A Maycomb Morning

Cover

     

                    To Kill a Mocking Bird

                              Harper Lee

I chose this as my cover because I thought it was a good idea to put the place where Boo Radley used to spy on Scout and Jem. Scout realizes the Radley Place is like a one-way glass even though the kids couldn’t see in, Boo could see out, and perhaps he was just as interested in them as they were in him. Also a black man wouldn’t dare go near that house because they knew that one of the meanest and toughest men on Maycomb County lived there.

For Scout and Jem it was just a haunted house but beneath it lied more to it that just a “Haunted house”.

Orphan

By: Santiago Mata

She looks and stares out the widow

Watching the rain,

Drop from the sky as her life grows duller each night,

She lives a life without parents,

unwanted from the others.

She is part of the leftovers.

One day she wishes,

That her parents would come

They will take her far away from this place.

They had  summoned me to the path,

where my friend never came back,

what could I have done?,

Is it another punishment?,

As she walked down the long halls of everyday misery

She could not believe what was waiting for her.

The day had come and she had once regained what she had lost.

Human Beings that would give her the love that she had never had.

The thundercloud had disappeared and a new life had begun.

Where im from

I am from tying fishing knots and Rapala reels.
I am from the garden of flowers outside my house catching insects and putting them in jars.
I am from this song called "I'm blue"
I come from the only quiet area in my house, my room.
I am from praying every night before diner and wishing positive things each night for the next day, as life goes on.
I am from a family that keeps its tradition and keeps the Venezuelan in them and pass it on to the next generation.
I am from accompanying my grandma to church every Sunday.
I come from a family that severed in the war in my country and from a family that is made to survive forever.
I am from Venezuela.

The March 11 Quake/Tsunami

It was march 11, 2011 2:46 P.M when a 8.9 earthquake hit Japan. Killing many, and more with the never lasting aftershocks, Japan suffered crucial damage, with the fifth strongest, audible, destructive earthquake since the 1900s. Shorty after Japan deployed adept troops and medics to help out the citizens in need of help. There were over 10.000 deaths and more injuries, plus a capacious amount of buildings and houses were destroyed. This was not the end of this devistating event in Japan and at 3:00 P.M a huge tsunami hit the coast of Japan whiping out everything in its path. Also a nuclear plant near the coast is at risk of exploding causing another problem for the Japanese  now they are in serious problems. If one nuclear plant explodes it will cause radiation in the air and also electricity in half of Japan will be gone. Japan has never been in such a tough disaster since the end of World War 2.
Pray for Japan, they need all the help they can get for getting out of such a grappled situation and leave behind March 11 (the fitful day).

The House on Mango Street

                                              The House on Mango Street
                                               Review By: Santiago Mata

The book called “The House of Mango Street” one of Sandra Cisneros best selling stories; it is greatly valued in the States because of its life lessons and teachings. It takes place in Chicago in the Latino section and is a coming of age memoir. It is about a girl that moves a-lot and lives in a poor neighborhood with her family and all of her life she has wanted the perfect house but it has never happened. She is raised in this street called mango street where she learns to love the place she never imagined she would ever adore. She had both hard and happy times with her family and friends in whom she has a story to tell about them and every person in Mango Street. But other than that she learns to adapt after years of pain and emptiness. It took her a long time to realize the importance of Mango Street but when actually realized it she was already gone, far away from her family and friends.

What I believe.

I believe that life is difficult,
but even more when you don't make an effort.

I believe that face book is addictive and I regret doing one.

I believe you should conserve electricity,
but no one does.

I believe in thinking outside the box.

I believe in taking a walk in a park and breathing in the fresh air of nature is life style.

I believe in Hail Mary passes can save a football game.

I believe in learning until I'm old and cant think anymore.

I believe the world could end at any second.

So at last,
I've come to the conclusion in which the ones that try,
are the ones that win.

