Ho Ho Ho

 My eyes peek open, looking around in my black-blanketed room. Suddenly realizing the time, I know that Santa should be here any second. Without rustling my covers too much, I kick one leg out, and then another, off of my bed. If Santa is out there, anywhere, I have to find him; at least catch a glimpse of him. My feet pidder-padder through my room, and as silently as a mouse, I peer outside of my door. If there is a "Santa Claus" he's got to be here, he just as to! I creep of my room, suddenly overwhelmed with excitement. The wooden floor sinks up and down, releasing wails as I walk on the balls of my feet down my dimly lit hallway, careful not to wake anyone up.

I walk past the window that is facing out toward our backyard, but soon turn back to look at it again. As loud as the outside world is, the mute of the snowfall at midnight is eerily perfect. My rest my palms and the tip of my nose ever so gently on the ice-chilled glass of my window. Everything outside is perfect--too perfect. The sound of cars passing by is distant in my ears as my eyes are hypnotized by the snow flakes whimsically falling into place on top of each other. The conglomeration of snow that covers everything outside looks almost unreal. The silence of the outside wonderland isn't interrupted by anything--not my siblings complaining, not the T.V rambling on...nothing. 

I shake out of my trans when I see something cut through the clouds. I blink twice to make sure I'm not dreaming at what I'm seeing--a red light flickering through the frigid midnight air. Following shortly behind the light is, undoubtedly, the figure of 8 reindeer. My eyes light up almost as bright as my Christmas tree in the other room. Santa Clause has to be behind the reindeer! Santa has to be! But he's not there. I watch for a good minute, waiting for a jolly man with a red coat in a sleigh, but nothing. My eyes droop, and my heart sinks down into my stomach, as I turn away and head back to my bed. 

As I turn away, through the sound of the cars rushing by, through the mute of snowfall at midnight, through the wailing of the wooden floor, I hear the faint sound of a jolly man with a red coat, singing the tune of "Ho Ho Ho!" I don't turn around to look what the noise was. I simply look down at the floor, and smile a petite smile, because I know.

Yellow Star's Starry Day

Author's Note:

Yellow Star, written in diary form, explains the feelings and emotions of the main character, Syvia. The book takes place during the Holocaust, and through the book, she tells her diary her daily life, in full detail, of what it's like to live in hiding, misery, pain, and hunger. The ending of the book leaves off when, extraordinarily, someone comes and saves her and all of her family from the ghetto. The last few pages explain her being carried away by a strange man with her whole family following. My short story is going to explain what happened, or what I predict happened, after the book ended and the family left the ghetto.

---

Mother and Father look unnaturally happy. I wonder what's going on, maybe they're going to celebrate my birthday for the first time in years! I am now 11 years old, it's been one year since we left the ghetto. Mother sits me down and calls Dora and Father to the table, also. It's so great to be back at our old dinner table. Our dining room. Our house. Every day, I am grateful that we left the ghetto. Looking at our dining room makes me smile; I never thought I'd be sitting here with my family, one year later.

Father and Mother exchange looks that make me suspicious. She turns to me and Dora and, with her beautiful smile, shines down at us.

"We have news for you two young ladies," my mother squeaks.

Dora and me look at each other, not sure what to say or think about what Mother just told us.

Father chimes in, making things more at ease.

"You're going to like the news," he adds, "me and your mother can't wait."

"Do you remember baby Isaac? And your aunt Julia?"

My face flushes, and I flash back for a moment, remembering Isaac and me sitting in the cellar, starving and on the verge of hypothermia. Knowing what this is leading to, I stand up.

"YES! What about them? I haven't seen them in such a long time. Nearly a year."

Mother closes her eyes and smiles more genuinely than I have seen her smile in a long time.

"They are on their way here right now. They're going to visit for a week and a weekend. But Isaac is going to have to sleep in your bed, Syvia. No arguing while they're here. Got it, you two?"

Me and Dora start screaming, running around our house, getting ready to see our long lost relatives. I don't even mind Isaac taking my bed, I can't wait to see both of them. Dora fixes my hair, and I fix hers. I rush up to my room, and shove everything back into it's place, making my floor look clean. Not wanting to look like a slob, I put on my favorite dress, the one aunt Julia sewed me before we were separated. She'll be delighted to see that I still have it.

