Joseph McCarthy was born November 14th, 1908, in Grand Chute Wisconsin. He was a republican politician known infamously for his exploitation of the idea of Communist infiltration in the US government. He claimed he had a list of 57 State Department employees. Instead of giving the information over to the FBI, McCarthy kept this list and held Congressional hearings to investigate the list for himself. These hearings increased the celebrity of McCarthy and his assistant, Roy Cohn. Their fame was ruined when people caught on to their destructive malarkey.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Joseph McCarthy was born November 14th, 1908, in Grand Chute Wisconsin. He was a republican politician known infamously for his exploitation of the idea of Communist infiltration in the US government. He claimed he had a list of 57 State Department employees. Instead of giving the information over to the FBI, McCarthy kept this list and held Congressional hearings to investigate the list for himself. These hearings increased the celebrity of McCarthy and his assistant, Roy Cohn. Their fame was ruined when people caught on to their destructive malarkey.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Act IV A Raisin in The Sun
English II
Period 8th
9/18/13
Act IV: Scene I
Time: A few months after Ruth's funeral.
Place: The Younger's new house in Clybourne Park. WALTER enters the house after a long days work.
MAMA: How was work today Walter?
WALTER: (grumpily) Lousy, Mr. Adkins keep on houndin' me talking 'bout I'm not doing a good enough job, and if I keep it up I'll have to look elsewhere for work.
MAMA: I'm sorry to hear that. Don't he know you suffering from the loss of a loved one?
WALTER: He does, but you know white folks don't care about OUR problems, just as long as their houses stay cleaned and their lawns get mowed they could give a care less about what problems we have.
MAMA: That's a good point, but don't you go getting fired Walter you got a family to take care of.
WALTER: My family and that job is all I got other than all these doggone expensive mortgage bills. With Ruth and her salary gone I don't know how I'mma keep paying these bills.
MAMA: Don't you worry child The Lord will guide us, just like he's been doing for all these years.
(BENEATHA enters the room)
BENEATHA: Hey Mama. Hey Walter.
MAMA and WALTER: Hey Beneatha.
BENEATHA: I've got some good news.
MAMA: (eagerly) What is it?
BENEATHA: I have decided to move to Africa and start a new life with Asagai.
WALTER: (angrily) You call that good news I'm over here working my a__ off to keep this family from going under and you trying to sail away to Africa with some spear-chucking boy you barely know.
MAMA: Walter calm down, if she wants to leave she's got just as much right as any one of us.
BENEATHA: I'm not seeking your approval Walter. I just wanted to let you all know before I left in one week.
MAMA: (nearly shouting) One Week! Why you leaving us so soon? Why you just now telling us this? Why- (BENEATHA cuts off MAMA)
BENEATHA: Mama stop worrying yourself it's gonna be alright, I'll write you all the time when I get there.
WALTER: (still angry) Ain't no letters from Africa gon' help pay the bills. What you need to be doing is getting a job to help out around here instead of hanging us up to dry.
BENEATHA: (partially apologetic) I'm sorry Walter, but I'm leaving next week and there's nothing you can do to change my mind.
(BENEATHA's remaining time went by with high intensity between her and WALTER. The week ended and she was gone for Africa.)
WALTER: I'm glad she's gone that good-for-nothing wasn't pulling her weight anyway.
MAMA: Walter don't you talk bad about your sister like that.
WALTER: She left us so she can go live a jolly ole life in Africa while we livin' in a house we can't afford in a neighborhood we ain't even welcomed.
MAMA: If it was you you would've left just as quick.
WALTER: That's where you wrong Mama, good things don't happen to me. In the past year I've lost all my money, my wife, my sister, and I'm on the verge of losing my only job. That couldn't be me Mama that's just the way it is.
MAMA: (clinching her heart) Oh Lord... (MAMA hits the ground with a loud thud).
WALTER: Mama! Mama! (tearing up) MAMA!!
