Zoey Rockshindle, chapter 3: Mellisa's advise

"Well, that didn't go very well," thought Zoey as her furious mother slammed the great wooden door of their enormous mansion.

"I never realized how big our house is," she thought. It towered over all of the others on the block.

Zoey looked around her.
There was a park across the street, with children playing in it. Recently, a fire had damaged most of the trees in it. Down the busy road was a food co-op, a few shops, and her friends' house. suddenly an idea popped into Zoey's little mind.

Flap, flap, flap! She soared into the air, past a few trees, the co-op, the shops, until finally she arrived at her friend Mellisa's shabby little home. Zoey waddled up the wooden steps and pecked three times on the door then backed away. A round, chubby little face poked out of the house. The big, brown eyes filled with glee when they found a little black bird on the step.

There was one thing everyone knew. Millisa Waterlap LOVES birds.



"I'll call you Dino. You'll be my little snugglypoo. Yes, I could just tell, when I first saw you, I knew you were special! I think...I think you're a crow, little guy. I mean, Dino. Yeah, this handy little guide told me." She held up a book.

Zoey tried to roll her eyes. Mellisa was obsessed. First thing she did with Zoey was comb her feathers, give her a bath, then wrapped her in a towel on her bed and was
now sowing a blue shirt for her.

And, she thought Zoey was a male bird! Zoey tried to ignore all the
attention she was getting and stick to the plan. First, she flew over to a pen and paper on Mellisa's desk. Then she picked up the pen in her beak, and started writing. But it looked like scribbles, so Zoey took Mellisa over to their old typwriter.

She pecked the letters and managed, slowly, to tell Mellisa everything that had happened. By the time she finished, Mellisa was sitting there open-mouthed and wide-eyed.

"Zoey? Is it really you?" She said.

"SQUAWK!!" ("Yep.")

"You do seem a little to comfortable around people to be a bird."
Zoey bobbed her head and typed: 'I can make this sound:'
She squawked "CanIhavesome?!"

Mellisa laughed.
"The crone must've known you were always saying that," She said. "But I know what you've gotta do. You should stop trying to become human. Go have an adventure. Enjoy being a free, flying, beautiful bird. I've always wanted to..." Her voice trailed off.

Zoey pecked at her softly and typed: 'the grass is always greener on the other side.'
Mellisa smiled.

A little while later, Mellisa's dad Ninro (pronounsed Neen-row) came up to tell her it was dinnertime. But he took one look at Zoey and said:

"Oh, Mell, what've I told you about buying birds? I don't like the thought of animals in cages."

Mellisa quickly replied "Oh, right, Dad, sorry. I wasn't going to keep her, anyway. I'll just go set her free."

"You understand why it's wrong, right? Just imagine if you were in a cage." And Ninro went on talking about animals in cages until Blue, Mellisa's other father, came along to see why Mellisa and Ninro were not coming for dinner.

So, Mellisa ended up letting Zoey out the window, saying, "Remember what I said."
Zoey flew off to the park.

Zoey Rockshindle, chapter 4: The Taste of Being a Bird

When you think of a bird, you think of their sweet little songs. The way they fly with such grace. The unique colors of their feathers.
You try to ignore the disturbing fact that they eat beetles and cockroaches and worms and things like that.
Actually, it's not so disturbing.
Unless you're a person trapped in a bird's body, like Zoey Rockshindle.


Zoey wandered around pittying herself. Yesturday had been terrible.
Today--not much better.
First, she was turned into a bird.
Then she was kicked out of her own home.
Now she was stuck outside in the cold missing her parents. she was really tired and upset.
But the hunger was the worst part of it all.
Her stomach grumbled like the sky on a stormy night. Her whole eghausted body was aching and empty. The feeling was unbearable.
Zoey spotted a worm out of the corner of her beady little eye, but then shook her head and turned away in disgust.
She was trying to get bugs off her mind, because lately they had been crawling quietly into her thoughts.
She knew why.
Because she was a hungry bird, and everyone knows what hungry birds do. They eat bugs! Bugs, bugs, bugs!
And the worst part about it was--bugs sounded delicous! she didn't wan't to admit it, but they did!

