The Progressive Story
Chapter 8-told by Cannelton
Elementary 3rd Grade Students
Peter
looked out of the Space Shuttle window.
He was shocked to see
what looked like planets and stars going by him."I wonder how far
in outer space I went?" he asked himself.He knew the abalone tooth
he had was magical.So he rubbed it and closed his eyes.
He hoped it would help
him know what to do.And it worked!
He saw in his mind that
he was actually going back to the planet Earth and would land in a place
called Cannelton, Indiana in the USA!
The shuttle landed right by a yellow
school building.It said Myers Grade School.
The date on the school said 1868.
"Wow! I wonder if I have gone back
in time?" He finally got out of the shuttle and had a good look around. He saw that there was a river right next to the town.This must be the
Ohio River!He heard a noise.It was the sound of a whistle from a
steam boat floating down the river.
He did not see modern cars or modern
buildings.He saw lots of horses and buggies and dirt roads.He
saw people walking and kids playing.He walked up to one of the boys who
looked about his age."Can you tell me what year this is?"
asked Peter.
The boy replied, "It is 1870. Why do you ask?Hey, what is that strange thing you came out of?"
Peter did not know for sure if he should
tell the truth. He thought it might frighten the boy.Then he thought,
well, I need help and he is the only help I see.So he answered, "That
is a space shuttle.You might not believe this, but I just traveled back
in time from the year 2001!"
"You are right, I don't believe you!
I mean, how can that happen?" asked the boy.Peter said, "Well,
when I find out I will let you know. For now though, I want to find my way
back home and to the year 2001."
The boy thought about this for a while,
then he decided to trust Peter and said, "Wow, you are really in trouble
I guess.My name is John.
I live here in Cannelton,
Indiana.My folks are from Georgia but were made to work here during the
Civil War.We work in the Cotton Mill down the street.
I do not go to school since my family
needsme to work and earn money for the family.
I wish I knew how to read.Do you
know how to read?"
"Yes, I know how to read.I
can teach you as much as I can about that if you want me to." said Peter.
"Yes, I would like to learn! Thank
you! You are really a gift I believe!" said John.
"I want to take you to my friends and
my family to introduce you!Then we will tell your story to them and see
if we can find a way to help you.If you want to teach me to read, can
you also teach my little sister to read?"
"Sure, I will do that.Thank
you for helping me!" Peter said, grateful that he had a friend in this
new place.
Peter went with John to meet John's family. He saw that John was the oldest child.John had a little sister and a
baby brother.John's mom fed Peter and let him rest.Then, Peter
got out his paper pad and ink pen (which John thought was magic!) and showed
John and his sister about the ABC's and he told them the sounds that they make
and how to put them together to make many words.John was a quick
learner and so was his sister.Later that afternoon, John's dad took a
look at the Space Shuttle and could not believe that anyone on Earth could
build such a wondrous machine!
Peter showed John's dad the button he
had pushed before, which had been the reason he had accidentally traveled
through time and space.Peter then realized that all he needed to do to
get back home was to check the programming history of the computer on the
shuttle and then reverse it!So, he told John and his family goodbye. He had enjoyed visiting the town of Cannelton with is beautiful river view and
rolling southern Indiana hills, but, he wanted to get back home.
After he looked over the shuttle computer,
and reversed the program, he was ready.He placed his finger on that
same red button and.......
PPPSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
