Heading To Hogwarts

Heading To Hogwarts,

A part of Harry Potter, 
by J.K Rowling, retold by Maya Kent

Harry:  It was a day in September, and I had just been dropped off at Kings Cross station by the Dursleys, my terrible aunt, uncle and cousin who I had to live the past eleven years with. And I was clueless.  I was supposed to be taking the Hogwarts express at eleven o’clock off of platform nine and three-quarters. But the thing was, all I saw was platform nine and platform ten.  There was nothing in between except the dividing barrier. I sat down next to my cart carrying my trunk and my owl Hedwig who was not very happy to be in her cage. I waited, not even knowing what I was waiting for.

 A couple of minutes later a family passed by, and I caught a few words they were saying.  As soon as I heard the little girl say something about platform nine and three-quarters I knew they were probably headed for Hogwarts, too. Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry was the school I was starting at this year. I found out I was a wizard a couple of weeks ago and at Hogwarts I would be taught magic. I watched the family carefully to see if they knew how to get to platform nine and three-quarters. There was a women with four boys and one little girl, all of them had flaming red hair.  Finally what looked like the oldest boy started marching towards the barrier in between platform nine and ten, and as he approached it he disappeared. The next two boys looked like twins, and when they were done tricking their mother about who was who they also went to the barrier and they too disappeared.

 I finally asked the woman how to get to platform nine and three-quarters, and she told me all you have to do is walk into the barrier. So that’s what I did. I jogged toward it pushing my cart in front of me. When I neared the barrier the crash I was expecting didn’t come. Instead I kept going and found myself standing on a platform with a big sign that said platform nine and three-quarters. In front of me was a shiny, scarlet steam engine that read Hogwarts Express.  I looked for an empty compartment on the train and when I found one the twin red heads helped me haul my trunk into it.

 I was sitting alone when the youngest boy from the family asked if he could sit with me. His name was Ron Weasley. We started talking. He is so lucky he has five older brothers, two of them had already finished at Hogwarts, I was the only one in my family. After a couple hours of riding and talking a lady pushed a food cart down the corridor that was filled with sweets. I didn’t want to miss out on any of this interesting wizarding candy so I bought some of everything. Ron didn’t have anything for himself so I shared with him. I had never shared anything with anyone before. Everything here was so new to me. Some while later a round faced boy came in our compartment looking for his toad, and shortly after that a girl came in asking the same question. She had a bossy sort of voice and lots of bushy hair and rather large front teeth. When we told her we hadn’t seen the toad she introduced herself as Hermione Granger, and blurted out something about knowing her spell books by heart and didn’t know if it would be enough. Maybe I should have read some of mine. I hadn’t even opened them since I first bought them.

The rest of the ride was fairly boring. Ron showed me the wizarding newspaper and told me about the four Hogwarts houses you could be sorted into: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Everything Ron told me that witches and wizards had come up with was so brilliant.  We changed into our school robes as the train slowed to a stop. I was getting nervous.  Ron and I stepped out of the train onto a small platform and into the cold night air. “Firs’ years, Firs’ years over here”, called a familiar voice. It was Hagrid the half giant who had first told me I was a wizard (now that’s another story). “Follow me”, he yelled. I slowly moved forward and followed Hagrid down a dark winding path, slipping and stumbling.  As we turned the corner I had my first sight of Hogwarts. It was amazing. Everyone oohed and aahed, I had never seen anything like it. Perched on top of a steep mountain next to a black lake stood a huge castle with tons of towers and turrets. Its windows sparkled next to the starry sky. As we crossed the lake in boats I knew this was my home.

Hermione: Finally the day was here! I had been waiting for this day for what seemed like years even though it had only been a few months. Today I would be going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I’m so excited but a little nervous too. I can’t wait to learn magic but I’m afraid I might be behind everyone else. My parents are what witches and wizards call muggles. They have no magical blood in them, they’re dentists. That’s why I was so surprised when I got my Hogwarts acceptance letter. I didn’t even know that magic was real then. But as soon as I got my spell books for all my different classes I read them over and over and now I practically have them memorized. Hopefully it will be enough.

