Jim, an ambitious and competative 16 year old boy is in the 11th grade. He's talking with his coach and his two friends John and
Terrence in the gym about the big track meet that he was going to run it.
Jim: (Trying to catch his breath after running) Yo coach, (Pause) coach. The track meet is still on Thursday right? (Coach shakes
his head) Ok cool, I can't wait I never lost a race yet and i'm not planning on losing this race ima win it. (Coach smiles and
shakes his head yes) i'm telling you that track meet is going to be easy coach. (Jim runs over to his friends John and Terrence)
Yall know ima win that race right? Yall think its funny but im really going to win that race no joke. Yeah, just answer this who is
faster than me? John? You must be crazy he is super slow he couldn't even run two blocks. I'm serious that track meet is going
be easy.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
Jose Ruiz's Monologue
Exposition- Michael is a eighth grade student at the Lab school who is serious about his work. Well Michael is always getting himself into disputes with other students because he always insults the other student’s intelligence correct them when they get something wrong before they could correct themselves. Well one day Michael just did it again, but this time it was with Josh, the biggest bully in school. Just before Josh could correct his mistake, Michael did because of that Josh felt embarrassed so he got up and mugged him in front of the class. Michael not knowing what to do got up and ask to leave the room to calm down for a second.
Michael- Damn! I got one month left to be at this school and I go do something like this and of all people, Josh the toughest boy at school. If I don’t think of a plan and fast I’m going to look like the biggest punk in school. Nobody is going to ever forget this. When people think back about their eighth grade year they are going to remember me as the kid who got chumped off by Josh. Unless, I stay away from all the other students that witnessed what happened today. No that won’t work the news would all over the school by the end of next period. Or I could go in there and apologize so I won’t have a problem with Josh anymore. Both of those ways I’m still going to walk away from here looking like the biggest punk in school. But there is one thing I can do to not make myself look like a punk. I could go in there and walk up to Josh without any questions and punch him in the face. I know I can’t beat him, but before he gets a chance to react the teacher would be there to stop the fight and I get to walk and fix the situation without looking like a punk.(pause) All what the hell? I only have couple more weeks then I’m off to high school anyway.
Michael- Damn! I got one month left to be at this school and I go do something like this and of all people, Josh the toughest boy at school. If I don’t think of a plan and fast I’m going to look like the biggest punk in school. Nobody is going to ever forget this. When people think back about their eighth grade year they are going to remember me as the kid who got chumped off by Josh. Unless, I stay away from all the other students that witnessed what happened today. No that won’t work the news would all over the school by the end of next period. Or I could go in there and apologize so I won’t have a problem with Josh anymore. Both of those ways I’m still going to walk away from here looking like the biggest punk in school. But there is one thing I can do to not make myself look like a punk. I could go in there and walk up to Josh without any questions and punch him in the face. I know I can’t beat him, but before he gets a chance to react the teacher would be there to stop the fight and I get to walk and fix the situation without looking like a punk.(pause) All what the hell? I only have couple more weeks then I’m off to high school anyway.
Dina Pin, 6th period ; Monolouge.
Choices.
Aaliyah have a choice to make. Her parents just recently split up and she is force to decide who she wants to live with. Aaliyah and he best friend are in her room talking about Aaliyah's decision.
Aaliyah: Jamie, help me out here. I don't know what to do. I'm scared I might make the wrong choice. Why did they have to split up in the first place. The divorce was already hard on me, now they're making me choose?! I just don't want to hurt my parents feeling on what I decide on... Maybe I won't just choose at all ! (pause) Yes, thats right ! I won't pick who I want to live with. I don't have to live with my dad nor my mom. I'm almost eightteen anyways and instead of living with any of them. I could just live with my aunt for awhile. Besides my mom already have my sister and my dad got my brother... they don't need me. (pause) They won't approve of this decision but its better for all of us. I just don't feel like seeing them argue about dumb things anymore. I made up my mind and if my parents don't approve then they just will learn to acceptt it !
"Suprise, Suprise"
Cassandra Thomas
“Surprise, Surprise”
Crystal being a single hard working parent with high expectations of her only child Crystal is fuming after she comes from work and finds her daughter Tanya smoking weed at the dining room table with a few of her friends during school hours.
Crystal: (Shock when she enters her home)
What the hell is going on here? Tanya I know you and your little friends (points to Tanya and friends) are not smoking weed in my house especially during school hours (raises her voice) I come home from work tired as hell (throws her hands up in the air) after a long day at work and I got to deal with this. See I caught you off guard because I’m home a little early today well surprise (jumps at Tanya wide eyed) and as for your little friends I will be contacting each of yall parents (points to each girl) I can’t believe you. Did you do this because of your friends are doing it? Because I damn sure did not raise you to be like this? Sneaking, and cutting school. This is so un-like you. I dare you Tanya I go to work busting my ass everyday to make sure we live comfortable and give you everything that you need and want. And you can’t even do what you got to do. I don’t ask much from you but for you to go to school and stay on top of your grades. So now you sorry. Tanya just don’t allow this to happen again I know that it was probably curiosity that made you do such a thing which is understandable because I was your age once but when you begin smoking it’s hard to stop and you don’t want that for yourself. (Take a deep breath)Tanya I’m mad right now but I’m more disappointed you understand? Okay now send your girl friends home. Now don’t think because I calmed down that your off the hook because your lucky to be breathing. So you will be on a strict punishment until further notice.
“Surprise, Surprise”
Crystal being a single hard working parent with high expectations of her only child Crystal is fuming after she comes from work and finds her daughter Tanya smoking weed at the dining room table with a few of her friends during school hours.
Crystal: (Shock when she enters her home)
What the hell is going on here? Tanya I know you and your little friends (points to Tanya and friends) are not smoking weed in my house especially during school hours (raises her voice) I come home from work tired as hell (throws her hands up in the air) after a long day at work and I got to deal with this. See I caught you off guard because I’m home a little early today well surprise (jumps at Tanya wide eyed) and as for your little friends I will be contacting each of yall parents (points to each girl) I can’t believe you. Did you do this because of your friends are doing it? Because I damn sure did not raise you to be like this? Sneaking, and cutting school. This is so un-like you. I dare you Tanya I go to work busting my ass everyday to make sure we live comfortable and give you everything that you need and want. And you can’t even do what you got to do. I don’t ask much from you but for you to go to school and stay on top of your grades. So now you sorry. Tanya just don’t allow this to happen again I know that it was probably curiosity that made you do such a thing which is understandable because I was your age once but when you begin smoking it’s hard to stop and you don’t want that for yourself. (Take a deep breath)Tanya I’m mad right now but I’m more disappointed you understand? Okay now send your girl friends home. Now don’t think because I calmed down that your off the hook because your lucky to be breathing. So you will be on a strict punishment until further notice.
Charnice Barrett*Monologue
Keyshia's older cousin died last week and she is just feling the effects, she's standing at his grave.
Damn, its 2004 and my cousin just died, Im eleven years old and my best friend is gone. I want to cry (pause) but i cant, he would never aprove of me droping a tear. Its hard (starts to pace the floor with tears forming in her eyes). I wish i never recieved that phone call, I wish I never turned on the television (stops). I never realized how cruel and powerful this world is. (points to grave) you are truly lucky Id rather be there then here anyday. (begins to smile and wipes tears from her eyes) I saw your mom the other day, she's not doing to well. Its hard to explain to you how much your missed. Rest in Peace Big Charlie stay true to yourself (walks away).
Damn, its 2004 and my cousin just died, Im eleven years old and my best friend is gone. I want to cry (pause) but i cant, he would never aprove of me droping a tear. Its hard (starts to pace the floor with tears forming in her eyes). I wish i never recieved that phone call, I wish I never turned on the television (stops). I never realized how cruel and powerful this world is. (points to grave) you are truly lucky Id rather be there then here anyday. (begins to smile and wipes tears from her eyes) I saw your mom the other day, she's not doing to well. Its hard to explain to you how much your missed. Rest in Peace Big Charlie stay true to yourself (walks away).
Sharnise Dozier 6th period Final Draft
~Cemoni’s going through a problem, her mom leaves and doesn’t come back until four days later. She talks to her and see that she will never change so she leaves to live with her dad.
Mom can you come home today I want to talk to you? Oh you’re around the corner, that’s even better. You want to know what’s wrong just wait until you get in here! (Wait, mom enters) Mom you always leave and never come back until four days later. I have school! I have a life and I can’t live it. I want to go to school so I can become someone in life, But no! I have to stay home and wait with the baby and hope you will come home soon. But what about me? You always talk about what you do for us and how miserable you are because of us. Well maybe you shouldn’t of had us, but you did so take care of your responsibility. See that’s what I mean you have no sympathy, look how you talk around your baby. Don’t wipe my tears I’m not done yet. Why do you stay out so much? What do you do that so important that you have to leave us here everyday without feeding and taking care of us? (Pause) Oh mom pleases, save it. You know there’s no point of talking to you, I’m done. I’m going to my dads I’ve told him all about this and I think its only fair if I go and take my baby sister too. Mom I’m going! I already have my bags packed and my sisters. My dad is on the way. It doesn’t matter your never here anyway. (Dad enters) Oh thank god you’re here dad. Here I come I’m getting my stuff. Mom don’t look at me like that I’m going! Yes I am! All right well see. Get off my bag. Dad its cool I got it. Why are you watching me leave? I’m not coming back. You don’t want us anyway.
Mom can you come home today I want to talk to you? Oh you’re around the corner, that’s even better. You want to know what’s wrong just wait until you get in here! (Wait, mom enters) Mom you always leave and never come back until four days later. I have school! I have a life and I can’t live it. I want to go to school so I can become someone in life, But no! I have to stay home and wait with the baby and hope you will come home soon. But what about me? You always talk about what you do for us and how miserable you are because of us. Well maybe you shouldn’t of had us, but you did so take care of your responsibility. See that’s what I mean you have no sympathy, look how you talk around your baby. Don’t wipe my tears I’m not done yet. Why do you stay out so much? What do you do that so important that you have to leave us here everyday without feeding and taking care of us? (Pause) Oh mom pleases, save it. You know there’s no point of talking to you, I’m done. I’m going to my dads I’ve told him all about this and I think its only fair if I go and take my baby sister too. Mom I’m going! I already have my bags packed and my sisters. My dad is on the way. It doesn’t matter your never here anyway. (Dad enters) Oh thank god you’re here dad. Here I come I’m getting my stuff. Mom don’t look at me like that I’m going! Yes I am! All right well see. Get off my bag. Dad its cool I got it. Why are you watching me leave? I’m not coming back. You don’t want us anyway.
Lache Brown 2nd period Monologue
Neveah and her two best friends Antoniette and Shay have been friends since their childhood. Theyy all went to the same school until they got in High School. Antoniette is the only one who has changed while in high school, and she did something that could betray their friendship. Neveah finds out and she is now very upset.
Neveah: How could you do this to us Antoniette? We have been best friends since we were old enough to even know what friends are. It’s always been B.S. 4life. We are supposed to be Blood Sisters. I mean me, you, and Shay have been through hel and back again. Where ever one was there was always the other two close behind. Then you go and do something like this. Talking to David behind Shay’s back knowing that David is the love of her life. Her first and you didn’t even take that in to consideration. Now did you? (Sighs and then starts tapping her right foot) I’m still tripping though. Why after all this time. I cant even imagine what else you went and did behind our backs. It just seems like since we all got in high school and you started talking to them chicken heads at ENS., you changed. You of all people. The oldest of us at that. Look Toni, I don’t know what else to tell you except go see Shay and tell her whats up. I’ll holla at you later, keep your head up Toni, and don’t do nothing stupid It’s always gone be B.S.4 life.
Neveah: How could you do this to us Antoniette? We have been best friends since we were old enough to even know what friends are. It’s always been B.S. 4life. We are supposed to be Blood Sisters. I mean me, you, and Shay have been through hel and back again. Where ever one was there was always the other two close behind. Then you go and do something like this. Talking to David behind Shay’s back knowing that David is the love of her life. Her first and you didn’t even take that in to consideration. Now did you? (Sighs and then starts tapping her right foot) I’m still tripping though. Why after all this time. I cant even imagine what else you went and did behind our backs. It just seems like since we all got in high school and you started talking to them chicken heads at ENS., you changed. You of all people. The oldest of us at that. Look Toni, I don’t know what else to tell you except go see Shay and tell her whats up. I’ll holla at you later, keep your head up Toni, and don’t do nothing stupid It’s always gone be B.S.4 life.
Kiara Cofer Monologue
Sable is a very beautiful girl but a little insecure at times. She's is in college and goes to Bloomsburg University. She has herself a new boyfriend, but she feels a change in her relationship and now she feelsbetrayed by her boyfriend and soon to find out her bestfriend too....
My insecurities gave passed me, left me and came back. I was lonely before you cam in my life and I thought you changed that. For a while you did.... and now your acting up. You aren't the person that you were when I met you. You've changed... You used to be so nice, took me where ever I needed to go and now....(pause) I cant even think of a word to describe you. You been giving Shantae more attention than you giving me, Me and you haven't done any thing in about a month so what you sleeping with her? You are? (Pacing the floor tears began running down her face.) How could you? My bestfriend? WHy? Why me? I've never done any thing to you or her for this type of treatment. I know she has always been jealous of me, but never did I think she would scoop that low. You know what I don't need you or her. You don't want me to leave? F**k you!! I'm through, finish what you started with her. You don't want to? Oh please by boy!
My insecurities gave passed me, left me and came back. I was lonely before you cam in my life and I thought you changed that. For a while you did.... and now your acting up. You aren't the person that you were when I met you. You've changed... You used to be so nice, took me where ever I needed to go and now....(pause) I cant even think of a word to describe you. You been giving Shantae more attention than you giving me, Me and you haven't done any thing in about a month so what you sleeping with her? You are? (Pacing the floor tears began running down her face.) How could you? My bestfriend? WHy? Why me? I've never done any thing to you or her for this type of treatment. I know she has always been jealous of me, but never did I think she would scoop that low. You know what I don't need you or her. You don't want me to leave? F**k you!! I'm through, finish what you started with her. You don't want to? Oh please by boy!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Maribel Moreno 6th period/ Monogue
Christina; A smart young girl, who’s with her mom in the living room, worry on what or how her mom is going to react to what she has to say.
Christina: (putting her school bag on the sofa) Mommy I don’t know how to say this to you. I just hope that you don’t get mad at me, I mean…. (Pause) Okay this is what really happen, I was going to my class when my friend said she had my notes taken away. But my test was about to begin, so I couldn’t of gotten my notes for my test. (Nervous) I didn’t fell like I needed to study the night before because I was going to have me notes. (Pause) But since I didn’t get them back before my test I. …..I….fell my test. Mommy it’s true it’s was not like I new it was going to happen. (Angry) After all no one is perfect in this world! I mean you’re not that kind of perfect women. (Claim) So please try to understand me please. Mommy I’m sorry, is just that I was worry on what you were going to react about me felling my test. So please forgive me….
Christina: (putting her school bag on the sofa) Mommy I don’t know how to say this to you. I just hope that you don’t get mad at me, I mean…. (Pause) Okay this is what really happen, I was going to my class when my friend said she had my notes taken away. But my test was about to begin, so I couldn’t of gotten my notes for my test. (Nervous) I didn’t fell like I needed to study the night before because I was going to have me notes. (Pause) But since I didn’t get them back before my test I. …..I….fell my test. Mommy it’s true it’s was not like I new it was going to happen. (Angry) After all no one is perfect in this world! I mean you’re not that kind of perfect women. (Claim) So please try to understand me please. Mommy I’m sorry, is just that I was worry on what you were going to react about me felling my test. So please forgive me….
DRAFT/AUGUSTUS JOHNSON/MONOLOGUE
MONOLOGUE
Travis Rodriguez is 27 years old and about to face one of the scariest place in the world…JAIL! He’s a single father with a 9 year old son named zahair Rodriguez. Travis was with the drug dealing business and now its payback!
“Alone”{my teen monologue, male}-talking to his two best friends…
Travis :{ pacing the floor} what do you mean it’s gonna be ok. It aint gone be ok {beat} 7 years in a cell! {beat} Man please…im not gone make it…all I know is the streets and drugs. I mean look at me {holding his hands up} I got a forty in my hand and ah gun in the other…like always {beat} Man I was raised in the streets.
You know you could always catch me down north…around 33rd and diamond with the steel on my waist at all times…and yall know I could rumble but it aint bout that KNOW MORE!{yelling} Man…{beat} in that prison im nothing but a little youngin…moving weight and got caught and now im in here. Do yall know what dem big boys will do to me…I mean… im not even a big guy…its guys in there that’s like 6’5, 240 and got life and don’t care bout nothing! {with tears rolling down his face}
But the thing is…I wonder who snitched on me out of yall two {with a curious look on his face}… {beat} Because…yall were the only ones who knew where my stash was and now because yall two im going to JAIL! {yelling} I should kill yall {beat} But its cool {with a smirk on his face} Because everything that goes up must come down and everything that happen is gonna come around {beat}…because if I was you guys I wouldn’t play me or your life!{beat} Because I’ll stretch yall out… and take you out of this world like ya momma brought you in!
Travis Rodriguez is 27 years old and about to face one of the scariest place in the world…JAIL! He’s a single father with a 9 year old son named zahair Rodriguez. Travis was with the drug dealing business and now its payback!
“Alone”{my teen monologue, male}-talking to his two best friends…
Travis :{ pacing the floor} what do you mean it’s gonna be ok. It aint gone be ok {beat} 7 years in a cell! {beat} Man please…im not gone make it…all I know is the streets and drugs. I mean look at me {holding his hands up} I got a forty in my hand and ah gun in the other…like always {beat} Man I was raised in the streets.
You know you could always catch me down north…around 33rd and diamond with the steel on my waist at all times…and yall know I could rumble but it aint bout that KNOW MORE!{yelling} Man…{beat} in that prison im nothing but a little youngin…moving weight and got caught and now im in here. Do yall know what dem big boys will do to me…I mean… im not even a big guy…its guys in there that’s like 6’5, 240 and got life and don’t care bout nothing! {with tears rolling down his face}
But the thing is…I wonder who snitched on me out of yall two {with a curious look on his face}… {beat} Because…yall were the only ones who knew where my stash was and now because yall two im going to JAIL! {yelling} I should kill yall {beat} But its cool {with a smirk on his face} Because everything that goes up must come down and everything that happen is gonna come around {beat}…because if I was you guys I wouldn’t play me or your life!{beat} Because I’ll stretch yall out… and take you out of this world like ya momma brought you in!
Dan Chiev 6th Period Monolouge
"Be A Team Player"
Coach calls Micheal Jones, the star player, in his office thirty minutes before the game. Coach wants to tell Micheal about his problems on being a team player, hoping that Micheal learns something for the next few weeks of his senior season and for his college career.
Micheal: Alright coach I'm coming. So what is it that you would like to talk about? What!? Me? Coach, without me there would be no team! The other 10 guys around me don't do crap! I score all the points, I sell all the tickets! Without me, this program would have no championships! What? I'm all set for college. I'm a five star player with many colleges without any help from them or you!(leaves the room) Damn. Coach is right. I do need my teammates. Hey Coach! I noticed when i was out there I noticed that my quarterback has to throw the ball to me. I noticed that when I carry the ball my teammates are my blockers. Coach you are right, I do need my teammates to play this game. I would of never gotten any of those scholarship offers without you guys. Thanks coach.
