“Dad,” I groaned, exasperated, for the tenth-or-so time. “Dad, what’s the point? They’re just myths. You don’t really have to go to the Bermuda Triangle.”
Dad at the front of the helicopter, as the pilot, didn’t say anything at first. Then, he asked gently, “Eileen, honey, I told you, if you’re scared, you didn’t have to come.”
I almost exploded with anger. “I am NOT scared! But to actually WANT to go to the Bermuda Triangle, that’s just…just…idiotic!”
I froze, afraid my furious rant had crossed the line. Dad definitely looked hurt, but he didn’t say anything. Ashamed, but also childishly stubborn, I didn’t apologize; I just stared out the window of the helicopter. I was sorry, and my dad’s eccentric nature had scared many people away, including my mother, but I really couldn’t stand it sometimes, the way he spoke to me as if I were always so scared. But I still couldn’t believe he was crazy enough to actually fly us to the wretched, cursed place.
I forced myself to concentrate on the scenery outside, even though it was plenty dull; only clouds that only allowed an occasional ray of sunlight peek through. Though it was one of the most boring activities in the world, I continued because I didn’t wan to opposing voices in my head to begin fighting again. One wanted me to apologize, and the other wanted the first to keep her mouth shut. Suddenly, I felt the atmosphere change. The weather had not changed (it was still bleak and dreary), but it was as if an evil force was squeezing the air out of me.
“Dad,” I gasped. He nodded his head in assent, his eyes fearful in the rear view mirror.
All of a sudden, the plane groaned, like in pain, and emitted an ear splitting screech. I wanted to scream out for help; for somebody, God, maybe, to come save us, but everything went black.
--------------------------------------------------------------
It was all just a dream, I chanted to myself. I almost believed it, except that my arm stung with eye-watering pain. I forced my eyes open to a brightly-lit, sunshine-filled room. There were flowers decorating the windowsills, and an ornate mural hung on the wall opposite me. I was lying a simple, white bed and my dad was sitting up next to me, examining his leg tenderly. He winced as he prodded, not seeming to notice that I was awake.
Suddenly, the door opened, and I jumped, jostling my arm ever so slightly, but a moan of pain still escaped me. Then, a brown-haired woman entered the room. She was wearing a white, flowing dress that made her look very elegant and graceful. Her eyes were dark and knowing. She smiled at us.
“Ah, I see you’re both awake,” she said. The, upon seeing me grimace because of the pain in my arm, her expression became very concerned. She stepped towards me and handed me a vial of some liquid that was clear. I noticed my dad was staring at the room in wonder, like I had. “Drink this; it’ll make you feel better.”
She smiled encouragingly at me. For some reason, I didn’t question her. I took the vial and rank it all. At once, I began to feel woozy. “By the way,” I heard the woman say, “I’m Amelia. Amelia Earhart.”
--------------------------------------------------------------
I lived the next few weeks in a daze. I didn’t know if it was a dream, but it sure felt like it was. I didn’t have to sleep, the food was absolutely mouth-watering, and by the second day, my arm was completely back to normal. I befriended a girl named Sarah; she had had memory loss, and remembered nothing of her past, but the place we were at now had certainly cured her. I didn’t know what to think after meeting Amelia Earhart (The legendary Amelia Earhart). Sarah told me that here in this perfect world, nobody aged, the trees that bore fruit were always fruitful, and nobody ever got hurt. But one, and only one person had ever left – or disappeared. His name was Nate, and nobody ever saw him again. After Sarah had told me this, I began to wonder, why had he left? Why did he want to leave this perfect world? It was only after a few weeks there that I began to understand. It was because it was not perfect. The people there were all supposed to have died. Nate must have thought it, this magic, was too abnormal. Once I realized that, the world’s magic slipped off of me like a snake shedding its old skin. I no longer felt contented, the food began to taste stale and bitter, and my head hurt often. I had to leave. That was my only thought as I stumbled through the nightmarish dream. I devised plans, to run away, but the world was too vast. I could not run. I could not hide. But I could hide, I realized, from life. I could escape. To death.