My parents drove me to Kings Cross station, and as I said good bye to them I started to get a little nervous.  I wouldn’t be seeing them for months. My ticket said to take platform nine and three-quarters which I didn’t see so I asked some other wizards and witches at the station and figured out all I had to do was walk into the dividing barrier of platform nine and ten. I did, and it was quite easy. I found an empty compartment and settled into my seat. I pulled out some of my books and started reading. I read several books for the first part of the trip, and by the time the food cart came down to my compartment I was starving. I bought a couple of things with my new wizard money, and when I was done I decided to go meet some people.

 At the first compartment there was a boy named Neville.  He was looking for his toad so I decided to help him.  I went to another compartment where there were two boys. They hadn’t seen the toad but they were talking about magic so I started talking about everything I had learned in my books. I think I lost them there. I found out their names, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. Their parents were wizards so I bet they already know loads of magic. I told them I knew all my spell books by heart and they both looked at me like I’m crazy! Maybe they have done more than that and have known everything in those books for years. I decided to go back to my compartment and start studying some more. After a while when we were about an hour away (I asked the conductor). I got my robes on and once again walked around, no one else had their robes on! Some people are so unorganized.

When we finally arrived at Hogwarts my stomach was turning. It hit me once again I might not have studied enough. I should have done more than 5 hours a day!  I hurried to the front of the train to get out. It was dark outside and the air was cold. “Firs’ years firs’ years over here!”,  a voice called.  I looked up and there was the biggest man I had ever seen. He had to be at least eight feet tall! He was probably part giant.  I went over to the front of the group of first years and followed him.  We went down a steep path that was very slippery and I kept stumbling.  “You’ll be having your first sight of Hogwarts in a second” called the part giant. And there it was, a magnificent castle. Right on top of a mountain next to a dark lake. It was beautiful. I couldn’t believe this was my new home and I would be learning magic here. I couldn’t wait to start. 

The Tree and the Girl and How they Grew

By Libby Alley

    “Do it again daddy!” Anna exclaimed.  I watched as daddy lifted her up and spun her around.  I was just a little 2 year old sapling then.  Anna and her daddy had planted me yesterday.  Anna was constantly checking to see if I had grown yet.  Even though Daddy said it would take a while.  I watched 2 year old Anna squeal with delight as she landed on the ground held firm by Daddy’s strong arms.  Anna rushed over to me.  Her small, soft hands touched the few leaves I had.  Then I heard Mom’s loud voice call.  “Lunch!” Anna ran to the house.  Daddy looked over at me and smiled before going into the small, happy house.

    I watched as Anna ran across the yard.  Once, twice, three times before going inside to check the clock again.  Anna is now 5 years old, and today she is going to have her very first play date.  She ran outside again, and sat next to me, opening her picture book.  She is learning to read, so it seems like she gets out that book all the time.  “Th-that c-c-cat is maaad.” She read slowly.  “He wah...will haaave a…” I never got to hear what that cat will have because just then, I heard a “beep” of a car.  “They’re here!!!” Anna yelled as she dropped the book.  She ran out of the yard.  Soon she came back with her friend, Ellie.  They played for a very long time.  Soon, her mom came home.  “Quick! Hide!” Anna said.  Ellie ran behind me, giggling softly. Ellie’s mom walked into the backyard, followed by Anna’s.  “I wonder where my Ellie is,” she said. Anna tried to hide a smile.  Ellies’ mom looked everywhere, even behind the small flower pots!  Finally she looked behind me.  “There you are!” she exclaimed.  Anna and Ellie started laughing like crazy.  Soon everyone walked out of the backyard to say goodbye.

