The Night that Changed New Landia - Part 6

The Night that Changed New Landia

Written by the

Polliwog Pages Rockland Library Students

(Oliver, Dominic, Gabriel, Gloria, Elizabeth, Sena,

Genevieve, Sadie, Jacinta, Evelyn, Eliot)

(Parts between # are exact quotes of students' writing.) 

(click here for previous posts)

Part Six

Safe Haven

On the other side of New Landia, Grampa Don and I were zig-zagging down off the mountain as fast as we could through the smoke, ash, and sizzling embers falling around us. Suddenly the road collapsed and flowed in an avalanche, carrying my mail truck with it. There was no way to steer it – only to hang on and hope we survived.

We finally stopped at the bottom. I looked around and realized that we were only a few miles from Megers’ Island! We’d be safe there – I hoped – at least, safer than we were now. I raced over the dirt roads as fast as I could.  Poor Emily yelped occasionally when her broken foot was jostled. I sighed with relief to see Mike Meger waiting for us. He knew we would need him and had his ferry ready.

“Sam,” Mike said, “I’m sure those in the city must be having more than their share of troubles. I’ll keep running the ferry until no more come. Go send the word to everyone you see.”

I left Grampa Don and the kids in Mike’s care and headed my mail truck toward Colson City. I told the Winchester and the West families and kept going to the city. It wasn’t easy navigating through the dark streets and crumbling buildings, but whenever I saw anyone, I directed them to Meger’s Ferry. I finally found the crowd on the verge of rioting outside of the safety shelter.

The residents of the city grabbed at my message like it was a life-ring. They filled buses and trucks with people and followed my truck, which I also filled to capacity, out of town. I made the trip seven times – each time more treacherous than the one before. I could see the glowing river of lava coming closer and closer.

In my last trip, I carried a young man, a blind boy, and two young women in the cab with me. The older of the women seemed to be a nurse who did all she could to calm the others. The man held his hands over his ears and ducked his face into his lap. The nurse rubbed his back and talked to him, asked him questions, anything to distract his mind.

All of a sudden, she clapped her hands and laughed. She turned to the other young lady. “I don’t believe it! It couldn’t have happened more perfectly!” We all stared at her, as if she had gone crazy. She laughed again. “Maxwell, meet your sister. Shirley, meet your brother.” We were all laughing then.

What a night! No one slept – especially Mike Meger. His island was full to bursting, but it had brought us together. By morning, Mt. Terra finally finished snorting and shaking. People returned to the mainland – a different mainland. A thick coating of gray ash covered everything. The earthquake made new valleys and rivers. The city was buried in lava, extending hundreds of feet into the ocean.

The people would have to relocate and rebuild. Some families weren’t brave enough to stay and decided to immigrate back to the old lands. Others began planning a new city. No one would forget the night Mt. Terra changed New Landia.

 THE END

If you are between the ages of 4-12,

(or know someone who likes to write stories)

I would like to post your story here.

Send me an email. I'd love to read your story!

Signed,

Wiggles the Polliwog

The Night that Changed New Landia ( Part 5)

The Night that Changed New Landia

Written by the

Polliwog Pages Rockland Library Students

(Oliver, Dominic, Gabriel, Gloria, Elizabeth, Sena,

Genevieve, Sadie, Jacinta, Evelyn, Eliot)

(Parts between # are exact quotes of students' writing.) 

(Click Here for Previous Chapters)

Part Five

"Rumbles"

In Colson City, Joan Roberts, was making her rounds in the pediatric ward of the Mercy Hospital. She had only been a nurse for two years before coming in contact with a rare disease which took her sight. Instead of falling into despair, she found that her condition gave the ability to be more sympathetic with the younger patients. Although she couldn’t administer medications anymore, she was able to calm and comfort the children, which helped just as much in their healing.

On this day, she stopped in to visit her favorite patient –

~ # ~

The sound of muffled sobbing drew Joan’s attention. Was it Jimmy? Yes, it was. Joan walked slowly towards the sound and quietly sat down on the little boy’s bed. Poor little Jimmy was blind. He had been blind for a week now, because of the same dreadful disease.

Because Joan was also blind, she thought she understood him better than other people. Her mind strayed back to almost a year ago, when she herself had caught the dreadful disease. Her widowed mother had tried desperately to pay the doctors, but they were too poor, and so Joan was blind. She was happy, though, that she still had work at the hospital, helping little children.

