Florida

         I left my house bright an early, and got ready for my cheerleading trip in Florida. It was about time, I have been waiting for this day for a really long time. Nationals out in Florida where I could experience the fun and exciting life of cheerleading. I finally got to the airport, and the airplane took off. I looked outside the window and saw fluffy white clouds and bright blue skies. Three hours later we arrived in Orlando, Florida. The whole entire cheer team got off the plane one by one and we took a Disney Bus to the All Star Sports Resort. I looked around and saw palm trees and I could feel the beautiful warm air. The hot air felt amazing coming home from Minnesota, the place of cold that feels like crap. I couldn't imagine what I was going to experience but I knew it was going to be well worth it. We get to the hotel and start cheer practice right away. The whole time we were there all we did was cheer, and all around us was even more cheer going on. It was exactly like the movies. I couldn't believe my eyes seeing all the amazing teams practicing and hitting all their stunts, I was amazed. Later the next morning we woke up again, bright and early for practice. we practiced hard and strong so we could make hit all our stunts in our routine. After practice, we get ready and put on our Prior Lake Lakers uniform. We met everyone outside our rooms and started to feel the adrenaline. Once we got on the bus, I wanted to turn around and go back. I was frightened to perform in front of hundreds of people. It was the first time Prior Lake has made it to nationals and we wanted to make an outstanding first impression. We got to Indiana Johns Auditorium in Disney World and started to stretch and prepare ourselves for what was about the come. The team walked into the warm up tent and as soon as we stepped onto the mat the time began. We had exactly 4 minutes to full out warm up any tumbling or stunts and then run through our whole routine. Afterwards we walked into the cheer tunnel onto stage and waited, as the suspense built up. I could feel my heart pounding inside my chest and the adrenaline explode. Prior Lake was up next and I couldn't wait to show them what our team can do as a whole. We ran onto the mat clapping and cheering on the crowd and as soon as we knew it, the music started to roll. We ran through the whole thing perfectly and as soon as we were finished we were prod of what we accomplished. We walked on the mat and met our Coach, she was crying with happiness. She was so proud of us and how well we did out there, she was proud to call us her team. We watched outstanding teams perform from all over the world. Once awards came we couldn't be anymore excited. The team sat there with linked arms waiting to see if we made it to the finals. We waited and waited and they didn't call our name. We were okay with that though because we knew we were amazing for just making it there and bringing our all to the mat in Orlando, Florida.

Free Write:

Smiles fill the air.

I cry as I pretend,

Pretend to be happy,

Like everyone else.

I fake a smile ocne in a while,

I look around, people stare so blankly

I run,

Run away from the harsh world.

Terrified, I disappear.

3^rd Person

 It was raining outside and Melissa and her boyfriend Ken were on their way to Florida. It was a long road trip ahead of them and the two didn’t exactly know where they were headed. The roads were glazed over with all the rain, and it was very hard to see where the road was. She turned off the radio and looked over at Ken. “Do you mind,” She said. “I can’t concentrate when you’re blasting your music, it is very distracting.” Ken hit the radio nob and turned off his obnoxious music. He looked out the window and saw a sign that said ‘Dead End’. “I think we’re going the wrong way.” He said. “SHUT UP KEN.” Melissa said. She turned the car around and headed south down the road. The sky started to darken and the day was coming to an end. The two called it a night, and pulled into a dark empty parking lot. They walked into the front door of the motel and Melissa squinted her nose. It smelt moldy and musty inside and the walls looked stained. The carpet was ripped around the edges by the wall and the women at the front had tattoos and piercings all over her body. “We need a room for one night please.” Ken Said. The women handed them a key and the two walked up the crooked stairs to their room. The room wasn’t as bad and the bed looked decently clean. “Ken,” Melissa said. “Will you please stay close to me all night long, I don’t feel comfortable here.” Ken cuddled up to Melissa and they fell soundly asleep. BOOM BOOM BOOM. Ken jumped up out of bed and heard a loud pounding in the hallway. He creped up slowly to the peephole in the door and saw a man pounding his fist into the wall. He looked over and saw a little girl, scared, sitting on the floor holding her knees up to her chest. Melissa woke up and asked ken what was happening and Ken shushed her before she could continue to ask questions. Ken opened the door immediately and asked what the matter was. The big man looked at him and simply walked away. The brown haired girl, who was on the floor crying, looked up at Ken. “What did he do to you, are you okay?” Ken said. Melissa walked to the doorway and helped ken comfort the little girl. The girl sat there in silence and continued to cry.

