The Day My World Ended By: Genevieve “Gg” Fink

Table Of Contents

Chapter 1: 2-3

Chapter 2: 4-6

Chapter 3: 7-8

Chapter 4: 9-10

Chapter 5: 11-13

Chapter 6: 14

Chapter 1

I hugged my brown coat closer to me as the wind whipped my hair around in circles. It had been a cold few days. No one in Puerto Rico expected such harsh weather. Running down the block I entered my town, San Juan. Mother greeted me outside of our small house. We lived in Paradise Hills, my favorite place in the world. I lived with my Mother and my Father. Mother worked from home sewing clothes for people. She made all of my clothes from scratch. Father on the other hand was a banker for a big banking company called “Bank of the San Juans.” I have been there once or twice when I was sick and Mother was out. I would sit in his big leather chair and feel so important. I got sick so much and Mother was out more and more that I ended up there at least once a week. They made me an ID and everything, it looked like this:

Name: Mia Lopez

Born on: April 12, 2005

Parents: Jose and Kamila Lopez

ID Number: 8963821

Getting sick a lot was bittersweet. Like you just licked the most delicious lollipop, but then you drop it on the ground, like that. I ended up at different hospitals and doctors offices all the time. I got to know people from all over the world that were nice to me and that would sneak me snacks and other things. They were doctors, patients, and nurses from other towns, cities, and countries. One of the doctors I met was born in Africa with the lions! One of the nurses I met was born in the hospital. A patient I met was born in the U.S.A. The rooms were all a bland beige color. Only one room I was in had a beautiful sunset on the wallpaper. In the room there were fake figurines of lions and elephants, just like in Africa. Luckily when I went to the hospital the told me I had no diseases. I would get people sick but never my family, only a few of the doctors!

Chapter 2

It was September 20, 2017 and there was a rumor there was going to be a hurricane. No one thought much about it, people only talked about some rains. Nothing Puerto Rico wasn’t ready for. I grabbed my raincoat and my backpack and ran for the school bus. Our buses looked like American ones. They said autobús on the top and they were orange. There was a silver piece at the bottom that we used to use as a mirror and many rows of black seats inside. Everyone sat in the same seats every day and we were good kids. Sitting and finishing up a book or homework. The boys ALWAYS finished and started their homework on the bus. I turn around and boys started asking me answers to questions.

“Mía, ¿cuál es la respuesta a la pregunta cinco, la del sujeto y los predicados?” (Mia, What is the answer to question five, the one about the subject and predicates?) or “Mía, ¿cuántas veces 26 entran en 3,562? (Mia, how many times does 26 go into 3,562?) The boys also would always play baseball and ruin my family’s lawn. They dug down into the dirt and ripped up the grass so they can run and put the bases down. They do this because my dad just so happens to be their coach. We girls on the other hand finish our homework all together after school in the park and check it with our parents before we go and play. We don’t ask about the homework on the bus. On the bus we say things like, “¿De dónde sacaste esa bolsa? ¡Me encanta!” (Where did you get that bag? I love it!) and “Estudié para la prueba de anoche, tú, la de la clase de la Sra. Martinez’s. Ella es la MEJOR maestra de todos los tiempos.” (I studied for the test last night, did you, the one for Mrs. Lena’ s class. She is the BEST teacher ever.) Boys also are ALWAYS pranking the teachers. Last week, they put a thumb nail and a whoopie cushion on a teacher's chair. When the teacher sat down they would videotape their reaction. The girls hated it. Especially when those boys liked the girls. The girls would than scold them in front of their friends.

When the bus stopped at Saint Johns Elementary, the kids jumped up and we walked out of the bus and ran to the playground, where we waited for our teachers while playing on the equipment. The girls hung out on the monkey bars every day, where we compared notes for classes, gossiped, and went on the monkey bars and held contests. We started doing this, but Mrs. Martinez was early and waiting for us. We ran towards her and she walked us to our meeting area by the wall. Right then rain started pouring down and lightning flashed from the sky. Everyone screamed and ran upstairs. When we got to the classroom the windows were beating like drums wanting to burst. We covered them in duct tape to make sure this would not happen. Then, the sink at the back of the room started pouring out water. We ran to it and covered it with anything we could find. Teachers heard our racket, came in, and tried to help us until we ended up breaking the pipe and throwing it out of the window. Then we noticed we broke the duct tape so the rain started pouring in! I didn’t think much of the hurricane, but I am thinking differently now! Hurricane Maria, here you come!

Chapter 3

At the end of the school day there were trees lying on the grounds outside and worms everywhere. I freaked out because I strongly despise bugs and animals without legs (except for animals who lose their legs, that doesn’t count!) The school bus was smashed so dad came to pick me up. As he opened the door he started saying, "Hola Mia, me enteré de lo que sucedió hoy en la escuela. ¿Estás bien? Esa pregunta no debe responderse solo para que sepas, vamos a mi trabajo para poder hacer tu tarea y jugar en tu teléfono y mi computadora , solo sé bueno como siempre. ¿Cómo estuvo tu día?”(Hello Mia, I heard what happened today at school. You're good? That question should not be answered just so you know, when go to my work to be able to do your homework and play on your phone and my computer, just be good as always. How was your day?” I then replied, Hola papá, sí, estoy bien. Las ventanas casi reventaron así que les pusimos cinta adhesiva. Luego, el grifo comenzó a verter agua y tratamos de detenerlo. Rompimos la tubería y se cayó. Lo tiramos por la ventana y luego rompimos la cinta adhesiva. ¡Fue un día loco!” (Hi Dad, yes I am okay. The windows almost burst so we put duct tape on them. Then the faucet started pouring out water and we tried to stop it. We broke the pipe and it fell off. We threw it out the window and then we broke the duct tape. It was a crazy day!) As I finished my last sentence we rode right up to the bank/dad’s job. We froze in disbelief when we looked at the bank. The windows were shattered and a tree went through the building and was on the floor. Papers were everywhere and people were screaming. We ran inside going to dad’s desk. His papers were everywhere, but nothing was harmed. Phew…

