April leaned over the edge of her New York City apartment balcony, looking down at the busy streets below. The skyscrapers shined in the afternoon sunlight. “I wonder where all these cars are going… Work, school, or maybe even across the country!” She said aloud.

Question

She started imagining taking a long road trip across America. With just a backpack with her favorite clothes, a great road-trip playlist, and a fresh new map. April has always been an adventurous girl. She felt a strong need for a change all the time. A need to break free from her high school life.
April’s apartment was close to her best friend, Summer’s, apartment, which was just 2 floors down. April didn’t need to call Summer, as she could just go to her apartment herself, so she rushed down to Summer’s floor and knocked on her door. Summer opened the door, “Hi April! What are you doing here?”

April walked in and said, “Okay, so I know this is going to sound crazy, but I was thinking of going on a road trip across the country for my 17th birthday! And I of course want my best friend to come with me!” She continued, “I expect to drive all the way down to Los Angeles and spend a week or two there. What do you think?” April explained.

“What about school?” Summer asked, surprised but looking excited.

“We’ll deal with that… later,” April laughed.

Write the next paragraph or two in 7-8th grader wording like this please.

Answer 1

Summer's eyes sparkled with excitement as she thought about the idea. “A road trip sounds amazing, but how are we going to do it? We’re just kids!” She couldn’t help but smile at the thought of driving across the country, listening to their favorite songs, and stopping at fun places along the way.

April waved her hand dismissively, “We’ll figure it out! We’ll get our parents to help. What if we promised to keep up with schoolwork while we’re gone? Plus, think of all the cool stuff we could see! Imagine the Grand Canyon, beaches in California, and maybe even a famous diner like in the movies!” She leaned closer to Summer, “Come on, it’ll be the adventure of a lifetime!”

Summer giggled, “Okay, you’ve convinced me! But we need a solid plan. We can’t just jump in a car and drive!” She started to write down all the things they needed to do, like asking their parents for permission and planning the route. The more they talked about it, the more excited they got, and April felt a thrill of freedom wash over her.

Answer 2

They’re both older teenagers. Change it.

Answer 3

Summer looked at April, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “A road trip sounds incredible, but how are we supposed to pull this off? We can’t just take off without a plan!” She couldn't help but grin, imagining the adventure that awaited them.

April shrugged, a playful smirk on her face. “We’ll figure it all out! We can just ask our parents for permission. If we promise to stay on top of our schoolwork while we’re gone, I bet they’ll be cool with it. Plus, think of all the amazing things we could see! We could hit the Grand Canyon, hang out on the beaches in California, and try out those quirky diners you see in the movies!” She leaned closer, her enthusiasm contagious. “This could be the adventure we’ve always talked about!”

Summer bit her lip, considering the idea. “Alright, I’m in! But we need a solid plan. We can’t just hop in the car and hope for the best!” She reached for her phone to take notes, excited to brainstorm everything from their route to packing essentials. The thought of a road trip made her heart race, and together, they started plotting their journey, fueled by the freedom of being almost adults.