final part..Her death

Sunday was almost over and Jodi still had not received a call from Stacy.  Jodi stayed in her room after dinner and was thinking about her friend.  Hoping Stacy was okay, hoping that she would be at school on Monday morning.  Jodi’s mother stood in the doorway of her room, “I need to talk to you”, said her mother.  Her mother sat on Jodi’s bed and said, “Stacy got hurt, someone hurt her really bad and she is gone.  You won’t be able to see her anymore”.  “Where did she go’?  Jodi asked.  Her mother’s reply was one Jodi couldn’t accept.  “She went to live with the Lord”, her mother told her.  “You’re wrong; she is at her grandma’s house” she cried.  Her mother sat and told Jodi what had happened to Stacy.  Jodi’s mother didn’t want Jodi to hear about it for the first time at school.  Her mother told her how Stacy was found; raped and hanging in a barn.  Nobody knew who had done it and the killer was still out there. 

On Monday Jodi woke up and got ready for school.  She stood at the bus stop with Andy and waited for the bus.  The bus arrived and the door swung open, but Jodi just stood there and looked at the bus.  She always sat on the bus with Stacy and now she was dead; murdered.  “Let’s go”, said the driver.  Jodi threw her backpack on the ground and ran back to her mother who was standing on the porch.  Jodi refused to get on the school bus.  Her mother had to drive Jodi and Andy to school. 

There was news crews all over the school; all reporting about the death and brutal murder of a nine year old girl.  It was their big story, but it was Jodi’s best friend.  She hid behind her mother as they walked to her classroom.  Her best friend was gone and she would never see her again.  This was something that couldn’t be changed, you couldn’t go back and repeat that dreadful day and change the outcome of it.  Not like Jodi was able to change the outcome of her first year in first grade. 

Jodi sat quiet in the back seat of the car as her grandmother drove her, her mother, Josh and Andy to Stacy’s layout.  “Jodi, you have to remember her by who she was and not by what happened”, her grandmother said.  Josh tried to get Jodi to smile, but his repeated attempts failed.  He leaned over and put his arm around her.  “I don’t want to take her to see this”, her mother said as they pulled into the funeral home.  The funeral home was packed, there was a long line that came out the front entrance, across the porch, down the steps, along the sidewalk and ended at the road.  As Jodi climbed out of the car her heart began to race.  Her mother grabbed her hand, “Are you okay” asked her mother?  Jodi shook her head yes and they all began to walk towards the funeral home.  They were stopped by a news crew just as they crossed the road.  “Was your daughter a friend?  Can we interview you”, asked a male reporter?  Jodi’s mother looked down at her and shook her head yes, “but you can’t film my daughter”.  Her mother did the interview and they turned and got into the long line to say their goodbye.  Finally it was their turn.  Only Jodi and her mother walked up to the casket.  As Jodi approached the casket she just stared at her friend laying there lifeless, tears began to roll down her cheeks.  Stacy had on a dress that had pink flowers and a white turtle neck with some lace.  Her face was covered in make-up that made her cheeks look rosy.  “Why would someone do that”, Jodi asked her mother.  “I don’t know honey”, her mother replied.  Jodi just stood there and stared at her friend.  It’s a part of life that things change, nothing ever stays the same.  People are born and people die; and some just hideaway inside themselves.  The very imaginative little girl, who was strong-willed and good-natured, was never seen again. 

The sweet loving child that Jodi use to be was no longer there; she became me.  Jodi use to live inside of me, now I am a child that is lost and confused as if I have no identity.   I trusted nobody, and avoided everyone that I could.  At family events such as Christmas I chose to sit in the car and be alone.  I closed myself off from the world and slowly distanced myself from my friends.  I no longer played outside; I kept myself locked up in my room.  I always claimed I didn’t feel well and I started getting into trouble at school and at home.  It’s also when I began self mutilation.

