The previous entry was stapled on top of this and the next few. For years I thought it was just the final copy of a series of drafts. Today I looked at the pages below it and found a few stories I thought were long gone. This was not one of them. I do not remember it. It is full of cliches. It was written on March 25, 1969. I was 12. Cleaned up for spelling. Please note that I do not feel the same about rain now. Or worms. Also not meteorologically correct.

A Rainstorm

The air was damp and musty moisture was hanging in the air. Then all of a sudden it started to rain. The rain beat against the windows and the wind howled around the house.

Even in the house one could smell that awful odor: a combination of mildew, wormy muddy smells that always come along with any kind of rain.

Now the rain was stopping a little. Not much but enough so that one could see out the big picture window. Ick! look at all of those worms oozing in and out of the wet, muddy ground.

The rain finally gave up and it stopped raining and making everybody grumpy. Fresh smelling air overcame the mildew, wormy muddy-smelling air and after most rainstorms (if the sun comes out) a rainbow could be seen in the western sky!

I found a few writing samples from my youth in the attic. Here is the first. Warning, it will leave you unfulfilled. Also I have left out the numerous spelling and grammatical error but I am not promising the punctuation is correct. Also this was written in 1969. Also J. K. Rowling does not have to worry.

A Day in the Life of Dona and her Owl-Focals

“Go and get the mail, Dona,” said Mother.

“Oh do I have to?” I asked, “I’m reading the best story I’ve ever read in my life!”

“Oh you always say that when I ask you to do something,” replied Mother.

“Yay! Yippie!”

“You scared me to death,” said Mother.

“I’m sorry but I forgot that my Owl-Focals are coming today.”

“Your what?” asked Mother.

“My Owl-Focals,” I replied. “I will show you when I get the mail.”

“I thought you didn’t want to get the mail,” said Mother, grinning.

So I went out and got the mail, showed them to Mother and couldn’t wait until that night.

When night finally rolled around, slowly but surely, I tried on my new glasses. They worked. So that night when I went to bed I read my book thoroughly. It was 1130 when I fell asleep that night and 8:00 when I woke the next morning. I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open all through school.

I learned my lesson and never used something good to do bad again.

/teacher’s note: I’m glad to see you using conversation/