English 9 F

Fighting for Survival by Connor S.

2008-09-07T18:33:00.001-05:00

It was a warm Friday afternoon. Alfred was cleaning up the Epstein’s store in Harlem. He was just getting ready to close it for the day when he heard the door open. A thin, young boy walked into the store.

The boy stood just inside the door and appeared very shy.

“Can I help you?” said Alfred in a friendly tone.
“I’m looking for Mr. Donatelli’s gym,” said the boy in a timid voice.

Alfred was a regular at Donatelli’s gym. It was where the local boxers went to train and work out. Alfred figured the boy must have been meeting his older brother at the gym. Then, as he looked at the boy more closely, he noticed the cuts and bruises on the boy’s face. Could this young, frail child be a boxer, he wondered.

“Donatelli’s? I go there,” said Alfred. Alfred had a hard time trying to picture this young boy in the ring. “Are you a boxer,” the boy asked Alfred. “Yes I am,” replied Alfred. “Me too, I’ve never been to Donatelli’s though,” said the boy. Alfred was not sure if the boy was joking or not.

“I will tell you what, if you can wait 5 minutes until I finish closing up here, I will show you where Donatelli’s is,” said Alfred. “That would be great,” said the boy with a slight smile. Alfred looked at the boy, smiled and extended his hand. “My name is Alfred, what’s yours?” I’m David, said the boy shaking Alfred’s strong hand.

Alfred and Dave walked together to Donatelli’s gym.

“Hello kids!” Donatelli said.
“Hey can we train for now? Are you open,” asked Alfred.
“Sure. But I have to go to a fight later tonight at the Madison Square Garden with one of my boxers.”

After an hour or so Alfred and Dave had to leave.

“Do you want to come back to my house?” asked Alfred.
“I’m not sure, my mother might be expecting me.”
“But it’s only 7 o’ clock!”
“My mother’s a little strict. But I guess I could go over for a while” said Dave.

Alfred entered the house with Dave following behind. Once Aunt Pearl was introduced to Dave, she mentioned that supper was almost ready and that Dave was welcome to sit down and join them. As soon as they were seated, Aunt Pearl served them spaghetti and meatballs. Dave could not believe his eyes. He had never seen such a feast! Dave ate ravenously and he had many servings. As Alfred’s eyes began to wander about the dinner table, he looked down. He noticed that Dave’s legs were also badly bruised. There was something suspicious about this boy, but Alfred hadn’t been friendly with him long enough to ask him too much about his personal life. After dinner, they sat down on his couch and ate dessert. Dave was in awe. He never wanted to leave this place, but he knew in the back of his mind that he would have to come home to face his mother once again.

At the same time, Dave did not want to overstay his welcome. He thanked Alfred and Aunt Pearl repeatedly and then headed home dreading another encounter with his mother. At least this time, he had a full stomach and the memory of a good day to help him deal with what was yet to come.

The Contender by Nick R

2008-09-07T18:22:00.000-05:00

Alfred sat there on the bench in the damp locker room thinking to himself. Pondering about why it was so hard on him to win fights, why it made him so sick. The answer was probably inside him, yet he could not find it. Maybe it was the feeling of disabling another human being, feeling an opponents face on the opposite side of your glove. Although it was not clear, all he knew was, he wasn’t proud of fighting. Alfred, now stumbling to his feet, really began to realize that the mentality that a man needs to succeed in boxing needs to be violent and focused.

Walking out into the dampened streets of Harlem , a slight breeze ran across his skin. The air felt nice to a guy that had previously been stuffed up in a small locker room.

Starting to jog home, he remembered a conversation that he had a few days ago with his cousin Ender Wiggin.

“Listen Al,” Ender said, “Fighting isn’t the best thing for you, I can tell, you just don’t have it!”

“I do have it!” Alfred insisted; “I have more drive then any of the saps in here, I know I can be a contender! I know it!” Ender is the kind of kid who obviously has passion about what he does, and respects others passions as well. “Alright kid, if you say so, just don’t push it too far, ok man?” Ender seemed to be concerned. “Yeah couz, I’ll be careful. Only thing about this boxin’ thing is, training is really hard!” Alfred giggled as it came out of his mouth. Ender laughed a little too, and patted Alfred on the arm. “I got to be goin’ alright couz.”

“Yeah, sure Ender, I guess I will be seein’ you later huh?” Alfred said. “Yeah, take care.” Ender turned his back and walked up and around the corner store.

Just turning the corner on his jogging route, the sky over Harlem was turning a light shade of gray and drizzles of rain began to pitter-patter on the tops of cars. Alfred’s sweat pants were soaked from the shoe to the knee, but Alfred didn’t mind. The fact that it was raining, was almost a delight while he was running. The droplets from heaven cooled his skin and allowed him to run the distance home.

Alfred returned home and fell into his bed. “Alfred! Alfred! ALFRED!” The door swung open and there stood his mother, looking down upon Alfred without speech. “Hey mom, I’m going to bed, K.”

“Ok, night.” The door slowly closed shut, and Alfred closed his eyes. Inside Alfred’s head, thoughts rushed back and fourth, as tired as he was, sleep would not come. He sat upright in his bed, looking around his room, almost as if he was lost. Alfred knew that boxing wasn’t for him, but he had to see if it would be a possibility for him to be a contender. Now it didn’t matter, Alfred was determined, now matter how tired he was, he stood up from his comfort lacking bed, and went back to training.

Friend From Afar by Natalie M

2008-09-07T18:14:00.000-05:00

Daisy was a young girl living in New York City. To put it lightly she was not the biggest fan of her life! She lived with her father and her father’s girlfriend. Daisy’s mother died while giving birth to her so they never got the chance to meat. Daisy caused a lot of problems and developed an eating disorder, so her father decided to send her to live in England with her Aunt. Her visit to England started great but then the war hit and everything changed she experienced life in a whole new way in terror and fear. She experienced many hard and difficult things and has changed from it now the next step in her life will to meet hopefully a new friend David Pelzer one of the people she most admires in her life. She admires his courage, his determination and will to survive, a quality that can be found in her. Daisy’s experiences have been tough and terrible but all it will take is a new friend and to see really how tough life can really be.

Dave Pelzer is not called Dave by his family. Instead his mother referred to him as “It”. He lived in Daly City, California just by the Golden Gate Bridge with his family just. “It” was abused by his mother for as long as he can remember. He lived in the basement on a small cot with only one blanket all year long. He is the third born out of five children. With an alcoholic mother and a father that just wasn’t home enough to care Dave experienced the hardest thing in life not being hurt by other people but by the one person who is supposed to love you the most. Dave now grown and accomplished author of his books depicting the story of his cruelty and abuse into his saving and his adulthood will meet someone he admires most in life Daisy now an woman in her 40’s survived a brutal war and lived to tell about it and at the same time managed to find love.

These two people admired each other for basically the same reason they had amazing courage and a will to live and still continued on with there lives without being a victim for the rest of there lives. Now Dave and Daisy will meet. Daisy lives in England with her now husband Edmond at the same old farm house where she first visited and deled with her harrowing tale of war and loss.

There was a soft knock on the door and Daisy hurried toward. She had been preparing for weeks for this exact moment and had pictured it in many different ways. She reached for the handle and pulled the heavy front door open.

“Hello Ms. Daisy”, came from Ted the milkman
A certain disappointment rushed over daisy as she noticed it wasn’t the man she had waited so long to meet, but only the milkman.

“Hello Ted I need an extra quart today, I’ve got a friend coming”.

As she watched the milk truck drive away she saw a small taxi coming over the hill. Her heart was pounding as she saw the car coming closer and closer.

Dave had been waiting for this moment for months. He had been so excited when Daisy contacted him. You can imagine how excited he was when he found out she wanted to meet him too. As the taxi crawled up the hill he saw the house he had pictured in many different ways .The house was so much better than he could ever imagine. It was an old farm house painted a beautiful light yellow, and her husbands garden on the side of the house the one daisy had talked so much about.

As he stepped out of the car Daisy flew out the door to help him with his things. As she approached the door she slowed down and saw a man she had been waiting to see for a very long time now.

“Hello I’m Dave”, was all he said.

“Hello I’m Daisy”, she responded “it’s so nice to finally meet you”.

As Daisy led Dave into the house he was shocked at how beautiful it was inside so big but so cozy at the same time. She introduced Dave to Edmond. Once Dave was done unpacking they went to sit in the garden.

“Wow this is even better than I ever imagined it” exclaimed Dave.

“Thank you it has been Edmonds everything ever since he came back home during the war and I moved here permanently”.

“So how was you flight you haven’t hardly said a word at all”.

“It was great thank you I am just so shocked to be here and to be meeting you, you are one of my favorite people”.

Daisy began to blush, when she heard Edmond calling saying dinner was ready. As they sat down for dinner daisy asked,” I have read you books so many times but I was wondering if you would tell me the story of you life from you yourself”. She thought of so many different ways of saying it before, she didn’t want to insult him or bring any bad feelings up that they didn’t have to.

Dave simply said,” Sure”.

“My life started out pretty normal with me being the third born out of five, my mother staying home with us and my father worked all the time as a firefighter. But about around the time I turned five things started to change. As the more my father was away at work the worse my mothers drinking became”, he said very swiftly like he had said it a million times before, which he probably had.

“She used to make me lay in bathtub full ice cold water for hours on end.”

“She always used to make me clean the bathroom and she would put ammonia in a bucket with bleach and make me inhale it for hours on end.

“The worst I would say was when she stabbed me she was drunk and holding a knife and she fell forward and stabbed me right in the stomach”.

Dave lifted up his shirt to show Daisy, she winced when she saw the long thin line going across his stomach.

“Thankfully some teachers at school had me rescued and I was put in foster care and have grown up and have a son of my own.

“Now tell me about your story”, replied Dave

“Well I was living in New York City with my father and his god-awful girlfriend and my dad thought it would be best for me to move to England with my Aunt Penn And my four cousins”, She started

“Well I loved it here when I first got here; I even met the love of my life Edmond”.

“Then the war started no one really knew what was going on at first and everyone had there theory’s as to what exactly was happening.”

“When the soldiers took over the house we were separated”.

“It was me and my youngest cousin, we were relocated with another family, and finally worked our way back to the house.”

“We were finally reunited together but I was forced back to the U.S., when I finally made it back to England I stayed for good”, she finished.

Dave thought wow who would think during all that you still had the will to survive and the courage to go on with you life. This is one of the greatest people I have ever met. Dave didn’t know but at the exact same moment Daisy was thinking the exact same thing.

Ender’s New Recruit By Kyle W

2008-09-07T18:13:00.000-05:00

The sloping hallway of the battle ship was absolutely still. Not a sound could be heard anywhere, save for Ender’s continuous footsteps as he made his way towards the bunk of the new Dragon Army of which he was the new commander. There hadn’t been any such army for several years, and if what Colonel Anderson had said was true, then there would be no army like it. Ender had been told that many of his new recruits were highly skilled veterans, a trait that could very well win them their battles. There were also supposed to be many Launchies in his group, kids new to the space station.

Ender arrived at the bunk door and opened it, revealing an elongated room of bunk beds where twenty or so kids were doing various things. Some were sitting on their beds talking, while others were on their desks, silently working or playing. Still others, mostly the smallest ones, seemed to be simply sitting on their beds in deep thought. It was immediately clear to Ender that his army was mostly Launchies, with only a few veterans. The moment he entered the room, all heads turned his way and all eyes fell upon him. Some of the children appeared frightened.

“Are you the commander of our army?” said a particularly tiny boy towards the front. His body was heavily scarred.

“Yes, I am,” Ender answered, and then, addressing the entire room, said, “My name is Ender, your commander. For those who do not know, the lights go out at twenty-two hundred hours every night, and come on at six hundred hours, so, for your sake, get your sleep at night. Each morning, a paper will be slid under the door that says if we have a battle that day, with which army, and when.” He paused for a moment. The veterans seemed to be the only ones who knew how the battle notices worked, while most of the Launchies were looking at each other as if Ender were speaking a foreign language. He finished, saying, “As you were.”

The scarred boy who had perked up when he entered the room intrigued Ender, so he sat down beside him as a quiet hum of chatter filled the room.

“Hello.”

The boy hadn’t noticed he wasn’t alone, and when Ender spoke, he jumped violently. Ender didn’t flinch.

“Why is your body so scarred?” he asked, wondering if the boy would mind discussing it.

For a moment, it seemed as if the boy wouldn’t answer, but after staring at his shoe, and letting his eyes dart to Ender’s and away again once or twice, he inhaled slowly and said, “My mom.”

“Your mom?” Ender repeated.

The boy nodded. Ender slowly reached for his arm to try and examine the old wounds, but the boy pulled away gently.

“What’s your name?”

“David,” David answered quickly, still not looking at Ender.

“What happened with your mother that gave you these scars?”

It seemed like David was about to cry, but he contorted his face slightly, apparently forcing back the tears. After a moment, he looked in the complete opposite direction of Ender, as if there was someone to his right, and said, “She used to make me so happy. We were the perfect family. I don’t really know what happened… she started drinking more… she was looking less pretty every day… some days she wouldn’t bother putting on her make-up. And eventually, she started telling me to do more and more chores, until I was doing all of them, all day long. She wouldn’t allow me to play with my brothers… and she would yell at me a lot. Her punishments were getting worse… She would hit me more often… and then harder… and then she would do other things… She always told me I was such a bad boy… She hated me.”

Ender just stared at him. He couldn’t imagine his own mother, so kind and gentle, hurting him. Although, something had occurred to him: David said his mother hated him, and that she didn’t let him play with his brothers…

“Were you the youngest child?” Ender asked quietly. David nodded.

Just as he had thought: David had been a “Third,” when the law only allowed two children per family. Perhaps the government had authorized it, but if it was how it sounded, David’s parents had never wanted a Third, the same way Ender’s parents never had.

“Sounds like you were alone most days,” Ender stated solemnly. “Like… like an outcast?

David squinted as tears began to escape his eyes, and he nodded again.

“I know what it’s like,” Ender said, almost whispering, feeling strangely vulnerable. “It seems like everyone is so different from you, so normal.”

David remained silent, so Ender asked, “When was your monitor removed?”

The little boy pointed to a very recent scar on his neck, sniffling, and he made an odd noise that sounded like, “Week ago.”

“Did your mother stop after that?” For the third time, David shook his head, and his sobs became audible. A few Launchies in the neighboring bunks turned their heads to see who was creating the fuss.

“She became worse,” he said, his voice broken, trying to wipe away the gushing tears from his cheeks. “She figured they had decided they didn’t want me. I had become a complete waste of space to her. It wasn’t until five days later, when that colonel came, that she stopped. That was last time I ever saw her.”

He calmed down. The thought that he was free of his mother seemed to make him feel better. Ender was staring at him again, unbelieving. As alone as he was, Ender had someone who loved him back home, but he pushed thoughts of Valentine away. David had nobody. Well, had nobody. He did now. For the first time since he had come aboard the ship, Ender had someone who he could completely relate to, and David did as well.

Dave’s Mentor from the Closet by Nicole C

2008-09-07T17:47:00.002-05:00

It was a quiet peaceful day in the suburbs of California, except for the Pelzer house. Poor young Dave was getting the toxic treatment his mother gave him every so often. He just got set free of the nasty smelling bathroom. Dave knew he would survive this life, he knew that his body would pull through, but sometimes he doubted if he would make the night. He hadn’t eaten in what felt like forever. In school he was learning about the Holocaust and concentration camps for the Polish, Gypsy, homosexual, and Jewish. Sometimes he thought that his home was his mother’s concentration camp for him. Dave ran down the stairs tripping over his own weak feet, to get to the one place he felt relatively safe, the basement.
“Dave! Dave! Come to the Closet!” mumbled a voice.

“Who is that? Who’s there?” Dave shouted. Dave proceeded to the closet, and surprised himself b not being afraid. When he opened the closet door he saw a small detailed figure, belonging to an old, brittle, man. By the glow to his body, Dave knew this man couldn’t have been alive and thought of it as a hallucination.

“Who are you, or what are you?” Asked Dave abruptly.

“My Name is Joseph, and no I am no longer a living man. You will find out why I am here momentarily.

“I don’t believe this. I don’t believe you. There is no way that a ghost has appeared in my closet. I’m just imagining you.” Dave skeptically.

“You have to believe me,” started Joseph. “I’m your last hope. Without me your life will be filled with more terror and horror then known to man.

“Okay, so say you were really a ghost…what would you want to do with me? I’m just a kid, just a normal kid.”

“Well Dave, we both unfortunately know that you are not a normal child. I know you don’t need the reminder but you do get harshly abused by your mother. I know what it feels like to be abused and tormented for no reason. Sure, I was polish and homosexual but it never seemed logical to torture me over reasons beyond my control.”

“I don’t even know why my mother beats me. She just tells me I’m a bad kid, and I don’t deserve food.“ Dave admitted.

“Yes and this is why I’m here. I see your way of life as a modern concentration camp,” Joseph started. Dave thought about telling him that he thought of that earlier, but decided to let him finish.
“You see, in the camp I was taken to, I decided that I had a purpose. I had to help everybody that lived like me. I was very old and brittle and still strong enough to tell the stories of my life.”

“Can you tell me a story? Please?” Dave begged. He wanted to hear a story so badly.

“Alright alright. The story of Becca and the Briar Rose. So Becca was a young girl looking for the castle of her grandmother who she called Gemma. It turns out that her Gemma was the princess, who died. I kissed her to life and may I say that she was the only girl I had ever kissed. It turns out I was the prince that the story told about.” Joe explained.

“Wow, what a small world.” Dave exclaimed.

“Yes but I must go soon so listen carefully.” Joseph sternly directed, “you will get out of this situation with you mother. It won’t last forever. Please, take this experience and use it wisely in the future. You can work on doing what kids like you need when you’re older. You can help them out, and get them out.”

“Okay…okay, I will” Dave agreed.

“I must go, but take what I told you and use it.”

When Dave grew up, he worked as a social worker, helping kids. He also joined a California child abuse prevention group.

Gemma's Life by Hannah R

2008-09-07T17:47:00.001-05:00

BOOM! Rebecca was shocked to wake up and find herself in a bunkroom with other children on the planet Eros. She had the second bed next to the door. She looked up and turned around to see if there was anyone she could see that looked nice enough to help her. She did not see anyone that looked friendly. As she put her, beautiful, long red hair up in a ponytail, she pondered about what to do and where she was, one of the smallest boys in the room, also the boy in the first bed next to the door, came over to her as if right on queue to answer her questions.

“You look a little lost. Don’t worry. I was petrified when I came here too. My name’s Ender.”, the boy said.
“Ho, Ender. I’m Rebecca. Where am I? How did I get here?”
“Well, right now, you are on the planet Eros. We are in a training school preparing for battle against the buggers. You were chosen off the earth to come help serve in our army.”

Just then, a note was slipped under the door. Ender went to pick it up and read it. He brought it over to where Rebecca was still standing. She asked him what it was. He told her that it meant they had a battle.

“A battle?! What kind of battle?” said Rebecca.
“A battle against the Rat Army lead by Dink Meeker at 0900. Two hours away.”
“We actually have to fight another army!? Like in a war?”
“We are on Eros to prepare for actual battles. This battle is just against kids like us. We have never lost a battle but that’s what comes from all of our hard work. You’ve got a lot of training ahead of you to have the same skill as everyone else in this army.”
Rebecca was in awe. She could not actually believe what was going on. She thought it was a dream or something so she tried pinching herself to wake up. But to no avail, she was still at the battlefield. She went with the rest of the army to breakfast and then training before the battle began. Then they all had to put on giant white suits that looked like an astronaut. There was a gun in the belt of it. Rebecca was curious what it did, so she took it out and shot a laser! She pressed another button and it immediately froze her legs. She could not move. Ender came over and thawed her.

“I see you’re trying out your equipment. How do you like it so far?”
“I’m not! Last thing I remember before arriving in a bed on Eros this morning is that I was in Poland! I was searching for a castle. The castle. My grandmothers’ castle. She was a princess.”

Ender just decided to walk away. He thought that Rebecca was going crazy after just one day at the battle school. At some points, he had thought the same about himself. Rebecca chased after Ender. “Ender! I want to go back…back to Poland to find the castle of Ksiezniczka. I promised her I would. I have to keep my promise. I didn't even choose to come here! I want to go home!"

During the battle, Ender felt sympathy for Rebecca and told her just to wait outside for four minutes, like Bonzo had done to him. She did and then Ender told her to go straight for the enemy gate, so of course she listened and was praised after for this achievement on her first day at battle school. They went to lunch and while eating, Rebecca saw someone she thought looked familiar. She walked over and sat down at his table.

"Josef?," she said.
"Do I know you?," replied the boy.
"Josef Potocki! Do you remember me? Rebecca Berlin. You knew my Gemma,
Ksiezniczka."
"Ksiezniczka? That sounds familiar. Maybe I do know you?"

Just then, Ender came over to Becca and wanted to speak to her alone. "You are right. This is Josef Potocki. When we brought him to Eros, we erased his memories so that he would not be traumatized from another war. We would like it if you would not speak to him about anything you know about his past or your
grandmothers’."

After lunch, the Dragon army went back to their room. They were all having their own talks. Just then, a whole stack of notes is passed under the door; one for every child in the room. Ender passed them out and said that it meant they were all being promoted to Battle. In the final battle, many people were killed but as Josef looked around at
all the corpses, he saw one that seemed to be still moving.

"Rebecca!!!," he cried. He ran over to the pile of dead bodies and started to dig through until he found the beautiful, slim, girl with red hair and pale skin. He picked her up as a groom would do to his bride on their wedding day and carried her over to a
safe spot. He tried to revive the last breaths of her, but could not.
"Ender! Come, quick!," Josef called out in Ender's direction.
"What's the matter Josef?" He then looked down at the ground next to Josef and ran over quickly.

"Our best female warrior. What a shame to lose her."
"What do you mean!? She's not lost. You can help her. You can do anything. Help.," Josef said in a very serious tone.

Ender got down on his knees and tried to revive Becca. He finally tried breathing into her mouth. Suddenly, she gasped for air and could start to breath on her own. When she looked up and saw Ender standing above her, she smiled. "Thank you," were the only words she said. Their eyes met and Ender believed for that the first time in his life, he loved someone besides his sister, Valentine. "Just like Ksiezniczka.," whispered Potocki, who had started to remember things from his past. He helped Becca off of the ground and they walked away together. Since they had won the battle, the planet of Eros had become theirs.

Ender was chosen to be mayor of this new community and upon making his inaugural speech, he also proposed to Rebecca Berlin. They became married a year later. Upon settling on this new planet, Becca requested that Ender make a new law.

A rose bush was planted outside of every family's front door in honor of the sleeping Princess.

Two Adventures in Poland by Abby F

2008-09-07T17:46:00.000-05:00

Junice shuddered. It was overcast, and chilly. She was quickly learning that this part of Poland was like that often. In the event that the sun did peak out from behind the steely gray cloud wall, it was quickly ushered back behind. She wasn’t even sure why she was here now, it definitely wasn’t a place she normally would have found herself in. a few weeks ago she hadn’t even thought much about going out of Harlem, let alone going across the sea. This was Damian’s doing.

“Come on, Junice. Think of it as an adventure. You and I, on an adventure!” He seemed so excited, there was no way she could have denied him this trip. She was still reeling that Damian was even still with her. After all of the events that had just passed, she was convinced he would decide she wasn’t worth the hassle. Her mother was still in prison, and she was utterly alone, left to fend for herself and her little sister by herself. Damian was valiant though, and persevered through the tough times.

She curled her hand further around her mug. She was in a small bar-like establishment, but it certainly wasn’t like any pub back home. The people here were few and far between, and hostile to boot. They all walked around like they had a huge backpack glued to their shoulders, and no matter what, they couldn’t shake it. Did they even want to? Junice asked herself, smirking into her cup. The steam rose from it in wispy tendrils, rushing by her nose with a warm heat. It even seemed in a hurry to escape this downcast place. Would I even want to? She cast a glance at the dreary faces claiming spots on barstools and booths. Maybe this wasn’t so unlike Harlem. A lot of people there seemed to be frozen where they were; their futures stapled to them before they could even begin to dream of something better. She knew she felt that way. Under any other circumstances, Junice would be at home now, in her cramped apartment, helping Ms. Rosie take care of Melissa (granted a judge had decided Ms. Rosie was competent enough to do so). Probably cooking what she could find lying around. Maybe she’d be at the jail, talking to her mother? Not here, in Poland, drinking a questionable substance in a sketchy little bar.

Without even realizing, Junice shivered. The atmosphere changed as the entrance door swung open, blasting the room with a chilling breeze. Customers drew back apprehensively, sneering and muttering innuendos in Polish. She turned, hoping to see Damian’s bright, lovely face approaching her. She wanted to see him more than anything right now. However, realization hit her with a muted pang. It wasn’t Damian, not even close. It was some woman, probably from the states, she assessed. She had dark hair and dark eyes. She wore a large wool sweater, and was hugging herself, obviously not impervious to the cold. Despite the circumstances, she had a far away smile on her face. She was visibly preoccupied. She floated over to the barstool next to her. She slid onto it, and waved over the bartender. They exchanged some words, and she ordered something in broken Polish. The bartender sighed, appearing to be inconvenienced in some way. Isn’t this your job? She thought bitterly, sipping on her now luke warm drink. She was surprised at herself for being so cynical. She frowned, bewildered at how she suddenly got so hostile.

The bartender slammed the woman’s drink onto the counter, jostling Junice out of her thoughts. After taking a sip and grimacing lightly, she turned to her.

“Hi, I’m Becca. What’s your name?”

“I, uhhh, I’m Junice,” She answered warily. “Why do you ask?”

“Well, you seemed like someone who knew English,” she glanced over her shoulder, then back to Junice, tipping her chin towards the others. “Unlike most of the other people here, I assume.”

“I see. So how are you getting around if you don’t know Polish?” It was quite an endeavor to try, Junice thought. Damian had thought of everything. He somehow managed to find a translator, cheap.

“Oh, well you see, I’m here on a quest of sorts.” She seemed to look past Junice for a moment, and then refocused. “This used to be the site of a concentration camp, did you know that?” Juniced nodded. “Oh, well take my word for it. My grandmother escaped from here back in the 1940’s. She died recently, and we became curious about our family’s past. Sadly, nobody else in my family was that curious,” She took another sip. “So I’m here on my own. My boss helped me coordinate a trip, translator and all, and all I have to do in exchange is write an article about my findings when I return to the states.” Junice was suddenly intrigued.

“Have you found out what happened yet?”

“Yes, it took me a while, and I had to follow a very complicated trail, but I did. My grandmother left me a mystery of sorts to solve.” Reading her confused expression, Becca continued. “She used to tell my sisters and I a fairytale, the same one every time. It was Briar Rose, you know, like Sleeping Beauty?” Junice nodded, even though she wasn’t completely sure. She didn’t really think much about her life before now, she had more important things to do besides reminisce. “Well, before she died, my grandmother told me that she was Briar Rose. She wanted me to find her ‘castle.’ Everyone was skeptical. They all said she was too old, and that she was just rambling. But I promised her.” She said this fervently. “So despite my family’s’ better wishes, I came here to uncover the past. So here I am, with new knowledge and a promise fulfilled.” She grinned. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m with my sister and my boyfriend. We’re, uh, on an adventure, I guess.” Becca nodded. “Here of all places? Not much of an adventure if you ask me.”

