Examples of Key Literary Terms Essay Example for Free

Examples of Key Literary Terms Essay Farce: A comedy; a short play, in which both sub ­tle humor and hilarity are developed through improbable situations, exaggeration and (often) ridiculous antics. The example in our text was: I’m going! A comedy in one act, there was never a doubt that Henri was going to the races from the very start, no matter what Jeanne (Henri’s wife) had to say. The comedy behind this was Henri and Jeanne arguing back and forth about Henri going to the races without Jeanne, then a sudden twist when Jeanne finally decided that she would go visit her friend (Juliette) and Henri could go to the race. Well, then Henri didn’t want Jeanne to do that so he would not leave until Jeanne told him she would stay home alone. This demonstrated (Farce) because the author used humor and ridiculous antics throughout his play. Imagination: The human power that shapes artistic expression; it enables a writer’s work to become an expression of meaning in our world, and allows readers to engage in identifying with what the writer’s work has to say about things that matter. The example given in our text for Imagination was: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Walter had a very vivid imagination, throughout his story he was a commander in an 8 engine Navy hydroplane, a famous surgeon helping a friend of President Roosevelt, an accused witness in a court room trial, a captain in a war plane and finally finds himself fearlessly facing a firing squad; all while driving his wife to the city and waiting for her to have her hair done. This story demonstrated a lot of artistic expression, and you could almost get lost in what was actually real and what was imagined. Image: A distinct representation of some ­thing that can be experienced and understood through the senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste), or the representation of an idea. Writers use precise language in developing images, or imagery, in literature. The example given for Image in our text was: Dog’s Death. The family dog was sick and no one noticed until it was too late as the dog died on the way to the vet. Upon the family returning home they notice diarrhea across the kitchen floor where the dog had tried to use the paper they had lay on the floor for it. This demonstrated (image) through the sense of sight, even though the dog had died, what it had left behind was a very sad reminder of it. Song: A lyrical musical expression, a source of emotional outlet common in ancient communi ­ties and still influential in contemporary culture. The example given for (song) in our text was: Dream Boogie. Basically it is a song, songs and music are expressions of what people are feeling and since we are all human we often have many of the same feelings as others. My son is a song writer and he mostly writes depressing love songs because of all the girls that have done him wrong. I can relate to his music because of all the men that have done me wrong. Clugston, R. W. (2010). Journey into literature. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Political Factors Affecting Education

Political Factors Affecting Education Education is the most important shared experienced in our lives it is so important and so all-pervasive that it is almost impossible to define. Education will not supply all the answers to the problems that beset us, either as individuals or as a nation, but if we set about it the right way, it is the best single means of promoting intellectual, moral, physical and economic wellbeing (Aldrich 1996 ). Education teaches us the joy of learning and gives us the qualifications for employment, which builds confidence and self esteem and gives us the skills and values to meet the demands of a fast changing worlds and society. (Estelle 2001 quoted in Chitty, C 2009). As education meet the demands of society so society is itself is a product of that knowledge or education which informs societal attitudes towards life and its problems, the value it attaches to the things of the world in general, the place of man in the universe in particular and the norm sets to which our thoughts and behavior must conform. The two contrasting regions of Peshawar and Khyber Agency in Pakistan have been selected for critical analysis and evaluation of the impact of varying social and political forces on the provision and type of education available in each area. Peshawar is a large city having a population of 2.9 million in 2005. The population is growing by 3.2 % annually and this growth rate is higher than most other Pakistani cities (Hayat 2006). Peshawars residents consist mainly of Pashtoon people with Hindkowans as the minority group. Languages such as Pashto, Persian, Urdu, Khowar, Dari, Hindko, Saraiki and Punjabi are spoken in Peshawar. Peshawar can be sub-divided into two distinct regions, namely the urban region, which accounts for 51.32 % of the population, and the rural area with holds the remaining 48.68 % of the population. The population had increased two fold in the previous two decades. (Gaffar 2005) .The area of Peshawar district extends from Warsak north to south Matani, a distance of over 30 miles, and 18 miles from Hayatabad east to Taro Jaba in the west. It is located at an altitude of 1138ft above sea level. Most of the citys dwellers are Muslims with some Hindus, Sikhs and Christians minorities. Historically Peshawar was the centre of the Indus civilization and home to many other communities like Bukharan Jews and Zoroastrians (Arbab 2000). The second area to be evaluated is that of Khyber Agency. Khyber Agency is a Federally Administered Tribal area of Pakistan. It encompasses an area ranging from Tirah valley to the Peshawar district. It borders Afghanistan to the East, Orakzai Agency to the north and Peshawar to the west. There are four main tribes the Mullagori, Shalmani, Shinwari and Afridi in Khyber Agency. According to 2007 estimates, Khyber Agency had a literacy rate of 34.2%. In world literacy rankings, Pakistan is listed as 160th of 177 countries, with an overall literacy rate of 49.9 %( Noreen 2008). The reason for selecting these Peshawar and Khyber Agency is that, whilst they are geographically close, they demonstrate clear differences in the type and standard of education they provide. These differences can, therefore, be usefully evaluated in terms of the social and political forces acting upon them. One such significant factor, is that Khyber agency has become a focal point for the war against terrorism which, this paper will argue, has been a dominant cause in the deterioration of the education system in that region. Before analyzing and evaluating the provision of education by the state, it is a matter to be taken in notice that high regard is accorded to education in Pakistan is enshrined in the constitution with education on the agreed legislative list of the central and provincial government. The 1973 constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan recognizes the importance of education and says that the state shall: Encourage unity and observance of the Islamic moral standards Endorse with special care the educational and economic interests of backward areas. Eradicate illiteracy and provide free and compulsory secondary education. Make technical and professional education generally available and higher education accessible to all on the basis of merit. Enable the people of different areas, through education, training, agriculture and industrial development and other methods, to participate fully in all forms of national activities including employment in the services of Pakistan. Ensure full participation of women in all the spheres of national life (National education policy 2010) In many developed countries of the world the school system has been divided into the state school and private school sectors. The commentators Adonis and Pollard have recently complained that the education system in England is based on a division between state and private (so called public ) schools with prestige and resources going mainly to the later rather then to the former (Adonis, A and Pollard S 1998). Like Great Britain, education system in Pakistan is also divided into state and private school. The existing state school systems in both Peshawar and Khyber agency are almost the same as that are provided in the rest of Pakistan. In Peshawar and Khyber agency, however, the school system has a further sub-division having state schools, private schools and madrassa schools. Private schools are considered schools for the upper classes, entry to which are generally limited to students from rich families, whilst state schools are generally for lower, middle class people. Madrassa, however, are for those children from lower class family backgrounds who do not have an access to any of the above mentioned schools for a variety of reasons; a key factor being accessibility. The students of madrassa depend solely on charities provided by the general public. In Peshawar only 4.6 million students are enrolled in the Public Sector, Private Sector and Madrassa. The remaining 2.8 million children have no access to formal education (Hussein 2007). Average dropout rates up to Matriculation level are at 38% annually. There are many factors that impact on the drop out including access problems, social and cultural issues particularly among females, poverty, ignorance, lack