My Friend Series

 

My Friend Series 

This is an excerpt from a book I wrote about growing up 

and the people I became friends with in my neighborhood. 

All the stories take place when I was still in elementary school, 

and I was still a very young person. 

There are 20 such stories that I have completed 

and I am using an illustrator to capture my memories of the times. 

Words Speak Volumes in Writing

Writing, like curb appeal, is your first impression of inscribing a good story. Many readers can tell if you are lazy by using too many clichés or an absence of meaning. Readers can also see when you are unclear on your writing, by poorly executed points or difficulty in expressing literate communication. Clearly, writing one's thoughts will display an articulate and persuasive statement in writing.

The view of oneself can change with boldness and feelings of a positive outlook. When you think of an author, you will always be one. Clear thoughts on paper can be persuasive and arouse action. Write with less authority and more enjoyment to express motivation and brilliance. When writing with too much meaning or authority, an author's writings sound muffled or stagnate in thinking, which can distort one's objective in communicating what he or she is writing. The prose in writing should be clear, focused, and candid.

Though the writing is light and open, the author should still be professional, honest, and informative in the communication of one's voice and topic. Writing in fiction, non-fiction, manuscripts, and professional texts alike when writing topics of interest. If the writer's communication can reach the reader, he or she has affected the reader with interesting dialogue. This exchange of outcomes and data or interpretations and ideas should be flawless and meaningful to the reader, and not just the actions of writing that fulfill the author.

Always write to a higher level of the readers you wish to entertain. If you try to call at the level of your readers or drop writing standards, you may offend the audience that the writer is trying to impress. Understand your reader as an intellectual, knowledgeable, and fair reader. Writing like this will create interest and conversation if done correctly. Always show respect, significance to the topic, and passion, and the reader will see the writing as optimistic and valuable. The topic of interest will convey the writer's skill and enthusiasm as the subject shows volumes of understanding of the specialty.

Kenny's Turn

One Sunday afternoon, Kenny was running home. It was a bright day. The kids were playing outside and there was laughter in the air. Tossing the ball around, and everyone was riding their bikes.

“I can’t wait ‘til it’s my turn!” thought Kenny.

Kenny could see the flowers and watch the leaves blowing in the sky. The fresh smell was making him happy. He ran down the path and spotted a ball on the grass.
The older boys ran by and picked up the ball and played keep-away from the other kids.

“I can’t wait ‘til it’s my turn!” whispered Kenny.

A colorful hummingbird darted past Kenny and behind him he could hear the rushing water of the creek. His tummy was making a sound too. Kenny ran up to his house and thought, “I wonder what mom is doing in the kitchen? I’ll go ask her.” Just when Kenny was about to ask his mom, his sister Cheryl ran by, and called, “Mom what are you doing?”

“I can’t wait ‘til it’s my turn!” thought Kenny disappointedly.

Kenny quietly walked into the kitchen because he did not want his sister to tease him. There was not anyone in the kitchen; the whole family must have gone into the dining room. There was a freshly baked fruit pie on the counter. “Yummy,” said Kenny. “I love pie!” suddenly, his sister Cheryl walked into the room and took the pie. Just then, Kenny heard voices laughing in the other room.

“I can’t wait ‘til it’s my turn!”

He stomped down the hall and followed the noise. Suddenly, Kenny heard his family shout, “Happy Birthday, Kenny.” His mother served Kenny an enormous piece of pie with homemade vanilla ice cream.

With a big smile, he said, “Now it’s my turn!” 

 

Derek's Special Place

 

Derek dashed across the street as fast as he could run. The school was out and buses rumbled by one, two, and three big yellow buses. There was a work truck thundering down Lupita Lane. Derek saw a tree-shredder buzzing through the branches and leaves on Corina Street.

This was not Derek’s special place.

When Derek got closer to home, a fire truck roared past his street. Sirens screeched and dogs barked. The firefighter clanged his bell and honked the diesel horn. It was getting late, and Derek was happy to see the work truck leaving. The driver of the work truck stopped his truck to talk to the driver of the tree-shredder and left his truck running. Black smoke was shooting into the air from the exhaust pipes of the work truck.

This was not Derek’s special place.

Derek walked into his house. He wanted to spend time in a special place. In the study, his sister Deanna was playing her dance music. His brother Ron was practicing his trumpet lessons. Derek wished they would stop making noise. He left the study, holding his hands over his ears.

This was not Derek’s special place.

