Becoming a Hero

The Odyssey was a tale of a heroic man named Odysseus. Odysseus was no stranger to a challenge; he even had to fight for his hand in marriage. Odysseus married a women named Penelope and they had one child together. Their child was named Telemachus, now a young boy who wants to be a hero just like his father. One day, Odysseus was forced to leave and embark into battle. The Trojan War was a fierce battle in a far away land. Consequently, Telemachus was left to protect Penelope and their home in Ithaca, Greece. Penelope had no idea when Odysseus would return, but kept his memory alive as she told her son of his heroic exploits. This is the story of Telemachus’s journey to one day reunite with his father.

Penelope tells heroic stories to Telemachus (age 6) about his father Odysseus while Telemachus plays in the court yard in Ithaca adorning his father’s clothes. Moreover, Telemachus imagines the time when he will be fighting monsters, battling gods, and sailing across the open sea.

It has been 10 years and there is still no sign of Odysseus. Telemachus’s mother, Penelope, is being fancied by other suitors and Telemachus does not want that to happen. Telemachus is sixteen and he is starting to become proficient at sailing and combat.

Telemachus is now a man and has set out on his first voyage with his crew to find word of his father after 15 years. He has heard that Odysseus may have been seen at the Island of the Cyclops and the course was set. 

Once Telemachus and his crew reached the Island of the Cyclops, they were greeted much like Odysseus. To save his men, Telemachus convinced the Cyclops that he was there to kill Odysseus. Telemachus feared the Cyclops would surely kill them all if he had mentioned Odysseus was his father. Cleverly, Telemachus found out that his father had left this island only a year prior. As an offering of peace, Telemachus and his crew left the island never to return.  However, the Cyclops still sought retribution and before Telemachus could leave, the Cyclops ate ten of his men.

Telemachus decided he needed to get more supplies and men in order to continue the journey to find his father. He and his crew arrived home after one year and Telemachus told his mother of the Cyclops, his men, and the reassuring news of his father.  Penelope was elated to hear that her son and Odysseus were still alive.  She told Telemachus how proud she was of him.  Telemachus was becoming a man right before her eyes.  As the list of suitors continued for Penelope, Telemachus grew annoyed and tired of these men.  He vowed to Penelope to find his father, her husband, and bring him back as the rightful king of Ithaca. Later, Telemachus recieved word of a ship stranded off the coast of Greece. 

After several days at sea, Telemachus and his men found the stranded ship.  They disembarked and searched the nearest island.   Telemachus saw someone in the distance and approached the man. Telemachus asked the man his name and where he was from.  He looked very weathered and hungry, but replied he was from Ithaca. Telemachus asked once again his name. The man replied, I am Odysseus of Ithaca, son of Laertes. Telemachus and his crew were stunned and in disbelief. Telemachus tested the man to ensure he was not lying. He asked the man,” if you are Odysseus what is your son’s name, his mother’s name, and the name of the Cyclops Odysseus defeated”. The man replied,” Telemachus, Penelope, and Polyphemus.” Telemachus decided that this must have been Odysseus, and told him his name. I am your son Telemachus, I searched for you for years and I have finally found you. I have much to tell you. As do I, replied Odysseus.

A Mad Girls Life

 A Mad Girl’s Life

There were three best friends that did everything together. They grew up together, went to the same schools, shared the same teachers and even shared the same boyfriend at one point of time. Kara, Amber and Tori were the girl’s names. One day they came across Bill. He had good looks and was a bad boy which melted all three of their hearts at the same time. Since they all had the hots for him they formed a pack and promised each other they wouldn’t go for him because it wouldn’t be fair. Each of them broke their promises but none of them knew anything about the others relationship until Tori went missing and left behind the most detailed diary any of them ever read. Tori had left behind so many clues for her friends now turned enemies to try and come find her so that she could apologize to them. Although her friends were upset that she broke the pack, unaware that she know they did the same they decided to go find their best friend and reveal their secrets to her. They opened the diary and dove right in. Surprisingly every entry was dated and even had titles for them.

The Very First Day                                                                             June 3^rd, 2013

It was the last day of school and me and my girlfriends were getting ready to start our summer off right. We’d planned to go to the beach everyday if we could and hit on all the hot guys. All of us are virgins and we wanted to find three cute guys that are all friends as well to break our virginities and become our boyfriends. That was our main goal before the summer was over and we started school back it being our senior year in high school. My whole mind changed once we all saw Bill. He was tall, blonde and looked like he had a lot going on. We all had heels over head for him which is why we made a pack and sworn none of us would try to get with him. The type of friends I have, I couldn’t trust for anything no matter how long we’ve been friends. I know eventually there will be a moment where one of us would get our hands on him so I’ve decided that one to be me!

