Thanks to my family for always, ALWAYS supporting me, for loving me no matter what. Thanks for making laugh. Thank you Mom, Dad, sister (Amanda, you're the best sissy ever), aunts (you rock!), uncles (the most awesome) , grandparents (love ya!), my trillions of cousins (lol, including Tammy, Chris, and Dave), and my niece Grace. You make me smile constantly. Thanks to my friends, online and in real life. Thank you for listening and caring. Thank you Carl for being a such good friend. Despite what others might say, you're a great person. Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy birthday Steven! I know that you're partying like every birthday. :-) Everyone still thinks about you and misses you. I miss your jokes and goofy songs. A kid on Halloween said the "hallow weenie" joke about the vampire and the witch and it made me smile. :-D I still remember those inappropriate jokes, lol! Have fun today up there. We all love you.
As the town clock strikes midnight in the distance, the Halloween
ball begins in a pitch black graveyard. Wild spirits scream and sing wickedly,
jack-‘o-lanterns chuckle crazily, cackling witches and wizards wear outlandish,
flowing robes that make them look like they are swirling on air, gruesome
looking zombies with oozing, decaying faces groan hungrily, and vampires smile seductively,
baring their sharp fangs. Grinning skeletons start the music and everyone does a
funeral march-like waltz. One…two, one…two, one…two, one…two.
When the clock strikes three and when the moon turns red, an
evil tradition then begins. The spirits chose a child in advance. They call to
the innocent child; usually a girl with the purest heart and long, scarlet hair.
With sing-song, playful voices, they call out: “Come little one, come.” Being
in a deep trance, the girl gets out of bed and walks out into her own death.
The helpless girl enters the graveyard and they all surround
her eagerly, their mouths watering. The wind howls frightfully and they creep
closer…closer…closer. The girl always wakes up just in time for her scream and
see shadows consuming her. Blood is drank, skin is pealed from the bone, and
the soul is sacrificed to the unthinkable. Where’s her body? I don’t think that
you want to know. She becomes another reckless spirit that is invited to the
Halloween ball.
Last weekend I went to Wonderland Camp and I had relaxing,
fun time. I saw my friends: Kortney, Scott, Dustin, Colleen, Chris, Kayla S., Kayla W.,
Mary, Angie, Ashley, Toby, Alena, Austin, and Jason. On Friday night, we had a
campfire. It was very chilly outside but it was nice. The beautiful stars were
out and I was surrounded by great people. Toby told a funny “scary” story and
we ate messy, delicious s’mores. Kortney and I loved it.
Saturday morning, we did crafts. First, we made scarecrow
faces with popsicle sticks. My scarecrow face had three eyes and vampric fangs.
Kayla W. smiled and said: “Well, everyone will know who made this one.” Then we
painted pumpkins with Alena and Jason. I painted a monstrous face on mine. Hey,
it’s Halloween time and it’s me. What do you expect? :) After the pumpkins, we made paper ghosts.
Everyone was making their ghosts with happy faces but I wanted to be different
so I made one with a sad face. It made the other campers laugh. After crafts, I
just relaxed in bed for a while.
Later that afternoon, the hayrides began. It was a brisk day
but it was fun to hang out with friends. When it was finally my cabin’s turn,
Scott went with us and sat by me. Kortney, Scott, Kayla S., Kayla W., and I
were laughing and joking around as the hayride went around camp. It was so
cool.
Later on after dinner, the dance began. I wore a black and
purple, glittery shirt, my favorite pair of skinny jeans, and black shoes. The
multicolored lights were spinning everywhere and the music was blasting. Scott
taking me out of my wheelchair, I slow danced with him. When he does that, it’s
beyond sweet. I love it! I also danced with Chris, Kayla, Dustin, and everyone
else. I was dancing and singing the night away.
On Sunday, everyone was getting ready to go home. When Mom
and Dad came to pick me up, Scott was goofing around and tried to hide me from
them. It was funny. I hugged everyone goodbye and took some pictures. I hate
saying bye to everybody but camp will always be there. I’ll always have memories to smile
about and I’ll constantly have things to write about every summer and fall. I
love Wonderland Camp!