Coach calls Micheal Jones, the star player, in his office thirty minutes before the game. Coach wants to tell Micheal about his problems on being a team player, hoping that Micheal learns something for the next few weeks of his senior season and for his college career.
Micheal: Alright coach I'm coming. So what is it that you would like to talk about? What!? Me? Coach, without me there would be no team! The other 10 guys around me don't do crap! I score all the points, I sell all the tickets! Without me, this program would have no championships! What? I'm all set for college. I'm a five star player with many colleges without any help from them or you!(leaves the room) Damn. Coach is right. I do need my teammates. Hey Coach! I noticed when i was out there I noticed that my quarterback has to throw the ball to me. I noticed that when I carry the ball my teammates are my blockers. Coach you are right, I do need my teammates to play this game. I would of never gotten any of those scholarship offers without you guys. Thanks coach.
Sheree Page, 6th period, Monologue
Killer Boyfriend
*Be careful on who you trust.*
A detective walks in and tells Sasha her boyfriend is a former murderer. What?! I don’t believe you! Bob? No! He would never lie to me. I trust him with all my heart. I don’t even know you! How you gonna come up in my house and start tellin’ me all this bologna. Get out! Sasha pushes detective, detective tells her something. I don’t care if you sue me for assault, I want you out of my house! Now you got ’till 10 before I start gettin’ physical up in here! 1...2...3... yeah, you better had. Detective puts a small card on her table, and leaves. I can’t believe this. Sasha calls Bob. Bob, umm… can I ask you a question, and you promise to tell me the truth? Pause. Umm… are you a … I mean… did you ever… Bob cuts her off. Dinner tonight. Umm…sure. But, why don’t you want me to tell anyone? Hello? Pause. Take my order? Oh. She started picking up other signals so she hung up and called the detective. Hi, it’s Sasha. I don’t know why I’m saying this but, *sighs* oh my goodness. I think your right. I’m really sorry for yelling. I don’t know why, but something inside me isn’t right. He invited me to dinner tonight and told me not to tell a soul. Long pause. All right, so you want me to go to his house tonight and act like nothing’s wrong. Pause. But what if he does something to me before the cops get a change to react? Pause. Highly trained professionals, you sure? Okay, I’ll do it. That night, Sasha arrives at Bob’s house and rings the door bell. She waits and waits and he doesn’t answer. The door is unlocked so she opens the door and walks in. It’s dark so she pulls out her phone to see. Bob, you okay? What happened in here? Bob where are…….. Bob stabs her right in the heart.
*Be careful on who you trust.*
A detective walks in and tells Sasha her boyfriend is a former murderer. What?! I don’t believe you! Bob? No! He would never lie to me. I trust him with all my heart. I don’t even know you! How you gonna come up in my house and start tellin’ me all this bologna. Get out! Sasha pushes detective, detective tells her something. I don’t care if you sue me for assault, I want you out of my house! Now you got ’till 10 before I start gettin’ physical up in here! 1...2...3... yeah, you better had. Detective puts a small card on her table, and leaves. I can’t believe this. Sasha calls Bob. Bob, umm… can I ask you a question, and you promise to tell me the truth? Pause. Umm… are you a … I mean… did you ever… Bob cuts her off. Dinner tonight. Umm…sure. But, why don’t you want me to tell anyone? Hello? Pause. Take my order? Oh. She started picking up other signals so she hung up and called the detective. Hi, it’s Sasha. I don’t know why I’m saying this but, *sighs* oh my goodness. I think your right. I’m really sorry for yelling. I don’t know why, but something inside me isn’t right. He invited me to dinner tonight and told me not to tell a soul. Long pause. All right, so you want me to go to his house tonight and act like nothing’s wrong. Pause. But what if he does something to me before the cops get a change to react? Pause. Highly trained professionals, you sure? Okay, I’ll do it. That night, Sasha arrives at Bob’s house and rings the door bell. She waits and waits and he doesn’t answer. The door is unlocked so she opens the door and walks in. It’s dark so she pulls out her phone to see. Bob, you okay? What happened in here? Bob where are…….. Bob stabs her right in the heart.
Jasmone` Townes.2Nd- MONOlOGUE
Sophia is a young college student. She has been talking to a boy she likes for a while and she's fed up with being just friends. He's throwing mixed feelings towards her and she's confused on what to do next. As she walks into his dorm, he notices her confused facial expression and asks her what is wrong.
Sophia: You know your the most confusing boy I know. We have been talking since we've got to college in August and now its the middle of December. And what's crazy is, I still don't know how you feel ... yeah, yeah, you show how you care sometimes, but that isn't enough ... at first I thought it was because your not used to having a girlfriend, being the fact that you only had one serious relationship .. but the broad was a lame ... i figured I could do better. When we're by ourselves, I'm all yours ... but as soon as we hit classes, we're strangers. I'm tired of us acting like we're just friends around everyone else ... what are you trying to hide??? You tell your close friends about how you want me ... but then when it comes down to it, your scared to wife me. I chill with you when your sick ... I'm the only one that gave you shit on your birthday ... pshhh, I go out of my way for you dawg ! [Pause] I just don't understand ... yeah ... go ahead ... say what you always say ... "I don't wanna lose you" ... "I'm not letting you go so easy" ... "I wanna see you" ... "We can't stop talking" ... blah, blah, blah ... you keep spittin ya game saying how you don't wanna lose me ... but slowly I'm drifting away ... you only want what you can't have and when I start to go, that's when you want to fight hard for what you think is leaving you. [Pause] Look ... I wanna hold on but its hard when you don't have nothing to look forward to ... just give me something ... and I'll wait for you.
Sophia: You know your the most confusing boy I know. We have been talking since we've got to college in August and now its the middle of December. And what's crazy is, I still don't know how you feel ... yeah, yeah, you show how you care sometimes, but that isn't enough ... at first I thought it was because your not used to having a girlfriend, being the fact that you only had one serious relationship .. but the broad was a lame ... i figured I could do better. When we're by ourselves, I'm all yours ... but as soon as we hit classes, we're strangers. I'm tired of us acting like we're just friends around everyone else ... what are you trying to hide??? You tell your close friends about how you want me ... but then when it comes down to it, your scared to wife me. I chill with you when your sick ... I'm the only one that gave you shit on your birthday ... pshhh, I go out of my way for you dawg ! [Pause] I just don't understand ... yeah ... go ahead ... say what you always say ... "I don't wanna lose you" ... "I'm not letting you go so easy" ... "I wanna see you" ... "We can't stop talking" ... blah, blah, blah ... you keep spittin ya game saying how you don't wanna lose me ... but slowly I'm drifting away ... you only want what you can't have and when I start to go, that's when you want to fight hard for what you think is leaving you. [Pause] Look ... I wanna hold on but its hard when you don't have nothing to look forward to ... just give me something ... and I'll wait for you.
Kevin Forge Final Draft (Monologue)
Dominic goes to Penn State where he maintains good grades and everything. He have lots of friends and a girlfriend. He feels as though hes life cant get any better, but it just got worst when he realized that his sister Lucy got killed in a car crash back in his hometown of Tampa Bay, FL
DOMINIC: (Phone rings) Hello. O hi mom, how you doing? Thats good. So what made you call so early in the morning? You just wanted to check on me. Why i'm doing okay though thanks for asking. And how is the family doing? Why are you crying mom? Was it something i said? (Worried) I'm sorry if i said something wrong to you. Mom, just tell me why are you crying? You got something to tell me. Well just say it then. Wait what happen mom. Stop playing its not funny. Your not playing? It can't be true. Lucy couldn't of died. It's...... that's not right. Please tell me your joking mom. Just please tell me. (Pause) Mom, i'm so sorry to hear that. She still had her whole life ahead of her. I just wish i could say good bye one last time. Mom why did it had to been her. Why it couldn't be me instead. Well....... okay mom i'll see you at her funeral. Just promise to me that you and dad will be careful okay. Alright i guess i'll just see you later then. Take care. Bye
DOMINIC: (Phone rings) Hello. O hi mom, how you doing? Thats good. So what made you call so early in the morning? You just wanted to check on me. Why i'm doing okay though thanks for asking. And how is the family doing? Why are you crying mom? Was it something i said? (Worried) I'm sorry if i said something wrong to you. Mom, just tell me why are you crying? You got something to tell me. Well just say it then. Wait what happen mom. Stop playing its not funny. Your not playing? It can't be true. Lucy couldn't of died. It's...... that's not right. Please tell me your joking mom. Just please tell me. (Pause) Mom, i'm so sorry to hear that. She still had her whole life ahead of her. I just wish i could say good bye one last time. Mom why did it had to been her. Why it couldn't be me instead. Well....... okay mom i'll see you at her funeral. Just promise to me that you and dad will be careful okay. Alright i guess i'll just see you later then. Take care. Bye
Friday, December 14, 2007
~*ASMIRA.L.TULL*~ 6period
Why Am I Living In This World
(Teen Monologue, Female) sad, touching, and angry
EXPOSTION: LASHAWN, after her aunt died she always wondered why she is livening in this world. Sitting in her room thinking of how life has changed, why, and what the meaning of life is
LASHAWN: (Pacing the floor) come in mom, I have a question for you. Why am I living in this world what’s the point. I mean look every time there is someone that is very close to me they always end up dieing or getting hurt.( slam her self on the chair) and I never gets to see them again,(pause) maybe if I (point to her self) wasn’t born they would still be living in this world. I wish I was never born(pause) it wasn’t meant for me to be in this world, it wasn’t meant for you to have me I hate you, I hate me, and I hate this world. I wish I could die.
(Teen Monologue, Female) sad, touching, and angry
EXPOSTION: LASHAWN, after her aunt died she always wondered why she is livening in this world. Sitting in her room thinking of how life has changed, why, and what the meaning of life is
LASHAWN: (Pacing the floor) come in mom, I have a question for you. Why am I living in this world what’s the point. I mean look every time there is someone that is very close to me they always end up dieing or getting hurt.( slam her self on the chair) and I never gets to see them again,(pause) maybe if I (point to her self) wasn’t born they would still be living in this world. I wish I was never born(pause) it wasn’t meant for me to be in this world, it wasn’t meant for you to have me I hate you, I hate me, and I hate this world. I wish I could die.
“Things Are Always What They Seem” *Touching*
Anabel Genao
Period 2
Cheyenne is caught up in a bad lifestyle because she just wants her mother’s love and attention. She can’t decide whether she should just voice her pain to her mother or just keep doing what she does forcing attention. It’s 2 a.m. and she’s just getting home and she’s in her bedroom contemplating to herself/ to audience.
Cheyenne: Things aren’t always what they seem. It’s 2 a.m. and I’m just coming home. My mother is in her room asleep. She thinks her perfect daughter has been in bed for hours. She doesn’t see my faults. I try so hard to get her attention but it never works. She never sees. It all happened when we moved and she got a new boyfriend. I got new friends. Bad friends, the type of friends my mother would never approve of if she saw. (Sigh) She never sees. My counselor at school is the only person I can really talk to. She tells me I just need to learn to communicate with my mother, that I need to talk to her, that I should tell her how I feel! That sounds so easy doesn’t it? It isn’t, I’m scared she isn’t going to love me anymore if she knows all of the things I’ve done. I wish I could just clean up my act but whenever I’m feeling lonely the only thing for me are my “friends.” Ha, if you can even call them friends. (Shakes head) I know they probably only hang with me because I’m their ride when they’re drunk. I just came back from my boyfriend’s house. How can I share things like this with my mother? She can either be really upset or she may not care at all. But I hide it from her, so I must hide it from her because she will care… (Movement is heard outside of room. Turns head.) It sounds like she’s awake. Maybe I should just go tell her everything… (Door opens, mother comes in.) Mom, we need to talk…
Period 2
Cheyenne is caught up in a bad lifestyle because she just wants her mother’s love and attention. She can’t decide whether she should just voice her pain to her mother or just keep doing what she does forcing attention. It’s 2 a.m. and she’s just getting home and she’s in her bedroom contemplating to herself/ to audience.
Cheyenne: Things aren’t always what they seem. It’s 2 a.m. and I’m just coming home. My mother is in her room asleep. She thinks her perfect daughter has been in bed for hours. She doesn’t see my faults. I try so hard to get her attention but it never works. She never sees. It all happened when we moved and she got a new boyfriend. I got new friends. Bad friends, the type of friends my mother would never approve of if she saw. (Sigh) She never sees. My counselor at school is the only person I can really talk to. She tells me I just need to learn to communicate with my mother, that I need to talk to her, that I should tell her how I feel! That sounds so easy doesn’t it? It isn’t, I’m scared she isn’t going to love me anymore if she knows all of the things I’ve done. I wish I could just clean up my act but whenever I’m feeling lonely the only thing for me are my “friends.” Ha, if you can even call them friends. (Shakes head) I know they probably only hang with me because I’m their ride when they’re drunk. I just came back from my boyfriend’s house. How can I share things like this with my mother? She can either be really upset or she may not care at all. But I hide it from her, so I must hide it from her because she will care… (Movement is heard outside of room. Turns head.) It sounds like she’s awake. Maybe I should just go tell her everything… (Door opens, mother comes in.) Mom, we need to talk…
Shaniqua Rudd - Final Monologue
Tia has just came in from the library. Once again she notices another bottle of detergent missing from her closet. Her roomate Kathy has been continously taking her things. Tia is fed up. Shortly after, Katrthy enters the room.
Tia: Kathy (walking toward her), did you use my detergent? You know what detergent I am talking about...(sighs) Kathy I know you used it, theres no need to lie...Well if you know you used it all why didn't you buy another bottle?...Just because we're roomates doesn't mean we share things that you didn't buy. Hold up, now you have the nerve to get mad at me! You always take my things and never reinburst me! Do you think money grows on trees...I pay for this! Not you. First my noodles. Then my pack of water. Then you took my deodorant, and if that isn't a violation of health, than I dont know what is, now I am tired of this! I don't care what you think, you're going to pay for everything you took from me. This just isn't working out...I'm going to have to get my own room because this is getting out of hand. (Points in Kathys face) Kathy, you better calm down, because you don't know me at all! I am not one of your tea cup party friends from Michigan I will KICK YOUR ASS!...Threat? It's a promise, Call it what you want. Just know if you don't give me some money for my things you took by the end of this week, you'll be running out of here with flip flops and a comb.
Tia: Kathy (walking toward her), did you use my detergent? You know what detergent I am talking about...(sighs) Kathy I know you used it, theres no need to lie...Well if you know you used it all why didn't you buy another bottle?...Just because we're roomates doesn't mean we share things that you didn't buy. Hold up, now you have the nerve to get mad at me! You always take my things and never reinburst me! Do you think money grows on trees...I pay for this! Not you. First my noodles. Then my pack of water. Then you took my deodorant, and if that isn't a violation of health, than I dont know what is, now I am tired of this! I don't care what you think, you're going to pay for everything you took from me. This just isn't working out...I'm going to have to get my own room because this is getting out of hand. (Points in Kathys face) Kathy, you better calm down, because you don't know me at all! I am not one of your tea cup party friends from Michigan I will KICK YOUR ASS!...Threat? It's a promise, Call it what you want. Just know if you don't give me some money for my things you took by the end of this week, you'll be running out of here with flip flops and a comb.
Monologue by Chinique Alburg
Shantel is a freshman at a university in Pennsylvania. She has had a history of using guys to get what she wants and is now confronted by the new guys and the guys from her past along with one of the guys' girlfriend, whom she gets into an altercation with.
Shantel: I cant believe they had the nerve to step to me like that. HUH..who do they think they is?? And Shawn had the nerve to bring that stuck up tramp Alicia along like she was tough.I cant believe that ho got mad at me when her man was the one cheating, and she swung....boy I'll tell you these girls dont know how to act when it comes to men...stupid ass. Now we fought, she got trashed and it's over with. All for what? For him to do it all over again with someone else. But I'm the one that has to transfer to another school. As for them other weaklings I dont even know what to say about them, half of them were from 10th grade and they still remember that. I forgot half of their names. My mom is gonna be so pissed. I dont feel the least bit sorry for what I have done. This just makes me want to do it all over again... but on the real this does need to stop, I just dont know how to, Maybe I'll just go talk to my girl LeeLee, she always knows what to do.But what if she doesn't?? Man this is crazy.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Star Boyd(monologue)
Star-Aisha Boyd
Creative writing
Kelly opens her locker and notices a note from her boyfriend James. She unfolds the note and began to read it. The note says that he is leaving her for her best friend Iris.
Kelly: What is this? Is he serious? Do he really think I’m going to let him leave me? No, We have been through too much for him to leave me. And for Iris, she is some best friend, I mean every time we went through she’ll always be the one to say he aint nothing, and how I could do so much better. Butter huh, She only did that so he’ll be easy for her to get. But guess what? She got another thing coming if she think I’m gonna give him up that easy. She gonna have to fight me for him. Yeah fight me, she think I’m gonna let her off easy, Oh she must don’t know me. It’s crazy how I get this note now and me and her have the same class next period. And the bell ring, here goes twelve rounds.
Creative writing
Kelly opens her locker and notices a note from her boyfriend James. She unfolds the note and began to read it. The note says that he is leaving her for her best friend Iris.
Kelly: What is this? Is he serious? Do he really think I’m going to let him leave me? No, We have been through too much for him to leave me. And for Iris, she is some best friend, I mean every time we went through she’ll always be the one to say he aint nothing, and how I could do so much better. Butter huh, She only did that so he’ll be easy for her to get. But guess what? She got another thing coming if she think I’m gonna give him up that easy. She gonna have to fight me for him. Yeah fight me, she think I’m gonna let her off easy, Oh she must don’t know me. It’s crazy how I get this note now and me and her have the same class next period. And the bell ring, here goes twelve rounds.
Nelson Hollerway Period 2 Monologue
Aj is in last period contemplating what he is going to do if his final report card isn't what he needs to get into the college of his dreams. He's talking to a friend of his that has already been accepted to an Ivy League school. Aj doesn't have the test scores he should have so has to get perfect grades so he can get a 4.0.
Ayo man if I don't get all A's ma dreams are down the drain. I don't get in to Harvard ma parents are gonna think of me as a failure. Ma second choice school will be an embarrassment to my parents they won't even wanna to tell their friends that im goin to college. Did u get into Princeton nigga? (Pause) Word, well at least I'll know someone at a good school that should count for somethin if I don't get in. I aint even thinkin bout what its gonna be like if I get excepted cuz I don't wanna suffer the agony of dissappointment. All four of this highschool this highschool b.s. for nuthin imma be so mad. Ma pop told me that if I dont get into Harvard I should just get a job at McDonald's and I aint workin there. I ain't workin at no fast food restaurant that be drawlin. I just wanna get out dis damn class so I can go see ma report card and know what's with this college stuff. I need to just get it over with. Aight well that's the bell so I'm out so I can check it out. Imma hit you up if I got excepted.
