We loved reading about the plight of a much-loved remote control, and hope you will too. Congratulations to our fabulous winner, we can't wait to see what else she'll have in store for everyone!

In Control

Nicole Malanga, Grade 9, Everglades High School, Miramar FL

          I have the best family in the world. Every year, we watch the usual on TV: the ball drop on New Year’s, the Charlie Brown specials on Halloween and of course, Thanksgiving Day football every year.

          No matter that people have always told me that I’m controlling… I am. I’m a television remote control.

          Bob uses me everyday - no matter the holiday. Even after all of his friends brought home their LED HD 3D TV’s, Bob has kept me in hand through thick and thin.

          “Touchdown!” Bob’s voice shatters my thoughts as he jumps up and pumps his fist. He throws me up in the air to run closer to the TV to join in on the end zone dance. I soar through the air, tapping the popcorn ceiling, hurtling back to earth. I crash-land behind the sofa into a pile of dust. All around me, long-forgotten popcorn litter the floor and a neglected soda can waits sadly. I can hear Bob mumbling and taking apart sofa cushions as he unsuccessfully searches for me.

          It feels good to be loved.

          Two hours later, and I’m comfortably suffocating under Bob’s bag of barbeque chips. Every so often, crumbs tumble down and cover me in their tangy scent.

          The lock in the front door clicks and in walks Bob’s wife, Mary. Bob’s Chihuahua, Teacup yaps and I roll my eyes at that stupid dog. Teacup came into this family about the time that Mary began tuning in everyday around noon to watch Oprah. Over time, Teacup has started to regard me as a fun toy. The dog watches every single night as I move around, but all she does is follow me around with curious eyes.

          I lean around an especially large crumb to see what Mary is presenting to Bob. In her arms, she is balancing a turkey larger than her head, a grocery bag, a case of soda, and a plastic Best Buy bag.

          Uh-oh.

          She giggles excitedly and sets down the food. She settles in to an overstuffed recliner and kicks off her shoes as she clutches the Best Buy bag. Mary beams and pulls out a large black box. From my hiding place, I can see “universal remote” plastered on the side of the package. She says something about replacing that “dingy old remote.” My eyes tear up but I don’t know if it’s because I’m about to be replaced or if it’s the overpowering stench of barbeque chips.

          The football game has just gone into overtime and I’m still stuffed between the sofa cushions. Mary and Bob, plumped from dinner, are excitedly ripping open that ominous package. The big shot slips out of its box and reveals itself to be a full-color four-inch screen tablet remote control with personalized settings. The instruction book is as large as the yam that Mary burnt with the turkey!

          Mary yawns and Bob burps. Bob suggests that they get some rest, but Mary points towards the sink filled to the brim with the holiday’s dirty dishes and greasy pans. Bob shrugs and Mary surrenders. They slump off down the hallway, leaving the vile new remote control nestled on the carpet. The lights shut off and I glare at the hunk of plastic on the floor.

          He has to go

          No one can change my family. I won’t allow it. Isn’t that the real meaning of Thanksgiving? Protecting your beloved family? This new gadget will not be permitted to affect my family.

          It takes me three hours, but I crawl off the couch and across the floor. In the process, I run into some scraps of caramel popcorn from last Thanksgiving and some batteries that probably used to be stuffed inside me. Covered in dust and sticky caramel, I manage to flip the plastic wannabe onto his side.

          I feel a rush of adrenaline and am about to cut this intruder’s invasion short when I hear a “yap.” Groaning, I glance up to see Teacup wagging her tail. She might be a part of my family but sometimes she can be really annoying. “Shhh!” I cruelly whisper to Teacup who probably thinks we are about to have a party. Teacup nods as if she understands.

          I think about what I am about to do. I close my eyes and reach over and yank out the new remote’s batteries.

          In the morning, Bob will find his precious touch screen remote to be broken. They can never replace me and they never will.

          Some people say I’m controlling… and I am.