Chapter Seven: Tragic News

Chapter Seven: Tragic News


I woke up in a nice cozy bed. I looked up and saw a lady hovering over me.
“Hey,” she said. “You’re okay after all.”
“What? Who are you? You’re not my mother,” I said.
“I know I’m not, but she is.”
The stranger lady pointed to the side of me and I looked. I saw my mom and dad kneeling next to me.
“Hey, Mom, hey Dad,” I said. “Where am I?”
“You’re in the hospital,” Mom answered. “That lady is your nurse.”
“Could she leave? I want to talk to you alone.”
My dad looked at the nurse and she left.
“So you probably heard what happened,” I guessed. “I’m sorry.”
“People say that you were driving irresponsibly and crashed,” Mom said. Great! I thought to myself sarcastically. Just what I wanted them to hear.
“Where’s Matt?!” I suddenly remembered he was in the car.
“Honey, I don’t know who you’re talking about,” Mom said.
“I don’t care if you know what I’m talking about!” I snapped. “Where’s Matt?!”
“Son,” Dad butted in. “You hit your head, maybe you’re remembering wrong.”
“Fine!” I yelled. “You guys don’t know, I’ll ask the doctor.”
I sat up and started to climb out of my bed, but my dad put his arm around me.
“Daniel! You can’t get out of bed. You need to rest.”
“Don’t tell me what to do! I’m fine!”
I threw his arm off of me and climbed out of bed. I figured that that wasn’t the best way to greet my parents since two years, but I need to find Matt. I found the doctor and walked up to him.
“Excuse me doctor,” I said. “Can you help me find a patient?”
“Name?” he asked.
“Matthew Brown,” I said.
The doctor looked at me troubled like he didn’t know what to say.
“So,” I said. “Where is he?!”
“Son, the day of the crash… Matt came to this same hospital…” he paused. “He didn’t make the night.”
The doctor walked away without saying another word. He could at least have said sorry. He was so uncompassionate it made me want to punch him in the nose. For the first time in a long time, I found myself crying. Tears ran down my face as if someone poured a bucket of water on me. I slowly walked back to my room and sat down on my bed where my mom and dad still were.
“Daniel, what’s wrong?” my mom asked.
I sat there wondering how I could explain this.
“Daniel!” my dad yelled. “Answer your mother.”
“I…” I started. “My friend, Matt, was in the car with me. He… he died last night. It’s all my fault Mom.”
“Dan,” my dad said. “It was your fault, you’re right; but you don’t have to feel guilty about it. It was an accident… accidents happen.”

Two days later, I was released from the hospital. The first thing I did was find out where Matt’s parents lived. I drove there and rung the doorbell. A man opened the door who I suspected was Matt’s father.
“Sir, I’m Daniel Evans, you must be…”
“Hello, Daniel,” he cut me off sounding angry. “I hope you’re having a lovely day.”
I knew he was being sarcastic.
“Because my day,” he continued. “Totally stinks right now! Do you want to know why? Because you crashed a car that my son was in, and now he’s DEAD!”
“Sir,” I said. “I came over to apologize. If you don’t accept it, I totally understand.”
“Well, I don’t! So get out!”
He slammed the door, but I stopped it with my hands. I pushed it back open.
“Just one thing I need to say before I go,” I said. “I wish that I wasn’t irresponsible, because Matt was the nicest friend that I have ever had; if it wasn’t for him… I wouldn’t be a college graduate right now.”
“Well, I’m proud of him that he helped you,” he said. “But I’m not proud of you.”
He shut the door again, but this time didn’t slam it. I walked away and pulled out my car keys. As soon as I opened my door, the house door opened back up. Matt’s dad was standing there.
“Daniel,” he stuttered. “I… I forgive you.”
He shut the door again and I felt happy that he forgave me. Now I must head out to Chicago.

Chapter Six: I Officially HATE Myself Now

Chapter Six: I Officially HATE Myself Now


For the first time in my entire life, I was excited to get up when my alarm clock beeped. I couldn’t wait to see my grade. If I pass, I will pitch on the Chicago Cubs. I ran down the hall and was about to run downstairs when I saw Matt’s room. I stopped and knocked on the door. He opened up and let me in.
“Hello, Dan, are you feeling good about your test?”
“Yup!” I replied.
“Well, I hope you pass,” he said.
“Hey, Matt, what are you going to do after graduation?”
“Um... it’s not as cool as baseball,” he said ashamed.
“Come on, Matt, it’s probably just as cool,” I assured him.
“After I graduate this year, I’m going to be a scientist. I’m gonna make rocket ships; like really advanced rocket ships that can go out of the galaxy.”
“And that’s not cool?” I said. “You’re probably going to be way more famous than me. You never know. I could be benched my whole career and never throw a single pitch.”
The part where I said he could be more famous than me was true, but that was a lie when I said I thought I would be benched every single game. I’m so good at pitching (not trying to boast, but seriously).
“Well, got to go. I’m gonna go check my grades.”
“Okay, I’ll see you down there,” Matt said.
I left his dorm room and headed downstairs. When I got to the wall with the grades, there was a giant line of people. Well this is great! I thought. Waiting anxiously for everyone to move along after they saw their grade, I finally got up to the chart. I started at the top of the page with my finger and slid down it until I found the "E’s", for Evan. Okay, I found E…Ev…Eva…finally, Evan. I slid my finger to the side making sure the grade and my name were lined up. No way… I got an A plus. You’ve got to be kidding me. I actually got an A plus. I passed! I passed! I passed! Again, I had to find a way to let this feeling out. So again, I jumped up and shouted. People stared at me in shock.
“I know I said I'd never do that again, but I also didn’t know that I would get an A plus. I had to go back on my promise.”
Everybody continued to stare at me.
“I’m just gonna head to math.”
As soon as all my classes ended, I headed straight to baseball practice. I told coach about my grade first thing.
“I already heard,” he said. “I’m very proud of you, Daniel, but…”
“But what?” I asked.
“Now that you’re gone, we won’t win nearly as many games... who am I kidding, it’s your career. I’m sorry Dan.”
“No problem, coach,” I said. “I take that as a compliment.”
Coach told me that a week after I graduate, which is in a month, I would be sent to Chicago and meet, Lou Piniella, the Cubs’ coach. The month flew by and I graduated. In one week, I would be in Chicago. The day after graduation, I knocked on Matt’s door.
“Hey Matt,” I said.
“Hey buddy.”
“So,” I said. “We’re both graduated, and we’re both headed in great directions for our careers.”
“Your point?” he asked.
“Maybe we could go to Chili's to celebrate. I’ve got a car.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you outside,” he said.
It seemed like forever waiting in my car for Matt. Every time the dorm door opened, I hoped that it was Matt. Each time it was another student until, finally, it was Matt. What I saw messed with my mind; Matt is dressed in a green button down shirt with caci dress pants. His hair is combed over to the side and he has black dress shoes on. When he opened the door to shotgun and sat down, I looked at him trying not to laugh.
“What?” he asked.
“You do know I said Chili's, not the White House?”
“Yeah… what’s your point?”
“Why did you dress up?” I finally asked.
“What? Am I not allowed to look nice?”
“Whatever,” I said.
I pulled out of the college parking lot and headed to Chili's. I pressed down the gas pedal more and more as we went.
“Don’t you think you should slow down?” Matt warned.
“Don’t worry,” I replied. “I’ve had my license for years now.”
Matt didn’t say anything. I knew he was just trying to trust me. I looked at my speedometer and saw that I was going eighty on a thirty-five mile per hour road.
“Okay! You’re going too fast!” he yelled. “Slow down or I’m getting out.”
“Don’t worry, there is like barely any cops on this road.”
“I’m not scared of getting pulled over,” he said. “I’m afraid of crashing.”
My speed is now at ninety. I continued to ignore Matt. I started to think of my parents. If they saw me doing this, I would be in huge trouble. I thought of the possibility of actually crashing. What would people tell them? Your son was driving irresponsibly and crashed? I couldn’t imagine them hearing that. I won’t crash though. I won’t…
“DAN! KID!” Matt yelled.
I swerved to avoid the kid in the road, and went into the grass. I dodged trees while going ninety. Matt covered his eyes with his hands.
“I’m gonna die! I’m gonna die!” he yelled.
“You’re not going to die!” I yelled. “I’m like Evel Knievel.”
I looked over at Matt and saw how scared he was. I looked back straight ahead and CRASH! I hit a tree dead on. We flew up into the air twirling like a roller coaster. We hit the ground on the side of the car and rolled and rolled. Matt didn’t’ have his seat belt on and he flew out of his seat and bounced up and down as we rolled. As for me, I was belted in so I stayed in my seat. The car finally came to a halt upside down. I am okay; I just have a little cut on my forehead and what feels like a broken arm. I looked over at Matt. He doesn’t look so good. He is unconscious and all cut up and bloody. I shook his arm trying to wake him up. The more I shook; the more I started to feel dizzy. I must have hit my head on something. I can’t keep my eyes open but I don’t care. I kept on shaking Matt over and over.
“Matt wake up!” I yelled. “Matt wake up! MATT!!!”

