HPA and GSMS Grade Eight LA

The Wall

One perfectly packed snowball was all it took.
I never intended to throw it...  But it seemed to have a mind of its own as it left my gloved hand and soared through the icy December air.  The snowball smacked an unfortunate passerby square in the face, a shout if surprise cutting through the babble of excited voices.
I froze.
Oh no.
A teacher stalked towards me, his bright green pinny announced my doom.  
"Go to the wall and stay there!  NOW!"  
I dragged my feet, the shame of being condemned to the dreaded wall and the pain of losing the freedom that is recess bringing tears to my eyes.  
Let the public humiliation begin.



The Plunge

I trembled on the edge of the platform, the thin piece of wood teetering alarmingly.  As the instructor clipped a thin cord onto my harness, I peeked over the side, a wave of dizziness washed over me.  "Take your time," the woman said as a pathetic whimper escaped my lips.  "There's no rush.
My knees were weak.  I adjusted my footing and the platform shook almost as much as my sweaty hands.  I slowly shuffled forward until I was so close to the edge that I was sure all it would take was a small gust of wind to send me tumbling to the rocks below.  Logic told me that if I jumped, if hit the ground hard enough to break every bone in my body.  I was suddenly aware of how fragile my limbs were.  I squeezed my eyes tightly shut, taking one more long, shuddering breath,
Then I jumped.