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- Albert Einstein
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Fiction at its Finest.
Fiction at its Finest.
Bow to Toe
By: Morgan Arbus
The best feeling ever. Heart racing, adrenaline pumping, breath shallow, and a smile so big my mouth hurt. My ponytail swung as I flipped and jumped. The crowd roared. It was everything I’d ever dreamed of. Well, sorta.
A few weeks earlier…
The warm South Carolina sun bled through my bedroom window, leaving a puddle of sunlight on my fuzzy white rug. I pulled my straight, shoulder-length, dark brown hair into a high ponytail. Today was the day I’d been training for all summer. Today was the day I’d been training for my whole life, actually. I had on my favorite leotard. It was teal, longsleeved, and dotted with rhinestones. Sleek and stylish.
In the stressed-out spirit of the day, I decided last minute that I should do a bun. I took my ponytail and wrapped it around neatly, then added a few pins and lots of hairspray. Very sophisticated. My name is Brynn Connell, and I am trying out for the high school gymnastics team today. Gymnastics is my whole life. I was captain of the middle school gymnastics team, so making the team today should be a piece of cake. But I’ll know for sure in about an hour.
The gym at the high school, Bluffton Bay Academy, was gorgeous. Everything was shiny and new. What really caught my eye were the trophies in every corner. Although that was intimidating, I wasn’t nervous, for I had all my routines memorized like the back of my hand. Or better. We each had to do a routine at each event, along with the possibility of being asked to do some other tricks. As I was warming up, last year’s team captain walked over to talk to me. Her name is Brittney Weathers, and we had become pretty good friends over summer training,
“I’m so nervous. Are you?” she asked, and I almost laughed. Brittney was terrific. She was a senior who had been on varsity since freshman year, and for the past year, she’d been team captain. It was no question that she would make varsity and most likely be captain again, too. But in her big, blue eyes, I saw a hint of genuine fear.
“A little. But don’t worry, you’ll do great.”
And so, tryouts began. My routines on beam, bars, and vault were perfect. I was now about to do my floor routine. I watched Brittney perform before I went. I suddenly got nervous. She did a perfect double layout, her blonde ponytail swinging. I had my double layout, sure, but it wasn’t very clean or consistent. It was when Brittney nailed one that I realized I should do one too. She finished and I sucked in my breath. I do a single layout as my final skill, I could just do a double instead!
“Brynn Connell, you’re up next.” Coach Aimee yelled.
I walked out onto the matt, my heart racing. I got into my starting pose, and the music began. I immediately launched myself into a standing back tuck, and I nailed it. I shook my hips and hit another skill. My routine had a wide variety of skills. Mainly handsprings, tucks, halfs, fulls, twists, and layouts. I was doing all my tricks and moves correctly so far, but I hadn’t gotten to the double layout yet.
I leaped across the mat. I only had one little sassy turn left, and then it was time. My pulse was like a sledgehammer. I could do one layout perfectly, but not quite two. I was riding so high on adrenaline that I thought I would be able to do it. I flung into it, counting in my head. One, perfect!! Two?? Come on, come on…
I fell.
I fell right onto my back and the music ended.
I heard lots of gasps, and worse, a few giggles. Even Brittney snickered! Coach Aimee immediately ran out to the mat.
“Are you okay?” she asked tenderly, worry in her eyes. I sat up and nodded. If I spoke, I would cry, and there was no crying in gymnastics.
So obviously, I wouldn’t make varsity. But everything other than my slight mishap was pretty good, right? I still have a chance at making JV, right? I would find out now, for the roster was posted outside of the gym. We all ran like dogs at dinnertime. It took me a while to elbow my way through the huddle, but I eventually saw the list.
I didn’t make varsity, but there was still some hope left. I looked over the JV list.
I didn’t make it.
I got cut.
Brittney saw the look in my eyes, tears welling up. I figured she would comfort me, but her lips curled into an evil smirk.
