Creative Writing Piece

Authors Note: This was a journal entry, but I really like it so I turned it into a post. It's about a girl who is being attacked by freaky clowns.She's on a Ferris wheel and doesn't know what to do. Read on and see how she escapes, if she does...

Round and around it goes, slowly making its way up

                                                                                         then down.

Screeching noises fill the carnival, for all that is left are the creepy clowns and me.

"I wouldn't look down if I were you!" said one of them. He was wearing a rainbow wig, and giant red shoes. His suit was colorfully checkered, with a daisy pinned to his shirt. One that squirts water out of its center. I sit there in the cart all alone, and look down to find a mob of clowns, dressed just as crazily as the next. They were climbing the steps that lead to an open cart. Four of them piled on, while another clown started up the machine again.

One by one, the four clowns take their turn leaping, and grabbing hold to the various wires and poles, each growing closer and closer to me. I began to panic. My first instinct was to jump off the machine, then realized I would  be surrounded by more clowns. What is it that they want from me? It's surely not my stuffed animal that I won from playing Ski Ball, and I have no money on me...

Screeeeech.

The machine stops again allowing more clowns to jump on. Then, I hear a loud CLUNK.
A clown has jumped on the top of my cart. I screamed as loud as I could, hoping it would help. It doesn't. Now there's two clowns on my cart. Three, four, five. There's so many that it weighs down the cart, and the wheel begins to go in the other direction. This sudden change was something the clowns on top were not expecting. Each of them fall off, and land hard on the pavement. Now, all I have to worry about are the ones below.

"You better hang on!" said another clown below. He was turning the speed of the wheel on turbo. The machine picks up speed, and flings a couple of the dangling clowns off of the wheel. They're sent flying into the air, only soon  find themselves knocked out on the pavement too. A couple of the clowns even hit the others on the ground too. My cart is getting closer to the bottom. What do I do?

I realize I need to take action. Only two clowns are still hanging from the wheel, and about ten are on the ground. What should I do? The cart I'm in is getting closer…

CLUNK.

Another clown is on my cart. I can't take it any more. I jump off of the cart, and land on the wheel's spoke. Then, I regain balance, and swing myself up so I'm sitting on it. Next, I scoot my butt towards the center, and grab hold of the spoke above me. It's challenging to keep up with the pace of the wheel, but I repeat this process again and again. It's my only hope. My arms are growing tired, and I have no choice but to give up. I gently let go of the spoke, and free fall my way down. Just as I'm about to land in the angry clowns' hands, I wake up to find myself in a Ferris Wheel.  My family is with me, and when they see me open my eyes they say

"Did you have a good nap? You seemed tired so we let you fall asleep."

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Can we get off this thing? I want to go home."

Relating to a Scene for Peace like a River

Authors Note:This is a prompt about relating a scene form my book, to me. It was a little hard, so if you have any comments on how to make it better please tell me!

 During the novel Peace like a River, many scenes were important. All were somewhat ironic-walking on air, glowing, etc. This is why it’s hard to relate. No one could ever walk on air, so what is there to think of it? One recent scene that I could relate to was with Mr. Holgren. He was in the midst of a practical joke, which soon wouldn’t be so funny.

While Reuben was in school, his class had made pilgrim hats since it was near Thanksgiving. Then, the school superintendent walked in with a hat on too. Somehow, a kid made a small note that said SHOOT ME! on it. There, sitting right in the middle of the hat was that note. Many didn’t see it at first. After a while, people realized it, and tried holding back their laughter. Although, when Mr. Holgren saw Reuben smile, he decided to embarrass the rest of his family. He informed them about how Mr. Land talks to himself, which lead to the assumption of him being drunk. Therefore, Mr. Holgren fired Mr. Land-not very funny seeing how all of this started with a practical joke!

There is one particular moment that I can use to relate to. It didn’t necessarily end up the same as Reuben’s did though. I was in math class, and my teacher was in the front of the class. When she raised her arm up, you could see a tag sticking out of her armpit. The whole class quickly noticed and began staring at each other silently saying Do you see what I see?! No one had the guts to tell her, since she was kind of a mean teacher, which is why this scene is a little different from the one I mentioned before-the teacher didn’t find out therefore she had nothing to get mad about. While in the other scene, Mr. Holgren noticed that something was up and reacted to it in a rather rude way.

The scenes both had the same details that were from the modes of literature. The main character, who is in control, is weak and stupid, and the ‘bystanders’ are evil-but powerful. These details come from the mode irony. I picked these scenes because of this.

Scene for Peace like a River

Authors Note: This is my prompt for Peace like a River. It's about a scene in the story that I thought was important. I made it short and right to the point. Hope you like it! Please leave a comment.

