tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5903447163631273462024-03-08T10:17:24.265-08:00Senior ShortsFlash fiction. Short stories. Fighting.Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-30991764990939041712014-03-06T21:52:00.001-08:002014-03-08T22:07:35.930-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-39021172949329243302014-03-06T20:43:00.003-08:002014-03-08T14:55:34.254-08:00A Plea for Silence by Eloisa Lopez<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eu06lI9W9Kk/UxtfwgrZBJI/AAAAAAAAAtc/zBKaO_bs164/s1600/librarygirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eu06lI9W9Kk/UxtfwgrZBJI/AAAAAAAAAtc/zBKaO_bs164/s1600/librarygirl.jpg" height="320" width="241" /></span></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Plea for Silence<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">By Eloisa Lopez<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The sound of the bell brought a smile to her face and silence to the library. She had spent half an hour dealing with student complaints and requests; thereby, her patience had been destroyed. Once the last student exited through the door, she sighed in relief and enjoyed the tranquility that remained.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">As the librarian took out the moist sandwich from her lunch bag, she saw a student approaching the door. Her facial expression experienced a drastic transformation. The happiness she had reflected moments before vanished instantly. She saw a student looking through the glass opening of the door and she let out a sigh of frustration. The librarian then put her sandwich down and stood up from the three legged stool. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, Eloisa approached the front desk while looking at the ground as if avoiding eye contact. "May I use a computer?" she asked as she clumsily looked through her bag in search of her student I.D.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Shouldn´t you be in class?" responded the librarian.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I was testing. I couldn't come during lunch," said Eloisa while taking her I.D out of her bag. "I need to print an assignment,” she added, “it is due today."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">"That is not my concern,” responded the librarian, “I am on my lunch break, young lady."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Eloisa looked at the clock while the librarian glanced at the open book in front of her. She had been reading the book since the previous day and was anxious to continue doing so during her free time. After concluding that Eloisa's stubbornness would not let her finish the chapter she had left on, she put it aside and let out a desperate sigh. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was after receiving a second, "No," for an answer that Eloisa left the library, walking faster than usual. She headed towards the assistant principal's office. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Glad to see Eloisa gone, the librarian picked up the remaining half of her turkey sandwich and took another bite. It no longer had the same taste. Unwilling to let it go to waste, she took a final bite. Suddenly, the phone rang and once again she was interrupted. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Hello," she said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Hello, this is Mr. Gonzalez. I’m calling to ask if you can please allow Eloisa, the student you just talked to, to use a computer and print her essay." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yes. No problem," she responded as she raised her eyebrows in disbelief. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Thank you," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Eloisa entered the library once again. This time, she looked straight at the librarian. The librarian stared back, too angry to speak to her. Without asking, Eloisa extended her arm, trying to grab a computer mouse from the front desk. The librarian was fast enough to grab it before Eloisa did. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Excuse me," said Eloisa. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Putting the mouse aside, the librarian responded, “Students are allowed to print either before school or during lunch."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I already told you I could not come during either time!" said Eloisa. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">"That is not my problem," said the librarian as she walked to the back of the room with a stack of textbooks in hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Eloisa walked out once again. When she returned she was no longer alone. Mr. Gonzalez accompanied her. He asked the librarian to follow him into one of the conference rooms. Meanwhile, Eloisa grabbed the computer mouse and headed to the nearest computer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Please explain to me why you did not allow this student to print," asked Mr. Gonzalez. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">"She came in without a pass, during class time, and to make matters worse, with an attitude," said the librarian, hoping he would understand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">After discussing the matter for several other minutes, they both walked out of the room. Eloisa glanced at them as she waited in front of the printer. Mr. Gonzalez smiled at her as he left the library. The librarian, on the other hand, avoided her. She picked up the other stack of textbooks from a round table and headed to the back of the library. Seeing Eloisa grab the warm sheets of paper from the printer to place them in her two inch binder, the librarian could not help but drop her stack of books with force on the intended table. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The noise startled Eloisa who began walking towards the exit, forgetting to place the mouse back in its place. As she watched this happen, the librarian's anger began to grow incrementally by the second. She narrowed her eyes, vowing she would make things harder for Eloisa the next time she visited the library.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-6588133535016306662014-03-06T20:42:00.001-08:002014-03-08T11:16:13.862-08:00"A rose by any other name..." by Taylor Garcia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“A rose by any other name…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Taylor Garcia<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a beautiful Sunday morning. Noah and Chris were hanging out with nothing yet planned. Chris said, "Why don't we pick up the girls and hit the mall?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I'm down!" Noah replied.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Tell Taylor and I'll tell my girlfriend."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Okay."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After some convincing from Noah and Chris, Taylor said, "Okay, I'll go."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before they picked up the girls Noah and Chris decided it would be cute to buy the girls roses. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As they pulled up to Taylor's white and red house, the only house with a u shaped driveway and a big window in front, Noah texted her, "We’re here."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"On my way!" She replied. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Noah held the beautiful rose in his hand. He had spent a whole dollar and ninety five cents on it. He looked at it and thought how much he loved and cared about Taylor. He thought how the flower itself could not compare to her beauty. She walked down the driveway, squinting her eyes as she approached the car because the sun was in them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The sound of her saying, "Oh my God!" filled everyone's ears. For Noah, her eyes said it all. He compared the look on her face to one of a child who has just awakened to see that Santa has left presents under the tree. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Taylor and Noah finally reached each other, Noah handed her the almost completely blossomed pink rose, surrounded by baby dandelions. She embraced him and it seemed as if no one else around them existed, as if they were in their own world, alone and completely happy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He simply said, "You’re welcome," and then instantly regretted his reply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She whispered, “Thank you,” again just as the car door opened.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They climbed into the car.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Taylor said, "Hello everyone," with a smile that could make anyone in the world smile back. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Hello," they said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Noah actually bought that for me,” Chris said, as soon as the car started moving, “but I told him to give it to you instead."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I bet he did," Taylor said with a giggle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She held the rose up to her face and smelled it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Why would you get me a pink one though?" she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“What?” Noah’s body stiffened. "Are you seriously kidding me?" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Taylor didn’t answer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Noah quickly turned away, as if to look at something outside the car window. Did she really just say that, he thought to himself? How could she not appreciate what he had done for her?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He thought back to the moment, just minutes before, when he’d handed the rose to her in the driveway. Hadn’t her face said it all? Hadn’t her eyes said--?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Suddenly Noah felt like he couldn’t breathe. What an idiot he was! What a fool!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He turned away from the window, only to find her staring at him with a blank, expressionless look on her face. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How could he have been so wrong about her?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then she smiled at him… with a smile that could make anyone in the world smile back. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-90178620348030533132014-03-06T20:40:00.003-08:002014-04-23T20:04:53.977-07:00Ball of Anger by Isabel Zamora<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ball of
Anger<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Isabel Zamora<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Under the rays of the unmerciful desert sun, Adeline
sat by the lonely sandbox contemplating last night’s horrifying episode. You’re
ugly, you’re stupid, you’re worthless. These thoughts ran through Adeline’s
mind as she picked up the sleeves of her sweater to view the bruises that she
obscured. The only solace Adeline could ever receive was in her solitude. No
one understood Adeline, for she was an outcast. Adeline was regarded as a
creep, a loner, but not a single person gave a second thought as to why she
became this way. All she wished for was a kind word or a person to say “I’m
here for you,” but the world was oblivious as to how much she cried on the
inside.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the other side of the sandbox, Adeline noticed a
small white ball. The ball glistened in the sunlight, reflecting the light on
Adeline’s face. She got up to pick up the ball and when the white sphere was in
her possession, she suddenly felt it harder to breathe. Blood rushed to her
legs and face. Her heart began to beat viciously against her chest. Adeline
knew she could no longer stay at her location. She felt as though if she waited
a second longer, she would go crazy. As though by enchantment, her legs began
to run and Adeline had no say in the movement of her limbs. The wind blew past
her face and her long brown hair swayed. She ran as though she were escaping a
tangible danger. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Adeline’s
legs drew to a halt once she reached the Boys and Girls Club. Twenty yards from
the building, Adeline spotted a girl she knew from her P.E. class, Isabel, with
her friend Sandra under a shaded structure drinking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">raspados</i>. Adeline immediately knew what she wanted to do in order
to release the tension she felt in her being. She walked calmly over to the two
girls with a silly grin on her face. Isabel looked up from her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">raspado</i> and made eye contact with
Adeline. The instinctive tension of Isabel’s body was apparent to Adeline. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“What the hell are you doing here,” Isabel said
through her teeth as she set her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">raspado</i>
down. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Adeline did not respond to her. She took Isabel’s
question as a rhetorical statement not meant to be answered. Isabel was a small
petite girl who wore retainers. For Isabel to attempt to be menacing towards
her was laughable. In Adeline’s eyes, Isabel was far from intimidating. She
looked down at her right hand to confirm that she still had the ball from the
sandbox, then looked back up to Isabel’s glaring face. “What an easy target,”
Adeline thought, “she is just right there, right in front of me, I can easily
hit her with this ball.” The thought brought a smile to her face. With one
swift motion of her arm, Adeline threw the ball at Isabel’s face. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whack! The ball rolled back to Adeline’s feet. Adeline
noticed Isabel’s eyes began to water as she rubbed the reddening spot on her
cheek. A high pitched sound escaped Adeline’s mouth. Gradually the sound became
a regular and hysterical laughter. Adeline could not contain herself; she
grasped her stomach to hold on to the painful happiness that unfolded itself in
her abdomen wall.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Adeline
was so elated she did not notice a furious Isabel lunging after her. Before she
knew it, Isabel grabbed Adeline’s shoulders with a vicious force and threw her
to the ground. Adeline attempted to free herself but Isabel countered her
resistance. Isabel pinned Adeline with her knees on her back and yanked Adeline
by the hair multiple times with a force of pent up anger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I’ve had enough of you always annoying me, you better
stop!” Isabel yelled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Oh my God, you’re crazy!” said Adeline between
laughs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Though
Adeline was in intense pain, she continued to laugh hysterically. Her laughter
reached a point where it was no longer controllable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Come on Isabel,” Sandra hurriedly said as she tried
to get Isabel to stop. “Let’s go, that’s enough.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Isabel
finally released her grasped of Adeline and left her bedraggled and with an
acute pain on her head, face, and back. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Once
Isabel and Sandra were out of sight, Adeline allowed tears to roll down her
face. She found herself abused once again. Adeline felt a hole in her heart,
for she realized that once all is said and done, misery seeps in. Isabel was
like the others, they would never understand the pain--the true pain in her
