The Night

(September 10th 2009)

 

The clouds split in two to show us the sun.

The sun shines so clear 'til our day is done.

Then moon gives us light as we live in the night,

where darkness falls and stars pierce bright.

And in the night we all change to anew.

There's a spirit inside of us that no one knew.

We dance and we howl and abandon ourself;

into the night we become someone else.

Leave all worries and struggles for light,

for darkness is here and we're living for night!

We sing, kiss, and drink as we refill the glass.

We take time out of mind and rid of our class.

Parading and rejoicing for no rules to obey.

We live for the night - never show us the day!

Like insanity or disease, we've obsessed with this power, 

like the darkness had dripped like that of our shower.

So we pray to all gods that we remain out of light,

for we are here and we live for the night!

...

But time must go on and the sun arose,

and all of us shrivel into, well, no one knows.

We gasp for the nightlife, we strive to sin!

We grasp for the nightlife we're held within.

We scream with the torture of the fire-burning light.

We all realized we cannot live without the night. 

 

Winter Tastes So Bitter Sweet

(November 19th 2009)

 

Whether there is only a chilling, killing wind,

or whether the snow may fall;

Winter comes, winter freezes,

and the winter will kill us all.

It tempts us with Jesus, Christmas, love, 

candy, cookies, and gifts.

But its aware of the pain, memories, 

and the failing hope that it lifts. 

The winter will come and go slowly.

The groundhog - its friend, my foe. 

I just fake a smile with hot chocolate in hand,

enjoying the innocent snow. 

The small joys of winter, the sweet taste it brings

still somehow fails to hide

the bitter of winter, the memories I remember,

and the things I keep inside.

The snow may fall down, the silence may be the perfect sound,

but I will find the pain.

The sweet cookies and family, the joy of my Savior

is the only things of winter I gain.  

 

I Would Hate To Stop Writing Now

(November 16th 2009)

 

 

 

He stared in my eyes with black lakes as his eyes.

 

My brown eyes almost watered.

I missed him and hated him at the same time.

   

 

~

   

 

The sun dispersed behind the clouds,

 and they themselves were flooded in rain.

 Everyone says that I'm loud,

 but like the clouds, it just covers my pain.

   

 

~

   

 

Chocolate flooded my taste buds and I swang my head in happiness.

 I tasted my cookie with pride.

 Anyone who says that cookies don't change a day,

they lied. 

 

~

    

I stared at them laughing, and it sickened me.

Then I laughed cause they deserve each other.

Ha ha ha. Hollow victory.

   

~

 

Sweat fell from my forehead as I ran across the court.

The ball in my hand bouncing - the rhythm of ball hitting floor.

Swoosh

It flew from floor to hand to net. Score.

 

~

 

With words, I have a way.

But that just describes my day.

 

 

 

I'm Sorry

(November 16th 2009)

 

I saw you today, so serene and unknowing.

You looked different today,

                          I noticed.

I saw that you didn't have the same attitude - unshowing.

I thought of many things to say.

                         I didn't.

I crawled into your eyes,

I fell in love with your face.

In my mind, to find you,

is a schizophrenic race.

 

"Hi." I'd whisper without any intention of you hearing,

I'd probably die inside if you saw me leering.

But please don't insult me with "creeper" "stalker" or that part

for what I am is simply an art.

 

I'll carry on through life as if I never thought of you.

HA!! What a joke.

But no matter how confident I seem,

if you would talk to me - I'd choke.

 

But if you're wondering - our wedding is perfect.

I'm just kidding - so you think.

 

I'm right behind you as you walk, 

the back of your head is ridiculous.

I'm copying your step.

I love you.

Oh no, you're turning. 

You bumped me!

"Oops. I'm sorry."

 

*faints* 

 

Happy Birthday

(November 16th 2009)

 

By Charyssa Neese

 

There is one day when we fall and cannot get up.

The same day, we fail to do anything but stay.

We break - we cry,

and we only have today.

 

Our knees give in and our hearts transform

into the worst nightmare.

The friends we don't remember have left 

into their own sad, deep, pits of dispair.

