Slice #9 of 31 March Challenge

The Rainy Day

The clouds hang dark and low.  The air is heavy.  The girl sits at the window and waits.  Wait...Wait...Wait...Wait...Wait, until finally she hears something.  Just a drop of water to pavement.  She sits bolt upright and jumps to her feet.  She pushes the door open and runs outside.  She greets the storm, smiling, spinning.  At first the water gently brushes her face but soon she is twirling in a downpour.  The wind sweeps back her hair.  It flows like a river of gold down her shoulders.  Thunder rumbles across the angry sky and lightning cracks.  The girl startles.  

I go to the door and call to her "Time to come in Maisie.

"

Slice #8 of 31 March Challenge

The Blank Page

I am stuck.  I don't know what to write about.  I have to come up with 31 different things to write about and I am already stuck.  My family makes suggestions but I don't know what to say.  I sip some ice water while I think.  It's funny how when your stuck you seem to notice everything around you.  Every noise and every little crack on the ceiling.  Your attention seems to dance across the river of your memories.  A blank page taunts you.  Suddenly an idea blossoms in my mind.  I begin to write.  Words begin to fill the page that once was blank.  I am no longer stuck.  

Slice #7 of 31 March Challenge

The Chairlift

My breath puffs like a cloud in the air.  I pull my neck warmer up higher so it covers my nose.  I race down the run.  I listen to the wind whistle past my ears.  I race down the run and turn into the lift line.  I sit on to the lift and shiver.  The snow blows into my face.  It is coming down so fast that it feels like ice.  It stings my cheeks.  The snowflakes land on my black gloves.  The contrast allows me to see the perfect form of the snowflakes.  They are beautiful. 

Slice #6 of 31 March Challenge

The Surfboard

I dragged the faded blue surfboard behind me into the waves.  Once I was out deep enough I got on.  I tried to remember everything the instructor said.  I dragged my hands through the water.  I saw a wave.  Paddle paddle paddle.  I grabbed the sides of the board and pushed up.  I stood up.  The board bounced underneath me.  I stretched out my arms and tried to keep my balance.  I rode the wave in for a little while before I fell.  It was exhilarating.  I dragged the board back out to where my dad was.  He tried to catch a wave and stood but then lost his balance and fell back down.  The waves started to get bigger.  I tried to catch one but fell as soon as I stood.  I was bringing my board out when my dad called, 

"Five more minutes!"

I paddled out.  I found a good wave and caught it.  I stood and I rode the wave all the way in to the shore.  It was the perfect way to end the surfing lesson.  

Slice #5 of 31 March Challenge

The Morning

"BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!"

"Just a minute."  

"COME ON." 

"HURRY!"

"QUICK!"

"YOU'LL MAKE US LATE!"

"GET DOWN HERE!!"

I run down and gulp down an energy bar so fast I almost choke. 

"Where is your sister?"

"How should I know?"

"YOU BETTER NOT MAKE US LATE!" my Mom yells up the stairs.  

I pour cold water down my throat.  Frost covers the ground in an icy blanket.  The door glides open.  I grab a fleece and zip it.  My breath puffs in the air and my footsteps crunch.  

"TIME TO GO!!!" my sister yells.

I race against my sister to the car but she wins.  Oh well I'm stuck in the middle seat.  Just another school morning. 

 

Slice #4 of 31 March challenge

Kindred by Octavia Butler

“I don’t have a name for the thing that happened to me, but I don’t feel safe any more.“

-Edana Franklin

26 year old Edana (Dana) Franklin is a black woman from the late 20th century.  She and her husband Kevin have just moved in together when she is suddenly transported back in time to the antebellum south in 1815 to save a small, red-haired boy named Rufus.  She quickly realizes that Rufus is her ancestor and so she continues to help him.  With slavery at every turn, her trips back in time become more and more dangerous Dana wonders whether her life will end before it can begin.  

This book is interesting but also intense.  This book contains crude language, torture, racism, and talks of sexual harassment.  I like that the author mixed historical fiction with science fiction.  I think the characters were well thought out and I liked that some were more mysterious.  I would reccomend this to grades six and up.

Slice #3 of 31 March Challenge

The Secret World

She could feel the current pulling her out deeper.  She could taste the salty spray as the waves crashed on the shore.  She could hear the water whisper its secrets to her, all but hidden under it's smooth surface.  She could see the wind paint the sky.  All of a sudden the girl dove.  She disappeared, melding with the water.  Her whole world came to life.  She saw rainbow fish dart away as she swam towards them and big black and yellow fish admired her from below.  An orange pufferfish glided by and revealed a huge sting ray.  When she came up she knew that she had seen a world no one else would.