Halloween Killer

It was October 31st in New York, Manhattan 12 O-clock at night, when the kids were out playing and celebrating Halloween, unaware that there would be a serial killer out there.
Its the next day the police department has called detective Samuel Lorenzo for a special case. There he was a 70 year old man in his house dead and stabed 20 times in the chest, cold, without any pulse. Detective Samuel knew this was no ordinary case, him and his partner Lewis were dealing with one sick son of a bitch. There was much dissension and different versions of what may had happened to the poor old man.
But Samuel didn't want to know more versions of what had happened instead he wanted to figure out what actually happened and did not rest till the killer was found. So he looked and looked meticulously through each room, using his intellagence and common sense untill he saw there on the carpet a foot print it looked as if the killer had no time to hide the evidence of the carpet and tried to put the rug back to normal but was in a hurry so left it how it was. As Detective Samuel starts examining the footprint his partner Lewis starts saying that the footprint was probebly the old mans footprint and to not bother examining it and thats when Samuel knew there was a possiblity that his partner Lewis could'v been the killer. Because everytime hes not working and not found a death happens. So Samuel starts questioning Lewis and Lewis gets nervous and denies what he was actually doing those nights he disappeared, in a offended tone. But there it was a blood staine on Lewis's shirt that was when Lewis had no more excuses to think of and the police quickly grabbed him and took him to the police department while they runned the blood samples. At the end the results were possitive and Lewis, the lost killer was sent to jail for the rest of his life and Samuel became, not just a role model for many detectives but was lionized by everyone in the police department, every detective now remembers Samuels case and was assimilated by other detectives.

World Ending?

Some people believe in conspiracy and they say the world will end in 2012 but then again they said the same thing was going to happen in the year 2000, and here I am writing this short short story. People also believe that the government is planing an anarchy against Venezuela and they will start bombing the country. But none of this will actually happen.
They also say that the government is hiding things from us like a UFO and a hidden facility in California called area 51 hiding the space craft. That is most likely not to be true. I do not apprehend the people that believe in conspiracy, but people have been doing it since the beginning of time so I guess its a part of their life and its something we have to live with.

Stradlater Script

                                      Ward Stradlater Script

-Hey … yeah I know him (combs his hair).

-We were roommates back in Pencey Prep. He was a real pain in the ass, but he still did me favors and homework, I didn’t have to worry about anything with him. Once he did this lousy essay for me talking about this story about some baseball mitt of his friend or something, things people don’t really care about. It made no sense at all.

-I even had to shut him up once real bad cuz of some girl he liked that I was dating… I don’t even remember her name.

-He was always alone and every time I came back from someplace he would be hanging out with some losers, like Ackley.

-Well I don’t know much from the kid he was always an antisocial type, always isolated from society and the fun.

-I didn’t hate him, I actually felt bad for him, you know.

-Like he got kicked out of 5 different schools according to the rumors and he was a failure in everything he did.

-He was lucky I went easy on him in the fight.

-Well I got better things to do…

"Innocent aren't they?"

My encounter with Holden was very strange, and yet serene. It started off like this:

I was walking down the streets of New York it almost seemed as if the streets were interminable:

I heard this music coming from a distance, the laughs and screams of children having fun. I keep walking towards the music and it gets louder and louder. I crossed the block and there it was, a carrousel.

 I stayed there for a while looking at it, reminding me of my childhood. Then this team clad in preppy clothes says to me:

 “Innocent aren’t they?”

 I didn’t feel like talking to such a strange person, but I responded to him anyways, to not be rude. Then we started talking about children and how fast they grow and turn into adults. But then he says to me,

“I wish they would stay like that forever and not turn into the phonies we are today”.

I knew then, something was wrong with him, he was no ordinary seventeen year old, he has been through excruciating times. Next he pulls out a cigarette and starts smoking and asks me if I want to get a drink with him. I rebuffed his invitation by saying no thanks and that I was coming from there, but that was a lie.

I said that because this guy is very nuts, because he told me that he flunked out of three schools and that he is avoiding going back home. I was a sage compared to him, then apparently his little sister appears well, see you around, in a concise manner and walks away.

I don’t know what happened afterwards; hopefully he went home and went for help. I felt bad for him, I honestly did. I think it’s going to take time of resilience to get normal again. The only thing I can say is “what a spontaneous person.”

Holden

Holden Sees success all around him,

Yet he fails to understand the importance of Hi-school.

