Thursday, May 21, 2020
Every Child Matters Essay - 3588 Words
There is no duty more important than ensuring that childrenââ¬â¢s rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear and that they can grow up in peace. Kofi Annan, the 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations The aim of this paper is to review and critically analyse the Every Child Matters (DfES, 2003) framework as well as to discuss the impact of Every Child Matters agenda on a specific role within an educational setting. For this purpose, information was gathered through elements of practitioner-based research and observations along with the study and analysis of materials presented in books, research journals and professional publications, so as to evaluateâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The study suggests that Every Child Matters has indicated the emergence of the notions of ââ¬Å"a childâ⬠and ââ¬Å"childhoodâ⬠as the central subjects in New Labourââ¬â¢s social policy. Recently Gordon Brown declared: ââ¬Å"Nothing is more important to the future of our whole country than that, with the best schooling, services and financial support, every child has the chance to develop their potential.â⬠(Guardian, 2003: 19) Similarly, former Prime Minister Tony Blair stated: ââ¬Å"For most parents, our children are everything to us: our hopes, our ambitions, our future.â⬠(DfES, 2003: 1) The above claims suggest that children today are no longer seen as incomplete adults not yet able to participate in social life, but as ââ¬Å"co-constructors of childhood and societyâ⬠(Qvortrup, 1994: 14) In the same context, Moss and Petrie (2002: 40), talk about it being ââ¬Å"time to welcome children as young citizens, equal stakeholders with adultsâ⬠and state that ââ¬Å"the child has a voice to be listened toâ⬠(ibid: 101). However, it is important to acknowledge that this notion of childhood does not seem to be the only one that shapes the status of children in the sphere of political and economic priorities. Tomplinson (2008) uses an example of Home Office activity linked to the Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO), which is beingShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of School Is Bad For Children By John Holt1225 Words à |à 5 PagesSchool Matters ââ¬Å"The child soon learns not to ask questions - the teacher is not there to satisfy his curiosityâ⬠(Holt 73). This is what John Holt thinks the American education system is all about. He thinks that school is a place where individuality and creativity come to die. He wrote an essay that explains his belief further that is titled, ââ¬Å"School is bad for Children.â⬠Holt uses several rhetorical devices and logical fallacies such as generalizations - stereotypes, making assumptions, andRead MoreAbortion Is Not An Acceptable Choice1369 Words à |à 6 Pagesexperience in her essay Abortion is about a child, not a choice. As the senior editor of New Republic magazine Rebecca Traister writes many political and social issued articles such as Letââ¬â¢s Just Say It: Women Matter More Than Fetuses Do. Despite the arguments, abortions may be only acceptable under the condition of a medical emergency. Lee and George argue the physical and economic responsibilities arise when bringing a child into the world are not valid reasons for aborting an unborn child. TraisterRead MoreEssay on Greg Cristers quot;Too Much of a Good Thingquot;993 Words à |à 4 PagesCritique of Greg Cristers Too much of a Good Thing Greg Crister, the author of the op-ed essay that was featured in the Los Angeles Times, Too Much of a Good Thing, argues that in order to stop obesity, we should stigmatize overeating. Crister states that we should place shame on overeating due to the rising obesity epidemic that faces the world today. The U.N. proclaims that obesity is a dominant unmet global health issue, with Westernized countries topping the list. Crister states thatRead MoreSpecial Education1164 Words à |à 5 PagesFrom the first day a child is born, parents are there to nurture their child, to support them as they grow and develop. There is a lot to learn about raising a child under normal circumstances, but when a child has special needs parents must learn this whole new language of medical and special education terms (Overton, 2005). Parents enter this new world where navigating for the best interest of their child is riddled with challenges and obstacles that they need to somehow overcome. This is especi allyRead MoreCognitive Behavioral Therapy And Reducing Emotional Reasoning979 Words à |à 4 Pagesthe clean-up of words, ideas and subject matters