5th grade stem and leaf plot worksheet
A forum dedicated to the fourth generation Pokémon games HeartGold & SoulSilver
2021.07.19 23:29 Mathias_Greyjoy A forum dedicated to the fourth generation Pokémon games HeartGold & SoulSilver
A forum dedicated to the Pokémon games HeartGold & SoulSilver, remakes of the original Pokémon Gold & Silver games released in 1999.
2024.05.18 01:35 Memiiselgey23 The 8 Choir Girls
I had always remembered my deeply rooted envy at a girl at my old high school. Alyssa Howard, Home Room 207. It hadn't been long since I graduated there. I was in Class of '22, in a homeroom that I simply didn't fit in. It was isolating since everyone in my homeroom was in groups of friends, everyone was their own designated groups.
Alyssa was in the Choir group, consisting of 8 girls. They were girls that were a part of Choir Class, an elective that made no sense why I took it. Along with Alyssa Howard, there was Brianne Becker, Fiona Figueroa, Leslie Smith, Hannah Klidford, Emma Kelly, Mandy Lake, and... Karla Reyes. Karla Reyes was one of them I knew very well. In fact she is the reason why I'm typing this out.
Karla was my childhood friend, we met in 5th grade. Her family was from around Texas, and she recently moved to this small town of Meadows Dale. I didn't have friends at that age since most kids thought I was...well weird. I didn't comprehend why I was weird to them at the time, I just simply thought I wasn't cool enough. I remember vividly that I was walking far from the rusty playground, to a hill that pretty much if going more up north, you'll be at the Centennial Park of the town.
That sunny day in 5th grade felt like it was just yesterday. I was walking up a hill, my Elsa shoes making every step feel like a chore. I sighed, looking down at my shoes, feeling embarrassed that my mom had gotten them for me. All the other kids in my grade were wearing Converse or cool sneakers, and here I was, stuck with sparkly, princess-themed shoes. I flopped down on the grassy ground, feeling like the biggest outcast in the world.
I sat there, lost in my own thoughts, I noticed a girl with dark hair and tan skin walking towards me. She looked a bit nervous, fidgeting with her hands as she approached. I recognized her from my homeroom class.
"Hey," she said, trying to sound casual. "These hills look like a pair of butt cheeks, don't they?" She giggled, and I couldn't help but laugh too.
I signed back to her, using my hands to mimic the shape of hills and then making a silly face to show that, yes, they did look like butt cheeks. Karla laughed, and I was surprised. Not many people in my class knew sign language, and it was nice to have someone to communicate with in my own way.
"Do you know sign language?" I signed, curiosity getting the better of me.
Karla nodded, her dark hair bobbing up and down. "Yeah, my aunt was born deaf, so I learned to communicate with her."
I signed back, asking her if she thought it was cool that I knew sign language too.
Karla grinned. "Yeah, that's really cool! I'm Karla, by the way."
“Lily,” I signed my name, and Karla sat down next to me on the grass. We chatted for the rest of recess, discovering that we had a lot in common. We both loved DreamWorks movies better than Disney, and our favorite music group was Fifth Harmony. I was obsessed with them back then, and Karla was too. We both wanted to be like Camila Cabello when we grew up.
From that day on, Karla and I were inseparable. We'd sit together at lunch, partner up for group projects, and even started a Fifth Harmony fan club in our class. Karla would always lend me an earbud so we could jam out to our favorite songs together. Our friendship was effortless, and I felt like I'd finally found someone who understood me.
It was perfect until the start of Freshman year of Meadows Dale High School. I held my scheduler tightly in my hands as I climbed the stairs to the kitchen, my stomach twisted in knots. My heart sank as I scanned the pages, taking in the fact that most of my classes were designated for students with special educational needs. Homeroom and choir were the only exceptions.
I made my way to the living room where my mom was seated, tears brimming in my eyes. "Mom, why do I have to take these classes?" I signed, frustration etched on my features. "I don't need this kind of help. I can handle regular classes just fine."
My mom looked at the schedule, her expression sympathetic. "I know you don't seem to need help, sweetie, but the school requires you to take these classes. It's just protocol."
I sighed, feeling a wave of frustration wash over me. "I'm going to feel like even more of a freak than I already do," I gestured angrily, trying to hold back tears.
From the living room doorway, my father's deep voice cut through the silence. His ears perked up from the conversation. "Hey, kiddo, what's going on?" he asked, his voice gentle.
I signed again, rapidly gesturing my fingers "I don't want to take Special ED classes, Dad. I can do normal classes. I can hear the teachers very well!"
My dad walked over to us, his eyes scanning the schedule. "I know it's tough, Lily, but the school is just trying to help. Plus, You're not a freak. Not in our eyes, anyway. If anybody gives you trouble, I'll personally see to it that they regret it." His tone was lighthearted, but his meaning was clear. He was the sheriff, after all, and his reputation preceded him.
I rolled my eyes, signing, "Dad, please. You're only making things worse."
Ignoring my pleas, he ruffled my hair affectionately before leaving the room. I retreated to my bedroom, collapsing onto my bed in a heap of tears. The night passed in a blur, and soon enough, it was time for me to wake up and face another day.
I woke up to the sound of my dad calling me from downstairs. "Lily, time to get up! First day of school!" I groggily got out of bed, still feeling the emotional hangover from the night before.
My dad drove me to school in his police cruiser, which only added to my embarrassment. I remembered feeling weird being in the cruiser, with its flashing lights and sirens. As we pulled up to the school, my dad turned to me and said, "No matter what, you'll always have me and Mom, okay? We love you, and we're proud of you."
He hugged me tight, and I felt a lump in my throat again. I nodded, trying to hold back tears, and got out of the car. Finally me into the world of Meadows Dale High School.
The enormity of the building hit me hard as I stepped inside. The halls were bustling with activity, and the noise level was overwhelming. The classes flew by, and I couldn't help but feel like my Special ED classes were too easy for me. The teacher aides were sweet, but they were busy helping other students, leaving me to feel like I was just going through the motions.
As I walked out of my Literature class, I noticed a boy sitting alone next to a locker. He had ginger hair and was a bit overweight, and he was using a big headset to listen to music. There was something about him that drew me in, so I walked over to say hi.
He removed his headphones, looking up at me with a nervous smile. "Hi," he said, his voice a little shaky.
I signed back, "Hi."
He laughed, a little awkwardly. "Sorry if I'm a bit awkward. I'm not really used to talking to people."
I signed, "You're not awkward at all."
He smiled, looking relieved. "Thanks. I'm Matt Weston."
I nodded, signing, "I'm Lily."
Matt's eyes lit up. "Sweet. What's your homeroom?"
"207."
Matt's face brightened up. "No way, that's my homeroom too!"
I smiled, feeling a sense of excitement. "That's amazing!"
Matt stood up, walking towards a bookshelf. "Homeroom's next class. Want to walk with me?"
I nodded, following him as the bell rang. We exited the class, and suddenly we were swept up in a sea of students pushing and shoving to get to their next class.
We finally arrived at class 207, which was already filled with students. I saw Alyssa sitting in the back with her group of friends, looking like a star athlete. Matt went to sit in the front seat, and I sat next to him.
Just as we were settling in, one of the guys from Jr high football, Ryan Peterson, hit a football at Matt, saying, "Can't believe we got 'Butterball' in our class."
Matt rolled his eyes, saying, "At least I don't have a father who cheats and spreads gonorrhea."
Ryan's friend, Warren, said, "Ohhh sick burn,"
Ryan huffed, whispering to Matt, "Just because you're special doesn't mean everybody likes you."
I got mad, flipping Ryan the finger, which made him laugh. "You're lucky I ain't telling the teacher, because I don't want any issues with your old man!" Ryan walked away with Warren, leaving me feeling annoyed.
The homeroom teacher arrived, a young guy in his 20s with cedar brown hair and a pair of glasses. "Hello Students! Like that you are all sitting in neatly placed groups. My name's Mr. James and I'll be your homeroom teacher for Freshmen till Senior Year. Hope you excited as I am!"
Just as he was about to start writing on the white board, a beautifully dressed Karla emerged late, looking older and more mature with a lot of makeup on. I looked up, happy to see her, only for her to not notice me and sit down next to Alyssa's group.
Matt whispered to me, "Do you know that girl?"
I signed, "No."
Matt nodded, looking curious. "She looks familiar, but I don't know her name. Was it Kayla or Karly?"
"It's Karla," I shrugged, feeling a pang of disappointment. It seemed like Karla had moved on to a new group of friends, leaving me behind. I don't know how this change happened, since Karla and I went on a trip to Orlando, Florida, three weeks ago. I thought we had the best of our life's during that trip.
I was stumped, watching from afar as Karla chatted with Alyssa and her friends. I felt a twinge of jealousy and sadness as I realized how easily Karla had seemingly moved on and found a new group to hang out with. I mean, I thought we were best friends. It felt like Alyssa had stolen her from me.
I turned my attention elsewhere, not wanting to dwell on it. That's when I noticed a teenage boy sitting alone a few rows in front of me. He had jet black hair and there was something familiar about him, although I couldn't quite place it. I wondered who he was and why he was sitting alone.
"Hey, Lily," Matt said, following my gaze. "Do you know that guy? He looks kind of like a mini Detective Loomis."
I shook my head, signing that I had no idea who he was, but now I was curious too. Detective Loomis had been a family friend for years, and I knew he had a son, but I hadn't seen him in a while.
Matt chuckled nervously and waved his hand as if to dismiss his own question. "Just wondering. He kind of looks like him, that's all."
Just then, the boy turned around in his seat and our eyes met. He raised an eyebrow, clearly having overheard our conversation. "Yeah, that's my dad," he said, a hint of challenge in his voice. "Why?"
Matt shifted uncomfortably in his seat, clearly not expecting such a direct response. "Oh, um, no reason. Just curious, that's all."
The boy, Brandon Loomis, as I now knew him to be, nodded slowly, as if accepting Matt's explanation. Then, to my surprise, he introduced himself with a small smile. "Brandon Loomis. And you are...?"
"Lily Anderson. Nice to meet you, Brandon."
“I'm Matt by the way,” Matt chimed in.
A flash of something—was it pain?—crossed Brandon's face, but it was quickly replaced with a smile. "Nice to meet you both. Your dad's a good man, Lily. He helped me out a lot."
I could only imagine what Brandon had been through. I remembered hearing snippets about his kidnapping a while back, but I had no idea what he must have endured. No wonder he hadn't been in school until now.
"Well, I hope the rest of the year goes well for you," I signed sincerely.
Brandon smiled at me again, and I felt a warm glow spread through my chest. "Thanks, Lily. I hope so too."
As the homeroom continued, Mr. James had us all introduce ourselves and played some icebreaker games to help us get to know each other better. It was actually kind of fun, and it took my mind off Karla and her new friends for a while.
One of the things we had to do was share a fun fact about ourselves. When it was Matt's turn, he revealed that he was the son of Mayor Weston and a great friend of my dad's. No wonder he seemed so familiar! I knew my dad would be thrilled to hear that Matt and I had become friends.
Before I knew it, the homeroom was over, and Matt, Brandon, and I headed out into the hallway together. I was relieved to find out that we all had B lunch, so I wouldn't have to eat alone.
"So, where do you guys usually eat?" Brandon asked as we made our way down the crowded hallway.
"I don't know about Lily, but I usually just grab something from the cafeteria and eat outside," Matt replied.
I signed, "That sounds good to me. I like being outdoors."
Brandon nodded. "Yeah, me too. Although, I usually eat my lunch at Dillard's Diner since I work there after school. You guys should come by sometime. The food's pretty great."
"Definitely!" Matt said enthusiastically. "I love diner food. And hey, maybe we can even help you out sometime if you're short-staffed."
Brandon laughed. "Sure, why not? It can get pretty crazy on the weekends, so any extra hands would be appreciated."
As we made our way to the cafeteria, Matt started talking about his favorite band, Deftones. I had to admit, their music was a little too heavy for my tastes, but Matt was so passionate about it that I found myself getting drawn in.
"You know, you should check out their album 'White Pony,'" Matt said. "It's a classic. My dad actually introduced me to them, and I've been hooked ever since."
I signed with a smile, "My dad's always trying to get me into his favorite bands too. He's a big fan of The Beatles and Queen."
"Oh, those are classics," Brandon chimed in. "My dad's more of a country music guy, but I've definitely grown to appreciate some of the older stuff."
While we ate lunch, I pulled out my sketchbook and started drawing, something I often did when I was feeling nervous or needed a distraction. Matt and Brandon were curious and asked to see my drawings. I showed them some of my anime-style sketches, and they both complimented my work.
"Wow, Lily, these are amazing!" Matt exclaimed. "You're gonna be like Picasso one day."
I signed, feeling my face heat up with embarrassment. "Thanks, Matt. That's really nice of you to say."
Brandon nodded in agreement. "Seriously, you're really talented. I wish I could draw like that."
As lunch came to an end, Matt and Brandon suggested that they walk me to my next class. I was surprised but pleased that they wanted to stick together. My next class was Choir, and thankfully, it was just down the hall.
"So, Lily, do you sing?" Brandon asked as we walked.
I signed, feeling a little self-conscious. "A little. I mean, I really want to sing, but I'm not sure I'm any good."
"Don't be shy, Lily," Matt said with a grin. "I bet you have a great voice."
I felt my face flush again, but I was glad that Matt and Brandon seemed so supportive. As we reached the choir room, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for whatever the class might bring. I slowly pushed open the door to the choir room, unsure of what to expect. The room was dark, but as my eyes adjusted, I could make out the outlines of rows of chairs facing a small stage. The room had a strange beauty to it, with its blue and white color scheme and intricate design carvings. I made my way to an empty chair near the exit, wanting to keep a low profile.
Before long, a flood of girls began to pour into the room, chattering and laughing. I recognized many of them from the Meadows Dale Advanced Academic Program. My heart sank a little as I spotted Brianne Becker, one of the most popular girls in school, deep in conversation with Meg Peterson. They were giggling about some guy they both apparently liked. Brianne's eyes suddenly landed on me, and her smile faded. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, feeling self-conscious under her gaze.
Alyssa entered the room, and the atmosphere seemed to brighten. Brianne's face lit up, and she rushed over to give Alyssa a hug. "I'm so happy you're in this class!" she exclaimed. Alyssa smiled back, her warm hazel eyes shining. I felt a small sense of relief seeing her friendly face.
Following Alyssa were Mandy, Fiona, Leslie, Hannah, Emma, and Karla. They all seemed to be deep in their own conversations, and I felt even more alone. Karla was telling Fiona about getting her nails done, and Fiona was expressing her dislike for acrylics. I stood up and waved at Karla, trying to get her attention. She had been one of my few friends in middle school, but something had changed between us lately.
Alyssa, however, made her way over to me and offered a genuine greeting. "Hi, Lily! It's so great to see you in this class," she said, her eyes sparkling with sincerity. I felt a small smile tug at my lips. At least there was one person here who didn't seem to mind my presence.
Entering through the red velvety curtains of the stage, a woman with brunette hair, who looked to be in her early 40s, emerged from behind the stage. She had an air of enthusiasm about her as she introduced herself as Mrs. Becker, Brianne's mother. I remembered hearing that they were related, and at the time, I had thought it was sweet that a mother and daughter shared the same class.
Mrs. Becker instructed us all to take our seats and explained that this class was for girls only. She then asked each of us to come up on stage and recite the Do-Mi-Re-Fa-So syllables so that she could group us into sections of eight. My heart sank as I realized I would have to sing in front of everyone.
One by one, Mrs. Becker called each girl up to the stage. Some of the girls had okay voices, while others were truly talented. Then it was Brianne's turn. Her voice was like an angel's, a beautiful soprano that filled the room. Fiona and Emma also impressed me with their deep, rich alto voices. Mandy, Leslie, and Hannah had high-pitched, yet well-controlled voices that blended beautifully.
Alyssa and Karla were the last to go, and they both had perfect voices. Alyssa's voice was like honey, smooth and warm. But it was Karla who really stood out. She sounded like a pop idol, her voice clear and powerful. I found myself getting lost in the music, forgetting my worries for a moment.
Then Mrs. Becker called my name, and my heart sank. I nervously made my way up the stairs to the stage, my hands trembling at my sides. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. As I opened my mouth to sing, an awful, screeching noise escaped. My throat instantly sting, as the aftertaste of metallic overwhelmed my mouth. It was so bad that Mrs. Becker immediately cut me off.
"Why are you in this class, Lily?" she asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
I looked at her sadly and signed, "I don't know. I didn't choose this class."
Mrs. Becker softened a little, seeing my dejected expression. "Well, you better discuss these matters with a counselor about switching, because there are better candidates out there who want a spot in this class," she said bluntly.
I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment as I made my way back to my seat at the very back of the room. I could feel the eyes of the other girls on me, and I heard their stifled laughter. Karla's laughter rang out the loudest, stabbing me like a knife. Alyssa was the only one who didn't join in, her face a mask of disappointment. I wasn't sure if she was disappointed in me or in the other girls' behavior.
It was next week, I got out of my algebra class heading towards the office. I had to wait till Monday, since during the first few days, my assigned counselor was not available. I was already antsy of finally getting out of that Choir class, I couldn’t deal another day with a class I clearly didn’t fit in. My schedule in my hand, I pulled the door open, being greeted by the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip muffins. Nervousness ran through me, wondering what type of counselor Dr. Wells would be.
The door was wide agape, leading me into the source of that muffin smell. Sitting there on a working desk, was a man typing on his laptop. He looked a bit exhausted, almost to the point that he slumped on his chair. Tilting my head, I nudged on his shoulders, trying to shake him awake. I couldn’t help but feel warmth radiating in my cheeks.
“Huh? Oh, hello there Lily. What brings you here?” Dr. Wells jolted up, probably noticing how close I was to his face. I backed away, sitting down on a red couch next to him.
“I want to change classes please.”
Mr. Wells nodded off, scooting his chair back towards his mahogany desk. He searched up my schedule, turning his laptop to my view. “Oh, I see. In what class do you want to change?”
I nervously let out a breath, as I finally let out what emotions I was holding. “I don’t know why you assigned me Choir, but everyone in that class hates me. I really need that class changed, Dr. Wells.”
I saw my counselor's lip repeatedly twitched a bit, before he gathered his composure. Dr. Wells looked up from his desk, his kind face softening as he saw me. "Lily, I want to apologize profusely for putting you in that situation."
I signed, feeling a little comforted by his words. "It's okay. I did want to be in that class, but I just... I felt so out of place with all the other girls laughing at me."
Dr. Wells sighed and rubbed his temple. "I'm truly sorry, Lily. I was told you loved music and thought you would enjoy the class. But it's clear that it wasn't a good fit. Do you have another class in mind that you'd like to take instead?"
I nodded and signed, "Art class. I heard my friend Brandon is taking that, and I've always loved drawing."
Dr. Wells typed something into his laptop. “Consider it done. I'll have the change processed by tomorrow, if not sooner. In the meantime, help yourself to a muffin. The library teacher made them for me, and they're delicious."
I smiled and took one of the muffins, taking a bite. "Are you and the library teacher... a thing?" I asked, feeling a little bold.
Dr. Wells laughed, a deep, hearty sound that filled the room. "No, no, nothing like that. Just colleagues. She knows I have a sweet tooth, so she often shares her baking creations with me."
I felt a wave of relief wash over me. It was probably one of the few times I'd developed a crush on someone, and as usual, it was harmless and something I'd get over quickly. Dr. Wells was one of those crushes indeed. I stood up from my chair, feeling much better than when I arrived. "Well, thank you, Dr. Wells. I better head to class soon."
Dr. Wells smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Of course, Lily. And remember, if you ever need someone to chat with, my door is always open."
Later that day, during lunch, I made my way to our usual table with Brandon and Matt. They were already deep in conversation about their morning classes.
"PE is a nightmare," Matt was saying. "All the athletes make fun of me because I'm not as fast or strong as they are. It's frustrating."
Brandon nodded sympathetically. "I heard you beat Ryan on the pacer test, though. That's impressive."
Matt shrugged, taking a bite of his apple. "It was just luck, honestly. Ryan got too cocky and sprained his knee on the seventy-ninth lap. I just kept a steady pace.”
I signed to Matt, "You should still be proud. I bet your dad was happy."
Matt smiled. "He was. It's not every day I get to impress him, especially when it comes to sports. You know how Mayor Weston was a star athlete back in his day."
I laughed, and then took a bite of my sandwich. "Speaking of impressing people, I have some news. I'm switching out of choir class and into art elective. Hopefully, I'll be in the same class as you, Brandon."
Brandon's face lit up. "That's great! I'm so glad you'll be joining us. Art class is a lot of fun.”
Matt nodded in agreement. "I'm happy for you, Lily. But why are you leaving Choir? I thought you loved singing."
My smile faltered, and I looked down at my lap. "It's just... it's not the right fit for me," I signed.
Matt frowned, chewing on his apple. "Is Mrs. Becker too mean? I've heard she can be hard on students who aren't part of the popular crowd."
"No fair," I signed, my eyes pleading with him to understand.
Brandon nodded. "It really isn't fair, Matt. That's why I prefer to keep a low profile. Popularity contests aren't worth the hassle.”
Just then, I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I turned to see Karla standing there, a sad look on her face. "Lily, can I talk to you?" she asked, her voice soft and hesitant.
I hesitated, signing, "Why?”
With a strand of hair tucked behind her ear, she leaned in and whispered, "I want to talk to you in private."
I glanced at Matt and Brandon, signing, "I'll be back, okay?"
Matt nodded, his eyes curious. "We'll be here. Take your time."
I followed Karla to the girl's bathroom, my heart pounding in my chest. I wasn't sure what this was about, but I sensed it was important to her. Once we were inside, Karla pulled out a juul vape from her pocket and took a hit. The sweet smell of watermelon filled the air.
"Want a hit?" she offered, holding it out to me.
I was curious, so I signed, "Sure."
I took a cautious drag, expecting to choke, but surprisingly, I didn't. Karla laughed, "I guess you already know how to smoke. Not so innocent after all, huh?"
I rolled my eyes. "I learned from watching Effy in Skins. It's not like I've never seen it before."
Karla laughed again, a genuine sound that seemed to break through the tension between us. "Look, Lily, I wanted to apologize for what happened in the choir. I shouldn't have laughed. It was mean, and I'm sorry."
I stayed silent, unsure of how to respond. A part of me wanted to accept her apology, but another part was still hurt by her earlier behavior. Before I could say anything, Karla cut in, "I know it doesn't make up for it, but I want to make it up to you. How about I take you to the skating rink this evening? It's one of our favorite places, remember?"
I hesitated, considering her offer. Finally, I signed, "Okay, I guess."
Karla's face lit up, and she gave me a quick hug. "Great! I'll text you the details. See you later, okay?" And with that, she left the bathroom, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I walked back to the cafeteria, my mind racing. Matt rushed over to me, his eyes full of questions. "How did it go? What did she want?" he asked.
"It went okay," I replied, signing as I continued. "Karla invited me to the skating rink this evening."
Brandon's eyebrows furrowed. "I don't know, Lily. Karla hangs out with those choir girls. I don't think we can trust her, especially after what happened."
I bit my lip, understanding his concern. "What if I sneak you and Matt in too? That way, if anything goes south, we'll be together."
Matt's eyes lit up. "That's a brilliant idea! I'm in."
A small smile tugged at my lips. "It's settled, then. We're going skating."
That afternoon, I waited on the porch for Karla to pick me up. The sun was starting to set, casting a warm glow over everything. My dad emerged from the house, dressed in his sheriff's uniform. "Why are you wearing your uniform on your day off?" I asked, curious.
He chuckled, patting my back. "Got called into work. Something strange is going on. Don't worry, I'll be fine."
I signed, "Be safe, Dad."
“I will, honey. Have fun with Karla, okay.” He smiled and gave me a thumbs-up before heading off. A minute later, a black Chevy pulled up, and I recognized it as Mrs. Becker's car. Karla leaned out the window and waved me over.
I took a deep breath and climbed into the back seat. Besides Karla, there were a few other girls from the choir class—Mandy, Hannah, Emma, Leslie, Fiona, and Brianne. Alyssa was noticeably absent.
Noticing my curious glance, Karla explained, "Alyssa had track practice. She couldn't make it."
I signed, "That's nice."
Brianne turned to Mrs. Becker and asked, "Can we get some McDonald's shakes? Please?"
Mrs. Becker smiled. "Of course, sweetie. Does anyone else want one?"
Everyone nodded eagerly, and Mrs. Becker placed an order for nine shakes. Emma and Leslie wanted vanilla, Brianne wanted the seasonal spice pumpkin flavor, Hannah and Fiona requested strawberry, Karla and Mandy chose chocolate, and Mrs. Becker asked about my preference.
"Mint, please," I said, making a gesture of a mint leaf.
Mrs. Becker smiled. "Mint it is. Anything for my girls."
I felt a warm glow spread through me. Maybe, just maybe, they were starting to like me. I took a long sip of my mint shake, savoring the cool, refreshing taste.
"Chocolate is definitely the best flavor," Mandy declared, taking a sip from her own shake. "Nothing beats the classic."
"Pumpkin spice is where it's at," Brianne interjected, taking a sip of her pumpkin spice shake. "It's got that perfect blend of sweet and spicy. It's like autumn in a bite."
"Are you kidding?" Mandy scoffed. "Chocolate is timeless. It's the ultimate comfort food. Pumpkin spice is just a fad.”
"Oh c'mon! Pumpkin spice is leagues better," Brianne retorted. "It's a limited edition for a reason."
The other girls joined in, each defending their favorite flavor. I snickered at their playful bickering, feeling a sense of warmth despite the earlier tension.
About ten minutes later, Mrs. Becker pulled into the parking lot of a magenta-colored building. The girls piled out of the car, and I followed them inside, curious about our destination. Mrs. Becker turned to Brianne and said, "I'll pick you girls up at 8 pm sharp. I need to head home and take care of your little sister."
Brianne gave her mom a quick hug and yelled out, "Okay! Love you, mom!" Then she joined the choir group, whispering something in Karla's ear that made her smile in an unsettling way.
Karla walked over to me and whispered, "Hey, Lily, I want to take you to our hiding spot. It's been a while since we hung out there."
I brightened at the idea, signing, "I've missed that place. We used to act like it was our studio booth."
“Uh-huh,” Karla led me to an abandoned janitor's closet that was blocked off with a "Do Not Enter" sign. She opened the door, and I slid inside, feeling a rush of nostalgia. I slid inside the small, dimly lit closet and sat criss-cross on the floor, my heart racing with anticipation. Karla joined me, and for a moment, we just sat there, our knees touching, the silence comfortable between us.
"I've missed you, Lily," Karla signed, her expression softening.
"I've missed you too," I signed back, my heart warming at the sentiment. "It feels like it's been ages since we really talked." I looked down, my smile fading slightly. "I've missed the old Karla. The one who was always on my side, no matter what."
Karla furrowed her eyebrows, her face a mask of confusion. "What do you mean? I haven't changed, Lily. I've just matured."
I scoffed, shaking my head. "Matured? Making fun of someone less popular than you isn't mature, Karla. It's just mean spirited."
Her eyes widened at my words, and I could see the hurt flash across her face. "I haven't been making fun of you, Lily. I—"
"Yes, you have," I interrupted, my anger bubbling to the surface. "I know exactly what you and your new friends have been trying to do. You've been pretending I don't exist, like I'm not even worth acknowledging.”
Karla's face contorted with frustration. "That's not true, Lily! You always have to make everything about your disability. If anyone's changed, it's you. You used to be so happy, always laughing and joking around. Now, you just cry and complain when things don't go your way."
I signed angrily, my hands moving frantically. "How can you say that, Karla? I don't mind if you want to be more popular, but you're acting like you don't even know me. You're trying to pretend we're not friends."
Her eyes filled with tears, and her voice shook. "Maybe I don't want to be friends with you anymore, Lily. Maybe you're too held up in the past, too stuck in your own little world. You're a sad, pathetic sap, and I—"
Before she could finish her sentence, I punched her squarely in the face. The force of the blow knocked her back, and she stumbled, her hand flying to her nose.
"I wish I'd never met you, Karla!" I angrily figured my fingers around, my breathing being audible in the small space. "I wish you'd never been my friend! I wouldn't care if you dropped dead right now!"
Karla's eyes widened in shock, and tears began to stream down her face. Without another word, she turned and ran out of the janitor's closet, leaving me alone in the dimly lit space. I trembled as I crouched down in the corner, my heart pounding in my chest. I had never hit anyone before, and now I wished I could take it back. It was rather immature of me to end that way with Karla. Especially when this was the last memory I had of her alive.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced the silence, freezing me in place. It was Karla. My eyes widened in horror as I realized what I had done. I rose to my feet and ran out of the closet, my heart pounding in my chest. As I turned the corner, I came face to face with a masked man. He was tall and imposing, his mask was painted like a 1940s woman with green eyeshadow, vibrant red blush, and blood-red lips. His copper-blonde wig fell in sleek waves, contrasting with his all-black suit.
The man walked slowly towards me, his gloved hand reaching out. I kicked him in the abdomen, my fear fueling my strength. But he was too strong. He grabbed me by the waist, his gloved finger pressing against my lips.
"My little flower, I am so happy to see you." he whispered, his voice deep and gravelly.
Before I could scream or struggle, he covered my mouth with a rag. It took a while for the chloroform to finally take effect, as I remembered my last thoughts were about Karla. Sometimes I wished this encounter was just an elaborate prank played by Brianne. However it is never the case.
When I woke up, I woke up to the sound of a girl's voice, soft and melodic. My eyes felt heavy, my body sluggish as I tried to lift my head. The singing was familiar, reminding me of Karla. My heart stirred at the memory of my friend, and I tried to shake off the grogginess that clouded my mind.
As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I realized I was restrained to a bed, my wrists and ankles bound. Panic surged through me, and I struggled against my bonds, my heart racing.
The singing continued, and I finally located the source—a television mounted on the wall across the room. My eyes widened as I recognized the singer. It was Karla, her face bruised and beaten, her eyes closed as she sang "Once Upon a December" from the animated movie "Anastasia." Her voice was shaky but serene, and tears pricked my eyes as I watched her performance.
I opened my mouth to scream, but only a weakened screech escaped my throat. I tugged at my restraints, desperation fueling my strength. I had to get out of here. I had to help Karla.
Catching me off guard, the door swung open, and the masked man from my encounter at the janitor's closet stepped into the room. My heart sank at the sight of him, and I shrunk back against the bed, my breath coming in short gasps.
He carried a plate of applesauce, his gloved hands setting it down on a table by the bed. "Good morning, my little flower," he said, his voice deep and distorted by the mask. "Your friend has a lovely voice," he remarked. "Have you ever wanted to sing like that?”
I shook my head, my eyes never leaving his face. I mouthed the words, "Let her go.”
The Masked Man smiled sadly. "Your friend has been let go. Don't worry, she's no longer suffering.”
I wanted to scream, to demand that he release me, but my voice failed me. The masked man approached the bed, his eyes cold and unfeeling. He picked up the spoon and dipped it into the applesauce, then brought it to my mouth.
"Open up, sweetie," he cooed. "You need to keep up your strength."
I turned my head away, my body rigid with fear. I didn't want his help, I didn't want anything to do with him.
"Now, now, none of that," he chided, his gloved hand gently tilting my chin back towards him. "You need to eat. And one day, my little flower, you will sing too. And it will be the most beautiful voice anyone has ever heard."
Tears slipped down my cheeks as he forced the spoon into my mouth, the applesauce tasting bitter on my tongue. I choked down the food, my throat constricting with fear and anger.
The masked man set the plate down and pulled me into a tight embrace, his gloved hands stroking my hair. "Shh, my little flower. Everything will be alright. I'm here to take care of you."
I sobbed into his chest, my body shaking with grief and terror. I had no idea where I was, no concept of how much time had passed since I had been taken. All I knew was that Karla was in danger, and I was powerless to help her. The masked man held me until my sobs subsided, then gently laid me back down on the bed. "Rest now. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."
With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I closed my eyes, my mind reeling. The next time I woke, it was to the sound of my mother's sobs. I blinked groggily, my vision blurry as I tried to focus. I was in a hospital room, my mother sitting by my bedside, her face wet with tears. Matt and Brandon, my closest friends, were also there, their faces etched with concern.
"Mom?" I raised one of my hands, my fingers weak and stiff.
My mother's head snapped up, and she rushed to my side, her hands grasping mine. "Lily, oh, Lily, you're awake!" She smiled through her tears, her voice shaking. "I thought I'd lost you.”
I placed my palm to touch her cheek, my throat too dry to speak. Matt and Brandon stood by silently, their eyes filled with relief.
I then asked the big question, signing, "What... happened?"
Matt nervously stuttered, "We... We found you inside an old shed near the skating rink. You were... you were unconscious, and we called for help right away."
Brandon added, "Before that, you were missing for roughly 33 hours. We searched everywhere for you.” His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat, unable to meet my gaze.
"You're safe now, Lily," my mother said, stroking my hair. "That's all that matters. There's nothing to worry about anymore."
I shook my head, my eyes flying open. Where was Karla? I signed, "Where's Karla?”
My mother's face crumpled, and fresh tears slid down her cheeks. "She's... she's still missing, Lily. We don't know where she is."
I closed my eyes, the weight of my guilt crushing me. If I hadn't fought with Karla, none of this would have happened. It was my fault she was still out there, alone and in danger.
The days turned into weeks, and Karla remained missing. The police conducted an extensive search, but there were no leads, no clues as to her whereabouts. I blamed myself, replaying the events of that fateful day over and over in my mind.
Three weeks after my rescue, the news channel delivered a devastating blow. Karla Reyes, aged 15, had been found dead, her body buried near the Yellow Rock River. She had suffered multiple bone fractures, and the unsettling detail—she had been missing her vocal cords and larynx.
I recalled the day vividly, the sun shining brightly through my hospital window as the news anchor delivered the grim update. I had broken down, sobbing uncontrollably, the reality of what had happened hitting me like a ton of bricks. I remember wanting to just die, to pay for what I have done. If I hadn't had my friends Matt and Brandon, I wouldn't have been alive writing this. And yet, I never told anyone about The Masked Man or what had transpired that day—until now. Sometimes I wonder if Karla could hear my prayers, wishing that she deserved better than this, and I'm sorry for causing her death. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I needed to say next.
Karla Reyes may have been the first victim, but she certainly wasn't the last. There were 7 more Choirs Girls left.
submitted by Memiiselgey23 to NoSleepAuthors [link] [comments]
Alyssa was in the Choir group, consisting of 8 girls. They were girls that were a part of Choir Class, an elective that made no sense why I took it. Along with Alyssa Howard, there was Brianne Becker, Fiona Figueroa, Leslie Smith, Hannah Klidford, Emma Kelly, Mandy Lake, and... Karla Reyes. Karla Reyes was one of them I knew very well. In fact she is the reason why I'm typing this out.
Karla was my childhood friend, we met in 5th grade. Her family was from around Texas, and she recently moved to this small town of Meadows Dale. I didn't have friends at that age since most kids thought I was...well weird. I didn't comprehend why I was weird to them at the time, I just simply thought I wasn't cool enough. I remember vividly that I was walking far from the rusty playground, to a hill that pretty much if going more up north, you'll be at the Centennial Park of the town.
That sunny day in 5th grade felt like it was just yesterday. I was walking up a hill, my Elsa shoes making every step feel like a chore. I sighed, looking down at my shoes, feeling embarrassed that my mom had gotten them for me. All the other kids in my grade were wearing Converse or cool sneakers, and here I was, stuck with sparkly, princess-themed shoes. I flopped down on the grassy ground, feeling like the biggest outcast in the world.
I sat there, lost in my own thoughts, I noticed a girl with dark hair and tan skin walking towards me. She looked a bit nervous, fidgeting with her hands as she approached. I recognized her from my homeroom class.
"Hey," she said, trying to sound casual. "These hills look like a pair of butt cheeks, don't they?" She giggled, and I couldn't help but laugh too.
I signed back to her, using my hands to mimic the shape of hills and then making a silly face to show that, yes, they did look like butt cheeks. Karla laughed, and I was surprised. Not many people in my class knew sign language, and it was nice to have someone to communicate with in my own way.
"Do you know sign language?" I signed, curiosity getting the better of me.
Karla nodded, her dark hair bobbing up and down. "Yeah, my aunt was born deaf, so I learned to communicate with her."
I signed back, asking her if she thought it was cool that I knew sign language too.
Karla grinned. "Yeah, that's really cool! I'm Karla, by the way."
“Lily,” I signed my name, and Karla sat down next to me on the grass. We chatted for the rest of recess, discovering that we had a lot in common. We both loved DreamWorks movies better than Disney, and our favorite music group was Fifth Harmony. I was obsessed with them back then, and Karla was too. We both wanted to be like Camila Cabello when we grew up.
From that day on, Karla and I were inseparable. We'd sit together at lunch, partner up for group projects, and even started a Fifth Harmony fan club in our class. Karla would always lend me an earbud so we could jam out to our favorite songs together. Our friendship was effortless, and I felt like I'd finally found someone who understood me.
It was perfect until the start of Freshman year of Meadows Dale High School. I held my scheduler tightly in my hands as I climbed the stairs to the kitchen, my stomach twisted in knots. My heart sank as I scanned the pages, taking in the fact that most of my classes were designated for students with special educational needs. Homeroom and choir were the only exceptions.
I made my way to the living room where my mom was seated, tears brimming in my eyes. "Mom, why do I have to take these classes?" I signed, frustration etched on my features. "I don't need this kind of help. I can handle regular classes just fine."
My mom looked at the schedule, her expression sympathetic. "I know you don't seem to need help, sweetie, but the school requires you to take these classes. It's just protocol."
I sighed, feeling a wave of frustration wash over me. "I'm going to feel like even more of a freak than I already do," I gestured angrily, trying to hold back tears.
From the living room doorway, my father's deep voice cut through the silence. His ears perked up from the conversation. "Hey, kiddo, what's going on?" he asked, his voice gentle.
I signed again, rapidly gesturing my fingers "I don't want to take Special ED classes, Dad. I can do normal classes. I can hear the teachers very well!"
My dad walked over to us, his eyes scanning the schedule. "I know it's tough, Lily, but the school is just trying to help. Plus, You're not a freak. Not in our eyes, anyway. If anybody gives you trouble, I'll personally see to it that they regret it." His tone was lighthearted, but his meaning was clear. He was the sheriff, after all, and his reputation preceded him.
I rolled my eyes, signing, "Dad, please. You're only making things worse."
Ignoring my pleas, he ruffled my hair affectionately before leaving the room. I retreated to my bedroom, collapsing onto my bed in a heap of tears. The night passed in a blur, and soon enough, it was time for me to wake up and face another day.
I woke up to the sound of my dad calling me from downstairs. "Lily, time to get up! First day of school!" I groggily got out of bed, still feeling the emotional hangover from the night before.
My dad drove me to school in his police cruiser, which only added to my embarrassment. I remembered feeling weird being in the cruiser, with its flashing lights and sirens. As we pulled up to the school, my dad turned to me and said, "No matter what, you'll always have me and Mom, okay? We love you, and we're proud of you."
He hugged me tight, and I felt a lump in my throat again. I nodded, trying to hold back tears, and got out of the car. Finally me into the world of Meadows Dale High School.
The enormity of the building hit me hard as I stepped inside. The halls were bustling with activity, and the noise level was overwhelming. The classes flew by, and I couldn't help but feel like my Special ED classes were too easy for me. The teacher aides were sweet, but they were busy helping other students, leaving me to feel like I was just going through the motions.
As I walked out of my Literature class, I noticed a boy sitting alone next to a locker. He had ginger hair and was a bit overweight, and he was using a big headset to listen to music. There was something about him that drew me in, so I walked over to say hi.
