Empty Ending

I couldn’t find her. I had no idea where she was. I didn’t know how I was going to get back to her. I was all alone. I was wondering each aisle. Pacing up and down, I was searching for mother. This was one of my worst fears. Getting separated from my mom.

Looking back at the book, Are You My Mother? I noticed the reason why I took interest in it. My worst fear was getting lost. On occasion, I would get lost and I used to freak out. I would start to cry and frantically search for my mom by running, trying to find her as quickly as possible. Reading this book made me even more cautious than I already was about loosing my mom in a public area. I had no idea what the bird was doing. Going around to strangers, he could’ve gotten kidnapped. I was always that kid that was extremely cautious about everything.  Another book that I took seriously was a prayer book that my mom always read to me at night. The name escapes me. It was a fun book with activities at the end but I was always on top of things making sure that we read it every single night otherwise I didn’t feel complete. I didn’t like change.

Later on in my childhood, I began to move on to the books that I thought were funny. These included Green Eggs and Ham and Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. I enjoyed book such as these because I would imitate the characters. My class would make green eggs and ham and I thought they were delicious. I would go around asking people to have green eggs and quote the book. Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed was a fun book to read because I had a matching CD to sing along to in the car. As a kid  I always took books in a serious manner but these gave me a chance to have fun when I read.

Once I reached about third grade, I read  Rainy in the Mermaid Lagoon. This book was the first chapter book that I ever read and actually enjoyed. It was full of adventure and I was so lost and intrigued into the book. It was the first chapter book that I enjoyed. In about fourth grade,  I found a series that I enjoyed. This was the Candy Apple Series and I loved Miss Popularity I began to read it and I instantly loved it. Recapping it, the book was about a redhead that seemed to be perfection. She moved to a new school and was super popular and everybody loved her.

I guess that I remember/ loved this book because in grade school, I always wondered what middle school was like. Reading books like those, I always wanted middle school to go that way for me. I dreamed of going to middle school and wanting it to be perfect.

Now, I read books such as The Giver, Between the Shades of Gray, Tuck Everlasting, Wendy Mass fiction such as 11 Birthdays, 12 Wishes, and 13 Gifts  etc.. All of these books are fiction. I noticed that I really like to read about realistic fiction because I enjoy reading books that I can connect to my own life, or  reading about another persons life. Stories such as these, have interested me my whole life. Ever since I was little, I always wanted to read about what life was going to be like. Actually, what I wanted it to be like. As well as realistic fiction, books such as The Giver and Between the Shades of Gray and Tuck Everlasting all have an ending where you really have to think. I absolutely love the stinging feeling at the end of a book. One of both joy, confusion, anger and sorrow. It feels so unanswered but I feel a happiness inside where I was happy it ended the way it did.

I analyzed myself and realized that I am a reader to be excited about books with a “stinging end” and drama. I don't like when every single book ends in a "happily ever after way." Constantly when I read I want to be at the edge of my seat just waiting for what happens next. Fulfillment comes from reading realistic fiction for me but also a book that captures my attention. Doesn't let go. And keeps me at the end of a rope waiting to plunge into what lies ahead. I just want life to be in order all the time and I constantly want to know everything that is going to happen. When I read, books leave me  with an empty ending. A story where there could be any possible end.

Books are an unanswered future.

Zombie Apocalypse?

Picture, you’re at work. Sitting in your office…, by yourself. You are doing paperwork longing to go home to your family. Something bangs on the door knocking it open. A zombie barges in. A zombie apocalypse will be your death…

For me, I could’ve sworn to myself that it would be my death. The moment it was in my eyesight I nearly fell off of my chair pushing it back so quickly from how startled I was. “Get away from me!” I yelled holding up a bag under my desk. Our office walls were made up of windows. I opened the nearest to bottom window and leaped out of it. I fell flat on my back, the grass crawling its way up my spine. Laying there dazed, I realized that I had to keep running. But the grass feels so nice to lie on after a shock like that. No I have to stay focused. Especially, knowing that my sisters Christa and Addie are at home by themselves.

I have visions in my head about the possible things that could happen if I am not there. I bounce up off of the ground and jolt towards my car. It’s gone. I have to run. Sprinting through the wind, my hair flies in front of my face being difficult to see what direction I am headed. Home.

I get to my front door, dizzy and in shock of everything that is occurring around me. My two sisters, one four years old and one twelve years old, come running out yelling “You’re here, we missed you so much. We were so scared.” They burry their heads in me and I stand there clenching on to them tightly. Tears slightly fill my eyes in the feeling of fulfillment knowing that they are safe. Knowing that nothing happened to them. I couldn’t imagine if they were gone when I arrived. Feeling the tears soak through my coat, I realize that they are both crying as well. This reminds me that we had to get inside. I didn’t want to let go of either one of their hands. I couldn’t.

All three of us take shelter in the bathroom in the basement. Huddled in the corner, none of us dare to leave the bathroom. “I am so happy that you guys are ok” I whispered to them. I know exactly what they are thinking, I wish mom were here. I am thinking the same thing. I lean over and tell them that it’s okay and that I will protect them as I always do.

At a burst of the door, the basement was being invaded. We needed to leave out the back door. I opened a window and popped the screen out. “C’mon guys it’s alright, I will help you up.” My twelve year old sister Christa went first after me. I grabbed onto her arms to help hull her up the side wall. We ran for our lives rounding around the corner of our house. We didn’t exactly know what our plan would be except to run. Down the street there was an all concrete building with no windows or anything except for a ladder to climb inside. It was about a 5x5 concrete box. After getting inside, we removed the ladder so it was impossible to break in.

Hoping we wouldn’t get discovered, I thought about what mom would do if she were with us to comfort us. Even though my sisters and I are about 20 years apart and 12 years apart, we always got along perfectly. We all want her in this situation. She probably would hold us close in her arms and sing. At least I know she would do anything for us to feel better. I thought I better do the same. I say to both the girls, “It will all pass don’t worry. The police will take care of it. They always know what to do.” Just as I say this, I realize something.  “Where’s Addie!?”

