NIS-So+Yun

__**SOUTH GATE**__ I was always told off my parents because they say that I am a really naughty girl, but in my opinion I am not the one who should get in trouble. I have 4 siblings and that always seemed like a problem. I have 2 older ones and 2 younger ones. My older brother always was the trouble maker. He plays mean tricks on his siblings and I am the one who always get in trouble. I am grounded right now because few days ago Simon, my brother played a nasty trick on me and that wasn't really nice. So I am here sitting in my bed trying to concentrate on my book. Soon I got really bored reading my book so I decided to go explore upstairs. I knew I was grounded for a week in my room but I was way too bored to stay and read a book. I knew at 1:00 p.m my parents are going to go to pick my younger brother and my younger sister up. I predicted, "Well, probably they are going to pick Alex and Ashely up and then they are going to go to Ashely's favorite restaurant and eat their lunch! How great!" I closed all the curtains to make sure that knew that I was exploring my house. After doing that I went to my room and got dressed into nobpody my darkest clothes. I was ready and I slowly made my way up to upstairs. I took a deep breath and start to go up the stairs. When I went up I found out it was pretty dark and dusty. I went downstairs again and ran to my mother's room. I searched her closet and there was a big lamp. I took it out then I also realized that my mother had a watch. I decided to take that with me too so I could look at the time and make sure that I went back to my room before anyone was back. I went up again and this time it wasn't as dark because I turned on the lamp. When it go really light I realized that there was a pile of books and I began to turn into a curious girl. I walked slowly because I didn't know what was coming next. When I was close enough I saw that there was a book named 'My journey'. The handwriting was really familiar. In fact it was not printed, it was handwritten. I picked up the book and sat down. It was really dusty. I blew on it and dust flied away. I coughed. I was curious who's handwriting was it? I first decided to look at the time and if I had more then 10 minutes I decided to spend my 7 minutes reading. I looked at the time and I was shocked. I gasped, "Oh-no, what am I going to do?" The time was 2:27 and I had exactly 3 minutes to go downstairs and back to my room and get the curtains done, and then I had to change back to my normal clothes and I had to stay in my bed reading before my parents and Alex and Ashely. I ran downstairs and I quickly made the curtains and ran to my room. When I was running I tripped and my toe was painful. I limped to my room and changed. I looked out the window and saw Alex and Ashely running through our gate door. I limped to my bed and got a book and started reading. Soon my mother came in and said, "Ellen? Were you reading your book all the time? Did you eat anything?" I said pretending to enjoy my book, "Yes, I stayed in my bed reading my book, and I didn't eat anything yet. I am starving though..." My mother left the room and soon it was dinner time but I couldn't go to the dining table to eat. I had to go to the dining table and get my dinner and bring it to my room and eat it. When I went down stairs I saw Ashely and Alex playing with their toy and I saw Simon playing his computer and Lilian studying for her test. I brought my dinner and took it to my bedroom. I thought, 'What was the book? Who was it written by? I know that handwriting!" The next morning my grounding system was over. I had to go to school, but I didn't feel like it because of the book I saw yesterday. I decided to feel ill. When my mom came into my room to wake me up, I grunted, "Mom, I am feeling totally terrible! I think I have fever!" My mother themometer and she went out of the room. I quickly ran to the bathroom and turned on the hot water and put my themometer in there. Soon I saw that the temperature in the themometer was about 45 degrees. I thought that mom wouldn't believe it so I turned on the cold water and I cooled it down until 39 degrees. Then I put it in my mouth and it tasted like water. Then my mom came in and said, "Where were you yesterday? Don't tell me that you went out to play with your friends while you were grounded!" I shook my head, "Mom, I didn't go out to play with my friends. I am probably sick because I drank too much pop yesterday!" "NONSENSE!!" mom snapped, "Well young lady...since you can't go to school so you are going to stay in your room doing your homework, if you are feeling good enough though...you are going to finish this math book!" my mom said holding up my math book. I said, "But...but mom! There is 10 pages left! You are asking me to do all of the ten pages today?" "I said if you are feeling good enough...are you?" my mom smiled. I couldn't say a single word. I knew if I said 'no' she would tell me that I was lying and if I said 'yes' I will have to do it. My mom