BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. — More than 40 families at Louisville Middle School completely lost their homes in the Marshall Fire, and about the same number were displaced for weeks or longer. Those students had to adjust to a new reality, looking to their school — which was untouched by the flames — as both a place to delve into the tough questions they were facing as well as a respite from them.Below are five short stories written entirely by them, with guidance from their teacher Ms.
“Do you have a room reservation? Because if you don’t we won't have any more rooms.” The lady at the front desk said. “Nope! Mom said I could have an all-nighter, we could play video games all night!” I replied, jolly as ever. It was right after Christmas and everybody was in a jovial mood.An hour after my friends showed up we came back inside. “Man! I’m pretty tired after our wiffle ball game, guys!” Danny exclaimed.Mom, dad, and Evelynn all burst into me and Maria’s gloomy bedroom.
An hour later, surrounded by the deadly pink skies that signaled danger, I had lost all the adrenaline I had. I'm exhausted, tired, and weak. I snapped back to reality and I realized I was surrounded by fire. I take a break, and I’ll die. I thought. I woke up in a hospital bed. Once I fully woke up, I realized my whole family was sitting beside me on my bed. One of them, my mom, was still crying, smudged makeup, while my dad squeezed her hand, saying it would be okay. I also realized three other people.
It was a few days after Christmas and the volleyball net was one of the big gifts. We had just moved to Colorado a few months ago. For Christmas we got a volleyball net and a ping pong table in the basement, two really cool presents for our new home.I hopped on to my Ipad and played with Jacob until my Dad and Dylan came back from taking down the volleyball net.“Ok, yeah, that’s fine I can wait,” I said, not too depressed. My birthday is at the beginning of January.
We ran around the house. I ran up to my room I looked for my favorite stuffed animal. It was an orca named Bellyful, my iPad, and my English mastiff named Benett. Then we left. We hugged each other; my dad said, “Yes, you both get it, you both get it.” He was like a house so sturdy in the ground. He was anchored to this family.
I completely forgot it was my birthday today! I'm turning twelve. I get out of bed and stroll over to my dresser to pick out my clothes. I decided to wear my favorite sweatshirt and ripped jeans. My mom expertly twists my thick brown hair in two french braids. I can already tell it’s going to be a cold, crisp day in late November.I jump down the stairs. It smells like homemade waffles. My favorite! I gulp down breakfast.“Happy birthday, Charlie!” Alex yells.