I sat down at my laptop again and opened up my file. I revised my teaser with my new ideas and information, and broke it into two paragraphs. Ten minutes later, I sat back and re-read my handiwork.

“The year is 2071. A rare strain of virus has transformed “felis domesticus,” the average housecat, into an aberration of nature. They are no longer the sweet and innocent creatures whom many have come to know and love! These otherworldly abominations are now using maniacal weapons of carnage! These felines are crazed, undead, and equipped with chainsaws—and they’ve taken over the planet! Though they seem to be fond of shopping malls…

Who knew that something as simple as a motor and a bladed bike chain could bring so much destruction? This virus gives them incredible strength and intelligence to use these weapons of disgusting and eviscerating obliteration! Steven, the kitten hunter famous among the handful of remaining survivors, now faces his greatest challenge yet. Will Steven become just another victim to this grotesque horde of all-consuming evil, or will his cunning prevail again? After all, a hero’s luck can only hold out for so long…”

I couldn’t help but laugh at my genius when I read this revision. I had a true gem here. I proceeded to immediately write the entire story from start to finish, all in a single setting. The story was due tomorrow, and I had finally finished it by that afternoon. I knew that everyone in my writing class would love it. Tomorrow, I’d be the envy of everyone with this! I had practically guaranteed myself an ‘A!’

Just as I finished writing my nine-page story about the purring, furry freaks, my little six-year-old sister invited herself into my room. “Hey, Steven, have you written the ‘little kittens’ story yet?”

“Uh… what?”

“I heard you talking to mommy yesterday. She said that you should use little kitties, and you said ‘okay.’ So did you use the kitties?”

“Oh… well, yes. I did (technically speaking).”

“Oh, neat! Can I read it, Steven?”

Mom would ground me for sure if I let Sis read this story. I had to make up an excuse on the spot. “Um… I can’t. It’s… a surprise! Yeah! You just gotta wait for a little while, okay Sis? Then you can read it.” I made a mental note to write a cute little story about normal kittens later. After all, she was my little sister, and I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

“Pleeeeeeeeeeeease? I really, really, really wanna read it, Steven! Please let meeee?”

“No, Sis, not now! It’s a surprise! I’ll let you read it later! I promise. Okay?”

With a disappointed look on her face, she said “Okay…” and retreated from my room. I released a sigh, relieved that neither my hard work on the story nor my status as ‘not grounded’ were in jeopardy. Mom would have gone on a rampage if I had let my sis read that.

I decided to spend the rest of my evening relaxing. I sat down in front of the TV and spent a couple hours vegetating. After that, I decided to check my e-mail. As I walked into my room, I saw my little sister run out with a burst of giggles. I briefly wondered if she had placed a frog in my bed, but my room looked no different than when I left. I decided not to worry about it.

I sat down at my desk and opened my laptop. I logged onto the internet and into my email account. Somewhere among the clusters of junk mail, I found a letter from a fellow student in my writing class. He inquired about the progress of my “perfect story.”

There was only one way to rub my utter brilliance in his face. I decided to let him read the story first-hand. I replied to the email, including that “I was practically guaranteed an ‘A,’” before attaching a copy of my story.