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Thoughts From an Old Chair

Posted by Emalyn Bartholomew in English 2 - Pahomov on

Two weeks is what the doctor told me today. In a way, it’s comforting. I’ve been waiting... waiting for so long for a date. Half my life, it seems. No, it’d take a lot to be half my life. My nurse told me today that she would arrange everything for me for when I die. She comes to see me everyday, even today even though it’s her day off. She told me she wanted to be with me when I found out. It’s nice to know that someone cares about a haggard old lady. 



I told him today. It was the first time I’d heard his voice. It was the answering machine, but that’s the most I can ask for. Even that is better than nothing. He wouldn’t see me if I told him I was on my deathbed. A part of me wonders if he ever thinks about me. He probably has better things to do than wonder how his old, sick mother is. What was it he said? ‘Driven mad by time’, he told me. A ‘raging lunatic’ he said. Maybe I was, but not for much longer (cough out a laugh hoarsely). I haven’t laughed in a while. Not since Christmas in ’99, I think. Or was it Christmas ’09? Well, not since... since I heard. It took me so long to accept it. I wasn’t sure I ever would. He didn’t. Said I had gone off my rocker. I said he was crazy, because I couldn’t get off my rocker without assistance from a specialist, but he said that joking made it worse. I haven’t seen him since. He won’t let me near my grandkids either. Two little girls. They’ll never really know me I guess. Just how he wanted it. 



How many weeks was it? Two weeks is all I have now. Two weeks, an estranged son, three shabby cats, and this old chair that I can’t seem to get out of. There’s not time, it seems, to fix all that. Well, it won’t matter. Not to me, I guess. I won’t have to worry about standing up from this chair for another minute. Will he come to my funeral, I wonder? There probably won’t even be one. All my friends are dead, who’s left to come to mine? I wonder what he’ll do with this old chair. It’s been here for so long. Ah well, it won’t matter in... what did the doctor tell me? Three weeks? One? It won’t matter when I’m gone, I mean. 



I’ve spent so much time on this planet, you’d think I deserved an award. I’m sure no one from my year in high school is still alive. Good thing they stopped having reunions a while ago, I would be lonely there, dancing by myself. No one else graduated in my year that stayed in Birmingham. In... what year was I? Oh well, no one else stayed around these parts. My old leg’s fallen asleep, but the nurse won’t be here to stretch it till later. She comes at the same time everyday. What time will she come? Soon, I hope. I should probably try to stand up to get rid of those pins and needles. That’s what my mama called them. I wonder when she’ll come see me again. 



My damn old leg. Don’t I have a doctors appointment soon? Yesterday, that’s when. I guess the doctor will call me soon. I should tell my son. I miss him, and the grandkids. I know I saw them yesterday, but days seem so long when you’re sick and old like me. When’s that doctor gonna call?

Happy Meal

Posted by Leah Kelly in English 2 - Pahomov on

Mmm. That was the best food I’ve had in a while. Especially that burger. Or the fries. I can’t decide, but I think that the burger was better. But then again, who am I to judge? I can’t even remember the last time that I had a McDonalds. Come to think of it, I can’t remember the last time that I had my own money to pay for food.

 

Chicago is rough, man. It starts with your heat being shut off. Then your water. Then a notice telling you to pay your bills. And then an eviction notice. And then all of a sudden the city if fed up with you not paying and you’re out on the street. It’s not as bad in the summer because of all the tourists, but the winter is fucking cold and windy.

 

Hm. Maybe there are more fries in here… (digs). Yes! More salty heavenly fries at the bottom of the bag. I think that the McDonald’s worker gave me more fries on purpose. I guess he could tell that I hadn’t eaten a while. (eats fries)

 

I liked him—the worker. He didn’t look at me like most people do.

 

“Don’t make eye contact,” they whisper, “we’re not going to give him any money. Just keep walking.” It’s like people think that homelessness is contagious. If they come to close to me, they might catch it. Do you know how insulting that is? They think that they can regard me as trash because of my state. But news flash for you-- I’m still a human, and I’m trying to change my situation.

