Chat with Chels

Every afternoon I would walk into the same room and smile. The kids running around screaming and playing made me love them more but hate them a little bit too. In the corner the counselors would be gossiping and joking around, waiting for lunch to completely end. The bell would ring and out jobs would start. Breaking up fights, playing with 6 years olds and organizing activities doesn’t sound like something most people would want to do, but for me it made me smile. I loved putting on the blue shirt I would wear with pride and that symbolized I had authority. It’s my favorite blue shirt that is now covered with the names of my kids and friends. The field trips were the most fun. My first one I had a heart attack every 5 minutes when one of the kids would stray, but by the last field trip I felt like a pro. I miss the long days listening to 6 year olds conversations and playing in the sun, running around playing tag and teaching them new things.

His silky black fur shimmered as he laid on his stomach in the backyard. He didn’t move and his breathing sounded like a vacuum. His brown and white spots were soft and I put get strands of them on my hand. I rested my head on his thin back and cried as he shifted to his side. Knowing that he would be put to sleep in only 4 hours made me clutch onto his body, hugging it tighter and tighter. Every minute that passed made me want to throw up more and more. Watching is practically dead body just lay there made my chest tighten until I felt like I couldn’t breathe any more. It was 10 minutes before, and I said my last goodbyes. My hands shook as I watched my family pet him for the last time, all of them crying. My turn came and I collapsed next to him and pet his head, they way I have ever since I was old enough to walk. He looked up and licked my hand and I wished he was immortal. He laid his head back down and I walked away.

The sun drifted through my window and onto my face as I slowly woke up. It was completely silent, but I was about to change that. My small feet slid out of bed and hit the ground and I took off running down the hall into my parent’s room. I jumped on their bed shouting “Its Christmas!” Slowly they looked up and smiled and told me they’d be down stairs to open presents soon. I waited downstairs as they took their time getting out of bed. The scent of pine tree and coffee filled the room. Finally they came and I ripped opened my presents, smiling wider with every present. Once we were done, we went our separate ways. My dad listened to music in the living room, Mom went into the kitchen to make Christmas dinner, and I went up stairs to change; just like every year. Anxiously I ran around the house trying to find something to do. I couldn’t wait until 5pm, finally it was time. The doorbell rung and in walked peter. The size of a skyscraper like always. He lifted me up and I almost hit he ceiling. We laughed and hugged and waited for the rest to arrive. The bell rung at least eleven more times. Soon we were all there. Sitting, laughing, and eating. The smell of peach cobbler made me feel warm and safe, and being around the family I hadn’t seen in a year, made me show off my bright smile.

In the immaculate white room, eight screaming girls sat on the black “L” shaped couch. They sat there watching “The Guardian” laughing and eating. Every few minutes someone would start a dog pile on the giant gray air mattress in the middle of the “L” shaped couch. They covered themselves with soft pink and purple blankets. The movies loud action scenes made most of them jump, while the rest sank into the big coach pillows and slowly fell asleep. The girls clenched each other as the grevious movie came to an end. The girls fought back their tears as they watched the last scene. The end credits came on and small sniffles and watery eyes were all over the room, but they all cheered up as they decided to eat even more. Their eyes sparkled as they walked into the kitchen
And ate the leftovers from dinner. One by one they made their way back to the couch and the air mattress and got under the blankets. They turned the lights on so the entire room was black except for the dim glow coming from the TV. Soon they started to drift off to sleep until the whole room was silent, except for the soft voices coming from the TV.

Holden enjoys exaggerating the truth, like on page17 when he is telling the story of Ossenburger and Edgar Marsalla. As he explains Marsalla fart he exaggerates by saying “He damn near blew the roof off.” He also exaggerates when he is talking about Ossenburgers speech. “He was telling us about what a swell guy he was, what a hot-shot and all…”

I think sometimes Holden tells the truth, but a lot of the time he exaggerates the truth, and that makes you view the character or the situation differently. The quotes from page 17 are misleading. Holden shows that he believes Ossenburger is conceited and fake. Holden reveals that he hates fakes earlier in the chapter, that is why he seems hostile and judgmental when he explains Ossenburger. I also think it shows that he is a judgmental person. Even though he doesn’t personally know Ossenburger he is judgmental just because he believes that Ossenburger is a phony. Holdens view of the characters is usually extremely judgmental and because of his view of them, you see an accurate but exaggerated version of them

