Cassandra Thomas
It was a hot summer day and I was stuck in my room in a load of shock. How could I possibly tell my parents were all that ran through my head? My palms began to sweat and my head spun in circles the more I thought about it. Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months and before I knew it, it had already been two months since I discovered that I might be pregnant. I walked around in denial as I kept telling myself that my menstrual cycle was just late. But as the days continued to go by the more the reality sunk in and I knew that I had to tell my mom and dad. I prepared a speech in my head and the more I rehearsed the speech the more confident I became. When I decided to tell them I could not gather the strength to walk into their room. It felt as though something or someone were holding my feet down tightly so that I could not move. At that very moment I knew that telling my parents that I was pregnant would be the hardest thing that I ever had to do. Having parents with goals for their children and high standards made me feel like I was the one of all four of my sisters to let them down. Knowing that is what stopped me from telling them.
Laughter filled the down stairs of my house as my best friend and I played a card game called casino. We were in deep conversation when my father interrupted —“Greedy”. The tone in his voice immediately sent me running up the stairs and the smile that was on my face a moment ago formed into a frown. When I reached my parents bedroom where they sat patiently awaiting for my arrival I noticed that my father had a very disturbed look on his face. “Greedy your mother and I have a bad feeling”, my heart began to race because my gut told me that they knew I was pregnant. Suddenly my father asked me the question that I dreaded to hear, “ Are you pregnant?” I hesitated to respond because I felt like that was the time to tell them the truth but the word no managed to roll of my tongue. My father said, “ Okay than you should have no problem taking a pregnancy test and I responded “no”. When my father left the room I returned down stairs to my best friend but when I came down stairs she was gone. I was sitting on my sofa trying to figure out how could I manage to be stupid enough to be in a situation that I vowed to never get in. Then suddenly my father came storming through the front door. My father gave me this unforgettable look and then said, “Follow me”. I found myself in the bathroom taking a pregnancy test while my parents waited outside the bathroom for the results. When the results of the pregnancy test popped up positive I felt ashamed and disappointed at myself all over again. That’s when my parents sat me down for the conversation that was way over due. But to my surprise my parents understood and my mother explained to me how she was in the same situation at the age of sixteen. They told me that they were disappointed but they allowed me to know that it could of happened to anyone. It took a while for things to get back to normal between me and my family members. Anytime I was around my parents there was always dead silence for a week or two every since. From time to time my mother and father would get mad at me about something and bring up the situation with me being pregnant. Although I always had the support of my friends I was still uncomfortable around the people I let down, my family. I remember always wearing big shirts around the house so my parents and my sisters would not stir at my stomach as it began to poke out throughout my shirt taking a big round shape, similar to a basketball. I always isolated my self in my room because I was ashamed and did not want to be judge by everyone in my house and did not want to hear everyone put downs. At the time I was an emotional wreck and anything could trigger my feelings. I use to fear that whenever I got into an argument with my sisters that they would throw my pregnancy in my face, but the total opposite my sisters were supportive. At that point I discovered that I should have just been straightforward with my parents from the jump. When its all said and done their going to be the ones helping me considering the fact that this will be my first child. The world was lifted off my shoulders because I knew that I had my parent’s support as well as my boyfriend and now I was able to be at peace and prepare for the arrival of my unborn child.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Jasmone` Townes.2Nd- THE RUN FROM THE lAW - final draft
She ran outside screaming. I followed her to see what she was saying. “NO, NO, NO! I’M NOT GOING TO JAIL AGAIN, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS DUMB WHITE GIRL!” she said. I knew she was done for it, especially because this was New Jersey. You see, in Philly, you can sometimes get away with fights like this. Now in New Jersey, the police will come even before the fight has broken out. Not only that, but it was a bunch of Black and Puerto Rican girls jumping a white girl, all because she bumped her on the skating rink. I never even seen the girl before it happened. I was just mad because my friend got into something so stupid. I should have been watching her, knowing she was with her trouble-making associates she called “friends”. “Come on yall! Let’s run down the street before the cops’ come.” one boy said. I went along, only because I felt like I had no other choice. I mean, I was in the middle of nowhere, New Jersey. Where else could I have gone? I just knew this night was going to be the beginning of something horrible.
I was shopping with my mother when I received a phone call from my friend Ashlie from New Jersey. She was my friend ever since my younger years when we both attended summer camp together. We’ve been close ever since. “Hey Jaz! Today is $5 dollar Fridays’ at this skating rink close to my house. Everyone is going to be there. Ask your mom if you can stay over my house for the weekend. My mom said she will come pick you up when she gets home from work later on around eight o’clock tonight.” she said enthusiastically in my ear. “Okay sure.” I replied. “My mom said it’s cool. When I get home from the store, I’m going to pack my stuff. Just call me when you’re on your way.” I knew that every time I hung out with Ashlie, we would have a good time. It was never a dull moment with her. Ashlie was a short, stocky, dark-skinned girl with individuals in her hair that almost reached to the floor. That was her favorite hair style. She wore the type of lip gloss that made your lips look like you just finished eating a bucket of fried chicken. She had big gold hoop, bamboo earrings that had her name spelled out across the middle. She wore those every time we went somewhere special, just so she could make a scene. She also loved her “white girl eyes” or so she called them. They were her contacts she always wore, every color but her own. She had hazel, blue, and green. The hazel ones made her look mean, she liked those the most. Ashlie was the type of girl that didn’t have many friends. She fought mostly every two-three weeks while in school and was kicked out of more than three schools in one school year. But, it was different between me and her. I was always there for her when she had no one else. I was practically the only one that got along with her. I was the only true friend she had.
When her mom came to my house later on that night, I was ready to go party. I had my bag packed for the weekend, money in my pocket, hair straightened, cell phone charged, my “good” jeans on, and I was smothered with my Victoria’s Secret body spray from head to toe. I was fly that night. I kissed my mom goodbye and she screamed “Have fun!” as I jumped in the backseat of the car. When I looked at Ashlie, she had all her party attire on. From her contacts to her greasy lip gloss, she looked like she was ready for a fun time tonight. As we drove the highway on the way to New Jersey, Ashlie told me about some of her friends from school that would be there. I didn’t mind one bit. I loved meeting new people anyway. As we pulled up to the skating rink, we jumped out the car and headed inside. The music was so loud that you couldn’t hear yourself speak. Different color lights were flashing everywhere that I was blinded. It was a crowded skate floor and people dancing to the music on the side walls. I love it! I always had fun at events like these. Ashlie and I walked around to go find her school friends. We saw them over at the food court sitting down eating and talking. She ran right over to them, leaving me behind to follow her. I didn’t care though. I walked right over and introduced myself. Some of them were nice, some hyper, and others just too cocky to speak back. I brushed it off, I was there to have fun, not make friends.
We walked over to the skate rental and exchanged our sneakers for skates. I was kind of hesitant though. I really didn’t know how to skate, and didn’t want to either. I was more worried about dancing then skating. As I watched everyone put on their skates, I changed my mind and returned the skates. I figured I’ll watch from the floor until they were finished. But no one cared, not even Ashlie. Everyone went on the skating floor without even taking two looks at me. I was surprised at her most of all, considering the fact I arrived with her. “Oh my God! She brushed me off for her fake, little cocky friends!” I thought. “I know I didn’t want to skate, but damn! At least consider the fact I’m here!” I was heated. She completely changed who she was around her so-called “friends”. She was just like them, fake and full of it. I sat down on the bench for a while and then I became bored. Everyone was laughing, skating and dancing and I wanted to go home. I figured I’ll call a friend to pass the time until we had to leave. But with all this loud music I wouldn’t be able to hear. After a while the lights where giving me a headache too. I headed for the bathroom.
As I walked inside the bathroom with the phone to my ear and my finger covering the other, there were girls standing all around. Some were waiting in line for a bathroom stall, while others where standing by the sinks gossiping to one another. While standing, I was greeted with a horrible stench of all types of bathroom odors. My stomach easily turned and I couldn’t take it. I stood by the door to get a breath of fresh air and continued my phone conversation. My plan was to be on the phone all through the rest of the night. Good thing I charged my phone before I left. All of a sudden, I heard screaming coming from outside the bathroom. Every girl pushed out the bathroom door eager to see what was going on. Me being the nosey one, I followed right behind them. As I got closer to all the commotion, I had realized a fight had broken out. I hung up with my friend and walked forward to get a closer look. Then I saw her—Ashlie. It was Ashlie and her trouble-making friends jumping an innocent white girl. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Ashlie picked the girl up by her ponytail and threw her against the wall while her friend intensely punched her in the stomach. I felt bad for the girl. All of the girl’s friends stood around watching their friend in her misery. Finally, security came to break it up. Everyone scattered in different directions, but I had my eye on Ashlie. She ran straight outside with rest of the crowd. What was she getting into now?
It was about eight of us, four girls and four guys. The guys came along with us to make sure they wouldn’t get into anymore trouble than they already have. By this time it was around ten o’clock. We ran down the longest block ever. New Jersey blocks were way longer than Philly blocks, so it seemed like it took forever to reach the corner. Once we got towards the middle, someone noticed an abandon Mobil gas station across the street. I noticed I lost my gold earring while running. We ran across the street to the back of the gas station. We all posted up against the wall trying to camouflage with the darkness so no one would see us. We realized that was a bad idea, after a car passed and shined its bright high beams directly at us. We all got down and laid close in the tall grass below us. It was towards the end of October, which meant the average temperature at night was about fifty degrees. It had rained about an hour ago so the grass was still wet with dew. The grass wasn’t like Philly grass. It was prickly, like it had thorns of a rose bush, and it had an odor that smelled like wildlife. Everyone tried to stay still because if you moved, the thorns would dig through your clothing and into your skin. All of a sudden, we heard footsteps and saw flashlights. We knew these were cops because you could hear the feedback from the walkie-talkies. Everyone kept quiet as if they were dead bodies. The cops searched but couldn’t see us. Footsteps faded, doors slammed, and sirens headed for the skating rink. Everyone took a breath of relief but didn’t know what to do next. No one wanted to lie here all night. One of Ashlie’s friends asked me could they use my cell phone to call for help. I gave it to her, only because I wanted this night to be over. One of the guys suggested to keep moving just incase the police came back to search again. We all agreed, rose up from the pain of the needle-like thorns and headed around the corner.
We ran until we arrived to an open lot. We all stood around not knowing what to do. I realized I didn’t have my phone so I asked the girl did she still have it. “No I don’t got your phone,” she said, “I gave it back to you when we were over by the grass.” I refused to go anywhere else without it so I was on my way back to go search for it. Everyone thought I was crazy. No one wanted me to go back because they were afraid that I might get caught. But I was determined. I couldn’t just let something like that go; after all, I wasn’t the one that was fighting anyway. So I walked off while they all screamed for me to come back. When I returned to the tall grass, I search all around but I had no luck. My phone was no where to be found. It started to drizzle and I didn’t want to be out there alone so I headed back to the lot. Walking back, everyone was staring at me with hate in their eyes. I knew they were mad at me but I didn’t care. I was mad that little skank lost my phone. “Don’t come back now! You mind as well go back where you came from” one girl said. “No! Are you stupid!? If she goes back, she can tell on all of us.” someone said to the girl. They were right. That is exactly what I was going to do. I didn’t want to be there anyway, so I had no problem going back. When I walked up to the group, Ashlie jumped in my face. “You’re lucky I don’t beat you up right now!” she said, “You could’ve gotten us all in trouble!” “Look Ashlie, I’m not that girl!” I screamed back, “Your not gonna yell in my face like I’m a nut. If it was your phone, you would’ve been doing the same thing! If you want to fight me now, then we can handle it!!” At that point I didn’t care anymore. What else did I have to loose? I already lost my phone and I most certainly wasn’t worried about losing a friend. Ashlie just stared at me. We’ve never argued before and she didn’t know how to handle the situation. She stood there for a while, and I finally realized she wasn’t going to do anything. “Exactly my point,” I said, “you have the biggest mouth here but you’re scared more than any of us.” I turned around and started walking further down the road. If I was going to find help, I would have to do it on my own. I wasn’t relying on anyone else from this point on. Everyone else followed, as usual, while Ashlie trailed behind not saying a word to anyone.
We ran for five hours, knocking on doors to empty houses, and trying to call help one dying cell phones. I knew we ran far once we reached Clementon Park. I thought this was never going to be over. One of the girls mentioned she knew someone that lived around this area. Hoping to receive help, we followed her to the house. As we arrived at the house, we walked up to the doorway. It was men all around. They didn’t look that much older to me, but to them I was a child. Loud music was coming from inside of the house and the smell of alcohol and marijuana was coming from there breath. She greeted them with a kiss on the cheek and went inside the house. By this time, there were only 4 girls including me. The boys we were with had left as soon as we reached shelter, or so they thought. The men just stared as us three girls. I was scared, but didn’t show it like the other two. One of them asked if we wanted to go inside. The girls just looked at me. We were all very cold and wet from the rain, but I refused. I was not getting myself into anything I couldn’t handle. We remained outside. After an hour, we realized that the other girl wasn’t coming out the house. I walked over to sit on a chair because my legs were tired from running all night. I put my hood over my head and folded my legs up together to keep me warm. I soon fell asleep, waiting for a miracle...
I awakened by the tap on my shoulder. It was Ashlie telling me that she called her mother to come pick us up. She explained to me that she called from one of the guy’s house phone and her friend left while we were sleeping. The other girl, however, remained in the house and still didn’t come outside. I couldn’t be any happier. I was still upset at Ashlie, but I was overwhelmed by the excitement of finally go home. It was close to five in the morning when Ashlie’s mother pulled up in the car. We both speed walked to the car without saying a word to anyone at the house. As we stepped in the car, we were encountered with the yelling and screaming of Ashlie’s mother. She told me that she already called my mother and that she was at their house waiting for me. She yelled all the way until we arrived at their house. I saw my mother’s car parked in the driveway of the house with her headlights still on. I noticed my bags were still in the car after all this time, so I quickly grabbed them and headed out the car, slamming the door behind me without saying one word. As I ran to the car, my mother jumped out with her arms wide open. I dropped my bags on the ground and embraced her with a hug that I thought I would never experience again. We jumped in the car and pulled off on our way back to Philly never to return there again. As soon as we started driving, the tears held back from the entire night came flowing down like an automatic waterfall. My mother pulled the car over as I wailed on trying to tell her every detail of my night all at once. Surprisingly, my mother started crying. She cried in a way that someone would cry when they lose something very important to them and it’s gone forever. I’ve never seen my mother cry before so it came as a shock to me. She explained to me that she was worried sick that she would never see me again. We both hugged and calmed each other down by discussing everything that occurred that night. We talked for about an hour but it seemed like eternity. When we finally arrived home, it was six in the morning. Ever since that day I never saw Ashlie again. She used to write me through e-mail saying how sorry she was and she missed having me as a friend. I started talking to her again through e-mail, and then over the phone. But that didn’t last too long. We soon grew apart. I’ve always learned to forgive but never forget. I knew she would never find a friend like me again and I would never run from the law again.
I was shopping with my mother when I received a phone call from my friend Ashlie from New Jersey. She was my friend ever since my younger years when we both attended summer camp together. We’ve been close ever since. “Hey Jaz! Today is $5 dollar Fridays’ at this skating rink close to my house. Everyone is going to be there. Ask your mom if you can stay over my house for the weekend. My mom said she will come pick you up when she gets home from work later on around eight o’clock tonight.” she said enthusiastically in my ear. “Okay sure.” I replied. “My mom said it’s cool. When I get home from the store, I’m going to pack my stuff. Just call me when you’re on your way.” I knew that every time I hung out with Ashlie, we would have a good time. It was never a dull moment with her. Ashlie was a short, stocky, dark-skinned girl with individuals in her hair that almost reached to the floor. That was her favorite hair style. She wore the type of lip gloss that made your lips look like you just finished eating a bucket of fried chicken. She had big gold hoop, bamboo earrings that had her name spelled out across the middle. She wore those every time we went somewhere special, just so she could make a scene. She also loved her “white girl eyes” or so she called them. They were her contacts she always wore, every color but her own. She had hazel, blue, and green. The hazel ones made her look mean, she liked those the most. Ashlie was the type of girl that didn’t have many friends. She fought mostly every two-three weeks while in school and was kicked out of more than three schools in one school year. But, it was different between me and her. I was always there for her when she had no one else. I was practically the only one that got along with her. I was the only true friend she had.
When her mom came to my house later on that night, I was ready to go party. I had my bag packed for the weekend, money in my pocket, hair straightened, cell phone charged, my “good” jeans on, and I was smothered with my Victoria’s Secret body spray from head to toe. I was fly that night. I kissed my mom goodbye and she screamed “Have fun!” as I jumped in the backseat of the car. When I looked at Ashlie, she had all her party attire on. From her contacts to her greasy lip gloss, she looked like she was ready for a fun time tonight. As we drove the highway on the way to New Jersey, Ashlie told me about some of her friends from school that would be there. I didn’t mind one bit. I loved meeting new people anyway. As we pulled up to the skating rink, we jumped out the car and headed inside. The music was so loud that you couldn’t hear yourself speak. Different color lights were flashing everywhere that I was blinded. It was a crowded skate floor and people dancing to the music on the side walls. I love it! I always had fun at events like these. Ashlie and I walked around to go find her school friends. We saw them over at the food court sitting down eating and talking. She ran right over to them, leaving me behind to follow her. I didn’t care though. I walked right over and introduced myself. Some of them were nice, some hyper, and others just too cocky to speak back. I brushed it off, I was there to have fun, not make friends.