Day Dreaming                                                                                                 June 5^th, 2013

I couldn’t stop thinking about him. He’s been running through my mind since the first time I saw him. I wanted so desperately to tell him how I felt but I couldn’t let the girls find out, they’d never forgive me. I’ve been thinking about a plan to get with Bill, I plan to make him have some type of trust in me and put him in the palm of my hands.

I Got Him                                                                                                       June 10^th, 2013

I finally got my chance. It’s so surreal I don’t even know if I can take it, I didn’t think it would have been so easy. I decided to send him a cheesy little message on Facebook and he replied the next day telling me how he felt the same way and wanted us to talk. I was so happy I couldn’t bare it but I had to hide my excitement from the girls who seemed to be hiding something themselves. Probably was nothing, I was just too happy to even be concerned about that. Myself and Bill decided that we’d keep our seeing each other a secret until we really got serious. We decided to set a date a few days from now and see a movie and hang out to get to know each other. I can’t wait for that day.

A lot Of Dates                                                                                                            June 20^th, 2013

Me and Bill have been on about six dates since the first time we’ve met. They’ve all been amazing and I’ll remember every last one well ever go on. He’s the nicest, sweetest guy I’ve ever met. We hadn’t had sex yet because he says he wants to take things slow with me. I’ve agreed but I am so ready for us to do it and not be a virgin anymore. His eighteenth birthday is tomorrow so hopefully he’s planning to have me then. Since I’m so sure that we will do it I want to go out and buy some nice laundry maybe from Victoria’s secret. It’ll have to be green since that’s his favorite color. It’s so crazy that all of this is happening so fast but I haven’t a lot of time left before I go back to school and I want to start my senior year off right. And speaking of not enough time left, it’s crazy me and my best friends haven’t even hung out since the last day of school. Every time I’m free from Bill they’re out doing something already. It really sucks because I miss them and I and Bill are getting serious and I’m almost ready to tell them.

The Best Day Ever                                                                                          June 21^st, 2013

Today was so wonderful and meaningful to me, words can’t even describe the feeling I feel for Bill. We met at his house and I had already planned I wanted to do something special for his birthday the day before. I lit candles all around his room and made him a nice dinner. We ate our food, talked and laughed about everything and then he took my body in all the ways I imagined him to. I’ve never felt how I felt after tonight, it was amazing. Unfortunately Bill had to end the night early because his family had something else planned which I thought was odd since it was so late but that didn’t matter. After tonight I might be falling in love with Bill and I’m ready to share that with everyone.

It’s Not the Same                                                                                            June 24^th, 2013

Ever since the night me and Bill did it he’s been acting really weird. I told him I was falling in love with him but didn’t say it back. He told me he didn’t feel the same way yet, not even after he took my virginity. I was disappointed he felt that way but it was my job to change that. I decided to hold off on telling the girls just yet after that conversation. I told him I was going to make him fall in love with me.

No Change                                                                                                      June 30^th, 2013

Still since the day we had sex and had that conversation everything is still really strange between me him. All we is have sex and gets up and leave. And when he is here he’s always on his phone and somewhat hiding it from me. I’ve been doing all I could to be a good girlfriend I just want us to work. I know something is going on with him that he is not telling me and I will get to the bottom of it.

I can’t believe it                                                                                                          May 2^nd, 2013

I can’t even explain the hurt I have in my heart right now. Bill has did the ultimate betrayal of all. He actually had the nerve to tell me that he’s been seeing not only Kara but Amber as well. My whole entire heart dropped and I was speechless. He said he couldn’t go on lying anymore, that his heart couldn’t take it. He told me he loved all three of us enough to end his madness and move on. How could somebody ever do something like that? I was astonished. After today I don’t anything will ever be the same.

Goodbye                                                                                                                     May 5^th, 2013

Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse. Bill goes to tell me that not only have he been screwing my friends, but screwing them unprotected. We’ve never used condoms since the very first time we had sex. I didn’t think nothing of it because we were together and I thought it was just me and him but evidently I was wrong. Bill has HIV and he has known that he had it from the very beginning. He went on to explain that he saw how vulnerable and desperate me and my friends were and told himself he’d screw us all over just because he knew he could. I couldn’t believe the words he was telling me. I wanted to drop dead right then and there but then again something else came to my mind. I was going to kill this guy that did this to me and my friends even though we all betrayed each other in a way this is not okay to happen to anybody. But I’m leaving this journal for you, Kara and Amber to find so you can know the truth. We may all be HIV positive but Bill is going to die today.