Dora and I meet eyes immediately when we hear a knock on the door. THAT'S HER! ISAAC! JULIA! Squealing with excitement, our whole family meets, and gathers in front of the door. We're all sweating, waiting to see what's become of them. The door knob turns... The door creaks, and opens ever so slowly. Soon enough, the door is wide open.

My eyes meet his, and then hers. Their luggage bags are nearly as big as both of them. Before we know it, my eyes are flooded with tears, as well as everyone else's around me. My arms wrap tightly around baby Isaac, who now, apparently isn't such a baby anymore. Julia looks at me and rubs my hair gently, just like she used to, as I grip her leg with all my force. Mother and Father are hugging everyone, Dora, me, Isaac, Julia, and each other. I missed them so much, seeing them again and knowing they're safe makes me cry even harder. I'm never letting them go. I'm never letting this family go again.

---

After the book ended, Syvia talked briefly about wanting to see if any of her other family members had gotten out, the way her and her family did. I skipped through time a year, to show that they have moved on from their life in the ghetto. Also, in the beginning of the book, Syvia talked about how all of her relatives moved away to places that weren't impacted in the Holocaust. I wanted to incorporate her family into the story because she talked about their family very frequently and it seemed to be a big part of their lives.

From Yellow Star, my prediction is similar to the ending to Go Ask Alice. In the ending of the book, the unnamed character finally gets to meet her family after a long while of being away from them. The same scenario happened in Yellow Star, when in my prediction, Syvia and her family meets their family again after a long time of being apart from each other. Also, both of the characters from both of the books are meeting their family again after being at a place that wasn't a healthy or normal place to be.

Karma and the Hook

Cody smiles darkly down at the gold hook. The excitement bubbles from his stomach up his throat as he heats the kettle where he's going to melt the hook. Sitting an angst and wait, his mild spins in circles as he thinks about all of the things that he can buy--he nearly foams at the mouth at the thought of the endless treasures that will soon be in his belongings. The kettle screeches, giving the signal that it's warm enough to melt the gold. Cody excitedly stands up, and makes his way over to the kettle. Abruptly, the rug that was underneath his feet slips under him, sliding everything on top of it over, including the hook and Cody. In a split second the room was filled with happiness, and eagerness, and now all that's left is a dead body and a hook covered in blood. Cody's cadaver lay motionless as the hook's point sticks dead center into his heart.

Later on, Cody's body was found, and the hook was taken by another greedy being and melted down, without a rug in the room. Karma got the best of Cody, and he got what he deserved.

Land of the Free?

Dear Leaders and Founders of our blessed country,

First off, I would like to thank you for the burdon and tremendous stress you put yourself through to produce our countries first set of ‘rules’. You, brave men, took your opinions and ideas and literally wrote them out to declare our independence from Britain.  Additionally, you emphasised topics that you thought and predicted would be valuable in the future, such as religion, fairness and wellness. How you have impacted the course of history is beyond me, or anyone else. Although what you have done for history is remarkable, our modern society's values have altered what you have set as standards for America.

First, it would astonish you the way our children and teenagers act in this era. In your day and age, young people were taught the real value of a dollar. They were taught how to work, how to live, and furthermore, how to grow up to be successful. Now, children would rather skip school than get an actual education in a land with endless freedoms, the wonderful united States of America. School children take for granted just about everything these days -- the shelter they have over their head, the food that they are privileged to eat, and even their own mothers and fathers.

As a result, we not only have created apathetic teenagers, but the adults of our generation are just as selfish and self centered.. Now, I’m not talking about everyone.  Many grown men and women are successful in their careers and families. But many adults are the exact opposite-- undetermined, and selfish. Back in your generation, everyone worked their fair share to support themselves and their families.  They also had a better understanding of a hard days work.  Nowadays, because of their selfishness, people feel entitled to everything and everyone.

Finally, our society as a whole has become twisted into something completely bitter, arrogant and ignorant. Most everyone tends to be hurtful towards each other, and do little out of the kindness of their heart, unlike the men and women of your generation.  You seemed to live with the idea of “do onto others as you would want them to do to you.” Unfortunately, people today tend to be unkind to each other and sometimes downright rotten. In your day, people treated each other with respect, kindness and compassion. If only things were the same nowadays.

