Student Narrative Writing: January
Check out some stories from students' personal lives. In this unit of Lucy Calkin's Writing Workshop, we focused on the following:
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Hope you enjoy the students' work!
Roxie by Marisa
I dash into the pet store. It was my birthday, so my mom said I could pick out a pet. I can hear the dogs barking for treats, and the fish splashing in the water. “There’s so many to choose.” My mom says looking around in amazement. “What kind of pet do you want?” my mom asks pointing to a turtle. “You can’t do anything with a turtle,” I say. “ You can’t play with them”. “Let’s go over to the guinea pigs” I say gripping her arm and pulling her towards the guinea pig section.
I sprint over to the platform. There were at least twelve or more in the cage. I could see one grab a carrot and run into its little green igloo, and another one sleeping in a wooden tunnel. “How about that one?” she asks pointing to black one with brown spots lying down in the corner. “No, it’s just not the one” I answered with a sigh.
Then all of a sudden, I found the one that I was looking for. Her little brown paws were up against the platform. Her soft brown fur felt like feathers. Her eyes were like black diamonds. “I want this one!” I yelled jumping up and down.
I pick her up. She was smaller than my palm. I look down happily at her. She looks up and stares at me wondering what was happening. She makes a purring sound that sounds like a motor boat. I smile. At that moment, I knew that this pet was made for me. “Wow” I thought to myself. “She’s so cute!” I say excitedly. “What are you going to name her?” my mom asks patting her head softly. “Roxie” I whisper. The cashier working at the front desk took Roxie and put her into a cardboard box filled with stuffing so that she has something to sit on and some treats, so she doesn’t get hungry.
I carefully walk to the car so Roxie wouldn’t get hurt or fall out of the box. I could see her little head peek out of the box to look around inside my car to see where she was. I laugh. “Come on Marisa” my mom says shutting her car door. I hop in the car and shut the door. I knew at that moment, Roxie was going to be the best guinea pig in the world.
I sprint over to the platform. There were at least twelve or more in the cage. I could see one grab a carrot and run into its little green igloo, and another one sleeping in a wooden tunnel. “How about that one?” she asks pointing to black one with brown spots lying down in the corner. “No, it’s just not the one” I answered with a sigh.
Then all of a sudden, I found the one that I was looking for. Her little brown paws were up against the platform. Her soft brown fur felt like feathers. Her eyes were like black diamonds. “I want this one!” I yelled jumping up and down.
I pick her up. She was smaller than my palm. I look down happily at her. She looks up and stares at me wondering what was happening. She makes a purring sound that sounds like a motor boat. I smile. At that moment, I knew that this pet was made for me. “Wow” I thought to myself. “She’s so cute!” I say excitedly. “What are you going to name her?” my mom asks patting her head softly. “Roxie” I whisper. The cashier working at the front desk took Roxie and put her into a cardboard box filled with stuffing so that she has something to sit on and some treats, so she doesn’t get hungry.
I carefully walk to the car so Roxie wouldn’t get hurt or fall out of the box. I could see her little head peek out of the box to look around inside my car to see where she was. I laugh. “Come on Marisa” my mom says shutting her car door. I hop in the car and shut the door. I knew at that moment, Roxie was going to be the best guinea pig in the world.
Stymie by Damon
“Meow!” Stymie cried.
“What do you want?” I asked, Stymie then trotted out of the room and into the kitchen, and then he stared at me, for a second, and another second, and then another second. I didn’t know if he was hungry or he threw up or he just wanted some plain attention. I stepped over him and there it was a nice brown puddle of some nice slushy, clumpy vomit that had my name written all over it. “Great, just Great,” I said “Trolled by my own cat,” I sighed. So I ripped a paper towel off the roll and went in to wipe it up. I moved my hand back and forth very slowly. Then I ran to the back of the room and got a plastic bag and I tried to put the paper towel in the plastic bag but my hand had slipped. The vomit and my hand had made contact…
“OH, LORD HAVE MERCY ON MY SOUL!!!” I bellowed, “You know what!” I yelled “Forget it!” I got the whole roll of paper towels and ripped all of them off and wiped like crazy. Finally it was all gone then I got in bed, curled up, and fell back asleep. I know Stymie is a smart cat, but why would he do that to me?! I then got back up and saw Stymie staring cautiously into the kitchen “Uh oh,” I said “Meow!” Stymie cried. So I walked over to him. “AGAIN!!!!!”
“What do you want?” I asked, Stymie then trotted out of the room and into the kitchen, and then he stared at me, for a second, and another second, and then another second. I didn’t know if he was hungry or he threw up or he just wanted some plain attention. I stepped over him and there it was a nice brown puddle of some nice slushy, clumpy vomit that had my name written all over it. “Great, just Great,” I said “Trolled by my own cat,” I sighed. So I ripped a paper towel off the roll and went in to wipe it up. I moved my hand back and forth very slowly. Then I ran to the back of the room and got a plastic bag and I tried to put the paper towel in the plastic bag but my hand had slipped. The vomit and my hand had made contact…
“OH, LORD HAVE MERCY ON MY SOUL!!!” I bellowed, “You know what!” I yelled “Forget it!” I got the whole roll of paper towels and ripped all of them off and wiped like crazy. Finally it was all gone then I got in bed, curled up, and fell back asleep. I know Stymie is a smart cat, but why would he do that to me?! I then got back up and saw Stymie staring cautiously into the kitchen “Uh oh,” I said “Meow!” Stymie cried. So I walked over to him. “AGAIN!!!!!”
