Thursday, January 9, 2014
Word of the Day
Construct a short story of at least 500 words (due Friday) revolving in some manner around the word of the day found on this website. Or any other "word of the day" type website as long as you provide a link. You may also use the words and phrases in the "Related Searches" box towards the bottom of the entry as alternate inspiration. Remember, you can use the word(s) as setting, as theme, as character or any other element related to literature.
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To comport is to behave; it is to follow the norm and to cope with what is expected from you. Comporting seemed to be the only thing I had accomplished in my life. There came a point in my life in which I was sick of doing what I was told. I had no type of fun or satisfaction in what I was brought up doing. I would always hear of the extravagant adventures followed by consequences teens would experience. Part of me was genuinely scared to experience all of that but the stronger half of me was enchanted by their stories. I made a list of all activities I took part in during those days. All I did was to either satisfy another or for the sake of keeping order. Whether it was in school or in my very own household, I always followed directions. It was safe to say that being obedient was part of whom I was…but why was I so discomforted by my lifestyle then? Obviously, there was another side of me that needed to be embraced and taken out into light. Rebelling and breaking out of the persona everybody thought I was took a lot in me, but it had to be done. I was, without doubt, in agreement with everyone around me but how would I ever be happy if I forever lived in disagreement with myself? For so long I was in accord with the standards I was asked to follow, but inside of me, complete chaos existed. This is chaos derived from the constant battle within me to be who I wanted to be or to be what I SHOULD be. Then it hit me that I should not have to be anyone other than myself. I would say that it was part of my nature to fit in but then I would not always have to ask myself why…I would’ve just done it. I had to do it; I had to break the harmony that once existed in my household. I will not ever forget the look on my mother’s face—utter disbelief overwhelmed her the first time I said “I don’t care.” I don’t even like to remember the rage on my poor father’s face when I went to my friends party and came back home at like 2 in the morning. My change was sudden and caught them completely off guard. After I rebelled, nothing was ever the same in my house. My parents probably thought of me a corrupt being. I did break some rules but I promise I never went wild. Sure, when you let a dog out of its cage it runs around like crazy… I let myself out though, knowing that there was a dangerous world before me. With that in mind, I had fun but never got into irrevocable trouble. Yeah, I did get little scares and such, but all of that made me feel alive and content with the life I was living. I was no longer in harmony with my parents, but that never meant I could not create my own song. As a matter of fact, I’m still working on it and to be honest, it’s looking pretty good.
ReplyDeleteComfort Inn
ReplyDelete“Okay, okay I will stop at the next hotel that doesn’t look like we’re going to get kidnapped if we step inside it. Happy? I just want to get as far on the road as I can before I call it quits for the night. After all, I am the one driving, dear daughter of mine”.
Thank god we’re stopping, 16 hours stuck in this crammed car with my siblings...Ugh, and it’s not as fun as it sounds. We had left my old temporary home for the tenth time in a row for the past 2 years. No we’re not in the military. My father isn’t in the army or the marines or none of that, he’s not even in my life anymore, it’s just my mom, my siblings and I. People often wonder why we move so much, why I’m constantly changing schools, how I’m unable to make friends as easy as I was able to when I was younger and in a more stable environment. Well I guess the answer to that question is…well I’m not really sure how to answer that question, I mean there’s multiple reasons to why we gather up our belongings and hit the road, but a main reason? I guess we just like a new fresh start, or a few in our case. This last time didn’t end up so well, my mom moved down back south hoping to start a new beginning with a new man, in a new house down south. Don’t get me wrong it was all great and dandy at first; we lived out in the country, privacy, no one but the chickens to hear my momma’s heart break. She wasn’t much of a teller herself, but when you looked in those Irish blue- green eyes of hers you could tell something wasn’t right, something was making those eyes cry late at night by the creek, even the cow knew it.
“Next exit ahead Comfort Inn on the right it says, keep a look out while I put on my turn signal. I’m ready to call it a night.”
Finally, can’t wait to pull back those sheets and climb in, enjoy the coldness in-between the under sheets as I try to stay warm with the blankets that are provided. Dive my head in the pillow that has been so neatly placed on the bed. Yep. I’m ready to sleep.
