The narrator, Alice, has an epileptic seizure while singing in choir which causes her to stare at a boy named John. Later, while bike riding with her friend Nina, Alice and Nina are chased by some boys. Alice turns down a dead end alley and is attacked by the boys. John, who saw Alice pass by his house, comes to her rescue by speaking to the boys in Spanish and getting them to leave. John helps Alice but she is still distrustful of him due to her upbringing. Alice wonders what became of John and hopes he found love with someone who did not judge him for his ethnicity.
I spent the first two years telling people where I'm from and what I'm majoring in. I spent the last two years telling people that I have no idea what I'm going to do after college. I'm sick of people asking. I'm going to sell out and get a job that I don't like. Just like every one else. For all our hopes and dreams, for all the talk about changing the world, for all the promise we show, most of us will end up sitting behind a desk in a shitty cubical. Life ends at graduation.
This document appears to be the beginning of a story about a girl named Brianna. It describes Brianna waking up to find that her younger sister Cora is missing from their room at an orphanage. Brianna becomes panicked and frantic in her search for Cora. She confronts other children and her social worker, learning that Cora has been sent to live with a foster family temporarily due to concerns about Brianna's mental health and its impact on Cora. Brianna is devastated by this news and argues that she loves Cora and is the only family Cora has left after their parents died.
This document contains a collection of photos, memories, and reflections from Cheryl's life from childhood through adulthood. It discusses photos of Cheryl from age 8 to her 20s, memories of her grandparents and aunt who instilled important values in her. It also honors the memory of her close friend Edward and discusses how his death impacted her. Further memories are shared of other family and friends who have been important influences.
This summary provides an overview of the key events and developments in Chapter 20 of The Bradford Legacy:
1) Jan Bradford passes away alone at the Bradford farm while the rest of the family is out. Marsha finds her body when she returns home early.
2) Jefferson and the rest of the family are upset to learn that Jan died alone, though Marsha notes that Jan lived to spite the family. Jefferson decides they will not go into mourning for Jan like they did for Matthew.
3) Melanie continues recovering in Sarsimsota Springs but remains estranged from her son Sterling. Sterling finally reads Melanie's letters and realizes she has changed.
4) George writes to Melanie
The Pseudo Legacy - Chapter Four, Part TwelveOrikes 360
Persephone senses that her deceased son Ian is somehow alive again. She tells her husband Matthew, who is skeptical but agrees to support her. Meanwhile, Ori's friend tries to plan her wedding to Nate, who has always said he didn't want to get married. However, when Nate overhears the conversation, he surprises Ori by proposing to her. In another scene, Miranda and Dean celebrate their twins' first birthday with friends and family. Louise questions Dean about being from another dimension. He confirms her suspicions and explains he cannot return to his original home.
Howard questions Rosalie about her husband Bruce's suspected involvement with Simmunists. Rosalie is shocked by the evidence Howie shows her from the FBI's investigation file. She had no knowledge of Bruce's activities. Howie feels badly for Rosalie but says the investigation is ongoing. Rosalie is left worried about what will happen to Bruce given the treatment of suspected Simmunists.
Jefferson receives a package from Melanie containing the Bradford family engagement ring that she had kept for years. She apologizes and hopes the ring's return can help mend fences. James brings Cindy home to meet his family, and his mother Marsha takes an instant liking to her. James hints that he plans to propose to Cindy soon using the family ring. Meanwhile, Phily tells Jane the secret that she and Meadow were lifelong partners, not just friends, after Meadow suddenly passes away.
- Ichigo and Susan began their soul reaper training under Ani Mei at Shiz University. Ichigo exorcised his first Hollow.
- Ichabod was attacked by thralls and turned into a vampire by Kennedy against his will. Iago manipulated the situation and broke up Iracebeth's relationship.
- Ichabod struggles with guilt over becoming a vampire and isolates himself. His friends and family support him but he still feels like a burden. At his new home, he begins cooking for his housemates to try to help.
I spent the first two years telling people where I'm from and what I'm majoring in. I spent the last two years telling people that I have no idea what I'm going to do after college. I'm sick of people asking. I'm going to sell out and get a job that I don't like. Just like every one else. For all our hopes and dreams, for all the talk about changing the world, for all the promise we show, most of us will end up sitting behind a desk in a shitty cubical. Life ends at graduation.
This document appears to be the beginning of a story about a girl named Brianna. It describes Brianna waking up to find that her younger sister Cora is missing from their room at an orphanage. Brianna becomes panicked and frantic in her search for Cora. She confronts other children and her social worker, learning that Cora has been sent to live with a foster family temporarily due to concerns about Brianna's mental health and its impact on Cora. Brianna is devastated by this news and argues that she loves Cora and is the only family Cora has left after their parents died.
This document contains a collection of photos, memories, and reflections from Cheryl's life from childhood through adulthood. It discusses photos of Cheryl from age 8 to her 20s, memories of her grandparents and aunt who instilled important values in her. It also honors the memory of her close friend Edward and discusses how his death impacted her. Further memories are shared of other family and friends who have been important influences.
This summary provides an overview of the key events and developments in Chapter 20 of The Bradford Legacy:
1) Jan Bradford passes away alone at the Bradford farm while the rest of the family is out. Marsha finds her body when she returns home early.
2) Jefferson and the rest of the family are upset to learn that Jan died alone, though Marsha notes that Jan lived to spite the family. Jefferson decides they will not go into mourning for Jan like they did for Matthew.
3) Melanie continues recovering in Sarsimsota Springs but remains estranged from her son Sterling. Sterling finally reads Melanie's letters and realizes she has changed.
4) George writes to Melanie
The Pseudo Legacy - Chapter Four, Part TwelveOrikes 360
Persephone senses that her deceased son Ian is somehow alive again. She tells her husband Matthew, who is skeptical but agrees to support her. Meanwhile, Ori's friend tries to plan her wedding to Nate, who has always said he didn't want to get married. However, when Nate overhears the conversation, he surprises Ori by proposing to her. In another scene, Miranda and Dean celebrate their twins' first birthday with friends and family. Louise questions Dean about being from another dimension. He confirms her suspicions and explains he cannot return to his original home.
Howard questions Rosalie about her husband Bruce's suspected involvement with Simmunists. Rosalie is shocked by the evidence Howie shows her from the FBI's investigation file. She had no knowledge of Bruce's activities. Howie feels badly for Rosalie but says the investigation is ongoing. Rosalie is left worried about what will happen to Bruce given the treatment of suspected Simmunists.
Jefferson receives a package from Melanie containing the Bradford family engagement ring that she had kept for years. She apologizes and hopes the ring's return can help mend fences. James brings Cindy home to meet his family, and his mother Marsha takes an instant liking to her. James hints that he plans to propose to Cindy soon using the family ring. Meanwhile, Phily tells Jane the secret that she and Meadow were lifelong partners, not just friends, after Meadow suddenly passes away.