that might cause discomfort or give an offence. For instance, colleges and universities are avoiding these due to how it may cause students to feel uncomfortable and offended by a word or phrases. However, there is a therapy that can help us treat this to avoid discomfort and also stop colleges from taking away the freedom of speech. Considering this matter, Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt argue in their essay ââ¬Å"The Coddling of the American Mind,â⬠inRead MoreAnalysis Of Shannon Nichols Proficiency Essay1004 Words à |à 5 PagesPeople remind me of how I had great handwriting and loved to write stories. In college, I continue to struggle in writing essays and it is a challenge for me. Although Shannon Nichols and I despise writing growing up, we both have grown to become successful writers. My experience with literature started when I was in the first grade. My first-grade teacher was named Ms. Young. Every Friday, all the teachers would come together to have story time and read the children a book. I would be so excited forRead MoreAbortion : Pro Life And Pro Choice1719 Words à |à 7 Pagesto the Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network, ââ¬Å"There is an average of 293,066 victims (age 12 or older) of rape and sexual assault each year.â⬠In that course of events, the pregnancy was most likely not the womanââ¬â¢s fault, and the woman should have every right to an abortion. They shouldnââ¬â¢t have to live with the product of another manââ¬â¢s sin inside of them for 9 months with the knowledge of having no control over that situation. But sometimes rape isnââ¬â¢t the case, yet pregnancy still comes with itââ¬â¢sRead MoreWhat Is Good Parenting?1339 Words à |à 6 Pagesto raise their children. So, the questions is, they are good parents or not and wh at is the criteria of good parenting. There are so many good parentingââ¬â¢s criteria. Steven Levy, a famous American journalist that born in 1951, in his essay ââ¬Å"Motivate your childâ⬠he talk about his understanding about criteria of good parenting, ââ¬Å"Good parents condition their children to reach their best potential. They reward the children for their performances and are continuously encouraging and motivating theRead MoreThe Naked Face By Malcom Gladwell1724 Words à |à 7 PagesIs it Possible to Understand Facial Expressions? The essay ââ¬Å"The Naked Faceâ⬠written by Malcom Gladwell is about the ability of recognizing the meaning behind someoneââ¬â¢s facial expressions. He starts the essay with a life or death situation between an inner city police officer and a suspect that both are pointing guns at each other. The officer clearly has the right to shoot the suspect, but decided not to base on a hunch that the armed suspect was not a threat (Gladwell 24). Gladwell then demonstratesRead MoreChinese Mothers926 Words à |à 4 PagesWhy Chinese Mothers are superior Every parent wants to be proud of their children, to see them succeed in school, music, sports or whatever path they may choose. The professor and the author Amy Chua wrote the essay ââ¬Å"Why Chinese mothers are superiorâ⬠, where she tries to compare western parents to Chinese mothers and their different methods of raising children. Plenty of the people reading this essay may get the wrong idea and misunderstand, when Amy Chua tries to present Western parents as bad
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
18Th Century Satire A Modest Proposal Essay - 1397 Words
During the 18th century and the Restoration, a new form of literature became very popular, satire. Satire, according to www.dictionary.com, is the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice or folly. Commonly, satire is used to give oneââ¬â¢s opinions or commentary about public issues. As a writer it is important to be well educated on current events, politics and the interests of the general public. Writers, such a Jonathan Swift, have commonly used satire to discuss important issues about the follies of governments, persons and social issues. It has been said that ââ¬Å"although it (satire) is usually subtle in nature, it is used to bring light to contemporary societal problems and provoke changeâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦By using satire, writers are also able to appeal to a particular readership or viewership. Those who are educated enough to understand what is trying to be said, hopefully, have enough of a role in society to sp read the knowledge. John Dryden says it best, ââ¬Å"a witty man is tickled while he is hurt in this manner, and a fool feels it notâ⬠(2131). In A Modest Proposal Swift exposes