Μια σημαντική διάκριση σημείωσε ο μαθητής της Γ τάξης του Γυμνασίου Μαραθώνα Κωνσταντίνος Αντωνίου, καθώς κατέλαβε την τρίτη θέση στον 8ο Διαγωνισμό Δημιουργικής Γραφής στην αγγλική γλώσσα.
Ο διαγωνισμός διεξήχθη από το Τμήμα Αγγλικών Σπουδών του Κολεγίου ΔΕΛΑΣΑΛ, για τα σχολεία όλης της Ελλάδας, από τις 30 Νοεμβρίου 2024 έως τις 30 Ιανουαρίου 2025.
Στον αγγλόφωνο διαγωνισμό έλαβαν μέρος μαθητές Γυμνασίων, από το βορειότερο μέχρι το νοτιότερο άκρο της Ελλάδας, ανάμεσα στα οποία ήταν και το Γυμνάσιο Μαραθώνα υπό την καθοδήγηση της Υποδιευθύντριας – καθηγήτριας Αγγλικών κας Αρετής Ζουμίδου.
Οι κατηγορίες στις οποίες διαγωνίστηκαν οι μαθητές ήταν δύο: Poem και Short Story. Στη δεύτερη κατηγορία, ο Κωνσταντίνος Αντωνίου κατέλαβε την 3η θέση με ένα εξαιρετικό κείμενο, κάνοντας υπερήφανη την οικογένειά του, τους συμμαθητές και τους καθηγητές του. Άξιο αναφοράς, μάλιστα, είναι το γεγονός ότι το Γυμνάσιο Μαραθώνα ήταν το μοναδικό από την Αττική που διακρίθηκε στον Διαγωνισμό.
ΤΟ ΚΕΙΜΕΝΟ ΤΟΥ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ
March 14, 1950, Washington DC, USA
Cameras of all channels broadcasted this moment, the moment in which I would
give my speech to all of America…tell them my story…the story of how I became a
hero…
The reporter sat on her desk, clearing her voice before speaking.
Reporter: Ladies and Gentlemen, today, we have a special guest, a hero who proved
to us that nothing is impossible. Please, give a round of applause for Mr. Dexter
Miller.
As soon as I stepped in the room, hundreds of people started yowling and clapping
for me. They were barely visible due to the countless white flashes of cameras
taking photos. I tried to keep my eyes open, but the brightness of the flashes made
me close them a few times as I sat on a chair, a few meters away from the reporter.
I cleared my throat and started speaking.
Dexter: “Hello everyone”, he said in a clear voice.
Reporter: Mr. Dexter, we are very pleased to have you with us today.
Dexter: I’m glad to hear that.
Reporter: I have so many questions I’d like to ask you, but, I’m sure only one is what
people are most excited about.
Dexter: Of course, what is your question?
Reporter: We’d like you to tell us your story, Dexter, tell us how you made it here.
My expression immediately darkened as I heard her words. Memories flashed
through my brain faster than the cameras…memories of me…and my friends…
Dexter: If you want my story…then things began a few years ago…
February 27, 1942, Bataan Peninsula, Philippines
I woke up to the sound of my friend’s voice, which was rough and raspy with
tiredness.
Jake: Yo, Dexter, wake up…
Dexter: Hm…what?
Brian: Cmon dude, we have to go to the Watchtower, it’s our turn to keep guard… He
huffed, clearly not looking forward to do this.
I groaned, having completely forgotten about our duties.
Dexter: Okay…Wait for me outside, I’ll be ready in five…
I got up from my bed and started getting ready. I wore my suit, my helmet, grabbed
my gun and exited my room.
Brian: Took you long enough. He teased.
Dexter: Shut up… He grumbled
We started walking towards the Watchtower, the night was very quiet, the only
sounds that were heard were owls and crickets. The stars glimmered, as if they
were unaware of the fear and horror the people felt below them. Me and Brian
climbed the ladder and we saw Arthur and James keeping guard.
Dexter: Alright guys…you can go, we’ll take over now.
Arthur turned his head towards them and sighed in relief.
Arthur: Thank God…I feel like my legs are going to give out…
After Arthur and James left, me and Brian were left alone in silence. After a bit,
Brian eventually spoke.
Brian: “Hey bud…?” He mumbled quietly.
Dexter: “Yeah?” He asked in curiosity.
Brian: I wanted to ask…how do you feel about this? All of this?
Dexter: What do you mean?
Brian: You know what I mean. We’ve killed so many people…what kind of life is this?
I sighed and tried to think of a good answer. I mean, he wasn’t wrong…We’ve
taken the lives of many people.
Dexter: “We killed them to save millions of others…” he said calmly. Don’t feel guilty
about it…
Brian let out a long sigh.
