I almost sprinted to my new locker in my new school, the Jackson Hole Middle School! I nodded to my new teachers standing in the hallway. I nodded to some of my old friends, but I had no time to talk! I was so excited about middle school! When I finally got to my locker, I spotted one of my old friends, the one I had done Jungle Book with the year before who also has the same birth-day as me. She was my best friend. “Cheyenne!” I yelled.
“River,” Cheyenne responded nearly yelping. Excited was my only feeling until I found out what homeroom she was in.
“What?” I questioned, “You are barely in any classes of mine,” I whined, and then a question occurred to me that hurt me even more. What if it was like this for all my friends?
Panic showed up and started pacing while whispering in my ear, “Oh great! NO FRIENDS! You are on your own!” He paced faster and faster and whispered louder and louder.
That’s when Worried showed up. “Oh no, no friends that’s not good at all,” he muttered in my other ear. Worried and Panic get along just fine. They love these types of situations most.
What if it was like this for all my friends? What if I have no friends in middle school? What if I have no one to trust? No one to be there for me? My head hurt from all of these terrible thoughts that were running though my head. Then the bell finally rang and I hurried to my new class.
Nervousness was just like Worried but acted like it was a horror movie going on. “Don’t do it River” “Don’t go though that door!” it was my homeroom door but Nervousness made it seem as if I was walking to the house of a killer. Happiness pushed Nervousness out of the way and pushed me though the door, there was a smile on my face with happiness at my side. There were some of my old friends I knew, Heather, Kinzel and Catlin, and some new people like Nicole, who is a great listener and Hailey, who has just about the same crazy level as me. They had gone to a different school then me, but these new people I met were my friends quickly! It was the end of 5th period and I was walking past the rather tall 8th graders…
That’s when one more of the emotion's friends showed up; his name is Scared. He was hiding behind me shaking, and pointing at the 8th graders saying stuff like, “ You know some of them.” This caused more shaking and hiding. “They could make fun of you”… Easy”. But I had my new AND old friends including Cheyenne by me.
“I love middle school,” I told my friends almost in a whisper. But then almost a yell at the last bell, and skipped thought the halls I thought to myself, “Why was I even scared in the 1st place?” I was in middle school, grown up, and had awesome, outrages friends!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Schuyler ~ "Italy"
Italy
They ditched me. They ditched me!
“Hey, wait up! Where the heck are you going,” I yelled. The only voice I heard was my own, echoing in the distance. At that moment my confusion was like a tsunami, washing over a beach. I sprinted down the trail Adam had taken. When I burst into the clearing where Adam should have been, it was as silent as a shadow.
I remember the day when I got the phone call. The phone was yelling, “I have something important to share.” When I answered, I was overjoyed to hear Adam’s offer. That is how this trip to Italy was born.
I was in Imprunetta, Italy in a olive vineyard on practically a square mile of land. Lush, rolling hillsides of Italian countryside surrounded me, engulfing me. Adam was one of my best friends in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He had rented a house in Italy for a year. I wondered if I could survive without him. I had other friends, but still it would be different without him in Jackson Hole.
I arrived March 12 in Rome, Italy. I had just gotten in from a eight hour trip but I was as awake as ever. I was so excited to be in Italy. I remember taking the train, staring out at the beautiful countryside. Yellow daises spotted the country side making a beautiful effect. When we arrived at our hotel we loved it. It was small, three stories, and had a tiny little elevator that could only one person could fit in. Our rooms were small so we rented two. I loved Italy.
I arrived March 12, and the fun began. Adam, his friends, and I were walking down a beautiful passage with twelve foot tall, green perfectly manicured bushes. Ahead of me there were two neat paths, one to the left and one the right. When we were advancing up to the paths, they ditched me. Adam had gone left, and Eric, William, and Mathew had gone right. I sprinted as fast as I could down the left trail. Lost in confusion, I burst into the clearing. This is where Adam had gone. It felt like life was at a stand-still. Out of nowhere, I heard a loud rustling noise. I rotated my head to the source of the noise like a owl. Surprisingly, I saw a little manhole I hadn’t noticed earlier. I saw movement in the manhole and dashed after it like a tiger on its prey.
“I know you’re here,” I shouted. I saw the color of his yellow shirt and grabbed. “Gotchya,” I yelled as my hand snagged his shirt, like a eagle’s talon its prey. So much for all the silence. I stopped him in his tracks. My first question came speeding off the tip of my tongue, “Why did you ditch me?” I was panting, out of breath.
“We had it all planned out,” he said panting, just as out of breath as I was.
“Where was everyone else?” I asked sternly.
“Not telling,” he said in a singsong voice.
Just as he had said it, I said, “Yes you are.” I just realized that this was a little joke. I laughed at how uptight I was, it was all just a joke.
Two minutes later I knew exactly where everyone was. Now that I knew this was all a joke I slowly walked to where William and Mathew were supposed to be. They were to easy to find. They had orange shirts and were hiding in green bushes. Base point is, it was hilarious.
