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Brendan Kirby

Mr. Newman

ENG2D

May 12, 2012

Macbeth Blog Entry # 6 - Act V Scenes 1-9

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One of the first things I noticed about Act 5 is how the scenes switched back and forth between Macbeth's perspective and the perspective of the English and Scottish armies. I thought this was a cool effect because it makes it very difficult to choose a side to be on and, therefore, be biased. Also, the quick, numerous scenes in this act add to the intensity of scene 9, which is the final scene. Also, I found it very ironic that it is Lady Macbeth who is obsessed with the "blood stains" on her hands, while it was she who told Macbeth that a little water could wash away the murder of Duncan. Now the tables have turned and Macbeth is much more confident about the murders, while Lady Macbeth is becoming increasingly disturbed.

I was fairly shocked when Macbeth started talking about life having no meaning and about feeling that it is his time to die, since he has nothing left to live for. All this time, it seemed as though Macbeth was gaining confidence and self-assurance. Perhaps Macbeth thought he was going to die and this was a way to reassure himself. I was also quite shocked at Macbeth's subtle reaction to his wife's death. I expected that her suicide would take a larger toll on him.

I thought the way in which the last two prophecies were fulfilled was very clever and unexpected. It was well thought out. Macbeth wasn't very gullible or dumb, because even the audience didn't see how these prophecies could be fulfilled. However, Macbeth bases his life around the prophecies. Even after everyone abandons him, he believes the predictions. Even after he is under attack, he believes them. Even after the forest moves, he still believes the last prophecy. A lesson learned from Macbeth's action is to investigate things more carefully before believing them. Macbeth thought he was smarter than the foresights, but the foresights were evidently smarter than he was. After all, both Macbeth and the audience thought the first prophecy - to beware of Macduff - was already taken care of, but it was Macduff who killed Macbeth in the end.

 Significance of Scenes 1-7:

I think the significance of scene 1 is to display how absolutely disturbed Lady Macbeth has become. Shakespeare is trying to show the audience that, even though it was her idea in the first place to murder Duncan, she is the one suffering severely from the consequences. He wants to show that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's mindsets have switched since the beginning of the play. Also, this scene foreshadows Lady Macbeth's death.

            The significance of scene 2 is to begin showing the plan the other side is starting to put into place. Shakespeare wants to show the other side of the situation and how they plan to handle things. He also wants the audience to consider the fact that the other side sees Macbeth as a tyrant.

            The purpose of scene 3 is to discuss Macbeth's true feelings. It allows the audience to feel for Macbeth during a time when everyone is against him.

            The importance of scene 4 is to, again, show the armies' plan. It also describes how it is possible for Birnam Wood to move towards Dunsanaine, foreshadowing how one of the prophecies will come true, leading to Macbeth's death.

            The significance of scene 5 is to show how Macbeth is feeling, after he is told one of the prophecies, that allow him to be defeated, has come true. It also shows Macbeth's reaction to his wife's death, which is strangely unresponsive.

             The purpose of scene 6 is to allow the English and Scottish armies to begin fighting, commencing the real battle.

            The importance of scene 7 is to show that, even though the other prophecies have failed Macbeth, he still has hope in the last one. This scene also shows that Macduff is still seeking revenge against Macbeth, foreshadowing that he will possibly be Macbeth's killer. 

Questions:

Could Lady Macbeth's suicide be prevented?

I personally think Lady Macbeth's suicide couldn't have been prevented. After being a part of so many horrible actions, it would eventually scar you. Humans aren't meant to bear that amount of pain and guilt. When it gets to be that much, suicide seems like it would have been the only option. 

Brendan Kirby

Mr. Newman

ENG2D

May 6, 2012

Macbeth Blog Entry #5 - Act IV

Quotations:

Seconds Witch: "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes; open locks, whoever knocks (4.1.44-45)"

This quote shows that the witches' look at Macbeth as evil, which means Macbeth must truly be evil due to the witches' secret tricks. It is almost as if the witches' are proud of what Macbeth has become, and find it amusing. This line also is spoken in rhyme, as the witches' normally speak.

Second Apparition: "Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall Macbeth. (4.1.86-88)"

I really liked this quote because it is kind of a trick. It makes Macbeth believe that he is immortal to anyone, which he is not. It makes him over confident and cocky because he now believes Macduff cannot kill him. This is not true because Macduff was not born from his mother; his mother actually had a C-section. Macduff is perfectly capable of killing Macbeth, but Macbeth has no knowledge of this.

