Project 4

Isaac's family moved to a new town called Maplewood. He felt lost and had trouble fitting in at school. The town was known for Agnes, a huge bear that signaled the beginning of spring when she woke up from hibernation. Isaac was fascinated by Agnes and wanted to see her for himself, but also felt scared. His classmates shared their stories and predictions about Agnes, and Isaac started joining in the conversations. Chapter 1 New Beginnings, New Challenges Isaac had never seen so many moving boxes. They were like a cardboard mound range in his new bedroom. But instead of snowcapping their peaks, there were bits of tape and labels that read, Isaac's Stuff. His family had just moved to this small town called Maplewood because of his dad's new job. And even though his parents promised new adventures, Isaac felt more lost than excited. The town of Maplewood was surrounded by thick woods that stretched far and wide, like a green ocean. The trees were so tall they seemed to tickle the sky, and the air always smelled a bit like that pine tree air freshener in his dad's car. Everything here was different. The streets, the sounds at night, even the way the pizza tasted. School was the toughest nut to crack. The other kids were friendly enough, but they all had their own groups already, like they were different countries and Isaac didn't have a passport. He tried to join conversations, but the words got jumbled in his throat, and he couldn't find the right thing to say. But there was this one thing, one very big thing, that everyone seemed to talk about. Agnes the bear. Agnes wasn't just any bear. According to Mrs. Sullivan at the corner store, she was the biggest bear anyone had ever seen around Maplewood. She had fur as dark as farm dirt and paws as big as dinner plates. But the most important thing about Agnes was that she always signaled the beginning of spring when she would wake up from her hibernation. Every winter, she'd disappear into her secret den to hibernate, and the town would wait and wonder when she'd return. Isaac was fascinated by the story of Agnes. Back in his old city, the most exciting animal he'd seen was Mr. Franklin's grumpy cat. The idea of a huge bear living nearby was both thrilling and scary. He wanted to see Agnes for himself to confirm she was real, but he also pictured those giant paws and wondered what would happen if she didn't like him. It was a swirl of excitement and fear that made his stomach do somersaults. She'll be waking up in the springtime, his classmate Lily said one day during recess, her eyes wide with excitement. My dad says when Agnes wakes up, the school year will be almost over. Everyone had their own Agnes story, and they all shared their tales and predictions. Would she come to the edge of town? Would they see her from their backyards? Listening to his classmates, Isaac found himself slowly inching into the conversations. He asked questions about where Agnes might have her den, or what she liked to eat first after waking up.