A Life of Hoping

Author's Note: This is a creative piece I wrote. I focused on using syntactical patterns.

A life of hoping. A life of wanting. A life of waiting. A life of wishing. A life lived by children. Children with no homes. They live everyday wishing for one loving person to come and call them their child. Whether not wanted by their parents or left without a home, they long for a figure in their life to guide them.

For Josie this was her life. She lived everyday in a different home with different people. Every night she would kneel  by her temporary bed and pray for a mom, a dad, a sibling, a place to call home.  This was her reality from the start. Her mother was a teen mom and knew she wouldn't be able to take care of her. As for her father, he was no where to be found. All 7 year old Josie wanted was someone to be there for her no matter what the circumstance. She wanted a place where she could call home everyday. Not just for a week.

Sure, she did stay with a few nice foster families but they never looked at her the same way they looked at their own children. She wanted someone who would look at her and tell her how proud they were of her.  A prayer was answered when the Jones's family came to a consensus on adopting a third child. After a lot of thought they knew it was what they wanted to do. Josie  would be a perfect fit for their family.

The day the news was delivered to Josie, that a family was interested in adopting her was a day of pure joy. Nothing and no one could ruin it for her. It was a dream becoming reality for her. After meeting the family she knew that the 7 years in foster care was worth it. She still had that chapter in her life but she flipped the page and started a new one. 

Questioning the Past

Author’s Note: This is a comparison piece I wrote comparing the two books Unwind and Fahrenheit 451.  

If  you're occupation was chosen for you the day you were born, would you question it? I think most wouldn’t. In the novel Fahrenheit 451, Montag, the main character was told he was going to be a fireman since the beginning. He would follow in his father’s footsteps. In the time of Montag, firemen did not put out fires; they started them. If any one was hiding a book of any sort in their house the firemen would be called and they would set the house on fire.  After many years of  loyal service and multiple burnings one event questioned Montag’s beliefs completely. It was night where a lady had been found with her books. Instead of leaving the house and watching her house and books burn , she stayed. She refused to come out of the house. She loved her books so much that she was willing to die with them, and she did. She stayed in the house and the firemen lit the books on fire. Montag watched the lady go up in flames and found himself seriously pondering the question of, what is so important about books, that a woman is willing to die for them?

In this particular scene Montag questioned his beliefs. Was being a fireman what he wanted  to be? Is it ok to burn books? What was so bad about books? All of these questions were questions he asked himself. He realized he didn’t believe it was okay to burn people's houses and books. He knew he needed to read books to understand the reasoning behind banning them.

Lev, a tithe, an unwind, an unwanted. Lev grew up in a family of ten children; he was the youngest. He parents strongly believed in giving ten percent of everything they had to the church. As Lev was the 10^th child, he was their tithe. He was to go to the Harvest Camp to be unwound. On their way to harvest camp they got caught in an accident and Lev was able to escape.  He found other unwinds and they began  to escape together. His Pastor was the one encouraging him to run away. He knew that a better life was waiting for Lev. He was smart and would go far. Lev did what he said and ran away. While he was running he questioned whether or not he wanted to be tithed. He believed he was born to be tithed, and that was what he should do. He ended up turning himself in.

Lev questions whether or not he wants to be tithed. He believed that’s what he was born to do. He questions whether or not he should keep running like his pastor told him, or stop and turn himself into the harvest camp. He decided that he should turn himself in so he didn’t have to run his whole life and so his parents wouldn’t have to worry about him anymore.

In both of these novels the main characters face tough decisions determining their future. They also questioned whether the path they are taking is the right one. In Unwind Lev turns himself in but in Faranheit 451 Montag changes and stops being a fireman.  

Quote Response

Author's note: I wrote this piece in response of the book, Fahrenheit 451. I chose the quote, ""Go on," said the woman, and Montag felt himself back away and away out the door , after Beatty, down the steps, across the lawn, where the path of kerosene lay like the track some evil snail to respond to.

 "Go on," said the woman, and Montag felt himself back away and away out the door , after Beatty, down the steps, across the lawn, where the path of kerosene lay like the track some evil snail.

