Finding the Prize

Author’s Note: In this upcoming essay you will find out how some little things can get in the way of friendships. Please see if you can make any connections.

What do you think of the 1930s? The story, President Cleveland, Where Are You?, is a story about young boys who try hard to find President cards in caramel chew packs to win the ultimate baseball glove, signed by Lefty Grove.  Money was rare in the 1930s because the Great Depression was happening and there wasn't much money to give and earn.

            Cowboy cards came first in the bubble gum packs like the caramel chews. A little 11 year old boy named Jerry had been attached to these cards with his friends, buying one after another. They were 5 cents a pack, that’s an ok amount of money to them, but nothing to us. I remember when I was little candy would have little cards or something in them for the kids. All of a sudden, the cowboy cards had changed to president cards and with caramel chews instead of gum.

            In this time of year, the Great Depression was going on. That’s why they had coins and the most expensive thing brought to you in the story was a dollar. Rich men would get about $30 a week and have about $1,600 a year. My great grandmother had gone through the Great Depression, and it was not easy. I had read all types of books and little stories on the great depression.

           

            When all the president cards had come out, the school was getting smarter with all of the presidents because on the back of the cards there would be little biographies about them. People would be talking on the streets about all of these amazing facts. Usually when something new in my school happens, the school talks about it for a couple of days. Finding all of the cards couldn’t be that hard I thought, but I was wrong. There were only about 36 presidents in the 1930s. I am used to 44 presidents.

            In 1932 President Roosevelt was elected, and again re-elected in 1936. Also in the early 1900s there would be very big families, so Jerry had a brother and two other twins in his family. Just picture now we have all of these fashion expensive clothes and these poor people had hand-me-downs all their lives and couldn’t get new clothes for a while.

           

Pa’s birthday was coming up and the kids all pitched in for the gift. They ended up getting him a nice blue tie. I always get my father a gift for his birthday. Jerry had found a love letter from his brother to this girl named Sally he liked. Jerry’s brother had told Jerry to never tell anyone and all Jerry wanted was a President Roosevelt card. Jerry’s brother had told him that down north there were a bunch of cards that he was looking for.

 Jerry and his friend were talking about how they would even spend 5 dollars for that one card. Jerry had taken the 5 dollars from his friend and went to the north side. Jerry actually bought a card from someone for 5 dollars, and I didn’t think that was very smart, because he could have just paid 5 cents for a card there. Jerry had gotten back and told his friend about how he used the 5 dollars for the one card. Jerry’s friend was pretty upset, because it turned out to be that the 5 dollars was for an emergency. At first I knew it wouldn’t be a very good idea. There wasn’t anyone who won the glove and Jerry just sat until a good feeling came to him.

From this story I learned that little things, and some big things, can come between friendships. What did you learn? I am not sure how Jerry or his friend will get 5 dollars back, because money like that was rare for poor families to have.

Bullying Gets You Nowhere

Author’s Note: In this upcoming paragraph about a short story called "Tuesday of the Other June" by Nora Fox Mazer. This short story will tell you why bullying is bad. Please see if you can make connections with this story.

What do you think of bullying? This is a short story about two little girls who come in a bad situation, and then everything gets fixed by one little word. June was a little girl who had signed up for swim. When she got to her practice, there was another little girl named June. The June that had just had come to swim asked the other June what her name was and they both said June. I thought it would be cute for two Junes being friends, but the new June thought didn't. So the main June the one who came to swim, and had said, “No, June is my name, your name is Fish Eyes”. The other June from swim had gotten  pretty mad. I mean, if I were the girl who just got called fish eyes I would be pretty mad!

So the fish eyed June had pushed the new June into the pool and had gotten in trouble. I don’t think that the main June should have called her fish eyes in the first place. Every since the fish eyes joke, the swim June had been very rude. She would pinch the main June, push her and pull her hair! Sounds to me that there is some bullying here. A lot of people have been bullied. I can’t personally make a connection with the bullying situation, but I see some bullying. The main June had her special days, Tuesday was her bad day because she had swim, which means more of the other June.

This time the other June had made up more names for main June. When main June had gotten home her mom said, “Were moving”! I thought it was a little fast in the story and was so un-expected! The main June wanted to go as far as way as possible from her swimming class. Her mom had her switch schools, June was a little happy about that! It’s hard to start a new school. Saturday was the day of the big move, they gathered everything up and hit the road.

