16190_hackley

just watched movies, ate snacks, and slept. We landed, got our luggage, and got in the car. In the
car going back home, I asked my parents:

“When will we go on our next trip?”
“Not for a long time,” they replied.
I was sad because I wanted to see more places and explore different cultures. I convinced
my parents to allow our family to take an annual trip to different places. I also go on trips with
my mother during spring break.
This memory was very important and significant to me because it influenced my hobby to
travel. Through this experience, I saw parts of the world I had never seen before. I have always
been used to the city, polluted and full of skyscrapers. Going to the Maldives was very peaceful
and calming. I have since traveled across the world. I have no regrets of begging my parents to
let me travel. Here I am, having traveled to 29 different countries across North America, Europe,
Asia, and Oceania, yet to discover more!

Abigail Nager

“Last Chance”

“Change, change, change!”

A boy hopped onto the ice, and I stepped off, throwing my gloves down and squirting a

long stream of water into my mouth. I gasped for air between drinks.

I was in an ice rink, dubbed the ‘32 rink in honor of hosting the 1932 Olympics.

Although all the lights were turned on, the bleachers looming over the ice rink cast shadows on

the players. It was just as cold inside as out - Lake Placid was freezing in November. Up in the

stands, there was silence, save the occasional tired cheer. After a weekend of hockey, moms

were losing their voices. I breathed in and out, filling my lungs with the cool, crisp air that I

needed. Hockey was a tiring game, and by the second period, we all had crowns of sweat.

This was the final game of the CanAm Squirt AA. We were Ridgefield Squirt AA Lions,

and we were all super excited and nervous. We had made it to the coveted final game and

dressed in the U.S. team’s locker room - what more was there to dream of in our young hockey

centered lives? As I sat on the bench, my stomach swarming with butterflies (we were losing

3-2), I thought of what my defensive coach had told me before the game.

“Abigail,” he had said to me seriously, “make sure Henry doesn’t do anything stupid.”

He sighed. “I can trust you, right?”

I nodded seriously. Henry was my defensive partner. He was… temperamental

sometimes. I was pretty much the only one who could play with him, as the other defensemen

got sick of dealing with multiple opponents by themselves while Henry took his time getting

back and helping. Now, two periods in, I smiled. It was good to know my coach had faith in me.

I snapped out of my reverie as the horn honked. Coach Steve gathered us together.

“Guys, I want you to keep doing the same thing. It’s working great. We lost to them 5-3
before, but now we’re able to keep it almost even. It’s a one period game now. The third’s gonna
be the decider. Crash, crash, crash! What type of goals are the best?”

“Garbage goals,” we chorused. This was slang for a goal that was scored by jamming in
the rebound. Not a top-shelfer (ones that made highlight reels) but the most common goals.

“P​ ut the puck in the back of the net​ and we’ll win! We can do this, all right? 1, 2, 3,
Lions!”

We cheered and broke the huddle, skating out to center ice. Each of us looked our
enemies in the eyes, undaunted by our formidable opponents thanks to the words of our coach.

The third flashed by. There was less than two minutes left when the ref raised his arm and
blew his whistle. He pointed his arm at one of our wingers, Logan.

“Number 9 White, slashing. Two minutes,” he said.
“What? That’s a terrible call. Are you blind, ref?” another teammate, Bo, called. I
inwardly groaned. Bo had a fiery temper and an even hotter mouth, and the ref snapped - one too
many hours in the freezing rink with players, coaches, and parents alike judging his every move,
I guessed. He turned smartly back to the box.
“Seven, White. Two minutes,” he said through gritted teeth. Up in the stands, parents
couldn’t believe our coach would say something to the ref with two minutes left. No one
believed it was the kid in the box who mouthed off. What kid would do that at a time like this?
So now we were down five on three. We all were lost in the depths of despair. There was
no hope for us now. We had been this close - this close! We’d had a chance! But now… most of
the players were already speaking in past tense about the game.

“Timeout!” called Coach from the bench. He needed to talk to all of us.
“I want Henry on D. Ange and George are on offense,” he whispered urgently. George, I
could understand. He was easily the best player on our team. Angelo (we all called him Ange for
short) I also understood. Our star backchecker, he was the most hardworking. He definitely
deserved it. But Henry? If he was the best one among us, we were all totally reckless and off the
handle - even more so than Henry. After all our hard work on D - m​ y h​ ard work keeping Henry
in line, we were being delegated to the background while Henry was in the spotlight. Again. So
what if I was short? Did that mean I didn’t deserve it as much as he did? I sat down heavily on
the bench and slumped. Coach Dan crouched down beside me. He could tell that I was sulking.
“Guys,” he said gently, “coach Steve just wants a defenseman with a powerful clear and
shot. You’re not being punished.”
We remained unconvinced. I pushed my way past Coach Dan and stood to watch. On the
ice, Duxbury had control of the puck. We were struggling to fend them off. It wasn’t exactly an
encouraging sight, so I looked to our bench for support. No one was really paying attention,
instead focusing on their ‘if I were out there none of this would be happening’ thoughts. Maybe I
couldn’t be on the ice, but I could cheer for whomever was. They were all part of our team, our
little brotherhood built of trust and love of the game. Other people also had the same thought.
“Let’s go, Lions!” someone yelled - maybe one of the parents. Then someone else. Then
people began kicking the boards. Encouraged, everyone else also began pounding the boards. We
made such a racket that some of the more lethargic parents woke up. It even woke up those on
the ice. They played with more enthusiasm. Henry stole the puck, finally. Around me, half of the

bench was on their knees crying (“It’s over, he won’t make it, it’s too late”), and the other half
was on their knees praying (“Dear God, let him make it, let him make it in, please God, please,”).

On the ice, Henry decked around all five Duxbury players. Time for him to prove that he
was​ the one who could save us. Secretly, although it was petty and spiteful, I wished that he
wouldn’t score, even if it meant we didn’t have a chance at winning.

But I couldn’t help myself as my disgruntled expression melted off of my face. What if…
what if…​ I couldn’t finish the thought - I didn’t want to get my hopes up, only to have them
crushed again. I tried to look away, only to find that I couldn’t.

As he shot, I reminded myself silently, trying to calm myself, ​this is a ​game. I​ t’s not like
you’re going to die or something if we lose this.​ This time, the mantra did nothing to calm me
down. All jealousy forgotten, I stood. If he made this, we had another opportunity. We had
another chance to score, to win.

Time seemed to slow down just in that moment as I, along with everyone else on the
bench, leaned in to get closer to the ice and the play happening on it.

I blinked, not believing what I was seeing. I took off my glove and pushed my glasses
more firmly up my nose. It hadn’t… gone i​ n, ​had it?

“Yes!” Coach Steve cried. “Yes, yes, yes!” The bench exploded into chaos. Instant
pandemonium. I stumbled backward and sat down heavily on the bench. I checked the clock, still
unbelieving. 7.4 seconds. It was real. It was ​real.​ We had scored!

Overtime was hard, but we knew we had momentum on our sides. When we finally put
one in the back of the net, we jumped over the boards and onto Mason, our goalie, and threw off
helmets, gloves, and sticks. Even the coaches, smiling broadly, hobbled over to our dogpile.