~ # ~

Joan sat near Jimmy’s bed and softly sang to him. His sobs quieted, and she hoped he could get some sleep. The dim night-lights in the hallway blinked a few times, but Joan didn’t know. All was dark to her, whether day or night. Then a jolt vibrated through the steel and concrete building. Joan senses intensified as she tried find a reason.

Beeps and loud voices alerted her that there was some type of emergency. She stepped into the hallway. People rushed back and forth by her. “What’s going on?” she asked.

Another nurse paused to say, “It’s an earthquake! All the power is gone, but patients are flooding into the emergency room.”

Joan felt her way down to the ER.  She stopped at the nurse’s station. “What can I do to help?”

There’s a girl in room #3 with a concussion, Shirley Colson. She was at the detention center, when the roof collapsed. We need someone to keep her awake until she can get some x-rays.

Joan counted the doors as people bustled past her. She knocked and entered the room. “Hello?”

 A girl moaned.

“My name is Joan. I’m going to sit with you while we wait for a doctor.”

For an hour Joan and Shirley chatted about their families and struggles of growing up. Joan found out that Shirley had been adopted by the granddaughter of Charles Colson, the founder and first governor of New Landia. She ran away as a young teen and had been living on the streets when she was caught shop-lifting.

“I was only trying to survive, but that’s not how the judge saw it,” she complained.

“Do you have any family?”

“Yeah. I’ve got a brother. . .

~ # ~

When I finally decided that running away from the Midstate Detention Center for Girls would be safe, I had to pack for the long trip I would be going on. That is how I happened to find the precious picture of my brother and his diary. Here is what it said:

April 28, 1933

Dear Diary,

My name is Maxwell. I am age twelve. Someday when I am of age seventeen, I will go out into the world and explore!

Then it stopped. The books was filled with other entries, but I didn’t have time now. I packed along the diary, picture, and a few necessities: such as food, a blanket, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and a hair brush.

Then I quietly close my door and tip-toed through the dark, musty hallways. Soon I was outside. I took one last look at the detention center and ran on. Now I was alone.

~ # ~

“When I was hiding in an empty building, looking for a place to sleep, I read a few more entries. I know Maxwell went in the army. I don’t know if he’s back from the war, besides he wouldn’t know how to find me, either.” She sighed. “It was then that the earth started shaking. A piece of a building fell on my head, and the next thing I knew, I was here.” She touched her forehead. “I didn’t get too far, did I?”

All the while, Joan could the vibrations in the floor increasing in strength and number. A man opened the door. “We’re evacuating! We need all staff to help escorting patients that can walk down to the front entrance where they will be taken by bus to the safety shelter.”

Joan thought of Jimmy. He would need her more than ever. “I’ll be right back, Shirley. I need to help someone else right now.”

She couldn’t do much, but she was determined to get both Jimmy and Shirley to safety.

Joan knew her way around the hospital. She knew how to get back and forth from her home to work, but this was different. This was scary. The air was filled with loud noises and smoke. Debris blocked her footsteps. Her heart pounded. “How can I help others, if I can’t do it myself?”

Just then a young man touched her shoulder. “Miss, may I help you?”

“Yes! I’m blind, and so is this boy. Can you help us get to the shelter?”

“My name is Jacob Brewin. I’ll carry the boy, while you girls hang on to my arms. You’ll be safe with me.”

Joan circled her palm around his upper arm – or at least, tried to. His muscles bulged as he effortlessly picked up Jimmy. “You’re strong! Do you lift weights?”

Jacob laughed. “Actually, I’m a gymnast, but probably not anymore. My coach just lost his temper today, and then quit. I enjoy the sport, but I think I’d rather be a counsellor at a summer camp or be a mountain guide . . . or something that helps others.”

Joan understood. There was lots of satisfaction in helping others. Soon they were at the shelter, and Jacob found a comfortable spot for her and Jimmy and Shirley.

~ # ~

Down the street from the hospital, Maxwell shivered in his bed. The rumblings had triggered vivid memories and nightmares of his time at war . . .  

Suddenly, there was a loud ka-boom!  Maxwell froze to the spot in terror.  He tried to yell but no sound came.  Just then, his dog Jip leaped on top of him and Maxwell’s trance seemed to shatter.  He knew what he had to do. 