Derek washed his hands and went to the kitchen for a snack. The blender was mixing; the water was running, and the dog was barking for his treat. Derek could still hear the music playing, his brother trumpeting, and his mother clinking glasses in the dishwater.

This was not Derek’s special place.

Derek went to his room and changed from his school clothes into his play clothes. Derek went to his desk to sit down when suddenly, his little brother Calvin ran into the room swinging his toy lasso and screaming “Yee-haw!” as he galloped by on his pretend horse. “Ride ‘em, cowboy,” Calvin laughed as he bucked out of the room.

This was not Derek’s special place.

Suddenly, Derek had an idea. Derek ran to his closet and pulled out his sleeping bag. He grabbed extra things and ran out to the backyard. He could still hear the work truck humming, the buses rumbling by one, two, and three, the fire bell clanging, the tree-shredder buzzing, the music playing, the trumpet trumpeting, the blender mixing, the water running, the dog barking, and Calvin shouting “Yee Haw!”

Derek walked up the stairs to the apartment, over the garage. He built a fort over his sleeping bag and pulled out his bed pillows, a crank flashlight, fruit snacks, and some comic books.

Now, this was Derek’s special place!

The Little Red Tugboat

Patrick received a little red tugboat from his Aunt Amanda. It was a birthday gift she sent him from Australia. Patrick was excited to get the new red tugboat and hugged it tightly. He played with his little red tugboat all day and slept next to it every night. But after a few months, Patrick grew tired of his little red tugboat and put it garage to grab his bicycle for a ride.

Patrick’s parents had a garage sale and Patrick gave them some toys to sell. He didn’t know that the little red tugboat was in the pile. A boy named Greg and his big brother Steve came to the sale. Steve bought the little red tugboat for his little brother and paid Patrick’s mom a quarter. Greg was happy with his tugboat and held it with excitement.

That night, Patrick was sitting at the dinner table and thought about his toys and the little red tugboat. He looked everywhere in his garage but couldn’t find it anywhere. Patrick was sad. He didn’t want to play with any of his other toys. He just wanted his little red tugboat.

Greg played with the little red tugboat in the pond at the park. He would “toot- toot!” as the little red tugboat passed ducks and other boats floating in the pond. One day, Greg was called home for lunch and left the little red tugboat in the pond. That night, the wind blew hard, and the little red tugboat pushed across the pond to the other side.

The little red tugboat had floated away and landed in the reeds at the end of the pond. There it stayed for many summers. One afternoon, a woman spotted the little red tugboat while she was walking her dog Blondee and took it back to her house, clenching it. She cleaned the little red tugboat and put it on a bookshelf in her study.

Many years passed, and Patrick had grown up. One Saturday, he was driving home and stopped to look through an estate sale. He found story books, small seashells, a brass compass, a golden bell, and a little tugboat like the one he had when he was a boy.

When Patrick arrived home, he brought the little tugboat to his son Hayden. Patrick told the story of the little red tugboat to Hayden. They wanted to show the tugboat to Amanda who was visiting from Australia. When Amanda came over for dinner, they showed the boat to her.

Hayden was showing his Great-Aunt Amanda the boat, and asked her, “Do you think it is the same little red tugboat?” Smiling, she said, “Yes, I believe it is.” Aunt Amanda turned it over and saw her name on the bottom of the tugboat where she had carved it into the rudder. Aunt Amanda gave Hayden a hug, “You see, I had made this boat myself, especially for your father when he was your age.” Hayden proudly looked at his dad and held the little red tugboat tightly.

Sophia and a Horse Named Vamanos

Vamanos was a rodeo horse for eleven 11 years of his life. He was a rodeo clown and saved many lives from danger. When Vamanos was retired, he was very exhausted. When anyone approached him, Vamanos would shy away or be surly to the farmer’s daughter, Sophia. She would try to approach Vamanos in the barn or in the paddock. Often, Sophia tried to see Vamanos during mealtime, but Vamanos would run away.

Vamanos enjoyed being by himself, and he would not socialize with any of the other farm animals. Before long, he was always alone in the field. Sophia tried to love and care for him, but Vamanos was afraid she would want him to go to the rodeo like it was before. Sophia was patient and would try every day to gain Vamanos’ trust.

One evening, Sophia was walking from the barn to the farmhouse with a large bundle of clothes she had removed from the line when, out of nowhere, Vamanos reared up and knocked Sophia over, dropping her bundle of laundry onto the ground. Vamanos stomped around Sophia and then ran away. Sophia was unharmed but her feelings were, and she cried. The farmer ran to his daughter and made sure she was all right. Sophia held onto her daddy until they were inside the farmhouse.

