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The Battle of Flamborough Head Jack Lisac Nagel Middle School

It was September 23, 1779. I had been counting the days that I was at sea. When I signed up to work on an American ship, I never thought that I would be patrolling the British coast. By signing John Smith on a naval contract, I had effectively signed my life away to our country. My chances of making it home to Virginia were minute. We were running a routine sweep, looking for British merchant vessels. I was told that a British convoy was in sight, but there was no way of confirming this without leaving the gun that I was operating. The //Bonhomme Richard// carried a total of 42 guns and was the flagship of the squadron. John Paul Jones was leading the squadron in its attempt to capture enemy merchant ships. The idea was to increase expenses for the British citizens and tire out the taxpayers. This was supposed to lead to an end in this war and win freedom for America. As the //Bonhomme Richard// approached the 50-ship merchant fleet, I was able to see the enemy ships from my emplacement. There were two escort ships for the large merchant fleet. One was a larger ship, better equipped than any of the ships in our squadron. The other ship was less of a threat. We needed to eliminate one of the ships and concentrate on the other as one force. We took the larger ship while the rest of the squadron took the smaller ship. Our leader, John Paul Jones, was intelligent, but he wasn’t organizing the squadron very well. Only some of our ships engaged the enemy and none of our ships pursued the fleeing merchants. We needed better leadership, but we all understood what would happen if we turned against him. John Paul Jones was once wanted for murder after dealing with a mutiny himself. At the risk of losing the battle, we pressed on, following our leader’s instruction without hesitation. We attacked the enemy, hoping for a lucky shot at long range. Soon, every ship in the conflict was firing. The enemy was more successful than we were, though. They were landing shots close to our hulls and we were only exhausting our ammo. After a half hour of fighting, we sped towards the enemy and tried to grapple the ship. This tactic would allow us to set fire to the enemy ship and possibly take some prisoners. Cannons fired from the enemy ship and tore through our hull. I was ordered to evacuate the gun deck and attack the enemy ship. I quickly ran to a vantage point where I could clearly see the battle. We were boarding the enemy, trying to evacuate before our ship was destroyed. We fired upon the enemy with everything we had, including incendiary grenades. Incendiary grenades could create a heat source and burn the ship. Soldiers were falling on both sides. Our ship was sinking quickly, so we had to capture the enemy ship. One of the soldiers got lucky with an incendiary grenade and hit a pile of gunpowder and ammunition. The explosion caused by this rendered the enemy ship useless in ship to ship battle. Reluctantly, the enemy captain surrendered. The //Bonhomme Richard// had already taken too much damage and was sinking. The merchant fleet had escaped and the rest of the squad was too far away for us use as a transport. John Paul Jones quickly transferred the flag as we made it to the //Serapis//, as it was called. We sailed away, leaving the //Bonhomme Richard// behind. Our goal was not accomplished. We did not capture any merchant vessels and we lost one of our ships. Many of our men did not survive the battle. The only good thing that came of this battle was our success and my survival.

The 9/11 By : Kayla McDonald Hi my name is Carly Rice. I was killed in the World Trade Center. The WTC was located a block from the twin towers. The tower that I was in was not hit by an airplane, but it collapsed because most scientists believe that the steel in the building had melted and caused it to collapse. The building collapsed at 5:20 that evening. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I was on my way to get coffee in the cafeteria office. When I walked in the room I felt some of the ceiling hit my head. There were pieces from the ceiling falling down. I was confused and didn’t know what was happening. My thought was that someone dropped something on the floor above mine and just had pieces falling. I didn’t really think that our building was collapsing. Then I realized that the building was on top of me and I couldn’t get away. The coffee was hot lying on my stomach. This building had fallen and I was dead. Everyone on board the plane was killed and many others were too. Kids have lost their parents and will never be with or see them anymore. My two kids lost their mother during this disaster. My two kids are very young and don’t really understand what is going on. Their names are Susie and Chris. I can just hear them saying to my husband, “Daddy where is mommy, why isn’t she home yet?” asked Susie. Then him replying with some answer not knowing what to say to either one of them. “She is still at work sweetie,” cried the husband. I had no idea it was going to be like this. My husband has no idea what to tell our kids. It is hard to tell kids that your mother has been killed and will never be coming home. Could you imagine doing that? I sure couldn’t and didn’t want me or my husband to ever have to do it. I dreaded him doing that so bad. All I want to do is cry but it’s only my soul that is now. The only thing I really remember is hearing people yelling. They were screaming to the top of their lungs. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” screamed innocent people. These hijackers didn’t really have their plan set out very well. I know this because 19 of the hijackers ended up dying also. I hate to say this but I hope these people remember this for the rest of their life and regret it. What they did was wrong and no one deserved it. These people had killed innocent people that didn’t do anything wrong. I honestly don’t think they would like it if we went over there and crashed an airplane into their towers killing hundreds of people. I was so devastated and the only thing I could think of was my family. I remember watching from my heaven as the police went to my house to tell my husband what had happened. They knocked on the door, and my husband answered. “Hello, are you Mr. Rice, Carly Rice’s husband?” asked the officer. “Yes I am. Can I help you?” responded Mr. Rice. “Yes, I have some bad news to tell you,” the officer said. My husband got shaky and scared. “The World Trade Center collapsed at 5:20 this afternoon. A lot of people were injured and killed in this building. I’m sure you already know what I’m going to say. Your wife has been killed in this tragic happening. I am truly sorry for the loss. I will let you know some more information if we have any,” says the officer. He said nothing back to the officer and slammed the door and walked in living room and plopped on the couch. The kids weren’t home from school yet. He just stared into blank space and was frozen. Well I can’t watch what he is going to tell them when they get home. This was the worst thing that could ever happen. I can’t believe this. What these people have done is horrible. They put many of children without a parent and even without both parents. These hijackers were wrong and they’re the only people that I can really talk about because this whole thing is their fault. Well it’s time for me to go now. I hope everyone celebrates this day in honor of those who were killed and those who died for others. There were many heroes in this tragic happening that I and you should be greatly appreciative of. I guess I can’t change anything. I can’t come back to life.

