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Friday, December 26, 2014

Christmas Story: Introduction, By Meggie K.





Introduction
Meggie K. 

Dear Diary,
Yesterday was Christmas. I got a guitar AND an art set! I’ve been asking for years for those 2! Then mom gave me one more present: this journal. She said it would be good if I could write down my feelings. She says I have anger problems, but really, I just need to vent. A lot. Anyway, this year was a really special Christmas. Now that Mom’s working 2 jobs, we all got what we wanted. Even Oliver! That beagle was so excited with his new bed and toys! And just seeing Jayla and Jericho and little Cara so happy that Santa came was the best Christmas gift for me. Almost. It wasn’t quite as good as the gift I got from an unlikely friend of the TRUE meaning of Christmas. I don’t know how I celebrated every year without knowing. It all started along with school in August…

Friday, September 5, 2014

The Awakening of Life: Chapter 1



                                  Chapter
                            1

By Megan H.

    “All you care about is yourself! Have you even thought about how I feel about this?” I wailed trying to understand why in the world my parents wanted to move half way across the country, “What about my friends?” I felt light headed.
“Cathy, it wasn’t our decision. Of course we thought of you,” my dad said patting my back. I couldn’t help leaning away a little, “We thought it best for you. You’ll make new friends.”
I rolled my eyes, “yeah, right before we move again.”
My mom sighed; I could tell all the moving was starting to wear her down too. 
“So, when are we moving to no man’s land,” I asked trying get an idea of how long I had to get ready.
 “Next Thursday,” my mom replied trying to smile, “we’re going to try to leave arou-“
But I cut her off, “Next Thursday! What are you thinking,” I said flailing my hands in the air, “That’s only eight days! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I tried to grasp the thought of losing the friends I had just recently made.
“Cathy Ann Pletcher! Don’t talk in that tone of voice to your mother,” my dad reprimanded, “We just found out ourselves this morning. “
I heard a sharp honk and grabbed my duffel bag, “I have to go. Don’t want to keep Bethany waiting.”
I went to leave without a hug, wave, or “I love you”. Stepping onto the front porch, I slammed the door behind me and skipped down the steps to the driveway.
As I climbed in my sister’s Porsche 914 she gave me a knowing smile, “Another argument?” she asked sympathetically.
“Yeah, only this time I had no chance of winning,” I said still trying to catch my breath, “It appears we are moving –again.”
“You’re kidding” she replied. I shook my head. “Why? Where are you moving to?”
“Oh you know, just one of those we have to, the government is relocating us kind of talks,” I said as my sister pulled out of the driveway, “We’re moving to the little old town of Augusta, Montana next Thursday.”
“Thursday, wow,” Bethany only shook head, “I’m so glad I was able to get a steady job and move out. Now I can live happily in one place for over a year.”
My dad, David O. Pletcher, was a secret agent of sorts. He never really had opened up to me as far as what he did. He has always kept it very secretive.  My mom, Susan M. Pletcher, and my dad used to be partners. That was how they had met. After they were married and my mom had Bethany, she quit so she could be home with her and later on, me. Since then the government keeps uprooting us and relocating the family to a safer place before assassins find where he lives. When all this is going on my dad thinks it’s a good idea -it keeps me safe.  When I was younger I always considered it adventurous but, as I got to my teen years I got tired of it rather quickly. We were moving to a new place less than a year after our last relocation.

“How much longer till we reach SCFG?” I said trying to break the silence.  I was in a swim competition that involved driving roughly 45 minutes from my home in Catskill, New York to SCFG, Swim Challenging for Girls, in Albany, New York.
“Only about 5 minutes,” Bethany replied glancing at her GPS attached to the dash. The GPS had a loud feminine, robotic voice and was named Martha. I thought giving a gender and name to a GPS went a little too far.
I grabbed my duffel bag unzipping it; making sure I had everything I needed. After pulling into the parking lot I realized I had forgotten my purse. Fortunately I had an extra ID card in my duffel bag for such occasions.
I glanced down at my watch as my sister tried to find a parking spot. The parking lot was crammed. It was the biggest and last swim race of the season, “drop me off at the entrance and meet me in the women’s room”.
She nodded and pulled around the large sign stating that the swim race was today. “It might take me long enough to find a spot that I will have to meet you after the race.”
“Okay, I guess I’ll see you when I see you,” I said grabbing my duffel bag as I opened the door. I smiled and shut the door behind me. My sister could not possibly know how nervous I was. I wished my parents were here with me, but, there was way too much work to do around the house to take a break and be at your daughter’s last swim race. The SCFG building was huge-triple the size of my 3 story house. What would the race matter after I moved anyway, I contemplated while I tried to make my way through the building trying to find the women’s locker room. Where I was going to live they probably wouldn’t even have a swim program.