Zoey perched under an old oak tree and thought for a long time. Should she eat bugs? A little part of her was disgusted and afraid. Who would eat bugs? Not her!
But she knew how her father would put it.
"It's good to try new foods--if it makes you sick, you'll know not to eat it again, and if you don't try it, it'll bug the crap out of you later that you're such a wimp."

Finally the hunger overcame Zoey, and her instincts took over. Tilting her head, she scanned the ground in front of her until she spotted movement. It was an earthworm trying to find it's way through the grass. Peck, peck! After a few tries, Zoey got the hang of it and caught the poor worm. she swallowed it whole.
Wow! Zoey thought.
She ate a few more. Bugs weren't like anything she had eaten before! It wasn't about the taste--in fact, they tasted like nothing at all--but about the texture, and her stomach danced with pleasure as her hunger shriveled up and disappeared.
Within a few heavenly moments of feasting on insects, Zoey began to feel sleepy. She leaned up against the oak tree, but it was no bed. The bark was rough and scratchy.
So she strolled through the chilly park, until she found a tree with a hole at the bottom. She got some moss and grass to make
it cozy then snuggled inside and fell into a deep sleep.

At the Library

In downtown Superfogg, there is a public library. People come to use the computers there. I go, sometimes, to write on my blog.

Today, we decided to go to the library. It was early morning. We sat outside in our car, waiting for the library to open. But I needed to go to the bathroom, so I went over to wait by the doors. While I was waiting, a man walked by in a blue jacket. He had frizzy brown hair. I couldn't tell who he was talking to, but he said:

"You need to take a bath."

I was insulted, even though I didn't think he was saying it to me. That's not a nice thing to say to anyone.

Then with two orange cans, he sat down a few feet away. I was nervous. The guy gave me a weird feeling. Something told me not to trust him. And that was before he gave me a creepy smile. My instincts told me to get away from him.

Finally the doors opened, and there was a big rush to get inside the warm building. It didn't take long for me to go to the bathroom, and soon I was out again. I went over to our car where my mom and older sister sat, planning out what we were going to do after the library. I wondered what I would write about on my blog.

Then I realized that the creepy man was still there. I pointed him out to my mom and sister and said:

"That guy's creepy."

At that moment, very suddenly, the man took one orange can and poured a line of liquid in front of the library. I recognized immediately what he was doing. No, I thought. Not possible. But he lit a match and soon there was a line of fire blazing right in front of the library!

"Oh my god!" My mom said, and started to dial 911. None of us could believe what
we were seeing as the guy dropped the can and ran, smoke billowing behind him.

My heart rate slowed and I calmed down as I realized that what he did was pointless. The fire was already dying. And cops were showing up. But still, it was a crazy sight! I was nervous to go inside the library after that, but I was excited, too, because this was a great thing to write about on my blog.

I walked inside the building and I found out from a librarian that he had been kicked out of the library earlier. So that's why he did it! He was probably mad at the library for kicking him out.

Well, that was quite a thing to see first thing in the morning. I thought it was really scary, but exciting.

This is a true story. The man's name is Timothy Josiah Nunez, and he set the sidewalk in front of Superfogg Public Library on fire at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 16
2011.

Zoey Rockshindle: Chapter two

Flight or no Flight

It was the scariest thing that Zoey had ever experienced. Her legs felt weak. Her body was completely rearranged. Her eyes were on different sides of her head! What had happened?

"Oh no," Said Zoey, but all that came out was a squawk. "It can't be...It's not possible..."

Tenuously, she unfolded her slick, black, feathery wings.

Zoey couldn't believe it. She wouldn't. It was impossible.

"This can't be happening," She kept thinking.

"Zoey! Dinner time!" A voice called from downstairs.

"Uh-oh," thought Zoey. She stumbled around on the bed for a few minutes, until she knew what she would have to do. She took a running leap, and jumped off of the bed...only to crash onto the hard wood floor.

Zoey tried to yell because she was so frustrated, but she only made a weird squawk. Which got her to thinking what sound birds made when they were angry. But then she told herself to keep concentrating on flying.

Except when she tried to get back on the bed to practice, she realized that birds were not all that good at climbing.

So she flapped her wings while on the ground. Flap, flap, flap! Her wings were floppy and weak. Zoey flexed her wing muscles, getting her wings stiff, which would prevent the wind escaping through her feathers. Flap, flap, flap, flap!

