You Make Your Own Endings

Last summer I read a series known as The Last Apprentice. It's possibly one of the darkest books I've ever read but also the most interesting because it isn't the usual sort of good guy vs. bad guy and the good guy saves the day and they live happily ever after. No. This series is the exact opposite. Everything ends in the hero's favor however there's always some sort of consequence that comes with his victory. I enjoyed that the author wrote a story with a somewhat realistic ending. These books demonstrate that even the darkest parts of life can be fought through. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Regardless of what happens there always is some way of getting through it. It won't always be a happy ending, but then again, there's always an ending. It's your choice as to whether or not it's happy. The outcome is always in your power. You just might not know it, but, the faster you realize you make your own endings, the better.

Kobe

The Meaning of The Flower Garden

Today we read a short story by Shirley Jackson, called Flower Garden. It's about a woman who moves into a small cottage in a welcoming little town. After living there for a short time and hiring a black gardener, she is ridiculed by the town so much until she decides to leave. When I first began to read the story, I didn't know what to expect from it but the main thing that screamed out during the story was conflict. To be more specific, person vs. society.

In this story society gangs up on one woman and eventually insults her to the point of leaving. This story also showed that you have to choose friends wisely. The main character in this story, Mrs. Winning, had the opportunity to keep Mrs.MacLane (the newcomer), in town but feared if she told her people would ridicule her, she would have lost her friend. In this story she decides to pass up the opportunity and she loses a friend and any chance of getting her back. A quote by Benjamin Franklin easily relates to this story. "Leap at opportunities as quickly as you would a conclusion.".

This story's meaning and message to the reader is to always leap at those opportunities and good things will come. It also displayed that society can be very cruel at times. Those who do make choices that will be ridiculed need to stand strong by those choices, however, the woman in this story does not. Individualism is not a crime. You will sometimes be picked on. You may even get hurt but think about this. If you suddenly decide to become someone your not, then you're no better than the people that made you do so. This will also strip you of your individualism, causing you to be another average citizen. Always stand by your choices. Always be yourself. Always be an individual.

Kobe Harvey