Journal

02/09/2009 I'm so happy. I'm finally here and can get a working ticket. “Ow” everyone is pushing me. I feel like I'm in a crowd of animals! “Next!” the man behind the counter screams and it's finally my turn. “Name...?” the annoyed man engages the conversation. “George Williams, sir” I respond. “Okay, here, take this...You will have to arrive at Mister Philip's farm at nine 'clock t'morrow, the farm's 5 miles South of this damn place...NEXT!” “Thanks sir” my lips manage to mouth as I take my working ticket and walk away. I put my bindle on my right shoulder and start walking. I hum to the sound of the together clinging caned beans, and my covers as they swing from side to side, left, right, left, right, left... I love watching the sun set, it's so beautiful, one of the only beautiful things at this time in this country. It has been three months since it all started, the not so great depression and that I not only lost my job, but the contact to my family. I walk over to a little open cite from where I can see the stars. I take out my thin covers that were the only ones I could afford with still being able to buy beans and save a little, because who knows? I might not get another job in a while. I'm collecting a few branches of wood to start my little fire. I take one a my few matches and “Crack” light my little fire. “Clack” is the sound of me slamming my can of beans against a rock, opening it and ready to put over the fire. After ten minutes they're ready, I eat them and try to enjoy the rest of my evening.

02/10 AND 11/2009 __Image Writing__ William George was jobless. And so was the rest of the country, in 1932. He couldn't stay with his family, because work was not sufficient where his family was, so he left them. “I love you and will be back as soon as I can, honey.” he told his wife, “Tell the kids their Daddy loves them and will be back soon” and so he left, into the unknown, with a bindle on his shoulder, walking away from his family, far, far away. As the wind blew harder, his hat lifted from his head, his hand reaching fast and securing it on his head. The dust balls were everywhere, rolling on the dry land and up to no good. “Work ticket place 1 mile away” a board said. “Good” Will mumbled. He walked and walked. “Hello, looking fo' a job m'ster?” a voice said behind him. Surprised, he turned around, facing another probably jobless man. “Yes. Are you too?” he responded. “Hell yeah, fella” the man answered, “Wha's the name?”  “Will, Will George and who are you?” “James Smith, call me Jamie” “Nice meeting ya Jamie”  “Sure, now let's go, I can see the damn ticket place ov'rthere and there ain't many people around, so we'd better hurry before the folks come” and so both men made their ways to the little house and entered. “NEXT, I need two people!” the counter man said and Will and James looked at each other, then walked towards the counter. “You'll both go to the nearest farm, a few miles North, be ready to work tomorrow morning there, or you ain't gettin' far fellas”  “Thanks, Mista” Jamie and Will responded, taking their tickets. They walked away and made their way. For half an hour, they walked in silence, until Jamie noticed something. “Hey Will, see the farm ov'r there?”  “Sure, think it's a rich fella's farm, so we might get a good pay”   “Can't be too sure, last time, ain't no nice fella da boss, he gave us the same crappy pay as to the nigga there...” And both men came nearer and nearer to the farm, until they reached it. The sun was already setting and the darkness spread. Will knocked at the door, and a fat man came and said, “So you're the fellas sent here... You betta work good or you'll be back to where you started at”. The men went to the cabin they were told to sleep in and met the others. “Hey, what's the names?” a strong and confident looking worker said. “I'm Jamie and that's ma friend Will”  “I'm John, hope da boss didn't scare you two too much, he ain't that nice of a guy, but if you work good, you'll stay. I been here for two months already and ain't plannin' on leavin'. There're two bunks over there, you can sleep there”  “Thanks” they said. Jamie and Will each walked towards a bunk and put their stuff down. It didn't seem that comfortable, but at least they had it and both were really tired. They fell deeply asleep into the night.