 

Breath breathes cold air where warmth used to be.

Heart beats now with stone blood.

Our first moment of life is ruined

as we're born into a drowning world of mud.

 

This day comes and will grow worse,

with every other day we're forced to be in.

But this day - this only day

is when we're born into sin.

 

Now with this burden of "normal life,"

we must make the best of each day.

And maybe we all will get out alive

if we get the chance to pray.

 

 

wiki 5 20/20 - good entry - you picked up on our President's great ability to appeal to the listeners. He's got some impressive speaking skills.

Week 5

Barack Obama - Yes We Can

Besides in class speeches, I haven't heard many others. I went to the link, "Yes We Can" which is Obama's speech. In the opening, he has a pleasant smile. He isn't laughing at his jokes, he just gives a welcoming smile. He uses his pointing finger to state many important points. He respectfully addresses one girl who helped out and also didn't let it distract the audience from his speech. He has very long, useful pauses for audience cheers and impacting statements. He emphisizes every time he says, "Change," which leads the audience to focus on the point of his speech. He doesn't do that to any other word, just the one he needs them to focus on. His hand gestures are really random, but he does them a lot. I don't know if he's making a point with them. When he feels strongly about something, he gets closer to the microphone as if the audience will cheer for it as well. (They do, in fact). But he leans forward closer to the mic before they cheer which is kind of funny. He doesn't smile until they cheer, which means he is very focused on what he needs to say. "From sea to shining sea...YES WE CAN! Thank you New Hampshire." That was a great cheerful, persuading, and impacting speech. 

 

wiki 4 - 20/20 - funny to read a review of myself... by the way..we have OPPOSABLE thumbs.. not DISPOSABLE ones, silly girl! :-)

Week 4

Mrs. Staude

Yesterday, Mrs. Staude did an entertaining speech on why she's glad she didn't have the same design as a dog. She had a very funny powerpoint with hilarious pictures and captions. Her hand motions fit perfectly. When it was time to whip hands up in the air - she did. When she needed to specifically point out something or mention disposable thumbs, she used her fingers. She paced when she had time between each slide, which gave a casual feel like a conversation...with punch lines and pauses. If she ever did get caught up on words, she calmly fixed it with no uhhhh's or annnnnd's. When Mrs. Staude got to a point of much importance SHE WASN'T AFRAID TO YELL IT OUT! You have to drill it in their heads somehow. She never had her back turned to us so we heard her loud and clear. Being a teacher takes talent and courage, but it doesn't change the fact that she is a great public speaker.

 

wiki 3 - 0/20 - no posting week of 10/23

Week 3

(Dear Mrs. Staude. Due to the short week last week, I didn't get a chance to work on my wiki at school. But Wednesday afternoon, my internet was shut down because my dad didn't pay the bill. All three computers we had were out of internet until this Monday morning. I'm not expecting anything, I was just hoping that I could get some credit for my dilemma. I'm really sorry. It was just one of those "It Happens" moments. Thank you.)well, I can understand that a home computer can let you down for various reasons. Should that happen, I would suggest a quick zip to the library or a visit to a friends house where you could post. School was even open all day on Thursday...and you were up there for it.. so I guess I am saying you have to prepared to think fast when a "glitch occurs. I didn't even check the wikis till Sunday... so in essence you had 2 whole extra days to do it... so I am sorry, but the grade stands. I have to be consistent in order to be as fair to everyone as I can be.

Mr. Marty

On Thursday, I had to be at Lutheran High as a Student Ambassador for the Future Freshmen. Before I got to tour them around, Mr. Marty made a going off speech. He made eye contact very well, mostly looking at the 8th graders more than their parents. He motioned to many of the staff and students there like the group of ambassadors in the back. He referenced them with his hands as he said, "They all went through what you're going through." He held the microphone with a tight grip with one hand. The other hand was used to motion. I think he either improvised or memorized his speech because he had no stand nor paper. He was a very entertaining, like always, making jokes about the staff. He made eye contact with anyone he referenced and showed respect to Mrs. Bichel by formally introducing her as the next speaker. It was a good, informational speech for the incoming Freshmen, and a great speech for me. 