Every night before I go to sleep we try to talk. I feel like only half of me is here without him. Im a puzzle missing its pieces. Hes the one I go to when nothing else makes sense. Thanksgiving seems like it’s a decade away and everyday that passes I feel like im losing myself more and more. At first I was fine. I didn’t feel like crying whenever he IMed me or didn’t IM me. Then I went a week without him. A week without my bestfriend annoying me until I wanted to throw a brick at him, a week without him making me laugh, and a week without talking to him. My heart felt like it was shrinking and my head felt like my brain was ramming against my forehead, by the end of the week. Finally I heard his voice and all my problems rushed away. Everything was clear and calm until I had to go, then it slowly I felt it all again. Every night before I go to sleep I pray that we will talk.

It finally happened. After years of waiting, and watching my siblings and family members go through it. It finally happened. When I woke up that morning I expected to feel something. I expected to feel different. Older, or smarter or more mature, and I did. As the day went on I felt older and older but the thought of growing up started to scare me. I can drive a car in 6months, I can vote in 3 years, and I can drink in 6years. I can make my own life decisions instead of my parents doing it for me. No more of them holding my hand and guiding me. I have to do it on my own soon. My heart felt like I had dropped it form a 5story building. It was a mix of fear and excitement. I felt powerful but terrified. What if I mess up? What if I cant do anything without my parents? These “what ifs” filled my brain and I went into a frenzy. After a few hours of thinking, I now realize it wont always be just up to me and I can take care of myself. Now without having a meltdown, I can calmly say. I am officially fifteen.

The warm white sheets that embrace me when I lay down. The big pillow that my head sinks into, the dark red blanket that covers me. Every morning I lay here, wondering when I’ll actually attempt to roll out of bed. The pink and orange sun slowing rises into the dark gray sky. My body is curled into a tight ball as I clasp onto the blankets. Quietly “My Girl” hums in the background as I lay there hoping I never have to get up, hoping that I can spend my day reliving this peaceful moment, but with swift move my sanctuary has been invaded by parents telling me it 6:15 and without out hesitation, my small white dog zips in and starts jumping onto my bed until I unexcitedly attempt to push myself out of my inviting bed, with the warm sheets and big pillow that I sink into. My feet finally hit the cold wood floors and I leave my peaceful bed and prepare my self for the unwanted chaos of the day.

I woke up to my dad sitting on my forest green bed. The rising sun broke through my window and slowly lit up my room. My dad was still in his pajamas. His face was unusually pale and his blue eyes were looking down at his fidgeting hands. I was only ten but I knew what he was thinking. With a hushed voice he said “Grandma”.  I sat up and looked at him then without hesitation I fell into his arms and a waterfall started to pour down my tan cheeks as they started to turned watermelon pink. My mom then sluggishly walked into my room with tears dripping from her brown eyes. Her hair was messy and she was holding the small silver phone in her hand. She walked with her arms crossed as she made her way to my bed. She slowly lowered herself and looked at the green wood floor. We all sat together motionless, the only noise you could hear was my heavy breathing as I tried to control my tears.

The gray old house by the park is known to be haunted. Everytime someone passes by it they break into a sprint until they reach the a safe place. Everything around it seems to be old and dead the gras is brownish green and it scratches your legs as you run through it. There is only one light ever on in the house, at the very top of the old gray and black Victorian house. One day we walked to the house. The rain had just stopped and no one was on the streets of the small town. The two of us walked side by side holding flashlights and cellphones in our hands. Ten minutes had passed and we were standing out side the ghoulish house. We walked up the 3 stairs that creaked and moved under our weight and onto the porch. I slowly knocked on the door to see what would happen. The only noise I could hear was my friends breathing. I reached my handout to turn the knob but I stopped suddenly, I heard something behind me. Then my friend and I felt a tight grip on our shoulders and we jumped and turned around, to see my friend brother laughing behind us.