Day 255: What is Literature?

A professor asked this question, and this is what I came up with.

      I brainstormed with a couple classmates, and we decided that in traditional literature, such as books, everything a character says is purposeful.  The author has meaning behind the events that happen, and often there are literary techniques employed, such as foreshadowing, metaphors, themes, and conflict.  There is also a wide range genre of literature, such as horror and fantasy.  Comic books could be considered literature because they possess the same literary techniques that books have.  For example, comic books follow a plot.  Not all works of literature are meant to be fictional.  Nonfiction memoirs can have these literary devices as well.  Finally, we believe that literature was meant to entertain the audience.

     On the other hand, non-literature tends to be more factual and contains more casual words.  Such examples would be newspapers, internet articles or social media websites, and dialogue in TV shows.  These words are spoken.  Non-literary works can also spread knowledge and contain history.

     After thinking about more examples of literature and non-literary works, I have concluded that literature is any written group of words that took effort to create and have inspired someone.  It can contain literary devices, since this has already been established as an attribute to literature, but it does not have to.  A TV script can be considered literature because someone took the time to create it, and it contains literary devices such as a plot and characters.  If the script gets acted out, then it changes into something else because it is now voiced.  Other examples could be freewriting, poems, the phone book, a science report, and an encyclopedia.  If someone has read any of these things and has activated his imagination or been emotionally affected, then that means that body of words was viewed as significant enough to get his attention.  This definition could also mean that determining if something is literature could be relative to each person’s opinions.  What is literature to one person may not be simply a cluster of words strung along with no meaning.

Day 254: Comments on Slavery

I watched this documentary about slavery on YouTube called Unchained Memories.  It's a fascinating film and really made me think.

     First of all, I'd like to say how impressed I am with the enitre documentary.  I had to watch the whole program because it was so fascinating.  I loved the idea that actors and actresses were making these stories come alive through reading them aloud.  Their narrations of the stories were colorfully enjoyable, and the pictures and music that were included greatly aided me being able to visualize the stories.
     With the wide range of stories, you really got a sense of the type of lifestyle the slaves led.  I think the biggest thing that kept going through my head was how brutal the slave owners actually were.  I certainly knew that slaves were treated cruelly, but the picture becomes much darker when you hear about all these different examples, some of which probably aren't repeated in other sources.  For example, some slaves were stripped naked to be whipped, pinned to the ground, and have salt rubbed in wounds afterwards.  Viscious!  A master would order one slave to shoot another one, probaby his friend.  The women could be just as cold-hearted as the men.  One former slave had stated she had to knit far into the night and would be punished severely if she fell asleep, so she often slept standing because she had been trying to stay awake.
     Some of those stories sounded so mean, that one human could do such things to another human being, that they don't seem real.  For example, I was watching an old movie once where it showed a little boy strapped over a table and swinging back and forth to fan those below, a human ceiling fan!  Then he was whipped for falling asleep.  It seemed too bizarre to be true, but that same situation was relayed in the documentary.
     Another thing I wanted to point out was the fact that slave owners brought slave children into their house to be playmates for their kids.  I almost find that contradictory.  Blacks were viewed as inferior and treated like animals, but they were good enough to be associated with their children?  They would allow their children to be influenced by blacks?  Some could even be in photos like another family member?  That didn't seem right.  Granted, I'm sure some of the children were brainwashed into acting superior over the slave children.
     Through watching the documentary and reading Frederick Douglass' book, I was given insight as to why some of the slave holders were so cruel.  It wasn't simply to keep slaves from running or maintaining white supremacy.  They saw that "knowledge was power," and if the slaves knew how good freedom was, they would have tried to escape much sooner.  That's why one person said you were sold if you were caught with a book, which at first sounded like an extreme punishment.  Owners impressed Christianity onto their slaves in order to keep them obedient.  They manipulated the humble acts of a Christian (obeying authority, love others, etc.) to further their own purposes.  They raped the women to prove their authority and undermine the family.  They forbade slaves from having funeral services to sever ties from their true culture and community.  All of these acts are sneaky, manipulatove, and scarily effective.  I'm suprised they got away with treating slaves that way for so long.

Day 253: Description with Concrete Nouns

I tried my hand at using more concrete nouns in this exercise my teacher gave me.  I was sitting outside in the middle of downtown.

