Is Friendship Really Gone?

Author's Note: One day in L.A. I was super bored and decided to vent my feelings about friendship. You might agree or disagree with me on this topic. Leave a comment below about what you think. Enjoy. 

Friendship. What is it really? Trust, honesty, love, are those really the meanings of friendship? They are, but does anyone follow? No. The world we now live in is untrustworthy, the only honesty one can say is rude and wrong. Love, no one takes it seriously, they hurt each other and disrespect. So how can a friendship be real if there are no characteristics to explain the meaning? The answer is, it can't. Real friendship everyone used to have, is now gone. 

Only five years old and the little girls smile at each other holding out their pinkies, "I pinkie swear." Why can't it be this easy? Just a simple pinkie swear means the biggest thing to their friendship! A pinkie swear shows the other I will never tell your secret. Why is it now if I have something to say that I don't want anyone, but one person to know I have to literally get down on my nee and ask for them not to tell anyone. Why can't I just make this as easy as a pinkie swear and know they will never tell? I can't. It's not that simple because what we know call "trust" is nothing.

It seems as if a friendship is more of a competition. You say one thing, the other feels the need to say something better. You ask about what you should wear and your friends respond with telling you to wear something that you know won't look good on you. Why is it that way? If your friend is helping you pick out your outfit you would think they would help you find something to make you look your best. The honesty friends now say to each other goes way to far and hurts. 

Love. It's simple. It's all the characteristics of the good combined, but in love there is also mistakes. It's understandable to make mistakes because you're human and everyone does, but if you're treated like anything I said in my paragraphs your friend isn't using the right version of love. The meaning of a true  friendship is gone. 

Mr. George Washington

Author's Note: Every year in Language Arts, the 7th and 8th graders get a topic to write about that has to do with The United States. This year the topic was, Founding Fathers. My main topic in my story is George Washington. I start with just a regular introduction, but I then write a letter I would personally give to George Washington. 

Exactly 213 years ago a very important person walked the grounds we now walk. He was one of our founding fathers of America and a hero to all. One of his most known stories was when he chopped down his father’s cherry tree and could not tell a lie. This man was George Washington: the first president of the United States. Everyone knew this man in 1789 as a hero, but now everyone just knows him as the first president. What would you say to George Washington if you got the opportunity to meet him? Personally for me, I would ask him what it was like being the first president. I would also tell him about all the amazing things we use in his name.

Dear George Washington,

As many little kids would joke around with you asking funny questions like, what was it like wearing a wig, or what were your teeth made out of, I would like to stick to the more interesting questions. My first questions is, what was is like being the first president? You know how hard that is? First of all, to be a president in general you need the obvious talents including, being responsible and confident; you also started the first president elections which means you needed to prove yourself and take control of America to show elections would work.

For taking control and being the amazing president you were, people looked up to you for showing responsibility and character. Places all over America are named after you. The United Sates capitol is named, Washington D.C. Another example is, you’re on the one dollar bill and the quarter. People of America are so proud of you for taking control of America and starting the presidential elections that we actually named things after you. If I was you, I would be thrilled.

Many people would like to thank you for everything you have done for our country and for being such a trustworthy man. When you were living, people were very lucky to meet a good man like you. If I could really give you this letter and receive a letter back with real answers, my main questions would ask what it was like being the first president and tell you about the states, cities, schools, and money we now use in your name. Thank you George Washington for being such a superior man for everyone to this day to remember.

From, Skyler

Who Do You Believe Is The Killer?

Author's Note: People one by one dying. No one can trust the person in the same room as them. The week that was supost to be the time of their lives, so turns into a nightmare. Learn the causes and the effects in the book, And Then There Were None, by Cecily Von Ziegesar.

In the book, And Then There Were None by Cecily Von Ziegesar, it's all about people who attend an island called, Indian Island. These aren't just the normal type of people though, every person who's attending this island has a dark past with too many secrets. The main cause is that people are constantly dying one by one. Every day, every night, the island gets more and more suspicious. When only two people are left standing, both the people believe the person left with them is the killer. 