(Travis enters the room to see why his father is wailing over MAMA)
TRAVIS: Whats wrong dad?
WALTER: (urgently) Travis, quick call an ambulance Mama is having a heart attack.
(TRAVIS darts towards the phone and frantically calls 911)
TRAVIS: (on the phone) Hello operator I need an ambulance my grandma is having a heart attack. (murmuring from the operator) Yes, we live on 406 Clybourne Street, Clybourne Park.
(more murmuring from operator) No, my dad is here too. (final murmur from operator) Alright, you too.
WALTER: What they say!?
TRAVIS: They said they'll be here in forty minutes.
WALTER: (infuriated) Forty minutes! My Mama is dying right now and they want us to wait forty minutes! If it was their mama they'd be here in five minutes!
TRAVIS: .....
(Fifty minutes go by dreadfully slow with each minute making WALTER more furious than the last. TRAVIS stays with MAMA while WALTER is violently pacing around the living room. The door bell rings.)
WALTER: (answering the door) What took you all so d___ long?
EMT: We're are sorry sir we tried to get here as quickly as possible, but our hands were tied. Where is the lady that suffered this heart attack.
WALTER: (pointing at MAMA) She's right there.
EMT: Let's get her on the stretcher. (another EMT comes in and helps get MAMA on the stretcher. WALTER and TRAVIS get in the ambulance and they go away to the hospital.)
At the hospital in the waiting room the doctor comes out.
DOCTOR: Hello Mr. Younger, I am Dr. Sampson and I have some bad news. You're mother is in a coma, and we don't know if she's ever going to wake up.
WALTER: You just kidding right? My Mama not in no coma.
DR. SAMPSON: I'm sorry sir, but she is indeed in a coma, and at her age we don't know if she'll pull through.
TRAVIS: (sadly) Is Mama gon' die?
WALTER: No son, Mama is a fighter and she's gonna make it.
DR. SAMPSON: That's the attitude I like to see Mr. Younger.
(WALTER and TRAVIS return home feeling hopeful that MAMA will survive the unfortunately timed coma she had.)
WALTER: Travis get ready for bed. You got school tomorrow.
TRAVIS: Alright, goodnight dad.
(TRAVIS went to bed leaving WALTER to his thoughts)
WALTER: (thinking out loud to himself while staring up at the ceiling from his bed) I hope she gets better I don't think I can handle losing somebody else. (suddenly realizing that he'll have to now not only pay the mortgage but MAMA's hefty hospital bills as well.) (in tears) Why me God? Why? I never hurt nobody. All I ever tried to do was help my family, but the harder I try the worse things get, and I don't think things can get worser than this. (WALTER turns over and weeps)
(Blackout)
Act IV: Scene II
Months go by and MAMA only gets worse. Her hospital bills are piling up even though WALTER picked up an extra shift from MR. ADKINS. WALTER is on the brink of losing the house and having to pull the plug on his own mother. The curtains open and WALTER is pacing around the living room on the phone.
WALTER: Mr. Adkins I know you just gave me an extra shift last week, but my mama is on her deathbed and I need the extra cash to keep her in the hospital. (murmuring from MR. ADKINS) I understand, and I hope that you understand that I AM trying as hard a I can. (more murmuring from MR. ADKINS) Are you gonna give me the extra shift or not!? (yelling from MR. ADKINS) (WALTER replies halfheartedly) I'm sorry Mr. Adkins I just hate not being able to help the woman that raised me. (MR. ADKINS yells some more and hangs up on WALTER)
WALTER: (out of anger) That uncaring, selfish son-of-a-gun's gonna get whats coming to him.
WALTER goes to the cellar and opens a bottle of hard liquor. He doesn't even try to find a glass, and drinks straight from the bottle. WALTER treats this bottle like a teaser, as he grabs another bottle and drinks away his sorrows until he's undoubtably drunk. The night fades into morning and it's time for WALTER to go to work. WALTER, still drunk from the night before sets out to confront his boss.