Chapter five: The Big Test

Chapter five: The Big Test

Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock! Is what I heard Friday morning.
I couldn't have possibly slept in, I thought. I looked at my alarm clock, 5:30 A.M. I still have a whole hour to sleep. I rose out of bed, headed to the door, and then opened the door. Matt was on the other side.
"What are you doing?" I asked. "I still have another hour."
"Don't care," he responded. "Get your butt down to math class." He shut the door. As puzzled and doubtful as I was, I showered, got changed, and headed down to class. When I arrived, there Matt was sitting at Mr. Hendricks' desk eating an apple. As soon as he saw me, Matt leaped out of the chair, over the desk, and onto the ground. I never knew he could do that.
"You may ask," Matt began. "Why... am I here?"
"Right on the money," I replied. He looked at me as if I were dumb.
"Don't get smart, Evans. Now, if you want to make it to the MLB, you must past this test."
"News flash!" I said frustrated.
"Daniel! Last chance," he warned. "If you are tired during the test, then you won't pay attention, then you won't pass the test, then..."
"I get it!"
"So," he continued as if I had never spoken. "You will exercise for one hour to get you pumped up."
"What!" I complained.
"Don't be a sissy, Daniel. It's for the best."
I sighed. I looked back just to make sure that no one was watching.
"Embarrassed, Evans?" he asked.
"Do you have to notice every little movement that I make?"
"I apologize," he said. "Now, twenty-five jumping jacks... go!"
For some reason, I listened and did as he said. After I finished, he told me to do thirty squats, then fifteen push-ups, then fifty sit-ups! Finally, I heard:
"Done! You have completed your exercise."
I looked at my watch and saw that it was seven o'clock. If I awoke at 5:30, took a half an hour to shower, brushed my teeth, combed my hair, and got changed, that led me to 6:00. Man, I had been working out for a whole hour. Time really flew.
"Okay," Matt said. "Do you feel awake?"
"More than ever," I replied.
"Well, you're not clean," he examined. "Get upstairs and shower, class starts in a half hour."
I have decided to start listening to Matt. He seems to be a lot wiser than I am. Quickly, I ran upstairs to my dorm room and did my normal routine that I do in the morning. Class starts at 7:30 A.M., I came to class at 7:35.
That won't help; I thought when I entered the class.
"Mr. Evans, you are five minutes late."
I braced myself for a punishment. For good students who had a good reputation, being five minutes late is okay. I'm not a good student, though, I am a bad student with a bad reputation; and I hate to admit it, but Mr. Hendricks doesn't like me very much.
"Fortunately," he continued. "Matthew told me that you and he are close friends and he assured me that you would be here soon. So I waited and sure enough, he was right."
"What's your point, sir?" I asked.
"My point is, you are not in trouble... sit down!"
Then why did you mention that I was late? Why not just keep your mouth closed? I thought to myself.
I sat down next to Matt and took out my pencils. Mr. Hendricks went around the room passing out our test papers. When he arrived at me and Matt's desk, I reached out to grab my paper. Mr. Hendricks pulled the paper away and bent down to tell me something.
"You better not disappoint me, Daniel," he ordered. "Matt has been telling me how he is your tutor. I expect great things from you. Matthew is a smart boy."
I managed to smile and say:
"Yes sir, I won't let you down," I assured him.
He handed me my paper and walked away to pass out the other tests. I stopped smiling and turned to Matt.
"I hate that man," I whispered.
Matt smiled and looked down at his paper. I think that that is the first time Matt has smiled in his life. Mr. Hendricks finally made it to the front of the class.
"You have one hour to finish this test everybody," he said. "Once you finish, head to your next class. Tomorrow, your grades will be hung up on the wall. Your test starts... now."
I quickly looked down at my paper and saw my first problem. My brain froze. I forgot how to do this problem. I looked to Matt about to ask for help. I figured that probably wasn't a good idea. I closed my eyes and tried to remember what Matt told me. Thinking and thinking, I remembered. A great giant smile went across my whole entire face. I jotted down the answer and moved on to my next question. I whipped through all fifty questions in ten minutes. I checked my answers really carefully seeing as I flew through the test so quickly. Everything was right. At least that's what it looked like. I checked through one more time and still, all correct. I had to let this happy feeling out. I didn't know how though. Without thinking, I jumped up and shouted, "Woo Hoo!" Everyone stared at me.
"Sorry," I said. "It won't happen again."
Although I said sorry, I couldn't help from smiling. I handed Mr. Hendricks my paper and ran out of the room. I went to my dorm room and waited for my next class to start. The whole time I was thinking, I'm going to the MLB!

Chapter four: Let's Get to Work

Chapter four: Let’s Get to Work


After school, Matt came back to my dorm room with his math books and we got to work.
“Alright,” Matt said. “I think that I know your problem.”
“Sweet… what is it,” I responded.
“You’re so bored in class that you don’t even try to pay attention.”
“I pay attention!”
“Okay, making paper airplanes and throwing them at the teacher is paying attention?” he confronted me.
“Okay maybe I have a little paying attention problem....” He stared at me. “Okay I have a big paying attention problem. But that doesn’t matter because you’re here to help me with that. So let’s get started.”
Matt continued to explain to me how the problems worked and how to be a little more interested.
“Alright, now that I have taught you a lot about math, now it is time for your test,” Matt said.
“What!” I exclaimed. “You never told me that you had a test for me.”
“I know I didn’t… I don’t have too.”
“But…
“Hey, you asked me to help you, so you will do it my way, not your way, my way! Do you understand?”
“I guess, but…”
“My way!” he yelled. Matt gave me the hardest test that anyone could ever ask for. It took me two hours to finish it.
“Finally,” I said. “Here’s my test; I hope that it pleases you.” After fifteen minutes of correcting, Matt handed me the test back.
“D plus!?” I yelled. “Come on! I did better than that.”
“Hmm? Let me see,” Matt said. “Okay, that’s wrong, that’s wrong, that’s right.” He went on mumbling to himself correcting my paper again. “Yup, D plus,” he said. “You need more work.”
"Tomorrow is Friday," I said. "That is the day of the test!"
"That is why we need to start working," Matt said. So Matt went over the same information again trying to help me understand. I just don't know what it is about math. It seems to hate me. If I even see the word math I get a brain block. I did Matt's test again. It was a little better.
"C plus!" I exclaimed (just a little better).
"Hey, at least it was better than last time," Matt said. "We'll study one more time and I'll guarantee you a B plus."
Again, we studied and studied until my brain exploded. I finished the test for the third time and then handed it to Matt. I waited nervously watching him correct my paper. Finally, he looked up at me.
"I guess I was wrong about the B plus," Matt said. I shook with fear waiting for him to tell me my grade. "You got an A minus."
"WooHoo!" I yelled happily. "I'm gonna pass the test on Friday, and then I'm going to the MLB!"
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Matt interrupted. "Now I don't pay much attention to baseball, but don't you have to go through like three leagues or something before you get to the MLB?"
"Normally, yes, but my coach said that he talked to the coach of the "Chicago Cubs", and he said that he would pick me up right away because I am so good."
"Oh nice," Matt said. "You've got some skill."
"Yes I do, yes I do." Matt left my dorm room and I got to bed nice and early. Tomorrow... is a big day.

