Melinda... What do you see when she walks through the door?

Authors Note:This is a writing piece that demonstrates what you would see if Melinda from Speak would look like if she were to walk into  using figurative language.

The door opens, and she walks in. She walks so swiftly almost as if she wishes to not be seen. Her hair covers her eyes until she takes her seat. I try not to stare but there is something different about her, I just can't put my finger on it. When she walks she stares at her feet, and wears clothes that you would see on a eleven year old. She lifted her head and her eyes were filled with the fear of being judged. I could tell she prayed not be to seen.

The Hunchback of Notradame has better posture then she does. I try to talk to her but she keeps blowing me off like I'm that annoying fly buzzing around the room. When she finally talked she sounded scared to death. I couldn't help but to wonder , why was she acting so odd? The teacher said her Melinda -- I figured that was her name. She nodded her head enough for Mr.Jones to see she was here.

Expressions

Alyssa Czerwinski

2/21/12

Mrs.Reagles 2^nd hour

Expressions

Authors Note: Essay used to explain how the people in Jenna’s life in the book Rules of the Road help her express her emotions.

It is crazy how many people are in our life. Sometimes these people are important and some are less significant. In the book Rules of the Road By Joan Bauer Different characters symbolize different emotions for Jenna which is a key detail for this story.

First of all Harry Bender is a person who Jenna meets around half way through the book. He is someone she wished her dad was like. Harry gives Jenna hope. He does it in a way that he doesn’t even realize. Since Harry told her his story about him quitting drinking which is what Jenna wanted from her dad her whole life.

Another character that can help Jenna express her feelings is Madeline Gladstone. When I read this book I could tell whenever Jenna was with Mrs.Gladstone she felt strong. She felt this way because even though all the struggles Madeline has, she looks through the rain to see the sunlight. When Jenna is around someone who can overcome  a horrid son who doesn’t  care about her and a hip that causes her not to be able to walk  Jenna can realize that she can get though the difficulties of her dad.

The symbol of Jenna’s anger is revolved around her dad.  Her dad is introduced at the beginning of this story and I could tell that he was not going to be a positive character. He walked into the shoe store she worked at drunk! That was the first time she has seen him in 2 years and 7 months, but that was common for her father Jenna explained on page 8.

People can walk in and out for your life in the matter of seconds.  Some will stay and some will go, you never know. But I know Mrs.Gladstone Harry Bender, and Jenna’s father are the ones that will stay forever to help Jenna express her feelings.

The Worst Possible Outcome

Alyssa Czerwinski

2/16/12

Mrs.Reagles 2^nd hour

The Worst Possible Outcome

 The votes came in, and I had a ton of hope. The votes had just been double checked and the owner of the company is… Elden! Most of the crowd gasped, some just smiled and clapped. I couldn’t move; I was frozen with my mouth wide open thinking how could that inspiring speech not mean anything to the audience?

I began to speak; my voice sounded crackly because I was trying to hold back the tears, “I can’t believe any of you! How could you choose Elden? Didn’t you hear me say that he tried to take my job because he felt threatened!?” I could see in Mrs.Gladstones eyes that she couldn’t breathe, almost as if she was choking… Oh god, she is choking! But not on anything her heart stop and she was gasping for breath. I couldn’t watch as a stockholder tried to revive her. It was too, late she was gone. She died from the pressure of being perfect. I wish I didn’t get her hopes up just to push her down again.

Well this is an awkward ride home. I have to drive myself home with Mrs.Gladstone car but not her. I will never stand up for myself ever again no matter who it is for. Right when I got home I saw my mom and Faith they were so happy to see me but they could see in my eyes disperse and even more stress than I had before the trip. I turned my head because of a roaring noise coming up the street only to see my dad for the last time; I guess you could also say the last time anyone has seen me too. My dad hit me with his car so hard that I was dead from the instant he hit. I saw him get out of his car and ask, “Hey Jenna Girl you’re not looking to good. Are you sick?”

Rules of the Road

Authors Note: One paragraph essay explaining why a certain quote in the book Rules of the Road. This Quote is from the end of the story ergo its gives a detail that could be considered a “spoiler.”

“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” I shouted. “This is my father. He’s been drunk driving.” These two sentences mean a lot to Jenna in the book, Rules of the Road, by Joan Bauer. This is important because Jenna knows how hard it is “sell out” a person you love. She knew she had to though. That was the only way to get her dad on a better track for life.  

