Car Trouble

Car Trouble

by Tristen Andre

6th Grade

Living in Los Angeles for so long, my mom was very careful and alert when doing errands, which meant no lolly gagging by the car.  But mishaps can still occur.  One hot summer day in the middle of July, I was accompanying my mom on her errand run.  I was a mere two years old at the time, still in diapers.  My mom was quite concerned about all the hooligans in Los Angeles since it was a big city, so she always got quickly into the car.  After hitting the lock, buckling me in and shutting the door as she always did, my loving mother realized that, to her horror, she had left the keys, and me, locked inside the car.

Mom was outside my door, trying to get me to pull up the lock, but the car seat was holding me back.  Peering through the window my mother was motioning with her finger to keep trying, but it was to no avail.  Next my mom tried to get me to unbuckle the car seat by mimicking the pushing of a button.  That didn’t work either, as I didn’t have the strength.  Circling the car many times for another possible entrance she pried at windows, pulled on doors, and peeked through the sunroof.  None of which were effective.  The longer I was there, the more I started to overheat.

Since cell phones weren’t that popular yet, getting to a phone was a risky business.  As the car was starting to really boil and I was locked inside, getting the phone meant that my mom would have to leave me.  From inside the car I could see my mom frantic with worry, pulling on her hair, and going berserk since she couldn’t get me out.  After she calmed down she turned to me, with a tear in her eye.  Through the window she told me to take my shirt off so I wouldn’t overheat.  After doing that my mother couldn’t decide if she should leave me to get a phone.  In the end she did.  Running as fast as she could she entered the store and quick as a flash called my dad and Triple A.  The car was getting hotter and hotter, would they come in time?

Arriving almost at the same time, my dad and Triple A sped into the parking lot.  As the men from triple A examined the car, I started to bail forth fresh tears for my mom and for the car to cool down.  The Triple A man used a thin wire to pop up around the window.  I watched its progress as it groped around for the lock.  Upon finding it, it jerked upward.  “Wee ooh wee ooh” the car alarm went off as the door sprang open and my mom unbuckled and embraced me, pulling me out of the car whispering, “I’m so sorry, I love you, I love you.”  Words could not explain how grateful my mom felt about Triple A’s contribution in saving me and how badly she felt for causing it in the first place.

Being locked in the car was an unforgettable, unfortunate, and unimaginable event of a lifetime, mostly for my mom as I was too little to remember the event.  My mom was terrified out of her wits and I was sweating buckets she often told me. I found this story memorable when my mother told it to recently because I didn’t have any recollection of it being just under two years old at the time.  This true story was about my mom’s angst about me being trapped in a steaming hot car, and her worry about how she was going to get me out.  So now you’ve heard her story, remember, check for your keys before you lock the car!  And know that you’re parents can make mistakes and learn from them as well, and that they love you very much and always try their very best to keep you from danger.

Skiing

Skiing by Vanessa Andre

           My second time skiing, but first time in skiing in Utah going with my friend Eliza.   I am so very excited, this would be first my time on a black diamond, but I must get warmed up on the little runs like greens and double blues. “Mom HELP I’m stuck,” I yelled a little while later not realizing that it was going to be so hard. “Just move your foot like that…” she said. “Mom that does not help at all,” I all most screamed as my skis tangled together once again! “I want to go back to the cabin right now!”  “We are not going back,” my mom said firmly.  “Move your foot, that one too, Good,” mom replied.  Finally I was free! I didn’t know when I was ever going to make it to the black diamond.  10,11,12,13 times I went again and again and got better and better.  The very next day we woke up very early and were ready within ten minutes. The drive down to the ski slopes, to me, seemed like five hours (but it really was only five min).  Stopping at the ski store, we got lollipops that were interestingly flavored. I choose juicy watermelon, which tasted really good and was a fun treat to enjoy before heading to the slopes!   Up and up and up Eliza and I went on the chair lift to the uppermost summit.  Looking down my stomach felt so queasy that I couldn’t look down again.  Skiers looking like little ant people flying down the hill at a speed of 60 miles per hour.  Raising the bar to exit, scared about the 50-foot drop below, we waited to arrive at the chair station. 

Gliding off, we were careful not to fall off the drop, and by turning quickly avoided a disaster.   Upon arriving at the very top, we were rethinking our plan about the black diamond.  Deciding, since there was no other way down but buy skiing we slowly made our way to the intermediate runs, INSTEAD of the BLACK DAIMOND.  Zipping past my mom through the trees, I was a blur of red and black.   I had gotten so fast that I had to purposely slow down and wait for Eliza, getting stuck in a flat area in the process and not being able to start back down again.  I had to slide my skies back and forth with a little help from an ongoing skier who was passing by.   Getting to the part that finally was so familiar to me I gained speed, accelerated, and zoomed downward as fast as lightening.

