Tornado Warning

      I woke up this morning as usual. Everything seemed typical, even the pouring rain. I left at approximately 8:07 and drove to Sara's house, as I normally give Sara and Maggie a ride to school. Everything seemed calm, almost too calm, but our journey would be anything but.
      Sara and Maggie joyfully jumped into their seats, happy and giddy as always. Their smiles soon faded, however, as the alarms sounded, and sirens filled the air. Soon panic arouse and clouded over my rational thinking.
      "What's going on?" shouted Sara.
      "What should we do?" piped in Maggie. Her big eyes were filled with fear.
      "Are we going to die?" asked a faint whisper.

      With all these questions racing around my head, I began to wonder the same thing. Luckily, my survival instincts had a different plan. 

      "Not on my watch," I heard my lips speak.

      I hit the gas and weaved through the cars. 

      Though all the elements were against us, we eventually made it to the safety of Decatur High School.

Childhood Memory

      I never understand parents. Always taking pictures all the time. I mean don't they understand that we have better things to do? I have a whole pile of Barbies in the back that are just waiting to be played with. If they have nothing better to do why don't they just go make us cookies or something? Cookies always beat pictures.
      Another thing I will never understand is why we always have to match. These yellow shirts are giving me a headache . They can barely tell us apart as it is. I know they think it's cute and all, but don't they know it's so embarrassing. How's a girl supposed to walk into the second grade knowing her parents are probably at home planning the next family picture?
      All of this just isn't fair. I mean the embarrassment and boredom are bad enough, but to top it all off Abby gets to hold her stupid toy. She never shares with me.
      I can't wait for this to be over.

Observation Card

      I am in front of Decatur High School, my home away from home for the past three years. Just one year left here before it releases me into the "real world." I walk into the building that's all too familiar and head straight up the stairs to room 321, my favorite classroom. Ms. Cassell is sitting at her desk, smiling as always and welcoming her students as they eagerly file into her classroom. It's as if the sole reason for their coming to school was 4th period creative writing.
I see Jacob sitting in the desk next to mine, behind him Daniel, and beside Daniel, Caleb. It's my happy little 4th period gang.

Oral History Project Interview Questions

-What's your name? How do you spell it?
-Where and when were you born?
-Where did you grow up?
-Tell me about your family life.
-Do you have any children?
-What did you do for a living?
-What were some of your first jobs?
-How much did you get paid?
-Tell me about the schools you attended.
-If you could leave advice to today's youth, what would it be?

An Old Photograph

      The old photograph of my grandmother's wedding sits on the back of my shelf. It was an arranged wedding, yet my grandmother took great pride in it anyway. She didn't much like my grandfather, but somehow she learned to love him.
      I found this photograph out with the trash one day. My mother said she couldn't have it in her house any longer. She wasn't fond of her father or the childhood upbringing she got from him.
      "It's already enough I have his eyes," she would say. "I don't need his old photographs, too."
I would nod and pretend to agree with the woman whenever she would go on one of her rants, but secretly I was fascinated with my grandfather and would give anything to meet him.