of financial resources,(with government and families) corporal punishment and so on. More than half of the children in Peshawar drop out of school before completing the fifth grade. On average, females remain in school for 1.3 years and males for 3.8 years. (Sohrab 2007) The education system in both areas is broadly divided into three stages namely; Primary, Secondary and Higher education. The pre school stage is introduced for children less then 5 years old and is further divided into three stages, play group, Nursery and Kinder Garden. Students progress from Primary schools to Middle schools and then High school. After completing High school (SSC), successful students progress to college, and is called Higher Secondary State Education (HSSC). After Primary Education, unisex education is the communities preferred choice but co-education does exist in Private Institution in Peshawar although not in Khyber Agency. The curriculum is usually designed by the federal curriculum bureau in Islamabad with prominent educationalists setting the objectives of the curriculum. Every province has its own text book boards who implement the curriculum made by the federal curriculum bureau. The provincial text book board has limited authority but can make some change s to the curriculum, subject to the approval of federal curriculum bureau. The provincial text book board conducts and monitors exams through different exam boards. (Iqbal 2007)The curriculum designed by the federal bureau is implemented in both private and state schools in Peshawar and Khyber Agency. O level and A level education system is employed in private sector in Peshawar. In Both private and state institutions the common subjects are Urdu, English, Maths, Social Studies, Islamyat, Computer science, and other science subjects like Chemistry, Physics and Biology. In Private schools, the medium of instruction is English whilst state schools teach in Urdu. (Majeed 2007). Secondary education teaches the boy{sic} to apply the principle he is learning, and so to learn the principles by applying them, or so to use the instruments he is being made to know, as to perform or produce something, interpret literature or a science, make a picture or a book, practice a plastic or a manual a rt, convince a jury or persuade a senate, translate or annotate an author, dye wool, weave cloth, design or construct a machine, navigate a ship or command an army (Bryce 1895). Secondary education is viewed as preparing students for entry into a career and that is why, after gaining the higher secondary school certificate (HSSC), students in both areas can appear in the entry test for professional institutions like medical and engineering colleges. Those who are unsuccessful in the entry tests follow the arts path or other science subjects. Higher education takes students up to PhD level. Since 2002, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has been empowered to carry out assessment, improvement and promotion of higher education, research and development, devise policies, guiding principles and priorities for higher education institutions and to set down conditions under which institutions, including those that are not part of the State educational system, may be opened and operated. The mandate of HEC encompasses all degree granting universities and institutions, both in public and private sectors and supports the attainment of quality education by facilitating and co-coordinating self-assessment of academic programs and their external review by national and international experts. HEC also supervises the planning, development and accreditation of public and private sector higher education institutions. Its goal is to facilitate the educational reform process (Ghani 2006). The main distinguishing features in the provision and type of education system in each area is due to differences in the implementation of educational strategies and the number and types of educational institutions available. There are plenty of schools, colleges and universities flourishing in Peshawar but not in Khyber Agency. Indeed, in Khyber Agency there are no universities or other professional colleges at all. After graduating from secondary school, the students of Khyber Agency must move to Peshawar or other parts of Pakistan, depending on their family circumstances, if they are to continue their education. Students from Khyber Agency face an additional problem when seeking admission to the institutions in Peshawar because of their tribal domicile, as the constitution of Pakistan limits, via a fixed quota, the number of Khyber Agency residents who can be admitted to State Professional colleges. Those students who do not come in the quota system have to pay for their education in private institutions. Those who can not afford these expenses are left/remain without further education. There are number of social factors that play into the poor public provision of education in Khyber Agency. These include low level of awareness among parents, low income status, lack of administration and control, less parental involvement, less opportunity to study, parents relationship with institutions and teachers, low literacy ratio, peer rejection, regarding its outcomes and impact on household well-being. The parents in Khyber Agency often lack the necessary vision to see the benefits that education can bring to the future of their children. Further difficulties such as the non-availability of transportation, communication and health, social and family priorities, influence often negatively the educational opportunities of students. Clear differences exist in the administration of education within the two regions. The expenditure of funds and the nature and scope of educational planning has affected the education system in Khyber Agency. Poor Economic conditions is another factor that lower the literacy rate of Khyber agency to below that of Peshawar region. The persistent under-investment by successive governments in Khyber Agency has left many schools, poorly resourced and lacking in physical infrastructure. Academic institutions, with few exceptions face financial problems and constraints. Mostly Public sector schools face financial constraints due to the high burden of students in crowed institutions where facilities for students are minimal. If financially possible, parents utilize the services of private institutions to help their children get better education. Alternatively, parents may employ external/private tuition or coaching to enhance their childrens competence because, as mentioned, most state schools are overcrowded with high students numbers per class which prohibits adequate student teacher interaction. In Khyber Agency, the average income of parents prevents most families from seeking to enroll their children into the higher standard and more competitive institutions or opt for external tuition and coaching. It is generally acknowledged that the education department as a whole is the most badly administered governmental sector in Pakistan in spite of the fact that educat ion plays such a vital role in the development of any country. As mentioned earlier, the national government has never allotted the necessary resources to this department, resulting in a poor literacy rate country-wide. A structured system for funding education is necessary based on local community needs and subject to audit control at regional level. In both regions, especially in Khyber Agency, current provision is characterized by poor governance and management, a traditional way of teaching, an outdated and inflexible curriculum, lack of qualified educators, inappropriate utilization of existing infrastructure, political interference in teacher selection and infrastructure development, poor supervision and control by government, gender discrimination and a poor evaluation and assessment system, that has made the existing provision of the education system incompatible with modern education system and therefore changes must be made. Khyber Agency has been totally isolated from the main stream political system. Political activities were not allowed and people could not participate in politics till 1998.the people were given the right to vote in 1998 general elections. The political party system is still very fragile in the area and controlled by the Federal government through the governor of Khyber Pashtoon khawa. Commissioner and political agent are answerable to the governor in what is a very complicated political system. There still prevails the most hated laws called FCR (frontier crime regulation) imposed by the British in colonial times. These were the draconian rules that were imposed by British government to suppress the people of Khyber Agency. Political involvement plays a vital role in the administration and governance of education. Peshawars regional government has a long established record of political interference in the administration and control of education while Khyber Agency is being weakened daily due to the insurgency and acts of terrorism, lack of accountability and nepotism. Teachers in the areas have many serious concerns. They are generally low paid, given the prevailing economic depression, and have often been driven to desperate measures to gain a modicum of their urgent demands such as improved working conditions. It is necessary to meet these demands to ensure that teachers, as the makers of the nations, can contribute to the development of students which in turn will result in the development of nation. Education is a constitutional right of every male and female. The high level of social anxiety and low literacy rate clearly indicate the need for fundamental changes in education system; such improvements would include a single medium of instruction for text books, sufficient funding and proper implementation of strategies and plans. Due to social and political pressure the government announces special reforms for the development of education sector that also applies in these two areas. At the start of the 21st Century, the Government of Pakistan took several initiatives underlining the education sector reform. Some of these reforms are National Education Policy (1998-2010); Education Sector Reforms (ESR) (2001-06), Education for All (EFA) by 2015, Ten Years Perspective Development Plan (2001-2011), Ten Years Perspective Development Plan (2001-2011), National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP), Medium Term Development Framework (MTDF) 2 005-10, and Education Millennium Development Goals.