Maia Philips

OUR FIRST SUMMER VACATION CAMPING in Northern Ontario

It was our first summer vacation in August 1993 camping in Temagami in Northern Ontario. My mom and dad were very worried about me because I was painfully shy and hardly ever talked. "You are as quiet as a mouse," my mother said, " I hardly know you’re there." My older brother Jack, age 15 and my older sister Laura, age 12, came with us. I was just going to turn six, the only blond one in the family. Our dog Farley was also with us. Neither my sister nor my brother wanted to come on the trip as they had other ideas of how they wanted to spend their summer holidays with their friends rather than their family. "Boring, boring, boring" was all they said. The day we left wasn't fun. Laura and Jack were both blasting their i-pods. I was still too young to have one. When we arrived at the train, we loaded our luggage and found a seat. It was a two hour train ride, but it felt much longer. Laura and Jack were allowed to roam free because, as my mom my said "they are older and more mature." When the train ride was over, we rented a car and a canoe and then drove an hour to the campgrounds. Laura and Jack helped to set up the tent and later they helped with the dinner and the dishes. I pretended I was too tired and, as the youngest, my mom and dad always let me off the hook Laura and Jack went swimming and I asked if I could join them. " You know that you are not allowed to go without an adult," Jack said. I was a pretty strong swimmer, but my mom did not trust Jack or Laura to watch me.

The next day started off with beautiful weather. We caught fishes and went swimming. We all decided to go on a canoe trip. It was more fun than I expected. Unfortunately shortly after our trip began, Laura and Jack started fighting over who was paddling, forcing us to come back to the shore. Once again my parents were focused on dealing with Jack and Laura and I felt like nobody knew I was there. I took Farley back to the canoe. I was just paddling my hands in the water, not intending to take the boat out, but suddenly we were floating in the middle of the river. Farley started barking but nobody seemed to hear him. I tried paddling but the water started moving faster and faster. We were heading to the rapids. Soon I could hear the rush of the rapids getting louder. The next thing I knew I was underwater, trying to get my head up, but without much success. " Farley" I tried to call, but it was no use, he couldn't hear me. When I was just about to give up and let myself drown, I felt something strong lifting me up. It was Farley who brought me to shore and saved my life. I am not sure how long. I sat there at the side of the river. I was so tired. The last thing I saw was Farley trotting away from me. I tried to shout but my throat was too sore. When I woke up my parents were there, staring at me and crying." Oh honey, are you all right, we were so worried that you were hurt, until Farley showed up and lead us to you," mom said. From that evening forward, Farley and I were inseparable. My near death experience changed me. After our fourth day camping, I started to become a chatter box and could hardly stop talking. Laura and Jack stopped fighting. I tried to help with more things on the camp site. My mom and dad were surprised and pleased at how much more self confident I seemed to be. After a week of just having fun, it was time to go home. Dad said " I hope the house is still standing." Aunt Lucinda was house sitting and the last time we went away and left her in charge of the house she painted the entire main floor red. We packed up the car. loaded the canoe, and headed back to town and to the train station The August camping trip became a tradition in our family, one that continues to this day.

I chose this picture from the Canadian Geography magazine because it fired my imagination, and reminded me of Summer Vacations. I thought that this picture could have a good story line. I don't really have any favourite lines because I like all the lines. I am quite satisfied with my story because I think it has a good beginning, middle, and end, with a conflict that gets resolved at the end. Also I think I used enough dialogue to engage the reader into my story more.

THE END

By: Maia Phillips

The BLOOD-CURDLING STORY

One of the scariest moments in my life was when I learned that I had to get a blood-test. It all started on one sunny morning around 9:30 am when my mom called me for breakfast. While I was eating my eggs and toast, she told me that I was going to get a blood test that day. The blood-test was necessary because many children in China, where I am from, have a high levels of lead in their blood. Some of the symptoms include having problems and with math and memory. I had these symptoms, so my mom and my doctor thought it was necessary for mehave a lead test.

When my mom first told me about the blood test, I felt petrified and sick to my stomach. I had visions of a huge needle cutting into my arm and blood oozing out. I could feel the continuous pain going through me. I tried to stall from having to leave the house. I put my clothes on very slowly, but eventually I had to get in the car. I cried all the way there; it felt like ride would never end. We parked in the Metro Parking lot, which was a short walk to the clinic building. My mom almost literally had to drag me across the parking lot to the clinic building. As we entered the clinic where the blood was taken, I swear I could smell the blood, cold and metalic. I sat down on a couch, my mom beside me; we were the only ones there, so I knew we wouldn't have to wait long. There were two nurses a man and a woman, and they both smiled at me and told me that there was nothing to worry about. My mother assured me that it would be over in a second, and all I would feel is a "prick." The nurses lead me to a chair behind a screen. One of the nurses wrapped a rubber band just below my elbow. He told me that I had good veins.Then, my nightmare became a reality.

The nurse asked me to close my eyes, but I couldn't take my eyes off the needle, and the tears started to flow down my face. A high pitched scream started to escape from my throat, as the sharp end of the needle pierced my buldging vein. This was not a "prick!" The needle went in a stayed in for at least an eternity, as three large vials of blood were drawn out of my arm. I don't remember much after that, but I do remember walking out with a large bandage covering my arm.

As we exited the building I complained to my mother that she had lied to me. That was not a small prick, I said to her. My mom replied "Well it's over now, so lets go and enjoy some hot chocolate." When I got home and removed the bandage, both my mother and I were shocked that I had a massive bruise that the needle left on my arm. About a week later, I learned that the pain I went through was all for nothing. My blood was perfectly normal. I still dread all the blood tests that come my way.

The End!