When unable to understand a simple meaning, confusion is mixed in with the common sense emotion. In the short story “Day of the butterfly”, a sixth grade girl is befuddled about a nobody girl, who later turns into a somebody, when she becomes ill. What once made sense, in a now jumbled head of a youngling, was a lie in the eyes of the girl. The eyes of the young schoolgirl opened when she met “the new girl”.
Different isn’t always good. Being a new person in school can be exciting, even nerve wracking. Most children worry about fitting in on the first day of school. Myra is most children. She cares about her brother and making sure she can take him to the bathroom on time. Children at school shouldn’t have to worry about their siblings; Myra is unique and doesn’t quite fit in. At recess she and her brother sit on the back porch; she watches the girls play games with the same emotion on her face. Some of the girls would go in the groups of three or four and make fun of her. The judgments of those around you can affect the confidence of a person. Again because Myra wasn’t like all the other sixth grade girls; she was treated different.
Out of the group of “fit-ins” one will always feel bad for the girl that isn’t in the group. Much like an angel in the group of devils. When Helen has a risky encounter with Myra, she worries about her reputation. However they share a very innocent friendly conversation and walk to school. To become friends with somebody you suddenly click with, then don’t come to school, no bad thoughts come to mind, at first. When a new friend is made you want to learn more. If that person isn’t there conflicts may arise. When referring to Myra, Helen is bothered. Finally peace of mind. Hearing Myra has leukemia doesn’t bring friends closer, but opens the eyes of Helen. She only felt bad for Myra. Many people face the same challenges, to feel bad for a person. The reasons can vary; to having no friends, money, clothes, looks and even the past history. To realize that you don’t like somebody and when your with them in the hospital isn’t the ideal time to understand you don’t have the same feelings you once did, for them.
Cliques can make a person powerful, even ruin another person. When plenty of people are in a clique there are outsiders looking in, drama can be created. Helen is in the clique, she has plenty of friends and the complete opposite of Myra. Unlike Myra, Helen is powerful. As for Myra, she is gone for a long time, people can become curious. Wanting to know every detail of their disappearance. This causes a lot of attention to the missing peer.
In the long run being friends with the new student, isn’t always bad. The new can turn out to be better than you judge them to be or even worse than you expected. It’s easy to go from being nobody, to some body.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
That night
That night
Life to me is much like a large mistake. I’m different and I don’t understand why. I used to be normal, I used to be an average kid. That all changed for me though the night of May 12th 2000, that day ruined my life. The definition of Adrianna Marie Chantel was no longer that beautiful girl with the picture perfect family and the great social life, but now that girl from that night.
“Wake up! Wake up!” My aunt Shannon screamed over and over again.
“Honey she’s having the dream again!” My uncle Paul tried explaining to my aunt every time she said “Wake up!” Moments later I was sitting straight up in my bed; As shocked as I was to see my aunt and uncle sitting on the end of my bed, I got up and walked down the stairs and out the back door. The place where I could go to focus, and the restless nights I don’t sleep I go here. Under the stars but still a roof above my head, the old bunker, a hole in the ground that had a large opening that showed the night time stars. This is the only place that reminds me of my family. It hurts in my heart to know that no matter what I do, my family is gone, forever. Eternal rest. All because of that night, I know I could have stopped it; all I had to do was scream. Maybe then…..no, no matter what I would have done, nothing would change, my family would still be dead.
I woke up from the sound of people calling my name. My aunt and uncle sent somebody out to search for me again, yet they never found the bunker. Instead of crawling out and traveling away from the bunker, so nobody can find my sacred spot, I lied there. Pulling the covers over my face when I heard the people shouting my name right above my head. Still, they didn’t find me. I liked it this way, away from everybody, the way my real life was. I didn’t have a family anymore, so why should I pretend my aunt and uncle are my mom and dad? They never will be them. I should run away. Stay in my happy quiet little place forever, without the fear of being found. My family’s vacation home in Italy. My new beginning.
Now I needed money. I know in the bunker my dad hid a couple of hundreds and in the house is still his safe. No! I can’t go there! Stop Adrianna do not think of that house. You are better than that, those nightmares won’t go away for months. ADRIANNA! I’m good, I can visit the house and know there wasn’t a thing I could have done to prevent that day. Later tonight I’ll go, for now I should sleep.
When walking down “Bright” road, I couldn’t stop think about how glorious this place seemed when I was younger. This was my world. I wanted every person who was my age on the street to like me, want to become my friend. I even wanted all the parents to know I was a sweet girl and I could watch their babies while they were gone. Apparently, I tried too hard and one person on the street watched me closely.
The air smelt like the pancakes my mother woke up extra early to make for me and my brother Sean. I woke up feeling great and had doubles with the pancakes. Even had a nice joke with my brother. We laughed so hard and within the hour before school we had created a new memory. Today my friend Karen would come drive me to school. Her sister got her license and a car. For a bunch of 8th graders to be in a slick expensive car was great for our reputation. She came earlier than planned and my mom was a little bummed. I said my “goodbye’s” and my “I love you” to the family and walked out the door. I had forgotten my backpack, I couldn’t go back that would be embarrassing. I waved bye to my mom and hopped in the car. That was the last time they were alive.