went out of my room and then she stopped and said, "Ellen? I am going out so do you need a baby-sitter? Simon is going to return home after 2 hours so you can stay with him!" I was shocked, "What?! Simon is coming back that early? Oh-man!" "Is there something wrong? I asked you! Do you need a baby-sitter?" My mom said, "Answer me quickly young lady, I need to drop off Alex and Ashely and I have to an important meeting!" I sighed, "No...I don't need a baby sitter and nothings wrong mom! Mom, I feel sick!" "You stay at your room, when are you going to have your breakfast?" Mom asked. "I don't want a breakfast. I feeling terrible mom, why would I want a breakfast?" I went back to my bed and lied down. Soon mom went out of the house and it was empty. I quickly ran downstairs to get a bowl of cereal and I ate it all up. Then I got changed. So I went back to my room and got all the curtains. I went to get a small handy bag. I put 2 cans of coke and 2 bars of chocolate and I putted in a piece of salami bread. I was all packed. Then I went to my mom's room and went to get my mom's watch and dad's lamp. Then I realized that the watch was gone. I ran to Simon and Alex's room and got Simon's watch. Then I went upstairs all prepared. Then I went up I was frightened if Simon is going to come back and find out that I am not really sick then he will tell my parents then I will get grounded again. I kept on looking at the time. I grabbed the book and thought of a good ided. I said, "I can take it to my room...but can I?" I decided to. I quickly got changed and lied down on my bed again. I put the book under my bed cover so no one will know. Soon Simon came in and said, "Why aren't you at school?" he continued, "Well, whatever reason it is, it is probably fake. You just don't want to go to school! right?" I wanted to jump and make him fall down. I quickly calmed myself down and ignored him. I said, "Go away! Can't you see I am sick?" He pulled a face and went away. I peaked out my door to see where he went. He went to his room probably playing computer. I got the book. I decided to start reading tonight. If I had to read tonight, I needed a lamp and a piece of paper. I found the paper quickly but mother's lamp was out of battery and our family's spare lamp was in Simon's room. I was worried. He would tell on mom. So I got a plan. I slowly walked out. I pretended that I was going to the kitchen to have something. I knew that Simon's favorite food was skittles. So I called out purposely, "What?! There is one more skittle left! Hmm, I am going to have it!" I heard Simon's footstep. Simon ran and snatched the skittle away and yelled, "Ellen! Don't touch my things! This skittle is mine! Now go away!" I pulled a face and I heard Simon ripping off the bag. Then I quietly ran to Simon's room and grabbed the lamp and came back to my room. I smiled. Soon it was dinner time and everybody in my family was at the dinining table;I really wanted to tell mom that I have a book that is really familiar but I decided not to. After dinner while everybody else doing their things like homework and chores I quietly went up so nobody notices me. I went to my bedroom and got out the book. Then I just remebered that I share a room with my older sister, Gabriella. I totally hated her because she told mom everything. I also share room with Ashely which was a bigger problem because mom always comes in to check her and read her books and stuff. So I decided to go sleep in our spare room. It was chilly but it got hot soon. That night I started reading the book. I opened the first page and there was the content. I wasn't interested so I flipped a page and then something fell on the floor. It was a picture. I was surprised. Guess what picture it was! It was a photo of my grandfather. I wondered, 'What is my grandfather's photo doing here?' I looked at it carefully. Where was the background place? Did grandfather write this book? If he did why would it be here? Bunch of question came into my mind. I really wanted to ask mom but I was scared if she would take the book away and I would never find it out. I really wanted to know why was this picture inside here! Then I came up with a brilliant idea. I said, 'Maybe I should keep on reading!' So I fliped the page to the very first page. It was neat and old fashioned handwriting;And the handwriting was familiar too. I read out loud: __1973, May 5th__ I am finally here. I decided to record what I am doing so I can have a memory and tell my heir what I did. This place is really big. They say that there is a mysteriuos event that happened and I really want to find out. A very scary and exiting mysterious event? or perhaps a happy, pleasant story...I wonder. But who can I hear it from. Luckily I found a friend who is Chineses and can speak English and he is like my tour guide. He is a great friend. He says that he will tell me the story tomorrow but I really can't wait till hearing it. I keep on predicting what the story will be like but I don't think any of them are right!