Sixteen-year-old Whitney Krupp at Ogemaw Heights High was elected to her homecoming court as a cruel prank. She thought of suicide but then she stood up for herself. The town rallied behind the teen; a hair salon and a dress shop helping her get ready for the dance. A Facebook page was even launched to support the bullied teen. I still don't understand why people bully others. Bullying is just pathetic and heartless! It makes me smile to see her town supporting her. A friendly hand is sometimes all you need. :)
The damaging and dangerous practice called "conversion
therapy" might soon be at an end in California --- the most populous state
in the U.S. -- if Governor Jerry Brown signs a bill that the state Legislature
has already passed. So-called conversion therapy is based upon the dangerous
and disapproving theory that homosexuality is a form of mental illness and that
through therapy, sexual orientation can be changed.
Thousands of gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth have been subjected
to the humiliating measures of this practice over the past 100 years, including electric shocks
and nausea-inducing medication paired
with homosexual imagery. In many other cases, youth have been forced to undergo
shame-filled therapy sessions with counselors and groups of their peers.
Tell California Gov. Jerry Brown: Sign the bill to ban conversion therapy of minors and affirm the finding of the legislature that being gay or lesbian is not a disease or disorder.
Last week I went to Wonderland Camp. It was a hot, fun,
incredibly adventurous week. I saw my old friends Dustin, Scott, Faith, Angie,
Mary, Morgan, Aaron, Hope, Ashley, Dawn, Lena (yes, there was another Lena in
my cabin), Colleen, Toby, Al, and Alena.
I also made new friends Katie, Ellen, Jennifer, Cole, Jade, and
Victoria. Along with the awesome camp counselors, there were also new
volunteers this year. Most of them were very nice but one was less enthusiastic
about camp; (I won’t say the name). I hung out with the nice ones anyway. On
Sunday, we had the pool party. The water was ice cold but it was fun. Beach
balls were flying and Toby brought out the water guns. Everyone was goofing
around, getting soaked. It was so much fun!
On Monday, we had Rec, Nature, Arts and Crafts, and Game
Room in the morning. In Rec, we got on the field and kicked around soccer
balls. I was actually good at kicking. I almost kicked a ball in a goal. In
Arts and Crafts, we tie-dyed our camp shirts. I made mine red and blue with a
spiral. In Nature, we went up into the tree house and told stories. I like it
in the tree house. It’s cool to look down and see nothing but green. In the
game room, I just hung out and listened to the jukebox.
Later that afternoon, it was pool time. I went on the splash
pad. The splash pad is like a mini water park with all types of sprinklers and
hoses. They ran me through it while I sat in a shower chair. It was a
blast! I became obsessed with the splash
pad and went there during pool time for the rest of the week.
On Monday evening, we had karaoke. I danced and hung out
with Dustin, Scott, Cole, and Faith. I also sang Avril Lavigne’s “Don’t Tell
Me”. The night rocked! I love my camp friends!!
On Tuesday, we had Nature, Music, and Game Room. In Nature,
we had a treasure hunt and walked down a trail. The trail seemed never-ending
but it was great. The wooded, rocky area that we were in reminded me of a
colorful, magical forest from one of my fantasy stories. In Music, we sat
underneath the parachute and sang camp songs. With everyone from my cabin under
it, it looked like a big but crowded circus tent. Then in the game room, I
played a computer game.
Later that evening, we had a movie night. We watched a movie
called “Heavyweights”. It was about some kids who go to fat camp and have to
stand up to the mean camp director. It was funny, just a cute Disney
movie. I ate the popcorn too for
once. It tasted delicious.
On Wednesday, we went to the water front in the morning to
ride the boat. The boat ride was bumpy and relaxing. I almost dozed off again.
Then on the way back to the cabin, I had a slight mishap. My back wheel fell
off and lost its screw. I was not happy at all but they fixed it.
Later that afternoon, we had Arts and Crafts and Music. In
Arts and Crafts, we painted wind chimes. Then we got to draw anything that we
wanted. I drew pictures of witches and Freddy Krueger. I’m strange, what can I
say? In Music, we practiced for the talent show.