When the cause is the person that is killing everyone on Indian Island, the main effect is the people finding out who the murder really is. Ten people started on the island and after three people are gone people begin to learn their own believes on who really is the murder. Nobody believes the murder is a woman because they don't think a woman is capable of killing other people. They soon loose trust towards everyone, until there is no one left. They never would really know the true killer of the people on Indian Island. 

Katniss' Conflicts

Author's note: In reading class we learned a new way of reading a book by finding out the conflicts going on in the book, and how the main character learns to resolve it. I did my conflict and resolving piece on The Hunger Games because I felt there are a lot of conflicts in this book and Katniss, the main character, solves the problems very well. 

In the Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, I noticed a lot of conflicts in this book. I've read this book about four times and it seems to still be one of my favorites. One reason might be that the conflicts pull you in leaving you wanting to know how Katniss, the main character of the book, resolves the problems. Katniss is up against four main conflicts in my mind.  I see her having problem's with the society, nature, people, and herself. I picked society because she doesn't like the way society works. She also has problems with the nature because she has to learn how to use it properly to live in the arena. A big conflict is people because she's up against a lot of people in the arena and everyone wants to win the Hunger Games so people are always trying to kill other people. Lastly, she's up against herself because the Hunger Games a mental game of staying alive and being smart. 

Even though it's a long book with many details and terrifying moments, Katniss learns to resolve her problems. It all starts with the society problem. Katniss learns to not care what people think by ending the Hunger Games with a berry death. Her and Peeta, a boy in the arena, are both the only ones left, but they don't want to kill each other so they both risk their lives by almost eating poison berries. I say almost because the game makes, people in charge of the Hunger Games, stop them and say Katniss and Peeta both win together. Katniss uses nature by helping her eat and she uses fires to keep her warm. For the people conflict, there were a lot of deaths, but that was the only way of winning the games. Lastly, Katniss learned to survive on her own and stayed mentally focused in the games knowing she had to win, and that's exactly what she did. 

Goodbye

Author's Note: Death is a scary word. Sadly for everyone they go through someone's death at least twice in their life. One of the death's my family and I had to go through was when I was only 8. Read my story to hear a depressing, but helping story about my uncle's death. 

In life, there are always those moments that you could replay over and over because they were so amazing, but there are also those moments when you fall apart: everything comes crashing down. It's impossible to be perfect; therefore everyone has depressing moments. I will never forget one of the most depressing moments of my life that shattered my family into pieces. This moment was when my uncle died.

"Your uncle has passed away." My mother said, with tears rolling down her eyes. Since I was only 8, I never really understood the meaning of death. My mother started to ball, her eyes out, as she hugged my father. Brandon, my brother, hugged me while whispering, "He's gone Skyler, forever." Suddenly, my eyes began to water as the words my brother just whispered to me went through my mind. I ran to my room and didn't return for the rest of the night. It was a long night; full of crying, but I thought to myself, if I’m going to cry this much, think how sad I’m going to be at the funeral. 

It was July 17th, the day of my uncles funeral. As I hold on to my mom’s hand, I walk into the building where my uncles dead body laid. Looking around the room it was hard to find familiar faces, when suddenly someone poked me in the back. I turn to see my cousin, Angela, standing behind me. "Angela I'm so sorry about your father." I said while hugging her. She looked at the ground and looked back at me then spoke with a shaken voice, "I'm going to miss him so much." I hugged her again. Angela was the same age as me and I thought about how terrible I would feel if my dad had died when I was only 8.

I walked up to the casket and before me was my uncle's body. Suddenly, everything was real: my uncle was really gone forever. Tears rolled down my eyes as I took one last glimpse at my uncle's body, I would never see him again. It felt as if someone literally stabbed my heart and I was broken. While I was crying, I left the building holding on to my dad’s hand. My dad kissed my forehead and said, “Don’t worry, he’s safe in heaven now. When you pass away you will be able to see him again.” I smiled at the sky and whispered to myself, “Goodbye uncle Wayne.”

When I am remembering about my uncle, the first thing that comes to mind is his death. After a while of sadness, I start to remember the times that matter the most:  the best times with him. Even when someone passes away you have to think of the positive of the times you had with them. The moment my uncle died was a depressing moment for my family, but after a while, we remembered our favorite things about him, which regained us to be a happy and  strong family again.