“It’s not like you’re wearing camouflage.” I shouted. I ran up to them, smirking. William was the older brother of the two. He was tall, extremely energetic and had very sharp features. Mathew was like a mini model of him but was less energetic.
“Hey, do you guys know if Erik has moved,” I asked.
“No,” he answered “he hasn’t, and I have the perfect plan.”
We had spotted Erik, and believe me it wasn’t hard. He was in the vineyard, probably not expecting anything. In my opinion the vineyard was the most beautiful place in the countryside We ran behind some leafy green trees with a peculiar all smell like fresh green grass. The beautiful nature put a gentle, settling calm in me. That was near to where he was coming.
We had a whole a day to be in Rome, to explore everything we could. We went to the Coliseum, the Pantheon, Palentine Hill and even Ceasers grave. Everywhere I looked I saw beautiful scenery.
“Boo,” we yelled as he jerked in surprise. The look on his face was so surprised, startled, and stunned.
“Got you there,” I announced in his face, grinning.
“How did you find me,” he asked quizzically, still dazed.
“It wasn’t hard,” I replied.
“Lets go home,” I announced, all of a sudden tired of all the action. Everyone agreed.
As every one else walked ahead, Adam and I stayed behind, walking slowly.
“You have cool friends,” I told him, breaking the silence like a bullet.
“I know,” he replied
“I never realized that here, even in Italy you can easily know someone you have never known.”
“I know” he calmly said “that is the beauty of the world.
They ditched me. They ditched me!
“Hey, wait up! Where the heck are you going,” I yelled. The only voice I heard was my own, echoing in the distance. At that moment my confusion was like a tsunami, washing over a beach. I sprinted down the trail Adam had taken. When I burst into the clearing where Adam should have been, it was as silent as a shadow.
I remember the day when I got the phone call. The phone was yelling, “I have something important to share.” When I answered, I was overjoyed to hear Adam’s offer. That is how this trip to Italy was born.
I was in Imprunetta, Italy in a olive vineyard on practically a square mile of land. Lush, rolling hillsides of Italian countryside surrounded me, engulfing me. Adam was one of my best friends in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He had rented a house in Italy for a year. I wondered if I could survive without him. I had other friends, but still it would be different without him in Jackson Hole.
I arrived March 12 in Rome, Italy. I had just gotten in from a eight hour trip but I was as awake as ever. I was so excited to be in Italy. I remember taking the train, staring out at the beautiful countryside. Yellow daises spotted the country side making a beautiful effect. When we arrived at our hotel we loved it. It was small, three stories, and had a tiny little elevator that could only one person could fit in. Our rooms were small so we rented two. I loved Italy.
I arrived March 12, and the fun began. Adam, his friends, and I were walking down a beautiful passage with twelve foot tall, green perfectly manicured bushes. Ahead of me there were two neat paths, one to the left and one the right. When we were advancing up to the paths, they ditched me. Adam had gone left, and Eric, William, and Mathew had gone right. I sprinted as fast as I could down the left trail. Lost in confusion, I burst into the clearing. This is where Adam had gone. It felt like life was at a stand-still. Out of nowhere, I heard a loud rustling noise. I rotated my head to the source of the noise like a owl. Surprisingly, I saw a little manhole I hadn’t noticed earlier. I saw movement in the manhole and dashed after it like a tiger on its prey.
“I know you’re here,” I shouted. I saw the color of his yellow shirt and grabbed. “Gotchya,” I yelled as my hand snagged his shirt, like a eagle’s talon its prey. So much for all the silence. I stopped him in his tracks. My first question came speeding off the tip of my tongue, “Why did you ditch me?” I was panting, out of breath.
“We had it all planned out,” he said panting, just as out of breath as I was.
“Where was everyone else?” I asked sternly.
“Not telling,” he said in a singsong voice.
Just as he had said it, I said, “Yes you are.” I just realized that this was a little joke. I laughed at how uptight I was, it was all just a joke.
Two minutes later I knew exactly where everyone was. Now that I knew this was all a joke I slowly walked to where William and Mathew were supposed to be. They were to easy to find. They had orange shirts and were hiding in green bushes. Base point is, it was hilarious.
“It’s not like you’re wearing camouflage.” I shouted. I ran up to them, smirking. William was the older brother of the two. He was tall, extremely energetic and had very sharp features. Mathew was like a mini model of him but was less energetic.
“Hey, do you guys know if Erik has moved,” I asked.
“No,” he answered “he hasn’t, and I have the perfect plan.”
We had spotted Erik, and believe me it wasn’t hard. He was in the vineyard, probably not expecting anything. In my opinion the vineyard was the most beautiful place in the countryside We ran behind some leafy green trees with a peculiar all smell like fresh green grass. The beautiful nature put a gentle, settling calm in me. That was near to where he was coming.