(National education policy 2010) Despite the above mentioned reforms which has been introduced by the government at various times, their positive impact has yet to reach many rural areas like that of Khyber Agency. As a consequence these areas have become breeding grounds for terrorism which will not only endanger Pakistan but will export terrorism to other countries of the world and thus endangering the whole world. The following recommendations, if properly implemented could improve the currant education system in both regions but particularly in Khyber agency. The existing system of education needs to be thoroughly scrutinized and audited to ensure transparency in order to address poor governance and management issues. A specialized Management Centre in Elementary and Secondary Education Department to provide accountability and proper training without nepotism and bias should be introduced. There is a need to empowering school heads to ensure they are free from political interference and control. A separate commission in the style of the public service commission could make appointments and standardize all grades. Maximum administrative and financial autonomy needs to be devolved down to school level with accountability of the school heads to community level. This make the monitoring and evaluation process more efficient and effective and new technology could be devised for the process. A revolutionary emphasis on education, social and economic development is critical in order to lay the foundations for educational development and poverty reduction in both of these areas. Without social and economic development, change cannot occur, as change never occurs in a vacuum. Private partnerships are critical for capitalizing upon social and other stakeholder such as NGOs, voluntary organizations, general public and private sectors. All stakeholders could be subject to regulatory mechanisms to ensure effective education development in both Peshawar and Khyber Agency. In both the regions rigid and hard line behavior has breed a biased and inflexible system allowing no space for students analytical thinking. This also prevents the development of life long skills that prepare students to face challenges in their daily life by exercising problem solving skills. In order to address these drawbacks the design of the curriculum should be based upon native, behavioral, unbiased and scientific research so that concepts taught should be made vertically and horizontally clear and should incorporate local, regional and global values of democracy, secularism, federalism, broadmindedness and non-violence. Finally to improve the education system in these areas education could be alignment with market demands, a uniform medium of instruction, the strengthening of the science facilities, Knowledge Park, Science and Technology Park should be established in both regions to impart standards through robust control and administrative techniques. All these efforts will help to improve the standard of education by replacing traditional modes of instruction with the use of technologies and productive work and problem solving skills will take the place of routine types of activities which will in turn help develop a knowledge based economy that responds to the needs of the people in a sustainable manner.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Essay -- Differential Diagnoses

Regina is a teenager who’s living in a college dorm. When she was younger she broke her nose and afterwards a tiny bump remained. By the time she was a legal adult, Regina thought she had a facial deformity. She became obsessive and refused to go in public. Even after she underwent plastic surgery she still found something else wrong with her face. All this (along with other symptoms) has led me to diagnose Regina with body dysmorphic disorder. People who suffer from body dysmorphic disorder exhibit certain symptoms. Some of these include social isolation, seeking surgery, camouflaging (trying to hide their perceived flaw with clothes, makeup, etc.), and comparing body parts to other peoples appearances (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Regina first thought the small bump on her nose was a monumental flaw that had to be corrected. Without that fix, she became socially isolated and wore clothes (giant sweatshirts and hoodies) that would cover up this perceived imperfection. Furthermore, Regina couldn’t face â€Å"normal† looking people. She compared herself to others and deemed herself a â€Å"hag.† Everyone else was so much better looking and she was too ugly to be seen in public. After her surgery she began to act normal again, but only for a short while. Soon after she thought her forehead was rife with â€Å"worry lines.† She begged her parents to pay for more plastic surgery, which t hey declined. She even went to great lengths and opened a credit card account to pay for the surgery. Now Regina is in the unfortunate position of not being able to keep up with all her bills. Even after all that, she’s still obsessive and has started to skip college classes. All of this due to her â€Å"appalling† wrinkles on her forehead (which others do... ...things they found positive and attractive about her appearance. I would try to introduce her to positive things (such as small social outing with friends and family) to try and get her to change how she responds around others. Slowly, I would introduce Regina back to her college campus and try to show her that it’s only her way of thinking that is causing her disorder (since no one else can see her flaws). My main goal of treatment is to get Regina away from her harmful thoughts and see her in a positive light. Cognitive therapy is all about changing thoughts and emotional responses. Hopefully though repeated effort and altering her thoughts to positive ones, Regina could begin to recover. Works Cited American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

Cliques :: essays research papers

Cliques are small groups of between two and twelve people most of the time. Cliques are mall enough that the members feel that they know each other better than do people outside the clique. Members of a clique share common activities and friendships. They are social settings in which adolescents â€Å"hang out†, talk to each other, and form closer friendships. Groups of friends, called cliques can be important for social upgrading, but in most cases the enormous power and effects of these cliques can create alienation, exclusion, and destructive results. In my high school, as well as every other high school in America there are social groups of individuals, called cliques , that effect every individual whether they are an insider or an outsider. Generally there are the cool cliques , the athletic cliques, the punk (goth, freak) clique, the surfer clique, the smart clique, and the average clique. Almost everyone finds their place in one of these cliques, but there are always a few outsiders who go through high school never knowing where they belong. These are the people who are constantly ridiculed, picked on , and talked about day in and day out. The effects can be devastating, even deadly. In Littleton, Colorado two outcast teenagers came into school one day and began shooting, targeting the athletes and other students who had made their lives awful by ridiculing them constantly. â€Å"Seniors Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold stormed their suburban Denver school with guns and bombs on April 20 1999, killing 12 students and a teacher before taking their own lives.† Augustana University education professor Larry Brendtro explained â€Å"kids who feel powerless and rejected are capable of doing horrible things.† A high school student, Jason Sanchez understands why the two outsiders snapped by saying â€Å"If you go to school, and you don’t have friends, it drives you to insanity.† So what do these lonely outcast kids do if everyon e rejects them? Roger Rosenblatt discusses in his article, â€Å"Welcome to the Works of the Trench Coat†, how kids will â€Å"discover self-worth by hating an enemy.† The kids of Columbine for example â€Å"look alike; they conceal differences. People who are attracted to clans and cults seek to lose their individuality and discover power and pride in a group.