June had started her new school and was surprised. The other June goes to that school! Not only her new school, but new neighbors! The main June didn’t like what situation she was in. More other June means more bullying! I would go straight to an adult if I was in this situation.

The swimming June had offered for the main June to sit by her. When their teacher had left the class room, the bully June lifted up her pencil and was going toward the main June to poke her hard. Finally the main June just said one little word, “No”! Everyone was shocked and started laughing. Who knew that one word could stop everything? I had no clue that this was going to end with just on little word. Again the main June just said “No”, over and over again. Everyone giggling while the rude June had a bright red face. While the rude June was sinking down into her set, the main June was so happy it was all over. The other June was suddenly being very nice to the main June. This short story had shocked me so much! This is why bullying is a bad situation, because it starts things and gets you nowhere.

Teen Tragic

Author’s Note: In this upcoming paper you will read about the book called Fly Away by Nora Rock. Please look and see if you can find any connections with these characters.

When you hear the word cheerleading, what is the first thing that pops into your head? Marnie is a young high school cheerleader with her best friend Arial who has this huge dream to be an artist, but no one knows but her best friend Marnie. Arial is the head captain of the cheer squad which lost a girl due to a fractured shoulder, so they need a new flyer.  In the fiction novel Fly Away, by Nora Rock, a group of young teens experience a tragic situation when it comes to things they love.

Marnie has this boyfriend named Liam that has been acting up lately. I do not think that this is good for their relationship. He seems, you know, depressed. Everyone thinks it is from this football part he wanted and didn’t get it. Marine tries talking to him a lot, but he rebels. I think it would be best for them to talk it out. A lot of stories or movies I have read and seen, I realize that there is always a relationship. The two talked, and talked, and talked, but still he tells her to go away. Then he starts standing her up on dates and she finally is done with Liam and I don’t blame her for being strong and leaving.

A few days later he tries to make things up, but she stayed strong and repelled right back when he did to her. The cheer competition is getting so close to this very day. The girls are so pepped up for this wonderful occasion that they have been working for, for a while except the fact that they are worried about their other team mate and her shoulder. There are all different ages on the squad, from being a freshman to being a senior. Some of the girls like each other very much or they dislike people, like Shona, she is a stuck up freshman teenager that doesn’t like Marnie at all what so ever.

The competition is finally here. They practiced for about the whole day and met these boys. They had coffee that night with these boys their ages. They asked Arial if she wanted to come but she declined. They got home, but not to late so they weren’t tired for the competition tomorrow, and went to bed. The next morning Marnie was very worried, because Arial was missing! Marnie alerted the whole squad and hotel hall way. She checked the closet; Arial only left shoes, a skirt and a contact lens case. They all gathered on the bus, but the coach, to look around more and see if she could find Arial. Marnie was terrified, the chaperone calmed her down and they all headed to the competition.

It’s over; they bombed the competition from the anxiety due from Arial’s disappearance. They went home soon as possible which I think is a great thing to do inthis situation so they cn let her parents and everyone know. Marnie talked to her parents and the police about Arial. She headed to Arial’s house, because Arial’s parents needed to talk to Marnie about their daughter. She said nothing about her art. Marnie checked Arial’s room and noticed her paintings were gone, she just remembered that Arial had sent Marnie this art portfolio just in case Arial got a scholarship to somewhere. I think that the portfolio was for where she was planning to run off to.

Marnie had shown the portfolio to the police and they were working on the case.

She wanted to find Arial fast so she wasn’t in danger, but she thought what if she didn’t want to be found. Marnie has a big decision to make about her best friend. She did a lot of research and found out that this guy has taken Arial’s paintings, and made them his with no credit for Arial. Marnie had an idea where Arial might have gone. Shona had said something about her grandparents living where the competition was held. She quick called Shona and made some deals with her and they were on their way to Shona’s grandparent’s house. The whole day they went and tried to find Arial. They went to the art place and they were suspicious and didn’t let them in. I think that this guy isn’t very nice ad he has a big watch team. The next day they found a reporter that knew the guy that had stole Arial’s paintings. Apparently the guy isn’t a good person, and he belongs in jail.

They went back that night and snuck in. The girls called the guy and talked to him. They also got to talk to Arial and she had listened to the girls and had left. They got back home and everyone was happy to see each other. Everyone’s worries were gone which I think is good and the girls went back to cheering.

