500 Bright Words: we have our winner

DING! My phone chimed. I quickly pulled it out of my pocket and a text from my mum who was at the hospital, potentially tending to coronavirus patients had appeared. It read: Harry, don’t forget to clean up the loft. I sighed and turned the TV off. I ran up the stairs as fast as I could and by the time I got to the top, I was out of breath. I probably ate too many biscuits today! The loft smelled of unspeakable things. In front of a windowpane, there was a chest hidden away by garbage bags. I had to hold my nose as I opened the chest. It creaked open with a click. Inside was an ancient tome. Beside it, was a loo roll. A LOO ROLL! Yes, you heard that right, a loo roll! I picked up the tome and blew the dust off and nearly died of allergy to dust. Imagine that, death by a book! I skimmed to the last page of the tome and it read: ‘The roll contains an incredible amount of power, use it wisely.’ I pointed at the roll.

“Activate.” Nothing. It wasn't working. I needed to find out a way to start it. Suddenly, something came crashing through the loft, sending shards of woods flying everywhere. I was sent sprawling on the ground. My eyes were full of dust and I could barely see. I crawled to a corner desperately, trailing my hand along the wall for guidance. I backed up in the corner and looked up. A figure clad in a black robe. He strode over to me, reached for his leg strap and pulled out a pocket knife which menacingly snapped open. The figure spoke. A raspy voice.

“Give it to me.” I looked at the man, puzzled.

“I don’t know what you’re looking for!” He snarled and brought his knife to my throat.

“The Legendary Loo Roll! Give it!” I laughed.

“Oh, that?” I pointed to the chest. “Yeah, have it.” He walked over to the chest and knelt. The chest opened with a familiar click. A gasp.

“I have found it at last!” He then raised his knife as if to stab the roll. I silently tiptoed over to behind him and kicked his bum. He was sent crashing through the window and down to the ground below. I winced as I heard him hit the ground and his bones cracking.

“AGH!” The roll sprang to life. “Thank you for saving my life! I am now bound to you in a contract and have to grant you a wish. Yay.” The roll said in a deadpan voice. I looked at the roll in utter disbelief.

“Y-You can speak?” I could feel the roll’s frustration vibrate.

“Yes, you idiot! I am the Legendary Loo Roll! I just told you that I can grant you one wish and that’s the first thing you say?”

“Oh, yeah.” Hours ticked by as I thought long and hard. I want to make a difference by distributing positive energy in the world. Through these hard times, we need to support each other so; “I wish for people to find compassion and kindness in themselves to give it to each other”.