Reggie's Revelation

Lane: Sir, I just made your bomb for you. It is sitting on the kitchen counter.

Reggie: "That's very kind"(111). Thank you so much.

Lane: "I do my best to give satisfaction, sir"(18).

Reggie: I've been meaning to ask you, Lane, why have you been such a loyal servant to me for all of this time?

Lane: Well, your condition is very depressing. I pity you. Meningitis is a horrid disease. Want to go to the bar and get a drink? I feel as though we need to get out of this house for a change.

Reggie: Why do you want to take me out of the house all of a sudden? Do you want to parade me around because I look like a freakshow? Do you think I'm your "pet ni****" or something? "Buy Reggie a drink and its affirmative action night."
Lane: So this is how you repay me for how nice I have been for all of these years? Treat me as though I have done nothing for you all this time?

Reggie: Yes, in fact I have some other things to tell you. But first, what is your take on marriage?

Lane: "I have only been married once". "And that, was in consequence of a misunderstanding between myself and a young person". I have not seen her in ages. Sometimes, I wonder of her whereabouts.

Reggie: Well, here goes. I'm gonna get real weird this. Could that misunderstanding be the fact that until now, you did not know that your wife is now in prison for selling me the materials necessary for me to make my bomb?

Lane: "No, sir. It's not a very interesting subject.

Reggie: So, you don't care that your wife is a criminal?

Lane: Well, "I never think of it that way". I believe that she can do as she pleases because it gives me more alone time.

Reggie: In that case, what are we waiting for? Lets get to the bar. I've set us up with some hot chicks.

Even the Poster Lashes Out

Dear Amy,

I write to you even though it has been years since we last talked, but right now you are the only one I feel comfortable expressing my emotions to.
I cannot even begin to describe how miserable my day has been. First off, while walking into school on this couldy day, the pigeon on the poster in Ms.Serensky's room came to life and pooped on my head. "Eat sh** and die", I muttered to this horrible creature (209). First and second period blurred by, and I found myself in Ms. Serensky's 3rd period AP English 12 class once again. As soon as I sat down, Ms. Serensky walked up to me and started cackling. She began to scream in my face and asked how I could POSSIBLY be sitting in the wrong seat when it has been assigned for an entire quarter. I just sunk down into my seat because I was in no mood to argue after staying awake for days, desperately trying to find a cure to my father's cancer. "My insides feel raw and hollow"(179). I need to eat something immediately or else I will pass out. Ms. Serensky then announced that it was time to turn in money for our new books. I handed her a $20 bill and she then asked me, "So the world now revolves around you?" just because I did not have the EXACT change (Ms. Serensky). I just had no energy to reply so I accepted this low-blow. "God help me, I'm actually starting to feel beholden to the son-of-a-bi***(178). Amy, please call me. I need to feel your warm embrace and I know you will somehow be able to put a smile on my face after this wretched day.


Warmly,
Junior

One Moment Can Change your Life Forever

Dear Junior,

It is summer right before my junior year of High School. I am currently sitting at the Chagrin Valley Recreation Center, my place of employment. There are several incoming seniors who have already experienced their AP English 11 journeys and I am asking them what I should expect and what to focus on in my summer reading book. This book, "Lucky" is currently in my hands,waiting to be opened for the first time.

What a coincidence it is that you have the same name as my most pivotal class in High School-my "Junior year" English class, otherwise known as "AP English 11". The voice in your head which informs you of future events in time seems to have a striking similarity to my the words of my wise co-workers' advice. They tell me, "you need to make sure that you annotate your summer reading and take very detailed notes". I respond, already intimidated, by saying, "Please stop trying to confuse me"(213). "I have no idea what "annotate" means. Is this some sort of sick joke? I mean, I always expect the worst"(244). They then go on to tell me that I will be very scared of Ms. Serensky upon my arrival in her classroom the first day. But not to worry, because at first, "she tolerates [everybody], but nothing more"(277). They then advise me to stick with the class, no matter how challenged and confused I may feel, because it will all be worth it in the end, somehow.

