July 02, 2011

Writing Contest 2

Alright, the document for the writing competition is sent and I'm ready to wait until October to find out who wins! The winner gets an IPad, in case you didn't know.
Here is the story, with some changes (to make sure I don't get disqualified in my real submission):

Locked

Mother and Father have not been right lately, Amber wrote thoughtfully in her journal as her parents sat on the porch steps, discussing something urgently. They held a newspaper in their hands and looked scared, angry, and sad all at once, with blotchy, red faces and nervous glances towards Amber. Each time they looked, Amber looked away so that they couldn't see that she was watching them. But she was. Amber was always watching.
Amber's father suddenly stood and waved the newspaper about, and suddenly a gust of wind blew the paper into the house. Amber ran over to the paper and snatched it, and, without waiting for permission, flew up the stairs to her room to read.
Her mother and father had seemed odd because they had stopped her from doing normal things for several months now-from watching the telly, listening to the radio, and reading the newspaper. And each time she'd ask to do it, the parent would turn a slight shade of grey and sweetly change the subject. Amber felt a tiny quiver of excitement as she leaped onto her bed and quickly unfolded newspaper...
In huge, black letters, the headlines were screaming:

CHILDREN NOW ARE AGAINST THE LAW!

Amber read on, barely keeping down her horror, the story of the past few months unfolded...

* * *

Two seasons ago, I was brought to this forest, not even knowing my own past. But I know where I belong...now.
I wrote these words into the dirt with my finger, idly. I had nothing to do. I was content and well fed, and often I was bored during the lazy summer days. Suddenly, gasps filled the camp, and Little Moon, a Youngling, gasped, “That noise!”
I cocked her head to hear, and suddenly, an unnerving sound filled the hollow-a howl riding the breeze.
The camp exploded in a disarray. A nearby Wild Child was soothing a frightened Youngling, and the older Wild Children even seemed a bit unnerved. I was nothing but curious. What was that howling?
“It sounds like a child!” gasped Little Moon. She seemed the most worried, and her eyes were so wide you could see the whites clearly.
Then the wind began to pick up. It stirred my hair and blew it about. It grew wilder, as if it were trying to carry me away. But the wind made it clear that there was not only one voice-there were many, all crying out in fear or pain or calling for help.
“I'm going to investigate this!” I declared, marching away. I was very curious.
“I'll go, too,” said Willow. I nodded. Willow had sharp senses. She'd be useful.
Willow and I turned and left through the entrance tunnel, a tunnel of overgrown brambles and ferns.
The forest was old and full of mossy rocks that stood out against the forest floor like green speckles. Brown leaves crunched under my feet as I dodged trees and skimmed across the soil with great speed.
Willow liked running around on the heather-scented moors better than sulking under the cover of trees, and had trouble going through the forest. She kept leaving hair on the brambles, and she kept cursing under her breath about wretched brambles and dumb trees and the hills being better.
Willow had to stop sometimes to rest, so I rested with her, grooming her knotted hair with my fingers and licking it to keep it clean.
The wind swirled about, making it hard to detect the source of the yowling. But Willow had a keen ear. She cocking her head about like an animal and kept pointing to where we had to go, still listening to the breeze. I was thankful for Willow's sharp sense's. Without her, I'd be lost.
Suddenly, the howls seemed to die down, fade slowly. And then they went away. And we heard something else instead-the sound of adults chattering away.
“Oh, curses-” said Willow, but she stopped when she saw, well...
We were on a ridge, looking down into a clearing. I'd never been in close contact with adults before, as far as I could remember, so it was a peculiar sight.
There were two of the adult's creatures, larger than average, and they sat dumbly in the clearly, asleep. The beast-creatures had large, circular feet. There was also a strange den of some sort, like a tepee, but different. It's sides were made of a green, soft skin that flapped about in the wind and was held down by peg-like sticks. And there were adults EVERYWHERE.
“Those beasts are huge!” cried Willow.
“What we need to figure out is what we should do, and I think we should go into the camp!”
“Bu-bu-but what if-”
“Now, stay close to me.”
And we plunged into the adult camp.
I went closer to one of the sleeping creatures, since they held my interest. It was sleeping for sure, but adults kept going to it and they tried to wake it up-but not as much as the other creature.
As one adult woke up the creature, I peeked inside it and saw a huge, smooth inside with hard walls, and cages all stacked up, full of children, all terrified. The cold walls were icy smooth and too bright.
“I can smell fear,” murmured Willow. “And look, they keep banging on the creature's side, and that makes it wake up.”
“Then we should try it!” I whispered, excited.
I gave the creature a hit, and the side slid open. The children in cages stared at me, awed.
“Don't just stare,” I said. “Help! I've come to rescue you!”
“Well...” said one child shyly. “The adults can open these cage-things by touching those over there.” The child pointed at some buttons.
“Willow, help me!” Willow looked up and bounded to the buttons.
“Keep pressing until you find the right combination, Willow!” I ordered. I turned, suddenly face-to-face with an adult...
“Father?” I choked out.
The adult looked at me, stunned, and suddenly, he began to sob.
So many words...memories...I swam in the fact that I'd read a newspaper, way, way back, two seasons-no, years, ago and found out that child's memory must be wiped, and then the adults would leave us in the wilderness or keep us as mindless pets...
“Father?” I asked. “I...you...”
“Amber...” He looked at his shoes-a new word, shoes, and said, “Forgive me.”