There is clattering of metal poles as men are putting away tents.  Constant beeps from the city bus can be heard in the distance, mingling with the other traffic noises such as: tires tearing across the road, brakes creaking, engines whirring.  The wind makes the tent flap.  An even, confident clop, clop like a horse comes from a the heels of a determined woman.  The mischievous wind blows the tent corner out of the worker's hand.

A faint cigarette stench lingers in the hot air.  I smell exhaust from a motorcycle, that pungent, sweet yet dirty and overpowering scent.  Now the sun and wind conspire together to play with the shadows.  The fly-aways from my forehead flutter outstretched over my notebook.  The palm leaves above me quiver.  Out of the corner of my eye, something bobs up and down, the shadow from the flag on the phone.

Staring above me, I see large palm leaves overlap and me as my umbrella.  The ridges are crisp, even, and tight near the center.  They slowly branch out until it's almost twice the size.  The outline of one can be seen through the other as the sun shines down on it.  The very edges are brown and frayed.

The sun heats my cheeks, like I'm blushing, but the wind is blowing just enough to take the edge out of it.  One side of my face is warmer than the other one.  I shift to find a more comfortable position on the heated marble slab I sit on.

Day 252: Inside My Sister's Mind

Entering through the right ear canal
You are blinded by bright golden sunshine.
Pink cotton candy tufts hover above you.
There's never a gloomy
Cloud that stays for long.

Further in, fuzzy tuxedo kittens and
pure white unicorns leap over rainbows.

They frolic about and push out the rats

Who try to deliver seeds of gloom and doubt.

Nearby, there is a warm chocolate stream oozing
from a wishing well and carrying copper coins.
Some are bent and abused, some shiny and new.
Whatever state they're in, all are accepted and loved.

In the center of it all, stands a brick red lighthouse,
The beacon of Truth pulsating inside it, awakening the dead.
Locked tight inside that lighthouse is a bronze moral compass,

Guiding her ships of thought.

Day 251: Analyzing a Love Triangle

Here is a fun little prompt a professor asked me to do.  Look at a love triangle depicted in a movie or on TV where a woman has to choose between two men.  Is the female's POV presented more or less than the male's? What does each man represent?  Does the program lean towards a specific choice?  Which one should she choose?  Why?

     In TNT's TV show Perception, Kate Moretti is one of the main supporting characters.  Although she is not currently dating anyone and has not revealed her feelings towards each man, the show has given subtle hints that Moretti likes Daniel, the schizophrenic genius and show's main character.  She had a crush on him while he was her professor, and she has always supported his ideas during investigations when no one else would and is a caring friend.  When it started out, the show seemed to hint that Kate and Daniel would get together, until Daniel's first love came back into the picture and he seemed to lose interest in Kate.

     In the second season, Kate's ex-husband Donnie moved back to the city, ultimately to try to win Kate's heart back.  Since he cheated on her with her best friend, Kate has little respect for him and does not trust him.  As the season progressed, Donnie seemed to be truly remorseful of his actions and has been persistent, sincere, and considerate.  Kate kissed him when she was feeling vulnerable, proving that she still has feelings for him.  By this time, it is obvious to Donnie that Daniel has feelings for Kate, hinting that there is still hope for Daniel to express his love to Kate.  To me, it seems like the show is leaning towards Kate to end up with Daniel, but it is possible that she could be involved with either man.   

     Kate's point of view is not presented as often as Daniel's is, since Perception's premise hinges on how Daniel deals with his schizophrenia and how his illness can help him solve murders.  The audience knows little about Kate's past.  She's a hard-working detective dedicated to her job and willing to take risks to find the truth and ensure justice.  She seems cynical to love, due to her past relationship with Donnie, and has only briefly dated another man since the show started.

     Donnie represents forgiveness, a relatively stable lifestyle, risk, and a more conservative choice from a political point of view.  She and Donnie have a long history together, and since they were married, it would restore the natural order to things if she chose to date him again.  It would require her to learn to forgive him, which could be a hard obstacle for her to overcome.  There is risk to renewing their relationship though because Donnie could cheat on her again.  If their relationship works out, they could look forward to a normal married life, with both of them working in related fields.