“I have to admit, I was seriously worried. Worried that you might make varsity, worried that you might be named team captain, worried that you might be better than me.” as she spoke, my heart sank to my feet.
“Hey, captain!” one of the girls on the team yelled, “Wanna come get fro-yo with us?” I wanted more than anything to be one of those happy gymnasts on the team, but Brittney had no sympathy for that. She spun on her heel.
“Silly me. I had nothing to worry about.”
That night, my best friend, Alexa Parker, came over. She came straight from pre-season cheerleading practice, her dirty blonde hair still in a high ponytail. Her bright green eyes dimmed and welled up when I told her the news. She knew how hard I worked all summer, all through middle school, all through my life really. She had done the same for cheer.
Although she was sad, it wasn’t for long. Alexa is a go-getter, and it never takes her long to get an idea.
“Cheer tryouts are tomorrow after school! You should try out!” she exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face.
My eyes went wide, “No way! Are you crazy? I don’t know the first thing about cheerleading!”
“Sure you do!” Alexa beamed, “When it comes to tumbling, you’re more than overqualified, it shouldn’t be hard to teach you some new jumps, and anyone can do motions and chants! All you need to do is learn how to do stunts. Please just try out, you’ll regret it if you don’t.”
I pondered for a minute. Gymnastics was out of the picture until next school year, I needed to keep up tumbling practice, and I’d be spending time with my best friend. Why not?
“Okay, fine. I’ll do it. What’s the harm in trying, right?” I blurted out.
“Yay! Let’s get to work!” Alexa squealed.
So we worked. We stayed up practicing all night and then during lunch the next day. I was ready.
I borrowed some of Alexa’s cheer clothes for tryouts, and she helped me do one of her classic high ponytails. The coach, Coach Amanda, was nice enough to allow me to try out even though I didn’t do summer training. Last year’s team captain, Kaitlyn Katz, argued, but Coach Amanda seemed to believe in me.
Kaitlyn has long, black hair, and warm brown eyes, yet she was very cold towards me. I think she is one of Brittney’s friends, so it makes sense.
Alexa was right about one thing, I was the best tumbler by far. My jumps and motions were pretty good, especially considering I picked up this sport less than a day ago. For stunts, Alexa is a flyer, and she suggested that I should be one too because I am flexible and a good tumbler. Plus, gymnastics has stunted my growth over the years, so I’m pretty short.
As I was talking to Alexa, I overheard Coach Amanda talking to Kaitlyn. They were talking about team placements.
Kaitlyn said, “So I’m thinking JV for Alexa Parker, and as for that Brynn girl, I’m thinking we cut her.”
Coach Amanda laughed and smirked, scribbling on her clipboard, “Well I’m thinking varsity for both, and what I say goes, because I’m the coach. I’m also thinking about naming a new team captain this year.” Kaitlyn scoffed and stormed away as Coach Amanda announced that the roster was up.
My heart started to race. It wasn’t the first time I felt this feeling. My stomach was in knots and my breath was shallow as I read over the list.
I didn’t make JV, so there was barely any hope left. I looked over the varsity list.
I made it.
I didn’t get cut.
Alexa and I looked each other in the eyes, happy tears welling up. We both made it! We both made varsity! And just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, my eyes shot down to the bottom of the paper. Alexa was team captain! We hugged each other until we couldn’t breathe, our mouths hurting from our big smiles. We did it!
A few weeks later...
The first game of the season. Makeup, hair, uniform. All things I was used to. Mostly. It would take time to get the hang of using pom-poms and putting a bow in my hair, but luckily, I had Alexa to help me every step of the way. Thank goodness for her!
Now I’ll admit, over the summer, I was hanging out with Brittney so much that I took Alexa for granted, but I’ll never do that again.
Since joining cheer, I’ve loved every minute! I love learning new things, taking on a new challenge, and spending time with my kind, talented, loyal new friends. If I must say so myself, I’m getting pretty good at cheer! Still, that didn’t make me any less nervous for our first game. I was doing pretty well on the sidelines, but it was halftime now. Our big moment.
