Chapter 5- The Whirl Pool of Darkness

                                                   
When we got to the whirl pool I wanted to scream and run back home; it was really scary. I asked Collin for the shining rock. While he was getting it I looked at the sky. There was the black hole as clear as day. I don't know why we didn't see it but there it was. When I saw it I ran straight into a tree. "Ouch," I said. Then I stood up and Collin gave me the rock. I went to the pool and dropped it in. The black hole faded into the sky. "Yay! Yes!" we all said. "We're done!" The troll crashed into the opening and said "You, you crossed my bridge!!!" The troll was bumped and bruised. He looked rather horrid. He ran ran towards me and hit me so hard. It felt like nothing before; stinging and aching. Then I noticed I was in the air. He had knocked me off my feet. I landed in the whirl pool screaming. The troll ran away. I was crying and screaming and sinking in the whirl pool. I was almost under when I saw Collin and Brecklen trying to pull me out. My face went under. Only my arm was above the water. My world was black.

In my blackness I dreamed of getting home, my family hugging me. I wanted to see them again. Everybody would be thanking us three. They would love us and be happy, but in my dark position, I didn't think that would happen. 

Chapter Four- The Leaves

I didn't know what to do. There were so many leaves. Then I had an idea. We would all split up and get leaves. Then we would throw the leaves onto the sand and see which leaves would burn. We did my idea, and after about an hour we had the right leaves. Then we strapped them on and got onto the sand. It felt kind of funny. The ground felt sizzly under the leaves. After awhile we could see no woods behind us. There was no turning back now. Then all of a sudden my leaves started to burn up. Oh, no, I thought, these must have been the wrong leaves! Then the volcano started to erupt. "Run!" shouted Collin. Then I said, "It's no use my leaves are the wrong kind!" "Mine are right," said Brecklen and Collin together. "Yeah, but mine aren't and they're already starting to burn." Then our conversation was interrupted. There was loud crashes and rumbles. The ground shook and a storm came in. We were in trouble. We were in a big place ans were the tallest things by miles. There was lightening, and we were going to get shocked and the volcano would erupt. I was about to get my feet burned off. We were in a big, gigantic fumble. Then Collin picked me up and started running back to the forest. We were to far from other side, so he ran back to the same side we started on. When we got back it started to rain. I went to sleep crying. When I woke up I found I was at the other side of the beach. "Collin," I said,"we're on the other side of the beach." "I know," said Collin. "You fell asleep and the rain and the volcano stopped. I carried you over here." "Thanks," I said. Brecklen came over with berries and we had breakfast. After that we looked at the map. We would travel South to the Dark Lake. That's where the whirl pool was. We were getting close, but had three months left. Nine months had passed since we left home.

We started off and we were in a hurry. Things were bad, but good because we were getting close to the pool. It was scary. People say that if you are fully sucked in you die instantly. 

Chapter Three- The Troll

It scared me so bad I ran into the woods. Then I slowly walked out from the darkness. I walked towards the bridge and yelled, "Who's under the bridge?" "It is I, the troll ruler of this bridge, and you may not cross. You see, no one ever comes into the forest. If they do come it is my job to keep them here because us trolls never have anything to eat. " "You're a troll?" asked Brecklen. "Yes, and there's nothing you can do about it." "Um, Sir," said Collin, "We really need to get past. We're on a journey, and this nonsense  is keeping us behind schedule." "Excuse me?" said the troll, "I need something to eat." "Why don't you eat some berries," said Brecklen. "What berries?" said both me and the the troll said. "The berries that Collin and I walked past before Mary ran away." "Where are they?" asked the troll. "By the shining boulder." "Thank you," said the troll and ran off. "Well, that gives us a chance to get past." said Collin. "Let's hurry!" I walked across the bridge first. It was wobbly and creaky and cracky. I could feel the bridge cracking under my feet. I slowly walked across. I got to the end and yelled, "Okay, I'm across. Your turn." "Okay," said Brecklen, "I'm coming." It took about an hour but once we were all across we were ready for dinner.

We were almost to the end of the forest. I took my map and looked at it. I noticed that it had been six months already. I took the map and began to read. Next was the fire beach. It was called that because of a volcano that always erupted. The beach was burning hot. It would burn your shoes off. The only thing it wouldn't burn was the water leaves. They grew at the tip of the forest. We finally decided to strap a bunch of  those leaves to our shoes and walk to the other end of the beach. We kept walking until we were at the end of the forest. When we got there we had one problem. There were so many trees at the end of the forest and we didn't know which kind of leaf we were looking for. 

Chapter Two- The Long Journey

We looked at the map and we were to go up the hill first. So that was that. We started up the hill. I got to the top first. When I was walking up it I looked down to see my beautiful city disappearing as I went higher. When I finally reached the top I looked at the map. The next place to go was the Black Forest, so I ran down the other side of the hill and reached the forest. I sat down under an apple tree to wait for the others and picked an apple of the tree and ate it. It was really tasty 'cause I was hungry. Then I drank some water. You see, the hill you have to climb is really out of the city. It is really tall. It takes nineteen hours to climb it, so you know I was thirsty and even more hungry. I picked another apple just as Brecklen and Collin came running down the hill. We took a break for a minute and I ate yet another apple. "Okay, Mary," said Brecklen, "Where are we going next?" "Um," I said, "Let's look at the map." It said to go through the Dark Forest and over the log of black ooze. I looked into the forest and looked back at Brecklen and Collin. Their mouths were open and I had to admit it was pretty dark in there. I grabbed Brecklen's hand and ran in.

