MEMORIES

BY: MARIA FERNANDA VELASQUEZ.

7:30 A.M “Time to wake up guys!!” said a squeaky voice coming from the door. I opened my eyes immediately and looked around, all was perfect like no one has lived here in years. The pictures in the wall and our names down them caught my attention, suddenly the principal Mrs. Specpol entered in the room, wait a while and whispered “come on bill you have to be ready, they’re about to arrive”. I didn’t have a lot of expectations of my new parents, this family was the third one this year and it ended all the same, with me again here in the orphanage. “Toot toot”, I Heard a car horn no too far away from where I was-“Bill!!!! Don’t be shy, you’re taking too long!!”-. I ran down the stairs as fast as I could and when I saw them I felt like in a slow motion movie; they were just perfect for me. My mom was a middle-aged woman, her short blond hair made her eyes bluer, her tiny body fed perfectly with her pale skin, I really thought snow White was about to adopt me and then dad got down the car, he was totally different to mom, and he had little Brown Chinese eyes, Brown skin and was taller than mom. They were the most perfect couple I have ever seen in my whole life but if I thought they were beautiful then my sister’s beauty was something out of this world. She was just like me, with beautiful long black hair, blue eyes and her skin was a perfect combination of mom and dad’s skin tone.

Soon afterwards they finished with the papers, Mrs. Specpol helped me with my baggage and some toys that didn’t fit into the case. As soon as I got in the car they treated me as one of the family, they told me about my grandma and how her cakes are but unfortunately I started to feel sleepy and my sister needed to go to the bathroom so we had stop in a gas station, that’s all I can remember. “Hey sleepy beauty, we’re home now”- whispered my mom in a very low voice to woke me in a lovely way -“you’re gonna love it and now that you’re home I can show you all my new cheer skills. Hurry!!!!” yelled Clara my sister. My parents took the things down while Clara showed me the house. I have to admit that I got surprise whit the house, 2 flours, 1 basement, a pool, a multiple game field and horses!!! But it was just the beginning, Inside the house they had 5 restrooms, 1 kitchen, 2 TV room, 1 game room, 2 living rooms, 4 bedrooms and the best part of all was that I had my own bedroom. It was more than I was expecting so I relaxed, took a deep breath and convinced myself that from now to on I would live as a king.

December 2nd 2014. It was a rainy day and my parent went to the grocery store living my sister and I alone. They were taking too long so Clara looked for some Money in their room to call for some pizza-“I’m starving Bill! Why don’t you learn to cook?”- Said Clara looking at me like she was waiting for me to answered but when I had my arguments ready the bell rang, she immediately took the money, opened the door, and received the pizza and right before she closed the door I looked at the man… This man had something in the way he look at us that I didn’t like at all, but I remained quiet and wait until The pizza man gave us the change, took his bag and left the property. My sister was tired and I decided to go to bed so she too. “POW!!” “Clack”. This strange noises woke me up, maybe it was a dream, and so I waited a while to see if my mom was watching TV. “No!! GO, MONSTER!!!” And there were the noises again, they came from a woman´s voice asking for help. I ran to where this screaming were coming…my parents room, The door was opened so I entered and the thing that I was seeing was horrifying; My dad’s body was lying down and his blood was running out of bed, the window was broken and my mom’s jewelry wasn’t there -”mom”- I thought in high voice, I didn’t hesitate one minute, I know what I had to do – “I need to take out the girls right now”- I told to myself. When I turned to my back I saw a big man standing there with something in his hands, I was getting closer, the guy looked so familiar-“wait a minute, are you the pizza man?”- yelled at him with an angry voice. The feeling of anger started growing inside me like never before in my life but when I tried to attacked him he just hit me and laughed like if I wasn’t a dangerous thing for him, I got desperate and my tears started going down and when I was about to attack him again a mousy voice said softly –“mom, I heard weird noises and I’m afraid, can I sleep with you? Please mom”-. How more stupid could I be!! It just took me one blink to see the killer taking my sister from her hair, I bite him again and he had the same reaction from a moment ago, with a relaxed attitude he pulled Clara out the room and started going down stair by stair like if he wanted to show me that he won and I couldn’t do anything but I was determined to show him he was wrong so I literally jump the stairs but it was too late, he closed the door behind him and ran away with my sister, I got frozen …. I was available to save her if only my paws allowed me to open doors….