Macduff: "Not in the legions of horrid hell can come a devil more damned in evils to top Macbeth. (4.3.63-65)"

In this quote Macduff is saying how there is nothing that you could even find in hell that is more evil than Macbeth. He is saying this because he has just discovered that Macbeth has murdered his wife and son while he is away. There is nothing more wicked and heartless than killing someone's family. I am interested to see how Macduff will go about taking revenge on Macbeth.

Reaction To The Prophecies of Act IV Scene 1:

At the very beginning of Act IV Scene 1, Macbeth demands for the witches to tell him the next prophecies. The first prophecy says, "beware of Macduff; beware the thane of Fife (4.1.78-79)". This is something that Macbeth already is aware of. I believe that the witches are using a certain strategy to make Macbeth believe that the prophecies are all true. They're doing this by making the first prophecy something that has already come true, to make Macbeth believe that since the first prophecy has come true, the rest must come true as well. The second apparition says, "Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall Macbeth. (4.1.86-88)" This apparition is a trick towards Macbeth in my eyes because it makes him believe he is immortal. This makes Macbeth believe that there is no reason to fear Macduff, ignoring the first apparition. Little does Macbeth know that Macduff was born through a C-section, so was not technically born from a women. In the last apparition, it is said that Macbeth will only be defeated when the trees of Birham wood move to the castle. Macbeth believes this is impossible, and that he will never be defeated. After hearing these prophecies, Macbeth now believes that he is invincible, and will always be in power. This fills him with confidence, so I am interested to see how much longer Macbeth will continue with his crimes, thinking he will never be affected by the consequences. I am also interested to see how Macduff will take his revenge on Macbeth for the murder of his family.  

Brendan Kirby

Mr. Newman

ENG2D

April 30^th, 2012

Macbeth Blog Entry #4 - Act III Scenes 1-4

Significance:

Scenes 1 through 4 in Act 3 make a massive impact on the story of Macbeth. In the first scene of act 3, we see that the murder of Duncan will not be Macbeth's last. The murder of King Duncan has only given Macbeth the confidence to continue with his crimes. We see that Macbeth is plotting to kill Banquo and his son upon their ride later that evening because he feels threatened by them. This is because Banquo suspects that Macbeth may have been behind the murder of the king, and because if the prophecy is true, Macbeth's reign will be short lived. Since Macbeth has taken over the thrown, we can already see that he is going to be a terrible king, and his only intentions while in power are to stay in power. In scene 2 we also begin to see that the attitudes of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have almost reversed since Act 2. Lady Macbeth is beginning to feel troubled and full of regret, while Macbeth has become bloodthirsty and barbaric. In act 2 it was just the opposite. Lady Macbeth even says at one point that she would rather be dead than to live with these thoughts forever. This scene brings out the true feelings of both characters and help us understand what they are going through. Although scene 3 is a short one, it has a massive impact on the play. The biggest event in this scene is the murder of Banquo. This murder is very significant because Macbeth murdered a good and innocent man. It shows that Macbeth is destroying everything good and the voices of reason are depleting. This is just more proof that Macbeth is a terrible king. Banquo's murder stirs up suspicion among the nobles, which triggers the start of Macbeth's downfall from the thrown. During the murder of Banquo, Fleance escapes as well, which puts more worry upon Macbeth's shoulders. In scene 4, we begin to see the impact the murders are having on Macbeth psychologically. This is prominent when Macbeth has everyone for dinner at his castle, and he is frightened by Banquo's ghost. This shows that Macbeth can't keep killing when he pleases to solve his problems, or he'll go even more insane. The nobles are also beginning to see that Macbeth is going crazy and that he might be behind the murder of King Duncan. Overall, these 4 scenes have changed the mood of the play and my overall predictions of what is going to happen later on. I am excited to keep on reading and see what actually ends up happening.

Quotations:

Macbeth: "We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it. (3.2.15)"

What Macbeth is trying to say in this quote is that he has yet to kill all of his enemies. The snake is what represents his enemies, and what he means by he has 'scotch'd' the snake is that he has only eliminated a few enemies. In order to stay in reign as king, Macbeth believes that he must murder all of his enemies. I don't think he will ever be able to complete this task though due to the told that these murders are having on Macbeth psychologically. Also, since many of the nobles are beginning to become suspicious of Macbeth murdering King Duncan, who knows how much longer he will reign.