 

wiki 2 - 20/20 - sounds like an interesting speaker - thanks for bringing this one to your wiki!

Week 2

Bob Briggs

This past Sunday, I played band at Salem, New Town Church. The Pastor was Bob Briggs. His speech was titled, "It Is Enough!" He talked about talents and mentioned our talents as band members in this small church. He talked with very defined pauses, but he talked to just the band before to thank us and that's how he really talked. It was like.......he paused after each end.....and every single thing he said.......was very important. His hand gestures consisted of both his hands pointing and moving every which way when he singled out individuals or small groups. Like he singled out the band. But when he talked about the whole congregation, he opened his hands with the palms facing upward and opened his arms wide. He had tremendous amounts of eye contact! He made eye contact with me many times and when he did it to others as well, they all nodded back. He was a very positive and influential speaker. He did walk around, went down the three steps in front, and went past where the band was, (right in front of the steps) and spoke directly to the audience. It was very clear he had this memorized. But he also made jokes about our reactions so it wasn't stuck to a script. I listened very intently to his sermon. He was a great speaker. 

 

wiki 1  - 20/20 - great job.

Week 1

Joseph Fiennes

Joseph Fiennes talked about another country who needed help. He was very emotional and you could tell that he was very into what he was talking about. He was very casual as well, meaning he didn't try so hard to hide the paper in his hand. But he spoke with much respect to the people he was talking about and also respect to his audience. He drew them in by describing the various lives of poor people in his country, the hardships they went through, and the many things they cannot have. Imagining the same things happen to them, the audience was emotional just as he was. He maintained eye contact, which also drew them in to his own emotion. He spoke loud and was very articulated and it had a big result. He, in his unique way, was a very great speaker. 

 

Short Story

Homecoming

            Allie was in too deep. It was Monday morning, 7:30 A.M., and she had just got into school. The rumors flew about the weekend, they were traveled by whispers and dirty stares as Allie fled through the hallway. She progressed to a fast pace, hid her face, and bowed her head in fear. “Its about me. They’re all talking about me,” Allie thought to herself.

            When she finally reached the door, she didn’t hesitate to sit in her seat and wallow in guilt. But though she felt guilty, she also felt a shred of pride. During this time of her recollection, the teacher called her name. Allie twitched.

            “I’m sorry, Mrs. Simmons, what was the question?” Allie’s face flooded with embarrassment.

            “What was Whitman trying to say in, “Song of Myself Number 5”?

            “I don’t know, Mrs. Simmons, I didn’t read.”

            “Well Allie, what did you do this weekend?”

            That rhetorical question stopped Allie completely. It made her mind escape from current reality. She ran out the door. She went straight to the bathroom, but all she could see in front of her is a person dead on the pavement. She went straight to one of the mirrors and saw windshield wipers wipe the picture of Lauren.

            She shouted, “Lauren! Lauren, I’m so sorry!” But no matter how hard she yelled, she couldn’t cry.

            Allie punched the mirror and immediately bled down her arm. The pain changed to numbness and the glass pierced through her skin didn’t make her flinch. She stood there staring at the broken mirror and blood draining into the sink when she realized no one would come for her. Not even Mrs. Simmons. Everyone went to Homecoming.

            The Saturday night prior was Homecoming. Everyone was primped, ready, and beautiful. Allie put on her dark velvet dress, which brought out the gold in her eyes.  She put on her mascara and lip-gloss. She took a look at her self. She was ready.  

            The doorbell rang and Allie ran to the window to see a big, black limo pulled out in front. Through the sunroof, she saw flashes of cameras and the door open. A man came out with an all black suit and gold tie. It was David, her date.

            She was so eager that she hustled downstairs and turned right at the steps. She stopped before she entered the doorway to calm her smile. She saw David smile, which made her smile glow even more.

            “You look amazing,” David said as he sized her up and down.

            "Thank you," she said shyly.

            "Oh just two pictures before you go! One of you and David, and one of you and Lauren," Allie's mom said with much enthusiasm.

            "Ugh! Okay, mom, but I don't want to be late for our reservations," replied Allie. 

