The Diary of Ariana Thomson: Day 4

New York at last!  Last night, we arrived and visited so much.  Times Square was so grand, you would think you could fly up to the top.  The colors brought so much life in the night.  The Empire State building rose so high above our little car, you had to squish your face against the window to see the top.  It seemed so majestic. 

            Today, we are visiting the Statue of Liberty.  From where we are, it seems as big as a thumb.  We were lucky to get onto the boat just before it started to rain, and not wait outside.  We were allowed to go to the top!  Not up to the headdress, but up through the arm!  I was VERY excited until a crazily strong wind pushed against the arm, while we were in it.  I heard a crack beneath us, and the floor tilted vertically.  We fell through the air and the whipping of the wind on us mixed with the sound of our screams, creating a beastly sound.  The sea started to get closer dramatically.  My family and I had nothing to save us.  Panic rushed through my veins.  

            Automatically, my arm reached into my pocket and before I realized what I did, I found myself facing Benjamin Franklin again in the printing shop I saw him in before.  He looked up at me as if I had done something really deceiving. 

            He spoke, "Ariana."

            I thought his glare would turn me into ashes if he could, "Y-yes?"

            "The next time you use the ring, you might even go back an entire month.  After, a year maybe, and then a lifetime.  Give me the ring now.  Right now, you will go back to the beginning of your trip.  If you give the ring to me now, I will try to make you go back only one day.  Don't you want to live your life?  Give me the ring now."

            "The ring has saved me twice now.  Who knows what sickness I could have caught without it?  I would also have died falling from the Statue of Liberty.  Give me some time."

            "You will regret it," he disappeared and I was back in the car driving around New York at night.  Benjamin Franklin was kind and allowed me to go back only until last night.  I think he wanted me to think of his proposal.  

The Diary of Ariana Thomson: Day 3

We left Boston that morning and were headed to Plymouth. Our first stop, the Mayflower.  Inside, there were people dressed and acting as the pilgrims and captain.  Everything was great, except for one thing: I forgot one of my coat layers.  I kept trembling since the wind was so strong.  How did people survive back then? 

            "Mom, can we go back to the hotel, I forgot one of my coats and I'm freezing!" I said.

            Mom looked at me and sighed, "The hotel is about an hour away.  We'll waste so much time from our visiting for one coat."

            I wanted to tell her how much that "one coat" would keep me warm and not allow me to have a cold.  Yet, it seemed pointless.  Except for one thing; one hope: the ring. 

            Before my mind got to far into that idea, my conscience told me, "Beware of the ring."  I'll go back and remember to take my coat.  But what if as I went back, it didn't occur to me to take the coat?  I wrote on a small piece of paper, Take your coat, you will need it later.  So I slipped on the ring, and I was asleep in my bed at 3:00 a.m. the night before we left for Plymouth.

            As I woke up, I got ready for the trip.   I changed into my jeans and noticed something crackly in a pocket.  I pulled it out.  A small piece of paper with my writing on it saying, Take your coat, you will need it later.  I wasn't sure why I needed my coat, why the paper was in my pocket, and why it had my writing on it.  But I did take my coat, realized I had written the note and why I took it as we observed the Mayflower and the freezing wind billowed onto us.

The Diary of Ariana Thomson: Day 2

            It was hard to wake up since it was extra early for us.  We left soon enough, and I made sure to take my ring with me.  We started off in the USS Constitution, a boat, also nicknamed, Old Iron Sides, since it had iron sides to protect it from cannon balls.  It was about 214 years old!

            We took a tour inside it and since I easily drifted off, I fidgeted with what was in my pocket, the ring.  I accidentally slipped it on.  The people in the tour faded away and in their places were sailors, running frantically around.  The old walls changed from old and crackly to bold and fresh.  The sailors crowded around the cannons, aimed, and a sailor said, "Ready to fire, Captain!"

            A tall man came up with a few scars on his face.  He nodded at the sailors and they shot the cannon with a terrible sound that made me fall and knock out on the hard wooden floor.  My last feeling had the ring falling off my finger. 

            When I woke up, my parents were shaking me.  "Ariana, wake up!"

