Composition: Memoir

Waiting For My Sister
5th Grade Composition, Unit 1, Final Draft
by Grace Elizabeth Denson, age 9

Have you ever wanted something so badly, and then you have to wait?  You might want a bicycle, but then your parents tell you that you have to wait until your birthday/  But, for your birthday your parents buy you the bike of your dreams!  That's how I felt waiting for Kath, my little sister.  I waited for weeks!  I really wanted it to be a girl, and I had a two-year-old brother already.  But I just couldn't wait to have another sibling.

But let's start back a few weeks.  My Dad is deploying to Iraq.  The sharp February wind cuts the air.  Dad has to deploy a month before our baby is born.  My dad boards the bus, gives one last wave, and then he's gone.  Dad was so mad he couldn't be here when the baby was born.  The next few days are so gloomy.  Joseph, my brother, keeps saying, "Daddy home?"  When we say "No." he is so disappointed.  It feels like time is nearly standing still.  We are all just waiting for Kath to come.

It just feels different having just Mom in the house and Dad so far away.  Every second makes it harder and harder to wait for Kath.   My Aunt Debi is coming to watch Joseph and I while Mom is in the hospital having Kath.  I am glad to have her here. We pick Aunt Debi up.  I get out of the car and give Aunt Debi a big hug.  She is just as I remembered:  tall, long golden hair, freckled face, and a rose-red smile.

A few nights later, we take Mom to the hospital.  The icy cold makes the wait for Kath seem to freeze as we drive back to the house and go back to bed.  We try to sleep, but I just couldn't because I am excited to see Katharine!  Since we can't sleep we watch a "Mickey Musical."

The next day, we visit Mom and Kath in the hospital.  Finally she is here!  Kath has soft, baby skin, wide blue eyes, and a soft, cuddly hug.  I get to hold her and give her a little kiss!

A day later, Mom and Kath come home.  We help Mom by helping to feed Kath and keeping out of trouble.  We have to keep careful track of Kath.  Grandma comes out to Kansas to see Kath and then Nana and Boppa come too.  All our friends hold a baby shower.  Sometimes I think we get too much love!

Almost two months later, Dad gets to come home on R&R.  He is so anxious to see Katharine.  We have lots of fun with Dad, and we take Kath new places.  Dad adores playing with all of us until he has to go back to Iraq.  "Good-bye Dad," I yelled.  "See you in a year!"

After this experience, I learned that siblings make the world fun and are worth waiting for.  If my sister weren't here, I would be pretty bored.  She gives me someone to be with.  Kath always make me smile.  But I think the best thing is, that after I waited so long for her, she is always here for me!