Gene Therapy Essay -- Genetics Science Papers

Gene Therapy I. Introduction With the human genome project now completed, identifying our DNA, the next step forward is being taken to analyze this information and apply it in a helpful context. As we discover which genes affect and trigger the different traits humans possess, new questions result pertaining to potential problems in our DNA as well as genetic enhancement opportunities. In theory, once a problem is pinpointed within a person’s DNA, there exists a possibility for correcting this defect. Gene therapy is a technique used for correcting defective genes responsible for disease development. This relatively new idea sparks much controversy when societal implications are examined. Bill Joy, chief scientist and co-founder of Sun Microsystems, comments that â€Å"we can easily imagine an arms race developing over GNR [genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics] technologies, as it did with the NBC [nuclear, chemical, and biological] technologies in the 20th century†¦.This time†¦we are n't in a war †¦we are driven, instead, by our habits, our desires, our economic system, and our competitive need to know (Joy, 2000)." This paper provides an in depth look at gene therapy including a description as well as an examination of gene therapy as it affects societal issues. Faced with different applications for the recent knowledge gained in gene therapy, ethical considerations must be analyzed so that society can move forward with caution. II. Gene Therapy Review Gene therapy, with its first clinical trial in 1990, is a relatively new field that leaves much open to be explored. The idea of gene therapy focuses on locating the defective gene and treating it so that the fixed gene functions correctly by producing prot... ...e Without Wisdom: Human Genetic Engineering without Religious Insight. Christian Bioethics, 8, (2), pp147-63. â€Å"Gene Therapy†. (October 2004). Human Genome Project Information. http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/medicine/genetherapy.shtml#status. Joy, Bill. (April 2000). Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us. Wired, 8, (4). Silva, Fred G. (September 2002). Ethics of the New Biology and Genetic Medicine (Molecular Ethics). Pathology International, 52, (9), pp555-62. Thompson, Richard E. (May 2003). Does Patenting Genes Change the Meaning of Life? Physician Executive, 29, (3), pp40-43. Williams, D. (December 2002). Public Confidence in Medical Technology. Medical Device Technology, 13, (10), pp11-3. Wright, Richard T. (2003). Biology through the Eyes of Faith. New York : HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. Gene Therapy Essay -- Genetics Science Papers Gene Therapy I. Introduction With the human genome project now completed, identifying our DNA, the next step forward is being taken to analyze this information and apply it in a helpful context. As we discover which genes affect and trigger the different traits humans possess, new questions result pertaining to potential problems in our DNA as well as genetic enhancement opportunities. In theory, once a problem is pinpointed within a person’s DNA, there exists a possibility for correcting this defect. Gene therapy is a technique used for correcting defective genes responsible for disease development. This relatively new idea sparks much controversy when societal implications are examined. Bill Joy, chief scientist and co-founder of Sun Microsystems, comments that â€Å"we can easily imagine an arms race developing over GNR [genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics] technologies, as it did with the NBC [nuclear, chemical, and biological] technologies in the 20th century†¦.This time†¦we are n't in a war †¦we are driven, instead, by our habits, our desires, our economic system, and our competitive need to know (Joy, 2000)." This paper provides an in depth look at gene therapy including a description as well as an examination of gene therapy as it affects societal issues. Faced with different applications for the recent knowledge gained in gene therapy, ethical considerations must be analyzed so that society can move forward with caution. II. Gene Therapy Review Gene therapy, with its first clinical trial in 1990, is a relatively new field that leaves much open to be explored. The idea of gene therapy focuses on locating the defective gene and treating it so that the fixed gene functions correctly by producing prot... ...e Without Wisdom: Human Genetic Engineering without Religious Insight. Christian Bioethics, 8, (2), pp147-63. â€Å"Gene Therapy†. (October 2004). Human Genome Project Information. http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/medicine/genetherapy.shtml#status. Joy, Bill. (April 2000). Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us. Wired, 8, (4). Silva, Fred G. (September 2002). Ethics of the New Biology and Genetic Medicine (Molecular Ethics). Pathology International, 52, (9), pp555-62. Thompson, Richard E. (May 2003). Does Patenting Genes Change the Meaning of Life? Physician Executive, 29, (3), pp40-43. Williams, D. (December 2002). Public Confidence in Medical Technology. Medical Device Technology, 13, (10), pp11-3. Wright, Richard T. (2003). Biology through the Eyes of Faith. New York : HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Twilight 2. OPEN BOOK

The next day was better†¦ and worse. It was better because it wasn't raining yet, though the clouds were dense and opaque. It was easier because I knew what to expect of my day. Mike came to sit by me in English, and walked me to my next class, with Chess Club Eric glaring at him all the while; that was nattering. People didn't look at me quite as much as they had yesterday. I sat with a big group at lunch that included Mike, Eric, Jessica, and several other people whose names and faces I now remembered. I began to feel like I was treading water, instead of drowning in it. It was worse because I was tired; I still couldn't sleep with the wind echoing around the house. It was worse because Mr. Varner called on me in Trig when my hand wasn't raised and I had the wrong answer. It was miserable because I had to play volleyball, and the one time I didn't cringe out of the way of the ball, I hit my teammate in the head with it. And it was worse because Edward Cullen wasn't in school at all. All morning I was dreading lunch, fearing his bizarre glares. Part of me wanted to confront him and demand to know what his problem was. While I was lying sleepless in my bed, I even imagined what I would say. But I knew myself too well to think I would really have the guts to do it. I made the Cowardly Lion look like the terminator. But when I walked into the cafeteria with Jessica – trying to keep my eyes from sweeping the place for him, and failing entirely – I saw that his four siblings of sorts were sitting together at the same table, and he was not with them. Mike intercepted us and steered us to his table. Jessica seemed elated by the attention, and her friends quickly joined us. But as I tried to listen to their easy chatter, I was terribly uncomfortable, waiting nervously for the moment he would arrive. I hoped that he would simply ignore me when he came, and prove my suspicions false. He didn't come, and as time passed I grew more and more tense. I walked to Biology with more confidence when, by the end of lunch, he still hadn't showed. Mike, who was taking on the qualities of a golden retriever, walked faithfully by my side to class. I held my breath at the door, but Edward Cullen wasn't there, either. I exhaled and went to my seat. Mike followed, talking about an upcoming trip to the beach. He lingered by my desk till the bell rang. Then he smiled at me wistfully and went to sit by a girl with braces and a bad perm. It looked like I was going to have to do something about Mike, and it wouldn't be easy. In a town like this, where everyone lived on top of everyone else, diplomacy was essential. I had never been enormously tactful; I had no practice dealing with overly friendly boys. I was relieved that I had the desk to myself, that Edward was absent. I told myself that repeatedly. But I couldn't get rid of the nagging suspicion that I was the reason he wasn't there. It was ridiculous, and egotistical, to think that I could affect anyone that strongly. It was impossible. And yet I couldn't stop worrying that it was true. When the school day was finally done, and the blush was fading out of my cheeks from the volleyball incident, I changed quickly back into my jeans and navy blue sweater. I hurried from the girls' locker room, pleased to find that I had successfully evaded my retriever friend for the moment. I walked swiftly out to the parking lot. It was crowded now with fleeing students. I got in my truck and dug through my bag to make sure I had what I needed. Last night I'd discovered that Charlie couldn't cook much besides fried eggs and bacon. So I requested that I be assigned kitchen detail for the duration of my stay. He was willing enough to hand over the keys to the banquet hall. I also found out that he had no food in the house. So I had my shopping list and the cash from the jar in the cupboard labeled FOOD, MONEY, and I was on my way to the Thriftway. I gunned my deafening engine to