2024 ShoStoWriMo Stories

During December, the Great River Regional Library celebrates Short Story Writing Month (ShoStoWriMo). Teens and adults could enter their unique stories about this historical image from the Stearns History Museum. We asked writers to compose their stories in only 33 words (since we have 33 locations), making it a real short story challenge!

Thank you to all who participated and enjoyed the challenge.

 

An old, blown over jailhouse sitting on its roof
 

 

Here are the story submissions for you to read and enjoy:

 

  • The ultimate way to turn a criminal’s life around! - Debra, adult from the Delano Public Library

  • The vicious tornado toppled the jail that housed a deputy and one inmate. The unhurt deputy released the inmate and together they rescued a mother and five children from a nearby damaged house. - Joyce, adult from the Saint Cloud Public Library

  • today only....get out of jail free - anonymous adult from the Long Prairie Public Library

  • Upside down house built by local carpenters turns small town into a tourist spot. The extra jobs and people from neighboring towns have helped save this once dwindling town into a gold mine! - Patricia, adult from the Albany Public Library

  • The seven Sauk Rapids inmates gave it all their might and eventually overturned the jail building from within. Much to their dismay they were still imprisoned—except for now they were also upside down! - Laura, adult from Sartell GRRL2GO lockers

  • There once was a house on it's side, it never took a bride, and a tornado make it take a ride. When it tipped over, no one died. At least it tried. Uffda. - Jane, adult from the Saint Cloud Public Library

  • I was sitting in the jail one day. I ate a little bit too much hay. This place tip over it may. I said, my horses, where are they? They told me neigh! - Jane, adult from the Saint Cloud Public Library

  • Ole and Lena’s wedding night was memorable; they stole away to the small hay barn. A storm rolled the barn again . . . and again. Hence, “A Roll in the Hay” originated. - David, adult from the Monticello Public Library

  • For the timing of wind was with me, then. As the intruders approached, a great hand of fate swept my world (and its impending end) on its head. I quite like this view. - Annie, adult from the Staples Public Library

  • Dorthy loved her life now, but sometimes she missed her old friends. Carefully watching the weather, she eventually caught another tornado out of town. Unfortunately, this time, she didn't stick the landing :) - Milan, adult from the Howard Lake Public Library

  • Metaphorically speaking, my life was spent bottoms up. But when the downs are up and the ups are down, you literally can't escape. The jail of metaphorically speaking is always locked up tight. - Tim, adult from the Buffalo Public Library

  • There once was a house in Stearns County. Its roof flipped on its heinie. No crane to be had and no time to be mad, placed was a sign that read "Buy Me." - Shawn, adult from the Paynesville Public Library

  • If old Sticky Fingers Jack had known that he would end up sleeping on the rafters, he would never have told the townspeople that he hid the bank robbery gold under the jail. - Milan, adult from the Howard Lake Public Library

  • Sheriff Ebenezer Robertson from St. Cloud, was retrieving his prisoner from Sauk Rapids. Arriving to the town, he noticed there was a terrible cyclone. He was shocked to see the jail was intact. - Karen, adult from the Buffalo Public Library

  • The winds ravaged the town, but she was grateful for the shelter for her growing family. The gathered discards pillowy bed in the roof peak provided her family a safe place to snuggle. - Michelle, adult from the Elk River Public Library

  • As the jail house tumbled in the violent storm, the flimflam man had an epiphany. When he got out, he would get religion, go straight,..... and invent a new kind of washing machine. - Milan, adult from the Howard Lake Public Library

  •  It was dark. I crouched low next to Momma. It sounded like a train overhead. Back in the light, we saw. The storm had destroyed all we had worked so hard to build. - Katie, adult from the Pierz Public Library

  • Once upon a time, a storm raged over a village. The storm teared at everything in its path. The villagers tried in vain to outrun the terrible storm. The storm ate the village. - Willa, teen from the Pierz Public Library

  • It’s bright, it’s dim, then dark. The breeze rolls and rolls some more. The jail rumbles, rolls some more. The breeze is gone, the jail is still, now we climb out the door. - Jeff, adult from the Long Prairie Public Library

  • When the bounce house got caught by the wind, Joey thought of the story grandpa told him about the barn turning ass over tea kettle during a dust storm. Tall tale no more. - Laura, adult from the Little Falls Carnegie Library

  • A sugar sand foundation barely held the sturdy jailhouse. The wind gargled it with a swoosh, and quickly spit it out. Neither guilt nor innocence mattered. All the souls inside met their maker. - Vas, adult from the Royalton Public Library

  • While many attempts were made, most tries to return to Oz were not successful, leading to a crash in the housing market. - Adam, adult from the Saint Michael Public Library

