Summer, Just Around the Corner! Or Around the Block?

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author's note: This is a short story about summer, how sometimes it can seem like forever for that one final bell to ring.

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"Tick tock, tick tock" The pressure is building up, time is almost up. The red arrow on the clock is moving slower than ever. Every tick feels like a minute. Feet are bouncing up and down, and hearts are pounding in and out. Watching the red arrow, just about to hit twelve. Fifteen seconds left, ten seconds left, five seconds left, four, three, two, one... the clock froze. All the ears, waiting for that final bell, drop down in sadness. Everybody is shocked. No bell, no summer. The clock is making a strange noise, "click". Staring back at the clock, another minute till summer. Wait, how can this be? It was just a second away from summer! How can there still be a minute? The red arrow starts all over again. Thirty seconds left, fifteen seconds left, ten seconds left, five seconds left, four, three, two, one, again the red arrow stops. Glancing away from the clock and looking back at it again, another minute to go! Feet are bouncing up and down, hearts are pounding in and out, five seconds left, four, three, two, one, the red arrow stops again. How can this be? Before, there was a minute and then another minute, but why won't the bell ring!? Summer, was thought to be right around the corner. Instead, it is a few blocks down. Looking at the clock again, one minute left to go. Thirty seconds left, fifteen seconds left, ten seconds left, five seconds left, four, three, two, one, at long last, the bell finally rang. Everybody jumps for excitement. Running outside, sniffing the air, summer is finally here.

What Would it be like from an Animal's Point of View?

What would it be like, from an animals point of view?

Would it be intimidating? Interesting? Abusive?

Or would it be playful? Comfortable? Different?

What they are thinking,

Sleeping? Eating? Playing?

When they are the cold,

Scared? Death? Pain?

When they are playing outside,

This is fun? This is boring?

When they are in darkness,

What's going on? Where am I?

When they are curious,

What is that? Did you see that?

Or when their alone,

Somebody here? Anybody here?

When they are loving,

Play with me? Pet me?

Or when their abused,

Why did they hurt me? What did I do to them?

We will always ponder,

always wonder what is going on in an animals mind.

Life is Full of Patterns

author's note: This is a response to the novel, The Curious Incidient of the Dog in the Night-Time.

When I read the novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, it appeared to me that Christopher has many different behaviors. Christopher is a boy who is anti-social and is scared when people touch him. This is because he is tautistic. Symbolically humans don't want to express themselves unless they know the person. If the person is foreign, that shields our personality and the ability to open up to them. Another behavior that Christopher shows is he cannot tell a lie. Christopher claims he does "not tell lies." (19) and not telling lies is an excellent habbit to develope, and will come in handy in life. One last behavior that is strangely odd is he sees four red cars in a row it is a Good Day. Three red cars in a row made it a Quite Good Day and four yellow cars in a row made it a Black Day. This behavior is seen all the time by us humans. Everyday, if we realize it or not, we develope patterns to go throughout the day. Although Christopher's behaviors seem odd, in the real world, these behaviors apply to humans everyday.

What is a True Friend?

author's note: This poem is about what a true friendship is. It makes you think what real friends you have in your life. What inspired me to write this, was when I heard friends laughing in the background, having a good time. That made me think what really is a true friend?

What is a True Friend?

One who listens to you?
or one who trusts you?

What is a True Friend?

One who laughs with you?
or one who loves you?

What is a True Friend?

One who picks you up when you fall?
or one who cares about you?

What is True Friend?

A True Friend is always there for you
A True Friend never leaves your side
A True Friend cares about you

A True Friend will be with you now, and till forever.

The True Art Master

author's note: This peom is about that nobody, no human, can create anything inside and out of this world. Nobody, except God. He is the true artist of this world. He is the only one who can create such great nature here on Earth.

~

Hear the swift flight of the eagle

See the grass flow along the Earth

Feel the warmth from the large star

Hear the coyote howl in the distance

See the moon glitter in the dark night
Feel the soil on the Earth become cold

The blue sky, painted by a Master

The mountains, carved by a Master

The waters, filled by a Master

But who is this Master?

The Master of all creation?

Or the true art Master?

You Are Worth More

author's note: This is a responce about the mestizo, to the novel by Graham Greene, The Power and the Glory.