life, ignoring the heads that turned in my direction, and backed carefully into a place in the line of cars that were waiting to exit the parking lot. As I waited, trying to pretend that the earsplitting rumble was coming from someone else's car, I saw the two Cullens and the Hale twins getting into their car. It was the shiny new Volvo. Of course. I hadn't noticed their clothes before – I'd been too mesmerized by their faces. Now that I looked, it was obvious that they were all dressed exceptionally well; simply, but in clothes that subtly hinted at designer origins. With their remarkable good looks, the style with which they carried themselves, they could have worn dishrags and pulled it off. It seemed excessive for them to have both looks and money. But as far as I could tell, life worked that way most of the time. It didn't look as if it bought them any acceptance here. No, I didn't fully believe that. The isolation must be their desire; I couldn't imagine any door that wouldn't be opened by that degree of beauty. They looked at my noisy truck as I passed them, just like everyone else. I kept my eyes straight forward and was relieved when I finally was free of the school grounds. The Thriftway was not far from the school, just a few streets south, off the highway. It was nice to be inside the supermarket; it felt normal. I did the shopping at home, and I fell into the pattern of the familiar task gladly. The store was big enough inside that I couldn't hear the tapping of the rain on the roof to remind me where I was. When I got home, I unloaded all the groceries, stuffing them in wherever I could find an open space. I hoped Charlie wouldn't mind. I wrapped potatoes in foil and stuck them in the oven to bake, covered a steak in marinade and balanced it on top of a carton of eggs in the fridge. When I was finished with that, I took my book bag upstairs. Before starting my homework, I changed into a pair of dry sweats, pulled my damp hair up into a pony-tail, and checked my e-mail for the first time. I had three messages. â€Å"Bella,† my mom wrote†¦ Write me as soon as you get in. Tell me how your flight was. Is it raining? I miss you already. I'm almost finished packing for Florida, but I can't find my pink blouse. Do you know where I put it? Phil says hi. Mom. I sighed and went to the next. It was sent eight hours after the first. â€Å"Bella,† she wrote†¦ Why haven't you e-mailed me yet? What are you waiting for? Mom. The last was from this morning. Isabella, If I haven't heard from you by 5:30 p.m. today I'm calling Charlie. I checked the clock. I still had an hour, but my mom was well known for jumping the gun. Mom, Calm down. I'm writing right now. Don't do anything rash.Bella. I sent that, and began again. Mom, Everything is great. Of course it's raining. I was waiting for something to write about. School isn't bad, just a little repetitive. I met some nice kids who sit by me at lunch. Your blouse is at the dry cleaners – you were supposed to pick it up Friday. Charlie bought me a truck, can you believe it? I love it. It's old, but really sturdy, which is good, you know, for me. I miss you, too. I'll write again soon, but I'm not going to check my e-mail every five minutes. Relax, breathe. I love you. Bella. I had decided to read Wuthering Heights – the novel we were currently studying in English – yet again for the fun of it, and that's what I was doing when Charlie came home. I'd lost track of the time, and I hurried downstairs to take the potatoes out and put the steak in to broil. â€Å"Bella?† my father called out when he heard me on the stairs. Who else? I thought to myself. â€Å"Hey, Dad, welcome home.† â€Å"Thanks.† He hung up his gun belt and stepped out of his boots as I bustled about the kitchen. As far as I was aware, he'd never shot the gun on the job. But he kept it ready. When I came here as a child, he would always remove the bullets as soon as he walked in the door. I guess he considered me old enough now not to shoot myself by accident, and not depressed enough to shoot myself on purpose. â€Å"What's for dinner?† he asked warily. My mother was an imaginative cook, and her experiments weren't always edible. I was surprised, and sad, that he seemed to remember that far back. â€Å"Steak and potatoes,† I answered, and he looked relieved. He seemed to feel awkward standing in the kitchen doing nothing; he lumbered into the living room to watch TV while I worked. We were both more comfortable that way. I made a salad while the steaks cooked, and set the table. I called him in when dinner was ready, and he sniffed appreciatively as he walked into the room. â€Å"Smells good, Bell.† â€Å"Thanks.† We ate in silence for a few minutes. It wasn't uncomfortable. Neither of us was bothered by the quiet. In some ways, we were well suited for living together. â€Å"So, how did you like school? Have you made any friends?† he asked as he was taking seconds. â€Å"Well, I have a few classes with a girl named Jessica. I sit with her friends at lunch. And there's this boy, Mike, who's very friendly.Everybody seems pretty nice.† With one outstanding exception. â€Å"That must be Mike Newton. Nice kid – nice family. His dad owns the sporting goods store just outside of town. He makes a good living off all the backpackers who come through here.† â€Å"Do you know the Cullen family?† I asked hesitantly. â€Å"Dr. Cullen's family? Sure. Dr. Cullen's a great man.† â€Å"They†¦ the kids†¦ are a little different. They don't seem to fit in very well at school.† Charlie surprised me by looking angry. â€Å"People in this town,† he muttered. â€Å"Dr. Cullen is a brilliant surgeon who could probably work in any hospital in the world, make ten times the salary he gets here,† he continued, getting louder. â€Å"We're lucky to have him – lucky that his wife wanted to live in a small town. He's an asset to the community, and all of those kids are well behaved and polite. I had my doubts, when they first moved in, with all those adopted teenagers. I thought we might have some problems with them. But they're all very mature – I haven't had one speck of trouble from any of them. That's more than I can say for the children of some folks who have lived in this town for generations. And they stick together the way a family should – camping trips every other weekend†¦ Just because they're newcomers, people have to talk.† It was the longest speech I'd ever heard Charlie make. He must feel strongly about whatever people were saying. I backpedaled. â€Å"They seemed nice enough to me. I just noticed they kept to themselves. They're all very attractive,† I added, trying to be more complimentary. â€Å"You should see the doctor,† Charlie said, laughing. â€Å"It's a good thing he's happily married. A lot of the nurses at the hospital have a hard time concentrating on their work with him around.† We lapsed back into silence as we finished eating. He cleared the table while I started on the dishes. He went back to the TV, and after I finished washing the dishes by hand – no dishwasher – I went upstairs unwillingly to work on my math homework. I could feel a tradition in the making.That night it was finally quiet. I fell asleep quickly, exhausted. The rest of the week was uneventful. I got used to the routine of my classes. By Friday I was able to recognize, if not name, almost all the students at school. In Gym, the kids on my team learned not to pass me the ball and to step quickly in front of me if the other team tried to take advantage of my weakness. I happily stayed out of their way. Edward Cullen didn't come back to school. Every day, I watched anxiously until the rest of the Cullens entered the cafeteria without him. Then I could relax and join in the lunchtime conversation. Mostly it centered around a trip to the La Push Ocean Park in two weeks that Mike was putting together. I was invited, and I had agreed to go, more out of politeness than desire. Beaches should be hot and dry. By Friday I was perfectly comfortable entering my Biology class, no longer worried that Edward would be there. For all I knew, he had dropped out of school. I tried not to think about him, but I couldn't totally suppress the worry that I was responsible for his continued absence, ridiculous as it seemed. My first weekend in Forks passed without incident. Charlie, unused to spending time in the usually empty house, worked most of the weekend. I cleaned the house, got ahead on my homework, and wrote my mom more bogusly cheerful e-mail. I did drive to the library Saturday, but it was so poorly stocked that I didn't bother to get a card; I would have to make a date to visit Olympia or Seattle soon and find a good bookstore. I wondered idly what kind of gas mileage the truck got†¦ and shuddered at the thought. The rain stayed soft over the weekend, quiet, so I was able to sleep well. People greeted me in the parking lot Monday morning. I didn't know all their names, but I waved back and smiled at everyone. It was colder this morning, but happily not raining. In English, Mike took his accustomed seat by my side. We had a pop quiz on Wuthering Heights. It was straightforward, very easy. All in all, I was feeling a lot more comfortable than I had thought I would feel by this point. More comfortable than I had ever expected to feel here. When we walked out of class, the air was full of swirling bits of white. I could hear people shouting excitedly to each other. The wind bit at my cheeks, my nose. â€Å"Wow,† Mike said. â€Å"It's snowing.