THE END

A PERFECT LOVE STORY.

Everyone says that opposites attract, and sometimes believe or not, that phrase has a lot of sense when that happen and you can see and feel the chemistry and the attraction of 2 people, and sometimes is impossible keep that in secret, and you can see how life is going to put this people together in every situation of their life.

Sara was a girl that was very focused on her future, she was very serious, but her personality didn’t mean that she was a person without friends, she always had her group of friends, and they were very close in a lot of situations. Also, a lot of boys wanted to be with Sara, because she was a girl that had everything: she was very intelligent and interesting person, but also she had a beauty that is not only physical, is more than her body or her face, she has something special. She was not rude, and she always used to help all the people she can, maybe that was the reason that make her so special. Sara used to be part of a group in her school, this group realized a lot of activities in her school, and sometimes Sara went to others towns being part of this group.

Sara had the same ideal for man that all girls have: she imagined a tall man, handsome, maybe a boy that played soccer or any sport, respectful and kind, and a boy that always says the truth and loves her without any problem. Thinking about this boy, Sara always was a girl that didn’t have a lot of boyfriends, because she thought and knew that she was very special for be with any boy. Finally, Sara met someone that was very similar to the thoughts that she always had, and she decided to give him an opportunity. Tom was a boy that played soccer, and was very serious but he found the way to love Sara. Sara was very happy with Tom, but with the pass of the time, she was feeling that something was missing in her relationship, and she didn’t know what was wrong. Very worried about this, she talked with Tom and he said that for him nothing is strange, and he felt very happy with her. After this conversation, Sara knew that he wasn’t the problem, the problem was her, maybe she was bored of a normal relationship, and she wanted something more, more emotion.

One day, she was with her school group, and they were planning a trip to a farm in Copacabana for three days. Sara was very serious when she went to that kind of trips, because she knew the most of the girls went to get a new boyfriend, and she was always against that, she went with the mentality of be focus on just the activities, in do a lot of friends but just for a friendship. When they arrived to Copacabana, a lot of people were hugging and kissing and saying hello to everyone, she saw a boy called Daniel that was with a lot of people saying hi to, but he hug and kiss to everyone and that stressed Sara, so she went to her room and organized all her things.

At night, all the people were in the pool, and Sara was with a friend, they were talking and she saw again the boys that was in the morning with all the people, and she saw that him was very interested in her, so she moved to other place with her friend. They were talking and her friend sat in way that she was “talking with his back”, so Daniel when saw that, he screamed to Sara’s friend, but Sara was too angry and said to Daniel that was just a joke, and Daniel very sadden, continued with his friends and Sara too. Sara thought that was the last time that she saw Daniel.

Daniel was very interested in Sara, so Daniel tried to be more close to Sara to know all about her, so he contacted her sister Alejandra. They became real friends, and Daniel told her the feeling for her sister Sara. Alejandra was very excited with this idea because she knew that Daniel was the perfect boy for her sister, but also, she was worried because Daniel thought that he was not enough for Sara, that she deserved more than he can offer. In spite of that situation, Alejandra helped Daniel to talk with Sara, at the beginning was very difficult because Daniel was ashamed. 

Finally, Alejandra convinced Daniel, and he send a text to Sara. He was very nervous, but the happiness that he felt when he saw that his message was answered was incomparable. Sara for other side, thought that Daniel just want a friendship, so she answered very serious but kind.