soul.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-51612298608179239072014-03-06T20:39:00.001-08:002014-04-23T20:05:33.749-07:00Best Not Good Enough by Michael Bussiere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S5VqWa17nH0/Uxtfwwcee_I/AAAAAAAAAyE/kA_uS8q2KD8/s1600/bestnotgood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S5VqWa17nH0/Uxtfwwcee_I/AAAAAAAAAyE/kA_uS8q2KD8/s1600/bestnotgood.jpg" height="251" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Best Not Good Enough</span> </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">By Michael Bussiere<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jose's face crunched up as he frowned, thinking to himself how much he hated his father. He watched the faces of the other students, thinking how happy they all looked and his face grew even more sour. By lunch, his jealousy was showing with each step that hit the concrete, sounding like Sasquatch's feet. Finally, he saw his best friend Danny from a distance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Jose,” Danny called from afar, throwing his hands up. "Was good, bro!" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Just chilling."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"What's wrong, bro?" Danny asked as he got closer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Nothing dude, let’s go to lunch already."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The lunch line was taking forever. Jose had time to become even more outraged at his dad. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Why can't you ever do anything right, Jose? You’re such an idiot!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Dad, I'm trying my best!" <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Your best isn't good enough—!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Hey Jose, Are you okay?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Yea,” he said, coming back from his day-dreamed nightmare. "Yea, let's go."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As he and Danny walked toward their kick-it spot, he saw the rest of his homies throwing food over the wall. Jose grinned slightly to himself and he laughed a little laugh, more like a chuckle. Things weren’t really as bad as they might seem, he realized.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Why are you guys throwing food over there?" asked Jose.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Yea!" Danny added.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"These fools on the other side have been throwing food back and forth with us… it's actually pretty funny."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just as Jose turned to see which one of his friends was speaking, something orange came flying toward his face.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">"Ahh!” he screamed, reaching for his eye. </span><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;">“What the f—?!" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-20347491457343476322014-03-06T20:38:00.001-08:002014-03-08T11:18:16.451-08:00Better off Not Knowing by Mariana Hernandez<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P1hC-lROdEQ/Uxtfws9o4yI/AAAAAAAAAtc/i7ZeGKRgpFY/s1600/better+off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P1hC-lROdEQ/Uxtfws9o4yI/AAAAAAAAAtc/i7ZeGKRgpFY/s1600/better+off.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Better off Not Knowing<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Mariana Hernandez<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Johana and Mariana had finally purchased their tickets after waiting in line for so long. As they walked through the gate to enter the football game, the chords of the national anthem were being composed from the field. It was the final and biggest game of the season. The crowds from the visitor's side reflected bright greens and golds in contrast with the dark sky. The girls found seats at the far side of the bleachers and sat down with a group of friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"This is going to be one exciting game!" Johana said throwing her hands up in the air.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Yes it is!" Mariana laughed in agreement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Johana's phone began to vibrate. It was Ray. "Are you at the game?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She rapidly opened the text, shifting her phone to her right side in order to avoid the risk of Mariana catching a glimpse of who was texting her. Johana knew how Mariana felt about Ray. Johana quickly tapped the keys and hit send, "Yeah I just got here."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Someone tapped Johana on the shoulder. "Come with me to buy a slushy," Elmer said grabbing a lock of Johana's hair and twirling it around his finger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Ok let's go. I'll be back, Mariana."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Ok, be back soon."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The concession stand was nearly empty. A few people stood near, revealed only by the dim light illuminating their bodies. Some were leaning against the wall, hands securely tucked in their pockets, deep into their conversations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Elmer stepped up, leaned forward, and spoke into the window asking for his drink.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Johana stood behind him looking at her reflection in the darkened glass window, fixing her hair.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The sudden vibration of her phone caused her to jump.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I just saw you!" Ray's text read.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Yeah?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Yes! Come over to where I'm sitting."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Johana remained looking at the text until she finally responded simply, "Ok." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would Mariana notice she didn't come back? She wouldn't be gone long, just a few minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Johana and Elmer were heading back to the bleachers, Elmer slurping on his slushy through the straw when Johana said, "Go on ahead, I'll be back."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Where are you going?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I'm going with Ray real quick."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Elmer shrugged. As he was turning to leave, Johana lightly tapped his shoulder, "Hey," she said, "don't tell Mariana."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Johana walked up the steps of the bleachers turning her head from right to left, her eyes scatter searching for Ray. She spotted him in the middle of the crowd with a couple of friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Hey!" Ray shouted. "Johana!" as he waved his hand in the air.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Hey!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Who did you come with?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"With Mariana. So I'm going to have to leave soon."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">His eyebrows narrowed. "Are you serious? If you don't want to be here just say so."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Come on. That's not what—"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Just go!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She managed to catch the eyes of a few people around her that were staring. She stood up and walked down the steps. Did she say something wrong? Why was he acting like this?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, he always acts like this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As she walked towards her seat, her eyes met with Mariana's, whose eyes were following Johana, her face emotionless. Only a few seconds after Johana had sat down, Mariana said, "I'm hungry. I'm going to go buy some nachos." She stood up, turning her back toward Johana, walking away slowly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I'll go with you!" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Johana's sudden offer made Mariana stop, but she did not turn. She remained with her back to Johana long enough for her friend to catch up, and then after a few seconds she began to walk again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They headed towards the concession stand where it was no longer lonely. Now groups of people surrounded the stand and were waiting in line.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Where did you go just now?” Mariana's voice was demanding and serious. “You didn't come back with Elmer." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Oh," Johana looked at the ground, trying to grasp onto the first words she could think of. "My cousin kept calling me over from the bleachers so I went to go see what she wanted." She has just lied to Mariana, to her best friend. It was for the best though. She was better off if she didn't know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Johana noticed that Mariana began to walk a little faster. She was a few paces ahead of her pushing past strangers as if they blocked her way. Johana began to get an uneasy feeling, but she couldn't figure out what was making her feel this way. Maybe it was the way Ray had reacted towards her, Johana thought. She knew just the thing to do. She would buy him nachos and a drink. That would surely make amends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They waited in line for what seemed like hours. When they finally bought their food, they headed back. Johana realized that Mariana hadn't spoken so much as a sentence while they had been in line. All she got were light subtle smiles whenever she made eye contact with her, as if she was saying, "Nothing's wrong. I'm fine."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Johana was reluctant to say anything, but as they approached the stands, she finally said, "Wait,” as she raised the nachos and PowerAde, “I'm going to give this to someone."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She saw Mariana's eyes narrow. "Who?" she asked. "Is it Ray?” She wouldn't even let Johana explain herself, "It is, isn't it!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Yes."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She scoffed, "I can't believe you're talking to him!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Why are you getting mad at me?" Johana could hear the desperation in her own voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Do you seriously have to ask that?" Mariana rolled her eyes, "You know I don't like him! It's like you have no consideration of my thoughts or feelings."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"But...” Johana cried, “you know I do!" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Well you need to figure out what you're doing here,” said Mariana, “because it's either me or him." Then she walked away before Johana could say another word.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-14818220249690870742014-03-06T20:37:00.002-08:002014-03-08T11:18:38.968-08:00Boy Bands by Polette Zavala<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tuOAZN4LCfo/UxtfwY9_GAI/AAAAAAAAAtc/C5DyW4YroDA/s1600/remote.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tuOAZN4LCfo/UxtfwY9_GAI/AAAAAAAAAtc/C5DyW4YroDA/s1600/remote.png" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Boy Bands<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Polette Zavala<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He leaned into the window and pressed his heated forehead against the cool glass. His mom had gotten to the bus stop late, and now she was talking about something, but his attention was drawn to Drake's muffled voice coming from the radio. His ride home was short, and before he knew it he was walking towards the perforated white door of his home. He hadn't even turned the knob, when he heard loud screeching from inside.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The TV was on, but his sister was lounging upside down on the couch. He could hear the upbeat rhythm of the pop song booming out of her headphones from across the room. He glared at her and she turned her head to the side to look up at him, brown eyes squinting. While her eyes were focused on him he took that moment to grab the TV controller off her stomach.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I downloaded their new album!" She spoke to him as if he were deaf.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Yeah, I know, you started having a mild seizure while we were watching <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Almost Human</i> last night." She still hadn't taken off her headphones, so he decided to speak just as loud, his voice booming in the otherwise quiet living room. He really hoped she wouldn't push the topic on him. He hated them and he hated talking about them, because her usual response to him telling her how much they suck could be compared to pouring lighter fluid on an already blazing fire. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"You should listen to it!” he heard her shout from the living room as he threw his backpack onto his bedroom floor. “It's so good!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He closed his eyes and saw what the outcome of a fight with his sister would be. He could already hear his mom's aggravated yell and could see her face: nostrils flared, eyes set to a glare, and her mouth in a tight-lipped frown.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today was just going to be one of those days. He hadn't even gotten a bite to eat yet and his sister was already badgering him about something. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"They aren't even talented, and they suck," he spoke to her, his tone final, as he sat down in one of the chairs surrounding the dining room table. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From the corner of his eye, he saw her leap off the couch.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"You know you only say that because all of your little friends think that. I've heard you humming to their songs before." Her smile was smug and her stance was that of a know-it-all older sister.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His reply was immediate, "Yes I probably hummed to their song, but I said they weren't talented. You can have catchy songs and still not be talented." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Woah, hold on there you spawn." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He looked up at his sister, face puzzled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"One: thanks for admitting you think their songs are catchy, because they totally are.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She placed both of her hands on the space in front of him, looking down at him. “And two: you have to stop lying to yourself, you know you love them!" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He looked up, an eyebrow raised. All he could compute from this was that his sister was annoying. He stood up from his chair. "Dude, they freaking suck!" he shouted, face to face with his sister with only the table as a barrier.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Get over yourself," she said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He watched her push away from the table, and head to her room. He sat back down and bit back a grin. His food was still warm and with this next episode he would be all caught up on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Supernatural</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-28459683304866368682014-03-06T20:36:00.002-08:002014-04-23T20:06:30.139-07:00But I Get First Player by Jamilet Ochoa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5U3A3JBf-Gk/Uxtfw-nNjmI/AAAAAAAAAyE/uL27Pc7F3Hc/s1600/game.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5U3A3JBf-Gk/Uxtfw-nNjmI/AAAAAAAAAyE/uL27Pc7F3Hc/s1600/game.png" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But I Get First Player</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Jamilet Ochoa<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She stepped closer, crossing her arms, challenging him to do something. The air felt thick, television shouting for attention, but that was the last thing anyone cared about in that moment. The living room was empty; they were the only ones in there.