Ayo man if I don't get all A's ma dreams are down the drain. I don't get in to Harvard ma parents are gonna think of me as a failure. Ma second choice school will be an embarrassment to my parents they won't even wanna to tell their friends that im goin to college. Did u get into Princeton nigga? (Pause) Word, well at least I'll know someone at a good school that should count for somethin if I don't get in. I aint even thinkin bout what its gonna be like if I get excepted cuz I don't wanna suffer the agony of dissappointment. All four of this highschool this highschool b.s. for nuthin imma be so mad. Ma pop told me that if I dont get into Harvard I should just get a job at McDonald's and I aint workin there. I ain't workin at no fast food restaurant that be drawlin. I just wanna get out dis damn class so I can go see ma report card and know what's with this college stuff. I need to just get it over with. Aight well that's the bell so I'm out so I can check it out. Imma hit you up if I got excepted.
Shana Earley
Shana Earley December 13, 2007
Creative Writing Period 2
Monologue
This is about a girl named Joyce who has just moved to Los Angeles from New York to live with her aunt Linda. She has to start a new school and make new friends. The story opens in a high school cafeteria. A girl comes over sits next to Joyce and tells her a secret.
Joyce: “She said what about me? How could she? I thought that me and her were supposed to be friends. When I first got here to Hasbrook high she was the one to show me the ropes. She introduced me to the IN crowd, she showed me how to get to all my classes, and she even helped me get that stupid locker of mine open on my first day here. The first time that I heard the Rumor about me was from a girl named Brenda. I was so shocked. It never even crossed my mind that she was the one who started the rumor about my mother being a drug addict and my father being a notorious drug lord. When I told her about the rumor she hugged me and told me that everything would be ok as if she wasn’t the one to start the rumor to begin with hmm. I can’t believe her. (pause) No wait yes I can. She told me a lot of crazy things about other people in our school. I should have known better. If she was gonna talk about them what makes me so special. Lesson learned. I’m hurt but ill get through it. I’ve been through worse shit then this.”
Creative Writing Period 2
Monologue
This is about a girl named Joyce who has just moved to Los Angeles from New York to live with her aunt Linda. She has to start a new school and make new friends. The story opens in a high school cafeteria. A girl comes over sits next to Joyce and tells her a secret.
Joyce: “She said what about me? How could she? I thought that me and her were supposed to be friends. When I first got here to Hasbrook high she was the one to show me the ropes. She introduced me to the IN crowd, she showed me how to get to all my classes, and she even helped me get that stupid locker of mine open on my first day here. The first time that I heard the Rumor about me was from a girl named Brenda. I was so shocked. It never even crossed my mind that she was the one who started the rumor about my mother being a drug addict and my father being a notorious drug lord. When I told her about the rumor she hugged me and told me that everything would be ok as if she wasn’t the one to start the rumor to begin with hmm. I can’t believe her. (pause) No wait yes I can. She told me a lot of crazy things about other people in our school. I should have known better. If she was gonna talk about them what makes me so special. Lesson learned. I’m hurt but ill get through it. I’ve been through worse shit then this.”
Julius Lewis (Monologue)
Shawn is upset because he lost everything. He was doing good. He had a job, house, and a car until one day everything he had, he lost. Now shawn is talking to his best friend John about his problem.
Shawn: What the hell am i gonna do John. I had everything. I had a job, car and house. Now all of it is gone. It's like one day it was there and now it isn't. I talked to my boss and asked him for my job back. He said it was time to let me go. I asked my boss what did i do wrong, he said the job he gave me was too much for me. I had that job for 3 years and never had a problem. With me not having a job i had to take my car back to the dealership. All those payments i made on that car, this is some bullshit. The goverenment is gonna but my house up for sale, so i have to be out in a week. I don't know where i'm gonna stay until i get back on my feet. What? I can't stay at your crib, that will be to much to ask. Are you sure? I guess that's what friends are for.
Shawn: What the hell am i gonna do John. I had everything. I had a job, car and house. Now all of it is gone. It's like one day it was there and now it isn't. I talked to my boss and asked him for my job back. He said it was time to let me go. I asked my boss what did i do wrong, he said the job he gave me was too much for me. I had that job for 3 years and never had a problem. With me not having a job i had to take my car back to the dealership. All those payments i made on that car, this is some bullshit. The goverenment is gonna but my house up for sale, so i have to be out in a week. I don't know where i'm gonna stay until i get back on my feet. What? I can't stay at your crib, that will be to much to ask. Are you sure? I guess that's what friends are for.
Sumayah Jeter New Post (Monologue)
Sumayah Jeter
December 13, 2007
Creative Writing
Leo 6th period
I Hold Pain in my Heart
Candace Johnson is a loving girl. She is has to deal with the problems with the sport she loves; basketball and with her father being an abusive drug user. Candace is in the living room fussing at her father about his usage of illegal drugs.
Candace: Look at all this nice furniture! (Pointing at the around the house). Just look at! Devon spent most of his teenage years fixing up the house, after mom died (yelling in his face and stomping across the room). He worked very hard for us and all you do is think about yourself! He was the only one man enough to take care of us. You don’t do shit for my brother and I. All you do is sit in that damn crack house and get high. You are nothing but a damn junky! You need to take care of your responsibilities and be the man that you call yourself! Oh, so you think you’re a man? You do right, well then buy me some boots, or clothes! Exactly! You don’t have any money! Let me guess why! Maybe because you spent it all on drugs! You are an idiot! An idiot with no money, job, or a car! I hate you with a passion and you make me sick to my stomach! Dad (pause) I wish you well with your life in the future. Since you want to get high all day and not take care of your children, cool. One last thing, the basketball team has been coming along great. I also have been MVP for the past two years. All the things you haven’t taught me, will make me become a better person than you ever was or will be. (Tears began rolling down her cheeks and dad is half way out the door). Thanks dad (voice creaks, pause).Thanks.
December 13, 2007
Creative Writing
Leo 6th period
I Hold Pain in my Heart
Candace Johnson is a loving girl. She is has to deal with the problems with the sport she loves; basketball and with her father being an abusive drug user. Candace is in the living room fussing at her father about his usage of illegal drugs.
Candace: Look at all this nice furniture! (Pointing at the around the house). Just look at! Devon spent most of his teenage years fixing up the house, after mom died (yelling in his face and stomping across the room). He worked very hard for us and all you do is think about yourself! He was the only one man enough to take care of us. You don’t do shit for my brother and I. All you do is sit in that damn crack house and get high. You are nothing but a damn junky! You need to take care of your responsibilities and be the man that you call yourself! Oh, so you think you’re a man? You do right, well then buy me some boots, or clothes! Exactly! You don’t have any money! Let me guess why! Maybe because you spent it all on drugs! You are an idiot! An idiot with no money, job, or a car! I hate you with a passion and you make me sick to my stomach! Dad (pause) I wish you well with your life in the future. Since you want to get high all day and not take care of your children, cool. One last thing, the basketball team has been coming along great. I also have been MVP for the past two years. All the things you haven’t taught me, will make me become a better person than you ever was or will be. (Tears began rolling down her cheeks and dad is half way out the door). Thanks dad (voice creaks, pause).Thanks.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Dina Pin, 6th period ; Final Draft
"I live to wanting to die"
I life as any ordinary smart teenage girl. I go to school, get straight A's, and hang out with my friends after school everyday and have a loving boyfriend. I seem perfectly fine on how I describe myself but no one knows what I go through inside my house. I express my feelings only to my true friends, but sometimes it feels like they don't care and only use me for my school work. My names is Sandy Johnson, I’m 14 years old and live in the urban part of Philadelphia.
I listen to my mom all the time and baby sat my siblings daily. I was never aloud out on the weekends. I was stuck in the house while my mom was out partying, getting drunk, and get into fist fights with other women. On the other hand my step-dad was never home either; he would also party and get drunk. They would come home very late at night and start getting loud and put all their anger out on me. I always wonder what I deserve to get this but never found the answer.
It was one in the morning and my mom came rushing in my room and grabbed me out of my bed. In a quick thought I knew she was drunk, but I didn't fight back because I was too scared to do anything. This wasn't the first time I experienced something like this, I gone through it many times. My mom started hitting me forcefully with her bear hands. It was so painful, uncomfortable and torturing. It had hurt so much I just couldn’t take the pressure no more so I decide to fight back. “Stop!” I yelled, but nothing stopped her, the expression of her face had an angrier look and she hit me harder. She was my mother so I couldn't do nothing, after she was done she told me to take care of my younger sister who wasn't even one years old yet. I obey her so she wouldn't get angrier at me.
I cried all night until the sun came out. School was about to start in an hour or so but I wanted to get out the house fast. Leaving out the door my mom stopped me and told me to stay home. I knew what she was planning to do and I couldn't let this happen again. So I went upstairs as if going to my room, but I jumped out the window from the upstairs of a two-story house to the backyard. I escaped safely into the alleyway to get to in front of the house. As soon as I got out, I ran to my cousin house that lives 4 blocks away from me.
I knocked on the door of my Cousin Amanda's house and my aunt opened the door, I asked for Amanda but my aunt told she was in the shower. My aunt gave me this confused look and asks why I was crying and I told her that my mom hit me. I left before she can ask me anything else. I went to go get my best friend like I always do every morning before I head off to school. As soon as she saw me she knew right away something was up. My eyes were so puffy and red, that instantly you can tell I was crying all night long.
We decided to cut school because I knew right there on I couldn't go to school like this. So we went somewhere to talk about what happen. I told her everything, and as I was she started to cry herself. We didn't know what to do, and the only thing that went through my mind was to tell someone about this. So my friend and I went to school and go talk to our school counselor. I knew it was wrong to tell on my mom, but I just had to do it. I can't go on any longer living unpeacfully. My counselor insist on reporting about the abuse, so the child services can come in and talk to me about if I want to move out and live with one of other relatives.
While in the principal office waiting for child services to come in, my friend and I looked outside into the school yard where the other kids were having recess. I looked at my friends, teasing each other and looking so happy and it felt as if I didn't exist to them, like I was a nobody. I felted so depressed like why did it have to happen to me I didn't do anything to deserve this treatment. A little while later child service came to discussed with me about my mom and other things going on. The meeting lasted awhile and as the time past it was time to go home. They suggested me to go home and pack my stuff and move in with my aunt. I did as what they told me and somewhat I knew I was doing the wrong thing but I had to for the sake of my life.
I went to my house with my cousins to get my stuff; my mom didn't say anything to me. She ignored me like I was nothing, it hurt but I couldn't do anything about it. I gathered up my stuff and left without a goodbye. One night my aunt told me to go home and watch my siblings while my mom goes to a wedding. I didn't want to go so instead of going there I went to the movies with my friends. After the movies, I got into deep trouble with my older cousin; he yelled at me and drove me back to my aunt's house. In my mind all I thought about is when was my life going to be over, so I can be done and stop dealing with life.
A couple of months pass by, eventually I moved back in with my family. Its not really the same as before since my mom doesn't care about me anymore. I still go through a difficult life everyday and still get upset my mom ignores me all the time. I go out everyday and come home late just to avoid her. Every morning when I wake up all I think about is not waking up. I hate dealing with life now, I lost all my true friends just beause of how selfish and ignorant I became. Just one day, I wish I knew I had a reason to actually why I have to live any longer...
I life as any ordinary smart teenage girl. I go to school, get straight A's, and hang out with my friends after school everyday and have a loving boyfriend. I seem perfectly fine on how I describe myself but no one knows what I go through inside my house. I express my feelings only to my true friends, but sometimes it feels like they don't care and only use me for my school work. My names is Sandy Johnson, I’m 14 years old and live in the urban part of Philadelphia.
I listen to my mom all the time and baby sat my siblings daily. I was never aloud out on the weekends. I was stuck in the house while my mom was out partying, getting drunk, and get into fist fights with other women. On the other hand my step-dad was never home either; he would also party and get drunk. They would come home very late at night and start getting loud and put all their anger out on me. I always wonder what I deserve to get this but never found the answer.
It was one in the morning and my mom came rushing in my room and grabbed me out of my bed. In a quick thought I knew she was drunk, but I didn't fight back because I was too scared to do anything. This wasn't the first time I experienced something like this, I gone through it many times. My mom started hitting me forcefully with her bear hands. It was so painful, uncomfortable and torturing. It had hurt so much I just couldn’t take the pressure no more so I decide to fight back. “Stop!” I yelled, but nothing stopped her, the expression of her face had an angrier look and she hit me harder. She was my mother so I couldn't do nothing, after she was done she told me to take care of my younger sister who wasn't even one years old yet. I obey her so she wouldn't get angrier at me.
I cried all night until the sun came out. School was about to start in an hour or so but I wanted to get out the house fast. Leaving out the door my mom stopped me and told me to stay home. I knew what she was planning to do and I couldn't let this happen again. So I went upstairs as if going to my room, but I jumped out the window from the upstairs of a two-story house to the backyard. I escaped safely into the alleyway to get to in front of the house. As soon as I got out, I ran to my cousin house that lives 4 blocks away from me.
I knocked on the door of my Cousin Amanda's house and my aunt opened the door, I asked for Amanda but my aunt told she was in the shower. My aunt gave me this confused look and asks why I was crying and I told her that my mom hit me. I left before she can ask me anything else. I went to go get my best friend like I always do every morning before I head off to school. As soon as she saw me she knew right away something was up. My eyes were so puffy and red, that instantly you can tell I was crying all night long.
We decided to cut school because I knew right there on I couldn't go to school like this. So we went somewhere to talk about what happen. I told her everything, and as I was she started to cry herself. We didn't know what to do, and the only thing that went through my mind was to tell someone about this. So my friend and I went to school and go talk to our school counselor. I knew it was wrong to tell on my mom, but I just had to do it. I can't go on any longer living unpeacfully. My counselor insist on reporting about the abuse, so the child services can come in and talk to me about if I want to move out and live with one of other relatives.
While in the principal office waiting for child services to come in, my friend and I looked outside into the school yard where the other kids were having recess. I looked at my friends, teasing each other and looking so happy and it felt as if I didn't exist to them, like I was a nobody. I felted so depressed like why did it have to happen to me I didn't do anything to deserve this treatment. A little while later child service came to discussed with me about my mom and other things going on. The meeting lasted awhile and as the time past it was time to go home. They suggested me to go home and pack my stuff and move in with my aunt. I did as what they told me and somewhat I knew I was doing the wrong thing but I had to for the sake of my life.
I went to my house with my cousins to get my stuff; my mom didn't say anything to me. She ignored me like I was nothing, it hurt but I couldn't do anything about it. I gathered up my stuff and left without a goodbye. One night my aunt told me to go home and watch my siblings while my mom goes to a wedding. I didn't want to go so instead of going there I went to the movies with my friends. After the movies, I got into deep trouble with my older cousin; he yelled at me and drove me back to my aunt's house. In my mind all I thought about is when was my life going to be over, so I can be done and stop dealing with life.
A couple of months pass by, eventually I moved back in with my family. Its not really the same as before since my mom doesn't care about me anymore. I still go through a difficult life everyday and still get upset my mom ignores me all the time. I go out everyday and come home late just to avoid her. Every morning when I wake up all I think about is not waking up. I hate dealing with life now, I lost all my true friends just beause of how selfish and ignorant I became. Just one day, I wish I knew I had a reason to actually why I have to live any longer...
Friday, December 7, 2007
Nelson Hollerway
“Good mornin’ DJ,” said James.
“What’s up youngin’ you gonna be late for school you betta hurry up,” replied DJ.
“Aight DJ Imma hurry up,” James muttered back.
James lived alone with no one but his mother and sister. His mother had been raising him and his sister for a long time by herself and she was raising her two children with a lot of success.
“Wake up, Jaz, wake up!!” yelled James at his younger sister.
“I’m up stop James I’m up, Imma tell mommy…”
“No you not she ain’t here!”
“Shut up I’m awake.” Jaz was only six but she thought she was grown with enough attitude to kill ya. So James woke up his sister and continued to get ready for school wondering where his mother was. James was used to her not being home all the time but she always saw him before he went to school. James was in the second grade and his sister was in kindergarten.
“DJ where’s my mom?” asked Jaz.
“She ain’t here you midget, just get ready for school so you don’t miss da bus okay,” DJ answered with aggravation he didn’t want to be bothered by Diane’s kids. Diane was out late the night before and she came home and got into an argument with her boyfriend. The argument got heated as Diane’s boyfriend DJ was in a bad mood because he didn’t have any hash.
Well James got him and his sister ready for school and they got outside with just enough time to run for the bus out of there “middle class” housing development, they lived in the projects, the best they’d ever seen anyway. James ran out the door with a paco jeans jump suit and his sister was as cute as could be when they left the house. She was wearing a pair of jeans and shirt with her favorite person all over them. The Barbi clothes and bookbag she had was sporting was a perfect reflection of her young attitude. She was spoiled but just as much as James was.
After a seemingly normal friday in school Jaz and James waited in their bus lines to get on the school bus and go home. Most of the time if their mom wasn’t home to see them off to school she would pick them up from school right off the bus. No one could tell her she couldn’t stop the bus to get her kids off the bus, shit they were her kids. Both Jaz and James knew she was probably going to come get them but strangely she didn’t. As young as the two kids were they thought nothing of her not showing up. James walked his little sister up to the front door of their project building and rung the door bell. No one from their apartment buzzed them in, James buzzed it again. Still no reply, so Jaz and James both rang the bell for one of their friend’s houses. Just as the pair walked into the building the police pulled up and ran into the main hallway right passed the kids. The kids followed behind them slowly as the cops happened to be running down their hall. “James, James! Come here. Jaz,” yelled their Aunty. Their mother’s only sister had come over to them and told them that when they went into the apartment, to run to their rooms and pack their bags because their mom told her to pick them up for the weekend. The kids did exactly as she said.
They didn’t go to her house often, but when they did, they had fun. They were excited. “Aunty, ma mom at ya house?” asked James
“No, she’s not J but you’ll talk to her soon okay?” Aunty didn’t want to lie to him, but she had to. James nodded and said okay. James was a momma’s boy, but not in the “in love with his mom” way, but his mom was his dog. He and his mom had a lot of fun together, playing videogames and play fighting. His sister and his mom always went out together so it was like his mom’s way of making quality time with her son. “I wanna talk to ma mom now!” said Jaz. Her Aunty told her she would talk to her tonight or tomorrow. Aunty didn’t really know when they would talk to their mom. James and Jaz asked about their mom every time they had an unoccupied second.
Early one morning before school James flipped on the TV and his Aunty always told him not to turn on the TV but he did anyway. On the screen, what he saw changed his life for ever, he saw on the screen that his mom was a missing person and that they had a suspect in custody for the possible murder of his mom Diane. The anchorman read, “Next today a missing woman, Diane Fosse, from Maple Shade , New Jersey has today been announced dead after 45 days on the missing person list for our area. Police have a suspect in custody for the murder of New Jersey mother of two, a little boy and girl, ages seven and six now living with their Aunt of Mt. Holly. James wasn’t the only person in his family watching the news at that time in the morning, his aunt was to and she new he was watching it when she came into the living room to drive him to school.
James didn’t go to school that day or any day for the next week neither did his sister. James was so shocked he had no reaction and perhaps everything he had gone through in his life he couldn’t cry because his anger was too large. He sat quiet and spoke a word to no one. Jaz was an innocent little girl and she knew what death was but she didn’t completely understand. She cried and cried in her Aunty’s arms for hours at her shrink’s office. James sat in the same chair everyday for two months, same time everyday, and didn’t speak one word. James didn’t react to anything he didn’t talk for months. He was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, depression, and the shrink thought he was dangerous to himself and everyone around him because at any minute could just explode and do anything even though he was only seven. James sat and colored and painted for almost a year without saying anything. One day his psychiatrist just stopped talking to him and he reacted.