He removed his headphones, looking up at me with a nervous smile. "Hi," he said, his voice a little shaky.
I signed back, "Hi."
He laughed, a little awkwardly. "Sorry if I'm a bit awkward. I'm not really used to talking to people."
I signed, "You're not awkward at all."
He smiled, looking relieved. "Thanks. I'm Matt Weston."
I nodded, signing, "I'm Lily."
Matt's eyes lit up. "Sweet. What's your homeroom?"
"207."
Matt's face brightened up. "No way, that's my homeroom too!"
I smiled, feeling a sense of excitement. "That's amazing!"
Matt stood up, walking towards a bookshelf. "Homeroom's next class. Want to walk with me?"
I nodded, following him as the bell rang. We exited the class, and suddenly we were swept up in a sea of students pushing and shoving to get to their next class.
We finally arrived at class 207, which was already filled with students. I saw Alyssa sitting in the back with her group of friends, looking like a star athlete. Matt went to sit in the front seat, and I sat next to him.
Just as we were settling in, one of the guys from Jr high football, Ryan Peterson, hit a football at Matt, saying, "Can't believe we got 'Butterball' in our class."
Matt rolled his eyes, saying, "At least I don't have a father who cheats and spreads gonorrhea."
Ryan's friend, Warren, said, "Ohhh sick burn,"
Ryan huffed, whispering to Matt, "Just because you're special doesn't mean everybody likes you."
I got mad, flipping Ryan the finger, which made him laugh. "You're lucky I ain't telling the teacher, because I don't want any issues with your old man!" Ryan walked away with Warren, leaving me feeling annoyed.
The homeroom teacher arrived, a young guy in his 20s with cedar brown hair and a pair of glasses. "Hello Students! Like that you are all sitting in neatly placed groups. My name's Mr. James and I'll be your homeroom teacher for Freshmen till Senior Year. Hope you excited as I am!"
Just as he was about to start writing on the white board, a beautifully dressed Karla emerged late, looking older and more mature with a lot of makeup on. I looked up, happy to see her, only for her to not notice me and sit down next to Alyssa's group.
Matt whispered to me, "Do you know that girl?"
I signed, "No."
Matt nodded, looking curious. "She looks familiar, but I don't know her name. Was it Kayla or Karly?"
"It's Karla," I shrugged, feeling a pang of disappointment. It seemed like Karla had moved on to a new group of friends, leaving me behind. I don't know how this change happened, since Karla and I went on a trip to Orlando, Florida, three weeks ago. I thought we had the best of our life's during that trip.
I was stumped, watching from afar as Karla chatted with Alyssa and her friends. I felt a twinge of jealousy and sadness as I realized how easily Karla had seemingly moved on and found a new group to hang out with. I mean, I thought we were best friends. It felt like Alyssa had stolen her from me.
I turned my attention elsewhere, not wanting to dwell on it. That's when I noticed a teenage boy sitting alone a few rows in front of me. He had jet black hair and there was something familiar about him, although I couldn't quite place it. I wondered who he was and why he was sitting alone.
"Hey, Lily," Matt said, following my gaze. "Do you know that guy? He looks kind of like a mini Detective Loomis."
I shook my head, signing that I had no idea who he was, but now I was curious too. Detective Loomis had been a family friend for years, and I knew he had a son, but I hadn't seen him in a while.
Matt chuckled nervously and waved his hand as if to dismiss his own question. "Just wondering. He kind of looks like him, that's all."
Just then, the boy turned around in his seat and our eyes met. He raised an eyebrow, clearly having overheard our conversation. "Yeah, that's my dad," he said, a hint of challenge in his voice. "Why?"
Matt shifted uncomfortably in his seat, clearly not expecting such a direct response. "Oh, um, no reason. Just curious, that's all."
The boy, Brandon Loomis, as I now knew him to be, nodded slowly, as if accepting Matt's explanation. Then, to my surprise, he introduced himself with a small smile. "Brandon Loomis. And you are...?"
"Lily Anderson. Nice to meet you, Brandon."
“I'm Matt by the way,” Matt chimed in.
A flash of something—was it pain?—crossed Brandon's face, but it was quickly replaced with a smile. "Nice to meet you both. Your dad's a good man, Lily. He helped me out a lot."
I could only imagine what Brandon had been through. I remembered hearing snippets about his kidnapping a while back, but I had no idea what he must have endured. No wonder he hadn't been in school until now.
"Well, I hope the rest of the year goes well for you," I signed sincerely.
Brandon smiled at me again, and I felt a warm glow spread through my chest. "Thanks, Lily. I hope so too."
As the homeroom continued, Mr. James had us all introduce ourselves and played some icebreaker games to help us get to know each other better. It was actually kind of fun, and it took my mind off Karla and her new friends for a while.
One of the things we had to do was share a fun fact about ourselves. When it was Matt's turn, he revealed that he was the son of Mayor Weston and a great friend of my dad's. No wonder he seemed so familiar! I knew my dad would be thrilled to hear that Matt and I had become friends.
Before I knew it, the homeroom was over, and Matt, Brandon, and I headed out into the hallway together. I was relieved to find out that we all had B lunch, so I wouldn't have to eat alone.
"So, where do you guys usually eat?" Brandon asked as we made our way down the crowded hallway.
"I don't know about Lily, but I usually just grab something from the cafeteria and eat outside," Matt replied.
I signed, "That sounds good to me. I like being outdoors."
Brandon nodded. "Yeah, me too. Although, I usually eat my lunch at Dillard's Diner since I work there after school. You guys should come by sometime. The food's pretty great."
"Definitely!" Matt said enthusiastically. "I love diner food. And hey, maybe we can even help you out sometime if you're short-staffed."
Brandon laughed. "Sure, why not? It can get pretty crazy on the weekends, so any extra hands would be appreciated."
As we made our way to the cafeteria, Matt started talking about his favorite band, Deftones. I had to admit, their music was a little too heavy for my tastes, but Matt was so passionate about it that I found myself getting drawn in.
"You know, you should check out their album 'White Pony,'" Matt said. "It's a classic. My dad actually introduced me to them, and I've been hooked ever since."
I signed with a smile, "My dad's always trying to get me into his favorite bands too. He's a big fan of The Beatles and Queen."
"Oh, those are classics," Brandon chimed in. "My dad's more of a country music guy, but I've definitely grown to appreciate some of the older stuff."
While we ate lunch, I pulled out my sketchbook and started drawing, something I often did when I was feeling nervous or needed a distraction. Matt and Brandon were curious and asked to see my drawings. I showed them some of my anime-style sketches, and they both complimented my work.
"Wow, Lily, these are amazing!" Matt exclaimed. "You're gonna be like Picasso one day."
I signed, feeling my face heat up with embarrassment. "Thanks, Matt. That's really nice of you to say."
Brandon nodded in agreement. "Seriously, you're really talented. I wish I could draw like that."
As lunch came to an end, Matt and Brandon suggested that they walk me to my next class. I was surprised but pleased that they wanted to stick together. My next class was Choir, and thankfully, it was just down the hall.
"So, Lily, do you sing?" Brandon asked as we walked.
I signed, feeling a little self-conscious. "A little. I mean, I really want to sing, but I'm not sure I'm any good."
"Don't be shy, Lily," Matt said with a grin. "I bet you have a great voice."
I felt my face flush again, but I was glad that Matt and Brandon seemed so supportive. As we reached the choir room, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for whatever the class might bring. I slowly pushed open the door to the choir room, unsure of what to expect. The room was dark, but as my eyes adjusted, I could make out the outlines of rows of chairs facing a small stage. The room had a strange beauty to it, with its blue and white color scheme and intricate design carvings. I made my way to an empty chair near the exit, wanting to keep a low profile.
Before long, a flood of girls began to pour into the room, chattering and laughing. I recognized many of them from the Meadows Dale Advanced Academic Program. My heart sank a little as I spotted Brianne Becker, one of the most popular girls in school, deep in conversation with Meg Peterson. They were giggling about some guy they both apparently liked. Brianne's eyes suddenly landed on me, and her smile faded. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, feeling self-conscious under her gaze.
Alyssa entered the room, and the atmosphere seemed to brighten. Brianne's face lit up, and she rushed over to give Alyssa a hug. "I'm so happy you're in this class!" she exclaimed. Alyssa smiled back, her warm hazel eyes shining. I felt a small sense of relief seeing her friendly face.
Following Alyssa were Mandy, Fiona, Leslie, Hannah, Emma, and Karla. They all seemed to be deep in their own conversations, and I felt even more alone. Karla was telling Fiona about getting her nails done, and Fiona was expressing her dislike for acrylics. I stood up and waved at Karla, trying to get her attention. She had been one of my few friends in middle school, but something had changed between us lately.
Alyssa, however, made her way over to me and offered a genuine greeting. "Hi, Lily! It's so great to see you in this class," she said, her eyes sparkling with sincerity. I felt a small smile tug at my lips. At least there was one person here who didn't seem to mind my presence.
Entering through the red velvety curtains of the stage, a woman with brunette hair, who looked to be in her early 40s, emerged from behind the stage. She had an air of enthusiasm about her as she introduced herself as Mrs. Becker, Brianne's mother. I remembered hearing that they were related, and at the time, I had thought it was sweet that a mother and daughter shared the same class.
Mrs. Becker instructed us all to take our seats and explained that this class was for girls only. She then asked each of us to come up on stage and recite the Do-Mi-Re-Fa-So syllables so that she could group us into sections of eight. My heart sank as I realized I would have to sing in front of everyone.
One by one, Mrs. Becker called each girl up to the stage. Some of the girls had okay voices, while others were truly talented. Then it was Brianne's turn. Her voice was like an angel's, a beautiful soprano that filled the room. Fiona and Emma also impressed me with their deep, rich alto voices. Mandy, Leslie, and Hannah had high-pitched, yet well-controlled voices that blended beautifully.
Alyssa and Karla were the last to go, and they both had perfect voices. Alyssa's voice was like honey, smooth and warm. But it was Karla who really stood out. She sounded like a pop idol, her voice clear and powerful. I found myself getting lost in the music, forgetting my worries for a moment.
Then Mrs. Becker called my name, and my heart sank. I nervously made my way up the stairs to the stage, my hands trembling at my sides. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. As I opened my mouth to sing, an awful, screeching noise escaped. My throat instantly sting, as the aftertaste of metallic overwhelmed my mouth. It was so bad that Mrs. Becker immediately cut me off.
"Why are you in this class, Lily?" she asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
I looked at her sadly and signed, "I don't know. I didn't choose this class."
Mrs. Becker softened a little, seeing my dejected expression. "Well, you better discuss these matters with a counselor about switching, because there are better candidates out there who want a spot in this class," she said bluntly.
I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment as I made my way back to my seat at the very back of the room. I could feel the eyes of the other girls on me, and I heard their stifled laughter. Karla's laughter rang out the loudest, stabbing me like a knife. Alyssa was the only one who didn't join in, her face a mask of disappointment. I wasn't sure if she was disappointed in me or in the other girls' behavior.
It was next week, I got out of my algebra class heading towards the office. I had to wait till Monday, since during the first few days, my assigned counselor was not available. I was already antsy of finally getting out of that Choir class, I couldn’t deal another day with a class I clearly didn’t fit in. My schedule in my hand, I pulled the door open, being greeted by the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip muffins. Nervousness ran through me, wondering what type of counselor Dr. Wells would be.
The door was wide agape, leading me into the source of that muffin smell. Sitting there on a working desk, was a man typing on his laptop. He looked a bit exhausted, almost to the point that he slumped on his chair. Tilting my head, I nudged on his shoulders, trying to shake him awake. I couldn’t help but feel warmth radiating in my cheeks.
“Huh? Oh, hello there Lily. What brings you here?” Dr. Wells jolted up, probably noticing how close I was to his face. I backed away, sitting down on a red couch next to him.
“I want to change classes please.”
Mr. Wells nodded off, scooting his chair back towards his mahogany desk. He searched up my schedule, turning his laptop to my view. “Oh, I see. In what class do you want to change?”
I nervously let out a breath, as I finally let out what emotions I was holding. “I don’t know why you assigned me Choir, but everyone in that class hates me. I really need that class changed, Dr. Wells.”
I saw my counselor's lip repeatedly twitched a bit, before he gathered his composure. Dr. Wells looked up from his desk, his kind face softening as he saw me. "Lily, I want to apologize profusely for putting you in that situation."
I signed, feeling a little comforted by his words. "It's okay. I did want to be in that class, but I just... I felt so out of place with all the other girls laughing at me."
Dr. Wells sighed and rubbed his temple. "I'm truly sorry, Lily. I was told you loved music and thought you would enjoy the class. But it's clear that it wasn't a good fit. Do you have another class in mind that you'd like to take instead?"
I nodded and signed, "Art class. I heard my friend Brandon is taking that, and I've always loved drawing."
Dr. Wells typed something into his laptop. “Consider it done. I'll have the change processed by tomorrow, if not sooner. In the meantime, help yourself to a muffin. The library teacher made them for me, and they're delicious."
I smiled and took one of the muffins, taking a bite. "Are you and the library teacher... a thing?" I asked, feeling a little bold.
Dr. Wells laughed, a deep, hearty sound that filled the room. "No, no, nothing like that. Just colleagues. She knows I have a sweet tooth, so she often shares her baking creations with me."
I felt a wave of relief wash over me. It was probably one of the few times I'd developed a crush on someone, and as usual, it was harmless and something I'd get over quickly. Dr. Wells was one of those crushes indeed. I stood up from my chair, feeling much better than when I arrived. "Well, thank you, Dr. Wells. I better head to class soon."
Dr. Wells smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Of course, Lily. And remember, if you ever need someone to chat with, my door is always open."
Later that day, during lunch, I made my way to our usual table with Brandon and Matt. They were already deep in conversation about their morning classes.
"PE is a nightmare," Matt was saying. "All the athletes make fun of me because I'm not as fast or strong as they are. It's frustrating."
Brandon nodded sympathetically. "I heard you beat Ryan on the pacer test, though. That's impressive."
Matt shrugged, taking a bite of his apple. "It was just luck, honestly. Ryan got too cocky and sprained his knee on the seventy-ninth lap. I just kept a steady pace.”
I signed to Matt, "You should still be proud. I bet your dad was happy."
Matt smiled. "He was. It's not every day I get to impress him, especially when it comes to sports. You know how Mayor Weston was a star athlete back in his day."
I laughed, and then took a bite of my sandwich. "Speaking of impressing people, I have some news. I'm switching out of choir class and into art elective. Hopefully, I'll be in the same class as you, Brandon."
Brandon's face lit up. "That's great! I'm so glad you'll be joining us. Art class is a lot of fun.”
Matt nodded in agreement. "I'm happy for you, Lily. But why are you leaving Choir? I thought you loved singing."
My smile faltered, and I looked down at my lap. "It's just... it's not the right fit for me," I signed.
Matt frowned, chewing on his apple. "Is Mrs. Becker too mean? I've heard she can be hard on students who aren't part of the popular crowd."
"No fair," I signed, my eyes pleading with him to understand.
Brandon nodded. "It really isn't fair, Matt. That's why I prefer to keep a low profile. Popularity contests aren't worth the hassle.”
Just then, I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I turned to see Karla standing there, a sad look on her face. "Lily, can I talk to you?" she asked, her voice soft and hesitant.
I hesitated, signing, "Why?”
With a strand of hair tucked behind her ear, she leaned in and whispered, "I want to talk to you in private."
I glanced at Matt and Brandon, signing, "I'll be back, okay?"
Matt nodded, his eyes curious. "We'll be here. Take your time."
I followed Karla to the girl's bathroom, my heart pounding in my chest. I wasn't sure what this was about, but I sensed it was important to her. Once we were inside, Karla pulled out a juul vape from her pocket and took a hit. The sweet smell of watermelon filled the air.
"Want a hit?" she offered, holding it out to me.
I was curious, so I signed, "Sure."
I took a cautious drag, expecting to choke, but surprisingly, I didn't. Karla laughed, "I guess you already know how to smoke. Not so innocent after all, huh?"
I rolled my eyes. "I learned from watching Effy in Skins. It's not like I've never seen it before."
Karla laughed again, a genuine sound that seemed to break through the tension between us. "Look, Lily, I wanted to apologize for what happened in the choir. I shouldn't have laughed. It was mean, and I'm sorry."
I stayed silent, unsure of how to respond. A part of me wanted to accept her apology, but another part was still hurt by her earlier behavior. Before I could say anything, Karla cut in, "I know it doesn't make up for it, but I want to make it up to you. How about I take you to the skating rink this evening? It's one of our favorite places, remember?"
I hesitated, considering her offer. Finally, I signed, "Okay, I guess."
Karla's face lit up, and she gave me a quick hug. "Great! I'll text you the details. See you later, okay?" And with that, she left the bathroom, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I walked back to the cafeteria, my mind racing. Matt rushed over to me, his eyes full of questions. "How did it go? What did she want?" he asked.
"It went okay," I replied, signing as I continued. "Karla invited me to the skating rink this evening."
Brandon's eyebrows furrowed. "I don't know, Lily. Karla hangs out with those choir girls. I don't think we can trust her, especially after what happened."
I bit my lip, understanding his concern. "What if I sneak you and Matt in too? That way, if anything goes south, we'll be together."
Matt's eyes lit up. "That's a brilliant idea! I'm in."
A small smile tugged at my lips. "It's settled, then. We're going skating."
That afternoon, I waited on the porch for Karla to pick me up. The sun was starting to set, casting a warm glow over everything. My dad emerged from the house, dressed in his sheriff's uniform. "Why are you wearing your uniform on your day off?" I asked, curious.
He chuckled, patting my back. "Got called into work. Something strange is going on. Don't worry, I'll be fine."
I signed, "Be safe, Dad."
“I will, honey. Have fun with Karla, okay.” He smiled and gave me a thumbs-up before heading off. A minute later, a black Chevy pulled up, and I recognized it as Mrs. Becker's car. Karla leaned out the window and waved me over.
I took a deep breath and climbed into the back seat. Besides Karla, there were a few other girls from the choir class—Mandy, Hannah, Emma, Leslie, Fiona, and Brianne. Alyssa was noticeably absent.
Noticing my curious glance, Karla explained, "Alyssa had track practice. She couldn't make it."
I signed, "That's nice."
Brianne turned to Mrs. Becker and asked, "Can we get some McDonald's shakes? Please?"
Mrs. Becker smiled. "Of course, sweetie. Does anyone else want one?"
Everyone nodded eagerly, and Mrs. Becker placed an order for nine shakes. Emma and Leslie wanted vanilla, Brianne wanted the seasonal spice pumpkin flavor, Hannah and Fiona requested strawberry, Karla and Mandy chose chocolate, and Mrs. Becker asked about my preference.
"Mint, please," I said, making a gesture of a mint leaf.
Mrs. Becker smiled. "Mint it is. Anything for my girls."
I felt a warm glow spread through me. Maybe, just maybe, they were starting to like me. I took a long sip of my mint shake, savoring the cool, refreshing taste.
"Chocolate is definitely the best flavor," Mandy declared, taking a sip from her own shake. "Nothing beats the classic."
"Pumpkin spice is where it's at," Brianne interjected, taking a sip of her pumpkin spice shake. "It's got that perfect blend of sweet and spicy. It's like autumn in a bite."
"Are you kidding?" Mandy scoffed. "Chocolate is timeless. It's the ultimate comfort food. Pumpkin spice is just a fad.”
"Oh c'mon! Pumpkin spice is leagues better," Brianne retorted. "It's a limited edition for a reason."
The other girls joined in, each defending their favorite flavor. I snickered at their playful bickering, feeling a sense of warmth despite the earlier tension.
About ten minutes later, Mrs. Becker pulled into the parking lot of a magenta-colored building. The girls piled out of the car, and I followed them inside, curious about our destination. Mrs. Becker turned to Brianne and said, "I'll pick you girls up at 8 pm sharp. I need to head home and take care of your little sister."
Brianne gave her mom a quick hug and yelled out, "Okay! Love you, mom!" Then she joined the choir group, whispering something in Karla's ear that made her smile in an unsettling way.
Karla walked over to me and whispered, "Hey, Lily, I want to take you to our hiding spot. It's been a while since we hung out there."
I brightened at the idea, signing, "I've missed that place. We used to act like it was our studio booth."
“Uh-huh,” Karla led me to an abandoned janitor's closet that was blocked off with a "Do Not Enter" sign. She opened the door, and I slid inside, feeling a rush of nostalgia. I slid inside the small, dimly lit closet and sat criss-cross on the floor, my heart racing with anticipation. Karla joined me, and for a moment, we just sat there, our knees touching, the silence comfortable between us.
"I've missed you, Lily," Karla signed, her expression softening.
"I've missed you too," I signed back, my heart warming at the sentiment. "It feels like it's been ages since we really talked." I looked down, my smile fading slightly. "I've missed the old Karla. The one who was always on my side, no matter what."
Karla furrowed her eyebrows, her face a mask of confusion. "What do you mean? I haven't changed, Lily. I've just matured."
I scoffed, shaking my head. "Matured? Making fun of someone less popular than you isn't mature, Karla. It's just mean spirited."
Her eyes widened at my words, and I could see the hurt flash across her face. "I haven't been making fun of you, Lily. I—"
"Yes, you have," I interrupted, my anger bubbling to the surface. "I know exactly what you and your new friends have been trying to do. You've been pretending I don't exist, like I'm not even worth acknowledging.”
Karla's face contorted with frustration. "That's not true, Lily! You always have to make everything about your disability. If anyone's changed, it's you. You used to be so happy, always laughing and joking around. Now, you just cry and complain when things don't go your way."
I signed angrily, my hands moving frantically. "How can you say that, Karla? I don't mind if you want to be more popular, but you're acting like you don't even know me. You're trying to pretend we're not friends."
Her eyes filled with tears, and her voice shook. "Maybe I don't want to be friends with you anymore, Lily. Maybe you're too held up in the past, too stuck in your own little world. You're a sad, pathetic sap, and I—"
Before she could finish her sentence, I punched her squarely in the face. The force of the blow knocked her back, and she stumbled, her hand flying to her nose.
"I wish I'd never met you, Karla!" I angrily figured my fingers around, my breathing being audible in the small space. "I wish you'd never been my friend! I wouldn't care if you dropped dead right now!"
Karla's eyes widened in shock, and tears began to stream down her face. Without another word, she turned and ran out of the janitor's closet, leaving me alone in the dimly lit space. I trembled as I crouched down in the corner, my heart pounding in my chest. I had never hit anyone before, and now I wished I could take it back. It was rather immature of me to end that way with Karla. Especially when this was the last memory I had of her alive.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced the silence, freezing me in place. It was Karla. My eyes widened in horror as I realized what I had done. I rose to my feet and ran out of the closet, my heart pounding in my chest. As I turned the corner, I came face to face with a masked man. He was tall and imposing, his mask was painted like a 1940s woman with green eyeshadow, vibrant red blush, and blood-red lips. His copper-blonde wig fell in sleek waves, contrasting with his all-black suit.
The man walked slowly towards me, his gloved hand reaching out. I kicked him in the abdomen, my fear fueling my strength. But he was too strong. He grabbed me by the waist, his gloved finger pressing against my lips.
"My little flower, I am so happy to see you." he whispered, his voice deep and gravelly.
Before I could scream or struggle, he covered my mouth with a rag. It took a while for the chloroform to finally take effect, as I remembered my last thoughts were about Karla. Sometimes I wished this encounter was just an elaborate prank played by Brianne. However it is never the case.
When I woke up, I woke up to the sound of a girl's voice, soft and melodic. My eyes felt heavy, my body sluggish as I tried to lift my head. The singing was familiar, reminding me of Karla. My heart stirred at the memory of my friend, and I tried to shake off the grogginess that clouded my mind.
As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I realized I was restrained to a bed, my wrists and ankles bound. Panic surged through me, and I struggled against my bonds, my heart racing.
The singing continued, and I finally located the source—a television mounted on the wall across the room. My eyes widened as I recognized the singer. It was Karla, her face bruised and beaten, her eyes closed as she sang "Once Upon a December" from the animated movie "Anastasia." Her voice was shaky but serene, and tears pricked my eyes as I watched her performance.
I opened my mouth to scream, but only a weakened screech escaped my throat. I tugged at my restraints, desperation fueling my strength. I had to get out of here. I had to help Karla.
Catching me off guard, the door swung open, and the masked man from my encounter at the janitor's closet stepped into the room. My heart sank at the sight of him, and I shrunk back against the bed, my breath coming in short gasps.
He carried a plate of applesauce, his gloved hands setting it down on a table by the bed. "Good morning, my little flower," he said, his voice deep and distorted by the mask. "Your friend has a lovely voice," he remarked. "Have you ever wanted to sing like that?”
I shook my head, my eyes never leaving his face. I mouthed the words, "Let her go.”
The Masked Man smiled sadly. "Your friend has been let go. Don't worry, she's no longer suffering.”
I wanted to scream, to demand that he release me, but my voice failed me. The masked man approached the bed, his eyes cold and unfeeling. He picked up the spoon and dipped it into the applesauce, then brought it to my mouth.
"Open up, sweetie," he cooed. "You need to keep up your strength."
I turned my head away, my body rigid with fear. I didn't want his help, I didn't want anything to do with him.
"Now, now, none of that," he chided, his gloved hand gently tilting my chin back towards him. "You need to eat. And one day, my little flower, you will sing too. And it will be the most beautiful voice anyone has ever heard."
Tears slipped down my cheeks as he forced the spoon into my mouth, the applesauce tasting bitter on my tongue. I choked down the food, my throat constricting with fear and anger.
The masked man set the plate down and pulled me into a tight embrace, his gloved hands stroking my hair. "Shh, my little flower. Everything will be alright. I'm here to take care of you."
I sobbed into his chest, my body shaking with grief and terror. I had no idea where I was, no concept of how much time had passed since I had been taken. All I knew was that Karla was in danger, and I was powerless to help her. The masked man held me until my sobs subsided, then gently laid me back down on the bed. "Rest now. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."
With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I closed my eyes, my mind reeling. The next time I woke, it was to the sound of my mother's sobs. I blinked groggily, my vision blurry as I tried to focus. I was in a hospital room, my mother sitting by my bedside, her face wet with tears. Matt and Brandon, my closest friends, were also there, their faces etched with concern.
"Mom?" I raised one of my hands, my fingers weak and stiff.
My mother's head snapped up, and she rushed to my side, her hands grasping mine. "Lily, oh, Lily, you're awake!" She smiled through her tears, her voice shaking. "I thought I'd lost you.”
I placed my palm to touch her cheek, my throat too dry to speak. Matt and Brandon stood by silently, their eyes filled with relief.
I then asked the big question, signing, "What... happened?"
Matt nervously stuttered, "We... We found you inside an old shed near the skating rink. You were... you were unconscious, and we called for help right away."
Brandon added, "Before that, you were missing for roughly 33 hours. We searched everywhere for you.” His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat, unable to meet my gaze.
"You're safe now, Lily," my mother said, stroking my hair. "That's all that matters. There's nothing to worry about anymore."
I shook my head, my eyes flying open. Where was Karla? I signed, "Where's Karla?”
My mother's face crumpled, and fresh tears slid down her cheeks. "She's... she's still missing, Lily. We don't know where she is."
I closed my eyes, the weight of my guilt crushing me. If I hadn't fought with Karla, none of this would have happened. It was my fault she was still out there, alone and in danger.
The days turned into weeks, and Karla remained missing. The police conducted an extensive search, but there were no leads, no clues as to her whereabouts. I blamed myself, replaying the events of that fateful day over and over in my mind.
Three weeks after my rescue, the news channel delivered a devastating blow. Karla Reyes, aged 15, had been found dead, her body buried near the Yellow Rock River. She had suffered multiple bone fractures, and the unsettling detail—she had been missing her vocal cords and larynx.
I recalled the day vividly, the sun shining brightly through my hospital window as the news anchor delivered the grim update. I had broken down, sobbing uncontrollably, the reality of what had happened hitting me like a ton of bricks. I remember wanting to just die, to pay for what I have done. If I hadn't had my friends Matt and Brandon, I wouldn't have been alive writing this. And yet, I never told anyone about The Masked Man or what had transpired that day—until now. Sometimes I wonder if Karla could hear my prayers, wishing that she deserved better than this, and I'm sorry for causing her death. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I needed to say next.
Karla Reyes may have been the first victim, but she certainly wasn't the last. There were 7 more Choirs Girls left.
2024.05.17 22:33 Olio_Co 5/16 Drop
DROPS WEEK OF 05/16
COLORADO
SHOWN ABOVE: NEW SOUR GRAPE SODA OLIOS COMING SOON!!!APOTHECARY FARMS
Sour Raspberry Olios 100mg 10ea
BUKU LOUD – CO SPRINGS
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Gridiron Gasoline
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Menage-A-Straw
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Pipeline Gridiron
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Strawberries & Cream #9
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Strawberry Leches
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Tropical Trilogy
All Gassed Up 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
All Gassed Up Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Aloha Limone 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Aloha Limone Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Hawaiian Sun 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Hawaiian Sun Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cued Rosin
Rainbow Guava #1 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
CANNABICARE – CO SPRINGS
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Gridiron Gasoline
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Pipeline Gridiron
All Gassed Up 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Aloha Limone 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Hawaiian Sun 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
COLORADO CANNABIS CONNECTION
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Dulce De Fresa #9
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Sour D (BX) x Wilson #6
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Trog Mints 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
DANK COLORADO
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Birthday Dawg
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Horchata
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Modified Grapes
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Papaya
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Drop Tank
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
All Gassed Up 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Aloha Limone 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Hawaiian Sun 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Rainbow Guava #1 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Trog Mints 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
FLOYD’S LEADVILLE
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Trog Mints 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
FRESH BAKED
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Drop Tank
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
Passionfruit Olios 100mg 10ea
Sour Raspberry Olios 100mg 10ea
GENERATION HEALTH
Passionfruit Olios 100mg 10ea
Pomegranate Limeade Olios 100mg 10ea
Sour Raspberry Olios 100mg 10ea
GOLDEN MEDS – LAKEWOOD
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Birthday Pie
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Horchata
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Rainbow Drop
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Bahama Bussdown #5
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Banana Cobbler
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Drop Tank
Apples & Bananas x Soap Live Resin Dry Sugar
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
GREEN RINO
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Birthday Pie
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Papaya
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Bahama Bussdown #5
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Gas Tanker #16
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Sour D (BX) x Wilson #6
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Menage-A-Straw
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Tropical Trilogy
HIGH COUNTRY HEALING
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Banana Os
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Birthday Dawg
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Lemon Rozay
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Lemoncane 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Strawberry Delight 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
HIGH LEVEL HEALTH – COLFAX
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Bahama Bussdown #5
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Drop Tank
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Gas Tanker #16
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Wilsons Bananas
HIGH LEVEL HEALTH – LINCOLN
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Drop Tank
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Platinum Cookie
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Wilsons Bananas
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Bahama Bussdown #5
HIGH LEVEL HEALTH – MARKET
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Drop Tank
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Dulce De Fresa #9
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Platinum Cookie
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Sour D (BX) x Wilson #6
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Wilsons Bananas
HIGH WEST CANNABIS
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Bahama Bussdown #5
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Dulce De Fresa #9
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Platinum Cookie
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Wilsons Bananas
Lemoncane 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Strawberry Delight 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
HIGHER GRADE – ELATI
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Birthday Dawg
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Cake Mix
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Dantes Inferno
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Horchata
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Lemon Rozay
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Modified Grapes
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Papaya
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Rainbow Drop
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Sunset Mix
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Bahama Bussdown #5
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Drop Tank
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Dulce De Fresa #9
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Gas Tanker #16
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Platinum Cookie
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Sour D (BX) x Wilson #6
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Wilsons Bananas
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Lemoncane 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Strawberry Delight 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Trog Mints 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
HIGHER GRADE – GALENA
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Apple Cake
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Bahama Bussdown #5
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Birthday Dawg
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Sunset Drive
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Sunset Mix
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Bahama Bussdown #5
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Dulce De Fresa #9
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Gas Tanker #16
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Platinum Cookie
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Sour D (BX) x Wilson #6
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Wilsons Bananas
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Gridiron Gasoline
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Pipeline Gridiron
All Gassed Up 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
All Gassed Up Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Aloha Limone 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Aloha Limone Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Fatso 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Hawaiian Sun 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Hawaiian Sun Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cued Rosin
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Sour Raspberry Olios 500mg 10ea
Strawberry Delight 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosina
HIGHER GRADE – w38th
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Apple Cake
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Bahama Bussdown #5
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Banana Os
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Birthday Dawg
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Cake Mix
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Lemon Rozay
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Sunset Drive
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Sunset Mix
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
All Gassed Up 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
All Gassed Up Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Aloha Limone 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Aloha Limone Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Hawaiian Sun 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Trog Mints 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
KIKA KUSH
All Gassed Up Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Aloha Limone Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Apples & Bananas x Soap Live Resin Dry Sugar
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Hawaiian Sun Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cued Rosin
Trog Mints Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cured Rosin
KIKA KUSH – NEVADA
Passionfruit Olios 500mg 10ea
Pomegranate Limeade Olios 500mg 10ea
Sour Raspberry Olios 500mg 10ea
KIND LOVE
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Bahama Bussdown #5
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Drop Tank
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Dulce De Fresa #9
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Gas Tanker #16
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Platinum Cookie
KIND MEDS – SANTA FE
Apples & Bananas x Soap Live Resin Dry Sugar
KRYSTALEAVES
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Menage-A-Straw
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Strawberries & Cream #9
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Strawberry Leches
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Tropical Trilogy
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Lemoncane 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Passionfruit Olios 100mg 10ea
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Pomegranate Limeade Olios 100mg 10ea
Sour Raspberry Olios 100mg 10ea
Strawberry Delight 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Trog Mints 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
L’EAGLE
~500mg~ – All-In-One Rosin – Dulce De Fresa #9
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Gas Tanker #16
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Sour D (BX) x Wilson #6
LAKESHORE CANNABIS
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Banana Os
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Lemon Rozay
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Modified Grapes
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Lemoncane 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Passionfruit Olios 100mg 10ea
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Pomegranate Limeade Olios 100mg 10ea
Sour Raspberry Olios 100mg 10ea
Strawberry Delight 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Trog Mints 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
LIT – BROADWAY
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
LIT – FEDERAL
Apples & Bananas x Soap Live Resin Dry Sugar
MAGNOLIA ROAD – BOULDER
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Lemoncane 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Strawberry Delight 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Trog Mints 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
MAGNOLIA ROAD – BROOMFIELD
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Lemoncane 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Strawberry Delight 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Trog Mints 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
MAGNOLIA ROAD – TRINIDAD
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Strawberry Delight 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
NATIVE ROOTS WAREHOUSE
(check with your locations for availability)
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Banana Cobbler
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Drop Tank
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Dulce De Fresa #9
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Fatso
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Sour D (BX) x Wilson #6
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Pipeline Gridiron
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Rainbow De Uva
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Sour Papaya
Aloha Limone 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Trog Mints Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cured Rosin
NATURE’S HERBS AND WELLNESS – DSITRIBUTION CENTER
(contact your store for availability)
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Drop Tank
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Menage-A-Straw
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Strawberries & Cream #9
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Strawberry Leches
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Tropical Trilogy
OUTCROP DISPENSARY
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Dantes Inferno
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Horchata
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Modified Grapes
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Papaya
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Bahama Bussdown #5
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Dulce De Fresa #9
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Fatso
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Gas Tanker #16
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Sour D (BX) x Wilson #6
PAGOSA CRAFT
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Trog Mints 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
PEAK – SEDGEWICK
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Strawberry Delight 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Trog Mints 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
REEFER MADNESS – 46th
REC
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Strawberry Delight 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Trog Mints 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
MED
All Gassed Up Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Aloha Limone Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Hawaiian Sun Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cued Rosin
Rainbow Guava #1 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
RIPPLE CANNABIS
All Gassed Up Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Aloha Limone Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Hawaiian Sun Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cued Rosin
Rainbow Guava #1 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
ROCKY MOUNTAIN CANNABIS – FRASER
Apples & Bananas x Soap Live Resin Dry Sugar
Trog Mints Mixed Micron Premium Cold Cured Rosin
ROCKY MOUNTAIN CANNABIS – RIDGEWAY
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Birthday Pie
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Cake Mix
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Horchata
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Rainbow Drop
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Rhi Rhi #9
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Drop Tank
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Gas Tanker #16
Apples & Bananas x Soap Live Resin Dry Sugar
ROCKY ROAD – AURORA
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Horchata
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Lemon Rozay
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Modified Grapes
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Papaya
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Lemoncane 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Strawberry Delight 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
PARK DISPENSARY – E 48th
REC
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Dulce De Fresa #9
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Gas Tanker #16
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Drop Tank
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Sour Raspberry Olios 100mg 10ea
Strawberry Delight 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Trog Mints 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
MED
All Gassed Up 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Aloha Limone 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Fatso 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Hawaiian Sun 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Rainbow Guava #1 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
SILVER STEM – LITTLETON
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Dantes Inferno
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Lemon Rozay
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Papaya
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
STANDING AKIMBO – N JASON
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Menage-A-Straw
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Strawberries & Cream #9
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Strawberry Leches
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Tropical Trilogy
STRAWBERRY FIELDS – DENVER
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Strawberries & Cream #9
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Tropical Trilogy
SWEET LEAF PIONEER
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Banana Os
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Birthday Dawg
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Dantes Inferno
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Horchata
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Lemon Rozay
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Modified Grapes
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Papaya
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Sunset Mix
THE GREEN SOLUTION – FEDERAL
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Drop Tank
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
THE 64 STORE
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Gridiron Gasoline
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Pipeline Gridiron
All Gassed Up 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Aloha Limone 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Hawaiian Sun 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
THE BUD DEPOT – LYONS
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Banana Os
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Birthday Dawg
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Dantes Inferno
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Sunset Mix
THE DISPO – PUEBLO WEST
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Banana Os
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Birthday Dawg
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Birthday Pie
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Cake Mix
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Dantes Inferno
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Modified Grapes
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Papaya
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Sunset Mix
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Bahama Bussdown #5
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Drop Tank
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Dulce De Fresa #9
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Gas Tanker #16
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Platinum Cookie
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Sour D (BX) x Wilson #6
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Wilsons Bananas
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Strawberries & Cream #9
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Strawberry Leches
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Tropical Trilogy
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Lemoncane 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Passionfruit Olios 100mg 10ea
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Pomegranate Limeade Olios 100mg 10ea
Strawberry Delight 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Trog Mints 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
THE HERBAL CURE – S LOGAN
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Dulce De Fresa #9
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Sour D (BX) x Wilson #6
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Passionfruit Olios 100mg 10ea
Pomegranate Limeade Olios 100mg 10ea
Strawberry Delight 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
THE KIND CASTLE – PARACHUTE
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Papaya
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Rainbow Drop
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Rhi Rhi #9
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Sunset Mix
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Platinum Cookie
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Sour D (BX) x Wilson #6
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Drop Tank
500mg – Rosin Cartridge – Fatso Pipeline
Apples & Bananas x Soap Live Resin Dry Sugar
Black Garlic 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Lemoncane 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Paradise Point 90&120 Premium Rosin Jam
Pink Zugar #4 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Strawberry Delight 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
Trog Mints 90&120 Premium Cold Cured Rosin
THE TRUST
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Apple Cake
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Banana Os
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Cake Dawg
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Cake Mix
1g – Live Resin Cartridge – Dulce De Uva
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Bahama Bussdown #5
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Drop Tank
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Platinum Cookie
500mg – All-In-One Rosin – Wilsons Bananas
2024.05.17 07:37 Shoe_Obvious Chance Me Please Business Major
Hey, I am an aspiring business major and am wondering if someone can chance me. Sadly I did horrible my freshman year and had 2 ish B's which ruined my GPA and class rank. Now I am currently a little outside top 25% with a 3.84 unweighted. I have a 1530 SAT score, and my grades show growth as I had B's my freshman and 1 B my sophomore year, but in my junior year, I have All A's taking 5 AP Classes and the rest being Advanced classes, and I go to an extremely competitive high school.