We walked over to the skate rental and exchanged our sneakers for skates. I was kind of hesitant though. I really didn’t know how to skate, and didn’t want to either. I was more worried about dancing then skating. As I watched everyone put on their skates, I changed my mind and returned the skates. I figured I’ll watch from the floor until they were finished. But no one cared, not even Ashlie. Everyone went on the skating floor without even taking two looks at me. I was surprised at her most of all, considering the fact I arrived with her. “Oh my God! She brushed me off for her fake, little cocky friends!” I thought. “I know I didn’t want to skate, but damn! At least consider the fact I’m here!” I was heated. She completely changed who she was around her so-called “friends”. She was just like them, fake and full of it. I sat down on the bench for a while and then I became bored. Everyone was laughing, skating and dancing and I wanted to go home. I figured I’ll call a friend to pass the time until we had to leave. But with all this loud music I wouldn’t be able to hear. After a while the lights where giving me a headache too. I headed for the bathroom.
As I walked inside the bathroom with the phone to my ear and my finger covering the other, there were girls standing all around. Some were waiting in line for a bathroom stall, while others where standing by the sinks gossiping to one another. While standing, I was greeted with a horrible stench of all types of bathroom odors. My stomach easily turned and I couldn’t take it. I stood by the door to get a breath of fresh air and continued my phone conversation. My plan was to be on the phone all through the rest of the night. Good thing I charged my phone before I left. All of a sudden, I heard screaming coming from outside the bathroom. Every girl pushed out the bathroom door eager to see what was going on. Me being the nosey one, I followed right behind them. As I got closer to all the commotion, I had realized a fight had broken out. I hung up with my friend and walked forward to get a closer look. Then I saw her—Ashlie. It was Ashlie and her trouble-making friends jumping an innocent white girl. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Ashlie picked the girl up by her ponytail and threw her against the wall while her friend intensely punched her in the stomach. I felt bad for the girl. All of the girl’s friends stood around watching their friend in her misery. Finally, security came to break it up. Everyone scattered in different directions, but I had my eye on Ashlie. She ran straight outside with rest of the crowd. What was she getting into now?
It was about eight of us, four girls and four guys. The guys came along with us to make sure they wouldn’t get into anymore trouble than they already have. By this time it was around ten o’clock. We ran down the longest block ever. New Jersey blocks were way longer than Philly blocks, so it seemed like it took forever to reach the corner. Once we got towards the middle, someone noticed an abandon Mobil gas station across the street. I noticed I lost my gold earring while running. We ran across the street to the back of the gas station. We all posted up against the wall trying to camouflage with the darkness so no one would see us. We realized that was a bad idea, after a car passed and shined its bright high beams directly at us. We all got down and laid close in the tall grass below us. It was towards the end of October, which meant the average temperature at night was about fifty degrees. It had rained about an hour ago so the grass was still wet with dew. The grass wasn’t like Philly grass. It was prickly, like it had thorns of a rose bush, and it had an odor that smelled like wildlife. Everyone tried to stay still because if you moved, the thorns would dig through your clothing and into your skin. All of a sudden, we heard footsteps and saw flashlights. We knew these were cops because you could hear the feedback from the walkie-talkies. Everyone kept quiet as if they were dead bodies. The cops searched but couldn’t see us. Footsteps faded, doors slammed, and sirens headed for the skating rink. Everyone took a breath of relief but didn’t know what to do next. No one wanted to lie here all night. One of Ashlie’s friends asked me could they use my cell phone to call for help. I gave it to her, only because I wanted this night to be over. One of the guys suggested to keep moving just incase the police came back to search again. We all agreed, rose up from the pain of the needle-like thorns and headed around the corner.
We ran until we arrived to an open lot. We all stood around not knowing what to do. I realized I didn’t have my phone so I asked the girl did she still have it. “No I don’t got your phone,” she said, “I gave it back to you when we were over by the grass.” I refused to go anywhere else without it so I was on my way back to go search for it. Everyone thought I was crazy. No one wanted me to go back because they were afraid that I might get caught. But I was determined. I couldn’t just let something like that go; after all, I wasn’t the one that was fighting anyway. So I walked off while they all screamed for me to come back. When I returned to the tall grass, I search all around but I had no luck. My phone was no where to be found. It started to drizzle and I didn’t want to be out there alone so I headed back to the lot. Walking back, everyone was staring at me with hate in their eyes. I knew they were mad at me but I didn’t care. I was mad that little skank lost my phone. “Don’t come back now! You mind as well go back where you came from” one girl said. “No! Are you stupid!? If she goes back, she can tell on all of us.” someone said to the girl. They were right. That is exactly what I was going to do. I didn’t want to be there anyway, so I had no problem going back. When I walked up to the group, Ashlie jumped in my face. “You’re lucky I don’t beat you up right now!” she said, “You could’ve gotten us all in trouble!” “Look Ashlie, I’m not that girl!” I screamed back, “Your not gonna yell in my face like I’m a nut. If it was your phone, you would’ve been doing the same thing! If you want to fight me now, then we can handle it!!” At that point I didn’t care anymore. What else did I have to loose? I already lost my phone and I most certainly wasn’t worried about losing a friend. Ashlie just stared at me. We’ve never argued before and she didn’t know how to handle the situation. She stood there for a while, and I finally realized she wasn’t going to do anything. “Exactly my point,” I said, “you have the biggest mouth here but you’re scared more than any of us.” I turned around and started walking further down the road. If I was going to find help, I would have to do it on my own. I wasn’t relying on anyone else from this point on. Everyone else followed, as usual, while Ashlie trailed behind not saying a word to anyone.
We ran for five hours, knocking on doors to empty houses, and trying to call help one dying cell phones. I knew we ran far once we reached Clementon Park. I thought this was never going to be over. One of the girls mentioned she knew someone that lived around this area. Hoping to receive help, we followed her to the house. As we arrived at the house, we walked up to the doorway. It was men all around. They didn’t look that much older to me, but to them I was a child. Loud music was coming from inside of the house and the smell of alcohol and marijuana was coming from there breath. She greeted them with a kiss on the cheek and went inside the house. By this time, there were only 4 girls including me. The boys we were with had left as soon as we reached shelter, or so they thought. The men just stared as us three girls. I was scared, but didn’t show it like the other two. One of them asked if we wanted to go inside. The girls just looked at me. We were all very cold and wet from the rain, but I refused. I was not getting myself into anything I couldn’t handle. We remained outside. After an hour, we realized that the other girl wasn’t coming out the house. I walked over to sit on a chair because my legs were tired from running all night. I put my hood over my head and folded my legs up together to keep me warm. I soon fell asleep, waiting for a miracle...
I awakened by the tap on my shoulder. It was Ashlie telling me that she called her mother to come pick us up. She explained to me that she called from one of the guy’s house phone and her friend left while we were sleeping. The other girl, however, remained in the house and still didn’t come outside. I couldn’t be any happier. I was still upset at Ashlie, but I was overwhelmed by the excitement of finally go home. It was close to five in the morning when Ashlie’s mother pulled up in the car. We both speed walked to the car without saying a word to anyone at the house. As we stepped in the car, we were encountered with the yelling and screaming of Ashlie’s mother. She told me that she already called my mother and that she was at their house waiting for me. She yelled all the way until we arrived at their house. I saw my mother’s car parked in the driveway of the house with her headlights still on. I noticed my bags were still in the car after all this time, so I quickly grabbed them and headed out the car, slamming the door behind me without saying one word. As I ran to the car, my mother jumped out with her arms wide open. I dropped my bags on the ground and embraced her with a hug that I thought I would never experience again. We jumped in the car and pulled off on our way back to Philly never to return there again. As soon as we started driving, the tears held back from the entire night came flowing down like an automatic waterfall. My mother pulled the car over as I wailed on trying to tell her every detail of my night all at once. Surprisingly, my mother started crying. She cried in a way that someone would cry when they lose something very important to them and it’s gone forever. I’ve never seen my mother cry before so it came as a shock to me. She explained to me that she was worried sick that she would never see me again. We both hugged and calmed each other down by discussing everything that occurred that night. We talked for about an hour but it seemed like eternity. When we finally arrived home, it was six in the morning. Ever since that day I never saw Ashlie again. She used to write me through e-mail saying how sorry she was and she missed having me as a friend. I started talking to her again through e-mail, and then over the phone. But that didn’t last too long. We soon grew apart. I’ve always learned to forgive but never forget. I knew she would never find a friend like me again and I would never run from the law again.
Final Draft of Bang Bang by Nelson Hollerway Period #2
Nelson Hollerway
“This is your 9-1-1 operator, how can I help you?”
“My mom um she’s bleeding really bad….”
“Okay what is your address?”
“I—it’s 1834 Creek Ct.”
Every kid learns to dial 9-1-1 from their parents and teachers. Most kids never dial 9-1-1, but my sister and I were luckless enough to have to. My mother was shot two times once in the stomach and once in the lower arm. I called the police and did everything my mom told me to do before they came. She told me to call my grandmother and I did. My “Grandma Janis”, as I called her, showed up in the nick of time and picked up me and my sister up from our mother’s two bedroom apartment and drove us to the hospital that my mom was being treated at.
It was warm fall day, the sun was bright and the afternoon was beautiful. My sister and I were outside playing on our little tyke’s jungle gym. We heard a loud sound coming from inside our white town house apartment. My sister and I first ignored the loud sound and then when we heard the two other sounds and knew they were gunshots. Both of us ran back to the house to see what was going on. When we first entered the house we didn’t see anyone in the apartment but when we came around the wall separating the living room and dining room we saw our mother lying on the couch with a bible in her hands. She was crying and she reached out to us and told us to get the phone. There was blood everywhere. She told me to call 9-1-1. While I was on the phone with the 9-1-1 operator my sister was hugging my mom crying, and since my father wasn’t really around me about that time in my life I was the man of the house no matter how big or how small I was. I tried to comfort my sister but it was no use. After I got off the phone with operator I asked her what happened and she told me that someone broke in our house. She told the anonymous robber to leave and that she wouldn’t call 5-0. She said after that the culprit pulled out a gun and shot at her four times. She was shot twice and grazed by one of the other bullets. The other bullet went through the wall. My mother didn’t know who it was that broke into our house. She later found out that it was her jealous her ex-boyfriend. He turned himself in when he found out that she was in critical condition. My sister and I stayed with my grandmother for about a week. When the shooter was tried he was deported back to Trinidad, his home country. My mom was in Virtua Hospital in South Jersey, and she was released in a few days and we all stayed at my Grandma’s house until my mom fully recovered from her stomach wound. After my mom had fully recovered we moved to New Jersey from Delaware and life got even more unexpected.
“This is your 9-1-1 operator, how can I help you?”
“My mom um she’s bleeding really bad….”
“Okay what is your address?”
“I—it’s 1834 Creek Ct.”
Every kid learns to dial 9-1-1 from their parents and teachers. Most kids never dial 9-1-1, but my sister and I were luckless enough to have to. My mother was shot two times once in the stomach and once in the lower arm. I called the police and did everything my mom told me to do before they came. She told me to call my grandmother and I did. My “Grandma Janis”, as I called her, showed up in the nick of time and picked up me and my sister up from our mother’s two bedroom apartment and drove us to the hospital that my mom was being treated at.
It was warm fall day, the sun was bright and the afternoon was beautiful. My sister and I were outside playing on our little tyke’s jungle gym. We heard a loud sound coming from inside our white town house apartment. My sister and I first ignored the loud sound and then when we heard the two other sounds and knew they were gunshots. Both of us ran back to the house to see what was going on. When we first entered the house we didn’t see anyone in the apartment but when we came around the wall separating the living room and dining room we saw our mother lying on the couch with a bible in her hands. She was crying and she reached out to us and told us to get the phone. There was blood everywhere. She told me to call 9-1-1. While I was on the phone with the 9-1-1 operator my sister was hugging my mom crying, and since my father wasn’t really around me about that time in my life I was the man of the house no matter how big or how small I was. I tried to comfort my sister but it was no use. After I got off the phone with operator I asked her what happened and she told me that someone broke in our house. She told the anonymous robber to leave and that she wouldn’t call 5-0. She said after that the culprit pulled out a gun and shot at her four times. She was shot twice and grazed by one of the other bullets. The other bullet went through the wall. My mother didn’t know who it was that broke into our house. She later found out that it was her jealous her ex-boyfriend. He turned himself in when he found out that she was in critical condition. My sister and I stayed with my grandmother for about a week. When the shooter was tried he was deported back to Trinidad, his home country. My mom was in Virtua Hospital in South Jersey, and she was released in a few days and we all stayed at my Grandma’s house until my mom fully recovered from her stomach wound. After my mom had fully recovered we moved to New Jersey from Delaware and life got even more unexpected.
(Julius Lewis) A Miracle In Its Self Final Draft
The doctors said that it would not be long before I was dead. I was born on December 31, 1989 at Thomas Jefferson Hospital to Theresa Lewis. That’s my mom. I was born 8:31am. I was 22 inches and weighed 9ibs 12oz. After I was born the doctors tried to explain to my mom that I was born with poison in my body. This was about the 2nd day after I was born. I know this situation was hard for my mom. She did not want to hear that her first child was going to die. The doctors stated the operation about the 10th day after I was born. They stated by cutting my side open then disconnecting and reconnecting parts of my body. I went through a lot of pain for about five days.
After the doctors were finish, they put about 15 tubes on and through my body. My mom said they were trying to keep me alive. After the doctors seen that there wasn’t any progress on the 32nd day the doctors released me from the hospital and said there nothing else they can do but they wish the best for me. So my mom took me home that night wondering what to do and where to go to get me some help. She didn’t find any help so she did what any Christian woman would do when faced with a problem. She prayed for me day in and day out. I thank my mom for being there for me.
When I went back to the hospital for my first physical examination my mom said the doctors said that I was in good health. She said they were amazed at the fact that I was still living and the progress that I made since being released from the hospital. The doctors took credit for saving my life, but I knew it was God. God was there for me through the whole situation. My mom told me to always believe that God is able, no matter what. Never forget what god has done for you. I know God has a purpose for my life. Whatever my purpose is on this earth I want to make sure that it brings glory to God. So that God knows that I thank him for saving my life.
After the doctors were finish, they put about 15 tubes on and through my body. My mom said they were trying to keep me alive. After the doctors seen that there wasn’t any progress on the 32nd day the doctors released me from the hospital and said there nothing else they can do but they wish the best for me. So my mom took me home that night wondering what to do and where to go to get me some help. She didn’t find any help so she did what any Christian woman would do when faced with a problem. She prayed for me day in and day out. I thank my mom for being there for me.
When I went back to the hospital for my first physical examination my mom said the doctors said that I was in good health. She said they were amazed at the fact that I was still living and the progress that I made since being released from the hospital. The doctors took credit for saving my life, but I knew it was God. God was there for me through the whole situation. My mom told me to always believe that God is able, no matter what. Never forget what god has done for you. I know God has a purpose for my life. Whatever my purpose is on this earth I want to make sure that it brings glory to God. So that God knows that I thank him for saving my life.
Kyle Sanders's final draft
Kyle Sanders period 6
October 17, 2007
By: Kyle Sanders
Creative Writing
The Day I Lost a Friend
Why…Why...WHY God! Why did it have to happen to him? My mother screamed out in pain. Today is April 8th my little brother birthday and funeral. “I swear to god I swear!” That’s my younger cousin screaming in a furious deep voice. As I walked up to see my brother lying there in a black suit and a white rose between his hands.
This is the worst day of my life I have to see not only my brother, but my best friend dead, my beautiful mother crying her heart out my aunts and uncles dressed in black, my cousin with shirts that say rest in peace “Kidd” Kannonz till’ the grave. “I can’t believe this I lost my friend” my cousin starts off by saying with tears running down his face, his voice cracks as he said that “Kyle wasn’t a bad person he was funny, wise, and.............” he pause and began to break down and cry again.
When the pastor was done given us the “word” from the bible, Boy 2 Men came and song “Its so hard to say goodbye” and turn on a classic song by Biggie Smalls an historical rapper that my little brother look up to, that song seem to change the whole mood of the church. I didn’t really cry at the funeral even thought I lost a friend because I knew my little brother was going to be cool because being cool was his style.
October 17, 2007
By: Kyle Sanders
Creative Writing
The Day I Lost a Friend
Why…Why...WHY God! Why did it have to happen to him? My mother screamed out in pain. Today is April 8th my little brother birthday and funeral. “I swear to god I swear!” That’s my younger cousin screaming in a furious deep voice. As I walked up to see my brother lying there in a black suit and a white rose between his hands.
This is the worst day of my life I have to see not only my brother, but my best friend dead, my beautiful mother crying her heart out my aunts and uncles dressed in black, my cousin with shirts that say rest in peace “Kidd” Kannonz till’ the grave. “I can’t believe this I lost my friend” my cousin starts off by saying with tears running down his face, his voice cracks as he said that “Kyle wasn’t a bad person he was funny, wise, and.............” he pause and began to break down and cry again.
