Writing near the water

It’s the year 1950. Sally Stacy jumps for joy because today is the 1st day of 9th grade. She is excited to compete in the Poetry-extravaganza, a competition between poets at her school. Sallies parents are both writers for the New York City (NYC) times; Sally loves reading the stories they write and wants to work with them one day. Sally experienced catharsis through writing at summer camp and decided to hone her skills and participate in the Poetry-extravaganza. Camp was also where Sally met her best friend, Jessica Lampart. Jess wants to compete in the Olympics, like her parents.

Sally and Jess have much in common; however, it was their opposing perspectives on swimming that destined their friendship. Jess lives in a beachfront house in California. She loves water like a dolphin and can swim like one also. While Sally, who had the experience of being pushed in the pool, hitting her head, then sinking to the bottom unconscious, had consciously decided that she’d rather sit by the pool and read. The instructors paired them together, so Jess could teach Sally to swim.

Sally refused to enter the pool the first two days she was with Jess. On the third day, Jess sat with Sally, who was reading the sci-fi adventure, Dune. On the fourth day, Sally worked on her slow-doggy paddle with Jess.

Initially, Sally and Jess met only by the pool; however, after two weeks, they were inseparable. They bonded over swimming, snacking, and science fiction, staying up late at night, eating popcorn while watching their favorite movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Jess swam for joy, but she also swam when stressed. One day she was upset because girls were teasing her, “You’re always swimming. Are you part dolphin or something?” they shouted. Frustrated, Jess went swimming even though it was raining, and despite protests from Sally.

The girls ran after Jess’s therapeutic swim, but instead of running towards the cabins, Jess made a sharp right. Sally followed, knowing Jess had fun in mind. They entered the recreational building drenched and dripping, leaving a muddy trail of footprints to the game room. Enjoying the warmth, they played pool and darts for hours before leaving.

Back in the cabins, Sally advised Jess to a nurse. Sallies uncle walked 2 hours in the rain and caught pneumonia. Jess told Sally that she once swam in her pool for over 2 hours. Jess elaborated, “my parents’ house has an underground bunker with an Olympic-sized pool. It’s a bright blue house, impossible to miss. The bunker has enough food to last a year. My brother and I can swim for days underground.” Jess didn’t get pneumonia, but she woke with a fever of 102 F. Jess looked frail, Sally thought, staring at Jess’s blue blanket pulled up to her chin. When Sally went out to get breakfast, the nurse delivered a message to Jess. When Sally returned, she and Jess cried at apparently their last day together. Jess’s parents picked her up the next day. Sally made sure to get her home address so they could mail each other. In the weeks after Jess went home, a few girls teased Sally for her slow doggy paddle. Writing became therapy for Sally.

Sally told her parents about her experiences with Jess and her new love for writing. Sally and Jess began exchanging letters. Jess wrote about becoming an Olympic swimmer. Sally told Jess about competing in the poetry-extravaganza, the epic poetry battle at her school. Sally made plans to visit Jess in Cali on August 7th, which was Sallies' birthday. Jess knew the perfect gift.

It is September, the start of 9th grade. On the bus, Sally sat next to her friend Ken who competed in the poetry-extravaganza last year. For the extravaganza, two poets duel per week, Ken explains. Each poet receives three ideas or questions that they must make the theme of their poems. Ultimately, the poet wants to convince the crowd their perspective is more relatable and relevant, Ken says.

The bus arrived at school. Sally and Ken spoke as they signed up for the extravaganza.

Sally told Ken about her plans to go to Cali next summer. Ken replied, saying that he has family in San Francisco (SanFran). Sallies eyes lit up “that’s where Jess lives !!”. “Can I ride with you next summer?” Sally asked. “Maybe,” Ken replied with a smirk. Sally rolled her eyes and yelled “bye” as she left for class.

It was January when Sally was given the date of her battle for the extravaganza. With 2 weeks to prepare, Sally spent her waking hours reading, writing and reciting poems. Unfortunately, humanity was unaware of the 1000’s of hovercraft waiting above the earth’s atmosphere.

Sally was excited because her poetic-battle was today. She was sitting in class silently reciting when flashing lights and the screech of 100’s of alarms hijacked her senses. Students heard a sound like a giant lawnmower; others claimed to have felt tremors. The alarms ringing inside drowned out the hysteria of sirens outside the school. The students were gently yet urgently prodded to a corner. Sally stared at the lines on the bluish-gray wall, wondering what on earth was happening.

Two hours later, the student’s remained in the corner. The alarms inside quieted, but the police sirens remained. Every student had a theory, but none of them could’ve guessed that 1000’s of armed saucers entered earth’s atmosphere.

There was a knock, and then the door swung open as Principal Jocko (P-Jocko) strode in. Her small frame fit snuggly into a dress bedazzled with feathers and colorful rocks. Expecting information about the commotion, Sally was surprised that P-Jocko requested that only Sally accompany her to the office. Maybe it was about the extravaganza, Sally thought.

In the office, Sally watched school faculty phone parents requesting they pick-up their child; Sallie's parents didn’t answer. Sally stared at the purple feathers that decorated P-Jocko’s shoulder. Sally looked towards her face then asked, “P-Jocko, Please tell me exactly what’s happening?”. P-Jocko leaned forward and turned on the TV.