“I didn’t think so either. I don’t think it’s much of an adventure, either.”

“Oh really?” Becca’s interest seemed piqued.

“Yeah. I think he wants us to be away from DSS and his mom, to be completely honest. Why do you care?” She wasn’t used to having random strangers caring about her like this.

“Oh, sorry to pry, but I’m a reporter. It’s what I do.” She blushed a little.

“Okay, then I want to pry.” Junice smiled, wanting to change the subject before she was asked to explain further. “Do you have a boyfriend?” Becca looked down. “I really don’t know. I think – no, I – um. I don’t know. There is someone, but I really couldn’t tell you.” Junice nodded. “I get it.”

Just then, the door opened again. This time it was Damian. He ushered Melissa in quickly and quietly into the bar. The translator followed behind, speaking thickly accented English ardently.

“You can’t be in here, not with that one!” He scolded, pointing to Melissa. “It’ll only be a second,” Damian assured him. “Junice, we have to go, sorry love.” Junice looked back to Becca. “I guess this is when I go. Good luck with your, uh, love interest? And your article.” Becca nodded, and looked at Damian and Melissa. “Good luck to you too. It seems as though you’re in capable hands.” With that, Junice got up, leaving Becca and her mug at the booth.

Cousins Reunited by Eric P

2008-09-07T17:31:00.001-05:00

Alfred came out of his apartment and went in the park across the street. He did
his jog around the park like he did when he was training to be a boxer. He
filled his lungs with the cool fresh air. He passed the two cops sitting in the
bushes like he does everyday. Alfred noticed a kid that was sitting under a
tree. Alfred had never seen the young boy in the park before. Alfred asked the
boy what is name was. The boy responded, “My name is Dave Pelzer”. Alfred was
astonished.” You’re my cousin,” Alfred said.

“What are you doing in Harlem?" Alfred asked.

"My family moved here last summer," Dave said.

Alfred's mom had told him that he had a cousin named Dave
Pelzer but Alfred had never seen him.” What is going on in your life?" David asked.

"I have become a boxer," Alfred said.

Alfred has been working out at Donatelli's gym. Nothing fun or exciting was happening in David's life. David's life has been horrible. His mom gives him beatings daily for him being a "bad boy”.” What are
those bruises from?" Alfred asked.

“I fell of my bike," David said.

Alfred
knew that David was being abused by his mom though.
David ended up telling Alfred the truth about his bruises. David also told Alfred
about the horrible games that his mom would play with him. Alfred felt really bad
for David. Alfred hated to hear about the gas chamber game that David received
almost daily.

.” Does your mom feed you?" Alfred asked.

” No, my mom usually never feeds me," David said.

” If my mom does give me the luxury of food, it is scraps that my dogs would not even eat.

” Are you hungry now?" Alfred asked.

"Yaw," David said.

Alfred spotted a hot dog vender across the street. Alfred and
David got a couple hot dogs each. They headed back to the park to talk some
more, and to eat their delicious hot dogs.

David and Alfred sat under a big green tree that was swaying back and fourth
from the wind. It was a beautiful day outside. There was not a cloud in the sky.
The park seemed even bigger since there were not as many people anymore.

"What is your life like?" David asked.

” It is pretty good," Alfred said.

” The bad part is that I would sometimes get beat up by this bully named Major.

After that fight he started training to be a boxer. Alfred told David how he had to start to eat
healthy and wake up early and go jogging in the morning. Alfred told him how
he wanted to quit sometimes because of the hard workouts he had to do.

"I like boxing so much that the grueling workouts were worth it,” Alfred said.

"Did you ever go on vacation?" Alfred asked.

” My family and I use to go to the Russian River.” We would go there to camp, swim in the lake, and have fun,” as a family," David said.

” My mom was actually nice to me then too," David said.

David told Alfred how the Russian River was his favorite place in the world.
He said his mom and dad would take them to the water slides and the lake to
have fun. David said that at night they would make a fire and his mom would
put her arms around him and tell him how much she loved him. Alfred felt so
bad for David. Alfred goes to his apartment and asks his mom if it would be
alright if they could help David to find a foster home for him. Alfred and his
mom said that they will try to help David as much as they can.
Alfred and David walk back to Alfred's place to eat dinner. Both of them walk
across the street when the sun is setting below the horizon. Alfred keeps on
talking about how David will beagle to live a better life now.

Our Trip to Germany by Emily A

2008-09-07T17:30:00.002-05:00

As she looked out the window all she could see where the clouds. The plane ride was much longer than she expected. Right when she was about to close her eyes, the pilot came over the loud speaker, “Sorry for the interruption, we will arrive in Germany in approximately 20 minutes.” Rebecca turned to the blonde haired woman next to her.
“Is this your first time visiting Germany?”
“Actually, it’s my second time; I went here when I was younger and loved it, I have wanted to go back ever since and here I am now.” “Oh and by the way, my name is Daisy.”
“Yes I saw it on your name tag around your neck, my name is Rebecca; this is actually my first time coming here. My grandmother past away recently and she was originally from here. She used to tell me all these interesting stories about Germany; I have always wanted to come.”
“It is quite the place, said Daisy, there’s always something to do.”
“Oh yes I have heard that a lot,” replied Rebecca.
“Where were you born?” asked Daisy.
“I live in Holyoke Massachusetts with my parents, where are you from?” asked Rebecca.
“Well actually I lived in New York with my father and step-mother, but they recently sent me to live in England with my aunt and four cousins. I was just getting back, when my father surprised me with this trip.” Right when Rebecca was about to speak the pilot came onto the loud speaker.
“Good Afternoon passengers aboard # 23145, we are arriving in Germany, please remain in your seats until further assistance.”
“Well I guess this is it, hopefully ill run into you when were here, it would be lots of fun to see you again.” said Rebecca.
“Most definitely, it was nice meeting you.” responded Daisy.
When the pilot finally gave the instructions to exit the plane, Rebecca wasted no time. She got her luggage and headed outside for a taxi. First she decided to head to her hotel, check in, and then head into downtown Germany. As for Daisy, she’s already saw all the beautiful sights and wanted to catch up on some much need sleep. She went outside to her rental car awaiting her, and drove to her hotel.
It was around 9am the next morning when Rebecca finally rolled out of bed. After a late night of sight seeing she was exhausted. She took a shower, got dressed, and then again headed to downtown to get breakfast. As for Daisy who slept practically all night got up bright n early to head into town. After hearing plenty of recommendations on “Rose’s Café” being the best place for breakfast Rebecca headed to the counter of the restaurant to order a bagel and coffee. Right when she was about to pay she felt a tap on her shoulder.
“Who would have thought we would have met the next morning?” said Daisy
“Hey Daisy!” replied Rebecca. I just woke up and everyone at the hotel had been telling me to check out this place.
“Well they are right, it’s my favorite place!” said Daisy.
Rebecca finished ordering her breakfast and sat next to Daisy at the table for two.
“What did you end up doing last night?”
“Actually I came back to town and had dinner, then just went sightseeing as some would say.” said Rebecca.
They finished there coffee and bagels and headed outside. It wasn’t the nicest day; it was very overcast and looked as if it was going to rain.
“I feel so sorry” said Daisy. I would love to walk around with you and show you everything there is to see but I have an appointment with a gentleman, I thinking of moving out here.
“Oh don’t worry about it” yawned Rebecca. I was going to head back and take a nap myself. I am still pretty beat from the plane ride and last night.
“Well if I don’t see you before you leave you have a wonderful rest of your trip.” said Daisy.
“Thanks you too!” replied Rebecca.
Rebecca headed back to her hotel, while Daisy headed to the appointment she had at 12. Daisy and Rebecca never saw each other again before they left. A week later when Rebecca arrived in Holyoke she was so excited to tell her parents and two sisters everything that happened. As for Daisy she ended up coming home one last time before moving to Germany

Found Friends by Chris M

2008-09-07T17:30:00.001-05:00

Alfred is a 14 year old boy that lives in Harlem. He goes to a gym every day to work out with boxing. He has to get up early every day and run. Alfred is a colored person; he is about 5 feet 7 inches. He had a friend named James but he was being stupid one night and trying to rob a store. So he got caught and went to jail.
One day when Alfred was walking down the street he saw a kid probably around the same age as himself playing basketball by himself. He thought to himself, “should I go over there to play with him and give him company?”
Alfred goes over to him and says,” Hey what’s your name?”
Ender, the kid says. “Want to shoot some hoops,” Ender replies?
“Sure, where are you from I haven’t seen you here before,” Alfred says?
“Yeah I am not from around here but you don’t need to know that though,” Ender said.

“Ok whatever, do you want to come over for dinner were having Mac and Cheese,” Alfred says?
“Sure that’s fine with me,” Ender replies.
As they got to Alfred’s house Alfred asked if Ender could sleep over and it was a yes. So all night they were talking about sports and who they liked the most. Mainly (the sports) was just basketball because that is the sport they both loved the most.
Then the conversation came up as Ender why you are in Harlem?
He said that he needed a little vacation.
“From what,” Alfred replied?
“See at school I have to be taught how to become a warrior and kill all of the buggars which are kind of like aliens. They lived on a different planet. That was basically my life. It was great and I was great at killing to. One of the top in my class. I was getting trained for the 3rd battle which by the way we won. So basically I came up here because I needed a break until I have to fight them again because I set the buggars loose again,” Ender said.
“O so you are good at fighting I see,” Alfred replied?
“Yeah I am,” Ender said.
“So listen to this I have a kid who has been bullying me and I need some help, so do you think that you can help me beat him up,” Alfred asked?
“um sure I guess,” Ender said.
The next morning Alfred and Ender walked down the street to find Major the kid who bullies. They both saw him standing at the corner of the sidewalk on North Main St. They walked up to him and he was making fun of Alfred because he is so much smaller than Major. Major is 6 feet 3 inches and 250 pounds. He is strong and mean. So Ender speaks to him and says,”hey shut up you overgrown loser. Major throws a punch and they all start a brawl and 2 on 1 fight.
It was a nice close fight all had black eyes but turns out major came out short and lost.
Ender and Alfred both walked home proud and strong.
Alfred says,” finally he’s off my back; I am the king of this town now!”

When Two Friends Meet by Ben G

2008-09-07T17:29:00.000-05:00

It was a quiet peaceful day. The sun was shining and Becca was walking around in the nice little town in Poland. While she was walking she encounted a friend that she has not seen in years. She walked up to him and said a friendly hello. His name was Ender. They went to school together and she sat next to him to talk.

“So how have you been doing ender?” Becca asked.

“I have been better but I am ok now that I have seen you.” Ender said right back at her.

“Same here” she said. “I am here to find out more about my
Grandmother that just died.”

“Oh I am so sorry for your loss” Ender said with a tear running
down his face.

“Its ok she was really old and now she is in a better place.” She said with no sad expression on her face at all.

“Well I am here for a vacation. I have been working with a
simulator battling evil space aliens. It gets really tiring waking up at 3 in the morning to battle some wacky aliens that want to enslave the earth.” He said in a not so happy tone. But Becca just could not help it. She started to laugh really hard. That got him really mad. So he got up and started to walk away. Once he got only 10 feet away Becca got up and chased after him.

“Wait, Ender, I am really sorry for what I said.”
Ender just stared at her for what seemed like hours, but was only a minute. Then he forgave her and they got back to their conversation. They started talking about each other. First it was Beccas turn to describe her.

“You know what happened to me when we were kids but when we went our separate ways after school, that’s when all the exciting stuff happened. After my Gemma died I promised to find out who she is, whatever it takes. So I looked through all her stuff and found a clue that led me here. But I am still looking for more clues.” She said.

“Wow that must be hard to look for something but you don’t know what it is. I don’t think that I could do that. Now being serious, I really do work for the government taking down alien ships. It is a hard job. I don’t really get to see any of my family and I have to sleep in a certain place just in case I have to do a battle. It took me so long to work up this vacation time.” He said.

“Oh yeah I bet it did with a job like that.” Becca said with a chuckle.

“I really wanted to come here to Poland to try out their food. I hear they have the best food around.”

“Oh yeah they do.” They both laughed. “Well I have got to go because I have to catch my flight back to the US.”

“Ok bye it was very nice to see you.” Becca said.

Home Sweet Home by Abbey K

2008-09-07T17:07:00.000-05:00

David had just got to the foster home where he found his Aunt Pearl, from Harlem, New York, waiting for him at the doors. She was his father's sister but talked mostly every day and stayed in touch. She knew what was going on between David and his mother and hoped she could help.

David was all bruised and had cuts all over his body, his clothes were all ripped and torn from head to toe and as he walked you could see his big toe coming out of the top of his shoe.

"David," said the police officer, "you will be living with your Aunt for the time being, unless she chooses to adopt you. David, your mother will not bother you any more, we cannot allow that, we know how bad she hurt you, and you can't live like that anymore. Perl.."

A second after the police officer called Aunt Perl over, he was already in her arms. David loved Aunt Perl and couldn't wait to live with her, the twins and Alfred. But thought it would be different living in a colored surrounding. I could get used to this, though.

The drive to Harlem took forever. He was excited and yet afraid for his new life. How would Alfred feel? He hadn't seen the kid in forever. How would school go? David thought all this the whole ride there, when finally they pulled up to the house with three kids sitting on the stoop. David hoped out of the car.

"My man David," said Alfred walking over with a huge welcoming smile, "I was pretty excited when I found out you were coming to live with us. I need another man in the house. How you been, you don't look so well."

"Yeah, life at home was pretty bad, I'm happy to be here." Said David

"Say, Aunt Perl, can you make me and David some of your famous chicken, I bet he'd love some of that right now, we otta get a little meat in the kids body." said Alfred running up the stoop stairs with David's bags.

David followed Alfred up the steps into Alfred's room. Alfred was about 4 years older then David. He was tall, skinny, and looked like her had some savvier bruises on his body. Alfred sat on the bed and watched David as he unpacked his things.
"Hey Alfred, what happened to your eye?" questioned David.

"Well I was a fighter, but not like street fight, I was a boxer. I fought for a man named Mr. Donatello, REAL tough guy. Made me run every morning at like 5:30, then go back to the gym and work out. If I were you I would never become a boxer, real tough work, but personally I enjoyed it. And this black eye, yeah, got that in my last match. I was 2 for 2, but then I got a real beating at this last match. Mr. Donatello made me quit boxing because he thought I wasn't good enough."

“That’s pretty harsh,” said David “If I knew how to box, I wouldn’t let my mom treat me the way she did!”

“I hear ya, little man, I hear ya. Don’t let it get to you though; she’s long gone and hopefully never coming back. Hopefully Aunt Perl will adopt you and you’ll live with me and I’ll train you to become a fighter, I’ll take you to the gym and everything,” said Alfred.

His words helped touched David. He’s never had this feeling for along time. But yet, he wasn’t sure what the feeling was. Was it happiness? Was it joy?

A few months passed and David hadn’t found a true adopter yet, until one day as Alfred was out working and the twins were at school, Aunt Perl sat David down to talk. She set out a nice piece of ham, scrambled eggs, a side of toast and a glass of orange juice. She sat down with papers and smiled at him.

“David, do you know what these papers are?” she asked.

“No Mam`.” He said

“Well David these are your adoption papers, I called the Foster home and I’m willing to adopt you. You’ve been getting along great with the family, and Alfred needs a man around the house. So I have considered signing your papers and adopting you. David, I think you found your new home!” David just sat there smiling, he was shocked. Did Aunt Perl really mean it; did he really find a new home? He back out of his seat and ran to Aunt Perl and wrapped his arms around her.

“Do you really mean it, is this really my new home?” asked David.

“You bet, sweetheart,” said Aunt Perl.

All of a sudden, Alfred walked through the door. He saw David crying with happiness and Aunt Perl with the papers.

“What’s going on?” asked Alfred as David ran running to him with a hug.

“Guess whose moving in Alfred, I’m staying. Aunt Perl adopted me!” David shouted with an enormous smile and tears running down his eyes.

“Well looks like were gunna start training tomorrow there David!” smirked Alfred.

One Saved the World, the Other is Probably Stoned: A Conversation Between Ender Wiggin and James by Peter L

2008-09-07T17:05:00.003-05:00

Ender had been waiting for too long. Waaay too long. James was supposed to be there almost seven hours ago, and yet he had still not arrived. Ender suspected that he was probably still in Harlem, or trying to figure out how to open up Ender’s door without it biting his hand off (Ender had been told that James had a problem with narcotics)

“Hey, man!! Open up!” James shouted through the door.

Ender walked to the door. “James, why are you so late? I called Alfred about 12 hours ago and he said you would be here!”

Whoever had told Ender about James’ problems, sadly, was correct. James simply replied that he was out doing other things. He had lost sight of what was important in life and had fallen down the slippery slope towards drug addiction. Ender, on the other hand, since destroying the bugger colony, had joined a volunteer group linking teens from different areas to interact and socialize with each other. James had been forced to join this group by the Harlem County Police. After a few minutes of Ender prodding James with questions and James staring into the corners of the room, the two decided to proceed into Ender’s home to have a conversation.
Ender’s sister, Valentine, had offered to keep them some company, but James (being under the influence of…something) suspected that she was wearing a wire, for an unknown reason. So the two had a seat and began to talk. Ender told some very interesting stories about Battle School, of which anyone who paid attention to would find fascinating and want to hear more about. Sadly, James did not.
Ender didn’t like to talk about himself much, but since James was from another area and didn’t really want to share about his life, so Ender would rather come off as cocky rather than sit there for the volunteer groups’ predetermined time limit of 3-and-a-half hours. He had set a timer about an hour ago, and yet this seemed to have been a weeks’ worth of Ender talking and James (sort of) listening.

“So, Bonzo had clearly taken a disliking to me, and one day he approached me in the showers…” Ender continued with his stories.

“Man, this is a freaky place…what am I doing here... has this kid been talking the whole time?” James’ thoughts began to panic.

Even though he wasn’t really focused in any way, James’ thoughts compelled his mouth to ask Ender about some of the other things in his life; his name (who names their kid Ender?), about his siblings, his parents. Ender began to talk about Peter, for he had not been in the house at the current time. Ender hated Peter, found him to be a monstrosity. The hatred was so great in Andrew (Ender) that he found all the things wrong with the planet to have one primary source for their being: Peter.

“So, uh, Enderd, your bro doesn’t sound like a very good guy.” Said James after a few moments.

“First of all,” replied Ender, “my name is not Enderd. It’s Andrew, even though most people I talk to call me Ender; except for my sister. Thirdly,” Ender cringed after using the word Third in a sentence, “my brother is a horrible human being, and even worse of a person; and I have to see him every day I live in this house.”

“Woah; I’d hate being a brother to someone like that. Sorry.” James came to a realization that he may have problems, but at least he can work on them instead of having to share an address with them.

DING! Enders’ timer went off. The seemingly everlasting conversation was over, and it seemed like both guys had bettered from it. Ender discovered that even though he must be related to his worst enemy, he could ignore it; he could talk to others and learn about them instead of having to talk about himself. This, it turned out, didn’t happen with James; but Ender could find people that weren’t most likely high during the conversation. On the other hand, James decided to try and cope with his addictions, and to become an intelligent, caring person like Ender was.
Ender showed James to the door and the two parted ways; both headed towards better lives.

Friends by Nina W

2008-09-07T17:05:00.001-05:00

In Holyoke, Ma lived a woman named Rebecca. She worked for a small newspaper company. She was very good about visiting her grandmother or Gema who lived in a nursing center for the elderly. Her parents were not so good on the other hand and neither were her sisters who live in California and Houston. Today, although Rebecca wasn’t on her own it felt like it. Her sisters weren’t coming because they wanted to but because they knew it was polite. As they walked into room 310 they passed Mrs. Hartshorn who was tying knots in her long white hair, Mrs.Benton who was crying and calling out for her mother. As always her grandmother was a sleep.
Rebecca called her name softly,”Gemma.”
“Is that you Rebecca?” Gemma said. “I was the princess in the castle in the sleeping woods. I was the princess when the great mist fell over us forcing us all a sleep. The prince kissed me only me awake. Promise you will find the castle it is all I have to give you. Promise.”
“I promise Gemma.”
Across the country lived a boy named David at the age of about fourteen. He was living in a foster home although if you told him it would take him a second to process it. He was so close to them because he was loved and treated like he actually was someone unlike his real parents. Anyway the family he was living with got a call from his foster mother’s close friend whose mother had died. They were invited to the funeral but told they shouldn’t feel obliged because of airfare but the family decided to go anyways. So they packed up their stuff and flew to Holyoke, Ma.
As they walked into the church the families saw each other and greeted one another with hugs. Everyone noticed a small boy dressed in a long sleeve shirt after all it was the middle of july.
“Now who is this little fellow?” asked Rebecca.
“Yes, who?” replied her sisters and her parents.
“This is David we have adopted him.” said David’s foster mother.
“Rebecca go show him the house.” Her mother said.
As they walked out of the church Rebecca asked him if he would mind telling her how he came into foster care. He said no and that he came to foster care because he was beaten by his mother. Rebecca said she felt so sorry and of course he responded it’s okay its over now. Rebecca said if it helps my grandmother was in a concentration camp and she was the only woman to come out alive.
“That’s so sad.” David said.
“It is not really any sadder than your story.” Rebecca said. “Come on I will bring you back to your mother.”
“Oh hi david! Are you ready to leave yet?” his mother asked.
“NO!” shouted David. “I want to stay here and play with my new friend.”
“What friend?”
“Rebecca”
“Rebeccas your friend? Well we have to go now. She can visit us whenever she wants. Come on David we are leaving.” Called his mother.

Returning home by Marissa K

2008-09-07T17:04:00.002-05:00

Daisy was still getting used to life back home in New York when her cousin, Becca, called. She had heard about what had gone on with Daisy in England, and wanted to make sure she was okay. They agreed that Daisy would go down to Massachusetts so they could catch up on what had been going on with them both.

Daisy and Becca were very close and got together as often as possible. Daisy knew about how Becca had gone to Poland to figure out who their grandmother had been. Their grandmother, Gemma, had insisted that she had been living in a castle in Poland and Becca had promised her that she would find the castle and find out who she was. Daisy was so excited to hear all about the trip.

They met up two weeks later at Becca’s house in Massachusetts. When Daisy rang the doorbell, her Aunt Eve answered.

“Oh, Elizabeth, how are you? Your father told us all about your awful trip. I hope the war there didn’t shake you up too much,” said Aunt Eve.

Daisy sighed loudly. “Aunt Eve, you know that no one calls me Elizabeth. I was never an Elizabeth. My name is Daisy.”

“Yes of course, Daisy,” Aunt Eve said. “I just always thought you would grow to love the name Elizabeth.”

No one ever called Daisy by her real name, Elizabeth, except for Aunt Eve. Daisy loved Aunt Eve to death, but it annoyed her just as much when she called her Elizabeth.

“Becca is in her room. She has been waiting to talk to you for quite some time now. She is very excited.” Aunt Eve guided Daisy through the hall to Becca’s room.

Daisy walked into Becca’s room to find her cousin on the phone. But when she saw Daisy she nearly screamed.

“Stan? I’ve got to call you back. My cousin, Daisy, the one I told you about is here! Okay, bye. HI DAISY!” Becca leaped up and gave Daisy the biggest hug she had ever gotten in her life. “How was England? Well, other than the war, tell me about your cousins!”

“Well, Piper is nine and just about the sweetest girl you will ever meet. She even remembered my name as Daisy after I only told her once! Edmond is fourteen and can almost read your mind. You can think something as quietly as possible but he will still hear it,” Daisy paused, wondering if she should tell Becca about what really went on between her and Edmond, but decided against it. She wasn’t sure how Becca would react to Daisy loving her own cousin. “Isaac and Edmond are twins, but Isaac has green eyes. You can leave him for an hour, then turn a corner and he would be there. It’s like he can sense where you are! Osbert is the oldest, and he acts much older than he actually is. He so wanted to be a spy during the war – he and his friends would play it forever! Aunt Penn actually had to leave and didn’t come back until after I left. I still don’t know if Edmond made it back. I had to leave before he came back.”

“Wow, I never thought it would be that bad. And you haven’t even told me about during the war yet!” From the look in Becca’s eyes, Daisy could tell she was interested. And being a journalist, Becca was remembering every bit of the story.

“Piper and I got separated from everyone else and we went to live with a family. But we had to leave and eventually, we were living in the woods! But we finally found our way back to the house, which was trashed from the army people living in it. I haven’t talked to them since I left, and all I know is that Piper is okay. Isaac and Edmond are still missing in my mind, and I’m so worried about both of them. Osbert actually went to work with the army, so I don’t know if he is alive either. But anyways, enough about my time in England. How was your trip to Poland?” Daisy finished her story and was anxious to hear about Becca’s trip.

“I had to get an interpreter first off. Her name was Magda and we stayed at her house. Later on I met Josef who knew Gemma and told us the story of how they met and how they survived. Apparently there was a man that had traveled with Josef during World War II and he was our grandfather. I still don’t know her real name, except that she was called Ksiezniczka, which means Princess in Polish. That’s because the camp that she went to for the war was an old castle, and that’s why she insisted that she was a princess. And she was kissed awake because she had been poisoned by gas and Josef had done CPR.”

“Oh wow, sounds like you did some serious investigating, Becca! Is that story going to be in your newspaper?” Daisy was hooked on the story, and wished she could’ve gone. Then she remembered Edmond and took it back.

“No. Since it’s a family story, we can’t so we don’t upset any distant relatives who were close with Gemma,” Becca looked disappointed. Daisy could tell she would have had fun writing up that article. “Anyways, how’s Davina? That must have been another perk about going to England.”

“Yeah, it was pretty nice not having her always nagging me and pretending to be upset because of me,” Daisy thought about her time in England and how she had had more freedom there than she had ever had in New York. “Who was that you were talking to on the phone earlier? Anyone special?”

“Actually, that was Stan. He’s kind of like my boss. Well, now he’s kind of like...my boyfriend,” Becca started to blush. “It’s new since I’ve come back.”

“Ahh I’m so happy for you Becca!”Daisy really and truly was happy for her cousins new boyfriend, happy that she had ever gone to England to meet Edmond especially, and just happy to be home.

A friend at last by Lindsay C

2008-09-07T17:04:00.001-05:00

It was a rainy day with patches of fog in the autumn air. Dave Pelzer, a twelve year old boy, was walking to school being able to hear the grumbling of his stomach from not being allowed to eat in days. It soon became harder to walk; he got weaker and weaker from each step he took. He wished that he could have someone to talk to about all the horrible things occurring in his life. After what seemed like forever, Dave arrived at his new school in Poland. As he passed through the hallways, he received looks of disgust. He assumed this was because of the filthy white shirt his mother sent him to school with everyday. Dave had hoped that his new school would be better than the previous because other students always made fun of him.

It was lunch time and Dave had just finished history class. He decided he would stay there and rest until lunch was over because there was no use in going to the cafeteria when he had no lunch and no money to buy anything. Dave felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He turned around and found a beautiful young woman.

