Mark Ferretti

What We Lost

Finally 16 and license bound, Jon was as happy as could be. Within the next few weeks he would be taking his exam to acquire his driver's license. Jon was a young man with a lively spirit and was living life as it should be lived by any self respecting 16 year old boy. School in the mornings, hanging out with friends later and the occasional homework assignment when necessary. School wasn't really his forte, yet he had always gotten done what he needed to. Being one year younger than I was, we had become very good friends within the past few months. We had our own small group in which we were together nearly every day. It seemed that nothing could break us apart. Day in and day out we went on with our lives together having fun and causing all kinds of trouble around town. We were neither part of the jocks or the geeks, but categorized individually because we were all neutral with either crowd. This being as it was made way for us to hit up parties no matter who was their. No one ever contested our arrival to such event. Jon was always the life of the party, weather he was getting everyone to dance or just keeping the peace whenever an altercation broke out. Being as warm hearted as he was, he dug his way into many peoples lives in a very short amount of time, but just as quickly as he sunk into your life he was taken away.

The party was great, all our friends were their having a grand old time chatting it up while having some drinks. Just what you would expect any average high school student to be doing on a Saturday night in the middle of November. Everyone was having more fun as the night went on and as the alcohol began to take hold of their body's. Their were people up on the catwalk ( which seemed quite dangerous, but no one seemed to care), as well as people outside all around the camp. At this point in the night people stopped caring about things that people were doing that could hurt themselves or someone else. That's the effects of the alcohol for you. While many people never consider the consequences of their actions, they tend to make decisions that have the possibility of having very bad outcome. On this night that was nothing more than true.

It was around midnight and everyone was having a good time. I was talking to Jon and Eddie outside smoking a cigarette. We were talking about Jon just getting his license and how fun it was going to be to take the Jeep out through Jeep out and now the time had finally arose. Just then Marshall and Derek came outside to have a cigarette as well. They started talking to Jon about his Jeep. I remember hearing them saying something about going for a cruise as I was stepping inside but just shrugged off the idea as my mind was very cloudy from drinking heavily. It never occurred to me what might happen if they had actually taken the Jeep out for a ride and thats exactly what they did.

They left at around 12:30 and only a select few knew they had gone. Those who knew didn't say anything to the rest of us there because I can only assume they just figured that they'd be alright. Nothing could have been further from the truth. They went up and down the icy winter road, rounding corners at excessively high speeds. They were listening to Greatest Hits by Sublime when it all went down. They came barreling around the corner at about sixty, sixty-five miles per hour and hit a patch of ice. Instantly they went into a careening spin. They started flipping harshly and were all violently ejected from the vehicle. In a split second they're lives flashed before their eyes as they were almost certainly near death. Marshall, on his back, came to and helped himself to his feet and looked around to see Derek already standing. He asked Derek if he was alright and where Jon was. Miraculously Derek landed on his feet after the whole ordeal and he was untouched and Marshall had nothing more than a few bruises. They looked over at the wreckage that was once Jon's Jeep and saw no sign of Jon. They instantly thought he was trapped inside and feared the worst. They ran over and as they got to the wreck they saw him. He was right next to the busted Jeep weezing in pain. They called the authorities for help. After they called friends back at the party to inform them of the tragic accident that had just unfolded. Few people were told and that select few ran down to the scene. I was not there myself so I can't explain what actually happened but I know that things weren't looking very good.

I only found out after Jon had already been rushed to Eastern Maine Medical Center and was intensive care. Both of his lungs were collapsed and he had massive internal bleeding. It seemed that hope was far out of reach. The next day was more promising, the doctors said he had a good chance to survive. For that moment we all felt a glimpse of hope. Some of his very close friends and family members went to the hospital to visit him although he was in a medically induced coma and could not respond to anyone. The day passed and his condition didn't improve.

