Bandit on the Railroad

Chapter 3

Stolen!

After they had freshened up and gotten on different clothes they made there way to the dining car. When they got there they saw mr. Greenway sitting at one of the tables. "Good evening girls!" he said. "Good evening sir!" " I would like to introduce you to someone" " This is Ms. Margaret Pearlstien." " Margaret this is Ms. Clara Wallace, Ms. Elizabeth Wallace and Ms. Mary Smith." " Pleased to meet you girls." Said the slightly plump chestnut haired woman of Ms. Pearlstien. She was wearing a blue dress with a matching hat and clutch and black gloves but what was most striking was the beautiful necklace that hung around her neck. It had the biggest pearls Clara had ever seen with two beautifully polished jade stones and in between a large ruby incased in gold."Pleased to meat you  Ms. Pearlstien." " oh please call me ms. Margaret. Any friend of James' is a friend of mine!" I like ms. Margaret, She's nice Clara thought. " Would you like to sit with us?" said mr. Greenway. " We would very much like to sir." said Mary. The girls sat in the booth across the table from the couple.
They enjoyed a meal of steak and green beans with a biscuit. And while they were enjoying there dessert of strawberry shortcake they were laughing and taking and enjoying the meal when suddenly the lights went out! Clara heard someone yell HEY! and another person yell WHAT'S GOING ON! Then she heard what sounded like ms Margaret Scream and yell" STOP STOP THIEF!" Then the lights came back on everything looked normal except the frightened faces of the diners. But when she look over at ms. Margaret she saw that there was a thief and whoever  he was he had stolen her necklace! " oh" Clara heard ms. Margaret whaled. " That necklace was worth a fortune! My...my husband gave it to me before he le..left for the war! It...it's all I have left of him." Then she burst into tears. She was crying so hard her handkerchief didn't help. Mr. Greenway was trying to comfort her but it wasn't helping much.
 Clara felt like she had to do something. She got up out of her chair and started looking around. She found some plates of shortcake that had been knocked on the floor but other than that not much. She was thinking in her head what would Sherlock Holmes do? She search and searched but found nothing. Nothing except broken plates and a crooked table." Wait a crooked table!" Clara rushed over to it thinking. Someone must have gotten out of this seat in a hurry! And this seat is right next to the light switch and its still warm! If I can find who sat at this table then I can find out who did it! She asked all around the car but nobody new. Well, that's a dead end. She thought.  

Bandit on the Railroad

Chapter 2

All Aboard!

It felt like hours before the train finally came. Clara could see it's huge black shape coming swiftly towards them. Clara had two cover her ears it was so loud! The whistle blue louder then the chugging and when it screeched to a stop Clara thought her ears would burst! Clara, Lizzy and Mary were hurrying to pack up and get there tickets. They couldn't believe they were packed up in time when the conductor shouted ALL ABOARD! the trio scrambled to there feet and gave the conductor there tickets. The conductor helped them step on board. When they got on the first person they saw was a tall thin man with bushy blond whiskers in a fine suit with a gold watch dangling from a chain in his pocket. He walked over and with a smiling face said " Why hello. You girls look a little bit young to be traveling alone." " Hello to you sir. Our mother sent us away to live with my aunt and uncle because of the air raids." said Clara. " Ah, I see. It must be hard for you to leave home.'' said the man. Mary then said " If you don't mind me asking sir what is your name? " " Ah." said the man " An important question. I'm J. W. Greenway. And may I ask the names of such lovely young ladies?" " I'm Clara Wallace this is my younger sister Elizabeth Wallace and my cousin Mary Smith." said Clara. " Well." said Mr. Greenway. " I have had such a pleasure being acquainted with such fine young ladies would you like me to show you to the sleeper car? I'm sure that when we get there someone will tell you which room you're staying in." " Yes please thank you sir!" Mary said. Then mr. Greenway said " Well then take my arm and we'll be on our way." Clara and Mary walked on either side of mr. Greenway and Lizzy took Clara's arm.