            I slowly opened my eyes and spotted something shinny on the floor near my head.  The ring!  I grabbed for it too quickly for anyone to notice what I had caught.  I quickly slipped it into my pocket. 

            "I'm fine," I finally said.

            My parents smiled and we continued with the tour. 

            Later, we sailed on another mini boat to the big city of Boston.  I slipped on the ring and saw myself in an old merchandise boat arriving on the harbors near some old settler's homes.  I hurriedly took it off.  I was back at the loading of the boat and then arrived to the point where I had worn the ring.

            We left to a restaurant.  Dad told us a lot about this restaurant and how it was important in American history.  I mean come on!  Churches, houses, boats, and now, restaurants???  What next, the privies?

            Anyway, I had other reasons for not listening.  I was planning to find out on my own the history of this restaurant the fun way.  I slipped on the ring and found myself looking at many men standing around a machine.  Some men held some little rectangular blocks.  Others held pieces of paper with fancy curvy writing on it. 

            A very familiar man pressed down on a lever and lifted it again.  From under the plaque that had been pressed down, he pulled out a piece of paper with wet ink letters on it.  He hung it up on a wire.  He looked at me directly in the eye.  Everything froze around him. 

            "Beware of the ring," he said.

            "Why should I trust you if I don't even know you?" I asked.

            "I am Benjamin Franklin.  Haven't you heard of me?"  Before I could answer, he continued, "The more you use the ring, the further you go back in the past when you take it off.  The further you go back, the harder it is to back to the present."
            I remembered when I went back at first, right where I was meant to in the present.  Yet the second time, I wore the ring when we were on the boat, and came back at the time at which we loaded into the boat.  I knew better than to disagree with Benjamin Franklin, but I wasn't convinced to give up the ring.  I had never enjoyed history as much.  Should I give it up for going back in time?

            As if reading my thoughts, he said, "Right now, you might not find the trouble, but sooner or later, you'll go back too many years ago to be able to live until the day when you first appeared on Earth.   Get rid of the ring if you ever want to see your own life."

            Without even taking off the ring, Benjamin Franklin disappeared and I found myself at the hotel, getting ready to leave for the USS Constitution ship.  The rest of the day, I didn't wear the ring, but kept fidgeting with it, thinking over and over again Franklin's words, "Beware of the ring."

The Diary of Ariana Thomson: Day 1

"Can I watch TV?" asked Toby, my younger and 6 year old brother.  We arrived at the inn about half an hour ago.  It is now currently 12:00 at night. We left early this morning at 8:00.  I guess you would say that's not that early.  So it was average! 

            We ended up leaving 1 hour late!  The drive was a bit frantic, but we ended up catching the flight. 

            Finally, the airplane started.  The motor roared and sounded just like an ocean tide climbing up the beach and the waves crashing in the endless ocean.   We got a few shakings, but all was fine. 

            Our first stop was in Atlanta, Georgia. Next, we'd take another plane to go to Boston, Massachusetts.   

            Things started to happen on the second flight.  The plane shook dangerously for about an hour.  All the passengers were calm, but I could tell they started to worry.  Another shake.  I looked back at the aisles and saw the seats swaying.  I tried to read a book to not worry, but I was pulled out of my reading by another tremble.  I imagined us falling onto the land with a crash and an explosion.  Slowly, the trembling came to an end, leaving us worried for anything that moved. 

            We landed safely.  I got my bags ready and Mom said, "Ariana, please check the front pocket one last time."

            "I already checked it!"

            "You never know.  Maybe you don't remember putting a pencil in there."

            Reluctantly I checked and found something.  A ring with miniature images all over it.  People fighting, victories, people writing an important document. I just didn't know how much that ring would mean to me. 

The Ghost Hunt Story Sample

Some time after our first ghost incident, Alex and I were walking to the kitchen to eat breakfast.  When suddenly, we both saw a ghost in a white sheet eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Alex and I wondered who this ghost might be.  When the ghost was done eating, he came off the chair and started floating across the room to the door that lead to the backyard without noticing us. We bent down to hope we’d find a pair of feet under the white sheet. But there were no feet to be found.  This thing was really floating!

