I’m going to wave my disfigured thumb in Mom’s face when she returns as punishment. That’ll show her.
@skyesscribbles 6h
It doesn’t half sting though.
@skyesscribbles 6h
That was proper weird. I was just slicing carrots (not my fingers) when I heard a bang outside in the garden. Like something falling.
@skyesscribbles 6h
I can’t see anything though. It was probably just Vincent terrorising the local wildlife again. Bloody wildcat.
@skyesscribbles 6h
I’m seriously loving the new Fall Out Boy album.
@skyesscribbles 6h
Note to self: don’t dance around while still holding knives. I’m not going to have any appendages left at this rate.
@skyesscribbles 6h
Jesus bloody Christ. I can’t breathe.
@skyesscribbles 6h
Gimme a minute.
@skyesscribbles 6h
I was just going about this cooking business, singing along with Patrick Stump when I turned around and saw it.
@skyesscribbles 6h
There’s something outside. There was a shape on the bench at the end of the garden. A person-shaped shape.
@skyesscribbles 6h
Now I’m hiding in the hall.
@skyesscribbles 6h
Craaaappp. What do I do?
@skyesscribbles 6h
What if it’s just the neighbour’s kid? He’s always booting his football over into our garden and climbing over for it. I’ll feel like a right idiot if it’s him I’m hiding from.
@skyesscribbles 6h
BUT OH MY GOD WHAT IF IT’S A BURGLAR? I SHOULD CALL THE POLICE.
@skyesscribbles 6h
You’re right @rebelbelle. I need to make sure I’m not imagining things first. I’m not calling the police over just for Greasy Mikey next door.
@skyesscribbles 6h
Crap, does that mean I need to go back into the kitchen?
@skyesscribbles 6h
I can do it. I’m going in.
@skyesscribbles 6h
False alarm. I must have imagined what I saw. I’ve closed all the blinds though just to be sure. I can’t help feeling I’m being watched.
@skyesscribbles 6h
This is the worst Friday ever. Seriously.
@skyesscribbles 5h
Okay, so I think that’s all the stuff for the cottage pie ready now? I guess I just stick it in the oven and hope I don’t burn the place down?
@skyesscribbles 5h
What do I do now? Just sit and watch it?? How long do these things take to cook anyway?
@skyesscribbles 5h
Hmm. Just come into the living room to put Netflix on. Vincent is curled up on the settee. Judging by how warm he is, he’s been there for ages too. I could have sworn I heard him outside though.
@skyesscribbles 5h
Thanks @AlyssaO2002 – I probably am just overreacting as usual.
@skyesscribbles 5h
You’ve got to love a bit of Gilmore Girls. Kirk is just the best.
@skyesscribbles 5h
This can’t be happening. I swear I heard something in the house.
@skyesscribbles 5h
It was probably just something on the TV though, right???
@skyesscribbles 5h
There it is again! I’ve paused the TV so it’s definitely not coming from that.
@skyesscribbles 5h
It sounds like it’s coming from upstairs? Like footsteps or something?
@skyesscribbles 5h
I don’t know @rebelbelle. Hopefully it’s just the floorboards settling or something. Maybe it’s nothing? It doesn’t feel like nothing though.
@skyesscribbles 5h
Yeah @rebelbelle call me?
@skyesscribbles 5h
Okay, feeling a bit calmer now thanks to @rebelbelle. I always have had an overactive imagination.
@skyesscribbles 5h
Jesus! I’d just settled back into watching another awkward Friday night dinner with Lorelai and her parents when my phone buzzed and scared the crap out of me.
@skyesscribbles 5h
It was just my timer reminding me that dinner’s ready. I feel like a nervous wreck.
@skyesscribbles 4h
Mmm. Not too bad, if I do say so myself. The veg was still a bit crunchy, but perfectly edible. It even looks good, right? (just try not to think of me washing blood off the carrots earlier).
@skyesscribbles 4h
This is totally weird. I had a missed call a few minutes ago from an unknown number. I ignored it figuring it was one of those spam calls.
@skyesscribbles 4h
But it keeps ringing. I’ve had four missed calls from it now. Here’s a screenshot to prove I’m not making it up.
@skyesscribbles 4h
Whatever @Jonesyboy. I don’t even have Photoshop.
@skyesscribbles 4h
Okay. Next time it rings, I’ll pick up. Better not be some pervert breathing down the phone or something.
@skyesscribbles 4h
So, my phone rang again a couple of minutes ago. I answered, but it was silent. Maybe it is just one of those automated call thingys having a meltdown or something.
@skyesscribbles 4h
SERIOUSLY WHAT IS GOING ON.
@skyesscribbles 4h
It rang again and this time, there was a voice on the other end that said ‘hello.’
@skyesscribbles 4h
But it was like the voice came from IN THE ROOM WITH ME.
@skyesscribbles 4h
I‘m freaking out. I’m not answering any more calls now, so sorry if I blank you guys.
@skyesscribbles 4h
This isn’t funny. What the hell is happening? I never thought I’d say this, but I really wish Mom would hurry up and get home.
@skyesscribbles 4h
Even Gilmore Girls isn’t helping anymore.
@skyesscribbles 4h
Vincent’s following me around everywhere. He’s usually only like this when it’s feeding time.
@skyesscribbles 4h
This is ridiculous. I can legit hear voices coming from upstairs. Like two people talking?
@skyesscribbles 4h
For those who don’t believe me, listen to this recording.
@skyesscribbles 4h
See @alexxxtaylor! I’m not making this up!