“Hello, my name is Rebecca Berlin, I’m your history teachers daughter.” she greeted him politely.

“Hi, my name is Dave Pelzer, I just moved here.” Dave responded.

“Would you mind if I ate in here?” Rebecca asked.

“No, its okay, I’d love the company.” Dave answered.

It was a short conversation, but it made Dave feel slightly happy because someone had actually talked to him without being mean and saying nasty things to him. Rebecca had been kind enough to give him half of her sandwich. When the bell rang, Rebecca said she would meet him outside of the front blue doors at the end of the school day. Dave was so excited!
The rest of the day seemed to go by so slowly. All through his classes Dave noticed a lot of things about his new school. All the white walls had a tint of yellow on them. In the corners there were huge spider webs. Dave was surprised when he looked out the windows in his math class.. There were all sorts of colorful flowers and plants inside a greenhouse. There were beautiful colors and he could smell the dampness of the air from the rain that had came down that morning. It was a bit shocking that the school looked so much nicer on the outside than on the inside.
Finally, it was time to leave school. Dave nearly ran down through the hallways and shoved the front blue doors open. Rebecca was waiting on the wooden bench near the freshly cut grass. Rebecca and Dave headed out of the school grounds to take a walk.

“How long have you lived here?” Dave questioned Rebecca.

“Well it’s actually a really long story.” She responded.

“I have plenty of time.” Dave giggled.
Rebecca began by saying, “When I was younger my grandmother always read to me the tale of Sleeping Beauty. Before my grandmother died she told me that this tale wasn’t any fantasy, she claims she herself was Briar Rose. I had made a promise to her that I would look more into this tale that was no longer a fantasy. This is when I decided to go on a quest to Poland to try and unravel this mystery.”

Rebecca went home when they passed her street. It was a very wealthy neighborhood and she had a beautiful tan house with a very big yard. Dave walked home and was happy to realize that Rebecca and he only lived two blocks away from each other. He had such a great afternoon that he forgot about what awaited him at home, his abusive mother. As soon as he walked in the old squeaking white door, he was instantly in danger. His mother asked him where he had been for the past hour. As his punishment, his mother filled the bath with freezing cold water and stuck Dave’s head into it. His head soon became so numb; he couldn’t feel any part of his body. Finally, after what seemed like forever, his mother moved her hand and sent him straight down to the garage. The garage was Dave’s room. There was a cot with a thin sheet that never kept him warm enough. Oh, how he wished he could escape.

The next morning came fairly quickly. Dave and Rebecca walked to school together. As they were walking into school, Rebecca experienced how rude and obnoxious the other students were to Dave. The day before, she had noticed he was wearing that same old dirty white shirt and wondered why, so she asked him why he had worn the same things two days in a row. She immediately regretted asking and felt a pain of guilt strike through her body when Dave started to get tears in his eyes.

“Meet me outside of the first cafeteria, I’ll explain there.” Dave responded.

The two new friends parted as Rebecca went to her mother’s classroom and Dave went to math class at the other end of the building and up the flight of stairs.

All morning, Rebecca had been so anxious to listen to what Dave had to say. The bell finally rang for lunch and she raced to the cafeteria. Her and Dave went in together and sat at one of the round lunch table near the windows. She noticed Dave didn’t have a lunch, for the second day in a row, now she became very curious what was going on.

Dave began, “My mother abuses me, emotionally and physically. She is always telling me how bad of a child I am and how I don’t even deserve to be living in this world. If I make one mistake, she does something brutal to me such as taking my hand and burning it on the stove or shoving my head into freezing cold water, trying to drown me. The reason I never have lunch is because my mother starves me. I am also socially isolated.”

Rebecca and Dave walked back from school together after a really emotional day. Rebecca finished what she had been talking about the day before.

“So I went to Poland and stayed with my cousin. She and I were on a mission to figure out about Briar Rose. After a while of searching and asking around, my cousin found an old man that was able to give us all the information we needed. He took us back to World War II; this is where I learned the truth and horrifying story of my grandmother’s life. She ended up being Briar Rose.”
Dave had been so amazed at what a great person Rebecca was. She was thoughtful and caring enough to hold a deathbed promise. After their conversations, they both decided they would always keep and touch no matter what happened because they could talk about anything with each other.

Summer Reading Essay by Leona N

2008-09-07T17:03:00.001-05:00

- A Child Called “It”
-Briar Rose

Rebecca sighed as she looked at the clock in the room. She didn’t get out of work until 12:00 and it was still 10:00. She would start her night shift at 8 pm, and go until midnight. It got hot in California, especially in midsummer. She checked her clipboard. Her next patient, Dave Pelzer, was a new one. She recognized the last name from somewhere. When he came in, his mother dropped him off and then went back to the waiting room to her two other sons. That’s when she realized where she knew the name from- they were neighbors.

“What’s your name?” she asked, even though she knew it.

“Dave,” he replied.

“Where do you live?”

“76 Kendall Boulevard,”

“Huh…so we’re next door neighbors,” Becca thought. But she had never seen this boy playing outside before, only his two brothers. But, Becca was new to the neighborhood, so she shrugged it off.

“You can call me Nurse Becca,” she said, “I’m going to check you over to make sure you’re healthy.”

“OK.”
The young woman noticed that the boy seemed too skinny. She had him step on to the scale. He was underweight. As she examined his arms and legs, she noticed fading and new bruises.

“Where are those bruises from?” Becca asked.

“I fell down the stairs,” he quickly said.

Rebecca finished the examination, and other than the bruises and low weight, he was healthy.

“Okay Dave, we’re all done, but just remember, you need to eat more, or you’ll get sick,” Becca told him.

“I’ll try,” he said grimly.

Dave and his family left the office. When she got home, Becca decided to keep an eye out for Dave, to see if he came outside. For the next few weeks, Becca never saw him outside, except for occasionally when he would mow the neighbor’s lawns, and every time she saw him, he was wearing the same clothes. What really alarmed her though, was when he came in with a dislocated arm. His mother had said he had fallen off the top bunk in his sleep. But when Rebecca asked him if he usually fell off the bed, he told her that this was the only time he had ever slept on the top bunk, and it was only because his mom told him to. Also the boy had many fresh and semi-recent bruise, which his mother said he got from falling off the bed, even though Becca could easily tell that some of the bruises were days, even weeks old. that’s when Becca figured it out. He was being abused.

Becca knew she couldn’t leave the boy like this. She contacted the school, who sent a social service worker over to his house, but their report came back okay. Weeks later, Becca realized she couldn’t accept no for an answer. She called up he school, and told them she was coming over. She had to talk to Dave. When she arrived, Dave was already in the office, fidgeting nervously in his seat.

“Dave, does your mommy hurt you?”

“Only when I’m a bad boy.”

“Are you bad a lot?”

“Well… Mommy says I am.”

“Do you think you are bad?”

“No…”

“Does your mom get angry a lot?”

“Yeah…”

After talking with him for a while him, she realized her prediction was correct; Dave was being abused by his mother. She talked with the school and they called social services to have him taken away.
Still, Rebecca didn’t feel right. Then she realized what she had to do. She got in her car and drove off. When she returned she had Dave. She had adopted him. ON the drive home, she said, “hey Dave, do you want to hear a story?”

“Sure.”

“This story is called Briar Rose. My grandma used to tell me this story. Once upon a time, in a far away land…”

The layover by Katie C

2008-09-07T17:02:00.000-05:00

When she and Stan returned from Bradley back home to Hatfield, Becca’s parents told her that her sister Sylvia had called the night before, and insisted that she come out to L.A. to spend some time with her when she got back from Poland.

“And she specifically said, ‘tell her that I still think that going to some concentration camp is no way to spend a vacation, so I want her to enjoy a real vacation with me and Shana out here.’ I tried telling her that you were very persistent about this whole trip, but she just asked that you call her back when you got in,” her mother finished, looking somewhat tired from having to deal with Syl’s rants and demands. Becca sighed, and then muttered, “Well, I guess I had better call her back then, or I’ll never hear the end of it.”

The next morning, Becca woke up, made herself a pot of coffee, and began searching online for the next flight out of Bradley to LAX, because both Shana and Sylvia insisted that she come out as soon as possible to “unwind and relax for a change.” The next flight that Becca considered reasonably priced was leaving the next night at 6pm, so she booked it quickly, and then logged onto the Internet to search for any files on Aron Mandlestein, her newly-discovered grandfather. Then, after two hours of finding nothing, she shut down the computer and went upstairs to repack her duffel bag.

Soon she was on a plane again, bound first for Chicago before she would have to switch planes to one going to Los Angeles, and again, this plane was moving at about forty-five minutes behind schedule, which the pilot said was due to an approaching storm. She wasn’t overly excited about this sudden trip, having just been away for three weeks and having to absorb so much information in so little time. But she was also aware that the last time her sisters had truly gone out of their way to make her feel better was well, never, and she was curious to know how this would pan out for the three of them.

After finally landing at O’Hare with only about a half an hour to find the next gate, Becca hustled to buy a stale bagel and some coffee and scarf them down, only to find that once she arrived at the right gate, her flight had been delayed for another two hours at least….. No, make that three hours.

“Oh, just perfect!” she whined sarcastically, before collapsing in a nearby chair and dropping her carry-on bag next to her on the floor. “I guess I’d better call Syl and tell her that I’ll be running late,” she sighed while rummaging for her cell phone. She had just located it and was scrolling through to find the number when a man and a boy who appeared to be his son walked up to her.

“Excuse me, miss,” he stated politely, “would you be so kind as to keep an eye on this young man while I go reschedule our plane tickets?” The man seemed nice enough, and the boy looked easy to manage, so Becca replied, “Um, sure?” It came out as more of a question than a response, but then she thought, “It’s not like I have anything better to do. Syl can wait a few more minutes,” and then said, “Yeah, I can do that, I guess.”

“Great, thank you so much,” the man thanked her, and then said to the boy, “Now I want you to keep in mind what we talked about. I just want to see how you do,” and walked off to find the nearest ticket counter. Becca thought that this last exchange between these two was slightly odd, but decided not to think about it too much, as the boy was already sitting down next to her. A minute or two passed before either spoke, before Becca broke the silence with her first question.

“So, um, where are you guys headed?” she asked, but got nothing in response. She wondered if he hadn’t heard her, but then he slowly lifted his head and said, “Well, I guess originally I was going to New Jersey to stay with some…. relatives there, but then Officer Smith got a call from somebody telling him to take me to Boston, but our connection flight from here got cancelled, so here I am. I’m David, by the way.” At that moment, his head turned slightly more towards her, and Becca noticed a blossoming bruise growing near his jaw line. She immediately exclaimed, “Oh, is your bruise-” before he turned his head sharply away and muttered quickly, “That’s just nothing. I’ve had it for a while now. Nothing important,” and he was silent once again, as was Becca for another minute or so.

“I’m Becca, by the way,” she said slowly, but David had gone back to just staying silent. After a few more minutes, the man who was apparently Officer Smith returned, thanked Becca again, and sent David to find a bathroom. It took her a lot of courage to do so, but after a couple of seconds managed to stammer, “Sir… Officer? The, um, bruise? On his face?”

“Yes, I see you noticed,” he said coolly. Then he beckoned for her to lean closer, than whispered, “Did he happen to mention his… current situation?”

Becca, perplexed at how quickly that everything was happening, whispered back, “Um, no. At least I think no.”

The officer breathed out and nodded. “Good,” he said, “But now I suppose I must tell you since you must be bewildered at this whole thing. David is unfortunate in that he is the victim of severe child abuse. I’ve been assigned to escort him to foster parents else where than his home so that his mother doesn’t try to find him. I think that that’s all that is really safe to say. I asked David not to tell you himself and ignore any comments you made that might have been related to it. This was just a test for David, and by the look of how surprised you are I would say that he passed.” The officer thanked her again, the picked up their carry-ons and went off to find David, leaving an absolutely astounded Becca sitting at Gate 17 still trying to take in all that she had just learned.

Alison by Libby M.

2008-05-02T11:52:00.001-05:00

She had only been about eight

Was followed by an unknown fate

We’d liked to play and have some fun

April first two thousand and one.

When it ended, I was in shock

My face turned white as chalk

Killed by her mother’s oldest son

April first two thousand and one.

I didn’t know if it was a joke

My sound was reduced to a choke

And her life had barely begun

April first two thousand and one.

Family Vacation by Nate J.

2008-05-02T07:27:00.001-05:00

Traveling in the car

With my family inside

On the new parking lot paved with tar

Near the hotel, our car’s tire is blown on the side

We settle into the room

Find out my pants got a rip

Then we wake up to get some food

Going to the restaurant is already another trip

On the beach, hot and sunny

Boogie board on the water, still cold

I forget my money

And then we go into the town where the sovereigns are sold

Back in the car; my brothers making a lecture

AT LEAST I GOT A GOOD FAMILY PICTURE

Ode to MJ by Garrett B

2008-05-02T07:26:00.002-05:00

Jordan flew high and proud

Up he went he was untouchable

The Bulls kept on winning, four straight

He could not bear the death of his dad

But then his team gave him a helping hand.

His mom, his fans, his teammates, pushed him

To get that fourth trophy they couldn’t be touched

Then his age got to him and he had to stop

In 2000 he came back but he was no good for the wizards

He finally was gone but still remembered

Hall of fame, first year he was voted

Not two thoughts about it

He was the best ever seen in the game

Don’t forget, Air Jordan in his memory.

Florida by Ryan L.

2008-05-02T07:26:00.001-05:00

The sun shines on the white sand below

The smell of the ocean soothing

I slowly walk and then think

This is the life for me

Gently, the waves crash

I sit on the

Warm white sand

Relaxed

calm

Hand and Hand By Jessica M

2008-05-02T07:25:00.000-05:00

Life with you is a journey I will take

Through good and bad I will always hold your hand

A love that no one can harm or can break

A love that only a few can understand

Our bodies are close as if we are one

You are the piece of the puzzle I miss

In the game of love I feel I have won

And our perfect day is sealed with a kiss

Without you I feel like I am nothing

Nothing bigger than a grain of white sand

Our love is complete with the perfect ring

My love and loyalty come hand and hand

When the sun grazes your beautiful face

I will be with you in your arms embrace

By the Sea by Brianna T.

2008-05-02T07:23:00.000-05:00

The sun starts to sink below the ocean

As we hold each other close, hand in hand

Time feels like its going in slow motion

As we walk along in the white, beach sand.

The cool waves gently crash against our feet

As you look at me with those deep blue eyes

And I could swear my heart skipped a beat

When you turned and kissed me to my surprise.

Never thought I could feel the way I do

Being with you here, I am lost for words

How lucky I am to find something new,

I feel as though I’m flying among birds.

I knew you were the only one for me

On that precious night down by the sea.

The Big Red Button by Jaysen O.

2008-05-02T07:22:00.000-05:00

People don’t listen to what I say

I said “Don’t push the dang button”

They don’t want to ever listen

It’s there for a reason

A strange one at that

Loud beeping sounds

Until they

All hear

Boom.

Lil Wayne by Brian R.

2008-05-02T07:21:00.002-05:00

Dwayne Carter grew up on the streets

He got his break when Cash Money heard his beats

Better known as Weezy or Lil Wayne

His flow tends to stay insane.

Eating rappers like rare cooked meat

He's so hot on the charts, ice can't cool his heat

When a new song hits, other rappers feel the pain

He's like a male lion, extremely hard to tame.

Wayne named his first album "The Block Is Hot"

He didn't expect for millions to be bought

Dropping out of school at the mere age of fourteen

He never thought that he would fulfill his dream.

It was an easy battle to the top, but still Weezy fought

And at the top of all, he kept planning his plot

Wayne knew where to find the green

He's done what needed to be done, seen what needed to be seen.

Dark Eyes By Casey O

2008-05-02T07:21:00.001-05:00

Laying in her bed is all she does now

For without him there is

No reason for her to wake up and face the day.

Mascara smeared eyes

Makes her look like she has died

But still she crys

For better days and for his return,

Into her arms once again.

But this will never happen

For heaven is sure hard to reach from Earth

Without leaving it in a hurse.

So for now she waits for the day

Where she can be reunited again.

The Beach By Matt C

2008-05-02T07:20:00.002-05:00

The waves are crashing

Sand burning hot from the sun

Clouds slowly roll by

Ode To Snow Boarding by Derek H

2008-05-02T07:20:00.001-05:00

On your way to the mountain,

Waxing your new board,

You watch the snow fall,

And hope for that perfect powder.

When you finally get there,

After what seemed like

The longest ride of your life,

You throw on your gloves and boots,

Then run for the ski lift.

At the peak of the mountain,

You tighten your bindings,

Stare down the trail for a few seconds,

And begin to accelerate,

Then carve back and forth

Through the powder.

You reach the bottom,

And can’t wait for the next run!

Babe Ruth Sonnet by Connor F.

2008-05-02T07:18:00.002-05:00

Standing at the plate he called the hit.

The crowd roared as he stepped up to the plate.

Looking down to the ground he proudly spit,

For in this hit their breath he would take.

Standing strong he raised his hand,

The crowd was silent, not even a stir.

All the crowd was at a stand,

For now, history was about to occur.

The pitch came, and it came hard,

He launched his hands through the ball.

Just from the crack you could tell it went far,

While running, he knew this was over the wall.

From this at bat a legend, a hero was made,

To some he was the Great Bambino, but to most, the babe.

The Lecturer by Sarah S

2008-05-02T07:18:00.001-05:00

There he stood on the podium,

Telling us of all the good things in life,

Making all the references,

That keeps all wondering,

It’s all in our references.

Looking up to that someone, that tells all in a nutshell.

Despite his autism,

It is only too well,

There is so much inspiration,

Only you can tell.

Orb of Mystery by Lindsey H.

2008-05-02T07:17:00.001-05:00

That day the wood was a seeming fright

Its sky was dressed in a cold, cold, white;

The trees stood barren on the leaf strewn floor

And the wind howled its dull roar

A mysterious orb formed in the tree’s path

Looking human-like in the sunlight’s bath;

She seemed to be wearing a magenta smock

Her parasol in one hand and in the other a clock

It was time to leave the wood in a haunt was sensed

In their pockets they had their cellphones clenched;

Was it the sun’s beams playing tricks with their minds

Or was it really a woman well past her time

Out of the wood they quickly fled

And couldn’t help wondering “Was she dead?”

The Ocean by John B.

2008-05-02T07:16:00.002-05:00

Ocean’s waves crash on shore everyday

Everyone goes to the ocean

Brown sand sparkles in the sun

Tiny seashells hiding

Seaweed floating by

Don’t want to leave

The water

Can be

Blue

Summer storm by Danny F.

2008-05-02T07:16:00.001-05:00

At the end of a long, hard day.

I go my way.

Long leash in hand.

Feet in dark sand.

The wind picks up, dark clouds come in.

Far rains begin.

Distant thunder;

Lightning stalker.

This way the harsh kayos approaches.

Water blazes.

Never concede,

Go on? Agreed

Decisions by Morgan P

2008-05-02T07:15:00.002-05:00

Confusion invades life itself

clouding the shelf,

first hard to find,

in my young mind.

Sadness drowns out all hope – all is lost,

too high a cost

is living life

where risks are rife.

It’s just not worth it, is it? You

have to fight to

maybe survive –

Barely alive.

Things Aren’t What They Appear to Be by Kaitlyn B

2008-05-02T07:15:00.001-05:00

I hide many things under my smile,

Sometimes as an act of guile.

Discontentment covered by glee.

Things aren’t what they appear to be.

I feel my heart is torn,

And all I want to do is mourn.

Inside, my emotions drive me crazy.

Things aren’t what they appear to be.

These days, there’s less truth than aberration.

Take all of this into consideration.

Emotions can be covered easily.

Things aren’t what they appear to be.

The Snakes Eye by Anna K

2008-05-02T07:13:00.001-05:00

The eye that does haunt me throughout the night,

The crushing feeling of something so deep.

It’s the eye that gives and takes away sight,

Through every crack within the wall it seep.

The dark eye making contact with your soul,

You are enveloped, and longer calm.

Time has come when you need to pay the toll,

Your life disappears and leaves through your palm.

The green surrounding enhances the feel,

Of overwhelming emotion and pain.

From your skin every part begins to peel,

The truth is revealed and you are then sane.

The serpent slithers out of sight,

Hoping for one more victims the next day.

By Morgan P.

2008-03-24T12:02:00.001-05:00

In the novella, The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago, a perseverant old man, had to overcome many obstacles. Some of these included his hand cramping up, fatigue, and battling sharks. Each of these obstacles demonstrated Santiago’s strength and courage, that isn’t commonly found in men his age.

When Santiago had first caught the marlin, he began to think that everything was going to be just fine. Then, his left hand cramped up. This angered Santiago a good deal. “’What kind of hand is that,’ he said. ‘Cramp then if you want. Make yourself into a claw. It will do you no good’” (58). Santiago catches a fish one handed, and eats as an attempt to relax his muscle. He continues to massage his left hand with his right one. When he feels the line rising with his right hand, he manages to maintain control of the line and the marlin. He does not release his magnificent catch because of something as insignificant, but yet useful, as his left hand cramping up.

Being out at sea for three days, by himself in a skiff, with hardly any food or water, Santiago found himself extremely worn out. The huge marlin was pulling the skiff out to sea at an alarmingly quick pace, and Santiago was doing all he could to keep control over the fish. When Santiago felt the fish begin to slow, he sympathized with the marlin. “[Santiago] held steady, and settled back against the strain of the line. ‘You’re feeling it now, fish,’ he said. ‘And God knows, so am I’” (56 ). Santiago openly admits that he is fatigued. When a man as determined as Santiago admits to being tired, you know that he is exhausted. But he fights through this exhaustion, and is still able to catch the marlin.

When Santiago finally caught the marlin, he faced something that, considering the circumstances, almost nobody else could’ve come out alive. If having a catch of an eighteen foot marlin, being out to sea for four days, and having almost no food, water, or sleep weren’t enough, why not just add in a couple sharks? “He hit [the shark] with his blood mushed hands driving a harpoon in with all his strength. He hit it without hope, but with resolution and complete malignancy” (102). Santiago battled his first shark that day. There would be many more to come. And he would battle all of them, striving to protect his catch.

Throughout Ernest Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea Santiago faces many obstacles. Obstacles, that probably took just about a miracle to overcome. However, miracle or no miracle, Santiago did overcome all of them. He may have returned home with just the skeleton of what had been a great fish, but he returned home safely. Some may say that he ‘lost’. But in my eyes, Santiago is, and always will be, a winner. He overcame the many obstacles that this portion of his life threw at him. Even in his old age, he survived. Even in his old age, he never gave up.

By Matt C.

2008-03-24T12:01:00.000-05:00

The Old Man and the Sea is a great novel and like all good books the main character faces obstacles that he has to overcome. That trend is not changed as Santiago faces many obstacles on his way to catching the giant marlin. It is amazing that he has the strength to continue through every challenge that the great ocean throws at him. These obstacles do not only challenge him physically but also mentally.

While fighting the monster marlin Santiago has to continue although he is 84 years old. This makes him extremely tired. It takes Santiago four days to catch the fish and get back home. This is an enormous obstacle because any regular man his age would collapse of exhaustion after putting out that much effort for that long. "I'll try it again, the old man promised, although his hands were mushy now and he could only see well in flashes." Santiago overcomes this obstacle with his determination and great strength. A regular person of any age would have given up after less than a day of struggle but Santiago fought a legendary fish for three whole days. Most people of his age can hardly do any daily activity but is out and using all his effort for a straight 72 hours.

Another one of Santiago's obstacles is the creatures of the ocean. The strength of the marlin is enormous and it takes all of the old mans effort to catch him. Even worse than the marlin are the sharks that attack the dead body of the marlin. They are an obstacle because they prevent him from reaching home with the whole fish. They also test Santiago's mental toughness because once the fish that he worked so hard to get is gone there isn't a lot of motivation to go home. When Santiago went home it proved that he wanted to catch the fish just to beat him and it wasn't about the money that he would have gotten from catching him. He also knew that it was about not giving up no matter what the obstacle was. "What will you do now if they come in the night? What can you do?' Fight them,' he said. 'I'll fight them till I die." Santiago worked hard and got through this tough obstacle. He didn't make it home with the fish but he had not given up and had fought them as hard as he could.

Santiago's other great obstacle is the fact that he is extremely poor and has very simple fishing supplies. He has strings attached to sticks for his fishing poles and because of that he is forced to pull the line in while the great fish uses all of his might to swim away. Pulling on the very skinny line against the fish causes his hands to become much less powerful because they have deep gashes running through them. Also because of his inadequate supplies he is forced to fend off the sharks with his knife tied to his oar. " But there was nothing to be done now. ‘Yes there is,’ he said aloud. ‘I can lash my knife to the butt of one of the oars.’" Had he been able to buy a gaff or other simple hook he would have had a better chance of fending off the sharks and saving his fish.

Throughout the book there are many obstacles that Santiago must fight through and he always makes it although giving up would be much easier. He strives to defeat all obstacles that he is faced with on a day to day basis. Santiago is able to break through and continue because of his great determination and persistence. Santiago is a strong man in both his body and his mind.

By Lindsey H.

2008-03-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

In The Old Man and the Sea, the main character, Santiago, faced many different obstacles on his treacherous fishing trip. Santiago faced fatigue, loneliness, and vicious sharks while on his trip. These obstacles aren't ones that people usually have to face on a daily basis unless you're a fisherman like Santiago, of course.

It took Santiago about three days to catch the marlin, and those three days wore him out excessively. Santiago didn't have much time to eat or sleep, so he was very tired and hungry which caused him to be fatigued. "'But you have not slept yet, old man,' he said aloud. 'It is half a day and a night and now another day and you have not slept. You must devise a way so that you sleep a little if he is quiet and steady. If you do not sleep you might become unclear in the head'" (77). This quote from the old man shows how he has had no sleep in days and is very fatigued. If he loses any more sleep he will begin to hallucinate which will not be good while he is alone at see.
Santiago was very lonely during his fishing trip which was another obstacle. The only company that he had was his mind, the birds, and the fish while he was at sea. Manolin, the young boy who usually fished with Santiago, was no longer allowed to go fishing with him because of his parents, and that left Santiago with no one to help him out at sea. "Yes. If the boy were here. If the boy were here" (83) shows that the old man needed the boy in more ways than one while out on the sea. The old man needed him to help him fish, but he also needed him to keep him company. When Santiago says, "If the others heard me talking out loud they would think that I am crazy" (39), you can tell that he is lonely because he was talking out loud, but he doesn't care what people think about him because he needs himself to keep his head clear.

After Santiago caught the marlin, vicious sharks began to attack it. He had to protect the fish from the sharks, and he also had to protect himself. "But the shark came up fast with his head out and the old man hit him squarely in the center of his flat-topped head as his nose came out of the water and lay against the fish" (109). Hemmingway used a great amount of detail in this portion of the book such as this quote shows to explain what Santiago needed to do in order to protect the marlin. The sharks were one of the greatest obstacles in Santiago's way because he had already caught the fish, and all he had to do was get the marlin safely back to shore. His goal, however, was not achieved when the sharks began to devour it. He ended up only bringing back a skeleton as proof of his epic fishing trip.