Macbeth: "What man dare, I dare, approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, the arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hycran tiger; take any shape but that, and my nerves shall never tremble. (3.4.121-125)"

This quote shows who Macbeth truly is. Macbeth is a brave, noble warrior who fights battles for the king. He is not meant to BE king. I really like this quote, because although Macbeth has changed a lot since he used to guard land for King Duncan, there is still a small part of who he truly is inside of him. This shows that there is hope for Macbeth to become a different person, not a murderer. 

Brendan Kirby

Mr. Newman

ENG2D

April 21, 2012

Macbeth Blog Entry #3 - Act II

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            There are many different events that took place throughout Act II that surprised me. The first situation that shocked me was the conversation that took place at the start of Act II: Scene 1 between Banquo and Macbeth. Banquo tells Macbeth, "I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters. (2.1.23)" To this Macbeth replies, "I think not of them. (2.1.25)" This is unusual to read because the truth is that Macbeth thinks about the three witches almost non-stop. He is lying to Banquo so that the murder can be kept a secret because Macbeth knows in his heart that it is wrong to kill Duncan. After Banquo leaves Macbeth alone with his thoughts, another interesting event takes place. Macbeth thinks he sees a dagger floating in front of him that is leading him to Duncan. This shows that the prophecy has taken a massive toll on Macbeth and he is beginning to be effected physiologically from all of the pressure and stress. This is surprising to the reader, but it is also somewhat expected since we have seen how reluctant Macbeth is to murder Duncan. Another event that takes place during Act II that was very surprising to me happened at the beginning of Scene 2. In this scene, Lady Macbeth shows that she herself is quite nervous and admits to having a couple drinks to assist her in completing the task. This is the very firs thing that she says at the beginning of the scene, "That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold. (2.2.1-2)" This was very shocking to me because up until this scene, Lady Macbeth has seemed to be heartless and cold. I thought that she would be able to complete this task without hesitating or feeling any regret, but discovering that she was nervous assist in murdering the king suggests that she isn't as ruthless as I thought. She seems to be a bit more human. The last event that took place was right after the murder of King Duncan. Macbeth returns to talk with Lady Macbeth, who is furious because Macbeth has not done precisely what she told him to do. Macbeth then admits, "I'll go no more: I am afraid to think of what I have done. (2.2.65-66)" This is shocking to me because Macbeth is portrayed as a hero in battle, who is courageous and ruthless, but outside of battle, Macbeth is none of those things. This is one of the most surprising scenes in my eyes, because I expected Macbeth to be cocky and ignorant after the murder. Overall, there are many different things that we learn about the true personalities of the characters throughout this Act and my perspective of the play has changed.

Quotes:

Lady Macbeth: "That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold. (2.2.1-2)"

This quote is important in my eyes because it shows that Lady Macbeth is not as ruthless as she makes herself seem. Lady Macbeth says this right before Duncan's murder. She is saying that she has had a few drinks to allow herself to help Macbeth in killing the king. She was nervous to complete the task, meaning that she isn't as cold hearted as she was portrayed earlier in the story. Maybe she liked the idea of being Queen and in the moment would do anything to become royalty, but never considered the consequences. This is also most likely the situation for Macbeth.

Macbeth: "As they had seen me with these hangman's hands; listening their fear, I could not say, "Amen," (2.2.38-39)"

Macbeth says this quote upon returning from murdering King Duncan. He is saying that when he entered to kill the king, the two guards were sleeping, and one cried, "God bless us!" Macbeth is frantic because upon the guard saying these, he could not say, "Amen." This is because God could not bless him at that moment, for he was completing the task of killing the king. It would be against his religion to asked to be blessed, while committing a sin. This is just another sign that it was the wrong decision to follow up, and murder the king.

Macbeth: "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red."

What Macbeth is saying in this quote, is that all the oceans in the entire world couldn't wash away the blood on his hands. Obviously, this is an exaggeration, but what he truly means is that he can never take back what he has done. No matter what he does, he has committed a crime that cannot be undone, and he will have to live with the consequences for the rest of his life. This is all because he got bloodthirsty with the idea that he could become king. The water can wash away the blood, but never the thoughts.