He got Jip’s leash and ran for the stairs.  When he got to the street he ran to the shelter.  He asked someone what happened and they told him the volcano had erupted.  The air smelled dank like rotten eggs and dark smoke filled the streets. The shelter was cramped and filled with the noise of many voices.

~ # ~

The shelter was full, and more people were coming. There wasn’t any more room. Someone yelled, “We’ll all die of suffocation, if you let anyone else in!” If the volcano was erupting, there was no guarantee that any one of them would be safe. If the lava flowed their direction, they’d be trapped together and sealed forever underground. Some men, acting as leaders, tried to calm the crowd, but they couldn’t think of an alternative solution for that many people – some of which were infants, elderly, and injured.

(to be continued)

If you are between the ages of 4-12,

(or know someone who likes to write stories)

I would like to post your story here.

Send me an email. I'd love to read your story!

Signed,

Wiggles the Polliwog

The Night that Changed New Landia, (Part 4)

The Night that Changed New Landia

Written by the

Polliwog Pages Rockland Library Students

(Oliver, Dominic, Gabriel, Gloria, Elizabeth, Sena,

Genevieve, Sadie, Jacinta, Evelyn, Eliot)

(Click Here for Previous Chapters) 

Part Four

"Lost"

After dropping off mail at three more houses, I headed toward the lower mountains on the other side of the island. It was getting later, and the shadows getting darker as evening approached.

I always spend the night with Grampa Don Hayward. He was one of the first settlers of New Landia. Once the new-comers began building the city and roads and such, he took to the hills. He lives there alone – well, he’s got two of orphaned grandchildren with him, Emily and John.

The children have only been with him a few months. John misses the cars and trucks in the city, but is adjusting fairly well, especially when his grandfather lets him drive the old truck. Emily is having trouble getting used to life in the woods. She misses her friends at school, but she has Livie, her house cat that is afraid of the woods.

When I pulled in front of the cabin, I saw that it was dark. By late afternoon, they usually have their lamps lit and are getting ready for supper. I thought they might have been out for a walk, so I sat on the porch and waited.

I heard a motor chugging and soon saw John and his grandfather returning with their double cutter skidder and a load of logs.

“Hello, Sam!” John called out. “I knew it was you. I could see your red sneakers a mile away. When I grow up, I want red sneakers, just like you.”

Don Hayward climbed down from his skidder and helped John to the ground. A large dog jumped out, too.

“Good evening.” I stood up to meet them. “I didn’t know you had a dog.”

“We found a tame wolf,” said John. “Grampa Don lets him ride in the tractor because he has clean paws.”

“Where’s Emily? She’s not with you?”

Grampa Don lit a lamp and looked all around the house. “No, she decided to stay home. She said something about marking some maple trees, so we would know which ones to get syrup from next spring.” He walked to the edge of the woods and lifted the lamp. “See. She’s tied a ribbon around this sugar maple tree. “

I lit a lantern, too, and we began tracing Emily’s path by following the pale ribbons around the trees. “Emily! Emily!” Down the mountain, through the dark trees, we walked and walked. One ribbon was tied around two trees that grew close together, but there were no more. “Emily!”

“Grampa! I’m over here,” we heard her call. We scrambled through the bushes and along a rocky stream toward her voice. She lifted her arms up to her grandfather. “I was looking for a smooth stone for my collection and fell on the slippery moss. I can’t move my foot.” Her face was wet with tears, and her leg was covered with mud and blood. John carried the lantern, and between Grampa and me, we carried Emily back up to the cabin.

Grampa gently washed and wrapped her leg in bandages. After both children were finally asleep, Grampa Don and I talked into the night. It had been quite a day for me, and I hoped to get a good night’s sleep, too.

I hadn’t been asleep but about three hours, when I was awoken by a rumbling sound. It wasn’t thunder. The windows and the dishes began rattling. Grampa Don burst into my room. “It’s going to blow! We’ve got to get out of here!

 (to be continued)

If you are between the ages of 4-12,

(or know someone who likes to write stories)

I would like to post your story here.

Send me an email. I'd love to read your story!

Signed,

Wiggles the Polliwog

"The Night that Changed New Landia" (Part 3)

Part Three

Meger Island

Written by the

Polliwog Pages Rockland Library Students

(Oliver, Dominic, Gabriel, Gloria, Elizabeth, Sena,

Genevieve, Sadie, Jacinta, Evelyn, Eliot)

(Click Here for Previous Chapters) 

I left the youngsters still pondering the empty pond, with their new swimming gear and a thirsty horse, and turned my truck to the Meger’s Ferry. It only ran twice each day, at 10:00 and 4:00. It was already 9:30, and I would have to hurry.