After school was done I texted my mom, but she didn’t answer. That was weird, my mother was glued to her phone, because of her job as an International Lender, she needed her phone. I waited, yet no reply. The bus ride took to me what seemed as the longest ride ever. When the bus drove up to our street I could see my house. The front yard had been covered in toys, those from my brother and dog. I remember when me and my brother begged for Benji. He’s our dog, part Great Dane and Saint Bernard. When we finally got Benji, it seemed like life was complete. I started looking at the house again, when the chipping paint on the house caught my eye . Our house had been old and white. Now the paint was starting to chip and the windows were starting to become old and dirty looking. Even the bushes seemed old, muck like the tree in the front yard. So many memories from this house and to think my parents talked about moving! Once we started to approach my house I could see my brothers room light on and the kitchens light’s on. Getting off the bus was weird, I felt like I shouldn’t be here.
I slowly moved towards my house, up the steps on the porch and stood in front of the door. I didn’t know why, but I hesitated to open the door. I reached my hand out and froze my hand as I heard a thump. Now I was worried, my hands were sweaty and my heart was racing. I ran through the door and stopped in my tracks. There was chairs knocked over, glass broken, dirt on the floor, what happened here? I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed 9-1-1.
“Hello, 9-1-1 operator”
“Hello, I’m Adrianna Chantel, I walked in my house and I think somebody broke in….my family’s gone or I don’t know where they are and I’m scared an, please send somebody here an….” I started to yell into the phone, but a louder thump made me drop the phone.
“Hello? Hello? Adrianna are you there? Hello? Answer me! Adrianna I’m sending help!” I heard from the phone as I walked toward the stairs, blood had been on the top steps. I shouldn’t see this. But I couldn’t stop walking up the stairs. More blood and finally a body. I cried and starred at my father. He had cuts on his face and blood dripping.
“Dad, oh god! What happened? Daddy” I cried
“Hhhh.oooo” He moaned
“Daddy, I’m here. Don’t worry I called the police”
“Shhh..shhhh…shh……eeee…awn” He barely could get out of his lips.
“Sean? Where is he?” Never mind, Daddy I’ll find him” I cried harder.
I walked slowly to Sean’s room, only more blood was there and then a body. I grabbed him and threw him in my arms, he was still in his pajamas, he never left for school. I cried harder and held him close. I needed to find my mom! Just then a door down the hall slammed open, against the wall. Without any reaction time I ran into the conjoining bathroom. Through the bathroom I slowly headed to my parents master suite. Once I reached their room next to their bathroom, I thought could I really make it. I would have to go out into the hallway. The thought made me sick. I sat on the floor of the guest bedroom and heard a squeak from the steps. That meant somebody was at the bottom of the stairs, could that be two people? I didn’t care. I ran as fast an quietly as I could into the master suite. There was my mom tied to a chair. She looked beaten and dead. I locked the door and ran to her side.
“Mom!!” I sobbed.
She was my best friend, better of a friend than Karen and a great person. Now she was dead.
A banging from the door startled a scream. Then the banging became louder. In my parents room was stairs to the attic. Slowly I walked up the stairs, praying the floor boards would not creak. If they did, my position would be given away. I almost cried tears of joy as I reached the top, with no sounds of creaking. Then there was a person at the bottom, he had a strange smile to his face and I recognized him. He was a man that lived on the street, the old man that was nice, but had a weird thing to him. This was the weird thing. He had a large knife in his hand. Larger than any knife I have ever seen before. I walked backwards slowly then ran and slammed a door shut. This was the storage unit. It didn’t have a strong door, but had a window. I ran to the window and toppled onto the roof. From there I didn’t care if I lived, my family was dead, why shouldn’t I? When I hit the water of our pool I was still alive. Thank goodness for my neighbors, they were having a party when they saw me come from the window and into the pool. When I woke up, the room was bright, the way heaven should be, the brightness you see before your dead.
“Am I in heaven?”
“No sweetie, the hospital!” My aunt Shannon said with the most horrified look on her face.
“I want to be alone” I whispered.
This was it. They were dead, I knew that face. I wanted to be alone. Why would I be here when the rest of my family is gone? Why am I so special?
I came back to realize I was at this place again, the place my family died. All the toys were still in the front yard. I wondered about Benji. The cops said he must have ran away because apparently neighbors had reports of a barking dog in the backyard, he didn’t stop barking for hours. I know why he started to bark, a man from our quiet street came into my house looking for me, saw my backpack and thought I was home. He thought I was hiding and threatened to kill my family if they didn’t tell him where I was. He killed my dad because he tried to fight back, then my brother to scare my mom. Eventually my mom. When I came home he was shocked. I knew this man better than he knew himself and the day he was hung, I got to know him better. He had no family and was obsessed with me for years. Ever since my family moved here. When he heard I would be moving out, that broke his heart. I hated this man, he was responsible for the way my family was, through the depression that overtook me and the friends I lost because of this man. Because of Harold James Peterson, I hated my life.
