Story Number One
First Editing Session

It was a very sunny day. All of a sudden we saw dark clouds and raindrops began to fall. It was surprising because we were in Maine and the weather forecast said it would be sunny all day. It was our summer vacation. We were sailing aboard Onward, Grandpa’s sailing yacht. My name is Elena and my brother’s name is Kian. Our dog, Kasho, isn’t sure he likes the water.

The wind started to blow. Then it blew harder. We reefed the sail. Then we decided we should find a place to anchor safely. We all started looking for a safe harbor. There was a tiny speck that we realized was an island. We sailed toward it and saw that there was a small harbor with a few old houses. We anchored Onward and the water was nice and calm.

We decided to go ashore. So we put Kasho on his leash and climbed into our dinghy and set off. We pulled the dingy on the beach and we walked up to a strange house. We knocked on the door for 3 minutes and no one answered. It seemed there was nobody on the island.

========= End of 1st Edit Session

We went to the next house. It looked like it was all locked up. It looked like there had been a fire and we found a fire ax. But before we used it, the door swung open. We went in slowly looking for a light. Another door opened and there were stairs.

We followed the stairs down and found another door with water behind it. Kian tripped and touched the door. The door slid open and water rushed in. Suddenly we were underwater! We tried to run up the stairs but we slipped. The water got us!

We held our breaths for a long time. Kian couldn’t hold it any longer. Suddenly he realized he could breathe underwater. Elena found that she could too! Grandpa and Kasho were also able to breath. Amazing, Kian said.

More amazing, Kian found he was half-shark, Elena was half-dolphin, Grandpa was half-sea god, and Kasho was a half-sea horse. Elena said, “What Happened? Am I dreaming?” Grandpa said “We seem to have entered a magic world!” Kasho said: “Woof-blub-blub.”

Elena began swimming around really fast and so did Kian. They asked Grandpa “Where is the sushi?”

We saw a pack of sharks swimming toward us. Kian told us to hide and he tried to talk to the sharks. He realized they could understand him! The sharks were not friendly.

A porpoise swam up and said “Wait! They are Princess Elena and Prince Kian who have come to visit!”

Elena said, “What?”

The porpoise said “Your Grandpa is a Sea God! You are welcome to explore your realm!”

The porpoise asked, “Where is Queen Peggy?”

We said “She is taking a nap aboard Onward!”

A bunch of clams formed a chariot and a whale came to pull it. We climbed in and the whale pulled us through the water. We saw many beautiful fish. The chariot stopped at a big kelp forest. The porpoise who had been guiding the whale swam on ahead. We saw her push on a rock with her flipper. Suddenly the kelp started to part. A beautiful coral reef appeared.

Atop the reef was an amazing coral castle. There were sharks on guard all around. The were singing
“We are the shark guards.
Shark guards! Shark guards!
We guard the home of the King and Queen.”

It was a long song that told the story about how Elena and Kian were part of the royal family. Wow!

When the sharks saw Grandpa, they all stood at attention and said “Hail Grandpa The Sea God.”

Kasho went running and swimming ahead and into the castle. We followed him and walked all around the castle. All of a sudden we were very tired and we each went into bedroom in the castle for a nap.

Four hours later, we woke up and they fed us a delicious lunch of seaweed.

We decided we wanted to go home. But the shark guards didn’t want us to leave. They said, “You just got here. We have been waiting many years for you and now you are leaving.”

We said “We want to go!” But the sharks made a wall of spears.

Kasho got behind the sharks. He started barking. Then he bit a shark’s tale. We were able to grab the shark’s spear. The sharks were ready to fight when the dolphin’s appeared and told them to stop.

Grandpa noticed a door and found a stairway. So while the dolphins talked with the sharks we started up the stairs. As we did we turned back into normal humans. And soon we were able to climb above the water. We came out on a beach. In the distance we saw something. Onward was at anchor and our dinghy was on the beach.