Except for me. I didn’t jump over the boards. I opened the door, like a civilized person.
Gloves and helmets went flying. Faces streamed tears. In the stands, mothers and fathers
were rejoicing while Dragon fans stood sullenly to the side.The photographer appeared out of
nowhere, striding across the ice in his spiked boots.
“Medals,” he droned monotonously. That photographer could almost make one of the
most important events of our young hockey careers seem boring. Almost.
We lined up to receive them. Upon collecting them, we marveled at the fact that they
were gold, and they were ours. After photos were taken and my dad (one of the coaches) took
some too, we trooped into the locker room to get undressed.
Though it may not seem like such a big deal, I’ve embellished and protected that
memory. In tough times, I have the self-confidence to push through. I may cry, but I always wipe
away my tears and stand up. Why? Yes, we won, but it was more than that. It taught me that
sometimes you have to trust in your teammates to do their job and be proud of just being there as
a part of a whole. Be secure in the knowledge that you helped bring your team there, and know
that you’re just as good as everyone else. Whenever I’m having a bad day, I think of that game. I
remind myself that I’d stopped goals and made assists just like anyone else on the team. And
lastly, I take a deep breath, close my eyes, open them, and hold my head up high again, knowing
that whatever happens, I’m still a great hockey player!

John Pierre Ngbokoli

“Going to Basketball”

Have you ever had a hard decision to make? I have many, many, many times, but I want

to focus on the time I had the choice to go to basketball practice. It was 2018 and I was ten years

old.

One night my father, John asked me, “John Pierre, do you want to go to a basketball

clinic? It is for six days for two hours. It will be at this camp in Westchester.”

“ Do I have to play on a team?” I replied, knowing I had a decision to make.

Later on, when it was time to go to bed, I was thinking about basketball but ended up

ignoring it. I know that it was not such a big decision, but I sometimes find reasons to make a

small, little thing big. I feel like I always need to make a good decision. In my head I thought

maybe doing this would be pointless. Then I had never been to a basketball clinic so I got a little

nervous and anxious to give an answer.

What if they were all better than me and I couldn’t compete with them​? A​nd it may just

be boring and no fun at all, I​ thought to myself. The next morning I forgot about that choice to

go to the clinic.

My annoying little brother William told me, “I would go if I were you,” and put the

thought in my head which annoyed me and almost ruined my morning. On that day, my dad had

to go work for 24 hours because he is a firefighter.

When we got in the car, my dad caught me off guard by asking, “Are you going to

basketball, or no?” It was early in the morning and I was playing a game, so I wasn’t really

listening, so I said to him, “Yeah, yeah, I’ll go. I am a little busy right now so please be quiet.”

I was heading to my cousin’s house for the night. They lived up in Connecticut. My
cousins were nine and and three years old. I had made my decision.

When my dad had come to pick up my brother and me, he said to me, “The first practice
is in five days. Hopefully, you have fun.”

“What! I don’t want to go,” I said, trying not to scream.
“You’re kidding,” my dad replied, staring at me.
“Yes,” I said.
I didn’t know what to expect, and that night it was hard to fall asleep with all those
thoughts that were floating through my head.
I thought of things similar to the nights before. I didn’t want the camp to be pointless and
not help me. O​ kay,​ I thought to myself, ​on the bright side it might be fun and it will help me. I
may see a few of my friends and maybe make new ones, and I can learn more tricks and tips to
help my playing. I will never find out if I don’t take the risk.
That morning at about ten o'clock in the morning, we left to go to the giant camp for the
first practice. It looked as if it were a castle. I felt hot like I was sitting on a blazing stove in the
summer. I had butterflies violently fluttering in my stomach, my head was spinning which made
me dizzy, and an entire ocean of thought was splashing in my head. My heart was pounding so
loudly that I thought it echoed throughout the car. I wasn’t panicking or anything; I just wanted
to calm myself down by listening to the radio. That worked for like, two minutes.
“It will help you a lot. Maybe you’ll be as good as me. Actually, now that I think about it,
probably not,” William said.

“ Be quiet,” I replied to him, “I am and will always be better than you, William.” He
stuck his tongue out at me five seconds later.

The rest of the car ride was filled with an awkward silence that made me want to scream
to get some noise. By the time we got there, I calmed down, still kind of regretting my choice. I
was assuming the best outcome and staying positive. When we got there, I felt like running far
away from the building. When my dad, brother, and I walked inside, I could hear the bouncing of
balls loudly echoing through the large hallway. I slowly started to walk and I saw the kids in the
practice through the window. I walked through the door and the room opened to a colossal court.
Everyone in there was just dribbling and shooting baskets.

“Hello, I am John Pierre Ngbokoli,” I said to the coach.
“John Pierre Ngbokoli,” he replied. “Uh, okay go ahead and grab a ball to go warm up.”
The coach looked very nice and he made me feel good about my decision.I now had a feeling
that I was going to have a lot of fun.
Then I had almost no stamina whatsoever. We did a lot of running and I was tired after
half an hour. I felt like everyone was so much better than me. We did more complicated drills
than I usually do. I still feel like the coach should have started with the basics, and not make us
dribble through our legs and behind our backs. We did do a few passing drills, such as a five man
weave. That is when five people weave through each other while running and pass the ball. He
probably assumed we all knew and played basketball, so we didn’t do simple drills. It was hard
to keep up with everyone there since they were good, athletic and had better stamina than me.
Close to the end of the practice, I kind of gave up because it was hard for me. My dad and

brother were watching the end of the practice. They also thought his way of teaching wasn’t
good. We decided I wouldn’t go back.

Now I regret that decision of not going back because I didn’t give him a chance. Maybe
he just made us work hard on the first day and then planned to do the basic things the next. I
learned something from this experience. It taught me to not judge something when you first try
it, and to push yourself further. I did so and it just got easier and easier. It was so significant
because it was the first time I went to a basketball clinic. I am happy that I went and without
going I may not be where I am today.

Michaelangelo Pantanelli
“CPR Saved My Life”

CPR saved my life when nobody thought I was going to survive. Somehow I'm still alive
today with no problems. I sat on the large and white shiny boat and stared.

“What a nice view! I’m going to jump in the lake water!” I exclaimed.
I rolled on my belly on the swim platform and started laughing because of how I slipped
on it blindlessly, but suddenly I stopped laughing and talking and just stopped. There was a
moment of silence. I rolled very slowly in the water like a slug trying to get from one side of the
yard to another. A couple of minutes later, all of the people just stared at my bare body not
moving and just facing straight downwards towards the seafloor.
Everyone started saying, “Oh, look he’s playing dead.”
Everyone wanted me to hear that so I could get out of my still state.
Five minutes of staring at me had continued. Still no movement.
My dad said, “This doesn't seem right. He can’t hold his breath for that long.”
My dad dove into the water and turned me over from my upside down state. When my
dad turned me over, my face was blue as a recycling bin, and I wasn't breathing, so my dad
performed CPR on me, and my heart started beating and I started to take small fast breaths. I was
like getting flashbacks of many things, but that the only small problem I had was I couldn't
move. I laid my head on the soft cushion that somebody positioned at the bottom of my head.
My dad carried me to the police car and I sat on the black glistening hood. I could move!
The policeman said, “He's not in good shape. We have to bring him to the hospital.
My dad asked, “Will he be okay?”

I was shivering for how cold I was. The person in the back of the ambulance was waiting
for me with warm blankets and towels. I immediately got on the bed and I was wrapped with
those warm blankets and towels.