   The backyard looked amazing.  Balloons were tied to nearly everything, there were three tables set up with all kinds of things on them, and fun music was playing over speakers.  “Are they here yet??” an excited Anna asked.  “For the last time, party is at 11 o’clock, which means you have to wait 5 more minutes,” Anna’s dad said as he hung up a banner that said “HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY ANNA!” Anna tugged at her new pink and purple dress as she watched her dad hold up the sign. “It’s time to hang up the pinata!” Anna’s dad said, holding up a big and colorful unicorn from a string. “Be careful!” Anna said to him. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave a scratch on your tree.” Dad said, smiling. “Good.” Anna said as she patted my branch steadily. Sixteen minutes later, the lawn was filled with kids.  Some playing, some examining the presents, some just running around.  Soon they started to play some party games.  First was the bean toss.  The winner of that was Anna’s cousin, Tracy.  She was a few years older than Anna, but they were really close.  The next game was pin-the-tail-on-the-unicorn. (Anna thought pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey was too boring.) Katie, a friend from school, won that.  The last game was musical chairs.  Anna won that! (Hooray!) Soon it was cake time.  If I had a mouth I would have gladly had a piece.  After presents, it was time for everyone to go.  Mom told Anna she should take a nap.  Anna didn’t complain.

    Anna is now ten years old.  “I can’t wait!” I heard her say for the sixth time today.  “Sleeping in a tent outside is going to be so fun!” Anna is going to have a sleepover outside in a tent tonight.  At 7:00 Anna, her friend Lily, and Dad came out.  Dad lit a fire and started to sing. “Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam…” Soon Anna and Lily joined in. “Home! Home on the range! Where the deer and the antelope play…” After singing, Anna and Lily crawled into their tent, and dad crawled into his.  I saw the lights in the house go out.  It took a couple shushes, but finally Dad got the girls to stop whispering and giggling.  In the morning, Anna woke up first.  She got a book from inside the tent and leaned against me to read.  It was a book about a magical tree that grew so high it touched the moon.  Soon, Lily got up.  Anna snuck inside her dad’s tent.  She woke him up.  They all ate breakfast.  The girls had bacon and eggs while Dad had a steaming cup of coffee.

    Well, now Anna is 12.  That means I’m 12 too.  Anna is playing with a dog she is babysitting for the weekend.  Suddenly the phone rang.  “It’s for you Anna!” called mom through the window.  “Coming!” called Anna.  “Stay, Buster,” she said to the dog.  Anna ran inside.  I heard the phone stop ringing and Anna say “Hello?” Soon, Buster inched closer to me. Please, no! He lifted his leg…”Buster! No! Bad Boy!” shouted Anna from the window.  Phew. Buster ran and did his business in the bushes.  All was well.

    I watched as Anna walked slowly around the yard, bag in hand, backpack hanging on her shoulder.  She is 18.  Off to college in a few minutes.  She touches her hat she always liked to wear when she was six.  She stood on the same part of the yard where dad used to always spin her around by her waist.  Lastly, she walked to me.  She put her hand on my trunk, brushing it against my rough bark.  Then she touched one of my branches.  “Time to go, Anna!” her dad said from the front yard.  Just then, Anna took a pair of trimmers from the picnic table.  Quickly, but carefully, she snapped off one of my branches.  “So I’ll never forget,” she whispered, half to herself, half to me and she walked out of the yard, branch in hand.  I don’t know if trees can or not, but I think I, in that moment, smiled.

The Princess and the Pea

The Princess and the Pea

                                     By: Hans Christian Anderson

                                                                    Retold by: Olivia Kent

Have you ever wondered how you can find a real princess? Well this story is about a prince who once wondered the same thing. Once upon a time there was a handsome Prince who desperately wanted to marry a princess. But he was looking for a real princess. The prince traveled long and far. He met many wonderful princesses but there was always something wrong, and after meeting hundreds of princesses he felt that none of them were real princesses.  Disappointed and discouraged, the prince headed back to the castle.

  One gloomy evening a terrible storm broke out over the entire kingdom. Lighting flashed. Thunder rumbled. Rain poured. In the middle of the awful storm a knock sounded on the city gate. The king himself went to open it.  When he got there he unexpectedly found a beautiful girl . She had water soaking her hair, her clothes, and there were puddles in her shoes.  Claiming she was a real princess, they let her into the castle.