Notebook of a New Kid

It was the first day at a new school. I’m up early as usual. But something is different about today.  I go on with my normal morning routine. I finally get down stairs for breakfast. I ask my mom how I should approach the kids at school? What do I say to them and where will I fit in? She said to me “ it will all work its self out just go and be you”. That was the plan I finished up eating, ran upstairs to get all of my stuff I needed for school that day. When I was ready I told my mom I would see her later on that day. All I hear as I’m running out of he house is “have a good day sweetie” I had a notebook inside my book bag to keep track of how my day goes.

      I.         I didn’t have to wait for the bus very long, the bus pulled up and the bus driver opened the doors and yelled get on the bus and shut up. I figured that was just because he was cranky this morning. As I went to sit with different kids they all just kind of stared at me and watched me like I was some piece of meat. So I minded my own business and went to the back of the bus and sat by my self.

    II.         An other boy approached me when we got off the bus. He introduced him self and said don’t take any offense to people not wanting to sit with you, they see you as the outsider or the lowest person on the food chain. As I walked to my new classroom I could only think to my self what did he mean about food chain.

  III.         My first period class seems nice. My teacher comes off as a very nice and intelligent lady. She introduced her self to the class, as she called roll I started to notice how different kids would react when their name was called upon. I thought to myself how do I make my self look cool so that other kids might talk to me. My name is called and all I can blurt out of my mouth is that’s me. I’ve never had so many eyes on me. They all were just staring at me for a solid minute. Which felt like eternity

   IV.          The hallways were a good place to see how things worked. I slowly walked beside a wall with out lockers to see what these kids do. My observations were cut short when I had to run quickly to my next class

     V.         I’ve made it. It’s finally lunchtime. After a morning of running around avoiding people and trying to not be eaten by all the other kids, I would say I have done a good job so far. I walk into the cafeteria and this place is buzzing with tones of people. It kind of reminds me of the jungle. The table full of jocks seems to be in control of everything they remind me of the lions feeding off of everyone else’s lunches. There was a table for just about every group in school. The higher you were on the food chain the closer you were to the cafeteria food line. Those higher up on the food chain were able to eat first. They had what choice they wanted. It was so embedded into all these kids minds that when I went to go get food everyone stopped and starred at me like I just broke the law. I have started to realize that not many people are going to be very welcoming to the new kid. I know I could figure out somewhere to fit in, but where.

   VI.         After my amazing lunch time experience came the physical education class or how some people like me would call it, jock city class. This is where the strong eat the weak. They strive on their physical abilities to weaken others for later on in the day.

 VII.         Finally the last class of the day, I am almost home free. I can’t wait to get out of here. This new school is to much to handle. I am constantly looking behind my back because I’m scared some one is going to push me or embarrass me in front of the whole school.

VIII.         The bus ride home was quite. I stuck to my self. I avoided all of the animals higher on the food chain. Once the bus driver pulled up to my bus stop, I ran outside of the bus and right home. I did not want to have to deal with anyone else that day. I wanted to go back and look into my notebook and see how I can change things for the next day. 

   IX.         My mom asked me how my first day of school went. I told her it’s like a jungle in there, being the new kid is like being a piece of meat thrown into the lions den. I should be all right I’m going to try my best not to give into this whole concept of social acceptance and just be myself. If there are any other kids who are going to be attending a new school in the future I hope they see these entries from my notebook some way, so that it could help them.

Save the new kids from the jungle  

"Ramblings of a Madman"

The eyes are watching,

Always watching,

Consuming me whole.

I am rendered helpless,

Defenseless.

I struggle to find

A place void of the outside.

My mind…

No one is safe.

Take heed of my warnings.

These creatures lurk

Amongst the living

Consuming…

The eyes are watching.

Trust only yourself

Or be lost to oblivion.

Shake free

From the alluring trance.

Open your eyes…

The eyes are watching

Always watching.

Take a step back.

Conspiracy everywhere.

Fear not,

The real men do what is right.

Change is at hand,

Victory will bring peace.

All is lost

If a madman be decreed.

No one shall hear my plea,

I have been labeled.

Weight bears down on me…

Trapped but not destroyed.

The eyes are watching…

And I watch back.

Wet eyes shall bring no respite

For the false ones feel no shame.

They act unbeknownst,

Strangling our humanity.

The eyes are continually watching,

Yet hope is attainable.

Look to the children…

Save the children.

Never Give Up

          Dorian was walking across the river, it was deep and swifter than he had expected. It was difficult crossing but not as difficult as his life had been these past few hours. His mind had wandered to his one true love, he had to get back to her. His life had taken him far away, down a strange path. He’ll never forget the day that he woke up and found himself being looked upon by those strange beings. He didn’t know where he was or how he got there.

          When Dorian woke up he asked questions like “where am I?” and “how did I get here?” These strange beings did not answer but somehow it was in his head, he knew what they thought. He was there for a clear purpose. Images flooded his mind of strong Well-To-Do men. The men were evil. They had to be stopped. Dorian didn’t know what to do but he knew he must do something. The next set of images came, they were of other strange beings. These beings were bad, they were going to try and stop him. With all of these thoughts whirling in his mind, one thing became clear. Dorian knew he had to get back to his family to protect them.

