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Wiki posting #6 Post the beginning of your short story from in-class activity.

After a long and exhausting day at work, Lucio was finally home. He rushed in throwing his car keys at the center table and quickly ran upstairs. “Mom! Mom!” Lucio yelled, but there was no reply. “Roger ..!? Dad!?” where are you?” He demanded. But still there was no reply, except the wildly barking of the neighbors’ dogs as if forewarning an unexpected coming. “Mom! Where are you?” He asked. The house stood silent. Lucio searched all the rooms upstairs, but no sign of mom. It seemed strange to see the house so lonely and Lucio did not comprehend what was going on. It was Friday and the whole family was supposed to be packing up and heading to visit grandma in Texas. There was no sign of his brother Roger or of his Dad, which really did not make sense since both cars were parked outside the house. In the kitchen Lucio found slices of bread set in the table with cut tomatoes and freshly washed pieces of lettuce. The fridge was half open and a broken plate rested in the floor. The living room was unusually disorganized with toys spread all over the couches and the floor. It seemed that Roger had been playing, but strangely the empty box of toys was broken from one side. “Roger! Mom! Dad! It’s not funny! Where are you?” He shouted with a shaking voice. Suddenly he heard “Clok clok!!!” “clok clok”! Lucio alarmed and frighten immediately turned. “clok clok!” The sounds became louder and louder each time. “Mom!” … is is is that you?” He asked. He decided to follow the sounds and suddenly he found himself in front of the basement door. “whooo who ‘s there?” He exclaimed. The basement door was half way open so he slowly pushed the door and one by one went down the stairs. His trembling feet reached the basement floor and the sounds became more and more intense. When he approached an old counter that stood against the wall the sounds became even more extreme. His shaky hands pushed the counter to the side. To his surprise he discovered a small, old, and wooden door that seemed to be the source of the sounds. He felt silly for being afraid of something so insignificant and began to laugh, but suddenly he heard knockings on the door. **His heart was pounding. He was sure he had seen the door knob turn.**
 * Uninvited Guest**
 * (Rosana Nunez)**

A Strange Day in July As a small girl, I remember this strange day in July the weather was unusually cool and I can still recall the wind blowing through my curly hair. Now as I look back it was probably a strange day because that was the day we had buried our dog Jordan. My big bother and I were devastated, that was the first thing of ours that we had lost. My mom brought us here to remember the good times that we had with Jordan. Man was he a good dog. I remember every Saturday me and Mondo would come to the creek and we would skip rocks on the water. I was so envious of Mondo because he would always make the rocks skip three or fours times on top of the water and I always threw my rock directly into the water. Maybe if I practiced more I would be able to skip the rocks too but I would love to play with Jordan. I would toss sticks into the water for Jordan to fetch them and he would throw his big hairy body into the water all care free like. This day in July, I sat next to my mom by the water and asked her "Why is the water so calm today Mommy? It is usually loud and the water fights the rocks, how come it's so different today?" My mom told me that " The creek was sad just like me and Mondo because the creek would never see Jordan again". Not sure but after that I felt a little better because Jordan was loved by the creek. But the one thing that stuck out to me on this strange day in July was that Mondo was playing at the edge of the creek and **he threw with all his might, but the third stone came skipping back**. (Mariana Mojica)

Mr. Linden's Library—A Vine of Life

I'll never forget the chill up my spine, a knock on the door, a change in the air. I knew because they hadn't come home that night. I had a great life, parents that loved me, a warm home and a prestigious school. Now it all changed, no more embraces or the sweet smell of violets from my mothers perfume. My name is Sophie, I' m 13 and for the first time I met my estranged uncle, Linden.