My ECS:
Placed 11th in a National Investment challenge for BPA(Business professionals of America)
Was First place in my state for National Personal Finance Challenge and was one of 40 teams out of 15,000 students to qualify for National finals which is upcoming.
Tennis for 4 years(2 JV, 2 Varsity), Won multiple medals and tournaments in school and outside school
Qualified to DECA State Twice, placing 5th in Districts as well
Work at and co-run my family restaraunt for the past 2 years, working as inventory manager and employee manager while having a partnership in the restarauant
Published research on a STEM based website on AI that got around 13,000 views and garnered appreciation.
I am also about to publish an eBook on my restaraunt experiences that I can expect to have around 10,000 downloads.
Please someone tell me advice to grow my application and my current chances. Thank you so much for reading.
submitted by Shoe_Obvious to UTAdmissions [link] [comments]
My ECS:
Placed 11th in a National Investment challenge for BPA(Business professionals of America)
Was First place in my state for National Personal Finance Challenge and was one of 40 teams out of 15,000 students to qualify for National finals which is upcoming.
Tennis for 4 years(2 JV, 2 Varsity), Won multiple medals and tournaments in school and outside school
Qualified to DECA State Twice, placing 5th in Districts as well
Work at and co-run my family restaraunt for the past 2 years, working as inventory manager and employee manager while having a partnership in the restarauant
Published research on a STEM based website on AI that got around 13,000 views and garnered appreciation.
I am also about to publish an eBook on my restaraunt experiences that I can expect to have around 10,000 downloads.
Please someone tell me advice to grow my application and my current chances. Thank you so much for reading.
2024.05.16 22:56 UofTComputerEngineer My thoughts (and tips) on every course I took so far (UofT Computer Engineering)
I've recently completed my third year of computer engineering at UofT, and I wanted to share my thoughts on the courses I've taken. I hope this will be beneficial to incoming first, second, and third-year engineering students. My area of depth is 6 (Software) and my areas of breadth are 4 (Control) and 5 (Computer hardware/networks).
Difficulty: How hard it was to comprehend course material and/or complete practice problems accurately. Keep in mind that difficulty is subjective but I tried to eliminate personal bias and be as objective as possible.
Workload: The amount of work to complete outside of lectures (labs, assignments, homework, studying for tests/exams).
All engineers take the exact same courses in their first year first semester and similar ones in second semester. I took these courses in 2021 during covid so some information might be outdated.
First Year Semester 1:
APS100 Orientation to Engineering:
Difficulty: 1/10 Workload: 3/10 Course Average: N/A
There is no technical material in this course. All coursework consists of Ethics analysis, creating a schedule for time management, creating your resume, and discussion board participation. During tutorials, the TA typically asks behavioral questions to the class and covers slides pertaining to engineering principles, the learning environment, test readiness, and related topics.
APS110 Engineering Chemistry and Materials Science
Difficulty: 6/10 Workload: 5/10 Course Average: B
This course blends elements of chemistry, physics, and mathematics, requiring lots of formulas and memorization. The assignments and online quizzes were moderately difficult. Not sure if he’s still teaching but Scott Ramsay was a really good professor. Really enjoyed watching his video demonstrations.
APS111 Engineering Strategies and Practices I
Difficulty: 3/10 Workload: 6/10 (Variable) Course Average: B
Students are organized into groups of 5-6 and are assigned the task of developing a solution for a client, following the engineering design process. Success in this course heavily relies on your team. Throughout the semester, there are several milestones where you need to submit large reports with your team, making it crucial to have capable teammates. Many teams resorted to last-minute cramming the night before each milestone (not a good idea). Additionally, there are two peer reviews, so make sure you contribute to avoid being perceived as an unproductive member. In most cases, you don’t need to worry about this though. You’d likely all be good friends by that point (and give each other a perfect review).
CIV100 Mechanics
Difficulty: 9/10 Workload: 9/10 Course Average: C+
The consensus among most students in my year was that this was the toughest first year course. It's incredibly calculation heavy, with questions that may appear straightforward in theory but require multiple steps to solve. Even a minor error can screw up your entire calculation process. The assignments are extremely time-consuming, and the quizzes pose significant challenges. I suggest you work in a group for the assignments. Furthermore, both the final exam and midterm were exceptionally difficult.
MAT186 Calculus I
Difficulty: 4/10 Workload: 4/10 Course Average: B
If you’ve taken IB or AP this course will be a breeze. Even without that background, it's still relatively straightforward. Very little on integrals, mostly derivatives, rates of change, and graphs. PCEs and WebWorks were trivial, and the midterm and exam were easy.
MAT188 Linear Algebra
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload: 7/10 Course Average: B-
The majority of the course revolves around relatively straightforward operations on matrices and vectors. However, it does introduce abstract concepts like higher-order dimensions, which may require some deeper thinking to fully grasp. Webwork assignments were slightly more challenging compared to MAT186's, and completing assignments took a while. Once again, you should work with a partner or as a group. Pay attention in the MATLAB practicals because you’ll be using MATLAB pretty often in future courses.
First Year Semester 2:
APS105 Computer Fundamentals
Difficulty: 6/10 Workload: 5/10 Course Average: B-
If you’ve taken programming in high school, you will likely find this course very easy (2/10 difficulty). The course covers simple programming syntax, along with basic sorting algorithms, without delving into more advanced concepts beyond linked lists and binary trees. I do know many people who struggled though. I think that this was one of the more enjoyable courses of first year. Edit: perhaps not as easy as I described. Make sure to get programming experience in the summer before first year if you don’t already have it.
APS112 Engineering Strategies and Practices II
Difficulty: 5/10 Workload: 7/10 (Variable) Course Average: B+
This course is essentially a continuation of APS111, but with the added component of being assigned an actual client with a real-world problem statement. Each group works with a unique client, and at the end of the term, you present your final report directly to them, along with your supervisors. As with APS111, the quality of your team plays a crucial role in your success. Another thing to note is that unlike APS111, there were multiple individual assignments to complete on top of your team reports.
ECE110 Electrical Fundamentals
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload: 6/10 Course Average: C+
Definitely one of the harder first year courses. This course marks your introduction to circuits. Topics covered include capacitors, Ampere's law, Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws, AC/DC circuits, magnetism, Thevenin and Norton equivalents, and more. The material is extensive and requires thorough understanding, as many future courses will build upon its concepts. Make sure that you understand the content well, given its foundational importance in subsequent courses.
ECE191 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering
Difficulty: 0/10 Workload: 1/10 Course Average: N/A
Seminar course. You just need to show up to the lectures (one per week) and submit a 100-ish word report about what you learned.
MAT187 Calculus II
Difficulty: 6/10 Workload: 5/10 Course Average: C+
The workload in this course is comparable to Calc I, but the content is more challenging (obviously). It delves deeper into integrals and introduces concepts like ordinary differential equations and polar coordinates. But again, you’ll manage just fine if you did decently in Calc 1, and especially if you’ve taken AP math or IB HL math.
MIE100 Dynamics
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload 4/10 Course Average: C+
I personally found this to be the most challenging course in first year, but it seems that most people disagree with me. It shares similarities with CIV100, but you’re instead dealing with dynamic systems (moving) rather than static ones (not moving). Some concepts may prove difficult to grasp initially. However, if you focus on memorizing the relevant formulas and understanding when to apply them, you should be okay. Expect an emphasis on physics in this course.
Second year was the worst (for ECE) and a very big step up from first year. If you struggled in first year, you better lock in for second year.
Second Year Semester 1:
ECE201 ECE Seminar Course
Difficulty: 0/10 Workload: 0/10 Course Average: N/A
Another seminar course, except you just need to attend 7/10 lectures to pass. Most students just scan their Tcard at the entrance then leave right after. The lectures are pretty useless except the Magellan one where they show you how to choose courses for 3rd and 4th year.
ECE212 Circuit Analysis
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload: 8/10 Course Average: B+
This course provides a deeper exploration of circuits, extending beyond circuit solving to include frequency and sinusoidal analysis. Questions tend to be long so careless errors will cost you. Personally, I found the labs challenging, particularly because they required working with oscilloscopes at a higher level than I was used to, and I could not for the life of me figure out how to use that thing.
ECE241 Digital Systems
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload: 8/10 Course Average: B-
This hardware course focuses on the foundation of hardware. A lot of the content is at the fundamental level so it’s not too hard to comprehend. However, the main challenge lies in learning Verilog, a hardware description language. I hate Verilog. All the labs are done using Verilog, and frustratingly, the course provides no instruction on the language, nor are there many helpful resources available online. This lack of guidance made what should have been straightforward labs much more difficult. Thankfully if you are in CE, you’ll never need to take another course with Verilog again. The midterm was easy but the final was borderline impossible.
ECE244 Programming Fundamentals
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload: 7/10 Course Average: B-
This course is the sequel to APS105, delving into more advanced concepts like pointers, constructors, polymorphism, and inheritance. Many of these topics may feel familiar if you have prior programming experience, particularly from high school. Consequently, if you're already proficient in programming, as many computer engineering students are, you should be able to navigate through this course well. The labs were generally manageable, although a couple of them were time-consuming.
MAT290 Advanced Engineering Mathematics
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload 8/10 Course Average: B
In this course, you’ll learn a lot of miscellaneous mathematical concepts that will be relevant in future courses. The goal is to establish a strong foundation to facilitate understanding in third and fourth-year courses. There is also a quiz every week. They were terrible from a time management standpoint, but as long as you spent 3-4 hours per week completing the assigned textbook questions, you should be alright since one (out of two) of the questions on the quiz is guaranteed to be an assigned textbook question (at least, that was the case when I took the course).
MAT291 Calculus III
Difficulty: 9/10 Workload 9/10 Course Average: B-
The entire workload comes from studying for those damn weekly quizzes, much like MAT290. Personally, I found it to be one of the most difficult courses I've ever taken. Think of calculus 2, but now everything is in three dimensions, encompassing concepts like surface integrals, flux integrals, and more. Additionally, the course introduces abstract topics that I still struggle to grasp. Balancing the demands of this course alongside everything else was an incredibly stressful experience.
Second Year Semester 2:
ECE216 Signals and Systems
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload:7/10 Course Average: C+
I think everyone hated this course. It was so poorly taught and the midterms felt haphazard and unpredictable. I relied on the power of BS to pass (worked surprisingly). Other than working with many graphs and MATLAB, I don’t remember much about this course because it was so uninteresting.
ECE221 Electric and Magnetic Fields
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload: 5/10 Course Average: C+
This course serves as an introduction to fields, while also expanding on the principles covered in ECE110. Many concepts build upon intuitive ideas, such as the repulsion of identical charges and attraction of opposite charges, which can make seemingly complex topics less intimidating. There are also many procedures that you need to know to solve specific types of questions. The labs are generally straightforward. You just need to follow the steps on the lab worksheet and answer a few simple questions from the TA.
ECE231 Intro to Electronics
Difficulty: 9/10 Workload: 7/10 Course Average: C+
This course is basically circuit analysis but significantly harder. It combines everything you've learned about circuits thus far, introducing new topics on top of that foundation. There are so many new concepts to learn and the final pretty much tests you on all of them. I’ve encountered multiple scenarios where I saw two concepts that I thought were completely separate from each other being integrated into a single question on an exam. Also very calculation heavy. Despite my experience in this course, I must admit Khoman Fang was a great professor.
ECE243 Computer Organization
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload: 6/10 Course Average: B
This course is a direct continuation of ECE241, and surprisingly, I found it a lot more enjoyable than its prerequisite. The focus is on Assembly language programming, which I found to be way more understandable compared to Verilog. Assembly operates at a fundamental level, so you’re technically working with the most basic building blocks in programming. The labs often involved seemingly simple tasks like counting to 10 on a HEX display, but the nature of Assembly meant that achieving this could require hundreds of lines of code. I appreciated these labs as they provided a refreshing change from the usual programming tasks. Final and midterm exams were relatively easy.
ECE297 Software communication and design
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload: 9/10 (Variable) Course Average: B+
Despite the demanding workload, this course was one of my favorites. The main project involved collaborating in teams of three to develop a geographical information system (similar to Google Maps). Unlike other courses where teams are assigned, here you have the freedom to choose your own teammates. Starting off, your team is given only the OpenStreetMap database, and the APIs, granting you complete control over your project's design, functionality, and optimization. Performance enhancement and pathfinding algorithms were key components of the project. It's crucial for all team members to contribute effectively for success in this course; And trust me, this is not a one or two person project. To succeed in this course, all three members must be doing their share.
Third Year:
They say that third year is the easiest year for ECE, but that depends on what courses you choose. For me, it was only slightly easier than second year but still significantly harder than first year.
APS360 Fundamentals of Deep Learning
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload : 8/10 Course Average: B+
This course felt fundamentally very different compared to the other programming related courses. If you’re unfamiliar with deep learning, the content can be overwhelming but the inner workings behind AI are both fascinating and challenging to grasp. Fortunately, much of the coding in the course revolves around preparing data, setting up AI architectures, and training/testing models, rather than building an AI from scratch. While the labs are manageable, the final project can be very time consuming, particularly as training a single model can require hours or even days. Regarding this aspect, make sure you start early. Both the midterm and final exams were quite difficult.
ECE302 Probability and Applications
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload: 3/10 Course Average: B-
The first half of this course is very straightforward. Just an introduction to probability. The second half is where the difficulty quickly ramps up. Make sure you don’t underestimate the second half of the course. I made the mistake of assuming the material was easy after performing well on both midterms (midterms were very easy), leading me to neglect the final third of the course so I flunked the final. FYI, our marks were determined solely by the 2 midterms and the final.
ECE344 Operating Systems
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload: 10/10 Course Average: B
This course had the most difficult and demanding labs I’ve ever seen in my life. They are due every two weeks and some of them took most students more than 15 hours to complete. I’ve seen people staying up all night in the GB computer rooms to finish these labs. One positive aspect of the course if Jon Eyolfson is your professor, is that all lectures are both recorded and live-streamed, allowing attendance in person, online synchronously, or asynchronously. But if you have Ding Yuan, good luck. I heard he is not only bad at teaching, but also makes you program an operating system from scratch. The course content is quite interesting and the Midterm and final exams were fair.
ECE345 Algorithms and Data Structures
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload: 7/10 Course Average: B+
If you're one of those programming geniuses who have been doing Leetcode since like 3 years old, you’d have likely already learned all course content before you’ve even started the course. You could probably write midterm and final exams without attending any lectures. However, if you're not as experienced, attending every lecture, taking detailed notes, and staying focused is crucial. Personally speaking, some algorithms were incredibly difficult for me to grasp, while others were simple. Assignments typically include both coding and long-answer components, which can be time-consuming, but you can work with a partner.
TEP444 Positive Psychology for Engineers
Difficulty: 1/10 Workload: 3/10 Course Average: A-
This course overall was very enjoyable and a nice refreshing experience from the other technical courses. You go on excursions to various locations with your group and write reports. It's an excellent opportunity to expand your social circle and make new friends. If you aim for an A- grade (80-85), you can breeze through with minimal effort. However, achieving a higher grade (A or A+) would require significantly more work (like 5 times more, no joke), which is not worth the extra effort in my opinion.
CSC343 Introduction to Databases
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload: 10/10 Course Average: Unreleased
The content of this course is actually pretty interesting and is taught well. But the assignments were excessively time consuming. There are only three in total, but each one demanded such a significant investment of time to the point where I contemplated dropping the course altogether. You do work with a partner (going solo isn’t even an option if you want to complete the assignments) but even so, be prepared to invest 15-30 hours per person, per assignment (they also mark hard). Despite the workload, I do recommend taking this course because knowing SQL can substantially benefit you in the future. Just start the assignments early. On a positive note, the midterm and final were relatively straightforward.
ECE311 Introduction to Control Systems
Difficulty: 10/10 Workload: 5/10 Course Average: C+
This course didn't come with a heavy workload, consisting only of three labs and two midterms. However, I found the content to be very challenging. It felt like they condensed and combined every concept from every engineering math and physics course into one. Topics ranged from circuits and dynamics to Laplace transforms, matrices, Bode plots, and more. It didn’t help that Prof Scardovi didn’t record any lectures, has messy handwriting, and uses a damn chalkboard instead of modern technology like other profs do. The midterms and final were somewhat lenient compared to the lectures, but this course still ended up being my lowest mark.
ECE361 Computer networks I
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload: 9/10 Course Average: B
This course requires a lot of memorization compared to other courses. You’ll have to understand calculation processes but also memorize a lot of general knowledge about networks. A problem with this course is that some concepts that show up in tests are not adequately explained in lectures. By far the best way to study is to do past exams. Professor Valaee often recycles questions, sometimes even directly copying past midterms and finals (like he did in my cohort). Unlike other courses, there is no big assignment/lab for this course, but it makes up for it with quantity. There’s a quiz every week, a wireshark lab every 2 weeks, a programming lab every 2 weeks, and a midterm. The programming labs are already difficult by themselves, but this cumulative workload felt very overwhelming.
ECE472 Engineering Economics and Entrepreneurship
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload: 5/10 Course Average: B+
This is straight up an economics course, no engineering at all. You’ll learn about investments, equity, financing, and related areas. There are 4 quizzes throughout the semester, with quiz 3 (quiz 3 specifically) being by far the hardest (average in the 50s). Since you're able to bring your textbook to the quizzes and exam, my biggest tip is to write past quiz and exam solutions in your textbook, as there's a limited pool of questions, and new questions often resemble some kind of variation of past ones.
ECE421 Introduction to Machine Learning
Difficulty: 9/10 Workload: 7/10 Course Average: unreleased
While the course content itself may be challenging, surprisingly, the midterm and final exams were pretty easy. There's a slight discorrelation between the lecture material and what appears on the exams, but relying on past exams for preparation should be enough. The course leans heavily on mathematical concepts, much more so than APS360. The assignments were difficult and tedious but I recommend you work with others to complete it.
With that, I've covered my thoughts and tips for all the engineering courses I've completed. Transitioning into your next year in engineering, particularly if you’re transitioning from high school, can feel daunting. However, remember that you're not alone in this experience – many of your peers are facing similar challenges. If you need any more advice or have questions, feel free to reach out to me via DMs!
submitted by UofTComputerEngineer to UofT [link] [comments]
Difficulty: How hard it was to comprehend course material and/or complete practice problems accurately. Keep in mind that difficulty is subjective but I tried to eliminate personal bias and be as objective as possible.
Workload: The amount of work to complete outside of lectures (labs, assignments, homework, studying for tests/exams).
All engineers take the exact same courses in their first year first semester and similar ones in second semester. I took these courses in 2021 during covid so some information might be outdated.
First Year Semester 1:
APS100 Orientation to Engineering:
Difficulty: 1/10 Workload: 3/10 Course Average: N/A
There is no technical material in this course. All coursework consists of Ethics analysis, creating a schedule for time management, creating your resume, and discussion board participation. During tutorials, the TA typically asks behavioral questions to the class and covers slides pertaining to engineering principles, the learning environment, test readiness, and related topics.
APS110 Engineering Chemistry and Materials Science
Difficulty: 6/10 Workload: 5/10 Course Average: B
This course blends elements of chemistry, physics, and mathematics, requiring lots of formulas and memorization. The assignments and online quizzes were moderately difficult. Not sure if he’s still teaching but Scott Ramsay was a really good professor. Really enjoyed watching his video demonstrations.
APS111 Engineering Strategies and Practices I
Difficulty: 3/10 Workload: 6/10 (Variable) Course Average: B
Students are organized into groups of 5-6 and are assigned the task of developing a solution for a client, following the engineering design process. Success in this course heavily relies on your team. Throughout the semester, there are several milestones where you need to submit large reports with your team, making it crucial to have capable teammates. Many teams resorted to last-minute cramming the night before each milestone (not a good idea). Additionally, there are two peer reviews, so make sure you contribute to avoid being perceived as an unproductive member. In most cases, you don’t need to worry about this though. You’d likely all be good friends by that point (and give each other a perfect review).
CIV100 Mechanics
Difficulty: 9/10 Workload: 9/10 Course Average: C+
The consensus among most students in my year was that this was the toughest first year course. It's incredibly calculation heavy, with questions that may appear straightforward in theory but require multiple steps to solve. Even a minor error can screw up your entire calculation process. The assignments are extremely time-consuming, and the quizzes pose significant challenges. I suggest you work in a group for the assignments. Furthermore, both the final exam and midterm were exceptionally difficult.
MAT186 Calculus I
Difficulty: 4/10 Workload: 4/10 Course Average: B
If you’ve taken IB or AP this course will be a breeze. Even without that background, it's still relatively straightforward. Very little on integrals, mostly derivatives, rates of change, and graphs. PCEs and WebWorks were trivial, and the midterm and exam were easy.
MAT188 Linear Algebra
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload: 7/10 Course Average: B-
The majority of the course revolves around relatively straightforward operations on matrices and vectors. However, it does introduce abstract concepts like higher-order dimensions, which may require some deeper thinking to fully grasp. Webwork assignments were slightly more challenging compared to MAT186's, and completing assignments took a while. Once again, you should work with a partner or as a group. Pay attention in the MATLAB practicals because you’ll be using MATLAB pretty often in future courses.
First Year Semester 2:
APS105 Computer Fundamentals
Difficulty: 6/10 Workload: 5/10 Course Average: B-
If you’ve taken programming in high school, you will likely find this course very easy (2/10 difficulty). The course covers simple programming syntax, along with basic sorting algorithms, without delving into more advanced concepts beyond linked lists and binary trees. I do know many people who struggled though. I think that this was one of the more enjoyable courses of first year. Edit: perhaps not as easy as I described. Make sure to get programming experience in the summer before first year if you don’t already have it.
APS112 Engineering Strategies and Practices II
Difficulty: 5/10 Workload: 7/10 (Variable) Course Average: B+
This course is essentially a continuation of APS111, but with the added component of being assigned an actual client with a real-world problem statement. Each group works with a unique client, and at the end of the term, you present your final report directly to them, along with your supervisors. As with APS111, the quality of your team plays a crucial role in your success. Another thing to note is that unlike APS111, there were multiple individual assignments to complete on top of your team reports.
ECE110 Electrical Fundamentals
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload: 6/10 Course Average: C+
Definitely one of the harder first year courses. This course marks your introduction to circuits. Topics covered include capacitors, Ampere's law, Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws, AC/DC circuits, magnetism, Thevenin and Norton equivalents, and more. The material is extensive and requires thorough understanding, as many future courses will build upon its concepts. Make sure that you understand the content well, given its foundational importance in subsequent courses.
ECE191 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering
Difficulty: 0/10 Workload: 1/10 Course Average: N/A
Seminar course. You just need to show up to the lectures (one per week) and submit a 100-ish word report about what you learned.
MAT187 Calculus II
Difficulty: 6/10 Workload: 5/10 Course Average: C+
The workload in this course is comparable to Calc I, but the content is more challenging (obviously). It delves deeper into integrals and introduces concepts like ordinary differential equations and polar coordinates. But again, you’ll manage just fine if you did decently in Calc 1, and especially if you’ve taken AP math or IB HL math.
MIE100 Dynamics
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload 4/10 Course Average: C+
I personally found this to be the most challenging course in first year, but it seems that most people disagree with me. It shares similarities with CIV100, but you’re instead dealing with dynamic systems (moving) rather than static ones (not moving). Some concepts may prove difficult to grasp initially. However, if you focus on memorizing the relevant formulas and understanding when to apply them, you should be okay. Expect an emphasis on physics in this course.
Second year was the worst (for ECE) and a very big step up from first year. If you struggled in first year, you better lock in for second year.
Second Year Semester 1:
ECE201 ECE Seminar Course
Difficulty: 0/10 Workload: 0/10 Course Average: N/A
Another seminar course, except you just need to attend 7/10 lectures to pass. Most students just scan their Tcard at the entrance then leave right after. The lectures are pretty useless except the Magellan one where they show you how to choose courses for 3rd and 4th year.
ECE212 Circuit Analysis
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload: 8/10 Course Average: B+
This course provides a deeper exploration of circuits, extending beyond circuit solving to include frequency and sinusoidal analysis. Questions tend to be long so careless errors will cost you. Personally, I found the labs challenging, particularly because they required working with oscilloscopes at a higher level than I was used to, and I could not for the life of me figure out how to use that thing.
ECE241 Digital Systems
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload: 8/10 Course Average: B-
This hardware course focuses on the foundation of hardware. A lot of the content is at the fundamental level so it’s not too hard to comprehend. However, the main challenge lies in learning Verilog, a hardware description language. I hate Verilog. All the labs are done using Verilog, and frustratingly, the course provides no instruction on the language, nor are there many helpful resources available online. This lack of guidance made what should have been straightforward labs much more difficult. Thankfully if you are in CE, you’ll never need to take another course with Verilog again. The midterm was easy but the final was borderline impossible.
ECE244 Programming Fundamentals
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload: 7/10 Course Average: B-
This course is the sequel to APS105, delving into more advanced concepts like pointers, constructors, polymorphism, and inheritance. Many of these topics may feel familiar if you have prior programming experience, particularly from high school. Consequently, if you're already proficient in programming, as many computer engineering students are, you should be able to navigate through this course well. The labs were generally manageable, although a couple of them were time-consuming.
MAT290 Advanced Engineering Mathematics
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload 8/10 Course Average: B
In this course, you’ll learn a lot of miscellaneous mathematical concepts that will be relevant in future courses. The goal is to establish a strong foundation to facilitate understanding in third and fourth-year courses. There is also a quiz every week. They were terrible from a time management standpoint, but as long as you spent 3-4 hours per week completing the assigned textbook questions, you should be alright since one (out of two) of the questions on the quiz is guaranteed to be an assigned textbook question (at least, that was the case when I took the course).
MAT291 Calculus III
Difficulty: 9/10 Workload 9/10 Course Average: B-
The entire workload comes from studying for those damn weekly quizzes, much like MAT290. Personally, I found it to be one of the most difficult courses I've ever taken. Think of calculus 2, but now everything is in three dimensions, encompassing concepts like surface integrals, flux integrals, and more. Additionally, the course introduces abstract topics that I still struggle to grasp. Balancing the demands of this course alongside everything else was an incredibly stressful experience.
Second Year Semester 2:
ECE216 Signals and Systems
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload:7/10 Course Average: C+
I think everyone hated this course. It was so poorly taught and the midterms felt haphazard and unpredictable. I relied on the power of BS to pass (worked surprisingly). Other than working with many graphs and MATLAB, I don’t remember much about this course because it was so uninteresting.
ECE221 Electric and Magnetic Fields
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload: 5/10 Course Average: C+
This course serves as an introduction to fields, while also expanding on the principles covered in ECE110. Many concepts build upon intuitive ideas, such as the repulsion of identical charges and attraction of opposite charges, which can make seemingly complex topics less intimidating. There are also many procedures that you need to know to solve specific types of questions. The labs are generally straightforward. You just need to follow the steps on the lab worksheet and answer a few simple questions from the TA.
ECE231 Intro to Electronics
Difficulty: 9/10 Workload: 7/10 Course Average: C+
This course is basically circuit analysis but significantly harder. It combines everything you've learned about circuits thus far, introducing new topics on top of that foundation. There are so many new concepts to learn and the final pretty much tests you on all of them. I’ve encountered multiple scenarios where I saw two concepts that I thought were completely separate from each other being integrated into a single question on an exam. Also very calculation heavy. Despite my experience in this course, I must admit Khoman Fang was a great professor.
ECE243 Computer Organization
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload: 6/10 Course Average: B
This course is a direct continuation of ECE241, and surprisingly, I found it a lot more enjoyable than its prerequisite. The focus is on Assembly language programming, which I found to be way more understandable compared to Verilog. Assembly operates at a fundamental level, so you’re technically working with the most basic building blocks in programming. The labs often involved seemingly simple tasks like counting to 10 on a HEX display, but the nature of Assembly meant that achieving this could require hundreds of lines of code. I appreciated these labs as they provided a refreshing change from the usual programming tasks. Final and midterm exams were relatively easy.
ECE297 Software communication and design
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload: 9/10 (Variable) Course Average: B+
Despite the demanding workload, this course was one of my favorites. The main project involved collaborating in teams of three to develop a geographical information system (similar to Google Maps). Unlike other courses where teams are assigned, here you have the freedom to choose your own teammates. Starting off, your team is given only the OpenStreetMap database, and the APIs, granting you complete control over your project's design, functionality, and optimization. Performance enhancement and pathfinding algorithms were key components of the project. It's crucial for all team members to contribute effectively for success in this course; And trust me, this is not a one or two person project. To succeed in this course, all three members must be doing their share.
Third Year:
They say that third year is the easiest year for ECE, but that depends on what courses you choose. For me, it was only slightly easier than second year but still significantly harder than first year.
APS360 Fundamentals of Deep Learning
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload : 8/10 Course Average: B+
This course felt fundamentally very different compared to the other programming related courses. If you’re unfamiliar with deep learning, the content can be overwhelming but the inner workings behind AI are both fascinating and challenging to grasp. Fortunately, much of the coding in the course revolves around preparing data, setting up AI architectures, and training/testing models, rather than building an AI from scratch. While the labs are manageable, the final project can be very time consuming, particularly as training a single model can require hours or even days. Regarding this aspect, make sure you start early. Both the midterm and final exams were quite difficult.
ECE302 Probability and Applications
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload: 3/10 Course Average: B-
The first half of this course is very straightforward. Just an introduction to probability. The second half is where the difficulty quickly ramps up. Make sure you don’t underestimate the second half of the course. I made the mistake of assuming the material was easy after performing well on both midterms (midterms were very easy), leading me to neglect the final third of the course so I flunked the final. FYI, our marks were determined solely by the 2 midterms and the final.
ECE344 Operating Systems
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload: 10/10 Course Average: B
This course had the most difficult and demanding labs I’ve ever seen in my life. They are due every two weeks and some of them took most students more than 15 hours to complete. I’ve seen people staying up all night in the GB computer rooms to finish these labs. One positive aspect of the course if Jon Eyolfson is your professor, is that all lectures are both recorded and live-streamed, allowing attendance in person, online synchronously, or asynchronously. But if you have Ding Yuan, good luck. I heard he is not only bad at teaching, but also makes you program an operating system from scratch. The course content is quite interesting and the Midterm and final exams were fair.
ECE345 Algorithms and Data Structures
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload: 7/10 Course Average: B+
If you're one of those programming geniuses who have been doing Leetcode since like 3 years old, you’d have likely already learned all course content before you’ve even started the course. You could probably write midterm and final exams without attending any lectures. However, if you're not as experienced, attending every lecture, taking detailed notes, and staying focused is crucial. Personally speaking, some algorithms were incredibly difficult for me to grasp, while others were simple. Assignments typically include both coding and long-answer components, which can be time-consuming, but you can work with a partner.
TEP444 Positive Psychology for Engineers
Difficulty: 1/10 Workload: 3/10 Course Average: A-
This course overall was very enjoyable and a nice refreshing experience from the other technical courses. You go on excursions to various locations with your group and write reports. It's an excellent opportunity to expand your social circle and make new friends. If you aim for an A- grade (80-85), you can breeze through with minimal effort. However, achieving a higher grade (A or A+) would require significantly more work (like 5 times more, no joke), which is not worth the extra effort in my opinion.
CSC343 Introduction to Databases
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload: 10/10 Course Average: Unreleased
The content of this course is actually pretty interesting and is taught well. But the assignments were excessively time consuming. There are only three in total, but each one demanded such a significant investment of time to the point where I contemplated dropping the course altogether. You do work with a partner (going solo isn’t even an option if you want to complete the assignments) but even so, be prepared to invest 15-30 hours per person, per assignment (they also mark hard). Despite the workload, I do recommend taking this course because knowing SQL can substantially benefit you in the future. Just start the assignments early. On a positive note, the midterm and final were relatively straightforward.
ECE311 Introduction to Control Systems
Difficulty: 10/10 Workload: 5/10 Course Average: C+
This course didn't come with a heavy workload, consisting only of three labs and two midterms. However, I found the content to be very challenging. It felt like they condensed and combined every concept from every engineering math and physics course into one. Topics ranged from circuits and dynamics to Laplace transforms, matrices, Bode plots, and more. It didn’t help that Prof Scardovi didn’t record any lectures, has messy handwriting, and uses a damn chalkboard instead of modern technology like other profs do. The midterms and final were somewhat lenient compared to the lectures, but this course still ended up being my lowest mark.
ECE361 Computer networks I
Difficulty: 8/10 Workload: 9/10 Course Average: B
This course requires a lot of memorization compared to other courses. You’ll have to understand calculation processes but also memorize a lot of general knowledge about networks. A problem with this course is that some concepts that show up in tests are not adequately explained in lectures. By far the best way to study is to do past exams. Professor Valaee often recycles questions, sometimes even directly copying past midterms and finals (like he did in my cohort). Unlike other courses, there is no big assignment/lab for this course, but it makes up for it with quantity. There’s a quiz every week, a wireshark lab every 2 weeks, a programming lab every 2 weeks, and a midterm. The programming labs are already difficult by themselves, but this cumulative workload felt very overwhelming.
ECE472 Engineering Economics and Entrepreneurship
Difficulty: 7/10 Workload: 5/10 Course Average: B+
This is straight up an economics course, no engineering at all. You’ll learn about investments, equity, financing, and related areas. There are 4 quizzes throughout the semester, with quiz 3 (quiz 3 specifically) being by far the hardest (average in the 50s). Since you're able to bring your textbook to the quizzes and exam, my biggest tip is to write past quiz and exam solutions in your textbook, as there's a limited pool of questions, and new questions often resemble some kind of variation of past ones.
ECE421 Introduction to Machine Learning
Difficulty: 9/10 Workload: 7/10 Course Average: unreleased
While the course content itself may be challenging, surprisingly, the midterm and final exams were pretty easy. There's a slight discorrelation between the lecture material and what appears on the exams, but relying on past exams for preparation should be enough. The course leans heavily on mathematical concepts, much more so than APS360. The assignments were difficult and tedious but I recommend you work with others to complete it.
With that, I've covered my thoughts and tips for all the engineering courses I've completed. Transitioning into your next year in engineering, particularly if you’re transitioning from high school, can feel daunting. However, remember that you're not alone in this experience – many of your peers are facing similar challenges. If you need any more advice or have questions, feel free to reach out to me via DMs!
2024.05.16 18:50 RishabJain12 How to do *real* science research this summer!
Imagine you're a student really interested in astrophysics. You've taken the hardest science and math classes your school offers, and you spend your free time reading about black holes and learning coding languages to analyze data from telescopes. You're passionate about the subject and want to do some real research in the field this summer.
But, when you go scrolling on a2c looking for advice, you stumble upon dozens of posts about how science research for high schoolers is only possible if you have connections or have parents working in research. You start to feel discouraged and wonder if it's even worth pursuing.
Well, I'm here to tell you that it is absolutely possible to do science research this summer, even without connections or parents in the field. When I was in high school, I did research every summer, and I found it to be the most rewarding and exciting experience. Many of the skills I learned transfer over to my college courses—more so than olympiads or bowls (which I was not super active in, but did briefly)—and, for all you college application enthusiasts out there, it's a great resume booster.
Here's a brief overview of what my summers looked like: Summer after 8th grade: worked on an independent research project in computational pathology, later presented at Broadcom MASTERS and qualified to ISEF my freshman year Summer after 9th grade (COVID): worked on an independent research project in synthetic biology, won me 3rd Grand Award at ISEF in Bioengineering Summer after 10th grade: continued my independent project from the year before, this summer working under a mentor (project later won 1st place at ISEF), and also worked at my local lab simultaneously (was 3rd and 5th author on two research papers) Summer after 11th grade: Attended the Research Science Institute (RSI) program at MIT Summer after 12th grade: Joined a new lab at Harvard (where I go to school now)
If you have no idea what any of these things mean, don't worry! I'll break it down for you.
Here are some things that I did to start out:
Also, as a concluding note, please remember - there are a ton of other ways to explore your interest in STEM besides doing research. I personally did research so I love suggesting it, but remember that there are olympiads, bowls, robotics, science clubs, hackathons, and more.
submitted by RishabJain12 to ApplyingToCollege [link] [comments]
But, when you go scrolling on a2c looking for advice, you stumble upon dozens of posts about how science research for high schoolers is only possible if you have connections or have parents working in research. You start to feel discouraged and wonder if it's even worth pursuing.
Well, I'm here to tell you that it is absolutely possible to do science research this summer, even without connections or parents in the field. When I was in high school, I did research every summer, and I found it to be the most rewarding and exciting experience. Many of the skills I learned transfer over to my college courses—more so than olympiads or bowls (which I was not super active in, but did briefly)—and, for all you college application enthusiasts out there, it's a great resume booster.
Here's a brief overview of what my summers looked like: Summer after 8th grade: worked on an independent research project in computational pathology, later presented at Broadcom MASTERS and qualified to ISEF my freshman year Summer after 9th grade (COVID): worked on an independent research project in synthetic biology, won me 3rd Grand Award at ISEF in Bioengineering Summer after 10th grade: continued my independent project from the year before, this summer working under a mentor (project later won 1st place at ISEF), and also worked at my local lab simultaneously (was 3rd and 5th author on two research papers) Summer after 11th grade: Attended the Research Science Institute (RSI) program at MIT Summer after 12th grade: Joined a new lab at Harvard (where I go to school now)
If you have no idea what any of these things mean, don't worry! I'll break it down for you.
- Independent research projects: These are projects that you design and carry out on your own, without a mentor. This is a great way to explore your interests and develop your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. I've found that I was able to rapidly develop my skills in coding and data analysis from independent projects. It is really hard to find mentors/join a lab at a young age, so this is the route I recommend for younger students.
- Mentored research projects: Once you've developed some skills and can demonstrate that you're capable of conducting some aspects of research, you can start looking for mentors or reaching out to labs. This can be intimidating, but there are many resources and tips online on how to do this effectively. The strategy that I used was cold emailing. Many students will email a few professors, but then give up if they don't get a response. Persistence is key! I've heard from friends and other students who emailed upwards of 100 experts before they scored a position! Also - please remember, as a high school student, you are not entitled to or owed a research position. Be professional and respectful in your emails and understand that labs have limited space and resources. Oftentimes, labs will want to get undergrads or grad students from their own institution (especially schools like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, etc.) so consider emailing labs at smaller schools or schools in your area. This will often lead to a more rewarding experience as you can continue working during the school year and visit in person if you are doing wet lab work. Also, don't be afraid to reach out to labs in different fields or disciplines. You never know what kind of interesting research you might end up doing! When we're young (heck, I'm still young as just a rising sophomore in college), our research interests are very malleable. You might think you love astro, but end up totally obsessed with comp bio. Keep an open mind and be eager to learn!
- Summer programs: There are many amazing summer programs out there that offer high school students the opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of experienced mentors. However, beware! Some programs may be expensive and not credible. I would recommend sticking to programs that have a formal affiliation with an institution, especially residential programs where you are bound to be in-person. Some online programs will say that you will get 2 credits from a school, but this doesn't mean that the program is formally conducted AT or WITH that university. The program I did, Research Science Institute, is a great one. There are others such as SSP, Clark Scholars, Garcia, and more which you can find online. However, you are bound to encounter some fishy programs as well, so just stay vigilant!
- Competitions: You may have been confused when I tossed around the "ISEF" and "Broadcom MASTERS" acronyms earlier on. These are science competitions where you can present your research projects and compete with students from all over the world. These competitions are a great way to showcase your work and get feedback from experts in the field. Since this is a college application forum, I should mention -- these also look great on college applications and can open doors to other opportunities. ISEF genuinely changed my life, and it was one of the fondest experiences I have from high school. Getting a trip with friends is also a lot of fun :) Look up science research competitions in your area and see which ones you are eligible for.