Morning Fish by Bianca
It was one New Hampshire morning when I awoke from a deep slumber. I was on the top bunk of the giant bunk bed at Aunt Kristen and Uncle Shane’s Lake house.
One foot behind the other when I walked down the small ladder to reach the bottom bunk. My sister was slumbering away. The digital clock on the window sill says, 7:35, a great time to go fishing.
My hand slides down the long medal railing as I tip toe down the stairs. Is anyone awake? Maybe not. My feet sound like the small pitter patter of a mouse. Only I was awake, only I am a morning person.
I skip the breakfast table. Not hungry. Then I slide the glass door open and step through. The sun was creeping its way through the foggy clouds.
I jump off of the patio and onto the grass, it was wet and soggy. I jumped out of the way as the annoying sprinkler sprayed me. Now I can finally start fishing, I thought as I remembered the day before. I kept trying, but I just couldn’t catch a fish.
While waiting for a bite I had to be patient. I look around, the sight was amazing. I watched as the small waves pushed them self’s over the small hill over by the trees. The fog was as majestic as ever. The wet grass smelled sweet, but what made the sight so amazing was the sound. It was the only sound that you could hear if you were fishing on a 7:35 New Hampshire morning, so soft and simple.
Minutes later a fish bites. I step back and tug with all of my might, this fish was a fighter. I grab hold of the small medal rail and start turning it. He’s a big one, I thought to myself as it hits the surface of the water. What should I do? I thought. Should I wake up my parents? Those thoughts were interrupted by the screech of the morning bird. It sounded like an annoying song. My fish starts to wiggle and shake, but it was no use. This was my fish, my morning fish.
One foot behind the other when I walked down the small ladder to reach the bottom bunk. My sister was slumbering away. The digital clock on the window sill says, 7:35, a great time to go fishing.
My hand slides down the long medal railing as I tip toe down the stairs. Is anyone awake? Maybe not. My feet sound like the small pitter patter of a mouse. Only I was awake, only I am a morning person.
I skip the breakfast table. Not hungry. Then I slide the glass door open and step through. The sun was creeping its way through the foggy clouds.
I jump off of the patio and onto the grass, it was wet and soggy. I jumped out of the way as the annoying sprinkler sprayed me. Now I can finally start fishing, I thought as I remembered the day before. I kept trying, but I just couldn’t catch a fish.
While waiting for a bite I had to be patient. I look around, the sight was amazing. I watched as the small waves pushed them self’s over the small hill over by the trees. The fog was as majestic as ever. The wet grass smelled sweet, but what made the sight so amazing was the sound. It was the only sound that you could hear if you were fishing on a 7:35 New Hampshire morning, so soft and simple.
Minutes later a fish bites. I step back and tug with all of my might, this fish was a fighter. I grab hold of the small medal rail and start turning it. He’s a big one, I thought to myself as it hits the surface of the water. What should I do? I thought. Should I wake up my parents? Those thoughts were interrupted by the screech of the morning bird. It sounded like an annoying song. My fish starts to wiggle and shake, but it was no use. This was my fish, my morning fish.
The Darkness of Whistle Tag by Audrey
We walk into the theater after choosing our groups for whistle tag, a game of fear and fun at the same time. We sit in the audience to settle on our group noise. We’re going to be leaving soon so we’re trying to fit a game in before we leave.
“Ok guys, we’re going to be eye yeye yeye yeye!!!” Mike says to us. “That’s going to be our group noise.”
My group agrees with our captain.
We walk towards the stage. Erin walks up to us and says,
“Do you want to go up there?” she asks us. “They always look on the stairs but never on the catwalk.” The catwalk is a platform high above backstage. I’ve never been up there. It’s my first time.
“Ok” we reply.
We climb up the creaky spiral staircase to the third level. I walk along the catwalk with the rest of our group.
“It’s so high,” I say to my friend Isabella as we stand high above the ground. “Katie and her group look tiny.”
After a few minutes when all the groups have hidden, Erin barks “3, 2, 1.”
It’s pitch black. She turned all the lights off in the theater off. I can’t see anything but I can feel Michaela and Jenna as they huddle nearby. I try not to scream. Why? Because I’m sitting under creepy, old wooden stairs alone with nails sticking out of them! It’s cold and dangerous under here! Wouldn’t you be scared?!!! And wouldn’t you scream?!!!
“Noises off!” Erin yells below us. It’s time to yell our group noise so that Group 4 at least has a hint where we are hiding. We yell our group noise for a few seconds then stopped. Group 4 rushes into the theater. I can’t see anything because of the dark. I strain my eyes to see a glimpse of Group 4 but I can’t, but it sounded like they were walking across the stage.
“Noises off!” Erin yells again.
The theater fills with weird noises.
Clomp, Clomp. Some people in Group 4 are walking up the stairs that reveal our hiding place.
“Found you guys,” Erica says. We climb out from under the stairs. We walk down the steep, spiral staircase in the pitch black darkness. It’s scary. Group 4 has found all the other groups now except Isabella and Hannah on the catwalk.
