String Puppets
30208 王儷學 09 江亦婕
 

Johnson and Mariana were couples. Though they love each other, Johnson was too shy to share his feelings with Mariana. Recently, whichever Mariana ask Johnson question such as “Where did you go yesterday?”, “What is your hobby?”, or “Do you want babies?” but he always said “Nothing” or just keep silent. Last Sunday morning, Mariana found Johnson missing again.

“Johnson! Johnson!” Mariana called his name loudly but no one answered her.

“Johnson? Are you home? Where did you go last night?” Mariana kept asking with no reply. Suddenly, there was a loud crash upstairs.

Mariana strode to upstairs in confusion and saw Johnson lying on the ground.

”Johnson? What’s going on with you? Why are you lying on the ground?” Mariana spoke in worry because Johnson seemed not very awake. But he became conscious soon. He opened his eyes and saw his wife, started to move.

”Hey! Don’t speak so loud. You make me have a headache.”

“You haven’t answered my question yet. Where did you go last night? I ‘m so worried about you. I couldn’t see you every Sunday when I got up. And you always told me nothing. I’m fed up with apprehensions over you. I just want an answer. Are you having affairs with somebody?” Mariana said it agitatedly.

“What’s wrong with you? Yesterday, I just went outside to relax. Having some beer at the bar; I was so drunk, and that’s why I lied on the ground.”

“Who is she? Let me guess, a sexy nurse with big breasts and long legs in your hospital? Come on! Just tell me the truth!”

“Mariana, please calm down. Trust me! That’s the answer, ok? I’ve been in love with you for twelve years. We love each other so much, don’t we? Why can’t you give me some freedom? Mariana, you changed, you were considerate and patient before.”

“Johnson…”

“I’m so sorry for making you worried. But please trust me; there is no one between you and me.”

“All right. I trust you. …I apologize for misunderstanding you.”

“Good. …I’m having a terrible hangover and I am too tired to talk now.” He went to the room, leaving Mariana along in the living room.

It’s easy to notice that Mariana was still full of concerns. She was afraid of her husband had extramarital relations. She had no idea what would happen to her.

 

To find out what Johnson did, Mariana decided to follow him this Sunday night. After going to bed, Mariana pretended she was deeply asleep, but secretly paid attention to Johnson. At about one o’clock, Johnson got out of the bed and dressed up. Mariana kept pretending until he left. “Let’s see what he was doing.” Mariana thought in her mind. She saw Johnson pass by road and road. Going through the forest, Johnson stood in front of the graveyard, getting into the abandoned cellar. Thus, Mariana decided to get in to the cellar to see what he was doing.

 

When Mariana got into the cellar, she smelled a strong stink. She walked into the deepest room of the cellar. She saw a lot of string puppets that just looked like real human hung on the ceiling.

“Johnson?”

Mariana appeared in sudden that Johnson had no idea what to do with his hands and feet.

“Gosh! How come you are here, Mariana? I mean… you should be at home now. And… …” Johnson spoke in a flurry. He could feel that every part of his body was in the cold sweat.

Mariana didn’t look at him. No one sounded on, only the wind roaring through the cellar. After a short time, Mariana broke the silence.

“Johnson, I believe that it is necessary and important to a couple to trust each other. But what you have done just make me feel disappointed. See? What are these? You always tell me nothing. ” Mariana spoke in sadness and took a black and unknown things from the desk.”Is it a part of a string puppet? ”

“Well, yes. I can explain it, so… please promise me not to cry or shout.” Johnson kept saying.

“I have a very special hobby. This hobby is too strange to tell everyone, including you, my dear Mariana. ”Johnson picked up a doll’s arm from the ground. “These string puppets are made from real human beings. I stole dead bodies from graves and took them here. I used string to hang the dead on the ceiling.” Johnson’s eyes shone the light of enthusiasm.

“What? You made the dead become string puppets as your collections?” Mariana was too shocked that she knelt on the floor. “Oh my god…What kind of person I have married?” Mariana couldn’t help but shiver.

“Mariana…I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you the truth. …You won’t tell anybody, will you? I love you…”

“Johnson! Robbing tombs is illegal! And it’s also immoral!”

“I know…but I just can’t help it. Don’t you think it’s a new kind of art and I believe that it will be popular in the world with my effort soon. Look at those string puppet; they’re as real as a living person. And look at their arms and fingers, what a beautiful and unheard-of art!” Johnson held Mariana’s hand and showed her his “collection”.

“You’re sick!” drew back her hand, Mariana walked toward the exit.

“Mariana, where are you going?” Johnson followed.

“I’m leaving you! I am going to tell the police!” Mariana kept walking.

“No! Please don’t leave me, Mariana! I love you! I can’t live without you! ”

Johnson knelt down and held her leg. No matter how he begged her, Mariana was determined to leave. She pushed Johnson and ran away, leaving her perfume surrounding him.

 

Johnson lay with face downwards. He shook his head continually.