In conclusion, Santiago faced many different obstacles in the novella The Old Man and the Sea. He faced fatigue, loneliness, and vicious sharks throughout the story. Sometimes, obstacles can cause people to become stronger people. Even though Santiago was physically weak by the end of the story he was more emotionally and mentally stronger.

By Kay T.

2008-03-24T11:59:00.002-05:00

Specific qualities that authors give their characters in a novel help shape the story and that character. Most of the time, specific qualities tie in with the theme. In the novel The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemmingway, the main character Santiago shows a great deal of determination throughout the story. This very important theme Hemmingway is trying to get across is never give up despite the odds. Placing this theme in the story allows the readers to be able to connect with the story and the characters. I have discovered that this is very important to remember when going through life.
During the book, after Santiago captures the marlin, his determination kicks into gear. He spends three days with the Marlin at sea and he never let go. No matter what he was convinced he was going to reel in the fish. Most fishermen, you would think, would let go of the line and try again for another fish, but not Santiago. After already being in pain he spoke these words. “‘Fish,’ he said softly, aloud, ‘I’ll stay with you until I am dead.’” (52).His hands were torn and bleeding and yet still he kept holding onto the line. He wasn’t about to give up on this fish. In his mind he was going to reel in the marlin no matter what it took At that point the words “letting go” were not in his vocabulary.

Santiago’s fight with the fish shows his impeccable determination. Determination goes hand in hand with my life. I am a dancer. If I want to continue to pursue my dancing career as I get older I have to work much harder than the “tiny-tots” classes I participated in when I was five years old. As Competitions and conventions get more strenuous and intense, I have to learn harder choreography and tricks if I want to become exquisite in this art, just as the odds were against Santiago in the book. “ He tried it again and it was the same. So he thought, and he felt himself going before he started; I will try it once again. He took all his pain and what was left of his strength and his long gone pride and he put it against the fish’s agony and the fish came over onto his side and swam gently on his side, “(93). The old man finally defeated the odds he was up against being alone at sea and came through to defeat the Marlin. I can relate to this immensely. Many people say it’s hard for dancers to pursue careers as successful professionals. I have already proven many people wrong that I will go far with my dance career. I am not going to give up despite the odds.

Just as Santiago tries to capture the fish multiple times throughout his three days in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, with dance I have to repeatedly try again when I make mistakes. If I just gave up o the first try, I wouldn’t learn anything. This is what makes Santiago such a great fisherman, and what makes me a great dancer. We both refuse to give up no matter how tough things might get. If I don’t get a step the first time, or if I need to learn a challenging leap, I keep repeating what I can’t get to try and master the choreography. Particularly in Conventions, the teachers will not slow down for you but if you can get their choreography and listen to what they have to say you will become a better dancer for it. Just like the Marlin will not slow down for Santiago, he keeps up with it and doesn’t give up. “ ‘Fish,’ he said, ‘ I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends.’”(54). Once Santiago is able to reel the Marlin in, and gets attacked by the sharks, when he finally gets back to the shores he is only a better fisherman from his experience. The more you experience, the more you learn in life.

This is an encouraging theme that has helped me remember to never give up in life, in whatever I want to do, despite all the odds that go against it. Santiago in his old age was able to endure all of the things that hit him out at see metaphorically speaking. He stayed determined which is something everyone needs to remember to do in their lives. There is something very different in the mind set of the determined. The determination or whatever gets triggered in their minds motivates them to never give up makes them stand out significantly. They possess a certain quality that allows them to achieve their goal. Not everyone is able to stay determined when trying to complete a task in life. For those who can they are very strong people and I’m sure you could learn a great deal from them.

By Kaitlyn B.

2008-03-24T11:59:00.001-05:00

During life, we all have to face challenges and overcome obstacles, it’s unavoidable and it’s vital in everybody’s life. On his 85^th voyage without a catch, Santiago was pushed to his overall limit. Three struggles the old man had to overcome were shark battles, his age, and being unprepared.

Some of the most intense parts of the story were the shark battles. Hemingway described some to be very big, only showing how much harder Santiago would have to fight. “And he was the biggest dentuso that I have ever seen. And God knows I have seen big ones” (103). Santiago had to fend off sharks a couple time through the story, whether it be single sharks or sharks in greater numbers, but he didn’t let anything stop him. “The old man drove the knife into the juncture, withdrew it, and drove it into the shark’s yellow cat-like eyes. The shark let go of the fish and slid down, swallowing what he had taken as he died” (108). Santiago really proved determination to save his catch here.

Throughout this story, Santiago struggled with his age and was pushed to his physical extent. He is weak, battling against fatigue, and sleep deprivation. Catching the marlin was even harder with all of this holding him back. “I wish I could show him what sort of man I am. But then he would see the cramped hand” (64). This quote really showed how much his hand was affecting his capability on reeling in the marlin. A hand cramp was not about to stop Santiago from accomplishing his dream though. He worked around it by catching something to eat and massaging it. I feel that if Santiago didn’t have as much determination and ambition as he did, he never would of returned back home.

Being unprepared was another task Santiago struggled to overcome. Even though this was his 85^th trip without a catch, he still managed to forget vital things he needed, which surprised me seeing Hemingway described him as an experienced fisherman. “You should have brought many things, he thought. But you did not bring them, old man” (110). Santiago forgot a stone to sharpen his knife, limes and salt to make his food more appetizing, and the boy. Out of all of these things he forgot, the boy, Manolin, was the most important. He could have kept the old man company and help him reel in the marlin faster. But the old man realized he had to work with what he had, not with what he didn’t, to catch the marlin and to ultimately survive.

Santiago is one of the most ambitious people I know. I’ve never heard of any old man in his 80’s going far out to see to catch a 1,500 pound fish. Never did Santiago ever let his battles with sharks put him down, his age tire him out, or being unprepared hold him back. He worked with what he had and to his physical limits to catch the marlin. Even though he came back with bones, Santiago is a winner in my eyes.

By Garrett B.

2008-03-24T11:58:00.002-05:00

After reading The Old Man and the Sea what really interested me was that why Manolin always hung around Santiago even after he stopped working for him. Manolin still asked the old man if he could do anything to help him catch some fish. Was it out of pity or did Manolin really enjoyed spending his day with an old fisherman, instead of playing with kids his age or just relaxing on the beach? I don’t believe a realistic boy would rather do chores for an old man than do something fun.

In the very beginning of the story Manolin could have rid his life of Santiago, but instead he starts to take care of Santiago and makes sure he is taken care of. “He sent two beers.” “I like beer best in cans.” “I know. But this is in bottles, Hatuey beer, and I take back the bottles.” “That’s very kind of you,” the old man said. “Should we eat?” “I’ve been asking you to,” the boy told him gently. “I have not wished to open the container until you were ready.” (20) In this conversation between Santiago and Manolin, the boy is acting like a mother. He is asking the old man what he wants, explains what they are going to do. The old man can barely take care of himself and Manolin is sort of filling in for the old man’s dead wife.

Eventually, while the old man is in with the Marlin, the boy was probably going hysterical. When the old man comes back the boy is happy that the old man is back, and he cries. “The boy saw that the old man was breathing and then saw the old man’s hands and he started to cry. He went out quietly to go bring some coffee and all the way down the road he was crying.”(122)This shows Manolin’s love for the old man. I believe that he was crying for mixed reasons; he was happy that the old man was alive and he was also crying because the old man was hurt and that he might never be able fish again. I think that the boy sees the old man as a father figure and if he lost the old man he would be devastated and would be hurt for a long time. Also the boy was hurt when he was not able to fish with the old man any more. So in the end when he was going to again the boy was very happy. “Now we fish together again.” “No. I am not lucky anymore.” “The hell with luck,” the boy said. “I’ll bring the luck with me.” (126) This shows that Manolin doesn’t care what happens as long as he can fish and be with the old man. The boy loves Manolin and Manolin loves the old man.

Throughout the story, Manolin stayed a static character. He never changed his opinions on baseball or the old man, he always loved the old man and baseball the same. Manolin, most importantly, never changed his ideas about getting to fish with the old man again, no matter what happens. I don’t believe that Manolin is a very realistic character because it really seems hard to believe that a little boy would want to hang out and take care of an old man and to fish with him and not make any money, but that is Manolin’s choice. The one thing that is very realistic is the love that Manolin and Santiago share for each other.

By Casey O.

2008-03-24T11:57:00.000-05:00

Without a friend the world can be a dark and lonely place to live. With Manolin at Santiago’s side it brings light into the sometimes depressing life of a fisherman. The relationship shown through out the book, The Old Man and the Sea, is remarkable. It reveals the meaning of best friend, and or father-son. Though Manolin was not Santiago’s son, Ernest Hemingway portrayed the relationship as though they were. Santiago took on the task of teaching the boy not only to fish but life lessons as if he was his son, and also sometimes felt lost when the boy wasn’t by his side. They shared one true interest also, which was baseball. Santiago was affected by Manolin and it showed as the story progressed.

Santiago I believe sees himself in Manolin. He, like Manolin, began fishing at a young age to provide for his family. While reading I saw how much compassion Santiago had towards Manolin, and how much he wanted him to become the best he could be. As stated in the quote, “They played like young cats in the dusk and he loved them as he loved the boy.”(25) It is telling the reader that he really does care about the boy. I believe that Santiago is grateful for Manolin being there, because I believe as though he always wanted a son to pass on his knowledge to.

Every now and then we would find Santiago talking to himself, and how he wishes the boy was with him on the voyage with the marlin. When Santiago says “I wish I had the boy… I’m being towed by a fish and I’m towing the bitt.”(45) It showed me that Santiago feels as though he is stronger when the boy is there, and alone he is lonely. Also, with the strength of the boy the marlin would have been a lot easier to tow in. Without the boy, Santiago does feel lost at times though, and it shows every now and then.

Lastly, baseball America’s favorite pass time was something that Manolin and Santiago both could relate to. “…When I come back you can tell me about baseball.” (17) This conversation goes on for about a page about baseball, and the teams that they feared, and wanted to win. Santiago believed in the Yankee’s while the young boy feared the Indians of Cleveland. I believe that Santiago enjoyed talking about baseball with Manolin because it was something more modern, and it was something that could bring the two of them closer together. It was the one true thing besides fishing that they could relate on.

Throughout the story the friendship between Manolin and Santiago becomes more and more distinct. I believe that the story would have been a completely different story if it weren’t for Manolin being in Santiago’s life. Manolin somewhat brought in the son aspect of Santiago’s life, and that was something that Santiago never had. The friendship was more of the good father-son, and without it Santiago’s journey may have been a bit duller.

By Brian R.

2008-03-24T11:55:00.001-05:00

Throughout life, a person is forced to make choices and live with the consequences that follow those choices. In the book Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway writes about a poor, everyday fisherman who has to make important choices and live with the consequences. One of the greatest choice he had the make was the decision to stay out at sea for three straight days. After making this important decision, he puts his physical fitness, health and even his reputation at sea, on the line.

Santiago makes the choice and when he comes home from being out at sea, his physical fitness is weak. Throughout the book, you can somewhat see that the old man has a relationship with his hands. Being a fisherman, he uses them all the time, and relies on them to do his everyday work. You can understand the relationship from this quote, "How does it go hand? Or is it too early to know?" (59). From being out at the sea and using his hands all the time, they must have started to hurt, and wear down. Also, considering Santiago was an old man, around 80 years old, he must have experienced many pains. He battled a fish about twice his size, that is a huge amount of weight, especially for an old man of his age.

The old man had to live painfully through the physical part of the trip out at sea, but he also had to live through problems with his health. At first, he had enough food and fresh water, but after awhile, his supply ran out and he was left with nearly any. Being so determined, he tried not too think of how little he had and he focused on catching the marlin. Also, the old man went days without sleeping, so he would not miss his chance to catch the fish." 'But you have not slept yet, old man,' he said aloud." (77). Going without sleep, food, or fresh water is extremely dangerous for your health. When Santiago stayed out at sea, he had to risk his health to catch the marlin.

Santiago is an elder who has been fishing for all of his long life. Ever since he was a young kid, he has been out with his father on the sea, catching hundreds of fish. When the old man catches and kills the marlin, I feel like the fish felt disappointed and a sort of anger toward him. “ ‘Keep my head clear,’ he said against the wood of the bow. ‘I am a tired old man. But I have killed this fish which is my brother and now I must do the slave work.’ “ (95). This quote shows how close he is to the fish and creatures of the sea, having spent so much time around them. I believe that once he killed the marlin, their relationship sort of faded and died.

The book Old Man and the Sea was full of important choices that Santiago, the old man, had to make. He knew that with every decision he made, came consequences that were for the worse. He stuck through those consequences and showed a lot of courage throughout the book. Santiago showed that he could live through physical and emotional pain, he showed he was stronger than how he looked.

By Anna K.

2008-03-24T11:52:00.003-05:00

In The Old Man in the Sea, the main character Santiago has to make a crucial decision as to whether or not to continue to battle the marlin He decides to fight. This decision is mainly because of pride. He needs this catch to prove that he isn’t unlucky and that he can succeed. He needs it for his own benefit. He needs to prove it to himself as much as to everyone around him. As a result of his choice the rest of his journey and life are affected. His hands begin to cramp, he cannot get any sleep, and he has to fight off sharks that try and get to the marlin.

On effect of him elongating his struggle with the marlin is his hands cramping up. As he holds the line steady his left hand begins to face problems. When he realizes that it will only get worse, he gives his hand a break “You let the cord go, hand, and I will handle him worth the right alone” (58). Even though his hand is cramping and he’s filled with pain, he still holds on to the line, because he needs this fish. “cramp then if you want. Make yourself a claw. It will do you no good” (59-60).

Another effect of the choice he made was him not gaining enough sleep.. The marlin is putting up a great fight and if he lets go he’ll loose the most important catch of his life. The catch that proves that he isn’t unlucky. He has to fight through his tiredness. “It is a day and a night and now another day and you have not slept.” (77). He realizes that he ha to get sleep because he won’t be a able to think clearly, but his thoughts and actions will blinded by lack of sleep. “If you don’t sleep you might become unclear in the head” (77).

Yet another result of Santiago’s choice is the fact the he had to fight sharks to keep them away from the marlin. “He hit it with his blood mushed hands driving the harpoon with all his strength” (102). He killed the shark before the shark consumed the whole marlin but not soon enough however, the shark ate a large portion of the marlin. The blood from the marlin steamed through the water and he new more would come to feast on such easy pray. “Now my fish bleeds again and there will be others.” (103).

Therefore the characters in this book face many choices that they have to make. These choices have effects, effects that can change the whole book and the whole life of a character. The choice can be simple or large but the way we continue to live out our lives can depend of a choice we made. The people you hang out with, can and probably will shape the rest of you life. Santiago’s choice to battle the marlin affects the way the book turns out. If he would decide to not continue to fight then the book would be over. There would be a small possibility that he could catch a fish that big again. His choice affected the book because his hand began to cramp, he wasn’t getting any sleep and he had to fight off sharks so that they couldn’t get his magnificent catch.

By Ryan L

2008-03-24T11:52:00.002-05:00

Throughout The Old Man in the Sea Santiago, an old fisherman who lives a simple life has to overcome a variety of obstacles. Not unlike the normal everyday person. He has extraordinary strength for a man with 85 years behind him. A great majority of Santiago’s obstacles have been because of physical boundaries. Hemingway, the author, describes these obstacles in a simple yet effective way, which makes the novella even more enticing.

One obstacle that Santiago is forced to face is that his left hand began to cramp. As I stated, Santiago is an 85 year old man and holding onto a fish twice the size of his boat. The last thing he needs is for his hands to cramp up. As the book states, “He could feel the steady hard pull of the line and his left hand cramped. It drew up tight on the heavy cord and he looked at it in disgust.”(58) At this point of the story he’s had the fish on the line for several hours, and is in too deep to let go of the line. He doesn’t want to disappoint the boy and the other fishermen at shore, so he must try to push through the pain and bring in the fish. He seems to be annoyed with the cramp, because it says that he’s disgusted with his hand.

Another obstacle that Santiago must boast is his lack of supplies. Santiago goes out to sea with nothing but a fishing rod and of course his skiff. This is surprising considering that Santiago has many years of experience at sea. “You should have brought many things, he thought. But you did not bring them, old man” (110). He should have brought salt and different seasons, because after he ate his plain food, he would feel nauseous. Also, he should have taken a rock so he could have sharpened his knife as a better defense to fight the sharks that attacked his skiff.

Towards the latter parts of the story, Santiago has to protect himself against the sharks. By this time, he has pulled in the marlin, and the sharks want to feed off of them. For over a day, sharks attacked the prized fish, and Santiago did not have the proper weapons to defend himself. They tired him, and took a large portion of the fish. “‘They beat me Manolin,’ he said. ‘They truly beat me.’’’ (124). This quote shows how he had trouble against the sharks, but was still able to persevere and make it home.

When Santiago goes out on what could be his final fishing trip, many obstacles slowed him down. But with great patience and perseverance, he was able to push through them. His hand cramped which could have caused him to lose the line, and with his lack of supplies, he couldn’t eat much, or help protect himself. Finally even when sharks attacked his boat, Santiago persevered, and got home. If Santiago was not so wise from experience at sea, he probably could have lost the marlin, or even died. I think without these obstacles in the story the book would have been very different, and Santiago would not have changed as greatly throughout

By Jessica M.

2008-03-24T11:50:00.001-05:00

Everyday, we as people, struggle with life’s challenges, the obstacles that barricade us for our goals. We force ourselves to overcome these walls, and at the end try as hard as we can to achieve our final aspiration. In the novella, The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, Santiago faces many obstacles on his quest to catch a marlin. Through his three gruesome days at sea, he suffers through physical and mental exhaustion, treacherous hungry sharks, and the pure struggle of being alone. Such obstacles postponed his success with the marlin, creating a book full of suspense, and a well-rounded, realistic character.

One of Santiago’s most defeating obstacles was his struggle with fatigue. He has the knowledge of at least twenty fishermen combined, and the experience from his life at sea. Nothing would seem to be able to stop this strong old man, until he hooks an enormous 1500 pound marlin. Santiago starts to breakdown, one by one. Each day making it harder and harder for him to open his eyes to realize the fish was still pulling strong on the line. “He took all his pain and what was left of his strength and his long gone pride and he put it against the fish’s agony” (93). In this quote, Ernest Hemingway really expresses Santiago’s physical and mental exhaustion. When it states, “He took all his pain and what was left of his strength”, it explains how tired and the extreme discomfort he experienced while at sea. His tired mind and injured body make each day harder and harder for the old man to stay alive. When it says, “his long gone pride”, I think this shows that he is ashamed of how his body has started to fail him. From the fish’s overall strength,

Santiago had to endure, and overcame exhaustion. Another one of Santiago’s struggles is with a group of hungry gruesome sharks. When he finally ropes in the giant marlin after three days of hell, he thought the hard part was over, he soon realizes the worst is yet to come. “The old man could see pieces of the meat of the fish spilling white from the corners of his jaws as he bumped the fish and closed his jaws.” (113) In this quote it shows Santiago’s desperation on trying to save what is left of the half eaten marlin. Over the course of a day, sharks mutilate the enormous fish. Taking chunk by chunk of the precious meat. Santiago tries everything in his power to stop the sharks, but in the end he ends up with only a skeleton and the memories of a horrific journey at sea.

he most significant and difficult obstacle I believe Santiago went through was being alone at sea. He is in his mid eighties and has gone through a life time job as a fisherman. On his journey he realizes how his age will affect him. It makes me think what if he had had another person join him. Would he have successfully caught the marlin? “‘I wish I had the boy. To help me and to see this.’ No one should be alone in their old age, he thought.” (48) This quote definitely explains how much Santiago needs someone by his side, helping him to catch the fish. Like in the quote, Santiago is way too old to be out alone in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. Santiago is becoming desperate for a helping hand. He is exhausted, and can’t manage to wrangle in this marlin by himself. I believe if he had a partner to assist him in this fishing trip, he would have made it back with the marlin, fully intact.

Through the novella, The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway puts many obstacles in Santiago’s path. Some that make him stronger and others that make him frail and weak. These challenges make the book worth reading. Letting the reader sail through the obstacles with Santiago, experiencing them at the same time. In the course of three tiresome days, Santiago goes through many mental and physical challenges. Leading him to a catch of a life time that he will never forget.

By Danny F.

2008-03-24T11:48:00.000-05:00

In Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, the main character, Santiago, makes some very important choices at the beginning of the book when he first sets off on his journey. For the past few weeks, he has had no luck and caught few fish, but at the start of the book, he believes he is due to catch a giant fish. When he begins his voyage, he carries little supplies on his skiff, including a bottle of water, fishing lines, hooks, and baits, a short club, the tiller, and the oars. However, his struggles with the giant Marlin he eventually catches while at sea would have been greatly lessened if he had thought to bring a few key items on his expedition, such as stronger rope, food and water, or better weapons. He made a choice to bring only the bare essentials and he would come to regret that decision more and more as he his forced to deal with its consequences.

Some items that would have been vastly effective in relieving the old man of great pain and hardship would be a stronger rope or a simple spring mechanism. “How simple it would be if I make the line fast, he thought. But with one small lurch he could break it. I must cushion the pull of the line with body and at all times be ready to give line with both hands.” (77) With a stronger rope or a spring to dampen the marlin’s abrupt tugs, the old man wouldn’t need to constantly hold the rope.

The old man does eventually catch the marlin through his great struggle, but he is left malnourished, and under slept and tired. Because of this, he loses his catch to attacking sharks on the way home. However, he might have saved some of his prize if he had chosen to bring along some better weapons. “I have the gaff now, he said. But it will do no good. I have the two oars and the tiller and the short club.” (112) With those supplies and his ingenuity, the old man is able to defend the fish from the sharks for a short time. But eventually he is defeated. With a second spear or longer stronger knife, he might have been able to save his fish even in his exhausted state. The old man uses lots of energy while trying to catch the great marlin. He must constantly hold the line once he catches the fish as well as do other fishing tasks, all under the hot sun.

To fuel his efforts, he has only what he caught at sea, such as the dolphin or flying fish. Although he is old and lost much of his hunger, he knows he must still eat and drink. He would have been very wise to bring along some extra food and water for his long voyage, but he chose not to. “I wish I had some salt. […] I had better eat it all although I am not hungry.”(59) Aside from energy, the old man also needs food to concentrate. He could have thrown some sea water on the ship and let it evaporate to get salt, but he forgot. Later on, he becomes very forgetful and finds it difficult to concentrate without nourishment.

In the end, the old man acknowledges his unfortunate choices at the beginning. He knows he was undersupplied. He should have prepared for the worst when he set off and been ready for anything. A few simple tools and supplies would have made his ordeal much easier. Granted he lives in a poor town and he himself has no money, but he surely could have rented or bought some or most of the supplies he would inevitably need, especially because he could pay for it afterwards with the money from the fish.

By Brianna T.

2008-03-24T11:46:00.001-05:00

Everyday people go through everyday struggles, from not being able to find an outfit, to fighting to survive the deadly, cancer disease. We learn to overcome and fight through these challenges, its part of our human nature. And even if it is difficult or tiring, or even puts our lives in jeopardy, we always seem to get through them.

In the novella The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, Santiago has to overcome many struggles and challenges. He fights the elements of Mother Nature, hunger, exhaustion and fatigue, and let’s not forget, the ferocious sharks. He fights all of theses elements alone at sea, at the age of 85, just to catch a one stubborn marlin.

Santiago isn’t what you would call rich or wealthy, so he can’t just run down to the corner store when he’s hungry. He has to work for his food. For 84 days now, he has gone out to sea, and has come back empty handed each time.

“ ‘What do you have to eat?’ The boy asked.

‘A pot of yellow rice with fish. Do you want some?’

‘No. I will eat at home. Do you want me to make the fire?’

‘No. I will make it later on. Or I may eat the rice cold.’

‘May I take the cast net?’

‘Of course.’

There was no cast net and the boy remembered when they had sold it. But they went through this fiction every day. There was no pot of yellow rice and fish and the boy knew this too.” (16) This quote shows that the old man really doesn’t have food and he hasn’t eaten in so long. “There was no pot of yellow rice and fish and the boy knew this too.” This part in the quote tells you the boy knows the man has no food because he hasn’t caught a fish in days, and he is very poor, and has nothing. Plus, he lies to the boy because he doesn’t want the boy to worry about him not eating. He is old and needs nutrition, but he hasn’t had too much luck lately. But will his luck change on the 85^th, as it has in the past? He would soon find out.

His luck changes after hooking a marlin on the line. But the fish does something out of the ordinary. He swims straight. He doesn’t swerve or try to get lose, he just swims and drags the boat and Santiago farther out to sea. Santiago follows the marlin for 3 days. He has no food and is getting weak. But with his smart mind and fishing techniques he is able to catch some small fish for some well needed nutrition. With no way to cook it he eats them raw, yuck. That’s not what you would picture as and ideal meal.

While battling the violent elements of Mother Nature, the old man is also fighting to keep his eyes open. The old man has been following the marlin for three days at sea, and has barely gotten any sleep. And not to mention he sleeps on a pile of newspapers at home, and that can’t be too comfortable, and holding on to that big fish is tiring and sucking the energy right out of him. He is old and brittle and needs his rest. His hand is cramping from gripping the rough line for three days straight, He hasn’t had much rest of the boat, because he needs to keep an eye on the marlin. And when it was time to finally catch the marlin, he feels tired and finally admits it.

“I’m tireder than I have ever been, he thought, and now the trade wind is rising. But that will be good to take him in with [the marlin]. I need that badly.” (89)This quote shows how tired the old man is getting. He is malnourished and over tired, and he needs all the help he can get to catch fish.

After all that hard work and finally killing the beast of the sea, Santiago finds out that the marlin is bigger than his boat. There is no way he can put it on his small boat. So, he attaches it to the side, and he was off, on his voyage back home. But what Santiago didn’t know was that many, many, many fathoms down, and many, many miles away, hungry sharks were waiting.

Sharks can smell blood from 50 miles away! Their was blood leaking into the cool, ocean water from the gash on the side of the marlin, where Santiago’s spear took the its life. And even though the bleeding stopped after a while, the sharks had already sniffed out the trail and where near by. And let’s keep in mind that the 1500 pound marlin is out in the open, and all Santiago has for a weapon is one spear and a small knife.

“ The shark’s head was out of water and his back was coming out and the old man could hear the noise of skin and flesh ripping on the big fish when he rammed the harpoon down onto the shark’s head at a spot where the line between his eyes intersected with the line that ran straight back from his nose.” (102) I picked this quote because it shows how Santiago fought these sharks off. “he rammed the harpoon down onto the shark’s head” this is the part of the quote where Santiago actually kills the demon. The shark in the quote actually took a huge chunk from the marlins side. And that’s not all that he took. As the shark sunk down to the dark depths of the ocean the spear was still logged in his skull, taking away the old man’s biggest weapon. And since the shark took a bite out of the fish, of course, it started bleeding again. Knowing now that more sharks were bound to come, Santiago took the knife and put it in his oar to make a spear-like weapon. He killed off two more sharks before making all the way home.

