Dear Diary,

Today was a wonderful day. I popped out of my “queen.” There were 398 of us born! It was very lonely just sitting in my bed. Most of the day it was quiet since everybody slept 7 to 9 hours. It was like the race of sleep. Nobody had any time to play or even talk.

Hello world,
Maci the New Born

March 8, 2008

Dear Diary,

This morning the weirdest thing happened. I woke up to a stranger caring me off. I spent two days with that unidentified being. I found out what it is called…“Mom.” I like that name. She took care of me and loved me. My favorite part was the singing. She sang “Rock a-bye Ant in an Ant Hill.” I was sad when she had to take me back.

Loving my new mom,
Maci the Happy Ant

March 10, 2008

Dear Diary,

I was still wet from the saliva that that ant we call queen licked me with. I can’t believe mom let her do that to me. Just as I said this my egg started cracking. Finally I was going to get to see the world-d-d-d-d-d-d-d! I stretched. “Yes, yes I was out!”

Sincerely,
Maci the Wet Ant

March 14, 2008

Dear Diary,

During Biology class today I was stunned to hear that most ants are 2 to 7 millimeters long seeing that I am 9 millimeters long! Everybody keeps telling me that I am going to become queen one day. I don’t really think I want to be queen. I want to be a doctor. Even though I would not be big enough and people couldn’t understand me, but hey Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream too that nobody thought would come true. Look how it turned out. Maybe I do have some hope!

Love,
Maci

March 15, 2008

Dear Diary,

I was told that my antennae were too short and that all ants have long antennae. So, I had to go get some extensions at the ant barber across the ant hill. I love my new extensions. They’re really long so I can smell, taste, and hear really well now.

Looking good,
Maci the Stylish Ant

March 16, 2008

Dear Diary,

Today we got our jobs. We had to wait in a long line and there was this worm who said “Hi” to all 600 of us! I felt sorry for that little guy. He was very nice though. When I was about 275 ants away from getting my job I realized that I had wings. Only males have wings. I can’t be a boy. OH NO!

Talk to you later,
Maci

March 17, 2008

Dear Diary,

Oh man. I am so confused. I am a worker ant. Worker ants are females, but I have wings and only males have wings besides queens. Just like the other day all the ants told me I was lucky I was going to get to be a queen. I still don’t want to be queen. It seems like a lot of work. I won’t worry though. Mom says it causes wrinkles.

Still worrying,
Maci the Worried Ant

March 18, 2008

Dear Diary,

My first day as a worker was wonderful and scary. I was supposed to collect food and leave a smell trail at the same time. It is hard to do two things at once when you’re my size. The smell trail thing wasn’t so hard and it was a good thing I learned how because that is what I use to find my way back. This was also a very sad day because thirty-two of my second cousins got killed in a walk-by. I hate when that happens because I always lose my best friend. This time it was Manny.

Working hard,
Maci the Worker Ant

March 19, 2008

Dear Diary,

Finally, all the food was collected. When we got back they told us that our queen had died this afternoon. To select a new queen we had an election called “Homecoming.” They chose me! I can’t believe it. All the other ants were right. I did become queen. I love it!

Ruling forever,
Maci the Queen

March 20, 2008

Dear Diary,

Picnic season starts today! I love getting all kinds of food. The thing I don’t like about picnic season is that all the bird bandits eat the family. I don’t like spending all my time planning funerals and burying everybody (even though we have plenty of dirt). I love being queen. I am glad that I finally found out what I am!

Love always and forever,
Maci the Ant

Written by Toni K. Cody
Lisa Junot’s 7th grade English
Sulphur Springs Middle School
Texas