Writing Assignment: Leap Year
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- 6/29/2011 |
- 10:00 am
Here's a re-post of a popular writing assignment that I originally shared during our last leap year, in 2008. With our next leap year now just a few months away, I thought it would be fun to revisit it and see what else you could come up with.
But first, a little background information.
In order for our calendars to keep pace with the actual celestial time clock, it's necessary to shove in an extra day once every four years. People born on this day get to laugh about how they only have a birthday every four years, while other people celebrate with Leap Parties whether it's their birthday or not.
I started to think of a cool idea for a short story, and decided to give it to you for a little practice. Imagine a character in your short story who has a very strange habit...but it's something they only do on Leap Day. That means they only do this -- whatever it is -- once every four years. What might that be?
Would it be something thrilling, or death-defying (bungee jumping, cliff diving, etc.), or something completely out of character for them? Or would it be something illegal, and they take a chance that they won't get caught?
Whatever it is, it gives you a chance to explore an interesting personality issue, as well as play with the whole notion of time. How are they different all of those other days? Why would they have this peculiar tendency? How did it begin?
Remember to look back at some of the Big Brain Club writing tips over the past few years, and use them to lay out your story. When you're finished, be sure to let some people read it! Be proud of your work! And, as always, be sure to include your comments and thoughts on this site. Have fun!
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Valetty Moala
February 22, 2008 6:04 am
On Febuary 28th 2008 Eiber Elementary's Student Council Secretary, Breanna Walthall was very excited because tomorrow was Febuary 29th. She was excited because Febuary 29th is Leap Day. Leap Day is a very special day. Not only was it her birthday, but it was also the Bre ( short for Breanna ) flies. No, I don't mean fly as iin flapping wings, but fly as in Superman with no wings, ( soar is the word ). The 29th of Febuary wasn't like an ordinary day. It was an unusaul day where somethings are possible to do. That was when the flying came in.
* Flashback *
Back then when Bre was four years old. She was sitting on the floor. While she was sitting minding your business, she started floating. When she noticed she was floating she said, " WOW!"
She glided through the air and over buildings. She had lots of fun. Soaring through the sky, watching birds and people beneath her.
* Present *
Bre just can't wait for tomorrow's flying experience. She is very happy and excited. For some reason you could tell she was flabbergasted. Well it was Febuary 29th, and at three o'clock a.m. she surprised the whole city when she suddenly began to rise off the ground. Till this day in 2008, to remember Breanna S. Walthall we call this day, Leap Day, because she leaped over the buildings every four years. -
Hanna Soto-Brooks
February 22, 2008 6:04 am
65 Is The New 21
Some peole think age is just a number ,but when you think about it age plays a big part in your life.To be more specific it plays a big part in a 65 year old named Harolds lfe.Harold is retired and he hates being old.He has no teeth and no hair.The mirror is his enemy because every time he looks in it,his self asteem gets lower and lower, but this doesn't happen on a leap year.Harold absolutely loves leap years and not because it's his birthday or anything like that it is because every leap year on febuary 29 he turns,looks,and feels 21 years old.He has tried to tell people,but everyone thought he was folish and just plain weird.It was a day before febuary 29 and harold's plans for the next day were all planed out.Finally, it wa morning and Harold stretched out his legs and hoped out of his bed.He walked up to the mirror closed his eyes and then opened.Harold was once again amazed at how he looked at the age of 21.Harold thinks of this day as a cinderella story even though he is a boy.Therefore as the rules say , he has till the clock strikes midnight to be 21.Then so he wouldnt wste a second of the day he got in the shower,got all dressed up, and went outside.He walked to a place called Thirsties and as he walked in he heard the ound of music and began to tap his foot.Soon that tap turned into a dance and he danced like it was 1976!!The crowd shouted as Harold took his 50th shot of milk.Harold didn't drink because he ws walking home.During the rest of the night at the club, Harold laughed,made jokes,and ate anythink that was edible.After a long night,Harold looked at his watch and it was 10:54, so Harold walked home and went to bed at 11:00.If you remember correctly Harold did have till midnight and if you looked at the mirror beside Harold's bed you would see a 65 year old man and not a 21 year old.So I guess Harold felt like it was magic, but sometimes we have to remember magic is only an illusion. -
Eve Marie Bourne
February 22, 2008 6:04 am
We got caught
By: Eve Bourne
Every leap day Blake, Kelly, and Tiffany spots freaks who are eleven and twelve make a dare/game. They all take turns on going to the most popular graveyard in Colorado as a group, and totally trashing it! They bring shovels, they cut trees, they bring all of their sports equipment, and they just L-O-V-E to run and make other people clean up their horrible tragiic mess.
"Today's the day! Ya know what that means right?" Blake told Kelly and Tiffany.
"Whos turn is it? Is it yours, Blake?" Kelly asked.
"I think it is," Tiffany replied. Once Blake heared that, he was really nervous, super scared, and extremly excited all at the same time. So the group of friends went to the graveyard. But to their suprise, there were no people there.
"Your're not scared are you?" Kelly and Tiffany foolishly asked Blake.
"No... and both of you shut up!" Blake exclaimed.
"Well we just thought that you would be a little scared because it's your first time ya know," Kelly said.
"Yeah well I'm not! So quit messing around!" Blake said furiously.
"When I say go, then you start trashing!" Tiffany exclaimed.
"On your mark, get set... GO!" Kelly and Tiffany both exclaimed. Blake got the shovel and started to dig somebody up, broke their grave, smashed all around, grafetied, and most of all, had a blast! But as soon as the party ended, a big fat ugly hideous cop stepped right in front of Blake and said "Not so fast buster!"
"Kelly, Tiffany, RUN!" Blake yelled.
"What about you?" Kelly questioned.
"Don't worry about me, I got it all covered," Blake yelled back.
"Okay," Tiffany replied. So Kelly and Tiffany ran, and Blake got caught by the officer. The officer took Blake to the station and put him in a cell.
Finally about three of four hours later Kelly and Tiffany came and told the officer their story. So the cop looked them in the eye and said "Okay, I'm gonna let you go with a warning. But next time you're all going in a seperate cell!"
"Oh thank you sir!" Kelly and Tiffany exclaimed. And so that night they all went home with great relief, but their Leap Day tradidion still kept on going and they never got caught ever again!
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Nancy Lopez
February 22, 2008 6:04 am
Caged with Animals
J.J was a boy that was 16 years old and was always afraid of animals. He was afraid of animals because when he was a young boy animals would always atack him. But on Leap Day he wouldn't be afraid, he would be brave conquer his fear by chaging himself with all kinds of animals. J.J would go to the zoo every four years on Leap Day and cage himself in all kinds of animals. When Leap Day first started, J.J went to the zoo and went to the wolves cage and jumped in. Everybody aruond the cage was saying' " Oh my gosh he jumped in!! Everybody thought that he was ludicrous. J.J would fool around with the animals and then he would find a way to get out. J.J went to monkeys' cages, lions' cages, crocadiles' cages and almost all the cages for the whole Leap Day. J.J soon enjoyed Leap Day and couldn't wait for Leap Day again. On Leap Day while going in the cheetahs' cage, he got bit by the cheetah on the arm. That bite didn't ruin Leap Day for him, he kept going into cages with his injured arm. As always when Leap Day was over, J.J went back to being afraid of animals. J.J loved Leap Day and wanted Leap Day to be everyday.
