Vivian Pulham is a Sophomore at Park City High School.
So, what does it mean to her to win this month’s PC Writes competition?
“It means a lot. I’ve never really written before, so, to be honest, I’m still figuring out what exactly I like about writing. I think it’s that I can shape the stories myself, instead of having to read ones already made. I get total control — to make the characters, the setting, everything. It’s really cool.”
In addition to writing, Pulham loves making music. She plays the viola, violin and piano, all while focusing on school. She hopes to go to either MIT or Harvard, where she can study astrophysics. In addition to this, Pullham also loves to read, ski and mountain bike.
PCHS Writes is designed to inspire more students to write and to write from their hearts instead of strictly within the walls of their required English classes.
The club holds a short-story contest every month, except February, and the winning entry is published in The Park Record.
“The Season of Change”
By Vivian Pulham
Every day was the same for Loid Montgomery. The golden leaves of autumn fluttered along the sidewalk as he walked the familiar path from his office to his too-quiet apartment.
Since graduating from college, Loid’s life had settled into a tired routine—work, home, sleep — repeating as reliably as the seasons. With his mother, his only living relative, now living in an assisted living facility tucked away in a small Illinois town, the world seemed hushed and distant and Loid moved through it on autopilot.
He worked for an old business in Chicago as an accountant and had been working there for 10 years, making him 33 years old.
Each evening, Loid would set his briefcase down in the hallway of his apartment, fill a kettle with tea and stand by his two-foot by two-foot window and gaze upon the city’s skyline. Even the city’s rush seemed muted from his fourth-floor apartment. Today, however, he particularly noticed the trees on the sidewalk and how they were painted in fiery reds and golds. He watched as some of the leaves slowly drifted towards the ground. He let out a quiet sigh, grasping his warm cup of tea and bringing it towards his lips. He breathed in the smell of cinnamon from his cup and just for a moment lingered there, wondering if his life was a little too quiet.
It was then that the sun dipped behind the tallest skyscrapers and cast their long shadows upon the city. Loid remembered that he needed to go to the grocery store before it got too dark.
He grabbed his coat and made his way down the four flights of stairs to the busy sidewalk. As he walked, his footsteps were softer on the damp leaves as he cut through a small park. He paused for a moment, as the darkness grew more when a sudden burst of laughter caught his attention.
Next to a large oak tree was a young woman. Loid guessed that she was in her late 20s, maybe even early 30s. Her cheeks were bright red from the cold air and her long brown hair was tucked into a scarf. Next to her was a golden-haired dog that was rolling around in the leaves. She glanced up and caught Loid’s gaze. She started smiling and walked closer to him within speaking range.
“Sorry if we startled you,” she said, reaching down and scratching the dog behind the ears. Loid shook his head, managing a small smile.
“It’s nothing. He seems to be enjoying himself in the leaves.”
She chuckled, “I think he’s making himself dirtier despite me just cleaning him.”
Loid grinned as the dog walked up to him, wagging his tail.
“I haven’t seen you around this park before. Do you live near here?” She asked.
“I live a couple of blocks that way,” pointing with his right hand. “I don’t usually walk this way.”
The woman smiled, pushing a stand of hair behind her ear. “It’s a nice part of Chicago, especially during the fall. The trees are so colourful and pretty.”
Loid nodded.
“Something about Autumn hits different from the other seasons, don’t you think? I’m Elizabeth, by the way.”
“Loid,” He offered a rare smile as he met her gaze.
“Well, Loid, since you took the scenic route, would you like to help us walk a little further? He obviously likes you and company always makes walks nicer.”
There was a pause. Loid considered what Elizabeth had said and, for some reason, didn’t want to halt his long-standing routine. He thought a moment more and decided, “I suppose a change in my route couldn’t hurt. Lead the way.”
The next morning, Loid awoke more tired than he had ever been. He usually has a good reputation for going to sleep on time and waking up early to go to work. But last night had been different. It all seemed like a blur as he thought of Elizabeth and him walking through the city with a golden dog tumbling through the leaves. Their walk had become more of an expedition all over Chicago.
For the first time in years, Loid had traded his routinely comfortable life for something unfamiliar. The city looked different on his way to work. It almost seemed a little more colorful and bright. Instead of the blur of faces and cars passing by, he noticed small, minute details.
At work, he found himself staring out the window, unable to stop thinking of the moments he had with Elizabeth. Though he found it uncomfortable to come out of his shell, there was no awkwardness between them. Their conversation flowed as they talked about their childhoods, favorite interests and even the best types of tea. While he was remembering it, his smile began to form even before he noticed it.
By the end of the day, the idea of another walk with Elizabeth enlightened him. Loid left his office and headed towards the small park near his apartment, hoping that Elizabeth might be there again. Just like the day before, Elizabeth was there, crouched down, petting the light-haired dog. Loid hesitated, but she looked up, recognition in her face.
“Back again for the scenic route?” She teased.
Loid smiled and began nodding. “I suppose I wanted to see you again. Could I lead the way this time?”
Elizabeth grinned. They started down a winding path that went next to the Chicago River. Their conversation moved easily as they talked about each other’s lives. Occasionally, the golden-haired dog would chase after a falling leaf and their laughter would explode around the streets of Chicago.
After their walk, as the sun once again deepened into night, Loid and Elizabeth returned to the park.
Elizabeth smiled and asked, “Same time tomorrow?” And Loid replied, “Definitely.”
This became their quiet arrangement. Every day, as the air became colder and the trees lost more leaves, Loid found himself starting to show his true self. He shared memories he’d locked away for years; Elizabeth talked about her struggle in trying to fit into living in a city away from her family. Sometimes they would skip the walk and go to a café for tea. This became their tradition.
One evening, the two of them were sitting underneath the same oak tree.
“I’ve really noticed the beauty of the seasons until now. I guess I was too focused on my career to really notice it.” Loid confessed. “I always thought it just signaled an ending.”
Elizabeth smiled, moving her head to meet his eyes.
“But so much begins again before winter,” she said. “Everything changes, but that’s always a sign that something new can grow.”
Looking back, Loid could see how much was missing from his life. Walking through the city taught him to see the world as if for the first time. He started visiting his mother more and talking to his coworker with a little more warmth. By the time the last of the leaves had fallen, the city began to prepare for the oncoming winter.
On a cold evening, Loid and Elizabeth walked with the first signs of snow falling around them.
“Thank you”, Loid said, “for letting me be part of your life.” Elizabeth squeezed his hand and said, “But it’s not just mine anymore. It’s ours.”
For the first time in his life, Loid looked ahead to the future with a sense of hope for what was to come, warmed by the memories of autumn’s transformation and the kindness that found him.