The farmer put Vamanos into the barn for the night and locked him behind a gate. He was terribly upset at Vamanos, but the farmer wanted to make sure the horse was all right. The next morning, the farmer’s spouse saw a pair of britches on the ground beside the barn and stooped down to pick them up. She found a trampled rattlesnake that was beneath the britches, and she wondered about the accident with Sophia the evening before.

When the farmer and his wife talked, they realized Vamanos was protecting Sophia from danger, and they were happy that Vamanos was around to help their daughter. A doctor arrived, and the farmer explained what they had found in the yard. The doctor agreed and examined Vamanos just in case it hurt him. The doctor was pleased to find Vamanos in perfect health and high spirits. He bid farewell to the farmer and his wife and wished the best to Sophia.

The farmer walked Vamanos to the paddock and led him to the feed buckets. The farmer had mixed an extra scoop of sugar beets and dry molasses into Vamanos’ barley and oats. Vamanos finished his special treat and ran around the paddock, looking for Sophia. It surprised him to see that Sophia was not around the paddock. Trotting, he made his way to the barn, but Sophia was not there either. He trotted over to the stables, and he still could not find Sophia.

Finally, Vamanos walked around the side of the farmhouse and looked inside the windows until he saw Sophia playing in her room. Vamanos whinnied as loud as he could to get her attention. Startled, Sophia looked up quickly from the noise. When Sophia saw it was Vamanos, she looked at him with a smile and ran to her window. Sophia opened her window and Vamanos poked his nose into her room. Sophia hugged Vamanos and thanked him for protecting her.

The next few days, Vamanos let Sophia move closer than she ever had before. He let her brush his mane and scratch underneath his jaw. Sophia was so happy to care for Vamanos and he was happy, too. Vamanos would follow Sophia as she worked on her chores and helped her father with the other animals. In the afternoons, Sophia would fall asleep on the porch and Vamanos would wait in the shade until she was awake. Sophia would always wake up and get Vamanos a treat.

Early one spring, the rodeo was coming into town and Vamanos could feel it in the air. He got surly again, and only Sophia could get him to calm down. One of the other horses stepped too close to Sophia and Vamanos snipped at the other horse. Sophia was scared, so she asked her father to look at Vamanos again. The farmer placed Vamanos into his stable and made sure that Sophia brushed the horse until he calmed down. Sophia braided the horse’s mane and tail and made sure he was comfortable. Sophia slipped him a special treat of peppermint sticks to see if that would help his behavior, and it did.

All week Vamanos was temperamental, but Sophia took loving care of him. It was the last night of the rodeo, and Sophia made sure Vamanos was comfortable before she and her family left to see the barrel racing. The evening was exciting, but Sophia could not stop thinking of Vamanos. She told her father how she felt, and he admitted he was feeling tired too and they should go home early. The farmer and his wife drove Sophia home so they could look in on Vamanos.

When the family arrived home, it surprised them to see the ranch supervisor waiting at the farmer’s home. Sophia knew something must have happened to Vamanos. The supervisor and the farmer talked with each other when she ran to the barn and looked for Vamanos in the stables. A gate to the horse stable was open and Vamanos was gone. The farmer and the supervisor called everyone in the community to join the search for Vamanos.

In the morning, the farmer and the supervisor returned from a long night of searching for Vamanos. When Sophia saw her father return, it devastated her to see that her horse was not with him. Each day Sophia would go outside and leave food and fresh hay out for Vamanos to come home to in the barn. This lasted three days before someone knocked on the door. When the farmer answered the door, there stood Vamanos and a very tall man in a ten-gallon hat and a pair of brown chaps.

The tall man explained that as the rodeo was leaving town, the trailers loaded, the metal arenas were torn down and packed, and the vendors closed up shop; nobody realized there was an extra horse in the trailer. The director of the rodeo had called every town for a missing horse until he found Sophia’s notices all over the newspapers. The tall man was glad to have found the correct farm; he was getting nervous. He would have to keep the horse.

Sophia was sitting by the creek and leaning against a giant pepper tree. She watched the water in the creek bed float by slowly and her reflection would show how sad she felt about her missing horse, Vamanos. She was watching the water when leaves fell into the water and would ripple her sight until the water cleared up. This time, when the leaves fell and the water cleared, she saw a reflection of herself and Vamanos. She jumped onto her feet and hugged Vamanos around the neck. She cried, but this time because she was so happy to see her horse.

She loved him so much and really missed him while he was gone. When Sophia heard the story about the tall man, she knew Vamanos must have jumped the gate and followed the family to the rodeo. With all the packing and moving of the rodeo, Vamanos got lost in the commotion. The farmer was glad to see his daughter happy again and made sure the gates were raised. From then on, Vamanos would go to the rodeo with the farmer, the farmer’s spouse, and the little girl, Sophia.

Hayden, Junior Ranger

Hayden was born in the small town of Lake Tahoe at the edge of the Toiyabe National Forest. His father was a retired forest supervisor who took tourists on hikes throughout the Lake Tahoe basin. He named his son after a famous composer. Hayden could remember how he hiked the basin many times as a child, listening to his father’s classical music. That was five years earlier and he was turning twelve this year.

Hayden, and his sisters, Katie, and Sophia often would wait at the beach for their father to pass by on his hike with the tourists. When the tour was over, the children were there to meet him and walk home. The season was getting cold and soon the trails would be a blanket of white snow. The mountains and forest would close until the next season.

Hayden and his sisters followed their father into their yard, but first, they stored their gear in the shed and took off their dusty hiking boots before they could go inside the warm house. Hayden’s father kept a pair of knitted slippers in the mudroom and the children had matching slippers in their cubbies. Inside their home, the floors were cold tiles, and the slippers warmed their feet.

That evening, they were eating their dinner, and Hayden said to his father, “I passed my Junior Ranger Exam, and I was wondering if I might go hiking with you next season?” Hayden’s father agreed to take him on his tours, but Hayden would have to work out and gain better endurance.

Hiking the Lake Tahoe Basin was not an easy trek. After dinner, with excitement over the news, Hayden disappeared into his room to call his friends.

The first thing every morning, Hayden was working out with his friends. He would work hard to do more than anyone else. Usually, Hayden was the last to finish his exercises. It was getting cold at night and Hayden was very sore every day. The family would sit around the fireplace and Father would tell Hayden about the trails or the rest stops he would need to know about for the tourists. It was not long before Hayden was asleep under his covers and his father would have to turn out the lights.

Snow covered the mountains, and the trees looked as if they had fluffy white coats. Saplings would grow underneath the tree’s canopy, and it was getting harder to make it around town. Many days, the only way to get around was by wearing snowshoes or cross-country skis. Hayden and his friends would go skiing every day, and Hayden would volunteer to pull the gear up the hills for the extra training. His friends would never argue with him over that chore.

All winter Hayden trained, and his father would prepare pouches of brochures and maps for his hikers. He would have hundreds of pouches prepared by the time springtime came around. The holidays were approaching and soon it would be Christmas. For Christmas, Hayden received a new pair of hiking boots, a compass, and a funny-looking hat. Hayden could not wait for the winter to be over. Every night, he would check on his new boots and compass sitting in the mudroom. The hat was in his room. He still thought it looked silly, but he knew it was a part of his uniform.

Sometimes at night, Hayden’s father would evaluate him on his knowledge of the trails. His father was impressed that Hayden remembered so much. Hayden liked the way his father would play games with the information; it made learning fun and easier to remember. The girls did not fare as well, but they gave it their best try. Sophia would answer everything with one of her made-up horse names and by the end of the game, everyone was laughing and having an enjoyable time galloping around the house.

By March, Hayden and his sisters had celebrated their birthdays and the last party given. Hayden had received a pair of hiking gloves and a set of golf clubs. His sister Katie was happy she received her favorite book series, and Sophia was galloping on her life-sized pony, Butterscotch. Soon the snow was melting, and Hayden could go outside and play golf with his friends. Hayden enjoyed going out to exercise and build his strength. With the trails clearing up, Hayden was hiking more each day, and he was feeling more muscular.

One day, the children returned from an early walk. It was a beautiful sight to see the evergreens blooming and the snow trickling down the mountains into the lake as natural waterfalls. Hayden knew his father would leave soon for the trails. In April, the family celebrated spring break. Hayden took time out from his play to review the lessons his father had left for him while his father was away to prepare his stops on the trail.

Hayden’s father left him a note that explained his duties closer to home. Hayden was excited because he knew that soon he would hike with his father. Often, he would drop to the ground and pump out ten push-ups, and his friends would drop beside him and try to race Hayden. His strength had grown over the winter, and he was ready. This routine went on for days before he heard his mother on the phone and found out his father was on his way home.