It seemed like a diary to me and I was really curious who wrote it. I said, "At least I have clues!" I was pretty much sure that it was from my grandfather because his handwriting was more like old fashioned then modern; it was written in calligraphy pen and he said he had been to China, but only for work. He said that he didn't go for a tour. This didn't make any sense to me. I finally decided to actually visit my grandfather's house, privately and ask him if this journal was his. But when can I go? I had to go talk to my mom. The next morning, as soon as I woke up I went to my mom and said, "Good morning! Mom? I really want to ask you something!" "Good morning, what is it that you want to ask? You act weird this morning! What do you want?!" mom asked surprised. I chuckled nervously, "Well, I was actually wondering if I could spend a night at grandfather's this weekend...alone!" She gave me a weird look and said, "Why? What's wrong? Why do you want to go?" "It's just that I want to spend time with grandfather and grandmother and just talk with them and stuff...I mean nothings wrong!" I said quickly. She said, "I will let you go but you have to go with Alex and Ashely! Can you take care of them?" I sighed, "Mom...I ment alone! No, I can't take care of them!!" Then Gabriella came downstairs. She looked sleepy but she woke up. She said confused, "What are we talking about here? You woke up early, Ellen!" Mom explained, "Ellen just said that she wants to go to grandfather's house and spend some time there alone but I really don't agree because why do you want to spend time alone. So I am going to let her go but with Ashely and Alex," she looked at me and continued, "Do you want to go, Ellen?!" "Mom, I want to go alone! Besides...." I said. Then a voice interupted, "I will go! I want to go! I mean Simon can stay and I will go with Ashely and Alex and Ellen if she is going!" I was totally angry. I yelled, "Don't you dare come!" Mom said, "Why not?! Gabriella do you want to go today?" She nodded and I had to go too. I packed and soon mom dropped us off. I had to make sure that Gabriella don't come and start getting all of my stuff out of my bag. That night Ashely and Alex was fast asleep and I was there wide awake with grandmother and grandfather and Gabriella. My grandfather calls Alex, Al and Simon, Sim and Gabriella, Ella.Ashely and I didn't have a shorten name. My grandfather asked, "Ellen, Ella? When are you going to go to sleep?" Gabriella was in a middle of chatting so she quickly said, "I will sleep in this room after I finish this chatting! Ellen? You are not sleeping with me!!!!!!" I pulled a face and said, "I am not going to...I will sleep with you! But frist when Gabriella goes to sleep I need to ask you something!" He nodded and I smiled. Soon Gabriella was asleep and I had the chance to ask. I went to my grandfather and asked, "Will you be able to answer these questions?" He said, "It depends what question it is...do you think I can?" I said, "I don't know...even if you are not going to answer it please don't tell anybody else! Even mom and Gabriella and Simon and dad!" Grandfather nodded and that made me feel safe. I said, "Well, few days ago I found a journal and it said 'My Journey'. Do you know anything about it? I found a picture of you!" He replied, "Yes, I do know about it. Where did you find it?" I explianed, "It is a long story. Should I tell you?" He smiled and said nothing so I decided to say it, "I was grounded because Simon played a joke on me and he told mom that I did it so I was grounded in my room reading my book. The book was really boring so I didn't enjoy it so I decided to go on a exploration in my house. But first I predicted where my family would be. I knew that Simon and Gabriella was at school and mom was going to pick Ashely and Alex up and go to have lunch with them, my dad would be at work so nobody was home except me. Then I went upstairs and found a pile of books and one of them were this book," I said as I held up the book, "then I really wanted to read it but soon mom would come and if she knew that I didn't stay at my room reading she would ground me longer so I took the book with me and put it under my bed and decided to read it whenever I can. That night I went in to a spare room and read the first part and this is what I read." I said as I held up the first artical. My grandfather looked at me carefully and I asked, "So grandfather can you tell me?" He said, "I can tomorrow...not now! It is too late go to sleep!" I said worrily, "But grandfather I am going back home tomorrow!! I don't think mom will let me stay another day because I have exams at my school!" He ignored me and said, "Goodnight sweetie~" I felt like crying but I didn't. I went in to my room and decided to read the second part. I read:

__1973, March 7th~9th__ I decided to ask my friend Mike about the story. Unfortuantely he was sick and I couldn't visit him so I decided to wait and have a walk around where I was. I am here, walking around and watching people what they are doing and taking notes. I am sitting down on a bench and

"Why does the text ends here?" This was wierd and I was surprised. I decided to go to sleep and talk to grandfather tomorrow. The next morning before I could even see my grandfather's face my mom was here waiting to pick us up. I was doomed and I wanted to tell her that I was going to stay but she probably wouldn't let me so I just went back home. That night when our family was having dinner my dad said, "Since we hadn't went on a vacation for a while we can go on one but we don't know where to go!" That was my chance. Alex and Ashely said, "We want to go to Asia!" We all chuckled and I said, "That's not a country! That it a contenent!" I just thought of a great idea. I exclaimed out, "China! Let's go to China!" My family looked at me. I smiled. There was a silence. I knew that I wasn't shout out, I knew I had to talk quietly. I apologied and I said, "I really wanted to go to China! Can we?" I got no answer and I had to go to sleep with no answer and surely I couldn't. I wanted to know right now. Since I couldn't go to sleep I quietly went downstairs and decided to go online. When I turned on the computer a big sound came out and I gasped. I ran upstairs and came back down but nothing happend so I went online and started playing. Then my mom came downstairs and I was doomed but instead she asked me, "Why are you here?" I mumbled, "Since I wanted to know that where we are going so badly I couldn't go to sleep so I decided to go online..." Before I could even say another single word my mo said, "Well, we are going to go to China and we are going next week so you better choose what city!" Few days passed and I said, "I decided to go to Nanjing!" The following week came and I was so excited so I knew that in the book 'My Jouney' my grandfather was in China, Nanjing. But where was the story taking place. I called my grandfather and I said, "Hello, grandfather! I am so excited to go to Nanjing but I really want to go where you went in the Jounal so can you please tell me where that is and how to get there!" My grandfather answered and I went straight to mom. I said, "Mom, we are going to Nanjing, South Gate! Please!!" She nodded and I jumped up and down. Soon we were in the Nanjing airport and Simon was complaining because he couldn't go where he wanted to go but I ignored him and he was mad at me. After few hours we were in the Nanjing hotel and Nanjing was toally beautiful. We had our lunch and decided to go on tour. I said, "South Gate!" When we were getting ready for our tour Alex and Ashely was complaining about going to the swimming pool. So we decided to go to the swimming pool first and I didn't want to swim so I hold the book in my arms and kept on looking at the page that the writing stoped. I was so mad then Gabriella saw it. She said, "What book are you reading?" she continued, "It looks really old!" I replied sarcastically, "None of your buissness!!" She looked and me and said, "Give me the book! I want to see it! Or else I am telling mom and you are going to get in trouble!!" I asked, "Why am I going to get in trouble?" "Well, she banned us from bringing book because you see she said it is going to be really heavy when we come back home so she doesn't want a pile of books!" Gabriella explained. I had to show her the book. I whispered to my self, "I hate you Gabriella!" I said as I handed over the book. She looked at the cover and said, "It is full of dust! Gross!" "Then give it back!" I shouted. She asked, "What is it about?" I didn't answer. I didn't want to. I snatched the book away and said, "Your annoying!" Soon we were on the taxi to go to the South Gate. I asked, "Dad? Have you seen the picture?" He shook his head. I couldn't wait to see it. When we arrived I was shocked. I was stunned. I exclaimed, "It is awesome! Stunning!!" Dad said, "Okay, Ashely and Alex you can stay with mom and Simon, Gabriella and Ellen, you can explore aroung freely but you got to stay together!" "I can explore around alone!" I said as I walked away, but Simon was following me. I told him not to but he just wouldn't go away. Then we arrived in this places. There was a big gate way. Simon and I slowly walked in and we were so surprised. Then there was a small door next to it. I looked and it was so small that adult can't go in. Since I was a curious girl I wanted to go in. I took a deep breath and opened the door. We couldn't believe what I was seeing. Simon said, "Impossible!" I couldn't say anything. I mumbled finally, "It is...it is amazing!" We could see a plain meadow and horses and ponies were running around. The sky was blue and the lake next to the meadow was beautiful. I couldn't decribe it as a word. We stood there looking at the view for few minutes then I finally said, "Wow, how can this be here?" "Impossible, it was just arock building!" Simon exclaimed. I said, "Is this from the book 'My Jouney'?" Simon asked, "What is that? 'My Journey'? So you mean this came out of a book?" I explained him what 'My Journey' was and I finally finished explaining and I said, "This is probably from a book! So...someone has been here...and that is our grandfather! That make all sense!" Simon said as if he was confused, "What makes sense?" I said, "I told you that the book ends in a middle of the sentense! Grandfather must have came here and he left the book behind! That's why he couldn't finish! Then when he came back he put it in a box and totally forgot about it!" Simon nodded, but here was the problem. How can we go back where our family is? I said, "Well, let's keep on walking!" We walked and it was just a plain meadow. I asked, "Do you have water? I am going to be dehydrated!!" He looked in his bag and he pulled out a water bottle and it only had a little bit of water. I drank it all. Simon complained. He said angrily, "Ellen, if you drink all the water what do we drink from now on?" I said sarcastically, "Sorry~" We kept on walking and we were all tired. Then I thought of a great idea. I asked Simon, "Do you have any ropes or any string?" He looked in his bag and there was a snack and a long cloth. I smiled and took it. I ripped it in to about 4cm wide and 5m string. I had to make two. Then when