“We’re here; let me go check in so we can hit the hay. You stay in the car with the kiddos; I’ll be back in a bit.”
I’m getting anxious just thinking about it. Nice cool sheets, heated room; amazing.
“I’m back. Here take your siblings up to the room, I’ll get some things out of the trunk and meet you there.”
I unbuckle the restrainer that was protecting my body if needed in case of something happening. Then I reach back out to nudge the three sleeping beauties, each having their own little dreams.
“We’re here, we’re finally here.” Comfort Inn here I come.
This place really lives up to its name. It is quite comfortable and I’m glad I’m stuck here. Under the circumstances, most hotels or motels are giant rats’ nest; but not the Comfort Inn. The circumstances? Oh, nothing too big just a post-apocalyptic world. We are used to it, hell, we were born into it. It’s been centuries since the collapse of the system and no one really focuses on fixing it anymore. They used to, it was all they focused on, but we need to focus on surviving. Everyone comports with that fact because not everyone comports well. My friends and I have been traveling for a few days and just camping in the isolated sections of the woods. We don’t want to risk any confrontations; those can lead to a few bad things. But Ryan’s youngest sister was very assertive when it came to sleeping somewhere else. The woods scared her night; it scares all of us. The world is a dangerous place and there’s no one that can protect you except you and those you trust. That’s how we ended up here; she was very excited when she spotted this place. Ryan and I were wary but we investigated it and it seemed fine. There was no sign of any life here which meant it is safe. Ryan and Sara tuck the little ones in bed and then join the rest of us in the lobby. I haven’t been very good with kids since I lost my family; little sister included. I’ve lost all my patience and most of the things good about me. I am one the people that don’t comport well anymore. I’m always the first to jump to conclusions and those conclusions are never good. I’m often the one that leads to poor confrontations. Despite all my poor choices, my friends have stayed by my side. Which is why, I think this might be the place to settle down. There’s a kitchen, actual beds and real tables. These are all things we’ve only heard stories of or seen bad replicas of. The replicas were nothing compared to real deal. I’m glad a five year old is so assertive; it’s not a bad trait to have once she’s older. Thanks to her assertiveness, we’re seeing things only a few have. We stay up late looking around and relaxing but everyone drifts into sleep one by one. Everyone, that is, except me. I have a nasty habit of staying up all night and keeping look out. My friends have become the only family I have left. I won’t let a foolish act take them from me. I stay awake until the sunrises for the Comfort Inn and for us. I find myself a small room with a single bed. The sheets are crumpled and a little dry but I have my own sleeping bag. I set it up and stare at the bed before collapsing in it. Seeing my sleeping bag on such a structure looks right. Settling down into a home seems right. Maybe I’ll suggest that when I wake up; I don’t see why anyone wouldn’t comport with that idea.
ReplyDeleteIt was prinsten high school and everybody focused on being cool and doing what the popular kids was doing. So anyone that was comporting their self with dignity was an outcast of the school. Everywhere u walked you would see kids smoking outside maybe even inside sometimes until they were told to leave. Most kids in that school didn’t really care about the rules nor the consequences and the principle didn’t care either, until it was time for a new principle to be hired.it One day into having a new principle and it wasn’t really noticeable but I could tell that that was the day the school was going to change, I could tell just because of how he comported himself. He walked like all he wanted was respect, and maybe that’s what he was going to demand. I sat in my seat just thinking about the difference between me and my sister. I thought about how the principle and my sister were similar in some ways but out of nowhere my sister changed I don’t know why. One month she was carrying herself with respect and had a lot going for her but now everything has changed. I thought about how my sister always wanted to be respected until one day I guess she just didn’t care whether she was respected she just wanted to fit in and have fun. After that month flew by she seemed happier, but was she really happy? Or did she just think she was happy? Her body got slimmer , her hair got longer but did any of that matter? Walking through the hall ways I would see all the boys complimenting her now it seemed like all of the boys was all over her now and that’s exactly what she liked. I think it was the new group of girls she started surrounding herself with. The girls she started chilling with didn’t have any dignity and messed with all of the boys and whenever I looked at them I would just think to myself “damn is my sister really hanging out with these pop ass girls?”. I wondered if she would turn into the same kind of girls that she hung out with, and sure enough she did. She was so focused on being cool and liking all the boys. She was worried about what boys have the nicest car and which one had the most money. That was the moment she lost all respect for her self, and u cant have respect for someone who doesn’t have respect for their self right?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteWamble
The boat sailed into the calm ocean water, the sky was clear, and it was a perfect summer’s day. My family and I were out on the ocean fishing and spending time together. Then all of the sudden these big black clouds rolled in faster than lightening. The ocean became unsteady and the waves slowly got bigger. I got up from my chair and went to walk over to the side of the boat to see what was going on, but when I went to move I was unsteady and felt nauseas and had to sit right back down. I was so confused.
