The kite runner

My favorite coming of age story is the book, the Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini. It was a required reading for my English class during my junior year, and like a lot of the books in the selection for class readings, they seemed dull. Plus, I wasn’t really a fan of war novels. Reluctantly, I picked the book up and began reading it. From the moment I started the book, I didn’t want to put it down. (As cliché as that sounds). The main character, a young boy named Amir becomes friends with his father’s servant’s son, Hassan. Although they spent majority of their time together, they were more like frenemies (friends and enemies). Amir treated Hassan more than cruel, but never thought twice about it because he was higher up the social ladder. Amir only tried to make his father, Baba, happy, and win the kite competition.

                Further into the book, on the day of the kite competition Amir is only focused on winning. On that same day though, Hassan was raped by several other young boys. Although Amir usually torments Hassan, he is shocked. His innocence that day was lost, and winning the kite competition fell onto the back burner. Other controversial coming of age issues throughout the book included the war, the issue of race (Hassan was of different descent than the rest of the town of Kubal and therefore got bullied) and the death of Hassan’s “whore” mother.  Throughout these controversial years in the boys lived, not only did they grow up, but they lost their innocence and gained a view of the real world. The reason this I consider this to be my favorite story is because of the way that it was set in a completely different area, time, place, and situation that one I can relate too, and it still affected me emotionally throughout the trail of events.

Flash fiction

Senior prom was approaching faster than we all thought and dates were for the most part predicted. Having no boyfriend, the closest thing to a date would have been my best friend Matt. Matt and I became immediate friends sophomore year as he transferred to my school. He was a hilarious, good-natured guy that everyone fell in love with immediately. Luckily for me, Matt and I made future plans that if we didn’t have prom dates come senior year we would go with each other by default. Since I had no one in mind, Matt was my clear option from the beginning.  Matt however, was of course going to tease me the two months before prom. I would ask him who he was taking and he would list a bunch of random girls out of the blue.  Every time he tormented me with different girls, it felt like I was getting punched in the stomach. This threw my plan way off track…

                I was on the way back from the gym with one of my girlfriends, prom steadily approaching I was trying to get in perfect prom dress shape. We reached my house, with everything normal; grabbing a glass of water, turning on the television. I headed towards my stairs leading to my room only to find Reese’s candy, so happens to be my favorite, in my path. So much for the perfect prom body. As I made my way up the stairs there was a huge tarp of paper leading up the stairs as well, along the wall. As I ran to my room the letters spelled out, “Will you go to prom with me? Love Matt.” At the end of the tarp laid two more giant Reese’s bags and a bouquet of pink roses. I was shocked and so happy. I felt like the load of bricks instantly lifted off my shoulders.

                Prom approached fast and all those Reese’s caught up to me. I was going in for my last fitting  and the Alteration worker told me that I should “fast the next few days.” Thanks, but my prom is tomorrow. Now knowing this information and knowing I will be stressed beyond belief the next day made prom unexciting. The pit of my stomach was now empty and I wasn’t allowed to fill that pit with food for the next 24 hours. Prom day arrived and I was all dolled up, ready to put on my $350 dollar prom gown. I was nearly about to faint from starvation but barely slid into my prom dress. Unfortunately for Matt, prom was a horrible experience given the fact I was a raging bitch. Thank god it was my senior prom and I won’t be doing that again. I pray for my husband-to-be on wedding day.

What did you learn today?

every day when my dad called me when he got off of work, he always asked the same series of questions. he always started out the conversation with "whats up" followed by "how was your day". once we got a little further into the conversation he would always bring up my schooling. im assuming this is because he is a teacher and its his second nature to wonder what his daughter is up too every day. he would then always ask me "what did you learn today". i absolutely hated this question. for multiple reasons. one, because around the time that he started asking this question every day it was in middle school. i took silly classes that didnt teach me too much, at least not like the class options i could choose from in high school and college. although i paid attention in class, i still never felt like i learned something ground-breaking, or noteworthy. of course there were some days that i felt like i learned a whole new subject of something and on those days i would be eager to let him know. but the rest (most common) days that i really didnt have much to say about what i learned, i lied. i exagerated. i twisted the truth. i would tell him basically any assignment that i had in the last few weeks and would tell him all about it like i had done it today. another reason i hated this question is because i felt like regardless of the subject of conversation, it always ended up with that question.

The year she found out the tooth-fairy wasnt real.