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Look, you have to show more respect. You don't speak to me like that. I'm your older sister!" The voice was strong, both feet planted on the ground, eyes shining as if staring a building burning in flames.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He began to move closer, feeling no fear towards her. "Like if I care what you think, you're not my mom. I don't have to respect you." She wouldn't do anything, he thought. She has no authority over me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This whole nonsense wouldn't have occurred, he thought, if the events of that morning had taken a different turn. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A sense of regret took over his body.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That morning, the sun had been shining through the window curtains and the heat covered the house like a thick furry blanket on a long summer day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Hey, hurry up, my dad wants to leave already!"</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He had sat there, slouching, eyes glued to the computer screen, letting her words pass over him like the insignificant buzz of a fly. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Okay dudeee,” she had said, dragging her words, “ignore me." </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I freaken heard you.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He couldn't help but notice that her voice sounded even more annoying than usual. It was as if she had been yelling though she was speaking at a normal volume, but in an irritated tone that would have driven anyone insane. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Man all you do is boss me around,” he had said, “you're so annoying." </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I'm only saying this so we can get to school on time, plus that's my laptop. I could easily take that away from you, so shut up."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Here, take it,” He had thrown the laptop on the couch as soon as he stood. “I don't care." Then, as he had approached her, he purposely bumped into her on his way past and had not looked back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a morning he wished had never occurred… Now her eyes were filled with anger, more than that morning. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She swung her arm back to gain strength.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He couldn't believe what was about to happen...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her fist met his face. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It all happened so quickly, with no time for him to react. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"What the hell?” he shouted, his temper rushing in full speed. “You can't hit me, I'll hit you back!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Do it,” she said, a confident, mocking grin spreading across her face. “I dare you." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With clenched fists, he held a grip on the present, releasing the past.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A sigh gently left his mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“You know what… whatever,” he said, “You always get mad about the dumbest things. I don't even care anymore.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She relaxed her body as well, no longer standing up as straight as a soldier ready to fight. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They stood there facing each other uneasily. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She looked like she was about to say something, but then stopped herself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another awkward moment passed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I'm so boooooored," he finally said, dropping down onto the couch dramatically.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Hey dude,” she said, joining him there, “let's play guitar hero?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Yeah, but I get to be first player." </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-35876419804050788832014-03-06T20:34:00.003-08:002014-03-08T11:19:25.891-08:00Canceled Plans by Maria Fuentes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jelSy9um4QM/UxtfwfgfFsI/AAAAAAAAAtc/ETh_KWgn9Yk/s1600/burger.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jelSy9um4QM/UxtfwfgfFsI/AAAAAAAAAtc/ETh_KWgn9Yk/s1600/burger.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Canceled Plans<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Maria Fuentes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was late afternoon when Saul was on the phone speaking with friends that he hadn’t seen in a while. His sister Maria arrived home from school as he got off the phone and began getting ready to go out. He was going to meet his friends at 7:00pm that night. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When his sister went up to his room, he was excited as a little boy in a candy store to tell her his plans for that night. “Hey guess what,” he said with a smile wide as a bus, “I’m going to the movies with my friends.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He thought his sister would have been happy for him, but he was wrong. To his surprise, he noticed that his sister was steaming in fury because she was red as a tomato and her hands were shaking convulsively. “What do you mean you are going with your friends!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“My friends and I made plans to meet up tonight since the last time I saw them was like a month ago.” He was confused and didn’t know why his sister looked angry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Do you remember what we decided yesterday?” she asked, sounding like a mother getting her son in trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“No. I just remember us talking about going to the movies, but it wasn’t a for sure we were going.” He was getting angry as well with all these unclear things his sister was saying. His frustration was noticeable because he just kept tightening his hands trying not to get mad.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Yes! We did make it a for sure! Remember I told you that I would cancel my plans with my friends to go to the movies with you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Well I don’t remember that. I’m still going out with my friends. Maybe next time I’ll take you.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“You know what, have fun with your friends!” she screamed and walked away stomping like an elephant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saul was surprised at his sister’s response. He couldn’t understand why she was acting like a mad person. Still not knowing what the argument was about, he went back to getting ready for the night. The problem was that he couldn’t stop thinking about his sister and the way the argument ended. “Why is she blowing this out of proportion?” he thought. “Why can’t she just get over it? She’s always trying to make me feel bad, but this time it won’t happen.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Bye!” he said to his sister in a sarcastic tone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Whatever, just leave already!” she said, almost in tears.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saul was having fun with his friends when he suddenly realized why his sister was annoying him with the cancelation of their plans. He had noticed that ever since he entered college and started working, things were not the same. He and his sister hadn’t spent time together as they would normally do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Where are you going?" asked his friend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Home,” he said. “I have some business I have to deal with." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By the time he arrived though, his sister was asleep. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next day, he greeted her with energy and happiness, “Good morning sister!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">His sister did not reply and anything he said to her didn’t get a reply. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All day she ignored him and any time he would get near her she would walk away in a hurry. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By the time it was 6:00pm, Saul decided he was done with his sister’s childish behavior and he spoke to her like he was the boss. “We need to stop this,” he said. “It has gotten out of control and this isn’t us. I know now why you are angry and I can acknowledge that I was wrong.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Well,” she said, striking a pose that said she knew she was right all along, “I’m glad.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Let’s just go to In-N-Out,” he said, “and hang out.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They both got in the mustang and drove away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-19086415760440878482014-03-06T20:33:00.002-08:002014-04-23T20:07:19.994-07:00Cracks Never Go Away by Diana Reza<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vbbXRk7Ppzw/Uxtfw4NBydI/AAAAAAAAAyE/Fqgp60QX3kQ/s1600/cup.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vbbXRk7Ppzw/Uxtfw4NBydI/AAAAAAAAAyE/Fqgp60QX3kQ/s1600/cup.png" height="320" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica-Bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Cracks Never Go Away<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Diana Reza<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The mother chopped away at the vegetables, forcing her energy into cutting through the hard yet delicate skin, then slicing straight through the soft inside. The oven was on, warming the already heated air in the room. The girl was at the sink, rubbing and splashing the dishes clean and looking out the window in front of her at the sun that was just beginning to fall onto the other side of the mountain, filling the sky with a vibrant red. The room was filled with silence. The mother saw it was best to keep her lips closed, to hold her thoughts inside. The girl began to mumble angrily to herself, and the mother wondered if it was meant to be heard. Even though she knew better, she opened her mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"What are you saying?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The girl closed her lips shut, and continued to stack the dishes on the rack to dry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Now you don't want to answer me?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She stayed quiet, staring at the sunset that filled the sky with a bright, red color.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I'm still your mother and when I was a girl I did my work quietly, never complaining."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I know. You remind me every time, but you just don't understand."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I do understand, and I'm only trying to teach you." Truthfully, she didn't understand. She didn't get how her own daughter could become a complete opposite of her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I am trying to learn, just not what you want me to learn."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"And you can't do both?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"You couldn't."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The girl never bothered to turn around to face her mother, cowardly hiding. The mother, wide-eyed, looked at her daughter not knowing whether to scream, hit her, or let it go. "I never had the opportunities that you have been given. You don't know how much I've had to fight." As she began to remember, she felt the pain all over again, and shoved the memories away once more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The girl said nothing. The silence became overwhelming.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Should I make pasta or rice," the mother said, trying to change the subject.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Your son’s opinion is the one who matters the most, so ask him."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The mother bit her tongue, not wanting to escalate things further, but there was no use. "Leave if you want, I can do everything on my own like I always do."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"That's what you think because you never open your eyes to actually notice all the things I do."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I notice, but there's not much to see."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The girl stopped washing the dishes, turned around to finally look at her mother. Tears flooded her eyes as her cheeks began to turn red and she bit her lip, hard enough to make it bleed. "You have me for one more year and when I leave, you're gonna finally see everything that I have done to try to get you to love me as much as them." The girl put away one last cup, slamming it into the dish rack, and walked away from her mother.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The mother opened her mouth not knowing what would come out, and to her surprise, nothing did. She let her go; too busy trying to grasp how she could think that she didn't love her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She walked over to the cup that was last thrown by the girl, and picking it up, she noticed a new crack at its base. Immediately deciding the cup could no longer be fixed, she walked out to the backyard to throw the cup away. As she walked back in she saw the front door close behind her daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The mother walked to the kitchen window and watched her daughter step further and further away. The sun, in a position where it now filled the sky with a plush orange, slowly dimmed before turning to complete darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-2220436055301752012014-03-06T20:31:00.003-08:002014-04-23T20:08:16.051-07:00The Eagle and the Squirrel by Ricky Corona<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sEwV_C-EfoU/Uxtfw55pmfI/AAAAAAAAAyE/QacPVe7RL20/s1600/eagle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sEwV_C-EfoU/Uxtfw55pmfI/AAAAAAAAAyE/QacPVe7RL20/s1600/eagle.png" height="309" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Eagle and the Squirrel<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Ricky Corona<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Connie, minding her own business, was scanning through several channels, looking for a show that would capture her attention. As Connie finally settled on a good show, she started to relax on her fluffy bed, along with a nail file and polish in hand. Almost immediately after laying down, she heard the sound of sandals clacking in the distance. She rolled her eyes when she heard her brother Ricky’s awful music drawing near. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ricky flung open Connie’s door, immediately ruining the relaxing vibe she had just created. Connie was extremely frustrated, filing her nails to a sharp point, as Ricky moved about her room moving Connie’s objects around. Ricky, craving attention because he was bored, grabbed a picture of Connie and her best friend Moy when they were at their favorite store, Game Stop. He dropped her prized picture on the floor beneath his feet. Then he grabbed Connie’s remote and turned up the volume. Having no intention of putting up with her brother’s foolishness, Connie began to get restless. Her eyes started to redden at she fixed her glare on Ricky. “Get out of my room!” she said, but this seemed to only spur Ricky on, as the smile on his face was growing wider.