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“As Worthy As A Lucky Penny,” by Hayoon Chang: January 2025 Runner Up

Once there was a white bookmark named Penny, who lived in a thick white book hidden inside a dusty old library. The book was blank, from the start to the end, but Penny had no desire to live in a fascinating story with exciting twists. She liked her home safe.


On the first day of the year 2025, an old writer found the book which Penny was living in. "I hate to see books with blank pages. I'll write you an exciting novel!" he announced. Penny started to sweat, but she couldn't stop the writer.


The writer started to fill the blank pages of Penny's book. Penny couldn't read the writer's messy handwriting while he was writing, but she was terrified of whatever he was writing.


Finally the writer stopped. "There, little one, I filled all the pages." Penny, still sweating, carefully read the whole story. By the last page, she was crying and sweating at the same time.


The plant in the story had died, because there wasn't enough water. "Writer, can you change this part? I don't like it." Penny called out. But the old man was gone and nowhere to be seen.


Penny didn't know what to do. The story was actually amazing, and heartwarming, but that poor plant had no reason to die.


Suddenly, she spotted a small message from the author, at the back of the book. "Happy new year, Penny. I gave you a special ability, as a gift. Try leaping into the book."


Penny’s heart started to race. Was the writer joking? Still, if there was a chance to save the plant’s life, she could at least try.


So she took a deep breath, found the part about the drying plant, and closed her eyes. Then she dove into the page! She felt the pages and the ink swirl around her as she entered the book.


She gave all her drops of tears and sweat to the plant. When the plant had turn green enough, she allowed herself to fly out back to the real word, her library.


When she was out of the book, Penny smiled. She was thankful for the author, and thankful to be named "Penny". She knew she was lucky. She also knew that a shining lucky penny could change someone's life, and now she had save that poor plant's life. Maybe she could change some other characters' lives too. She believed that the author had given her a task for the new year, and she was more than willing to do it.


Penny left her book and started to find a new one to leap in. She was not scared, but full of excitement. She was no longer just a bookmark, but as worthy as a lucky penny!


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