Later that evening, it was the talent show. There were a lot
of entertaining skits and songs. For our group talent, we did a skit where we
acted like we were on “America’s Got Talent”. Three of us were the judges,
while some of us danced, some of us sang, and some of us played instruments. I
sang in the skit. For my individual talent, I read a poem that I wrote called
“Unmask the Witch”. I like reading my stuff aloud at camp. I’m less nervous and
it’s fun. I always love the talent show but this year there was the most
hilarious skit ever! Two campers had a pretend wedding. The bride danced down
‘the aisle’ and Toby acted as ‘the minster’. Goofy Toby started ‘the ceremony’
with “When I think of marriage, I think of Donkey Kong…” Their pretend vows were like, “Promise to
sit by each other at meals…Promise to dance at the dance.” Then they exchanged
fanny packs and hugged. Everyone was laughing so hard.
On Thursday, it was open activities. In Nature, we shot BB
guns. I shot a BB by myself once. I didn’t hit the target but it felt cool to
pull the trigger on my own. In Music, we learned some new dances. In Beauty
Shop, the girls got ready for the dance. I got my nails painted purple and my
hair spiked up into a Mohawk. I wore a white and black top, my favorite pair of
skinny jeans, my black shoes, and dark make-up.
Later, after a cool candlelit dinner, the dance started.
Lights were twirling and music was booming throughout the dinning hall. I
danced with everyone but the one dance that I’ll always remember is the one
with Scott. With help from Faith, he took me out of my chair and slow danced
with me. We danced as our friends watched and took pictures. This might sound
dorky but I felt like a princess for a few moments. I don’t get to slow dance
often so that was very special to me. Scott, you’re such a good friend. Thank
you. The dance was amazing!
On Friday, it was awards. I got the “Cool Sunglasses Queen”
award because I traded sunglasses with Dustin and I always wore them. Then
after awards, we played bingo. Scott helped me. When my parents got there,
Scott and Dustin walked with me to my cabin and hugged me goodbye. Last week
was wonderful. Though Fridays are bittersweet, I know that Wonderland Camp will
always be there. The next time that I’m there, I’ll have even more
adventures.
My mom and I went to the mall today and I was excited. Mom willingly going to the mall is rare because she hates shopping (unlike me who would blow all of my money if I had my way :) ). We were going upstairs and headed towards the elevator. We saw that the elevator was out of order and we both sighed. I realize that to other people, this would be no big deal and they would just take the escalator but to someone who can't walk, it's slightly annoying. Mom and I wandered around Macy's, trying to find an elevator. They had one but it only went up and down the levels of that store, not the mall levels themselves. Even though it was irritating, I was still having fun and looking around. Finally, a friendly guard showed us another mall elevator. He was so nice. He's probably a cool grandpa.
After our mini adventure, we continued our shopping. I got things like a pink and black skull book bag and an Edward Cullen t-shirt from Hot Topic. It was a very good day but the reason why I wrote this entry is to tell all malls to make sure all of their elevators are working. Handicapped people and their caregivers depend on them.
It’s a sunny, calm afternoon. We’re sitting on top of a
spacious hill looking over the huge school building. The spring grass has been
freshly cut and is the lightest green. The sky is brightest blue and the
dazzling sun is shining through the fluffy clouds with all types of colors
surrounding them. The warm sun is also hitting our faces, giving me a sense of
peace. We’re supposed to be at school in math class but you always have ways to
make me break some of the rules.
Since the fifth grade, you, Patrick Healings and I, Rebecca
Gullveig have been practically attached to the hip. We did everything together
and swore to be best friends forever. You didn’t care that I had cerebral palsy
and was in a wheelchair, and I didn’t care that you had dyslexia and sometimes
needed help with reading. We took care of each other. It was us against the
world. Back then you were like an older
brother but now we’re older and in ninth grade. I’ve secretly began to feel
more deeper feelings for you than just friendship and noticing other things
about you; things like your incredible smile that makes my stomach fill up with
butterflies, your forget-me-not blue eyes that light up like fireworks when you
laugh, the way you always want to protect me, and the warmth and tightness of
your embrace when we hug. I haven’t told you yet of course but my feelings have
been getting stronger every day.
