Beaches

 word count goal - 150

The sky was an icy blue, not a cloud to be seen. It was a perfect day to be on the beach. The waves crashed against the jagged cliffs of Portugal's West side. The rock formations cast gentle shadows across the pure white sand. The soft rush of the tides made the atmosphere of the beach… perfect.

It was a typical Friday in the humble country-side of Portugal. I glanced to my left. My sister jumped up when the tide reached her toes, "Eeek!" she squealed with delight. She looked like she was having the time of her life!
"Hey, Maja! Do you wanna run down to the other side of the beach?" 
She stopped digging in the sand and looked up, "Yes, I'll race you."
I knew she just wanted to have fun. I thought to myself, 'And I am sure to win!' We lined up along the beach. 
"Go!" I yelled over the roar of the ocean. We ran like the wind. The breeze  caught against my hair and buffeted it to a lion's mane. Our feet left soft prints in the pale sand. I was many strides ahead of Maja. The happiness rushed through my toes to my head. But, all that mattered was having fun.

"Wait for me, Ania!" Maja yelled out. 
I stopped running. Once we got to the other side, we were both heaving for breaths. The beach over here was scattered with polished rocks from the size of a penny to the size of a small car. 
"It looks like those boulders fell from the cliff." I said, without looking up.
She nodded, "Let's we find some cool stones."
I was already doing that. The stones glistened like gems in the crystal waters. 

Our parents were far away from us. My sister and I were alone on the other side of Portugal's prettiest beach. All we had to comfort us was the call of the birds and purring of the water.
"Hey look at this stone." Maja said.
She was holding up a stone that that looked a leopard's pelt. 
"Cool." I said, without making eye-contact. 

Penguin's Courage

There once was a emperor penguin, smaller than the rest. The penguins name was Pingu. This little penguin was shy, quiet, teased. But, he had a great imagination and was very smart, too. Pingu had dreams of great successes in his future life, he didn't have the confidence to tell anyone else, though. Pingu was always the "runt" in his group of one-thousand penguins, he deserved better! Then one day a great crisis  fell across Pingu's group: the type of fish they eat was gone. All of the smarty-pants penguins were squawking the most ridiculous solutions like: "Let's just all die.", "We can eat seals" or "We can swim away. But, Pingu had a great idea. He needed to find the courage to say it otherwise they might all die. He found the courage. Pingu stepped onto the tallest block of snow and cleared his beaked. "Umm… I am Pingu." He said shyly.

"Speak up!" one of the taller penguins called out.

"Okay, so, well I thought that maybe we could send out a search party into the ocean in search of a new source of food…" The group of penguins broke into a huge tangle of argument, "Yes," "No." Finally they all agreed to do it. Pingu saved them. And then his group lived happily ever after and Pingu had achieved his lifelong dream.

What do you think the moral of the story is?

Ghosted...

I was doing my homework at the kitchen table. I just had five math problems left. I was speeding up to get it done.
My sister- Maja, asked, "When are we going to eat? You said we would eat in five minutes."
I could tell that she was whining. I was hungry, but, I just wanted to get my home work done then go outside and play. DING-DONG! The doorbell! WHo would be ringing the doorbell at 6 o'clock at night.
And almost as if she had read  my mind, Maja asked , "Who's that?"
I didn't answer her. Suddenly I knew the answer… ghosters. Incase you didn't know ghosters are people (usually your friends) that come to your house late at night around Halloween. Then, they ring the doorbell and then run, not to be seen. Ghosters leave treats at your door.
Anyway, I bolted up from the table and to the from door. It opened with a familiar CREAK! I looked down and there was a paper bag with candy inside that said "Boo!" on its side. We had been ghosted.

Beaches

 word count goal - 200

The sky was an icy blue, not a cloud to be seen. The waves crashed against the jagged cliffs of Portugal's West side. The rock formations cast gentle shadows across the pure white sand. The soft rush of the tides made the atmosphere of the beach… perfect.

It was a typical Friday in the humble country-side of Portugal. I glanced to my left. My sister jumped and when the tide reached her toes, "Eeek!" she squealed with delight. 
"Hey, Maja! Do you wanna run down to the other side of the beach?" 
She stopped digging in the sand and looked up, "Yes, I'll race you."
I knew she just wanted to have fun. I thought to myself, 'And I am sure to win!' 
"Go!" I yelled over the roar of the ocean. We ran like the wind. The breeze caught my hair and buffeted it to a lion's mane. Our feet left soft prints in the pale sand. I was many strides ahead of Maja. But, all that mattered was having fun.

Once we got to the other side, we were both heaving for breaths. The beach was scattered with huge polished rocks. 
"It looks like those boulders fell from the cliff." I said, without looking up.
She nodded, "Let's we find some stones in the water."
I was already doing that. The stones glistened like gems in the crystal waters.

Beaches

Word count goal - 100

The sky was an icy blue, not a cloud to be seen. The waves crashed against the jagged cliffs of Portugal's West side. The rock formations cast gentle shadows across the pure white sand.

