Vivid Memory by Emma Jiang

Staff pick - Teens Category

I was a very curious girl when I was little, everything that seemed dangerous to an adult was a small case to me. But my mum always told me “Curiosity can lead to an unexpected conclusion”. I never knew the meanings of those words until one halloween…

I remember I was seven when I first went trick-or-treating. I dressed up as a witch and I thought the homemade outfit was amazing but really it was just some black card I sneaked from the art cubby at school made into a witch’s hat. The excitement didn’t last long though, as soon as I arrived at my friends house, the feeling of embarrassment took over. Everyone looked so stunning! Witches, ghosts, vampires, pumpkin jacks and bats. I have to admit it, I got a little scared. My wobbly legs carried me into their house and as soon as I stepped in, my nightmare came true, everyone was pointing and giggling at me. I manage the awkwardness and wait for everyone to be prepared. One of the adults was adding details using a vivid to my friend Layla. My eyes were attracted by the ink coming out of the black pen as I thought hey, isn’t that what the teacher uses to write on the whiteboard? I could use that to add details and make me look more scary! I asked that parent and she asked if I needed her help but I said “I can manage it myself” so she handed it to me, looking a bit concerned. I found myself in front of a mirror and started drawing patterns on my face. I grimaced and aha! That looks much better. But those big white teeth though, I thought. That was when the regretful decision was made, I started colouring in my two front teeth with the black pen. I made sure there was no white visible at all and I grimaced again. Wow! I scared myself. That looks very frightening indeed. I didn’t even worry about it staying on permanently as I remember all the teacher used was a duster to remove all the writing on the whiteboard. I’ll do exactly that when I’m finished! I showed my friends and they were so impressed. “What an evil witch you are!” One of them even commented. I felt so proud of myself and we were all ready to go. “Trick-or-Treat!” We’d all shout in front of every door, but I 'd go a step further and grimace at them, making sure to show them my “teeth''. Nearly everyone who saw me gasped, took a step back and gave me a big thumbs up. I was very happy.

“That was amazing!” We all went back to Layla’s house and unwrapped every single lolly we got. I went to the bathroom to remove the ink but it was when my heart sank. I used water to rinse my mouth but it won’t come off! Then I remembered “Oh, you need a duster” So I got one from Layla’s play pretend toy set and rubbed it on my teeth. Tears welled up in my eyes as I saw none of the white reappearing. I ran to Layla’s mum and told her everything, she was terrified and said “Oh Emma, that's a vivid! It’s different to a whiteboard pen and it’s permanent on things!” I wailed, I put on the biggest tantrum ever. Not even caring about my friends watching anymore. “Will I stay like this forever?” I shouted as another adult found the vivid. “Phew, thank goodness it’s non-toxic, I’m sure we could figure out how to get rid of it, don’t worry”. That calmed me down a bit. At last I had to go to the dentist and get a ‘special treatment’. It didn’t feel nice but it was better than having no two front teeth for the rest of my life!

Halloween is rolling around this year again, it’s that time of the year to start thinking about makeup and costumes. I wrote down all the ideas on paper and at last decided on a witch again. I looked back, my eyes attention stayed on that same vivid pen lying on the table behind me…