"Well we will see about that" thought the Queen, but she kept quite.  In a hurry she rushed to a spare room and took everything off the bed, and on it she placed a pea.  On top of the pea she placed twenty mattresses and twenty quilts.  That night the princess slept terribly. It was like she was sleeping on a rock.  In the morning when someone asked how she slept she replied, “oh awfully! I tiredly tossed and turned all night, who knows what was on that bed!"  

Because she felt that tiny pea underneath all the mattresses and quilts, everyone knew that she was a real princess.  Only a true princess could be sensitive enough to feel that.  Soon after, the prince and the princess were married and lived happily ever after.

An Uncompleted Story

The scullery maid was sweeping the ashes out of the fireplace in the princess’s room when she heard a soft sound of footsteps. She shuddered. The dark was the enemy of night , this was not the first time she had heard a eerie noise. She stooped over and dimmed her lantern. The Princess let out a moan in her sleep. “She was probably having that dream again” thought the scullery maid. She quietly stood up, and taking her lantern in hand, walked over to the window. She drew the curtains and cringed as they let out a slight scratching sound.  Startled, she raised her glance towards the bed. The princess was still asleep. She quickly peered out of the window. She saw nothing. But is the corner of her eye she saw a pinprick of light. She strained her eyes to see through the mask of darkness. In the far corner of the front courtyard he stood. Hunched over with a cloak whiter than snow.

The girl let out a strangled gasp. She grasp the curtain pull with a grip like death and yanked the curtain shut. She darted out of the room leaving the bucket of ashes and rags behind her.

The Princess was not having a good night. She was having the dream again, and she didn’t like it. Suddenly she woke up with a start. She felt the urge to look out the window. She got up and whispered “Pricilla!”  Pricilla woke up immediately. “Your highness needs me?” she asked. “Bring me my lantern and robe.” whispered the princess. Pricilla got them and helped the princess put her robe on. “Now go back to bed.” ordered the princess. Pricilla was happy to obey. She climbed back into bed and fell asleep.

The princess silently glided down the hall. Then she stopped short.  The sound of footsteps. Nearer every second. She hid in the shadow of the corner. A boy not older than twenty came dashing  down the hall. When he started to round the corner, the princess grabbed his arm and yanked him back. “What are you doing ?” She whispered with a voice as sharp as steel. “That’s a question I think you also need to answer dear sister” whispered her brother. The princess ignored him and came up with a compromise, “ This event did not happen. I saw no one, you saw no one.” She whispered fiercely. Then she darted around the corner, leaving the prince in the dark.

The prince strode down the hall, cursing under his breath every time he ran into a cabinet. Up a stairway he climbed, stopping at a plain wooden door. He grasp the bird shaped key around his neck and fit it in the lock. It turned with a click and the door creaked open. The prince silently disappeared behind it.

The room was dimly lit by a single candle and the prince could barely make out the chest of drawers and stool in the small room. He walked over to the drawer and reached under his shirt for a second key, identical to the first except for one detail. The bird on the key was weeping. He fit the key into the lock when he heard a shuffling behind him. That was impossible. No one had another key to this room. He turned around and felt an icy pain in his back. Wincing , the last thing he saw was a white cloaked figure yank the key out of the lock and slam the door behind him. Then he saw nothing.

The scullery maid pulled the trapdoor on the floor open with a heave and walked down the steps into the shivering coldness of the cellar. She  sat down among the potatoes and carrots and looked around the dark, earthy, room.  She would have preferred even her room to this place. Suddenly someone covered her mouth to muffle her scream that came. He whispered “It’s just me.” She breathed a sigh of relief. He took off his white cloak and draped over his arm. They got up and headed past the empty kitchen and into the night.

