The Essay

Dad

Gabe

Ethan

Mrs. Pranger

On Saturday, Ethan cleaned up the basement and set up for the party. It took a lot longer than he expected to transfer his gaming system from his bedroom to the basement.

In the morning, some ginger ale helped settle Ethan’s stomach, so he decided to tackle that essay.

Ethan dropped his heavy backpack on the floor and flopped onto his bed with a sigh. He couldn’t believe that Mrs. Pranger had assigned an essay the weekend of his birthday.

After a breakfast of pancakes made by Ethan’s dad, the guests groggily headed home. Without a second thought, Ethan headed straight to bed where he slept the afternoon away.

“Hey, champ,” his father said, “can we get going right away? I want to stop at the hardware store before we stock up on food for the party. We can grab dinner on the go

after we pick up Lacey from swim practice. It’s going to be a busy night.”

Late into the night, the junk food and lack of sleep finally got to Ethan. His father heard him getting sick and suggested he stay home from school the next day. Feeling completely miserable, Ethan agreed.

The boys ate pizza and snacks, drank soda, played video games, and stayed up way too late. Ethan was having so much fun that he didn’t even think about the essay that would be due Monday.

Just as Ethan had feared, there would be no time for the essay tonight. He considered

skipping pajama shopping, but there was no way he could wear his tattered old flannels in front of his friends. The essay would just have to wait.

more of the conflict

the climax

the plot/rising actions

the resolution

While playing a new video game, Ethan felt his stomach begin to rumble. When he suddenly remembered the essay that was due in the morning, the worry made him feel even worse. Ethan shut off the video game and spent most of the night in the bathroom.

Late into the night, the junk food and lack of sleep finally got to Ethan. His father heard him getting sick and suggested he stay home from school the next day. Feeling completely miserable, Ethan agreed.

In the morning, some ginger ale helped settle Ethan’s stomach, so he decided to tackle that essay. The assignment didn’t take very long, and it actually helped Ethan feel better to not watch television or play video games.

The boys ate pizza and snacks, drank soda, played video games, and stayed up way too late. Ethan was having so much fun that he didn’t even think about the essay that would be due Monday.

By Sunday evening, Ethan was wide awake and eager to play with his birthday presents. He spent most of the night building a model spaceship and eating leftover pizza. While playing a new video game, Ethan felt his stomach begin to rumble.

When he suddenly remembered the essay that was due in the morning, the worry made him feel even worse. Ethan shut off the video game and spent most of the night in the bathroom.

Late into the night, the junk food and lack of sleep finally got to Ethan. His father heard him getting sick and suggested he stay home from school the next day. Feeling completely miserable, Ethan agreed.

The assignment didn’t take very long, and it actually helped Ethan feel better to not watch television or play video games. Being sick wasn’t the perfect end to his birthday weekend, but at least he had enjoyed a great party and still got the essay finished before returning to school.

There would not have been enough room for all of the boys to sleep in the basement.

The game system may not have worked properly and the boys would have had nothing to do.

Ethan may have had time to work on his essay if Gabe had not come over and the two boys started playing the game system.

The party would have not been completely decorated without Gabe's help and it would have started late.