One evening, his father had just returned, and the family was enjoying a pizza for dinner. He asked Hayden, “Do you feel you are ready to go on the tour tomorrow?” Hayden shook his head excitedly because his mouth was full of pepperoni pizza. He tried to answer, but it came out in a loud mumble. Hayden’s parents laughed as he made quick work of his dinner plate and asked to go pack. His father suspected Hayden was in his room doing pushups because Hayden had packed early all winter.

In the morning, Hayden’s mother made breakfast for everyone and packed a sack lunch for the trail. Hayden and his father left early, and the girls waved goodbye as the men made their way to the shack where the tourists were gathering. Hayden eagerly tried to pick up all the packs, but his father made sure they were splitting the load. They took the tourists up the trail for a few hours, and after a while, they stopped to rest at the halfway mark. Hayden’s father was attending to the hikers. When Hayden finished handing out bottles of water, he looked down the mountain to see if he could spot his house. Hayden could not believe how beautiful it was on the trail.

As the day grew later, Hayden saw the tourists were getting closer to the end of their trail. They would soon set up camp and have dinner. Hayden’s father made his way to the camp and unloaded the supplies for dinner. It was not long before they were all sitting down for dinner. All the tents were built now, and Hayden’s father was stoking the fire.

The stars were glowing. The moon looked like a thumbnail and Hayden’s father identified constellations to the tourists. After stories, and too many S’mores, Hayden had thought of the day’s adventures. He was so happy his father took him along the trail, and he lay there with his arms behind his head. Hayden fell asleep under the evening sky.

The next morning, Hayden woke up to a beautiful sunrise. He lit the fire and prepared the supplies for his father to make breakfast. After they had eaten, the tourists helped clean up the camp and made sure that the area was clean, just the way they had found it. They hiked slowly as the trail was full of dew, and they could see the glistening on the tree trunks and branches. As they made their way down the trail, Hayden could see that the houses down below were waking up as the chimneys were expelling smoke one by one.

After a long day, Hayden finally saw the end of the trail approaching. They had the best hike he could remember, and it was ending. The sky was growing darker, and they finished their walk, saying goodbye to the tourists. One by one, the people drove away. This was an exciting hike for Hayden, and suddenly it was over. Hayden’s father walked up to his son and said, “You did really well today. You can be my Junior Ranger anytime, and I am proud of you son, thank you.”  

Hayden smiled. He would remember this hike for a long time, and one day he might take his children.

Katie and the Old Ferris Wheel

Katie was visiting her grandparents, and they went to the park to see the old Ferris wheel. The city built the Ferris wheel in the early 1920s, and it was in bad disrepair. Grandma saw the Ferris wheel and remembered the day the city had opened the park with its additional attraction. Grandpa and Grandma remembered a ticket was not cheap, and they would save the entire week so that they could ride the Ferris wheel.

Grandma would ride the red car on the Ferris wheel. She liked the gold ribbons and the sparkles painted on the outside of the car. She had so much fun going up, around, and down with her friends. Sometimes, they would rock the car. Now, the red car was fading, and the gold was missing sparkles. Grandma was sad to see her special memories were fading as well.

Katie and Grandma walked around the Ferris wheel. Grandma explained to Katie how she remembered riding the Ferris wheel without holding on and her friends would squeal with delight from the daring move. Katie looked to see who was around and whispered to her grandma that she had never held on, either. They both giggled as they looked up at the different faded chairs. Katie and her grandma agreed that even though the cars had faded, they were still beautiful.

Katie admitted to her grandma that she liked to spin her chair fast. Grandma looked as if she missed the fun as well, but was smiling at Katie’s story. Grandma wished the Ferris wheel could be repaired. Benches and cars were even missing from the wheel. Grandpa walked up with ice cream cones for everyone. Grandpa was even sad the attraction had closed. He put an arm around Katie’s shoulder and kissed her on the head.

Months had passed and the annual carnival was opening on Saturday. Katie wanted to go to the carnival to see the rides, but she thought the Ferris wheel was most likely gone. She invited her grandparents for moral support, and they were happy to go with her. Katie was wondering what rides the carnival was going to offer instead of the Ferris wheel. When they arrived, they entered the amusement gallery?

Katie won a hat and a mirror with the word Smile Etched on the surface. Grandpa won a giant panda by throwing rings on a bottle and giving it to Katie. Grandma won a stuffed worm she gave to the first little boy she ran into inside the gallery. They laughed when the boy’s face lit up like a light as he ran off to tell his mom. Everyone was having fun, but Katie still missed her Ferris wheel.

