If the cranes do not return home

Chapter One

Over head the planes left a trail of white streaks in the skies. Catherine's eyes as well were streaked with pain and tears fear clung to her wrapping her in a cold and lonely blanket. Wishing her father good bye had never gotten easier no matter how many times she had to. Her mother stroked her dirty blonde hair with her worn and tired hand. Trembling Catherine and her mother ambled back to the bus that was waiting for them.

"Dinner is done" whispered Catherine's mother into her ear. Catherine plunged into her seat she truly was thankful to her gentle and respectful tone, she was always knew how to handle situations like this. From across the table her mother reminded her of the poem her mother taught her when her fatehr was first deployed, "if the cranes never fly you must learn it is okay to cry." "Don't let the waves sweep you away" cooed her mother.

The birds outside Catherine's bedroom window chirped with joy and happiness. Soon there would be baby birds bursting out of their eggs. As spring approached so did Catherine's birthday, it was not the first time her father had been absent for her birthday. He had been deployed one week before her special day. "If only I could fly away like you" Catherine whispered dreamily to the robins getting ready to take their first flight.

"If only my wings would spread and carry me into the dark skies brightened by gunshots and bonfires of Afganistan." "To daddy"

The next morning Catherine urged herself into the kitchen Snuffler at her heels. Snuffler had been her lifelong companion and best friend no one could ever grow out of a dog. The cold hard chair grasped her tight Snuffler promptly barked and without waiting for a responses hopped on to Catherine's lap. "Mom" asked Catherine in a raspy voice. "Yes, your breakfast is in the microwave." "What is it this morning" asked Catherine sleepily." Catherine peeked into the microwave and found a bowl of  microwavable rice. "I am going to work honey, have a good day at school" her mother swept into the room hugged Catherine and handed her a sack lunch.


As she chewed her lunch later at school she tried to think about her history test coming up but all she could think about was her father. Michelle Winters and Lulu jones sat on both sides of her. Sometimes even though these girls were her best friends they did not know what was happening in her life, they didn't understand at al. For some reason she felt md at them why didn't they get it? Lulu put a hand on her shoulder "did your dad get deployed again" she asked in a whisper meant just for her to hear. Catherine glanced at lulu and them up at Michelle "do you both know" she whimpered back in replied. "No, Michelle was too busy talking to the other girl next to her. About every other year Catherine's dad was sent to Afghanistan Lulu had always noticed the signs even if Catherine didn't tell her. Lulu and Catherine had been friends since pre-school., Michelle had moved here in the fourth grade from Carolina. Though they were both her best friends sometimes she felt like she was leaning more towards Lulu which was no surprise. She hugged Lulu and ran to the bathroom to wipe the tears from her face.


The early blossoms glistened on pink thick cherry trees a true sign of spring was in the air. A clatter of stones knocked at her heels she turned her head just as a warm hand pressed on her back as if her weight was supporting theirs. Lulu and Michelle were holding a brand new box of Kleenex out to her as she grabbed it and thanked them and they walked down the street hand in hand together, understanding and prepared.


"Catherine" her mother's head popped in the door, followed by the rest of her "Michelle is on the phone for you." "Hi Mike" Catherine and Lulu were the only ones Michelle let call her Mike." "Lulu told me, I really should have known, I'm sorry." "It isn't your fault, I mean Lulu has known me since forever it should be routine for her." "I guess" Michelle mumbled. All Catherine could here was Michelle breathing. "Mike" "yeah" Michelle answered, "what if my dad doesn't come home she whimpered." "I don't know I really don't."


Catherine's mother tip toed into the room. "Mom, is that you" "yes, honey why are you awake." "What if dad doesn't come home" Catherine asked "he will come home honey, now go to sleep." "Good night mom." Catherine lay awake still staring at her new green ceiling she and her dad had planted before he had left. "Daddy where are you tonight, are you starting up at the stars like the other soldiers around you hoping to see their children again and wishing you could be with them one last time before one day you join the stars way up hight." "Do something good for your little girl dad for your Catherine. Catherine fell asleep immersed in her own tears.

Our hundred jems

The Arrival

"Pompeii Pompeii arriving in Pompeii" said a chubby man in a blue suit with a bright orange mane of hair. I sat up straight looking towards the land, the sun was glinting off the peak of a large mountain. As we got closer I could see people waving to us. I looked at Jonathan he was smiling at what looked like his family. We had just taken a trip on a small cruise around the beautiful waters of Italy.


We were on land soon and joining our friends and family. The square was crowded. We bustled through the crowd bumping into most of them. I saw one girl fell over I ran over to help her. Soon we were on our way home. My family used to learn near Jonathan's Family we still do but my family's separated now. My parents moved so it's just me and brother Andrew.


I trudged up the small hill just above my house. I was always amazed by the view of the sunset form the hill in the summer when you could sit in the cool grass and it would seep through your fingers. As I walked further up the hill I could see a herd of cattle rumbling down a grassy slope just beyond the square. As I reached the top I sat down in the dry brown grass and my hands along it stubby surface. It was not the perfect time to lie in the grass and admire the puffy white clouds. It was dry, parched, and perfect for swimming in the pools that are cooler than snow, summer. Summer, it didn't feel right but there was sadly no way I could change it then got up and sped down the hill when I heard a shout someone was calling my name.


