This Journal Belongs to Ratchet by Nancy J. Cavanaugh Page B

he’ll smile
    And maybe forget
    for a few minutes
    That we lost the park
    And Mom.

WRITING EXERCISE: Choose one type of graphic organizer and use it to organize information about a familiar topic.
    Writing Format —VENN DIAGRAM: Overlapping circles used to organize information to compare and contrast different subjects.

WRITING EXERCISE : Life Events Journal
    Dad was down the street helping someone whose car wouldn’t start. I was changing the spark plugs on an SUV when Hunter came over. He was bummed out about Moss Tree Park just like Dad and I were.
    After I finished the SUV, Hunter and I sat on the garage step. Dad’s oldies station played in the background. When “Fun, Fun, Fun” by the Beach Boys came on, I got up and switched it off.
    â€œHey,” Hunter said. “I like that song.”
    â€œWell, there’s nothing fun about losing Moss Tree Park.”
    As we sat together in the quiet garage, I realized how close Hunter was sitting. I wondered if he realized it too, but before I had time to find out, Hunter stood up and walked over to Dad’s workbench.
    â€œMaybe there is some fun,” he said as he picked up a screwdriver and held it like a microphone. “And so we can’t have fun now that Prindle took the town’s park away,” Hunter sang to the tune of “Fun, Fun, Fun.”
    We spent the next hour coming up with goofy lyrics for some of our favorite oldies songs. Then we spent the next hour after that singing them at the top of our lungs.
    Here’s one of our favorites:
    (To the tune of “Fun, Fun, Fun” by the Beach Boys)
    Well, we cleaned up the trash and hoped we could help save the park now.
    Mr. Moss wanted trees not a mall and a gray parking lot now.
    But Dad lost his fight, and the park and the trees will be gone now,
    And so we can’t have fun now that Prindle took the town’s park away.
    And so we can’t have fun now that Prindle took the town’s park away.
    Well, we’ll all take our cars and we’ll cruise them all over the town now.
    And we’ll trail Eddie J. and Prindle wherever they go now.
    We’ll keep it all up till they wish we’d just all go away now.
    And so we’ll have some fun now that Prindle took the town’s park away.
    And so we’ll have some fun now that Prindle took the town’s park away.
    Our song wouldn’t save the park, but having a friend like Hunter sure felt like it was helping to save me.

WRITING EXERCISE: Life Events Journal
    The next day Dad left a piece of paper on the kitchen table.

    So I asked Dad why he was selling the Mustang. Ever since I could remember, he always said he had big plans for that car.
    â€œJust time to get rid of it,” he said, but I didn’t believe him. I knew he’d never get rid of that car unless he had to.
    That’s why when I found the letter on the counter under the sugar bowl, I knew Dad had stretched the truth again.
    Dear Mr. Vance,
    Due to recent circumstances and the fact that you are unable to fulfill your hours of community service, the county has changed your sentence to a monetary fine of $5,000. You will be given thirty days to remit payment to the county clerk’s office in the form of cash or check.
    Sincerely,
Officer Jenkins,
Community Service
    Now I understood why it was “just time” to get rid of the Mustang, and the heaviness that pressed down on me every day just got heavier. This was all my fault. Dad couldn’t pick up garbage because of his hand, and his hand had been hurt because of me.
    Dad already lost Mom.
    He was losing the park.
    And now because of me he was losing the Mustang.

WRITING EXERCISE: Life Events Journal
    Today I had a great idea. Hunter and I could go to the library and find out more about Herman Moss. If we could find a way to prove he never wanted Moss Tree Park developed, we could save the park.
    Dad had already searched for this at the library, but