1. Sofia B. Kharissova
November 4, 2009 7A
#2
The Great Lesson
“ Are you going to eat?” asked Willy’s mother.
“Sure! I’m finishing homework…” said Willy chatting with friends in the computer.
Some minutes passed and Willy continued chatting. His mother went to his
room. Willy jumped surprised as soon as he saw her.
“Mom…I told you not to come in without knocking the door” said Willy angrily
while he was hiding his I-phone in his back.
“ Willy, why do you disobey me?”. But before he could answer his mother
continued. “ I know that your father has a very good job, and we have a very big
and nice house and servants, and you have everything… but you are
exaggerating, you never say thank you; you use the computer and, the cell phone
all the time…”
“ I-phone, mom, it´s an I-phone” he said with a low voice.
“ Anyway, from now on you won´t use any of these things. Until I see that you
learn to appreciate things, you would get them back. “ Said Will’s mother.
“ …But…” Willy tried to say something.
“ I finished” said Willy’s mom happily, “ And now go to eat:”
That day Willy felt everything was unfair. “ Just because it’s a thankful month, just
because it’s Thanksgiving.
“ Maybe… just maybe, mom is saying that because of my little sister Clara,
who joined to a campaign to help people….YES !!! That´s why my mom is saying
that!”
That night he secretly went to internet. He had received lots of e-mails and he
was checking them.
One of them said:
I was calling to your I-phone but you didn´t answer. Well, anyway. Willy I have great news for you! First of all is that my
parents are going to visit my great grandmother that lives in Florida. You know, as they always let me go there with a friend. I
decided to choose you !! As you always choose me in your trips!! And my birthday is soon. So after that we are going to travel
to Miami and then to Walt Disney World. My father says that this is a “ crumb” of the gift, so do you imagine? After the trip. I am
going to organize the best party ever!! So…Will you come?
Tom
Disney? Again?” Willy thought “ this is boring, second time in this year. I prefer
to visit another place. Oh I forgot We will visit Miami. This sounds interesting!”
But then he remembered what his mother said:
“ I know that your father has a very good job , and we have a very big and
nice house, and you
have everything… but you are exaggerating,
you never say thank you. You use the computer every minute, the cell
phone too…”
Willy thought of these phrases: you have everything, you are exaggerating,
you never say thank you. He decided they weren´t real because today he said
thank you to the most popular girl Chloe in the school, after she gave him a pencil.
The next day he decided to ask his mother about the trip. He was sure that
she would forget everything she said.

2. “ Good morning” said Willy respectfully.
“ Hi Willy! Good morning” said Willy’s mother.
“ Did dad return from work? Asked Willy.
“ Yes, he is very tired. Please don’t wake him up.”
“ No I wouldn´t. Mom, can I ask you something? Said Willy.
“ Sure, what is it?” replied Willy’s mother
“ My best friend Tom invited me to a trip to Florida , please, please, please can I
go? You know, he will be hurt if I don´t go. Please” pleaded Willy.
“ Just if you promise me to finish the school year with an honor roll” replied Willy
´s mother.
“ Sure, it would be easy. Thank you !!” said Willy while running upstairs to call
Tom.
Two weeks later Willy was ready for the trip with Tom´s family. He said good bye
to his family and got into Tom´s car.
The trip was too long, but both boys found something to do. As they sat in the
airplane they looked through the window and saw the famous Statue of Liberty.
They would like to live in New York, everything was perfect and they had
everything.
They went to visit grandmother and after that they went to Miami.
“ Everything’s great here! “ said Tom.
“ Yes, the last time I was here it was about five years ago. But I don´t remember
most of it” said Willy .
The next day they went to the beach, they played volleyball, made
sandcastles, and swam in the water.
“ I enjoyed everything, thank you Tom” said Willy.
“ Thank you, for coming with me” replied Tom.
Suddenly, a boy of their age came with them.
“Hello, my name is Larry, can I be with you? I am a little bored, since I am
alone” said Larry with a sad face.
“ Yes, it would be exciting being together” replied Tom.
“ Thank you” said Larry.
“ And do you live here or do you come here for vacations?” asked Willy.
“ I lived here. But my friends are on trips now and I am alone. Thank
you!!”repeated Larry
“ Are you going to visit us tomorrow? Asked Tom.
Yes and everyday!” said Larry
The next day Willy invented new games to play. They were waiting for Larry.
Fifteen minutes later, Larry came with paper in his hand.
“ Hello1 Did you know that Tokyo Hotel will have a concert this Friday?” asked
Larry.
“ Yes, we have tickets. Will you to go too?” asked Willy.
“ I will try to go” replied Larry.
Some kids with “ugly” swimsuit, were passing by.
“ Giuh! Look at that! Said Willy. “ What are they doing here? I thought this was
a private beach…

3. Tom looked at him with a mad face ( That wasn´t nice from Willy). Suddenly
Willy realized that Larry had an “ugly” swimsuit too. Larry tried to hide it but it wasn
´t such a good idea.
“ Oh, come on! Don´t do that face. He´s our friend. We don´t need to judge
people because of their dress” said Tom giving his opinion.
Everyone stared quietly at the sand: they felt discomfort, especially Larry, for
being discriminated only because of his swimsuit.
“ So are you coming tomorrow to the concert?” asked Tom.
“ I don´t think so, I remembered that I had some work” said Larry, still feeling
the discomfort.
“ That´s sad!” said Tom
Tom and Willy went to eat, they didn´t say any word. Then Tom´s parents
came.
“ Hello! How was your day? Asked Tom´s mother happily.
“ Good.” Both answered
“ Then, let´s go to eat” said Tom’s father.
“ Mom, tomorrow is the concert, the plans didn´t change, did they? Are we still
going? “ asked Tom.
“ Yes, you´re going. We hope you like it! Said Tom´s father.
“ Thanks” replied the boys
The next afternoon the boys were ready for the concert. They put on their best
clothes and called Tom´s parents. Tom´s father took them to the concert.
“ Thank you” said Tom when they arrived.
“ You´re welcome; What time do you want me to pick you up? Asked Tom´s
father.
“ We will call you,” replied Tom
They went to the entrance gate where a lady was picking up the tickets. But
when they entered in. Willy saw Larry.
“ Look” Willy said. “It’s Larry; he said that he wouldn´t come.
The thing is that you were mean to him” said Tom.
“ No!! Now you; the rich one is telling me I am mean” Willy shouted.
“ No !! I didn´t say you were mean all the time, I just said that you were mean
with him” Tom shouted.
“ If I´m not such a good friend as Larry then I…” shouted Willy while he was
running out of the place.
“ Stop, I didn´t mean that. Stop!!” shouted Tom, trying to run after him, but he
was already gone. Tom didn´t know where to search, but he started by
surrounding the area around the concert. He forgot about the concert. He forgot
about everything, he just wanted to find his friend.
Willy kept running. He didn´t turn back. He ran until he couldn’t breathe
more. Just then, he realized what happened, where he was, and what would be
the consequences. Then, he suddenly stopped. He looked to his left and saw a
small, old fashioned house, not painted in a uniform way. Then he looked to his
right and saw a brownish, gray house without any glass on the windows. A dog
was barking. Someone was looking through a hole on the window.
“ Are you looking for something?” asked the man from the house going out.
“ Eh…noo” Willy said and started running again
Then he just realized that it was in a very poor area. The houses were
unpainted, some of them had broken windows and a lot of them didn´t have any
window. He was scared, he never imagined being in that situation. The first thing

4. he wanted to do it was to hear his father´s voice but he didn´t find his I-PHONE.
Willy lost it when he was running.
Now he was in trouble, he was lost in an unknown far away place, he didn´t
have his phone and he was feeling ashamed of everything he had said to Tom.
Then a door opened, and a woman came out., She had a very dirty dress
and no shoes. Willy was afraid of saying something. He was too scared, he wanted
to eat and sleep.
“ Hi” the woman said. “ Do you need any help?” she asked.
“ Please can you give me water?” asked Willy. He noticed that she calmed
him in a certain way.
“ Yes, come in. It´s 3:00 a.m., what are you doing here? I saw you running”
asked the woman giving him a cup of water to the boy.
“ I escaped” answer Willy. He looked at the cup and saw the refection of his
face of a sad and tired boy. Just then he remembered about Tom.
“ From whom?” asked the woman curiously? “ Oh, I’m sorry. It´s not my
business”
“ It does not matter. Maybe you could help me. “ Said Willy
“ I can do it, just tell me what to do” replied the woman.
Willy told her the entire story. She was surprised that such a wealthy boy
could be walking in that region.
“ I will be in trouble.” Said Wily with a regard.
“ The only thing that matters now, is help you” she said.
“ Thank you” said Willy
“ First of all you need to sleep, and then we will think about something” said the
woman and took him to a tiny room where some kids were sleeping on a dirty
couch. Something soft was lying on the floor. The woman told Willy he could sleep
there. He sat on the soft floor. It wasn´t as soft as he expected. He lay, the smell
was awful. He didn´t want to think about the consequences so he imagined that
everything was a dream.
In the morning, the sound of laughter wake him up. He opened his eyes and
saw a couple of boys and a little girl. He forgot where he was. The woman came
in. Willy thought that she didn´t sleep since her face looked tired.
“ Good morning” said the woman.”Did you already meet?”
“ Good morning” all of the kids said in chorus. “ No, he just woke up.”
“ Good morning” said Willy.” Thank you for letting me pass the night here,
thank you!”
“ You´re welcome!” replied the woman.” “ And what do you want for
breakfast? We have oat meal and beans.”
“ Oat meal, oat meal” the kids cried.
“ Okay, breakfast will be ready in twenty minutes. Clarise, please help me
preparing the breakfast” the woman said.
Willy remembered her sister Clara, he wanted to go home. He wanted to say
sorry to everyone. But how?...
Twenty minutes later the woman called everyone and they came to the small
kitchen.
She gave Willy a cup with oat meal. He had never eaten such a thing. It had
an ugly disgusting gray color. But he didn´t want to hurt that family. He took a
spoon of oat meal and put it into the mouth and started chewing it. He didn´t
believe it, but he liked it. It was sweet and chewable.

5. After breakfast he thanked everyone and searched his way to the hotel. Half
way home he noticed that everything looked familiar, he saw the beach and
some hotels, He knew what to do, he had to go to any hotel and ask where was
the one he was searching.
At the Holiday Inn, he asked if anyone knew where the Crown Plaza was. They
told him that it was half mile to the right. Willy started his walk and he saw the
entrance gate. He was nervous but he continued walking.
“No street people allowed” said the guard.}
“ I have a room, look” Willy showed a room card and entered
Willy saw Tom in the elevator and run with him.
“I´m sorry, I didn´t mean that” said Willy
“No I am sorry, please forgive me” cried Tom
When they went up to their room. Willy asked “ Did someone know I run away’
“ No” replied Tom. “ After the “concert” I took a taxi and said to my parents
that you were already in the room. Then I went to search nearby. I almost didn`t
sleep…”
“ I am sorry, I will never talk like this again. I am ashamed of that. Now I
understand everything. I… just don`t have words to say.” Said Willy
After they returned from the trip Willy contributed to his sister`s club and never
again criticized poor people. He learned manners that would benefit him the rest
of his life. He learned a lesson, the great lesson.
Sofía b. Kharissova 7A

6. Cazadora de Mariposas
En un pueblo lejano, una vez vivía una niña llamada Elina. A ella le encantaban
las mariposas y se la pasaba todas las tardes cazándolas.
Elina tenía una gran colección de mariposas. Las tenía en cuadros, colgados por
toda la habitación, llenándolo de belleza y colores. En un rincón tenia una jaula,
en la cual tenía a las mariposas vivas que iba a rescatarlas para nuevas
colecciones.
En su pueblo había muchas y diferentes mariposas. Con el tiempo las mariposas
fueron desapareciendo. Elina pasaba cada vez más tiempo con su red para
cazar mariposas. Esa semana no había atrapado ninguna mariposa. Exhausta se
acostó en su cama y se quedo profundamente dormida.
De repente comenzó a soñar que corría por los campos con su red para
mariposas. Había muchas mariposas, de diferentes tamaños y colores. Elina las
perseguía y las atrapaba.
Elina vio una mariposa muy grande y muy bonita. Elina la quiso atrapar y corrió
tras ella. Preparó su red y la apunto hacia la mariposa. Con un rápido movimiento,
Elina atrapó a la hermosa mariposa.
“Elina” vocifero alguien con una voz muy bajita.
Elina volteo su cabeza pero no logro ver a nadie.
“Elina” volvió a repetir la voz. “Aquí abajo”
Elina bajó la cabeza y en su red solo vio varias mariposas. Acercó su cabeza y
escuchó.
“Elina suéltame por favor” dijo la mariposa que acababa de atrapar.

7. Elina soltó a las mariposas. Pero la más hermosa se sentó en su hombro. Elina
quedó sorprendida de que no le temiera.
“Eres una niña muy peligrosa en el mundo de las mariposas”, dijo la mariposa.
“¿Cómo es que hablas?”, preguntó Elina sorprendida.
“Siempre hablamos, solo que hay gente que no escucha” contestó la mariposa
con calma.
“¿Y por qué dices que soy peligrosa?”, preguntó Elina sin comprender.
La mariposa sopló sus alas polen. El polen llegó hasta la nariz de Elina que la hizo
estornudar. De pronto Elina empezó a encogerse y llegó a convertirse a una
hermosa mariposa.
“Vamos” dijo la mariposa. Viendo que Elina no podía creer en lo que se había
convertido.
“¿Qué me ha pasado?” preguntó Elina agitando sus alas para volar alto.
“Te has convertido en una mariposa” respondió la mariposa.
“¡Esto es fabuloso!” gritaba Elina mientras volaba. “¿Adonde vamos?”
“A volar por las colimas, para que veas como vivimos” contestó la mariposa.
A Elina le encantaba esa sensación de volar. Le emocionó como se veía todo
desde arriba. Elina no tenía palabras para describir todo lo que sentía.
De pronto, la mariposa le gritó: “¡Elina, ten cuidado con la red!”.

8. Un cazador había atrapado a las dos mariposas. Elina empezó a agitar sus alas y
empujaba su fino y delgado cuerpo contra la red hasta que no pudo más. En ese
instante Elina recordó que hacía lo mismo con muchas mariposas.
El cazador se las llevó a una casa en donde las metió en una jaula muy pequeña.
Elina también recordó que tenía una jaula en donde metía a las mariposas.
“¿Que podemos hacer?”, preguntó Elina.
“Espera a que llegue tu turno”, contestó la mariposa triste mente.
El cazador se acercó a la jaula. Miró atentamente y decidió sacar a Elina de la
jaula.
“¡No, por favor, no!” gritaba Elina mientras le preparaba las agujas.
El cazador ya tenia todo listo y cuando estaba a punto de inyectarle la aguja a
Elina, ésta se despertó con el corazón agitado. No podía creer que todo era un
sueño. Pensó en la mariposa y en la sensación de volar.
Elina decidió que nunca más en la vida mataría seres vivos aunque fueran muy
pequeños, solo para divertirse. Incluso, formo una campaña para proteger todo
tipo de animales e insectos.
Con el tiempo, más mariposas empezaron a volar por los campos de su pueblo.
Mostrando su belleza a la buena gente, sabiendo que no correrían peligro alguno
estando a su alrededor.

9. José Miguel Quijano Toledo
8F
Well since I can not start this story from the beginning (since it already happened)
I will tell you my life, you know, when I analyze it , I see that everything is very
simple, I'm like the boy who pursues a sweet, but when it approaches , someone
pulls the thread away, losing each time a little more. Same for me, always seems
that I will find happiness and peace, but it leaves and disappears into the night,
and whenever I attempt to achieve it, I lose. Now everyone tells me I'm emo, who
knows, the truth is that I have no authority to judge myself. Well, let's begin with the
story, I was always unhappy, my friends always have faltered and I've never been
able to experiment with happiness, but that of my family and well, you do
understand what I'm trying to say?
Well today, my band will play in a very important event in Monterrey and
anything can go wrong. Well, I will speak about my band and our equipment and
tools and about us too, so it will be less boring: it is the closest thing to happiness in
my life and all its derivatives.
Well we are 4: Alex: He is our lead guitarist, he is the typical free spirit, long hair,
shoulder length, curly and dark. The he uses an ESP X150 guitar it is all black and
has an impressive attack, it is the most grotesque (metaphorically speaking) I've
seen. Well spoken turn (if called) He is our other guitarist, he is the most
conservative of the group, he is the only bald, and always takes the stage with his
shirt Miami Dolphins (no one understands that since the team is terrible), but he
bears it with pride. His guitar is conservative, as its owner, is a simple Schecter S-1,
red with black, has a very curious thing, he is still a set of rules based on the values
of the Silverhawks changed until they were adapted to he. These are things like:
"Never let your friends, unless you have something better to do" is very funny.Now
our little (big) monster Siberio (I understand that you have a funny name, but like
his dad) the good is a savage, a barbarian, is the only person I know who beat his
dog playing cat, holds the record more breaking handles, windows, break bones
jumping from ridiculous heights, once blew up the handset of a telephone,
naturally good and our drummer is a savage brute that took the hit the piñata to
the next level. Then am I, a boy, skinny, little guy, with thicker instrument of all, a
bass. Then as we know everyone will tell you the following history. Well, I have 4
things that make my life a little less miserable: My band, my bass, my family and
Anna, but it'll tell you, I know her since we were in fourth grade, and I always liked
but never had the courage to approach her in the meantime I had to see it in their
happy bubble, bouncing with every boyfriend I had at that time (which was not
me) until one day I went and she confessed that she had a thing for me.She, my
muse, green eyes, jet black hair, infectious smile and eyes that melt you with just
seeing you. Well, we were in sound check, testing the new amplifiers we had just
bought, and good were excellent. Then suddenly, and in half the Beast and the
Harlot, Money stops and turns to see me, it gets very serious and says - "Ana and I
love and want her to be my bride, but would Vaquero ... "He said just like that, like I
asked for the salt, I felt like a dog -" What's wrong?!? I see your terms and that is the
first thing you do,! Oh yeah? I the steal! "Easy, I thought if I tell you that you would
look better if you knew from another source.? Ash, you're an impatient! That was
all I needed to say, I did not throw to Tracy (my bass) just because I love him more
than I love myself, but ran to the rac of the instruments, let Tracy and ran Giro,
throwing lasers Eye - See if your? Silverhawks save you this!Then I remember nothing

