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Type: Open-Ended
Category: People (Stories)
Level: Grade 7
Author: szeiger
Created: 6 years ago

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People (Stories) Question

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Rich, tearful clouds rolled shadow over the bristling fingers of wild hemlock trees. Dots of snow descended reluctantly, melting and freezing over into dozens of intricate designs before compiling onto the sugary, frozen earth. The sun warned away the surrounding clouds and soothed all below it with its warm breath. A sled, lead by a blur of panting huskies, cleanly sliced the snow below as it tunneled through chilly Canadian air.

“Hike! Come on, boys!” A man stood on his sled, bundled up in layers of heavy clothing. The fur lining his coat billowed in the wind, flickering wildly like an earthy flame. Similarly, a young boy perhaps half his size gripped the freezing metal of the sled handle, wishing to move his hands closer to his father’s, yet not desperate enough for the warmth to risk falling off. Nose red and runny, he gasped to breathe helplessly from his mouth. Wind filled his cheeks, which flapped uncontrollably as the sled tilted harshly to race down another wintery hill.

“Shhough dow!” The boy’s slurred words squeaked as his voice cracked desperately, his cries for a slower ride ushered aside by his father’s mischievous laughter.

“Almost there! Don’t let go!” His father assured him loudly, voice faint despite their close proximity. The boy regained some control of his rippling cheeks, scowling comically through his visor at the cluster of powdery trees ahead. Would his hearing even be there to greet him when they stopped the sled? He regretted being stubborn, wishing heartily that he accepted his father’s suggestion. Not only were his ears freezing and ringing from the onslaught of winter wind, but he felt embarrassed for rejecting the fluffy earmuffs made for him by his mother.

“You sure you don’t need it?” His father had asked a thousand times. A thousand times, he had turned up his nose, eyes glinting with challenge.

“No, Dad. I’m not wearing that girly thing on my head. I’ll look like a princess!” Not even an hour had passed before he regretted his decision with a crippled ego. Worse, his father could totally tell; it was probably why he kept spurring the dogs to pull them faster down the series of knobby hills. The warmth from the sun above was more so than usual, melting the skin of the snowy trail to lubricate them with a light sheen of wet, sparkling crystals. Snowflakes had never looked so gorgeous in all of his thirteen years. The view alone made enduring the bumpy ride and adrenaline rush worth it–not that he’d admit that to his father. God knew the consequences of letting such a goofy, proud man know that the boy’s opinion rang true with his own.

“I told you, kiddo. See? You get your smartness and your good looks from me,” his father would be sure to talk down to him teasingly.

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes at the thought, he watched the dogs run, straining against their harnesses with eagerness. Their thick, wiry muscles were visible through their thick coats. They panted from exertion and excitement from the run. Closing his eyes, the boy imagined himself atop his own sled, commanding a team of bulky sled dogs. Secretly, he was jealous of his older brother, who left on a carrier ship to train his team in Alaska for the upcoming Iditarod. At just nineteen, Sam had proven to be a formidable contender to the local eye. Letters traveled slowly between countries, giving him the illusion that Sam was simply too busy and mature to be looking after his little brother. Admittedly, it wasn’t far from the truth; his older brother had been a sledding fanatic for as long as he could remember, claiming boldly that he would someday win the “biggest sled race on Earth”.

“1987 is my year. I’ll win it this summer, just you wait and see.” His brother told him breathlessly, staring into the fire. With only a couple months between then and the beginning of the race, he grew restless. Thankfully, so was his father, who grouchily allowed his brother to venture alone by the request of his wife. Tensions high, his father began to take him out sledding, declaring to anyone that’d listen that he’d hook his second son on the exhilarating sport.

“Gee!” His father’s gravelly voice resonated persistently against the current of cold air. The dogs responded immediately, darting to the right with precision and obedience. Not once did their pace slow: the trust in their musher’s guidance was absolute. The boy’s heart lurched, wishing that he could give commands out to a team of his own. He, too, wanted to be a man with his own dogs. He had been giving his father a rough time, as young boys do, insisting against his father’s declaration for the sake of being difficult. Secretly, he was at a loss–was it truly too late to learn how to sled?

“Easy.” His father stepped back, digging into the snow with foreign equipment to lessen their speed as they approached an opening in the forest’s trail.The smear of trees gave way to an open clearing as the sled slowed to a stop beside a large log cabin. With a satisfied sigh, his father dismounted the sled and began unhooking the fidgeting dogs from their harnesses, each unmoving from their positions even after being stripped of their leads. Through the visor, one could see the smiling glint in his eyes as he looked over his team.

“Hey, Dad?” The boy caught his father’s attention.
“Yes, Lucas?” His lips straightened forcibly as if to hide an impending grin, guessing what his son would ask next.

“Can you teach me how to sled?” Lucas asked sheepishly.

“We’ll start first thing tomorrow.” This time, he didn’t bother hiding his glee.

Grade 7 People (Stories)

How did the main character change during the story?