- Ichigo and Susan began their soul reaper training under Ani Mei at Shiz University. Ichigo exorcised his first Hollow.
- Ichabod was attacked by thralls and turned into a vampire by Kennedy against his will. Iago manipulated the situation and broke up Iracebeth's relationship.
- Ichabod struggles with guilt over becoming a vampire and isolates himself. His friends and family support him but he still feels like a burden. At his new home, he begins cooking for his housemates to try to help.
Ava, Saige's best friend, suggests they visit the local cemetery one night. During their visit, Ava asks Saige if she ever thinks about dying. Two nights later, Saige learns that Ava has killed herself. Devastated, Saige struggles to process her grief while caring for her baby sister. Looking through old photos of her and Ava, Saige misses her best friend and cannot believe that she is truly gone.
Quinn acted heroically but accidentally caused the death of Zane's wife Tina. Bella Goth has returned to work with Lillian. Puck Summerdream, a reaper-elf hybrid, had his powers stripped and is now mortal. He has been sentenced to die of old age as punishment for refusing his role as a reaper.
The document recaps the Devereaux Legacy story so far and introduces some new developments: Lillian is planning something mysterious with Thaddeus. Eden finally stood up to Mary, who then died. Erin has exciting news to share with Quinn at lunch. Quinn feels inadequate compared to his sister Erin, but Emily reassures him that he is equal and important as well.
Boolprop Round Robin Legacy Spare Story - Desdemona Doran Part TwoSilverBelle1220 .
Desdemona encounters a threatening vampire in the park who warns her not to let her father encroach on her territory. A mysterious man comes to Desdemona's aid and the vampire leaves. Later, Desdemona's cat Shadow scratches her arm unexpectedly. The next morning, Shadow is affectionate again. Several months later, Desdemona is playing solitaire at work between calls.
This document tells the story of Pawpaw Stephens through a young girl named Evann Webb's perspective. It describes how Pawpaw had a stroke initially and was later diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Over the next year, the effects of these illnesses took a toll on Pawpaw's health and abilities. Eventually, Pawpaw moved in with relatives for care and later entered hospice care. Evann had a difficult last visit with Pawpaw where he did not recognize her. Pawpaw then passed away. The document reflects on Pawpaw's life and influence on his family through stories and pictures. Evann comes to better understand Pawpaw's illnesses and finds comfort in memories of their time together
This summary provides an overview of the lives of several families in Simsfield after World War II. Rosalie and Bruce Thorne now have eight children keeping Rosalie busy. Shirley and Walter Gavigan only have one child, Dwight, which Shirley finds difficult. Alice and Nick Bradford are happy with their three children. Everyone remains concerned about the threat of communism and the Soviet Union.
This document summarizes fan reactions and stories about Zayn Malik's departure from One Direction in March 2015 based on contributions from various Tumblr users. It describes fans being devastated by the news and crying when they found out at school or elsewhere. It also discusses the ensuing social media exchanges between Zayn, Louis, and Naughty Boy, as well as a fan-led "Project No Control" to promote the One Direction song "No Control" in response to a lack of new music or promotion from the band.
This summary provides the key details from the document in 3 sentences:
Lindy is worried about leaving her son Michael alone while she and her husband Nick travel to Mali for a year. Michael has disabilities and Lindy worries about who will take care of him daily. The story also discusses Lindy's estranged relationship with her family and her spiritual beliefs as the founder of a New Age church.
Mia finds herself pregnant after being left at the altar by Juan. She is depressed but begins dating her old friend Zack, believing he will make a better partner. However, her siblings worry she is moving too fast and trying to replace Juan due to rebound feelings rather than genuine love for Zack. They stage an intervention, questioning if Mia truly loves Zack or is just rebounding, but Mia insists her feelings are real.
The Devereaux Legacy: Chapter Five - Part 5 (A)peasant007
The document provides an update on several characters from the Devereaux Legacy series. Karen is still dating Thaddeus but remains wary of Zane. Laurana has developed feelings for Vaughn Fitzhugh. Eden is in a relationship with Rhys Fitzhugh despite her mother's disapproval. Keith is happy with his new TARDIS. The document then focuses on Eden and Rhys' relationship and how Eden struggles with eating in front of him due to insecurity. Eden's mother Mary continues to disapprove of Rhys and hopes Eden will lose interest in him. The document also provides an update on Johnny Grunt who has been avoiding his ex-wife Ophelia but claims to have met someone new named Karen,
Violet bakes a cake for her mother Sophia's birthday, as Sophia is aging into an elder and will lose her ability to hide her elf features. At the party, Sophia blows out the candles and her glamour fades, revealing her ears and exposing her family. Meanwhile, Rick hears mocking voices as he packs up his deceased parents' belongings and prepares to renovate their room.
Dotty writes a letter to Alice recounting her memories of meeting and marrying Edward Haywood during World War 2. They met while Dotty was in college and fell in love, though Edward was soon deployed overseas. With little time left together, they decided to marry quickly in a small ceremony before he left. Dotty promises to move on with her life if anything happens to Edward, though hopes they will be reunited after the war ends.
The document summarizes a family gathering at the home of Miranda and Dean. It describes their children Ash, Ava, and Sam welcoming Miranda's friends Lance, Dwight, Scott, and Farnsworth, who are referred to as the "Numbni Sociation". Dean has made dinner in an attempt to prove he can cook. The family enjoys catching up over the meal before relaxing together in the living room.
- James Bradford, patriarch of the Bradford family, has passed away. His wife Cindy is struggling with grief and loneliness without him.
- Steven Bradford has entered politics at the encouragement of his wife Mary and been elected to the state legislature. James had concerns about Mary's influence over Steven.
- New babies continue to join the Bradford family, including Peggy giving birth to Curtis after Denise, and Mary giving birth to Nathan after Gregory. Cindy finds joy in her great-grandsons.
Donovan finds his aunt Lucinda waiting for him after his bath. She is worried about him but doesn't want to upset him. Donovan asks where his father Louis is and Ellie is. Lucinda reluctantly tells him that Louis and Ellie are locked in the cellar. Donovan is torn between his love for his father and not wanting Ellie to be harmed. He asks Lucinda for help with an idea to intervene in the cellar. In the cellar, Louis has Ellie pinned against the wall, preparing to kill her. But he is interrupted by Donovan asking to speak with him.
The children Erin, Quinn, and their friend Emily sneak out at night to take Emily to visit her father, who lives a few miles away. However, they get lost on the way. While trying to figure out their location, they encounter a strange man who threatens them. Erin punches the man and the children flee. They eventually find their way to Emily's father's apartment, but are unsure if he is actually home as the building looks run down.