In all honesty, I am glad that you are not alive today to witness the country you helped found. Our country has somehow lost its way. Although you started us off in the right direction, things have drastically changed in many ways  that may disappoint you. Don’t get me wrong, America is still the land of the free and the home of the brave, but the society that makes up this ‘land’ is anything but brave. But on the other hand, things have happened through the course of history that have astonished many. Maybe if we re-read the print you have left us, we can pick up where you brave men have left us off at.

The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven

In the book that I'm reading, The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven, there are several small causes and effects that are going on through out the book, but there is one main one that is near to impossible to miss. In the book, main character Alex  Malarky's life is changed in an instant when his father and him run through a red light and head straight for a crash that sending one of their lives nearly down the drain. Alex's father lives, remarkably with little scratches and a mere concussion, but what happens after the whole incident is even more unexplained.

The main cause of the book is the horrific accident, and the effect is the coma that Alex goes into, the depression both of his parents find, and the journey little Alex goes through. Although the car crash ruined many things, without it, nothing would of ever happened to the story, and there would of been no point of reading it. This cause and effect is an example of a person versus person, and although the other person was not hurt in the slightest bit, it effected the story greatly. 

Retelling of Yellow Star

If you are into a diary or autobiography set in the times of the depressing holocaust, this book is for you! Main character Syvia tells her story in classic child language as her daily struggles and hardships will surely take you along for the same ride as her. Although the book is very dreary and blood stained, it gives it’s readers a valuable lesson and will give them a feeling of being in the same time person as young Syvia.

Breaking Dawn's Breaking Points

Breaking Dawn is a thrilling love story between the mortal Bella Swan and vampire Edward Cullen. After falling desperately in love with each other in the small town of Forks, and settling down for a very nontraditional wedding, things seem to take a toll for the unexpected while on their luxury honeymoon when Bella abruptly finds out that she is pregnant. While giving birth, Bella's life is taken, and transformed into an immortal like her husband and step families. Throughout the book, however, there is an ongoing conflict between Edward's family to protect Bella from the Volturi. While there is a person vs. person conflict between the main characters, there is also a person vs. person conflict between the less important people, like Bella's friend, Jacob, and Edward's whole side of the family. Both of them are fighting for Bella, which causes stress between both families constantly throughout the book.

The resolution to the book is near the end, when the Volturi finally leaves the Cullen family alone after Bella becomes immortal. After she is converted into a vampire, the Volturi feel absolutely no need to bother their family anymore. As for Jacob, near the end, he faces reality when Edward and Bella get married and he can't be part of Bella's life anymore. As sad as it is, the resolution leaves Jacob in a very dark place. Throughout the whole book, stress is abundant, but it dies down in the end, showing who the strong and the weak characters are.

My First Kiss Went a Little Like This..

Your first relationship is something that is special to everyone – first hug, first love, first boyfriend or girlfriend. Young relationships, including mine, ended up badly, but me and him shared something that no one else can ever experience with me – my first kiss. I have to admit, I was hoping for something a little bit more dramatic, maybe involving a glass slipper and a ball gown. But this is reality, and I will have to face the fact that I’m happy I had it when I did and that it wasn’t a bad memory, but a beautiful one.

He was gorgeous...and exactly my type. I sat down -- awkward and inelegantly -- across from him. We were at the park, and it was an exceptionally beautiful May day...a great day for a first kiss, I must state. As we made nonchalant small talk about various topics, he took my hand into his large, manly one, and smiled his perfect smile at me...I was disregarded by his utter beauty to even bother with how stupid my dropped jaw and googly eyes probably looked. I sheepishly studied the features on his face. Baby blue eyes as clear as the ocean, adorable nose, perfectly soft lips...You better kiss me. I know I don’t deserve you at all, but just kiss me already. At the time, I was desperate for my first kiss. It wasn’t a feeling that I wanted, I basically needed to know what it felt like right then and there.

