Mermaid Tale

 

Our story starts with Crystal walking home from middle school. Crystal was a 13 year-old girl who lived in La Jolla, California and went to middle school there. Crystal had red hair unlike her parents who were blonde. She had blue eyes,  and was tall thin, with light tanned skin. As Crystal got to her beach\side modern mansion, she noticed that her parents were gone. The house had many walls of glass giving an unbelievable view of the clear blue ocean that would shimmer in the sun making it look like thousands of sapphires covering the world.

“Hmm, there probably still at work,” guessed Crystal. Crystal’s mom, Mrs. Ross, had a company of making mermaid games while her dad, Mr. Ross had his own company of making waterproof laptops. She then headed to her room.

Crystal changed into beach clothes, grabbed a book and went to the beach. As Crystal read her book, she noticed a TV van parked along the side of the beach. “I wonder what they’re doing here?” said Crystal putting down her book and walking over to the reporter who just got out of the van. As Crystal got to where the reporter was she asked her what was going on. “Just wait dear,” lectured the reporter, who was tall and thin, with brown mid length hair. “We are rolling!” exclaimed the short, rounded, bald cameraman.

       “Hi, I’m Nicole Gem reporting live at La Jolla beach, where a woman says she spotted a mermaid,” said Nicole professionally. Marine biologists say there are such things as mermaids and they have never seen, up till now. If you see anything that might appear to be a mermaid call us at 303 - 827 - news.” said Nicole.

“Okay that’s a wrap people pack up!” shouted the short bald man.
After a few minutes, the TV van was packed up and gone. Crystal then thought to herself while walking home, “There are no such things as mermaids! They’re just in fairy tales and kiddie movies!” exclaimed Crystal

“Mom, dad? Are you home?” asked Crystal walking around her house.

“We’re in the kitchen Crystal,” shouted Mr. Ross.

“Mom, dad, you will not guess what I heard today?” exclaimed Crystal

“Let us guess,” said Mrs. Ross. “ When you got home from school and went down to the beach you saw Nicole Gem reporting that someone saw a mermaid?”

“How did you know?” asked Crystal.

“We saw it on the TV honey,” said Mr. and Mrs. Ross.

“Right,” said Crystal, what took you guys so long to get home?”

“Ummmm work,” Says Mr. Ross trying to cover their little secret that no one should know. During dinner, Crystal was wondering, what are my parents hiding from me? She then says something to make things less awkward. ”I can’t believe Nicole Gem says that mermaids are real, they’re just in kiddie shows and fantasy!”

“You are totally right honey,” said  Mrs. Ross hesitantly. After that Mr. and Mrs. Ross got up from the table and decided to take a walk on the beach. The next morning, Crystal woke up to the sound of the ocean waves crashing on the sand and with the sun warm and bright and the sky so blue. As she walked down for breakfast, she noticed her mom and dad weren’t home. “They probably had to go to work early today,” Crystal said to herself. She then grabbed an apple and made an omelette then turns on the TV. “This is Nicole Gem reporting live at La Jolla beach where fishermen caught two mermaids in their net. The sailors are coming to land to show us the mermaids. Now tell me, how did you manage these creatures?”

“Well Nicole, we felt that the net was heavier than normal and when we pulled it up we found these creatures in it,” said one of the sailors proudly.

“Thank you for the telling of the experience,” the reporter continued. ”The mermaids will be put in the downtown aquarium and displayed today at noon. I’m Nicole Gem and you are watching La Jolla Action News.”

As Crystal was eating her omelette, while watching the morning new she said, “OMG! I’m going to call in sick for school and go see those so called mermaids!” She then got dressed, grabbed her purse and ran down to the aquarium. Once she got there she went inside and asked an employee where the mermaids were.

“Go down the left hallway then take a right at the roundabout,” responded the employee.

“Thank you,” said Crystal. When she got to her destination, she saw this huge tank of water. In the tank, there were all sorts of colorful fish of all shapes and sizes, big green and brown turtles, and coral reefs. In the back of the tank, Crystal saw two unusually large turquoise and green tails  next to each other. It was hard for her to see because there were so many people. Crystal walked up to the tank and finally saw the mermaids. They were thin and young, one with long blond hair and a sea star in it, and the other with short blond hair. The mermaids turned to look at Crystal. Both Crystal and the mermaids screamed as they saw each other.

“Mom, Dad!” screamed Crystal. “You’re mermaids!”

“Yes,” admitted Mr. and Mrs. Ross.

Crystal was so shocked and amazed but, she new she had to concentrate and help her parents.

“So, how am I going to get you guys out of the tank?” asked Crystal with great concern.

