The Two Halves of Me
Chapter 1: Life Story By: Rawan Jishi I used to have a good life, with my mum, dad and my older brother. Until now. My State, the state I`ve lived in for all my life, has gone bad. I am 12, my name is Amy, and I have a brother who is in war and is only 18 years old. My state has split into two halves. Just in, oh how do I put this? One half loves war while the other hates war. So my state , has (not literally!) split up into two just because of deep opinions! It's crazy, but my only problem is that other than the splitting up is ruining my life and taking my best brother, (not to mention my only! But come on does that really matter?) is I don't know which side to be on! Mum says that since I`m a girl I should not go on the war side. Yet, Dad says that since I`m a toughie I should go on the war side, but every time they say they`re opinions, I just get more confused. Parents do not help life right now! We were in the middle of the halves, the place where people who can't decide where to be go to live, (Sadly like me and my family!) can only live there for a period of time. (I`d say a year?) Whenever I was there I would remember when my state, Rayland was one………..
Chapter 2: What. A. Father. Before I knew it my dad had led me to the border of the war side. “Whoa, whoa, WHOA, what in the two halves of Rayland do you think you’re doing?” I angrily asked Father. “Quite nothing, dear?” Father nervously said/asked. “FATHER! Were you trying to lead me to the war side?” I yelled in a loud voice, I knew I shouldn't have , but it's Mum`s fault she raised me as a strong girl. (I don’t like to admit it but maybe a too strong girl! Whoops!) “Well do you know how you're such a tough girl and you're amazingly strong and-“ My father was saying before I cut him short,“ You are my father, I understand, but you do not make me go to war without telling me! To add to that, Father, you know I haven't decided which side to team with! This is terrible and even a child can see that!” I was perfectly sure that proper Fathers did not do such things! I pulled at my hair. “I apologize Amy, dear. It was just so tempting! I know that I shouldn't have done that, but you do want to go to the war side don't you dear?” My Father said, apologizing. I gave him a stern look in the eye. Then my Father chuckled.” Excuse me?” Father smiled. I gave the look- (Oh, yes I DID-I GAVE HIM THE LOOK OF AMY THE ANGRY!) My father had just tried to lead me to the war side and look- he just laughed and smiled and said `It was tempting!’ he deserved it big time! I turned around and angrily stomped away to
find Mum in the mess of shops. There were white, blue, red, purple, turquoise, and yeah, you name it, it was there. Mother was obviously in one of those shops, because she told us to go around town and take a stroll, while she would be on her own doing her “Proper Person” things. To her, being a proper person meant shopping, looking good, shopping, shopping and some more shopping. I walked into five shops before I spotted Mum. “ Mum!” I yelled. She didn`t hear me. “Mum! Casey De angelo!” I yelled again. When I yelled her name, she looked at me and sighed. She ran towards me, “What is it, dear? You scared me when you said my name because I didn't know at first, who was blurting it out.” “Sorry Mum, but I needed to tell you that Dad tried to take me to the war side without permission, and when I say that I mean that, he didn't ask me to go there!” I said. Mum looked disappointed, ”You disturbed my shopping for that?” I was just about to explode, when Mum put a hand on my head, “ Go on.” It was either that she reads minds, or my face was turning red.” “Okay, so when I asked if he was actually doing that he just said sorry, and then said that it was temping, and then he laughed!” I exclaimed. Mum took a moment to take this all in, “Maybe he was joking- just a bit harshly?” “ I don't think so Mum, it didn't seem
much like a joke.” I said, trying to keep my calm. “ I honestly don’t know, honey. Just try to be mannerly while you wait for me to finish my shopping-it’s very important business you know!” Mum said. I sighed, ”Of course, Mum.”