Here are some things that I did to start out:
- Make a notebook and start reading news in an area you are interested in, every day. If you don't know what area you are interested in, pick one randomly to start with. Make notes in your notebook and record questions you have. As you come up with questions, you will find yourself leaning towards certain ones over others: i.e. you might be really intrigued to find the answer to "how do we know the Milky Way's Mass?" as opposed to "why does water spin clockwise"
- You may have noticed that these questions are extremely broad. This is GOOD! As you get deeper and deeper, you will ask more complex questions, i.e. "Why are there varying numbers of synonymous codons in different species genomes?"
- At a certain point, the hope is that you stumble upon a question that no one knows the answer to/the answer you stumble upon isn't ideal. This is your first idea for a project! My very first science project was on why certain liquids produce more gases than others. I thought chemistry would be my favorite around 6th grade, then later got more interested in biology after some amazing teachers in middle school, before getting specifically interested in synthetic biology and computational biology in early high school, until I went to summer camp before senior year and totally switched into Neuroscience! Today, I'm doing computational neuro work, but am sure my interests might continue to change a little.
- Once you have a good list of questions, start exploring them - this is the beginning of your independent project! There will be many that you can't do because of limited resources or access, but hopefully you will find some that you can do from home! The internet and computers are amazing tools (can be used for modeling, simulations, etc.) and power a ton of student-run projects. This is why you see machine learning super commonplace in student research nowadays.
Also, as a concluding note, please remember - there are a ton of other ways to explore your interest in STEM besides doing research. I personally did research so I love suggesting it, but remember that there are olympiads, bowls, robotics, science clubs, hackathons, and more.
2024.05.15 20:38 geese_are_evil I need suggestions for a way to show my appreciation.
I live across the street from an elementary school K-5 with on site state preschool. I have 4 kids with my oldest about to graduate high school. My oldest started at this elementary in preschool and all 4 kids have gone to this school, minus a couple years we moved to a neighboring town. My youngest has decided she wants to spend 5th grade at a STEM centered charter school. So this is my last year with kids at this school. I love this school. I have had nothing but good experiences with them, out of all the school my kids have been to in this district it is by far my favorite. There are several staff that have been here with my kids throughout the years and know them. Teachers and crossing guards stop my older kids to talk to them. It’s just a great environment.
So I am looking for suggestions as how to best show my appreciation to the whole staff. The youngest current teacher has been a favorite of 3/4 kids so she will get something separate. But I also want to thank the front office staff and the crossing gaurds and yard duties who have been there throughout and helped my kids with all the little things.
submitted by geese_are_evil to Teachers [link] [comments]
So I am looking for suggestions as how to best show my appreciation to the whole staff. The youngest current teacher has been a favorite of 3/4 kids so she will get something separate. But I also want to thank the front office staff and the crossing gaurds and yard duties who have been there throughout and helped my kids with all the little things.
2024.05.15 17:10 Chen_Geller Tolkien Begginings: the antecedents of Peter Jackson's (and others) Middle-earth
 | I still sit sometimes and chuckle, thinking "When Ralph Bakshi started animating The Lord of the Rings in 1976, did he know what he was going to unleash on the world?" There was also the Rankin/Bass TV special, being developed concurrently, but its the Bakshi film that, in 1979, Peter Jackson saw, and this young Photoengraver would later direct six (!) live-action Tolkien films and, between himself and co-producer Philippa Boyens, are hard to work producing three more such films. Other adaptations since - namely, The Rings of Power (especially Season One) but also games from The Shadow of Mordor to Return to Moria - have at the very least taken cues from Jackson's films. All because a Kiwi photoengraver saw a cartoon.... submitted by Chen_Geller to lotr [link] [comments] But the relationship between these properties is not so clear-cut as it may seem. I ednumbered the similarities and dissimilarities between Jacksons' films and The Rings of Power elsewhere. Now I want to delve deeper into the similarities and dissimilarities between Jackson and previous adaptations of Tolkien. The Rankin/Bass TV SpecialsSide-by-side video comparisons between Jackson's films and the two Rankin/Bass TV Specials do not reveal any similarities that don't come from the fact that they're adapting the same books. This is an important point: Jackson is NOT trying to make some post-modern "collage" Hollywood film. He's only tipping his hat to those adaptations of Tolkien that he had seen growing up and that influenced him personally.1Due to copyright, the Rankin/Bass specials probably didn't air in New Zealand at all, and although it seems Jackson got a hold of the Rankin/Bass The Hobbit before embarking on The Lord of the Rings, he had not seen their Return of the King, certainly before 1999, and neither he nor his close collaborators have made comments about either of the two Specials. By contrast, the (American!) showrunners of The Rings of Power had referenced the Rankin/Bass Specials, and seemingly tipped their hat to it in a set design for season two.2 The Ralph Bakshi filmAs I said, Jackson went to see the Bakshi film. He had enjoyed some of Bakshi's previous film, including the Tolkien-esque Wizards, released the previous year, and went to see his latest. At the time he hadn't read the books, making Bakshi's film his first exposure to Tolkien, but he does admit he "heard the name" of the book beforehand. His biography suggests he saw it in late 1978, when it first premiered, but surely it would have arrived at New Zealand in early 1979. Jackson does acknowledge that he may well have never made his films had he not seen Bakshi's.3The connection between the two films had been played up, unsurprisingly, by Ralph Bakshi himself. A leonine, grandiose man, Bakshi is anything but a reliable narrator. His own suggestion that he hadn't actually seen the films - only trailers, he claims - sounds believable enough and certainy understandable.4 But, then, if he didn't watch them, it makes his critique of them as deriviative of his films all the more dubious, even without actually looking at the specifics of what he said: Look at his Lothlorien. Look at my backgrounds of Lothlorien. Take a look! He had much more to see than I did, and if you don't think he lifted it over and over again, you're wrong. I mean, how did he design a knife in Lord of the Rings? How did he design a sword? How did he design the dwarf with his axe? How did he design the fur around him? Why did Peter Jackson put fur around the dwarf? Because I put fur around the dwarf! Why would the dwarf have fur naturally? You see, I could give you a billion little things. I wish I had a movie to look at.5These are truly some confused claims, for the most part. The most credible part here is the Hobbits hiding under the branch from the Ringwraiths, a shot composition later to also be replicated in season one of the Rings of Power, and which we'll get to later. Another claim of Bakshi's that cannot be dismissed out of hand is that, however big or small a debt Jackson owes to his film, he said that Jackson didn't publically acknowledge the influence and felt that it was only appropriate to have welcomed him to visit the set or something: by comparison, Jackson invited Rick Baker, who played King Kong in the 1978 version, to cameo in his King Kong.6 Jackson actually did mention the Bakshi filming in passing in the making-ofs. Then again, he entirely fails to mention the radio serial, either. Ultimately, Jackson possibly in cahoots with New Line Cinema, must have felt it unwise to point to a previous adaptation that had only achieved mixed success, at the outset of his own enterprise. He did talk more about the Bakshi film, and more fondly, in the director's commentary to The Fellowship of the Ring and in a couple of later interviews, which are significant gestures, but he clearly wasn't going to trumpet the influence Bakshi's film had on him off of every rooftop.7 In his 2006 biography, Jackson actually briefly reviews the Bakshi film: I liked the early part – it had some quaint sequences in Hobbiton, a creepy encounter with the Black Rider on the road, and a few quite good battle scenes – but then, about half way through, the storytelling became very disjointed and disorientating and I really didn’t understand what was going on. However, what it did do was to make me want to read the book – if only to find out what happened!8This is a complementary but admittedly mixed review, and Jackson had made similar comments since, calling it "brave and ambitious" but consistently decrying the hokum of the film's second half.9 Now, it is true that artists can be influenced by a work of art in spite of themselves, but lets see if we can try and quantify the influence. From the outset, in the audio commentary, Jackson remarks that "our film stylistically is very different and the design is different," which is apposite: Bakshi swore a debt to Howard Pyle, which certainly leaves its mark of the gorgeous natural bakcdrops, but a source closer at hand (especially considering his follow-up fantasy film, Fire and Ice) is the most popular fantasy illustrator of his day, Frank Frazetta: Bakshi's Witch King is practically ripped from Frazetta's famous "Dark Rider" illustration.10 Jackson's approach, however, was steeped in a kind of romantic realism that by and large eschewed the heightened work of Frazetta, opening a yawning stylistic gulf between his film and Bakshi's on a general level. Bakshi's Hobbit-holes have overhanging roofs that give the impression of fairies living under mushrooms (which they in fact had in his previous film, Wizards) and the interiors of Bag End are earthen, more of a rabbit-hole than Jackson's English countryside villa. There are some similarities, like the Hobbits having similarly-clipped pants, but its hard to say costume designer Ngilla Dickson had Bakshi in mind for that look. There's the basic structure of the narrative: both films leave some of the same plot beats out - Tom Bombadil, most notably - both intercut the Frodo and Aragorn storylines throughout (as per the appendices rather than the body of the text), and both open with a prologue. However, many of these are common-sense approaches that, if one were to put 100 screenwriters in a room, a good 90 of which would choose to pursue: in fact, Sir John Boorman's earlier Lord of the Rings script had likewise intercut the stories and redacted many of the same episodes as both Bakshi and Jackson, and similar approaches were taken in the 1958 Morton Zimmerman treatment. Certainly, in the case of the choice to pursue a prologue, a precedent closer at hand exists in the form in the 1981 radio serial, a point made all the stronger by the fact that when Jackson first concieved of and sketched the prologue, he hadn't seen Bakshi's film in 20 years.11 Bakshi did claim that New Line were screening his film repeatedly, but author Ian Nathan says that was never the case. Miramax did screen the film for Jackson in 1997, after he'd written the treatment. Jackson's treatment included Glorfindel and Erkenbrand, who in subsequent drafts are replaced by Arwen (Legolas in Bakshi's film) and Eomer, but still I find that it falls more into the realm of common-sense screenwriting decisions than anything that could be tied to Bakshi in a clear way, especially the latter which happens at the end of Bakshi film, a part of the film Jackson admits to have found incoherent.12 Rather, the place to look for similarities between the two projects is in the opening leg of The Fellowship of the Ring. Jackson actually, in the director's commentary, points out the shot of Odo Proudfoot calling "Proudfeet!" as a deliberate homage to Bakshi's shot, "which I thought was great." He doesn't acknowledge a couple - only a couple - of other shots that are quite similar: one is the evocative shot of the Ring tumbling over the rocks in Gollum's cave just before Bilbo finds it. Another still is an entire sequence of shots which misdirect us into thinking the Ringwraiths killed the Hobbits in their beds. Both are a little TOO similar to be waved away as coincidental.13 The Ringwraith shot is a more special case: It was nominally based off of a John Howe illustration, ostensibly of the Bakshi scene. But Jackson - who's quoted review of the Bakshi film mentions this scene - could hardly not notice the similarity to the Bakshi scene, especially since the scene doesn't at all play like this in the novel. What's more, the scene was first storyboared only shortly after Jackson say Bakshi's film for the second time, and shot not too long after that being that it was the first scene filmed. So its only fair to cite Bakshi as an influence on that shot.14 https://preview.redd.it/9mbqqm4zul0d1.png?width=550&format=png&auto=webp&s=a45cdd06543d70200e3eacf150f14d03d222203b There are other bits and pieces: did Jackson have Bakshi in mind when he added a scene of Saruman rallying up the Uruk-hai before the siege of Helm's Deep? Its hard to say. An even more elusive case is made by Bakshi: "I'm glad Peter Jackson had a movie to look at—I never did. And certainly there's a lot to learn from watching any movie, both its mistakes and when it works." In other words, Bakshi here suggests his film influenced Jackson in terms of what NOT to do. To his credit, Jackson does remember that the design process for Treebeard was in part motivated by trying to divorce him from the Bakshi version, which both him and Dame Fran Walsh remember as being "like a walking carrot." But when we start getting into that level, it all becomes very tenuous. There were a lot of things about the fantasy genre in general - Conan the Barbarian and Willow are oft-cited by Jackson - that he tried to avoid.15 Ultimately, I have to judge that the similarities between the two versions amount to a handful of rather insignificant beats, all in the first hour of Fellowship of the Ring. To hyperbolically play up the similarities between the two projects is to give in to Bakshi's hyperbolic rhetoric. Tolkien illustrationsJackson's first and, at the time, only copy of The Lord of the Rings was a tie-in to the Bakshi film. This would mean he hadn't gotten into the world of Tolkien illustrations until developing his own films, when he suggests he went on a detail-exhaustive search for Tolkien art. He had seen Tolkien's own illustrations, but decided that they're "not very helpful in terms of the lighting and the mood."16The most acclaimed illustrators of the previous era of Tolkien were Pauline Bayens (whose Minas Tirith is reproduced in the Rankin/Bass Return of the King) and the Brothers Hildebrandt, whose bestial Balrog presents a precursor both to Bakshi's but also to the Minotaur-like Balrog of John Howe.17 Howe was one of a trifecta of Tolkien illustrators, along with Ted Nasmith and Alan Lee, to enjoy great vogue at the time when Jackson was developing his films. Of the three, Lee is often deemed the most celebrated and certainly made the biggest impact on Jackson, whose next copy of the book was to be an Alan Lee illustrated edition. But he also noticed Howe through is work on Tolkien calendars, and later also purchased some originals of Ted Nasmith. All three were approached to participate in concept design for the films, although Nasmith sadly had to decline.18 In many places, Jackson precisely copied designs of Lee's and Howe's existing paintings, and in some places carbon copied their lighting and composition for shots, as well as grading the films (before the advent of the latest remaster) somewhat along the lines established in their paintings. But the majority of Lee and Howe's work for Jackson was in producing NEW concept art to his specifications, and so its wrong to look at Jackson's films as being a part of the Lee-Howe ouevure, as such. The 1981 Radio SerialA less touted influence on Jackson's film is the superlative 1981 BBC radio serial. Where Jackson hadn't reread the book nor revisited Bakshi's film between 1979 and 1997, he had spent much of the that time listening on-and-off to a tape of the radio serial, usually while working in his garage on special effects.19The most obvious similarity is the casting of Sir Ian Holm, who had voiced Frodo in the radio serial, as Bilbo. Holm was apparently at the top of Jackson's casting wishlist, partially for this reason. A particularly striking moment occurs when Holm's Frodo quotes Bilbo's "Its a dangerous business Frodo, going out your door: you step on to the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to", a line again given to Holm - now as Bilbo - in voiceover at the same spot in Jackson's film.20 Again, many of the similar structural choices here are similar to Jackson, adding a prologue, contracting the early stages of Frodo's quest and intercutting the Aragorn and Frodo's stories throughout. Brian Sibley admits to have modelled his prologue on Bakshi's own, but Jackson is unlikely to have known it at the time, and when we start thinking in terms of second-hand influences we're again into very tenuous territory. Otherwise, the influence doesn't seem all too great, although Sibley remembers that Walsh, perhaps half-jokingly, told him "we stole your ending" in the way that they did the Grey Havens and then a quick segue to Sam's return home, basically along the lines of the book.21 A young, and already Tolkien-devotee, Sir Ian Holm recording Bilbo Sibley had recruited his cast from the BBC's company of actors, which is also the troupe Bakshi turned to, meaning that Sibley ended-up with Bakshi's Boromir (Michael Graham Cox) and, notably, his Gollum (Peter Woodthorpe). In spite of Woodthorpe's evocative performance of Gollum's voice in both the Bakshi and Sibley versions, its influence on Andrew Serkis' performance of Gollum is nonexistent, as Serkis had developed the voice before having heard Woodthorpe rendition, having only read The Hobbit prior to being cast.22 Other fantasy filmsJackson had seen pretty much all the fantasy films of the 1980s, and while they were important in terms of establishing the genre, they hadn't left much of an impression on Jackson. The most succesful - George Lucas' Star Wars - was more space-fantasy, undoubtedly impressed Jackson but didn't much influence his films: to this day, he professes to not be a huge Star Wars fan, in spite of the amiacable manner he and Lucas took with each other in later years, and admits that he sees the influence of Lucas more "in what he did for the industry, not in terms of the actual films that he made."23The first major high-fantasy film, Sir John Boorman's Excalibur, was a little closer to Jackson's heart, but isn't much of an influence on his films either. Its true that Jackson's films feature a lot of plate armour, but that's indebted primarily to John Howe's abiding love of late Medieval armour, and at any rate is quite different to the Enlightement-era suits of armour one finds in Boorman's film. Willow, produced by George Lucas, was a big shot to the arm of New Zealand's fledgling film industry, and like Star Wars is much indebted to The Hobbit, but left a bad impression on Jackson.24 The Clockmaker's Cottage in Sir Ridley Scott's Legend Two exceptions are to be cited; Ray Harryhousen's stop-motion fantasy films from the 1950s were huge favourites of Jackson's, although their more Graeco-Roman subject matters were a genre apart from Jackson's films. He is also a big fan of Sir Ridley Scott, and while he joins the consensus of deriding William Hjortsberg notorious screenplay, had taken some cues from his Legend (1986): there's something of the Clockmaker's cottage in Rhosgobel, and Jackson referenced some of the features of Tim Curry's devilish "Lord of Darkness" for the Wargs sinewy faces.25 Other filmsJackson took influence from paintings of old battles and landscapes, but surely his biggest influences are other films: Zulu and Saving Private Ryan had been referenced for Helm's Deep, and there's a touch of Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line, which Jackson had watched before principal photography, to the atmospheric shots that close the Fellowship prologue. Jackson admitted to rewatching mostly Scorsese films while shooting, and certainly the energy of his moving cameras find a closer kin in Scorsese's films than in anyone else's. There's something of David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia to Jackson's intention to make living, breathing people out of his fantasy characters.26Surely the inspiration for the shot of Aragorn arriving at Helm's Deep But there's one film that looms largest in Jackson's films, overshadowing any influence we're looked at so far: Mel Gibson's latest spectacular, Braveheart. Along with other films of this kind like Dances with Wolves and Rob Roy (Gladiator came too late to much influence Jackson's films) it is of crucial importance to the overall cinematic style of Jackson's films, having come out just as Jackson first started thinking of making an original fantasy film, and winning the academy award for Best Picture before any sustained work was done to develop The Lord of the Rings.27 Footnotes
ConclusionsAny notion that Jackson's films are derivative of previous Tolkien adaptations - namely, Bakshi's - are very much hyperbolic, and stem more from adopting an inflated rhetoric taken by the likes of Bakshi. As an adaptation, Jackson's works are based soley on Tolkien's books, and merely tip their hat occasionally to previous adaptations - and not all previous adaptations, either. Cinematically, they draw rather from other sources: less from other adaptations of Tolkien or other fantasy film (Tolkien-esque or not) and more from historical epics, both from the 1960s but also and especially from the time in which Jackson first started developing his films. |
2024.05.15 14:08 ZealousFlames Beyond The Horizon
My first time writing any piece of literature, you're bound to see bad writing so be warned.
(Story's been simmering in the pot since like 5th grade so the plot is going to be pretty simple)
The story revolves around this group called "Paragon" they were originally part of a mercenary group that broke off after the war during the Tech Race of technological advancement in which countries were racing towards who could be the most technologically advanced country, leading to total war.
THE AEGIS INCIDENT
The world is undergoing major technological advancements, causing nations to be locked in a fierce race to achieve technological supremacy, this conflict has been simmering for years and have divided into two major groups: The Eastern Coalition and the Western Alliance.
This would later be dubbed the "Tech Race"
Both sides are racing to develop advanced technology; weapons, defense systems, cybernetics, and advanced artificial intelligence are all fair game
THE AEGIS PROJECT
The Western Alliance announces a new project called the "Aegis Project", a revolutionary defense system that combines AI with Energy Shields to make a highly efficient and impenetrable defense, making any city an immovable fortress.
The Aegis Project is seen as a gamechanger and a threat to the Eastern Coalition, giving way for the Western Alliance's victory.
OPERATION ECLIPSE
Operation Eclipse was a mission formed by the Eastern Coalition in attempt to steal the tech used in the Aegis Project to close the gap between the Alliance.
Coalition spies infiltrated the facility disguised as technicians and stole the information from the facility.
However, during the operation a critical error happened, causing the facility's core to explode, claiming the lives of numerous researcher and influential figures in the Western Alliance.
......
The Western Alliance believing the incident to be an act of deliberate aggression, accused the Coalition and tensions rose.
The Coalition in turn, denies any involvement and claims the explosion was a tragic accident.
Outraged by the denial and lack of justice, the Western Alliance declared war on the Coalition, with both sides refusing to back down and diplomatic ties deteriorated, the world was plunged in an all-out war.
With unseen technology on the battlefield, the war led to unprecedented destruction and loss.
During the war numerous groups rose from nations that weren't from either side. One notable group was "The Renegades"
The Renegades rose shortly after the Tech Race began specialized in providing military services, intelligence operations, and security solutions to various clients during the Tech Race. Composed of highly skilled operatives and veterans of past conflicts, The Renegades operated on a global scale, taking on contracts from governments, corporations, and private interests.
The Renegades played a significant role in the escalating tensions leading up to the Tech Wars, as they were often hired by rival factions to carry out covert operations, sabotage missions, and proxy conflicts on their behalf. Their expertise in advanced technology and combat tactics made them invaluable assets in the ruthless competition for supremacy.
As the war intensified, a faction within the group became disillusioned with their role in this cycle of violence and broke off the mercenary group eventually forming what would be "Paragon".
CURRENT DAY
Years have passed since the Aegis Incident and both sides have come to a standstill, focusing on developing their own technology.
However, one small spark and chaos would erupt, plunging the world into an even more devastating war.
Paragon establishes their headquarters deep within the impoverished slums of the Western Alliance's cities. Operating under the guise of a civilian group providing aid and shelter to the less fortunate, they discreetly recruit individuals disillusioned by the war and seeking a way to make a difference.
Paragon discovers that the Western Alliance has been conducting horrific human experimentation to develop super soldiers and advanced weaponry.
The experiment involved genetic manipulation, excessive cybernetic enhancements, and mind-controlling technique. What happened could be considered a crime against life itself.
The results of these experiments left behind soldiers devoid of humanity. Paragon discovers survivors of the tests and the aftermath of its failures, shells of their former selves, their bodies twisted and minds shattered, haunted by the memories of the atrocities inflicted upon them.
Thats currently all of it. (I've been documenting the story in comics since i was a kid so i've just recreated this to the best of my abiltiy and added some changes.
submitted by ZealousFlames to worldbuilding [link] [comments]
(Story's been simmering in the pot since like 5th grade so the plot is going to be pretty simple)
The story revolves around this group called "Paragon" they were originally part of a mercenary group that broke off after the war during the Tech Race of technological advancement in which countries were racing towards who could be the most technologically advanced country, leading to total war.
THE AEGIS INCIDENT
The world is undergoing major technological advancements, causing nations to be locked in a fierce race to achieve technological supremacy, this conflict has been simmering for years and have divided into two major groups: The Eastern Coalition and the Western Alliance.
This would later be dubbed the "Tech Race"
Both sides are racing to develop advanced technology; weapons, defense systems, cybernetics, and advanced artificial intelligence are all fair game
THE AEGIS PROJECT
The Western Alliance announces a new project called the "Aegis Project", a revolutionary defense system that combines AI with Energy Shields to make a highly efficient and impenetrable defense, making any city an immovable fortress.
The Aegis Project is seen as a gamechanger and a threat to the Eastern Coalition, giving way for the Western Alliance's victory.
Operation Eclipse was a mission formed by the Eastern Coalition in attempt to steal the tech used in the Aegis Project to close the gap between the Alliance.
Coalition spies infiltrated the facility disguised as technicians and stole the information from the facility.
However, during the operation a critical error happened, causing the facility's core to explode, claiming the lives of numerous researcher and influential figures in the Western Alliance.
......
The Western Alliance believing the incident to be an act of deliberate aggression, accused the Coalition and tensions rose.
The Coalition in turn, denies any involvement and claims the explosion was a tragic accident.
Outraged by the denial and lack of justice, the Western Alliance declared war on the Coalition, with both sides refusing to back down and diplomatic ties deteriorated, the world was plunged in an all-out war.
With unseen technology on the battlefield, the war led to unprecedented destruction and loss.
During the war numerous groups rose from nations that weren't from either side. One notable group was "The Renegades"
The Renegades rose shortly after the Tech Race began specialized in providing military services, intelligence operations, and security solutions to various clients during the Tech Race. Composed of highly skilled operatives and veterans of past conflicts, The Renegades operated on a global scale, taking on contracts from governments, corporations, and private interests.
The Renegades played a significant role in the escalating tensions leading up to the Tech Wars, as they were often hired by rival factions to carry out covert operations, sabotage missions, and proxy conflicts on their behalf. Their expertise in advanced technology and combat tactics made them invaluable assets in the ruthless competition for supremacy.
As the war intensified, a faction within the group became disillusioned with their role in this cycle of violence and broke off the mercenary group eventually forming what would be "Paragon".
CURRENT DAY
However, one small spark and chaos would erupt, plunging the world into an even more devastating war.
Paragon establishes their headquarters deep within the impoverished slums of the Western Alliance's cities. Operating under the guise of a civilian group providing aid and shelter to the less fortunate, they discreetly recruit individuals disillusioned by the war and seeking a way to make a difference.
Paragon discovers that the Western Alliance has been conducting horrific human experimentation to develop super soldiers and advanced weaponry.
The experiment involved genetic manipulation, excessive cybernetic enhancements, and mind-controlling technique. What happened could be considered a crime against life itself.
The results of these experiments left behind soldiers devoid of humanity. Paragon discovers survivors of the tests and the aftermath of its failures, shells of their former selves, their bodies twisted and minds shattered, haunted by the memories of the atrocities inflicted upon them.
Thats currently all of it. (I've been documenting the story in comics since i was a kid so i've just recreated this to the best of my abiltiy and added some changes.
2024.05.14 21:59 magpie2point0 Other Options?
I've had my ACL reconstructed 3 times in addition to a meniscus and a bone transplant on the same knee. I'm 8 months post-op and it's likely torn again (failed the Lachman test). Being from America, I can't afford another surgery financially or emotionally. My insurance provider changed and I can't see my old surgeon anymore.
Do you have any recommendations for alternatives to a 5th surgery? Has anyone tried stem cells? I'll get an MRI soon to determine what grade tear it is, but has anyone had success recovering a partial tear without surgery after multiple reconstructions?
Also for fun, here's how they've happened
1st ACL - Soccer
2nd ACL - Bouldering
Femur Fracture - Bouldering
3rd ACL, Meniscus - Snowboarding
4th (likely) ACL - Mountain Biking
All on my left leg. Should I get rid of the whole leg and go for a prosthetic? jk but kinda not. I'm 26 and don't want to spend the rest of my life having surgeries every other year.
submitted by magpie2point0 to ACL [link] [comments]
Do you have any recommendations for alternatives to a 5th surgery? Has anyone tried stem cells? I'll get an MRI soon to determine what grade tear it is, but has anyone had success recovering a partial tear without surgery after multiple reconstructions?
Also for fun, here's how they've happened
1st ACL - Soccer
2nd ACL - Bouldering
Femur Fracture - Bouldering
3rd ACL, Meniscus - Snowboarding
4th (likely) ACL - Mountain Biking
All on my left leg. Should I get rid of the whole leg and go for a prosthetic? jk but kinda not. I'm 26 and don't want to spend the rest of my life having surgeries every other year.
2024.05.14 17:45 TheFlowWitch Advanced or accelerated homeschool curriculum for 4th grade
My daughter is in 4th grade this year and had so many problems at the new school we entered that I’ve had to withdraw her for homeschooling. She has fallen behind due to the teachers not tutoring or offering extra help. She has adhd but is super bright. I was wondering if there are any homeschool curriculums online that she can complete 4th and 5th grade, and offers extra education like STEM OR STEAM. Thanks in advance.