Mrs.Gladstone

Authors Note: This is a speech about the book Rules of the Road and Mrs.Gladstone.

One of the main characters is Mrs.Gladstone. She is a 73-year-old woman who runs over 150 shoe stores. Mrs.Gladstone has many attitudes towards different people. To Jenna she is impressed that a 16-year-old who is practically in love with her job. This is opposite to her son where she is upset and angry due to the fact that he is forcing things upon her. She values her stores and riches. Mrs.Gladstone is cranky and mean because of her bad hips and her son. Mrs.Gladstone is very important to this book without her there wouldn’t be a road trip ergo no book.

Max is EVIL

Alyssa Czerwinski

1/16/12

Mrs.Reagles 2^nd hour

Max is Evil

Authors Note: Persuasive essay explaining why my dog Max is crazy and evil.  

        About a year ago I bought my newest puppy, Max. When we bought him we thought he would be sweet because he was the only one not barking at the pet store… We were wrong, almost instantly when we got home he started making figure eights around my dining room and living room!  Max may seem nice but on the inside he’s a devil in many ways.

          First of all I have a pet cat. Ever since I got Max I can’t even let her out of her room without Max attacking her. She used to be able to roam the house without any discomfort and now she has to sleep and live in a closet. How horrible does that sound? Therefore because of Max, Cali, my cat, will have to live in a small room until he matures and settles down.

         Sure, Max is cute sometimes -- well, only at night. He cuddles into a ball and just sleeps so soundlessly. One day when I woke up I found him sticking his head out of the blankets and just having his body under the covers. I wish Max always was that cute but normally as soon as he wakes up he goes crazy!

          Max likes to bark. I don’t mean a little, I mean A LOT. Sometimes at cars other times at a wall no matter what you hear him bark at least once an hour. Even though Max is only 15 pounds he sounds like a dog 4 times his size. When Max meets a new person he freaks out and jumps about 4 feet in the air. Most people never see it coming until he’s there.

          The final reason why Max is a devil is that he steals and eats everything! My family, friends, and I all have to hide anything and everything. He goes through bags looking for something to chew on, he goes through boxes, and even jumps on the counter top every once in a while. We literally cannot leave anything out.

          In conclusion there are many reasons why my puppy is evil. I can't believe he was the only dog in the whole pet store who wasn't barking. Within this past year he may have started to jump, bark, steal and eat everything in sight, but sometimes he can be simply adorable which makes up for all the bad.

David's Adventure

 Alyssa Czerwinski

1/23/12

Mrs.Reagles 2^nd hour

David’s Adventure

Authors note: Short story about David trying to buy a new Hot Wheels Car, but it didn’t come easily . This was written to get s a high score in voice.

            David saved up all of his money for a new mustang hot wheels car. He ran all around the store searching for the perfect electric green mustang that he has wanted for almost a month now. There it was. Right next to the Barbies was the mustang selection for Hot Wheels. He searched and searched for the electric green one but it seemed to be nowhere in sight. He was given only one other choice, choose a different color.

            After checking over three times more to see he had made a mistake, but there was no mistake. 45 minutes later he finally chose the poppy red one. David noticed right when he bent down to pick up the red car, a boy from his school walked by with the last electric green mustang in the whole Toys’R’Us. He knew that this means war…

             He followed the boy just waiting for a moment for him to set it down. About 10 minutes after following him he put it down … David made a lunge for the car. Renaldo, the boy from school saw David from the corner of his eye and grabbed a noodle for a swimming pool and tapped him on his shoulder… David jumped as if he didn’t expect it. He grabbed a noodle as well and knew it was time for a fight to the death for the car.

            They hit each other with the noodles David was the first to fall to the ground but he grabbed the car on the way down. He crawled as fast as he could until he was able to get to his feet. Renaldo was close behind David needed to make a diversion, fast. So he dumped one of those huge crates that hold bouncy balls over.  David finally made it to the cash register, the cashier scanned the car and asked for $4.95. David froze, checking his pockets. Where was the money? He almost screamed because he found out that there was a hole in his sweatshirt pocket… Renaldo bought the car and left the store with a smile on his face. I guess you could say David wasn’t so happy.