Slowly and cautiously I walked in the back sliding door, the house was still furnished with my old furniture. Not even the knocked over chairs were picked back up. A certain noise alarmed me. I almost sounded like the noise that the man made when he hit the door while I was in the attic. Surprisingly it wasn’t though. Benji ran around the corner and jumped onto me. I cried and sat on the floor with him. My life wasn’t completely ruined. I still had Benji. Again I paced through the house, blood was still in the carpets. I walked up to the master sweet, there was still the chair. That chair was the one my mother was tied to. Over in the corner was the safe. I remembered the combination, my mom made a song for it. When the lock clicked open, I starred at inside, there was a paper. On the paper was an adoption certificate, and the name Alisha Mary Clinton. Those were my initials and I was adopted? Benji started to bark.
“Shhhh….Benji, no bark.”
He quieted down and then laid down next to me. I couldn’t believe it. I was really Alisha Mary? Who is this girl? Where are my real parents? I had so many questions and no answers.
Ten years later, I was happy in my new life. I went to UCLA and graduated with a masters in teaching. I became a teacher for Princeton Academy for the gifted of California, as an Art teacher. This was temporary, soon I wanted to become a real teacher. The reason I’m an art teacher, I started a family and gained a relationship with the family I lost. My real mother, Patricia Faith Clinton, had lost me. I was stolen when I was one from my Boston home and given to an adoption agency. This back in the day was a good way for people to make a large chunk of money. I have a sister in her teens and an older brother. Vienna is my 17 year old sister and Hank is my older brother. My mother works as a banker and my dad as an real estate agent. They make a hefty amount of money and live in the Los Angeles apartments of Washington Street. My father Paul, was able to walk me down the aisle when I was married to Fredrick Nelson Oaten and my family was there, when my sons came into the world. Wayne Brett and Lane Eric are my babies. They are identical twins born May 12th 2010. This day reminded me of the day I lost my family, or what I thought was my family. But this day wasn’t all bad, if I that man never would have killed my family, I wouldn’t have known I was adopted and my real mother was out there. All over I hurt to know my life for 13 years had been a lie. Without the lie, I wouldn’t be where I am or with the people that I now call, my family. My life truly is complete. With the loss of one thing you gain another. With the death of my adopted family came the birth of my true family and for this, I am blessed.
Life to me is much like a large mistake. I’m different and I don’t understand why. I used to be normal, I used to be an average kid. That all changed for me though the night of May 12th 2000, that day ruined my life. The definition of Adrianna Marie Chantel was no longer that beautiful girl with the picture perfect family and the great social life, but now that girl from that night.
“Wake up! Wake up!” My aunt Shannon screamed over and over again.
“Honey she’s having the dream again!” My uncle Paul tried explaining to my aunt every time she said “Wake up!” Moments later I was sitting straight up in my bed; As shocked as I was to see my aunt and uncle sitting on the end of my bed, I got up and walked down the stairs and out the back door. The place where I could go to focus, and the restless nights I don’t sleep I go here. Under the stars but still a roof above my head, the old bunker, a hole in the ground that had a large opening that showed the night time stars. This is the only place that reminds me of my family. It hurts in my heart to know that no matter what I do, my family is gone, forever. Eternal rest. All because of that night, I know I could have stopped it; all I had to do was scream. Maybe then…..no, no matter what I would have done, nothing would change, my family would still be dead.
I woke up from the sound of people calling my name. My aunt and uncle sent somebody out to search for me again, yet they never found the bunker. Instead of crawling out and traveling away from the bunker, so nobody can find my sacred spot, I lied there. Pulling the covers over my face when I heard the people shouting my name right above my head. Still, they didn’t find me. I liked it this way, away from everybody, the way my real life was. I didn’t have a family anymore, so why should I pretend my aunt and uncle are my mom and dad? They never will be them. I should run away. Stay in my happy quiet little place forever, without the fear of being found. My family’s vacation home in Italy. My new beginning.
Now I needed money. I know in the bunker my dad hid a couple of hundreds and in the house is still his safe. No! I can’t go there! Stop Adrianna do not think of that house. You are better than that, those nightmares won’t go away for months. ADRIANNA! I’m good, I can visit the house and know there wasn’t a thing I could have done to prevent that day. Later tonight I’ll go, for now I should sleep.
When walking down “Bright” road, I couldn’t stop think about how glorious this place seemed when I was younger. This was my world. I wanted every person who was my age on the street to like me, want to become my friend. I even wanted all the parents to know I was a sweet girl and I could watch their babies while they were gone. Apparently, I tried too hard and one person on the street watched me closely.