Write Historically Amilia Yun 2/2/11 Charlie Cunning was in his car, outside his house. He had just come home from work, like he always did, at about noon. But there was something about this day that kept Charlie from going into his house. Charlie sat in the car, thinking to himself, “How am I supposed to be calm and forget about such a terrible thing that just happened?” So many thoughts were running through Charlie’s mind. He was scared, nervous, confused. After what seemed to be hours, Charlie finally decided it was time to go inside. When he looked up to see where he was going, he saw his parent’s car in the driveway. Charlie started to panic again, and wondered why they were at his house. And when Charlie stepped inside his house, he saw his family, sitting around the kitchen table, with tears rolling down their faces. “What’s going on? Why are you all crying?” Charlie asked cautiously. “Charlie! You’re alive!” sobbed his mother, running to hug him with his father and sister right behind her. “We thought you were dead! We heard about the towers! Oh, thank the Lord, you’re okay!” “Well, I can assure you that I am not dead. But it was a terrible sight!” said Charlie, explaining what he saw. “I was out getting coffee for my co-workers at about 10:00 and when I got to the Twin Towers, it was disastrous! There was fire and dust and smoke everywhere! And everywhere you turned, there were people! Dozens of innocent people! Being carried away in gurneys to the ambulance! And there were tons of people, just lying on the floor, burnt black!” “Oh my!” his mother gasped, “That’s terrible!” “But that’s not the worst of it! When I got there, I saw the World Trade Center north tower collapse! It burned right to the ground! I also overheard a police officer say that the Pentagon was hit too! And a plane was crashed in Pennsylvania!” “Why would anyone want to do that?” said Mr. Cunning in a very serious tone, “America hasn’t done anything wrong. I don’t see what gave those people a reason to kill hundreds of people.” “Dear, there are a lot of bad people out there now a days. They don’t need a reason to kill people; they just do it simply for their own pleasure,” said Mrs. Cunning in a cracked voice. “But that’s not right,” said Charlie’s little sister, Rose, “Charlie? Can you finish your story? I would really like to know more.” “Certainly Rosie,” said Charlie, smiling. “Now, where was I? Oh, right. So, as they were pulling people out, I saw Mr. Jonathon Smith. He looked awful! His clothes were ripped off and he was defibrillated but he didn’t respond. It was such a sad sight, to watch his life line go flat,” said Charlie, who suddenly became sad as he said this. Mr. Smith was one of his co-workers who were very close to the Cunning family. Mr. Smith also had a little girl who only just started kindergarten and had a little boy on the way. It was such a sad thought to the Cunning’s that his wife would have to raise two very young children all on her own. Rose and Mrs. Cunning broke out into a heavy sob at the thought. “Poor Mrs. Smith,” sighed Mr. Cunning, who had a slight crack in his voice,” I would think we should go pay our respects to the poor Smith’s later tonight. Now, Charlie, do you know how the towers collapsed? That’s what I would like to know.” “Sure, Dad,” replied Charlie, as he recollected what the police officer had said, “A bunch of terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger jet liners, I think. I can’t remember exactly what the officer had said. But I am pretty sure it something like that.” “And the hijackers? What happened to them?” said Rose, panicking that they might come and kill everyone else,” I hope they died for what they did!” “Oh, everyone that was on board on the jets is all dead. Not a single survivor,” answered Charlie. “That’s terrible! What an absolutely horrible day!” sobbed Mrs. Cunning, loudly. And a horrible day it was. There were approximately 3000 people who died, including the 19 hijackers, 343 firefighters and 60 police officers, and over 6000 injured. There were over 3000 children that were left with only one or no parents after the attack on the Twin Towers. Like the other people that were watching the hijacking happen, Charlie Cunning might suffer from lung disease from the dust coming from the collapse of the towers. This attack on the towers made a big impact on the United States. Many people wondered if it was safe to live here anymore. But one thing was certain- 9/11/01 is a day that will never be forgotten.

= Life in Auschwitz = By: Emily Diem The trains roared loud and every day people saw more trucks bring more people into Auschwitz. The watch towers surrounded to make sure no one got in, or out for many. Only the worst happen here. Every day, and everything smelled like death. But for Eva Sheer, it was the same as yesterday work all day, not much sleep. She was all skin and bones and wore the same thing she has for three years. Ripping out of the stitches of her shoes, but everyday she worked on the railroad while the spikes cut her feet. One day, a woman named Eliza Berkley was put into the same camp she was in, Eva realized she might have the closest thing to a friend, she decided to go talk to Eliza. “Eliza? Want to help me with my work, and we could be friends?” Eva mumbled so the guards wouldn’t hear. Eliza didn’t answer because she didn’t want to die and thought as everyone for themselves. “It’s okay, I don’t bite” Eva smiled. “I-I-It’s okay I am not looking for friends.” Eliza stuttered. “Well soon it will get lonely, believe me it will be worth it.” Eva said. “Believe me I know when something is worth a risk.” Eliza cried. Eva walked away because it got a little awkward. It was night; Eva dreaded night because it meant the next day is filled with more and more work. But Eva wanted to know more about Eliza so she decided to go see what tent she was in, on her way she decided to listen to the guards to talk. “I swear that Eliza girl is not right, they all aren’t!” yelled the guard. “Well what do you expect; she has to come here because of what she did. Why can’t we get rid of her?” The guard asked. Eva has never been more curious before. What could Eliza done? She wondered what she did to get there. Why her? But the guard started to talk about what Eliza did. “Ha-ha Eliza thinks she saved her daughter well we will find her, and show Eliza what happens to people who run away!” laughed the guard. Eva left just as the guards were leaving. But within a few hours it was sunrise and it was time to wake up. Eva actually wanted to wake up today just to know why Eliza was there. “You have a daughter?” Eva asked. “How do you know? You shouldn’t know that!” yelled Eliza. “What happened to her?” asked Eva. “We had just found a hiding place after looking for so long and we felt safe there. Until the soldiers came, we had to run and Mary-Ann fell. I couldn’t leave her, not there. So I went back for her and the solider grabbed me as I handed her off to another girl that was with us and she could run fast. Then they were gone.” cried Eliza. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know?” said Eva. “It’s okay, when I talk about it I feel like she is still safe and alive.” Eliza said hopefully. “Well at least you have hope here, a lot of us don’t.” smiled Eva. Eva doesn’t want to give up now; she just wants to think that if she makes it through the next day then she will get out of there. The weeks passed by and nothing happened, and the faith she had would leave her every day. It was starting to feel like it had just started and everyone had years to go. May had just started and everyone feels like this is their new life and it won’t change. Eliza still believes her daughter is still out there, until, May 1st 1945. “We have more coming today.” yelled the soldier. Eva noticed that there was something different about this group of people, they’re children. But something was much worse. She heard one child yelling the loudest. It was Mary-Ann. “Mommy, mommy!” yelled Mary-Ann. “Your okay, Awe my Mary is okay!” cried Eliza. It was true Eliza’s daughter is okay. All that hoping, wishing, and dreaming came true! But what she wished for didn’t entirely come true, the truck full of children were not here to work, they were here to go into the pit. “The children, we can smell the fire! They are going to kill the kids.” screamed an innocent. “They’re going to kill my child?” asked Eliza. “Back to tents, nothing to see here.” a soldier seriously said. “No that’s my baby.” cried Eliza. When the truck was getting close to the pit, Eliza ran to the truck trying to save Mary-Ann. Eva tried to stop her, but nothing was going to stop from getting her child. As she reached the truck she was shot and died there on the ground, while her daughter watched it. But the soldiers didn’t care, they never did. Unfortunately no one could save her daughter and she was murdered like the rest of the children that entered. The days felt longer to Eva because she didn’t have a friend. She cried herself to sleep because she had no one to talk to. Just as it reached May 7th, she had no hope. But word around is that this new life they had was going to end. “Have you heard this is almost over by next week we won’t be here anymore!” laughed a man. Eva didn’t believe it, and she never will. Every day she thinks about Eliza and the hope, and braveness she had. The soldiers were taking more and more to the pit. Everyone didn’t know why but they were. Night came and Eva heard the guards and soldiers talking, it’s over and they need to kill as much people as they can. On May 8th Eva Sheer, was saved right before she entered the pit, she is forever great full for Michael Citers, who saved her and stopped it. She is planning on moving on and continues her life and will always remember Eliza Berkley.