When the pastor was done given us the “word” from the bible, Boy 2 Men came and song “Its so hard to say goodbye” and turn on a classic song by Biggie Smalls an historical rapper that my little brother look up to, that song seem to change the whole mood of the church. I didn’t really cry at the funeral even thought I lost a friend because I knew my little brother was going to be cool because being cool was his style.
my 2nd final draft michelle baxter shelly
Growing up in my house was filled with unexpected events .My mother is a very exciting person; she loves to play games and have parties. One summer evening as nighttime approached my cousins a few friends and I were sitting on the step .We were
bored and thinking about we could do .My mom appeared and suggested we play “HIDE N SEEK” we all agreed. She set the rules; we could hide in the house or around
the front patio. My mom began “apple picking pumpkin pie who’s not ready holler I. I ran upstairs in my mom’s room and remember crawling into her closet and hiding under her long coats. I heard her voice getting softer and softer and I didn’t hear her any more. Well my mom would forget things a lot. Just then the phone rang. Talking for what she said had to be 2 hours; she didn’t even realize I hadn’t appeared yet. All
the other children continued to play also. Around 7:30pm all heck broke loose. My mom started looking for me. She began asking the children were I was no one had seen me. I was told after only 10 minutes she went ballistic, running up and down the street begging everybody to tell her they’ve seen me, they hadn't. That only made her crazier, she ran back home to search the house. Only looking in every room turning on the lights, within 20minutes the police force was called in. My mom started picking out neighbors who she said "was potential kidnappers. People said she had all the neighbors searching allies banging on doors, when one man seemed suspicious to her she demanded he be arrested. The police told her to calm down and rethink the last time she actually seen me. After questioning everybody and my mom retracing her steps. I was found in my mom's closet fast asleep.
bored and thinking about we could do .My mom appeared and suggested we play “HIDE N SEEK” we all agreed. She set the rules; we could hide in the house or around
the front patio. My mom began “apple picking pumpkin pie who’s not ready holler I. I ran upstairs in my mom’s room and remember crawling into her closet and hiding under her long coats. I heard her voice getting softer and softer and I didn’t hear her any more. Well my mom would forget things a lot. Just then the phone rang. Talking for what she said had to be 2 hours; she didn’t even realize I hadn’t appeared yet. All
the other children continued to play also. Around 7:30pm all heck broke loose. My mom started looking for me. She began asking the children were I was no one had seen me. I was told after only 10 minutes she went ballistic, running up and down the street begging everybody to tell her they’ve seen me, they hadn't. That only made her crazier, she ran back home to search the house. Only looking in every room turning on the lights, within 20minutes the police force was called in. My mom started picking out neighbors who she said "was potential kidnappers. People said she had all the neighbors searching allies banging on doors, when one man seemed suspicious to her she demanded he be arrested. The police told her to calm down and rethink the last time she actually seen me. After questioning everybody and my mom retracing her steps. I was found in my mom's closet fast asleep.
Kelly Nguyen 6th period final draft
Torn into two
at the time, when I met Cito, I was about six years old. Growing up
with each other, dating, holding on tightly to someone I could not let go
of, made it hard for me to accept his death. I remember that day of
his burial; it was the worst day of my life. As I stood on top of
his grave, I just could not picture the person I loved, the one who had
been with me for years, eight feet underneath
the ground.
When I was at my aunt birthday party I, met Luis. Everyone
called him by his nickname, Cito. Cito and I used to hate each
other until we played car toys with other kids. There was a silly game
that we played. It was called the "cootie" touch. We got along
pretty well, and I was happy I had a friend like him.
During the summer, after my Aunt Jennys birthday, my mom and
Citos mom enrolled us in the same school. I was in first;
meanwhile, he was in third. Everyday after school, we would go to the
park as long as it was not too cold. Hanging out everyday was
like a routine for us. I am glad we spent everyday together.
As years past, Cito and I started talking more. We were inseparable;
without him, I would not be anything. We never let anything
happen to each other. Every time I was upset, I knew I could rely on
him to be there. He always said, "Crack a smile, or crack a
jack.", When he knew I was upset. He knew just the things to make me
laugh.
Cito and I started dating when I was twelve and he was thirteen
going on fourteen. We were together everyday; I do not
remember us being a second apart. When he started high school, everything
was cool, until he entered the tenth grade. That was
where the time that tension started to grow.
During June, summer of 2007, Citos family and I were talking about
getting him a dirt bike. He was always into street racing,
motor bikes, cars, etc. We got him a dirt bike a month later, which was
July. He was so happy, that he slept next to it for days
until he was able to drive it. That was the first time where I first
saw the biggest cheesiest smile from him. That dirt bike was an early
birthday present for him.
That morning of July 28, 2007, when he was finally allowed to
ride his dirt bike, he called me and told me he was going to go
see me after he was going to put his bike away, when he finishes
riding it. Cito told me he was going to ride his dirt bike at
Summerdale Park, which is located in north Philadelphia, I had a bad
feeling, but I just told him to be careful and that I loved him.
Little did we know, that one little dirt bike could cost him his
life. Shortly, after he arrived at Summerdale park, another
teenager asked him to trade bikes, but Cito said no because he had
just gotten the bike. At that moment Cito knew something was
up, because the boy had put his hand in his pocket and gave him a
dirty look. Cito tried to drive away, but the teenager shot him
in his back. Cito's friend who had been with him had left him laying
there knowing he was going to die.
After the boys shot cito, they took Cito's bike. He laid there
for two hours. Unwantedly, Cito had died in Summerdale park
around 6:00 p.m. If he were still alive, he would have been paralyzed for
his whole life. Well, two hours after he was shot, the news got
to the police. Cito had been shot in his back three times. There is was his dreams
and hopes shattered. He attended Mastbuam that was located
on Frankford and Allegheny. He loved cars more then anything and wanted to become a
mechanic.
When I was at home, I got a phone call saying that Cito had been
shot, and that he died. I thought this was some kind of sick
joke until my sister told me to turn on the TV. . I could not believe it.
My heart sank to my guts, I smashed the phone, cried my eyes
out, and ran out of the house to go up to the park immediately. As I
was heading up there, I was thinking it could not be him, and
that this was not happening. Why did they harm the person I loved, the guy
who never harmed a soul? When I saw him, I could not believe
what my eyes were telling me. I saw the cops covering his body with some kind
of cloth. They were asking the people around if anyone had
knew what happened. They went up to ask me what happened but I told them I wish I
knew what happened I. As I looked back at him, I
never knew I could have been so lost in my life. I lost that one person who was so
important to me.
I wanted to run up and tell him to wake him up, because he
could not have been dead; he could not have been. He promised
me he was never going to leave my side. I couldn't believe that Cito
broke his promise to me, he had never broken any before, so
why did he start now? I had never felt so hurt and lost in all of my
life. I could not believe I had to face my biggest nightmare, and that
was losing him. I dropped to the ground as I had all these thoughts running through
my mind”, Why? Why? Why Cito? Out of all people why did it
have to be him?.". My sisters picked me up and said all you need to know is that he's
in a better world, and he loved you too sweetie but
sometimes if you love him you have to let him go. I was quickly to answer”, If I love
him why would I have to let him go? If that’s the case then I don’t
want to love him so he can be here.". As it effected and hurted, me so much it
started to hurt my sister as well, because she never wanted to see
me down.
About a day or so after his death, a construction worker saw a
boy carrying what looked like Cito's dirt bike, but he was not
sure until he heard the boy's mom say, "Take that bike out of my
house; that's the dead boy bike”.. After the construction worker
heard that, he immediately reported it to the cops on the spot. That
boy had been caught and now he has to spend the rest of his
life in jail.
A couple of days later were Citos viewing. At the viewing, we
dressed him so he could leave this hurtful world as himself. I
knelt beside his casket, to give him one last kiss. My hands were shaking
because I could not handle the truth that he was leaving this world.
My heart tore into two as I looked at his face to where his cold white lips and
remembered it as red and living. I put a picture of us together
right beside him as I’m hoping he wouldn't forget what we had and what we went
through. As I looked up, I could not believe this was my last
time ever getting too sees or touch his face again. I placed a picture
of us together in the hope that he would not forget what we had
and had been through together. I looked at his face once again, for the
last time and kissed his cheek. I said to him, "Even though
everything inside you isn't living, I know that somewhere in there that
the love that we shared still lives within in you. No matter what I'll
always love you, because you were such a big part of my life and still
are, can't no one ever take that away from me and you.". I got
up and walked away but it upsetted me because it felt like he was leaving my life
forever. As I walked towards my sister she told me”, don’t worry
baby girl everything happens for a reason.". As she said that to me I slowly turned
my head away and said I wish I knew the reason whether it was
bad or good.
The next morning was the day of the burial. The burial was
filled with family and friends who came to show Cito love and
respect. I looked at the casket and I still couldn't accept that he
wasn't going to be here physically no more. As the time came to
burry him, I cried until I had no tears left. Just a minute before they
put him down, I grabbed a piece of dirt kept it on my heart,
kissed it, made the sign of the cross on the casket, and I knelt down
beside the casket and kissed it. I stood up and looked at it silently
as my sister is comforting me on her shoulder I never felt so much pain in my life
because I didn't want to lose him I thought this was one big
nightmare until my sister woke me up to reality so I knew it was real. As he went
down, my heart and soul went down with him. As he went down,
I repeated in my head, I’d always love you from back then to the end of my life.
As I look back at all that happened about three months ago, I
find that it still hurts more each day. Being so used to seeing
someone who was just with you everyday, being gone, is nothing the same
anymore. I hope that he knows I'm still thinking of him
everyday. For the time being when I go to visit him at his grave, I sit and
talk to him at his grave. When my mom thinks it's time to
leave, tears drop my face because, I don't want to leave him. However, I
know that no matter what, he will always be with me, and God
needs another angel. Therefore, I have to let him go. Every time I'm down I will
always remembered what he told me, "Crack a smile, or crack
a jack”.. It is painful, but I know it's better for him to be in
heaven then in this hurtful, killing world.
at the time, when I met Cito, I was about six years old. Growing up
with each other, dating, holding on tightly to someone I could not let go
of, made it hard for me to accept his death. I remember that day of
his burial; it was the worst day of my life. As I stood on top of
his grave, I just could not picture the person I loved, the one who had
been with me for years, eight feet underneath
the ground.
When I was at my aunt birthday party I, met Luis. Everyone
called him by his nickname, Cito. Cito and I used to hate each
other until we played car toys with other kids. There was a silly game
that we played. It was called the "cootie" touch. We got along
pretty well, and I was happy I had a friend like him.
During the summer, after my Aunt Jennys birthday, my mom and
Citos mom enrolled us in the same school. I was in first;
meanwhile, he was in third. Everyday after school, we would go to the
park as long as it was not too cold. Hanging out everyday was
like a routine for us. I am glad we spent everyday together.
As years past, Cito and I started talking more. We were inseparable;
without him, I would not be anything. We never let anything
happen to each other. Every time I was upset, I knew I could rely on
him to be there. He always said, "Crack a smile, or crack a
jack.", When he knew I was upset. He knew just the things to make me
laugh.
Cito and I started dating when I was twelve and he was thirteen
going on fourteen. We were together everyday; I do not
remember us being a second apart. When he started high school, everything
was cool, until he entered the tenth grade. That was
where the time that tension started to grow.
During June, summer of 2007, Citos family and I were talking about
getting him a dirt bike. He was always into street racing,
motor bikes, cars, etc. We got him a dirt bike a month later, which was
July. He was so happy, that he slept next to it for days
until he was able to drive it. That was the first time where I first
saw the biggest cheesiest smile from him. That dirt bike was an early
birthday present for him.
That morning of July 28, 2007, when he was finally allowed to
ride his dirt bike, he called me and told me he was going to go
see me after he was going to put his bike away, when he finishes
riding it. Cito told me he was going to ride his dirt bike at
Summerdale Park, which is located in north Philadelphia, I had a bad
feeling, but I just told him to be careful and that I loved him.
Little did we know, that one little dirt bike could cost him his
life. Shortly, after he arrived at Summerdale park, another
teenager asked him to trade bikes, but Cito said no because he had
just gotten the bike. At that moment Cito knew something was
up, because the boy had put his hand in his pocket and gave him a
dirty look. Cito tried to drive away, but the teenager shot him
in his back. Cito's friend who had been with him had left him laying
there knowing he was going to die.
After the boys shot cito, they took Cito's bike. He laid there
for two hours. Unwantedly, Cito had died in Summerdale park
around 6:00 p.m. If he were still alive, he would have been paralyzed for
his whole life. Well, two hours after he was shot, the news got
to the police. Cito had been shot in his back three times. There is was his dreams
and hopes shattered. He attended Mastbuam that was located
on Frankford and Allegheny. He loved cars more then anything and wanted to become a
mechanic.
When I was at home, I got a phone call saying that Cito had been
shot, and that he died. I thought this was some kind of sick
joke until my sister told me to turn on the TV. . I could not believe it.
My heart sank to my guts, I smashed the phone, cried my eyes
out, and ran out of the house to go up to the park immediately. As I
was heading up there, I was thinking it could not be him, and
that this was not happening. Why did they harm the person I loved, the guy
who never harmed a soul? When I saw him, I could not believe
what my eyes were telling me. I saw the cops covering his body with some kind
of cloth. They were asking the people around if anyone had
knew what happened. They went up to ask me what happened but I told them I wish I
knew what happened I. As I looked back at him, I
never knew I could have been so lost in my life. I lost that one person who was so
important to me.
I wanted to run up and tell him to wake him up, because he
could not have been dead; he could not have been. He promised
me he was never going to leave my side. I couldn't believe that Cito
broke his promise to me, he had never broken any before, so
why did he start now? I had never felt so hurt and lost in all of my
life. I could not believe I had to face my biggest nightmare, and that
was losing him. I dropped to the ground as I had all these thoughts running through
my mind”, Why? Why? Why Cito? Out of all people why did it
have to be him?.". My sisters picked me up and said all you need to know is that he's
in a better world, and he loved you too sweetie but
sometimes if you love him you have to let him go. I was quickly to answer”, If I love
him why would I have to let him go? If that’s the case then I don’t
want to love him so he can be here.". As it effected and hurted, me so much it
started to hurt my sister as well, because she never wanted to see
me down.
About a day or so after his death, a construction worker saw a
boy carrying what looked like Cito's dirt bike, but he was not
sure until he heard the boy's mom say, "Take that bike out of my
house; that's the dead boy bike”.. After the construction worker
heard that, he immediately reported it to the cops on the spot. That
boy had been caught and now he has to spend the rest of his
life in jail.
A couple of days later were Citos viewing. At the viewing, we
dressed him so he could leave this hurtful world as himself. I
knelt beside his casket, to give him one last kiss. My hands were shaking
because I could not handle the truth that he was leaving this world.
My heart tore into two as I looked at his face to where his cold white lips and
remembered it as red and living. I put a picture of us together
right beside him as I’m hoping he wouldn't forget what we had and what we went
through. As I looked up, I could not believe this was my last
time ever getting too sees or touch his face again. I placed a picture
of us together in the hope that he would not forget what we had
and had been through together. I looked at his face once again, for the
last time and kissed his cheek. I said to him, "Even though
everything inside you isn't living, I know that somewhere in there that
the love that we shared still lives within in you. No matter what I'll
always love you, because you were such a big part of my life and still
are, can't no one ever take that away from me and you.". I got
up and walked away but it upsetted me because it felt like he was leaving my life
forever. As I walked towards my sister she told me”, don’t worry
baby girl everything happens for a reason.". As she said that to me I slowly turned
my head away and said I wish I knew the reason whether it was
bad or good.
The next morning was the day of the burial. The burial was
filled with family and friends who came to show Cito love and
respect. I looked at the casket and I still couldn't accept that he
wasn't going to be here physically no more. As the time came to
burry him, I cried until I had no tears left. Just a minute before they
put him down, I grabbed a piece of dirt kept it on my heart,
kissed it, made the sign of the cross on the casket, and I knelt down
beside the casket and kissed it. I stood up and looked at it silently
as my sister is comforting me on her shoulder I never felt so much pain in my life
because I didn't want to lose him I thought this was one big
nightmare until my sister woke me up to reality so I knew it was real. As he went
down, my heart and soul went down with him. As he went down,
I repeated in my head, I’d always love you from back then to the end of my life.
As I look back at all that happened about three months ago, I
find that it still hurts more each day. Being so used to seeing
someone who was just with you everyday, being gone, is nothing the same
anymore. I hope that he knows I'm still thinking of him
everyday. For the time being when I go to visit him at his grave, I sit and
talk to him at his grave. When my mom thinks it's time to
leave, tears drop my face because, I don't want to leave him. However, I
know that no matter what, he will always be with me, and God
needs another angel. Therefore, I have to let him go. Every time I'm down I will
always remembered what he told me, "Crack a smile, or crack
a jack”.. It is painful, but I know it's better for him to be in
heaven then in this hurtful, killing world.