(By the way, I am still building on the ideas for the story)

"Bored" Games

There I was sitting in my bedroom. I had finished all of my homework. SO BORED! I didn't know what to do for the rest of the day! I didn't wan't to waste my time doing nothing. I plopped down onto my window seat. I gazed across my room from one shelf to the other. "Aha!!" I knew what to do: I would play a good, old, classic board game! I opened up the cabinet with a CREAK. I said out loud, "I will play 'Operation'." But, thing the is that I would be playing solo or alone… which would be twice the fun; because no one can catch me if a sneak a little cheat in! After that I was no longer bored.

Darkness

On Monday my friend Mia, her brother, my sister, and I wanted to catch some ghosters! (a ghosted is someone who rings your doorbell, leaves some candy then runs) We were our streets patrol."Red!" Everyone ducked behind a bush as an old car rumbled by. As its blinding lights started to pass- "Blue!", everyone emerged from there hiding spot. "Do you think today would be a good night to catch someone?" Mia asked. "I don't know I answered." Then we all started to run, run, run down to the end of our street. To catch some ghosters...

Why?

Why is the sky blue?
Why is the universe infinite?
Why is it that I don't see my own reflection in the mirror?

Why is oblivion unknown?
Why does curiosity kill the cat?
But, knowledge brings it back. Right?

Why does the world spin?
Why is this that and that this?
Why is there an invisible dust blinding our eyes?

Why does growth come in stages?
Why does the cow moo?
Can't pigs do that, too?

Why do I see stars so soon?
Why can't I spend a day free?
Why I am I me?

Why- is the question many ask.
Though answering it, is not a simple task.
One solution though is in history- to imagine.

You can imagine the world the way you want.
You can imagine new ways to learn.
You can know why you are you...

Boo!!!

Trick-or- treat,
something sweet.
Spiders on the walls,
and ghosts in the halls.

Kids, running down the street,
"pitter-patter," go their feet.
From princesses to mummies,
with candies to fill their tummies.

The bright full moon,
and the night will not end so soon.
The stars in the sky,
light up the frights as they go by.

The day is now done,
candy is all of the fun.
What day is it going to be?
Halloween!!!

The Pains of Jewelry

(Word Count Goal - 100)

I glanced up at our classroom's digital clock, 6:05 PM. I was at the Washington DC practice after choice hour. I had just finished writing up my note cards. Now a finger numbing task lay ahead of me… Project COPE jewelry making. It might seem easy, but it really does hurt your hands.

I was in total focus. My eyes' unblinking gaze was locked on a broken pair of ear-rings. 'The ring is stuck!,' I said to myself in my head. My thumb and pointer finger were bloodshot and hurting. Finally the ring snapped open. I exhaled triumphantly. My battle with that split-ring was over. Now… ten more to go!

(Words Achieved - 110)

Under the Sea

Word count goal - 600

Part 3

"Those poor unfortunate souls! In pain, in need! Oh…" my mind had blanked for a millisecond. I was practicing my song: "Poor Unfortunate Souls" and so far I wasn't doing the best in memorizing the tune or the words.
"Okay you have to keep your head up when you sing- don't look at your script. Just sing," the music instructor Leo said. I just nodded my agreement. Half an hour later my throat was sore from sing so much in Ursula's voice. I didn't know what to do now. My practice time had ended. I took a swig of water and went to the gym.

"Hi, Mia." I called out to her. "Hey," Mia answered. She was playing a theater game called director's coming. This is how you play: if yo now how to play "boat-island" this game is sort of similar. There are movement that you need to do when called out such as: Director's coming, tragedy, stage-fright, etc. And if you don't do the movement in time or if you do the wrong one then you are out. I asked if I could play. They said yes, so I joined in to the mix of children.
"Dramatic death." Everyone dropped to the ground with a thump.
"Shakespeare." With my best poetic accent I overdid the drama, "To be, or not to be!"
"Director's coming!" Everyone froze in a stock still position.
Suddenly I looked around and noticed that I was one of three people still in. A rush of self confidence burst through me.
"Stage-left." I accidentally went stage right. Out.

Blood Moon

"Mommy, I'm tired! When are we going to get there?" my sister half whined half asked.
"Pretty soon Maja," my mom mom answered. I just walked silently ahead of them in my pajamas. I couldn't wait to see the blood moon!

We woke up forty-five minutes early today. For one reason only: to get a glimpse of today's bloody-red moon. It was still dark out as we trudged along our sidewalk. The whole neighborhood was still asleep. No sounds could be heard. And the sky was clear with a sea of stars. But, no moon to be seen… yet.