As the year progresses, my in-class writing skills remain mediocre. However, as soon as the AP test occurs, the lightbulb in my head finally flips the necessary "on" switch and I realize that "anything, anything, anything is possible"(302). I realize that this has been one of the best decisions I have made in high school thus far. The single moment I decided it was time to challenge myself and take this grueling class significantly changed my educational life for the better.

The Absurdity of our School

Lately, I have begun to feel quite suffocated by the way our school is run. I believe that we students, especially seniors, deserve much more freedom than we that amount what are allowed. For example, today during commons, I was studying for a test which happened to be the following period. I realized that I did not have the necessary book, so I quickly left the cafeteria in a swift power-walk to my locker in order to save as much time as possible. However, behind me, I heard Mrs. E yelling "JAAAACKIE, JAAAACKIE". I knew right away that she was talking to me because she never has been able to tell us apart. Each time she sees either one of us, we are both referred to as "Jackie". I

guess this method of attempting to tell us apart is easier than the Meghan or Jackie guessing game? Although it was probably disrespectful of me to continue walking down the hallway, I was, after all, in a very big hurry to get to my locker. She finally caught on and realized that my name is Meghan and said, "Oh. Meghan, Im sorry honey, but you cannot leave without a hall pass". Inside, I was screaming. First of all, I have never in my 3.75 years at CFHS have been stopped in the hallway for not carrying a pass. Second, I am almost eighteen years old. Why can't I not be trusted to walk about 100 feet down the hallway to my locker? She then forced me back into the commons and made me wait for the bell to ring in ten minutes. I did not have the time nor patience to obey this rule, so I quickly went to the bathroom in order for her to wait to turn her back. Once she turned her back, I took off running and reached my locker in about thirty seconds without her noticing me.

Looking back on that moment, I laugh thinking about how sneaky I had to be in order to enable myself to study for a difficult upcoming test. It makes me realize how little trust most of the administrators have in the students. Does anybody feel the same way?

My Inspiration

With lacrosse pre-season already in full-swing, I can hardly contain my excitement for the first game and the rest of the season. Our favorite assistant coach from last year, K.C White is now our head coach. She brought with her Coach Gus, a new, odd, yet energetic and optimistic assistant varsity coach. Beginning monday, their coaching quote for the week is "pain is fear leaving the body". This quote exemplifies our grueling conditioning and muscle soreness as a result of our hard work. However, none of us have experienced as much pain and setbacks as Coach White.

She was born with Cystic Fibrosis (CF),an inherited disease that causes thick, sticky mucous to build up in the lungs and digestive tract. It is one of the most common chronic lung diseases in children and young adults, and may result in early death. This mucous builds up in the breathing passages of the lungs and in the pancreas, the organ that helps break down and absorb food. This collection of sticky mucous results in life-threatening lung infections and serious digestion problems. Millions of Americans carry the defective gene but do not have any symptoms, It is the most common, deadly, inherited disorder affecting caucasians in the United States.

Each day, Coach White spends about three hours on a machine which vibrates her lungs to loosen up the mucous build-up. She lives a life of uncertainty, not knowing when there will be a cure, or how much longer she has to live. Her positive outlook on life has really impacted me. She really puts life in perspective for me, because I often take my life for granted and fail to realize how lucky I am to be healthy.

Nerves

As I sit in the hotel room in Massilon on my coach's laptop, my mind cannot concentrate on anything besides swimming. This weekend will reflect my entire life of hard work and dedication to this brutal, yet rewarding sport. My mind is on autopilot, similar to the poem we studied today in class- "Out of Sight, out of Mind". I am constantly thinking, "drink some water, shave my legs, stretch my shoulders, eat a power bar" in a rythmic pattern in order to prevent myself from becoming incredibly stressed out. The more systematically I think, the more I will be able to push out my dramatic emotions and think logically. This idea is very similar to an audience and purpose of today's poem. The author speaks to those who act on their heartfelt emotions, and encourages them to make decisions and think more from a logical and mindful standpoint. If I acted on my emotions right now, I would probably curl up in a ball and cry out of nervousness. So, thank you group one for indirectly helping me prevent a nervous breakdown.

Although I am about to rip my (leg) hair out...

College preparation.
Less Time.
Papers Win.