We all ran to the dinghy and returned to Onward. Peggy woke up when we returned. Elena and Kian told Peggy of their adventure. Grandpa baked a pizza. We had great fun and nice hot pizza and we talked about our adventure.

[Note: add: Watch movie?]

• - Dash - indicates a alternative; or used between components of a compound word

Story Number One

Story Number 1: First Draft

The Story: 5 August 2020 update; First Draft

It was a very sunny day. All of a sudden we saw dark clouds and raindrops began to fall. It was surprising because we were in Maine and the weather forecast said it would be sunny all day. We were sailing aboard Onward, Grandpa’s sailing yacht. We were on our summer vacation in Maine. My name is Elena and my brother’s name is Kian. Our dog, Kasho, isn’t sure he likes the water.

The wind started to blow hard. We reefed the sail. Then we decided we should find a place to anchor safely. We all started looking for a safe harbor. There was a tiny speck that we realized was an island. We sailed toward it and saw that there was a small harbor with a few old houses. We anchored Onward and the water was nice and calm.

We decided to go ashore. So we put Kasho on his leash and climbed into our dinghy and set off. We landed on the beach and we walked up to a strange house. We knocked on the door for 3 minutes and no one answered. It seemed there was nobody on the island.

We went to the next house. It looked like it was all locked up. It looked like there had been a fire and we found a fire ax. But before we used it, the door swung open. We went in slowly looking for a light. Another door opened and there were stairs.

We followed the stairs down and found another door with water behind it. Kian tripped and touched the door. The door slid open and water rushed in. Suddenly we were underwater! We tried to run up the stairs but we slipped. The water got us!

We held our breaths for a long time. Kian couldn’t hold it any longer. Suddenly he realized he could breathe underwater. Elena found that she could too! Grandpa and Kasho were also able to breath. Amazing, Kian said.

More amazing, Kian found he was half-shark, Elena was half-dolphin, Grandpa was half-sea god, and Kasho was a half-sea horse. Elena said, “What Happened? Am I dreaming?” Grandpa said “We seem to have entered a magic world!” Kasho said: “Woof-blub-blub.”

Elena began swimming around really fast and so did Kian. They asked Grandpa “Where is the sushi?”

We saw a pack of sharks swimming toward us. Kian told us to hide and he tried to talk to the sharks. He realized they could understand him! The sharks were not friendly.

A porpoise swam up and said “Wait! They are Princess Elena and Prince Kian who have come to visit!”

Elena said, “What?”

The porpoise said “Your Grandpa is a Sea God! You are welcome to explore your realm!”

The porpoise asked, “Where is Queen Peggy?”

We said “She is taking a nap aboard Onward!”

A bunch of clams formed a chariot and a whale came to pull it. We climbed in and the whale pulled us through the water. We saw many beautiful fish. The chariot stopped at a big kelp forest. The porpoise who had been guiding the whale swam on ahead. We saw her push on a rock with her flipper. Suddenly the kelp started to part. A beautiful coral reef appeared.

Atop the reef was an amazing coral castle. There were sharks on guard all around. The were singing
“We are the shark guards.
Shark guards! Shark guards!
We guard the home of the King and Queen.”

It was a long song that told the story about how Elena and Kian were part of the royal family. Wow!

When the sharks saw Grandpa, they all stood at attention and said “Hail Grandpa The Sea God.”

Kasho went running and swimming ahead and into the castle. We followed him and walked all around the castle. All of a sudden we were very tired and we each went into bedroom in the castle for a nap.

Four hours later, we woke up and they fed us a delicious lunch of seaweed.

We decided we wanted to go home. But the shark guards didn’t want us to leave. They said, “You just got here. We have been waiting many years for you and now you are leaving.”

We said “We want to go!” But the sharks made a wall of spears.

Kasho got behind the sharks. He started barking. Then he bit a shark’s tale. We were able to grab the shark’s spear. The sharks were ready to fight when the dolphin’s appeared and told them to stop.