“Mom” I yelled, she came to me slowly and unsteadily.
“What is wrong honey?” she asked very concerned.
“I do not feel well, I feel nauseas and unsteady.” I explained to her.
“I do to; I do not know what is going on. Your father and brother are the same way.”
The waves got bigger almost over powering the ship and we moved farther and farther away from the shore. My dad got up and walked unsteadily toward the gears to try to get us closer to shore, but the storm was to powerful. Then all of the sudden I was on the ground try to get back up, a wave bigger than the boat crashed over us and I feel to the ground. As I tried to get back up another hit and then another that’s all I remember. The waves knocked me to the ground so hard I passed out. I opened my eyes to find myself lying on the boat looking up at the bright blue sky, and then slowly and unsteadily stud up.
“Mom? Dad?” I yelled
“Down here honey” My mom yelled back as I walked over to the side of the boat and looked down.
“Where are we?” I questioned as I looked around.
“I do not really know we are somewhere on an island that the storm brought us to.”
I climbed off the boat and on to the island. I was still feeling a little unsteady and nauseas and so was the rest of the family.
“When are we going back?” I felt uncomfortable
“We are not sure. The boat was a little messed up and dad has to fix it”
“I hope it does not take long”
“Me to” my mom agreed.
The day went slow, listing in the hot sun with nothing to do, but talk and help fix the boat. I just sat in the sun hoping I would be able to walk steadily again. Then I just feel asleep. Every day was the same thing, but we slowly ran out of food. By the fourth day stuck on the island we ran out. My stomach growled as I still walked unsteadily. I was starting to believe we would never get off the island. Another two days went by and the boast still was not finished. I slept the day away dreaming of being back home. I woke up to the rocking of the boat. I stud up and looked over the boat to see we were back on water and headed home. Once we reached the shore and got food my stomached stopped growling and I felt less wamble and everything started to become normal again.
Wamble
ReplyDeleteAria paced around her room, wringing her hands together. It was the day of prom and she was jittery with nerves. Jace, a cute guy from the grade above her had asked her to go to prom with him. Now all she could think about was prom. What were they going to talk about? What if her hair or makeup didn’t come out right? Worse, what if she fell on her face while trying to walk in her heels? A million nervous thoughts raced around in her mind and she couldn’t seem to stay still. Her friends and family had tried to put her mind at ease, telling her that everything would be fine but it didn’t do anything to stop the queasy feeling in her gut. She took a nice, long hot shower and tried thinking about other things like how summer was so close or about what her and her friends would do over break. While she did her hair and makeup she but some music on to distract her mind. It worked but she still felt that nauseous feeling in her stomach. About an hour later she was ready to go. Her hair fell around her shoulders in loose curls and she didn’t wear too much makeup just enough to enhance her golden brown eyes. She wore a long light blue dress that flowed around her, she looked beautiful. She heard the doorbell ring from downstairs and all the nervous thoughts came back to her in full force. I can’t do this she thought. She closed her eyes, took five deep breaths, and told herself that she could do this, and she would have fun, no matter what.