With such a panic I try climbing up the concrete walls with no use. How could I leave Addie!? She is only four years old. Tears begin to sting my eyes again but instead start pouring out in buckets. I pray and pray for her to be all right. Why couldn’t this have happened to me? How could I even allow such a thing like leaving her behind, happen? She only got to live four years of her life and now she is trapped somewhere while a zombie apocalypse is taking place. Why didn’t I make her go first? Sitting down in the corner of the concrete box talking aloud to myself, I wipe up my tears with my sleeve making the tears soak down my arm. Christa begins to comfort me and tells me to use the ladder to get back out. I was so worried, I didn’t think about that.

When I reach the surface, everything is still. As if nothing happened. I tell Christa this and she comes out of the concrete room as well. “That is so weird” she says. For a minute I think I am dreaming. Nobody is out on the streets. Everything is quiet. No voices from a distance, no car engines. All, still. Slowly I start walking towards my house. It wasn’t a dream.

My whole house being destroyed still as it was, I see the popped out window. I find my way around the house, constantly wiping my tears. Finally I make it to the basement and she isn’t where I left her. Maybe she ran away and made it safe. I pray and pray and pray that she is alright. I continually search for her around the entire house. She got away, I know she did. She is a super smart independent girl. She knows what to do. I come across the kitchen and then the living room and then her room. There she is lying on the floor, lifeless. No smile, no welcome, no excitement of seeing us two, nothing. I role her over and she is holding onto her rag doll that mom gave her. She called it “Mommy’s Stay Safe Dolly.” Mom always told her that it would keep her safe no matter what. From being scared of the dark, to now. Clenched in between her fingers. She is curled up on the floor. I stare at her as much as I can see through the dam that broke open in my eyes.

I begin to pray in my head, on my knees beside her. It was my job to protect them and I let you down. I left behind not only a four year old but that four year old little girl was my sister. I watched over her. Nobody can imagine losing a little sister like her. I loved her beyond imagination. I’m sorry I let you down. Tell her I love her for me. Thanks, mom. I miss you.

It's a Sin To Kill a Mockingbird

"I'd rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." That was the only time I ever hear Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. "You're father's right," she said. "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mocking bird."

This scene has an importance in the book. The author had placed this scene inside the book for a reason, hence the title "To Kill a Mockingbird." A mockingbird is a singsong bird that will hum tunes back to you once heard. They are very innocent animals. Miss Maudie states, "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mocking bird." It is a sin to kill something with great innocence and does you no harm.

Jem and Scout portray mockingbirds in my opinion. The two children are very innocent and haven't done any harm to anyone. Bob Ewell being the sinful person, attempts to shoot the mockingbirds. He sinned. It is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they don't do any wrong to you. They keep to themselves. No point is showed by trying to kill something that causes no harm. These two young kids would have been destroyed. Bob Ewell tried to destroy not one, but two mockingbirds.  Jem and Scout are taking place of mockingbirds in the scene of Bob Ewell attempting to shoot them. I am pretty sure he needs to get the message that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.

A version of the mockingbird, is the mockingjay in The Hunger Games. The name mockingjay comes from the jabberjays which repeat the same singsong tune as mockingbirds. A combination of both names hence "mockingjay." Some (the capital) view  Katniss as someone who is "bad" and causes trouble or inconvenience. The mockingjay in the book does that. She is supposed to do that. But, the only people it inconveniences is the ones from the capital. The capital doesn't get their way with a mockingjay around. Katniss is a rebel. When you rebel, it is when you go against the rules. She does do that but she doesn't rebel for the bad, only the common good. If the mockingjay got her way, then all of the districts would get along and would have a better lifestyle/living situation. The way she hopes it would be, would establish peace among those of all districts.

In The Hunger Games, Katniss wasn't born wanting to rebel against the capital. She was just a girl from District 12. She had strong beliefs but never considered having an army fight against the ones who built them up but at the same time, tearing them down in a huge way. The capital is making their people sob over their innocent children being forced to participate in a fight to their death, most suffering for days before. These children not doing anything wrong, are reaped into a horrible situation of the Hunger Games at random draw. This is why they need a mockingjay. Someone who will take a stance against the capital without being killed on the spot. Katniss didn't have a plan to begin with, but she grew smarter throughout the fight to her near death. Everything fell into her hands as she won the Games and showed the capital who was in charge.

Katniss had no idea that the capital was angered with her about the stunt she pulled, allowing there to be two victors. She became well aware of things and was very cautious about what she did and said from then on. The capital would not be able to destroy her. The capital is the ones who turned her into what she became. The capital turned her into the mockingjay. It was all their fault. Now, Katniss had to finish what she had started. Starting as an innocent child, her life became so much different. The moment she became aware of reality.

The capital was killing the districts mockingbirds. The symbol of innocence. Killing them for their pleasure of so called "what is fair". If you were to see a five year old at a restaurant, you would think they intend no wrong to people and not the urge to get rid of them. Both Bob Ewell and the capital have both killed and attempted to kill mockingbirds. Innocent children. Jem and Scout and the people of Districts 1-12. The symbol of no wrong, they kill mockingbirds. And it is a "sin to kill a mockingbird"

Breaking Across (POV)

Author’s note: For point of view, instead of using a specific story to change viewpoints, I am going to use a personal experience from running a race that I ran on April 22, 2013. It is a true story that happened while running and I could imagine what the boy next to us was thinking.

Stride after stride. Breath after breath. Person after person. Clap after clap. Smile after smile, I ran the path to the finish. Feeling the air whoosh across my face, I kept going. Hearing the spectators chant and clap for the bypassing runners. Noisemakers from small children with their faint voices calling out, cheering on the runners. Not step by step but leap by leap, each time my foot dug into the concrete, I was one step closer to completing the race. I wasn't alone. I had a few companions by my side. Not all were wanted..

