The Secret
by Carla Gajewskey
1 One morning Janie Rose woke up to a big crash in her room. She opened her eyes slowly, scared of what she might find.
2 She saw her unpacked boxes from the move scattered on the floor. Janie screamed in her pillow, “I wish I never had to move!”
3 Janie’s mom got a new job which moved Janie from her school, soccer team, and friends.
4 Janie got out of bed and went downstairs to fix a bowl of cereal for breakfast. Her mom was already down there and told Janie, good morning. Janie mumbled something that sounded like a good morning.
5 Her mom sat down beside Janie and tried to make her feel better by telling her that she would meet new friends and to give this town a chance. Janie just rolled her eyes, and slurped the milk up from her cereal bowl.
6 Janie then got up and went back to her room. She crawled back in bed and pulled her covers up to her chin. She stared at the window, and the old chest underneath it. The chest was there when they moved in.
7 Janie got out of bed and walked over to see what was in it. She opened it up to find many neat treasures. She found dolls, hair bows, colors, and a rolled up piece of paper.
8 She opened up the paper to find that it was a map. The map title read, The Secret of Blue Ridge. “Hmmm, that is the name of this town,” Janie said.
9 As Janie studied the map she realized that this big secret was at Blue Ridge Library. Janie got herself ready and ran down the stairs with the map.
10 She grabbed an apple and told her mom she was headed to the library as she was running out the door. Janie’s mom yelled, “You don’t even know where the library is!” Janie yelled, “I have a map!”
11 Janie hopped on her bike and looked at the compass rose. The compass rose showed that the library was north of her house.
12 Janie then compared the map symbols to the map key. The map symbols showed Janie that she would pass Bert’s Grocery, Amelia’s Flowers, and Carl’s Cars.
13 As Janie followed the map she saw a soccer field with a group of girls playing on it. She stopped for a moment and just watched them.
14 One of the girls ran up to Janie and asked her if she wanted to play. Janie gave a slight smile and said, “Maybe, but I have to take care of something first.”
15 She rode all the way to the library and parked her bike. She went into the library and read the clue on the back of the map.
16 The clue read, look to the stars. “Look to the stars,” Janie said while looking up.
17 Then Janie saw a quote etched on the ceiling. “Make today, better than yesterday, and tomorrow better than today.” Janie thought for a moment and realized that is the secret.
18 She smiled and said, “Now I think I have a soccer game to play.”
Summer
by Carla Gajewskey
1 What is summer?
2 Is it fresh cut green grass that tickles your toes?
3 Is it hours in the pool that wrinkles your hands?
4 Is it the sound of crickets that sing you a lullaby?
5 Could it be trips to the beach where the foamy sea grabs at your feet?
6 Maybe it is hiking trips where you reach the top of the tallest mountain and feel the wind play with your hair?
7 Is it the song from your little brother that cries, “Are we there yet,” from the back seat on long road trips?
8 Is it the BOOM of fireworks on the fourth of July?
9 Could summer be picking blue berries or shelling peas?
10 Is summer, camping trips under the starry sky, or just a weekend at your grandma’s house?
11 Is it running through the water sprinkler or jumping off of the diving board?
12 Is summer riding your bike all day, or just sleeping all day?
13 Well, yes, but summer is that and more.
14 It is cookouts, apple pies, lemonade, snow cones, roller coasters, camp-outs, fishing, long days, and the smell of sunscreen all through the air.
15 Summer is a time where your imagination comes to life.
16 Summer is magical!