“What the f(BEEP)k is your problem you got tired of pissin’ me off with your b(BEEP)l s(BEEP)t questions huh??”
“NO I am not going to talk to you because you don’t talk to me…You’ve sat in my office for eleven months wasting my paper, paint, pens, markers and all of my pencils and I am tired of it.”
“Well, I’ll tell you what I’m tired of! I’m tired of all the people walking around like they know how I feel! All of the adults telling me that I should talk about how I feel and that everything will be ok! It’s not gonna be!! It never will be!! I hate you and all the other mean people who don’t know my mom and pretend that they care!!! You wanna see wasting?? Huh??” James began to run around the room trashing all of the art supplies. He was so angry. The suppressed rage was slowly defusing. The young boy had reached his breaking point. He grabbed scissors and violently approached the shrink. The fear in her eyes almost overshadowed the argents in her face, trying to act as if the child’s act of pain had no effect on her own heart. She knew what she was asking for when she yelled at him in his most fragile state. James was no longer James. He had transformed into the demons that had plagued his mind throughout the last couple of months. The shrink, who was a few moments ago, the object of his frustration, was now just an innocent caught in an inner feud of a young boy who didn’t know what to make of the recent changes in his life.
The once young confused boy had mentally turned into a misguided teen in a matter of seconds, and he was about to make the biggest mistake of his life. The scissors in his hand was the only thing that stood between him and the woman. The sharp metal point slowly pierced her stomach and cut through her flesh. She tried to scream but the shock from the past five seconds stole her sound. James stared at her as she slowly started to bleed heavier. The shrink was stunned with fright. She couldn’t move. She could only look at him with regret that she couldn’t do more to help. Now that it was her life at stake, her shallow selfishness allowed her to care about his wellbeing. Eyes that were glassy now were dry and dull. James paced around the room before leaving. He walked out of the room without thinking anything of what had happened. James had a new state of mind now. His whole destiny had just taken a new path making sure that he would never be the same.
“What’s up youngin’ you gonna be late for school you betta hurry up,” replied DJ.
“Aight DJ Imma hurry up,” James muttered back.
James lived alone with no one but his mother and sister. His mother had been raising him and his sister for a long time by herself and she was raising her two children with a lot of success.
“Wake up, Jaz, wake up!!” yelled James at his younger sister.
“I’m up stop James I’m up, Imma tell mommy…”
“No you not she ain’t here!”
“Shut up I’m awake.” Jaz was only six but she thought she was grown with enough attitude to kill ya. So James woke up his sister and continued to get ready for school wondering where his mother was. James was used to her not being home all the time but she always saw him before he went to school. James was in the second grade and his sister was in kindergarten.
“DJ where’s my mom?” asked Jaz.
“She ain’t here you midget, just get ready for school so you don’t miss da bus okay,” DJ answered with aggravation he didn’t want to be bothered by Diane’s kids. Diane was out late the night before and she came home and got into an argument with her boyfriend. The argument got heated as Diane’s boyfriend DJ was in a bad mood because he didn’t have any hash.
Well James got him and his sister ready for school and they got outside with just enough time to run for the bus out of there “middle class” housing development, they lived in the projects, the best they’d ever seen anyway. James ran out the door with a paco jeans jump suit and his sister was as cute as could be when they left the house. She was wearing a pair of jeans and shirt with her favorite person all over them. The Barbi clothes and bookbag she had was sporting was a perfect reflection of her young attitude. She was spoiled but just as much as James was.
After a seemingly normal friday in school Jaz and James waited in their bus lines to get on the school bus and go home. Most of the time if their mom wasn’t home to see them off to school she would pick them up from school right off the bus. No one could tell her she couldn’t stop the bus to get her kids off the bus, shit they were her kids. Both Jaz and James knew she was probably going to come get them but strangely she didn’t. As young as the two kids were they thought nothing of her not showing up. James walked his little sister up to the front door of their project building and rung the door bell. No one from their apartment buzzed them in, James buzzed it again. Still no reply, so Jaz and James both rang the bell for one of their friend’s houses. Just as the pair walked into the building the police pulled up and ran into the main hallway right passed the kids. The kids followed behind them slowly as the cops happened to be running down their hall. “James, James! Come here. Jaz,” yelled their Aunty. Their mother’s only sister had come over to them and told them that when they went into the apartment, to run to their rooms and pack their bags because their mom told her to pick them up for the weekend. The kids did exactly as she said.
They didn’t go to her house often, but when they did, they had fun. They were excited. “Aunty, ma mom at ya house?” asked James
“No, she’s not J but you’ll talk to her soon okay?” Aunty didn’t want to lie to him, but she had to. James nodded and said okay. James was a momma’s boy, but not in the “in love with his mom” way, but his mom was his dog. He and his mom had a lot of fun together, playing videogames and play fighting. His sister and his mom always went out together so it was like his mom’s way of making quality time with her son. “I wanna talk to ma mom now!” said Jaz. Her Aunty told her she would talk to her tonight or tomorrow. Aunty didn’t really know when they would talk to their mom. James and Jaz asked about their mom every time they had an unoccupied second.
Early one morning before school James flipped on the TV and his Aunty always told him not to turn on the TV but he did anyway. On the screen, what he saw changed his life for ever, he saw on the screen that his mom was a missing person and that they had a suspect in custody for the possible murder of his mom Diane. The anchorman read, “Next today a missing woman, Diane Fosse, from Maple Shade , New Jersey has today been announced dead after 45 days on the missing person list for our area. Police have a suspect in custody for the murder of New Jersey mother of two, a little boy and girl, ages seven and six now living with their Aunt of Mt. Holly. James wasn’t the only person in his family watching the news at that time in the morning, his aunt was to and she new he was watching it when she came into the living room to drive him to school.
James didn’t go to school that day or any day for the next week neither did his sister. James was so shocked he had no reaction and perhaps everything he had gone through in his life he couldn’t cry because his anger was too large. He sat quiet and spoke a word to no one. Jaz was an innocent little girl and she knew what death was but she didn’t completely understand. She cried and cried in her Aunty’s arms for hours at her shrink’s office. James sat in the same chair everyday for two months, same time everyday, and didn’t speak one word. James didn’t react to anything he didn’t talk for months. He was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, depression, and the shrink thought he was dangerous to himself and everyone around him because at any minute could just explode and do anything even though he was only seven. James sat and colored and painted for almost a year without saying anything. One day his psychiatrist just stopped talking to him and he reacted.
“What the f(BEEP)k is your problem you got tired of pissin’ me off with your b(BEEP)l s(BEEP)t questions huh??”
“NO I am not going to talk to you because you don’t talk to me…You’ve sat in my office for eleven months wasting my paper, paint, pens, markers and all of my pencils and I am tired of it.”
“Well, I’ll tell you what I’m tired of! I’m tired of all the people walking around like they know how I feel! All of the adults telling me that I should talk about how I feel and that everything will be ok! It’s not gonna be!! It never will be!! I hate you and all the other mean people who don’t know my mom and pretend that they care!!! You wanna see wasting?? Huh??” James began to run around the room trashing all of the art supplies. He was so angry. The suppressed rage was slowly defusing. The young boy had reached his breaking point. He grabbed scissors and violently approached the shrink. The fear in her eyes almost overshadowed the argents in her face, trying to act as if the child’s act of pain had no effect on her own heart. She knew what she was asking for when she yelled at him in his most fragile state. James was no longer James. He had transformed into the demons that had plagued his mind throughout the last couple of months. The shrink, who was a few moments ago, the object of his frustration, was now just an innocent caught in an inner feud of a young boy who didn’t know what to make of the recent changes in his life.
The once young confused boy had mentally turned into a misguided teen in a matter of seconds, and he was about to make the biggest mistake of his life. The scissors in his hand was the only thing that stood between him and the woman. The sharp metal point slowly pierced her stomach and cut through her flesh. She tried to scream but the shock from the past five seconds stole her sound. James stared at her as she slowly started to bleed heavier. The shrink was stunned with fright. She couldn’t move. She could only look at him with regret that she couldn’t do more to help. Now that it was her life at stake, her shallow selfishness allowed her to care about his wellbeing. Eyes that were glassy now were dry and dull. James paced around the room before leaving. He walked out of the room without thinking anything of what had happened. James had a new state of mind now. His whole destiny had just taken a new path making sure that he would never be the same.
NASHAI FINAL DRAFT
Lupe
nashai
It was the first day of high school, and Lupe was so ready. “I am so ready”, Lupe thought to himself. High school’s going to be decent,” Lupe kept telling himself constantly. “A fresh start from middle school.” But that was just a thought. And as soon as he started to have a disappointing attitude, as months went by the kids started treating him like an outsider. “Look at the fat weirdo,” Someone would shout and then the whole crowd around him would start to laugh uproariously.
See Lupe wasn’t like most of the kids. He was really fat and he wore these big glasses. You know, like the ones your grandma probably wore back in the day that made her eyes look really small. He was short, but yet he always these khaki high waters that come past his belly button. A polo button up shirt would always be tucked into his khakis and he was kind of weird. He was really quiet. And not a pretty girl in the back of the room quiet, a suspicious quiet. From time to time you would catch him talking to hismself or twitching. It was kind of sad, but instead of helping him out like nice people, the kids teased him like their mean selves. He felt like an outsider and this would be a daily routine for Lupe. Getting picked on and going to class would be-basically apart of his day. But there is so much a person can take.
So one Sunday Lupe was on his step with his friend Norman. And they’re on their chill, laid back and Lupe comes out of nowhere and says, “Yo Norman, you know you like one of my best friends right?” Norman looks at Lupe in a weird balled-up face and hesitantly says, “Yea.”
“So just take care of my mom and sister man, I love’em to death.”
Norman is silent and doesn’t say anything.
“You hear me dawg!”
“Y-Yea , I hear you man, but why you say dat like you going somewhere?”
Lupe gets teary-eyed and just flags his hand at Norman and , “Whatever man, just forget it I’ll holla atchu tomorrow.” And leaves Norman sitting on the step looking stupid.
It’s Monday morning and he wakes up to get ready for school. While he’s walking to his dad’s room, he smiles, and then begins to laugh. Lope thought if you can’t stop them, what else can you do. “They wanna play wit me,” he says, “I got’em.” He goes under his dad’s mattress and pulls out his dad’s shiny, silver pistol. It was small and he could see his self through the clean metal. He looks at the reflection of his self and grins. Lupe walks to school with a huge smirk on his face. “What are you smiling at, you fat weirdo, thinking about food?” “You really wanna see?” Lupe says . “Yea,” the boy says, kind of shocked that Lupe spoke back. Lupe slowly goes in his pants and pulls out the pistol. The boy looks at the gun and starts yelling, “Oh my- And before he could finish his sentence Lupe shoots him. BAM! Before you knew it he starts targeting his victims who made his school year hell. Kweli, BAM! Clifford, BAM! And a lot more others. Know. He was done. There was just one more person-himself. See Lupe knew what he did, and he knew the consequences. So with not even a second though he puts his dad’s pistol to his head, prays to God and apologizes for what he id and BAM!
nashai
It was the first day of high school, and Lupe was so ready. “I am so ready”, Lupe thought to himself. High school’s going to be decent,” Lupe kept telling himself constantly. “A fresh start from middle school.” But that was just a thought. And as soon as he started to have a disappointing attitude, as months went by the kids started treating him like an outsider. “Look at the fat weirdo,” Someone would shout and then the whole crowd around him would start to laugh uproariously.
See Lupe wasn’t like most of the kids. He was really fat and he wore these big glasses. You know, like the ones your grandma probably wore back in the day that made her eyes look really small. He was short, but yet he always these khaki high waters that come past his belly button. A polo button up shirt would always be tucked into his khakis and he was kind of weird. He was really quiet. And not a pretty girl in the back of the room quiet, a suspicious quiet. From time to time you would catch him talking to hismself or twitching. It was kind of sad, but instead of helping him out like nice people, the kids teased him like their mean selves. He felt like an outsider and this would be a daily routine for Lupe. Getting picked on and going to class would be-basically apart of his day. But there is so much a person can take.
So one Sunday Lupe was on his step with his friend Norman. And they’re on their chill, laid back and Lupe comes out of nowhere and says, “Yo Norman, you know you like one of my best friends right?” Norman looks at Lupe in a weird balled-up face and hesitantly says, “Yea.”
“So just take care of my mom and sister man, I love’em to death.”
Norman is silent and doesn’t say anything.
“You hear me dawg!”
“Y-Yea , I hear you man, but why you say dat like you going somewhere?”
Lupe gets teary-eyed and just flags his hand at Norman and , “Whatever man, just forget it I’ll holla atchu tomorrow.” And leaves Norman sitting on the step looking stupid.
It’s Monday morning and he wakes up to get ready for school. While he’s walking to his dad’s room, he smiles, and then begins to laugh. Lope thought if you can’t stop them, what else can you do. “They wanna play wit me,” he says, “I got’em.” He goes under his dad’s mattress and pulls out his dad’s shiny, silver pistol. It was small and he could see his self through the clean metal. He looks at the reflection of his self and grins. Lupe walks to school with a huge smirk on his face. “What are you smiling at, you fat weirdo, thinking about food?” “You really wanna see?” Lupe says . “Yea,” the boy says, kind of shocked that Lupe spoke back. Lupe slowly goes in his pants and pulls out the pistol. The boy looks at the gun and starts yelling, “Oh my- And before he could finish his sentence Lupe shoots him. BAM! Before you knew it he starts targeting his victims who made his school year hell. Kweli, BAM! Clifford, BAM! And a lot more others. Know. He was done. There was just one more person-himself. See Lupe knew what he did, and he knew the consequences. So with not even a second though he puts his dad’s pistol to his head, prays to God and apologizes for what he id and BAM!
Sumayah Jeter 6th period FINAL DRAFT
Sumayah Jeter
November 16, 2007
Creative Writing
Leo 6th period
"It’s Just a Dream"
The trees were swaying back and forth, the winds whispered; the dark night sky was the nightmare of four scared children. It was a cold winter night and the only thing James, Mike, Tonya and Tinichia realized was they are in a dark, spooky, scary big house. Whoever lived here played a trick on them. The doors are locked spooky noises of screams danced around the house. Loud footsteps are arriving closer and closer and closer! Their hearts are racing 3,000 miles per minute.
That evening around 6:00pm, James asked his mother if he can have a sleepover with his friends; Tonya, Mike, and Tinichia. James was your average jock. He played football. He is built like a pitbull. Tinichia was about 5'5, long hair and is very prissy. Tonya is dark skin, with medium length hair and she is very intelligent. She resembles Velma off of Scooby Doo. Mike is about 6'1 he plays basketball and he is cocky. Many of his friends say he looks and plays like Andre Miller from the NBA team, Philadelphia Seventy-Sixer’s. The four friends range between the ages of 14-16. James mother agrees with his idea about the sleepover. She also thinks it might be fun. James calls his friends and they asked their mother's. They said that the can attend the sleepover. Mike arrived around 7:35pm. Then about twenty minutes later Tinichia and Tonya came together. They played almost every board game; Candyland, Sorry, Operation, Trouble, and Perfection. After having all that fun, they grew bored. So they made prank phone calls to houses around the neighborhood. One phone call was to a pizza shop. They ordered four large pizzas, and sixty Buffalo wings, four cheese steaks and two salads. The pizza they ordered was for James’s neighbor. The children hated this lady with a passion. Their relationship was like cat and dog, red and green apples, a balloon and needle. They just don’t mix, at all. When the delivery guy arrived with the food, the lady was leaving out. So he stops her and they began arguing about who's going to pay for the food. The children laughed while looking out the window.
“I want to go down there to mess with old man invisible” said Mike. That is what the friends called him since they never seen him yet and they have been living on that block for about a million years.
“We should. He always messes with us.” James replied.
“Now you know you lying because we don’t know who lives there. You make me sick. You always say stuff that doesn’t make any sense. Shut dummy.” Tonya said.
“You are right we don’t. I’m not any dummy. You can’t call me dumb especially not if your mom inn the same class as me,” said James.
This one house always attracts negative energy. This house was a few houses down the street, from James’s. The four friends always wondered why it looked like that. It was dark, and scary. So they decided to throw rocks at it, to see if anyone would come out to stop them. Tension strikes them like a king cobra, when they step on the sidewalk.
While standing in front of the creepy house, this was only the beginning of a nightmare. While throwing rocks at the door, they noticed suspicious movement and screams. Hearing these voices made them want to go in the house.
When they finally got into the house, everything seemed normal. Well at least up until the doors locked, the windows slammed shut, and then the lights went out. The sound of spooky voices whispered in the night. BAANNNNNGGGGG! CRASH! CRASH! CLICK! CLICK! These sounds began to form a series, one after the other then another. About two minutes later, the lights flicked on and two flashlights fell out of the ceiling. James, saw a note on the left side of the room. This particular note instantly became a trap. But little did they know the house was a maze. The first step they must take to get out was to find a way across the razor sharp, needles that lied on the right and left side of the walls. Theses needles were knives that can be used to cut open a human heart. Noticing these needles the four friend’s hearts began popping out of their chest. The sound of their hearts echoed and did not seize. After passing through the first level, the four friends began to wonder about the difficulty about the next level. When they reached the second level they realized that it wasn’t as bad as the first one. Now that they have reached the third level, they seemed very tired. Then all of sudden it began to get very hot. It was like 900 degrees. Their sweat began to form oceans. Since Tonya had asthma, it was hard for her to breathe so she had to stay behind. James decided to stay with her so she wouldn't be alone.
"Go on without us. We will be okay." Tonya said.
"James and Tonya don't worry we will be back with help." Mike replied.
"Okay. Please hurry. I don't know how much longer she can last." James responded with a weak, soft voice that says that he is in great distress and pain.
Mike and Tinichia finally reached the end of their troubled situation. Then out of nowhere this heavy set man pops out and congratulates them.
"Our friends didn't make it. Can you help them us. Please?” Mike said.
"Sorry but I have no way of doing that!" The man responded.
"So, what does u mean?" Tinichia said.
"You heard me. We are all going to die if we don't.................................." The man voice faded.
"8...7...6...5...4...3...2....." The clock ticks.
BOOOOOOMMMM!!!!! Sounds of glass shattered. Bright red and orange flames rose up into the sky. The smoke is a puffy teddy bear. It puffed up and faded away as it moved father up in the night. Everything went wrong. Something that was only supposed to be a joke came out to be the death of five innocent people.
James is awakened from a loud thump form his dog falling down the steps. It sounded like an earthquake. His clothes, sheets, and bed were covered in sweat. James lied in a queen size pond. What he thought to be realistic was only a dream.
November 16, 2007
Creative Writing
Leo 6th period
"It’s Just a Dream"
The trees were swaying back and forth, the winds whispered; the dark night sky was the nightmare of four scared children. It was a cold winter night and the only thing James, Mike, Tonya and Tinichia realized was they are in a dark, spooky, scary big house. Whoever lived here played a trick on them. The doors are locked spooky noises of screams danced around the house. Loud footsteps are arriving closer and closer and closer! Their hearts are racing 3,000 miles per minute.