2009年3月30日星期一
2008年4月1日星期二
The Furious Larry--THE ADVENTURES OF CHICKIE AND MICKIE I
Once upon a time there lived, in a farm, two best friends named Chickie the chick and Mickie the horse a.k.a., C&M. This farm is called Mike’s Magical farm. The two friends had many things in common and many things that differed. For example, they were both unusual amongst chickens and horses owing to the fact that they were both orange, whereas Chickie loved it, Mickie hated it (mainly because he had an ex-girlfriend who didn’t go out with him because of it). While Chickie had a foot like “a peace sign without the circle”, as his mother put it, Mickie’s was heart shaped But the most unusual thing they had in common was that they could talk, though they hid it very well…
One beautiful, bright morning, on a cool summer day the two friends woke up with a start as angry voices drifted their way.
“Oh, no, I am not selling that unusual pair, Chickie and Mickie and you know very well Larry oh you know so very well”, which was recognized at once as the hard-working farmer, Mike, also the owner of Mike’s Magical farm. “Even for $200,000!”
“Oh, really?!” demanded the furious Larry who was Mike’s impatient, hard faced cousin who had brown hair. He was the only person (apart from Mike) who knew their “secret”.
“Yes, really! I’ve raised them since they were babies!”
They heard quickening footsteps and very loud voices.
“I’ll give you one last chance, and it’s final! $300, 000, for both of them! Take it or you’ll be sorry!”
C&M both groaned silently, but they needn’t to; Mike wasn’t going to give in so easily, like he said.
“Nope, not even if you pay a million dollars, NO! Now go away; I need to feed the animals. And stop bugging me! You’re trespassing, you are!” Mike retorted gruffly, thick with annoyance. The door burst open, and a stream of light made its way in.
Mike stomped in, his face as red as a beet. Forgetting to say “hi” to them, and not seeming to be aware they were there, he looked like an angry zombie. He accidentally treaded on Mickie’s orange tail. Only when Mickie neighed indignantly did he notice them.
“Oh, morning, troops” he said in a “would be a falsely cheery voice if was without the almost surprised tone.”
Then he just kept muttering about Larry trespassing and nosing in other people’s business, until Chickie interrupted him.
“Uh, Mike, could you please give us some breakfast?” Chickie asked timidly, in his usual, squeaky voice.
“Huh? Oh yeah, sure.”
Mike served them breakfast in a clumsy manner. His lousy manner served for the rest of the afternoon.
But Mike didn’t know that Larry meant what he said, although he trusted Larry about as much as a slug could jump.
At precisely that moment, he was thinking of the best way to steal C&M. Then, after he had succeeded, he, Larry Lourdes, would be rich! First, he would sell his factory, Leaky Laundries he could put on shows with towering prices! He rubbed his hands together in anticipation and smiled devilishly. In the end, he decided to think about that later.
About at 9:00p.m, a dirty, grimy, black Ford pulled up the drive of Mike’s Magical farm. Two men dressed in pitch black suits opened the front doors. The driver gave the other man a net, a crate, and a thumbs up. The man slipped off into the darkness, sly as a fox, his feet hardly making a sound. Soon, there was a muffled shriek, and a neigh, hardly heard by anyone.
“Breakfast time, you lazy louses!” joked Mike the next day, feeling extremely refreshed after a nice sleep. Now he just felt a little bit worried because he usually would hear a sleepy yawn and a chirp. But today he heard only silence, an eerie silence that was broken by the barn door creaking open and his bewildered gasp.
The barn was completely devoid of the two friends. Mike ran to call the police. Then, a memory stirred in his mind. ‘You’ll be sorry!’ Larry’s face burst clearly in his mind…
30 minutes later, Mike arrived at Leaky Laundries. He quickly parked his car and rushed to all the half windows, which led to the dungeons, the only rooms in Leaky Laundries that the doors could be locked,-but the windows couldn’t!
Mike finally saw them. They were in room 5. They were locked in a large cage with a
What can I do? , thought Mike frantically. Call the police!
Forgetting that someone might see the open window, he rushed to his car.
Meanwhile, Chickie and Mickie were trying to undo the lock, so they could get out to safety.