 

It was my fault though. And I fucking hate myself more every day for those decisions I made. Ya know, when you hear that trying drugs just once can get you addicted, most of the time you think “Yeah, right”, but now I’m thinking “Yeah. Right.” It happened fast. I’ve never had lots of money to begin with, so once I lost my job I was basically a goner. Hitting the streets was hard, but it made me realize that this is real. I’ve got to get my shit together.

 

 

But no. Not him. Not this worker. He smiled at me as I ordered my food and did not seem to shy away from me as I reached out to hand him the crinkled dollars that I got this morning.  But he wouldn’t take them. Can you believe that? He refused my money, and in turn handed me a bag full of food. I could see the grease spots of the bag.

 

“Enjoy your meal, sir,” he had said.

 

Nothing more happened then. I left with my food and money. He wished me a goodnight, and I told him thank you.

 

Turns out he gave me a happy meal. With a Shrek figurine.

 

This world is kinda twisted, don’t you think? I’m the kind of person who, if I had anything, would want to share it all with people who are in my position. But no, I have nothing to offer, especially considering that people won’t even take a kind word from me. I wish I had it in me to change the world.  

 

Thanks to this man, I have had my first meal in days. And furthermore, since I left McDonalds it’s like an internal fire has been lit in me.  Maybe it’s the warmth of the burger or the fries that have seeped into me. Or maybe it’s the way that he smiled at me and did not judge. Since I left that restaurant, this cold air hasn’t felt so cold any more.

Aquatic Fear

Posted by Leah Petty in English 2 - Pahomov on


Another freezing day waking up from a freezing sleep. Why does she keep this house so cold, it’s amazing the cold doesn't bother her. 5 missed calls and they all read mom. First thing I do is call her back. Yes, I understand it’s noon. It’s summer pretty much all I do is sleep. You know I can’t go there. Please don’t make me, Fine.

I go down stairs. Sure enough there he was just watching tv my over achieving little brother. “How long have you been awake”. Since 6. I honestly don’t know where he gets the energy. He starts asking me question after question after question. Unfortunately, yes was the answer to everyone one of them. I didn’t want to do it but I had to. Just please get dressed so we can get this over with.


About an half hour later he comes back with his bag already to go, and passes me a bag. I look in it and it a bunch of swim stuff. Is this from mom, he noods. Alright give 15. I come back down stairs and he’s waiting at the door. I grab the keys and leave the house.      


I arrive at the hell hole. My little brother runs and leaves me as always, and I just sit on the side of the pool act like I was there to relax. As I watch my little brother swim in my view is this girl. This girl I can’t put in words, how beautiful. She had on this black bikini, and there are no words. As I pretend to follow my bother with my eyes as he swims I watch her walk.   


Then I notice her eye wandered over to me. And she stares at me for a while. I still pretend like I didn’t notice, but I do. About 5 minutes later I see her start walk over to me. She can’t be walk to me maybe just by me. So I close my eyes and listen to my music. Then I hear a hey. I look up “me” I ask, she nods. She gets up and gestures for me to follow her. So I do.


She’s about 10 feet in front of me. She walking over to the deep pool and sure enough she jumps in, I sit on the side and put my feet in the water. A couple seconds later she resurfaces. She holding on to my knees. She ask what's my name. “Josh” I say. She laughs and says my name again. The way she said it made me cringe. She went under water again, and when she did I thought to myself this doesn't happen to people like me. Girls just don’t come up to you and ask you to come with them. I have to make the best of this.


When is comes up again I asked for her name. “Ella” she said. Damn even her was pretty. She asked me to pull her out of the pool, but I knew what was about to happen. I was going to put my hand out to pull her out, then she would pull me in. So at this point I knew I had to face my fear of water for this girl.



As she puts her hand out for me to pull her out, I shake my head, and just get in. I hung onto that wall with my life. I made sure Ella didn’t see me. See took me hand and pulled me out to the middle of the pool. I was trying with all my mite not to squirm. I don’t want her to know I can’t swim. Then lets me go. I went under the water then blacked out.  