            Allie held tight to David as he placed his hand on her back. He pulled her close to show protection and love. They smiled. The flash went off and the mom had a smile as well. She was so happy and the couple was even happier than she. 

            "Oh that's perfect! Okay, Lauren, you're turn."

            Lauren wore white, which is unusual for homecoming, but no one would deny that she looked extraordinary. She stood out and she knew it. The two best friends put their rosy cheeks together and smiled. Allie couldn't help being jealous of Lauren. She looked perfect.

            "Fabulous! Now have fun you guys!"

            "Thanks for everything, Mom. I love you," Allie said to her mom, which followed with a kiss on her mother's cheek.

            "Yeah, thanks Mom," giggled Lauren.

            Allie, David, and Lauren all piled into the limo. As Allie entered, she saw Sarah and Jason with their royal blue accents. She saw Melanie with a dark green dress that flowed down the back and Tyler matched with a dark green tie. She saw Lauren sit next to Joe and they matched perfectly. 

            "Hope you don't stain that dress, Lauren!" Allie joked and the limo laughed.

            At this point, Allie was happy. School still felt new and this was the last time for that feeling. Football games, cheer leading sleepovers, and coming home to a wonderful family. This was Senior Year, and Allie was living it up. She was very popular at school and well liked. She had David, Lauren, and Joe by her side through the halls and through every year of high school. She was happy and everything went her way.

            The limo left and the group of seniors continuously took flash photography until the spots blinded their eyes. Allie and David kissed for a picture and the replied with, "Aw," except Joe said, "Ew." But Allie didn't care about the pictures and the comments. She was focused on David and he was focused on her. She felt Lauren's presence nearby, and she couldn't be anymore happier. Her best friend and her boyfriend were together. It was, dared to say, perfect.

            They reached their destination at a fancy, French restaurant that they all could not pronounce. They ate, laughed, and carried out the perfect high school cliché. This certain group of seniors was the people everyone liked, followed, and admired. Allie took a look at every one's smiling faces and began to feel ashamed. She kept thinking to herself, "This is too perfect." She laughed, shrugged it off, and thought, "I'm so stupid. This night will stay perfect." When they finished the food, they divided the check and tip, and rushed out. They rejoined in the limo with the same routine: pictures, laugh, kiss, hug, and over again. Allie thought again and again, “It’s too perfect. It’s too perfect.” Her eyebrows curled downward, her eyes closed, and her face looked as if it were in disgust.

              “What’s wrong, Allie?” said Lauren after her and Sarah took a picture of themselves.

               “Oh it’s nothing. I’m just acting weird,” replied Allie.

               “So you’re being yourself?” David laughed, as did the whole limo. Allie smirked at David; he smiled, and then kissed her head. “It’ll be a perfect night,” he reassured her. Perfect…perfect.

               They all arrived at the dance and hurried into picture taking at the door. They proceeded to the table where Mrs. Simmons sat and handed them their tickets. Allie was hesitant at first but then said, “Mrs. Simmons?”

               “Yes, Allie?” Mrs. Simmons replied.

               “Can I keep my ticket? I want to remember this night forever.”

               “Yes that’s fine, Allie.”

               Mrs. Simmons handed Allie her ticket back and the seniors went into the gym. They saw the room decorated with extravagant streamers and sequence. They were in awe at the sight of the room. To anyone else, it would’ve looked “pretty,” but to them, it was their last homecoming, and they drank it in.

               As the one of the newest songs played, they rushed on the dance floor. Jason tried to break dance and appeared unsuccessful. Allie with David and Lauren with Joe were dancing side by side. They all were inseparable, but Lauren and Joe glowed white. They looked like angels. Lauren and Allie would turn sometimes and giggle to each other. During the slow songs, they all four looked, dare you say, perfect.

The night went on and everything did turn out to be seemingly perfect. But everyone has his or her flaws. The kids drank their alcohol, which looked tempting and delicious. Jason was the only one who brought whiskey, which he thought would make him look like a man, but the little boy couldn’t hold it down. Everyone was laughing and carrying on, except Lauren. Lauren never got into the drinking scene. She didn’t really acquire the taste for it, plus she didn’t like how it changed her friends.