I awoke that Tuesday morning and went off to school and began my normal schedule. I walked into my first period class and took my seat. Me and a friend were talking about what had happened that weekend just as the principal's assistant walked in the room. She waved me to come with her I knew exactly what she was going to tell me. Just as I had thought she informed me that my good friend Jon had passed away just that morning. I entered the office to find a gathering of a few close friends of Jon's and mine sitting in a huddle. The counselor came in and offered us to enter into his office which was more secluded so we could grieve in peace. We sat there and we asked him to leave us be so we could have a peaceful time to commemorate our lost friend. He gladly left us to our thoughts. Emotions were running high and not much was being said. Everyone was at a loss of words. Eventually the tension broke and we began to remember the good times together. We were let leave school to go with be with our friends and think about everything that had just gone on.

The following days were very different than normal days at school. People were still being hit with the repercussions of the tragic event. Even people who barely knew Jon were feeling the pain we all were. Although maybe not in the same way, but they still could still empathize with us and our feelings. Eventually we grew to deal with the pain and life was beginning to go back to normal. Although we had lost a great friend, a great lesson was learned from the whole ordeal. As I look back on events like this I wonder how come this had to happen to him, and why. None of this has or ever will be answered but I know that his loss wasn't for nothing. His life had meaning and he touched many people's lives weather they knew it or not. They might not have realized it at the time, but they did after he had left us. All I know now is that his soul still floats among us and watches over all us friends of his, and he will always be there in our hearts when we need strength to help us along the way.

The Maid in the Hills

Deep in the hills of West Hollywood lies a magnificent mansion of epic proportions. Housed there is a very wealthy family, the Armettas's. There lives the father, Anthony and his son Arthur who is 22 and daughter Josie who is 16. Their mother passed away many years ago in a fatal car accident. Josie was only 6 when it happened and has since never been the same. She mostly hides away in her room and is very seldem seen. Otherwise they live a prestigious life full of wealth and happiness. They have a few maids who do all the housework throughout the day. One of the maids is a young girl by the name of Cynthia Roderick.

Cynthia has gorgeous locks of curly shimmering red hair, and elegant green eyes. She is about 5'2 and has sand-like white skin that reflects the sun as if it were a mirror. Yet it is what make her beautiful and unique. Within her maid outfit lies a beautiful young lady with hopes of love and happiness. Her and Arthur are the same age and she has long since had feelings towards him, yet she hides it because she never thought a wealthy man such as him could ever have feelings for a unlikely maid as herself. So she has kept her feelings secret in fear of embarrassment. She always thought he would end up with a daughter of another rich family or someone famous interested in his families wealth. Never could someone of his stature have the decency within to actually find a girl who cares and loves him other than a girl who desires fame and wealth.

Cynthia is from a small town family from northern California. Her father died when she was 8 and her mother isn't very much of a mother. She has two siblings, a sister who's 14 and a brother who's 18. They both live with their grandmother in south Florida. She has been on her own since she was seventeen and her mother could no longer provide for her thought faults of her own. She began heavy into drugs after her husband died and she never returned to the mother she once was. Their family was torn apart just like that. Cynthia hasn't had a caring shoulder to cry on ever since and has been emotionally challenged throughout the years. All she wants is to feel wanted and loved again.

She serves the family dinner and strides back towards the kitchen to fix desert. From the kitchen she overhears them speaking of a “Ball” if you will or a party as it is now a days. It will be held in a great hall downtown and invitations are sent out to the most highly regarded families in the area. All she could think about was how lovely it would be to attend such an event and even more so if she could possibly be accompanied by Arthur. She crushed her thoughts instantly for such things would never happen to a simple maid. Although she tried to cancel out the thoughts in her mind, she just couldn't help but day dream about being there with his arm around her and just feeling wanted and welcome. Instead she is stuck serving them dinner and cleaning their dirty laundry every day.

