Friday, October 26, 2007
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Thursday, October 25, 2007
Excerpts from “Zeyr” Part 4 - Emily
He straightened. “How close?”
“One hundred yards at most.”
Alex thought a moment, biting his lip. Then he smiled evilly, saying, “Hmm.... I think our arrows could reach that far.”
Everyone stood and the archers nocked their arrows to a ready position. Getting back on their dragons, the group flew low, trying to get a better starting point so the possible avalanche wouldn’t hit them so hard.
“Captain! Captain!” a Zikkanian shouted up ahead. Sissca’s heart began to thunder loudly and she hoped it wasn’t what was giving them away. “There! Over there!”
“Uh-oh,” Alex alleged.
Then the fighting began. Some Darthayslians and Kakálians fought their adversary in the air with arrows and magic, but most used swords on the ground. Both sides had stored some of their energy within their weapons, so everything was doubly deadly. This made Sissca’s job extremely difficult as this was something she really hadn’t counted on.
“Consentiay! Consentiay!” she shouted frantically, once accidentally misfiring and healing one particularly badly injured Zikkanian with a hernia. “Darn!”
“Don’t freak, Sissca!” Alex shouted, his sword magically fighting for him. “Darn, that was their caster, too….”
Most of the soldiers fighting for Kaká and Darthayslia used magic, especially the druids, though some knew that their skill lied in sword-fighting, and did so. Others, such as Alex, used magic to help with their weaponry, which several found to come in handy at good use. It was not quite so bloody as Sissca had expected, most using magic while they could. But after several minutes of keeping up with the other, the Zikkanians used what their group knew they would: Rocks. Large rocks.
“Oh, snap!” Alex shouted as one flew very close to his head. “Fight giant flying rocks with giant flying rocks, my homeys!”
Sissca wondered where that word came from at that point in time, but followed his instructions. “Sarmia[1]!” A boulder coming at her head was repelled by her, the enemy, her, the enemy….
Catch this! Fatani yelled telepathically and thrust a once-potentially dangerous-now-under discrimination of the law-boulder[2] at one of their opponents.
[1] Sarmia (sar-MEE-uh) : Kakálian - A Kakálian reflecting spell used to repel large objects back to whoever sent them by automatically firing the same spell backwards (Literal - “reverse”).
[2] A.k.a., “deadly”.It had been almost half an hour, and Sissca was about ready to give up. She was panting, tired, her brain had worked to its fullest, and she was still very nervous. Alex and Fatani along with Zixxi[1] seemed to be enjoying themselves
[1] Zixxi, a female Kakálian humanoid, is a cross between a black mare and a human. She is known best for her archery and magic, especially the combined two. She joined the group of rebels on Mount Thrista. Though the druid is rather nutty about nature, she is the proud owner of the Magacondra Mesinda, and is well appreciated for her help.however. Even Darkaî had flown in for some of the action, and suddenly, and somehow unsurprisingly, they found themselves winning.
“Keep it up!” Alex continued. “Pretend the boulder’s your sibling’s head!”
The group sped up the action at this thought and were abruptly confident that they would make it, defeating the Zikkanians.
A blow dealt to one the opposing captain’s heads was enough for Zikka.
“Yes! Yahoo!” Alex bellowed as one of their foes captains told to retreat.
“Back out, back out!” was heard in the distance, even over the loud cheering.
“Finish them!” Darkaî shouted, pointing to the group running away.
“Rawhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide!” Alex replied.
“Oh, for heavens sake….” Darkaî sighed, and the army followed their enemies out, whooping, until they disappeared on their dragons.
* * * * *
“I hate Zikkanians, I hate Zikkanians, I hate Zikkanians….”
“Aw, cheer up, Sissca! We won!”
“Yeah, but it was still rather bloody….”
“And nothing in comparison to what you will be witnessing in the days to come. Trust me.”
Yeah right, Sissca thought. Trust Darkaî after that? Instead of repeating this aloud, she said a bit fast, “What will I be seeing, then?”
“Nothing pretty. I have been in several wars, none short of terrible,” Darkaî replied stoutly.
“Bet you Zarrok that Darkaî was looking in a mirror during all the fighting,” Alex whispered to Sissca jokingly.
“What comes now?” Sissca asked, pretending she hadn’t heard that oddly suspicious statement.
“Now? Dunno, pizza?”
Darkaî sighed. “No, not quite, schlemiel. They will send back reinforcements in a few moments, I expect.”
“Get ready. They’re bound to send in reinforcements,” Alex replied, pretending he had known this all along.
Sitting under the face of the cliff again, the group waited patiently for someone from the opposing to come at them once more.
“How do we even know they’ll come?” Vercka asked realistically.
6 Excerpts from “Zeyr”
“They will,” Darkaî replied solemnly to her skeptics. “Viscroy will yell at them and then tell them to return here for a second round and, more than likely, a failure.”
“True, true….” Alex nodded as if he knew what he was talking about.“You think they’ll send in the psychics[1]?” Zixxi inquired of Darkaî, a note of fear in her voice.
“Indubitably.”
Sissca, Alex, and Zixxi swallowed hard at this grim thought.
* * * * *
“The red bloods are coming, the red bloods are coming!”
Everyone suddenly woke fully to see what the ruckus was about.
“Get ready, they’re fully loaded,” Alex whispered.
The assembly of humanoids gathered themselves to full attention. They were more aware now that Darkaî had left them about their own wits, and archers nocked arrows far before necessary out of nervousness.
Sissca ran through all the spells she had ever been taught, preparing for the worst from her rivals. Zikka normally had very strong lines, but maybe this was a bad day for them…. Nonetheless, and with that seed of hope, Sissca was going to make the most of this battle.
“On my signal,” Alex whispered. “One, two, three….Go!”
Once the battle had begun, Sissca came out to help a little after everyone else, wondering for her position. Alex was using his sword again, but this time, Sissca got on the back of Fatani. “I’m going to look from above instead,” she explained, really not wanting to see much of the blood after the Zikkanians began their physical dirty work.
Do you think we’ll make it? Fatani asked incredulously of their success so far.
Sissca didn’t answer, being too busy healing someone far below. “Consentiay, consentiay….”
Flying higher, the air became relatively thin, but Sissca had a clear view of the cliff side below. She winced at every hit to one of the Darthayslians and Kakálians, feeling sick at the stomach as the differently colored blood splattered form their gashes and sword-made wounds. In a desperate situation that Sissca was unfortunately subjected to watch, a Kakálian used an extremely tiring spell that split open the front of her enemy. Sissca quickly turned away, already having watched the effects of this spell twice, both very gory.... She stopped watching below for a moment, but realized it impossible to cast without knowing who you’re casting on, so she reluctantly turned her gaze back to the ground,
[1] The psychics are humanoids highly practiced in telekinesis, the movement of objects through the mind, and telepathy, speaking with the national language of the mind. They are normally made a threat because good psychics can communicate plans to each other and carry them out completely secretly and thus in a deadly fashion.continuing her work from this height until another flying Zikkanian came towards her on a large blue dragon. Not quite as fast as Fatani, Sissca and her dragon managed to pull away from the oncoming soldier and cast from behind. Panicking a bit the last second, she missed a simple pressure spell. Fatani turned to the ground and flew downward instead as if in practice. Comprehending this mistake, she turned up once more with an unsatisfied expression. Sissca continued to try to hit the opposing’s dragon, but missed reiteratively.
Alex pulled up on his borrowed dragon and helped Sissca to take this one down by slashing him from the back. “You okay?” he asked shortly as this one fell.
“Yeah,” Sissca answered, out of breath.
Alex flew back downwards to help with the real action and Sissca was left to heal alone again. She sighed and tried to think of a spell to conjure up lost blood for a nasty situation beneath her.
Zixxi must’ve reckoned something had gone very wrong as she’d blown the Lunar Conch[1] to call her Magacondra[2], Mesinda. That, or she just wanted to show the Zikkanians her stuff before they fled again. Mesinda was very visible below on the green mountainside, being bleach white, sectioned by her bones, and enormous at that. Even from this height, Sissca recognized the spinning magnet inside of her otherwise empty head, the polar magnets keeping her moving. And though she normally, and under command correctly, thrashed about to destroy her competitors, she could be seen drinking in the souls hungrily of those found dead underneath her. Sissca thought Zixxi had kept a secret for a while after the incident last time, but now she hoped that the Magacondra would be a help more than a hurt.
Sissca laughed a little bit somehow at this sight.
“You can eat the souls of the dead later, Mesinda! Kill them now!” Zixxi said commandingly, and Mesinda reluctantly followed these strict orders from her struggling master.
Darkaî had returned to continue helping this otherwise faltering group. He went through the Zikkanians very easily as if simply cutting grass. Sissca calmed down a bit after seeing this. With Darkaî around, what could go wrong?
Viscroy[3].
8 Excerpts from “Zeyr”
All color drained from Sissca’s face when the red Darkalinite appeared for the Zikkanians aid. Several below must’ve also noticed as most of the fighting had stopped. Viscroy, of course, went straight for Darkaî. There must have been a few
[1] Lunar Conch (LOO-nur COHN-kk) : Kakálian - A Kakálian instrument that is extremely rare and made out of a Magacondra’s horn, called the Lunar Conch because people once thought that Magacondras could only be found on the moons of Volataelia. They can call the lethal animal the Magacondra to aid them or use the conch to imitate their deadly cry (Literal - “moon caller’s instrument”).
[2] Magacondras are dead Darkalinites whose souls are condemned to the Earth. They are made of completely of bones of other dead animals, all looking different but with the same horns, and drain the souls of their enemies to help sustain their own. Their cries can kill anyone who hears for too long.
[3] The red Darkalinite Viscroy is Darkaî’s worst enemy. He took Darkaî’s position in the Empire before Darkaî was shunned as an outcast, and Darkaî intends to make the rest of his long life (continues below) miserable while ruling the Empire in his spare time. Viscroy is terribly powerful in especially melee, and being eighteen feet tall, he is menacing and strict. His only match in combat is Darkaî.brave and warlord-like phrases being said before any real fighting began, but Sissca was too high up to catch any of it. Instead, she and Fatani watched in wonderment as Darkaî started slashing at Viscroy, and everything was resumed. Trying to keep up with who was winning, Sissca knew that whoever managed to get out of this one would be rather lucky.
Uh-oh, Fatani thought quietly. Should we call off? What if Viscroy can beat Darkaî?
This hit her as possible, and Sissca replied in a whisper even though there was no one else around to hear them, “Maybe…”
Fatani obediently flew down to Alex, who was currently trying to mend a broken sword with magic.
“Travita! Travita, I say!” he shouted angrily, accidentally coming closer to a curse than an actual fixing spell.
“It’s traivitia[1],” Sissca answered in a cynical tone and opening her hand gently in the flower motion as the sword came back together.
“I knew that,” Alex replied.
“Should we call it off?” Sissca pointed in Darkaî and Viscroy’s direction and looked worriedly back at Alex.
Alex clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth in thought. “I don’t know. Let’s see how they do.”
Sissca nodded, glad Alex considered this rather random and unexpected viewpoint.
Going back into the air, Sissca and Fatani managed to get a pretty good overview of what was going on below. The Zikkanians seemed to be getting more and more powerful and confident because of their leader showing up. The Darthayslian-Kakálian combo was trying their best to counteract their advancements, but it wasn’t working well. Zikkanians thrusting their weaponry with sudden power and accuracy was pulling the others back. They were falling behind….
[1] Travitia (trah-vit-TEE-uh) : Kakálian - A Kakálian spell meaning to mend, normally used when speaking of objects that have recently broken by anything but curses (Literal - “un-break”).
“One hundred yards at most.”
Alex thought a moment, biting his lip. Then he smiled evilly, saying, “Hmm.... I think our arrows could reach that far.”
Everyone stood and the archers nocked their arrows to a ready position. Getting back on their dragons, the group flew low, trying to get a better starting point so the possible avalanche wouldn’t hit them so hard.
“Captain! Captain!” a Zikkanian shouted up ahead. Sissca’s heart began to thunder loudly and she hoped it wasn’t what was giving them away. “There! Over there!”
“Uh-oh,” Alex alleged.
Then the fighting began. Some Darthayslians and Kakálians fought their adversary in the air with arrows and magic, but most used swords on the ground. Both sides had stored some of their energy within their weapons, so everything was doubly deadly. This made Sissca’s job extremely difficult as this was something she really hadn’t counted on.
“Consentiay! Consentiay!” she shouted frantically, once accidentally misfiring and healing one particularly badly injured Zikkanian with a hernia. “Darn!”
“Don’t freak, Sissca!” Alex shouted, his sword magically fighting for him. “Darn, that was their caster, too….”
Most of the soldiers fighting for Kaká and Darthayslia used magic, especially the druids, though some knew that their skill lied in sword-fighting, and did so. Others, such as Alex, used magic to help with their weaponry, which several found to come in handy at good use. It was not quite so bloody as Sissca had expected, most using magic while they could. But after several minutes of keeping up with the other, the Zikkanians used what their group knew they would: Rocks. Large rocks.
“Oh, snap!” Alex shouted as one flew very close to his head. “Fight giant flying rocks with giant flying rocks, my homeys!”
Sissca wondered where that word came from at that point in time, but followed his instructions. “Sarmia[1]!” A boulder coming at her head was repelled by her, the enemy, her, the enemy….
Catch this! Fatani yelled telepathically and thrust a once-potentially dangerous-now-under discrimination of the law-boulder[2] at one of their opponents.
[1] Sarmia (sar-MEE-uh) : Kakálian - A Kakálian reflecting spell used to repel large objects back to whoever sent them by automatically firing the same spell backwards (Literal - “reverse”).
[2] A.k.a., “deadly”.It had been almost half an hour, and Sissca was about ready to give up. She was panting, tired, her brain had worked to its fullest, and she was still very nervous. Alex and Fatani along with Zixxi[1] seemed to be enjoying themselves
[1] Zixxi, a female Kakálian humanoid, is a cross between a black mare and a human. She is known best for her archery and magic, especially the combined two. She joined the group of rebels on Mount Thrista. Though the druid is rather nutty about nature, she is the proud owner of the Magacondra Mesinda, and is well appreciated for her help.however. Even Darkaî had flown in for some of the action, and suddenly, and somehow unsurprisingly, they found themselves winning.
“Keep it up!” Alex continued. “Pretend the boulder’s your sibling’s head!”
The group sped up the action at this thought and were abruptly confident that they would make it, defeating the Zikkanians.
A blow dealt to one the opposing captain’s heads was enough for Zikka.
“Yes! Yahoo!” Alex bellowed as one of their foes captains told to retreat.
“Back out, back out!” was heard in the distance, even over the loud cheering.
“Finish them!” Darkaî shouted, pointing to the group running away.
“Rawhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide!” Alex replied.
“Oh, for heavens sake….” Darkaî sighed, and the army followed their enemies out, whooping, until they disappeared on their dragons.
* * * * *
“I hate Zikkanians, I hate Zikkanians, I hate Zikkanians….”
“Aw, cheer up, Sissca! We won!”
“Yeah, but it was still rather bloody….”
“And nothing in comparison to what you will be witnessing in the days to come. Trust me.”
Yeah right, Sissca thought. Trust Darkaî after that? Instead of repeating this aloud, she said a bit fast, “What will I be seeing, then?”
“Nothing pretty. I have been in several wars, none short of terrible,” Darkaî replied stoutly.
“Bet you Zarrok that Darkaî was looking in a mirror during all the fighting,” Alex whispered to Sissca jokingly.
“What comes now?” Sissca asked, pretending she hadn’t heard that oddly suspicious statement.
“Now? Dunno, pizza?”
Darkaî sighed. “No, not quite, schlemiel. They will send back reinforcements in a few moments, I expect.”
“Get ready. They’re bound to send in reinforcements,” Alex replied, pretending he had known this all along.
Sitting under the face of the cliff again, the group waited patiently for someone from the opposing to come at them once more.
“How do we even know they’ll come?” Vercka asked realistically.
6 Excerpts from “Zeyr”
“They will,” Darkaî replied solemnly to her skeptics. “Viscroy will yell at them and then tell them to return here for a second round and, more than likely, a failure.”
“True, true….” Alex nodded as if he knew what he was talking about.“You think they’ll send in the psychics[1]?” Zixxi inquired of Darkaî, a note of fear in her voice.
“Indubitably.”
Sissca, Alex, and Zixxi swallowed hard at this grim thought.
* * * * *
“The red bloods are coming, the red bloods are coming!”
Everyone suddenly woke fully to see what the ruckus was about.
“Get ready, they’re fully loaded,” Alex whispered.
The assembly of humanoids gathered themselves to full attention. They were more aware now that Darkaî had left them about their own wits, and archers nocked arrows far before necessary out of nervousness.
Sissca ran through all the spells she had ever been taught, preparing for the worst from her rivals. Zikka normally had very strong lines, but maybe this was a bad day for them…. Nonetheless, and with that seed of hope, Sissca was going to make the most of this battle.
“On my signal,” Alex whispered. “One, two, three….Go!”
Once the battle had begun, Sissca came out to help a little after everyone else, wondering for her position. Alex was using his sword again, but this time, Sissca got on the back of Fatani. “I’m going to look from above instead,” she explained, really not wanting to see much of the blood after the Zikkanians began their physical dirty work.
Do you think we’ll make it? Fatani asked incredulously of their success so far.
Sissca didn’t answer, being too busy healing someone far below. “Consentiay, consentiay….”
Flying higher, the air became relatively thin, but Sissca had a clear view of the cliff side below. She winced at every hit to one of the Darthayslians and Kakálians, feeling sick at the stomach as the differently colored blood splattered form their gashes and sword-made wounds. In a desperate situation that Sissca was unfortunately subjected to watch, a Kakálian used an extremely tiring spell that split open the front of her enemy. Sissca quickly turned away, already having watched the effects of this spell twice, both very gory.... She stopped watching below for a moment, but realized it impossible to cast without knowing who you’re casting on, so she reluctantly turned her gaze back to the ground,
[1] The psychics are humanoids highly practiced in telekinesis, the movement of objects through the mind, and telepathy, speaking with the national language of the mind. They are normally made a threat because good psychics can communicate plans to each other and carry them out completely secretly and thus in a deadly fashion.continuing her work from this height until another flying Zikkanian came towards her on a large blue dragon. Not quite as fast as Fatani, Sissca and her dragon managed to pull away from the oncoming soldier and cast from behind. Panicking a bit the last second, she missed a simple pressure spell. Fatani turned to the ground and flew downward instead as if in practice. Comprehending this mistake, she turned up once more with an unsatisfied expression. Sissca continued to try to hit the opposing’s dragon, but missed reiteratively.
Alex pulled up on his borrowed dragon and helped Sissca to take this one down by slashing him from the back. “You okay?” he asked shortly as this one fell.
“Yeah,” Sissca answered, out of breath.
Alex flew back downwards to help with the real action and Sissca was left to heal alone again. She sighed and tried to think of a spell to conjure up lost blood for a nasty situation beneath her.
Zixxi must’ve reckoned something had gone very wrong as she’d blown the Lunar Conch[1] to call her Magacondra[2], Mesinda. That, or she just wanted to show the Zikkanians her stuff before they fled again. Mesinda was very visible below on the green mountainside, being bleach white, sectioned by her bones, and enormous at that. Even from this height, Sissca recognized the spinning magnet inside of her otherwise empty head, the polar magnets keeping her moving. And though she normally, and under command correctly, thrashed about to destroy her competitors, she could be seen drinking in the souls hungrily of those found dead underneath her. Sissca thought Zixxi had kept a secret for a while after the incident last time, but now she hoped that the Magacondra would be a help more than a hurt.
Sissca laughed a little bit somehow at this sight.
“You can eat the souls of the dead later, Mesinda! Kill them now!” Zixxi said commandingly, and Mesinda reluctantly followed these strict orders from her struggling master.
Darkaî had returned to continue helping this otherwise faltering group. He went through the Zikkanians very easily as if simply cutting grass. Sissca calmed down a bit after seeing this. With Darkaî around, what could go wrong?
