Day By Day
by: Samantha Schrader

Chapter 1
A New Life with a Lost Locker
My first day of Canton Jr.-Sr. High School was one of the most exciting moments of my life. After all, I was finally out of the little school and learning with the big kids. Unfortunately, the locker I was given did not have a number on it. When I came back to drop my books off, I was not sure which locker was mine. I had to carry all of my books with me the entire day, and this made me embarrassed as well as exhausted. My mother went to the school that night and had the janitor tape a number to my locker. After that incident, I was not that crazy about high school.
Chapter 2
How to Water a Science Teacher
In seventh grade, Amber McNett and I were sitting in Mr. Bowman’s science class. My backpack was on top of the lab table, and I reached for it to begin packing my books. I did not notice, however, that the shoulder strap was wrapped just right around the knob that turned on the water faucet. When I pulled on my bag, water was turned on full blast and icy cold liquid filled the air. I never knew water could ricochet so much off the bottom of the sink until that moment. I watched in horror as Mr. Bowman was drenched with the synthetic waterfall. An awkward silence seemed to fill the classroom. Not knowing what to do, I dove under the lab tables to take cover. Amber stopped the downpour, and Mr. Bowman made both of us stay after class to clean up the puddles.
Chapter 3
Perfect Hair Brings Dirty Clothes
It was sometime near winter of the eighth grade, and Miranda Schrader, Stacy Bellows, Amber, and I decided to go exploring toward the falls in LeRoy. After seeing one of the steepest cliffs around, our first reaction was to climb it. Stacy, being one of the smartest members of the group, decided to stay at the bottom where there was an ice-covered creek. I was behind Miranda and Amber as we ascended up the mini mountain. The mission was treacherous, but we refused to give up. Looking ahead of me, I could see that Amber and Miranda were going through a large thorn bush to reach the top. I watched in terror as the two coached me from above, expecting me to take that same route. Not wanting to risk entangling my hair in the thorns, I decided to take a steeper (yet clearer) path. I figured that would be better than risking a fairly neat hair day, until I lost my footing and began to slide. I could hear myself screaming profanities as sticks jammed themselves into my palms, but it took forever to stop. When a tree finally halted me, the filth on my clothes was much worse than messed up hair. From that moment on, I learned to quit being so stubborn.
Chapter 4
Dish Liquid Dreams
I have to admit that teenagers can get some really stupid ideas in their heads from time to time. Even worse is when two teenagers get together. That is when “stupid” becomes “interesting.” While Amber and I were sitting at her house one day in eighth grade, her mom suggested that we should wash some of the dishes. Well, one idea led to another, and the two of us ended up changing into our bathing suits, covering the entire floor with dish liquid, and sliding around in it. We, of course, had to clean up the floor (and ourselves) after the slippery activity, but there is nothing like the feeling of being covered in a cleaning substance for the fun of it.
Chapter 5
Failure Meets a Trouble Maker
Math has always, and will probably always be, my absolute worst subject. Therefore, geometry did not help the situation. Since I was flunking geometry in the ninth grade, Mr. Reed set up a session during the eighth period for Amber to tutor me. We had to sit in the back of the room because of the class going on during that period. The first day we were there, Mr. Reed was accusing a kid in his class of talking. The kid was denying it, which was making Mr. Reed angrier. Finally, Mr. Reed told him to get out, and the kid did. I waved at him through the window, and this kid with blue eyes and brown hair waved back at me. For some reason, I met him later in the hall. We began to talk, and I found out his name was Matt Putnam. From then on, a relationship began to bloom between this eighth grader and me. I have been with him for a year and a half now so I guess people could say I am a true believer in everything happening for a reason.
Chapter 6
Bleeding in a Cornfield
I have always prized my trials bike, aside from the fact that it is a 250, and I am only five feet tall. I knew I was not that great at the mastery of machines, but that never stopped me from cruising around a bumpy cornfield in Leroy to prove a girl’s talent. As I was crossing a hill one day in 10th grade on the bike, I suddenly hit a huge rock and was sent careening uncontrollably down the path. Finally, I fully lost control of the motorcycle and was partly thrown off. I got up slowly, with the bike still running and with no clue as to what I would expect. All I could smell was exhaust fumes and gas coming from the bike. As I untwisted my body from the machine and stood, an excruciating pain shot up my arm and back. Since I could not quite see my back, I glanced at my arm that was covered in blood. Seeing this caused me to immediately burst into tears as I realized walking brought pain as well. I explained to a concerned neighbor that I would be all right, and I told my dad to go get the bike. After the entire ordeal, the front fender was ripped off and stripped of all paint while my exhaust pipe was bent out of shape. I realized that my arm was gashed and scraped in at least two different places, and the brake handle had jammed into my back. Surprisingly, my leg did not seem to be injured. I learned to become more aware of cornfield debris in future events.
