There was one thing Bobby really wanted to do: swim to the island in the middle of the local lake. The island seemed miles away from a scrawny ten year old kid. Still, Bobby was determined to reach the island.
Bobby’s intense inspiration and motivation to accomplish his goal originated from when his class went on a school trip to the local lake. His friend had bet him that he couldn’t swim to the island located in the middle of the lake. Bobby, not ever one to refuse a challenge, immediately splashed through the shallow waters and plunged into the coldness when the lake was too deep to continue walking.
Bobby began to swim; he swung his arms violently and came up for deep refreshing breaths. With each breath he was determined by the picturesque island and his friend’s dare to make it to the island. Up again, another breath, “I must make it”, up again, rest. The island wasn’t getting closer just more distant. The lack of oxygen in the little boy’s body made his head spin and lungs ache. He turned around and looked back at his friend joined by several spectators eager to watch Bobby accomplish the amazing feat.
“No, I can’t give up” Bobby thought, “That would be too embarrassing.” He thought, “I am Bobby, I don’t give up.” So he turned back around and started swimming again. The water was getting colder and Bobby was getting worried. “What if I can’t even make it back?” Bobby turned to look at the beach again, at his classmates who had noticed his ambiguity and started to look bored and doubtful. Already sensing defeat Bobby decided to swim back to the beach, back to the warm waters, to the shallow waters where he was able to slowly and shamefully walk back up to the beach to face his friends.
“Well, what happened Bobby?” His friend inquired.
Bobby, hating to admit defeat shrugged it off and said “Nothing, I’ll do it another time.” He collapsed on his towel laid out on the hot sand. The deep breaths of warm air cleared his vision and relaxed his body. But the feeling of failure still resided in him.
Bobby, positive he wasn’t going to give up on the challenge, practiced all summer and perfected his swimming techniques and stamina. He was preparing for the back to school lakeside barbeque where all his classmates would be there and Bobby would be ready to impress. So day after day Bobby swam around the lake and prepared for the big day.
On the day before 6th grade started, the day of the barbeque, Bobby was nervous and wasn’t sure about being able to reach the island. When his mother called Bobby to go to the lake, Bobby’s heart pounded and he swallowed hard. Driving to the lake Bobby was absolutely silent.“Something wrong, honey” Bobby’s mother sweetly asked, expecting her chipper son to be excited to see his friends after the long summer.“No mom” Bobby said coldly.
When they arrived at the lake, Bobby looked out and saw all of his friends and was really excited to join in the game of water volleyball. Bobby ran out of the car and rushed to say hi to his friends. After about half an hour of handstand contests, building sandcastles and playing tag, Bobby was in the best of moods and was ready for a big burger.
“Hey Bobby, remember when you couldn’t make it to the island?” His friend asked.
Bobby’s smile disappeared and he began to think. He was ready for the long swim, he was confident and sick of his friend’s superior attitude. “Yes I do” Bobby replied. “I can make it to the island now, I just wasn’t feeling well that day.”
“Okay, go” The boy said disbelieving Bobby’s excuse.“
Okay” Bobby agreed no longer worried but excited to prove to his friends.Bobby looked at the group of classmates gathering round to watch his second attempt. He was ready and he smiled.
He turned on his toes, and walked towards the water with confidence rather than a wish to complete a crazy dare. Once again Bobby walked through the shallow and dove in when the water reached his waist. With stronger arms he smoothly executed his swimming strokes and glided through the water. Bobby completely ecstatic with his perfect swimming techniques, swam even faster, there was no doubt in his mind now. With each look up he was getting closer and closer to the island, to reaching his destination and to proving himself to his friends. The water was shallowing out gain and he walked through the water feeling strong and superior. He stood up straight, lungs drawing in deep breaths and he turned around and looked at his friends across the water. He heard them cheering and saw them jumping for him. Bobby stood on the island; he was the king of the island. He claimed it. After about 20 seconds of celebration, rest and feeling proud, he splashed back through the water, adrenaline speeding up his stroke and pushing him to his homeland as if to announce that he had claimed the island.