Viscroy[3].
8 Excerpts from “Zeyr”
All color drained from Sissca’s face when the red Darkalinite appeared for the Zikkanians aid. Several below must’ve also noticed as most of the fighting had stopped. Viscroy, of course, went straight for Darkaî. There must have been a few
[1] Lunar Conch (LOO-nur COHN-kk) : Kakálian - A Kakálian instrument that is extremely rare and made out of a Magacondra’s horn, called the Lunar Conch because people once thought that Magacondras could only be found on the moons of Volataelia. They can call the lethal animal the Magacondra to aid them or use the conch to imitate their deadly cry (Literal - “moon caller’s instrument”).
[2] Magacondras are dead Darkalinites whose souls are condemned to the Earth. They are made of completely of bones of other dead animals, all looking different but with the same horns, and drain the souls of their enemies to help sustain their own. Their cries can kill anyone who hears for too long.
[3] The red Darkalinite Viscroy is Darkaî’s worst enemy. He took Darkaî’s position in the Empire before Darkaî was shunned as an outcast, and Darkaî intends to make the rest of his long life (continues below) miserable while ruling the Empire in his spare time. Viscroy is terribly powerful in especially melee, and being eighteen feet tall, he is menacing and strict. His only match in combat is Darkaî.brave and warlord-like phrases being said before any real fighting began, but Sissca was too high up to catch any of it. Instead, she and Fatani watched in wonderment as Darkaî started slashing at Viscroy, and everything was resumed. Trying to keep up with who was winning, Sissca knew that whoever managed to get out of this one would be rather lucky.
Uh-oh, Fatani thought quietly. Should we call off? What if Viscroy can beat Darkaî?
This hit her as possible, and Sissca replied in a whisper even though there was no one else around to hear them, “Maybe…”
Fatani obediently flew down to Alex, who was currently trying to mend a broken sword with magic.
“Travita! Travita, I say!” he shouted angrily, accidentally coming closer to a curse than an actual fixing spell.
“It’s traivitia[1],” Sissca answered in a cynical tone and opening her hand gently in the flower motion as the sword came back together.
“I knew that,” Alex replied.
“Should we call it off?” Sissca pointed in Darkaî and Viscroy’s direction and looked worriedly back at Alex.
Alex clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth in thought. “I don’t know. Let’s see how they do.”
Sissca nodded, glad Alex considered this rather random and unexpected viewpoint.
Going back into the air, Sissca and Fatani managed to get a pretty good overview of what was going on below. The Zikkanians seemed to be getting more and more powerful and confident because of their leader showing up. The Darthayslian-Kakálian combo was trying their best to counteract their advancements, but it wasn’t working well. Zikkanians thrusting their weaponry with sudden power and accuracy was pulling the others back. They were falling behind….
[1] Travitia (trah-vit-TEE-uh) : Kakálian - A Kakálian spell meaning to mend, normally used when speaking of objects that have recently broken by anything but curses (Literal - “un-break”).
Excerpts from “Zeyr” part 3 - Emily
Soon afterward, NaTasha came back. “They have seen me, full view.” She smiled, the plan already in process.
Darkaî returned the look in a much more malevolent way. “Excellent.”
“Come on, my freaky people!” Alex shouted to his humanoid comrades. “Call your dragons!”
Sissca whistled for Fatani as did many included in her group. She soared in a few moments later, making sure to keep herself hidden.
Are we leaving? she asked excitedly with her mind.[6]
“Yes,” Sissca replied sadly. Hopping on Fatani’s back, she placed herself in a ready position, feet up under her wing joints. Pulling back and pushing her heels into Fatani’s scaled sides, they began to fly. Sissca made sure to keep Fatani flying low so that no one could see them.
The others were on their dragons by now as well, and Alex, on a borrowed Zlaeká Krania[7], he began to issue commands softly. “We’re going to fly low against the mountainside until we reach our designated post. Then we wait. Again, ready yourselves for avalanches, they’ll be coming at us fast and probably with no warning. Everyone ready?”
His mini-speech wasn’t exactly enticing, but they nodded slowly.
“Good. We roll!”
Alex took off first and the others followed behind him in rows of two.
Flying along the ravine was simple enough for Sissca, being rather experienced at the whole act. But as the slope of the mountain came together, the ride became rough. Dodging trees in a tightly compact forest was no picnic, and Sissca managed to earn herself several scratches before the fighting even began.
Reaching a cliff, the assembly landed themselves slowly and settled under the face of a cliff, unseen by anyone above and with a clear view below. Archers readied their arrows in case they needed them suddenly, but left them un-nocked. Healing her and the others minor injuries, Sissca wanted to make sure no one was left even the slightest bit vulnerable when the Zikkanians attacked.
“Get ready,” Alex said under bated breath.
“No one above,” Darkaî’s sister, IcelaVercka, whispered, coming down from the top of the cliff to check for the enemy.
“Good,” came the reply.
And for a while, silence, only exception being Sissca’s magic, which also stopped after a bit. Hardly anyone dared to breath and Sissca kept running over
[8] The type of dragon Fatani is, a Zlaeká Krania, or “black crowned,” can communicate by using telepathy as they cannot speak directly with humanoids very well. The language of telepathy is its own language, and most everyone can speak it if they know how.
[9] Zlaeká Krania (zlay-EE-kuh kray-NEE-uh) : Darthayslian - A Darthayslian word meaning “Black Crowned”, normally spoken when speaking about a dragon (Literal - “black crowned”).spells that might stop avalanches, though most were too weak and the good ones would sap all of her energy.
Vercka came down again a while later, looking a bit frantic. “They’re at the bend! They’re at the bend!” she whispered frantically to Alex.
Darkaî returned the look in a much more malevolent way. “Excellent.”
“Come on, my freaky people!” Alex shouted to his humanoid comrades. “Call your dragons!”
Sissca whistled for Fatani as did many included in her group. She soared in a few moments later, making sure to keep herself hidden.
Are we leaving? she asked excitedly with her mind.[6]
“Yes,” Sissca replied sadly. Hopping on Fatani’s back, she placed herself in a ready position, feet up under her wing joints. Pulling back and pushing her heels into Fatani’s scaled sides, they began to fly. Sissca made sure to keep Fatani flying low so that no one could see them.
The others were on their dragons by now as well, and Alex, on a borrowed Zlaeká Krania[7], he began to issue commands softly. “We’re going to fly low against the mountainside until we reach our designated post. Then we wait. Again, ready yourselves for avalanches, they’ll be coming at us fast and probably with no warning. Everyone ready?”
His mini-speech wasn’t exactly enticing, but they nodded slowly.
“Good. We roll!”
Alex took off first and the others followed behind him in rows of two.
Flying along the ravine was simple enough for Sissca, being rather experienced at the whole act. But as the slope of the mountain came together, the ride became rough. Dodging trees in a tightly compact forest was no picnic, and Sissca managed to earn herself several scratches before the fighting even began.
Reaching a cliff, the assembly landed themselves slowly and settled under the face of a cliff, unseen by anyone above and with a clear view below. Archers readied their arrows in case they needed them suddenly, but left them un-nocked. Healing her and the others minor injuries, Sissca wanted to make sure no one was left even the slightest bit vulnerable when the Zikkanians attacked.
“Get ready,” Alex said under bated breath.
“No one above,” Darkaî’s sister, IcelaVercka, whispered, coming down from the top of the cliff to check for the enemy.
“Good,” came the reply.
And for a while, silence, only exception being Sissca’s magic, which also stopped after a bit. Hardly anyone dared to breath and Sissca kept running over
[8] The type of dragon Fatani is, a Zlaeká Krania, or “black crowned,” can communicate by using telepathy as they cannot speak directly with humanoids very well. The language of telepathy is its own language, and most everyone can speak it if they know how.
[9] Zlaeká Krania (zlay-EE-kuh kray-NEE-uh) : Darthayslian - A Darthayslian word meaning “Black Crowned”, normally spoken when speaking about a dragon (Literal - “black crowned”).spells that might stop avalanches, though most were too weak and the good ones would sap all of her energy.
Vercka came down again a while later, looking a bit frantic. “They’re at the bend! They’re at the bend!” she whispered frantically to Alex.
Excerpts from “Zeyr” Part 2 - Emily
[Part 2 of a 9 part series]
The Southern Mountains had always fascinated Sissca [2], but today, they seemed rather ominous and threatening because Zikkanians lurked there. “Ready, Sissca?” Alex [3] asked her that morning. Sissca nodded dumbly, unsure of why she was lying. Darkaî’s deep, thunderous voice echoed around them, breaking the silence in their ravine. “All stand! Two arms!” “Atteeeeeennntion!” everyone chorused. Alex, being the farceur, went full circle and kicked his heel, saluting Darkaî. Darkaî nodded and whispered something to second in command, NaTasha. She returned with a salute and flew off northwards.
Waiting for the signal, Sissca followed Alex to their small group. They were planning to split up and seek out small groups this way. Sissca, being the healer of the group, continually went over healing spells in her mind. “Consentiay,"[4] was a common one. She mispronounced it several times before realizing she was doing it wrong. “Aargh…” she whispered under her breath. She shivered even though the humid mountain air was quite warm. “Master,” Darkaî stated, coming over to Alex. “Lead. You will take post there.” He pointed one irritably long claw [5] towards a mountain to right in the north. “I suspect Viscroy will place some of his soldiers there, more than likely some with low skill in magic. Avalanche help and the sort. Take care of them.”
Alex nodded, then added, “So, they throw rocks at us, we throw rocks back. Gotcha.”
The small group barely managed a stiff laugh. “Make sure that your game of toss will stop them from getting to our inner lines, Alex, or I will join you and it will not be pretty.” He turned and went to the next group.
____________________________________________________________
[2] Sissca is a female humanoid consisting of parts from a fox, a cat, and a human. She, in
the earlier parts of this story, is described as shy, but smart and good not only with
swordfighting, but with magic as well, being a Darthayslian.
[3] Alex is a male humanoid, a mix of a cocker spaniel and human, missing an arm thanks
to gang green when he was young. Though he’s smart, he’s more of a joker, not being able to take too much seriously. Being a Zikkanian, he is better at swordfighting than fighting with magic and is made a captain for this war.
[4] Consentiay (cuhn-sen-tee-AY) : Kakálian - A powerful healing spell used by magic-
casters to cure injuries such as torn ligaments, bad gashes, and internal bleeding (Literal - “one sent to heal”).
[5] Darkaî is a Darkalinite, a word in Kakálian meaning “snake-dragon.” These monsters
are overly intelligent and good at not only magic, most being Kakálians, but at swordfighting. They top most humanoids in any subject and live for a terribly long time. Their actual form is rather scary, they being, on average, about sixteen feet tall. They have long arms, but no legs, and a thick, snake-like body ending in a tail fan. They have two wings on their shoulders, normally translucent. They have snake heads and males have a hood, females a headdress of some other sort. Darkaî just so happens to be black. NaTasha, his “army-buddy,” is silver and crystal blue.
The Southern Mountains had always fascinated Sissca [2], but today, they seemed rather ominous and threatening because Zikkanians lurked there. “Ready, Sissca?” Alex [3] asked her that morning. Sissca nodded dumbly, unsure of why she was lying. Darkaî’s deep, thunderous voice echoed around them, breaking the silence in their ravine. “All stand! Two arms!” “Atteeeeeennntion!” everyone chorused. Alex, being the farceur, went full circle and kicked his heel, saluting Darkaî. Darkaî nodded and whispered something to second in command, NaTasha. She returned with a salute and flew off northwards.
Waiting for the signal, Sissca followed Alex to their small group. They were planning to split up and seek out small groups this way. Sissca, being the healer of the group, continually went over healing spells in her mind. “Consentiay,"[4] was a common one. She mispronounced it several times before realizing she was doing it wrong. “Aargh…” she whispered under her breath. She shivered even though the humid mountain air was quite warm. “Master,” Darkaî stated, coming over to Alex. “Lead. You will take post there.” He pointed one irritably long claw [5] towards a mountain to right in the north. “I suspect Viscroy will place some of his soldiers there, more than likely some with low skill in magic. Avalanche help and the sort. Take care of them.”
Alex nodded, then added, “So, they throw rocks at us, we throw rocks back. Gotcha.”
The small group barely managed a stiff laugh. “Make sure that your game of toss will stop them from getting to our inner lines, Alex, or I will join you and it will not be pretty.” He turned and went to the next group.
____________________________________________________________
[2] Sissca is a female humanoid consisting of parts from a fox, a cat, and a human. She, in
the earlier parts of this story, is described as shy, but smart and good not only with
swordfighting, but with magic as well, being a Darthayslian.
[3] Alex is a male humanoid, a mix of a cocker spaniel and human, missing an arm thanks
to gang green when he was young. Though he’s smart, he’s more of a joker, not being able to take too much seriously. Being a Zikkanian, he is better at swordfighting than fighting with magic and is made a captain for this war.
[4] Consentiay (cuhn-sen-tee-AY) : Kakálian - A powerful healing spell used by magic-
casters to cure injuries such as torn ligaments, bad gashes, and internal bleeding (Literal - “one sent to heal”).
[5] Darkaî is a Darkalinite, a word in Kakálian meaning “snake-dragon.” These monsters
are overly intelligent and good at not only magic, most being Kakálians, but at swordfighting. They top most humanoids in any subject and live for a terribly long time. Their actual form is rather scary, they being, on average, about sixteen feet tall. They have long arms, but no legs, and a thick, snake-like body ending in a tail fan. They have two wings on their shoulders, normally translucent. They have snake heads and males have a hood, females a headdress of some other sort. Darkaî just so happens to be black. NaTasha, his “army-buddy,” is silver and crystal blue.
Excerpts from “Zeyr” part 1 -Emily
[Part 1 of a 9 part series]
Sissca’s heart was pounding uncontrollably. Her head was spinning, making her dizzy. Fear, anger, misery, nervousness, anxiety, excitement…. All of such emotions mixed together in her stomach.
Currently, she had enough adrenalin-soup contained inside her to end world hunger.
Sissca hadn’t been expecting war to be like this.[1] She knew of the constant fighting and had heard of the obscene and murderous ways of Viscroy, yes. But it was difficult for her to grasp the sense that killing was good, that it would help Kaká and Darthayslia. That ominous and sickening crunch of flesh and bone under a heavy sword made her pale in the face. Tearing others limbs apart with magic didn’t sound much better, either.
Maybe that’s why she was assigned this job. Darkaî, after all, would feel no regret in watching Sissca shudder in horror at someone being killed.
Nonetheless, Sissca was terrified. Her position in battle was to go and heal others with, hopefully, the best magic she could muster. It was an easy job.
“Even such a bedraggled, unworthy female humanoid like you, idiot, could do it,” she remembered Darkaî telling her in a cynical manner. “I would not worry, but you may have to.”
Obviously, he wasn’t much of a help.
“It’s okay, Sissca,” the eccentrically optimistic Alex counteracted. “I’ve been taught how to kill by professionals, and it really isn’t that bad when you know the enemy’s just a whole bunch of-” A few choice Zikkanian swear words were enough to earn him a good thwacking from his Kakálian friend, Zixxi.
Sissca was uptight, but needed to do her job if Darthayslia and Kaká were going to survive this war.
Taking in a deep breath, she closed her eyes and tried to sleep, all attempts fruitless.
__________________________________________________________________
[1] The three main nationalities on this side of the flat world, Kaká, Darthayslia, and Zikka, have, in this section of the story, gathered their own armies to set to battle. Our main characters are fighting for the freedom of Kaká and Darthayslia from the Zikkanian Empire. Kakálians, with black blood, have a knack for magic, Zikkanians, with red blood, are good at melee, and Darthayslians, with blue blood, are well rounded in both. The leader of the Zikkanian army is the Darkalinite Viscroy, a long time enemy of Darkaî’s.
Sissca’s heart was pounding uncontrollably. Her head was spinning, making her dizzy. Fear, anger, misery, nervousness, anxiety, excitement…. All of such emotions mixed together in her stomach.
Currently, she had enough adrenalin-soup contained inside her to end world hunger.
Sissca hadn’t been expecting war to be like this.[1] She knew of the constant fighting and had heard of the obscene and murderous ways of Viscroy, yes. But it was difficult for her to grasp the sense that killing was good, that it would help Kaká and Darthayslia. That ominous and sickening crunch of flesh and bone under a heavy sword made her pale in the face. Tearing others limbs apart with magic didn’t sound much better, either.
Maybe that’s why she was assigned this job. Darkaî, after all, would feel no regret in watching Sissca shudder in horror at someone being killed.
Nonetheless, Sissca was terrified. Her position in battle was to go and heal others with, hopefully, the best magic she could muster. It was an easy job.
“Even such a bedraggled, unworthy female humanoid like you, idiot, could do it,” she remembered Darkaî telling her in a cynical manner. “I would not worry, but you may have to.”
Obviously, he wasn’t much of a help.
“It’s okay, Sissca,” the eccentrically optimistic Alex counteracted. “I’ve been taught how to kill by professionals, and it really isn’t that bad when you know the enemy’s just a whole bunch of-” A few choice Zikkanian swear words were enough to earn him a good thwacking from his Kakálian friend, Zixxi.
Sissca was uptight, but needed to do her job if Darthayslia and Kaká were going to survive this war.
Taking in a deep breath, she closed her eyes and tried to sleep, all attempts fruitless.
__________________________________________________________________
[1] The three main nationalities on this side of the flat world, Kaká, Darthayslia, and Zikka, have, in this section of the story, gathered their own armies to set to battle. Our main characters are fighting for the freedom of Kaká and Darthayslia from the Zikkanian Empire. Kakálians, with black blood, have a knack for magic, Zikkanians, with red blood, are good at melee, and Darthayslians, with blue blood, are well rounded in both. The leader of the Zikkanian army is the Darkalinite Viscroy, a long time enemy of Darkaî’s.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Message to readers from Jack and others
For three weeks we have been working on our short story unit in our accelerated language arts class at Urbana Junior High School. Every student in our class has written a 2500 to 10000 word story. Everyone’s story was an original story and they consist from genres of drama to mystery and others. We have shared our stories with the 7th grade language class to get feedback.
My Last Tears for Abby - Heather
It was an extremely hot day, humidity high as remember. I could smell a musty aroma lingering away in the air. I remember it like yesterday, although it really feels like ages ago. My friends; Kait, Lili, and Nick were with me when we got the news. It was about my old friend, Abby.
We all were best friends at one point. Abby was my best friend a couple years back in Middle School. She was probably my only friende when i first moved here from Middleton, NJ. We'd spend hours and hours at each other houses daily, hanign out playing games, and talking about our wildest dreams and future ahead. We were sure we'd always be best friends! Unfortunatly, everything changed. The year, weather, the days grew old, and cold... and apart.
It all began when i was told Abby was missing that late humid day i was talking about earlier. I didn't think much of it considering we were best friends in the past. Something hit me soon after i got that news. I missed Abby, but never really admitted it, and i was shocked that an event such as this would occur to a family as good as hers. I wanted to help any way i could, and i would be there for her family, which at one point, felt was my own. I was determined to find her...one way...or another.
Nick told me that he'd be there for me, and that he would be more than happy to accompany me in my search for Abby. This was probably the happiest i had been all week! All of my other friends didn't have the same feeling i did, the one where you feel like you've lost you're best friend...but in quite literal terms this time.
So we headed over to the 'Long' resident. Abby's mom greeted me with a look of joy and open arms. SHe urged me on inside and we talked. We spoke for hours it seemed until i had to leave. But before i left the house, Mrs. Long invited me upstairs to check out her room. I had told her i would help, and she said i had left some things from the last time i had stayed....quite some time ago. I walked into that room, and busted into tears. Absolutely NOTHING had changed! it was still the same purple room with handprints and quotes written in sharpies, all over the walls. I passed Mine and Abby's favorite quote...'It's better to be hated for who you are, than to be loved for who you are NOT.' -Andre Guid. I ran out with Nick by my side, hugged Mrs. Long goodbye, and took the subway back to the Suburbs of New York.