Cynthia returns to the dining room with deserts in hand and delivers them to each member of the family. Still dreaming she tripped and landed Arthurs desert directly onto his crotch and herself into his lap. Cynthia looks at him in awe of her mistake and they locked eyes for what seemed like an eternity but was only a few short seconds. It seemed like he was staring deep into her soul and she could feel the warmth of his eyes on her. Never had Arthur looked at her this way and she didn't know what to think of it. It seemed as if he was infatuated with her eyes because he could not stop staring as she pulled herself off of him. She couldn't help but blush. "I'm so sorry," she said "please forgive me." and ran to the kitchen to fetch paper towels and returns with them. She hands him the towels and again their eyes meet and lock once more. She kept thinking and wondering what sort of gaze he was sending at her. It was as if he was seeing her for the first time again. He never really noticed how beautiful her eyes were until that moment.

The next day she again heard the family speaking of the upcoming party and heard Anthony asking Arthur if he liked the date he set up for him. "Yes father but I'd like to choose my own date for once, I'm not interested in girl because they're wealthy," Said Arthur "I think I have someone in mind anyways". Her eyes blew up even bigger and more beautiful than ever. "He couldn't possibly be thinking of asking me instead." she thought. She was seemingly overwhelmed with joy, but didn't want to get too excited because there are many other things that could have come up besides her accident causing them to lock eyes the other night. All she could do was hope. She went back to cleaning. Anthony asked Arthur "Who might you be thinking of?" "Cynthia, one of our maids." he replied in a shameful sort of way know his father wouldn't accept the idea. Enraged his father said "What are you talking about Arthur?" "I will not allow this while you live under my roof!" Anthony was a greedy man, and somewhat angry sometimes. He desired fame and fortune and desired the same for his son. He felt he knew what was best for Arthur when really his greed was taking his mind over. Arthur said "You're being ridiculous father, how can you deprive me of something that would make me happy and try to force things on me for your own satisfaction?" and stormed off.

It was a week before the party and she began to feel embarrassed with herself at even thinking Arthur would ask her to attend the party with him. She wept in her room that night feeling lonely and sorry for herself. All her life she has dreamt of finding someone who will love and care for her the way she needs and has missed since her father died and mother left. Every guy she has ever been with has either cheated on her or left her without notice and has been so scared to date anyone since.

Arthur didn't know what he should do. He was stuck between his fathers wishes and the tugs on his own heart for happiness. His father had always told him what to do and what not to do. He just wanted to decide things for himself for a change, but on the other hand he didn't want to lose his fathers respect and love. He was torn. The following days Arthur and his fathr only exchanged words when absolutely neccessary. "Father I'm going out." Arthur said. "Yep." Anthony replied in a disgusted tone. Arthur left and went for a nice long drive through town. He thought hard about what he wanted to do. He thought he might be wasting his time because after all how would he know if Cynthia felt the same way he did. He just had to find out. In his mind it was worth a chance at something real for a change. When he got home he saw Cynthia in the living room and they exchanged quick blushing smiles.

At work a couple days later she was picking up Arthur's laundry around his room. The door opened violently as Arthur came in. He apologized and said he didn't know she was in here. She said it was fine and she would leave him be, but he asked to talk to her about something. She stayed and asked what was troubling him. He said "My father has always wanted me to marry into another rich family so that we could unite and be even more powerful than we are now." "But I don't want that at all, all I want is a girl who will treat me right and not just because of our money." "I'm so sick of my father bossing me around, he never lets me decide for myself you know?" Arthur said. "Well I think you should go with your heart, if theres somthing you really want then you need to grab onto it before it slips away." Cynthia replied. "Well then, let me ask you this." "That day you fell on me I looked into your eyes and it felt so warm and right. My father forbid me to ask you this but I don't care anymore." "Cynthia, I would be honored if you would come to the party as my date." Cynthia couldn't speak, she froze into a solid human Popsicle. Knowing she should say yes but she couldn't grab the words. Eventually she broke from her daze and said "There is nothing that would make me happier Arthur." "My father will not allow for this to happen as long as you are working for him so he will most likely fire you." Arthur said. "I'll find another job somewhere." replied Cynthia. "I will try to talk some sence into my father but I fear he may just ask us to leave the moment we show up." He asked for her number and went off to tell his father. Cynthia strode happily home as if she were dancing in mid air. She felt a sudden warmth she hadn't felt in years and shone the brightest smile in the world that night.