numerous public authorities for their failure to help the poor people of Ireland. He suggests that the use of the children will turn and benefit the country as a response to their greed: ââ¬Å"instead of being a charge upon their parents or the parish, or wanting food and raiment for the rest of their lives, they shall on the contrary contribute to the feeding, and partly to the clothing, of many thousandsâ⬠(2463). A child is the responsibility of the parent; it is the parent that conceives a child. In addressing this issue, he also hopes this it will end voluntary abortions and the murdering of bastard children. In most societyââ¬â¢s, including our own, these are very touchy issues that evoke strong opinions and emotions. For a person to publicly announce that such actions are wrong could surely end a career, potentially a life in exile. Through satire, such issues can be discreetly spoken upon. Swiftââ¬â¢s subtle insinuation of the fault of the wealthy Irish landlords financially crippling families could not be bluntly stated. Swift himself was an Irishman. HeShow MoreRelatedShocking the Sensibilities in A Modest Proposal771 Words à |à 4 Pagesnbsp; Shocking the Sensibilities in A Modest Proposalnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp; Two Works Citednbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Three years after Gullivers Travels was published, Jonathannbsp; Swift wrote A Modest Proposal, a work grounded in thoughtful satire. Swift describes the destitution that characterized the life of Irelands poor in the 18th century then renders a brazenly inhumane solution to their problems. He shocks the sensibilities of the readers then leadsRead MoreJonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal949 Words à |à 4 Pages ââ¬Å"A Modest Proposalâ⬠by Jonathan Swift takes place in Dublin Ireland in the 18th century. The narrator is a very ironic character. His ââ¬Å"modestâ⬠proposal is anything but modest. This short story takes place during a famine. Since there was a famine, Swift proposes the idea that people sell their one year old children to the rich so they would not be a burden to their family. One important way in which the author engages the audienceââ¬â¢s attention and tries to help his readers see deeper politicalRead MoreSatire : A Modest Proposal And The Rape Of The Lock905 Words à |à 4 Pagesthis paper, satire in A Modest Proposal and The Rape of the Lock will be discussed. The satire within these two texts will be linked by showing how each writer attacked the accepted way of life or common belief in order to present their own opinion on the matter. What makes these two writings a good comparison is that although one is in essay form and the other in poetic form, they are both from the same time period; they were written 17 years apart in the beginning of the 18th century. This is advantageousRead MoreAnalysis Of Jonathan Swift s A Modest Proposal And Li Ruzhen s Flowers994 Words à |à 4 PagesThere are many uses of satire in Jonathan Swiftââ¬â¢s A Modest Proposal and in Li Ruzhenââ¬â¢s Flowers in the Mirror. Both of these readings address social iss ues during the 17th and 18th century and address them with various uses of satire to help emphasize their thoughts of dislike and carry that to their readers. Jonathan Swiftââ¬â¢s A Modest Proposal proposes using poor bastard children as food to help the poverty level along with other social issues that come with poor women carrying children and havingRead More 18th Century Literature Essay648 Words à |à 3 Pages 18th Century Literature nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The 18th century is a period of great literary works. The styles are different throughout the period, but the unity of the work is still present. Much of this period focused on public and general themes, until the Pre- Romantic era when literary works began to focus upon personal expression. 18th century literature can be broken down into three main parts: the Restoration, the Age of Pope, and Pre-Romantics. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;TheRead MoreJonathan Swift1088 Words à |à 5 Pagesin the English language His Writing The Battle of Books (1704) A Tale of Tub (1704) the Drapierââ¬â¢s Letters (1724) Gulliverââ¬â¢s Travels (1726) A Modest Proposal (1729) Gulliverââ¬â¢s Travels a collection of tales tied together by Gulliver a novel a satire a travel book a children book an allegory Satire A common form of the 18th Century, basically the ridiculing of any objects through laughter which will soften the blow The Structure of Gulliverââ¬â¢s Travels Book I about LiliputiansRead MoreJonathan Swift s A Modest Proposal996 Words à |à 4 PagesJonathan Swift, 18th century writer and political activist, published ââ¬Å"A Modest Proposalâ⬠in 1729 in the midst of turmoil in his home country of Ireland. Under British rule Irish citizens were left destitute and neglected, giving Swift the inspiration for ââ¬Å"A Modest Proposalâ⬠. Jonathan Swiftââ¬â¢s use of Aristotle s modes of persuasion and straight-faced satire broke Ireland s silence, calling out affluent members of British society and religious hierarchy alike, creating one of the most influentialRead MoreSummary Of Gullivers Travels And A Modest Proposal1450 Words à |à 6 PagesAnalysis of Gullivers Travels and A Modest Proposal: Satire Authors often use satire to ridicule peoples behaviors or societys institutions, with hopes of bringing social change. One of the most influential satirical authors of all time is Jonathan Swift, who uses these techniques so effectively, that he has been called ââ¬Å"the greatest satirist in the English Languageâ⬠(Holt 620). Swiftââ¬â¢s use of satire to address controversial concerns is one of the reasons this story is still relevant and analyzedRead MoreSatire of a Modest Proposal Essay1331 Words à |à 6 Pageshis pamphlet ââ¬Å"A Modest Proposal.â⬠The main argument for this mordantly ironic essay is to capture the attention of a disconnected and indifferent audience. Swift makes his point by stringing together a dreadfully twisted set of morally untenable positions in order to cast blame and aspersions on his intended audience. Jonathan Swiftââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"A Modest Proposalâ⬠employs despicably vivid satire to call for change in a world of abuse and misf ortune. The entire proposal stands as a satire in itself; an analogyRead MoreA Modest Proposal Summary1153 Words à |à 5 Pages1. The implied thesis of Swiftââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"A Modest Proposal is that 18th century Ireland would be in a better situation if the Irish society and monarchy actually treated problems such as overpopulation and poverty, While the overt thesis is that Irish people should consider eating their children and selling them to rich Englishmen to solve the issue of poverty and overpopulation in the country. They differ form one another as one focuses on eating children, while the other focuses on giving commentary
The Return Nightfall Chapter 4 Free Essays
With the signed contract safely tucked in Bonnieââ¬â¢s purse, they pulled up to the boardinghouse in which Stefan had taken up residence again. They looked for Mrs. Flowers but couldnââ¬â¢t find her, as usual. We will write a custom essay sample on The Return: Nightfall Chapter 4 or any similar topic only for you Order Now So they walked up the narrowing steps with the worn carpet and splintering balustrade, hallooing as they came. ââ¬Å"Stefan! Elena! Itââ¬â¢s us!â⬠The door at the very top opened and Stefanââ¬â¢s head came out. He looked ââ¬â different somehow. ââ¬Å"Happier,â⬠Bonnie whispered wisely to Meredith. ââ¬Å"Is he?â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course.â⬠Bonnie was shocked. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s got Elena back.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, he does. Just the way she was when they met, I bet. You saw her in the woods.â⬠Meredithââ¬â¢s voice was heavy with significance. ââ¬Å"Butâ⬠¦thatââ¬â¢sâ⬠¦oh, no! Sheââ¬â¢shuman again!â⬠Matt looked down the stairs and hissed, ââ¬Å"Will you two quit it? Theyââ¬â¢re gonna hear us.â⬠Bonnie was confused. Of course Stefan could hear them, but if you were going to worry about what Stefan heard youââ¬â¢d have to worry about what youthought , too ââ¬â Stefan could always catch the shape of what you were thinking, if not the actual words. ââ¬Å"Boys!â⬠hissed Bonnie. ââ¬Å"I mean I know theyââ¬â¢re totally necessary and all, but sometimes they Just Donââ¬â¢t Get It.â⬠ââ¬Å"Just wait till you try men,â⬠whispered Meredith, and Bonnie thought of Alaric Saltzman, the college student that Meredith was more or less engaged to. ââ¬Å"I could tell you a thing or two,â⬠Caroline added, examining her long, manicured nails with a world-weary look. ââ¬Å"But Bonnie doesnââ¬â¢t need to know even one yet. She has plenty of time to learn,â⬠Meredith said, firmly in mothering mode. ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s go inside.