“Um, yes, I’m fine.” I manage to say as I try to sort out the world from being a blur of dark colors. We continue to paddle, and getting clocked in the head with a heavy paddle only gives me motivation to paddle harder because I was angry. We paddle for about twenty minutes through a channel until we arrive at our destination. I see before me a vast space occupied by tons of water. I also notice that the water sparkles every time you make a movement. As I stroke the paddle, the water sparkles and has a hint of blue. As I skim my hand in the water, I get the same result. At that moment, I feel free and confident, and I don’t even know what I was so worries about. We have a smooth and safe trip back to shore, and something hits me. I realize that I feel so good because of my dad. He has a special way of making me feel better about myself and he encourages me. I also took something else from that experience. I found out that I can’t live in fear my whole life, and if I try new things, I may come to find that I enjoy them very much. Lauren Blalock 7th Grade Baylor School Ms. Collins
Spring Break Sunburn Jan Cooper stared at me like I just sprouted a third eye. She winced in the blinding sunlight bouncing off the ocean. "Oh my god, you’re so burned!" she said with her toes digging in the sand. "No way .. " I said. I started off down to the beach house. I glanced back and threw her a smile. She disappointedly shook her head and went to lie down on her towel. The refreshing AC cooled my warm skin as I walked over to the bathroom to take a shower. I turned the cold brass doorknob. My toes were freezing on the tile. I entered the bathroom quickly, my skin feeling unnaturally dry and hot. The humidity from my mother’s shower burned my vulnerable flesh. My skin was as red as a ripe, plump tomato. I moved my bikini strap a little off my shoulder. The friction made me wince in pain. It was as clear as day, like comparing a streak of white out to a delicious apple. I was burned, but not kind of “Hey want to go to the beach later? Kind of burned. It was an “I’m going to go cry my eyes out in my bed” kind of burned. The first night was the worst; the pain was unbearable. Every time I moved I felt like someone was burning me to death and freezing me at the same time. I would have literally given both my thumbs to take the pain away; even my tears burned my red, blistered flesh. The pain relieving aloe was about the stupidest thing we tried. It felt like someone was slicing me open with an ice cold blade. I couldn’t sleep for the rest of the vacation, nor could I move or leave the condo in fear that something might touch me. When I slept, the friction of the blankets broke open my new blisters and put rug burn on my back and shoulders. I would attempt to fall asleep and hope to god I wouldn’t budge. But it was no use. I ended up watching every single show on Bravo twice. Every time I tried to shower, the pressure of the water made me cry. It was like my skin was melting off my body. I never had a successful shower the entire vacation. I couldn't wear anything that didn’t feel like sandpaper. My last resort was a white, over-sized, button down. I was constantly covered aloe, so the cotton stuck to my skin. It would dry while I was lying down and then rip at my skin when I sat up. 279