Quarter 4 Art Drawings

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Art: Negative Spaces

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  • A. What is negative space?
Negative space is the extra space surrounding the main focus of a picture making the main focus stand out.
  • B. Explain how you found negative space in 1. your cut out?, 2. in your stool drawing?
I found negative space in my cut out by comparing the different colors. I found negative space in my stool drawing through drawing dark lines.
  • C. Why does it help an artist to see in negative space?
Negative space helps an artist see things in a drawing that they wouldn't usually pay attention to.
  • D. How is negative space useful in creating art?
Negative space is useful in art because it can bring much more detail into a picture and make the main focus more eye-catching.

Quarter 4 Art A

This Quarter I did some more fashion drawings. I also did some coloring with Edgar, the picture the are outlined in sharpie he drew and I colored and I also took some pictures. 
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DO NOT TOUCH Written by Jeff

Don’t Touch

JEFF’S PROPERTY

BY JEFF

WRITEN BY JEFF























Hey,

Alright let’s get this straight. As I stated in my previous journal, I mentioned all the bullshit I had to go through. The girl I’m in love with played me in front of the whole class, not to mention her jerk-face boyfriend keeps pushing me. One day, I’m going to be rich, and they’ll regret everything they ever did to me.


Anyways, before I get too emotional on you, this journal has one purpose, and one purpose only: to please my mother. I went to a therapist recently because my mom thought I was depressed and all that, which I tried to deny, but she wasn’t having that. Pam, the therapist, suggested that I write everything that I’m feeling, and how my day went, and what exactly what went on.


At first i was like “yeah, definitely, it sounds like a plan” out loud to Pam, but really in my head I was like “man, fuck that”. Turns out my mom was thinking quite the opposite, because right when  we left Pam’s office, she drove me right to dollar tree to get a journal. Now, i’m actually kind of used to writing in a book. Its quite comforting since I have no one else to talk to, that actually understands what I go through. My first journal I filled in so much, I had to wrap it up with a rubber band because it was bursting with loose papers every time I dared to open it. I just decided to get a new one, so my mom gave me the money for it.

Oh, and lets get another thing straight: I’m going to be rich one day. When that day comes, I can sell this journal for money, and become even MORE richer. Please, hold the applause. Anyways, Let me tell you a little about myself, since my other journal is so old you probably can’t interpret anything. Hi, I’m Jeff (as you probably guessed from the cover). I’m 16, I love Nutella, cocoa butter, old school Dell computers, and Forensic Analysis. Yes, i’m weird- I get that numerous times throughout the day. Which I still don’t understand., because I don’t do anything to anyone. Why can’t anyone mind their business? The world may never know.  I also forgot to mention something very imperative: something happened, something big. I don’t know the full story, because my mother still thinks i’m still too young” to know, but I think I understand it enough. From my experiments, observations, and knowledge, there was a bombing. I’m not talking about the soda bombs that the immature “Jocks” put in the nerd’s locker numerous times throughout the school year. I;m talking about an atomic bomb. It was huge. The burnt imprint is still on the sidewalk, one whole decade later.  It left a big mess, and killed thousands. America never told us who it was, and why they did it-but thats nothing new. The government never tells us anything. When it all happened in the year of 2051, thats when things started to go wrong. The air was polluted, the smell of gas and chemicals was everywhere, and people went homeless. Most people’s homes were abolished, or should I say blown to smithereens.  Everything was gone. Pets, food, homes, people, clothes-everything. We slowly recovered by the little amount of grants and stamps that the government gave everyone in my area, called Aksala. My father had the cutest little shop where he sold bait for the river that flowed in our little town. Sadly, it died along with him. My mother and I are doing alright now, just struggling to get through each and everyday. The smell of gas and chemicals is still int he air however, and it annoys me so much.  Anyways, I’m going to bed early to night. It’s been a rough day. I have all this homework I don’t feel like doing, and it’s all due tomorrow (see, i’m no totally a nerd). So goodnight, whoever is listening...

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Hey,

I’ve been working my ass off for this stupid A that i should’ve gotten the previous quarters in history class. I love history, I do my journals, yet I still always get a B. Its not even a low B, its literally an 89.9%. Yeah, I know, its ridiculous. Anyways, that pretty much ruined my day. I’ve just  been so stressed out. Not to mention that Aya (the girl i’m madly in love with and give up my heart, limb, and both eyeballs for), just walked by me in the hallway today. Its not like she says hi to me anyways, because who would. Forget it, lets forget about this sad talk, let just change the subject. I have this really big pond in the back of my house, which all this old gunk and stuff from all the oils and chemicals the government collected from the bombing incident. It stinks, like i’m always complaining about. The creepiest thing happened though. I keep forgetting my new keys that my mom got made just for me on my dresser, so I just go in through the back door whenever I leave them, since the back door is always opened. I hop the fence, and fall into a glob of mud, or whatever it was. I brush it off the gooey brown dirt off of my new pants, then look up to the weirdest thing. Yes, a thing. I’m not sure if I was just seeing things, but it looked like a head. Thats when I started running, because stuff like that creeps me the heck out. When I got into the house, I had to take a second to catch my breathe, i’m not much of a track star. I shouted “MOM” to see if she was home. No response,which I expected. I went right into the shower-I couldn’t take the smell of that dirt on me. I turned on the water to the perfect temperature, not too hot, not too cold. I start to think about what I saw, trying to decide if I was going crazy or not. I came to a conclusion: I must’ve bumped my head onto the ground when I fell of the fence to quickly. So i just went with that for the rest of the night. I’m satisfied with that conclusion, because now I can finally go to sleep, since I have to wake early for school, anyways. Which I should do now-so goodnight, whomever.

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Hey,

Today was just like regular day, except a couple of things. Okay, let me explain a little bit. I took a deep breath. It smelled of gas and chemicals. It's just that stupid smell that still never went away. You get used to it though (well not me, my mother has).

Anyways, as I was saying, today was really weird. As I was coming from that hell hole you call a school, I saw something very peculiar (and yes, that was one of my ten dollar vocabulary words I had to study for Miss Pahomav's class this week). There's this small pond behind my house that was really cute before all the chemicals and waste got into it, and made it all green and muggy. As I walked past it something glowed in the water. It looked like two glow in the dark eyeballs that my friends would by from five-below to scare me. HOwever, I could tell this wasn't a prank.  could've sworn I saw them blink too. That was creepiest part though. I mean, I just brushed it off and walked away, saying to myself "that school lunch must be having some sort of side effect on me", thinking I was just seeing things. Hopefully I don't see nothing creepy like that again.

Once again, i have another essay to write, I men, do they ever give us students a break? its almost spring break. goodness. So on that note, I should probably start my essay, which shouldn’t be THAT  hard since i practically write an essay everyday. So goodnight, stranger.

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Jeff here,

Okay so  it happened again guys ("guys" refers to whomever cares and finds my diary in the future one day when i'm already filthy rich), I saw it again. It actually came up too. It was REALLY weird. Only the head I think. Because it looked like it had really bad weave on top of its head, so I could tell it was girl thing. Maybe I really am going crazy. Or is it just the school lunch? Or maybe its a ghost? I have no idea, but I really need to start bringing my keys, because I'm really getting tired of hopping my fence, only to walk past the pond with that creepy thing in it.

P.s: that essay was not easy, AT ALL. I went to bed at 5 in the morning. 5 IN THE MORNING.


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TO WHOEVER:

Alright, I know i’m not crazy, because it actually came out of the swamp/pond/puddle thing thats behind my house, and let me tell you this thing is strange. First, it looks like a glob of mud. Its got a fat person’s figure, with mud on top of it. Basically like a sloppy joe burger. Now, before you think this is one of those boy meets robots type stories- its not. I’m not gonna so indulged into this thing, because I honestly am creeped out, and its me. I threw a stick at it, to see if it would like explode or something. But instead it just blinked again. I figured if it handle a stick, it could handle me (the stupidest concept you will ever hear in your life, yes I know.) The thing that gets me is that it actually moved its mouth. It’s weird. As weird as it might though, it’s still cool. I’m tempted to run  a couple of test on  the thing, but i’m scared how it would react. Will it eat me? will it knock my lights out? We’ll never know. Or will we...? Goodnight, brave world.

Jeff Again,

Okay, I found out something about it: I have no idea what IT is. Okay, okay, I found out a couple of things however. Running some text on the sample I got from it, I came up with a couple of theories. It has some type of critical mass of fissionable material, because it needed to create a chain reaction in the atomic bomb, for it to explode. Isotopes such as  uranium-235 and plutonium-239 were later found in my experiments. Both of these ingredients were both used in the atomic bomb, which makes sense because the glob and chemical was all goes right into the pond/swamp/puddle type thing in the back of my house, which might be the reason why this THING is in my backyard. Yes, I am pretty genius you could say, but what bothers me is how does it move its mouth? What makes it-IT? After doing some research, i found a couple of other interesting facts. For one, there is nothing else like it. There have been no other reports in newspaper, youtube, not even nerd.org is there ANYTHING about a glob monster made from mixed chemicals. So you could say this is an amazing finding, and that i could become famous for this. Actually, while writing this, I just realized how rich I could become from just this glob monster! I could by my own house, my own dell company- or rather all the Nutella I want! That would be real nice.

But would that okay though? All this sounds so nice, but i’m not sure this is going to be the best choice. I mean after I call whoever I have to call, every  FBI agent and police officer would invade my house 24/7, and I don’t think my mom could handle that much in invasion and stress- especially since what happened to do Dad. She’s just been backed up on work so much so thats he can pay for all the bills, which I respect about her, so I won’t call I guess. That Nutella would’ve been nice though. Just for my mom though, which is amazing because i’m actually being considerate. Since that’s all I have to say for now, Ill just go to bed, goodnight- and let the force be with you.

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Hey,

Its the middle of the night, and i’m terrified. I heard some noise outside and looked out the window. Its the glob monster again ( yes, i’m calling it that now). ow, you’re probably wondering why i’m writing this right now, when I’m terrified, when I should be calling the cops or something. “Man, this kid is obsessed with this journal”- well you’re wrong. Its my stress reliever, and like I said before I gotta record almost everything I think in this book for when I’m famous. Anyways, lets get to the point.

I woke up to this vrooom-vrooom-vroom noise. Not like a motorcycle, but like a glowing sound,kind of like how a bee’s trailing sound he leaves behind him when he quickly flies right past you. Yeah, it was creepy. so i went outside, but instead of going right down the stairs, I jumped out of the window. I must say, it was quite painful but it was worth it. I went towards the glowing green light, and as I suspected-it was it. I don’t know what it is with me and sticks, but I always throw them at things. after I there basically a half of a tree branch at it, it shifted. It was like it didn’t feel the branch. In fact, it was like jell-o. I’m not scared of it anymore, its just more creepier than scary.

After it shifted, it kept making those weird noises. “Vrooom-vrooom”. I went closer, quietly, steadily, trying not to disturb it. Of course I slept on a couple of crunchy crunchy leaves and sticks, so I wasn’t as quiet as I thought. I shifted from side to side, disturbed by its surroundings.

I’m Face to “face” with the Glob Monster.

It continues t glow. It continues to make the “vroooom” noise. I hold my hand out, just like the scene in ET, where he touches the alien. I poke it. Worst decision ever made.

It start to grow silver blades as scales. Scales so sharp, it splits my upper part of my finger open. Blood dripping, I move back suddenly.  It starts to make the “Vrrroooom-vroooom” noise louder, and faster. “VROOOM-VROOOMVROOMVROOM”. I moves back, one step at a time. Now, you would think that a normal person would run for their lives, but I tried to make clear before, I’m not that normal. I watch it as it starts spinning, instead of swaying. It starts spinning faster, and faster, and faster- till I’m so dizzy i feel like fainting. It starts levitating , going up slowly, but surely. It’s about 8ft in the air-still spinning faster and faster.

It stops.

Now. Im. Scared.

I started to walk back faster, and faster, until I was basically behind the big bush in my mother’s garden, peeping through the leaves of it. I start shaking, this anxious feeling in my stomach.

Okay let’s stop here:

If someone finds this, please tell my mom I love her. I really do, and I didn’t say anything just for her. I’m really not ready to die, and so far, i’m going out of my mind right now. I’m probably sweating blood right now, thats how scared and nervous I am. So, uh, yeah- just tell her I love her.

Okay, let’s carry on now:

I’m basically shaking the bush right now, but as I watch the Glob monster frozen in time, I touch myself just to make sure he didn’t freeze me too. Good, i’m okay, i’m still here, for now.

It starts to sway once again.

Swaying so smoothly, like hands at a Jazz festival.

It starts to bring apart.

The globs start to scatter everywhere- in random places. Now at first I thought it was going to create mini minions, and starts to attack the earth, and take over everything-but thats just me being worried I guess. Instead, it started to spell “Alaska”. I wondered what it that meant. I mean, its 2067, what is that supposed even mean?