That is wehre I'm going to conclude my story. There is a lot more but a bit much to put on here.  Thanks

Beowulf

The poem Beowulf originated among the Anglo-Saxons around 700.  I read parts of this poem in my Humanities class an found it to be a very interesting poem.  The poet, whom I believe is unknow (could be wrong about this but couldnt find any information), brought color and excitement to the poem by Beowulf's, the protagonist, assault on the fire-dragon.  The part that caught my attention the most is where Beowulf thought he was basically an all mighty man and could take on the dragon.  When the dragon realizes Beowulf had come, he rises angry and gives Beowulf a fight that he didn't expect.  I think he begins to second guess his decision once his sword gets broken by the dragons thick scaly hide.  The tone of the poem is really enthusiastic about the feats of Beowulf.  Obviously not really one of the dragon.
The poem has three parts or major conflicts:  the domination of Grendel, the revenge of Grendels mother after Grendel is slain and the rage of the dragon when the treasure that the dragon had been protecting was stolen, which by the way was cursed.  Beowulf defeats Grendel's mother after the encounter of each other.
The poem of Beowulf was written to portray a personal account of heroism in a warring culture.  This is a great poem.  

Where the Side Walk Ends.

Does anyone remember the book of childrens poetry, Where the Side Walk Ends?  I remember having to read that in school.  I use to love those poems.  It's a collection of Childrens poetry, deals with childhood concerns written by Shel Silverstein.  Anyway I just learned that in 2004 they added more poems to the book.  Well its actually a 30 year anniversary book that has twelve new poems included in it. 

I bought my son the book and I have been reading through the poems and they are really good.  I hope he enjoys them just as I did when I was his age.  It's a great price for the book so I think I'm going to get it for my neices and nephews for Christmas. I love the drawings..

My story prt 2. Missing.

On her first day of first grade she was once again afraid; afraid of her teacher, classmates and her long bus ride.  She had to meet all new friends because she went to a new school.  This wasn’t easy for her to do since she was a little shy.  She sat by herself at recess and watched everyone else play.  She was alone and nobody tried to play with her.  She was just as alone on her bus ride as she was at recess.  When she got off the bus her mother would have dinner made and her father would be home shortly after.  When her father arrived home from work he would have a brown paper bag filled with a few pieces of candy.  Today her father brought her home the brown paper bag and a kitten.  She named her kitten fluffy; it was a tiny kitten with an overwhelming amount of gray fur.  Jodi and fluffy became friends over the next few weeks.  The friendship only lasted for a few short weeks because her cat disappeared.  She lay in her bed and cried for her kitten.  Her father brought her home a new kitten - fluffy number two - and once again a friendship bloomed.  At school she finally made a new human friend and her name was Stacy Lowe.  Stacy was a happy little girl who always looked after her little brother Jeffery.  She had shoulder length brown hair and brown eyes and a smile that could light up a room.  Jodi was no longer afraid of the long bus ride.  Now she had a friend to sit with on the bus.  Now she didn’t want the ride to end.  She had to repeat the first grade again because she wasn’t that great at reading.  Her second time around was a lot better for her and she made better grades.  She even made a few new friends.  It was like she became popular overnight.  She made friends with a set of triplets; Courtney, Carly, Casie and Katie.  The triplets all looked different and Jodi thought it was odd because her old friends that were twins looked almost just alike.  The triplets all had blonde hair and green eyes and were of different height; Courtney was the shortest and Casie was the tallest.  Katie had brown hair and brown eyes and was a very outspoken little girl. 

Although she had new friends it still hurt when fluffy number two came up missing.  Her father bought two more kittens over the course of her second year in first grade.  All of which came up missing; until she finally saw what was happening to her kittens.  She lived in a small home by a busy road.  Despite the efforts to keep the kittens out of the road; they still managed to find their way to meet their maker.  Her father was finding the kittens in the morning when he would leave for work.  He took the kittens and buried them where he worked; which was a gravel pit.  At such a young age she learned what death was.  First grade was finally over and it was time to move onto the next grade level; second grade. 

Second grade was a breeze for her; she got good grades and had the perfect friends.  On the bus ride to and from school she would sit with her best friend Stacy.  Although Jodi was held back and Stacy was now a grade ahead of Jodi; they remained best friends.  At breakfast and lunch Jodi would sit with all of her friends and at recess they all played on the merry go round and played kick ball.  In the middle of the school year the triplets had a sleep over and Jodi was the only one who wasn’t allowed to spend the night.  Her parents didn’t really let her stay the night at too many places.  It was basically home and grandma’s house.  She never understood why.  Second grade ended and she once again had good grades and was moving on to third grade. 