10. until Siberio got tired of our fight and we took them both by the hair, we bumped
heads and made us ask for forgiveness. All the time I felt like a puppy. - "Apologize,
please" he said, adding all maternal touch to her words. - "I will not apologize for
that bald, is a ..." did not complete the sentence because I hit the stage so strong
that I could not finish the sentence. - "Your Money, apologize, porfis,?if" "I apologize
only if the emo apologize first, I do not have ..." and also hit against the stage, so
hard he scored on his bald head. Then we made one of his keys such that you
sleep for two hours and not remember anything. When I awoke it was time to play,
then got up and left I moved toward the stage.They had all arrived and were
discussing our song list, I was very little careful, because I saw a girl on stage, she
was beautiful, her skin was white, her hair was black and straight, but it was a
pigtail that covered part of the face and had it dyed reddish indiscreetly of
Atreyu's wearing a shirt and did not seem to come with one, great. The discussion
ended on that would play metalcore, a genre which I think was perfect,
combining good with evil, cries and moans, and then a bit of melodrama and
melody. We started with My Heart Alex was screaming and I answered him in
clean singing, the song went very well. Then we come to something softer, Seize
the Day, that's when I fell. She blew me a kiss from the audience and I could not
do anything, the point and told one of the guards to bring it up onstage. When
Alex came very gallantly gave him a microphone. - "?your name?" - "Isabel" -
"Elizabeth, I invite you to join us on stage in this song,?you think?"There was a
general murmur in the audience and Alex, do not understand how, managed to
make the fiu, fiu with his guitar, the audience laughed and made choir, great.
Isabel, however, only replied "Yes, great. The song began with a guitar
arrangements, and taking advantage of the light pointed toward the Giro, which
was what made them, I went to Elizabeth, and told him in the ear, - "This song is for
you" It seemed an excellent idea because I exposed another embarrassing as the
ten event had happened, had not exceplto discreetly another lights out and just
shot me when I told him fired. Bravo. "This time I could hear laughter from the dais
Siberio battery which was about 2 meters away and about 1 meter of the rest of
the platform. Now Alex approached the microphone as if it were part of the song
into the microphone he said casually, - "If our bassist was not calm, I think we have
a problem."That was enough to get away from her the rest of the introduction,
then began the letter, Alex pointed at me and said -" That you sing 'Great, I
ridiculed but I can not even sing. - "Seize the day or die regretting the time lost. It's
empty and cold without you, too many people to ache over ... "The public quickly
recognized the song and started corearla good thing. I could see as Isabel moved
from his place to dance and started moving across the stage. - "I saw here, now
please stay a while I come with you at all I give my mortal life, but will forever??. I'll
do anything for a smile, holding that 'until our time is done. We both know that one
day, but I will not leave you."Isabel approached me quite quietly (so as to be
being seen by 5,000 people and be being targeted by 3 reflectors) and hugged
me and casually leaned against my chest, something that did not provide
anything or play or sing -" Life newborn replacing all of us, changing this fable we
live in No longer needed here, where are we going??want to take a journey
tonight, follow me past the walls of death? But girl, and if there?eternal life? "In that
I saw someone on the corner of the eye to walk and stand in the corridor leading
to the stage, but could not be seen by the public and that covered a wall of
amplifiers 2 meters. - "?And what if you do not have, yeah, or kiss your lips?
Whooooah. So I never want to leave you and the memories of us to see. Please do

11. not leave me "In that Elizabeth turned to see me, piqued my shoulder and saw
how they began to bring to my face ... - "?you doing?" A familiar female voice was
heard behind me at that time was several things:Isabel stopped and turned away
from my arms crossed, Alex started with a guitar solo, I turned around and I en
contre face to face with Anne was so close that I forced them back. I felt my
breath cut, longer feel the Elizabeth and I started to feel the Anne, was like
breathing in the face of a bull. - "Who is that?? - "Ah, you see she is my ..." - "I am
Anna, his girlfriend, well, I correct his former girlfriend." - "? Had a girlfriend and do
not bother to tell me!" Great, now had a 2 bulls breathing down face, and
something told me that nobody paid attention to only Alex, even Alex. - "You're a
pig?, manipulative, hypocritical ...!" -"? If you are a liar and double-face ...!" This
ceased to be a reprimand or expression, was rather a contest of who could insult
more strongly until suddenly, they both turned to look and giving a nasty look
nodded and gave me a hearty slap at the same time, my practicing would have
gone so couple.At that moment Alex, Money, and listened as Siberia shouted from
behind his piñatota, but only we will listen. - "Silence, I lost - no chance of another
day. Silence, I lost - no chance of a day más.Yo'm alone here. Falling away from
you, no possibility of going home." He finished the song, and Ana Isabel came
together, talking, and general Ooooo the public was overwhelming. Because this
was not the end of our presentation and thus we could leave the stage. When I
finally talk to everyone, Giro gave a laugh that was like a cry of agony. - "You
should have seen your face ..." - "Money, I think you owe someone a big
apology ... and if you do not, there will be problems" - "?Can anyone explain what
happens here?" - "Drawing decided to gamble a joke, he and Anne have nothing
to do ... "That was more than enough, I ran Giro hit in the face and while Siberio
between us could see Ana Isabel and go and disappear into the night. Well since I
can not start this story from the beginning (as already happened) I tell you my life,
you know where I analyze, I see that everything is very simple, I'm like the boy who
pursues the sweet, but when it approaches , someone pulls the thread and away,
losing each time a little more. Same for me, always seems that I will find happiness
and peace, leaves and disappears into the night, and whenever the attempt to
achieve it, I lose. Now everyone tells me I'm emo, who knows, the truth is that I
have no authority to judge myself. Well, let's begin with the story, I was always
unhappy, my friends always have faltered and I've never been able to experiment
with happiness, but that of my family and good?understand what I'm trying to say?
Well in this nearest, my band, we play a very important event in Monterrey and we
can go wrong. Well, I will tell my band and our equipment and tools about us too,
so will be less boring: it is the closest thing to happiness in my life and all its
derivatives. Well we are 4: Alex:He is our lead guitarist, he is the typical free spirit,
long hair, shoulder length, Chinese and obscure. The X154 uses an ESP guitar is all
black and has an impressive attack, is the guitar more grotesque (metaphorically
speaking) I've seen. Well spoken turn (if called) He is our other guitarist, he is the
most conservative of the group, he is the only bald, and always takes the stage
with his shirt Miami Dolphins (no one understands that if a team is lousy), but the
bears with pride. His guitar is conservative, as its owner, is a simple Schecter S-1, red
with black, has a very curious thing, he is still a set of rules based on the values of
the Silverhawks changed until they were adapted to he. These are things like:
"Never let your friends, unless you have something better to do" is very funny.Now
our little (big) monster Siberio (I understand that you have a funny name, but like
his dad) the good is a savage, a barbarian, is the only person I know who beat his