“Hey, what a weird shape!” whispered Chickie. “Like a peace sign without the circle!”
Like a peace sign without the circle… Like a peace sign without the circle…a memory stirred in Mickie’s mind…
“Chickie! Your foot!” cried Mickie triumphly “It can undo the lock!”
Shaking with excitement, Chickie put his foot through the keyhole. He turned it. Click! The door opened. They were out!
They heard nearing footsteps and a distant clock chiming 12:00.They got out quickly and hid in the closet.
The door to room 5 opened and closed quickly.
“What?” cried a voice they recognized as Larry’s. “I can’t believe it.”
They heard him muttering,
“One of the workers must have taken them to the other cage”
After they thought it was safe, they walked out and stood on the cage and climbed out the open window…
After Mike had phoned the police, they came almost immediately, owing to the fact that they were 3 blocks away.
The sirens and a clip-clopping noise filled the air.
Wait thought Mike, a clip-clopping noise? He spun around and found himself face-to-face with-
“Chickie and Mickie!” cried Mike happily.
Then without another word, he through his arms around Mickie while Chickie chirped happily on his head.
Soon, after the police had come and Mike showed them the evidence that C&M were his and how they had escaped, and Larry was sent to jail, they were finally safe.
At least, for a while…
One beautiful, bright morning, on a cool summer day the two friends woke up with a start as angry voices drifted their way.
“Oh, no, I am not selling that unusual pair, Chickie and Mickie and you know very well Larry oh you know so very well”, which was recognized at once as the hard-working farmer, Mike, also the owner of Mike’s Magical farm. “Even for $200,000!”
“Oh, really?!” demanded the furious Larry who was Mike’s impatient, hard faced cousin who had brown hair. He was the only person (apart from Mike) who knew their “secret”.
“Yes, really! I’ve raised them since they were babies!”
They heard quickening footsteps and very loud voices.
“I’ll give you one last chance, and it’s final! $300, 000, for both of them! Take it or you’ll be sorry!”
C&M both groaned silently, but they needn’t to; Mike wasn’t going to give in so easily, like he said.
“Nope, not even if you pay a million dollars, NO! Now go away; I need to feed the animals. And stop bugging me! You’re trespassing, you are!” Mike retorted gruffly, thick with annoyance. The door burst open, and a stream of light made its way in.
Mike stomped in, his face as red as a beet. Forgetting to say “hi” to them, and not seeming to be aware they were there, he looked like an angry zombie. He accidentally treaded on Mickie’s orange tail. Only when Mickie neighed indignantly did he notice them.
“Oh, morning, troops” he said in a “would be a falsely cheery voice if was without the almost surprised tone.”
Then he just kept muttering about Larry trespassing and nosing in other people’s business, until Chickie interrupted him.
“Uh, Mike, could you please give us some breakfast?” Chickie asked timidly, in his usual, squeaky voice.
“Huh? Oh yeah, sure.”
Mike served them breakfast in a clumsy manner. His lousy manner served for the rest of the afternoon.
But Mike didn’t know that Larry meant what he said, although he trusted Larry about as much as a slug could jump.
At precisely that moment, he was thinking of the best way to steal C&M. Then, after he had succeeded, he, Larry Lourdes, would be rich! First, he would sell his factory, Leaky Laundries he could put on shows with towering prices! He rubbed his hands together in anticipation and smiled devilishly. In the end, he decided to think about that later.
About at 9:00p.m, a dirty, grimy, black Ford pulled up the drive of Mike’s Magical farm. Two men dressed in pitch black suits opened the front doors. The driver gave the other man a net, a crate, and a thumbs up. The man slipped off into the darkness, sly as a fox, his feet hardly making a sound. Soon, there was a muffled shriek, and a neigh, hardly heard by anyone.
“Breakfast time, you lazy louses!” joked Mike the next day, feeling extremely refreshed after a nice sleep. Now he just felt a little bit worried because he usually would hear a sleepy yawn and a chirp. But today he heard only silence, an eerie silence that was broken by the barn door creaking open and his bewildered gasp.