  • After a terrible tornado turned the jail onto its top, Timothy Turner, a tough typical tenant, turned his life around, taking turns tending trees, teaching tots, and toting tools for tired townspeople. - Mandy, adult from the Saint Cloud Public Library

  • "I told you the Big Bad Wolf would be able to escape," the deputy told the sheriff. He laughed and said, "Well, I guess, get the 3rd little pig to rebuild the jail." - Michelle, adult from the Little Falls Carnegie Library

  • All is quiet, all is calm. The darkened skies twisting green, yellow, grey and black together in an ominous sky. Suddenly winds swirling and moving every which way. Calamity noises frighten the soul. - Roxann, adult from the Elk River Public Library

  • The town stood still as the dust settled from last night's carnage. All had lost faith, except Paul, jailed for perceived treason. He was found whistling a tune as he swept his ceiling. - Hunter, adult from Delano Public Public

  • The trees shook like willow grass. The pond tossed like the sea. The wind screamed defiantly around the old farm. At first, the old farmhouse resisted, but with a breath, it took flight. - Ben, teen from Cokato Public Library

  • This house was once a home to my family, filled with love and laughter. Children ran through its halls and holidays were celebrated. That storm ended it, I just want to go home. - Grayson, adult from Little Falls Carnegie Library

  • "Christmas is coming,” chant 22 rowdy children from Stearns County’s only school house. Their excited voices rumble so loudly the building tips over. “Topsy-turvy,” quips the teacher as she continues teaching, upside down. - Jen, adult from Sartell GRRL2GO locker

  • We could hear the wind outside. Our small house was getting tossed around and it was all we could afford nowadays, and our crops had all but died, but it was strong, hopefully. - Elizabeth, teen from Saint Cloud Public Library

  • Sorry I ended up in jail, mom. But good news. A tornado flipped the jail over and now I'm free again! See you soon! Love, your son Billy Bob. - Nathaniel, adult from Saint Cloud Public Library

  • Ted never was smart. That was how he ended up in jail. Secretly, he and his brother planned a way to free him. Let's just say the county improved their jail building codes. - Anne, teen from Upsala Public Library

  • Billy was convicted of robbery and put in jail. He asked his friends to try and get the conviction overturned. But, these not-to-smart friends misunderstood him and overturned the jail not the conviction. - Lois, adult from Albany Public Library

  • The jail tumbled like a gambler's die, prisoners capitalizing on the catastrophe. What could one sheriff do? Fight chance as I'd weathered the cyclone: with determination and a firm grip on my rifle. - Grace, adult from Saint Cloud Public Library

  • Horace was pleased the prison break escalated so violently. The whereabouts of his fellow inmates was far from his worries. He had a pregnant wife waiting for him for five long years. - Sheena, adult from Big Lake Public Library

  • The men rioted. "This jailhouse doesn't belong in OUR community." The women and children cried as the men loaded their machinery at twilight to eliminate the "monstrosity." - Bridget, teen from Paynesville Public Library

  • It was a cold windy night in the prison. Well, colder than usual. it had been 2 years since I'd been falsely imprisoned. Suddenly I was flung into the air. I was free. - Elizabeth, teen from Saint Cloud Public Library

  • I kept the bad inside. A lifetime of upright. Only now, I perceive there is bad inside, outside, and everywhere. There is good too; in and out. A toppled perspective. A new perspective. - J., adult from Albany Public Library

  • Sven grinned proudly, shouts echoing from within. Best carpenter in the county. Sheriff's instructions: "Build a jail that could hold the devil hisself." Apparently it kept out the swirling finger of God, too. - Jacob, adult from Delano Public Library

  • In the fall of 1827, a giant named Brudor roamed the land. He became friends with the local sheriff. In return for food, Brudor gallantly scooped up jail buildings throwing them across town. - Christine, adult from Big Lake Public Library

  • LOCKED UP. JAILED ON DRUNK AND DISORDERLY, I WATCHED THE TWISTED APPROACH AS IT WRENCHED MY BUILDING FROM ITS MOORINGS, TOSSING ME AROUND INSIDE WITH THE SLOP BUCKET. SUDDENLY CRASHING TO EARTH. PAIN! HELP ME. - BEV, adult from Pierz Public Library

  • THE TWISTER. I SAW IT COMING THROUGH THE BARS. IT PICKED ME UP, TOSSED ME ABOUT, THEN CRASHED TO THE GROUND. DUST SETTLED. PUNISHMENT FOR SELLING HOOCH TO THE INDIANS. HELP, HELP, SOMEONE HELP ME. - BEV, adult from Pierz Public Library

  • Before, we didn't have much. Now, we have less. The sky like a runny egg, smelled like a burnt match. The 8:15 came barreling through our homestead. We awoke to a different world. - Nancy, adult from Delano Public Library