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Connie finally had it when Ricky got one of her pillows and hit her on the arm with it. The thud of the pillow against Connie made Ricky laugh hysterically. Connie <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>jumped off of her bed like a tiger who had just spotted its prey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ricky, realizing Connie was out for him, dropped the pillow and darted straight out of the room. Ricky finally had what he wanted: a crazy sister who could make him feel the rush of being chased.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Connie was in hot pursuit. Her footsteps moved like a freight train, knocking from the wall the painting of an eagle swooping down to capture a defenseless squirrel that their mother had bought at a local thrift store. The painting clashed to the ground and the frame instantly dismembered into tiny fragments. This did not stop Connie. She got closer and closer to Ricky, cornering her pray. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ricky came to the end of the hallway. He looked frantically about, his eyes moving, desperately looking for a way out, but he could only stare at the wall in front of him. He had nowhere to go. His head started to shine. “Maybe I should have thought this through,” Ricky mumbled to himself. This was his fate… there was no going back now. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Connie quickly came upon her pray, examining her victim closely, noticing the fear in Ricky’s eyes. His grey shirt had Cheetos stains from lunch, his hair limp like he had just come out of the shower. Connie savored the moment. She knew that she was going to enjoy this. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ricky made one last attempt to prevent a beating. “I’m sorry I’m sorry!” he wailed like a child who had just received detention for throwing a tantrum in class. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Connie beamed down on him like a police officer over a criminal. “It’s too late,” she said. “You shouldn’t have bothered me just because you were bored.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He stretched his arm out like a person reaching out to Jesus, asking to be forgiven for his sins.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“You have this coming to you,” she said, and went in for the kill. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Later, as Connie walked back to her room with a dignified motion, she was careful to step over the shattered image of the eagle and the squirrel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-84488065583095226402014-03-06T20:30:00.002-08:002014-03-08T11:20:50.844-08:00Just Like Always by Angelique Gomez<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Just Like Always<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Angelique Gomez<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It was three minutes after 7 o'clock and Luis was running late to get to Maria's house. He knew he would have to walk a little faster once Angelique sent him the text, "We're leaving!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He saw them start to pull out of the drive way and jogged a little to get to the car. As Luis opened the car door and he was getting into the car, Angelique, instead of scooting over to the next seat, made space for him to get in by slightly turning her body sideways. She had her books placed on her lap while holding a slice of toast and a coffee mug in her hand. Luis squeezed through the little space that she gave him to get in the car and sat down when she suddenly yelled, "What the heck, Luis!" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What?" he said, confused. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She took the napkin she had and started to wipe off what looked like coffee on her hands and pants. "You spilled coffee all over me!" she exclaimed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luis knew that she had over exaggerated because there was barely even anything on her. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I didn't even do that!" he lashed back. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She gave him this sneering look as if he was the one to blame. Luis thought, if she had just scooted over none of that would have happened. Angelique continued to wipe the coffee where it had "spilled" in an aggressive manner so that he could notice that she was mad. He ignored her, pretending to be on his phone, annoyed by the fact that she blamed him for her mistake.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There was an awkward silence, when suddenly Maria said, "Hi Luis," turning around from the front seat to face him. Luis knew that Maria only said hi in that sarcastic tone to break the tension and be annoying, so he pretended to not hear her. "Hi Luis!" repeated Maria, louder so that she could make sure Luis had heard her. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I said hi," exclaimed Luis. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Angelique could not help butting in to say, "No you didn't!" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luis was annoyed by the fact that Angelique would even include herself in something that did not concern her, but he could not help but respond, "I did say hi, maybe you just didn't hear." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Angelique ignored his comment continuing to eat her breakfast and drink what was left of her coffee. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The ride was finally over, and all three of them got off the car in a rush to get to class on time since they were already running late. They all usually walked together until they parted to go their separate ways to class, but that morning Luis found it best if he just walked a little faster than the girls so that he would not feel any more uncomfortable then he already did. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When first period had finally ended, Luis couldn’t wait to get to his favorite class, so he speed-walked to Mr. Hoy’s room. He said hello to Mr. Hoy and took his seat, trying to look busy with his phone and waiting for Angelique to walk in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, he saw her come through the door and make her way toward her table on the other side of the room. He tried not to look up, but when he did, she smiled at him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luis turned around in his seat so that he could face where Angelique was sitting. “Hey,” he asked, “did you do you trigonometry homework?" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Yeah, why?" answered Angelique.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Oh no, just. I did too" said Luis, and turned back around when Mr. Hoy initiated that class was starting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-87382868524798704132014-03-06T20:29:00.002-08:002014-03-08T11:21:15.621-08:00Laila's Coup by April Alarcon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-knhET249UkY/Uxtfwd5katI/AAAAAAAAAtc/OJ7mjLOraco/s1600/cars.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-knhET249UkY/Uxtfwd5katI/AAAAAAAAAtc/OJ7mjLOraco/s1600/cars.png" height="261" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Laila's Coup<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By April Alarcon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"You've just been coming off as ungrateful lately." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Laila let out a heavy sigh and rolled her eyes. She had heard this so many times. As Amber continued to point out everything Laila had done wrong Friday, Laila focused on the dark night sky and how deep it looked. The cars rushing past them made it easy to drown out Amber's criticisms as they walked along the park. Her thoughts weren't much of a reverie. She didn't need anyone else telling her what she was doing wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I wasn't being ungrateful,” Laila blurted. “I don't know why everyone freaked out about it." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Everyone gave you a hard time about it because you always do that. You need everything to be your way." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Honestly, I don't even care. It's not like we're all going to be best friends forever. Why should I worry about how they feel if in less than a year everyone's leaving?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Because you're our, so called, friend."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Friends, huh?" Laila instantly wished she has not agreed to go on this walk. She knew they were all talking about her behind her back. She'd feel everyone get quiet whenever she entered the room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What's that mean?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Can I call them my friends— can I even call you my friend?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Amber looked at her as if she hadn't done anything wrong. Was she playing innocent, thought Laila, or was she really, pathetically oblivious to how she had been acting? "Why should I make an effort with these people, if they won't do the same for me?” asked Laila, “Everyone's so rude and mean—” She bit her lip, “and so are you. You're always making me feel bad about myself."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Are you kidding me?” snapped Amber. "Stop victimizing yourself. I have a crude sense of humor, you've known this and you never said anything about it. And what do you mean no one makes an effort— everyone would rant about how great you are, that is, until you started acting like this."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Victimizing. That's rich." Was it so bad that all Laila wanted was a break from all this nagging. Just once couldn't anyone make an effort to maintain <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">her</i> friendship? All her relationships were the same thing. She was always expected to put the effort into nurturing a relationship— sisters, friends, dad, boys. She felt her facial muscles go limp. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"You are!” said Amber, “You're such a little princess. Get over yourself and try to think about the things you do for once!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"You know what, maybe I was being inconsiderate. I wasn't trying to be inconsiderate,” she didn't know how to feel about the situation anymore, “but I'm not going to apologize to everyone, because it seems like you all expected me to be this way— you think I don't know what you think of me? Yeah I'd like someone to care about me, but no one ever even tried!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"We were trying,” said Amber, “but everyone grew tired of your stubborn attitude. Kind of like you're being now." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What did Amber know? She didn't have a care in the world, always going on about how happy she always felt. Laila didn't know who to talk to anymore. It suddenly felt like everything was done… her attempts with friends, with family, with school. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She was in desperate need of an escape and it seemed like there was no alternative. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The previous rushing of the cars stopped and now they just looked like small blurs smudged along the street. She threw her head back and got lost in the deep sky of the velvet night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ever since her grandmother died, her family had become so distant and closed off from one another. She hated how it affected her relationships with people, but it also put her at ease to identify the root of the problem. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The blur of cars, like a river rushing dangerously beside her, suddenly became comforting in the cold night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Laila felt warm inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-25373050274383210552014-03-06T20:28:00.002-08:002014-03-08T14:54:56.725-08:00Mole: A Dirty Mess by Geovanni Cota<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YzdcNFUbR8w/UxtfwSjuxOI/AAAAAAAAAtc/IL4M9lPbKCE/s1600/mole.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YzdcNFUbR8w/UxtfwSjuxOI/AAAAAAAAAtc/IL4M9lPbKCE/s1600/mole.png" height="277" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mole: A Dirty Mess<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Geovanni Cota<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The sun had begun to rise over the bluish grey sky as Eddie pulled up the driveway in his mother's car. Three constant days of working both of his jobs had done him no good. He was sleep deprived. He was stressed. On top of it, things with his girlfriend of over two years were not going so well.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"You get to relax now,” thought Eddie to himself as his palm moved the stick shift to the "P"-- setting the car in park. "No work until Monday. I’m sure this wouldn’t have come any sooner if I asked for it,” he let out. “It is what it is,” he thought.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Eddie was getting the break he needed. Instead of walking through the doors of his work at this time of day, like many other days, he was walking through the door of his home. It was time to relax.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The rattling of the doorknob and the sound of the key unlocking the living room door woke up Geovanni, Eddie’s seventeen-year-old brother, who was laying on the living room couch. By the look of things, he had spent all of the evening cleaning up the week’s mess that had been scattered throughout the bottom portion of the house. It wouldn’t be the first time.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Oh great, couldn’t I have run into Pollo instead of this guy,” said Eddie out loud as he turned to set the locks of the living room door. “I really hope he keeps his mouth shut,” thought Eddie. “I don’t have the patience to hear Geo right now.”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Mom and dad won’t be home until later, way later, they went out of town,” Geo yelled out, half asleep. “They said to keep the house clean—something about bringing home guests with them, so try and keep the house clean.” </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Alright,” mumbled Eddie from the kitchen. He was picking at some leftover mole from yesterday’s dinner.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“For crying out loud Eddie, grab a plate and serve yourself!” yelled Geo. “Seriously man, I spent all last night cleaning the house, and knowing you, you’ll just leave the mess you made lying there until who knows when!”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“That’s it,” Eddie thought, “I’ll show him what a mess really looks like.” Grabbing the plate in which the mole was in, Eddie called for Geo. “Why don’t you come in here and say it to my face. Nobody wants to hear your girl-like voice at this hour,” he taunted. “I know I don’t.”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Eddie had no doubt that his younger brother would take the bait. Keeping the fridge door open he placed the plastic plate on his left hand and positioned himself where the left side of his body was behind the fridge door and the right side exposed. He stood there, waiting until he saw Geo’s shadow engulf the kitchen tile.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In an instant the tile floor was covered in the mole’s dark brown sauce which also managed to grab onto Eddie’s security clothes, hanging on for dear life. Geo’s reaction was just as Eddie pictured in his mind. Eddie gave Geo a mess to complain about all the while making it seem like Geo was responsible for it.