By Dmytro Matsko, winner of The Tides Fourth Grade Writing Contest 2023-4

“Let’s go!” yelled Dad.

“I’m scared,” I whispered.

“Come on,” Dad answered.

I was trembling with fear because it was my first time going skiing. When I was getting off the skiing lift, I jumped off the chair. It was so comfy and warm that I did not want to get off. My skis hit the ice. It was time to go. My dad was going down the skiing trail so easily. It was a sunny day, But it was cold. The sky was as blue as the ocean. I was frightened. And at the same time, I was delighted.

I was starting at the skiing trail. My dad was yelling, ”You can do it! You can do it!” My heart was beating so fast. I was trying to keep my balance. I was falling so many times, but I did not give up. When I fell in the snow, it was pitch black because my head was deep in a pile of snow.

I was shivering and shaking uncontrollably when I got down.

“I’m never going to do this,” I thought to myself. But….

I closed my eyes for the 15th time. I started to go down the skiing trail. I opened my eyes and yelled, “I’m doing it! I’m doing it!” I felt so proud of myself.

“I did it, “ I thought to myself

When I got to the end, I exclaimed, “Let’s go again!”

My dad said, “ Let’s go one more time.” But… 

When we got down to the ID scan, it was closed. I said, “Come on!”

But my dad said, “We will go tomorrow.”  I felt super displeased. I held my head low because I knew we were leaving today.