02/12/2009 and 02/13/2009 (The story above edited and continued) __The very great, Great Depression__ __Chapter 1__ William George was jobless. And so was the rest of the country, in 1932. He couldn't stay with his family, because work was not sufficient where he and his family lived, so he left them. “I love you and I'll be back as soon as I can, hon. I'm really s'rry.” he told his wife confidently, although he wasn't sure he would be able to, “Tell the kids their Daddy loves them and 'll be back soon. I love you and I'll always, whenever and wherever I might be, never forget that..,” and so he left, into the unknown, with a bindle on his shoulder, walking away from his family. Walking away from Sacramento. Walking away from all he had. Far, far away. //Am I doing the right thing?// he thought, //It is,we won't survive if I don't.// As the wind blew harder, his hat lifted from his head, his hand reaching fast and securing it back onto his head. The dust balls were everywhere, rolling on the dry land and up to no good. “Work ticket place 1 mile away” a board said. “Good” Will mumbled. He walked and walked. A minute later, he heard a scream, “AHHH, MY EYES! DAMN DUST BALLS! AHHH!”. He looked back but just saw a blur of what seemed to be the person, //I can't go back there, I have my own problems to deal with right now.// He thought. His legs kept on dragging him, until something brought him to a stop. “Hello, looking fo' a job m'ster?” a voice asked behind him. //Who could that be?// He thought. Surprised, he turned around, facing another probably jobless man. “Yes. Are you too?” he responded. “Hell yeah, fella” the man answered, “Wha's the name?” “Will, Will George and who are you?” “James Smith, call me Jamie” “Nice meeting ya Jamie” “Sure, now let's go, I can see the damn ticket place ov'rthere and there ain't many people around, so we'd better hurry before the folks come” and so both men made their ways to the little house and entered. “NEXT, I need two people!” the counter man said and Will and James looked at each other, then walked towards the counter. “You'll both go to the nearest farm, a few miles North, be ready to work tomorrow morning there, or you ain't gettin' far fellas” “Thanks, Mista” Jamie and Will responded, taking their tickets. They walked away and made their way. For half an hour, they walked in silence, until Jamie noticed something. “Hey Will, see the farm ov'r there?” “Sure, think it's a rich fella's farm, so we might get a good pay” “Can't be too sure, last time, ain't no nice fella da boss, he gave us the same crappy pay as to the nigga there...” And both men came nearer and nearer to the farm, until they reached it. The sun was already setting and the darkness spread. Will knocked at the door, and a fat man came and said, “So you're the fellas sent here...You betta work good or you'll be back to where you started at”. The men went to the cabin they were told to sleep in and met the others. “Hey, what's the names?” a strong and confident looking worker said. “I'm Jamie and that's ma friend Will” “I'm John, hope da boss didn't scare you two too much, he ain't that nice of a guy, but if you work good, you'll stay. I been here for two months already and ain't plannin' on leavin'. There're two bunks over there, you can sleep there” “Thanks” they said. Jamie and Will each walked towards a bunk and put their stuff down. It didn't seem that comfortable, but at least they had it and both were really tired. They fell deeply asleep into the night. __Chapter 2__ At 6 o'clock the next morning, John woke up, stretched a little, massaged his slim, muscular arms and walked over to the other four bunks. Will was sleeping at one end, next to Jamie, who was sleeping next to Joe, who's bunk was next to a non occupied one. “Hey, guys, wake up!” he shouted. Joe immediately jumped out of bed and put on his shoes. “What?” Jamie sleepily mouthed. “Da boss won't be happy to know you lazy fellas don't wanna wake up, now get up Jamie. WILL! WAKE UP!” “Okay, I heard you the firs' time! Ain't no reason to shout a' me...” Will stood up and got himself ready. Five minutes later, Will saw a shadow, a wide and short one, walking slowly towards the little cabin. //It's the boss again, ugh I have a bad feelin' 'bout this fella,// Will thought. “The work ain't doing itself on its own! Even da nigga is already out there. C'mon, you don't wanna end up like da last fool who I fired! 'Heard his body was found next to the river, 'cause he didn't have 'nough food.” The enormous man shrieked. “We're coming,” the workers said. As if their lives depended on it, Joe and John sprinted out of cabin, then followed by Jamie and finally Will, who didn't seem to understand what was happening, because of a lack of experience. When Will got outside, he saw a very small cabin labeled “Niggers”. //OH...That's probably where the nigga's sleepin'// he realized. “He got nerves,” Will told Jamie, who quickly turned around and looked if anybody was behind them. “Shhhh. Nev'r say that again without checking if any fellas' around. Ya could get us in real big troubles and you ain't wanting that.” Jamie whispered. //I better watch that I ain't making no comments before lookin' around...// What the workers called breakfast came right after. Each worker had a little plate filled with the cheapest oatmeal and a plastic spoon next to it. //Ew... well at least I have somethin' to eat...// All workers seemed happy to have this food, so Will decided to eat it too. The workers only had five minutes to eat and then it was straight to work. “John! Go tell the new ones what to do! They're gonna help the nigga!” The boss yelled out. “Okay boss.” He quickly ran over to the “new ones”. “Hey, boys, Imma explain to you whatch'a gonna do...You gonna help da nigger ” Jamie and Will nodded and walked towards “the nigga”. Jamie just stood there while Will was trying to get to know him. “So, what's ya name? I'm Will” Will asked. The Nigger didn't respond. “What's ya name I asked” Will spoke up. “Why are ya talkin' to me. No fool ain't talking to a nigger.”  “I was just trying to be nice...”   “The name's George...Anyways, you two fellas gonna help me on the field. We gonna go make holes in the ground, plant some corn and then get the ripe corn and put it in buckets.”  “Sounds easy...”   “It ain't as easy as it look...You might not wanna talk to me anymore, 'cause da boss ain't liking it. I'm a nigga and niggas get people in trouble.” //I don't get this,// Will thought. Will walked beside Jamie on the way to the small field. “Why you been talking to da nigger? Don't ya know you ain't supposed to talk to no nigger!” Jamie asked. “I'm gonna stop, I was just curious. George seems pretty nice though.”  “Nobody ain't calling no nigga by a name. A nigga is a nigga, IT ain't no person.”  “Okay, I get it...”   So the day went on, and Jamie and Will were working. //This is so hard,// Will thought, //This is the hardest I've worked forever.// The sun was shining so hard, and it was so hot outside. Will had just taken the shovel and planted it in the soil. Will looked up at the sun and collapsed. “Damn it Will” Jamie said, but Will didn't respond. Afraid that Will would get fired or that something would happen to him, Jamie carried his friend and placed him under a tree's shadow. He got some water and a towel, and put it on his forehead. About an hour after that, Will woke up. “Wha-What happened?” Will stuttered. “You fell unconscious man, but it's alright, I got ya covered. I finished your work.”  “Oh, thanks. I owe you.” And so the friendship between the two men grew.