My Survival by Zach M This is my story about being lost in the woods. I had gotten knocked out and didn’t know where I was. I was lost in the woods I tried to be calm and yell for help. This is what I told myself I would do. I would find shelter and water and Food to survive. I would cut down trees with my pocket knife for shelter. I would make sure I have enough clothes on and would be warm enough or not to hot. I would look for a path to find people or for anything in the open. I would use moss on the trees to find the direction and go north because north Might be helpful. Then make sure that I would be safe and survive in the woods. I would also check my Backpack for a knife to kill animals for food. I then looked for food in my backpack and found two granola bars and swallowed them down. Then I would take out my iphone and email someone to help me, then go on Google maps and find out where I am. Then I would use my iphone to call 911. I said, “911 this an emergency I am lost in the woods with no food or water HELP!” The operator responded, “I’m sorry we don’t know where you are and 911 is not a search and rescue group.” I was devastated; the emergency people had turned me down. I would go rest and kill a wounded deer with my pocket knife and eat it. Now I Would sleep in my fort made of trees. When I woke up I was cold and it was late at night, I was still tired at this time. To be safe I’m in the back of my fort because I hear angry animals in the woods, but it turns out that it is the wind. That morning I would find more food and a tomahawk by some trees I make my Fort better and kill some squirrels. I eat the little animals then turn on my phone. I found a buffalo and stabbed him with my knife. It was a struggle but my dagger was good and I got the buffalo on the neck. I cooked the animal on a rock, and it was 105 degrees. I made a new fort with sticks I found. I was looking for water when I stumbled upon a gas station, civilization! Now I went inside and a man was holding them up with a M16, I slit his throat and stole his gun and ran. I had grabbed a water bottle on my way out. Now I would steal a car in the parking lot and find some food. I got pulled over by a cop and he saw my gun and put me in his car. As he searched my car I broke out of the car grabbed my knife and ran. He chased me so I ran into the woods to hide from him. I couldn’t believe it I had run into the woods. I was lost again. There were a few trees before an opening so I decided to walk through them when I got stung by a scorpion; I killed him with my knife. After a while I mustered up the strength to walk. I walked through these trees 2 hours later into a field. My phone beeped which meant it was dead. I went on the other side of the field to a bunch of cactuses and There was a mountain. I realized how much the scorpion bite was affecting my leg, a lot. I lay down on My jacket and drank some water. My leg was really stiff and sore, so I massaged it. The hot sun was Beating down on me and I had no water left. I saw a rabbit running around so I set up a trap. The next day I checked the trap. The trap Was successful; I ate half of the meat. Now I crawled to a cactus and cut it open, then I drank the water From the inside. It was late afternoon on my third day lost and a pond with a bird was close by. I was careful not To disturb this tentative animal. For some reason he started coming at me, fast. I grabbed my stuff and ran. After about 10 minutes of chasing the bird it got away because I twisted my ankle. It hurt so bad my leg that had been stung by the scorpion wouldn’t hold up. I used a stick as a crutch and limbed my way to find Shelter before nightfall. I cut down some cactuses and leaned them into a tree and put my jacket over me. To quench my thirst I drank some more cactus water. I woke up to find it had rained, my water bottle got two inches of Water in it I drank it. The sun was beginning to rise up. I was really hungry and looked around for Something to eat. I was looking for quite some time when I found a berry bush. I didn’t know if I could Eat it or not so I tried one. It tasted good so I ate a bunch of the berries, they were red. Then I retraced My steps back to my camp and lay down. I started to feel sick; I shouldn’t have eaten those berries! I Was really starting to regret my decision. My leg was killing me, I couldn’t move it much. I was tired and Had nowhere to go. I was hurting more and more each Minute. Suddenly I heard something rustling nearby; I looked and saw tumbleweed. I had gotten lost Hiking 4 days ago now. I was very thirsty and hungry. I saw a stick and used it like a crutch, as I did before. I was in pain but I was going to find my way out. As I worked my way to open ground I saw a really cool sunset and smiled. I found a way out of the cacti forest into a field. At this time I saw two people walking in the field. I was found! I had survived, yes.

//__ I Survived __// By Bijen Alagha I was heading up to the Himalayan Mountains to hunt for the Legendary Abominable Snowman. I saved up supplies for this trip for about 1 week, so I was very well supplied. The weather was very bad, as it was -23 outside and a blizzard was heading near my location in the next couple of hours. I was trying to get to the top of the mountains since many sightings of the snowman were around the top of the mountains. I was almost to the top the mountain when all of a sudden the Blizzard hit! I couldn’t see anything in front of me and the road totally disappeared into the white snow. Then I saw a dead end sign and another sign saying WARNING CLIFF! I knew I had to stop the car or I would be dead, I slammed on the break but the car just kept sliding at very high speeds. I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop the car so I jumped out the car! I crashed into the cold, snowy ground and felt an extreme pain in my chest and I started coughing up blood……. Then I knew that I had broken some ribs and I was not able to get up at that time. I crawled over to the cliff to see my car about 30 feet down the mountain smashed, but to my luck the supplies were still intact with the car! I had to get down with my supplies or I wouldn’t make it out here for more than a day. I tried to slide down the terrible slope but the pain was too much so I decided to try going down the mountain with two sickles. Sliding down the mountains with the sickles was difficult but I made it down the giant slope in one piece. Making back to the supplies was the best thing that ever happened to me. I was able to get my extra coat and snow pants on and now I was much more comfortable. I got some food out of the back of the car because I was starving at this point and knew I had to get some energy in my body. I had to find myself some shelter or I would definitely freeze to death out on the cold, snowy mountain. I saw a small cave about 15 more feet down the mountain and I had to get down there to get out of the blizzard! I started on my quest down the mountain again and about halfway down one sickle slipped off the ice! I was holding on to the other sickle desperately but the ice started to crack and I knew I was going to fall! The sickle finally slipped from the ice and I fell down to cold, snowy ground. The pain grew so much that I could not stand no more but then I heard a roaring sound from a distance and then I realized it was a AVALANCHE! My heart started to beat profusely and I had to crawl to the cave or die in the avalanche. I started crawling toward the cave and just made it inside but then the avalanche came down and burrowed into the cave and I was trapped. I just sat there letting my body calm down and for my mind to stop racing. I was trying to think about ways to somehow find a way out of the cave. Then I felt an extreme pain in my right foot, I took my boot off and to my shock, my feet were all swollen and purple. I knew I had to get my feet into some warmth, so I took out a blanket I had in my bag and wrapped my feet into it. Now I knew there was no way out of this predicament so the last thing I could think of doing is trying to get a signal from my phone. I couldn’t believe it, my phone actually had a small signal and I hurried to call my wife. I told her to call the cops and tell them to get a hold of a bigger organization like the army or navy. She asked me what happened and I told her that a blizzard had come and I crashed my car but as soon as she replied the call cut off. I had to hope that my wife could somehow get a search party out in the Himalayas or I don’t know what will happen to me. I tried to dig out some of the snow from the cave and I was making progress until I had to stop because I did not have much energy left. I mean I hadn’t ate in nearly 2 days but I had a little extra food left that I had saved just in case of an emergency. All I had was a couple bags of chips, some fruit and different drinks but it wasn’t much considering this might have to last me for awhile. I had some fruit and a little juice box and decided I should keep trying to dig my way out of the cave. I actually was able to get a small hole to the outside but the rest of the way was blocked out by ice and I was unable to dig through it. I tried to scream through the little hole in the snow but I knew it was no use, no one could hear me for miles. I was getting hungry already but I knew I had to save the food I had or I would have nothing else. I was starting to wonder if I would die on the mountain and if I was even being looked for. I started thinking about my family and how sad I was about not being able to see them again. Then I heard a sound outside the cave, I rush to the hole to see what it was. To my amazement it was a helicopter! I was screaming as loud as I could and it was a miracle because the helicopter started landing on the cliff. The people told me to back up and took a flamethrower and lit the place up, I could feel the heat go right across my face! When I went up in the helicopter I felt a huge relief that I was going to be ok. I knew the snowman was somewhere out there but I knew I wouldn’t be looking for him anymore. I have never been back to the Himalayans since this incident and don’t plan on going back. This has been my survival story!