Erin turns all the lights back on now that all the groups have been found.
“Can we play another round?” people ask.
It’s time to go now, but I’ll see everybody tomorrow for practice at the fire house.
“Bye!” I yell. Then I shut the heavy, blue door behind me and then I run down the steps to my dad in the car in the darkness of the evening.
“Ok guys, we’re going to be eye yeye yeye yeye!!!” Mike says to us. “That’s going to be our group noise.”
My group agrees with our captain.
We walk towards the stage. Erin walks up to us and says,
“Do you want to go up there?” she asks us. “They always look on the stairs but never on the catwalk.” The catwalk is a platform high above backstage. I’ve never been up there. It’s my first time.
“Ok” we reply.
We climb up the creaky spiral staircase to the third level. I walk along the catwalk with the rest of our group.
“It’s so high,” I say to my friend Isabella as we stand high above the ground. “Katie and her group look tiny.”
After a few minutes when all the groups have hidden, Erin barks “3, 2, 1.”
It’s pitch black. She turned all the lights off in the theater off. I can’t see anything but I can feel Michaela and Jenna as they huddle nearby. I try not to scream. Why? Because I’m sitting under creepy, old wooden stairs alone with nails sticking out of them! It’s cold and dangerous under here! Wouldn’t you be scared?!!! And wouldn’t you scream?!!!
“Noises off!” Erin yells below us. It’s time to yell our group noise so that Group 4 at least has a hint where we are hiding. We yell our group noise for a few seconds then stopped. Group 4 rushes into the theater. I can’t see anything because of the dark. I strain my eyes to see a glimpse of Group 4 but I can’t, but it sounded like they were walking across the stage.
“Noises off!” Erin yells again.
The theater fills with weird noises.
Clomp, Clomp. Some people in Group 4 are walking up the stairs that reveal our hiding place.
“Found you guys,” Erica says. We climb out from under the stairs. We walk down the steep, spiral staircase in the pitch black darkness. It’s scary. Group 4 has found all the other groups now except Isabella and Hannah on the catwalk.
Erin turns all the lights back on now that all the groups have been found.
“Can we play another round?” people ask.
It’s time to go now, but I’ll see everybody tomorrow for practice at the fire house.
“Bye!” I yell. Then I shut the heavy, blue door behind me and then I run down the steps to my dad in the car in the darkness of the evening.
A Bad day to go for a walk by Samuel
Not too long ago when family lived in Haiti, my grandfather was going for a walk when a red van parked right next to him. Six to eight people came and picked him up like a coffin and threw him into the van. He knew that if he called the police they would not do anything. The police are pretty much lazy!
So all he did was pray, pray and pray. The van came to a smooth stop. It parked near a mysterious dark alley like in those horror movies. A fear of worry struck him like lightning.
They pushed him outside, but there was no escape, they had pistols and other weapons. A tall man with dark clothes as dark as midnight with a big weapon said like a threat, “If you give me some money, you won’t get hurt”.
“But I don’t have any money on me”, he cried.
Guns began to cock, they aimed at him. Bang! The sounds of bullets rung out like popping popcorn, when the most amazing thing happens. They missed him! They ran out of ammo they didn’t know what to do with him, so they had to let him go home. To be honest, I think it was a bad day to go on a walk.
So all he did was pray, pray and pray. The van came to a smooth stop. It parked near a mysterious dark alley like in those horror movies. A fear of worry struck him like lightning.
They pushed him outside, but there was no escape, they had pistols and other weapons. A tall man with dark clothes as dark as midnight with a big weapon said like a threat, “If you give me some money, you won’t get hurt”.
“But I don’t have any money on me”, he cried.
Guns began to cock, they aimed at him. Bang! The sounds of bullets rung out like popping popcorn, when the most amazing thing happens. They missed him! They ran out of ammo they didn’t know what to do with him, so they had to let him go home. To be honest, I think it was a bad day to go on a walk.
Fishing Story by Ava
I woke suddenly and remembered I was going fishing with my dad! I jumped out of bed and got my shorts and tank top on. I tip toed to my mom and dad’s room but the stupid floor gave me away because I woke up my mom and dad. When I finished asking my dad to get out of bed we headed to the pond.
When we were in the car I thought “oh no, is dad going to talk about math homework again?”
Once we got to the pond, we set up and started fishing. I was thinking if he brought math homework I would die. We waited forever in silence, but we could only here the fish jump and the frogs hop from lily pad to lily pad. Thank god no math homework All of a sudden my rod flew out of my hand and my dad caught it before it went flying into the pond.
I yelled “real it in, real it in.”I jumped up and down waiting to see what kind of fish I caught. Then I heard my dad yell “oh yeah.”I was shocked my dad never does this type of thing , he always talks “math talk.” Then a small sunfish popped out of the water attached to the string on the fishing rod. I was so excited because my first fish I caught was a sunfish! I threw it into a bright blue bucket and named it frank.
When we left I had to let frank go. I was heartbroken, I wanted to keep him. When we left I pressed my face against the window and waved good-bye.”
When we were in the car I thought “oh no, is dad going to talk about math homework again?”
Once we got to the pond, we set up and started fishing. I was thinking if he brought math homework I would die. We waited forever in silence, but we could only here the fish jump and the frogs hop from lily pad to lily pad. Thank god no math homework All of a sudden my rod flew out of my hand and my dad caught it before it went flying into the pond.