Anxious person after anxious person, Emily and I waited in anticipation for the blow horn to sound, eager to cross our foot one small placement over the line. We were waiting to begin so we were able to reach the finish line in time to be on the news camera. Our bodies leaned forward, hunched over to get a speedy start. The announcer said we would begin. The countdown was called. “10, 9, 8, 7,” and the blow horn sounded. Emily and I looked at each other in confusion. What happened to 6 and the other numbers? I thought. Runners began to pass us. Soon we both realized there was no other numbers to be called. We took off at 7. Each individual running, were surrounding us as if we were a pack of wolves. One boy specifically was purposely attempting to match our pace. He was about eleven years old and it was obvious to Emily and I both that he was not a trained runner.

Dig after dig in the ground, the boy was trudging his feet along the grass and sidewalk. Exhaling uneven heavy breaths, he still wouldn't shake off of us. We would round a corner and he would begin to walk as if he was done trying to stick with us. A long straightaway would be ahead of us and of course the young boy would make a reappearance beside us. More heavy breathing, dragging feet, it was getting very annoying for us to listen too while running. As well, it made us uncomfortable to talk about the things we want to talk about with this boy running right at our side. He would think we are insane if we were acting our usual selves. Emily would bring up an inside joke and we would receive a glare from him.

Sprint after sprint, we winded up the pace to full speed. The finish line was just 100 meters away. Our strides were so long I felt as if I could jump any hurdle. The crowd roared and commented at what a strong finish we were displaying. One more step and we would cross the tape. Throughout the viewers I could hear a question being asked “which girl will beat the other.” That is the exact question that Emily and I were hoping would be asked. Before the race we told each other we would run the whole thing together. About five feet away, we grabbed hands and lifted them up in victory as we crossed the line together. Exact tie.

I have to keep up. I have to keep up. I can’t let two girls beat me. I can’t run alone. I want to be in on conversations and have them keep me motivated. I will not let myself fall behind. I have to keep my steps in rhythm with theirs. All these thoughts were jumbled up in my head at the same time. They would begin to pull ahead of me every once and awhile, my steps didn't sound anything like theirs, I wasn't exactly sure about any technique to use to finish strong, I had no experience with this whole running thing.
 My goal was to stay running with them so I would be able to make it to the finish line, have a good finishing time, and not let two girls beat me. They both looked as if they were trained in the past to be able to run at least 3 miles steadily and easily. Both were wearing Merton Area Running Club tee- shirts. They had to be good. 
I wished they would keep me motivated as I ran, by cheering me on as I tried to keep with them. I wouldn't blame them if they didn't. We didn't know each other and they were older than me anyways. Just with them in my presence would keep me going because of their speed. They didn't stop once.

I was getting extremely tired and my muscles ached. I kept pushing myself through it. My lungs felt heavy and I had a cramp in my side. I couldn't quite. Finally we were about 500 meters away from the finish. This was a little over a quarter mile left to go. I hoped they would maintain their speed and keep at this pace. I wanted to finish right next to them as we crossed the line. Soon the distance left narrowed down to 100 meters. Almost there. We were running in a clan when they suddenly just take off. Full out sprint. I tried to catch them but I wasn't nearly as fast. Now I would finish by myself. After my attempt to sprint it out I just felt like crying and giving up. I couldn't do this race. I shouldn't have tried. I began to start walking the last 100 meters.

Behind me a group of women were coming towards me running for the finish. All of them began to clap and cheer and got me going with them. We all ran as a big group and completed the race less than a minute after the two girls I was originally running with. I was proud at how I did. I went up and told the two girls that they were really good and I congratulated them. I wish I could have kept up with them, but maybe another time.

U.S. Government System Beliefs

Author's Note: This piece was collaborated with Sam, Kaylie, Megan, and Timothy. It was an assignment we had to do for "We the People" and each of us wrote a section to create an essay in which we had to read aloud for an audience.

Today in Iran, girls can’t go to school, they can’t vote and they have to wear shawls over their faces. In Libya, Muammar Gaddafi murdered the citizens of Libya in great numbers because the people disagreed with him. These countries are having these problems because the government had too much power.

            The framers of our constitution wanted to guarantee these situations could not happen in America. In the first three articles of our constitution, the framers laid the foundation of our government structure and operation to ‘insure’ that no one branch of government could dominate another. When you look at Iran and Libya, aren't you glad our government is the way it is?

            The framers divided our government into three branches; the judicial branch, the Legislative branch and the Executive branch. The job of the judicial branch is to decide the meaning of laws and to interpret the law that supersedes all laws, the U.S. Constitution. The job of the Legislative branch is to make laws that promote the common good, which is the most good for the most people, to raise an army, to declare war and to govern commerce. The job of the President and the Executive branch is to carry out the law, to grant pardons, to prepare the country’s budget and to approve laws they judge are right and veto those they think are bad for the people.

            The framers knew it was important to separate the powers, but they also knew that it was not sufficient to allow each branch to operate unchecked by the others. Therefore, the Constitution calls for a system of checks and balances between the branches.

            For example, the judicial branch has the power to decide the meaning of the laws. However, Congress approves judicial appointments, can impeach judges and can make amendments to the constitution when they think the Supreme Court is not interpreting the laws in the right way. The Executive branch checks the power, too, by having the power to appoint the judges and Supreme Court justices.

            Congress has its power checked in many ways too. For instance, Congress has the power to make laws, like Tax laws. The Executive Branch can check the lawmaking power by vetoing the bill. The Executive Branch further checks Congress’ power by having the power to call them into session and to tell them when to adjourn. The Judicial branch also shows Judicial Restraint. This shows that Judicial Review can be good if they use good judgment in how often and in which cases they use it.