­­­Survival­­­­­­! Shawn nakakura If I was lost in the woods the first thing I did is make shelter. I made a shelter by cutting down little trees and laying them against a large branch. Next I cut large leafs from trees and pile them up on both sides of the shelter to make the shelter water resistant. Next I tried to get food I did this by going to a pond or a stream to catch a fish by stabbing it with a spear. Next I went back to the shelter and lay the fish down and I then went to gather fire wood. To start a fire I gathered some kindling and lit them with the little lighter I had in my back pocket. I would then cook the fish over the fire. The second day I was lost I gathered a lot of leafs and dry wood in the forest to make a signal fire. Once that was done I made a raft to go out on the stream by my shelter. The next day I went and tried to catch some food with the bow and arrows I had made the previous day. I found a deer in a clearing and shot at his head and hit it in the eye and it died. After I had cleaned the deer out I took it back to camp and cut it into small pieces to dry. On the fourth day of my stay in the woods I had plenty to eat so after eating I went to find a new and better place for shelter and explore the land. While searching the land I found a blueberry bush. I picked almost all the berries on the bush and took them back to camp then I resumed my look for new shelter I found a big river close to my new shelter and built a new better shelter. My shelter was a flat surface raised off the ground supported by tying it to a tree. Next I made another layer about 2 feet above my bottom layer to protect myself from precipitation. Next I would go to catch food in the river, I caught a fish and crawdads in the river. While at the river I found some fish hooks that washed up on the shore. Next I made a fish net to catch multiple fish at once. Once I had made the net I went back to my shelter. Once I got back to my shelter I made a fire pit to make fire in once I got the fire going I went out and found a bunch of fire wood. Then I cooked the stuff I found at the river on a piece of bark. The next week I saw a passing by plane so I thought I should light my signal fire but it was a fail because the plane did not see it. When I went back to my shelter I just lay down and slept for the next hour or so. When I felt like I was reenergized I went to the river and got a drink of clean fresh water. The next day I went out into the forest to hunt for some meat I found a bear and he was grazing on some grass and I had a perfect shot at his heart. So when I shot at his heart I dropped him in one shot immediately I went in for the stab to finish it off then I skinned the bear and took the meat and the fur back to my shelter to dry. Once the fur was dry I put the fur on my bed to make it softer and more comfortable. The next day I went out to find some food and water my water source was only a couple of yards away from my camp and there was obviously fish and other edible things by the water. Although I had a great water source I needed fresh meat to keep me healthy and strong. So I went out to find animals in the woods I found a lot of small rodents but they would not supply me with enough energy for the day so I went and found a deer in the clearing it was a buck. The buck’s horns could allow me to make a knife to cut meat and other things. The buck was knawing on grass and wasn’t paying any attention to its surroundings so I came up behind it and used my knife to stab it in the heart and it drooped dead. I then skinned the deer and put the meat in my sack and picked up the skin and went back to my shelter. For the next day I was supplied for food and water so I decided to make a fire pit. First thing I did was to go and find rocks to make a circle to keep the fire in I went down to a stream I had found the previous day to find some big rocks. Once I found some large rocks I took them back to my camp to shape them. I began to knock the rocks together to make them rectangles. When I was done shaping the rocks I had to clear a space that I could lay the rocks in. Once I was done with the first layer I started to lay the second layer. When I was completely done with the fire pit I set out to gather wood. I found a fallen tree and started sawing it with the saw I had made from the deer bones. When I was done sawing the tree I made about 40 trips back to camp with the wood because there was so much. Once I was finished bringing all the wood back to camp I set up a fire so when I wanted one I could just light it and it would be burning. The next week I saw a plane passing by so I lit my signal fire. It worked!! The plane started making circles and finally came down to rescue me. When I got home finally I took a warm shower and ate 2 whole frozen pizzas and slept for the next day.

My Survival by: dereck mahlenkamp

I scanned my surroundings; I was in a giant forest, alone. I had no clue where I was. I was wearing khaki shorts, a plain white shirt that was torn and had blood all over it. I had a sharp pain coming from my knee, I was bleeding heavily. I tore part of my shirt off and wrapped it around. There were many cuts and scratches on me but none fatal. I thought to myself, what happened to me,” why am I so hurt”? I shouted to see if anyone was there, no answer. On my belt I had a machete, canteen, and flint. I decided if I was going to get out I was going to have to get out of here on my own. I picked out a line of trees and walked in a straight line, along the way I found a river and decided to fill up my canteen with water. I spotted a deer, there was a sign of wildlife. I would use its skin and fur for warmth when I needed to sleep, I would also eat it. The deer was a young one, maybe two years old, it was sleeping and so I snuck up as quietly as I could, as I got right up on it it woke up. It let out a cry as I killed it but I needed the meat and fur badly. I created a fire with my flint, skinned it, and ate it. I carried the fur on my shoulder and as much meat as I can. I continued my journey again and there was no sign of activity and I had been walking for hours. It was beginning to become nighttime and I knew I was going to have to find a place to rest. I searched and searched for hours and finally I sound someplace where I could rest, a very large, dry, and silent cave. Then I went to sleep. When I woke up, my partner that had also been lost, rahimi, showed up. He was covered in blood, not his own blood, but from some animal he had killed. He seemed injured but only slightly, I was relieved, we gave eachother a big hug, “ where have you been?” I exclaimed, “where are we?” he explained what happened, “ we were both on a plane together, and you blacked out, I tried flying it but it crashed,” “ the front of the plane broke off from the body, and I thought I lost you” We both went back to sleep, when we woke I noticed he had with him a map and compass to guide us out. He said that we were lost in the Amazon rain forest. He explained we were on our way to some survival training, all of my supplies had fallen out with me. My machete, flint and canteen. Rahimi had gone through a lot also; while I was unconscious he tried flying the plane but then crashed it. He gave up and thought I was dead because he couldn’t find me, He had survived well on his own but now that he found me he was ready to work with me out of the woods. So we gathered all of our supplies, a machete, flint, canteen, warm clothing, compass and a map and started our way to get out. It was going to be hard. On my way I found the broken plane that had crashed. There were many deceased. It was a miracle that me and my partner survived, and we were going to do whatever we could to get out. So I collected water and drank a lot of water while there.I went back to the cave and rahimi was gone, without a trail. Things didn’t seem right anymore; I began running and running through the woods calling for rahimi, but nothing. How could he just disappear? I ran past the broken plane and realized I was getting nowhere. I started to stop running, about to give up when the sun started to rise. I decided if I was going to get out here I would run to where the sun is rising, I ran and ran, only to get more tired, nothing was changing in these woods. I became delusional. Thinking I was seeing rahimi throughout the woods. Every time I blinked he would disappear. I stopped and sat down. There wasn’t a sound throughout the whole woods, I sat for hours. What is going on? Will I make it out? All of this was too much. I stood up, and started to walk. Not looking where I was going, just walking. I couldn’t take it anymore, all the trees, and no noises, no anything. It’s like no life was in these woods. What was wrong with them? I kept thinking. Nothing made sense anymore. I decided to stop and think things over, I told myself, there was no rahimi, and all of what he told me couldn’t be true. I became very tired in all the thinking; I found a nice cave along the way, so I decided to take a rest. I fell into a deep slumber, when suddenly; I woke up terrified and screaming. I checked my surroundings, I was on a plane with my buddy rahimi, and then the plane crashed.

