writingcamp Rottten fields

week 3 How to write the first chapter

When Laura opened her eyes she was sure that it would be the perfect day. No school, no homework, all day only for herself. But her mother had to shout from te kitchen.

- Laura, if you are wake her ready! Halt is already here to bring you to the bus stop.

Then Laura remembered she was not completely free from school. The words School Trip made her had spin and she let herself fall on bed again.

- You still are not up? We will be late at this rate.- Complains Halt at her rooms door. He was already completely dressed in the school uniform and had. full backpack on his back.

- I do hater be late. - Laura says grabbing her sheets, as if nothing could separate her from the bed.

- I know. I will do your bag so hurry and get ready.- Halt is an angel. Is all that Laura's lazy mind can think. Laura gets up still with closed eyes and catch a set of her uniform on the closet, while Halt is already filling Laura's backpack. She goes to the bathroom to change her clothes and fulfill the morning routine when she hear Halts ironic voice.

- Please don't fall asleep in the bathroom, we don't have much time.-

Just to contradict him, Laura finishes dressing at amazing speed and exits the bathroom as a totally different person.

- let's get this over with.-

- Perfect, now let's go wake Mirian.- Halt answers giving Laura's done backpack to her.

The two say goodbye to Laura's parents and go to knock next door.

- Oh, Halt, Laura. Welcome, Mirian is still in bed, could you guys wake her for me? - And so the childhood ritual is repeat one again, till all the three friends are well wake and ready.

Halt, Mirian and Laura move now to the bus stop while bringing matters up to date.

At the bus stop Laura is greet by a ridiculous number of people she would hater avoid.

To her luck the bus arrives before she gives a answer that would hurt her reputation to an annoying girl.

The three, Kendrick and the triplets, sits all together in a corner of the bus.

They all had to wake very early and now all the class had agreed to sleep in the first hours of travel.

They were almost there when Laura starts to eagerly taps her fingers on the bus window. She imagines her home's lawn, her cat, the sun, and all the free time she wants. All two days away. But when she looks out the window of the bus, the fading landscape shows that the physical distance gets bigger and bigger.

A hand touches her back.

-Hey, how about enjoying the trip for a change? -Says the boy sitting behind her.

-A change? You know me better than that.- Laura says, taking the boy's hand from her shoulder.

-Serious? Are you still the little six-year-old girl who had never set foot outside the backyard? - The boy says making exaggerated gestures.

Laura looks at Halt, smiling.

-If you say it like that, you're still the rich boy who kept yelling down the street, "My daddy can pay for it!" - Laura retorts with even more exaggerated gestures.

One of the classmates sitting in front of the boys turns into the back seat and says auto for the whole class to hear. -Look, Halt and Laura are flirting again! - Laughter and murmurs are heard from all corners of the bus.

-Please Ben, this one got old in the sixth grade.- Laura says rolling her eyes.

- Do not worry, I am sure Ben is just annoyed for being single- completes Kendrick, making the whole class boo.

-Silence back there! -Screams the authoritative voice of the teacher.

The murmurs subside, just a little, but at the teacher's furious look everyone suddenly shuts up.

Ben sighs and speaks melancholy.

- This was the perfect trip! Why did they have to choose Frau Schere? -

Halt shrugs and responds by leaning back against the bench. - It was to be expected that. . . - He doesn't finish the sentence. A noise coming from all sides of things breaking apart makes everyone on the bus catch their breath. The bus stops. The noise continues, the earth begins to shake. The silence is broken by frightened murmurs.

-Everyone will remain calm, everything is. . .- Frau Schere doesn't finish the sentence either, at least Laura doesn't listen anymore, it's all dark.