12. dog playing cat, holds the record more breaking handles, windows, break bones
jumping from ridiculous heights, once blew up the handset of a telephone,
naturally good and our drummer is a savage brute that took the hit the piñata to
the next level. Then am I, a boy, skinny, little guy, with thicker instrument of all, a
bass. Then as we know everyone will tell you the following history. Well, I have 4
things that make my life a little less miserable: My band, my bass, my family and
Anna, but it'll tell you, I know her since we were in fourth grade, and I always liked
but never had the courage to approach her in the meantime I had to see it in their
happy bubble, bouncing with every boyfriend I had at that time (which was not
me) until one day I went and she confessed that she had a thing for me.She, my
muse, green eyes, jet black hair, infectious smile and eyes that melt you with just
seeing you. Well, we were in sound check, testing the new amplifiers we had just
bought, and good were excellent. Then suddenly, and in half the Beast and the
Harlot, Money stops and turns to see me, it gets very serious and says - "Ana and I
love and want her to be my bride, but would Vaquero ... "He said just like that, like I
asked for the salt, I felt like a dog -" What's wrong?!? I see your terms and that is the
first thing you do,! Oh yeah? I the steal! "Easy, I thought if I tell you that you would
look better if you knew from another source.? Ash, you're an impatient! That was
all I needed to say, I did not throw to Tracy (my bass) just because I love him more
than I love myself, but ran to the rac of the instruments, let Tracy and ran Giro,
throwing lasers Eye - See if your? Silverhawks save you this!Then I remember nothing
until Siberio got tired of our fight and we took them both by the hair, we bumped
heads and made us ask for forgiveness. All the time I felt like a puppy. - "Apologize,
please" he said, adding all maternal touch to her words. - "I will not apologize for
that bald, is a ..." did not complete the sentence because I hit the stage so strong
that I could not finish the sentence. - "Your Money, apologize, porfis,?if" "I apologize
only if the emo apologize first, I do not have ..." and also hit against the stage, so
hard he scored on his bald head. Then we made one of his keys such that you
sleep for two hours and not remember anything. When I awoke it was time to play,
then got up and left I moved toward the stage.They had all arrived and were
discussing our song list, I was very little careful, because I saw a girl on stage, she
was beautiful, her skin was white, her hair was black and straight, but it was a
pigtail that covered part of the face and had it dyed reddish indiscreetly of
Atreyu's wearing a shirt and did not seem to come with one, great. The discussion
ended on that would play metalcore, a genre which I think was perfect,
combining good with evil, cries and moans, and then a bit of melodrama and
melody. We started with My Heart Alex was screaming and I answered him in
clean singing, the song went very well. Then we come to something softer, Seize
the Day, that's when I fell. She blew me a kiss from the audience and I could not
do anything, the point and told one of the guards to bring it up onstage. When
Alex came very gallantly gave him a microphone. - "?your name?" - "Isabel" -
"Elizabeth, I invite you to join us on stage in this song,?you think?"There was a
general murmur in the audience and Alex, do not understand how, managed to
make the fiu, fiu with his guitar, the audience laughed and made choir, great.
Isabel, however, only replied "Yes, great. The song began with a guitar
arrangements, and taking advantage of the light pointed toward the Giro, which
was what made them, I went to Elizabeth, and told him in the ear, - "This song is for
you" It seemed an excellent idea because I exposed another embarrassing as the
ten event had happened, had not exceplto discreetly another lights out and just
shot me when I told him fired. Bravo. "This time I could hear laughter from the dais

13. Siberio battery which was about 2 meters away and about 1 meter of the rest of
the platform. Now Alex approached the microphone as if it were part of the song
into the microphone he said casually, - "If our bassist was not calm, I think we have
a problem."That was enough to get away from her the rest of the introduction,
then began the letter, Alex pointed at me and said -" That you sing 'Great, I
ridiculed but I can not even sing. - "Seize the day or die regretting the time lost. It's
empty and cold without you, too many people to ache over ... "The public quickly
recognized the song and started corearla good thing. I could see as Isabel moved
from his place to dance and started moving across the stage. - "I saw here, now
please stay a while I come with you at all I give my mortal life, but will forever??. I'll
do anything for a smile, holding that 'until our time is done. We both know that one
day, but I will not leave you."Isabel approached me quite quietly (so as to be
being seen by 5,000 people and be being targeted by 3 reflectors) and hugged
me and casually leaned against my chest, something that did not provide
anything or play or sing -" Life newborn replacing all of us, changing this fable we
live in No longer needed here, where are we going??want to take a journey
tonight, follow me past the walls of death? But girl, and if there?eternal life? "In that
I saw someone on the corner of the eye to walk and stand in the corridor leading
to the stage, but could not be seen by the public and that covered a wall of
amplifiers 2 meters. - "?And what if you do not have, yeah, or kiss your lips?
Whooooah. So I never want to leave you and the memories of us to see. Please do
not leave me "In that Elizabeth turned to see me, piqued my shoulder and saw
how they began to bring to my face ... - "?you doing?" A familiar female voice was
heard behind me at that time was several things:Isabel stopped and turned away
from my arms crossed, Alex started with a guitar solo, I turned around and I en
contre face to face with Anne was so close that I forced them back. I felt my
breath cut, longer feel the Elizabeth and I started to feel the Anne, was like
breathing in the face of a bull. - "Who is that?? - "Ah, you see she is my ..." - "I am
Anna, his girlfriend, well, I correct his former girlfriend." - "? Had a girlfriend and do
not bother to tell me!" Great, now had a 2 bulls breathing down face, and
something told me that nobody paid attention to only Alex, even Alex. - "You're a
pig?, manipulative, hypocritical ...!" -"? If you are a liar and double-face ...!" This
ceased to be a reprimand or expression, was rather a contest of who could insult
more strongly until suddenly, they both turned to look and giving a nasty look
nodded and gave me a hearty slap at the same time, my practicing would have
gone so couple.At that moment Alex, Money, and listened as Siberia shouted from
behind his piñatota, but only we will listen. - "Silence, I lost - no chance of another
day. Silence, I lost - no chance of a day más.Yo'm alone here. Falling away from
you, no possibility of going home." He finished the song, and Ana Isabel came
together, talking, and general Ooooo the public was overwhelming. Because this
was not the end of our presentation and thus we could leave the stage. When I
finally talk to everyone, Giro gave a laugh that was like a cry of agony. - "You
should have seen your face ..." - "Money, I think you owe someone a big
apology ... and if you do not, there will be problems" - "?Can anyone explain what
happens here?" - "Drawing decided to gamble a joke, he and Anne have nothing
to do ... "That was more than enough, I ran Giro hit in the face and while Siberio
between us could see Ana Isabel and go and disappear into the night.