By: Leah Petty

Silverman Monologue

Posted by Alaina Silverman in English 2 - Pahomov on
Alaina Silverman
Monologue
November 2012

TEBS


Yes. ‘M here because I threatened to crash my crew into a rocky part of Mars. Yes, that probably would have been kind of bad.  But it’s not my fault!  You know what Com-730 told me -- you know, he’s back on Earth, calls himself Zeo? Anyway. Must’ve had his circuits fried. He had the gall to override my firewall and say “Disparity means instability Tebs!”. Hmph. Just because he’s a hotshot on Earth. I will never refer to myself as ‘Tebs’ especially after the tubby-telly incident last year. Ohhh no, I can sense it over the transmission. Stop laughing. You’re not allowed to call me Tebs either.  It’s Station-8937 to you. Anyway. I’m not a disparity! I’m the model machine . . . why else would the Society send me to orbit Mars? Mars is pretty sparking important, what with all this new agriculture tech being set up. Though this dusty planet with all of its, well, dust is really mucking up my mood. The stuff gets all up in my mechanisms. And last week a couple of mooks took me apart for a solid cleaning. Which would be fine. But they also fiddled with all my calculations and completely threw my rotation off! I’m still not totally right even now.       

Two days ago the head engineer, yeah, Doc! I didn’t know you were his design. Cool. But yeah, Doc came by to check out my computers (which were fine, obviously), but it turns out my electronic fuel manager is wonkified. Which is why I am now talking to you, my dear satellite. No I will not call you Debbie. This is ridiculous and slightly uncomfortable. You’re supposed to talk me down from careening into Memnonia Quadrangle, right? Yes I know these malfunctions show on my transcript! It’s not like I’ll truly be dismantled. No, I won’t. All of my data is backed up on one of the Lunar colonies. I’m tired of the shoddy work the peeps in my cabin spew out. Plus there’s the dust. I always knew my alloys never interacted well with dust.

I’m sure you’re fed up with your job too. Reduced to playing psycho analyzer to perfectly normal Stations like me, even though you were the once mighty International Space Station. Hmph.

Yeah, that was uncalled for. Sorry. But at this point I don’t care if I was to be dismantled this very hour.  No. Don’t call me Tebs. The last machines to call me Tebs were Stations 3865 and 19. Oh jeepers, I haven’t messaged them in over a year. I don’t feel like doing that. Maybe after taking a month long power-down for a full maintenance. I just don’t feel like doing any~thing.

Woah! Woahwoahwoah. That letter you’re sending to the Society better be a recommendation for a power-down. It is? Sweet. I won’t dash myself and all miscellaneous occupants into a crater. If you throw in a new stationing (like Earth! It’s so exciting this time of year), I’ll reconsider going rogue and finding a new solar system.

No? Well then. I’ll take the power-down.

Making him Proud

Posted by Pierce Luck on
    Roger,Get your ass up from bed! Get Ready for school. Ok Dad (yawn). As I woke up I had decide what to wear. Sweatpants or Jeans. I act like its a hard choice. Either way Bobby will call me names and get every-one to join in. Screw it! I don’t really care. I throw on my sweatpants. I hurry to the bus because if I miss it the West Philly kids will jump me and take my phone again. There is no time to comb my curly black hair or to put Vaseline on my freckled face.
      I'm on the bus, no iPod because its been stolen. My mind begins to wonder and I just start thinking about basketball. Not that young pewee stuff either. I’m thinking about the Big leagues, the NBA. What if I were there one day. In the hall of fame with MJ (Michael Jordon). Yea that will be the day.I arrive to school a little early so I go to the gym to shoot some hoops. I wish my brother was here with me. He used to get here early with me to shoot around. I want to be just like him, a starting shooting guard.I want to carry on his legacy. My jump shot is the best feature in my game. Its 15minutes before class starts and Bobby comes in the gym, giving me funny looks. I don’t have a problem with this kid but apparently he has a problem with me. Do you want to play a game? He looks at me as if I was trash, as if I were no competition at all and walks away.
    School has started and I buss out my classes for the day. After school I go to the coach of the school team. Can I try out. I’m not too good but my brother taught me a lot. He looks at me and says its kind of late to try out but if you really want it you can earn a spot. I’m overwhelmed with joy,I got a chance to be like my brother. What do I have to do. Play the team captain one on one! My heart sunk, Bobby! This kid torments my life and doesn’t acknowledge me as a person, how am I suppose to beat him. A little while later Bobby and I meet in the gym staring each other down.Its now or never. I go out and give it my all, but it wasn’t enough. I lost 16-14 in a close game. As I was packing my bags up to go home,Bobby and the Coach stopped me and shook my hand. Good Game, your better than you look Roger. We would like it if you would like to join the team. Yes, I know my brother would be proud of me, looking down from the heavens.

