Sleeping Seashore

The Dobbs had a crisis in their family. It was not their wealth. It wasn't the time of year, it was only 1906. It was their youngest child,  Mary Jane, Little May for short. She had become blind for the past month now. The family wasn't their usual self, either. Mr. Dobbs had stopped working, being the boss of a company. Mrs. Dobbs stayed in her room all the time crying loudly, because of her little girl's illness. The maids worked grouchily, though the work was never done.

The rest of the children tried to help, but with poor results. John the eldest, (16 years old), went to get himself a job. Sarah who was only 14, decided to help the maids work. Tom, age 10, always stayed by Little May's side to keep her company. 

But Little May, despite of her blindness, wasn't sad. She had been feeling happy, as if nothing had ever happened. Once, she begged for her family to have a family dinner. So, they did. "Why are you so happy?" her family asked her. "Isn't it foolish to waste the day crying?" she asked. "Well, no, not when you're sad." "Even though I can't see, I am still alive. I'm so glad I didn't die from being sick." The family were shocked she hadn't cried for weeks.

The family were still sad, but they decieded to take their minds off of it. An elderly woman, Mrs. Peters suggested a family vacation to the seashore. "It is only a day's journey away. I have a cottage there, you can use. Thank goodness you all are going in the summer. It gets so cold in the fall."

So it was planned. They packed up trunks of things and took a train to the Florida beach. Little May had brought her paint set, because she was a good painter. When they arrived, they unpacked and decided to rest. In the morning, Little May told them, "I'm going to paint a picture of the ocean."

She took off her shoes and for the first time, she felt the cool water. She smelled the salty air, and she felt the soft gooey sand between her toes. The wind blew her brown hair and she played in the ocean all day long. In the evening, her family wondered how she would ever paint again.

When she was sleeping she had a dream. In it, she was standing on the beach and she could see. But the ocean could not "see". The ocean was gray and black and ugly. She realized that if she could see, the ocean would be sleeping. "Wake up." she said. She, herself awoke. 

She raced to the window. "Wake up!" she shouted. "Sarah! Is the ocean sleeping?" "Sleeping?" "Yes, I cannot see, so is is the ocean awake?" "I don't understand." "The colors." "Oh, well, the ocean is blue and has a pretty green to it." her sister explained, perplexed. "Oh good! Mama! Papa! Everybody come here!" Everyone rushed in half-- awake. "I understand why I need to be blind, now." Little May said to her family pointing to the window. "Why?" Mr.Dobbs asked. "So that the seashore will always be awake." "That's what she told me, Papa. I still don't understand." Sarah commented.

"I had a dream. In it I was standing on the seashore, and I was no longer blind. I could see everything. But the ocean was all black and ugly. I realized that the beach was sleeping. I decided that for the ocean to awake, I would have to remain blind. I decided that's exactly what I wanted." she said. Even though it didn't quite make sense to Mr. Dobbs yet, he realized that seeing the seashore was a wonderful idea. He was glad that they came.

When the family returned back to the city, everyone was happy, no one was sad. When Little May became 16, she moved to the cottage Mrs.Peters had left for her, before she(Mrs.Peters) died. She sat their painting a picture of the ocean,thought about her dream when she was 7,and had tears in her eyes. On the bottom of her painting said:

Florida Seashore, may it forever be awake. ---Mary Jane Dobbs
                                                                         (Little May)

The End 

The seashore "awake".

The seashore "sleeping".

ELA Notes Post (showcase)

1. My BEST EXAMPLE of creativity- Seasons.

• One reason is that in this post, the words are different colors.
• These colors are looking like a season.
• For example, one stanza says:
•   Seasons of leaves
  Seasons of colors
  Seasons of breezes
  Seasons like FALL 
  
  Now you see, that the word FALL is in 4 different colors that indicate that season. The other letters describe that season, which is the season of fall. 

2.  Evidence of my growth as a reader: Legend of the Dolphins

• I created a biography that is true in this tribe called the Chumash tribe. This tribe has believed in a legend that was made into a movie. (Dolphin Tale)
• I became really inspired by it so I decieded to write about it.
• I had to do some reasearch about it as well, because the movie didn't give me enough information. I went to this website to learn more. This website had the information that I was looking for.
• 3.  Proof I am a thinker: Be yourself 
• I had to REALLY  think deeply about this one.
• This was my most HARDEST post I have ever made.
• I to think about, "How could I convince people to be themselves?" or "What are peoples' distractions when it comes to being yourself?"
• The world has MANY  distractions that would make you CHANGE  yourself.