14. Nathalie Campos Flores

15. Language Arts 9D #1 2nd Period
Related Lives
A few years ago began the following story I will narrate below.
It all started with a small family in which there were two sons that
were twins, one was named Cesar and the other Diego. Both were
excellent children and their parents never had any problem with
them.
They always did anything his mother wanted or asked for.
Cesar was more helpful than Diego. America was their mother and
she was a very generous woman that worked a lot like his father
Augustus who was a doctorate without a specialty. When Cesar
and Diego turned eight years old his parents began to have
discussions, Diego was surprised because he was more innocent
than Caesar and didn´t understand why all this happened.
Cesar's first reaction was anger as he told one of his school
friends who told him that their parents fought and several months
after that they got divorced. This great friend of Cesar was named
Hector was a good boy; he met him since childhood and always
went to the park with him.

16. Cesar told him that his parents were beginning to fight very
often and it was so much that he feared the same thing could
happen to him as Hector with his parents. Hector was honest and
told him it was just the beginning. Cesar mortified so he told Diego
everything to help him react and both were very discouraged. After
a week of assimilating Diego didn’t wanted to give up and created
a plan but before he told Cesar was a little late.
America and Augustus had accepted to divorce and
separate, but that was not the worst, the worst was that America
decided that she would take Cesar with her and Augusto Diego. This
was the worst decision for these poor children that anyone could
have taken for them without their consent. Years passed, and none
of them was able to have contact, it was very sad because they
loved each other a lot.
In school both had bad grades even though they were very
intelligent, but they could not continue their lives as if nothing was
wrong. Their parents must understand that. After three long years,
Cesar decided to talk to his mother and tell everything he thought
and felt.

17. He said:
- Mom I want and need to talk to you about something serious ...
- What's wrong Cesar? You know you can tell me everything.
- I always wanted to say this, but never knew how to tell you this and
I can’t shut up any more.
- Come on tell me son.
- Mom it makes me very angry that you and my father divorced
without even thinking about my brother and me, and the worst of all
is that we were separated and I miss him so much.
- Cesar but you never told me anything neither your brother.
- Mom what did you expected we were just kids that were eight
years old and now we are already twelve years old. Now everything
is clearer, and honestly I can’t tolerate this because I believe it’s a
mess disaster not to be with my brother for your problems with my
father.
- I am very sorry son, you're absolutely right and I never thought you
could feel that way.
- Thank you for understanding me mom, but please do not just give
me the reason, you should contact my brother because he might

18. also wonder what is going on with our lives.
- I now son, do not worry I'll do something about it.
A week later his mother realized she did a huge mistake since she
separated two lives that were so close, because both kids were truly
inseparable. She realized that she might really do something to fix
this.
She got a few months later the number of her ex-husband and told
him what happened and actually he also confessed that Diego was
disgusted and sad by what happened few years ago, so they
decided to take a second chance for their children and remember
that God said that what he unites, the man must not separate it
because it’s something very sacred, and must succeed in spite of
everything.
Colegio San Patricio
Nadia Guerrero M. 18 9E
Mrs. Norma Marks
The green eyes curse
On Easter holidays, below a starry night, Clay was waiting for his mom to bring the car
around. He had offered to go instead but his mother insisted she needed the walk. Clay, a

19. nineteen year old guy, was quite handsome, yet he wasn’t the type of guy that bragged about it.
He was sitting on a bench outside of a hotel in which the party they had just attended to was still
pretty much alive. The music was still thumping at full volume at one thirty in the morning.
A girl came out the hotel door. She went down the entrance steps and began searching for
something in her purse. Clay watched her intently, wondering what she was looking for. She took
out her vibrating cell phone but dropped her purse in the haste.
“Shoot!” She groaned and started picking up the millions things her purse contained. “I got
to clean out the garbage in this thing.”
Clay, being the gentleman he was taught to be, ran to her rescue the moment he saw her
take out her cell phone, he had known it was unavoidable for the purse not to fall and spill all of its
contents.
“Thank you.” She said gently, slightly embarrassed when she realized someone had
observed her clumsiness.
“No problem.” Clay answered.
She looked up and when their eyes met, it was magic. She had the most gorgeous, deep
green eyes he’d ever seen and he had the warmest and most sincere. They were both hypnotized
by each other’s eyes, like they had been waiting all their lives just to see them. She laughed
nervously and looked away; Clay felt a strange pain in his chest when their eyes were apart, like he
needed to see them.
“Uh… I’m Clay.” He greeted nervously and offered her his hand.
“Charlotte.” She answered taking his hand and getting up. He gave her back her purse and
she murmured another thank you.
Clay couldn’t get her to look up and in a desperate attempt, “Hey!” he called. Charlotte,
startled looked right into his eyes, wondering what was wrong and there it was the magic again.
Their eyes were linked, it seemed, forever.
Neither of them could remember for how long they remained like that, looking into each
other’s eyes, saying a million things through them, before Clay’s mom honked at them.
“Clay come on!” they broke their gaze unwillingly towards the woman waving in the white
car.
“I got to go.” Clay apologized. His words sounded intense without him wanting them to. He
felt like he had loved her his whole life.
“Yeah… sure.” Charlotte answered breathlessly.
Clay went towards the car without taking his eyes off of her. She blushed and started
walking back inside. He chuckled lightly; amazed at the idea that love at first sight was actually
real. He watched intently as Charlotte’s figure became smaller and smaller until it could no longer
be visible, then, he sighed longingly and faced his mom.
“She was very pretty,” She said coldly, avoiding Clay’s gaze.
“Yeah, she was…” Clay responded confused, his mother had never been a woman of few
words. The car was silent for a long time.
“She had… pretty green eyes, Clay,” She finally said with a grave voice.
“Yes, she did,” Clay responded defensively.
“You know about—“
“Yes mom, I know about the ‘curse’ but I don’t believe in it and neither should you,” Clay
said, cutting his mom off. This time, it was his time to avoid her gaze.
“Clay,” Lara whispered with a tone pleading for comprehension. “Isn’t your father proof
enough?”
He glared at his mom, looking straight into her green eyes and said angrily, “Dad is sick
mom and not because of some stupid curse. Don’t use that against me.” he unbuckled him seat
belt angrily —they had already reached the house— and grabbed the handle.
“But it’s true Clay!” she clutch his arm so he wouldn’t go out the car. “And I’m not just
doing it for your good; I’m doing it for hers too! How do you think I feel when I see your dad and I
know it’s all my fault!?” she asked sadly.
“It’s not your fault and if you still want to believe that then fine, make yourself miserable!”
Clay told her furious, shook her hand off, slammed the car door shut and stormed into the house.
Lara sighed with closed eyes, overwhelmed by her son’s words, and came into the house
with tired steps. Clay was there —his hands were gripping the table firmly and his head was
hanging between his extended arms— looking troubled. He looked up at the sound of her
footsteps.
“I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that to you.” He said with cold eyes, choosing his
words carefully.