            The third branch, the Executive Branch, has its power checked by the other branches too. For instance, the president has the power to veto. If the president vetoes a bill then it is sent back to Congress. Congress must then get two thirds of each house to vote to override the bill for it to become law. Congress also has the power to impeach the President. If they do, the Judicial branch acts as “President of the Senate” during the hearings, providing a way for the Judicial branch to also check the Executive Branch’s powers.

            We think that Congress should be able to override the veto of a President because if Congress passes a law that is going to help the Common Good and the President vetoes it, a good law will be eliminated and there would be no way for anyone to do anything about it. An example of this is on January 17, 2006 in Wisconsin, in a bill about carrying concealed weapons. The state Congress passed for the bill, so it went to Governor Jim Doyle, who vetoes the bill. Congress then tried to override it, but the override vote missed by only one vote, therefore it wasn't overridden. The people who sponsored the original bill believed it would result in fewer deaths in Wisconsin. Because the governor vetoed it, that benefit will be lost. Imagine if the governor’s will was exactly the opposite of the people’s will and he vetoes everything the people viewed as right. Shouldn't this be checked by another branch? We say “Yes!”

            The separation of the powers and checks and balances were helpful in limiting the government’s power but wasn't enough. The framers who wrote our constitution planned a Federal system of government. In this system, there are three levels: the national, state, and local government. Each level had balanced power. For example, the National government has weaker powers. This level of government can give licenses such as drivers and hunting, and provide health care. The local government, the smallest form of government, may be weak but still has power. The local government has the power to create public schools and control what is taught in them. They also have to pay public school’s staff members with taxes. All three of these levels are superseded by the U.S. Constitution. This level is higher than any other level of government besides the people. The people keep powers for themselves, as well. Some of these powers are choosing to practice and believe any religion they want, expressing opinions any way they want and asking the government to do or not do certain things. However these levels can interfere with each other’s powers. This happened in the case of “United States vs. Lopez”. In this case, the Federal government was trying to control things the state government should control. This power was dealing with concealing and carrying weapons. The Federal government was trying to decide if citizens should be allowed to carry concealed weapons. It was ruled that the state would control this freedom. The Framers needed more than three branches so they created this Federal system of government.

            In conclusion, governments like Iran and Libya that are out of balance can be very dangerous. Since our country has Separation of Powers, Checks & Balances, and a Federal system, our country is in control and in balance. No branch is too powerful; no level of government is too strong. Therefore, America’s cherished rights to life, to liberty and the pursuits of happiness are preserved.

Opposites Don't Attract

An angel. A bright light. A ring of purity glows around her. Singing heavenly songs. All this comes to mind when I think of an angel. Pure heavenly glow and song. Barely able to look, being so bright. When I think of an angel, I think purity. When the town in the movie Beauty and the Beast thinks of purity, they think of Belle.

Belle had the looks to the personality. She wasn't rich, but she didn't need nor want to be. She was just herself. Everyone in the town knew that she was the most beautiful girl that you could ever lay eyes on. She wasn't cocky about it either. She might have known she was gorgeous but Belle is not the type of person to show off or brag about it. She didn't have a gang of people marching behind her, waiting for her every move. They didn't obsess over her. Yes they knew she was beautiful but she wasn't being chased by people. Belle was a little bit on the quiet side. She always had her nose in a book. As if she didn't care what anyone thought of her. She was wearing a blue dress with an apron over it, not a fancy dress. She was another girl in town, but was by far the greatest role model. Belle defined a pure young lady.

Cockiness and a mean streak was the only thing that ran through Gaston. He had selfish love, selfish motives, and was arrogant. Yet, all the girls worshiped him. People would follow him around trying to talk to him. He was their idol. One in which they worshiped time after time again. In awe they would lean over him and flirt with him. He could have any girl in the village. But not Belle. Knowing any girl would die for him, Gaston asked Belle to marry him. He thought that she would just say yes.  But it wasn't the case at all. Belle hated Gaston. She realized what a jerk he was and how selfish Gaston acted. Belle said no to Gaston for all the right reasons. He wanted Belle to be his wife for all the wrong reasons. Gaston knew that she was the most breathtaking girl that the whole village had seen. He wanted it for himself. He was the idol of the village, he didn't look good single. Marrying Belle would be the high of his life for him. He wouldn't realize that or care. Gaston wanted to claim her as his. That's all. Belle? With somebody like Gaston? Complete opposites. If you have two different magnets, they don't attract. They push away from each other. Gaston wanted to be the one to keep pushing to get to her but she would be the one backing away. Resisting it and avoiding him. All of Belle's purity for just Gaston. How would that look on him? Pretty good. She wasn't going to give herself away to anyone so selfish that wanted her for his sake.

Can you think of anyone that is like Gaston? I can. It doesn't have to be a grown man. In fact my old best friend Makayla is just like Gaston. Notice how I said "old best friend." I decided that I didn't want to be known for being friends with someone like her. I am not saying that I am Belle, because I am not perfect in everything I do. I noticed how selfish she was and I didn't want to be friends with somebody that would treat me the way she did. She didn't have very many friends. I knew why, after we were friends for about six months. We got along so well and were joined at the hip as some would say. But she was just an awful friend. She never listened to what I had to say, but I always listened to her. I was a great friend to her because I didn't want to loose her. After awhile, I realized that I wanted to. When I would point out little flaws that I didn't like about how she was treating me, she would get defensive and say that I do the same thing when I knew for a fact that I didn't. She was so controlling and spoiled and wanted everything handed to her. Just like Gaston. I am sure everybody knows  or did know somebody like Gaston.He is more of an extreme example but everybody is most likely to know a person that shows some traits that Gaston does.