After a long time, the conversations were more often and interesting, and one day, Daniel said to Sara that was a good opportunity to hang out together. Sara was very nervous because was the first time that they were together. So they organized the day and the time. The day of the date was very slow for Sara, and with the pass of the time she was more and more nervous, so she send a message to Daniel because she wanted to know how he was. At 8:00pm, Daniel was going to Sara’s house very nervous, he was very scared of the reaction of Sara. When he arrived to her house, he felt very happy, and he thought that it was the perfect night with her, they talked a lot of time, and they had fun in their date, but Daniel wanted to stay more time with Sara, so he asked her if she wanted to go to a restaurant the next weekend, and she said yes. Sara was very happy after the date with Daniel, and Alejandra asked her what she felt, and obviously she felt attracted with Daniel. On the week, Sara and Daniel talked a little because they were too busy, but that didn’t matter, Sara and Daniel were very happy talked all the day. The time was passing and Sara felt that she wanted to be with Daniel, that he was the boy that she always wanted, very different of her thoughts, but he knew how to make her happy. But there was a problem, Sara was with Tom.

Sara was very confused because she was with Tom but she wanted to be with Daniel, and she knew that both were in love with her, she felt very terrible with this situation, because she never imagined that this could happened to her. She didn’t know what to do, she loved Tom but she was not in love with him, she was in love with Daniel. For Daniel that was not a problem, he was so in love with Sara that he accepted that situation, but with the pass of the time, he wanted to be more and more with her, and that was a problem because she was with Tom. So one day, Daniel and Sara talked and he decided take distance of Sara, and that was the best decision for both. Sara was very sad and Daniel too, they didn’t talk for almost a month, and Sara was always waiting for a message from Daniel. One day, Sara didn’t resist, and she send a message, Daniel was very happy because he thought that Sara forget him. They began to talk again and the attraction was the same, and both felt the same chemistry when were together, but Daniel was very clear with Sara, he said to her that is unfair with him and Tom that situation, so she had to choose being with Tom or Daniel.

For Sara was very difficult, because she knew the pain of Tom if they broke up, but she never wanted to feel again the sadness when she was without Daniel. So she took a decision. That night, Sara talked with Tom and broke up with him, she was very sad but very happy because that was de beginning of her best relationship ever. She never felt so comfortable and loved by someone, and Daniel gives all for her.

Sara toll him that she broke up with Tom, and he asked her if she wanted time for think good the things, she said no, that she didn’t need time, she wanted to stay with him in that moment. Daniel was very happy with this decision, and she said to Sara that both were be very happy, that nobody had the same attraction like them, that nobody had the same possibility to find a person that is only for you, and he felt that Sara was perfect for him.

Sara and Daniel were very happy together, Daniel taught a lot of new things to Sara, new music and new cultures. Both were too different, he was very relaxed and Sara was like a little girl, she was very spoiled, but that was not a problem, Sara can’t live without Daniel, and Daniel can’t live without Sara.

Maria Isabel Quintero

Unexpected situations

Today is Friday, a new day full of new amazing things, also another day to continue filling my piggy bank designated to my next trip to Italy, the place that I’ve always dreamed about, its beautiful landscapes, its food, its everything.

My friends and I will do something today, maybe go to the cinema or to a party to relax and clear our minds. I’ll do it with Laura and Matt. Laura is very outgoing and cute, she loves being with us and also loves going to parties.  Matt is also very outgoing, he practices basketball and volleyball, he loves sports and traveling too. Both of them are incredible people, I love the way they are, and that’s why they will be my company on the trip to Italy, but they don’t know it yet. I’m going to invite them to go with me with all paid and it isn’t because I’m rich, on the contrary, I’ve been saving money since two years ago, working a lot to have it and I’m very happy and proud because I’m almost done.

*two months later*

Today is the day. My friends said yes to my invitation, they were very excited when I told them, and they started to cry. It was very cute, is incredible how much I love them and finally we are doing this.

Pilot: good afternoon passengers, we are about to take off, I hope you have a good day and enjoy your flight.

We are on our way, it is incredible and it’s very exciting. I hope everything continue going very well.

*some ours later*

The flight was very well, we felt some turbulence, but we are here in Italy, so here we go!