“Mariana… I won’t let you go. I won’t let you leave me. If you can’t accept me, I’ll do everything to make you stay with me by hook or by crook. ” He picked up a stave and ran to Mariana.

 

When Mariana awoke from the pain in her arms, she found that Johnson was using the needle and the string to draw her blood into the container.

“Johnson! What are you doing?” Mariana lost too much blood that she couldn’t exert herself. All she saw was very blurred, but she knew Johnson was close to her. Very close. She could smell his scent, his unique scent. She remembered that when she first met Johnson, she was deeply in love with him. She remembered that she liked to lean against his sturdy chest to smell his cologne.

“Don’t be afraid, my dear Mariana, I’ll do it gently….you will become the most beautiful puppet of my collection. I am drawing half of your blood out so that your skin will keep smooth after you become a puppet. I will inject a “good thing” into your body so that you won’t feel the pain when I use the string to stab through your hands, your feet, and your shoulders.”

“Jerk…let me go…”

 

Johnson looked at her in a deep love. Johnson held the syringe and slowly injected the poisonous drugs into her slim arm.

“Mariana…” soon, Mariana fell into the deepest sleep and never open her eyes again. After Johnson hung her body on the ceiling, he admired his prettiest string puppet. He suddenly laughed loudly, in tears.

“The world without you means nothing to me, Mariana. I’m sorry. I love you.”

 

After several days, people found Johnson hung in his house. A lot of string entwined his body. His face looked peaceful like he was just sleeping. No one knew what happened….No one knew that deep in the forest, the abandoned cellar of the

graveyard was the string puppet museum of this strange-hobbyed man.

Give advice to a freshman

    As a senior, I’ll soon be graduating from my high school. Now I can still remember when I just entered my high school. I felt anxious and excited about being a freshman. During the past two years, I have experienced many things; I have learned how to have happy and productive years. There are some advices that I want to give to an incoming freshman.

 

    First, you have to keep the habit of studying and reading every day. In order to prepare for your college entrance examination after two years, you got to study every day, so that you won’t be too toilsome when you are a senior. Reading is also important for you. Library is a great place. You can get a lot of information from books, magazines, and websites. Remember, the information you have got from the text books is always not enough!

 

    Second, join the student association which you are interested in. Not only can you learn things that differ from your studies, but also can you make more new friends. Building up a good interpersonal relationship in high school is also an important lesson you got to learn! Besides, you will have the chance to give a performance in Achievements publication. So don’t be shy to stand in front of people! Just show what you have learned from the student association!

 

    Third, make good use of your time. In high school, there are a lot of activities, such as the singing competition, the basketball contest, the drama competition, and so on. You can live a happy and relaxed school life, but you still have to concentrate your attention on school works. If you can manage your time well, it is not that hard for you to study and have fun simultaneously!

 

    In my opinion, keeping the habit of studying and reading, join the student association, and make good use of time; take these three advice, I’m sure that all of the freshman can enjoy the time during these three years in high school. I hope that every freshman can have happy and productive years in high school.

Leadership

Leadership is leaders inducing followers to act for certain goals that represent the values and the motivations—the wants and needs, the aspirations and expectations – of both leaders and followers. In my opinion, there are three personalities that a leader should have.

First, I think a leader should have considerable influence. If a leader is not influential enough, he or she can not call up people to follow him or her. For example, Valkyre, my classmate, is our hygiene chief. Once we came to a culinary classroom which is terribly dirty, Valkyre called up all of our classmates to sweep and clean it up. So now Ming Lun Senior high school has a clean culinary classroom!

Second, I think a leader should be ambitious. An ambitious leader is not easily satisfied. If he or she has achieved a goal, he or she would set another goal to aspire after instead of being satisfied with what he or she has now. Napoleon Bonaparte, one of the greatest military commanders in history, decided on a military career when he was a child, winning a scholarship to a French military academy at age 14. In the states he created, Napoleon granted constitutions, introduced law codes, abolished feudalism, created efficient governments and fostered education, science, literature and the arts.

  Third, a leader must be humble. If a leader is too proud to take others’ advice, he or she may lose a chance to make their group better. In Chinese history, the Emperor Taizong of Tang was humble enough to take Wei Zheng’s advice. So that during the reign of the Emperor Taizong was called “Reign of Zhen’guan”, considered a golden age of Chinese history

  To sum up, having considerable influence, being ambitious,and being humble are the three personalities that I think a leader should have.

A letter

Dear Adam

 

Dear Adam

How are you doing? I am fine. It is really hot in summer in Taiwan. I enjoy going to swim and have some ice cream after swimming! But recently I haven’t gone to swim; I’ve just stayed at home and studied all day long. I feel really tired!

     Actually, I have had a problem for a long time. And I don’t know what to do. My mom just keeps telling me to study harder, but I really don’t like to do that and I’m not good at studying. What can I do? Could you please give me some advice? I really need your help.