In conclusion we find that throughout the voyage of catching the marlin, Santiago has to overcome some pretty rough challenges. He has to survive hunger, fatigue, and fierce man eating sharks. And the amazing thing is that he does all this alone, at the age of 85. I mean, that’s pretty unbelievable if you ask me. How many 85 year olds do you know, that could accomplish what Santiago had in the book The Old man and the Sea?

By Nate J.

2008-03-24T11:44:00.001-05:00

Santiago faced many consequences during his time out at sea. He spent around two to three nights in the water, which can be very dangerous to your health if it rains. In the novella, The old man and the sea, by Ernest Hemmingway, Santiago’s decision was to stay with the Marlin, and his consequences of this action is the old man’s mental health deteriorating, getting a disease or getting sick from the raw fish he is eating, and his physical health deteriorating from his old age. All of these problems are important to his health, and extremely dangerous if he does not sustain his health out as sea.

Santiago had his mental health deteriorating during his time out at sea. Since there was no one on his boat with him while he sailed out, he started to wish that the boy was out there with them. So then, to still have some one to talk to, he started talking to the big fish, or his “brother”. “’How do you feel fish?’ he asked aloud. ‘I feel good and my left hand is better and I have food for a night and day. Pull the boat, fish.’”(74). This is his only communication or sociality that he can have with this marlin. This communication would have been seen as “crazy” to some people, but is as normal as to talking to a dog. This relationship with the fish makes him have an active motive to catch the fish, and lets the old man talk to someone during his time out at sea.

Next to his mental health, it is bad for him to eat raw fish too. If the fish has a disease, or has some problem with it’s body, it is possible for the old man to get sick. “’and what a miserable fish raw. I will never go in a boat again without salt or limes.’”(80). With salt or limes, added to raw fish is called ceviché , and it is like a cooker with out heat. It burns the meat of the fish, and in turn, killing the bacteria on the fish. The fish was also bad tasting with out salt, such as a dolphin. Dolphin is an excellent fish cooked, but to sweet to eat raw.

With his mental health deteriorating, and eating fish raw, his physical health was also deteriorating. When he was holding the wire with the marlin on the other side, he held it all night and then, in the morning when he woke up, he was brought in the morning with a cramp on his left hand. ”’What kind of hand is that,’ he said. ‘Cramp if you want. Make yourself a claw.’”(68). this quote shows that he does now the effects of having a cramp. His cramp was a problem throughout the book, because now, he had to hold the wire with his right hand, risking another cramp on his right. Under all odds, he makes it through the trip without his right hand cramping, and his left hand’s cramp leaving his body.

Santiago faces many consequences to his choice of staying out at sea with the marlin. Santiago’s decision to stay with the marlin is that the old man’s physical health was deteriorating, the possibility of getting sick from the raw fish, and his physical health deteriorating from his age. Facing all of these consequences, Santiago somehow makes it back to his home, but the satisfaction that he had caught an 18 foot marlin. Even thought his marlin was eating all of the marlin, he at least brought some reminisce of the fish to prove to everyone.

By Libby M.

2008-03-24T11:43:00.000-05:00

Choices govern our every day life, even though we do not realize it. Will we wear the jeans or the mini skirt, the tank top or the t-shirt? Will I have cereal for breakfast or bacon and eggs? Will I walk or take the bus? Will I do my homework today or the class period before it is due? Should I answer the teacher or pretend I didn’t hear? Santiago had to make many different decisions so he would survive his fight with the marlin. He had to decide how to prepare for the trip, he had to choose to kill the fish, and his biggest choice was the decision to fight for the fish.

Santiago had to decide how to prepare for his fishing trip. “He ate the white eggs to give himself strength. He ate them all through May to be strong in September and October for the truly big fish” (38). He had to figure out what food would give him the most nutrients and protein to build his muscles before he went fishing. If he had not stayed healthy through the off months, the trip could have ended badly for Santiago. “He also drank a cup of shark liver oil each day from the big drum in the shack… It was very good against all colds and gripes and it was good for the eyes” (38). Santiago also had to keep himself healthy even if what he had to do was unappetizing.

The marlin could have killed the old man. The fish was very large and quite strong while Santiago was not in the best shape that he could be. His body was starting to work against him, like when his hand would cramp. But “[his] choice was to go there to find [the fish] beyond all people. Beyond all people in the world.” (52). Santiago needed this fish and he knew it. He had gone eighty-four days without catching a single fish and he had made the choice to go back into his boat everyday and try again.

Santiago realized that he had to work hard. This wasn’t just going to be a smooth ride to the end. “I have killed this fish which is my brother and now I must do the slave work” (93).He decided he had to do everything in his power to get that great fish home. He didn’t have to, though. He could have given up when the sharks attacked and just left the marlin to float around in its watery grave. He could have listened to the pain that he felt and admitted to his defeat. But he didn’t and he got the fish home to where people could admire him for working so very hard and persevering through many encumbrances.

Our choices adjudicate how our lives play out. We choose to wake up, to go to work, to be safe, and to live our lives. Santiago had to choose to prepare, to try, and to fight and these choices changed how Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea turned out. Without making these choices, Santiago might not have caught the fish. He might not even have lived through the fishing trip. His choices decided how his life and the life how the fish would change those fateful days on the ocean.

By John B.

2008-03-24T11:42:00.003-05:00

In the story The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, the main character Santiago is faced with many obstacles. While trying to catch one of the biggest fish he has ever seen, Santiago struggles with a few physical and mental problems. Also there are some living obstacles in his way too. Santiago decided not to bring any food on his boat either, which took away time from trying to concentrate on catching the Marlin. As you can see there are many things in Santiago’s way.

As Santiago tries to hold on to the fishing line for several days he starts to feel some aches and pains in his hands. In his left hand he experienced some aches and pains from when he had arm wrestled a “Negro” for approximately one day. “For a long time after that everyone had called him “The Champion” and there had been a return match in the spring.”(70) Santiago had still one the match even though his left hand had always given him trouble. During the arm wrestling match everyone had supported the “Negro” by lighting his cigarettes and bring him drinks. This was a disadvantage because he also cut his right hand while holding the fishing line. So both of his hands are very weak.

Santiago is the only person out in the deep of the see all by himself. His loneliness has him always talking to himself. By talking to himself he can remember things from the past and one of his best friends Manolin. If Santiago had the company of his friend he might have had a better chance at catching the Marlin. Also if the boy was with him it would keep him company and he would be a lot less lonely. Aloud he said “I wish I had the boy.” (51) The boy would have given the Old Man a better chance at catching the Marlin. As you can see Santiago needed the boy for company and the help as well.

After a long and exciting voyage in the sea all ends well with Santiago and the Marlin. Santiago had realized that he had let the fish swim way to far out in the ocean. That was where the sharks had lived and swam. There were a few sharks and they decided to eat Santiago’s Marlin in which he had followed for many days. One by one the fish and Santiago tried to defeat the sharks. It wasn’t helping out the best. Santiago’s Marlin had been eaten by the sharks. All that was left to take home was its bones. “He saw the white naked line of his backbone and the dark mass of the head with the projecting bill and all the nakedness between.” (121) All Santiago had to bring back was the Marlins remains and the remembrance of the journey he went on.

The main character Santiago, in The Old Man and the Sea, faced so many problems in his voyage. In the end everything turned out to be what nobody would have ever imagined. From hand cramps, to being lonely, and sharks, Santiago handled things very well for an Old Man. I have been to many different places before and I still remember them from about seven years ago, and I will probably remember the trip for the rest of my life. Santiago overall learned a lesson, just because he didn’t succeed he still had one special experience that nobody but him would have ever had. Even though Santiago had lost his prize, he will never forget the experience

By Derek H.

2008-03-24T11:42:00.002-05:00

The choices Santiago made and didn't make had a huge affect on the outcome of the book The Old Man and The Sea, but if he made different choices the story would be a lot different than it was. Some of these choices were going after the marlin when he had problems with his hands, when he had no food, and when he had no time to sleep. If Santiago had made choices to solve these problems he would have never caught the marlin. This would greatly change the story and its ending.

The first decision Santiago made that had an impact on the outcome of the book, was his choice to keep trying to catch the marlin when he was clearly struggling with hand cramps and cuts. He could barely hold on to his own fishing pole, but he never gave up and kept after the great fish. This quote best shows the problem Santiago had with hand cramps: "What kind of hand is that, cramp then if you want. Make yourself into a claw. It will do you no good." Santiago says himself that it will do no good. To help himself, the choice Santiago should have made at that point in the story was to turn around and start heading home. With the problems he had, he was very lucky to be able to catch the marlin and fight off sharks.

Another huge decision Santiago made, was the choice to go after the marlin when he had no food. Without any food to eat, Santiago will have no energy to try and catch the great fish. He will begin to lose his strength and die of starvation. To make up for this lack of food, he tries to catch smaller fish to eat. His extreme hunger is shown best when he says to the great fish: "You're feeling it now fish, and so, God knows, am I." This quote shows that his choice could have killed him, and it nearly did.

The last decision that Santiago made that impacted the ending was his choice to keep going even without sleep. This could have one of the worst decisions that he could have made. Going without sleep for as long as Santiago did, will cause his brain to begin shutting down. He won't be able to think straight and that could cause him to lose his life. His need for sleep is best described by this quote: "Now let me get through the eating of this dolphin and get some rest and a little sleep." This shows that he wants a rest to eat and sleep before he tries to catch the fish again. It also shows how desperate he is for food and sleep because he is talking to the marlin when he says this.

These were the major decisions that had the biggest impact on the book. Santiago could have made smarter choices, but the book would be a lot different than it was. These choices that the old man made, whether they were good or bad, made the story what it was. There wouldn’t be a story to tell if the old man didn’t make the decisions that he did.

By Connor F.

2008-03-24T11:39:00.001-05:00

Throughout ones life, we face many obstacles and challenges, which not only change us, but shape the rest of our lives forever. In Old Man and the Sea, a novel written by Ernest Hemingway, the main character Santiago , a simple minded hard-working fisherman, is forced to deal with obstacles that change his life and him as a person. These nagging troublesome obstacles and challenges consist of fatigue, hunger, and sharks. These obstacles not only greatly infected the plot, but changed Santiago as man for the rest of his life.

Capturing a 12-foot marlin alone at sea is not an easy thing to do. Imagine being Santiago , an 80 year old man, in a petite skiff capturing something three times his size. It is amazing that a man that old struggles with only fatigue as one of his problems, and not facing his death. Santiago struggles with tiredness in the story when he says: “You are killing me, fish, the old man thought. But you have a right to. Never have I seen a greater, or more beautiful or a calmer or more noble thing than you, brother. Come on and kill me. I do not care who kills you.” (92). This quote shows his fatigue, because you can tell he is not only physically tired, but so mentally exhausted that he is pushed to such an extreme brink of destruction that he does not even care what happens with the marlin.

The second obstacle or challenge that Santiago faces on the open sea, is overcoming hunger. This could be looked at as his fault, for going out to sea ill prepared, but no one expects to be on a four day fishing trip chasing one marlin. Throughout the story Santiago neglects the pestering hunger, but at this point in the story he is finally forced to recognize it, : “And I do not know whether the sun will rot or dry what is left, so I had better eat it although I am not hungry. The fish is calm and steady. I will eat it then I will be ready.” (59). This directly shows how he is starving, because it shows that Santiago is finally making time to eat. It also shows that he must have been putting it off for a long time, and when the fish is calm he is making time to satisfy his own hunger.

The third and final obstacle and challenge that Santiago faces, is the ever relentless sharks. On his trip home, after finally catching the marlin, numerous sharks attack, and tear the marlin to pieces. He fends off many sharks and it shows it when he says,: “But I killed the shark that hit my fish, he thought. And he was the biggest dentuso that I have ever seen. And god knows I have seen big ones.” (103). Losing the marlin was a crushing blow to Santiago , he fought hard on the sea for four days, and to return home with nothing is heartbreaking. The quote directly shows how the sharks were a huge problem because he discusses how they are ever relentless and huge.

In conclusion, seeing how Santiago overcame many challenged throughout the novel, you can see how he is truly an amazing person. Santiago was an 80 year old man stuck alone at see on a tiny skiff, fighting something three times his size. But not only that, he had to also struggle with fatigue, hunger, and sharks that tried to kill him. This shows that Santiago is not only an extraordinary man, but also a pretty tough s.o.b. So next time you consider someone to be tough, picture an 80 year old frail man, capturing a giant, with nothing but a fishing pole and the determination given from god

Unbelievable by Derek H.

2008-02-06T12:31:00.000-05:00

Jim and Della woke up early to go for a walk through the town common. They both got ready and then ate breakfast together while they read the newspaper. It started out like any other morning.

That was when they left for their walk just like they did every morning. They walked down the street and to the town common, which they crossed every morning never being disturbed. That was where the morning became different from every other morning.

They got about half way across the common when it got very cold. Then Della suddenly fell. Jim helped her up, wondering what just happened.

“Are you okay,” asked Jim.

“Why did you hit me,” cried Della.

“What,” Jim said confused. “I didn’t hit you.”

“Then who did,” asked Della. She looked around at the empty common, but while she wasn’t looking at Jim, she was hit again. “What is wrong with you,” she cried.

Jim didn’t say anything. Della turned around and began to run away. As she was running she ignored the voice she heard because she thought it was Jim, but Jim still didn’t say anything. He wasn’t the one yelling. He looked around and there was still no one there. He didn’t understand who was yelling or who hit Della.

He turned around and watched her run away. That was all he could do. Nothing would bring her back. Jim slowly started to walk back home wondering what had happened.

He thought about it for a long time. Then he remembered some rumors they had heard when they first moved here. He heard that the common was haunted by a ghost. Jim had never believed in ghosts. Neither did Della. They ignored all of the rumors. They thought it was impossible for ghosts to haunt the common. Jim still didn’t believe, but he couldn’t think of anything else.

The next day, Della realized she had to go back home to get some of her things. She decided to go through the town common to get one last look at it. She didn’t want to leave, but she thought that Jim would keep beating her if she stayed. She didn’t know that Jim really hadn’t hit her. She had never even thought about the rumors for years.

As she was wandering slowly through the common, for what she thought was her last look at it, it suddenly got very cold all around her. She started walking a little faster to get out of the cold. Then it got warm again, but Della didn’t understand why the temperature was changing so fast for no reason. She walked even faster now that she was getting scared.

Then out of nowhere she was hit over the head with a stick. In pain, she slowly got up, not knowing what happened. She gazed around at the common until she spotted the stick on the ground. She looked around again and couldn’t understand how the stick had gotten there seeing how there wasn’t a tree around and she was still the only one in the common.

At that very moment Della remembered the rumors about a haunting in the town common. She began thinking about the rumors and how she just ignored them. She and Jim thought nothing of it because they thought it wasn’t realistic. Then, while she was lost in her thoughts, she was pushed to the ground. The next moment, when she saw a foggy figure walk by, was when she finally accepted that ghosts existed.

Della got up and began running home to Jim. She wanted to tell him everything that had happened. She didn’t know that it wasn’t over yet. All at the same time three things happened. She began hearing the voice that she thought was Jim’s voice earlier, it got very cold again, and there was a very strong wind, but it was only blowing in the common and nowhere else.

These things all happening at the same time made Della very scared. She didn’t think she would make it. She wanted to be home with Jim. She wished that this was just a nightmare that would be over soon. She couldn’t take it anymore. She fainted in the middle of the common, but no one was around to help her.

The next morning Della woke up at home with Jim. She found him making breakfast for both of them.

“How did you find me,” asked Della.

“I saw you on the ground while I was going to the store,” replied Jim.

Jim and Della ate breakfast and went for a walk together again. They don’t walk through the common alone any more for the fear that they could be hurt worse than before. If they do go through it they make sure that there are other people around to witness anything that could happen and help if something goes wrong.

Squire’s Tale by Jasen O.

2008-02-01T13:58:00.000-05:00

“Grandpa, Grandpa! Could you read me a story, please?” Tommy asked his grandfather as he walked into his bedroom. “It’s way past your bedtime, sonny,” Tommy’s grandfather said. “Please? I’ll get to sleep right after it,” Tommy pleaded. “Well, alright, I guess it couldn’t hurt,” Tommy’s grandfather replied. “Way back when, a time when people believed magic and monsters still existed,” Tommy’s grandfather started. “Do monsters still live now?” Tommy asked with a fright. “No, no, not anymore, sonny, but before, many people believed they did,” Tommy’s grandfather explained. “Are you going to read me a story about back then, grandpa?” Tommy asked with glee. “I sure am, and it’s a good one, indeed,” Tommy’s grandfather said with a chuckle.

There was a young man training as a squire under the great King Arthur, who was destined to become his best knight. He wanted to become one of the twelve Knights of the Round Table. But the requirement seemed impossible for any normal man. Many tried; none were fit to be one of the greatest knights on Earth. This young man, had potential, not only physically, but as soon as the King set his eyes on this man, he knew he would be the right man for the job. Though the king had barely been wrong, he had to test this man nonetheless.

“Boy, these tests within the palace have been nothing compared to what you have to do in order to become a true knight,” King Arthur stated with authority. “I’ll gladly accept any challenge you wish to bestow upon me, sire,” The young man said. “Very well, then. Boy, state your name so I may show you the supreme challenge to test not only your body and mind, but to test yourself as one who had entrusted loyalty to not just me, but yourself, and your country. So come forth and state your name!” “Jacob sir, I am a squire of your army, and a loyal soldier to everyone in Britain! I willingly accept any challenge you wish to set upon me, your majesty!” Jacob said with pride. “Splendid! Here is your assignment, Jacob. What I want you to is to take the life of one the most ruthless, vile, and despicable Knights of this continent. Sir Allen Ordell under King Worshak of Turkey,” the king stated. Now son, this will be no easy task, for this is King Worshak’s greatest knight, his best fighter. Poor preparations will result in your death. If you truly wish to accept this path, I will allow you three months to train yourself for the ultimate battle between knights,” The king said. “I will accept, for a knight of your kingdom will not stand down from the task that has been laid upon me. I will go forth, knowing that my life may end there,” Jacob stated with pride in his eyes. Very well, off you go son! And may the gods watch over you in your quest for victory!” The king gladly stated.

The three months were grueling. Jacob trained himself far beyond what he believed his limit was, strengthening himself to the point where for a moment he thought he was invincible. Jacob reported to King Arthur that was setting off. “Good luck and Godspeed to you,” The King said as he sent off Jacob. Jacob started his quest in a small field outside of London, traveling quickly to the dock outside of the field. He was planning on taking a ship to Germany and then he’d figure out what he would do from there. He recalled the king’s words as he thought in silence. “Poor preparations will result in your death,” began Jacob as he spoke to himself. “I must be careful from here on out” Jacob added as he proceeded. He made it to the dock, and purchased a ticket for the ship.

The trip didn’t seem to take that long, it was a two night trip, as Jacob’s excitement and adrenaline made it seem like a couple of hours. When he arrived in Romania, he purchased a weapon there, a nicely made steel bladed long sword. He also made a disguise as he took another small boat over the Black Sea into Turkey, where his enemy was.

It didn’t take long for Jacob to arrive in Turkey, and about a day of traveling brought him to castle. Jacob knew he wouldn’t make it alive if he just rushed in, so he devised an all-or-nothing plan. He was to be taken in as a squire for the king, and then assassinate the great knight. It didn’t take long to trick the king and his underlings to him being one of their own. He was around a seemingly friendly environment; it was kind of hard knowing they are the enemys. The time Jacob spent went by slowly, as he thought he would never get a chance at his enemy. Until one day he overheard the king speaking with him. “Sir Allen, I am afraid that one day a spy from our enemy kingdom may come and try to assassinate one of us. I fear that this day draws near, so as a direct order I wish for you to resign early this night, as tomorrow I want you to set out and kill their king before the same fate comes on one of us, understood?” King Worshak stated. “Understood, sire,” Sir Allen replied.

Later that night Jacob set his plan in motion. He crept with care as he made his way toward the room of the great knight. He carefully opened the door, peeking in to see if the knight was asleep, surely enough Jacob saw him in bed. Jacob quickly came into the room, spinning around a few times; making sure a trap wasn’t set. He approached the bed with caution; he drew his sword and trusted it through the lump on the bed. Just then Jacob knew something was wrong. All of a sudden a dark figure rushed at him, pinning him to the wall. “You believed it would be that simple to assassinate me? I knew I didn’t like you the second you walked into this kingdom! And now I can-,” The great knight started as he then fell to the ground, holding onto his leg, a knife was impaled into his leg. “That knife is poisoned, you won’t last much longer now,” Jacob stated. “Looks like you’ve gotten a little careless,” Jacob added. He tied up the knight, also tying his mouth shut, assuming he’ll be dead by the morning. Jacob quickly gathered his things, making sure not to leave a trace as he escaped the kingdom. As he made it back to Britain, the kingdom greeted him with open arms, as he returned a hero.

“His statue stands tall today in the town square, sonny,” Tommy’s grandfather said. “Wow grandpa, is that a true story?” Tommy asked. “Yes it is, sonny, anyway it’s really late you should get right to sleep,” Tommy’s grandfather said. “Do you think he’s still alive grandpa?” Tommy asked. “I still believe he’s out there, sonny, and he may be closer than you think. Goodnight,” Tommy’s grandfather said. “Goodnight grandpa!”

Moonshine by Dan F.

2008-02-01T13:57:00.000-05:00

The full moon behind the black silhouettes of the mighty forest pines had always evoked a strong deep instinct in Lance. It was so basic and primal; it felt like a calling from another life. It always put things in perspective. He had a clear view of the pines and stars from his bedroom window. More then 1000 times now he had fallen asleep while gazing at them. Tonight was no different. While here, the familiar sight had calmed him in times of hardship and stress. From his first day at his new school to the last day of summer, from the day he got his new dog, to the day it died from a car accident, from Christmas evening, to the day his brother was born, the moon had always been with him. Its pure white light always had eerie effect on the front yard below him, making it seem just a little unreal.

Tomorrow was Saturday, the end of the week. After the weekend, he would go back to school for 5 days, then another weekend, then perhaps a vacation, a few more months of the routine, then summer, when he still do the same thing every day, but it would not include school. The pattern of his life; until he finished high school. Maybe then he could get out expand himself; find a career, focus his education. Tonight, all he cared about was sleep. Tomorrow, he was going to see a movie with his friends.

As his eyes closed, he got a final look at the moon. Or, rather, were the moon would be. It was a cloudy night and the there was only a periodic break through which the open cosmos could be observed. The grey sky was tainted near the horizon with the warm orange and pink of distant city light beyond the woods. In the deep black of the middle sky the Aura borealis flowed high and bright.

The next day, as planned, Lance and his friends went to see a movie. It was great. The actors were realistic, the plot engaging, the music provoked strong emotions for the situation and every scene was picture perfect. It was “epic”, and the viewers ate it up. They loved to get lost in impossibly grand superior worlds of imagination, in which there were heroes, characters, places, and things which they felt were somehow more extreme, more awesome, then those in the real world. The audience was mesmerized.

Suddenly the power cut out. There was a low angry roar all around them. It was pitch black in the theater. Even the exit sign was dormant. The people panicked. There was instant kayos. Lance and his friends scrambled to find one another, then to get out. When they finally did, after nearly being trampled by the hustling crowd, they found the streets too were filled with crazed citizens. All the lights were out and not even flashlights or cell phones worked. Worst of all was the sky, for it had turned blood red with streaks; the flaming tails of destroyed satellites as they fell from their orbit.

Within 24 hours, the world’s major cities were diminished to smoldering ruins. The extra terrestrial attackers, whatever their motives for war were, had decimated earths population. In some parts, they sent grate bolts of superheated plasma hurtling towards the surface, turning the sand to glass and vaporizing life. Their millions of drones made short work of all mans planes. Forests burned and oceans fumes steam.

5 years later, Lance found himself on a rescue operation as the chief engineer aboard a medical ship. The invaders of earth had brought devastating weapons with them, such as the EMP generator, which they used in the initial attack, but humans were quick to adapt and reverse engineer any and all technology that they obtained from the aliens.

Within 3 years of the first encounter, the surviving scientists had learned the secrets of light speed travel and artificial gravity. It, along with salvaged alien weapons technology would at best give them small defenses, enough for evacuation of any inhabited planet that could be attacked, not that there were enough humans left to colonize them.

They were lucky to have survived at all. The only reason some lived was because the aliens had underestimated human kinds advancement from the last analysis of their civilization, which was more then 100 earth years ago, when they left their home planet and began their march towards the sol system. Since then, humans had made the atomic bomb, and with it, appropriate shelters in the mountains. It was in these that the survivors hid until the bombardments stopped. Later they would learn that all of human kinds weapons had been used, had been necessary, to destroy the enemy ships in space. Every bomb in every nation’s arsenal was used to penetrate their defenses, but eventually, the alien fleet was destroyed, leaving only a handful of humans left. It was learned that the aliens were from a distant planet, and travel between there and earth, even with light speed engines, took a century. If another fleet had been sent, the humans had 100 years to prepare. However, the second encounter with the new enemy came much sooner then they though. Lance had been drafted, like many others, into earth’s armed forces. While scouting a planet they thought might be inhabitable, an exploration frigate had scanned its surface. Orbital images showed a small structure made of refined materials. It had right angles and a strong power signature emanated from its position. Communication with the ship was lost soon after. It was assumed it was an alien outpost, on the outskirts of their special territory. Lance and his shipmates were on their way to investigate and help anyone they found who was injured, although following the aliens pattern of destruction, there probably wouldn’t be much left. It was likely suicide to even come close. But Lance followed orders, like everyone else.

As they approached the planet, Lance could see its’ moon out the window against the dark side. It was about two times larger then earths moon, but with their distance from it, it appeared very similar. There were no pine trees, although a nearby nebular had the same effect as the northern lights on earth. He thought about his position; a new recruit in the space marines, on his way to war with an alien species. He had always wondered what it would be like to be one of the 300 Spartans at Cher Napoli, or a solder on the front lines in the American civil war. Now he found his situation to be even worse. “Maybe life is as epic as the movies” he contemplated, “or more so. We mistake the plot twists for disasters, the climax for death, and there’s never any music playing to set the mood. There doesn’t need to be. The mood is set automatically. He wondered what movie hero would do in his position as he flew towards near certain destruction. But then he realized he was no hero. When the human fleet came to investigate the loss of a second ship, all they found was a single escape pod…

One Missed Shot by Matt C.

2008-02-01T13:56:00.002-05:00

I placed the ball exactly where it had been before. Just like before I gauged the wind and slowly approached. Then I kicked as hard as I could. It had the same amount of spin as before and I just watched as it went into the upper corner of the goal. Why couldn’t that have happened last time. Why.

What happened last time was just short of a disaster. I am a soccer player and I’m really good judging by what I’ve accomplished. I had just made the Russian national soccer team and was being called great. All of Russia was obsessed with soccer because they thought I was the key to a World Cup. Then we started the World Cup and we advanced through the ranks. I was scoring multiple goals every game. My specialty was free kicks and my accuracy was called deadly. Then the game for the gold came and it was us against England. With about two minutes left there was a hard foul and I was picked to take the kick. I went to take it and was too confident. I screwed it up and it hit the post.