â⬠ââ¬Å"Sit down, sit down,â⬠Stefan was encouraging them as they entered, the perfect host. But nobody could sit down. All eyes were fixed on Elena. She was sitting in lotus position in front of the roomââ¬â¢s only open window, with the fresh wind making her white nightgown billow. Her hair was true gold again, not the perilous white-gold it had become when Stefan had unintentionally turned into a vampire. She looked exactly the way Bonnie remembered her. Except that she was floating three feet off the floor. Stefan saw them all gawking. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s just something she does,â⬠he said almost apologetically. ââ¬Å"She woke up the day after our fight with Klaus and started floating. I think gravity hasnââ¬â¢t quite got a hold on her yet.â⬠He turned back to Elena. ââ¬Å"Look whoââ¬â¢s come to see you,â⬠he said enticingly. Elena was looking. Her gold-flecked blue eyes were curious, and she was smiling, but there was no recognition as she looked from one visitor to another. Bonnie had been holding her arms out. ââ¬Å"Elena?â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢sme , Bonnie, remember? I was there when you came back.Iââ¬â¢m sure glad to see you .â⬠Stefan tried again. ââ¬Å"Elena, remember? These are your friends, your good friends. This tall, dark-haired beauty is Meredith, and this fiery little pixie is Bonnie, and this guy with the all-American looks is Matt.â⬠Something flickered in Elenaââ¬â¢s face, and Stefan repeated, ââ¬Å"Matt.â⬠ââ¬Å"And what about me? Or am I invisible?â⬠Caroline said from the doorway. She sounded good-humored enough, but Bonnie knew that it made Caroline grind her teeth just to see Stefan and Elena together and out of danger. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re right. Iââ¬â¢m sorry,â⬠Stefan said, and he did something that no ordinary eighteen-year-old could have pulled off without looking like an idiot. He took Carolineââ¬â¢s hand and kissed it as gracefully and unthinkingly as if he were some count from nearly half a millennium ago. Which, of course, was pretty much what he was, Bonnie thought. Caroline looked slightly smug ââ¬â Stefan had taken his time with the hand kiss. Now he said, ââ¬Å"And last but not least, this tanned beauty here is Caroline.â⬠Then, very gently, in a voice that Bonnie had heard him use only a few times since sheââ¬â¢d known him, he said, ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t you remember them, love? They nearly died for you ââ¬â and for me.â⬠Elena was floating easily, in a standing position now, bobbing like a swimmer trying to keep still. ââ¬Å"We did it because we care,â⬠Bonnie said, and she put her arms out again for a hug. ââ¬Å"But we never expected to get you back, Elena.â⬠Her eyes filled. ââ¬Å"You came back to us. Donââ¬â¢t youknow us?â⬠Elena floated down until she was directly in front of Bonnie. There was still no sign of recognition on her face, but there was something else. There was a kind of limitless benediction and tranquility. Elena radiated a calming peace and an unconditional love that made Bonnie breathe in deeply and shut her eyes. She could feel it like sunshine on her face, like the ocean in her ears. After a moment Bonnie realized she was in danger of crying at the sheer feeling ofgoodness ââ¬â a word that was almost never used these days. Some things still could be simply, untouchablygood . Elenawas good. And then, with a gentle touch on Bonnieââ¬â¢s shoulder, Elena floated toward Caroline. She held out her arms. Caroline looked flustered. A wave of scarlet swept up her neck. Bonnie saw it, but didnââ¬â¢t understand it. Theyââ¬â¢d all had a chance to pick up on Elenaââ¬â¢s vibes. And Caroline and Elenahad been close friends ââ¬â until Stefan, their rivalry had been friendly. It wasgood of Elena to pick Caroline to hug first. And then Elena went into the circle of Carolineââ¬â¢s hastily raised arms and just as Caroline began to say ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve ââ¬â â⬠she kissed her full on the mouth. It wasnââ¬â¢t just a peck, either. Elena wrapped her arms around Carolineââ¬â¢s neck and hung on. For long moments Caroline stood deathly still as if in shock. Then she reared back and struggled, at first feebly, and then so violently that Elena was catapulted backward in the air, her eyes wide. Stefan caught her like an infielder going for a pop fly. ââ¬Å"What thehell ââ¬â ?â⬠Caroline was scrubbing at her mouth. ââ¬Å"Caroline!â⬠Stefanââ¬â¢s voice was filled with fierce protectiveness. ââ¬Å"It doesnââ¬â¢t mean anything like what youââ¬â¢re thinking. Itââ¬â¢s got nothing to do with sex at all. Sheââ¬â¢s just identifying you, learning who you are. She can do that now that sheââ¬â¢s come back to us.