Now we’re dancing playfully on the hill with you twirling,
dipping my wheelchair. Sometimes it feels like I’ll tip over at any moment but
you catch me each time. I know that you won’t let anything bad happen to me. My
heart is racing and I’m laughing loudly. As you continue to spin me around, I
see a surreal and remarkable sight in the sky. Appearing out of nowhere, there
are mini, individual, radiant rainbows scattered randomly across the sky. Each
rainbow has shades of red, blue, green, violet, and pink and has a cotton
ball-like cloud at their end. I’m in shock and awe. You’ve stopped spinning me
to gaze up at them as well. The town hasn’t seen a drop of rain today so seeing
any rainbow at all is considered peculiar but seeing so many at once is just
completely bizarre.
“They are so beautiful,” I muse breathlessly.
“They sure are,” you agree.
“It looks like we’ll have a very strange spring this year,”
I smile.
“Hey Rebecca, do you have a date for the spring dance on
Friday?” you ask, changing the subject abruptly. I’m taken aback a little by
the question.
“No, why?” I reply calmly, trying to ignore the leaping
heart in my chest.
“I’m going to ask Kelsey Maurelle to the dance and I was
hoping that you and I could double date, that’s all,” you explain.
Kelsey Maurelle is so mean to you but you refuse to see it.
She teases you behind your back (I’ve defended you more than once) and she
never acknowledges you unless she wants money for lunch. She knows that you
like her and she uses it to her full advantage. Still, you think that she’s an
absolute angel. I see one of the rainbows to the right go dim and its cloud
darken slightly at the mention of her name. I hold back laughter. Instead of
getting catty and listing all of the reasons why you shouldn't ask her, I tell
a little white lie.
“Patrick, I think that I heard some guy ask her already
before biology today,” I tell you.
“I bet that it was that Stephen guy, wasn’t it?” you sigh. I
just shrug my shoulders.
“I’m so sorry,” I say softly. You look so disappointed that
I’m wondering if I did the right thing.
“It’s alright,” you sigh again, “I didn’t have a chance in
hell with her anyway.”
“That’s not true…,” I say, hating the discouraged look on
your face and for some reason, also loathing the rainbow that is getting darker
now, on the verge of being purely black.
Then an idea comes to me. I say, trying to sound as
nonchalant as possible, “Hey, I have a crazy idea. Why don’t you and I go to
the dance instead?”
“Together?” you ask.
“Yeah, why not?” I reply with humor, “You’re cooler than any
other guy at school. Do you really want me just to take a loser that I barely
know?”
You chuckle and still smiling, you say, “No and I guess that
you’re the coolest girl I know, so sure, let’s go to the dance and party!”
“Awesomeness,” I smile. We then both laugh at ourselves.
When I look at the rainbow on the right again, it’s brightening up once more. I
feel beyond giddy about going to the dance with you but I hide it. Just then,
the school bell for the end of that hour rings in the distance.
“We better head back before we get caught,” I say.
“Okay,” you agree. We gaze up at the abnormal rainbows for a
moment again before leaving. Then you go behind me to help me down the hill. As
we head towards the school, the rainbows slowly disappear except for one. It’s
the one rainbow on the right. It suddenly begins to grow large and its
astonishing colors expand over us and we go under it like a bridge.
The rainbow won’t leave after that day. It’s there for the
rest of our high school years, it’s there when our friendship turns into true
love, it’s there for our wedding, and it’s there for us to show our children.
People say that there’s a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow but we’ve had
something more precious than gold. I believe that love can be found underneath
a magical rainbow or anywhere else people least expect.
(c)Lena Holdman, all rights reserved 2012
This is based off a dream that I had the other morning. :)
In a time of pretentious peril, people are packed, piled
away in a peculiar prison.
Their ruler says: “It is a way to keep you safe” but it’s
really a way to make them slaves.
Circular, pitch black, cold, and underground,
there is enough fear to go around.