Now I’m back home in Russia and I can’t go out in public. I tried to a week after the game and I was almost killed. I have no idea why everyone is so mad, it’s just a game and the team would never have gone to the finals if I hadn’t been on it. People are calling for my retirement at the age of 19. They think I should just stop playing now because I missed one shot. I might have to quit because I’m scared, so far there have been death threats and my house has been egged every night. The people are insane and even my friends and teammates hate me. I don’t know why I’ve gone from a celebrity to hands down the most hated person in all of Russia. I decided I'm gonna try to go out tomorrow and see if people confront me in person, they probably will. It ain't gonna be fun.

"Boo, you suck" another man yelled at me. "Good one" That’s about the hundredth time I’ve heard that, the fans here are so creative. I should definitely have stayed inside for another week, or a month would have been better. Nothing has gotten better. If possible I think its worse and I don't see how that happpens. Everyone that I walk by either gives me a dirty look or attempts to spit at me. I tried calling my teammates and they still won't answer the phone. This sucks, I'm an outcast in my home country. I just think that the only way I could gain back the support that I once had is by winning again and maybe then they would have as insane a reaction except this time a good reaction. One that includes me being loved by everyone, that would be great. I'm gonna practice again and then won't have to be scared to walk down the street.

I've been practicing for about 3 hours a day and I found a team to join. They are in the Russian pro league and I've already noticed a difference in the number of people that hate me. Now it’s just a strong dislike by most people that I walk by. But they know that what I bring to the new team is insane skills and they know that they're going to win. I hate how people are, they hate me when I make an mistake even though anyone could have done it. Then once I help them win they are back on the bandwagon. If I had listened to them I would have quit and I couldn't do that. Soccer is too much fun and I can't listen to people who know nothing and will change their opinion in a week. I've gotta make my own decisions and continue to play the game I love.

A Drink to Remember and Another to Forget by Kay T.

2008-02-01T13:56:00.001-05:00

As the New Jersey sun sunk below the horizon, they sat around the dwindling fire as they watched the embers fiery red glow diminish. No words were spoken aloud, but among them everything was understood. No one could understand why this had happened. Such a tragedy on what was supposed to be the best time of their lives. One thing is for certain, this would live with these individuals for the rest of their days.

“Ring” the last bell sounded as the members of Rock Ridge High School fled from the building. That was the last bell of high school that the seniors would have to obey. A group of the senior class, John, Maria, Lewis, Colin, Stacey and Todd walked stealthily out of the double doors. “Gee, can’t believe this is the last day” Todd said looking back at their old high school. “Right, high school is over guys” Colin added.

“Well at least we still have our senior trip together before we all part our ways to college,” Stacey said with hope. As the group of friends admired what they had accomplished, a stampede of seniors ran toward them to get into their cars. Joshua Colin’s friend jumped onto Colin and gave him a noogie. “Yo bro, excited for Sea Isle?! We’ve got a load of “stuff” if you know what I mean” Joshua said quietly. Sea Isle is the secluded beach where their group of senior friends would vacation for the summer. The seniors had been saving all year for this event. It was no doubt the highlight of the year, and now it was finally here. After sharing this information with Colin, Joshua scurried off to catch up with his friends to prepare for their summer get away. “Ah I can’t wait guys! Me and Stacey are going home to pack we’ll meet you guys at Lewis’s house in about an hour okay?” Maria stated.

“Alright we leave at 6 sharp!” John exclaimed. He would be the one driving the crew down.
Six O’clock rolled around. John hurried everyone into his old black jeep. He hopped into the front and roared the engine. They were off. On the way down Todd had brought his CD mix he had made. It included many Sublime songs along with some Dispatch. Free-spirited, they shouted and chanted the songs the whole way down to the secluded beach house in Sea Isle.

The six graduates arrived at the Beach House when Joshua, red party cup in hand, greeted them at the gate. “Hello fellow graduates!” he said drunkenly, “Let’s get this party started!” He through a beer bottle at Todd and motioned for the group to get inside. Everyone followed inside excitedly except for Todd. Something had been burdening him for the whole ride down to the beach. Maria, who he was closest to in the group, grabbed his hand and dragged him into the house.

There were about 100 party goers inside. All of which were seniors. Sounds of Bob Marley filled the huge house. At that Todd left his troubles behind and partied with his best friends. John, Todd, Lewis, Colin, Maria, and Stacey reminisced on their high school years, and how long they had all been friends. “Let’s make a vow right here and now, we’ll stick with each other through the end. Nothing will ever make us befriend each other” Stacey slurred to the group. At this they lifted there cups and clashed them together.

The next morning, Joshua came into the room full of sluggish bodies and shouted at the room full of adolescences “Get up you bums! It’s beach time!” the crowd slowly opened their eyes and attempted to follow the orders. Finally the crew got up and followed Joshua to the beach. They had Frisbee tournaments all day long along with many other fun games. All of them enjoyed the fact that they were newly graduated seniors. But what was to come was unbearable.
Although Todd had been drinking and partying like the rest, he hadn’t been feeling that well all day. Todd had a secret that none of his friends knew about. He couldn’t bear to burden them with the awful news he had been carrying. He continued to act as though nothing was bothering him. As dawn turned to dusk he got weaker and weaker. Maria, John, Colin, Stacey and Lewis noticed he wasn’t being himself. They suggested a game of truth and dare. Meanwhile Todd tried to keep his pain to himself. He was experiencing crucial migraines. The drinking was not helping but, he didn’t want anyone to question his health.

Going around the circle everyone had a separate dare. When they got to Todd he was dared to climb among the ledge near the reef. “Come on they chanted have some fun!” Todd tried to respond but couldn’t. Lewis, who over the years he hadn’t been the closest with Todd, dragged him up to the ledge. Todd couldn’t contain himself any longer and with out control he wobbled off toward the edge. Lewis caught him just before he fell. Todd passed out among the rocks in Lewis’s arms. “Help!” Lewis shouted. Everyone ran to be by his side. He wouldn’t move. Maria crouched down next to him shook and cried out to him. There was no response. The ambulance arrived and after a few hours the surgeon came out in his long white coat. “I’m sorry but your friend didn’t make it. He didn’t have much time left…,” he said “but why did you let him drink?” They had no idea that Todd had been hiding his brain tumor from them. Now they knew and unfortunately nothing could be done. He was dead.

As the fire slowly started to die out, everyone gathered in a huddle. They cried in unison for Todd, for their best friend was gone. John rose a glass and muttered these words “for Todd, our beloved friend, rest in peace bro. Here’s to a Drink to remember this as the best times with Todd still here with us, and another to forget his loss.” At this the group swallowed their shots. He would always be with them.

The Newman’s Vacation by John B.

2008-02-01T13:53:00.000-05:00

“Come on you two get up, we have to leave soon so we can make it to the airport on time!” “Alright we’ll be down for breakfast in a few minutes,” said Sara and Justin. “I’m so excited it’s finally time for us to go on vacation to Ireland,” said Justin. The two young 9 year old twins quickly ran down the creaky steps with their big blue luggage bags. “You’ll have to eat breakfast in the car, so grab a box of Poptarts and drinks,” said their dad. Everyone was in the red Dodge Caravan within 40 minutes. “So how long will it take to get to Ireland from Connecticut, mom?” said Sara? “To long”, said Sara’s mom.

“Hey can you pass me some Poptarts,” said Sara’s dad? Everyone barely ate breakfast, because they were so excited about flying for the first time.

After about 3 and ½ hours they arrived at the airport. They got all their bags checked through the tight security, because of the September 11 attack. “Hello, may I see your passport,” said the plump lady in a blue uniform. Everyone gave the lady their passports and got on the plane. “Welcome please take your seats we’ll be leaving very shortly,” said the pilot.” “I don’t want the window seat,” said Justin. “I’m afraid of heights.” “I’m going to take a nap, because I couldn’t sleep last night,” said the twin’s dad. The plane took off and a movie came on which kept the twins entertained. “I always wanted to see the movie National Treasure,” said Sara.

During the movie Justin noticed that the man sitting across from him kept looking at him frequently. So Justin quickly looked at the man and the man smiled at him. Justin smiled back and didn’t look at the man for a while. The plane finally arrived in Ireland. The Newman family left got off the plane and said bye to the captain. “Everyone please stick together we don’t want to lose you in the airport,” said the twin’s mom. “Hey a sports store”, said Justin. He quickly ran off to the sports store before his parents could stop him. Suddenly just before Justin entered the tiny store a man picked him up and dragged him out of the airport to the exit that was just about 2 yards away. “Mom and Dad where did Justin go,” said Sara? “I don’t know, I told him to stay near by,” said Sara’s mom. Everyone panicked and quickly looked and shouted for Justin.

“Let’s tell the airport security,” Billy said. Billy (the twin’s father) told the security guys and the looked on the cameras. Justin was nowhere to be found. After about 2 hours of questions and searching family decided to go to the hotel and let the police and security look for Justin. “I really hope Justin is okay,” said the twin’s mom as she and Sara began to cry.

The man had blind folded, duct tape Justin’s hand, and put a gag in his mouth. Justin was being pushed by the man and before he new it he was in a tiny room. Then the man took Justin’s blind fold off. “Hey you’re the man that smiled at me on the plane,” said Justin. “Shut up, unless you want the gag on again,” said the man. Justin didn’t say anything for the moment. Instead he observed everything around him. Just in case he was saved and the man got away. He could tell the police that the man was about 6 feet tall, had blue eyes, black hair, and was wearing a tuxedo. The man left the room and Justin was alone. There was a telephone on the dresser, but the man had destroyed it completely. Justin noticed a little card on the floor. He picked it up and it said CLAIR”S HOTEL. Well Justin was in a hotel. He wished he had listened to his parents and had stuck with his parents. He had to find a way to get the duct tape off, and a way to leave the room.

“Were here, at the hotel,” said the twin’s dad. “Great lets do something to get our minds off Justin for a little bit,” said Sara. Sara’s parents talked to a guy who was at the front desk. They got a card for room 674. They walked down the hallway on the first floor; they wanted to stay on the first floor for Justin’s sake since he was so afraid of heights. As they walked down the narrow hallway Sara read all the numbers on the door, as they increased. “That red color on all the doors is very pretty,” said the twin’s mom. Billy opened the door with the small green card key. Their straight faces suddenly changed to a huge O. It was Justin in their hotel room.

“Justin,” everyone screamed! Justin had stopped trying to take the tape off of his hands and started to cry. He was so happy to see his family. “Oh Justin, I thought we’d never see you again,” said Justin’s mom. “Quick mom no time to chat, get the tape off me as quickly as you can,” Justin said vigorously. “The man that kidnapped me could be back any minute, who knows if he has a weapon.” Justin’s mom and dad quickly took off the tape as Sara watched. The told the man at the front desk to call the police immediately. He called the police, and they arrived within 7 minutes. The police went and hid in the room waiting for the man to come back. The Newman family stayed in room number 401 for the time being. Sure enough the man came back after about 35minutes. The man opened the door and a police officer shouted “Freeze”! The man didn’t freeze but ran. The police were to fast and caught the man.

The Newman’s family vacation was great for the rest of the two weeks. They visited castles and saw the Cliffs of Moher. During the end of the first week the family got a phone call to go to the police station for some questions, after that they were never bothered again by the police or the man. From that day on Justin always listened to his parents, he figured they knew what was best for him.

Half Empty To Half Full by Brian R.

2008-02-01T13:52:00.000-05:00

Walking down Redwood Street, Darren Patten kept his head down, making sure he made no eye contact with anyone walking the opposite way. Feeling his phone vibrate, he reached deep in his pocket to see who was calling him. When he saw that it was his mother, he ignored the call, shaking his head with disappointment. A few minutes ago, he had come running out of his house on the verge of tears, due to his parents fighting once again. Many times it had been over something foolish, but this time it was serious. Just last night, Darren’s father had come home acting differently, almost guilty. In the morning his mother found many clues leading to the discovery of his father cheating on her. Darren thought that she would start crying, but she seemed too angry to shed tears. He had never seen his mother so furious, besides the time when Darren had broken her favorite set of glass dishes from France, passed down from her great-grandmother. He couldn’t listen to the threats and yelling going back and forth between the two, so he ran out the door without glancing back.

The sun, which was just rising, peeked its brilliant head above the trees. The birds were singing their happy songs but Darren could not feel as cheerful as his surroundings. He understood that his parents would most likely be getting a divorce after all that was happening, but it could not sink in. His parents had been married for the past 23 years, he could not imagine them splitting up. What would happen to himself and his little sister, Amanda, who was only at the age of two. Thinking back, the whole morning had been a blur and he realized that he had been reluctant to eat anything. Feeling around in his pocket, he felt some money and change, and headed toward the drug store.

“Hey Darren,” Mr. Jenkins greeted him as Darren came into the store. The usual bells rang as the door shut behind him.

“Hi, Mr. Jenkins,” he responded, trying not to look up at him, hoping that he wouldn’t ask what’s wrong or why Darren looked miserable.

Jen Jenkin’s Drug Store had been around since before he was even born. Darrens father had always told stories of when he was a kid, going into Jen’s with all of his friends after a long day at the baseball field or in the park, during the summer. Darren always loved hearing these stories, it felt strange stepping into the same store his father had once stepped into when he was about his age.

Darren went to the back of the store and grabbed a soda. He had left his house only an hour ago and already had nothing on his mind for himself to do. He knew that his parents would be getting worried, but he also understood that they had enough on their shoulders at the moment with the fighting and arguing. Pretending to be deciding which chips he wanted, he glanced at Mr. Jenkins. He was quite an older man, dark skinned with wrinkles on his face, probably from smiling so much. Darren had never seen him yell or even get angry before. He always had a smile on his face, he eyes were kind and his heart warm. Ever since he could remember, Jem Jenkin’s Drug Store had been his home away from home. He personally enjoyed his time there more than his own house.

Deciding against chips, Darren purchased the half empty soda and stepped back out onto the street. Again, keeping a steady pace and his head down, he strolled alongside the trees that lined the street. He made his way into the forest, where there was an empty boxcar on the old abandoned train tracks. Darren sometimes came here to think things over and to be by himself. As he approached, and slid open the door with a high pitched squeak, he came to notice he would not be the only one using the box car. There was a short, grubby homeless man smoking a pipe in the corner of the car. He looked up with a startled look when Darren opened the door, but didn't seem to be bothered by him.

"Come on in kid, its ok, there's plenty of room in here," the homeless man said, "My names Jason, and I just moved in," he said, looking around the box car.

"Thanks, I'm Darren," he said, stepping into the car, which was filled with dust. "That's my dad's name, Jason"

Darren and Jay talked for a little while before Jason asked what brought him to the box car. Darren told him that this was him thinking spot when something was bothering him. Jason was curious to what was bothering him and Darren told him all of his troubles and everything that was going on at home.

"Sometimes I just wish I didn't have parents or family at all, they make everything complicated and they fight too much," Darren told him, looking at the floor.

"Don't say that kid," Jason responded, "I wish I could go back to my family but I cant, I screwed up kid."

Jason told Darren that when he was about 18 years old he started to use drugs and was a heavy drinker. After his parents caught him more than once, they apparently had kicked him out of the house. Since then, Jason had lived on the streets by himself, no matter how tough it was. He had tried to go back once or twice, but each time they had refused to accept him into the house. For five years, he had been living in the safest places on the street, praying every day that someone would take him in.

"See kid, family should mean a lot to you, even if they fight excessively," Jason finished. "Go back to your house and talk to your parents kid."
Darren sat on the floor pondering, and after about 10 minutes, thanked the man and jumped down from the box car. He lumbered out from the trees and jumped back onto the sidewalk. Walking back down Redwood Street, Darren Patten kept his head down, thinking about everything Jason had just told him. He had to be thankful for having his family and everyday that he spent with them.

Suicidal Sunday by Kaitlyn B.

2008-02-01T13:43:00.000-05:00

It was late afternoon, and sunlight spilled onto Ellia’s face. She was 24 years old, with somewhat tanned skin. Her eyes were blue like the sea, and she had long wavy blonde hair. It was Sunday, and only thirteen hours had passed since her brother, Ned, had died. She hadn’t been able to get a full night of sleep before something interrupted her from her temporary disconnection to her troubled life.

It sounded like air rushing quickly out of something. Next there was a gross smell, and Ellia knew something was wrong. She quickly got up and followed the quiet breezy sound. Down the hall and in her bed she found a small metal sphere with gas coming out! She quickly grabbed it, the cold metal freezing her hands. Ellia turned and threw it out her window, not caring that she didn’t open it. Glass bits shattered everywhere and as soon as it touched the ground there was a small explosion, killing some of her beautiful daises surrounding this mysterious sphere.

Something was very strange. Her brother, Ned, had just died, and the doctors thought it was suicide. All she could think of was that Ned had recently been to his best friend’s party. His girlfriend Nelly had gone with him, who recently just got out of a serious relationship. Nelly was really pretty, with green eyes and gorgeous long black hair. But just hours after her brother had died, someone was trying to kill her?

“What…just…happened? I need to call Trevor!” Ellia exclaimed.
~*~
“What took you so long?!” Ellia got really nervous, wondering what might happen next.

“It’s okay, I’m here. I came as fast as I could. I thought you might be worried so I stopped and bought you these.” Trevor smiled as he handed her a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, making sure there were daises in it, her favorite flower.

“Thank you, but now’s not the time. I think, but this is just a thought, that someone is out to kill me. My brother just died, and the doctors said it was a suicide, but my brother would never do that. And now, someone is trying to bug my apartment? Is it just me or is something suspicious?” Ellia was really starting to get worried.

“Shhh,” Trevor hugged her to calm her down,” I really think your getting paranoid here. Your brother just died, and you’re obviously having a hard time. Let’s go inside.”

So, Trevor and Ellia slowly shuffled their way in the girl’s apartment, not knowing what was happening just a few feet away.

“Aww, how sweet,” Magda said in a mocking tone, “they’re in love. Shasta, get my stuff!”

Magda is a Swedish spy, a mean cold-hearted killer. She was not someone you wanted to mess with, seeing after he husband’s death, she gave no mercy. Shasta was her partner in crime for many years whose loyalty made up for his lack of brains.

“Here’s your…” Shasta couldn’t even finish his sentence before Magda snatched the gun away from his grasp.

“Give me this! I don’t have all day.” Magda held her ice cold scope with pride, peering through the window of the apartment. Any minute now, she was so close, a bullet away from $750,000.
~*~
“Ellia,” Trevor said, “ I’m going to keep watch, make sure everything is alright out there. Don’t worry.” Trevor didn’t want to admit to it, but he was worried something would happen to the love of his life.

“I’m going to try and get some sleep.” Yawned Ellia.

“Okay, I’m here if you need me.” Said Trevor.
~*~
“Quick get up! I heard something outside, like shooting, and now it sounds like whatever was out there, is in here! Let’s go!” Trevor yelled.

“Let me just…” Ellia complained sleepily.

“No time!” Trevor grabbed her and they ran out.

The hallway was half lit and eerie looking. Ellia kept hearing noises and looked behind her, but all she saw was a shadow. She sped up her pace, and soon they were out side in the parking lot.

“Pink! Tick! Bonk!” Gun bullets were flying everywhere now. Some dangerously close to hitting her and Trevor. Dodging them, they quickly progressed closer to the car.

“Hop in!” said Trevor, frantically opening the door. He quickly ignited the ignition, and they sped off.

“That was too close.” said Ellia. She waited a bit to catch her breath, “So where are we going?”

“To the scene of the crime, your brother’s house. We need to look for clues.” Trevor panted.
~*~
When they got to her brother’s house, Ellia almost teared up. Memories swept over her, and it still hadn’t hit Ellia that Ned was no longer with her.

Trevor reached for the brass doorknob, and turned it quickly, embracing for something bad to happen. They walked in, but stayed together. Ellia was squeezing Trevor hands so hard, he thought it would fall off. He didn’t want to admit he was scared, to keep Ellia less freaked out. They slowly made their way upstairs and into her brother’s bedroom. Ellia paced up to the bed, and something caught her eye. It was a single strand of hair on one of the pillows. It was long and black, which was a major clue. Ned’s girlfriend, Nelly, had long black hair. She lifted up the covers and found some dried up blood spattered on the crisp white sheets. Ellia gasped and turned to cry on Trevor’s shoulder.

“How could she? I trusted her!” Ellia wailed.

“How do we know it was her? She moved in not to long ago, she sleeps here,” Trevor said, “Let’s keep looking.”

Ellia sniffled around the house, desperately looking for anything that could be a clue. She nearly gave up her hope until she came upon something that changed her mind about Nelly. A couple blood drops made a ten-foot trail that led behind Ned’s couch. Ellia tugged Trevor along as they both peered over the edge of the couch and she screamed. A body was lying down limp with a slit throat and a pool of blood surrounded him.

It didn’t take Ellia long to realize it was Ned’s best friend, Toby. Ellia put the puzzle together in a matter of seconds.

“Toby was mad at Ned for stealing his ex-girlfriend Nelly. He must have found out at the party when Ned introduced them or something. Toby must have realized that’s why Nelly left him. So the next day, he must’ve hid in the bushes, waiting for Nelly to leave. Then he broke into the house and went to Ned’s bedroom, where he must’ve been sleeping in. He cut Ned’s wrists, to make it look suicidal, until he bled to death in his own bed. Toby left him there and must’ve just gone mad. He cut his own wrists and walked behind the couch at the same time. Then he jumped behind the couch to hide, and slit his throat.” Ellia concluded

“Wow.” Trevor was impressed about how quickly his girlfriend could put things together.

“Is that a siren I hear?” asked Ellia.

The couple couldn’t believe what they saw when they looked out the window. Two people with guns and explosives out side getting handcuffed. They both ran outside in amazement.

“These people were on the top ten list of America’s Most Wanted. They were hired to kill you.” a cop said to Ellia.

“Well that’s what was happening to me. I knew I wasn’t crazy. Thank you so much officer. But why kill us?” Ellia said gratefully.

“I heard the lady say something about someone named Toby? Oh, and don’t thank me, thank your neighbor. She called reporting a bloodcurdling scream and saw strangers with weird devices outside. It’s our job to check it out.” the cop replied.

“This Toby was really paranoid.” Said Trevor.

“Oh, the scream was regarding something else. I think you need to check it out.” Ellia said as she led the cop inside.
~*~
After explaining the same story to the cop that she did to Trevor, he called in for back-up to check the house to make sure nothing else was wrong and took in Toby for further investigation.

“We’ll be sending a story to the F.B.I in case they need you for any future jobs. You did amazing work here. Keep it up, and stay out of trouble.” the cop said as Trevor and Ellia left Ned’s house.

Ellia didn’t even reply, she was so happy. No one was out to kill her anymore, her brother’s death was solved, and she and Trevor were alive. But Trevor was happy for something else.

Trevor knelt down on one knee, and Ellia thought he was tying his shoe. But then he stared talking to her and she caught on. After a minute of a lot of talking he popped the big question.

“Ellia, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

“Yes!” Ellia cried.
The newly engaged couple kissed under the twinkling stars and everything was finally the way Ellia wanted it to be.

The Lake by Ryan L.

2008-01-31T14:46:00.000-05:00

The sun beamed down on the gleaming water below. Another day at the lake. My friends Jim, Amy, and Charlie set up the wakeboards, and we took the boat out of the dock for a day of fun. I was the driver of the boat, and responsible for the passengers and the wake boarders. First up, was Jim, who caught an enormous amount of air his first jump, but crashed into the cold water. Next was Amy, who ended up with the same fate. “The water is too choppy,” Charlie said, “let’s go to the north side of the lake, the water should be smoother there.”

“No way!” I exclaimed. “The lake is 182 miles around we could get lost, or sink or …”

“Sink?” Jim laughed, “Do you honestly think our new boat is going to sink?”

“Probably not,” I stated, “but I don’t want to have to be rescued if anything happens.”

“Nothing will happen,” Amy retorted. It was a three to one vote against me, and so we left towards the north end of the lake.

The drive lasted for over an hour, because of the immense size of the lake. I had been using a map to guide me along my journey, but a wave hit our boat, and I lost it in the water. When we finally reached the north end of the lake, the water was as flat and smooth as a pancake. Charlie put on the wakeboard, and jumped into the water. As he did this, fog began to appear on the lake. When Charlie began, we could see him holding onto the rope. He landed some huge tricks like a back flip, and a toe side 540 which is 1 ½ rotations in the air. Amy, Jim, and I were all very excited and I didn’t regret my decision of coming to the north side of the lake.

The fog became thicker, and eventually, we couldn't see him any more. I stopped the boat to bring him in. Jim pulled in the rope, but Charlie wasn’t there! We began to shout, out his name, but there was no reply. Fear set in. We drove around for at least 30 minutes and then the engine shut down. We were out of gas. Our fear turned to panic, as my worst nightmare became a reality.

I had no idea what we should do. Many questions shot into my head, “Should we stay and wait for help? Should we continue our search for Charlie? Should I use a flare gun or air horn to signal for aid?” I answered these questions myself without consulting the others.1. We shouldn’t just stay here, as we may have little chance of getting rescued. 2. We shouldn’t search for Charlie because in our attempt to rescue him we could become tired, or be moving farther and farther away from him. 3. The flare gun is out of the question because in this dense fog, it would be unlikely for anyone to see it.

I believe my final decision was the right one. I decided to use the air horn because it’s loud, it doesn’t need to be seen for help, and if Charlie could hear it, then he might try to swim towards the signal. I took out the air horn, and held it high in the air. It erupted in a violent blow. The echo roared into the hazy abyss. I signaled a few more times just in case someone might be looking for us. Nothing happened, and the light gradually became less and less until nightfall finally arrived.

It was the scariest night of my life. It was pitch black; the only sounds were the frightening wind and the waves crashing over the sides of our boat. I couldn’t sleep for fear that I might fall overboard. I closed my eyes and prayed it was just a terrible nightmare. A wave jolted our boat, and I hit my head on something hard. I was out cold. When I awoke, the sun was shining, and both Jim and Amy were asleep. My head was throbbing in pain, but I couldn’t focus on that. My focus had turned outside the boat. In the distance, I saw land! I woke my two drowsy friends from their slumber, to tell them the news. Immediately, we began to paddle towards the land in the distance.

After a long and strenuous paddle, we arrived at the shore. A sign read, “Welcome to Longboat.” Longboat was on the eastern side of the lake. We had drifted almost 45 miles from the north end. There was a coast guard station nearby, and we told them what happened, and how we had lost Charlie. They quickly set out in search of our companion in hopes he might still be alive. Another coast guard member gave us a ride to our house on the south shore. My parents were deeply relieved when they knew we were alright, but their celebration was cut short when they noticed the absence of Charlie.

A few hours later the coast guard pulled up to our dock with a wet, and freezing Charlie. He was instantly taken inside and changed into dry clothes. Once he had dried off and warmed up, he told us what happened. “I was boarding, and the fog set in very quickly. Then, I went for a back flip, and I couldn’t tell where the water was. I smacked my head, and all I remember was hearing the boat drive off. I did hear the air horn, but I was too disoriented to swim towards it. The next thing I knew, it was daytime and the coast guard brought me home.”

We were all thankful that everyone was safe, and no one had died. But after this experience, I’ve learned to trust my judgment, and not give into what others want, because the consequences could be disastrous.