We had a whole a day to be in Rome, to explore everything we could. We went to the Coliseum, the Pantheon, Palentine Hill and even Ceasers grave. Everywhere I looked I saw beautiful scenery.
“Boo,” we yelled as he jerked in surprise. The look on his face was so surprised, startled, and stunned.
“Got you there,” I announced in his face, grinning.
“How did you find me,” he asked quizzically, still dazed.
“It wasn’t hard,” I replied.
“Lets go home,” I announced, all of a sudden tired of all the action. Everyone agreed.
As every one else walked ahead, Adam and I stayed behind, walking slowly.
“You have cool friends,” I told him, breaking the silence like a bullet.
“I know,” he replied
“I never realized that here, even in Italy you can easily know someone you have never known.”
“I know” he calmly said “that is the beauty of the world.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Matt ~ "My Birthday Surprise"
I ran outside school and saw something incredible: a Jeff Gordon jacket.
“You like Jeff Gordon I love him, he’s my favorite racecar driver.” “Hey nice jacket I have one just like it I got it last Christmas,” I said.
Last Christmas, I was opening my presents and found an interesting gift from Santa. I ripped open the box and found... “Jeff Gordon clothes!!” I screamed. There were three things under the raping paper: a Jeff Gordon jacket, a Jeff Gordon fleece jacket, and Jeff Gordon sleep pants. I ran further and saw that it was my dad wearing my jacket.
Once I got over dad taking my jacket, mom said, “Trade me jackets!” She was wearing my Jimmie Johnson jacket.
“Why,” I asked.
Then she told me, “Matt, you’re going to the race.”
Speechless I said, “Are you I have kidding me? I’m going to a race!!”
They said, “Happy Birthday!”
Ever since I could remember I’ve been watching the Nascar race every Sunday with my dad. Every time we came home from church, we go in the media room and turn on the race. We
sit and watch the entire race. My favorite driver in the Hendricks team is Jeff Gordon. I have been following him every weekend. Then comes Jimmie Johnson, he is my second favorite driver. He has won the Nextel cup for a few years and has been wining most of the races this year. Dale Earnhart Jr is my third favorite. He Just joined the Hendricks team last year but he was pretty famous with his colors. Casey Mears, is also a favorite he joined the team last year but he got in a big wreck at the race I went to see.
When I woke up the morning of the race, I was getting dressed in my Nascar wardrobe. Of my Jimmie Johnson shirt, my Jimmie Johnson jacket, and my Jimmie hat. I knew that this was going to be the best day of my life and the best birthday weekend of my life. I could feel the excitement grow stronger and stronger inside of me as we drove closer and closer to the racetrack.
When I walked through the gates, I could hear the sound of the loud driers driving around the track. The racing of the pace car, (the 2008 ZO6 Corvette) testing the dryness of the track. I could smell the smell of rain; it had been raining all night. As I saw all the haulers; rows and rows of haulers lined up the sell all the souvenirs. I had to run down every row of haulers to see the entire Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Dale Earnhart Jr hauler to see there entire stock. There were other haulers I saw a Sprint cup series hauler, who had a big screen T.V. that showed the reporters interviewing all drivers.
In the FAN ZONE there were game tents. 25% of my excitement was on those games. There was a AAA tent that had two driving games but they weren’t ordinary driving games they were Nascar driving games. They made me feel like I was in the driver seat of the racecar. They shock like the shaking of a big powerful engine rumbling around the track. When I crashed, I could fell the impacted of the crash. When I spun out I could feel the shaking of the car spinning around and around (I played a lot of games a lot of times). There was a tent down a way from the other tents that was an ordinary driving game. Suprisingly it was really addicting. My dad and I played it, but he got kind tired of it. but I played it a while longer he watched me. There was a game right next to it that was a racecar split in half. It had a computer in it, and it was cool. It also felt like I was in a racecar, but it didn’t shake like the other one did.
At the end of the day it started to rain again, and every body left. There was no racing that day because of the rain, and the Craftsmen Truck series was delayed until the next day. While dad and I were still there, we walked into a Bose trailer. When I walked in, I could hear a videogame being played, and it was a racecar game being played on a gigantic flat screen T.V. I asked, “can I play it?” I played it for a long time. When Dad wanted to leave, I had to go.
The next day the whether was good. They ran the Craftsman truck series it was so cool to see the racecars in person. It was so exiting to see the cars and hear the roar of the loud engines, louder than you hear on T.V. We had pit passes, so we went down threw the tunnel and we were in the infield. It would be cooler to watch the race from our R.V inside the infield. And so we went down to pit road and to see the command centers being set up all along the back wall of pit road.
The End
“You like Jeff Gordon I love him, he’s my favorite racecar driver.” “Hey nice jacket I have one just like it I got it last Christmas,” I said.