Yakko's World OWBC - Mokuna Iwakalua KumakahiLady Lark
Palau explains to Robert that she has been avoiding him because she remembers him from a past life, but his memories are incomplete due to interference from the director. Palau finds this situation distressing given everything else she has gone through, such as dying and being resurrected. Robert is sympathetic but confused. Palau admits she likes Robert despite the complications, and asks if they can try to be friends.
The document summarizes a meeting between four Reapers - Oberon, Ilyena, Ruyven, and Owen - and their boss, Mr. Reaper. They discuss the status of a secret genetic experiment to create living Grim Reapers. Oberon reports success with his children Puck and Nichole showing Reaper abilities. However, he is concerned about forcing Puck to join against his will when he comes of age. Mr. Reaper insists they must ensure Puck cooperates with their plans.
1) The author relates her unusual first name "Alyne" and its meaning of "Woman of Distinction".
2) Her middle name "Dilek" means "Dream" in Turkish, reflecting her Turkish heritage.
3) She settled on the username "noblwish" which incorporates meanings from her first and middle names and has come to represent her "true name", as it reflects her noble intentions.
Ava, Saige's best friend, suggests they visit the local cemetery one night. During their visit, Ava asks Saige if she ever thinks about dying. Two nights later, Saige learns that Ava has killed herself. Devastated, Saige struggles to process her grief while caring for her baby sister. Looking through old photos of her and Ava, Saige misses her best friend and cannot believe that she is truly gone.
Quinn acted heroically but accidentally caused the death of Zane's wife Tina. Bella Goth has returned to work with Lillian. Puck Summerdream, a reaper-elf hybrid, had his powers stripped and is now mortal. He has been sentenced to die of old age as punishment for refusing his role as a reaper.
The document recaps the Devereaux Legacy story so far and introduces some new developments: Lillian is planning something mysterious with Thaddeus. Eden finally stood up to Mary, who then died. Erin has exciting news to share with Quinn at lunch. Quinn feels inadequate compared to his sister Erin, but Emily reassures him that he is equal and important as well.
Boolprop Round Robin Legacy Spare Story - Desdemona Doran Part TwoSilverBelle1220 .
Desdemona encounters a threatening vampire in the park who warns her not to let her father encroach on her territory. A mysterious man comes to Desdemona's aid and the vampire leaves. Later, Desdemona's cat Shadow scratches her arm unexpectedly. The next morning, Shadow is affectionate again. Several months later, Desdemona is playing solitaire at work between calls.
This document tells the story of Pawpaw Stephens through a young girl named Evann Webb's perspective. It describes how Pawpaw had a stroke initially and was later diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Over the next year, the effects of these illnesses took a toll on Pawpaw's health and abilities. Eventually, Pawpaw moved in with relatives for care and later entered hospice care. Evann had a difficult last visit with Pawpaw where he did not recognize her. Pawpaw then passed away. The document reflects on Pawpaw's life and influence on his family through stories and pictures. Evann comes to better understand Pawpaw's illnesses and finds comfort in memories of their time together
This summary provides an overview of the lives of several families in Simsfield after World War II. Rosalie and Bruce Thorne now have eight children keeping Rosalie busy. Shirley and Walter Gavigan only have one child, Dwight, which Shirley finds difficult. Alice and Nick Bradford are happy with their three children. Everyone remains concerned about the threat of communism and the Soviet Union.
This document summarizes fan reactions and stories about Zayn Malik's departure from One Direction in March 2015 based on contributions from various Tumblr users. It describes fans being devastated by the news and crying when they found out at school or elsewhere. It also discusses the ensuing social media exchanges between Zayn, Louis, and Naughty Boy, as well as a fan-led "Project No Control" to promote the One Direction song "No Control" in response to a lack of new music or promotion from the band.
This summary provides the key details from the document in 3 sentences:
Lindy is worried about leaving her son Michael alone while she and her husband Nick travel to Mali for a year. Michael has disabilities and Lindy worries about who will take care of him daily. The story also discusses Lindy's estranged relationship with her family and her spiritual beliefs as the founder of a New Age church.
Mia finds herself pregnant after being left at the altar by Juan. She is depressed but begins dating her old friend Zack, believing he will make a better partner. However, her siblings worry she is moving too fast and trying to replace Juan due to rebound feelings rather than genuine love for Zack. They stage an intervention, questioning if Mia truly loves Zack or is just rebounding, but Mia insists her feelings are real.
The Devereaux Legacy: Chapter Five - Part 5 (A)peasant007
The document provides an update on several characters from the Devereaux Legacy series. Karen is still dating Thaddeus but remains wary of Zane. Laurana has developed feelings for Vaughn Fitzhugh. Eden is in a relationship with Rhys Fitzhugh despite her mother's disapproval. Keith is happy with his new TARDIS. The document then focuses on Eden and Rhys' relationship and how Eden struggles with eating in front of him due to insecurity. Eden's mother Mary continues to disapprove of Rhys and hopes Eden will lose interest in him. The document also provides an update on Johnny Grunt who has been avoiding his ex-wife Ophelia but claims to have met someone new named Karen,
Violet bakes a cake for her mother Sophia's birthday, as Sophia is aging into an elder and will lose her ability to hide her elf features. At the party, Sophia blows out the candles and her glamour fades, revealing her ears and exposing her family. Meanwhile, Rick hears mocking voices as he packs up his deceased parents' belongings and prepares to renovate their room.
Dotty writes a letter to Alice recounting her memories of meeting and marrying Edward Haywood during World War 2. They met while Dotty was in college and fell in love, though Edward was soon deployed overseas. With little time left together, they decided to marry quickly in a small ceremony before he left. Dotty promises to move on with her life if anything happens to Edward, though hopes they will be reunited after the war ends.
The document summarizes a family gathering at the home of Miranda and Dean. It describes their children Ash, Ava, and Sam welcoming Miranda's friends Lance, Dwight, Scott, and Farnsworth, who are referred to as the "Numbni Sociation". Dean has made dinner in an attempt to prove he can cook. The family enjoys catching up over the meal before relaxing together in the living room.
- James Bradford, patriarch of the Bradford family, has passed away. His wife Cindy is struggling with grief and loneliness without him.
- Steven Bradford has entered politics at the encouragement of his wife Mary and been elected to the state legislature. James had concerns about Mary's influence over Steven.
- New babies continue to join the Bradford family, including Peggy giving birth to Curtis after Denise, and Mary giving birth to Nathan after Gregory. Cindy finds joy in her great-grandsons.