Chapter Three: Matthew is now my Tutor

Chapter Three: Matthew is now my Tutor


Things started to look up for me. I started to do well in all of my classes. Okay, most of my classes. I’m still having trouble in math; but English, history, and science I’m doing pretty well at. I have a 1.9 right now. If I can pick up in math, I’ll play in the MLB. Next Friday will decide it. There will be a big test for math. If I can get a B+ or higher, I’ll have a 2.3. I decided that every day I should go to bed at nine o’clock sharp. I need to be bright eyed and bushy tailed if I want to pass that test.
Matthew has been pulling pranks on me ever since we got into that fight in math class. Pranks like slamming his mashed potatoes into my face at lunch time. Or throwing my books into the toilet (he got suspended for that one). He even threw a baseball at me during my practice. Luckily it missed me. I’ve got to say, he has a terrible arm. If I want to pass this test, I need to be bold, walk up to him, and ask him to help me study. That’s what I’m going to do; tomorrow first thing before any of my classes start.
The sun is shining bright on this new day; the day that I am going to ask Matt to be my tutor. I walked up to the door of his room and knocked. I heard footsteps coming closer to the door. Once they stopped, there was a couple second pause and then the door opened.
“Hi Daniel,” he mumbled.
“Matthew, you seem disappointed to see me.”
“Why wouldn’t I be disappointed? You humiliated me in front of the whole class.”
“How did I humiliate you? You’re the one who blew me in and said that I didn’t study.”
“You called me Erwin.”
“So?” I said confused.
“I hate that name!” he yelled.
“Well, I’m sorry that I made you upset, but that’s not the reason I’m here.”
“Then why are you here disturbing my peace and quiet,” he said.
“Well… I need you to help me study for the test next week.”
“Hmm?” he wondered. “Let me think… NO!” Slam! The door shut. I sighed.
“Matthew. Come on, I need you.” The door opened slowly.
“Did… did you say that you need me? Did you say that?”
“Yeah, I don’t see why…”
“Oh thank-you so much!” he said lunging toward me for a hug.
“Whoa!” I exclaimed. “I’m not much of a hugger.” He paid me no mind and kept on hugging.
“Thank-you so much Daniel. I… don’t cry that often but… I think… I think that I am going to… you know… cry.
“No please don’t cry,” I begged. I managed to get Matt to stop hugging me, but I couldn’t keep him from crying.
“I mean…” he continued crying. “You… I thought that you were mean… but… you can’t possibly be mean after… after you say something like that.”
“I know,” I said. “It’s awfully sweet of me.” I started to shoo him back into the door.
“You’re so nice… you’re so nice. I need a tissue,” he sniffled. “I need…” Slam! This time I shut the door.
“Hmm?” I said. “I take that as a yes.”

Chaper two: Trouble in School

Chapter two: Trouble in School


Baseball is going great. Coach has put me at starting pitcher just as I have always dreamed. I really love playing, especially because all of my teammates like me. When I was ten, none of my teammates liked me. I don't know why, it's not like I stunk or anything. That was the old days; now I'm in college. The way I'm playing, I am certain that I will make it to the MLB. There is just one problem; I heard that I need a GPA of 2.1 in my school work. In school, I was always an average student; I mean I could pass... barely. The highest grade that I have ever gotten was a B-. My skills in baseball kept on getting higher, but my grades kept on slipping. I don't know what I am supposed to do. I figure I should just go to sleep, seeing as it's late. Maybe I'll do well in school if I have a good night's sleep.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Click! I turned off my alarm clock at 6:15 A.M. I got up, took a shower, got changed, brushed my teeth, and headed out the door. I felt nice and awake. I haven't gone to sleep at eleven o'clock in awhile. My first class is math. I hate math; I don't see why I have to do it if I'm going to be a baseball player. I don't do very well in math; my grade points in math alone are a 1.1. Ouch! I have to do better than that. That probably explains why my teacher doesn't like me. I found my desk in class, got my pencil and notebook out, and now I am ready to study.
"Alright guys," my teacher said. "Today is test day. I assume that you guys studied... as I told you to."
My eyes got pretty wide. Wide like an owl.
I can't believe I forgot to study! I thought to myself. As if he can read my mind, the kid next to me slapped me right on the forehead.
"Ow! What the heck was that for?"
"I saw your facial expression," he said. "Don't think I don't know what you just thought about."
"What!?" I asked.
"I'm on to you Evans. Just remember, I'm always watching you."
"Shut up already, Erwin."
"It's Matthew."
“Whatever,” I thought.
"Daniel is there a problem?" my teacher asked.
"Well... uh... I... don't look at me! Erwin started it!”
"It's Matthew!"
"Don't butt in on our conversation, Erwin. This is a conversation between me, and Mr. Hendricks."
"Daniel!" Mr. Hendricks yelled.
"Ah! Sorry sir."
"What is the problem?" he said angrily.
"No sir, there is no problem."
"Daniel didn't study for the test!" Matthew yelled.
"Erwin! I told you to stay out of our conversation. That's very rude." I said.
"What?!" Mr. Hendrick yelled. "You didn't study for the test."
"Well... not exactly."
"It's a yes or no question, Dan! Did you, or did you not study?"
"Yes! I did study." I lied. "You see, I don't know what Er..."
"Stop right there!" Mr. Hendrick yelled. "I have heard enough. We'll see if you studied or not by the results of your test."
Phew! I'm glad that's over with. I thought.
"By the way," my teacher added. "I prefer that you call Matthew by his proper name."
"Yes sir." After the test was over with, I waited nervously all by myself in class. Mr. Hendrick made me wait while he corrected my test. After he was done, he gave me my paper back with a giant, circled, red "F" on it.
Shoot! I thought. On the bottom of the paper was a note. It said:
Daniel, please see the principal. Normally, I don't send kids to the principal if they have failed; but you didn't study, and you lied.
I had a very big scolding from the principal when I told him what I did. That made me try harder for the next test.

Out for Good?

Out for Good?


Introduction

This story is about a boy named Daniel Evans, whose dream it is to play Major League Baseball. He receives a scholarship at Harvard because he is such a talented player. He does great at practice, but his grades are slipping in school. Will he be able to conquer this problem? This story is COMPLETELY FICTIONAL!



Chapter One: Packing for College


My name is Daniel Evans. Ever since I was little, I have loved baseball! My dream has always been to be in Major League Baseball. All of my friends said that I was good enough to make it. My parents, though, they were a whole other story. They said that I was just little. According to them, every little kid wants to be in the MLB. They said I was just dreaming. They wanted me to be a lawyer! Yeah, in their dreams. Look at me now. I just got a scholarship to Harvard University just because I am good at baseball. Not because I am smart… BASEBALL! I’ve got a pretty good shot at the MLB. Right now I am packing for Harvard.
“Good-bye, Daniel,” my dad said. “I’m very proud of you.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Good-bye, Danny,” my mom said. “I’m… also very proud of you.” My mom just got through that sentence without crying.
“Good-bye, Mom.” I gave them my hugs and kisses and then headed off to college.
When I finally arrived, I almost fell asleep I was so tired from the drive. I grabbed my suitcase full of stuff and found my room. Luckily, I had no roommates. I had the WHOLE room to myself.