The clock chimed four o clock. The maid froze. She had been gone too long." I have to go." she whispered to the man. The castle would be waking up soon and if she wasn’t in her bed when Head Housecleaner woke, she would get double laundry and no food. Not that she got anything besides scraps. She slipped quietly into her bed and slowly drifted off to sleep.

The kingdom of  Weldannor was a large one, but no one ever visited it. The day the first visitor in 35 years visited, the queen was busy in her throne room. Playing card like every other day. She always played solitaire, and always lost. The throne room was elegant, decorated in red and black. There was a space where there should have been two thrones. There once were two thrones sitting there, outlined in gold roses . People awe at their greatness. Long ago, they had seated a handsome king and a beautiful queen. But after that fated day, when the king departed the world for good, the queen ordered  the thrones were burned, the gold used to make thousands of gold playing cards. The queen was playing with 52 of those glimmering cards when the guard rushed in.  “ Your, man, don’t, permission, not, coming.” He wheezed.  A high pitched noise , a mix between a scream and a laugh, came from the queen. “ Well, send him in.” She whispered quietly. “  Sorry?” murmured the man back, trembling. “ You bumbling fool! “ screamed the queen, her face red. “ Can you not hear me? Is my whisper not good enough, not loud enough for you?!” . Then with a wave of her hand the guard was dragged off.  The queen was obviously mad.

~Manna R

The Loss of the Entwives 

Ent: ‘When spring unfolds the beechen leaf, and sap is in the bough;

                  When light is on the wild-wood stream, and wind is on the brow;

                  When stride is long, and breath is deep, and keen the mountain-air

                  Come back to me! Come back to me, and say my land is fair!” (song, LOTR by JRR Tolkien)

The Ents sung this song many years ago, so long ago that even we don’t remember. The Ents were great creatures that looked like trees though they were far from trees. They were living breathing creatures made by Yavanna a great spirit. The name Ent means ‘Shepard of the trees’. Yavanna created them to guard her beautiful forests’ from men. Yavanna made the Ents and the Entwives.  They loved each other deeply.  However, the Ents loved trees but the Entwives loved gardens. This difference cost them greatly. The story I will tell you is the tragedy of the Ent’s and the Entwives .

Entwife: ‘When spring has come to garth and field, and corn is in the blade;

When blossom like a shining snow is on the orchard laid;

When shower and sun upon the Earth with fragrance fill the air,

I’ll linger here and will not come because my land is fair’ (song, LOTR by JRR Tolkien)

 Two great creatures lumbered through the forest, the Ent sighed as he walked.

‘Why do you wish to move away from the woods? Why does your heart linger somewhere else?’ He asked looking with his deep loving eyes towards his Entwife.

“You know Treebeard. I love the gardens, the trees are nice but the flowers oh the flowers, have you ever smelled the flowers? Treebeard why  don’t you love them to?’ She looked at her husband.

“The trees aye they are home. I love them like children. I can’t leave them. Don’t you know that Fimbrethil?” Treebeard’s deep musical voice filled Fangorn forest. Fimbrethil nodded, she knew.

“I just wish that you would come. You know that the Entwives are moving on. They will live on the edge of Fangorn and we will grow our gardens there. Then every week the Ents will come to us or we will come to you and meet. Is that good?’ The Entwife with her beautiful eyes and gentle hands looked at her husband. He had small tears in his eyes, it was hard for all the Ents.

“Yes but I will miss you. I love you very much.” Treebeard gazed out to the trees that loomed above him. He would miss the walks with Fimbrethil.

                  The Entwives tilled the ground making wonderful fields. They had only been there for a while, but there were fruit trees and golden fields already. The Entwives were getting ready for the feast for the Ents. They had already set up the great table and filled it with fruits and fine bread. The Entwives toiled and made the finest bread East of the sea. Everyone was excited, even the small Enttings . The air was warm and the sun rose bright and clear. It was afternoon when the Ents arrived, they smiled and walked very fast to the Entwives. Treebeard and Fimbrethil embraced, they had missed each other greatly.