Throughout the novel Peace like a River, a specific feel for the book is maintained. This feel is somewhat ironic. The setting is based off of this ironic feel, and builds up your understanding of the book. I chose a scene that best describes the setting for the whole book.

The scene I chose is when Davy shot Tommy Basca and Israel Finch. The description for ironic is something that is crazy, and rarely happens. It’s a nightmare vision come to life. Witnessing a murder seems very ironic to me-especially two murders.

Symbolism was provided from the scene I chose. Some examples are past midnight, (p.48) door handle turned, (p.48) smoky and quiet, (p.48) wrestling his headache, (p.48) bright soaked and blinking, (p.49) bright black rain drop, (p.49) and the end of all our lives. (p.49) As you can see, all of the symbols are scary, and ironic. That’s why I choose this scene-because it helped me understand the mode and symbols of this story.

Throughout the story, there were many other scenes that also matched the mode of the story. Although, I thought this scene was the most obvious. It helped decide what the mode/theme of the story was, and what the symbols were.

Peace like a River Quote

Authors Note: This is another prompt to my story Peace like a River. It's about a quote that one of the main characters said. Please leave a comment!

Peace like a River is a novel with many quotes coming from the main characters. Each one is significant in different ways. Although the one said by Reuben was most important. During the first chapter, after Reuben was remembering being born, he said this:

“Let me say something about that word: miracle. For too long it’s been used to characterize things or events that, though pleasant, are entirely normal. Peeping chicks at Easter time, spring generally, a clear sunrise after an overcast week—a miracle, people say, as if they’ve been educated from greeting cards."

After reading part of this book and then looking over this quote I’d have to agree with it. A baby coming back to life seems way more important than a ‘clear sunrise after an overcast week’-which is what happened. Miracles are a fantasy, and while mentioned that ‘peeping chicks at Easter time, and a clear sunrise after an overcast week’ aren’t true miracles, they’re still romantic and somewhat heroic. Despite this, you really don’t know what a true miracle is unless you experience one.  Coming from Reuben, he understands what a true miracle is.

As you can see, a main point in this novel is miracles. This is the topic in the quote I chose which was spoken by Reuben. It may be hard to understand the true meaning of a miracle, unless you’ve never experienced one before.

Setting Prompt for Peace like a River

Authors Note: This is a prompt for a book that I'm reading called Peace like a River. I had a little trouble with this one on what to say, so it's a little short. Please leave a comment.

In every novel, the setting is an important matter. It supports the theme of the story. The setting in the story Peace like a River is somewhat tragic and ironic although, it changes throughout the book.

Many of Reuben’s memories were located in his hometown area such as the high school and his house. Another one was located at his new Methodist church. All were somewhat tragic. This is because at the high school, the whole ‘Dolly Situation’ happened. At his house, Reuben’s front door was covered in tar. Tommy and Israel did this. They had gotten revenge on Reuben’s dad. Lastly, in the Methodist Church, Reuben’s dad was lying on the floor unconscious because his new religion did this. They were supposed to be praying/relaxing I think.

As you can see, the setting makes up your decision on what the theme of the story is. Later on, it will help you understand what really goes on in the story Peace like a River.

Peace Like a River Prompt

While reading Peace Like a River I discovered the main character is somewhat like an angel. This person is Reuben’s dad. There were many incidents that concluded my theory. These actions of his helped me discover the theme.

During the first chapter, Reuben’s dad was a miracle maker. When Reuben was first born, he wouldn’t breathe for over twelve minutes. Everyone, including the doctor, thought he was dead. Although, his words must of done something, because once he said “Reuben Land, in the name of the living God I am telling you to breathe.” Reuben did. To me, this seemed like an action an angel would make.

Another action Reuben’s dad made was walking on air. Reuben witnessed this when he was going to use the outhouse and saw his dad with his eyes closed walking off his pick-up truck on air.  Angels can walk on air and water, too-right?

The last action that proved Reuben’s dad is an angel, was when he glowed. Some boys were being ‘impolite’ to a girl in the locker rooms, and he walked in and lit up the room. He was trying to ward off all evil by beating the boys up with his broom. Angels believe in forgiveness, and try to ‘fix’ all evil. They don’t try to get revenge. All of these actions (Especially this one) led to my decision of the theme of the story.

I believe that the theme of the story is more of a question. ‘If you believe in forgiveness, why do you use revenge?’ Most people say that they believe in forgiveness, but then like using revenge-which is a weird statement since these things are opposites. Throughout the whole story, you’re constantly asked if revenge is o.k. It’s a really tough question to answer if you tell the truth. Almost every human being has gotten revenge over someone or something. Many people believe in Christianity and the number one belief is forgiveness. So why do so many Christians use revenge? I’m not saying that all Christians do or don’t, but it’s just something to think about. This theme of forgiveness, miracles, and revenge goes on throughout the story Peace Like a River.