4. My Top 3 (favorite) posts: Legend of the dolphins, Seasons, Be yourself

• They are my top 3 favorite because they show how I think deeply and my creativity.

My Worst Moment in my life

When I was little, I had a grandpa named "Pops". He was and always will be very special to me...............................................

He saw me when I was born. He held me. He and his wife, Grannie B., loved to be with me. I didn't know, at that time, that I was the FIRST grandchild on their side. Later did I realize that I was incredibly special to them.

When Grannie B. died when I was just 9 months old, I know now that Pops must've been very sad. When I grew up, age 3-4, Pops visited me every Saturday. He never missed a day, maybe once because Mom had errands to run. He was always so excited to see me. 

Sometimes when my parents when off to work, I didn't get to stay often at his house. My nana, my mom's mom, wanted to babysit me.  
On Sundays, after church, Pops got to take me to his house. He'd have toys and books, and a metal game called: Tic-Tac-To. As always, I'd always watch the movie The Jungle Book . 


He visited and came to ALL my birthdays, then. My parents took pictures of me and him, and videos. Then one day, my brother and sister, were born into the world. He held them.  


As I said before, he still visited me, and of course the twins, who were still newborn babies. Life was so perfect. He made me laugh, and I loved him more than ever. Nothing would ever go wrong........................




Maybe I WAS wrong. One day, I was about 5 or 6 years old, my dad was playing tennis with a friend, at a park. His friend hit the ball and it accidentally hit my dad's knee, HARD. I was at home, not knowing what was happening. My mom got a phone call and was told that my dad was in the hospital. My nana, who happened to be there, said she would watch the twins for her. I begged my mom to let me go with her, so she did. 


In the meantime, Pops and my uncle Mark, were riding in their car on the way to the hospital. Another car hit theirs.....a car wreck. Pops wasn't weariness seatbelt. It was too late. Pops had died, but my uncle survived. 


When my dad was able to come home, I realized that something else was wrong. Where was Pops? Pops, my Pops, who would give me a nickname and always visit me, EVERY  Saturday. I asked my parents and they told me he died. 


Later in my life, when I was old enough, my mom told me the real story. I was devastated, still am. Everyone in my family LOVED Pops.   
The sad part is, my little brother and sister barely knew him. 


My grandfather was really, really special to me. I ALways will remember him.  This was my story of my grandfather and I.


THE END  

Seasons (Poem)

Seasons...........
Seasons of hope
Seasons of joy
Seasons...........

Seasons that bring rain
Seasons that bring sunshine
Seasons that bring new life
Seasons like SPRING

Seasons..........
Seasons of hope
Seasons of joy
Seasons..........

Seasons that bring heat
Seasons that are fun
Seasons that are dry
Seasons like SUMMER

Seasons..............
Seaons of songs
Seasons of happiness
Seaons....................

Seasons of leaves
Seasons of colors
Seasons of breezes
Seasons like FALL

Seasons..............
Seasons of songs
Seasons of happiness
Seasons..............

Seasons of playing
Seasons of ice
Seasons of snow
Seasons like WINTER

Seaons of SPRING
Seaons of SUMMER
Seasons of FALL
Seasons of WINTER

Seasons...........
They always finish
ROUNDTRIP
Seaons.............

The Legend of the Dolphins

In California, the Chumash tribe has many  legends. But one of them is very special, it is one of my favorites. No, I did NOT make this ALL up. This is THEIR legend, not mine. I did NOT create it. But I wish to share it to you now...........................................................................


In California, the Chumash tribe has a goddess: Goddess Hutash.  She wanted the people to move to the mainland, where they could fill up the earth. So, she decided to build them a rainbow bridge, for them to cross. Hutash  LOVED to watch the children play all day long, that's why she made the bridge.


Everyone was very excited. The children were singing joyously and their parents were dancing. Everyone was having fun. Some of them had already made it across. The ones who were still crossing the bridge, some of them looked down, and saw nothing but water. They felt sick and dizzy, and all the ones on the bridge, FELL! 


The parents were afraid that their children would drown.  Hutash saw this and was upset. But, she had an idea. As soon as the children hit the water, they turned into what we call..............................................................


.......................................................DOLPHINS! She did this so that they could play forever.  


Today, the Chumash tribe always believe that dolphins are as smart as humans. I wanted to write this legend because I was inspired by the movie:
DOLPHIN TALE.  I love this movie and my family does, too.  Go to this website for more information.