The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) that was in the back of the ambulance said:
“We're going to have to put you through some tests and needles to see how much
damage your heart has taken.”
After all of the wires, shots, needles, tears, and screams, going through all of those tests
were hard because I had to take many shots and medicine. Everyone was still worried about me.
Even though I had an 85% chance of dying, there was still a very slim chance of me
living. All of my friends and family were freaking out and asking me questions on Instagram and
Twitter, and from my mom's friends. There were so much action and so many things going on.
My mom said, “ I want you to go home. I'm tired and your brother and your dad are
waiting for you to come home.”
A couple of minutes later, my mom called my dad and told him, “I'm getting tired of
waiting for him to come home because I have been waiting one day now. Can you take over?”
Almost half an hour later, I saw a special guest come in. It was my DAD! I was so
excited to see him. In the hospital, I ordered grilled cheese and some pancakes with all natural
maple syrup.
The doctor came in and said, “There are many oxygen and carbon-dioxide compartments.
There are supposed to be two compartments in the heart with carbon monoxide, but you have
four compartments full of carbon-dioxide. After a couple of boring hours of staring at the ceiling

and asking people what the time was, I shut down for the night and my dad watched my pulses
for two hours, and then he said that he was tired, so he also shut down for the night.

Day 2 in the hospital. I was getting ready to leave when the hospital told all of my friends
and family that I wasn't allowed to leave that day anymore because they wanted me to be super
safe since I suffered from a fatal poison, so I understand why. If I went home, I would probably
die because the poison was still in my body.

It was nice to get to meet everyone and see all of the other people in the hospital with all
differences and how different other people could be. It was especially cool to see my parents and
all of the people in the hospital because they all treated me as if I was a celebrity and how they
paid attention to me more than others. I was sad because my mom didn't didn't watch the
accident in real life; she only got a call from her husband saying I almost died and how he saved
me. If I was ever going to hurt myself ever again or get a minor injury. I would, out of all the
hospitals in the world, go back to White Plains Hospital.

This event was important to me because I had an 85% chance of dying and a 15% chance
of living. Some miracle it was that I survived! I learned to not be so close to the exhaust fan of a
vehicle. Yep, I am always cautious now of getting too close to the back of a vehicle. I
remembered that my dad and my parents always saved my life, and I should always appreciate
everything that my parents have done for me. I will never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, go too
close to a vehicle fume maker again. There are so many dangerous consequences. Whoever reads
from this story, I want you to learn never to do what I did...

Kareena Parasnis \

“Little Indian Girl”

I looked back at Gabriella, my older sister. Her dark brown eyes were filled with tears.
Her cheeks were as red as a tomato. Her little hand was in my grandfather, Otto’s hand. She was
pulling at it with all of her strength, but it was no use. Otto gently let her hand go and gave her
another hug. My mother took Gabriella’s hand and lead her to where we we are.

After a fifteen hour plane ride, we finally arrived to India! We spent a few days with my
paternal grandparents in Puna. Ajee was my grandmother, and Anna, my grandfather. We picked
up our luggage that had shipped to our Uncle Kaushik and aunt, Titi Kashs’ house. Our cousins,
Phiroze and Yohan, were fun to play with.

After a few days, we took a cab and went to Mumbai, India. That was where we were
going to live for a bit. I stretched my neck to look out the window of the cab. There were two
gates, big ones. We entered the one on the left.

“Mom,” I asked, “what does that say?” I pointed to a sign. After all, I was only three and
did not know how to read.

“It says the Grand Hyatt. That’s where we are staying,” she explained.
We checked into the resident’s side of the Hyatt. We were only going to stay there for a
few months because my parents were looking for an apartment. Our residents’ room was pretty
small for a family of five. There was a kitchen and a living/dining space and one bedroom. We
did not need a big apartment. We were only staying there for a few months. We had one
problem, though. The apartment we were supposed to live in was not available for us. In July,

2011, when we had gotten there, we got a driver, Mr. Selvan. We went to see our paternal
grandparents and cousins.

In August, we started school. Gabriella started first grade, and Keira and I started our
threes class (in India we called it EC3). Our school was called ASB (the American School of
Bombay). On the first day of school, Keira went to my class with me! Our school was EC3 to
12th grade. Our cousins, Ameera and Eshaan, went to the school too. The first year we were
there, the campus was connected, so I would sometimes see my sisters or my cousins. My
teacher, Mrs. Basantika, was really nice, even if I spilled apple juice on myself (which I did). I
always had an extra pair of clothes for emergency (which I needed).

In September, we hired a nanny/cook named Janet. She had black curly hair and was
really nice. Everyone loved her. Keira, Gabriella, and I loved her chocolate pudding and
chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal raisin cookies.

We moved to two more apartments in the next year. The last one was big and we
decorated it really nicely. My friends had slept over with us, because they lived in the same
apartment building.

*******
One day Keira was sitting on the couch next to me.
“I have an idea,” she said, “let’s put pillows in between the glass table and the couch.”
“Okay,” I said.
We lined up pillows between the glass table and the couch. The glass table was very
close to the couch, so the pillows could stay on the glass table and couch.
“First, we will go under the pillow, and then we will go over them,” Keira instructed.

“I’ll go first,” I said.

I crawled under the pillows, and got out the other side. Next, Keria went under, and out
the other side.

“I’ll go first on going on the top of the pillows,” Keira said.
She crawled on the first pillow. She then went onto the second one and the third. The
pillow moaned from the weight of Keira. It fell with Keira on it. Janet was in the cooking chapati
in the kitchen. She ran to help Keira when she heard her crying. She looked Keira over to see if
she was hurt. Her ear was bleeding, tracing the edges of the ear. Janet went over to the phone and
started talking.
“Keira and Kareena were playing and Keira slipped and cut her ear. Can you come
home?” Janet paused. “Yes. Okay. Thank you.”
She turned off the phone.
“Girls, your mom is coming back from getting her hair done.”
“Okay,” I say, and Keira nodded, but didn’t say anything because she was crying and her
ear hurt.
My mom opened the door and rushes towards Keira. We told her everything, so she could
understand what happened.
“I’m going to call the doctor in case there is an infection or any glass in Keira’s ear,” she
says, after we explain what happened.
The doctor came in about fifteen minutes. He looked in Keira’s ear, cleaned it up, and
then got up.

“There’s nothing wrong with Keira’s ear. Just a small cut,” he said.
My mom thanked the doctor, and he left.

*******
“Happy birthday Kareena and Keira!” everyone on the field said.
A mini yellow and red train in the middle of the field whistled it’s way around the track.
About one hundred and fifty kids and adults gathered around a table and sang us happy birthday.
Before this, a face and hand painter, some dance instructor, a train, and a big “hot potato”
blanket and balls, were spread across the field. Just for our fourth birthday! This was one of the
best birthday parties I have had.

******
“The first game in the results game is The Silent Game!” my fifteen year old cousin said.
“It starts, now!”
He went around our bedroom trying to make us giggle. I started giggling, then my twin
sister and my other sister started giggling.
“Yohan wins!” Phiroze said, pointing at my cousin in fourth grade who was silently
smiling on the bed.
We did the results game a lot. There was more than just The Silent Game. There was
storytime, fashion model, comedies, and a lot of other games that we had made up along the
way.
“One day...in the village of Bartbelly...” Phiroze started and we laughed.

******
“Goodbye , Phiroze. Bye, Yohan,” Gabriella, Keira and I said to them.

Our luggage was at the curb waiting to be picked up. We went into the airport and
checked in. Then we got to the lounge and waited for our flight. It was Keira and my half
birthday, August fourth. As we waited, I thought about India and how I would miss it.