These hills in which my new life began, where none that I had seen before. The mist was thick, trees hung low, weeping and swaying to the dance of the breeze. The smells were sweet, musky, almost like a fresh rain. I felt like my new life was taking place in a far away land where a castle was hidden in the depths. As the car rounded the last bend, I saw it. This gorgeous white Victorian mansion that held four stories to its name. Why hadn't my parents shared this place with me? I felt a draw to it, a pull in my inner soul that made me both fearful yet longing to play. The decking wrapped clear around the house but showed pain. It was old, paint peeling and a slight slant to the right. But it didn't matter to me this was my new home. As I slowly approached the front door the steps creaked with every move. I tried to tip toe my self up, looking down as I advanced. These were never ending steps at this pace I thought. That's when the door creaked open and I saw him, Mr. Linden. He was an aged man, scruffy, tall and slightly bent forward. I felt my voice stuck in my throat. My parents had taught me manners and this was most definitely the time to curtsy. I felt shameful, bashful and the full moon wasn't helping my rosy cheeks. He looked at me as if I was an abomination, the last thing he ever wanted to see. It was then that I knew this was no fairy tale. He led me into the old house, shadows cascading down the staircase lit only by candlelight. I felt lost, a sense of hope gone and there was that chill again. A chill that brought me back to the memory of forever being with out my beloved parents. I followed him to my room and we parted good night. Well more like he dropped my suitcases and walked away. Why was I here, why did this happen to me? What did I do to deserve this new life, had I upset someone? The next morning wasn't any better, nor the next few days. Every morning there was breakfast set out but no sign of Mr. Linden, where did he go I wondered?

I began to explore this enormous house room by room. Many of the areas of the house were open and filled with art, vintage pieces, sculptures, plants, and then but vacant. All they held were mounds of dust and the life of insects that took to the corners. Then there was the library. This was on the third floor of the house and something you couldn't miss. This was what I had been missing, all of my books. My interests were all left behind, all I had was a suitcase and a photo. But this, this was rich with life! My words were lost. Maroon tapestries clung to the wall covering twenty-foot windows. A gold shimmer hung in the air, mist lingered on the floor and I felt that same longing. This place was magic, I felt lost at the hundreds of books that filled the shelves. I walked out onto the lush gold carpet, and became mesmerized in the buttery feel of the cotton between my toes. Everywhere I looked I saw art, sculptures, globes, maps, a life that was full of adventure. This could not be Mr. Linden who has uttered nothing since my stay, starring vacantly through me as if I wasn’t there. I wanted to touch everything, feel the spine of these stories and dive into a world that would let me forget, take me away. I spent hours in here. It was my sanctuary, a home away from home. It wasn't tell I heard Mr. Linden speak that I knew it was dark. His voice was soft, pleasant, and smooth, unlike his coarse wrinkled skin.

" Careful.... Things are not as they seem my dear, some will pull at you taking you places you cannot imagine," he said.

