{"id":2770,"date":"2016-03-24T09:00:18","date_gmt":"2016-03-24T16:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/?p=2770"},"modified":"2016-03-22T19:26:37","modified_gmt":"2016-03-23T02:26:37","slug":"sidekick-story-by-karla-ortiz-burden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2016\/sidekick-story-by-karla-ortiz-burden\/","title":{"rendered":"“Sidekick” — story by Karla Ortiz Burden"},"content":{"rendered":"

One City One Story 2016 Writing Contest: \u201cA Vivid Memory\u201d<\/p>\n

Honorable mention<\/p>\n

Category 2: Grades 6-8<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSidekick\u201d<\/p>\n

by Karla Ortiz Burden<\/p>\n

Grade 8<\/p>\n

Southmore Intermediate School<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was a girl in my preschool, I remember. She was crying. Most of her black hair was on her face, wet, due to her tears, and stuck to the fats of her rosy cheeks. One hand made a fist on her ironed skirt, while the other was clutching to the hem of her mother\u2019s dress. The girl hiccupped, pleading her mother not to leave. \u201cPlease, mommy,\u201d she pleaded, \u201cplease.\u201d Her glassy, coffee-colored eyes were strained from tears.<\/p>\n

I looked away from the scene and scanned the classroom. No one made a move to go help the poor girl, aside from the teacher, Mrs. Corado. I frowned, ashamed. I thought to myself, I was a supposed to be a hero, was I not?<\/em> So, ignoring the looks among my peers, I strode over to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, I\u2019m Karla, a future DC member! What\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n

I stuck my hand out like my mother taught me. Her eyes looked away from the carpeted floor and her gaze fell on me. She hesitated, looking up at her mother for approval before her sight was back on me, and shyly took my hand. I grinned and shook our hands, more for her sake than mine.<\/p>\n

\u201cAshley,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

It took me time to register what she meant, but when I did, I laughed. She was startled when I did. I was always a loud person.<\/p>\n

To Ashley\u2019s dismay, her mother had to leave. I looked up at her mother and said that it was, \u201cA-Okay,\u201d and, \u201cAshley is in good hands with me,\u201d while giving Ashley a thumbs up. But Ashley didn\u2019t budge.<\/p>\n

\u201cN-no,\u201d she cried, \u201cMommy, don\u2019t leave!\u201d<\/p>\n

I cocked my head to the side, wondering what to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe my sidekick!\u201d<\/p>\n

She gave me the look of a confused puppy, until she asked what I meant.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery superhero needs a sidekick, like a Batman and Robin, Mario and Luigi, and Jimmy Olsen with Superman. I\u2019m a superhero, or will be, so till then, be with me till I do so you can be one!\u201d<\/p>\n

Then she gave me a smile full of sunshine and rainbows. \u201cYes,\u201d she said. \u201cThank you.\u201d Before she knew, she let go of her mother\u2019s to my hand, and it stayed like that. It stayed for eight years.<\/p>\n

\n

View: \u00a0One City One Story Contest 2016 Winners<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One City One Story 2016 Writing Contest: \u201cA Vivid Memory\u201d Honorable mention Category 2: Grades 6-8 \u201cSidekick\u201d by Karla Ortiz Burden Grade 8 Southmore Intermediate School   There was a girl in my preschool, I remember. She was crying. Most of her black hair was on her face, wet, due […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[92],"class_list":["post-2770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-writing","tag-contest"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5ZwbD-IG","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2705,"url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2016\/one-city-one-story-contest-winners\/","url_meta":{"origin":2770,"position":0},"title":"One City One Story Contest Winners","author":"Jane Gov","date":"March 19, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The Pasadena Public Library is pleased to announce\u00a0the\u00a0One City One Story 2016\u00a0Art and Writing Contest winners! Photos by Catherine Hany \u00a0 The winning entries were honored during an award ceremony followed by a reception on March 19, 2016.\u00a0The winning entries are\u00a0currently displayed\u00a0at Central Library in the Great Hall, and will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Agendas & News"","block_context":{"text":"Agendas & News","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/agendas-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2016\/03\/contest_title.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2016\/03\/contest_title.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2016\/03\/contest_title.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2016\/03\/contest_title.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3484,"url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2016\/amelia\/","url_meta":{"origin":2770,"position":1},"title":"“Girl on Fire” — story by Amelia Monsour","author":"Teen Blogger","date":"November 19, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Young Readers League\u00a02016\u00a0Writing Contest Category 2 (Age 12-14) 1st\u00a0place Girl on Fire by\u00a0Amelia Monsour 12\u00a0years old (Grade 7) Sierra Madre Middle School \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0The circus master, Eduard, buttoned up his red coat, and prepared to enter the circus ring, where flying children, super strong men, and conjurers awaited. One person\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2731,"url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2016\/lost-and-found-by-kaitlyn-chiu\/","url_meta":{"origin":2770,"position":2},"title":"“Lost and Found” –story by Kaitlyn Chiu","author":"Teen Blogger","date":"March 19, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"One City One Story 2016 Writing Contest: \u201cA Vivid Memory\u201d 1st place Category 2: Grades 6-8 \u201cLost and Found\u201d by Kaitlyn Chiu Grade 7 Oak Avenue Intermediate School \u00a0 I walk leisurely down the street, taking my time. The vibrant flowers around me catch my attention as if they are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3711,"url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2017\/sally-ho\/","url_meta":{"origin":2770,"position":3},"title":"Dreams of a Refugee — a story by Sally Ho","author":"Teen Blogger","date":"March 21, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"One City One Story 2017 Writing Contest 2nd place High School category Sally Ho Grade 9, Arcadia High School \u201cDreams of a Refugee\u201d Summary: \u00a0A family flees their hometown after the destruction during the Syrian Civil War. \u00a0 Whenever I look up into the night sky, I\u2019m staring into a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2017\/03\/ocos2017_sho.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2017\/03\/ocos2017_sho.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2017\/03\/ocos2017_sho.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4177,"url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2017\/burian\/","url_meta":{"origin":2770,"position":4},"title":"“The Selfie” — story by Penelope Burian","author":"Teen Blogger","date":"November 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Young Readers League 2017 Writing Contest 3rd place Category 2 (ages 12-14) The Selfie by Penelope Burian Age 13 (Grade 7) Blair Middle School \u00a0 \u2018\u2018It was a dark and stormy night, just like how most ghost stories start,\u201d Kate began. \u201cWe\u2019re seriously doing this? 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What a wonderful kind of day\u2026\u2019\u201d I sing along with Arthur and his friends as they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2770"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2770\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2773,"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2770\/revisions\/2773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}