When we were in there it wasn't as dark. Then something caught my eye. I turned around only to find a gigantic boulder that was shining. "OH NO! Another shining rock! The black hole must be getting close." Brecklen and Collin then noticed the boulder. It was terrifying; we had a long way to go and the rock was shining. That meant that the black hole must be getting closer. They screamed for a minute and I just sat by a tree thinking. It was scary, you know just sitting there thinking that that in twelve months your earth will be destroyed unless you do something about it.  It's crazy!  After about twenty minutes or so Collin, Brecklen, and I stopped screaming. I got up from the ground and started walking. Pretty soon we came to a bridge. We had to cross it because there was no other way to the other side. I stepped on a part of it to see if it was safe. It seemed pretty safe, so I called to Brecklen and Collin who were still behind. "The bridge looked pretty safe to me guys. Just wait a minute," I said. "I'm out of breath," said Collin. Just then the bridge wobbled. "It will hold us as long as we go one at a time," I said. Then out of nowhere a big voice boomed,"Get off MY BRIDGE!"

Chapter One-The Shining Rock

On a windy day I was playing with Brecklen and Collin. I was doing a cartwheel when I stumbled over a rock. I looked at the rock and it seemed as if it were shining but I wasn't sure. I called Brecklen and Collin over. I said, "Brecklen, Collin, come over here; this rock seems to be shining." Brecklen said it was shining. Collin said it was remarkable and was so bright it seemed to be glowing. So we ran over to the library and looked it up. Finally we found a book about it. I read out loud, "If you ever find a shining rock, quickly put it back in the steaming pool of Greenland  also known as the steam pool of darkness. That is where the shining rock belongs. If you do not put it back in less than one year, a black hole will come and swallow the earth."

It was bad. Even worse, I had been bitten by a dog, had a bad hair day, and fell and broke my arm when I slipped on ice. Now this? It was just bad.

"Oh, no," cried Brecklen, "What are we going to do?" I looked at Brecklen, and Brecklen looked at Collin who said, "Well, let's go then. Us." Brecklen and I shouted at the same time, "We're only nine!" Everyone looked at us and the librarian came over and told us to be quiet. We left the library and Collin then said, "We might be nine but I've always wanted to go on an adventure." "But, but..." Brecklen stuttered. She couldn't think of what to say. "Let's go," I said, so we went to my house to make a plan.

The next day I packed my things up and got in my winter clothes. I packed water, lots of food, clothes, hats, boots, cooking utensils, pots, pans, socks, crackers, toys, wood, and matches. When I was done I told my mom and dad where I was going. Then I gave them a kiss and hug and went to Collin's.

He came out with a giant suit case. "What did you pack?" I asked. He gave me a glare. He said, "Look, I was having a bad day and I heard an asteroid was visible. I packed my telescope." My mouth dropped open. "You what?" I asked again. "I packed my telescope," this time in a loud voice. "You can't," I said, "It's too heavy. Look, I will go to Brecklen's while you pack our binoculars and put back the telescope." "Okay, okay," he said in a bummed voice.

Brecklen was ready for for sure. So we went back to Collins and waited till he was done.

Mary shared this cute little writing piece with me and I just wanted to keep it forever. I altered it a little bit; fixing run-ons and spelling errors, but the language and writing is hers. Enjoy! 

Reunion

Summer 2012. The happy reunion of Mary and Nora, who hadn't seen each other for almost a year! 

Mermaid

"Mermaid" was Daddy's nickname for his little girl about this age. It's perfectly fitting for this photo.

Brother and Sister

Too cute. Enough said. 

The Elf Strikes Again

The Valentine Elf is a favorite visitor at our house. The surprise gift; airbrush marker kit!

Conference 2012

Mary and Christian, busy entertaining themselves (an distracting Mommy) during General Conference. 

Crazy Hair Day

Mommy's spin on an idea she found on Pinterest. Surprisingly, the hairstyle stayed in all day. Mary's hair was still a zoo when it was time for bed!

Art Buddies

 Mary painting some "pioneer marbles" Sarah made from clay. 

These were captured during one of the rare moments where Sarah can drag Mary down to the art room with her. They had a blast together. 

The Lorax

 Mary came home today sporting this fashionable 'stache. She sure enjoyed Doctor Suess week at school! 

Team Snowman

Spider Slayer

 

While Sarah was going down the stairs to bed, she discovered a giant spider. Of course, she called for Dad to do the dirty work. But once dad caught sight of the big spindly spider, even he was to sicked out. The whole house got involved in who would kill the giant spider. Finally Mary, armed with a vacuum, got the spider. We were all cheering. She'll go down in history as our very own, "Spider Slayer."

Indian Pageant

Scheel's