“Abby, Abby get up, get up” My younger sister, Kate, squealed while bouncing up and down. I shot up out of my warm sleeping bag to feel a rush of fresh morning air surround me. “What do you want, it’s so early. It barley even light out you know.” I whined as I rubbed my half open eyes. The birds started chirping as we talked. “You’ve got to get up! We’re going to go swimming at the lake!” Kate exclaimed. She ran out the front of the tent to wake the others. My twin, who had been sharing the tent with me, was already up and at the bathroom. Feeling as heavy as a rock, I forced myself to stand up and start to get my stuff together. I picked out my pale teal bathing suit, my favorite shorts, and bubble gum pink tank top. After changing into my chosen outfit I slipped on the flip flops by the door, grabbed my toothbrush and tooth paste, and headed out the door. Ziip, I heard while closing the zipper of the tent. I hustled over to the crusty bathrooms to meet my twin, Megan. “Good m-“A glob of white toothpaste dropped from her mouth. “Well good morning to you too!” I chuckled. I brushed my teeth and rinsed my mouth out in the ice cold faucet water. Lifting my head to the mirror I realized that my hair looked like a birds nest. As quickly as I could I twirled my hair into a lose top not on my head, that’s better, I thought. Exiting the dirty, shadowy restroom my sister and I stepped into the glow of the warm sun which seemed as if it was smiling at us. “Looks like a
That woke me up completely. I check my cell phone and see I am already ten minutes late. I hurry to my closet and reach for a pair of black yoga pants and a pink shirt. I grab my ballet shoes and race out of the room Amy and I share.
"Daddy!!!" My screams echo around the house. That one simple word sent my brother running. Getting changed is too hard, PJ day it is! Stuffing the change of clothes I had out, I grab my blue paint splattered backpack. "To the car." With my backpack on and pillow and blanket in hand, I sit my bottom on the top stair and slide down.
I awake to a gentle shaking and the continual whisper of my name, coated in a tone of urgency. My body is slow to respond as my mind races but, finally, I convince my mouth to work and spill out, “What’s wrong?” not-so-well-shielded from worry as I espy the young camper who is barely tall enough to peer over the edge of my sleeping bag. With a look of embarrassment, the girl responds, “I wet the bed.”
I woke up to the sun shining on my face. Don't you just hate it when you wake up? I look at my clock and it read 6:40. *Sigh* I get up and change out of my Batman jamies. Lazily, I proceeded to do all the necessary things one must do in the morning. When walking down the stairs I almost trip. "Yikes, that was close," I said as if I dodged a bullet.
“Hello children.” His voice was like ice. “I hope you’ve been welcoming to Annalisa here. Explain to her the rules. Bed in half an hour.” He turned on his heels and walked out, slamming the door behind him. I heard all six of the locks click.
“Ana… Ana wake up. Wake up!” Izzy shouted; shaking Ana roughly. “What … what time is it?” Ana moaned. She was annoyed she had been woken up in the middle of a good dream. “It’s eleven o’ clock; we must have been exhausted last night.” Ana jumped out of bed and ran to take a quick a
ready. I always had to count to three to get out of bed I never was able to just jump out of bed. Finally I got up and realized it was a lot colder than when I was under my silky smooth sheets and electric blanket. I quickly ran to the shower and jumped in. It felt so nice and warm I didn't ever want to get out but I knew that I would be late if I didn't. I got out and got dressed quickly to trap in as much heat as I could. I headed downstairs to start making breakfast. I looked in the freezer for some waffles but there weren't any in there. “Crap!” I exclaimed.
Rolling my eyes, I bent down and zipped up my backpack before slinging it over my shoulders. I walked over to my mom and gave her a kiss on the cheek which she returned quickly. She smelt like she always did - cappuccinos and cherry blossom shampoo. A strange combination, I’ll admit that. But it reminded me of the comforts of home. Of family. Of dad…
“What do you want it is 8:00 AM,” Monk exclaimed lazily with his head resting against the door frame. “I don’t want you to sit out there in the cold breezy morning, come on I’ll pour you some coffee.”
Their room on the ship was very nice. There were two bunk beds for the kids and a bathroom to share. The other room was a master with a huge bathroom. “Mom does your bathroom have a hot tub?” Billy asked as Nora started pointing to the large bath that looked like a swimming pool to her. “No that’s called a jacuzzi. Now hop on a bed and start to unpack.” Mom said as they got settled.
In October, the children must walk to school in the rain and mud and are splashed by the vindictive driver of the white school's bus. (The black school cannot afford a bus because the county does not give it enough money.) One day, after being forced off the road into a muddy ditch, Stacey leads his siblings in digging a trench across the road at lunchtime to make it look like the road has washed out. After school, they watch from the forest as the bus drives into the ditch, breaking its axle, flooding its engine, and leaving the white students without a bus for two weeks.
As the other house members snored she slowly rose to her bare feet, her nightwear, which was a simple baggy shirt and some loose PJ pants, falling down her legs and swaying momentarily before moving with her own movements and not against them. She walked to the edge of her bed and kneeled down, reaching to pull out her hairbrush. She didn’t even stand up but instead quickly brushed the knots out of her platinum blonde hair, letting it curl on its own and become a natural messy, but cute, wave. She shoved
“I can’t just shamelessly ask Trisha to let me sleep there!” She blushed. “And I heard she has her boyfriend living with her there.” She flailed her arms, “I don’t want to sleep in the same house with a stranger… especially a guy.”
After Ms. Luella Bates Washington Jones shut the door, she went to sleep. When she woke up at 6 AM, She walked to work and just realized that she’s late.
“Ugh!” I said as I saw the morning sun rise and the light started to creep out of the blinds and fill the room with warmth.