I yelled “real it in, real it in.”I jumped up and down waiting to see what kind of fish I caught. Then I heard my dad yell “oh yeah.”I was shocked my dad never does this type of thing , he always talks “math talk.” Then a small sunfish popped out of the water attached to the string on the fishing rod. I was so excited because my first fish I caught was a sunfish! I threw it into a bright blue bucket and named it frank.
When we left I had to let frank go. I was heartbroken, I wanted to keep him. When we left I pressed my face against the window and waved good-bye.”
The last time I saw Hillary by Steph
It was a summer day. We were going to my cousins. When my mom said, “I have to take Hillary to the vet so I’m dropping you and Andrew off at Dot’s (my aunt) and you two can sleep over."
Later mom called and said, "we have to put Hillary to sleep," (to sleep means that they have to put them in a very deep sleep it’s so deep that they can’t wake up) "so you can stay if you want."
I said, "I’ll stay.
The next day I was crying so hard that my eyes looked like tomatoes. I started to play with my other dog that was also sad because he loved her and she loved him so much that she kissed him on the nose. One time she went into my brother’s room and lied on him when he woke he screamed.
Later mom called and said, "we have to put Hillary to sleep," (to sleep means that they have to put them in a very deep sleep it’s so deep that they can’t wake up) "so you can stay if you want."
I said, "I’ll stay.
The next day I was crying so hard that my eyes looked like tomatoes. I started to play with my other dog that was also sad because he loved her and she loved him so much that she kissed him on the nose. One time she went into my brother’s room and lied on him when he woke he screamed.
Math, Math, Math by Medha
“This is an equation, when you have an unknown number, you use a variable,” Ms. Anna explained. She was my teacher at the Russian School of Mathematics. I just call it RSM. This was my first math class, it was also my 10th birthday.
“Does it make sense?” My teacher asked. Everyone nodded. I nodded, too, but I didn’t really know what she was teaching. I knew that I should have asked at least some questions, but I didn’t anyway. Why did I have to go to RSM anyway, I mean Ms. Moll teaches us tons of math, we learn fractions, divisibility rules, exponents and lots of other things, I thought. The thing was that everyone else understood everything perfectly. If I don’t understand anything, I’ll end up in 5th grade my whole life, I thought.
“Okay… guys, it’s time for break. Go and get your snacks,” Ms. Anna announced. What! We were supposed to bring a snack, I thought with a lot of disappointment. My stomach was grumbling as if it were trying to say,” Give me food right now!” I was starving. Some of my classmates were going to the vending machine which was in the hallway. I stayed in the classroom. I waited for a few minutes, my stomach kept complaining. I sighed.
“Come inside now,” Ms. Anna called to the students outside. As I watched everyone come inside, just the sound their munching made my mouth water. “Okay, while you’re eating, I’m going to teach you how to find a variable,” My teacher said. I saw her write on the whiteboard. It didn’t look that difficult. This will probably help me, I thought happily. Ms. Anna was drawing boxes, arrows and loopy arrows. What type of diagram is this? I thought curiously.
“Look at your packets,” Ms. Anna said,” It says I thought of a number, I subtracted 7 from my number, then divided 8 from the result and got 61. What was my number? For the most part, I didn’t understand anything my math teacher said. “Okay, we don’t have any more time, I’ll see you next week and we can solve this problem next time. My very first RSM class was very hard. I was struggling like anything! It was all over.
I packed up my supplies and my math packet. Ms. Anna went over what was homework. How am I supposed to do the homework if I don’t get it! I thought with a disappointed and tired look. I walked outside my classroom and into the hallway. I saw my mother. She beamed at me. “How was math class?” She asked. “Good,” I replied.
Suddenly, I remembered that my mother told me that this math class was for my studies. This meant something completely different to me. My parents were trying to help me!
“Does it make sense?” My teacher asked. Everyone nodded. I nodded, too, but I didn’t really know what she was teaching. I knew that I should have asked at least some questions, but I didn’t anyway. Why did I have to go to RSM anyway, I mean Ms. Moll teaches us tons of math, we learn fractions, divisibility rules, exponents and lots of other things, I thought. The thing was that everyone else understood everything perfectly. If I don’t understand anything, I’ll end up in 5th grade my whole life, I thought.
“Okay… guys, it’s time for break. Go and get your snacks,” Ms. Anna announced. What! We were supposed to bring a snack, I thought with a lot of disappointment. My stomach was grumbling as if it were trying to say,” Give me food right now!” I was starving. Some of my classmates were going to the vending machine which was in the hallway. I stayed in the classroom. I waited for a few minutes, my stomach kept complaining. I sighed.
“Come inside now,” Ms. Anna called to the students outside. As I watched everyone come inside, just the sound their munching made my mouth water. “Okay, while you’re eating, I’m going to teach you how to find a variable,” My teacher said. I saw her write on the whiteboard. It didn’t look that difficult. This will probably help me, I thought happily. Ms. Anna was drawing boxes, arrows and loopy arrows. What type of diagram is this? I thought curiously.
