Dears in the Headlights

Hana Brett

Tompkins

WLH 2

24 April 2015

Dears in the Headlights

“Follow I-5 South to North Church Lane in Los Angeles for 260 miles. Take the exit toward Sunset Boulevard from I-405 South San Diego Freeway,” Siri monotonously announced to the car full of bedding, room decorations, clothes, a variety of snacks, and two eighteen year old partners-in-crime.

Sarah grabbed the iPhone resting in the passenger seat cupholder. “Only three hours and fifty-four minutes until arrival at the University of California, Los Angeles.” She mocked Siri’s voice as she read the ETA from Apple Maps.  

They both cheerfully giggled, excited to check off one more thing on their best friends’ bucket list: roommates in college.  As they sped along in their 2010 Honda Accord, they admired the endless rolling hills, dried a burnt-yellow from the beating July sun and, of course, the lack of rain from the devastating California drought.

For the first time during the car ride, they heard the rolling wheels cruise down the well-traveled highway.  Conversation had filled the car ride for the first two hours without any awkward silences. Their first fifteen second break brought to their attention the lack of music from the radio.  With one hand on the wheel, Maddie reached for the radio to turn on their favorite station: ‘WiLD 94.9 - The Bay’s #1 Hit Music Station!’  Immediately static blasted from the car speakers.  Forgetting they were no longer in the Bay Area, Maddie systematically cycled through the stations to find the best music on the air, while focusing only half of her attention on the road.  After analyzing almost a dozen different stations, Maddie finally stopped when she found one to their liking and twisted the volume knob all the way up.  Maddie and Sarah instantaneously locked eyes and squealed because this was their song.  Whenever either of them needed a little cheering up within the last eight years, they played this song, blasting it in their rooms and dancing until they were breathless.  When the song first came out in fifth grade, they performed a choreographed dance for their school talent show, which they still could perform at any given moment.  They knew the song so well they might as well have written it.    

They modified their fifth grade dance to just the hand and head motions, making it suitable for performing in the car.  Both ready to belt out the chorus, they once again locked eyes and smiled.  A moment before the chorus began to play, a piercing buzz shrieked from the radio. Both Sarah and Maddie jumped from the sound and covered their ears quicker than a teenager could text ‘OMG’.

“CALIFORNIA AMBER ALERT! CHILD ABDUCTION! SILVER TOYOTA COROLLA. LICENSE PLATE 6KIS893. REPEAT, CALIFORNIA AMBER ALERT! SILVER TOYOTA COROLLA,” the radio blared with the obnoxious alarm in between intervals, stinging their ears. Sarah spun the volume knob all the way down, and the two girls simultaneously took in one large breath and let out a deep sigh.  Briefly worried about the abducted, unknown child, the two girls tried to shake off the eerie vibe that enveloped the car.  

The sun began to set over those boundless hills, creating luminous colors of pink and orange stretching across the sky.  Within only a few minutes, this scenic route will have turned into nothing but a pitch black road, only visible through the headlights of their own car.

“Do you smell that?” Sarah perked up in her seat, leaned forward to peer through the front window, and then turned her head around to the back windows.

“Hm, no I don’t.” Maddie glanced at the gas gage then wiggled her nose around with confusion.

Thump. Bang. BANG!

“Please tell me you heard that!” Sarah’s wide eyes pleaded for confirmation that everything would be fine but then darted to the trail of smoke escaping from the front of the car.  The gas pedal instantly failed and the check engine light flashed on the dashboard.  The car drifted until they finally came to a complete stop, and Maddie pulled over to the shoulder.  She walked to the front of the car and lifted up the smoky hood, while Sarah walked along the extensive road, searching for any specks of light resembling headlights.

“This does not look very good,” Maddie reported as dusty clouds of smoke rapidly arose from the hood of the car.

“Yeah, I don’t see any cars out here either.” Sarah’s voice was filled with despair until two headlights became visible in the distance.

“Over there! Look!” Sarah danced with joy. They excitedly watched the car get closer and closer, and then they disappointedly watched it whiz right by.

After waiting alongside the road for just under an hour, the girls saw a car up ahead pull over and drive in the rocky shoulder. The girls waved and shouted as their hope of safely getting to UCLA was renewed.  When the car became close enough to see clearly, Maddie and Sarah stared at the car paint as it shimmered in the light from their car headlights.  Reflecting the same color as the moon, the silver car shined brightly, illuminating the Toyota logo on the front of the car.

“Isn’t that the…” Maddie’s shaking voice stopped mid-sentence as both girls realized the severity of their predicament.  Maddie nuzzled in close to Sarah for comfort and squeezed her hand, as she always did right before a murder when they watched Criminal Minds together.  

The car stopped, the headlights shining right on the two girls.  They stood next to their broken down car, innocently waiting for help on the side of the highway in the middle of the night.  As the door slowly creaked open, Maddie and Sarah watched two feet step steadily out of the car.  Blinded, these poor dears in the headlights froze as they heard the leaves being crushed to dust under heavy boots and saw a black silhouette approach them.

Core Causes of a Pervasive Killer in Africa: Hunger

Hana Brett

Ms. Tompkins

WLH 2

13 March 2015   

Core Causes of a Pervasive Killer in Africa: Hunger

One in every three Sub-Saharan Africans suffers from hunger, stated Martha Van Der Wolf in an article about ending hunger in Africa (Van Der Wolf). Whether the word used to describe the situation is malnourished, starving, or hungry, Africa’s persistent problem of hunger continues today by taking the lives of millions.