02/14/2009 __ Time __ It’s all relative, But I really don’t get the origin, Because if it’s an origin, There shouldn’t be anything before it, But in history, There is something before the year 0, So it doesn’t really make sense. It is scary, Not knowing when everything started, Nor when everything will about it, It’s a secret, And if anyone or anything should know it    Only the universe would know It’s sad, Time is relative, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Relative to Nothing! <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until we have proof.

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">02/15/2009 __ <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Illusions __ <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They aren’t random, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And happen to mentally ills, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or if you’ve been depressed, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Always based off of ideas, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes they’re from dreams, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes goals, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or in the worst cases, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are based off of Nightmares, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And can be scary. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They drive people crazy, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are confusing, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And trouble your mind <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It might seem like something’s there, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But there really isn’t! <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s an illusion,

And That's How It Is

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">02/16/2009 __<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wave __ <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s Big, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wide, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And Gigantic, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coming so fast, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And going to hit the coast, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s clear, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And not clear, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And an illusion, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like a crash, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In life, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s scary, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It will come without a warning, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a Wave!

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">02/17/2009 __<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wave __ <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s Big, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wide, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And Gigantic, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coming so fast, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And going to hit the coast, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s clear, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And not clear, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And an illusion, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like a crash, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In life, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s scary, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It will come without a warning, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a Wave!

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">02/18/2009 __<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hatred __ <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very Strong, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can resist anything, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Except for Love. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you love someone, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And hate them at the same time, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You won’t stay mad long, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because love will defeat hatred, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good will defeat bad, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But what is good? <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And what is bad?

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">02/19/2009

__ <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Light __ <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A little bit of hope, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of a tunnel, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An exit, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An escape, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A way out of darkness, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A way out of misery, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A goal, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A dream, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You look up to, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It seems far, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But if you look again it isn’t, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You just have to work yourself to it, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And you’ll get there, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Better hope than nothing, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope can turn into Goal, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nothing will always stay nothing, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And if you get to a crossroad, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You’ll know which one to pick, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pick hope,

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pick the little spot of light that might turn out to be the sun,

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The sun,

Your life.

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">02/20/2009 __ <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Piano __ <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A charming and emotional person, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With character and influence, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That can change one person’s life, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By reminding them who they are, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the things they’ve been through, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Morose or amazing memories, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Important or minor ones, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are the things that make up who we are, And what the piano is meant to be doing, Reminding us we have a past, Reminding us of a part of our lives, We might have preferred hiding, But this is who we are.

02/21/2009 __ The Teddy Bear __ To a child, It isn’t just a stuffed animal, But a protector, And a companion, Through this phase of their lives. They can tell their Teddy anything, A lot of secrets, That will be safe, With Teddy, He won’t tell anyone anything, Because he’s trusted, As much trusted as known he’s just a stuffed animal, Yet does convince some otherwise, He’s needed, Needed for a certain time, But in a short while, He won’t belong anymore And that’s the cycle, The Teddy Bear Cycle!

02/22/2009 __A good night's sleep__ A good night's sleep is important, Before school or even a race, With a good night's sleep, You'll succeed. People might make fun of you, But when they'll fail because of tiredness, It'll be your sweet revenge, A secret revenge. It can influence your life, From A to Z, From the SHSAT to a college interview, You'll depend on it, So get used to it.

02/23/2009 __My Brother__ Ugh, He's here, The second he came, He started bothering me. Ugh, He's here, Forcing me to play video games, Behaving like a little baby. Ugh, He's here, He's a child, A seventeen year old child. Ugh, He's here, From Paris, Why did the plane have to come? Ugh, He's here, He might be annoying, But I do love him. 02/24/2009 __The Chance of a Lifetime__ I can get away, Get a job, I have always dreamed of, I can get away. I can leave my life, Take an opportunity, And leave my life behind, To start a new one. I would have to leave my friends, My whole family, But I would come back one day, With a fortune and confidence. I would miss them, Life would be hard, My inside would die, While my outside would party. So should I take this chance? The chance of a lifetime? Leave my family, friends and all that I have? To live my dream?

02/25/2009 __A bit of hope__ I wished upon a star, To get what I'd never have, Get a new start, Get a new life. I wished upon a star, That my dreams would come true, That I would achieve, Instead of failing. I wished upon a star, That there was a way out, A way out of misery, A way out of my life. I wished upon a star, That someone would love me, Take care of me, And make me a better person. I wished upon a star, That all of this would happen, And it did, It finally did.