The Best Gift Ever

THE BEST GIFT EVER

It was a sunny day when two great friends played at the park. One was named Nick. He is twelve years old and his friend is Amanda. She is eleven years old. No one could describe their friendship. They sat next to each other on the bus. They let each other eat their lunch if one forgot theirs. They'd stick up for each other. Amanda and Nick were the best of friends on earth. On the playground, they were playing tag. After awhile, they both got tired. Nick went and got their packed sandwiches from a bench and met Amanda under the slide.
"Hey, Nick?" she said.
"What?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Yea, anything," Nick said.
"Do you..." she stuttered. "Do you want to know who Jesus is?"
"Oh, not this again! I already know who he is. He's the fairy tale who died on the cross to pay for my sins so I can go to heaven; whoopty doo!"
"He's no fairy tale Nick," she said calmly. "He's real."
"Not anymore! He died on the cross if you remember," Nick said irritated.
"No, remember he rose again three days later."
"Yea, whatever," Nick said. "Just... let's change the topic."
Both friends sat there quietly eating their food. Amanda finished her sandwich and waited for Nick to finish. As soon as he finished his last bite, Amanda touched him and said, "tag your it!" Nick chased after Amanda trying to catch her. Nick started to catch up and then Amanda stopped. She fell on her knees and started to cough.
"Amanda!" Nick said running over. "Are you okay?" She continued to cough and cough.
"Someone help me!" Nick yelled. A man ran over to where he was and called 911.
"Amanda! Hang in there," Nick said. Amanda tried to say something but she kept on coughing. Now she started to lay down and curl up.
"Just relax," Nick said. "Take deep breaths." She tried to relax but the coughing was just too much. Every time she breathed in, she coughed out. Next, she started to stop coughing, and started to close her eyes.
"Amanda, don't go on me, please," Nick said trying to hold back the tears. The ambulance arrived but it was too late. She was gone.
"Amanda! NO!!"
Two days later, Amanda's funeral took place. The preacher kept on talking about how she is in heaven, and that she is happy. Nick didn't want to hear one more second about God and Jesus. He was mad at Him, he said that God let Amanda die. The next morning was a Thursday. Nick sat in the same bus seat he and Amanda always had. He wouldn't let anyone touch her specific spot though. Not even a flea. The sun was on the side of his seat shining in his window. The sun shined on something that reflected into his eyes. He noticed the reflection came from the floor. He leaned forward and saw a necklace on top of a yellow, small paper. He put the necklace beside him and read the note.
Dear Nick,
I've been sick for a while now. I knew I wasn't going to last much longer. Right now I am happy; I am in Heaven. If you ever want to see me again, trust in God. He's the only way you will get to Heaven. In case you forgot what I told you, I wrote down a little prayer for you to say. You can say this in your head, but you have to mean it with all of your heart. Here it is:
Nick stopped before he read the prayer. That day at school was rough. He got in two fights because two kids made fun of Amanda. He couldn't concentrate during any of his subjects. Especially math, that was the only class he and Amanda were in together. They were both in the middle of the front row. He kept on looking over at Amanda's desk, trying to picture her sitting there, and then down at his papers. The next time he looked over, he saw a man with a beard and long brown hair holding Amanda in his arms.
"Trust in me," He said.
"Please," Amanda begged in the man's arms. Nick thought the man was Jesus so he rubbed his eyes and the picture was gone. Just an empty seat.
That night, Nick had a dream of Amanda and him running in Heaven; then a big word that said "trust" smacked him in the head and he fell out of Heaven and into his bed. He then woke up.
During lunch at school, Nick reached in his back pocket to give the lady his wallet. He opened it up and reached in to grab money. Without looking, he accidentally handed the lady the note that Amanda wrote.
"This ain't money, Nick," she said sternly.
"I'm sorry Ma'am," he put the note back in his wallet embarrassed. He gave the lady money and sat down by himself. A kid named Charles sat down right next to him.
"Are you sitting by yourself because you don't have your girlfriend here," he mocked.
"She's not my girlfriend," Nick said crunching his teeth together.
"Then why do you always hang out with her?"
"Because she's my FRIEND! Not GIRLFRIEND!"
"Yo, yo... relax," Charles said. Nick's face turned cherry red.
"I think I want to eat your face right now, it looks like an apple!" Charles said laughing. Smack! Nick picked up his tray and smacked his mashed potatoes in his face. Charles wiped the potatoes off of his face and punched at Nick. Nick swooped out of the way and poured his juice down Charles's shirt. Nick ran out of the lunch room and out the school door. He fell on his face in the parking lot grass and started to cry. He heard Amanda's voice in his head. It got louder, and louder, and louder.
"Trust In God!" He reached in his back pocket, grabbed his wallet, opened it up, and grabbed the note. He skipped down to the prayer. He repeated it in his head meaning it from his heart:
Dear God, I know I'm a sinner, and I know that since I have sinned, I can't go to Heaven. But you sent your only Son to die on the cross. He then was buried and rose again three days later. God, I believe that you did that, and I want to thank you for doing that. Please come into my life and save me. I accept your free gift, Jesus Christ. Please forgive me of my sins; in Jesus name, Amen.
Nick really meant that prayer and he was certain that he would go to Heaven when he died.

THE END

Epilogue: He ended up dying at seventy-nine years old and he and Amanda played tag in Heaven...for a long time!

Out of the Galaxy: Part 2 of Walking on the Moon

Out of the Galaxy
Part 2 of Walking on the Moon

After dinner at his mom’s house, Willie went home… an astronaut!
Willie woke up the next morning with an idea. An idea so great, it would put him and all the other astronauts to shame! He wrote his idea down on a blueprint and headed off to NASA. The man who helped Willie with the rocket, Jerry Parker, approached him.
“Why, if it isn’t Moon Walking Willie,” he said. “Weren’t you just here yesterday in your spaceship?” he joked. “Why are you back?” Willie handed Jerry the blueprint of his idea.
“You want to go out of the galaxy!?” Jerry asked surprised.
“Yes, sir, I do.”
“Well, the design of the rocket looks pretty good,” he grinned at Willie. “You know Willie? You’re pretty smart; none of our guys here at NASA could design something like this. Come back in three months and we should have the money and supplies you need.”
Willie couldn’t believe that NASA would already start on a project only three months after he walked on the moon. Willie’s goal is to go into outer space twice in one year; so he told NASA that they need to build his rocket fast.
Again, Willie was at his Mom’s house. Ding-Dong! His mom opened the door.
“Holy cow, Willie!” his mom screamed in surprise. “You have not been at my house this consistently in years!”
“Mom, I’m going out of our Galaxy.”
“What! You can’t! I won’t let you.”
“What! Why?”
“People have had trouble just by going into space,” she paused, “Including you. Now you want to leave our galaxy!”
“Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll be fine.” Then he left.
Finally, the long three months passed. Willie and Jerry met near the large pile of supplies. The date is, September 1, 2000. NASA and Willie would have to build a super advanced rocket that goes out of the Milky Way in a little less than four months to complete Willie’s goal -- to go to space two times in one year.
Time passed and they were now in November. Luckily, the rocket was almost done. Right now they are working on putting a camera onto a pole attached to the ship. It could not create too much weight. Willie was on a fifty foot ladder that went to the top of his ship. He was attaching the pole onto the rocket.
“Jerry!” Willie yelled. “Could you hand me the screwdriver?”
“You’re going to have to come down and get it yourself, I’m busy.” Willie sighed and started to climb down the ladder. As he approached the first step under him, he tripped. He had forgotten that he had tied his shoelaces to the ladder so he wouldn’t fall. He swung forward and smacked his head on the step of the ladder.
“Willie!” Jerry screamed. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just have a huge headache.” Willie pulled himself up straight and untied the shoelace from the ladder. He started to walk down again. Slip! Willie forgot to tie his shoes and he slipped on his lace. Down, down, down, down, he went and onto the hard concrete floor. Jerry ran over to where Willie was.
“There’s no way he survived a fifty foot drop.” After he said that, Willie opened his eyes.
“Willie, how did you survive?” Jerry asked.
“I’m flying this mission,” Willie demanded. He got up limping and started to climb up the ladder.
“Willie,” Jerry stopped him. “I know you want to reach your goal but it’s not safe to be injured in space.”
“I’m not injured!”
After building and building, it was time. December 14, 2000, and Willie was inside his spaceship. The name of Willie’s ship was written on the side of it: “Super Hydro Monster.” Willie did not know what it meant; he just thought it sounded like a science name. The camera was set, the engines were hot, (all sixteen of them), and the citizens of America had their televisions on. Finally, NASA started the countdown; 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1… Lift Off! The rocket was shaking, Willie was scared, and the ship… reached space.
“Hello stars, I’m back,” he said. To get up to space, he only used three engines, now he turned on the other thirteen. Willie’s thermometer said he was going four hundred miles per hour. His speed and his altitude kept on increasing! One thousand miles per hour!
“WooHoo! I’m going fast!” Willie screamed. Willie just thought of something.
“What’s going to happen when I leave the galaxy? Will my ship heat up with fire like when it leaves the Earth’s atmosphere?” Suddenly, Willie got really scared of what was about to happen. After a couple of hours, the ship started to jerk. At one thousand miles per hour, the ship started to shake like a bucking bull.
“Come on!” Willie screamed. “Is that all you got?!” Next, the jerking stopped. Willie thought that he had made it so he turned off all of his engines. Willie turned the Super Hydro Monster into auto pilot. He floated to the back window and saw something that dazzled his eyes. He saw… the Milky Way Galaxy. Willie fainted. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He heard some bangs on the roof of his ship. Willie got a rope, tied it to himself, opened the latch above him, and tied the other end of the rope to a little handle he put on his ship for this reason. Willie started to float up until the rope was all the way stretched out. He did not see anything on top of his roof. He decided to stay up just in case. Out of the corner of his eye, Willie saw something green. He whirled around… but saw nothing. Willie stared and stared in the same spot. The green thing was back in sight. He could only see a little of it though. The thought of an alien came to Willie’s mind. Willie’s mother always told him that aliens weren’t real. Expecting to see a huge, giant, hideous alien… a little green blob appeared on the roof. Willie could now see the entire green thing now. The blob was about as round as a soccer ball, but flat. He was all gooey like snot. The blob slid over to Willie and started to sniff his foot. The blob then squealed a hideous loud sound that hurt Willie’s ears; then it jumped off of the ship and floated off into the distance.
“Whatever,” Willie thought. As Willie was looking around, he saw a giant rock the size of a large in-ground swimming pool coming at him.
“Whoa!” Willie screamed. He got himself inside of his ship and turned off auto cruise.
There were no satellites near his camera so no one could see what was going on. He also didn’t have contact with NASA.
“That’s enough sightseeing for me!” Willie yelled. He swerved his ship to the left but the rock hit the side of it. The ship started to spin like a tornado. Luckily, Willie was able to get back into control of the ship. Willie blasted his engines and entered the Milky Way Galaxy going one thousand miles per hour. After a while, he saw Earth. He entered the atmosphere going way too fast, for he turned off his engines too late. Now, he was out of the atmosphere and entered the Earth’s sky. Willie yanked back on his steering stick but it wasn’t pulling the ship up. Straight, straight, down he went with no control at all. The point of his ship dug straight down into the Earth’s hard rock. Half of Willie’s ship was in the ground, and half was sticking up. Willie climbed up the spaceship as best as he could. He opened the back latch, looked up, and yelled excitedly when he saw that he luckily landed at NASA. After a bunch of pats on his back and cheering, Jerry came up to him not happy at all.
“Willie,” he said. “You passed your goal. You took off in 2000, but you landed in 2004.”
“I was up there for four years! Time really flew. Why are you so upset?”
“Your mother was very worried and had a heart attack. She didn’t make it.” Willie stood there very shocked. He just walked to his car and drove home. Willie had quite a journey. He decided to retire from being an astronaut. Also, he retired from his job. He earned one billion dollars for doing two missions. It was sad that his mother died, but at least he made her proud.
“If you have the motivation to do it son, I’m sure you’ll be walking on the moon just like old Neil.”