† I looked at the little cotton fluffs that were building up along the sidewalk and swirling erratically past my face. â€Å"Ew.† Snow. There went my good day. He looked surprised. â€Å"Don't you like snow?† â€Å"No. That means it's too cold for rain.† Obviously. â€Å"Besides, I thought it was supposed to come down in flakes – you know, each one unique and all that. These just look like the ends of Q-tips.† â€Å"Haven't you ever seen snow fall before?† he asked incredulously. â€Å"Sure I have.† I paused. â€Å"On TV.† Mike laughed. And then a big, squishy ball of dripping snow smacked into the back of his head. We both turned to see where it came from. I had my suspicions about Eric, who was walking away, his back toward us – in the wrong direction for his next class. Mike appatently had the same notion. He bent over and began scraping together a pile of the white mush. â€Å"I'll see you at lunch, okay?† I kept walking as I spoke. â€Å"Once people start throwing wet stuff, I go inside.† He just nodded, his eyes on Eric's retreating figure. Throughout the morning, everyone chattered excitedly about the snow; apparently it was the first snowfall of the new year. I kept my mouth shut. Sure, it was drier than rain – until it melted in your socks. I walked alertly to the cafeteria with Jessica after Spanish. Mush balls were flying everywhere. I kept a binder in my hands, ready to use it as a shield if necessary. Jessica thought I was hilarious, but something in my expression kept her from lobbing a snowball at me herself. Mike caught up to us as we walked in the doors, laughing, with ice melting the spikes in his hair. He and Jessica were talking animatedly about the snow fight as we got in line to buy food. I glanced toward that table in the corner out of habit. And then I froze where I stood. There were five people at the table. Jessica pulled on my arm. â€Å"Hello? Bella? What do you want?† I looked down; my ears were hot. I had no reason to feel self-conscious, I reminded myself. I hadn't done anything wrong. â€Å"What's with Bella?† Mike asked Jessica. â€Å"Nothing,† I answered. â€Å"I'll just get a soda today.† I caught up to the end of the line. â€Å"Aren't you hungry?† Jessica asked. â€Å"Actually, I feel a little sick,† I said, my eyes still on the floor. I waited for them to get their food, and then followed them to a table, my eyes on my feet. I sipped my soda slowly, my stomach churning. Twice Mike asked, with unnecessary concern, how I was feeling. I told him it was nothing, but I was wondering if I should play it up and escape to the nurse's office for the next hour. Ridiculous. I shouldn't have to run away. I decided to permit myself one glance at the Cullen family's table. If he was glaring at me, I would skip Biology, like the coward I was. I kept my head down and glanced up under my lashes. None of them were looking this way. I lifted my head a little. They were laughing. Edward, Jasper, and Emmett all had their hair entirely saturated with melting snow. Alice and Rosalie were leaning away as Emmett shook his dripping hair toward them. They were enjoying the snowy day, just like everyone else – only they looked more like a scene from a movie than the rest of us. But, aside from the laughter and playfulness, there was something different, and I couldn't quite pinpoint what that difference was. I examined Edward the most carefully. His skin was less pale, I decided – flushed from the snow fight maybe – the circles under his eyes much less noticeable. But there was something more. I pondered, staring, trying to isolate the change. â€Å"Bella, what are you staring at?† Jessica intruded, her eyes following my stare. At that precise moment, his eyes flashed over to meet mine. I dropped my head, letting my hair fall to conceal my face. I was sure, though, in the instant our eyes met, that he didn't look harsh or unfriendly as he had the last time I'd seen him. He looked merely curious again, unsatisfied in some way. â€Å"Edward Cullen is staring at you,† Jessica giggled in my ear. â€Å"He doesn't look angry, does he?† I couldn't help asking. â€Å"No,† she said, sounding confused by my question. â€Å"Should he be?† â€Å"I don't think he likes me,† I confided. I still felt queasy. I put my head down on my arm. â€Å"The Cullens don't like anybody†¦ well, they don't notice anybody enough to like them. But he's still staring at you.† â€Å"Stop looking at him,† I hissed. She snickered, but she looked away. I raised my head enough to make sure that she did, contemplating violence if she resisted. Mike interrupted us then – he was planning an epic battle of the blizzard in the parking lot after school and wanted us to join. Jessica agreed enthusiastically. The way she looked at Mike left little doubt that she would be up for anything he suggested. I kept silent. I would have to hide in the gym until the parking lot cleared. For the rest of the lunch hour I very carefully kept my eyes at my own table. I decided to honor the bargain I'd made with myself. Since he didn't look angry, I would go to Biology. My stomach did frightened little flips at the thought of sitting next to him again. I didn't really want to walk to class with Mike as usual – he seemed to be a popular target for the snowball snipers – but when we went to the door, everyone besides me groaned in unison. It was raining, washing all traces of the snow away in clear, icy ribbons down the side of the walkway. I pulled my hood up, secretly pleased. I would be free to go straight home after Gym. Mike kept up a string of complaints on the way to building four. Once inside the classroom, I saw with relief that my table was still empty. Mr. Banner was walking around the room, distributing one microscope and box of slides to each table. Class didn't start for a few minutes, and the room buzzed with conversation. I kept my eyes away from the door, doodling idly on the cover of my notebook. I heard very clearly when the chair next to me moved, but my eyes stayed carefully focused on the pattern I was drawing. â€Å"Hello,† said a quiet, musical voice. I looked up, stunned that he was speaking to me. He was sitting as far away from me as the desk allowed, but his chair was angled toward me. His hair was dripping wet, disheveled – even so, he looked like he'd just finished shooting a commercial for hair gel. His dazzling face was friendly, open, a slight smile on his flawless lips. But his eyes were careful. â€Å"My name is Edward Cullen,† he continued. â€Å"I didn't have a chance to introduce myself last week. You must be Bella Swan.† My mind was spinning with confusion. Had I made up the whole thing? He was perfectly polite now. I had to speak; he was waiting. But I couldn't think of anything conventional to say. â€Å"H-how do you know my name?† I stammered. He laughed a soft, enchanting laugh. â€Å"Oh, I think everyone knows your name. The whole town's been waiting for you to arrive.† I grimaced. I knew it was something like that. â€Å"No,† I persisted stupidly. â€Å"I meant, why did you call me Bella?† He seemed confused. â€Å"Do you prefer Isabella?† â€Å"No, I like Bella,† I said. â€Å"But I think Charlie – I mean my dad – must call me Isabella behind my back – that's what everyone here seems to know me as,† I tried to explain, feeling like an utter moron. â€Å"Oh.† He let it drop. I looked away awkwardly. Thankfully, Mr. Banner started class at that moment. I tried to concentrate as he explained the lab we would be doing today. The slides in the box were out of order. Working as lab partners, we had to separate the slides of onion root tip cells into the phases of mitosis they represented and label them accordingly. We weren't supposed to use our books. In twenty minutes, he would be coming around to see who had it right. â€Å"Get started,† he commanded. â€Å"Ladies first, partner?† Edward asked. I looked up to see him smiling a crooked smile so beautiful that I could only stare at him like an idiot. â€Å"Or I could start, if you wish.† The smile faded; he was obviously wondering if I was mentally competent. â€Å"No,† I said, flushing. â€Å"I'll go ahead.† I was showing off, just a little. I'd already done this lab, and I knew what I was looking for. It should be easy. I snapped the first slide into place under the microscope and adjusted it quickly to the 40X objective. I studied the slide briefly. My assessment was confident. â€Å"Prophase.† â€Å"Do you mind if I look?† he asked as I began to remove the slide. His hand caught mine, to stop me, as he asked. His fingers were ice-cold, like he'd been holding them in a snowdrift before class. But that wasn't why I jerked my hand away so quickly. When he touched me, it stung my hand as if an electric current had passed through us. â€Å"I'm sorry,† he muttered, pulling his hand back immediately. However, he continued to reach for the microscope. I watched him, still staggered, as he examined the slide for an even shorter time than I had. â€Å"Prophase,† he agreed, writing it neatly in the first space on our worksheet. He swiftly switched out the first slide for the second, and then glanced at it cursorily. â€Å"Anaphase,† he murmured, writing it down as he spoke. I kept my voice indifferent. â€Å"May I?