            Whizzing downward faster and faster, my skis felt like they were sliding on water. I was beating my mom! Some more advanced skiers past me, but I still felt like the best skier ever. Although I didn’t have poles I did not need them for I was going super fast already. “Slow down,” someone shouted!”NEVER,”I called over the commotion right then realizing that that someone was not was not my mom, or Eliza, it was my dad! “You finally caught up with me,” he shouted. “Yes I have,” I replied. “I’ll race you,” I suggested! “Okay,” he responded.

Sliding to a stop, I finally saw that my dad was on a snowboard. WOW! I could not do that, just then he all most fell, and gaining back control he was ready to start. “On your mark, get set, GO!” And off we went flying down the mountain. I advanced so quickly that my skis felt like they had a mind of their own. I wondered what was happening behind me, was my dad still there, or had he slowed down? I did not know, I didn’t care.  All I cared about was the wind billowing through my hair the feeling that I could ski freely, and all my thoughts racing by. I loved that feeling. I then reached the fork in the snow; turning sharply for I was afraid that I would miss the turn off. Finally arriving at the end of the slopes I tried to squeeze into the line but my mom caught me and dragged me out. “Were going back to the cabin”, mom said. “Do we really have to go?,” I asked. “ Please just one more run, not from the top though.” “Okay”, mom said wearily. Excitedly we got back in line for our very last run of the day.          

14,495' High Day Hike

Last year I jumped in with a group of guys to Day hike to Half Dome.... Today we arrived in Lone Pine at the Comfort Inn to Climb Mt Whitney in a day. Couldn't have planned any better weather - not a cloud in the sky & no moon tonight. So we grabbed some dinner at the local Pizza joint - - 8 guys, 3 pizza, 4 pastas, 8 salades, 2 plates of garlic bread & only 2 pictures of beer. We were all too stuffed to eat one of those pizzas. 9PM back at the hotel, time to re-check all the items were hauling with us tomorrow morning and call the front desk for a 2:45 AM wake-up call. 2AM I awake and start streaching my legs in bed, trying not to wake my 2 other roommates. Sleep is no longer on my mind.... I start chanting affirmations - This is going to be a great hike - I'm going to feel great - I'm going to make it to the top. 3AM, a quick breakfast & out the door. We arrive at Whitney Portal at 3:45AM, gather our packs and head off 15 minutes later. The portal is at 8,361', it was so quite, I start to think... is anyone else starting this early? ... or are we just crazy? Headlamps on, we start to pass a couple small groups of hikers making their way up the trail. By sunrise we've reached the tree line, and what was a pack of 8, now just 2 of us, Jeff & I were at the tail end. I started to think, are these guys going to wait for us... well maybe at the top. Feeling pretty strong, I say to Jeff, "I'm going to see if I can catch up" and head off. 15 minutes later I put on the headphones & plugin the iPhone to listen to some motivational music - WOW did that put a spring in my step - powering up thru the camp site and on my way to the switch backs, I felt so good. I see Jerry, about 4 levels above me. Caught up & pushed past towards the head of our pack. My breathing felt regular & thinking "I must be past 12,000 ft now, how can I be feeling this good?" We'll that didn't last too long. At 13,500 ft, there was a sign, the trail heads down 500 ft and then back up. Maybe it was now the Altitude or could have something to do with 5+ hours of hiking. I slowed to a one foot in front of the other pace. The other 3, I was following, seamed to be moving a lot faster and I just trugged on my way to the top, arriving at 10:10AM.

We waiting at the top for the rest of our crew to trickle in... all accounted for, we rolled out after about an hour break. Downhill started out fine... but by the 10th hour of hiking I kinda wished it was over. With 5-6 more miles to go we kept on. Finally arrived at the Burger shack, Whitney Portal, at 4:30 PM. 12 -1/2 hours of hiking I was toasted. Ready for a Beer & Fries that were waiting at the table. We waited 30-40 minutes more for the rest of our crew and headed down the hill, back to the Comfort Inn. Jumped into the pool to watch the sun go down behind our acomplishment. Dinner at the local Mex place & bed by 9:30 PM. Gotta be up at 5AM to head back home.