Taking me where? What does he mean? I’ m reading a book what could possibly happen? He was more delusional than I thought, poor Mr. Linden! He waited as I put the book away and I felt his cold presence soften a bit as he watched me drift to my room. I laid in bed, tossing and turning, dreaming of far away lands. I couldn’t get the stories out of my head I could feel the book calling to me. I woke in a cold sweat my heart pulsing threw my shirt. I needed to read more. I got out of bed, grabbed the candlestick by my bedside, and tip toed to the library. There it was waiting for me on the shelf. I felt a pull to it like it was shimmering just for me. I hid it under my nightgown as I inched back to bed. Curled in my bed the book felt so warm next to me like it was alive. I stayed up for hours reading, flipping through pages like candy. (“He had warned me about the books, but now it was too late”). I was lost in a lavished forest, with lush green ferns, willows, vines, and flowers so strong I could taste the sweet nectar dripping from the petals. Birds flew low dipping down, gliding so effortlessly their wings were barely heard as they stroked the air. I walked with ease slowly pulling at the fan leaf that seemed five times my size, as it rounded my body I hopped in front quickly so that it would not knock me forward. As I caught my breath I looked ahead almost smacking straight into two large, yet thin orange sticks that were blocking my view. What on earth could possibly be that thin and tall and orange? So I looked up figuring it was the only plausible solution. At the same moment an enormous shadow began to engulf the rays of the sun shining down, making it impossible to see above. I squinted trying to adjust my vision but all I saw was a large blurry shape that seemed to be that of a bird’s head. It moved quick, becoming larger and smaller. As my focus came in to view I saw the most gorgeous color combination: sunburst orange hinted with a fusia pink, tapered with blood red, drawing down the neck blending a cobalt blue and moss green. This bird was an exquisite beast standing a good 30 feet high. The flume of feathers stretched outward layering colors on colors. It seemed to be a cross of an ostrich’s shape, paradise colors, and that of a peacock. What felt like minutes the bird had finally lost interest and continued on. I blinked several times trying to grasp this tangible world. Everything was either larger or smaller than normal, and I could not tell if it was me. I followed the path forward skipping over rocks, admiring the cascading falls, and stopping to dip my toe in the cool springs. This was bliss! This was a world I needed, a world far from reality where I didn’t have to feel the pain of loss. Everything felt so right, so perfect. I felt my self slipping down into a deep sleep, falling, plunging into a darkness that stretched across my mind. The air around me felt weak and I could not stop falling. It was not until I felt the earth under me move that I was able to wake. It took me a moment to realize the ground started to rumble, slowly at first. I saw little pebbles dancing off the earth, shaking the dirt off. Then I felt rocks tumbling down cliffs, birds fleeing for their lives and I sat there helpless. I had no idea where to take cover or what was about to happen. I jumped to my feet and ran in the direction I had come from as fast as I could. But it was gone. The enormous leaves had found there way back to their original stance, and there was no trace of my footing. All was loss I thought. How did Alice find her way back? Was this Wonderland, another part of it she hadn’t explored? As I stood there thinking I felt a large thump to the back of my head, knocking me to the earth. I squinted above only catching a glimpse of the large bird moving past me in long strides that took it away forever, and than it was dark.

I woke to the sun shining through my faded yellow curtains in my room. I sat up feeling exhausted, as if I had been sleeping for days. Mr. Linden most have heard me shift in bed because before I could utter a word he was in my door way peering down at me. He looked at me like I had done something wrong.

“Did I miss breakfast?” I half smirked hoping to lighten the mood.

“You missed breakfast my dear. You missed three breakfasts,” he spoke.

“Three? But how can that be, I just went to bed last night?” I said.

He walked over to my bed and sat at my feet.

“Well my dear those books I warned you about in my study. Those are not ordinary books. Those are books of adventure, life, stories that I have been chasing all my life. I never use to be this way. I knew love, I knew adventure to the ends of the earth. But I fear now my mind can no longer hold up what I cherish most. I’m sure you wondered why your mom never mentioned me, well it’s because I have not lived much of my life in this realm. Those books are enchanted, taking you into their spines and making you apart of their reality. I came across the lot of books when traveling through the Bermuda Triangle. A tribe there had warned me like I warned you but fortunately I learned quickly how to find my way back out. But if you can not you can become lost in that world for eternity and you body here in this realm will perish much like mine is now. I am sure you wondered why my age is so much more dramatic than your mothers. That is due to the books. I look 80 because the strain the books have put on me. But in actuality I am only 51 years of age. You are much like me I am afraid and I know that Cynthia could feel that too. You cannot ever read those books again, I am afraid you cannot handle the emotional tug. Maybe one day when you are healed I can pass them on to you. You are my family now my dear, what is mine is yours.”

I could not believe what he was saying, was this the same Mr. Linden from the other night? Was he really only 51? Enchanted books?

“So what happened then,” I said.

“Well the books are fine to read when you’re awake but once to drift to sleep they pull you into the pages making you a part of it. I am assuming that’s what happened. You took the book to bed and once you fell asleep the book came alive. It took me some time to close the book because with this particular book the vines and flowers crawl out the pages surrounding you room making it difficult to reach you.”

“So my room was covered in what I saw in my dream,” I asked.

“ Yes very similar. Did you see her?” he asked me.

“ See her? Who?” I responded.