Lonely, recluse, not really up to having fun unless he has to.

Holden, the teen in another world,

He never tries his best or makes an effort to get good grades, but still manages to be a hypocrite.

Holden,

The liar, he not only lies to everyone he even lies to himself.

Holden,

The teen that doesn’t care about anything.

Book Review

Band Of Brothers

Stephen E. Ambrose wrote an amazing, exciting, unforgettable story about World War 2 called Band Of Brothers. It is based on the men of Easy Company and their experience since the invasion in Normandy (France) to Hitler’s Eagles Nest in Berlin. This story is based on true events and true lives. The marine paratroopers jump off the airplanes during D-Day, some ready for combat, and some not ready. Either way they fought for days without sleep, the marines managed to take France. Already the marines had lost about 4000 men in the invasion and 2000 taking France. Capt. Winters, one of the leaders of Easy Company was called a “Quaker”, because he didn’t drink or smoke, Capt. Winters was a great soldier, he was always calm and quite but when he had to fight and take action he was another person a meaner, a more active person he was always the one that lead the way. So he faces problems along the way trying to find his company after landing in the wrong combat zone.  He encounters many Germans along the way, alone without a weapon, because it had fallen out of his bag while jumping out the plane, he sneaks passed them without them knowing. He had finally reunited with his men and his best friend Richard Nixon in a German outpost the Americans had taken. Many things went wrong in D-Day but they had won the fight, it had been successful. Easy Company had started to go inside Holland ready for another war.

Band Of Brothers, one of many books of World War 2 that show affection and emotion in the characters because they all are caring for one another. Stephen E. Ambrose has made many books about World War 2. Like one called D-Day which it about every detail of D-Day and not just the point of view of the paratroopers, also what happened in the days of training camp. Stephen E. Ambrose passed away in October 2002, but left many books that people still read and enjoy now days to realize what happened in 1944 to 1945.

My Father

The lost elephant of its herd.
The one that's late or never there. 


The know it all,

My ageless father.

My father has more experience than expected.

The flower that doesn’t bloom, 

the one that hides his rough childhood.

The one unaware of reality.

My father is a history book without end.

If its one thing my dad knows its history.

I have learned many things from him but he has not learned much from me.

The musician,
The teacher,

I have to admit he has a got talent but he says if 

I keep practicing guitar I can be even better.

Even though its hard for him to express himself,

I can tell he cares for me and wants the best for me.

My caring father.

Despite his defects and his mistakes he has lead me to be who I am today.

If You Kiss a Boy and Kate The Great

If You Kiss A Boy and Kate The Great.

“If You Kiss A Boy” and “Kate The Great”. Two amazing story’s, they are both coming of age story’s but in a different way. In these two story’s there is shown confusion, immaturity, and puberty, all in different ways.                                                                      

These coming of age story’s are bildungsromens. A bildungsromen is a genre in which it focuses on the growth of a teen from adolescence to adulthood. In these two story’s it tells about every teen in coming of age is feeling and they put things in which you can relate and agree with. Teens start to change, have problems with their parents, and situations in where they feel helpless and with no way out.

“If You Kiss A Boy” is a wonderful story in which focuses on a teens mind, discovering his sexuality, and making you want to know more about him. This story is about a teen named Joe discovering his true sexuality, not knowing how to react, he feels scared and confused and he messes up his friendship with his best friend . But Joe doesn’t want to end his friendship , so he accepts the fact that he is gay and hopes for the best.

Every teen at this age always have problems and confusion in their lives just like Joe the main character he is a confused teen, just as confused as Jamal, his best friend, after they kissed in the movies. Joe not knowing how to express himself sits still helplessly in his house wondering what would happen the next day in school when he would see Jamal.                                                                                                                                                    At this point of view we can say that Joe is confused and doesn’t know what to do in this situation, like many teens this age, they have a bad and pointless communication with their parents.

Every teen goes through this phase in their life, it is complicated and many teens react different to it, puberty. Joe  before going to bed thinks of what sexuality he really is and is aware that he has had thoughts that most teens don’t think. Joe not only has already passed through confusion he now realizes he is going through puberty because he is almost sure of what sex he like’s. He wakes up in the morning not hungry he still can’t keep his mind off what happened the day before. Joe goes to school and tries to make contact with Jamal, Jamal is avoids him.