Donovan finds his aunt Lucinda waiting for him after his bath. She is worried about him but doesn't want to upset him. Donovan asks where his father Louis is and Ellie is. Lucinda reluctantly tells him that Louis and Ellie are locked in the cellar. Donovan is torn between his love for his father and not wanting Ellie to be harmed. He asks Lucinda for help with an idea to intervene in the cellar. In the cellar, Louis has Ellie pinned against the wall, preparing to kill her. But he is interrupted by Donovan asking to speak with him.
The children Erin, Quinn, and their friend Emily sneak out at night to take Emily to visit her father, who lives a few miles away. However, they get lost on the way. While trying to figure out their location, they encounter a strange man who threatens them. Erin punches the man and the children flee. They eventually find their way to Emily's father's apartment, but are unsure if he is actually home as the building looks run down.
Yakko's World OWBC - Mokuna Iwakalua KumakahiLady Lark
Palau explains to Robert that she has been avoiding him because she remembers him from a past life, but his memories are incomplete due to interference from the director. Palau finds this situation distressing given everything else she has gone through, such as dying and being resurrected. Robert is sympathetic but confused. Palau admits she likes Robert despite the complications, and asks if they can try to be friends.
The document summarizes a meeting between four Reapers - Oberon, Ilyena, Ruyven, and Owen - and their boss, Mr. Reaper. They discuss the status of a secret genetic experiment to create living Grim Reapers. Oberon reports success with his children Puck and Nichole showing Reaper abilities. However, he is concerned about forcing Puck to join against his will when he comes of age. Mr. Reaper insists they must ensure Puck cooperates with their plans.
1) The author relates her unusual first name "Alyne" and its meaning of "Woman of Distinction".
2) Her middle name "Dilek" means "Dream" in Turkish, reflecting her Turkish heritage.
3) She settled on the username "noblwish" which incorporates meanings from her first and middle names and has come to represent her "true name", as it reflects her noble intentions.
Wajid Hussain is seeking a position that allows him to utilize his knowledge and professional skills. He has over 15 years of experience in managerial roles managing accounts, operations, production, marketing, and auditing for various textile companies. He has a Master's degree in Computer Science and qualifications in Commerce. His skills include teamwork, problem solving, time management, and leadership.
The document discusses a question posed at a Toastmasters meeting about what type of tree each person would be. A young woman claimed there was only one right answer, the oak tree, and listed its supposed desirable traits. However, the author was struck by the insincerity of this answer. The author would answer that they are a mesquite tree, noting that while it may seem weak at first, it grows strong and provides sustenance for both humans and animals in many ways. The mesquite tree is misunderstood but resilient, adaptable, and has much to offer.
This document contains the resume of Dr. Ninad J. Moon, who has over 12 years of experience as a clinician, academician, researcher, and administrator in periodontology and oral implantology. He received his Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 1995 and Master of Dental Surgery in periodontology and implantology in 2001. He is currently the Vice Dean and Professor & Head of the Department of Periodontology & Oral Implantology at RKDF College and Research Centre in Bhopal, India. His resume outlines his educational qualifications, core competencies, professional experience, publications, community involvement, and skills.
Hosam Ali is an ambitious newly qualified dentist seeking a position with a dynamic dental practice. He has excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills. He holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Nahda University and has worked as a dentist since 2008, providing dental care and educating patients.
The document is a memoir written by Toni Mehler describing her childhood experiences growing up in South America as the daughter of Holocaust survivors. As a young woman, she is recruited by her friend Amir to secretly raise money for the Israeli army from the Jewish communities in South America composed of Holocaust survivors. She travels from community to community collecting donations in a leather attaché case handcuffed to her wrist to deliver to Israel, representing for the donors proof of their improbable survival and hope for the future of Israel.
The document is a memoir written by Toni Mehler about her childhood growing up in South America as the daughter of Holocaust survivors. As a young woman, she is recruited by Amir, a friend from her youth, to secretly raise money for the Israeli army by visiting Jewish communities in South America composed of Holocaust survivors. She finds the communities hidden behind thick walls and the survivors eagerly donate what money they can, seeing her as proof of their own survival.
Eye contact activates social and emotional areas of the brain. A study using brain scanning found that making eye contact with another person simultaneously activates regions in both people's brains related to social interaction and empathy. The document then transitions to an unrelated first-person narrative about a teenage boy on a camping trip where he interacts with and develops feelings for a girl his age.
30J a m e s B a l d w i nJames Baldwin (1924–1987) wa.docxgilbertkpeters11344
30
J a m e s B a l d w i n
James Baldwin (1924–1987) was born the son of a clergyman in Harlem, where
he attended Public School 24, Frederick Douglass Junior High School, and
DeWitt Clinton High School. While still a high school student he preached at the
Fireside Pentecostal Assembly, but when he was seventeen he renounced the
ministry. Two years later, living in Greenwich Village, he met who encouraged
him to be a writer and helped him win a Eugene Saxton Fellowship. Soon after-
ward Baldwin moved to France, as had, to escape the stifling racial oppression
he found in the United States. Although France was his more or less permanent
residence until his death from cancer nearly forty years later, Baldwin regarded
himself as a “commuter” rather than an expatriate:
Only white Americans can consider themselves to be expatriates. Once I
found myself on the other side of the ocean, I could see where I came from
very clearly, and I could see that I carried myself, which is my home, with me.
You can never escape that. I am the grandson of a slave, and I am a writer. I
must deal with both.
Baldwin began his career by publishing novels and short stories. In 1953 Go
Tell It on the Mountain, his first novel, was highly acclaimed. It was based on his
childhood in Harlem and his fear of his tyrannical father. Baldwin’s frank depic-
tion of homosexuality in the novels Giovanni’s Room (1956) and Another Country
(1962) drew criticism, but during the civil rights movement a few years later, he
established himself as a brilliant essayist. In his lifetime Baldwin published sev-
eral collections of essays, three more novels, and a book of five short stories,
Going to Meet the Man (1965).
“Sonny’s Blues,” from that collection, is one of Baldwin’s strongest psycholog-
ical dramatizations of the frustrations of African American life in our time. Like
Wright’s autobiographical books, Baldwin’s work is an inspiration to young writers
struggling to express their experience of racism. The African writer Chinua Achebe
said that “as long as injustice exists . . . the words of James Baldwin will be there to
bear witness and to inspire and elevate the struggle for human freedom.”
Related CommentaRy
James Baldwin, “Autobiographical Notes,” page 884.