The four of them walked down the hall together when they finally came to the sleeping car. It was long and very narrow because there were rooms on the other side" Well this is it!" said mr. Greenway. " Look. there's the conductor he will tell you which room you are sleeping. Well I wish I could stay and talk longer but I need to be doing some things and you need to get unpacked and settled. Farewell. I'll see you at supper time." " Thank you again for your help!" said Mary. " Yes thank you!" said Clara. Then Lizzy said softly " Thank you. "

Mr. Greenway tipped his hat and walked away. The conductor was there so Clara asked him which room they were in " excuse me sir but will you show us which room we are in?" the short plump man who was the conductor turned around to face them. He had grey hair that stuck out from under his hat he had a mustache that covered his top lip and kind looking eyes peeked out from behind a pair of spectacles that were sliding down his nose. " well hello young ladies" the conductor said," your room is number forty five." "thank you sir." Clara responded. The conductor handed them the keys to the room. The trio went in there room and started unpacking. "Mr. Greenway is very nice." Mary said. " And the conductor seems nice too." Clara answered back. After they unpacked Mary said " well we better freshen up for dinner. We don't want to go into the dining car looking like ragamuffins."Clara said " Oh Mary you sound just like your mother!" At this Mary's smiling playful face turned sad she walked over to the sink without speaking to anyone. " I'm sorry Mary I didn't mean to make you feel bad!" "It's all right Clara I know you didn't its just that I miss them so much!" " I know Mary I would feel awful to if I knew my parents were never coming ba.." Clara cut herself off. She knew it would only make Mary feel worse if she said that. Instead she said " well lets wash up for dinner."

Bandit on the Railroad

Chapter 1

Saying Goodbye

It was a windy autumn morning when ten year old Clara Wallace sat in the automobile on her way to the train station with her five year old sister Elizabeth and her cousin Marry who was the same age.
Clara's red springy hair bounced on her back. The sun was out and it was a beautiful day but Clara didn't care or notice. The thought of leaving her mother in London and going to live in the country was sitting in her mind like a grey raincloud on a stormy day.
It was the hight of World War II and the German Nazis were bombing London and other big cities in England. Clara's older brother James and her father were fighting in the war in the Royal Navy. Clara's parents were sending them to live in the countryside with her aunt Lydia and uncle Charles. She loved visiting her aunt and uncle but her parents always went with them. Clara felt her world was falling apart. She already had to say goodbye to her brother  and father not knowing if she would see them again and now she would have to say goodbye to her mother to! She was thinking about how her cousin Mary must feel. Mary had come to live with them last year when her parents were killed in an air raid.
Before Clara knew it she could see the dark gloomy shape of the train station in front her. She could see her little sister Lizzy fighting back tears. Clara was trying not to cry herself! Mother parked the automobile and got the luggage out of the back then helped the girls out of the automobile. Mother hugged Lizzy who was now crying  then mother walked over to Mary and hugged her and said something to her then walked over to Clara. Clara was crying now. Mother said " don't cry dear. Before you know it the war will be over and you'll come home to London." " But thats what I'm worried about!' said Clara. " What if I don't come home! What if you are kill.." " Clara don't say such things!'' said mother. " Why can't you come with me!'' Clara said. " Now Clara." said mother in a stern voice. " you know why we can't Clarie. We're needed here."said mother " But I need you!" " Clara here are your train tickets.'' said mother " and here are the lunches I packed you. Take care of Elizabeth and listen to Mary's advice. Make sure you bundle up so you don't catch cold." Then mother hugged her one last time and got in the automobile and drove away. Everyone was shouting farewells and goodbyes while everyone was waving. At last when the automobile was out of sight they went inside.
 The trio sat on a bench next to the train tracks. Clara felt empty and cold inside. She was saying in her mind " I miss them I miss them " over and over again in her mind. No one said anything as they ate there lunches. 