During halftime, the gymnastics team performs a group floor routine. Then we perform our routine. The grand finale.
As I watch the gymnasts perform, I think about what could have been. I think about all that I’d wanted all my life and how it abruptly stopped. If I had done one thing differently, I could’ve been out there right now. But I’m not. I’m not because that’s not how things were supposed to go for me. I’m meant to be on the cheerleading team with Alexa, my supportive coach, and my other new friends. This is how it was supposed to happen.
So, will I do cheerleading again next year, or will I go back to gymnastics? Well, I’m not sure. All I know is that this is where I am right now, and I love it.
Suddenly, the announcer comes on the loudspeaker, “Thank you to the Bluffton Bulldogs Gymnastics Team for that wonderful performance! Now we bring out the Bluffton Bulldogs Cheerleading Squad!”
I draw in a breath. Here we go.
The best feeling ever. Heart racing, adrenaline pumping, breath shallow, and a smile so big my mouth hurt. My ponytail swung as I flipped and jumped. The crowd roared. It was everything I’d ever dreamed of. Well, sorta.
I’d always dreamed of flipping and jumping across the field as a gymnast, but things don’t always go as planned. My big smile widens as I go in for my next skill.
The crowd goes wild as I nail a double layout.
Book Review
Book Review
By: Marguerite
Do you enjoy reading about futuristic technology… only gone wrong? If you do, try the book Scythe.
In this story, the risk of natural death has been eliminated, and those who are seriously injured can easily be revived. The Thunderhead, a large and powerful computer is in charge of society. All seems well, but the society must keep the population under control, meaning that for every child born, someone else must be “gleaned”. Scythes are in charge of ensuring that the population stays under control. When two teenagers named Citra and Rowan become apprentices of Scythe Faraday, they must learn how to glean others.
However, after Scythe Faraday self-gleans, Citra becomes an apprentice of Scythe Curie and Rowan is put with the harsh Scythe Goddard. Unaware that Sycthe Goddard is drastically changing Rowan, Citra misses Rowan and Scythe Faraday. However, she must continue her training since only one person can become a Scythe and the other, will be gleaned by the new Scythe.
Gaming Console Review
By: Austin
Nintendo is known today for quality video games and consoles, but they have a very long history and it's not filled with video games. But when they did enter the video game world in the 80s, they not only revolutionized it, but they saved it!
Nintendo is a company that was founded in 1889 (yes, they are really that old). They were really just throwing things at the wall and seeing what stuck. They had tried making everything. from playing cards, to toys. Then in the early 1980s, they landed in the newfound video game market, and they have not left since then. In America in 1977 another company by the name of Atari released the Atari 2600. This console shot video games into the mainstream, and is still today considered by many to be the first video game console ever. However, Atari required no licensing in order to publish games for the system, and this resulted in a seemingly ENDLESS library of horrible games. One of the most notable of these awful games is “E.T Extra Terrestrial”. Sales expectations for the game were extremely high, in fact at the time more copies of the game were manufactured the Atari 2600s were sold! The game flopped hard, people returned not just the game, but their other games, and even consoles. Because of this Atari had a massive oversupply of games and consoles. And because of the oversupply Atari dumped and buried around 700,000 games and consoles in a landfill in New Mexico. All of these events were a part of a time called The Video Game Crash Of 1983. This is a time when people of America just lost trust in video games and stopped buying them. Meanwhile in Japan, Nintendo released the Family Computer or Famicom for short. The console was a MASSIVE success, and Nintendo wanted to bring it over to America! But when they did, people laughed, everyone in America was through with video games. Nintendo did not stop there though. Nintendo changed almost EVERYTHING about the famicom in order to sell it in america. They changed the styling of the console, instead of the sleek red and gold design of the famicom, they gave it the shape of a VCR and changed the colors from red and gold to grey and black. The new controller was basically the same shape as the old ones except the style was changed to match the rest of the console's new look. And they made the cartridges much bigger. They called the new console the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and marketed it as an “entertainment system” opposed to a video game console. It was a HUGE success. And in a way, this “entertainment system” saved the video game world.