Last Christmas, I was opening my presents and found an interesting gift from Santa. I ripped open the box and found... “Jeff Gordon clothes!!” I screamed. There were three things under the raping paper: a Jeff Gordon jacket, a Jeff Gordon fleece jacket, and Jeff Gordon sleep pants. I ran further and saw that it was my dad wearing my jacket.
Once I got over dad taking my jacket, mom said, “Trade me jackets!” She was wearing my Jimmie Johnson jacket.
“Why,” I asked.
Then she told me, “Matt, you’re going to the race.”
Speechless I said, “Are you I have kidding me? I’m going to a race!!”
They said, “Happy Birthday!”
Ever since I could remember I’ve been watching the Nascar race every Sunday with my dad. Every time we came home from church, we go in the media room and turn on the race. We
sit and watch the entire race. My favorite driver in the Hendricks team is Jeff Gordon. I have been following him every weekend. Then comes Jimmie Johnson, he is my second favorite driver. He has won the Nextel cup for a few years and has been wining most of the races this year. Dale Earnhart Jr is my third favorite. He Just joined the Hendricks team last year but he was pretty famous with his colors. Casey Mears, is also a favorite he joined the team last year but he got in a big wreck at the race I went to see.
When I woke up the morning of the race, I was getting dressed in my Nascar wardrobe. Of my Jimmie Johnson shirt, my Jimmie Johnson jacket, and my Jimmie hat. I knew that this was going to be the best day of my life and the best birthday weekend of my life. I could feel the excitement grow stronger and stronger inside of me as we drove closer and closer to the racetrack.
When I walked through the gates, I could hear the sound of the loud driers driving around the track. The racing of the pace car, (the 2008 ZO6 Corvette) testing the dryness of the track. I could smell the smell of rain; it had been raining all night. As I saw all the haulers; rows and rows of haulers lined up the sell all the souvenirs. I had to run down every row of haulers to see the entire Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Dale Earnhart Jr hauler to see there entire stock. There were other haulers I saw a Sprint cup series hauler, who had a big screen T.V. that showed the reporters interviewing all drivers.
In the FAN ZONE there were game tents. 25% of my excitement was on those games. There was a AAA tent that had two driving games but they weren’t ordinary driving games they were Nascar driving games. They made me feel like I was in the driver seat of the racecar. They shock like the shaking of a big powerful engine rumbling around the track. When I crashed, I could fell the impacted of the crash. When I spun out I could feel the shaking of the car spinning around and around (I played a lot of games a lot of times). There was a tent down a way from the other tents that was an ordinary driving game. Suprisingly it was really addicting. My dad and I played it, but he got kind tired of it. but I played it a while longer he watched me. There was a game right next to it that was a racecar split in half. It had a computer in it, and it was cool. It also felt like I was in a racecar, but it didn’t shake like the other one did.
At the end of the day it started to rain again, and every body left. There was no racing that day because of the rain, and the Craftsmen Truck series was delayed until the next day. While dad and I were still there, we walked into a Bose trailer. When I walked in, I could hear a videogame being played, and it was a racecar game being played on a gigantic flat screen T.V. I asked, “can I play it?” I played it for a long time. When Dad wanted to leave, I had to go.
The next day the whether was good. They ran the Craftsman truck series it was so cool to see the racecars in person. It was so exiting to see the cars and hear the roar of the loud engines, louder than you hear on T.V. We had pit passes, so we went down threw the tunnel and we were in the infield. It would be cooler to watch the race from our R.V inside the infield. And so we went down to pit road and to see the command centers being set up all along the back wall of pit road.
The End
Brady ~ "Haunted Houses"
As soon as we crept in the old creaky house in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, my heart disintegrated. I didnít want to go in because I was afraid of ghosts. Even though it was a tourist attraction, I still said, ìI am not going in!î Fear was squeezing me around the neck, and suddenly I couldnít breath. Fear wrapped himself around my ankles, so I couldnít move, and Worry bit me in the back. There was nothing I could do about it, my teacher had bought the tickets. I now knew I had to face my fear.
I mustered up enough courage to get inside. I shuffled through what seemed to be real snapshots of ghosts. Once I was done gazing, my eyes sneaked up and I acknowledged two big black doors. For some reason I got the slight suspicion it was a fun house, and you had to open the right door. Not the right door, but the right door. Then, a side door it magically emerged and it showed the way out side. I was saved, but not for long. Our tour guide was here and primed to get the tour started, and to pull me to my death.
Now I was dawdling down the sidewalk from house to house with shivers gnawing at my back. I think I was giving off the impression that I was terrified but I was mortified. ìHere we have stopped at what used to be a shoot out,î Yelped the tour guide. We all turned to face a dark faded wood house that read Twin Sycamores.
ìWhy did they call it that?î My friend Eli wondered aloud.
ìBecause there were two Sycamore trees in front of the building,î barked the tour guide. Nonchalantly Eli and I peered back to come across a pair of helpless, bright, yellow eyes. Reluctantly I followed my instinct and screamed at the top of my lungs,
ìGHOST!î Then I heard a girlish voice, Marisol screamed.
