Below is a story a student in my third period class wrote based on this image:
This was also a Writing Prompt on Luke Neff’s wonderful site of Writing Prompts. The story is presented here with limited edits (paragraphs).
The Keychain of Officer Katella
It was once upon a time, it was not your time, nor yet my time, but one time. Back when L.A was, a bustling city filled with people with pennies in their pockets, but a wealth of dreams, back when they did not judge a man by his personality, but by their car. It was 1949;Hollywoodwas at its peak, as it became one of the richest cities inCalifornia.
L.A had many good traits on its side, but with every city, there is a gang. “L.A national Bank and Treasury: Tuesday 7:16 Am.” All units at7691 Ball Roadplease respond.” It was in a small police cruiser owned by Officer Katella of the L.A.P.D (L.A police department). It was a cool summer afternoon as the leaves swooped off a tiny oak tree into a small baseball field. Katella didn’t feel like working on his first day, but what choice did he have?
He quietly picked up the transmitter and said “Officer Katella number 117041, off Ball Road, two blocks away from the crime scene, over.”
He looked over at hisSuperior, who was drinking a small french vanilla latte; he wiped the foam off his mustache on his arm, making the sleeve damp. “Ready?” he said in a mild mannered tone.
“As I’ll ever be…” Katella replied.
As they turned on the car and drove to the crime scene, while on the ride though, Katella started to have memories of his previous training he did while tiring out for the job as a Patrolman. Eventually, they reached a small building polluted with screaming and shouting. The screaming triggered a thought in Katella’s mind, a horrible thought.
Going back to 1940 at D-Day, Katella was a sergeant during most of the European Campaign of World War II. His friend Kelly and he were previously on the battle onOmahaBeach. While Katella survived with a small cut on his leg. Kelly never made it through the first rounds of MG42 fire.
Then in a flash Katella was back in the present. He rubbed the luck keychain from the war. Then he got out without word. “Here,” said theSuperior“take the shotgun.” Katella looked up and found a pump action shotgun with 32’ shell casing and double action grip. The gun continued to trigger unwanted flash backs of WW2. Katella soon wetted his lips and, with a sweaty hand, took the shotgun.
He was soon on the steps of the Bank while behind cover. Katella once again wetted his lips and slowly tried to reason with the five suspects inside. “Officer Katella, of the L.A police Department please drop your guns and return to the end of th-,”
“Not so fast copper.” said a shrill voice coming from inside of the building, “you think we be given up that’s easy…not a chance.”
Suddenly bullets pinged on the side of the door in a fast haste. Katella stood back and waited for the sound of a reloading clip. Then, at that moment, the noise the Officer was waiting for went and with a quick jerk out of cover, he managed to kill two of the now remaining three robbers.
Then theSuperiorswooped out of cover himself and shot 3 rounds into the building, a small cry was heard inside the premises as they were only two more robbers left. Katella’sSuperiorwent up the Stairs, “I will catch this Joker, and you get the other one.” He said as he climbed up the stairs at a fast pace.
Katella sprinted after the suspect, eventually cornering him in a small alleyway. “Let’s go Lawboy, you can talk the talk, but can ya walk the walk?”
Suddenly a fist came toward Katella; Katella quickly ducked and pulled the lowlife into a nearby dumpster. The fight continued for several minutes, ending when Katella grappled the guy and hanged him close to a barbed wire fence. Katella furiously choked the Suspect and slowly enunciated “Officer Katella of L.A.P.D, you are under arrest for robbery and assault on a police officer, now com-,”
“NEVER!” shrieked the suspect, screaming at the top of his lungs. The suspect suddenly grabbed Katella and threw him into the blades of the Barbed wire.” “Ha Ha H-,” BAM! Suddenly the suspect’s eyes went cross-eyed and blood fell down his mouth. The victim collapsed to the ground, while bleeding worse than an I.C.U unit.
TheSuperior, with a blank expression on his face put the gun back into the Holster, Then he Spotted Katella. “Oh no, what did those piece of scums do to you.” He sighed as he gazed at Katella’s now lifeless body, going up to it he closely inspected the body and noticed a small keychain ringed around the neck.
He carefully removed the Keychain and put it in the bloodstained barbed wire. “This will keep you remembered.” He said as he walked away.
The key was placed as a tribute to Officer Katella. Many people provided memory to Katella, Gifting him with Flowers and chocolates. Many years passed, the bodies were picked up, and the bloodstains were cleaned.
Many people lost Memory of Katella. However, no matter what, that keychain continued to stay on that Barbed wire post being seen by many people who happen to past it. The most recent was an 8th grade English language arts Teacher named Mr. Davis who saw it while on vacation.
THE END.
“There are many Criminals, but a coward is the worst kind.”- Sheriff of Armadillo: Red Dead Redemption (for you non-gamers that is a game) and I do not know what the Chapter is, go play the game and figure out yourself.
JQ Period 3
