Long Stories

The Catastrophic Disaster of 2004

By: Zana Cromar

On December 26, 2004 there was an earthquake, followed by a tsunami, in the Indian Ocean. The tsunami hit Sumatra, Indonesia and the Nicobar Islands in India. The earthquake was the fifth largest in the world, a 9.1 quake. The underwater quake generated a tsunami. It is known as the Boxing Day Tsunami because it occurred on the British holiday at 7:59 am local time.

The first largest earthquake in the world was on May 22, 1960 in Chile, a 9.5 quake. This quake generated a tsunami that not only devastated the coast of Chile, but many places across the Pacific in Hawaii, Japan, and the Philippines. The tidal wave caused 61 deaths in Hawaii and the devastation was felt all over the Pacific.

There was a huge amount of loss due to the disaster of 2004. The quake was on a reverse fault in the Sunda trench. A fault that most people forgot about or never had heard of. Even though the fault is 18.6 miles below the ocean floor, the quake that was made caused tremendous damage and devastation. Not only that, but the tsunami it generated was worse. The huge tidal wave destroyed reefs, homes, land, and lives. About 227,898 people were reported dead or missing. That's more deaths than any other tsunami in recorded history. The total estimated material losses in the Indian Ocean region were $10 billion, and the insured losses were $2 billion.

This was a horrible disaster that caused tremendous devastation throughout the Indian Ocean and catastrophically killed hundreds of thousands of people. This was a reminder to the people of the world that the ocean is not a beach. It is a deadly monster. Although it has many lovely parts, it is very dangerous and we must be very careful. DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNN!

Chapter 1

To Start It Off

July 4

We just moved to New Hampshire USA from Antartica. We are in the town called Concord. I hate it here. It's just so different. And what kind of name is Concord. People from New Hampshire are weird.

I put down my pencil. “I hate it here,” I said in my head.

“Abigail come downstairs.” I heard mom call.

“Coming,” I called back. I raced down the hall, down the stairs, and into the kitchen. I’m still having trouble knowing where everything is in our new house. Mom was at the counter making dinner. Grilled cheese, again.

“There you are,” said Mom. “Why don't you go on an evening walk, and get used to our new town.” I wasn’t in a good mood, but I went anyways. As I left the kitchen I heard Mom humming to herself.

“How can she be so happy when everything is so bad right now,” I thought. We had just moved away from Antarctica last week, because of a war. My dad died from a disease called diphtheria. And my brother, Eric, was forced to join the army. We haven't heard from him since he left.

It was dark out but the moon shone bright. I walked down the street. It was hot out, unlike back home in Antarctica.

As I walked I looked up at the sky. All I could see was the moon, no stars. In Antarctica you could see millions of stars every night.

Back home Dad and I would go on walks in those dark and cold winter nights and days. We would go to a nice patch of snow, lay down with our backs on the cold deep snow, and look up at all the stars. I missed those walks with Dad. But now all I could see was the moon.

I was thinking about all this when I heard a loud “BANG!” the first thought that came to mind was, Bombs! I thought we would have to move, AGAIN! I looked up and saw lights. At first I thought it was fire, but then I realized that they weren't just red, they were blue, and white!

I ran home as fast as I could. I heard more sounds behind me “BANG!” “BANG!” “BANG!” The sounds were one right after another. I found Mom standing on the front step of our porch looking up at the fiery lights.

“What are those lights,” I gasped. Even though it was hot out I was shivering. I hadn't been this scared since our town back in Antarctica was bombed! I felt like a winter day back in Alaska.

Mom looked down at me, a tear trickled down her cheek. “Fireworks.” She said as anasment, love, and sadness passed on her face.

“It’s ok Abigail dear,” she said softly, “They won’t hurt us.” All of the sudden there were so many different colors all at once.

“The grand finale,” Mom said under her breath. For some strange reason those words did something to me. They changed me. They calmed me. I looked up at Mom’s tear stained face. She looked down at me and mouthed the words, “I will be ok. We’ll be ok”

I knew just what that meant. Whenever she said that it meant that she was thinking about Dad.

