Bayner: Tragedy to Triumph

Chapter One

In the Past

"Ellen, let's go!"
"O.K. mom, I'm coming".
She is always bugging me. It's St. Patricks Day. Today is supposed to symbolize luck but I'm not feeling it.
I live in Charleston, South Carolina and yes, I say Ya'll. In I'on ;the neighborhood I live in; we all gather at the front of the neighborhood. It is almost like a town square. There are shops, restaurants, and a grassy median. Venders such as Zeus and O'brien's Pub have vending stands which sell elephant ears and green beer. Not all that exciting when you're 10 and a half.
I mean getting my face painted really isn't all that at my age.

In the Present
Just as the climax in the story is the turning piont, this day was the turning point in my life. Everything changes from here. The climax can sometimes be when a character's whole life is turned upside down, or in this case right-side-up.

In the Past

"Ellen, we're all waiting on the golf cart.".

Gosh, she's annoying. I am not looking forward to running down the stares.
My room is on the third floor of our house. Our house has an elevator, but my mom won't let us use it unless she's with us!! Annoying RIGHT!!!! As I run down the steps I try to plan how I will entertain myself durning this "group gathering". Not even one hundred yards away there is a small pack know as the "Ramble" or "the train park" as it has a wooden train in it center as well as swings, a climbing wall and a see-saw. This park is surrounded by the back side of two street's homes. I think I'll go there and swing.

"Don't forget to shut the door and don't let Rosie out.".

Rosie is our dog. She is a 7 year old Bichon Fries, a French breed. She weighs only 18 pounds and runs the house. We have been thinking about getting a second dog. We had put a deposit on a Maltese puppy, but he died the night before we picked him of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is an calcium deficiency. Let's just say we're on the "hunt" for another puppy. I ran and jumped on the back of the golf cart. As we arrive at the "gathering" there is barley standing room. I immediately know that a swing position is no longer an option. I see a great number of kids heading in to a fenced yard that on its back side boarders the park. This is a great opportunity to wait and watch for that swing position. " Mom, I'm going into the house with the blue fence" as I run away I hear her say something that I don't completely register. Whatever. As I enter this fence I am greeted with 7 friendly, tail wagging bundles of joy. (Dogs and horses are my favorite animals). Although they each only weigh about 20 pounds each they seem to knock me to my knees. I am completely swarmed in puppies. As I here a young child yelling for them to get off of me. I take in one last moment of bliss fueled by puppy breath and stand up. A boy who looks to be around 7 years of age introduces himself to me.

"Hi, I'm William. Sorry about them they haven't learned their manners just yet."
"O, No problem. Are they all yours?" I reply.
" No, we are fostering all of them" he says.
"Wow, what are their names?"
"Uh, I have to go but, let me introduce you to Marisa."

He then runs around back. In no time at little girl around his age returns. She is solidly built but yet seems to have an agile factor to her. She also has blonde hair and blue eyes. I instantly sense we have something in common.

"Hi, you must be Marisa?"

I hope there aren't many more people I have to be introduced to. I'm kind of worn out socially today.

"And you must be Ellen?"she returns.
"Yes indeed, So what are their names?" I ask.
"This one is Rosie. She is the only girl." She begins.
I interrupt her, "I have a dogs named Rosie too."
She begins again, " This is Rocko, that one is Rufus, over there is Rusty, on the stairs is Ray and in the far corner together are Randy and Lucky."

I notice all the puppies look alike except for lucky.

"Are they all siblings?" I ask inquisitively.
"All of them except for lucky are related. He was raised with them and they were attached to him so they took him too. He is the most behaved out of all of them. If your in the market for a puppy they are all up for adoption. Did you see the sign on the gate?"
" Our family is actually looking for a puppy. I'm going to go talk to my mom. Thanks for answering my questions.", I say quickly and I sprit to find my mom.
As I try to navigate through the crowd of half drunken, beer loving, crazed people I begin to be squished. I soon realize just pushing my way through won't get me anywhere. So I begin to look for my dad who is 6'4" making it easier to locate my parents. I run to ask him where my mom is. She happens to be right next to him. Right as I begin to ask her, The salute to the flag begins.