20. “I know you’re sorry, but you’re only sorry that you said them to me. I know that that is how
you feel but that you had never had the courage to say it.” She said, recognizing the true meaning
in his words. “Look, your dad—“
“Mom don’t start. I apologized to you. I don’t want to hear another sob story about how
you caused this on dad, okay? I’m not in the mood.” He said tired and started going up the stairs.
“Oh and about Charlotte,” he mustered halfway up, “don’t worry, I didn’t have time to get her
number or any other way to contact her.”
“OMG are you serious? How cute! He seems nice.” Charlotte’s best friend, Nancy, shrieked
on the phone.
“I know! I couldn’t believe someone was actually helping me with my purse.” She
responded.
“Too bad he didn’t ask for your phone or anything.” Nancy said.
“I know.” She said with a sigh.
“Wait! You said Clay right?” Nancy asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“You remember my friend Olivia? She told me once she had a friend called Clay and well
it’s not a very usual name, is it?”
“Yes, actually it is.”
“Oh come on! How many Clays do you know?” Charlotte stayed silent. “See!? I’ll call her
and then I’ll call you back, okay?”
The park in the afternoon was probably one of the best places to hang out. It had plenty of
trees to block out the sun, the wind blew in, the flowers gave it just the right scent, and the river was
so relaxing. Near the river we could see a happy couple in a bench. The park was full of energetic
activity but not there, people avoided that happy bench because the emotion emerging from it
was overwhelming. They emitted overjoyed waves around anyone that surrounded them and, who
would want to ruin that, right?
By a simple glimpse you could see how perfect they were for each other and how they
thought so too. They were cuddled close together, looking at the river, making fun of the ducks
and enjoying one another’s company. They fixed their eyes on each other. If anyone had been
watching them before, they looked away now, because the feeling emitting from their eyes was so
strong and private that nobody could withstand it. The space between them started decreasing
and decreasing until, there was none left. Their lips met with a gentle and soft, perfect kiss. It
seemed they would explode with happiness.
Suddenly, that happiness was interrupted by the reminder of something, something that
had been tugging in Clay’s head for a while and now, he realized what it was. His eyes opened
wide with doubt, pain and sadness. He shook his head trying to get away from the thought. There
were no happy waves anymore but people still didn’t approach because now, they were
distressed, troubled, pain waves. Clay staggered backwards and tripped a couple of times; he
wasn’t in his senses. Everything that was going on in his head was too much. He left looking like a
wounded animal, distraught and suffering while Charlotte stayed there, in no better shape than
him, looking confused, hurt and covered in tears.
Could it be? Were all the stories true? Clay walked without course through the city’s streets,
wondering and trying to deny everything that was going on. That kiss, that perfect and longed kiss
had been ruined, ruined by the reminder of that stupid curse. How could he have been so stupid as
to let that foolish thing ruin the best moment of his life!?
Charlotte.
All he could think about was Charlotte. Her broken figure when he left. How could he have
left her like that? Broken and hurt. His eyes were clouded with tears of rage at himself. Hundreds of
eyes were on him. Everyone that passed by him wondered what was that young boy so distressed
about? Clay’s discomforted figure wandered the streets causing confusion on everyone until the
light of the sun had extinguished and the coldness of the night was extreme.
The park was the same, full of life and energetic activity only this time; there was no glorious
waves, no strong stares and definitely no happy couple. Clay approached Charlotte looking sorry

