All posts by Gracie

Harris Burdick, Inquiry project, Narrative, Writing

Gracie Oscar and Alphonse

My sweet little caterpillars. Oscar and Alphonse is their names. I’ve had them since I was 6. But now it is their prime time and they had to go. 13 year old Lucy went went out into the backyard. It’s where she first found them and took care of them. She knew it was time to send them back. The caterpillars softly wiggled in her hand spelling out”goodbye”.

She carefully place them on the tree she first found them on. Her eyes filled with tears she was trying to hold back.”I’m gonna miss you two. You were the greatest things that ever happened to me”she said as she was crying. The two caterpillars went into the small finger sized hole in the tree. ”Oscar, will we ever see her again?”said Alphonse.

“In time she will remember us. She watched us grow up from birth and she let us go at old age. We should bloom now for her future hope.”said Oscar. They crawled out of their hole and back into Lucy’s hand. She looked up and smiled. ”What do you need now?”she asked. Their fuzz changed into an orange color and became hard.
After 7 seconds two green butterflies emerged from the cocoons. They flew up into each ears and softly whispered “We will always love you Lucy. Tak
e care of them for us.” And in each hands were 3 caterpillar eggs.”I will take care. I promise.”she said.

Archie Smith, Boy Wonder, Harris Burdick, Inquiry project, Narrative, Writing

Gracie Archie Smith:Boy Wonder

Archie Smith was new to the neighborhood. He was a good kid, but was very small, which made him a target for all the bullies of the school. Everyday they would take his books and held them up really high so that he couldn’t reach them. It was humiliating

“You there, young boy.”a man called from across the street. “I have some wonderful items for sale in my small shop. Take anything you like. Only 15 cents plus no tax.”

“Hey mister? What’s this book?”Archie asked while he was holding up a leather book with the words”Boy Wonder”on the cover. “That book can be any book. A storybook, a drawing book, a poem book, anything your mind desires!”he explained. “That’ll be 10 cents since you’re the only one that wants to buy anything from my store.”Archie gave him the money and went home.”

A tiny voice asked”Could this be the one?” It was hiding in the shadows of the alleyway.”No. Not yet. Give the boy some time. He’s only just began.”the street seller said.

While in his room he was bored. He didn’t have anything better to do so he drew a monster cat in the little book. But the next day, when he woke up the monster he drew was alive. It was eating the fish his parents use for dinner by the fireplace. To avoid being eaten alive, he poured all the milk from the fridge into the mixing bowl and gave it to the fearful feline.

On his way to school, he thought of how to explain the creepy cat sitting on the living room sofa. But when he got home, he saw his parents playing with the freak of nature.” Archie, this is incredible! I’ve always wanted a cat but your father said they’re too expensive. But thanks to this, you’ve saved us 4,000$ dollars in insurance, food, toys, and house damage.”his mom explained.

Could it be possible that the book is more than a book? It had made his parents happy, so by doing more of these creations he could make the whole world happy. So that night he wondered what would happen if he wrote something in the book? But before his pencil touch the pad, a shrill voice yelled”Stop!” He turned around to see where the voice came from. It was from a tall ghost lady. She had pitch black eyes, long hair that was so long she to tuck it into her clothes.

“I am the ghost of this town.”her shrieking said.”My name is Moralic. I was the inventor of that book you have now. A long time ago the book was known for granting power and wealth to it’s user. Everyone heard of it and wanted the book for themselves. With too much power, society could collapse and the world could be under control by who knows! I burned it with my dying body but when I got to the spirit world, the pages were fake. Someone took the pages and put it in another book. Hand it to me quick.”she begged as she moved forward.

Archie gave her the book and she evilly smiled.”Are you ok Miss?”he asked.”You idiot! I’m not a ghost! I’m a killer phantom!”she said.”And now thanks to this book, I have all the powers I could want. I’d let you live, but that would be boring.”she said. Her fingernails became black claws, she now had five eyes, and her head melted and became a skeleton. She was a horrid being of pure darkness. But then monster cat came and attacked her, with his talons ripping out her hair and his teeth biting out her eyes. She dropped the book on the lawn.

Archie made a risky move and ran out into the lawn to get the book. He ran into his house and down into the basement to think of a plan. Everyone came outside and other people screamed. They called every force of the army there was. But none of them succeeded in killing this monster.”Hey horror show!”Archie yelled.” Try killing these!” And suddenly, his garage door broke out and warriors of the pencil were unleashed.

There was an eight armed ninja girl with the strength of ten wrestlers, a kickboxing fairy with a bad attitude, and a Minotaur that was also a florist.”Warriors of the Pencil…attack!”he yelled. Spider Ninja Girl sprung into action and kicked-flipped her head off while the the kickboxer fairy was punching her ribs to break the out and fly them to safety. As for the florist Minotaur, he was putting flowers around her and then he stomped on her head crushing the essence of afterlife out of it.

A spirit floated above the broken skull. It went into an opening portal in the sky.”This isn’t the end! I will be back for that book and nothing can stop me!”it’s last words were. Archie’s warriors faded away into the air. It was sad to see them go.”Sayonara, young Smith. Take my headband as something to remember me.”said Spider Ninja Girl. You weren’t a great fighter, but you’re still a somewhat hero to me. Take my pixie dust necklace”the kickboxing fairy said.”I picked this for you. Keep it healthy and alive.”the Minotaur said.
The next day the mayor of town gave Archie a medal for his braveness. He also got mentioned everywhere in the Daily, Local, and TV news. The new pedestal in the mayor’s office says”Archie Smith:Boy Wonder.” He’s the hero of this world, and the magic world.