The next day, Nick and I began the search for Abby. It had been 3 days since i was told Abby had gone missing. I did all i could thinking about wehre she might have gone, but it seemed like nothing was quite successful. Her friend Sophie had told me that lately she had been under a lot of pressure and stress applying to different colleges, going through her parents' divorce, and she just needed a break..some time to herself. I thanked Sophie for telling me this bit of information, because that same night, i had an idea!
That night, pieces of the past, and information i had obtained gave me an idea! Suddenly and eventually, everything seemed to work out. I found a game book Abby and i made when we were younger in the stack of stuff i picked up from her house the otehr day. We created mazes in this particular game, and we always thought of the most perfect place we could do it, and that would be Clemson Hill. We'd sat there one day and told each other that if we ever needed to get away from life, we'd go there. We always wondered what was in that blocked off building at the top. All we knew from research was it used to be a chamber that held wwII victims captive during that time period, but of course it was blocked off.
As i realized this, tears were slowly rolling down my cheeks. THere was no way she coulod've made it by herself...it was just too risky...and nearly impossible.
I didn't tell anyone, which was probably a mistake. Not even Nick until he one day asked me what was up. I couldn't not tell him :) He's an amazing person and friend! I knew he could help me. He wanted to go too, to make sure i would make it safe, and we packed our bags and left soon after.
We begun our hung for Abby. We made it to Clemson Hill later on in the afternoon. It was creepy being around that chamber once again, especially with the thought of finding my friend in there, hurt or possibly dead...but i had a positive attitude, and thoughts for that matter. She had only been missing for 3 days now...so there was some hope.
Nick and I lowered ourselves into thie 'dungeon'. It was cool, drafty, and pictch balack all around. We got out our flashlights and began our search. When the first light appreared- i knew she was in here. An arron i nred paint was marked on the wall, which was meant for us to travel along in order to find the middle, and the reward. Nick and i let out a sigh of relief, but i was scared. Scared for Abby's life. How long could she make it?! No one had a clue what we'd find.
We started oiur way following the red arrow only to find many more branced off of it. There were numerous amountes of pahts to take, but only 1 right one. I began to think like Abby. This looked like one of ourgame creations we had planned. If we chose the right path - it'd take us to a clue, the wrong path would give us fals information and only led us farther away from the end. We ran into a clue i remembered once writing. It read
You've come this far
That sure is true
Don't be mis-led
By the arrows in blue
I WROTE taht! i now knew the correct routes and all by the rule book! We turned around and took another path. This hunt went on for atleast 3 hours. It was the most challenging thing i had ever done. EVerything was going quitew ell, ad i had a feeling it was almost over when our flashlights flickered a couple times...then went dead. We panicked, having absolutely NO clue wghat to do, when we saw a light ahead of us. It was coming from a sewage drain in the street, so we went forward towards the light, and i triped and fell into a ditch... wheree beside me- i found Abby.
She was dead, and i'll never forget that day. The doctors said she didn't suffer long, since she took severe trauma to the head. They told me i was lucky the same thing hadn't happened to me.
That night i had the worst dream. Abby went to leave the chamber but couldn't find her way back to the beginning. She started freaking out, scraming! She needed help, but she kept running. SHe found that SAME light Nick and i had followed, thinking it would help her out, tears strolling down her face, bookbag holding her back, and unaware of the ditch below the light. She ran. She fell. Everything went silent.
I woke up in horror, covered in my own sweat - and i sat there puzzled, tears strolling as hard as they did down Abbys. Then i thought, those would be my last tears...for my best friend...Abby...
We all were best friends at one point. Abby was my best friend a couple years back in Middle School. She was probably my only friende when i first moved here from Middleton, NJ. We'd spend hours and hours at each other houses daily, hanign out playing games, and talking about our wildest dreams and future ahead. We were sure we'd always be best friends! Unfortunatly, everything changed. The year, weather, the days grew old, and cold... and apart.
It all began when i was told Abby was missing that late humid day i was talking about earlier. I didn't think much of it considering we were best friends in the past. Something hit me soon after i got that news. I missed Abby, but never really admitted it, and i was shocked that an event such as this would occur to a family as good as hers. I wanted to help any way i could, and i would be there for her family, which at one point, felt was my own. I was determined to find her...one way...or another.
Nick told me that he'd be there for me, and that he would be more than happy to accompany me in my search for Abby. This was probably the happiest i had been all week! All of my other friends didn't have the same feeling i did, the one where you feel like you've lost you're best friend...but in quite literal terms this time.
So we headed over to the 'Long' resident. Abby's mom greeted me with a look of joy and open arms. SHe urged me on inside and we talked. We spoke for hours it seemed until i had to leave. But before i left the house, Mrs. Long invited me upstairs to check out her room. I had told her i would help, and she said i had left some things from the last time i had stayed....quite some time ago. I walked into that room, and busted into tears. Absolutely NOTHING had changed! it was still the same purple room with handprints and quotes written in sharpies, all over the walls. I passed Mine and Abby's favorite quote...'It's better to be hated for who you are, than to be loved for who you are NOT.' -Andre Guid. I ran out with Nick by my side, hugged Mrs. Long goodbye, and took the subway back to the Suburbs of New York.
The next day, Nick and I began the search for Abby. It had been 3 days since i was told Abby had gone missing. I did all i could thinking about wehre she might have gone, but it seemed like nothing was quite successful. Her friend Sophie had told me that lately she had been under a lot of pressure and stress applying to different colleges, going through her parents' divorce, and she just needed a break..some time to herself. I thanked Sophie for telling me this bit of information, because that same night, i had an idea!
That night, pieces of the past, and information i had obtained gave me an idea! Suddenly and eventually, everything seemed to work out. I found a game book Abby and i made when we were younger in the stack of stuff i picked up from her house the otehr day. We created mazes in this particular game, and we always thought of the most perfect place we could do it, and that would be Clemson Hill. We'd sat there one day and told each other that if we ever needed to get away from life, we'd go there. We always wondered what was in that blocked off building at the top. All we knew from research was it used to be a chamber that held wwII victims captive during that time period, but of course it was blocked off.
As i realized this, tears were slowly rolling down my cheeks. THere was no way she coulod've made it by herself...it was just too risky...and nearly impossible.
I didn't tell anyone, which was probably a mistake. Not even Nick until he one day asked me what was up. I couldn't not tell him :) He's an amazing person and friend! I knew he could help me. He wanted to go too, to make sure i would make it safe, and we packed our bags and left soon after.
We begun our hung for Abby. We made it to Clemson Hill later on in the afternoon. It was creepy being around that chamber once again, especially with the thought of finding my friend in there, hurt or possibly dead...but i had a positive attitude, and thoughts for that matter. She had only been missing for 3 days now...so there was some hope.
Nick and I lowered ourselves into thie 'dungeon'. It was cool, drafty, and pictch balack all around. We got out our flashlights and began our search. When the first light appreared- i knew she was in here. An arron i nred paint was marked on the wall, which was meant for us to travel along in order to find the middle, and the reward. Nick and i let out a sigh of relief, but i was scared. Scared for Abby's life. How long could she make it?! No one had a clue what we'd find.
We started oiur way following the red arrow only to find many more branced off of it. There were numerous amountes of pahts to take, but only 1 right one. I began to think like Abby. This looked like one of ourgame creations we had planned. If we chose the right path - it'd take us to a clue, the wrong path would give us fals information and only led us farther away from the end. We ran into a clue i remembered once writing. It read
You've come this far
That sure is true
Don't be mis-led
By the arrows in blue
I WROTE taht! i now knew the correct routes and all by the rule book! We turned around and took another path. This hunt went on for atleast 3 hours. It was the most challenging thing i had ever done. EVerything was going quitew ell, ad i had a feeling it was almost over when our flashlights flickered a couple times...then went dead. We panicked, having absolutely NO clue wghat to do, when we saw a light ahead of us. It was coming from a sewage drain in the street, so we went forward towards the light, and i triped and fell into a ditch... wheree beside me- i found Abby.
She was dead, and i'll never forget that day. The doctors said she didn't suffer long, since she took severe trauma to the head. They told me i was lucky the same thing hadn't happened to me.
That night i had the worst dream. Abby went to leave the chamber but couldn't find her way back to the beginning. She started freaking out, scraming! She needed help, but she kept running. SHe found that SAME light Nick and i had followed, thinking it would help her out, tears strolling down her face, bookbag holding her back, and unaware of the ditch below the light. She ran. She fell. Everything went silent.
I woke up in horror, covered in my own sweat - and i sat there puzzled, tears strolling as hard as they did down Abbys. Then i thought, those would be my last tears...for my best friend...Abby...
The Unknown Note - Elizabeth
It was the year 1941. I was 5 years old at the time. My mother was a basket case. She was always cryin’, and blubberin’. My daddy left us. I was sad at first but after 5 years I was over it. We probably spent a total of a years salary of watiressin’ on tissues alone. That’s including one’s for earplugs. I was thinking of moving out on my own, but I wasn’t even aloud to cross the street. The closest I’d get to running away would be to Mel’s Dime Dinner Palace. Probably you can guess how much dinner was.
I can remember on night in particular. Momma had just come home form work. She was covered in water and mud. She wasn’t too happy. She said that she fell in the mud getting out of the can. It was raining cats and dogs. She got her shower and was staring in crying again. Then the phone rang. This was already odd because our phone never rings. Momma answered. I sat and watched holding my breath and clutching on to my teddy with all of my might. The phone fell from Momma’s hands as she began to cry. It wasn’t her usual cry this was grim.
The lights flickered. The storm had become worse. Momma just stood there. I wanted to comfort her; I wanted to know what happened. The lights went out, I could only hear the winds whistling through the town, tree branches hitting our windows. The tornado sirens began to blare. Momma was seated now, but we just sat there, we didn’t make a sound or dare to move. We didn’t take safely from the frightening noise of the sirens. My heart was pounding and the feeling of being frightened grew worse.
The lights flickered once more before coming on. I looked over to Momma. She sat with her head buried in her hands I grew up the courage to ask Momma what was wrong. That’s when I heard the news.
I no longer had a father. A fire had taken over his Birmingham home. He didn’t make it out. By the time the firefighters came the house was nothing but flaming debris. There wasn’t even enough left to try to figure out what caused the horrific tragedy. The firefighter named Louis found my father lying outside of the house. My father named Joseph didn’t die from the fire.
I was more than frightened I don’t even have the words to express the emotions I was feeling. I soon grew shocked. Momma stood up from her state of depression she looked at me and smiled. Louis delivered more news after saying that my father wasn’t killed in the fire. There was a gunshot wound found in his chest. Lying loosely in my father’s hand was a folded piece of paper.
My mother continued to stare and smile. As tears rolled down my cheek I noticed the time on the clock. It read 3:00 (a.m) It had only been 3 hours since my mother returned from work. Which would make it Midnight. Momma usually came home from work around 10:00 pm. She was two hours late. I noticed something on her apron that was lying over a clothes rack, I couldn’t tell what it was it looked like something had been splattered, but I didn’t think anything of it.
Momma said that we should try to get some sleep. She went to bed and I acted as if I was doing the same. After about an hour I got out of my bed and checked in on my Momma. She was sleeping like a baby with rollers in her hair. I grabbed my coat and my pink goulashes and snuck out the door. I wasn’t supposed to leave but I crossed two streets and turned right. I kept going straight. It wasn’t the most pleasant street. You could hear sirens going at all times. Bums were sitting on their stoops talking out of their drunken minds. Some asked me for some money, I tried to just tune them out and continue walking. The smell reeked of sewage and un-bathed people. I felt bad and couldn’t help but wonder what these people did to have the live like this. Maybe they did it to themselves. I walked straight and came to the Birmingham Street. I could see caution tape surrounding a house. I took a deep breath. I broke out in a dripping swear. I crossed the street. I guess I wasn’t paying close attention, and I see headlights, coming right my way.
I slightly open my eyes, close them, and open them once more. I take a look to my right I see machines all beeping, flashing or doing something. I thought to myself "when did Momma get that? And what for?" I look straight ahead as I see a door wide open with nurses frantically running back and forth in their blue dresses, white hats, hair in tight bun, and white tights, with white shoes. They are all carrying some sort of clipboard with what seems to be a keeper of important information.
"Ruth, honey." I hear a warm voice and a soft touch on my face; Momma was in a chair to the left of me, with tears streaming from her green eyes down her cheek. Her hair was a mess; she was wearing her Thursday sundress. A doctor entered my room. (Which by this time I had come to the realization that I wasn’t at home.) The doctor’s name was Dr. Michael he was going bald, he had bushy eyebrows, ears that stook out like thorns on a rose, and he was about 6 foot tall. He kind of flashed a half smile barely showing his pearly white teeth. He asked me how I was felling. I wasn’t really sure what to rely with considering I didn’t know what I felt like. He proceeded to continue examining his information.
Dr. Michael pulled out a tool, a metal bar with a triangle shape brown rock at the end. He mentioned that it might hurt. I layed in the hospital bed in distress and agony, anticipating the pain I would soon encounter. He took his tool and tapped it on my right knee, nothing happened. Momma let out a whimper. I couldn’t understand what was going on before my eyes I couldn’t feel a thing. Dr. Michael then tapped my left leg, once again nothing happened. Momma turned away. Dr, Michael took his clipboard of information and began to write.
"Momma?’ I whimpered.
"Yes, sweetie." She replied.
"What’s going on?" I asked.
"Well, yo…." "You were in a car accident." Interrupted Dr. Michael.
"I don’t drive do I?"
"No, you don’t drive, you were hit by a car."
The confusion over whelmed my emotions. My heart sank, I still didn’t understand why I was in the hospital, well I know why, and I just didn’t understand how it could happen. "Well I have some unfortunate news." Dr. Michael began.
Momma sighed in agony. She closed her eyes and anticipated the frightening news. I wanted to cry, but I didn’t know how.
"When you were hit by the car the impact fractured your hipbone, and crushed your right leg, you are paralyzed from the waist down." Dr. Michael regretfully reported.
"Oh…. dear!" Momma whimpered.
I was in the state of shock. Paralyzed? What did I do to deserve this? Then it all hit me. I was going to my father’s house. I wanted to see the nothing that was left behind from the father. I snuck out of the house I now began to cry.
I must have drifted off to sleep because once more I opened my eyes to Momma. She just stared at me, for what seemed like forever.
"Why?" Momma began "Why did you run away, what were you thinking?" Momma’s voice began to raise and become louder.
"I just, I just wanted to see dad one last time." I regretfully replied.
"Honey, they took him already…"
"I just had to go." I interrupted.
Momma’s face was a white as a ghost. She then told me that there was a folded piece of paper that was in my father’s hands, which rang a bell in my head because I remember Firefighter Louis telling me that. She then proceeded to tell me what it was. It was a note. A note to me. She read it aloud:
My dearest Rudy,
I love you and I always will. Forgive for what I have done.
Love Always,
Your Dad
A tear rolled from my mother’s glossy eyes. I had a lump in my throat. And once again I was confused. I was torn; I didn’t know what to do. A policeman entered the hospital room.
" Miss Judy??"
Momma stood and replied with a soft I am Miss Judy Lee.
The Police officer wanted to know if he could ask her a few questions. Momma and the Police officer named Officer Patrick went out to the hallway. Momma came back in after about 20 minutes crying (again) she came over and sat down at the left side of my bed.
"Honey (sniffle) I have to go away for a while, I’ll be back."
"Why? Where are you going?"
"Well, you will probably hate me, I, well I had something to do with your father’s death. I caused the fire, and I drove by to see it, and he was running so I shot him."
"Then who wrote the note?"
"I don’t know" "Good bye my dear, I’ll be seeing you"
Officer Patrick re-entered the room, he hand cuffed Momma. I was furious. I wanted to get up, but I couldn’t. Momma shouted that she loved me. I don’t love her.
It was a struggle for the next 2 weeks. I had to learn how to use a wheel chair. I am in foster care now. I have been to a few homes, but they didn’t want me. Nobody liked me. I always thought I was likable, but I guess not. It isn’t too bad here. Wait… Oh my goodness a family is here! I have to go try and get them to take me home!!
I can remember on night in particular. Momma had just come home form work. She was covered in water and mud. She wasn’t too happy. She said that she fell in the mud getting out of the can. It was raining cats and dogs. She got her shower and was staring in crying again. Then the phone rang. This was already odd because our phone never rings. Momma answered. I sat and watched holding my breath and clutching on to my teddy with all of my might. The phone fell from Momma’s hands as she began to cry. It wasn’t her usual cry this was grim.
The lights flickered. The storm had become worse. Momma just stood there. I wanted to comfort her; I wanted to know what happened. The lights went out, I could only hear the winds whistling through the town, tree branches hitting our windows. The tornado sirens began to blare. Momma was seated now, but we just sat there, we didn’t make a sound or dare to move. We didn’t take safely from the frightening noise of the sirens. My heart was pounding and the feeling of being frightened grew worse.
The lights flickered once more before coming on. I looked over to Momma. She sat with her head buried in her hands I grew up the courage to ask Momma what was wrong. That’s when I heard the news.
I no longer had a father. A fire had taken over his Birmingham home. He didn’t make it out. By the time the firefighters came the house was nothing but flaming debris. There wasn’t even enough left to try to figure out what caused the horrific tragedy. The firefighter named Louis found my father lying outside of the house. My father named Joseph didn’t die from the fire.
I was more than frightened I don’t even have the words to express the emotions I was feeling. I soon grew shocked. Momma stood up from her state of depression she looked at me and smiled. Louis delivered more news after saying that my father wasn’t killed in the fire. There was a gunshot wound found in his chest. Lying loosely in my father’s hand was a folded piece of paper.
My mother continued to stare and smile. As tears rolled down my cheek I noticed the time on the clock. It read 3:00 (a.m) It had only been 3 hours since my mother returned from work. Which would make it Midnight. Momma usually came home from work around 10:00 pm. She was two hours late. I noticed something on her apron that was lying over a clothes rack, I couldn’t tell what it was it looked like something had been splattered, but I didn’t think anything of it.
Momma said that we should try to get some sleep. She went to bed and I acted as if I was doing the same. After about an hour I got out of my bed and checked in on my Momma. She was sleeping like a baby with rollers in her hair. I grabbed my coat and my pink goulashes and snuck out the door. I wasn’t supposed to leave but I crossed two streets and turned right. I kept going straight. It wasn’t the most pleasant street. You could hear sirens going at all times. Bums were sitting on their stoops talking out of their drunken minds. Some asked me for some money, I tried to just tune them out and continue walking. The smell reeked of sewage and un-bathed people. I felt bad and couldn’t help but wonder what these people did to have the live like this. Maybe they did it to themselves. I walked straight and came to the Birmingham Street. I could see caution tape surrounding a house. I took a deep breath. I broke out in a dripping swear. I crossed the street. I guess I wasn’t paying close attention, and I see headlights, coming right my way.
I slightly open my eyes, close them, and open them once more. I take a look to my right I see machines all beeping, flashing or doing something. I thought to myself "when did Momma get that? And what for?" I look straight ahead as I see a door wide open with nurses frantically running back and forth in their blue dresses, white hats, hair in tight bun, and white tights, with white shoes. They are all carrying some sort of clipboard with what seems to be a keeper of important information.
"Ruth, honey." I hear a warm voice and a soft touch on my face; Momma was in a chair to the left of me, with tears streaming from her green eyes down her cheek. Her hair was a mess; she was wearing her Thursday sundress. A doctor entered my room. (Which by this time I had come to the realization that I wasn’t at home.) The doctor’s name was Dr. Michael he was going bald, he had bushy eyebrows, ears that stook out like thorns on a rose, and he was about 6 foot tall. He kind of flashed a half smile barely showing his pearly white teeth. He asked me how I was felling. I wasn’t really sure what to rely with considering I didn’t know what I felt like. He proceeded to continue examining his information.
