Tsunami!
a short story by Joe
Fall 2002

This was it. The big day. Today people are going to see me like never before. I'm taking the big one.

I'll shred through the water so fast that nobody will be able to see me. I'll do my thing all the way to the tip of the wave. The wave will crash down, and I'll keep going. A whirlpool will start right under me.

I'll be going faster than anything. Everyone will look at me. All the surfers will stop. They'll be battered around like rag dolls. Everyone will cheer, and then I'll make the crowd gasp! I'll flip over and land back on my board again! Then I'll stand on the board with my hands! Everyone will wish they had brought their camera. The news will get out, then the newspaper, National Geographic, and other magazines will come. For me! Just for me!

This ride will go on for hours on end. Everyone will be on the edge of their seat. Something new every time. A 540, nose grab, anything. These tricks will just keep coming to me, nonstop, even unreal tricks. I wont be touched by anyone or anything. Constantly I'll think up new tricks. I will do combinations of tricks, anything that popped into my mind. Nonstop. Nothing will stop me; nothing will get in my way.

The whirlpool will stop suddenly. Somehow I will know just what to do. As water cascades in, I will jump as high as I can. When I jump, the board will be pulled up with me, so I will do a series of midair tricks. I will land in the water just how I wanted to. I will ramp up the closest wave to its weakest point. I will crash right through the wave with such force, it will knock down the whole wave.

Suddenly I will see it. The tsunami. I will start straight up that monster, but then it will start barreling. I will have to do something drastic. I will ramp up the back side of the wave, then will crash through the top of the terrific one, and the biggest one will collapse. I will have saved myself and a lot of people a couple hundred bucks. I will keep going until...

"WAKE UP AND GET READY FOR SCHOOL!"

The Scariest Thing That Ever Happened
(a personal narrative)

by Elise
Fall 2001

One time when I was 8 years old I saw a white cloud of dust. It looked like an angel but it wasn't. Believe it or not it was the tooth fairy.

I saw her when I was awake, but she thought I was sleeping. She had a bow in her hair. It was pink and white. Her hair was brown and was down to her shoulders. She had a white dress with a robe to match. She also had on pretty white slippers to match her robe and dress.

This time was very scary because I had never seen the tooth fairy before, and I never thought I would really see her. I also think it was scary because the tooth fairy didn't know me, and I didn't know her.

Falling -- A Personal Narrative
by Tanya
Winter 2001

When I was in third grade I was in Mr. D's class. One day while Mr. D was teaching science I was tilting my chair. So he taught more. I tilted my chair more. He taught more. I tilted more. He taught more. Then finally I fell over! The whole class started to laugh their head's off. Then Mr. D came over I was so scared that I thought he was going to kill me, because of the look on his face. Then he said, " What was that for?"

I said, '' I don't know."

Then he got that mad look on his face again. I got scared again. Mr. D walked away from me. I wasn't so scared anymore. The whole class stopped laughing. There was silence between Mr. D and the class, and then Mr. D started teaching again. I started laughing quietly. Then I started tilting my chair again, but I didn't tilt as much as I was before.

The next day I fell again. Mr. D came over. He said no more tilting! I tried not to tilt and I also was praying that I wouldn't tilt and fall over. I ended not tilting, and that was a good thing. Well science was over. Mr. D started teaching reading and I was so into the book that I started laughing. I tilted but I didn't fall over! Mr. D caught me tilting and he said, " Stop tilting your chair!"

"Ok" I said I didn't tilt my chair ever again. At least for a little while.

When I Forgot My Birthday

A Personal Narrative

by Valandra
Winter 2001

Ten days before my birthday last year I was so excited. Every day, every morning and every night I was thinking about my birthday. I was looking at the calendar every day. Then I said, "10 more days," "9 more days," "8 more days." Four days before my birthday I was thinking about my party and then I got a headache. I went to bed and watched the TV. Two days later I got up to get some Tylenol and went to bed again. When it was the day of my birthday two days later I forgot about my birthday because I was sick. My mom had to tell me that is was my birthday. I was so happy my headache went away. Then I woke-up and hugged my mom. My family gave me some presents then I said, "Next year I'm not going to think too much about my birthday."