     Daniel would be someone new and exciting for Kate.  She has never been involved with him before, and Daniel's quirky idiosyncrasies and zealous attitude would never leave a dull moment in her life.  However, due to Daniel's illness, she would always have to worry about whether he was taking his medication or putting himself in danger by listening to his bad thoughts.  He would be a more progressive choice because he is several years older than her and had schizophrenia, two factors not normally associated with an "ideal" man. 

     Even though it seems like Donnie is really trying to change for Kate, I would want her to choose Daniel.  That's not to say that I would not like seeing Donnie with Kate if he can make her happy, but I feel Daniel is a better choice for her.  From the start, I thought his silent love for Kate was endearing, and he has always treated her kindly for fear of hurting her in any way.  His love and devotion would make her happy, and in TV shows, I think we expect the girl to choose the more rebellious, exciting, funny character.  Sometimes, real life does not offer that, and we look to see our secret desires lived out through TV characters.  Kate is happier and more herself when she is around Daniel, and she is one of the few people who understands Daniel's quirks and still loves him.

Day 250: Notes & Ending of my Story

     I looked at the calendar behind my bedroom door.  The movers would be here in another week.  I tried to put the date out of my mind, but how could I?

I'll describe each room, from bottom to top, along with the outdoors.

The kitchen~ large enough to hold two bedrooms

The basement~ musty smell, welcome cold in the summer, and toasty warm in the winter, from the woodstove

My bedroom~ the large closet and staring down, learning I could write, the birds awaking me in the morning, Starlight catching a bird, with no claws.


     We left in the cover of night.  I was happy I couldn't see much out of the windows.  I didn't want to stare at the house and fields as we pulled away, knowing that would be the last time I'd ever see them.  I tried my best not to cry as we slowly pulled out.  I had done enough of that already for days.  We turned out of the driveway and drove past the withered planks my dad had laid to down in the ditch as a makeshift bridge so we could easily walk to our mailbox across the road.  We rounded the corner and pass the close barn, an indicator that we were leaving our house, never to return.

      We had lost some cats on that property, causing me plenty of heartache, and but those five years were some of the best in my life.  I wasn't ready to move yet, but looking back I can see that it was best that that chapter in my life had to close.  By moving away from there, I eventually came to Hawaii and my college.  I am very happy with my life now. But those memories have been locked in my heart ever since.  I don't look back on that time with bitterness but with a wistful fondness.  Change is usually for the better, and you can grow to appreciate everything in your life for some reason or another.

Day 249: Exploring My House

This is part of a draft I am writing for my creative nonfiction class.  I have to write about a place, and I am writing about my favorite childhood home.

     Driving down that long country road, with alfalfa and green corn stalks with their tassels growing tall on either side, I see the rickety old barn built about a foot from the road.  The red paint has long faded, and there are gaps in between the wooden planks, bowed from several years exposure to the harsh wind and snow.  It looks so close whenever our van drives passed it that I affectionately called it the "close barn." I came to know that once we passed it, we would be home within a couple minutes.  Our van rolls to a stop, and I stare at the lonely stop sign.  Only two other houses are visible from all corners of the stop.  Then we round the corner and, after driving down several feet, turn right onto our long driveway.  As I walk out of the van, I stare at the ivy covered red brick house, knowing I won't be seeing it much longer.

     The older you get, when you look back on your life, things tend to get hazy.  I don't remember quite how my ten-year-old self had reacted to seeing the old house stuck out in the middle of nowhere.  I didn't like thinking I'd be so isolated from any kids my own age, or from any major towns.  Casco was a tiny little country town in Wisconsin, a forty minute drive from Green Bay, the nearest large city and home of the Green Bay Packers.  There were gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants closer to our house, but my parents preferred shopping there. 

     The owner of the house was a short farmer's wife in her fifties or so.  She had raised her kids in this house but had moved out to a smaller house a few miles away.  I was impressed to know it was built in 1910 and still standing.  I had never been around a house so old before.  Inside the house was confusing though.  It's like the house was stuck in a time machine that had two different settings on it.  The upstairs had all its original deep chestnut red brown floors and bedroom doors and oval dark metal doorknobs, but the floors were still decorated with carpeting from the 70s.  One room had red and black zigzags, another had deep aqua and black, and another had puce green.  The master bedroom had a cream shag carpeting.  Despite the dated decorating tastes and old-fashioned design (there was a door to the upstairs), I fell in love with that gigantic empty house.

