Hi my name is Termitimous but you can call me Termite... Termite the turtle. I live in the Pacific Ocean just off the coast of Hunnington. I am here today to tell you about my journey onto land.

One sunny day I decided to work on my backstroke, as I always do on beautiful days. On my way to the whirlpool I felt a sharp, excruciating pain dart down my left leg. This had never happened before. I began to ponder the idea of this pain that was enveloping my leg. I decided to swim to the surface. Maybe some fresh air will do the trick, I thought.

As I popped my head from the brim of the water, the pain got worse. It was then that I remembered that I forgot to eat my breakfast. It is too far to go home and eat, I thought. I'll just look around and maybe I'll find some food somewhere.

The pain began to creep to my right leg, my body went tense with every pulse of blood that ran through my veins.

Land, I've never been on land before but I have to rid myself of this abhorring pain in my legs. Just for a few seconds, long enough to acquire some food and stretch. Then I'll be on my way back to the whirlpool swimming laps. Okay stay calm pull yourself together; you'll be just fine.

What was that? A shadow just dashed by me on my right side. The pain is growing. I have to eat but... the sun disappeared as a dark figure snarled above me. The shadow of the beast seemed to devour the sun's rays as it began to inch its way towards me.

The pain is no longer an issue. It is as if it took flight. My teeth began to chatter as I tried to utter my last words. ...

Then the beast spoke. His voice struck fear into my body. It smashed my dignity, digesting away at my thoughts. He told me that I should have stayed in the water. My body cringed with every syllable he spoke. The fear is growing. I began to sob, praying for him to let me live.

"I'm not going to kill you," said the beast. "I'm here to protect you. There are many dangers out here. This is no place for a turtle,"

He let me go.

Together, we walked down the beach for a while, conversing about the differences between our worlds. The time grew late and I had to depart from his presence. He said goodbye as I jumped into the water. 

That was the day I discovered how fortunate I am to have the ability to live in two worlds.

Goodnight.

The Pirate's Life For Me (Part II)
- by Grace Kim, Grade 7

As I rose, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Pirates, with eye patches, crutches, and talking parrots on their shoulders, all shouting, "Ahoy, Master Keith!" and grinning with their black and gold teeth showing between their lips. It was just as I read in books and magazines. They all had either a pistol, or a dagger with curved edge. I closed my eyes and thought, what if this was all a dream? Soon I'll have to wake up and see those ugly amateur clowns trying to perform their dumb tricks. I slowly opened my eyes wishing it wasn't a dream. I could still hear the loud voices of the pirates, smell the salty water, and see the blue wave hit the wooden walls of the ship.

I reached into my pockets and touched the golden brooch. Maybe it wasn't a dream. Maybe it was real. Maybe it was magic.

I looked around. Some pirates were drinking rum. Some were eating apples from the barrels. Some were examining the map, and some were sword fighting. I didn't want to go back home. I much rather wanted to spend my 13th birthday with these real pirates than some dumb clowns. If this was a dream, I never wanted to wake up.

"What shall we do, lad?" asked Uncle Petey, munching on an apple.

"Let's go find hidden treasures! Or invade another ship! Anything that pirates do!" I answered.

"Then treasures it shall be!" exclaimed Petey.

"Ahoy! Land!" shouted the lookout. As we approached through the fog, a figure of an island slowly appeared. Something bright flew in front of my eyes. Then another, and another. Finally, after my sight was filled with those bright lights, one of them landed on me. As I looked at it closely, I figured it was a pixie.

The pixies were figures of tiny people in elf suits with wings like those on butterflies. They danced in the air, making our way brighter through the fog. Uncle Petey grabbed one of them and trapped it in an empty lantern. The trapped pixie banged the glass wall of its cage, trying to break it open. It was no use.

Our ship reached the shore and we came down to the beach. Uncle Petey took out an old map from his pocket. Looking around he spotted a palm tree, much taller and leaner than the others. He walked toward it, and we followed, each holding a pixie lantern. Uncle Petey walked through the forest, looking down closely at the map. He walked for about two hours and then stopped. He ordered some of his men to dig up an area. They dug for a long time, but there was nothing. No treasure, no jewelry, no gold, silver, no nothing.

"What is goin' on?"

"We don't know, sir."

"It says right here! On the map!" Uncle Petey turned to the pixie in the lantern.

"Where is the treasure?"

The pixie gave no answer.

"Where is the treasure?!"

Still no answer. Uncle Petey became irritated.

"Fine. If you tell me, I will let you out."

The pixie shook its head.

"I'll give you 1/10 of the treasure if you tell me."

Again, it shook its head.

"I'll give you half if you tell me."

Still, no use.

"I'll give you 90% if you tell me."

The pixie finally smiled and nodded. Uncle Petey opened the lantern and let the pixie out. It flew through the forest and we followed.

It led us to a plain where it was hard to tell where was where. It pointed to a spot and the men dug. Soon a wooden chest appeared. The men tried opening it, but it was to tightly shut. Uncle Petey looked at the pixie again. "I'll let all the pixies go, if you open it."

The pixie shook its head.

"I'll give you 93% of the treasure if you open it."

The pixie still shook its head.

"I'll give you 95% if you open it."

The pixie shook its head again.

"Argh! I'll give you 98% if you open it." Finally the pixie nodded and flew into the keyhole of the chest. When the chest was opened - from the inside - it was full of jewels, gold, and silver. The pirates were delighted, but they remembered that they had to give the 98% to the pixies. Not wanting to share, the pirates grabbed the chest and ran to the ship. Unfortunately, they got lost. They looked at the pixies and begged.

"We'll give you 99% of the treasure if you lead us to our ship."

The pixies shook their heads.

"ARGH!!!! We'll give you ALL of the treasure if you lead us to our ship." 

The pixies agreed and led the pirates back to their ship.

As soon as we were about to leave the island penniless, one of the pixies grabbed me. It handed me something. It was my mother's jewelry box. I then remembered my parents and what kind of confusion they must be in. Then I started to miss them. I went to Uncle Petey and said, "I think I should get going, now." Uncle Petey looked at me with amusement.

"If you say so."

With a blink of an eye, I was suddenly back in my bed. I was in my pajamas, and it was morning. Mother's jewelry box wasn't with me. I got dressed and went downstairs. My parents were in the living room with some dumb clowns.

Even though I was in my bed when I came back, I know it wasn't a dream.

It was magic.