I am pretty sure that nobody would want to be friends with somebody like Gaston. Possibly for the publicity and popularity but not for the way you would be treated. Nobody would want to spend their life serving them and worshiping them and in the end have "Gaston" treat you like you did nothing. So maybe you're not Belle, you aren't all pure and maybe not the prettiest girl but try to be like her. I am not saying to try and be beautiful because everyone is gorgeous in their own way. I am saying to be as pure as you can. Have Belle be your set role model. Don't be overtaken by people like Gaston. When Gaston comes around, you walk out. Just like Belle walked out of her house when Gaston started acting up around her. You don't hang on to those people. You walk away from them and don't let them control you. Would you want to be known for being best friends with Gaston? Belle means beautiful. There is a reason why Belle has that name. It is almost as a label. Do you want to be labeled as Gaston or Belle? Being known as selfish or pure?

Earth's Frozen Tears

Author's Note: This is a winter poem and collaboration was used with Emily H. It isn't just a descriptive poem about winter, but it also has meaning to people. About how you hold onto life. It's precious and don't let go of it. There will be mistakes, but still enjoy the ride.

Earths frozen tears fall from above

Landing on the grass

Slowly the flakes cling onto each other

Piling up a mountain

Gradually they fall

White puffy clouds covering all of the earths surface

"Shhhhh," can you hear it?

Wind howling through the trees

Branches swaying forth and back again

Flakes being knocked off of one another

Holding on tight to the others

One will not belong

For when the rest are hanging on,

That one flake will fall

Not just luck, but bound to hit a pile of fluffy white snow on its way down

A mountain to break its fall

Soft and delicate,

Intricate detail from appearance

Inside, its journey

One flake, not much to think about

Its story, a battle to win

Hanging on through the wind,

Not to get torn apart

It's much too delicate

One fall, one mistake of letting go and it's gone

Earths frozen tears fall from above

Landing on the grass

Slowly the flakes build up on one another

And keep building up on one another

A Normal Life

Author's note: I don't know where my inspiration came from for this piece. I wrote it while at Disney on ice:) There is an interesting ending that reveals her life and ever since she has been young...

“Let me out! Let me out!” Jenia screeched on the peak of her lungs, her voice shaking vibrato on the violin in a terrifying and ugly way. Her voice so ear piercing, made your ears want to bleed. It gave off a stinging feeling in your ears building up the tension within them- both the feeling to your ears and her throat.

“Get me out of here!” her voice rising up into a whole other octave. Her arms broke in between the bars of the cell but herself still contained inside. Her fingers becoming as raw as meat, her flesh beginning to burn from hitting and scraping them against the bars. The gray, metal, crumby bars that gave Jenia the feeling of disgust. Her figure was so thin, almost being able to slip through them, but not quite and never reaching that point. So thin already, if she got any skinnier, death would start to creep upon her. So hungry. Wanting to throw up, but nothing to even digest. Making every possible loud noise she could, he hopes had been downgraded almost to nothing. Jenia’s bones had begun to get frail, her voice as weak as jell-o. She gave up.

“Hey!” a man’s voice sounded from around the way, screaming. “What did I tell you!? I don’t wanna hear one lil’ peep outta that ugly small mouth of yours! You hurt? You hungry? Good. Now shut up!!! Ain’t nobody gonna hear you down here. Stop movin’ that darn cage around. Don’t know how you manage to.”

Jenia got furious, her voice sounding again. “Because of you, I’m gonna die. There is no point in living on. None. You have gotten me to scrape my hands against the bars to the point of serious infection! I have gotten past the point of anorexia!” She could feel tears coming on, only none forming due to dehydration. “I tried to get away… I tried.” She started to scan over her body, looking at all the scars he has left her. One glance at her skin, anyone could tell that she had been abused and destroyed on the inside. Scanning her skin, nightmares scanned through her thoughts. Abuse, being scarred for life, nasty images and experiences flashing through her mind.

“Why couldn’t you just let me go?” Her voice was getting higher as she was sobbing harshly. Jenia was finally close enough to grab the gun on the floor near the cage. “Stop it,” he said to her with a disgust and displeasure in his voice. “Why should I?” Just so you can have someone to torture? Well find  some other teenage girl. I have been always dreaming of a normal life. All I wanted was a normal life!” Her fingers were clenching tighter and tighter around the trigger. “A normal life… All I wanted was a dad who loves me…”

She instantly collapsed to the ground. Her arm extended over her chest and out to the left, the trigger-pulled gun in her grip.

Plan B (Girl, Stolen)

Author's note: This is an extended scene that I wrote from the book Girl, Stolen. Cheyenne was stolen by accident from a pharmacy parking lot. She is in the car with Griffin (who stole her) and she wants to be able to escape. Now she needs a plan. One more thing you might need to know. Cheyenne... is blind.

Cheyenne felt as if she were going to pass out at the thought. She had been lying down on the seats in the back of the car. Worried. "Where are you taking me?" she wailed to the front seat where a man had been driving.

 "I can't tell you," Griffin replied "I can't give you any information to where we are going." He said this knowing that he didn't know where he would take the girl either. Where will I keep her? I can't let her go now. My description would be on every channel on TV and broadcast on every station over the radio. These thoughts kept occurring to him.

"You will find out soon enough where I will keep you. And I will let you go. Just not anytime soon."

"Well you cannot keep me for long. Everyone is probably wondering where I am." Cheyenne replied. 

"And that's a problem. You will tell them everything that you know."

"I swear I won't! I promise you."

"I don't think so. What else will you tell them? That you took a trip to candy land? No. You won't."

"I could..." Cheyenne mumbled and trailed off her words. Griffin took a huge strenuous breath. Not of relief but of worry and stress. He was trying to think of a plan for the girl, while worrying about the girl, while stealing a car with the girl in it. Not a time for rainbow thoughts. I just needed a car. I was sick of working at the same pharmacy for so long. I know I could have gotten in trouble for stealing the car, but stealing a child? That's breaking a federal law and I could be in huge trouble for it. Maybe 15, 20 years in prison?