Today Nintendo is one of three big competitors. It's a battle between Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. And their earlier competition, Atari and Sega are no longer threats. Some people fight over who is best between Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo. But no matter who you prefer, you must admit that none of it would even exist without the Nintendo Entertainment System.
Concrete Poem - By: Lizzie R.
Sugarbush, VT
By: Trace Larson
Up in Vermont during the winter there is not much to do beside going to the mountain and skiing. So that's why it is the best skiing on the east coast. When I'm in my house up there and you go outside it's like you're getting hit with an ice tornado. The bluebird skies or the gloomy snowy afternoon. It's always the most beautiful sight in the morning to either see the blue skies or a gloomy snowy morning. Knowing it will be a good ski day with fresh snow on the ground.
When I get to the mountain you instantly get the smell of snow and skis. When you click your skis into your boots you feel powerful like you could do any trail in the world. The chairlift hitting the back of your calves is the best and the worst feeling in the world.
When you're off the lift and hit the runout right away it is amazing. Right at the top of the hill you get an amazing view of the North Ridge Express. You go to North Star and hit that jump in the beginning. Then you get to glide through the snow and turn so sharply you're on the border of being horizontal. At the end of the day, your legs hurt so much you just want to sit inside of the lodge and never leave. But all of your problems get resolved with a nice, hot chocolate.
Something to dance for
By: Morgan Arbus
“Next up to the stage is Elle Kenny dancing to ‘When we were young’ in the junior lyrical solo category!” the announcer says in a peppy tone.
I suck in my breath. I should be at the Starbucks where my mom is working, sitting at a table finishing my weekend assignments. But I was backstage at a dance competition pretending I was Elle Kenny from my class. How did I get here?
That’s a stupid question. In a round-a-bout sort of way, I know the answer. If I were to express it short and simple, I would just say this, it’s hard being homeless.
Hold in your gasps, you heard right.
Homeless.
I live in a junky old car with my 4 sisters, Brittney, Erica, Alexandra/Alex, and Liliana, and my overworked single mom. My mother works two jobs, and my sisters and I each work one as well.
It was today when I chose to go exploring and came across a dance competition, and when I saw my classmate Elle I thought I should go say hello.
Stupid idea.
When I walked into the large convention center, there were wall-to-floor windows bursting with sunlight. Everything felt so busy and bustling. But I was still able to spot her easily.
Elle was pretty in school, but she was gorgeous right now. Her shiny blonde curls in a sleek bun, her face doused in makeup, her beautiful teal costume. She looked like a princess.
She basically was.
Elle was rich, spoiled, and popular. She could flash those smooth blue eyes and get anything she wanted.
Even though she was a total brat, I wanted more than anything to be her friend. I smoothed out my frizzy brown hair and rubbed a stain off my clothes before tapping her shoulder.
“Hey, Elle!” I smiled cheerily, but she frowned and examined me carefully.
“Sorry hon, I’m not taking autographs right now.” she looked down on me like she was so much more superior. I felt like a fly on the walls of her palace.
“Oh no, I don’t want an autograph, I just wanted to say hi. It’s me, Gigi, from school!” I tried to keep my smile pasted on though I felt she had stepped on me.
“Jessie? Huh, doesn’t ring a bell. Well, always nice to meet a fan. Bye, Jenna!” she scampered away, giggling like a villain.
But my naive self wouldn’t take a hint. I wouldn’t give up. I continued to chase after her through the crowds but she kept on walking. I called her name but she didn’t even flinch. Did she think I was her paparazzi? I sighed and tugged the skirt of her costume, but before I could get the words out of my mouth, I heard an alarming sound.
I ripped it.