“ The Bird! The most mesmerizing creature I have yet to see in all my travels. She stands 30 feet high and her colors are bursts of the sun with splashes of blues and green. I have never seen anything like her. And I have traveled there many times to see her again but I have only caught a glimpse just once,” I could see the sadness in his eyes as he told me.

“Yes,” I told him and I saw his face brighten and his wrinkles disappear. It was as if his age had diminished and he was a young man again.

“ Well than maybe we can travel there someday…Together,” I could hear a bit of hopefulness in his voice and tenderness that wasn’t there before. Together I thought. That sounds pleasant, that sounds like something I can look forward too. Something right. He rose, smiled and said,

“Lunch is ready my dear.”

I grinned, lunch. Ha! I threw back the sheets, smiled and followed My Uncle out.

The End…
 * TashaBoyd---**

One day on a hot summer afternoon, a girl was very bored with nothing to do. Living in Georgia where the sunbeams down and when you walk outside you brake out into a complete sweat. Her family and her live on a farm with her backyard almost identical to a forest, but in Georgia. This was a mucky hot forest of her own as she called it as a toddler. It is a relaxing area for her to cleanse and to simply be a kid. Just like a normal 10-year-old little girl skipping through out the forest looking for different God hidden features. Looking down she found a skinny small stone. She could have turned to her right and skipped it across the lake, but this stone was different amongst the others she has found throughout her forest adventures. She bent down to search for more and found 3 more identical stones. It was hard to make out what these objects were, but she knew at the first sight it was unlike the rest. While running home she could not stop thinking about how much these stones would be worth. She took a break to stop and she stood there still staring; were they from the Stone Age? Were they from the pirate’s decades ago? Where would I ever go that would know? (Alina Abbate)

The Third Floor Bedroom As I walked up the staircase, a draft came through the upcoming hallway. The floorboards creaked under my bare feet as I approached the top of the stairs. My chest began to ache as the attic bedroom came into view. A year had passed since I had said my good-byes, and I thought I’d never return to the last place that I told him how much he really meant to all of us. The room was as I remembered, simple and small. The breeze coming through the open window was brisk and smelled fresh of magnolias and spring. I peeked past the wooden sill to see a flock of birds far out on the horizon. They were free to come and go as they pleased but were always meant to stay together. The birds were so far but felt close enough to each other that I didn’t feel alone. It reminded me of the dove patterned wallpaper on the wall next to me. The doves were evenly spaced appearing to be in mid-flight with one bird missing from the wall. I had not noticed that it wasn’t there. All I could think is that he was gone and that one by one we were all meant to leave this place and find our place among the birds. It was hard enough to enter this home once more and the draft I felt had led me back to that third floor. Perhaps that was him inviting me to one last conversation, or maybe the breeze was my last chance to escape this place for the very last time. For whatever the reason, the calling that is, it all began when someone left the window open. Amber Archila “If there was an answer, he’d found it there” Once upon a time there were four best friends. There were two girls and two boys, the first girl was Melody, and she was 8 years old. The second girl Maleny, she was also 8 years. The first boy was Juan; he was 8. The second boy was Jaime and he was 8 as well. They went to the same private school, same classroom; they lived in the same neighborhood. One day in their way to school two strangers boys came up to the four friends, and they started to grab their backpacks and hitting; the four friends were screaming and crying asking for help. They did not know what to do. They went to school without their homework and they got in trouble because they did not want to explain their teacher what happened with their backpacks because the two boys were too aggressive and they were afraid of them. The next morning the four best friends were walking to school with their lunch box and new backpacks. Suddenly, they heard a noise; the two boys were coming toward them with big sticks trying to hit the four friends. The four friends were scared of them because the two boys were older and bigger. Sadly, this happened for few weeks and the four friends did not do something to protect themselves; they were scared of the older boys. The four friends did not go to school that morning because they did not have the supplies to go to class. Melody suggested going to a different place and making a plan to stop those boys. They decided to go to the river and talked about it. They wanted a world free of violence, they wished for a world full of peace for all the children in the world. They just wished for **another place, another time** because they could not find a way to get rid of those boys; they were always around them**. (Blanca Guzman)**
 * Another Place, Another Time **