Almost every child in American society believes in the tooth fairy. You grow up believing in all these fictional characters that bring you gifts in return for your baby teeth, or being a good girl even when Santa Claus isn’t watching. What American’s tend to forget is that there also comes a point in a child’s life when they realize that these legends are fake and their dreams and sense of reality are destroyed. The year Brittany found out about the nonexistent tooth fairy is one she will never forget. Brittany was young, about 9 years old. She was a late bloomer and had only been losing her baby teeth for two years now. Brittany had a hand sewn tooth fairy pillow decorated by her great-grandmother. When Brittany felt her tooth becoming loose, she would dig in the bottom of her wooden trunk and grab the pillow. After some prodding and pulling, the tooth would fall out. She immediately ran and put the tooth in the pocket on the pillow. The nights that Brittany had lost a tooth, were the nights she had the most trouble falling asleep. The anticipation was almost sickening. She was always trying to catch a glimpse of this so called fairy that flew into her room and without waking her up, removed the tooth from the pillow and then slipped a generous five dollar bill. On that particular night, after washing the tooth, she ran to show her mom. Her mother’s friend Michael was over having dinner with her family. Michael was a single guy, mid-thirties and a total bachelor. Michael wouldn’t have a clue what to do if a child fell into his lap. Michael seem just as excited as Brittany’s mother when she showed everyone at the table the new gap in her smile, and the tooth in her hand. Maybe it was the wine that Michael had been drinking with his meal, or maybe he could remember his own tooth-loss stories. Brittany’s mother told her it was time to get in the shower and get ready for bed. Before getting in the shower though, Brittany delicately placed the tooth in the pocket, and jumped in the shower. As any nine year old does, they take fast showers. It was a maximum of ten minutes from the time she got in the shower, until the time she got out. When she dried off, she changed into her pajamas, said goodnight to her family and went to bed. Right before she drifted into unconsciousness, Brittany placed her hand in the pillow just to get one last glance of the tooth. To her surprise the TOOTH WAS GONE! In its place was a four times-more-generous TWENTY DOLLAR BILL.  Brittany knew this wasn’t adding up. Why would she receive four times the amount she normally does, and it wasn’t even a front tooth. Plus the most obvious factor is that it had only been ten minutes since she placed the tooth there, and it wasn’t even while anyone in the house was sleeping. Brittany brought the pillow out to her mother and explained what was happening in a manic way. Michael must’ve been the culprit because he pulled her mother aside and explained what he had done. Apparently he was feeling nostalgic about the tooth fairy and felt he could leave a little extra cash and Brittany wouldn’t notice.  Boy was he wrong. Brittany learned the truth that night, that the tooth fairy wasn’t real and the excitement that she normally felt about losing a tooth, never came again.

my first crush

I can still think of myself being the giddy school girl who realized that maybe boys did have cooties anymore, and they could actually be kind of cute. It mustve been around the age that girls were "supposed" to start having crushes because my mom was constantly asking me if i liked anyone at school. she asked me day in and day out on the way to check the mail, like a ritual. and i never spoke up to tell her i actually did like someone. i decided one day though, that it was finally time to tell her. i almost felt kind of guilty hiding it from her for several months. Have you ever heard the expression that moms know everything? i swear my mom did. so my plan was set. i was going to wait until the next day as we were walking and i would wait for her to bring it up. the next day came around and as we were walking to the mailboxes, the nervousness i remember feeling was almost taking over. my mom opened her mouth and as she did the words
"How was your day at school Honey?"
"My day was good."
those were the only words i could utter out because i was so shocked that she didnt ask about boys.

"Well did you learn anything interesting at school today?" she asked.

I answered my mother
"no"

she kept talking but i zoned out. i thought that if i couldnt work up the courage to tell my mother, then i would never be able to work up the courage to tell my crush, alex. i waited for a few minutes but never ended up asking me that day. i didnt know why she didnt ask. i began to have the feeling that she knew and she just wanted me to speak up. i never told my mom that day. the next day at school, this was all still fresh on my mind, and like always my favorite part of the day is when we had class together so we could hang out. he was the tallest boy in our whole grade, and linky. he had dirty blonde hair and long bony fingers. he had a long face and green eyes. he was definitely cute. he was awesome at basketball and his basketball shoes always matched his outfit.

coming of age

As I’m sure we are all aware, every child goes through a period in which they transition from childhood into adulthood. This process usually comes about with a significant experience that tends to shape them for the rest of their adult lives. Some may argue that certain races, ages, or genders are affected differently, but I would have to disagree. Whether you are male, or female, you encounter the transition that matures you into an adult way of thinking and acting. This is a circumstance in which innocence is often taken away. The short story read in class by Okri, and the television series “My so called life” are both perfect examples of this.

In the story "In the shadow of war" by Ben Okri, the coming of age theme is very present. The short story is one in which the son, Omovo, is introduced to the harshness of war, that his father tries to keep from him. Omovo often listens to the radio where the hourly news comes on to give updates on the war. His interest in the war, and his search for what is really going on, causes Omovo listens to the radio whether his father is present or not. His father discourages Omovo from listening to the radio stating that "it’s bad for children to listen to news on the war". As almost any child would, Omovo begins wondering why he is prohibited from the truth surrounding him. Once he travels into the forest after the "witch", he becomes introduced to the extreme causalities of the war. He see’s dead mangled bodies in the marsh of the river, and he learns the truth about the witch; she was simply aiding the wounded war victims. He also witnesses’ immense amounts of malnutrition, and the brutal treatment that the Nigerian soldiers put forth. After the fiasco in the forest, Omovo wakes up back in his house where his father explains that the soldiers brought him back from the forest after he blacked out. I believe that this is when Omovo realizes that his father may not be on the pedestal that he was once placed on, and that his childhood was seemingly robbed from him that day in the forest. Sometimes there are certain events, or scenarios that you cannot erase from your head. The harshness of that day is something that his father was trying to protect him from, but also something that cant be taken back. Situations like those have a way of introducing you to the real world very quickly.