A Day on the USS Arizona by Scott Farro The date was December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy. It was a quiet Sunday morning at the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii, when all of the sudden Japanese planes came and started bombing the ships. Many young men and women died, and here is the story of a group of young sailors on that fateful morning. “Rise and shine men, today should be a pretty easy day,” yelled Captain Johnson. “Man, this is going to be another good morning. Today feels like it is going to be another fine day on the great old USS Arizona,” said Jimmy. “Whatever Jimmy, our work is boring. I just joined the navy, because my father told me to,” said Tommy with disgust. “Let’s go men, we have to get moving if we want to have a productive day,” screamed Captain Johnson. “I’m coming, I’m coming. Just wait one minute please Captain,” mumbled Tommy. “Go clean the deck boys. I want the USS Arizona to be the best looking ship on this harbor. Do you understand me men?” yelled Captain Johnson. “Man I can’t wait for the day when Captain Johnson loses his voice,” murmured Tommy. “What the… Are those Japanese planes destroying our ships?” asked Captain Johnson. “I can’t believe it! Finally, this is why I joined the navy. I wanted to get in a battle,” said Jimmy with joy. “I can’t believe what you just said. We are going to get killed!” screamed Tommy over the sound of gunfire. “Come on men get to your stations, this is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill,” said Captain Johnson. As the battle raged on, the unthinkable happened. “Oh my God, we have been hit!” cried Captain Johnson. “We have to get out of here Jimmy, we can’t stay on this ship for any longer,” said Tommy. “We have to stay on and protect our ship. This ship and the sailors on this ship are like family to me,” exclaimed Jimmy. “Come on Jimmy, let’s go. I’m not jumping off this ship without you,” said Tommy with tears rolling down his cheeks. As Jimmy was about to say something, the USS Arizona was hit again. The ship was beginning to sink. “Fine, I will go, but we must find Captain Johnson first. I will not leave without him. Remember Tommy, no man will get left behind,” said Jimmy. “Do you know where Captain Johnson is?” asked Jimmy and Tommy in unison to another sailor. “Captain Johnson is nowhere to be found, now stop talking to me and get off this ship,” yelled the sailor. “We have to go to the side of the ship and jump off. We will then swim all the way to shore,” explained Tommy. The young sailors ran to the side of the ship and… “On three Tommy,” cried Jimmy. “Just jump, we can’t waste any time,” yelled Tommy. They jumped. The young sailors were off the USS Arizona. The first task had been completed, but now they had to swim to shore. “Finally, this nightmare is over. We can just swim to shore, and find shelter inside a home,” sighed Tommy. “I don’t know about that. Holy…This ocean is full of gasoline, it could set on fire at any minute,” said Jimmy over the sound of rushing water. The entire ocean was filled with gasoline, and there was no way to go around the gasoline. “What are we going to do Tommy?” asked Jimmy. “If we want to survive, we must swim through the gasoline and hope for the best,” said Tommy. The sailors began to swim through the gasoline. The short swim only lasted a couple of minutes, but to the sailors it felt like many hours. “At last, we have made it past the gasoline, now we must swim to shore,” said Jimmy. After about half an hour, Tommy and Jimmy made it to the shore and rose up from the ground to see the magnificent USS Arizona sinking under the water to its grave. About 40 years later the men returned to see the Pearl Harbor Memorial. They were amazed to see that the USS Arizona had been discovered at the bottom of the ocean. Tommy and Jimmy walked over to see the list of names that had died during the attack, and were saddened to see that Captain Johnson was on the list.