"I just want to go home. With my family. If you claim that you're such a great person, then why won't you drop me back off at the pharmacy? And either take the blame or drive away then?" Cheyenne was desperate to be let free. She was trying to be very cautious at the same time, about what she says to the well built horse voiced man. Cheyenne knew that if Griffin kept her for 2 or more days, then she would have to think of a plan on how to get out of this kidnapping. The problem is her blindness. How could it possibly be easy for her to run away? If she can’t see?

Cheyenne’s mother always told her that she was smart. “You could figure things out with your eyes shut, that’s how smart you are,” her mom once told her. Before the accident that is. Now her mother isn’t around anymore, and Cheyenne had lost her sight.

“When do you think you will be able to let me go?” Cheyenne asked with innocence in her voice. Just ignore it Griffin, just ignore it. She is trying to outsmart you and make you feel bad. Don’t fall for it. It’s all a trap. Griffin had a hard time fighting the emotion. What to do? He was for sure not wanting to fall for any little “tricks” that Cheyenne was trying to pull on him.

She had a feeling it wouldn’t work. But she had Plan B. Cheyenne leaped into the front seat and took the wheel. On the middle of the highway. And blind.

Hope (Theme)

Author's note: This is my writing piece used for theme. It is about a little girl who is blind and gets stolen while she is in her step mother's car. She must show bravery and hope to fight through it all.

In Girl, Stolen there is a theme that I was thinking of while reading the book. It really stood out to me. I think that the theme was courage/bravery and hope. This poor small girl was blind and had gotten stolen by a man named Griffin. He was a big guy with a horse voice from all the smoke filled in his lungs. The blind girl was named Cheyenne. She was small and blind and slightly unstable. Getting stolen is a terrible thing to occur. But getting stolen while being blind? That's a whole different story.

Being blind, makes life a huge challenge. Cheyenne had no way of knowing that she was being stolen at first. She couldn't see the man walk over or open the door. She could see... nothing. During the time that she was being stolen, instead of using her eyes she had to use all her other senses in the best way possible. It is very difficult. She must use her ears to keep track of all the things she hears and must use her touch to feel around and has to use that sense to feel her braille watch which tells her what time it is and tells her an estimate of how many possible miles away they are. Using those other senses that she has, she can keep gathering clues as to where they are. Cheyenne didn't know when she was able to go home again. She knew that Griffin would keep her for awhile because otherwise he could be accused of stealing and kidnapping and would spend almost all of his life in prison. Cheyenne needs to collect as many clues as she can and cannot rest otherwise she will miss out on something important and well worth in figuring out where he is taking her. Being blind, Cheyenne doesn't know what Griffin is doing or where they are. 

In the book, Cheyenne is being very firm with Griffin and even though he found out that she was blind, she is talking and acting as if nothing is different then any other ordinary child. She was talking as if she was very angry and demanding that he take her back where he picked her up. Cheyenne was having to be very brave in this situation and have the courage to stand up to the man who had kidnapped her. All she wanted to do was go back to her home and cry but she couldn't. Not in any situation as intense as it was. She just needed hope. Cheyenne had to have hope that she was going to be okay and that Griffin would take her back home soon. According to the way that Cheyenne responded to Griffin, he has her convinced that he will take her back and it was an honest complete accident that she had been in the car. She believed that. Now Cheyenne is just waiting to see where Griffin takes her, and is going to hold him to the fact that he will take her back home. The theme, hope and bravery/courage, is taking place throughout the time that she is being stolen. Cheyenne definitely showed bravery and hope. Hoping that she would return home safely to her father. 

Cheyenne's mother had passed away years ago. She has a step-mom that supports her as if she was her mother. With the man knowing that she was blind, Griffin started to take advantage of this disability. When Cheyenne was being firm with Griffin and yelling at him, Griffin pulled out a root beer bottle and pressed it against the side of her head. With no sight, Cheyenne thought it was a gun. She did as he said by closing her mouth and not screaming. She had to display courage both to herself and Griffin. She acted as if she weren't scared of a gun at all, but she didn't over do it. All she kept telling herself was that she would be completely fine and he wouldn't pull the trigger. He didn't. Griffin then had Cheyenne lay down in the back of the car and she took notice of all of her surroundings.

I think that the themes definitely showed. Cheyenne also did a very well job portraying it as well. Being blind is not an easy thing. It makes life a challenge. Cheyenne learns to fight through it and I think that she did better in the situation than any other kid that got stolen would. Hope and bravery showed within her and to Griffin.

Blind

Author's note: This is my prediction piece for reading. I made a prediction on what I think will happen in the book Girl, Stolen.

Must have ears to keep track of everything you hear. Must have touch in order to feel everything around you. Must have scent to smell things. Must have taste so you can taste foods and other things that are in your mouth. Must have eyesight in order to see everything that goes on around you.

In the book Girl Stolen, Cheyenne doesn’t have eyesight. She is blind. She cannot see everything that goes on around her. She does not know what gestures people make. She does not know what faces people are making. She cannot see them at all. Living life isn’t easy for her. Cheyenne needs to use a cane to feel things around her. Something as simple as getting in the car when leaving your house, is a challenge. How is she to know where to turn and where her mother’s car is? She doesn’t. That is what makes life a challenge for her.

To start with, in the opening of the book, Cheyenne is diagnosed with pneumonia. It makes it hard for her to breath and she has a constant feeling of congestion. With her step-mom on her way to pick up a prescription, she is bundled up under a blanket and laying down in the backseat of the car. Her step-mother gets out of the car and runs in to pick up the prescription. Finally, her step- mother returns but gets in the car quite quickly and there is a smelling of smoke in the air in replacement of her smooth mint cough drop. The smell had been brought by her. Cheyenne looked up only to find that it wasn’t her step-mother but someone else. She was getting stolen. That is where the title came from. Girl, Stolen. But it wasn’t just any girl. It was a small blind girl. In this predicament, Cheyenne has to rely on all other senses but her eyesight. One of the most important.