Harris Burdick, Inquiry project, Mr. Linden's Library, Narrative, Writing

Mr. Linden’s Library by Gracie

My name is Marci Withers. I am 12 years old and I live on Glassview Street, Oregon. I have tan skin, hair that reaches to my shoulders, I wear glasses and have a lonely life I want to change.

I don’t have any friends. Mostly because i’m not very social. I always spend my time reading at least six books a day at my favorite place called “Vanyra’s Cafe”. But then it closed down when the health inspector found an entire rat colony living in the walls. Extremely gross.

I read outside by the pond now. I’m still pretty sad that my favorite reading place is gone. Where will I find a new one? “Come on down to Mr.Linden’s Library. We have books of all genre. Action, Mystery, and Horror! You name it and we have it” a man called from afar.

“Maybe I should check that place out. I do like books.” she said. The walk was not far. It was only a few miles walk. By the time she got inside, she was in heaven for nerds. All the books of history in one place.

“Hello, my good child. Welcome to Mr. Linden’s Library. I, as you know am Mr. Linden. Choose from many wondrous books and take as many as you please.” he said to her. All the books she saw were amazing. But not as amazing as the one she saw on the pillar while she was reaching for The History of Rocks.

“Eculus Morzon Quinton?” she read. The book had a picture of rose. Half of it was white and the other was black. She turned it over it saw a sentence that said ”The key to unlocking a true form is the soul within.” She showed it to Mr. Linden’s son also known as the cashier.

“Please be careful with that book little lady. This is the fifth time it’s been returned and it has a warning note inside. But the book has a lock. If you really want me to check it out for you at least take the key to open it.”he explained.He checked it out for her and she went home.

She was curious to find out what the book was about. ”There you are Marci. It’s almost dinner time, so go wash up and change into your nightgown and come down stairs.” her mom said.

After dinner, Marci went to her room to read the mysterious book. She avoided the warning note and began to read.” Let’s start. Univira Alamus Creeundun. Murders Qutanus Dreemur. Tranagus Fire, Tranagus Fire, Tranagus Fire Zurunjall!” she called.

Suddenly the rose from book began to move up to her palm! The book turned to the middle page and roots began to sprout from the center. The rose turned pink and she passed out. The roots blasted a seed inside her chest and attached to her soul.

He had warned her about the book. Now it was too late. At the crack of dawn, Marci was completely changed by the book. She had light red poofy hair that reached to her feet. Her skin was a cream color. And she could see without her glasses.

She looked outside the window. But the world was completely different than the one she was in before. The sky was a very light red, almost pink. The grass was green and the pond was full of swans instead of grabby ducks. It was beautiful.

“What happened to me? Am I a monster? However I do look good.” She said as she admired herself through the mirror. She exited the room and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Her mother was there but she was also different too. And so was her father.

“Good morning dear. I see you’ve slept well. And I know what you’re about to ask about this place. Welcome to the Rose Temple Garden. Since you read the book, your body has been teleported and transformed and you were sent to here. And when you’re here, we’re here to. But in real life you are actually dead.” Her mom explained.

Marci wasn’t very upset. The real was already terrible enough as it is. She ate her breakfast which was amazing. Perfect pancakes and eggs with toast. The breakfast her real mom cooked was always either burnt, under cooked, overcooked, over spiced, and bland.

After her breakfast, she went outside. The smelled of flowers and dew filled the air with honey aroma.”This is my new home. I never want to go back home. This was the life she had wanted ever since childhood.

Change is always good if you can make it through it. Marci’s change was because she believed. Like the Beauty and the Beast, he was once some horrible but was was changed because of hope. Everyone should have hope.

Harris Burdick, Inquiry project, Just Desert, Narrative, Writing

Just Desserts by Gracie

Sue was told to meet her best friend Sandy at the local park in their favorite tree spot by lake. Those two have been best friends since the first met. Now they’re 14 and grown. But some friendships don’t sail forever.

”Sue, I have some good news and bad news to tell you. The good news is that i’m having a party. The bad news is you’re not invited and we’re not friends no more. You’ll embarrass me in front of all the popular kids, especially Janice. So that’s that”she announced.

“But, whatever happened to friends till the end.”she asked. “That was years ago. Get with the times loser.” She said as she sashayed off from the park. Sue was devastated by the awful things her friend said. She would make her pay for every single word she said.

Those two thought they knew everything about each other.  But what Sandy didn’t knew about Sue was that she was part witch. She could cast spells that could kill, poison, and turn people into things when they ticked her off big time.

“I’ll add a dash of fire worm saliva, a cup of black powder, a teaspoon of green cat hair, and three bear teeth.”she said as she was adding ingredients to her cauldron. When she mixed up the items a foggy green smoke appeared. To finish it off, she got out her Mystic Pumpkin from the fridge. She got it from the spirit world’s Phantoms Market.

The pumpkin had an orange glow, which made it magic. She lowered the knife and it grew even brighter. As she cut it open, black smoke escaped from inside and there was an evil cackle that echoed through the house. She slowly poured the potion into pumpkin.

She used the pumpkin in some pies to bake and give to her friend and others. And when they all took the first the bite, they would all turn into pumpkins. And unfortunately that did happen to those poor unsuspecting people.

And to finish it off, she got a sledgehammer from the shed and smashed all the pumpkins except for one. ”Sue, please spare me. I was kidding about the party right? I’ll invite you to the next one. Give me one more chance.” She begged.

” Sorry, but you took that chance a long time ago. Hasta la vista my friend.”she said as smashed her friend to the pulp. This only proves that you should never unfriend anyone because you never know what they’re capable of doing.