                  The feast was long that night and the laugher and bliss was everywhere. Some Ents and their Entwives went off to talk about what was going on in the forest and fields. But most stayed by the table eating and drinking the great entwash water. But the peaceful days were not to last. A darkness had fallen, some of the trees had become sour with dark angry hearts. It was beginning to become hard for the Ents to control the trees. The Entwives were fairing no better, their fields were becoming dead and their fruits black. Something was stirring in the East, festering, a sleepless malice as dark as night. But the Ents did not care for the world about them. Darkness was gathering, a sick and diseased darkness, full of hate. For the darkness’ leader wanted power, he was jealous and angry he wanted to be the king of the earth. This evil was gathering to strike, and set it’s sickness in every corner of the world. 

Ent: ‘When summer lies upon the world, and in a noon of gold

Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves the dreams of trees unfold;

When woodland halls are green and cool, and wind is in the West,

Come back to me! Come back to me and say my land is best!” (song, LOTR by JRR Tolkien)

                  It was a brilliant afternoon. The Entwives were cleaning up after a visit from the Ents. So far they were fairing well, even with the evil and all. The Entwives were happy, the Ents were too. The Entwives  heard it first, the tramping of feet. They knew it wasn’t the Ents for the Ents would have long labored steps. These were quick fast moving footsteps. As all the eyes of the Entwives turned to the noise, rank upon rank of Mordor Orcs came running towards them. They watched as the Orcs destroyed all their crops. They could do nothing. The Orcs burned their fields, ripped out their fruit trees and tore down their houses. All their work was destroyed, everything they had lived for was gone.

                  Entwife: ‘When summer warms the hanging fruit and burns the berry brown;

When straw is gold, and ear is white and harvest comes to town;

When honey spills and apple swells, though wind be in the West,

I’ll linger here beneath the sun, because my land is best!’ (song, LOTR by JRR Tolkien)

The Entwives  survived this attack. They fled across the Great River to the other side away from the Orcs. They sent word to the Ents about where they had journeyed. Even though they survived, the pain of their loss was great. They started a new life across the river. They built their houses and planted new fruit trees. Soon golden fields grew again and times became peaceful.  However, the darkness was never completely destroyed. Though the men and elves had driven the evil away something was left of its power, and it returned. Just like the first time, it started with a tramping of feet. The Entwives dreaded this day when the Orcs of Mordor would come. Orcs poured into the fields, the fruit trees cowered away as the evil faced Orcs tore them down. The Entwives had no choice but to flee, but this time the Orcs wouldn’t let them go. The Orcs grabbed the Entwives killed and tortured them. The Orcs burned at will, they dug pits and the land that once was beautiful was turned to ash. Nothing was left of the Entwives beautiful gardens. The news of their destruction did not reach the Ents.

                  Ent: ‘When winter comes, the winter wild that hills and trees shall slay;

When trees shall fall and starless night devour the sunless day;

When wind is in the deadly East, and then in the bitter rain,

I’ll look for thee, and call to thee; I’ll come to thee again!’ ’ (song, LOTR by JRR Tolkien)

                   Treebeard decided that he wanted to see Fimbrethil, his Entwife. He had not seen her in a long time. So with a few others Treebeard journeyed to the Entwives lands.

“I can’t wait to see Fimbrethil! I miss her greatly.” Treebeard admitted as he walked with the others.

“Yes I do miss them” Quickbeam thought out loud “Their very beautiful” He smiled at the thought “Yes Treebeard I am looking forward to seeing the Entwives.” But as the Ents crossed the great river they felt that something was wrong. They strode into the field where the Entwives had lived. Nothing could have prepared them for the desolation that lay before their feet. Treebeard cried out a great sob, the others fell down and looked at the horror before them. Pits, ash and dead brown covered the land. Then they all stood and cried a cry so loud that it would deafen anyone who heard it. For their sorrow was great, they loved the Entwives beyond measure, they could never be replaced.