The air smelt like the pancakes my mother woke up extra early to make for me and my brother Sean. I woke up feeling great and had doubles with the pancakes. Even had a nice joke with my brother. We laughed so hard and within the hour before school we had created a new memory. Today my friend Karen would come drive me to school. Her sister got her license and a car. For a bunch of 8th graders to be in a slick expensive car was great for our reputation. She came earlier than planned and my mom was a little bummed. I said my “goodbye’s” and my “I love you” to the family and walked out the door. I had forgotten my backpack, I couldn’t go back that would be embarrassing. I waved bye to my mom and hopped in the car. That was the last time they were alive.
After school was done I texted my mom, but she didn’t answer. That was weird, my mother was glued to her phone, because of her job as an International Lender, she needed her phone. I waited, yet no reply. The bus ride took to me what seemed as the longest ride ever. When the bus drove up to our street I could see my house. The front yard had been covered in toys, those from my brother and dog. I remember when me and my brother begged for Benji. He’s our dog, part Great Dane and Saint Bernard. When we finally got Benji, it seemed like life was complete. I started looking at the house again, when the chipping paint on the house caught my eye . Our house had been old and white. Now the paint was starting to chip and the windows were starting to become old and dirty looking. Even the bushes seemed old, muck like the tree in the front yard. So many memories from this house and to think my parents talked about moving! Once we started to approach my house I could see my brothers room light on and the kitchens light’s on. Getting off the bus was weird, I felt like I shouldn’t be here.
I slowly moved towards my house, up the steps on the porch and stood in front of the door. I didn’t know why, but I hesitated to open the door. I reached my hand out and froze my hand as I heard a thump. Now I was worried, my hands were sweaty and my heart was racing. I ran through the door and stopped in my tracks. There was chairs knocked over, glass broken, dirt on the floor, what happened here? I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed 9-1-1.
“Hello, 9-1-1 operator”
“Hello, I’m Adrianna Chantel, I walked in my house and I think somebody broke in….my family’s gone or I don’t know where they are and I’m scared an, please send somebody here an….” I started to yell into the phone, but a louder thump made me drop the phone.
“Hello? Hello? Adrianna are you there? Hello? Answer me! Adrianna I’m sending help!” I heard from the phone as I walked toward the stairs, blood had been on the top steps. I shouldn’t see this. But I couldn’t stop walking up the stairs. More blood and finally a body. I cried and starred at my father. He had cuts on his face and blood dripping.
“Dad, oh god! What happened? Daddy” I cried
“Hhhh.oooo” He moaned
“Daddy, I’m here. Don’t worry I called the police”
“Shhh..shhhh…shh……eeee…awn” He barely could get out of his lips.
“Sean? Where is he?” Never mind, Daddy I’ll find him” I cried harder.
I walked slowly to Sean’s room, only more blood was there and then a body. I grabbed him and threw him in my arms, he was still in his pajamas, he never left for school. I cried harder and held him close. I needed to find my mom! Just then a door down the hall slammed open, against the wall. Without any reaction time I ran into the conjoining bathroom. Through the bathroom I slowly headed to my parents master suite. Once I reached their room next to their bathroom, I thought could I really make it. I would have to go out into the hallway. The thought made me sick. I sat on the floor of the guest bedroom and heard a squeak from the steps. That meant somebody was at the bottom of the stairs, could that be two people? I didn’t care. I ran as fast an quietly as I could into the master suite. There was my mom tied to a chair. She looked beaten and dead. I locked the door and ran to her side.
“Mom!!” I sobbed.
She was my best friend, better of a friend than Karen and a great person. Now she was dead.
A banging from the door startled a scream. Then the banging became louder. In my parents room was stairs to the attic. Slowly I walked up the stairs, praying the floor boards would not creak. If they did, my position would be given away. I almost cried tears of joy as I reached the top, with no sounds of creaking. Then there was a person at the bottom, he had a strange smile to his face and I recognized him. He was a man that lived on the street, the old man that was nice, but had a weird thing to him. This was the weird thing. He had a large knife in his hand. Larger than any knife I have ever seen before. I walked backwards slowly then ran and slammed a door shut. This was the storage unit. It didn’t have a strong door, but had a window. I ran to the window and toppled onto the roof. From there I didn’t care if I lived, my family was dead, why shouldn’t I? When I hit the water of our pool I was still alive. Thank goodness for my neighbors, they were having a party when they saw me come from the window and into the pool. When I woke up, the room was bright, the way heaven should be, the brightness you see before your dead.
“Am I in heaven?”
“No sweetie, the hospital!” My aunt Shannon said with the most horrified look on her face.
“I want to be alone” I whispered.
This was it. They were dead, I knew that face. I wanted to be alone. Why would I be here when the rest of my family is gone? Why am I so special?