Chapter 3: Birthday Surprise Three days later….“Happy Birthday, Amy!” I sat up with a start. I had woken up, by the screaming of my parents, “Wha?” “ It's April 6th, your day of birth!” Father said. Over the past few days, I had forgiven him. “Oh, it is my birthday! Yay!” My mum told me to go get ready and that’s just what I did. Occasionally, I would throw a fit when Mum told me to get ready because I’m always tired. Just before I got ready, I made my bed and combed my hair. I needed to look good for when Mum and Father took images, shots, and recordings of me opening the tower of presents I got for my birthday. Oh, how I love my birthday, so much gifts! I ran into the living room, the place where Mum would usually set all the presents. I looked around the room. ”Um……” My voice trailed off, “Funny joke?” Mum came to me, she looked at me sympathetically. I blinked, “This isn’t a joke is it?” I had thought of this, but I hadn’t thought that it would actually happen. ”No gifts,” I said. Mum looked nervous. “ There is actually NOTHING AT ALL!” I yelled. Mum said, “No comment. Edward, I don’t suppose you like to handle this? ” Mum gave Father/Edward (Edwards the name!) her best puppy eyes. Father sighed, “How could I say no to that?” Hey, I think I just learned a new trick! Whenever I wanted something I could give Father my best puppy eyes! Father looked
at me and said, “You know what’s happening with the state! People losing homes, family, and so on. Today, have to tell you that we...er..have lost an amount of bucks, so your days aren’t going to be just as perfect, as you are used to.” Mum glared at Father. She gave him a look that meant : why, just why did I give you the job to tell her ? You’re going to freak her out! Mother smiled at me, “Dear, I have even better things planned for you than gifts. Come on!” “It’s fine,Mum. You don’t have to try to cheer me up. I’m honestly fine.” Mum smiled, “ No worries!” Father grabbed my hand and followed Mum into the kitchen with me. “Here, we have a list of things to do! You get to chose two of the options on the list, and we'll do them.” Mum said. “You sure, Mum? I asked. “Of course.” Mum said softly. “Okay, I choose………….eating at a restaurant and…………….um nothing else.” “Okay, Amy, let’s go.” Father said. We all walked out of the house, holding hands. Then we stepped into the silver car.
Chapter 4: Terribly awesome The restaurant was called: Smokey fries, no lies. Inside, it was horrible. The place stunk, and the ceiling was ripped and torn, the seats were brown, old leather, and the food was pretty terrible. I was probably gonna have nightmares about the horrid place, but really ,if my brother, Max was here everything would have better. Oh, oh, oh. I missed him as much as I missed not being at this restaurant,
Mum and Father ordered cake for me. The was cake actually kinda okay. And we eventually left and arrived home. Whew!
Chapter 5: SWEET DREAMS! Well, I’d like to say that I at least had a good night. Truth is………..It was a bad night for me. I had to ask Mum to put me to sleep (Mum sang me to sleep actually. Kinda sounds babyish right? Yeah, I know.) When I went to sleep I had a dream. I was walking home from school and many kids were throwing things at me. Don’t ask me what, because I honestly don’t know, I was running away too fast. I finally arrived at the front yard and all the kids were still there, but they had stopped throwing and instead they were all looking scared. I didn’t know why, so I looked at the door and I saw that my brother, Max was standing in front of it, looking down at all the kids. Max bellowed, “You guys stop that right now! You understand? No one throws things at
my sister!” Max was in High School and I was in only 6th grade. The kids who were throwing things at me were in 5th and 6th, so they were intimidated by a High schooler. They all nodded yes and ran away. “Thanks, you should always stand there when I come home and scare those bullies away.” I said. Max looked concerned, “They do this every day?” I nodded. “Well, don’t worry, just remind them about me and they'll stop,” Max said. “They don’t even let me talk to them, but sure,” I said.
Chapter 6: End of a dream, start of a hall of WHO? I awoke with a headache. I sat up and rubbed my eyes and looked around, “AAAAHH! M-M-M-Max!Mum! COME!” Mum came running, ”What is it?” “ MAX!” I screamed. Mum smiled. ”MAX?” I asked. I could not believe what I saw. Right before my eyes I saw Max, he was wearing a navy cap, camouflage shirt, and a camouflage jeans. “Yeah, it’s me, sis,” I said, “ Is it you?” I got out of the bed and hugged him. He hugged me back, “Amy, I missed you.” “ How did you get here?” I asked. “Turns out, the war side had some people who wanted home and who forced Captain to get a plane.” “When did you come?” I asked. “12:35. I saw you in bed sleeping, I didn’t know you snored.” He said. My cheeks went red and were hot, “I don’t snore! You must’ve been very sleepy!” Max laughed. I hadn’t heard his laugh in a long, long time,and I was happy to hear it again. I hugged Max like was no tomorrow.
Chapter 7: NO MORE!!!! The next few days went by in a blur, we spent most of the days eating out at: Smokey fries, no lies. EWW! Remember when I said that, if Max was there he would make everything better? Well, yeah he did. He made cheesy jokes about how bad it was like: Q:Why did the people come here? A: To die Q: Why is this a great filming studio for the “Dirty Banana” show? A: THIS IS THE MOST DIRTY PLACE EVER MADE ON THE FACE OF EARTH! Okay, they were pretty bad jokes,but hey,he tried. When we got home, Max made us go into his room, “Okay, so the past few days-when we weren’t together eating or stuff- I made a project. I hate that, this splitting apart the state, is splitting apart families, so I thought, let’s stop it! “ Mum said, “Max dear, we can not possibly do that!” Max just smiled, “That’s why I have plan. We can get everyone that can’t choose which side, to make signs and on a certain day we can all march out and hold upout signs. The signs will say: NO MORE!!!! WE WANT OUR STATE BACK!