03_CHA_6555_pt01_pp0006-0086.indd 30 30/05/14 10:14 AM
11/23/2015 - RS0000000000000000000000115248 (New User) - The
Story and Its Writer, Compact
chenhuihu
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chenhuihu
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31
Sonny’s Blues
19 5 7
i read abouT iT in the paper, in the subway, on my way to work. I read it,
and I couldn’t believe it, and I read it again. Then perhaps I just stared at it, at
the newsprint spelling out his name, spelling out the story. I stared at it in the
swinging lights of the subway car, and in the faces and bodies of the people,
and in my own face, trapped in the darkness which roared outside.
It was not to be believed and I kept telling myself that, as I walked from the
subway stati.
30James BaldwinJames Baldwin (1924–1987) was born the .docxgilbertkpeters11344
30
James Baldwin
James Baldwin (1924–1987) was born the son of a clergyman in Harlem, where
he attended Public School 24, Frederick Douglass Junior High School, and
DeWitt Clinton High School. While still a high school student he preached at the
Fireside Pentecostal Assembly, but when he was seventeen he renounced the
ministry. Two years later, living in Greenwich Village, he met who encouraged
him to be a writer and helped him win a Eugene Saxton Fellowship. Soon after-
ward Baldwin moved to France, as had, to escape the stifling racial oppression
he found in the United States. Although France was his more or less permanent
residence until his death from cancer nearly forty years later, Baldwin regarded
himself as a “commuter” rather than an expatriate:
Only white Americans can consider themselves to be expatriates. Once I
found myself on the other side of the ocean, I could see where I came from
very clearly, and I could see that I carried myself, which is my home, with me.
You can never escape that. I am the grandson of a slave, and I am a writer. I
must deal with both.
Baldwin began his career by publishing novels and short stories. In 1953 Go
Tell It on the Mountain, his first novel, was highly acclaimed. It was based on his
childhood in Harlem and his fear of his tyrannical father. Baldwin’s frank depic-
tion of homosexuality in the novels Giovanni’s Room (1956) and Another Country
(1962) drew criticism, but during the civil rights movement a few years later, he
established himself as a brilliant essayist. In his lifetime Baldwin published sev-
eral collections of essays, three more novels, and a book of five short stories,
Going to Meet the Man (1965).
“Sonny’s Blues,” from that collection, is one of Baldwin’s strongest psycholog-
ical dramatizations of the frustrations of African American life in our time. Like
Wright’s autobiographical books, Baldwin’s work is an inspiration to young writers
struggling to express their experience of racism. The African writer Chinua Achebe
said that “as long as injustice exists . . . the words of James Baldwin will be there to
bear witness and to inspire and elevate the struggle for human freedom.”
Related CommentaRy
James Baldwin, “Autobiographical Notes,” page 884.
03_CHA_6555_pt01_pp0006-0086.indd 30 30/05/14 10:14 AM
11/23/2015 - RS0000000000000000000000115248 (New User) - The
Story and Its Writer, Compact
31
Sonny’s Blues
1957
i read abouT iT in the paper, in the subway, on my way to work. I read it,
and I couldn’t believe it, and I read it again. Then perhaps I just stared at it, at
the newsprint spelling out his name, spelling out the story. I stared at it in the
swinging lights of the subway car, and in the faces and bodies of the people,
and in my own face, trapped in the darkness which roared outside.
It was not to be believed and I kept telling myself that, as I walked from the
subway station to the high school. And at the same time I couldn’t .
1) The document is a story about Olivia, who was orphaned as a child and adopted by a wealthy family in Moldova. She grew obsessed with her adopted brother David and felt anger towards his girlfriend Claire.
2) Olivia secretly grew the poisonous plant monkshood and tricked Claire into rubbing its leaves on an open cut, poisoning her. Claire became ill and died, though the cause was initially unknown.
3) An autopsy later revealed the cause of death was aconite poisoning from monkshood. Olivia's adopted sister Anna, who had botanical knowledge, was banished under suspicion of the murder.
The narrator loses his 3-year-old sister Mia at Disneyworld after becoming distracted seeing his favorite characters Buzz and Woody. He panicked and cried as police searched for over 20 minutes until finally finding Mia wandering alone in another part of the park. The narrator learned an important lesson about responsibility from this traumatic experience.
Walking Wounded Young ACOAWhat do th.docxjoyjonna282
Walking Wounded: Young ACOA
What do these people have in common? Formerpresident Ronald Reagan. ex-Dallas CowboyHollywood Henderson. Writer Lorian Hemingway,granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway. ComedianLouie Anderson. Actress Susan Sullivan Formerhockey star Derek Sanderson. And performerSuzanne Somers.
Hello. I'm Robin Young, and like everyone I justnamed, I grew up in an alcoholic home. Now Iknow some of you may remember me as a co-host of EveningMagazine, a formercorrespondent for NBC News, but now I also referto myself as something called an adult child of analcoholic.
Now I know that doesn't make sense at first. Adultchild. What does that mean? But please listen,because tonight's program may make somepeople's lives make sense, some for the first time.
We're going to be talking about adults confrontingthe fact that the alcoholism they grew up with wasnot only very painful when they were children, buthas had a profound effect on them as adults.
And this alcoholism isn't always easy to see. I mean, sure, there's the violent drunk that you seeon television, but we're also talking about the silenthomes where kids grew up in constant fear thatthere would be violence, that Mom would fallasleep drunk with a cigarette or Dad have a caraccident driving home. No one ever talked aboutit, and these kids always thought it was their fault.
I know alcoholism wasn't even mentioned in myhome until my dad died from it three years ago.And even then it was hard for me to talk about,until I heard other people's voices.
He was a really sort of Jekyll/Hyde personality.When he wasn't drinking he was charming andbright and insightful. And when he was drinking hewas angry.
I believe my father's alcoholic. And I love himdearly and I can't get him sober. And he thinkshe's just a boozer.
My childhood was normal to me. Craziness,violence, hitting, screaming, crying, staying up allnight. All those things were just our normal life.
Confusion is why I couldn't figure things out. Whycan't I figure out the confusion? So I wasconfused about the confusion.
I used to think that a bolt of lightning was going tocome and crash down on me if I talked about it.
Once it was easy for people to see me on theoutside and think that things were going OK. Thelast year things just went dramatically downhill.
I thought if I was a better kid that maybe hewouldn't drink.
Now I know, because I was one once, that thereare some cynics out there. Someone recentlywrote that it feels as if we're about to have supportgroups for third cousins of excessive sherrydrinkers. How important is this?
Well, there are 28 million Americans who have atleast one alcoholic parent. That's one out of eight.And most of the people that we're talking abouthave worked very hard at looking really good sono one knows there's a problem until their livesjust fall apart and marriages break up or they'reprofoundly depressed and they don't know why.
We get a lot of mixed signals about alcohol in thiscountry, so this program ...