Day 248: A True Hero

Here is something I wrote for school.  The story I based it on is found here.  It points out the bravery of one man in the face of brutal slavery and hypocrisy in Christians. 

      After reading Equiano's autobiography a bit, I got a great sense of the type of man he was, a bit of how his culture was, and how brutal the slave business was.  I felt bad for him because it seems like everything went wrong for him.  He had his sister ripped away from him, twice.  Just when he thought he had a nice mistress, he was sold again.  Despite wanting to die several times and his sufferings growing increasingly worse, Equiano was strong enough to survive.  I admire his bravery, and reading what happened to him later, he was able to adapt to another culture so much so that he became smart enough to buy his own freedom and live out on his own in a foreign land.  It shows his persistance and adaptibilty.  His book's excellent writing attests to his fluency in the English language and general intelligence.  
     I'm amazed to think that after all the abuse and suffering he has endured as being a slave, he seems to hold no resentment towards the white man's culture or any of his masters.  He has every right to be, but instead he simply tells his story honestly, detailing every pain and sadness he felt and ocassionally breaking out into a plea to slave traders to stop.  The last passage at the end of chapter two was especially moving to me.  It begins, " O, ye nominal Christians! might not an African ask you, learned you this from your God, who says unto you, Do unto all men as you would men should do unto you?"  How can anyone not listen to such an innocent and honest cry for justice and reason?  It shows the two-faced men living during that time period.  How could men profess they were Christians and then treat other human beings in such deplorable ways?  Of course, not all people were Christians during that time period.
     One other fact about him that I felt interesting is that he mentions in the first chapter that he was a son of a chief or elder.  It must have been quite degrading for him to go from such a high position in his society and tribe to being a slave in other tribes and eventually another country.

Day 247: Liberty

A short little entry, as I am now back in school and have other things to write.  This is about Cassie, my Maple Heights girl.

The Prompt: Your character in your WIP buys a pet.  What does he buy?  What does he name it?  Have them interact.  What happens?

"Thanks, Mom,  I'll see you later!"  Cassie waved as her mother drove away, and she walked over to the stables where her new brown mare was kept.

"Hi, Lottie!" she grinned as she pet her horse's velvet nose.  The horse whinnied and sniffed all over her hand.

Cassie laughed.  "I don't have any treats for you yet, girl.  Maybe after we go riding, huh?"

The horse neighed as if to comply.  Cassie opened the stall and started saddling her up.  Cassie had never dreamed she'd be able to have a horse of her very own.  One of the few books she had enjoyed reading was Black Beauty.  She loved the majestic look of horses, especially how their manes flowed in the wind as they galloped.  Cassie even had a portrait of wild horse running in her room.  That's what appealed to her most, a horse's freedom.  Perhaps that's why she named the mare, Charlotte, which she heard meant freedom.

Cassie had begged her parents for riding lessons when she was ten, and since she was already playing tennis and softball, they agreed.  Ever since that first time when her instructor had allowed her to run with her horse, she fell in love with that moment of flying through the air, the freedom that nothing controlled her and no one could hurt her.  It was Cassie's sanctuary from her parents fighting and her friends being mean.  This was before Cassie was a Christian.  After she had been saved, Cassie still loved to escape on a horse, but it wasn't her only way of solving problems.  She could have fun with the thrill of galloping too.

By this time, Lottie was saddled.  Cassie steadied herself on the saddle and swung her long leg over.  She held the reigns tightly and leaned near the mare's ear. 

"Let's go, girl."

With a click of the reigns, Lottie took off with a gallop, flying across the green field, with Cassie grinning from ear to ear.

Day 246: An Angel Visiting

The Prompt: An angel appears before Lucy. God needs her to do something very important, but dangerous, and she could die.  Men will hate her and her family will turn from her.  What does he say to her? Does she do it?  What happens to her?

When Lucy first saw the apparition in front of her, she thought it was a ghost.  She always believed in the supernatural.  After she was first married, she was certain she had seen her grandmother during her honeymoon, even though she had been dead for nine years.  It had followed her all afternoon and then vanished as silently as it had appeared.  She had seen other ghosts, or signs of them, since then, but she had never seen one look quite like this.

     It had no halo or wings.  This ghost was brighter than the sun shining in her eyes, but it didn't levitate like a ghost.  It stood there, surrounded in white fire.  After the light around it dimmed, Lucy locked eyes with it and felt chills rush up her back. The eyes were kind, loving, and seemed to see her every thought.

