QuestionI sat for a long time, wondering what to write next. I stared at my BIC, the cartridge filled with blue so dark it was almost black. What words were hidden-unborn, unwritten-in all that unused ink?

“First Pen”Marshfield DreamsBy Ralph Fletcher

Arzberger 2007

Tell About the Present or the Future

The rest of my vacation bolted like a fawn when you try to sneak too close. The day Dad and Mom came to take me back for school, we had such a great barbecue that we decided it should be part of the Memory Box. I could tell Dad already knew about Gramps and Gram.

When it was time to leave, Gramps squeezed me hard.Gram squeezed me soft. “Add things to the Memory Box you want Gramps to remember,”

she whispered as she handed it to me. “And bring it with you next summer. We’ll need it, you and I.”

I waved as our car drove away-away from the best and worst summer ever. This time Gramps and Gram had taken care of me. Next summer, Gram and I would take care of Gramps. And the summers after that…well, we’d figure out something.

As the car hit the top of the hill, I watched Gramps slowly disappear into the horizon. And I hugged my Memory Box.

The Memory BoxBy Mary BahrArzberger 2007

Tell About the Present or the Future

All I can say is, if anyone wants a free yearbook, they can dig one out of the trash can in the back of the cafeteria.

You know, Rowley can have Class Clown for all I care. But if he ever gets too big for his britches, I’ll just remind him that he was the guy who ate the ______.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid By Jeff Kinney

Arzberger 2007

Leave the Reader with a Lesson

Did I ever miss my coins? Sometimes-but that’s okay. Because one thing I’ve learned is that, in the end, sharing and caring is worth a million pieces of gold.

“What I Did With My Coin Collection” By Tiger Woods

Thanks and GivingBy Marlo Thomas & Friends

Arzberger 2007

Talk to the ReaderGet Them Thinking

We walked home without a word. We didn’t tell Bigmama. We didn’t tell Mama. We didn’t tell anyone. We didn’t talk about what had happened for a very long time. And we didn’t take the shortcut again.ShortcutBy Donald Crews Arzberger 2007

Examine your Writer’s Notebook and search for the best ending you’ve written. You may find a piece you love and try writing a new ending.

QuestionTell About the Present or FutureLeave the Reader with a LessonTalk to the Reader-Get Them Thinking

On a separate sheet of paper, Name11-10-08Endings: