“I heard loud music and heard that there were prizes on the stage for us to take when they called our number on our colored paper band towards the end of the spectacular Christmas event.”

It was a Saturday morning and I was getting ready for Barnacle Book Worms at 826LA. I read for 30 minutes, got snacks, and played some Bingo: Reading Version. I was so close to winning but then someone else won instead. Barnacle Book Worms was over and I walked outside to the 826LA patio.

I saw like two or three balloon slides and two jumpers (one for girls, one for boys) for little kids only. They went from the houses all the way down to the park. When I went to the park, it was spectacular. The best part was that the event went on until 6:00 or 6:30 PM. I bought tickets, popcorn, and some sort of healthy soda. I played around, ate a hot dog with bacon (so good), and saw Edwin with his mom. I heard loud music and heard that there were prizes on the stage for us to take when they called our number on our colored paper band towards the end of the spectacular Christmas event. Edwin, my brother, and I played a little and then we split.

After we split, my brother and I went on this mini train that lasted for like one minute. They called out numbers but they didn’t call mine (‘cause I never win). When that was over, we waited in a mile-long line (I meant that’s what it looked like, it wasn’t actually a mile) and they had to arrange us by our color bands. I think I was orange or green but it took like two or one and a half hours to get my prize. It was a (please stand by) teddy bear holding a single letter. It was wasted time and a rip off. So that is the end of the story. Hope you enjoyed it and you never wait for a rip off toy.

P.S. You’re welcome that I told you to never wait for a rip-off toy.

P.S.S. There was also a spectacular Easter Egg Hunt event on March 31, 2018.

Good days, bad days—we all have ‘em.

In Billions of Stars, the 826LA After-School Tutoring students of Echo Park delve inside their brains to reflect on some of the more special moments in their lives—as well as some of the less special. In our first chapter, you’ll get a firsthand glimpse at the raw memories of our students in their memory journals. Our next section is dedicated to significant emerging and long-lasting friendships. Finally, read a combination of our students’ greatest and worst experiences. With their unadulterated honesty, the 826LA After-School Tutoring kids take you on a special guided tour of their lives in this collection of stories.

Read more about 826LA’s tutoring program and volunteer opportunities here. 

You can purchase Billions of Stars at the Time Travel Mart here.