The Tell-Tale Heart

 The narrator is telling the story, but he can't necessarily be trusted. Why? Because he is described as "mad." His point of view might be that he was not exactly innocent, but he hadn't done anything wrong. He was just protecting himself from "the evil eye." Or he could have thought that he had nothing to worry about; the cops wouldn't find out. He thinks he's so awesome. But then he ruins it by blurting everything out.

On the other hand, if you thought about it from the cop's point of view, he probably would have thought that the narrator was hiding something. In the story he wasn't completely satisfied until he'd had a complete search of the narrator's house. If we had been reading from the cop's point of view, we would have been walked through the whole search of the narrator's house.

This would be the story from his point of view:

I pounded on the door. "Open up!" I yelled. The door swung open to reveal a man who looked very calm. As if he hadn't done anything wrong. But I knew that he had killed someone. So I asked him to give us the complete tour of his chamber. We searched every nook, every cranny, every closet, every possible hiding place. But there was nothing there. Not even blood. "Well, I guess you're clean," I admitted. He beamed, and we all sat down and chatted. Then he started to get a guilty look on his face. After about five minutes of his melt down, he fessed up. "Villains!" He shrieked. "Dissemble no more! I admit the deed! Tear up the planks! Here! Here! It is the beating of his villainous heart!" I knew he had been guilty! We handcuffed him and drove off.

Separated

If you lived in Germany while the Berlin Wall still stood, what would you do? It would tower over you while you tried to get on with your life. If you tried to cross the border, you would be shot at. Life wouldn't be much different if you were an animal living on Manor farm. You would work as a slave, while Mr. Jones, the farmer,  loomed over you and did nothing to thank you for all your hard work. Even worse, you were underfed!

On August 12, 1961 Walter Ulbricht, the East German leader, signed the commands to close the border between East and West Germany, by building the Berlin Wall. This was to prevent people in East Germany from escaping to the West side, where they had more freedom. Plus, East Germany had already lost 2.5 million people by 1961 since the big war, so they decided to build a wall to prevent them from crossing the border to West Germany. Similarly, Napoleon the pig prevented animals from escaping the newly named “Animal Farm.” How? By having his guard dogs attack animals who tried to get away.

    People on the east side of Germany became angry, and they wanted to figure out a way to get to the other side of the wall. So they started running underground train lines to and from West Germany. But there were West Germany guards everywhere you looked, so anyone caught was shot and killed. Almost the same, Napoleon thought that Snowball was evil because he kept destroying the windmill that all the animals worked so hard to build. So Napoleon had his dogs run Snowball off the farm, and he killed all the animals that he thought were in league with Snowball.
    Many people attempted to tear down and cross the Berlin Wall, but never succeeded. Over 100,000 people tried to escape across the Berlin Wall between 1961 and 1988. More than 600 of them were shot and killed by GDR border guards. The rest were threatened by guns from communists. This is just like how many people tried to regain control of Animal farm, but the animals always prevailed, although many were wounded. Some were even shot and killed.
    The Berlin Wall was finally opened in 1990, because of political pressure. But the strange thing is, it wasn’t all torn down all at once. It wasn’t torn down by the guards or communists. It was gradually taken apart piece by piece by people from all around the world. Animal Farm was never reinhabited by Mr. Jones, or any other human as a matter of fact. But the disturbing part of this is that as the animals on Animal farm continued to rebel, and Napoleon continued to give orders, the pigs became just like the humans they wanted to get rid of.