They aren’t allowed to come out, to see light until they
lose their will to fight.
As the weeks pass by, Blood gushes, blood splashes.
Hunger and insanity is slowly making everyone become
back-stabbers.
Death is spreading doom, dread, leading the damned into the
devilish darkness.
Women weep, children screech,
for hope is getting more and more difficult to see.
Saints become demons,
committing deeds so horrific.
Vegetarians become vampric,
lusting after murder;
their souls being in complete torture.
A mother scolds her teenage daughter, telling her not to
cry,
for crying is a sign of weakness, senselessness;
but the daughter cries in a corner anyway.
Emotion means her compassion hasn’t been taken away.
She refuses to be an empty shell;
She wants to be feeling everything in this hell.
Only when people are on the verge of being zombies, their
ruler will set them free.
The people will fall onto knees and obey.
The dead will then pray for living,
giving them back the drive to survive again.
(c)Lena Holdman, all rights reserved 2012
On my online poetry class, we were studying alliteration (repeating first syllables) and assonance (repeating vowel sounds). I wrote this for my assignment.
Like a child with their security blanket, I tightly clung
onto the sweet memories of you. You were my prince charming-like crush. I knew
that you were the only one who wouldn’t ever hurt me so you became permanently
imprinted in my mind. With a smile warmer than the summer sun, you were the
happy thought that I always escaped to when reality became too overwhelming.
Now, seeing you holding her, I realize that it’s time to let go of my security
blanket and let you grow up. You’ll always have a special place in my heart but
I’m moving on. I need to stop hiding in a fantasy that won’t come true just
because of insecurity. You’re my best
friend now and I only want you to be happy.
(c)Lena Holdman, all rights reserved 2012
I was remembering things while I was listening to an old play list.
He also wouldn’t let her out of his sight. He acted like
bratty, selfish, little boy with a shiny, new toy. She was his only. He would
say, “You’re always be mine baby…forever!” Those words always left her cold
inside and out.
Rosetta never had the strength to leave him until she saw
something enlightening the day before. She and William were relaxing on the
freshly green grass of the park. William fell asleep on the blanket and she
crept to the walking trail. Colorful flowers and tall trees surrounded her and
being in the spring air, she was reminded of a less complicated time. When she
was little, her dad used to tell her that fairies protect the trees in the park
and if she would make a wish on a tree, the fairies would make it come true.
She giggled at her childhood fantasies and in despite of herself, she wished
aloud, “I wish that William would leave me alone.” Just then, something was
moving about in the bushes and she heard a small yelp. She stepped back a bit
in fear. A tiny creature then rolled from the bush and laid on its back. It
just looked like some insect from afar but as Rosetta came closer to the thing,
she saw the bruised but elegant face, the petite figure of a female, and the
extraordinary, glittery wings.
“A fairy,” Rosetta uttered softly in amazement.
The young fairy had brunette hair and evergreen eyes like
Rosetta, the fairy’s dress was green leaf which was now torn, and her beautiful
face had bruises and scratches, and blood was gushing from her forehead and
lip. The fairy was extremely injured and was moving slowly but it seemed like
she was refusing to show tears. Rosetta was about to help the fairy when two
male, older, muscular, fearsome fairies swooped down out of nowhere and pushed
her off of her feet. With heartless smiles, the two males began to brutally
kick, punch, and smack the female fairy, calling her “Weak!” When she tried to
fight back, one of them would hold her down.
“No!” Rosetta cried out. She thought that the fairy was
going die but then she saw the fairy’s face turn from agony to complete
determination. The fairy punched the ground and with all of the strength she
had, she yelled, “STOP!” Her tiny voice echoed through the trees, initiating a
huge, booming explosion of glorious light from her soul. Rosetta ducked in a ball to take cover but
the light felt so warm and comforting to her. When the light finally
evaporated, Rosetta saw that the two males were nothing but dust now and the
female fairy was standing up. Despite her injuries, she smiled at Rosetta
brightly and just flew away. Rosetta sat down on the ground in awe of what just
happened.
