Ben and the Playstation-short story

I’d begged for a Playstation all year and when it came round to Christmas, I got my wish. A big box covered in blue wrapping paper with happy snowmen on. I didn’t hesitate to open it, my face alive with excitement. I ripped off the wrapping, tossing it behind me, revealing the box. My dad helped me open up the huge box and inside sat a small, grey console with a controller.
I jumped up and down, shouting at my dad to plug it into the TV. And of course, he did what I said. My mouth dropped open as the logo appeared on the screen. Wait until Sean sees this, I thought. He would be so jealous. I pushed the open button and a flap opened up like a hungry beast’s mouth. I slammed the disc marked “Tomb Raider” into the machines’ CD player type opening. My dad told me to be careful, I ignored him and remained glued to the screen, controller in hand, ready. My parents left the room to make dinner. Why they were starting to make dinner at 10am confused me.
I sat and waited as “Loading” flashed on the screen continuously. I sighed and tapped the controller on the floor. When it finally loaded, I was a busty woman with duel pistols. Cool! I ran around, finding things to shoot; wolves, bats, bears, anything! I just leapt from side to side whilst shooting, laughing as I did. Too easy. But then, for some reason I couldn’t get into the next room, I tried and tried but nothing was working. I gripped the controller, my teeth pushed together.
“Why isn’t this working?!” I screamed as I mashed random buttons. My dad came in, asking what was wrong. He tried to help but he was such an idiot, he didn’t even know how to play. He drowned the stupid woman for crying out loud! I had one life left. My mum called my dad for help in the kitchen so he left me to it.
Laura Varley
I climbed up a ladder; I saw the jump I had to make. I stepped backwards a bit then ran and jumped but she fell. Her body dropped to floor quickly, she screamed as she fell just before I heard a loud thump as her body hit the floor. Game over.

I squeezed the controller in my hands, making the plastic creek before lifting it up and throwing it at the TV. The loud thump sound alerted my parents, they ran into the room, looking worried as to what had just happened.
“Stupid game!” I shouted, punching the floor. The controller hadn’t smashed the TV screen but it had bounced off it. It had landed on the Playstation. My dad grabbed me by the back of my collar.
“Do you know how much that cost Ben?!” he said with such rage I thought he may throw me across the room. My mum looked crossed too but also a little upset, disappointed even.
“We buy you whatever you want but do you appreciate it? No! You never do. That’s it, I’m taking the Playstation back, no presents for you this year!”
I forced back hot tears but I couldn’t control myself, I cried, bawling like a big baby. My dad didn’t care anymore; this was the straw that broke his back. He gathered up the Playstation and its games, the grey box of dreams, gone forever.
Later on, after dinner my dad still wouldn’t talk to me properly. I heard my mum and dad arguing, my mum pleaded my dad to get along with me. My dad said that I was always breaking everything and I can’t have anything until my anger was under control. A hundred pound toy was too far this time.
I felt this hollow feeling in my stomach, something I’d never felt before. I don’t know what it was but it felt…bad. I had to do something.
Laura Varley
I stepped into the kitchen, interrupting my parents. They turned to me, my mum smiling, pretending everything was fine as always. I looked downwards and rubbed the floor with my slipper. The kitchen was silent. My mum tilted her head and looked at me with sympathy. She crouched down to my height and lifted my chin with her warm, kind hands and I looked into her eyes. Pretty blue eyes…she smiled at me and asked what was wrong. Silly question really but at least she wasn’t shouting at me. I looked at my dad. He remained silent, looking out the kitchen window and watching the snow gently fall, coating his shed roof. His arms were crossed. I looked back at my mum “I’m sorry” I muttered in the lowest voice possible, tears began to roll down my cheeks. My mum hugged me tightly and stroked the back of my head. My dad was so amazed he turned around; he saw that I meant what I’d said. He too crouched down and hugged both me and mum.
“Well, ‘tis the season for forgiving eh?” He said as he squeezed us tightly.