I ripped the handcrafted silk skirt of her costume, leaving the rhinestones on it to fall to the floo r.
I tried to run but I couldn’t move.
She turned and she shreiked, “WHAT DO YOU WANT YOU LITTLE RAT? IS THIS SOME FORM OF SABOTAGE?”
I wanted to cry. “No, Elle, no I-” I paused. How could I even fix this? “It was an accident, I swear, is there a anything I can do?” I was trembling.
She looked like a volcano ready to explode when she screeched, “JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!”
I should have obeyed her and just walked away. But I was already so deep into this mess, so I still followed her. She stormed away quickly as I cried out, “Elle, please, if you just-”
My jaw fell to the floor as soon as she did. I had injured her. I stepped on her ankle, maybe? It must have been hard if I did.
I did.
It looked all twisted and swollen as she collapsed into her tears. A bunch of people huddled around her, a perfect princess just minutes ago, now with a torn costume, an injured ankle, and mascara and glittery makeup streaming down her face.
I had nothing to do but run. I should’ve run right out of the place, but I think we can tell that I wasn’t in a great decision making mindset currently. So I went to the stage door.
It was dark and crowded, music pumping and dancers shaking out their nerves. I looked at the competing schedule. Elle’s solo was one number away.
Suddenly a frantic stage manager ran up to me, “Are you Elle Kenny? She’s up next and we can’t find her anywhere.”
No. The answer was no. Just say no and walk away. “Yes, I am”
The stage manager gave me a questionable look up and down, but the stress in her eyes was what pushed me to get in position. She nodded approvingly and scampered away.
“Next up to the stage is Elle Kenny dancing to ‘When we were young’ in the junior lyrical solo category!” the announcer says in a peppy tone.
I was startled by the loud calling of a name that wasn’t mine. It was such a pretty name, too. Elle Kenny. It rolls off the tongue nicely, unlike Giovanna Spinelli. Too long. That’s why I usually go by Gigi, but not today.
Today with my old clothes, my dirty face, my matted hair, and my bare feet, I was Elle Kenny, the junior national champion of competitive dance.
I stepped onto the stage in a soft, slow type of walk. The stage lights felt hot on my face. The eyes of millions did too.
It suddenly occurred to me that I had not danced a minute in my life. I couldn’t do any fancy turns or tricks. I couldn’t leap across the stage or fall gracefully into a split. How did I plan to make this work? How did I plan to be Elle Kenny?
And then, as the music began, I realized, I didn’t have to be. I could just be free and careless, dancing across the stage without anything else on my mind. For just a few short minutes on that stage, I could leave behind all my problems at home, or in the car, I suppose. So wasn’t this the greatest gift?
It was.
I rolled across the floor and slid across the stage and flexed and pointed my feet and twirled around and played with different shapes in my arms. It was beautiful. It was wonderful. It was a dance. A moment. A gift. It was love.
It was as I hit my final pose that I saw Elle in the crowd, giving me a cold stare. All my problems flooded back. She sure thought I was sabotaging her now.
I walked off the stage stressed, falling from my high to a sudden low. I tried to capture my dance like a picture, or a scene in a snow globe. Like a perfect memory I could keep forever. I wanted it to stay preserved and perfect and away from what was about to happen.
I got a few stares as I came out from backstage. They all knew I wasn’t the national champ. They all knew I wasn’t Elle Kenny.
As I tried to escape the convention center, I bumped into someone. I apologized and attempted to keep moving, but I felt a crabby little claw snatch my shirt.
Elle.
I slowly turned to face her, and my eyes went wide. The fabulous Elle Kenny had sweatpants over her tattered costume, with a wrapped ankle and crutches at her side. My heart skipped a beat when she opened her mouth. I was expecting the total worst. Arrest, death? I willed her with my mind to say something. Anything.
She did.
“I hate to say it, but that was… well… it was fantastic.” she looked helpless, “It could’ve been fraud, it could’ve been sabotage, but it was truly great. You looked so… alive.”