I came back to realize I was at this place again, the place my family died. All the toys were still in the front yard. I wondered about Benji. The cops said he must have ran away because apparently neighbors had reports of a barking dog in the backyard, he didn’t stop barking for hours. I know why he started to bark, a man from our quiet street came into my house looking for me, saw my backpack and thought I was home. He thought I was hiding and threatened to kill my family if they didn’t tell him where I was. He killed my dad because he tried to fight back, then my brother to scare my mom. Eventually my mom. When I came home he was shocked. I knew this man better than he knew himself and the day he was hung, I got to know him better. He had no family and was obsessed with me for years. Ever since my family moved here. When he heard I would be moving out, that broke his heart. I hated this man, he was responsible for the way my family was, through the depression that overtook me and the friends I lost because of this man. Because of Harold James Peterson, I hated my life.
Slowly and cautiously I walked in the back sliding door, the house was still furnished with my old furniture. Not even the knocked over chairs were picked back up. A certain noise alarmed me. I almost sounded like the noise that the man made when he hit the door while I was in the attic. Surprisingly it wasn’t though. Benji ran around the corner and jumped onto me. I cried and sat on the floor with him. My life wasn’t completely ruined. I still had Benji. Again I paced through the house, blood was still in the carpets. I walked up to the master sweet, there was still the chair. That chair was the one my mother was tied to. Over in the corner was the safe. I remembered the combination, my mom made a song for it. When the lock clicked open, I starred at inside, there was a paper. On the paper was an adoption certificate, and the name Alisha Mary Clinton. Those were my initials and I was adopted? Benji started to bark.
“Shhhh….Benji, no bark.”
He quieted down and then laid down next to me. I couldn’t believe it. I was really Alisha Mary? Who is this girl? Where are my real parents? I had so many questions and no answers.
Ten years later, I was happy in my new life. I went to UCLA and graduated with a masters in teaching. I became a teacher for Princeton Academy for the gifted of California, as an Art teacher. This was temporary, soon I wanted to become a real teacher. The reason I’m an art teacher, I started a family and gained a relationship with the family I lost. My real mother, Patricia Faith Clinton, had lost me. I was stolen when I was one from my Boston home and given to an adoption agency. This back in the day was a good way for people to make a large chunk of money. I have a sister in her teens and an older brother. Vienna is my 17 year old sister and Hank is my older brother. My mother works as a banker and my dad as an real estate agent. They make a hefty amount of money and live in the Los Angeles apartments of Washington Street. My father Paul, was able to walk me down the aisle when I was married to Fredrick Nelson Oaten and my family was there, when my sons came into the world. Wayne Brett and Lane Eric are my babies. They are identical twins born May 12th 2010. This day reminded me of the day I lost my family, or what I thought was my family. But this day wasn’t all bad, if I that man never would have killed my family, I wouldn’t have known I was adopted and my real mother was out there. All over I hurt to know my life for 13 years had been a lie. Without the lie, I wouldn’t be where I am or with the people that I now call, my family. My life truly is complete. With the loss of one thing you gain another. With the death of my adopted family came the birth of my true family and for this, I am blessed.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Deer Haven Christmas Parade
The largest divorce of all time had been all over the morning section of “The Daily” in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Ex super model Brianna Marie Evans known for her gorgeous looks and bubbly personality had just recently filed for a divorce of her 12 year marriage to Paul Frankie Evans. “All the time being stuck in one place with one person can be overwhelming.” That was all Brianna had to say during her earlier interview.
2 Days earlier- Brie
“It’s over Paul, I no longer can take all the stress, I want a divorce and that is final!” Brie ahd screamed over and over at Paul.
“Darling I truly do think we should fix this” Paul argued.
As soon as the clock struck 12, brie rushed out of her house and drove down to meet her new boyfriend, Carl. At a small café. Paul to Brie was a stranger living in her home. She no longer had an feelings for Paul; she was now in complete love with Carl. Too many thoughts were jumbled into Brie’s head; Is Carl the one for me? What should I do for the annual Deer Haven Christmas parade? Is my daughter Adrianna coming down to visit for the parade? Not only did these thoughts get into the plans of the Deer Haven Christmas Parade, but now there was talk about Carl going to propose to Brie during the parade. To settle down, Brie visited with friends and talked for a LONG time. Once Brie was reassured she was making the right choice about Carl, she decided she would say “yes”, that was if he does propose.
2 Days earlier- Carl
Although Carl had plans with Brie, he figured he should make a quickly stop on the way before hand. He drove down capital and shortly stopped at an airport owned by a good friend of his. The good friend of Carl, David had a small airplane, which was planned to fly over the Christmas parade with a banner hanging along saying, “Brie will you marry me?” All Carl could do was hope for the love of his life to say yes. In the pit of Carl’s stomach he was worried, David had called once complaining of an ache in his chest, he was unsure if he would be able to fly the plane. Luckily Carl’s luck had changed; David called with good news that night saying,
“I feel sso much better, and would be more than happy to fly the, shall we say ‘proposal’ plane over the Deer Haven parade tomorrow” Spoke David happily to be there for his best buddy.
“Wow that’s great, for a moment I was almost worried” admitted Carl.
Now Carl was happy and that worried feeling in the pit of his stomach had vanished, he no longer had any more worries.
