The Gift of the Magi
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry is a short story that takes place in New York during Christmas Eve. The story is mainly about Della and Jim James Dillingham Young. Della who wants to buy a present for Jim must figure out, how is she suppose to raise enough money to buy the gift. She must find enough money before Jim comes home. First, Della thinks about how she can get enough money for her gift that she is giving to Jim. Then, she decides on cutting her hair that is like a "brown casade." After that, Della finds a hair parlor in which the hairstylist tells her that if Della sells her hair, the hairstylist would give her twenty-dollars. Next, Della buys the gift she wanted for Jim which is a gold chain and heads home. There she fixes her hair and prepares for Jim's coming. Finally, Jim arrives and observes Della's hair. Della happily awaits her present from Jim. As Jim gives it to her she realizes something. There were combs for her! But she can't really use them considering that her cut her hair. As the story ends, Jim receives his present and tells Della that he sold his watch so he doesn't need the chain. They both see that Della and Jim have sold their prize-possessions to get a gift for someone else.
Dear Journal,
Day 1: Today, was the most exciting day ever. I visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona for my first time. The Grand Canyon is one of the national parks in the U.S. The weather was very hot and dry there. It was the summertime and there were a lot of people. One of the park rangers, told me that the Grand Canyon is one of the “seven wonders of the natural world” (Grand Canyon National Park = GCNP). I looked over the vast canyons. It looked so magnificent and the canyons looked like it can go on endlessly. The park rangers gathered everyone and told us what we can do today. He said we can look around the canyons and we would be going to different stops to see around the Grand Canyon. Everyone looked around the canyons. Some people had binoculars to see farther and to see the little creatures hiding from the sun. Other people brought their children with them. I walked up to the edge of the cliff, there was a glass panel surrounding the edge if the cliff so no one could plummet down the cliff. I looked at the rough-edged canyons which seemed like it could go on forever. I saw the sides and how roughly it’s been eroded. Finally, making the choice that would be so plainly, obvious but to look down, it was so far down. It felt like, if I was going to fall then it would be for eternity. I backed away from the balcony a little. I knew this made me scared, but why did I do it? I guess, that I can't help but look down. Chills started to run down my back and goosebumps started forming on my arms. Luckily, everyone was getting on the bus and I got to my seat. I heard earlier that the Grand Canyon was established as one of “U.S National Parks in the year of 1919” (GCNP). Which makes the Grand Canyon, about 97 years old. Someone told me that there is a special place where you can climb down the Grand Canyon and you land in a camping ground. But the bad part of that is there are so many scorpions at the camp. The bus stopped and everyone got off. I looked down and saw a stream of water. That must be the Colorado River. I looked at the time, it was 4:30 pm. It was surely getting hot around this time. The park ranger gave us a pamphlet about the Grand Canyon. He said that we are going to the last stop of the day. Everyone went back on the bus again. I scanned through the pamphlet. So apparently, the Grand Canyon is more than “1 mile deep and 18 miles wide” (GCNP). The bus finally stopped and everyone filed off the bus. I can't believe the day is almost over. Luckily, it was time for the sunset. I pulled out my iPhone and took a picture. I could see the sky filled with orange and yellow, the canyons made the picture look even more spectacular. Everyone stood there and watched as the sun set over the canyons. The park rangers called everyone to get on the bus. I watched the bus go by the canyons as I head back to the hotel.
