tAleS oF fAiRiEs

    

Beastly is a modern day retelling of the story The Beauty and the Beast. It is the story of a rich, popular, good-looking boy who in his arrogance and selfishness insults a witch. She gives him a curse that he must find someone to love him by a designated date, or remain mutilated forever. What are areas we as human define "beauty?" Is it our hair, our unblemished skin, or something else entirely? The witch strips him of everything he had though beauty was. His father sends him into isolation with only a blind tutor and maid for company. The young boy must rediscover what true beauty is and hope against the odds that he can find someone to love him despite his scared and deformed body.

Will he succeed?

This is an amazing movie staring Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens and I highly recommend it to all of you, my classmates. Look for ways it mirrors the classic story and get inspiration for your own stories!

MeMoRiEs

Our pasts hold memories we can learn from. We learn things we need to work on, things we want to do again and again, things others did that we wont do, or things done to us that we would like to do to others as well. Two people I have learned a lot from are my Mom and Dad. Our past together has shaped how I see others around me and the world. There are many things they have done that I never want to do but there are also things that they have done that I want to mirror exactly.

My dad and I had a "Daddy Daughter Date" when I was six years old that I still remember. My dad let me pick a movie (I still remember it was Cats and Dogs) and then after enjoying a treat and some popcorn, we came back home to eat dinner together. Daddy set up a tent in the back yard -with my help of course (or more of my hindrance). We laid on the trampoline to watch a meteor shower and look at the stars. When my eyelids grew too heavy to keep open, my dad helped me into the tent and we spent the rest of the beautiful evening in there.

I think it is so important for parents to spend time with their children. This was just one example of a simple night that I have never forgotten. It meant the world to me. I remember having read-a-thons with Mom for hours on end. She would gather snacks and treats for us to munch on while reading in our pajamas book after book after book. My parents' effort and time they put into playing with me has shaped who I am and what I enjoy. This is one area of my past that I am going to learn from and do my best to fallow their example with my own future children.

UnTitLEd

      "Wow Alice; your hair is so pretty!" Amanda gushed as she attempted to stroke the dark, unruly curls that tumbled to my waist. 

      Her fingers got stuck halfway down and I had to help her free them before saying, "Thanks. Your hair is just like Mylee's. And my mom's. Okay, pretty much my whole family!" I laughed. "I love it." My family all has varying degrees of light brown-to-blonde hair that is as straight as a board, just like Amanda's. Which really isn't that surprising considering she is my cousin. 

       "Yeah, nothing unique about me." She sighed. I quickly caught on to the conversation we'd had many times before. I opened my mouth to protest but just then the bell shirked signalling the end of our lunch and -like clockwork -Tony came scurrying up to walk us (and by us, I mean: Amanda) to class. 

        "He thinks you're something special." I muttered to her just before he reached us. I was rewarded with an elbow to the gut though her repressed smirk showed she was grateful for the attention. 

        "Hey Amanda." Wait for it... "Oh! Hey Alice." Yeah, like he just realized I was standing here? We both gave polite hellos but today I wasn't really feeling like sticking around as a third-wheel (again), so I turned to Amanda and said, "Okay, I guess I'll see you in Biology." Then I turned on my heel and headed the opposite direction to go to my next class. 

        She wouldn't mind; she said she had no feelings for Tony, and yet, as he threw himself all over her, she accepted it; as if boys fawning all over her was something to be expected. She did claim insecurities regarding her appearance, saying everyone in our family looked the same (which was mostly true if you didn't include me) so she was nothing special. However, here in our tiny town in Colorado, she really did stand out.  My family consisted of blonde-haired, blue-eyed, and a splash of freckles across the nose that stood out among our dark hair, dark eyed, and tan skinned classmates. 

         My pale skin and green eyes might have made me stand out, but nobody ever reacted to me the way they did to my cousins and siblings. I was ignored and though I pretended I was alright with it, inside I felt a longing to be accepted and wanted. I attempted to shake off my feelings of self-pity as I walked into my English class and went to my seat in the front row. I didn't realize someone was sitting there until I was nearly sitting on them, I was so engrossed in my thoughts. 

         "Oh." I huffed, coming to a sudden stop in front of it. I didn't know the boy sitting there. Doing a quick glance around at the other seats, I affirmed that this was indeed third period and my English class. Yep. So who was this guy?

         "Speechless?" He asked as he leaned back in his chair. "I often have that effect." He stretched and I saw exactly what he was talking about. Thick muscles wound around his arms (well at least thicker than any from around here) and his black v-neck shirt hugged tight to his chest leaving nothing to the imagination. I was stunned. What was I supposed to say? I had always prided myself at having a quick tongue on the soccer field. For smart mouth girls I always had a ready retort; why couldn't my mouth form words for this arrogant new kid sitting in my seat?

         Abruptly, he leaned forward. "See something you like?" he whispered looking straight into my eyes. Many people wouldn't look directly into my eyes because of how unusual they were. Not only were they the only green eyes at my school, but they were also hidden within the wild dark curls of my hair. His eyes seemed to be holding back laughter -no doubt in reaction to my startled expression. But they also seemed to hold a challenge for me. Whatever that challenge was, I didn't have the slightest idea.

          Just as I was about to utter a real classy, "No!" in response to his insinuations, the tardy bell rang and I jumped a foot high in response. The smile that was hidden in his eyes now flashed tauntingly across his whole face. And still his eyes dared me to do something about it. 