Sincerely yours,

George

 

 

The best movie I’ve ever seen

Van Helsing is the best movie I’ve ever seen. It is a story about a monster hunter, Van Helsing, whose job was to fight against evil monsters for a secret organization. One day, he was sent to help Anna Valerious to kill a vampire, Count Dracula. Van Helsing gradually found his lost memory during the battle.

          The reason why I love this movie is that most of the characters, even the villains, are handsome and beautiful! Also, the special effects in the movie are wonderful! Besides, Van Helsing’s courage and wisdom really inspired me to become a fighter. From the story, I’ve learned that only when we face the difficulty can we solve it. Not quitting and not giving up anything is what a fighter required. And that’s why I love this movie.

A lesson I’ve learned

     Teenagers always take their parents’ love for them for granted. Sometime when our parents complain about our bad habits or poor grades, all feel very annoyed and angry. We don’t really show our respect to them. Although we know they really love us, we argue with them at times.

     When I was in grade eight, my father got sick. He suffered from apoplexy. He couldn’t move or talk easily. I will never forget the scene that he lay on the hospital bed with the intravenous drip, he stretched out his hand when he saw me. I suddenly found that he is old! I was so afraid of losing him that my eyes were brimmed with tears. I suddenly realized how much I loved my father! No matter how much wrangles we had had, I did love him!

     Thanks to God, my father recovered very well. He now can work and drive just like normal person. After this event, I found that it is important to treasure everyone around you all the time. Because we don’t know what will happen next!

Should teenagers have jobs?

Should teenagers have jobs while they are students? Many people have their own thoughts about this question. I think it’s pretty good to have jobs while teenagers are still students. I myself do want to have a job! From a personal point of view, there are three reasons why I think it is a good idea.

First, it can raise our social experience. We will gradually understand that the society is not that wonderful as we think. Not all of the people around us are friendly. And we have to learn how to protect ourselves before bad things happen to us. My cousin Karen is a clerk in a convenient store. She is so kind that she believes everyone is good. One day she saw one of the clerks stole some money and told the supervisor that the thief is another clerk. How bad is that person! It’s a big blow to Karen. But if she hasn’t taken that job, she wouldn’t know the importance of protecting herself.

Second, we can learn how to get along with people. People come from different places to work in a same place. We learn how to communicate with them! For example, my friend Tim is really good at dancing, and he teaches not only children but also adults! While he is teaching, he shows the movements step by step redundant to the children. If he does the movements too fast, his students can’t follow his movements. Also, he has to repeat his words to them again and again, trying use simple words to let them understand. On the other hand, while he teaches adults, he doesn’t have to.

Third, I think that only when you are making money, then you will realize the difficulties of it. And you won’t waste money easily! Take myself for example, I love shopping so much, and I spend money on my new clothes and stuffs! I knew it’s hard to earn money, because everybody said that, but I didn’t know how hard it is in fact! Then I had a job for a day last year. I worked five hours and got three hundred dollars. I found that I have to work more than five hours then I can buy a dress only! From then on, I seldom bought new clothes and I saved some money in the post office.

To sum up, it is a good idea for teenagers to have jobs while they are still students.

The suitable job for Muhammad.

      Muhammad has three merits to be a good entertainer.

      First, he enjoys performing on the stage. Singing is one of his interests. He also sings very well. Besides, he is good at acting. Once he won a second prize in a drama competition.

       Second, he is not afraid of taking challenges. He joined a singing competition but failed. He kept trying and never gave up. He always tries new things that he has never done before.

       Third, he likes making friends. Chatting is one of his interests as well. Moreover, he has good social skills to keep his interpersonal relationships. He builds good relationship with people so that whenever he needs help, he can always find someone to give him a hand. Good interpersonal relationships can let him complete many things without a hitch.

The C.L-Laptop

       Do you  think it is heavy to bring a laptop with you? If so , the  C.L-Laptop would be a wonderful invention to you! 

       Convenient and easy to use. You don’t need to bring a heavy laptop and its extra equipment, like mouse. All you have to do is put the C.L-Laptop on your eyes just like wearing contact lenses. Whenever you are going to click, just look at the link and wink your eyes.

       The C.L-Laptop combines the function of the contact lenses and the laptop. The C.L-Laptop not only makes you see more clearly but also has the function of a laptop. The C.L-Laptop is waterproof. You can wash it just like washing your contact lenses after you take it off.

       Whenever you are going to use the function of the laptop, put the C.L-Laptop on your eyes and move your eyes clockwise. Then the portrait will be projected on the smooth glass or transparent plastic. After you use the laptop-function, move you eyes counderwise to turn off the lap.

Places I like to go.

        If  you ask me where I like to go to, I’ll tell you bookstores and coffee shops. I go to the bookstores twice a week. I like to read there because I don’t need to spend money on them. I often go there with my friends or classmates. We always spend  whole afternoon there on weekends. I also like to go to the coffee shops with my family, but sometimes I go there by myself. We go there twice a month. I like to stay there because the coffee is tasty  and it smells great. Besides, the soft music creats peaceful ambience, which is nice to relax. I enjoy the time with my family and friends, especially in the bookstores and coffee shops!