Day 2: Today, is my last day in Arizona. I have been here for 4 days. The first two were to look around the cites of Arizona. The last two days were for the Grand Canyon. Today, I would be doing the activities at the Grand Canyon. I looked at my schedule, the first thing to do is hiking. I am walking with 6 other people. The trail I am walking is the Bright Angel Point Trail. It was a 30 minute walk. I went on the bus that took me to the beginning of the trail. The trail is at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The bus stopped at the log shelter near the visitor center. This must be where the trail begins. The leader of the hike was waiting near the log shelter. Everyone got out and took their backpacks with them. The leader gave us all pamphlets about the trail. There was map inside so we can keep track of where were going. Everyone started to follow the leader and she was walking very fast. I was at the middle of the group. The leader pointed out the view right in front of everyone. The canyons were so pretty. Now that I can see it in a different perspective. Everyone continue to walk. Soon, 30 minutes past, the hike was over. This time, I got on a different bus, that was going to take me to my next place on my list. The next thing on my list was to check out the Grand Canyon skywalk. The skywalk is “one of most famous attractions at the Grand Canyon” (GCNP). The depth from the skywalk to the bottom of the Grand Canyon is about 2,000 feet. The bus soon drops me off. I enter a building then go outside to land at the skywalk. I walk all the way to the edge. It was the most beautiful sight, I’ve ever seen. The skywalk extended over the cliff but it was fine with me because I was more thrilled about seeing a beautiful view then falling off the skywalk. 30 minutes later, it was time to go. I was really depressed to leave, but the next stop was the gift shop. The last stop of my trip. The bus dropped me off at the gift shop. I went in and decided to get one thing. There was a picture on the magnet of the Grand Canyon. So I got that and soon head off to my ride home. I had a great time visiting the Grand Canyon. Hopefully, I can go again.
The Runaway Zebra
Today in Tallahassee, we witness a runaway zebra named Zigzag. Zigzag disappeared from his owner. After the ZigZag's disappearance, a woman hit ZigZag with her car. Nick Ammons, a young 12-year old took an astonishing video of his accounts with the zebra. Nick was just "washing dishes" at the 7th Street Diner when he saw a zebra in the parking lot. Nick went outside and saw the the zebra galloping the other way. So Nick took out his phone and took a video of the zebra running then walking then running again and again. Nick followed the zebra for half a mile till Nick lost him. Nick then posted the video on youtube. We spoke with the owner of the zebra, George Dowling. He said that he was just about to feed ZigZag. But then the gate "bang" open and ZigZag escape. We told Mr. Dowling that it was illegal to have a zebra for a pet. But then he got mad and banned us from his home. We also spoke with Jessica Tradewell, the woman who hit ZigZag with her Mazda 626. Jessica was just driving at 13th Street when she a zebra right in front of her car. Jessica tried to stop her car when she heard a "THUMP sound" because she just accidentally hit the poor Zigzag. Jessica went out of the car to see the zebra just lying there. She called 911 but the operator didn't believe her when she said she ran over the a zebra. But gladly, Zigzag got to the hospital and is getting fixed as reports say. We spoke to Dr. Mark Hardt, a veterinarian. Dr. Hardt saids that, "Zigzag is finally sleeping well". Zigzag suffered injuries from the accident. Zigzag has "some internal bruising" and "a broken hind leg" says Dr. Hardt. Luckily, Jessica wasn't going that fast or Zigzag would have major injuries. The Tallahassee Police Department has made arrangements to send Zigzag to Central Florida Zoo. Zigzag will not be sent back to his owner. Dr. Hardt thinks that Zigzag should be staying at the Central Florida Zoo permanently.
Summary of the First Day
The Genre of the "The First Day" is historical fiction. The author of the "The First Day" is Edward P. Jones. This story takes place in New York or New Jersey during September. It tells the story of a girl, a kindergarter who is going to her first day of school. She must face embrassment and rejection. First, the girl and her mother were walking down street and the girl was getting nervous for her first day of school. Then as the girl and her mother approach Seaton Elementary School, the girl gets all sad and depressed because the buliding has a sad look in it. Next, a lady comes up to them but the mom finds out that her dream school for her child has to rejected her child. The lady tells them to go to Walker Jones, a more closer school. Finally, they both make it to Walker Jones and her mother looks disgusted by the look of the school. They find a place to register for school. The mother asks nicely for help but the woman doesn't understand. The mother asks again but this time tells the woman that she can't read or write. The woman looks please with herself and kindly helps the mother. After the registration, the girl is introduce to her teacher. As the story ends, the girl says goodbye to her mom but as her mom leaves she can still hear the footsteps as she starts her first day of school.