The Good and Bad Eye

The Good and Bad Eye

My name is Henry Jones. People always laugh at me as I walk by. Want to know why? One of my eye is green, while the other is brown. People don't know yet, but my green eye sees truth, while my brown eye sees much, much, more. The first day I ever actually used my gifted eyes was last month. A kid named Erwin goes to my school. His style, well, he had tight pants that he pulled up to his belly button. His teeth were covered with braces, he had red hair, he had huge glasses, and his face was spotted with freckles. Like usual, the two bully, popular kids went up to Erwin and slammed his books out of his hands. I saw the whole thing. One kid lifted Erwin up by the collar of his shirt and slammed him against the locker!
"Hey, Erwin," the kid said in a mocking voice.
"Yeah, hey, Erwin," the other kid echoed. "We need your lunch money."
"I don't have any," Erwin said.
I watched as the two kids urged Erwin for his money. I covered my brown eye while watching out of my green eye. What I saw was, me going up to those two kids and stopping them dead in their tracks. The kids started to make fun of me and started to call me a suck-up. I didn't like that picture, so I uncovered my brown eye, and covered my green eye, watching through my brown eye. In that picture, I walked up and grabbed Erwin out of the bullies' hands.
"Erwin," I said. "Give them the money now!" He just stared at me very scared. I turned him around, grabbed the back of his neck, and gave him a pressure point.
"Do it!" I screamed. He started to cry and scream. Erwin then gave me the money, I gave the bullies the money, and they wanted me to be their friend. Before I answered, I quickly uncovered my green eye for I did not like that picture either. When I started to look through both eyes again, I just saw what was actually happening. The two bullies were still holding Erwin up against the locker demanding his money. Then I thought, "Those kids are the most popular kids in school. If I do what my brown eye showed me, they'll love me, and I'll be popular too." I loved the thought of that. So you probably know what I did next. I walked up to Erwin, and gave him that pressure point. Soon, every day, I was hanging out with those two bullies more than ever. Man I wish I never did that. Now, I find myself getting suspended from school, failing classes, and, worst of all, losing my parents' trust. Yeah, it was cool to be popular, but I did not feel good. I felt sick inside.
Right now, I am waiting for my two friends by the principal's office. I don't why I am going to do what I'm about to do right now. Finally, I spotted my friends. One's name is Tristan, the other's name is Joseph.
"Do you guys got the silly string?" I asked.
"You bet we do," Tristan said. "Joseph," he handed him the bottle. "Henry," he handed me the bottle. "And me." I haven't been looking through my green eye every time something bad was about to happen, just my brown eye. So I looked through my truthful green eye and saw only me. It was a picture of me looking through my green eye; that's all. Then I looked through my naughty brown eye, it was a picture of me looking through my brown eye.
"I wish it gave me a picture of what is going to happen in the office," I thought. Suddenly, I noticed my friends staring at me confused as I was covering my eyes.
"You guys ready?" I said fast.
"Yeah," they replied at the same time. We ran in there while the principal was studying some papers. We lifted our silly string cans and started to spray. As Tristan and Joseph were distracted spraying, I dropped my can and covered my brown eye. I saw me taking the cans away from my so called friends and giving them to my principal. I apologized for what I did just then and all the other things I did in the past. I uncovered my brown eye and started to cover my green eye. Before I saw anything, I stopped. Forcefully, I pulled my hand away from my green eye, walked up to those kids, snatched the cans from them, gave them to the principal, and apologized.
"Henry, I forgive you now, and for all the other times," he said. "Since you stopped what you were doing, and stopped these two, you will not be suspended. As for you guys -- I have not thought of what I am going to do to you. Henry you may leave. Tristan, Joseph, you can stay here while I have a little chat on the phone with both of your parents." As I left the room I felt good. Even as a watched the tongue of Tristan sticking out at me. I got home and happily told my parents what I did today. At that moment, I decided to never cover my green eye again!

Walking on the Moon

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." July 20, 1969 is the date Neil Armstrong said that -- the day that he was on the moon! A kid named Willie Hopkins and his family didn't miss one second of the moon landing that was broadcast on television.

"Mom, someday I'm going to go to the moon!" Willie exclaimed.

"Son, if you have the motivation to do it, I'm sure you'll be walking on the moon like Neil is right now."

Willie was determined he would make it to the moon no matter what. He didn't need NASA either. He could build his own rocket and fly into space all alone. Willie listened to his mother's words, and thirty-one years later, in the year 2000, at forty-one years old, he was ready to start his journey. He had a great plan to build his rocket. He went to college and majored in science and engineering. His only problem was he didn't have enough money to get the supplies. Willie decided to start doing some fundraisers. He stood on the side of the road selling hot dogs. That got him a couple hundred dollars.

"That's some good money," Willie said. "But it isn't enough to build a rocket." Finally, Willie quit being stubborn. He wrote a letter to NASA that said:

Dear NASA,

My name is Willie Hopkins. I was born to be an astronaut. I went to college and everything. The thing is, I need a lot of money. So I was wondering if you could help me out with my rocket. I want and need to be the thirteenth man on the moon. Please, please help me out.