We had almost reached the end of our block in the total darkness. When suddenly my mom stopped and walked onto the street.
"Come see! It's between the trees!" my mom exclaimed in a hushed tone. The Moon! We ran up to her. At first I couldn't see it, and worried that I never would. Then as I scanned the tree line, a round object with a bloody-red hue caught my eye!
I jumped with joy, "I see the Moon!" Our trio stood there in silence for what seemed like hours. staring at the Moon.
"You won't get to see this often." my mom explained. So I breathed the moment in. I wouldn't forget this to soon!
.
.
Word count goal - 500

Under the Sea

Word Count Goal - 700
Part 2

I still couldn't believe it! Just the day before I found out that I was going to be Ursula in a play.  I don't know why I was so happy, though. I bet 25 other kids just found out that they did't get the part that they wanted. But, inside I kept feeling that rush of astonishment and joy that I felt yesterday. Right now I wanted to think about the actual performance, "Hey Ashley, do you know if we are getting our scripts today."
She glanced up at me, Ashley was going to be flounder. Without meeting my gaze she said, "I think we are going to get them…" she trailed off, "…right now"
I swiveled around to look at Janet, who was in front of a huge mound of scripts ready to be passed out. Janet cleared her throat. Every one hurried to their seats to find out more news.
"I know you all have been dying to get these," she started to pass them out one by one. When I received mine I mouthed her a 'thank you' and flipped through the pages. It seemed that the characters Ursula, Ariel and Sebastian seemed to have the most lines.

   It might seem weird, but, I actually like being in stage center where hundreds of eyes are peeling into your scalp, silently judging every move and.. whispering to one another. Whispering… It might seem nerve-racking, but to me it is comforting.

   Leo stood up in his typical place behind the piano, "Okay, I want to make this clear to everyone, we are going to learn the songs first. I want you all to put all of the effort that you can into it." He paused, it was time for the warm-up. The melodic notes of the piano filled the room. Everyone inhaled deeply. "Me, me, me, me, me… La, la, la, la, la… Aa-a-a-a-a-a-ahhh, Ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-e." My voice felt better already!

"Mia, what song were you learning while I was in the gym?" I asked.
"The sea creatures and the red crab- I mean Sebastian were doing 'Under the Sea'."
Then she started humming the tune while rummaging through her lunchbox. I couldn't wait until lunch was over, then I would learn my song: "Poor Unfortunate Souls". I had to wait until after lunch, since this song is my solo including the two eels.

Welcome to Fox Street!

"Grandma! Stop the car!", I said and she jerked into a sudden stop. I saw a  man taking a picture of someone else's house. How could that be? I looked at the house, there was nothing there. Then I looked at the man, he was zooming in on something. I noticed he was aiming at their lawn. "I am getting out of the car." I opened the door and it slammed shut. I looked closer, there was a small reddish brown figure. A fox! The man asked, "Do you see the fox?"

"Yes, I do! It looks young."

The man started to cross the street to get a better look. He walked slowly and cautiously. I think the fox noticed us because it started to run. It ran down the street towards my house. It was picking up speed! I darted after it without thinking. I needed to find out where it was going! It didn't stop. Our neighbors were opening their doors just to get a glimpse of the fox. It stopped abruptly. "Oh no! There's a dog coming!" I called out. Indeed, a small dog had its nose to the ground and was barking like a police siren. At each step it got closer to the fox, standing stock still. Everything seemed to stop. I stopped. The man froze with his phone in the air. And the people with their doors open were as silent as mice. Suddenly, like a bullet the fox shot into someone's backyard! At the same time a boy from our street ran and grabbed hold of his dog. The dog by now was going crazy. It barked even louder. And the fox… it was gone. I heard the familiar creaking of our door opening. My sister ran outside, "What happened?"

"Ugh, you should've come out earlier!" I sighed angrily. 

She didn't get it, "Why?"

"There was a fox right on our street!"

I could see the disappointment on her face, she clearly wasn't happy that she didn't get to see it. The man walked up to us, clicking on his phone. "Would you like to see a picture of a fox?" he asked. "Yes," my sister jumped with excitement and stood on her tippy-toes to look at the picture, "cool." 

"I guess we should go inside now." I breathed out.

"Okay" The man answered. We then said our goodbyes as we walked  inside. After all, you don't see a young fox everyday run across your whole street.

The Time When… Person, Place or Thing

The time when…

Place

1. ...I saw a dead mouse at my friends house in their walkway.

2. ...I saw Mars through a telescope in Kensington park.

3. …we went to the farmer's market to buy decorations.

Person

1. …my mom decorated the whole house inside for Autumn/ Halloween to surprise us.

2. …my sister started figure skating lessons.

3. ...Mia lives on my street.

Thing

1. …we found a wild fox running on our street.

2. ...I got my new ice-skates.

3. ...I saw a wild kitten in the bushes at my grandparents house.

"Grandma! Stop the car!", I said and she jerked into a sudden stop. I saw a  man taking a picture of someone else's house. How could that be? I looked at the house, there was nothing there. Then I looked at the man, he was zooming in on something. I noticed he was aiming at their lawn. "I am getting out of the car." I opened the door and it slammed shut. I looked closer, there was a small reddish brown figure. A fox! The man asked, "Do you see the fox?"

"Yes, I do! It looks young."

The man started to cross the street to get a better look. He walked slowly and cautiously. I think the fox noticed us because it started to run. It ran down the street towards my house. It was picking up speed! I darted after it without thinking. I needed to find out where it was going! It didn't stop. Our neighbors were opening their doors just to get a glimpse of the fox. It stopped abruptly...