That evening around 6:00pm, James asked his mother if he can have a sleepover with his friends; Tonya, Mike, and Tinichia. James was your average jock. He played football. He is built like a pitbull. Tinichia was about 5'5, long hair and is very prissy. Tonya is dark skin, with medium length hair and she is very intelligent. She resembles Velma off of Scooby Doo. Mike is about 6'1 he plays basketball and he is cocky. Many of his friends say he looks and plays like Andre Miller from the NBA team, Philadelphia Seventy-Sixer’s. The four friends range between the ages of 14-16. James mother agrees with his idea about the sleepover. She also thinks it might be fun. James calls his friends and they asked their mother's. They said that the can attend the sleepover. Mike arrived around 7:35pm. Then about twenty minutes later Tinichia and Tonya came together. They played almost every board game; Candyland, Sorry, Operation, Trouble, and Perfection. After having all that fun, they grew bored. So they made prank phone calls to houses around the neighborhood. One phone call was to a pizza shop. They ordered four large pizzas, and sixty Buffalo wings, four cheese steaks and two salads. The pizza they ordered was for James’s neighbor. The children hated this lady with a passion. Their relationship was like cat and dog, red and green apples, a balloon and needle. They just don’t mix, at all. When the delivery guy arrived with the food, the lady was leaving out. So he stops her and they began arguing about who's going to pay for the food. The children laughed while looking out the window.
“I want to go down there to mess with old man invisible” said Mike. That is what the friends called him since they never seen him yet and they have been living on that block for about a million years.
“We should. He always messes with us.” James replied.
“Now you know you lying because we don’t know who lives there. You make me sick. You always say stuff that doesn’t make any sense. Shut dummy.” Tonya said.
“You are right we don’t. I’m not any dummy. You can’t call me dumb especially not if your mom inn the same class as me,” said James.
This one house always attracts negative energy. This house was a few houses down the street, from James’s. The four friends always wondered why it looked like that. It was dark, and scary. So they decided to throw rocks at it, to see if anyone would come out to stop them. Tension strikes them like a king cobra, when they step on the sidewalk.
While standing in front of the creepy house, this was only the beginning of a nightmare. While throwing rocks at the door, they noticed suspicious movement and screams. Hearing these voices made them want to go in the house.
When they finally got into the house, everything seemed normal. Well at least up until the doors locked, the windows slammed shut, and then the lights went out. The sound of spooky voices whispered in the night. BAANNNNNGGGGG! CRASH! CRASH! CLICK! CLICK! These sounds began to form a series, one after the other then another. About two minutes later, the lights flicked on and two flashlights fell out of the ceiling. James, saw a note on the left side of the room. This particular note instantly became a trap. But little did they know the house was a maze. The first step they must take to get out was to find a way across the razor sharp, needles that lied on the right and left side of the walls. Theses needles were knives that can be used to cut open a human heart. Noticing these needles the four friend’s hearts began popping out of their chest. The sound of their hearts echoed and did not seize. After passing through the first level, the four friends began to wonder about the difficulty about the next level. When they reached the second level they realized that it wasn’t as bad as the first one. Now that they have reached the third level, they seemed very tired. Then all of sudden it began to get very hot. It was like 900 degrees. Their sweat began to form oceans. Since Tonya had asthma, it was hard for her to breathe so she had to stay behind. James decided to stay with her so she wouldn't be alone.
"Go on without us. We will be okay." Tonya said.
"James and Tonya don't worry we will be back with help." Mike replied.
"Okay. Please hurry. I don't know how much longer she can last." James responded with a weak, soft voice that says that he is in great distress and pain.
Mike and Tinichia finally reached the end of their troubled situation. Then out of nowhere this heavy set man pops out and congratulates them.
"Our friends didn't make it. Can you help them us. Please?” Mike said.
"Sorry but I have no way of doing that!" The man responded.
"So, what does u mean?" Tinichia said.
"You heard me. We are all going to die if we don't.................................." The man voice faded.
"8...7...6...5...4...3...2....." The clock ticks.
BOOOOOOMMMM!!!!! Sounds of glass shattered. Bright red and orange flames rose up into the sky. The smoke is a puffy teddy bear. It puffed up and faded away as it moved father up in the night. Everything went wrong. Something that was only supposed to be a joke came out to be the death of five innocent people.
James is awakened from a loud thump form his dog falling down the steps. It sounded like an earthquake. His clothes, sheets, and bed were covered in sweat. James lied in a queen size pond. What he thought to be realistic was only a dream.
FRIENDS ARE FOREVER FINAL DRAFT
Chinique Alburg
Creative Writing
2nd Period
“Girl I met this fine old head today.” Keisha said to Tasha, her best friend since she was two. “Girl you a mess, I told you bout messin’ wit these grown ass men.” Tasha was the level-headed one of the two. Tasha was tall, dark skinned with long hair. All of the older guys could not resist Keisha and Tasha, they were very developed at the age of 16 and 17, Tasha being the older one. “I don’t care this one got a decent car wit sum bangin rims, and did I mention dat he’s paid?” replied an ecstatic Keisha. Now Keisha was light skinned, short and thick. “Ok so he got money. Do you honestly think that your gonna be the only one getting sum of dat money and the only one ridin in the passenger side of his oh so fly ride?” retorted a now irritated Tasha. Keisha was her best friend,that's true but the one thing that got on Tasha’s last nerve about her was her addiction to the streets, fast money and older men. “ Grl im not worried bout this man, he jus got money and that’s all that I want.” Keisha hated when Tasha tried to tell her what to do. She felt as though she knew what she was doing.
Now Tasha had her share of older men, but there was one that really opened her eyes to what they really want. His name was Tawain, he was 25 and she was only 14. Tawain was caramel complexion with hazel eyes that made all the young girls fall for whatever he said. At first Tasha was playing hard to get because she saw how Tawain was with all the other girls and although she was too head over heels for him, was not about to let him see that. “Yo’ ma whats your name?” Tawain said in a low baritone voice as he drove in his new X5 BMW.
“Tasha, and what’s yours?” she replied to the sexy caramel brother in the fly ride. “Wain, ma so can I take you out?” “Ion even know you” Tasha said sarcastically.
“You can get to know me?” he replied with a smile so bright and beautiful even Tasha had to smile. “So is that a yes?” he asked “yea I guess” Tasha gave in. “Aight Miss Tasha, Can I get your number so I can call you?” “Naw but I can take yours.” “Dats even better, 267- 459-8757.” “K sexy Ima call you.” Tasha replied and walked off. That was about a year ago. They dated for a short while until Tasha found out that she wasn’t the only one he was trying to take out.
“Girl he got a fly BMW, it’s so decent!” Keisha said to her friend, “he took me out the other night and we went to Red Lobster and he said I could have whatever I wanted, and boy did I get everything.” “What’s his name?” Tasha asked suspiciously. Keisha then got quiet because she knew that she gave herself away and didn’t mean for the conversation to get that far. “Huh?” Keisha was trying to think of how to get out of this mess that she had just created. “You heard me don’t play deaf?” Tasha was now growing angry. Keisha knew that Tasha had messed with him not too long ago and she knew all about what he had done to her. She was supposed to be her best friend; best friends don’t do things like this. “It’s Tawain, but I really didn’t mean to be all in your face with it, you weren’t supposed to find out it was him.” Keisha replied in a low tone. “WHAT!” Tasha was now enraged, “I CANT BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD COME OUT YOUR MOUTH AND SAY SUMTHING LIKE DAT, YOU KNOW WHAT...GET OUT AND DON’T BRING YOUR ASS BACK AROUND MY HOUSE. I DON’T EVEN WANNA SEE YOUR ASS ON THE STREET!” Tasha was furious and hurt. “But Tasha” Tasha cut her right off. “NO I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT KEISHA,” fumed Tasha, “YOU WERE MY GIRL HOW COULD YOU?? MATTER OF FACT I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHY I ASKED YOU THAT, YOU SHIESTY AND SCANDALOUS.” “Tasha I’m sorry.” said Keisha in an almost audible voice.
Tasha was really hurt by what Keisha had done and had vowed to never forgive her no matter how close they had once been. Tasha had saw keisha in passing but she acted as though she did not know that she was there. Keisha tried to reach out to Tasha but the damage was already done. “TASHA, GET DOWN HERE GIRL!” yelled Tasha’s mother Pam. Pam was 34 and Tasha and Keisha sometimes viewed her as just a friend. She still had a petite figure and looked flawless, but could get mean when men got in the way of two friends. “What the hell is going on with you and Keisha?” she said angrily, “I can’t believe you let a man get between the two of you? A man that is too damn old any way?” Pam continued shaking her head at her daughter’s stupidity. “But momma she knew how I felt bout him, how could she do something like this to me?” replied Tasha with tears in her eyes. “It’s life baby and we learn to get over these things, she is your friend and I know that she never meant to hurt you; you know how she gets when she sees a nice car and a little bit of money,” she turned to get a now crying Tasha a tissue, “ this is Keisha that we are talking about.” “I know mom.” Said Tasha “Now I want you to call her right now and apologize to her and just hear her out, after that you are on your own.” “Thanks momma.” Tasha said as she hugged her mother.
Tasha then went to call Keisha, she really didn’t want to but she knew her mom was only helping her and wasn’t going to give her the wrong advice; she never did. “Yea Keish it’s me Tasha.” “Tasha just let me explain, you know that I that I get a little out of control when money and cars are involved,” Keisha said, “at first I didn’t know that was him, he wouldn’t tell me his name but he knew mine; we were at a party and it was dark.” “That’s not what I called you for; momma told me to call you and make amends. I just can’t believe that you would do this to me, but that’s not the point we are better than this and I’m sorry for the way I acted; you my girl for life.” Tasha said as the tears began to roll down her face again. “I promise I will never do it again, it’s over between me and him; I would never hurt you like that again.” Replied, a now too crying, Keisha.
“ I still don’t trust you around men, that’s why you will not meet my new boyfriend until I feel as though you can be trusted.” Tasha said in between sniffles.
“What’s that supposed to mean Tasha.” Said a now angry and offended Keisha. “Jus what I said Keisha, its gonna be a while before you can be trusted again but I know that friends are forever.”
Creative Writing
2nd Period
“Girl I met this fine old head today.” Keisha said to Tasha, her best friend since she was two. “Girl you a mess, I told you bout messin’ wit these grown ass men.” Tasha was the level-headed one of the two. Tasha was tall, dark skinned with long hair. All of the older guys could not resist Keisha and Tasha, they were very developed at the age of 16 and 17, Tasha being the older one. “I don’t care this one got a decent car wit sum bangin rims, and did I mention dat he’s paid?” replied an ecstatic Keisha. Now Keisha was light skinned, short and thick. “Ok so he got money. Do you honestly think that your gonna be the only one getting sum of dat money and the only one ridin in the passenger side of his oh so fly ride?” retorted a now irritated Tasha. Keisha was her best friend,that's true but the one thing that got on Tasha’s last nerve about her was her addiction to the streets, fast money and older men. “ Grl im not worried bout this man, he jus got money and that’s all that I want.” Keisha hated when Tasha tried to tell her what to do. She felt as though she knew what she was doing.
Now Tasha had her share of older men, but there was one that really opened her eyes to what they really want. His name was Tawain, he was 25 and she was only 14. Tawain was caramel complexion with hazel eyes that made all the young girls fall for whatever he said. At first Tasha was playing hard to get because she saw how Tawain was with all the other girls and although she was too head over heels for him, was not about to let him see that. “Yo’ ma whats your name?” Tawain said in a low baritone voice as he drove in his new X5 BMW.
“Tasha, and what’s yours?” she replied to the sexy caramel brother in the fly ride. “Wain, ma so can I take you out?” “Ion even know you” Tasha said sarcastically.
“You can get to know me?” he replied with a smile so bright and beautiful even Tasha had to smile. “So is that a yes?” he asked “yea I guess” Tasha gave in. “Aight Miss Tasha, Can I get your number so I can call you?” “Naw but I can take yours.” “Dats even better, 267- 459-8757.” “K sexy Ima call you.” Tasha replied and walked off. That was about a year ago. They dated for a short while until Tasha found out that she wasn’t the only one he was trying to take out.
“Girl he got a fly BMW, it’s so decent!” Keisha said to her friend, “he took me out the other night and we went to Red Lobster and he said I could have whatever I wanted, and boy did I get everything.” “What’s his name?” Tasha asked suspiciously. Keisha then got quiet because she knew that she gave herself away and didn’t mean for the conversation to get that far. “Huh?” Keisha was trying to think of how to get out of this mess that she had just created. “You heard me don’t play deaf?” Tasha was now growing angry. Keisha knew that Tasha had messed with him not too long ago and she knew all about what he had done to her. She was supposed to be her best friend; best friends don’t do things like this. “It’s Tawain, but I really didn’t mean to be all in your face with it, you weren’t supposed to find out it was him.” Keisha replied in a low tone. “WHAT!” Tasha was now enraged, “I CANT BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD COME OUT YOUR MOUTH AND SAY SUMTHING LIKE DAT, YOU KNOW WHAT...GET OUT AND DON’T BRING YOUR ASS BACK AROUND MY HOUSE. I DON’T EVEN WANNA SEE YOUR ASS ON THE STREET!” Tasha was furious and hurt. “But Tasha” Tasha cut her right off. “NO I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT KEISHA,” fumed Tasha, “YOU WERE MY GIRL HOW COULD YOU?? MATTER OF FACT I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHY I ASKED YOU THAT, YOU SHIESTY AND SCANDALOUS.” “Tasha I’m sorry.” said Keisha in an almost audible voice.
Tasha was really hurt by what Keisha had done and had vowed to never forgive her no matter how close they had once been. Tasha had saw keisha in passing but she acted as though she did not know that she was there. Keisha tried to reach out to Tasha but the damage was already done. “TASHA, GET DOWN HERE GIRL!” yelled Tasha’s mother Pam. Pam was 34 and Tasha and Keisha sometimes viewed her as just a friend. She still had a petite figure and looked flawless, but could get mean when men got in the way of two friends. “What the hell is going on with you and Keisha?” she said angrily, “I can’t believe you let a man get between the two of you? A man that is too damn old any way?” Pam continued shaking her head at her daughter’s stupidity. “But momma she knew how I felt bout him, how could she do something like this to me?” replied Tasha with tears in her eyes. “It’s life baby and we learn to get over these things, she is your friend and I know that she never meant to hurt you; you know how she gets when she sees a nice car and a little bit of money,” she turned to get a now crying Tasha a tissue, “ this is Keisha that we are talking about.” “I know mom.” Said Tasha “Now I want you to call her right now and apologize to her and just hear her out, after that you are on your own.” “Thanks momma.” Tasha said as she hugged her mother.
Tasha then went to call Keisha, she really didn’t want to but she knew her mom was only helping her and wasn’t going to give her the wrong advice; she never did. “Yea Keish it’s me Tasha.” “Tasha just let me explain, you know that I that I get a little out of control when money and cars are involved,” Keisha said, “at first I didn’t know that was him, he wouldn’t tell me his name but he knew mine; we were at a party and it was dark.” “That’s not what I called you for; momma told me to call you and make amends. I just can’t believe that you would do this to me, but that’s not the point we are better than this and I’m sorry for the way I acted; you my girl for life.” Tasha said as the tears began to roll down her face again. “I promise I will never do it again, it’s over between me and him; I would never hurt you like that again.” Replied, a now too crying, Keisha.
“ I still don’t trust you around men, that’s why you will not meet my new boyfriend until I feel as though you can be trusted.” Tasha said in between sniffles.
“What’s that supposed to mean Tasha.” Said a now angry and offended Keisha. “Jus what I said Keisha, its gonna be a while before you can be trusted again but I know that friends are forever.”
Pulled Over By Julius Lewis Final Draft
“Hello.” “Where you at Woody?” “18th and Morris, I’ll be there in about 2 minutes.” “Ok.” Woody hangs up the phone and before he knew it he hears an officer “Pull over to the right,” said the officer over the loud speaker. So woody pulls over. “Can I see your license and proof of insurance?” asked the officer. I don’t have a license but I have a learner’s permit, but I do have my insurance. Woody said. “What your name son?” asked the officer? “Jamal but my friends call me Woody.” “Ok Jamal.” Said the officer. (When the officer said Woody’s real name Woody knew that the officer didn’t want to be his friend.) “Just sit tight and I will be right back with all your information,” said the officer. Woody was a little nervous, he had a gun in the car and he thought the officer was calling for back up or maybe a tow truck to take his car with the gun in it.
Woody had got the craziest thought in his head to drive off and maybe he could get away. First he called his girl and said that he will be there in about 15 minutes because he left something at home. Woody thought that maybe he could lose the cop in traffic then run to his girl house. The cop had got out his car and started to walk back to Woody’s car. As soon as the cop had got near Woody’s back window of his car he drove off. The cop had ran to his car and chased after Woody. Woody must have been going about 85 miles per hour because he was losing the cop in traffic. So the cop called in the license plate and described the car. About 4 minutes later other cop cars started to chase Woody. Woody started to get nervous as he seen the cop cars behind him then other cops was trying to cut him off. Woody was coming up on crossing some train tracks and a train was coming. Woody had got a thought in his head that maybe he could cross the train tracks before the train comes and the cops would be stuck on the other side.
So that’s what he tried to do. He started to go about 100 miles an hour trying to beat the train. Woody beat the train by _ of a second. Woody had looked in the rear view mirror to see if any cops had made it pass and he didn’t see any. Before you knew a cop had came out of nowhere and hit him and flipped his car right over. Woody was ok just bleeding a little. Woody had got up in hand cuffs to see what cop had hit him. He could not believe it was the same cop that had stopped him. The cop searched the car and found the gun. As the cop was putting Woody in the car the cop said, “All I was going to do was give you your information back, and tell you to slow it down and have a nice day.”
Woody had got the craziest thought in his head to drive off and maybe he could get away. First he called his girl and said that he will be there in about 15 minutes because he left something at home. Woody thought that maybe he could lose the cop in traffic then run to his girl house. The cop had got out his car and started to walk back to Woody’s car. As soon as the cop had got near Woody’s back window of his car he drove off. The cop had ran to his car and chased after Woody. Woody must have been going about 85 miles per hour because he was losing the cop in traffic. So the cop called in the license plate and described the car. About 4 minutes later other cop cars started to chase Woody. Woody started to get nervous as he seen the cop cars behind him then other cops was trying to cut him off. Woody was coming up on crossing some train tracks and a train was coming. Woody had got a thought in his head that maybe he could cross the train tracks before the train comes and the cops would be stuck on the other side.
So that’s what he tried to do. He started to go about 100 miles an hour trying to beat the train. Woody beat the train by _ of a second. Woody had looked in the rear view mirror to see if any cops had made it pass and he didn’t see any. Before you knew a cop had came out of nowhere and hit him and flipped his car right over. Woody was ok just bleeding a little. Woody had got up in hand cuffs to see what cop had hit him. He could not believe it was the same cop that had stopped him. The cop searched the car and found the gun. As the cop was putting Woody in the car the cop said, “All I was going to do was give you your information back, and tell you to slow it down and have a nice day.”
Melinda Gibson Per 2 FINAL
Damn...
"Bye!" Niyah says in a harsh tone, hanging up her Sidekick.
"Who was that?" Meenz asks her.
"Ty dumbass, tawkin’ bout some him and his squad bout to come up hurr"
"Why he always finna’ start?"