“Look at your packets,” Ms. Anna said,” It says I thought of a number, I subtracted 7 from my number, then divided 8 from the result and got 61. What was my number? For the most part, I didn’t understand anything my math teacher said. “Okay, we don’t have any more time, I’ll see you next week and we can solve this problem next time. My very first RSM class was very hard. I was struggling like anything! It was all over.
I packed up my supplies and my math packet. Ms. Anna went over what was homework. How am I supposed to do the homework if I don’t get it! I thought with a disappointed and tired look. I walked outside my classroom and into the hallway. I saw my mother. She beamed at me. “How was math class?” She asked. “Good,” I replied.
Suddenly, I remembered that my mother told me that this math class was for my studies. This meant something completely different to me. My parents were trying to help me!
Whale Watch by Meaghan
It was a gloomy day in Cape Cod and it was pretty cold today. My family and I are visiting my other side of the family. I’m so excited that I’m with my cousins, aunts, and uncles, because I never ever get to see them and I’ve missed them so much.
Today we’re going on a whale watch. It’s so exciting for me because I’ve never been on a whale watch. I thought to myself how fun it will probably be.
“When are we going on the boat” I asked impatiently to my mom.”
Soon” my mom said “we’re waiting for Uncle Danny to come back with tickets”.
“Ok” I said back.
“I’m going over with Drew, Matthew, Bella and Jack” I said to my mom.
As I walked over to my cousins and brothers I saw the big white boat sailing toward us.
“Is that the boat were going on” I asked my cousin Bella
“Yeah let’s go over there” Bella said back.
“Ok” I said.
When we got on the boat my cousins and I looked around for a few minutes. After that the boat was off we were sailing out of the harbor into the deep blue ocean. 20 minutes later my little cousin Audrey came running toward me.
“Meaghan, Meaghan “she said loudly.
“What?” I asked.
“Look”, she pointed her finger in another direction. I turned my neck to the direction her finger was pointing. There was a huge hump back whale swimming next to the big white boat. “Wow” I said amazed. I rushed over to see a better look at the Hump back whale. That was the first whale I saw.
About 25 minutes went by.
“I’m so bored” I said to my mom.
She didn’t answer. I walked around the boat then all of a sudden a bright blue whale popped his head out of the water. I looked over the boat at the huge blue whale amazed. A couple seconds later the whale popped his head back into the water. A few minutes went by, but then the huge blue whale was back. He jumped up in the air a little and splashed me. The whale made a weird whale sound then swam a way with another whale by its side.
“Meaghan”, my mom yelled to me
“What” I asked
“Look at the back of the boat”, she said
“Ok” I said excited
When I got to the back of the boat I saw a few dolphins following the boat. The dolphins were so pretty! I just wanted to jump into the water with them!
An hour later we were back at the harbor.
“Did you like it Meaghan? “My mom asked me.
“Yeah I loved it” I said back happily. “Can we go again tomorrow?” I asked.
“No sorry honey” my mom said.
“Ok” I said back.
Today was so fun I thought to myself. I loved seeing the whales I said to myself. I’ll be back I mumbled. I loved being with my cousins and being able to see all these beautiful whales.
I’m so happy that I got to hang out with my cousins because I never get to see them and I miss them and I love them but I get sad that I never get to see them.
Today we’re going on a whale watch. It’s so exciting for me because I’ve never been on a whale watch. I thought to myself how fun it will probably be.
“When are we going on the boat” I asked impatiently to my mom.”
Soon” my mom said “we’re waiting for Uncle Danny to come back with tickets”.
“Ok” I said back.
“I’m going over with Drew, Matthew, Bella and Jack” I said to my mom.
As I walked over to my cousins and brothers I saw the big white boat sailing toward us.
“Is that the boat were going on” I asked my cousin Bella
“Yeah let’s go over there” Bella said back.
“Ok” I said.
When we got on the boat my cousins and I looked around for a few minutes. After that the boat was off we were sailing out of the harbor into the deep blue ocean. 20 minutes later my little cousin Audrey came running toward me.
“Meaghan, Meaghan “she said loudly.
“What?” I asked.
“Look”, she pointed her finger in another direction. I turned my neck to the direction her finger was pointing. There was a huge hump back whale swimming next to the big white boat. “Wow” I said amazed. I rushed over to see a better look at the Hump back whale. That was the first whale I saw.
About 25 minutes went by.
“I’m so bored” I said to my mom.
She didn’t answer. I walked around the boat then all of a sudden a bright blue whale popped his head out of the water. I looked over the boat at the huge blue whale amazed. A couple seconds later the whale popped his head back into the water. A few minutes went by, but then the huge blue whale was back. He jumped up in the air a little and splashed me. The whale made a weird whale sound then swam a way with another whale by its side.
“Meaghan”, my mom yelled to me
“What” I asked
“Look at the back of the boat”, she said
“Ok” I said excited
When I got to the back of the boat I saw a few dolphins following the boat. The dolphins were so pretty! I just wanted to jump into the water with them!
An hour later we were back at the harbor.
“Did you like it Meaghan? “My mom asked me.
“Yeah I loved it” I said back happily. “Can we go again tomorrow?” I asked.
“No sorry honey” my mom said.
“Ok” I said back.
Today was so fun I thought to myself. I loved seeing the whales I said to myself. I’ll be back I mumbled. I loved being with my cousins and being able to see all these beautiful whales.