               The tipsy teenagers snuck out of the slowly ending homecoming and stumbled to find their limo. Lauren found it; maybe it was due to the fact that her head was the only one not spinning. She slumped along in disappointment, catching whichever friend was falling at the moment. For everyone else, they were still having fun. Once they all piled in the limo, the driver seemed to be on break.

               Allie said, “Well, I don’t want to wait for him. I’ll drive!” She jumped out of the car and into the driver seat. She took three attempts to start the car, but the fourth was a success.

               Lauren yelled, “Allie no! Please don’t drive! He’ll be back!”

               Allie laughed and said, “Oh Lauren, where is your adventure!”

               With all the courage she had, Lauren left the car and ran in front of the car. “I’m not going to let you drive, Allie!”

               Allie laughed and the back of the limo echoed. Allie screamed, “Come on, Lauren! Don’t be a party-pooper!”

               “Party-pooper! Party-pooper!” The back of the car chanted along with Allie.

               “I’m not moving,” replied Lauren.

               Allie started to get an evil glare in her eye. Her right hand left the wheel and put it on the shift. She had a dead stare into Lauren’s eyes and whispered to the back, “Hey. Let’s scare her.”

               They laughed and got excited to watch Lauren get scared. At this point, Joe saw a little bit clearer and began to get uneasy. They all stared at Allie and rapidly switched glances to Lauren then back to Allie.

               Allie kept the shift in park and rumbled the engine. Lauren eyes widened and she started to shake more than what she was doing before. Allie flickered her headlights at Lauren and joked, “Hey! You look like a deer in headlights!”

               “Get out of the car!” Lauren cried. She was scared out of her mind and a tear came down her face. She never saw this side of her best friend.

               “Oh no, Lauren, I’m putting it in drive!” Allie was teasing her with her eyes and taunting her. Allie put her golden heels on the brake and switched the shift from park to drive. The car was bouncing and laughing at Lauren. Again they yelled, “Party-pooper!” Joe didn’t though. Joe said, “Alright, Allie, you got her good.” But Allie ignored him.

               Lauren started to cry harder and she started to scream, “Stop! Stop!”

               Allie said, “Aw, Lauren, I was only kidding!”

               Allie went to put it back into park but as she looked at the shift, she saw three of them swirling around. Allie went for the far right one and immediately realized she reached into thin air. She lost he balance and fell forward. Her two-inch heel wedged under the break and her toes cocked to the right. The vast impact pressed her foot onto the accelerator.

               Thud! Shatter! Thud, thud, thud! Plop.

               When Allie looked up, one eye was blinded with blood and the other saw the shattered windshield. The airbag didn’t go off for some reason but was able to look in the back. Everyone was fine, with various cuts and bruises.

               “Where’s Lauren?” asked Jason.

               Unsteadily, Sarah said, “I, I, I think she rolled on the top of the limp and landed behind us.”

               “I did hear three thuds on the roof,” David said as he shook.

               Joe was crying insanely at this point and was trying so hard to get out of the limo. Once he found the handle, he was gone. Allie touched her forehead and felt a sharp, burning pain. She knew she was cut but still continued to examine herself. As she was, they all heard a scream. Allie ran out of the car and saw blood collected in the middle of the shattered windshield. She went to the back of the car and saw the bright, red light shown on Joe holding what’s left of Lauren. Allie hesitated to walk forward, but eventually took a slow first step. She kept that pace until she could reach Joe.

               “Joe?” Allie asked as she touched Joe’s shoulder.

               He shrugged her off and let out a couple whimpers. He started to whisper, “Baby, wake up. Come on, Lauren. Baby? I love you. Wake up. I love you. Lauren?”