Father said I’ve met him before, but I don’t remember. Sasha wasn’t even born then. Father said “everything will be ok”, but even at seven years old I knew things had to be terribly bad for them to send us away. Mom couldn’t even get out of bed anymore and great uncle Guy was the only one who would take us. (I know because I heard father on the phone with Aunt Marcy and Grandma Joy). I’m not convinced that we’re even related to him. My sister sat next to me in her booster seat, her head heavy on my shoulder. She was my responsibility now. The April sun greeted us as we exited the car; someone should tell God that sunshine is for happy days. That’s when I saw him. Great uncle Guy was taller than my father and had a brown and white beard that reached to his worn out leather belt. There was nothing familiar about this man. “Well are you coming in or aren’t you?” Noticing that I was alone on the porch, I quickly stepped through the doorway and joined Father and Sasha on the couch. Sasha wrinkled her nose then coughed and sneezed at exactly the same time. Things like that used to make me laugh. I understood exactly why she had mad that sound because there was no denying the place had an odd smell about it. After two minutes I was sure the stink was sinking into my skin, preparing to use my body as a puppet. It wasn’t long until father left; I could tell he wanted to get back to mom as soon as possible. Uncle Guy said something about supper and left the room. I wasn’t hungry. Sasha is little and she doesn’t worry like me. I can tell she’s getting bored so I tell her we should find something to play with. We look in an office, a bedroom and two closets, but I don’t see anything that that makes me think kids have ever been here before. I found some paper and a black pen, but Sasha doesn’t think black counts as a color so we look for something else. I open another door and turn on the light. It’s another bedroom; I’m not impressed, but Sasha goes in and I follow her. She walks right up to the back wall and gasps “look Josh, they’re real!” I look and see her little hand stroking a bird that has been painted on the wall. As I get closer I notice that there are even a few feathers attached to the painting. I wonder who painted it. Whoever did it is pretty talented. “Look, there’s another one” I say and point to the wall above the desk. Sasha runs to inspect it. We didn’t find any toys, but at least she found something to look at. I notice several other birds at various places around the room; this should keep my sister entertained until dinner time. “How do you think they got here?” I ask. “Well, __it all started when someone left the window open.__ The birds were having a race and they were flying SO fast! They came in the window on accident and went BAM into the walls and got stuck up there!”. “Like this?” I asked and slapped the wall hard enough that the door rattled on its hinges. Sasha giggled her adorable four year old giggle and I couldn’t help but laugh. I didn’t know it, but she was taking care of me too. (Chantelle Schneider) ** Oscar and Alphonse ** The cool morning spring air came flowing through my window. It brushed my face as I lay asleep. The cool air woke me from what I was praying for was a nightmare of a memory from the day before. The sounds of my parents arguing still ringing in my ears. My tear soaked pillow now dry and crisp. Is all true? Where my parents getting a divorce. If so what would happen to me? Afraid to get up I lay still hoping no one would walk in. Finally my mother entered and I could tell from her face it was all true, they were divorcing and we had move. My mother explained that we would be leaving the country to live in town with grandma. This would be the last spring I’d get to spend in my home. As the days went by I would sit in my favorite spot in the meadow. I would take my dolls and think of what would I do in the city. How would I meet new friends and leave these behind? As I sat one day with the tall grass brushing against me I saw a beautiful butterfly. He seemed to dance from side to side in the breeze. I laid as still as I could to see it get closer to me. It soon landed on my shoulder. I seemed to bring calm over me. As the day turned into evening I stood up and it flew away. I walked home wondering if I would see it again. The next morning I grabbed my dolls and rushed to the meadow. There was no sign of the butterfly. I sat there and played and noticed a caterpillar on a blade of grass. As it climbed higher the grass stated to lean over from the weight of the caterpillar, close enough to touch my shoulder. I sat still watching it inch closer and closer to me. When it climbed on my shoulder a sense of clam had come over me, just like the day before with the butterfly. I sat still speaking to sit as if I knew it was listening. I spoke of my worries of the city, my fears, and anger. Once again the day was slipping away and I had to go home. As I stood it crawled down my arm into my hand which I placed over a blade of grass, and it inched its way down. I went home with such excitement on what the day would bring me tomorrow, maybe a frog, or a lizard. I was hoping no snakes for once one slithered its way into to house and frightened me. She rushed to her favorite spot in the meadow, and there they were as if they were waiting for her. She sat down slowly once again allowing the caterpillar to climb onto her shoulder and the butterfly landed on the other. A calm came over her, and she once again spoke to them as if she knew they were listening. This time she decided to introduce herself. Hi my name is Samantha, and I’ll call you Oscar and you butterfly I’ll name Alphonse. The spring was slowly ending and she was going to move soon. The day before she was going to leave she sat once again in the meadow crying to Oscar and Alphonse. Not wanting to leave them she knew there was no other choice. Alphonse rose from her shoulder and flew away, as Oscar climbed down to her hand. She knew it was time to send them back. The caterpillars softly wiggled in her hand, spelling out "goodbye". Was this possible? Was any of this possible? She put Oscar on the grass and smiled. He would soon be a caterpillar himself and be able to fly away. She now knew that her leaving her home to go into the city would be her turning into a butterfly. (**JenQuintana**)
 * The Third Floor Bedroom**

