The Toxic Laundry Detergent

2026 Write Now Winner - Grades 3 & 4

    Once there was an archeologist named Alissa. She was out searching ancient ruins but fell in the mud… so she was forced to go home to clean her clothes. She got her laundry detergent, but little did she know it was toxic! It brought her clothes to life! She was eating a sandwich when right in front of her, the clothes were floating, glowing green! And right there on the top of it was the toxic laundry detergent! She grabbed her phone and dialed the number of her best friend, Broker. He took the phone. “Hello?”

     “Listen this might sound crazy but…” Alissa starts to say.

     “Alissa? Hello?”

     “Ahhh!!!” Alissa screamed.

     “Alissa? Alissa? What happened?” Broker asked in a panic. There was no answer. 

     Broker started getting ready for what he might find. But he knew, he just knew, that he had to save her now! He went to her house and tried to open the door, but it was locked. “Thank goodness I brought a pin.” Creak went the door as he opened it. “Alissa!” He called but no one answered. Then he noticed green soap? Wait, no, it was green laundry detergent. What in the world? he thought. What happened here? Huh, is the laundry running? There was Alissa tied up with clothes… he untied her. 

     “Wait-no-stop!” Alissa cried, but the clothes had already started pulling and dragging him away. “NOOO!!!” Alissa yelled with teary eyes.

     “Don’t worry about me, just go save yourself!” Broker cried.

     “But I don't want to leave you!” Alissa cried.

     “Please Alissa just go and save yourself, before it's too late.” 

     Alissa refused to leave her friend. Carefully making sure not to be seen, she snuck up behind them and watched. She thought of what might defeat the laundry detergent…”Well I could go to my study and maybe one of the artifacts could help me defeat the laundry detergent. Oh, I know, I could get the one pot I found in one of the temples. Maybe, just maybe, it could work!” Alissa whispered to herself. She went to see one of her fellow archeologists to see if they had the pot.

     “Why, do you need it?” they questioned.

     “Yes I do, and…” Alissa told him the entire story, and he agreed to help. “Oh by the way, Henry, have you ever heard of toxic laundry detergent? I mean I just told the story, but have you heard of it before now?” Alissa asked.

     “Hmm, I think I saw something about that in an ancient scroll. But I'm not too sure of it, I'll have to look again.” Henry said. 

     “We’re here…” Alissa said. “Be careful; who knows what that thing is doing…”

     “I have the pot Alissa. What do I do with it?” Henry asked.

     “Take the lid off and follow me.” Alissa said.

     “Ok, got it!” Henry now whispered.

     They both snuck in and saw that Broker was trying to defend himself, but was slowly getting defeated. “Ok now!” Alissa shouted to Henry. He reopened the lid, and the clothes and laundry detergent got sucked in.

     “Alissa, you- you came back even after I said not to, but why?” Broker asked.

     “Because we’re friends, and friends always stick together.” Alissa said.

     “Man guys, I'm starving. I didn't even get to eat breakfast…” Henry said.

     “Hey I have an idea, why don't we have lunch in one of the ancient caves? I mean I think it could be cool.” Alissa said.

     “Sounds great!” Henry said. And they became one of the best groups of archeologists in the world all thanks to the lunch in the cave. But what happened there is a story for another time.