The barn was completely devoid of the two friends. Mike ran to call the police. Then, a memory stirred in his mind. ‘You’ll be sorry!’ Larry’s face burst clearly in his mind…
30 minutes later, Mike arrived at Leaky Laundries. He quickly parked his car and rushed to all the half windows, which led to the dungeons, the only rooms in Leaky Laundries that the doors could be locked,-but the windows couldn’t!
Mike finally saw them. They were in room 5. They were locked in a large cage with a
What can I do? , thought Mike frantically. Call the police!
Forgetting that someone might see the open window, he rushed to his car.
Meanwhile, Chickie and Mickie were trying to undo the lock, so they could get out to safety.
“Hey, what a weird shape!” whispered Chickie. “Like a peace sign without the circle!”
Like a peace sign without the circle… Like a peace sign without the circle…a memory stirred in Mickie’s mind…
“Chickie! Your foot!” cried Mickie triumphly “It can undo the lock!”
Shaking with excitement, Chickie put his foot through the keyhole. He turned it. Click! The door opened. They were out!
They heard nearing footsteps and a distant clock chiming 12:00.They got out quickly and hid in the closet.
The door to room 5 opened and closed quickly.
“What?” cried a voice they recognized as Larry’s. “I can’t believe it.”
They heard him muttering,
“One of the workers must have taken them to the other cage”
After they thought it was safe, they walked out and stood on the cage and climbed out the open window…
After Mike had phoned the police, they came almost immediately, owing to the fact that they were 3 blocks away.
The sirens and a clip-clopping noise filled the air.
Wait thought Mike, a clip-clopping noise? He spun around and found himself face-to-face with-
“Chickie and Mickie!” cried Mike happily.
Then without another word, he through his arms around Mickie while Chickie chirped happily on his head.
Soon, after the police had come and Mike showed them the evidence that C&M were his and how they had escaped, and Larry was sent to jail, they were finally safe.
At least, for a while…
Picking Cherries
Going to pick cherries is very fun. That’s what we did in mid July, when we were going camping in Okanogan near that place, so we decided to go there.
My parents and I went to 2 farms. At both, the trees were so tall that we had to climb big ladders to get the best cherries; a man who worked at one farm said the trees were almost 60 years old!
At the first farm, we climbed old, but sturdy, wooden ladders to get fat, purple cherries. My mom is kind of afraid of heights, so she hesitated to pick the cherries with us at first, but then she saw me and dad eating the big, fat cherries so she got envious and overcame her fear. In total, at that farm, we picked about ½ buckets of cherries.
At the 2nd farm, there were some new metal ladders, but mostly old wobbly ones that were uncomfortable to stand on. I stood on one and it made me feel so nervous! But there were lots of cherries. There were even some branches that were covered in cherries!
We picked a bit over a bucket of cherries. A man who worked there had a funny accent that sounded a bit like Hagrid (in Harry Potter).
If we ever go camping in Okanogan, picking cherries will be something that I’ll look for ward to.
My parents and I went to 2 farms. At both, the trees were so tall that we had to climb big ladders to get the best cherries; a man who worked at one farm said the trees were almost 60 years old!
At the first farm, we climbed old, but sturdy, wooden ladders to get fat, purple cherries. My mom is kind of afraid of heights, so she hesitated to pick the cherries with us at first, but then she saw me and dad eating the big, fat cherries so she got envious and overcame her fear. In total, at that farm, we picked about ½ buckets of cherries.
At the 2nd farm, there were some new metal ladders, but mostly old wobbly ones that were uncomfortable to stand on. I stood on one and it made me feel so nervous! But there were lots of cherries. There were even some branches that were covered in cherries!
We picked a bit over a bucket of cherries. A man who worked there had a funny accent that sounded a bit like Hagrid (in Harry Potter).
If we ever go camping in Okanogan, picking cherries will be something that I’ll look for ward to.
Loss of Hope, Gain of Freedom
In this story, we have created a fictional tale of the African slaves escaping from America to Canada through an underground railroad. This story is based on true facts before the Civil War began and slavery ended.
In the beginning of the story, we have a normal African family eating a meal. Suddenly, a drum starts beating a warning that tells Africans “White men are coming! Run!” The African family raced to the forest as the white men chases and captures them.