What Christmas Means to Me

What Christmas means to me is...
a fresh cut pine tree strung with lights,
to brighten up the cold winter nights.
Presents with bows,
stacked in little rows.
Ginger men and women
strung up with ribbon.
My dog dressed as a reindeer, my cat an elf,
our Dickens Village adorns the shelf.
Chasing my friends around with mistletoe on a pole,
hoping I've been good and don't get any coal.
Family together snuggling in harsh weather.
Santa Clause putting presents under the tree
But most of all what Christmas means to me,
is Jesus Christ born for us so we may see.~Alyssa Bengtson

Little red riding hood

                                             

February 5, 2015

 Little Red Riding Hood

                                                                                by Alyssa Bengtson 

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Little Red Riding Hood. She lived with her mother in a cottage at the edge of the woods. One day her mother said, "Little Red dear, your grandmother is sick.  Please take these fruit cakes to her.  It would make her feel much better." So Little Red put on her cloak and headed to the door with her basket, but her mother stopped her, "Little Red" said her mother, " stay on the path! and don't talk to any wolves." Little Red said, "yes mother." Then she went out the door. She was walking along the the path when... a wolf jumped out at her. " AH!" said Little Red, " You Startled Me!" Then the wolf said, "I'm sorry!" Then Little Red said, " well you should be more carful." Then the Wolf said," whats in your basket?" Then Little Red said, " There fruit cakes for my sick Grandmother." Then the wolf said, " Why don't you pick her some flowers?" Then Little Red said," ok! Why didn't I think of that?" So Little Red went off the path and picked some flowers. While she was bent down looking for the best flowers the wolf snuck off to Little Reds Grandmother. When he got there he knocked at the door. Little Red's Grandmother said, " Little Red is that you?" In his best little girl voice he said yes it is grand mother." Then Little Reds Grandmother said, " Come in dear. " So the Wolf came in and ate Little Reds Grandmother. The wolf put on Little Red's Grandmother's glasses, dress, and cap and got into her bed. When Little Red came in she said,
" Oh Dear Grandmother What Big Eyes You Have!" Then the wolf said, " Better to see you with my dear. Then Little Red said, " Oh Grandmother What Big Nose You Have!" Then the Wolf said, " Better to smell you with my dear." Then Little Red said," Oh Dear Grandmother What A Big Mouth You Have!" Then the Wolf said," BETTER TO EAT YOU WITH MY DEAR!" and the wolf ate her up. Then a hunter came along to check on Little Reds Grandmother. He found the wolf sleeping on the floor. He cut open the Wolfs belly and out jumped Little Red and her Grandmother. The hunter said," do you have any pots or pans?" Then Little Reds Grandmother got some pots and pans. The hunter put the pots and pans in the wolfs belly. So from then on when ever the wolf tried to eat any one again they would here the Wolf before he had a chance to eat them.
                                                                 THE END

Little Peter Brer Rabbit Jr. Bunny Rescued

August 31, 2015

Last Sunday my dad and mom saved a little baby bunny from the pool.  The poor thing must have fallen in the night before and was huddled on the skimmer shelf all wet.  He was so cute.  He was all brown with a white cotton tail.  We named him Peter Brer Rabbit Jr. Bunny.  We gave him a piece of lettuce but he was so scared that he wouldn't eat it.   After he warmed up and rested my dad set the container on it's side down in the shrubs so that Peter could hop out of it.  I said goodbye and before we left for church he had hopped away.  And the next day I saw Peter's daddy Brer Rabbit when I was out swinging under the oak tree. I hope peter and his brothers and sisters grow up to be healthy and strong. It was nice to rescue a bunny. 