Realizing I’ve been staring at him for roughly 30 seconds, I shook out of my trans. As I came into reality again, he suddenly began to lean in. Are you kidding me? Is this really happening? Is he going to kiss me? HE BETTER KISS ME. Do I close my eyes? What if my lips are chapped? Should I lean in? And all in the split second, before I even had time to think, his perfect lips brushed against mine sweetly and absolutely, and all of my worries, all of my fears, all of my presumptions were suddenly gone. It was breathtaking, really. I was in complete disbelief. Out of words and unable to fully comprehend exactly what just happened, I simply smiled an unconditionally genuine smile at him. I couldn’t believe that I just had my first kiss. And he’s not running from me in terror! Success, I hope...

Looking back on that blissful May day which I remember as if it were just yesterday, I am happy that I had my first kiss when I did. I wouldn’t trade those few priceless moments for anything in the world. More than anything, I am grateful that I don’t regret my decision to kiss him. Plus, I’m also grateful that he didn’t run away, gagging and spewing vomit from his mouth when he pulled away from me..

Go Ask Alice

Surrounded by her own self-loath, the main character of Go Ask Alice, describes her life in ways that connect to people universally. From the beginning -- which she describes herself and bubbly, easy going, and fun, to the end where every day is a struggle to find a feed to her drug addiction.  Seeing the way things change from the first to the last page sends people for a whiplash and makes the reader feel as though they are just as high as she is. The ending is brutal, really, ending with a sad suicide of the main character.

This thrilling novel can be considered a person to person text, because she struggles with herself to find true happiness, and she competes with herself to find a way out of drugs, prostitution and self harm. The main character isn't looking to please anyone but herself. Personally, I believe that she didn't care about herself at the end of the book, and she didn't care what she looked like or how she acted -- which is another whiplash. The end of the book throws everything off thought, when it appears she is back onto the right track, and then she tragically kills herself. I don't know what's more confusing -- the fact that she started going down the right path, or how she abruptly stopped. 

Typical Life of a Teenager

Another lengthy, humdrum day of being a middle schooler. The second you arrive to school, the second you walk through those front doors, the second people lay their beady little eyes on you, you’re automatically being judged. While you’re in middle school you will be evaluated on things like your clothes, your hair and your makeup . Every day is like a day in the jungle- there are tigers and poisonous snakes and you’re just the little old sloth that no one pays attention to unless you’re either perfect or dying.

Here in middle school, there are groups of people who are judged and labeled for hanging out with each other. There are: the populars, the jocks (which are all gorgeous, I must say), the geeks, the losers, the cheerleaders, the loners, and the no-bodies. If you’re not popular, rich or flawless, you’re a no-body. As sad as it may sound, people who are in one clique are basically forbidden to talk to another unless it’s a dire situation. Once you find your  group of friends that you want to hang out with, you are stuck with them- there’s no moving to different friends.

First and second period are always the worse; no one seems to remember that they had homework.  Girls here are more concerned about flirting with boys or making sure their makeup looks perfect rather than doing their homework. Boys here are typical boys-annoying, obnoxious and clueless about the world around them.  When third fourth and fifth period come around, things begin to spin into the norm again, everyone is awake and more focused on what they’re doing. When the day winds down and people head home, everyone comes out of their fake shells and can be themselves again until the next, brain washing day.

So welcome to middle school! You will be critiqued and refereed on what you wear, how you smell, how your hair is, how much your family makes and even how popular your siblings are. You can be the most popular, get the best grades, be the most approved of by the teachers, but if you make one wrong move, you will be deducted all the way down to the bottom of the food chain again, and have to work your way back up. Have fun here and enjoy your stay.

Love and War

Author's note: Last week in class we were assigned to find a quote that we like, and to explain what the quote meant to us, and whether we agree or disagree with the quote. I personally love the quote I chose because it fits into me personally and at the same time it fits into other people of all ages lives. Enjoy!

"Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men hold guns than holding hands?"

Every quote has a different meaning and every person has a different perception of what the author of the quote was trying to portray. To me, this quote signifies that in this day and age and in this society we are more comfortable seeing negativity and the darker side to things than to see happiness and love (in this case in the quote, gay rights) I also believe that the quote means that way has been a system and an everyday thing to hear about war, shootings, guns and war.  It seems that today slaughter, and vulgar acts of human nature are more normal than peace, serenity and compassion towards each other.