In the novel The Power and the Glory, by Graham Greene, an unnamed priest journeyed to Carmen to escape from the lieutenant, a man who feels nothingness, and on the priest's journey, he spotted an uncanny man alongside the road. His name was Mestizo. "He had only two teeth left, canines which stick yellowly out at either end of his mouth like the teeth you find enclosed in clay which have belonged to long-extinct animals." (84) This man lived in a disgusting environment, and lived like an animal. The two teeth in the Mestizo's mouth were canines, and canine means dog. This man's personality is pure irony because he is a human that lived in his own dirt, a human that lived like an animal, a human that lived like a dog. When the lieutenant finally captured the priest, he finally encounters the eccentric man, Mestizo. As the priest glances down to the ground, he saw him with his toes settling in the mud and his foot lying right next to vomit. This is a perfect example of living like a dog.

~

The Mestizo is a character that gives us a message and the message is there is no human that has lower class than Mestizo. The priest was sitting in jail with the Mestizo and realized that Mestizo was standing-- with one foot wiggling in the dirt, and one lying next to vomit-- minding his own business, like it was no big deal. Mestizo, is pure irony because everyday he lived exactly like a dog. What Graham Greene is trying to teach us is, that human beings are more valuable than a dog, and no human being is dog.

This is where Katniss dies after all?

The Hunger Games have begun. The contestants were released out into the arena. I was running as fast as I could to protect myself. Night was approaching, and I had to find a safe place to rest until morning. I found a tree, a tree that was strong enough to hold my weight and is not noticeable. I climbed up the tree and was just about to fall asleep when suddenly, Snap! Snap! I was confused on the strange noise because it was not a tree branch breaking. Snap! Snap! I judged it coming from my right. I look down, it is a boy who started a campfire. What are they thinking! It is basically showing "Come and get me!" Stupid people are dangerous. All of the sudden two boys come up under the tree and started talking about a girl.
"Shouldn't we have heard a cannon by now?" says one Career.
"I'd say yes. Nothing to prevent them from going in immediately," says the other Career.
"Unless she isn't dead." says one Career.
"She's dead. I stuck her myself."
"Then where's the cannon?"
"Someone should go back. Make sure the job's done."
"Yeah, we don't want to have to track her down twice."
"I said she's dead!"
This other Career is the voice of Peeta!
"Now where is this Katniss girl of yours?" says one Career.
"Kantiss?" replies Peeta.
"Yeah, the girl your in love with!"
"Well.... Oh.. I don't know!"
"You don't know! Fine then I will go and find her myself!"
"But wait, what about the cannon?"
"We're waisting time! I'll go finish her and let's move on!"

The Things You do for Family

In the novel, The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen-- a poor, sixteen year old girl-- has great love for her family. The time has come, for the orginal tradition of The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is a game where girls and boys fight till the death. The reward is fame, fortune, and food. Effie Trinket-- an annoying, ditzy adult-- pulls the ticket out of the slip of paper, "Effie Trinket crosses back to the podium, smoothes the slip of paper, and reads out the name in a clear voice. And it's not me. It's Primrose Everdeen." (20) Primrose Everdeen is Katniss' little sister, and Katniss had such great love for her sister, she took her place. katniss will sacrifice anything for her family to survive. She cares about them, she desires to protect them, and she loves them. Taking Prim's place in the games, is a huge sacrifice for her family. Katniss knows that death is right around the corner and will take on the challenge for her family.

Her Final Hour- The Hunger Games

This is her final hour.
The time has come.
Walking down a dark, long tunnel,
squinting her eyes from the light.
This is her final hour.
Takes her final step through the tunnel
and out into the wide open air, the arena.
This is her final hour
It was time for action.
Out she goes and may never be seen again.
That was her final step.

