*We've all been a little under the weather here for a couple of weeks. Actually, KJ was pretty sick last week coughing
and wheezing. Except for studying for our Geography final and the final itself, we skipped school. Poor guy, I let him rest
as much as possible. He is almost well now, though. I thought that I was just fighting my usual allergies, however, when I
went to the doctor on Friday for some general maintenance stuff (med checks/refills), she said that I was running a fever.
I'm already on an antibiotic from the ENT for sinus junk so there wasn't anything else for my regular doc to
do. David is the same as me so we're just a snotty house right now.
*KJ and I got our grades for Geography today and we both received an 'A'.
*Next semester we're taking Critical Thinking and Prealgebra. After that, hopefully KJ will be the student with me just
along for the ride until he is 16.
*KJ wrote a cute story for Writing class. He had to use descriptive words and use dialogue. Here it is.
Turtle and Friends
There once was a turtle who was friendly and calm. His color was brownish and emerald. He enjoyed sunbathing.
The shell on his back was really hard and he moved so slowly that he was utterly dragging. He lived in a 50-gallon aquarium,
in a pale yellow house located at 509 Blackburn Street in Vinco, Pennsylvania.
A boy who was at the age of 9 owned Turtle. Turtle only knew him as Master and that his last name was
Harker. On this dark and snowy day, on December 2, 1998, Turtle was snoozing on a rock. He wasn’t cold, because the Harkers
had the heater on. He was dreaming peacefully of all the turtle pellets he liked in the different flavors such as spicy Mexican
food, chocolate, and normal flavor. As he started to wake up, he heard a purring sound. He couldn’t see very well, because
he was not fully awake. "Who’s there?" mumbled Turtle. Whoever was purring did not realize Turtle was awake until he had spoken.
The noise had stopped. Turtle was fully awake now. He knew that only cats made a purring sound, and he knew nothing of the
Harkers owning any feline. He decided to go and visit his two fish friends, Bob and Mac. Once he got to the reef that Bob
and Mac lived in, he whistled, or tried to as best he could, since he was under water.
"Yes?" said a voice from inside the reef.
"It’s me, Turtle," answered Turtle. The two brothers came out.
"Hey Turtle. What’s up?" they said together.
"I’m good." replied Turtle.
"Did you here about Stichins the cat?" asked Bob.
"No, who is he?" replied Turtle.
"He is the new pet Master got," put in Mac.
"He’s one mean kitten," exclaimed Bob.
"I hope he’s a vegetarian," quivered Mac.
A few minutes later Turtle said, "Hey guys, I’ve got to go. It’s almost feeding time." As Turtle was
heading back to his rock, he was wondering if it was Stichins that was outside the tank purring. That night, Turtle, who had
a stomach full of Mexican flavor pellets, was thinking of what food he would get tomorrow when he heard the purring again.
"Who’s there?" Turtle asked.
"You must be Turtle," said the voice.
"Yes," replied Turtle. "Who are you?" A few seconds later a cat came out of the shadows.
"My name is Stichins," said the cat, It’s is nice to meet you Stichins," said Turtle.
"You should meet my friends, Bob and Mac," insisted Turtle.
" I think I’ll pass for now," answered Stichins. "You know it’s quite boring around here. I have not
done anything since I got here, although it is better than…" He stopped abruptly. "Never mind. So what do you do around here
turtle?" the cat asked.
"I get up every day. I get breakfast. I swim around my rock 3 times. I go back to sleep, and wake up
two hours later go see Bob and Mac. I will spend various times there. I come back, get supper and then I go to bed. What do
you do in your day Stichins?" asked the reptile.
"I eat and sleep," said Stichins.
The next day Turtle said to Bob and Mac, "I met Stichins."
"Really? How? When?" asked Bob.
"Last night, he came to my rock. I tried to get him to meet you two, but he didn’t want to."
"Oh good," said Mac. "I would have been cat food in a split second.
"I think he’s lonely," said Turtle sympathetically.
"Maybe, but who would want to be his friend without the fear of death?" asked Bob.
"I would." said Turtle bravely.
"Okay, but if we end up in his stomach it’s your fault," said Bob.
"Okay," replied Turtle responsibly.
On Monday morning, Stichins showed up at Turtle’s rock. "Hi Stichins. How are you today?"
"Alright," grumbled the cat.
"Hey Stichins, where are you from?" asked turtle.
"I don’t know," said Stichins truthfully.
"What is your favorite food?" asked Turtle.
" Normal cat food," replied Stichins. "Why are you asking so many questions?"
"I’m just getting to know you," replied Turtle.
"Maybe it is best that you don’t know about my past," said Stichins sadly.
"Will you at least meet my friends Bob and Mac? Pleeeaaaasssseee," longed Turtle. "You are part of
the family now."
"Okay, I will meet your friends." Over the next couple of days, Turtle nagged Stichins about his past
until he finally told them.
"I was malnourished. My mother had been hit by a car and my father got sent to animal testing. I don’t
even know if he is still alive. I had to eat and live out of the garbage for a year until I got sent to the pound, and then
the Humane Society. They had almost decided to put me to sleep when I got adopted by your family."
"Well, you will be safe here," said Mac. "They don’t test animals." No one laughed except Mac.
"That is nice to know," said Stichins.
"I’m bored," said Turtle.
"Me too," said Bob.
"Me three," said Mac.
"Umm, me four?" said Stichins. "Let’s play Simon Says. I’m Simon." The other three nodded in agreement,
not having a clue how to play. "You don’t know how to play, do you? Whatever Simon says, you have to do. If Simon doesn’t
say, and you do the command anyway, then you’re out." They all nodded again. "Simon says, raise your left foot or fin. Simon
says, raise your right fin or foot. Simon says, put both fins or feet back down. Roll on your back or shell. Oh, Turtle, Simon
didn’t say!"
"Okay, I’m out. Can someone help me up now?" laughed Turtle. After heaving and pushing, Bob and Mac
took their positions again.
"Simon says, roll over twice." Bob and Mac rolled into each other. After recovering, they resumed their
positions while shaking nervously. "Blink three times. Oh no! Simon didn’t say. You’re both out." They all burst into laughter
and thanked Stichins for the game.
Everyone had a huge supper that night. Bob, Mac, and Turtle fell asleep in a pile and Stichins fell
asleep against the tank. They became good friends and lived happily ever after.