Like puberty there are some that haven’t passed through it and can be immature. Immature people are not likely to understand when a person is going through puberty and they make it a hard time for that teen. Joe sits in the table he always sits in, and an immature teen named “Curt” finds out about Joe’s confusion and uses it against him. Then Joe explodes in fury and punches Curt in the face.

Memoir Monday

There has been a time in which I have felt despondent and helpless, but I never gave in.
The score was 40-42 we were losing the championship basketball league for second place.
there was 20 seconds left.
We start with the ball. My friend quickly passes the ball to me, and I run all the way to half court. Rite before I could pass the ball for the plan B tactic the ball is slammed out of my hands from a player of the other team, and they score.10 seconds are left and we are losing 40-44. I had already felt like giving in but before we started the play we called in a time out.
I saw everyone of my teammates around me and studied their faces of disappointment and grief.
That's when my coach came, and I remember the words clearly like if it had happened a few days ago.
"Don't give in boys, anything can happen in 10 seconds, if we lose it doesn't matter, I'm already proud that you made it to where we are, and I'm just glad that you gave it your best, and I want you guys to put up the best fight you can."
So as my team returned to their positions, we were already inspired, we were all ready to put up a good fight.
So in the end we gave it our best and tied, and we went into overtime, and after was when we lost.
Even though we lost for making it to second place, we gave it our best and you can tell the other team too. And maybe if we had a little more time we could have beaten them.
I learned that if you give it your best in something, you will feel good for yourself, and by making an effort your are making fun for yourself.

Poetry Friday

My older brother,
he lives so far away,
but still has been there for me,
when I needed him.

My older brother,
capable of getting any 20 year old girl he wanted.

Living with him would be a dream come true,
But I'm to much work for him.

He's graduating from the university in honors role,
and I'm not even close to getting an "A" in any class.

If I ever have a problem I talk to him,
he gives me advice, tips, and suggestions.
And if I follow them correctly they always turn out good.

My phycologist,
My friend,
My tutor,
My role model,
My older brother.

Slice Of Life

I just woke up, grumpy as the day before. My brother tells me a joke and I stay silent, and a few seconds later, I say "Why can't you stop being so retarded every morning." and then he replied "Why can't you just take a joke."I guess its true.
I always used to laugh at his jokes every morning, but not these days.
I don't know why but these days I have been waking up in a bad mood, and try to avoid everyone that lives in my house. It is probably because I have had a bad week.

I learned that if your having a bad day don't make it bad for someone else you don't gain anything.

Memoir Monday

Sometimes I think I can be a very distracted person ... well not sometimes most of the time.
Like I always find out about things late, because I'm to distracted.
Like once I decided to walk to Mc-Donald's and I had to cross the street.
But I'm on my phone, texting and and just walking not even knowing where I was going.
And before I knew it I was in the middle of the street walking and cars were passing by fast honking their horns. So I ran to the other side hoping that a car didn't hit me. I was lucky to realize that I was in the middle of the street , because I really could have gotten hit by a car. So I got to the other side and I thought about it inside the fast food restaurant and I thought to myself I could have gotten hurt real bad, and after that I decided to take extra attention in the street.
I learned that since I'm so distracted I have to be more cautious than others.

Puberty

Time flies,

You start to grow older, and as you grow

Older you mind as well.

You start to grow hair in places you thought

You would never grow hair in, But deep inside

You knew that change was aproching .

Pimples appear when you first wake up

On a sunny day , and you discover you have one

When you look in the mirror, and you don’t understand

What was going on.

Your voice changes and it becomes , darker,

Deeper, manlier, as if your were to turn into a frog.

Paper balls flying across the classroom,

And you’re the only one standing still, not laughing,

Thinking of how you have changed.

The day ends, and you wonder, and wonder,

And think about the things that have happened to you

Ever since you have turned 13.

“What’s happening to me?”, you say to your self

and knowing a bit of what you have talked with your parents

long ago you think to your self “that was fast”.