Kevin F Final Draft
Kevin Forge
10/19/07 Period 6th
Narrative Draft
As I woke myself up, with butterflies tingling in my stomach. Knowing today was
a big step for me and my future. After taking a shower and getting dress, I slowly walk
down the stairs thinking time would also. Next, after eating a bowl of Rice Crispies, I
walk to my dads truck, for he must also go the same way I’m going of how his job is in
center city. As we get there like around 7:40 I look on the internet to see what bus could I
take to go to school. I’ve really didn’t feel like walking that day. So when I have selected
the 61, I left my dads job to go to its stop. I put two dollars in the machine and toke the
front seat cause I was not sure were to get off at. When I sawed the schools building, I
rushed to yanked the string for my stop. As I marched through the doors of adulthood, I
knew that I’ve came here to accomplished tasks and learn what I needed to know to go to
college. When I searched for my tutorial number I knew that it was a hike. Walking stairs
after stairs until I finally got to my destination. The fifth floor was where I had to go. As I
got there, there was complete silence in the room. I took a seat and sitting with a puzzled
face of where do I go next. As my tutorial teacher, who’s yet name I didn’t know, calling
out names and giving out pieces of paper. He answered my question as he called my
name and walking to his desk and receiving my paper. I knew then that it was my roster. I
never had one before so I didn’t know what would happen. I scanned my roster to see
what classes I had to take and I was a little upset of how it was the classes I really didn’t
want. I had no choice, I guess, but to take it. As the first three periods gone by, two in the
auditorium, I felt very bored and hoping that I don’t have to do this again. Between those
periods I made a couple of friends that also didn’t know anyone here. I felt very
welcomed and suddenly my butterflies went away. My fourth period came and it wasn’t
my best subject. I walked into a teacher class named Maureen. She looked very nice
wearing her black short hair down, in some Capri’s, and a lot of jewelry on her. She had
first seem the sweetest teacher I have meet. But I’ve yet to know that she wasn’t. She was
the only teacher I had known that gave out tons of homework on the first day. I guess that
is what high school is all about. After her class, I went to lunch and that most likely
ruined my day. After standing in a long line and getting to sit down to eat for like three
minutes, I thought that this was pathetic. Then, after lunch I had this class. And im not a
very good fan with writing which made me think that I really might do bad in this
subject. Like five minutes had gone by and the worst thing happened to me. My stomach
started to kill. I’ve never felt this much pain in my life. It felt like an alien eating out all
my insides. I got sent to the nurses office. After waiting fifteen minutes in a chair, she sent me
back upstairs to get a note. Then I said “you have a phone though, you can’t call the
office”. Next she said “I can’t help you without a note”. I replied “o my god just call the
office”. Then the nurse said “don’t give me an attitude young man”. I finally said “I’m
not giving you an attitude”. And then I left slamming the door behind me with frustration
and pain walking down the hallway. When I reached to the office, at least there was
someone kind enough to me and let me call my dad to go home unlike somebody. My
dad came and got me out of the school and I was so happy of that. That was the worst day
I’ve ever had in school.
10/19/07 Period 6th
Narrative Draft
As I woke myself up, with butterflies tingling in my stomach. Knowing today was
a big step for me and my future. After taking a shower and getting dress, I slowly walk
down the stairs thinking time would also. Next, after eating a bowl of Rice Crispies, I
walk to my dads truck, for he must also go the same way I’m going of how his job is in
center city. As we get there like around 7:40 I look on the internet to see what bus could I
take to go to school. I’ve really didn’t feel like walking that day. So when I have selected
the 61, I left my dads job to go to its stop. I put two dollars in the machine and toke the
front seat cause I was not sure were to get off at. When I sawed the schools building, I
rushed to yanked the string for my stop. As I marched through the doors of adulthood, I
knew that I’ve came here to accomplished tasks and learn what I needed to know to go to
college. When I searched for my tutorial number I knew that it was a hike. Walking stairs
after stairs until I finally got to my destination. The fifth floor was where I had to go. As I
got there, there was complete silence in the room. I took a seat and sitting with a puzzled
face of where do I go next. As my tutorial teacher, who’s yet name I didn’t know, calling
out names and giving out pieces of paper. He answered my question as he called my
name and walking to his desk and receiving my paper. I knew then that it was my roster. I
never had one before so I didn’t know what would happen. I scanned my roster to see
what classes I had to take and I was a little upset of how it was the classes I really didn’t
want. I had no choice, I guess, but to take it. As the first three periods gone by, two in the
auditorium, I felt very bored and hoping that I don’t have to do this again. Between those
periods I made a couple of friends that also didn’t know anyone here. I felt very
welcomed and suddenly my butterflies went away. My fourth period came and it wasn’t
my best subject. I walked into a teacher class named Maureen. She looked very nice
wearing her black short hair down, in some Capri’s, and a lot of jewelry on her. She had
first seem the sweetest teacher I have meet. But I’ve yet to know that she wasn’t. She was
the only teacher I had known that gave out tons of homework on the first day. I guess that
is what high school is all about. After her class, I went to lunch and that most likely
ruined my day. After standing in a long line and getting to sit down to eat for like three
minutes, I thought that this was pathetic. Then, after lunch I had this class. And im not a
very good fan with writing which made me think that I really might do bad in this
subject. Like five minutes had gone by and the worst thing happened to me. My stomach
started to kill. I’ve never felt this much pain in my life. It felt like an alien eating out all
my insides. I got sent to the nurses office. After waiting fifteen minutes in a chair, she sent me
back upstairs to get a note. Then I said “you have a phone though, you can’t call the
office”. Next she said “I can’t help you without a note”. I replied “o my god just call the
office”. Then the nurse said “don’t give me an attitude young man”. I finally said “I’m
not giving you an attitude”. And then I left slamming the door behind me with frustration
and pain walking down the hallway. When I reached to the office, at least there was
someone kind enough to me and let me call my dad to go home unlike somebody. My
dad came and got me out of the school and I was so happy of that. That was the worst day
I’ve ever had in school.
Maribel Moreno's final draft 6th period
A Trip to New York
It was a nice morning, and it was probably around 7:00am, my friends and I got to the school extra early so that we could have had the best seats in the bus, but it turn out that the teachers had fronts seats all the time. So eventually it was time for us to depart, and to go on to New York City like it was plan. But most of the students were not there yet. So the teacher said she was going to be nice and wait for them to arrive. But they just wouldn’t come so she said, “Let’s go and they just won’t get their money back, because it’s their fault that they didn’t arrive on time”. So as soon as we were going to set off, they all showed up! As they were coming up inside the bus, they looked like a banch of honey bees, which are ready to attack. But finally we set off, but be were really late! So that’s how it all began!!!
As we arrive in New York City my teacher had a worry face, I suppose it was because we were really late. Everyone in there had notice because they stared to talk among themselves about the satiation. After a little while, my teacher Ms. Caucci told us in a worry voice again that we would probably had to pay for our tickets, once arrive to the island. We would most likely do this because the time for the actual timing had past. So it was a good thing that we all had money, so we said that we had no problem if we had to pay. I mean after all we were already there and we had enough money to pay and had the tour. I was so glad that when we finally solve that problem, because I really was looking forward to not just going to the city, but to actually going some place important in the city!
So as my teacher had told us, they said that if wanted the tour we had to pay, and that about the money that was already paid that they would talk about some other time. I guess that after all the school got the money back and so did we, and we didn’t lose our money either. But most important we got to do what we had gone to do there, and we all had so much fun!!!
It was a nice morning, and it was probably around 7:00am, my friends and I got to the school extra early so that we could have had the best seats in the bus, but it turn out that the teachers had fronts seats all the time. So eventually it was time for us to depart, and to go on to New York City like it was plan. But most of the students were not there yet. So the teacher said she was going to be nice and wait for them to arrive. But they just wouldn’t come so she said, “Let’s go and they just won’t get their money back, because it’s their fault that they didn’t arrive on time”. So as soon as we were going to set off, they all showed up! As they were coming up inside the bus, they looked like a banch of honey bees, which are ready to attack. But finally we set off, but be were really late! So that’s how it all began!!!
As we arrive in New York City my teacher had a worry face, I suppose it was because we were really late. Everyone in there had notice because they stared to talk among themselves about the satiation. After a little while, my teacher Ms. Caucci told us in a worry voice again that we would probably had to pay for our tickets, once arrive to the island. We would most likely do this because the time for the actual timing had past. So it was a good thing that we all had money, so we said that we had no problem if we had to pay. I mean after all we were already there and we had enough money to pay and had the tour. I was so glad that when we finally solve that problem, because I really was looking forward to not just going to the city, but to actually going some place important in the city!
So as my teacher had told us, they said that if wanted the tour we had to pay, and that about the money that was already paid that they would talk about some other time. I guess that after all the school got the money back and so did we, and we didn’t lose our money either. But most important we got to do what we had gone to do there, and we all had so much fun!!!
Sheron Gardner 6 period new post
Sheron Gardner
October 18, 2007
Creative Writing
New York
New York
On September 5, 2006 my and my family went to Las Vegas on a family vacation. When we got to the airport we had to go throw the metal detctor that took about 20 to 25 minutes. After that we went up stairs and me and my sister went right to the food court to get something to eat. When we got on the plain we sat down and put our set bales on then my mom said “ take this piece of gum so your ears want start to hurt”. Our plan ride was about five in a have hours that was the longest I every sat down. When the captains said, “ we will be landing in about 20 minutes and he said if you look to your left you can see Las Vegas” it was dark so we could see he lights very well. It was so bright you could see all the hotel lights. After we landed we went to our hotel the Circles circle hotel. Our hotel was like a big circle it had little shows, clowns just walking around but every time I seen a clown I would close my eyes because I was afraid of clowns at that time. That night we just toured our hotel, the next day was the day we toured all of Las Vegas.
We walked like 5 miles in till I seen the New York, New York hotel. When I seen that rollercoaster my mouth dropped all I could say was OH MY GOD. The rollercoaster was so big and so many sharp turns, and so many loops and all you could here was loud screaming. My dad said “lets get on it looks so fun lets get on”. First I said “are you crazy I’m not getting on that do you see it NO I’m not getting on”. Then I felt bad because my dad really wanted to get on so I said come on I’ll get on with you. That was the worst thing I could do. When we got on my dad wanted to sit right in the front so I sat in the front with him. I got on and put the seat belt on and the lady said lets get ready to ride. It went up so slow soon as it got to the top it kept you up there for like a minute you could see all of Las Vegas then out of no where it dropped and my heart to it was so fast I wanted to cry but I was being a solider when it was over all I could say was I’m still alive that’s how bad the rollercoaster was, I told my dad I can’t believe I got on this with you never again. After that we went back to the hotel and got something to eat.
October 18, 2007
Creative Writing
New York
New York
On September 5, 2006 my and my family went to Las Vegas on a family vacation. When we got to the airport we had to go throw the metal detctor that took about 20 to 25 minutes. After that we went up stairs and me and my sister went right to the food court to get something to eat. When we got on the plain we sat down and put our set bales on then my mom said “ take this piece of gum so your ears want start to hurt”. Our plan ride was about five in a have hours that was the longest I every sat down. When the captains said, “ we will be landing in about 20 minutes and he said if you look to your left you can see Las Vegas” it was dark so we could see he lights very well. It was so bright you could see all the hotel lights. After we landed we went to our hotel the Circles circle hotel. Our hotel was like a big circle it had little shows, clowns just walking around but every time I seen a clown I would close my eyes because I was afraid of clowns at that time. That night we just toured our hotel, the next day was the day we toured all of Las Vegas.
We walked like 5 miles in till I seen the New York, New York hotel. When I seen that rollercoaster my mouth dropped all I could say was OH MY GOD. The rollercoaster was so big and so many sharp turns, and so many loops and all you could here was loud screaming. My dad said “lets get on it looks so fun lets get on”. First I said “are you crazy I’m not getting on that do you see it NO I’m not getting on”. Then I felt bad because my dad really wanted to get on so I said come on I’ll get on with you. That was the worst thing I could do. When we got on my dad wanted to sit right in the front so I sat in the front with him. I got on and put the seat belt on and the lady said lets get ready to ride. It went up so slow soon as it got to the top it kept you up there for like a minute you could see all of Las Vegas then out of no where it dropped and my heart to it was so fast I wanted to cry but I was being a solider when it was over all I could say was I’m still alive that’s how bad the rollercoaster was, I told my dad I can’t believe I got on this with you never again. After that we went back to the hotel and got something to eat.
Shana Earley
Shana Earley
October 22, 2007
Creative Writing period 2
Am I A Disappointment?
Ring- Ring. I stare at my mother as I call my father at work to tell how my good news, which is his worst nightmare. He finally answers “Hello”, I reply “Hey dad me and mom just left Franklin Mills. I just enrolled in classes at Empire beauty school”. He sits in silence for a few seconds before opening his mouth to kill my high spirit. “Well why does it cost so much, and where do you plan to get the money to pay for this because I can’t get any more loans in my name because…” I listen to him and I don’t say anything. I just hung up the phone as a tear rolled cheek.
My father’s dream is to see his kids graduate from college. Although he didn’t stay in college long, he has higher hopes and expectations for his children. I love my father dearly but I can not fulfill his dream. I plan to attend cosmetology school after I graduate from high school.
Going to college has never been a desire of mine. Not that college is a bad thing, but I just feel that it isn’t for everyone. The first person that I told about cosmetology school was my grandmother. She supports me so much and she is just proud that I am furthering my education in some way. When my dad came to get me from my grandmother’s house she said “Kenny my grand baby wants to practice the art of cosmetology”. My dad looked at her and said “No Shana is going to college to be a lawyer or a doctor. Cosmetology is not art it is a hobby and no one is successful in that.” I said nothing and I didn’t argue with him. I never thought that he would react like that. My dreams were crushed. That was the last time I ever brought it up to him until now. Now that it is almost time for me to persue my dreams I have to talk to him. I need his support.
I need to do what is best for me. I know that my father only wants the best for me but I need to do what makes me happy. Life is too short to try and satisfy everyone. Since I can’t make him happy, and do what it is that he wants me to do he treats me different. We are not as close as we use to be. At this point in my life when I need him the most he refuses to support me. His reaction makes me shelter myself from him, because he makes me feel like I a disappointment.
Success to me does not necessarily mean going to college, but I do applaud anyone who decides to go to college as long that is what you want o do. Never do something for the welfare of someone else if in the end it only makes you unhappy. As for me I will follow my dreams and with much ambition I will succeed.
October 22, 2007
Creative Writing period 2
Am I A Disappointment?
Ring- Ring. I stare at my mother as I call my father at work to tell how my good news, which is his worst nightmare. He finally answers “Hello”, I reply “Hey dad me and mom just left Franklin Mills. I just enrolled in classes at Empire beauty school”. He sits in silence for a few seconds before opening his mouth to kill my high spirit. “Well why does it cost so much, and where do you plan to get the money to pay for this because I can’t get any more loans in my name because…” I listen to him and I don’t say anything. I just hung up the phone as a tear rolled cheek.
My father’s dream is to see his kids graduate from college. Although he didn’t stay in college long, he has higher hopes and expectations for his children. I love my father dearly but I can not fulfill his dream. I plan to attend cosmetology school after I graduate from high school.
Going to college has never been a desire of mine. Not that college is a bad thing, but I just feel that it isn’t for everyone. The first person that I told about cosmetology school was my grandmother. She supports me so much and she is just proud that I am furthering my education in some way. When my dad came to get me from my grandmother’s house she said “Kenny my grand baby wants to practice the art of cosmetology”. My dad looked at her and said “No Shana is going to college to be a lawyer or a doctor. Cosmetology is not art it is a hobby and no one is successful in that.” I said nothing and I didn’t argue with him. I never thought that he would react like that. My dreams were crushed. That was the last time I ever brought it up to him until now. Now that it is almost time for me to persue my dreams I have to talk to him. I need his support.
I need to do what is best for me. I know that my father only wants the best for me but I need to do what makes me happy. Life is too short to try and satisfy everyone. Since I can’t make him happy, and do what it is that he wants me to do he treats me different. We are not as close as we use to be. At this point in my life when I need him the most he refuses to support me. His reaction makes me shelter myself from him, because he makes me feel like I a disappointment.
Success to me does not necessarily mean going to college, but I do applaud anyone who decides to go to college as long that is what you want o do. Never do something for the welfare of someone else if in the end it only makes you unhappy. As for me I will follow my dreams and with much ambition I will succeed.
my allergia reaction to seafood, Tanya Murray
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
My Allergic Reaction To Seafood- Tanya Murray, 2nd Period
Who would’ve thought just by me eating seafood could’ve been my last breath of air? The year of 1991, I was only two years old. I could never forget how much I’d love crabs. My parents would always buy crabs in the summertime, but some people like eating them in the winter. I could never forget my family reunions we’d have in Richmond, Virginia. My family members could reunite with each other, and stuff their faces with crabs and soul food all day until they were full. But all that changed when I became much older.
One day my mother, sister and I had a taste for crabs. It was the year of 2002 and the summer had just begun. When my mother and I were driving to pick up the order of crabs, she told me I could have as much as I wanted. I was so excited when she told me because my mom usually let me eat two or three crabs. There were many times I would hate going with my mother to pick up the seafood because she would always buy the live crabs and cook them once we arrived home.
As we were driving home, my mother decided to put the crabs in the back seat with me. I asked her to put them in the trunk instead. But she wanted me to keep an eye out for them, just incase they would try to crawl out. I looked at her with a confused expression and went to the passenger’s side.
As we arrived home, we immediately started eating the crabs. When I was finished, my throat started to irritate me and I began feeling sick. My fingers and face started to swell and my skin was itching all over and forming hives. Next thing I know, my throat started to swell and I couldn’t breathe well. I quickly ran to the bathroom and took a bath, thinking it would stop the irritation. But it only made it worse. The hives started to form on my hands, face, and neck. I ran to my mom yelling and screaming saying’ mom look! Look!’’ she looked at me with a scared expression and ask me ‘’what happened’’ I told her ‘’I don’t know, I was eating my crabs and suddenly I my body was itching and swelling all over’’. I told my mother I wasn’t breathing well and asked her to take me to the hospital. She said “no I know what happened your allergic to seafood that’s all’’ and told me to go rest. I was very disappointed in my mother that she didn’t take me but I did what she said and fell asleep. The very next morning, my fingers and mouth went down but I still had trouble breathing.