Dr. Michael pulled out a tool, a metal bar with a triangle shape brown rock at the end. He mentioned that it might hurt. I layed in the hospital bed in distress and agony, anticipating the pain I would soon encounter. He took his tool and tapped it on my right knee, nothing happened. Momma let out a whimper. I couldn’t understand what was going on before my eyes I couldn’t feel a thing. Dr. Michael then tapped my left leg, once again nothing happened. Momma turned away. Dr, Michael took his clipboard of information and began to write.
"Momma?’ I whimpered.
"Yes, sweetie." She replied.
"What’s going on?" I asked.
"Well, yo…." "You were in a car accident." Interrupted Dr. Michael.
"I don’t drive do I?"
"No, you don’t drive, you were hit by a car."
The confusion over whelmed my emotions. My heart sank, I still didn’t understand why I was in the hospital, well I know why, and I just didn’t understand how it could happen. "Well I have some unfortunate news." Dr. Michael began.
Momma sighed in agony. She closed her eyes and anticipated the frightening news. I wanted to cry, but I didn’t know how.
"When you were hit by the car the impact fractured your hipbone, and crushed your right leg, you are paralyzed from the waist down." Dr. Michael regretfully reported.
"Oh…. dear!" Momma whimpered.
I was in the state of shock. Paralyzed? What did I do to deserve this? Then it all hit me. I was going to my father’s house. I wanted to see the nothing that was left behind from the father. I snuck out of the house I now began to cry.
I must have drifted off to sleep because once more I opened my eyes to Momma. She just stared at me, for what seemed like forever.
"Why?" Momma began "Why did you run away, what were you thinking?" Momma’s voice began to raise and become louder.
"I just, I just wanted to see dad one last time." I regretfully replied.
"Honey, they took him already…"
"I just had to go." I interrupted.
Momma’s face was a white as a ghost. She then told me that there was a folded piece of paper that was in my father’s hands, which rang a bell in my head because I remember Firefighter Louis telling me that. She then proceeded to tell me what it was. It was a note. A note to me. She read it aloud:
My dearest Rudy,
I love you and I always will. Forgive for what I have done.
Love Always,
Your Dad
A tear rolled from my mother’s glossy eyes. I had a lump in my throat. And once again I was confused. I was torn; I didn’t know what to do. A policeman entered the hospital room.
" Miss Judy??"
Momma stood and replied with a soft I am Miss Judy Lee.
The Police officer wanted to know if he could ask her a few questions. Momma and the Police officer named Officer Patrick went out to the hallway. Momma came back in after about 20 minutes crying (again) she came over and sat down at the left side of my bed.
"Honey (sniffle) I have to go away for a while, I’ll be back."
"Why? Where are you going?"
"Well, you will probably hate me, I, well I had something to do with your father’s death. I caused the fire, and I drove by to see it, and he was running so I shot him."
"Then who wrote the note?"
"I don’t know" "Good bye my dear, I’ll be seeing you"
Officer Patrick re-entered the room, he hand cuffed Momma. I was furious. I wanted to get up, but I couldn’t. Momma shouted that she loved me. I don’t love her.
It was a struggle for the next 2 weeks. I had to learn how to use a wheel chair. I am in foster care now. I have been to a few homes, but they didn’t want me. Nobody liked me. I always thought I was likable, but I guess not. It isn’t too bad here. Wait… Oh my goodness a family is here! I have to go try and get them to take me home!!
My Story - Leanna
Hannah Robinson was a wonderful girl of 16. She was first in her class at her local school, and dreamed of one day going to a division one collage to study engineering. This, I am sad to say, did not happen.
On a cold winter day in December, Andrea got up, and began getting ready for school. It was a special day, for it was her best friend Hannah’s birthday, and she couldn’t wait to show her her gift. Andrea got her a new pink sweater and dress pant outfit that she had her eye on since September, but no money to buy the expensive clothes. Andrea gathered her money, and went and bought it for her the next week. It was beautiful, and could not wait to take it over! Andrea, who lived about three houses down from Hannah, was now ready for school, and started walking down. Hannah was not out there! This surprised Hannah because in all her ten years of walking to her house, she was always sitting on the porch. She would always complain about how long she got bored from waiting for Andrea to get there. Nevertheless, she knocked on the door to find Hannah’s mother at the door.
"Hi Mrs. Robinson. Is Hannah there?" Andrea asked.
"Yes, she is. She’s a bit slow today. She wants to look perfect on her big 16th birthday! Come on in."
"Thanks," Andrea said. After a few minutes of talking to Mrs. Robinson, Hannah came running down the stairs.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANNAH!" Andrea screamed, running to give her a hug.
"Thanks!" she said. "I’m so excited!"
"Well, since you are running a little late, You’d better open your present quick!"
"Ok! I will!" She opened it up and her eyes lit up with excitement!
"Oh Andrea! It’s gorgeous! How did you pay for it?"
"I used my saved up car money! Considering I’ll be driving my mom’s old car for a while, I thought I’d buy something better!"
"It’s beautiful! I’ll wear it tomorrow!"
"You two better get going. You don’t want to be late for school," Mrs. Robinson said kindly.
"You’re right. Bye!" they said in unison. They then walked happily to school together, talking, laughing, and feeling great!
When they got to school, Hannah and Andrea split up to go to their own separate classes. The two friends had only two classes together, third with Mrs. Gundolf and forth with Mrs. Kress. They were in third period when a new kid named Ryan came into her English class. Her teacher, Mrs. Gundolf, was explaining a two week long English Project. She explained that they would work in groups of three to make a book. The book would e a fiction book that is a minimum on ten typed pages. Naturally, Andrea and Hannah were partners, but they didn’t have a third person. So, when Ryan came into their class, he joined their story group. One thing that Andrea and Hannah noticed immediately was that Ryan was really cute! He had short brown hair with pure blue eyes. They also found out quickly that he was funny and kind. Mrs. Gundolf suggested that Ryan joined Andrea and Hannah’s group.
"Alright," Ryan said. He walked over to them
"Hey, I’m Andrea and this is Hannah!" Andrea said.
"So where did you come from?" Hannah asked.
"I came from up north in Washington. I’m glad to be here though, it’s really boring up there. There’s no baseball!"
"Wow! You play I assume?" Hannah asked.
"Yea, its like my entire life! I couldn’t live without baseball! I pitch with my dad almost everyday!"
"NO WAY!" Hannah said. "I’m a softball pitcher and I pitch almost everyday too!
"Awesome! Maybe we could pitch together sometime!"
They talked and worked the entire language arts class. Hannah and Andrea were sad to leave language class, which hardly ever happens! Next period was study hall. One thing good about study hall was that Mrs. Kress let them talk. Today Andrea and Hannah talked about Ryan and how they both liked him a lot! This was their topic of discussion for the entire week! They liked him so much! He was so sweet and kind!
Later that week, Andrea and Hannah were walking home from school when they met Ryan.
Ryan asked," Andrea, may I talk to you?"
"Sure," she said, a little unsure what to expect.
They went to the other side of the parking lot, and Hannah stayed on the side they were on before.
"Ok, well, I’ve been here a week now, and I really like someone!"
"Ok, who?" Andrea asked.
"You," Ryan said shyly. " I was wondering if you would want to go out on a date with me?"
"HECK YES!" Andrea blurted out embarrassingly. "Yes I will."
"Great! You want to catch a movie tomorrow night, around seven?"
"Sure! That would be great!"
"Great, we’ll discuss the details later," Ryan said, trying to act cool. He walked back over without her. Andrea gave a little squeal, and walked back behind him.
"What was that about?" Hannah asked first thing on the phone that night.
"Ryan asked me to the movies!" Andrea squealed again.
"No way! That’s awesome!"
"I know! We’re going to the movies tomorrow!"
"Well, I have to go, but I’m very happy for you!"
"Thanks, I’m happy too! Bye!" For the first time in a very long time, she was very happy! She hadn’t had a boyfriend all that year, and she had forgotten what it felt like. She couldn’t wait till tomorrow to go to the movies!
Hannah, however, was not happy at all! It was a very bad way to end her birthday week. This was because she liked Ryan! Why should Andrea get him? I was just her birthday! A tear ran down her cheek as she thought these things. She wiped it away quickly. She couldn’t let Andrea see that! That’s not what best friends do! She had to shake it off and move on, but that night she couldn’t help thinking about Ryan, and how Andrea and him shouldn’t be together. Little did she know that a very confusing thing was going to happen the next day.
Hannah heard her alarm clock go off. She got up twenty minutes earlier today because she wanted to look great in her new sweater outfit, even though she wore it that last week. She got ready, told her mom bye, and went outside to wait for Andrea. About five minutes later, Andrea came running up. She was late again, but this was nothing new. However, Hannah could tell from three houses away something was different about her. She was wearing all kinds of makeup! Andrea never wore makeup like this! She put so much on, you couldn’t see her face, just the makeup over it! Hannah thought it looked horrid, but she didn’t dare tell Andrea!
"Hey! Sorry, I’m late again!" Andrea said, out of breath.
"It’s fine! I’m used to it now," Hannah replied.
"Do you like my makeup?" Andrea asked nervously.
"Of course! It’s gorgeous!" Hannah lied.
"Oh good!" Andrea sighed with relief! "I was so worried it didn’t look good! I want to impress Ryan you know!"
"I know!" Hannah had to bite her tongue for two reasons. One was that Andrea’s makeup was awful, and she wanted to tell her but couldn’t. The other reason was to keep her from talking about Ryan. Hannah couldn’t let her know she still liked him!
"Well, we’d better go," Andrea said.
" Yea, probably!"
"Hey! You’re wearing your new outfit!" Andrea said while walking.
"Of course! My best friend got it for me! Plus, it’s the cutest outfit ever!" They both started laughing.
They talked bout her outfit all the way to school, where they met Ryan.
"Hey," he said. He sounded surprised and Hannah knew it was because of Andrea’s makeup.
"Hey!" Andrea responded. "How are you?"
"Good. Hey Hannah, can I talk to you about Andrea?"
"Sure," Hannah said questioningly.
"So, I suppose you don’t want me there?" Andrea said, a bit of anger in her voice.
"No, it won’t take long though," Ryan said nicely.
"Ok, well I’ll just go to the bathroom to check on my makeup."
After she left, Ryan said, "Man! Her makeup looks awful!"
"I know! I didn’t have the heart to tell her it looked bad!"
"Well, I have a question for you."
"Sure, anything!" Hannah said.
"Will you keep a very big secret?"
"Sure," Hannah said again. "What is it?"
"Will you be my girlfriend?"
"Aren’t you Andrea’s girlfriend?" Hannah said surprised! She couldn’t even believe Ryan would ask such a thing! That would be cheating on Andrea!
"That’s where the secret part comes in! I love you both, and I can’t decide whom I love more, so I want to be both of your boyfriends! Like I said, can you keep a very big secret?"
Hannah thought about this for a while. How could she betray her best friend? At the same time, how could she turn down Ryan Reid? He’s gorgeous! What was she supposed to do?
"Yes! Yes I can!" Hannah said after a while.
"Great! Remember, you cannot tell anyone!"
"I won’t! You can trust me!"
"Awesome," he said as he bent down and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Hannah squealed. She couldn’t believe it! She was Ryan Reid’s girlfriend! How was she supposed to keep this from Andrea though? She didn’t see how this was going to happen! She thought she’d try it though. She knew this wasn’t going to last very long!
Hannah was wrong! Hannah was very, very wrong! These two relationships lasted for over five and a half years! At the end of the fifth year, Ryan proposed to Andrea. Hannah and Ryan still went on though. Hannah and Ryan always kissed and hugged, but never in public. It was always in a house, or behind a dumpster near Hannah and Andrea’s house. This was not the best place to kiss!
Andrea walked over to Hannah’s house one day in June. They were out of college for the summer, so they always did things together. Today, they were meeting Ryan at the pool, which they did almost everyday. Andrea still didn’t know that Ryan was cheating on her with Hannah!
"Hey!" Andrea said when Hannah answered the door.
"Hey," Hannah said. "Are you ready to go? Ryan’s waiting for you!
"I know! It doesn’t seem like it has only been five years! I can’t believe we’re getting married!"
"Yea, it seems like a lot longer!" Hannah agreed. They talked about how Ryan and Andrea were such a cute couple. Hannah didn’t dare say anything about her and Ryan!
"Hey Honey!" Andrea said when she saw Ryan at the pool.
"Hey Sweetie!" Ryan responded. They started to kiss and it about made Hannah gag seeing it. She kept thinking about last night behind the dumpster, and that made her feel better.
"Shall we get in?" Ryan asked when they were finally done kissing.
"Yes!" Hannah said loudly. "I love swimming!" They swam all day, and before they knew it, it was time to go home. Andrea and Ryan gave each other a goodnight kiss that lasted about five minutes, but finally stopped and went home. Ryan waited until Andrea went inside, and quickly darted behind the dumpster where Hannah was already waiting for him. They started kissing and didn’t plan on stopping for a long while! They didn’t know that Andrea was watching from her window, balling and furious! This was the first time she had ever seen them. She tried to calm herself down, but nothing worked! Her mom was already in bed, so things turned AWFUL! Andrea ran downstairs and grabbed her mom’s handgun. Andrea jumped in front of them!
"How could you do this to me?" she screamed as she shot them both in the head. The gunshots rang out though out the town. The town heard one more shot. Andrea shot herself in the head. Andrea, Hannah, and Ryan fell dead.
The police later found a suicide note in Andrea’s pocket stating the exact story. The cheat was too much for Andrea to handle. She couldn’t bear the betrayal of her best friend. Hannah’s future looked so bright, but she couldn’t do anything anymore, because of her best friend’s and her own actions. She would do nothing anymore.
On a cold winter day in December, Andrea got up, and began getting ready for school. It was a special day, for it was her best friend Hannah’s birthday, and she couldn’t wait to show her her gift. Andrea got her a new pink sweater and dress pant outfit that she had her eye on since September, but no money to buy the expensive clothes. Andrea gathered her money, and went and bought it for her the next week. It was beautiful, and could not wait to take it over! Andrea, who lived about three houses down from Hannah, was now ready for school, and started walking down. Hannah was not out there! This surprised Hannah because in all her ten years of walking to her house, she was always sitting on the porch. She would always complain about how long she got bored from waiting for Andrea to get there. Nevertheless, she knocked on the door to find Hannah’s mother at the door.
"Hi Mrs. Robinson. Is Hannah there?" Andrea asked.
"Yes, she is. She’s a bit slow today. She wants to look perfect on her big 16th birthday! Come on in."
"Thanks," Andrea said. After a few minutes of talking to Mrs. Robinson, Hannah came running down the stairs.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANNAH!" Andrea screamed, running to give her a hug.
"Thanks!" she said. "I’m so excited!"
"Well, since you are running a little late, You’d better open your present quick!"
"Ok! I will!" She opened it up and her eyes lit up with excitement!
"Oh Andrea! It’s gorgeous! How did you pay for it?"
"I used my saved up car money! Considering I’ll be driving my mom’s old car for a while, I thought I’d buy something better!"
"It’s beautiful! I’ll wear it tomorrow!"
"You two better get going. You don’t want to be late for school," Mrs. Robinson said kindly.
"You’re right. Bye!" they said in unison. They then walked happily to school together, talking, laughing, and feeling great!
When they got to school, Hannah and Andrea split up to go to their own separate classes. The two friends had only two classes together, third with Mrs. Gundolf and forth with Mrs. Kress. They were in third period when a new kid named Ryan came into her English class. Her teacher, Mrs. Gundolf, was explaining a two week long English Project. She explained that they would work in groups of three to make a book. The book would e a fiction book that is a minimum on ten typed pages. Naturally, Andrea and Hannah were partners, but they didn’t have a third person. So, when Ryan came into their class, he joined their story group. One thing that Andrea and Hannah noticed immediately was that Ryan was really cute! He had short brown hair with pure blue eyes. They also found out quickly that he was funny and kind. Mrs. Gundolf suggested that Ryan joined Andrea and Hannah’s group.
"Alright," Ryan said. He walked over to them
"Hey, I’m Andrea and this is Hannah!" Andrea said.
"So where did you come from?" Hannah asked.
"I came from up north in Washington. I’m glad to be here though, it’s really boring up there. There’s no baseball!"
"Wow! You play I assume?" Hannah asked.
"Yea, its like my entire life! I couldn’t live without baseball! I pitch with my dad almost everyday!"
"NO WAY!" Hannah said. "I’m a softball pitcher and I pitch almost everyday too!
"Awesome! Maybe we could pitch together sometime!"
They talked and worked the entire language arts class. Hannah and Andrea were sad to leave language class, which hardly ever happens! Next period was study hall. One thing good about study hall was that Mrs. Kress let them talk. Today Andrea and Hannah talked about Ryan and how they both liked him a lot! This was their topic of discussion for the entire week! They liked him so much! He was so sweet and kind!
Later that week, Andrea and Hannah were walking home from school when they met Ryan.
Ryan asked," Andrea, may I talk to you?"
"Sure," she said, a little unsure what to expect.
They went to the other side of the parking lot, and Hannah stayed on the side they were on before.
"Ok, well, I’ve been here a week now, and I really like someone!"
"Ok, who?" Andrea asked.
"You," Ryan said shyly. " I was wondering if you would want to go out on a date with me?"
"HECK YES!" Andrea blurted out embarrassingly. "Yes I will."
"Great! You want to catch a movie tomorrow night, around seven?"
"Sure! That would be great!"
"Great, we’ll discuss the details later," Ryan said, trying to act cool. He walked back over without her. Andrea gave a little squeal, and walked back behind him.
"What was that about?" Hannah asked first thing on the phone that night.
"Ryan asked me to the movies!" Andrea squealed again.
"No way! That’s awesome!"
"I know! We’re going to the movies tomorrow!"
"Well, I have to go, but I’m very happy for you!"
"Thanks, I’m happy too! Bye!" For the first time in a very long time, she was very happy! She hadn’t had a boyfriend all that year, and she had forgotten what it felt like. She couldn’t wait till tomorrow to go to the movies!
Hannah, however, was not happy at all! It was a very bad way to end her birthday week. This was because she liked Ryan! Why should Andrea get him? I was just her birthday! A tear ran down her cheek as she thought these things. She wiped it away quickly. She couldn’t let Andrea see that! That’s not what best friends do! She had to shake it off and move on, but that night she couldn’t help thinking about Ryan, and how Andrea and him shouldn’t be together. Little did she know that a very confusing thing was going to happen the next day.
Hannah heard her alarm clock go off. She got up twenty minutes earlier today because she wanted to look great in her new sweater outfit, even though she wore it that last week. She got ready, told her mom bye, and went outside to wait for Andrea. About five minutes later, Andrea came running up. She was late again, but this was nothing new. However, Hannah could tell from three houses away something was different about her. She was wearing all kinds of makeup! Andrea never wore makeup like this! She put so much on, you couldn’t see her face, just the makeup over it! Hannah thought it looked horrid, but she didn’t dare tell Andrea!
"Hey! Sorry, I’m late again!" Andrea said, out of breath.
"It’s fine! I’m used to it now," Hannah replied.
"Do you like my makeup?" Andrea asked nervously.
"Of course! It’s gorgeous!" Hannah lied.
"Oh good!" Andrea sighed with relief! "I was so worried it didn’t look good! I want to impress Ryan you know!"
"I know!" Hannah had to bite her tongue for two reasons. One was that Andrea’s makeup was awful, and she wanted to tell her but couldn’t. The other reason was to keep her from talking about Ryan. Hannah couldn’t let her know she still liked him!
"Well, we’d better go," Andrea said.
" Yea, probably!"
"Hey! You’re wearing your new outfit!" Andrea said while walking.
"Of course! My best friend got it for me! Plus, it’s the cutest outfit ever!" They both started laughing.
They talked bout her outfit all the way to school, where they met Ryan.
"Hey," he said. He sounded surprised and Hannah knew it was because of Andrea’s makeup.
"Hey!" Andrea responded. "How are you?"