Once the guy finally took note of her, he claimed it was an accident and only wanted the car and not her. He couldn’t get caught now so he did end up having to kidnap her. The guy tied her up so that she wouldn’t fight back. Now, Cheyenne cannot show that her ultimate weakness was being blind even though she knew it was. She couldn’t let him take complete advantage of her because of her inability to see.

Now, Cheyenne is going to go along with being tied up and everything but still fight back with words to show him that he is not the boss. Cheyenne will not let him control her and that she will keep her mouth shut around him. Cheyenne is going to allow herself to get tied up and that’s as far as it will go. The guy claims that he will take her back or let her go in a while once the whole kidnapping calms down with the police. I have a feeling that Cheyenne will cooperate with and trust him because she has already let him tie her up and has forgiven him for the misunderstanding of her being in the car. She will let him keep her for a few days but be very cautious with the things he does. If something is out of her comfort zone, or he does something wrong, then she will fight back. Considering she is blind and doesn’t know where they are, she has to trust her other senses. Cheyenne will go along with anything that doesn’t make her feel uncomfortable and wait until she can find her way back home. She might become friends with the guy and will not tell her step-mom or the police exactly what happened. Instead she might make something up. Cheyenne will have an adventure out of being kidnapped and can do just as many things as any other ordinary person can.

If no ears, then you could not keep track of things you hear. If no touch, then you could not feel everything around you. If no scent, then you could not smell things. If no taste, then you could not taste foods or any other thing that goes into your mouth. If no eyesight, then you can use every other sense better than an ordinary person.

Thank You, Ma'am

Authors Note: This piece was originally written by Langston Hughes. Our assignment was to create what happens next. Either right after Roger left, 6 months after, ten years later, any time. I wrote about what happens right after he leaves her house. The italic and underlining is the writing that I wrote. It normally ends by saying... And he never saw her again, but I cut that last sentence and created my version.

She was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it but hammer and nails. It had a long strap, and she carried it slung across her shoulder. It was about eleven o’clock at night, and she was walking alone, when a boy ran up behind her and tried to snatch her purse. The strap broke with the single tug the boy gave it from behind. But the boy’s weight and the weight of the purse combined caused him to lose his balance so, instead of taking off full blast as he had hoped, the boy fell on his back on the sidewalk, and his legs flew up. The large woman simply turned around and kicked him right square in his blue-jeaned sitter. Then she reached down, picked the boy up by his shirt front, and shook him until his teeth rattled.

After that the woman said, "Pick up my pocketbook, boy, and give it here." She still held him. But she bent down enough to permit him to stoop and pick up her purse. Then she said, "Now ain’t you ashamed of yourself?"

Firmly gripped by his shirt front, the boy said, "Yes’m."

The woman said, "What did you want to do it for?"

The boy said, "I didn’t aim to."

She said, "You a lie!"

By that time two or three people passed, stopped, turned to look, and some stood watching.

"If I turn you loose, will you run?" asked the woman.

"Yes’m," said the boy.

"Then I won’t turn you loose," said the woman. She did not release him.

"I’m very sorry, lady, I’m sorry," whispered the boy.

"Um-hum! And your face is dirty. I got a great mind to wash your face for you. Ain’t you got nobody home to tell you to wash your face?"

"No’m," said the boy.

"Then it will get washed this evening," said the large woman starting up the street, dragging the frightened boy behind her.

He looked as if he were fourteen or fifteen, frail and willow-wild, in tennis shoes and blue jeans.

The woman said, "You ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong. Least I can do right now is to wash your face. Are you hungry?"

"No’m," said the being dragged boy. "I just want you to turn me loose."

"Was I bothering you when I turned that corner?" asked the woman.

"No’m."

"But you put yourself in contact with me," said the woman. "If you think that that contact is not going to last awhile, you got another though coming. When I get through with you, sir, you are going to remember Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones." [IA1] 

Sweat popped out on the boy’s face and he began to struggle. Mrs. Jones stopped, jerked him around in front of her, put a half-nelson about his neck, and continued to drag him up the street. When she got to her door, she dragged the boy inside, down a hall, and into a large kitchenette-furnished room at the rear of the house. She switched on the light and left the door open. The boy could hear other roomers laughing and talking in the large house. Some of their doors were open, too, so he knew he and the woman were not alone. The woman still had him by the neck in the middle of her room.

She said, "What is your name?"

"Roger," answered the boy.

"Then, Roger, you go to that sink and wash your face," said the woman, whereupon she turned him loose--at last. Roger looked at the door—looked at the woman—looked at the door—and went to the sink. [IA2] 

Let the water run until it gets warm," she said. "Here’s a clean towel."

"You gonna take me to jail?" asked the boy, bending over the sink.

"Not with that face, I would not take you nowhere," said the woman. "Here I am trying to get home to cook me a bite to eat and you snatch my pocketbook! Maybe, you ain’t been to your supper either, late as it be. Have you?"

"There’s nobody home at my house," said the boy.

"Then we’ll eat," said the woman, "I believe you’re hungry—or been hungry—to try to snatch my pocketbook."

"I wanted a pair of blue suede shoes," said the boy.

"Well, you didn’t have to snatch my pocketbook to get some suede shoes," said Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. "You could of asked me."

"M’am?"

The water dripping from his face, the boy looked at her. There was a long pause. A very long pause. After he had dried his face and not knowing what else to do dried it again, the boy turned around, wondering what next. The door was open. He could make a dash for it down the hall. He could run, run, run, run, run!

The woman was sitting on the day-bed. After a while she said, "I were young once and I wanted things I could not get."

There was another long pause. The boy’s mouth opened. Then he frowned, but not knowing he frowned.

The woman said, "Um-hum! You thought I was going to say but, didn’t you? You thought I was going to say, but I didn’t snatch people’s pocketbooks. Well, I wasn’t going to say that." Pause. Silence. "I have done things, too, which I would not tell you, son—neither tell God, if he didn’t already know. So you set down while I fix us something to eat. You might run that comb through your hair so you will look presentable."