Laura, matt and I were very hungry, so we decided to go for a walk and eat some food at the meantime and then go to the hotel. After that we are going to relax a little bit, organize our stuff and maybe go to a popular place that ones I heard something about,. It is called Amathrophe. The person who told me to go there said that it was very interesting but mysterious at the same time, so that makes me feel anxious to know it and see what that person was talking about.

When we went to Amathrophe we was surprised, it was very weird, but we felt amazing, we feel happier that we were, it was like a dream. All of this make us feel more and more curious to know more, so we stayed in there all night long.

The experience was amazing, we left at 4am. Imagine that! We just arrived to Italy and we were drunk. The thing is that we never knew why we felt happier in that particular moment.  But do you know something? We don’t really care; there are some things in life that is better not to look for an explication.

The days have been passing so fast, we are enjoying this trip a lot, this is the fourth day and we are going to a famous museum, I really like art, matt loves it too and Laura… let’s say that she loves it too.

We are on the museum and we have been walking just for 20 minutes. I’m feeling very bad, I have a horrible headache that is killing me. Matt and Laura are looking at me very weird, they seem like they are worry about something. I’m just falling down, literally.

*ten hours later*

Everything is white around me, I’m on a hospital and I don’t know what is happening. A doctor just came by my side and said:“I’m not going to say it in a different way, you have cancer since 3 months ago. It is not very advanced, but it has to be treat.”

I heard it and I wasn’t worry at all, I was relax, but just a little surprised about it. Who was going to think I would have cancer? It sounds very crazy.

It was skin cancer, and it has sense because I love going to pool or to the beach on weekends and relax a little bit while I tan myself. It is like an addiction because I love the sun and summer things, but from now on I’ll take care of myself.

*two days later*

When the doctor said that I could leave the hospital I felt very happy and motivated to continue my life and obviously continue enjoying the trip. Federico, which is the doctor’s name, explained me what I’ve got. He said a lot of things that I couldn’t understand very well, but the most important thing is that he said I could enjoy the rest of the trip, our trip. Also said that when I get home, I have to go to a simple checkup to start a process of improvement to avoid the problems of my cancer.  The only bad thing is that it doesn’t has any cure, but what I really care is to continue everything I do on the same way.

For now I have nothing to worry about , years ago I promised myself I’ll never worry so much that I could prefer being dead, because I’ve always said that in life there are  worst things that could happen and worst ways of living.

WHAT IS AFTER OF AN ADVENTURE?

F

our months ago a group of friends were planning a trip, were they could find new and amazing things; Caroline, who was sixteen years old, a little bit serious but very intelligent, was part of the group, also Clarisse, who was the youngest of the group, she was so beautiful, tall, Blondie, had a very nice body, besides, this was because she was an athlete; Michael was seventeen years old, he was a guy so intelligent, very responsible, handsome, and he was interested in Clarisse, but he wanted keep it on secret, and finally was Andre, the biggest of the group, he was eighteen years old, he liked a lot the sports and the nature, but he also liked the math’s, he was very tall, with a lot of muscles and a beautiful face.

It was 18 of November, in Florida, a cold day and the four were all together on Clarisse’s house talking about how special could be a trip, so, Andrew said: “ Why don´t we go to the forest of Lalumbo?”, and all showed their enthusiasm and accepted the proposal, so they began to plan the trip and they should do. In November 20^th, they went to Lalumbo, when they arrived to the forest, all were so happy, and on their faces you could see how their were surprised by the nature, then they began to set their tents, they had some problems with that, but finally they could do it.

With the pass of the days, they needed to work really hard, to have some food, but that was what they want, a real survival test, where they could find themselves, one day of so much walking, they found a house, with a lot of humidity, it looked like the walls were going to fall, all of them where so scared. Clarisse, was hugging Michael, obviously he was happy about that, but he also was so scared, Andrew got into the room first, because he was the oldest, but…

                                                                                    ...

In the room was a dead body, he began to scream, so the others ran to where he was, when all saw that terrifying thing, they were all in shock, but in that moment the police arrived, and found them there, so the detective began to made questions about what was happening, because they were the main suspects.