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Why would you walk into the fridge door, you idiot?” said Eddie, sounding as genuinely angry as he could. “Didn’t you see that I was behind the door? You got the mole all over the floor and me—clean this up, like now!”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Don’t even try to blame this on me! I barely even tapped the fridge, you over exaggerated the shove. You clean this up; that’s what you get for not serving yourself on a plate and picking straight from the plastic container,” said Geo, desperately trying to turn the blame on his older brother.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“You’re the idiot who came rushing into the kitchen because you were trying to act hard,” said Eddie. “You bark at me to not make a mess and look at what you cause.”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well who’s the dumbass that can’t hold a container in his hand properly? Let’s not forget you’re the one who called me over—stupid.”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Before the two brothers knew it, they had made their way into the living room.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“You really want to do this?” asked Eddie as he wrapped his arms around Geo’s upper body, going for a chokehold.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“You’re the one who attacked me, you’re the one who’s in the wrong,” replied Geo struggling to get free of his brother’s tight grip. “Wait until I get out of this.”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The pushing, the shoving, and the grappling soon came to an end—the two were out of breath. They would have continued when one or the other could breathe again if it were not for the ringing of the phone. It was for Eddie.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Geo handed the phone to Eddie with a smirk and headed to the living room.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“You trying to play some mind game with me or what the hell?” asked Eddie as he yanked the phone out of Geo’s hand.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It was Ryan, his supervisor from the security place where he worked part time. When Eddie hung up the phone, Geo could not hold himself back, “They call you in on your day off there, buddy?” </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Eddie did not reply. He walked up the stairs, slowly zoning out the sound of his brother’s voice. Walking up to his room to call it a night, he yelled down to Geo, “Don’t forget to clean up my mess in the kitchen, sweetie. I think I purposely dropped last night’s dinner.”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Locking the door to his bedroom, Eddie tried to picture the look of utter defeat on his brother’s face, tried to enjoy the victory, but he was tired. He was finally getting the sleep he needed. The sleep that would soon be interrupted by the alarm he set for later that evening. No day off for him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-3961988862736611572014-03-06T20:27:00.003-08:002014-04-23T20:09:49.016-07:00The Morning by Luis Cabrera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4oRpgEXUt0I/UxubocHNcmI/AAAAAAAAAyE/kvP7dP_5R18/s1600/oops.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4oRpgEXUt0I/UxubocHNcmI/AAAAAAAAAyE/kvP7dP_5R18/s1600/oops.png" height="293" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="border: currentColor; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Morning</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It was getting late, 7:05am. It seemed strange that Luis was taking his time to get to Maria's place.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Angelique had to get into the van. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Maria! It’s getting late!" shouted Maria's mother for the second time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"She always takes so long, just like Luis." whispered Angelique to herself as she gathered her things. She loved enjoying a nice cup of coffee and a blueberry bagel on her way to school, so while waiting for Maria to come down stairs she went into the kitchen and prepared her snack. As she heard, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sensor one: garage door open</i>," she realized Maria's mother had walked outside to the van, “damn we're going to be late again."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With only the sound of the radio in the van, through the rear view mirror Angelique noticed the impatient look in Maria's mother’s face. She placed her binder, book, and iPad on her lap and set her steaming coffee and bagel on the seat next to her. She shuffled through her large cheer bag for her phone but she could not find it. "Shit! Where did I leave it?" she said to herself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Terrified to get off the car knowing they were already extremely late for school, Angelique jumped out of the van and without looking back ran inside like a dog chasing after a cat. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Where are you going?" asked Maria as she was exiting the house into the garage. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I can't find my phone!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"You put it in your back pocket after you shut your alarm,” said Maria. “Where's Luis?" <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Not here yet. I'll text him to hurry up, that we're going to leave without him."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As Maria's mom was driving off Luis came speed walking towards the van. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He was wearing that orange stripped shirt he knows is hideous. Angelique attempted to open the door, pulling the handle, but she couldn't get it to move; the handle was jammed, so Luis violently slid it open, then clumsily hopped in the car. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Angelique, who chose to stay on the seat rather than moving one over, slightly turned her body sideways to make room for Luis to pass by and sit on the seat beside her. She had her stuff placed on her lap, still holding the warm bagel and coffee mug in her hands. Luis, with the little space he had, squeezed through when suddenly he heard Angelique shout, "What the heck Luis!" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"What?" Luis asked, a confused look in his face.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Panicked and upset, she shuffled through her bag in search for her napkin. With it she wiped off the coffee that was on her hands and jeans. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"You spilled coffee all over me!" She could not believe he'd just done that. </span><span style="border: currentColor; color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I didn't even do it, ok!" Luis exclaimed as he sat down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Maria's mother drove off. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Angelique sneered at Luis and in an aggressive manner continued to wipe at the coffee where it had spilled on her so that he could notice that she was furious, but Luis chose to ignore her the rest of the ride to school by pretending to be on the phone. He probably thought that she was over exaggerating. He was probably talking to himself right now, saying bad things about her like he always did after an argument, offended that she was blaming him for her mistake when obviously he was the one who spilled coffee on her, ruined her outfit, and didn’t even bother to apologize. Why did he think he was always right? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Upon arriving at school, Luis waved goodbye and went his own way, while Angelique and Maria continued to walk to first period together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Why are you all quiet, Angelique?" asked Maria.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“He gets on my nerve sometimes,” she replied, “it’s annoying!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The bell rang and they rushed to class.</span><span style="border: currentColor; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-89057078564519354262014-03-06T20:27:00.000-08:002014-04-23T20:10:26.507-07:00No Sons by Diego Ayala<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HHd4_cxPzc0/Uxtfw0jq7EI/AAAAAAAAAyE/0aaCyPBheHE/s1600/no+sons.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HHd4_cxPzc0/Uxtfw0jq7EI/AAAAAAAAAyE/0aaCyPBheHE/s1600/no+sons.png" height="316" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">No Sons<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Diego Ayala<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Her eyes were still sore from yesterday. She hadn’t bawled like last night in a while, and it was all so unexpected. Her eyes were following the fan, and suddenly she felt as if her head was spinning. Martha had found comfort in Marcos, her son, and her husband, but her daughter and her other son were nowhere to be seen. They stayed locked in their rooms while she silently wept. Martha had a deep pain in her stomach as she picked up the phone. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Your cousin, Miriam, passed away last night in a coma.” Her mother managed to blurt out through her own tears. Had her husband not been there she’d have collapsed right then and there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">“Diego! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Apurate!</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hurry up! </i>We’re going to pray with the family!” Martha began pacing back and forth waiting for a response. </span><span lang="ES-MX" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ay Diego, por lo menos no quieres ir a ver tu familia?</i>” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I haven’t seen them for a while, but…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Don’t you want to see your family?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Nah Ma it’s gonna be depressing. I ain’t about that depressed life.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Well God forbid a funeral to be depressing.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What a ridiculous excuse</i>, she thought. Geez, how could she get this boy to understand? He’s as stubborn as a mule, or should she say his brother. She just wanted the comfort of knowing they’d all go together to a funeral for a relative, but holding true to his nature Marcos went out with his girlfriend rather than with the family. Marcos would choose his beloved friends over his family any day; she didn’t want this one to do the same. Martha knew they were already late for the funeral but insisted on waiting for Diego to get up from his brother’s computer, but as if he was playing a sport, he stayed in position.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mira hijo</i>, if you don’t go then I won’t let you hang out with your friends for the rest of the week. I don’t care if you beg.” She shifted her weight impatiently waiting for him to react in some way, trying to get his attention away from the screen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He seemed to not have listened to her. He just kept clicking away playing his fancy little video games while she hopelessly tried to reason with him. He had the volume on the game was still blasting obnoxiously with no intentions of turning down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Ma I told you I’m not going, I have homework…” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lie. </i>“...and I need to do a project with my friend….” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lie. </i>“...and I just don’t want to.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As if on cue, she repeated what she once said to Marcos, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Por favor, </i>try to understand that I just want the family to be together and you’re tearing it apart.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mira </i>Marcos, don’t you want to see your family?” Martha blurted out as she hurriedly tried to put on her earrings and reason with her son.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“No Mom, I don’t want to see my family. I don’t even like them.” Marcos had just started his match and there was no way in hell she was going to make him go, not even if the devil himself tried to drag him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">“Por qué nunca quieres estar con nosotros?”</span></i><span lang="ES-MX" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Why don’t you ever want to be with us? It was such a mystery to her. Even though they were already running late to the party she insisted on waiting for Marcos to get up from his computer, but he was just another player in position. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Mom forget it, you’re not gonna get me to go, I’m playing.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Por favor, </i>try to understand that I just want the family to be together and you’re tearing it apart.” Her voice cracked one final time before she knew he was a lost cause.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Despite her best efforts she couldn’t sway Marcos, but she sure as hell wasn’t about to let her other son go down that same path. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">En serio Diego</i>, this is the last time I’m asking. If you don’t get up and…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Gosh dang it Ma, you’re distracting me… now I’m gonna lose!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Defeat.</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Gosh dang it, whatever… I don’t even care. Ey Ma, you still—” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">“Ya no me importa</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">! Do whatever you want. I don’t care anymore.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Slam.</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She kept walking as tears began welling up. First Marcos, now Diego. She felt abandoned by the ones she called her sons. She had no one left to keep her company. She felt abandoned by her cousin Miriam, and she couldn’t help but wonder… if she would ever feel needed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-10702372970598643142014-03-06T20:25:00.002-08:002014-04-23T20:11:04.254-07:00Red Shoes by Chrystabelle Ramirez<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Red Shoes<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Chrystabelle Ramirez<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Diva, do your chores,” Diva's grandmother shouted as she walked out the door, “and make sure the house is clean by the time I get home.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Diva widened her eyes in disbelief. She could not believe her grandmother was actually going to make her clean while her friend was visiting her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rolling her eyes as she turned to her friend Mariah, she complained, "I always have to clean! She never makes anyone else do anything." Straightening the couch pillows she looked at the house's mess. She clenched her teeth, raising her arms with spread fingers and let out a scream of frustration as she noticed her sister's shoes in the corner of the room. "UGHH! This isn't even my mess, Danysha... Danysha!” she shouted, “Come pick up your shoes!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Okay, I'm coming."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She was tired of picking up after everyone's mess. As the oldest, she had to be sacrificed and take the blame whenever something got broken, lost, or like now, dirty. Tapping her foot up and down as she waited she turned towards the shoes, grabbed them, and threw them in the trash. Cleaning her hands off, she knew this would make her sister learn how to pick up after herself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Running down the stairs moments later, Danysha charged into the living room, turning her head from left to right then back to left. "Where are my shoes?