Survival in the Woods Hello, my name is Jacob. I’m 15 years old. This isn’t a normal day for me. It is kind of weird because I have been lost for four days. I’m in a large forest, the Manu National Park to be exact. I unfortunately came upon this because my father and I went camping here. As I remember we were making our tent in the middle of the woods and suddenly a grizzly bear came. My father ran down a hill one way and I ran up a hill, the bear had chased him. It was our first mistake on our trip. I called for him for fifteen minutes straight but had no luck getting anyone to answer. I scanned my surroundings as I saw them. The terrain here was dry and rocky. The trees here are very thick and large. This place gets little sunlight and lots of rain. My hiking backpack wasn’t prepared for this unsightly split up of him and I, my pack is only one days worth of items. As I wondered through the woods and it started to get close to night I became scared. I didn’t know if I would live until tomorrow. I had woken up and had many animals staring at me. They look vicious and furious that I was here. First off, you need to get in to a tall tree and look for a route out, but be careful for animals that will be up there. If you cannot find one do not stay in the tree for it could get you sick because of animal droppings that might be on the tree branches. Now you might be hungry, only eat plants if you absolutely know they are not poisonous. Always stay walking in one direction, if you turn you might just go in one big circle and you would be wasting your time. If you encounter a vicious animal on the way try to manage to climb a tree. Do not flee, for it will most likely be able to catch you. If you meet someone in the woods ask if they know a way out! If they do not you could ask for their help of getting out. You might be thirsty now. Try to find a nearby stream. Only drink the water that looks absolutely clean. If you see the tiniest bit of unclearness, do not drink it. It must be getting late now. Start making a hammock out of tree branches and leaves. You can weave them together tightly and make a comfortable covering out of leaves. Use clean stick, pull them off of the trees. You need to do this to stay off the ground to not get attacked by animals during the night or get an illness from the ground. When you have woken up you want to make a fire out of sticks. To get a fire rub two dry sticks together quickly, this will create friction that will light the sticks on fire. Make sure not to cause a forest fire or it could kill you. Scavenge for plants that aren’t poisonous and cook them on your campfire. Cooking them will get any bacteria off the leaves; that are on them. You will want to continue to walk now, remembering to stay going in one direction. Remember to stay going in the same direction you were before. If you come upon a short stream do not cross it. Try to make a miniature raft out of the trees around you, to get across. You do this in case there are any crocodiles or piranhas in the water. You can use a large fallen tree trunk to get across and use branches as oars. Continue your journey after you get to the other side. Hunt for plants, animals, or etc… Try to make a spear. Get a stick that’s like a pole. Then get a rock that is pointy and sharp. Then try to fit the rock on the stick, if you can’t, tie it down with vines. You can use this spear to fish or hunt animals. When you get the fish, make a new fire to cook it on. You are going to be pretty far out of where you started by now… It’s going to be dark again; if there are no trees around you could make a fortress of sticks and leaves. Make it near a hill or something that will be above you. It will give you more protection and you will be able to make a wall to keep yourself protected for the night. When you wake up the next morning you should hunt an animal and use the animal’s skin as protection against cold or as a camouflage. Remember to hunt an animal that hunts, but not too big of an animal. You have choices on how to kill the animal, you could get in a low tree branch and wait to pounce on it and stab it with the spear you made before. You could sneak up on it and stab it with the spear. If you take it head on it will probably attack and kill you. You could find a stick that is a semi-circle and put a vine on it to make a bow. Make arrows out of sticks, stones and vines. You can use the same technique as to make your spear. Continue your journey of walking and try to walk a little longer this day, more than regular days. You can hunt another animal and use its’ pelt as a coat. This will keep you warm for the days. Don’t put it directly on your flesh’, put it over your clothes. It could be diseased without you knowing it. Try to get much of the blood off, but don’t touch it. You will soon be out of this forest. If you’ve lost your mind yet you have probably lost the book and stopped reading. But if you have not lost it you need to rest. Try to rest your feet because you have been working them hard for the last couple of days. Rest for an hour or so then continue your journey. Now you should be out! You have some choices now. You could tell people about your journey. You could go to therapy if you are crazy. You might want to lose the animal pelt or people will think you’re weird. That’s all the information I can give you for getting out of forests that you get lost in.

Nine Eleven Heroes By: Alise Dumford It is the morning of September eleventh; it’s really sunny and people are happy. People go about the regular life of everyday. Kids are playing, kids are at school, and also parents are at work. 6 am: Planes are ready to go as normal; one plane is heading to Boston and one to Maine. 7 am: Hijackers have the plane now. 8:46am: The north tower has been hit by Flight 11’s plane. Fire fighters and cops are everywhere. Fire fighters go into the tower and ambulances are waiting nearby to help. A lot of fire fighters go in, including Henry, Tommy, and also Eric. These men have the hearts of many and have families. Henry has 2 girls and 1 boy with a wife, Tommy has 1 little girl baby with a wife, Eric has a 3 year old girl and his wife died in birth. Even with a family they still have their job that they come to do. “I am going in. Repeat I am going in!” Tommy yells at his friends through the Willkie talkie. “Watch out its not pretty. Bodies everywhere and fire is everywhere,” Henry responds. “Tommy what floor are you on?” Eric asks and sounds stressed. “Floor 90 and crash is on 93 and 99. I am going in there!” Tommy yells but sounds really strong and brave. “Tommy wait for help! Repeat wait for help! I’m on floor 78 and getting close,” Eric yells at Tommy. “People need help and Henry is already in there!” Tommy yells. And when Tommy got to floor 92 he loses connection to Eric. “Don’t go any farther Tommy, it’s too big. People are everywhere nobody on the plane lived. Go down and tell everyone to get away! I think we have an attack!” Henry yells to Tommy. Tommy gets up to floor 94 and sees smoke everywhere and roofs falling everywhere. The smoke is so big it’s hard to breath. There is fire everywhere and the plane is not even in form anymore. The floor is starting to fall too. “Attack?!” Tommy yells. “Yes an attack. Now go down and tell the others I am staying up here to help out as much as I can,” Henry tells Tommy. “Eric this is Henry we have an attack and I am sending everyone down we have too much smoke there is no time. I think it will collapse!” Henry try’s to worn Eric. “What…can...hear…… just…get out!” Eric breaks up with Henry but Henry knew what he said. Eric is running down the stairs and goes floor to floor to evacuate as many people as possible. He is on floor 22 when he hears a big sound. The ceiling is collapsing! He gets as much people as he can to the stairs. “Tommy and Henry get out now! The ceiling is collapsing! Repeat the ceiling is collapsing!” Eric yells while running down the stairs. He gets no response. While he is evaluating the 18 floor he hears a message from the chief saying that at 9:03 the south tower of the world trade center has been hit. “I will head there. I am on floor 18 be in the south tower soon,” he tells the chief. On his way out of the North tower 10 minets later he heads into the South tower. But what he does not know is that the North tower has been falling right behind him. “I am going into the South tower. Repeat going into the South tower,” Eric says and then his line of the Willkie talkie goes fuzzy and gone. 12977800461297780046user:alisedumford “Get out people! Everyone evacuate as fast as possible!” Tommy yells at the people. Everyone starts to run down the stairs he is on floor 10 and the smoke is bad all way down here. He thinks about his partners Eric and Henry and hopes they got out. This is too bad. He hears the ceiling falling in. At floor 5 his Willkie talkie is getting connection and he hears all about the south tower being hit. He is now around the 3rd floor of the South tower. 9:59am: the South tower collapsed. Tommy knows now time on the North tower is not going to last long. He tries to get a hold of Henry,” Henry the south tower collapsed! Get out of the tower! Repeat gets out!” He yells out in his Willkie talkie. He hears nothing. He gets out of the North tower with 200 people saved. 10: 28: The North tower collapse. Everyone is running. Smoke is everywhere and he can’t see and can’t breathe in this smoke. He runs with everyone else. Henry’s only has hope that Eric and Henry got out and that he will come back for them when the smoke clears. It looks as if the world is all of smoke because all you see, all you hear, is smoke and people screaming and running. After about ten minutes of the smoke it starts too clear. He is 2 blocks from the tower and smoke is everywhere on the ground and on buildings. It looks like it was snow of smoke. He slowly starts to walk back to the towers or what's left of them. On his way he sees bodies and people coughing and yelling for loved ones. When he gets back to the tower he only sees dust and lots of pieces of the tower. He yells for Henry and Eric but gets nothing. What he does not know is that Eric was in the South tower. He hears his name from under the fire truck only feet from the end of the pile of dust and pieces. He runs over to the fire truck and sees Henry coughing and also bleeding. “What happened? How did you get out?” Tommy asked. “I jumped at floor 3 knowing it was falling and landed on the truck and was still alive. Tommy Eric is gone I saw him jump from the South building. …he is gone,” Henry says and starts to cry. So both Henry and Tommy are alive but another hero was lost. Eric was only 35 years old with a 3 year old girl and he is now dead. He will always be remembered he saved many lives on 9/11 and is a hero!

