New Life

 Author's Note: This is a retelling piece about the book Crossing the Border.

A young and poor Mexican boy nicknamed Turtle journeys to America in hopes to get extra money for his family.  Along with his friend, Pepe, the boys will face Border Police, a group of killers, and  fearsome mountain lions.  When Pepe and Turtle finally make it to America they look back and notice how lucky they are to be alive.

Fall the Wonder Season

Author’s Note: This is a piece about the joys you can have in Fall.

Think of the crisp air, beautiful leaves and chilly wind.  Fall is finally in season after spending three months in the thick muggy summer air, we get to relax in what seems like the perfect time of the year.  From  Halloween to fall football and baseball Fall truly is the greatest season.

All of the kids are out raking leaves to try to earn the extra money to get those new shoes or the expensive gaming system.  Raking the leaves into one big pile on the street and then inviting all the kids over to jump in it was one of the many highlights for elementary kids around our block.  Another would be how they bust out their Dad’s new leaf blower and spray all the leaves at the daredevil of the group.  Then some of them just like riding through them with their bike hoping some leaves would get caught in the tires so the bike sounds like a motorcycle. 

Not only do the kids get to have fun but adults get the family time when Thanksgiving rolls up.  So much delicious food and deserts you don’t even know what to get first.  Nothing is better than eating a slice of turkey and watching the Bears cream the Packers. Parents love meeting distant relatives that come in from different states to enjoy an amazing night.  The thing I like to do most after Thanksgiving is go shopping at Black Friday.

Although all of those other activities sounded fun, there’s nothing I love more than starting football and basketball.  For the whole summer I’m stuck with just recreational baseball.  Which is fun for a while, but there is something about the sport where you can hit someone and not get in trouble by the kids mom.  Or rejecting someone so hard that the ball goes in the stands.  These sports play a big part in my life and they all start in fall.

The nice weather, amazing sights, and fun for everyone is a great part of everybody’s life. Fall really is the most superlative season of them all.