“We know!” exclaimed Mrs. Ross. ”Crystal? Do you remember the rings we wear? The ones with the turquoise gem with gold wrapped around it?

“Yes, and why?” asked Crystal.

“We can’t tell you right now okay. Just run back home get the rings come back and throw them in the tank. There’s a door behind the tank that has stairs that leads to the top of the tank” replied Mrs. Ross.

“Got it mom!” exclaimed Crystal.

She ran back home as fast as she could. When she got there Crystal darted to her parent’s room and found a jewelry box on their dresser.”That must be where the rings are?” thought Crystal. “Necklaces, bracelets, ah ha! The rings! I’ll put them in my purse.”
Crystal then got back to her parents. “I… found….. them.” said Crystal out of breath.
“Great! Now throw them in the tank,” Commanded Mr. Ross.
Crystal threw them in the tank to her parents, wondering what would happen. All of a sudden, the rings disappeared. She then looked to the tank and saw the rings already on her parents’ fingers. “What’s going to happen now?” asked Crystal.
“We’ll tell you soon,” replied Mr. Ross. “Now, can you meet us at the beach side next to our house?” asked Mr. Ross.
“Yes,” replied Crystal.

In a flash Mr. and Mrs. Ross were gone from the tank. “What!” Crystal said shocked.”How did they disappear? Well, I have to get to the beach and get out of the Down Town Aquarium before anyone notices that the mermaids are gone” Crystal said to herself.  

Once she got to the beach\side, Crystal saw two tails coming up from the ocean. She recognized the tails in a flash. She then saw the tails go down and two heads came up. It was mother and father. They swam to where the ocean crashed on the beach to then find their daughter anxiously waiting for them. “Mom, dad!” Crystal hugged her parents tightly. “Why didn’t you tell me you were mermaids?”

“We didn’t want to burden you with such a big secret. “ Replied Mr. Ross.

“But we are family and we all love each other no matter what we look like.” said Crystal.

“We have so much to talk about and share with you” Said Mrs. Ross.

“Okay” replied Crystal.

     “We would love for you to meet your extended family,” said Mrs. Ross

Crystal then saw a whole group of mermaid and one who looked exactly like her. “Mom, who’s the mermaid that looks like me?” asked Crystal.

“That’s your grandma, Ariel,” replied Mrs. Ross.

     From then on Crystal and her parents were as close as can be.Since then,Crystal has been having a great time with her new extended family.

Beautiful Life

All living things must die in this world, but they live on in another. This is the lesson of Hans Christian Andersen’s  The Last Dream Of Old Oak. In this story an oak lives for 365 years. The oak then meets a fly, called the Ephemera that lives only for one day. “Poor little creature, only lives for one day,” the oak says. The fly is really happy enjoying life no matter how long he lives. “How can you be so happy when you have such a short life?” says old oak to himself.  In the end, old oak has a vivid dream of being lifted from the ground into the light. I think this story has an amazing lesson to teach us about enjoying life because, death is not the end but a new beginning.

  The tree lives a long time unlike the fly. Old oak is grateful to be in such a beautiful world but, scared to die. While the fly is less scared of dieing because, he knows he has an eternal life which, the tree doesn’t know about yet. Old oak feels that life should be filled with fear and measures life in years. The fly feels that everything is so beautiful and joyus and measures his life in moments.“Everything around me is so wonderfully bright and warm, and beautiful, that it makes me joyous.”  This story is a christian story where people are represented by the oak and fly who both end up believing in eternal life.

“Eternal life is not primarily duration but quality of life, "life to the limit.”

― John Eldredge

“All who live possess eternal life, and few would trade it for an immortal body, if they truly understood what it is to be alive.”

― Audrey Auden, Realms Unreel

  As winter was coming, he noticed how birds were coming to him to rest before their long journey across the ocean. The oak could be seen far out at sea so sailoris would look for the oak and would know where they were. In the fall, the oak is so beautiful with it’s leaves all colorful and bright. It had no idea how many eyes looked eagerly for it. The tree has a great purpose in this world like all of us.

“But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth” (Exodus 9:16).

   Winter was coming, and the breeze would sing to the oak good night for it was the trees 4’th century to be able to sleep. As he was sleeping, he could see butterflies chasing each other, summer flies dancing around him, and the cuckoo that would come and sing to him. Oak’s life has past before his eyes. People say that when you die you see your whole life flashing before your eyes. As oak looked down, he could see on a patch of grass a grasshopper. Beetles hummed, the birds sang, and the bees murmured. All of them had a tune of their own way , filling the air with songs and gladness. “Where is the little blue flower, and the wild apple-tree with its lovely blossoms, and all the glory of the wood, which has flourished year after year?” asked the oak. “We are here we are here” said whispers to the oak. “Why this is beautiful, too beautiful to be believed,” said the oak in a joyful tone. “I have them all here, both great and small; not one has been forgotten. Can such happiness be imagined?” It seemed almost impossible.

