Sunday Story Snippet - Cierra's Adventure

Hey everyone, Anna here.  This is a snippet of the story I'm writing, Katie will post hers next week.  So, enjoy and stay tuned for what's next.


“How?” Cierra questioned as she looked at her test scores.  She glanced over at her friend Kacey who seemed a little too happy with what she got. 

“Have a great summer kids.” The teacher smiled, “I won’t be seeing you guys in the fall since I’m retiring, but I want you to be on your best behavior for your next teacher.” When the school bell rang, boys and girls jumped up from their seats like grasshoppers in the morning sun.

“I got an A!” Kacey shouted when they walked into the halls.

“Good for you,” Cierra sighed.

“What’s wrong?” Kacey’s face went somber.

“The teacher gave me a C,” She said in a miserable tone.

“Oh Cierra,” Kacey tried to comfort her.  “Don’t be sad, your birthday’s this weekend, isn’t it?”

“You’re right, I won’t be too hard on myself.”

Kacey smirked, “That’s the girl I know, now come on, It’s summer break!”

Cierra laughed, “Wait up, I need to get my stuff out of my locker!” Cierra turned the corner and ran over to her locker.  She grabbed all her books and shoved them into her backpack.  As she started to walk away, she heard her name being called.

“Cierra Prescott!” The teacher shouted.

“Yes, sir?" She turned and walked toward him.

“I’m disappointed in your work,” he looked down at her.

“I am too sir, I don’t know what happened.  I studied so hard.”  She sighed, “I even felt like I was the only one who actually tried.”

He nodded in acknowledgement, “I know how you feel.  I had a lot of trouble with school when I was your age.”

“Really?” She started to show interest.

“Yes, I was up till midnight every night studying and I kept getting bad grades.” He turned, “Let me tell you some more.”

She followed him into the room she had just left moments ago, “What did you do? I mean you would have had to get better grades to be where you’re at today.”

He nodded, “ It was a day like today.  It was the beginning of summer break.”

Cierra sat down in a chair and listened.

“My teacher pulled me aside and talked to me just like I’m doing now.  She told me to go have a fun summer and not to think about school at all until it started again.  She said I shouldn’t stress out on anything that comes my way.”

Cierra gave him a confused look.  “Why did she say that?”

He smiled, “I knew you were interested.”

Cierra blushed.

“It was a tip, I did what she said and when school came back I didn’t stress out on anything.”

“How was that supposed to help?” Cierra looked up at him.

He smirked, “That’s what I said, but I did it anyway.  Think of it as starting over, clearing the paint pallet and choosing new colors.  Try another technique, maybe that’ll help you.”

Cierra smiled, “Thank you Mr. Robertson.  I think I’ll try it,” She looked at the time and jumped out of her seat.  “I’ve got to go, good-bye!

“Good-bye Cierra!” She heard her teacher say as she ran through the school hallways.

“Where have you been? I’ve been out here waiting for you for the past ten minutes!” Kacey stood waiting at the sidewalk.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Robertson wanted to talk to me about my grades.”  Cierra apologized.

“I think it was more then grades you talked about, you took forever!”  Kacey frowned, “Come on we should probably start making our way home.”

Cierra nodded as they turned to walk home.

   u        u        u

                             

“Happy Birthday Cierra!” Her family and friends sang.

She looked around as they finished.  “Thank you, everybody,” she smiled, “I’m 15!”

Everyone around her started chanting, “Blow out the candles!”

“Okay, okay,” She blew as hard as she could.  "I wish for…"

“What’d you wish for?” Kacey interrupted.

“I can’t think of anything,“ She frowned.

“Come on, there has to be something you want?”

Cierra thought hard and shook her head.

Kacey scowled at her, “You have nothing you’re hoping to get today?”

“Nothing specific,” Cierra said.

“Wow,” Kacey turned herself around and started to eat her piece of cake.

Fifteen-year-old Cierra lives in a penthouse in the suburbs of New York with her parents, Cindy and Kevin, her brothers Jason, Jordan, and her four-year-old sister Merrily. 

“Is it time for you to open your present?” Merrily asked excitedly.

Cierra smiled, “I guess I could open now.” She eyed her mother.

Cindy walked over and handed Cierra a small square present, “Here you go.” She smiled

“Thank you,” she said as she tore into the wrapping paper.  Her jaw dropped, “A new tablet?”

“I know you’ve been wanting one, so I got you one of the newest versions they had.” She leaned in to give her a hug.

Cierra almost started crying.  “Thank you so much.”

      After the party and everyone went home, Cierra went up to their rooftop patio to set up her new tablet.  She had just sat down on the couch when she heard her mom call her name.  “One second,” She put the device back into its case and made her way for the door.

“There you are,” Her mother said frantically. 

“I came up here to try out my tablet,” She smiled.

“Good for you, but can you go say goodnight to your sister?”

Cierra nodded.  Smiling, she made her way down stairs to Merrily’s bedroom.  She slowly walked into her room, “Goodnight.” She whispered softly into her sister’s ear. 

Merrily turned over and gave her big sister a hug, “Goodnight.” She yawned and closed her eyes.