Pewaukee sunset

Author's Note: I wrote this in the writing lab, it's about what I see, smell, taste, hear, and feel while watching a sunset on Pewaukee beach.

I can smell the revolting scent of a disgustingly dirty, and slimy lake, being brought to me by the slight breeze. The lights of the sunset are reflecting off the lake creating a rainbow of shimmering colors in front of me. With the scent so strong I can taste the disgusting, gooey, green lake water. While standing there looking out to the lake I can feel the quiet, with the occasional sound of people walking by on the sidewalk.

Conflict and Resolution

Author’s Note: I did a conflict and resolution writing response to the book, The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. I talked about the main conflict of the book and if it was resolved by the end of the book.

The book, The Hunger Games, takes place in the future, where there are 12 districts, and every year there are games which are called the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are where one boy and one girl from each district are chosen randomly to complete in a fight to the death where only one survives. The winner is then named the champion. When the main character, Katniss’ sister is chosen to compete in the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her place. The main conflict is that Katniss must compete in a fight to the death and survive for her sister.

In the end of the book the main conflict is resolved when Katniss and her other boy tribute, Peeta challenge the gamemakers and win when threatening suicide so there is no victor for the games. They do this for two reasons. The first reason is, because Katniss found a great friend in Peeta and she started to develop feelings for him too. Lastly they did this because she was trying to show the President Snow and the capitol that they don’t own them, that they are people not just a part of their games. When they do this the director of the games quickly yells into the arena, and tells them that they are the two newest victors. This is how the conflict of Katniss trying to survive the Hunger Games is resolved.

Hold On

I was an excited kind of nervous. The kind you get before you go on a big roller coaster, or before a big game. Now me, I wasn’t going on a big scary amusement park ride, or getting ready for an important game. I was waiting to go on a horseback trail. Something I’d been waiting for the entire trip to South Dakota to do. Little did I know that would also be one of the scariest parts of my vacation.

Finally, the horses were being rinsed off and their saddles were being strapped on their backs. The anticipation was growing stronger the longer I was standing in line. First they called my Mom’s name and she hopped in a huge, beautiful, grey horse. Then my sister, and lastly they called my name. I walked up to a big, dark colored horse. Bigger than any horse I’d  ridden before. With my foot in the stirrup, I swung my leg over. I was on, that was something I’d been fearing I’d forget how to do. Luckily I didn’t and I’d made it on without falling off.

Unsteady, I had to wait for at least ten minutes, because we were the first ones to get on our horses we had to wait the longest. I could tell my mom’s horse, Blue Bonnet, was going to be trouble. He would freak the other horses out by getting too close or nudge them. I was terrified that he would do something like that to my horse, Scooter. When he started to inch his way over to me and Scooter, my pulse quickened and I was starting to freak out.

Slowly, Blue Bonnet crept closer. Naturally I began to try to calm Scooter by talking to her. The man who ran the trails said that once Blue Bonnet started to get moving he’d be okay, but I wondered,  if they knew Blue Bonnet hated waiting. Why did they put someone on him first? Putting that question to the back of my mind, I tried to move away from Blue Bonnet. While remaining in line.

Now the scariest part was coming. Blue Bonnet decided to get way to close to me and Scooter and my sister and her horse. This caused a lot of panic from the horses. My sister and her horse backed all the way into a stall behind the line of horses. Scooter and I got the worst of it. Amongst the panic my Mom couldn’t get control over Blue Bonnet and he nipped at Scooter, causing her to kick her hooves into the air.  This made me go grasping as fast as I could to her neck, and the reins. I could feel my body start to panic. With a scream caught in the back of my throat, I squeezed my eyes tightly closed and held on waiting for it to all be over.

I was completely stunned when all four of Scooters legs were back on the ground. In shock, I clutched the reins for at least a minute after it was all over. Breathing heavily. I couldn’t help but wonder, how did I manage to stay on that horse? Maybe I was more afraid to fall than to be in the air. Either way, I was just glad to be on the ground and to have a horse between me and Blue Bonnet when we  went on the trail.

Alone

“I don’t need a babysitter,” I screamed sending echoes crashing through my house. “I am fourteen years old and I can stay home alone for one night,” I said my voice booming with anger. I could feel my parents eyes moving towards each other, the official sign of defeat. Could it be true had I finally talked my parents into leaving me alone for a night. I waited for my parents to utter one word,  one word could make or break this deal. Minutes later, of awkward staring and my parents expressions giving away every thought in their head, my mother sat and explained what I already knew. She’d said that they would be back by seven in the morning and that if I felt scared or unsure at all throughout the night to call my neighbors who’d been informed that I’d be staying home alone all night. Was it too immature to scream and jump up and down, would it make them think I’m not mature enough for this yet? I decided against it. I had been waiting for this moment for so long and I had every part of my night planned out.

After practically shoving my parents out the door, I finally had the house to myself.  I had already completed the first movie in my scary movie marathon, and I’d begun to dance around the house listening to songs too explicit for my parents to stand. I didn’t care how ridiculous and immature I looked, I’d been waiting for this moment for so long, and now that it was here I didn’t want to waste one second. But then suddenly there was a sound, a sound that could only be described as footsteps. Although I knew better, I couldn’t help feeling like someone was in the house, I’d gone around to check the doors and they were all still locked as they had been all evening. So the question still remaining is, what’s making that sound and is there someone in the house with me. Not ready to give up my night of freedom I started to look around the house myself instead of calling my neighbors.  If only I’d known what was in store for me, I would have clung to my parents legs screaming, “don’t leave me in this house with him!”