Even though I still like seafood, I would never want to experience that again. Feeling like you need an oxygen tank by your side wasn’t the type of situation I wanted to be in. But I would never forget that day. As of now, my allergic reaction to seafood has worsened. I can’t be around seafood because the smell still irritates my throat and makes me very ill.
My Allergic Reaction To Seafood- Tanya Murray, 2nd Period
Who would’ve thought just by me eating seafood could’ve been my last breath of air? The year of 1991, I was only two years old. I could never forget how much I’d love crabs. My parents would always buy crabs in the summertime, but some people like eating them in the winter. I could never forget my family reunions we’d have in Richmond, Virginia. My family members could reunite with each other, and stuff their faces with crabs and soul food all day until they were full. But all that changed when I became much older.
One day my mother, sister and I had a taste for crabs. It was the year of 2002 and the summer had just begun. When my mother and I were driving to pick up the order of crabs, she told me I could have as much as I wanted. I was so excited when she told me because my mom usually let me eat two or three crabs. There were many times I would hate going with my mother to pick up the seafood because she would always buy the live crabs and cook them once we arrived home.
As we were driving home, my mother decided to put the crabs in the back seat with me. I asked her to put them in the trunk instead. But she wanted me to keep an eye out for them, just incase they would try to crawl out. I looked at her with a confused expression and went to the passenger’s side.
As we arrived home, we immediately started eating the crabs. When I was finished, my throat started to irritate me and I began feeling sick. My fingers and face started to swell and my skin was itching all over and forming hives. Next thing I know, my throat started to swell and I couldn’t breathe well. I quickly ran to the bathroom and took a bath, thinking it would stop the irritation. But it only made it worse. The hives started to form on my hands, face, and neck. I ran to my mom yelling and screaming saying’ mom look! Look!’’ she looked at me with a scared expression and ask me ‘’what happened’’ I told her ‘’I don’t know, I was eating my crabs and suddenly I my body was itching and swelling all over’’. I told my mother I wasn’t breathing well and asked her to take me to the hospital. She said “no I know what happened your allergic to seafood that’s all’’ and told me to go rest. I was very disappointed in my mother that she didn’t take me but I did what she said and fell asleep. The very next morning, my fingers and mouth went down but I still had trouble breathing.
Even though I still like seafood, I would never want to experience that again. Feeling like you need an oxygen tank by your side wasn’t the type of situation I wanted to be in. But I would never forget that day. As of now, my allergic reaction to seafood has worsened. I can’t be around seafood because the smell still irritates my throat and makes me very ill.
Final Post "Unforgettable Moment" by Mark Beckham
Pow! Pow! Pow! Was the sound of gunshots coming from around the corner. Me and a few of my friends were sitting in my old project homes’ playground on the steel jungle jim that had a grayish boring look to it and a steel sliding board that looked like it would break at any minute, that is when we heard the gun shots. Before we could react to what was going on I saw my brother’s friend Jamal turn the corner running towards us. I suddenly noticed that he was waving his hand forward I guess signaling us to run but we all didn’t run at first glance because none of us did not know what the signal meant. He had a terrified facial expression on his face as if he saw a ghost and was still waving his hand forward. That is when two people turned the corner and began to open fire on him. “Go! Go! Go! Run! Run!” said, Jamal knowing that the people who were shooting a few seconds ago were shooting at him and they did not care who they shot. That is when I saw the most horrifying thing that an 8 year old could see at that age. They began to open fire on him without mercy shooting him once in the leg and once in the back. He began to fall to the ground and in the background you could here people screaming with the thought of him dying right, then, and there. He laid there in a lifeless motion with his back soaking wet with his own blood as someone would look as if they had just came from out of a pool. I always looked at Jamal as my brother my entire life so to see him getting shot in front of my eyes was like me seeing my own brother being shot at. The entire situation felt unrealistic as if it was a nightmare coming to life. As I ran over towards him to see if he was ok, my friends began to run in the opposite direction as if someone was shooting directly at them. He was lying on his stomach breathing heavily gasping for air—I was in shock at that very moment thinking that the person I looked at as my brother was getting ready to die. In what I thought was going to be his last breath he said, “Call 911”. Because I was so scared and in a state of shock, I ran home to get my mom as most 8 year olds would do. I got to my step but the hallway door was locked and I suddenly remembered that my mom had just recently driven to my aunt’s house. Not knowing what to do and scared to death, I stayed on my step in a fettle position and began to cry because Jamal just got shot and I was all-alone. A few minutes later I heard sirens from a distance getting louder and louder by the second. I was still on my step the entire time anxiously waiting for my mom to come home, so I wasn’t there when the ambulance came and got Jamal but people who were there told me that the paramedics were trying to calm Jamal’s grandma down and were trying to telling her that he was going to be ok. But she wasn’t listening, she was crying her eyes out because she didn’t understand why would someone try to take the life of her only grandson and to see him in a pool of blood was almost unbearable for her to watch. After the ambulance came and got Jamal, I remained on my step until my mom came home. At that young age, I learned to never take life for granted because after that experience I learned that your life could be easily taken away from you at any moment or at any time. Jamal thanks me everyday for saving his life that day, even though it was not me who called 911. I do not have enough courage to tell him that I was to scared to do anything and that I left him out there to die.
Final Post "Unforgettable Moment" by Mark Beckham
Pow! Pow! Pow! Was the sound of gunshots coming from around the corner. Me and a few of my friends were sitting in my old project homes’ playground on the steel jungle jim that had a grayish boring look to it and a steel sliding board that looked like it would break at any minute, that is when we heard the gun shots. Before we could react to what was going on I saw my brother’s friend Jamal turn the corner running towards us. I suddenly noticed that he was waving his hand forward I guess signaling us to run but we all didn’t run at first glance because none of us did not know what the signal meant. He had a terrified facial expression on his face as if he saw a ghost and was still waving his hand forward. That is when two people turned the corner and began to open fire on him. “Go! Go! Go! Run! Run!” said, Jamal knowing that the people who were shooting a few seconds ago were shooting at him and they did not care who they shot. That is when I saw the most horrifying thing that an 8 year old could see at that age. They began to open fire on him without mercy shooting him once in the leg and once in the back. He began to fall to the ground and in the background you could here people screaming with the thought of him dying right, then, and there. He laid there in a lifeless motion with his back soaking wet with his own blood as someone would look as if they had just came from out of a pool. I always looked at Jamal as my brother my entire life so to see him getting shot in front of my eyes was like me seeing my own brother being shot at. The entire situation felt unrealistic as if it was a nightmare coming to life. As I ran over towards him to see if he was ok, my friends began to run in the opposite direction as if someone was shooting directly at them. He was lying on his stomach breathing heavily gasping for air—I was in shock at that very moment thinking that the person I looked at as my brother was getting ready to die. In what I thought was going to be his last breath he said, “Call 911”. Because I was so scared and in a state of shock, I ran home to get my mom as most 8 year olds would do. I got to my step but the hallway door was locked and I suddenly remembered that my mom had just recently driven to my aunt’s house. Not knowing what to do and scared to death, I stayed on my step in a fettle position and began to cry because Jamal just got shot and I was all-alone. A few minutes later I heard sirens from a distance getting louder and louder by the second. I was still on my step the entire time anxiously waiting for my mom to come home, so I wasn’t there when the ambulance came and got Jamal but people who were there told me that the paramedics were trying to calm Jamal’s grandma down and were trying to telling her that he was going to be ok. But she wasn’t listening, she was crying her eyes out because she didn’t understand why would someone try to take the life of her only grandson and to see him in a pool of blood was almost unbearable for her to watch. After the ambulance came and got Jamal, I remained on my step until my mom came home. At that young age, I learned to never take life for granted because after that experience I learned that your life could be easily taken away from you at any moment or at any time. Jamal thanks me everyday for saving his life that day, even though it was not me who called 911. I do not have enough courage to tell him that I was to scared to do anything and that I left him out there to die.
DESIREE DAVIS REDO
DEZZIE GOES TO JAIL (DESIREE DAVIS 2ND PERIOD)
“Roosevelt” we yelled as we walked up the block to arrive at a school that wasn’t ours. The walk was a little hike so I decided to take a shortcut. My friend Calina was right by my side the whole time. Calina lived right across the street from me. She was around the same size as me and had a chocolate comp lection. She was the goofy one out of the group besides me of course. Calina was my right hand and we were inseparable.
So we arrived at the school Ada Luis middle school and all the teachers were holding there students back. Waiting for us to pass them by which we hadn’t planned on doing. Next to us walked the school security talking trash trying to lead us in the direction of a neighborhood that they thought was so bad. Next thing I knew the cops arrived and everyone started running. I ran around the car and this big cop grabbed me. The cop wasn’t like the others he was so fat he had to weigh over three hundred pounds. He must have been stressing that day because when he grabbed me he grabbed me hard. He threw me in the car and all eyes were on me. I mouthed to Calina for her to call my mom. About three minutes later two other girls were thrown in the car with me. The two girls were familiar to me. One name was Jasmine she was in the same grade as me. Jasmine was ruff looking. She had on raggedy clothes with messed up hair which was so normal to her at least. The other girl name was Fantasia. Fantasia was the size of a five year old literally. She had a small squeaky voice and always kept braids. The funniest thing about Fantasia was that she was the littlest one with the biggest stick.
While in the car all eyes on the three of us. A lady even was trying to take pictures of us for a website, but I wasn’t having it. I covered my face and put my head down not wanting her to get what she came for. The door closed and both cops hopped in the front seat and rode off. As the car pulled off my stomach dropped to my feet. I had never been in this predicament before. We where in the car and this big ball of heat just hit me. I began sweating like I was running a race. I know I hadn’t run from the cops so why was I sweating. I began taking my shirt off knowing I had on a wife beater under it. Then my ponytail started to stick to my neck and that’s when all hell broke loose. I started cursing and lying, cursing and lying until I got the air I desperately needed. This ride felt like I was going to else where than Philadelphia it seemed so long.
Then it was this crack. I will never forget this crack because it saved my life. This was the only spot in the car that had air and only I had it. I put my face to that crack and never moved. The air from the police front windows kept blowing in my face it felt so good. I remember thinking to myself maybe I will live after all. The only thing this crack did not take away was the two cops yelling. They were so mean telling us how we messed up their plans for the day and were going to pay for this all later. I don’t know about the other girls but I had the crack by my side and what they were saying sure didn’t matter anymore.
We finally arrived at the station and we were directed to walk on a straight line with our arms behind our backs. I walked looking around at everyone surrounding me. Then the cop asked us to sit down on this hard slippery bench. There they were going to call us up one by one to call our parents so they could come and pick us up. When I heard parents that’s when it hit me. I went the whole ride up here not thinking about what my mom would have to say. I went this whole ride without making up my story that I would tell her, not only the cops. Then my name was called “Desiree Davis” I was in my thoughts so I didn’t answer the first time but he called me again. I arrived at the officers desk and he began asking me questions as to why I was at the school and was I ready for the trouble I was about to get in. I answered saying “I didn’t do anything.”
The officer picked up the pone and said he was going to call my parents and they have an hour to pick me up or they were going to take me to the Youth Study Center. I hoped and prayed they didn’t call my dad. The officer then dialed the number and put the phone on speaker. “Hello is this Desiree Davis father?” I just put my head down my dad was always late for everything. “Yes” my dad answered with the professional voice. I just put my head down; I knew I was going to jail. The cop continued telling my dad all that happened. I didn’t hear much because I went blank but my dads last words scared me to death, “Oh really I m on my way.” My dad never dad never said he was on his way before maybe that’s why he’s always late.
My dad arrived mad as hell yelling and screaming at me. I couldn’t cry or say anything back to him I jus listened. “What the f*** would you do this S*** for?” “I cant believe this Desiree.” The whole ride home this is all I herd. I never felt so embarrassed in my life. When we arrived on my block everyone was walking up to me asking me what happened I didn’t understand how everyone knew and didn’t go to my school.. I ignored everyone and went in my house. My mom was sitting right on the couch as I entered staring at me she didn’t know what to say she just asked, “Did you do it?” Of course I said no. Then she said “Go to your room.” My mom was so mad at me and couldn’t believe I was in this predicament.
That whole week everyone was calling me wanting to know what happened. When I went to school the next day everyone laughed about it. It really just made me more popular but I told everyone, “Don’t think its sweet being in that predicament.” “It was crazy going through what I went through even though the beginning was fun.”
This was a crazy experience I did go to court and beat my case but every time I see someone in a cop car I just shake my head. I still don’t understand how people could want to go through this experience all the time. It scared me to the point I would never go back.
“Roosevelt” we yelled as we walked up the block to arrive at a school that wasn’t ours. The walk was a little hike so I decided to take a shortcut. My friend Calina was right by my side the whole time. Calina lived right across the street from me. She was around the same size as me and had a chocolate comp lection. She was the goofy one out of the group besides me of course. Calina was my right hand and we were inseparable.
So we arrived at the school Ada Luis middle school and all the teachers were holding there students back. Waiting for us to pass them by which we hadn’t planned on doing. Next to us walked the school security talking trash trying to lead us in the direction of a neighborhood that they thought was so bad. Next thing I knew the cops arrived and everyone started running. I ran around the car and this big cop grabbed me. The cop wasn’t like the others he was so fat he had to weigh over three hundred pounds. He must have been stressing that day because when he grabbed me he grabbed me hard. He threw me in the car and all eyes were on me. I mouthed to Calina for her to call my mom. About three minutes later two other girls were thrown in the car with me. The two girls were familiar to me. One name was Jasmine she was in the same grade as me. Jasmine was ruff looking. She had on raggedy clothes with messed up hair which was so normal to her at least. The other girl name was Fantasia. Fantasia was the size of a five year old literally. She had a small squeaky voice and always kept braids. The funniest thing about Fantasia was that she was the littlest one with the biggest stick.
While in the car all eyes on the three of us. A lady even was trying to take pictures of us for a website, but I wasn’t having it. I covered my face and put my head down not wanting her to get what she came for. The door closed and both cops hopped in the front seat and rode off. As the car pulled off my stomach dropped to my feet. I had never been in this predicament before. We where in the car and this big ball of heat just hit me. I began sweating like I was running a race. I know I hadn’t run from the cops so why was I sweating. I began taking my shirt off knowing I had on a wife beater under it. Then my ponytail started to stick to my neck and that’s when all hell broke loose. I started cursing and lying, cursing and lying until I got the air I desperately needed. This ride felt like I was going to else where than Philadelphia it seemed so long.
Then it was this crack. I will never forget this crack because it saved my life. This was the only spot in the car that had air and only I had it. I put my face to that crack and never moved. The air from the police front windows kept blowing in my face it felt so good. I remember thinking to myself maybe I will live after all. The only thing this crack did not take away was the two cops yelling. They were so mean telling us how we messed up their plans for the day and were going to pay for this all later. I don’t know about the other girls but I had the crack by my side and what they were saying sure didn’t matter anymore.
We finally arrived at the station and we were directed to walk on a straight line with our arms behind our backs. I walked looking around at everyone surrounding me. Then the cop asked us to sit down on this hard slippery bench. There they were going to call us up one by one to call our parents so they could come and pick us up. When I heard parents that’s when it hit me. I went the whole ride up here not thinking about what my mom would have to say. I went this whole ride without making up my story that I would tell her, not only the cops. Then my name was called “Desiree Davis” I was in my thoughts so I didn’t answer the first time but he called me again. I arrived at the officers desk and he began asking me questions as to why I was at the school and was I ready for the trouble I was about to get in. I answered saying “I didn’t do anything.”
The officer picked up the pone and said he was going to call my parents and they have an hour to pick me up or they were going to take me to the Youth Study Center. I hoped and prayed they didn’t call my dad. The officer then dialed the number and put the phone on speaker. “Hello is this Desiree Davis father?” I just put my head down my dad was always late for everything. “Yes” my dad answered with the professional voice. I just put my head down; I knew I was going to jail. The cop continued telling my dad all that happened. I didn’t hear much because I went blank but my dads last words scared me to death, “Oh really I m on my way.” My dad never dad never said he was on his way before maybe that’s why he’s always late.
My dad arrived mad as hell yelling and screaming at me. I couldn’t cry or say anything back to him I jus listened. “What the f*** would you do this S*** for?” “I cant believe this Desiree.” The whole ride home this is all I herd. I never felt so embarrassed in my life. When we arrived on my block everyone was walking up to me asking me what happened I didn’t understand how everyone knew and didn’t go to my school.. I ignored everyone and went in my house. My mom was sitting right on the couch as I entered staring at me she didn’t know what to say she just asked, “Did you do it?” Of course I said no. Then she said “Go to your room.” My mom was so mad at me and couldn’t believe I was in this predicament.
That whole week everyone was calling me wanting to know what happened. When I went to school the next day everyone laughed about it. It really just made me more popular but I told everyone, “Don’t think its sweet being in that predicament.” “It was crazy going through what I went through even though the beginning was fun.”
