FOURTH GRADE

Campbell Morgan Harper Morgan

Preston Decker

Lilianna Senizergues Coco Alagband

Nicholas Ronaghi

THE VIDEO GAME

Leah Jindal

RINGGGG!!! The sound of the bell loudly pressed against my eardrums, almost pushing me out of my seat. I got up and ran to the door. As soon as I was out, I ran to the school’s front entrance and bolted out the door. I ran rapidly all the way home. I could hear my friends laughing and talking loudly behind me. I knew what they were talking about, though. They were obviously talking about the newest and coolest video game, Bubble Bursting. Everyone in my class had it. Everyone in my grade probably had it! Well, everyone except for me.

I had not realized that I was now at my house. I almost ran into the door! I bent down to get the keys from under the carpet, looking around to see if anyone was watching. I unlocked the door and found my mom and grandfather playing a game of chess. I live with my grandfather and my mom, and my dad is usually on work trips. I also saw Elizabeth, my sister.

“Oh, you’re home,” Elizabeth said in a dark voice that meant she did not want me home. She continued to text her friends. But, like always, Mom had not noticed.

“How was school, my little boy?” my grandfather asked in a merry voice.

“Grandpa, I’m not a little boy anymore,” I complained.

“Would you like a snack after a long day of school?” my mom asked.

“Well, actually, I would like something. It’s not a snack, though. May I please have the new video game called Bubble Bursting? Please?!” I replied.

My mom, grandpa, and sister all stared at each other at the same time. “I’m out of here,” my sister said as she walked upstairs.

Mom and Grandpa continued to stare at me. “Jacob, my little bo--I mean my young adult, you know you don’t need that game,” my grandfather said slowly.

“But I really want it!” I complained.

My mom blurted in, “What if you work to get that video game?”

I rolled my eyes at her. “Maybe I will,” I said.

I ran upstairs. Pacing in my room, I tried to figure out how to earn money. I looked at my walls. Newspapers and magazines were on the floor. Those can’t help me, I thought. But then a lightbulb in my head clicked on. Maybe they could help me!

“Hello, Jacob. What can I do for you today?” Mr. Muster, the grocery shop owner, asked me as I walked up to him. “Are you here to pick up some groceries for your dear mom?”

“Actually, I would like to get a job here!” I said enthusiastically, trying to sound like a great employee.

Mr. Muster looked me up and down with a gleam in his eye. “I’m sorry Jacob, but you’re just too young for the job,” he said.

I sighed. I’m sorry Mr. Muster, but I’ve already heard that a million times, I thought to myself.

Everyone kept saying I was too young for a job, so I went to Plan B: the lemonade stand. Everyone who walked by my lemonade stand, though, did not even dare to look up. They were all in warm coats and wanted to get home. It was winter, so nobody wanted to buy my lemonade.

I was prepared with Plan C. I had warm cookies as a backup for the lemonade. For some reason, though, nobody bought them. I guessed it was probably because everyone in town knew the cookies were stale since they were the kind I always had from the store. I had spent most of my money on the lemonade stand sign, and I only had twenty-seven cents left.

I felt down in the dumps, as though I had just been punched in the stomach. I walked to Mrs. Luey’s candy shop. I thought I could visit the shop because she had free samples of candy. She was a warm and kind person, also. Maybe that would cheer me up.

The bell rang as I walked into the shop. It had a nice little jingle to it that went bling-bling-bling, bling-blingbling! The shop was filled with bright colors and had cool music playing.

“Looks like my best customer has just entered the building! Mrs. Luey said excitedly. With one look at my sad eyes and my frown, her big smile turned into a confused look. “Oh my, Jacob, why do you have a frown on your face?” she asked me.

I thought for a second. Could I trust Mrs. Luey? I think I can.

“Well…” and with that, I told her everything.

“Jacob! How could you keep all of that huddled up inside of you?!” Mrs. Luey screeched at me. I looked at her. She looked back at me. All of this staring went on for forever. Mrs. Luey looked me up and down, just like everyone else had today.