Grandpa noticed a door and found a stairway. So while the dolphins talked with the sharks we started up the stairs. As we did we turned back into normal humans. And soon we were able to climb above the water. We came out on a beach. In the distance we saw something. Onward was at anchor and our dinghy was on the beach.

We all ran to the dinghy and returned to Onward. Peggy woke up when we returned. Elena and Kian told Peggy of their adventure. Grandpa baked a pizza. We had great fun and nice hot pizza and we talked about our adventure.

====================================================================
The Story: 3 August 2020 update

It was a very sunny day. All of a sudden we saw dark clouds and raindrops began to fall. It was surprising because we were in Maine and the weather forecast said it would be sunny all day. We were sailing aboard Onward, Grandpa’s sailing yacht. We were on our summer vacation in Maine. My name is Elena and my brother’s name is Kian. Our dog, Kasho, isn’t sure he likes the water.

The wind started to blow hard. We reefed the sail. Then we decided we should find a place to anchor safely. We all started looking for a safe harbor. There was a tiny speck that we realized was an island. We sailed toward it and saw that there was a small harbor with a few old houses. We anchored Onward and the water was nice and calm.

We decided to go ashore. So we put Kasho on his leash and climbed into our dinghy and set off. We landed on the beach and we walked up to a strange house. We knocked on the door for 3 minutes and no one answered. It seemed there was nobody on the island.

We went to the next house. It looked like was all locked up. It looked like there had been a fire and we found a fire ax. But before we used it, the door swung open. We went in slowly looking for a light. Another door opened and there were stairs.

We followed the stairs down and found another door with water behind it. Kian tripped and touched the door. The door slid open and water rushed in. Suddenly we were underwater! We tried to run up the stairs but we slipped. The water got us!

We held our breaths for a long time. Kian couldn’t hold it any longer. Suddenly he realized he could breathe underwater. Elena found that she could too! Grandpa and Kasho were also able to breath. Amazing, Kian said.

More amazing, Kian found he was half-shark, Elena was half-dolphin, Grandpa was half-sea god, and Kasho was a half-sea horse. Elena said, What Happened? Am I dreaming? Grandpa said we seem to have entered a magic world! Kasho said: Woof-blub-blub.

Elena began swimming around really fast and so did Kian. They asked Grandpa Where is the sushi?

We saw a pack of sharks swimming toward us. Kian told us to hide and he tried to talk to the sharks. He realized they could understand him! The sharks were not friendly.

A porpoise swam up and said Wait! They are Princess Elena and Prince Kian who have come to visit!

Elena said, What?

The porpoise said your Grandpa is a Sea God! You are welcome to explore your realm!

The porpoise asked, Where is Queen Peggy?

We said she is taking a nap aboard Onward!

A bunch of clams formed a chariot and a whale came to pull it. We climbed in and the whale pulled us through the water. We saw many beautiful fish. The chariot stopped at a big kelp forest. The porpoise who had been guiding the whale swam on ahead. We saw her push on a rock with her flipper. Suddenly the kelp started to part. A beautiful coral reef appeared.

Atop the reef was an amazing coral castle. There were sharks on guard all around. The were singing
We are the shark guards.
Shark guards! Shark guards!
We guard the home of the King and Queen.

It was a long song that told the story about how Elena and Kian were part of the royal family. Wow!

When they saw Grandpa, they all stood at attention and said Hail Grandpa The Sea God.

Kasho went running and swimming ahead and into the castle. We followed him and walked all around the castle. All of a sudden we were very tired and we each went into bedroom in the castle for a nap.

Four hours later, we woke up and the fed us a delicious lunch of seaweed.

We decided we wanted to go home. But the shark guards didn’t want us to leave.


========================================================================
31 July 2020 Update

Story: 31 July

It was a very sunny day. All of a sudden we saw dark clouds and raindrops began to fall. It was surprising because we were in Maine and the weather forecast said it would be sunny all day. We were sailing aboard Onward, Grandpa’s sailing yacht. We were on our summer vacation in Maine. My name is Elena and my brother’s name is Kian. Our dog, Kasho, isn’t sure he likes the water.