               Allie’s eyesight started spinning and she heard various thoughts repeating. “It’s too perfect. It’s too perfect. Don’t stain your dress, Lauren! It’s too perfect. Deer in headlights. Lauren. Perfect. It’s too perfect. Stain. Stain. It’s too perfect. It’s too perfect. Lauren. Lauren…”

               Joe knew she was gone. He got up and screamed again. He started walking away, but stopped and just cried. When he moved, Allie saw Lauren. Her white, beautiful dressed was drowned in red and her face was hard to comprehend. She could, however, see Lauren’s blue eyes piercing through the blood. She tried, but couldn’t cry. She just stared at Lauren, breathless and lifeless Lauren. Allie bent down and reached out to touch her slowly. She aimed for her rosy, blood-soaked cheek.

               “Don’t touch her! Haven’t you done enough?” Joe screamed with tears still streaming down her face. He had Lauren’s blood on his sleeves from when he held her and he reached to hold her again. Despite what was on her face, Joe kissed Lauren. In a sad way, he acted as if Lauren was still there.

               Allie just stared at Joe pining for Lauren, who was obviously gone. She watched the life leave Joe. He was pale and even though she couldn’t touch him, she could tell he was cold. He loved her. Joe kissed her again, but Allie couldn’t take it. She ran away. She ran as far as she could go. She stopped when she found a lake. She cleaned off the blood.

               “I didn’t kill Lauren. We got into a fight. I was so mean to her. I’m sorry Lauren! I’m really sorry! Forgive me, you’re not dead. It’s too perfect.” Allie thought these to herself.

               “Allie?” Mrs. Simmons’ voice was uneasy and gentle. “Oh, Allie, your hand is bleeding. Oh? What happened to the mirror?”

               “Where’s Lauren?” Allie couldn’t look at Mrs. Simmons.

               “Didn’t you hear, Allie?” Mrs. Simmons hand went over her mouth.

               “Hear what?” Allie just stared at the floor.

               “Lauren is dead, Allie. Weren’t you there?” Mrs. Simmons’ face flushed white. All color poured out of her face.

               “No. Lauren and I got into a fight at Homecoming. I took off my heels and walked home. I was all ready to talk to her today because she didn’t answer my calls yesterday.”

               “Oh honey. She was killed that night. Kids were in the back of the limo. The driver is in custody now. I’m sorry you didn’t know. Let’s get you cleaned up.” Mrs. Simmons grabbed her good hand and began to lead her out. Allie stopped, looked down, and saw her face in a piece of the broken mirror. She had no sparkle in her eye and she had no smile. She reached in her pocket and grabbed the Homecoming ticket.

               “I want to remember this night forever. Forever. Remember this night forever. Forever.”

               Allie tilted her head as she still stared at herself. She looked with no tears building up, no sparkle. She stepped onto the mirror, smashed it, and walked ahead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 5

wiki 5 - Great job on your posts both this week and last. You have a lot of interesting ideas and I enjoy hearing them.

Mrs. Staude: Makes me wonder if any of you have seen this same dynamic at work in the more "grown up" world of high school... not, of course with beatings, but with making a new person (or outsider) "suffer" just because at some point someone made you suffer.... or feel left out just because, at one point when you were new, you felt left out. Does it happen among us? Is the prejudice to be confronted here that it is okay to dish out what we once had to take ourselves? If we accept that "that's just how it is".... does that mean there's no way to break the cycle? What would it take to change it?

Charyssa Neese: "The New Kid" is very much like nowadays in high school. When any high school drama happens that uses words like "bullying," or "picking on,"everyone thinks of one thing: Freshmen. Freshmen are the newest members to high school each year. Seniors especially will pick on them or prove that they are bigger in some way. Each year, freshmen are forced to do unwanted jobs, or are publicly embarrassed by the upperclassmen. Then when the seniors graduate and the freshmen learn the ropes, then they become the hunter, and the new freshmen are new meat. That is what it is now. In "The New Kid," prejudice is not confronted because the new kid wasn't seen as great, he was just new meat. Turns out that he lost also. He never got to be on top, he was always the bottom. Everyone thinks that what once happened to them, they can do it to the next person around. But in reality, if it hurt them, then why repeat that for someone else? Maybe worse or less, but still the same. Its not fair, nor was it ever fair. Not everyone agrees with "that's just how it is." Some people have understanding that it is stupid and always was. People have broken the cycle. Maybe a freshmen stood up for himself or a senior was nice. But the cycle goes on as the high school cliche. It would take the majority to think its unneccesary to stop the cycle. And then it would fall out of the loop and everyone will stick to conformity. 