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Turning her back to Danysha's face, Diva spat out, "I threw them to the trash."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Why?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Through Danysha's words, Diva could already hear her tears forming, but it was Danysha's fault she left them in the living room instead of putting them in her room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Because I'm not gonna pick up your mess for you!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"I'm going to tell Chrystabelle!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Great," Diva thought, just what she needed, more trouble. Now Chrystabelle was going to take Danysha's side and get her in trouble. All Diva did was throw Danysha's shoes in the trash, it wasn’t like she hit her or anything. Hearing the thumps of a grizzly bear shake the kitchen floor, Diva could already feel Chrystabelle's anger as she came down the stairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Diva! What the heck? You better take those shoes out of the trash, now!” Shouted Chrystabelle. “Just because they put you to clean doesn't mean you have to get mad at the whole world!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Well you do the same thing to me!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"I have never thrown anything of yours in the trash, no matter how much I want to throw your useless junk away when I'm cleaning."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Yes you do… and at least I'm cleaning the mess, unlike you." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Are you seriously mad because you’re cleaning?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What did Chrystabelle think? Of course Diva was mad! That had to be the stupidest question coming from a supposedly 4.0 student.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"So now you're going to ignore me?” Chrystabelle turned to Diva’s friend. “You know Mariah, I think it's time for you to go home. Diva has a lot of cleaning to do."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"No! Don't kick her out. She can stay!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"I'm not kicking her out. You just don't know how to act right when others are around!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Despite the temperature being fairly cold inside the house, Diva could feel her body sweating and ready to burst as Mariah got up and quickly left through the front door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"I can't believe you made her leave!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"You need to clean!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"I always clean! You never do anything!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Really?” demanded Chrystabelle. “Who sweeps and mops..." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here she goes again, thought Diva, reciting the list of chores she does every once in a while around the house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">" ...who cleans the stove and microwave?” Chrystabelle continued. “I do!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Okay, but you don't have to always clean up after the girls’ mess!” said Diva, “I always get blamed for their mess!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Don't yell at me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suck it up, give Danysha her shoes, and clean the mess – end of discussion!"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pulling her hair out, Diva could not believe that after all of this nonsense she had to clean this mess and Chrystabelle still got the last word! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She was done with this!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-58256055999302273312014-03-06T20:24:00.002-08:002014-03-08T11:24:09.480-08:00The Road Yet Traveled by Jaclyn Salcedo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Road Yet
Traveled<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jaclyn Salcedo<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The bright orange sun
that rose just above the mountains to the east illuminated the clinging outline
of Mara and Felicity. Their arms twined around one another like noodles stuck
together, Felicity’s face burrowed into the crook of Mara’s neck. Their bodies
shook and their shoulders drooped as exhaustion set in. Mara gently rubbed her
hands up and down Felicity’s back, warming the goose bumps forming there. It
had only been hours earlier when Mara had helplessly gawked after her
daughter’s retreating figure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Only a sharp knife
could have sliced through the tension that blanketed the room. Mara and her
husband Nick sat in the living room. The anger that flowed from them seemed to
dissipate as it reached their daughter Felicity like smoke swept up by a light
breeze. Nick perched at the edge of the couch ready to pounce at the next smart
remark. He seemed to control the atmosphere of the room with a single glare. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mara stood, not
cowering over Felicity, but staring at her, her eyes bug-wide, “I bust my ass
every day! I work twelve hour shifts three sometimes four days a week!” Her
hands flew about the room, dancing, pointing, illustrating her anger. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Goddamn it! Does she
want me to slap the shit out of her? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Do you wanna get hit
young lady? Because if I see you roll your eyes one more time, I will!” Mara
pointed her dainty, stubby finger in Felicity’s face then turned her hand palm
up, jerking it up and down, “Do you know what I go through every day? I have to
go to work and deal with a bunch of nurses who don’t give a damn about anyone
but themselves, then I’ve got to come home to my children who don’t give a damn
about anyone but themselves!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Felicity stood with her
chest puffed out and her eyes shooting daggers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“All that I ask is that
you guys clean up around here so it’s not such a pigsty. I mean your rooms at
the very least is all I ask you to maintain, and you can’t even do that!
Instead I have to come home exhausted and wake up on my one day off and clean
up after you and your sister.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mara put her hand on
her hip, massaging the small of her back with her thumb, “Do you even care that
I’m in pain? That any day now I might need surgery to repair the bulging disk
in my spine? Or that I work through the pain to provide for you and your
sister?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nick glanced over to
see tiny pools of tears filling his wife’s eyes, then turned to Felicity, “She
asked you a question young lady!” Nick had sat up quicker and straighter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I do care, but—”
Felicity choked back her words.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nick opened his mouth
wide and screamed, “But what? What’s your excuse now?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Blood pulsed in
Felicity’s cheeks and a bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face, “It’s
not an excuse, it’s the truth! You guys pick and choose when you want to yell
at me and be nice to me! And when I do get yelled at it’s over one little
thing, but then you bring up everything bad I’ve done in the past year! How is
that fair?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Don’t raise your damn
voice at me young lady! I’m your father and you will respect me!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I’m trying to, but how
can I when you never let me talk to you? You always say we need to communicate,
mom, but when I try to you guys just shoot me down and accuse me of
disrespecting you!” Felicity stared her mother straight in the eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“You’re not getting the
point Felicity, we’re yelling at you because you are going to be eighteen in
less than a month, not to mention,” Mara grabbed at an accordion folder, waving
it vigorously in the air, “you’ll be going to college soon! You think you’re
ready for adulthood? You won’t last one month in the real world, let alone
college! I’ve got your number Felicity! You’re lazy, you procrastinate, and you
don’t know the first meaning of independence!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Felicity took a step
back, her expression contorting into a look of pain, “Is that what you really
think? I thought my parents were supposed to be supportive, I mean that’s what
I’ve written all of my apparently “procrastinated” essays about! It’s nice to
know that my biggest supporters think I’ll fail! And you know what? My lack of
independence is your fault,” Felicity jabbed her index finger at her father,
“you never let me go anywhere outside of school or even get a job! You’re both
just afraid that’ll turn out like Rose, Roman, and Tori! Just because they
couldn’t handle independence doesn’t mean I can’t or that I shouldn’t be given
a chance!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mara’s voice softened,
“That’s not what we’re saying Felicity.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nick jumped to his feet
and took a step toward Felicity, “You know what Felicity, if you want to be
“independent” and “respected,” then do it somewhere else. Not in my house. Like
I’ve told your brother and sisters, if you don’t like it, then there’s the
door,” his arm swung over to point at the polished brown door.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Yah! I agree. You
don’t like it here and you want out, then by all means, go!” Changing her tune,
Mara gave her head a definite shake, trying to convince herself that this was
the right thing to do. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Fine. I can clearly
see what my own parents think of me. You know, I want more than anything to
change the relationship we have. But as long as you both feel that respect is a
one way road, it will never change!” Felicity turned on her heel, strode to the
door, grasped the knob, and taking one last look at her parents, swung the door
open, inviting reality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the while Mara
stood silently planted in her spot on the living room tile floor. Mara had
wiped at her downpour of tears, staring intently as her daughter’s hand had
tightened on the knob; then at Felicity’s retreating figure, as it disappeared
into the darkness. Twenty minutes passed before Mara fully registered what had
just occurred. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mara’s head hung toward
the floor in defeat. The accordion folder still in her hand felt like it
weighed a ton. She flopped the folder onto the coffee table making it bounce up
and down. It seemed to be laughing; it was surely a foreboding laugh. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mara bent her head
back, staring into the dully lit crystal chandelier, “I’ve always hated that
chandelier; it’s never lit the room properly.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“You can’t blame
yourself. She chose to leave,” her husband shuffled to her side and rested his
meaty, calloused paw on her shoulder. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“You’re right. This
isn’t just my fault. We’ve been so wrapped up in her faults, that we don’t even
see our own.” Mara brought her hands up to her face and drew in a ragged
breath, “You’ve tried so hard all these years to control her and I never wanted
that for any of my children. I grew up with that. A demanding father; I just
wanted to be her outlet. Her friend.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nick folded his arms
across his now puffed out chest, “So you think this is our fault? Our fault
that she doesn’t listen? Talks back. Doesn’t do her chores or anything else we
ask of her. Doesn’t respect us.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“No, No. She has her
bad tendencies, but Nick, she is a good kid. I just think that maybe she needs
a mother, not a friend. And maybe a little understanding too. Maybe it’s time
we offer her some respect; she’s not perfect, but my God, she’s not a failure
either!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Who are you trying to
convince? Me or yourself?” Nick breathed a long sincere sigh. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I just want her to
come home,” her voice cracked on the last syllable. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nick fidgeted for a
minute then step forward and reached for Mara. He paused, unsure, then resigned
to pulling her into an awkward one armed embrace. Mara’s eyes wandered across
the living room to the slightly crooked family portrait. One brow arched,
quizzically, then joined her other in a sorrowful frown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All she wanted was for her family to be
together. She thought back to her two older children and remembered how she
couldn’t save them from themselves. She believed she failed them because she
was too strict, too harsh; in truth she was just a parent. Mara wondered when
it was that she became “the friend” and not the parent. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How can I be a parent,
a disciplinarian, without becoming my parents? I can’t let my girls walk all
over me. I want them to respect me, but I want to show them that I can respect
them back. How else can we learn to trust each other?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mara pulled out of
Nick’s embrace. Her feet felt like a ton of bricks had been strapped to them;
she couldn’t bring herself to take one step. With all the force left in her,
she floated to the couch and sat ram-rod straight in front of the menacing
clock. Each tick rang terror in her ears. The dimming chandelier seeped into
her very soul as the hours ticked by, growing darker and colder. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What if morning comes
and she isn’t back yet? What am I going to do? What if something happens to her
and I never get to tell her how much I love her?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She pictured her
beautiful baby lying in a furnished white coffin, dressed in a silk gown to
match; the coffin slowly being lowered into the darkness, into the unknown. Her
mind flashed to only moments earlier; the impending darkness that had swallowed
her daughter reflected her own fears, her bitterness. Her shoulders shook and a
puddle of salty water pooled at the edge of her chin. Her chest wracked with
hollow sobs, uncertain of why she was really crying. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nick spoke in a low
whisper, “How long are you gonna stay here?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">An inaudible sound
escaped from Mara’s lips, then her weak frame slumped inward on itself, “I
don’t—don’t—know.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her husband treaded to
her side. Nick flopped onto the sofa with his wife and waited; waited for the
hopeful purr of an engine. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mara balled her fists
and brought them to her eyes, wishing to blur the hours that had passed, “I
don’t think she’s coming home.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“She will. She will, I
promise” Nick reassured, glancing at his wife’s red-rimmed eyes and white
fists. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was almost daybreak
when the telltale purr of a car engine stopped in the front of the beige stucco
house. Mara heard the squeal of brakes as it rolled to a stop. Nick jumped when
he felt Mara scamper to her feet. Mara sprinted to the door and turning the
knob, flung the door wide open. Felicity stood, shaken and tired. A damask of
purple circles drooped beneath her eyelids. In that moment Mara knew what it
meant to be a mother.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe I can do this.