WALTER: (stumbling into his boss' office two hours late and intoxicated) You know what Mr. Bossman, you're right.
MR. ADKINS: Walter! What's the matter with you? How dare you show up for work utterly and completely drunken?
WALTER: You were right. I don't deserve no extra nothing from you. Last night when you said "no" to me I couldn't figure out why, but know you got a reason. I'm just some poor negro drunk begging for your white money.
MR. ADKINS: Walter! Control yourself, or I will have to replace you with someone more "qualified".
WALTER: (still drunk sarcastically pleads for his job) Oh please Mistah Bossman I need dis job. I's got a son tah feed 'nd a mama tah look aftah. Plees don't fire meh Mistah Bossman.
MR. ADKINS: Walter you're fired! Get out right now, and never come back!
WALTER hobbled outside and squalled ridiculously loud over the loss of his only way to provide for his struggling family. WALTER sobers up and walks home. A few minutes after he gets in the telephone rings.
WALTER: (on the phone) Hello?.... Yes this is Walter Younger. (murmuring over phone) What do you mean you got bad news?.... No no, that can't be right. Are you sure? (murmuring over phone) Well can you check again, because that can't be right, I mean she wouldn't give up that easily..... I don't care if you're sorry, you being sorry ain't stop my mama from flatlining and it d___ sure ain't gonna fix a thing now. (WALTER violently slams the phone down)
TRAVIS enters the room
TRAVIS: Who was that daddy?
WALTER: Son, that was the hospital. I was just informed that Mama didn't pull through. She's dead.
TRAVIS: Mama is gone?
WALTER: Yeah son, she's in a better place now up there in heaven with God and his angels.
TRAVIS' lips began to quiver and his eyes swell with tears.
WALTER: Now don't you cry boy, Lord knows this family has had more than its fair share of shed tears. We all got to go someday, today was just her day.
(Blackout)
Act IV: Scene III
A few more months go by and WALTER's debt becomes more and more unbearable. He is constantly looking for any work he can get even if it's just for the day. WALTER comes home after a long day of job searching to find LINDER sitting on his doorsteps.
WALTER: (approaching LINDER) What are you doing here Linder?
LINDER: I've been hearing that you are having troubles with this house, and I want to help you out.
WALTER: (very defensive) You don't want to help me. Why are you here?
LINDER: I am here to make you an offer Mr. Younger. I am willing to let you come work for me, and all you have to do is move out of this house and go live in the apartment I have specifically for you.
WALTER: That sound too good to be true, especially coming from you.
LINDER: Oh but it is true, the community and I are willing to set you on your way, and all you have to do is sign over the deed to this house.
WALTER: (acceptingly) Ahh what the heck, I've got nothing else to lose anyway. I'll do it.
LINDER: Now that's what I like to hear Mr. Younger. (handing WALTER a document) Just sign here.... here.... and initials there. Thanks for you're cooperation Mr. Younger, a cab will come tomorrow evening to take you and your son to your new apartment at 826 West Stoney Avenue.
WALTER: No, thank you Linder. You don't know how hard it's been for me this past year. Things are finally looking up.
LINDER: (slyly) I'm sure they are Mr. Younger.
LINDER leaves and WALTER is excited about the opportunity he was just given. For him tomorrow couldn't come fast enough. Tomorrow finally comes, and WALTER and TRAVIS are anxiously packing their luggage in preparation for the journey to their new home. The cab honks.
WALTER: Come on boy it's time to go.
TRAVIS: Gimme a sec I'm making sure I don't leave anything.
WALTER and TRAVIS get in the cab and drive to their new home. When they arrive WALTER is instantly infuriated. The building is a shelter for the homeless.
WALTER: (to TRAVIS pointing at the depressing sight of those shelter doors) This is our home now.
TRAVIS: There's no apartment?
WALTER: No son, Linder took us just like Willie did. There's probably no job either.
TRAVIS: What are we gonna do now?