21. and like he’d had a rough night while Charlotte looked hard and angry or at least, she wanted to
seem so. Charlotte was in no mood for small talk.
“Why did you call me here?” her voice shook a little.
“I wanted to talk to you about something.” clay said with a slight frown. He hated looking a
Charlotte like this, all the distress he had caused her.
“Well get on with it and start by saying why our kiss freak you out.” She demanded. She
wanted to know that more than anything, because behind her angry shield there was hurt and
sadness, did Clay not love her back like she did? Had she been wrong all this time?
“Yes, I did get freaked out but not about the kiss, that… that was the most wonderful
moment in my life,” Clay said with a smile. “It was the date and the kiss more like it.”
“What does the date have to do with it?”
“Yesterday was exactly a year after we met.”
“I know…” Charlotte said looking down, so she hadn’t been the only one awaiting that day.
Clay sighed and readied himself. He had never told Charlotte about this, why would he if
he himself didn’t believe in it? “There’s um… there’s this curse on Rafort men with… green eyed girls
and the first thing in the curse is that our first kiss would be exactly one year after we met.” He could
tell how stupid he sounded and how skeptic Charlotte was.
She scoffed hurt, her angry façade broken completely. “You know… you’d think that when
a guy breaks up with you he’d find a better excuse or just tell it to your face.” She started walking
away but Clay grabbed her hand startled.
“I’m definitely not breaking up with you, Charlotte.” He said her name with such affection
and tenderness that she turned, melting under his velvet voice. He grabbed her soft hands and
looked straight into her gorgeous eyes. “If anything, it’s everything but. I just thought you should
know that I love you more than anything.” He told her fervently. “And I realized that if that curse
were to be true, I wouldn’t care one bit, because being away from you is a curse worse than any
other.”
Charlotte smiled broadly while Clay wrapped his arms around her, in his arms she felt safe
and peaceful. They held hands and started walking towards their usual bench. Charlotte noticed
how Clay was stumbling and tripping a lot but she thought he was nervous, like she was. “So,
what’s this curse about?”
“If I tell you, will you promise me something?” Clay said smiling.
Charlotte thought it over a bit, “sure.”
“A long time ago, a Raford man fell in love with a girl who was a witch, but he didn’t truly
love her. His true love was a green eyed girl and when she found out she cursed him saying that all
Raford men were destined to love a green eyed girl but would never sense her long enough. With
each um… kiss or anything more we start loosing our senses.” He said in a matter-of-fact way. “We,
I mean, we Rafort men.”
“Look at me.” Charlotte ordered and he obeyed. She examined his eyes, there was a glassy
look in them, not completely but it was there. “What’s wrong with your eyes Clay?” she asked,
remembering him stumbling.
“Nothing.” He answered defensively.
Charlotte was shocked; she looked at the river and felt tears forming in her eyes. “It’s true
isn’t it? The curse.”
“I already told you, I don’t care if it’s true or not.”
“I know, but is it true!?” she yelled. “Are you loosing your sight because of me!?” He looked
at her blurry image, not daring to say the words. “Oh my god.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Don’t worry about that. It’s me and not you, that’s what matters.” He told her, kissing her
forehead. His sight blurred a bit more but he didn’t dare tell charlotte.
“Are you serious!? You think I’m going to let you loose your senses because of me? Well,
you’re wrong!” she said furious.
“I don’t care, loosing my senses is nothing compared to loosing you.” Clay contradicted
and sighed after a while. “I still get my promise, remember?” She looked at him disbelieving but
made no resistance. “Promise me that you’ll never feel guilty about this because this is my choice
and promise me that when I have to stay in bed all day…” he took a deep breath. “You’ll kill me.”
She jumped up, startled. “What did you just say?” she whispered. He stood up too,
unbalanced.
“That you’ll kill me.” he said fiercely. He knew he couldn’t kill himself because that wouldn’t
break the curse either.
“No, no.” she said backing up.

22. “I’ve seen my mom, I’ve seen the guilt in her eyes and my dad being there in a bed doesn’t
help her. I don’t want you like that. You don’t know how much I wish my dad was dead, how much
I wish my mom would say goodbye to him already, but she doesn’t. The curse says that when the
Rafort man finally dies, the woman is next but not if the man is killed. So please, promise me that
you’ll kill me once I reach that state.” He pleaded.
“You won’t reach that state. I can promise you that.” she said, hugging him.
“We’ll see about that.” he said with a smile.
He cradled her head in his hands softly and kissed her for a second time. The last perfect kiss
he would see, but not the last he would feel, not the last he would hear, not the last to taste and
definitely not the last to come.
Years passed. Clay and Charlotte’s relationship was like none other, marked by the lack of
affection, no kisses, no hugs, no touch. He’d lost his speech recently.
“You’re dad died today Clay.” His mom told her hysterical. “I just hugged him and he
started convulsing.” Clay hugged her tight while she shook with sobs.
Remember what you promised. He wrote later that night on his board with the messy
handwriting Charlotte was already used to reading.
“I didn’t promise you anything. I promised you that you wouldn’t reach that state.”
Charlotte said. “How could you, how can you even ask me such a thing?”
Just please! Promise me!
“No! I’m not going to promise to kill my own husband!” she said reminding him by showing
her ring.
He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, calming her. “How do you
expect me to keep my promise if you make it so hard?” she asked more to herself than to him. He
kissed her forehead and she kissed him. In their 3 years of marriage they’d kissed less than any
young couple would’ve when they weren’t married and this, like the other few times, was when
they couldn’t help it, when their love for each other exploded and they just had to kiss each other,
when they just had to hug and those occasional times were so sweet and eager because between
each of them there was so much time, so much love contained and so much passion they had
bottled up inside.
When they reached 5 years of marriage, Clay lost hearing too and when they reached 9 he
lost taste and smell. He was completely cut off. One night he wrote:
I know I’m at the house, because I haven’t left a long time ago but I don’t know where I am
anymore. I don’t know anything anymore. I feel empty and it’s scary. Your touch and memory are
the only things keeping me from loosing my mind. It won’t be long when I can’t write, when I can’t
walk, when I can’t move, when loose feeling and when I reach that, PLEASE kill me. I don’t want
you to suffer this. Please, Charlotte, I love you too much for that.
That day did come, the more the time, the more each touch affected. Charlotte saw Clay
one day, stroked his hair tenderly and, just like that, he couldn’t move anymore.
“No, please god no!” she cried, rivers of tears going down her face and heartbreaking sobs.
Clay’s blind mom ran when she heard Charlotte scream. She knew what had just
happened; she remembered that moment a little too well.
Clay was in the hospital, just like his dad had been and just how he had predicted he would
be someday. He was perfectly healthy the doctors just couldn’t tell why these two men had lost all
their senses. If they only knew…
Clay’s helpless figure was unbearable for Charlotte. She couldn’t stand, seeing him like this
when he’d once been so full of life and joy and it was all her fault! Clay’s words kept tugging at her
head. She knew she would follow if she didn’t kill Clay; his mom was proof of that but she just
couldn’t.
“I can’t kill you Clay.” She told him with tears in her eyes, her voice shaking. “I can’t bear
the fact of you dead and by my hand! The simple fact of seeing you breathe even if you can’t
move or hear me or anything, the fact that you’re not gone, that I still have you here with me, is
worth more than any of my senses.” She reached for his hand but when she did, he jerked. She felt

23. the pain emitting from him. Her touch was no longer just making him numb, she was now causing
pain. She ran out the room, crying harder than ever before.
While she was walking down the hospital halls, trying to catch her breath, to relax, a
desperate idea came to mind. She didn’t think on it, she just decided it, she could see the logic in it
but would it work?
The next day, Charlotte walked into the hospital but not to Clay’s room, to a room of her
own, to an emergency room. Right then and there, the curse was lifted. In that moment, Charlotte
lost her green eyes and Clay and his mom got all their senses back. She’d donated her corneas.
Her eyes were now the light blue we all know from blind people.
Clay ran to meet her with his senses back in full power. They embraced with a passion that
no other couple could ever have.
“Why did you do such a thing, silly girl?” Clay asked amazed.
“My senses told me to.” She answered.