I’d searched almost every room in the house and found nothing, but still I kept hearing creaking boards and the pitter patter of footsteps always coming from above me. There was only one room left to check and I was dreading it, but I knew I had to suck it up and go to the attic. I slowly stepped up the wooden creaky staircase, getting spooked with every step I took. I finally got to the top and skreeeechh, like nails on a chalk board, my ears ringing and my heart pounding. I look frantically around the room for the source of the sound. My eyes stopped along with my heart, when I saw this dark shadow of a figure standing in the corner of the attic. Hoping that if I don’t scream the figure wouldn’t see me, but to my misfortune the figure’s head slowly turned, it’s milky white eyes connecting with mine. Slowly it started to step out of the shadows of the room  becoming more and more visible. It’s nails long, sharp and jagged, reaching out for me. I could hear it moaning my name, “Emily,” it moaned it’s voice sounding rough and hoarse. Slowly my brain beginning to comprehend what was happening I took a step back, which only seemed to anger it. The figure moved closer to me almost completely backing me into a corner, but with one swift movement I sidestepped out of the corner. It’s reflexes too slow to catch me it reached out with its long nails scratching me as I ran.

The blood oozing from the gash in my arm seeps through my hands leaving a thin trail of blood droplets for the creature to follow. Within seconds I’d gotten most of the way down the stairs, my heart pounding in my ears. With no time to think I raced to the only place I’d ever felt totally safe, my room. Unsure of the amount of protection I’d receive hiding in my room I raced into the darkness of the back of my closet crawling into to fetal position, hoping, praying that somehow the creature from my attic wouldn’t think of finding me here. I heard the steps slowing, which only meant one thing, he was unsure of where I’d gone and had stopped to look for a trail. I thought to myself that I must have done well keeping my bleeding under control, because I heard the footsteps start again heading the opposite direction of me.

It must’ve been at least one in the morning, I was starting to get tired. But I couldn’t sleep, not with that, that, thing walking around in my house. My eye lids felt like weights pulling me closer and closer to sleep, the only thing that kept me from passing out from exhaustion was the feeling that if I fell asleep the creature would find me. I was sweating, my arm was losing a lot of blood and I didn’t know what to do to help it. Then after sitting in gut wrenching silence for so long. I began to sleep.

The morning sun greets me through the window and I see it’s nearly six in the morning, but I fear going back to sleep will bring the monster back. Had it all been a horrible nightmare? Was I safe from that creature in my dream? Ready for my parents to get home, I turned on my light and started to walk around my room and everything was just as it was supposed to be. I laugh reassuringly, but a scream gets caught in my throat as I look down at my arm. The gash is still there. 

What My Mother Doesn't Know

Author’s Note: This is a retelling of the book, What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones. I wrote this to show my understanding of a retelling.

A freshman in a high school where your image is everything, meets a mysterious boy in a mask. She later finds out that her masked man is the school freak, so she then has to choose between being with the boy she loves and keeping her popularity standings. Ultimately she chooses to be who she loves, demonstrating the Beauty and The Beast storyline.

Home

Author’s Note: Many people move multiple times in their childhood. Not me. Moving has never really been something my family has ever talked about or considered. Maybe I will move someday, but I am am undecided about my feelings on moving. There are many pros and cons of moving.

I have lived in Pewaukee for my entire life. Many people move two or even more times in their lifetime, but not me. I don’t know if it’s just that we don’t have the money to move or if it’s the fact that my parents really like where we live and our house we live in. Either way I’ve never moved houses or cities.

Sometimes I think to myself that it’s a good thing that I’ve never moved or switched schools, that this way is easier, because I don’t have to meet new friends and leave old friends behind and go to a different school. I think about how much some people wish that they could just stay in one place and how much they would give to be like me.

    Other times I think that I wish I could move just once. Maybe I’d have a different life wherever I would move to. Who knows, I could be the best person on the basketball team or the volleyball team. Without change I feel like I’m tied down to only thinking of how things are now, not comparing life in different places I’ve been.
    Someday I want to travel around the US and find a place where I feel like I fit in. Maybe that will bring me back to Pewaukee or maybe that will take me across the US. I feel like I will never know my options till I try and see what It’s like to live in someplace other than Pewaukee.

Thrill Rides

Author’s Note: Screaming, yelling sometimes even crying are all things that you will hear when you visit the most amazing amusement park in Chicago. This amusement park is called Six Flags Great America. This is one of the most fun Amusement Parks I’ve ever been to.

I remember my first time at Six Flags. The first ride I went on was Demon, it scared me so much that I didn’t go on any scary rides there for the rest of the day. The second time I went to Six Flags was with my friend and the first ride that she wanted to go on was superman. The entire time I was standing in line I was so scared. I kept seeing people zoom by screaming their heads off. While I was on the ride I screamed so much and I kept my eyes squeezed shut for the entire ride. After my friend and I got off the ride I felt like I could ride and do almost anything. So I did. That day we rode as many rides as we could and when we were at the water park on top of a slide we saw a bunch of rides that were broken down. After the water park we went back to ride Superman one last time before we went home. While we were in line Superman broke down but we still went on it and it was a lot of fun. That day was one of the most fun days of my summer.