It's the first month of school, and of course the first thing we write in English class is going to be very simple and basic..a personal narrative. About anything. More specifically, a moment in your life. I was racking my brain for something, ANYTHING! I decided to write about when I went cliff jumping this summer. And guess what, I'm posting it on here! Because I didn't really tell you guys about my trip, so I'll do it in this way and show you how I actually write. =) It's really short.
Into the New
“Okay...okay, I’m just going to do it this time! I will!” I said, trying to convince myself more than Chris, Kaden and Anthony.
“No you won’t Abby!” my brother, Anthony, said in a know-it-all tone. No big surprise, he was never the encouraging type.
“Yeah you can, just don’t think about! Just jump!” Chris optimistically said, ignoring Anthony. He had given me numerous tips on how to jump: ”Stand as close to the edge as possible,” ”Jump far out,” ”Hold your arms and legs tightly together when you’re falling.” He was really trying to help; the guy I had met just that day. He was my aunt’s boyfriend’s son and about my age. We had already became good friends by the end of that day.
This was my third attempt at jumping off of the biggest cliff at Dale Hollow. I had conquered the other four; no big deal! As we pulled up on our boat to the cliffs, I had seen a young boy standing in the very spot I was, just staring down at the lake. He looked terrified, and eventually he went back down- but not by jumping. I had promised myself that I wasn’t going to do that, no way! I’d be brave and just jump without even looking first.
But now, actually standing in this boy’s shoes, being able to take the plunge at any minute into the lake’s hungry mouth....I just couldn’t do it. The thing is, I wasn’t afraid of the height. I wanted the tickle in my stomach and the rush. The problem for me was the trees that were below the cliff. There was no chance I’d fall on one...but it still made me nervous! If anyone were to fall on one and die, it’d be me! And the way this cliff was shaped, it wasn’t just a run-and-jump. I had to take 2 steps down (very carefully) and step onto the itty bitty spot I was supposed to jump off of. It was very slippery as well. Wow, was this cliff making my life difficult or what?
Not very convincingly, I said, “Yeah, you’re right...I can do this.”
I slowly sat down on my butt, gripping my noodle with one hand and used the other one to hold onto the rocks while climbing down. The rocks were cold and wet beneath my feet. After what seemed like a decade, I got to the last rock. I sat there for a moment and stood up, praying I wouldn’t fall over into the trees. My legs were shaking. I leaned forward ever so slightly, and for the hundredth time glanced down at the water...miles away. Okay, not really. “I can’t do this, I can’t do this, I can’t do this.” I had said this so many times, but the tiny, little, miniscule voice in the back of my brain said I could. I looked out to my family’s boat, wanting them to see me, but they’d already given up hope. Again, this was my third attempt, and they had just said to me “It’s okay if you don’t want to do it.” That’s the thing, though. I DID! A lot! That’s why I got upset. I had never just jumped into anything; I was no frog. I was the timid mouse who slowly crept into the crowd. I couldn’t just creep into the water, obviously. I looked back at everyone, trying to clear my head. There were more kids coming, waiting to jump. That made me more frantic than I already was. Chris could already tell what I was thinking and said, “Don’t worry about them, they can wait.” I just smiled at him, trying to be brave. I looked back down at the water.
So many thoughts were racing through my head. I just wanted them to be quiet for one second. I didn’t need to think. There were only two choices; jump or don’t jump. I closed my eyes, trying to shut everything out. Darkness took over, causing my mind dissolve.
The Gods had heard me. My mind went blank. The wind stopped and so did time. For one second only. And I jumped-my piercing screams breaking the silence-into the new. The past was gone, far behind me.
“No you won’t Abby!” my brother, Anthony, said in a know-it-all tone. No big surprise, he was never the encouraging type.
“Yeah you can, just don’t think about! Just jump!” Chris optimistically said, ignoring Anthony. He had given me numerous tips on how to jump: ”Stand as close to the edge as possible,” ”Jump far out,” ”Hold your arms and legs tightly together when you’re falling.” He was really trying to help; the guy I had met just that day. He was my aunt’s boyfriend’s son and about my age. We had already became good friends by the end of that day.
This was my third attempt at jumping off of the biggest cliff at Dale Hollow. I had conquered the other four; no big deal! As we pulled up on our boat to the cliffs, I had seen a young boy standing in the very spot I was, just staring down at the lake. He looked terrified, and eventually he went back down- but not by jumping. I had promised myself that I wasn’t going to do that, no way! I’d be brave and just jump without even looking first.
But now, actually standing in this boy’s shoes, being able to take the plunge at any minute into the lake’s hungry mouth....I just couldn’t do it. The thing is, I wasn’t afraid of the height. I wanted the tickle in my stomach and the rush. The problem for me was the trees that were below the cliff. There was no chance I’d fall on one...but it still made me nervous! If anyone were to fall on one and die, it’d be me! And the way this cliff was shaped, it wasn’t just a run-and-jump. I had to take 2 steps down (very carefully) and step onto the itty bitty spot I was supposed to jump off of. It was very slippery as well. Wow, was this cliff making my life difficult or what?
Not very convincingly, I said, “Yeah, you’re right...I can do this.”
I slowly sat down on my butt, gripping my noodle with one hand and used the other one to hold onto the rocks while climbing down. The rocks were cold and wet beneath my feet. After what seemed like a decade, I got to the last rock. I sat there for a moment and stood up, praying I wouldn’t fall over into the trees. My legs were shaking. I leaned forward ever so slightly, and for the hundredth time glanced down at the water...miles away. Okay, not really. “I can’t do this, I can’t do this, I can’t do this.” I had said this so many times, but the tiny, little, miniscule voice in the back of my brain said I could. I looked out to my family’s boat, wanting them to see me, but they’d already given up hope. Again, this was my third attempt, and they had just said to me “It’s okay if you don’t want to do it.” That’s the thing, though. I DID! A lot! That’s why I got upset. I had never just jumped into anything; I was no frog. I was the timid mouse who slowly crept into the crowd. I couldn’t just creep into the water, obviously. I looked back at everyone, trying to clear my head. There were more kids coming, waiting to jump. That made me more frantic than I already was. Chris could already tell what I was thinking and said, “Don’t worry about them, they can wait.” I just smiled at him, trying to be brave. I looked back down at the water.
So many thoughts were racing through my head. I just wanted them to be quiet for one second. I didn’t need to think. There were only two choices; jump or don’t jump. I closed my eyes, trying to shut everything out. Darkness took over, causing my mind dissolve.
The Gods had heard me. My mind went blank. The wind stopped and so did time. For one second only. And I jumped-my piercing screams breaking the silence-into the new. The past was gone, far behind me.
Thoughts? Comments! Criticism? Tell me! This was the final draft, by the way.
Oh and PLEASE drop by my friend Maly's BRAND SPANKING NEW BLOG! It's to help girls realize they are beautiful inside & out. It's gonna be a really great blog, please drop by and leave a comment on her first post and follow! Link: HERE! Oh & it's called Simplistic Intentions. :)
Have a great Monday, everyone! (And I'll try to as well.)
xx,
~Abby~
~Abby~
Photo of the day:
I don't think Pauly D wants to be touched... ;)