I stays there., jiggling on the ground like freshly poured Jell-O.  I stand up, to see it closer, and its still moving a little. Once again i throw a stick at it, and surprisingly it doesn’t move. I look back at my house to see if my mom woke up, which she didn’t thankfully. I look back.

Nothing is there. I think is sunk into the ground while I was looking,because little part were slowly disappearing into the grass. I just stood there. Silently , waiting for something to happen. Nothing else happened. I waited for another twenty minutes. I hear the crickets, as the leaves ruffle into the air. I start heading back in.

As I open the door, I hear the “vroom” nose, but when I looked back, there was nothing there. I ignore it, and go back into my house, up the stairs, in my bed. I really am kind of proud of myself though. These past few days have been really weird, but i’ve changed a little. I’ve learned to be considerate, and I appreciate things a little ore-such as my my finger (which I need to get fixed). But most importantly, I went ahead and did something out of the ordinary, just like my my dad told me to do. I mean I guess that’s good and all. But what confuses me is what actually happened, and what this means for me. What does “Alaska” actually mean? All their questions, and no answers. Oh well, I’m going to bed, now, because just reading this over gives me a headache. Goodnight, Dad.

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Wassup,

I haven’t seen anything yet. Not a glob of mess, not a sound- absolutely nothing. Honestly, I’m glad. I don’t want to creeped anymore than I already have. So whenever I forget my key, I hop the fence as usual. I then go to the pond. Nothing is moving, it just still smells of gas and chemicals. It never went away. I wish it went away with the glob monster actually, that would be so nice.


Quarter 4 Arshelle Johnson

In the previous quarters I focused on character drawling. So this quarter I decided to change things up a little. I Still did one character drawing which was of snoopy. But I also did a figure drawling and a room in perspective. This quarter I also drew the coexist sign, which is made up of the different religions and sex symbols. This is the drawling that I was the most excited about doing this quarter. I also did a hand with designs on them and another design.  
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Bundy, Kenyatta- Q4 ArtWork

For the final quarter, I began with the original art that was provided to us. I then strayed away from that and began to draw whatever came to mind. I noticed as I went along that I wanted to try new things with the way that I draw and the tools that I use. By doing so, I decided to also change my signature because I felt as though I needed an overall change. Along with the other drawings that I did, I decided to do a "signature" piece. For me, this was my Batman piece. It was the last piece I did and the one that I'm most proud of. This is because this was the first time I've ever used anything besides a mechanical pencil on my art. I hope you all enjoy as much as I enjoyed creating them. I had trouble uploading my drawings to SLATE so I hope you're ok with a link to a google doc containing my Quarter 4 portfolio. 

LINK TO DOC --> CLICK HERE


q4 art

This quarter was the shortest one of all meaning that there would be less drawings, but since they were the last portion of lessons they were the most challenging. These lessons really made shading and hatching more difficult, especially with fur. The drawings were fun to do. As additional drawing I drew musician Annie Clark, actor James Franco, and actress Danai Gurira as here role of Michonne on the television show The Walking Dead. 
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Quarter 4 Photography: Collins

​This quarter, I am turning in my photography. I have been experimenting with photo shoots. I spent so much time editing my images. I learned how to use Lightroom and Photoshop to create some very beautiful looking images. I fell in love with the contrast intensity of a black and white image. I think that my photos begin being interesting, but the edit can change tone, message, or any story you want the image to express. 

All images

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Q4 Art - Nia Hammond

​This quarter's art had fewer drawings, but they were also more advanced. I enjoyed the challenge each lesson presented. I noticed that as the lessons progressed, there was more and more detail about the importance of shading for every drawing. Enjoy!
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Sci-fi story

  I always thought I had a great life. Never taking anything for granted, I was so humble. Just looking at my life you would think that I got everything I wanted. That I was set for life. However my family worked for everything we had. Born Jonathan Miles Harris, I am now 16 years old. I have black hair, I am 5 feet 6 inches. I am Milano male(Which is african american and Caucasian), With a heavy accent. I have reddish brown eyes, crooked smile, and I am 150 pounds. Who ever finds this short book will know what really happened to me.


    So to whoever saw my story on the news I disappeared when I was 13, and reappeared on my 16th birthday. From where I was I saw everything that happened when I was taken. Everyone tried to blame my parents for me coming up missing. Because my mother was a former drug smuggler for the black market people believed that she was the cause. Others came up with the theory that because my father was a powerful district attorney. He received death threats from people relating to the inmates, some people theorized that I was taken because of him.


    Breaking down the two theories was the job of the police and detectives, but It was impossible. My mothers past was filled with too many colorful people, and if this was a result of her past we could never know. My fathers was a smidge better, however still was a lost cause. After trying to ensure just for about a good 3 months the police gave up and left my parents with a huge burden.  


    When I was took by “this creature” I was scared for my life. I blinked about a good 130 times to try and see if it was a dream. I pinched myself over and over again, and I prayed continuously. I just wanted to be back in my room making a beat or in the gym. Really I would have preferred to be anywhere but here. I couldn’t stand being in this dark moving vehicle’s trunk. I remember what happened when I was abducted.


    It was a saturday, and I was walking to Acme to get snacks for the movie night my friends and I were about to have. While standing at the netflix box I was tapped and grabbed. Trying to put up a fight against 4 grown individuals was like a turtle trying to escape 4 different wildcats. After successfully getting my eyes and mouth covered I was shoved forcefully into a vehicle. After that I felt a heavy thump hit my leg, which were the snack that I just purchased. A feminine voice said eat these if you want to be partially satisfied during the trip.


    After being in this surprisingly roomy trunk, being tossed my fulfilling snacks, and not hurt during my kidnapping I had a feeling I wasn’t really in danger. Every so often I would hear the same voice ask me was I okay. I would answer yes, but can someone please explain. She would reply the same way each time all in due time. You’ll be caught up in all the confusion shortly sweety. I just knew from her tone that I wasn’t in immediate danger. After driving in a trunk for days, and only having the trunk be aired out once, we arrived in an open field in pennsylvania.


    As the 4 humans get out the car, I hear them speaking a different language.  When they spoke it was almost if they were devising a plan. I tried to listen to see if there were words I knew. After listening for about 40 seconds my thoughts became jumbled. I was so confused and went into a stage if mind where my eyes were completely shut, I couldn't move, but I was conscious.


    After being in this stage for about an hour, I woke up on a spaceship of some kind. Scared to death I yelled and tried to move. I couldn't move because I was strapped down. My throat was closing because the amount of air I had, I wasn't able to breathe. I felt like I was being suffocated, or the driest price of bread on earth. My airway was closing up and at a not soothing pace.


    2 people walked into the room and saw me struggling. One just stood there in amazement, while the other was a girl my age. She recited the words from the trunk and I went into the same stage. As I was laying there I felt a sense of relief as if a new adaptation was given to me. I was able to breathe in space now. As I woke up I remembered feeling safe again.


    However I realized that no person should be able to breathe in space. So many questions formalized in my mind. Why me? What are these things? What do they want with me? I wanted answers and I wanted them now. As I started to look around again the setting I was I'm started to adapt to my room. I start to pinch myself and blink again. Nothing happened I was still in this room.

    

    As Boredom started to rise, I start to interact with the things in my room. I went to play my game, everything on my play-station was the same. To pass the time for a while that's what I did. And every-time I got hungry I went to my mini fridge and got something to eat. I figured that if I stayed there I would get answers out of someone. After a good 6 hours of playing play station it got a knock at my door. It was the girl who saved me when my lungs collapsed.


    When she came in the room was dead silent for about 10 minutes. We both had awkward looks on our faces. Both of us wanting to say something. Until she says you must be confused. I reply kind of, but thanks for saving my life. I start to ask he about why I got here, and question what’s going on. She responded saying she doesn’t really know. We spend a little while talking and she ask me is she pretty? I respond saying yes she is very beautiful. She starts to cry and say that its been a while since she heard that. I ask her why she said that? She starts to tell me about her and her boyfriends latest break up. Conflicted with listening to this girl I just met, and figuring out where I am, I choose to listen to her.


    After talking for a while she ask can she show me around the space-ship. I tell her I am pretty tired, but I would love for her to show me around tomorrow morning. She exits my room and I cannot fall asleep for a while. I just keep replaying all the incidents that went down in the past couple of days. I try to comprehend everything, and even try to use my cellphone. None of that even worked. I was stranded somewhere else, and didn’t even know where I was. I still felt safe though I felt like I would be understood and taken care of. Around 5 o’clock I fall asleep and wake up 3 hours later. I feel really refreshed, and really hungry.


    As I wipe the sleep from my eyes I wake up to the same feminine voice saying goodmorning. I respond hey where am I? She tells me this time “you are better off here”. I say well can atleast tell me why I am here. She says that will be revealed in time.  She hands me a plate of my favorite breakfast, and the remote for my T.V. I thank her. As she walks out she says don’t worry you are safe here. I eat my breakfast and watch the new episode of my favorite show. Then a question arises in my mind how is my favorite show on, and i’m not on earth. As my favorite show is playing I recall what happened during the last episode. As the episode ends, the girl who I now know as jacell walks in.


    I start to get dressed and while i’m taking off my pajama bottoms she stares intensely at me. I know what she wants, but I quickly get dressed. We leave my room and go to explore the spaceship. We go to every area of the spaceship, we look at every attraction and place to eat possible. As we start to be around each other for this extended period of time we both get more comfortable talking, joking and having fun. As we are walking back to my room she grabs my hand. We continue to walk though. It's only when I got to my room she kisses my lips. I felt it coming though, but I was still surprised.


    As the weeks turn to months I am still on this spaceship. Everyone knows me, and pays more attention to me rather then when I was in Philly. I guess you can start to say I love it here. Me and Jacell are in a relationship now. I get to be free as in rules wise, and everyone likes me. In these past months I've had a blast, only things is I miss the people who loved me on earth. As time continues to pass I wonder "will I ever get to go back?" "Do they still think about me?" "What's happening now?". Questions clutter my mind on a daily.


    A years goes by, everything here is good. I still miss the earth but I love being here. I love my new friends, I love that if I go back to earth I can say that I breathed in earth without equipment. I love that I was made into a big issue, I love this spaceship as a whole though. I'm torn between my home and my new home. As I sit and contemplate all these things, I remember that even if I wanted to leave I can't. Then a thought comes to make the best of what I have here.


    Jacell comes and we walk through the park for a little bit. Then we go to the town hall. As we arrive I see all the lights off. I start to piece things together. We seen nobody on our walk, lights off, and I've been here for a year. I assumed it was a party. Unsure I didn't say anything to Jacell. I just walked in after her and as she turn on the lights everybody on the space ship jumped out at me from all angles. I was still surprised and I knew what it was. The party was great, they really knew how to make me feel special and welcomed. As I left the party everybody handed me gifts and I just loved that night.

As me and Jacell left arms full we walked back to my room. As I placed my gifts down, she pushed me onto my bed. Things from there got a little X-rated. I enjoyed her company that night. My one year on the spaceship was better than all my years on earth. As Jacell left in the morning, I got dressed. I'm starting a new engineering class. I still wanted to make music and play basketball, but I wanted to learn too. I get to my class and immediately felt welcomed. We were starting to make transporters.


    As a few more months passed Jacell and I moved into together. This was one of the best decisions I made. We got to be together way more. She would go to her job, and I would go to school. As time passed I became a better engineer. I was too of my class. When graduation came I gave the best speech of my life. Jacell and the lady from before were there clapping and screaming the loudest for me. After graduation I went out to dinner with the two of them.


    A few years have passed, and now I'm a engineer. I own my own company. I do my own things, and I own a house now. I moved out of the room and me and Jacell own a house. I gave fixed the spaceship so many times. Every time I help out, they give me new equipment. On my day off, I had some uranium. Looking at my first project, I replace me small stick of uranium, with a full stick of uranium. By multiplying the magnitude of the travel, this should be able to get me anywhere and back. My plan is to go back to earth and then come back. I tell Jacell my plans, and she says "if that's what you want to do." She tells me not to do it today. I respect her wishes. I wait a week before I leave. During that week I was shunned, and just by myself. I didn't understand it, and just felt disrespected. As I left, I kissed Jacell goodbye. And kissed the ladies cheek and got into the teleporter. As I touched down I wrote these words. "It feels great to be home." I spend a good minute looking at where I'm at. As my chest starts to hurt briefly. I feel as though


    I am being punched repeatedly. I ignore it, just thinking my lungs need to get use to the change in the air pressure. I collapse after walking for 5 minutes. Lying on the ground breathless, I think about the past couple years I had. I lie there fighting for life I hear a voice that says just let go, everything will be okay. I follow orders because the pain was intense. I let go. As I let go I can see the things that follow. My family with the addition of 2 little brothers come and see me on the ground. At my funeral I see tears of sadness and relief. My father and mother both say "it's okay. We have clarity of him not being harmed for that time." As they put me into the ground I am teleported back to the spaceship. Everyone yells we shunned you so your family could have peace of mind to not see you dead.