1^st person

It was raining outside and I was on my way to Florida. It was a long road trip ahead of me and I didn’t exactly know where I was headed. The roads were glazed over with all the rain, and it was very hard to see where the road was “I can’t concentrate with this stupid music on!” I said. I hit the radio nob and turned off the obnoxious music. I looked out the window and saw a sign that said ‘Dead End’. I think I’m going the wrong way. I turned the car around and headed south down the road. The sky started to darken and the day was coming to an end. I decided to called it a night, and pulled into a dark empty parking lot. I walked into the front door of the motel and squinted my nose. It smelt moldy and musty inside and the walls looked stained. The carpet was ripped around the edges by the wall and the women at the front had tattoos and piercings all over her body. “I need a room for one night please.” I Said. The women handed me a key and I walked up the crooked stairs to my room. The room wasn’t as bad and the bed looked decently clean. I still didn’t feel comfortable staying here by myself but I had no other choice.  I laid in bed and closed my eyes.  BOOM BOOM BOOM. I jumped up out of bed and heard a loud pounding in the hallway. I crept up slowly to the peephole in the door and saw a man pounding his fist into the wall. I looked over and saw a little girl, scared, sitting on the floor holding her knees up to her chest. I opened the door immediately and asked what the matter was. The big man looked at me and simply walked away. The brown haired girl, who was on the floor crying, looked up at me. “What did he do to you, are you okay?” I said. The girl sat there in silence and continued to cry.

Cleo

Cleo

I walked over to the cabinet and grabbed Cleo’s leash and clipped it onto her collar. “Time to go for a long walk to the dog park.” I said to Cleo, as if she could understand me. I opened the red door at the front of my house and walked down my long steep driveway holding onto Cleo’s periwinkle leash. I looked around at the beautiful scenery and saw the trees blowing in the cool wind. It was around 4pm on a Saturday afternoon and it was still sweaty hot outside, a raging 98 degrees. It was sunny and the sky was bright blue, making the outdoors bright and lively. I walked down the hot black paved road towards the sidewalk up the road. Cleo was panting hard and her pink little tongue was hanging down low to the ground. I stepped onto the side walk and a furry squirrel jumped out in front of me, it startled me but I continued walking down the sidewalk in the woods.

Cleo’s pink little nose started sniffing away as if she was about to mark her territory. She waddled up to a tan bone that started to chew on it. I grabbed it out of her mouth and threw it out of her reach. “Cleo you don’t where that bone had been, that’s disgusting!” Cleo looked up at me with confusion and started to bark. I debated in my head if I should let her chew on it for a while but I didn’t know whose bone it was or if it was even for dogs! I tugged on Cleo’s leash and pulled her away from the bone towards our continuous walk in the heat. I knew not letting her nibble on the bone was the best decision because I didn’t want to risk getting Cleo sick. We walked in the direction towards the dog park and Cleo started to get excited.

I opened the metal gate that led into the enormous dog park. I unclipped Cleo’s dog leash and let her run free. The big dogs barked and tackled her fluffy white self into the wet sloppy mud. “Great, now I have to give you a bath, Cleo. I have a better idea to clean you off and cool you down at the same time.” I picked her up and held her away from my body and walked down towards the dog pond. I set her down and took a toy from the toy bin that sat by the edge of the lake. I tossed a water toy into the pond and Cleo jumped into the lake and doggie paddled towards the toy. She paddled back towards me and climbed out of the water. I kicked my flip flops off and threw my feet into the cool water which satisfied me in every way possible. Today was a good, hot day.