ìOUCH! That hurt my ears, besides Its not a ghost, they are only lightning bugs.î
ìOHHHHHHHHHH! I knew that,î which I really didnít. A sigh of relief went up my spine for all to see. I was now officially bananas.
After finishing the tour, we headed back. ìAHHHHHHHH,î the peaceful trip all the way back to the hotel was the best part, and getting to bed. When the blankets so soft swallowed me to the most comfortable place on earth finally drifting asleep until...Peaceful had vanished, and nightmares had arose.
I am white
I am the color that blows through the windy days
I am the feeling of being alone, fearful, and depressed
I am afraid of what is unknown to all
I am the color of when joy and misery collide
How I help daily life I know not
I am what you get when other colors fade or vanish
I am not just a color I am a feeling
I am taken for granted every day
To the average mind I am a dull color
But I am more then that...
I am the color of thought
I am white
I mustered up enough courage to get inside. I shuffled through what seemed to be real snapshots of ghosts. Once I was done gazing, my eyes sneaked up and I acknowledged two big black doors. For some reason I got the slight suspicion it was a fun house, and you had to open the right door. Not the right door, but the right door. Then, a side door it magically emerged and it showed the way out side. I was saved, but not for long. Our tour guide was here and primed to get the tour started, and to pull me to my death.
Now I was dawdling down the sidewalk from house to house with shivers gnawing at my back. I think I was giving off the impression that I was terrified but I was mortified. ìHere we have stopped at what used to be a shoot out,î Yelped the tour guide. We all turned to face a dark faded wood house that read Twin Sycamores.
ìWhy did they call it that?î My friend Eli wondered aloud.
ìBecause there were two Sycamore trees in front of the building,î barked the tour guide. Nonchalantly Eli and I peered back to come across a pair of helpless, bright, yellow eyes. Reluctantly I followed my instinct and screamed at the top of my lungs,
ìGHOST!î Then I heard a girlish voice, Marisol screamed.
ìOUCH! That hurt my ears, besides Its not a ghost, they are only lightning bugs.î
ìOHHHHHHHHHH! I knew that,î which I really didnít. A sigh of relief went up my spine for all to see. I was now officially bananas.
After finishing the tour, we headed back. ìAHHHHHHHH,î the peaceful trip all the way back to the hotel was the best part, and getting to bed. When the blankets so soft swallowed me to the most comfortable place on earth finally drifting asleep until...Peaceful had vanished, and nightmares had arose.
I am white
I am the color that blows through the windy days
I am the feeling of being alone, fearful, and depressed
I am afraid of what is unknown to all
I am the color of when joy and misery collide
How I help daily life I know not
I am what you get when other colors fade or vanish
I am not just a color I am a feeling
I am taken for granted every day
To the average mind I am a dull color
But I am more then that...
I am the color of thought
I am white
Ezekiel ~ "Climbing is my Passion"
Climbing is the most thrilling experience in life. It was the summer of 2008 and I was going on a backpacking journey to Jenny Lake to climb on the intimidating rocks around the vast lake. I was so charged up that I could hardly sleep the night before. Bubbling lava of excitement was trying to get out. It was like that all night, so it was easy to wake up really early for the start of my new hobby. The big day was nothing like I ever imagined it would be; it was much, much better. We had to hike, but even the hike was full of adventure and the unseen. I saw a tree so big it took seven people’s arms to wrap around its trunk. Another a huge tree bent when it fell instead of snapping. It looked like an elephant had sat on the top of it - like in the cartoons! When we finally got to a small resting spot, we started bouldering, climbing without a harness and a rope. My friend and I always raced to get to the destinations, which, of course, was the top of the sandpaper rock. I have always loved to boulder; it is my favorite part of climbing. But this time I could hardly wait for the real on-rope action to begin.
Once we were done with bouldering, it was time to put on our backpacks and carry our supplies. We wrapped the ropes around our necks because it was easier carrying them that way. The ropes would be used when I actually had to strap myself into my harness and to scurry up the mountain. My friend and I acted like the crocodile hunter as we hiked because of the realistic snake-like ropes around our necks. Before, I knew it, I crashed into my friend with a thud. In a scared whisper he said, “Dude, stop! It’s time to start real climbing now.”
I froze with excitement and nervousness. “Oh man, this is what I have been waiting for,” I replied.
Then I fell into a deep daze, and my vision blurred. I remembered back to that morning when I was telling my dad, “I’m nervous.”
But he wouldn’t let me say a word; he just kept saying, “Don’t worry, son! I know you will have a great time.” He said that over and over again until he got it into my head. At the time, I was annoyed with him for repeating himself, but it was a bit comforting. Now, I realized that he had won and I had lost, he had officially gotten it into my head.