Quarter 4 Art Portfolio

This quarter I definitely felt more challenged by the sketches. There weren't as many of them, but the shading was definitely more tricky. However, I really enjoyed playing around with it and adding some shape to my sketches, as well as developing my own sort of style. 
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Negative Space


  • A. What is negative space (explain this concept to a fourth grader that has never heard of it) Negative space is everything behind the object that is not colored in.
  • B. Explain how you found negative space in 1. your cut out?, 2. in your stool drawing? I found the negative space in my cut out by the different colors I used for the positive and negative. I found the negative space in my stool drawing by coloring in the whole paper and then using my eraser to draw the objects.
  • C. Why does it help an artist to see in negative space? It is easier to see while drawing the art work.
  • D. How is negative space useful in creating art? Negative space will make it look very pleasing to the viewers and it looks more accurate.
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    The Infected

    As I quickly hop in the taxi, panting heavily, I can’t help but think if my husband has already turned into one of ... them.

    What if it’s too late? What if he already has the virus? 

    “Keep calm, you can fool them” says the taxi driver. 

    I look up at him through the rear view mirror with confusion. I reply saying “What?” “Keep calm, you can fool them. They’ll never know you’re still human if you don’t blink or breathe. The aliens don’t do that.” He repeats

    As we pull over in an alley way, I listen eagerly while I try to calm myself down, yet remaining cautious, unaware of what the man’s intentions are.

    He parks the car and then continues “The only way to remain unnoticed is to pretend to be them.”

    “How do you know this?” I say.

    “They got my wife. Two days ago, as I laid in bed with her, she cuddled next to me and I realized that I didn’t feel her heart beat. When I glanced down at her, I saw her just staring into space, as if she wasn’t mentally there. Just then, I understood, she had become one of them. I ran out of  the house immediately, hopped in my taxi and have been driving around ever since.”

    “What if I can’t fool them? What if they can tell?” I ask.

    “They won’t be able to if you remain calm and maintain your composer”

    “Here.” He says, as he passes me some eye drops. “These will allow your eyes to stay moist, to avoid the urge to blink.” 

    Before he pulls out of the alley way, he asks me “Are you ready?” 

    “I think so.”

    “Here we go. Prepare yourself.” 

    It’s the year 2120. NASA has discovered new ways to travel to other planets in order to explore new life and energy forms to enhance Earth in new superior ways. When the astronauts returned to Earth, they brought back with them an unknown, alien life form virus that infects people through a spit- like substance that becomes contagious upon contact. The virus begins to take over once the victim has consumed the substance. Once it reaches the human’s immune system, their body goes into an “out of body” trans, causing their brains to become unconscious and their hearts to stop while they have the appearance of being awake. Over half of the U.S population has already been infected. As for the other half of the population ... Well the only thing they can do is try to escape before the whole world becomes infected. Here’s the unbelievable story of how the whole world got infected.

    “Thanks.” I say in a humble tone. “Sorry about your wife too.” I add.

    “If only we could find someway to cure this but how can you cure something that you don’t fully understand?”

    He drives out of the alley and hits the main roads, leaving that last statement lingering in my mind. How can you cure something you don’t understand? 

    We continue to drive in silence, until the car’s gas meter goes off. 

    “Shit” he says. 

    A few minutes later, we pull into what looks like a deserted gas station. 

    “Wait here and remember what I told you.”

    I stay put and agree attentively. 

    Already paranoid, I wait for what seems like forever. Just then, I see him. A feeling of relief comes over me. As he walks over to the car, he begins mouthing something. I don’t quite understand what he’s trying to say. As he gets closer and closer to the car, still maintaining his alien- like stage, in the faded background, a group of people emerge. Then I understand, he’s mouthing “run!” I try to hope out of the back seat but I the door gets jammed. 

    “I can’t get out! I’m trapped!”

    The man runs towards the car, opens the driver’s side door, unlocks all of the doors and reaches over on the passenger side for his shotgun.

    “Go! Go!” he says

    He moves inches away from the car, while the aliens begin running towards us. Shots are fired, while I struggle to get my head together on what my next move is. I hop in the front seat and start the engine. 

    “Get in!” I yell. 

    “Go without me!”

    “Are you crazy?!”

    “Go, there’s not enough time!”

    “You can’t hold them all off by yourself! Get in!”

    “GO!”

    I speed off with only uncertainty as my passenger.

    Okay, Okay keep it together. This is the statement I repeat over and over in my mind. I reach about a mile up the road before I pull over, cut off the engine off and try to collect myself in the silence of the car as the engine begins to slow down. I place my head on my hands, which lean against the top of the steering wheel as the silence allows me to interact more with my thoughts. I replay the moment that the taxi driver told me about his wife and how I was able to fool them. I reach in my pocket and pull out the eye drops. Looking in the mirror, I apply 1 drop to each eye. Straight ahead, I can see the west side of Chicago which the main road leads to. Back to civilization I go. 

    Once I reached the west side, the car’s gas meter goes off once more, forcing me to walk the rest of the way. I never felt more afraid in my life. 

    “Helen, stop. You need a plan first” I say to myself before getting out of the car.

    My thoughts become my only companion. 

    “How can you reach Jeff’s job without getting caught? And if he is already one of them, what are you going to do next?” 

    Even though I didn’t realize it yet, I had already answered my own question. There was no way of me knowing but I sure as hell was going to die trying out. If Jeff’s still alive, I know he’s either waiting for me to come find him or he’s trying to find me. I reach for my phone and replay the last message Jeff sent me. “Helen, where are you? Please come find me. I’m at work and something isn’t right. I think my boss and the executives are all infected. They’re trying to infect all the employers by the hour. I’m hiding in the storage closet in the basement. Please, help me Helen, before it’s too late.” 

    I straighten up my posture, give myself a little shake and ease on down the road. 

    As I look around at all of the people, I can easily see the deadness in their walk and the blank stares that they maintain. 

    So far so good. I got this. They walk pass me as if I’m one them. 

    “They’ll never know you’re still human if you don’t blink or breathe. The aliens don’t do that.” 

    I constantly remind myself of the words that the taxi driver told, along with other thoughts in order to keep my mind occupied. An occupied mind, leaves an expressionless face. 

    Before I reach the Sears tower, a group of men surround the building. 

    “Keep calm” Remembering the taxi driver’s words once more. 

    The biggest guard walks over. Even though he looks expressionless, he still has a look of intimidation. 

    “How may we assist you ma’am?” he says.

    Wow, they even sound out the norm. 

    Trying to sound just the way they do, in a robotic, scripted tone of voice. 

    “Yes, I need to enter the building to see my husband, Jeff.”

    I don’t know if I should have said his name but too late now. 

    He stares at me for a few seconds before saying “right this way”

    All I want to do is sigh with relief but I know I can’t. So instead I just say “Thank you” and proceed to follow him. 

    By the time we reached the elevator, I felt like I was seconds from passing out from holding my breathe so long. I have never been more anxious for these elevator doors to open. 

    “Here you are Ms, do you need further assistance?” he says.

    “No, thank you for your help” I reply. 

    I walk in the elevator and desperately wait for the doors to close. Once they closed, I exhale the biggest breathe I have ever taken, panting as if I just ran a mile or two. I press the button that leads to the basement and all that’s running through my mind is Jeff. Doubt and uncertainty get the best of me but I try to maintain a positive mind set and pray that he’s safe.

    “Ding”

    The stop of the elevator sends my nerves through the roof. 

    “NO!NO!NO!” I say as the doors open. 

    I can’t believe it. When the doors, hey reveal my worse nightmare. I see Jeff standing there with the other aliens. 

    “But how!” I say.

    “Sorry sweetie, I knew you wouldn’t come if I tried to convince you so I had to sound in distress. It was the only way.” He says in that familiar robotic, scripted type voice. 

    “You tricked me? I can’t believe it.” 

    They move in towards me. This can’t be happening is all I can think. I know there’s noting I can do so I close my eyes as I hear there foot steps get closer and closer. 

    The Creature

    The skies were awake on a sunny morning in San Francisco. Most people were heading out to their jobs and students riding the busses to school. It was a ordinary day in the city and neighborhoods. Traffic was moving quickly down at 19th avenue, I was in the car with my dad heading to school while listening to the morning radio show. Most of the time, my dad drives me to school because he goes through the same direction to his job. He carries blue prints in the back of the care everyday to work because he’s an architecture.

    My dad turned to Sloat blvd and onto 26th street, driving towards Eucalyptus Dr. He parked at the corner of the school. I stared at the school, thinking it’s going to be a long day. Before, I could get out of the car, my dad slightly turns his head towards me.

    “We’ll Michael, this is your stop,” he said.

    “My stop to hell,” I shrugged my shoulders.

    “Don’t say that, you’ll be fine. You know what, how does pizza sound for dinner tonight?,” he suggested.

    “I guess that sounds okay.”

    “Alright, I’ll let your mom know. But hey, it’s just high school plus you’re only a junior. What do you have to lose? Better things will come in your future,” He said joyfully.

    “Hopefully, one more year left and then I get to leave for college.”

    “We’ll take care and stop stressing. I’ll see you at home, Okay?”

    “Okay,” I said.

    I grabbed my school bag and headed out of the car. I shut the door and turned to the car, my dad rolled down the window.

    “Remember it’s just High School. Have a good day!,” He shouted.

    “Thanks,” I replied.

    My dad was pretty strange but I wouldn’t change a thing about him. Slowly, my dad drives off down the road.  

    ~

    When I was signing in with my ID, I reminded myself that I have Mr. Greg class first which was physics. I was a A+ student. I didn’t feel any special about being one of the smartest kids at school. I felt completely normal. I walked to the second floor towards the grey lockers to grab my binder. Physics class was down the hall.

    When I entered, mostly everyone was present. The class was way too loud, I didn’t know people build up their energy so quickly. For Christ sake, I can’t even get up from my own bed. Lowell High School was a lot different from any other school in San Francisco. Sometimes, I wished that I went to a regular school. The class was completely arrange with groupies. The popular girls were on the right side in the back of the class near the windows. In front of the class, the nerds were watching Japanese Animes. The athletes were on the left, talking about last night basketball game on ESPN. And I, just sat in the middle of the class.

    When I got to my seat, David came to class. I’ve known David since elementary school, David is the only latino friend I have. He was wearing a Lakers snapback, dressed in a white V-neck with black skinny jeans along with a nice pair of jordans. Sometimes, he likes to mock me in Spanish. Sadly, I didn’t understood what he was saying because I’m Italian.

    David walks towards me.

    “Yo Michael, guess what I found out yesterday,” he said

    “What?”

    “I heard Brittany moved back from New York. I didn’t believe it at first but when I was walking towards the park. I spotted Brittany and her family moving furniture from the truck on 33rd and Ortega. I didn’t say hi to her because I thought she wouldn’t recognize me, It’s been 6 years since she moved,”

    “Oh that’s great, I remembered we all went to school together and fooled around”, I remembered her. Back in the old days, she was my crush. I liked her but I never told her.

    “Yeah I know, We should stop by and talk to her.”

    “Maybe tomorrow.”  

    Before David could speak, Mr.Greg entered the room with his leather suit bag. You can tell in Mr.Greg’s face that he looked excited. Mr.Greg looked like he was around his mid 30’s. He was everyone’s favorite teacher. His class was my favorite. The student were curious about Mr. Greg thoughts.

    “Okay class, I have a announcement to make,”  Mr. Greg said excitedly.

    “Please, take a seat.”

    Everyone tries to finds their assign seat. The class was anxious while Mr. Greg seattles his suit bag onto the desk.

    “Okay, It’s a truly honor to say that our school is eligible to participate in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. We were picked from a raffle and lucky to have such a great opportunity. More than 1,700 high school students from over 70 countries were provided and within the winner receives a $5 million award.”


    At that moment, I retreated into my own head, picturing X. when Mr.Greg kept talking to the class, I faded away from the class conversation and only thought about the competition. A science and engineering fair and a $5 million award, huh? This definitely sounds that would fit me perfectly to achieve. I would have to create something that no one have ever thought about doing. I have to get started right away. All eyes will be on me, I can already imagine. The judges would be surprised and many people will be mindblown. It’s going to be a process but it’s going to be outrageous.

    My mind fell out of the zone. I continued to listen to Mr. Greg. I faded away from the class conversation and only thought about the competition. A Science and Engineering Fair and a $5 million award, huh? This definitely sounds that would fit me perfectly to achieve. I would have to create something that no one have ever thought about doing. I have to get started right away. All eyes will be on me, I can already imagine. The judges would be surprised and many people will be mindblown. It’s going to be a process but it’s going to be outrageous. My mind fell out of the zone. I continued to listen to Mr. Greg.

    Mr. Greg explained to the class, “From now on, I want all of you to come up with a idea and just generally brainstorm the project based on what you want to present,”

    “So folks, We have to work this out and make everything seem possible. I would recommend to start now because the deadline to turn in the project is May 25.”