Heaven's Not Fun

     "Run! Ali! Get out of there!" I stood blankly, staring at my mom, who was shouting at me to save myself. But I couldn't. My feet were glued to the ground. All I could do was stand there as the tree trunk came down in my direction. I was too frightened to run. Too frightened to even scream. I didn't notice the streaks of lightning crashing down around me. The thunder that boomed in everyone else's ears didn't reach me. Even as cold drops of rain ran down my face, I didn't move.
     "What is wrong with you? Get out of the way!" My dad yelled. He stared running toward me, and I finally came to my senses. But as I tried to get away, something pulled me back. I looked behind me and grabbed at my leg. But it was too late. I blacked out as I was crushed under the falling tree.
     As I floated up to heaven, I watched my family members and neighbors desperately trying to move the tree trunk off of my body. I wanted more than anything to go back down to Earth, but I couldn't. It was impossible. Too sad to even put into words, I hung my head down until I felt my feet hit ground.
     At first I thought that I had somehow come back to life, but then I realized that there were clouds all around me. I reached my hand up to scratch my nose, but I noticed that it had a faint pinkish glow. Cool, I thought. I had no idea where to go, so I just started walking down a path.
     There were trees all around me, but no animals, which I found very queer. No birds, squirrels or anything. Heaven is supposed to be a place where all dead beings can have a new life, not just humans. I considered this until I came upon this HUGE golden gate, which I figured was the entrance to heaven.
     I always thought that heaven was just a bunch of singing angels with harps and whatnot, but as I entered, it looked more like my daily life, except on top of clouds. There were glowing people everywhere, just carrying on with their normal.....afterlives, I guess.
    A girl who looked to be about my age walked up to me.
    "Hi there! My name's Kailyn. What's yours? You look lost. Are you new? I can show you around," She offered with a big smile.
    "Uhh...Hi, Kailyn. My name's Alison, Ali for short. Yes, I'm new, and it would be great if you could show me around, 'cause I'm lost," I said.
     "Great! I can be like your guide. So how did you wind up here so early in life?" Kailyn asked as she led me up a path. It wasn't really early in life for me, because I was twelve.
     "I was crushed by a tree in a thunderstorm," I said, still saddened. "How about you?"
     "I got cancer when I was six. No one could treat it," Kailyn said. For a few moments, her eyes clouded up with memories. But then it was gone, and she was happy Kailyn again.
     We kept walking for a few minutes, then I saw a huge castle behind another golden gate, although this one was not as large.
     "Who lives here?" I wondered out loud. Kailyn stopped walking and looked at me like I was an idiot who didn't know anything.
     "God, of course," Kailyn said. We entered the castle and immediately we saw him. The ruler of everything, who could change one's life with the snap of a finger. I wondered why he had chosen to end mine and other young people's lives like this. I always believed in God, so I hoped he would not send me to the other place where bad people go (because believe me, I have done some things to my siblings in my life).
     "Ah, Ali. Welcome to heaven, where you never feel the hectic rush of normal lives," God said in a booming voice.
     "Umm....thanks, I guess. But let me ask you something: Why do you choose to end some people's lives so suddenly, like Kailyn and I, while you let others live? How are we different?" I asked.
     "Well, there is no specific reason, but I feel that some people have rougher lives than others, so I choose to take the stress off of them. I know you have had a rough life, Ali. But don't you feel better now?" He asked.
     "Actually, I don't," I answered, beginning to feel anger bubbling up inside me. "You ripped me away from my family and home, where I was perfectly happy in my "rough" life! And if you took my life, why didn't you take their lives, too? Why me?" I demanded, seething on the inside.
    But God stayed calm. "Because, Ali, you are special. You....well, you don't need to--" He was interrupted by someone bursting through the door. It was a messenger, with something very important to say.
     "Master! I have gotten word that Ali Baker's family is going crazy because they need her!" Said the messenger breathlessly.
     "Why? What is so special about me?" I turned to face God. "You didn't finish your sentence before," I reminded him. "Tell me."
     "All right. Ali, when you were born, we felt a disturbance here in heaven. This only happens once every 500 years, sometimes even less. You weren't born normal. We knew this could only mean one thing. Alison Baker, you are a Spirit Binder," God said. Suddenly I felt dizzy, and I couldn't focus. I felt like I was dying for a second time. Kailyn and the Messenger caught me as I fell over, and God manifested a bed for me. I lay there, blankly staring at God.
     I know what a Spirit Binder is. It's a person who keeps everybody you know together. Without one, you couldn't survive. The Devil tries to pry the spirits apart from one another to turn them into demons. So I was basically in a war with the Devil. How was I supposed to do anything?
     "So you brought me here because I need to fight the Devil?" I asked. "I thought you said heaven is a place where you can escape the hectic rush of daily life."
     "Ali, Ali. You have it all wrong. You don't need to do anything, just your spirit. Your spirit never tires, even if you do. When the Devil is at it's most powerful, everyone like you lets their spirits escape to fight the Devil," God said. "And that time is in exactly three days."
     "What?! Three days? That's it?!" I felt like the fate of the whole world rested on my shoulders.
     "Relax, Ali. You won't be alone, remember. In the meantime, Kailyn can show you around, and take you to your house. But first, I need to give you this," God said, stretching out his hand. It was a small berry, but it was a rainbow color.
     "Umm...thanks, but what is this?" I asked, wondering whether I was supposed to eat it or not.
     "It's a Dreamberry. Once you eat it, you will have the power to manifest almost anything you want," Kailyn explained. "You could decorate your new house, or get a pet, but there are some rules. You can't manifest people, or Devils, or demons."
     "So...I could use this to help me defeat the Devil?" I asked hopefully.
     "Well...not exactly. The Devil is invincible. All anyone here has been able to do is keep him from destroying us, or any of the living people down on Earth," God admitted. "Eat it. Be careful, it actually tastes kind of sour."
     I popped it in my mouth, and my lips puckered, but I immediately felt power coursing through my body. Then it was over, and I felt like Ali again.
     "So...how do I use this new power?" I asked, thinking I was supposed to wave my hands or point my finger or something.
     "It's simple. You just concentrate really hard on what you want to manifest, and after a few seconds it appears in front of you," Kailyn explained. "Go on, try it."
     I concentrated real hard, and when I opened my eyes after a few seconds, there was an adorable lab puppy wagging his tail in front of me. I picked him up and he licked my face.
     "Aaaaawwww!" Kailyn exclaimed. "What are you gonna name him?"
     "Prince. I had a puppy exactly like this one on Earth. I want him to be with me," I said. Prince barked and pointed his nose at the door.
     "What's wrong, Prince? Do you want to show me something?" I asked. He squirmed out of my arms and ran outside.
     "What's wrong?" I asked again. But Prince was dashing off. I manifested a bike and followed him as fast as I could.
     I was panting with exhaustion by the time Prince stopped after leading me all the way across the city. Prince was standing on the front porch of a house that was just the right size for a girl and her loyal dog. He wagged his tail happily, then clawed at the door.
     "What is this place? Is this my new house?" I asked Prince. I opened the door and inside was all I could ever want in a home. The perfect living room, a modern kitchen, my dream bedrooms, and a luxury master suite with a bathroom and a jacuzzi.
     Prince scratched at the patio door, whining to be let out.
     "Okay, okay," I laughed. He shot out and immediately began digging for something. A minute later, his head popped out, covered in dirt. But he was holding something in his mouth, which he dropped into my hands. It was caked with dirt, so I couldn't tell what it was. I washed it off in the fountain, and it started sparkling.
     "It's...a diamond," I breathed. "Prince, I love you." He wagged his tail and jumped into my arms. Soon, my face was covered in puppy kisses.