Many organizations have tried to improve the statistics involving the hungry population of Africa; however, using the “band-aid approach” of sending food to the impoverished countries will not permanently solve this world issue (Bahnson).  We have over half a century of proof, considering many foreign countries that have aided Africa, and yet a third of the population is still hungry.  A new perspective is needed to uncover the roots of this problem and help mend the primary ramifications of hunger.  The widespread issue of hunger in Africa is commonly believed to be caused by two primary factors: poverty and climate change.

A principal cause of hunger in Africa is its continent-wide poverty.  Poverty expands throughout the African countries, affecting millions of families, including their children.  Martha Van Der Wolf states that “hundreds of millions of Africans are living on or below the poverty line of 1.25 dollars a day, a principal factor in causing widespread hunger” (Van Der Wolf). Due to the continent’s extensive impoverishment and weak economy, a nominal number of Africans are able to earn enough money to support the basic needs of their families (Bailey).  While the majority of people earn incomes that support their families, a large portion of the population still remains, unable to obtain enough food.  Consequently, hunger is epidemic throughout Africa, affecting millions, from students to farmers.

In addition to poverty, the global climate change has had drastic effects on the population of Africa.  Thierry Tanoh discussed the repercussions the climate has on African farmers and voiced that “Africa is endowed with 60% of the world’s unused arable land and millions of dedicated farmers.” The recent scarce rainfall and droughts in Africa have malnourished the land, limiting the year’s harvest for the continent (Tahon).  The number of people that the food is able to feed decreases each year while the population increases.  Therefore, effort must be put into increasing innovation in agricultural practices and improving productivity and efficiency in crop yields.  As a result of the climate changes, small-scale farmers are more severely affected. They are not only unable to support themselves, but also their growing nation (Van Der Wolf).  Future efforts will need to focus on counteracting the devastating effects of climate change on hunger in Africa.

Throughout Africa, as problems in the land conditions and poverty remain, so does hunger.  Despite the generous donations of hundreds of organizations, hunger cannot be solved by outside food sources alone.  While poverty controls millions of Africans, buying adequate food is not a possibility.  And, due to the climate changes and decreased crop production, growing one’s own food is not easily done.  For the foreseeable future, Africa’s hunger problem will remain a life-threatening concern.  

Works Cited

Bahnson, Fred, and Danielle Nierenberg. "Could Acacia Trees Solve Africa's Hunger Problems?" Christian Science Monitor. N.p., 24 Dec. 2010. Web. 8 Mar. 2015.

Bailey, Rob. "Famine Threatens South Sudan [analysis]." Africa News Service 6 Aug. 2014: n. pag. Global Issues In Context. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.

Tanoh, Thierry. "The Continent's Last Famine [column]." Africa News Service 26 Aug. 2012: n. pag. Global Issues In Context. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.

Van Der Wolf, Martha. "Ending Hunger in Africa." Africa News Service 2 Feb. 2015: n. pag. Global Issues In Context. Web. 9 Mar. 2015.

John Kumalo

John Kumalo (A Blogged Analysis)

John Kumalo, in contrast to Stephen's innocence and loyalty, shows an acute sense of anger and also his loss of faith, two characteristics that he has gained through his experiences with racism in Johannesburg.

"I do not say we are free here. I do not say we are free as men should be. But at least I am free of the chief. At least I am free of an old and ignorant man, who is nothing but a white man's dog"(35).

"His voice grew louder, and he was again addressing people who were not there"(36).

"'That is my experience,' he said. 'That is why I no longer go to the church.' 'And that is why you did not right anymore.' 'Well, well, it could be the reason.' 'That, and your wife Esther?' 'Yes, yes, both perhaps. It is hard to explain in a letter. Our customs are different here'"(37).

Ginger Schmidt, Hana Brett, Booker Martin, and Josef Orner

Ms. Tompkins

World Literature Honors p.2

8 October 2014

Cigarettes and the Little Locked Suitcase

Cigarette

Quote 1:

“‘I can’t find a single fag end.’

‘So?’

‘I feel depressed,’ he said” (Sijie 16).

Quote 2:

“‘You’re right, I’m shivering and I’m cold, like an old man at death’s door.’

I found a fag end in the bottom of my pocket, which I lit and offered to him. But it slipped from his fingers at once and fell to the ground.” (Sijie 33).

Suitcase

Quote 1:

“‘It reminds me of a scene in a film,’ said Luo. ‘You know, when a stolen suitcase turns out to be stuffed with money...’

‘So, are you weeping tears of joy?’ I said.

‘No.  All I feel is loathing.’

‘Me too.  Loathing for everyone who kept these books from us’” (Sijie 99).

Quote 2:

“We crept up to the suitcase. It was tied with a thick rope of plaited straw, knotted crosswise. We removed the rope and raised the lid in silence. Inside, piles of books shone in the light of our torch: a company of Western writers welcomed us with open arm” (Sijie 99).

Thesis:

In Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, author Dai Sijie employs the symbols of a cigarette and a locked suitcase to portray how when coming of age, a loss of hope can lead to selfish and immoral actions.

Following the River

Following the River

Just as a river glides down the mountain

guiding all in its path

pursuing its balance and harmony,

You chase down the tranquil river

failing to outrun it

and failing to discover your balance and harmony.

Yet it is always running

and you are always chasing,

always failing.

Through whispers in its ripples

wisdom can be shared,

Success only comes to those who have patience

only to those who let the river run alone

following instead of chasing. 

Different Perspectives, Different Memories

http://www.flaticon.com/free-icon/male-head-side-view-with-brains_30549

http://www.clipartbest.com/clipart-MTLe6L86c