The Twelve

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QDoAIGwqZW0R0WsYjQyBNwOJsVNs8RHe_R91TMbVjDk/edit?usp=sharing

The role of a parent

In Book I of Cry, the Beloved Country, Alan Paton displays a variety of strong themes and motifs that move the story line. At this point in the novel, the role of a parent seems to be the most prominent and definite theme that has been shown. When Absalom Kumalo left his home and family, he turned into a life of crime with acquaintances that did nothing but destroy his character and morals. Because of this fact, his father, Stephen Kumalo, has suffered from the guilt of failing his son and being a dishonorable parent in general. Throughout the book Paton shows the negative and positive effects of parenting and how it determines the path of a child.

            Paton displays Kumalo’s true guilt and shame towards his son while he is speaking to Father Vincent. When Kumalo describes Absalom as “the greatest evil [he has] known,” the anxiety of being the parent of a murderer shines through his character as expected. Kumalo is somewhat blaming himself for his sons actions, because he is the person that allowed Absalom to leave his home and community. Even though Kumalo is supposedly a strong and honorable man of God, the world’s trials regarding parenting are causing him to sway away from his morals and fear God’s will. In this moment Paton is showing that no parent is perfect, and that it is easy for a parent to blame themselves for their child’s mistakes.

            Another strong key of parenting that Alan Paton presents is never giving up for children. Throughout Book I, Stephen Kumalo goes through hell and back to aid his son in every possible way. In Chapter 14, in a conversation with Absalom, Kumalo says powerfully, “I have searched in every place for you.” This statement alone allows the power and strong will of Kumalo’s parenting to show. Even though Absalom did everything against his father, Kumalo still loves him enough to fight for his well-being. Paton symbolizes an admirable parent through Kumalo’s actions in order to strengthen his character and show his good will.

            In Chapter 6, Alan Paton acquaints another side of parenting with the reader through Stephen Kumalo’s sister Gertrude. Because of her awful ways, her role as a parent has weakened greatly. When Kumalo goes to visit her, it becomes quite obvious that she is no longer the mother that was before. Even though she argues that all her action are “for the child,” the reality is that she is placing her child in the worst environment possible. Paton uses this demonstration to contrast Kumalo’s fighting love for his son, and shows that parenting is not always an easy situation.

            All things considered, Alan Paton displays the role and actions of a parent to be a cardinal theme in the first half of Cry, the Beloved Country. Paton not only contrasts different types of parenting between different people, but also shows that the same parent can utilize different styles of guidance and love, depending on their situation and view of morals.

Victory is the Ultimate Reward

Michelle Long

19 November 2012

Ms. Harmon

Pre AP English 10

Victory is the Ultimate Reward

Sweat is dripping down my face like a never ending waterfall. You can perceive the intensity in the air. I have to find the strength to finish the last rep. My brain says yes, but my body says no. As I push myself I know that it will be worth it in the end, it always is.

 

“Congratulations guys, I am extremely proud of y’all”, Coach Horton says during our speech after the game. The whole team starts screaming and going berserk as if we just won a gold medal. Two of the seniors are running to get the water to throw on coach. We have finally reached our goal. We just won the 6A east conference title. After all of our hard work we our rewarded. All of this hullabaloo cannot be described. I look around and I see that the parents have tears of joy flowing from their eyes. My team and I are all running around the field like wild monkeys. From the outside we look like a circus, but from the inside were just one diverse family.

 

I grasp the wave from the ocean with my hands. It hits me like a velvet blanket cascading through my fingers. I can feel the rays of the sun beaming down on my face. If this isn’t paradise I do not know what is. After a long hard battle to victory relaxation is what I need. Playing in a World Series tournament is extremely stressful, and the beach makes all my stress vanish like a balloon drifting away into the atmosphere. After our third victory in the tournament we decided to celebrate by admiring the beaches beauty. Victory to a group of twelve year old girls is the only option. We do not think about losing until it actually happens. Then our little hearts are crushed.  While I am standing there admiring the beautiful scenery all kinds of thoughts run through my head. I am incredibly thankful to be able to do what I love, play softball. As I walk back to our condo I realize how blessed I am to have a team that loves softball as much as I do.

 

The director of the tournament is handing our first place trophy to me, my emotions are going insane. I can barely hold my composure long enough for him to place it safely in my arms. Once I have the trophy my team goes ballistic around me. I am surrounded by the people that matter to me the most. We embrace each other like we are at a loved one’s funeral. We have just won our first tournament as a traveling softball team. For ten year olds that is an accomplishment that you strive for, it is like our noble peace prize. Our parents have a smile plastered across their face. They have no choice but to be excited for us. You can see the pride they have for us. Without them we would have never made it this far.