"Good. Hey Hannah, can I talk to you about Andrea?"
"Sure," Hannah said questioningly.
"So, I suppose you don’t want me there?" Andrea said, a bit of anger in her voice.
"No, it won’t take long though," Ryan said nicely.
"Ok, well I’ll just go to the bathroom to check on my makeup."
After she left, Ryan said, "Man! Her makeup looks awful!"
"I know! I didn’t have the heart to tell her it looked bad!"
"Well, I have a question for you."
"Sure, anything!" Hannah said.
"Will you keep a very big secret?"
"Sure," Hannah said again. "What is it?"
"Will you be my girlfriend?"
"Aren’t you Andrea’s girlfriend?" Hannah said surprised! She couldn’t even believe Ryan would ask such a thing! That would be cheating on Andrea!
"That’s where the secret part comes in! I love you both, and I can’t decide whom I love more, so I want to be both of your boyfriends! Like I said, can you keep a very big secret?"
Hannah thought about this for a while. How could she betray her best friend? At the same time, how could she turn down Ryan Reid? He’s gorgeous! What was she supposed to do?
"Yes! Yes I can!" Hannah said after a while.
"Great! Remember, you cannot tell anyone!"
"I won’t! You can trust me!"
"Awesome," he said as he bent down and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Hannah squealed. She couldn’t believe it! She was Ryan Reid’s girlfriend! How was she supposed to keep this from Andrea though? She didn’t see how this was going to happen! She thought she’d try it though. She knew this wasn’t going to last very long!
Hannah was wrong! Hannah was very, very wrong! These two relationships lasted for over five and a half years! At the end of the fifth year, Ryan proposed to Andrea. Hannah and Ryan still went on though. Hannah and Ryan always kissed and hugged, but never in public. It was always in a house, or behind a dumpster near Hannah and Andrea’s house. This was not the best place to kiss!
Andrea walked over to Hannah’s house one day in June. They were out of college for the summer, so they always did things together. Today, they were meeting Ryan at the pool, which they did almost everyday. Andrea still didn’t know that Ryan was cheating on her with Hannah!
"Hey!" Andrea said when Hannah answered the door.
"Hey," Hannah said. "Are you ready to go? Ryan’s waiting for you!
"I know! It doesn’t seem like it has only been five years! I can’t believe we’re getting married!"
"Yea, it seems like a lot longer!" Hannah agreed. They talked about how Ryan and Andrea were such a cute couple. Hannah didn’t dare say anything about her and Ryan!
"Hey Honey!" Andrea said when she saw Ryan at the pool.
"Hey Sweetie!" Ryan responded. They started to kiss and it about made Hannah gag seeing it. She kept thinking about last night behind the dumpster, and that made her feel better.
"Shall we get in?" Ryan asked when they were finally done kissing.
"Yes!" Hannah said loudly. "I love swimming!" They swam all day, and before they knew it, it was time to go home. Andrea and Ryan gave each other a goodnight kiss that lasted about five minutes, but finally stopped and went home. Ryan waited until Andrea went inside, and quickly darted behind the dumpster where Hannah was already waiting for him. They started kissing and didn’t plan on stopping for a long while! They didn’t know that Andrea was watching from her window, balling and furious! This was the first time she had ever seen them. She tried to calm herself down, but nothing worked! Her mom was already in bed, so things turned AWFUL! Andrea ran downstairs and grabbed her mom’s handgun. Andrea jumped in front of them!
"How could you do this to me?" she screamed as she shot them both in the head. The gunshots rang out though out the town. The town heard one more shot. Andrea shot herself in the head. Andrea, Hannah, and Ryan fell dead.
The police later found a suicide note in Andrea’s pocket stating the exact story. The cheat was too much for Andrea to handle. She couldn’t bear the betrayal of her best friend. Hannah’s future looked so bright, but she couldn’t do anything anymore, because of her best friend’s and her own actions. She would do nothing anymore.
The Fourth of July - McKenzie
It was the day before the Fourth of July, the hot sun was boiling down on us. People were setting up for the fireworks celebration tomarrow night. I have planned on going to this event with my friends Toby, Cassie, Ellie, and Ethan.
We were all excited for this, however, we weren't exactly happy about Alyssa coming all the way from Bellfountaine, Ohio just to spoil our fun. The last time any of us saw her was when she was getting expelled for too many school fights. No one liked her. The town is full of laughter, fun, and happiness. The place is estatic! The streets are covered in the brilliant colors of red, white, and blue. Everyone was jubilent. At my house we had decorations everywhere. We were even planning a Fourth of July dinner for the whole family. My brother was planning on wearing the three American Flag colors to his friend's house.
Today is the day! The whole town is planning on arriving at the square for the celebration. I'm so excited. Only, there is a chance of thunderstorms tonight. Everyone really hopes it doesn't ruin the night because if it does then there will be no fireworks or games. Alyssa will be coming soon. All my friends and I are at my house getting ready for the celebration except Cassie. We don't know where she is. The weather is great right now, and everyone is setting up in town square.
It's about twenty minutes until the celebration and we still have no idea where Cassie is. We called her house and cellphone many times and there is no answer.
Well it is time to go to the party.
This is amazing! People everywhere are so happy and children are smiling! I had just gotten a phone call from Cassie's mom. She is in the hospital. A car had hit her on her bike ride to my house. We all want to go see her, but if we go to see her then we can't enjoy the celebration. This is a tough decision. My friends want to see her and be at the party at the same time.
It's been forty-five minutes since we found out the news. We have decided to stay at they party for an hour then go and see Cassie.
Our time was up and now we are on our way. Ethan had to stay behind though, because of his little sisters. I wondered what she would look like when we got there. Just the thought of it made me cry. The sky was dark, and the rain was drizzling on the car door window. This is going to be hard. Ethan and Ellie are upset too about this horrible event.
As we walked into the door we saw the lobby and sat down. My mother went up to the desk and asked if we could see Cassie. As they led us through the door we saw her lying in her bed looking very tired. We all cried, even Cassie. Today wasn't the worst day. We got a chance to go to the party, and we still all got to be together. This is a Fourth of July I will never forget.
We were all excited for this, however, we weren't exactly happy about Alyssa coming all the way from Bellfountaine, Ohio just to spoil our fun. The last time any of us saw her was when she was getting expelled for too many school fights. No one liked her. The town is full of laughter, fun, and happiness. The place is estatic! The streets are covered in the brilliant colors of red, white, and blue. Everyone was jubilent. At my house we had decorations everywhere. We were even planning a Fourth of July dinner for the whole family. My brother was planning on wearing the three American Flag colors to his friend's house.
Today is the day! The whole town is planning on arriving at the square for the celebration. I'm so excited. Only, there is a chance of thunderstorms tonight. Everyone really hopes it doesn't ruin the night because if it does then there will be no fireworks or games. Alyssa will be coming soon. All my friends and I are at my house getting ready for the celebration except Cassie. We don't know where she is. The weather is great right now, and everyone is setting up in town square.
It's about twenty minutes until the celebration and we still have no idea where Cassie is. We called her house and cellphone many times and there is no answer.
Well it is time to go to the party.
This is amazing! People everywhere are so happy and children are smiling! I had just gotten a phone call from Cassie's mom. She is in the hospital. A car had hit her on her bike ride to my house. We all want to go see her, but if we go to see her then we can't enjoy the celebration. This is a tough decision. My friends want to see her and be at the party at the same time.
It's been forty-five minutes since we found out the news. We have decided to stay at they party for an hour then go and see Cassie.
Our time was up and now we are on our way. Ethan had to stay behind though, because of his little sisters. I wondered what she would look like when we got there. Just the thought of it made me cry. The sky was dark, and the rain was drizzling on the car door window. This is going to be hard. Ethan and Ellie are upset too about this horrible event.
As we walked into the door we saw the lobby and sat down. My mother went up to the desk and asked if we could see Cassie. As they led us through the door we saw her lying in her bed looking very tired. We all cried, even Cassie. Today wasn't the worst day. We got a chance to go to the party, and we still all got to be together. This is a Fourth of July I will never forget.
untitled -Addy
The Civil War has been in full swing for nearly two years! My name is Virginia Harison and I've lived in Ohio all my life. My family and I live on the edge of the Great Ohio River. The war has greatly effected my family because my grandfather convinced my brother to fight for the South's cause when he went to visit in July of 1860. My father moved us to the banks of the great Ohio a year after. His belief in the slaves' freedom brought us here!
That was three years ago, before my mother answered the door in our great brick Ohio home to three black men, two women, and a child. They had swum the river through the night hoping the child would make it through the frigid splashes of water drenching their bodies throughout the night. They had seen the tourch outside of my parent's bedroom hoping that our magnificent home was a fugitive slave mansion. Willing to help them reach their next stop on the way to freedom during the warm summer's night.
Now mama is talking to a white man in uniform. Gray. A confederate soldier bearing a great flag folded with a medal on top. Father starts to cry. My brother had been killed in the bloodiest battle of Antietam. It took place in a small town in Maryland. the cold, murkey day got only worse as time passed by. Father took the flag from the man and thanked him for retuning my brother's medals. As father pulled himself up the squeaky steps of our old home up to his study, mother invited the confederate man in. At that point, I was furrious at everything: my brother for running off and getting killed, my father for not even wanting to know how it happened, my mother for being so calm in this time of distress, the confederate soldier for sending my brother into the field in the first place, and finally myself for putting so much belief in the union cause that my heart is hardly broken at the death of my only sibling.
When I look back upon that day, I can only think of how much I hated the confederates and how it was their belief that sent my brother to his grave. Ever since the confederate soldier left our home, Father became more and more determined to free more slaves. Cold and hungry, he would house and feed them, give them hope on their large hard gourney to freedom. His whole life was based around conducting the Underground Railroad and his death was a burden to the hearts for many. Now Father is gone, mother is gone and on the warm, comforting day, I head home to recall such harsh and wonderful memories in our large Ohio home.
The rears rush to my eyes as I think back on all of those years with my family in that house. Coming back to this house has to be on of the hardest things I have ever done. It brings back the hurt and sorrow of when I lost my brother to the horid slave movement and the civil war. I remember my family was not the only people hurt by my brother's death. His best friend and quite the boy of my fancy, John Booth was devistated when he heard the news. Bootsie, as we called him, was enraged not only to have lost a best friend, but also seeing me hurt so badly. Together for two years we were down and thinking of ways to try and soothe the horrible feeling we got when we thought of my brother. Finally John asked me who's fault I thought it was. At fisrt I wanted to say my father's for not stopping my brother from leaving. However, it seems the more I thought about it, it was the slaves for running off. No, it was the officers for sending people to fight. OF COURSE! President Lincoln. All of this was his doing. It was his fault we are in this war, it was he who declared war, his fault my brother was even thinking about war, and his fault my father was helping slaves against my brother's will. All of this was Lincoln's fault. But how would that help any of the pain Bootsie and I were feeling.
Just then John and I looked each other right in the eye. Of course! To get rid of our problems, we must start withe the source. We must eliminate Lincoln.
From that moment on, John and I schemed, weasled, and wound our way to Washington. From there we were stuck. No one seemed to know where Lincoln was. If you ask me, I bet another on of those sickly sons of his died!
The rain was pounding the muddy streets as John and I tried to find an open room in the busy city.
"Quick, let's get in here!" said John. He opened two large wooden doors.
"Bootise, we can't! that's the Ford's Theater, that is! if we get caught without a ticket, they'll throw us in the jailhouse for sure!"
"Look, I've got connections. You have to trust me on this. My brother-in-law is one fo the stars in this production, 'Love in Livery'. See, ' John Sleeper Clark' as one of the leads. Bright as day, its right there!"
Once I was relieved that we would have a story to back up our late appearance into the theater, I worked my way up the wooden steps. The old door creaked ludly as we waske in, but the comedy "love in Livery" was underway. No one in the audience notice our abrupt stumble through the entryway. The only person who noticed our late arrival was the doorsman, but that was expected. I mean, its the man's job!
"Oye! You two will have to wait until the next show unless you've got special tickets". He quickly stopped John and me before we could slip by unnoticed, looking like we were headed for our seats.
"Oh," said Bootsie, as polite as possible. "You see my good man, I am family. You see that man up on stage now? Yes, well he is my brother-in-law. My sister has saved us a seat up in the lower balcony."
"Ah, sir, forgive my I didn't, but, well you can go, but does the tramp at your side have any relation?"
Apalled that he would call me a tramp just because I was in a day dress, not a night silk gown furriated me!
"I do! I am his wife, and I would appretiate it if you showed a bit more respect for women!"
The doorman's face turned a deep red as he aplogized for his rudeness. He showed us the way to the lower balcony and we made our way to the end of the row right next to the Commander's Cabinet.
We watched the show and acted as though that was what we were there for all along. When the show reached Intermission, John and I both notice the gaurds had left to go check on the carriage. I was the perfect time to make our move, but suddenly, I twinged inside.
"John, something doesn't feel right, should we really be doing this?" I asked.
"Of course we shouldnt be doing this you stupid adolecant," hius adrenaline was going. I could tell he was nervous. "We are about to kill the most powerful and beloved man in the country! You can't seriously be having second thoughts about it! He is the reason your brother is dead! He tore your family apart, without ever meeting any of you! Are you honestly goin to back our now, after all we've gone through to get here? I don't care what you do Virginia, but my best friend, your brother, died trying to prove this man wrong. We can finish his work, but we have to do it now! There's no other time. The gaurdes are gone and no one is paying attention. We must move quickly."
John had risen to his feet while explaining all of this to me in his harsh tone.
"What may I do to help?" I asked in a quiet voive, undertanding that we must hurry.
"You see those poles over there in the corner?" he nodded toward them so I knoew what he was talking about. "Go recieve those and give me one and you take tho other. I'll take one in withe me and pretend I am one of the guards. Tehn I'll set the bar over the door and I need to you to do the same from the outside. Then you, get OUT! If anyone finds out a woman was involved in this, it will mean shame on your whole family.
"I understand John, but if the door is going to be barred on each side, how are you to get away?" I could feel my heart thumping in my throat.
"I'm going to jump, run across the stage so peaople think its part of the show and head out the back door behing stage."
"I see, but Honh," I said hesitently. "Jonh, I love you. I will be waiting for you at the Southeast Navy Yard Bridge. Promise me John, promise me you'll meet me there."
"Virginia, I've loved you all my life. I'd been waiting on you and of course my dear, I will meet you."
What happened next was unedxpected by either of us. The most passionate kiss ever endured by anyone was laid upon me.
Idod not want to go! I could not leave my JOhn, but yet, he had promised to meet me soon after our duty was done.
"Right," said John. "Its time to give Lincoln what he had coming since 1860!"
That was it. Iran over, grabbed the two ples John had pinted out and handed one to hime. He pulled out his 44 caliber dinger pistol, nodded, and that was the last time I ever saw him.
I did as he had said. I waited until he was insid and latched the door from the outside. Following his intructions yet again, I fled the theater. I'm not sure hat happened next. All I remember thinking is...What have I done!!!?
end
That was three years ago, before my mother answered the door in our great brick Ohio home to three black men, two women, and a child. They had swum the river through the night hoping the child would make it through the frigid splashes of water drenching their bodies throughout the night. They had seen the tourch outside of my parent's bedroom hoping that our magnificent home was a fugitive slave mansion. Willing to help them reach their next stop on the way to freedom during the warm summer's night.
Now mama is talking to a white man in uniform. Gray. A confederate soldier bearing a great flag folded with a medal on top. Father starts to cry. My brother had been killed in the bloodiest battle of Antietam. It took place in a small town in Maryland. the cold, murkey day got only worse as time passed by. Father took the flag from the man and thanked him for retuning my brother's medals. As father pulled himself up the squeaky steps of our old home up to his study, mother invited the confederate man in. At that point, I was furrious at everything: my brother for running off and getting killed, my father for not even wanting to know how it happened, my mother for being so calm in this time of distress, the confederate soldier for sending my brother into the field in the first place, and finally myself for putting so much belief in the union cause that my heart is hardly broken at the death of my only sibling.
When I look back upon that day, I can only think of how much I hated the confederates and how it was their belief that sent my brother to his grave. Ever since the confederate soldier left our home, Father became more and more determined to free more slaves. Cold and hungry, he would house and feed them, give them hope on their large hard gourney to freedom. His whole life was based around conducting the Underground Railroad and his death was a burden to the hearts for many. Now Father is gone, mother is gone and on the warm, comforting day, I head home to recall such harsh and wonderful memories in our large Ohio home.
The rears rush to my eyes as I think back on all of those years with my family in that house. Coming back to this house has to be on of the hardest things I have ever done. It brings back the hurt and sorrow of when I lost my brother to the horid slave movement and the civil war. I remember my family was not the only people hurt by my brother's death. His best friend and quite the boy of my fancy, John Booth was devistated when he heard the news. Bootsie, as we called him, was enraged not only to have lost a best friend, but also seeing me hurt so badly. Together for two years we were down and thinking of ways to try and soothe the horrible feeling we got when we thought of my brother. Finally John asked me who's fault I thought it was. At fisrt I wanted to say my father's for not stopping my brother from leaving. However, it seems the more I thought about it, it was the slaves for running off. No, it was the officers for sending people to fight. OF COURSE! President Lincoln. All of this was his doing. It was his fault we are in this war, it was he who declared war, his fault my brother was even thinking about war, and his fault my father was helping slaves against my brother's will. All of this was Lincoln's fault. But how would that help any of the pain Bootsie and I were feeling.
Just then John and I looked each other right in the eye. Of course! To get rid of our problems, we must start withe the source. We must eliminate Lincoln.
From that moment on, John and I schemed, weasled, and wound our way to Washington. From there we were stuck. No one seemed to know where Lincoln was. If you ask me, I bet another on of those sickly sons of his died!
The rain was pounding the muddy streets as John and I tried to find an open room in the busy city.
"Quick, let's get in here!" said John. He opened two large wooden doors.
"Bootise, we can't! that's the Ford's Theater, that is! if we get caught without a ticket, they'll throw us in the jailhouse for sure!"
"Look, I've got connections. You have to trust me on this. My brother-in-law is one fo the stars in this production, 'Love in Livery'. See, ' John Sleeper Clark' as one of the leads. Bright as day, its right there!"
Once I was relieved that we would have a story to back up our late appearance into the theater, I worked my way up the wooden steps. The old door creaked ludly as we waske in, but the comedy "love in Livery" was underway. No one in the audience notice our abrupt stumble through the entryway. The only person who noticed our late arrival was the doorsman, but that was expected. I mean, its the man's job!
"Oye! You two will have to wait until the next show unless you've got special tickets". He quickly stopped John and me before we could slip by unnoticed, looking like we were headed for our seats.
"Oh," said Bootsie, as polite as possible. "You see my good man, I am family. You see that man up on stage now? Yes, well he is my brother-in-law. My sister has saved us a seat up in the lower balcony."
"Ah, sir, forgive my I didn't, but, well you can go, but does the tramp at your side have any relation?"
Apalled that he would call me a tramp just because I was in a day dress, not a night silk gown furriated me!
"I do! I am his wife, and I would appretiate it if you showed a bit more respect for women!"
The doorman's face turned a deep red as he aplogized for his rudeness. He showed us the way to the lower balcony and we made our way to the end of the row right next to the Commander's Cabinet.
We watched the show and acted as though that was what we were there for all along. When the show reached Intermission, John and I both notice the gaurds had left to go check on the carriage. I was the perfect time to make our move, but suddenly, I twinged inside.
"John, something doesn't feel right, should we really be doing this?" I asked.
"Of course we shouldnt be doing this you stupid adolecant," hius adrenaline was going. I could tell he was nervous. "We are about to kill the most powerful and beloved man in the country! You can't seriously be having second thoughts about it! He is the reason your brother is dead! He tore your family apart, without ever meeting any of you! Are you honestly goin to back our now, after all we've gone through to get here? I don't care what you do Virginia, but my best friend, your brother, died trying to prove this man wrong. We can finish his work, but we have to do it now! There's no other time. The gaurdes are gone and no one is paying attention. We must move quickly."