WALTER: I'll keep looking for work, but until then we'll have to spend our nights here.
TRAVIS: What about the mornings?
WALTER: We can't stay here in the mornings, we can only come during the night.
TRAVIS: Why not?
WALTER: That's just the way homeless shelters work.
Period 8th
9/18/13
Act IV: Scene I
Time: A few months after Ruth's funeral.
Place: The Younger's new house in Clybourne Park. WALTER enters the house after a long days work.
MAMA: How was work today Walter?
WALTER: (grumpily) Lousy, Mr. Adkins keep on houndin' me talking 'bout I'm not doing a good enough job, and if I keep it up I'll have to look elsewhere for work.
MAMA: I'm sorry to hear that. Don't he know you suffering from the loss of a loved one?
WALTER: He does, but you know white folks don't care about OUR problems, just as long as their houses stay cleaned and their lawns get mowed they could give a care less about what problems we have.
MAMA: That's a good point, but don't you go getting fired Walter you got a family to take care of.
WALTER: My family and that job is all I got other than all these doggone expensive mortgage bills. With Ruth and her salary gone I don't know how I'mma keep paying these bills.
MAMA: Don't you worry child The Lord will guide us, just like he's been doing for all these years.
(BENEATHA enters the room)
BENEATHA: Hey Mama. Hey Walter.
MAMA and WALTER: Hey Beneatha.
BENEATHA: I've got some good news.
MAMA: (eagerly) What is it?
BENEATHA: I have decided to move to Africa and start a new life with Asagai.
WALTER: (angrily) You call that good news I'm over here working my a__ off to keep this family from going under and you trying to sail away to Africa with some spear-chucking boy you barely know.
MAMA: Walter calm down, if she wants to leave she's got just as much right as any one of us.
BENEATHA: I'm not seeking your approval Walter. I just wanted to let you all know before I left in one week.
MAMA: (nearly shouting) One Week! Why you leaving us so soon? Why you just now telling us this? Why- (BENEATHA cuts off MAMA)
BENEATHA: Mama stop worrying yourself it's gonna be alright, I'll write you all the time when I get there.
WALTER: (still angry) Ain't no letters from Africa gon' help pay the bills. What you need to be doing is getting a job to help out around here instead of hanging us up to dry.
BENEATHA: (partially apologetic) I'm sorry Walter, but I'm leaving next week and there's nothing you can do to change my mind.
(BENEATHA's remaining time went by with high intensity between her and WALTER. The week ended and she was gone for Africa.)
WALTER: I'm glad she's gone that good-for-nothing wasn't pulling her weight anyway.
MAMA: Walter don't you talk bad about your sister like that.
WALTER: She left us so she can go live a jolly ole life in Africa while we livin' in a house we can't afford in a neighborhood we ain't even welcomed.
MAMA: If it was you you would've left just as quick.
WALTER: That's where you wrong Mama, good things don't happen to me. In the past year I've lost all my money, my wife, my sister, and I'm on the verge of losing my only job. That couldn't be me Mama that's just the way it is.
MAMA: (clinching her heart) Oh Lord... (MAMA hits the ground with a loud thud).
WALTER: Mama! Mama! (tearing up) MAMA!!
(Travis enters the room to see why his father is wailing over MAMA)
TRAVIS: Whats wrong dad?
WALTER: (urgently) Travis, quick call an ambulance Mama is having a heart attack.
(TRAVIS darts towards the phone and frantically calls 911)
TRAVIS: (on the phone) Hello operator I need an ambulance my grandma is having a heart attack. (murmuring from the operator) Yes, we live on 406 Clybourne Street, Clybourne Park.
(more murmuring from operator) No, my dad is here too. (final murmur from operator) Alright, you too.
WALTER: What they say!?
TRAVIS: They said they'll be here in forty minutes.
WALTER: (infuriated) Forty minutes! My Mama is dying right now and they want us to wait forty minutes! If it was their mama they'd be here in five minutes!
