The sun rose, filling my room with a soft, warm light as I woke up. I stretched and got out of bed, my feet touching the cool floor. After smoothing out the messy blankets, I looked at the calendar and was surprised at what date it was.
It was April 27, one more day left! I was bursting with excitement! I dashed down the stairs, unable to contain my anticipation for the surprises awaiting me. Mom shouted for me to slow down, but that only made me want to hurry even more.
When I hit the bottom step, Dad was waiting with a big hug and a cheerful “Happy Birthday!” That alone made me really happy. My sister said they had a special gift for me, and my heart started racing at the thought of what it could be. Then I saw them—plane tickets to Okinawa, Japan! Living in Graz, Austria, I knew it would be quite a journey to get there, but the thrill of the adventure was overwhelming.
I couldn’t contain my excitement as I held the gift in my hands. It truly felt like the best gift ever. My parents smiled, happy to see my joy. Dad leaned in closer to let me know about our plans for the next day. I nodded, ready for what tomorrow would bring.
*The next day*
I glance at the clock, glowing at 4 a.m. We were all excited as our bags sat ready by the door. We step outside into the cold night and wave down a taxi. It took us to the airport, and we were all excited.
Once we arrived at the airport, the security guard asked for our information.
He said, “Please state your name, age, job, and where you are going.”
My mom said, “I’m Amber Lockwood. This is my husband, Aryon Lockwood. He is 33, and I am 32. I take care of my children. My husband works as a surgeon. We will go to Okinawa, Japan.”
“Your turn, kids! ” Mom said eagerly.
My sister went first. “I’m Azalea Lockwood. I am 16 years old. I work as a student. I will go to Okinawa, Japan.”
It was my turn, I said, “I am Avelia Lockwood. I am 14 years old. I work as a student. I will go to Okinawa, Japan! ”
When we finally arrived, the views were amazing—the cherry blossoms and Mt. Fuji. The air smelled amazing. It felt like the best birthday ever. The bad news was that we had no place to sleep.
And that’s where my dad said eagerly, “How about camping? ”
My sister and I loved camping, so we agreed!
As night fell, the sky turned dark blue, and we put up our camp. The campfire crackled brightly, giving us warmth and lighting up our faces with its glow. The sweet smell of toasted marshmallows filled the air. Our tent was ready, filled with tasty snacks, while stars began to twinkle above, making the night feel special.
I had a fun idea to play hide-and-seek with my sister. Even though she was worried about it being nighttime, she agreed to play and chose to hide. I started counting and felt excited, but when I looked for her, I got lost.
I walked around, my heart racing with fear, feeling lost in the dark. I started calling out for her and my parents. When they didn’t answer, it made me feel more alone and scared.
“Sis! Azalea! Mom! Dad!” I shouted, hoping they would hear me and help me find my way.
My sister went back to camp, worried, saying, “I can’t find Avelia.”
My parents got worried and searched for me.
Luckily, I had a flashlight and a candy bar. So I looked everywhere until I saw a haunted, abandoned house. I thought maybe I could find something to help me find my way home.
I went inside. There were cracks, holes, and water leaking. I used my flashlight and noticed something terrifying: bones scattered everywhere, blood on the floor, and dangerous weapons near the bones.
I went upstairs, searching for anything that could help me survive while looking for my family. I saw a goblin looking for something, and it saw me. I attacked it with one of the knives on the wall. Until I saw something. It looked like a wristwatch.
I also saw a manual saying, “If you rewind time, you’ll turn back. If you forward it, it will go to the future.”
I tried it by rewinding time. It worked. I saw the goblin and attacked it again. I realized this item can do something, but I didn’t know what to do with it. My mind wanted to explore more.
I saw there was a basement. I opened my flashlight and grabbed a dagger stuck in a wall. I saw water, but I still went inside. Until I saw a candle that fell and started a fire. I was curious how the water was flammable until I realized it was oil. I ran as fast as I could.
I went upstairs knowing the watch would save me. The flames spread upstairs, burning everything in their path. With no other choice, I rewound time.
I went back in time when I was still asking to play.
My sister said, “Fine, I’ll be the hider.”
I said, “You know what, I think I’m good. I might get lost.”
My sister suggested that we roast marshmallows, and I agreed. For the rest of the day, we roasted marshmallows and shared stories.
After that day, we went back home to Graz, Austria.
The End
About the Author
Ma. Venice Andreia M. Ubaldo is a Grade 5 homeschooler under Homeschool Global. She began her learning journey at Bubots Writing and Tutorial Services in the Basic Level, where she initially faced challenges with punctuation and grammar. After more than a year of dedication and guided practice, she has advanced to the pre-advanced level. Today, Venice writes stories with confidence and continues to flourish as a young, passionate writer. In her free time, she enjoys playing games with her friends.