Another Place, Another Time

The rubble of a town ravaged by war stood against the dust cloud that blocked the sun. The stench of death permeated every air molecule. Antonio, a young man of about twenty years old, pulled himself up from what used to be a door. He didn’t know how he made it, but here he was. Yet he wasn’t thankful. He had no connections around town, as he had spent his entire life as a recluse. He stepped away from the door, miraculously suffering only a limp and a couple of burns. He saw two figures in the distance and made his way over to them.

As he got closer, he saw that one of them was extremely tall, lanky, and pale, and the other was short, dark-haired, and possessed a stoic expression.

As soon as the two men spotted Antonio, they rushed over to him as fast as they could without getting caught in the rubble. They introduced themselves as Randy (he was the taller one) and Christopher. The two were former neighbors (yet not friendly ones) and known around town for having killed another man. Glad to find another sign of life, they teamed up with Antonio and looked for another human being.

The town sat on an island, and not a very large one at that. So after a day of searching for another live person, the three decided they were the last surviving people in town. Every single one of them came up with the same question: Why us? Randy and Christopher both took lives away. Antonio, while far from being a bad person, never contributed to anything. It seemed unfair.

After a day of searching, the men ventured off to the beach, taking in the vast expanse of the sea, which was a great barrier for them. Antonio was the one to notice the speck off in the distance, pointed at it, then started heading in that direction. If there was an answer, he’d find it there.

Randy and Christopher followed him. As they came closer, they realized the speck was a girl of about thirty sitting in a lone train car. The car was on tracks that stopped (or started) in the sand and jetted out into the ocean. The girl motioned for them to get in.

Randy and Christopher hesitated briefly then stepped into the car. They looked at Antonio, who was the most skeptical.

Antonio figured he had nothing more to lose, and climbed into the car as well. The car immediately began moving on their long journey.

The train ride took days, but the sky and the tides remained unchanged. They possessed no needs; they were not hungry, tired, or thirsty. Where were they going? Had they died and come back to life?

Antonio asked the girl this exact question. She informed them that they were on their way to a second chance.

It was then that the four saw mountains in the distance. Antonio knew they could do better this time.