  • Once upon a time in Sauk Rapids, there were some very bad men in jail. They never been on a rollercoaster, so mother nature gave them a ride with a quick stop. - Antonia, adult from Becker Public Library

  • One musty day in July, a sour breeze was in the air. Vermonters sensed a tornado underway. Families rushed to safety. Upon exiting, neighbors gawked at what they saw. The local jailhouse overturned! - Nora, teen from Upsala Public Library

  • A PAUL BUNYAN/ JOLLY GREEN GIANT SCUFFLE KNOCKED OVER THE JAIL. THEY COULDN'T BE FIT IN IT, SO THE SHERIFF SAID, "JUST TIP IT UP AN' HIT THE TRAIL THIS MINUTE."

  • Mr. Bags has escaped, and the jail is destroyed. Sheriff Dan opens a delivered parcel containing a metal thimble, cardstock which states, "GET OUT OF JAIL FREE," and a note reading... GAME OVER! - Pauline, adult from Little Falls Carnegie Library

  • It was a Tuesday afternoon. A blinding flash of light was our only warning. The schoolteacher ordered us under our desks before the shockwave hit, but the effort was futile. They had arrived... - Nic, adult from Delano Public Library

  • The jailhouse rock as "Elvis (Presley)" would sing and roll. It was well built and rested against a tree when the wind gusted to height of many miles per hour. Contents remained inside. - Gail, adult from Elk River Public Library

  • After trying his mail order brides cooking for the first time, Sven decided cooking would be his responsibility. He also wondered how he kept her spices fresh all the way to Sauk Rapids. - Daniel, adult from Elk River Public Library

  • When I looked out of the police stations after tornado had touched down, I noticed the overturned jail building. I grabbed my sidearm and rushed out to see the prisoner down the street. - Mary Jo, adult from Elk River Public Library

  • I agreed to help Butch get out of jail. I decided to put nitroglycerin in a cake on my way to the door. I tripped blew up the jail. Butch is still there. - Allan, adult from Elk River Public Library

  • Darn, shouldn't have turned down lunch thinking as I picked myself up off the floor, fried chicken too! Sheriff, you okay? Yup, you? Then I spied a chicken leg, my hand reached out. - Patty, adult from Elk River Public Library

  • The girl's parents were gone along with all of her family. Her house burnt down, when she was out in the woods. She was alone. She found an old abandoned jailhouse, to stay in during the rainy season. She decorated it, with love, but often felt lonely. One day a couple went to talk to her, they wanted to adopt her! She looked back at the jailhouse, and oddly it was now upside down. To this day, she still lives with her new parents, who love her very much. - Bensley, teen from Becker Public Library

  • Looking for George after the tornado, you stop at the jail he liked to smoke at. Suddenly, you hear a hissing sound as something pounds at the door from the inside. - Carol, teen from Becker Public Library

  • There was a Brave and strong tree and that day there was a incident and then the tree was so stong that he was the Hulk. - Alexa, teen from Delano Public Library

  • There once was a man named Ebenezer. Who had the most impressive sneezer. The wind was blowing, the dust was floating. He huffed and he honked and sneezed the jail house over. - Andalene, adult from Paynesville Public Library

  • Hoping to deter criminal activities, the sheriff asked for the town carpenter to build an upside down jailhouse next to an unruly tree. - Deidre, adult from Delano Public Library

  • "...AND HE HUFFED, AND HE PUFFED, AND HE BLEW THE HOUSE DOWN!" UNCLE HAM HAD A WAY OF MAKING STORY TIME SEEM SO REAL. BUT SOMETIMES... I THINK HE TRIED TOO HARD!

  • DEAR NOEL, 
    IT'S LIBRARY SHORT STORY GAME TIME AGAIN,
    WITH ONLY THIRTY-THREE WORD ALLOWED TO
    ACCOMPANY THE PICTURE. THIS IS ALWAYS FUN. 
    EXPECTING YOU TO ENTER. WORKING ON MINE NOW. YER FREN', JIM. - Miss Tamra's Husband

  • "What did you say, Frank?"
    "I said we had a problem downtown last time. A heck of a disturbance.
    Had to arrest someone."
    "Who did you say it was?"
    "Name was Simone Biles." - Noel, adult from Delano Public Library

  • With hard work, I saved to buy lots on Mediterranean and Baltic Avenues, and built a little house. Maybe I was uppity. God took my house. If I'm good, I'll have another. Better. - Jobe, adult from Delano Public Library

  • In a small town far in the Mojave Desert there was a small house. One day a massive storm hit the town. The wind picked up the house and tossed it upside down. - Emily, teen from Sauk Centre Sinclair Lewis Library