Brendan Kirby

Mr. Newman

ENG2D

April 15^th, 2012

Macbeth Blog Entry #2 - Act I: Scenes 4-7

Relationships - Macbeth & Duncan:

IV-VII:            The relationship between Macbeth and Duncan throughout these few scenes is very unusual. At the beginning of the scenes, Macbeth has no intentions of killing Duncan, even though it will make him king. He believes that if the withes' prophecy is correct, he will not have to kill Duncan to take over the thrown. However, as the play goes on, Lady Macbeth hears of the prophecy and tries to persuade Macbeth into killing Duncan. Macbeth believes that it would be the wrong thing to do, considering King Duncan has placed so much of his trust upon Macbeth. The relationship between Duncan and Macbeth is so unusual because of the fact that Duncan has put so much trust into Macbeth, yet Macbeth is considering killing him to become king. Duncan has even recently promoted Macbeth to Thane of Cawdor. Even though Macbeth has considered killing Duncan, he knows he shouldn't because Duncan is such a great king. Lady Macbeth eventually manipulates and persuades Macbeth into killing Duncan. So although Duncan had trusted Macbeth so much, Macbeth went behind his back and ended up being the one to kill him.

Relationships - Macbeth & Lady Macbeth:

VII: The relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is a very bad one. At the beginning of this scene, Macbeth is alone in a room discussing with himself whether to kill Duncan or not. He has come to his senses and decided that it isn't the right thing to do. Macbeth knows that Duncan has put all of his trust into Macbeth, and that he should protect the king, not betray him. However, Lady Macbeth then comes in to speak with Macbeth. This is where the manipulative side of Lady Macbeth comes out. Lady Macbeth continues to persuade Macbeth, but when he refuses to kill Duncan, she begins to call him unmanly. This makes Macbeth angry and he wants to prove that he is a man. She is very persuasive in telling him that it is the perfect time and place to murder the king. Lady Macbeth tells him her genius plan, and after manipulating Macbeth, she uses him to kill Duncan. This tells us that Lady Macbeth is very manipulative, persuasive, and heartless. It also tells us that Lady Macbeth is the controlling one in the relationship, because she convinces Macbeth to do something that he has no desire to do.

Questions:

Are there more negatives than positives if Macbeth kills King Duncan?

Yes, there are many more negatives that come out of killing Macbeth, but there is also a very big positive. If Macbeth kills King Duncan, he will become king. Even though this will give him power over everyone and fulfill his dream of becoming king, he knows of the many negatives that will come with it. First of all, Duncan has put all of his trust into Macbeth, and the guilt of killing Duncan would bother Macbeth forever. Secondly, If Macbeth kills Duncan, it would teach everyone that if you want to become king, you just need to murder the king. Lastly, Macbeth could be caught, and never end up becoming king. These negatives outweighed the positive in Macbeth's mind, but he was ultimately manipulated into completing the task of killing Duncan after all.

Why does Macbeth change his mind about murdering Duncan at the end of Act I: Scene VII?

Macbeth ultimately ends up deciding to murder Duncan because of the persuasion and manipulation of Lady Macbeth. Macbeth had no intention of murdering Duncan at the beginning of Act I: Scene 7, but after Lady Macbeth saying that he is unmanly made Macbeth angry, and he wanted to prove his manliness. Lady Macbeth also persuaded Macbeth by saying she had a perfect plan in place, and he was bound to succeed. Eventually, it is decided that Macbeth is going to kill King Duncan. Lady Macbeth is the reason that Macbeth changed his mind about the murder.

What does, "If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well, If were done quickly" mean?

I personally think that this means that if Macbeth knew the murder of King Duncan would be successful, he would have already done it. The reason that he hasn't committed the crime yet is because he knows of the many consequences that comes with the murder of the king. 

Brendan Kirby

Mr. Newman

ENG2D

December 5, 2011

The Atavism of Fire In Lord of The Flies

      Throughout the novel Lord of The Flies there are many symbols used to give a deeper meaning and interest to the reader. One of the biggest symbols used is fire. In the novel, Golding uses fire to represent civilization and how when people act in an uncontrolled manner, civilization can suffer. At the beginning of the novel, fire is positive and beneficial, but then goes through a destructive transformation, ending with a very negative effect.

