Here are a few excerpts from our personal narratives-in-progress:
From Eric's story of diving to the bottom of his friend's pool:
I was about two feet away when I got a weird feeling, a feeling I had never had before. It built up in my stomach, getting bigger until it was huge. It wasn't just a feeling anymore. It was a monster stuck, wanting to get out, pounding the walls of my stomach. It was mad. It wanted air.
From Owen's story about holding his new baby niece:
Then I saw her. I was one of the first people to hold her. I was so happy. I almost held her the whole time. I didn't want to let her go, but I had to let her go. Everybody was jealous. They all wanted to hold her first. But I held her first. It felt like I was holding a rare item. As soon as I held her, it felt like I was warming up by a nice, hot wood stove.
From Hunter's story about getting to know Django (when Hunter was young and Django was a puppy):
One day before I went to bed, I put my hand out very cautiously and touched his warm, soft fur. Then I pulled my hand back as fast as I could. Then I realized that he wouldn't bite, he wouldn't even scratch, he wouldn't hurt you at all. Then I started liking him. Then he licked me, then I loved him.
From Fiona's story about a summer day swimming and playing with her friends:
"Bombs awayla!" I holler as I take a flying leap off the raft at the head of Silver Lake. A perfect pencil dive! Down, down, down I go. I can see the deadly darkness closing in around me through tightly clamped eyelids. It is so dramatically cold that it must be cold enough to paralyze an elephant! Cold! Dark! Cold! Dark! Ahhhhhhh! SPLUT! I am ankle deep in old sticks, rotting leaves, and moldy pine needles at the bottom of the lake. Great!