Ray Bradbury put this quote in the book because he wanted to show that Montag had an uneasy feeling about leaving the woman in the house to burn with her books. It tells about him following Beatty down and out of the house. At the end of the quote he added a simile comparing the path of kerosene to the track of an evil snail. This simile really shows that from the eyes of Montag, kerosene is an evil thing and that he doesn't believe it is right to burn books and homes, let alone people. 

I believe this quote is a turning point in the book. It shows Montag questioning the point and reason for burning books. He starts searching for books and the meaning in them. He wants to find the point for the burning and when it started. He also questions about being happy in his life. He knows something is wrong in his relationship with his wife. This single quote changes Montag's mind about his spouse, his job, and in general his happiness.

A cheeseburger Wrapper

The old clunker chugged into my drive way and I knew it would a very long night. How could my dad force me on a date with his coworkers' son? I took a deep breath as the door bell rang. Immediately as I opened the door the smell of cheap cologne flooded my sinuses. He said ”hi” and I was hit with the stench of week old lasagna. Before I could say anything he pulled out a bouquet of dandelions tied together with a piece of yarn. We made our way out the door and into his car without a word. He got into the car and started driving before I was even in. It didn't even occur to him that he should open my door! I wish that was the only problem. First off his car was filled with old take out boxes, dirty laundry, and unrecognizable items. When I sat down I could feel something slimy and sticky underneath me.  If I hadn't known better I would have thought he lived in there. After seeing his car I couldn't wait to see how dinner was going to go.

It was embarrassing enough to be seen with him in public but when he was slopping food in his mouth it was humiliating. Being with him in public was as embarrassing  as showing up to school in your underwear. If  you think we went to an elegant restaurant you're wrong. We were having burgers and shakes at Burger King. Not to mention the constant burps every bite. Now with the whole burger king crowd's eyes on us he decides it would be a great time to spill his soda all over the table and onto my clothes. I knew he felt bad but when he started wiping it up with a cheese burger wrapper something was really wrong with this guy. At that point I started pondering at the fact that it was probably time to leave.

Now back in his car sitting in sticky slime and covered in soda he decides to say how wonderful our date was. He also asked if I wanted to go on a second next weekend. I had to sweetly let him down with the "I have to study" excuse. When the clunker rolled back into my driveway I jumped out as quick as a wink. Not that my expectations  were very high going into this I date but  I can firmly say that it was the worst date I had ever been on and hopefully will ever be on.

Christmas Carol

 Author's Note: This is a response to the book A Christmas Carol. I chose a quote from the book and talked about the meaning.

"In a changed nature, in an altered spirit, in another atmosphere of life, another Hope as its great end. In everything that made my love of any worth or value in your sight. If this had never been between us," said the girl, looking mildly, but with steadiness, upon him, "tell me, would you seek me out and try to win me now? Ah, no!"

In the book A Christmas Carol the main character Scrooge, is a man with a life full of hate. His only care in the world is money. In this quote from the book, his fiancé is breaking up with him. She feels as if money is more important to him than she is. I believe the author added this quote in his book because it shows how shallow Scrooge is. Though, it tells us how ………. I think the author wants to show us that love is greater than anything.

When Scrooge revisits this moment in his life he starts to realize that the way he has been in the past needs to change. The idea that when he dies all of the money he had won’t matter starts coming across his mind. All that will matter was how he lived his life. Scrooge had many chances in his life to let love in. With his nephew, with his sister, and with his fiancé.  It was his choice not to and when he realizes what he could have had in his life he decided he needed to change.

From reading this short passage from the book I can take away that nothing is more important than true love. Money should never make a difference no matter what the circumstance.

matter what the circumstance.

Friendship

Author's Note: This is a response to the book Number the Stars. In the book one of the themes is friendship. I chose to write about the theme friendship.

Do you know what it's like to have a true friend?  One that's there for you regardless of anything? The one that knows every little secret about you?  Friendship is a feeling we all need in our life. Whether you are a child or an adult there is still a need for friendship in your life.

 "Real Friendship is shown in times of trouble."