The Ents started asking men if they had seen the Entwives, but most said they had never heard of them before. All the Ents journeyed far and wide searching for the Entwives. They called their names but never, not once did a call answer. As Treebeard had said ‘Long we called, and long we searched; and asked all the folk that we met which way the Entwives had gone. Some said they had never seen them; and some said they had seen them walking away West, and others south. But nowhere that we went could we find them.” Over time the Ents stopped searching. The forest called. They gave up, but always they remembered the deadness of the Entwives home, their faces in the night and their beauty.

Entwife: ‘When broken is the barren branch, and light and labor past;

I’ll look for thee, and wait for thee until we meet again;

Together we will take the road beneath the bitter rain!’

Together: ‘Together we will take the road that leads into the West!

Far away we will find a land where both our hearts may rest!’ ( song, LOTR by JRR Tolkien)

And the song created by the elves told the story of the Ents search for the Entwives. But the Ents never found the Entwives and when the fourth age of the sun began and the age of men arose, the Ents died off for there were no Enttings. And so the tale of the Ents fell in history, history fell into legend, legend fell into myth and soon like so many other creatures they were forgotten.

Story of the Ents retold 

By Natalie Hawkins

Original by JRR Tolkien in The Two Towers  

A Nutty Retrieval: Downfall's Dilemma by Olivia Lunsford

A Nutty Retrieval: Downfall's Dilemma

By Olivia Lunsford



It was a nice, cool, breezy fall day in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Everywhere the birds were gossiping, the squirrels were racing, and the leaves were leaving their homes to fly to distant yards. Downfall and his sister Blossomflower were very happy with their squirrely friends on the oak tree. Their nest was small but comfortable, the acorns, crunchy and sweet, and little Blossomflower was bursting with energy. All the squirrels had started collecting acorns for winter, and Downfall was ready for it.

"Ok, the large acorns shall go in this hole, the medium acorns shall go in this hole, and the small acorns shall go in this hole," Downfall decided.

"Why do the acorns have to be in separate holes? And why do we want small acorns? Couldn't we just eat big acorns?" Blossomflower asked, jumping up and down as she said it.

Downfall couldn't understand his sister. He wished that she could have been born orderly.

"Instead," thought Downfall irritably, "she likes mud, her side of the nest is the messiest thing you ever did see, and her acorn hole has any kind of nut imaginable."

"Hellooo! Downfall! Earth to Downfall! Are you dead?"

"Of course not!" thought Downfall. "If I were dead, I would not be standing up or talking. Therefore, I am not dead." He jumped to his feet.

Blossomflower, looking satisfied to know that Downfall was not dead, galloped up a tree, singing,

"I love to dance,
I love to prance,
I love to dance at every chance!"

Downfall climbed after her, wondering where she was going.

The maze of branches and leaves was unfamiliar to Downfall as he raced toward his sister. He kept bumping into everything and everyone. Then Downfall stopped. The only thing that was between him and Blossomflower was a large, black road. Downfall had heard stories of roads like these. One step on these forbidden roads would trigger a towering, reeking monster that rumbled at lightning speed and could flatten a squirrel almost instantly. He had to be quick and crafty to get past this terrible road. He backed up, measured the distance, and took a leap of faith. Downfall went flying into the air. Blossomflower was getting closer every second. Then, he stopped flying and started falling. Panic covered his face. He couldn't stop! He fell flat on his face.

"Ha!" called a high voice. "The same thing happened to me!"

"Blossomflower?"

"Duh!" she called out. "Who did you think it was? Grandpa Feller?" Then she ran off.

"Wait! Blossomflower! Stop!"

Downfall scurried after her, then stopped again.

"Where did she go?" wondered Downfall, who, by this time was exhausted. He searched in the trees. He thought he saw her light brown fur in one of the tallest trees in the forest. He was getting worried. He searched one more time then ran back to the village, hoping that Blossomflower had gone back home. He asked everyone he knew if they had seen his sister.

"I haven't seen her since she ran off toward the forbidden road," said Treebark, a fellow "nerd squirrel" .