"You don't know what's best for me father," Arthur said, "I can make my own decisions." Anthony replied furiously "You will do as I say while you live here or you will not live here at all!" "Fine!" said Arthur, "I'm leaving, I'm sick of you telling me what to do and whats best for my life!" Arthur walked quickly to his room packed a few necessary thing and headed off. He called Cynthia hoping to get in touch with her there was no answer.

Morning came and she was awaken by the sound of of her phone but ignored it. It rang again so she rolled over to look at it. It was a number she had never seen and wondered who it could be this early in the morning. She was thinking when she remembered she gave Arhtur her number the day before and called back. Sure enough it was Arthur. "Could I come over? My father said I would not allow it as long as I was living in his house, so I left." Arthur said. "Yes, of course." She said and gave him her address. Soon she heard a knock at the door. She walked over and opened to door to see Arthur in the doorway. With him were a couple bags she assumed were packed full of his clothes and certain belongings he wouldn't want to leave behind. "Please, come in." She said. "I was just about to get up and make breakfast, are you hungry?" "As a matter of fact I am" Arthur replied. Together they made a large breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns. They ate happily and began talking about the party that night. Arthur said "My father will not like it if I show up with you but I am willing to face him no matter what. He can't deny me the things I want in life just because he thinks he knows what is best for me when he very clearly doesn't." "Well we will just have to go and see what happens." Cynthia said. "Arthur?" Cynthia asked. "What makes you different from other people like you? Most people from rich families would never dare ruin their reputation by going for a regular girl." "Well I've done all that before and yeah it was great but I know that the only reason people really respect me is because of our wealth and thats not how things should be. I believe that all people are the same deep down and everyone deserves the same rightful respect as anyone else. I just want to be respected and loved for who I am and not the things I own or the things I can provide for someone with money." Arthur replied. "Well I am glad you see things as I do." Said Cynthia. They kept talking and learning about each other for the rest of the day. Throughout, they discovered how alike they were and Cynthia began to feel the warmth she last felt before her father passed away. She had never been happier and never thought this day would come. "I'm getting tired." Arthur said. Cynthia sat next to hom and gave him a hug. As they pulled arpart they met eyes like the time at dinner. They both moved in for a kiss. She couldn't remember ever feeling like she was. She felt so warm and just plain wanted, and it felt so amazing. "I'm tired as well," she said, and held his hand as she got up and walked him into the bedroom.