 

Mrs. Staude: Is the story to "over the top" emotionally, or is it just about right?

Charyssa Neese: It was just about right for the story. The mother died, but Minta knew what was going to happen. She understood for the most part and she had to deal with it. When she had the nightmare, it was normal for a girl her age to freak. It couldn't always be perfect and she can't always be confident and collected. She loves her mother and her father and she had to learn how to deal. She had to understand how to be her mother. The best part was when she never cried, she assumed that she already understood, and yet she found the presents in her closet. At that point, she cried. She knew that she had to be her mother and take over for her family. She was perfectly collected and she cried the tears she needed. It was perfect emotion for the story because it was exactly what she needed to do.  

Week 4

Mrs. Staude: (on The Sniper) 

What did you find yourself thinking about as you read this story???

 

Charyssa Neese: The whole time, I was hoping the Republican would win. He's snipeing "the enemy" for whatever reason. The reader doesn't specfically what he is fighting for, but we just want him to win. I was so into this story! I didn't care about an old lady because she told on the sniper. I abandoned all thought of reality just because that man should win! I was scared when he was wounded, but he got back up. Whether he was all wrong or right in what he was fighting for, I wanted him to win. I was excited the whole story until...I read the last line, "The sniper turned over the dead body and looked into his brother's face." That made my soul die a little inside and feel terrible. The saying, "It happens," is over-rated in terms like this. All the excitement prior to reading the last line had left. It was horrible and painful and sadly, it was the best ending for the story. 

Mrs. Staude: 

Discuss the power of the ending of the story.... esp. the part where Patsy keeps the identity of the horse to himself....

Charyssa Neese: The ending of the story had so much gusto at one time. He won the race, (while proving the owner wrong), he got the money, he was just in time to help his mother, and even shoved everything in the doctors face! So everything tied together in the last part of the story built up to be a happy ending. He was victorious in so many aspects... but to ruin it with telling the name of the horse?? That couldn't happen. Everything that Patsy had worked for let his mother apprieciate him. And with him hiding that little shred of heart-breaking reality would ruin it. "Mom, I won! Me and the horse, Black Boy." It implies that even though Patsy won, the world still wasn't great. He fixed one problem, but the world is still heavy on her heart. When he went to send good news, it had to be ONLY good news in every way. Otherwise, it wouldn't be as powerful, and it wouldn't be that much of a happy ending. 

 

Week 3Great job on wiki 3! Very detailed and excellent entries here! Love the one on the house!

Mrs. Staude: So WHY do those who love horror stories and films etc. LOVE them? What is it about those styles of tales that gives them their appeal? (Or if you are like me and can't watch scary movies... what is it about them that repels you?)

 

Charyssa Neese: Thrillers scare people and when people are scared, they get a weird feeling everywhere like a rush. Like roller coasters or haunted houses, its the adventure and the risk that excite people. Books and films give an idea that question humanity and scare "normal people." Its the fact that someone "went there." Horror also relieves the deep dark thoughts that people never knew they had. It releases energy and makes people think "Oooh! That's so bad!" Its a vulgar twist on the real world that people strive on because its different and bad. Like I said, its the thoughts that people may not even know they have, the thought of being the bad guy. The anti-hero. And people like you, who repel it, understand that its wrong if its make-believe or especially if its real. The roller coaster may be a different story though.

 

Mrs. Staude:  Also, feel free to discuss how the author manages to make you "feel" sympathy for the house.

 

Charyssa Neese: The author says that the house is made of many robots that are made to act as friendly people. They are given jobs and are programed to do ONLY  those jobs. But the reason that the reader sympathizes for the house is because it acts as a person who was abandoned. It seems like it doesn't know what to do besides its assigned job. So all the robots carry on everyday with their jobs for no one. The house sort of implies thoughts of children because they don't know what to do except cling to the people in charge.  They count on them for life and exsistance, but no one was home. And even more sympathy goes to the house as it begins to set fire. It digs deeper to the thought of robots with the same sight as children because they were lost without the real people in charge. They were helpless and they died. One by one, voices died off. The author emphaizes the concept with the robots as human by eliminating people in the story. There is no higher or lower being, just robots. So the reader never knows anything except the small life and tragic death of these robots.

