TheWriteFeeling
GrowingupinamilitaryfamilyImovedalot.Imostlywentto__8__withotherkidswhoseparentswerealsointhemilitary.Butwhenmydad__9__fromtheMarinesaftertwentyyearsofserviceIfoundmyself__10__acivilianschoolwithtwelve-year-oldswhosharednosimilarlifeexperiencewithme.
Iwasastrangerinastrangeland.Everyoneinmyclasshadgrownuptogetherandtheyhadnoroomto__11__foranewcomer.Iworedifferentclotheshaddifferentthoughtsandspokewithanaccent.I__12__forthefirstfewweeksofschool.Ihadnofriendsnoactivitiesandno__13__ofabrightfuture.TodealwithitallIbegan__14__inmydiaryeveryday---storiesofadventureofoldfriendsoffeelingsthatIcouldnotspeak.IwroteasifmylifedependedonitasiftheverynextbreathItookcouldnothappen__15__Iwrotedownwords.
OnedaymyteacherMrs.BushcametomeandaskedwhyIalwayssattherewritinginsteadofplayingwithothers.ItoldherIenjoyedwritingand__16__writingtoplaying.Shesmiledatmeandwalkedaway.AboutthreeweekslaterMrs.Bushgaveusawritingassignment.Iwas__17__thatIcouldnowparticipateinsomethingIknewIexcelledin.
ThatnightIworkedandworkedontheessay.Iwrotewithgreat__18__.Itwasmyonechancetofeelimportantand__19__bytheclass.
AfewdaysafterwehandedinourassignmentsMrs.Bushcalledmeuptothe__20__oftheclassroom.IstoodbeforethirtypairsofeyeslookingatmeandIgot__21__.WasIintrouble?DidIdosomethingwrong?
ThenMrs.Bushtoldtheclasshowmuchshe__22__alltheworkthatwentintotheessayandeveryonehaddoneagreatjob.Butshesaidonestudentstood__23__asanexcellentwriteronewithimaginationcreativityandwordmastery.Thatstudentwasme!
TheclassclappedpolitelyandMrs.Bushhandedmemypaperwiththefollowing__24__onit:"Malindayouareanexcellentwriter.Youfillyourpaperwiththebreathingsofyourheart.Pleasekeeponwritingandshareyour__25__ofwritingwiththeworld.Iamproudofyouandgladyouareinmyclass."
Mrs.Bushhelpedmefeelasenseof__26__aplaceofpurposeandawaytosurvivea
transitioninlife.Shehelpedmegain__27__inmyselfthatstayedwithmebeyondsixthgrade.
8. A.church