â⬠ââ¬Å"Prairie dogs,â⬠Meredith said in the cool, slightly distant voice she often used to bring down the temperature of a room. ââ¬Å"Prairie dogs kiss when they meet. It does exactly what you said, Stefan, helps them identify specific individualsâ⬠¦.â⬠Caroline was far beyond Meredithââ¬â¢s abilities to cool down, however. Scrubbing her mouth had been a bad idea; she had smeared scarlet lipstick all around it, so that she looked like something out of aBride of Dracula movie. ââ¬Å"Are you crazy? What do you think I am? Because some hamsters do it, that makes it okay?â⬠She had flushed a mottled red, from her throat to the roots of her hair. ââ¬Å"Prairie dogs. Not hamsters.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, who gives a ââ¬â â⬠Caroline broke off, frantically fumbling in her purse until Stefan offered her a box of tissues. He had already dabbed the scarlet smears off Elenaââ¬â¢s mouth. Caroline rushed into the small bathroom attached to Stefanââ¬â¢s attic bedroom and slammed the door hard. Bonnie and Meredith caught each otherââ¬â¢s eye and let out their breaths simultaneously, convulsing with laughter. Bonnie did a lightning-quick imitation of Carolineââ¬â¢s expression and frantic scrubbing, miming someone using handful after handful of tissues. Meredith gave a reproving shake of her head, but she and Stefan and Matt all had a case of themustnââ¬â¢t-laugh snickers. A lot of it was simply the release of tension ââ¬â they had seen Elena alive again, after six long months without her ââ¬â but they couldnââ¬â¢t stop laughing. Or at least they couldnââ¬â¢t until a tissue box sailed out of the bathroom, nearly hitting Bonnie in the head ââ¬â and they all realized that the slammed door had rebounded ââ¬â and that there was a mirror in the bathroom. Bonnie caught Carolineââ¬â¢s expression in the mirror and then met her full-on glare. Yep, sheââ¬â¢d seen them laughing at her. The door closed again ââ¬â this time, as if it had been kicked. Bonnie ducked her head and clutched at her short strawberry curls, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll apologize,â⬠she said after a gulp, trying to be adult about the situation. Then she looked up and realized that everyone else was more concerned about Elena, who was clearly upset by this rejection. Itââ¬â¢s a good thing we made Caroline sign that oath in blood, Bonnie thought. And itââ¬â¢s a good thing that you-know-who signed it, too. If there was one thing Damon would know about, it was consequences. Even as she was thinking this, she joined the huddle around Elena. Stefan was trying to hold Elena; Elena was trying to go after Caroline; and Matt and Meredith were helping Stefan and telling Elena that it was okay. When Bonnie joined them, Elena gave up trying to get to the bathroom. Her face was distressed, her blue eyes swimming with tears. Elenaââ¬â¢s serenity had been broken by hurt and regret ââ¬â and underneath that, a surprisingly deep apprehension. Bonnieââ¬â¢s intuition gave a twinge. But she patted Elenaââ¬â¢s elbow, the only part of her that she could reach, and added her voice to the chorus: ââ¬Å"You didnââ¬â¢t know sheââ¬â¢d get so upset. You didnââ¬â¢t hurt her.â⬠Crystal tears spilled down Elenaââ¬â¢s cheeks, and Stefan caught them with a tissue as if each one was priceless. ââ¬Å"She thinks that Carolineis hurt,â⬠Stefan said, ââ¬Å"and sheââ¬â¢s worried about her ââ¬â for some reason I donââ¬â¢t get.â⬠Bonnie realized that Elena could communicate after all ââ¬â by mind-link. ââ¬Å"I felt that, too,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"The hurt. But tell her ââ¬â I mean ââ¬â Elena, Ipromise Iââ¬â¢ll apologize. Iââ¬â¢ll grovel.â⬠ââ¬Å"It may take some groveling from all of us,â⬠Meredith said. ââ¬Å"But meanwhile I want to make sure that this à ¡Ã ®angel unawareââ¬â¢ recognizesme .â⬠With an expression of tranquil sophistication, she took Elena out of Stefanââ¬â¢s arms and into her own, and then she kissed her. Unfortunately, this coincided with Caroline stalking out of the bathroom. The bottom of her face was paler than the top, having been denuded of all makeup: lipstick, bronzer, blush, the works. She stopped dead and stared. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t believe it,â⬠she said in scathing tones. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢restill doing it! Itââ¬â¢s dis ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Caroline.â⬠Stefanââ¬â¢s voice was a warning. ââ¬Å"I came here to see Elena.