 

Week 2

 wiki 2 =15/20

Mrs. Staude: Your thoughts? Is it right or wrong for Mike to do what he does to (for?) his grandma?

 

Charyssa Neese: I think it was right that he did that. Whether she remembered or not, he eased her emotional pain. She loved her husband and never got to say sorry. It may have been a lie, but in her state, it was significant that he forgave her. She needed it.

 <this entry is a tad too short for full credit.>

Mrs. Staude: To bring this story into a more modern context... today, guys and girls will often accept disrespectful or even abusive treatment from someone they're dating, just to keep the relationship. Does this story offer an insights into WHY teens do this and what they SHOULD do instead?

 

Charyssa Neese: Teens do this to themselves ESPECIALLY because of a situation like this story. A man came to her while she was alone, held her, appreciated her, and for some reason, wanted to be with her. They laughed, he was able to lift her (which some men these days can't do, so that in and of itself was romantic), and she was hoplessly romantic. Situations like these still happen now. "He asked her out in the middle of class in front of everyone," or "He came to her house with flowers and asked me to prom, but we never talked much before!" This is the start. Guys are smooth and know how to win the girl. Later, when he becomes abusive, no matter what he does, the girl will remember "that guy," the "flower guy," and she will just cry herself to sleep for just one more night for "that guy," ... until she cries again tomorrow. They all want that guy. Or even with the guys who want "that girl!" She was so easy to get, and he can't let her go! Its easy for every other guy too, buddy. What should they do? Find another guy/girl! There's so many other people that actually know how to treat someone. And even if someone can't find someone that fast, someone doesn't NEED another person. People these days are independent and strong - guys AND girls. They don't need to take that from "that guy" or any guy! Marriage is what counts anyway. So what if you dig jocks, there are others too!

 Wow! great input on this one!

 

Week 1

Mrs. Staude: Why you think he entitled it "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky?" If the bride is important enough to be part of the title, why doesn't Crane even bother to tell us her name? Why do you think he chose to do that?

 

Charyssa Neese: "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky," was a perfect title because the bride was the one who changed everything in the story. For example, Jack was said to be a brave, tough, sherrif. He wasn't afraid to stand up to Scratchy everytime he came around as a drunken maniac. But when he brought the bride, Jack was sneaking through the town he once called a home. A man who wasn't afraid of anything, now became afraid to confront his town. Another example is Scratchy himself. Scratchy was ready for another tussel with Jack. When Scratchy came across the bride and her groom, he was ready until Jack said one word... "Married." Just because of who the girl was, her only name in the story, "the bride," Scratchy couldn't pull the trigger. The bride isn't the prettiest, she's not the main speaker, she doesn't even have a name, but she changed everything.

 

Mrs. Staude: This story includes the device of a "frame story" (a story within another story) generally the outer story (the frame) is less important than the inner story. (You may want to add this term to your notes.) So the story of Tommy is not nearly as important as the story of Pablo... although they ARE linked. This provides us with yet another perspective on "Facing conflict". What do you think Kelley, the author, is saying in here?

 

Charyssa Neese: Kelley is saying that "History repeats itself," (Mr. Staude and various others throughout history). But in all seriousness, the past is filled with wars, rivalries, races, and many more dividing lines. So chances are other people have had the same expeirences as someone else. In "Enemy Territory," Pablo and Tommy had the same expeierence. They were both faced with violence due to race. But the reason why Pablo's expeirence is an inner story is because it helps the "frame story" make its choice. History may repeat itself, but not always. The frame story seemed current, and the inner story was told to help Tommy make a choice. He could run away or he can repeat a successful history. So by making frame stories and inner stories, it relates two similar expeirences but one mysterious outcome.

Good work on wk. 1 - I really enjoyed seeing your thoughts! Nicely done!