This document summarizes a short story about a garden party hosted by the narrator's niece. The party is for recent graduates and features a barbecue and DJ. The narrator feels slightly out of place due to the age gap but helps oversee the event. He notices one shy, awkward girl named Trixie Lixivium who is ostracized. Feeling sorry for her, the narrator tries talking to Trixie but finds the conversation boring and rejoins the lively party.
1) The author recounts how their dog Petey and cat Milo, who they disliked, came to comfort them one night when they were crying outside feeling lonely and upset. Petey and Milo sat with the author, providing silent comfort.
2) This experience taught the author about forgiveness, kindness and understanding others. It showed that even when human family are too busy, animals can still show love and care.
3) The night Petey and Milo comforted the author is one of the most important memories, as it helped them learn an important life lesson about finding happiness through understanding rather than resentment of others.
Sonnys BluesI read about it in the paper, in the subway, on m.docxrafbolet0
Sonny's Blues
I read about it in the paper, in the subway, on my way to work. I read it, and I couldn't believe it, and I read it again. Then perhaps I just stared at it, at the newsprint spelling out his name, spelling out the story. I stared at it in the swinging lights of the subway car, and in the faces and bodies of the people, and in my own face, trapped in the darkness which roared outside.
It was not to be believed and I kept telling myself that, as I walked from the subway station to the high school. And at the same time I couldn't doubt it. I was scared, scared for Sonny. He became real to me again. A great block of ice got settled in my belly and kept melting there slowly all day long, while I taught my classes algebra. It was a special kind of ice. It kept melting, sending trickles of ice water all up and down my veins, but it never got less. Sometimes it hardened and seemed to expand until I felt my guts were going to come spilling out or that I was going to choke or scream. This would always be at a moment when I was remembering some specific thing Sonny had once said or done.
When he was about as old as the boys in my classes his face had been bright and open, there was a lot of copper in it; and he'd had wonderfully direct brown eyes, and great gentleness and privacy. I wondered what he looked like now. He had been picked up, the evening before, in a raid on an apartment down-town, for peddling and using heroin.
I couldn't believe it: but what I mean by that is that I couldn't find any room for it anywhere inside me. I had kept it outside me for a long time. I hadn't wanted to know. I had had suspicions, but I didn't name them, I kept putting them away. I told myself that Sonny was wild, but he wasn't crazy. And he'd always been a good boy, he hadn't ever turned hard or evil or disrespectful, the way kids can, so quick, so quick, especially in Harlem. I didn't want to believe that I'd ever see my brother going down, coming to nothing, all that light in his face gone out, in the condition I'd already seen so many others. Yet it had happened and here I was, talking about algebra to a lot of boys who might, every one of them for all I knew, be popping off needles every time they went to the head. Maybe it did more for them than algebra could.
I was sure that the first time Sonny had ever had horse, he couldn't have been much older than these boys were now. These boys, now, were living as we'd been living then, they were growing up with a rush and their heads bumped abruptly against the low ceiling of their actual possibilities. They were filled with rage. All they really knew were two darknesses, the darkness of their lives, which was now closing in on them, and the darkness of the movies, which had blinded them to that other darkness, and in which they now, vindictively, dreamed, at once more together than they were at any other time, and more alone.
When the last bell rang, the last class ended, I let out my breath. It se.
- The narrator found a diary as a child and wrote explicit fictional stories about wanting to have sex with his neighbor Linda to create a scandalous secret.
- His mother found the diary and took it seriously, wanting to discuss it with Linda to help the narrator through a "turbulent time."
- The narrator was humiliated to later find his mother and Linda having a patronizing talk with him about sexuality and lesbians, not understanding it was made up.
- Looking back as an adult, the narrator finds it amusing and got the secret he wanted after all by sharing the embarrassing childhood story.
A piano is delivered to a family's home in the late 19th century. The narrator begins hearing the piano play at night despite it being locked up. Their mother dismisses it as the cats playing on the keys. Later at a hotel, the narrator asks about a cat they had been hearing but the staff say they have no cat. The narrator develops an interest in the supernatural from a young age after watching Scooby-Doo.
Sonnys BluesSonnys BluesSonnys BluesSonnys Blues I.docxrafbolet0
Sonny's BluesSonny's BluesSonny's BluesSonny's Blues
I read about it in the paper, in the subway, on my way to work. I read it, and I couldn't believe
it, and I read it again. Then perhaps I just stared at it, at the newsprint spelling out his name,
spelling out the story. I stared at it in the swinging lights of the subway car, and in the faces
and bodies of the people, and in my own face, trapped in the darkness which roared
outside.
It was not to be believed and I kept telling myself that, as I walked from the subway station
to the high school. And at the same time I couldn't doubt it. I was scared, scared for Sonny.
He became real to me again. A great block of ice got settled in my belly and kept melting
there slowly all day long, while I taught my classes algebra. It was a special kind of ice. It
kept melting, sending trickles of ice water all up and down my veins, but it never got less.
Sometimes it hardened and seemed to expand until I felt my guts were going to come
spilling out or that I was going to choke or scream. This would always be at a moment when I
was remembering some specific thing Sonny had once said or done.
When he was about as old as the boys in my classes his face had been bright and open,
there was a lot of copper in it; and he'd had wonderfully direct brown eyes, and great
gentleness and privacy. I wondered what he looked like now. He had been picked up, the
evening before, in a raid on an apartment down-town, for peddling and using heroin.
I couldn't believe it: but what I mean by that is that I couldn't find any room for it anywhere
inside me. I had kept it outside me for a long time. I hadn't wanted to know. I had had
suspicions, but I didn't name them, I kept putting them away. I told myself that Sonny was
wild, but he wasn't crazy. And he'd always been a good boy, he hadn't ever turned hard or
evil or disrespectful, the way kids can, so quick, so quick, especially in Harlem. I didn't want
to believe that I'd ever see my brother going down, coming to nothing, all that light in his
face gone out, in the condition I'd already seen so many others. Yet it had happened and
here I was, talking about algebra to a lot of boys who might, every one of them for all I knew,
be popping off needles every time they went to the head. Maybe it did more for them than
algebra could.
I was sure that the first time Sonny had ever had horse, he couldn't have been much older
than these boys were now. These boys, now, were living as we'd been living then, they were
growing up with a rush and their heads bumped abruptly against the low ceiling of their
actual possibilities. They were filled with rage. All they really knew were two darknesses, the
darkness of their lives, which was now closing in on them, and the darkness of the movies,
which had blinded them to that other darkness, and in which they now, vindictively,
dreamed, at once more together than they were at any other time, and more .
The document is a collection of 8 short stories or reflections from the perspective of a single narrator. The stories touch on themes of family, friendship, love, emotions, and finding meaning in life's simple moments. In one story, the narrator recalls fond childhood memories of lazy mornings spent with their parents and siblings. In another, the narrator finds comfort and understanding during silent moments spent with a loved one. An overarching theme across the stories is using life's challenges to cultivate appreciation, wisdom, and peace.