        At the start of the novel, rules are put in place to ensure that there was a possibility of rescue, warmth and safety. One rule was that at least two people were to tend to the fire at all times, even during the day, for a signal to boats or planes. Everyone was fine with this rule because it gave them hope that they could one day be rescued. At night, some would gather around the fire for warmth, and this united the boys and kept them from the cold of the night. Without the fire, the boys also were afraid of the dark, and felt unsafe. This deprived them of sleep and was an issue. The fire acted as a light and kept them safe from the darkness of the island. The fact that they can control fire is what separates them from being savages. Without the ability to control fire, the boys would lose the hope of ever being rescued, safety, warmth, light and possibly even life.   

Macbeth Blog Entry #1 - Act I: Scenes 1-3

Significance:

I: The first scene begins with the First Witch saying, "When shall we three meet again in thunder, lightning or in rain?" This line is significant because it tells us that the witches are going to get together again, and that they are able to control the weather patterns. Since this is also the first line in the play, it sets the tone for the reader. In this scene, the Second Witch also says, "When the hurlyburly's done. When the battle's lost a won." This foreshadows an upcoming battle. As you read through the rest of the scene, you begin to feel that the witches are up to no good. One of the reasons this vibe is given off is because the witches are in a remote location, meaning their plans are secretive. The thunder and lighting that are mentioned also add to the negative feel and eeriness that come with the witches' presence.

II: In this scene, the true strength of Macbeth and Banquo is shown. A wounded soldier speaks of their bravery and of Macbeth's victory in the battle. King Duncan also orders Cawdor to be executed immediately, which transfers his title over to Macbeth. This whole scene stresses how violent and intense the nature of the war was.

III: On a heath near Forres, the three witches are gathered, awaiting the arrival of Macbeth and Banquo. The two men listen to the three witches' predictions, which begins to prepare you for what is to come. The witches' prophecies alter the relationship between Banquo and Macbeth because they are told that Macbeth will be King, and Banquo will not. In fact, Banquo is told that nothing significant will happen in his future.

Questions:

I: How does the setting of this scene contribute to the mood of the story?

The thunder and lighting in this scene creates a dark and gloomy feel for the reader. On top of this, the scene takes place in an isolated place, giving off the feeling that the three witches' are up to something bad.

II: What does 'thane' mean? (Eg. Thane of Ross)

When I first encountered this word, I assumed it was an important title that was given to Ross because of something outstanding he may have done. The real definition of thane is a man who held land granted by the king or by a military nobleman, ranking between an ordinary freeman and a hereditary noble. Therefore, Ross has held land once granted by the king, which is why he is referred to as 'Thane of Ross'.

III: Why doesn't Banquo believe the information that the three witches' shared with him about his future?

Banquo doesn't believe the three witches because they are not a trustworthy source. He also has no desire to believe them because everything that they said about his future is negative and depressing. It also shows that his sons will even have a bright future, but Banquo himself will not.

Brendan Kirby

Mr. Newman

ENG2D

September 19, 2011

 Miami Paradise

           I jolt awake. I notice that more sunlight is peeking through the cracks in the blinds than when I awake at my usual 7:45am time. The warmth of the Miami rays against my skin feels nice. I can faintly smell the aroma of bacon wafting in the air. It suddenly hits me that it's Saturday, my favourite day of the week. I stretch out on my new ultra plush mattress and glance at my bedside table. The clock reads 10:03am. I reach over and grab the iPad from my wife's side of the bed. I turn on the tablet and scan to my recorded shows. Just as I say, "Go to Dexter", my wife, Selena, walks into the bedroom.

"Oh, you're awake," she says. Selena is beautiful and has long blonde hair. Her voice is soft and soothing. She is holding a plate filled with slices of bacon, eggs and some toast. In her other hand is a tall glass of cold orange juice. It's my favourite breakfast. After she hands me my food, I thank her for making breakfast. I can't help but smile at how well the day has started off.