Another Day at the Office by Nate J.

2008-01-31T14:44:00.000-05:00

The businessmen in their suits and briefcases stroll the sidewalks of the human-infested town of New York. Workers go to their jobs at coffee shops and breakfast cafés to get an easy bagel or a shot of caffeine from the cappuccino or black coffee. The sidewalks were congested at the crack of dawn at 5:00. The roads were already screaming with the high-pitched sound of car horns. Many people were getting settled in there 10’ by 10’ cubicles in the 200 story skyscrapers, but one thing that defines the city of New York and is the definition of what big-time corporations and fortune 500 businesses live by, is the stock market.

At 9:00 A.M., the specialist stock brokers were turning on their computers, and were getting ready to start the daily screaming of words that sounds like a car pile up involving a thousand cars. Cooper Jensen was very new to this broker job, and was starting his job at 24, straight out of college, and is beginning to see the tricks of the trade, and it helps to be the loudest person in the Wall Street to get your prized share. Jensen was observing for the first few days, and saw that on the minute that the stock market was going down. It was not a big jump to the bottom of the tank, but it was heading down at a small angle, and it was not fluctuating back up.

Jensen wondered what had happened to the stocks, and the brokers were yelling louder and louder, until he could not hear himself think. He quickly asked his business partner, Felix Loris, what had happened. Felix had stated, “It was no big problem, it was only a network lag in the system.” Felix nodded, and was back to watching what the people did in there brokers job, and the daily ring of the market closed the market at 5:00 P.M., and everyone gathered there things, and left the building as quickly as they entered.

Cooper was looking at all of his notes that night and put together helpful strategies and times that would help him in the broker job tomorrow morning that he would be joining. Some of his notes were to be the loudest person in the room, and to make sure do your research first, before you trade. After he reviewed his papers several times, he went to his normal bed, turned on his normal alarm clock, and shut off his normal bed light. But he would not realize that this broker job he wanted to be in would make him anything but normal.

Cooper did not have a car. He did, however, have a subway pass. Then he got in the crowded subway car, and got off the car at station B2, and walked all the way to Wall

Street. He had felt that it was a good day, but then, one of the worst things that cold happen to the U.S. would happen that very day. Cooper had met up with his co-workers, and then he heard the de-briefing of what they would want to buy in stocks, and sell in stocks. And as fast as he got to the stock market, it was open.

Cooper was having a great day, he was screaming at people, making good money through stocks, and having an adrenaline rush of finding the right information as fast as he could possible. The stock market was rising, and the economy was going up. He was specializing in selling stocks for Bungie game studios, and the stocks were being sold, and the profits were going up and he was making money. The stock market was slowly going up, and the nation’s economy was making enough money and more.

He was having his 30-minute lunch break of a turkey sandwich, pasta, and fruit, when one of his co-workers ran into the lunchroom, screaming,” THE STOCKS ARE GOING DOWN! THEY ARE DROPPING LIKE CRAZY!” All Cooper was thinking was ,”great, I thought I was going to have a wonderful first day of work, and look, the stock market was crashing. This is definitely the WORST thing that could ever happen in the U.S. And sure enough, the stock market was going down, and down, and a little bit up, then down again.

He did not know what to do, since he was new to the job, but he huddled everyone together and said, “What can we do to fix this, and fix it fast?” Everyone was looking at each other, puzzled about what to say, and no one looked like they knew what to do. Finally, some one came with the idea to shut the stock market early. The co-worker talked with the supervisor, and the stock market was closed for the first time at 3:47 P.M.

He then went home early, and wondered what went wrong at the stock market. He thought of numerous outcomes of what happened at the stock market. He wrote every outcome he could think of down, from a company selling all of there stocks, or a company buying a lot of stocks from numerous companies, but none of them made sense. Then, he then remembered that “glitch” that happened during the time he was reviewing the broker job. He thought that had something to do with it, and he investigated it the next day.

He logged on to his stock market trading log, and realized that 500 million stocks were lost. This answered everything about what happened that day. He copied what he found to a flash drive, and showed it to the federal agents, and they tracked down the IP address where the stocks were stolen. It turned out to be from a 9-year old boy from Texas. He said he accessed the stock market by logging in as George Bush, and the password he typed in was C-=president.

Cooper Jensen saved the country from a total depression because he did not want to lose his job, and wanted to help the community from what he learned in broker school, and improved the ways of getting better stocks and improved the security measures for the stock market. Now then stocks are in a secured network, and the specialist brokers use headsets more to communicate with other brokers, so there wouldn’t be any noise violations next door.

The moral of this story is, if you want to do a job that looks very interesting to you, and you are about to lose it, and even if you are new to the job, you can still be smart enough to save the country or even other people’s employment.

Coming to Terms by Morgan P.

2008-01-31T14:43:00.000-05:00

“Daddy, where’s mommy?” Jordin asked quietly. A tear rolled silently down the six year olds face. Her shoulder length dirty blonde hair blew back slightly in the soft wind.

The pair walked silently along the sidewalk, watching the families running around having fun. Jordin should’ve been among them. The warm summer night was perfect for activity, and the setting sun cast beautiful colors into the sky for all to see. However, this wasn’t a pleasurable night in the least.

Alec wished with his entire soul that he could maintain his usual composure, and be as strong as the trees that lined the path upon which he and his daughter were now walking. However, as much as he longed for strength, it didn’t come at his call. Alec just couldn’t bring himself to answer Jordin’s lingering question.

“Where’s mommy?” Jordin repeated. “Daddy, is everything okay?” And still, Alec said nothing in return. When he saw the concern and fear growing in her eyes, he felt himself tearing up. He swallowed the urge as soon as he felt it. Crying was not something he did very often, and Alec did not want to shed a tear in front of his daughter, for then she would know that something was wrong.

The only thing that kept Alec from breaking down was the intent focus he kept on the building looming at the end of the sidewalk. He focused on the song that was running through his head, ‘just put one foot in front of the other.’ When he was a child he enjoyed singing that song wherever he went, but now it had kind of a scary effect. Alec didn’t want to end up where the path was taking him. However, after what had seemed like an eternity, Jordin and Alec had reached the church.

“Daddy, is mommy in here?” Jordin’s face brightened at the thought of seeing her mother.

“Yes honey, Mommy’s in here.” Jordin already saw it in her mind’s eye. She and her father would enter the church through the door in the back, and her mother would be chatting with Jordin’s godmother, Auntie Erin. They would turn around and smile, and Jordin would receive her mother’s lap as a prize for not making a lot of noise throughout the service. Jordin wiped the tears from her face and smiled, revealing her two missing front teeth. She took her daddy’s hand and entered the church.

Jordin was very confused when she entered the church and she didn’t see her mother or Auntie Erin in the back pew. Instead, she saw a church decorated with lots of colorful flowers, reminding her of the sunset outside. Jordin portrayed her confusion in her expression when she peered up at her father, who was staring straight ahead. Jordin followed his gaze up the center isle, where she noticed a big, black box.

Alec bent down on one knee so that he was eye level with his daughter as he asked “Hey Jordin, are you ready to see mommy now?” When Jordin nodded, still a little mystified by the whole situation, the two approached the black box. Alec scooped up Jordin in his arms and held her close as the two of them looked down on Kristi’s face. Her eyelids were closed and her peaceful disposition was there as always.

“Daddy, why is mommy sleeping?” Jordin asked this question sincerely. Pure wonder resided in her eyes. When her father inhaled and exhaled slowly, Jordin grew worried.

“Sweetie, Mommy’s not sleeping. She’s in heaven now, with God.” Tears now streamed down Alec’s face as he bent down and looked into his daughter’s eyes.

“Hey mommy,” Jordin said now turning to her mother. “Don’t worry about me or daddy. You can have fun in heaven with gramma and grampa now. Me and Daddy will take care of eachother. We will love each other forever and ever, and we will always love you.”

Of course at only six years old, nobody expected Jordin to grasp that her mommy was gone for good. And truth be told, she didn’t. However, what Jordin did understand was the fact that wherever her mommy was, it wasn’t with her, and that was the part that pained her. Jordin was perplexed by the fact that her mommy wasn’t there that night to tuck her into bed. The few tears that she shed that night were nothing compared to a few nights later, when Jordin really missed her mommy. She really wanted her mother to come back from heaven. Despite the fact that Jordin missed her mom, she still did not completely understand that her mother wouldn’t ever be coming back home.

On her 7^th birthday, Jordin was pretty sure that her mom wouldn’t be coming home. Ever. She and her dad spent the entire day together, and at bed time she asked him the question that had been present in her young mind for many weeks now.

“Daddy, mommy’s not coming back from heaven is she?”

“No sweetheart, she’s not.”

A wave of sadness washed over her as Jordin realized that she would never see her mother again. She thought back to one of the few things she could remember about her mother.

Jordin remembered how the rush of wind in her face had felt so exhilarating the first time her mom pushed her on a “big girl swing”.

“AAHHH!” she screamed playfully and giggled aloud as she felt her mom’s hand on her back, pushing her higher, and faster still. The warm summer wind was present on her rosy-red cheeks when she rushed forward, and it forced her hair into her eyes when she swung back. Then her mom was in front of Jordin, pretending to catch her feet whenever she came forward. Jordin laughed even harder when her mommy acted like Jordin had kicked her. Then before she knew it, Jordin was back on the ground, trying valiantly, but failing, to become weightless and again feel the wind on her face. Then, she felt her mother helping her off of the swing. Jordin was even more grateful to be in the arms of her mother. She found herself wishing that it could just stay like this forever, her resting in her mother’ arms, peaceful at last.

Jordin was jolted back to reality when her dad kissed her softly on the cheek, saying only “Good night my angel. I will love you forever and ever.”

“Good night daddy. I will love you for always.”

Perhaps some of her mother’s wisdom had come back to Jordin in spirit, but Jordin knew that she would need her mother when she was older. It was the inevitable truth. But Jordin had mad a promise to her mother almost a full year ago, and it was one that she had every intention of keeping. As hard as it would be to grow up without a mother, it would be even harder to grow up without a mother and a father. Jordin would always love her father. And she absolutely refused to forget her mother.

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away By Lindsey H.

2008-01-31T14:40:00.000-05:00

April 21, 2042

A Message from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

The government has passed a new law stating that animal testing is no longer allowed. It is not humane, and anyone found conducting experiments or tests on animals will be prosecuted immediately.

Thank you.

***

I walked down the sidewalk, my feet crunching in the snow with

every step that I took. “Bye Stormi,” my friend, Isabelle, said as she turned down the street of her house.

I decided to take the route through the alley because it was shorter. The sky was beginning to turn a shade of purple as the sun was setting, and the shadows seemed to follow me. I turned around. Nothing was there. I continued walking down the alley, and I heard the sound of footsteps coming from behind me. Again, I turned around and looked behind me. It was nothing. My mind was indeed playing tricks on me. I turned the corner, and a dark figure came out of nowhere. I fell, and hit my head on the hard pavement. I heard a scream. No, wait. That was my voice. Why did my voice sound so distant? I became dizzy, and everything went black.

I woke up in a cold, damp, and dark room. It looked like the basement of a warehouse. The walls and floor were made from cement bricks, and one wall was made of metal bars. It was a cell, but surely I wasn’t in prison. What could I have possibly done to get myself arrested? I heard rustling behind me and turned around. My eyes weren’t adjusted to the dark yet, and I rubbed them. The image a boy and a girl appeared before me.

“Who are you?” I asked them.

“I am Aiden, and this is Persephone,” the boy answered. Both of them had sickly features. They were both so pale that they looked as if flour covered their bodies. They both had gaunt faces and large black and purple circles ringed their eyes. Persephone had long, matted blonde hair and Aiden had shaggy black hair. It seemed as if they had been here for awhile, but they looked to be about 18 or 19.

“Where exactly are we?” I asked, puzzled.

“We are in ‘The Observatory.’ This is the building in which all the animal testing was done for new drugs and products. Persephone and I were both locked up here about a year ago. You get one shower a week, your shots every other day, and an apple a day. It keeps the doctor away, y’ know?” Aiden spoke with cold humor. “We’ve seen it all. They bring in new people, they give them their shots, and many of them end up getting really sick. Sometimes they’ll just die, and sometimes the men in white coats and safety masks will take them out of the cell to who knows where.”

I was shocked. If I was standing, I would have most certainly fainted. I was probably going to die. I had to get out of here, but how?

***

Every single day for about the next year I received my apple, and every other day my shots. On this particular day, the men in the white coats unlocked the cell and led me out through a very brightly lit white hallway. We passed many white, locked doors, and I heard the wildest noises: Screams, growls. It was terrible.

I was situated on a cold, metal table, and a syringe about 4 inches injected an unknown substance into my blood stream.

The door burst open. “Doctor, we have a code ten-ten in the hallway.”

The doctor grabbed a syringe off of the table, and rushed out of the room. I was all alone, and decided to have a look. I opened the door slightly, and saw a terrible sight in the hallway. A sickly looking man was in the hallway on the floor with his mouth foaming. He had welts all over his body, and he was attacking anyone who came his way. Two men in white coats grabbed him by the arms, and the doctor jabbed the man with the syringe. He crumpled to the floor.

“Record on the man’s charts that a negative effect occurred, and take him to the incinerator,” the doctor said.

After hearing that, I had enough. I quickly went back into the room and waited for the doctor to come back into the room.

***

When I returned to the cell, I found Persephone and Aiden in the corner. Persephone was lying down, and Aiden was crouched beside her.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Persephone is ill. I think this might be her last night with us,” Aiden told me mournfully.

Aiden and I spent the night in the corner of the cell with Persephone. She was having trouble breathing, and her forehead glistened with sweat. While we were with her I told them both of the scene I had encountered when I was receiving my shots.

“Record on the man’s chart that a negative effect occurred? Send him to the incinerator?” Aiden repeated a bit puzzled. “It’s all coming together now. The shots we receive – those are the products and we are the animals. They’re testing drugs on us because they aren’t allowed to test on animals anymore. We have to escape, and we have to tell someone what’s going on in here.”

***

So, the next day our scheme unraveled. The man who opened our cell the next morning to bring us our apples was our only hope of escaping the fate that was soon ahead of us.

We heard the man’s keys rattling, and Aiden knew it was time. He and I worked together to lift the heavy, stone bench in the middle of the room. When the man came into view, we ran into him with it and he was knocked out.

“I’d say we have a good ten minutes before someone comes looking for him,” Aiden told me. I ran over to Persephone.

“Persephone, we have to leave now,” I said, shaking her. She was still asleep. “Persephone!” I said a bit louder. I grabbed her wrist to feel her pulse, but it wasn’t there.

“What’s wrong, Stormi?” Aiden asked.

“She’s dead.”

***

Aiden and I sprinted through the bright halls looking for a way out. I pushed a door, and an ear piercing alarm sounded. We were going to be caught! We were going to be murdered!

“Stormi, come here. Quick!” Aiden yelled as I saw two men rush out a room at the end of the hallway. He pushed through one las door. This door was our last hope of life.

Thankfully, it led out of the building. We were in the middle of a city, in our grimy clothes and with our sickly pale bodies while people walked by us in their expensive designer clothes and with briefcases.

How was no one observant enough to know that this horrible thing was going on in this building that they walked by every single day? How come we were in there for about a year and nobody ever knew?

A woman passed us and was staring. She looked away and started walking again, but decided to turn around and come back. She gasped. “Aren’t you that girl and boy from the newspapers?” she said. “Come with me,” and with that she led us down the road in our grungy clothing all the way to the police department.

***

We told the police every single detail. In return, they told us of our fame. Apparently Aiden, Persephone, and I had our photos plastered over every newspaper and website. Nobody had any clues on where we were. Our parent’s thought that we were dead.

The police arrested the men in charge of the whole operation. They were given the death penalty for killing so many people, and all of the people who were held captive were under quarantine at the hospital, and they were under the watchful eye of the doctors there.

All was not well, however. Aiden found out he had cancer. The drugs that the men had injected him with caused a tumor to grow. It didn’t go away, and he died after about a year.

I ended up being alright. The drugs did nothing to me and I lived a pretty good life. To this day my past still haunts me, but that experience has given me so many new views on the world, and I’m grateful to be alive.

I’m Sorry That I Died, Mom by Libby M

2008-01-31T14:12:00.000-05:00

Dear Mom,

If you're reading this, then I guess I’ve gone to the better place. I obviously wouldn’t need to write this letter if I thought I was going to live through this ordeal. I'm writing this so you know what happened to me and Dad tonight. Yes, I know that hospital workers will tell you about the car crash, but they always soften things up for the victims’ families. You know that even better than I do, and I think you deserve to know what happened.

You know that Dad and I went to see that movie in Springfield. Oh, by the way, it was really good. You need to MAKE Aimie and Mat see it. Well, we stopped at Advance Auto Parts because Aiden knocked off those mirrors in that last snowstorm. We came out and a drunk driver passed us in the dark, going wicked fast. Dad freaked, like you and I both know he does, but I calmed him down. We pulled out of the parking lot and continued down Memorial Drive. You know where that is, right by all those chain restaurants. We heard police sirens down the road. They were coming at us, so Dad pulled over. They were chasing that drunk driver that had almost hit us. He didn't miss us this time. He lost control of his car. He flew over the divide and slammed into Dad's, crunching the car like an accordion. I think we lost them both instantly, but I’m not sure. I got slammed into my door and the windshield shattered over me. I got some massive gouges in my limbs and some small pieces of glass imbedded all over. We were in there for about 10 minutes before they ripped the roof off the car and placed me in this ambulance.

I was talking to the E.M.T.’s and they say that I’ll be fine, but you and I both know they were just trying to make me feel better, especially in the ambulance. I suppose they would feel really badly if I don’t live all the way to the hospital. But don’t you hate it when people lie like that? They don’t think I should write this, but screw them, because if I don’t then I couldn’t say some things I need to say. I want you to donate all my money to an animal charity. I don’t care which. You’re a good judge of character and I know you will choose a good one. Donate most of my book to that free book exchange thing we read about in the newspaper a few months ago.

Give the rest to whom ever you think would enjoy them. I want you to give my stuffed animals to any children with cancer or whatever in the Shriner’s hospital. I want you to keep training Fidelco dogs, for as long as you can anyway. I’d like it if you kept the boys until they pass on, but I know you’re not, and have never been, a big fan of my smelly guinea pigs, so I guess it’s not that big a deal. I want to be cremated, but I want you to burn my band sweatshirt with me. I want you to take off the personalization on my band jacket and give it to a homeless person. You pick which city or whatever. I trust you will deal with my guitars. Oh! Maybe Neil would like the nice new one you gave me for Christmas. He did say it was one of the best you could have gotten. Do whatever with the sub par guitar. Make sure to return my tuba to Mr. Wardwell. Give my videogames and systems to Aiden. I know he wants them. Other than that, do whatever with my stuff. You know what to do with junk like that better than I do anyway.

I’m sorry that I never talked to you when you asked me what was wrong. I’m sorry I never introduced you to any of the boys I dated. I’m sorry that I didn’t do what you told me to do the first time. I’m sorry I stopped caring about what you and everyone else thought of me. I’m sorry I didn’t take what I was given and was thankful for it. I never thought I would have to say these things, but I also thought I would outlive you. I’m sorry that I fought with Aiden so much. I’m sorry that I could never be as tolerant as you when it came to other people who couldn’t do as much as Aimie and I could. I’m sorry that I couldn’t be everything you wanted, and needed, me to be.

Tell Mat and any other nephews or nieces I get that I’m sorry I wasn’t around long enough to talk with them and teach them the random stuff I think everyone should know. Make sure they all learn to read fast. Get them Harry Potter and I’m sure any of the girl’s that Aimie is going to have would love some Tamora Pierce. Tell Joe that I’m sorry we never really had a relationship. There were times I really wish he had been there for me and it took everything I had to keep it together, but I still think he is the coolest brother a kid could ever have. You already know what I want you to tell Heather. The E.M.T.’s are starting to freak out. I think I’m leaving, and we haven’t even gotten to the hospital yet. Oh well. Death will be a nice release from the excruciating pain I’ve been in for the past, oh I don’t know, eternity. Hold on for me, Mom. I’ve got to go now. I promise I’ll meet you up there. You still have to introduce me to Grandpa Joe.

Bye, Mom.

In the blink of an eye by Jessica M.

2008-01-31T13:56:00.001-05:00

It was dark. Jamie could barely see her hand in front of her face. Her two friends, Caleb and Allison, were right behind her following her every move on the old fallen leafs covering the forest floor. The moon there only source of light, shining though the naked trees guiding them to their camp site. They had been planning this trip for months now and they finally got the chance to do so. In just a few months they all would be leaving to different colleges. Starting their lives, and leaving each other.

It was around ten at night and they still hadn’t arrived at their camp site. Finally Jamie saw a burning amber fire in the distance. Jamie, Caleb, and Allison looked at each other with a sigh of relief. Their backs seemed as if they were broken from carrying the camping supplies. “Does anyone know how to set up a tent?” Allison asked sarcastically. Caleb threw his backpack onto the dirt ground and started trying to build a tent, in an attempt to prove his manliness to Allison and Jamie. They just laughed and started to set up camp. The darkness made it nearly impossible to see everything. All they had was the bright shadows flickering on the tent fabric from the small fire in the middle of the camp site. They had finished setting up camp and all three of them laid by the fire talking about their new lives and how wonderful they were going to be. They apparently had no idea what was soon to come that cold dark night alone in the woods.

Jamie woke to the sound of screaming. She ran out to see Caleb was jumping out of his tent, also awakened by the blood curdling scream. They ran to Allison’s tent to notice the tent’s front zipper was opened. She stopped and she stared into Caleb’s eyes. They knew something was terribly wrong. Caleb reached out to open the tent. His hands were shaking and shivers running across his skin as he slowly opened the tent. Caleb looked at Jamie as a tiny tear ran down her pale face. Blood stained the tent walls. Tares in the tent’s fabric were lined in bright red showing a sign of desperate struggle, trying to get free from whatever was trying to attack. Allison was gone and Jamie and Caleb were left crying alone at the dark camp site, knowing there was a murderer right beyond those woods.

Jamie stood, not moving an inch, staring into the tent. Caleb noticed a trail of blood leading into the woods behind them. It was now almost dawn and the light shined through the trees from above. The blood from the tent showed more clearly in daylight leading into the woods. Caleb grabbed Jamie’s arm and they slowly crept into the woods. Fear filled their hearts which were now aching from the terrible sight they had seen. Each step forward seemed impossible for Jamie. Her legs were stiff and unable to work. Her body achy and filled with fear and shock like nothing she had ever felt before. Caleb, holding Jamie up from falling to the cold forest floor, suddenly stopped. Jamie picked up her head and noticed the blood had stopped right in front of their feet. The trail seemed to vanish out of nowhere. Jamie propped herself up and looked around the area. Caleb had gone behind the trees ahead to find out anything clues he could to find Allison. Jamie saw Caleb in the distance bent over, shuffling around the ground. She started to walk over when Caleb rushed toward her, stopping her from moving forward. He’s eyes looked scared and frightened as if he knew what had happened to Allison. Jamie pushed him away and she looked at his face. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed a slight stain of blood on his old flannel shirt. Jamie’s heart started beating faster and faster. Her face now ghost white. Thoughts filled her mind. “Did Caleb do this”, ran though out her head. Jamie turned around again to face Caleb, but he was gone. Jamie started to panic. She stood turning around in circles in the middle of this forest not knowing what to do. It was getting dark and Jamie was left alone with a killer.

All of a sudden the sun had disappeared behind the earth. Jamie, confused and scared, wandered around trying to find a way out of the woods. It was dark and cold. Different sounds surrounded Jamie, frightening her with every step she took. She stopped to try to see where she had walked to when all of a sudden she could hear the distant sound of footsteps on the dried leafs covering the floor of the dark forest. She didn’t move. Trying to hold in her breath, she tried not to make one sound. All of a sudden Jamie felt cold hands grasping around her fragile neck. Jamie struggled to free herself from the man. She quickly twisted around to break free, and there she was, face to face, with the murderer, Caleb. He’s eyes bright red with anger and craziness. Jamie grabbed his arms and bit down on his hand. Caleb released her and Jamie ran away as far as she could until she could hear him right behind her. Breathing heavy with rage he jumped for her and gripped onto her ankle. Jamie forcefully fell to the ground. She grabbed a fallen branch from the dirt and thrusted Caleb off her back. She rolled over and stabbed him in the chest with the branch. Blood ran though his shirt and onto his hands. She stumbled backwards onto her feet. She stared at Caleb struggling to breathe. Jamie just turned around and ran as fast as she could.

Dark and confused Jamie struggled to keep herself from falling. Her muscles seemed to stop working. Her mind was running wild, filling with the fear of Caleb right behind her, chasing her with determination and anger. Jamie started to feel a hot breath on the crease of her neck. She turned around to see nothing was there, just thousands of trees and a world that seemed only full of darkness. Steams of tears ran down her face, but yet she knew she had survived a friend, a murderer. The one that promised her that Allison, him, and herself would be friends forever no matter what. It’s amazing how in a blink of an eye everything can change.

Richest Man of the Future by Garrett B.

2008-01-31T10:26:00.000-05:00

I was on my last run. Another day of delivering pizza’s for the pizzeria. Here was the address. I walked up to the building and knocked on the door. Then right after I knocked on the door it mysteriously opened. I said to no one “man that was sketchy.” I walked upstairs and I saw these four giant tubes, these weird things that were glowing blue. I was baffled until I hit my head on an aluminum sign. After shaking my head from the hit, I read the sign: Cryogenic Chambers. “Wow” I spoke aloud as a rat scurried a foot away from me. “I wonder…?” I stepped in front of a chamber, I thought to myself “why not? Nothing is going for you might as well; I got no friends and no money. Heck, I would even take a robot for a friend.” There was a timer on the front and above it read: Timer. I spun the timer with all my might to a year and walked in, I suddenly felt a liquid rush against my skin, then it went down my throat and into my stomach, I felt trapped, and there was no way out. I couldn’t move my arms and legs. Then in felt like I got punched in the face and everything went black.

I felt warm, I felt sunlight on my face, and it seemed like that hadn’t happened in hundreds of years. Then the door to the chamber opened and a robot was just outside the door in a gorilla mask, he spoke “Welcome to Earth, ruled by monkeys, you must follow our primate rules or you will be eaten alive!” “Oh, ha ha ha, ya right, you are just a robot with a mask,” I said. “Come on its gotten everyone since I got this job,” He said as he took off the mask.

“So this is earth, its changed a lot since I was here in 2008,” I said as we roamed around Central Park. “Well since 2008 there has been many wars, inventions and changes in environment, as you can probably already tell,” Said the robot as we walked by a dead half bird, half cat on the ground. “Hey, you know what is funny, I’ve been living with you for last few days and I don’t know your name.” I said embarrassed. “Oh, well my name is Mark, and what’s yours?” said the robot. “I’m Matt,” I said. We walked for a little while until we came to my old bank. “Hey Mark do you mind if I go to the bank to get some money for lunch?” I asked.” Let’s go chump,” Said Mark. We walked up to the bank teller and I said “Yeah I have an account.” “Your name please,” the Cyclops teller asked. “Sure my name is Matt Crotty,” I said occasionally. She looked at me for a second in awe. “Well, sir, you have 8 billion dollars in your account, sir, you are the richest man in the universe by seven billion dollars.”