@skyesscribbles 3h
You’re right @AlyssaO2002. I’m gonna check it out. I’ve got mom’s meat carving knife with me.
@skyesscribbles 3h
Here goes. I’m going to film everything in case it’s needed as evidence for a murder investigation or something.
@skyesscribbles 3h
Crap, now I’ve freaked myself out even more.
@skyesscribbles 3h
I’m going up.
@skyesscribbles 3h
In a minute.
@skyesscribbles 3h
Crap crap crap. Wish me luck guys.
@skyesscribbles 3h
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And now I feel stupid carrying a knife around up here.
@skyesscribbles 3h
Seriously, there’s no one up here. I don’t know how much of this my heart can take.
@skyesscribbles 3h
Oh my god, now Vincent is being a right weirdo. He’s sitting at the bottom of stairs just meowing up at me.
@skyesscribbles 3h
This whole evening has been a freaking joke.
@skyesscribbles 3h
I need to get out of here.
@skyesscribbles 3h
There was just a bang upstairs, then the sound of something rolling.
@skyesscribbles 3h
I was in the kitchen when I heard it and it sounded like it was right above me. Which means…it came from my bedroom. Crap.
@skyesscribbles 3h
Now Vincent is scratching at the kitchen door I closed.
@skyesscribbles 3h
I tried picking him up and moving him, but he just went back.
@skyesscribbles 3h
FOR GOD’S SAKE. WHY WON’T MOM PICK UP HER DAMN PHONE.
@skyesscribbles 3h
Opening the door.
@skyesscribbles 3h
There’s nothing there. I swear someone’s trying to drive me crazy.
@skyesscribbles 3h
@rebelbelle can I come over?
@skyesscribbles 3h
@CrazyCatChick23 are you in? Don’t want to be on my own right now.
@skyesscribbles 3h
Vincent is going mental, meowing and scratching the door. All of his fur’s sticking up.
@skyesscribbles 3h
My phone keeps ringing. It’s that unknown number again.
@skyesscribbles 3h
I don’t know what to do I don’t know what to do.
@skyesscribbles 3h
The doorbell just went. Do I get it?
@skyesscribbles 3h
Wait maybe it’s someone who’s come over to help?
@skyesscribbles 3h
Please please let that be true.
@skyesscribbles 3h
I’m coming, whoever it is.
@skyesscribbles 3h
Nobody there.
@skyesscribbles 3h
It’s ringing again. And again.
@skyesscribbles 3h
Am I going crazy? Maybe I am just legit going crazy and you’re all laughing at me. Skye the freak, who thinks there really are monsters under her bed.
@skyesscribbles 3h
I just hope Mom’s lycrafest of a date with Mr Pole Dancer has been worth my sanity.
@skyesscribbles 3h
I can’t take it anymore.
@skyesscribbles 3h
JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!! FOR GODS SAKE, JUST LEABE ME ALONE!!!1!
@skyesscribbles 2h
Mom’s back. She found my hiding under a blanket on the couch with all the lights on. All she did was yell at me for wasting electricity. Like that was my biggest concern.
@skyesscribbles 2h
The house does feel much better now she’s back though. Less threatening I guess. Makes me really think I did just imagine everything.
@skyesscribbles 2h
Well, today has sucked. Going to turn in now to put it all behind me. Night guys xxx
@skyesscribbles 4m
Ugggh can’t even sleep this nightmare away. Something just woke me up.
@skyesscribbles 2m
Wait.
@skyesscribbles 53s
SHIT THERES SOMETHING IN MY ROOM I CAN FEEL THAT THERES SOMETHING HERE
@skyesscribbles Just now
hHHllp
Judges Comments
An epistolary story being one that is told through written communication, it makes perfect sense that a 21st century epistolary tale would unfold through Twitter – which is what happens in Jodie Carpenter's winning story Skye's Scribbles.
Skye's voice feels authentically teenage and so does the ease with which she uses social media to provide a running commentary on events as they unfold. The traditional Twitter 160-character limit allows Skye to convey the immediacy of her changing circumstances, which butterfly convincingly between her everyday activities and the encroaching sense that something is not right.
The set-up is great, and so is the pace: Jodie builds up her narrative at just the right speed, creating a vivid sense of Syke and her life at each given moment, whether it's rolling her eyes in disgust at her embarrasing mother, getting to grips with having to cook her own tea or listening to music. The humour in it works well and serves the additional purpose of helping us make a connection with Skye. Jodie has taken care about this, for good reason – in a single-character, first-person narrative, it's vital to establish that character and readers' involvement in them. A good chunk of the narrative is taken up by allowing us to get to know and care about Skye before Jodie drops in the first hint that the story is going to take an ominous new direction with the tweet that begins That was proper weird.
From there, the tension ratchets, and the short, sharp immediacy of the Twitter format lends itself really well to creating a jittery, staccato sense of mounting hysteria in poor Skye. The horror element also works well: it's an unspecified, creeping, growing fear that feels believably edgy as the story moves towards its climax. As a YA horror story it works wonderfully well, showing that the epistolary form, which was used in the earliest novels, works equally well in the context of the 21st century.
Runner-up in the Epistolary short story competition was Robert Kibble, Slough, Berkshire, whose story is published on www.writers-online.co.uk. Also shortlisted were: Dominic Bell, Hull; Michael Callaghan, Glasgow; Ros Collins, Felixstowe, Suffolk; Ian Downing, Pontefract, West Yorkshire; Paul Dunn, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear; Martin Stroke, Newbury, Berkshire.