* * *

Amber was back at home. She'd regained her ability to speak English and told the adults, which were the people from an animal shelter, that the children's lives were not in cages as pets. She'd realized that the creatures were vans, and the tent thing was a medical tent, because of that medicine smell. She'd convinced them, but no one said thank you. Willow left without another word.
Amber felt rotten. She had to choose between her family, but treated like an outcast, and probably having her mind wiped again...or freedom.
“Dad, this is no choice!” Amber protested. “My life is with you...free.”
“Dear, you must chose,” said Amber's mother. Amber felt cheated and sad. She knew the right choice, but it felt wrong. “I know what to do, but I'm scared I can't do it,” Amber confessed.
“Dear, sit down with me,” Amber's father said.
“Amber, going into the wild was the best and worst thing for you.”
“I know,” said Amber.
“We knew other children would be there. We knew you'd be safe. We had to do it.”
“I understand, as long as you are sorry. I love you.”
Amber's father sniffled, then handed Amber a brand-new journal.
“Make your choice,” he said. “We understand.”
Amber grabbed a pencil and wrote.
Seeing my parents again was scary. I came again like a fourth member of the family-I've changed so much, I'm hardly an only child anymore. I've got my past as a shadowy sister. My past is like dew on leaves in the morning-they fade, like echos, but they come back-again, and again, and again.
While I was a child of the forest, I used to have dreams of my past. I could never remember them, but they are like small whispers in my ears, because now I can remember. When I woke, the moon was always there, but I felt like something was missing. It was a sign that I was different, a peculiar thing nobody can name.
I will only say I will miss my parents more than you will ever know, but I am following my heart when I say this, and, though the path I take will be hard, I will never forget them. This choice was a terrible one. I don't care. I only know that whatever the future has in store for me, this choice has made me what I am, and I am ready.

I hope you liked it!!!!

June 03, 2011

Club Getaway

I'm too tired to write that much, so here are some good things about Club Getaway:
1. I had a cabin with three other awesome people.
2. I got to hold a dragonfly. Their wings are so delicate! And their eyes are like little red marbles on their heads.
3. I played a fun game called Gaga. I call it Shankles. (Long story)
4. I was the first in my group to climb all the way to the top of the rock wall. Smile.
5. In the ropes course, I was racing a middle-schooler and I WON! Smile!
6. The mac n' cheese was good. Dreamy Smile. Batting Eyes. Sigh.
More tomorrow

May 22, 2011

Writing Contest!