Chapter 4

We collected dad’s things and put them into bags that were laying in his car. A phone, pictures, letters, a pear, some ties, and a few journals filled with dad’s life, my old tennis ball, my ID for the bank, a stress ball, and some coffee in a cup. Dad drank the coffee and put the cup into the bag. We then ran for it because the rain had started up again and the wind was blowing trees to our direction. We jumped in the car, fastened our seat belts, and drove home.

Mama always met us at home. She carried out some snacks we could gnaw on while finishing work. The block was echoing like we were on a mountain and people’s voices were heard from their houses. Police sirens wailed and wailed as if they were waiting for hope in the hurricane. Mother was outside as usual and helped us put our things inside, she gave us dry clothes, blankets, and then we all got some cookies and watched a soap opera as we waited for the hurricane to stop.

It is now 17 days later. The hurricane is gone, but we are still feeling it. We have no power and no cell service. Luckily, my family members in Puerto Rico have all been contacted and they are all safe. One of my friends house was underwater, but she was safe. The baseball field outside our house is gone and the bases are in the tree out front of our house. The grass in our lawn ripped out and is flying around in the sky. The house has no screen door anymore because it flew away in the strong winds. We found it than yesterday in the yard.

The food was off of all the shelves in the store. All that remained was some coke, beans, and some stale bread that expired in 2016.

Chapter 5

That’s what we lived off of for some time. Well, not the bread! Family from the U.S sent us money to pay for heat and food. Our refrigerator broke but was fixed with the money we were sent and now we are storing fruit and other cold items. I grabbed some OJ and pb and j crackers, my dad’s favorite snack. The phone belted a loud shriek and shook like the world was going to end. Sunlight poured through or broken windows and roof. Last night we slept in tents because we had no roof and it started to rain. Then the mailman came to our house and talked to us for a while, “There is a place you and your family can go, there is room left, it is in the school’s. I suggest you go to Saint Johns Elementary School. They have the most room and the nicest school. They have food galore and supplies that you will need.” “I go to Saint Johns Elementary School!” I exclaimed. The family agreed and we packed up what remained.

My school looked so different the walls were covered in brass color hooks that held peoples belongings. One held four suitcases filled with clothes and other necessities. My family AKA Mom, Dad, and I put down our bags and a few cots given to us in an empty space. I then got up and walked around the school. I first went to Mrs. Martinez’s classroom to see how it was doing. All of her stuff was cleaned out of the desk and her computer was shut off. I walked to my desk in front of the room and sat down. The desk itself was soggy with raindrops and leaves on it. My books were also wet but they were fixable. I took everything out and went back downstairs where I saw my best friend Haiti. “Hola Mia, estoy feliz de que estés aquí, no quería estar sola. De todos modos, ¿son esos tus libros? ¿Fuiste al aula? ¿Puedes llevarme?” (Hello Mia, I'm happy you are here, I didn't want to be alone. Anyway are those your books? Did you go to the classroom Can you take me?) I dragged her to the stairwell and we made our way up, taking her books and playing around on our chairs.

When an announcement was made for dinner we went downstairs to the overcrowded cafeteria selling comida criolla which is a common Puerto Rican dish that is made of things such as rice and beans, lasagnas, pepper steak, and even pastelones, which are Puerto Rican casseroles made from sweet fried plantains or mashed potatoes. They were also giving out pumpkin rice which is only served on the day before holidays. Pumpkin rice is a skin squash. The drinks they had were like watermelon smoothies and lemonade. Haiti and I grabbed our comida comida criolla and pastelones. I grabbed a lemonade and Haiti grabbed the watermelon smoothie. We then thanked the lunch ladies. “Gracias!” We chimed smiling and waving.

That was 11 days ago. Haiti and her family are living with my family in the USA. We are sharing a small house with a yard full of weeds and dead plants. None of our parents are ready to take care of it. Haiti and I share the smallest room. The walls are stained from leaks and the walls are old and brown. My parents and her parent share the two other rooms upstairs. Theres are only a bit bigger than ours.

Chapter 6

That was 11 days ago. Haiti and her family are living with my family in the USA. We are sharing a small house with a yard full of weeds and dead plants. None of our parents are ready to take care of it. Haiti and I share the smallest room. The room is stained from leaks and the walls are old and brown. My parents and her parent share the two other rooms upstairs. Theres are only a bit bigger than ours and not much nicer. One is a gold that turned darker and unappealing. The other is black and makes the room look so much smaller than it is.

Puerto Rico affected my community and the people in it. It will change our lives forever.

The End

About the Author

Genevieve "Gg" Gray is 11 years old. She currently lives in Hoboken, NJ with her Mom and Dad. Gg loves to write books and poems. When she is older she wants to be an actress on Broadway or a writer. She hopes you enjoyed her book.