I’m so happy that I got to hang out with my cousins because I never get to see them and I miss them and I love them but I get sad that I never get to see them.
Neha's Pursuit by Maggie
“Over here, Maggie! Hurry!” Medha hissed at me from the open bedroom door, covered in a mixture of afternoon shadows and golden sunlight. Neha, Medha’s sister, was chasing us all over the apartment for no particular reason, and we had to escape.
“Medha! Unlock the door and come here!” I whispered loudly. My brain had probably turned off; Neha rushed in like a human waterfall. Medha and I had no choice but to flee into the nearby bathroom.
Medha slammed the open bathroom door after I ran in. I took a moment to catch my breath while I looked at what was in the bathroom.
“I have to pee,” Medha admitted with a guilty expression on her face.
“WHAT?” I almost yelled- then I remembered Neha.
“It always happens when I hide with other people,” she confessed. When I opened my mouth to respond, there was a click- the lights turned off. There was another click- something started humming. I remembered when Neha first started chasing us, and wished that instead of hiding in the bathroom, we were doing that now.
“Don’t worry,” said Medha, “Neha does that all the time.” She seemed to be undisturbed, but I had never been trapped in this particular bathroom before. I had never been trapped in any bathroom before.
The lights flickered. They turned on, then off. Whatever made the humming noise also turned on and off. This is kind of creepy, I thought in the brief darkness. Unexpectedly, it all stopped. The light remained on, and the humming ended. Is this some kind of trick? I wondered. I suddenly had an immense longing for X-ray vision through doors, so I could see where Neha was and if she was plotting anything. Then Medha grasped the doorknob.
“I’ll go to the other bathroom.”
“Um… Okay.”
That’s when we ran. Medha slipped into the other bathroom, disappearing from my sight. I sprinted to her room and hastily ascended the white ladder to the bunk bed- I would be safer there and I could toss stuffed animals at Neha. Unfortunately, we all needed a break, so we had to stop. When we finished our ice cream, Neha chased us again, and we ended up on the balcony. (We were desperate.) However, since Neha wasn’t allowed on the balcony, we started playing the game Trouble instead.
“Medha! Unlock the door and come here!” I whispered loudly. My brain had probably turned off; Neha rushed in like a human waterfall. Medha and I had no choice but to flee into the nearby bathroom.
Medha slammed the open bathroom door after I ran in. I took a moment to catch my breath while I looked at what was in the bathroom.
“I have to pee,” Medha admitted with a guilty expression on her face.
“WHAT?” I almost yelled- then I remembered Neha.
“It always happens when I hide with other people,” she confessed. When I opened my mouth to respond, there was a click- the lights turned off. There was another click- something started humming. I remembered when Neha first started chasing us, and wished that instead of hiding in the bathroom, we were doing that now.
“Don’t worry,” said Medha, “Neha does that all the time.” She seemed to be undisturbed, but I had never been trapped in this particular bathroom before. I had never been trapped in any bathroom before.
The lights flickered. They turned on, then off. Whatever made the humming noise also turned on and off. This is kind of creepy, I thought in the brief darkness. Unexpectedly, it all stopped. The light remained on, and the humming ended. Is this some kind of trick? I wondered. I suddenly had an immense longing for X-ray vision through doors, so I could see where Neha was and if she was plotting anything. Then Medha grasped the doorknob.
“I’ll go to the other bathroom.”
“Um… Okay.”
That’s when we ran. Medha slipped into the other bathroom, disappearing from my sight. I sprinted to her room and hastily ascended the white ladder to the bunk bed- I would be safer there and I could toss stuffed animals at Neha. Unfortunately, we all needed a break, so we had to stop. When we finished our ice cream, Neha chased us again, and we ended up on the balcony. (We were desperate.) However, since Neha wasn’t allowed on the balcony, we started playing the game Trouble instead.
New Bike by Paige
Bump, bump, bump my head was pounding “Paige are you ok?” That’s all I heard but everything was a haze. I had just fallen off my bike for the first time and I didn’t like it. My mom had to pick up a description for my dad in Arlington. I was just trying out my new bike and I already fell wasn’t that just great? Oh and to add to that my bike fell right on top of me like I was a fly trapped under a spoon.
I slowly crawled out from under the bike and told my mom where it hurt. My mom checked every atom of my body except my chin witch of course had the worse scrape out of all of them. Then she saw my chin and yelled “the chin, why didn’t I think of the chin?!” My mom put her hand on her head and had a disappointed look as if she was remembering my first chin problem. It was a cool summer night and I was at a water park like place with my friend Amanda. I had both ends of my towel in my hands. I thought that it would be nice to make a jump rope out of my towel. I had tripped over my towel with no hands to catch myself so my chin smashed on the ground.
My mom was in a full blown PANIC now. She called my dad and barely three minutes later my Dads black SABB came barreling down the street. Then he slammed on the brakes right before he hit us. He jumped out of the car and checked me like a paramedic. Once he had made sure every muscle of my body was OK he asked “do you feel ok?” I smiled as big as the sun and he smiled back even bigger that’s when I realized my parents will always be there every step of the way.