I had finally found the women’s locker room. Once inside I took off my shoes and slipped on some flip-flops. I didn’t have much time to spare. It was 8:57 a.m., the race started at 9:00.

Friday, June 27, 2014

The Race of Life, By E. Kay



The Race of Life

By E. Kay

Chapter 1

            I thought that I was the only one running the race until I truly looked around. There were people running tons of twisting, intermingling, difficult courses, but there was only one starting line and one finish line. Then I understood why people would come running up, stay with me for a while, and then run away from me. When I looked back at my course, I saw that there was a blinking line for me to follow. As I ran, there were times I could hardly see it and I struggled to follow it. Other times, the line was as clear as day and the light from it was all I could see. Most times, the line was distinguishable, but you could see things that tempted you to abandon the race in pursuit of it.
            Many times I’ve run towards that thing. While the thing wasn’t bad in itself, it drew me away from my race. Each time I left my course, I met three groups of people. One were those who said that they were running, but they obviously weren’t. Another were those who knew that there was a race, knew they weren’t running, and didn’t care. The final group were those who didn’t even know there was a race. It shocked me to realize that I used to be in one of these groups. That I used to say I was running, but all that was running was my mouth. Every time this happened, I would sprint back to my designated course and run for the finish line.
            You, too, are in one of the four groups. Do you even know that there’s a race? Do you even care? The scariest group to be in is the one where you delude yourself and others into believing you are running. Or, are you honestly running as you would if you wanted first place?

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Chapter 2


            Life is a race and everyone is doing something. You are either running or are on the sidelines. There is a prize for those who run, but for those who don’t even enter the race, there is nothing but rejection. Entering the race costs you your life, but the price has already been paid for you. Your coach has paid with his life so that you could run. He just wants you to enter the race. He will teach you as you go. He teaches all of us.
            When I first started running, I had no idea how to. I tripped. I stumbled. I fell. But I understood what my coach had paid to get me in so I always got up and ran again. Along the way, he has guided me and taught me. There were times that I couldn’t hear him, but I pressed on and learned even more. It was worth it all when I heard his praise. It was what kept me running.
            You too can learn how to run. The price has been paid. All you have to do is accept that and run. Run for the finish line and all that lies in store for you there. You will mess up. You will leave the course. But what matters is that you remember the price your coach paid and keep running. Don’t give up, press on.

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Chapter 3

            There will be struggles as you run. Rocks will trip you, people will mock you, and you will doubt yourself. Don’t let any of that hinder you. I have fallen on my face many times before and yet I’m still running despite the laughter and scrapes. There is so much we have to learn and sometimes the best we can do is to learn from mistakes that have been made in the past. Trust your coach. He knows what’s best for you. He will teach you as you are avoiding rocks and he will teach you as you are on a smooth stretch. Learn from him and do as he says. I can’t tell you how many times he has helped me through a tough spot.
            You will have internal struggles as well as external. My worst one was if I was even worthy to run. Who was I and was I good enough to deserve the sacrifice that my coach had made for me? He told me who I was and strengthened me to carry on. Because of him and his sacrifice and love I am forgiven. I am set free. Loved, desired, worth the world to him. He told me who he intended me to be. An encourager to the hopeless, a friend to the friendless, a sister to those who are in him, an author to tell of his love, a girl who strengthens all who know her, a light in a dark world.
            You have a purpose too. You are forgiven and freed. Trust your coach through your struggles. Rely on him and he will help you through the rocky parts, the ridicule and the doubt. Lean on him and he will guide you and strengthen you and  help you see and fulfill your purpose.

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