    Its only March, I have time to work on my project. I just need the right idea to work my way through. I looked around the class, I seen that no one was interest and wasn’t planning to do their best. The only thing that I can think of is, It’s my lucky day.

    David tilted his head towards me.

    He mumbled to me, “This is stupid.”

    “It’s not stupid, I can ace this project,” I rejected.

    “We’ll you can, not me. It’s science fair project for a stupid company, these days no one is interest in intel.”

    “What does this have to do with popularly?”

    “Everything Mich, everything”.

    ~

    After settling down with my parents and siblings on the dinner table eating pizza, I explained to them the science fair opportunity. They were glad to see me that I was interest in such thing. They supported me, I was also surprise as well that I was into the fair. I was wide awake, I kept thinking about Intel ISEF. I knew that it was going to be extraordinary. To me, it’s not just a science and engineering fair. It was more of a life challenge, I want to accomplish something that my parents would feel proud of me for once. Now that I realized that I became to obsess with the science fair.

    I remembered my dad keeps his tools and blueprints into a little house, that he built in the backyard when I was younger. It was already midnight and everyone else was already asleep. I wanted to take a look at my dad’s private space and to search for the right tools. Soon, I decided to sneak out the backyard but before I can get anywhere my dad keeps his space private. Of course, I would have to get the keys but it was too easy to find them. I got out of my room and walked silently down the hallway. The keys were left in the kitchen. Opened the back kitchen door and ran to the small house.

    “Damn, which key is it,” I said frustratedly knowing that there was 20 different keys.

    Finally, I found the key to the lock. I slowly turned the lock and opened the door. I switched the lights on, everything seem completely normal. I walked inside and notice there was blueprints laying on the middle table, dust were cover on the shelfs, construction tools were attached to the wall. I didn’t see anything interest nor I found any secret. I knew my dad was hiding something but I suppose it’s not hidden here. I put my hands onto the table and thought to myself.

    I notice a red glance between the blueprints, I became anxious. I pushed the blueprints onto the side and saw it was a small red button, I was a coward to push the button but I had nothing to lose. Suddenly, the walls were changing their appearance. The room was transforming I never seen such thing before. There were new silver screens, holograms of DNA’s, machines, and gears. It filled the room with such great technology, I was shocked and wonder why my dad keep this for so long or maybe he was keeping from someone?

    I searched around and experiment some new gadgets. To the left, I saw a little creature that was kept inside of a large glass cylinder. The little creature was gray but looked more like a newborn puppy, It was covered with electric wires.  It was marvelous, it blew my mind, I was fantasize.  

    “What are you?”,

    “What type of creature is this?,”

    “Are you alive?,” I questioned.

    I noticed on the bottom of the glass cylinder there was a name tag. It was labeled as “Experiment 106”. My dad created a masterpiece. It was unbelieveable, I was blown away from my dad’s secret projects. Suddenly, I had gotten an idea. I thought about the Intel ISEF, I wanted to go beyond than people expected with the projects. I decided to take the creature from the lab and use it for my presentation at the fair. At the same time, I couldn’t take it away. It was my dad’s property. I didn’t know what to do, It would be counted as stealing. Everything was locked, I had to type in a code in order to release the little creature.

    I started to guess random numbers,

    “45678?,”

    “ Access Deny,” the computer lab spoken as it flashes a red light on the pad.

    “43579?,”

    “Access Deny,”

    “26896?,”

    “Access Deny,”

    “76543?,”

    “Access Deny,”

    “96780?,” I was getting frustrated. I knew my dad wouldn’t make a random pass code onto the computer. I thought about an important date that my dad treasures, first thing that came in mind was parents wedding date. I gave it a try.

    “09197,”

    “Access Approved”

    My heart began to beat fast, It was nerve wracking. The red light had switch to green and the wires began to untangle from the creature body. There was a green water inside the glass cylinder that kept the creature in place, it began to empty itself until there wasn’t anymore liquid inside. My hands were shaking, I slowly took the glass cylinder. I tried to avoid my thoughts and the consequences that could happen. I approached the middle table put everything back in place, I pressed the red button, everything went back to normal. I made sure I locked everything with the right key. As I gotten back outside, I checked both sides and ran to my room.

    ~

    I woke up the next day, It felt like I was in a dream. I looked under the bed and saw the creature laying inside of the glass cylinder, I knew it wasn’t a dream but it was now reality. I reach for my phone and called David as soon as I can, He was the only person that I trusted. I dialed the number.

    “Hello?” David answered.

    “David, meet me at the local park”.

    “Why?”

    “Because, it’s an emergency. You have to come now.

    “What happened, are you alright?,” David became frighten as I heard in the tone of his voice.

    “Yes, I’m completely fine. It’s about something else.”

    “Alright, I’m on my way,” David ended the phone.

    I got out of bed and took the glass cylinder inside of my school bag, I rushed to change clothes and headed out the door. I bumped into my mom before I can exit out of the front door.

    “Michael, Where are you going at this time? You haven’t eaten your breakfast yet,”

    “I know, I’m going over a friends house,” I lied.

    “At this time?”

    “We have a big exam that is coming up soon and we have to study.”

    “But it’s only saturday.”

    “Practice makes perfect, right?”

    “Yeah but…” My mom didn’t know how to respond.

    “Hun, just let him go. He’ll be fine.” My dad said.

    “But…”

    “Just let him go” He suggested.

    “Alright, just don’t come back too late. Okay?”

    “Thank you.”

    I rushed to the door and headed my way to the park.  

    ~

    Luckily, when I got to the park no one wasn’t there. I waited for David to come. I had a feeling he was going to freak out when he see’s the creature. I checked my bag and realized the creature wasn’t breathing nor moving. It stood silently still or maybe the process wasn’t complete as I thought it would be. David finally arrived, I was expecting that he might freak out but I knew he would understand.

    “What’s the emergency?” David asked.

    “I don’t know where to start but what i’m about to show you is top secret”

    “Okay?”

    I took out the glass cylinder from the bag, David began to freak out.

    “Michael, What the hell is that?” David said with the scarness in his tone.

    “I’m not sure what in the world is it but I found it at my dad’s laboratory in the back yard”

    “Is it dead? It’s not moving.” He questioned.

    “Hopefully, it’s not. I need it to be alive for the science fair?

    “Wait wait, you stole this creature from your dad just so you can win the fair?

    “Its not just any fair, it’s just…,” David stopped me before I could finish my sentence.  

    “This is about the money isn’t it, the 5 million award? Your parents are already rich, What more do you need?”

    “I don’t want the money,”

    “I just want to go big and do the best that I can.” I tried to explained.

    “Look, I understand you want to go huge on this but isn’t this just too much?”

    “No, I know this can work but…”

    I felt something shaking, it was the little gray creature moving around in the glass cylinder. The creature was opening it’s eyes. They were shaded blue but form like a goats eyes. It looked furious. Inside, the creature was going insane. I got scared and threw the glass cylinder across the grass. It had hit a tree and broke the glass, I absolutely made a huge mistake.

    “David, stay calm.”

    “What the hell are we going to do,” The fear in his voice he cried.

    The creature slowly got up from the ground and onto it’s 4 legs, it started to stretch like it was asleep for many years. The creature looked from both sides, it was confused and lost. A coat of fur began to grow on the body and claws were getting sharp by the minute. Within the time, the creature started to get big,. The create  was getting upset, so it begun to howl and hiss at us. Step by step, It was slowly moving towards our direction.

    “Run!,” I shouted. There was no time to lose, we had to make a run for it.

    We ran and ran deep into the woods, we noticed it was endless. We were being chased by the grey coated creature. I was losing my breath, my heart beating like crazy, the warm blood were rushing in my veins and sweat were dripping down my face.

    “This is hopeless, we have to climb a tree!”

    “No, we have to go back to my house?”

    “Are you kidding me?”

    “This is my fault... I’m the one who caused this problem and now I have to fix it,”

    The woods seem like you would see something from a horror film. There wasn’t any sign of the creature so we stopped behind a tree to catch our breath. We stood completely still in one place.

    “So whats your plan? How are we going to get out of this crap?” David said silently.

    “There has to be sometime injection inside my dad’s laboratory”

    “Are you sure?”

    “I’m positive, I remember seeing a green chemical inside the lab. It should be able to work. The creature is created made by genetic, on the other hand it’s a clone. It is able to be stopped.”  

    I was hoping, my plan would work. I don’t want to fail. We heard footsteps, it was getting closer and closer.

    “Whatever happens, just keep running.”

    “Alright then, this just better work!,”

    “I’ll distract the thing, while you make a run for it.” David suggested.

    I was afraid. The creature found us hiding behind the tree. The creature was aiming at David, as he was distracting the wild beast. David dodge when the creature tried to jump on him, he soon grabbed a wooden stick and slam the creature against the tree.  

    “Go, Go!” David shouted.

    We ran for our lives.

    ~

    We were running like the speed of lightening. We put as much energy as we could before the creature was able to attack us. This mess was all my fault, I shouldn’t have touch anything. I was way over the top to think a creature for a science fair would be a good idea, I was wrong.

    We finally got to the house and noticed the creature kept chasing us. Me and David ran inside but luckily the door was open. We shut the door before the creature was able to get inside. The moment was intense.

    “Dad, Dad!” I shouted.

    My dad rushed downstairs. He questioned, “Michael, what is going on?”.

    “You have to help us,” I begged.

    “Dad, Listen I’m sorry. I stole your experiment from the laboratory, I shouldn’t have took done such thing in the first place. You have to help me, it’s coming after us.”

    “You took experiment 106? Michael, that clone is way too dangerous,”

    “Did you not read the label that was above the glass cylinder?,” He said angrily.

    “That’s why I need you to help me, I know you have an injection that can stop this creature.”

    “Michael, you put me and the family to crisis!”

    “Where is experiment 106?”

    “It’s outside.” I was disappointed in myself.

    “In public? You let it out in PUBLIC?”

    “The glass cylinder broke and got away, I wasn’t able to stop it”

    The door was banging, it was the creature. I looked to the side of the living room and seen  my mom holding the twins tight in her arms by telling them, that everything is going to be okay. Deep inside, they were scared to death.

    “Honey, take the kids upstairs.” My dad requested.

    My mom obeyed and took the kids to the room upstairs.

    “Michael and David, I want you both to go upstairs as we’ll”

    “Dad, This is my mess. I need to fix it.”

    “No, it’s too dangerous,” My dad said with a worried in his face.

    “I can handle this, I swear I can,” I wanted to be brave.

    “I can too sir.” David said.

    “Alright follow me.”

    My dad requested us to distract the creature while he was able to get the injection from the laboratory.

    “Hey, hey. Over here you little freak” Shouted David as he was slamming against the trash cans.

    I as we’ll took slapped the metal trash cans together. The creature was running back and forth, it seems like the loud banging voice of the trash cans were bothering it.



    “Tackle it and hold it still” My dad cried.

    “How?”

    “Grab it from the behind, It may be strong but its the only way.”

    We ran towards the creature. The creature growled so hard that it even hurt my hearing. Next thing, I noticed was that me and david were wrestling the creature. It was strong and husky, the creature pulled out it’s claws and scraped my face and arms. I was bleeding and so was David. Our clothes were getting ripped and dirty from the mud. We put as much strength as we could.

    “STEADY, keep it still.”

    “Hold on,”

    “Watch out!”

    My dad sucked inn the injection onto the creature stomach.

    The needle was the size of a nail tool and the liquid inside was bright green but thick as blood. It made me nauseous just by looking at it.

    “That will do, It’s a injection that is able to kill the creature. I kept it secure for in case of emergencies.” My dad explained.

    The creature was slowly closing it’s eyes, and wasn’t putting force onto itself. It was slowly dying. I was glad, the situation was almost over.

    “Here, that will do… for now.”

    I was finally able to breath, I was exhausted.

    Later that day, My dad set up a bonfire. The only solution to keep this creature away was to burn it into ashes. I watching the creature melting into the fire, It was unbelievable scene. The creature was now gone.


    High School by Lala Doumbia

    The beginning .


    “Mom! Mom! I got my letter.”


    Having the letter in my hand looking at it. I was so happy, and enhances. it few like I was waiting for this letter for years when it was only 7 months. Most people like to be the one to open their letter but I was scared. I didn’t know if I was going to get into to the high school that I wanted. My mother walked in the room looking confused.


    “What letter are you talking about ?”


    “My Letter is here, my high school acceptance letters. I’m scared to open it can you open it for me ?”


    I felt like I was going to cry when I gave her the letter.


    “Sure sweetie, are you ready?” with a smile on her face.


    “I remember when I got me my high school acceptance letters. It was years ago.”


    “Mom can you tell me the story later and open the letter”


    I want to say mom I don’t care,  just open the letter you're taking to long.  


    “Okay okay” she said .


    She started to tear the side of the envelope, that how she open it. She don’t like to open it from the top. She says that opening it from the side is much easier. She started read the paper out loud.


