6th Grade Sound Wave
Elena Vermeer
6th Grade Sound Wave
Copyright 2014 Elena Vermeer
4th Grade of Excitement
5th Grade Freak-out
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 – Good and Bad News
Chapter 2 – Setting Off
Chapter 3 – An Endless Flight
Chapter 4 – First Day
Chapter 5 – Day 2
Chapter 6 – Competition Day
Chapter 7 – Great Wall
Chapter 8 – Grand Historical Attractions
Chapter 9 – Last Full Day
Chapter 10 – Last Day
A Final Word
Chapter 1 – Good and Bad News
Summer holidays were always the best of holidays. The weather was dominated by the gentle warmth of the California sun, and tennis and swimming were very agreeable activities.
Lizboa Gordon, a sporty girl, was truly enjoying herself. She was staying with her good friends – Alice, a shrewd, hot-tempered girl, Evelyn, a gentle and sweet girl who was always ready to think well of people, and Alexis, a sunny, good-tempered girl. They were sisters – the Bringham-Joneses. She had known them for a year now – ever since she joined McJone’s Foundry school at the beginning of 5th Grade. A pang of sorrow stung her when the name of her past school came to her mind. Yes – her past school! Lizboa, along with the sisters, had already graduated from McJone’s.
A wave of shouting awoke Lizboa from her meditation. The Bringham-Jones sisters came running breathlessly to Lizboa, crying, “Oh, Lizboa, Lizboa! Wait till you hear our news!”
Lizboa jumped from her bench and approached the sisters. She didn’t even have time to ask what the commotion was about before they blurted out joyously, “Our school choir is going to represent our state and school to compete in the Children’s Choir Tournament in China – Beijing, specifically. Our school normally doesn’t have girls studying up to 6th grade, but for this special event, the four of us and Baixue were selected from all the others to compete in the choir! We’re to go in spring!”
Lizboa gave a squeal of intense delight, but then a look of curiosity filled her face. “But then aren’t we being held back a year?”
“No, silly,” said Alexis. “In this state, schools can choose between providing 6 years of Elementary school and 2 years of junior high school, or 5 years of Elementary school and 3 years of junior high school. Our school follows the latter curriculum. When we go back, we will follow the schedule for the former curriculum for one year, and then we will be equipped properly for going to the second year of junior high school next year with the others of our age.”
“I see,” said Lizboa. “Let me read the letter.” Alice handed her the sheet of paper, and Lizboa scanned it quickly. She suddenly frowned dismally. “I’m sorry, but I can’t go. The trip to Beijing is far too expensive for my family to be able to afford.”
The other three exchanged glances of disappointment and grief. Then Alexis said, “You do sing beautifully, Lizboa. Are you sure there isn’t a way for you to go?”
“Well,” said Evelyn softly. “Maybe Daddy can pay for you. I’m sure he’d be willing to.”
Lizboa shook her head, fighting tears. “I do thank you for your generous offer,” she said, “But it just isn’t decent for me to accept.”
“Just come and ask Daddy,” insisted Alice.
“I said I wouldn’t accept, Alice,” replied Lizboa. “It won’t make any difference whether you make the offer or your father. Just give me some space.”
The others shot her sorrowful looks, and went away, crestfallen. Lizboa retreated to the porch, her head buried in her hands.
Meanwhile, Alexis, Evelyn and Alice discussed the matter.
“Lizboa must go! Our choir would lose a strong voice if she didn’t go,” said Alice.
“Perhaps she would accept if the school sponsored her, even though she declined our offer,” suggested Alexis.
“No,” said Evelyn. “Can’t you see that it’s her pride that’s stopping her? It doesn’t matter whoever sponsors her; she won’t accept. And I admire her for that. She really doesn’t take any advantage.”
“Well!” cried Alice. “She doesn’t understand that she’s not entering for herself, it’s for the school and the whole state!”
“Calm down, Alice,” said Alexis, giggling. “We can’t think of any solutions if we get all irritated.”
“Exactly,” said Evelyn, meditating. “Maybe we could try to start a fundraising activity? For Lizboa?”
Alexis and Alice considered the suggestion. It was feasible. Then it struck Alice.
“I know!” she exclaimed. “We could write to Miss Caty, telling her that Lizboa has difficulty in paying the funds, and could she start a fundraising program amongst the whole school, not only for Lizboa, but for the trip too! There’s bound to be some difficulty meeting financial needs for the trip on the school’s part too.”
“That’s a marvelous idea,” said Alexis. “But what should the fundraising be about?”
“What about ... each girl developing a good, new habit? And each girl could get sponsors, and this would be very meaningful too,” said Evelyn. “But remember, it should be entirely voluntary. We can’t force people to pay for another girl’s fees.”
“Well of course!” said Alice, impatiently. “Let’s write the letter now.”
The three were rather good students, really, and soon they constructed an elegant letter, as follows:
Dear Miss Caty,
We would like to suggest several ideas.
Our school choir is to go overseas to enter a tournament, and one of the grade 6 students chosen is Lizboa Gordon. We regret to say that she has difficulty in paying the fee, as her family cannot afford it. We think that she should be a given a chance in the choir, as she is a very good singer, so we would like to suggest a way that she might be able to go.
We have a fundraising suggestion: A Good-Habit-A-Week Campaign. Each girl will pledge to develop a certain number of good habits, one a week. They will get sponsors to pay a certain amount for a week, or just one lump sum. This fundraising will not only subsidize Lizboa, it can also raise money for the trip, for we believe that the school is likely to be in need of donations for the trip. This can also make our girls wiser and more responsible, and we think that this activity is highly meaningful.
Could you please approve of this plan, and send out circulars to the girls? Thank you very much for your time and effort!
Yours Faithfully,
Alice Bringham-Jones
Alexis Bringham-Jones
Evelyn Bringham-Jones
“There!” said Alexis, correcting a spelling mistake. “It’s perfect! Let’s mail it!”
They didn’t want Lizboa to know, of course, because she would definitely stop them, so they crept quietly across the lawn to the post box to mail it.
When they came back, they shouted to Lizboa, “Lizboa, come on! Let’s play a game of tennis!”
Lizboa soon cheered up, and the choir tour soon slipped to the back of her mind.
* * * * *