“That little fairy defeated those jerks,” she mused, “all
she had, besides magic, been a hell whole lot of courage.” This thought finally
got her thinking. At the same moment she heard William bellowing her name.
Now the clock was striking three and her bags were all
packed. She took off the engagement ring and left it on the dresser. She was
now standing at the door with a shaky hand on knob. She began to second guess
herself. Will she able to handle being on her own? Was he right? Will she be a nobody
without him? She then heard a tab on the window. She looked and it was the
battered fairy. The fairy smiled warmly and nodded her head in encouragement.
Rosetta suddenly envisioned the incredible explosion of light in her mind and
confidently said, “This stops tonight.” She took a breath and turned the knob.
With her head help up high, she inhaled the night air and marched out of the
house, quickly stepping into her purple mustang. She threw her bags in the
passenger seat and backed out of the driveway without another thought. William
didn’t even notice that she was gone until the wheels squealed as she drove
away. She never looked back ever since then. The fairy, whom Rosetta later
learned was named Shaylee, followed her and became her fairy guardian. Rosetta
finally found her happiness and she vowed to never let another man hold her
down, for Shaylee had showed her every being has a light within them that can’t
be ignored. With that light, no one is weak or alone.
She’s walking almost in a daze. It was nearing midnight and eighteen-year-old Bethany was still out in her mother’s garden. She had dizzying, frustrating thoughts of heartbreaks, failures, and back-stabbing friends that prevented her from sleeping. “What if I did this,” she thought, “What if I said that?” It was an agonizing cycle of questions about things in life that she couldn’t control. She then thought desperately, “I would give anything just to be a little kid again so I could be oblivious to everything or at lease change some things.” She was on the verge of tears when she heard a little girl’s giggle.
“Who’s there?” she called out, turning on the flashlight that she was holding. No one answered. She just stood there for a moment and she heard the mischievous giggle again. It was coming from her mother’s labyrinth. Most people thought that it was strange that her mother actually wanted a labyrinth in the backyard but Bethany thought that it was cool and she had mastered it over the years. The labyrinth was medium-sized but very tall and was made with gray, massive stone.
The little girl with curly, brown hair, who looked five or six and wore a blue, frilly dress, stood at the entrance of the labyrinth with her hand stretched out. The girl looked so similar to Bethany but she had no clue from where. “Are you lost?” she asked the girl. The girl didn’t say anything, just giggled and ran into the labyrinth.
“Wait,” Bethany exclaimed, running in after her. The labyrinth seemed more closed-in than usual but she thought that it was just because it was in the middle of the night and her nerves out of whack. She went through the labyrinth, zigzagging, going right then left. Even though she knew this labyrinth like the back of her hand, she was running into dead end after dead end and she couldn’t catch up to the girl. She would get a glimpse of the girl from only steps away but when she got close, the girl would be suddenly gone.
“What the hell,” she yelled in frustration. Resting for a moment, she leaned back against a stone. Then the girl came out of nowhere and was now standing next to Bethany, making her jump out of her skin. She gasped, “Whoa!” She dropped the flashlight but caught it in time so it didn’t hit the ground and break. Light shining on the girl, Bethany got a good look of the girl and became pale with shock, smashing the flashlight at her feet.
The little girl was a mirrored image of Bethany from long ago, at age six. She had her curly, black hair, her freckles that she used to get every summer, and the blue dress that her aunt gave her. Bethany got goose bumps and fear possessed her. “This has to be a dream,” she thought, “or I’m finally going crazy.”
“You’re…” she uttered but being unable to speak.
“Come on,” giggled the six-year-old Bethany, grabbing her hand, “my friend wants to meet you!” Being speechless and in a trance, she let her young clone drag her along. She was led to an opening in the labyrinth that she never saw before and it looked like they stepped into a different dimension; the sky being blood red, three moons and suns shining, the trees dying all around, and the temperature was incredibly hot, causing steam to come up out from the ground. Then she saw a tall man dressed in red.
“Who’s that?” she asked.
“My friend,” replied the child version of herself.
“Who is he though?” she asked.
