WA5 draft 2

Waiting in the church. One last time. This was no dress rehearsal. My perfect day had finally come. The priest walked by asking if everything was going smoothly. “Yes,” I replied, “and it better stay that way. This is my perfect day and nothing, I mean nothing will ruin it for me.”
“Yes ma’am” the priest replied timidly.
“Good” I said turning my head away from him. “Don’t you have some blessings to do or something.” He quickly turned walked away with a swift gait. I stood up and peered around the church. There he was. I walked over to him as he admired his sugar look alike that rested on top of a tremendous wedding cake. “Harold, I need to talk to you.”
“Honey don’t you know it’s bad luck to see the-”
“I need to talk to you” I commanded.
“Well if it’s that urgent” he responded.
“It is.” I said lowering my voice. “This is my perfect day. Do you hear me? My perfect day. It’s going to be perfect or else. Do I make myself clear?”
“Y-Yes honey” He stammered. I hesitated for a slight moment to reinforce the seriousness of the conversation. Then I left him standing there as I walked back to my dressing room. I needed one final glance into the mirror before the ceremony. Gazing into the mirror I noticed my dress, it was perfect, my hair and nails, perfect. My shoes, my earrings, my necklace, everything was perfect! The deep sound of an organ resonated through my head. I heard the shuffling of feet into pews. As the shuffling died down and the ceremony was about to commence I heard the church doors open. Uhg, a late guest ruining my perfect day. It’s probably Harold’s brother, what a slob. Why did the music stop what’s going on? Who’s voice is that? It’s so rough and barbaric. Suddenly an outburst of screams accompanies the sound of a brawl. I open the door and in horror see a disgusting animal mauling my poor Harold. I shriek! The diseased, flea infested, beast is hauled off of Harold. Harold grasps his face and screams. Blood runs down the side of his face and stains the rug. My perfect day is ruined! Harold is going to pay. The priest is going to pay. That animal is going to pay. Everyone is going to pay. I run out of the church tears streaming down my face, freezing and falling into the snow. I run to my car and blast the heat. My perfect day was ruined. I never want to see any of those people ever again. I am so alone. Why did this have to happen to me? My life is over. All I want now is to be alone. Why is everything in life so hard?

WA 5 draft 1

The cold winter air is stinging at my face. My grimy, matted hair spilling from my skull like pieces of thin, bent wire, scraping all the way down to my gnarled, blackened hands. The only thing that groans more than my stomach is the wind as it rips through my tattered clothing. I have only one shoe from which a frozen dirty toe protrudes. A heavy snow falls as I stumble past 13th street and make my way to the church. A warm place with loving people and plenty of food. While walking up the main stairs to the church entrance the sweet sound of an organ blesses my frostbit ears. Opening the heavy wooden doors brings a rush of warm air filled the aroma of incense. I take a long deep breath of holy air and as I look up a hundred eyes stare at me. There are no welcoming face offering me food and shelter, only eyes that isolate me. A beautiful cake rests on a table tantalizing me. An peculiar silence suffocates the hall and is only broken by the jingle of the 36 cents in my pocket. The priest asks me to leave explaining that the wedding is a private gathering. The groom examines me as if I were an animal. That’s what I am to these people. A different species, a soleless outsider. I tried to explain that I would be quiet and not bother the ceremony. However the groom now enters the conversation forcefully commanding to leave using such language as “vermin”, “beast”, and “savage.” I became enraged by the paradox of the salvation of the church. Distilled hatred, lust, and hopelessness spilling forth from my every orifice. My mind, driven by hate, driven by envy sent a signal to my clenched hands. I lunge at the groom scraping his face with my long filthy finger nails. We scream together now my agony can be shared with another pitiless soul. He begins to push at my face with a soft tender hand. Ravenously I sink my teeth into it, tasting the first meal I have had in days. Like a dog I attempt once again to fill my hunger but many hands grab and restrain me. I resist with the force of a man with nothing to lose. Several men wrestle me to the door and throw me onto the ground. Snarling and grunting in disgust I curl into a ball. I feel a lone tear freezing on my face and falling into the snow. It is welcomed, accepted and disappears. I lie lonely, hating the animal that I have become and let my cold lonely and loveless heart beat its last beat.

WA4 Final Draft

Dear Barack Obama,

 

My name is Michael Santulli and I am a 16-year-old democrat living in Charlottesville, Virginia. I am writing this letter to express what I think is important for you to accomplish in your first year as President of the United States. First off, it is extremely important to reestablish The United States of America’s international image. The United States of America used to be a role model for new nations who had ideas and hopes of a democratic government. Now The United States of America is seen as an international bully, acting as an intimidator, instead of a peacekeeper.

     The economic crisis should also be dealt with. After watching the presidential debates I am convinced that you have a plan to fix this problem. Helping the needy is a far better solution than the dreadful trickle down theory, which is simply greed.  Putting jobs back in American hands is a big issue.  We cannot pull ourselves out of this hole without doing some work.

     One of the most vital issues is the environmental dilemma. This is especially important for my, my children’s and my grandchildren’s generation who will be living with the consequences. The most important issue is setting up a renewable energy source and weaning the world off of its oil addiction. For example there is a city in Abu Dhabi called Masdar City that is being built carbon neutral and waste free. They use solar panels and other renewable energy sources.

     Finally, it is essential to pull out of the war in Iraq. This is a war of aggression against a sovereign nation that should never of happened in the first place. It is illegal, immoral and reverting back to my earlier points, it is destroying both our economy and our international image. I know many parents who have sent their children over-seas only to see them come home in a body bag. I am very confident in you as the leader of The United States of America. I do realize how difficult it is to reach these goals, especially in one year. But taking small steps toward the goal is better than nothing. If The United States of America chooses to work together and improve our nation to its former glory, then there is nothing that cannot be accomplished.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Santulli