This is the grade that changed Jodi’s whole life.  I know what you are thinking! How can someone’s entire life be changed in the third grade.  She had a fantastic teacher that introduced new and interesting things to Jodi in the class room.  In the class there was a fish tank, a bird and an incubator that contained an egg that the class was waiting for to hatch.  There was also a store in the classroom and on every Friday the class was able to buy items from the store with play money that was earned throughout the week.  If you answered a question right, got good grades on your homework and if you worked for the class then you earned money.  Each student had their own job in the classroom; some kids had the task of washing the chalk board and some had the job of passing out papers.  When Christmas break came Jodi got to take the bird home with her to take of it.  Her father thought it was funny to try and teach the bird curse words. 

Jodi even met a new friend named Amanda who lived right next to her house.  It was easier for Jodi’s parents to let her visit a friend’s house since she lived so close.  Amanda was a great friend who started to come over every day after school.  Jodi still sat on the bus with Stacy but when Stacy got off the bus she sat with Amanda. 

On Thursday while on the bus Stacy wrote down her phone number and she wanted Jodi to call her when she got home.  Jodi called Stacy and they talked on the phone off and on all evening.  On Friday as they were on the bus Stacy said she would call Jodi before she went to her grandma’s for the weekend.  Stacy said, “Goodbye”, and walked off the bus.  When Jodi got off the bus she rushed into her home and told her mom she was expecting a call from Stacy.  Jodi loved the outdoors and played outside any chance she got.  Jodi’s mother never came to get her and she was upset that Stacy didn’t call.  Jodi’s mother said, “Don’t worry honey Stacy must not have had time to call and she will probably call tomorrow”.

Saturday morning came and Jodi woke up to a big breakfast that was prepared by her mother.  Jodi ate and sat down to watch Saturday morning cartoons with her older brother Andy and little brother Adam.  This was something that was a regular routine on Saturday mornings.  This time Jodi also sat and waited for the phone to ring.  The first time the phone rang it was her grandma.  Her mother sat and talked on the phone for a while and Jodi thought for sure that Stacy was going to call and get a busy signal.  Saturday evening had come and passed; still there was no call from Stacy.  Jodi began to wonder why she hadn’t called and just then the phone rang.  She jumped up and ran to the phone; quickly saying, “Hello”, like she knew it was going to be Stacy.  “Quick I need to speak to your mother please”, it was Jodi’s aunt Regina.  Jodi sat on the chair and looked at her mother when she said, “Oh my god”, and her mother began to cry.  Jodi’s mother slowly hung up the phone and looked at Jodi and her brothers.  “Please, go to your rooms until I say otherwise”, her mother said.  Jodi got up and walked to her room; stopping to take a look at her mother.  Wondering what it was that had made her mother cry.  “Mike, you need to come here”, yelled her mother.  Mike was her father’s name and her mother only used it when something was wrong. 

Jodi laid in her room for what seemed like forever.  She could hear faint sounds of the television; it sounded like the evening news.  Jodi laid in her bed and tried to listen, but all she could hear was muffled voices of the reporters and the faint sobs of her mother crying.  Finally, her mother walked into her room and sat on her bed.  She didn’t speak right away, but when she began to speak she choked on her words and quickly stopped.  Making a second attempt Jodi’s mother looked at her and said, “Stacy is missing; her parents can’t find her”.  “Is that why she hasn’t called”, asked Jodi.  “Yes honey that’s why she hasn’t called”, answered her mother.  Jodi lay in her bed and looked at the ceiling.  Tears streamed down her face and she began to fear for her friend.  She thought about how scared Stacy must be; being lost, all alone and away from her family. 

Sunday came and Jodi sat in front of the television; hoping that the news would report the safe recovery of her best friend.  Jodi’s father walked into the living room and turned off the television.  “You don’t need to be watching the news, you’re too young.  Go outside and play with your brothers”, said her father.  Just then her older brother Andy ran through the front door and threw a dead dragonfly on her lap.  Jodi laughed and got up to chase him back out the door.  As Jodi stood up her father flicked the television back on.  “Body of a local missing girl has been recovered”, boomed the television.  Jodi stopped dead in her tracks and turned to look at the television just in time to see the picture of her best friend on the screen.  Her father turned the television back off and screamed, “I said to get outside”!  Jodi ran out the door and sat on the front porch wondering what that meant.