“When you are with the Eternal God in heaven  it can be imagined, and it is possible,” sounded the reply through the air.

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

                                                                                                         John 5-24

  As he grew taller and taller his roots were being pulled up from the ground. The tree was being pulled to heaven. Actually, the tree was being uprooted by a terrible storm, yet to the tree, it was a very different experience. The tree learned that when he dies he will keep living on and on with an eternal life. Life is to beautiful to believe all is here nothing is forgotten so much happiness can be imagined

    In the end, the story is not about a fly and a tree. It’s about people. It teaches us that god has a purpose and a path for all of us to be in the world. The tree learned that when he dies he will keep living on and on for eternity.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

                                                                      John 11-25

The Little Matchstick Girl

“Every man’s life is a fairytale written by God’s fingers” -Hans Christian Anderson.

Imagine that instead of having a party on New Year's with your friends and family, it is 1845, you are wandering the cold streets with no shoes, feet blue and red from the cold and you are trying to sell matches so your father doesn’t beat you when you get home.  That was what life was like for the little girl in the short story The Little Matchstick Girl.

The Little Matchstick Girl  is a story about a dying child’s dreams and hopes.  In this story a little girl is sent out on the cold streets of Denmark by her impoverished parents on the last evening of the year to sell matches.  The cold little girl was not able to sell any matches and begins to despair because she knows that her father will beat her when she arrives home.  

The girl then sits in a corner against a stone wall and strikes a match against it, the warmth she feels is incredible.  Looking to her right she sees a hot stove, the match dies out and the scene fades away.  This happens three more times, beginning with a stunning view of a beautiful new year's feast, then a christmas tree, and when she lights the lasts match the christmas tree reappears this time lit with thousands of candles.  The tree is so tall that it merges with the sky and the girl’s dead grandmother appears in front of her.  

The grandmother was the only person in her life that had ever loved her.  The girl goes to her grandmother and they both leave to a world without hunger nor pain.  In the morning people find the girl frozen to death against the wall and clutching her matches, half burned out.  All they mutter is “She tried to warm herself” but little do they know of the beauty she had witnessed with her grandmother that night.

In Hans Christian Anderson’s time begging was illegal, and child abuse was common.  Not only was the girl cold and hungry but she was also abused at home, increasing the sorrow of the story when she only sees release from her distress in dying.  People on the streets didn’t want to be caught up with the law so they refused to help the little girl who was freezing and begging on the streets.  It makes you wonder, how many times have I turned my face, and not helped someone in need.  It will surprise you to notice that you probably have done that many times.  This story also shows that you shouldn’t take things for granted because some people for example, the girl in the story, found that a match might give her a world of comfort.

I think that the three images she had were like three wishes so when “her soul ascended into heaven” the wishes came true.  Around the time that this story was set, many people were poor because of small salaries so they could only dream of being part of the great scenes the girl had seen.

Some people read this story and think that it has a sad ending, others will think that it has a happy ending.  Personally I think that this story has a both happy and sad ending.  It is happy for the girl because she gets to escape this horrible world and be with the one person who loved her.  It is sad for the other people in the world that were also suffering because instead of being warm and happy they were cold and starving.  I love this story because the little girl was rescued from her parents, the cold, and the life she was having to be warmed and fed on that new year’s night.  

How to be better at Photography

Have you ever wanted to be better at photography?  Well today is your lucky day because in this paper I am going to be giving you some tips on how to improve your photography skills.  Photography is an important skill to have because it can capture many moments and memories and it can allow us to share and to communicate.  There are many ways that you can improve your skills, I could go on for hours about every little detail, but I am going to keep this simple and easy.  

Obviously one of the biggest parts about taking good photos is having a good quality camera.  A few that I would recommend are the Nikon D7200, the Canon EOS 760D, the Panasonic FZ1000, and the Sony A7R ll.  The only problem with these are that they can get really expensive ranging from $300 to even $1000 dollars, crazy right?  You don’t have to buy these exact ones, but you still want a good quality camera so do your research and find a camera that fits you and your budget.  

One of the biggest things that will highly improve the quality of your photos when you shoot, is finding the light.  Before you raise your camera see where the light is coming from and use it to your advantage.  Whether it's natural light coming from the Sun or an artificial source like a lamp, you want to think, How can I use it to make my photos look better?  Light has to do with photos more than you might believe.  Light effects the appearance of everything you photograph.