Maybe I can find a way that doesn’t reflect my parents’ ideals, but rather
reflects the ones I’ve learned to believe in. A new path altogether; one of my
own making. Perhaps a road not yet taken. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In two strides she reached her daughter and
pulled her into a tight embrace. Mara’s heart filled with a warmth that spread
throughout her entire body. It was a warmth that radiated pure bliss; a warmth
that emanated felicity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-72338368583027698282014-03-06T20:23:00.001-08:002014-04-23T20:11:46.442-07:00Spilt Water by Valeria Gonzalez<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WhJCklCxIO0/UxtyFMMpbmI/AAAAAAAAAyE/B6f5_iL2yJM/s1600/spilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WhJCklCxIO0/UxtyFMMpbmI/AAAAAAAAAyE/B6f5_iL2yJM/s1600/spilt.jpg" height="320" width="316" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Spilt Water<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Valeria Gonzalez<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She was sitting next to her sister and her sister’s boyfriend. All three were watching <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rehab Addict</i> on the DIY channel. Anayatsy could see from the corner of her eye the way Valeria and Jose were holding each other, her feet on top of his, his arm over her shoulders, and every now and then they would turn, smile, and give each other a kiss.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Ugh," she said to herself. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Seeing them like this made the green spaghetti come up to her throat, giving her the sensation of throwing up a little. It also made her sad. It made her miss her boyfriend, and it made her wish he was here and not in Temecula. She hadn't seen him in over a week. He promised he would be there that day, but had failed her, making her angry. But in that moment, she would have forgiven him so she wouldn't have to be this third wheel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The cuddling wouldn't stop; it was getting her very uncomfortable. Without thinking, she said, "Pass me the water, I am thirsty."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her sister unwrapped herself from Jose and passed her the cup of water. In an instant, she had returned under his arm with a smile like a bungee cord attached to a pole. Anayatsy couldn't drink any more from so much disgust. Thinking she would actually throw up, she put the cup down on the yellow stepstool near her. Suddenly, Valeria kicked the stool, knocking the cup off of it and onto the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Well don't just sit there,” said Anayatsy, eyeballing Valeria up and down, “clean it up!" Now they would have to stop holding each other and making her feel sick. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Instead, Valeria removed Jose's arm and sat up straight, prepared to battle. "No! You put it there when you obviously knew I was using it for my feet, so it's your fault, you clean it."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"So, that doesn't matter, I wasn't the one who dropped it, it's your fault!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"C'mon, do it,” she replied with a calm smirk, “I have a guest." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anayatsy ignored her. Instead, she sat back and pulled the white blanket over her legs. She could feel the burning of her sister’s eyes on her face the entire time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Valeria stood up to get the mop she insulted Anayatsy with fury, "You are such an evil witch. You don't have to do squat when Israel is here!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was true; when her boyfriend was there they were glued to each other and the sofa…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I love you," Israel had said, turning to Anayatsy as she lay against him. Her legs were next to his on the sofa, but her body was wrapped in her boyfriend’s arms.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anayatsy was stunned by how unexpectedly Israel had said it. She smiled and said, "I love you too."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They responded to each other with a passionate kiss that was suddenly ruined by a faint voice coming from the hallway, "Ana I forgot to bring the shampoo from the other restroom! Can you please bring it?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Too possessed by Israel's kiss, Anayatsy ignored her sister.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Anayatsy Yareni Guerrero!” the faint voice called again, “Can you please do this favor for me?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"VALERIA, CANT YOU SEE I HAVE GUEST?” Anayatsy snapped. “WRAP A TOWEL ON </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">AND DO IT YOURSELF!" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Israel just stared at her, surprised by the giant voice coming out of his tiny girlfriend. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was no reply, but a moment later they heard a door open, then footsteps, and finally a door slammed and locked. She knew Valeria was going to be mad.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This memory made Anayatsy feel bad. She forced herself off the couch by grabbing the curtains and dragging herself up to get a towel and clean the water spill herself. Valeria was returning from the kitchen with the mop. "What are you doing?” Anayatsy snapped. “Leave it!" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Valeria continued to walk further into the room with the mop.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Hey! Didn’t you hear me? Leave it!” she screamed. “I said I am going to clean it now since you made me get up! Move!" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Why? If you didn’t do it when I asked!” Valeria’s face was turning red. “Now move!" she shouted, beginning to mop.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then the unexpected occurred, like the cup of water spilling, it just happened so quickly. Anayatsy reached out and grabbed her sister by the hair. "Leave it alone and let me do it!" she said through her teeth as she held on to Valeria’s hair.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anayatsy saw as Valeria looked over at Jose, she did as well and could see him trying hard to ignore the conflict, like two cats fighting in front of him. She knew her sister wasn't going to let her embarrass her like this in front of her boyfriend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Ana,” Valeria said through clenched teeth, her volume building as she spoke, let… ME… GO!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anayatsy did not let go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Let me go," she said again, this time more calmly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But Anayatsy wouldn't let go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anayatsy saw an evil smirk come over her sister’s face and knew what happened next would not be pretty. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now Valeria grabbed Anayatsy by her hair and pulled not only her hair, but her entire body, swinging her older sister out of the way so she could continue cleaning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anayatsy was like a Chihuahua, small, tiny, with an annoying voice, and she wasn't going without a fight. "I said, LET ME DO IT!" she growled through clenched teeth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But Valeria, on the verge of tears, was already done cleaning the spilt water. She turned to her boyfriend and began to cry. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anayatsy shut her mouth and tried to breathe normally again as her boiling blood began to cool down. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her sister, still in tears, went back to sit next to her boyfriend and hold him like before.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"It's your fault," said Anayatsy and walked away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-17753155548055744882014-03-06T20:22:00.001-08:002014-04-23T20:12:53.735-07:00Take Me by Yessica Prieto<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NFgdCXnL2qo/UxudvaWKGQI/AAAAAAAAAyE/6xD0ZvtOtSE/s1600/take+me.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NFgdCXnL2qo/UxudvaWKGQI/AAAAAAAAAyE/6xD0ZvtOtSE/s1600/take+me.png" height="320" width="289" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Take Me<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">by Yessica Prieto<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"I want to go too!" said Arianna as she looked at her sister with longing eyes. "Take me. My dad said that you have to take me."</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“I don’t care what he said.”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Yeeeeeeeeeeeeessica!” screeched Arianna in a loud pleading voice that echoed in Yessica's ear. She knew her older sister abhorred the sound of her name being stretched out syllable by syllable. As she thought about doing it again, she recalled the last time she had taunted her older sister with her voice. It had not gone well for her at all. Yessica had thrown a shoe at her and locked herself away in her room, ignoring her all day, which bored Arianna to death for she had no one else to argue or play with.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Arianna! Please! Leave me alone!” she said as calmly as she could possibly manage, although her face looked like a map route, very hard to read. Her younger sister’s annoyance was getting to her. Yessica would pick something up from her pile of mess on the bed and throw it, to once again pick it up a second later. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">“He said you had to.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">As usual, Yessica continued to ignore her constant pleas to go along. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“So, are you taking me?" she demanded, with one hand on her tiny waist and her lips curled in a sassy gesture.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Arianna, stop already," Yessica yelled as she walked about her room like a blind person. Her room was in such a disorder, clothes laying everywhere, except where they belonged. "Where in the heck is my..." she muttered more to herself than anyone else. She kept grabbing at clothes, purses, and granola bars scattered throughout her room. Her cheeks were a bright pink and full of frustration. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Take me!"</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"No!"</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Take me!"</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ya callense</i>!" yelled their father, from the room next door, already annoyed with the constant arguing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They both looked at each other with sympathetic eyes, for they knew fully well that if they did not stop the argument, there would be consequences. As Yessica continued to look about her room with wondering eyes, Arianna slipped out and went to her room. Within seconds she was back with shoes and a coat in hand. "Take me with you. I am ready already." she said, sitting on the edge of the bed as she tied her shoes on. "See, I am ready!"</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"No, Arianna," she groaned, rolling her eyes and sighing heavily. "Just stop," she added, as she threw her hands in the air and brought them back down to her sides, making fists. "You cannot go."</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“But I want to go!”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Too bad!”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Take me. Take me,” persisted Arianna as the shoe she had been holding in her right hand slipped out. She thought about the last time she had given Yessica her shoe to untie. Yessica had been really annoyed at her. Arianna had handed her the shoe, but instead of untying the knot on the shoe, Yessica had thrown the shoe at her. It had gone flying past her face, and frozen body, and hit the closet door. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, the only sound that was audible was Arianna’s heart as she braced herself for what was to be thrown at her this time. Arianna looked at the place where the shoe had fallen, lifeless, on the floor. Arianna quickly picked up her shoe before Yessica could get it and throw it at her like last time. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Are you taking me?" asked Arianna with what she believed was such a sad face, that Yessica would have to fall for it.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"No, I am not."</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Fine then," Arianna sighed as she left the room before anything might fly at her this time. In her room, she turned on the television, hoping there was more entertainment in watching cartoons than vexing her older sister. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">After a while, Arianna, alone and abandoned, shut off her television and quietly returned to her sister’s room, expecting to find it empty; but no, there was Yessica, fast asleep where she had thrown herself among the clutter and mess of her bed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-79300378429219950882014-03-06T20:21:00.003-08:002014-03-09T15:32:08.302-07:00Taking the Big Road by Karla Mendez<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l4wzVlKwnZw/Uxtfwdq8iXI/AAAAAAAAAtc/TtjUC9vmATQ/s1600/big+road.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l4wzVlKwnZw/Uxtfwdq8iXI/AAAAAAAAAtc/TtjUC9vmATQ/s1600/big+road.png" height="269" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Taking the Big Road<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Karla Mendez<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While Pedro attempted to balance the steaming box labeled Pizza Hut and the container of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">camarones rancheros</i> – boiled shrimp mixed in a spicy sauce – in one hand, he fidgeted for his front door keys with the other. He thought about ringing the doorbell, but hesitated in case the baby was asleep. Upon entering, he realized everyone was wide-awake. After setting the food on the dinner table, the uninviting smell of shrimp on his clothes could not make him more eager to hit the shower. I can't wait to let these puppies breath, he told himself. However, right before undoing the last knot on his new guardian, slip resistant SAS shoes, a voice frightened him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Why are you taking off your shoes?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As he looked up, he saw his eldest daughter, Karla, wearing a rainbow as a shirt, in long black tights, and hair in a messy bun like she always wore around the house. She emerged from her room only to stand near the long flower shaped lamp and inquire about what he was doing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I am going to shower."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“You are not going to eat with us?” she asked crossing her arms in front of her in a way that caused his daughter to momentarily turn into his wife. He blinked several times before he was able to see his daughter again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For no apparent reason, those words put him in a trance. A picture of his eldest daughter when she was a six-pound newborn entered his mind. He took a glimpse of her beautiful eyes but noticed that the image was now completely different. Trucks labeled West Coast Turf on the side were stationed one after another. He looked down at his watch. 2:00 a.m. He was not half way into work and he already longed to see his wife and daughter. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Dad?” The voice of his daughter pulled him back to the present.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Oh no, I am not going to eat. I am not that hungry.