I must’ve looked dumbstruck now, for she gave me a weak, small, yet genuine smile. It made me smile too. I wanted to say something, something meaningful, something civil, something gracious, but all I could squeak out was a simple little, “Thanks.”
I winced at it myself, and I could tell she was disappointed too, so I slowly and silently headed for the door.
“Wait, Gigi! Aren’t you going to stay for awards?” Elle asked simply.
“What? No. I- I couldn’t.” I sighed nervously.
“It was wrong. But it was great. I told the stage manager they had the wrong name. I told them that you were Giavonna Spinelli and that you were an individual entry. In a twisted way, you deserve this. You deserve a chance, Gigi.” another sweet smile was all it took for me to know that Elle believed in me.
I ran into her arms and squeezed her tightly, still at a loss for words. She seemed surprised, but she hugged me back. I released her softly and headed back to the stage door.
Here we go, ready or not.
I moved across the stage to join the other dancers under the bright lights. I got many looks for being an individual rather than a team. I felt small. Well, until the awards started. Then it was all focus.
I zoned out a bit until the announcer said the words, “Now it’s time for the placements of our junior lyrical solo category!”
He went from 10th place all the way down to 2nd. All the girls graciously held their trophies in a neat row, big smiles on their faces. They were about 99% genuine and 1% weak, wishing they had placed higher, but grateful to have placed at all.
Now it was time to announce the 1st place winner. I either placed in 1st, or a didn’t place at all. It was nerve-wracking.
A random girl next to me grabbed my hand and squeezed it tight. Caught off guard, I looked around to see chains of dancers, from all different studios, doing the same. I’d never been part of a community like this before.
I took a deep belly breath, and so did the announcer, “Our 1st place, gold medal, $50,000 check winning junior lyrical soloist is…”
Hold on. Did he just say $50,000 check?
I needed that money.
I needed food, I needed clothes, and I needed somewhere to call home.
I needed to win.
I needed this more than ever now.
“Giavonna Spinelli.”
A few years later…
It was hard to explain to my mom and sisters what happened that day, but it was the best day of my life. It was the day that changed my life. That money helped me and my family get back on our feet, for we are no longer homeless! The day we bought our house was another best day of my life, of course.
Shortly after winning the dance competition, I got recruited to a prestigious dance school, 5678 Dance Company. It’s fantastic there, I’ve learned so much. But there’s one person I could never have done it without. An amazing dancer who I still speak with to this day.
Elle Kenny.
The Ocean Waves
By: Annie Yeu
Out of all the places we could go, we had to go to the beach. This was supposed to be the best summer vacation before high school, but I didn't complain. This was the first vacation any foster parents ever brought me on. I looked over at Abby who was fast asleep in her car seat. Abby woke with an energetic bolt. She screamed, whipping her head around. Her fire-red hair was a mess with wild wisps blowing in the salty breeze. “Mom, are we there yet?”
“Almost!” Mrs. Johnson said in a joyful voice. She was always like that; she always looked on the bright side of everything.
“We're here!” Mr. Johnson said in his loud booming voice.
Fear rose inside of me as the huge dark ocean came into view. The house was grass-colored and tall. The green paint was peeling at the corners, and the house seemed like it was going to fall over. A warm summer breeze greeted me as I opened the car door. Abby ran out of the car like it was a race. Last year my old foster parents didn’t want me anymore. Just like the others, Until Mr. and Mrs. Johnson decided to be my foster parents until I graduated high school. I had never been to the beach before and when Mr and Mrs Johnson's daughter, Abby, heard that she insisted we go. I didn’t want to tell them that I was afraid and I didn’t want to disappoint them. After all, I knew this was temporary. I don’t know what it is, maybe the ocean, maybe the trip but I had a feeling that this would be the last day things would be this way.
Abby shoved her luggage into Mr. Johnson’s hands, then bolted up the creaky wooden stairs.