I was finished with that I asked, "Do you have any handy knife thing?" He pulled a small knife out of his pocket and said, "Why?" I ignored him and asked, "Do you have any pins?" He shook his head. Then he said, "Well, I have few brooch I got from the hotel...would that help?" I nodded my head and got it from him. I said, "Wow, you have mostly everything!" I was ready and all I had to do is now ask Simon. I asked, "Do you know how to ride a horse?" He answered, "Not exactly, do you?" I said, "Yes, why? because when we went on a trip on my school we learnt it there! Well, I will teach you how!" When I finished teaching him he ran to get a horse. I got a black one and Simon got a brown one. We rode until we saw something. There was a big fog and I couldn't see well. All I could see was a building that was really big. I stood there staring at the building. It was really familiar. I said, "Simon? I think I know this place...I mean I've never been to China but this place is really familiar!" It was raining. Storm was here but I didn't care. I stood there. Simon called, "ELLEN, you are going to get soaked wet! Follow me! There is a cave! Come on get on your horse!" I slowly got on the horse and I said, "Simon? Do you know this place?" He answered confused, "What? I have never been to China! What are you talking about? Are you out..." He didn't say anything more. I asked, "What?" He said slowly, "Maybe...maybe this is from the book too! I mean give me the book!" I handed over the book. He opened to the middle of the page. There was few drawings. He said as he pointed to the building on the drawing, "Look! This is that building over there behind the fogs and this cave is over here on the drawing! It all fits, Ellen! It all fits!" "But then what is that building? Why is it there? Why didn't grandfather write about it?" I asked. We walked in. I had a feeling that we shouldn't go in but Simon kept on walking towards it so I had too. When we got in there was three doors leading to several different rooms. Simon suggested, "How about I will go into the room that is on the very left and you go into the room at very right and then after few minutes we will meet here again then we can share what we saw. If any of that sounds right we can go in and if they don't we will both go into the middle room. Is that okay with you?" I answered, "Sure, do you have a watch?" "Yes, I do have my phone to so I will give yout the watch and I will look at the time on my phone!" Simon said as he handed over the watch. Simon went in first and I stood there alone. I took a deep breath and said, "I can do this!" As I walked in the door creaked. When I went in there was a big pile of books and it was all about myths. I wasn't really interested so I went out and waited for Simon. After 5 minutes Simon came out and I told him about my room. It was his turn and he said, "Well, the room that I went in there were several different statues and it was nothing. I don't think it is the right room. How about going to into the middle room?" We walked in and the room was really bright and middle of the room there was a red button. A big red button. I asked, "Should I press it?" Simon nervously nodded. I walked closer and closer. Then I nervously put my hand on the switch and pressed on it hard. It didn't go down. I called Simon for help and he came. I told him to press down as hard as he could. Then finally it just went in so we tripped on it. Simon yelled. I felt a hard wind. The wind was blowing hard on my face. Then I fell down and Simon was falling down too. The ground had a humongous hole and we fell down. It was dark and I couldn't see Simon. He was yelling so hard that my ear hurted so badly. Then I fell on to a hard surface. My back was sore. Simon fell straight down after me. Before he landed on the ground somebody caught my arm. There were bunch of other people and they were all man. One of the man said in some language. After he finished his speech the other men caught me hard and I was tied up. Simon was tied up too. We were dragged and they threw us in a tent with bunch of other kids who looked nothing like us. They wore old fashion clothing and they were staring at us. We stayed there all tied up. Then Simon looked inside his bag and found a knife. He cut open is rope and he opened mine too. I asked, "Why are they doing this and where exactly are we? Why are we here?" "Don't ask me!! Why are they staring at us?" he asked me back. "They don't look like that they are from 20th century. They are like more old fashioned. They don't look like Europians either!" I said. One of the kids looked at us. Simon guessed, "You know the boy sitting over there! He looks like the boss of all children!" I agreed, "I agree!" He had black hair and black eyes. He looked really clever and he seemed like age 12. He stared at us and he was wearing ragged clothes. The other kids next to him was behind him, scared. There was only three girls. Rest of them were boys. I walked slowly and close to them, as I walked closer they were more scared. I finally said, "Hi, my name is Ellen," I said introducing my self. I continued pointing at Simon, "This is my brother Simon. What is your name?" The boy answered, "Hi, I'm Michal," He said pointing at one of the girls, "This is Lucy...she is my sister." Simon said, "Why are you here?" "We are from India...we are from a tribe that leaves in a valley. I am a son of the chief and we are here because there was a war between our tribe and another tribe. All of us here were going for help then we got lost and we somehow ended up here!" Michael replied. Simon said, "I wonder why that happened!