A Personal Narrative

An "Adventure in Writing" Assignment

by Erin
Spring 1999

Once on March 4, 1999, I was really embarrassed, by my friend Danny. It all started when Mr. Moss said that we could have a party, then go outside and play. Well, me and my friends wanted to chase these two boys: Danny and Phong. Then right before Mr. Moss called us to come back in, I chased Danny. I scared Danny and made him fall. I couldn't stop because I was going to fast. Before I knew it I had tripped over Danny. Danny was laying on the ground laughing the same as me. I started kicking him. Then I finally found out that I shouldn't scare him again. I also found out that Danny was very agile. Then I was devoted to chasing boys.

It felt very embarrassing because all of Danny's friends were there. Of course, I got his opulent clothes dirty. Danny was very valiant to let me chase him.

It only took about a day to get over.

I'm not still embarrassed when I think about this, because nobody actually knows what I am thinking (except our old principle Mr. Ro) about what happened that made me embarrassed before. After that I DIDN'T scare him anymore.

Love--Your Student,

Erin (not able to mention last name)

An Essay

An "Adventure in Writing"

by Vanessa
Winter 2000

One of my mother's rules when she was a kid was that she had to do all of her chores. My mother's chores were to vacuum, dust, do dishes, wash clothes, sweep, mop, make beds, straighten drawers, clean closets and clear out cupboards. She basicly had to clean the whole house. Another rule is that she had to be in by dark if she was playing outside. My mother couldn't argue or fight with anyone. She had to go home right after school and do her chores right away. My mom had to respect all of her elders. Two more of my mother’s chores were to wash windows and cook.

Here are the rules my mom has for my brothers and I. We all have to keep our rooms straight ,and pick-up after ourselves. A few more rules are to do our homework right when we get home, and respect our elders. When we go outside we have to let my mother know where we are going and we have to check in. A rule to go along with respecting our elders, we have to respect everyone. More rules are to take care of each other, and learn to take care of ourselves. Also we have to be in by dark, and no lying. One more rule is that when my mother is sick I have to take care of my brothers.

My comparrison is my mother and I both had to do chores. My mother and I both had to get along with our brother's and sister's. I have a cerfew to be in by dark and so did my mom. My mother and I both had to respect our elders.

To contrast, my mother had to clean the whole house, and I don't. My mom had to do her chores right after school and I have to do homework. When I am outside I have to check in every hour and my mother didn’t have to check in. I have a rule not to lie and my mother didn't.

The differences in my mother's rules and my rules are because of the time changes. Education is the most important thing in the 90s than in the 60s and 70s.One more difference is that society is more educational than in the 60s and 70s.

Another Essay

An "Adventure in Writing"

by Vanessa
Winter 2000

My best friend Carissa and I met at another elementary school. At my other school, I was a new student in Mrs. R's 4th/5th grade class. Carissa (my best friend) was being polite and introduced herself. While I was at my old school (on my first day), Carissa showed me around the school and played with me. After my first day of school we played together continuosly.

Carissa and I became BEST friends because we were both helpful to each other. Another thing is that we knew that we were meant to be friends, and we both have a lot in common. Also, we were always the best of friends.

I personally feel that Carissa is a good person. Carissa is a kind and generous person. Another thing is that Carissa is thoughtful and caring. A few more facts about Carissa is that she is a very considerate person.

Carissa and I both have the same taste in mostly everything. Carissa and I both are considerate, caring, understanding, responsible, and thoughtful. We both love hair, clothes, and shoes. We both like helping other people.

Amir and Doris are always with each other, so are Carissa and I. All of us (including Doris, Amir, Carissa, and I) like to hang out with our friends. We all like to help people.

Amir and Doris aren't people who like to go to a lot of places, but Carissa and I do. Carissa and I take turns for spending the night at each other's houses, Amir and Doris donÌt. We (meaning Carissa and I) are like sisters, Amir and Doris arn't.