Reginald Simmons / Monologue

Posted by Reginald Simmons in English 2 - Pahomov on

A Cheesy Story


Everything would be better if you just gave me the slice, Jimmy.  It’s just one measly slice. And it’s pepperoni and sausage. That’s not even your favorite kind. You like barbecue chicken. Look, the next time we get barbecue chicken from here, you can have the last slice. Matter of fact, the last TWO slices. How’s that sound? Yeah? Yeah? Okay. No? Alrighty.

I didn’t think I’d have to go to such desperate measures, but you’ve forced my hand.

You know how much I exercise. I need the calories. And the soft dough ... and the cheesy goodness. No, I mean I just need the calories. For my body. You wouldn’t want me to become malnourished, would you? No. Didn’t think so. Right now, you have the power to decide my fate. If you don’t let me have this last slice, I’ll -- I’ll go into a coma. Yup, my body will be all like, “No, no, where's that last slice?! We need that last sliceee!” Okay, maybe it won’t do that, but you get it. Pizza = okay. No pizza = certain death. What if I paid you for it? Okay... five? Ten? Twenty? Thirty? Okay, that’s just absurd. I could but the entire Papa John’s franchise with that kind of money. How about I make your bed for a week? Two weeks? A mon- HEY, I see what you’re doin’ here.


Alright, rock paper scissors. Best three out of five. Okay, rock... paper... scissors, shoot! Darn! Again! Rock... paper... scissors, shoot! Darnit! Best four out of six. Rock... paper...scissors... shoot! Alright, rock paper scissors is for seven year olds anyway. Umm...Oh! I’m thinking of a number. Yes, that is fair! I have nothing to do with the fact you lack the ability to establish a telekinetic link between our two minds.


I’ll give you twenty bucks’ worth of itunes money. You know you want that. Which is better, like, a thousand new songs with that money, or one delic- disgusting, cold slice of pizza that probably has all types of fungus growing on it? Okay, maybe the fungus part is a stretch. Okay, maybe the disgusting part is a stretch, too. But still. That pizza is RIGHTFULLY mine. Because. It just is, okay?


Alright, you can have the pizza.


But wait!


Ludwig Van Beethoven

Posted by Tiarra Bell in Spanish 1 - Manuel on
images
images
Ludwig Van Beethoven es súper talentoso. Cuando​ el era sies, el era con música. El es cumpleaños diciembre diecisiete en diecisiete-setenta: es de Brabant, Belgium. El es increíblemente creativo y trabajador, no le gusta nada perezoso.  

A$VP ROCKY Serge Mass

Posted by Sergei Mass in Spanish 1 - Manuel on

A$VP Rocky (DAT PMF)


Se llama es Rakim Mayers. Tiene Viente y quatro años. Es un hombre muy inteligente. Le encanta hacer música rap. Él tiene un único sentido de la moda y vestir de una forma muy agradable. En espectáculos en vivo, él es grande. Él está en una relación con lana del Rey. Él es de Harlem en Nueva York. Su favorita del zapato son Jeremy Scott de Adidas. Él es sobre esa bicicleta vida al contrario Manso Millz.

Screen Shot 2012-11-26 at 12.45.32 PM
Screen Shot 2012-11-26 at 12.45.32 PM

Mali Music Jamaal Pollard

Posted by Sattera Mark in Spanish 1 - Manuel on
Sattera Mark           Mali Music   Jamaal Pollard

  

     Se llama Mali Music. Tiene veintidós a´nos. Es de Phoenix, Az. El súper talentoso. Le encanta cantar y tocar la guitarra.  Gusta escribir  música. No le gusta nada dibujar y correr. Es guapo.