† He smirked and pushed the microscope to me. I looked through the eyepiece eagerly, only to be disappointed. Dang it, he was right. â€Å"Slide three?† I held out my hand without looking at him. He handed it to me; it seemed like he was being careful not to touch my skin again. I took the most fleeting look I could manage. â€Å"Interphase.† I passed him the microscope before he could ask for it. He took a swift peek, and then wrote it down. I would have written it while he looked, but his clear, elegant script intimidated me. I didn't want to spoil the page with my clumsy scrawl. We were finished before anyone else was close. I could see Mike and his partner comparing two slides again and again, and another group had their book open under the table. Which left me with nothing to do but try to not look at him†¦ unsuccessfully. I glanced up, and he was staring at me, that same inexplicable look of frustration in his eyes. Suddenly I identified that subtle difference in his face. â€Å"Did you get contacts?† I blurted out unthinkingly. He seemed puzzled by my unexpected question. â€Å"No.† â€Å"Oh,† I mumbled. â€Å"I thought there was something different about your eyes.† He shrugged, and looked away. In fact, I was sure there was something different. I vividly remembered the flat black color of his eyes the last time he'd glared at me – the color was striking against the background of his pale skin and his auburn hair. Today, his eyes were a completely different color: a strange ocher, darker than butterscotch, but with the same golden tone. I didn't understand how that could be, unless he was lying for some reason about the contacts. Or maybe Forks was making me crazy in the literal sense of the word. I looked down. His hands were clenched into hard fists again. Mr. Banner came to our table then, to see why we weren't working. He looked over our shoulders to glance at the completed lab, and then stared more intently to check the answers. â€Å"So, Edward, didn't you think Isabella should get a chance with the microscope?† Mr. Banner asked. â€Å"Bella,† Edward corrected automatically. â€Å"Actually, she identified three of the five.† Mr. Banner looked at me now; his expression was skeptical. â€Å"Have you done this lab before?† he asked. I smiled sheepishly. â€Å"Not with onion root.† â€Å"Whitefish blastula?† â€Å"Yeah.† Mr. Banner nodded. â€Å"Were you in an advanced placement program in Phoenix?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Well,† he said after a moment, â€Å"I guess it's good you two are lab partners.† He mumbled something else as he walked away. After he left, I began doodling on my notebook again. â€Å"It's too bad about the snow, isn't it?† Edward asked. I had the feeling that he was forcing himself to make small talk with me. Paranoia swept over me again. It was like he had heard my conversation with Jessica at lunch and was trying to prove me wrong. â€Å"Not really,† I answered honestly, instead of pretending to be normal like everyone else. I was still trying to dislodge the stupid feeling of suspicion, and I couldn't concentrate. â€Å"You don't like the cold.† It wasn't a question. â€Å"Or the wet.† â€Å"Forks must be a difficult place for you to live,† he mused. â€Å"You have no idea,† I muttered darkly. He looked fascinated by what I said, for some reason I couldn't imagine. His face was such a distraction that I tried not to look at it any more than courtesy absolutely demanded. â€Å"Why did you come here, then?† No one had asked me that – not straight out like he did, demanding. â€Å"It's†¦ complicated.† â€Å"I think I can keep up,† he pressed. I paused for a long moment, and then made the mistake of meeting his gaze. His dark gold eyes confused me, and I answered without thinking. â€Å"My mother got remarried,† I said. â€Å"That doesn't sound so complex,† he disagreed, but he was suddenly sympathetic. â€Å"When did that happen?† â€Å"Last September.† My voice sounded sad, even to me. â€Å"And you don't like him,† Edward surmised, his tone still kind. â€Å"No, Phil is fine. Too young, maybe, but nice enough.† â€Å"Why didn't you stay with them?† I couldn't fathom his interest, but he continued to stare at me with penetrating eyes, as if my dull life's story was somehow vitally important. â€Å"Phil travels a lot. He plays ball for a living.† I half-smiled. â€Å"Have I heard of him?† he asked, smiling in response. â€Å"Probably not. He doesn't play well. Strictly minor league. He moves around a lot.† â€Å"And your mother sent you here so that she could travel with him.† He said it as an assumption again, not a question. My chin raised a fraction. â€Å"No, she did not send me here. I sent myself.† His eyebrows knit together. â€Å"I don't understand,† he admitted, and he seemed unnecessarily frustrated by that fact. I sighed. Why was I explaining this to him? He continued to stare at me with obvious curiosity. â€Å"She stayed with me at first, but she missed him. It made her unhappy†¦ so I decided it was time to spend some quality time with Charlie.† My voice was glum by the time I finished. â€Å"But now you're unhappy,† he pointed out. â€Å"And?† I challenged. â€Å"That doesn't seem fair.† He shrugged, but his eyes were still intense. I laughed without humor. â€Å"Hasn't anyone ever told you? Life isn't fair.† â€Å"I believe I have heard that somewhere before,† he agreed dryly. â€Å"So that's all,† I insisted, wondering why he was still staring at me that way. His gaze became appraising. â€Å"You put on a good show,† he said slowly. â€Å"But I'd be willing to bet that you're suffering more than you let anyone see.† I grimaced at him, resisting the impulse to stick out my tongue like a five-year-old, and looked away. â€Å"Am I wrong?† I tried to ignore him. â€Å"I didn't think so,† he murmured smugly. â€Å"Why does it matter to you?† I asked, irritated. I kept my eyes away, watching the teacher make his rounds. â€Å"That's a very good question,† he muttered, so quietly that I wondered if he was talking to himself. However, after a few seconds of silence, I decided that was the only answer I was going to get. I sighed, scowling at the blackboard. â€Å"Am I annoying you?† he asked. He sounded amused. I glanced at him without thinking†¦ and told the truth again. â€Å"Not exactly. I'm more annoyed at myself. My face is so easy to read – my mother always calls me her open book.† I frowned. â€Å"On the contrary, I find you very difficult to read.† Despite everything that I'd said and he'd guessed, he sounded like he meant it. â€Å"You must be a good reader then,† I replied. â€Å"Usually.† He smiled widely, flashing a set of perfect, ultrawhite teeth. Mr. Banner called the class to order then, and I turned with relief to listen. I was in disbelief that I'd just explained my dreary life to this bizarre, beautiful boy who may or may not despise me. He'd seemed engrossed in our conversation, but now I could see, from the corner of my eye, that he was leaning away from me again, his hands gripping the edge of the table with unmistakable tension. I tried to appear attentive as Mr. Banner illustrated, with transparencies on the overhead projector, what I had seen without difficulty through the microscope. But my thoughts were unmanageable. When the bell finally rang, Edward rushed as swiftly and as gracefully from the room as he had last Monday. And, like last Monday, I stared after him in amazement. Mike skipped quickly to my side and picked up my books for me. I imagined him with a wagging tail. â€Å"That was awful,† he groaned. â€Å"They all looked exactly the same. You're lucky you had Cullen for a partner.† â€Å"I didn't have any trouble with it,† I said, stung by his assumption. I regretted the snub instantly. â€Å"I've done the lab before, though,† I added before he could get his feelings hurt. â€Å"Cullen seemed friendly enough today,† he commented as we shrugged into our raincoats. He didn't seem pleased about it. I tried to sound indifferent. â€Å"I wonder what was with him last Monday.† I couldn't concentrate on Mike's chatter as we walked to Gym, and RE. didn't do much to hold my attention, either. Mike was on my team today. He chivalrously covered my position as well as his own, so my woolgathering was only interrupted when it was my turn to serve; my team ducked warily out of the way every time I was up. The rain was just a mist as I walked to the parking lot, but I was happier when I was in the dry cab. I got the heater running, for once not caring about the mind-numbing roar of the engine. I unzipped my jacket, put the hood down, and fluffed my damp hair out so the heater could dry it on the way home. I looked around me to make sure it was clear. That's when I noticed the still, white figure. Edward Cullen was leaning against the front door of the Volvo, three cars down from me, and staring intently in my direction. I swiftly looked away and threw the truck into reverse, almost hitting a rusty Toyota Corolla in my haste. Lucky for the Toyota, I stomped on the brake in time. It was just the sort of car that my truck would make scrap metal of. I took a deep breath, still looking out the other side of my car, and cautiously pulled out again, with greater success. I stared straight ahead as I passed the Volvo, but from a peripheral peek, I would swear I saw him laughing.

