AEL-Phillipe+C.

Hi, my name is Phillipe. I am 11 years old. My favorite hobby is reading Garfield books or books from famous authors. I am from Thailand, but I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina.


 * __The Phobia__ (First Draft)**

Today is definetly a horrible day. Not only it's a Monday, it's a day in which boys and girls dance together. Otherwise, known as a prom. Indy Rogers, an average ninth grader dreaded this day. He didn't actually hate girls or go against them, but was actually scared of them. He had a phobia of girls. The only person he can go close to was his mother. But even with his mother, he still stayed away from her.

And now he was at school, doomed by all the girls. Only 30 minutes until the dance. Indy was sitting around outside on the bench waiting for his mate. There were fancy lights and a banner saying "Nintth Grade Prom". //Brian must have spelled it wrong,// Indy thought. For Indy, the bannner wasn't all of a big problem. 30 minutes passed like a jet.

As he was waiting for Claire, his dancemate, he was sweating. A few more people started arriving and Indy felt that teeth was starting to sweat. After about 5 more minutes, her car arrived. She was in a pink dress with red high-heeled shoes; Indy's mouth hung open and felt as if now his eyeballs are sweating. He clutched his always-with-him side bag harder.

Claire walked up to him and greeted with a sweet smile. "Hi, Indiana," she said. He stammered out the following words, "Hi...um...you are beaut...Claire...I..." His face felt hot."Um...Indy, do you need a drink of water? I can treat you to one..." "No!" he shouted. "I must treat you one! That's what boys must do!" Indy tripped and stumbled. His face felt steamy. "Never mind, Indiana. Let's just enter." Claire called. "No! I...I need to tie my shoelaces." Indy bent down and kept his head low. "Well, we better get going; the prom is going to start soon." Claire told him. Indy clutched his side bag tight and went in.

Inside, the whole place was crowded like a pack of wolverines. It was loud with people shouting "I hate you!", "The dulce de leche over there looks tasty.", "Your violet dress is ugly!", "Mate is so...bitter!" and so on. Indy didn't feel like uttering anything.

The music in the band started playing soft, waltz music. Claire whispered, " Maybe we should go over there and dance together, Indy. There's more space over there." That feared young Indy the most.

On the other side of the ballroom -or you could say the gym- it was quiet and barely any people. "Now Indy, put that sidebag down and dance with me" Indy clutched it as if a precious ring would jump out of it and run away. "Come on. Put that down and let yourself sway away with the music and me." "No," Indy declared. "I can't put it down" "Why?" Claire asked with curiosity in her voice. "Well..." "Let me see, Indiana" "No!! No! These are my stuff and nobody can see it without my permission." The sidebag slipped and out came pictures. "What are these?" Claire asked as she bent down to pick one up. Indy just stood there, looking at her. In the picture was Indy in fifth grade, he was on his knees and it looked as if he was kissing her hand. The girl in there looked shocked as if someone electrocuted her. In another picture, he holding the girl's hand. She looked as if she was going to cry.

"Indy, are you okay? It's just a picture. I don't mind it anyway..." "No. It's just that she left and I never saw her again and... well, ever since I saw or met another girl, I think they'll just leave making me feel depressed." Claire looked at him and took his hand, "Everything is all right. I won't leave you until the end of the our senior year." "Really?! I want to at least have a girlfriend, but don't leave me until the end of high school because..." "Not to worry." Claire gently said.

"Hey, Indy. How goes the dance?" asked Henry, Indy's friend from first grade. No reply. "Well, at least you have fun don't you? Dating a hot..." "Shut up!" Indy said. As Indy and Claire got up and, Henry strided away. They got up together and held hands, thinking about what happened. But what Indy really thought was whether or not Claire will still be with him in the future to accompany him.

After the prom was a normal school day. And one day, Indy had a fight with his father.
 * __Spanish__ (Second Draft)**

"I don't want to learn it and I never will!" Indy shouted. "Come on, son. You got to learn it. Otherwise, you'll never understand what other people say." his father replied. "But I don't want to learn it! What is the point of learning Spanish when you're are in the United States?!" "Because we want you to! Now sign your name in the form!" "And you'll do what! You can't make me sign it!" "I'll take 50% of your allowance this month." Indy stared at him. "Okay, Dad. I will learn on one condition," Indy paused. "You must add 50% to my allowance." Indy's dad stopped for a moment. Finally, he made a deal. "Okay, but you must learn Spanish, though."

Two days later, Indy was in a Spanish class afterschool. "Say 'Buenos días." "Buenas días" "No. It's 'buenos' not buenas'." "Buenos díos." "No, Indy." It went like this the whole day. Indy stepped into the living room. ''Hi," he murmured to his Dad. Indy slumped to his bed.

//So comfartable//, he thought. //It is better than anything in the world//. The next day was a Saturday. "Indy, half an hour before Spanish." "What?! Isn't it only weekdays?! Not weekends!" "Keep quiet or it's 50% off!" Indy sighed.

On a Saturday afternoon, Indy was at school again As usual, it went the same. He ended up saying //two hundred// apples instead of //two apples//. He said //I will go bought three million potatos// instead of //I will go buy three potatos.//

After a week or so Indy came home and complained. "Dad, I can't take it anymore. Take 50% off my allowance." He waved it away. "I've got good news! We're going to Argentina this vacation!" Indy's mouth was open. "Yesiree! We're going to Argentina to the Iguazu Falls. That's why I let you learn Spanish." Indy stammered, "I'm going to speak Spanish...for real?!" "That's right! That's why I'm letting you learn it so that you can help us on our vacation!" Indy's father replied. //Today is June 14 and school ends tomorrow. We leave for vacation on June 17 so that means that I have only 3 days left! he thought.//

His mind was calculating the results. //With me being the worst in Spanish and only 4 days, I would be the best comedian in Argentina. Who would want to be laughed at?!// Indy thought. //Should I concentrate on learning Spanish and not humiliate myself or just let my parents humiliate themselves? Argh!!! I can't get this out of my head!// His thoughts were all being mixed in the blender. He fell down and didn't know what happened next.

When he woke up, he was laying in a soft, white bed. A blanket covered his body and his father was sitting beside him with a cup of coffee in his hand. "Oh son! You're alive!" His dad cried and grabbed his chest. A doctor and nurse entered with his mother trailing along. "My little baby!" Mom exclaimed. She ran to me and hugged me so tight I thought I would explode. "Don't hug him too tight or he won't breath." the doctor said with a chuckle. Mom released her son. "Oh I was so worried about you! When we saw you in that condition I speed through the speedlights just to save you and...oh!" She fainted. Indy gasped. "Someone bring the medic! My mother is dying!"

"Mom, mom, are you okay? Don't die!!" "Huh, what?" murmured Mother. "You're alive Rose," Indy's father said. "You're really lucky." ''You know what Harvard; maybe we should cancel this trip I'm pretty tired and out of condition." "But Rose, this is unreasonable! The trip is tomorrow and there's no way you can cancel it. We booked a trip and I'm not going to miss it." "But Dad," Indy said, "Mom is out of condition and we can't go there for sure." Indy's dad hesitated for a moment. He closed his eyes real tight and sighed. "You know," he said with his eyes still closed, "maybe we should stay here. I'm looking forward finish my Moby Dick book you know. I still have a long way." He sighed c ontinuously. "You mean... we stay here for the summer?!" the young boy gasped. "I guess so!" "Whoopeeee!" Indy shouted. He was on cloud 9. "But first clean your room." "All right!" Indy went off whistling the London Bridge for nothing can stop him from being happy.