About This Story Series
This story is part of a special series written by students in Stephanie Christopher’s 4th Grade Class at Elkhorn Elementary. After reading Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, students were challenged to write their own personal narrative in which their main character must survive in an extreme setting. Using Paulsen’s writing style as inspiration, they crafted exciting tales of adventure, danger, and resilience.
Out of all the submissions, six standout stories were selected to be published in the Excelsior Citizen. We hope you enjoy these incredible student-written survival stories!
The Cruise
By Macey Kay Shipp
I was on a cruise swimming in the sea and I turn around realizing that the cruise was gone! Seeing this, I stand there with a blank expression on my face: “did my family forget about me!?” I couldn’t believe it but remembering that salt water is not the best water to stay in, I found a small island. I swam to it, sitting there having self pity, but realizing that was not helping. So I get up, remembering that I sat my stuff on the island so it would not get wet. I grab it and there is a lighter, a pocket knife, and clothes. I put on the not wet clothes and put the knife in my pocket. I went to find shelter a found a cave with no animals in it, so I set my stuff down. I cleaned it up so after that I was dirty, but I also got hit by a branch and was bleeding a bit. I went to wash off in the water. I went to the water to clean off and I turned around and saw…..sharks circling me!
I stood there feeling the breeze and my heart beating fast. The sharks looking hungry but I didn’t want to die this way so I stood there thinking of what to do. I remember that I have a pocket knife. I pulled it out and…..stab the closest shark to me. Hearing the crunch of his skull I say, ”get away from me you beast you ugly monsters!” The rest of the sharks swam away scared me standing. With a dead shark right in front of me, blood all over me. “I never thought I could do it…” I was happy but looking at the shark makes me want to throw up. Not knowing what to do with the shark, I think I could eat it. I drag it back to the land and make a fire with the lighter. I had the feeling like a murder and still having the sound of the crushing skull. I cook the shark and eat some of it, thinking it was going to be gross, but it was delicious.
After that I went to bed. I woke up the next morning and ate some more, then trying to find fresh water because the salt water could kill you. Looking everywhere I soon lost hope of finding water. But then I saw a lake, but then I thought it was sea salt water. When I tried it, it was not sea salt water. So I drank a lot of water and then I said, “Thank you so much for the freshwater.”
I was surviving there for 3 weeks eating the shark (it lasted a long time) also living off of the water in the lake. Keeping the fire going (with my lighter) but one day…..I was in my cave eating when I heard a loud noise coming from outside the cave. It sounded like a helicopter. Thought of say who’s there like in the horror movies but that’s stupid, so I peeked my head out of the cave looking for who was there or what. I was right, it was a helicopter and a man. I didn’t know who it was so I kept my ground. He looked at me like I wanted to kill him. So I said “who are you?” the man said. ”it’s you, I thought you died!” I asked again, “Who are you?” The man said “I was looking at people who had gone missing and you stuck out to me, so I came to find you.” I remembered seeing him on tv so I went with him.
We went in the helicopter and he took me home. From that I learned that even if you think you can’t, try. And second, don’t always think people will do everything for you.
