My Writing Assignment

 by Naomi F. 

“Now for the assignment,” my seven-grade writing teacher began. “Children you will write what your life would look like in the 1800s. Since it’s Friday you will have the whole weekend.”

It would be fun to live in the 1800s, I thought. I picked up my pencil and began to write.-

 

What My Life Would be Like in the 1800s

By: Oliva Evans

Life would be simple on our ranch, ‘Honorable Hands’

Monday through Friday I would sit on the hard benches of the one-story schoolhouse. I’d wait as the hours ticked by until my freedom! Lunch break would only be an hour but any amount of time away from the schoolhouse would be welcomed.

            “Come and sit by us, Oliva,” one of my girlfriends would say. I’d looked over at her and the bunch of girls sitting on a log.  

 “No thank you. I’d rather spend my lunch hour playing then sitting,” I’d reply kindly. Then I would skip off to play baseball with some of the other kids.

 Saturday would be the day I helped around the ranch. Usually, kids would not appreciate a whole Saturday morning dedicated to chores, but I’d enjoy working with the horses, and anything would be better than school. I would then use the afternoon to do whatever I wanted to do. After getting dressed I’d go downstairs. I’d take one sniff and immediately know that Mother was whipping up a batch of flapjacks. After we’d eaten, me and two ranch hands would go round up our ponies that needed branded.

            “The youngest horse gets branded first,” Pa would tell me. I would obey by finding out which one was the youngest. Then I’d picked up the stemming iron and brand HH on the horse’s side. We would brand horse after horse until Mother rang the lunch bell. After being filled with biscuits, beans, and potatoes, I’d take a ride into town on my horse, Sea Star. I’d play with the town kids until it was time to go home.

Sunday would be a day of resting and worshipping God. After church we’d invite the preacher and his family over for supper. Later that night, my family would discuss what the week would look like. Then as night approached, I would give my parents a kiss, and head up to bed.

Like I said earlier, life would be simple, but I think it would be fun to live in the 1800s.

 

Present Day

 “Oliva,” my friend Jessie whispered to me.

            “What?” I answered.

            Jessie took one glance at the teacher and continued, “Better not be doddering today. Did you hear the assessment? It’ll take you a long time to complete it.”

 My best friend, as well as the whole class, knew that writing was not my best subject. 

            “I’ve already written it,” I smiled. Jessie looked surprised, but even more so when I exclaimed, “And I enjoyed it!”

            “Class dismissed,” my teacher stated, and I walked out the door.