John had risen to his feet while explaining all of this to me in his harsh tone.
"What may I do to help?" I asked in a quiet voive, undertanding that we must hurry.
"You see those poles over there in the corner?" he nodded toward them so I knoew what he was talking about. "Go recieve those and give me one and you take tho other. I'll take one in withe me and pretend I am one of the guards. Tehn I'll set the bar over the door and I need to you to do the same from the outside. Then you, get OUT! If anyone finds out a woman was involved in this, it will mean shame on your whole family.
"I understand John, but if the door is going to be barred on each side, how are you to get away?" I could feel my heart thumping in my throat.
"I'm going to jump, run across the stage so peaople think its part of the show and head out the back door behing stage."
"I see, but Honh," I said hesitently. "Jonh, I love you. I will be waiting for you at the Southeast Navy Yard Bridge. Promise me John, promise me you'll meet me there."
"Virginia, I've loved you all my life. I'd been waiting on you and of course my dear, I will meet you."
What happened next was unedxpected by either of us. The most passionate kiss ever endured by anyone was laid upon me.
Idod not want to go! I could not leave my JOhn, but yet, he had promised to meet me soon after our duty was done.
"Right," said John. "Its time to give Lincoln what he had coming since 1860!"
That was it. Iran over, grabbed the two ples John had pinted out and handed one to hime. He pulled out his 44 caliber dinger pistol, nodded, and that was the last time I ever saw him.
I did as he had said. I waited until he was insid and latched the door from the outside. Following his intructions yet again, I fled the theater. I'm not sure hat happened next. All I remember thinking is...What have I done!!!?
end
ALL But 1
I have all of our short stories up (except Emily's, which is really good but I need the flash drive) so feel free to read them and give us lots of comments. I (we) will look forward to your feedback.
We will be adding some stories from last years class to this site as well so that should make it even more interesting!!!!!!
We will be adding some stories from last years class to this site as well so that should make it even more interesting!!!!!!
A New Life - Kark
A New Life Karl Singer
Marc Subaka woke up to the same old room, the same old breakfast of eggs and bacon, and began the same old walk to school. It was a nice day, as nice days go in the winters of Chicago. Marc had a pretty normal life…he went to school, hung out with his friends, and was a star on the basketball team. His parents were divorced as most of his friend’s parents were these days. He lived with his dad, Bill Subaka who was an accountant for a private business that he knew nothing about. Marc was use to living on his own, but he didn’t really like it, every chance he got he would hang out with his best friend Jack. They had known each other for 4 years, ever since he moved to Chicago.
Marc was a freshman at Oakland High School. He was pretty popular and had a hot girlfriend named Stacy, whom he thought he was in love with. They had known each other for 4 years also, and she and Jack were both friends too. They would all hang out and were best buds, this was when Marc would be happy. Marc was otherwise a thinker when he wasn’t with friends. He would often just daydream and think to himself about things and not often realize it. This being so, he was a C and B student. However, this was enough to keep him on the basketball team and that was what he cared about. When he was playing basketball, he was focused, nothing in the world could stop him, especially not the opposing teams. Marc was probably the best guard in the state and his 8th grade team had won last year’s state championship. His dream was to be a big name star someday and play professional basketball. Little did he know, that dream would never come true.
Marc wasn’t just a mean jock, he cared about people and never put people down. Although sometimes with his friends, he put on an act and made fun of the losers in his school. He always felt bad about doing it later. His family was one of the most important things to him. He loved spending time with the people he barely saw and especially loved thanksgiving when the whole family would get together. He would do anything for his family.
Bill Subaka walked into the big glass building on the corner of 31st street like usual, at 7:00 in the morning. He flashed his ID to the secretary who looked like an innocent 40 year old, but was trained in more takedown moves then you could imagine (and had a gun under her desk, just in case). Then he took the elevator to the 50th floor even though there were supposedly 40 floors. The rest was storage and no one could go up there because it was unstable. After he got there he walked up the empty hall that ended at a big metal door. The only way you could get through this door was if you were a registered F.B.I agent. He held his eye up to a hole in the wall that looked like a crack to anyone else, like he did every morning, and the door slid open. Up on the 50th floor of the insurance building on 31st street was a secret world. The room was filled with computers and offices with some of the world’s most secret information. It was also filled with the pictures and names of the most dangerous criminals in the world. Bill had to know these criminals like the back of his hand. He had a very dangerous job; stopping major drug trades in their tracks. Recently he had been working on catching Jose Sanchez, a drug dealer they had suspicions about bringing drugs across the border into America. He was also number 6 on there most wanted list. They had heard from an informant that he was planning his next transport to be next week. All they had to do now was wait and catch him, except Sanchez knew something was fishy and already had suspicions that he was in the F.B.I’s system.
Bill greeted the regulars who were there every morning, and then he walked into his office. His partner Mike was there waiting for him. They exchanged greetings and then got down to business. Mike had a very serious look on his face.
“Our informant is dead, Sanchez found him.” Mike said.
“That means he knows we are after him,” Bill said stating the obvious.
“How did they find him?”
“We don’t know, we just know that he hasn’t contacted us in 24 hours. We also think his computer was infiltrated as well. We have no access to it anymore. Bill we are all in danger. Sanchez knows who you are, since you were the main contact. You and your family have to get out of here. I think you know what that means. The only option you have is to send you and your family into witness protection until we can catch Sanchez, and the case goes through.”
Bill knew that he had a dangerous job and he never wanted to have his family put in jeopardy. He had no idea how he was going to tell Marc, who seemed to be so happy here in Chicago, that he had to move away without telling anyone to some hick town that the F.B.I feels safe. Bill and Mike, best friends and partners in the F.B.I for 6 years didn’t know if they would ever see each other again. Mike was the only one other than their boss who knew about Bill having to leave, no one else was allowed to know either. They would be sent to a new town, given new names, social security numbers, and Bill would have to find a new job. Marc would have to start in a new school, and, Bill realized with horror, his wife would have to live with them! They would have to start a new life.
Marc was sitting in Algebra 2, his least favorite class, when a student brought him a slip from his dad that said. “Come home immediately” Marc, relieved to get out of the class, showed the teacher his note and went to his locker to get his things so that he could walk home. It had turned into a chilly and gloomy day with the clouds threatening rain. Marc bundled up with his jacket, and was wondering why he had to come home so early as he began the 3-block walk to his house. Usually his dad wouldn’t be home till at least 5:00 o’clock p.m, about the time Marc’s basketball practice would end. Then Marc began to worry, maybe something had happened to his dad or his grandma, whom he was very fond of. He quickened his pace a little bit so he could find out why he had to come home.
As soon as Marc’s house came in site, everything looked normal except there was a black SUV and his mom’s Buick in the driveway. He let out a sigh of relief thinking that his mom had just come to visit and he was just called home early to have a chance to see his mom whom he usually only got to see once a month. He was actually kind of happy that he got to see his mom, and even though his dad didn’t get along with her, he always enjoyed having her around. Sometimes he would wish he had chosen to live with his mother, but she didn’t like the big city and Marc wanted to be where all of his friends were. He loved his life and didn’t want it to change. Yet this time he would have no choice.
He opened the door and saw a couple of suitcases lying in the living room and no one else. He yelled out “Hello!” but there was no response. He wondered around the house and saw that his mom, his dad, and a big tall man in a black suit sitting outside on the patio. His first reaction was to go outside and talk to his mom but then he grew wary of the man in the black suit. Maybe this man was holding his parents hostage, they both looked very stressed and worried. Should he call 911? The more he looked at the scene on the patio he realized that something was defiantly wrong. He was just getting ready to pick up the phone when a strong hand gripped his shoulder, making him jump. It was another man in a black suit.
“Are you Marc?” he questioned.
“Uh yea” he replied nervously.
“Well you aren’t anymore, c’mon we work with your dad and we have to talk about something. I won’t hurt you.”
Marc nervously followed the man out the door and onto the patio. He hugged his mom and his dad who just gave him a weak attempt at a smile. His mom was teary eyed and his dad had a solemn look on his face.
“What’s wrong” Marc asked, breaking the ice.
The man who had been talking to his mom and dad before, whom Marc realized was his dad’s friend, Mike, answered. “We don’t have much time, so I’ll explain this to you as quickly as possible, now this isn’t going to appeal to you but it is necessary for your safety.”
“Safety?” Marc thought to himself
His dad took over from there “Look Marc, I’m not an accountant. We all work for the F.B.I except your mother. I’m sorry I’ve lied to you all this time. Right now however we are all in danger. A criminal heard that I was working on catching him and he knows who I am. This man is a very evil guy and probably wants to kill me. I know this might not be fair but until we can catch this guy and the case goes through we have to, well move. I don’t know how long it will take but the sooner we get out of here the better. Mom will be living with us as well. We already packed up some of your stuff.”
Marc was at a loss for words, thinking that this was just one big joke, but somehow looking at his mom and dad made him realize that this was not a joke. They looked very serious.
“No” Marc said weakly “I’m not moving to some other part of Chicago. I will stay in town with grandma, until we are safe.”
His mom gave him one of her looks “Hon, from what I’ve learned we won’t just be moving to a different city. We are going to have to move somewhere along way away from here.” She said on the verge of tears, mostly ones for Marc.
Marc couldn’t understand why his parents were doing this to him. It wasn’t fair and he wasn’t going anywhere.
“I have to tell Stacy, and my coach, and my friends.” Marc said somewhat dazed.
“I’m afraid no one can know where you are, it could put them in danger.” The man in the black suit who hadn’t spoken in a while said.
“Well I will stay with grandma for a couple of weeks then.” Marc said still in denial.
“No you won’t, I’m sure Sanchez and his gang of about 75 people, will come to our house and your school as soon as possible. You can’t be in this city or around anyone who knows who you are.” His dad said. “From now on your name is Jake Young, my name is Will Young, and your mom’s new name is Joy, do you understand. It is very important that we don’t call each other by our real names. Someone might recognize us, which is still unlikely where we are going but we have to be safe.”
Bill’s friend in the black suit told him to hurry up and grab a few personal things you want to bring and that they would be leaving in about 30 minutes.
Marc ran up to his room to get his things. He wanted to have his cell phone so that he could call Stacy. There was no way that he would leave town with out telling her first. He went to pick it up from its normal spot on his dresser, but it was no longer there. He quietly snuck downstairs to use the home phone only to be stopped by the other man in black who insisted that he called him Tim.
“Didn’t I tell you that you couldn’t call anybody?” he said.
“I have to call my girlfriend, I can’t just leave her,” Marc replied.
“If you really cared about her you wouldn’t call her, that way she is safe.” He said and then told Marc to go get his things we are leaving in 10 minutes.
Marc reluctantly went back upstairs to get some things. He discovered that his clothes, his music, and his pictures had already been packed. Nonetheless his most valuable possession had not. It was his first basketball. His dad had given it to him when he was 7 years old, when his family was happy.
There was a knock on the door and his mom came in.
“Hey sweetie,” she said hugging him. “I’m so sorry about all of this, hopefully we will be back home in a couple of weeks or so. I know how much you love basketball and I’m sorry you will miss the playoffs.”
The Playoffs! Marc hadn’t even thought of those. How was he supposed to explain to his team why he had been gone for so long! This was the first thing he asked his dad when they loaded into the big black SUV.
“We’ve already taken care of it with the school and told everyone there you are on vacation.” His dad said. “I’m sure your team will forgive you.”
Marc, who was now Jake Young didn’t reply. Instead he looked out the window as they drove away from the city he had been used to for so many years, wondering when he would see it again.
Somewhere along the drive Marc had drifted to sleep. When he woke up he had no clue where they were. He asked Tim, the driver, where they were going but he wouldn’t answer. His dad told him that they would be checking into a hotel for a couple of nights until they could get that straightened out.
Marc sank back into the comfortable leather seat in the back and thought to himself until he dozed off again.
This time when he woke up, it was dark and the clock on the dash said 10:30. They had been gone since 3:00 o’clock and Marc figured they would stop at a hotel pretty soon. Tim told him it would be about 15 minutes until they reached the Best Western hotel. His mom appeared to be asleep, but his dad was wide awake talking to Mike in a whisper so that no one else could make out what they were saying.
They arrived at a Best Western hotel at about 10:45 p.m. Marc, his dad, and his mom had a room and Tim and Mike had a room connected to theirs. Mike told Marc to never go outside the room on his own because he could still possibly be in danger here. Marc’s mom and dad were doing their best to get along with each other and make everything as good as possible.
Marc found out that the only thing to do was to watch television, which got wearisome quickly. They had been there all day and still hadn’t gotten a new location.
That next morning Marc woke up and no one was there. There was only a note that said
“Mike and Tim have taken us out to do some errands. Stay in the room and we should be back around 9:00 o’clock a.m,
Love Dad.”
It was 8:30 a.m and Marc saw no harm in exploring the hotel a little bit. He picked up the extra key card and walked out into the hall. They were on the 8th floor and as Marc looked down from the railing there weren’t many people up yet. He also saw a Starbucks and decided he would get himself a treat with the few bucks he had in his pocket. The only people who he came in contact with were a maid carrying towels and a man who looked to be in his 60s. He ordered a cappuccino (which he normally wasn’t allowed to have because it would stunt his growth) and a muffin. Then he went over to a table in a corner and ate his food. The next thing he knew it was 9:00 o’clock! He swiftly threw away his trash and ran to make it back to the room. He jumped in the elevator and stepped out onto their floor.
Eight floors below Tim, Mike, and his mom and his dad walked into the hotel carrying groceries for their mini fridge.
He didn’t know what the big deal was about him staying in the room but he didn’t want to get in trouble. He lay back down on the pullout couch he had been sleeping on and turned on the TV. About a minute later he heard a knock on the door and immediately went over to answer it assuming it was his parents. Luckily the chain was still on. The maid standing outside had an evil look in her eyes. As Marc made eye contact he saw her foot rise up to kick the door down with not quite so womanly strength, giving Marc a bloody nose. Just stepping out of the elevator were his parents and the men in black. Seeing this Mike ran over to the door throwing down the groceries and the coffee that they had stopped to get, and tackled the maid. Before the evil maid had time to react, Mike and Tim had her handcuffed and on the floor. Marc who just had a bloody nose and a headache rushed out into the hall as Tim was pulling back the maids face to reveal a 30 year old man. His dad seemed to know him as Sebastian Chang, one of Jose affiliates.
“H..H..How did he find us” Marc said stammering.
“Someone must have trailed us here.” His dad said. “They must have waited until we were gone to get Marc!” his mom said in horror. “Are you sure you are okay?”
“I’m fine I guess” Marc answered.
“We will leave as soon as possible. We have found a place for you guys in Jamesville, Louisiana.” Tim said. “Pack your things and we can go now.”
With that said they packed their things while Tim watched over Chang and they all loaded back into the SUV. Luckily no one had seen or heard the commotion that just happened.
After Chang was dropped off at a police station Mike explained some things to them.
“Once we make sure we are not being trailed, we will stop and get your car. When we have your new car, which will actually be a used one, we have to make the drive to Louisiana and we should be there by tomorrow by sunrise.”
After a lot of going around in circles to make sure they weren’t being trailed and getting their “new” crappy jeep, they finally started the drive to Jamesville. By dawn the next morning, just as Mike had said, they arrived at their new house. Marc had never seen anything so ugly in his life. It was a brown stucco house down a long lane hidden by trees with the intention of not being seen from the street. Inside there were 9 rooms and 2 bathrooms. Everything was also furnished with old furniture.
His mom and dad did there best to display a fake happiness but they were both used to better living conditions.
Bill, who was now referred to as Will, would start his new job as a Fed-Ex driver in a week. Marc, who was now Jake, would start his new school in a week as well. His mom would stay at home for the time getting everything adjusted in their house.
After they had brought there stuff in they decided to let Marc explore Jamesville, as long as Tim went with him. Being close to town Marc began the walk down the lane with Tim trailing behind him. Marc was not impressed by what was called “the town.” There were about 10 little stores in the streets and a few country restaurants. He also saw a Wendy’s, which looked, very out of place in the little town. There weren’t that many people walking around either, all he saw were a few older couples, and a few girls that looked his age. Marc didn’t feel like talking to them though, even when they started looking at him. His school defiantly didn’t look out of place with the town. If anything the town looked great compared to the school. Marc guessed that there was a maximum of 75 kids living in Jamesville. Marc also guessed by the amount of houses he saw there was a maximum of 300 people living in Jamesville. He had no idea what he was supposed to do here. He also wondered about how many kids had committed suicide out of boredom. At least there was basketball. There had to be basketball here even if there was only a population of 300.
After Marc had the “grand tour” of the town he came home to find that his mom and dad had started to settle into the house. The F.B.I had taken the liberty to provide them with all of the things needed in a new house. There was even a TV and some boxed and canned food in the shelves. Marc had already decided that he hated it here so far and believed that he would always hate it here. But hey, what were a few weeks.
Mike and Tim were going to stay with them for a couple of days so that everyone would understand what they could and couldn’t do. After that they would be on there own and one of them would come and check on them once a week. That night as Marc was laying in his new room incapable of falling asleep he couldn’t help but to hear his mom and dad quarrelling. His dad was saying something about not knowing how long they would have to be there and his mom was now crying. Marc didn’t want to listen anymore, putting the pillow over his ears and eventually falling asleep.
A week later, after nothing that exciting except getting his basketball hoop from the main city, Marc was supposed to start his first day at school and his dad was to start his first day at his new job. Marc had taken a tour of the school with the principal the day before and thought that he might actually like the slower pace. At his school in Chicago everything was always crowded and the classes were way too packed. This was defiantly not an issue for Jamesville high. He had also found out that there was a basketball team thank god, but there were only 6 kids on it. They were just getting ready to start their season too. Basketball wasn’t the only sport at Jamesville high. There weren’t enough resources for a football field, but there was a tennis team and a swim team.
Marc’s first day of school turned out to be really good. He turned out to be pretty popular since not many people seemed to move into Jamesville. He was also well admired from the ladies being very good looking with his tall muscular body, blond hair and blue eyes. That same day he came to practice with the team. His new friend who was in all of his classes, Joey, was on the team. The coach was Marcs History teacher. He explained a few of their plays and asked him if he had much experience in the sport. To answer his question he picked up a ball and shot it from where he was standing about 25ft away and drained it. The players stared at him in amazement as if they had never seen anyone make a three-point-shot in their lives.
“Ok this is great!” Mr. Smith said enthusiastically. “Well I’m sure you have met everyone here. We play our first game on Friday against the Cardinals from uptown, which we have never beat in school history, so with you on the team maybe we will have a chance.”
Marc doubted it, the rest of the team, besides Joey who was actually ok, just sucked. They could barely make a wide-open lay-up. Maybe they could get better though, just maybe.
For the next week Marc went to school, made new friends, and went to a few parties. It was Friday and the basketball team was on their way to Centerville to play the Cardinals. Marc didn’t know how good this team was but he was pretty confident that they were good enough to win. Marc’s team had started to play like a team in their little gym and was running all of their plays well. The bus ride was about 45 minutes long and when they got there the gym was not that much better then Jamesville’s. However, they had 10 kids on their team, which wasn’t that many, but compared to their 7 it was.
At halftime the score was Centerville Cardinals: 35 Jamesville Ravens: 25. Until six minutes into the 2nd quarter they had been putting up a good fight. But everyone on the team including Marc was too drained to keep running up and down the court to keep up with them. The final score was Cardinals: 63 Ravens: 50. They had tried hard throughout the game but they couldn’t keep up with them.
During the next week still nothing had been heard about Sanchez. Marc felt terrible about not telling Stacy and all of his friends about where he was. He was also kind of missing the big-city life. But he was completely useless to do anything.
The basketball team had been conditioning after school everyday. It was Marc’s idea. If the team were in good shape we wouldn’t run out of energy in the second half. They had played 3 more games on their schedule against teams from around the town and they had won all 3 of them. Marc had at least 30 points in every game and was turning into quite a stud at Jamesville High.