My Survival Plan By: Emily Faske If I was flying in a plane going overseas and I was over a large island but the plane crashed on it and I had to fend for myself, I would first make a shelter and mark certain parts of the island to know where I was, have been or where I am going. Next I would gather wood for a fire and lots of leaves to keep it going through the night. After I had the wood I would go catch fish, and other animals that I could cook over a fire and eat. I would also go and try to find fresh water to get to keep myself hydrated. To hold the water I would make a bowl out of leaves, so that I wouldn’t have to keep going back for more fresh water every time I was thirsty. Then I would put the leftover food in a pouch and lift it up in the tree so other animals won’t get it. Then over the night I would get lots of leaves to keep me somewhat warm. The next day I would travel around the island trying to get someone’s attention. Then I would get leaves that make dark black smoke and I would light it when there were planes or boats near the area. Also if there were palm trees around I would get coconuts and a sharp rock and drink them to keep myself hydrated. If there were no boats or planes near then I would go and walk around the area to try and find civilization or animals that I can eat and possibly fruit and water. If I was on the island for more than a week then I would start to make a shelter that is larger than the first and can keep me more protected from large animals. I would also make it big enough so I could put a fire near it, but still is able to be very close to the shelter. Then I would take lots of leaves and put them on the inside rim of the shelter to make it warm during the night. I would also put leaves around the outside of the shelter to make it blend in with the trees and put large palm leaves to keep the water out. When that was done I would go get the food from the tree and cook it to the point where I would eat it. The next day I would go back on the beach hoping to see a boat or helicopter or plane. If I did I would try to get their attention with the pile of leaves and wood. I would also gather more coconuts from the trees and bring them back to my shelter for later. I would also go around the area to get sharp rocks and other things to make tools out of. I would also get vine or rope, if there was any rope there. With the vine or rope I would tie the tools together and use them to make sharp sticks to kill animals and cut down things I could use for my shelter. I would also get more fresh water to drink and keep myself hydrated so I would always have to drink coconuts. I would try to find some puppy wolves on the island and take it so it would be able to protect me from some things. When I take it I would make its smell different so the mother wolf would not find the puppy wolf. As it grew I would train in so they it does not hurt me when it gets older. I would keep myself in good shape I would exercise there and I would use some of the fresh water to wash my body off. I would also use my tooth brush from my bag I had to brush my teeth and keep them somewhat clean. I would also take the brush normally put my hair up during the day to keep if out of my face and so it doesn’t get that dirty. Every once and a while I would go to an area where catching fish is easy and I would catch fish for me and the wolf. I would take my spear I made out if a stick and rocks and I would catch the fish to eat them later. For clothes I would take the fresh water and wash it every week so that I don’t smell nasty that even the wolf wouldn’t want to be near me. If the weather got cold and I only had summer clothes then I would use the fur from the animals I have caught and I would make clothes out of them to keep warm. Also to keep me warm I would use other fur and lay them on the floor of my shelter and on the inside walls to keep the shelter insolated and warm. I would also go back to the beach and I would take as many leaves as I could carry and I would set them on fire when I would see a boat, airplane or helicopter. I would keep a small journal with me to keep track of how many days I’ve been on the island and good survival tips that have worked for me. I would also explain how I trained the wolf and how I got it to catch certain animals and protect me from others. Also in the journal I would say what the weather is like each day and how I survived it, if it was harsh. After a long time on the beach I would probably travel around the whole island with the wolf to see if there were any other people on the island, even though it’s highly unlikely. If there were other people then I would tell them about the shelter I had made and I would take them there and show them how I survived and we could trade survival tips. Since there would be more people together it would be easier to make things like tools, boats and shelters. Together we would build a boat and go back to civilization. (:

Surviving in the Woods Kush Patel = I am in Muir Woods National Monument Hiking Trail, in California. The sky is blue. I’m hot, because it’s really sunny (it’s in California, so what do you expect). The trees are swaying back and forth, because of the wind. The wind today, it’s like no other. It’s the perfect amount for a sunny day like today. I want someone to get my water bottle for me; I can’t quite reach it without getting up. But I’m alone. I see insects crawling around going about their business, just like a normal day in the community. It’s a normal day for everyone, everyone except me. = My name is Brian, Brian Smith to be exact. I’m a 14 year old boy, and I’m lost in the woods, in case my descriptions didn’t give you a hint of where I was. So what’s a 14 year old boy supposed to do lost in the woods? Most people would say 14 is mature and responsible enough to be able to figure things like this out. Or going even younger, most adults can even trust 11, 12, or 13 year olds to take care of their kids. See, I never got that, how people can trust kids who have only been in this world for 11 or 12 years. It’s absurd, and that’s why I don’t expect myself to get out of this situation without help. But the question is, who will help me. I’m alone, and I’m not sure if there is someone within a mile of me. So as you can see, I clueless as to what to do in this situation. Well, let me be more specific with my situation. I was with my family on a hiking trip, which is a usual every summer. You see, my family is very energetic, lively, active, untiring, etc. So when we were on this hiking trip, we took a lunch break. I saw this as an opportunity to take a bathroom break, because hiking isn’t fun when you have to use the restroom. The only problem with this was, I didn’t know my way around, so that made for trouble. My dad, however, being the guy he was, couldn’t except this fact and ask for help. Instead, he acted as if he knew exactly where the bathroom was, and told me it was right around the corner, in the woods. Well you can guess how that turned out—as a disaster. I listened to what he said and cut off the trail. When I did this, I couldn’t find the woods. I turned around to go back, but out of the corner of my left eye, I saw the woods. I peeked around the corner, and noticed suddenly my dad gave me the wrong directions. This was alright, because it was not that far off, you just had to take a left turn instead of taking a right turn. Now that I was on the right track, I wanted to find the bathroom. After all, that was why I was where I was. I looked both directions—left and right, but I found nothing. I then proceeded to walk straight in hope of finding the bathroom, but even as I kept walking, I didn’t quite find anything. I was wondering what to do, whether to turn back, or keep going. I had been gone for a long time and my parents didn’t know where I was. Well, I didn’t want to come all the way for nothing; I kept turning left, right, in whatever direction. I didn’t keep track of my path because I thought I would just memorize every direction I went. This plan didn’t work out so well because about 10 minutes of searching later, I found the bathroom. I came out, and realized I had no idea where I was. I didn’t even have a guarantee that going straight was the correct path. And now, here I am, not a clue what to do. But now that I am lost in the woods and have the feeling; I do not want anyone else to have the same experience. Therefore I am going to write a survival plan or guide for everyone out there. This guide will tell you exactly what to do when lost in the woods, from step one to however long it takes. So have no fear, this guide will walk you through what to do when lost in the woods. If you want to know what to do first, I would highly suggest to stop everything you are doing, and focus on the task at hand. It was when you are fully concentrated you will have the best chance to find where you are. The first thing I will attempt to do is remember where I am. I’m in California, Muir Woods National Monument Hiking Trail. I take a deep breath, relax, and think about where I am. I am in sunny California with the perfect amount of wind, causing the trees to sway back and forth. I could fall asleep to this. But I can’t, since there are more steps. My body is now concentrated, and I have come to my senses. Since that is a pretty easy thing to do, the first two steps will be combined. The second step you have to be able to do is to determine your resources. Empty your pockets, backpacks, etc. Also make use of what resources you have; in this case I have matches to make a fire, and a knife to cut things. Lucky for me, there is a bush of blueberries by me, and I have been eating them all afternoon. Next, I will attempt to create shelter for myself. Since I don’t have a map to make an easy return, I have to wait until someone finds me. That is why it is key to know how to make your own food, create your own shelter, etc. I used a lot of branches of evergreen to build a house by stacking them up. Last, you wait until someone comes to find you. Since I don’t know where I am, I have to take care of myself for a while and someone will come to my rescue. Wait, I hear a sound. “Brian? Is that you son?” “Dad? You found me!” I was rescued! And the important thing is, I followed all my tips to make sure I was completely safe, and someone found me.

