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Grade: 7 Best Vacation: New Orleans, LA Birth Month: November Career Goals: CIA Psychologist Favorite Band(s): John Meyer Favorite Candy: Twix, Twizzlers, Junior Mints Favorite Food: Muffins Favorite Munchie: Cheetos Favorite Soda: Cream Soda Favorite Subject: Reading Hobbies/Sports: Soccer, Tennis, Softball Pet Peeve: Nails on Chalkboard Pets: Fish named Fish Siblings: 1 younger sister 1 older brother Other things you should know about me... I love to read

Boysenberry Jelly

Once upon a time not too long ago, there lived a little girl in the mysterious town of Boysenberry. To the average tourist passing by, Boysenberry looked like a typical country town in Wisconsin. They saw the A-frame farmhouses, the children running around on the schoolhouse lawn, and the quaint town square with the meetinghouse, church, and old general store. The passer-bys never saw past the buildings and that was how Boysenberry preferred. They wanted the tourism, of course, as any struggling town would, but someone, a child, stood in the way. Her name was Cecilia, and she was wicked. She was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Grenwich, the most hated family in Boysenberry. The Grenwichs were already disliked before Cecilia, but sadly after she was born their few friends abandoned them. Cecelia had never done anything especially awful besides the occasional cold stare, but what had happened on her birth and birthday thereafter was to confusing to be left unspoken about. It was late on February 27, 1999 and she had just been born. It seemed that the whole world was silent, but it stopped when a soft cry was heard coming from the Grenwich’s jelly farm. As if Cecilia’s cry had awakened something within the earth, a wind tore up from the ground and swirled around the town of Boysenberry. It destroyed everything in its path, leaving the town in pieces the next morning. The superstitious folk claimed that the newborn child had caused it and those who didn’t like the Grenwichs agreed. Others thought the idea was preposterous until it happened again. Each year the wind was awakened and it swept through the town. It was never as strong as that night in 1999 but it was enough to make everyone else change their mind about the child. By her third birthday, Cecilia was despised. Cecilia was a pretty normal child, hated but normal, so she was usually very happy. She let go what everyone said about her and ignored their stares. One day, though, before her eighth birthday, there was an incident. She was walking to the town square for some candy when a boy about her age appeared. He began to make fun of her, pulling her braids, and insulting her clothes. She tried to walk away but the boy’s friends suddenly appeared, surrounding her. They teased her, until a man who had just moved to Boysenberry chased them away. Cecilia thanked the man and walked home forgetting the candy. Cecilia had been laughed at and pointed at and made fun of before, but it was always from afar, behind her back where she didn’t have to see, and she was pretty sure she liked it better that way. Wanting to be alone and think for a while, she headed towards the woods behind her house. She checked her watch. It was only 2, she probably wouldn’t be gone long, but just in case she grabbed herself a jar of Boysenberry jelly and some crackers. The Grenwich’s farm had the best jelly in all of Boysenberry. In fact, Cecilia liked to believe that the town was named after their jelly, it was that good. She put it all in a brown paper bag and slipped out the door. Once safely hidden from the world that hated her, she began to laugh. She laughed so hard that she cried. Then laughed again because she didn’t know why she was crying, or even laughing. Cecilia looked around, she loved the woods. Sometimes, it seemed like they were the only things in the world that accepted her. Wanting to explore, Cecilia stood up and coughed, wait, no she didn’t. She turned around. About a foot away, a girl stood. Cecilia tensed up, ready for another round of insults, but the girl didn’t say a word. Instead she smiled and Cecilia relaxed. “I’m Cecilia”, she said softly. “I don’t have a name”, the girl whispered back. “That’s alright”, said Cecilia, “I’ll just call you…Boysenberry” Boysenberry smiled, obviously pleased with her new name, and beckoned for Cecilia to follow her. They walked further into the woods, stopping at a huge gate that stretched farther than Cecilia could imagine. In front of her stood a big red door that she was instantly struck by. She longed to see what was beyond it, but just then her watch began to ding. It was the broken alarm that went off every afternoon at 4 ‘o clock. She sighed and turned to Boysenberry. “I’m sorry”, she said, “but I have to leave” Boysenberry nodded sadly. She was going to be alone again. Cecilia looked down guiltily, and noticed the brown bag still in her hand. “Here, Boysenberry, I have a present for you!” Cecilia hoped she would like the jelly as much she did. Boysenberry simply stared at it curiously, confused by the act of friendship. Cecilia pulled out the carefully wrapped jelly and handed it to Boysenberry. As she unwrapped it, a big smile spread across her face. Jelly was her absolute favorite food, too. Cecilia grinned to herself, she felt very pleased. She turned around to wave good-bye, but Boysenberry had already run off. Cecilia skipped home, curious about her mysterious new friend, but ecstatic nonetheless! At home, her mother was cooking and her father was working on the farm, so Cecilia went out to chase the cat that roamed around outside the abandoned stables. When, she couldn’t find the cat, Cecilia became very worried for they had grown quite close, it being the only thing that would listen to Cecilia. So, she searched the dark, empty stable until finally she heard a soft cry…MEOW! In fact there were many meows. Ms. Cat had had kittens! Cecilia was so excited. If only, she thought to herself, I had a friend to share these kittens with. She quickly remembered Boysenberry and decided to bring a kitten to her tomorrow. The next morning, Cecilia was up at the crack of dawn. She