In TV series “my so called life” there is an episode in which Angela (the daughter) becomes discontent with her father. After her father gave her tickets to see the Grateful Dead, a band that she is not fond of, he asks for them back. Angela had sold the tickets already and was furious that her dad was asking for them back. This is more a tale of adolescence, but can still be tied into a distinct time period in which transitions begin taking place. In my opinion, Angela felt as if her and her father were on different pages. Since we have all been (or still are) teenagers at one point, we understand that this is an awful feeling. All children want their parents to understand them. As we are growing up, we all tend to go through phases. These phases, in my perspective are necessary to the shaping of the adults that we become.  

Both of these stories also tie into another theme that was discussed in class, one in which fathers and their children are distanced in the time of adolescence. Omovo grew up very fast that day, regardless of the fact that his father had tried to protect him from that. Omovo probably felt like his father was keeping something from him, which caused a rift between them. Two other examples of this are in “My so called life” with both Angela straying away from her father, but also with Angela’s mother herself. Angela’s mother had to deal with her father skipping out on paying the IRS, in which she decides to take control of the situation. Even as middle-aged adults, circumstances happen which can in turn affect the relationship, even if only temporary.

Recollecting

First grade

In first grade, I don’t remember much. The only things I can recall are that I went to an elementary school that I haven’t been too or even since I left. The name was Ruth N Upson. My teacher, Mrs. Stovall was like my idol. Looking back, I have no idea why I liked her so much, she was just friendly. Every day when my mom picked me up from school, she would bring our dogs and I would run and get Mrs. Stovall so she could play with them.

Second grade

By this point, I moved to Miami. My elementary school was called “Palm cove”. The cool thing about this school was that it was modeled after a baseball team. The teachers were called coaches, the students were the players, and classrooms were referred to as dugouts, and if you got your card flipped you “struck out”.

Third grade

This is the year I started to participate in all my school activities. We had an annual school fundraiser in which every one attached jingle bells to their ankles, arms, and clothes and we ran around the block. It was known as the “Jingle bell jog”.

Fourth grade

I started attending after school care because my mom didn’t get off work until 5pm. Every day after school we had snacks, I usually sat with my friends Mari Carmen, Alex, and chynnel.  We played kickball almost every day with about thirty other kids and I always loved playing. I started to realize that maybe I liked Alexander as more than a friend. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone though.

Fifth grade

This was the year of many hurricanes. All I can remember is my step dad having to get onto a ladder and put up hurricane shutters. The shutters stayed on our house for almost 3 weeks, because the hurricanes were back to back. It was so dark in the house since all of the windows were covered and there were several days in which we lost power. We used flashlights and candles but the house was so hot. My stepbrother Cameron, and I just played board games and my mom and step dad mainly hung out downstairs. The first day that we got to actually leave the house after the hurricanes had died down, a tree fell right next to my step dad’s car.

Sixth grade

This is the year I started middle school. The night before, my mom found a 2 week old kitten, which we decided to keep. We had to bottle feed it. I had to wear a uniform to my school, and this is the year I had my first boyfriend.

Like father like daughter

Although some of you will think this is some sort of personal sob-story, that I’m about to share, I assure you it isn’t. I’ll begin at about the age in which I realized my father was not upon this iconic “pedestal”, that other parents seem to be placed on. Around the year 2000, I was about seven years old, my parents went through a divorce, my mom met someone new, and we moved to Miami, FL. Because of all these transitions, happening seemingly back to back, it was a period in which many adjustments were made. Upon moving almost four-hundred miles away from my father, I suddenly lost about 95% of the “quality time” I had shared with him the past seven years of my life. My dad was no longer just down the hallway, he was in a different city, living in the house that my parents had built together. For several years, I flew to my father once a month to visit, but that wasn’t always in my ideal interest as the older I got. When I got the age where it was “un-cool” to be spending mass amounts of time with your parents, I stopped flying to see him as frequently, and it fell down on my priority list to call him as much. Some of you may think that teenage hormones began to simply eat away at our relationship, but it was almost as if my dad was going through puberty himself. Most children would think that if they were to stop giving as much attention to their relationship with one of their parents, that their parent would smother them even more. This was not the case with my father. My father simply withdrew from the relationship as much as I had. He focused more of his time on athletics, and his job. Over the next several years, my father and I always talked on the phone, every couple of days and I visited when I could. My father, unfortunately, thought that even though we weren’t as close as other father-daughter duos, paying his monthly child support was still “supporting” me. As if money and, a real relationship were interchangeable.  They weren’t. this is when I began to realize that my father was kicked off this pedestal not because he didn’t care, but because he was unsure how to show it. (Not by paying your way into my life)

            Good news though, over the last several years my father and I have definitely improved our relationship. He’s actually pretty fun to hang around. J

First blog ever!

Hello blogging-world. This would be my first entry, im not quite sure what to say, but I must admit I am excited to be able to continue using this as a feature to my English class.