Jace stood in Aria’s living room with her parents bouncing on the balls of his feet. Usually Jace was a very calm and collected person but tonight he was high on nervous energy. He made some small talk with her parents but then turned to the stairs as Aria walked down them. Her cheeks were flushed with color and she looked shyly at her feet. As soon as Jace laid eyes on her everything seemed to melt away. She looked beautiful and he didn’t care if they spent the night doing nothing, as long as if he was with her. She finally looked up at him and smiled as her cheeks turned a deeper red. Jace smiled back and wrapped his arms around her as she reached in for a hug. Her mom then fussed around them taking pictures, making sure Aria had everything she needed. The night was a blast for both of them. They had a great time talking, joking around, and dancing or at least trying to.
Today is Friday and our English teacher told us that the word of the day is Wamble and he asked us if anyone knew what it meant. But the only response he received was the sound of crickets. No one knew what the word meant. So he gave us one hint, which was that all of the students wamble throughout classes and in the halls. Still there was no word said toward what the word meant. With no sign of the students in his class giving him the definition he laid a bounty on it for someone to claim it which of course was extra points on their final grade. For ten minutes in the class the students seemed to be in deep thought. With this passage of time the students began to seem unease and frustrated. As one student got up and walked toward the tissue box a student asked for an example and he pointed at the student going to the tissue box. However with that comment many hands went up to the air in trying to give an answer to the teacher in what the word meant. He received answers like the need of a tissue, to be tired, and that one does not want to be somewhere. To all the answers he got that one moment not one got it right. With only a couple of minutes remaining in the class everyone seemed to have lost hope in finding out what the word meant. The young scholars sat in their seats in defeat of not being able to receive the extra points the teacher offered to the class. With the final seconds of the class remaining in the class the teacher began to get ready to give the class the definition to his class. The bell rang and he quickly said, “Do not wamble off just yet; I am going to give you the definition to the word wamble. It means to move unsteadily. You guys wamble through the halls because none of you want to be here to learn and are too tired from not getting enough sleep. From now on every day I will quiz you on the word of the day from the day before. This is because I want your vocabulary to increase.” From that day forth all of the students would look at the word of the day and use it in their vocabulary.
ReplyDeletehttp://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/
Obstinate- refusing to change your behavior or ideas; stubborn. This is a word that I can honestly use to describe myself quite accurately actually. I used to hate being called ‘stubborn’ or ‘hardheaded’ because I saw it in a negative light, as a bad quality to possess. However, I have learned to sort of even embrace my obstinacy, although sometimes I do wish I were a bit more easy to deal with, I’ve accepted it because it makes me who I am. I believe that this is a very strong quality, something that people often scold and criticize me for, but one that I think is not necessarily always bad, it can be a good thing. Why conform to everyone else’s ideas? Why not stand your ground and fight for your opinions and beliefs? I see myself as a very headstrong individual, sometimes even unmanageable to the point where I always tell those closest to me that I do not know how it is that they can put up with me at times, but I thank and admire them for it. I have learned that I should not have to please anyone or do anything in order to be liked or even accepted, this is due to my obstinate nature and refusal to give in to anything that I object to. Being obstinate, however, does have its drawbacks. Sometimes certain arguments drag on a lot longer than they should because I refuse to let things go or get over them easily, even if it is something of small importance. I sometimes allow something small get to me a lot more than it should and then it escalates into something bigger and worse for no reason other than I am too stubborn to just simply let it go. I can hold the longest grudges which makes me miss out on a lot of time that can be spent in a better mood as oppose to being angry or upset. In the end, I tend to realize that it was pointless to have such attitude over something so meaningless and am able to simply overcome it. The word ‘obstinate’ can also have a negative connotation being associated with ‘defiance’, but that also isn’t always a bad thing. Being defiant, to a certain extent, does not make one insubordinate or rebellious. I believe it shows a strong character and personality, something that is actually good, to be on the contrary and not always following everyone else. One could also associate the word with ‘arrogance’ or ‘narrow minded’, but I believe I am far from that. I am aware up to what extent defiance can go to not come off as disobedient or self-consumed even. Obstinacy or stubbornness is not something that people should view as entirely bad because it actually isn’t, it is truly a good quality to possess sometimes because it allows one to accomplish the things that they want and it can just plainly help build a stronger character.
ReplyDelete