"Lucy," it spoke calmly, "I have a message for you from the Lord."

Lucy continued to stare.  Had she been twenty years longer, she would have jumped up and down that an angel was speaking to her.  Her youthful excitement had left her though, replacing it with a cautious maturity.

"God wants you to go on the missions trip to China.  People need to hear about Jesus, and you have the right education and set of good qualities the Lord is looking for you to share.  You'll find that He has been preparing you for this very trip.  God wants you to press on, despite the lack of support from your un-Christian family.  People will hate you for abandoning your job, and you will be in danger of persecution, but God will reward you.  He's still not finished with you in this city either.  You will return someday.  For the time-being, He wants you to go to China."

How could Lucy argue with God?  It sounded scary and wonderful at the same time.  She agreed and started getting ready for her trip the next day.  What the angel said was right.  Her husband refused to support her on this "fool's errand," her children thought she was crazy, and her boss was mad at her from leaving her work half-finished.  She lived in fear that the government in China would catch her, and once she was imprisoned overnight, but she helped almost fifty children grow in their faith with Lord.  These children helped Lucy convert their parents, and she was disappointed when she had to finally leave.  It's amazing how God works.

Author's Picks for August

Hopefully that will be the last time I am behind again.  I wanted to spend the rest of the summer writing ideas that I had.  Starting tomorrow, I will go back to prompts.  I will be working on the second list now.  The link to follow along can be found here.

My top five favorites, due to the large month. 

5. Day 206: In the Land of Nog~ It was fun inventing this world.

4. Day 200: The Underground Railroad~ I felt connected with the protagonist in my story, and I always enjoyed reading about this part of history, even though it is terribly sad and unjust.

3. Day 204: Sneaking Out of the House~ This is one of my Maple Heights stories.  This story revealed some character traits and backstory to me that I didn't think of before.  I like it when writing unexpected helps me like that.  It's not just mindless babbling but the pieces of a puzzle now.

2. Day 222: Our Best Friend~ I love the idea of the Chipmunks becoming Christians.  While I am not pleased with how this was executed (I pictured it bigger, more drawn out, and more spiritual), I like what the thought of Christianity does to each character.  They are each affected by its introduction and outcome in different ways.

1. Day 216: Comfort~ Another Maple Heights story.  I had some difficulty writing out the idea I had for Robert, but I am pleased with how it turned out.  I feel closer to him now, and he's almost my favorite from the group.

Day 245

More notes for myself.  I am happy to say that I am now finally caught up with my blog posts!

It is now ten years later.  Baby One is ten years old now.  He turned his toy into a dangle that he put on his bandana.  Jake also had Baby Two.  Baby One yearns to be a pirate and tries to do everything he can to prove that.  Baby Two loves his dad and follows his big brother around, being an inquisitive pest.  Mimosa and Allison have a set of 9 year old twins, Thomas and Jessie.  Mimosa, Nora, and Scully are more lax around Jake and call him by his first name sometimes.  Becky got another letter from her father, and being reminded that she promised them another visit, she asked Jake to take them all to England so her parents could meet Baby Two.  She bribed him with the promise of raiding a few coastal towns and ships on their way home.

Jake took his normal crew and set out.  Mimosa had ordered his children to stay home with a nanny named Margaret, but they stowed away as the ship was departing.  Jake told them that as punishment they had to join the crew or walk the plank unless someone claimed them, who was Mimosa.  They were still given punishments.  Thomas was given dish duty, and Jessie had to swab the quarter deck.  The crew took rotations on shore while Jake and Becky visited.

Charlotte wanted to meet Becky’s parents to see who were the people who treated Jake so poorly when he was young, but she didn’t want her identity known.  She came as moral support for Jake as well.  They had intended to stay a week but could only take four days.  The parents were shocked that the children didn’t learn at a school or have a grand civilized lifestyle like themselves. Baby One was shocked with how few weapons they had, and Baby Two was scared of the clothing.  Becky and the kids were bored.  Jake went out to explore the town and show places he had been growing up.  He found out Nelson had cleared his name, and he ran into Timmy, an old friend from the orphanage now working at a cobbler’s shop.  Jake bought Baby Two a pair of pirate boots.

