The San Mateo County Fair Literary Arts Youth Division in Poetry, Essay, and Short Story

The 1st Place Winner of this division is Charlotte Cheng for her story Timid Tabatha.

 

Timid Tabatha

by Charlotte Cheng - Ages 4-10, Short Story

 

 

Tabatha had trouble letting things go.
At a friend's ice skating party, she couldn't let go of the wall.
    Tabatha was too afraid of falling.

On the first day of school, she couldn't let go of her mother's hand.
    Tabatha was too afraid that no one in class would like her.

When the lights were turned off at night, she couldn't let go of Buster, her stuffed rabbit.
    Tabatha was too afraid of the monsters grumbling under her bed.

Even when it was tattered, torn, and her friends called it, "Dissssgusting!!"
    Tabatha couldn’t let go of her baby blue blanket. . .
especially during the creepy, spooky parts of movies. 

So Tabatha held on tight:  to the wall, to her mother, to her rabbit, and her blanket.
Around them, she was never scared.  Around them, she always felt safe.

But she had one problem.

 

His name was Oliver.  Oliver Oaf.  He stomped through the classroom.  He pointed at kids and laughed.  His dodgeball throws always hurt the most.
Oliver Oaf was a first class bully and he loooooved to bully Tabatha.

 

Everyday, Tabatha would watch the other kids play while she sat at the bench.   And everyday, Oliver Oaf would walk up to her while singing his favorite tune:
“Timid Tabatha!  Always afraid!  She won’t let go ‘till she’s 98!”

 

Tabatha’s friends would yell back at Oliver: “That’s not true! Leave her alone!” 
But Tabatha didn’t say anything. . .because deep down inside her heart, she knew Oliver was right.  She would always be afraid.  She would always be too chicken to let go. 

One day, Tabatha’s class had a summer party at the community swimming pool.
Sam, Joey, Rachel, and Molly all swam to the middle of the water as the parents watched from the side.  They splished and they splashed.  They played and they laughed.

But Tabatha was not in the water.  First, she had to put on her floaties.  Then, she had to put on her swimming ring.  She held on tight to Buster, her stuffed rabbit, and then stepping into the water, she held on tight to the side of the pool.

BUT
With her swimming ring, her floaties, and her tight hold to the pool wall, Tabatha simply could not hold on to Buster.  The rabbit slipped from Tabatha's hand - splash! - and slowly drifted toward the middle of the water.

 

Then, Tabatha saw Oliver Oaf swimming by.   He grabbed Buster by one ear and started swinging the poor rabbit around and around.  Everyone could hear Oliver’s chanting:
“Timid Tabatha!  Always afraid!  She won’t let go ‘till she’s 98!”

 

Oliver’s words filled Tabatha’s head with angry red dots.  Her face felt flushed and her fingers were sweaty.  Suddenly, the wall didn’t feel so important anymore.

So Tabatha took a deep breath.  She closed her eyes. . .she let go of the wall. . .and to her surprise, nothing happened. 

 

Tabatha was fine.  Tabatha was safe.  And Tabatha was ready for battle!

Tabatha looked up and saw Oliver Oaf dunking Buster in the water.
“Give him back Oliver!” she cried. “Buster is mine!”

 

Then she started kicking and splashing with all her might.  All of a sudden, Tabatha heard the cheering from her friends, “Go Tabatha! Go!”  She splashed harder and glared at Oliver as she got closer to him.

 

When Tabatha reached Oliver, she grabbed her stuffed rabbit.
She took a deep breath and sang:
“I’m not timid.  I’m not scared.  Here comes Tabatha, so be prepared!”

 

Then Tabatha swam away, splashing Oliver in the face.
When she reached the side of the pool, Tabatha gave Buster a big hug and placed him down next to her flip flops.  She grinned as she heard another round of cheering from her friends and swam to the middle of the pool to meet them.

 

For the rest of the afternoon, Buster sat at the edge of the pool and looked on as Tabatha splished and splashed and played and laughed with her friends in the water.
On the car ride home, Tabatha whispered into the rabbit’s ear: “Aren’t you proud, Buster? 

We did it!”

These days, Tabatha no longer has trouble letting things go.
At the skating rink, she still uses the wall. . but only to help her stop.
Tabatha still holds on to her mother's hand. . .but only to show Mom her new friends at school.

 

She still hangs out with Buster the rabbit. . .but only during afternoon tea parties.
And she still uses her baby blue blanket. . .but only to keep herself warm.

For you see, Tabatha has learned to let things go. . .and has learned to have crazy new adventures all on her own.