The Young’s had now been residences of Jamesville for 3 weeks. Everyone seemed to be adapting well. His mom had made friends with some other housewives around town and his dad had made friends from around town and at work as well.
Two more weeks later things were still the same and no one had heard anything about Sanchez. Marc’s team was now 6-2 forfeiting one game because of a lack of players. Apparently two of their guys thought other things were more important. However, the regional championships were the next day and it was the Cardinals against the Ravens again.
Marc got up the next morning and went on with the morning like everything was normal for basketball. He went to school and after school he got on to the bus and listened to his music to get pumped for the game. Marc knew that they would win and they did, beating the Cardinals 60 to 54. He was awarded M.V.P of the game and tournament; scoring 37 points with 10 assists he also had a few boards and blocks. After the game a photographer came and took their team photo to put into the state paper. He also took a picture of Marc the M.V.P.
It was the best day of Marc’s new life. After the trip home they all celebrated at the local pizza shack and had a great time. Marc went to bed happy for once and woke up the next day feeling great.
He went to school like normal and decided after school to go over to his friend’s house. He got home late at about 9 o’clock; the black SUV was parked outside in the drive. Maybe there was good news! When he got inside Mike was there, no Tim.
“Son, thank god you’re here.” His dad said. “Marc, they caught Jose! We can go back to Chicago!” Marc was too happy to say anything, but suddenly something came to mind.
“Where is Tim?” Marc questioned.
“Sadly, he was killed by Jose, Somehow Jose found out where you were. Luckily we were here and we killed him before he could kill you guys.” Mike answered.
Marc felt extremely guilty realizing that his picture had been in the paper. This was something that he had been warned about. It had never occurred to him what could happen from a little basketball picture. He was told that maybe it was a good thing he did that, they had caught Sanchez and even though Tim was killed, this was the way Tim had wanted to die.
Marc felt a little guilty about moving again, and just told him it was for his dad’s job. He couldn’t wait to get back to Chicago. Sometimes though he still missed his simple life in Jamesville.
Fin
Marc Subaka woke up to the same old room, the same old breakfast of eggs and bacon, and began the same old walk to school. It was a nice day, as nice days go in the winters of Chicago. Marc had a pretty normal life…he went to school, hung out with his friends, and was a star on the basketball team. His parents were divorced as most of his friend’s parents were these days. He lived with his dad, Bill Subaka who was an accountant for a private business that he knew nothing about. Marc was use to living on his own, but he didn’t really like it, every chance he got he would hang out with his best friend Jack. They had known each other for 4 years, ever since he moved to Chicago.
Marc was a freshman at Oakland High School. He was pretty popular and had a hot girlfriend named Stacy, whom he thought he was in love with. They had known each other for 4 years also, and she and Jack were both friends too. They would all hang out and were best buds, this was when Marc would be happy. Marc was otherwise a thinker when he wasn’t with friends. He would often just daydream and think to himself about things and not often realize it. This being so, he was a C and B student. However, this was enough to keep him on the basketball team and that was what he cared about. When he was playing basketball, he was focused, nothing in the world could stop him, especially not the opposing teams. Marc was probably the best guard in the state and his 8th grade team had won last year’s state championship. His dream was to be a big name star someday and play professional basketball. Little did he know, that dream would never come true.
Marc wasn’t just a mean jock, he cared about people and never put people down. Although sometimes with his friends, he put on an act and made fun of the losers in his school. He always felt bad about doing it later. His family was one of the most important things to him. He loved spending time with the people he barely saw and especially loved thanksgiving when the whole family would get together. He would do anything for his family.
Bill Subaka walked into the big glass building on the corner of 31st street like usual, at 7:00 in the morning. He flashed his ID to the secretary who looked like an innocent 40 year old, but was trained in more takedown moves then you could imagine (and had a gun under her desk, just in case). Then he took the elevator to the 50th floor even though there were supposedly 40 floors. The rest was storage and no one could go up there because it was unstable. After he got there he walked up the empty hall that ended at a big metal door. The only way you could get through this door was if you were a registered F.B.I agent. He held his eye up to a hole in the wall that looked like a crack to anyone else, like he did every morning, and the door slid open. Up on the 50th floor of the insurance building on 31st street was a secret world. The room was filled with computers and offices with some of the world’s most secret information. It was also filled with the pictures and names of the most dangerous criminals in the world. Bill had to know these criminals like the back of his hand. He had a very dangerous job; stopping major drug trades in their tracks. Recently he had been working on catching Jose Sanchez, a drug dealer they had suspicions about bringing drugs across the border into America. He was also number 6 on there most wanted list. They had heard from an informant that he was planning his next transport to be next week. All they had to do now was wait and catch him, except Sanchez knew something was fishy and already had suspicions that he was in the F.B.I’s system.
Bill greeted the regulars who were there every morning, and then he walked into his office. His partner Mike was there waiting for him. They exchanged greetings and then got down to business. Mike had a very serious look on his face.
“Our informant is dead, Sanchez found him.” Mike said.
“That means he knows we are after him,” Bill said stating the obvious.
“How did they find him?”
“We don’t know, we just know that he hasn’t contacted us in 24 hours. We also think his computer was infiltrated as well. We have no access to it anymore. Bill we are all in danger. Sanchez knows who you are, since you were the main contact. You and your family have to get out of here. I think you know what that means. The only option you have is to send you and your family into witness protection until we can catch Sanchez, and the case goes through.”
Bill knew that he had a dangerous job and he never wanted to have his family put in jeopardy. He had no idea how he was going to tell Marc, who seemed to be so happy here in Chicago, that he had to move away without telling anyone to some hick town that the F.B.I feels safe. Bill and Mike, best friends and partners in the F.B.I for 6 years didn’t know if they would ever see each other again. Mike was the only one other than their boss who knew about Bill having to leave, no one else was allowed to know either. They would be sent to a new town, given new names, social security numbers, and Bill would have to find a new job. Marc would have to start in a new school, and, Bill realized with horror, his wife would have to live with them! They would have to start a new life.
Marc was sitting in Algebra 2, his least favorite class, when a student brought him a slip from his dad that said. “Come home immediately” Marc, relieved to get out of the class, showed the teacher his note and went to his locker to get his things so that he could walk home. It had turned into a chilly and gloomy day with the clouds threatening rain. Marc bundled up with his jacket, and was wondering why he had to come home so early as he began the 3-block walk to his house. Usually his dad wouldn’t be home till at least 5:00 o’clock p.m, about the time Marc’s basketball practice would end. Then Marc began to worry, maybe something had happened to his dad or his grandma, whom he was very fond of. He quickened his pace a little bit so he could find out why he had to come home.
As soon as Marc’s house came in site, everything looked normal except there was a black SUV and his mom’s Buick in the driveway. He let out a sigh of relief thinking that his mom had just come to visit and he was just called home early to have a chance to see his mom whom he usually only got to see once a month. He was actually kind of happy that he got to see his mom, and even though his dad didn’t get along with her, he always enjoyed having her around. Sometimes he would wish he had chosen to live with his mother, but she didn’t like the big city and Marc wanted to be where all of his friends were. He loved his life and didn’t want it to change. Yet this time he would have no choice.
He opened the door and saw a couple of suitcases lying in the living room and no one else. He yelled out “Hello!” but there was no response. He wondered around the house and saw that his mom, his dad, and a big tall man in a black suit sitting outside on the patio. His first reaction was to go outside and talk to his mom but then he grew wary of the man in the black suit. Maybe this man was holding his parents hostage, they both looked very stressed and worried. Should he call 911? The more he looked at the scene on the patio he realized that something was defiantly wrong. He was just getting ready to pick up the phone when a strong hand gripped his shoulder, making him jump. It was another man in a black suit.
“Are you Marc?” he questioned.
“Uh yea” he replied nervously.
“Well you aren’t anymore, c’mon we work with your dad and we have to talk about something. I won’t hurt you.”
Marc nervously followed the man out the door and onto the patio. He hugged his mom and his dad who just gave him a weak attempt at a smile. His mom was teary eyed and his dad had a solemn look on his face.
“What’s wrong” Marc asked, breaking the ice.
The man who had been talking to his mom and dad before, whom Marc realized was his dad’s friend, Mike, answered. “We don’t have much time, so I’ll explain this to you as quickly as possible, now this isn’t going to appeal to you but it is necessary for your safety.”
“Safety?” Marc thought to himself
His dad took over from there “Look Marc, I’m not an accountant. We all work for the F.B.I except your mother. I’m sorry I’ve lied to you all this time. Right now however we are all in danger. A criminal heard that I was working on catching him and he knows who I am. This man is a very evil guy and probably wants to kill me. I know this might not be fair but until we can catch this guy and the case goes through we have to, well move. I don’t know how long it will take but the sooner we get out of here the better. Mom will be living with us as well. We already packed up some of your stuff.”
Marc was at a loss for words, thinking that this was just one big joke, but somehow looking at his mom and dad made him realize that this was not a joke. They looked very serious.
“No” Marc said weakly “I’m not moving to some other part of Chicago. I will stay in town with grandma, until we are safe.”
His mom gave him one of her looks “Hon, from what I’ve learned we won’t just be moving to a different city. We are going to have to move somewhere along way away from here.” She said on the verge of tears, mostly ones for Marc.
Marc couldn’t understand why his parents were doing this to him. It wasn’t fair and he wasn’t going anywhere.
“I have to tell Stacy, and my coach, and my friends.” Marc said somewhat dazed.
“I’m afraid no one can know where you are, it could put them in danger.” The man in the black suit who hadn’t spoken in a while said.
“Well I will stay with grandma for a couple of weeks then.” Marc said still in denial.
“No you won’t, I’m sure Sanchez and his gang of about 75 people, will come to our house and your school as soon as possible. You can’t be in this city or around anyone who knows who you are.” His dad said. “From now on your name is Jake Young, my name is Will Young, and your mom’s new name is Joy, do you understand. It is very important that we don’t call each other by our real names. Someone might recognize us, which is still unlikely where we are going but we have to be safe.”
Bill’s friend in the black suit told him to hurry up and grab a few personal things you want to bring and that they would be leaving in about 30 minutes.
Marc ran up to his room to get his things. He wanted to have his cell phone so that he could call Stacy. There was no way that he would leave town with out telling her first. He went to pick it up from its normal spot on his dresser, but it was no longer there. He quietly snuck downstairs to use the home phone only to be stopped by the other man in black who insisted that he called him Tim.
“Didn’t I tell you that you couldn’t call anybody?” he said.
“I have to call my girlfriend, I can’t just leave her,” Marc replied.
“If you really cared about her you wouldn’t call her, that way she is safe.” He said and then told Marc to go get his things we are leaving in 10 minutes.
Marc reluctantly went back upstairs to get some things. He discovered that his clothes, his music, and his pictures had already been packed. Nonetheless his most valuable possession had not. It was his first basketball. His dad had given it to him when he was 7 years old, when his family was happy.
There was a knock on the door and his mom came in.
“Hey sweetie,” she said hugging him. “I’m so sorry about all of this, hopefully we will be back home in a couple of weeks or so. I know how much you love basketball and I’m sorry you will miss the playoffs.”
The Playoffs! Marc hadn’t even thought of those. How was he supposed to explain to his team why he had been gone for so long! This was the first thing he asked his dad when they loaded into the big black SUV.
“We’ve already taken care of it with the school and told everyone there you are on vacation.” His dad said. “I’m sure your team will forgive you.”
Marc, who was now Jake Young didn’t reply. Instead he looked out the window as they drove away from the city he had been used to for so many years, wondering when he would see it again.
Somewhere along the drive Marc had drifted to sleep. When he woke up he had no clue where they were. He asked Tim, the driver, where they were going but he wouldn’t answer. His dad told him that they would be checking into a hotel for a couple of nights until they could get that straightened out.
Marc sank back into the comfortable leather seat in the back and thought to himself until he dozed off again.
This time when he woke up, it was dark and the clock on the dash said 10:30. They had been gone since 3:00 o’clock and Marc figured they would stop at a hotel pretty soon. Tim told him it would be about 15 minutes until they reached the Best Western hotel. His mom appeared to be asleep, but his dad was wide awake talking to Mike in a whisper so that no one else could make out what they were saying.
They arrived at a Best Western hotel at about 10:45 p.m. Marc, his dad, and his mom had a room and Tim and Mike had a room connected to theirs. Mike told Marc to never go outside the room on his own because he could still possibly be in danger here. Marc’s mom and dad were doing their best to get along with each other and make everything as good as possible.
Marc found out that the only thing to do was to watch television, which got wearisome quickly. They had been there all day and still hadn’t gotten a new location.
That next morning Marc woke up and no one was there. There was only a note that said
“Mike and Tim have taken us out to do some errands. Stay in the room and we should be back around 9:00 o’clock a.m,
Love Dad.”
It was 8:30 a.m and Marc saw no harm in exploring the hotel a little bit. He picked up the extra key card and walked out into the hall. They were on the 8th floor and as Marc looked down from the railing there weren’t many people up yet. He also saw a Starbucks and decided he would get himself a treat with the few bucks he had in his pocket. The only people who he came in contact with were a maid carrying towels and a man who looked to be in his 60s. He ordered a cappuccino (which he normally wasn’t allowed to have because it would stunt his growth) and a muffin. Then he went over to a table in a corner and ate his food. The next thing he knew it was 9:00 o’clock! He swiftly threw away his trash and ran to make it back to the room. He jumped in the elevator and stepped out onto their floor.
Eight floors below Tim, Mike, and his mom and his dad walked into the hotel carrying groceries for their mini fridge.
He didn’t know what the big deal was about him staying in the room but he didn’t want to get in trouble. He lay back down on the pullout couch he had been sleeping on and turned on the TV. About a minute later he heard a knock on the door and immediately went over to answer it assuming it was his parents. Luckily the chain was still on. The maid standing outside had an evil look in her eyes. As Marc made eye contact he saw her foot rise up to kick the door down with not quite so womanly strength, giving Marc a bloody nose. Just stepping out of the elevator were his parents and the men in black. Seeing this Mike ran over to the door throwing down the groceries and the coffee that they had stopped to get, and tackled the maid. Before the evil maid had time to react, Mike and Tim had her handcuffed and on the floor. Marc who just had a bloody nose and a headache rushed out into the hall as Tim was pulling back the maids face to reveal a 30 year old man. His dad seemed to know him as Sebastian Chang, one of Jose affiliates.
“H..H..How did he find us” Marc said stammering.
“Someone must have trailed us here.” His dad said. “They must have waited until we were gone to get Marc!” his mom said in horror. “Are you sure you are okay?”
“I’m fine I guess” Marc answered.
“We will leave as soon as possible. We have found a place for you guys in Jamesville, Louisiana.” Tim said. “Pack your things and we can go now.”
With that said they packed their things while Tim watched over Chang and they all loaded back into the SUV. Luckily no one had seen or heard the commotion that just happened.
After Chang was dropped off at a police station Mike explained some things to them.
“Once we make sure we are not being trailed, we will stop and get your car. When we have your new car, which will actually be a used one, we have to make the drive to Louisiana and we should be there by tomorrow by sunrise.”
After a lot of going around in circles to make sure they weren’t being trailed and getting their “new” crappy jeep, they finally started the drive to Jamesville. By dawn the next morning, just as Mike had said, they arrived at their new house. Marc had never seen anything so ugly in his life. It was a brown stucco house down a long lane hidden by trees with the intention of not being seen from the street. Inside there were 9 rooms and 2 bathrooms. Everything was also furnished with old furniture.
His mom and dad did there best to display a fake happiness but they were both used to better living conditions.
Bill, who was now referred to as Will, would start his new job as a Fed-Ex driver in a week. Marc, who was now Jake, would start his new school in a week as well. His mom would stay at home for the time getting everything adjusted in their house.
After they had brought there stuff in they decided to let Marc explore Jamesville, as long as Tim went with him. Being close to town Marc began the walk down the lane with Tim trailing behind him. Marc was not impressed by what was called “the town.” There were about 10 little stores in the streets and a few country restaurants. He also saw a Wendy’s, which looked, very out of place in the little town. There weren’t that many people walking around either, all he saw were a few older couples, and a few girls that looked his age. Marc didn’t feel like talking to them though, even when they started looking at him. His school defiantly didn’t look out of place with the town. If anything the town looked great compared to the school. Marc guessed that there was a maximum of 75 kids living in Jamesville. Marc also guessed by the amount of houses he saw there was a maximum of 300 people living in Jamesville. He had no idea what he was supposed to do here. He also wondered about how many kids had committed suicide out of boredom. At least there was basketball. There had to be basketball here even if there was only a population of 300.
After Marc had the “grand tour” of the town he came home to find that his mom and dad had started to settle into the house. The F.B.I had taken the liberty to provide them with all of the things needed in a new house. There was even a TV and some boxed and canned food in the shelves. Marc had already decided that he hated it here so far and believed that he would always hate it here. But hey, what were a few weeks.
Mike and Tim were going to stay with them for a couple of days so that everyone would understand what they could and couldn’t do. After that they would be on there own and one of them would come and check on them once a week. That night as Marc was laying in his new room incapable of falling asleep he couldn’t help but to hear his mom and dad quarrelling. His dad was saying something about not knowing how long they would have to be there and his mom was now crying. Marc didn’t want to listen anymore, putting the pillow over his ears and eventually falling asleep.
A week later, after nothing that exciting except getting his basketball hoop from the main city, Marc was supposed to start his first day at school and his dad was to start his first day at his new job. Marc had taken a tour of the school with the principal the day before and thought that he might actually like the slower pace. At his school in Chicago everything was always crowded and the classes were way too packed. This was defiantly not an issue for Jamesville high. He had also found out that there was a basketball team thank god, but there were only 6 kids on it. They were just getting ready to start their season too. Basketball wasn’t the only sport at Jamesville high. There weren’t enough resources for a football field, but there was a tennis team and a swim team.
Marc’s first day of school turned out to be really good. He turned out to be pretty popular since not many people seemed to move into Jamesville. He was also well admired from the ladies being very good looking with his tall muscular body, blond hair and blue eyes. That same day he came to practice with the team. His new friend who was in all of his classes, Joey, was on the team. The coach was Marcs History teacher. He explained a few of their plays and asked him if he had much experience in the sport. To answer his question he picked up a ball and shot it from where he was standing about 25ft away and drained it. The players stared at him in amazement as if they had never seen anyone make a three-point-shot in their lives.
“Ok this is great!” Mr. Smith said enthusiastically. “Well I’m sure you have met everyone here. We play our first game on Friday against the Cardinals from uptown, which we have never beat in school history, so with you on the team maybe we will have a chance.”
Marc doubted it, the rest of the team, besides Joey who was actually ok, just sucked. They could barely make a wide-open lay-up. Maybe they could get better though, just maybe.
For the next week Marc went to school, made new friends, and went to a few parties. It was Friday and the basketball team was on their way to Centerville to play the Cardinals. Marc didn’t know how good this team was but he was pretty confident that they were good enough to win. Marc’s team had started to play like a team in their little gym and was running all of their plays well. The bus ride was about 45 minutes long and when they got there the gym was not that much better then Jamesville’s. However, they had 10 kids on their team, which wasn’t that many, but compared to their 7 it was.
At halftime the score was Centerville Cardinals: 35 Jamesville Ravens: 25. Until six minutes into the 2nd quarter they had been putting up a good fight. But everyone on the team including Marc was too drained to keep running up and down the court to keep up with them. The final score was Cardinals: 63 Ravens: 50. They had tried hard throughout the game but they couldn’t keep up with them.
During the next week still nothing had been heard about Sanchez. Marc felt terrible about not telling Stacy and all of his friends about where he was. He was also kind of missing the big-city life. But he was completely useless to do anything.
The basketball team had been conditioning after school everyday. It was Marc’s idea. If the team were in good shape we wouldn’t run out of energy in the second half. They had played 3 more games on their schedule against teams from around the town and they had won all 3 of them. Marc had at least 30 points in every game and was turning into quite a stud at Jamesville High.