Okay, if you know anything about me, I LOVE to write! So I'm about to enter in a story contest! And guess what? The winner will get...an IPad!!! How cool is that!
So I need to follow the contest's rules. My first sentence HAS to be, "Mother and Father have not been right lately."
I'm soooooo going to enter! I hope I win! :) :) :)
My idea is a little weird, so I'm trying to think of something better, as of now.

May 08, 2011

The Happiness Project (And Something About Mother's Day)

Today I was looking around my mom's room when I picked up a book called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. It's really for grown-ups but I find it really cool. It's about the author, who suddenly realizes that she's wasting her life away and needs to find a way to become happier. So she researches happiness and begins a happiness project for one year. The first part of the book is about "Boosting Your Energy" and how the author does it. Surprisingly, the first thing she did was go to sleep earlier! In a few weeks, the author actually felt the effects of sleeping earlier. She turned off all the lights when she went to bed, and spent the hour before going to bed cooling down and doing relaxing, calming things. If there were beeping, glowing things in the room, like alarm clocks and Blackberries and cellphones, she would hide them from view so that the room was very dark. These are some good tips if you want to get a happiness project started. Thanks, Gretchen Rubin!
Oh, and also...
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!

March 20, 2011

The First Spring Flower

At last! Spring is FINALLY here after a LOOOOOOONG winter. And how can I tell? The first spring crocus came into flower to make the grand announcement through it's blooming petals- spring is here at last!
Take a look at the first little crocus in my garden:


March 06, 2011

Rainy Sunday

Yesterday, it was my mom's birthday, so I went with my mom to the knitting store to pick out some nice yarns. The store was closed, so we walked to the "paper store" which is basically a crafter's dream store. It has crafting books, paper of all shapes and sizes, wrapping paper, cute erasers, cardboard letters, notebooks, you name it. That's one place that I love shopping at. We bought a small notebook for me and some small drawing things for my mom, and then we went back to the knitting store. By that time, it was open, so I picked out a beautiful orange yarn for her. Then we went back home.
Later on, we went to Juniors, and waited 45 minutes to take a seat. Although it took us a long time to be seated, the food came really fast. We brought a cheesecake home and ate it with a birthday candle for Mom's birthday. Mom was really happy.
Today is Mom and Dad's anniversary, so we gave out nice cards. I gave my card yesterday, so Dad gave Mom her card today. She was so happy with it!
I'm having a great, rainy weekend!

February 26, 2011

Smuggler's Notch Day #6

Today I went to a place called Arbortrek Canopy Adventures, where I went on 9 wickedly awesome zip lines and two rope things and a rickty rocety bridge that swung from side to side until I was dizzy. Although I had tons of fun, my fingers and toes were VERY cold. But I felt very satisfied when we had to go home. I really recomend Arbortrek for any thrill seeker!

February 25, 2011

Smuggler's Notch Day #5

Today I finally got better from my sore throat! I'm VERY happy about that. I can actually eat without the food hurting my throat, and I've had a great day besides.
 I didn't go to all-day ski group lessons, but I went to an hour-and-a-half ski camp with Alexander. I liked the new teacher a lot- she was defiantly very funny. I fell down only once, but that's because it snowed SOOOOOOO much today. It snowed so much that there was no ice and all the snow was very thick. There were bumps and lumps and mumps of snow everywhere, and it was so uneven that it was hard to stay up on my feet/skis, so it was okay.
 My parents picked Alexander and I up nearly 30 minutes late, and I was so mad at them. It was because my mom had fallen on the mountain and, "Lay sprawled there like a frog" said Dad. It took 10 minutes for Dad to get Mom back on her feet with both skis on, and Mom couldn't go very fast, so Alexander and I were stuck at the bottom of the hill waiting for them. LAME.
When they did pick us up (at last!) my dad, Alexander, and I went up for another run on Madonna, and I thought that I was going to freeze to death. Oh, my poor thumbs hurt so much! And it took us such a long time to get down. I guess Alexander and I complained A LITTLE, because Dad sad, "Your'e such wusses that you can't even keep your mouth shut." But I knew he was just kidding, because he gave me hand warmers and hugged my fingers. I was so thankful when I finally reached the condo and I could just plop onto the sofa. Now, I'm just happy that I'm going to go to the pool soon and that I'm going to have some cheesecake.

