Tech-Taters

Writing stories is a universal thing. People do it all around the world. Even though, in school, we are not currently writing stories, many of us are at home. For example, I am currently writing three story’s at home, and I have two ideas for ones that I want to start when I finish one of my current ones. One of my stories is shared with my friend, we both write on it. You see, we use google docs to write, this way we can write on our stories from any computer, and we can work on a story with a friend or two.

Stories come in all shapes, sizes, and types. It may sound weird when I say shapes and sizes. What I mean is, if you have a book in a diary format, it’s probably going to look different to an epic. I think writing stories is very good for you. It is fun, but it can also help you. Writing stories has helped me a lot lately. My parents separated about a year ago, and writing about other people who have the same feeling as I do has helped me stay calm, when I feel like I could explode.

I think writing stories is good for the mind, and it is good for kids of all ages. I encourage everybody to keep up on the story writing!

-Catherine

I just finished doing Nutcracker performances. Oh yes did I tell you that I loved ballet and have been doing it for about 8 years! This Nutcracker is performed at Hunter Theater and is called The Yorkville Nutcracker. This year was my FIRST EVER year in this nutcracker. I played a little French girl in Party Scene and Gingerbread. In this nutcracker people from all around the world come to the mayor of New York’s house. Mary and Putnum (the head children) in the second act go into the land of sweets and then wake from their dream and find them selfs in their own house again! Party scene takes place at Gracie Mansion! Everyone in Party scene was actually a real person in 1995 (the date that that the Yorkville Nutcracker takes place! Doing the Nutcracker was so entertaining and made my heart pound hard in my chest. I did not know this until very recently but in party scene I was on stage for 35 minutes! Is that long or what? I hope I am in another show soon wish me luck! Oh yes and has anyone acted or danced on stage in front of an audience before?

Anya and Kalik

Anya glanced nervously down at her sister Kalik. She was tugging at the rim of Anya’s thick fur jacket recently made by Anali, one of the only people in the Bear clan who was skilled at making clothes. Some people said that Kalik, only four winters old, had animal sense. Anya could tell now. Her sister felt something bad was coming.

And suddenly, Anya saw a quick shadow run through the winter woods. It was the coldest season of the year, and Anya knew she should be helping set the fire. Oh, why couldn’t Pa be home from work with the hunters? I want him to come home for the first meat of the year…

Anya saw it, barely. Its white coat blended in perfectly with the snow, except for the black, concentrated eyes staring right at her. A wolf.

Kalik started whimpering. “Kalik,” Anya called, “Go back into the hut. Don’t be afraid! I will come when I am done.” She didn’t feel as strong as she sounded as Kalik ran into the hut. How was she, only 11 winters old supposed to scare away this large, terrifiying wolf?

The wolf approached her and the hut. She wondered whether the wolf had passed through the rest of the huts. She hoped not. She didn’t want anyone to have been hurt. But even her hooded fur coat couldn’t stop her from being numb all over and make her brain think straight.

Anya thought through the possibilities of winning. She couldn’t fight it or kill it because Pa hadn’t taken her on hunting lessons yet. She would have to use her smarts. She didn’t know that that was one of the best things to do.

Running inside, she saw the first thing that could help her, her father’s extra bow. But no, she didn’t know how to use it and wouldn’t dare waste it — they take so long to make. But the next thing she saw, she knew would work. She grabbed it quickly and ran back out.

The wolf started to growl. Its beady eyes said, I will conquer you. Anya had never felt this way. Pa had always done this kind of work. And he did it with such ease. Why wasn’t he back yet?

The piece of fresh meat was in Anya’s shaking hands. She had to throw it, as far as she could, into the woods. But what if it didn’t work? She would have wasted her whole family’s dinner.

She closed her eyes so she wouldn’t have to see the wolf. It came closer — she heard the wolf’s silent steps. Even closer, she could feel its breath. Pow! Her arm went up, and with all her might she flung the meat into the forest.

When she opened her eyes a crack, the wolf was gone. Just as she had hoped, the wolf had run after it.

She stumbled into the hut in complete disbelief. She had done it! Kalik was there. Anya knew her sense had told her the whole thing. Kalik was giving her a great big hug.

by Claire