Jacob simmons

Excalibur continues The traveler leaves as the kings people are traumatized by the horrific event. No one tried to stop him he had defeated the kings greatest of warriors revenge for the king was futile. After 10 minutes people start shying away from the scene. No one under stood why the stranger killed the king but you will. 25 years earlier at a village east of the castle. Just as the sun raises a javelin hits the ground horsemen ride through with morning stars tearing through houses. As they ride the kings men launch flaming arrows in an enormous hellfire upon the horsemen ran sackers and unintentionally the villagers screaming being attacked from both sides one of the villagers runs to her flaming hut to grab her 2 year old son when they run a horse bounds out of a stable a knocks her over as her son is taken by the ran sackers “retreat men!” shouted the commanding officer as they remove their helmets the villagers recognize the people kongoalins a rival tribe of the villagers and then the kings men decided to lay the village to waste thinking that one friendly village is worth one enemy dead the child cries as he is taken away by the kongoalins …… 5 years later clang clink clang ! Go wooden swords in the kongoalin city “Reko Good work you have proven yourself in the arena I am allowing you to move yourself to the range for archery next said King Astons “thank you father I will accept your offer I can’t wait to learn the ways of the archer” good my son soon you will be a young warrior and then a commander and then you will be the greatest achievement and successor” “father before I go may have lunch “ said Reko “Yes you have worked hard today I will have the servants make you lunch” “Thank you father “ ….10 years later “ahhh! “  “ha ha another man dead on the battle field “ yelled Reko As he charges the king’s castle he waits and thinks the king’s army is diminished reko’s army retreats and he walks up to the king’s castle alone as the king sends his three champions and you know the story from there.

Surviving the Odds By Michael Allmandinger Ok, so we got the natives mad; wait so you’re probably wondering how this happened right? It all started in Burbank, California. I was on the phone and we got a business deal with a guy who owns all the comic book stores in Japan. We own a comic book business here in Burbank, California called H.C.P Hero Comic Productions. I and all our other workers which are me, Zach, Mitch and Adam all went to L.A International Airport. So we all got on a plane and we started flying to Tokyo, Japan to meet that guy who runs all the comic stores in Japan. When we were almost there the plane had some engine problems then we started falling. OH MY GOD! WE ALL ARE GOING TO DIE!!!!!!!!! Then the pilot landed the plane on the ocean. We all got out and swam to an island. Then the survivors who were me and my coworkers got on the island and then the plane exploded. “Where are we?” I asked. “Wait, we’re on a stranded island out in the middle of no where. Wait, I think I got a world map. Wait we’re on one of those American islands. HUH??? ?? See, a long time ago America bought islands for coal stations so that way they could transport the coal for trade and stuff. Oh, ok, so we looked around. Ok, so we need shelter so we got some wood and we started building a hut. Ok now we need food so we looked around and got some fruit, berries and nuts and went fishing. So then we made a fire and we had dinner. Then the sun went down and we slept for the night”. The next day I looked at our supplies. Oh great, our food resources are low. We looked around for more food but we found very little so we farmed. We fished but we did not get that much either. Then we looked around the island and we found a native man. So we followed him and we found a large tribe and they had at least 1,000 people. “Wow!” we said. So we walked into the village and we saw farms, street vendors, shops, a school and people’s homes. This was pretty well set up. So we saw a stack of food.” Hey let’s take this.” “Halt!” Said a native then a bunch of guys with weapons surrounded us and that’s how we got here. The tribe leader walked up to us. So you walk into our peaceful village. PEACEFUL!!!!! YOU TRIED TO KILL US!!!!! Well it’s self defense. “Sir listen we got stranded here and our plane exploded we had food that we found around the shore”. “Sir we did not mean harm to your people please forgive us”. Well I don’t know stealing is wrong to our people. “Well we are sorry we just did not want to starve to death”. Well there is one thing you can do. “I’ll make a deal with you because normally we would throw you in jail or make a sacrifice”. “But if you work for us we will pay you so you can buy food and a decent shelter”. Ok deal so each got jobs in the tribe. Zach got a job teaching gym at the local school. Adam got a job working in the store stacking goods and produce. Mitch got a job picking fruit at the local farm and I got a job working as a manger at the local store. After a week we each got paid and Chef of the village forgave us so we went to the local realtor office. “I know it’s weird it’s like a second United states instead of local huts they got buildings their school is made out of brick and the store is like a Wal-Mart that sells computers and TVs and they got electricity from their local tidal/solar power plant where did they get all this stuff and supplies”. Oh yeah their homes have electricity in their homes that are made out of brick also. This is weird none of this makes any since but we found a nice house 4 bedroom 3 bath for only 200,000 Coals. Coals are their local currency because this used to be a coal station to transport coal. No it’s not actual coal its paper money and coins and another weird thing every house has TVs and satellite TV and they and satellite internet same with the school. I don’t understand any of this is this our new life? Working for the tribe starting a new life as whatever these people are called American’s, Triben’s or Coalin’s. Well it could be worst we could of all been dead we could of never saw that guy that day or found this village or the Chief could of not let us got our gotten jobs with the village. Well I guess this is our new life as villagers here on this old coal station that the United States has set up since they bought this island. I miss my old home back in Burbank California with our comic book business. Then I went to sleep last night the next day we all woke up in our new home we all went to work my average day at the local store checked on merchandise for the store placed in orders for the local factories yes they got factories here to on the island. Then I heard a loud noise it sounded like a cruise ship I ran then I saw a bunch of trees I walked trough and I saw a beach resort. WHAT THE HECK!!!!!! “There was a beach resort the whole time”. I saw vacationers you have got to be kidding me. The Chief walked up to me well “you found out our secret didn’t you?” “can we leave now? “Nope once you come here you stay here”. “What about the travelers”? “Oh there travelers they can leave they pay us for our resort.” I stood there and then a coconut landed on the Chief’s head and knocked him out I ran back to the village guys what said Zach, Mitch and Adam guess what we are not stranded they have a beach resort with cruise ships lets go we all packed up our stuff and we ran to the cruise ship we bought tickets and we hoped on and went to our room”. “Shockingly they took coals few we are safe now and we went back to our home in Burbank I wonder what happened to that chief”. “I will get them you’ll see if I ever see them again they will pay for escaping my island”. THE END