TRAVIS: .....
(Fifty minutes go by dreadfully slow with each minute making WALTER more furious than the last. TRAVIS stays with MAMA while WALTER is violently pacing around the living room. The door bell rings.)
WALTER: (answering the door) What took you all so d___ long?
EMT: We're are sorry sir we tried to get here as quickly as possible, but our hands were tied. Where is the lady that suffered this heart attack.
WALTER: (pointing at MAMA) She's right there.
EMT: Let's get her on the stretcher. (another EMT comes in and helps get MAMA on the stretcher. WALTER and TRAVIS get in the ambulance and they go away to the hospital.)
At the hospital in the waiting room the doctor comes out.
DOCTOR: Hello Mr. Younger, I am Dr. Sampson and I have some bad news. You're mother is in a coma, and we don't know if she's ever going to wake up.
WALTER: You just kidding right? My Mama not in no coma.
DR. SAMPSON: I'm sorry sir, but she is indeed in a coma, and at her age we don't know if she'll pull through.
TRAVIS: (sadly) Is Mama gon' die?
WALTER: No son, Mama is a fighter and she's gonna make it.
DR. SAMPSON: That's the attitude I like to see Mr. Younger.
(WALTER and TRAVIS return home feeling hopeful that MAMA will survive the unfortunately timed coma she had.)
WALTER: Travis get ready for bed. You got school tomorrow.
TRAVIS: Alright, goodnight dad.
(TRAVIS went to bed leaving WALTER to his thoughts)
WALTER: (thinking out loud to himself while staring up at the ceiling from his bed) I hope she gets better I don't think I can handle losing somebody else. (suddenly realizing that he'll have to now not only pay the mortgage but MAMA's hefty hospital bills as well.) (in tears) Why me God? Why? I never hurt nobody. All I ever tried to do was help my family, but the harder I try the worse things get, and I don't think things can get worser than this. (WALTER turns over and weeps)
(Blackout)
Act IV: Scene II
Months go by and MAMA only gets worse. Her hospital bills are piling up even though WALTER picked up an extra shift from MR. ADKINS. WALTER is on the brink of losing the house and having to pull the plug on his own mother. The curtains open and WALTER is pacing around the living room on the phone.
WALTER: Mr. Adkins I know you just gave me an extra shift last week, but my mama is on her deathbed and I need the extra cash to keep her in the hospital. (murmuring from MR. ADKINS) I understand, and I hope that you understand that I AM trying as hard a I can. (more murmuring from MR. ADKINS) Are you gonna give me the extra shift or not!? (yelling from MR. ADKINS) (WALTER replies halfheartedly) I'm sorry Mr. Adkins I just hate not being able to help the woman that raised me. (MR. ADKINS yells some more and hangs up on WALTER)
WALTER: (out of anger) That uncaring, selfish son-of-a-gun's gonna get whats coming to him.
WALTER goes to the cellar and opens a bottle of hard liquor. He doesn't even try to find a glass, and drinks straight from the bottle. WALTER treats this bottle like a teaser, as he grabs another bottle and drinks away his sorrows until he's undoubtably drunk. The night fades into morning and it's time for WALTER to go to work. WALTER, still drunk from the night before sets out to confront his boss.
WALTER: (stumbling into his boss' office two hours late and intoxicated) You know what Mr. Bossman, you're right.
MR. ADKINS: Walter! What's the matter with you? How dare you show up for work utterly and completely drunken?
WALTER: You were right. I don't deserve no extra nothing from you. Last night when you said "no" to me I couldn't figure out why, but know you got a reason. I'm just some poor negro drunk begging for your white money.
MR. ADKINS: Walter! Control yourself, or I will have to replace you with someone more "qualified".
WALTER: (still drunk sarcastically pleads for his job) Oh please Mistah Bossman I need dis job. I's got a son tah feed 'nd a mama tah look aftah. Plees don't fire meh Mistah Bossman.
MR. ADKINS: Walter you're fired! Get out right now, and never come back!