"I don't know but something finna happen by the end of the night"
"Let's just watch the game" Meenz’ says to the group. The second half of the game had just began, Life's Menaces, home squad, was up by 10. The game was over within the next 45 minutes. Home won by 24 points. Everyone was escorted outside by security; no one could stay in the building, even if they were waiting for someone. As the girls approached the doors to exit they spotted Ty and his boys waiting in the parking lot, as promised.
"Oh my God, this boy needs to stop" says Niyah as they continue on.
"Mom Dukes told you he was crazy" Meenz replied. Niyah and Meenz were twins, but Niyah was older by a couple minutes. They were known for they country accents, dress game, and their hands. When you seen one, you seen the other. Some say they were "locked at the hips". Although they came off as the types that you'd think were loud mouthed they weren't, they kept to themselves and their friends, but when they felt intimidated or disrespected, they were sure to set their competition back in their “places”, whether it be just by talking or if they had to "throw on the gloves".
"Let me go tawk to this boy for a minute see what they finna do" says Niyah.
"Aiight, we gon' wait up here for Buttah to come out" Meenz says back, referring to Day, Cedez', and herself.
"Aiight, I be back then" Niyah said as she walked down the steps and toward Ty. Shortly after Buttah and the rest of the ball squad came out. Buttah was Meenz’s dude; he played point for the team. They’d been together for a while and didn’t plan on parting anytime soon. Far as everyone else was concerned they were married and no one dared trying to break them up. Buttah was one of the team's star players and when in the game he couldn’t be stopped. Recruiters came from all over watching the games. After everyone greeted each other they all headed down to where Niyah, Ty, and the rest were located in the lot. Just as they approached the group Ty let out a loud shout towards someone exiting the building. It was Redz. Redz and Ty were having some problems for about a year now after Redz tried to talk to Niyah, when he and Niyah had broken up for a while. Redz didn’t see exactly what he’d done wrong, besides he and Niyah had talked before and they both established that there were feelings still there. Redz wasn’t into fighting and Ty knew it, so he used that against him every chance he got. What Ty didn’t know was that Redz had “hands” and had previously been sent away for engaging in a fight and almost killing one of his mom’s previous boyfriends. Ty and Redz had been friends before but ever since that day their friendship had become fairly distant, but when things came down to it Ty would fight for Redz any day, and vice versa, he just hadn’t got over the situation yet. Just as everyone was getting in the cars, they heard shouting coming from the other side of the lot. Some dude from the other ball squad was starting with Redz. Without any hesitation Ty hopped out the car and ran towards them, with Buttah following quickly behind. By the time they arrived, the dude had pulled out a shank from the inside of his jacket. Ty ran up on him and snuck him from the back and Buttah followed up, by the time they had stopped there was blood everywhere and he laid coughing blood and groaning in the middle of the street. Ty looked around for Redz and spotted him leaning on his car close by. He instantly ran over to check on him and found that he had been stabbed in his right side and was covered with blood.
“Yo help me!!” Ty screamed to the others. They rushed over and put Redz in the back seat of his car. Niyah sat in the back trying to stop the blood as Ty jumped in the driver’s seat and started the car. Buttah rushed back to Ty’s car where Meenz', Day, and Cedez’ had been waiting, observing what had just taken place and had millions of questions. Ignoring them, Buttah started the car and waited for Ty to pull off so he could trail them. Ty wasted no time getting Redz to the hospital and wouldn’t leave his side. The hospital guards had to intervene in order for Ty to give in and wait in the waiting room. During the wait Ty couldn’t stay still and paced continuously until the doctor who attended to Redz came back out to speak with them. Ty could tell by the doctor’s expression there was bad news ahead.
“I’m sorry” was all the doctor said. Ty stared at him cluelessly.
“Excuse me, what are you trying to say?” Niyah, covered in blood, asked sadly, asking everyone’s question at once.
“Tramaine Hall passed ten minutes ago in surgery.” He replied sympathetically. Ty collapsed in a chair facing toward the window and hung his head toward the shiny hospital floor. He looked around the floor aimlessly as though searching for unspoken answers. He pushed away all attempts of comforting and remained in that semi-unconscious state for the next couple days. The funeral arrangements had been made for that next weekend. Since that day Ty hadn’t spoken too much and often stayed to himself, staring out of the window most of the days. The day of the funeral he tried his best to hold in his tears but by the time the burial was over the pain had become overwhelming and the tears just came flowing out uncontrollably. He remained at the burial site until the graveyard closing and wept over the grave. Before leaving he made a promise.
“I’m going to get him back for this lil’ brotha, I’m going to get him back….”
"Bye!" Niyah says in a harsh tone, hanging up her Sidekick.
"Who was that?" Meenz asks her.
"Ty dumbass, tawkin’ bout some him and his squad bout to come up hurr"
"Why he always finna’ start?"
"I don't know but something finna happen by the end of the night"
"Let's just watch the game" Meenz’ says to the group. The second half of the game had just began, Life's Menaces, home squad, was up by 10. The game was over within the next 45 minutes. Home won by 24 points. Everyone was escorted outside by security; no one could stay in the building, even if they were waiting for someone. As the girls approached the doors to exit they spotted Ty and his boys waiting in the parking lot, as promised.
"Oh my God, this boy needs to stop" says Niyah as they continue on.
"Mom Dukes told you he was crazy" Meenz replied. Niyah and Meenz were twins, but Niyah was older by a couple minutes. They were known for they country accents, dress game, and their hands. When you seen one, you seen the other. Some say they were "locked at the hips". Although they came off as the types that you'd think were loud mouthed they weren't, they kept to themselves and their friends, but when they felt intimidated or disrespected, they were sure to set their competition back in their “places”, whether it be just by talking or if they had to "throw on the gloves".
"Let me go tawk to this boy for a minute see what they finna do" says Niyah.
"Aiight, we gon' wait up here for Buttah to come out" Meenz says back, referring to Day, Cedez', and herself.
"Aiight, I be back then" Niyah said as she walked down the steps and toward Ty. Shortly after Buttah and the rest of the ball squad came out. Buttah was Meenz’s dude; he played point for the team. They’d been together for a while and didn’t plan on parting anytime soon. Far as everyone else was concerned they were married and no one dared trying to break them up. Buttah was one of the team's star players and when in the game he couldn’t be stopped. Recruiters came from all over watching the games. After everyone greeted each other they all headed down to where Niyah, Ty, and the rest were located in the lot. Just as they approached the group Ty let out a loud shout towards someone exiting the building. It was Redz. Redz and Ty were having some problems for about a year now after Redz tried to talk to Niyah, when he and Niyah had broken up for a while. Redz didn’t see exactly what he’d done wrong, besides he and Niyah had talked before and they both established that there were feelings still there. Redz wasn’t into fighting and Ty knew it, so he used that against him every chance he got. What Ty didn’t know was that Redz had “hands” and had previously been sent away for engaging in a fight and almost killing one of his mom’s previous boyfriends. Ty and Redz had been friends before but ever since that day their friendship had become fairly distant, but when things came down to it Ty would fight for Redz any day, and vice versa, he just hadn’t got over the situation yet. Just as everyone was getting in the cars, they heard shouting coming from the other side of the lot. Some dude from the other ball squad was starting with Redz. Without any hesitation Ty hopped out the car and ran towards them, with Buttah following quickly behind. By the time they arrived, the dude had pulled out a shank from the inside of his jacket. Ty ran up on him and snuck him from the back and Buttah followed up, by the time they had stopped there was blood everywhere and he laid coughing blood and groaning in the middle of the street. Ty looked around for Redz and spotted him leaning on his car close by. He instantly ran over to check on him and found that he had been stabbed in his right side and was covered with blood.
“Yo help me!!” Ty screamed to the others. They rushed over and put Redz in the back seat of his car. Niyah sat in the back trying to stop the blood as Ty jumped in the driver’s seat and started the car. Buttah rushed back to Ty’s car where Meenz', Day, and Cedez’ had been waiting, observing what had just taken place and had millions of questions. Ignoring them, Buttah started the car and waited for Ty to pull off so he could trail them. Ty wasted no time getting Redz to the hospital and wouldn’t leave his side. The hospital guards had to intervene in order for Ty to give in and wait in the waiting room. During the wait Ty couldn’t stay still and paced continuously until the doctor who attended to Redz came back out to speak with them. Ty could tell by the doctor’s expression there was bad news ahead.
“I’m sorry” was all the doctor said. Ty stared at him cluelessly.
“Excuse me, what are you trying to say?” Niyah, covered in blood, asked sadly, asking everyone’s question at once.
“Tramaine Hall passed ten minutes ago in surgery.” He replied sympathetically. Ty collapsed in a chair facing toward the window and hung his head toward the shiny hospital floor. He looked around the floor aimlessly as though searching for unspoken answers. He pushed away all attempts of comforting and remained in that semi-unconscious state for the next couple days. The funeral arrangements had been made for that next weekend. Since that day Ty hadn’t spoken too much and often stayed to himself, staring out of the window most of the days. The day of the funeral he tried his best to hold in his tears but by the time the burial was over the pain had become overwhelming and the tears just came flowing out uncontrollably. He remained at the burial site until the graveyard closing and wept over the grave. Before leaving he made a promise.
“I’m going to get him back for this lil’ brotha, I’m going to get him back….”
Murder at DuPoint High (Final Draft)
Anabel Genao
Period 2
“You’re all staying after school again today!” Mr. Thompson shouted to his remedial English class. He was never taken seriously because of his old age. A plump seventy-five year old man with a comb over as his permanent hairstyle and Bill Cosby inspired sweaters wasn’t exactly a person the students could look up to. A number of them rolled their eyes and Mr. Thompson waved around his yardstick causing the flab of skin hanging from his arm to swing. Yolanda, a Hispanic girl with bright red hair and a fiery attitude, let the disgust show on her face and loudly made throw up noises to the rest of the class’s entertainment.
As Mr. Thompson raised his yardstick the sound of the bell for dismissal began ringing. Mr. Thompson placed himself in front of the door preventing any students from exiting. He cracked the door open with a vicious smile on his face and let out five students leaving four remaining, including Yolanda. Pedro, Yolanda’s twin brother, made a dive for the door but Mr. Thompson slammed it shut and turned on them with a victorious smile. “You all didn’t actually think I’d let my best students leave with out serving their detentions, did you?” He leaned in towards them with an innocent expression and the smell of his breath made Pedro step back towards Yolanda and the other two. Yolanda fanned the air trying to get the smell away. Mr. Thompson’s innocent smile turned into a vicious one in the blink of an eye and he let out a brunt remark, “Good, because you’re all staying here until five thirty!” Mr. Thompson let out an evil laugh more similar to that of Woody Woodpecker. The students started to scream their protests until Mr. Thompson’s laugh got louder and louder…
Jude stopped painting and looked up at Jayden. “Did you hear that?” She let her prop lay against the side of the stage and stood all the way up to look around the big empty auditorium. She looked at Jayden. They had stayed behind after the rest of the drama club to finish painting props. She and Jayden had been going out for a year and spent practically all of their time together. She hadn’t really wanted to stay but Jayden acted like it was no big deal so she stayed.
Jayden continued painting and shrugged. “It’s probably just Mr. Thompson’s class. He has someone staying for detention every day.” Jude nodded her head in agreement and propped down to finish painting her prop. She just couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen….
Yolanda tapped her pen loudly on her desk while Pedro wildly looked around for a way to escape near the windows. Hakim, the other boy in the class, didn’t say much of anything. He sat with his hands in his book bag probably texting somebody, he did that mostly everyday. He had caramel colored skin and long hair that was styled in braids, and he always wore designer clothes but never spoke much. He always scored the highest on everything so no one could understand why he was in remedial English.
Loren, the other girl, was pretty loud herself, much like Yolanda, but she and Yolanda hated each other. They could never get along and she was spending much of the detention just staring at her. Loren was a skinny Caucasian girl with a bad fake tan, hair extensions for her blonde hair, and fake designer clothes. Everything on her was either fake or plastic. She envied Yolanda for getting more attention from boys and she hated that Pedro would never go out with her. She sucked her teeth at Yolanda who was tapping her pen loudly.
Mr. Thompson looked up and then down in his coffee cup. He stood up from his chair slowly and looked out at the practically empty classroom. “I need to go get some more coffee.” He shook his cup towards them as he spoke and tilted his head to the side with squinted eyes. He had a very accusatory look on his face at them. “I could send one of you but I don’t trust any of you. Liars and cheats, that’s what you all are,” Pedro continued glancing for an exit while Yolanda sighed very heavily over Mr. Thompson’s last word.
“Hakim ain’t do nothing wrong. You can send him,” said Loren with a smug sound in her voice. Hakim looked up at the sound of his name. Loren sat one desk in front of him and she turned around placing her arm on the desk in back of her. She slid it down so her fingers were touching Hakim’s desk. “Or we could just go together.” She had a hint of lust in her voice and for the first time Hakim showed emotion. He gave her a disgusted look and quickly moved a desk back. Yolanda bust out laughing.
Mr. Thompson let out an amused laugh. “Ms. Spears, keep your hormones in check please. None of you failures are going to go get my coffee. I’m going myself.” Pedro looked up with a smile. It would be the perfect opportunity to escape. Mr. Thompson looked right in his direction. “I’m locking the door behind me so none of you will be able to leave. So don’t even try out.” He walked to the door laughing evilly and quickly slammed it behind him. Pedro ran to try and put something in the door to prevent it from locking all the way, but it was too late. Mr. Thompson had already locked it…
Jude packed up her paint. “Jayden, I’m all done painting mine. I want to go. A practically empty school is freaking me out.” She crossed her arms and shivered from the slight breeze she felt.
Jayden was kneeling on one knee working on his prop, he looked up at her. “Don’t be a nut. You act like I won’t protect you if anything happens.” He had a point there; she wasn’t exactly scared when she was with him. He was captain of the basketball team and a pretty tall fit guy. It was funny for her to see him painting a prop now. It wasn’t his thing but she didn’t want to join drama club alone.
“Yeah, I guess you…” Jude stopped speaking from a loud shout and shriek she heard. She looked at Jayden with horror in her eyes. He dropped his paint brush and looked at her in shock…
Pedro and Hakim had run to the door after hearing the noise. Something was happening to Mr. Thompson and there was no way out of the room. Yolanda was trying to work the windows while Loren yelled at the boys to work faster. Hakim and Pedro were kicking and slamming against the door trying to break it down. Pedro slammed into the door when he heard one last shriek and a loud thud. They all stopped moving and looked at each other in fear. Loren ran to the door and started banging on it. “MR. THOMPSON?!! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!” Pedro grabbed her away from the door and covered her mouth.
“You idiot, there could be a psycho murderer out there! We got to get out of here!” Yolanda had exclaimed she could barely move from fear. She felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
Loren laid on the ground and peered under the bottom crack of the door. She jumped up screaming wildly. Pedro ran towards her again. “What is it now?!” He shook her slightly to try and calm her down.
“It….It’s Mr. Thompson!!! HE’S DEAD!! I saw….his….his…his dead eye looking at me!!!” She let out another deafening shriek and Pedro let go of her slowly. They were all terrified now. There was a murderer outside the door and they were locked in. Worst part was Mr. Thompson had the only key to the room. It was only minutes before the murderer could come in and finish them all off.
They heard an eerie extremely loud screeching noise and noticed it was coming from the door. It sounded as if the point of a knife was being scratched against it. Loren let out a small shriek and ran to the back of the classroom; she hid under a small desk. Pedro ran to Yolanda and they desperately started trying to open one of the rusted windows. Hakim walked to Mr. Thompson’s desk and ripped off the machete type cutter off the paper cutter. He stood a few feet from the door with his weapon in hand. Loren was letting out desperately loud shrieks now as the noise got louder…louder…and…The noise suddenly stopped and they heard loud footsteps coming from outside the room…
Jayden held tightly onto Jude’s hand as they walked down the hall towards Mr. Thompson’s classroom. When they heard the noises they ran to find a way out but all the doors had been chained and they didn’t know what to do. They were terrified and they knew they had to find Mr. Thompson to help. They made it closer and noticed someone lying there in a pool of blood. Jude let out a scream and Jayden ran to see if Mr. Thompson was alive. It was too late. He was brutally stabbed. Jude covered her mouth and eyes. Jayden looked around in shock.
They jumped at the sound of banging from inside the classroom. “Help! We’re locked in, get us out of here!” Jayden knew it was Loren who was yelling. “Mr. Thompson has the key! It’s in his pocket, get it and let us out!” Jayden searched Mr. Thompson’s pockets and found the key. He quickly unlocked the classroom. Loren came busting out and jumped on Jayden right over Mr. Thompson’s body. Jude hugged Yolanda and glared at Loren…
An hour had passed and they were still searching for a way out but they all felt safer that they were a larger group now. “I think we should split up,” said Loren confidently.
Pedro spoke up first, “Nah, of course you think that! You’re white and white people always be the last ones living in horror movies! If we split up you and Jude live and we all die.” Hakim and Yolanda laughed. Loren sucked her teeth. It had been over an hour and they couldn’t find a way out and all of the phones were dead. They weren’t even scared anymore because they found no murderer. They continued walking on until they found a door with what looked like a weak chain.
Hakim, Jayden, and Pedro were working on the chains of door. “I need to go the bathroom!” Loren crossed her legs and did a little dance she thought was cute. Yolanda rolled her eyes.
“Well, you going by yourself,” said Yolanda slightly annoyed. Jude was trying to get cell phone reception unsuccessfully. Loren shrugged and hurried down the hallway.
About fifteen minutes later Hakim had managed to get the door open. They all started screaming in joy until they heard much louder screaming coming from all the way at the end of the hallway; it was the sound of Loren. Yolanda continued to run out of the school. “If she’s dead it’s her own fault! Ain’t nobody make her go to the bathroom. I’m getting out of here!” Pedro looked at Yolanda and then at the rest of the group. Jayden and Hakim were already running towards the bathroom. He ran in after them. Yolanda let out an annoyed sigh and stayed near the doors to wait for Pedro. Jude stayed near Yolanda terrified.
Hakim ran into the bathroom first and found Loren stabbed, much like Mr. Thompson, in one of the stalls. Her hand was slightly in the toilet and her head rested against it. Jayden covered his mouth from the scene in horror and ran back out to the girls. Hakim was staring blankly at Loren’s body. Pedro pulled on his arm and yanked him out. They all ran back to the girls and ran as much as their life depended on it…
The school janitor made his way out of the stall next to Loren’s, whistling. He picked up her cell phone out of the toilet and looked down at the text she never got to send:
“Hakim, I’ve had enough fun for one night. You can be the big hero and unlock the door. We need to get out of here. I ain’t paying Janitor Joe his money for killing Mr. Thompson. He…”
He stashed the phone in his pocket and walked out of the bathroom still whistling.
Period 2
“You’re all staying after school again today!” Mr. Thompson shouted to his remedial English class. He was never taken seriously because of his old age. A plump seventy-five year old man with a comb over as his permanent hairstyle and Bill Cosby inspired sweaters wasn’t exactly a person the students could look up to. A number of them rolled their eyes and Mr. Thompson waved around his yardstick causing the flab of skin hanging from his arm to swing. Yolanda, a Hispanic girl with bright red hair and a fiery attitude, let the disgust show on her face and loudly made throw up noises to the rest of the class’s entertainment.