Back at the island Bobby lay down on the sand and this time felt relieved and happy. His friends came over to congratulate him; he even received a few “Wow”s and “Good job”s from the parents and older siblings. Bobby felt exhilarated; he was the king of the island.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
King of The Island- Draft
Bobby was the spunky class clown and troublemaker, the one who always had people laughing. Nearing the end of the summer, Bobby was still determined to reach that island. The island seemed miles away for a 10 year old swimmer.
Bobby’s intense inspiration and motivation to accomplish his goal originated from when his class went on a school trip to the local lake. His friend had bet him that he couldn’t swim to the island located in the middle of the lake. Bobby, not ever one to refuse a challenge, immediately splashed through the shallow waters and plunged into the coldness when the lake was too deep to continue walking.
Bobby began to swim; he swung his arms violently and came up for deep refreshing breaths. With each breath he was determined by the picturesque island and his friend’s dare to make it to the island. Up again, another breath, “I must make it”, up again, rest. The island wasn’t getting closer just more distant. The lack of oxygen in the little boy’s body made his head spin and lungs ache. He turned around and looked back at his friend joined by several spectators eager to watch Bobby accomplish the amazing feat.
“No, I can’t give up” Bobby thought, “That would be too embarrassing.” He thought, “I am Bobby, I don’t give up.” So he turned back around and started swimming again. The water was getting colder and Bobby was getting worried. “What if I can’t even make it back?” Bobby turned to look at the beach again, at his classmates who had noticed his ambiguity and started to look bored and doubtful. Already sensing defeat Bobby decided to swim back to the beach, back to the warm waters, to the shallow waters where he was able to slowly and shamefully walk back up to the beach to face his friends.
“Well, what happened Bobby?” His friend inquired.
Bobby, hating to admit defeat shrugged it off and said “Nothing, I’ll do it another time.” He collapsed on his towel laid out on the hot sand. The deep breaths of warm air cleared his vision and relaxed his body. But the feeling of failure still resided in him.
Bobby, positive he wasn’t going to give up on the challenge, practiced all summer and perfected his swimming techniques and stamina. He was preparing for the back to school lakeside barbeque where all his classmates would be there and Bobby would be ready to impress. So day after day Bobby swam around the lake and prepared for the big day.
On the day before 6th grade started, the day of the barbeque, Bobby was nervous and wasn’t sure about being able to reach the island. When his mother called Bobby to go to the lake, Bobby’s heart pounded and he swallowed hard. Driving to the lake Bobby was absolutely silent.
“Something wrong, honey” Bobby’s mother sweetly asked, expecting her chipper son to be excited to see his friends after the long summer.
“No mom” Bobby said coldly.
When they arrived at the lake, Bobby looked out and saw all of his friends and was really excited to join in the game of water volleyball. Bobby ran out of the car and rushed to say hi to his friends. After about half an hour of handstand contests, building sandcastles and playing tag, Bobby was in the best of moods and was ready for a big burger.
“Hey Bobby, remember when you couldn’t make it to the island?” His friend asked.
The smile quickly disappeared off of his face. Bobby returned to his nervous attitude he had before having fun with his friends. Heart pounding Bobby looked up and said, “Yeah, I wasn’t feeling well that day.”
“Oh yeah, well do it now then” The boy said disbelieving Bobby’s excuse.
“Okay” Bobby agreed no longer worried but excited to prove to his friends.
Bobby looked at the group of classmates gathering round to watch his second attempt. He was ready and he smiled.
He turned on his toes, and walked towards the water with confidence rather than a wish to complete a crazy dare. Once again Bobby walked through the shallow and dove in when the water reached his waist. With stronger arms he smoothly executed his swimming strokes and glided through the water. With each look up he was getting closer and closer to the island, to reaching his destination and to proving himself to his friends. The water was shallowing out gain and he walked through the water feeling strong and superior. He turned around and looked at his friends across the water. He heard them cheering and jumping for him. Bobby stood on the island; he was the king of the island. He claimed it. After about 20 seconds of celebration, rest and a pure sense of pride. He splashed back through the water, adrenaline speeding up his stroke and pushing him to his homeland as if to announce that he had claimed the island.