(Elizabeth Ingalls)

Mariana was a rich girl that lived with her parents. She had a very boring life because her parents never allowed her to have friends. Most of her free time she spent it in her garden of beautiful roses reading her books. When she read books, she got lost into the stories that were written in the books. She believed that by reading those books she could live in a world where she felt free from the strictness of her parents. The only place were she was allowed to go was to Mr. Linden’s Library. One afternoon she decided to go the library to check out some books. While she was choosing the books in the library, a handsome man approached her and told her that she was the woman of his dreams. For the first-time Mariana felt what it was like to be in love. Since that time, she always went to Mr. Linden’s library to see Mauricio, the man who she loved with all her heart. The problem was that Mauricio was poor, and even though they love each other both knew that Mariana’s parents were never going to accept their relationship. Mr. Linden knew about their relationship and one day he told them that it was possible for them to be together for ever. Mariana and Mauricio accepted his help and told him that they would do anything to save their love. Mr. Linden told them that in his library he had a mysterious book that many people said it was magical. He told them that both needed to read the book at midnight and if their love was true and real both were going to get inside the book. And once inside the book they were going to be able to live in a magical world together where no one was going to separate them. But Mr. Linden also mentioned that if their love wasn’t true and real as soon as they finish the book one of them was going to die. Mariana and Mauricio read the book at mid night and like Mr. Linden said one of them die because their love wasn’t real. “He had warned her about the book. Now it was too late”. It was too late because Mariana was death, and Mauricio was lonely and accused of killing her because no one believed him when he told the police that the book killed Mariana. (Marisol Ornelas).
 * Mr. Linden’s Library**

The Caterpillars softly wiggled in her hand, spelling out “Good Bye”…Oscar & Alphonse Lucy was a 14 year old girl. She lived at a rural village and her house was behind a gorgeous hill. This hill was full of wild flowers and plants of all kind and trees. One summer day as she was walking to her house through the hill she saw this caterpillar, she wonder if she could keep it and help it become a beautiful butterfly by taking care of it. She hid the caterpillar on a bush and covered it with tree leaves and branches. Lucy kept checking every afternoon the caterpillar. Lucy wonder on what made butterfly take so long to come out. Mean while Lucy’s parents were discussing on sending her away home to study. Lucy did not want to leave; she wanted to stay with her family. Summer was almost over and Lucy’s future was already plan out for her. She went to see the caterpillar and she found the empty shell of the caterpillar. What helped that caterpillar become a gorgeous butterfly, that was flying over the wild colorful flowers. Lucy understood that it was time for her to fly as the butterfly. She was ready to move on and accept the life changes. Lucy was no longer a kid but a teenager that is ready to fly and learn from the world. Lucy was leaving a stage of her life and entering another one just as the butterfly. (Elizabeth Moreno).

Missing in Venice
"Vincent, are you scared?" asked Vincent's mother Carol. "No mommy. I am brave!" Vincent, who was 6 at the time, was traveling with his mother to Venice. His father had abandoned them when Vincent was only a baby. Ever since then it has always been mother and son. This was his first time traveling in an airplane. Vincent and his mom loved to travel and this was both their first time out of the country to a different one. As they arrived to their destination Vincent was fast asleep. His mother awoke him and off they went to explore the city. The city of Venice was so beautiful. One of the stops they were going to was the Ducal Palace. They were to tour the Palace one of Carol's dreams. She had always wanted to go to Italy to admire the architecture, but never had the chance because she had to care for Vincent. But having him was no mistake to her, she enjoyed every moment she had with him. Carol never wanted to be apart from him, and that is why she would always take him with her when she would travel. As they approached the palace, many other tourists were gathering around to get the tour started. They started with one of the dining rooms then a library and they started to go up the stairs to see the rooms. Vincent was very over whelmed. He had never seen so many fancy things. He even saw a coat of armor. As he was looking he did not notice that his mother and the rest of the tourists had left. He was looking at portraits when finally he turned to show his mom, but she was not there. Frightened he walked out to see if they were outside. He had never been separated from his mom. He did not understand what was going on. The farthest they had ever been away was from one room to the other. "This time she had gone too far, " he thought. As he searched for her in every room he thought it would be fun to play with the armor and shields. He then found a hat which looked like a sorcerer's hat and a baton. He decided to play for a while. He thought if he stayed put his mother would come back and look for him. Then something outside caught his attention and he decided to go outside, not knowing that his mother was on her way do to find him...(Jazmin Anguiano)