The Day of- Carl
“Alright so at exactly 1:15 Brie will be preparing the choir concert and brie doesn’t know this but the choir is planning to sing ‘Will you marry me?’ at 1:30, you can not be late or this will be ruined” nervously spoke Carl.
“Okay sounds great and congratulations Carl” said David.
The Day of- David
Once again David’s heart had pounded, it almost felt like his heart was about to jump out of his chest! But he could not back out at this point, so David jumped into the plane and flew off to Deer Haven where an annual Christmas parade was planned. What was about to happen next, nobody could have imagined. David passes out and laid lifeless in the airplane’s main seat. Young 24 year old David a recently engaged man to a beautiful school teacher was dead.
The Day of- Brie
Brie had been very excited for this day. This was where all the families of Deer Haven got together and bonded with each other. But she had seemed the happiest, mainly because her 21 year old daughter, Adrianna, and her new granddaughter, Cecilia came to visit. This had so far been the best of all the past Deer Haven Christmas parades. Just as Brie was warming up the choir like planned everybody couldn’t pay attention for the reason of a loud noise coming from the sky. As everybody’s eye’s had caught bright red plane spiraling towards the parade, the crowd went running. Just then the large plane hit the choir concert stand and slid through the chairs set up for the children’s play.
It was hard to tell who was alive and who was dead, there had been many bodies lying throughout the street, one was Paul. This had been a lightning bolt to Brie’s heart, she just then had realized she still loved Paul. But Paul was lying with many other bodies around him, his face had been scratched and his perfectly white shirt had stains of red. As if this wasn’t bad enough a loud noise came from the airplane again, within seconds a large BAM. The plane had just exploded.
2 Days earlier- Brie
“It’s over Paul, I no longer can take all the stress, I want a divorce and that is final!” Brie ahd screamed over and over at Paul.
“Darling I truly do think we should fix this” Paul argued.
As soon as the clock struck 12, brie rushed out of her house and drove down to meet her new boyfriend, Carl. At a small café. Paul to Brie was a stranger living in her home. She no longer had an feelings for Paul; she was now in complete love with Carl. Too many thoughts were jumbled into Brie’s head; Is Carl the one for me? What should I do for the annual Deer Haven Christmas parade? Is my daughter Adrianna coming down to visit for the parade? Not only did these thoughts get into the plans of the Deer Haven Christmas Parade, but now there was talk about Carl going to propose to Brie during the parade. To settle down, Brie visited with friends and talked for a LONG time. Once Brie was reassured she was making the right choice about Carl, she decided she would say “yes”, that was if he does propose.
2 Days earlier- Carl
Although Carl had plans with Brie, he figured he should make a quickly stop on the way before hand. He drove down capital and shortly stopped at an airport owned by a good friend of his. The good friend of Carl, David had a small airplane, which was planned to fly over the Christmas parade with a banner hanging along saying, “Brie will you marry me?” All Carl could do was hope for the love of his life to say yes. In the pit of Carl’s stomach he was worried, David had called once complaining of an ache in his chest, he was unsure if he would be able to fly the plane. Luckily Carl’s luck had changed; David called with good news that night saying,
“I feel sso much better, and would be more than happy to fly the, shall we say ‘proposal’ plane over the Deer Haven parade tomorrow” Spoke David happily to be there for his best buddy.
“Wow that’s great, for a moment I was almost worried” admitted Carl.
Now Carl was happy and that worried feeling in the pit of his stomach had vanished, he no longer had any more worries.
The Day of- Carl
“Alright so at exactly 1:15 Brie will be preparing the choir concert and brie doesn’t know this but the choir is planning to sing ‘Will you marry me?’ at 1:30, you can not be late or this will be ruined” nervously spoke Carl.
“Okay sounds great and congratulations Carl” said David.
The Day of- David
Once again David’s heart had pounded, it almost felt like his heart was about to jump out of his chest! But he could not back out at this point, so David jumped into the plane and flew off to Deer Haven where an annual Christmas parade was planned. What was about to happen next, nobody could have imagined. David passes out and laid lifeless in the airplane’s main seat. Young 24 year old David a recently engaged man to a beautiful school teacher was dead.
The Day of- Brie
Brie had been very excited for this day. This was where all the families of Deer Haven got together and bonded with each other. But she had seemed the happiest, mainly because her 21 year old daughter, Adrianna, and her new granddaughter, Cecilia came to visit. This had so far been the best of all the past Deer Haven Christmas parades. Just as Brie was warming up the choir like planned everybody couldn’t pay attention for the reason of a loud noise coming from the sky. As everybody’s eye’s had caught bright red plane spiraling towards the parade, the crowd went running. Just then the large plane hit the choir concert stand and slid through the chairs set up for the children’s play.