    “Dear Ms.Jean Here are your five schools you applied. If you don’t get into any of the schools you will not be allowed to go to high school. You will Have to go get your blue papers and start look like for a job that will take for. ”


    I didn’t want to start working yet, I wanted to go to school to get more education before looking for a job. I started to remember when My mom told me about when her mother was a kid and everyone have to go school. And if you didn’t go to school you would get a good job. But this was in the year 2041, and it 2094 and a lot of things changed. My mom looked at me and read the schools name.


    “Reddy Science High - accepted”


    I like that school but it’s not my dream High school.


    “Union High school - accepted”


    This school with one the the biggest school I applied to. I’m scared it might be too big.


    “Mac Smith Math High - accepted Dream High - accepted ”

    These school was my safety school. I know I would be able to get in. I have a 38 GPA and the highest GPA is 45.


    “And last but not less the High school I know you want to get into Central High School -- accepted.”


    My mom gave me the letter . I wanted to start crying but I was to in shock to say anything. Today was a day that I will never forget. Central High school is one of the top school, I get to live at school and meet new people. This is the only school I really wanted to go to. Everything change, the stories I would hear about how My great grandma would Went to college and got her master and still couldn’t get a new job. To me that sounds sad, I didn’t understand how that could happen.


    First day !


    First day of Central high school the school was so big. We drove 20 miles from the city to the suburbs. There wasn’t a lot of noise outside. It was like no one was there walking on the sidewalk. Looking out the window Waiting to see the my dream school My mom started to talk to me.


    “Sweetie I’m really going to miss you. It’s going to be different without you being there with me.”


    Tears started to come down her face.


    “I remember when you was a baby, changing your diapers, doing your hair and making sure you ate your vegetables”


    “imma miss you to mom,” I said.


    “Now I want you to work hard not get into any trouble at the school. You know they will kick you out if you do. ” she said wiping her tears.  


    “I know mom I know mom.”


    We go up to the front out the school. When there were hundreds of kids just like me waiting to start their first day. I got out the car went to the truck and got my bags and suitcases. My mom came over and help me out. I looked at the mansion-like building. Everyone was walking through the big front door. As me and my mom follow everyone else , there was a Man wearing all black suit. He had blue eye and blond spiky hair.


    “Welcome to Central high school my name is Eric. I’m the Dean of the school. I will be making sure you kids who are young adult now, get the best education. If you can come follow me, I will be showing where your kids can sign in, get there rooms, and their food card.”

    I was so happy, I know I was going to make new friends. Their was 5 line so the students can sign in. I hope this don’t take all day. 30 mins passed I get to the front of the line.


    “Next! ” Said Mike, it was on his name tag.


    “Hey” replied back nervously


    “What your name?”


    “My name is Carly Jean”


    “Here’s your Room number 307 here is you key, you will be rooming with two others girls. If you lose your key come to the office and they will give you a new one, but please try not to lose it. Here your food card. You get breakfast, lunch, and dinner free. You will have 2500 points for other foods like snacks throughout the year.”


    “Thank you”


    Eric walked in the room with this big smile on his face. His smile make you feel like you going to drop to the floor how pretty his smile is.


    “You might being having the dean as your new father.” My mom turns to look at me.


    “ Ill mom, don’t say that ...” I look at her like she crazy. I can’t see my mother being with the dean of Central high school the school. He probably makes more money than my mother plus some of the parents. I can see him in his big house with lots of cars.


    “It looks like everyone is almost done here. This is the time when the student and parents say their goodbyes. If the parents have any question you can come to me call the school or email me. I will answer any of your question. We will be seeing you in three months for visiting day.” Eric said .


    “My baby is all grown up now. You can call me anytime to talk. If you need anything call. I love you Carly Jean.” saying While my mom hugged me so hard that I felt that I couldn’t breath. I tried to move my arm up so I can hug her back.


    “Mom I can’t move.”


    “Im sorry” I pick my arm to give her a real hug. After the hug my mother gave me a kiss on the forehead. She started to walk away from me. I remember I didn’t say I love you to her . “Mom I love you!” I yelled not caring who seen me.


    “Okay student everyone grab a map of the school and go to Central Living building there are 10 floors in that building. Whatever is the first number to your room number you will be the floor your room is located. After finding your room you will have until 1:30 until we will meet at the ballroom.” Eric told us.


    I was scared I didn’t know anyone in the school. I was hope the my roommate was going to be nice and fun to be around. I was so nervous that I was thinking of how I was going to say Hey to them . Hey my name is Carly Jean I'm your roommate. Or Wassup my name is Carly Jean. I also wanted to know if my roommate was going to me all freshman or mix of classes? Their was so many question in my mind. I follow everyone to central living building. There were elevator and stairs . I didn’t like the elevators because one day I got stuck in between the 3rd and 4th floor of my mothers jobs. She works as a Lawyer at so fancy building. After that day I never want to get on the elevator. So I took the stair as some people waited for that elevator to come back down.


    When I got to the 3rd floor I started to look for my room. The hallway was long and narrow, It felt like I was walking for year looking for my room. I finally found my room 307. I used my key to open the door. I felt like I was a grown person. I didn’t have my mom here, and i didn’t know anyone. One I open the door I see a tall girl with long black hair. She was so pretty that i felt like the school was fill with beautiful people. Looking at the girl she made me feel like I wasn’t as pretty as I was People always told me that I was pretty but looking that her she made me feel avenger looking.


    “Hey my name is Carly Jean.” I said not knowing if she was going to be nice or mean to me. I was hoping we like the same thing so we can get alone.


    “Hey Carly nice to meet you! My name is Helen.” Said Helen with a big smile on her face. She even had straight teeth.


    “Nice to meet you Helen.”


    “So I picked my bed it’s this one” she point to the bed on the left of the room. There was three twin size bed in the room. Three working spaces with lamps and a flat screen t.v, they even have refrigerator. One bed was on the left side against the wall that the one Helen pick. One bed was in the back right next to the window I wanted that one. I wanted to look outside and see everywhere. I come see the fields and the mean building where we are going to be learning at.  The other bed was on the right side it was against the wall. We all had desks next to our beds. all the beds look alike and so do the desk.


    “I think I’m going to pick the bed right to the window.” I said to Helen as I walk to the bed.


    “Are you ready to take the test?” asked Helen as she unpack her things.


    “Ugh I’m scared I want to do well on this test .” I replied


    “You're going to be fine just don’t think about it too much.” she said smiling.

    I started to unpack my things as I see a short girl with glasses on walk through the door. As she walk in,

    “Hey everyone ! My name is Rita”


    “Hey Rita my name is Helen”


    “Hey Rita my name is Carly”


    “We pick I bed already the only bed left is the right side one.” I said pointing to the bed.


    “Hey you guy It’s almost 1:30. We have 15 mins, we should leave around leave in ten minutes.” Helen pointed out to us.


    “Rita you ready for the test their about to give us” I asked


    “I don’t know, I didn’t know what type of test it would be? I’m nervous”as she unpack her thing on to her bed.


    “I know I’m not going to finish unpacking right now.” Helen said.


    “Same here” rita and I said at the same time.


    “Let stated going to the Ballroom before we end up being late.” Rita said


    When we got to the ball room everyone was taking their seat. Helen, Rita and I sat right next to each other. Eric walked in the room and went to the stadium.


    “Alright everybody take a seat we’re about to get started. So as many of you know you’re going to be taking a test. This test does not affect anything just let us know what you know already. Try your best and we will help you become smarter. Goal is to make sure that everyone has a IQ of 1800 or more.”  Eric said.


    “That high number for the IQ test” Rita look worried saying it.


    “The test will start after this speech. You will be ok, just try your best. Everyone will get a going to a class room. the teacher will come and count the people to go to the classroom. ” Eric said


    A teacher came over to where I was sitting and started counting us off. The teacher walk us to the classroom . We all sat down, they gave us a the test and pencils.


    “Here the test no talking. If you don’t know something you can skip it, It will have all the time you  need to finish the test. Good Luck! ” The teacher told us .


    The test was a package, I felt like I wasn’t going to finish this all today. I started to look in the test to see what i know in the test. It really wasn’t that bad. I got a lot done in about 40 mins, but most of the people felt the classroom. There was some question I couldn’t answer so I got up and walk to the teacher gave her the pencils and test.


    “Ok your done you can go get some lunch and class will start 2 days from now.” The teacher said quietly .


    I turn to see if Rita and Helen was still taking the test, but only Helen was in the room. So I walk in the cafe, think to myself, if I did good on this test even if I there no good or bad grade for this I will still want to be very smart. I finally got to the cafe. I walked up to the lunch line to pick something to eat . They had everything that you can think about from pizza to hotdog. Everything you wanted was here. I got a hotdog and an apple juice. I started to look for somewhere to sit.


    “Carly ! Carly over here, I have a seat for you ” Rita was yelling and waving her hand.


    I walked over to her and took a seat.


    “Hey how long you been here ?” I asked


    “I got here 5 minutes ago. They have everything here, I ever have so much food and one place.” Rita


    “I know right! Well we have two day to look around and see everything here.”


    “Oh yes, I want to see everything. I hear they have a pool, I think we should go swimming.”


    “That sound funny!” I said


    Later that day I was walking around that until I got lost. These hallway all look the same after a while. But I seen Eric walking so I started to walk behind I didn’t want to yell. But he walk in this room. The room was filled with computer and scientists.


    “They kids are so dumb . They would be able to get 1800 on the IQ test. Do you have what I need? ” Eric said looking mad.


    “Yes , Sir . I’m done make the GS shot. This is will make sure they will get higher than 1800 on the IQ test.” a scientist said with a smile on his face.


    “Good we will started tomorrow! These kids are not going to make my school look bad .” as he started to walk back to me. I started to look for somewhere to hide. I was behind the door. I was still lost and I didn’t want to ask Eric after finding out that he going to give us shot to make us smarter. I started to think the I wasn’t smart . But I didn’t know where I was at so I follow Eric until I got to the cafe again. I ran to my room, where Helen and Rita was there.


    “Hey where you been ?” Helen asked


    “I got lost and guess what I seen Eric and some scientists, and they made a shot called the GS shot. It’s how the students get smarter. I don’t like the idea of this. What if we die, or what if we get something for it . I don’t like the sound of this. Eric keep saying that we was not smart and we all need the shots.” I said.


    “What that not right! “ Helen said.


    “I think we should tell everyone what happening.” Rita said .


    “Yes, but we need to show them the GS shot.” I replied .


    “We will need to go to the lab and get the the shot” Helen said.


    “We should go to the lab tonight and go get the GS shot I want everyone to know about it,” It started to make me mad that he call me dumb. I was one of the told people in my class. “ let go right now because I think he is not in there now” I said



    “Your right let go” Rita said putting her shoes on.

    We all went downstair to the stairs to the lab. I looked inside to see if there was anyone in there but there wasn't. We all slipped up to look for something call the GS shot.


    “I found it” Rita yelled.


    “Lets go” I said.


    We ran up stair but in to our room, locked up our door.


    “Tomorrow I going to call the police and tell the school.” Helen said.


    “Yes let go to sleep.” Rita said.


    In the morning we got when to go get something to eat people was talking about the meeting with Eric. After eating Eric starting his meeting in the cafe


    “Goodmorning student, today I’m going to be talking to you about a shot the you're going to have to get. This shot will make sure you don’t get sick, ” said Eric


    “You're lying!” said Rita.


    “Yea you're lying!” said Helen.


    “We know what's the shot is for to get us smarter you say that we was the dumbest student. And I have the shot with me.” I said  Showing everyone “It’s call the GS shot. He made scientists make it so we can get smarter. But we don’t know if it can hurt us or even kill us.” I said.


    “How did you get that ?” said Eric.


    The police walk over.


    “Do you know Illegal for shot like this ? You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?” said the police officer walking away with Eric.


    “Yes we did it now we can learn without no chemicals in our body,” Rita said.


    Ray Albarouki's Q4 Art

    I wanted to create something that felt natural. Unexpected Moments was my theme for Q4. This photo represents that theme because when my best friend took this of me, then posted it on Instagram, it was completely... well, unexpected! The photo mosaic is made up of all of the unexpected moments I documented with my iPhone. I think that it's a personal artistic statement.
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    mymosaic

    La Casa Quieres

    LA CASA QUIERES

    Jason Greene y Harry Freed, arquitectos

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    Cliente: Tomás Arango

    Nuestro cliente se llama Tomás Arango. Es muy listo y feliz. Tiene 15 años. Vive en el Centro de la ciudad. Le encanta skateboarding y jugar videojuegos. Le mucho gusta plantas, y le gusta verde y la playa.


    La casa de Tomás es en la playa en Los Angeles. Es cerca de un parque y un supermercado. Es una casa mediana, moderno, sofisticado, y elegante. La casa tiene dos pisos. Es muy bueno para perros y gatos. En la piso primero de la casa, Tomás tiene muchos partidos.

