Mirrors

Standing alone,
staring at yourself
in the bathroom mirror.
The lights are off.
You hear a whisper.
A faint whisper,
someone is calling
your name. You feel a
light touch on the back
of your neck.
You take a step back
You feel a body behind
you. You hurry to turn
on the lights. The lights
don't work.
You scream. No Sound.
No One Can Help You Now.

The First Day or The Cooling House?

   I did not enjoy the first day although I could relate to it. The story brought me back to my childhood years and reminded me about all my first days of school down to my last first day in high school. The story was interesting to read about, but it also was boring. In the end, I was a little confused as to why they ended the story that way.
   The Cooling House was much better in my opinion. It was funny and enjoyable. I was a little lost on some parts but then I caught back up to speed and understood what was going on. I believe the poem was from the air conditions point of view. If it was, the author did a great job of displaying its feelings towards the grandmother in the story.

Torn

   How long has this act been going on? Weeks? Months? Years? ALL MY LIFE ?! They walk around here like they are just as happy as can be but in reality they're getting a divorce. This is absurd. I thought my parents would be together forever because they took their vows pretty serious; well at least to my knowledge they did. I know they loved each other very much, how could they just throw away that love? The marriage? ME ?FOR CHRIST SAKE.
   As a family, we always did things together. We always had a good time and we always had fun. So for them to get a divorce, I'm shocked. What could have possibly went wrong? I never saw them have any real serious arguments. The arguments I witnessed were over why my dad didn't take the trash out or why my mom left hair in the sink. Those are small petty arguments so I know they can't possibly get a divorce over those things. Or could they?
   Somehow I think this is my fault. I don't know how this could be my fault, but it could be. Maybe I'm showing my mom more attention than my dad and he got jealous and wants nothing to do with us anymore? Wait, no. This couldn't possibly be the reason. I show both of my parents equal attention, so I think I do.What else could possibly be a reason?
Why my mom and dad? I need answers.

Apartment Fire

  I hate my neighbors! At least that’s what they get though. Now they don't have a home. Me and my friend just wanted to have some fun. We like setting things on fire. Before we started with little things like napkins. We wanted to try something more exciting. Its boring around our way, so we had to add some excitement. We should've set a mouse or a stray cat on fire. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SO COOL. Maybe if we did that we wouldn't be in the situation we are in now. 

   Our neighbors just don't like us. My one neighbor hates me so I know he snitched on us. My friend and I were playing ding dong ditch before and he saw us and told our parents. Snitches get stitches, I hope he knows that. He has had it out for us since I could remember. So I know this was all his fault. We would have never gotten caught. 

  Now we both are sitting in a prison for kids. We are being charged for setting the fire. Man, I hate my neighbors. I don't think anyone understands the hate I have for my neighbors. My friend is over here crying; I wish he shut up. He's such a baby. I'm a big boy, so I can handle this. This is a little scary though. I hope my parents come to visit me. I know they're probably upset with me just because the fire got inside our apartment too. Now where are they going to live? I feel bad now. I didn't think about what the fire would do to my apartment. I know my parents are really upset with me. This sucks. I hate myself now. I see why my neighbor always had it out for me and my friend. We are bad children. We deserve to be punished. We deserve to be in here.

Character Sketches

Ashley

Brandon

   The sketches did not really aid me in writing the scene. I was basing the scene off of personality rather than looks. I found myself sticking to what I wrote about both characters within the character sketch. I did find myself trying to change the characters once they interacted because my creative juices wanted to flow rather than stay within the limits.
   I personally did not like writing in play format. I feel like I'm not that kind of writer. I like to set the scene and explain it rather than have people in the scene talking about whats going on. This wasn't so much difficult in writing but it was more tedious wrote than what I normally write. I enjoyed this experience though. It is always nice to try new things.

Skater meets Non-Skater

Ashley and Brandon are at Orchard Skateland for Dream Team Tuesdays. It's not that crowded tonight at the skating rink. Ashley is a semi-pro at skating while Brandon is struggling to move on the skates.

Ashley (snapping on one foot in the middle): 

"Excuse me! Excuse me! 

Ashley is stopped by Brandon who did not listen to her warning call

Brandon (nervous): 

"I am so sorry. I wasn't paying attention to your call. I was so focused on trying to move."

Ashley:

"Oh, it's okay! I think you should move to the middle of the floor because you don't know how to move that well yet. Would you like for me to help you to the middle?"

Brandon: 

"Yes. I greatly appreciate it."

Ashley helps Brandon over to the middle of the floor

Brandon: 

"I wish I could do the tricks like you do. It must have taken you forever to learn how to snap on one foot"

Ashley:

"Yeah it took me a pretty long time. I'm still trying to get better. It's skaters out here who look way better than me on skates. I'm trying to get on their level."

Brandon:

"How did you learn how to do all of those tricks and skate backwards?"

Ashley: 

"It takes hard work and dedication. I use to look like you out here..when I was younger. No offense. 

Brandon (interrupting Ashley): 

"None taken."

Ashley: 

"I really began doing tricks about two years ago. I had people try to teach me the tricks but its more focused on observing skaters and how they move their feet."

Brandon: 

"That sounds easy! All you have to do is watch them move and then mimic their moves."

Ashley:

"Actually, its not that easy. Say your watching someone snap on one foot. You really have to pay attention to what one leg is doing and what the other leg is doing. Also, the way they position both feet. I've fallen so many times trying to snap, it seemed like I just couldn't get it. I had help from my friends' dad though."

Brandon: 

"Wait. I thought you said its more about observing than someone teaching you?"