-          Why are you here? Said the police.

-          We were just walking, and we found this house, and then we saw the dead body, but we are not involve in this crime, said Caroline.

-          Sorry, you will have to come with me to the police station.

All began to scream, cry, and refused to move, but Andrew said that was better if they go with the force, so all went to the patrolman station.

After the copper explain all the process, they would need make a decision, if they call their parents or just try to fix everything on their account.

They really didn’t know what to do, Clarisse was so nervous, but all were trying to help her to be relax, after a lot of conversations, they decided that they would fix it alone…

They began an investigation with the police, because none knew something about that crime, but as you know, someone is always looking, you just need to find it, and there wasn’t an exception.

After so much searching of a response to this crime, a very old women appeared, and mysteriously she knew how and who did that, his name was Arthur, all the Friends were so excited because they could be free, even Caroline that was so serious, she was so happy, screaming and jumping with the others.

And now the hard work would began, they needed to find that man, but with the specific things that the old women gave them, that work would be easier.

He was in a forest named Taruta, it was so beautiful,i has  a big waterfall and a lot of nature. Finally they found a cave, very confuse and strange, but there was Arthur, long hair, he didn’t look good; all of them ran and began to speak, at the beginning he was so serious, but then he understood that he really needed to tell the true because they were not guilty and they were so young, he knew that he was doing everything wrong, but he needed to understand the position of this people, So they went to the police station, and told the real story.

Arthur, obviously paid for the things he did, the four went to their house, Clarisse and Michael were always together, and that was so strange, so when they arrived to Florida they kissed each other, all were so surprised about that, but hey looked so beautiful together.

And that was how a trip of one week became of two weeks, obviously they had to tell their parents lies, saying that the place was so beautiful and they could not leave, so they met again with their parents, they began to ask how was the trip, and they just looked at each other and fell silent, with a small and naughty smile. 

Mariana Gómez

Failed mission

When I saw him, I was alone surrounded by tall trees, hearing the melodious singing of the colorful birds and watching the beautiful sunset that was hiding in the middle of the mountains. I had never seen someone like him but the only thing that I know was that he looked like my next lover. A tall guy with curly red head, white skin like snow, freckles and beautiful green eyes. But the true was that he never would felt in love with me, a short girl with wavy hair, black skin and black eyes. I was the opposite of him. In addition, I am completely crazy and with unique ideas so it was impossible a love between this too different type of people.

-      Boom – something strange rang and stopped my thoughts.

 It was the moment when I realize that the bomb i had thrown a moment ago, exploded. The landscape was covered with a big gray cloud and he was screaming because his hand was on fire. I was in shock.

-      Help him, Emma – was the only thing that went in my mind but the blame attacked myselve and I began to run.

I thought I would forget it in some weeks or even in a couple of months until one day the man with one hand entered to my office. He was the man of the other day but in this case I saw at him with other eyes, with eyes of a murderess. The police office is always empty but exactly this day all my partners were busy and I was waiting someone to help. He was waiting for help so I asked:

-      Can I help you?

-      I am for looking someone, do you know who is Emma Efron? - he answered.

-      I am Emma Efron- I said nervously.

-      Captain Watson, nice to meet the new colonel of Puebla.

I didn't understand what he was saying, but I offered to him some coffee. Then, he explained me that I was one of the best cops of Puebla and that it was time for a small ascent. It was probably the happiest day of my life.

In a long conversation of 3 hours I realized that also than handsome, he was intelligent, brave, adventurous and lovely. I didn't know how all happened because we got closer little by little and when I realized it was too late to stop a kiss. Definitely I felt in love with him although he was a strange to me.

Then he showed me that he didn't have one hand and I felt guilty. The saddest part was when he told me that it was impossible to get his hand back because the fire but it was only one solution: a transplant surgery hand but the problem was that anyone donated one.

-      It was the fault of a pyromaniac. I do not know her and I already hate her.