“Satan.” Bethany’s heart practically stopped when her child self said the name. She tried to pull back but her tiny double had amazing strength. As they approached, she saw that the man was tanned, had black hair and mustache, bared horrific fangs behind an inviting smile, and fiery red eyes that were ablaze in the dark. Bethany began screaming hysterically as they got closer and closer.
“Quiet my dear Bethany,” said Satan, “I want to help you.”
“I don’t want your help!” she replied angrily.
“But you said that you would give anything to be a child again,” he said happily.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” she said, her voice now shaking, “You can’t turn me back into a child and besides, I know what ‘anything’ means. You just want my soul!”
“Not just your soul,” he smiled, “and no, I can’t turn you back into a child but with some assistance from my little helper, I can change your past and future.” He was pointing to her clone who was beaming.
“What?” she exclaimed.
“I can make her back to your past and she could relive your life for you,” Satan explained, “and I can give her different circumstances, different experiences so she couldn’t make any of your mistakes and your life will worth something…but for her to do that for you, you have to be my slave.”
“NO,” she shouted, “I DON’T WANT OR NEED YOUR HELP!” She tried to run away but shadowy hands came up out from scorching ground and grabbed her ankles, dragging her back. She screamed and screamed in agony. She was trying to fight the hands, digging her nails in the dirt but it was no use.
“I was going to give this chance as a gift,” said Satan when the demonic hands brought her back, “but I think that I won’t give you an option. You messed up your life and you know it. You’re such a loser that it makes me ill! She’ll live out your life better than you!” He then slapped Bethany in the face and clapped his two hands in the air.
Dark clouds began to surround her, making it difficult to breathe and see. It also felt like a million hands were crushing her ribcage but she couldn’t scream out. She could only hear Satan and her clone talking.
“Are you ready?” asked Satan.
“Yeah,” she giggled. Satan snapped his fingers and suddenly the girl was gone in smoke. All that Bethany could hear now was the girl’s giggles echoing in her mind. Bethany then disappeared into the hellish unknown with Satan and was never missed or even remembered. Her life was taken over.
My name is Wendy Kyle. It was always a never-ending, dark battle with my so-called friends Gerald and Tiffany. One moment, we were like a close second family and in a blink of an eye, we were worse enemies. Hateful words were their weapons of choice. When we would fight, they would point out my every flaw and put salt on old wounds until I was a spineless jellyfish. I was always walking on egg shells around them and tried to do everything to keep them happy. Even when I was five, when we first met, I had to prove myself worthy to be their friend.
When I met them I was the new girl and the youngest at school, having trouble making friends. I felt like everyone hated me and I was easily picked on. One day, our teacher Ms. Ploster left the room for a moment during art time. On my way getting my paint, I caught six-year-old sister and brother, Tiffany and Gerald drawing all over on the classroom walls. I gasped in shock and Tiffany quickly turned around to face me. She smiled mischievously and said in a fake nice tone, “Wanna help us?” She handed me a red crayon and Gerald smiled knowingly back at Tiffany. I knew that it was wrong but I thought that they were being friendly. I took the crayon and timidly drew a heart on the wall. Footsteps were approaching and I fearfully looked over my shoulder. They told me that it was no one but when I wasn’t looking, they ran away.
“Wendy,” exclaimed Ms. Ploster, “Did you do all of this?!” I looked around and I saw Gerald and Tiffany hiding in the corner.
Gerald mouthed, “Do you want to be our friends or not?” I stared at them for a second. They seemed kind but had a wicked sparkle in their eyes. I was so desperate for some friends that I made a stupid decision.
“Yes,” I told Ms. Ploster, “I did it.” I was sent to the principal’s office, was made to clean the walls, and even my mom and dad grounded me from the television for a week but I thought that Gerald and Tiffany were my friends now.
Years later in high school, they made me do more serious and dangerous things with them like shop lifting, stealing from our parents, dealing drugs, and Gerald even took me to prom for helping them rob an elderly woman. I knew that these things were wrong but I was their puppet and they pulled the strings. Even though we never got caught for these horrible things somehow, I was expected to take all of the blame for it if we did. I sometimes got the guts to say no to them but they gave me hell. Playing with my insecurities, they completely tore down my self-esteem by saying that I was nothing but shit without them. Then they would shun me, not talking to me, not even acknowledging that we were ever friends. Despite my efforts to remain strong, the loneliness would always become too overwhelming and eventually I would cave in. We would then go back to normal.
