Esay I Did at school

Thomas Jamieson

Mrs. Lindsay

Honors English 1 Block 4

24 September 2014

Cracked

The light washed over my hiding spot. Heart pounding I jumped up catching the attention of the police.  I looked at them, their flashlight blinding me.  I turned and ran as fast as I could.  I had to run, I had to hide, I had to…  Whack!  I started to scream.

Two hours earlier:  “Hey Mom, Brent just called asking if we wanted to go and play capture flag.  Can we go please?” I asked.

“Ok be safe, I’m off to my guitar lessons,” replied Mom.

My brothers, sisters, and I ran out the door exuberant, ready for a challenge.  The sun sank in the distance as we ran, tinting the sky with a red hue.  I climbed the fence and ran into their back yard meeting up with several cousins.

“Hi guys, how are you?” I asked.

“Good, where are the others?” Brent replied.

“They’re right behind me. How many did you mange to gather?” I asked.

“Counting you and your family we have a total of…”

“Twelve,” Alex broke in.

“Cool an even number that makes it work out nicely,” Brent said not even phased a nine year old had just added faster than he had.  He continued, “We decide before you got here to play a game or two of capture the flag and then some cops and robbers.  It should be dark enough to play if we pick teams now.  Michael and I are going to be team captains.”

“I choose Madison,” Michael said.

“I’ll take Sarah,” Brent said.

This went on until everyone had been chosen. We went on separate sides of the yard and the game began.

The excitement welled up inside of me as I scampered around the side of the yard looking for anything that might be an opponent.

“Where is everyone?” I thought as the darkness became more enveloping.  I was startled to see a dark figure sneaking in the gardens.  “That would probably be Brent sneaking around to get my flag,” I thought. “That could be bad or it could be good.  It’d be bad because he’s the fastest and the most athletic person here and could be trouble if he reaches the flag.  But on the other hand it could be good because now I might have chance at the flag.”

I started running. Immediately I heard footsteps in pursuit.  The flag was five feet, three feet, one foot… I felt a hand on my back.  I stopped, looking behind me indigently. Expecting to see Sarah or Becky, I was surprised to see Alex.

“That was too close Thomas,” Alex exclaimed.  “For moment I thought you had it.”

“I thought I did too,” I said gasping for breath.

My next comment was cut off by the defenders yelling at each other. Dread cut into my heart as I watched, helpless, as Brent sprinted across the midpoint holding our flag above his head, victorious.

I sighed, walking past Brent as I went to my side. “Good job Brent,” I said as we passed each other.

“Thanks, you too,” Brent replied.  “I saw you close to our flag as well.”

“I was only a foot away, reaching out to grab the flag when Alex caught up to me and tagged me,” I replied.

As we started to get tired of capture the flag (and of losing) we decided to play cops and robbers. 

“Hey guys, can you help Alex and I move the trampoline to the center of the yard for cops and robbers?” I asked.

“Madison and I have to find flashlights for the cops, so Joseph and Michael will help you,” Brent replied.

“Thanks for volunteering us Brent,” Joseph call after him.

“No problem Joe,” Brent said laughing.

“Are there any volunteers for cops,” Brent asked after we had moved the trampoline.

Sarah, Madison, and Becky raised their hands. Brent handed out the flashlights and we separated.  Except Michael, he followed me.

“Thomas,” Michael said, “I was wondering if you and I could work as a team and if you would be willing to distract the cops for me?”

“I can do that,” I said as I hid in a pile of leaves.

My heart started to pound as I waited for the go symbol from Brent.

“Go!” Brent yelled.

I sat there anticipating something would happen.  The light washed over my hiding spot. Heart pounding I jumped up catching the attention of the police.  I looked at them, their flashlight blinding me.  I turned and ran as fast as I could.  I had to run, I had to hide, I had to…  Whack!  I started to scream.

Pain, pain was only thing I could think of as I was rushed into the brightly lit house.  Aunt Carey rushed into the room looking horrified.  She waved for Brent to bring me into the bathroom to wash the gore off my face.  As Brent started into the bathroom he stopped and turned me around so I couldn’t see my face in the mirror.

“Great,” I thought sarcastically, “do I really look that bad?”

Over the next half-hour people (namely my Mom) fused over me. Making sure I was comfortable, and not seriously injured.

“He should be fine,” my Aunt Jackie said as she finished examining me, “he’s going to have to be checked on every hour so we know if he has a concussion.”

“You know guys; I think this was a good thing,” I joke, “now at least I have a good story to tell, and who knows, I might be able to write an essay on it someday.”

I had just rammed my face into a metal bar; this is a very unpleasant experience.  In fact, I had just broken my nose and given myself two black eyes.  But upon further inspection I believe I was quite lucky.  For example, if I had been a little bit taller I could have broken all my front teeth instead I just broke my nose.  To me this was a life lesson and that is to always look at the glass half full.