submitted by TheFlowWitch to homeschool [link] [comments]
2024.05.14 14:01 Zappingsbrew A post talking about 400 words
abandon, ability, able, about, above, absence, absolute, absolutely, abstract, abundance, academy, accent, accept, access, accident, accompany, accomplish, according, account, accurate, achieve, achievement, acid, acknowledge, acquire, across, action, active, activity, actor, actual, actually, adapt, addition, additional, address, adequate, adjust, administration, admire, admission, admit, adolescent, adopt, adult, advance, advantage, adventure, advertise, advice, advise, adviser, advocate, affair, affect, afford, afraid, after, afternoon, again, against, age, agency, agenda, agent, aggressive, ago, agree, agreement, agriculture, ahead, aid, aim, air, aircraft, airline, airport, alarm, album, alcohol, alive, all, alliance, allow, ally, almost, alone, along, already, also, alter, alternative, although, always, amateur, amazing, ambition, ambulance, among, amount, analysis, analyst, analyze, ancient, and, anger, angle, angry, animal, anniversary, announce, annual, another, answer, anticipate, anxiety, any, anybody, anymore, anyone, anything, anyway, anywhere, apart, apartment, apologize, apparent, apparently, appeal, appear, appearance, apple, application, apply, appoint, appointment, appreciate, approach, appropriate, approval, approve, approximately, architect, area, argue, argument, arise, arm, armed, army, around, arrange, arrangement, arrest, arrival, arrive, art, article, artist, artistic, as, ashamed, aside, ask, asleep, aspect, assault, assert, assess, assessment, asset, assign, assignment, assist, assistance, assistant, associate, association, assume, assumption, assure, at, athlete, athletic, atmosphere, attach, attack, attempt, attend, attention, attitude, attorney, attract, attraction, attractive, attribute, audience, author, authority, auto, available, average, avoid, award, aware, awareness, away, awful, baby, back, background, bad, badly, bag, balance, ball, ban, band, bank, bar, barely, barrel, barrier, base, baseball, basic, basically, basis, basket, basketball, bath, bathroom, battery, battle, be, beach, bear, beat, beautiful, beauty, because, become, bed, bedroom, bee, beef, beer, before, begin, beginning, behavior, behind, being, belief, believe, bell, belong, below, belt, bench, bend, beneath, benefit, beside, besides, best, bet, better, between, beyond, bicycle, big, bike, bill, billion, bind, biological, bird, birth, birthday, bit, bite, black, blade, blame, blanket, blind, block, blood, blow, blue, board, boat, body, bomb, bombing, bond, bone, book, boom, boot, border, boring, born, borrow, boss, both, bother, bottle, bottom, boundary, bowl, box, boy, boyfriend, brain, branch, brand, brave, bread, break, breakfast, breast, breath, breathe, brick, bridge, brief, briefly, bright, brilliant, bring, broad, broken, brother, brown, brush, buck, budget, build, building, bullet, bunch, burden, burn, bury, bus, business, busy, but, butter, button, buy, buyer, by, cabin, cabinet, cable, cake, calculate, call, camera, camp, campaign, campus, can, Canadian, cancer, candidate, cap, capability, capable, capacity, capital, captain, capture, car, carbon, card, care, career, careful, carefully, carrier, carry, case, cash, cast, cat, catch, category, Catholic, cause, ceiling, celebrate, celebration, celebrity, cell, center, central, century, CEO, ceremony, certain, certainly, chain, chair, chairman, challenge, chamber, champion, championship, chance, change, changing, channel, chapter, character, characteristic, characterize, charge, charity, chart, chase, cheap, check, cheek, cheese, chef, chemical, chest, chicken, chief, child, childhood, Chinese, chip, chocolate, choice, cholesterol, choose, Christian, Christmas, church, cigarette, circle, circumstance, cite, citizen, city, civil, civilian, claim, class, classic, classroom, clean, clear, clearly, client, climate, climb, clinic, clinical, clock, close, closely, closer, clothes, clothing, cloud, club, clue, cluster, coach, coal, coalition, coast, coat, code, coffee, cognitive, cold, collapse, colleague, collect, collection, collective, college, colonial, color, column, combination, combine, come, comedy, comfort, comfortable, command, commander, comment, commercial, commission, commit, commitment, committee, common, communicate, communication, community, company, compare, comparison, compete, competition, competitive, competitor, complain, complaint, complete, completely, complex, complexity, compliance, complicate, complicated, component, compose, composition, comprehensive, computer, concentrate, concentration, concept, concern, concerned, concert, conclude, conclusion, concrete, condition, conduct, conference, confidence, confident, confirm, conflict, confront, confusion, Congress, congressional, connect, connection, consciousness, consensus, consequence, conservative, consider, considerable, consideration, consist, consistent, constant, constantly, constitute, constitutional, construct, construction, consultant, consume, consumer, consumption, contact, contain, container, contemporary, content, contest, context, continue, continued, contract, contrast, contribute, contribution, control, controversial, controversy, convention, conventional, conversation, convert, conviction, convince, cook, cookie, cooking, cool, cooperation, cop, cope, copy, core, corn, corner, corporate, corporation, correct, correspondent, cost, cotton, couch, could, council, count, counter, country, county, couple, courage, course, court, cousin, cover, coverage, cow, crack, craft, crash, crazy, cream, create, creation, creative, creature, credit, crew, crime, criminal, crisis, criteria, critic, critical, criticism, criticize, crop, cross, crowd, crucial, cry, cultural, culture, cup, curious, current, currently, curriculum, custom, customer, cut, cycle, dad, daily, damage, dance, danger, dangerous, dare, dark, darkness, data, database, date, daughter, day, dead, deal, dealer, dear, death, debate, debt, decade, decide, decision, deck, declare, decline, decrease, deep, deeply, deer, defeat, defend, defendant, defense, defensive, deficit, define, definitely, definition, degree, delay, deliver, delivery, demand, democracy, Democratic, Democrat, demonstrate, demonstration, deny, department, depend, dependent, depending, depict, depression, depth, deputy, derive, describe, description, desert, deserve, design, designer, desire, desk, desperate, despite, destroy, destruction, detail, detailed, detect, detection, detective, determine, develop, developing, development, device, devil, dialogue, diet, differ, difference, different, differently, difficult, difficulty, dig, digital, dimension, dining, dinner, direct, direction, directly, director, dirt, disability, disagree, disappear, disaster, discipline, disclose, discover, discovery, discrimination, discuss, discussion, disease, dish, dismiss, disorder, display, dispute, distance, distinct, distinction, distinguish, distribute, distribution, district, diverse, diversity, divide, division, divorce, DNA, do, doctor, document, dog, domestic, dominant, dominate, door, double, doubt, down, downtown, dozen, draft, drag, drama, dramatic, dramatically, draw, drawer, drawing, dream, dress, drink, drive, driver, drop, drug, dry, due, during, dust, duty, dwell, dying, dynamic, each, eager, ear, earlier, early, earn, earnings, earth, earthquake, ease, easily, east, eastern, easy, eat, economic, economy, edge, edit, edition, editor, educate, education, educational, educator, effect, effective, effectively, efficiency, efficient, effort, egg, eight, either, elderly, elect, election, electric, electrical, electricity, electronic, element, elementary, eliminate, elite, else, elsewhere, e-mail, embrace, emerge, emergency, emission, emotion, emotional, emphasis, emphasize, employ, employee, employer, employment, empty, enable, encounter, encourage, end, enemy, energy, enforcement, engage, engine, engineer, engineering, English, enhance, enjoy, enormous, enough, ensure, enter, enterprise, entertain, entertainment, entire, entirely, entrance, entry, environment, environmental, episode, equal, equally, equipment, equivalent, era, error, escape, especially, essay, essential, essentially, establish, establishment, estate, estimate, etc, ethics, ethnic, European, evaluate, evaluation, evening, event, eventually, ever, every, everybody, everyday, everyone, everything, everywhere, evidence, evolution, evolve, exact, exactly, exam, examination, examine, example, exceed, excellent, except, exception, exchange, exciting, executive, exercise, exhibit, exhibition, exist, existence, existing, expand, expansion, expect, expectation, expense, expensive, experience, experiment, expert, explain, explanation, explode, explore, explosion, expose, exposure, express, expression, extend, extension, extensive, extent, external, extra, extraordinary, extreme, extremely, eye, fabric, face, facility, fact, factor, factory, faculty, fade, fail, failure, fair, fairly, faith, fall, false, familiar, family, famous, fan, fantasy, far, farm, farmer, fashion, fast, fat, fate, father, fault, favor, favorite, fear, feature, federal, fee, feed, feel, feeling, fellow, female, fence, festival, few, fewer, fiber, fiction, field, fifteen, fifth, fifty, fight, fighter, fighting, figure, file, fill, film, final, finally, finance, financial, find, finding, fine, finger, finish, fire, firm, first, fish, fishing, fit, fitness, five, fix, flag, flame, flat, flavor, flee, flesh, flight, float, floor, flow, flower, fly, focus, folk, follow, following, food, foot, football, for, force, foreign, forest, forever, forget, form, formal, formation, former, formula, forth, fortune, forward, found, foundation, founder, four, fourth, frame, framework, free, freedom, freeze, French, frequency, frequent, frequently, fresh, friend, friendly, friendship, from, front, fruit, frustration, fuel, fulfill, full, fully, fun, function, fund, fundamental, funding, funeral, funny, furniture, furthermore, future, gain, galaxy, gallery, game, gang, gap, garage, garden, garlic, gas, gate, gather, gay, gaze, gear, gender, gene, general, generally, generate, generation, genetic, gentleman, gently, German, gesture, get, ghost, giant, gift, gifted, girl, girlfriend, give, given, glad, glance, glass, global, glove, go, goal, God, gold, golden, golf, good, govern, government, governor, grab, grace, grade, gradually, graduate, grain, grand, grandmother, grant, grass, grave, gray, great, green, grocery, ground, group, grow, growing, growth, guarantee, guard, guess, guest, guide, guideline, guilty, gun, guy, habit, habitat, hair, half, hall, hand, handful, handle, hang, happen, happy, harbor, hard, hardly, hat, hate, have, he, head, headline, headquarters, health, healthy, hear, hearing, heart, heat, heaven, heavily, heavy, heel, height, helicopter, hell, hello, help, helpful, hence, her, herb, here, heritage, hero, herself, hey, hi, hide, high, highlight, highly, highway, hill, him, himself, hip, hire, his, historic, historical, history, hit, hold, hole, holiday, holy, home, homeless, honest, honey, honor, hope, horizon, horror, horse, hospital, host, hot, hotel, hour, house, household, housing, how, however, huge, human, humor, hundred, hungry, hunter, hunting, hurt, husband, hypothesis, ice, idea, ideal, identification, identify, identity, ignore, ill, illegal, illness, illustrate, image, imagination, imagine, immediate, immediately, immigrant, immigration, impact, implement, implication, imply, importance, important, impose, impossible, impress, impression, impressive, improve, improvement, incentive, incident, include, including, income, incorporate, increase, increased, increasingly, incredible, indeed, independence, independent, index, indicate, indication, individual, industrial, industry, infant, infection, inflation, influence, inform, information, ingredient, initial, initially, initiative, injury, inner, innocent, inquiry, inside, insight, insist, inspire, install, instance, instead, institute, institution, institutional, instruction, instructor, instrument, insurance, intellectual, intelligence, intend, intense, intensity, intention, interaction, interest, interested, interesting, internal, international, Internet, interpret, interpretation, intervention, interview, introduce, introduction, invasion, invest, investigation, investigator, investment, investor, invite, involve, involved, involvement, Iraqi, Irish, iron, Islamic, island, Israeli, issue, it, Italian, item, its, itself, jacket, jail, Japanese, jet, Jew, Jewish, job, join, joint, joke, journal, journalist, journey, joy, judge, judgment, juice, jump, junior, jury, just, justice, justify, keep, key, kick, kid, kill, killer, killing, kind, king, kiss, kitchen, knee, knife, knock, know, knowledge, lab, label, labor, laboratory, lack, lady, lake, land, landscape, language, lap, large, largely, last, late, later, Latin, latter, laugh, launch, law, lawsuit, lawyer, lay, layer, lead, leader, leadership, leading, leaf, league, lean, learn, learning, least, leather, leave, left, leg, legacy, legal, legend, legislation, legislative, legislator, legitimate, lemon, length, less, lesson, let, letter, level, liberal, library, license, lie, life, lifestyle, lifetime, lift, light, like, likely, limit, limitation, limited, line, link, lip, list, listen, literary, literature, little, live, living, load, loan, local, locate, location, lock, long, long-term, look, loose, lose, loss, lost, lot, lots, loud, love, lovely, lover, low, lower, luck, lucky, lunch, luxury, machine, mad, magazine, mail, main, mainly, maintain, maintenance, major, majority, make, maker, makeup, male, mall, man, manage, management, manager, manner, manufacturer, manufacturing, many, map, margin, mark, market, marketing, marriage, married, marry, mask, mass, massive, master, match, material, math, matter, may, maybe, mayor, me, meal, mean, meaning, meanwhile, measure, measurement, meat, mechanism, media, medical, medication, medicine, medium, meet, meeting, member, membership, memory, mental, mention, menu, mere, merely, mess, message, metal, meter, method, Mexican, middle, might, military, milk, million, mind, mine, minister, minor, minority, minute, miracle, mirror, miss, missile, mission, mistake, mix, mixture, mm-hmm, mode, model, moderate, modern, modest, mom, moment, money, monitor, month, mood, moon, moral, more, moreover, morning, mortgage, most, mostly, mother, motion, motivation, motor, mountain, mouse, mouth, move, movement, movie, Mr, Mrs, Ms, much, multiple, murder, muscle, museum, music, musical, musician, Muslim, must, mutual, my, myself, mystery, myth, naked, name, narrative, narrow, nation, national, native, natural, naturally, nature, near, nearby, nearly, necessarily, necessary, neck, need, negative, negotiate, negotiation, neighbor, neighborhood, neither, nerve, nervous, net, network, never, nevertheless, new, newly, news, newspaper, next, nice, night, nine, no, nobody, nod, noise, nomination, nominee, none, nonetheless, nor, normal, normally, north, northern, nose, not, note, nothing, notice, notion, novel, now, nowhere, nuclear, number, numerous, nurse, nut, object, objective, obligation, observation, observe, observer, obtain, obvious, obviously, occasion, occasionally, occupation, occupy, occur, ocean, odd, odds, of, off, offense, offensive, offer, office, officer, official, often, oh, oil, okay, old, Olympic, on, once, one, ongoing, onion, online, only, onto, open, opening, operate, operating, operation, operator, opinion, opponent, opportunity, oppose, opposed, opposite, opposition, option, or, orange, order, ordinary, organic, organization, organize, orientation, origin, original, originally, other, others, otherwise, ought, our, ours, ourselves, out, outcome, outside, oven, over, overall, overcome, overlook, owe, own, owner, pace, pack, package, page, pain, painful, paint, painter, painting, pair, pale, Palestinian, palm, pan, panel, panic, pant, paper, paragraph, parent, park, parking, part, participant, participate, participation, particle, particular, particularly, partly, partner, partnership, party, pass, passage, passenger, passion, past, patch, path, patient, pattern, pause, pay, payment, PC, peace, peak, peer, pen, penalty, people, pepper, per, perceive, percentage, perception, perfect, perfectly, perform, performance, perhaps, period, permanent, permission, permit, person, personal, personality, personally, personnel, perspective, persuade, pet, phase, phenomenon, philosophy, phone, photo, photographer, phrase, physical, physically, physician, piano, pick, picture, pie, piece, pile, pilot, pine, pink, pipe, pitch, place, plan, plane, planet, planning, plant, plastic, plate, platform, play, player, please, pleasure, plenty, plot, plus, PM, pocket, poem, poet, poetry, point, police, policy, political, politically, politician, politics, poll, pollution, pool, poor, pop, popular, population, porch, port, portion, portrait, portray, pose, position, positive, possess, possession, possibility, possible, possibly, post, pot, potato, potential, potentially, pound, pour, poverty, powder, power, powerful, practical, practice, prayer, preach, precisely, predict, prediction, prefer, preference, pregnancy, pregnant, preparation, prepare, prescription, presence, present, presentation, preserve, president, presidential, press, pressure, pretend, pretty, prevent, previous, previously, price, pride, priest, primarily, primary, prime, principal, principle, print, prior, priority, prison, prisoner, privacy, private, probably, problem, procedure, proceed, process, processing, processor, proclaim, produce, producer, product, production, profession, professional, professor, profile, profit, program, progress, progressive, project, prominent, promise, promote, prompt, proof, proper, properly, property, proportion, proposal, propose, prosecutor, prospect, protect, protection, protein, protest, proud, prove, provide, provider, province, provision, psychological, psychology, public, publication, publicity, publish, publisher, pull, punishment, purchase, pure, purpose, pursue, push, put, qualify, quality, quarter, quarterback, quarterly, queen, quest, question, quick, quickly, quiet, quietly, quit, quite, quote, race, racial, radiation, radical, radio, rail, rain, raise, range, rank, rapid, rapidly, rare, rarely, rate, rather, rating, ratio, raw, reach, react, reaction, reader, reading, ready, real, reality, realize, really, reason, reasonable, recall, receive, recent, recently, reception, recipe, recipient, recognition, recognize, recommend, recommendation, record, recording, recover, recovery, recruit, red, reduce, reduction, refer, reference, reflect, reflection, reform, refugee, refuse, regard, regarding, regardless, regime, region, regional, register, regular, regularly, regulate, regulation, regulator, reinforce, reject, relate, relation, relationship, relative, relatively, relax, release, relevant, relief, religion, religious, rely, remain, remaining, remarkable, remember, remind, remote, remove, repeat, repeatedly, replace, replacement, reply, report, reporter, represent, representation, representative, Republican, reputation, request, require, requirement, research, researcher, resemble, reservation, resident, residential, resign, resist, resistance, resolution, resolve, resort, resource, respect, respond, response, responsibility, responsible, rest, restaurant, restore, restriction, result, retain, retire, retirement, return, reveal, revenue, review, revolution, rhythm, rice, rich, rid, ride, rifle, right, ring, rise, risk, river, road, rock, role, roll, romantic, roof, room, root, rope, rose, rough, roughly, round, route, routine, row, rub, rubber, rude, ruin, rule, run, running, rural, rush, Russian, sacred, sad, safe, safety, sake, salad, salary, sale, sales, salt, same, sample, sanction, sand, satellite, satisfaction, satisfied, satisfy, sauce, save, saving, say, scale, scandal, scare, scatter, scenario, scene, schedule, scheme, scholar, scholarship, school, science, scientific, scientist, scope, score, scream, screen, script, sea, search, season, seat, second, secondary, secret, secretary, section, sector, secure, security, see, seed, seek, seem, segment, seize, select, selection, self, sell, Senate, senator, send, senior, sense, sensitive, sentence, separate, sequence, series, serious, seriously, servant, serve, service, session, set, setting, settle, settlement, seven, several, severe, sex, sexual, shade, shadow, shake, shall, shallow, shape, share, sharp, she, sheet, shelf, shell, shelter, shift, shine, ship, shirt, shock, shoe, shoot, shooting, shop, shopping, short, shortly, shot, should, shoulder, shout, show, shower, shrug, shut, shy, sibling, sick, side, sigh, sight, sign, signal, significant, significantly, silence, silent, silver, similar, similarly, simple, simply, sin, since, sing, singer, single, sink, sir, sister, sit, site, situation, six, size, ski, skill, skin, skirt, sky, slave, sleep, slice, slide, slight, slightly, slip, slow, slowly, small, smart, smell, smile, smoke, smooth, snap, snow, so, so-called, soccer, social, society, soft, software, soil, solar, soldier, sole, solid, solution, solve, some, somebody, somehow, someone, something, sometimes, somewhat, somewhere, son, song, soon, sophisticated, sorry, sort, soul, sound, soup, source, south, southern, Soviet, space, Spanish, speak, speaker, special, specialist, species, specific, specifically, specify, speech, speed, spend, spending, spin, spirit, spiritual, split, spoil, sponsor, sport, spot, spray, spread, spring, square, squeeze, stability, stable, staff, stage, stain, stair, stake, stand, standard, standing, star, stare, start, state, statement, station, statistical, status, stay, steady, steal, steel, steep, stem, step, stick, still, stimulate, stimulus, stir, stock, stomach, stone, stop, storage, store, storm, story, straight, strange, stranger, strategic, strategy, stream, street, strength, strengthen, stress, stretch, strike, string, strip, stroke, strong, strongly, structural, structure, struggle, student, studio, study, stuff, stupid, style, subject, submit, subsequent, substance, substantial, substitute, succeed, success, successful, successfully, such, sudden, suddenly, sue, suffer, sufficient, sugar, suggest, suggestion, suicide, suit, summer, summit, sun, super, supply, support, supporter, suppose, supposed, Supreme, sure, surely, surface, surgery, surprise, surprised, surprising, surprisingly, surround, survey, survival, survive, survivor, suspect, sustain, swear, sweep, sweet, swim, swing, switch, symbol, symptom, system, table, tactic, tail, take, tale, talent, talk, tall, tank, tap, tape, target, task, taste, tax, taxi, tea, teach, teacher, teaching, team, tear, technical, technique, technology, teen, teenager, telephone, telescope, television, tell, temperature, temporary, ten, tend, tendency, tennis, tension, tent, term, terms, terrible, territory, terror, terrorist, test, testimony, testing, text, than, thank, thanks, that, the, theater, their, them, theme, themselves, then, theory, therapy, there, therefore, these, they, thick, thin, thing, think, thinking, third, thirty, this, those, though, thought, thousand, threat, threaten, three, throat, through, throughout, throw, thus, ticket, tie, tight, time, tiny, tip, tire, tissue, title, to, tobacco, today, toe, together, toilet, token, tolerate, tomato, tomorrow, tone, tongue, tonight, too, tool, tooth, top, topic, toss, total, totally, touch, tough, tour, tourist, tournament, toward, towards, tower, town, toy, trace, track, trade, tradition, traditional, traffic, tragedy, trail, train, training, transfer, transform, transformation, transition, translate, translation, transmission, transmit, transport, transportation, travel, treat, treatment, treaty, tree, tremendous, trend, trial, tribe, trick, trip, troop, trouble, truck, true, truly, trust, truth, try, tube, tunnel, turn, TV, twelve, twenty, twice, twin, two, type, typical, typically, ugly, ultimate, ultimately, unable, uncle, undergo, understand, understanding, unfortunately, uniform, union, unique, unit, United, universal, universe, university, unknown, unless, unlike, until, unusual, up, upon, upper, urban, urge, us, use, used, useful, user, usual, usually, utility, utilize, vacation, valley, valuable, value, variable, variation, variety, various, vary, vast, vegetable, vehicle, venture, version, versus, very, vessel, veteran, via, victim, victory, video, view, viewer, village, violate, violation, violence, violent, virtually, virtue, virus, visibility, visible, vision, visit, visitor, visual, vital, voice, volume, voluntary, volunteer, vote, voter, voting, wage, wait, wake, walk, wall, wander, want, war, warm, warn, warning, wash, waste, watch, water, wave, way, we, weak, weakness, wealth, wealthy, weapon, wear, weather, web, website, wedding, week, weekend, weekly, weigh, weight, welcome, welfare, well, west, western, wet, what, whatever, wheel, when, whenever, where, whereas, whether, which, while, whisper, white, who, whole, whom, whose, why, wide, widely, widespread, wife, wild, wildlife, will, willing, win, wind, window, wine, wing, winner, winter, wipe, wire, wisdom, wise, wish, with, withdraw, within, without, witness, woman, wonder, wonderful, wood, wooden, word, work, worker, working, workout, workplace, works, workshop, world, worried, worry, worth, would, wound, wrap, write, writer, writing, wrong, yard, yeah, year, yell, yellow, yes, yesterday, yet, yield, you, young, your, yours, yourself, youth, zone.
submitted by Zappingsbrew to u/Zappingsbrew [link] [comments]
2024.05.13 22:00 genman Ultimate Citizens–A review
See: https://ultimatecitizens.com/
I attended a screening of Ultimate Citizens on Sunday, which included the director and the man subjects of the film, Jamshid Khajavi (teacher, coach, and counselor) and two students from the Ultimate team at Hazel Wolf Elementary.
I live in less than a mile from the school in Seattle, and Greenlake where they practice in the film. My sons also play Ultimate, so I have a local perspective.
I'm not going to comment too much on the major topics of the documentary, which are about the immigrant experience, getting by as refugees in America, and issues in the family. Nor in particular about the coach who has his own immigrant story and an interesting background in long distance endurance events, such as swimming the Straits of Gibraltar, etc.
I think I want to ask the question: Is this a film about Ultimate and how so?
Coach Jamshid explains before he knew Ultimate he thought Soccer was the best sport in the world.
The reasons that Ultimate is uniquely regarded are presented as: 1) It brings boys and girls together on the same team and forces them to work together. In 5th grade girls are often taller and have advantage over boys. 2) It requires that players know the rules themselves and can settle disputes themselves. Rather than get angry and argue with a referee, decisions need to be made by both sides.
Since most the kids presented on this team have both parents working, they are only able to practice during lunch and after school. The coach offers to drive the kids home, and he considers it part of his duty to support the program.
The kids don't play in leagues or do games on weekends, mostly because (again) parents are busy working and transportation is hard. But they often play each other.
Coach Jamshid does make a bid for the weekend "biggest in the world" youth ultimate tournament, Spring Reign, and the team is accepted. (Not all teams are accepted due to space limitations.)
Since many in the audience likely didn't know the rules of Ultimate, the director presented just two rules: 1) How to score: By catching the disc in the end zone. 2) There are no referees, thus disputes are settled by both teams. I'm not sure more really needed to be explained, but I think the audience laughed about how short the list was. (Maybe mention, once you catch the disc you can't run with it?)
The movie goes briefly into the tournament bracket and how the Hazel Wolf team (spoiler) took first place. Though, since they were said to practice every day, sometimes twice a day, it wasn't too much of a surprise. Most youth teams in elementary school practice and play only 2 hours a week.
What are my thoughts? This is a great movie to sell Ultimate to parents, and I hope it encourages the development of the sport at more schools. It really highlighted how Ultimate brings people together, how it teaches children to make decisions, cooperate, grow by themselves, and for the most part keeps adults off the field.
The rest of it was touching and it was great to see Seattle on the screen, especially places my kids go all the time.
Other things to mention:
The film was shot 2014-2017–so the movie took about 10 years to finish. (That seemed excessive but I hear not uncommon for documentary movie makers to take a long time to finish and release.)
Hazel Wolf elementary is now a STEM/magnet school. At the time of shooting, Hazel Wolf's new school building was being built, so the students were located at John Marshal "Alternative" High. (Since then I don't know if Hazel Wolf still has a large under-served/minority student body or not.)
Since ~2020, a separate event Spring Jam has spun off of Spring Reign, which is just for elementary school students.
The screening of Ultimate Citizens was preceded by a short documentary about Quiddich in Uganda, which was humorous and touching in a similar way.
Ultimate is still a non-traditional sport but documentaries like this show that it has its place over youth favorites like soccer and baseball.
submitted by genman to ultimate [link] [comments]
I attended a screening of Ultimate Citizens on Sunday, which included the director and the man subjects of the film, Jamshid Khajavi (teacher, coach, and counselor) and two students from the Ultimate team at Hazel Wolf Elementary.
I live in less than a mile from the school in Seattle, and Greenlake where they practice in the film. My sons also play Ultimate, so I have a local perspective.
I'm not going to comment too much on the major topics of the documentary, which are about the immigrant experience, getting by as refugees in America, and issues in the family. Nor in particular about the coach who has his own immigrant story and an interesting background in long distance endurance events, such as swimming the Straits of Gibraltar, etc.
I think I want to ask the question: Is this a film about Ultimate and how so?
Coach Jamshid explains before he knew Ultimate he thought Soccer was the best sport in the world.
The reasons that Ultimate is uniquely regarded are presented as: 1) It brings boys and girls together on the same team and forces them to work together. In 5th grade girls are often taller and have advantage over boys. 2) It requires that players know the rules themselves and can settle disputes themselves. Rather than get angry and argue with a referee, decisions need to be made by both sides.
Since most the kids presented on this team have both parents working, they are only able to practice during lunch and after school. The coach offers to drive the kids home, and he considers it part of his duty to support the program.
The kids don't play in leagues or do games on weekends, mostly because (again) parents are busy working and transportation is hard. But they often play each other.
Coach Jamshid does make a bid for the weekend "biggest in the world" youth ultimate tournament, Spring Reign, and the team is accepted. (Not all teams are accepted due to space limitations.)
Since many in the audience likely didn't know the rules of Ultimate, the director presented just two rules: 1) How to score: By catching the disc in the end zone. 2) There are no referees, thus disputes are settled by both teams. I'm not sure more really needed to be explained, but I think the audience laughed about how short the list was. (Maybe mention, once you catch the disc you can't run with it?)
The movie goes briefly into the tournament bracket and how the Hazel Wolf team (spoiler) took first place. Though, since they were said to practice every day, sometimes twice a day, it wasn't too much of a surprise. Most youth teams in elementary school practice and play only 2 hours a week.
What are my thoughts? This is a great movie to sell Ultimate to parents, and I hope it encourages the development of the sport at more schools. It really highlighted how Ultimate brings people together, how it teaches children to make decisions, cooperate, grow by themselves, and for the most part keeps adults off the field.
The rest of it was touching and it was great to see Seattle on the screen, especially places my kids go all the time.
Other things to mention:
The film was shot 2014-2017–so the movie took about 10 years to finish. (That seemed excessive but I hear not uncommon for documentary movie makers to take a long time to finish and release.)
Hazel Wolf elementary is now a STEM/magnet school. At the time of shooting, Hazel Wolf's new school building was being built, so the students were located at John Marshal "Alternative" High. (Since then I don't know if Hazel Wolf still has a large under-served/minority student body or not.)
Since ~2020, a separate event Spring Jam has spun off of Spring Reign, which is just for elementary school students.
The screening of Ultimate Citizens was preceded by a short documentary about Quiddich in Uganda, which was humorous and touching in a similar way.
Ultimate is still a non-traditional sport but documentaries like this show that it has its place over youth favorites like soccer and baseball.
2024.05.12 01:57 LordoftheRottedTower Planar Travel in Eve of Ruin
Hi everyone, this is my first time posting on Reddit, but I had a fun idea that I thought some people might like for their Eve of Ruin campaign, so I wanted to share! I have been playing 5th edition for nearly a decade, and have been a dungeon master for at-home games for the past 4 years, and plan to run Eve of Ruin as my next adventure. I’m going to talk heavy spoilers, so I just made everything below this spoilers to play it safe (hopefully I did it right).
I’ve seen some people talking about how it will be difficult to explain why the player characters are tasked with defeating Vecna, without help from any of The Wizards Three or any other powerful NPCs. Vecna’s Link, which will tie the players to him, only grants the players some cool powers and the ability to use The Power of Secrets, but none of these things give any strong reason why the players are tasked with assembling The Rod of Seven Parts alone. It would be hard to explain why none of the wizards offer to go help, or why each chapter feels so episodic, with the characters they meet not offering to show up and help showdown with Vecna, like in Avengers Endgame.
Here is my idea that I will be using in my game:
Vecna invoked some powerful secret(s) to prevent everyone except himself from planar travel, effectively binding everyone to their current plane. Only those who Vecna allows to travel between planes by giving them a link to him (Vecna’s Link) are able to planar travel, because they have a part of him with them, and he is able to planar travel. Not only will this make the player characters some of the only beings in the multiverse able to travel between planes, but it will also allow Kas to travel between planes (assuming you give him The Sword of Kas, which I will be doing for this purpose). Because The Sword of Kas contains a portion of Vecna, any creature attuned to it will be able to planar travel. This will create a very strong reason that the player characters are tasked with defeating Vecna, since they are some of the only people who can travel between planes, so they can assemble the rod, chase down Kas once he betrays the Wizards Three and then go on to defeat Vecna.
There may be some minor rewriting that would be necessary with the planar travel restriction, but I think it would be worth it overall. The book mentions that Kas (disguised as Mordenkainen) would occasionally leave Sigil and do some nefarious plotting or whatever, so this may need to be tweaked a bit, since his leaving Sigil would immediately blow his cover. Additionally, tweaking the Chime of Banishment to include some text about banishing the creature to their native planet AND keeping them there might be useful, but I think narrating The Dark Powers taking hold of Vecna and dragging him back to his own Domain of Dread would be plenty sufficient.
I haven’t read the book cover to cover yet, so I may be missing some crucial details that would make this challenging to implement. I am happy to discuss this more in the comments! I would love if people shared any tweaks/changes or further ideas that could stem for this, I am very excited about this idea!
submitted by LordoftheRottedTower to VecnaEveofRuin [link] [comments]
I’ve seen some people talking about how it will be difficult to explain why the player characters are tasked with defeating Vecna, without help from any of The Wizards Three or any other powerful NPCs. Vecna’s Link, which will tie the players to him, only grants the players some cool powers and the ability to use The Power of Secrets, but none of these things give any strong reason why the players are tasked with assembling The Rod of Seven Parts alone. It would be hard to explain why none of the wizards offer to go help, or why each chapter feels so episodic, with the characters they meet not offering to show up and help showdown with Vecna, like in Avengers Endgame.
Here is my idea that I will be using in my game:
Vecna invoked some powerful secret(s) to prevent everyone except himself from planar travel, effectively binding everyone to their current plane. Only those who Vecna allows to travel between planes by giving them a link to him (Vecna’s Link) are able to planar travel, because they have a part of him with them, and he is able to planar travel. Not only will this make the player characters some of the only beings in the multiverse able to travel between planes, but it will also allow Kas to travel between planes (assuming you give him The Sword of Kas, which I will be doing for this purpose). Because The Sword of Kas contains a portion of Vecna, any creature attuned to it will be able to planar travel. This will create a very strong reason that the player characters are tasked with defeating Vecna, since they are some of the only people who can travel between planes, so they can assemble the rod, chase down Kas once he betrays the Wizards Three and then go on to defeat Vecna.
There may be some minor rewriting that would be necessary with the planar travel restriction, but I think it would be worth it overall. The book mentions that Kas (disguised as Mordenkainen) would occasionally leave Sigil and do some nefarious plotting or whatever, so this may need to be tweaked a bit, since his leaving Sigil would immediately blow his cover. Additionally, tweaking the Chime of Banishment to include some text about banishing the creature to their native planet AND keeping them there might be useful, but I think narrating The Dark Powers taking hold of Vecna and dragging him back to his own Domain of Dread would be plenty sufficient.
I haven’t read the book cover to cover yet, so I may be missing some crucial details that would make this challenging to implement. I am happy to discuss this more in the comments! I would love if people shared any tweaks/changes or further ideas that could stem for this, I am very excited about this idea!
2024.05.11 02:07 thatgirlwinter7357 (F4A) JJK RPs!
Hello everyone, I have 3 plot ideas set in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe that I'd love to play out. I'd prefer to do them with OCs (and have my own original characters in mind for them)
Plot 1: Foreign Affairs
While most of the history of Jujutsu Sorcery stems from Japan, there have been sorcerers and curses users from countries all around the world. Most curses however are found in Japan because of ancient traditions. And the strongest curse ever found outside of mainland Japan, was only a first grade. Thus the protection of humans in other countries was left to their small pool of local sorcerers. However... A special grade curse has appeared in the United States, already it's wiped out two 1st Grade Sorcerers. However, one American sorcerer stepped up and was able to defeat it, earning them the honor of being the first foreign Special Grade Sorcerer. Now they are tasked with starting a Jujutsu school to raise a new generation of sorcerers who can protect humanity.
-In this we would have a mentor character and a cast of students. I'm happy to play either the mentor and a student or two students if you have a mentor character in mind.
Plot 2: The Child of Prophecy
During the Heian period, the famous sorcerer clans were high and mighty above all others. The Zennin Clan in particular were quite powerful with their shadowy techniques. However in a small village a woman named Yuki Kura was born. Her cursed technique was called Luminance: the ability to generate and imbue light with cursed energy. While she was moderately strong, likely a second grade in modern rankings, the Zennin Clan wanted more from her. The potential of mixing a light based, and shadow based inherited technique had potential to make a sorcerer of legend. Yuki was forced into marrying a promising young sorcerer from the Zennin Clan, however Yuki made a heavenly pact that no child of hers would be a sorcerer, not until a descendant was born strong enough to live freely. Now a thousand years later... A descendant of Yuki was born with the power of luminance.
-This plot is based around a specific OC of mine, if you couldn't tell by her elaborate backstory. This plot/character could be added on to the other two plots, but I like the idea of this prophesized girl having to learn from an old master. With a focus on her getting stronger and learning.
Plot 3: Can a Curse be Allowed to Live?
Curses are seen as a natural evil, like earthquakes, and typhoons. A horrible threat to humanity that must be stopped as much as possible. However, could a curse... Help humanity? Could a new curse be guided from its distructive nature and become a sorcerer?
-This one also follows a mentostudent dynamic. I have 2 characters in mind for this RP a girl who's the daughter of a human sorcerer and a cursed spirit. Or a newly formed cursed spirit, the android-like Future Curse
Please message or chat me if any of this sounds interesting! Thank you for reading!
submitted by thatgirlwinter7357 to RoleplayPartnerSearch [link] [comments]
Plot 1: Foreign Affairs
While most of the history of Jujutsu Sorcery stems from Japan, there have been sorcerers and curses users from countries all around the world. Most curses however are found in Japan because of ancient traditions. And the strongest curse ever found outside of mainland Japan, was only a first grade. Thus the protection of humans in other countries was left to their small pool of local sorcerers. However... A special grade curse has appeared in the United States, already it's wiped out two 1st Grade Sorcerers. However, one American sorcerer stepped up and was able to defeat it, earning them the honor of being the first foreign Special Grade Sorcerer. Now they are tasked with starting a Jujutsu school to raise a new generation of sorcerers who can protect humanity.
-In this we would have a mentor character and a cast of students. I'm happy to play either the mentor and a student or two students if you have a mentor character in mind.
Plot 2: The Child of Prophecy
During the Heian period, the famous sorcerer clans were high and mighty above all others. The Zennin Clan in particular were quite powerful with their shadowy techniques. However in a small village a woman named Yuki Kura was born. Her cursed technique was called Luminance: the ability to generate and imbue light with cursed energy. While she was moderately strong, likely a second grade in modern rankings, the Zennin Clan wanted more from her. The potential of mixing a light based, and shadow based inherited technique had potential to make a sorcerer of legend. Yuki was forced into marrying a promising young sorcerer from the Zennin Clan, however Yuki made a heavenly pact that no child of hers would be a sorcerer, not until a descendant was born strong enough to live freely. Now a thousand years later... A descendant of Yuki was born with the power of luminance.
-This plot is based around a specific OC of mine, if you couldn't tell by her elaborate backstory. This plot/character could be added on to the other two plots, but I like the idea of this prophesized girl having to learn from an old master. With a focus on her getting stronger and learning.
Plot 3: Can a Curse be Allowed to Live?
Curses are seen as a natural evil, like earthquakes, and typhoons. A horrible threat to humanity that must be stopped as much as possible. However, could a curse... Help humanity? Could a new curse be guided from its distructive nature and become a sorcerer?
-This one also follows a mentostudent dynamic. I have 2 characters in mind for this RP a girl who's the daughter of a human sorcerer and a cursed spirit. Or a newly formed cursed spirit, the android-like Future Curse
Please message or chat me if any of this sounds interesting! Thank you for reading!
2024.05.10 21:36 Starquilled1205 [F4A] Spring Spirit Brightens Your Day [nature spirit] [spring] [mythical] [uplifting]
F4A Spring Spirit Brightens Your Day
This is the third of a little series about four seasonal spirits interacting with a special human who can see them and converse with them. As the children of Mother Earth herself, they decided to find a lonely human child to befriend. They chose the listener many years ago when they were only a small child. No one else can see the spirits but the listener.Listener has come outside to find Spring, who has a lot of inspiring things (and puns) to say and happy things to show them.
free to monetize! to credit, just link to my YT channel! (found in my profile) Thanks! :D free to genderbend! Location/ambience: spring forest ambience, farm sounds, birds, baby farm animals, breeze Listener: stressed young worker, has known the spirit since childhood Voice: childlike, feminine, light, airy, innocent Theme: starting new, potential, spring things!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Begins with spring bird ambience, gentle breeze, and distant traffic hum
(brightly) Ah, finally! There’s my best bud! It’s so good to see you again! Yeah, yeah, I made it! Again!
You’re a little bit late… don’t tell me, are you getting too busy again? Cause if you are, I’ll have to find a way to fix that again, won't I? You really can't moss around with that! (chuckle)
But anyway! Come on, let’s go! I have so much to show you! I wanna walk to the farm - some of the sheep had their babies and there’s little chicks running around! Oh, AND there’s a calf! It’s so small and cute!
We have to walk the forest way because there’s something in the woods I want to show you as well. C’mon!
Look at all the dandelions… Good to see some still popping up all around!
This one is so big… oh and look at this one! The stem is SO LONG! I think it would be perfect for… hold on… hold still… there! There you go - one perfect flower on one perfect person!
Hehehe! You look really cute with a dandelion tucked into your ear, you should go out like that more often hehe. Oh, let me get another one! Then we can match!
There we go, how do I look?
(flustered) Awww,, hahaha, thank you.
Dandelions are one of my favourite spring flowers. I better not ever catch you calling them weeds! They are one of the first flowers for the bees when they come out of hibernating. Bumble bees and honey bees search for them as soon as they wake up. That’s why I get so upset when people mow them all down and spray their so-called “weed-killers.” Who are they to call these perfect little drops of sunshine weeds**?** (whispering) UnbeLEAFable.
I’m glad YOU’RE not a weed!
(laughs)
Oh! Over there! look at those daffodils and hyacinths! UWAAA I just love the colors mixed together… yellow, pink, and purple and green…
Eh?! ME?! They remind you of me? (flustered again) B… but that - well, you’re really sweet yourself, you know that?
Yes you are! Don’t “no you” me! Hehe
What are your favourite spring flowers?
Oh! Yeah those are top on my list too! Well you know I like them all though… (sigh)
This year the crocuses are standing out to me. They remind me of little stars in the grass when they first come up! Stars of all different colors! Coming up out of the ground like “Hey guys, Winter’s gunna leave soon! Spring is coming!”
Remember that house on the road to your school when you were little? How every spring, the ENTIRE YARD was just COVERED in purple and yellow crocuses? Mhhm! It was so magical!!
I love the cherry trees when they blossom all rosy and pink! Oh, and who can forget the forsythia bushes! Have you SEEN them this year? I’m so proud of them! I haven’t seen them this full and bright for several years! Winter really went easy on you guys this year, didn’t she… Unless…
(pause)
Hhm? Oh! Nothing! Ah, hear that?
How many birds can you hear right now? There’s so many! Can you identify a few of them? How about…. That one?
Right! Robins! American robins, to be specific. The European robins aren’t actually robins at all - they’re a type of flycatcher and American robins are actually in the thrush family. Have you ever seen a wood thrush? They’re robin sized, but instead of having an orange belly, they have little black speckles. Really cute little birds, but a lot harder to notice than the robins because they like to stay deep in the forests and away from lots of people.
How about…. THAT song? What bird is that?
Right on! Goldfinches! Yes, and bluebirds and cardinals too, well done! I’m glad you can still recognise the sound of the cardinals! They have a bunch of different calls, don’t they? Remember when I taught you how to whistle just like them? Can you still do it?
Ahahaha that’s ok! We’ve got plenty of time to practice again before Summer comes!
Hhmph! She better not rush me out of here like she did last year! I want my turn here with you and I don’t want it to end early.
Hey - can you smell that? We’re getting closer to the place I wanted to show you. We gotta cut through the woods though, come on!
Here we are… What do you think? This little pond clearing has been a quiet little nature secret for a long time, but since you live close to it now, I wanted to show it to you. You deserve to know it’s here.
There are so many flowers we could smell them all the way from the footpath.
Wanna know how they all got here? Well… some people planted them. A long, LONG time ago. This place used to be a farm. It wasn’t always a thick woodland like this, the trees have grown since then. That’s why there’s flowers everywhere. When it was still just a little farm, there were only a few of these daffodils… but daffodils reproduce wildly if you don’t stop them. It’s been hundreds of years since anyone has cared for this tiny piece of land… so this carpet of flowers has been able to grow and grow and grow. Truly one of mother’s masterpieces, wouldn’t you say? Someone decided to brighten their garden… and Mother Nature took over the art that person started way back then. If only they could see how beautiful it is today!
You can actually see where the foundation of the house was right over here, not far from the pond. It’s nothing more than a square of crumbled rock, but if you look at it, it’s obvious it used to be a building. I just had to show this place to you! It could be like our secret meeting place, as long as you don’t tell anyone else!
Wanna meet here everyday? Well, till it’s time for me to move on, anyway? You could use the time to relax! I see those tired bags under your eyes, silly! You’ve been doing too much grown up work again!
Oh… hard time sleeping?
Oh my gourd, that’s not enough sleep!
Looks like I will have to take action. Hhmm…. Let’s see… I know you always sleep better with your window open, but with Winter around it’s too cold for that.. But now it’s MY turn to bring you my blessings! Alright. I’ll be sure to make it warm for the next couple nights so you can catch those Z’s!
Oh… speaking of blessings… I have something else to show you back here! Gotta be nice a quiet though. Right this way… nice and slow…
There she is. A little fawn, all speckly in the sunlight. Don’t worry, her momma is right over there. You didn’t notice? HAha, that’s actually a really good thing. Momma dear, your camouflage skills are doing great! Come on over here, don’t worry. I am the spirit of Spring, and this is my friend! We won’t hurt you or your baby.
Your baby is so beautiful and cute! Could we come a little closer and say hello to her?
That’s so kind of you!
Hi little deer! Your momma picked a lovely place for you to rest and stay safe. You’re… you’re so cute!
Go on, go ahead and say hi, let her sniff you. Look at her cute little spots… just like little beams of sun resting on the forest floor.
Thank you, momma deer, for letting us say hi to you and your gorgeous baby! You guys go have a good day - there’s a patch of fresh grass down in the valley just past those pines over there. No humans will bother you there. Bye bye, “Iris” you a lovely day. Haha. I wonder if the deer think it's funny…
And that is my favourite part. I get to meet all the new baby animals! I wish I could take you with me wherever I go… and show you ALL the baby animals! Bunnies, fox kits, fishes, mice, owls, hawks… every new life is just so precious. Out in the wilder places there are cougar kittens, bear cubs, wolf pups, monkeys, koalas, badgers… tigers… little kangaroo joeys… and of course the whales!
You would absolutely LOVE the cougar kittens! They are so fluffy and sassy! And… if you ever get the chance to see a baby whale… they are just the dearest things!
I could talk about baby animals all day, but rather than just talk about them, let’s go and see some! The farm isn’t far from here. Come on, let's go!
Uwaaaa look at these azalea bushes!! I’m so excited they’ve started to bloom! Remember when you were little you used to pretend little fairies lived in the flowers? Haha! We used to spin around together in your yard and pretend they were flying all around us.
Oh did you hear that? We’re getting closer!
See? There’s the little lambs! Look at them go, romping around each other. They look so fluffy and soft! Have you ever touched a lamb before? They are so soft and curly! Oh! Those two see us! Here they come! Oopsie daisy, don’t slip in the mud, little guys!
Hello little lambs! You’re so friendly! Looks like you’ll get to pet them! They seem to really like you, that one is sticking his head through the fence!
Haha. you’re so cute.
Yeah, you. Ah! I mean! The lambs are cute! But you are too… (flustered)
Ahaha… anyway, let’s go up here! You can see the little chicks! Look at them all… They have quite the variety this year! The dark ones…. The ones that are almost black, kinda gray? They’re gunna grow up to be black and white like their momma! I think you guys call them Plymoth Rock chickens? Yeah, and the yellow ones are gunna be brown. The darker golden ones look like… I think the mom is called a Rhode Island Red. I really do have a special love for chickens.
Ohp! Look at all the chicks, rushing to their mommas… hiding under their wings… What in carnation? I wonder what - Oh.
A hawk… a red-shouldered hawk! The hens saw it before we did and called their chicks to them to protect them. Such good mothers they are…
Sounds like that hawk isn’t hunting right now though. It seems to be establishing its territory. I wonder where its nest is? It probably has its own babies to feed and protect.
Aha! Did you see that? Over there, under that stump. There! A chipmunk! Oh wait there’s two! I bet they’re a mom and a dad, or will be soon! They are most certainly making a nest. That one is carrying leaves inside! Good luck little chipmunks! They’re so cute.
(sigh) I could watch them all day.
What’s that? Ah, yeah it’s going to rain. We should probably start heading back before you get all wet - unless you want to get drenched? Haha! Might be fun to dance in the rain! However… it’s not summer yet, there’s still a chill left over from Winter… I wouldn’t want you catching a cold. Don’t worry, we can take our time!
So… what’s been keeping you up at night?
(pause, listening)
Mhhm, I see.
That would keep me up at night too! But… luckily for you, your favourite Season is back again, and she has some encourage-MINT for you! Hehe. First things first, you gotta take more deep breaths. Not inside - outside. When you notice you’re starting to get tense… and that situation you think about all night comes up, stop right there in your tracks and take a quick step outside. Or a long step. Whatever you need. Breathe in the air, and think about it. How it feels, how it smells. Is it wet air? Or dry air? What do you smell? See if you can pick out three different smells. Then look all around you, and find something red. Oh! Let’s try it right now. I’ll demonstrate.
(clears throat and takes a very deep breath)
The air is cool and damp… it smells like… fresh earth, hyacinths, and oak tree buds.
And now for the colors! Something red… there’s not many bright colors out here yet… Ah! There’s a cardinal right over there! See him? Over there in that bush. So handsome…
Ok, now we have to find something orange. Hhmm… Oh? Where… OH! Aha! Yep! Those tulips! Good eye! Alright, next color is yellow. Yep, we’re going through the rainbow.
There’s a lot of yellow out here right now. Which one thing are you going to pick?
Buttercups! Oh - well, actually those aren’t buttercups, and I’m a little bit surprised. This here is Eranthis. It’s also known as Winter Aconite, and usually it’s done blooming by now. I’m happy you picked this. I don’t know if you’ll remember… but the first time I met you… way back when you were such a little kid… it was on the side of a road, in a young forest at the end of Winter’s time.
You and your parents were on a trip, and got lost. They pulled over to look at a map, and you were let out to stretch your legs. You wandered right into the woods… and found the beds of blooming eranthis. I knew you were special… the sparkling in your eyes as you gazed all around you… I knew we’d be friends.
(quiet pause)
You know what color is next, right? Mhhm. Green.
Haha what’s taking you so long? There’s so many green things! You’re so picky!
You… you have such a good eye. Look at all that moss… you know moss makes the best beds… AND it’s nice to walk on! You’d know if you took off those clunky shoes. Cmon, off they go! There’s so much moss here, you won’t hurt your feet! Walking barefoot is good for your sole!
Hehehe… both soles. Your soul, and your sole**. You’re** foot sole. (giggle)
You should definitely go barefoot more.
Ahhh see? Nice and soft! Better than a rug.
Next color - blue! This one could be tricky. The rain clouds are covering up the sky, so you can’t pick that.
Wha- what? You do? What is it? What do you see? Speak now or forever hold your peas!
A blue bird! I didn’t even see him up there! (chuckles) well done, bud.