Now I was twenty-one. I was going to college, working on a creative writing major and an art major. Gerald and Tiffany went to school for a semester and just dropped out. Now they both worked at the general store. Since the first day of college, I was focused and constantly worked on homework. I’ve had been too busy to tag along with them and began to have the courage to say no more and more. College gave me confidence. I expected to have a big fight with them soon but surprisingly they tolerated my absence. Things seemed to be changing…well, that was until Valentine’s Day.
It was a bitterly cold Valentine’s Day with snowflakes violently blowing in my face as I walked to their house. I was just drop off their Valentine’s Day gifts that I got them and go to the library but when I got there, it was as though they were waiting for me and they made me sit down for a while. Looking around, I noticed that we were alone. At first, we were just casually talking but then both of their faces became ominous.
“Life has been miserable Wendy,” said Tiffany.
“Why?” I asked uncomfortably.
“Cause our freakin’ parents won’t give us extra money,” sneered Gerald, “so I was thinking that you could help us rob…”
“No,” I said firmly, standing up and not letting him finish, “I’m not robbing anyone, any place anymore. I can let borrow some money. How much do you guys need?” Before I knew what happening, Gerald slapped me across the cheek with incredible force, making me fall back.
“WATCH YOUR DAMN MOUTH,” he shouted, “WE ARE STILL YOUR FRIENDS COLLEGE GIRL AND YOU WILL DO WHAT WE SAY, GOT IT?”
Fighting back my stinging tears, I still said, “No I won’t.”
He then practically pounced on me and punched me repeatedly in the face while Tiffany was off to the side, kicking me in the ribs. I tried to get away but Gerald pinned me down. “YOU UNGRATEFUL,” they both spat at me as they beat, “WEAK, USELESS, DUMB LITTLE WITCH!” Blood was gushing excessively from my face and my whole body was in total agony but I wouldn’t let them see me cry. I wasn’t that pathetic girl anymore. Their eyes looked empty, so evil. Seeing their venomous souls, something snapped within me and amazing strength filled me.
I kneed Gerald in the groin and pushed Tiffany down with a free hand in one move. They both howled in pain. I got to my feet and ran into the kitchen. I got a butcher knife from the block, the metal making a loud scraping sound. I wasn’t just trying to escape; now I wanted revenge. Gerald came at me and to his absolute shock, I shoved the blade into his gut. “This stops here,” I said in a low, confident tone. He stumbled back and fell onto the ground. Tiffany screamed and tried to attack me too but I punch her down. She was now weeping over her brother. He wasn’t dead, only badly injured and bleeding profusely. Without saying another word, I pulled out the blade from him and calmly washed my hands at the sink. Taking the knife with me, I was heading towards the door.
“Where are you going?” asked Tiffany. I ignored her and kept on walking.
“Are you going to help your friend?” Tiffany asked hysterically, “Are you coming back with help?”
As I continued to walk, I sardonically said, “Don’t hold your breath.” I then walked out of their house, out into freedom and not ever knowing or caring what had become of them. I was no longer controlled.
Last week, Susan G. Komen for the Cure reversed its decision to defund a
Planned Parenthood program that gave millions of low-income women access
to breast cancer screenings.
While their decision was a victory for the millions of men and women who
joined together to demand change, the woman behind the attack on Planned
Parenthood, Karen Handel, is still in a senior position at Susan G. Komen.
What's more, the members of the board who hired her and approved of policy
change aimed at defunding Planned Parenthood need to be replaced with new
board members whose number one priority is fighting breast cancer, not
playing politics.
I told Susan G. Komen: Fire Karen Handel and appoint new board members who
are truly committed to the foundation's mission of doing everything
possible to fight breast cancer. I hope you will too. You can sign the
petition and get more information at the link below.