The next day they got up and ate breakfast. Cynthia went out to try to look for a job and Arthur had plans to talk to his father. No matter how many times he called his father would not pick up. Eventually he was fed up with his father being childish and got in his car a drove to his house. When he got there his father was out back putting on his practice green. "Father, we need to talk." "I thought I told you my decision was final?" His father replied. "How can you be so foolish?" Arthur said. "You never stop to think about how I feel, you just make decisions based on your own satisfactions. Why can't you just see that I know what is best for myself." "I do know what is best for you Arthur, how do you think I came upon these riches? By listening to my father and obeying his wishes." His father said. "Well I'm not you, and this isn't 1960 anymore and things are much different than when you were my age!" Arthur exclaimed. "I'm doing what I want weather you like it or not but weather you will accept me for it or disown me is a choice you will have to live with. And I hope you make the right one because I'm not to call myself your son while you act this childish. I respected you because you were powerful and it seemed what was right, but now I look at a savage old man with nothing but self-satifactory in his mind." "And I will not stand for this any longer!" Tears in his eyes Arthur lumbered out of the house slamming doors behind him got in his car and layed patches of rubber all down the driveway. He was arriving at Cynthias just as she was getting in the shower. He let himself in knowing she wouldn't mind and layed on the couch in a miserable slump. When she came out she wasn't surprised to see him and the mood he was in. She sat next to him and held him. "It'll get better. I promise, He'll come around eventually.... Won't he? I couldn't bare being the reason your own father despises you forever." She said. "I assure you I will figure out a way to get through to him, he will soon see the errors of his ways when he realizes how if feels to lose his only son." Arthur replied. The rest of the evening they sat around and watched movies. Just before they were going to head to bed Arthur's cell phone rang. It was his father. He walked outside to take it. "What do you want?" Arthur answerd. "Where are you?." His father said. "What's it to you? Nothing I do pleases you anymore." Arthur said. "Don't be expecting me to leave the door unlocked for you, I know what you are doing, and don't think you'll be showing up at the party with that girl." Anthony said. "I didn't plan on coming back any time soon anyways." "I'm fine right where I am." Arthur replied and hung up the phone. "Was he mad?" asked Cynthia. "He's always mad, nothing makes that man happy anymore. I'm done trying." "I don't think we will be attending the party though, he told me not to come and now that I think of it I don't want to go anyways, I'm sick of all these stupid parties with all the stuck up people they attract." said Arthur. "Well that's fine, I'm glad you are making a stand against your father though, it isn't easy to go against your fathers wishes." "My parents weren't really much of parents so I've never had to rebel against them. They never cared enough to notice what I was doing. I'm am quite tired though, I will get you a blanket." They went to bed with smiles on their faces, but inside Arthur had no idea what he was doing. He was being eaten up by his decision or was it he was just scared of his father. He thought for a long time before falling asleep and decided this is what he wanted.

They awoke the next morning in each others arms. "Good morning." Cynthia said. "Good morning." He replied. They laid in bed and for about an hour before getting up. Cynthia made a delicious breakfast of omlets and home fries. "Wow what smells like heaven?" Asked Arthur. "I made you an omlet, do you like onions because I couldn't decide weather or not you would want them but if you don't I can make up a new one and have this one myself." Cynthia said. "That will hardly be necessary." He replied. They sat down to eat. "Arthur, how will we attend the party if your father has already banished you from your own house?" Cynthia asked. Arthur said. "Don't worry I will think of a way, he can't stay mad at me forever. After all, I am his only son. If all else fails we will show up univited and see what happens. Arthur went to his bags and pulled one over toward the couch. He told her he had a gift for her and wanted to give it to her now. She went over and sat down next to him. He unzipped the bag and bright white shone out from inside of it. He carefully slipped it out from the bag and it unraveled into a gorgeous white gown. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. "For you" He said. Her jaw dropped in amazement and loss of words. "I don't know what to say Arthur. No one has ever done something so nice for me." She said. "Don't say anything, your smile is all I need." He replied. "Please go try it on." She went into her bedroom and began slipping the wondrous dress around herself. To her amazement it fit perfectly. It accentuated every curve on her body and she looked royal with her bright red hair and beautiful green eyes. She came out of the room. "Wow, you look beautiful Cynthia." He said. "I can't wait to see the look on my fathers face when he sees you in this."

His father hadn't called in a few days. Arthur eventually stopped worrying about it and just let it go knowing his father would never accept his decision. Although he wanted his fathers approval he didn't know how to make him understand. He was hoping after being gone for long enough his father would realize his wrong and give in. He had to wait it out.