Sincerely,

Willie Hopkins

Willie was a little doubtful that NASA would help him, or even respond. Surprisingly, exactly two weeks later, a letter from NASA was in his mailbox. Willie jumped up and down when he saw the envelope. He ran back inside to his house squeezing the letter to death. Willie ripped up the envelope and read:

Dear Willie,

Usually we would say no to someone requesting to walk on the moon after so many years. But we love your motivation! Come on down to NASA and we'll get started right away.

Sincerely,

NASA

Willie was starstruck. His jaw was opened so wide it started to hurt his mouth. So he closed it. After moments of silence, Willie dropped the letter and jumped up, then down, then up, then down, and repeated that for five minutes. Then he picked up the letter, shot out of the door, and entered his car. Ding-Dong! Willie rang his mother's doorbell. His seventy year-old mother opened the door.

"Why, Willie, what a pleasant surprise," she said. "What is it?"

"Mom," Willie said. "I wrote NASA a letter to tell them I need help with the rocket and this is what they sent me." Willie held up the letter trying to look and sound disappointed to trick his mother.

"OH MY!!" his mom yelled. "Your going to be on the MOON!" Willie joined her and shouted too.

"I am going to watch you walking on the moon on television. Make sure you wave," she added.

"Why, Mom, you don't even have to bring it up. I'll being waving my hands in the air like a wild man!"

Two days later Willie was at NASA. A man who was without hair, had a beard, and had a mustache walked up to Willie and shook his hand.

"Hello, Willie," he said. "My name is Jerry Parker. I will be helping you with your rocket."

After a lot of working, one year later, the rocket... was ready! The launch was filmed on TV. Willie's mom had her hand over her mouth for she was shocked that her own son would be walking on the moon. Finally, they started the countdown. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... Lift Off! The rocket flew into the sky followed by a huge flame of fire. Bursting through the Earth's atmosphere, Willie reached space. The rocket disconnected from his ship. Stars lit up Willie's wide opened eyes. He thought that he was in a dream... so he slapped himself.

"Ouch! I sure ain't dreaming! This is real!" He nailed it -- Willie was living his dream that he had since he was ten years old. After he was in space for awhile, they stopped broadcasting it on TV. After a three-day journey, he reached the moon. He was back on television. He landed his ship on the moon. Everything was going great. The landing was perfect, and he was on the moon. Willie wanted to top Neil Armstrong. Neil jumped off of the ladder, but Willie did a back flip off of the top rung. That made NASA mad.

"Willie, there will be no fooling around up there."

"Don't worry, Houston, nothing harmful happened there."

Like Willie promised, he "waved his arms like a wild man." His mom touched the screen of the television to say hi back. Of course, Willie didn't notice. Well, after walking on the moon, Willie climbed into his spaceship and headed back to Earth. As Willie was flying his spaceship, one of his engines went out. The ship went very lopsided.

"Houston, we might have a problem," Willie said. After he said that, they stopped broadcasting it on television.

"Oh no," his mom said. "I can't see my baby boy anymore. I hope he makes it." Boom! Another engine blew! The ship started to spin and spin and spin in a spiral.

"Houston, this is not good!" Willie screamed while puking.

"Just hang in there, Willie! There's nothing we can do!" BOOM!! The last engine blew!

"Mayday, Houston, all engines are dead, I repeat, all engines are dead!" Willie screamed.

"Willie, there is a nearby space station," NASA said. "We have contacted them and they are hanging a rope down from the station. All you have to do is open the latch above you, jump, and you'll float right up to the rope!" Willie followed his orders and opened the latch. He saw the station right in front of him with the rope hanging down. He jumped... up, up, up he floated... but he missed the rope. He started to float right over the station.

"Houston, I have missed the rope! I repeat, I have missed the rope!"

"Willie! Come on!" The crew threw a rope out of the hatch on the roof of the station.

"Grab it! Grab it!" one man yelled from inside of the station. Willie swung his arms out in front of him and grabbed the rope.

"Hold on tight!" the man yelled. The zero gravity started to make him float away from the rope, but he held on with one hand. The man pulled him in with all of his might and, finally, Willie was inside.

"I can take you home on my spaceship," the man said."Oh, by the way, my name is Robert."

"It's nice to meet you, I'm Willie." Willie saw a pistol tied up to a table nearby.

"Um... what's... what's that for?" Willie stuttered.

"Oh that!" Robert said. "Don't be scared. I believe in aliens. You never know when one might come up to my station."

"Oh," Willie said still feeling suspicious. Willie was about to say something and then, BAM! Willie got punched in the face by Robert. Next thing Willie knew, he was floating at the top of the station.

"You're never going to see Earth again," Robert said.

"That's what you think!" Willie yelled and forced himself back to the floor. BAM! Willie returned Robert's punch with an even harder punch. Willie ran to the space ship, started the engines, and headed home.

"I guess you'll never see Earth again!" Willie yelled as he flew away. A couple days after traveling, the Earth was in sight. There was no way of contacting Houston so Willie was anxious to get home and surprise everybody. Next thing you know, Willie's ship was on fire, (in a good way, he was going through the atmosphere)!

"Sir, is that Willie?" one guy from NASA asked. "As a matter of fact it is!"

Willie put out his landing wheels and landing smoothly at NASA. Everyone at NASA shouted and cheered when Willie stepped off of that ship. Willie drove home and rang his mom's doorbell. She opened the door and her eyes went very wide.

"Willie!" she screamed. "You made it!" Willie and his family had a huge dinner party and Willie told them how walking on the moon was, he told them about Robert, and, last but not least, he told them that his dream had been fulfilled!

Chapter 9 Home

Chapter 9
Home


Finally the canal was finished. The year was 1914 and a lot of sailors were going through the canal.
“Well Richard,” George said. “It has been an honor for you to work on this canal.
“Thank you George.” Richard went to his wagon and started on his long journey back home. Richard stopped for lunch at Aladino’s house. He knocked on the door and waited for Aladino. Aladino opened the door very fast with a rifle in his hands.
“Who is it!” he screamed. He lowered his rifle, “Richard! What a surprise! Just in time, I have lots of tacos and quesadillas ready to eat!”
“That’s exactly why I came here,” Richard said. “I had to have one of your taco one last time.” Richard ate the tacos and quesadillas and talked for a little. Then he was on his way to home again. It was very late when Richard got back to his apartment in New York. He walked in very quietly so Rachel wouldn’t wake up and think he was a burglar. He walked over to the bed and tapped on Rachel’s shoulder. She rolled over and her eyes got very wide.
“Richard!” She held up the letter.
“They had a little miss understanding,” Richard said. Rachel ripped up the letter and threw it in the garbage. She jumped up and hugged Richard very tightly.
“So the canal, is it finished?” she asked.
“Yes it is,” Richard replied. “It turned out very nice too.” Both Richard and Rachel went to bed and lived happily ever after; and Richard never went on a long journey without Rachel again.
The End

Chapter 8 The Happy and Sad Day

Chapter 8
The Happy and Sad Day


Once David got back from writing the letter he went back to the mountain, picked up Richard, and brought him back to George.
"Set him on the bed," George ordered. Richard started to move a little.
"He's alive?" George said. George went over to Richard and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Richard, Richard can you hear me?" Richard rolled over and nodded his head.
"He's alive!" George yelled out loud. "I've got to say, you are a tough young man." Richard smiled feeling good about himself.
"What's the last thing you remember, son?" George asked.
"Well, I was in some hole, and then it went black. Oh! Now I remember, I was putting dynamite in the hole to blow the mountain. But I still don't know how it went black!"
"I'm afraid we have bad news, Richard," one man said. "David sent a letter to your wife saying that you died."
"Then I'll send another one saying I'm alive," Richard said. The man shook his head, "We are all out of ink." Richard lied in the bed shocked.
"She's probably so worried right now," Richard said.
Richard got up from his bed and got on a boat. George ran after him, "Richard! Where are you going?"
"Back to work," Richard said.
"But... do you even feel good enough to work again? I mean you just smacked your head on rocks."
"I feel fine," Richard replied. As Richard's boat got closer to the mountain everyone at the mountain looked over that way.
"Who could that be?" David asked. David got in a row boat and paddled over to the boat.
"I'm sorry sir but, the canal isn't open yet," David said. "Please turn back around." Richard leaned over the wall of the boat.
"I'm actually here to help," Richard said.
"Richard!" David exclaimed. "It's... it's really you! How did you survive."
"I'm not quite sure," Richard said with a smile on his face. David looked over at everyone at the mountain and screamed, "He's alive!!" Everyone jumped up cheering and jumped in the water to greet Richard.
"Be careful of gators!" Richard warned them. Quickly everyone swam back to the island going very fast. When Richard and David got back, everyone gave Richard a pat on the back saying how tough he was.
"I bet we could shoot Richard right in the head and he'd survive!" one man said. Everyone laughed in agreement. Richard was laughing so hard and then he stopped. His face was very serious, then it began sort of sad.
"What's wrong Richard?" David asked.
"My wife doesn't even know I'm alive, while we're here celebrating, she's probably home crying." Now everyone was silent. Richard headed back on his boat and that was both a happy and sad day.

