This is a scene-writing assignment in class. Students were instructed to write one short scene about a group of friends being stranded in the desert. The students needed to quickly show their main character and their problem in one scene.

Sheila, Meg and Bosco sat on the soft sand, defeated. After the car crashed at noon, they were trapped in the middle of a desert, mentally and physically wounded, and out of supplies. Night was falling fast, and the air was becoming thin and cool. Soon, the desert turned as cold as a freezer.

“What... to do... now?” Sheila said, her teeth clattering as she spoke.

“It’s all your fault, Sheila! If you hadn’t suggested the stupid desert-tour idea, we would have been watching TV safely at home! Now we’re in the middle of nowhere, and there aren’t any towns or even PEOPLE around! WE’LL NEVER GET OUT OF THIS PLACE! WE’RE GONNA DIE IN THIS DESERT!” Meg screamed, making Sheila burst into tears.

“Cut it out, you two! We won’t be able to escape if we don’t work together!” Bosco exclaimed, wrapping cuts on his palm with strips of cloth from the remains of his tent.

“How? There won’t be anyone near this area, and we’re fresh out of supplies.” Sheila whimpered weakly.

“There is no way out! WE’RE GONNA DIE!” Meg shouted, laughing like a maniac, making Sheila cry even more.

“I know that we’re all exhausted and thirsty. So, we need to find water first.” Bosco said, struggling to get up with a determined look on his face.

“We aren't dying here today! Right, team?” he asked, pumping his fist into the air. His enthusiasm was greeted by groans and mutters from his two other friends.

Bosco drew a brainstorm map on the sand with his fingers.

“To drink water, we must either travel to find an oasis or get water from a plant. I think the second option is much more practical.” he said, using his cloth-wrapped palm to rub off the mini drawing of ‘plan oasis’.

“There must be a cactus or two nearby, so we shall search for it!” he continued excitedly, drawing a happy face and a cactus in the ‘plan plant’ section.

“Then, we can have enough strength to seek help! Are you with me?” he said, looking at his friends. “Well, I like the idea, except for its name. I’m in.” Meg said.

Bosco’s face drooped a little at Meg’s disapproval of the plan name, but quickly stopped frowning.

“Then I’m in too... I guess...” said Sheila unconfidently. “Alright, team... let’s go!” said Bosco, picking up his backpack. Sheila and Meg cheered a little, then got up and started walking. They have a plan now... then what?

Finding a Cactus or Two...