Friendship plays a huge role in the book, Number the Stars.  Annemarie's best friend Ellen was Jewish during the Holocaust. Annemarie's family had to help Ellen's family to safety. Without the generous help from Annemarie's family, Ellen would have been in extreme danger. Annemarie's family was not forced to help the family. They did it out of friendship and kind-heartidness. If they were in the spot of Ellen's family, the would have done the same for them.

"The friendship that can cease has never been real." 

Friendship can be found with peers, teammates, and even family members. In the story, Charlie St. Cloud friendship is found between two brothers. When a sudden car accident happens and the younger brother dies they have to choose how they are going to hold up. Even though one was gone they choose to keep their friendship going. They were still able to see each other, but only he could see his brother. Even though this is not realistic in real life, it shows that true friendship lasts forever.

"Friends come and go but best friends  stays forever."

Friendship can start many different ways. In the book The Hunger Games  Katniss is forced to become friends with the other child representing district 13. As they are forced to be together they become close friends. They work together during the games and keep each other alive. Without the other they wouldn't have made it out alive.

"A friend is like a four leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have." 

 Friends are there for you regardless the situation.  Whether in fiction or real life friends area necessity in everyone's life.

A Complete Christmas

Author's Note: I wrote this piece in the spirit of Christmas. I tried to use good word choice

"I don't think I can do this anymore mom" Kaylee said to her mom.

"It will all be over soon honey" Kaylee's mom assured her.

"I just want to have a family Christmas for once"

"Me too"

For Kaylee's family a Christmas all together was sadly unfamiliar. Ever since she was little her father was in the Army. He was deployed at unexpected times and for an unknown time. If he wasn't deployed in another country he was in training. She was extremely proud of what he was doing for their country, but at the same time she just wanted a dad who came to her school performances and who would play in the backyard with her. She would see her friends' dads at school and sports just wishing someday hers   would be there too.

Ever since Kaylee was little she was always a Daddy's Girl. She loved playing baseball with him in the yard and watching the sports games on TV with him. It's not as if she was a tom boy, it was about the time she spent with him. As every day passed their friendship grew stronger. That's what they were -- best friends. Their close bond made his deployment even harder.

Sadness, Emptiness, and longing filled the home and hearts of the Smith's family the day their dad and husband left for the army. He reassured them what he couldn’t promise -- he would come home safely. Every day they would pray and hope that he was ok. He was deployed more and more times, though the worrying never ceased.

Janet, Kaylee's mom was a mother who loved her husband and family unconditionally. She was a mother of 3 children who always wanted them to do their best and to follow their dreams. When her husband was deployed she felt as if part of her left with him. Without him, it was as if she wasn’t herself. She wasn’t as happy or cheerful. The longer her husband was gone the more she longed for him to come back. For her it wasn’t a choice to show how much she worried about him in front of her children. It was her job to comfort them.

As Christmas was coming Kaylee and her siblings longed for her father more than ever. Christmas was always a hard time without him. She would hear about everything her friends were doing with their families for the holidays and wished for once they would be able to have a family Christmas. The past few Christmases had been nothing more than delivery pizza and 1 present for each of the kids. Kaylee knew how hard it was for her mom to provide the family on a small income. It seemed as if every year it became less and less about the joy of the holiday but how they were going to get through it.

Kaylee knew her family was separating more and more and she knew the only person who could stop this was her dad. She knew her dad coming home for Christmas was not possible. He did not get to choose his leave. Kaylee knew that if it was his choice he would be home for the Holidays. He would be there for every activity of hers and her siblings.

When John was told he would have a leave over Christmas he was ecstatic. "Thank you" became his most used word. He decided that he would make his arrival a surprise.

When Christmas Morning came it was just as any other morning with very brief conversations between each other. Without saying a word her mother handed the children their presents. They opened in silence and all thanked their mother. Kaylee knew this was really hard for her mother. She must have worked extra hours to come up with the money to buy the gifts. Kaylee expressed her gratitude toward her. An empty feeling still filled the house. Something was missing and it was obvious what it was their dad. He loved Christmas and enjoyed making it special for the kids.

Just as the kids thought their Christmas hoo-raah was over there was a knock on the door. Kaylee opened the door and jumped into the arms of her father. The whole family ran over and gave hugs. For once Christmas was complete.