Friday, May 21, 2010

Narrative 5


When my mom first told me I was moving I couldn’t even think about leaving my friends behind. I had a lot of good friends in my town and did not want to start over. We lived in the city and were moving to a sub-urban area. My mom told me that we were moving into a neighborhood with a bunch of kids my age and that it would be a great adventure. I didn’t see it as an adventure at all I was not looking forward to this new beginning.
I said goodbye to my friends at the end of the school year. I felt like I was just saying goodbye until the start of next year like everyone else but I was saying goodbye forever. When I got home the moving truck was there ready to be packed up for our moving trip tomorrow. After dinner we started to pack up the truck I was sad to know that it was my last night at my home.
My mom woke me up early to tell me to get dressed and to put my last few things in the truck. I threw on my clothes I left out and put my pajamas in the truck. After breakfast we were on our way.
The neighborhood was big with about five different streets in it. As we were heading to our house there were kids running outside everywhere celebrating the first day of summer vacation. We pulled up to a yellow house that was going to be our new home. It didn’t feel right our old house was blue but my mom told me that I would get used to it in no time. My brother and I helped bring all the light things into the house.
The next day came quick I woke up to the sound of the doorbell. I wondered who could be at the door since we did not know anyone in town. I walked downstairs to answer it but by the time I got down there my mom had already let the lady and her daughter in. My mom and the lady talked for a while. The lady said that her daughter was going into 6th grade like me and that her name was Lucy. The lady said how the children go outside during the day and play games with each other. She said that I should go out later and met some of the kids. My mom thought this was a great idea so they exchanged house numbers.
After eating lunch I heard kids outside. I looked outside to see if I saw Lucy. I looked for a girl wearing a green shirt. I saw her playing four square with other kids. I remember playing that at recess one day at my old school, it was a fun game. The phone rang and it was the lady that had came over earlier. She said that all of the kids were outside and that I should go outside. My mom told me that she would walk me outside, but I told her not to because it would be embarrassing. So I walked outside by myself and sat on a curb near all of the kids that were playing.
They were friendly some were saying hi others were whispering to their friends wondering who I was. Once Lucy got out of four square she might have realized I was sitting there because she came over and sat next to me. She turned to me and said wanna play? I told her I was too good and I’ve only played once before. She said alright. I didn’t know what to say to her, but she seemed to know what to say. She told me about the neighborhood, the kids in the neighborhood, her school, her new pet puppy she got the other day; she was nice I liked her. I even talked about me about my old town and everything. She told me that I will love this town.
We talked for what seemed forever. I could tell that we were going to be great friends. Maybe this will be a great adventure after all.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Narrative 4



It’s been years since I’ve talked to Jim, John, and Marcus. In high school we were inseparable, playing pranks, going out, throwing parties we were the crazy ones in school. Everyone was so jealous of our brotherhood bond. But it seemed to fall apart in college. We met new people, went to different schools, and got into serious relationships so none of us had time for our old friends. After two years of college we lost all touch without even realizing it.

Every ten years our high school had a reunion. I got a letter in the mail saying that it was time for another high school reunion. I wasn’t sure whether to go or not because I didn’t think any of my friends would anyways. Besides, I never went to any of the reunions before, they are waste of time. So I just placed the letter aside telling myself that I would figure it out later.

When the time came around my wife and I were supposed to go out for dinner. Instead she went shopping for my grandchild’s birthday. She called me and told me that she had to cancel out dinner reservations and that we would go out another night. I said okay and sat down on the couch and started looking through newspapers. I came across the obituary and was stunned by what I saw. It read; ‘John Smith Born: December 23, 1944 Died: January 8, 2002. He will be missed.’ With a picture of him above the article. I sat there stunned at what I saw I couldn’t believe I haven’t seen or talked to this man in over 40 years. How could I let something like that happen? Lose touch with one of my best friends I ever had. I wondered whether Marcus or Jim knew. I then wondered if they were still around. The other way I could find out was to go to the reunion.

I walked into the kitchen and grabbed the invitation to the reunion that was still sitting on the counter. I can’t believe Mary didn’t throw it away. My wife hated when things were in random places, she liked everything neat and organized.

I read the invitation the date said February 12, 2003. That was tonight I read the time it started at six. It was five thirty now. The place where the reunion was being held was only a thirty minute ride. I would get there on time or maybe even a little late. But as long as I get there I’ll be fine. I wrote a note for Mary telling her that I was going to the reunion and left the invitation there next to it so she knew everything. I never told her that I was thinking about going… I never actually thought I would.

After throwing on some decent clothes I hopped in the car and was on my way. When I got there it was easy to find a parking spot, this kind of scared me. What if none of my old friends went? I decided to go in and see if I saw anyone, if I didn’t I would just go home.

Talking to people there was like meeting someone for the first time. Nobody really knew who was who because it has been so long. Whenever someone walked up to me they would introduce themselves and I would introduce me. Some people I remembered and had long conversations with, others I had no idea who they were.

I didn’t think I was ever going to find Jim or Marcus. I walked over to the bar to get a drink. I saw these two men and a woman sitting there. They were laughing and they seemed to be having a great time. Once they realized me sitting there, one of them turned to me and said, “Hi I’m Jim” (putting out his hand to shake mine) “This is Lucy, my wife.” “And this is funny ol’ Marcus.” I couldn’t believe it, it was my old friends sitting right in front of me. As I was putting out my hand to shake his hand I said “Yeah I know you two, I’m George.” Instead of shaking my hand Jim and Marcus both jumped up and hugged me. Like the old days they started to mess with my hair, they knew I hated it, but this time I didn’t mind it.

We talked for a long time about our lives and what we’ve been up to lately. Jim seemed to have the most to say about his wife, his children, and his successful job. Marcus on the other hand did not have as much to talk about. He and his wife had got divorced recently and they never had kids. Then the subject came up about John. I asked them if they knew and they both nodded. They said that they had not talked to him either ever since high school. The night was over and my old friends and I had to once again depart like we did on the last day of high school. But this time was different we knew we would see each other again. We all regret losing touch with John, losing him showed us that you never know what you have and when it will be gone.

Image 30



Title: Sisters playing chess
Artist: Sofonisba Anguissola
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Location: Museum Narodowe, Poznan

Image 29


Title: Sisters of The Fertile Moon
Artist: Cyn McCurry
Medium: Oil
Location: Texas

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Image 28

Title: Best Friends II
Artist: Unknown
Medium: Photograph
Location: Unknown
http://www.ethnic2020.com/art2.htm

Image 27


Title: Beach Bums
Artist: Patti Mollica
Medium:Oil
Location: New York City