As Mr. Thompson raised his yardstick the sound of the bell for dismissal began ringing. Mr. Thompson placed himself in front of the door preventing any students from exiting. He cracked the door open with a vicious smile on his face and let out five students leaving four remaining, including Yolanda. Pedro, Yolanda’s twin brother, made a dive for the door but Mr. Thompson slammed it shut and turned on them with a victorious smile. “You all didn’t actually think I’d let my best students leave with out serving their detentions, did you?” He leaned in towards them with an innocent expression and the smell of his breath made Pedro step back towards Yolanda and the other two. Yolanda fanned the air trying to get the smell away. Mr. Thompson’s innocent smile turned into a vicious one in the blink of an eye and he let out a brunt remark, “Good, because you’re all staying here until five thirty!” Mr. Thompson let out an evil laugh more similar to that of Woody Woodpecker. The students started to scream their protests until Mr. Thompson’s laugh got louder and louder…
Jude stopped painting and looked up at Jayden. “Did you hear that?” She let her prop lay against the side of the stage and stood all the way up to look around the big empty auditorium. She looked at Jayden. They had stayed behind after the rest of the drama club to finish painting props. She and Jayden had been going out for a year and spent practically all of their time together. She hadn’t really wanted to stay but Jayden acted like it was no big deal so she stayed.
Jayden continued painting and shrugged. “It’s probably just Mr. Thompson’s class. He has someone staying for detention every day.” Jude nodded her head in agreement and propped down to finish painting her prop. She just couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen….
Yolanda tapped her pen loudly on her desk while Pedro wildly looked around for a way to escape near the windows. Hakim, the other boy in the class, didn’t say much of anything. He sat with his hands in his book bag probably texting somebody, he did that mostly everyday. He had caramel colored skin and long hair that was styled in braids, and he always wore designer clothes but never spoke much. He always scored the highest on everything so no one could understand why he was in remedial English.
Loren, the other girl, was pretty loud herself, much like Yolanda, but she and Yolanda hated each other. They could never get along and she was spending much of the detention just staring at her. Loren was a skinny Caucasian girl with a bad fake tan, hair extensions for her blonde hair, and fake designer clothes. Everything on her was either fake or plastic. She envied Yolanda for getting more attention from boys and she hated that Pedro would never go out with her. She sucked her teeth at Yolanda who was tapping her pen loudly.
Mr. Thompson looked up and then down in his coffee cup. He stood up from his chair slowly and looked out at the practically empty classroom. “I need to go get some more coffee.” He shook his cup towards them as he spoke and tilted his head to the side with squinted eyes. He had a very accusatory look on his face at them. “I could send one of you but I don’t trust any of you. Liars and cheats, that’s what you all are,” Pedro continued glancing for an exit while Yolanda sighed very heavily over Mr. Thompson’s last word.
“Hakim ain’t do nothing wrong. You can send him,” said Loren with a smug sound in her voice. Hakim looked up at the sound of his name. Loren sat one desk in front of him and she turned around placing her arm on the desk in back of her. She slid it down so her fingers were touching Hakim’s desk. “Or we could just go together.” She had a hint of lust in her voice and for the first time Hakim showed emotion. He gave her a disgusted look and quickly moved a desk back. Yolanda bust out laughing.
Mr. Thompson let out an amused laugh. “Ms. Spears, keep your hormones in check please. None of you failures are going to go get my coffee. I’m going myself.” Pedro looked up with a smile. It would be the perfect opportunity to escape. Mr. Thompson looked right in his direction. “I’m locking the door behind me so none of you will be able to leave. So don’t even try out.” He walked to the door laughing evilly and quickly slammed it behind him. Pedro ran to try and put something in the door to prevent it from locking all the way, but it was too late. Mr. Thompson had already locked it…
Jude packed up her paint. “Jayden, I’m all done painting mine. I want to go. A practically empty school is freaking me out.” She crossed her arms and shivered from the slight breeze she felt.
Jayden was kneeling on one knee working on his prop, he looked up at her. “Don’t be a nut. You act like I won’t protect you if anything happens.” He had a point there; she wasn’t exactly scared when she was with him. He was captain of the basketball team and a pretty tall fit guy. It was funny for her to see him painting a prop now. It wasn’t his thing but she didn’t want to join drama club alone.
“Yeah, I guess you…” Jude stopped speaking from a loud shout and shriek she heard. She looked at Jayden with horror in her eyes. He dropped his paint brush and looked at her in shock…
Pedro and Hakim had run to the door after hearing the noise. Something was happening to Mr. Thompson and there was no way out of the room. Yolanda was trying to work the windows while Loren yelled at the boys to work faster. Hakim and Pedro were kicking and slamming against the door trying to break it down. Pedro slammed into the door when he heard one last shriek and a loud thud. They all stopped moving and looked at each other in fear. Loren ran to the door and started banging on it. “MR. THOMPSON?!! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!” Pedro grabbed her away from the door and covered her mouth.
“You idiot, there could be a psycho murderer out there! We got to get out of here!” Yolanda had exclaimed she could barely move from fear. She felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
Loren laid on the ground and peered under the bottom crack of the door. She jumped up screaming wildly. Pedro ran towards her again. “What is it now?!” He shook her slightly to try and calm her down.
“It….It’s Mr. Thompson!!! HE’S DEAD!! I saw….his….his…his dead eye looking at me!!!” She let out another deafening shriek and Pedro let go of her slowly. They were all terrified now. There was a murderer outside the door and they were locked in. Worst part was Mr. Thompson had the only key to the room. It was only minutes before the murderer could come in and finish them all off.
They heard an eerie extremely loud screeching noise and noticed it was coming from the door. It sounded as if the point of a knife was being scratched against it. Loren let out a small shriek and ran to the back of the classroom; she hid under a small desk. Pedro ran to Yolanda and they desperately started trying to open one of the rusted windows. Hakim walked to Mr. Thompson’s desk and ripped off the machete type cutter off the paper cutter. He stood a few feet from the door with his weapon in hand. Loren was letting out desperately loud shrieks now as the noise got louder…louder…and…The noise suddenly stopped and they heard loud footsteps coming from outside the room…
Jayden held tightly onto Jude’s hand as they walked down the hall towards Mr. Thompson’s classroom. When they heard the noises they ran to find a way out but all the doors had been chained and they didn’t know what to do. They were terrified and they knew they had to find Mr. Thompson to help. They made it closer and noticed someone lying there in a pool of blood. Jude let out a scream and Jayden ran to see if Mr. Thompson was alive. It was too late. He was brutally stabbed. Jude covered her mouth and eyes. Jayden looked around in shock.
They jumped at the sound of banging from inside the classroom. “Help! We’re locked in, get us out of here!” Jayden knew it was Loren who was yelling. “Mr. Thompson has the key! It’s in his pocket, get it and let us out!” Jayden searched Mr. Thompson’s pockets and found the key. He quickly unlocked the classroom. Loren came busting out and jumped on Jayden right over Mr. Thompson’s body. Jude hugged Yolanda and glared at Loren…
An hour had passed and they were still searching for a way out but they all felt safer that they were a larger group now. “I think we should split up,” said Loren confidently.
Pedro spoke up first, “Nah, of course you think that! You’re white and white people always be the last ones living in horror movies! If we split up you and Jude live and we all die.” Hakim and Yolanda laughed. Loren sucked her teeth. It had been over an hour and they couldn’t find a way out and all of the phones were dead. They weren’t even scared anymore because they found no murderer. They continued walking on until they found a door with what looked like a weak chain.
Hakim, Jayden, and Pedro were working on the chains of door. “I need to go the bathroom!” Loren crossed her legs and did a little dance she thought was cute. Yolanda rolled her eyes.
“Well, you going by yourself,” said Yolanda slightly annoyed. Jude was trying to get cell phone reception unsuccessfully. Loren shrugged and hurried down the hallway.
About fifteen minutes later Hakim had managed to get the door open. They all started screaming in joy until they heard much louder screaming coming from all the way at the end of the hallway; it was the sound of Loren. Yolanda continued to run out of the school. “If she’s dead it’s her own fault! Ain’t nobody make her go to the bathroom. I’m getting out of here!” Pedro looked at Yolanda and then at the rest of the group. Jayden and Hakim were already running towards the bathroom. He ran in after them. Yolanda let out an annoyed sigh and stayed near the doors to wait for Pedro. Jude stayed near Yolanda terrified.
Hakim ran into the bathroom first and found Loren stabbed, much like Mr. Thompson, in one of the stalls. Her hand was slightly in the toilet and her head rested against it. Jayden covered his mouth from the scene in horror and ran back out to the girls. Hakim was staring blankly at Loren’s body. Pedro pulled on his arm and yanked him out. They all ran back to the girls and ran as much as their life depended on it…
The school janitor made his way out of the stall next to Loren’s, whistling. He picked up her cell phone out of the toilet and looked down at the text she never got to send:
“Hakim, I’ve had enough fun for one night. You can be the big hero and unlock the door. We need to get out of here. I ain’t paying Janitor Joe his money for killing Mr. Thompson. He…”
He stashed the phone in his pocket and walked out of the bathroom still whistling.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Maribel Moreno 6th period final draft
The Notes
“Hi, what are you doing are you asleep yet Athena?” I Athena. “No Menel, I’m not sleeping yet, why, did you want anything? No it’s just that I’m really nervous for tomorrow’s event, The fact that Axel is going to be there, and watching me perform I just wish that I didn’t get this much nervous, because its not really helping me at all. “What do you think about it, Athena?” But Athena did not answer me, she had fallen asleep. In that night I could not sleep and so many thoughts came to my mind, and even my conductor’s face show in my dream. Then around 3 in the morning I finally fell asleep.
In the morning my sister, Athena, was taking to my mom about me having trouble sleeping that night. “Why do you think she’s acting this way?” My mom asked worriedly. When I heard that I wanted the floor to just open up and to eat me, I know my sister was going to tell my mom not just that I was nervous because of the fact that I was going to be performing in front of a lot of people, but also because Axel was going to be there, My mom was going to find out that I like Axel. When Athena was about to tell my mom the reason why I was so nervous the door bell rang. It was my friend Armand. I was so happy when I saw him, because that meant that it was time for us to go to school. I pulled my sister and ran out the house. “What’s going on, Menel. Is everything okay?” asked Armand. I told him what was going on. I mean after all he already knew that I had a big crush for Axel, the “FOOTBALL PLAYER.” And well almost everyone in school new about it! But back to my topic, I told Armand what my sister was about to say to my mom. “Are you serious?” Armand with his mouth looking like he was about to drop it exclaim. I said, “Yes I’m serious!”
We got to school I felt better, but I felt even better when I got inside the music room and stared to warm up. I love playing my clarinet; it always helps me feel so calm. Also that same day I had to meet with all the band kids, “The all city band”. Every time that I knew that I had to meet them and do rehearsals with the entire band, I got so excited. We took the school bus to get to Meham Middle school, where we all got together to show what we could do best! But to my surprise when we were all seated they gave us another piece of music.” Why are these people giving us another piece of music when the concert is in two weeks and we are only going to meet one more time as a whole? “I asked the girl next to me with a big surprise. “ I don’t know but this piece looks very hard and especially if we have to memorize it!” said the girl. I got really worried about it. What I didn’t realize was that I was the only one with that paper at the time. So my teacher said that I was going to be the only one playing that piece in the clarinet section, and that’s how my problem began!
I thought I was able to do it, so I accepted. I did my best to learn it but it was just too hard! So when I practice I got use to playing but looking at the notes. So when I went back for rehearsals the next week, the conductor asked me if I could play the piece of music. “Yes”, I said, but I thought I could just look at the notes while playing it. Of curse that was not going to work for her, so she asked if I could get of stage. I was so sad because I thought she was going to kick me of the show. But all she said to me was that I was going to pretend like I was playing the actual instrument. Because after all I did know the music, just not by hard!
So finally the big day came and, I wasn’t nervous any more and I did what I had to do. I was really happy about it. And Axel brought me flowers! I felt very confident while doing it and when the show ended everyone clapped with satisfaction. To my surprise I saw Axel with a whole bunch of flowers!” They’re probable for someone prettier than me. “I thought. He walked past me and grabbed my waist and said. “They’re for you beautiful.” I felt my cheeks blush so hard! What I am sure of is that my nightmare turned into the best day of my life!
“Hi, what are you doing are you asleep yet Athena?” I Athena. “No Menel, I’m not sleeping yet, why, did you want anything? No it’s just that I’m really nervous for tomorrow’s event, The fact that Axel is going to be there, and watching me perform I just wish that I didn’t get this much nervous, because its not really helping me at all. “What do you think about it, Athena?” But Athena did not answer me, she had fallen asleep. In that night I could not sleep and so many thoughts came to my mind, and even my conductor’s face show in my dream. Then around 3 in the morning I finally fell asleep.
In the morning my sister, Athena, was taking to my mom about me having trouble sleeping that night. “Why do you think she’s acting this way?” My mom asked worriedly. When I heard that I wanted the floor to just open up and to eat me, I know my sister was going to tell my mom not just that I was nervous because of the fact that I was going to be performing in front of a lot of people, but also because Axel was going to be there, My mom was going to find out that I like Axel. When Athena was about to tell my mom the reason why I was so nervous the door bell rang. It was my friend Armand. I was so happy when I saw him, because that meant that it was time for us to go to school. I pulled my sister and ran out the house. “What’s going on, Menel. Is everything okay?” asked Armand. I told him what was going on. I mean after all he already knew that I had a big crush for Axel, the “FOOTBALL PLAYER.” And well almost everyone in school new about it! But back to my topic, I told Armand what my sister was about to say to my mom. “Are you serious?” Armand with his mouth looking like he was about to drop it exclaim. I said, “Yes I’m serious!”
We got to school I felt better, but I felt even better when I got inside the music room and stared to warm up. I love playing my clarinet; it always helps me feel so calm. Also that same day I had to meet with all the band kids, “The all city band”. Every time that I knew that I had to meet them and do rehearsals with the entire band, I got so excited. We took the school bus to get to Meham Middle school, where we all got together to show what we could do best! But to my surprise when we were all seated they gave us another piece of music.” Why are these people giving us another piece of music when the concert is in two weeks and we are only going to meet one more time as a whole? “I asked the girl next to me with a big surprise. “ I don’t know but this piece looks very hard and especially if we have to memorize it!” said the girl. I got really worried about it. What I didn’t realize was that I was the only one with that paper at the time. So my teacher said that I was going to be the only one playing that piece in the clarinet section, and that’s how my problem began!
I thought I was able to do it, so I accepted. I did my best to learn it but it was just too hard! So when I practice I got use to playing but looking at the notes. So when I went back for rehearsals the next week, the conductor asked me if I could play the piece of music. “Yes”, I said, but I thought I could just look at the notes while playing it. Of curse that was not going to work for her, so she asked if I could get of stage. I was so sad because I thought she was going to kick me of the show. But all she said to me was that I was going to pretend like I was playing the actual instrument. Because after all I did know the music, just not by hard!
So finally the big day came and, I wasn’t nervous any more and I did what I had to do. I was really happy about it. And Axel brought me flowers! I felt very confident while doing it and when the show ended everyone clapped with satisfaction. To my surprise I saw Axel with a whole bunch of flowers!” They’re probable for someone prettier than me. “I thought. He walked past me and grabbed my waist and said. “They’re for you beautiful.” I felt my cheeks blush so hard! What I am sure of is that my nightmare turned into the best day of my life!
Jose Ruiz BMX Final Draft
A couple years back, in my old neighborhood, there were two boys, Anthony and Jojo. They were the closest friends I have seen in my life. They knew each other like the back of their hands. They were always with each other and they were both interested in the same things. Their friendship was great, and nothing could destroy that, well that’s what people thought.
Jojo was a little taller than Anthony and always gave him advice as if he was his little brother. He was a good student and always worked hard for what he wanted. Anthony was the bad one of the two and still got what ever he asked for. He was a bad student that cared more about being funny than doing what he had to do to pass in class. Outside of school he is cool depending on who he is with. The way he acts is determined by the people he is with at the moment.
Well, it all started when Jojo spotted a BMX rider on his bike. The bike was black with chrome wheels and a small seat that was lowered all the way down so it can stay out of his way while he was doing tricks. The man was in his young and was pretty good at BMX. After watching the guy pass by doing some tricks it made Jojo think about BMX. When Jojo saw the bike he said to Anthony, “I’m gonna get myself one of those bikes” but Anthony did not believe him because for one of those BMX bikes it cost around $500 or more.
After that day Jojo began saving up what ever change or money he got, but about a week later Anthony’s cousin gave him a BMX bike. As soon as he got his bike he went straight to Jojo’s house to show off his new bike. Anthony started saying how cool his bike was and how Jojo would never get a bike like his. After Jojo saw Anthony’s new bike he was jealous so he felt like he had to hurry and get a BMX bike for himself. So that same day, he found someone that was selling a Haro for cheap, and he went home and gathered the little money he had saved up and went and bought it. Jojo got his knew bike so he wasn’t as jealous anymore even though his bike wasn’t as nice.
After Anthony and Jojo got their bikes, they were riding everyday non stop. One day Jojo asked Anthony, “Why did we want these bikes so bad if we don’t know how to do any tricks”? Anthony thought about it and then he said “Well let’s learn some tricks!” Well they started trying BMX tricks every day. They started practicing their bunny hops by hopping on curbs and other little things. They practiced everyday and Anthony was always hopping curbs and other things while Jojo couldn’t really get off the ground. He would always get jealous and get mad because Anthony was always rubbing it in his face and was always saying “You suck and you’ll never be as good as me”. Jojo got upset but that didn’t stop him from practicing every day.
Like one time When Anthony and Jojo were riding they found some cones so they decided to set them up so they could jump over them. Jojo went first and he didn’t even get his back wheel off the ground which made him fall off the bike. Anthony was watching the whole time but he didn’t bother to help him up or ask him if he was alright all he did was point and laugh in his face called him names like loser and screw up. Jojo didn’t take too bad because Anthony would always laugh and call him bad names whenever he fell or didn’t do something right.
Jojo began practicing all the time, even when he wasn’t with Anthony. He would drive around on his bike to different places looking for things like benches and steps he could use to do tricks. The more he practiced the better he got until the next time he saw Anthony. Then Anthony saw a change in his riding. Anthony then felt threatened because he wasn’t better anymore, he was equal. They both could do the same things just as good as one another. Jojo kept practicing whenever he could.
He then was not afraid to do much instead of letting fear get to him; he would always say to himself “What’s the worst that can happen?” He would grind ledges and rails without even thinking and if he fell he would get up and try it again. On the other hand, Anthony was afraid to do everything, even the smallest ledges. That is what made Jojo better because in BMX you can’t be afraid to take a fall and Anthony was always afraid and this stopped him from trying everything Jojo tried. Anthony always said “I know I’m not ready for that yet” and he would always do the same old things they would at the same old places since when they first started riding BMX. Even though Anthony knew Jojo was now better than him, he still tried to tell everybody, including himself that he was better than Jojo.
