King of The Island- Final Draft

It was just another hot summer in Georgia. Bobby, a ten-year-old boy spent every day of that summer at Lily Lake. There was one thing Bobby really wanted to do: swim to the island in the middle of the lake. The island seemed miles away from a scrawny kid. Still, he was determined to reach the island.

His intense inspiration and motivation to accomplish his goal originated from when his class went on a school trip to Lily 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. 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.” So he turned back around and started swimming again. The water was getting colder and he 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 he 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.

He was positive he wasn’t going to give up on the challenge so he 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 he would be ready to impress.

On the day before 6th grade started, in the afternoon was the barbeque and Bobby was nervous, he wasn’t sure about being able to reach the island. When his mother called him to go to the lake, his heart pounded and he swallowed hard. Driving to Lily Lake, he 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” he replied 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. He 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” He 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. He 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 he 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. 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.