Why the Number 13 is Considered Unlucky

July 31,  2015

Why

People think

that the

Number 13

is Considered

Unlucky

Just a few days ago I went to Mississippi with my Mom and Hannah to help Shelby get moved out of her house.  We stayed at a hotel where we stayed in room 15.  When we went to our room I noticed there wasn't a 13th floor.  So when we got home I looked it up on the internet.  And this is what I found.  So here are 13 reasons some people are afraid of the number 13 as told by Stacy Conradt http://mentalfloss.com/article/23266/13-reasons-people-think-number-13-unlucky

1. There were 13 people at the Last Supper. It’s said that Judas Iscariot — the one who betrayed Jesus — was the 13th man to take his place at the table. 

2. Similarly, there’s a Norse legend that has 12 gods sitting down to a banquet when the 13th (uninvited) god, Loki, shows up. Loki killed one of the other gods, which led to events that eventually resulted in Ragnarok — the death of a bunch of gods, a slew of natural disasters, and the eradication of everything on earth save for two human survivors. There’s a lot more to the story than that, but you get the general idea.

3. Let’s go back to Christianity for a moment. Many Christians believe that Jesus was crucified on Friday. Researchers, however, believe that it wasn’t a case of Friday the 13th lore - it was possibly something like Friday, April 3, 33 A.D. But that doesn’t mean the 13th is off the hook. Many Christians also believe that the Cain and Abel debacle took place on that date. 

4. Traditionally, there used to be 13 steps leading up the gallows. There’s also a legend that a hangman’s noose traditionally contained 13 turns, but it’s actually more like eight.

5. Apollo 13 is the only unsuccessful moon mission (intended to get men on the moon, anyway) thus far. An oxygen tank exploded and the survival of the astronauts on board was pretty touch-and-go for several days, but they did all come home safely in the end (but you already knew that).

6. There was a mass arrest and execution of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307.

7. According to Mr. Krabs on Spongebob Squarepants, there are 13 dirty words. Squidward must be a George Carlin fan, because he responded that he thought there were only seven. “Not if you’re a sailor,” Mr. Krabs replied.

8. Although a coven is now just considered to be any group of witches (or vampires, if you’re into a certain young adult series about sparkly supernaturals), it was once believed that a coven was made up of exactly 13 members. 

9. There’s an old superstition that says if you have 13 letters in your name, you’re bound to have the devil’s luck. Silly, yes, but slightly more convincing when you consider that Charles Manson, Jack the Ripper, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all contain 13 letters (I know, I know, what about their middle names?).

10. Kids officially become teenagers at the age of 13, and we all know that’s a scary phase.

11. In numerology, the number 12 is considered to be the representation of perfection and completion. It stands to reason, then, that trying to improve upon perfection by adding a digit is a very bad idea indeed — your greed will be rewarded with bad luck.

12. In the late 1800s, there was a group called The Thirteen Club. Their purpose was to debunk the legend that seating 13 people at a table would result in the death of one of them in the year to follow. They met on the 13th of the month and had dinner 13 people to a table, and to make matters worse, they purposely spilled salt on the table without throwing it over their shoulders. The horror! They also fined members who showed up late — 13 cents, of course. Members of the club included five U.S. presidents: Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt and Chester A. Arthur. I’m not sure if it’s worth noting that two of these presidents were shot — one fatally, of course — but I’ll mention it anyway. And, if you’re keeping track, Chester A. Arthur only became president because he was vice when Garfield was assassinated. 

13. Friday, October 13, 1972, was a bad day in the history of aviation. That’s the day that Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 infamously crashed in the Andes, killing 29 people. On the exact same day, 174 people were killed when a Soviet Aeroflot crashed in a lake about a kilometer from the runway. 

To counter all of this undue hatred of the poor number 13, I’ll give you one reason to love it: a baker’s dozen. Mmm, extra doughnut.

Well I for one don't believe that the number 13 is unlucky.  And anybody with Triscadebckaphobia is out of there mind.  And you now even though hotels don't have a 13 floor they actually do have one

'cause in a hotel if you stay in room 14 or on floor 14 than your really staying in room 13 or on floor 13.

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