Chapter 7
The Letter

David got up and pulled Richard onto the land.
"Does anyone know where Richard lives?" David asked.
"I do!" a man replied.
"Who are you?" David asked.
"My name is Carl. Me and Richard go way back. The last time I saw him is when he was standing next to a sheriff and the sheriff told me to go home. We were best friends 'till then. In fact, I am the one who shot the gator off his back. That's when I found out that he was working on the canal too."
"Carl," David interrupted. "I asked where he lived."
"Oh right," Carl said. "He lives in the same house that he lived in when he was a kid. At eighteen his parents died and he owned the house. At twenty-two he married a girl named Rachel. They haven't moved since. Why do you need the address anyway?"
"Just give me the stupid address!" David yelled. Carl gave it to him and David left. David wrote a letter to Rachel and it went like this:
Dear Mrs. Rachel,
I'm afraid I have some terrible news for you. We had to blow a hole through the middle of a mountain to make a path through it for boats. We dug a five-foot hole to put the dynamite in and Richard was the one to do it. When he turned around to leave, he smacked his head on the rock. I managed to pull him out of the hole, but it still wasn't far enough. The explosion made him fly backwards along with me. I am terribly sorry for your loss, but I just would like you to know that Richard was the hardest worker there was; and the toughest. One time an alligator grabbed his foot and pulled him right into the water. He was getting twirled around faster than a tornado. He was able to hold his breath and fight off the gator. We came and a man named Carl shot at the gator but hit Richard right on the back. Richard was still alive and Carl shot again and finally hit the alligator. Richard was able to swim up and get on our boat. I'm surprised he didn't survive the mountain crash. Once again I'm terribly sorry for your loss.
Sincerely,
David Du Bose Gaillard
David put the letter and all of Richard's pay in the envelope and sent it in the mail.

Chapter 6 The Gaillard Cut

Chapter 6
The Gaillard Cut


A whole two years has passed and the canal was still not close to being done. Richard was helping with the locks when John Stevens came up to him and said, "Richard, I have some news that you won't want to hear." Richard stopped what he was doing immediately and looked at John.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I am quitting Chief Engineer," John said.
"What?!" Richard exclaimed. "Who's gonna take your place?"
"I talked it over with George Goethals, next year he is gonna take over."
"Why are you leaving?" Richard asked. John shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know." Just don't like it here. Richard, I want you to tell everybody tonight about my decision."
"If you say so," Richard said. At eight o'clock that night, Richard spread the news.
"Can I get everyone's attention!" he yelled. "We have bad news, and good news."
"What's the bad news?" everyone asked.
"The bad news is... well... John is quitting Chief Engineer." Right after Richard said that everyone got really loud with shock.
"What's the good news?!" they yelled.
"Next year, George Goethals is taking John's place," Richard said. The crowd was silent with disbelief.
"Thanks for all of your time," Richard said. That night Richard thought a lot about the canal. As he was thinking, he fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Richard woke up to a man tapping on his shoulder.
"Hi there," the man said. "I'm David Du Bose Gaillard." But you can just call me David."
"Hi David, I'm Richard. Why did you wake me up?"
"Follow me son, and you'll figure it out." David brought Richard on a boat ride through the canal. As they were riding, they stopped when they saw a big mountain in front of them.
"The reason I woke you up is to show you this mountain," David said. "Do you expect to get ships past this mountain?"
"No," Richard said. David picked up a bunch of dynamite.
"With this dynamite, we are going to blow a hole right through this mountain so people can get past." David said.
"When do we blow the hole?" Richard asked.
"Right now." Richard and David went back to where everyone was sleeping and woke them up telling them the idea. A couple hours later everyone was ready and they went to the mountain. A couple of men dug a little whole in the mountain to place the dynamite in.
"Richard," David said. "Do you mind doing the honors?" David held up the dynamite.
"Sure." Richard took the dynamite and crawled into the five-foot hole with a match. He lit the match and put it on the fuse. When Richard lifted his head to turn around he smacked his head on the mountain. Richard got knocked out.
"Get him out of there!" David screamed. David grabbed Richard's feet and pulled him out of the hole. He got Richard about five feet away from the hole when the dynamite exploded. The force of the explosion made Richard and David fly all the way back to the edge of the land. David landed on top of Richard onto the hard rock. They bounced into the water and everyone ran over to where they were. David came up from under water pulling Richard up with him.
"Are you okay?" one man asked.
"I am," David said. "But Richard... he didn't make it."

Chapter 5
Another Dream


As Richard was lying in bed he started to fall asleep. He had another flashback. It started exactly where it ended from.
Richard helped Rachel to her feet.
“Bring me to my dad,” Rachel said. “He’s a doctor.” Rachel told Richard where she lived and Richard carried her all the way there.
“Rachel!” her dad screamed. “What happened?”
“She saved my life,” Richard said. Rachel’s dad looked at Richard confused. “I was about to get hit by a car and your daughter saved me.”
“Rachel, you did that for this nice young man,” Rachel’s mother butted in. Rachel nodded. Her mother smiled at Richard. Richard looked confused.
“Ma’am, did you hear wrong?” Richard asked. “Rachel did this for me.”
“I know, you just seem like a very nice boy,” she said. Rachel’s father looked directly at her mother.
“Don’t even think about it, Martha,” he said. Richard started to catch on.
“I think Rachel’s mom wants me and Rachel to get married when we get older,” he thought to himself.
“Get out boy,” Rachel’s father said. “Rachel needs to rest.”
Richard walked out of the house, meeting his friends right outside of the door.
“Wow!” one said. “A girl saved your life.”
“Your point?” Richard asked.
“Girls are stupid,” he said. Richard tackled his friend in anger.
“She saved my life!” Richard screamed. “The only one who’s stupid is you Carl!” Carl rolled Richard on his back and threw a punch.
“I get straight A’s in school and you know it!” Carl screamed. Richard rolled Carl on his back now and he punched Carl. Richard jumped up and walked away. When Richard left, Carl got up too.
“Get him!” he screamed. The five boys all chased after Richard. Now Richard was running fast. He found a police officer.
“Officer!” Richard screamed. “Those boys are trying to beat me up, I need help.” Richard stopped next to the officer feeling safe. When Richard’s friends got to where he and the officer were they stopped.
“Boys,” the officer said. “Time to go home.” Richard grinned directly at Carl. Carl stuck his tongue out at Richard.
“Thank you officer; I don’t know what I did,” Richard said. The officer grinned at Richard, but it was like the officer could read Richard’s mind. That grin was saying that he knew Richard did something to get those boys mad.
“Richard, Richard,” a nurse said. He woke up from his long dream. “You were out for two hours.”