***

     "Good night, Prince," I said. I manifested a comfy dog bed for him, then turned out the light with the diamond sitting on a satin pillow on my nightstand.

     The next morning, I leaned over to say good morning to Prince. But he was gone.
     "Prince? Boy? Where are you ? Priiii-iiiince? PRINCE?!" I yelled. He was nowhere to be found. I searched frantically around the large house, but to no avail. I slumped down onto a couch and cried. Sure, I could have manifested another puppy, but I felt like Prince was my loyal, irreplaceable friend. Suddenly, I heard a howl. It was very, very faint, but a howl nonetheless.

To Be Continued.....

Live Life to the Fullest

Life is like an old house; it gets used,

worn-out and old.

Then it’s time to move to another.

Life is just a place where your soul lives while it’s on earth.

When your soul gets tired of living on earth it finds a new home.

As time goes by, so does your Life.

So live life to the fullest, and don’t let a day go by without cherishing it.

     This poem talks about what life is like as you get older, and what it really is. The line "Life is like an old house;  it gets used, worn out and old" talks about how life goes on.  When the poem says "then it's time to move to another" it means that when you die, you go to a life in Heaven. When it says that "as time goes by, so does your life" it means that your life doesn't last forever.  "So live your life to the fullest and don't let a day go by without cherishing it." The poem has sort of a hopeful yet hurried tone, because it's telling you that life goes by quickly and you should do everything you want to.

Is Life a Crystal Stair?

"Well, son, I'll tell you:

Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

It's had tacks in it,

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor

Bare.

But all the time

I'se been a-climbin' on,

And reachin' landin's,

And turnin' corners,

And sometimes goin' in the dark

Where there ain't been no light.

So, boy, don't you turn back.

Don't you set down on the steps.

'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.

Don't you fall now

For I'se still goin', honey,

I'se still climbin',

And life for me ain't been no crystal stair."

Mother to Son by Langston Hughes

The poem "Mother to Son" is about the hardships of life. It says that you can't have the perfect life, but you keep on trying to get to your goal. The perfect life would be "a crystal stair" with no splinters or bumps. Just smooth sailing all the way. "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It's had tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up, and places with no carpet on the floor. Bare." This part most represents that life isn't perfect, but the mother is trying her best. Although her tone is calm, you can tell that she is having a rough life. But the poem has sort of a sad mood, and it kind of inspires you to try your best.