Save the Earth - writercize #AtoZChallenge 3.19

Please note: writercize (a portmanteau of write and exercise with a z for ... a twist? fun? street cred?) is participating in the A to Z Challenge through the month of April with alphabetical writing prompts. I'm skipping the stories behind the prompts so you can spend more time practicing and less time reading! Please participate, and enjoy!

writercize: It's Earth Day!

Create a public service announcment, children's story with a moral, song or poem about what we can do to help our beautiful planet.

Earth Day is always a favorite inspiration here at writercize. Could be my Pacific Northwest roots, my childhood love of literally hugging every tree on walks around the block or just my feeling of responsibility for my children and the seventh generation.

For previous Earth Day writercizes, visit writercize 32 and writercize 185 185.

I love reading your comments and especially your writercize results, so please, drop me a line to let me know if this worked for you! Better yet, share your attempt with the world in your comment!

And, if you let me know you stopped by, I will be sure to pay you a visit as soon as I am able!

Click "read more" for writercizer sample response - a tale based on a true event from my childhood.

writercizer sample response:

Sun beams shimmered in the wet sand peppered by footprints left by two little girls flying kites. Cold wet waves lapped up to the shore's edge, filling moats and flattening sandcastle towers.

In the distance, seagulls squawked and dove into the sea, spiraling towards the water and jumping back to the sky with a slithery  fish dancing for freedom and escape.

Along the shore, one gull stood alone. His beak moved as though trying to shout to his friends, "Wait for me! I want to dive to!" 

But no sound came out. He gasped for breath, and his "caw" came out as a painful rasp.

One of the girls saw the bird, standing quietly out of place and started to walk towards him. Rather than run or fly, the bird stood confused, unsure of how to proceed. His wings were strong, his webbed feet could scurry, but without a voice, he paused in his escape and watched the little girl.

As she came closer, she noticed his head was stuck in the plastic rings from a six-pack. His neck bulged on either side as he struggled to understand his unwanted necklace.

Slowly, the girl walked right up to the seagull and knelt quietly beside him. Reaching towards the back of his neck, she pinched two sides of the plastic rings and pulled them apart, ever so slightly. The bird's neck no longer looked tight and restrained, but he was still stuck in its grasp. Taking care not to frighten the seagull or hurt him, she slid the plastic up over the bird's head and stepped away.

As he took off towards his friends, he let out a light caw and rose towards the sun. The girl waved him off and whispered, "no, thank you," as she watched him fly away.