MY HAPPY PLACE
Mahtomedi Boy Shares the Love for His“ Happy Place” in Class Assignment
RACHEL M. ANDERSON • EDITOR & CONTRIBUTING WRITER
( Mahtomedi, MN)- These days, participating in sports and playing video games are among the most popular activities for young boys. But when Nick Merges, a 4th grade teacher at O. H. Anderson Elementary in Mahtomedi assigned the class to write about their“ Happy Place” in detail, Henry Medina, 9, didn’ t write about spending time on the soccer field or on the couch.
The Mahtomedi boy shared with his teacher how much he enjoys spending time at the family cabin. His essay reads in part:
My Happy Place: The Cabin By Henry Medina
I woke up. I can hear and smell my grandma making pancakes. I can hear them sizzling in the pan.
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I walked into the kitchen. I told my grandma I was going to go start a fire outside. I could hear and see the dogs running around outside. I saw the beautiful lake and the sunrise bouncing off the lake like a mirror in the crystal-clear water.
I went and grabbed some newspaper for the fire to start it. I opened the slide door and walked out onto the deck. I could hear it creak beneath my feet.
I walked down the stairs and onto the ground. I heard the crunchy leaves beneath my feet. The dogs were barking at me to throw the ball, but I ignored them. I went along to the fire to start it.
I got to the fire pit. I found some hot embers or coal in the pit and put some rough sticks and logs in and a little bit of newspaper, and then I blew on it to get it going. I could feel the warmth and heat of the fire on my face. I could smell and taste smoke in my mouth. I don’ t really like that taste in my mouth, but I was fine.
I took a step back and admired the beautiful pine forest.
Henry goes on to vividly describe the rest of his early morning experience on the day he was writing about.
I started off back to the cabin. As I was walking my tummy gurgled. I was guessing I was hungry.
I saw that my whole family was up. I walked up the stairs and opened the door. I asked my grandma if she could get me a plate and some orange juice. She got me a plate of her famous pancakes. Like always, they were perfect, a nice golden brown and a nice drizzle of maple syrup.
After I ate, I asked my dad if we could go fishing. He said yes as always.