You have heard of the great Maui but do you know his whole life story? Time for you to find out. Keep reading if you want to hear a story that will change the way that you see the would.

Once there was a young mother named _. She was married to a handsome young man named _. Neither of them came from wealthy families and neither had many belongings and they had a small house. They were not a poor family but were not wealthy. They live together in their small house with their four Sons. _ loved all her son's the same so she decided to name them all the same name. Maui was the name she chose. They lived a good life with no real problems. It was only when _ got pregnant with her fifth son did they start having problems.

When he was born she called him Maui just like her other Sons. She had different names for all of her sons such as strong, brave, or great. The name she chose for the fifth son was Maui the skillful. After he was born they all lived happily together for five years. The boys played happily together and _ and _ worked hard to keep them all fed. But after Maui the skillful turn five _and_we're having problems. There were just too many mouths to feed and not enough food and money. So in order to save the rest of their family they put Maui the skillful on a raft and pushed him out to sea. Then they went about their normal lives pretending Maui the skillful was never born.

Maui the skillful sat on that raft for a long 3 Day. He had always been a clever child and liked to build and invent things but he found that the raft not only had no food or fresh water he realized he had nothing to do. As he floated slowly starving, thirsting, and was bored to death the Gods from the heavens watched. They were debating about what they should do about the kid. Some of the gods wanted to help the boy and somehow bring him to land, others said they should not interfere with the choices of the human, but others saw potential in young Maui, they wanted to save and protect the young boy, possibly turning him into a demigod to help the humans.

After long debates the gods finally ruled out the option leaving the planet Stone. They decided to combine the other two suggestions. they decided they would take Maui in and turn him into a demigod. They would teach him and protect him and they would help him survive. And once he turned 16 they would send him back to his family with the knowledge he possessed to help his people.

They would create an island that would have all the essential things for survival and every day they would send challenges for Maui to overcome or they would come down to the island to teach Maui how to survive or to use his powers as a demigod.

Maui was sitting on the raft when he heard a big boom from the sky. He looked up and saw nothing. As he watched the sky he saw a figure come down. As it came down it glowed. Was it a human or not a human? When it came to rest on his raft he realized it was a god. Remembering the stories his mother had told he was afraid. She had said the gods would only show themselves when they came down to punish someone. Now he was afraid that he did have done something wrong and he was going to get punished. So he sat respectfully but also terrified in front the of God as he spoke,

“You have been chosen by the gods. We will help you and take care of you until you turn 16.” he said “on your 16th birthday we will send you back to your home with the powers of a demigod and use your powers to help your family and your people.“Are…… are you…...you…...are you going to hurt me?” Maui stammered.

“No” said the god firmly and yet softly “I am Simon god of Children. I am here to take you to a special island where you will train to be a demigod.”

“Am I d…...d...dead?” Maui asked remembering yet more terrifying tales about the gods.

“No,” said the Simon agen. Maui understood why he was the god of children, he had a way of sounding confident and soft. The kind of tone you should use when talking to a child. In this way Maui found himself trusting Simon. But not fully, he reminded himself to be respectful in front of the god.

“You must come with me and I will explain your purpose.”

“Yes sir.” Maui was not sure whether to call this god by his name or say something else but sir seemed like a good choice and the god seemed to approve.

“Ready?” asked Simon. Maui was about to say no, when Simon picked him up and flew away from the raft.

<>

They had been flying over the water for some time. The whole time Simon hadn't said a word. The five year old Maui tried to start a conversation more than once but Simon would not talk. That was sad, Maui rather enjoyed listening to the god talk. But Simon was glad to have some quiet time. Up in the sky palace (that is where the gods live) the gods were always arguing.

“I shall get away from the palace more often.” Simon thought. “Perhaps, this strange boy can help us become friends with one another.” Then he remembered something that he had been meaning to ask the boy.