The Young’s had now been residences of Jamesville for 3 weeks. Everyone seemed to be adapting well. His mom had made friends with some other housewives around town and his dad had made friends from around town and at work as well.
Two more weeks later things were still the same and no one had heard anything about Sanchez. Marc’s team was now 6-2 forfeiting one game because of a lack of players. Apparently two of their guys thought other things were more important. However, the regional championships were the next day and it was the Cardinals against the Ravens again.
Marc got up the next morning and went on with the morning like everything was normal for basketball. He went to school and after school he got on to the bus and listened to his music to get pumped for the game. Marc knew that they would win and they did, beating the Cardinals 60 to 54. He was awarded M.V.P of the game and tournament; scoring 37 points with 10 assists he also had a few boards and blocks. After the game a photographer came and took their team photo to put into the state paper. He also took a picture of Marc the M.V.P.
It was the best day of Marc’s new life. After the trip home they all celebrated at the local pizza shack and had a great time. Marc went to bed happy for once and woke up the next day feeling great.
He went to school like normal and decided after school to go over to his friend’s house. He got home late at about 9 o’clock; the black SUV was parked outside in the drive. Maybe there was good news! When he got inside Mike was there, no Tim.
“Son, thank god you’re here.” His dad said. “Marc, they caught Jose! We can go back to Chicago!” Marc was too happy to say anything, but suddenly something came to mind.
“Where is Tim?” Marc questioned.
“Sadly, he was killed by Jose, Somehow Jose found out where you were. Luckily we were here and we killed him before he could kill you guys.” Mike answered.
Marc felt extremely guilty realizing that his picture had been in the paper. This was something that he had been warned about. It had never occurred to him what could happen from a little basketball picture. He was told that maybe it was a good thing he did that, they had caught Sanchez and even though Tim was killed, this was the way Tim had wanted to die.
Marc felt a little guilty about moving again, and just told him it was for his dad’s job. He couldn’t wait to get back to Chicago. Sometimes though he still missed his simple life in Jamesville.
Fin
Unexpected Love -Sarah
Hey! My name is Haley Evans. I am fifteen years old and I live in Princeton, Maine with my mom. My dad died two years ago in a terrible car accident. Since then, my mom and I have become very close. We talk to each other everything from hair and make up to my mom’s financial troubles. I have helped her out a lot since then, by cleaning up the house and getting a job making some extra money. I ended up getting home schooled so I could work at my best friends dad’s restaurant. I washed dishes and was a back up waitress. Most of the time though my best friend, Drew, and me were messing around with each other, making beards out of soap and splashing each other with water. I made pretty good money; sometimes it even put food on the table. Since the funeral we hadn’t been left with much. Just enough to pay the bills.
About three weeks ago my mom found a job at a four-star hotel working as a secretary.
Everyday my mom and I would get up at eight o’clock a.m. I would get on the computer and do my lessons for the day while she got ready for work. Then around nine o’clock Luke would come and pick her up. Honestly, I think they have a crush on each other but every time I mention it they both burst out laughing and make funny faces at each other and yell “Oh! I love you!” to each other and then crack up more.
Anyways, after I got done with my work I put on sweat pants and a t-shirt and grabbed Nugget, my puppy. Nugget and I went for a stroll down by the harbor. Today she ran along the shore, chased seagulls, and barked at fishermen. I called her to my side and started to head home. While I was on my way I remember that I had to pick up my check from Drews. His dad answered the door and invited me in. He told me Drew wasn’t here but my check was in the kitchen on the counter. I walked towards the back of the small, well-kept house. You would never imagine that two men lived there the way it looked. It was very updated in style and always neat. I remember it being that way since the seventh grade when we first became friends. To me, its pretty cool that we have been friends for four years. I grabbed my check, thanked his dad and walked out the door. On my way home I started thinking about how disappointed I was that Drew wasn’t there. I also started to think about how weird it was that he hadn’t had a girlfriend since he met me. I had thought about this before. They way that boy looked I would think he would have a girlfriend. He was tall with long dark hair that flipped out at the ends. He had huge brown eyes and absolutely the cutest smile I had ever seen. He was also a pretty awesome skater and a great baseball player. All the girls loved him. I always think it is funny because the reason we met was because I had fallen on top of him when we were playing mat ball in gym. And what makes it even greater is the fact that he didn’t think I was a creep!
I decided to go past Beans and Crème coffee shop and get a cappuccino. Then I walked home with Nugget in my arms. At about nine thirty p.m. Luke brought mom home. She came in giggling. “Well she must have had a good time.” I thought. I didn’t say anything about it though. The next day Luke came extra early. Mom said they were going to get a bite to eat before work. Then, she didn’t get home until eleven that night! I had to say something. “Well, your home two hours late.” I said sternly. “Well little missy, I didn’t know I had a curfew!” She said playfully. “Luke and I just decided to go for a ride.” She added. “Okay, but if your late again, I’m going to have to ground you!” We laughed and then she went off to take a shower. I thought it was creepy. A two-hour drive, with Luke. Just a tad bit odd. I didn’t think anything of it after that though.
The next day, Luke walked in at eight thirty! He didn’t even knock. I was still in my pajamas with my hair a mess and make up under my eyes. I just looked at him. He said, “Well, this isn’t a very nice welcome!” I laughed and then hugged him. Then quickly ran upstairs to tell mom. Well this didn’t come as a surprise to her. I couldn’t believe that she didn’t tell me! I was kind of mad. Then she kissed me on the forehead and left. Since I was mad, I just finished my schoolwork and watched some television. Then I cleaned. I clean when I’m angry, its weird, I know.
Mom got home early that night, and guess who was with her! The one and only.. Luke. Right after mom got home she went upstairs and was gone for like, an hour. When she came back down she had on a long silky azure dress. It made her bright blue eyes pop and her long, golden, curls shine even more magnificently. I hadn’t seen her wear that since, actually, I had never seen her wear that! This was weird. I didn’t even want to know what she was going to do or where she was going. I started crying. I just went up stairs and locked the door. I don’t know how she could do this. I was so mad! I decided to just calm down until she could explain to me what was going on.
When she got home I made sure she came in alone, she did. So I asked her what was going on. She told me that her and Luke were dating; they had been for about six months. She didn’t want to tell me until the time was right, that’s why she started to kind of show it these past couple weeks. Really, I was happy for her. It was weird though because mom and Luke had been friends for years. But I liked Luke, and I was glad that I would be able to have a daddy again. Whoa, I can’t believe I just thought that. I just blew that way out of proportion. They were dating, not getting married. DUH! I’m just glad that I can be happier now and not worry about it.
I got used to Luke coming around more often and the two of them going out. I took advantage of it in a way. I had friends come over; I was out late with Drew just driving around and finding spontaneous things to do. I spent a lot of time away from home. Mom was happy, I was happy, heck, even the puppy was happy! Life was great.
Then one day it just hit me, and hit me hard. I missed my dad more than ever. I started to hate Luke and mom dating. I didn’t know why either. I just hated the fact someone was trying to take my daddy’s place. I started to not talk to my mom. I quit my job at the diner, I stopped going out with Drew as much, and I stopped talking to Luke. One day my mom noticed. She asked me what was wrong, and I told her everything. I said, “I don’t get how you could just replace dad like that! I also don’t get how Luke doesn’t even care he is taking my dad’s place! This sucks! It sucks, it sucks, it sucks. I don’t want you two to date anymore!” “Now Haley, I loved your dad, and I still do. But there comes a time when people have to move on. You need a father figure. You need, we need someone to support us and help us out. Luke will never replace your father. No one could.”
After this I felt better. I understood that everything would be okay. That night my mom and I went out to the cemetery where my dad was buried. I sat on his gravestone and wrote a note of everything that had changed and what was going on. I told him about Luke and mom, and that I hope he is happy that mom is finally smiling again. I told him that Drew and I had been spending a lot of time together and that we got a new puppy. The kind of puppy he always wanted me to have, even though I couldn’t get one because he was allergic. It was a 6 page long note. I knew he wouldn’t be able to ever read it but it made me feel better. Then I folded it up and laid it on the ground. Then mom took daisies and laid them on dad’s grave. My dad always found wild daisies and brought them home to mom and me. I always loved them. Then I blew a kiss at the ground where my daddy’s head laid and walked to the car. Mom got in and we drove away.
On the way home she told me that she loves my father with all her heart, and no one could ever replace him, but Luke was a great man, and he would take care of us. And I agreed.
Nine months later Luke walked in to the kitchen and gave me a hug. He sat down beside me on the chair at the table and grabbed a banana. He told me that he had fallen in love with my mom, and that since it had been a year and a half since they started dating, he wanted to take it to the next level. He told me he wanted to marry my mom. But before he asked, he wanted my permission. I told him that my mom loved him and that we needed a man in our lives, and he has every right to marry my mom. Then I hugged him forever. I was so happy. I couldn’t believe it! I was going to have a daddy again! I grabbed my coat and ran out the door.
I went to Drew’s house and told him the news. He was ecstatic! Almost as excited as I was! I started jumping around and yelling! I grabbed Drew’s hand and we ran out the door down to the beach. There we watched as Luke and mom walked along the shore. Then, I saw him drop to his knees. She smiled and flung her arms around him. “She said yes! She said yes! Woo! I have a dad! Yes! They are getting married!” I ran around yelling all the way down to my mom. She started laughing and asked me how I knew, and then Luke told her about this morning. I hugged her and then I hugged him and told him, “Thank you. Thank you for mending our broken hearts. Thank you for putting a smile back on my mom’s face. Thank you.”
Then Drew came down and said “Do I need to leave? ‘Cause it looks like I am intruding on a very gushy moment, I hate gushy moments.” We all laughed and I jumped on his back, mom jumped on Luke’s and we back to my house.
He told mom and I to get changed because we were going out to a fancy dinner. He said Drew could come too. So I went up stairs to find something to wear. Mom said this was a good occasion to wear my tiny black dress. I was so excited! I love that dress, it fit like a glove but I’ve only worn it once. So I put that on, with my diamond, fake of course, black hand woven shawl from Indonesia. I put on my long Crystal earrings, eyeliner, and mascara. That’s the first time I had really made myself look pretty. I slipped on my pink peep toe shoes with the silver buckle, and walked down stairs.
Both of their eyes lit up. Mom and I linked arms with each of our guys and walked out the door. On the car ride there Drew whispered, “You know, I think that I need a date for this dinner, and since you are the prettiest young lady I know, I think you should be my date.” “Well, considering you’re my only option.. I’m just kidding, I would be more, than happy too.” I added with a huge grin.
We arrived, had a fabulous dinner, and went back to my house where mom and I changed into something a little more comfortable and watched a movie with the guys. Mom put “The Notebook” into the DVD player and we sat back and watched it. Right at the part where Noah and Allie share their first kiss, Drew kissed me. When he pulled away I sat there stunned, yet, happy. It was not only my first kiss, but the best kiss ever. Then Drew whispered “Haley, I love you. I’ve been in love with you since I met you, and I can’t hide it anymore. I want the world to know.” I started to cry. Then I hugged him with all my might, and told him, “Drew, I love you too. I always have, and I promise I always will.”
Seven months later mom and Luke were married. And Drew and I, had been an official couple for seven months the very day of the wedding. Drew and I ended up only dating for 8 months. We decided it was to weird and being friends was a lot better. My life was great after that. Perfect? No, but wonderful.
About three weeks ago my mom found a job at a four-star hotel working as a secretary.
Everyday my mom and I would get up at eight o’clock a.m. I would get on the computer and do my lessons for the day while she got ready for work. Then around nine o’clock Luke would come and pick her up. Honestly, I think they have a crush on each other but every time I mention it they both burst out laughing and make funny faces at each other and yell “Oh! I love you!” to each other and then crack up more.
Anyways, after I got done with my work I put on sweat pants and a t-shirt and grabbed Nugget, my puppy. Nugget and I went for a stroll down by the harbor. Today she ran along the shore, chased seagulls, and barked at fishermen. I called her to my side and started to head home. While I was on my way I remember that I had to pick up my check from Drews. His dad answered the door and invited me in. He told me Drew wasn’t here but my check was in the kitchen on the counter. I walked towards the back of the small, well-kept house. You would never imagine that two men lived there the way it looked. It was very updated in style and always neat. I remember it being that way since the seventh grade when we first became friends. To me, its pretty cool that we have been friends for four years. I grabbed my check, thanked his dad and walked out the door. On my way home I started thinking about how disappointed I was that Drew wasn’t there. I also started to think about how weird it was that he hadn’t had a girlfriend since he met me. I had thought about this before. They way that boy looked I would think he would have a girlfriend. He was tall with long dark hair that flipped out at the ends. He had huge brown eyes and absolutely the cutest smile I had ever seen. He was also a pretty awesome skater and a great baseball player. All the girls loved him. I always think it is funny because the reason we met was because I had fallen on top of him when we were playing mat ball in gym. And what makes it even greater is the fact that he didn’t think I was a creep!
I decided to go past Beans and Crème coffee shop and get a cappuccino. Then I walked home with Nugget in my arms. At about nine thirty p.m. Luke brought mom home. She came in giggling. “Well she must have had a good time.” I thought. I didn’t say anything about it though. The next day Luke came extra early. Mom said they were going to get a bite to eat before work. Then, she didn’t get home until eleven that night! I had to say something. “Well, your home two hours late.” I said sternly. “Well little missy, I didn’t know I had a curfew!” She said playfully. “Luke and I just decided to go for a ride.” She added. “Okay, but if your late again, I’m going to have to ground you!” We laughed and then she went off to take a shower. I thought it was creepy. A two-hour drive, with Luke. Just a tad bit odd. I didn’t think anything of it after that though.
The next day, Luke walked in at eight thirty! He didn’t even knock. I was still in my pajamas with my hair a mess and make up under my eyes. I just looked at him. He said, “Well, this isn’t a very nice welcome!” I laughed and then hugged him. Then quickly ran upstairs to tell mom. Well this didn’t come as a surprise to her. I couldn’t believe that she didn’t tell me! I was kind of mad. Then she kissed me on the forehead and left. Since I was mad, I just finished my schoolwork and watched some television. Then I cleaned. I clean when I’m angry, its weird, I know.
Mom got home early that night, and guess who was with her! The one and only.. Luke. Right after mom got home she went upstairs and was gone for like, an hour. When she came back down she had on a long silky azure dress. It made her bright blue eyes pop and her long, golden, curls shine even more magnificently. I hadn’t seen her wear that since, actually, I had never seen her wear that! This was weird. I didn’t even want to know what she was going to do or where she was going. I started crying. I just went up stairs and locked the door. I don’t know how she could do this. I was so mad! I decided to just calm down until she could explain to me what was going on.
When she got home I made sure she came in alone, she did. So I asked her what was going on. She told me that her and Luke were dating; they had been for about six months. She didn’t want to tell me until the time was right, that’s why she started to kind of show it these past couple weeks. Really, I was happy for her. It was weird though because mom and Luke had been friends for years. But I liked Luke, and I was glad that I would be able to have a daddy again. Whoa, I can’t believe I just thought that. I just blew that way out of proportion. They were dating, not getting married. DUH! I’m just glad that I can be happier now and not worry about it.
I got used to Luke coming around more often and the two of them going out. I took advantage of it in a way. I had friends come over; I was out late with Drew just driving around and finding spontaneous things to do. I spent a lot of time away from home. Mom was happy, I was happy, heck, even the puppy was happy! Life was great.
Then one day it just hit me, and hit me hard. I missed my dad more than ever. I started to hate Luke and mom dating. I didn’t know why either. I just hated the fact someone was trying to take my daddy’s place. I started to not talk to my mom. I quit my job at the diner, I stopped going out with Drew as much, and I stopped talking to Luke. One day my mom noticed. She asked me what was wrong, and I told her everything. I said, “I don’t get how you could just replace dad like that! I also don’t get how Luke doesn’t even care he is taking my dad’s place! This sucks! It sucks, it sucks, it sucks. I don’t want you two to date anymore!” “Now Haley, I loved your dad, and I still do. But there comes a time when people have to move on. You need a father figure. You need, we need someone to support us and help us out. Luke will never replace your father. No one could.”
After this I felt better. I understood that everything would be okay. That night my mom and I went out to the cemetery where my dad was buried. I sat on his gravestone and wrote a note of everything that had changed and what was going on. I told him about Luke and mom, and that I hope he is happy that mom is finally smiling again. I told him that Drew and I had been spending a lot of time together and that we got a new puppy. The kind of puppy he always wanted me to have, even though I couldn’t get one because he was allergic. It was a 6 page long note. I knew he wouldn’t be able to ever read it but it made me feel better. Then I folded it up and laid it on the ground. Then mom took daisies and laid them on dad’s grave. My dad always found wild daisies and brought them home to mom and me. I always loved them. Then I blew a kiss at the ground where my daddy’s head laid and walked to the car. Mom got in and we drove away.
On the way home she told me that she loves my father with all her heart, and no one could ever replace him, but Luke was a great man, and he would take care of us. And I agreed.
Nine months later Luke walked in to the kitchen and gave me a hug. He sat down beside me on the chair at the table and grabbed a banana. He told me that he had fallen in love with my mom, and that since it had been a year and a half since they started dating, he wanted to take it to the next level. He told me he wanted to marry my mom. But before he asked, he wanted my permission. I told him that my mom loved him and that we needed a man in our lives, and he has every right to marry my mom. Then I hugged him forever. I was so happy. I couldn’t believe it! I was going to have a daddy again! I grabbed my coat and ran out the door.
I went to Drew’s house and told him the news. He was ecstatic! Almost as excited as I was! I started jumping around and yelling! I grabbed Drew’s hand and we ran out the door down to the beach. There we watched as Luke and mom walked along the shore. Then, I saw him drop to his knees. She smiled and flung her arms around him. “She said yes! She said yes! Woo! I have a dad! Yes! They are getting married!” I ran around yelling all the way down to my mom. She started laughing and asked me how I knew, and then Luke told her about this morning. I hugged her and then I hugged him and told him, “Thank you. Thank you for mending our broken hearts. Thank you for putting a smile back on my mom’s face. Thank you.”
Then Drew came down and said “Do I need to leave? ‘Cause it looks like I am intruding on a very gushy moment, I hate gushy moments.” We all laughed and I jumped on his back, mom jumped on Luke’s and we back to my house.
He told mom and I to get changed because we were going out to a fancy dinner. He said Drew could come too. So I went up stairs to find something to wear. Mom said this was a good occasion to wear my tiny black dress. I was so excited! I love that dress, it fit like a glove but I’ve only worn it once. So I put that on, with my diamond, fake of course, black hand woven shawl from Indonesia. I put on my long Crystal earrings, eyeliner, and mascara. That’s the first time I had really made myself look pretty. I slipped on my pink peep toe shoes with the silver buckle, and walked down stairs.
Both of their eyes lit up. Mom and I linked arms with each of our guys and walked out the door. On the car ride there Drew whispered, “You know, I think that I need a date for this dinner, and since you are the prettiest young lady I know, I think you should be my date.” “Well, considering you’re my only option.. I’m just kidding, I would be more, than happy too.” I added with a huge grin.
We arrived, had a fabulous dinner, and went back to my house where mom and I changed into something a little more comfortable and watched a movie with the guys. Mom put “The Notebook” into the DVD player and we sat back and watched it. Right at the part where Noah and Allie share their first kiss, Drew kissed me. When he pulled away I sat there stunned, yet, happy. It was not only my first kiss, but the best kiss ever. Then Drew whispered “Haley, I love you. I’ve been in love with you since I met you, and I can’t hide it anymore. I want the world to know.” I started to cry. Then I hugged him with all my might, and told him, “Drew, I love you too. I always have, and I promise I always will.”
Seven months later mom and Luke were married. And Drew and I, had been an official couple for seven months the very day of the wedding. Drew and I ended up only dating for 8 months. We decided it was to weird and being friends was a lot better. My life was great after that. Perfect? No, but wonderful.
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