My blood chilled and my heart stopped for a few seconds. I didn't know if was this horrible felling or the love I felt to him that I decided to do the biggest madness I had never done.

During that night I thought in the plan to find a donor to Max and I decided to do it by force. I just had to shoot at someone and after that cut his hand. The corpse would throw in a trash and anyone would know who did it.

The next day I woke up as usually at 4:00 am but it wasn't a normal day, that day would be very bloody and risky. I picked up the weapons and I put them in my jacket. I decided to go by motorcycle because it was easier to scape if my partners tried to catch me. When I was in the park I saw my next dam, my next victim. He was seated listening to music with a big jacket and his dog. I reloaded the weapon and I prepared to shoot at him, it was my first time but I thought "It is for a good reason, Mr. Watson needs my help" and in a couple of seconds the act was done.

 All the people in the park started to run and I took advantage of the situation so I prepared the knife to cut his hand. His face became familiar and I checked it when I searched the hand t and he didn't have it.

I run, run and run far away. All the people pointed at me so I started to scream and cry.

Imagine that, have the power to kill the one you love only to help him.

Now I'm here with the same power but in this case I am my own victim. I can't with my own fault, it's my time to die. Now, only you know my secret and before I go, don’t do crazy things without thinking in the consequences.

POOR PEACE.

Don’t you think that is time to finish a war that doesn’t make any sense?

The Colombian peace process is an agreement between the government and the insurgent groups. In all our history, many presidents tried to establish a dialog with them, but it was not possible, so Colombia has been in war since 1960. Juan Manuel Santos, the actual president of Colombia, began to talk with the most influential violent group that is the FARC. They began to talk about all the war aspects and tried to find a solution and 4 important facts that maybe will change the future of our society. Finally, in 2016, both sides of the problem find the better solution for the war, and the government invite to all the society to vote in a referendum for been agree or not with the process. Sadly, Colombians disagreed with the majority of the agreement.

It’s very sad for me see how people can be against peace or against a solution, maybe is not the best solution, but is a step that contributes the peace of our country. Now, it is going to be more difficult find a solution, sit down again and think about an others agreement, only because one part of citizens did not agree. My class partners think that youth is the solution of the problems that we have, we are responsible of the future, and seeing all the decisions that Colombians take, we have to take another way to give a solution for the problems that we have. I think that all of us are agree with peace, and we can get that peace changing our behaviors or our actions, being more respectful or tolerant with the people that is around us.
We are going to find the peace when we act with honesty and love. 

The lyrics of my heart

Did you know music is an essencial part of human´s life? Music is perhaps one of the most popular way to express ourselves and also a tool to understad how others feel. Thanks to Rome and Greece, music was introduced to the world millions of years ago but… it was not the music that we listen nowdays, music has changed a lot. Beggining with the prehistoric music which was used basically for religious ceremonies, then appear the classic music, when that became more than a rythm, a passion. In the middle ages was so popular orchestras with hundreds of musisians but definitely, the period that drastically transform music was the rennaise. It was consider a new begginig for music.

Now, after all this years we can say with sure that music make our lifes easier because it give us the possibility to have an identity and also to be unic. There are more than billions of songs, some of them more popular than other but them, good or bad give us a message or transmit emotions and feelings. There are songs for all styles, ages, genders or preferences so is impossible to say that you don´t feel identify with any song.

Is easy to talk about the past or the present but… what about is next? Is imposible to say something sure but we can infer that with the new technologies, robots will be an important part of music. Have you ever imagined this?

“Music is a way to express myself” –said Valentina who dance for a hobbie. She also said that without music nothing could be possible because we need to have a way to express what our body wants. For singers like Maria Fernanda, music became a necesity in her life –With the help of music i can meet new people and also find my own style. But music isn´t only for the ones who use it to do a hobby, people such as Mariana and Maria Isabel listen to music to be part of the art and to find a song that describes her frame of mind.

Is difficult to describe how me and most people love music but there is something that we already know: each song will be a lyrics to our heart…

-Paulina Serna Lopera