Showing posts with label Izy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Izy. Show all posts

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Don’t Look Them in the Eye

By Izy


            When I was six years old my dad was telling me about the different animals living in our forest. He told me about deer, and how you should never look a male deer directly in the eye because they might see that as a challenge or as a threat. I said I understood and that I would never do that. That day I decided to take a ride on my new bike. I live in the middle of a forest with an extremely long driveway, so there’s always been plenty of room to ride bikes. I asked my sister and my mom if they wanted to come out with me, but they both said no. So I went by myself. I had never been afraid of going outside alone. What could hurt me in my own forest?
            So I got on my bike and started riding up my driveway. Since I was new with bikes, I was kind of wobbly, therefore I had to keep steadying myself with my feet. As I rode down my driveway I stared at the ground, avoiding any sticks or stones. I must have felt like I was being watched or something because I suddenly stopped half way down my driveway and looked up. About 25 feet away from me was I giant buck with huge antlers. In my moment of shock I could do nothing but look the deer straight in the eye. I just kept staring it in its large black eyes. I noticed the deer start to scrape at the ground with its front hoof. I saw the deer take one small step towards me and I went berserk. Fear coursed through me, and without seeing if the deer was running after me, I got on my bike and tried to peddle as fast as I could away from the deer. But since I was not the best at riding my bike, I was stumbling too much and I figured it would not be a good get away. So I got off (or fell off) my bike. Taking one more glance over my shoulder I saw that the deer was closer than it was before. I ran as fast as I could back to my house. I closed the garage door and ran downstairs to my dad’s office. I was bawling my eyes out, and not just because I was scared but also because I disobeyed my dad and looked directly in the deer's eyes. When I got to my dad’s office, and stopped crying I told him what happened. I bet he thought it was pretty funny but he told me it was OK and to go get my bike from outside.
 I was nervous to go back outside, but I knew I’d have to go back out eventually. What if the deer was still out there? Just waiting for me, all because I looked it in the eyes. Then I thought “No you must face your fears!” So I went outside and very slowly walked down my driveway to get my bike. Once I got to my bike I looked all around me and saw that the deer was gone. I just stood there for a moment looking around, feeling stupid that I made such a big deal out of nothing. Then I laughed hysterically for a couple minutes and went back inside. When I got back inside I told my dad how brave I was then I told everyone in my house the story. My sister didn’t believe me and I got upset so I went upstairs to take a nap, exhausted from being so awesome and brave.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Hermit Crabs

By Izy

In my first grade classroom there was a tank of hermit crabs. My teacher had kept hermit crabs every year. These animals were the first class pet I ever had. That year, my family got our first dog, so both my dog and the hermies helped teach me about responsibility. A couple weeks into 1st grade I noticed things were harder and I was having trouble with the work. Just like hermit crabs so I had to move at a slower pace to get to where I needed to go. Any time we’d take the crabs out of their cage so they can walk around, they’d be super confused; like I was with certain problems. They were extremely shy and would hide anytime someone got near them. I was always shy towards adults, older students, and new people.
            The hermit crabs all had different painted shells. I always thought of the shells as different personalities. There was a small one who had a purple and green zig-zag shell, which I considered to be my personality (because I was always spazzy and creative).  When hermit crabs get bigger they change shells, which is like changing your personality.

            As I went through Elementary School, I always checked up on the hermit crabs. It made me sad when I found out one had died, just like it made me sad when people had to leave the school. Going through my time in St. Martins I’ve looked back to the time when I was little and having a bad day. Then I’d just look at the hermit crabs and smile. Being at this school I’ve come to realize that this school is like a shell, that this school encourages your personality, protects you, and eventually I’ll have to leave this shell that’s kept me safe for so long.