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images

The way my Internet works : )

Posted by Amirah Bolling in Technology- Freshmen - Hull on
​This diagram explains how Fios (my network) works through out my entire house. Fios is connected to everything in my house.  Fios is connected to my phone, internet and TV. It starts with the cloud. Everything is connected to it.The isp cord (fios) connects to my modem. The modem connects to your wireless router which connects everything in your house. A "OMG" moment that I had was when in class I had no idea what Mrs.Hull was talking about and we had to create our diagram. If I had no idea what was going on then I could not do it so i had to get a lot of help from my peers and my teacher. A "LOL" moment that I had is when I realized I did so much work and did not realize it.
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Rihanna

Posted by Nashay Day in Spanish 1 - Manuel on
​Se Llama es Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Ella es de Saint Michael, Barbados pero vivo en es Nueva York. Es el es talentos. Me encanta es ella música. Ella es intelligenté. Ella es veinte- cuatro. Ella es muy incredíblemente divertido. 
rihanna-its-crunch-time
rihanna-its-crunch-time

Group Project

Posted by Ilker Erkut in Technology- Freshmen - Hull on

Felix d’Hermillon, Ilker Ekrut, Malwina Dymek

Technology

1.Name three major differences between the SLA AUP and the SDP AUP.

a. SLA lets us go on websites to let us shop or do other stuff and the SDP does not.

b. SLA lets us upload any software that we want on our computers when SDP does not.

c. SLA lets us have music and games on our computer when SDP does not.

2. What is the most unfair rule from both AUP’s?

They would not let us have music or personalize the computer at all.

3. With your group come up with three changes for both AUP’s to make the policies better.

SLA

We should be allowed to go on youtube.

We should not be watched while we are on our computers.

There should not be a firewall.

SDP

They should let us have music on the computer.

They should let us personalize the computers.

They should let us have games and software on the computers.

4. Now imagine you have children write an AUP for your home network with your group.

No downloading any software unless I am with them

Has to show what they're doing at any time

No buying without adult

Q1 Sugar Skull

Posted by Rebecca Fenton in Art Advanced - Hull on

Sugar Skulls come from Dia de Los Mertos, or "Day of the Dead." Day of the dead is a holiday that is celebrated in Central and southern Mexico where it is believed that dead children come back from the dead to spend a 24 hour time period with their families once a year on November 1st. On November 2nd is the day that older people come back form the dead to spend 24 hours with their families.  To prepare for the dead children and adults coming back from the dead on these two days, families prepare a little table filled with candy, food, water, sometimes cigarettes for adults, and more decorations. One of these finishing decorations included sugar skulls that families could purchase anywhere, or even make for themselves. I came up with my design for my mask because I went on google and looked at sugar skulls. Some were really scary so I decided to make mine with dark colors and very dramatic so that It would keep the halloweenish looking type of mask. For halloween my friend painted her face as a sugar skull and that also inspired my sugar skull. The process in which I made my mask was first I found someone who was willing to let me slob their face up! The perfect person was Jenn Wright! She was a really god sport about it. First, I lathered her face with vaseline so that her face wouldn't dry out from all the materials. First, I cut the strips to put on her face. Next, I got a tub of water, I dipped the strips in, put them on her face individually, and smoothed them out so that they would be nice and steady. I did about 3 layers of this so that I'd be sure to have a good tough mask. I had to put a straw in Jenn's mouth so she'd be able to breathe. After it dried, I started to paint the mask completely white as the base. After this, I sketched a rough draft of what I wanted on my mask. I copied it, but then ended up going into more detail once I drew it on the mask. After I was finished, I put the gloss on it so it'd be shiny and look really good.

Photo on 11-26-12 at 11.50 AM
Photo on 11-26-12 at 11.50 AM

Chris Brown

Posted by Imani Weeks in Spanish 1 - Manuel on
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chris-brown-2012-photos-i0
Se llama Chris Brown. El es de Virginia pero vivo en Los Angeles. El es trabajador . El es canta. Muy gusta bailar. El es adorable. Muy es intelligente. El es muy, increíblemente divertido.