Diabetes Paper

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. This Metabolic disorder causes the body to lose its main source of fuel considering that the blood contains large amounts of glucose (since diabetic people are usually obese people or people who have large contents of glucose in their bodies). After digestion, glucose passes into the bloodstream, where it is used by the human cells for growth and energy.In order for glucose to get into cells, a hormone called insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy (glucose), this substance is essential for a human being’s continued existence. Upon food consumption, the pancreas automatically produces the right amount of insulin to move and synthesize glucose from the blood into the human cells.However, the pancreas either produces little or no insulin for people affected with diabetes, the cells in these cases do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced. Glucose builds up in the blood, overflows into the urine. This causes the glucose to be discharged out of the human body in the form of urine. This is basically a metabolism disorder – the problem lies with how the food is digested by the human body ingesting it (National Diabetes Clearing House).There are 2 main types of Diabetes; the first being known as â€Å"Insulin dependent diabetes† or what is now being termed as â€Å"Type 1 diabetes†, and the second type known as â€Å"Non- insulin dependent diabetes† also known as â€Å"Type 2 diabetes†. II. Type 1 Diabetes (Insulin Dependent Diabetes) Type 1 Diabetes (Insulin-dependent diabetes) is a disorder best characterized with the occurrence of frequent urination, extreme thirst, constant hunger, blurred vision, and extreme fatigue on the part of the subject.This strain unlike the type 2 diabetes strain is most prevalent in young individuals, who usually contract this disease around the age of 14. Type 2 diabetes is in contrast acquired during the latter stages of an individuals life probably due to an unhealthy lifestyle. The Insulin dependent diabetes strain — accounts only for approximately 5 percent or less of diabetes in the U. S. (Armstrong, C. 1990). People affected with Type 1 Diabetes like others affected with other diabetes strains, have defective pancreas glands.These glands are supposed to be the ones which secretes the insulin hormone. The insulin hormone is the hormone which facilitates the conversion of Glucose to a form which allows for assimilation by the human cells. Since the pancreas releases a very limited amount of insulin (in some cases none at all) the glucose which is not assim ilated is diverted to the bloodstream to be excreted by the kidneys in the form of urine. It is on this stage that the kidneys, would be forced to try to remove the excess sugar, excreting large amounts of water and essential body elements in the process.Kidney failure, and Heart problems are among those complications which may arise from the said illness. Modern Science has allowed type 1 diabetes victims another lease on life when alternative medical solutions were developed. As of the moment the only cure available today for type 1 diabetes is a pancreas transplant, which is needless to say quite dangerous, expensive and very rarely done. However, even if the said transplant was a success (new pancreas is rejected by half of the people who get this operation), the organ which was transplanted, incur a very high risk of being rejected by the subject’s body.If rejection occurs (as in most cases) this would entail constant usage of suppression drugs to maintain immune reactio n suppression. The side effects of immune-suppressive drugs can be very severe and even worse than the disease. Statistics show that one or two people out of every 10 who get the surgery die within a year. Of course it follows that if the surgery fails the disease would eventually return. Recently, experimental treatments with stem cells have shown some promise. For most people, type 1 diabetes is a life-long disease that can be effectively managed with insulin.Margolis S. 2006. ) II. Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes The Non-insulin dependent diabetes strain also known as type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Some complications of type 2 diabetes would include: heart disease (cardiovascular disease), blindness (retinopathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), and kidney damage (nephropathy). The main difference between the first and second strain of diabetes is that the first one occurs in the early phases of an individuals life, while the latter occurs usually in the later sta ges.This type of diabetes is preventable but un-curable unlike the first type. It is a possibility for a human being to actually be affected with this kind of disease without actually knowing it. Scientists nowadays are still looking into the factors which may have caused insulin resistance. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is yet to be unearthed. In the case of Type 2 diabetes, the problem would either be caused by the fact that the body does not produce enough insulin or it may be that the cells ignore the insulin.It was found out by common observation and research that the frequency of occurrence of this disease usually occurs among obese or overweight individuals. It is a known fact that most people who develop this type of diabetes are overweight. Scientists are still looking for a clue as to why obesity increases the risk of developing diabetes, but the common consensus agreed upon is that obesity is a major factor leading to non-insulin-dependent diabetes.Scientists are continually studying cells to see why this might happen (What Causes Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes? . The usual symptoms to identify whether if an individual is affected or not would be the Increased thirst and frequent urination, Extreme hunger, Rapid weight loss, Fatigue, Blurred vision, Slow healing sores or frequent infections, and in some cases Patches of dark velvety skin in the folds and creases of Subject’s bodies — usually in the armpits and neck. This condition, called acanthosis nigricans, is a sign of insulin resistance (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2007).In this particular strain of diabetes the only possible action which could be done is prevention, since as mentioned earlier there is no known cure to this chronic disease. To combat the effects of this disease, the advisable things to do would be to watch or monitor the level of blood glucose, proper exercise, good eating habits, and occasional insulin dosages. Apparently the said measure is capable of reduci ng the risk and dangers brought about by complication of this disease to about 50% (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2007). III. ConclusionDiabetes is a chronic disease which still baffles even the most learned of physicians since as far as technology is concerned, the immediate, reliable and consistent cure is yet to be had. As far as affected individuals are concerned the best cure is still prevention, and this could be done by living a healthy lifestyle (eating healthy food and proper exercise), and by taking necessary medication. The hope that the cure is on the verge of being discovered still looms on the horizon. Hopefully, the said cure would be found soon to relieve the millions suffering worldwide.