Becky came up with the excuse that the children missed home and needed a stable environment to grow properly.  Mimosa and family barged in the last night as well to inform the captain that the crew needed him (and to meet the parents).  One of the crew had gotten into a bar fight, but it was resolved.  Becky promised they’d visit again.  All were happy to be back on the ship. Jake made his son a cabin boy early.

Day 244: Conclusions

Jake ordered Becky away with the baby and not to come back until she heard three shots.  She complied, but was scared.  She took food and weapons.  She wanted to take it but thought, in case it was lucky, it could protect Jake more.  Jack watched them sadly.  He positioned his men in strategic parts of the boat.  Fritz with his training went on one side of the boat to watch out for the Enemy to sneak on that way.  Nora led another team on the other side.  Scully was well enough to help.  She insisted on fighting as well and got a weapon.  Roger was happy to grab anything sharp for the cannons as extra ammo.

Jake was prepared for him this time and bombed the ship as much as he could.  The Enemy swung aboard.  Men made a circle around Jake to protect him.  They all fought valiantly and showed their strengths.  Allison hit with a frying pan in the galley, and Mimosa went to rescue her once.  She proved to live up to her name.  The Enemy searched as hard as he could for it, while fighting off Jake's crew.  He had taken off his hat so no one would recognize him.  Scully fought towards Nora and asked her the question then left her again to rescue Jake by running in the way, being stabbed in the arm. Meanwhile, Becky could hear the shots in the distance but was too afraid to look back.  The baby was crying but only because he had lost his new toy in his blanket.

Scully was losing strength soon and Nora helped him.  The Enemy searched Jake's cabin, opening drawers.  Jake saw him there and ran after him. They fought, and in the process, the Enemy found it in a hollowed part underneath the drawer of the dresser. Jake struggled to get it back.  The fight took them outside, near the ship's edge. It got knocked over the side.  After watching it splash down, the Enemy was furious. Jake fought, but his sword was knocked out of his hand.  She came to his rescue and stabbed the Enemy right in the heart.  He fell dead over the side of the ship with it.

When the few left of the Enemy's men saw he was dead, they jumped over the side of the ship.  Jake sailed away from them and fired three shots.  They decided to leave it be.  It belonged down there.  All were safely reunited, and Scully gave Nora a token he had saved since the Cabinet.  Jake gathered all dead: enemies, friends, and the one who died from wounds, and gave them a seaman's funeral.  The enemies were dumped at the other side of the ship.  The next day he performed another ceremony. They sailed to France one last time for final reconciliation then sailed home.  She lived in a house near Jake.

Day 243: Hunts

Some of the language of this is vague because I do not want to spoil surprises when the story does get written.

The doctor bandaged up everyone.  Scully was delusional since he had lost blood and was in pain.  Nora was ordered to keep an eye on him and force him to relax.  The woman was happy to be with Jake but was very tired.  He gave her some food, and then all of them rested while they sailed away towards Ireland.  The next day, she was feeling better and Jake introduced her to everyone.  In turn, she told them the whole story.  She respectfully told him to sail away to a city in England.  Jake told Pitzel to listen to her.  Scully also talked to Jake about Nora when he was feeling better.

She led them to a deserted town, with little evidence that others had been in it since she had been there.  Through a waterfall, there was evidence of a little home, and some jewels were encased in the walls.  Baby got a new toy.  She led them through a secret place to where there were weapons and affects.  She let Jake lead the expedition in Ireland because she wanted to see what he would have done.

He had two choices to search in, a clock tower or an old castle.  They went to an old castle in the center of the little town.  Muggins explored the kitchen.  Jake tried to get hints but with no success.  Then he thought like her.  He went to the throne room and found it hidden in the floorboards under the king's throne.  Everyone looked at it on the ship. They were going back to drop off Fritz when the Enemy was seen in the distance.  No one could tell whose ship it was at first.  They had to wait until he drew closer, but Jake knew.

Day 242: Frenchman's Rock

A part of a story I'll be posting on Fan Fiction someday.  It's a summarized version, used as notes to help me remember the plot.