"How should I know?" complained Birchbranch, one of the smallest squirrels Downfall knew."I've been busy working on gathering acorns."

Downfall had to find Blossomflower. Where could she be?

"What yew lookin' fer, Downfall?" wondered a deep, growly voice.

Behind him was a dark brown squirrel, twice as large as Downfall, with big, bulging muscles. He had had his eye on Blossomflower since the acorns of last winter had started sprouting. He thought that Downfall was trying to keep Blossomflower away from him. Next to him was a bunch of other bulky squirrels who half-feared him.

"My sister, Breakwood," said Downfall calmly.

"Whar is she?" grunted Breakwood suspiciously.

"I don't know.That's why I'm looking for her."

"I ain't gonna listen t'yew." rumbled Breakwood. "Where'd ya hid her?"

"She just ran away."

"I knowed that yer liein' t' me. Where's Blussemflowar?"

Downfall knew this was the time to run. He flew up a tree, climbed under his nest, and slid into the secret tunnel that he had dug into his tree. He heard a muffled voice call out, "Whar is he?" Find 'im, boys!"

Downfall breathed a sigh of relief. He thought it was weird that Breakwood had a crush on Blossomflower. He hoped that Blossomflower didn't like Breakwood. That would be a disaster!

After a few minutes he climbed out of the tunnel and into the open air. What could he do? He ran back to the place where he had seen her last and jumped up a tree, hoping to get a glimpse of her soft fur darting through the trees.

"If I were Blossomflower, where would I go?" he wondered.

Then he saw a human house in the distance. It was a small blue and green homestead with a large, fenced in backyard. A dog lived inside.

"Bingo!"

He leaped through the trees, then jumped on the roof. He ran around the entire house, memorizing it from head to toe. Then something light brown caught his eye in one of the windows. He took a closer look.

"Blossomflower!" he cried.

Inside the kitchen was a brand new cage with a rowdy little squirrel, doing everything from gobbling her food to just scurrying around her cage.

He ran through the doggy door and jumped up to the table where her cage was.

"Hi, Downfall!" she cried, rather cheerful in spite of her current condition. "You like my new home? One of the littler humans caught me in one of those cagey thingys. But on the bright side, I don't need to find food now! The humans provide it all."

"Well, now you're leaving," said Downfall firmly as he unlatched the door, "The humans might want to make you into squirrel chowder soon!"

"In that case, what are we waiting for?"

"For you to get out," said Downfall.

They dashed out the doggy door, turned around a corner, then stopped. In front of them was a reddish brown labrador, lying down in the yard. He looked slightly bored. Downfall felt like this was the end for him. Blossomflower, on the other hand, skipped right up to the massive canine.

"Hi, Jim!" said Blossomflower cheerfully. "How are you? Downfall, this is Jim. He is the humans' dog. He's a big sweetheart once you get to know him. Right, Jimmy?"

"Right! Wait, aren't you that squirrel that Ellen caught? You need to get back into your cage."

"Nope!" cried Blossomflower, jumping up, "I'm not going to become squirrel chowder in this lifetime! Come on, Downfall!"

They zipped past the dog and ran through the trees back to the village. Downfall felt relieved and exhausted. He laid down on his part of the nest.

"I'm pooped!" said Blossomflower, who was really not tired at all. "The way you saved me from being squirrel chowder was exhilarating! Want to do the same thing tomorrow?"

Creative Writing Assignment

Choose one...

1. Write a short story. Make sure you have a clear conflict and resolution. Make us care about your characters and what happens to them!

2. Rewrite a story you know from another point of view OR improve the writing on a piece someone else wrote. (Make sure you tell us the title and author of your source.)

3. Or write however your teacher mom allows you to adapt this assignment if a story stresses you out!

Here are a couple of nice pages of creative writing tips:

Short story writing tips
http://www.coreygreen.com/storytips.html

More tips from a high school student
http://oneyearnovel.com/blog/5-tips-for-writing-a-strong-short-story/

How does this sound? Due Feb 5-7?

Renee