“Jacob, I need some help around the shop since I’m getting older. Why didn’t you just ask me?” she asked with a laugh.

“R-really?” I stammered, not believing what I was hearing.

“Start right after school tomorrow,” Mrs. Luey said. She walked away, leaving me there with my mouth wide open, still stammering.

I began working that Thursday. It was amazing! She paid me $4.30 on my first day. The day at the shop was easy. Mrs. Luey gave me a tour, even though I already knew every part of the shop from going there so much. She even bought me a soda after I was done working! She gave me the job of cleaning her shop. She wanted it to look sparkling.

The next day, I headed to Mrs. Luey’s shop right after school. I was excited, but also scared, even though I had worked for her yesterday.

“Good morning, Jacob!” Mrs. Luey said joyfully as the bell on the door rang. “How was school?” she asked.

“It was good, I guess. Just saving up for that video game,” I said with a smile on my face. I cleaned, and I got two sodas for the two hours of work. After that, it was time to leave.

“Thank you!” I said to Mrs. Luey as I walked out the door.

“No, thank you, Jacob!” Mrs. Luey smiled at me again.

Walking home, I skipped in what felt like the first time in forever! I had been so sad since that video game had come out, but now I felt awesome! Earlier, at recess, I had used a calculator to figure out that I was going to get the video game the day before my birthday!

“Mom? Grandpa?” I asked as I walked into the house. “Where are you?” I could hear giggling and whispering and I could even hear my sister talking. I thought they all might be working on a school project she needed help with, so I decided to go upstairs to finish up some homework. I had to catch up on my homework because I had less time to do homework since I had been working. I did not even worry about that because I was going to get Bubble Bursting!

I jumped onto my bed and heard a PLOP, but I also heard another sound. It was not the same kind of plopping sound that had happened when I fell onto my bed. It was different. It sounded like a BARK-BARK sound.

I turned around and screamed. There was a dog in my bedroom! My grandfather came upstairs to my room and looked around.

“Hmmmmm, I wonder what that could be?” he said. He winked.

I already knew what it was, though. It was a dog! It had soft, golden hair like perfectly roasted marshmallows. I looked it up and down.

“Grandpa, what should I name it?” I asked him.

“It’s your decision, Jacob. Also, this is an early birthday gift for you,” he said, and then he laughed. He said he was going to get some coffee, leaving the room with me wondering what to name this dog.

I stood there as the dog bounced all around my room, his tail shaking everywhere. What should I name him? I thought to myself.

The next thing I knew, I awoke at 7:08 in the morning. I was on my bed, Flag by my side. I had decided to name the dog Flag because he was always waving his tail like a flag. It was Saturday afternoon and Mrs. Luey had to go out of town to see family. She still had paid me for the day, though. Now I had enough money for Bubble Bursting! My mom and I were going to buy the game from the store that day. But then my mean, terrible sister walked into my room, uninvited. This time, however, she looked kind. There was no scowl on her face.

“Hey,” she said.

I didn’t reply.

“Happy early birthday, I guess,” she said, and then she punched me. I thought for a second, but by the time I was ready to say something she had disappeared.

“Maybe she isn’t as bad as I thought,” I whispered into my lap.

I looked out the car window on the way to the store. I was thinking about Flag, Elizabeth, my birthday, and the video game. Everything felt crazy, even though I was just sitting there in a car seat.

My mom interrupted my thoughts. “Jacob, it’s your thirteenth birthday soon. You’re going to be a teenager,” she said.

I did not respond because we were at the store. I felt too excited. I could barely breathe. I raced into the store with my money, found my video game, and ran back out with only twenty-four cents left.

“Well, that was quick,” Mom said with a perplexed look on her face.

I just smiled and said, “I worked hard for what I wanted, and I got it!”

Leah Jindal

Macie Lewis Makenzie Lewis

Collins Nelligan

MY MOM

Sienna Hernandez

Sometimes in life, you need someone to talk to. My mom is perfect for that job.

