by
Hannah
will never forget the saddest day of my life. It was a Saturday, and I was playing with my best and only friends, Almia,10, and Suzy,11. My name is Nora and I'm 11 , by the way. Anyway Almia, Suzy and I were playing on the grass near the sea. We were playing Frisbee. Almia threw the Frisbee to me, and it went flying past me. There was a cliff that went down to a small sandy area, about seven feet long and three feet wide, which touched the ocean. The Frisbee rolled on the ground and then fell off the cliff, which was behind me. I ran over to see that it had landed on the sand. I climbed slowly down the steep cliff. I picked up the Frisbee. Then, as a prank I called, "Help me!". The two came rushing to me. Suddenly, Almia slipped and fell. She screamed. Before I knew it she was clutching to the ledge for dear life. "Don't worry, Al," Suzy said, "I'll pull you up".
Alima began to cry she was terrified. Suzy tugged hard on her trembling arms but Alima was not strong enough, she slipped and fell into the water. I looked up and saw Suzy gazing in horror. "Get help" I shouted to her, at the top of the 20 foot cliff and I jumped into the 3 meter deep water. I could hardly see underwater, but by feeling I found poor Alima. I pulled her out of the freezing water and gasped for air. I saw she was breathing and sighed with relief. " Help!" I screamed. Two small children ran to the water. A and a boy I recognized as Mara, 2, and her brother Dennis, 4. "Get help fast," I shouted. Dennis turned but Mara knocked him over and he too fell. I cried as he lay unconscious. Mara crawled up and fell down the drop but I caught her. How could this happen? I needed help. I sobbed. We will be okay. I thought. I suddenly relized water was up to my ankles. The tide was coming in! I needed help fast. But the nearest houses were a mile away. Then how did the McIntyres get here? My question was answered. Yvonne, the childrens' babysitter came to the cliff. "I'll find help she shouted, and before I could stop her, she was gone. I was so scared. Then Alima woke up. I told her what happened. "We will make it," she said. We're strong. But that was not true. After the accident, Al was too weak. We didn't stand a chance. The tide was now up to above our knees. I held Mara and Al held Dennis' head up so he could breathe. We stood till the tide was up to our necks. I grabbed a small log that was floating. "Stay calm," I repeated, but inside I panicked. We lay Dennis across the log and I told Mara to hold . I clutched the wood and so did Alima. Soon we were floating. Our feet were about 4 feet from the ground. I looked and saw that Dennis was missing. I told Al quickly. She just dove underwater. She never came back up. I sobbed and held Mara. ten minutes later a rescue team was here, and they saved Mara and I. A man was lowered down on a rope from a helicopter, we were about 500 yards from the cliff now. He grabbed Mara first, then me, and took us to safety. Suzy was in the helicopter. Her eyes were wet and glossy. I told them what happened to Al and Dennis, the broke out crying. Poor little Mara didn't know what was wrong, so she just cried from being cold. The recue guy gave us blankets. A woman named Sue calmed Mara, and another lady, Jane, comforted Suzy and I. When we landed at the hospital, I was taken in on a stretcher. I was very cold and I had frostbite. Sue carried Mara in. They sent Suzy home. I was taken to a room and I didn't know where I was until I saw a poster in the hall that said "PLEASE SUPPORT THE MOUNTAINBROOK CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL". Many nurses and busy doctors walked by and a few other children were wheeled by on beds. My parents showed up 5 minutes later. The doctor, Dr. Bloom, told my mom about what had happenned and she came to see me. We talked and cried together for several minutes and she told me I would stay overnight. The next day I woke up, Dr. Bloom told me I had pneumonia. My frostbite had been taken care of, and Mara just had a little cold. I was allowed to go home a week after that, and I went to school again four days later. Suzy and I redieved awards for our bravery and the park the accident had occured in was named Alima Jones Park. We never did forget Alima though, she was a true friend. And now as I am sitting here in my room, remembering, now 36 with a daughter, Alima- Marie who is 6, I hope Alima Jones will never be forgotten by anyone. And when Alima- Marie is older I will tell her this story too so she can pass it on for centuries to come.
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