because I was protected by ghost mode. Mr. Teach continued barking out orders. “Set sail ye lubbers or I’ll send you to Davy Jones’ locker!” he growled. Just then I spotted a treasure chest on the deck under the crow’s nest. It was filled with gold-colored light, speckled with red and light blue. “That must be a chest full of gold and rubies and diamonds,” I thought. I looked back up at the sea and saw the flag of the British Navy in the distance. I remembered that a battle between Blackbeard and the British Navy sunk this ship in 1718. “Good thing I came just in time to see the treasure. Because this ship will sink, the treasure will be lost for hundreds of years. All I have to do to get the treasure later in 2022 is to figure out where I am,” I thought. I only had a few minutes left. I quickly climbed down from the crow’s nest and sprinted across the deck, finally stopping at a small table. On it was a tattered old map with pieces missing that showed that the ship was in the Caribbean Sea just off the coast of Jamaica. “Good!” I said to myself. “I just have to go scuba diving in this spot, and I will find the treasure.” Just at that moment time ran out. I began spinning, and as suddenly as it started, it stopped. I was back in my cozy room. I was relieved that I didn’t have to witness the bloody battle that would take the life of Mr. Edward Teach. I hated watching violence, even when it included an evil person. I could no longer hear my parents’ voices as I climbed back into bed. I lay there for a while thinking about the ship resting on the sea floor. I imagined the coral and the clams that might now be clinging to the ruins of what used to be a pirate galley. I thought about the treasure in the ship and how I’d possibly find it later this year. And as I imagined, I slowly drifted off to sleep. The Time Machine By Jason L., Grade 4 John Lee was listening to his math teacher talk endlessly about variables and trying not to fall asleep. He was almost snoring when the bell rang. Groups of students ran out of Hindel Middle School to their houses. Nobody walked with John though. Nobody wanted to walk with the new kid. Suddenly, a girl walked up to him and asked,”Hi, my name is Kalee. I’m new here, and I’m not sure where my house is. It’s at Kootsle Avenue. Can you please show me directions?” John looked at her, aghast that somebody talked to him. “Sure. I’m new too, and I live a block away from that street. I’ll show you,” he responded. “Nice!” answered Kalee. As they walked chatting, John realized he and Kalee had a lot in common. When they reached Kalee’s house, she asked,”Do you want to stay?” “Sure!” As they walked into the hallway, John tripped and bumped a golden lion statue. The floor groaned loudly, and John and Kalee fell down a trapdoor in the floor! When John came to, he was in a laboratory. In the midst of tables with testing tubes was a large beeping machine with wires sticking out. “Kalee? Are you okay?!” John exclaimed, as he saw her getting up to her feet. “Yeah,” she said. Then she gasped. “What’s wrong?” John asked. “We’re in my dad’s laboratory. He doesn’t let anybody enter, but we know he’s been working on a time machine!” Kalee pointed to the middle of the room. “That’s the time machine!” She looked at John with a glint in her eye. “Do you want to test it?” John looked at his feet uncomfortably. He didn't want to look cowardly. “Okay. Just for a little,” John responded.
THE CLARION
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