    • La sala de estar tiene dos consolas y una mesa para la tele fantástica.

    • En el dormitorio de Tomas, hay una piscina caliente.

    • El comedor tiene cuatro sillas elegante y una mesa.

    • Hay a baño en el piso primero  y cuatro dormitorios en el piso segunda.

    • Tiene un bidé y un lavamanos en el baño.

    • No hay un sótano en la casa de Tomás.

    • Tiene una nevera frío, una estufa, y una fregadero.

    • Hay muchos videojuegos divertidos.

    • En el piso segunda, hay un baño más, con una ducha.

    • Tiene un invernadero grande, también.


    Fotos:

    El piso primero y el invernadero:

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    La fachada (muy narcisista)

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    Selfies -Jaccar Garcia

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    20140525_011109
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    When it comes to taking a selfie what mostly matters is who I’m taking it with and what mood am I in. My selfies show my personality and especially what my personality is like around certain people. If its someone who is my friend and I can feel comfortable with them then I most likely to take a silly picture. If its someone I love like family I’m more prone to take a selfie that shows my love for them, etc. The way I present myself to the world shows me as I am. I am the type of person who wants to be known for who they truly are, I can say that I’m as clear as a vase. I’m an open book and I try to portray that.

    La Casa Perfecta Para Ms Jonas

    Michdars CO.

    Michael & Darius Real Estate


    Cliente: Pearl Jonas

    Foto:

    Descripción De la Persona: Nuestra cliente, Pearl Jonas, es muy atlético y simpático. Le gusta colore verde. Vive en filadelfia. Le Gustaría correr y leer.


    Descripción de la Casa:

    • Uno pisa.

    • La sala de ejercicios es grande.  

    • Mediana garaje.

    • Tres baños.

    • Maestro dormitorio y cuatro regular dormitorio.

    • Jardin es magnifico.

    • Cerca de un parque y supermercado y transporte público.


    Peticiones: Mediana, Antigua, Dos pisos, Divertida/Vibrante, Con jardín, Un cuarto para ejercicio, verdes.


    House Blue Print

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    Picture 1

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    Designed by Darius and Michael from Michdars Co. Real Estate

    1(800)- PIMP-YO-HOUSE www.Michdarscopimpyohouse.org

    Benchmark By Alexa Eddy





    Chapter 1 (Isaac)



    Isaac was 6 when his father died in the 50 gallon war. What was the fight over? 50 gallons of water. His mother also fought in the war, but she survived and went on to become a scientist. She became one of the world’s most respected scientists.It was 2078 and the population had drastically gone up. The world’s population clocked in at about 12 billion and resources were running thin quickly, especially water. Clean water has become so scarce that even the fishes must huddle in together and take short breaths to not take up all of the oxygen in the water because there is so little. Aside from America and Germany fighting over 50 gallons of water found in Japan, all countries are kind of tense. Gallons are never found randomly. They are harvested. And each country has a fair share based on their population. Japan harvested and hid fifty gallons in violation of their population. They had 450. They were only supposed to have 400. Even though many people hated the war, some loved it. Some felt like they needed it. It was a sort of population control. Many people were drafted. Although, the battle ended short when the two countries just decided to split it 25/25. Not as many people died, and it was a peaceful two years. Then the discovery of “Scrups” happened. And all humans were turning against each other so quick you would have thought they were enemies even before time. 


    Isaac was now 8 years old and he lived in a tiny house along with his mother. He shook the black hair from his face and he walked into the kitchen. 


    "Mami!" 


    "Que?" 


    "What are you eating?" 


    "Steak." 


    Isaac frowned, he knew that they were blessed with money but he wish she didn’t spend it on fresh food and eat it all. Both corners of her mouth scrunched up into a satisfied smile. Isaac had always heard "Eat healthy, you are what you eat ya know," from his abuela and he was always afraid his mom would turn into a steak. He never shared this fear with her because he didn't want to be labeled as a "dummy". She always called him that when she thought he made a stupid comment. His mother ate steak every night. Every morning. Every noon. And for snack, which was 6 times a day. And with each steak she ate, she drank a 8 ounce glass of orange juice and 2 ounces of water. Little Isaac walked up to his mother. 


    “Can I have some?”, his eyes went wide. “BUT ONLY A LITTLE BIT!”


    His mother jumped back and her right eyebrow scrunched up, “Que te pasa?! Why the hell are you yelling?!”


    Isaac apologized as his mother cut a small piece of steak. Her eyes were rimmed with dark purle, and the sea of wrinkled invaded her eyes, creating saggy bags. Despite his mom being exhausted, he loved her because she still took the time to talk to him. She flashed him a tired smile as she fixed him a small plate of steak. He was glad he only asked for a little bit, he didn’t want to turn into a steak. 


    “Lo siento, I forgot your fork!” Maribel stood up to run to the kitchen. 


    “No te preocupes, I’ll get it,” little Isaac got up to grab a fork. As he went to grab the iron handle to the wooden drawer, he bit on his lip so that he wouldn’t gasp as draw flew open as the handle pulled out straight towards his hands. 


    “Isaac? Are you okay?” his mother called. Worry was deep in her voice and she got up to move. Just then, Isaac came running through the door. Spoons, forks, and knives were flying through the air and they seemed to be chasing him. He ran back and forth, desperately trying to live when his mother brought a fist upon his cheek. Isaac blacked out, that’s all he remembered. 


    He woke up on a soft bed, screaming. He mother ran into his bedroom and held him down. 


    “Shhh! Shhh! Shhh! Ya cálmate!” she held his shoulders down as he panted. 


    “What do you mean calm down already?! Did you see that mommy?! Did you see that?!” he pointed everywhere, he quickly became paranoid as the metal candle holder on the brown wooden dresser started to shake. He screamed and his mom put her hand over his mouth. 


    “Shhh, the more calm you are, the less it happens. This was much easier when you were younger. I used to put medicine in your bottle just to calm you down,” she sat up on the bed and wiped the tears from his scared face. 


    “Your father, used to laugh. He believed that he had everything a man wanted. A wife, a beautiful child, a good paying job. He didn’t mind. We knew you were always special. Especially because his jacket buttons always stuck to your back. It was easy to peel them off of course. But it was funny to see the rainbow of colors on your back.” She giggled. 


    “You...you mean you knew I was a scrup?!” Isaac’s mouth twinged into a tight pout. 


    “A what?” her right eye brow scrunched up. Isaac knew that look, but he didn’t care. 


    “A screw up mom! A screw up!” he yelled, her temper came in quick and she slapped him so fast he didn’t even see the hand. Just heard a “whir” before he saw stars. She began to yell! 


    “You are NOT a screw up Isaac! You are beautiful and you are special!” she saw the tears in his eyes and she calmed down. She didn’t like hitting him, even for disciplinary reasons. 


    “We just, we just didn’t say anything because we thought we could keep it under control. We didn’t know what caused it at the time. We don’t know. But what we do know is, if people know then they will take you away from me.” 


    She began to cry, streams of tears dressed her delicate face and she no longer looked tired. Just devistated. 


    “I can’t have them take you away from me. I would die. I would just die. I wouldn’t know what to do!” She held on to Isaac and they cried together. 


    “W-w-what do I do mami?” he held on to her hand. 


    “I’ll show you,” she held up her right hand and a fork flew right into it. Isaac’s eyes went wide. 


    “WHOA! YOU HAVE IT TOO?” Isaac almost passed out. This was too much excitement for one day. He damn near fainted. 


    “Yes, come here. You can read well can’t you?” she pulled out a leather bound book. It was big, brown, and it had a metal lock on it. 


    “Yes ma’am,” he said proudly. 


    “I know you’re mature. I was waiting to give this to you, go in your room and read it,” she handed him the book. But he didn’t know the lock combination. It was a 7 slot lock and he didn’t know if he had to guess or what, and he flashed a worried look at his mother. She held out her right hand and the lock turned. The term “SOFRITO” came out and Isaac smiled. Only mami would do something like this. 


    “Mom, anyone whose spanish will know this! Can’t I change it?” he pouted. 


    “Yeah, here”, she held out her right hand again and made a fist. Something clicked and she rephrased the word into “ISAACYR”. 


    “There, your name and the first initial of your father’s last name and the first initials of my last name. Better?” she looked proud. 


    “Yes!” Isaac ran to his room and plopped on his bed. He opened the book, he appreciated the fact that his mom drew pictures for him to understand. 


    Chapter 2 (Maribel’s Diary)


    Dear Isaac, 


    Hello, if you’re reading this, it means you’ve finally discovered that you are special. Like me. I might be retired now, and we’re probably living low because we are “special” and I need to teach you how to conceal your powers. Because if they are found, we will both be killed. Please read this, and learn a lot. This was from the studies that I did when I was still a scientist. Ok, here we go. 



    Basically, we are of the magnet origin. It is ancient, and it’s just ONE of the many origins that people can come from. Not everyone in the family has it. Just you, me, your grandma, and her father. Basically, we have the power to magnetize and demagnetize ourselves. But with magic, comes science. I’ve done some experiments on myself and I realized that the reason why you are of magnet origin is partly my fault. You know how I always eat steak and drink orange juice? Well, those are my favorite things to eat and drink. The issue is, we are already born with an iron imbalance in our bodies because we are basically human magnets. You know what else has iron? Steak. And do you know what an orange has? Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron and I pretty much ate this while I was pregant with you. I’m so sorry Isaac, please forgive me for burdening you.


    Okay, here’s a simple diagram: 





    Okay honey, as you can see, we have a crap load of iron in us. Therefore, at will, we can become super magnetic. Here are things you need to know: 


    1. Even if you want to panic, don’t. You will pull all of the metal to yourself or push it away. 
    2. Befriend people of different origins. If you want, I can introduce you to some. 
    3. Befriend people of similar origins. Here’s a chart of how they’re broken down. 





    Earth (metal)

    Water (life) 

    Fire (offense)

    Air (supports) 

    Magnetic (attracts metal)

    Life (healers)

    Electricity (Good at fighting, can summon electricity. Good for black outs)

    Travelers (can fly/super speed)

    Rockers (Manipulate Earth/Metal) 

    Aqua mages (can manipulate water) 

    Starters (People who can summon fire)

    Pushers (Can maipulate air to create “natural” disasters)

    Chameleons (once they touch the earth they can blend in) 

    Green thumbs (Can manipulate plants) 

    Melters (People who just have the abilities to heat up things)

    Airlocks (Can summon air) 


    As people of the origins, our job is to simply keep the elements in balance and to keep the Earth safe from it’s people. We were supposed to live in peace. Now, for each origin there is a “mother” origin. The mother origins are the four elements. Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. And from these stem the “baby” origins. Such as us “Magnetics”. Now, where were weeeee oh yeah. How to magnetize! Here is a practice method: 


    1. Sit in a calm, quiet room. 
    2. Put a metallic object in front of you. 
    3. Close your eyes. 
    4. Breathe calmly in and out. In and out. 
    5. Grab the fork. When you touch it, focus on the energy going back and forth into the fork. 
    6. When you close your eyes, hold the fork in front of you. You will be able to see a bright blue outline of everything. Focus on the fork until all of it is light blue. 
    7. Mentally tell it to push away. 
    8. Let go. 
    9. If it drops, you need to practice some more. 
    10. Once you master that, you can mentally “demagnitize” yourself. 
    11. Hold the fork until it’s blue again. Now, focus all the energy away until it’s faint blue again. 
    12. Drop it. 
    13. You won’t attract any metal unless you want to. 
    14. What the hell are you waiting for? Go try it! 


    Isaac was excited. He jumped out of his bed and ran to the door and screamed when he saw his mom standing there with a fork. 


    “Here!” she threw the fork at him and he screamed and put his hands up. The metal flew to his hand. 


    “Okay, here’s one thing. As magnetics, we can only pull or push. There is no floating or suspending in the air. That’s what the Rockers are for. Now, try to pull that spoon over here. Remember the guide. Y por favor, no te grites.” she pouted. 


    “Okay I won’t scream,” He sat on the floor and closed his eyes. He breathed in and out. In and out. He could feel his body gathering energy and soon he could see the outline of every little thing in the room. He focused on the little spoon on the marble counter and soon it began to turn bright blue. He thought “COME” and in a flash he felt the spoon smack into his hand. 


    “Whoa I did it!” Isaac jumped up and down.


    “Great, now, time to ea-,” she stopped in mid sentence. Isaac could see blood drip on the floor. 


    “MAMI!” he screamed to deaf ears. Dead ears. He saw her body fly to the ground and he held out his hand in panic. Her book flew to his hand as he backed in a corner and screamed. Tears flew to his face. He panicked, his body drenched in sweat and a little urine trickled. Four men in army uniforms started to walk towards him. The strongest one, the most muscular spoke up first. 


    “I don’t know Hank. He’s just a kid. Do we have to kill him? We could just collect him.”


    The smallest one, who was supposedly the leader shot back: 


    “Orders were, annihilate any scrups. Shoot him.” 