Chapter 7
Big City Hick Girls
When a person comes from a small town like Canton, Chicago can be far more than overwhelming. That is what the band and chorus became aware of when we went on our field trip last school year. My roommates in the hotel were Jessica Lamont, Shawna VanHorn, and Rachel Morse. Of course, we had to make our hotel stay interesting. Our solution consisted of the use of cheery messages and designs on our windows and mirrors, having contests to see how long we could keep ice cubes in our belly buttons and armpits, dancing around half naked, throwing dirty towels at the hotel maids, and prank calling other rooms. I also got the joy of being frisked by security guards at the Sears Skytower. It is tough to sum up every event of our trip, but I imagine we caused quite a ruckus.
Chapter 8
Dancing the Night Away
Matt’s ninth grade formal had been the highlight of my life since I began going out with him. A couple weeks before the event, Matt went with me to Deb’s to assist in choosing a dress. We finally agreed on a number that was my size, on sale for $60, and gorgeous as well. Matt had already gotten his attire, which consisted of black dress pants, black dress shoes, a gray button-up shirt, and a matching tie. My dress was a long, shimmery gold prom dress, adorned with a covering of opened black lace, and spaghetti straps. I accessorized the outfit with black heels and coordinating jewelry. When the special night finally arrived at the elementary school, Matt and I went through the general custom of picture taking. After we survived that, my mother drove us to the dance. There, we met Cory Mesko, Taylor McNett, Ray Grater, and other unique friends of Matt’s. Eventually, we got more comfortable, and Matt decided to attempt the tango with me. I looked over at Taylor, who was dancing with a chair. Matt and I slow danced and got our pictures taken there as well. The time passed far too quickly. The grand finale of the formal for me was when Matt stole all the balloons, shoved them with us into his mom’s car, and gave them to me as a present to take home. He made the formal a night I will never forget.
Chapter 9
An Entire Weekend
On the weekend of August 22-24, Matt and I went camping at Darien Lake to spend more time together. We went with Kim Putnam, his girlfriend Cindy, Steve Miller, his wife and son, Tim Avants, Tina Avants, TJ Avants, Ashley Avants, and a few more friends of Kim’s. After we got there and unpacked everything, Matt and I went to the park. I decided to drag Matt on the Superman roller coaster. I had ridden the Superman before, so I was not that nervous. Matt almost peed his pants, but had fun by the end. After that, we went on a wooden roller coaster, which was nothing compared to the Superman. I got hungry, so Matt and I shared peanut butter Dip n’ Dots. In my opinion, Dip n’ Dots are one of the best snacks in the world. I love the sweet, creamy taste and the feel of the icy cold ice cream on my tongue. Later, we went back to the campsite to sit by the campfire and watch fireworks. The next morning, we went to the park again. This time, Matt and I spent the day in the water area. After that, we went back to the campsite to get changed and go to a concert. The concert performers were Saliva, Kiss, and Aerosmith. That was my first concert, and it was a blast! Later, we went back to sitting by the campfire. When the last day of camping arrived, we packed up our items and went to the park again. There, I got a Henna tattoo, rode the pirate ship with TJ, rode the go carts with Cindy, and also the bumper cars. By the end of the trip, I was sun burnt so terribly I could hardly bare it. I hated to leave, but I had to assure myself that to have more fun times a person has to end their previous ones.
Chapter 10
Dreams Do Come True
Here I am, in my wedding dress. It’s about ten years into my future. I gaze in the mirror as my long, shimmery white gown befits the shape of my body. My hair is pinned in an elegant fashion with what seems like millions of tiny ringlets spindling downward from my glittery tiara. My feet are nestled in my glass slippers, and I take caution in my every step. White gold accessories sparkle with every my every move. My lips glisten, aching for that kiss after the last “I do” is uttered from my groom and myself. My writing career has finally paid off. Not only am I wealthy, but I am also about to marry my high school sweetheart: Matt Putnam. We have just recently purchased an extravagant mansion, complete with its own private beach that will not officially be occupied until after the ceremony. My dad, who I was finally reunited with my senior year, will be there to walk me down the aisle. He knocks quietly and slips inside the door to a back room of the church, where I stand. A single tear rolls down his cheek as he tells me how proud he is. I dab at my own tears of joy, pick up my bouquet of roses, and walk down the candlelit aisle toward the future of my dreams.