I’m Thankful for…

The smell of flowers

The scent of my birthday cake

Cooking

My cat’s soft fur

The fuzzy blanket on my bed

The citrusy and tangy taste of oranges

The wonderful taste of strawberry cake

The sound of nails on a chalkboard, I find it calming

The sound of exploding TNT in minecraft, it’s very soothing

The sight of my unicorn, Crabcakes

The sound and sight of Creepers

Exploding

      By Alyssa Coleman

The Florida Keys

I wake up every morning hearing the Florida Keys calling my name. I go to sleep dreaming of tropical fish and prodigious, grand dolphins splashing in the sea. With my eyes closed and my hands folded in front of my face, I pray that my parents take me to the  Florida Keys to see majestic animals, go to the stunning beaches, and snorkel in the clear-as-glass water.

Under the sea and on land, all the animals in the Florida Keys almost make up a kaleidoscopic rainbow. Each and every animal has its own beauty, or at least that is what I’ve heard. Silvery dolphins shoot out of the ocean and do a flip or two. Multicolored parrots soar from palm tree to palm tree, in search of their hatchlings. Schools of tropical fish swim in an orderly fashion. Animals make the Florida Keys the most intriguing thing about the trip. Sun smiling down upon me and marshmallow white clouds dangle from the azure sky. Creamy white sand stretches out as far as the turquoise water with waves rolling in the distance. I change into my bathing suit and quickly then rush out to the icy-cold ocean to cool off, well, at least that’s what I would do on the beach.  Children would be building sand castles and parents would read a book under a rainbow umbrella. I’d go to the ravishing beaches everyday in the Florida Keys if I could.

With my mask and snorkel on, when I talk I sound like Darth Vader from Star Wars. “Time to visit the enchanting fish of the sea!” I would think.  Snorkeling would be my favorite activity to do. Massive, tan-colored brain coral and maroon fan coral would grow in every direction I saw. Eels, clown fish, and barracuda would roam freely in the sea.

The Florida Keys have everything I absolutely adore! Magnificent animals that swim/walk/fly freely visit the gorgeous beaches full of people. Snorkel at the best spots. They are my dream palace that’s actually real!! I’ll just keep praying with all my heart, that I can one day go.

        By Ellie Difranco