Questions answered in passage:

• Name: Alice
• Age: 17
• Physical Description (feel free to find a picture): tall; green eyes; long, dark, curly hair
• Location (Where does he/she live?): Colorado
• Goals/Desires (What does your character want?): To be wanted
• Weakness/Insecurities: Her unusual appearance. Caring what others think.
• Pet Peeves: When girls pretend to not like boys obsessing over them and lead them on. Arrogance.
• Strengths: Speaks her mind. Mature for her age.
• Habits: Sits in front row in English class. Comforts friends' insecurities.
• Family Life: Loves her family but feels like an odd-ball.

My LiFe ThE jUgGliNg AcT

Each and every day is busy
Sleep, Eat, Run around
dont drink anything fizzy
don't get to see the crowd

Because every second
is scheduled in
every opposition
a force to be reckoned

with For it will hurt
and I will cry
At times I'll smile
but in others I'll shy

away from friends I
wish I had
hoping to change my point of view
I'll just end up mad

When not mad or stressed
I simply wish I was asleep
then I would do my best
but my rest I cannot keep

My eyes tire quickly
my feet and legs hurt
my tummy feels sickly
and my words are short and curt

And yet I endure it well
although where it will end
I cannot tell
this juggling act I don't recommend




mY fEeLiNgS oN sChOlArShIps:
My fingers will continue to twitch as if typing on a phantom board, 
but to skip this process, I just can't afford. 

Shortly, I'll be in need of a blood-transfusion; 
my forehead will permanently be creased in wrinkles of confusion. 

My eyes will continue to squint until they're stuck shut; 
this computer chair may very well end up being a part of my butt. 

I may never again breathe fresh air;
it's likely I'm losing a ton of my hair. 

My nails are short, my eyes blood-red; 
all of this to "get ahead?" 

All of this for the unclear promise: 
maybe, one day, I COULD end up with money for college. 
Scholarships + Pain = synonymous!

A sHiFtInG mOmEnT

     "I am Alice and I am embracing my Destiny."
     Saying it out loud made it real. I looked around to enjoy the sights and smells that were taunting me. The air snapped like a whip as it pulled at my long dark hair. It blew snowy ash all around me, dusting everything that used to be green and alive under layers of it. Under the smell of the recent fire, I could smell the sent of my home. It was everywhere, begging me to change my mind -pleading with me to stay here in the wild mountains of Colorado forever. The rising sun peaked out from behind the San Juan mountains, its warmth licking at my face; a new start -a fresh day if I just stayed nestled in the meadow and helped to regrow the beautiful flowers and grass that at one time would have surrounded me. The sounds of a shallow stream to my right, as it gurgled on to meet the lake at my feet, called to me, reminding me of happier times. I closed my eyes so I would no longer see this place; my meadow. Even if my eyes were shut to it, my eyes heard, my nose smelt, and my heart felt it still.
      The longer I stood there on the large moss-covered boulder at the edge of the lake, I began to hear and see a different message. I remembered when it wasn't dead and burnt to a crisp, but instead: fresh and alive and teeming with wildlife. It seemed that the first rays of sunshine were now an offer of hope, promising a warm feeling of comfort and peace. The stream bubbled a thank you to me for all the secretes I had shared at its banks. The smells of home (under the recent death the fire brought with it) seemed to slow the rapid pace of my heart, and even though my choice hadn't changed I felt my confidence growing, knowing this was the right decision. Even the wind that whipped my hair across my face no longer felt as if it was trying to tether me to the meadow. No, now it felt as if it were a gentle caress of an old friend saying goodbye for the final time.
       As I stepped off of that rock, I saw the new budding growth of a flower at my feet. It grew in the most unlikely of locations; pushing its way up through the rocks at the lake's edge. The sun's light was blocked and it seemed to be growing through sheer force of will. Nothing I could do would ensure its success, but as I crouched down to examine its new life, it gave me the final push I needed to solidify my choice. If this small flower could change its fate by overcoming the dire circumstances laid before it, then I too would trust that by doing my part, everything would work out for the best. My friends and family would be okay. I was doing this for them; for their futures -so they would have futures.
       I took comfort from the only home I'd ever known and that one seemingly insignificant flower. I turned my back on my past. It was the hardest thing I'd ever done but I knew it was crucial to the survival of everything and everyone I'd ever known.
        For them, I would walk away to my Fate -my death -willingly.
                                       And I wouldn't look back.

LiTtLe GrEeN mOnStEr

I am a very bubbly, outgoing type of person. I am super friendly and sometimes I just happen to be friendly to people of the opposite gender. Not that I mean anything by it!! My mom is the same way. I guess what I'm saying is... I'm kind of a flirt? I don't think so.. I think it's Friendly, but others say it's Flirty.

Sorry, but I had to preface with that because the experience that comes to my mind concerning Jealousy happened two years ago.

There was this guy, (original, I know) we both liked each other but I wasn't old enough to date so we stuck with the whole, overplayed, "just-friends-who-like-eachother" thing. See, because I was so sure of myself (since I knew HE liked me -and that's all that I cared about) I was constantly talking with others, lifting them up and visiting and such. So it turns out, Tanner whoops, did I say names? was crazy jealous and just a wee bit possessive. It led to us "parting ways" and caused more turmoil in my life than I had ever had to go through at that time.

From this experience, I learned something about myself. -and something about my future husband too: he would have to be confidant in himself; otherwise, he'd think I was flirting with every guy I saw...

sEaSoNaL

"My nerves evaporated like water on a hot Summer afternoon...

...My fear melted away like the snow in the Spring time..

 ...My resolve hardened as quickly as ice in Winter..

 

  

...And my perspective changed like the leaves in Autumn; into something beautiful."

~an excerpt from my final project.