I wasn't always a tennis player.

I started out playing volleyball. I trained all year whenever the weather permitted so that I could follow in my moms footsteps. I missed the tryouts in middle school because I was sick. So i trained a little longer and tried out in 8th grade. I thought i did well at the tryouts and I was always comparing myself to the other players. I was definitely not the best, but i was in the better half of the people trying out, and high enough in that half to make the team. The coach of the team was taking everyone aside and talking to them about their schedules and their skill levels. When it was my turn, I told her that i had nothing colliding with the volleyball schedule and that i could make every game. She told me I was good enough to make the team and she put me to play in for the next person that she was talking to.

The day she was going to post the team, she took me aside and told me that i was better than half the team. She however wanted to make others better. So I was placed as a manager, and I ended up quitting and starting tennis. I moved up three levels in a year, and recently moved up to the final level. So I've been playing tennis for three just under three years, and if it wasn't for eighth grade, i would be playing volleyball.

When we first got Duke, he was the smallest and skinniest creature I have ever seen! He was so scared of everything and very uneasy everywhere he went. He was so skinny that when we went on a walk one day with him, a deer stopped and was walking towards us because it was so confused with Duke. He was more cuddly then. He would jump into your lap and sleep for hours! Now that hes muscular and more puppy looking, all he wants to do it play.

Me and my dad drove up to Massachusetts during the summer. We visited so many family members, and never had to pay for food since we were always visiting during some kind of meal time. We also decided to take my favorite cousins Ashley, Wes, and Justine to Connecticut to visit the beach and the world famous aquarium. Wes and Justine could see just fine over the ledge of the road, out of the mountain, but poor Ashley couldn't see the beautiful view of the ocean that that particular spot provided. So I put her on my shoulders and was reading all the little words on every sign that we past, on her request of course.

My mom decided that since we were now older and not as picky about our food, she would try to make a variety of different foods that she wouldn't have dreamed of making earlier. One of these new dishes was salsa and chips for dinner in from of the TV. It was definitely an interesting evening, since we normally don't eat anything foreign to often.

My mom decided that since we were now older and not as picky about our food, she would try to make a variety of different foods that she wouldn't have dreamed of making earlier. One of these new dishes was salsa and chips for dinner in from of the TV. It was definitely an interesting evening, since we normally don't eat anything foreign to often.

This morning, my sister was eating cereal for breakfast before school. My puppy decided it would be a good time to beg for food. I noticed that every time he saw me or my sister looking at him, he would obnoxiously lick his puppy lips to demonstrate hunger. I slid my camera over to my sister and she snapped an action shot of him acting. In the end, we felt bad and gave him the extra milk from the cereal to drink.

PROLOGUE

I jumped at the sound of the thunder that quickly followed the flash of light that had occurred moments before. It was the biggest storm that I could remember.

“Don’t be scared, son.” My father said, putting an arm around my shoulder.

“I’m not scared dad!” I replied quickly, trying to look braver then I really felt. He gave me a knowing glance and rolled the dice to start his turn in RISK. My dad and I have been spending more and more time since he got back. He said he couldn’t tell me where he went, because it was a big secret. He said when I’m older, I’ll get to know. I wish I was older now. I liked him for the same reasons every other kid my age would, ‘cept it was true for my dad. He was tall, with dark brown hair and green eyes just like me. He did any favor that you asked him to and was really, really strong and smart too. Just the way I wanna be when I get older!!

“Matt,” my dad gently squeezes my shoulder, “it your tur—” and before he could finish his sentence, a what seemed to be a S.W.A.T unit threw open the door down and swarmed in on me and my dad like a swarm of angry bees. Then one of them stepped in front of the others, taking charge.

“GET DOWN AND NOBODY MOVE!! HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!!” we quickly followed their orders, having been persuaded by the weapons they brought with them. My mom and sister were thrown on the floor right next to us.

“You! The male! No tricks, understand? We know what you are, but what are they?” he asked pointing to me and my mother and sister. I took note of his appearance. He had dark brown hairs spiked up and eyebrow and well as a lip ring. His goatee however was an odd shade of blonde. The thing that made me stare were his eyes. They were grey and they seemed to shine slightly.

“Human.” He replied simply. The leader nodded slowly.

“In that case, tell us what you know about the gates.”

“I know everything about them, but two much for your evil minds to understand. It meant for other ear—”

“SILENCE!!” the leader screamed, lashing out at my father.

“DAD!!” I yelped, trying to be brave. The soldier turned to look at me, his eyes full of fire and hate. The shining increased.

“Quiet, or your next!” he barked at me and turned to my father and raised his weapon, making the message clear as I started to sob. “I’ll ask you one more time, Marner; where are The Gates?”

“Hidden from greedy and immature hand like yours.” My father replied without hesitation and fearlessly. As he finished his sentence, the air filled with the sound of fireworks and my father shook violently with every shot he took in. The room filled with smoke and my father lay motionless on the ground in the same position they had made him lay.

“NO! DAD!” I screamed as I ran to my father. Miraculously, he was still alive, but barley.

“Son,” he said in the faintest whisper, ever so weakly, “don’t let them find the Gates. Don’t let it..” and as he spoke his final word, his eyes lost their color and his body went limp in my hands.*

The 4th of July brings music,

The 4th of July is near;

And when the band walks down the street

The crowd begins to cheer.

The Day of my Polish School Prom, I was almost late! I got out of the shower realizing that it was five minutes till I had to be at our school to meet the limo, or it would leave without me! I had to hurry up in order to get dressed, shave, and drive to the school. As I got to the school, everyone had already gotten in and the chauffeur had closed the door. I ran up to the door, opened it and got it. since I was the last one, I was sitting at the front and had total control of the music and tv. So it was SUCH a big loss.

Kings of the blue skies

Are the monarch butterflies

The all seeing eye

When trees and such once did live

The human race had cherished nature

For food and shelter, hear and shade

And even fruit the God forbade

But man was greedy, and wanted more,

And expanded there life to one full of galore,

But with that came a deadly price

For the sun will never fully rise

One the earth that once was living free

Of mans destruction and poverty

A barren land is all that remains

No room for competition, fun or gains

The human race only killed themselves,

And this is the story of the year 2012.