I was back to reality and I found my self tying figure eight knots in the ropes and one person in my group had already crept up the steep mountain side. As my turn grew closer with each reach and step for a hand hold I got more and more scared and I wanted to throw up. Finally, I was face to face with the mountain and felt the cold wind brush my face. I felt peace full, but still scared. I reach up to cling onto a crack in the Earths wall, but my friends voice stopped me. He called out, “Good luck!”
Right then I realized how good of a friend I had to get my through this, thrilling and miserable day. I rounded up my courage and started the climb. Each hand hold I grabbed I got more comfortable with the thought of what I was doing. The feeling of the ruff rocks on my hands and the sun on my back was really comforting. When I finally got to what I thought was the top, my teacher was waiting there.To my surprise, she told me it was not the top, so with a groan, up I went, climbing to go to the final resting stop. I got to the top with the friend following close behind. We all sat on a cliff for a picnic.I tried to settle all my buzzing thoughts in my head. This was the most thrilling thing I have ever done; it wasn’t scary at all and I was ready for more.
When I heard my teachers say that it was time to repeal off the hundred and twenty foot cliff, I felt my hands sake and my legs wobble. I wasn’t very excited anymore. I thought of the last time I took a climbing class in the middle of the summer. It was at The Enclosure and we learned to repeal. I remembered how scared I was even though there was pads at the bottom and it was a indoor climbing gym. now because this time there was no pads it was all razor sharp rocks and trees. Repealing even sounds hard! I attached the rope to my harness and slowly lower myself down the cliff, and if I let go I would be in big,big trouble. One by one I saw each person from my group, their scared faces lowering below the cliff. Then like lightning it was my turn, and I heard my teachers strong voice call out, “Come on, Zeke, it is your turn now. Come on up hear.”
Just like that danger shot into my mind. I even asked the teacher if there was a chance I’d die. I got the answer I most feared. The answer was yes. Then I remembered all the things I had been scared of that day and how it all turned out fine. I realized that fear was like a troll who wanted everyone to fear him, he made us feel like he was the the sun and we were his shadows. I could visualize the troll’s mad face in my head as my fear grew worse as my teacher finished strapping me in, and as I walked over to the cliff and looked over the 120 foot edge at the sharp rocks at the bottom. I noticed the small landing area, at this point I was freaking out. As I lowered down over the edge,after about two minutes of freaking, a feeling deep in my body came to me. Excitement and fear collided. Just as the ride was getting really fun, it was over in a flash. After all of that worry, I actually loved it more than anything. I wanted to do it again.
I would have never guessed that I would climb on a real mountain and repel off a 120 foot cliff. Even though I was scared, I want to go again! Now that I know that I love to climb and repeal, I am going to try to do it every year and make it one of my hobbies.
Once we were done with bouldering, it was time to put on our backpacks and carry our supplies. We wrapped the ropes around our necks because it was easier carrying them that way. The ropes would be used when I actually had to strap myself into my harness and to scurry up the mountain. My friend and I acted like the crocodile hunter as we hiked because of the realistic snake-like ropes around our necks. Before, I knew it, I crashed into my friend with a thud. In a scared whisper he said, “Dude, stop! It’s time to start real climbing now.”
I froze with excitement and nervousness. “Oh man, this is what I have been waiting for,” I replied.
Then I fell into a deep daze, and my vision blurred. I remembered back to that morning when I was telling my dad, “I’m nervous.”
But he wouldn’t let me say a word; he just kept saying, “Don’t worry, son! I know you will have a great time.” He said that over and over again until he got it into my head. At the time, I was annoyed with him for repeating himself, but it was a bit comforting. Now, I realized that he had won and I had lost, he had officially gotten it into my head.
I was back to reality and I found my self tying figure eight knots in the ropes and one person in my group had already crept up the steep mountain side. As my turn grew closer with each reach and step for a hand hold I got more and more scared and I wanted to throw up. Finally, I was face to face with the mountain and felt the cold wind brush my face. I felt peace full, but still scared. I reach up to cling onto a crack in the Earths wall, but my friends voice stopped me. He called out, “Good luck!”
Right then I realized how good of a friend I had to get my through this, thrilling and miserable day. I rounded up my courage and started the climb. Each hand hold I grabbed I got more comfortable with the thought of what I was doing. The feeling of the ruff rocks on my hands and the sun on my back was really comforting. When I finally got to what I thought was the top, my teacher was waiting there.To my surprise, she told me it was not the top, so with a groan, up I went, climbing to go to the final resting stop. I got to the top with the friend following close behind. We all sat on a cliff for a picnic.I tried to settle all my buzzing thoughts in my head. This was the most thrilling thing I have ever done; it wasn’t scary at all and I was ready for more.
