Friendship

This year, I've come to a new realization. Friends aren't what I thought they were, at least my idea of friendship was a bit warped. High school is a place where we're finally aloud to be ourselves, because unlike middle school, we're not all mushed together in a glob of angry 12 year old's who are being forced to be friendly to each other. Middle school just seemed like a failed attempt at getting us kids to bond during the most hormonal part of our lives. Everyone was changing into an adult and no one really knew what to do about it, we had no breathing room. Which in turn made my middle school something I'd rather forget. I had been floating around in that mass our 12 year old's with no goal, no meaning and no real friends. Until 8th grade I didn't have a problem with that, but then when we received a fresh batch of personalities from all over the country. This introduced me to so many new things I was a bit overwhelmed, I tried to force my way into anyone's live who I thought what cool. Not the best idea.

This year everything was different, instead of having a set of rules I had to follow and being an arms length from every student in my grade 24/7, I had time to myself. It was amazing. I took this chance to meet new people, like upperclassmen and the new kids in our grade. I walked around seeing people laughing at other peoples jokes and just the general feeling of acceptance. I saw friends walking around talking and just enjoying each others company. Before friendship for me was always so forced and dramatic, but these people seemed to be so carefree. Popular people were hanging with "nerds" and everyone seemed out of place. I realized something then. Friendship isn't something you force yourself into with an interesting person, its not something that you should be afraid of breaking because its so fragile. Friendship is a bond between people that is created when you show another person who you really are, and they love it, they don't judge your weirdness, or act different in front of people who they think are cooler than you. It's something you would do anything for, no matter who it was. I realized that it wasn't based off of "social classes" it was based off love, if you love someone for who they are, be their friend. Who cares if they don't dress like someone in vogue, or listen to bad music, if they make you happy then who cares what anyone else thinks. 

Response

The story "Sucker" is very interesting. It's about a 16 year old boy in what seems to be a dystopian setting, and his relationship with his younger cousin, Sucker. I say this story is in a dystopian setting because of how much they talk about buying cigarettes, and everyone who does buy them is way to young to be able too. Other rules or social norms bring up evidence that this is a dystopian story too but the cigarettes are what really caught my attention. My first time reading this story, and the other stories, I noticed that once you really pay close attention to every word the author wrote, you see how much symbolism there really is.

In sucker I feel the symbolism is in the two boys and their personality changes. At the begging sucker is an innocent 12 year old who idolizes the main character, Pete. Throughout the story their relationship changes A LOT. During the time that Pete is dating his crush the two boys relationship is close and loving, when before it was timid and rather tense. At the end of the story after Pete was broken up with and went through pain, he yells at Sucker, and then Sucker hates Pete. Pete feels sorry for what he said to Sucker. I feel that this relationship symbolizes that of a boy and his inner consciousness. When growing up your child self (Sucker) is very open to accepting new information from the outside world (Pete). As time grows on and you find, lets say a love interest, the whole world seems so happy and wonderful, just like Pete and Suckers relationship. When you experience some sort of pain, you shut everything out, and realize that the world isn't as pretty as you thought it was. I think near the end of the story Sucker symbolizes ones true self after being exposed to what the world has to offer, which in turn makes him angry, and possibly violent.

Reading:

Looking for alaska - 2 hours

Reading

Glass castle - 1 hour

Looking for Alaska - 20 min

Random thing in my kitchen

I woke up to the sound of incredibly annoying barking. "Moooooom!" I yelled as I pushed my head deeper into the pillow. A few minutes past with no response, and the barking just grew louder. I looked at my phone to see what time it was, "Ugh, why do they have to do this at 10 AM" I groaned. After much thought on weather or not it would be worth it to actually get up from my bed to yell at my dogs, I decided enough was enough. Pulling myself up with the small amount of strength left in my tired arms, I rubbed my eyes and let my feet adjust to the cold temperature of the floor. At this hour, walking through the what seemed mile long hallway, was a torture that could only be enforced in Hades.