After the hour-long episode of Dexter ends, I decide to take a nice hot shower. Since my bathroom windows get the most sun in the morning, it is my favourite place to take a shower. I step out of the shower into the cold temperature of the room. I dry off and walk into my massive walk-in closet with my towel wrapped around me. I choose my favourite weekend clothes and put on a Diamond Supply t-shirt, a pair of khaki shorts, a Billionaire Boys Club sweater, a brown pair of boat shoes, a gold Rolex, and a Chicago Bulls TISA snapback. I grab my Smartphone, wallet, and keys from my bedside table. As soon as I put my Smartphone in my pocket, it vibrates. It's the receptionist calling from my company, BK Records. My client, Wiz Khalifa, a famous Hip Hop artist, wants to meet for lunch at noon. I tell Selena, quickly kiss her goodbye, and head out the front door. I can't decide whether to take my Ferrari or my new black Shelby Mustang gt500. I decide to take the Shelby, and drive off.

I arrive at The Beachview, an expensive seafood restaurant. I walk in and the owner seats me at my usual table on the patio overlooking the ocean. I order a large black coffee and the waiter brings me a morning paper. An article about BK Records catches my eye. The story is about three of my clients that have been nominated for awards at the Video Music Awards I am attending tonight. Just as I put down the paper, Wiz takes a seat beside me. From the smile on his face, I can tell he is in a good mood. I light up a cigar and we discuss our record deal. Wiz runs his acceptance speech by me in case he wins an award.

After our meeting, I hop back into the leather seat of my Mustang. On my way home, I stop by my friend Greg's. He offers me a quick refreshing beer. We talk about what life was like back when we were at St. John's Kilmarnock School in Breslau, and all the good times we had there.

Afterwards, I head back home to meet up with Selena so we can be at our private jet on time for our flight to Toronto. Selena has already packed me a bag and I thank her with a hug. While we wait for our limo, we have a cold drink beside the Olympic-sized pool in our backyard. After basking in the sun, we hear the limo's tires shift the gravel in our driveway. We lock the back door, activate the alarm, grab our bags, and lock the front door behind us. The driver throws our luggage into the trunk of the black Hummer limo and we hop into the back seats. I pour myself a glass of scotch and flip down the 25-inch flat screen to watch the Dolphins game.

The limo drops us off beside the stairs of our private jet. Inside the plane, it is luxurious. There is a hot tub in the back, chandeliers hanging from the roof, four beds, two couches, and a 72-inch plasma screen. I order some lobster from the stewardess, and in no time, it is sitting in front of me, fresh and steaming. After my meal, I lean back against the headrest on the couch. Next thing I know, the plane is landing at Pearson Airport in Toronto. Selena has also fallen asleep, so I gently wake her up.

As we step outside, a cold breeze sends shivers through my body. It is a lot colder in Toronto than in Miami and the air is dry. We head over to a stretch limo and quickly jump in. I feel the warmth of the heater on my face. We drive to the Air Canada Centre to watch the Toronto Raptors play the Chicago Bulls. Though the game is sold out, we have courtside seats reserved for us. Since we are V.I.P's, we walk through a much shorter line, and get into the arena faster than everyone else. When the game begins, Toronto takes an early lead, but Chicago is trailing close behind them. Selena also loves basketball, and I can tell that she is enjoying the game.

As the end of the game nears, Chicago is down two points. Chicago has the ball and there are four seconds left on the shot clock. The Bulls inbound the ball, dribble it up the court and pass it to my favorite player, Derrick Rose. He drains a three-pointer to win the game! The crowd goes wild, but I have no time to join in. We rush out of the stadium, hop back into the limo, and go straight to the Video Music Awards. We have front row seats, and I am quite excited for the night.

We are escorted to our seats. We sit down right next to the famous rapper Jay-Z and his wife, Beyoncé Knowles. They autograph my program, and we discuss the possibility of working together in the future. During the VMA's, I am mentioned in three thank-you speeches and am very proud of my accomplishments. When the evening ends, we head outside to find the waiting limo. Instead, we are surprised to find my parents, who cancelled the limo, and are there to pick us up themselves. We hop into the warm Acura MDX. During the ride home to Guelph, we talk about what we have been doing lately and how our lives are going. By the time we are home, I am exhausted and ready for sleep. I go inside and head straight to my old bedroom. It has green walls and two small twin beds. It looks exactly the same as I last left it.

I walk across the hall to the guest room and hop right into bed with Selena. The sheets are cold, but it feels nice, and I can't help but fall into a deep sleep.