    The men readied their guns and shot. Isaac screamed and put his hands up and all of a sudden the shots stopped. All he could he was four dead men who looked like bloody swiss cheese then he was whirred away. All he saw was a flash of his neighborhood and his house getting smaller and the next thing he knew he was in a room. He looked up and there was an African American kid. 


    “W-w-what are you DOING?” Isaac began to stand up but he fell again. He was dizzy. 


    “Calm down dude, that’s gonna happen. Hi. My name’s Connor and I like Star Wars. Everyone get’s dizzy when I drive them!” Connor was 8 years old at that time and full of energy. 


    “H-h-h-hi. My name’s Isaac. I’m a m-m-..,” Isaac couldn’t stop stuttering out of fear. 


    “Magnetic? Yeah. I know. We all know. You’re mom used to be one of the big guys.”, Connor stood Isaace up and supported him on his shoulder. 


    “We all?” Isaac looked around. They were in a little shack. Connor pulled open a wooden plank and there was a stair case. Connor led Isaac down. 


    “Common dude! This is so cool! You’ll get to meet my mom, Jennifer, and all my friends!”. 


    As they slowly walked down the dark, spiral stair case, Isaac began to whimper and cry. 


    “I-it’s okay! You don’t have to cry! Please don’t cry!” Connor tried his best to calm Isaac down but to no avail. The loss of his mother was too much to bare. He trudged down the stairs to a big ice door. It was frozen solid. White, frozen, solid. 


    Connor yelled out “Jennifer!” and the ice magically melted. A nine year old white girl was on the other side. 


    “Aw, why is he crying?” she pouted. Behind her, a quick “whir” and a tall slender black woman popped up in front of her. 


    “Connor what the hell were you THINKING?” she yelled at him as he hung his head. 


    “I was… I got Miss Maribel’s kid. She…,” little Connor didn’t even need to finish the sentence till his mother’s hard scowl softened. 


    “Oh, oh you poor baby!” she lifted Isaac in her arms and he let her. He cried on her shoulder and she held him tightly. He looked around with his tear-blurry eyes and sniffled. The room was white with blue lights. The carpet and the couches were white where as the tables and chairs were blue. There were people of all ages staring at him. 


    Miss Lana set him down. “Would ya like some water honey?”, Isaacs eyes went wide with surprise. 


    “You can have juice, but water is illegal to have! Who are you people?!.” Lana gave him a warm smile. 


    “We are you, and you’re one of us. Jennifer!”, Jenny came with an empty cup and drew her right hand up she pulled the moisture out of the air and poured it into the cup. The cup got frosty. She handed it to a now very thirsy Isaac. Miss Lana introduced them all. 


    “This is Jennifer. Her origin is Aqua Mage, Mother Origin is water. And this is Connor. He’s a traveler, as you know he can run really fast and he makes trouble. Listen, I’m really sorry about your mother… she meant a lot to everyone here as well.” Lana held on to his shoulder. Isaac looked up with red puffy eyes. 


    “Why did they kill my mom? We didn’t do anything!” tears were streaming down Isaac’s face. Lana picked him up gently and took him into a small white room, she closed the door behind her to shield them from staring eyes. 


    “The government sees her as a threat. They don’t like people like us. It’s just that, I’m scared for them.” she said, her eyes looked down with sorrow. 


    “Why?” 


    “Well. Have you ever heard of the term “You are your worst enemy?”” She scrunched her eye brows up. 


    “Yes! My mom used to say it all the time!” 


    “Well, they will destroy themselves eventually. But, it’s up to us to protect our people. SNS. Suspernatural Society.”


    Isaac felt a sort of proudness. He quietly got up, walked to the door, opened it and looked out. 


    “Hi” he said, “I’m Isaac”. 


    Chapter 3 (2082)




     Isaac was now ten, even 2 years later his mother’s death still affected him. He walked out of a medium red house. That’s where all of the members of the SNS stayed. He walked down the sidewalk to the corner of the 56 septa bus. As it arrived he read some graffiti on the side “No Scrups”. Isaac was scared, but he remembered what his mother said. Be careful, and breathe. He breathed and got on the bus. He sat near the door, that’s where he always felt safe. A strange old lady, wrinkled to the bone began to chant something. He couldn’t hear it until she started to speak up: 


    “No Scrups! No Scrups! No Scrups!”, by that point everyone in the bus decided to chime in, getting louder in unison.  


    “NO SCRUPS! NO SCRUPS! NOOOOOO SCRUUUUPS!”, Isaac was getting nervous. His palms were sweaty, his eye brows scrunched up, his face in a frown. He closed his fists and the bus stopped. People’s chants died down and gasps went all around. The old crone whispered: 


    “There’s a scrup in here...everyone off the bus!” everyone ran out of the doors. Scared. Nervous. Violent. The outside of the bus was crunched. People scattered in all directions, women, men, children, even the old wrinkled prune seemed to gain speed as if she were 30 years younger. Isaac ran down the street to Erie and Torresdale to catch the EL to school. He was happy to finally make it. After he got on his long ride, he hopped off at 13 street and took a trolley to 22nd. As he went up the stairs, he could hear the same chants. He walked in on a crowd who were protesting intergrated schools. He ran past them and went to greenfield. He was about ten minutes late as he slammed into the seat of his first class, sweaty, nervous. His teacher Miss Mara scolded him for being late. He tried to explain but she wouldn’t have it. She made him sit up front, and the school bully Johnathon threw spit balls at him. Isaac was young, but he was old enough to know what happens. When a fight is going on, the kid that is the most in trouble is the one that retaliates. Isaac looked at his teacher and pretended to pay attention, but he changed his focus. He instead, saw a dull blue light around his teacher, but he could feel the intensity of the metal desk behind him. Jonathon teetered back in his desk and Isaac made himself negative between himself and the desk, pushing it back. Johnathon began to cry as Isaac smiled. He ran his fingers through his hair, it was oily. He figured he could get Connor to rush him home and wash it real quick, but he changed his mind. Jennifer was in his class as well, as Jonathon fell, Jenny flashed Isaac a smile. She was trying so hard not to laugh. After a daunting 45 minutes, the bell rang and all of the kids ran out into the hallway for their next class. 


    “Hey!” Jennifer yelled as she ran up. “Happy Birthday!” she smiled. 


    “Wanna skip?” Isaac inquired. He was so tired. A friend of theirs, Harry ran up as well. 


    “You can count me in! Hey, did you guys hear?” Isaac and Jenny looked confused. Harry decided to elaborate. “They killed him! They took him away and they finally killed him!” 


    “Who?” Isaac was curious! 


    “That Scrup!” he pulled out his hollogram phone and showed him a picture of an Asian man. His hair was scruffy, but that face looked familiar. No. Isaac couldn’t and would not believe it. His dad died in the war. But this man looked so familiar. No. Isaac’s dad died in a war. 


    “D-d-didn’t he die in a war?” Isaac was in shock. 


    “Heck no! My mom told me they got him while the war was going on. He’s on a death sentence. But they finally killed him! Isn’t that great? Hung him in front of everyone! They said he was the laaaaaast one that they knew about. They killed his wife already. They’re just looking for the kid! Well, I gotta go!” and proud Harry ran away. Isaac laid himself upon the wall. Shaking. 


    “We have to go home!” and just then a “whir” came by and Connor was standing 2 inches from Isaac’s face.


    “I can get you guys there!” and the “beep” of an announcement went on. They stopped to listen. 


    “Attention! Attention! News reports have stated that a SNS house was found and cleared out! Soldiers have eleminated the threats, along with their leader Lana Johnson!”. 


    Connor’s heart took no time to break. Connor grabbed Jennifer and Isaac tightly and ran with all of his might to the house. It was on fire. Wood and metal were everywhere and Jennifer held out her hands and frosted everyone’s skin. 


    “It helps. You won’t burn or even feel hot. My grandma taught me that”. All three of them slowly walked in. 


    “My father…. was alive.” Isaac whispered. Tears running down his face. He was sad, not only because he didn’t know his father. But because he heard what happened to prisoners through Harry as well. And from the bruises and lash marks that he witnessed in the picture, it didn’t look like he had it easy. Connor began to cry as well. He kneeled down and held a burnt black hand, he washed it in his never ending agony. 


    “Mama….” but alas, he had no time to mourn as five soldiers with masks and fire proof suits came in. They all held their guns and began to shoot. Isaac made himself negative and flew the bullets their way, killing all five. 


    “Connor! Take Jennifer and go!” Isaac pulled all the metal towards him. Jennifer screamed:


    “No, we’re not leaving! We got to stick together. Remember?” she frowned, she had no parents and Connor and Isaac were like brothers to her. “REMEM-” and Connor whirred her away after giving Isaac a strong and lasting hug. 


    Chapter 4 



    Isaac was brought before a crowd in Ritten House. Whipped. Bloodied. Dirty. Skin black from the ash. Through his chewed up ears he could hear: 


    “NO SCRUPS! NO SCRUPS! NO SCRUPS!” 


    He could also hear a group of women who were upset: 


    “NO! He’s just a child! He’s just a child!” 


    They brought him onto a stage in front of everyone and through him over a cold wooden block. A big man with an axe came by and made a speech. 


    “Dear ladies, and gentlemen. These “Scrups” are nothing but trouble. They think they’re better than us, stronger, and more deserving of life just because they have powers. We have a child here. The child of the two leaders of SNS. Maribel Rodriguez and Ichiro Akiyama. The child of disgusting scum who didn’t deserve to walk the Earth.” 


    A lady yelled out “They were SOLDIERS. They FOUGHT for this COUNTRY! You are the real scum!” 


    The man simply replied with “Shut the hell up you prune. Bring her up here.” two soldiers dragged her up to the wooden block and slammed her down as well. 



    The man cleared his throat, “As I was saying, as humans, we are supposed to take care of this world. And today, we will make progress. Look at this boy and his scum follower! This is the enemy! This is what we must kill! They are the reason for sickness, global warming, the pain and agony that we endure every day! It’s ALL THEM!” 


    And with that, he brought down the axe. The head of the old woman ended up in the middle of the crowd and they all screamed a yell of joy as her blood sprayed on the grass. 


    “Goodbye devil child”, the man brought up his axe and- 


    _-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__


    A ten year old girl with brown curly hair closed the book. She ran out to the living room to her mother. Her father ran after her: 


    “Clara, CLARA! Give me that book! JENNIFER COME AND GET THIS GIRL!”. Clara’s mother softly got up from the couch. 


    “Connor what’s wrong now?” she inquired. She was tired. 


    “Did this really happen?” she breathed in and out. She never read something so scary. Her mother sat her upon her lap. 


    “No honey, of course not.” She rocked Clara back and forth until she fell asleep. She gave Clara to Connor and in 1 second Connor came back. 


    “You tucked her in and all?” Jennifer asked. 


    “Yes. Was one second too long for you?” and he tried to smile but it didn’t cheer Jennifer up. 


    “Where did she find that book Connor? I… I hid it away. I didn’t want to remember. I didn’t want to remember being in that crowd. Seeing Isaac… for God’s sake he was only ten Connor! Only ten! How many other children did they need to murder before they got their point across? Just for being a magnetic? For being a “scrup”? We even have to hide today Connor. When will they stop hating us?” Jennifer’s face became coated in tears. 


    “Just because he was a child, he had a hard time controlling it. Just because he was special. They killed him. Did they have to?” Jennifer mumbled. 


    Connor held her frail body and hummed until she calmed down. 


    “I know honey. I know. We just need to keep hiding. Ok? They can’t just tell if we have powers. We’ve had a nice life so far ok? And our baby was born normal. You don’t have to worry. Even if we were found out. I’ll protect you and Clara with all my life.” 


    Jennifer sniffled and she smiled. “Yeah, at least Clara is normal.” 


    It was just then she realized that Clara had just walked in. She was scared. 


    “Mommy?” tears were in her eyes. Her body was shaking. She jumped into her parents’ arms. 


    “Yes honey what’s wrong?” Jennifer began to sweat. Hoping her daughter didn’t hear the conversation. Her daughter held up her right hand, and a spoon began to float. Jenny’s eyes went wide with fear. She whispered: 


    “A r-r-rocker!” Jennifer exclaimed. 


    “M-m-mommy, some kids at school saw. My t-t-teacher knows”. Clara couldn’t stop stuttering. She wasn’t ignorant to the world. She knew.


    Jennifer and Connor looked at each other as they heard a knock on the door. As Connor stood up to hold Clara and Jennifer to escape, the door flew inwards and broke open. 




    The End  

    Thy Shall Choose

    “It’s your choice Susanna, said Lawrence, “It’s all up to you”.

    “Choose from what?” 

    “If you don’t choose, you’ll face brutal consequences. Beginning with the ones you love most.” 


    This was the 5th night in a row Susanna was having this dream. The chills and hot flashes would wake her up everytime at 4:34 am causing for her not to go back to sleep. She would lie restless in her bed til 5:45, when her alarm clock would ring. Her day had begun.


