Aspirations
by Kyle Ota
Josh looked up to the stars; staring at the night sky. He would float among the stars one day, so high above the clouds that people would have to look up to him. He was only 14 years old, but he had already made a name for himself.
In the hallway stood an oak tower that shined like a Christmas tree. Lining the shelves of the tower were rows of trophies, all neatly polished and displaying Josh’s name. The Science Fair, writing contests, robotics competitions, and other first place trophies were accounted for in the tower.
In the center of the middle shelf was the only thing not brightly glistening to the tune of Josh’s accomplishments; a participation ribbon and a picture of Josh holding the ribbon with his father. The ribbon was from the first competition that Josh had entered a local spelling bee.
When Josh found the ribbon years later, he erected the tower; in the hallway outside the door to his father’s office. When he wasn’t at work, his father spent all his time in the office. It had been this way ever since he was promoted to Administrator of NASA. Josh worked so hard for all of the trophies, but they just sat encased in glass. Only the stars painted on the top of the tower stared down on the awards.
Kyle Ota is a high school student in the California Bay Area. This is his first published work, and he is considering a career in writing. Contact Kyle.
