"The Lake Log"

The Lake Log

by

Xavier Colfer

(age 13)

January 21, 2018

          I have always loved this lake in the winter. Light from the sun sparkles off the snow, and the ice usually gets pretty thick. I like to use this lake when it is frozen to snowmobile on. It is very wide open, and has a lot of space to roam on. I also use it to get across to my grandmother in the winter. It is quicker to go across than around, and then I can give my grandmother some company in the lonely, cold months.

          Today I was heading across the lake on my snowmobile as usual, when I heard a pop from underneath me. The lake had started to fracture around me! Luckily I put on the speed and got away, but as a warning, always be careful, and pay attention to what's going on!

- Mr. Brook

February 10, 2018

          I am an Olympic skater. Skating is my life, and I love it. It was my mom who instilled the love of skating in me. She had started ice skating when she was young, and she started bringing me to this lake to skate when I was four. Soon I was in love with it. I didn't know then that I would one day go to the Olympics, but I persevered, and tried really hard to get better. I tried to be at this lake every day I could in the winter, even if there was a snow storm. I got uncountable bruises, a couple concussions, and a few cases of frostbite, but it was worth it in the end.

          I am very thankful for this lake, and even more thankful for my mom who supported me through the years.

-Miss Sally

   

May 7, 2018

          The ice has just gone out from the lake. The sun shines its bright light happily after the long winter months. The lake, free from its icy bonds, reflects the glorious blue color from the sky.

          That’s what we observed out on the lake today when we went fishing for the first time this year. The lake and the sky seemed so happy and in harmony with each other today. The fish were awake from the cold season, and we caught many of them. We caught a bass so large, we are going to bring it to the taxidermist so we can hang it on the wall! We like this lake very much, and will be fishing in it for the rest of the summer.

-The Peterson Family

July 16, 2018

          Have you ever noticed how the water makes a rainbow when the sun beams collide with its showery mist? Have you ever looked at the water's surface and seen how the sunlight shines off it, how bright it can be?

          When we were out in our motorboat today, we saw these things as we zoomed along the surface of the water, splashing sheets in a V shape behind us. This lake is very large and open with beautiful scenery. It is the perfect lake for boating on, and we'll be doing that again soon!

-The Tyler Family

August 3, 2018

          Today we were at the lake swimming. It was a cool, refreshing break in the roasting summer day. Today we thought the disturbances in the water were very cool and interesting; how big or little they could be. When you waded in, little ripples would float away from you in close rings. When you jumped off one of the docks into the water, there would be a large splash, and then the water would flow away from you in bigger, more separated rings. We love this lake and will continue enjoying it.

-The Colander Family

          

(Assignment for Writing Lesson #4 - Adjectives)



If you are between the ages of 13 -18,

(or know someone who likes to write stories)

I would like to post your story here.

Send me an email. I'd love to read your story!

The Tiny Field Mouse

The Tiny Field Mouse

by 

Xavier Colfer (age 13)

       

        Once there was a field mouse. He had a cozy little burrow under an oak tree, with tiny furniture and a little pantry. This burrow was in a campground with many people in it. There was lots of action and plenty of fun. There was a rec hall, a playground, an office, and a pool.

        One day the field mouse was out on one of his routine food gatherings. He was picking some dandelion greens, when he looked up and saw a hawk! The hawk was swooping down at him with his claws outstretched. The little mouse jumped, dropping his greens, and ran as fast as he could from the hawk. The little mouse was too scared to see where he was going, and without seeing it, he fell into the pool! He splashed into the water, sputtering for breath when he came up.

       The hawk came close to the water but didn't want to get wet. He gave up and flew away, but the mouse wasn't safe yet. The tiny mouse swam around the pool, but couldn't find a way to climb out. He kept searching, but he was getting tired. The tiny mouse kept paddling with everything he had in him.

        The little mouse was losing hope, when some humans got into the pool. They swam around without noticing him, but then they looked over at him. They had seen him! One of the humans paddled over and lifted the little mouse up onto the grass. The tiny mouse had been saved!

        The tiny mouse lay there, exhausted, while the humans came and looked at him. Eventually the little mouse recovered enough to get up. The humans stood there and watched him walk away toward his burrow. When he got there, he dried off and relaxed from the exciting and terrifying day.

(Assignment for lesson #3 of Basic Writing Lessons)

If you are between the ages of 13 -18,

(or know someone who likes to write stories)

I would like to post your story here.

Send me an email. I'd love to read your story!

The Bad Cook

The Bad Cook
by 
Xavier Colfer 
(age 13)

There once was a man who wanted to be a cook. His name was Arnold. He woke up Monday morning and drove in his maroon car into town. When he got to his favorite restaurant, he asked the manager if he could work there. Arnold and the manager were good friends, so the manager told Arnold to come back tomorrow to demonstrate his cooking abilities.

The next morning Arnold drove back to the restaurant. When he got in the kitchen, with the manager watching him, he started to put on the white apron.

"No, you're putting it on backwards!" the manager exclaimed.

"Oh," Arnold said. "I thought you would wear it like a cape."

The manager handed him a chef's hat. When Arnold started to put the hat on upside-down the manager remarked, "Don't do that, you're putting it on upside down!"

"Am I?" Arnold asked. "I thought you used it to carry utensils," he smiled embarrassedly.

After Arnold had fixed the apron and hat, the manager told him, "Why don't you try to make something.* I'll come back in a little while."

When the manager returned, Arnold was surrounded by smoke, and there was an awful burnt smell in the air. There was a loud sizzling, and he was flipping something black and shriveled in a pan.

"What are you cooking?" the manager coughed, waving a hand in front of his face.

"Why, it's an omelet!" Arnold exclaimed, eyes watering from the smoke.

When Arnold and the manager walked back out front, the manager said sadly, "I'm sorry but I can't give you a job here right now. Why don't you try improving your skills and come back another time?"

Arnold went around to many other restaurants looking for a job. Each time he did something wrong and didn't get hired. One time he even tried to impress the manager of another restaurant by rolling around on a ball to get places faster. Of course, he messed that up and ran into a waiter and his cart of food. A week later he returned to the first restaurant.

Arnold asked the manager, "I really need a job, are you sure you don't have anything for me?"

"Well, I don't have a cooking job for you, but my customers have been requesting something…."

That night during the restaurant’s dinner schedule, Arnold was up on a stage in the dining area juggling, rolling on a ball, and doing other entertaining tricks for the diners! Some laughed joyfully, and others smiled amusedly.

Arnold may have been an awful cook, but he had become a great circus entertainer.

If you are between the ages of 13 -18,

(or know someone who likes to write stories)

I would like to post your story here.

Send me an email. I'd love to read your story!