    “Sam, wake up! You’re going to be late!” 

    “It’s stuck again mom, I need help.”

    As the aromatic smell of pancakes and coffee filled the house, so did the morning frustration. 

    “I told you that these don’t fit anymore mom,” said a frustrated Sam.

    “Look Sam, I called Dr. Procter 2 times last week, do you want me to harass the guy?”

    “Well if it leads to me getting the prosthetic legs that actually fit, then godspeed.”


    Susanna hadn’t called the doctor. Her insurance called her a week prior telling her that Sam’s new legs wouldn’t be covered by their insurance and that his doctor was no longer in their network. Susanna needed to look for a new doctor that would take a new patient that didn’t have that great of a track record. 


    Ever since George and Grace passed, things were tough for Susanna. She knew that she had to be strong for Sam, now that he was dealing with his amputation. She didn’t cry at the funeral. She didn’t bring any of the flowers, letters, or teddy bears inside. Ever since the accident, every morning, she tells herself “you’re okay”, when she knows she’s breaking. 


    “Okay, finish up your breakfast, you’re going to be late. Come on let’s go”.

    “Mom?” questioned Sam.

    “Yes?”

    “Why are you always in a rush to send me off to school because I’m always out the door 45 minutes before the bell rings when we only live 10 minutes from school?”

    She wasn’t going to tell him the real reason.

    “Because punctuality is the key to success, now go wait for the bus, it will be here any minute now.”

    “Okay, love you mom.”

    “Love you too pick you up at 4”


    As the door closed behind him, the tears began to blur her vision.

     

    “No tears Susanna,” she told herself. “Today is the day.” Today was the day she was going to make it. She showered, packed her things, and got dressed for work. She put her stuff on the kitchen counter and began to walk towards it. 


    “Today is the day,” she murmured to herself. “Today I will walk in.”

    As she saw the pink and purple bead curtains sway side to side, she remembered Grace’s laughter. The smile that was Susanna’s everyday motivation. The smile that was missing two front teeth. 


    As she stood in front of the door, she began to tremble. She put out her left hand and pushed the beads aside as she nervously reached her right hand toward to the door knob.

    “On the 3,” she said to herself. “One, two-o-o, thhre-e-e”.

    Push. 

    It had been three years since she saw Uncle Earl’s dollhouse. The vanilla essence brought back carpool, candy store visits, and father-daughter dances. The vanilla essence brought her to her knees.

    “Why! Why Gracie! Why!” she had broke. 


    Her cries for Grace were so loud that she didn’t here the front door open.


    “Susanna?!” It was her older sister, Nancy. “Oh my goodness Susanna get up.”

    “Why Nancy? She was only 5! She was to be at school right now. Why Nancy?

    Nancy hadn’t seen her sister cry before, this was all very new to her. 

    “Susanna it’s going to be alright. You’ll get through this. You need to let the past go Susanna. Sam needs you. He needs his mom to love and care for him, including his mother calling this new doctor her sister found for her.”

    “But, Nancy,”

    “No, no don’t speak about the money. It’s taken care of.”

    “I can’t accep-”

    “Stop. Yes you can. Now get up and go find out if this Dr. Lawrence Fisher is really as phenomenal an as they say he is.

    “Thank you Nancy.”

    -----------


    The doctor’s office was just 2 streets down from her work. She decided that she’d go to work and then go to Dr. Fisher’s when she was settled.

    As she drove into the parking lot, something felt out of place. Everyone who was usually inside during their hours was actually outside. She parked her car and spotted Lucia, her friend. 

    “Is there a fire drill going on?” said Susanna. 

    “Um, no. We just liked how, um, nice the weather was. You know how suffocating those cubicles can be”

    “Yeah, I guess. So I guess I’ll see you inside?”

    “Oh yes! Most definitely!”


    As Susanna walked towards her cubicle, she began to see more and more flowers appear out of other people’s cubicles. The smell of her favorite Cinnamon Spice cake grew stronger as she approached her cubicle. 


    Oh no,” she thought to herself. “Martin.”

    A middle aged, athletic built man jumped from behind Susanna’s cubicle’s wall.

    “You bet it’s Martin! The one and only Martin. The man who’s meant for you Martin. The only Martin in your-”

    “Stop!”

    “I’m sorry, did I do something wrong? Oh no, it’s the cake isn’t it? I knew there wasn’t enough powerdered sugar on it!”

    “No Martin, it’s not the cake. This is so sweet of you to do all this for my-”

    “Our!”

    “Our work anniversary. But today just isn’t the day. Okay?”

    “Okay.” 

    “Thank you Martin, I’ll help you clean up”

    “Does this mean I need to cancel the massage appointment I had for?”

    Susanna knew she was not going to pass up on that opportunity.

    “Oh no! I would hate for that to go to waste, I’ll just take it for now and drive there myself.”

    “Oh okay, good!” exclaimed Martin “It’s two streets down, in that new doctor’s office. And Susanna?”

    “Yeah?”

    “I love you”

    “Great, thanks for the coupon!”

    Susanna had never driven as fast she did for that massage session. In less than 5 minutes, she was welcomed into a rejuvenating advanced massage center that left her mesmerized. It wasn’t like anything she had seen before. She knew she deserved this. 

    She walked up to the service lady and handed her the massage coupon.

    “Hello!” screeched the computerized service lady. “I am Flo! I love the rejuvenation center! I feel so rejuvenated! How can I help you today?”

    “One massage please.” This was the happiest Susanna had been in a very long time. 

    “Great! Change into a massage suit and wait in the jacuzzi until we get to your turn.”


    There were already 3 ladies in the jacuzzi. 3 ladies that seemed a bit off to Susanna. Then again, since the accident, a lot of things seemed off to her. But these ladies were especially bizarre

    “You’re not crazy Susanna” said the blonde lady.

    “Pardon?” 

    “You’re not crazy Susanna” repeated the blonde.

    “Yes she is, she’s psychotic” said the red heard.

    “I am not psychotic!”

    “Yes you are,” said the 3rd women in the jacuzzi. “You are a slimy murderer who killed her husband and daughter!”

    “LADIES!” A tall man approached the jacuzzi from the steamy sauna in the back. “My kitties, this is not how we treat our new guests. Understood?”

    The 3 ladies stood up in the jacuzzi and their heads flashed a beam of light at the ceiling as they all answered “Yes Mr. Fisher”.

    Mr. Fisher was Sam’s new doctor’s name,”Susanna thought to herself

    “Susanna it’s a pleasure, I’ve been looking forward to our appointment.”

    “I think you mean my son, he’s the one who will be your patient soon.” 

    “No, you. Come with me Susanna.”


    Dr. Fisher walked Susanna through a glass tunnel that led to a steel elevator.


    “You are to take this elevator to the UG floor. Wait there for me, do not talk to anyone. I’ll take care of Sam.”

    “But Dr. Fisher-”

    “Call me Lawrence.”


    And with that she was off.

    The elevator was something out of a haunted house. It was dented and had bullet shots through every wall. Susanna had a headache began to worry, not for herself, but for Sam. Horrid thoughts crossed her mind one after another as she got deeper into the ground. The deeper she went the more pressure she felt on her head.


    Then, a light shined through the bullet holes. Susanna began to get light headed.


    “What’s going on?” said Susanna


    The shadow of a women appeared before her who pick her up.


    “The antidote is working. Let her fall.” said the woman


    Susanna began to see black and white stripes and fell into a deep sleep


    -------


    “She needs to choose Lawrence!”

    “Nancy, it takes time.”

    “No, there isn’t time, we don’t have time. Gracie and George are slowly fading away, we need them back or none of this.”

    Susanna was slowly gaining back her consciousness.


    “Nancy?”

    This wasn’t suppose to happen.

    “Lawrence, I thought you said she wouldn’t wake up for a while!” screamed Nancy

    “Nancy is that you? Help Nancy, they took me.”

    “Lawrence I’ll put her back to sleep.”

    “Nancy, don’t. We need to tell her.”.

    “Lawrence? Tell me what?” Susanna began to tremble again.

    “It’s your choice Susanna, said Lawrence, “It’s all up to you”.

    “Choose from what?” 

    “If you don’t choose, you’ll face brutal consequences. Beginning with the ones you love most.”


    Susanna fell into a state of shock. 

    “No,” she said.

    “We can bring George and Grace back Susanna,”

    “No stop.”

    “Susanna, just listen to me.”

    “No I don’t want to hear it Lawrence, plea-”

    “Susanna!” yelled Nancy. “This is for your own good and for Sam. Okay?”

    “You’re in on this Nancy?”


    “George lied to you. George didn’t work for an architecture firm. He worked for the NSA. George was working on a very sensitive sensor that if not dealt with correctly, would endanger every single person in this country. This sensor detects natural disasters to bioterrorism plots. The only person who can unlock the sensor is George. He made the sensor so locked that only him or someone with the same blood as him can unlock this sensor.”

    Lawrence took over. “However, recently we got word that one of the militants in Kenya has hacked into the NSA’s system and is in the process of unlocking the sensor as we speak.”


    “George knew something like this would happen Susanna. He also knew that he would give up his life to protect this country. Therefore, he made the sensor in way that only a certain person’s blood, besides his, could shut off this sensor. An arm’s worth of blood can only shut it off.” 


    “Then, I’ll give blood. Give me a vile, I’ll do it myself.” proclaimed Susanna

    “You can’t Susanna,” said Lawrence, “we already tested you. You are iron deficient you can’t give up an arm’s worth of blood.”

    “But we know who can.” said Nancy


    A silence fell among them. Susanna looked to Nancy as she handed her a report.

    “Susanna, I tested Sam. He’s the only one who can sto-”


    “No! You won’t take another part of my son from me! He is already suffering enough from the last car accident. I won’t let you!”

    “It’s the country or Sam, Susanna! Uncle Earl would laugh at you right now.”


    “Me Nancy?! You tricked me into coming into this dungeon that has robot women who accuse me to be a murderer!"

    Lawrence realized this was all getting out of hand.


    “Look Susanna, we can calmly talk about this.”


    “No you listen to me, both of you! Do not get close to my son or me every again. You guys got us here in the first place and I want out. George is dead. He is gone. He left us. 

    This was his problem. Not mine and certainly not Sam’s.” 


    Susanna pulled the IVs out of her arm and pushed her way through the double doors to where she thought led her to the elevators. But instead, it led her to the hospital wing.


    Susanna saw a sight she thought she would never see again. 

    “Gracie?” 

    Nancy ran towards Susanna to stop her. 

    “Susanna wait! Don’t get close to her!”


    Susanna ran towards Grace and embraced her in her arms. She cried and squeezed her tightly as Grace stood there. Emotionless.

    “Gracie, it’s me! Mommy!”


    No response from Gracie just a blank stare.


    “Gracie?”


    “Why did you let her run through the doors Nancy!?” Lawrence wasn’t pleased.


    “What did you do to her!” Susanna looks to Grace and begins to frantically shake her. “Gracie! Gracie!”


    Gracie looks to Lawrence then looks Susanna


    “You must choose Mommy”.


    Susanna looked taken a back.

    “You must choose Mommy. You must choose Mommy. You must choose Mommy.” Gracie got louder until the phrase into a siren shriek. 

    “What’s going on!?” Susanna couldn’t handle the sounds or her daughter anymore. Lawrence ran across the room and grabbed on to a red lever. Once he pulled it down, Gracie turned off. Lawrence looked to Susanna.


    “It’s up to you Susanna. Make your choice now or the rest of our nation’s children will end up just like Gracie.


    “Fine. But I want to be in the car with him to make sure he’s not in pain.”


    Nancy didn’t approve. 


    “It’s much to dangerous Susanna, I can’t have you do that.”


    “Me in the car, or not blood.”


    ----------

    It was 4 pm. Lawrence’s robot driver and Susanna were on their way to pick up Sam. Susanna began to tremble again. She knew she had to be strong to make sure Sam would be okay, who she spotted limping towards the car. 


    “Hey sweetie, how was school?”


    “It was awful, I‘ve got blisters all over my legs. Did you call the doctor?”


    “I sure did. We are actually going now so buckle up.”


    As Sam sat in the car, he realized his mother wasn’t as happy as she usually was to see him.


    “Mom,” said Sam.


    “Yes sweetie?”


    “Are you okay?”


    Susanna squeezed out a grin and said “I’m fine”.


    “Okay, good.” Sam turned his back to the door and began to tell his mom about how much he loved coming home to be with her. As he turned Susanna saw Nancy’s programmed SUV coming straight for Sam’s door. She clenched his legs and closed her eyes. 


    Crash.

    Susanna heard Sam screaming for help but she felt restricted. She couldn’t move to hold him and tell it was all going to be okay, that he saved this entire country. All she could see was one of the jacuzzi ladies open her claw hands and grab her unconcious son. The blonde jacuzzi lady looked to Susanna and assured her that everything was going to be okay and that she was not going to remember any of this. Susanna drifted off.

    --------