No matter what new trick Jojo did in front of Anthony he still wouldn’t admit that he wasn’t as good as Jojo until one day when Jojo spotted this one flight of steps in Penns Landing. It was the perfect set up. It was wide and was clear from anything that could mess him up. He was afraid at first but he knew that spot was the perfect place to pull off a tail whip 360 over the steps. So he sat and thought about it for a while and Anthony said “just come on you know you can’t do it, whats the point of standing here looking at steps you’re not gonna do anything on?” like he would always say. So Jojo thought for a couple more seconds then he finally did it. A tail whip 360 over 12 steps and landed perfectly on his bike. As soon as he landed the first thing he did was look at Anthony’s face and waited to see what he was going to say but Anthony didn’t say a word. After Jojo pulled that trick it didn’t matter to him if Anthony admit he wasn’t as good or not because Jojo proved that he was better.
After that Anthony and Jojo stop being friends because Jojo finally realized how horrible of a friend he was. Even though Jojo didn’t have anybody to ride with he loved the sport and so he kept riding. He eventually went pro and became a great pro BMX rider. After every event and at every interview when they asked him for any advice he would always say “Never let anyone tell you, you can’t do something” and walk away humbly.
Jojo was a little taller than Anthony and always gave him advice as if he was his little brother. He was a good student and always worked hard for what he wanted. Anthony was the bad one of the two and still got what ever he asked for. He was a bad student that cared more about being funny than doing what he had to do to pass in class. Outside of school he is cool depending on who he is with. The way he acts is determined by the people he is with at the moment.
Well, it all started when Jojo spotted a BMX rider on his bike. The bike was black with chrome wheels and a small seat that was lowered all the way down so it can stay out of his way while he was doing tricks. The man was in his young and was pretty good at BMX. After watching the guy pass by doing some tricks it made Jojo think about BMX. When Jojo saw the bike he said to Anthony, “I’m gonna get myself one of those bikes” but Anthony did not believe him because for one of those BMX bikes it cost around $500 or more.
After that day Jojo began saving up what ever change or money he got, but about a week later Anthony’s cousin gave him a BMX bike. As soon as he got his bike he went straight to Jojo’s house to show off his new bike. Anthony started saying how cool his bike was and how Jojo would never get a bike like his. After Jojo saw Anthony’s new bike he was jealous so he felt like he had to hurry and get a BMX bike for himself. So that same day, he found someone that was selling a Haro for cheap, and he went home and gathered the little money he had saved up and went and bought it. Jojo got his knew bike so he wasn’t as jealous anymore even though his bike wasn’t as nice.
After Anthony and Jojo got their bikes, they were riding everyday non stop. One day Jojo asked Anthony, “Why did we want these bikes so bad if we don’t know how to do any tricks”? Anthony thought about it and then he said “Well let’s learn some tricks!” Well they started trying BMX tricks every day. They started practicing their bunny hops by hopping on curbs and other little things. They practiced everyday and Anthony was always hopping curbs and other things while Jojo couldn’t really get off the ground. He would always get jealous and get mad because Anthony was always rubbing it in his face and was always saying “You suck and you’ll never be as good as me”. Jojo got upset but that didn’t stop him from practicing every day.
Like one time When Anthony and Jojo were riding they found some cones so they decided to set them up so they could jump over them. Jojo went first and he didn’t even get his back wheel off the ground which made him fall off the bike. Anthony was watching the whole time but he didn’t bother to help him up or ask him if he was alright all he did was point and laugh in his face called him names like loser and screw up. Jojo didn’t take too bad because Anthony would always laugh and call him bad names whenever he fell or didn’t do something right.
Jojo began practicing all the time, even when he wasn’t with Anthony. He would drive around on his bike to different places looking for things like benches and steps he could use to do tricks. The more he practiced the better he got until the next time he saw Anthony. Then Anthony saw a change in his riding. Anthony then felt threatened because he wasn’t better anymore, he was equal. They both could do the same things just as good as one another. Jojo kept practicing whenever he could.
He then was not afraid to do much instead of letting fear get to him; he would always say to himself “What’s the worst that can happen?” He would grind ledges and rails without even thinking and if he fell he would get up and try it again. On the other hand, Anthony was afraid to do everything, even the smallest ledges. That is what made Jojo better because in BMX you can’t be afraid to take a fall and Anthony was always afraid and this stopped him from trying everything Jojo tried. Anthony always said “I know I’m not ready for that yet” and he would always do the same old things they would at the same old places since when they first started riding BMX. Even though Anthony knew Jojo was now better than him, he still tried to tell everybody, including himself that he was better than Jojo.
No matter what new trick Jojo did in front of Anthony he still wouldn’t admit that he wasn’t as good as Jojo until one day when Jojo spotted this one flight of steps in Penns Landing. It was the perfect set up. It was wide and was clear from anything that could mess him up. He was afraid at first but he knew that spot was the perfect place to pull off a tail whip 360 over the steps. So he sat and thought about it for a while and Anthony said “just come on you know you can’t do it, whats the point of standing here looking at steps you’re not gonna do anything on?” like he would always say. So Jojo thought for a couple more seconds then he finally did it. A tail whip 360 over 12 steps and landed perfectly on his bike. As soon as he landed the first thing he did was look at Anthony’s face and waited to see what he was going to say but Anthony didn’t say a word. After Jojo pulled that trick it didn’t matter to him if Anthony admit he wasn’t as good or not because Jojo proved that he was better.
After that Anthony and Jojo stop being friends because Jojo finally realized how horrible of a friend he was. Even though Jojo didn’t have anybody to ride with he loved the sport and so he kept riding. He eventually went pro and became a great pro BMX rider. After every event and at every interview when they asked him for any advice he would always say “Never let anyone tell you, you can’t do something” and walk away humbly.
APARTMENT CRiSiS [(FiNiAl DRAFT)]- Jasmone` Townes[(2ndPeriod)]
In the city of Philadelphia, there lived a young woman named Maria. Maria is 20 years old and gave birth to her daughter Hailey at the age of 18. When Maria discovered she was pregnant the summer after she graduated high school, her mother disowned her, kicked Maria out of the house, and left Maria to live on her own. She moved in with her boyfriend, Michael, for a while so she could get a job and save money for her own place. When Maria turned 19 years old, she had a 6 month year old baby girl and moved in her new apartment.
Maria couldn’t be any happier. She lived on her own and was working while taking care of her baby girl. But one day, the happiness came to a holt. One weekend, Maria was on her way taking Hailey to Michael’s house. Michael was Hailey’s father, so the normal routine was to watch her every weekend while Maria worked. On her way to the house, Maria had a bad feeling about something, but couldn’t figure out what it was. As she arrived at the house, she lifted Hailey in her arms and walked inside. To her surprise, she found Michael cheating on her with another woman. As Maria ran over towards the bed, the girl, half dressed, leaped to her feet and ran for the door. As Maria tried to follow her, Michael grabbed her by the arm. “Maria! What are you doing here?” he said. “What do you mean Michael?! What? Did you forget again about Hailey?” sitting the baby down. “No, but I--” “Whatever yo! All I want to know is who was that whore that just ran out of your bed? You’re my boyfriend Michael. Matter of fact, your more than that, your my baby’s father! How could you do something like this to me?” He tried to explain herself but it was no use. Maria was hysterical and she didn’t know what to do next. “Michael I hate you! I never want to see you again! Yeah you can come see your daughter, but it’s no more US! You destroyed everything we had. I hope your happy.” She grabbed Hailey and quickly ran out of the house, hoping to never return there again. Maria was devastated. She thought things couldn’t get any worse.
One night, when Maria and Hailey was sound asleep in their apartment, Maria was awakened by an alarm. Maria thought it was the sound of the alarm clock waking her up in the morning for work, so she slammed her hand on the snooze button and fell back to sleep. About 10 minutes later, Maria awakened by the banging of someone at her door. As she slowly got out of bed, she smelled a sent of burning wood coming from the hallway. When she walked closer to the door, she heard someone yelling her name, telling her to come quick. As Maria open the door, she was greeted by a fog of smoke and a terrified neighbor from across the hall. “Maria! What took you so long? The building’s on fire! Grab Hailey and get out of here now!” she said. Maria couldn’t believe it. She immediately ran into her room and grabbed her sleeping daughter. She turned around, grabbed her phone, her money, a blanket out of the crib, and dashed out into the hallway.
As Maria continued down the hall, she saw nothing but smoke at the stairwell. She took the blanket and covered Hailey’s face, took a deep breath, and ran quickly down the steps. Maria only lived on the second floor so it was a pretty easy escape. When Maria got to the lobby, she saw people from the other side of the building also running to get out. The smoke looked even blacker on that side of the building than her side. She ran outside and across the street where others where standing around looking up at the building. Fire trucks swarmed around the corner and in front of the building. They were yelling for people to move down the block and out dangerous areas. Maria sat on the steps with Hailey wrapped up in the blanket and waited for an answer. They sat and watched the firemen put out the fire. The fire spread and destroyed the entire apartment. Everything Maria had was gone.
The police and ambulance came to tend to people who were hurt and had nowhere to go. They escorted everyone to the Red Cross close by so people could rest there until they found a place to stay. As they arrived, everyone was told to go inside two rooms and settle down for the night. It was hectic. Everyone was bunched together like a pack of animals. When it came time to sleep, they had cotts for everyone. Maria didn’t like this at all. There were people lying side by side, and some more than one on each cott. Maria was fed up with all the madness and didn’t want her and Hailey around it. She took Hailey and her things and headed to the front desk. Maria walked up to the receptionist and told her she wanted to leave. She explained to her that no one was to leave until they found somewhere to go. Maria had 3 people in her mind; her mother, her best friend, and her cheating boyfriend. She told the lady she had a place to stay, took her belongings and left. Even if she wasn’t too sure about where to stay that night, she knew she didn’t want to stay at the Red Cross any longer.
Walking out of the Red Cross, Maria picked up her phone and called her mother. She wasn’t sure if her mother was still mad at her from getting pregnant and having a baby about 2 years ago, but it was worth a try. She explained to her mother about everything that happened on that horrible night. “Oh, so you think you can come to me when you have no one else, huh? What about your boyfriend?” she said, “You were so quick so go to his house when you got pregnant. You thought you were grown then. Well, now you are grown, Maria. I don’t have anything to do with you and your troubles. Go run to his house like you did last time.” Click. She spoke her harsh words and hung up the phone with out taking a breath. Maria sat on the cold, cement steps outside the Red Cross and cried her eyes out with Hailey in her arms. Out of all people she thought her mother would be there for her. She had to come up with Plan B. She thought of calling her best friend, Marla, but then she remembered the controlling boyfriend she had. Maria never liked him. They always used to argue about how he treated Marla. Marla of course would be on his side and Maria would be the losing defendant. Maria called her, but her boyfriend answered the phone and they got into an argument about Maria staying for a while. Marla insisted to her boyfriend to give Maria some money for a motel, but her boyfriend refused. Maria knew she had no hope.
Last but not least, Maria gave in and called Michael. She intended on never speaking to him again but she had no other choice. Without hesitation, he told her that he was on his way to pick her up from the Red Cross and to stay there. As she waited on the dark corner with her baby, two older guys came up to Maria trying to get her purse. With Hailey in her hands, Maria pulled and pulled on her purse but didn’t want to risk her life and especially her daughters. She fell to the ground, while the thieves ran off with all she had. When Michael pulled up in the car, Maria ran to the car hysterical. She told Michael what happened and he was furious. He wanted to go look for the guys who attacked her but Maria insisted not to. She had already gone through enough for the night and she just wanted to sleep. When they arrived home, Maria put Hailey to bed and fell asleep next to her without a word.
The next morning, Michael gave Maria money to go get things she needed from the store. Walking to the store, Maria thought about everything that happened that night. She was just glad to be alive. While Maria was standing in line, she found a lottery ticket at her feet. She picked it up wondering who it belonged to but it was no one in sight. As she was walking back to the house, Maria took a penny and scratched off the plays. To her surprise, the ticket read, “$1,000,000 WINNER!” Maria stopped in her tracks. She couldn’t believe after all that happened she won 1,000,000 dollars. She quickly ran home and told Michael the news. As she explained to him what happened, he couldn’t believe his ears. He was happy that everything was finally turning around for her.
Later on that day, Michael took Maria to cash her prize. He insisted Maria not give him any money for the help he gave her, but Maria couldn’t refuse. Despite him cheating on her, after all, he was Hailey’s father and he has done so much for them unlike everyone else. Michael did everything in his power to get back with Maria again, but she couldn’t forget what he has done to her. She appreciated all his help but didn’t want to put herself in the situation of getting hurt again. Although they never got back together, Maria and Michael remained good friends. He helped her get a new apartment and stayed by her side the entire time. Maria helped her best friend Marla get out of her controlling relationship, and never spoke to her mother again. From then on, Maria appreciated life more than she ever did and was thankful for what she had. She and her daughter survived that fire and that was more than she could ever ask for.
Maria couldn’t be any happier. She lived on her own and was working while taking care of her baby girl. But one day, the happiness came to a holt. One weekend, Maria was on her way taking Hailey to Michael’s house. Michael was Hailey’s father, so the normal routine was to watch her every weekend while Maria worked. On her way to the house, Maria had a bad feeling about something, but couldn’t figure out what it was. As she arrived at the house, she lifted Hailey in her arms and walked inside. To her surprise, she found Michael cheating on her with another woman. As Maria ran over towards the bed, the girl, half dressed, leaped to her feet and ran for the door. As Maria tried to follow her, Michael grabbed her by the arm. “Maria! What are you doing here?” he said. “What do you mean Michael?! What? Did you forget again about Hailey?” sitting the baby down. “No, but I--” “Whatever yo! All I want to know is who was that whore that just ran out of your bed? You’re my boyfriend Michael. Matter of fact, your more than that, your my baby’s father! How could you do something like this to me?” He tried to explain herself but it was no use. Maria was hysterical and she didn’t know what to do next. “Michael I hate you! I never want to see you again! Yeah you can come see your daughter, but it’s no more US! You destroyed everything we had. I hope your happy.” She grabbed Hailey and quickly ran out of the house, hoping to never return there again. Maria was devastated. She thought things couldn’t get any worse.
One night, when Maria and Hailey was sound asleep in their apartment, Maria was awakened by an alarm. Maria thought it was the sound of the alarm clock waking her up in the morning for work, so she slammed her hand on the snooze button and fell back to sleep. About 10 minutes later, Maria awakened by the banging of someone at her door. As she slowly got out of bed, she smelled a sent of burning wood coming from the hallway. When she walked closer to the door, she heard someone yelling her name, telling her to come quick. As Maria open the door, she was greeted by a fog of smoke and a terrified neighbor from across the hall. “Maria! What took you so long? The building’s on fire! Grab Hailey and get out of here now!” she said. Maria couldn’t believe it. She immediately ran into her room and grabbed her sleeping daughter. She turned around, grabbed her phone, her money, a blanket out of the crib, and dashed out into the hallway.
As Maria continued down the hall, she saw nothing but smoke at the stairwell. She took the blanket and covered Hailey’s face, took a deep breath, and ran quickly down the steps. Maria only lived on the second floor so it was a pretty easy escape. When Maria got to the lobby, she saw people from the other side of the building also running to get out. The smoke looked even blacker on that side of the building than her side. She ran outside and across the street where others where standing around looking up at the building. Fire trucks swarmed around the corner and in front of the building. They were yelling for people to move down the block and out dangerous areas. Maria sat on the steps with Hailey wrapped up in the blanket and waited for an answer. They sat and watched the firemen put out the fire. The fire spread and destroyed the entire apartment. Everything Maria had was gone.
The police and ambulance came to tend to people who were hurt and had nowhere to go. They escorted everyone to the Red Cross close by so people could rest there until they found a place to stay. As they arrived, everyone was told to go inside two rooms and settle down for the night. It was hectic. Everyone was bunched together like a pack of animals. When it came time to sleep, they had cotts for everyone. Maria didn’t like this at all. There were people lying side by side, and some more than one on each cott. Maria was fed up with all the madness and didn’t want her and Hailey around it. She took Hailey and her things and headed to the front desk. Maria walked up to the receptionist and told her she wanted to leave. She explained to her that no one was to leave until they found somewhere to go. Maria had 3 people in her mind; her mother, her best friend, and her cheating boyfriend. She told the lady she had a place to stay, took her belongings and left. Even if she wasn’t too sure about where to stay that night, she knew she didn’t want to stay at the Red Cross any longer.
Walking out of the Red Cross, Maria picked up her phone and called her mother. She wasn’t sure if her mother was still mad at her from getting pregnant and having a baby about 2 years ago, but it was worth a try. She explained to her mother about everything that happened on that horrible night. “Oh, so you think you can come to me when you have no one else, huh? What about your boyfriend?” she said, “You were so quick so go to his house when you got pregnant. You thought you were grown then. Well, now you are grown, Maria. I don’t have anything to do with you and your troubles. Go run to his house like you did last time.” Click. She spoke her harsh words and hung up the phone with out taking a breath. Maria sat on the cold, cement steps outside the Red Cross and cried her eyes out with Hailey in her arms. Out of all people she thought her mother would be there for her. She had to come up with Plan B. She thought of calling her best friend, Marla, but then she remembered the controlling boyfriend she had. Maria never liked him. They always used to argue about how he treated Marla. Marla of course would be on his side and Maria would be the losing defendant. Maria called her, but her boyfriend answered the phone and they got into an argument about Maria staying for a while. Marla insisted to her boyfriend to give Maria some money for a motel, but her boyfriend refused. Maria knew she had no hope.
Last but not least, Maria gave in and called Michael. She intended on never speaking to him again but she had no other choice. Without hesitation, he told her that he was on his way to pick her up from the Red Cross and to stay there. As she waited on the dark corner with her baby, two older guys came up to Maria trying to get her purse. With Hailey in her hands, Maria pulled and pulled on her purse but didn’t want to risk her life and especially her daughters. She fell to the ground, while the thieves ran off with all she had. When Michael pulled up in the car, Maria ran to the car hysterical. She told Michael what happened and he was furious. He wanted to go look for the guys who attacked her but Maria insisted not to. She had already gone through enough for the night and she just wanted to sleep. When they arrived home, Maria put Hailey to bed and fell asleep next to her without a word.
The next morning, Michael gave Maria money to go get things she needed from the store. Walking to the store, Maria thought about everything that happened that night. She was just glad to be alive. While Maria was standing in line, she found a lottery ticket at her feet. She picked it up wondering who it belonged to but it was no one in sight. As she was walking back to the house, Maria took a penny and scratched off the plays. To her surprise, the ticket read, “$1,000,000 WINNER!” Maria stopped in her tracks. She couldn’t believe after all that happened she won 1,000,000 dollars. She quickly ran home and told Michael the news. As she explained to him what happened, he couldn’t believe his ears. He was happy that everything was finally turning around for her.
Later on that day, Michael took Maria to cash her prize. He insisted Maria not give him any money for the help he gave her, but Maria couldn’t refuse. Despite him cheating on her, after all, he was Hailey’s father and he has done so much for them unlike everyone else. Michael did everything in his power to get back with Maria again, but she couldn’t forget what he has done to her. She appreciated all his help but didn’t want to put herself in the situation of getting hurt again. Although they never got back together, Maria and Michael remained good friends. He helped her get a new apartment and stayed by her side the entire time. Maria helped her best friend Marla get out of her controlling relationship, and never spoke to her mother again. From then on, Maria appreciated life more than she ever did and was thankful for what she had. She and her daughter survived that fire and that was more than she could ever ask for.
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