I couldn't believe I was about to be gutted like a fish. For Christ's sake, I was only eleven years old, and I was terrified.
As sure as the midsummer day was hot, I was staring at two mexican boys not much older than I, each wielding a butterfly knife. I was convinced they intended to use them.
My best friend Skyler had only just left the park where we were practicing our golf swings. We kept our golf clubs and bikes behind a shed, so as to keep them out of the view of untrustworthy people.
Shortly following my friend's departure, I realized the sweat had been pouring over my face for some time. With both sleeves drenched from sopping the sweat, it was time to head home.
As I walked to the shed to gather my clubs, I heard footsteps on the large, loose gravel on the other side of the small storage unit. I turned to walk toward my bike when one of them grabbed my arm.
Yanking my golf bag out of my grip, he pulled his knife out of his pocket. His compatriot followed suit. "Oh, shit" was the only thing I could think.
They decided that my golf clubs and my bag would be sufficient loot and allow for my exit. My father had bought the golf clubs for me, so this started a brief internal argument. Having been very active in nearly all sports, I was sure I could outrun them. I only had to find a way to grab my golf clubs and jet before they were able to catch me.
"Someone's coming to help me!" I yelled, as I pointed behind them. They both spun around to see my would-be savior, and at that moment I went into over-drive. I grabbed the golf clubs, decided to leave the bike behind, and ran. I ran and I ran. I ran until I was sure my legs were going to detach from my body and leave me attempting to escape in an army crawl.
About halfway to my house, I recognized the grandparents of a friend of mine. "Mr. and Mrs. Viles! Help me, please!" I shouted. They quickly got to me and asked what was the matter. With a brief explanation of my story, Mr. Viles, with anger in his eyes, decided we would go back to the park and find the ruffians and get my bike back.
We found my bike behind a dumpster near the front of the park. With two bent handlebars, bent and broken spokes and deflated tires, I considered it a loss. Neither of the two I was accusing was in sight, nor have I ever seen them again.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Questions from p87 on "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan
It seems to me that the text is more explanatory or informational than anything. Tan wants the audience- anyone who has communicated with someone that does not regard English as their native tongue- to try to understand that simply because a person may not speak English well, does not make them unintelligent or less worthy of respect or fair treatment.
For me, the passage is easy to follow, mostly because of the precise, concrete details she uses regarding her experiences with English, more specifically, her mother's struggle with the language.
It seems as though the author organized occurrences in the piece in order or how important they are to understanding the plights of those in this kind of situation.
For me, the passage is easy to follow, mostly because of the precise, concrete details she uses regarding her experiences with English, more specifically, her mother's struggle with the language.
It seems as though the author organized occurrences in the piece in order or how important they are to understanding the plights of those in this kind of situation.
Summation of "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan
English is English is English, right? Wrong, says Amy Tan.
Having grown up speaking, reading and writing only in English, it's hard for me to see the perspective of someone who has learned it as a second language, or lives with someone in this situation.
Tan does a very good job of pointing out the differences between the linguistics of someone who speaks English natively, and in the case of her mother, someone who has learned it as a second language.
The author cites circumstances such as having to help friends understand what her mother is saying in her "broken English", and times when she had to place calls to business pretending to be her mother, due to poor treatment from the business.
To accommodate her mother, Tan often switches to different variations of English; Using proper English when speaking to native English speakers, and "broken English" when speaking with her mother.
The author makes it clear that simply because her mother has not learned or chooses not to incorporate the intricacies of spoken English, it is not to say that she doesn't understand them. Reading periodicals such as Forbes and The Wall street Journal are activities she often partakes in.
Having grown up speaking, reading and writing only in English, it's hard for me to see the perspective of someone who has learned it as a second language, or lives with someone in this situation.
Tan does a very good job of pointing out the differences between the linguistics of someone who speaks English natively, and in the case of her mother, someone who has learned it as a second language.
The author cites circumstances such as having to help friends understand what her mother is saying in her "broken English", and times when she had to place calls to business pretending to be her mother, due to poor treatment from the business.
To accommodate her mother, Tan often switches to different variations of English; Using proper English when speaking to native English speakers, and "broken English" when speaking with her mother.
The author makes it clear that simply because her mother has not learned or chooses not to incorporate the intricacies of spoken English, it is not to say that she doesn't understand them. Reading periodicals such as Forbes and The Wall street Journal are activities she often partakes in.
Questions from p87 on "Let it Snow", by David Sedaris
Let it Snow was a memoir written by David Sedaris, as he understood an even that presumably happened to him during his childhood. It appears that, due to the tolerance of language in society at the time the story was written, that the author intended the story to appeal to an audience of young adults.Reading the story, I came to understand that some parents need a break from their children, and handle the stresses of parenthood in an extremely different way than I personally do.Being a short story about an even that occurred only over a few hours’ time, the author follows a chronological path and includes the most pertinent points. The passage was easy to follow for me, mostly because of the author’s casual style.
Summary of "Let it Snow", by David Sedaris
In a perfect world, we find that parents love their children, children respect and mind their parents, and ample, positive attention is given to both parties.
However, in this short story by David Sedaris, we find that a mother, whose only vacation is while the children are at school, becomes overwhelmed by the prolonged attendance of her children during an unusually heavy snow.
After barring the children from their own home, and refusing their re-entry, the mother turns to alcohol and television to help cope with the unidentified internal conflict she’s facing. Maddened, the children decide to take action, and come to the understanding that sacrificing a sibling is the only way of getting back inside.
A passing motorist uncovers the children’s plan, and the reader must assume, reveals to the mother that the children have planned to get her attention with the harm of the youngest sibling. Having done the job, this causes the mother to trek through the snow, over a hill, to the children.
Having gone from being watched by their mother to being purged into nature had caused some resentment, but upon seeing their mother in eight inches of snow and missing a shoe, they decided that helping her get back to the house quickly would result in the comfort of all.
However, in this short story by David Sedaris, we find that a mother, whose only vacation is while the children are at school, becomes overwhelmed by the prolonged attendance of her children during an unusually heavy snow.
After barring the children from their own home, and refusing their re-entry, the mother turns to alcohol and television to help cope with the unidentified internal conflict she’s facing. Maddened, the children decide to take action, and come to the understanding that sacrificing a sibling is the only way of getting back inside.
A passing motorist uncovers the children’s plan, and the reader must assume, reveals to the mother that the children have planned to get her attention with the harm of the youngest sibling. Having done the job, this causes the mother to trek through the snow, over a hill, to the children.
Having gone from being watched by their mother to being purged into nature had caused some resentment, but upon seeing their mother in eight inches of snow and missing a shoe, they decided that helping her get back to the house quickly would result in the comfort of all.
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