Or something like that. What do you say?” Mum had put on her thinking face, “Well, first we have to ask our neighbors if they want to do this.” For the next three days, we walked around and asked people if they wanted to do that. Most everyone said yes. Only five people said no. We planned that we would do this in four days. THIS! WILL! WORK! I just knew it! It had to.
Chapter 8: The day of truth It was the day of truth and I was ready. I wore my best dress. It was a red velvet dress with red flowers on it. I wore my best black shoes, with white socks. I had put up my blonde, straight, and silky hair into a bun. I put a red bow on my hair. ( My favorite color is red!) I was ready. I walked outside of my room and went to Mum in the kitchen. Mum looked glamorous. Her dirty blonde hair was pulled up and she was wearing a white, tight dress. If you’re wondering, why are you so lavishly dressed, well…...because people listen to people who look lavish, or fancy. Yeah, kinda weird right? “Time to go!” Mum said. “Where’s Father and Max?” I asked. “Oh yes,they are getting the signs.” I sat down next to Mum and laid my hand down on the counter, “Okay.” I heard footsteps. I guess it’s almost time. Max came out. Gosh, he was lavishly dressed! He wore a black suite and a tie. The tie had a picture of Raylands flag. He wore black, fancy and loose jeans. His short, brown hair was combed to the side, and he was holding the signs for our family. Then Father came out of the room that my parents share. He was also wearing fancy clothes. His clothes were all white.
We all stepped out of the house. And then we drove away in the car. We finally arrived at the place we were to do the plan. There were probably 300 people there! Wow! We stepped into the crowed. When Max asked the people if they were going to do this, he also asked who wanted to count down, to see when to start. A guy named Bobby Jing said he would do it. So he got a microphone and made sure it was working. It was. We were in the middle of the halves and luckily the war side wasn’t in war right now so they would listen. And the non-war side obviously were not in war! Bobby Jing said, “GET READY EVERYONE! OKAY. ON FIVE WE WILL START! READY?” Everyone yelled, “YES!” Bobby said into the mike, “1………..2…………..3……………..4……………….5!” Ev
erybody held up their signs and yelled, “Rayland! We want Rayland to be one! RAYLAND IS NO LONGER FUN! WE WANT RAYLAND TO BE ONE!” Hours passed and it was getting dark. Finally the non-war side came out and looked at what we were doing. After about 45 minutes the non-war side came in and joined, “RAYLAND, RAYLAND!” After about one hour, the war side came out and looked at one another. They kept on talking among themselves and finally the captain of the war side, Captain Warrran yelled, “ ENOUGH!” Everyone went quiet. “FINE! WE-” He looked behind him a the war side people. They all nodded. Only a few people from the war side looked relieved. Captain Warran said, “ Okay.”WHAT? I thought that, this would be harder, but hey! I’m not complaining! Everyone cheered. It was over! Some people from the war side still wanted Rayland split, I guess, so they shot their guns. One of them went right into my brother’s heart.
Chapter 9: My Brother. “ NO! NO!” I screamed. My brother was dead. A tear trickled down my cheek. The person who helped my country go back to normal, and the person who I loved, was now gone.
Chapter 10: He helped my country A few days later,my country was saved, the only thing missing was Max. Max. I looked down at his grave, “Max,” I said.
About the Author Rawan Jishi is nine years old and in third grade. Rawan Jishi has one genius sister, amazing dad, and joyful mom. Rawan Jishi adores her family and honestly knows that they are the most amazing part of her day. Rawan lives in a home that feels just right. Rawan has two best friends at school, Lina and Kayla. Rawan’s favorite colors are hot pink and sea green. Rawan’s favorite animal is a dolphin. Rawan LOVES books! Rawan is currently reading the Percy Jackson Series. Rawan is on the book, The Lost Hero. Rawan is a bookworm. Rawan Loves blueberries and writing books just as much as she likes reading books, (Which, if you don’t already know, is a lot!). Rawan also loves reading the graphic novel series, AMULET. Rawan enjoyed writing this book and hopes that you enjoyed reading it as much she enjoyed writing it.