I was honestly ready to kill my dogs if they didn't stop barking. I blindly shuffled into the kitchen ready to scream my head of, but when I opened my eyes my breathe got stuck in my throat. Right in front of me was an enormous golden retriever, that I could've sworn was made of vanilla ice cream. Paralyzed from confusion, I looked around the kitchen for a possible weapon in case this animal was dangerous. See this doesn't seem scary to someone who is used to big dogs, but my dogs are the size of my shoe with legs that could honestly be mistaken for toothpicks. Before I could call for my Dad I realized I was home alone "Of course..." I muttered. After a second I realized 'If this thing hasn't devoured my stupid little dogs, I think I'll be ok'. I bent down to pet the dog which jumped me, and licked my face enough to make me think I was drowning.

THE END

A funny boy

I am about to start reading this book. Im hoping it can answer my question "what goes on in other countries?". Ive always been very intrested in what goes on in other countries just because I hate how much America focuses in on itself. It suprises people that alot of other countries know more about us than the average American does. Most of the world is kept in touch with other countries.

America seems to be the only one with no real concern for other countries. Which bothers me because we all this on this planet and I think we should all learn about what going on in it. I feel this should be a manditory thing. So many kids take advantage of these incredible gadgets they have. People in Kenya would kill for a supply of fresh water for their family, while people here complain their parents wont buy them a new video game.

Character-Marley

I lay my head down for the first time today. It suddenly becomes really obvious how exhausted I really am, hours of jumping from roof to roof can tire a person out. It makes me think to other kids from my school. They were probably up texting their friends, talking about their crush. I bet they werent even tired, they dont do anything besides come home after school and study. Just imagining having that luxury makes me smile wide enough for the moon to see. Somtime's this life is just too much, too many packages to deliver, too many lives to save, too little time. I just wonder what will happen to me in the future, the possibility of dying tommorow is higher than id like to admit. Even if I do survive through highschool, what can I do then? I want to get out of this country and find somewhere where I can be happy and not have to worry if my house will be stormed by soldiers while I sleep.

But I was born into this life, I cant even remember a time when we were free to do what we wanted, to worship who we wanted. Egypt had now become this place that only existed in movies, ones where dictators like ours ruled only because the world had went to hell and the apocalypse burned through everything. But what can I do? a 16 year old with no power besides that of my fists? I wanted to help people, I wanted to end their suffering. But for now I guess I'm stuck here, wondering what violence ill face tomorrow. This is my life now, I'll have to learn to love it.  

Reading Response - Waltz of a fat man

I have mixed emotions towards this story. The story in itself is rather bizarre. I feel like its just a huge metaphor, maybe saying that when you make fun of someone they become somthing horrible, or just that when you make fun of people they turn into horses and join the circus. As you can see I didnt really like how it was written. Sometimes being too metaphorical can be a bad thing. There were too many deeper meanings which pretty much ruined the story.

The plot line was pretty good though. I liked that the author did portray the character in a relatable way. He is constantly talked about and just wants to fit in; which is true for all of us. His decision to become a butcher just to be social is just like any other decision we may make in our everyday lives. Many of us may leave behind what makes us truly happy just to get an assuring smile when they pass us by. I believe that the clocks he own symbolizes this inner personality hes been hiding in fear of judgment, and when one becomes damaged he loses it. It takes an inner "catastrophe" to show us what we really want, in that moment of uncertainty and fear there's a thought in our head about what really matters to us. He seemed to get that thought when the clock broke, he realized this is what he really cares about, so he joins a "circus", which is probably just a word used to describe his new friends. Who to others, would look like circus freak, but he loves them.

Short Story Part 2

I woke up to the sound of a gun going off. Whoever caught the end of that shot probably wasn't feeling too much better than I was; today was the first day of school. A month had passed since tax collection day for youth. My hands still had bruises, this years' was especially brutal. 

I got dressed in the required black and white uniform; My black hair tightly restrained in a bun. Everything about this made me cringe, if you didn't know better you'd think originality was outlawed too.The school director made sure we all looked like sheep, physically and metaphorically. Yet no one ever seemed to notice, I seemed to be the only one with working eyesight. 

I made my way downstairs to our empty kitchen. Cold and barley light up by the small amount of light that shown through the windows. Everyone had left for work or school, and all that kept me company were two cold eggs and a glass of milk. Medical kits were stacked up on the table, looks like I'll be making runs tonight. With every school year brought protests, kids like me who gathered enough courage to make their voices heard. Although none of them ever made a difference, people never seemed to give up. I grabbed my backpack and ignored breakfast.