This was a crazy experience I did go to court and beat my case but every time I see someone in a cop car I just shake my head. I still don’t understand how people could want to go through this experience all the time. It scared me to the point I would never go back.
The Story of a Kidnapping Butterfly Detective: Butterfly Phobia
FINAL DRAFT
Anabel Genao
Period 2
The man ran away and I continued to let out shrieks and cries. My sister lifted up the shopping cart and I was sitting upright once again. My mother ran back to us to see if we were alright, we were lucky to still be alive.
It all started earlier on in the day when my mother decided to take my sisters and me shopping. My six-year old sister excitedly ran around the room. “I have to look cute everywhere I go,” she said. She slipped her legs through her blue overalls and tucked her pink shirt in the pants pulling the straps over her shoulders. My mother pulled me up under the arms onto the bed. She dressed me from head to toe in pink. It was all different shades of pink, hot neon pink for my pants, and light pink with a dark pink heart in the middle of the shirt, and light pink open-toe sandals that matched the color of my shirt. Even the ribbon in my hair was pink.
Our mother rushed us into the car and a moment later we were walking on the stone pavement towards a store. My mother held my left hand tightly and out of the corner of my eye I noticed something flying towards me. A dark brown butterfly with a white pupil, black eyespot set in a small orange patch near the highest point of the wing and a completely brown body. When I noticed it my first instinct was to get it away from me. It flew near me and I manically swatted at it with my tiny right hand. It moved swiftly and followed me on my quest to the door. Almost at the door now, I let out a loud shriek swatting one last time and the butterfly was finally gone. I looked up at my mother happily and we made our way into the store. She hadn’t even noticed the butterfly.
We walked into the department store, that to my tiny eyes was the biggest store I had ever seen. There were clothing racks everywhere you looked with all types of clothes. A bustle of people rapidly walked around not even noticing us. My mother quickly pulled me to where the shopping carts were. She picked a medium-sized red shopping cart and slipped me in the cart seat. We quickly moved into the ocean of people moving about in their own worlds. My mother moved over to the kids section towards a rack of winter coats that were fifty percent off. I finally noticed my older sister who made her way toward the cart with a big smile on her face. My mother had let go of the handle and she quickly took control of the cart as if it were a car. She circled around the rack quickly until my mother grabbed it and scolded her for making me dizzy and laugh loudly.
My sister huffed and puffed for a couple of minutes but all the while swiftly watching my mother. I knew that she was planning our escape and I didn’t care in the slightest. I sat fidgeting around in the cart seat and banging on the metal sides. My sister noticed my mother had moved to another clothing rack and seized the opportunity. She quickly turned the cart around the corner and I felt as though we were miles away. We walked for what seemed an eternity and I felt like we were on another planet. In reality, we had just moved towards the men’s wear department when my sister stopped suddenly extremely interested in a pair of men jeans she noticed. I was rocking back in forth in my seat when I noticed something brown out of the corner of my eye. At first instinct I thought it was the butterfly. I felt a pit of nerves in my stomach. “How had the butterfly managed to follow me into the store?” I asked myself nervously. At two years old, insects were the scariest thing out there for me, or so I thought. The thought of the butterfly finding me terrified me.
I finally turned my head and noticed it was no butterfly moving towards us. This was bigger, much, much bigger. It was a Caucasian man that appeared to be in his mid-forties. The first thing my eyes shifted to was his disgustingly yellow teeth that were slightly showing with the smirk he had growing on his face. I then looked down at his feet and noticed he was wearing extremely torn up sandals that didn’t even look like they belonged to him. The tips of his big toes hung off where the sandals ended in the front and he had extremely long toenails, which even from a distance had a distinct color of orange-yellow. My eyes moved up and I saw no pants. If he was wearing pants they were not visible to the naked eye. His legs were covered by a very long, light brown, jacket he had on. It had a belt that tied in the front to keep it closed. He had a matching light brown hat on that dipped over the front of his head, covering the top of his face. He looked like one of those old detectives in one of those black and white movies, everything above his feet did. When I looked at his eyes, I froze. He had the darkest, smallest, and beadiest eyes you could ever imagine. Like the frightening eyes of a dreadful butterfly or another insect. And right under his right eye, near his nose was a black dot the size of a pupil. It was then I knew I really had to be worried. He had to be some sort of insect underneath all that skin. The way he smirked at me and my sister I knew he had to be swatted away.
My sister hadn’t noticed him yet, but I started fidgeting around in my seat. I waved my arms around as if I were swatting at invisible bugs. I looked towards the creature and he was pretty close now. My sister finally noticed him when she heard something near us. Being close to us he had started breathing heavily. He stared at my sister looking at him and rubbed his sweaty hands together. He smiled at us and moved closer. I could practically feel my sister’s heart beating, I knew she was nervous. He opened his arms wide and it looked like big brown wings flying toward us. It was then my sister knew she had to get away.
She quickly turned her body and the cart at the same time. The rapid switch of angles proved too much for the old rusty wheels on the shopping cart and my sister lost control. The cart and I went crashing down to the floor and it fell on its side. I amazingly remained in the seat untouched. But it was then, as if on cue, I knew to start letting out shrieks and crying. Other people finally started to look over and notice us. Women were making their way over to come help me. The man turned erratic and jumpy and was gone in a flash. My sister turned the cart upright and I continued to cry from all the scariness that had happened in one trip. I was extremely relieved inside though. I had managed to get rid of two icky butterflies in one day.
Anabel Genao
Period 2
The man ran away and I continued to let out shrieks and cries. My sister lifted up the shopping cart and I was sitting upright once again. My mother ran back to us to see if we were alright, we were lucky to still be alive.
It all started earlier on in the day when my mother decided to take my sisters and me shopping. My six-year old sister excitedly ran around the room. “I have to look cute everywhere I go,” she said. She slipped her legs through her blue overalls and tucked her pink shirt in the pants pulling the straps over her shoulders. My mother pulled me up under the arms onto the bed. She dressed me from head to toe in pink. It was all different shades of pink, hot neon pink for my pants, and light pink with a dark pink heart in the middle of the shirt, and light pink open-toe sandals that matched the color of my shirt. Even the ribbon in my hair was pink.
Our mother rushed us into the car and a moment later we were walking on the stone pavement towards a store. My mother held my left hand tightly and out of the corner of my eye I noticed something flying towards me. A dark brown butterfly with a white pupil, black eyespot set in a small orange patch near the highest point of the wing and a completely brown body. When I noticed it my first instinct was to get it away from me. It flew near me and I manically swatted at it with my tiny right hand. It moved swiftly and followed me on my quest to the door. Almost at the door now, I let out a loud shriek swatting one last time and the butterfly was finally gone. I looked up at my mother happily and we made our way into the store. She hadn’t even noticed the butterfly.
We walked into the department store, that to my tiny eyes was the biggest store I had ever seen. There were clothing racks everywhere you looked with all types of clothes. A bustle of people rapidly walked around not even noticing us. My mother quickly pulled me to where the shopping carts were. She picked a medium-sized red shopping cart and slipped me in the cart seat. We quickly moved into the ocean of people moving about in their own worlds. My mother moved over to the kids section towards a rack of winter coats that were fifty percent off. I finally noticed my older sister who made her way toward the cart with a big smile on her face. My mother had let go of the handle and she quickly took control of the cart as if it were a car. She circled around the rack quickly until my mother grabbed it and scolded her for making me dizzy and laugh loudly.
My sister huffed and puffed for a couple of minutes but all the while swiftly watching my mother. I knew that she was planning our escape and I didn’t care in the slightest. I sat fidgeting around in the cart seat and banging on the metal sides. My sister noticed my mother had moved to another clothing rack and seized the opportunity. She quickly turned the cart around the corner and I felt as though we were miles away. We walked for what seemed an eternity and I felt like we were on another planet. In reality, we had just moved towards the men’s wear department when my sister stopped suddenly extremely interested in a pair of men jeans she noticed. I was rocking back in forth in my seat when I noticed something brown out of the corner of my eye. At first instinct I thought it was the butterfly. I felt a pit of nerves in my stomach. “How had the butterfly managed to follow me into the store?” I asked myself nervously. At two years old, insects were the scariest thing out there for me, or so I thought. The thought of the butterfly finding me terrified me.
I finally turned my head and noticed it was no butterfly moving towards us. This was bigger, much, much bigger. It was a Caucasian man that appeared to be in his mid-forties. The first thing my eyes shifted to was his disgustingly yellow teeth that were slightly showing with the smirk he had growing on his face. I then looked down at his feet and noticed he was wearing extremely torn up sandals that didn’t even look like they belonged to him. The tips of his big toes hung off where the sandals ended in the front and he had extremely long toenails, which even from a distance had a distinct color of orange-yellow. My eyes moved up and I saw no pants. If he was wearing pants they were not visible to the naked eye. His legs were covered by a very long, light brown, jacket he had on. It had a belt that tied in the front to keep it closed. He had a matching light brown hat on that dipped over the front of his head, covering the top of his face. He looked like one of those old detectives in one of those black and white movies, everything above his feet did. When I looked at his eyes, I froze. He had the darkest, smallest, and beadiest eyes you could ever imagine. Like the frightening eyes of a dreadful butterfly or another insect. And right under his right eye, near his nose was a black dot the size of a pupil. It was then I knew I really had to be worried. He had to be some sort of insect underneath all that skin. The way he smirked at me and my sister I knew he had to be swatted away.
My sister hadn’t noticed him yet, but I started fidgeting around in my seat. I waved my arms around as if I were swatting at invisible bugs. I looked towards the creature and he was pretty close now. My sister finally noticed him when she heard something near us. Being close to us he had started breathing heavily. He stared at my sister looking at him and rubbed his sweaty hands together. He smiled at us and moved closer. I could practically feel my sister’s heart beating, I knew she was nervous. He opened his arms wide and it looked like big brown wings flying toward us. It was then my sister knew she had to get away.
She quickly turned her body and the cart at the same time. The rapid switch of angles proved too much for the old rusty wheels on the shopping cart and my sister lost control. The cart and I went crashing down to the floor and it fell on its side. I amazingly remained in the seat untouched. But it was then, as if on cue, I knew to start letting out shrieks and crying. Other people finally started to look over and notice us. Women were making their way over to come help me. The man turned erratic and jumpy and was gone in a flash. My sister turned the cart upright and I continued to cry from all the scariness that had happened in one trip. I was extremely relieved inside though. I had managed to get rid of two icky butterflies in one day.
Me and Kanye by: Chinique Alburg
It wasn’t meant to be. He was just too old for me, but still I let hi get to me. I met him through Deek; I knew she thought it was a mistake from the way she looked at me when we greeted one another. I didn’t find him to be attractive but he was a cool person. Our first night on the phone was something amazing. We talked for almost five hours about everything from school to our goals and even our relationships. We were both in a relationship but I just took him to be a friend and there was no harm in having a friend.
The next morning Deek needed to go to the hospital, no one would take her and it wasn’t a big emergency for the ambulance, the only person that I could think of that would take her was K. He came to take us to the hospital. “So what time did you go to sleep last night?” he asked me as I sat in the back seat of his car. “Soon as we got off da fone.” I replied. I could feel the tension as I answered his question. I looked up and Deek shot me a hard stare. I turned my head so that our eyes did not meet again.
My birthday slowly began to approach and Kanye and me were talking everyday. I still viewed him as a really good friend and nothing more. The day before my birthday I was visiting my current boyfriend, and K called me. He told me that he had something for me when I got home. I was curious to know what he had for me. As soon as I got home I called him. About twenty minutes later he came to bring me my gift.
Before I get what the gift was let me explain the first day we met. Deek had come to my house to visit. She needed to go to the pet store to get a leash for her iguana. K promised that he would buy it because she braided his hair. He came to the house to pick her up, and she asked me to ride with her. As I got in the car she formally introduced us. “ Hey wassup?” he said “Hey.” I replied “Nene this is Kanye, Kanye this is my little sister Nene.” Deek said, she loved to tell people that I was her younger sister although I looked about two years older than her.
The next time we met was after my little cousin Toni’s dance show. Deek didn’t want to catch the bus back home, I really didn’t care that’s how we got down there, and so she went to bum a ride from K. As we approached is dads house I noticed a bunch of guys with him, so I decided to wait next to a tree. “They already saw you.” he laughed after he noticed that I was next to the tree.
In the car he was trying to tell me about a friend of his that was interested in me. Deek was ear hustling so he said that he would call me and tell me. He had my number from Deek because she called him from my phone. That night he called me and we talked from there.
When he came to my house to give me my gift, he had a smirk on his face as he handed me a card. He said to wait until he left to open the card. I opened the card and found a letter. The letter expressed how he had begun to grow feelings for me. I wasn’t surprised that he had begun to catch feelings because he always wanted to see me. I still viewed him as a good friend and nothing more because he was there for me when my boyfriend and me broke up.
As time passed we became close and talked frequently. I had started to catch feelings for him. My family saw that we were getting closer and did not approve of it. I was told stay away from him and I wasn’t allowed to talk to him on the phone anymore. We started to sneak to see one another. I started to lie about where I was going and how ling I was going to be there to be with him.
That’s when it happened; I lost my virginity to him. He was too old for me but still he just right for me. He was the person that I wanted to be with. I didn’t know what to do so I told my cousin Jameala. I thought my secret was safe with her, well I thought wrong. The next day she told grandma. You slept with him.” Grandma said as I walked in the door from school. “I was gonna tell you but in my own way.” I replied in a shaky tone.
She began to throw everything at me that she could get her hands on. She was throwing everything imaginable. She threw a soda bottle, the baby’s bottle, her cigarettes, and even the broom. I was running around the entire house to get away from the flying objects.
The next day I told Kanye that it was really over between us because I hurt my grandma with my lies and deceit. To this day we are still friends but we are not the friends we used to be because I let feelings get involved.
The next morning Deek needed to go to the hospital, no one would take her and it wasn’t a big emergency for the ambulance, the only person that I could think of that would take her was K. He came to take us to the hospital. “So what time did you go to sleep last night?” he asked me as I sat in the back seat of his car. “Soon as we got off da fone.” I replied. I could feel the tension as I answered his question. I looked up and Deek shot me a hard stare. I turned my head so that our eyes did not meet again.
My birthday slowly began to approach and Kanye and me were talking everyday. I still viewed him as a really good friend and nothing more. The day before my birthday I was visiting my current boyfriend, and K called me. He told me that he had something for me when I got home. I was curious to know what he had for me. As soon as I got home I called him. About twenty minutes later he came to bring me my gift.
Before I get what the gift was let me explain the first day we met. Deek had come to my house to visit. She needed to go to the pet store to get a leash for her iguana. K promised that he would buy it because she braided his hair. He came to the house to pick her up, and she asked me to ride with her. As I got in the car she formally introduced us. “ Hey wassup?” he said “Hey.” I replied “Nene this is Kanye, Kanye this is my little sister Nene.” Deek said, she loved to tell people that I was her younger sister although I looked about two years older than her.
The next time we met was after my little cousin Toni’s dance show. Deek didn’t want to catch the bus back home, I really didn’t care that’s how we got down there, and so she went to bum a ride from K. As we approached is dads house I noticed a bunch of guys with him, so I decided to wait next to a tree. “They already saw you.” he laughed after he noticed that I was next to the tree.
In the car he was trying to tell me about a friend of his that was interested in me. Deek was ear hustling so he said that he would call me and tell me. He had my number from Deek because she called him from my phone. That night he called me and we talked from there.
When he came to my house to give me my gift, he had a smirk on his face as he handed me a card. He said to wait until he left to open the card. I opened the card and found a letter. The letter expressed how he had begun to grow feelings for me. I wasn’t surprised that he had begun to catch feelings because he always wanted to see me. I still viewed him as a good friend and nothing more because he was there for me when my boyfriend and me broke up.
As time passed we became close and talked frequently. I had started to catch feelings for him. My family saw that we were getting closer and did not approve of it. I was told stay away from him and I wasn’t allowed to talk to him on the phone anymore. We started to sneak to see one another. I started to lie about where I was going and how ling I was going to be there to be with him.
That’s when it happened; I lost my virginity to him. He was too old for me but still he just right for me. He was the person that I wanted to be with. I didn’t know what to do so I told my cousin Jameala. I thought my secret was safe with her, well I thought wrong. The next day she told grandma. You slept with him.” Grandma said as I walked in the door from school. “I was gonna tell you but in my own way.” I replied in a shaky tone.
She began to throw everything at me that she could get her hands on. She was throwing everything imaginable. She threw a soda bottle, the baby’s bottle, her cigarettes, and even the broom. I was running around the entire house to get away from the flying objects.
The next day I told Kanye that it was really over between us because I hurt my grandma with my lies and deceit. To this day we are still friends but we are not the friends we used to be because I let feelings get involved.
Kiara Cofer, A Night to Remember.... Final Draft
It was the hottest day of the summer and the heat was scorching and sweat was sliding down the side of my face. I had just come from my friend Leshay's family cookout. I was supposed to be in a fashion show and I was running late. The girl who was running the show was blowing my cell phone up. Six missed calls... "It's Devon againcalling about this fashion show." I said to my friend Le- Le who was also in the show. "Yes, and now she calling me!" Said Le- Le. So now we are rushing from Fairmount Park all the way to the North Penn VFW in Abington where the show was. We got there a half an hour before the show started. Devon was furious!!!