February 22, 2011

Smuggler's Notch Day #2

Today, I had a really annoying sore throat. I think I'm starting to get sick. It's actually kind of hard to swallow anything, and my mom is giving me these really terrible pills. They did NOT help.
Even though I started to get sick, (maybe) I still went to ski school, and the most terrible thing happened. We were going on the trail LOG JAM when one of our classmates, Ben, fell down. I thought he would just get up, but he didn't. Our teacher told the rest of our class to go down the hill. We waited at the base of the hill for nearly 20 minutes. I was really worried. Finally, a couple of people came skiing down the hill, and one of them was pulling a stretcher. And on that stretcher, with his eyes closed, was Ben. I felt really sad for Ben. Later I heard my teacher say that Ben might have had a concussion and that he might have broken his leg. I hope Ben is okay.
Later on, Dad, Alexander, and I went to the Fun Zone, and we were totally ripped off. We played a video game where we had to spin a wheel and try to win the, "Big 1,000 Ticket Bonus" Most of the time, the best we could do was 75 tickets, the worst thing we could get was 4 tickets, and they were charging a dollar a pop. And we were totally ripped off when we cashed in our tickets to win a prize. I got a teeny tiny rubber ducky. A RUBBER DUCKY!!! Alexander was luckier. He got a mini skateboard with aliens on it. LUCKY DUCKY.

February 21, 2011

Smuggler's Notch Day #1

For midwinter break, I'm going to a ski resort in Vermont called Smuggler's Notch. I'm going with my parents and with Alexander.
We got to the resort in record time- it only took us 6 hours to get to the resort! Most of the time, it takes us more like 8 or 9 hours to get there. The car ride was great! Alexander brought this huge bag of cheese puffy things, and my parents got the white dust of the cheese puffy things all over the car. We listened to an audio book for a while. Then, Alexander attached his ITouch to the radio thing in the front of the car, and we listened to some Green Day songs.
I also had gotten a Flip the day before, so I taped a couple of videos. One video showed Alexander's parents saying good bye- they were not coming on the trip. They sang a song that went like this:
"Bye, bye, Zander, bye, bye, Zander, bye, bye, Zander, we hate to see you go- BYE!!!!" It was really funny. Then, Alexander got all mad and said, "You guys are sooooo mean!" That just made the grown-ups laugh even harder. Even now, Alexander keeps on saying, "That was COLD!"
Another video shows one of our breaks for gas. My mom got out to, "Stretch her legs!" and started doing jumping jacks! I thought I was going to die. That is real, live proof that my family is a comedy show.
The next day, Alexander and I had a TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD VERY BAD DAY!
First, the weather was SUPER DUPER LUPER KUPER cold, and my fingers got so cold that I cried. CRIED! Alexander was the gentleman and gave me his hand warmer, but I realized that hand warmers are too big to touch the fingers, unless your'e wearing mittens, which I wasn't. Then he said "so I froze my butt off for nothing?!" (Also, if you pulled your fingers out of the fingers of the glove and wrapped your fingers around the hand warmer, your hand could keep warm. BUT.... the group had ski poles, so if I took my fingers out of the gloves' fingers, the ski poles fell down. So I told my teacher that I needed to put my ski poles somewhere, because I wasn't going to use them. Luckily, the teacher found a spot for my poles. Lesson- Never ski with ski poles.)

This is where I skied on the first day