Coffee

"Beep" "Beep" "Beep"
Her eyes open up
Excited for that coffee in a cup
Steam rises to her nose
And then her eyes close
Her first sip
Warms her lip
She swallows a small bit
For this coffee is such a hit
Her lips form a smile
As she sets it down on a piece of tile
She walks away
Going on with her day

A Not so Happy Easter~Fiction

It is Easter morning. As I am riding my bike around the neighborhood, I spot a little boy in the distance. He's walking slowly with his head down. His clothes, ripped and dirty. The little boy seems heartbroken and betrayed. He stops in shock, and turns his head slowly to a house. He stares into the window with his longing eyes at a family enjoying themselves, hunting for Easter eggs, and eating candy. The boy's eyes start to tear up as he dreams of his family on Easter morning. The boy looks down, knowing that dream will never come true. He continues to walk down the sidewalk and suddenly collapses to the ground crying. The little boy wanted to cry out to his mom, but nobody will hear him. He finally rises to his feet, and continues walking down the sidewalk with his heart broken.

As he is walking down the sidewalk, his mind goes into a flashback. He remembers, on one Easter morning, his family was separted; seperated like oil and water. He remembers, on one Easter morning, his family left him; left him like a toy on an airplane. He remembers, on one Easter morning, that he will never find his family again; he won't find them like finding a gnat in acres of grass. His mind returns to reality. He's breathing heavily, in and out. He looks to the sky and wishes to see his family again, with all his heart, he wishes. His eyes gazed back down to the sidewalk, and he continued walking, and walking, and walking, till I couldn't see him in the distance anymore.

The Bridge to Faith~Fiction

As I woke, I found myself in a dim, humid atmosphere. It's an atmosphere where the grass is covered in dew, an atmosphere where I see and hear animals surrounding me, and an atmosphere, where it seems like I fell into a gloomy room. I look around. The large, tall, trees never seem to move, but yet, are watching me. I realized that this place is a place of fear, a place of hopelessness, and a place of misery. I couldn't stay here no longer, I needed to get out. I turn a corner, and another corner, and another corner. Every step seemed to become one closer to pure darkness. It felt like I was running into a never ending pit. There is no way out. My heart was pounding like the speed a hummingbird flaps its wings, but wait. There is hope, there is joy, there is light! I ran as fast as I could to graps the light. I'm getting closer, and closer, and closer, I'm there!

I pierce through the plant leaves and stop in confusion. I look to the left, and I look to the right, cords, I look down, wood, and I look up, trees. As I push the cold, wet leaves out of my path, I find that the land ends, but the wood just keeps going on to the other side. I glance to the other side, where I see white cloth glowing. And a man waving-- like a police man does to direct car traffic-- telling me to cross the unstable wood. I couldn't understand. Who is this man? Why does He want me to cross a bridge that will lead me to my death? A voice came upon my hear. A voice spoke to me in a whisper telling me to cross, telling me to have faith in Him, a voice telling me to believe in Him. That voice convinced me. 1st step, so far so good. 2nd step, I think I can do this. 3rd step, looking down and losing faith. 4th step, a piece of wood, breaks making me stumble. I catch my balance. 5th step, walking boldy.

Finally, when I have one step left to take, I look up with a bright smile and His hand was reaching out. I took it. His hand felt like gold, His hand felt Holy, and that hand is Jesus' hand.
I finally made it across. I stood there in hapiness and relief. All of the sudden, a roar from behind the trees, frightened me and caused me to lose faith. The loose rock beneath my feet crumbles sending me down into the endless pit below me.

I woke up with my heart pouding out of my chest, and my forehead covered with little water drops. I look around and find myself in my bed. I look towards the window and the light is shining through, lighting up the room. The birds are chirping and every once in a while, I would hear cars driving by. I sigh in relief, and layed my head back onto my pillow, close my eyes and fall back to sleep.

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

On a windy, warm, spring afternoon
Laying down on the cold, soft grass
With blades of green tickling my skin.
As I look up to the sky,
I see the bright blue ceiling,
With little white splaters of paint
Floating through, covering the blue.
I stare into the sky, in wonder
Who was the creator of this piece of art?
Just looking at the sky, is breathtaking.
It's almost like, the creator was holding a paint brush
And that paint brush formed the perfect cloud
And that paint brush created every little dot in the sky
And that paint brush painted a masterpiece
That masterpiece now rests in his hands
And is now the most beautiful thing in world.