It was hard to tell who was alive and who was dead, there had been many bodies lying throughout the street, one was Paul. This had been a lightning bolt to Brie’s heart, she just then had realized she still loved Paul. But Paul was lying with many other bodies around him, his face had been scratched and his perfectly white shirt had stains of red. As if this wasn’t bad enough a loud noise came from the airplane again, within seconds a large BAM. The plane had just exploded.
Monday, February 1, 2010
The Necklace
Who says “Money can buy you happiness”? Is it worth spending time on an object you would be overwhelmed with joy about? The short story "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant, explains the being of a meager woman dreaming to become wealthy. Too bad her life is a, poverty life.
Although the life of Matilda is appalling she was given the ability to modify her life, for the better, at first chance Matilda denied the opportunity. She chose this, because her life was treacherous, the rock bottom and she had been invited to a festivity of a friend; sky high. All she needed was a wealthier dress to hide the ugliness of her true wealth. Most people’s real lives were hiding in there closet. Mainly because what other people thought was the only thought that mattered. Never looking at the good side of any condition, caused Matilda to always believe everything happening to her was awful. The only good thing in life was the party, yet being the type of person Matilda was, she thought about not having any jewels to cover her naked neck. In order to make herself look enhanced than all the other woman at the formal gathering, Matilda pleaded the jewels of a dear friend of hers. The friend agreed to Matilda’s plea and Melinda was placed in the hands of stunning jewels. A type of accessory that make most of the eyes in the room piercing at you, a large diamond piece. And the bunch of diamonds in the center of the necklace was what caught the eyes of Matilda. After receiving such a precious gift, the night to come ahead would be perfect; now. Even though in the first place the night had already been fine to begin with. Most people in those days only cared about being on top, being the ones to catch the eyes of all the people and being the prize jewel of them all.
That night the confidence and self esteem of Matilda couldn’t be broken. She had all the ladies starring her way and all the gentleman wanting to dance the night away with her. Everything was like a dream, in this dream, it was the way she wanted life. During Matilda’s time period, nice clothes, big gems, large homes, fast cars and rich husbands was how your life was suppose to be. The woman’s main job back in the day was to get married and have a family. And Matilda was married, but her husband was nothing more than a lower class citizen. He didn’t make the kind of money most men made, that was why Matilda was so poor. Matilda had only one good thing out of her whole marriage, she loved him. She loved her husband even though he wasn’t wealthy. For Matilda to actually have a husband she loved you would think her life would be great. But Matilda never sees the good parts of her life, she is always negative. Instead of realizing Matilda had a great person by her side, she wanted the life of luxury.
When Matilda loses the gem of her dear friend she comes to the worse conclusion, buy a look alike gem. Even though she could have confronted the friend. Maybe the friend wouldn’t care or maybe she would have Matilda and her husband do some work around her house. But Matilda assumes she must buy a new necklace. Matilda and her husband are in a great debt, because they were trying to pay the necklace off. Everyday Matilda had to work hard to earn money, so she can pay off their debt. Finally after ten hard years of working to pay off the necklace, the debt is paid. And it just so happens when Matilda was at the grocery store, she would run into that dear old friend; only to find out the gems were fake. To think a person could be so stupid. All Matilda had to do, like her husband recommended, tell her friend she lost the necklace.
The life of fast cars, nice clothes, big gems, a wealthy husband and large homes, caught the eye of Matilda. She wanted the luxury life, but she was poor. Much like a Cinderella theme; Matilda is poor, wants money, is invited to a big event of a friend and borrows the necklace of another dear friend. When she has the necklace on her neck, Matilda feels powerful. Her look was complete with the necklace on her once was naked neck. While the necklace was in Matilda’s possession, she had loved the expensive item, the item bringing her closer and closer to wealth. But losing the necklace makes Matilda go start another life of poverty.
Although the life of Matilda is appalling she was given the ability to modify her life, for the better, at first chance Matilda denied the opportunity. She chose this, because her life was treacherous, the rock bottom and she had been invited to a festivity of a friend; sky high. All she needed was a wealthier dress to hide the ugliness of her true wealth. Most people’s real lives were hiding in there closet. Mainly because what other people thought was the only thought that mattered. Never looking at the good side of any condition, caused Matilda to always believe everything happening to her was awful. The only good thing in life was the party, yet being the type of person Matilda was, she thought about not having any jewels to cover her naked neck. In order to make herself look enhanced than all the other woman at the formal gathering, Matilda pleaded the jewels of a dear friend of hers. The friend agreed to Matilda’s plea and Melinda was placed in the hands of stunning jewels. A type of accessory that make most of the eyes in the room piercing at you, a large diamond piece. And the bunch of diamonds in the center of the necklace was what caught the eyes of Matilda. After receiving such a precious gift, the night to come ahead would be perfect; now. Even though in the first place the night had already been fine to begin with. Most people in those days only cared about being on top, being the ones to catch the eyes of all the people and being the prize jewel of them all.