Yep, purple is next. I see some periwinkles over here under this tree. Periwinkle is a shade of purple! I think it counts.
So now that we went through all the colors… lets touch some stuff. That’s step #3. You have to find 3 different surfaces and touch them, thinking about how they feel under your fingers. I’m gunna feel this fence… careful though, don’t want to get splinters. Think about the texture in detail. Next I’m gunna feel the daffodil leaves here. Smooth and soft. You pick the third thing! Wha - m… my hand?! But… well, I guess that’s ok… here…
Well, how does it feel?
I - well… I guess my skin is… I’m the spirit of spring! I can’t have my skin all crusty and musty! Alright, well… um… thank you. I suppose you also have really nice hands. Eh?! No! I aint dandy-lion about it!
Anyway… So uh… s-since we smelled, looked around, and touched, it’s time to find three different sounds. I’ll go first again. I hear… the traffic in the distance, the wind blowing through the branches… and… now your turn.
My voice?! Why you… well… I mean you DO hear it… Alright alright I think we’ve finished the sensory grounding thing! And look at that, we’re almost back at your place -
Hhm?
I missed one?
Oh… taste… well, that’s not one you could do out here. I mean you COULD, but you’d have to find something to taste, and I know for a fact there isn’t anything out here you’d find pleasant to taste. So I skipped that one. But if you can, that’s the 5th thing to do when you’re stressed.
As for my other advice for you… look at me. It’s spring time! The world is coming alive all around you… follow its lead and branch out. Take that leaf of faith you’ve been shying away from. It’s time for new opportunities - go ahead and grow where you’re planted - you’ve got so “mush”room to climb higher and higher.
And don’t forget… I’m rooting for ya!
[END]
2024.05.10 07:59 EndOfImagination [SF] The Great Classified Unknown
“Officer Madson, I understand your concern, but what you are suggesting is ridiculous! I just cannot leave my home! Not without a concrete reason. How long did you say we had to stay away? A full month or two? I spent my whole life saving for this house! We built it from the ground up, perfectly customized to our liking. My family wants nothing more than to be here!”
This was the third time in only three days when Dave had received orders to leave his house immediately and head to safety. He lived only a few miles from Okefenokee Swamp, and according to all three officers, something dangerous was lurking there. Any additional information was supposedly classified, and he was unable to sway any of them into divulging more. They had each claimed to not know the full story either.
Dave’s wife had insisted on traveling to safety, as did almost everyone else on their street. She had taken their two kids fifty miles south. Luckily, they had evacuated early enough to find a hotel with rooms still available. But without the house, they would be ruined, and so Dave decided to stay. If something were placing his property and lifestyle at risk, he would rather put up a fight than sit idly by. He was used to large snakes and alligators which were common in the swamp. What could be more dangerous than them?
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Dave! Here, take this card. If you notice anything strange or suspicious, give us a call! We would much rather you leave, but if you insist on putting your life at risk, you may as well be of some use!”
With that, Officer Madson left, leaving the street in far too much silence for a Saturday morning. Everyone else had gone, with the exception of one.
“Hey, Mac!” Dave yelled as he banged on the front door of the only other inhabited house. “Mac! Are you there?” he yelled louder.
“Yeah, yeah! Give me a minute!” came the response. “That door is busted enough without you banging on it like that!”
An older, retired man in his early 70s opened the door. A smoke in one hand and a beer in the other.
“Did they get to you yet, Dave? Have you decided to abandon me, too, on this most apocalyptic of fair-weather days? I don’t see no tsunami rolling by, no fiery comets raining down, nor any band of raving wildebeests tearing loose through the streets! Ain’t no way I’m leaving my property, Dave! Five decades I’ve been here, and I recon I may just stay another five! This house is meant for me, and I for it; and no scaredy-cat police department is going to flush me out!”
“No, Mac! Calm down! I insisted on staying. Did they give you one of those silver cards too? With the phone number in case of emergency?” Dave asked.
“Yeah, yeah! They did. Lost it somewhere in the jumble on the table. If I need it bad enough, I’ll resign to cleaning the thing. I woke early to Jimmy calling me around six. He’s the only one left in his neighborhood, and he ain’t budging either! We’re set to meet up 30 minutes from now and you are welcome to join. It is the end of the world after all! The last three holdouts against the great classified unknown!”
Half an hour later, Dave was sitting in the passenger seat of Mac’s old Subaru. Mac’s arm hung out the drivers’ side window; still clutching a half drunken beer. A park halfway between the two neighborhoods was their rendezvous point, and when they arrived, Jimmy was already unpacking and assembling a drone.
“Jimmy! What’s up? That’s quite the gizmo to be playing with when the world’s about to end!” shouted Mac.
“Great, you guys made it! Quick! Come sit down. We are going to do a little snooping! I have a hunch, and I don’t like it!” Jimmy was quite serious, and so Dave and Mac sat opposite to him and watched silently as he finished readying the drone.
“Great idea Jimmy! With that we’ll be able to see what’s going on in the swamp!” Dave exclaimed. “We’ll know what we are up against.”
Jimmy handed a pair of glasses, each, to Dave and Mac. “These will let you see what the drone sees. Fortunately, I had three pairs! Now let’s get to work. You guys know I used to work for the government, right? In the carbon sequestration team, right?” he asked.
Mac looked confused, but Dave briefly remembered a conversation with Jimmy from a couple years prior. Most of Jimmy’s work was confidential and the parts he had discussed were too technical for him, so he had not given it much thought.
Jimmy turned the drone on, calibrated it to hover in the air, and directed it straight up.
“Wow, this has a great camera on it!” exclaimed Mac as the drone rapidly gained altitude. “I need to get one of these for myself!”
“They are nice!” Jimmy started, then more seriously asked “Do either of you remember a year or two ago when the president announced a tremendous breakthrough in carbon sequestration?” Dave and Mac stayed silent and looked at each other in confusion. “Come on guys, it was all over the news! A breakthrough to save humankind. I worked on that project – helped engineer it myself actually – but I became skeptical. I asked too many questions that did not have enough satisfactory answers, I suppose, because I was terminated! Fired, for trying to make sure everything was safe!”
Jimmy angled the drone towards the swamp. They were still a mile or so away, and as the drone began its journey, he continued his story.
Before taking the government job, Jimmy had worked in a biology lab where he studied genetic code; particularly with regards to altering the DNA of plants to make them more resistant to harsh climates. With multiple successes over a twenty-year career, the government had sought out him and his team to work on a much more important project.
The amount of carbon in the atmosphere was reaching dangerous levels, according to the officials. They had hired a thinktank to work tirelessly on finding a solution, and after much deliberation, a type of genetically modified plant seemed to be the best solution.
“Look here guys!” The drone had made it to the swamp, and Jimmy had zoomed the camera in close to the ground. “Do you know what kind of plant this is? It’s a Pitcher plant, one of a dozen or so species of carnivorous plants that live around here. Anyway, our government research began with one of those. I do not know why they chose that plant, but they did. Anyway, its genetic code proved to be very malleable.”
“We were tasked with making certain alterations to its genetic code. In the end, we butchered it and spliced it full of so many additional genes that it became unrecognizable. We spliced in genes to make it grow faster; much faster. Genes to increase its ability to uptake water and nutrients to capture as much carbon as possible. To grow an extensive root system that burrows deep into the ground. To…”
“Wait! I heard about that!” exclaimed Mac. “You designed that crazy plant that grows all those massive twisty roots? That are burrowing God knows where down towards Hell itself?! Didn’t those things cause the earthquakes up near the Canadian border last Spring? Wasn’t one found growing a hundred miles out at sea, which was not supposed to be possible? What ever possessed you to make such a monstrosity?” Mac was clearly uneasy.
“Jimmy, wait, go back!” yelled Dave.
Jimmy flipped a switch to cause the drone to fly in reverse.
“Yes! Right there, that is an alligator, right?” Dave asked.
The alligator was lying on its side, half covered by some sort of vegetation.
Jimmy lowered the drone and as the alligator became more visible, they noticed that it was not a typical plant covering the alligator. It was fifteen or twenty of the carnivorous Pitcher plants, and they were growing out of the rotting corpse of the alligator itself!
“Guys, you have to believe me when I say it was not supposed to be able to do this! We completely removed the gene that coded for the development of the main Pitcher part of the plant. We replaced it with a gene for small purple flowers. I did try to convince the other scientists that something like this was a possibility - and it looks like my fears were correct. The plant had multiple copies of that gene in different parts of its DNA. Random mutations had turned them off throughout eons of evolution, but again by random chance, those genes must have been reactivated. That’s the only explanation for this!”
“Okay…”, began Dave. “But a pitcher plant only eats small insects; they certainly don’t attack alligators!”
“We drastically increased the plants’ ability to seek out water and nutrients so that it would grow as quickly as possible. It must have found a way to digest large animals, like that alligator, which means that it is evolving quickly!”
Jimmy moved the drone as close as possible to the bizarre sight of Pitcher plants growing out of the side of the alligator.
“Look here! See those little purple flowers around the stem of the pitcher? That’s proof that this is our plant! I don’t know how old this one is, but after just a week, its roots will spread out over a 20 foot radius and burrow 100 feet into the ground. It was a huge success. The carbon level in the atmosphere was falling for the first time in centuries. All buried deep underground in the roots of these plants. But it was not supposed to evolve like this! I tried to warn them of the possibility!”
Jimmy must have flown too close and knocked one of the Pitcher plants, for the camera became hazy with what looked like pollen from one of the little purple flowers. He had found the evidence he wanted and pressed the home button on the drones’ control panel to make it return to him.
“Well guys, we found what we were looking for! Maybe it would be best…”
“Jimmy! That’s a person!” yelled Mac. “Lying on the edge of the swamp!”
Jimmy wheeled around, threw his drone glasses back on, and resumed manually navigating the drone. He backtracked a bit, and sure enough, there was a person laying by the edge of the swamp! The person was wearing an army uniform, and as the drone advanced closer, they saw Pitcher plants growing out of his back. Just like the alligator! A tangle of roots fell out of his jacket, burrowing back underground a few feet away. Then they spotted another person, then a third, and then a fourth. As the drone gained elevation and the camera zoomed out, they counted fifteen people in total.
“Well congratulations, Jimmy!” yelled Mac. “Your engineered plant thing surely is saving humanity now!”
Jimmy and Dave sat in shock. None of them spoke for the better part of five minutes.
Jimmy came up with a plan first. “Okay guys, here is what we are going to do. Both of you, go back to your places immediately. I’ll pack up the drone, head back to my place to grab some stuff, then pick you up. If the plant is now killing people, we really can’t stay here! We should stay together. Find someone who will listen. That silver card with the emergency number. You two, call that number on your way back! I’ll come pick you up first, Mac, in 45 minutes maximum!”
Dave and Mac went back to the Subaru and they took off, leaving Jimmy to deal with the drone.
“Alright, I got the number here!” announced Dave as they began to drive. He dialed it and Officer Madson answered.
“Officer!” yelled Dave. “We saw it! The plant out in the swamp! We flew a drone over the area and one of the plants was eating an alligator…”
“A plant eating an alligator! Are you sure? Well, it is confidential information, but the army is looking into it! They mentioned that they must contain something as soon as possible. It must be that plant! They may even have to use large doses of radiation to do so. Do you believe me now that you should leave?” the Officer asked.
“Yes, we are packing some stuff now! But Officer, we didn’t call you about the alligator. We called you about the 15 dead army men! I don’t think they have the situation under control anymore!”
“Dead?!” screamed the officer. “They were supposed to call me this morning. I’m going to place a few calls immediately, believe me! Then I’m getting as far away from this thing as possible!”
Once home, Dave immediately called his wife while gathering important things from his house. He placed them in a box by the front door. He would be ready to go as soon as Jimmy and Mac arrived. He sat down in front of the TV to try and pass time faster, but nothing seemed interesting. He paced back and forth across the living room. A couple times he remembered another important trinket, retrieved it, and placed it in the box. Eventually he lay down on the couch and stared at the ceiling.
He waited, and waited, and waited. Time must have been going in slow motion. He took another minute to concentrate on the absolute silence of his neighborhood street. Usually, it would be full of the sounds of life – cars driving, lawnmowers and leaf blowers, and kids playing basketball a few houses down from his. The silence was ominous, and he began to feel its weight.
He got up and paced some more. The sound of his feet was better than the silence. Then he tried to read a chapter from his favorite book – to no avail. He opened the door to the backyard, drawing it all in just in case he would never see it again. Then he called his wife again.
“Honey, are you on the road?” she asked. And then: “…No? It’s been well over an hour since you called, I thought you said Jimmy was on his way!”
A chill ran up Dave’s spine. Having only met him a couple times, he barely knew Jimmy. But Jimmy did not seem like the type of person to be late to anything.
“I’ll call you back when we are on the road!” Dave said before hanging up.
He grabbed his box of important paperwork and things from around the house and carried them up the street to Mac’s house. He knocked loudly, then rang the bell when he did not answer immediately.
“Jimmy, is that you?” Mac asked. “Come on in - I have everything ready to go!”
Dave pushed the door open. “No! It’s Dave! So he hasn’t come by yet? Where is he? The sun’s setting in an hour or so!” he exclaimed; his voice becoming more frantic as he carried on.
“Relax Dave! Come on in and grab a beer! I’m glad you’re here, the silence is starting to spook me!” Mac responded.
They sat and tried to distract themselves, but the next half hour came and went with no sign of Jimmy.
“Want some chips?” asked Mac, as he stood and walked into the kitchen. He grabbed some plates, a large bag of chips, and opened the freezer to pull out two more beers. “Hey! Look at that! I got a message. Must have been sometime since you got here! Don’t know why it doesn’t ring properly anymore!” Mac walked across the kitchen and pressed the button to play it.
They both knew who it was. It was Jimmy, but his voice was raspy. Even before he began to talk, Dave pulled out his phone, ready to call the emergency number again.
“Sorry Mac. I felt… nauseous and had to… lay down.” They heard him walk to the sink, fill a glass of water, and drink it. “Maybe… just needed water. Anyway… be over… in 10 minutes!” He filled up the glass of water again, and this time audibly chugged it. “I’ve never felt so… dehydrated!” Fifteen seconds of silence passed, and then the water turned on again. It stayed on for too long. Then a crashing thump onto the floor and a scream. “Ouch! Wait… What’s going on?... No! It was on… the drone… the pollen!”
“Mac, let’s go!” Dave yelled, and they both ran to Mac’s Subaru while Dave called the emergency number.
“This if Officer Daniel” the line responded. “How can I assist you?”
“Great! Send someone immediately! Do you know Jimmy? I think he collapsed onto the floor and needs help!” Mac searched for Jimmy’s address and provided it to the Officer.
“I’ll come over right away! You are the last few people in town and I am the last Officer here. Let’s handle this then all get out of here!”
When Dave and Mac arrived, Officer Daniel was already there. A couple lights were on in the house. They got out of the car, and as they approached the front door, Officer Daniel was just coming out, dragging Jimmy along the ground behind him.
“Hey guys! Found him unconscious on the kitchen floor. Nearest hospital is 20 minutes south, even going 30 over on the highway. If you can keep up, I’ll give you an escort! And, whatever you told Officer Madson sure gave him a fright!”
Dave and Mac watched as Jimmy was hauled into the passenger seat of the police car. They got back into the Subaru to follow. They needed to go south too; the faster the better!
Mac carefully followed Officer Daniel, driving as fast as safely possible down the center of the highway. At least the road was empty because everyone else had already evacuated!
“This is crazy!” exclaimed Mac. “It is actually the end of the world! Who ever thought we would witness it? Do you think they might decide to just nuke the whole swamp? That’s what I would do at this point!”
“No, Mac” Dave responded. “Don’t you see? It got Jimmy too! Besides, it’s roots live so deep underground that I don’t know if a Nuke would stop it. Plus, it grows too fast!”
Silence fell between them again, until Dave’s cell phone began to ring.
It was his wife. In tears. “Dave! Are you almost here? They just called me! It’s not safe here either. We have to go further south. Or west to a drier climate. A scientist on the news thought our best chance was to go somewhere dry!”
“We are on our… oh, yikes!”
It happened so suddenly. One moment Officer Daniel was driving straight down the center of the highway with his lights flashing. Then he slowly drifted into the left lane, then the shoulder, and then completely off the side of the road. He hit something, flipped vertically two and a half times, and crashed upside down in a ball of flames!
“The police officer just crashed! Don’t think they could have survived that!” Dave yelled into the phone.
Mac kept driving. “No point in stopping! It’s better this way - we don’t need any more of those cursed plants further away from the swamp!”
“It must have spread from Jimmy to Officer Daniel!” Dave reasoned. “Get the kids ready. Mac and I will come pick you up and then we are getting as far away from here as we can! If they don’t like the heat of the desert, start looking for plots of land there!” He hung up and tried to close his eyes to block the days’ horrors from his mind for just a minute.
Tried – because before they were all the way closed, they hit a big speedbump. Dave bounced on his seat, head almost hitting the ceiling. The Subaru swerved, but Mac regained control – for just a moment – before hitting another big bump.
“Damn it!” Mac cried. “Tire is flat, and it sounds like the axel is shot! What was that?! Something was laying all across the road!” He put on the breaks and came to a stop. He got out of the car, the smell of burning tire rubber now hanging thick.
“Pretty sure I saw what it was, looked like some of those roots!” Dave said.
“Be back in a minute! Glad I finally have a use for this!” Mac opened the trunk of the Subaru, grabbed what looked to be a flamethrower, and ran back along the road. 15 minutes later, he was back, covered in sweat.
“Dave! It was one of those cursed twisted root things like you said! About as thick as my leg! I thought they were only supposed to grow down into the Earth? Jimmy, how dare he help create something like this! I burned it up rather good though and got it off the highway! We have to nuke them, electrocute them, or get the army fight back with flamethrowers! Dave, what are you doing in the driver’s seat? I’m not tired, I can keep driving!”
“Mac. Listen to me. You saw the root, but did you see any of the Pitcher plants with purple flowers?”
“Yeah I did! There were a bunch of them, too. In fact I burned those up too… hey come on! Unlock the doors! I have some tissues in the back seat. One of them sprayed me with something. I got to get it off of me. Dave come on!”
Dave shifted the car into drive and slammed on the gas. Someone had to survive! A frantically running Mac slowly disappeared behind him in the darkness as the flat tire wobbled horrendously on the broken axel. He grabbed his phone and called his wife.
“Honey! I’m still on my way. Ran into a little more trouble, but don’t worry! We’ll take your car instead!”
He went as fast as seemed reasonably possible given the condition of the car and by now he was only a few miles away.
Up ahead, the road was cracked. The locals had complained about it for years to no avail. Vegetation had grown along the cracks and within the potholes. But now those cracks and potholes were filled with dozens - perhaps hundreds - of those carnivorous Pitcher plants with the purple flowers and the poisonous pollen.
Dave did not even consider stopping. He was too panicked. Too desperate to get to his wife and to leave Mac as far behind as possible. He rolled across the Pitcher plants without a second thought. In fact, he wanted to crush them. Take them out from within the perceived safety of the Subaru. As he rolled across them, however, they threw up a thick cloud of pollen. The cars’ ventilation was open, constantly sucking in air from outside, and before Dave even knew what was happening, he inhaled a large lungful of the foul-smelling pollen.
He slammed on the breaks and sat screaming within the car for a full minute. Nothing more he could do. He had tried his best. He exited the car and found a place to lay down and stare up at the stars. He reached for his phone to call his wife but realized that it was still in the car. He was already too nauseous to stand up, having breathed in such a large amount of the pollen. He turned his attention back to the sky. He even saw a few shooting stars before searing pain crossed his forehead. Or were those streaks of light just his vision failing?
“Dave! You came to your senses! Don’t ever leave me like that again! I haven’t run for twenty minutes straight since the 10th grade! I’m feeling awfully thirsty, though, and quite a bit sick. If we can just make it to the hospital, I think they might know what to do. But we have to go quick! Ready to go?... Dave?... What are you doing lying on the ground like that anyway? Don’t you hear your phone ringing? It’s surely your wife!”
But as Mac approached, he lunged back in a fit of fright; for there he spotted two Pitcher plants - potted snugly in the sockets of what used to be eyes.
submitted by EndOfImagination to shortstories [link] [comments]
This was the third time in only three days when Dave had received orders to leave his house immediately and head to safety. He lived only a few miles from Okefenokee Swamp, and according to all three officers, something dangerous was lurking there. Any additional information was supposedly classified, and he was unable to sway any of them into divulging more. They had each claimed to not know the full story either.
Dave’s wife had insisted on traveling to safety, as did almost everyone else on their street. She had taken their two kids fifty miles south. Luckily, they had evacuated early enough to find a hotel with rooms still available. But without the house, they would be ruined, and so Dave decided to stay. If something were placing his property and lifestyle at risk, he would rather put up a fight than sit idly by. He was used to large snakes and alligators which were common in the swamp. What could be more dangerous than them?
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Dave! Here, take this card. If you notice anything strange or suspicious, give us a call! We would much rather you leave, but if you insist on putting your life at risk, you may as well be of some use!”
With that, Officer Madson left, leaving the street in far too much silence for a Saturday morning. Everyone else had gone, with the exception of one.
“Hey, Mac!” Dave yelled as he banged on the front door of the only other inhabited house. “Mac! Are you there?” he yelled louder.
“Yeah, yeah! Give me a minute!” came the response. “That door is busted enough without you banging on it like that!”
An older, retired man in his early 70s opened the door. A smoke in one hand and a beer in the other.
“Did they get to you yet, Dave? Have you decided to abandon me, too, on this most apocalyptic of fair-weather days? I don’t see no tsunami rolling by, no fiery comets raining down, nor any band of raving wildebeests tearing loose through the streets! Ain’t no way I’m leaving my property, Dave! Five decades I’ve been here, and I recon I may just stay another five! This house is meant for me, and I for it; and no scaredy-cat police department is going to flush me out!”
“No, Mac! Calm down! I insisted on staying. Did they give you one of those silver cards too? With the phone number in case of emergency?” Dave asked.
“Yeah, yeah! They did. Lost it somewhere in the jumble on the table. If I need it bad enough, I’ll resign to cleaning the thing. I woke early to Jimmy calling me around six. He’s the only one left in his neighborhood, and he ain’t budging either! We’re set to meet up 30 minutes from now and you are welcome to join. It is the end of the world after all! The last three holdouts against the great classified unknown!”
Half an hour later, Dave was sitting in the passenger seat of Mac’s old Subaru. Mac’s arm hung out the drivers’ side window; still clutching a half drunken beer. A park halfway between the two neighborhoods was their rendezvous point, and when they arrived, Jimmy was already unpacking and assembling a drone.
“Jimmy! What’s up? That’s quite the gizmo to be playing with when the world’s about to end!” shouted Mac.
“Great, you guys made it! Quick! Come sit down. We are going to do a little snooping! I have a hunch, and I don’t like it!” Jimmy was quite serious, and so Dave and Mac sat opposite to him and watched silently as he finished readying the drone.
“Great idea Jimmy! With that we’ll be able to see what’s going on in the swamp!” Dave exclaimed. “We’ll know what we are up against.”
Jimmy handed a pair of glasses, each, to Dave and Mac. “These will let you see what the drone sees. Fortunately, I had three pairs! Now let’s get to work. You guys know I used to work for the government, right? In the carbon sequestration team, right?” he asked.
Mac looked confused, but Dave briefly remembered a conversation with Jimmy from a couple years prior. Most of Jimmy’s work was confidential and the parts he had discussed were too technical for him, so he had not given it much thought.
Jimmy turned the drone on, calibrated it to hover in the air, and directed it straight up.
“Wow, this has a great camera on it!” exclaimed Mac as the drone rapidly gained altitude. “I need to get one of these for myself!”
“They are nice!” Jimmy started, then more seriously asked “Do either of you remember a year or two ago when the president announced a tremendous breakthrough in carbon sequestration?” Dave and Mac stayed silent and looked at each other in confusion. “Come on guys, it was all over the news! A breakthrough to save humankind. I worked on that project – helped engineer it myself actually – but I became skeptical. I asked too many questions that did not have enough satisfactory answers, I suppose, because I was terminated! Fired, for trying to make sure everything was safe!”
Jimmy angled the drone towards the swamp. They were still a mile or so away, and as the drone began its journey, he continued his story.
Before taking the government job, Jimmy had worked in a biology lab where he studied genetic code; particularly with regards to altering the DNA of plants to make them more resistant to harsh climates. With multiple successes over a twenty-year career, the government had sought out him and his team to work on a much more important project.
The amount of carbon in the atmosphere was reaching dangerous levels, according to the officials. They had hired a thinktank to work tirelessly on finding a solution, and after much deliberation, a type of genetically modified plant seemed to be the best solution.
“Look here guys!” The drone had made it to the swamp, and Jimmy had zoomed the camera in close to the ground. “Do you know what kind of plant this is? It’s a Pitcher plant, one of a dozen or so species of carnivorous plants that live around here. Anyway, our government research began with one of those. I do not know why they chose that plant, but they did. Anyway, its genetic code proved to be very malleable.”
“We were tasked with making certain alterations to its genetic code. In the end, we butchered it and spliced it full of so many additional genes that it became unrecognizable. We spliced in genes to make it grow faster; much faster. Genes to increase its ability to uptake water and nutrients to capture as much carbon as possible. To grow an extensive root system that burrows deep into the ground. To…”
“Wait! I heard about that!” exclaimed Mac. “You designed that crazy plant that grows all those massive twisty roots? That are burrowing God knows where down towards Hell itself?! Didn’t those things cause the earthquakes up near the Canadian border last Spring? Wasn’t one found growing a hundred miles out at sea, which was not supposed to be possible? What ever possessed you to make such a monstrosity?” Mac was clearly uneasy.
“Jimmy, wait, go back!” yelled Dave.
Jimmy flipped a switch to cause the drone to fly in reverse.
“Yes! Right there, that is an alligator, right?” Dave asked.
The alligator was lying on its side, half covered by some sort of vegetation.
Jimmy lowered the drone and as the alligator became more visible, they noticed that it was not a typical plant covering the alligator. It was fifteen or twenty of the carnivorous Pitcher plants, and they were growing out of the rotting corpse of the alligator itself!
“Guys, you have to believe me when I say it was not supposed to be able to do this! We completely removed the gene that coded for the development of the main Pitcher part of the plant. We replaced it with a gene for small purple flowers. I did try to convince the other scientists that something like this was a possibility - and it looks like my fears were correct. The plant had multiple copies of that gene in different parts of its DNA. Random mutations had turned them off throughout eons of evolution, but again by random chance, those genes must have been reactivated. That’s the only explanation for this!”
“Okay…”, began Dave. “But a pitcher plant only eats small insects; they certainly don’t attack alligators!”
“We drastically increased the plants’ ability to seek out water and nutrients so that it would grow as quickly as possible. It must have found a way to digest large animals, like that alligator, which means that it is evolving quickly!”
Jimmy moved the drone as close as possible to the bizarre sight of Pitcher plants growing out of the side of the alligator.
“Look here! See those little purple flowers around the stem of the pitcher? That’s proof that this is our plant! I don’t know how old this one is, but after just a week, its roots will spread out over a 20 foot radius and burrow 100 feet into the ground. It was a huge success. The carbon level in the atmosphere was falling for the first time in centuries. All buried deep underground in the roots of these plants. But it was not supposed to evolve like this! I tried to warn them of the possibility!”
Jimmy must have flown too close and knocked one of the Pitcher plants, for the camera became hazy with what looked like pollen from one of the little purple flowers. He had found the evidence he wanted and pressed the home button on the drones’ control panel to make it return to him.
“Well guys, we found what we were looking for! Maybe it would be best…”
“Jimmy! That’s a person!” yelled Mac. “Lying on the edge of the swamp!”
Jimmy wheeled around, threw his drone glasses back on, and resumed manually navigating the drone. He backtracked a bit, and sure enough, there was a person laying by the edge of the swamp! The person was wearing an army uniform, and as the drone advanced closer, they saw Pitcher plants growing out of his back. Just like the alligator! A tangle of roots fell out of his jacket, burrowing back underground a few feet away. Then they spotted another person, then a third, and then a fourth. As the drone gained elevation and the camera zoomed out, they counted fifteen people in total.
“Well congratulations, Jimmy!” yelled Mac. “Your engineered plant thing surely is saving humanity now!”
Jimmy and Dave sat in shock. None of them spoke for the better part of five minutes.
Jimmy came up with a plan first. “Okay guys, here is what we are going to do. Both of you, go back to your places immediately. I’ll pack up the drone, head back to my place to grab some stuff, then pick you up. If the plant is now killing people, we really can’t stay here! We should stay together. Find someone who will listen. That silver card with the emergency number. You two, call that number on your way back! I’ll come pick you up first, Mac, in 45 minutes maximum!”
Dave and Mac went back to the Subaru and they took off, leaving Jimmy to deal with the drone.
“Alright, I got the number here!” announced Dave as they began to drive. He dialed it and Officer Madson answered.
“Officer!” yelled Dave. “We saw it! The plant out in the swamp! We flew a drone over the area and one of the plants was eating an alligator…”
“A plant eating an alligator! Are you sure? Well, it is confidential information, but the army is looking into it! They mentioned that they must contain something as soon as possible. It must be that plant! They may even have to use large doses of radiation to do so. Do you believe me now that you should leave?” the Officer asked.
“Yes, we are packing some stuff now! But Officer, we didn’t call you about the alligator. We called you about the 15 dead army men! I don’t think they have the situation under control anymore!”
“Dead?!” screamed the officer. “They were supposed to call me this morning. I’m going to place a few calls immediately, believe me! Then I’m getting as far away from this thing as possible!”
Once home, Dave immediately called his wife while gathering important things from his house. He placed them in a box by the front door. He would be ready to go as soon as Jimmy and Mac arrived. He sat down in front of the TV to try and pass time faster, but nothing seemed interesting. He paced back and forth across the living room. A couple times he remembered another important trinket, retrieved it, and placed it in the box. Eventually he lay down on the couch and stared at the ceiling.
He waited, and waited, and waited. Time must have been going in slow motion. He took another minute to concentrate on the absolute silence of his neighborhood street. Usually, it would be full of the sounds of life – cars driving, lawnmowers and leaf blowers, and kids playing basketball a few houses down from his. The silence was ominous, and he began to feel its weight.
He got up and paced some more. The sound of his feet was better than the silence. Then he tried to read a chapter from his favorite book – to no avail. He opened the door to the backyard, drawing it all in just in case he would never see it again. Then he called his wife again.
“Honey, are you on the road?” she asked. And then: “…No? It’s been well over an hour since you called, I thought you said Jimmy was on his way!”
A chill ran up Dave’s spine. Having only met him a couple times, he barely knew Jimmy. But Jimmy did not seem like the type of person to be late to anything.
“I’ll call you back when we are on the road!” Dave said before hanging up.
He grabbed his box of important paperwork and things from around the house and carried them up the street to Mac’s house. He knocked loudly, then rang the bell when he did not answer immediately.
“Jimmy, is that you?” Mac asked. “Come on in - I have everything ready to go!”
Dave pushed the door open. “No! It’s Dave! So he hasn’t come by yet? Where is he? The sun’s setting in an hour or so!” he exclaimed; his voice becoming more frantic as he carried on.
“Relax Dave! Come on in and grab a beer! I’m glad you’re here, the silence is starting to spook me!” Mac responded.
They sat and tried to distract themselves, but the next half hour came and went with no sign of Jimmy.
“Want some chips?” asked Mac, as he stood and walked into the kitchen. He grabbed some plates, a large bag of chips, and opened the freezer to pull out two more beers. “Hey! Look at that! I got a message. Must have been sometime since you got here! Don’t know why it doesn’t ring properly anymore!” Mac walked across the kitchen and pressed the button to play it.
They both knew who it was. It was Jimmy, but his voice was raspy. Even before he began to talk, Dave pulled out his phone, ready to call the emergency number again.
“Sorry Mac. I felt… nauseous and had to… lay down.” They heard him walk to the sink, fill a glass of water, and drink it. “Maybe… just needed water. Anyway… be over… in 10 minutes!” He filled up the glass of water again, and this time audibly chugged it. “I’ve never felt so… dehydrated!” Fifteen seconds of silence passed, and then the water turned on again. It stayed on for too long. Then a crashing thump onto the floor and a scream. “Ouch! Wait… What’s going on?... No! It was on… the drone… the pollen!”
“Mac, let’s go!” Dave yelled, and they both ran to Mac’s Subaru while Dave called the emergency number.
“This if Officer Daniel” the line responded. “How can I assist you?”
“Great! Send someone immediately! Do you know Jimmy? I think he collapsed onto the floor and needs help!” Mac searched for Jimmy’s address and provided it to the Officer.
“I’ll come over right away! You are the last few people in town and I am the last Officer here. Let’s handle this then all get out of here!”
When Dave and Mac arrived, Officer Daniel was already there. A couple lights were on in the house. They got out of the car, and as they approached the front door, Officer Daniel was just coming out, dragging Jimmy along the ground behind him.
“Hey guys! Found him unconscious on the kitchen floor. Nearest hospital is 20 minutes south, even going 30 over on the highway. If you can keep up, I’ll give you an escort! And, whatever you told Officer Madson sure gave him a fright!”
Dave and Mac watched as Jimmy was hauled into the passenger seat of the police car. They got back into the Subaru to follow. They needed to go south too; the faster the better!
Mac carefully followed Officer Daniel, driving as fast as safely possible down the center of the highway. At least the road was empty because everyone else had already evacuated!
“This is crazy!” exclaimed Mac. “It is actually the end of the world! Who ever thought we would witness it? Do you think they might decide to just nuke the whole swamp? That’s what I would do at this point!”
“No, Mac” Dave responded. “Don’t you see? It got Jimmy too! Besides, it’s roots live so deep underground that I don’t know if a Nuke would stop it. Plus, it grows too fast!”
Silence fell between them again, until Dave’s cell phone began to ring.
It was his wife. In tears. “Dave! Are you almost here? They just called me! It’s not safe here either. We have to go further south. Or west to a drier climate. A scientist on the news thought our best chance was to go somewhere dry!”
“We are on our… oh, yikes!”
It happened so suddenly. One moment Officer Daniel was driving straight down the center of the highway with his lights flashing. Then he slowly drifted into the left lane, then the shoulder, and then completely off the side of the road. He hit something, flipped vertically two and a half times, and crashed upside down in a ball of flames!
“The police officer just crashed! Don’t think they could have survived that!” Dave yelled into the phone.
Mac kept driving. “No point in stopping! It’s better this way - we don’t need any more of those cursed plants further away from the swamp!”
“It must have spread from Jimmy to Officer Daniel!” Dave reasoned. “Get the kids ready. Mac and I will come pick you up and then we are getting as far away from here as we can! If they don’t like the heat of the desert, start looking for plots of land there!” He hung up and tried to close his eyes to block the days’ horrors from his mind for just a minute.
Tried – because before they were all the way closed, they hit a big speedbump. Dave bounced on his seat, head almost hitting the ceiling. The Subaru swerved, but Mac regained control – for just a moment – before hitting another big bump.
“Damn it!” Mac cried. “Tire is flat, and it sounds like the axel is shot! What was that?! Something was laying all across the road!” He put on the breaks and came to a stop. He got out of the car, the smell of burning tire rubber now hanging thick.
“Pretty sure I saw what it was, looked like some of those roots!” Dave said.
“Be back in a minute! Glad I finally have a use for this!” Mac opened the trunk of the Subaru, grabbed what looked to be a flamethrower, and ran back along the road. 15 minutes later, he was back, covered in sweat.
“Dave! It was one of those cursed twisted root things like you said! About as thick as my leg! I thought they were only supposed to grow down into the Earth? Jimmy, how dare he help create something like this! I burned it up rather good though and got it off the highway! We have to nuke them, electrocute them, or get the army fight back with flamethrowers! Dave, what are you doing in the driver’s seat? I’m not tired, I can keep driving!”
“Mac. Listen to me. You saw the root, but did you see any of the Pitcher plants with purple flowers?”
“Yeah I did! There were a bunch of them, too. In fact I burned those up too… hey come on! Unlock the doors! I have some tissues in the back seat. One of them sprayed me with something. I got to get it off of me. Dave come on!”
Dave shifted the car into drive and slammed on the gas. Someone had to survive! A frantically running Mac slowly disappeared behind him in the darkness as the flat tire wobbled horrendously on the broken axel. He grabbed his phone and called his wife.
“Honey! I’m still on my way. Ran into a little more trouble, but don’t worry! We’ll take your car instead!”
He went as fast as seemed reasonably possible given the condition of the car and by now he was only a few miles away.
Up ahead, the road was cracked. The locals had complained about it for years to no avail. Vegetation had grown along the cracks and within the potholes. But now those cracks and potholes were filled with dozens - perhaps hundreds - of those carnivorous Pitcher plants with the purple flowers and the poisonous pollen.
Dave did not even consider stopping. He was too panicked. Too desperate to get to his wife and to leave Mac as far behind as possible. He rolled across the Pitcher plants without a second thought. In fact, he wanted to crush them. Take them out from within the perceived safety of the Subaru. As he rolled across them, however, they threw up a thick cloud of pollen. The cars’ ventilation was open, constantly sucking in air from outside, and before Dave even knew what was happening, he inhaled a large lungful of the foul-smelling pollen.
He slammed on the breaks and sat screaming within the car for a full minute. Nothing more he could do. He had tried his best. He exited the car and found a place to lay down and stare up at the stars. He reached for his phone to call his wife but realized that it was still in the car. He was already too nauseous to stand up, having breathed in such a large amount of the pollen. He turned his attention back to the sky. He even saw a few shooting stars before searing pain crossed his forehead. Or were those streaks of light just his vision failing?
“Dave! You came to your senses! Don’t ever leave me like that again! I haven’t run for twenty minutes straight since the 10th grade! I’m feeling awfully thirsty, though, and quite a bit sick. If we can just make it to the hospital, I think they might know what to do. But we have to go quick! Ready to go?... Dave?... What are you doing lying on the ground like that anyway? Don’t you hear your phone ringing? It’s surely your wife!”
But as Mac approached, he lunged back in a fit of fright; for there he spotted two Pitcher plants - potted snugly in the sockets of what used to be eyes.
2024.05.10 06:19 kayenano The Villainess Is An SS+ Rank Adventurer: Chapter 237
[<< First] [< Previous] [Next >] [Patreon] [Discord]
Synopsis:
Juliette Contzen is a lazy, good-for-nothing princess. Overshadowed by her siblings, she's left with little to do but nap, read … and occasionally cut the falling raindrops with her sword. Spotted one day by an astonished adventurer, he insists on grading Juliette's swordsmanship, then promptly has a mental breakdown at the result.
Soon after, Juliette is given the news that her kingdom is on the brink of bankruptcy. At threat of being married off, the lazy princess vows to do whatever it takes to maintain her current lifestyle, and taking matters into her own hands, escapes in the middle of the night in order to restore her kingdom's finances.
Tags: Comedy, Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Copious Ohohohohos.
Chapter 237: A Reverie For The Soul
Words failed me.
As a princess, pitchforks symbolised the weapon of the peasantry.
They were instruments more lethal than any blade or knife in the dark. For they represented the final curtain. The ending act of my kingdom, lifted as the banner and weapon of revolt amidst a fanfare of blood and flames.
As great as the shadows cast by the lances of our enemies, none were as black a void as ordinary tools cast by a mob rallying to the cry of revolution.
That’s why–
As I watched a literal farmer bend his knees, not to reach the ground in prostration, but to leap towards me like a warrior with a trident, all I could do was tremble with horror.
It was the most gruesome of sights.
Neither a battlefield strewn with the corpses of the deceased, nor a tarte aux pommes baked without a generous layer of pecan nuts could instil in me the trepidation I felt, touching my very bones.