Upon arrival at the party his father was inside having a glass of champagne with the James king, the father of another wealthy family in west Hollywood. Arthur and Cynthia walked in her hand on his arm. They strode up towards his father with high confidence. Anthony looked him up and down and then her. He said "Well look who it is." Arthur replied "Father I know you didn't approve of my decision but I want you to know that I'm going through with it either way." His father asked him to speak a moment in private. "Arthur, What did I tell you the other day? You are not to disgrace my name with such decisions. I worked too hard and too long for what I have and I will not let you bring it all down upon my head. Leave now." Anthony said. "Fine father but don't expect to ever see or hear from me any time soon." Arthur said. "Bye now" Said his father. Anthony smirked and walked off into the crowd. Arthur returned to Cynthia and explained what they had talked about. "I'm sorry Arthur, maybe this shouldn't happen. I don't want to get in between you and your family." She said. "Nonsence, I'm sick of him anyways, with all his rules and stupid engagments I had to tag along to. He doesn't deserve a son if he is going to act like a child."

Arthur and Cynthia left the party and went back to her apartment. They looked like they just came from a funeral. Not much was said on the ride home. Arthur was too deep in thought of his father and how much he hated him right now. He thought his father would eventually give in but he hadn't and it was eating Arthur up inside. He never felt such resentment for his father than he had at that moment. "Everything will work out Arthur." Cynthia said. "I thought it would, but things will have to work out without him in the picture because he will never let it work out." Said Arthur. "Well we can at least make the best of this night and I have just the thing." Cynthia said. She went to the stereo and put on some slow music and walked over to Arthur and grabbed his had. They walked to the floor and began a slow sensual dance. Arthur looked up, picked her chin up with his finger and kissed her. A flow of energy rushed through her body like never before. She felt on top of the world. They never let go of each other all night. They just stood there and swayed back and fourth to the music. There they turned on some music and began where they left off at the party. Swaying back and fourth once more in each others arms. He got out a bottle of champion and poured two glasses. "A toast." he said "To us.". "To us." she replied. They began to sway once more until the sun shone brightly thought the closed curtains.

Months went by and Arhtur heard nothing from his father. Him and Cynthia both had new jobs and Arthur was finally living for himself and actually forgot about his father completely for the time being. What mattered is they were happy, and happy together and no one was going to tell them different. Then on day his phone rang, it was his father. He contemplated weather or not to answer it. He did. "What do you want?" Arthur said. "Well I suppose I deserve that. Arthur, ever since your mother passed I've felt different. I've felt the need to constrict you and your sister to staying within my guidelines and doing things my way and I have realized what its been doing. I was so scared of losing either of you that I was doing anything to keep that from happening, even if it was blocking out your requests and your needs. I got so angry the other day that I forgot how much I need you and Josie in my life. And by doing that I forgot what was important. Basically I'm saying I'm sorry for everything and I just want you to be happy and safe. I will accept you and any decision you wish to make." "I don't know what to say," Arthur said "I knew you would come around but I was just expecting it to last a few more days. Well if your're serious I would like to tell you that I am planning to move in with Cynthia." "Anything you want Arthur, if you come by tomorrow I will send you off with some money to hold you off for a while, and if Cynthia wants her job back, I think something could be arrange, and maybe a raise of pay would be in order?" Said his father. Arthur raplied while laughing "I don't know how that will go over with her, it might be a little weird for her, but I will present her with the offer. Also father I can not accept your money any longer, I'm a grown man and I am going to get my own job and earn my own living from now on." "Wow Arthur, I'm very proud of you. Not many people in your position would turn down what I offer you, but you show me you are not your average young man." Said Anthony. "I will come by tomorrow though, to talk and what not. Also I assume that you will not mind that Cynthia and I attend the party tomorrow?" Arthur said. "Of course not, but I've got to go Arthur, I'm burning Josie's dinner. I still haven't found another maid to replace Cynthia and Amanda stopped working nights so I have to cook now, which hasn't worked out as planned. But I'm learning." "Okay father, good luck. See you tomorrow." Arthur said and hung up. He stolled back inside smiling. "What did he say?" Cynthia asked. "He apologized." Arthur replied. "He's actually okay with it, I couldn't believe he came around so soon though, he is usually stubborn to the bone." "I knew me not being around would get to him."