"Pandora" Jonathan always had a nice tone to his voice. I soon was at his front gate, of his large but dingy. He asked if I wanted him to escort me home. We took the shortcut to my house that wound around the pottery shop and past the cattle herd I seen earlier. We were nearing the pottery shop the man shouted "vases do you want a vase". We hurried towards the cattle pen. I always like walking by the cattle because they sometimes they would let the baby cattle out of the barn. As we walked past I saw a baby calf running towards food. Suddenly JOnathan piped up "do you wan to race to your house"? "Sure why not". There was a sudden pounding of feet as they slapped the ground hard there limbs flying and my heart was pumping. I looked to my right I saw my house I skidded to a stop the dust from the dirt flying up in my face. I stopped and bent down to catch my breath. Jonathan came speeding up to me. "You won" Jonathan said sighing. We walked up the path to my house.


Witch had a thatched roof and small stone walls and so many cracks the wind would blow through in the winter and instantly freeze on the walls. But in the summer our house was the perfect temperature. If you sat cheek to cheek with the wall you could feel a cool breeze rush against your face.


I parted with Jonathan and he ran off down the dirt road. I watched his silhouette disappear in front of the marvelous sunset. I entered my house and smiled at my brother and his friend Bella. Bella had been her Andrew's friend since I can remember. Andrew looked surprised to see me.

"Are you home early?" he asked while walking over to hug me. Soon Bella was gone and we were alone. We ate a warm dinner of chicken and grapes. Over dinner we talked about Bella and summer and his job he works the farmer with the cattle and about how even though our parents were fighting we were happy. Even it if it was summer we were happy.

On the brink of the Universe

Synopsis

West and Guyana come from two different worlds. To worlds that do not mix. But soon they learn the truth about each other. They also learn why they are so different from the rest of the community. How they were switched at birth and how they have greater powers than any other children and adults on their planets. Guyana from the plante 68 and West from the planet 9 of higher families. They soon began to travel to other planets 43, 17 and many more collecting children with other extraordinary talents. But what are they going to do with these children. They know they can't just leave them. They are clueless until they travel to an undiscovered planet.

Chapter One

"West, West wake up" "Go away Susan" West said annoyed at his older sister. "It's visiting day West, come on I don't want to be late""Okay, just go to your own room" West Goldman climbed out of his bed and trudged over to his dresser. He pulled out a pair of socks, his favorite band's t-shirt and some torn up jeans. Soon West was drawn out of his bedroom by a doughy and thick aroma. He climbed up the stairs from his basement bedroom. "Yum pancakes" West explained dreamily. "Eat up quickly" said his mother.  His mother was packing a basket with sandwiches and fruit. "Time to go" hollered West's father and they all took the link system down to the central floor, and they punched in the numbers, 68 into the keypad wall.


West and his family of five shot upward passing lots and lots of planets. "Well here we are everyone" said his mom thrusting open his arms looking as though she was hugging someone invisible. "Where shall we set up camp" said his father trying to squint through the thick fog starting to cake the air around them. "There's a spot over there, under a bright blue tree there was a small picnic table. West knelt down and pressed his palms to the ground he counted to three and blue mist shot out from beneath them, he glided through the air propelled by the blue air jetting out from his palms He descended from the air and landed on the bench of the table. He turned and smiled proudly at his aw struck family.


West was still getting used to flying and so was his family getting used to watching. People on all the planets had powers, heat, water and color powers were given to every being on every planet. Most people had only one power. Most, West was still discovering all the powers he held, he still also didn't exactly know how powerful his powers really were.


His family rejoined him. "Good, now we can eat" said his younger brother rubbing his pudgy little hands together. Susan, West's mother and his father laughed at the youngest member of the family. They began to unpack and they were soon eating.


Meanwhile, Guyana and her family were walking by a plum tree grove searching for a table when they spotted the family laughing and talking. This by chance happened to be West's family. Wings sprouted from Guyana's back and she gracefully glided up twenty feet and descended down onto the ground beside the picnic table marked planet 4 for the planet they were from. "May we join you" asked Guyana shyly.


West stared at her and she stared back he had seen her wings but family hadn't. West knew that if some could fly they could be banished. He never flew unless he was alone or with his family. Being at the edge of the bench he stood up and allowed the girl to slide onto the bench beside him. He whispered into ear as she and the rest of the family slid onto the bench, "do they banish you here if you fly" they girl glanced around with caution, "how did you know that I could fly" she asked. "I watched you" he whispered. "Yes, they do, banish you." Then they ate in silence.


There was a rumbling and a link beam a beam of light flew from the sky two dark clad figures descended from the light beam. They walked over to the merry group laughing and whispering. They started at each other and hefted their brief cases. They walked over to the picnic table.


"Do you see the men over there" whispered Guyana. "Yes, wait are those law agents or banishers. West asked "I think they are" "who are there here for?" Guyana asked West.


Then they turned to face each other, eyes wide suddenly Guyana grabbed West's hand and pulled him into the forest

The Hideaways

Chapter 1

At night we would climb to the rooftops

And watch the sparrows fly into the night sky

But they were not real sparrows

No

They weren't free and they couldn't fly

They were burglars, murderers and villains

Jail breakers

Well "bad guys"

But we weren't scared of them

Because they were just like us

We were on the run