always woke up early on her birthday. Her mother had made her smiley face pancakes with bacon for a mouth, chocolate chips for eyes, strawberry for a nose, and eight candles on top. She attacked the food and was finished in ten minutes. Cecilia kissed her mom good-bye and ran outside to see her father. He was working in his makeshift office near chickens’ pen. She said a fast hello and good-bye and head off to see Ms. Cat and the kittens. Cecilia scooped up the cutest one and gave Ms. Cat a quick kiss on the head, before running off into the wilderness. Cecilia doubled over, out of breath from the long run and waited for Boysenberry to come. She appeared no more than a second later. “Happy Birthday, Cecilia” She called out. “Thanks!” said Cecilia, with obvious surprise. “ How’d you know?” Boysenberry joined Cecilia on the grass beneath an old oak tree. “I…I. You promise that you’ll still be my friend?” She asked. Cecilia quickly promised, excited that Boysenberry thought they were friends, too. “OK, then. Here goes…I’m a…faerie.” Suddenly Cecilia began to cry uncontrollably. “Oh No! I didn’t mean to make you upset. I only didn’t tell you because I thought you wouldn’t like me.” Cecilia couldn’t talk she was crying so hard. Boysenberry felt awful and tried to comfort her, but Cecilia pushed her away. What the faerie didn’t know was that Cecilia thought that she was like the other children trying to hurt her feelings. Finally Cecilia could talk. “Why”, she asked, trembling, “Why does everyone always try to hurt me? What did I do?” The bright faerie immediately understood what was going on for she had seen what the children did to her. It was why she had chose Cecilia in the first place. “Cecilia, I’m not one of those children. I promise! I am a faerie and I could never hurt you.” Cecilia was still unsure, so Boysenberry decided to prove it to her. “If you’re a faerie”, tested Cecilia, “Fly!” Boysenberry laughed. “I’m afraid faeries can’t really fly, but I will tell you how old I am.” Cecilia agreed, curious as to what she might say. “I’m one hundred seventy-three and counting. Today’s my birthday as well.” Cecilia gave up. She had her doubts but she did seem faerie-like… in a less obvious way. And having a friend was wonderful, even if she was a mythical creature. “I want to know more about you,” said Cecilia, “Where are you from? How did you find me?” Boysenberry grinned. She was glad to have to her friend back. “I can’t remember where I first came from, but I think I’ve lived here for a while: one hundred twenty-eight years. I’ve been waiting for someone like you.” “Me? Why” “As a faerie, I must save someone from whatever it is that hurts them. Until I do, I’ll stay a child, growing old inside.” “But how can you help me?” “I’m trapped, Cecilia, in this body. And you too are trapped. You’re stuck in Boysenberry, Wisconsin, where it seems like the world hates you. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. Yesterday, I showed you that gate and the big red door. It’s what’s holding us back.” “I…I couldn’t leave. My family is here and I’m only eight.” Boysenberry laughed. “Don’t be silly. You wouldn’t go alone. You’re parents know that you suffer here. They’d leave for you.” Cecilia remembered the longing feeling when she saw the door. “Could we go through the door and see what’s behind it without leaving for good?” Boysenberry, too, had wondered that, but being a faerie she couldn’t pass the gate. “I wish I knew the answer to that, but we have to take a leap of faith, Cecilia. Please, tonight at 8. Meet me at the gate with your parents. We’ll be free.” She gave Cecilia a look of encouragement and waved good-bye. In a flash she was gone. Cecilia knew what she had to do. She raced home as fast as she could, realizing that she had forgotten to give the kitten to Boysenberry. Did faeries even like kittens? She decided to let the kitten go back to its mother. After visiting with the kittens for an hour she headed into the house where her parents were eating lunch. She slid into a chair next to her mother and grabbed an apple. She chewed nervously thinking about what she would tell them. Before she had a chance to speak, though, her father cleared his voice. Cecilia knew that he only cleared his throat when he had something very important to say. “Cecilia”, he started softly, “I realize that this is quite a few years late, but I think that it’s time we moved out of Boysenberry.” Cecilia choked on her apple. How did they know? Just then, Boysenberry’s face appeared in the window, then with a quick wink she was gone. “We’ve packed some things, but we can’t take much because we’re not quite sure where we’re headed.” Cecilia gave her parents a huge hug. Her mother smiled. “Now go pack what you need because we’ll be leaving at 7. It seems that we’re expected somewhere at 8. Cecilia hid a smile. “I’ll be ready.” She promised. By 8 her parents, Cecilia, and Boysenberry stood in front the red door. Cecilia had never felt so nervous before and by the way Boysenberry was shaking, she could tell she wasn’t the only one. Mr. Grenwich twisted the brass knob, but the door stood firm, un-open. It seemed the door was locked. Boysenberry nudged Cecilia forward. She tried the door, the knob turned easily. She breathed a sigh of relief. Her parent walked through the gate followed by Boysenberry. Finally Cecilia passed through the gate just as the big red door slammed behind her troubles.

Shiloh HA . Think of plot—is it original? (If an adaptation, is it creative or interesting to you?)

2. Think about problems that the characters face. Are there complications that add enough suspense, tension, or interest? Is there a climax that satisfies you? Is the resolution satisfying? What could be added or changed?

3. Think of characterization—are the characters life-like? Are characters likable and enjoyable? Do we get a good sense of character from many of these: description, dialogue, narrator's opinion, discussion from other characters, the character’s own actions?

4. Think of imagery and details. Do they help you //see // and //hear // and //experience // the story?

5. What areas of the story need the most improvement?