Indeed … to be attacked by a farmer with a pitchfork was one thing, but to be attacked by only a single one was an utter humiliation!
In all my darkest dreams, no sight of my family’s throne being emptied involved anything less than the entire populace of my kingdom’s peasantry rising against us!
And yet … all I saw before me was a single dishevelled farmer, wielding a pitchfork blunted by soil, barely fit to ward away the foxes which trespassed upon his land!
Where was the raucous shouting?
The complaints heard high into the heavens?
The frenzied bloodlust of an uncontrollable crowd?
There was no legion of witnesses to my end! No loyalists turning away in fright! No servants stealing away with the last of our ornamental cutlery!
This! This was a disgrace!
I was Juliette Contzen, 3rd Princess to the Kingdom of Tirea … and I refused to contemplate being struck by anything less than an entire mob!
That’s why–
“Absolutely not!!”
Starlight Grace burned with righteous ire as it met a pitchfork swung to meet the side of my head.
Insults upon insults. Not only did this man deem it appropriate to attack me without a riot in the backdrop, but he didn’t even have the heart to impale me!
A lazy and slovenly swing. The very image of a farmer chewing a sprig of wheat while batting insects from the leaves. Did he not know the fate of all those who failed to murder us at the first attempt? When it came to attacking royalty, the rules were clear!
One chance only! No practice rounds!
Thus, the hazy eyes of the farmer widened against the sight of Starlight Grace’s burning light.
“How–”
He mouthed a word of surprise. But there could be no complaints. Especially as every error made was a lesson. And the mistake of offering anything half-heartedly to royalty was the greatest he’ll ever learn. Whether it was their tears or their ire, I expected to ignore nothing but the best.
Sensing his peril, the drunkard twisted his pitchfork, seeking to catch my sword within the metal prongs. I opted to strike at the feeble wooden shaft instead.
Indeed, a pitchfork was no weapon of war!
It was a farming tool. And against the ruthless edge of my sword, it could do nothing but shatter the moment my sword … hmmmmm?
I blinked.
As expected, Starlight Grace burned bright in my hand as it struck the wooden shaft.
Less expected, however, was the lack of any splintering.
Instead of two pieces of a broken pitchfork dropping to the ground, I was met by the feeling of a thousand condensed pillows where the sword had struck … followed by the sight of ripples.
The wooden shaft shook like a tiny pond barely reacting to the skimming of a falling leaf.
And then–
Tendrils of smoke began to creep from it, twisting as it clawed at my sword’s blade.
I removed Starlight Grace at once, horrified by the sight.
How … How dare this man!
Nothing was allowed to touch my sword! Not even when I stabbed it!
Paying no heed to my distaste, the side of those prongs went to make a bump upon my delicate head. A clumsy challenge matching his proficiency. Unable to envisage himself as more than the untrained farmer he was, he allowed his dawdling sweep to pass over my ducking head.
But that did not make him undangerous.
With the grace of a brick, he wrenched his pitchfork overhead before crudely bringing it down. As I hopped away to shield my hair, the pitchfork swiped down with enough vigour to send a plume of dust around us. A moment later, he was several paces away, facing me with a poise filled with caution.
No longer assuming the stance of a farmer holding a pitchfork in anger for the first time, he narrowed his cloudy eyes, doing what he could to see through the haze.
The casual disregard vanished, replaced with his knees lowered and ready, his hands clutching the shaft much like a soldier guarding with a spear.
It wasn’t enough.
After all–
This man … had clearly been utterly duped!
I was aghast.
Why, not only did he manage to allow his soul to be slowly drained by a random devil … but he didn’t even gain any power from it!
Far from being empowered by the hells themselves, he was fighting like … yes, a farmer!
Even with my lack of training, I could tell he knew as much about fighting techniques as I did!
What did he hope to do by blithely swinging his pitchfork? Accidentally whack someone who knew what they were doing into his foes?
I despaired for the lost potential. To be sucked into some bizarre inner world clearly had some novelty value … but only if he used it correctly!
Why, if he learned how to shape the corridors of the Royal Villa, it’d be positively lovely!
Not for me, of course. But for those who didn’t have access to the real thing. I was certain commoners and nobility alike would pay even for a mock experience. We would earn the income without needing to clean after their soles.
The possibilities were endless!
“The young baroness never warned me you were a swordswoman,” he said, his eyes narrowed. “In fact, from the way she spoke about you, I figured you were just a regular princess.”
“There are no such things as regular princesses. We all have our talents. Mine happens to be all of them.”
The drunkard gave a smile.
It’d lost its lazy edge, instead becoming as hard as the grip around his pitchfork. The sudden seriousness and accompanying ignorance regarding his own strength only caused me to groan inside.
“Gotta admit. Wasn’t expecting this. Amidst all my travels, I never once heard about a Contzen being skilled for anything other than vileness.”
My mouth widened at the only attack he’d successfully struck.
“H-How dare you … ! What is this slander?! Who would dare speak ill of my family?! I … I will have them deported! Regardless of which country they’re in!”
“You’ll need to deport a lot of folk, then. All the streets, bars and alleys across the continent know the wickedness of royalty. Your family is no exception, I’m afraid. It’s said the halls of your castles are paved with the tears of those who serve you, such is their misery.”
I was horrified.
That … That was clearly a lie!
Why, if I could use the tears of my servants as paving material, this entire kingdom would be fully urbanised by now! That clearly wasn’t the case!
“I ask that you not listen to the deceit of those who envy my kingdom. Indeed, you need only listen to the sounds of joy coming from those who reside in it. Although I suppose that’s difficult while flailing a pitchfork like a feather duster. Is the reason you grow crops here and not outside because you’ve forgotten how to use it?”
The man chuckled. And for a moment, it seemed that a hint of genuine amusement managed to find its way back into his voice.
“I might not use it as intended, but I use it well. That you can strike back is impressive. I’ve downed foes wreathed in flames, the likes of which would never even enter your nightmares. And most of them fell before their claws were even raised.”
Oh, I had no doubt he had.
Wielding a pitchfork as he did, I expect even fiends from the abyss were easy to dispatch while laughing on the floor.
He would not receive such joviality from me.
Indeed … I recognised him for what he was. A truly devastating foe. Perhaps not to the majority of people with functional eyes. But certainly to a princess.
I had the most to lose.
Why, to be defeated by a wayward swing of a pitchfork was the most humiliating way to go! My ghost would be shunned by my family!
No, I could afford no complacency. Especially when even victory wouldn’t come without loss.
To have it noted that a drunkard with a pitchfork counted amongst my victories was appalling. Such an entry would be the thickest blot in a page already speckled with far too many lowly foes.
… Fortunately, I was more than a beautiful princess!
I was a beautiful princess with retainers!
And this meant … I could simply have Coppelia defeat him instead!
“Ohohoho …” I stood up straight, barely covering my lips as I smiled. “Is that so? Then allow me to repay the thought. I, too, am impressed.”
“I’ll take that as a fine compliment.”
“Don’t. I wasn’t referring to your skills with a pitchfork. But by your lack of awareness.”
The drunkard blinked at me.
Then, he swiftly changed his footing, turning to glance at the barn where he’d allowed his back to turn.
Ohhohoho! Too late!
Because behind him, my loyal handmaiden was already–
“This. Is. So. Amazing!”
Yes!
She was already watching from a gap in the barn door, not at all striking the man’s unprotected back!
To my grief, Coppelia was busy shaking the shoulders of the maid beside her, whose wide eyes were either derived from my handmaiden’s excitement or from her failure to rush to my assistance.
“Isn’t this great?! Look! We get threatened and now the princess is the one to protect us! It never happens this way! Doesn’t sitting back feel amazing?”
The drunkard closely studied the two retainers squeezed in the barn doorway.
And then–
He completely turned away from them, his focus on me once more.
“O-Ohoho … oho … i-indeed, notice now the futility of your actions! Why, despite there now being two of them, none of my retinue feels the need to immediately throw themselves at you as a distrac–”
Suddenly, the drunkard threw his pitchfork.
My horror was complete.
Leaving any semblance of civility to die a swift and ignominious death, he offered no warning before sending his farming instrument towards me.
It was all I could do to judge each muddy prong with the wide eyes it deserved as the thing swept past the side of my face. There was no bump awaiting the end of that throw. Only a hole as large as the crater which promptly appeared behind me, sending a small explosion of corn and soil into the sky.
My mouth widened in disbelief.
“E-Excuse me?! What was that?! You do not attack me in the middle of my sentences! That … That is a cardinal sin!”
The drunkard paused for a moment, his body still in the completed motion of a throw.
“Yeah, sorry about that.”
“As … As you very well should be! I do not meticulously comb my hair in the small hours of the night while kept up by the sounds of dancing mice just so that my only joy is destroyed by a drunkard’s lack of chivalry! How dare you! That throw was clearly meant to murder me! … Do you not have orders to capture me like the princess I am?!”
“Sure I do. But you’re not a princess waiting to be captured. Least not while you’re still standing.”
The drunkard leaned over the cart beside him, before promptly retrieving his next weapon.
It was … a shovel.
“No,” I declared at once. “Absolutely no.”
He held the shovel much like he held the pitchfork–without any intention of using it to farm.
I was aghast.
Was I truly supposed to defeat a farmer with a shovel?!
“If it makes you feel better, I rate myself more with a shovel than a pitchfork.”
“Wonderful. Then I suggest you impress me by digging an exit. That is a farming tool, not a weapon. I expressly forbid you from throwing it, utilising it as a spear or otherwise adopting it for any purpose other than its intended function.”
The man offered a shrug.
“You asked for it.”
He slightly raised the shovel … before striking it into the soil.
For a moment, nothing happened.
And then–
Crack.
A fracture appeared in the shape of a lightning bolt.
It lasted just as long.
Crraaaaaaccccccck.
All of a sudden, the very ground broke.
A groan filled the stale air. The weeping of a broken soul as a thin layer of dirt and weeds abruptly gave way to swaths of endless void where neither light nor warmth could reach … including beneath the feet of a stunned princess.
A chasm began to open like a leviathan’s maw to swallow me whole.
Why … I was delighted!
So this man could alter his little dream world, after all!
How wonderful!
This alone increased his worth significantly over every other farmer to have inadvertently signed away his soul to an infernal contract!
If he could split the ground asunder, then I saw no reason why he couldn’t also remove all of it as well!
Naturally, interior redecoration was never a fast process. Especially so given that the ground was only parting at the pace of two divorcing snails. But I was patient … and so was everyone who would shortly be visiting a purpose designed version of the Royal Villa where no matter where the dignitaries vomited, the carpets would always remain clean!
Indeed, there was much to consider. Ticket prices being one of them. But also skipping away from the hole opening up beneath me.
“Apologies for this,” said the drunkard as he leaped towards me, shovel outstretched. “But trust me, this will hurt me more than–”
“[Spring Breeze].”
Poomph.
Faced with the man’s nauseous breath, I sent a delicate puff of wind directly into his face, propelling both him and myself away. A moment later, I ended up skipping as my feet landed amidst the waist-high corn, performing a perfect hopscotch as I came to a stop.
Somewhere, I heard the sound of applause.
Just as pertinently, I heard the gasping of a drunkard who’d experienced the odour of his own breath sent back towards him. He’d landed far less neatly. Sitting up from the ground, he wore an expression of shock as he peered over the chasm which had failed to consume me.
He gingerly touched his stubble. And then he gulped.
“You … You shouldn’t have been able to do that,” he said, his disbelief carrying clearly over the gap. “That technique … everything, everything should be limited here …”
I gave a flick of my hair, indulging in the cheering of my watching retainers. Yes, even if it was just Coppelia. I hoped Renise was learning.
“Hm? And why is that, exactly?”
“Girl … this is my soul. You should have no power here. My [Soulscape] does more than empower me. It enfeebles all who I draw into it. This … This isn’t right.”
In response, I offered the most cursory of smiles.
“Oh? … Is that what you think?”
“What?”
“What meaning does your soul have to me? It doesn’t matter how deep into the depths of your, frankly, subpar quasi-plane of existence you invite me. Nor does it matter how high you cloud its edges. I still sense my kingdom all around me, just as I do a countryside farmstead overtaken by a baroness soon to repair it with her own hands. And here in my kingdom, I do not recognise any jurisdiction other than my own. My authority is absolute.”
The man blinked at me, as though wishing the haze away.
He could have been wearing a blindfold. I had little doubt he could see the natural radiance from my silhouette as clearly as I could the beads of sweat rolling past his brow.
Slowly, the man rose to his feet.
The shovel he left alone, discarded by his side. And then he did something I could not have expected.
“Heh …”
He laughed.
“Hah … hahah …”
A hollow laugh devoid of feeling. Like something expelled by instinct. A spasming of the diaphragm.
But a laugh nonetheless.
“My instincts were right,” he said, his lazy smile returning with abandon. “You … You’re dangerous. You might just be able to defeat me. Even here.”
Suddenly, he took a deep breath and squeezed his eyes shut. The wrinkles on his forehead quivered with the force of putting his mind to work on something while hindered by a cloud of drunkenness.
A moment later–
Fwoooof.
He decided to meet my earlier request.
Breaking out into a heavy sweat, he raised his palms as a … yes, an ominous dark orb of ultimate power appeared between them, burning darker than a thousand blackened hearthfires squeezed together.
“Not wholly sure if this is right,” he said, his eyes wincing even as he opened them again. “But just for you, I’ll do this. May as well take this seriously. A big part of me hopes you defeat me. But I don’t think you can, even if you struck me with that sword again and again. Whatever you might think, this is more than my soul. This is my battlefield. And only I choose when I fall.”
I blinked.
The orb shuddered as it grew, licking its surroundings with lashes of undiluted power.
Despite its black colouring, it was the most beautiful thing here. A spot of imagination in a world of faded bleakness.
And so–I nodded in satisfaction.
Naturally, I doubted its effects. I trusted more in the lethality of his farming tools than whatever he thought advanced magic was. But that didn’t matter.
After all, to outside appearances, it seemed very much like a spawn of destruction in his hands.
And that … was wonderful!
A drunkard with a pitchfork/shovel?
Beneath me.
But laughter followed by suspect orbs of doom?
Why, that was a megalomaniac at the height of his power!
Indeed … I could work with that!
My smile blossomed on my face. The only source of colour amidst a backdrop of monochrome memories.
But that could be changed.
“A shame you’ve prepared a truly dull battlefield, then,” I said, lifting Starlight Grace … but not towards my invigorated foe. “Let us amend that, shall we?”
“What?”
I offered an angelic smile.
And then I peered around myself. At a canvas without an easel. Most would deem it unsalvageable.
But most were not me.
Thus … I flicked at a nearby leaf with the tip of my sword.
It twisted. A swirl of watercolour which sought to return to its dull shape. I didn’t allow it.
Instead, I flicked at it again.
And again. And again. And again.
“Your soul may be wounded,” I said, idly taking a few steps into the field. “But no more than mine at the sight of such amateurism. So rejoice. I shall reward your first steps into the world of creativity with a reference to take with you long into the future.”
A moment later, I allowed my sword to sweep around me … just as I would if I were in the corner of my atelier, surrounded by a dozen palettes and a thousand more possibilities.
And then–
I began to paint.
“May you use it in your days of bleakness, when inspiration is as dry as the schemes of my kingdom’s nobility. By the palette's grace, let shadows and light be cast into permanence. Painting Form, 5th Stance … [Revision Reverie]!”
My arm brushed aside entire swathes of colours.
I pirouetted upon my heels, the sword in my hand twirling as much like a brush in my hand as it was a baton held by a conductor.
All the colours followed like ribbons in my wake, forming a palette in every direction.
A shade of leafy green here. A blot of barren soil there. A touch of a pale sky hanging overhead.
And then–
I swept around … and around … and around …
Trails of different shades merged as I spun, dancing from spot to spot as I directed the colours to my heart’s desire … until the very landscape of a broken soul began to change.
“Ohhohohhhohoohoohohohooohoho!!”
Here it was!
Nurtured through Father’s insufferability when he refused to burn or throw away all my works I deemed below standard, here were the results of my labour!
[Revision Reverie]!
The ability to repair any work, no matter how much I wished to do otherwise!
For when the alternative was to have a bad piece forever kept upon the walls to be ruthlessly judged, to make it serviceable before the eyes of high society was a matter of life and death!
A field of faded colours and lack of detail?
Pedestrian.
Because if I could fix a wobbly chin … then I could fix anything!
“Ohhohohohoohohohooohohohhhoohohohohohoho!!”
Thus–I went to work!
Shrubs rose from the dull grass, teeming with matched couplets of yellow lilies and white gardenias!
Barren soil lifted to become the warming trunks of deciduous trees!
Dashes of pale colour flourished to become a spring blue dotted with clouds as fluffy as the coats of jumping lambs!
I danced without pause, willing the entire world to change around me, until what was an endless expanse of lifeless crops became a garden filled with movement, and a uniform backdrop of faded colours became sharp and distinct, brimming with motion and vigour.
But I didn’t stop there.
With a smile in search of perfection, I gracefully skipped towards the barn, life and song trailing behind me as nightingales in my wake.
And there, I used its red to its fullest.
Peonies growing as bouquets amidst the fresh grass.
Ladybugs fluttering against snow white petals.
Red currants dotting the hedges.
And … the pièce de résistance …
Apples for the trees!
I took in a deep breath as I finally ceased, the last swirl of paint dribbling into a bundle of carnations.
And then–I nodded.
It wasn’t my orchard, of course. But it was certainly a garden. And by my design was grander than any which could be found under the sun, real or otherwise.
“Ah … ah … ahhh …”
I turned around.
There, fallen upon the ground, was a drunkard on his knees.
The haze had cleared from his eyes.
Suddenly, they were bright and blue, boasting memories as vivid as the garden now blooming around him. Gone were the lines of self-reproach on his face. The dirt caked into his skin fell as tears washed them away, and what remained was a man in the prime of his life.
Not a single blemish could be seen.
“Ohohohoho … welcome to my garden,” I said, gesturing as I spun around, my bright smile the light to lift the colours even more anew. “Would you like a brief tour?”
The man looked up at me.
And then he blinked, his eyes taking me in for the very first time.
“That’s … fine … I think … I think I can see everything … from here …”
He let out a youthful smile, devoid of the mistakes of the past.
The next moment–
A white light filled my eyes.
Even then, the apples from the trees continued to brightly shine … all the way until they were replaced by a sweeter sight instead.
A baroness peering at me in utter shock, sitting across from me at a tea table.
“Aahhahahahhahahahaaahhahahahahahaaaha~”
And also Coppelia rolling on the hard, muddy ground in raucous laughter, smacking the ground as she did so.
Yes, that I could do without.
[<< First] [< Previous] [Next >] [Patreon] [Discord]
submitted by kayenano to HFY [link] [comments]
Synopsis:
Juliette Contzen is a lazy, good-for-nothing princess. Overshadowed by her siblings, she's left with little to do but nap, read … and occasionally cut the falling raindrops with her sword. Spotted one day by an astonished adventurer, he insists on grading Juliette's swordsmanship, then promptly has a mental breakdown at the result.
Soon after, Juliette is given the news that her kingdom is on the brink of bankruptcy. At threat of being married off, the lazy princess vows to do whatever it takes to maintain her current lifestyle, and taking matters into her own hands, escapes in the middle of the night in order to restore her kingdom's finances.
Tags: Comedy, Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Copious Ohohohohos.
Chapter 237: A Reverie For The Soul
Words failed me.
As a princess, pitchforks symbolised the weapon of the peasantry.
They were instruments more lethal than any blade or knife in the dark. For they represented the final curtain. The ending act of my kingdom, lifted as the banner and weapon of revolt amidst a fanfare of blood and flames.
As great as the shadows cast by the lances of our enemies, none were as black a void as ordinary tools cast by a mob rallying to the cry of revolution.
That’s why–
As I watched a literal farmer bend his knees, not to reach the ground in prostration, but to leap towards me like a warrior with a trident, all I could do was tremble with horror.
It was the most gruesome of sights.
Neither a battlefield strewn with the corpses of the deceased, nor a tarte aux pommes baked without a generous layer of pecan nuts could instil in me the trepidation I felt, touching my very bones.
Indeed … to be attacked by a farmer with a pitchfork was one thing, but to be attacked by only a single one was an utter humiliation!
In all my darkest dreams, no sight of my family’s throne being emptied involved anything less than the entire populace of my kingdom’s peasantry rising against us!
And yet … all I saw before me was a single dishevelled farmer, wielding a pitchfork blunted by soil, barely fit to ward away the foxes which trespassed upon his land!
Where was the raucous shouting?
The complaints heard high into the heavens?
The frenzied bloodlust of an uncontrollable crowd?
There was no legion of witnesses to my end! No loyalists turning away in fright! No servants stealing away with the last of our ornamental cutlery!
This! This was a disgrace!
I was Juliette Contzen, 3rd Princess to the Kingdom of Tirea … and I refused to contemplate being struck by anything less than an entire mob!
That’s why–
“Absolutely not!!”
Starlight Grace burned with righteous ire as it met a pitchfork swung to meet the side of my head.
Insults upon insults. Not only did this man deem it appropriate to attack me without a riot in the backdrop, but he didn’t even have the heart to impale me!
A lazy and slovenly swing. The very image of a farmer chewing a sprig of wheat while batting insects from the leaves. Did he not know the fate of all those who failed to murder us at the first attempt? When it came to attacking royalty, the rules were clear!
One chance only! No practice rounds!
Thus, the hazy eyes of the farmer widened against the sight of Starlight Grace’s burning light.
“How–”
He mouthed a word of surprise. But there could be no complaints. Especially as every error made was a lesson. And the mistake of offering anything half-heartedly to royalty was the greatest he’ll ever learn. Whether it was their tears or their ire, I expected to ignore nothing but the best.
Sensing his peril, the drunkard twisted his pitchfork, seeking to catch my sword within the metal prongs. I opted to strike at the feeble wooden shaft instead.
Indeed, a pitchfork was no weapon of war!
It was a farming tool. And against the ruthless edge of my sword, it could do nothing but shatter the moment my sword … hmmmmm?
I blinked.
As expected, Starlight Grace burned bright in my hand as it struck the wooden shaft.
Less expected, however, was the lack of any splintering.
Instead of two pieces of a broken pitchfork dropping to the ground, I was met by the feeling of a thousand condensed pillows where the sword had struck … followed by the sight of ripples.
The wooden shaft shook like a tiny pond barely reacting to the skimming of a falling leaf.
And then–
Tendrils of smoke began to creep from it, twisting as it clawed at my sword’s blade.
I removed Starlight Grace at once, horrified by the sight.
How … How dare this man!
Nothing was allowed to touch my sword! Not even when I stabbed it!
Paying no heed to my distaste, the side of those prongs went to make a bump upon my delicate head. A clumsy challenge matching his proficiency. Unable to envisage himself as more than the untrained farmer he was, he allowed his dawdling sweep to pass over my ducking head.
But that did not make him undangerous.
With the grace of a brick, he wrenched his pitchfork overhead before crudely bringing it down. As I hopped away to shield my hair, the pitchfork swiped down with enough vigour to send a plume of dust around us. A moment later, he was several paces away, facing me with a poise filled with caution.
No longer assuming the stance of a farmer holding a pitchfork in anger for the first time, he narrowed his cloudy eyes, doing what he could to see through the haze.
The casual disregard vanished, replaced with his knees lowered and ready, his hands clutching the shaft much like a soldier guarding with a spear.
It wasn’t enough.
After all–
This man … had clearly been utterly duped!
I was aghast.
Why, not only did he manage to allow his soul to be slowly drained by a random devil … but he didn’t even gain any power from it!
Far from being empowered by the hells themselves, he was fighting like … yes, a farmer!
Even with my lack of training, I could tell he knew as much about fighting techniques as I did!
What did he hope to do by blithely swinging his pitchfork? Accidentally whack someone who knew what they were doing into his foes?
I despaired for the lost potential. To be sucked into some bizarre inner world clearly had some novelty value … but only if he used it correctly!
Why, if he learned how to shape the corridors of the Royal Villa, it’d be positively lovely!
Not for me, of course. But for those who didn’t have access to the real thing. I was certain commoners and nobility alike would pay even for a mock experience. We would earn the income without needing to clean after their soles.
The possibilities were endless!
“The young baroness never warned me you were a swordswoman,” he said, his eyes narrowed. “In fact, from the way she spoke about you, I figured you were just a regular princess.”
“There are no such things as regular princesses. We all have our talents. Mine happens to be all of them.”
The drunkard gave a smile.
It’d lost its lazy edge, instead becoming as hard as the grip around his pitchfork. The sudden seriousness and accompanying ignorance regarding his own strength only caused me to groan inside.
“Gotta admit. Wasn’t expecting this. Amidst all my travels, I never once heard about a Contzen being skilled for anything other than vileness.”
My mouth widened at the only attack he’d successfully struck.
“H-How dare you … ! What is this slander?! Who would dare speak ill of my family?! I … I will have them deported! Regardless of which country they’re in!”
“You’ll need to deport a lot of folk, then. All the streets, bars and alleys across the continent know the wickedness of royalty. Your family is no exception, I’m afraid. It’s said the halls of your castles are paved with the tears of those who serve you, such is their misery.”
I was horrified.
That … That was clearly a lie!
Why, if I could use the tears of my servants as paving material, this entire kingdom would be fully urbanised by now! That clearly wasn’t the case!
“I ask that you not listen to the deceit of those who envy my kingdom. Indeed, you need only listen to the sounds of joy coming from those who reside in it. Although I suppose that’s difficult while flailing a pitchfork like a feather duster. Is the reason you grow crops here and not outside because you’ve forgotten how to use it?”
The man chuckled. And for a moment, it seemed that a hint of genuine amusement managed to find its way back into his voice.
“I might not use it as intended, but I use it well. That you can strike back is impressive. I’ve downed foes wreathed in flames, the likes of which would never even enter your nightmares. And most of them fell before their claws were even raised.”
Oh, I had no doubt he had.
Wielding a pitchfork as he did, I expect even fiends from the abyss were easy to dispatch while laughing on the floor.
He would not receive such joviality from me.
Indeed … I recognised him for what he was. A truly devastating foe. Perhaps not to the majority of people with functional eyes. But certainly to a princess.
I had the most to lose.
Why, to be defeated by a wayward swing of a pitchfork was the most humiliating way to go! My ghost would be shunned by my family!
No, I could afford no complacency. Especially when even victory wouldn’t come without loss.
To have it noted that a drunkard with a pitchfork counted amongst my victories was appalling. Such an entry would be the thickest blot in a page already speckled with far too many lowly foes.
… Fortunately, I was more than a beautiful princess!
I was a beautiful princess with retainers!
And this meant … I could simply have Coppelia defeat him instead!
“Ohohoho …” I stood up straight, barely covering my lips as I smiled. “Is that so? Then allow me to repay the thought. I, too, am impressed.”
“I’ll take that as a fine compliment.”
“Don’t. I wasn’t referring to your skills with a pitchfork. But by your lack of awareness.”
The drunkard blinked at me.
Then, he swiftly changed his footing, turning to glance at the barn where he’d allowed his back to turn.
Ohhohoho! Too late!
Because behind him, my loyal handmaiden was already–
“This. Is. So. Amazing!”
Yes!
She was already watching from a gap in the barn door, not at all striking the man’s unprotected back!
To my grief, Coppelia was busy shaking the shoulders of the maid beside her, whose wide eyes were either derived from my handmaiden’s excitement or from her failure to rush to my assistance.
“Isn’t this great?! Look! We get threatened and now the princess is the one to protect us! It never happens this way! Doesn’t sitting back feel amazing?”
The drunkard closely studied the two retainers squeezed in the barn doorway.
And then–
He completely turned away from them, his focus on me once more.
“O-Ohoho … oho … i-indeed, notice now the futility of your actions! Why, despite there now being two of them, none of my retinue feels the need to immediately throw themselves at you as a distrac–”
Suddenly, the drunkard threw his pitchfork.
My horror was complete.
Leaving any semblance of civility to die a swift and ignominious death, he offered no warning before sending his farming instrument towards me.
It was all I could do to judge each muddy prong with the wide eyes it deserved as the thing swept past the side of my face. There was no bump awaiting the end of that throw. Only a hole as large as the crater which promptly appeared behind me, sending a small explosion of corn and soil into the sky.
My mouth widened in disbelief.
“E-Excuse me?! What was that?! You do not attack me in the middle of my sentences! That … That is a cardinal sin!”
The drunkard paused for a moment, his body still in the completed motion of a throw.
“Yeah, sorry about that.”
“As … As you very well should be! I do not meticulously comb my hair in the small hours of the night while kept up by the sounds of dancing mice just so that my only joy is destroyed by a drunkard’s lack of chivalry! How dare you! That throw was clearly meant to murder me! … Do you not have orders to capture me like the princess I am?!”
“Sure I do. But you’re not a princess waiting to be captured. Least not while you’re still standing.”
The drunkard leaned over the cart beside him, before promptly retrieving his next weapon.
It was … a shovel.
“No,” I declared at once. “Absolutely no.”
He held the shovel much like he held the pitchfork–without any intention of using it to farm.
I was aghast.
Was I truly supposed to defeat a farmer with a shovel?!
“If it makes you feel better, I rate myself more with a shovel than a pitchfork.”
“Wonderful. Then I suggest you impress me by digging an exit. That is a farming tool, not a weapon. I expressly forbid you from throwing it, utilising it as a spear or otherwise adopting it for any purpose other than its intended function.”
The man offered a shrug.
“You asked for it.”
He slightly raised the shovel … before striking it into the soil.
For a moment, nothing happened.
And then–
Crack.
A fracture appeared in the shape of a lightning bolt.
It lasted just as long.
Crraaaaaaccccccck.
All of a sudden, the very ground broke.
A groan filled the stale air. The weeping of a broken soul as a thin layer of dirt and weeds abruptly gave way to swaths of endless void where neither light nor warmth could reach … including beneath the feet of a stunned princess.
A chasm began to open like a leviathan’s maw to swallow me whole.
Why … I was delighted!
So this man could alter his little dream world, after all!
How wonderful!
This alone increased his worth significantly over every other farmer to have inadvertently signed away his soul to an infernal contract!
If he could split the ground asunder, then I saw no reason why he couldn’t also remove all of it as well!
Naturally, interior redecoration was never a fast process. Especially so given that the ground was only parting at the pace of two divorcing snails. But I was patient … and so was everyone who would shortly be visiting a purpose designed version of the Royal Villa where no matter where the dignitaries vomited, the carpets would always remain clean!
Indeed, there was much to consider. Ticket prices being one of them. But also skipping away from the hole opening up beneath me.
“Apologies for this,” said the drunkard as he leaped towards me, shovel outstretched. “But trust me, this will hurt me more than–”
“[Spring Breeze].”
Poomph.
Faced with the man’s nauseous breath, I sent a delicate puff of wind directly into his face, propelling both him and myself away. A moment later, I ended up skipping as my feet landed amidst the waist-high corn, performing a perfect hopscotch as I came to a stop.
Somewhere, I heard the sound of applause.
Just as pertinently, I heard the gasping of a drunkard who’d experienced the odour of his own breath sent back towards him. He’d landed far less neatly. Sitting up from the ground, he wore an expression of shock as he peered over the chasm which had failed to consume me.
He gingerly touched his stubble. And then he gulped.
“You … You shouldn’t have been able to do that,” he said, his disbelief carrying clearly over the gap. “That technique … everything, everything should be limited here …”
I gave a flick of my hair, indulging in the cheering of my watching retainers. Yes, even if it was just Coppelia. I hoped Renise was learning.
“Hm? And why is that, exactly?”
“Girl … this is my soul. You should have no power here. My [Soulscape] does more than empower me. It enfeebles all who I draw into it. This … This isn’t right.”
In response, I offered the most cursory of smiles.
“Oh? … Is that what you think?”
“What?”
“What meaning does your soul have to me? It doesn’t matter how deep into the depths of your, frankly, subpar quasi-plane of existence you invite me. Nor does it matter how high you cloud its edges. I still sense my kingdom all around me, just as I do a countryside farmstead overtaken by a baroness soon to repair it with her own hands. And here in my kingdom, I do not recognise any jurisdiction other than my own. My authority is absolute.”
The man blinked at me, as though wishing the haze away.
He could have been wearing a blindfold. I had little doubt he could see the natural radiance from my silhouette as clearly as I could the beads of sweat rolling past his brow.
Slowly, the man rose to his feet.
The shovel he left alone, discarded by his side. And then he did something I could not have expected.
“Heh …”
He laughed.
“Hah … hahah …”
A hollow laugh devoid of feeling. Like something expelled by instinct. A spasming of the diaphragm.
But a laugh nonetheless.
“My instincts were right,” he said, his lazy smile returning with abandon. “You … You’re dangerous. You might just be able to defeat me. Even here.”
Suddenly, he took a deep breath and squeezed his eyes shut. The wrinkles on his forehead quivered with the force of putting his mind to work on something while hindered by a cloud of drunkenness.
A moment later–
Fwoooof.
He decided to meet my earlier request.
Breaking out into a heavy sweat, he raised his palms as a … yes, an ominous dark orb of ultimate power appeared between them, burning darker than a thousand blackened hearthfires squeezed together.
“Not wholly sure if this is right,” he said, his eyes wincing even as he opened them again. “But just for you, I’ll do this. May as well take this seriously. A big part of me hopes you defeat me. But I don’t think you can, even if you struck me with that sword again and again. Whatever you might think, this is more than my soul. This is my battlefield. And only I choose when I fall.”
I blinked.
The orb shuddered as it grew, licking its surroundings with lashes of undiluted power.
Despite its black colouring, it was the most beautiful thing here. A spot of imagination in a world of faded bleakness.
And so–I nodded in satisfaction.
Naturally, I doubted its effects. I trusted more in the lethality of his farming tools than whatever he thought advanced magic was. But that didn’t matter.
After all, to outside appearances, it seemed very much like a spawn of destruction in his hands.
And that … was wonderful!
A drunkard with a pitchfork/shovel?
Beneath me.
But laughter followed by suspect orbs of doom?
Why, that was a megalomaniac at the height of his power!
Indeed … I could work with that!
My smile blossomed on my face. The only source of colour amidst a backdrop of monochrome memories.
But that could be changed.
“A shame you’ve prepared a truly dull battlefield, then,” I said, lifting Starlight Grace … but not towards my invigorated foe. “Let us amend that, shall we?”
“What?”
I offered an angelic smile.
And then I peered around myself. At a canvas without an easel. Most would deem it unsalvageable.
But most were not me.
Thus … I flicked at a nearby leaf with the tip of my sword.
It twisted. A swirl of watercolour which sought to return to its dull shape. I didn’t allow it.
Instead, I flicked at it again.
And again. And again. And again.
“Your soul may be wounded,” I said, idly taking a few steps into the field. “But no more than mine at the sight of such amateurism. So rejoice. I shall reward your first steps into the world of creativity with a reference to take with you long into the future.”
A moment later, I allowed my sword to sweep around me … just as I would if I were in the corner of my atelier, surrounded by a dozen palettes and a thousand more possibilities.
And then–
I began to paint.
“May you use it in your days of bleakness, when inspiration is as dry as the schemes of my kingdom’s nobility. By the palette's grace, let shadows and light be cast into permanence. Painting Form, 5th Stance … [Revision Reverie]!”
My arm brushed aside entire swathes of colours.
I pirouetted upon my heels, the sword in my hand twirling as much like a brush in my hand as it was a baton held by a conductor.
All the colours followed like ribbons in my wake, forming a palette in every direction.
A shade of leafy green here. A blot of barren soil there. A touch of a pale sky hanging overhead.
And then–
I swept around … and around … and around …
Trails of different shades merged as I spun, dancing from spot to spot as I directed the colours to my heart’s desire … until the very landscape of a broken soul began to change.
“Ohhohohhhohoohoohohohooohoho!!”
Here it was!
Nurtured through Father’s insufferability when he refused to burn or throw away all my works I deemed below standard, here were the results of my labour!
[Revision Reverie]!
The ability to repair any work, no matter how much I wished to do otherwise!
For when the alternative was to have a bad piece forever kept upon the walls to be ruthlessly judged, to make it serviceable before the eyes of high society was a matter of life and death!
A field of faded colours and lack of detail?
Pedestrian.
Because if I could fix a wobbly chin … then I could fix anything!
“Ohhohohohoohohohooohohohhhoohohohohohoho!!”
Thus–I went to work!
Shrubs rose from the dull grass, teeming with matched couplets of yellow lilies and white gardenias!
Barren soil lifted to become the warming trunks of deciduous trees!
Dashes of pale colour flourished to become a spring blue dotted with clouds as fluffy as the coats of jumping lambs!
I danced without pause, willing the entire world to change around me, until what was an endless expanse of lifeless crops became a garden filled with movement, and a uniform backdrop of faded colours became sharp and distinct, brimming with motion and vigour.
But I didn’t stop there.
With a smile in search of perfection, I gracefully skipped towards the barn, life and song trailing behind me as nightingales in my wake.
And there, I used its red to its fullest.
Peonies growing as bouquets amidst the fresh grass.
Ladybugs fluttering against snow white petals.
Red currants dotting the hedges.
And … the pièce de résistance …
Apples for the trees!
I took in a deep breath as I finally ceased, the last swirl of paint dribbling into a bundle of carnations.
And then–I nodded.
It wasn’t my orchard, of course. But it was certainly a garden. And by my design was grander than any which could be found under the sun, real or otherwise.
“Ah … ah … ahhh …”
I turned around.
There, fallen upon the ground, was a drunkard on his knees.
The haze had cleared from his eyes.
Suddenly, they were bright and blue, boasting memories as vivid as the garden now blooming around him. Gone were the lines of self-reproach on his face. The dirt caked into his skin fell as tears washed them away, and what remained was a man in the prime of his life.
Not a single blemish could be seen.
“Ohohohoho … welcome to my garden,” I said, gesturing as I spun around, my bright smile the light to lift the colours even more anew. “Would you like a brief tour?”
The man looked up at me.
And then he blinked, his eyes taking me in for the very first time.
“That’s … fine … I think … I think I can see everything … from here …”
He let out a youthful smile, devoid of the mistakes of the past.
The next moment–
A white light filled my eyes.
Even then, the apples from the trees continued to brightly shine … all the way until they were replaced by a sweeter sight instead.
A baroness peering at me in utter shock, sitting across from me at a tea table.
“Aahhahahahhahahahaaahhahahahahahaaaha~”
And also Coppelia rolling on the hard, muddy ground in raucous laughter, smacking the ground as she did so.
Yes, that I could do without.
[<< First] [< Previous] [Next >] [Patreon] [Discord]
2024.05.10 01:41 Overall_Appearance15 My (ongoing) story
TLDR: even though I fell away from the faith into sin, I have repented and truly believe I am saved. Still trying to quit nicotine but headed in the right direction (weaning off).
Just wanted to post this here, partially as practice for when it comes time to share my belief with an unbeliever.
I grew up in a christian household and have gone to church most Sundays (and Wednesdays when applicable) of my life, although I had never really pursued God and his word until these past 2 weeks or so (now 21m). I always believed that Jesus is our savior, but I did not express it and had a strange sense of anxiety and shame when it came time to talk about my faith. I chose to get baptized in 3rd grade, but unfortunately I was not the good and faithful Christian that I should have been.
As early as 5th grade I exposed myself to pornography and was completely addicted 6th grade and onward. This took me down a dark path of sin, and consequential rejection of God (and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying it, although i always had a sense of guilt and have been in and out of severe depression from then until now). I truly believe I was at least partially Demon possessed during this period of my life (6th-9th grade). it all stemmed from me being ashamed of the sins I was committing and therefore wanting to separate myself from him so I wouldn't feel the immense guilt. (I was also homeschooling 7th and 8th grade which I think only made it worse because of the decrease in human interaction, and increase in opportunities to pleasure myself-it could have worked out if I had good friends that were also christian and homeschooled).