Hats

What’s the craziest hat you’ve ever seen? Hats have been around since 75000 BC, from way back then to now. Hats have gotten so different past all of these years. Indians would have wraps for their hats. When there used to be kings and queens, they had the big hats with gems and all sorts of feathers. There are all sorts of hats, wraps, sun hats, top hats, beanies, winter hats and so many more! We wear hats for many reasons, to keep warm, fashion, and to keep sun out of our eyes.  Hats are for everyone. It’s nice that you can pick out what hat fits you the best.

The Great Wide Zoo

The great wide zoo,

It’s a place where you can relax,

And have fun too!

The animals are all around,

Some up high,

Some on the ground,

People walking everywhere,

Have different faces to share,

Now the zoo is getting cold around,

So the animals are starting to shut down,

One by one they go to sleep,

Until they get their midnight treat. 

The Apple I Torch

If I could make my own apple machine like the I pad, I would make a little something called the I torch. The I torch would be a big hexagon about 12 inches wide and 8 inches tall.  It would have two cameras. One in the front and one in the back. The cameras would be shaped like hexagons. You can get it in any color you want. Purple, blue, brown, black, tie-dye, every color, even custom made! It has all the features an I phone, I pod touch and the I pad has. Even includes an updated version of face time which no other machine has! The Apple I Torch is something I would love to have!

Cell Phone

Authors Note: In this story you are about to read, it's all about my cell phone. In the story, I am taking place as the cell phone.

Trapped, in a dark place. I will over heat if I don’t get out soon! I don’t even know what I really look like. Do I have a name? Are there other kinds of me? Finally I am out of this box place looking at this boy. Based on his appearance he looks about 22, named Steven. He had really rough fingers as he slid his big thumb a cross this silky screen of mine. Finally Steven blurts out, “It’s here, the HTC Desire is here”. I am really confused, I guess my name is Desire and I from the pack called HTC, like a wolf pack. As everyone huddles around me in the same outfits, I am really nervous. Why are they looking at me like this? Do I have a scratch?

As everyone is begging to have a peek, I suddenly hear this noise! Is this coming from me? Oh my goodness it is! I sound beautiful! I suddenly feel tired as if the sound made me fall asleep. The sound is over and I am out, my screen is black and I am put back in the box. I can’t see anything but I can hear. I hear the store’s door open. Two girls walk in to get some service. I hear Steven helping them. “What can I help you ladies with today?”, “We need a new phone this one is broken”. As I feel a hand grabbing my box, Steven says this is our newest phone, and the cheapest smart phone. As the older woman says, “we will take it”, Steven plays the sound from me.

I can see again! I am being set up for this girl. I can’t wait until I am out of that box forever. About 20 minutes later I am out of the box for good. I see the little blonde girl, so excited for my appearance. I never knew I could bring this much happiness to people. The girl loved me. A couple weeks later she took me on a trip to Illinois for about a week.  She got very home sick, I felt bad, but every time she looked at me she had a smile on her face. We came home and the girl was fighting with her sister. The blonde girl set me on the table. I slipped, I fell on my screen. I seemed to fade away feeling like I am loosing life. I hear a scream, I finally have my last sight, and I see the little girl crying. I can still hear.

I felt a touch from a finger, it’s the girl trying to call someone from me, I still worked but I couldn’t see. Her dad answered, he wasn’t too happy about the incident. She got a hold of her mom, she wasn’t quite happy either. About a while later I heard she got a new phone for cheap, I was heartbroken. Later and later I am waiting for something to happen. I was relieved; the girl didn’t like her phone, not as much as me. I felt a hand grab me. I am in the girl’s hand, I was so happy just to feel her soft, pale hand again. Finally, she talked to her mom, I am getting fixed! The mother took me to her work the next day. I feel her sliding me into an envelope. I am at the post office being sent somewhere. I have been in the mail for about 2 days. Finally I am out of this dark place. I am very scared; I just want to be with my true and trustful owner. I forgave her for the incident. Her family thinks she broke me on purpose, but I know it wasn’t her fault.

I feel someone’s hand putting me in a snug spot. I feel like a hard soft flat square to fit my screen press down on me. I feel good filing up my broken pieces. I came out about 20 minutes later. I feel as good as new and refreshed. I can see again! I am put in a box, I hate boxes! Now I feel another substance of a thick big brown box. I am being put back into the mail. Yes, I knew it; I am being fixed so I can return home! I am so happy and can’t wait to see my owner’s smile again! We are going to share some great times again! I remember her telling me she is getting me a case to protect me. She said it will be cute and safe! I can’t wait to see her!