The wind started to blow hard. We reefed the sail. Then we decided we should find a place to anchor safely. We all started looking for a safe harbor. There was a tiny speck that we realized was an island. We sailed toward it and saw that there was a small harbor with a few old houses. We anchored Onward and the water was nice and calm.

We decided to go ashore. So we put Kasho on his leash and climbed into our dinghy and set off. We landed on the beach and we walked up to a strange house. We knocked on the door for 3 minutes and no one answered. It seemed there was nobody on the island.

We went to the next house. It looked like was all locked up. It looked like there had been a fire and we found a fire ax. But before we used it, the door swung open. We went in slowly looking for a light. Another door opened and there were stairs.

We followed the stairs down and found another door with water behind it. Kian tripped and touched the door. The door slid open and water rushed in. Suddenly we were underwater! We tried to run up the stairs but we slipped. The water got us!

We held our breaths for a long time. Kian couldn’t hold it any longer. Suddenly he realized he could breathe underwater. Elena found that she could too! Grandpa and Kasho were also able to breath. Amazing, Kian said.

More amazing, Kian found he was half-shark, Elena was half-dolphin, Grandpa was half-sea god, and Kasho was a half-sea horse. Elena said, What Happened? Am I dreaming? Grandpa said we seem to have entered a magic world! Kasho said: Woof-blub-blub.

Elena began swimming around really fast and so did Kian. They asked Grandpa Where is the sushi?

We saw a pack of sharks swimming toward us. Kian told us to hide and he tried to talk to the sharks. He realized they could understand him! The sharks were not friendly.

A porpoise swam up and said Wait! They are Princess Elena and Prince Kian who have come to visit!

Elena said, What?

The porpoise said your Grandpa is a Sea God! You are welcome to explore your realm!

The porpoise asked, Where is Queen Peggy?

We said she is taking a nap aboard Onward!

A bunch of clams formed a chariot and a whale came to pull it.

• • In the harbor we see something strange
• o Found a creepy old house
• o Went inside to explore
• ♣ House had two parts and there is a glass wall of a room full of water
• ♣ The glass wall slides open and you get washed with a water and start to grow fins and can breathe under water
• ♣ Kian becomes a mer-man and Elena becomes a mer-maid
• ♣ Kasho turns into a sea-dog, a mer-dog
• ♣ Then we see a dolphin who welcomes K&E as royalty
• ♣ We ride a whale carriage to a underwater castle
• ♣ We explore the castle and climb up above the water where we change back into humans.
• ♣ Grandpa searches and finds the castle and picks us up.

• • We are on the ocean sailing Onward on our vacation in Maine √
• • A storm came up and we looked for a safe place to anchor √
• • We see a large island with a nice harbor and we sail there. √
• • In the harbor we see something strange √
• • We all go ashore to explore √
• • We found a creepy old house √
• • We went inside to explore √
• • The house had two parts √
• • There is a glass wall of a room full of water √
• • The glass wall slides open and we get washed with water and start to grow fins and can breathe under water √
• • Kian becomes a mer-boy and Elena becomes a mer-maid √
• • Kasho turns into a sea-dog, a mer-dog √
• • Grandpa becomes a Sea God √
• • Then we see a dolphin who welcomes K&E as royalty √
• • We all ride a whale pulled carriage to a underwater castle
• • We explore the castle and climb up above the water where we change back into humans
• • We find a room that has a huge coral reef with dolphins
• • We swim around the reef and explore
• • Grandpa finds a different passage in the castle.
• • We climb the winding stairs and find ourselves back on the beach where the dinghy is.
• •

• • Dark and stormy night
• • Boat
• • Island
• • Castle
• • Underwater

• • Needed safe place to stay.
• • Needed to satisfy our curiosity
• • Needed to find our way home

• • When we were going through the castle and turned into mer-persons and then back to humans.

• • Who?
• • What?
• • When?
• • Where?
• • Why?
• • How?