Anthony invited them both over to have dinner the next evening. They ate and spent the night talking and catching up on the past few months. Arthur had never been so happy in his life, his father was accepting him and his decisions for once. He was letting Arthur be a man for once and stopped trying to control him. He was letting him live his life how he wanted, and if he wanted to live on his own and fend for himself then Anthony was happy to see him be independent. Arthur and Cynthia went back to their apartment. The joy was flowing through both of them, everything did end up alright. They lived happily every after their own way and everything was perfect.

Story 4
"The Pursuit of Pleasure".

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Chapter 8 Exercise 1 - Main Details: Cynthias lust for the rich son Arthur, Arthur wanting a regular life/girl, the Arthurs's father contesting him, resolution for all.

Characters: Cynthia - the maid. Arthur - The son of a rich family. Josie - Arthur's sister. Anthony - Arthurs father.

Significant settings - The maid serving dinner. The Party.

Exercise 3 - I listened to a few different classical pieces my friend actually has to preform this year for his Guitar major. It got me thinking of a story actually about a young lady who is driven to play classical guitar by her family because of tradition but she does not spark the interest in it that there has always been in her family. Her father pushes and pushes her until she runs away for many days. Eventually she comes to realize that without making music she has no other way to express her feelings and finds out that she really enjoys it.

Chapter 9 Exercise 2 - Cynthia: She comes from a moderately religeous family of Catholics. She believes that love is the most powerful thing in the world and has been searching for it for a long time and has been crused along the way. She is very shy and does't let herself be known to the world very much because of past events such as being cheated on numerous times by boys she thought she loved.
She is scared to move on and try to find a new guy and also has this longing for Arthur the rich son in the story but only thinks of it as a dream. A slight mishappening will cause Arthur to look upon her as never before and realize the beauty held deep within this simple maid.
Exercise 3 - She must overcome her fear of commitment. She hears Arthur speaking to his father about a "regular girl" and has an idea but then drowns the thought for she must be crazy. They must overcome the fathers denial and disgust for Arthurs actions.

Originally for story 2 I wanted to do a similar story but placed in midevil (but it was supose to be modern) times about a prince who was suppose to mary into royalty and has many families to choose from. But he is much more kind hearted and down to earth than his father and he wanted to decide for himself the girl he shall marry and not be pressured into marrying into royalty because it is "tradition". He would soon break the tradition against his father will and fall in love with a simple girl from the kingdom who happens to be the maid of the kings ward (the kinds friend died and he promised him he would take care of his daughter as his own) whom he has had his eye on for quite some time.

Story 3 ideas - I was thinking of writing a story of the first time i fell in love. It started a long time before we actually were in love and I could use flashbacks to help the reader along with the connections her and I had since the first time I met her. It was a while after we met that we actually realized our true feelings for each other although we had dated in middle school, but what middle schooler is thinking about love at that age? Yet middle school was the original spark to our relationship and is where we found out how much we had in common with each other in the first place.

I was also thinking of telling a story of a child who has lost touch with his mother (who is his only parent because the father left them before she could remember). Although she thinks she can't remember anything about her father, her repressed memories are the reasons for her depressing her and her mothers relationship. Though the story she would begin to remember little things she had repressed about her father and that he wasn't a very nice and caring man. He was a destructive drunk and the mother tried to hide that from her so that she wouldn't know how terrible of a person her father was. And that it wasn't her father who ran aways, it was the mother who took her and ran away to keep the daughter from the troubles that came along with the father.

For story 3 I wanted to add more dialogue between characters, I wanted to add some closer to the begining because I felt I went too long without any at all and then right into a lot of dialogue use. I wanted to add another paragraph or too with additions to the problem with the father not accepting Arthur's decision. Also I said in a paragraph that the party was in two days, i want to change that so that there is at least a week or so in between so I have room for additional scenes for additional problems throughout the story. Sometimes I think of problems I could use and start to think of ways to incorperate it but a lot of the time I discard them and forget them because its just too much problem on one aspect of the story and have been trying to think of more ways to incorperate an issue without it being too much.