It was exhausting. She was wearing herself out.

"Zoey! Where are you, sweetheart?!"
Her mother called again. Zoey wished she could answer. She felt helpless and miserable.

"A bird!" She squawked angrily. "I'm a bird!"

Zoey was about ready to give up trying to fly, when she remembered something her mother had once told her. It was to always be persistent. Never give up. Keep trying. So Zoey tried again. And again. And then, finally, up, up, UP! Into the air she flew! It was the most amazing feeling! The wind ruffling her feathers, she glided happily around the big room. And right then she realized two things: how big her room was, and how lucky she was to have a mom that gives her useful advice.

Zoey flew around the room a few times before deciding she'd better go downstairs. As she went down, she realized just how much she loved her mom.

Morning

It's the early morning
silent and still
I'm perched quietly on a window sill
In the sky above
there flies a white dove
She's twirling, diving, and spinning in the Sun
The Sun, that's peaking over the horizon

Zoey Rockshindle, chapter 1: The Crone

Zoey Rockshindle

Chapter one...

Zoey Rockshindle was born to a wealthy couple who's names were Cecilia and Cody Rockshindle. They lived in South Dakota, in a big house. Zoey was very greedy. She was always asking for things, and saying "Canihavesome?!" She only thought about herself, and whined when she didn't get what she wanted. So one day, a wise crone came to Zoey's huge house when Zoey was about 12 or so, in late June. Cody Rockshindle answered the door.

"What do you want?" He demanded.

"I am only here to see your daughter. This is very important." She replied.

Cody didn't seem convinced. He continued to stand in the doorway, with his arms crossed and one eyebrow raised. Then, a strange connection passed between the two people. The crone's eyes turned a deep blue. Her posture got, somehow, stonger and more powerful. The hairs on the back of Cody's neck stood up, but his gaze did not lift from the crone's eyes. The old woman chanted a few words. Cody saw her power. He stepped aside and led her up to a Zoey's room.

The little girl sat playing with a china doll.

"Who're you? What are you doing in my room?!" Zoey yelled at the crone when she saw her.

"Calm down, young child. I am only here to teach you something. My name is Chinocluc."Then Chinocluc pulled out a cupcake. Zoey licked her lips. "Canihavesome?!" She yelled. But before waiting for an answer, she ran over, yanked it from Chinocluc's hand, and ate a big bite.

Suddenly, Zoey dropped the cupcake and sat down on the bed, shaking all over. She turned pale. She made a funny noise, sort of like a squawk, then shrank and started changing. Her skin began sprouting feathers! After five minutes, there sat Zoey Rockshindle, a glossy black bird. She squawked again, and the noise sounded strangely like 'canihavesome?!'

Chinocluc giggled. "Oh, it's really not that bad. To become human once again, you must prove yourself generous and kind. Good-bye, Zoey."

And the goddess of lessons walked out the door.

Book Report: "Among the Hidden"

Last week, I read a book titled "Among the Hidden" written by Margaret Peterson Haddix. It was about a timid, quiet boy named Luke, who lived in an imaginary time in the future when the Government had total control over almost everything, giving the people barely any rights, and when the laws were broken the citizens suffered severe punishments. In this time, only two children or less were allowed in each family, because the Government believed that would solve food shortage problems. But Luke is one of many third children, who has been hidden inside his home for as long as he can remember. He does not know that there are other third children out there-until he sees a girl in a house where two boys already live. He risks his life running over to the house to meet the girl. Her name is Jen, and they quickly become friends. But Jen dreams of a better life for third children. She plans to fight for justice, and that's where the story begins.
I liked this book because it really made me feel as if I were Luke in his world.
The author was creative and made it so I always wanted to see what was on the next page. For example, the way she ended every chapter with an exciting or surprising sentence.
The book made me think a lot when I was reading it, and it was inspiring.

But a similar book called The Giver by Lois Lowry was more meaningful to me because in that book, you were given an idea of what happened to the boy (who also had to go out and leave his family) while in Among the Hidden, it doesn't say what happened except for that he left. It's a cliff-hanger.
I recommend this book to people who like exciting, inspiring fiction tales. I really hope the author makes a second part of the story. I think it deserves a 6 out of 10 star rating.