Half of my DNA is from India. I saw another country, and experienced what it was like
to live there. My family is there and I was excited to see them. The culture was so cool! I will
always love the food there. I know I will go back to India again.

I looked back out of the window.
I saw the airport.
The pilot told us to put our seatbelts on.
I was now excited to go back to the U.S.

Keira Parasnis

“Three Years”

Chapter One: Birthday Girl

I woke up to see a woman with dark wavy brown hair. Her smile was soft and light, and

her eyes sparkled once she saw that my eyes were open. I realized she was my mom.

“Keira, wake up, it’s your birthday. Your party is starting in a few hours, and you should

get dressed soon. Happy Birthday sweetie; you’re turning four!” mom said in a soft voice.

“I will,” I said happily.

I sat up. I looked around the room. My brown hair was covering my eyes, so I pushed my

soft thin hair out of my eyes. I gently placed my feet on the soft carpeted floor. I stood up. Placed

one foot after another until I could grasp the cold handle of the closet door. I turned the handle

like in some kind of movie. I picked out a blue polka dotted dress with a green headband.

I walked those carpeted floors again until I touched another cold handle. I pushed the

door open. I walked across cold marble floors until I reached the mirror. I picked up my

toothbrush. I took my tooth paste and put a little on my toothbrush. I started brushing my teeth.

I washed my tooth brush and rinsed my mouth. I glanced up at the mirror. I​ am short for

my age​, I thought. People call me skinny, but I am not skinny, I am thin. When they say I am

skinny I think, y​ ou should see the people who live on the streets of Mumbai.​ I feel sad for them.

They have to live in a house made of garbage that people throw out. I am grateful I live in a nice

apartment, go to a good school, and get to travel all over the world.

“Can I sit in the front?” I asked politely.

“No. Only the birthday girl sits in front, do you hear that?” the guy who was running the

train said in an Indian accent.

I wanted to scream in his face and shout, “I am the birthday girl!” but I was way too shy
to do that. I stared hard at the train guy. He looked at me like m​ ove on, kid​, so I moved on. I sat
in the back. I sat there quietly.

“You can sit in front,” the train guy said to a bald haired man and his son.
“Thank you sir,” the man said.
I would normally have bursted out crying, but I really didn't care because I was having so
much fun riding the train my parents ordered for my birthday party.
“I got a butterfly!” I exclaimed, showing the butterfly on my hand.
“Cool, I want to get a tattoo but there is a huge line,” Lily said sadly. Lily had brown eyes
and curly, silky hair.
“The cake is coming!” Natasha shouted.
“Whoo!” a bunch of three year olds screamed and charged to the cake table.
“Keira, come on. Our cake is ready,” said my twin sister, Kareena. Kareena looked
nothing like me. Her hair was a little shorter than mine. Her voice was a bit more rough. She is
older than me (by like 30 seconds) so I am her follower. I also followed my first grade sister,
Gabriella. She is the oldest out of the three of us, so we both follow her.
We skipped to the cake table which was where the buffet was. Kareena loves cake, but I
didn’t really; I love chocolate and ice cream.
“Happy birthday to Kareena and Keira. Happy birthday, happy birthday to Kareena and
Keira!” the guests at the party sang.
My dad lifted me up so I could blow out the candles. Then my sister.
“Are you one? Are you two? Are you three? Are you four?” the party guests chanted.

“Stop!” Kareena and I shouted.
“Whoooooooooo!” everyone shouted. I looked at Kareena and smiled.
“Happy birthday, Kreena,” I said. I could not pronounce her name, so I called her that.
“Happy birthday, Keira,” she said in her rough voice.

Chapter Two:​ M​ eanings
My name means light. My middle name means wisdom and skill. Kareena’s name means

love. Gabriella’s name means a messenger from God. My mom’s name, Sandra, means defender
of mankind. My dad’s name, Gautam, means bright light. His name is similar to the Buddha
named Siddhartha Gautama.

Chapter Three: Ajee
Ajee is my grandma. Her life was difficult. She fled her home for safety, and people

unexpectedly saved her.
In 1947, the Partition of India happened. Partition means that a country or a state

separates. A lot of communal happened. Communal means a disagreement between different
religions. In this case, the Muslims and the Hindus were in a disagreement. Some Muslims
wanted to have Pakistan as a separate country. The Hindus wanted India to remain as one
country, since Pakistan used to be a part of India. There was a lot of rioting that was happening
because of this.

My​ ​grandmother and her family were Hindus, and they lived in Karachi, which is in

Pakistan. My grandmother was 25 years old at the time of the Partition. She lived with her
younger brother, mother, and aunt. My grandmother’s father had passed away years before.
During one of the riots, a mob of rioters approached my grandmother’s house; they were trying
to identify Hindus and ask them to leave. Most of the times they did it violently. My
grandmother’s mother and aunt had already left Karachi by boat for Bombay. My grandmother’s
family’s driver was Muslim. When the rioters came, the driver protected my grandmother and
her brother and said that everybody in the house was Muslim. The rioters luckily left.

Very soon after, my grandmother and her brother left Karachi for good. They left most of
their belongings and had to abandon their home. She hid in their car. The driver drove them to
the airport where they flew to Bombay, India where they established a new life as refugees. Later
on, she met my grandpa, Anna. Anna and Ajee was what we called them, even though they were
not their real names. Anna was a professor at IIT, Indian Institute of Technology. Ajee was a
scientist and inspired all women to do science.

Chapter Four: Glass table
“Keira, lets play a game, I’m bored!” Kareena said.
“Sure... how ‘bout we make a bridge and walk across it?” I said, running to our room to

get a pillow.
“I don’t know if that's safe, but you can walk on it first,” Kareena said.

I carefully placed one side of the pillow on a glass table and the other side on the couch. I
stood up on the couch. I placed one foot after another. I was almost to the glass table when I fell.
The the next thing I knew I was crying.

“Ohhhhh! Your ear is bleeding!” Kareena said, pointing to my ear.
“What!” I said, touching my ear. There was a little amount of blood on it, but it really
hurt.
Janet, our babysitter and cook, came running.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Keira fell and she is bleeding,” Kareena said, still pointing to my bloody ear. A silent
tear fell, and I sniffed. Janet bit her lip.
“Let’s take care of it while I call your mom,” Janet said, lifting me up to the dining room
table. I sat there while she called my mom.
“Janet, will I get stitches?” I asked, swinging my feet at the edge of the table.
“I don’t think so Keira,” Janet said, cleaning my ear.
“Ooch!” I yelled suddenly. My ear was stinging.
“Sorry,” Janet said. Suddenly, my mom burst through the door and walked towards me.
“The doctor is coming. Are you okay, Keira?” she asked in a gentle voice. I shook my
head.
“How much does it hurt from one to ten?” my mom asked.
“Ten,” I whisper. Okay, maybe I was exaggerating, but it hurt a lot like maybe a seven.
The doctor came and I was hoping I didn't get stitches, but I learned never to walk on a
pillow between a glass table and a sofa again!

Chapter Five: Endings
Three years in India, and two important things happened. My grandparents had died. I

was young when they died, and I had no idea of what had happened. Now when I think about it, I
wish I knew more about them, not just as characters in my dad's stories.

This experience was filled with travels, family, friends and the culture of India. I learned
to be grateful for what I have because a lot of people lived in houses made of garbage and had no
food on their tables. I enjoyed living in India. After three years, we moved back to the USA. It
was easy for my family to settle back in the USA. Occasionally, I think about living there. It was
such a great experience!