We rubbed our eyes hoping we were only dreaming.  But once we finished, the ghost had already gone through (literally) the door  that led to the back yard.  The ghost had just disappeared of sight. 

“I think we’re only dreaming,” Alex said.   

“Well, I’m not certain about that,” I replied.  “Let’s catch that ghost.  Then, let’s find out who’s trying to scare us.”  And she started walking to the backdoor. 

“Wait a minute,” I said.  “Shouldn’t we get some energy before we try to solve this mystery?  I’ll get the cereals.” 

           As we ate our cereal, I tried to figure out who was that ghost.  But I still remembered when the ghost went through the door.  Could it just be an illusion?  The only way to find out was to get that ghost. 

        After we ate our cereal, we were at the door with our nets, and bringing all of our courage together.  After we did that, we slowly opened the door, ready to catch the ghostly thing. 

What we saw was very unusual.  We saw the ghost, swinging on the swing.  He did not see us, so we crawled to him.   

        “Ready,” I whispered to Alex.  “Set, Go!”

A Ghost in the Kitchen Story Sample

The Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

 One morning, when I went in the kitchen to eat my breakfast, a ghost was eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!  I was ready to panic when I recognized something weird on the ghost.  The ghost didn't wear a white sheet at all!  Instead, he wore an indigo sheet! I giggled a bit and then thought about Alex, my little sister.  Alex's favorite color was indigo.  I took one last peek at the ghost, and then tiptoed back to my room.    

   “Atchoum!” I suddenly heard.  I almost got freaked out. 

   I thought about telling Alex what I saw.  She might like the ghost because her favorite color was indigo.  I stepped into Alex's bedroom and saw something that moved right under her covers.   

   “There’s Alex,” I whispered.  I slowly lifted the covers in case she was still asleep.  And right there, in front of my eyes, I saw Alex's brand new puppy, Fluffy. 

   When Fluffy saw me, he jumped out of bed and was heading for the kitchen.  Without even thinking, I ran after Fluffy.  He soon turned out to be in the ghost's arms, and I turned out to be looking straight at the ghost.  

The Bubble Hiccuping Cowboy Story Sample

It was a warm day in Texas where the cowboys lived.  And today, a newborn's cry could be heard.  This young man was called Hardy.  He grew up and became a strong child.  Just one little detail about him was just not right.  He kept hiccuping bubbles. 
            When he grew older, rumor spread of a powerful sorcerer moving into town.  Hardy decided to go see this sorcerer to help Hardy get rid of his hiccuping problems.

So he left at the break of dawn to this sorcerer's home.  When Hardy arrived, the door slowly creaked open leading into a dark room.  Hardy stepped in and jumped as the door slammed shut behind him.  Suddenly, candles started flickering on one by one, as if by magic.  The light revealed an old man with a sort of menacing look.  Hardy gathered his courage and asked the sorcerer for a remedy to his unusual case.  The sorcerer got up, and left to another room.

When he came back, he held a potion in his left hand.  He had a wicked smile, but Hardy imagined that was how the sorcerer acted Monday through Sunday.  

The sorcerer told Hardy, “Here, drink this potion as soon as you get home.  You will see effects instantly.  Hardy took the potion and started home in the shadow of the sorcerer's evil laugh.

Finally, home.  Hardy opened the bottle, drank it, and... basically found out the sorcerer was no good guy at all!

The Secret of Cynthia Story Sample

Cynthia here, Cynthia there, Cynthia everywhere!  Cynthia smart, Cynthia great... oh whatever!!!  This Cynthia is really annoying me! 

Since the day she arrived in my school, I’ve been out of control!  How does she know so much? 

       Once, I asked her, “Why is their more than one subject at school?”   

       She would look at me as if I were no smarter that a fly and easily answered, “Because the world has more than one thing to learn.”  And she'd just walk away.

        Another time I asked her why people made up witches if they weren't even real.  She bit her lip and looked like someone had a pistol in front of her face.  Then she realized I was still there, waiting for an answer.  

        "Um...  I believe they wanted to teach nosy girls to restrain themselves or the witches would come after them."