One reason why my mom is perfect to talk to is that she will not judge me. For example, I told her that I was scared to sleep alone, and she said that I did not have to if I did not want to. That made me feel a lot better. Also, I can tell her if someone is bullying me. She will not tell me that I am weak, instead, she will tell me how to deal with the bully. Finally, she calms me down and makes me feel better about myself by making me laugh, not cry.

Another reason my mom is perfect to talk to is that she will always find a way to solve my problems. For example, once, I forgot about a homework assignment for summer school. My mom sent my teacher an email that said that I would be turning in my homework late. That whole night, she helped me finish the assignment. Also, if I lose my water bottle, my mom will not get mad. She will find another water bottle or get a plastic water bottle for me. That’s how my mom can solve any problem!

Lastly, she comforts me and helps me forget about anything bad that has happened. For example, one day, my brothers decided to gang up on me. They teased me, called me names, and made me cry. I went to tell my mom what my brothers did. She told me to just ignore them because they were wrong. She told me stories about how all of her siblings teased her. That made me feel so lucky to only have two brothers. My mother made my brothers go to bed early as a punishment for being mean to me, and that made me feel more grown-up than them because I got to watch television with my mom and dad while they had to sleep. I felt so good!

In conclusion, my mother is amazing to talk to. She helps me, makes me laugh, and tells me funny stories. I really want to find a way to repay her soon. If only everyone could have a mother like mine! Sienna Hernandez

MY ROOM

Preston Decker

My room is a place to relax. It is also a place to go when I feel sad. When I walk into my room, I feel fresh air on my face. When I am tired, I run to my bed and jump in. I pull the covers up and slowly drift off to sleep. When I feel sad, I sit on the floor and take two deep breaths. I feel better after that. In my room, I can play with my toys and be in my happy place.

Lily Browne Claire Suplizio

Lila Peykoff

Hunter Summers Hudson Butcher

Sarah Rosing

Turner Singletary

Lila Peykoff

MY GRANDMA’S HOUSE

Leela Tripathi

I love my grandma’s house because it is like a warm bed when I am cold, it is in the best location, and her backyard is amazing.

One reason why I love my grandma’s house is that it’s like a warm bed when I am cold. It is comforting and welcoming. The tan color makes it stand out from the rest of the neighborhood but in a good way! One time, I was having a bad day, but then I remembered I was going to my grandma’s house for dinner. Just the thought made me feel better. Another reason why I love my grandma’s house is it’s in a great location. The house is on a hill that has an amazing view of a golf course. Sometimes, my cousins and I find golf balls in my grandma’s backyard! The house is built into the hill and it has three floors. That is a big house! My cousin, Sanjay, once found a golf ball and threw it down the hill to the golf course. The ball sailed through the bright, blue summer sky so high we could not see it. The next thing I knew, the ball came crashing down on the golf course, bouncing a few times before settling. I cried out excitedly. In other words, my grandma’s house has the best placement.

Although I love my grandma’s house because it is like a warm bed and it is in the best location, I especially love it because the backyard is amazing. There are so many living things. Trees, plants, and flowers line the fence, and she has a whole part of her garden dedicated to her outdoor friends! Squirrels and birds come to visit her plants and hang out in her trees. Every time I go there, I see a squirrel up in her pine trees. I love my grandma’s backyard because it is peaceful. I sat outside and listened to the sounds of nature once. The cool, nighttime breeze tickled my cheeks as the sun slowly went down. The birds sang a happy song right before going to bed for the night. I was calm, I was happy, and I was peaceful. The last reason why my grandma’s backyard is amazing is that there is so much to do. Splash! My cousins and I jump into her pool with the hot sun heating our backs. After a fun day of swimming, we can run around on her lawn and play games. After running around, we huddle around her campfire to eat dinner and tell funny stories. At the end of the day, we go inside to talk, laugh, and eat some more.

In conclusion, I love my grandma’s house. I love its welcoming looks and feels. I love the placement. I love the backyard. I love everything about it. This is important because everyone needs a happy place to be during times of trouble. I realize this is how my grandma’s house feels to me.

THE TOUCHDOWN

Aidan Paolone

Calvin’s dad yelled, “Calvin, where are you, buddy!?”