Once in 9th grade my sin only worsened and I got addicted to vaping, weed, and even tried some psychedelics and hard drugs, the worst of them being meth. By the grace of God I only did meth twice with another highschooleco-worker, and then never saw him again about 2 weeks after doing it. I also started seeking harder porn such as trans hypno/brainwash content (yes there really is porn out there that hypnotizes people into being trans or even more addicted). Up till about 2 weeks ago I've been a very consistent user of weed, nicotine, pornography and alcohol.
About 2 weeks ago I had a big health scare and felt like my head was inflating and I really thought I was gonna die. That was when I FINALLY decided it was time to change (out of the fear of God and being sent to hell). It really has been so difficult these past 2 weeks in many ways other than giving up the addictions (1 week free of porn and weed, still trying to put down the vape, but I've been making myself hit it less and less).
My mind was constantly at war with itself saying things like you can't be forgiven anymore since you were once a christian and entered a life full of sin. The biggest contributors to these thoughts being Hebrews 6:4, and Matthew 12:31 (the unforgivable sin). However I've managed to truly connect with my parents these past 2 weeks over the gospel, and have received immense encouragement from them and Luke 4:18 ministries here in ATX. The main reason I'm writing this today though is because of the wonderful thing that happened last night.
My mom convinced me to do something with her called Immanuel Journaling where you just ask for the Holy Spirit to speak to you about certain things happening in your life/what he sees in you, and then write down what you hear from him. It was very hard for me to tell whether I was hearing myself, the Holy Spirit, or something else during this, but my mom is a very experienced christ follower and if she says the Holy Spirit spoke to her, I trust it. In the latter half of the exercise, she said that the Holy Spirit had a message for me, her son. I was ecstatic. The message was:
"mourning is a necessary reaction to sin and grieving me. I see you. I hear you. I forgive you. Joy will come in the morning. Walk with me. Trust me. I am with you always, but it's up to you to take my hand and let me guide you. Read Psalm 23."
I am 100% serious when I say I welled up with tears. I am now as I'm writing this. I am completely overjoyed. If anyone is going through something similar, do not let the enemy convince you that you can't be forgiven. God ALWAYS loves you. If theres anything more heartbreaking than someone not being saved because they don't believe, it's a believer not being saved because they believe they can't be forgiven, and falling back into sin. Jesus became every single sin that all of us have ever, and will ever commit, whether we believe or not. The only way to be SAVED through his sacrifice is to believe in him and repent. From this we create ourselves into a haven for the holy spirit, and it is by the holy spirit that dwells in us that we are raised from the dead. We are sinners. We have and probably will again grieve the Holy Spirit, but we need to do our absolute best to walk with him, please him, and spread his message to as many others as possible.
I also feel I should add that the Holy Spirit set the story of the Prodigal Son(Luke 15:11) on my mind as I was questioning whether or not I could be forgiven. It's the perfect story for this situation.
I've always had social anxiety so this was the easiest way for me to get my story out there, but I really want to get more comfortable in sharing the message of salvation face to face with non believers.
For people going through similar struggles here's a list of bible verses that Luke 4:18 Ministries recommended to me:
Psalm 23 (not from Luke 4:18 but from the Holy spirit) Romans 7:15 1 John 1 John 16:8 Jeremiah 29:11 Matthew 11:28 Psalm 37:4 Ephesians 3:18 2 Timothy 2:1 Deuteronomy 28 Psalm 40
Also for how I got through the immense distress I felt from Hebrews 6: Hebrews is a letter directed to the Hebrews convicting them of going back to their old sacrificial ways, and is widely believed to have been written by Paul (although not confirmed). Peter has said that Paul's teachings can be hard to understand, and people would twist his teachings unto their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). On top of this, the message of Hebrews 6 can conflict quite heavily with other parts of the Bible that preach salvation. It is meant to be read by people with EXTENSIVE knowledge of the Torrah and Paul himself warns against reading it if you do not have said knowledge (you'd be surprised just how little you know about the Torrah).
As for how I got through the distress I felt from Matthew 12:31 (the unforgivable sin): Jesus is speaking directly to the Pharisees in this verse who were saying that his works were that of satan (there is next to 0% chance that you've done this but if for some reason you did, you would know). It's spelled out directly. Anyone who blasphemes the father or the son may be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy spirit will not. I've seen people saying that balspheming the Holy spirit could be committing sin while knowing that it's sin, but to me, that's insanity. We are sinners. God knows we're sinners and that no matter how much we walk with him, we are not perfect until he has MADE us perfect through our new heavenly bodies. Blasphemy against the Holy spirit is done through very specific and intentional words. Hard stop.
submitted by Overall_Appearance15 to Christianity [link] [comments]
Just wanted to post this here, partially as practice for when it comes time to share my belief with an unbeliever.
I grew up in a christian household and have gone to church most Sundays (and Wednesdays when applicable) of my life, although I had never really pursued God and his word until these past 2 weeks or so (now 21m). I always believed that Jesus is our savior, but I did not express it and had a strange sense of anxiety and shame when it came time to talk about my faith. I chose to get baptized in 3rd grade, but unfortunately I was not the good and faithful Christian that I should have been.
As early as 5th grade I exposed myself to pornography and was completely addicted 6th grade and onward. This took me down a dark path of sin, and consequential rejection of God (and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying it, although i always had a sense of guilt and have been in and out of severe depression from then until now). I truly believe I was at least partially Demon possessed during this period of my life (6th-9th grade). it all stemmed from me being ashamed of the sins I was committing and therefore wanting to separate myself from him so I wouldn't feel the immense guilt. (I was also homeschooling 7th and 8th grade which I think only made it worse because of the decrease in human interaction, and increase in opportunities to pleasure myself-it could have worked out if I had good friends that were also christian and homeschooled).
Once in 9th grade my sin only worsened and I got addicted to vaping, weed, and even tried some psychedelics and hard drugs, the worst of them being meth. By the grace of God I only did meth twice with another highschooleco-worker, and then never saw him again about 2 weeks after doing it. I also started seeking harder porn such as trans hypno/brainwash content (yes there really is porn out there that hypnotizes people into being trans or even more addicted). Up till about 2 weeks ago I've been a very consistent user of weed, nicotine, pornography and alcohol.
About 2 weeks ago I had a big health scare and felt like my head was inflating and I really thought I was gonna die. That was when I FINALLY decided it was time to change (out of the fear of God and being sent to hell). It really has been so difficult these past 2 weeks in many ways other than giving up the addictions (1 week free of porn and weed, still trying to put down the vape, but I've been making myself hit it less and less).
My mind was constantly at war with itself saying things like you can't be forgiven anymore since you were once a christian and entered a life full of sin. The biggest contributors to these thoughts being Hebrews 6:4, and Matthew 12:31 (the unforgivable sin). However I've managed to truly connect with my parents these past 2 weeks over the gospel, and have received immense encouragement from them and Luke 4:18 ministries here in ATX. The main reason I'm writing this today though is because of the wonderful thing that happened last night.
My mom convinced me to do something with her called Immanuel Journaling where you just ask for the Holy Spirit to speak to you about certain things happening in your life/what he sees in you, and then write down what you hear from him. It was very hard for me to tell whether I was hearing myself, the Holy Spirit, or something else during this, but my mom is a very experienced christ follower and if she says the Holy Spirit spoke to her, I trust it. In the latter half of the exercise, she said that the Holy Spirit had a message for me, her son. I was ecstatic. The message was:
"mourning is a necessary reaction to sin and grieving me. I see you. I hear you. I forgive you. Joy will come in the morning. Walk with me. Trust me. I am with you always, but it's up to you to take my hand and let me guide you. Read Psalm 23."
I am 100% serious when I say I welled up with tears. I am now as I'm writing this. I am completely overjoyed. If anyone is going through something similar, do not let the enemy convince you that you can't be forgiven. God ALWAYS loves you. If theres anything more heartbreaking than someone not being saved because they don't believe, it's a believer not being saved because they believe they can't be forgiven, and falling back into sin. Jesus became every single sin that all of us have ever, and will ever commit, whether we believe or not. The only way to be SAVED through his sacrifice is to believe in him and repent. From this we create ourselves into a haven for the holy spirit, and it is by the holy spirit that dwells in us that we are raised from the dead. We are sinners. We have and probably will again grieve the Holy Spirit, but we need to do our absolute best to walk with him, please him, and spread his message to as many others as possible.
I also feel I should add that the Holy Spirit set the story of the Prodigal Son(Luke 15:11) on my mind as I was questioning whether or not I could be forgiven. It's the perfect story for this situation.
I've always had social anxiety so this was the easiest way for me to get my story out there, but I really want to get more comfortable in sharing the message of salvation face to face with non believers.
For people going through similar struggles here's a list of bible verses that Luke 4:18 Ministries recommended to me:
Psalm 23 (not from Luke 4:18 but from the Holy spirit) Romans 7:15 1 John 1 John 16:8 Jeremiah 29:11 Matthew 11:28 Psalm 37:4 Ephesians 3:18 2 Timothy 2:1 Deuteronomy 28 Psalm 40
Also for how I got through the immense distress I felt from Hebrews 6: Hebrews is a letter directed to the Hebrews convicting them of going back to their old sacrificial ways, and is widely believed to have been written by Paul (although not confirmed). Peter has said that Paul's teachings can be hard to understand, and people would twist his teachings unto their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). On top of this, the message of Hebrews 6 can conflict quite heavily with other parts of the Bible that preach salvation. It is meant to be read by people with EXTENSIVE knowledge of the Torrah and Paul himself warns against reading it if you do not have said knowledge (you'd be surprised just how little you know about the Torrah).
As for how I got through the distress I felt from Matthew 12:31 (the unforgivable sin): Jesus is speaking directly to the Pharisees in this verse who were saying that his works were that of satan (there is next to 0% chance that you've done this but if for some reason you did, you would know). It's spelled out directly. Anyone who blasphemes the father or the son may be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy spirit will not. I've seen people saying that balspheming the Holy spirit could be committing sin while knowing that it's sin, but to me, that's insanity. We are sinners. God knows we're sinners and that no matter how much we walk with him, we are not perfect until he has MADE us perfect through our new heavenly bodies. Blasphemy against the Holy spirit is done through very specific and intentional words. Hard stop.
2024.05.09 21:25 Double-Molasses-8419 WIBTA If I sent my dad to jail?
This is a throwaway account. don’t want it linked to my main account if it gets back to him.
context: Mom is white, dad is black. Mom is abusive, I left her house and my dad sides with her. Mom’s side of the family is incredibly racist, transphobic, homophobic, misogynistic, and ableist. Dads family is all those same things just happen to also be black. I’m AuDHD (autistic with adhd) and have pretty severe OCD. With the abuse I’ve been through I have CPTSD. My partner insisted I added this.
My (early 20s nonbinary) dad (late 30s) has been mostly absent my whole life. He didn’t even meet me until after I could walk. and I would see him every 2ish years until I hit 5th grade. I went to visit him for the summer one year and I noticed him dealing on several occasions. He tried to be sneaky but when you’re in the front seat with the car lights on, and he passes a big baggie of weed to his friend after exchanging cash, it isn’t exactly hard to put 2 and 2 together. Other things happened that summer, but I was so uncomfortable by it, that the next time I went back to his town I was 16. There’s other instances of this. Constantly smelling of weed, huge wads of cash with no job, weed stems all over his house. One time he made me wear his jacket with all the money in his pocket so my aunt wouldn’t think it was his and be suspicious.
And honestly if he had never 1) done it front me, 2) out right lied to me about it when he was doing it in my face. I wouldn’t have a problem with it as much as I did in my childhood.
Honestly, it’s not the fact that he’s doing it that bothers me. All I’ve ever seen is him deal marijuana. He’s never done harder stuff from what I know. I know that weed is a medication that helps people. And as far as I know he’s his towns main dealer for if not 2 decades, just under it. I also know that our justice system will be a lot harder on him than they would someone not of our community.
As I mentioned earlier, I am autistic. When I was a child my most noticeable symptoms were hyper verbal, food sensory sensitivities, and huge issues with social cues of any kind.
Recently we got into an argument after I effectively asked him why he never loved me. It’s a really long exchange and he’s said a lot of messed up things.
Here are some of the highlights: •”I sacrificed my life for you.” •”if you knew all the things I did for you, you would praise me” • calling me a little girl the whole time • a bunch of transphobic stuff about my husband • “You’re crazy frfr” • “Stop ( he used the stop sign emoji here) playing the victim.” •”You did the best thing on Earth for me and that’s when you changed your last name.” (didn’t change it by the way, husband took my last name. kept my last name as my final connection to my blackness ) •”You are the devil and you are evil.” This one was followed by, •”you’re weird.”
But the worst part? • “We didn’t want your crazy ass at the funeral you talk too damn much.”
I found out that particular family member died over facebook. It was the second time I found out someone died over Facebook. He threatened to kill me for being upset about it. Then when I did show up (I didn’t tell him I was coming and took the multiple hours long trip with an aunt) the day we were set to leave he threatened to choke me for not going along with his lie.
”You are the devil and you are evil.” Are also particularly cruel because those are the same words my mom’s racist grandfather wrote about me in a letter to my mom when I was born.
I am hurt and angry. I have his address and his local crime tip line ready. But, part of me feels like I’m compromising my morals. I don’t believe in prisons, I am starchily anti cop, and I am pro-weed. It’s not because I think he’s doing something wrong morally for this crime but, also- I don’t think he should be able get away with it. What should I do? Thanks for your time.
submitted by Double-Molasses-8419 to AITAH [link] [comments]
context: Mom is white, dad is black. Mom is abusive, I left her house and my dad sides with her. Mom’s side of the family is incredibly racist, transphobic, homophobic, misogynistic, and ableist. Dads family is all those same things just happen to also be black. I’m AuDHD (autistic with adhd) and have pretty severe OCD. With the abuse I’ve been through I have CPTSD. My partner insisted I added this.
My (early 20s nonbinary) dad (late 30s) has been mostly absent my whole life. He didn’t even meet me until after I could walk. and I would see him every 2ish years until I hit 5th grade. I went to visit him for the summer one year and I noticed him dealing on several occasions. He tried to be sneaky but when you’re in the front seat with the car lights on, and he passes a big baggie of weed to his friend after exchanging cash, it isn’t exactly hard to put 2 and 2 together. Other things happened that summer, but I was so uncomfortable by it, that the next time I went back to his town I was 16. There’s other instances of this. Constantly smelling of weed, huge wads of cash with no job, weed stems all over his house. One time he made me wear his jacket with all the money in his pocket so my aunt wouldn’t think it was his and be suspicious.
And honestly if he had never 1) done it front me, 2) out right lied to me about it when he was doing it in my face. I wouldn’t have a problem with it as much as I did in my childhood.
Honestly, it’s not the fact that he’s doing it that bothers me. All I’ve ever seen is him deal marijuana. He’s never done harder stuff from what I know. I know that weed is a medication that helps people. And as far as I know he’s his towns main dealer for if not 2 decades, just under it. I also know that our justice system will be a lot harder on him than they would someone not of our community.
As I mentioned earlier, I am autistic. When I was a child my most noticeable symptoms were hyper verbal, food sensory sensitivities, and huge issues with social cues of any kind.
Recently we got into an argument after I effectively asked him why he never loved me. It’s a really long exchange and he’s said a lot of messed up things.
Here are some of the highlights: •”I sacrificed my life for you.” •”if you knew all the things I did for you, you would praise me” • calling me a little girl the whole time • a bunch of transphobic stuff about my husband • “You’re crazy frfr” • “Stop ( he used the stop sign emoji here) playing the victim.” •”You did the best thing on Earth for me and that’s when you changed your last name.” (didn’t change it by the way, husband took my last name. kept my last name as my final connection to my blackness ) •”You are the devil and you are evil.” This one was followed by, •”you’re weird.”
But the worst part? • “We didn’t want your crazy ass at the funeral you talk too damn much.”
I found out that particular family member died over facebook. It was the second time I found out someone died over Facebook. He threatened to kill me for being upset about it. Then when I did show up (I didn’t tell him I was coming and took the multiple hours long trip with an aunt) the day we were set to leave he threatened to choke me for not going along with his lie.
”You are the devil and you are evil.” Are also particularly cruel because those are the same words my mom’s racist grandfather wrote about me in a letter to my mom when I was born.
I am hurt and angry. I have his address and his local crime tip line ready. But, part of me feels like I’m compromising my morals. I don’t believe in prisons, I am starchily anti cop, and I am pro-weed. It’s not because I think he’s doing something wrong morally for this crime but, also- I don’t think he should be able get away with it. What should I do? Thanks for your time.
2024.05.09 16:08 pdxhomegrrrl Parents of autistic children, a plea for your advice
Good morning neighbors,
I'm writing here because I'm desperate for help and insight when its comes to my daughter. She is 6 and a kindergartener.
She has a diagnosed mood disorder and were currently undergoing an autism diagnosis. She has an iep. She is currently only allowed to go to school from 845am to 12pm. She is sent home once a week for bad behavior (hitting teachers, hitting students). The lights, the noise, the over stimulation triggers her to go non verbal, hide under desks, hiss and growl like an animal and she'll begin to throw things or deliberately bother others.
Due to this behavior, her gen ed teacher struggles to maintain peace in the classroom. So, my daughter bounces from a para (whos working with 4th and 5th graders who evidently cuss at my child when she irritates them), the school counselor, the receptionist and the principal. I think they hand her a worksheet to scribble on. In 3 months, she has brought home one peice of school work. One of the staff told me, she's not learning here- she's just running around the school, not getting anything done (another issue she has is running out of the room).
I've asked the teachers, where do other kindergarteners go who are like this? Certainly there are kids similar or more challenging than her- where do they go?? I get silence. Nobody seems to know what to do with her.
They say the resource room isn't appropriate because the older kids are triggered by her and this could be dangerous for her.
So, I'm wondering if anybody reading this has been down my road before?
I'm a single mom, short on time and energy to fight for my child. I'm making enough to pay my mortgage and the bills, but private school is out of my budget.
Also, as a side note- she does not have these episodes at home anymore. The last time she had one was about a year and a half ago when we were staying in an air bnb (the environment triggers these episodes). I've taught her how to read at a 2nd grade level and how to do basic math using an abacus. So, she is teachable and she can learn in the right environment, with the right person. As a side note, I do work from home and have set up a little "school" next to my desk. I've been teaching her an extra hour a day to try to make up for what the school ia shorting her.
Another side note, over the years she's had two psychiatrists, two behavioral coaches (mostly coaching me so I can help her) and completed the Emotional ABCs program. I've read several of the "best" books and read countless studies. She is not on medication although I'm at a breaking point and seriously considering it because I'm feeling that the risk now is overshadowed by the potential reward (she's able to integrate into society).
I know this a lot of text, so thank you if you made it this far! Very grateful for any info or wisdom you can pass along.
submitted by pdxhomegrrrl to Longview [link] [comments]
I'm writing here because I'm desperate for help and insight when its comes to my daughter. She is 6 and a kindergartener.
She has a diagnosed mood disorder and were currently undergoing an autism diagnosis. She has an iep. She is currently only allowed to go to school from 845am to 12pm. She is sent home once a week for bad behavior (hitting teachers, hitting students). The lights, the noise, the over stimulation triggers her to go non verbal, hide under desks, hiss and growl like an animal and she'll begin to throw things or deliberately bother others.
Due to this behavior, her gen ed teacher struggles to maintain peace in the classroom. So, my daughter bounces from a para (whos working with 4th and 5th graders who evidently cuss at my child when she irritates them), the school counselor, the receptionist and the principal. I think they hand her a worksheet to scribble on. In 3 months, she has brought home one peice of school work. One of the staff told me, she's not learning here- she's just running around the school, not getting anything done (another issue she has is running out of the room).
I've asked the teachers, where do other kindergarteners go who are like this? Certainly there are kids similar or more challenging than her- where do they go?? I get silence. Nobody seems to know what to do with her.
They say the resource room isn't appropriate because the older kids are triggered by her and this could be dangerous for her.
So, I'm wondering if anybody reading this has been down my road before?
I'm a single mom, short on time and energy to fight for my child. I'm making enough to pay my mortgage and the bills, but private school is out of my budget.
Also, as a side note- she does not have these episodes at home anymore. The last time she had one was about a year and a half ago when we were staying in an air bnb (the environment triggers these episodes). I've taught her how to read at a 2nd grade level and how to do basic math using an abacus. So, she is teachable and she can learn in the right environment, with the right person. As a side note, I do work from home and have set up a little "school" next to my desk. I've been teaching her an extra hour a day to try to make up for what the school ia shorting her.
Another side note, over the years she's had two psychiatrists, two behavioral coaches (mostly coaching me so I can help her) and completed the Emotional ABCs program. I've read several of the "best" books and read countless studies. She is not on medication although I'm at a breaking point and seriously considering it because I'm feeling that the risk now is overshadowed by the potential reward (she's able to integrate into society).
I know this a lot of text, so thank you if you made it this far! Very grateful for any info or wisdom you can pass along.
2024.05.09 13:23 OmarD1021 Rating my classes I took this year (fall 2023-spring 2024) as a civil engineer.
I just want to say before I start rating the classes that everyone is different in a way, some people find some classes easier than others and I just want to give a rating that reflects on what I think was hardest classes I’ve taken to ones where I think were the easiest. This can give you a general understanding of what you can expect from the class. I’ll also be sharing what professors I’ve had and rate the class on a scale from 1-10 in terms of difficulty and list the from the hardest to the easiest. I’ll also list when I took the class (fall 23 or spring 24), credits hours, core class or not, and say whether it a full semester class or half a semester class.
Alright here are my rankings:
This year, I tried to get out of the way the bullishit classes like my SSH electives, and the easy classes so I can get to the good stuff in the future without a annoying and unnecessary class that I’m forced to take that literally isn’t a engineering class, so I would say that this year was a smooth sailing but probably won’t be next year as I’m going to take some tough ass classes. I hope I have given y’all some insight to these classes if y’all ever gonna take them especially for future Civil engineers.
submitted by OmarD1021 to iastate [link] [comments]
Alright here are my rankings:
- Civil engineering 274 (Statics), core class, 3 credits, full semester, fall 23, professor: Harntaro Wibowo. Difficulty: 9.5/10 All I can say is listen to the rumors about this class. When I was in CE 160 everyone was saying that statics is going to be the hardest class you’ll ever take at ISU, even the TA’s were telling us that. I have always been optimistic and never really thought of it until I took the class. I mean what can I say, first 80% of your grade are the exams and the other 20 is homework, Top-hat etc. Second the material of this class especially in the beginning is kind of hard to keep up with as everything builds up with each other but you do get used to it. When I tell you that you can’t fuck up one exam you really can’t, it’s almost impossible to get a good grade if you fuck up one of them. You’ll have 3 midterms and 1 final, 4 questions on each exam and 90 minutes. The exams are not impossible to solve obviously but they do try to trick you by for example finding the mass instead of weight, unit conversions, and complex wording. Pros about this class is platoons are really helpful for this class (TA’s giving out examples and showing you how to solve them, once per week for 50 min) and if you do go to all of the platoons you do get 2% extra on your final grade. Also SI was helpful as she did give out a lot of examples from previous exams and would recommend going to them. Wibowo wasn’t a bad professor he does recommend printing out the practice example sets before each class because that’s what he goes over the whole class period but I wouldn’t say he is the best at all in terms of 1 on 1 conversations. Also the graders of this class in my opinion are kind of harsh when grading your exams, they can deduct you up to like 5 points for wrong units or wrong answers which I found ridiculous. Overall be prepared for this class, get up to date with 3D related material,Fy,Fx, and moment equations, and a lot of trigonometry.
- Civil Engineering 206 (Engineering economic analysis and professional issues in civil engineering), core class, 3 credits, full semester, spring 24, professor: Jon Matthews Rouse, difficulty: 8.7/10 If you told me back when I was applying for this class at the end of fall that CE 206 was going to be hard as fuck I would’ve laughed at you, but holy fuck it is. Firstly I want to get this out of the way, I wanna say that some classes are hard not because the material is hard but because the professor makes it hard. CE 206 falls into that category where the material is basically high school maths with plugging and chugging numbers into formulas but holy fuck does Matt make it ridiculously hard in his exams. Matt is a great guy and an excellent professor (top 5 coolest professors I’ve ever met), gives dad vibes when you meet him, but he is no joke in his exams. Some of his questions are ridiculous where he really tries to trip you up with the wording and his work out problems are really long and tedious. He also admitted that he does plug numbers into a calculator to see where students might trip up (like squaring your answer when you’re supposed to multiply) and puts the number as one of the multiple choices. He also doesn’t post anything on canvas at all which I found ridiculous since the first page of each exam is solving true and false questions, full in the blank, definitions, etc..Oh yeah you only got 55 minutes for the midterm exams, which I found hard to even see how you could ever finish both the midterm exams (especially the second one) on time. His second exam was so bad, 60-70% failed the exam, and had to curve it by 10%. The homework’s weren’t bad but his graders are really tough graders, I mean I never got a full mark on any of the homework’s and I had 13 homework sets. No wonder why this class is the 5th dropped class at ISU, it’s literally impossible to finish both midterm exams on time, graders for the homework are tough, and no room for extra credit (beside doing only extra credit homework but still).
- Engineering mechanics 324 (mechanics of material), core class, 3 credits, full semester, spring 24, professer: Oleg Zarechnyy, difficultly: 7.7/10 The content in this class is arguably way harder than what you take in statics but when it comes to grading and overall the class structure, this class is not bad. If you take it with Oleg (great professor) his method of teaching is TBL (team base learning) and the class structure is to watch the lecture videos before attending the class, as what you do in class is 2 top-hat questions on the material you watched at home. He also recommends to do the homework before each lecture but I never did and it was fine. The team you are with the whole semester are picked at random and you sit in the same place during the semester. The top hat questions aren’t tricky but if you did not watch the videos you won’t get the answers right. Each question is about 25 min, the first 12 min you do it alone, then the remaining 13 min you discuss your answers with your teammates and submit them together. You do also submit your answers when you do it alone. Exams are easier than statics exams by a mile, I mean some of the questions they give you the moment of inertia, sometime they give you the forces, etc… basically all the calculations that you might trip up they will give you. The formula sheet is essential to this class, so understand where everything is. There are 3 midterm exams, 3 questions, and 90 min (30 min avg each question), very doable. They never try and trick in any of the questions like in statics and it’s pretty straight forward. The final will have 4 questions but you got 120 min so again doable. You have also 3 homework’s each week due Monday, Tuesday, and Friday on Willyplus. Overall a very doable class (class avg on each exam was about 75-80%) and shouldn’t be hard to pass.
- Deferential equations 266 (differential equations), not a core class, 3 credits, half a semester, spring 24, Professor: Domenico D’Alessandro, difficulty: 7/10 Out of the math classes I’ve taken so far at ISU, Calc1, calc2, and Def eq 266, I would say that def eq is definitely the easiest out of the 3 I have taken. This class is supervised by the one and only Steve butler so I already knew it wasn’t going to be batshit hard like the calc department but don’t think it’s a walk in the park type of class. For me this class is all about proving that a certain problem is right by proving it with a set of equations. What I like about this class is 3 things, first and most importantly is that the exams are fair not ridiculously hard like the calc exams but not easy to the point where you didn’t have to study, second you could theoretically not attend a single lecture like I did 99% of the time and just go to the quiz review (more on that in a moment) and try and understand what they are talking about (which wasn’t hard to comprehend) and do well enough on the quizzes to be ready for the exams, and thirdly there’s a fucking formula sheet thank god. If it wasn’t for the formula sheet I promise you this class would be 10x harder cause you do need a lot of equations for this class. Exam wise there will be 2 for 266, 6 questions each, and 75 minutes, which I think is fair considering some questions are really easy and fast to solve and some do take time but I wouldn’t say it’s like a 20 minute question more like 7-8 minute question. For me quizzes were the best as like in calculus you have a weekly quiz 25 min, 2 random questions from the practice quiz you have to solve, and as I said if you go the quiz review and understand what is happening it’s Literally a free 10/10. Exams are 60%, quizzes are 25%, Homework are 12% (you only need to do 3 questions form the sample set to get full credit), and the remaining 3% is basically free points if you do the weekly review where it asks how are doing in class, recommendations, etc. overall very doable class with a lot of chances to get a good grade as he does drop your lowest 2 exam questions, 1 quiz, and 4 homework sets. I can’t tell you if the professor is solid or not as I rarely went to class besides doing the quizzes but from what I gathered he is ok.
- Statistics 305 (Engineering statistics), not a core class, 3 credits, full semester, spring 24, instructor: Troy Meyers, difficultly: 6.7/10 This is the exact reverse of CE 206, the content here is hard, in my personal opinion, but Troy makes his exams really easy. First off I wanna say that Troy is one the funniest professors I’ve ever met, he tells us cool and funny stories, he really wants you to succeed in this class by helping and asking questions, and he really is passionate about statistics. The material is hard but his exams are literally the example material he posts on canvas along with of the homework questions. I mean if you can memorize the practice material on canvas you’ll be just fine as most of the time he doesn’t even change the numbers in the exam (keeps it the same). The first 2 exams were really easy, the third exam I failed it just because I stoped going to lecture and didn’t even go to the exam, but the avg was really high just don’t be a dumbass like me, the final is recycled material from the 3 midterms along with questions from post 3rd exam. The homework is really easy if you understand what you are doing. Honestly this class could be hard if you don’t take it with Troy. Oh yeah DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS ONLINE! I heard they make the online sections of this class ridiculously hard, just take it with Troy he teaches like 7 sections of this class, so you should find more than enough seats to be in his sections.
- Chemistry 167 L (chemistry 167 lab), not a core class, 1 credit, full semester, fall 23, Instructor: Krishna Suresh, difficulty:6.2/10 This class for 1 credit is absolutely bullshit. Firstly the “professor” for this class is named Sarah Pistolesi but you never actually meet her or even talk to her ever, even if you tried to send an email she will never respond. So what you have is a post graduate instructor and about 15 other students in a laboratory doing chemistry. What I was hoping for this class is to do dope ass chemistry experiments and overall have a chill and easy time but nope this class is the literal definition of aids. You do about 13 experiments throughout the semester and I would classify 1 experiment as cool and rest absolutely ass, you have to do a fat ass report on your experiment, and you also have 3 in class experiment exams throughout the semester, you have a pre lab quiz, post lab quiz, and post lab EXAM each fucking week (all online though). I mean all that for 1 credits is insane and they weren’t easy quizzes or exams nah they were the ones where you actually had to read the lab manual thoroughly and do the labs precisely to do well on them. The pain in ass really was the lab reports, some of my lab reports were like 8-13 pages long as they ask you a shit ton of questions about the experiment you did that week along with a review on what you did, you had to make graphs from excel, and solve stoichiometric questions which as I said before is insane for a 1 credit class. I mean I put more effort into this class than fucking Calc 1 and that’s not even a joke. Now the instructor (Krishna Suresh) is really cool though and does understand our pain for this class I mean this was her first time teaching this class and was astonished by the amount of work you had to put for 1 credit. She did her best and did sometimes allow us to go early because for some reason there is no fucking chairs to sit on and the lab was 3 hours long so you had to stand up to 3 hours straight with no breaks at all. Smh that class was a joke on god and unless you are a chem major you aren’t going to get an A on this class, also some of the questions were ridiculously hard to solve unless you know chemistry for real for real.
- Speech com (Speech communication), not a core class, 3 credits, full semester, fall 23, Professor: Michael Wettengel, difficulty: 5/10 Out of all the classes on this list this class is the dullest class I’ve taken so far. In fact it’s so dull I can’t even tell you how the grades were distributed because he goes off by points, and not by percentage but what I can tell about this class is that you have to put effort into your speeches. In this class you will have 3 major speeches, 3 or 4 mini speeches, lots of homework, and in class activities. For your mini speeches all you have to do is write a speech 2-4 min long on a index card-s and read it to your fellow classmates, obviously it’s not that straightforward as you need to come up with the plot and stuff but that wasn’t bad. For the major speeches you had to make a PowerPoint for your first two speeches along with references and research to prove on what you are taking about and obviously a rehearsed speech you have to prepare and present to the class. You got a lot of homework you have to do but honestly they were just stepping blocks for the presentation and speech you were going to give for your major speeches so it wasn’t bad. Finally the in class activities weren’t bad but they were silly especially at the beginning. Oh yeah for this class you have attend as there is attendance points and also for the in class activities you had basically each class. The main speeches were an informative, persuasive, and special occasion. The first one (informative) was in my opinion the most annoying one as you had to do a lot of research for your topic along with pictures, slides, references, etc. The second (persuasive) was actually not bad as you would want to keep the same topic from the informative one and just persuaded on why your topic is important. For the third one (special occasion) it was the easiest as no research was needed and you can really talk about anything you want. For the first two speeches you had to get your topic approved by the professor but the third one you don’t have to as long as you and another class mate aren’t talking about the same topic. Michael wasn’t a bad professor at all, he actually made the class quit fun it was just the material and over overall speech com is boring. He is a tough grader though and does take the speeches seriously and will deduct points accordingly to the speeches rubric. Honestly the only reason I give this class a 5/10 in difficulty is the amount of effort you have to for this class and not because the material is hard.
- Civil engineering 170 (Graphics for civil engineers), core class, 2 credits, full semester, fall 23, professor: Stuart Nielsen, difficulty 4.25/10 What made this class instantly easier than the rest of the civil engineering classes is that the class is online and even if it wasn’t I think it would easier than the other civil engineering classes. Firstly no exams in this class which is already great, secondly it’s easy to follow up in this class meaning you don’t have to watch the lecture videos multiple time to understand what’s happening you can watch it once and easily see what he is talking about. There are 12 homework sets, and 2 projects that’s it. The homework sets are: first 2 weeks you do sketches, 2D, and 3D drawings with building objects. You also learn how to draw thing on a side view, top view, etc in 2D and 3D. The next 5 weeks you will use AutoCAD learning how to use it and using its tools, a bit surveying, etc.., then 1 week to do the final project on AutoCAD which is literally what you did on the app for the last 5 weeks compressed into a final project. The the next 5 weeks you do Revit which was actually really fun in my opinion, you learn how to design and build a building on Revit, floor plans, put objects, sceneries, etc…, and then 1 week to the final project which was basically to build a house with a few requirements. Honestly this class is really easy and I would say the hardest thing about this class was the AutoCAD final project was a bit tricky but once you get used to AutoCAD it’s only honestly cake. Revit is in my opinion easy and simple to understand, its tools are not complex and the rendering on the app is great. Stuart is a great guy and although you don’t really meet him he does put a lot of effort into his videos and does respond to emails.
- History 202 (Introduction to western civilization), not a core class, 3 credits, half a semester, spring 24, professor: John Monroe, difficulty: 3.6/10 I never thought I would enjoy learning about history and this class did not disappoint. It’s a fun class to learn about European history (Napoleon, French Revolution, WW2) and John’s videos are fun to watch. It does get boring sometimes but that’s when some of the history was boring but I wouldn’t say I slept or anything like that. You do quizzes weekly but honestly if you do watch the lecture videos then you shouldn’t have any problems. You might not take an A on this class as some of the questions are detailed (you need to read the questions carefully) but you will definitely enjoy the class.
- Anthropology 230 (globalization, and the human condition), not a core class, 3 credits, half a semester, fall 23, professor: Sedi Azirani, difficulty: 2.8/10 Im going to make this short and simple, watch the lecture videos, do the weekly quizzes, do a essay every 2 weeks, review the course for the final exam, take the final exam and you’ll get an easy A. The only tricky part about this class is the essays as you have to watch a video (usually there will be 2 to choose from) get a reference source and write an essay about the video topic. Quizzes are easy if you watch the videos and look at the slides, and the final exam is easy if you review the material. Honestly an easy A.
- English 250 (written, oral, visual, and electronic composition), not a core class, 3 credits, full semester, fall 23, professor: Paul Kimumwe, difficulty: 1/10 If you have taken any english class from ISU you should know that they are an easy A. I put literally 0 effort into this class and still got a 98% on it. You literally do 4 or 5 major essays of your liking as long as you follow their simple requirements and you do 1 power point slide towards the end of the semester explaining your future plans with your degree and I would say thats about it. I mean the only way to fail this class is literally not to submit anything but you really do need a free A from time to time to boost your gpa and luckily this class is a requirement for any degree you take here.
This year, I tried to get out of the way the bullishit classes like my SSH electives, and the easy classes so I can get to the good stuff in the future without a annoying and unnecessary class that I’m forced to take that literally isn’t a engineering class, so I would say that this year was a smooth sailing but probably won’t be next year as I’m going to take some tough ass classes. I hope I have given y’all some insight to these classes if y’all ever gonna take them especially for future Civil engineers.
2024.05.09 06:41 HDMT85 How to be better at conversation/ connecting?
I (38F) have always kind of struggled with friendships. I've always been on the quieter side and sensitive.
Maybe my lack of social skills stem from childhood... my parents were pretty narcissistic. They never showed interest in me or what I was interested in. They divorced when I was 5 and I was tossed back and forth through multiple custody battles. I changed schools in the middle of the year without notice twice due to the battles. On top of that my mom moved almost every year it seemed and she usually had custody. By the time I reached 10th grade I'd been in 13 school systems.
My parents weren't very kind and both had explosive tempers. They were very critical. I couldn't be involved in music or sports because of the custody arrangement. On top of that I was bullied pretty badly in 5th grade.
I think by the time I was in 6th grade my self image was in the toilet. * *
My point is. I feel like I have terrible conversation and social skills -- and I am sick of it. I'd love some tips for connecting, becoming a better conversationalist etc
I've tried reading that book people swear by How to Win Friends and Influence people. It seemed great but.. I still have no friends really. * *
I've gone through some pretty traumatic relationship losses. . .
Pretty much every friend ... and several close family members (granted i think the family members were/are very narcissistic...).
It just always seems I am there for people (or try to be), but they aren't there for me.
To be fair I have crazy social anxiety. I am nervous/uncomfortable when I talk to people... and I never seem to know what to say. I"d love to have a more vibrant and engaging personality...
It just makes me sad... pretty much on a daily basis, that I don't have at least a few close friends... and that no one seems to value my friendship.... but... I want to get better at this whole thing...
So.. all the tips/recs I'd love!!
submitted by HDMT85 to FriendshipAdvice [link] [comments]
Maybe my lack of social skills stem from childhood... my parents were pretty narcissistic. They never showed interest in me or what I was interested in. They divorced when I was 5 and I was tossed back and forth through multiple custody battles. I changed schools in the middle of the year without notice twice due to the battles. On top of that my mom moved almost every year it seemed and she usually had custody. By the time I reached 10th grade I'd been in 13 school systems.
My parents weren't very kind and both had explosive tempers. They were very critical. I couldn't be involved in music or sports because of the custody arrangement. On top of that I was bullied pretty badly in 5th grade.
I think by the time I was in 6th grade my self image was in the toilet. * *
My point is. I feel like I have terrible conversation and social skills -- and I am sick of it. I'd love some tips for connecting, becoming a better conversationalist etc
I've tried reading that book people swear by How to Win Friends and Influence people. It seemed great but.. I still have no friends really. * *
I've gone through some pretty traumatic relationship losses. . .
Pretty much every friend ... and several close family members (granted i think the family members were/are very narcissistic...).
It just always seems I am there for people (or try to be), but they aren't there for me.
To be fair I have crazy social anxiety. I am nervous/uncomfortable when I talk to people... and I never seem to know what to say. I"d love to have a more vibrant and engaging personality...
It just makes me sad... pretty much on a daily basis, that I don't have at least a few close friends... and that no one seems to value my friendship.... but... I want to get better at this whole thing...
So.. all the tips/recs I'd love!!