A Man and His Daughter

Tara Glass
3/23/2015
English 6, period 6

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, life was going on as usual for Tara while she was taking a run, until a man
came up to her and told her that she was to live in a volcano for the rest of her life.

March 11, 2015

Thousands Flee As Villarrica Volcano

Erupts In Southern Chile
| By EVA VERGARA
Posted: 03/03/2015 9:13 am EST Updated: 03/04/2015 9:00 am EST

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) -- One of South America's most active volcanoes erupted early
Tuesday in southern Chile, spewing heavy smoke into the air as lava surged down its slopes,
prompting authorities to evacuate thousands of people. Authorities worried that mudslides
caused by melting snow could endanger nearby communities.
The Villarrica volcano erupted around 3 a.m. local time, according to the National
Emergency Office, which issued a red alert and ordered evacuations. Local media showed
images of the volcano bursting at the top, glowing in the dark amid heavy smoke and rivers
of lava.
The 9,000 foot (2,847-meter) volcano in Chile's central valley, 400 miles (670 kilometers)
south of Santiago, sits above the small city of Pucon, which has a population of about
22,000 people.
Chilean authorities had issued an orange alert on Monday because of increased activity at
the volcano. About 3,500 people have been evacuated so far, including tourists, said Interior
and Security Minister Rodrigo Penailillo.
Penailillo warned that the eruption had caused numerous rivers in the area to rise as snow
along the sides of the volcano began melting. Villarrica is covered by a glacier cap covering
some 40 square kilometers (15 square miles) and snow from about 1,500 meters (about
5,000 feet) on up.
Authorities were keeping an eye on four nearby communities that could be endangered by
mudslides as the snow melts.

Tourists flock to the area around Villarrica for outdoor activities like kayaking, horseback
riding, fishing and hiking around the volcano, which last had a major eruption in 1984.
Dozens of tourists were among those evacuated.
President Michelle Bachelet announced that she will travel to the volcano-hit area to check
on safety preparations and asked residents to remain calm.
The Villarrica has a crater of about 200 meters (yards) in diameter and a lake of lava about
150 meters (yards) deep. It has periodic eruptions every 10 or 15 years.
Chile has more than 2,000 volcanoes in the Andes cordillera and about 90 of them remain
active.

A Man and His Daughter

After a long stressful basketball season, Taras mind was fried.
Taras mom, Kim, takes her and her dog, Mystic, on a little
getaway to Chile to visit the beach, help them relax, and have some fun.
They are staying at a beautiful resort directly on the beach. Luckily, they allow pets, because
their German Shepherd is just as excited to be there.
The sand is white as snow, and the ocean looks crystal clear. The palm trees are covered
with coconuts, and you can smell the salt water from the ocean. Often, Tara and her dog like to
go for short runs to clear their minds and relax. Tara is always doing things to make herself stay
healthy.
One warm Sunday, Tara asks if she and Mystic can take a little run on the beach. Tara
has been to Chile every year since she was born, and she knows the area very well. Taras mom
trusts her, and she knows all the neighbors along the beach very
well.
In addition, Taras mom always feels safe when their dog
Mystic is with Tara. It was decided that a run would be good for Tara. Besides, Tara has her cell
phone in case anything might happen, and she might need help. Like most children, Tara has also
been taught to avoid strangers.
Tara began her jog on the beach, with Mystic sticking close behind. It was 82 degrees,
and there was no wind. She could see a volcano off in the distance, and she wondered when the
last time one had erupted here.

Tara started thinking about her past basketball season, when a man approached her and
Mystic from behind. Knowing to avoid strangers, but not wanting to be rude, Tara turns around,
and she quickly puts Mystic on a leash.
Mystic immediately begins barking at the stranger, until Tara quiets her. Tara and Mystic
keep running, but they slow down a bit. The man looks a little depressed, so Tara wonders what
could be bothering him. However, she keeps her distance for safety.
The sad looking man yells at Tara, Go to the volcano, and you can live in peace there.
She thinks the man is crazy and worries the man will try to harm her. Tara shouts back,
Thank you for the advice, and she keeps running.
The man repeats his words, Go to the volcano, and you can live in peace there. His
voice starts to tremble, and he begins to cry.
Feeling bad for the man, Tara stops running, and she calls her mom. Being a kind-hearted
girl, Tara looks at Mystic and says, Maybe we should sit down with him and try to comfort him.
Maybe I can find someone to call to come get him. Maybe he is lost.
Tara slowly goes over to man and asks, I am sorry sir, is everything okay?
While waiting for her mom, Tara finds out the old mans daughter was a volcanologist.
The daughter had a passion for studying active volcanos. Come to find out, the mans daughter
had traveled all around the world studying seismology and geology to help understand what
makes volcanos erupt.
The man tells Tara, My daughter used to say that hot flowing lava, even though it was
dangerous, gave her a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Unfortunately, Tara learns that the mans daughter was killed here in Chile when a
volcano she was studying erupted. The old man now believes that his daughters spirit lives in
volcanos. He thinks they are a beautiful place in nature to live in peace.
Tara feels bad for the man, but she understands his sadness. She wonders if the volcano
she saw was the one that killed the mans daughter.
When Taras mom picks her up, Tara explains the entire situation. Luckily, Taras mom
is able to get the man to tell him the name of his son who lives in Chile.
Consequently, they are able to reach the son, and they reunite the man with his son. The
man explains that he still has flashbacks about his daughter, and that he will forever associate
volcanos with peace, because his daughter loved studying them so much.
Once the man leaves, Tara decides to finish the run she started. This time, Tara is happy,
and she feels good knowing the man was able to talk about his daughter with someone. She
realizes the mans love for his daughter caused him to tell her to look for peace in a volcano.
She finishes the run, her mind is clear, and she and Mystic sleep like babies that night.

The End