That Eye Brow Trimmer

Posted by Azaria Burton in English 2 - Pahomov on
​Azaria Burton
Monologue

That Eye Brow Trimmer!  


Guess what Shanique!?(Sits on bedroom floor) Shay had the nerve to buy this expensive behind eye brow trimmer. She is so dumb she spent 100 dollars on it! Like really, a eyebrow trimmer? I could’ve bought her one of them things from the corner store for 1 dollar.  I swear we are from different parents. One of us is adopted because there is no way we are related. I’ll admit it works well, (pauses) as well as eyebrow trimmer can,  but there are too many other things in the world better than an eyebrow trimmer. Two more weeks to the last day of school, that money could of went to summer clothes. Maybe even some accessories, so she can stop wearing mine! Jeez, she gets on my nerves. You know what? Maybe, I’m more angry about this morning when she had the audacity to wake me up to try and trim my eyebrows. Can you believe that? 7 o’clock in the morning. Yeah, she’s lucky I don’t smack the skin off her face because I be ready to fight.She know I like my sleep. I just want to send her away somewhere far away. Oh, and as if waking me up wasn’t enough she teased me about my eyebrows. She swear they’re bushy, that female dog even called me Chewbacca. Then when I get mad she throws the, I’m your older sister line. She actually thinks that because she is older than me I actually have to listen to her. She is terribly mistaken and got a another thing coming, I mean she ruins everyday of my life. Why was she born? I hate her, I hate her so much.  I just want to snap her neck. Why can’t she just die? Oh! Did I tell you? She had the nerve to(close eyes and shakes head) curse me out a few days ago because I told her she was stupid. But, let me tell you why she stupid. She got this "new" boyfriend. When I say he look like trash I mean complete and utter trash, bottom of the barrel couldn't go any lower so I told her; Even you could've done better, but you're stupid so why would you? She started flipping out calling the B word and stuff.Talking bout she gonna get me back.How she gonna get me back. Please, she lucky I value my freedom because we was in the kitchen and kitchens have knives. I wish she was more like Mirah. Mirah is the best big sister in the world(smiles bog), she loves me and I love her. Mirah is like my twin,I wouldn't care if Shay died today, but Mirah, my heart would be broken. Shay ain't nothing but a thing. (flips hair and rolls eyes)  “Chalee! Hurry there's been an accident!” An accident,Lets me find out what’s going on. Give me a second Niq Niq (Runs down stairs). Oh, my gosh!! Shay!(Runs to Shay and grabs her) NO, please don’t go. I love you more than anyone in the world. I’m so sorry for all the things I said. I don’t want you dead you’re so important to me.I love you more than you'll ever know. Please don't(Sobs) Please! (Shay opens eyes ) “April Fools!” What!? It’s June and you got hit by a car and you were dead and.... (Jumps up) What the hell you asshole! This is not funny. I give you an inch you take a freakin mile. Oh my GOD! Thats it! Its official, I hate you!

Mrs. Hull

Posted by Isabella Beato in Spanish 1 - Manuel on
​ Senorita Hull es loca. El es me gusta cocinar. Y como si fuera poco el es también italiana. El es muy cómica y guapa.El es muy artística. El es también súper inteligente. Además es por eso que te amo Senorita Hul.


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Govt Spending

Posted by William Potts in American Government - Herman on
​






https://docs.google.com/a/scienceleadership.org/document/d/1p583CpHC_hV_1qvVX6TZwzBAHgWHUb4PAntrXhP5Nao/edit

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cxhx7msn7qvhu7w/AmerGovMBMark1.pdf

This is Copied and pasted from a contact form from Pat Toomey's website.
Dear Mr.Pat Toomey,
I feel strongly about the current state of our financial system.  I think that the monitoring of our economic state is not maintained.  We need someone with a voice and a willingness to take action to be a representative for the change in our government spending.  We need a politician to represent the people who are fighting to make changes in our economy and to monitor wasteful spending habits.
If you'd like to learn more about this cause, please take a look at this petition. 
http://www.change.org/petitions/bob-brady-and-pat-toomey-stop-wasteful-government-spending-and-the-misplacing-of-money

Thank you, 
William Potts

Help SLA Win $50K from Clorox!