WALTER hobbled outside and squalled ridiculously loud over the loss of his only way to provide for his struggling family. WALTER sobers up and walks home. A few minutes after he gets in the telephone rings.
WALTER: (on the phone) Hello?.... Yes this is Walter Younger. (murmuring over phone) What do you mean you got bad news?.... No no, that can't be right. Are you sure? (murmuring over phone) Well can you check again, because that can't be right, I mean she wouldn't give up that easily..... I don't care if you're sorry, you being sorry ain't stop my mama from flatlining and it d___ sure ain't gonna fix a thing now. (WALTER violently slams the phone down)
TRAVIS enters the room
TRAVIS: Who was that daddy?
WALTER: Son, that was the hospital. I was just informed that Mama didn't pull through. She's dead.
TRAVIS: Mama is gone?
WALTER: Yeah son, she's in a better place now up there in heaven with God and his angels.
TRAVIS' lips began to quiver and his eyes swell with tears.
WALTER: Now don't you cry boy, Lord knows this family has had more than its fair share of shed tears. We all got to go someday, today was just her day.
(Blackout)
Act IV: Scene III
A few more months go by and WALTER's debt becomes more and more unbearable. He is constantly looking for any work he can get even if it's just for the day. WALTER comes home after a long day of job searching to find LINDER sitting on his doorsteps.
WALTER: (approaching LINDER) What are you doing here Linder?
LINDER: I've been hearing that you are having troubles with this house, and I want to help you out.
WALTER: (very defensive) You don't want to help me. Why are you here?
LINDER: I am here to make you an offer Mr. Younger. I am willing to let you come work for me, and all you have to do is move out of this house and go live in the apartment I have specifically for you.
WALTER: That sound too good to be true, especially coming from you.
LINDER: Oh but it is true, the community and I are willing to set you on your way, and all you have to do is sign over the deed to this house.
WALTER: (acceptingly) Ahh what the heck, I've got nothing else to lose anyway. I'll do it.
LINDER: Now that's what I like to hear Mr. Younger. (handing WALTER a document) Just sign here.... here.... and initials there. Thanks for you're cooperation Mr. Younger, a cab will come tomorrow evening to take you and your son to your new apartment at 826 West Stoney Avenue.
WALTER: No, thank you Linder. You don't know how hard it's been for me this past year. Things are finally looking up.
LINDER: (slyly) I'm sure they are Mr. Younger.
LINDER leaves and WALTER is excited about the opportunity he was just given. For him tomorrow couldn't come fast enough. Tomorrow finally comes, and WALTER and TRAVIS are anxiously packing their luggage in preparation for the journey to their new home. The cab honks.
WALTER: Come on boy it's time to go.
TRAVIS: Gimme a sec I'm making sure I don't leave anything.
WALTER and TRAVIS get in the cab and drive to their new home. When they arrive WALTER is instantly infuriated. The building is a shelter for the homeless.
WALTER: (to TRAVIS pointing at the depressing sight of those shelter doors) This is our home now.
TRAVIS: There's no apartment?
WALTER: No son, Linder took us just like Willie did. There's probably no job either.
TRAVIS: What are we gonna do now?
WALTER: I'll keep looking for work, but until then we'll have to spend our nights here.
TRAVIS: What about the mornings?
WALTER: We can't stay here in the mornings, we can only come during the night.
TRAVIS: Why not?
WALTER: That's just the way homeless shelters work.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Blog Post 2
First Three Weeks
The first three weeks of school have been surprisingly easy. The teachers have been kind enough to not assign mountains of homework a night to the studious students. Majority of the teachers attempt to maintain the attention of their dazed pupils through jokes and entertaining stories that relate to the lesson being taught in class. The periods fly by and it seems as if though the school day is over just as quickly as it began. In the three short weeks of school I have developed the routine that I will inevitably follow as the year goes on. School, practice, homework, sleep, and do it all again the next day.