The Clique Retelling

Author's Note: Mrs. Mundt spoke to our class, telling us that we must make a retelling of a book. She clearly made it obvious that a retelling was not a summary. I did my retelling on a book I have read about 5 times. It is, The Clique, by: Lisa Harrison. 

Claire Lyons was the new girl moving into the coolest girl in schools guest house. She wanted more than anything to be popular and just get along with, Massie Block. She soon fines out Massie will do anything to keep Claire away from her and her friends.Through the torture and schemes, Claire realizes what true friendship is and what trying to be popular can do to you as a person. 

This book goes through hard times, bulling, and plenty of girl drama. It shows that if you want to fit in you have to be something you're not, and it's not worth it in the end. 

Bruises

Author's Note: It's amazing how in one night you can have the best time ever. It was in the middle of July when i went to a concert that indented my brain as the best moment in my life. Read this story to hear about my favorite memory. 

"Skyler, would you like to come to the Train concert with me?" One amazing night all started with that one sentence. It was in the beginning of July when my friend, Michelle, invited me to go see the band Train with her in concert. I was filled with joy! I've gone to plenty of concerts and knew how concerts went, but little did I know what was coming my way. 

The concert was at Summerfest in the Amphitheater. Summerfest is a festival in Milwaukee. It is known to be one of the most popular music festivals in the Untied States and I was more than ecstatic to be able to go watch a band that I looked up too. The whole time while walking around Summerfest I smiled knowing that tonight I was going to be at Train's concert. When we walked to the concert building the lady asked for my ticket, I gave it to her and she spoke, "Wow lucky girl you are. Enjoy the concert." I responded saying, "Thank you." What did the lady mean by saying wow lucky girl? Guess I'll find out later. Michelle and I kept walking forward while Laura, Michelle's sister, and Monica, Laura's friend, walked behind us. When we got into the building the concert was going to be in, Michelle walked all the way  towards the stage. I smiled and said, "Michelle what are you doing?" She glanced at me and responded, "Sky, we're in the third row." Suddenly a rush went through me and I wanted more than everything for this concert to start. 

"I love you Milwaukee!" Pat Monahan, the lead singer of Train, sang, as he approached the stage. He started singing one of my favorite songs by him, 50 Ways To Say Goodbye. This was awesome! Train was literally right in front of me! Michelle, Laura, Monica, and I all started screaming out the words, "My head is paralyzed. My head was over sized. I'll take the high road like I should!" We started doing dance moves to act out the words and we couldn't stop laughing. I screamed to Michelle, "This is the best night ever! How could it get better?" She laughed out, "It can't!" We continued dancing and singing and then came the words from Pat Monahan's voice, "Who would like to come up on stage with me?" 

Suddenly I thought to myself that I wanted too, but I realized I was really shy and would probably freeze on stage. I turned at Monica and started pointing at her. Laura and Michelle followed. "Would you young lady like to come on stage with me?" Pat asked Monica. "I would love too!" Monica responded. Pat started singing and Monica just smiled and sang along. Pat held the microphone up  to Monica's chin and she belted out, "These Bruises make for better conversation." I looked at Michelle stunned, Monica was a phenomenal singer. Pat's mouth dropped open in shock by how beautiful her voice was. They sang the rest of the song together and when the song finished, Pat gave Monica a hug and told her he was impressed by her voice. He also was impressed that she knew all the words. Monica came running off the stage and we all gave her big hugs. She was amazing, but the night still wasn't over. 

While the concert continued Michelle and I kept singing along to the songs and dancing. Michelle poked me and pointed in a direction at the end of the stage. I looked and Pat was walking along the fences that were put up around the concert seats. He was singing, Marry Me, and taking pictures with fans. Michelle and I looked at each other and ran to the fence. He was so close! Then suddenly I froze noticing he was a foot away from me. I started screaming and before I knew it, he was right in front of me. Pat grabbed Michelle's phone and took a picture. Michelle and I ran back to our seats and jumped with joy. It was officially the best night ever.

I remember moments before I even set foot in the concert building I thought it was going to be like any other concert. This night reminded me that even the events you thought would never happen really can. I smile every time I re-tell this story; remembering how incredible it was. I still have moments where I pinch myself wondering if it really did happen, but to me, this story can show you to always remember you will never know what really is coming your way.