Chapter 4 The Alligator

Chapter 4
The Alligator


Richard woke up and it was morning time. The sun was up and it was a hot day.
“I better get moving,” he said. Richard finally arrived at Panama after 43 days. Everyone there was speaking Spanish.
“How am I ever gonna find someone who speaks English?” Richard asked himself.
“Hello there,” a man said. “How are you today?”
“I’m doing okay,” Richard said. “I’m just trying to find someone in charge of the canal.”
“Well then you found him,” the man said. “I’m John Stevens and this is my friend Colonel William Gorgas. I will be the Chief Engineer and William is the Sanitation Officer. He will get rid of all the mosquitoes that cause yellow fever.”
“Nice to meet you,” Richard said shaking William’s hand. A month later they started on the canal. Richard found a path in between sharp rocks and put buoy on each side showing what path the boats have to take so they don’t hit the rocks. He started to leave to see what he had to do next and something grabbed his foot. Richard looked back and an alligator was biting his foot. Richard screamed at the top of his lungs.
“Someone help me!” he screamed. The alligator pulled him into the water. Richard got on its back and started twirling it around. The alligator bit his hand and dragged him under water. Richard tried to punch the alligator but it did nothing. The alligator wrapped Richard up and twirled him so fast he began to get dizzy. It was hard for him to survive because he couldn’t breathe and he was dizzy. Richard looked up and saw a bunch of people in a boat. One man leaned over and shot his gun attempting to shoot the gator. Richard saw blood and thought that the man shot the alligator; but the gator kept on fighting. Richard looked at himself and saw that the blood was coming from his back. He started to yell and yell. Luckily he was under water because he screamed loud. He heard another gun shot. When he saw blood he checked himself. When he turned back around he saw the alligator sinking to the bottom. Richard swam back to the top and got in the boat. He collapsed on the hard wooden floor.
“Sorry about your back mate,” the man with the gun said.
“Hey I’m not dead, the gator is,” Richard said. John Stevens was on the boat.
“You’re a tough man, Rich,” John said. “Everyone else who got attacked by a gator didn’t come back up.”
“You’ve got a long breath too,” William Gorgas said.
“Which spots hurt?” John asked.
“My foot, hand, and back,” Richard said. “The alligator grabbed my foot and pulled me in the water. Then, he bit my hand and pulled me under water. Then! Someone shot my back!” The man who shot Richard grinned looking embarrassed.
“Well, we’ve got to get you some rest, you’re injured,” John said.

Chapter 3 The Dream

Chapter 3
The Dream


The next morning Richard decided to head out. He thanked Aladino for being so kind and giving him delicious food. Richard started to walk away when Aladino stopped him.
“Richard! You’re not gonna walk the whole way are you?”
“It’s not an option; my wagon got destroyed.” Along with all my stuff.”
“Take my wagon; I don’t use it.” Richard looked at him.
“Are you sure?” Richard asked.
“I’m sure.” Aladino showed Richard where the wagon was and he gave him some food, blankets, and pillows.
After eighteen hours of traveling Richard parked his wagon on the side of the dirt road. He ate one of the tacos that Aladino gave him for a late dinner; then he went to bed. That night Richard had a dream; but it wasn’t an ordinary dream. It was a flash back of when he was a kid. It was twelve years earlier when Richard was twelve years old in the year of 1892. He was playing with all of his friends. They were playing football in the road. Richard got the ball and started to run. One of his friends tackled him and Richard smacked his head. There was a car coming and it didn’t see Richard. He tried to get out of the way before he got hit. The car was getting closer and closer. Just as it was about to run over Richard, a random ten year old girl that he didn’t even know jumped in front of the car and got hit. Richard got up forgetting that he even hit his head. The girl was lying on the ground barely able to open her eyes.



“You saved my life,” Richard said.
“There was nothing else to do,” she said. Richard helped her to her feet.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Rachel.”

Chapter 2 The Chase

Chapter 2
The Chase


The next morning Richard got in his wagon getting ready to go.
"Don't forget to write to me every day Richard," Rachel said.
" I won't," Richard said.
"You promise?"
"I promise." Richard was wearing his nice blue overalls with a green, plaid, long sleeve shirt. As he started to leave in his wagon, Rachel stopped him.
"You better promise me, right now, right here, that you will never wear those nice clothes that you're wearing right now while you're building the canal.
"You've got my word." Finally, Richard left their apartment and Rachel became a small little dot.
Five hours later Richard stopped for a lunch break. His wagon went three miles per hour and he planned to travel eighteen hours a day. It should take 41 days of traveling. "Thirteen more hours of traveling for today ," Richard thought to himself. When he finished one of the sandwiches Rachel packed for him, he went back on the road.
As Richard was driving a guy in a car pulled up next to him.
"Hey Mr." the guy yelled. "This is 1904!"
"I beg your pardon," Richard replied.
"Cars were invented nineteen years ago!" The man in the car turned to his right side and leaned down as if he were picking something up. When he got back to sitting upward, he had a shot gun in his hand. Richard quickly drove away from the car. The man shot and hit the bag of sandwiches Rachel made. They fell on the ground behind the wagon and the car ran them over.
"What did I ever do to you!" Richard shouted.
"No! It's what you didn't do!" the man shouted back.
"What in the world are you talking about?!"
"You didn't upgrade!" Richard didn't reply this time because now he was completely confused.
"You have a wagon!" the man shouted. "Everyone else has a car! The man drove up right next to Richard. He had the sights aimed right on him. Right before the man could pull the trigger, Richard jumped out of the wagon and on to the hard dirt road. A second after that, Richard heard the gun shot. The bullet hit the front wheel of the wagon and the wagon flipped, crashed, and everything was destroyed. Richard stood to his feet and stumbled on every step he made. When he reached the wagon all his stuff was destroyed. He tripped over one of the wheels, hit his face, and saw only blackness.
Richard woke after many days and saw a man hovering over him with a taco. The man had a mustache with a cowboy hat. His skin color was in between white and black.
"Ole' senor," The man said with an accent. "Taco?" Without answering, Richard snatched the taco and gobbled it down.
"Where am I?" Richard asked.
"You are in Mexico, my home."
"How did I get all the way to Mexico?" Richard asked.
"Well," Aladino said. "I was in Pennsylvania visiting relatives, and when I started on my way back home, I saw you lying on the side of the road. So I brought you to Mexico to help you out."
"Well, thank-you, luckily this is where I was heading. I'm heading to Panama."
"Let me guess," the man said. "You are helping with the canal?" Richard nodded his head.
"Hey do you have a name?" Richard asked.
"Si, my name is Aladino. What's yours?"
"Richard."
Aladino started to laugh his head off.
"I don't see what's so funny," Richard said.
"That's what your mother named you! Richard! Out of all the names in the world that's your name! Let's name our son Aladino, no let's name him Richard," Aladino said sarcastically. He started to laugh some more. Richard cracked a smile too. He couldn't help laughing even though his name didn't sound funny.

The Panama Canal

Introduction

The building of the Panama Canal is a real event that went on in the early nineteen hundreds. Richard Coleman is a fictional character in this story. He and his wife (Rachel) live in New York City and Richard is out of work. He hears about the building of the Panama Canal. Richard decides to go to make some money.

Chapter 1
The news


It was a sunny day in New York City. The sky was blue, and there were no clouds. Richard and Rachel decided to go to Central Park to have a picnic. The grass was greener than ever, and they found a nice shady spot under a big tree. The newspaper for today was in the lunch box. It was 1904 and Richard read the news and had a great idea.
“Americans are going to Panama to build a canal,” he read. “Workers will get 29-59 cents an hour.” Richard stared at Rachel with wide eyes.
“I don’t know what to say,” she said. “I mean… that’s good money but… I… how long would you be gone?”
“It doesn’t say,” Richard replied.
“Well… what’s the purpose of this canal anyway?"
“The paper says that it starts at the Atlantic Ocean, crosses through Panama, and ends at the Pacific,” he answered. “So, I would assume it’s for travelers to cross through without having to go all the way around South America. “Look,” Richard showed Rachel a map on the newspaper. “Panama is the last country under Mexico; it is right over South America. Sailors always have to go around all of South America to get to the west side of North America. Now they’ll be able to cut right through Panama. Because…"
“Okay I get it!” Rachel yelled. Tears were filling her eyes. “Panama is touching South America and six other countries are above making a line ending with Guatemala which touches North America.
“Rachel, why are you acting like this?” Richard asked.
“The newspaper says Panama is 2,218 miles away from New York!” she yelled. “Having you that far away for a couple of years… it’s just… I can’t even think of it!”
“I know how you feel,” Richard said. “But, we’ll make a lot of money.” It’s a great idea for sailors. Richard sat there waiting anxiously for Rachel’s answer.
“I guess we should go home and get you all packed up to leave tomorrow.” When they got home they packed up and Richard would leave the next morning.