Blog Post 1
First Football Game
Tomorrow is the first time in my athletic history that I will play in an organized football game. I have never played football before this year and now I get to see what it's like. For four weeks now I have been practicing and learning new things about the sport. This sport isn't easy as it takes a huge time commitment and hard work to get better. The more I play football the more I like it, and the more I like it the more I will want to try to get better at it. I'm looking forward to the game tomorrow, and I am looking forward to battling Lane Tech.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Parallelism Grammar Lesson
Lesson: Parallelism
The Facts: Parallelism is the use of similar words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. Parallel structures help create rhythm and balance and allows the author to emphasize ideas more clearly and effectively.
Why It's Confusing: Parallelism can be confusing, because the author might put together ideas with different sounds or words that can cause writing to be clunky or difficult to read.
How To Remember: One way to remember parallel structure is to read over the sentence and make sure that all items in the list have the same conjunctions. When forming parallel structures either put the conjunction in front of the first item or in front of all items in the list.
Examples:
•Parallel: Sam likes running, swimming, and playing sports.
•Not Parallel: Sam likes running, swimming, and to play sports.
•Parallel: Carl likes to watch TV, to play video games, and to use the computer.
•Not Parallel: Carl likes to watch TV, playing video games, and using the computer.
Which statement is parallel?:
"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time."
The coach wanted his players to practice, hydrate, and to do their homework.
Bob goes to hike, fish, and hunt on the weekends.
Tim wants to go to the store, buy groceries, and to cook dinner.
Citation:http://writingcenter.unlv.edu/writing/parallel.html
Monday, September 9, 2013
New Neighborhood
William Townsend
Honors English II
Per: 8
New Neighborhood
One day on my way home from a long and routine day at school I stumbled upon a surprising new neighborhood. This neighborhood was extremely dull and miserable. The streets were littered with empty alcohol bottles that had been drunk by the local slums of the area. This neighborhood had no houses, but rather it had large buildings consisting of many small apartments that housed the lowest of the low in the city.
Covered by bars or boarded by wood were the windows of these raggedy apartments that reeked pungently of urine and mildew. The smell was so strong that it thickened the air inside the walls of these horrid apartments. The halls in these buildings were annoyingly loud with the shrieks of babies whining for the attention of their absentminded parents that smoked and drank carelessly in the faces of their children. Vicious dogs barked violently as the tried to attack anything within bitting distance of them and the gate they were so tightly leashed to. The people of this rundown neighborhood seemed fixated on bills and how they were going to pay them.
"I can't believe they expect me to pay all this by the end of the month on my minimal wage salary."
"You think you got it bad, please. At least you still got a job I lost my job down at the plant last month, and the bills just keep pilling up," said the unemployed man with the deepest despair in his voice.
"Dang, and I thought it was rough out here for me, but things round here lookin' all jacked up for everybody."
"I know that's right," chimed in a pregnant woman with four kids by her side. The people here had lost every last bit of their hope and it showed in their melancholy facial expressions and lethargic body movement. As I continued to stroll through this depressing neighborhood I soon learned that it was mostly just the adults that dwelled on their problems. The kids seemed rather happy in the less than happy environment around them. The boys played street football in the garbage covered alleys. The girls jumped rope and played hop-scotch on the streets in front of the buildings, while the toddlers drew pictures of what they saw on the sidewalks with big pieces of multicolored chalk. Kids asked each other to join them in activities such as basketball.
"Yo, you wanna go play ball?," said a tall boy that was spinning a basketball on his index finger.
"Yeah, I'll play I hope you ready to get busted," said an equally tall boy as he smugly grinned at his challenger. I observed this neighborhood a little while longer before finally heading back towards home. As I walked home and thought about the unfortunate place I had just visited, I couldn't help but realize that even though those kids had it extremely bad they didn't let it change their moods. They were content with what they had even if it was not much. This neighborhood taught me to be grateful with what I have, because there are people out there without a fraction of what I have.
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