“I’ll take your luggage kiddo!’’ Mr. Johnson said with a smile too big for his face.
“No thanks. I got it Mr johnson.” I said as I lugged my suitcase up the creaky stairs. In the corner of my ocean eyes, I saw a sad glimpse in his eyes. I reminded myself this was temporary then lifted my suitcase up the last stair. I walked into the blue room. The room had a yellow carpet and seashell patterned curtains. I crashed onto the tiny bed and drifted off to sleep.
“Hey Elena, we’re going to the beach, wanna come?” asked Mrs. Johnson.
“I think I’m just gonna sleep, the car ride was long,” I said. I tried my best to cover up my fear of the mountains of deadly alive waves ready to swallow me whole.
“Okay well just walk down the path if you change your mind,” Mrs. Johnson said as she walked away. Abby followed Mrs. Johnson in her flamingo pink bathing suit. Abby had bright purple goggles on and a huge floppy hat too big for her tiny head. I watched as Mr. and Mrs. Johnson held Abby’s hands as they skipped toward the beach. I knew better than to get close with them even if I wanted to. I would only be disappointed. I let my eyes close and soon I was back in a safe world of dreams where nobody would leave me or hurt me. RATTLE, CRASH, BOOM! I jolted up from my bed. I thought I just heard shaking and crashing. I waited for it to start again but it didn't. I must have been dreaming. I rolled out of bed and brushed my dark brown hair. So different from my foster family. They all had hair as red as fire and mine was as dark as chocolate. BOOM RATTLE! This time I knew I was not dreaming. My stomach jumped to my throat as I fell to the bright yellow carpet. I ran to the window but when I saw it I stopped. It was huge. It was dark. It was coming right toward the beach.
“Tsunami!!!” Distant voices cried. Screams of fear echoed through the air as people sprinted for their lives. I tried to run but my body wouldn't budge, I was frozen with fear. That was when I saw the darkness take Abby. I pushed the picture of the terrifying waves to the back of my mind and ran. The ocean was not going to take Abby. “NOT MY SISTER!!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. The water covered the whole beach and where there used to be land there was water. I Knew What I was going to do was risky but I had to. I had to save the only people who thought of me as family. I jumped into the water. The frigid water took my fears away and I swam as fast as I could even though the current was guiding me out and farther away from Abby. Abby’s little hands were pedaling her and just barely keeping her out of the water. I need to save her.
“Abby take my hand!!” I screamed through the thunder of the fierce current pulling me further away from land. Abby’s tiny hand reached toward mine and finally, her little warm hand was in mine.
“Come on,” I told Abby as we started climbing the rocks, “we're almost there!” I grabbed the rocks then lifted myself up onto them. I grabbed Abby’s hand and pulled her up. My whole body ached as I laid on the drenched rock. My body shivered and my teeth chattered. A salty lake filled my eyes as I looked up at the dark sky and water that surrounded us. Just then, a buzzing sound filled the salty air. I looked up and my heart filled with joy. All the worry and fear seeped out of me. Help came.
The ladder dropped from the helicopter. I heaved my exhausted body up the ladder. Me and Abby got onto the helicopter, and when we did I almost cried out in happiness when I saw them.
“Mom, Dad!!” Abby shouted as she ran into her parent’s arms.
“Elena, are you okay?!” Mrs. Johnson exclaimed as she pulled Abby close to her. That was when everything all happened at once I broke down and an ocean of tears went down my rosy cheeks. I sobbed as Mrs. Johnson pulled me close to her.
“I’m sorry,” I said through my tears as I pulled away from the warm hug I have never gotten before.
“Hey Elena, how would you like to be a part of this family forever?” Mrs. Johnson said as she smiled down at me with her bright blue eyes that were filled with love and joy.
“Okay, mom.'' I said through my sobs, I finally felt like I could let all the tears fall that I have been pooling up in my heart for the past fourteen years. This was my family.
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