I was thinking of an alternate ending where the father never accepts Arthur and his choices and they would live on their own with no help from Arthurs father. They would have to go out and find jobs, something Arthur hasn't experienced seeing as how wealthy Arthurs family is, and the new problem in the story would be Arthur having trouble finding a job because he has no experience in any working field and refuses to work at a fast food resturaunt or do dishes. Yet he ends up in a fast food place anyways and has to deal with a normal life working for a living and working his way up the ladder.

Chapter 4 exercise -
I am introducing her as a maid of a very wealthy family who has been cheated and messed with her whole life and just wants to be loved the way her father use to care for her until he passed. What makes her memorable is that she ends up getting what she wants against all odds. She is like us in because most people aren't rich and able to get antyhting we want. She is a regular girl with a day job trying to make it in this tough world. We have sympathy for her because her father passed and she is missing a whole in her heart. She is very likeable because she is a very nice girl who just wants to be loved and cared for.
The though of Arthur actually likeing her is disturbing her world because she "knows" that someone of his stature could never be in love with someone like her.
The lead opposition is trying to make Arthur date girls of other rich families to conjoin power, yet the real deep meaning to his control of his children is because he lost his wife many years before and feels if he doesn't control and know everything going on in his childrens lives that he will lose them as well.

Chapter 5 exercise-
In my story my lead would die phycologically, at least in my alternate ending. His father passes away after months of Arthur not seeing him because he took off with a girl his father did not approve of. My opposition character is Arthurs father and I honestly don't like him because of his views and outlook on life, he is a very wealthy man with much power and uses his power for his own personal enjoyment and gain. He feels he has to control everything around him, even his children especially after his wife died. I think he works very well in my story but I don't like him as a "person" if you will.
The stakes in this novel are Arthur losing his fathers trust and concent, as well as Cynthia losing her job. They will need to figure out how to make it on their own, which Cynthia has been doing for a while but Arthur hasn't the slightest idea what it means and what it is like to live on your own. To make the stakes higher I could have Arthurs father get deathly ill and die before Arthur got to see him again.

Chapter 6 exercise -
An ending I had in mind for my story would be that Arthur and Cynthia take of without Arthurs fathers concent and live their lives. Arthur doesn't speak to his father for a long time and Anthony (Arthurs's father) becomes deathly ill and hasn;t much time to live. Arthurs finds this out although his father doesn't tell him himself and Arthur goes back to his father to see him and comfort him. His father appologizes for pushing him down roads he didn't want to go down but the road his father wanted him on. It becomes a very sad scene with crying and everything and his father passes right there in his arms.

Chapter 7 exercise -
Harry Potter is fighting a dragon in the fourth Harry Potter novel, It is definitely an action scene. You learn that he is trying to get a gold egg from the dragon safely. It ends with Harry calling for his broomstick and flying out of site of spectators and eventually coming back alone and retrieving the egg. Yes it definitely made me want to read on because you find out he is in a competition of Wizards and I wanted to find out what the next challenge was. The emotion he is feeling is nervous and you can see it before he goes out to the challenge. He is stronger after because he has proven himself worthy of the competition although he isn't nearly old enough to have been competing.

11/16/11
Today in class I was kiijung around at the storytelling apps on the app store with Josh trying to find a good one to use. We found one called Storykit that lets uyou take pictures and put captions for them and also you can design the background with paint as well as add audio captions with your voice or maybe even add background music for each picture of the story.

For story 4 I was thinking I could use a series of pictures and captions to convey my story as well as use background music or just relevent sounds that could trigger certain feelings, memories or ideas in the readers mind. I could get pictures of everyday class/work/ and other things that go on in the average week of a college student and convey a story to people about what it is like to take on the load of college classes, work, and the importance of keeping good relationships outside of classes and work with your friends and family.