In another corner of the room behind a screen was a gas plate and an icebox. Mrs. Jones got up and went behind the screen. The woman did not watch the boy to see if he was going to run now, nor did she watch her purse which she left behind her on the day-bed. But the boy took care to sit on the far side of the room where he thought she could easily see him out of the corner other eye, if she wanted to. He did not trust the woman not to trust him. And he did not want to be mistrusted now.

"Do you need somebody to go to the store," asked the boy, "maybe to get some milk or something?" [IA3] 

"Don’t believe I do," said the woman, "unless you just want sweet milk yourself. I was going to make cocoa out of this canned milk I got here."

"That will be fine," said the boy.

She heated some lima beans and ham she had in the icebox, made the cocoa, and set the table. The woman did not ask the boy anything about where he lived, or his folks, or anything else that would embarrass him. Instead, as they ate, she told him about her job in a hotel beauty-shop that stayed open late, what the work was like, and how all kinds of women came in and out, blondes, red-heads, and Spanish. Then she cut him a half of her ten-cent cake.

"Eat some more, son," she said.

When they were finished eating she got up and said, "Now, here, take this ten dollars and buy yourself some blue suede shoes. And next time, do not make the mistake of latching onto my pocketbook nor nobody else’s—because shoes come by devilish like that will burn your feet. I got to get my rest now. But I wish you would behave yourself, son, from here on in."

She led him down the hall to the front door and opened it. "Goodnight!" Behave yourself, boy!" she said, looking out into the street.

The boy wanted to say something else other that "Thank you, ma’am" to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, but he couldn’t do so as he turned at the barren stoop and looked back at the large woman in the door. He barely managed to say "Thank you" before she shut the door.

Wondering out in the cold, Roger continues to think about Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. How she kicked him as he was lying there back flat on the ground. That's how it started out anyway. Roger thought about now it ended up with him in her house and her giving him the trust of staying in her living-room. But where was he to go now?

He had no home in which to live. His parents had left him weeks ago. Roger continued to go to school and got a job at a restaurant. He was trying  to make it on his own and get the money he needed at least to survive. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones could have been possibly willing to take him in.  If only she new. He barely got the chance to even say thank you to her. Roger didn't know why he was going to steal her purse. Well he did, but it wasn't that great of a reason. He just wanted blue suede shoes. EVERYONE ELSE at his school had them. But that was that.

He walked around trying to find a place to sleep for the night. Continuing to walk, there were cars coming around the corner of the road. One in particular, stopped right beside him. The window rolled down. "Roger get in the car. Come home." The lights were bright and he couldn't see who was behind the wheel. He wasn't just going to get into anybodies car. Especially somebody saying to come home. He didn't have a home. Until, the lights dimmed down in the car and he peered through the window to see Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. Now it was clear to him.

What was YOUR definition?

Author's Note: This piece was originally for the Patriot's Pen Essay contest but I lengthened it so that it could be the essay to be scored instead and that I am happy with.

The flag with broad stripes. The flag with bright stars. The flag whose body billows in the wind. The flag with red stripes. The flag with a blue square. The flag with 50 stars. The flag with white stripes. The flag that is hung from a flag pole. The flag that represents The United States of America.

“Whose broad stripes and bright stars…”  This is part of our National anthem. The root word of National is nation. Our nation. “one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”  One nation as a whole. We are one nation joined together. But it didn’t just happen that way. Our founding fathers didn’t just set us up and we were good to carry on for the next thousands of years. We had to put a lot of work into it and fix up what went wrong when our founding fathers first took control.

Our founding fathers really should have thought long and hard about the choices they make and the consequences that we will have in the future of America. Everything has changed since our founding fathers had started this country. For example, even something as simple as the Pledge of Allegiance has been changed multiple times. It started out as… “"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." The main outline of the Pledge of Allegiance was stating that you were making a pledge to both the flag and the Republic. And not only to the flag, but to my flag. This is our flag that they are talking about. Also, notice how the original pledge did not have the words, “under God.” Originally, they were not having us pledge that this nation is one of which stands under God. Although, the thing that they did state was that there was liberty and justice for all.

Liberty: When everyone is free within the set laws of authorities (our government). Justice: Being just or fair, so everyone is treated equally. There were slaves in America! Hello!? Did our founding fathers not know what liberty and justice meant? Was Martin Luther King Jr. free? Because if he did have liberty and justice, then I don’t see why he went and wrote I have a dream. One would only write that, if they actually had a dream and he did. It was to be free. So he didn’t have that clearly stated so called liberty  and justice. But if the pledge states that everyone has liberty and justice, then that’s the only thing you can do right? I mean it says it right there so according to government, he was free except for some minor exceptions that they decide to leave out. No! He wasn’t free! Another example, Rosa Parks. She was free because it says so right there in the pledge that everyone says before school starts in the morning. So because she had liberty and justice, she had to give up her seat for a white man? If you didn’t have white skin, you were either stuck way in the back of the bus or you were off. That isn’t how liberty works. That does not sound just or fair to me so I don’t know what was going through the heads of our founding fathers.

If somebody is a citizen of America, they shouldn’t be treated any less because of their skin color. There is no difference in people. Everyone is equal. What happened to justice, founding fathers!? What was your definition? I know my definition is when EVERYONE (I cannot stress that enough) is treated with equal fairness and equal rights. I don’t think Rosa Parks was being treated fair when she was kicked out of her seat! It’s a bus for crying out loud! Everyone should be treated equally for other things but it all comes down to something as silly as riding a bus from one place to another, that Rosa Parks would have to give up her seat for a white man.

I would really like to know their definition and understanding of our pledge. It doesn’t compare to what it means now. I personally think that it is pretty sad that people would come over to America to be free, and find themselves having to run away from being sold into slavery and having to find only certain states to be free in. We are The United States of America. One nation  as a whole. Together, fighting for what is right. But our founding fathers? They didn’t give us what was right.