2 weeks to Plan

Yes we bought our tickets to London from San Diego, on June 1st, and now the pressure was on to to fill in the blanks. Patti spent long hours searching the WEB for hotels, directions to and from, etc.

Somehow she pulled it all together and we all heading to the airport as I type....

1st stop JFK - - NEW YORK for 1 hour - - off on another flight to LONDON

Indian Princess - Catalina Pirate Skit

7:30PM Saturday Pirate skit

At the end of bead trading ... SCARY MUSIC the Pirates Gang come and kidnap Med and Chief . ARRR ! We heard thar be a whole lot of treasure being found today on this island (did you say Treasure .... ARRRR Treasure) ... It’s all mine ye Swabbies! so hand it over! If yee dont give us this Booty we’ll send yar leaders to Davy Jones’ Locker ... we wa nt our treasure now ! (did you say Treasure .... ARRRR Treasure) we may consider letting them go when you tell us. But dont let me loose ME temper! The Pirate Crew then tie Med & Chief together - Chief Girls run and hide - A small group of 3-4 girls carry what looks like a very heavy treasure Chest - One of our Pirate grab it and the girls flee - this pirate holds it up so I can inspect it’s contents. Avast pointing at the croud ARRRGH ye Lass - ye have been wize to bring what is rightfully mine ... What is this ? its’ .. its’ filled with candy - where’s me GOLD ? ARRGH Your Chief mentioned there were other leaders here tonight that might know where me Treasure is! (did you say Treasure .... ARRRR Treasure) OK Who are these other leaders - stand now before I loose my patience? Me Hartties ... Bring these Scurvy dogs forward... we have our ways to make Landlubbers like yee talk Pirate Crew gather up the dads standing and line them up on stage - binding their hand behind their back. All the tribal chiefs tell them “there is no treasurer - we never saw any” but they don’t listen and they make them eat these groolly pirate things Whats on thar menu tonight Black Rayven? FEAR FACTOR MUSIC Day Old Fish Bate / Stinky Sock Stew / Belly of a Whale 4 Apache pirate girls are the hostess - bringing out the treats & help to feed the prisoners while the gross food is being eaten ... the chief girls run into the crowd .. and ask for the nation help “when the chief girls raise their arms yell COYOTE POWER 3 times - pass it on to your neighbor” after the last food is eaten - and the Chiefs are all doubled over on the ground. The chiefs girls say with hands on their hips “You are messing with trouble and you had better give our dads back or else ... you might get burned” on this cue Firestarter light the nation fire .... The pirates laugh and say what can little girls do to us - we have these swords & muscles of steel - all pirates show their arms and act like these little girls can do nothing The Chief girls all say

“ we know where the REAL treasure is, come follow us ” and lead the pirates to the left .... Then the girls raise their arms ... and the whole nation shouts ”COYOTE POWER” ”COYOTE POWER” ”COYOTE POWER”and the THUNDER MUSIC is heard & felt .... all of the pirates shake and look around ... then run away dropping their swords except for Captain Grey Beard. Shiver me timbers! The girls run up and capture CGB with the 3 swords dropped by the fleeing pirates and tell CGB “Release our dads or suffer your fate” Ha - what could little lasses like ye do with plastic swords - Yo-Ho-Ho - yee wants me to release your sharkbait .... a pie comes in from the front/right and CGB ducks and it sails over his head - Laughing loudly - you missed me, missed me - Naha Naha - SPLAT Vanessa comes from the left and nails CGB square in the face. CANON FIREING MUSIC during the Naha Naha the other girls have loaded up with more pies and release their fury on CGB Enough ! Enough ! I surrender - yee can have yours fathers back.... I’ll take yee to where Med and Chief are ... no more tricks. Med and Chief come back with the girls Then Med and Chief

ask who were the gool eaters that tried to save them were ? And let the audience pick the winner.

LEGEND: Green - All Apache Dads Say / Pink - Chief Girls / Sound Warrior / Black - Me Words Spoken

STARRING: Captain Grey Beard: Tom Andre / Long John Silver Leg: John Silverwood / Cork in the Ocean: Bay Ponder / Black Raven: Ray Adams / Apache Princess Pirates:

EQUIPMENT LIST: Pirate Hats / Scarves / Costumes / Swords / Rope / Treasure Chest / Candy / Paper Plates / Fear Food - Day old Fish Bait "Oysters & Sardines", Belly of the Whale "Cherry Jello", Stinky Sock Soup "Apple Juice & Old Socks with Dry Ice / Whip Cream / Cups