          The next thing Dorian knew, he was looking in the mirror at a different person. He knew it was him but the image that he saw was clearly not his image. What had happened to him? Did those strange beings change his appearance? Where was he? How did he get there? Why is he there? So many questions were running through Dorian’s mind and he did not have one answer. He knew the first thing he had to do was find out where he was. So he turned and walked out of the room.

          To Dorian’s surprise he realized he was at his friend Markus’s house. Markus was the one person in this whole work that Dorian knew he could trust. But where was he? All of a sudden, Dorian heard a familiar voice and soon came to realize that it was Markus’s voice. Dorian decided since his image has changed he may not want to approach Markus so he eavesdropped on the conversation instead. The first thing he heard Markus say was “I don’t know who this is in my house or where he came from”. The strange voice replied “This man is your enemy, he must die or he will harm you”. Hearing this, Dorian began to panic and decided that since his home was only across the river he should leave at this very moment and not count on his dear friends help.

          Half way across the river, a plan began to come to Dorian. He knew that since his looks had changed his wife would not know who he was. There must be a way that he could prove who he was to her since his image could not. Suddenly Dorian was pulled under water with such force that he could not break free. Under water, Dorian struggled to gain composure. Holding his breath, he slowly opened his eyes and almost inhaled with panic when he realized one of the beings from his abduction was wrapped around his leg drawing him downward. The evil green being smiled widely up at him. Just when Dorian thought his time came to an end a bright light shined from up above. A red being sliced through the water, severing the arms of the green being and quickly his smile disappeared. Dorian swam upward with all the strength that he had left. As Dorian emerged violently through the surface of the water, he inhaled deeper than he ever has before and thanked the red being that he was alive. Dorian slowly crawled from the water onto the dry land. Dorian then lost consciousness.

          Gabriella sat at home wondering what had become of Dorian. Three days ago he left to go get eggs from the store and he never returned. Gabriella filed a missing persons report earlier this morning. The police had put out an all-points- bulletin. The local news station had picked up the story and plastered Dorian’s face all over the place. Since that time, many strong Well-To-Do men had come to Gabriella with the intention of replacing her Dorian. This had become so tedious for her that Gabriella announced on the news to all of them. Her speech stated that if they wished to replace Dorian they would have to show that they were the most selfless man.  They must all come to her home today at 8pm.

          When Dorian gained consciousness he was lying on a dirty, little couch in a room that smelled of moth-balls. A television blared with the voice of his wife. As he began to make out the words, he realized she was trying to replace him. Dorian quickly got up to see what time it was. The clock read 7:00pm. But where the hell was he and how far from home was he? Dorian turned around because he heard a shrill cackle and a little old lady coughed and hacked as she laughed at the befuddled look on his face. Right before his eyes she transformed into a red being and thoughts entered his mind that he was only forty five minutes from home. Dorian knew exactly where he was and left immediately.

          As Dorian approached his home, he realized that not only did he not look the same, but he also was not one of the strong Well-To-Do men. How would he gain access to this event? Dorian sneaks behind a Well-To-Do man, knocks him out, and then steals his ID. Once inside, he notices that all of the men who were images put in his mind by the beings were here. This was Dorian’s chance to not only win back his love but also eliminate the strong Well-To-Do men.

          The first man steps up to Gabriella and states “I have just given all of my wealth to the orphans in Africa to prove how selfless I can be to win you over”. Gabriella laughs and shouts “NEXT!” The next man steps up and says “I bought a zoo and will let everyone in for free to prove how selfless I can be”. Gabriella laughs out the word “next”. The third man, looking very intimidating, approaches Gabriella carrying a large rifle. He says “I will use my rifle to hunt down rabbits and chickens and feed everyone in the world.” Gabriella laughs so hysterically that she begins to cry. This man is so embarrassed and humiliated that he becomes very angry. He lifts his rifle and points it at her. As he pulls the trigger, Gabriella realizes that she will die. A split second before the bullet gets to her, a man dives in front of her, taking the bullet square in the chest. He falls to the ground, Gabriella goes down to him and says “that was the most selfless thing I have ever seen”. You are the only one I can truly love”. As the last word escapes her lips, and the last breathe escapes his, his image changes back to that of her husband, Dorian. Out of nowhere, a red being appears and a brilliant light is cast upon Dorian’s dead body. Moments later, his body arches and with a great inhale of air, Dorian is alive again. Each of the strong Well-To-Do men break down and cry. These men realize the evil they have done and change their ways. The red being recognizes this and tells Dorian “your task is complete”.