 

The sun is at an extreme high today. All of us are about to pass out from what we think is a heat stroke. As an eight year old you do not tolerate much heat. My team and I are fighting hard to win this game. We are trying to keep each other motivated, and are trying to keep pushing.  We are down to the last inning with two outs. The batter hits it to me. I throw her out at first. My whole team comes and dog piles me. That was the first time I ever had tears of joy. We have just won our first game playing together as a team.

 

You hear all the parents screaming encouraging words at you.

“Come on Michelle, you got it,” “Let’s go guys”!

I am five years old so I do not know much about what is going on. All I know is I have to get the ball to first base before the batter gets there. Once the ball was hit I realized it was coming straight to me. I successfully threw the batter out at first. My mother and I were the two most excited people on the planet! I just got my first out, and little did we know at the time that it would lead to many many more.

 

Softball has made me who I am. Softball has become a part of me. It is the reason why I am so physically and mentally strong. Some people need love, food, shopping, etc. to make them feel whole, I just need softball. Without softball, my life would not be complete. Softball makes me push myself to points that I did not even know were possible. While I am digging deep inside of me to find enough strength to do the last rep all of the thoughts and memories overflow my head. Finally, I finish it. Victory is mine. Hopefully this feeling will continue as the year goes on. Winning a state championship would be the ultimate victory. Who doesn’t want a flashy ring to show off?

 

The Beginning Of A New Me

It all started with some letters on our refrigerator. I noticed them the first time I walked in the door when they brought me home from the hospital. My mom tells me stories of how I loved making all kinds of combinations of letters and words. As a baby my mother loved reading short stories to me before bed. She loved to see me listening intently like I knew what was going on, but in reality I was just fascinated by the pictures. Of course now I can't remember that, but she said I loved it. From then on, reading became second nature to me.

Once I was old enough to understand, my mom started reading me children's books like, Dr. Seuss and Barney. She tells me about how she had to re-read them until I had the story memorized. I LOVE listening to my mother read. It comes so natural to her; it's like listening to Adele sing. It took me into an imagery world full of happiness and unicorns. I can remember her reading me anything from Bible stories to Barney. My favorite stories to hear were the wonderful adventures of Barney. To this day I still have a Barney stuffed animal, although I do not use him to cuddle with anymore.

When I started first grade I began reading novels by myself. The first reading goal I ever set was to read ever signal Junie B. Jones book out there. Those novels might have been lower level, but as a first grader I was very proud of the books I read. I always tended to read at a higher level than the other children in my grade. I remember loving to read on my own but hating to read in class. The stories we read at school never grabbed my interest. We would read about some girl and her dog Max, which generally put me to sleep.  

As I got older I started to love reading for pleasure more and more. I began to read multiple books at once; one at school, which I read during free time, and one at home. Reading allowed me to go to a place where no one but me and the characters I created existed. I loved reading modern fiction because I could easily relate to the story I was reading. My favorite book is My Sister’s Keeper. It has a little bit of everything in it; family drama, science, and teenage girl’s relationship.

Now I do not read as much as I should. My vocabulary used to be very strong but it has slowly faded since I do not read as much anymore. As a teenager it is hard to balance a social life, school work, softball practice, and still have time to read. I still love to read when I have free time. Other teenagers think it is nerdy to read, but I like to read because it keeps your mind thinking. Also, you can read things about today’s society that keeps you aware of the things going on around you. To me life would not be the same without reading.   

I am complex and mysterious

I am complex and mysterious.
I wonder if my dreams will come true.
I hear the fish deep in the ocean.
I see all the angels flying above us.
I want to work at St. Jude some day.
I am complex and mysterious.

I pretend to not care.
I feel my heart beating.
I touch the wing of an angel.
I worry I won't succeed.
I cry for unexplainable reasons.
I am complex and mysterious.

I understand why children rebel.
I say I will cure cancer.
I dream that the world is at peace.
I try to make my parents proud.
I hope to make an impact on society .
I complex and mysterious.

Sin is Everywhere

        All people have sin in their lives. Some people sin more than others. Do people know when their sin has a chance of being removed? Does anyone see what is right in front of them? Or has the world screwed our entire brain up. In today's world some aren't even aware of what sin is. In "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" Pelayo and Elisenda didn't see a miracle when it was "locked up with the hens".
        Miracles only come once in a blue moon. Very few people have been lucky enough to expericence it. Those who have probably deserved it. I hope I would recognize a miracle being bestowed upon me unlike Pelayo and Elisenda. Instead of cherishing the moment, they decided to make quick cash out of it. what was so despicable was people from all over came to see their creation.
        The 'old man' was given "mothballs" to eat. He refused them. Just like any other human would. Since the old man wouldn't stand cruel people would "throw stones at him". If i was the angel I sure wouldn't bless any one of those people. People don't even realize how rude they can be to others. some of them wanted to see him move so bad that they burned his side with an iron that's for branding sterrs. That right there is the definition of sin.