Rhetoric One Essays

"Personal Narrative"

Lauren Barton

10/17/20

Prompt: "Write a story about a scary or frightening moment in your life. What happened? How
was it scary? Are you still frightened?"

The Hill of Terror

Bike riding. A fun way to exercise at any age. You've most likely been bike riding at least once
in your lifetime. And for children ages eight and up, it's one of the most enjoyable activities to
do. I always enjoyed riding my bike when I was younger because it always made me feel like
going on an adventure. And that's exactly what I did.
When I was twelve, my parents decided they would let me ride my bike downhill, on the road.
To say I was excited would be an understatement. I was elated, despite my nervousness and
lack of experience. I had begun getting tired of riding on the rocky gravel, and the smoothness
of the pavement looked much more appealing.
I put on my helmet and kneepads and mentally prepared myself. I rode out to the driveway,
and to the top of the road. Then, to my parents' horror, I began pedaling downhill. I heard my
mother shout after me to stop pedaling, and so I did, but it was too late. I was already flying
down the hill.
Soon, I began panicking and looking for a way to stop the bike before reaching the end of the
road. Too frightened to use the breaks, I steered into my family's other driveway. But I had
forgotten about the lip in the concrete, which caused me to fly over the handlebars. My bike
crashed into a tree, and I landed a few feet away.
My dad rushed down the hill, and after my mom checked me over to make sure I was alright,
we had a good laugh. I had a few scratches, but nothing serious. My bike received most of the
damage, and my dad bought me a new one that same day. Even now, I laugh at my ignorance
and have yet to master that hill.