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Well why don't you feed Jesus?" Karla asked as she headed toward the kitchen. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The surprising similarities between his commanding eldest daughter and wife ran chills up his back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Karla, I am going to shower."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"You can feed him first though and then shower."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To end the argument, he explained, "I have to shower because I am taking your sister to your cousin's house to practice because she is coming out in her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">quinceañera</i> —but you know what?” His patience was growing thin. “I'll feed him!" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Oh my gosh, relax! I did not know, but in that case I'll feed him," Karla said, heading towards the refrigerator to probably heat up some leftover rice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pedro was not going to allow her to walk away like that. "Why? So you can feed him with that little attitude?" He could not understand what had gotten into her. He knew that was not the type of daughter he raised. What had happened to the little girl who always said, "Don't get mad Papi," whenever she saw him upset. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He noticed that she completely blocked him out as she went on to set the table; however, he saw that she had obtained the incorrect rice to feed Jesus. "Not that rice,” he said, “the one that came with your food."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Okay," she said and put the leftover rice back into the refrigerator. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here she goes again with her simple, short, and direct replies, he thought. Every day she is turning more and more into her mother. First, she does not let me talk. She thinks she is always right. I can never win an argument with her. Everything brings her into a rage. Doesn’t she realize how much I have to work in order to support them? Doesn’t she know how much I would kill to take back those extensive night shifts that prevented me from spending time with all my kids? Doesn’t she realize how much I would have loved to witness every single second of their childhood, but I couldn’t… due to work! BAM! The loud crash made him jump due to it sounding quite similar to the car that ran into him thirteen years ago. After coming back to reality, Pedro could not believe what he was hearing. Was his daughter now throwing plates out of rage? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Karla, relax! You're not a little girl anymore to be throwing your fits."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"What? I dropped it on accident! I didn't do anything wrong. I'm tired of you always, purposely pushing my buttons just because you get a chuckle out of it." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Karla! There, stop talking back!" Pedro could not take it anymore. If there was one thing he could not take it was a back talker. Then he thought, is she really the one who is turning into her mother or is it me?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-69175349342720786922014-03-06T20:20:00.002-08:002014-04-23T20:14:18.725-07:00What Is Going On? by Crystal Diaz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ulmo1ims_9E/UxucrgpKPAI/AAAAAAAAAyE/5NfWysotT6I/s1600/sisters1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ulmo1ims_9E/UxucrgpKPAI/AAAAAAAAAyE/5NfWysotT6I/s1600/sisters1.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What Is Going On?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Crystal Diaz<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Saturday morning was just perfect. The sun was out, but it was not too hot or cold; it was just pleasant. Alyssa arrived at her parent’s home that morning bright and early with her baby, Samuel. Samuel was asleep like an angel in his baby carriage. He was so warm, stuffed with so many blankets, she worried he might be uncomfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Ding dong, ding dong," the doorbell rang, but nobody answered. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The house was dark and in silence. The family, still asleep at 7:30 am, did not hear a sound. The phone rang, but no one answered. Alyssa became frustrated, clinching her teeth. She peaked through the windows, and yet, no reflection or sound. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Where could they be so early?" she asked herself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She grabbed her phone and decided to text her sister Natalia. Lately, Natalia had been very rude to her and Alyssa was not sure if she would reply.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Hey open the door I'm outside." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Five minutes passed and no answer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Hello Answer me!!!???"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She knocked again and this time even harder. She heard something and kept knocking. The door opened slightly and it was her mother in a robe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;">"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Que paso, porque llegaste tan temprano?</i>" </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What happened why did you arrive so early?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I have been waiting here for ten minutes!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pues estabamos dormidos."</i> Well, we were asleep.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The house felt warm and the smell of silence was in the air. Alyssa set the baby carriage on the sofa while she was lying on the other far end. She turned on the television and was watching a show. Natalia, her younger sister, then arrived, half asleep, rubbing her eyes with her hands. "Good morning," she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Seems like somebody woke up in a good mood today," said Alyssa.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Do not start, please. I really do not want to argue with you!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Ha, ha, ha," Alyssa whispered to herself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The two sisters looked at each other with fury in their eyes. Natalia sat down in the sofa to watch the television. Alyssa was lying on the other side of the sofa trying to fall asleep. She had not slept during the night because of Samuel. He kept her awake all through the night. Her eyes were swollen and her small eyeballs were hardly able to be seen. Samuel awoke with the noise of the blender. Their mother had begun to make breakfast and it smelled delicious. The smell of chile and beans were all over the home. He had started to cry and his tears ran down to his cheekbones and to his neck. Alyssa lay in the sofa with no reaction towards picking him up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Aren't you going to get him out of his carriage?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Natalia asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alyssa's phone started to ring that instant and Alyssa hurriedly ran towards her bag, scattering its contents to look for her phone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Your baby is crying!" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I am looking for my phone. He does not have nothing."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Natalia ran towards the carriage and picked up her nephew, "Aww my poor baby." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alyssa with the corner of her eye saw her sister cuddling and making Samuel laugh. She had always loved babies and with the welcoming of Samuel to the family, Natalia had been very glad. Alyssa finally found her phone which was in the bottom of her purse, but it was too late she had missed the call. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Oh man, I missed the call. It was Thomas."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"He is working. He shouldn't be calling you." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"He might have had an emergency, you never know, and why do you even care?" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I do not care, I am just saying."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"You are always trying to act like the smartest one."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Natalia looked like she wanted to say something, but then stopped herself and looked away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Why do you stay quiet, huh?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Leave me alone, please."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Give me Samuel!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Oh, so now you want him."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Yes, he is my son."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Well you preferred answering your phone than grabbing him."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"It was an emergency!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Girls,” said their mother from the kitchen, “please stop arguing." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The two sisters looked like they were about to hit each other. The tension had risen between them and they were each aware of each other’s movements, eyeballing one another from the corners of their eyes. I have to get her in the right moment, thought Alyssa. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"She is so rude. I cannot stand her any longer,” Alyssa said. “I would just prefer to leave, but then, I do not want to."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Natalia had put the baby to sleep, lay him in his bouncer, and was now sitting on the sofa concentrating on the show. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alyssa reached over and hit her in her arm. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Whoa, what was that for!" Natalia said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"You are so rude!" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Natalia laid the punch on Alyssa's arm as well and the fight began. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Girls, please stop!” their mother insisted, “You are acting like nine year olds."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Well she started it," Alyssa said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Stop! I am going to call your father, right now!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The tension remained in the room, but the girls stopped fighting. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Natalia got up to wash the dishes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alyssa continued to lie on the sofa in front of the television, thinking about the situation that had just occurred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I do not understand what is going on with you girls," said their mother. "I am going to have to consult with your father and he will have a serious talk with both of you." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The hours passed and the girls did not even look at each other. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mother had called their father and he was on his way home from work. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590344716363127346.post-60506067581702374842014-03-06T20:19:00.002-08:002014-03-10T05:41:29.793-07:00What to Eat by Rosa Lemus<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1VkA2S7OrAo/UxtfwUHv_2I/AAAAAAAAAtc/c43zPARq_Fo/s1600/what+to+eat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1VkA2S7OrAo/UxtfwUHv_2I/AAAAAAAAAtc/c43zPARq_Fo/s1600/what+to+eat.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What to Eat<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Rosa Lemus<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After walking for hours, Imelda stopped to catch her breath. Once her daughter Rosa started shopping, nothing could stop her. They had skipped breakfast in order to arrive at the mall early in the morning before 11:00am. Imelda was already in a bad mood because her husband wouldn’t stop teasing her about the way she looked. She was wearing a pale yellow blouse with denim jeans, and brown boots. Her husband mentioned that she looked darker with the pale yellow blouse, but Imelda alleged that it was the makeup she had recently bought, which was too dark for her skin tone. However, Rosa didn’t care about how her mom looked. All she cared about was finding her new pair of boots. They had been to every single store in the mall, but yet they couldn’t find a pair of brown boots for Rosa. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imelda kept on rubbing her stomach and making facial gestures. Her eyebrows looked sad and she held her head with the tips of her fingers and looked at Rosa with a strong eye contact. Everything seemed to spin around. She couldn’t find the correct words to tell her daughter to hurry up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Rosa,” said Imelda, losing her temper, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me estoy muriendo de hambre</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Ok Mom, this is the last store, promise,” said Rosa.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lo dudo, duras como veinte horas en una sola tienda</i>.” </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Imelda couldn’t think of anything else but eating a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">carne asada</i> burrito from Rubios. She started losing control: her mouth was like a river and she was becoming desperate for food. Finally, Rosa and Imelda left the store and walked toward the food court.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As they were approached the food court, Rosa was bragging about her new brown boots, but Imelda really didn’t care at that point. Her nostrils were wide, she was glowering. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We are going to eat Rubios!” Imelda said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Yeah right, said who?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Aquí se come lo que hay, no lo que quieras.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Well, I want pasta,” said Rosa.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imelda was furious and looked as if she wanted to slap her daughter. “When can you stop being a pest? And for ONCE do what I ask!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Uh, just once Mom?” asked Rosa. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Me la llevo todo el día aguantándote en las tiendas y todavía te pones chipilona para la comida</i>,” said Imelda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Blah, blah, blah!” said Rosa, looking like she was about to cry. “You’re the one who offered to come to the mall, so don’t complain Mom!” Now tears really were running down Rosa’s blushing cheeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imelda turned and began walking towards the pasta restaurant. Still, she couldn’t seem to make up her mind and ended up sitting at a dirty table with scattered napkins. Her head fell into her hands. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a very innocent tone, Rosa asked, “So is it pasta?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imelda stood up carefully from the table and didn’t say a word.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Que le gustaría ordenar señorita</i>,” asked the cashier. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Can I get the pasta combo,” said Imelda.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rosa stayed behind at the table waiting for her mom to order her food. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and smiled to herself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Philip Hoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478027394581227736noreply@blogger.com0