The ten year old boy worked really hard while sobbing about being in trouble. He didn't feel like he should be in trouble for doing something to protect himself.
Joshua was sitting in the truck minding his own business and trying to block out his brother Sam's annoying screams and noises. After about ten minutes of trying his best to block him out he finally said "Sam please leave me alone and be quiet." Sam didn't listen to his big brother as he usually didn't anyway. Then Sam realized that his big brother had the book he wanted. He tried to grabbed the book from Joshua's hand, but Joshua wouldn't let go. Sam decided that if he bit his brothers arm hard enough then Joshua would let go of the book and he could have it. But Joshua didn't let go of the book he instead took his other hand and smacked his two year old bother across the face leaving a large red hand print on his cheek. Joshua's step father put Sam in the naughty chair and told him about not biting. He then took Joshua outside to the land that was being cleared. He said to Joshua that "you have the right to defend yourself... However you never have the right to use all your force on a child that is much smaller than you. You never have the right to hit your brother in the face. You do have the choice to move away, tell an adult, or defend yourself with the right amount of force. Now you will go and work on cutting crush and carrying it to the fire pit to be burned, and if you work hard enough today then that will be your only punishment for your actions."
Joshua was sweating as he brought each limb that had been cut to the fire pit. With small breaks for water and snacks, Joshua worked for five hours straight. And without being prompted he went to his brother and gave Sam a hug and said "I'm sorry I hit you but please do not bite me again, and if you want something I have then just ask nicely. I will share with you."
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Sure--you do two things here to distance: first the time sequencing, but also the sentence rhythm here: "Sam didn't listen to his big brother as he usually didn't anyway. Then Sam realized that his big brother had the book he wanted. He tried to grabbed the book from Joshua's hand, but Joshua wouldn't let go. Sam decided that if he bit his brothers arm hard enough then Joshua would let go of the book and he could have it. But Joshua didn't let go of the book he instead took his other hand and smacked his two year old bother across the face leaving a large red hand print on his cheek. Joshua's step father put Sam in the naughty chair and told him about not biting. He then took Joshua outside to the land that was being cleared."
This is matter-of-fact and emotionless the way kids' books are sometimes, and to write about emotions in this flat way works very well for the assignment.
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