“What is your name?” asked the god. The question was so sudden it caught Maui off guard which did not happen very often. When he recovered he said

“Maui the skillful.” Maui wanted for the god to say something in return when he did not, Maui was not surprised. Once again he let himself be lost in his own thoughts. And they flew on.

“Why were you, Maui the skillful, on that raft with on food or water?” Asked Simon. Again the sudden burst of words surprised Maui. But he recovered and said,

“My mother and father did not have enough food or money to take care of all of their children. And me, being the littlest, had to go.”

“The poor child” thought Simon to himself. Being the God of children he felt remorse and love for children when the other gods would wave their hands and say,

“They are the fault of the mortals.” and go on arguing. For some reason Simon felt the gods, including himself, completely responsible for every fault that the mortals have. He did not understand it nor did he tell anyone what he thought. In the sky palace, the gods were not the easiest people to talk to. Simon found himself thinking that he would confess more to this boy than he would to any one in his enter life. And his life had so far been no less than eternity.

Chapter 1

The minotaur ran headlong, horns pointed at Maui’s heart. Maui watched as the half-bull half-man charged at him. As the minotaur closed the gap between them, we waited for the last moment, and calmly sidestepped just out of the reach of the minotaur's horns.

Maui looked over to see Simon, who had become his best friend and mentor, smiling at him.

Maui turned and stabbed his sword into the minotaur rear end. It roared in pain. Then melted into dust. Maui walked over to where Simon was standing.

“That was good,” Said Simon. “ next time keep your eyes on the bull.”

“yes sir,” said Maui. there was a pause before Simon spoke again,

“come, Maui” said Simon, “I need to talk with you.”

Simon led Maui along the shore to nice Green Grove. Here they sat on a large boulder. Here they sat as Simon said,

“ Maui, do you remember when we first met?”

“ yes sir,” answered Maui, “I was on a raft and you came down and brought me here.”

“yes,” said Simon, “but do you remember what I said to you?”

“Of course,” said Maui, “you said that you would take me to an island where I would train and work hard for the rest of my life.”

“No,” said Simon, “ I said, then I would bring you here and you would train and work hard until you were the age of 16 years.” Simon continued, “ then you would be sent back to your parents and your people, with the knowledge that you possess as a demigod, to help and protect your people.” Simon paused to let this set in, then sighed, “And now you are turning 16 tomorrow.” Simon finished.

Maui looked at his friend dumbfounded. He cannot believe that he was going to be sent away. He didn't want to go, he wanted to stay on the tiny Island with Simon.

“I'm not going,” said Maui stubbornly. “I want to stay here with you.”

“ I know,” said Simon, “ but it is the will of the Gods.”

Never once in his life had Maui hated the Gods so much than at that horrible moment.

“I'm not going,” said Maui again.

“Don’t you want to prove yourself to your parents?” asked Simon.

“Well, I guess so,” answered Maui, “but they got rid of me, they hate me.”

“When you were only five years you sounded like you understood their decision completely,” said Simon. Maui thought about this for a moment then said,

“I guess I’ll go,” he thought about what he had just agreed to then added, “if you come with me I mean.”

“I will bring you to the main land but that is all I can do.”

Maui looked at his friend solemnly, he wanted more than anything to make the god proud. Even if it meant going away for good? He wasn’t sure.

<>

That night Maui found himself wondering why he had agreed to go back to his family. The island was his home now, Simone was his family. He could not imagine what it would be like on the mane land. The stories that Simone had told him, it sounded boring. You do the same thing every day. You have no fun, no adventures. Then he thought about good parts of the stories such as there were more people, Maui liked living alone but the thought of other people excited him. Earlier that evening Simone said that it was best to think of it as a totally different way of living. The thought of something new and different to learn to do and about something new had always interested and excited Maui. in the end Maui had decided that he would go and find all the adventures he could in the new way he was to live for the rest of his life. And he was sure he, of anyone, could find them all.