They arrived at the Cabinet by night.  Jake took a group of about 18 men with him, including his coterie.  Becky demanded to come because she was one of his best fighters now and she wanted to be there when they found her.  Allison stayed with the baby.  They rowed silently to the island shore and crept along the side of bushes as they saw a group of men partying by a beach bonfire.  They crept through various men on guard and others who were working until they got to a cluster of buildings off the beach.  It was the store room, a supplies room, then they came across a huge building guarded by four men at each entrance and two on the other two sides.  Some of the men went through it while others stood guard.  It was a series of caged pits, each with a makeshift bed.  Jake and his men searched the dark pits with torches until Nipperkin found her.  She was emaciated and sounded hoarse.  She recognized Jake instantly.  He gave her some water and pulled her out of there.

Now the group had to slip away as quietly as possible.  Scully carried her frail figure as they back-tracked the way they came.  The captain had discovered their boat though and ordered his men to search the island until the intruders were caught.  Jake stopped in the forest and discussed the certainty that they would have to fight.  He sent Mimosa, Muggins, Scully, and a few other men to the shore to locate their boat.  Jake hid the woman in the forest and protected her.  When the captain and his men began to overpower Scully and the rest, Jake sent the rest of his forces down to help.

Men were wounded and some died.  Scully bravely fought to protect his group of men, despite being shot in the abdomen and stabbed in the arm.  He also had a gunpowder burn on his hand from the beach battle. Jake stepped out of the forest and hollered out to the captain to come get him. He came, and the two began to sword fight.  This made the enemy pirate furious, and he ran towards Jake, but Nora, Scully, Jake, and Becky shot at him from where they were.  No one knows who killed him for sure.  Jake's crew made it with her to the shore, where one of the crew made managed to secure a boat, and they sailed back to the ship to repair their wounds and mourn their five dead.

Day 241: A Losing Battle

Today is Labor Day.  Summer is officially gone, and I'll be going back to school tomorrow.  I've accomplished a lot over the summer, and it's been quite fun for me.  As the days I have left have dwindled away, I have gotten more stressed about all those last things I wanted to do, much of them involving technology.

Today, I read 1 John 2, and verse 15 seemed to stick out to me.  I love the pleasures in this world, the natural and man-made.  You know you've crossed the line though when those pleasures become work, when it sucks the life out of you.  God did not create those distractions to be work but to be outlets to let stress go so we can go back to work refreshed.  Furthermore, all the things we absorb on the internet and all the various collections we have are vanities.  They won't last, and the more we grasp, the more they will slip away.  We, I, need to let go of these things and realize that they won't last forever.  All the energy I put into diversions should be put into things that benefit others and not myself and further my future doing God's will.  Sometimes this can be difficult with an OCD perfectionist somewhat like myself, but that's when I need to take a deep breath and let go.  Accept that my life won't be perfect.  Give God the reigns of my life. 

Day 240: Conclusion of Simon's Story

Two hours later, Doctor Sullivan joined Dave, Alvin, and Theodore in the waiting room.  Dave was so anxious he wasn’t sure whether to sit or stand.

“Is everything okay, Doctor?  How did it go?”

“The surgery went well, Mr. Seville.  I feel fairly confident it was a success, although I wouldn’t count on that fact until Simon wakes up.”

Dave violently shook his hand.  “Thank you, Dr. Sullivan, thank you so much!  It's a miracle!”

“May we see him?” Theodore asked with big eyes.

“Yes, the drugs should wear off in about ten minutes.  He should be awake then.”

“You boys go ahead.  I’m going to call Miss Miller and tell her to come over.”

Alvin grabbed Theodore’s hand.  “Come on, I remember the way.”

“No running, Alvin!” Dave called over his shoulder.

Alvin pretended he hadn’t heard. 

The doctor had underestimated when Simon would wake up.  The chipmunk stirred his head to the chirping of a robin outside and opened his eyes to a white room and a blurry bright light.  All he could see were funny shapes.  His memory was just as fuzzy as his vision.  The pungent scent in the air reminded him of a hospital.  The sheets on his bed felt crisp and thin, like what a hospital would have.  Simon groped along the sides of his bed for his glasses, hitting his hand into the bed railing.  Feeling the smooth plastic from his glasses frames, he put them on his face, and the room came into focus. 

He was alone in one of those private hospital rooms.  Simon swallowed and felt his dry throat.  He decided to get some water from the bathroom sink.  He started to swing his legs over the side when he realized he could bend his legs, and feel that he was touching his legs, and feel the ground underneath him, and feel that he was walking.  Simon was walking, and he could feel it all.