"I wanna know, I wanna know, your name, your name, your name why you gotta be anonymous?" We were standing there getting ready to do our act. Standing no closer then an inch away from each other. We were so close I feel his warm breathes in my neck and smell the cologne he was wearing. His arms were around my waist and my arms around his neck, this was the pose Devon had given us. I was staring deeply into his eyes. Right then and there he had got me I was in the days from then until now. His eyes were hazel and very beautiful but it's funny because I never even recognized it until that very day. He was light skinned a few shades lighter then myself, muscular and very well built. Even with my three and a half inch stilettos on he was still a few inches taller then me. His hair was a sandy brown with braids that hung long in his face. his name was Chris. A name that I am very fond of.
We were in this dark room filled with people whom we all knew and loved. There were chairs to the right and chairs to the left of the runway. My bestfriend Muffin was sitting on the right side taking so many pictures. Then there was my other friends they came in kind of late do they were standing up, but they made sure they were standing right at the top of the runway so that they could see everything. Then the show began alone I walked halfway down the runway and as I waited patiently for him he gradually walked up and met me and together we continued on to continue our mission. When we got to the end of the runway I pulled away. That was a part of our act but in the mist of me pulling away I almost fell. My foot slid on the floor where as it was suppose to be stuck in one spot. At first my friends who were standing in front of me yelling "Okay Ki!" "Get' em Ki!" Then once they saw my face they instantly said "You better not fall!" Little did they know was that I was already two steps a head of them. In my head I was saying "Kiara you better act like Beyonce." But in the mist of my fall I felt these warm arms around my waist that caught me. Then he asked "Are you okay?" He slid me up like it was a part of our act. I smiled, we posed and then together we walked back to the top of the runway. Together we posed this time facing each other, me staring in his dreamy eyes and him staring into mine. I was wearing a black mask with pink and green feathers on the right side of it. Ending the scene Chris slow and steadily took off my mask to reveal my face. He had found his Mrs. Anonymous. Once again into my eyes he looked I kindly moved in and so did he and together we became one. We kissed. His lips soft like cotton and sweet like strawberries. From what I remember the shocked looked on peoples faces could kill you if you'd let it. But of course I didn't. I was in the days only to come back to reality and recognize that my dream man had a girlfriend who was waiting for him back stage......
"I wanna know, I wanna know, your name, your name, your name why you gotta be anonymous?" We were standing there getting ready to do our act. Standing no closer then an inch away from each other. We were so close I feel his warm breathes in my neck and smell the cologne he was wearing. His arms were around my waist and my arms around his neck, this was the pose Devon had given us. I was staring deeply into his eyes. Right then and there he had got me I was in the days from then until now. His eyes were hazel and very beautiful but it's funny because I never even recognized it until that very day. He was light skinned a few shades lighter then myself, muscular and very well built. Even with my three and a half inch stilettos on he was still a few inches taller then me. His hair was a sandy brown with braids that hung long in his face. his name was Chris. A name that I am very fond of.
We were in this dark room filled with people whom we all knew and loved. There were chairs to the right and chairs to the left of the runway. My bestfriend Muffin was sitting on the right side taking so many pictures. Then there was my other friends they came in kind of late do they were standing up, but they made sure they were standing right at the top of the runway so that they could see everything. Then the show began alone I walked halfway down the runway and as I waited patiently for him he gradually walked up and met me and together we continued on to continue our mission. When we got to the end of the runway I pulled away. That was a part of our act but in the mist of me pulling away I almost fell. My foot slid on the floor where as it was suppose to be stuck in one spot. At first my friends who were standing in front of me yelling "Okay Ki!" "Get' em Ki!" Then once they saw my face they instantly said "You better not fall!" Little did they know was that I was already two steps a head of them. In my head I was saying "Kiara you better act like Beyonce." But in the mist of my fall I felt these warm arms around my waist that caught me. Then he asked "Are you okay?" He slid me up like it was a part of our act. I smiled, we posed and then together we walked back to the top of the runway. Together we posed this time facing each other, me staring in his dreamy eyes and him staring into mine. I was wearing a black mask with pink and green feathers on the right side of it. Ending the scene Chris slow and steadily took off my mask to reveal my face. He had found his Mrs. Anonymous. Once again into my eyes he looked I kindly moved in and so did he and together we became one. We kissed. His lips soft like cotton and sweet like strawberries. From what I remember the shocked looked on peoples faces could kill you if you'd let it. But of course I didn't. I was in the days only to come back to reality and recognize that my dream man had a girlfriend who was waiting for him back stage......
Final draft Lamont Johnson 2
Bang-Bang is all I hear after I saw the flash of light coming from the barrel of one of the two guns. It about six o-clock and I am bored out of my mind and just as I was about to just go to sleep my cell phone rings. It was my friend Ron, telling me to come out side because he had to tell me something. Ron lives right across the street from me so it took him no time to be at my front door. When I came out I asked him like I was angry what was so important that I had to come outside and hear. Really thinking in the back of my head that I was happy as hell because I was so bored in the house.
So we sat on the step and he told me this whole story about what had happened the day before to these boys around my way. The story was basically about them fighting these other boys who lived not to far away from us. This as he was finishing the story one of the boys who were involved walked up and said what’s up to me and Ron. Then of course me being the person I am I asked Mark, what happened but he didn’t say anything. Then before you knew we were talking about girls and how some of them are gold diggers .
I look at my cell phone and notice it’s eight o-clock and that was getting a little cold outside so I told Ron and Mark that, I would be right back I was going to get a hoodie. We I was coming out of door I saw this gray car with tinted windows ride up my block. The thing was I had noticed that same car a few times early that day but didn’t say anything. So when I sat back on the steps I said something about the car, and my friends said they had noticed it to. I said who do you think it is, Mark said its probably one of them village niggers. With that said your right you know they don’t have a lives, Ron laughed and shook his head agreeing with me.
I notice two males coming around the corner out of the corner of my eye but never really pay full attention to them until it was to late. I look up and see two guns point from across the street at me, Ron and Mark. Then Mark turns around from were he was sitting in front of my porch in and, looks and that’s when I see the flash of light from the gun. Right after that first shoot, Mark was grabbing, Ron and in the same motion pushing me further back on the steps by falling on me. While Mark and Ron got off me, and went for my front door, I could feel the metal from the bullets after it hit my brick wall and shattered falling on me. By the time we got in the house the shooting was over, but you could tell my friend Mark that. I say that because when we got in the house he didn’t get off the floor until he got to the back of my house.
After everything happened my friend Mark was so scared he move from around were we lived and he even went as far as to cut his hair he had braids. I also found out that what ever kinds of guns that the two males had they empted their clips on us mean they empted their guns of all the bullets.
I later discover all the bullets house in my house and that one of the bullets that could have killed us could have killed my neighbor. From what the cops told my mom and dad the bullet went throw the couch he was lying on and missed his head by a couple of inches. That’s not the crazies thing that happened the cops ever find out who did it.
So we sat on the step and he told me this whole story about what had happened the day before to these boys around my way. The story was basically about them fighting these other boys who lived not to far away from us. This as he was finishing the story one of the boys who were involved walked up and said what’s up to me and Ron. Then of course me being the person I am I asked Mark, what happened but he didn’t say anything. Then before you knew we were talking about girls and how some of them are gold diggers .
I look at my cell phone and notice it’s eight o-clock and that was getting a little cold outside so I told Ron and Mark that, I would be right back I was going to get a hoodie. We I was coming out of door I saw this gray car with tinted windows ride up my block. The thing was I had noticed that same car a few times early that day but didn’t say anything. So when I sat back on the steps I said something about the car, and my friends said they had noticed it to. I said who do you think it is, Mark said its probably one of them village niggers. With that said your right you know they don’t have a lives, Ron laughed and shook his head agreeing with me.
I notice two males coming around the corner out of the corner of my eye but never really pay full attention to them until it was to late. I look up and see two guns point from across the street at me, Ron and Mark. Then Mark turns around from were he was sitting in front of my porch in and, looks and that’s when I see the flash of light from the gun. Right after that first shoot, Mark was grabbing, Ron and in the same motion pushing me further back on the steps by falling on me. While Mark and Ron got off me, and went for my front door, I could feel the metal from the bullets after it hit my brick wall and shattered falling on me. By the time we got in the house the shooting was over, but you could tell my friend Mark that. I say that because when we got in the house he didn’t get off the floor until he got to the back of my house.
After everything happened my friend Mark was so scared he move from around were we lived and he even went as far as to cut his hair he had braids. I also found out that what ever kinds of guns that the two males had they empted their clips on us mean they empted their guns of all the bullets.
I later discover all the bullets house in my house and that one of the bullets that could have killed us could have killed my neighbor. From what the cops told my mom and dad the bullet went throw the couch he was lying on and missed his head by a couple of inches. That’s not the crazies thing that happened the cops ever find out who did it.
Final Draft - Shaniqua Rudd 2nd Period
Shaniqua Rudd
2nd Period
The Night I Will Never Forget
“Aunt Vanessa it’s already 6:15 and the concert starts in less than an hour!” I wailed to my mom and aunt all afternoon. Tonight was the night my cousins and I were going to our first Scream Tour Concert with all of my favorite artists; Bow Wow, IMX, and B2K. This was the night we’ve been waiting for, for the past two months. We ordered these tickets from Ticketmaster online, on a pre-sale date. If I didn’t go to this concert, I probably would have cried my eyes out for works. I could tell my mother was becoming impatient with my anxiousness. “We’re going to get there Shaniqua just calm down and stop being a pest.”
I brought my best outfit specifically for this night. I went to Lady Blue the pervious weekend. It was a red Rocawear velour suit with a big RW on the back. The pants were flare with Rocawear on the back also. On my feet, I wore brand new white air force ones, long black individuals, hoop earrings, and a white Rocawear tank top with red lettering. My cousins had on the same outfit but different designs and colors. Amber had on a baby blue suit with gold Rocawear lettering and Stevi had on a dark blue Lady Enyce suit. I made sure that I didn’t spill anything on my new outfit because I wanted to go to the concert best dressed. You never knew who you might see, and everybody was going to be there.
We finally left out of the house and headed to the concert. Halfway through the drive, traffic was flowing steady. But, as soon as we got to South Philly traffic became heavy. I suddenly became worried that I would miss the beginning of the concert. It seemed like everyone was headed to the same place we were going. On the radio, they began to play B2K’s single “Why I Love You”. We were all singing along anxiously, thinking about what we about to experience. As we approached the First Union Center, now known as the “Wachovia”, there were men outside hustling concert goodies. When we reached the men selling the merchandise, we stopped at a red light. My aunt rolled down her window was the men approached the car. “We have concert T-Shirts for sale only 10 dollars each!” said one of the men. My aunt turned around and could tell by the looks on our faces that we wanted an official t-shirt. My aunt and my mother pulled out a wad of cash and passed it onto to the man and we received our shirts.
About five minutes up the road we arrived at the First Union Center. We were rushing toward the front door and we could hear the music outside as we approached the entrance. The men checked out tickets and we rushed to our seats. We came in a little late, but were relieved that we only missed the opening act. It was a girl group named TG4 who nobody knew. As soon as we took our seats IMX, came to the stage and performed their hit “My First Time”. It was a slow ballad that everyone in the audience knew. I would have continued to sing the song, but my mom strongly opposed the lyrics and wondered why I liked the song so much. IMX sang a couple of other songs and then left the stage. Soon the real moment we were waiting for arrived. Smoke and red flames burst onto the stage, a short film came onto the screen showing 4 gorgeous young men dancing. There was one, medium height brown skin with curly hair. He was thin and could move like water. Then there was another light-skinned with a neatly brushed ponytail. Another was light skinned with full lips and multiple piercing and lastly the one who stood out the most. He had a six pack with long neat braids and a beautiful smile. J-Boog, Lil Fizz, Raz-B, and Omarion. These were the boys of B2K.
The boys had on blue and white leather outfits, all the same with the exception of about one of two styles. They moved in the same motion and sung their hearts out. In the audience you could see a lot of young girls crying and screaming over the heart throbs. They sure knew how to put on a show! “Gots ta be the one that makes you sad, gots ta be the one you never had…” The boys sung and began to get undressed. The crowd went wild. Seeing something like this at age 12 was very fascinating but I tried not to look so hard and stayed aware that my mom was watching. Shortly after Omarion left with a grand finale there was the intermission. During the intermission my cousin and I went out to the hotdog stand to grab a quick snack. We weren’t trying to stay out long because you can get caught in a lot of the lobby traffic. On the way from the stand, we saw a Youngman who looked similar to Omarion. He had the same face except no braids just curly hair. We looked at him and smiled and he smiled back. “He’s cute.” Said my cousin Amber. I agreed.
The lights were off and everyone knew there was only one person left to perform. Bow Wow. Bow Wow was short, brown skin, with a mole right above his pink lips. He had long braids and his edges were neat. Just as his name appeared over the screen he jumped out of the floor. He was hanging from a rope and swinging back and forth and the crowd went wild. Some girls even reached out with the intentions of touching him. He performed all of his hits ranging from “Bounce with Me” to “Take You Home”. My cousin Amber was literally a stalker, so the glare in her eyes was something to remember. She looked as if she had almost seen a ghost. But she was happy, and so was I. I kept thanking my mom the whole time. I couldn’t believe I finally got to see the music stars that I adore, up close and personal. Shortly after the concert was over we walked back to the car and screamed about what happened, as if we were all in different places when it happened. The whole ride home we were singing and even our moms enjoyed their selves. The next day, we were online on B2K’s fan website. There was a picture of a Youngman. The same boy we saw at the concert in the lobby …wait. Is that Omarion’s brother?!
2nd Period
The Night I Will Never Forget
“Aunt Vanessa it’s already 6:15 and the concert starts in less than an hour!” I wailed to my mom and aunt all afternoon. Tonight was the night my cousins and I were going to our first Scream Tour Concert with all of my favorite artists; Bow Wow, IMX, and B2K. This was the night we’ve been waiting for, for the past two months. We ordered these tickets from Ticketmaster online, on a pre-sale date. If I didn’t go to this concert, I probably would have cried my eyes out for works. I could tell my mother was becoming impatient with my anxiousness. “We’re going to get there Shaniqua just calm down and stop being a pest.”
I brought my best outfit specifically for this night. I went to Lady Blue the pervious weekend. It was a red Rocawear velour suit with a big RW on the back. The pants were flare with Rocawear on the back also. On my feet, I wore brand new white air force ones, long black individuals, hoop earrings, and a white Rocawear tank top with red lettering. My cousins had on the same outfit but different designs and colors. Amber had on a baby blue suit with gold Rocawear lettering and Stevi had on a dark blue Lady Enyce suit. I made sure that I didn’t spill anything on my new outfit because I wanted to go to the concert best dressed. You never knew who you might see, and everybody was going to be there.
We finally left out of the house and headed to the concert. Halfway through the drive, traffic was flowing steady. But, as soon as we got to South Philly traffic became heavy. I suddenly became worried that I would miss the beginning of the concert. It seemed like everyone was headed to the same place we were going. On the radio, they began to play B2K’s single “Why I Love You”. We were all singing along anxiously, thinking about what we about to experience. As we approached the First Union Center, now known as the “Wachovia”, there were men outside hustling concert goodies. When we reached the men selling the merchandise, we stopped at a red light. My aunt rolled down her window was the men approached the car. “We have concert T-Shirts for sale only 10 dollars each!” said one of the men. My aunt turned around and could tell by the looks on our faces that we wanted an official t-shirt. My aunt and my mother pulled out a wad of cash and passed it onto to the man and we received our shirts.
About five minutes up the road we arrived at the First Union Center. We were rushing toward the front door and we could hear the music outside as we approached the entrance. The men checked out tickets and we rushed to our seats. We came in a little late, but were relieved that we only missed the opening act. It was a girl group named TG4 who nobody knew. As soon as we took our seats IMX, came to the stage and performed their hit “My First Time”. It was a slow ballad that everyone in the audience knew. I would have continued to sing the song, but my mom strongly opposed the lyrics and wondered why I liked the song so much. IMX sang a couple of other songs and then left the stage. Soon the real moment we were waiting for arrived. Smoke and red flames burst onto the stage, a short film came onto the screen showing 4 gorgeous young men dancing. There was one, medium height brown skin with curly hair. He was thin and could move like water. Then there was another light-skinned with a neatly brushed ponytail. Another was light skinned with full lips and multiple piercing and lastly the one who stood out the most. He had a six pack with long neat braids and a beautiful smile. J-Boog, Lil Fizz, Raz-B, and Omarion. These were the boys of B2K.
The boys had on blue and white leather outfits, all the same with the exception of about one of two styles. They moved in the same motion and sung their hearts out. In the audience you could see a lot of young girls crying and screaming over the heart throbs. They sure knew how to put on a show! “Gots ta be the one that makes you sad, gots ta be the one you never had…” The boys sung and began to get undressed. The crowd went wild. Seeing something like this at age 12 was very fascinating but I tried not to look so hard and stayed aware that my mom was watching. Shortly after Omarion left with a grand finale there was the intermission. During the intermission my cousin and I went out to the hotdog stand to grab a quick snack. We weren’t trying to stay out long because you can get caught in a lot of the lobby traffic. On the way from the stand, we saw a Youngman who looked similar to Omarion. He had the same face except no braids just curly hair. We looked at him and smiled and he smiled back. “He’s cute.” Said my cousin Amber. I agreed.