The next step to taking better pictures is to take pictures of things that you love and that inspire or interest you.  If you like to take pictures of nature then do it, if you like to take photos of food or animals, then do it, no one is stopping you. Don’t take pictures of things that are boring and uninteresting to you because if you do then you will get bored with what you are doing and stop, which brings me to the next step.

Take lots of photos.  Anywhere you go bring a camera or your phone and take photos of things that look interesting.  If you travel to a new place take photos of every new thing, if you go to the mountains or the beach, take many photos.  Fill your camera roll with many photos because at least one of them will turn out perfectly.  Did you know that it takes 10,000 hours to master something?  That may just seem like a long time but as they say practice makes perfect.

 Those are just the main tips that have helped me become a better photographer.  Obviously there is so many ways that you can improve on, but this is the main part.  Photography is a great skill that I think everyone has and can do.  If you think that you are a bad photographer or that you don’t have the “skill” then you’re wrong.  Anyone can do this if they believe they can and if they practice hard.  “You don’t take a photograph. You make it.”

Dust Under the Rug Literary Analysis

Imagine standing at a corner on a snowy day, and you’re starving so you ask someone walking by for some food. He gives you a funny glance then hurries away, just like everyone else. How does this leave you feeling? Probably like no one cares. Poverty in America is growing, and we don’t do anything to make it better, we just think “Why should I give away my money and food when it’s the government’s job?” This is one topic that can relate to the short story, “The Dust Under the Rug” written by Maud Lindsay.

In this story, a young girl named Minnie goes out to find a house where her sick mom and crippled sister can stay, and finds an abandoned yet messy cottage. She decides to clean it, but neglects to sweep under the rug thinking that no one will notice. She later finds out that dwarves occupied the house and when they praise her hard work, Minnie feels guilty about the dust under the rug so goes back to clean it and finds a pile of gold hidden under the dust.

When deciding whether or not to clean the floor, Minnie declares “I will not sweep under the rug to-day. After all, it is nothing for dust to be where it can't be seen!” (1) Just like Minnie knew the dust was there, we acknowledge that the homeless people are around, but don’t take action to help.

After driving or walking away from a homeless person without giving them anything, you might feel guilty that you didn’t take two minutes of your day to find something to give them. Minnie was being admired for her hard work, but she felt sorry that she didn’t finish her job thoroughly. “Finally, she could bear it no longer. So she sprang out of bed, and, taking her broom in her hand, she swept the dust away; and lo! under the dust lay twelve shining gold pieces, as round and as bright as the moon.” (1) If Minnie had been too lazy and abandoned the rug, she wouldn’t have been rewarded with the gold, which she brought home to her sick mother and sister. Helping out someone in need might not reward you with gold, but it can make that person’s day, which is just as good.

“Our love goes with the gold we give, And oh! forget not while you live, That in the smallest duty done Lies wealth of joy for everyone." the dwarves chant as they hear how Minnie discovered the gold. (1) That basically meant that she shouldn’t carry around a broom and go sweeping under every rug she finds, expecting gold and praise, but for better motivations like giving it to her family. So we shouldn’t give money to the poor just so we can brag about it to our parents or whatever, but so that it can make them feel not forgotten.

The Dust Under the Rug is a great short story that teaches us to do our work diligently and go the extra mile to finish. We don’t have to offer a five star hotel room to a homeless person or anything like that, but offering five dollars or a meal shows them that they aren’t forgotten and there are still thoughtful people in this world. Not only will helping them out make them feel good, but you will also feel proud of yourself for helping someone out.

Work Cited

Lindsay, Maud. "The Baldwin Project: Mother Stories by Maud Lindsay." The Baldwin Project: Mother Stories by Maud Lindsay

n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.

<http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=lindsay&book=mother&story=dust>.

The Doll's House Literary Analysis

“There should be no discrimination against languages people speak, skin color, or religion”.

-Malala Yousafzai (1)

In The Doll’s House, by Katherine Mansfield, a family named the Kelveys  are discriminated from the other families because they aren’t wealthy. A wealthier family named the Burnells acquire a beautiful dollhouse. The little girls are overjoyed to show everyone the dollhouse, except the Kelveys. One of the little Burnell girls tries to play with one of the Kelvey girls, but Mrs. Burnell is ashamed to have her daughter playing with a Kelvey so she makes them never see each other again.  I believe this story is showing how easily people discriminate other people because of their skin color, wealth, or religion.  

