Mood Practice 2

Amar wiped the sweat from his brow. The sun laid into him as he trekked across the desert. He licked his lips but there was no moisture on his tongue. His mouth was dry. His lips were cracked. He held his hand on his forehead to block the sun, but he still couldn't see over the next dune. The waves of heat obscured his vision. Amar looked up a saw the vultures circling. He felt his legs wobbling.

Evan bounded from his bed. He drew his blinds and the sun poured through. He opened the window and breathed in the fresh morning air. It was crisp and smelled like life and spring. Today would be a good day. Evan bathed and got dressed in clean clothes. He packed his bag in an orderly way, making sure he had all his supplies. He took a piece of toast and some fresh fruit with him for the road. It's hard to have a good day when you're hungry, and Evan knew this. He would not be hungry today.

"Give me my toy!" Tyler yelled at his little brother Taylor. "No, I was using it first!" Taylor shouted back. The TV was blaring loudly. A cartoon was playing. The boys were not watching it. Toys covered the floor. Tyler snatched the toy from Taylor's hands. Taylor started crying loudly. Loud stomping could be heard upstairs. The stomps got louder as they headed down the stairs. A dog was barking ferociously. Tyler, still crying, said, "Taylor snatched my toy!" Tyler snapped back, "It's my toy!"

The old rowboat's squeaks and creaks could be heard clearly over the still water. Jae plopped the oars into the pond and rowed. The sounds were rhythmic. The birds in the woods chirped. Jae put the oars down and grabbed his fishing rod. He cast it near the shore and seemed pleased with his cast. He put his feet on the edge of the boat and his hands behind his head. He yawned and stretched, keeping an eye on the bobber. The bobber moved with the current of the water but was otherwise still. The breeze was gentle but refreshing. Jae took it in, breathing in deeply through his nose. "This is the life," he said to himself.

"I am so proud to say farewell to... our graduating class!" Principal Bubbletop said triumphantly. The students threw their hats high in the air and cheered. The marching band began to play a classic graduation song. The parents and spectators all stood and clapped loudly. Some whistled. Parents ran forward and presented their matriculating children with flowers, candies, and really tight hugs.

Joe looked at the pallet of shingles. It was a mountain of work. There were over 100 bundles. Each weighed 100 pounds. He looked at the house with three floors. The shingles went to the third floor. Someone would have to carry them up two ladders. Joe was someone. The sun hung high in the sky. Its warm hands slapped the back of Joe's neck. "Well," his boss said with his hands on his hips, "those shingles can't get up there by themselves." Joe sighed. Then he slung a bundle atop each shoulder.

Theresa stared blankly at the photograph. She and her ex-best friend Kristina were in it and they were on a rollercoaster. They were smiling. Those were better days. Theresa was happier then. Thinking about those times just made her sad now. Her tears wet the photograph. "I wish I could take it back!" Theresa yelled to herself. She knew she couldn't though. What was done was done. Theresa knocked a vase off her dresser and it shattered. She rolled over in her bed and cried into her pillow.

Billy's heart skipped as he walked into the pet store. The store was literally crawling with life. There were cute little bunnies scrunching their noses. Colorful fish flashed in tanks decorated with divers and plastic treasure chests. Kitties clawed at carpeted posts. Billy's face featured a smile from ear to ear as he walked past playful puppies and parakeets on perches. He wished that he could live in the pet store.

Tammy was blown back by the smell as she walked into the pet store. She pinched her nose to block the foul odor of urine that had seemingly soaked into the bricks of the cursed establishment. The puppies without owners missed their mothers and cried loudly for them. Tammy ignored the cries as she marched toward the back of the store to find the manager or owner. The birds in the dirty cages squawked, probably for lack of food. Tammy's heart wrenched at the cruel misfortune of it all.

Tom took the trophy, but it didn't feel good. He knew that he didn't deserve it. He knew that he had cheated. The others didn't know now, but they might find out one day. Tom didn't know what he feared worse: getting caught or living with this secret. He tried to smile as the others cheered for him. He forced a big fake one on his face, and that made him feel even worse. Tom took a few more bows and left the stage. He brought his trophy home and threw it in a pile of his dirty laundry.