Today, some people believe this story is true, because some say dolphins are
smart as humans.  Go to the  website to learn about it. For me, when watching the movie, this was my credible source. (No, I didn't watch it online) ENJOY!



                                                                                               

                                                                                                

Be Yourself

Be yourself
Don't act like anyone else

Don't copy others

It causes trouble for yourself
Be yourself

Be yourself
Don't lie about your looks
How should you like this way and that

Your beauty is who you are

Be yourself

Be yourself
Introspect who you choose to be
If you want to change,
Remember that you can't change back
Be yourself

Be yourself
Be true about how you feel
Don't stress yourself out
Be who you are
Be yourself

Be yourself
Don't try to be better than others
Don't try to be down on yourself
Your deeds speak out your beauty
Be yourself

Be youurself
Even if the pressure gets tough,
Hold on fast,
Stand your ground because you know to
Be yourself

Be yourself
Because you matter
Because your feelings matter
Because your looks don't
Be yourself

Think on this for the last time.........................................
BE YOURSELF!!!!!!!   

The King Travel Guide (Genre #2)

Once upon a time in a land far away,
there was a kingdom. Of course, in this kingdom there is a king: King Travel. It may sound weird to you, but that was his name and he was famous for it.  His queen, Queen Loretta, knew the purpose of his name as well. I will tell you his story now........................................

You see ever since the king was a boy he dreamed of travel the world. "I will do it. I promise." he vowed. (As I may warn you, he never broke his promises.) "You promise?" his parents asked. He nodded. At the time his name was Sterling. His parents thought he wouldn't do it, for he would someday rule the kingdom. 


When he was at least 25 years old, he married Queen Loretta, when she was just 15. "Now that I'm married, I can begin to travel." "Who will run the kingdom?" they (his royal subjects) asked. "My wife." he simply stated.  
 He traveled for about 40 years. 
He became known as King Travel.

When he was 65 years old his wife told him, "You are getting old. I think it would be risky if you continued to travel, please try to rule your country. " "Nonsense! I am not old, I mean I don't feel old. Besides, I haven't visited Egypt, or India, Australia, and my other 5 places. I need to keep going. Give me 2 more years!!" he begged. So he had 2 more years. But he broke his legs in climbing the pyrimids in Egypt, so he was sent home. 

"I have not even visited the great wall of China, or how about the great Emproer of Japan, or how about the jungles of South America, or the Statue of Liberty in America?" "Well, you can't travel anymore." the queen told him. 

Now, you know the king was upset, so he told his kingdom to make a decree. This is what it said:

King Travel has made a royal decree. Each man can figure out a way for the King to travel, without leaving his kingdom.
The reward is 500 pounds of gold.  

Every man in the country tried to make crazy inventions to not help the king, but to get the reward.  But nothing worked.  
"Paige! Hurry up boy!" the king called sitting on his throne. "Yes, your majesty?" the young boy asked bowing before him. "Please tell me who is next in line for my decree?" "The farmer's wife." Paige read from the scroll. "Bring her in." King travel commanded. 
A tall young women dressed in fassion clothes, looked too rich to be a poor farmer's wife. "Your majesty, I have this a  magic crystall ball." "What does it do?" "Since, you want to travel, I'll make it happen for you." She sang sofetly, but nothing occured. The king realized she was lying. He commanded for her to drop the ball. She did and it didn't crash. "Was does this prove?" the Paige asked him. 
"It tells me that she said it was magic. Most magic balls  are crystal glass. This was made out of plastic. Plus,  nothing is working. She comes to my court telling me a lie! Wasting my time?! Take her away!"


Another time a proffesor came to see him. "Sire, I have this flying hat I've invented." "Have you tested it?" the king asked. "No, but it can lift you at least 12 feet off the ground!!" The king said he must try it out. He put it on but something terrible happened. He only lifted 4 feet into the air.
It stopped working and he fell and broke his neck. The king summoned him to prison for two days.


King travel was giving up.  Nothing was working. He was sad.  The last person who came was a small child. A little girl came and said, " I have a greater gift so you can travel." She held up a book. It said: All aboutThe Great Wall of China!  "A book?" "Yes, when you read it's like you are really there. Take a look, sir." He obeyed and said, "Hey you're right! It looks as if I am really there! You receive 500 pounds of gold!" 


And so now you know the story of King Travel. The moral of this is that books can take you wherever you
want to go. When you read it does look as is you are really there.

THE END!!!!