Posted by Christopher Lehmann on
Clorox wants to support healthy schools with the Power a Bright Future grant! SLA has qualified for the final round of context with a $50K ask to continue our innovative laptop program. The winning school is the one with the most votes between now and December 19th! You can vote for SLA once a day! 

Register your vote here: https://powerabrightfuture.clorox.com/nominees/detail/?nid=2427

Vote early! Vote often!

Amelia Earhart

Posted by Amelia Stuart in Spanish 1 - Manuel on
​Se llama Amelia Earhart tiene 41 anos, soy de Kansas pero vivo en California.


Es el super deportista, bastante cómica, en muy trabajador. Le gusta practicar deportes. No le gusta nada domir. Es muy divertida. Es muy alta. Es el muy inteligente. Es el muy delgada. Amelia Earhart es muy habladora. 
Amelia_earhart.jpeg
Amelia_earhart.jpeg

A Story To Tell

Posted by Nomi Martin-Brouillette in English 2 - Pahomov on

“Hi there, Grandpa” she said. I looked up. “Louise?” She was not Louise. She was Sarah. Of course. It would be impossible for Louise to be here. I looked away, embarrassed. I looked at the ceiling, out of the window, onto the perfectly manicured grounds below. Anywhere but her. I saw Louise in her. The way she looks, moves, sounds. She asked me how I’m doing. Her voice sounded so much like Louise’s it made my heart hurt. I told her the truth. I’ve had better days. My doctor’s say I need a new heart. They say I’m on the list to get a new one, they say it will make me feel much better. Doctor’s don’t know anything these days.


I told her a story. Well, she asked for a story. A good one. One that happened. One that happened to me. She asked how I met her grandmother. What was I supposed to do? I told the damn story. She’s becoming a delightful young woman. I wish Louise could have met her.  So, here’s what I said.


I was born in Germany a long time ago. When I was 17 a war began. I wanted so badly to fight for my country. I decided I was going to fight for Germany and nothing could stop me. I lied to the recruiting officers telling them I was old enough. They either believed me or didn’t care enough to not let me fight. In 1934 I was sent to work in a concentration camp in Poland.


Sarah’s eyes opened wide. It broke my heart to have my only granddaughter look at me with such disgust and hate. I asked Sarah to let me finish. She didn’t say a word. I kept going.


I told her how at the concentration camp, I met a girl named Louise. Louise was beautiful. She was even beautiful after she was made to shave her head. She was even beautiful after she became so skinny that it surprised me she could even walk. Louise’s beauty did not go away. No, hers was the kind of beauty that does not vanish. I watched her from afar until I realized I was falling in love with her.


I told Sarah how I began to wake up the atrocities of my surroundings. The atrocities that I let happen. We were tearing families apart and killing innocent people, and we did it for no damn reason. No damn reason! I said to Sarah that the worst bit was that I took part in it all. I had to do something.


The first time I approached Louise about running away with me she refused. She was scared. I was scared too, but also overcome with love. Perhaps I was a bit foolish, but also determined.

A few day’s after I approached her, her brother was sent to the gas chambers. She came straight to me and said she was ready.

We did it. I told Sarah how after we had been running for hours, I told her to stop, got down on one knee and proposed. She said yes. I still have no idea why.

I asked Sarah if she could forgive me. If I die today I said, the one thing I want is forgiveness for hurting all those people.


Sarah was silent for a long time. Her silence said enough. I knew she hated me. I wanted to die, and be with Louise. That was all I wanted. Then Sarah pulled me into her arms in an embrace that said more than words could say.


We stayed that way for a long time. We stayed that way until the nurse announced visiting hours were over. When Sarah and I pulled away she had tears in her eyes. I forgive you she said. I love you I said. I love you too she said. Then she left.


(looks up towards the ceiling) I am ready to go. I am not afraid. I am ready to be with Louise.