Fiona Pedraza
“Wyonegonic Summer 2018”

Water dripped down our backs and we laughed as we walked barefooted toward the
campsite. I looked up, and my smile faded. Ryanne, my best friend for the entire first half of the
summer, was sitting on a log next to Lily S., a girl who had come during the second session
switch. They whispered to each other and giggled. I approached them nevertheless, and I said:

“Hi, Ryanne.”
“Oh. Hi,” she said, and didn’t even look at me. She turned to talk to Lily, and a weird
feeling crossed over me.
“Ryanne - are you… ignoring me?” Ryanne was occasionally nasty, but it had always
blown over quickly.
“Yeah! I am, OK? I don’t know what’s up with you, and I’m talking to ​Lily,​” she snapped
defensively.
“Fine, I’ll hang out with Honor,” I snapped back, and stormed off to my tent.
“You OK Fiona? It looked like Ryanne was ignoring you,” Honor said, as we laid on our
sleeping bags. Honor had blue eyes and was blonde and, at first, appeared to be obnoxious, but
she proved herself to be a great friend.
“Yeah. And screaming at me,” I added, as Brooke and Addie, more girls in our tent,
unzipped the flap and joined us. Brooke had wavy brown hair and was hilarious. Addie had
strawberry blonde hair and green eyes and was always sweet and comforting, even at times I
wasn’t.
“Hi Brooke, hi Addie. Hurry and change, maybe we can help build the fire.”

I unzipped my duffle and changed out of my wet swimsuit and slipped on a soft forest
green shirt with my camp logo imprinted across the front; forest green and white track shorts,
and a warm forest green hoodie. I slipped my black and pink Adidas sneakers on and stepped
outside. I paused for my friends, and they quickly joined me in walking up to the fire pit. I sat
down and whispered:

“Ryanne was being s​ o ​snobby.”
“I know! I think it’s a private school thing,” Brooke responded. Addie nodded.
“Mhmm. I had a friend who went to a private school after switching, and she totally
changed,” Honor added.
I tried not to take this in offense. I went to a private school, so I brushed it off. She was
just making me feel better.
“But she was being a real pain. She still is, and it’s odd because it’s sudden. She’s being a
brat,” I said, a little too loudly.
“Thanks, Fiona,” Ryanne said from a few feet behind me. I jumped to my feet.
“Ryanne, I didn’t-” Ryanne held up her hand, and she and Lily simultaneously ambled
into their tent.
Alas, it was the night out, and Addie, Brooke, Honor and I lay comfortably in our
sleeping bags. Tessa, a girl in my cabin, lay at our feet. Tessa was… well, not my favorite
person. She was overly positive (yes, that’s a thing) and was a poor conversationalist. She had
boring brown hair and boring brown eyes, and was… odd, I suppose. We were talking about
boys, crushes, scary things, vacation trips, and playing truth or dare. After the decision of the last
round of truth or dare, Brooke spoke.

“Guys, we’ve got to do something about those two.”
Brooke slid her hand out of her sleeping bag and gestured to the tent up the hill from us,
where we could hear Ryanne and Lily giggling excessively loudly.
“Maybe we should give them the silent treatment!” Honor suggested.
“Ryanne doesn’t take the silent treatment well. She’ll just take it in stride,” I added.
“It isn’t right for two people to exclude ten,” Addie mentioned.
“Let’s sleep on it. We’ll talk in the morning,” Brooke said, and quickly we all languished
into dreamland.
We were back at camp, but the drama from the trip still lingered around. It was rest hour,
so we could write letters, read, or play card games, but talking wasn’t allowed. I decided to head
out to my hammock to read. I came around the cabin corner to see Ryanne and Lily sharing a
hammock, reading some book. My face darkened.
“Ryanne, can I please sit in ​my h​ ammock?” I asked, trying to be polite.
“Hmmm… I’d love to, but Perk said if you put your hammock up, you can’t make
anyone leave it,” she said snobbishly.
“It’s m​ y ​hammock.”
“It’s the ​camp’s​ rule.”
“Fine, then I’ll sit on the other side of the cabin,” I yelled.
I flicked my burnished caramel hair and walked off.
“Hey, London,” I said, seeing my friend London K. relaxing in a hammock on the other
side of the cabin. Yes, really weird name, but it suits her perfectly well. London looked up.
London has hair darker than mine, hazel eyes, and is shorter than me.

“Oh. Hi, Fiona. Come sit,” she said, and I squeezed myself next to her.
“Did Ryanne kick you out?” I nodded.
“She’s been super nasty.”
“What mostly bothers me is that Lily sits at our table, you know, where me, you, Catie,
Sonya and Ryanne usually do. It’s her first year here and she’s already mean,” London said.
Catie, Ryanne’s best friend up until recently, still clung onto her and ignored the
situation.
“I know! She acts like it's her third year.” London nodded sympathetically as I spoke.
“Also, they’re both being super exclusive.”
The bell rang, symbolizing the end of rest hour, and I jumped up.
“Sorry, London. I have swimming. See you later,” I said, and walked slowly into my
cabin to change.
“Fiona!” Honor called from inside the cabin. “Do you want me to do your makeup?” she
asked, and walked outside to join me on the picnic table. We sat down, and Honor pulled out a
small pouch and unzipped it. Soon, my eyes were brighter, my hair braided, and skin smoothed,
and we left for Grove, my camp’s Sunday service.
Lily came over to me and said sarcastically, “I like your makeup.” I shot her a dirty look
as she and Ryanne giggled.
“How many times can I tell you,” Honor said, “ignore them!”
The end of camp rolled around, and times got better. I hated how Ryanne excluded me,
but was excessively an amateur. I think back now, and I realize that there was one thing that
could have helped me: to just give up on our friendship. You don’t want to be friends with a girl

who is mean and nasty and doesn’t care about you. These experiences taught me to pick and
choose my friendships wisely, and to know when to move closer, and when to let go. I have
grown from this; for now I know what a true friend means.

Gabriella Petriello

“When I Got into Hackley”

‘‘Gabriella Petriello you passed the test, and you are going to Hackley School!’’ said my
mom.

‘‘Yes!’’ I said. ‘‘I’m so excited. I can’t wait until the first day of school.”
I was trying to find a different school because my old school didn’t really teach me
anything. It was mostly review of what I had learned in previous years.
One day, I went to pick up my friend from Hackley because she went to school there.
When we got there, we couldn't believe our eyes. It was the prettiest school I had ever seen and I
really wanted to go there.
“Do you like this school a lot?” I asked her.
“Yes. I love it. It is very fun and they have a lot of school events, such as the Sting,” my
friend responded.
My mom thought that Hackley was a very good school. She really wanted me and my
sister to go there.
Later that day when we got home, my mom asked, “Do you want to change schools?”
“Yes. I am not learning anything, and school is really boring because I don't really know
anyone in my grade,” I said.
“Ok. If you are going to change schools, you are going to go to Hackley, and you are
going to take the test.”
“When am I going to do that?” I asked my mom
“I am not sure,” she said, “but I am going to figure it out.”