The Doll’s House was written in 1922. The Civil War had finished in 1865, however African-American people were still treated very poorly. White people didn’t even think that black people were human! So they treated them so badly, but this former slave, Fountain Hughes, said this “You wasn't no more than a dog to some of them in them days. You wasn't treated as good as they treat dogs now.” (2) In fact a white man named Jim Crow made fun of African-American people by painting himself black and acting super stupid. Isn’t that horrible! Another awful incident went like this: The United States Supreme Court passed a law saying that African-Americans had to use different separate bathrooms, bus seats, stores, churches and much more just because of their color! Their mottos was even “Separate but Equal” It was so awful how white people treated black people!

In The Doll’s House the Kelveys are an eyesore to their school. No one thinks that the Kelveys are worth their friendship because Mrs. Kelvey is washerwoman and Mr. Kelvey is in prison. “...the Kelveys were shunned by everybody. Even the teacher had a special voice for them, and a special smile for the other children when Lil Kelvey came up to her desk with a bunch of dreadfully common-looking flowers.” “Many of the children, including the Burnells, were not allowed even to speak to them.” “Nudging, giggling together, the little girls pressed up close. And the only two who stayed outside the ring were the two who were always outside, the little Kelveys. They knew better than to come anywhere near the Burnells.” As you can see the Burnells and the other families treat the Kelveys very poorly. The parents strictly tell their kids not to mingle with the Kelveys.

This story gives a very clear example of discrimination. Discrimination can tear down countries and we must put a stop to it. From kids bullying other kids to countries discriminating their people.

“I believe discrimination still exists in society and we must fight it in every form.”

-Andrew Cuomo (1)

Works Cited Page

"Discrimination Quotes." BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/discrimination_2.html

"Voices from the Days of Slavery." - Faces and Voices from the Presentation (American Memory from the Library of Congress). N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.

https://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/voices/vfssp.html

How to be a Great Babysitter

by, Lauren

Close your eyes and imagine this: A parent asks you to babysit for them, but you have no clue what you’re doing. You get there and one kid starts running around coloring on the walls with permanent markers. The permanent markers that were under lock and key mind you. Another kid is choking on a hot dog. The last one put a hole in the ceiling. Now open your eyes; you’re full of terror. So, to prevent any of this from happening I’m going teach you how to be a great babysitter!

    Starting off, go through a Red Cross or babysitting training course. Many clinics will teach you how to do CPR, the heimlich, and other important First Aid training. The chances that you will have to do CPR or the heimlich on anyone is very little, but you always want to be prepared.  Many parents will be very relieved  to know that their sitter is certified.

    Parents usually leave a list of things for the kids to do, bedtimes, food, and other important things. Make sure you read the list thoroughly! If the bedtime says 8:30 p.m. you need to put them to bed at that time! Kids will most likely test you and ask for things they are not allowed to have or do. Some things kids like to test you with are candy and screen time. Make sure you put your foot down and don’t let them. If the parents don’t leave a list, ask them the rules before they leave.

    Always keep an eye on the kids. Kids have a knack for getting into some kind of trouble. Make sure the kids know the rules. This way they will be less prone to get into trouble. Some things that cause injuries are, climbing on the things (or each other), playing in the street, or burning themselves on  something like hot stove burners, or hot pavement.

Next, interact with the kids. If the kids don’t know what do here are a few ideas: play board games, or card games, do a puzzle, read them a book, make a fort (just make sure to clean it up), and toys! Another thing to do is screen time. Just make sure you ask the parents first! Kids quickly get bored of their own toys, so something fun to do is to bring some old toys to play with from your house! Kids love new toys and your old ones will be a novelty. If the kids ask to play, go play with them. But, don’t sit there and  tell them to go play by themselves. If you don’t play with them, they will tell their parents, and you most likely won’t be hired again.

Next, if you make any messes clean them up! Toys, food that’s on the floor, dishes, and any other messes. If you break anything tell the parents! They will be very happy that you told them and will trust you more.

    Food. Kids are always asking for food! Mostly, gum, candy, and anything else sweet. Normally parents will let you know what their kids can and can’t eat. Make sure you don’t feed a child something they’re allergic to! Also, keep an eye on the kids when they’re eating. You don’t to be gone if one of the kids is choking. You will not have fun cleaning up barf or calling an ambulance.

    Lastly, be yourself!!!!! Kids will love you for being who you are!! You will also have a lot more fun if you’re yourself. Babysitting is a great character builder. It teaches you responsibility, patience, and many other life lessons.

    I hope you enjoyed the babysitting guide. Please give my paper a thumbs up. Now go make money by babysitting!*

*Disclaimer. This paper is not about making money. However, babysitting is a good way to make money.