This summary provides context and key details from the document in 3 sentences:
The document is the beginning of a chapter that introduces the main character, Amir, as he arrives in Prague for a study abroad program, hoping to find passion again after a disenchanting freshman year of college. At the airport, Amir meets Catherine and they begin joking and bantering, forming an early connection. The chapter sets the scene for Amir's semester in Prague as he arrives feeling unfulfilled by his studies so far but intrigued by his new surroundings and his interaction with Catherine.
1. John To Thank
by Alyne Harding
Brown eyes. That's what I first noticed when I came to my senses. Soft, kind,
concerned, and as deep as they were dark. Surrounding those eyes was a round face,
olive complexion, with a slightly pointed chin - almost elfin. The face was neither
smiling nor frowning… just staring curiously. A fringe of short, nearly-black hair framed
the face of the pseudo-stranger, a boy in the class ahead of me. For a moment, I
wondered why he was staring at me… then I realized it was because I was staring at
HIM! Dangit… I'd done it again.
For the past year, I'd been having these strange episodes, almost like hallucinations,
but they were usually accompanied by intense physical discomfort. Unless the
discomfort became so overwhelming that I couldn't sit still, I might easily have one
without anyone near me taking notice - unless, of course, if I was in the middle of a
sentence when one began, at which point I'd start speaking gibberish. What I didn't know
then (and wouldn't know for many years after) was that I was suffering from Temporal
Lobe Epilepsy and that these episodes - “flashbacks” I called them because they
reminded me of half-remembered dreams - were a type of mild seizure. They'd come on
with little warning and I'd find myself utterly fixated on the sights and sounds that I
KNEW were not real, only barely aware of my actual surroundings. I kept hoping,
eventually, something I saw or heard might give me a clue as to what they meant - such
as, was I crazy or possessed or maybe even some kind of psychic? I had a vivid
imagination back then. But I only mention all this because I was having one of my
“flashbacks” when I began reluctantly and unwittingly staring at the sweet-faced boy,
thus humiliating myself to no end!
Unlike most 7th grade girls, I wasn't generally the boy-crazy type. My standards
were higher than my hometown, nestled in the southern half of the Texas Gulf Coastal
Bend, could ever hope to produce. I was too much of a tomboy, too much of a geek and,
to be honest, a bit of a snob. I wasn't taken to giggling over cowboys or getting stuck in
the mud on some back road after a rainstorm and while I loved climbing trees and playing
with flea-bitten dogs, the stench of the Annual Livestock Show, which was the social
event of the year in my town, made me nauseous. To make matters worse, I was
forbidden from flirting with, much less dating, well over half of the local population.
Mine was one of the last Anglo families to stubbornly refuse to leave town after members
of the Hispanic political party, La Raza, took over the school board. Even so, I was never
once allowed to attend the public school or swim at the public pool. I was a student at St.
Michael's Parochial Academy… and my family actually belonged to a private pool that
unashamedly excluded anyone with a Hispanic last name.
I was standing in the choir loft of the chapel when the unfortunate staring incident
took place. I'd been engrossed by the angelic sounds of the organ and the otherworldly
colors of the stained glass, neither of which the Baptist church my family attended ever
quite mastered, when the seizure hit. I was supposed to be singing, along with a few
dozen other 12-13 year olds, but I never got a chance to start before I was swept up in
2. another experience entirely, my eyes traveling unfocused towards my lower right where
the far side of the choir stands curved. The instant I realized where, and for how long,
my gaze had lingered, I immediately jerked my head forward and tried very hard not to
turn several hundred shades of red. I failed… my father was Scots-Irish, after all.
It seemed, for the rest of the day, that I was uncommonly aware of the boy I'd been
staring at. I'd hardly noticed him before, but now I sensed his every move in the chapel,
on the playground and at lunch in the cafeteria. It was driving me crazy! Finally, I asked
my friend, Nina, “Hey, ya' know that guy whose desk I sit in when we go to Mrs. Daniels'
class?” Nina hadn't a clue, so I asked another lunch-buddy, “Micky? You know him?”
“He's Mexican, right?” Typical. That was always the first thing we Anglo girls were
trained to notice.
“Um, I dunno,” I said. “I mean, he's kinda dark-complected, and I don't remember
his name, but I saw it on his books one day and it wasn't... um, Hispanic.”
Finally, Nina tuned in. “Oh, you're talking about John?” Nina knew everyone in
town. Her mom ran a beauty shop out of their home, so Nina was always up on all the
gossip. “That's John Dorn. Yeah, he's kinda cute, for a Mes'kin.” Again, typical. Most
of my friends had grown up around Spanish-speakers, yet half of us, myself included,
could barely pronounce a single word correctly, let alone consider ourselves fluent. I
started to point out that “Dorn” was hardly a Hispanic name, but Nina insisted, “Well,
he's gotta be at least HALF Mes'kin. Either way, YOUR folks would have a cow if they
knew you liked him!”
I totally back-pedaled. “I didn't SAY I liked him! It's just... well... gosh, this is so
embarrassing. Ya' know how I sometimes kinda tune out and stare into space for a
while? Well I did that today... in choir... and when I came to, I was staring RIGHT at
him... John, that is. And he was staring BACK at me! I mean, I never really noticed him
before, but now I'll bet he just KNOWS I like him... but I don't. I mean, I don't DISlike
him but... like you said... Mom and Dad would FREAK!”
“Your GRANDMOTHER would freak,” Micky was quick to point out. My mother's
parents were very influential in the region. They had certain standards for their children
and grandchildren, especially my grandmother who was born in Mississippi! John
couldn't possibly meet those standards - not even if he were a millionaire… or a crown
prince.
“Oh, don't even go there!”
Nina was loving this, “Awww, our own little Romeo & Juliet!”
“Cut it out, Nina! What if he thinks I like him and my family finds out? They'd
NEVER believe me!” I had a tendency toward the dramatic at that age. “They never
believe anything I say, whether I'm telling the truth or not.”
3. Micky, a fellow Baptist, suddenly got preachy on me, “Why are you so concerned? It
doesn't matter what anybody thinks. You know the truth. Isn't that what Bro. Tim
preached last Sunday?” What a crock! Micky rarely ever sat with us at lunch because
her “best friend,” Casey, was so demanding and insecure that she didn't want Micky to
have ANY other friends. Fortunately for us, Casey was out sick that day, but that didn't
stop me from pointing out the flaw in Micky's sermon. Of course, she had an answer for
everything. “Casey's... complicated, but I wouldn't have a life at all without her. My
folks are a LOT more controlling than yours, Alice.” I found that hard to believe.