Mike Meger owned the little island off the western coast of New Landia. No one lived there but his family – his two sons, with their wives and children. They farmed the whole place with sheep, goats, chickens, and every kind of vegetable you can think of. The people of Colson City wouldn’t survive without the farms on Meger Island.

Mike and his granddaughter, Katie Grace, saw me buzzing down the dirt road and waited for me. “We almost left without you,” said Mike.

“I’m sorry, but there’s something odd up over at the Winchester Ranch.” I proceeded to tell him about the empty pond.

Mike’s eyebrows twitched, and he frowned. “Hmmmm . . . I wonder if it has anything to do with our island lifting during the night.”

“What?” My mouth dropped open. “An earthquake?”

Mike rubbed his chin. “Yeah, something like that. When I came down to the ferry, I thought the tide was lower than usual, but the dock was pulled from its piling and sitting about a half foot lower. I’ll show you when he get across the strait.”

“Did you feel anything?” I asked.

“I didn’t, but Katie Grace said she heard the animals making noises and felt her bed shaking.”

I looked at the slim young girl. She was holding a handful of wildflowers and petting a golden retriever. Her long tanned legs stretched below her cotton dress, and she brushed the soft grass with her bare feet. She glanced at me, but then turned her face away. Mike said, “Katie Grace doesn’t say much to strangers.” I nodded. I understood. I didn’t always feel like talking either.

Liz Meger had a nice hot lunch for us of fried chicken, corn-on-the-cob, and fresh peas. I always looked forward to a good home-cooked meal at the Megers’ house.

Mike and I discussed the mysteries of the day, even the strange clouds around Mt. Terra. It all gave me the collywobbles. Something wasn’t right. I spent the afternoon with the family, touring their farms and even playing a little soccer with the kids. Soon it was time for Mike to run the ferry back to mainland to pick those who had been at work or school in the city all day.

Just before I drove my truck off the boat, Mike leaned close to my window. “If there’s ever any danger on the mainland, you come over here with us, you hear?”

I nodded. “I will. Thanks, Mike.”

(to be continued)

If you are between the ages of 4-12,

(or know someone who likes to write stories)

I would like to post your story here.

Send me an email. I'd love to read your story!

Signed,

Wiggles the Polliwog

The Night that Changed New Landia (part 2)

The Night that Changed New Landia

Written by the

Polliwog Pages Rockland Library Students

(Oliver, Dominic, Gabriel, Gloria, Elizabeth, Sena,

Genevieve, Sadie, Jacinta, Evelyn, Eliot)

(Parts between # are exact quotes from students.)

(click here for previous posts)

Part Two

The Empty Pond

Suzana had reached the Winchesters before I rumbled up to the ranch. I could see her and Jonathan and his sister, May, standing in the pasture. I parked my truck and joined them. They didn’t appear to be arguing about the cow but staring at the ground. It was then, I noticed that it was where the creek flowed into their pond, but now it was nothing more than a muddy bowl in the middle of a hayfield.

“Mister Johnson!” called Suzana. “Look at their pond. It’s gone!”

Jonathan said, “Hello, Mister Johnson. I can’t believe it. It was here when May and I left this morning. We were heading to town to buy some new swimming toys at our brother’s hardware store.“ 

~ # ~

“I’m bored,” said May. “Tell me a story.”

“What kind of story,” Jonathan asked.

“One with dragons – good dragons, though,” said May.

“Do you like stories with good fighting against evil?”

“Yes, oh, yes! Very much!” May replied.

“Okay, this is the ongoing Adventure of Ragwing, Flame, and Vinewhip. Once upon a time, in a land called Dragonvale, there lived three noble knights who served the powerful light dragon.

One day while they were playing dragon tag, an eerie green light shot through the sky and disappeared. Suddenly everything went dark.

The three knights flew to the light dragon’s castle and told him about the eerie green light. “

It was then that Jonathan and May arrived at the store, so they decided to continue the story later. They hurried to where the summer supplies always were and chose the three funnest-looking ones and bought them. Soon they were hurrying home, parcels in hand, and thinking about what fun they would have in their pond. Since their minds were occupied, it seemed to take less time than the trip to town.