Ashley:

"You're right. I did say that, but when it comes to snapping someone has to tell you how you should move the foot you are snapping on because just watching won't help. You heard it didn't work well for me at first because I kept falling."

Brandon: 

"Oh okay. I get it. So what did your friends' dad say to you?"

Ashley: 

"He told me as I snap on one foot, my other foot has to be lifted off the ground and the foot I'm snapping on I have to slightly jump off of a little bit. The foot thats lifted off the ground will be what helps me spin my body around as I snap"

Brandon:

"So did that help you?"

Ashley: 

"Yes it did. After listening to him, I tried it and I got it. It was sloppy but I still got it"

Brandon: 

"CAN YOU TEACH ME ?!

Ashley: 

"I'll teach you but before that you need to learn how to move first!"

(The two continue to talk, until Ashley is pulled away for a train." 

Olive vs. Flo

    I do not think Olive was positively effected as much as Flo was. It seemed as though it had a negative impacted on Olive while it had a positive impact on Flo. Olive did not like the experience, she only learned that you cannot live with certain friends all the time. Meanwhile, Flo learned how to move on with life and not let one thing bring her down for so long.
    In the beginning, Flo was very upset she was being kicked out of Olives' house but she found the positive in the situation. Olive became bitter towards Flo. After only 3 weeks of living together, Olive was fed up. At first, Olive really wanted to help her friend and also she wanted company because she no longer wanted to be lonely in her house but those three weeks damaged the friendship they once had. This experience in my opinion helped Flo grow as a person, and only taught Olive she cannot live with certain people.

Missing Howard University

    Have you ever missed something, someone, or some place so much you wish you could go back and relive those times? I know the feeling all too well. Oh how I miss Howard University. I miss the parties and the atmosphere there; the education, ehh not so much. The education is trash but I'm not going to get into that now..maybe at a later date. From the time I moved in to the time I left I had so much fun my freshman year of college.

   Move in day was bitter sweet. I finally was settled in at the new place I would call home for several months. My whole family and my best friend came with me on move in day. I was the first to move in within my suite and room. Then about an hour later my roommate moved in. In the beginning, I was so excited to meet her. I had aspirations of her being pretty and we could go out together and book guys together. My aspirations were very short lived once she stepped through the doorway of our room. SHE WAS HIDEOUS. I was so upset because she legit killed my dreams. I gave her a half of smile because she ruined my whole mood. After she and I settled in completely, it was time for our family to go. As we said our sad goodbyes, tears made their grand appearance in our eyes but we didn't dare let a tear fall. Alas, we were free and on our own. THE TURN UP HAD BEGUN.

   Move in day was the start of freshman week. The parties were LIT the whole week.  The first day my roommate and I went up to the yard and it was like a party up there. The DJ was in front of an old brown building that had huge windows, we saw everyone walking around mingling and dancing. Then we saw the brothers of Omega Psi Phi and Kappa Alpha Psi having a stroll off battle in the middle of the crowd. The Kappa's looked so good strolling in their red varsity jackets and the Que's (Omega Psi Phi) looked good too in their purple and gold outfits. Oh, fair warning to the ladies, beware of those men who are involved in greek life. Be smart, and always go out with multiple friends. Do not let one of your friends wander off with them or any man.

   It's the night of move in day. There were endless moves for the night. It was so hard to choose which party to go to. My roommate and I decided to go to the 90's party. We both got dressed up for it. I had on pink and sliver high top reeboks with slouch socks, black leggings, a white Tommy Hilfiger sports bra, and an overside pink jacket. My hair was up in a stylish 90 up-do. I was set for the night, and I looked cute. No one could tell me anything that night. My roommate she didn't really pull off the 90s look at all. I was appalled but I let her do her because I was ready to go. We called an uber, and headed to the party.

   As we got out of the uber, we could hear the music jumping from outside the club. The line was the pre-turn up for the actual party inside. When we got in, we heard all the 90s music such as "This is how we do it" by Montell Jordan and "Poison" by Bell Biv Devoe. We could see everyone doing the Kid n Play and the running man. This night was fun. I didn't know Howard's parties were like this. I knew I could get used to it. By the time the party was over, the cute hairstyle that I had when we went inside the party was looking like a bunnies puffball tail. At the time I didn't care how my hair looked because I had a lot of fun at that party. My roommate and I got in the room around 4:30am and we crashed.

   After my first night, I knew I was going to have a lot of fun at Howard. As the months went on the fun increased but I had to leave because I needed a more vigorous education and Howard didn't give me any financial aid money. I just know freshman year was the best year of my life. College is what you make it. Always live in the moment and have fun. College years are the best years of your life make them memorable because you won't get them back.
 
 

Heather Havrilesky

           I noticed in Heather Havrilesky's work she tends to create these monologues when she is explaining something in great detail. As she is beginning to transition onto the next scene she capitalizes and changes the font her first couple of words in the sentence. She also gives good advice toward the end of both pieces. Advice that will make you think about certain things, and put a lot of concepts into those perspectives. In her essay, "Disastrously Unprepared", she began the essay with someone else in a situation and she was the lending hand, while in "A Tree Falls in The Forest" she began the story with a situation that was dealing with herself. Both essays pertained to her but she went about them in different ways.
         My favorite essay is Disastrously Unprepared. I liked the advice that she gave at the end. Her advice on just being the best person you can be is a good life lesson for a lot of people. Most people try to change their lives in drastic ways but in actuality the life that has chosen you is for you. I also liked how she explained to the audience that this imperfect life is something you should embrace and love. Perfection is dull and not fun as it seems but imperfection is great.