First Swim Lessons

My hands were playing nervously in the crystal clear water.

I was sitting on the pool steps of
the Springfield Gymnastics and Aquatics Center.

I was thinking about how much I think I'm going to stink.

"Come on up, Isabel.", said my instructor, Kelsey, disrupting my thoughts.

I walked out in the water.

When my teacher let go I felt a rush of panic,
"Oh no! I can't swim!" thought half of my mind.
"Calm down, Isabel. You can do it." thought the other half.

This fight of thoughts kept going until my arms started to flash wildly and I was kicking serverely trying to keep afloat the water.

I was splashing everyone in sight!

I tried taking a gulp of air, my chest felt stuffy.
I felt the pool bottom scraping my feet,
my hands trying to jerk myself over and into the air.

I swallowed a mouthful of pool water instead of fresh air.

Kelsey tapped my back and told me to get up.

I cane out of the water, smiling sheepishly,
face red hot as a tomato thinking
"Please don't laugh at me! This is my first time!"

But the kids were laughing so loud it filled the room.
I went back to the steps quietly.
My legs were sore from franticly kicking,
arms aching from trying to hard to keep on top of the water.

Now I've told you my most regrettable story I have,

so far...

The Perky Turkey

There once was a turkey in Turkey,
For she was a little bit quirky.
She did an experiment
It didn't do as she meant
And now she is quite a bit perky.

Travel Trouble

My family and I were on the plane to our family vacation.
But little did we know that it would be the most exciting,
but terrifying time in our lives.
We were on a 2 stop flight from Springfield to Dallas and all the way to Portland.
When we landed at gate D6 in Dallas and unbuckled our seatbelts,
the captain announced that the flight to Portland, Oregon was at gate A39.
"Gate A39!!!" I thought,
"That's across the airport!"
When we exited the plane
we went to a skylink stop that went to gates A20-A39.
While I was looking at a near-by store
when my family got on a skylink that would take them to all A gates.
I got on a skylink where I thought I saw my mom.
Glancing around, I looked for my mom.

I didn't see her!

"How could I be so stupid?" I thought.
Panicking when the door suddenly closes,
I hurridly get off on the next stop,
where I anxiously wait for the next train
the next superiorly fast train took me to gate A39
where I happily bounded out of the skylink.
Breathing a sigh of relief when I get off the train.
I plan to go to my gate to wait
when patting myself on the back.
Gasping, I touch my shoulder to find I forgot my backpack!
Turning around just in time to grab my backpack and spring out.
My only thought was,
"Yes! I found it!"
Walking for what seemed like miles until I got to gate A39,
seeing my mom and brother, assuming they send my dad to find me.
"Thank goodness" I thought,
feeling relieved,
all stress gone for a moment.

Ethan, my brother, spotted me and said to my mom,
"Look! There's Isabel!"
Our mom swiveled around and after our "reunion"
she started to scold me while we waited for my dad to arrive.
While we boarded the plane
my mom finally stopped and hugged me viciously,
then said,
"Isabel, be more responsible by paying attention to your family."

"OK, mom, I will."

Fall Walk

A hike in the woods,
Listen to the leaves rustle
In the moonlight wind.

Bubble Blowing

Have you ever felt guilty on vacation?
Well I have and this is the story.

I was shaking all over;
my palms sweaty,
all because of me.
I was with my cousin Tina blowing bubbles.
I was on vacation at Taiwan.
We were on my grandma's stone porch,
behind the garden.
Tina blew a bubble then I blew it
up, up, up and over the fence;
I thought I heard my neighbors.
We froze;
Tina looked scared.
I heard the big, soapy bubble pop.
I fell on the floor out of breath, face red.
I could hear Tina's giggles.
I was alright after all!
I'm wondering where that bubble popped!

The Three Little Elephants and Seeking thier Fourtune

By:Isabel

Dedicated to: Dad

Once upon a time there were three little elephants, whose mom said "You must go out and seek your fortune".

So the three little elephants went out to seek there fortune.

One day they came to a forest and the first little elephant said,"I will have to live here I want to see mother every day to bring her peanuts." So the first little elephant set up a house of leaves in the forest by the bank because nobody came by with a wheelbarrow full of straw,as in most fairy tales.

Once they said goodbye to their brother they set off for the bay and found an island on the way,"I shall live here on this island, tis a very beautiful place" said the second elephant,for he loved history.So he lived in a hut of fruits because nobody came around with a wheelbarrow full of sticks as they would usually do and so he lived there on Old Time Island teaching history major in Elephant University.

The last elephant said farewell and went out to seek his fortune. This might be a good time to tell you their names The 1st elephant's name is Bobby,Hist, and Mr.Smartypants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHA! It's really funny but he's sooooooooooooooooooooooo smart! I mean he's conquered flying dragons,evil vill.....

oops I better get on with the story before I forget so he went on and on and on until he got to a cottage in the woods he went to meet the person in the cottage.He found a elephant just like he.He said hi and asked the name she said,"My name is Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" Hmmm he thought That's my mom's name! So he lived there and exclaimed "This looks like my house!" He thanked the elephant,who had an awfully similar flowered skirt as his mom,and left.

He went to visit his 1st bro.When he found that his legs were tired he found a house of leaves in the forest. He met yet another elephant,who had what looked quite like his 1st bro's luck nut,and asked his name "My name is Bobby"he cried.Hmmm he thought That's my 1st bro's name!He thanked the elephant for his kindness and went on thinking I still don't have a home.

So he went on avoiding the thought.He got so distracted he went on until he reached Old Time Island and saw a hut of fruits. Disappointed he went into the hut and found two elephants he quickly ran out face red as strawberries. He quickly realized that his home was with him all along. Around the world.

THE END