        I was very satisfied with her answer until the next day when I found out she was talking about me. 

I kept asking her weird questions (like she warned me not to) but she answered them all as easily as my first one.  Yet, I never asked her about witches again.

Something was up with that girl, Cynthia, and I was sure to find out.  Until yesterday...

Crocheted Goodies

Freedom and Me Story Sample

So there I was, walking home from school when I found a nearly shriveled up flower.  It pained me just to see it.  As delicately as I could, I picked it up and brought it back home with me. 

            I ran straight to my room.  I filled a small bowl with water and placed the wilting flower in it.  I might have sworn the flower sighed in relief at the feeling of the water circulating through her stem.  I smiled and finished my homework. 

            That night, I woke up at a bright silvery blue light in my room.  I rubbed my eyes and looked to where the light came from.  The flower!  

In Search for a Home Story Sample

The Perfect House

Once, there was a bluebird.  She had just escaped from her home-tree, which was now in flames because of a natural fire.  The poor little bird didn't dare look back.  She didn't want to see her parents roasting.  They weren't as lucky as their child whose name was Felicity. 

Felicity wasn't a bad bluebird at all.  Her feathers were sky blue, her beak nicely pointed, and her legs very strong since she was still a young chick. 
Inside, she had a beautiful loving heart.  Her tiny brain could contain millions of thoughts and an extremely big knowledge.  She had used this knowledge to escape safely out of her tree without having a single feather burned.  Her parents appreciated her knowledge and wonderful thoughts.

Now, those times were all over.  Felicity's parents are stuck in the deepest part of their tree, and this time, Felicity can't get in and out without surely burning too.

Felicity now had to look for a new home.  She thought of going to the cave she saw on the horizon.  It was the cave she had wished to explore when she was just a baby.  It seemed so full of treasures.  Today, she would finally find out.  Felicity hoped it would make her smile and stop thinking of the fire, but whatever she thought of, she couldn't quite get her mind off what had just happen. 

         When she had finally arrived in front of the cave, she noticed that it was darker than what she saw from her tree.  It was indeed a little scary, but she had to find a home, so she flew in calling out in a high pitched voice, "Is anybody here?"  

Adorable Little Hair Clips!

A Dark and Scary Night with a Ghost Story Sample

Hi!  I’m Annie!  Privacy is cool.  Don’t you think?  I do.  I just can’t be left on my own in the dark.  I hate the dark.  It makes me tremble, wanting to scream.  I get the goose bumps along with a cool chilly wind.  Miserably, last night, (gulp) I was on my own.

Here is how it all happened.  It was 8:00 p.m.  Time to go to bed.  My mother gave me a small gentle kiss and pulled the door ajar so the light would not bother me and I would not feel alone. 

I woke up from a terrible nightmare.  I opened my eyes.  The door was still there and there was no light in between the wall and the door.  It was pretty hard to see.  I turned my head to my digital clock.  It read 11:59.  “Wow!” I thought.  This might be my first time being up at midnight.  I tried hard to keep my heavy eyelids open for just a few more seconds. 

Finally, 12:00!  I cheered under my covers with the biggest and brightest smile on my face.  Finally I calmed myself.  I thought of giving my wonderful parents a small kiss each to not get woken up and really, just for fun.  I got out from under my warm and cozy covers into the toasty heater air mixed with the chilly air from outside. 

In their room, it was so dark; I couldn’t see the bed or the other objects.  So I was forced to use my skills of memory to know where I needed to go and where all the obstacles were.   It wasn’t that hard, really.

I bent down and the moment I felt something beneath my lips.  I released a kiss.  It was certainly a weird cheek.  It was gentle, but also chilly and squishy.  It was the covers.  I searched more around the bed.  All I could feel was the pillows and the covers, but no parents.  My excitement was replaced with fear.  I called loudly “MOM, DAD!  WHERE ARE YOU?”  No answer.  “THIS IS NOT FUNNY,” I called this time with a trembling voice.  Still, there was no answer.  It was easy to tell, I was left alone.  

Handcrafted Doilies

Here are some handcrafted doilies.