Calvin replied, “I’m here, Dad.’’

Dad showed Calvin the paperwork for a new football team.

“Dad, why would you sign me up for football!?” yelled Calvin.

“Because when you get home from school, you go on that PS4. You need to burn some calories,” his dad said.

Calvin told his dad, “I’m horrible at football.”

His dad said, “You just need to practice, son.’’ Calvin was nervous and his heart pounded, but this was just a practice. He was nervous about messing up or getting hurt. That probably would not happen because Calvin was not playing tackle football, just flag football.

Finally, Calvin arrived at the practice. He got to meet his new coach and teammates. He had heard the team was really good.

The coach said, “What’s up, kid?”

“What’s up?” Calvin said with a quiet voice. Practice started, but Calvin was not nervous anymore. He was beginning to get used to his team, and it felt like nothing could go wrong.

Coach yelled, “SCRIMMAGE!”

Calvin’s nerves started to kick back in. The starting and backup quarterbacks picked the teams. The starting quarterback got to pick first. Although Calvin was not very good, the starting quarterback picked him first. He was just trying to be nice. The backup quarterback picked the best player. They kept going back and forth until the last pick.

Finally, the coach blew the whistle and yelled, “We only have ten minutes!”

Calvin’s team started with the ball. The quarterback said, “Ready, set, hike!”

Calvin ran seven yards and then cut in. The quarterback threw the ball to Calvin, but he dropped it. The quarterback said, “You’ll get it next time.”

Calvin ran the same route again. He was wide open but dropped it again.

The quarterback said, “You’re good! Stop putting your head down. It’s just a practice.” The scrimmage ended as the coach blew the whistle.

Soon it was time for the first game, and Calvin was super nervous. He thought to himself, Will I get hurt? Will I drop the ball like I did in practice?

In the first quarter, Calvin’s team started with the ball. Calvin’s heart pounded. Thud, thud, thud. Calvin ran the same route he had in practice. He was wide open again. The quarterback threw the ball to Calvin. Calvin dropped it.

“WHY CAN’T I CATCH A BALL!?” Calvin yelled at himself with a loud voice.

It was the fourth quarter. The other team was up by a touchdown. The quarterback saw Calvin in the back corner of the end zone. He gave Calvin one more chance and threw the ball. Calvin dropped it. He lost the game for his team.

Later, Calvin and his team played the last game of the season. Calvin had never been this nervous in his whole life.

Calvin thought, Will I drop the ball like I did in the first game and let my team down? They arrived at the field. The game was about to start. Calvin ran like the wind to the field.

During the first quarter, Calvin ran ten yards then cut out to the sideline. The quarterback threw the ball to the best player. The player caught it and ran for the touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, everybody was in the end zone. This was the last play of the game. Calvin was wide open. The quarterback looked at the coach and nodded his head. The quarterback threw the ball to Calvin. The ball flew in the air. Calvin thought to himself, Why would he throw it to me?

Suddenly, Calvin realized he had caught the ball! Everyone started cheering, “Calvin! Calvin! Calvin! Calvin!”

Calvin’s team had won! Hard work and persistence really did pay off.

MOMS ARE IMPORTANT

Townsend Butcher

My mom is like a diamond in a pile of rocks because she makes me smile, she takes care of me, and she is kind-hearted. She makes me smile when she tells me I did a good job, like when I do a good job on a test. When she says she loves me, I smile. Another reason she shines brightly and makes me smile is that she cares for me. One time, I was sick and she gave me comfort. I had a big smile.

Although my mom is like a diamond because she makes me smile and cares for me, she is especially like a diamond because she is kind-hearted and always helps out. She has many friends. Kids and adults like her because she is supportive. For example, one time I was playing in a football game and I missed a catch. She got me motivated. I then ran as hard as I could. I was open and caught the ball for a touchdown.

This makes me wonder: are all mothers as special as mine? If all moms do what they do to make their kids feel good, I think they are special. I realize that people should look up to their moms. That is why I think moms are important.

Townsend Butcher Callie Arkin-Horowitz Knox Yoon Claire Suplizio