I slowly crawled out from under the bike and told my mom where it hurt. My mom checked every atom of my body except my chin witch of course had the worse scrape out of all of them. Then she saw my chin and yelled “the chin, why didn’t I think of the chin?!” My mom put her hand on her head and had a disappointed look as if she was remembering my first chin problem. It was a cool summer night and I was at a water park like place with my friend Amanda. I had both ends of my towel in my hands. I thought that it would be nice to make a jump rope out of my towel. I had tripped over my towel with no hands to catch myself so my chin smashed on the ground.
My mom was in a full blown PANIC now. She called my dad and barely three minutes later my Dads black SABB came barreling down the street. Then he slammed on the brakes right before he hit us. He jumped out of the car and checked me like a paramedic. Once he had made sure every muscle of my body was OK he asked “do you feel ok?” I smiled as big as the sun and he smiled back even bigger that’s when I realized my parents will always be there every step of the way.
Saving My Sister by Sam
“Dad where is Sarah? I can’t see her anywhere.” I asked my dad. I was at my dad’s friend’s house and my sister Sarah could not be found. It was a crisp summer day and 75 degrees outside. I was looking for my sister Sarah I who I could not find.
“I don know ask mam,” dad says.
“Mom where is Sarah? And Dad couldn't tell me.” I yell at me mom.
“Check upstairs Sam.” My mom tells me.
I run upstairs, I check all the bedrooms. Nothing. I check the play room. Nothing. I check the Bathroom. Nothing.
“Mom Sarah is not in the house.” I say
“Did you check the backyard?” My mom’s yells at me form four room away
“No.” I say.
“Then check it” my mom says is a sassy tone
So I speed outside. Nothing. “Mom Sarah is not in the backyard.” I tell my mom.
“Check the front Sam.” My mom tells me.
The second my mom tells me this a wall of fear comes in to me. The only place Sarah can be is in the front and that is where the cars are. So then I do what all big brothers would only do in this in an event like this. I ran to the front yard. I look around the yard and see my sister going closer and closer to the road.
The next two minutes go slow like a movie at half of normal speed. I ran on to the road to stop my sister but at that point she is on the road. At this point I do the one thing I can do, grab my sister and pull her on to the side walk. The second she is on the side walk a card comes speed past us. I call my mom and we go.
That was the day I learned I love my sister a lot and know she would do the same if I was her and she was me.
“I don know ask mam,” dad says.
“Mom where is Sarah? And Dad couldn't tell me.” I yell at me mom.
“Check upstairs Sam.” My mom tells me.
I run upstairs, I check all the bedrooms. Nothing. I check the play room. Nothing. I check the Bathroom. Nothing.
“Mom Sarah is not in the house.” I say
“Did you check the backyard?” My mom’s yells at me form four room away
“No.” I say.
“Then check it” my mom says is a sassy tone
So I speed outside. Nothing. “Mom Sarah is not in the backyard.” I tell my mom.
“Check the front Sam.” My mom tells me.
The second my mom tells me this a wall of fear comes in to me. The only place Sarah can be is in the front and that is where the cars are. So then I do what all big brothers would only do in this in an event like this. I ran to the front yard. I look around the yard and see my sister going closer and closer to the road.
The next two minutes go slow like a movie at half of normal speed. I ran on to the road to stop my sister but at that point she is on the road. At this point I do the one thing I can do, grab my sister and pull her on to the side walk. The second she is on the side walk a card comes speed past us. I call my mom and we go.
That was the day I learned I love my sister a lot and know she would do the same if I was her and she was me.
Spelling by Michael
“Transform,” my teacher said. I know this one , I convinced myself t-r-a-n-s-f-o-r-m. I think that’s right, I hope. I hate spelling tests. It’s like a bomb that everyone knows about, but they don’t know when it will blow up.
I’ve always had trouble with spelling, I guess you could say that it’s not my thing. And I didn’t think this test would change my thoughts about spelling. “Done,” I said in relief.
The next day my nerves were boiling. “Hi Michael, how are you doing?” My friend Gabe said.
“Nerves,” I replied. When I walked over to my desk there it was. A piece of pure paper doom, my spelling test grades.
I prepared the worst and hoped for the best as I scanned the paper over with my eyes. There’s something wrong, the paper has a big fat 90% imprinted right in the middle of the paper. This must not be mine, but sure enough they’re my grades and grades don’t lie.
I’ve always had trouble with spelling, I guess you could say that it’s not my thing. And I didn’t think this test would change my thoughts about spelling. “Done,” I said in relief.
The next day my nerves were boiling. “Hi Michael, how are you doing?” My friend Gabe said.
“Nerves,” I replied. When I walked over to my desk there it was. A piece of pure paper doom, my spelling test grades.
I prepared the worst and hoped for the best as I scanned the paper over with my eyes. There’s something wrong, the paper has a big fat 90% imprinted right in the middle of the paper. This must not be mine, but sure enough they’re my grades and grades don’t lie.
The Awful First Cake by Austin
I grab the flour and four eggs. Then I think to myself I need molasses. I give all the ingredients to my mom. She puts the all the ingredients in a bowl. She measures some sugar. She gave me the mixer and I press the button. I look at it as it flies and twirls like a ballerina. I think to myself, this is fun. I was almost done mixing then I said to my mother, “Hurry up lets go”. I was done.
My mom and I put the cake in the oven we set the timer for an hour. I turned on the oven light and looked and looked at the cake sizzle. Then we called my grandma over to taste it. When she got at the house she said “What are you making?”