That night the confidence and self esteem of Matilda couldn’t be broken. She had all the ladies starring her way and all the gentleman wanting to dance the night away with her. Everything was like a dream, in this dream, it was the way she wanted life. During Matilda’s time period, nice clothes, big gems, large homes, fast cars and rich husbands was how your life was suppose to be. The woman’s main job back in the day was to get married and have a family. And Matilda was married, but her husband was nothing more than a lower class citizen. He didn’t make the kind of money most men made, that was why Matilda was so poor. Matilda had only one good thing out of her whole marriage, she loved him. She loved her husband even though he wasn’t wealthy. For Matilda to actually have a husband she loved you would think her life would be great. But Matilda never sees the good parts of her life, she is always negative. Instead of realizing Matilda had a great person by her side, she wanted the life of luxury.
When Matilda loses the gem of her dear friend she comes to the worse conclusion, buy a look alike gem. Even though she could have confronted the friend. Maybe the friend wouldn’t care or maybe she would have Matilda and her husband do some work around her house. But Matilda assumes she must buy a new necklace. Matilda and her husband are in a great debt, because they were trying to pay the necklace off. Everyday Matilda had to work hard to earn money, so she can pay off their debt. Finally after ten hard years of working to pay off the necklace, the debt is paid. And it just so happens when Matilda was at the grocery store, she would run into that dear old friend; only to find out the gems were fake. To think a person could be so stupid. All Matilda had to do, like her husband recommended, tell her friend she lost the necklace.
The life of fast cars, nice clothes, big gems, a wealthy husband and large homes, caught the eye of Matilda. She wanted the luxury life, but she was poor. Much like a Cinderella theme; Matilda is poor, wants money, is invited to a big event of a friend and borrows the necklace of another dear friend. When she has the necklace on her neck, Matilda feels powerful. Her look was complete with the necklace on her once was naked neck. While the necklace was in Matilda’s possession, she had loved the expensive item, the item bringing her closer and closer to wealth. But losing the necklace makes Matilda go start another life of poverty.
A Clean Well-Lighted Place
Wise and old vs. dumb and young, darkness vs. light. Throughout the story “A clean well lighted place”, comparisons between a young dark man and a light old man are shown. The light seems to resemble good, as for the dark representing bad. But the shadow, is in between. That shadow, the old drunk man. A perfect balance between bad and good, light and dark.
A large part through the story, was a comparison to light vs. dark. Light equals happy. The brightness that is in everyone. As for dark, the color where nothing is shown. But the shadows are the old man. Tiny old people are suppose to be innocent, wise, experienced at life. But the drunk man is unique, he is lonely, deluded and confused. He turned to alcohol when he had nobody to talk to. The drinks made this old man forget his loneliness.
The shadow following the old man, is the between; not complete darkness, but not complete goodness either. What is the shadow? Goodness of the old man. The lonely man, who has no family and goes to bed at night alone? That old man has the personality the young waiter has about his life. The old waiter respects the young waiter. In the eyes of the old waiter, the young waiter has everything the old waiter dreams of having. It’s much like a window, the window of a past life that died in the grip of the old waiters hands.
Darkness is represented by the young waiter, he who has everything, but still is not happy. Unhappy life, yet has a wife, kids, a house, and a good job, equals the young waiter from the novel. This person in particular is a self absorbed man. Everything in life is good, but he does not appreciate anything. The saying, “You Don’t know what you have until it’s gone!” , plays a big part with the young waiters life. If his family were to suddenly die he would then realize, how great life is. But because the young waiter is darkness, he is unable to see the lightness in his life.
Whether it be “a clean well lighted café” vs. “a dark unpolished bar”, the shadows, the in between, is the point of this novel. Without darkness no shadow can be made and with no light it’s just darkness.
A large part through the story, was a comparison to light vs. dark. Light equals happy. The brightness that is in everyone. As for dark, the color where nothing is shown. But the shadows are the old man. Tiny old people are suppose to be innocent, wise, experienced at life. But the drunk man is unique, he is lonely, deluded and confused. He turned to alcohol when he had nobody to talk to. The drinks made this old man forget his loneliness.
The shadow following the old man, is the between; not complete darkness, but not complete goodness either. What is the shadow? Goodness of the old man. The lonely man, who has no family and goes to bed at night alone? That old man has the personality the young waiter has about his life. The old waiter respects the young waiter. In the eyes of the old waiter, the young waiter has everything the old waiter dreams of having. It’s much like a window, the window of a past life that died in the grip of the old waiters hands.
Darkness is represented by the young waiter, he who has everything, but still is not happy. Unhappy life, yet has a wife, kids, a house, and a good job, equals the young waiter from the novel. This person in particular is a self absorbed man. Everything in life is good, but he does not appreciate anything. The saying, “You Don’t know what you have until it’s gone!” , plays a big part with the young waiters life. If his family were to suddenly die he would then realize, how great life is. But because the young waiter is darkness, he is unable to see the lightness in his life.
Whether it be “a clean well lighted café” vs. “a dark unpolished bar”, the shadows, the in between, is the point of this novel. Without darkness no shadow can be made and with no light it’s just darkness.
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