  

~ # ~

Jonathan told Mister Johnson, “When we got back, we were surprised to find that our pond had dried up.”

“What’ll we do now?” asked May, but no one had an answer.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead with my sleeve. “I don’t know, kids. It’s really strange – almost as if someone pulled the plug in a bathtub.” We all stood there, staring at the empty pond for about ten minutes. I shook my head. “I don’t know what to say, but I’ve got to continue my route.” I shook my head again. “It’s strange – very strange.”

(to be continued)

If you are between the ages of 4-12,

(or know someone who likes to write stories)

I would like to post your story here.

Send me an email. I'd love to read your story!

Signed,

Wiggles the Polliwog

The Night that Changed New Landia

The Night that Changed New Landia

Written by the

Polliwog Pages Rockland Library Students

(Oliver, Dominic, Gabriel, Gloria, Elizabeth, Sena,

Genevieve, Sadie, Jacinta, Evelyn, Eliot)

(Parts between # are exact quotes of students' writing.) 

Part One

The Missing Cow

Hello, I’m Sam Johnson, the mailman for the island country of New Landia. It’s a satisfying job. Without a wife or family, I can work long hours without being expected home at a certain time. In fact, it takes me two days to complete my whole route. I also have the privilege of meeting some fascinating people.

There are about five thousand citizens of New Landia. Most of them live in Colson City, and the rest are scattered throughout the countryside. That’s where I come in. I deliver mail on the rural route.

Right now, I’m headed for the other side of the island, where the land flattens out into rolling pastures, where the West and Winchester families live. There’s Suzana West riding her horse. She’s waving, but it looks like something is wrong.

As she gallops toward my truck, I slow down and stop. Leaning out of the window, I call to her, “What’s up, Suzana?”

“I’ve lost one of our cows, and I wondered if you had seen it?”

“Sorry. I haven’t seen any loose cows on my route.”

Her horse pranced nervously, as she tried to control it. “I’m heading over to the Winchesters’ ranch,” said Suzana. “I think they have her.”

“Don’t accuse your neighbors of things that aren’t proven true,” I warned. “When did you first notice your cow was gone?”

“Well, this morning started out normally,” she began. “I was running out the door when Aunt Betsy called me back. . .

~ # ~

“Suzana,” called Aunt Betsy, “You need to sit down and eat your breakfast before it gets cold.”

“But, Aunt Betsy, I want to go ride my horse, Buttercup,” said Suzana.

“No buts,” said Aunt Betsy, “You can ride after breakfast.”

So Suzana sat down and ate her breakfast as fast as she could. After breakfast, she ran out the door again.

“Suzana,” called her dad, “You need to do your chores.

“Okay, Dad.”

So Suzana went to the barn and did her chores. It seemed to take forever to take care of all 19 pets: 1 dog named Splotch; 5 horses named Buttercup, Flame, Patches, Topsey, and Dot; 2 cats named Smoke and Fluff; a pig called Oinkers; 3 goats named Mouthy, Bite, and Nip; 5 chickens named Cluck, Peck, Scratch, Corn, and Clover; and 2 rabbits called Carrots and Hoppers.

After she had done the chores, Suzana ran to the screen door and yelled to Aunt Betsy, “I’m going riding now.”

“OK,” said Aunt Betsy, “Count the cattle while you’re at it.”

“OK,” said Suzana.

She tacked up Buttercup and rode to the hill to count the cattle.

~ # ~

Suzana turned her horse to face me. “That’s when I realized that we only had 74 cows, instead of 75. One was missing.” She scowled. “I think Jonathan Winchester has taken it. I’m going to ride over there and see what’s going on . . . and get our cow back!”

“Hold on, Suzana,” I said. “Don’t start trouble over a cow. I’m heading that way. I’ll help you sort this thing out.”

She galloped away, while I followed the dusty road that circled around Mt. Terra and curved along the Winchester Creek. I noticed that clouds had formed around the top of the mountain, hiding its peak. The dormant volcano has been known give off puffs of smoke from time to time, but nothing more than that, as long as anyone has lived on the island.

(to be continued)

If you are between the ages of 4-12,

(or know someone who likes to write stories)

I would like to post your story here.

Send me an email. I'd love to read your story!

Signed,

Wiggles the Polliwog