“That’s great. If I get in, I will at least know somebody!” I said in excitement.
“ You can’t tell anyone that you are applying to another school! Do you hear me?” asked
my mom.
“Yes,” I said.
A couple of weeks later, my mom said, “ I found out when you are going to take the test
for Hackley.”
“ Oh good! When?” I asked.
“ In a few months,” my mom repeated. “And you have enough time to get a tutor to
study. So will your sister.”
“ And when is that going to start?” I asked.
“ In two weeks,” said my mom.
“ In two weeks!” I repeated.
“Um, yeah. Why are you acting so afraid?” my mom asked.
“ Because I’m scared. Am I going to get a good tutor or a bad tutor?” I asked.
“ You get what you get and you don’t get upset. All of the tutors are equally trained. You
will learn the same from everyone,” she said in disappointment.
As my sister and I walked into Huntington, the tutoring place, we saw a lot of faces. I
walked into the room that I was going to get tutored in, and I had a lady tutor who was a little
older than my mom. She started by asking me some questions, like what I was studying for and
how old I was. I answered the questions and she started preparing me for the exam. I went once a
week and got tutored. I did that for about one month. I learned so much and was ready to take
that test.

I woke the morning of the test feeling very nervous.
“ I am so nervous mom. What is everyone going to think of me?” I asked.
“Well, you have to have a good first impression and maybe they will like you,” said my
mom.
“Okay,” I said,“ but you do too!”
“Who is ready to pass the test!” my dad said, yelling as he walked in the room.
“I am!” I said in a brave voice.
We walked in and met the Headmaster. We introduced ourselves.

Am I really feeling this or am I dreaming it?​ ​ This will hopefully be my new school. ​I thought to
myself.

As I walked into the room to take my test, I felt very nervous. I saw lots of other faces
that looked nervous to. I figured they were going through the same thing I was. Then, I felt more
welcomed. I felt less nervous. I felt very loose. I felt less stressed and I felt that I was prepared
for the test. I was so confident that I was going to pass this test.

There was at least ten other people there with me in the room. It felt pretty cramed
because it was a small room. The test was a little hard but I still thought I did good. There was
only language arts and math on the test. For the language arts part, there was a paragraph that
you had to read and then you had to answer multiple choice questions about the passage. We
were in the room for about 25 minutes when a man came in the room to say that we had five
minutes to go. I got so worried. I​ have so many problems left. ​I thought. Then, as I was finishing
up, I realized that I barely had any problems left. So, I was fine.

After I finished the test, I went up to my parents and said, “ I think I am going to get into
Hackley!”
“ Oh wow! Brave soul!” my dad said.
“ All of that tutoring paid off right?” asked my mom.
“ Oh, yes! Definitely!” I replied.
After we got out of the room, we were waiting for my sister to finish her test. So, we
decided to explore the campus. It was very pretty. There were a lot of friendly faces. Kids looked
like they were having fun. My friend was having her Flat Stanley play, so we decided to go
watch.
As the play finished, we got in the car and drove up to get my sister. When she came out
of the room, she sounded very excited too. She thought she was going to get in as well.
When we got home, I was very impatient. I really wanted to know if I passed. We knew
that the response wasn’t going to come for about a month. Every day after I came home from
school, I went up to my mom and asked her if she got the response.
She would say, “No. But I will tell you as soon as we get the response. Stop bugging me
and do your homework.”
Mom was getting very annoyed because I kept asking, “Did you get the response yet?
Did you get the response yet?” At school, I really wanted to tell someone, but then remembered
that if I told someone, the word would spread and keep spreading.
One month later, I was coming down the stairs when I saw my mom very smiley and
happy. She told me to come over to the couch. She was sitting on the couch drinking her coffee. I
sat down next to her and then she said that I got into Hackley School! I was very sleepy, so I

didn't understand what she said. She said it again. I was so happy that I started jumping! I wasn't
sleepy anymore. My mom was very happy for me. My sister was very happy for me, but also sad
because she was on the waiting list and didn’t want me to go without her. My dad was so happy
and excited for me.

My dad said to my sister, “You are going to get in and I believe it.”
My sister said,“I really want you to go to Hackley, but you absolutely cannot go without
me.”
A couple weeks after I found out, my dad came home and said, “Sophia, you got into
Hackley School! Now I am going to have two daughters at Hackley. How could your lives get
any better? You guys are both going to Hackley! I don't care if you don’t want to go. This is a
once in a lifetime experience and you two are going to take it. Okay? Okay.”
So, we both decided to go to Hackley. Well, we didn’t really have a choice, but we were
glad we did! To this day, I am in fifth grade at Hackley School. I now notice how much Hackley
has changed my life. Since then, I now have the confidence to do anything. I studied for a very
long time and all my hard work paid off. I studied so much that I got into the school, and now I
am so much smarter. That was the best, smartest choice that I accepted Hackley’s acceptance
offer!

Riyaan 5-3 #13

Memoir 4-17-19

1:39am

At my house

I was restless in bed waiting for the big moment. Rocking in my bed, I was constantly

glancing at the clock, hoping for it to miraculously turn to 4:30 am. In my brother’s room, it was

the same situation. My parents, on the other other hand, were fast asleep. As I lied in bed I

imagined how wonderful the cruise from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera would be. The

most exciting thought of all, is how I would be on the cruise just his afternoon. The plan was for

my family and I to take a plane to LA, and then take a cruise to the Mexican Riviera, and back.

“Beep beep, beep beep, beep beep,” my alarm clock screamed in my ears. I jolted out of

bed, the first one awake, and dove into my morning routine. It was 3:40 am, when I woke up

from my alarm. I finished getting ready at 4:00 am, and listened as my parents did there usual

whispering, before they get out of bed. At 4:20 am, my whole family was downstairs, doing the

checklist to make sure we haven't forgotten anything. My dad then called the uber, to head on

our exciting journey.

5:25 am

Airport gate

We arrived at the airport, oddly not tired, and started the usual process before boarding

the plane. At the gate my brother and I were on our devices while my parents were having their

conversations.

Soon our gate started to board. We got one the plane and arranged out seats, mine having
to be the window, the best in my opinion. Since it was early in the morning, my parents took a
nap. Me on the other hand, find it impossible to sleep on planes! So I instead watched some
movies, enjoyed the view, played games on my ipad, and then watched some more movies.
When we arrived I was so excited! I thanked my parents at least 15 times before we were even
on the cruise.

9:30 am
Dock next to the boat
I was about to faint. I had lost my words at the sight of the the gorgeous, gigantic,
marvellous, Ruby Princess! It even looked like rubies (wasn’t actually rubies), just from the
outside. My brother and I were speechless. “Welcome to the Ruby Princess.” Tuning out my
mom, my eyes scanned an eight of the ship, already blown away. From the outside I could see a
gym, the captains area, a humongous water slide, and about 25 lined up lifeboats for safety. I
never knew there could be anything so amazing. As we checked in our bags we noticed a glass
walkway, that lead to the Ruby Princess.
Finally it was time to board! I walked up the ramp leading up to the boat, above the
water. I took in the entire exterior, ready to explore the interior. As we walked onto the ship, we
approached a desk where they gave us key cards, with a picture of us! The second I entered the
ship my jaw dropped. The first thing I noticed was a golden chandelier. I had been on a couple
cruises before, but nothing like this. I saw a load of restaurants on a map, a gigantic water slide
that went all around the ship,, four different pools, and many more.

10:00 am
On the Ruby Princess cruise ship
We decided to go check out our room. I got in the elevator and realized there were
sixteen floors, which all had activities. On the top floor there were two basketball courts, a water
slide called the splasher, minigolf, and an amazing view. I walked in and saw a closet in the
hallway (as always), one king size bed, a TV, and in front of the TV was a bunk bed! As my
family shared there “wows”, I silently slipped off my sneakers and claimed the top bunk. In the
end, we made the agreement for my brother and I to switch every night.