Pi's Taboos

A taboo is a conversation that makes people uncomfortable. In the novel, The Life of Pi, Pi-- a boy who was named after a swimming pool-- discovers a major taboo: religion. Pi traveled to Munnar with his father because his dad desired him to have a religion. Hindu is the religion his father was, and now wants Pi to become Hindu. "'Father, I would like to be a Christian, please'... He smiled. 'You already are, Piscine-- in you heart. Whoever meets Christ in good faith is a Christian. Here in Munnar you met Christ.'" (57) At that moment, Pi was feeling uncomfortable and this decision of Pi, was unacceptable to his father. A final decision was made," ... if you go to the temple on Thursday, mosque on Friday, synagogue on Saturday and church on Sunday, you only need to convert to three ore religions to be on a holiday for the rest of your life." (70) Pi now has to deal with all three religions, and struggles sticking with it.

Another taboo that Pi faces is fear, and Piscne's father needed him to experience fear. "I'm going to show you how dangerous tigers are." (34)At that moment, a goat enters into the tiger cage. Pi watches in concern for the goat as the tiger rips it apart. "I could feel Mother's hand pressed aginast my pounding heart." (35) This symbolizes the fear that Pi was experiencing and Pi couldn't watch any second more of this torture. The fear that he faced was a major taboo. That situation was very uncomfortable for him, and will experience it through out his life time.

"Real World" Issue- Iraq War

Scenario:
President Barack Obama,

Eight years ago, September 11, 2001, two planes crashed into World Trade Center, killing 2,976 innocent citizens. Immediately after the attack in America, Iraq invaded Israel because of their religion. President George W. Bush’s decision was to strike Iraq and help protect Israel. As vice president of the United States, it has come to my attention that you’ve decided to return our troops to America and create world peace, by talking to the president’s of Iraq and the countries around them. This decision could put innocent lives at risk and create a war in our own country. This letter will change your mind into returning our troops.

Solution:
Seven years ago, March 2003, Osama bin Laden – the mastermind behind 9/11 – built nuclear weapons to destroy Israel. America couldn’t go through with him attacking Israel, therefore President George Bush made a brilliant decision to go and invade. It showed Iraq that America is a powerful country and is not cowarldy to fight back. Your solution is to return the troops to America. This future decision I disapprove of. Taking the troops back could cause innocent lives to be lost and a war in our own country. Our troops are like a mother duck. Wherever the mother duck walks, the newborns will follow. Iraq is like the newborns. If the troops come back, the Iraqis will follow and the next war will occur in America and kill most of the innocent lives, the Americans. You can solve this issue with one simple task, keep the American troops in Iraq.

If we leave Iraq, then Israel won’t have anybody to protect them. Iraq will take over and destroy Israel, and might come and attack America. Masterminds from Asia will come together and will seek revenge. They will bomb America. If the troops stay in Iraq, then Osama bin Laden will not have the time to attack America because of the troops fighting for freedom, fighting for life, and fighting for protection.

Relation:
This world is already losing millions of lives, and we wouldn’t want to increase the number. This world will become irony and everything will turn upside down just like in the novel Fahrenheit 451. Guy Montag – a guy who lived in a ironic world, and was driven out of the city because the whole world was against him– was shocked when he saw a nuclear bomb wipe out the whole city. Nothing left, just him and dust. Nobody to run to, nobody to help him. Our world will become a world of war. Returning the troops to America will create a World War III and we absolutely do not want have a world like Montag’s. That one little decision, can turn the world upside down and put everyone in danger.

The End is Everywhere

Whoosh! Whoosh!
Standing there, nowhere to go
The sun just peeking over the the small, smooth, sand hill
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sand flowing through the air
Hitting my face and sliding through my mouth
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Glancing to the horizon, all around me,
Look north, no end
Look east, no end
Look south, no end
Look west, no end
The end is right where I am standing

Faber

In the novel, "Fahrenheit 451", Guy Montag meets one girl who gives him hope, Clarisse McClellan.She was a girl who was there for him, but unfortunately was killed by a car and Montag's hope has disappeared. Faber--an old man who once was a professor filled with knowledge--gives Guy hope again. "I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it'll make sense. And I want you to teach me to understand what I read." (pg. 82) Faber is like Clarisse. He is always there for him, always listens, and always helps. Although he is a lot older than Clarisse, he still has the same personality in this ironic world, love.