When I heard my teachers say that it was time to repeal off the hundred and twenty foot cliff, I felt my hands sake and my legs wobble. I wasn’t very excited anymore. I thought of the last time I took a climbing class in the middle of the summer. It was at The Enclosure and we learned to repeal. I remembered how scared I was even though there was pads at the bottom and it was a indoor climbing gym. now because this time there was no pads it was all razor sharp rocks and trees. Repealing even sounds hard! I attached the rope to my harness and slowly lower myself down the cliff, and if I let go I would be in big,big trouble. One by one I saw each person from my group, their scared faces lowering below the cliff. Then like lightning it was my turn, and I heard my teachers strong voice call out, “Come on, Zeke, it is your turn now. Come on up hear.”
Just like that danger shot into my mind. I even asked the teacher if there was a chance I’d die. I got the answer I most feared. The answer was yes. Then I remembered all the things I had been scared of that day and how it all turned out fine. I realized that fear was like a troll who wanted everyone to fear him, he made us feel like he was the the sun and we were his shadows. I could visualize the troll’s mad face in my head as my fear grew worse as my teacher finished strapping me in, and as I walked over to the cliff and looked over the 120 foot edge at the sharp rocks at the bottom. I noticed the small landing area, at this point I was freaking out. As I lowered down over the edge,after about two minutes of freaking, a feeling deep in my body came to me. Excitement and fear collided. Just as the ride was getting really fun, it was over in a flash. After all of that worry, I actually loved it more than anything. I wanted to do it again.
I would have never guessed that I would climb on a real mountain and repel off a 120 foot cliff. Even though I was scared, I want to go again! Now that I know that I love to climb and repeal, I am going to try to do it every year and make it one of my hobbies.
Claire F ~ "My Decision"
As I was sitting in my yard with my family’s new three month old puppy in my lap, I was on a mission. This Bernese Mountain Dog was going to be my companion, so I had to decide what his name was going to be. That was my task. It might not seem very hard, but this was one of those tasks that was unusually hard.
The dog was getting older, and he had just got him from the breeder, so he obviously had to have a name. The difficulty of this decision gave frustration a chance to burn through me. There were so many names out there. Which one would fit? I knew it had to be a unique name, and of course a male one to. It also had to match his looks. What name would match this big, black, white chested figure? I asked myself. His tail looked like it had been dipped in white paint,a cute little white stripe ran down his forehead, and his big, bushy, brown eyebrows lined his eyes.
Underneath this simple task, was really a complex, frustrating one. My dad really wanted the dog’s name to be Yogi, but I disagreed, that name was just too bizarre. I was thinking that George might work as a name because it wasn’t too quirky. With that name in my head, I stood up and stepped back, ready to give it a try. “George, come here,” I called. He looked up, but it wasn’t enough. The dog knew it was boring, and I agreed with him. George was too common of a name. For a dog it wasn’t special or unique. After I gave up on George, I ambled inside and towards the warm, welcoming kitchen only to find my mom. She was a petite woman, and on her head she carried thick, short, black hair. Sewn through her body were tiny, dark freckles. “Hey Mom?” I asked.
“Yes,” she replied.
“What do you think our dog’s name should be?” I asked geared up for a great answer.
“I don’t know.” This answer gave me a desolate look. “Maybe it could be Charlie.”
I had to disagree, “That’s too much of a human name. I’ll go ask dad.” True to my word, I sauntered out of the kitchen, through the living room, and into the family room. “Dad, do you know what our dog’s name should be?” I asked, “Other than Yogi, George, and Charlie.”
“What’s wrong with Yogi?”
“Well, it’s a bit weird,” I admitted, “and a bit random, too.”
“Are you kidding?” my dad declared, “Yogi is the best name ever! My favorite T.V. show character’s name is Yogi Bear. He’s famous!”
How could I forget? The memory of watching Yogi Bear and his sidekick BooBoo on T.V. suddenly flooded into my mind. I was flipping through the channels thinking there was nothing good on when I heard a very queer voice. “Hey, hey BooBoo,” said the deep accent. When I looked at the screen I saw that the source of the sound was a unusual looking black bear. Right next to him was a smaller black bear with a funky red baseball cap on. The laughter that bubbled up from my throat was a sign that this was an awesome show. I watched it until the end. They finally had enough courage to travel through the mysterious cave. The show was filled with a whole bunch of that little kid humor. And that was just what the dog was filled with.
I decided to share this bit of information with my dad, “I do know who Yogi is. I’ve seen him on T.V. before. That name matches our dog perfectly. Yogi isn’t common or human-like. It’s unique!” I felt like dancing around in circles, I was so thrilled. “See ya Dad,” I yelled as I bolted outside. Once I saw the adorable little puppy, I called out, “Yogi, come here!” He popped up and started charging towards me. I knew that Yogi was the name. “Good boy, Yogi, good boy!”
Yogi
Yogi
couldn’t be better
Yogi
a name like no other
Yogi
don’t steal it
Yogi
it’s perfect
The dog was getting older, and he had just got him from the breeder, so he obviously had to have a name. The difficulty of this decision gave frustration a chance to burn through me. There were so many names out there. Which one would fit? I knew it had to be a unique name, and of course a male one to. It also had to match his looks. What name would match this big, black, white chested figure? I asked myself. His tail looked like it had been dipped in white paint,a cute little white stripe ran down his forehead, and his big, bushy, brown eyebrows lined his eyes.
