Latrobe, Pennsylvania

"Latrobe? What... Latrobe?" People ask when I tell them where I'm from. Their eyes bug out and I just look at them. "I've never heard of that before." Most people haven't, and I'm proud of that. If the world knew of my town, they'd love it, trust me. Because when I think of this town, I think of a story that forms in front of my small green eyes.

"Come on, babe!" My mother tugged on my sleeve. "Don't be scared! She won' bite!"

"You'd be surprised!" I mumbled up at her. Her curly hair pulled up in the big hair you see on TV. She gave me "the look". I could see "the look" even if I wasn't lookin' at my mom. She sighed and lowered to her knees.

"Sweety..." She made sure no one was there. "If you don't high-tail it in the house, I'll be happy to help ya." My mother never hit me or kicked me, but she had an attitude. I nodded up at her. "Good." She leveled herself straight up and led me up the narrow path. TAP! TAP! the green painted door swung open to show a nice lookin' lady with black soft hair softly pulled up in a tight pony-tail. "'Ello. My names' Diane. Welcome to Latrobe! Small town, big people! This," she shoved my body toward the door, "is my babe Alex." My stubby hair pulled up in a pony-tail. I wore a green- flowered dress.

"I'm very happy to meet both of you." She stepped aside and said, "Please step in." The house smelled of dried flowers. One wormy little boy sat staring at the TV. The boy was held the girl I'd seen earlier that day. When we were waiting in the bus line, she bailed which distorted my 'image'. "Mandy, darling, Alex is here to see you!" I walked over.

"Hello." I rolled my eyes as I shook her hand. "Nice... house. What?" I asked because her stare was so nerve racking. "Ummm..." She looked at my dress, "nothing. Would you like to see my room?" I nodded. She led me to the stairs where we hopped up. We walked down a flowered covered wall to a very pretty room. Bunk beds were pilled in the corner. "Yep, here we are."

"WOW! YOU HAVE BUNK BEDS!" I walked toward the ladder. "COOL! This is so neat!" I said as my feet climbed the ladder to the top. There I looked down on Mandy.

"Hey! Maybe we can have a sleepover tonight!" She said happly to me. From then on we were the best of friends, until, in 4th grade, some bad news spread.

I ran over a slopping hill. Mandy just was on the phone. She sounded so upset, I had to rush over. Plus, I could miss Mandy and my favorite show. "Hey!" I huffed as I jumped on the swing set. We both stared out on to the pond. It was so huge, the ducks looked like they were having the time of their life quacking on the lake. "So?" I asked pulling open my Ho-Ho.

Tears flew into her eyes. "I'm... We're... ...moving." She sobbed. We missed the "show" or sunset that night, because we were to busy sobbing over each others friendship.

I'm in 6th grade now, and I still haven't completely gotten over. But Latrobe hasn't brought just bad memories, it's brought good ones too. Like, running in the field behind the yard, or playing capture the flag in a different field, or exploring the woods, or sledding down slopping hills, fishing, swimming, the possibilities are endless. But Latrobe has changed. The field that we use to run in our houses, same with the other fields. The woods are there still, but most of the kids are growing. Hold on. Sorry I've got to go Mary, Molly, Eric, Sara, Nick, Stefan, Max, Jessica, Kaitlyn, and Sam are all waiting for me. We're going sledding! Better hurry before the snow melts. Oh, and... LATROBE ROCKS!!!

Alexa K

Submitted: Thursday 19th February 2004, 5:35 PM

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