Katie walked further ahead and took silly photos in the photo booth. Grandpa and Grandma took their picture and in one they kissed. “How embarrassing,” Katie laughed. Grandpa tried to give Katie a kiss, but she squealed and dodged away. They laughed again. Katie grew silent and stared past her grandparents. Grandpa and Grandma turned around to see what had startled Katie.

Behind them, the old Ferris wheel was working perfectly. It had new cars painted in bright colors with beautiful gold ribbons and decorations. The center had a large, mirrored star outlined with colored bulbs, which blinked on and off. Katie was thrilled that the Ferris wheel was still there, and that it was so beautiful.

Grandma was happy too. She sat in her red car with gold ribbons and sparkles. Grandpa chose the blue car with sailboats and anchors, and Katie sat in the green car with daisies and wildflowers. Katie was smiling and laughing as the Ferris wheel went around and around. Grandma smiled when she saw Katie let go of the bar. Grandpa and Grandma spent the rest of the evening riding the Ferris wheel and laughing with Katie. It was fun to ride the Ferris wheel and Katie returned every year even after she had her own children. 

Visited By Darth Vader

When I was in middle school, I remember walking to class feeling less than confident about everything because I was this short and cumbersome kid, and, as one knows, you are in an atrocious mindset at that age. Being one of the youngest of six kids, you have pity parties regularly. As a treat, one weekend, the family could see the new science fiction movie Star Wars. When the movie was over, I thought it was so cool, and from then on I always wanted to be Darth Vader. He was a villain you couldn't forget. Darth Vader could choke his enemies with force and a gesture of his hand, and he wasn't impressed with much. He was my hero! There were so many people I would have tried that choking motion on. He could just put his hand out and choke the tar out of everybody that bugged him, and I thought that was such an incredible trait. I won't lie; I pretended the motion to choke some kids who were always bugging me.

One day when I was in PE, not happy about my green and yellow shoes, and dreading whether I was going to wear shirts or be skin that day. With hesitation, I lined up like I was supposed to for calisthenics. We were in the gymnasium ready for the coaches to come out of their office, when suddenly the doors behind me, which were a pair of old wooden doors that used to creak, and the handle mechanism made a loud noise, echoed behind us as the door slammed closed. I thought the coaches were coming in through the doors, and I thought nothing of it when suddenly there was a familiar breathing sound beside me.

I turned, and who do you think was standing there, but Darth Vader! Dressed all in black, looking magnificent as he confidently strode into the room.

I couldn't believe it. He flew his Tie fighter to Sparks Middle School to visit us, and of course, I thought Darth Vader was there to visit me!

His entrance was outstanding! With his terrifying swagger, his cape swishing across our gym floor, and gaining more attention, everybody was turning around. They were stunned that there was Darth Vader, the Dark Menace, and the Sith Lord from Star Wars. I had just seen him three days ago, and I was frozen in my spot. I think I was shocked because he was there at our school.

What was unexpected was that all the kids in my gym class roared, "Get him!" in a berserk rage, and in a fray, they attacked Darth Vader. The kids were grabbing at his helmet and his cape. I just stood there in astonishment, asking myself, "What is going on?" The Sith Lord was trying to get away, but the students were tearing at his costume, and Darth Vader was trying not to hit the kids as he was fleeing. Obviously, he was an actor. Trying not to hurt the kids until his cape ripped, and then he was defending himself any way he could. His helmet was knocked off, and you could tell Darth Vader was getting upset, but abruptly there was shouting and multiple gym whistles going off from Mr. Dickie and Mr. Siddle. Red-faced, pulling kids off of Darth Vader, and spewing out commands from Stop! Saps! Stop! The coaches could bring back order in our gym; they were good at that. Once again, Darth Vader escaped the battle as he ran out of the doors.

It was going to be a great visit with Darth Vader, and it turned out to be a free-for-all, an MMA battle, a Kumite of first blood; all I knew was that Darth Vader had come to our gym class as a surprise, and it backfired. It goes to show you back in the 70s, Darth Vader was a huge scary guy, and that is why he was feared by many, and still today one of my favorite villains. In the new movie out this week, we get to see why he was so scary in our imaginations and the Star Wars story.

Easy Granola Bars

Here is a recipe that I made when I was trying to cut back: 

on meals.

Though this is small, it has plenty of nutrients and protein. I make these weekly, as my family likes to snack on them instead of an alternative.