Underneath this simple task, was really a complex, frustrating one. My dad really wanted the dog’s name to be Yogi, but I disagreed, that name was just too bizarre. I was thinking that George might work as a name because it wasn’t too quirky. With that name in my head, I stood up and stepped back, ready to give it a try. “George, come here,” I called. He looked up, but it wasn’t enough. The dog knew it was boring, and I agreed with him. George was too common of a name. For a dog it wasn’t special or unique. After I gave up on George, I ambled inside and towards the warm, welcoming kitchen only to find my mom. She was a petite woman, and on her head she carried thick, short, black hair. Sewn through her body were tiny, dark freckles. “Hey Mom?” I asked.
“Yes,” she replied.
“What do you think our dog’s name should be?” I asked geared up for a great answer.
“I don’t know.” This answer gave me a desolate look. “Maybe it could be Charlie.”
I had to disagree, “That’s too much of a human name. I’ll go ask dad.” True to my word, I sauntered out of the kitchen, through the living room, and into the family room. “Dad, do you know what our dog’s name should be?” I asked, “Other than Yogi, George, and Charlie.”
“What’s wrong with Yogi?”
“Well, it’s a bit weird,” I admitted, “and a bit random, too.”
“Are you kidding?” my dad declared, “Yogi is the best name ever! My favorite T.V. show character’s name is Yogi Bear. He’s famous!”
How could I forget? The memory of watching Yogi Bear and his sidekick BooBoo on T.V. suddenly flooded into my mind. I was flipping through the channels thinking there was nothing good on when I heard a very queer voice. “Hey, hey BooBoo,” said the deep accent. When I looked at the screen I saw that the source of the sound was a unusual looking black bear. Right next to him was a smaller black bear with a funky red baseball cap on. The laughter that bubbled up from my throat was a sign that this was an awesome show. I watched it until the end. They finally had enough courage to travel through the mysterious cave. The show was filled with a whole bunch of that little kid humor. And that was just what the dog was filled with.
I decided to share this bit of information with my dad, “I do know who Yogi is. I’ve seen him on T.V. before. That name matches our dog perfectly. Yogi isn’t common or human-like. It’s unique!” I felt like dancing around in circles, I was so thrilled. “See ya Dad,” I yelled as I bolted outside. Once I saw the adorable little puppy, I called out, “Yogi, come here!” He popped up and started charging towards me. I knew that Yogi was the name. “Good boy, Yogi, good boy!”
Yogi
Yogi
couldn’t be better
Yogi
a name like no other
Yogi
don’t steal it
Yogi
it’s perfect
Gideon ~ "Broken"
Broken
I knew I was going to get in trouble when I broke my Mom’s window. It was the end of fall and my dad was taking out the screens and putting in the panes of glass. Meanwhile, I was on my trampoline playing soccer, which is right in front of my porch. When I kicked the ball, it soared ricocheted off the edge of the porch and came right back to me. I kicked it again this time I was unlucky I completely shattered the window. It flashed back into my mind what my dad told the time before I broke the window “next time you brake this window your paying for it” I really didn’t want to pay. I was in complete shock and fear at the fact that one pain of glass was now hundreds of tiny pieces. Fear’s BFF (best friend forever) is negativity he doesn’t like imagination or people to have fun fear is a bully. I was mortified at the remainders. I broke the window again!!! I tried to act like I didn’t do any thing but I am terrible liar whenever I lied my parents figure it out within seconds, they say I am horrid liar. But still I lied it wasn’t very useful because they knew I broke it. I think they the figured it out because there was a soccer ball next to the glass and I was the only person out side. In the end had I had to pay for a new window, which really wasn’t that bad because it was a small window which made it not too expensive.
I knew I was going to get in trouble when I broke my Mom’s window. It was the end of fall and my dad was taking out the screens and putting in the panes of glass. Meanwhile, I was on my trampoline playing soccer, which is right in front of my porch. When I kicked the ball, it soared ricocheted off the edge of the porch and came right back to me. I kicked it again this time I was unlucky I completely shattered the window. It flashed back into my mind what my dad told the time before I broke the window “next time you brake this window your paying for it” I really didn’t want to pay. I was in complete shock and fear at the fact that one pain of glass was now hundreds of tiny pieces. Fear’s BFF (best friend forever) is negativity he doesn’t like imagination or people to have fun fear is a bully. I was mortified at the remainders. I broke the window again!!! I tried to act like I didn’t do any thing but I am terrible liar whenever I lied my parents figure it out within seconds, they say I am horrid liar. But still I lied it wasn’t very useful because they knew I broke it. I think they the figured it out because there was a soccer ball next to the glass and I was the only person out side. In the end had I had to pay for a new window, which really wasn’t that bad because it was a small window which made it not too expensive.
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