They are dragged onto a ship and sailed to an auction. The auctioneer sells them and different people buy them. Since the main character is the African father, we act out his new family in America. He is brought to a rich, but mean household with two daughters. He is tortured by having to pick tabbacco in the scorching sun. One of the slaves tells everyone about an underground railroad leading to Canada, where they can live in peace. Unfortunately, the owner’s daughters spied on them and told their parents about it.
Disturbed by the eerie night sounds of the forest, the owners leave in search of their escaping slaves. As they run to find out what the spooky sounds are, one by one the slaves escape. Sadly, an old slave named George loses his balance and falls, causing a loud noise. His owners find and kill him. Fortunately, all the other slaves escape successfully to Canada, never to be slaves again.
Today, Africans are scattered all throughout North America and are no longer slaves. Now, they are treated just like any other person.
We worked very hard to create this story and to act it out. Of course, we all owe this to our wonderful teachers: Sarah, Josh, and Kelsey. And to our terrific parents sending us here to Gateway academy! We hope you liked our show and come again!
In the beginning of the story, we have a normal African family eating a meal. Suddenly, a drum starts beating a warning that tells Africans “White men are coming! Run!” The African family raced to the forest as the white men chases and captures them.
They are dragged onto a ship and sailed to an auction. The auctioneer sells them and different people buy them. Since the main character is the African father, we act out his new family in America. He is brought to a rich, but mean household with two daughters. He is tortured by having to pick tabbacco in the scorching sun. One of the slaves tells everyone about an underground railroad leading to Canada, where they can live in peace. Unfortunately, the owner’s daughters spied on them and told their parents about it.
Disturbed by the eerie night sounds of the forest, the owners leave in search of their escaping slaves. As they run to find out what the spooky sounds are, one by one the slaves escape. Sadly, an old slave named George loses his balance and falls, causing a loud noise. His owners find and kill him. Fortunately, all the other slaves escape successfully to Canada, never to be slaves again.
Today, Africans are scattered all throughout North America and are no longer slaves. Now, they are treated just like any other person.
We worked very hard to create this story and to act it out. Of course, we all owe this to our wonderful teachers: Sarah, Josh, and Kelsey. And to our terrific parents sending us here to Gateway academy! We hope you liked our show and come again!
2008年3月26日星期三
Marie, the meat-eater
Marie Pockington was a meat-eater. She loved all kinds of meat, especially roasted chicken.
One day, while Marie was throwing her lettuce from her sandwich in her lunch bag to the bunnies, Marie saw a distant glowing object. She watched in both amazement and fear as the shape moved towards her. Suddenly, the shape turned into a beautiful, roasted chicken. Marie ran up to it, and tried to grab it. Magically, it disappeared! Then it turned into a gorgeous woman with bird-like, feathery wings.
“Marie, my child, you are chosen!” she whispered mysteriously, “you are chosen to be the meat-eater!”
Marie jumped back, terrified. The woman kept on approaching her.
“I am the ghost of the bacon you last ate!” the ghost cried loudly. It sauntered towards Marie, and Marie stepped back, horrified.
“If this is a prank,” Marie shouted shakily, “I…I’ll call the police!”
The ghost laughed, making chills of fear go up Marie’s back.
“The police won’t see me, child. You are scared. You’re not thinking properly.”
Marie couldn’t hold it back any longer. She ran. At least, she tried to. With her legs trembling like jelly and fear tingling up her neck, she was no match for the ghost. The ghost grabbed her and tucked her under her feathery dress. Then, Marie fainted…
Marie woke up and found herself in a room with a million lights. She was lying on a white carpet with a white blanket and a white pillow. She sat up.
Blinded with light, Marie squinted and could just make out the outline of the bright ghost. Where am I? Marie wondered. As if reading her mind, the ghost replied.
“You are in the house of all the animals you ate. Most of my relatives and my friends are here. My child, you must help us to get out of this jail house!” she screeched. Suddenly, all the ghosts appeared. Marie was so scared, she fell to the floor, body shaking crazily.
“We can send you back in time,” whispered a ghost with a pink snout and a curly little tail. “We can send you to last month when you and your mom were shopping for canned foods.”