Mark and I just stared at her in awe. “Well, umm, so can you take out twenty dollars for me please?” I asked as my voice stammered. We walked out of the bank after the transaction and went to a nearby restaurant. As we waited for my food I asked Mark,” Would you want to live with me, and be my best friend?” He replied “Sure, I mean you’re rich, and you’re the only human friend I have, I would be honored to be a burden to your money.” I smiled and we ate lunch in silence.

We strolled back over to the bank and stepped in front of the same window, with the same Cyclops. “Hello, I was hoping I could take out about 4 billion dollars and put the rest to the best bank in Beverly Hills?” I asked very politely. “Of course, sir, we will send your account to our bank in Beverly Hills, thank you for choosing the Vandiesel Bank, serving people nationwide since 2000.”She replied. “Just one more thing, leave one million dollars in your account, you did such a great job.” I told her almost bragging. She just looked at me with her giant one eye. I looked at Mark and we walked out of the Bank like we didn’t have a care in the world.

Later that week we bought the biggest house in Beverly Hills. I married a Swedish model and Mark spent the rest of his life being a bachelor and flashing his money to all the Robot Girls, and we all lived happily ever after, until the Possums attacked!

Game or Grades? By Connor F.

2008-01-31T10:24:00.000-05:00

I reached out my hand and grabbed a thick literary packet from my English teacher. This packet accounted for 30% of my grade and failing would be devastating. Putting the paper down to my desk I flipped it face up with hope in my eyes, another F. This brought my grade no down to a low F and playing in the super bowl game Saturday was extremely unlikely. I was the starting Tight End, and Defensive end for my football team, and I would give anything to play in the game Saturday. We were facing the top team in the state, De La Salle, an infamous football team from Concord California, who has won the California State Super Bowl for countless years running. They had an enrollment of over 1,500 kids, which shattered our 600. Our small town of South Hadley put every bit of faith they had left in the success of our football team.

Looking up at the small clock in the corner of my classroom it read 1:56, the day was nearing end. I slowly laid my head on my desk and pondered my possible options. The California State High School Football Rules says that any student with two or more F’s isn’t allowed to play until grades are raised at the next marking term. I only had one F, but a South Hadley football rule is that if you have one F, playing is not an option until it is raised. The bell rang and I rose out of my seat, legs shaking with the news of the F. My English teacher, Mrs. Foley, was sitting behind her steel desk correcting recent papers. She was an older woman, with tired eyes but a large welcoming smile.

“Mrs. Foley, can I talk to you for a moment?” I said shakily as I neared the desk.

“Why yes Darren, what is on your mind?” She said in a kind but somewhat timid voice for she knew I was failing.

“I got the weekend’s packet today and I got an F on it. Grades close tomorrow and I don’t know what I am going to do to pass.” I said hoping for a positive response.

“Yes, I’ve seen that. We are having a small test tomorrow but you need to get at least an A to pass because this packet brought your grade down to a 52%.”

“If I get an A will it bring me back up to a D-?”

“It might I’m not positive but if I was you I’d make damn sure it was at the lowest an A.”

Driving home from school I realized that I needed to study incredibly hard for the test. That night I pulled out my English notebook and studied my notes for hours. The test Friday was on the elements of a plot, and I made sure to memorize everything. Sitting at my desk I read the words over and over until it rang like lyrics through my head. I put my head down to rest my eyes, and when I awoke I was stunned to see it was 6:30. I rushed throughout my house and gathered my belongings and drove to school. Throughout the ride there I was biting my nails and pondering the possible outcomes for the day. Walking into the school the bell rang, and I hustled to my A block class to make sure I wasn’t tardy. Walking through the doors I sat in my assigned desk and waited. The next few minutes felt like days as I sat reviewing my notes one last time. Finally a few minutes later Mrs. Foley passed out the test. Slowly starting the test I had a burst of confidence when I realized that it was 100 times easier then I thought and, at that point I knew I was going to pass.

Finishing the final question the bell rang for the next class and I slowly rose. The rest of the day went by unexpectedly fast, as it was a Friday. Fridays usually go by slower than any other days because you are so excited for the upcoming eventful evening. After the final bell I walked to Mrs. Foley’s English class to see the results of my test. Walking slowly into the class I felt like I was a character from a TV. Show waiting to hear the news of a fatal medical test or something of that sort. She was sitting behind her desk correcting papers and she waved me in.

“Darren, you did excellent on your test; if you keep up this work you are guaranteed to have a higher grade.” Said Mrs. Foley with a sudden, but solemn gleam in her eyes.

A burst of happiness ran through me as I knew now that I was going to be able to play in the game Saturday night.

“But, like I said you needed 100% to pass on this test, the final answer of the assessment you answered incorrectly, I’m sorry but you have a 59%, you are still failing this class.”

At that moment my heart sunk, my head spun and I immediately sat down. She tried re assured me that this wasn’t as bad as it sounded, but I was already out of the door.

Not being able to play in the California State Super Bowl was one of the best and worst nights of my life. I would have done anything to run out onto the field, or hear “Darren Washington” over the announcements after I scored, or made a tackle. But this was also one of the best nights of my life. We ended up beating De La Salle on a two point conversion with no time left on the clock to win 22-21. We pulled off one of the greatest upsets in California football history. Looking back on my high school career, I learned that not playing in the game was one of the most vital character changing events that ever happened to me. Throughout the rest of my senior year, I took school seriously and I ended up finishing top 10 academics for the graduating class of ’11. So now I realize that when some people are born athletes who have everything handed to them, it doesn’t matter because if you don’t work hard, in the end you can’t play in the game without the grades.

Blue Eyes by Casey O

2008-01-31T10:15:00.000-05:00

Sitting in his room, Matt was listening to the acoustical sounds that poured out of his record player, and thought about the girl he met last night at the pier. Her hair was wavy from the cool salty ocean breeze that hit it that night, and her eyes we’re the deep blue that you only see in magazines. He couldn’t stop thinking about her and the way she so calm and collectively swept him off his feet for the first time. She introduced herself as Brooke, but Matt was too star-struck that he stumbled to reply. She had left her number in the palm of his hand, and said she would love for him to call her. That night, Matt thought forever whether to call her or not, whether to show her that he was really swept away. He neglected to call, and sat and wrote the lyrics to a song he believed would be the ticket to this girl’s heart.

No one knows Matt’s past. He wasn’t the best kid back in Massachusetts. He was into the wrong groups of people, and doing some pretty bad things. Matt’s parents decided when he was 16 that they would move to a nice home in California to try to change Matt. Luckily their planned work, and as son has Matt was away from the atmosphere of his old town, he soon became the kid his parents had learned to love before drugs and alcohol became a problem. Matt calmed down in California where the days were long and warm, and the nights were calm and beautiful. But that night at the pier Matt knew what he had found. Matt knew that this girl would be the one that was to change him forever.

Matt woke up the next morning with paper stuck to his face, and the pen still lodged in his hand. It was Saturday and he was undecided on his plans. He looked at the pad of paper that he had wrote the beginning of his song to, then picked up his acoustic guitar and started strumming gently on the strings. The mellow music he was creating attracted his mother to come stop by his door for a quick listen.

Matt’s mother, Susan adored her son, and believed that moving to California had changed him for the better. Though still new to the school Matt picked up a quick couple of friends, who soon taught him how to surf on the radical wave’s that the California coast brought in every year. But lately she saw a mood that she had never seen before in Matt. Matt looked as though he was completely in love, but she had no idea with who. Still mesmerized in the sounds that Matt made from this acoustical guitar, Matt’s mother walked away pondering what girl has Matt so caught up.

Matt knew he had to call Brooke, knowing that if he didn’t he might loose her before he even truly had her. Brooke went to Matt’s school also, and was well known. Matt had never seen her though, until that night. He was too afraid to call her. She was gorgeous, he was okay. She was the definition of clean-cut, and he wasn’t. He sat there the rest of the day writing the song.

Blue eyes that would be the title of the song to this girl’s heart Matt had decided. But that Monday at school, Matt saw something that completely destroyed his hopes, and all that he had worked on for the past weekend. He saw Brooke walking the halls with an arm around her waist, and a boy attached with it. Matt left school early, and decided to go on a binge. Drug of choice, pot and his poison was Jack Daniels.

Matt knew he was cleaning up, but whenever he needed to just relax that was the combination he went to, and today was a huge exception. Matt was so hopefully that this girl would be the one for him, but when he saw Brooke with an arm around her waist his hopes were crushed. After 2 hours of smoking and drinking Matt was out of his mind. He didn’t know where to go next. Back in Massachusetts, Matt had attempted suicide once, but didn’t succeed. How could a girl he barely talked to for an hour, tear him down this easily? That night he decided to give this girl once chance, to show him that she was everything he expected.

With his guitar in his hand and the lyrics in his heart Matt walked to Brooke’s house with one thing in mind; to win her heart over. He was nervous to knock on the door to her house, as his hands became very clammy. She answered the door, with a jaw dropping look. Her eyes looked beautiful Matt thought, and that was why this song was perfect for her. She led him up to her room, and Matt began, “I need to prove to you, that even though I only met you once, you are amazing, and I would really like to know you better, so this is for you.” Matt began to sing the song he had spent all weekend complicating. He sang,

“Let me take your coat
To cover up the note
I finished yesterday
Telling you the way
I am without you
Cause I’d be lost forever if you slipped away
Blue eyes you’re the reason for my change.”

The acoustics’ played out perfectly, and the look on her face was exactly what Matt was going for. The song continued but the message was still the same, she was the one for him, she was the reason for his change. Brooke managed to hold back tears. She had never been treated this way before. Most guys that liked her only liked her for what she did in bed, but this guy was different. When Matt was all done with his song, Brooke went over to him, clasped his hand in hers and kissed him. “You’ve got me,” Brooke whispered.

“You are the reason for my change; you saved me from myself, blue eyes.” Matt whispered back.

Chasing Summer by Brianna T.

2008-01-31T10:14:00.000-05:00

As the sunlight shined down into the streaky window of an old red pick-up, it temporarily blinded a brown haired girl in the passenger seat. As she rose her hand to cover her dark blue eyes, a quiet voice said, “What a beautiful, sunny day.” The girl turned away from the blinding sun and looked at the woman in the driver’s seat. “Yeah it is a nice day, and it would be an even better day in Rhode Island.” The girl said sharply. “Mom, I can’t believe you’re making me do this! I mean I’m supposed to be in Rhode Island with my friends!” “Now Summer, we already had this talk, and don’t get fresh with me.” The woman said sternly. “You’re going to stay with you Grandmother and that’s final. Besides, you used to love going to visit her when you were young.” “Mom I’m sixteen years old, I don’t wanna spend my summer with my grandma, and I’m sure she doesn’t wanna spend hers with me.” “Now Summer, why would you say something like that?” the mother said as she turned towards her daughter, taking her eye off the empty road for only a second. “Because Mom, ever since dad di…” She stopped and her voice got quiet and soft, “Ever since dad passed away she hasn’t spoken to us, no phone calls, no letters or emails, not even a single birthday card.” Summer finished.

The rickety old truck slowly turned into a narrow driveway that lead up to a small beach cottage. The cottage was light yellow with blue shutters, and under each and every window was a black flower box with tiny white and pink flowers. A tiny, plump woman was standing in the doorway waving to them. “Hello Rose,” Summer’s mom said as she pulled the suitcases out of the back of the pick-up. “Why hello Lillian, and hello my dear,” she said as she hugged them both. “Hi Grandma,” Summer said. There was sternness in her voice, for she could not hide her feelings of abandonment towards her Grandma.

Rose took them into her quaint little home, and led them into two guest bedrooms that were across from each other. She gave Summer the room on the left. As she opened the door she gasped. This was the room she stayed in when she visited all those years. The walls were light pink and had white bunnies that bordered the ceiling. The twin bed was pushed up against the wall next to the window with the perfect ocean view. The bed was already made with pink sheets and a white and pink checkered comforter. Also in the room was a dresser, a mirror, a closet and nightstand with a small digital clock. “Will this do?” Rose asked. “Yes,” Summer replied, there was still a sternness in her voice. “Okay, I’ll go check on your mom.” Rose said as she left, shutting the door behind her. Summer sat down on the bed and sighed. The room brought back so many memories of her and her dad and the summers she use to spend here. Summer didn’t want to remember, so she grabbed a towel and walked out the back door to the beach.

The sun was already starting to set. She gazed towards the horizon admiring what seemed to be the last trace of color on earth. The waves crashed against the shore in such a way that their rhythm and sound made Summer feel as if she was in a different place in a different world. Summer’s trance was broken when something hit her back. “Hey, sorry” a voice said from behind her. She turned around and was face to face with a tanned, brown haired boy, with the biggest, brownest eyes she had ever seen. The boy stood up, and revealed a young golden retriever. He put out his hand and helped her up. “Hi, I’m Chase.” he said in a cheerful voice, his eyes never left hers. “Hi, I’m Summer,” Summer replied. The dog barked and Chase picked up the sandy tennis ball and threw it in the opposite direction. Summer watched as the dog bounded after it. Chase turned back to her and then looked at the tattered brown watch, on his wrist. “Wanna go for a walk?” His voice broke the silence. As Summer’s heart raced with feelings of excitement and curiousness she answered, “Sure.”

As they walked along the shore, the waves crashed towards their feet as if trying to sweep them away. “So, are you new around here?” Chase asked, “cause I’ve never seen you before.” “Um,” Summer started, “I’m visiting Rose with my mom.” Puzzled, Chase asked “Who’s Rose?” Summer looked at the dog who was chasing the seagulls down the beach. Then she answered, “My grandma.”

Right then and there Summer spilled everything. How her dad died, and how her friends and her were supposed to go to Rhode Island, and even about her grandmother and how she had stopped communicating. When Summer was finished she was in shock. She covered her mouth as she thought “why did I tell him that, I’ve never told anyone that.” Chase grasped her hand and said nothing, but for Summer, that said everything.

They stopped when they reached the cottage. Summer said bye and tried to let go of his hand, but he pulled her back. “Meet me out here at 11,” he said, “I’ll be here waiting.” “I don’t know if I can…”Summer started. “I’ll be here, if you decide to come or not,” Chase said cutting her off. “Okay,” Summer said softly, then she walked back up to the cottage.

When Summer reached the cottage she went into the kitchen. She grabbed a glass from the cabinet, and pored herself some water as she hummed a happy tune. “Who is he?” a voice came from the right. Startled, Summer looked over to the kitchen table, and there sat her grandma, sipping tea out of a rose covered teacup. “What are you talking about?” Summer said. “Summer, I’ve been around long enough; I think I know when a girl meets a guy.” Rose said with a giggle, “So what’s his name?” “Chase, and why do you care?” Summer said louder than needed. Shocked her grandma leaned back and looked away, and then said, “I know you’re mad at me.” Summer put down the glass of water on the counter. Her grandma continued. “You’re mad at me because I never spoke to you after your father died.” Summer’s eyes grew wet, “How could you grandma?, you really hurt me, you were like my favorite person alive, and then you just stopped talking to me and at a time when I really needed you.” Summer burst into tears. “I know I know I was wrong, but you don’t understand I wanted to see you but I just couldn’t.” Now even her grandma was tearing up. ”Why couldn’t you?” Summer questioned. “Because every time I looked at you, you reminded me so much of your father, and I missed him so much. Losing a son is the hardest thing in the world, and now I’m afraid that I’ve lost you.” A felling of guilt came over Summer. She got up and went over to her grandma and gave her the biggest hug and said, “You will never lose me.”

After she and her grandma calmed down, Summer told her everything her grandma had missed out on. She even told her about Chase. She told her about how cute he was, and their walk on the beach, and even how he said he wanted to meet her at 11. “So are you going?” her grandma asked. “I don’t know,” Summer said softly. “Well what are you waiting for?” her grandma said looking at the clock on the stove, it was 10:59. “Go,” her grandma said, “go.”

Summer ran out the back door. The cool ocean breeze blew on her face as she walked in the sand. It was dark, but the moonlight showed her a figure. It was Chase. “Well, here I am” she said as she stopped in front of him. “I have a surprise for you, so close your eyes.” Chase said as he grabbed her hand. Summer did as she was told, “and no peeking,” he said with a laugh. As he guided her along the beach, her mind raced with ideas of what the surprise was going to be. They stopped. “Open your eyes” Chase said. Summer opened them and gasped. The surprise was better than anything she thought it was going to be. Laid out before her was a blanket, with candles all around it, and in the center was a picnic basket filled with snacks and drinks. Summer looked back over her shoulder, at the cottage, and secretly thanked her grandma for telling her to come.

As they ate the food they talked and laughed. Summer felt as if she had known Chase forever. The waves swept against the shore as they sat in each other arms underneath the starry sky. As they gazed into space, Chase did the unexpected. He turned and looked at Summer, and said, “Summer you shine brighter than the stars in the sky.” He leaned in and gave her a kiss.

The Murder by Anna K.

2008-01-31T10:11:00.000-05:00

She opened the patio door onto a view that looked like it went on forever, like it couldn’t be stopped by anything or anyone. Just like the women looking at it, Carmen, no matter what crossed her path she never let it stand in her way. A tall, strong women both mentally and physically with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. She was a murder investigator and couldn’t let little things stand in her way.

She let the cool breeze envelop her in its clutch, something she rarely did. She needed a break from her latest case. She was overwhelmed with the amount of work she had to do. She stayed outside for a while and thought about the case. This is the first Saturday that she isn’t at her office. Normally, she would be sitting in her huge office shuffling through papers. Although her office was so big she felt as if it was no bigger than the ordinary cubical. It didn’t matter how many people were around her she still felt alone. She couldn’t do this anymore, she needed a sign to go back home to her family, maybe just for a little bit, so that she doesn’t loose herself completely. She took a deep breath and came inside.

She sat down at her mahogany desk and began to look at the evidence for the hundredth time. She couldn’t find anything knew to come closer to the verdict of the case. She closed all the folders that she had out. She got up, put on her coat and left to take a walk and clear her head. As she slowly made her way down the tree lined boulevard she felt something, as if she was being watched.

“You’re being paranoid, Carmen” she said out loud to reassure herself that everything was o.k.

“You’re not being paranoid” a sharp male voice said from behind her.

Carmen turned around and saw a broad man looking at her. She was paralyzed and told her feet to move but they wouldn’t.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“I want you to quit the case that you’re investigating” he snarled.

“Why?” she snapped back.

“Because, this case doesn’t concern you”

“I’m a murder investigator, anything to do with murder concerns me.”

“This is out of your league, there is more to this than you think. You don’t know everything.”

“What don’t I know?”

“I can’t tell you, look I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if you don’t do what I say.”

Before she could say another word she was off running with the man behind her. It’s like she had no control over what was happening. She kept running until she reached a nearby café. She knew that he wouldn’t hurt her in a public place, to many witnesses. As she knew what she had to do. A few minutes later she stood up and left with a large group of people and as soon as she turned the corner she dashed to the bank where she would get enough money to travel to her family. She wouldn’t go back to her house, she might

have been scared but she wasn’t stupid, he must have known where she lived if he was following her. She would hopefully leave that night without the man knowing where she was or how to get to her.

This was the sign she was waiting for. She needed her family. She wouldn’t quit the case however, she couldn’t let some bully push her around. She thought about who could have sent him and why and maybe there was more to the case, more than she knew, but that just made her want to know more. No matter how much she hated her job, it was like a drug, it was addicting. She had to solve it.

Short story blog assignment comment criteria

2008-01-31T08:51:00.001-05:00

I would like your short story comments to answer the following five questions:

I - Describe your personal reaction to the story. How do you feel after reading it? What do you remember? What images do you see? What concepts or ideas are in your head? What did the story make you think about?

II - Does the main character change over the course of the story? If so, what is his or her great insight or epiphany? How is this change important to the story? How would the story be different if the character didn't change?

If the main character does not change, explain why it was important that he/she remain static throughout the tale. How was the story arc dependent on the main character's personality?

III. What was your favorite part of the story? Did it occur in the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, or resolution? Pick a line that you liked, copy and paste it into the comment box, put quotes around it, and explain what it was about it that stood out to you.

IV - Overall, what is this tale's best quality? It could be its characters, the conflict, the resolution, the description of the setting, the story arc, use of dialogue, etc. Use specific details and references to the story to explain why you thought this was its best strength.

V - What is one piece of advice that the author might consider for future writing assignments? This should be phrased constructively (try doing ------- next time, consider --------) or inquisitively (what do you think would happen if you -------------?)

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Playing the Memories by Ryan L.

2007-10-12T12:21:00.000-05:00

Everyone has something of value. Whether you’re rich or poor, there is always something you will value. You might value an object like an ipod, or a fun vacation with your family and friends. I can think of at least two different things that I greatly value and probably always will. One is my guitar, which I play almost every day. One other thing that I value is not something you can buy, a wonderful experience with my family, and some of their friends.

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I get home from school and play my guitar. I get lost in the music. To be able to play guitar is not just the ability to play an instrument, it’s a constant battle to be the best you can be. There are no boundaries, the only opponent is you. While I play it, I think about how I came to get it. I received my guitar for Christmas almost three long years ago. I had no idea. I came downstairs, to see a black case with the word Fender on it. I opened the case to find a brand new shining Lake Placid blue Fender Stratocaster. No gift could top it. The estimated value was six hundred dollars. The rest of that glorious Christmas day I only played my new guitar, and I knew that I would never be bored again. My guitar gives me endless possibilities. I will never be able to play every song ever written, so I can always have something to work on. Also, my guitar can assist me in writing my own music, which one day could help me make money.

*************

The day is cold, rainy, and I am miserable. My parents have invited many of their childhood friends and their kids to come to our lake house in New Hampshire. What a drag. I personally don’t want to entertain lots of little kids with their parents watching. I’d rather be swimming and water skiing with my cousins. But nevertheless our family is a dictatorship not a democracy, so my parents’ word is law. The first few guests are beginning to arrive, and with them more food and drinks. I suppose that’s one plus. I introduced myself to a few of the kids, and I already know a few.

We begin to play Guitar hero 2, and I get to know them better. One was on the Holyoke golf team, another loved basketball. They seemed pretty cool. The rain started to let up and we paraded outside to go swimming. The air is cool, so the lake water feels more like a warm spring. I raced a few of the little kids to the raft that is afloat about thirty yards from the shore. We started to play many games including king of the raft, and tip the raft. Thankfully no one is injured. I decide to take some of the kids for a moderately slow boat ride to let them take in the sights of the lake. They enjoy my ride, and we return home. My Dad asks us if we would like to go tubing. I quickly answer, “Yes!” but some of the kids were hesitant. Then I convince them that there is no chance of getting hurt, and that tubing is a blast! I jump into the boat, while the others slowly enter. The engine roars and the first two tubers entered their designated tubes. The boat started to pick up speed. A tsunami of a wave attacked us. “Bang!” The two tubers fly into the air, which leaves one of the two in the raging water. Laughter is prevalent in the front of the boat. It’s gently raining again, so our tubing adventure is cut short. A rainbow appears overhead. It’s the biggest I’ve ever seen. Just then a plane flies overhead through the enormous rainbow, and lands on the water. I think to myself, “This is amazing!”

Nightfall arrives, and I go to the basement to fetch the fireworks. No one knows what I’m doing except my dad and his friend Jim. I set up a few in the front yard, and light the wicks. A fiery explosion is sent into the black sky, and everyone jumps. I laugh, but am cut short from an explosion which hails from across the lake. I think, “They want to challenge us?” My Dad reaches for our 400 shot finale, and the giant fireballs. He lights them. 400 shells and 20 huge fireballs scream into the air with a crash! The adults begin cheering, and the fireworks from across the lake stop. I realize at the beginning of the day, I didn’t know these people, and now I feel like I’ve known them for a very long time. I think to myself, “What a great day this has been.”

$$$$$$$$********

Two things I greatly value are my guitar, and the party at my lake house. These two things are very different. They are different because one is an object that I can hold and play, and the other was a day long event that I will never get back. They are similar, because when I play guitar I greatly enjoy my time playing by myself and with others. At the party, I had a wonderful time with other people as well.

Everyone has something they value. I think the things I value most are the things I enjoy. I greatly enjoy playing the guitar because it’s a never ending challenge, and I create fun memories playing it. I love to get lost in the music. I enjoyed the day at the lake because I got to tube, boat, and share new experiences with new people, and I will never forget that

Summers To Computers by John B.

2007-10-12T12:17:00.000-05:00

There are things in the world that people just can’t put a price tag on. Other things they just want to get rid of. Something’s may be worth millions to people, while others look at it like its junk. How do we know how much things could be worth to people? Some times people treasure moments more than they treasure their things.

*****

There is one time I went on vacation to two different countries. It was in the summer of 2005. It was my first time going to a new country and going on a plane. We went to France to visit my great aunt on my mom’s side. It was such a neat place to be because; everyone was speaking a different language and things were different. I visited tons of new places. Some of them were the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Louvre. My time in France was a very priceless moment.

*****

When we left France we took Air France which is a French airline. If felt very unsafe to me. The rest of my family didn’t really seem to notice. When we got to Ireland the first thing we did was rent a car. My dad drove us around and the steering wheel was on the left side like a mail truck. Also the lanes were different the left side was the right side and the right side was the left side. We stayed a pretty expensive hotel. It severed three meals a day and had everything there. One famous thing we did there was kiss the Blarney Stone. That was at Blarney Castle. To get the stone they have you walk through the castle and the stair cases are wicked narrow. That was the first thing we did there. The second thing we did was drive to the Cliffs of Moher. There was also a tiny castle at the top. The view was very cool. The sparkling green water would splash against the rocky cliffs. I have never seen any site as beautiful as that before. For the rest of the time there we pretty much just explored and went to stores to buy souvenirs and shirts. When it was time to go and catch our next plane nobody wanted to leave. Everyone wanted to stay in Ireland. Unfortunately we did leave and we took American Air lines back to Boston, Massachusetts. When we got back to the airport the van we took to get there was waiting for us. That was pretty much the end of our great summer trip.

*****

There is one thing at my house that I can not put a price tag on. That would have to be the computer. Everyone now a day must have at least one in their house. People use them for everything. I use mine mainly for school work. Sometimes when I’m bored I might play computer games, but most of the time people will see me typing or researching stuff. I know a lot of people use their computers to instant message, but that’s just one thing I don’t use my computer for. I don’t know why but I just talk to my friends mainly at school. That’s why I would never put a price tag on my computer. My computer is sort of like a friend in a way. It’s always there whenever I need it. Obviously the computer knows everything; it’s like having a walking encyclopedia. Unless of course if I ever get a new computer.

*****

So you see that this is my priceless moment and my priceless object. If something were to ever happen to it I think I’d be very depressed and deeply saddened. My priceless moment is something I’ll never forget. I will always remember that summer of 2005. As you can see everyone does value everything. There are things people can’t put a price tag on and things that they just want to get ride of. Nobody would be able to guess my most valued moment unless I told them. My parents don’t even know how much I value the vacations they take me on. I’m sure they know that I do value my computer because when I get in trouble they ground me off it. So these are the things that I value. How about you?