Brian: I know, I know…but still…
Dexter: “I understand…but hey” he nudged his shoulder. Tomorrow the airplane will
arrive and we’ll all go home…
Brian: Yeah…I guess you’re right…
We sat there for a good amount of time, being mostly silent, but from time to time
we commented how beautiful the night sky was, or how much we wanted to return
back to our country. It really was a peaceful night……until……
Dexter: You know Brian…some times I say to myself…how do we even-
Brian: “Did you hear that?” he interrupted him.
Dexter: “Hear what?” he said in a confused tone before his head perked up.
There was a small, almost inaudible beeping sound coming from the camp door.
Dexter:” What’s that?” he whispered.
Brian: “I don’t know…we should check it…” he replied before getting up and paddingtowards the door.
I followed close beside him, taking slow, steady steps as he approached the main
door and the beeping sound got louder and louder.
Brian: Let’s go see what is it-
Before he could finish his sentence, the door exploded with a loud “BOOM!”,
knocking us both away on the ground…
I’m not sure how long I was unconscious for…but when I woke up, the camp was in
chaos, voices of agony, fear, pain and anger echoed throughout the clearing,
accompanied by the sounds of gunshots. I looked around to see the ground painted
red with the blood of my comrades, their bodies were laid on the ground, so still I
couldn’t tell if they were frozen or not.
I saw Brian running up to me and grabbing my shoulders.
Brian: “DEXTER, DEXTER GET UP, WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!” He shouted, his
voice barely audible due to the gunshots. “THEY’RE TOO MANY, WE CAN’T FIGHT
THEM OFF!”
Dexter: “We can’t leave the others behind” he protested.
Brian: IF WE STAY HERE, WE’RE GONNA DIE TOO!
Dexter: B-But-
Before I protested again, Brian grabbed my hand and started running towards the
forest. I was still too dazed to understand what happened, the gunshots, the voices,
it was all too much. We ran for a bit until I suddenly heard voices shouting behind
us followed up by gunshots heading towards them.
Brian: They’re after us!
We climbed a hill, when suddenly Brian let out a scream of pain and fell down. I
quickly dragged him behind a large rock, pushing his back on it.
Brian: “Kh…dang it…” he said in a pained voice as he grasped his bloody leg.
Dexter: You’re shot, I’ll patch it up!
Brian: “N-No…I’ll only hold you back…” he panted. “Go to the airplane without me…”
Dexter: No, I’m not leaving you behind!
Brian squeezed my shoulders and looked at me in the eyes.
Brian: “Make this count, Dex…” he said before he pushed me down the hill
I gasped as I suddenly landed on the mud.
Dexter: “BRIAN, NO!!!” he desperately tried to climb the hill again, but was no use, as
he kept slipping and falling.
I felt tears well up in my eyes as I heard gunshots, followed up by voices of another
language I didn’t understand…but by their tone…it was clear that they said “Wefound him!”
I collapsed on the mud, my body trembling as I tried to comprehend what just
happened…Brian sacrificed himself to save me…he died…because of me…
Once again, I heard the voices and knew that if I stayed here…they’d find me
eventually…and if they did…they’d kill me too…After some time, I got u.
Dexter: “If Brian died for me to live…I’ll make sure not to make his sacrifice go to
waste…” he said with determination.
I began walking for hours, with no food or water, my legs felt so numb I could
probably stab them and not feel a thing…but eventually I found the plane. I could
see the shock on the pilots’ faces when they saw me…they’ve been expecting a
whole camp, not just one single soldier…
March 14, 1950, Washington DC, USA
Dexter: And that was my story…the story of how I’m standing here alive…
The crowd was in utter silence, no one dared to say a word as I finished my story.
The Reporter eventually broke it, her voice being shocked, yet fascinated.
Reporter: Oh my…you went through so much…just to be here.
Dexter: Yeah…I did…
Reporter: Mr. Dexter…I truly believe you’re one of the most influential people America has ever seen…but… I do have one last question to ask you…
Dexter: Of course…
Reporter: Out of everything you’ve been through…what did you learn…?
I thought of that question very well, thinking an answer to this almost impossible
question.
Dexter: Well…I would be speaking for days if I was to tell you every single thing I
learned…although…one thing is something that hasn’t left my mind since then…
I paused for a moment, making sure that my answer is the correct one.
Dexter: No matter how bad your situation is…no matter what you face in your
life…you should never…never give up…you have to keep fighting…as many times as
you fail…don’t give up…
Well, this is it…this is the end of my story…I lost a lot of people…one of them being
my friend, Brian…but I learned that if you get stuck in the past…it’s going to
consume you…so sometimes…you have to leave some things behind in order to
continue living…
The End