“Casey's mom and mine used to teach together, so my folks trust hers and I get to have
some fun. It's totally worth it.”
“Whatever.”
Lunch was over. Mrs. Daniels' class was next. “Moment of truth!” Nina teased. I
was starting to wish I could be out sick. Any second, I just might GET sick!
Micky came to my rescue, “Lay off, Nina. Alice, relax. The more you act weird, the
more he's gonna think something's up. May as well go with it.”
“Mm'k.” I struck my best nonchalant posture and impassive expression and entered
the classroom behind Nina and Micky. My detached façade immediately fell flat when I
saw that John was still seated at his desk… MY desk for the next hour! He was writing
furiously in a leather-bound journal with a determined look on his face and the remains of
his brown bag lunch in the crook of his elbow. I couldn't think of a way to stall without
looking suspicious and he wouldn't be leaving before I reached him, otherwise.
Fabulous.
I leaned against the wall next to his desk and tried to pretend like nothing was
different from any other day before. Eventually, Mrs. Daniels spoke up, “John, hurry up,
now. Another student needs your seat and you mustn't keep Sister Bautista waiting.” He
looked up and gave me a quick, shy smile. I returned the same as he gathered his things
and stood up, just a little too close to me for comfort. I shuddered involuntarily. Nina
muffled a giggle one desk over and I shot her what I hoped was a murderous look - truth
be told, it probably came across more like... martyred.
As I sat at John's desk and felt the warmth he'd left behind, I remembered my mother
telling me that, in times past, a lady always waited a moment or two before taking a seat
vacated by a gentleman so that the scandalous exchange of body heat would not take
place. I rolled my eyes and suppressed a snort. My next thought was grateful that I knew
enough about the facts of life not to worry that such an exchange could cause an STD, or
worse, pregnancy - then so embarrassed myself with these thoughts that I buried my
reddening face in my hands. How ironic that, in just a few days time, John, with his
knowledge of an “objectionable” culture and fluency in an “undesirable” tongue, would
save me from a fate worse than death.
4. Nina came over the following Saturday to go bike-riding with me. Now, Nina had an
average figure for a 12 year old. I, however, did not. For a girl who still preferred to
play with dolls rather than makeup, I sure got hit on by a lot of grown men! For this
reason, my mother censored my wardrobe rather strictly and never allowed me to wear
shorts while bike-riding alone. But Nina was SUCH a fashion victim! She begged me,
and by extension, my mother, to put away my culottes and wear the shorts she bought me
for my birthday that matched hers. Mom conceded and off we went.
We weren't more than a block or two from the house when they descended. Four
boys on two bikes, aged anywhere from 12 to 17, began stalking us, herding, threatening
and laughing at our innocently appalled reactions to their lewd gestures and comments.
We'd always been warned that the kids on the other side of the tracks, all of whom were
Hispanic, began experimenting with sex and drugs at a VERY young age. Now, we were
seeing the proof for ourselves! I didn't know what the boys were on, but it was obvious
what they wanted to do. Nina wanted us to go back home, but that way was blocked and
anyway I didn't want them knowing where I lived. We took off toward her aunt's house,
instead, peddling as fast as we could. The boys were faster, even with each bike carrying
one kid on the handlebars. They managed to get us separated. Nina made a beeline for
her aunt's and the boys chasing her curved around and headed back towards me!
I headed onto a street I wasn't too familiar with. While this street was on the better
side of the tracks, it was still mostly populated by Hispanics; granted, they were generally
a more educated class than those on the other side. Looking back, I would swear the next
few minutes went by in slow motion! I passed a house on a corner where a boy was
watering the lawn. As I frantically glanced at the boy, I recognized him… it was John. I
said a brief prayer that he might, somehow, be smart enough and brave enough and care
enough to come to my aid, but I held out little hope. Why should he? I was just some
crazy girl from an uppity family that stared at him like a statue! I turned another corner
and barely repressed a shriek when I realized I'd hit a dead end. Even the alleyway was
obstructed by barbed wire and the surrounding buildings all looked abandoned. I could
make a run for it, but I'd not only forfeit my bike, I'd suffer some serious cuts on that
wire, assuming I made it there at all.
As I slammed on my brakes, the bike skidded out from under me and I found myself
face down in the gravel, sharp pains shooting from my knees and elbows and palms. I
felt strong, rough hands on me, some of them pulling, some of them pushing, like they
couldn't decide how they wanted me or who would go first. All of them were speaking
Spanish and I wished to God I knew what they were saying and could plead for my
freedom in their own language, not that it would do me a lot of good. I probably didn't
really want to know what they had planned for me, anyway, although it might have
helped me form some sort of last-minute escape.
The next thing I knew, I heard a not-unfamiliar voice, speaking VERY unfamiliar
words and in a tone I found both comforting and frightening. I looked up toward the
alleyway and saw John standing there, breathing heavily, but trying to stay calm. He
must have leapt over the wire. His posture was authoritative, challenging. He had a hard
5. look in his eyes - not at all like the expression on his face in the chapel. Based on his
gestures, I think I understood him to say something that indicated I belonged to him.
Suddenly, the hands were off of me. My attackers were moving away, back to their own
bikes, shrugging and smirking and half-apologizing to us both. In a moment, they were
gone.
For the first time, he actually spoke to me, “I didn't mean what I said. I hope you
know that.”
“Um… what did you say? I - I don't speak Spanish.”
“Ah, just as well. You'd have taken offense, I'm sure. I just said what I had to to get
them to leave you alone.”
He helped me up and righted my bike, offered me first aid, but I was still too well-
trained in the art of discrimination to accept, especially since his mother wasn't home. I
think he knew that and I hated myself for distrusting him, for treating him as if he were
no better than my would-be attackers and yet, I couldn't provoke myself to do otherwise.
I thanked him and limped home. Nina met up with me about half-way there. I didn't tell
her what happened - just pretended that I'd outrun them, they got bored and then I fell.
We only had another few weeks before school was out. John and I never spoke
again, although we occasionally shared a look and maybe, once or twice, a smile. St.
Michael's only goes as far as the 8th grade, so he wasn't back the next year. Nina told me
his mom sent him to live with his father in Houston because she, too, was concerned
about the local school system.
I've always wondered what became of him, did he succeed, did he find true love
with someone who didn't judge him by his DNA? I hope so. He certainly deserved it. I
mean, we all do, but John especially so. I've wondered, also, if we might have been
friends in another place… or time. Twenty-five years later, my own pre-school-aged
daughter already has two “boyfriends” and neither of them are Anglo - not purely,
anyway. I guess I should congratulate myself for that, or maybe, once again, I have John
to thank.