Back at the island Bobby lay down on the sand and this time felt relieved and happy. His friends came over to congratulate him; he even received a few “Wow”s and “Good job”s from the parents and older siblings. Bobby felt exhilarated; he was the king of the island.
Bobby’s intense inspiration and motivation to accomplish his goal originated from when his class went on a school trip to the local lake. His friend had bet him that he couldn’t swim to the island located in the middle of the lake. Bobby, not ever one to refuse a challenge, immediately splashed through the shallow waters and plunged into the coldness when the lake was too deep to continue walking.
Bobby began to swim; he swung his arms violently and came up for deep refreshing breaths. With each breath he was determined by the picturesque island and his friend’s dare to make it to the island. Up again, another breath, “I must make it”, up again, rest. The island wasn’t getting closer just more distant. The lack of oxygen in the little boy’s body made his head spin and lungs ache. He turned around and looked back at his friend joined by several spectators eager to watch Bobby accomplish the amazing feat.
“No, I can’t give up” Bobby thought, “That would be too embarrassing.” He thought, “I am Bobby, I don’t give up.” So he turned back around and started swimming again. The water was getting colder and Bobby was getting worried. “What if I can’t even make it back?” Bobby turned to look at the beach again, at his classmates who had noticed his ambiguity and started to look bored and doubtful. Already sensing defeat Bobby decided to swim back to the beach, back to the warm waters, to the shallow waters where he was able to slowly and shamefully walk back up to the beach to face his friends.
“Well, what happened Bobby?” His friend inquired.
Bobby, hating to admit defeat shrugged it off and said “Nothing, I’ll do it another time.” He collapsed on his towel laid out on the hot sand. The deep breaths of warm air cleared his vision and relaxed his body. But the feeling of failure still resided in him.
Bobby, positive he wasn’t going to give up on the challenge, practiced all summer and perfected his swimming techniques and stamina. He was preparing for the back to school lakeside barbeque where all his classmates would be there and Bobby would be ready to impress. So day after day Bobby swam around the lake and prepared for the big day.
On the day before 6th grade started, the day of the barbeque, Bobby was nervous and wasn’t sure about being able to reach the island. When his mother called Bobby to go to the lake, Bobby’s heart pounded and he swallowed hard. Driving to the lake Bobby was absolutely silent.
“Something wrong, honey” Bobby’s mother sweetly asked, expecting her chipper son to be excited to see his friends after the long summer.
“No mom” Bobby said coldly.
When they arrived at the lake, Bobby looked out and saw all of his friends and was really excited to join in the game of water volleyball. Bobby ran out of the car and rushed to say hi to his friends. After about half an hour of handstand contests, building sandcastles and playing tag, Bobby was in the best of moods and was ready for a big burger.
“Hey Bobby, remember when you couldn’t make it to the island?” His friend asked.
The smile quickly disappeared off of his face. Bobby returned to his nervous attitude he had before having fun with his friends. Heart pounding Bobby looked up and said, “Yeah, I wasn’t feeling well that day.”
“Oh yeah, well do it now then” The boy said disbelieving Bobby’s excuse.
“Okay” Bobby agreed no longer worried but excited to prove to his friends.
Bobby looked at the group of classmates gathering round to watch his second attempt. He was ready and he smiled.
He turned on his toes, and walked towards the water with confidence rather than a wish to complete a crazy dare. Once again Bobby walked through the shallow and dove in when the water reached his waist. With stronger arms he smoothly executed his swimming strokes and glided through the water. With each look up he was getting closer and closer to the island, to reaching his destination and to proving himself to his friends. The water was shallowing out gain and he walked through the water feeling strong and superior. He turned around and looked at his friends across the water. He heard them cheering and jumping for him. Bobby stood on the island; he was the king of the island. He claimed it. After about 20 seconds of celebration, rest and a pure sense of pride. He splashed back through the water, adrenaline speeding up his stroke and pushing him to his homeland as if to announce that he had claimed the island.
Back at the island Bobby lay down on the sand and this time felt relieved and happy. His friends came over to congratulate him; he even received a few “Wow”s and “Good job”s from the parents and older siblings. Bobby felt exhilarated; he was the king of the island.
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