10:30 am
Exploring Ruby Princess ship
It was about 10:30 am, when my family and I decided to fill our starving bellies. The ship
was leaving the dock at 1 pm, so we had time to eat. We all were finding it hard to pick one
restaurant, out of the many, that we all agreed on. Eventually we came upon a place that was
serving brunch.
After we ate, I begged my parents to play family mini golf. I am the second best in the
family at golf behind my dad. We took the elevator which revealed an amazing view, just of the
city, right next to the mini golf area. My parents weren’t ready for this, and of course, took some
pictures.
We soon were on the first hole. Every mini golf course I’ve seen, including this one,
starts with a simple first hole. Everytime my family and I played mini golf, it had to be kind of
competitive. Although it was competitive, we still had laughter, jokes, and were really bonding.

We heard a loud horn, announcing that we would be out into the sea soon! Everyone
around us, including us, exploded into cheers and excitement.

My family and I decided that because we had been really rushed in the morning and tired,
to relax and maybe watch a movie in our room. Today I had the top bunk and my brother had the
bottom. We watched a movie, and we all passed out near the end.

1:00 pm
Day 3 of family vacation
“Let’s check out the pool and maybe take a swim!”, my mom suggested
“Yeah, let’s go!”, I agreed
We arrived at the infinity pool at the rear of the ship. I was truly amazed at the beautiful site.!”,
my mom suggested
“Yeah, let’s go!”, I agreed
We arrived at the infinity pool at the rear of the ship. I was truly amazed at the beautiful site. My
brother and I dived in and played Marco Polo. Soon my parents joined us and it was very fun.
We soon got tired and our hands got all ‘pruny’ and my mom wrapped me in a towel, before
setting me down on a lounge chair to sleep.

2:30 pm
Day 5 of family vacation
The ship announced over a speaker that we were docking at Puerto Vallarta. We got
ready to leave the ship and then set off for some fun adventures! We had already set up a tour

guide before we got there, so we would be able to maximize our adventure! We also kept in
mind that the ship would be leaving the dock to our next stop at around 7:30pm.

7:00 pm
Boarding back on the ship to leave Puerto Vallarta
“ That was really fun!” My mom said.
“Yeah my favorite part was all the little tourist shops and brick streets.” I shared.
While we were having so much fun in Puerto Vallarta, we didn’t realize how
hungry we were! My family and I choose a dinner restaurant and feasted away.

2:45 pm
Day 7 of family vacation
“Welcome to Cabo san Lucas!” the captain announce over the speakers.
“ Yay!!” my family and I cheered.
As we did before, we had already set up a tour. I was excited because we would
be

3:00 pm
Day 9 of family vacation
The ship locked into the dock at our third and final stop, Mazatlan!​ ​Unlike the other
places we visited on the cruise, we hadn’t booked a tour, so we were on our own. Although we
didn’t have a tour, we researched tourist attractions and knew what to do. The only problem was

that my dad had gotten sick, and the nurses of the ship made him stay quarantined in the cruise
ship room for twenty-four hours! Unfortunately we would have to go explore the city without my
dad.

6:45 pm
At tourist shop in Mazatlan
My brother mom and I were looking for something to get as a souvenir. We also
remembered to get something for my dad.
Soon we decided on a souvenir and we headed to check out our items. I had picked out a
real shark tooth necklace and my brother had picked out a bracelet that said Mazatlan on it.
“We have about an hour till we should board, so what do you guys want to do?” My mom
said.
“I don’t really have a preference, so Ishaan you can decide.” I suggested.
“Maybe we can …..”
“Are you Lisa Shah!” A man interrupted
“Yeah, why do you care?!” My mom said in confusion.
“Your ship is about to leave!” The man informed us.
We bolted to the golf cart that the man had, and he drove us to the ship, just as they were
closing the walkway to board the ship! We barely made it on the ship and it turned out the man
worked on the ship and was sent to find us. While all the madness was happening, my dad was
sleeping in the room. Once we arrived to the room to find my dad sleeping, we burst out
laughing.

We had learned from that trip to be more careful of the time difference if we are in a
different country!!

Sarah Rotenberg

“My Disastrous Eleventh Birthday”

Blonde hair, green eyes, small hands, big feet, and a weird love of cheese. This is who I
am. I was in my house of seven bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, dining room, closets, and a
few bathrooms, on my disastrous eleventh birthday. I turned eleven on December 3rd, but my
family and I celebrated on December 2nd. I have two sisters and two brothers. Mary, the oldest,
is sixteen and a great swimmer. She is generally nice to me, apart from when one of us is in an
angry or bad mood. Sam, my oldest brother, is fourteen and good at most sports. Charlotte is the
middle child. She is really good at tennis and is a junior ski instructor. Dan is the youngest
person in the family. He likes to learn about professional sports, and like me, loves the Olympics.

We were celebrating my birthday, even though it was only December 2nd.
“Can I open a present early?” I asked my Mom.
“No way!” she answered.
“Ok.”
I really did want to open a present early, but my Mom was trying very hard to get Christmas
lights on the tree, so she was in an angry mood. She claimed to be working hard at something, and
that she was in a perfectly good mood. For a few minutes after, I wondered why she had to be
“working hard at something” on my birthday celebration day. It may sound like this was a bit
dramatic on my part, but in my house, when my mom gets mad, it affects everyone else in our
household. All of the kids in our house made jokes about my mom’s angry state of mind; everyone,
except my dad. My dad occasionally laughed at the funny jokes, but immediately pretended to read
the paper or go on his iPhone when my mom looked over.

For the next hour, as usual, everyone ignored everyone, except my dad. He occasionally tried
to make conversation, but everyone (even my mom) ignored him, because he tends to ask sarcastic
questions. He once asked if he could put chicken or fish in a blender when Mary got her wisdom
teeth out.

In my family, each person gets to choose their birthday dinner. Because we were celebrating
my birthday a day early, I got to choose dinner a day earlier.

“You should pick Barnes and Noble,” Mary said.
“Yeah, I want to,” I answered.
“No, we’re not going there,” said Mom, overhearing the conversation.
“Ok, fine,” I said back.
I was okay with not going to Barnes and Noble, but I still wanted to.
“I guess we can go to Siwanoy,” I said.
“Perfect,” Mom replied.
At this point I was in a bad mood, so I was a little mean to everyone who talked to me.
“What are you going to get for dinner?” my Dad asked.
“Why do you care?” I answered negatively.
“I am just making conversation,” said Dad.
“Okay,” I mumbled, and walked away.
After my family figured out I was in a bad mood, they started making fun of me for it. Sam
came up to me and called me a “salty cracker,” and Dad said I was in a “mood horrible,” which I
guess were both accurate.

Later, I invited my friend Avery to come over. I was bored, so my Dad gave me permission
to invite Avery and her brother William over for a playdate.

“HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY!” Avery and William both said at the same time.
“Thanks, it has been going great,” I said, trying to be as enthusiastic as possible.
“Good,”she said, while placing a present on the table.
After that, we went onto the trampoline and played “Dead Man” for a while. “Dead Man” is
a game where one person closes their eyes and tries to tag other people, who run away from the
person closing their eyes.
After Avery and William left, my brother and I watched some TV and played catch until
dinner. When we went to dinner, I ordered french fries, steak, and vegetables. When I asked if I
could open my presents when I got home, my parents said they wanted me in a good mood. I sat
there for the rest of the dinner, and every five minutes asked if I could open my presents. When I
hugged Mary, everyone finally agreed I was in a good enough mood to open my presents. We ate
dessert at Siwanoy because everyone wanted to eat cake on my actual birthday. I ordered hot cocoa
and everyone else ordered ice cream. When I went home to open presents, I received pjs, cupcake
tins for baking, a lego set, and LOTS of fuzzy socks. After opening presents, I went to sleep and
hoped people remembered that my actual birthday was December 3rd, not December 2nd.
When I woke up, I got dressed and walked downstairs. Three people were in the room, and
none of them said Happy Birthday to me. About ten minutes later, Mary came downstairs.
“Happy birthday!” said Mary.
“Thank you,” I said with a little attitude in my voice,”you are the first one to say it!”
“Ouch,” Mary replied

Later in the morning, I heard someone singing the Happy Birthday song. It was NOT good at
all, but I appreciated the gesture. It was Charlotte. At that moment, I was thinking I should have
expected the song from her, but she does do something different every year. A little later, Dan
reminded my Dad to say happy birthday to me, although Dan had not said anything directly to me
about my birthday.

When I got on the bus, Charlotte’s friend Edele somehow knew it was my birthday. I
assumed Charlotte told her, but I didn’t say anything. Edele said happy birthday to me, and I told her
that she was the second person to say it to me, without a reminder. Edele gave Charlotte either a
scared look, or a confused look.

When I got to school, I decided to keep the fact that it was my birthday quiet. At school,
unlike at home, I prefer not to attract attention. I acted normally for most of that day, until English
class. During English class, Ms. L. gave me a card and pencil that said ‘Happy Birthday.’ I was very
happy to receive that pencil because I was almost finished with my last pencil, but I knew people
would now bother me about my birthday. Surprisingly, the “Oh my gosh! I had no idea it was your
birthday!” and the happy birthday song was over by the time our seventy minute period was
finished.

When I was entering workshop, I was carrying three binders, a folder, a Greek Myths book,
and my agenda. As I opened the door, I dropped my agenda, and the fact that it was my birthday was
written inside (written by Kareena). Ms. C. picked it up and saw that it was my birthday. She sang
the happy birthday song. I placed my books down and immediately ran out of the classroom to go
outside. Again, this may seem dramatic, but like I stated earlier, I do not like a lot of attention at

school. That day ended okay, and I went to bed knowing I had achieved the impossible. I had gotten
through two days of nonstop bad experiences.

My disastrous eleventh birthday taught me that not every experience is going to be perfect,
and that's okay. Going through those days of disaster was important to my life because I learned a
lot. I learned that I have to make the most of good experiences, and try to make the bad ones
enjoyable. Learning to make the most of experiences made me grow mentally. I now know to always
convince myself that even bad situations are good ones in disguise!

Sofia Savchenko
“My Doggy Surprise”

Adventure 1: When We Got Him
“Yes, he is so cute,” I squealed. “What should we name him?”
“Maybe, Cookie?” said my older sister.
Nawh, that is not a good name for him.”
A few moments later, I came up with a great name for him.
“I know how about Misha.”
“Yeah, that is a great name for him,” my sister Alyona said.
“Sweetie, how about you go out for a walk with the dog.”
“Ok mom.”
It was five years ago when I walked out of my house with my sister to walk Misha the
dog. My mom, dad, older sister Alyona, and I all had to go through this whole new world where
now Misha was in our lives. My mom wasn’t really that happy when she heard that Misha could
sleep wherever he wanted. He had gingery fur, adorable eyes, and fluffy fur.

Adventure 2: Why School?
The sad part was when I had to go to school. But, my sister got to stay home with him.
Misha would sleep, walk, eat, and wait for me next to the door. When he would hear the door
open, he would run to me and start liking my face and jump on me. I loved when my dad would
come home and he would start barking, jumping, and licking him as well. I also loved when my

dad played with him because it is hilarious, since he would chase him around the house and
Misha’s tail would be scrunched up behind him.

Adventure 3 : The Strong Walks
My dog would cuddle with me when I was sad. Like when I was on the playground and I
fell off the slide and bumped my head, Misha cuddled with me and I felt so much better. This
happened five years ago at the Kensico Dam.

Adventure 4 : The Arrival from School
When I would come home from school, my dog always runs to me and we run outside to
play. My sister and I like to play with him by running around the house while he chases us, and
we fall on the ground and he comes and licks us.
When we taught him tricks, half of the time he would listen, but sometimes he would just
go for the treat. We taught Misha how to sit, jump, and give paw. He succeeded with these tricks.
If you asked him these tricks, then he will do them, but if he was really tired, then he might not
do them. If he wasn’t, then he would do whatever you say. If you keep on saying different tricks,
then he will get really tired and will not do them for you ever again!

Adventure 5 : Let’s Go to the City and Stroll
We go on vacations, like to NYC, because he loves the dog park. My dog likes to roll
around and run like he is free. When we play with him, we run around, skip, walk, lie down, and
do everything else that is fun to do with a dog.

Adventure 6 : The Family Love
You see, my dog is not just a dog; he is the cutest and fluffiest dog in the world!
Everyday day I always cuddle with him. He usually barks at cars, but not that much. When his
friend comes over, then he barks all the time. His friend is a boy dog. His name is Lucky. Lucky
is a barker. He barks a lot because he is really young and really active.
My dog loves my family and we love him. My whole family is happy that we have him in
our life. I am so happy that my sister got him for our family.

Adventure 7 : The Babies are Coming
My younger siblings Daniel and Victoria were born in 2013, so they didn’t get to have all
the great adventures with him that we had with him. But when they were happily born, Misha
also changed their lives and they were so happy for that. We all love Misha, but my older sister
Alyona is a model in the city and Misha is a star and he helps her to model and perform in
movies. Like I said, Misha isn’t just an ordinary dog; he is the sweetest, cutest, fluffiest dog I‘ve
ever met. He is th nicest dog I’ve ever met, too.

Adventure 8: The Morning Arises
Every morning I look in his eyes and think about my adventures with me. Every morning
he is on my stomach crying until we have more adventures. We would go down stairs and have
breakfast. I would usually be sleeping on the table with my face in my food.

Adventure 9 : The Playdate/Sleepover Drama
Every time my friends come over, they are always caught up with Misha. I get frustrated,
but it is also funny because I get it: Misha is a god! But they did come to have fun with M​ E ​and I​
invited them so they should be playing with​ ME,​ but it is ok.

Reflection: Part 1
This story is important to me because I love my dog and he loves me, and when I’m sad,
he cheers me up. My dog is the best dog I have ever had. Well, until I get another one, that is. I
think my dog is always cheering me up and making me laugh and happy. He always is happy to
see me when I come back from school. We always go on walks with him in the morning and
after school. He always jumps on me when I come back from school. When we go to the salon
after his groom, he looks like a little cute small goat called a doe for female and buck for male.
He loves the salon. Sometimes we do it at home so we don’t waste money. We would groom
him or wash him by ourselves. But, sometimes we take a bath together and it is so much fun!

Reflection: Part 2
This taught me how to be focused and more responsible. For example, I have to walk him
three times a day, feed him breakfast, lunch and dinner, and bathe him, and definitely groom
him. My dad would sometimes help me with the chores, but I would usually do them. My friends
that have dogs promise to be responsible, but they don’t really do the chores. See, Misha is like a
son to me, and I care for him like a son, but he is my pet. He is part of the family, so he is like a
son or younger brother, but I would call him a younger brother.