NYC was decimated.

Helicopters swarmed the area. Without power, the city looked dim and depressed. Buildings lay sideways as if someone had pulled a rug from under the city. Eyewitnesses described seeing about thirty of what looked like purple rubber bands hovering above the buildings.

Sally was speechless listening to the reporter. No trees remained in the area; not only were they uprooted, but they were missing. Fire hydrants were broken, buildings crumbling, but no water sprouted. There were also reports about gas stations drained of gas, but Sally refused to hear anymore.

“My parents, have you spoke to my parents?” Sally asked. “No. We’ve called work and home.” P-Jocko responded. Tears fell as Sally spoke “I saw the area they work in; it was obliterated.” “ We haven’t heard official reports. It’s possible a city-wide evacuation was called. We must have faith,” P-Jocko responded. Sally hoped for the best.

After four agonizing hours waiting to hear from her parents, Sally went home with P-Jocko. The news that night was like a sci-fi movie. A bizarre sight of purple flying saucers harboring yellow neon lights emerging from the clouds as they descended towards the earth.

By June, the poetry-extravaganza and school were both canceled. Sally resided with P-Jocko, returning home only once to pick up her belongings. After the initial attack, the government gave NYC residents $20,000 and recommended they move west. P-Jocko was pleasant to live with; Sally found her warm and hospitable. Sally was glad her eyes only overflowed at night. She prayed to her parents.

Sally witnessed the aliens up-close while walking by a local football field. Sally saw the saucers moving in a circle, following the racetrack. They moved so fast, they seemed to blur into a solid purple rubber band. Sallie's heart raced as she heard a sound like a machine charging up. Fear held her in place as 1000’s of trees began flying towards the sky, roots dangling, trunk-rotating, and leaves flying everywhere, moving up through the center of the purple band, as if a vacuum was sucking them. Sally darted away.

The aliens removed 90% of the trees, water, and oil. National armies coalesced into a world-wide military, but alien technology was unfathomable. Moon-sized balls of blue-light crackling with electricity hovered above every continent. Bullets and missiles flew straight through like a hologram. The balls descended and merged with the earth, causing it to vibrate. Afterward, all guns, missiles, and even nukes were disabled; humanity was united but dominated.

Sally thought about Jess in the west. Camp with Jess seems like the last time Sally was happy. After camp, everything crumbled. The invasion, Sallies parents, even missing the extravaganza was a let-down. Also, no trees meant no paper production. Sally desperately wanted to write, felt trapped in her head with a cacophony of emotions.

By the start of August, Sally and P-Jocko moved to Ohio. While exploring abandoned houses, Sally bumped into Ken. She avoided discussing her parents and held back tears when they spoke about poetry. Ken said that his family was heading to Cali, and Sally tensed. “Ask your parents to bring me” Sally pleaded. Sally knew finding Jess was a long shot, but she was desperate. Sally begged, she decided to tell Ken that her parents were missing since the initial attack. Ken's eyes hardened, he told Sally to meet tomorrow. The next day they met by the river. Afterward, Sally raced home and began quietly packing her bags. Night came, and Sally crept out the house and headed towards the oak tree. She could see Ken standing outside a red mini-van beckoning her to hurry. Sally didn’t say bye to P-Jocko, but she wished she had paper to write a thank you note.

Upon arriving in SanFran Sally grabbed a map from the gas station. Sally prayed Jess was still around, glad that the town looked intact. Sallies heart-beat like drums as they turned onto Jess’s street. Sally immediately saw the big blue house.

Before they could park, Sally jumped out and ran up the driveway. The door was unlocked, so Sally crept in.

Blue everywhere inside the house. This was no doubt the abode of swimmers. Sally heard splashing in the distance. She wondered if she was hallucinating as she ran to the backdoor. There was a pool, but it was calm, unlike her heart. Sally instantly turned around, sure that she heard splashing and laughing. Sally found a door that led to cement stairs. At the bottom was what looked like bank vault-doors. Sally hurried down the steps, elbows flailing as if she was jostling through a crowd. She leaned her body onto the heavy door at the bottom, causing it to swing open slowly. She saw a fresh sight indeed. A blue pool, 2 people playing water sports, and a galore of snacks. Sally focused on the girl in the pool and yelled “JESSICA”. A head full of wet hair whipped around. Exuberantly, Jess yelled “SALLY” as she climbed out the pool.

They headed upstairs to Jess’s room after Sally received an unforgettable wet hug. San Francisco was not directly hit, although Jess lost her mother, who was traveling for work. Jess was glad to be with her Dad and brother, who have taken jobs distributing food and water. Sally told her story. When Sally expressed that she felt without home and family, Jess embraced Sally in a much warmer hug. Sallies past months were transformative; this week alone, she spent three days traveling to Cali. Sally had no idea what day today was. Jess conveniently reminded her. Sally sat stunned, staring at the small, gift-wrapped package. It was fittingly covered in blue dolphins. She tore it open. The smell of paper brought memories of her parents; her eyes welled. With Sallie's current life, no gift was more perfect than a small black notebook.