"It’s a surprise," we both said in unison.
As we walked in the house I told my grandma that I would put on family feud. As we prepared a slice for her she asked, “can a have a glass of milk,”
“Yes,” I said. As she slowly put it in her mouth she said, “this is awful."
“Is it really that bad?” I said. Its good. Then my mom took a piece to try. "Ewe its awful." I was the last victim to try a piece. I put a piece in my mouth and acted like it was tasty mmm its good, I ran over to the trash can to spit it out when they weren’t looking. Then I thought to myself auntie Reginas cake tasted better.
My mom and I put the cake in the oven we set the timer for an hour. I turned on the oven light and looked and looked at the cake sizzle. Then we called my grandma over to taste it. When she got at the house she said “What are you making?”
"It’s a surprise," we both said in unison.
As we walked in the house I told my grandma that I would put on family feud. As we prepared a slice for her she asked, “can a have a glass of milk,”
“Yes,” I said. As she slowly put it in her mouth she said, “this is awful."
“Is it really that bad?” I said. Its good. Then my mom took a piece to try. "Ewe its awful." I was the last victim to try a piece. I put a piece in my mouth and acted like it was tasty mmm its good, I ran over to the trash can to spit it out when they weren’t looking. Then I thought to myself auntie Reginas cake tasted better.
The First Time I Went on a Boat by Kevin
It was a summer sunny day, and I was going to Martha’s Vineyard.
I was in my mom’s car sleeping, I slept most of the way. Like I always do, suddenly I felt a cold on my arm shaking me.
I heard a small voice saying “wake up”. I woke up and I saw boats I was going to go on one of them. They were very big. When I got on the boat I ran around, like an ape that just got his bananas stolen.
My mom stopped me and we went outside on the boat. I saw jelly fish in the water, it was beautiful. I could feel water going on to my face, it felt refreshing. I opened my mouth and it tasted dreadful. I almost threw up, before I knew it the boat ride was over. And I saw my grandma and grandpa waiting, for me. I was so happy to see them. I gave them a giant hug and hugged them for a long time.
I was in my mom’s car sleeping, I slept most of the way. Like I always do, suddenly I felt a cold on my arm shaking me.
I heard a small voice saying “wake up”. I woke up and I saw boats I was going to go on one of them. They were very big. When I got on the boat I ran around, like an ape that just got his bananas stolen.
My mom stopped me and we went outside on the boat. I saw jelly fish in the water, it was beautiful. I could feel water going on to my face, it felt refreshing. I opened my mouth and it tasted dreadful. I almost threw up, before I knew it the boat ride was over. And I saw my grandma and grandpa waiting, for me. I was so happy to see them. I gave them a giant hug and hugged them for a long time.
Water Country by Jared
It was 7:00 AM, my family and I got out of the car in the parking lot at Water Country, and it was a warm 74 degrees day. Staring out at water country, my friend Fitzy and I were excited to finally get out of the car. My brother Justin and his friend Mike came too. We got to the window to pay and we ran into the part like wolves. We then walked around and found a picnic table by the wave pool. Our parents went to get lockers for our backpacks, while Justin and Mike went off by themselves. We were lost like people in the woods. Even though we were lost, we still wanted to have some fun, so we went in the wave pool; the waves were as high as 10 feet tall. I could not breathe; the water was hitting our faces like bam bam BOOM.
Let us go somewhere else, I said. Almost dying with chlorine in my mouth. What is that? I said, I do not know but it looks scary, Fitzy said, let’s go anyway. I do not know Fitzy said, come on, its going to be okay, whatever, he said I am coming.
Finally we were at the top and life guard says, ok ready, lets go, he then pushes us as hard as he can….. ahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! It felt like we were going to die, then it ended…..ahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Then there was a huge splash! I screamed, “That was so much fun”! I thought I was going to die.
Where is my mom she was supposed to be back at the picnic table, I wondered? Jared lets walk around ok, Fitzy said. Is that Geronimo I asked, yes that is it? I am going on Geronimo ok. I will be right here Fitzy said. Wait those people look familiar. They started to walk towards us. Hey, it was my Mom, Dad and Pam. Mom, Dad where have you been. Mom I am going on Geronimo ok. The Lifeguard then yelled ready! I screamed yes ahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
That was our fun day at Water Country. Then we went for ice cream.
Let us go somewhere else, I said. Almost dying with chlorine in my mouth. What is that? I said, I do not know but it looks scary, Fitzy said, let’s go anyway. I do not know Fitzy said, come on, its going to be okay, whatever, he said I am coming.
Finally we were at the top and life guard says, ok ready, lets go, he then pushes us as hard as he can….. ahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! It felt like we were going to die, then it ended…..ahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Then there was a huge splash! I screamed, “That was so much fun”! I thought I was going to die.
Where is my mom she was supposed to be back at the picnic table, I wondered? Jared lets walk around ok, Fitzy said. Is that Geronimo I asked, yes that is it? I am going on Geronimo ok. I will be right here Fitzy said. Wait those people look familiar. They started to walk towards us. Hey, it was my Mom, Dad and Pam. Mom, Dad where have you been. Mom I am going on Geronimo ok. The Lifeguard then yelled ready! I screamed yes ahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
That was our fun day at Water Country. Then we went for ice cream.
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