The lights were off and everyone knew there was only one person left to perform. Bow Wow. Bow Wow was short, brown skin, with a mole right above his pink lips. He had long braids and his edges were neat. Just as his name appeared over the screen he jumped out of the floor. He was hanging from a rope and swinging back and forth and the crowd went wild. Some girls even reached out with the intentions of touching him. He performed all of his hits ranging from “Bounce with Me” to “Take You Home”. My cousin Amber was literally a stalker, so the glare in her eyes was something to remember. She looked as if she had almost seen a ghost. But she was happy, and so was I. I kept thanking my mom the whole time. I couldn’t believe I finally got to see the music stars that I adore, up close and personal. Shortly after the concert was over we walked back to the car and screamed about what happened, as if we were all in different places when it happened. The whole ride home we were singing and even our moms enjoyed their selves. The next day, we were online on B2K’s fan website. There was a picture of a Youngman. The same boy we saw at the concert in the lobby …wait. Is that Omarion’s brother?!
Final Post Sumayah Jeter 6th period
Sumayah Jeter
October 22, 2007
Creative Writing
Leo
“Today you will be doing five laps, three suicides, and twenty-five lay-ups each. Ladies run, run! Offense sells tickets defense wins games,” My coach shouts.
“She always makes is run. When game time comes, we will be too tired to play!” We sighed.
“Well if you want it to be like that then .........how about.........I double everything. How does that sound? I bet you will not say anything like that again,” She replied.
“Why do we think out loud? Next time, I know to keep my mouth closed!” I mumbled sadly.
“Now you may proceed to the baseline, ladies” she said with a soft, calm, warmth, voice, but yet deceiving.
Since I am the only girl on the boy’s basketball team, there were lots of conflicts. But, at the same time this challenge is a fun adventure. Monday is tryouts. There are about 30 who people who are here waiting for their skills and talents to be noticed. While waiting for the coach to arrive, we stand tall, as if we are hawks waiting on its prey to make the wrong move, so he can slide down to the surface and attack it for lunch. Inside this box there are many characteristics that stand out the most in my memory. It is a big, hot, sticky, and it smelled like onions, feet and corn chips in this box. With basketballs lying around, five courts, a beige, tan colored floor and a logo, is stamp right in the middle of the half court line. I was nervous, but yet confident because I would not let my fears, control my skills and techniques. But no matter what happens I will remain at a calm level so I can maintain a good vote. I was an ice cube, in a tall glass of lemonade. I kept everything at a cool level. First, we have to run five laps around the gym. We have to do three suicides, next, stretching. We are like rubber bands, out there on the courts.
Finally, the fun part has come. Getting to shoot the ball is the most exciting part practice. We split up into two teams. Each team would go to two different sides of the gym, to perform a lay-up line. This is to practice our lay-up skills. I knew most of all the fundamentals in which you have to know to play basketball, but I have a lot to learn. My left hand is very weak, and this fault makes it difficult for me to make left hand lay-ups. The tryout was going on for about two weeks.
Around the end of the second week, the coach posts up the paper. This paper consists a list of names of the people who make up the team. I notice that everyone is at her door pushing and shoving to see if their names are on the list. The front of her door is like an amusement park. People are pushing and shoving to get on the most fierce, exciting, tallest rollercoaster, in the park. When I see my name on the list, I am relieved. I began a conversation with my new fellow teammates, when I notice some people are disappointed and some are bank robbers. Happy, at the fact that, they got what they wanted. When the following week arrives, and fun time is over. We have practice two times a week; Tuesdays and Thursdays. She makes us run, do lay-ups shoot, suicides and laps. It is very tiring but yet but yet a challenge. The bad part of this challenge is when we make her mad. That is not a good thing to do. When we make her mad it is double trouble. We were overwhelmed that we finally received our jerseys. The jerseys were red, white and blue and the number was on the back and our team name is the Rush Patriots; we honored the name with ambition. We were very lucky to have this team, as an after school activity.
Our very first game is against Farrell Middle School. When we arrived at their school we were prepared to ball. Unfortunately they weren’t. The game got so crazy that their teammates start cheering for us. We are wining by a lot. Point after point, shoot after shoot. Even our wildest teammate is playing the right way. Everything is going good, up until the next day when some people that caught Septa home, comes and tell me things that were said at yesterday’s game. I heard through the grapevine that people were saying bad things, but it is very sad because most of the people that were saying things were the ones who can not play, if their life depended on it. When I confronted them, they all acted like they didn’t know what I am talking about. Many problems expanded. Friendships are ruined. I was so mad to the point were I was going to quit the team. But I kept my head up and I kept stepping and everything went great. Our record was 5-3 (five wins, three lost). We restored our friendships and we manage to get everything back to the way things use to be.
October 22, 2007
Creative Writing
Leo
“Today you will be doing five laps, three suicides, and twenty-five lay-ups each. Ladies run, run! Offense sells tickets defense wins games,” My coach shouts.
“She always makes is run. When game time comes, we will be too tired to play!” We sighed.
“Well if you want it to be like that then .........how about.........I double everything. How does that sound? I bet you will not say anything like that again,” She replied.
“Why do we think out loud? Next time, I know to keep my mouth closed!” I mumbled sadly.
“Now you may proceed to the baseline, ladies” she said with a soft, calm, warmth, voice, but yet deceiving.
Since I am the only girl on the boy’s basketball team, there were lots of conflicts. But, at the same time this challenge is a fun adventure. Monday is tryouts. There are about 30 who people who are here waiting for their skills and talents to be noticed. While waiting for the coach to arrive, we stand tall, as if we are hawks waiting on its prey to make the wrong move, so he can slide down to the surface and attack it for lunch. Inside this box there are many characteristics that stand out the most in my memory. It is a big, hot, sticky, and it smelled like onions, feet and corn chips in this box. With basketballs lying around, five courts, a beige, tan colored floor and a logo, is stamp right in the middle of the half court line. I was nervous, but yet confident because I would not let my fears, control my skills and techniques. But no matter what happens I will remain at a calm level so I can maintain a good vote. I was an ice cube, in a tall glass of lemonade. I kept everything at a cool level. First, we have to run five laps around the gym. We have to do three suicides, next, stretching. We are like rubber bands, out there on the courts.
Finally, the fun part has come. Getting to shoot the ball is the most exciting part practice. We split up into two teams. Each team would go to two different sides of the gym, to perform a lay-up line. This is to practice our lay-up skills. I knew most of all the fundamentals in which you have to know to play basketball, but I have a lot to learn. My left hand is very weak, and this fault makes it difficult for me to make left hand lay-ups. The tryout was going on for about two weeks.
Around the end of the second week, the coach posts up the paper. This paper consists a list of names of the people who make up the team. I notice that everyone is at her door pushing and shoving to see if their names are on the list. The front of her door is like an amusement park. People are pushing and shoving to get on the most fierce, exciting, tallest rollercoaster, in the park. When I see my name on the list, I am relieved. I began a conversation with my new fellow teammates, when I notice some people are disappointed and some are bank robbers. Happy, at the fact that, they got what they wanted. When the following week arrives, and fun time is over. We have practice two times a week; Tuesdays and Thursdays. She makes us run, do lay-ups shoot, suicides and laps. It is very tiring but yet but yet a challenge. The bad part of this challenge is when we make her mad. That is not a good thing to do. When we make her mad it is double trouble. We were overwhelmed that we finally received our jerseys. The jerseys were red, white and blue and the number was on the back and our team name is the Rush Patriots; we honored the name with ambition. We were very lucky to have this team, as an after school activity.
Our very first game is against Farrell Middle School. When we arrived at their school we were prepared to ball. Unfortunately they weren’t. The game got so crazy that their teammates start cheering for us. We are wining by a lot. Point after point, shoot after shoot. Even our wildest teammate is playing the right way. Everything is going good, up until the next day when some people that caught Septa home, comes and tell me things that were said at yesterday’s game. I heard through the grapevine that people were saying bad things, but it is very sad because most of the people that were saying things were the ones who can not play, if their life depended on it. When I confronted them, they all acted like they didn’t know what I am talking about. Many problems expanded. Friendships are ruined. I was so mad to the point were I was going to quit the team. But I kept my head up and I kept stepping and everything went great. Our record was 5-3 (five wins, three lost). We restored our friendships and we manage to get everything back to the way things use to be.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
FINAL POST ASMIRA TULL 6th PERIOD
MY FIRST PLANE
This is the craziest time of my life, but it was also the best time of my life. I’m telling you that this was the most excited time that a person could ever experience in they life. Most people say this never happened to them. So you tell me what you think. So go a grab a chair and take a seat.
It all started when I was going to the 6 grade. I had just graduated from the 5 grade. I had graduated in June, but this all happened in July. So it was in the summer time; my parent’s decided to take me and my brother on vacation for our graduation. This was the first time my brother and I graduated in the same year. We never thought that something like this would ever happen.
So we were leaving to go, but my mom and dad hadn’t told us where we were going. When we asked them where we were going, they said, “Ya’ll see when we get there.”
When we arrived my heart dropped immediately. I had never seen anything this big before in my life! There was this big airplane sitting there waiting for us and everybody else to get on it. Then I asked my mom if we were getting on this plane, and she said ‘‘what you mean are we getting on that plane? I know you aren’t scared! ’’
This was my first time ever getting on a plane. I said ‘‘I’m not getting on this plane I don’t care about what ya’ll say.”
Then my brother said ‘‘remember when you was standing in that line to get on that roller coaster and you was so scared, you thought that you was going to throw up’’.
Then I said “yeah why.”
Then he said “once you got up there what happen,”
I said “I was not scared any more because it was not scary once I got on.”
He said “ok you scared now; it’s not gone scary once you get on.”
I said “I will get on the plane, but if it is scary I am never getting on a plane ever again.”
Once I got in the plane, I was still scared. When it took off, I said “what if the plane crash and we all die what I am going do then.”
Once we were in the air way above the clouds, I was not scared any more. I had opened my shade on the plane, and I was looking at all the pretty clouds. The plane was kind of rocking and bouncing up and down. It was so fun.
I said “I was scared to get on an air plane an it was not even scary.”
My brother said “I told you that you were not going to be scared you did all that for nothing.”
When we told my family about what happened they said “you are a loser.”
Then I said “I don’t care ya’ll is different people from me.”
BY: ASMIRA .L. TULL
This is the craziest time of my life, but it was also the best time of my life. I’m telling you that this was the most excited time that a person could ever experience in they life. Most people say this never happened to them. So you tell me what you think. So go a grab a chair and take a seat.
It all started when I was going to the 6 grade. I had just graduated from the 5 grade. I had graduated in June, but this all happened in July. So it was in the summer time; my parent’s decided to take me and my brother on vacation for our graduation. This was the first time my brother and I graduated in the same year. We never thought that something like this would ever happen.
So we were leaving to go, but my mom and dad hadn’t told us where we were going. When we asked them where we were going, they said, “Ya’ll see when we get there.”
When we arrived my heart dropped immediately. I had never seen anything this big before in my life! There was this big airplane sitting there waiting for us and everybody else to get on it. Then I asked my mom if we were getting on this plane, and she said ‘‘what you mean are we getting on that plane? I know you aren’t scared! ’’
This was my first time ever getting on a plane. I said ‘‘I’m not getting on this plane I don’t care about what ya’ll say.”
Then my brother said ‘‘remember when you was standing in that line to get on that roller coaster and you was so scared, you thought that you was going to throw up’’.
Then I said “yeah why.”
Then he said “once you got up there what happen,”
I said “I was not scared any more because it was not scary once I got on.”
He said “ok you scared now; it’s not gone scary once you get on.”
I said “I will get on the plane, but if it is scary I am never getting on a plane ever again.”
Once I got in the plane, I was still scared. When it took off, I said “what if the plane crash and we all die what I am going do then.”
Once we were in the air way above the clouds, I was not scared any more. I had opened my shade on the plane, and I was looking at all the pretty clouds. The plane was kind of rocking and bouncing up and down. It was so fun.
I said “I was scared to get on an air plane an it was not even scary.”
My brother said “I told you that you were not going to be scared you did all that for nothing.”
When we told my family about what happened they said “you are a loser.”
Then I said “I don’t care ya’ll is different people from me.”
BY: ASMIRA .L. TULL
Jose Ruiz, final draft
Jose Ruiz’s Final, 6th Period
Dominican Republic
After the three hour plane ride we finally landed in paradise. It was time to exit the plane and check into the resort. The resort was beautiful; the landscape was all palm trees, bushes, and freshly cut grass. There were two huge pools and an amazing beach with white sand. A great thing about the resort is the pools and beach were a walking distance from the room. The resort was wonderful, but there were no one my age around.
After we unpacked I started to wander the resort. While roaming the resort I noticed there were people from all over. There were people from different parts of the U.S. and from different countries in Europe. I also noticed that there were no people my age, they were all in their twenties or older. After I have noticed this I became worried.
I began thinking about whether or not I was going to have fun because I did not think I was going to meet anybody my age. I knew if I did not meet anybody I would have to stay with my family, which would be awful because they are always arguing. After the first and second day I still did not see anybody, but on the third day I saw this girl my age. That was the point in which I knew I was going to have fun. When I first saw her it was when I was going into the pool. I saw her and her brother playing basketball in the pool. So I went up and asked her if I can join her. Unfortunately she did not speak any English. So I had to use hand gestures to communicate with her and her brother.
After I met them we would meet each other at every show and activity the resort held for us. For those couple days we spent a lot of time together. Well like all good things it had to come to an end, they left two days earlier than we did. It was fun was while it lasted, but I was happy she left because then I got to spend the rest of my vacation with my family in paradise.
Dominican Republic
After the three hour plane ride we finally landed in paradise. It was time to exit the plane and check into the resort. The resort was beautiful; the landscape was all palm trees, bushes, and freshly cut grass. There were two huge pools and an amazing beach with white sand. A great thing about the resort is the pools and beach were a walking distance from the room. The resort was wonderful, but there were no one my age around.
After we unpacked I started to wander the resort. While roaming the resort I noticed there were people from all over. There were people from different parts of the U.S. and from different countries in Europe. I also noticed that there were no people my age, they were all in their twenties or older. After I have noticed this I became worried.
I began thinking about whether or not I was going to have fun because I did not think I was going to meet anybody my age. I knew if I did not meet anybody I would have to stay with my family, which would be awful because they are always arguing. After the first and second day I still did not see anybody, but on the third day I saw this girl my age. That was the point in which I knew I was going to have fun. When I first saw her it was when I was going into the pool. I saw her and her brother playing basketball in the pool. So I went up and asked her if I can join her. Unfortunately she did not speak any English. So I had to use hand gestures to communicate with her and her brother.
After I met them we would meet each other at every show and activity the resort held for us. For those couple days we spent a lot of time together. Well like all good things it had to come to an end, they left two days earlier than we did. It was fun was while it lasted, but I was happy she left because then I got to spend the rest of my vacation with my family in paradise.
Final Draft Charnice Barrett Period 6
I was laying in Eintein Hospital bed trying to remember everything that happened. “You are a very lucky child,” the doctor implied. “Most children in your predicament are brain dead or in a wheel chair or maybe even dead”. “Dead". I thought to myself, I’m not feeling that.
It was early Sunday afternoon me and my mom were watching some movies when I received a phone call from my best friend Amber, saying that she was on her way with her new four wheeler that she had just received. I waited a few seconds before I finally heard the rumbling of the motor outside my front door it kind of reminding me of a dirt bike race. I ran to the door and hopped on the back of this husky green bike. This was going to be the most fun I'd had all summer.
Everything was going great, the wind was blowing in our hairs everything was just right. We decided to make a stop to her house for some drinks and when we got there her dad told us that we should head out to the field to stay clear of traffic, so we did. On our way up to the field we decided to speed up and as soon as we did…CRASH!!!
All I could hear was the sound of the ambulance sirens as I stood up drowsily. About 20 mins later I was laying Einstein Hospital bed trying to remember everything that happened. “You are a very lucky child,” the doctor implied. “Most children in your predicament are brain dead or in a wheel chair or maybe even dead”. “Dead". I thought to myself, I’m not feeling that, and then I began to nod off. Now untill this day I have bruses on the right side of my face right around my temple and also on my shoulder and left knee. I've learned to be more careful and also wise.
Charnice Barrett
It was early Sunday afternoon me and my mom were watching some movies when I received a phone call from my best friend Amber, saying that she was on her way with her new four wheeler that she had just received. I waited a few seconds before I finally heard the rumbling of the motor outside my front door it kind of reminding me of a dirt bike race. I ran to the door and hopped on the back of this husky green bike. This was going to be the most fun I'd had all summer.
Everything was going great, the wind was blowing in our hairs everything was just right. We decided to make a stop to her house for some drinks and when we got there her dad told us that we should head out to the field to stay clear of traffic, so we did. On our way up to the field we decided to speed up and as soon as we did…CRASH!!!
All I could hear was the sound of the ambulance sirens as I stood up drowsily. About 20 mins later I was laying Einstein Hospital bed trying to remember everything that happened. “You are a very lucky child,” the doctor implied. “Most children in your predicament are brain dead or in a wheel chair or maybe even dead”. “Dead". I thought to myself, I’m not feeling that, and then I began to nod off. Now untill this day I have bruses on the right side of my face right around my temple and also on my shoulder and left knee. I've learned to be more careful and also wise.
Charnice Barrett
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