“You mean you want me to change the past?” she gulped. She had finally realized what the ghosts were asking her to do.
“Yes, precisely, ” answered another ghost. “We want you to turn into a vegetarian.” The other ghosts formed a large circle surrounding her and started hovering around her, singing “Vegetarian, vegetarian!” in a haunting tune. Oh my God! Marie thought. She started to cry. The ghosts stopped singing.
“So will you?” asked the woman ghost. Marie hesitated and bit her lip.
“Yes, I will.” She stammered. The ghosts smiled.
“We will let you travel back in time.” said a ghost, and smiled mysteriously. Suddenly, the room was blinded with a green light. Marie found herself in a room with shelves of Campbells’ canned food.
“…and the meat costs too much …” her mother was complaining. “$5 per can! Imagine! That’s 150 dollars a month!”
“Mother, it’s okay,” interrupted Marie. “I’ll take the veggie can. It’s only 20 cents per can.” Her mother looked at her, surprised…
As they were driving home, they passed a white house with white curtains and a white roof. A woman peeked out the door, she was wearing white and had feathery wings. She smiled at Marie and Marie smiled back. They waved and the woman disappeared…
One day, while Marie was throwing her lettuce from her sandwich in her lunch bag to the bunnies, Marie saw a distant glowing object. She watched in both amazement and fear as the shape moved towards her. Suddenly, the shape turned into a beautiful, roasted chicken. Marie ran up to it, and tried to grab it. Magically, it disappeared! Then it turned into a gorgeous woman with bird-like, feathery wings.
“Marie, my child, you are chosen!” she whispered mysteriously, “you are chosen to be the meat-eater!”
Marie jumped back, terrified. The woman kept on approaching her.
“I am the ghost of the bacon you last ate!” the ghost cried loudly. It sauntered towards Marie, and Marie stepped back, horrified.
“If this is a prank,” Marie shouted shakily, “I…I’ll call the police!”
The ghost laughed, making chills of fear go up Marie’s back.
“The police won’t see me, child. You are scared. You’re not thinking properly.”
Marie couldn’t hold it back any longer. She ran. At least, she tried to. With her legs trembling like jelly and fear tingling up her neck, she was no match for the ghost. The ghost grabbed her and tucked her under her feathery dress. Then, Marie fainted…
Marie woke up and found herself in a room with a million lights. She was lying on a white carpet with a white blanket and a white pillow. She sat up.
Blinded with light, Marie squinted and could just make out the outline of the bright ghost. Where am I? Marie wondered. As if reading her mind, the ghost replied.
“You are in the house of all the animals you ate. Most of my relatives and my friends are here. My child, you must help us to get out of this jail house!” she screeched. Suddenly, all the ghosts appeared. Marie was so scared, she fell to the floor, body shaking crazily.
“We can send you back in time,” whispered a ghost with a pink snout and a curly little tail. “We can send you to last month when you and your mom were shopping for canned foods.”
“You mean you want me to change the past?” she gulped. She had finally realized what the ghosts were asking her to do.
“Yes, precisely, ” answered another ghost. “We want you to turn into a vegetarian.” The other ghosts formed a large circle surrounding her and started hovering around her, singing “Vegetarian, vegetarian!” in a haunting tune. Oh my God! Marie thought. She started to cry. The ghosts stopped singing.
“So will you?” asked the woman ghost. Marie hesitated and bit her lip.
“Yes, I will.” She stammered. The ghosts smiled.
“We will let you travel back in time.” said a ghost, and smiled mysteriously. Suddenly, the room was blinded with a green light. Marie found herself in a room with shelves of Campbells’ canned food.
“…and the meat costs too much …” her mother was complaining. “$5 per can! Imagine! That’s 150 dollars a month!”
“Mother, it’s okay,” interrupted Marie. “I’ll take the veggie can. It’s only 20 cents per can.” Her mother looked at her, surprised…
As they were driving home, they passed a white house with white curtains and a white roof. A woman peeked out the door, she was wearing white and had feathery wings. She smiled at Marie and Marie smiled back. They waved and the woman disappeared…
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