â⬠Caroline ââ¬â beautiful, lithe, bronze-limbed Caroline ââ¬â was twisting her hands together as if in terrible conflict. ââ¬Å"Theold Elena. And what do I see? Sheââ¬â¢s like a baby ââ¬â she canââ¬â¢t talk. Sheââ¬â¢s like some smirking guru floating in the air. And now sheââ¬â¢s like some kind of perverted ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t finish that,â⬠Stefan said quietly but firmly. ââ¬Å"I told you, she ought to be over the first symptoms in just a few days, to judge by her progress so far,â⬠he added. And hewas different, somehow, Bonnie thought. Not just happier to have gotten Elena back. He wasâ⬠¦stronger somehow at the core of himself. Stefan had always been quiet inside; her powers sensed him as a pool of clear water. Now she saw that same clear water built up like a tsunami. What could have changed Stefan so much? The answer came to her immediately, although in the form of a wondering question. Elena was still part spirit ââ¬â Bonnieââ¬â¢s intuition told her that. What did it do if you drank the blood of someone who was in that state? ââ¬Å"Caroline, letââ¬â¢s just drop it,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorry, Iââ¬â¢m really, really sorry for ââ¬â you know. I was wrong, and Iââ¬â¢m sorry.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, youââ¬â¢resorry . Oh, that makes everything all right then, doesnââ¬â¢t it?â⬠Carolineââ¬â¢s voice was pure acid, and she turned her back on Bonnie with finality. Bonnie was surprised to feel the sting of tears behind her eyes. Elena and Meredith still had their arms around each other, their cheeks wet with the otherââ¬â¢s tears. They were looking at each other and Elena was beaming. ââ¬Å"Now sheââ¬â¢ll know you anywhere,â⬠Stefan told Meredith. ââ¬Å"Not just your face, but ââ¬â well, the inside of you, too, or the shape of it, at least. I should have mentioned that before this started, but Iââ¬â¢m the only one sheââ¬â¢s ;;met,ââ¬â¢ and I didnââ¬â¢t realize ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"You should have realized!â⬠Caroline was pacing like a tiger. ââ¬Å"So you kissed a girl, sowhat ?â⬠Bonnie exploded. ââ¬Å"What do you think, youââ¬â¢re going to grow a beard now?â⬠As if powered by the conflict around her, Elena suddenly took off. All at once she was zipping around the room as if sheââ¬â¢d been shot from a cannon; her hair crackled with electricity when she made sudden stops or turns. She soared around the room twice, and as she was silhouetted against the dusty old window, Bonnie thought,Oh, my God! Weââ¬â¢ve got to get her some clothes! She looked at Meredith and saw that Meredith had shared her realization. Yes, they had to get Elena clothes ââ¬â and most especially underclothes. As Bonnie moved toward Elena, as shyly as if sheââ¬â¢d never been kissed before, Caroline exploded. ââ¬Å"You just keep doing it and doing it and doing it!â⬠She was practically screeching by now, Bonnie thought. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢swrong with you? Donââ¬â¢t you have any morals at all?â⬠This, unfortunately, caused another case of thedonââ¬â¢t-laugh-donââ¬â¢t-laugh choked giggles in Bonnie and Meredith. Even Stefan turned away sharply, his gallantry toward a guest clearly fighting a losing battle. Not just a guest, Bonnie thought, but a girl heââ¬â¢d gonepret-ty darn far with, as Caroline hadnââ¬â¢t been shy about letting people know when sheââ¬â¢d gotten her hands on him. About as far as vampirescould go, Bonnie remembered, which was not the whole way. Something about the blood-sharing substituting for ââ¬â well, for Doing It. But he wasnââ¬â¢t the only one Caroline had bragged about. Caroline was infamous. Bonnie glanced at Elena, saw that Elena was watching Caroline with a strange expression. Not as if Elena were afraid of her, but rather as if Elena were deeply worriedabout her. ââ¬Å"Are you all right?â⬠Bonnie whispered. To her surprise, Elena nodded, then looked at Caroline and shook her head. She carefully looked Caroline up and down and her expression was that of a puzzled doctor examining a very sick patient. Then she floated toward Caroline, one hand extended. Caroline shied away, as if she were disgusted to have Elena touch her. No, not disgusted, Bonnie thought, butfrightened. ââ¬Å"How do I know what sheââ¬â¢ll do next?â⬠Caroline snapped, but Bonnie knew that wasnââ¬â¢t the real reason for her fear. What do we have going on here? she wondered. Elena afraidfor Caroline, and Caroline afraidof Elena. What does that equal? Bonnieââ¬â¢s psychic senses were giving her gooseflesh. There was somethingwrong with Caroline, she felt, something sheââ¬â¢d never encountered before. And the airâ⬠¦it was thickening somehow, as if it were building up to a thunderstorm. Caroline made a sharp turn to keep her face averted from Elenaââ¬â¢s. She moved behind a chair. ââ¬Å"Just keep her freakinââ¬â¢away from me, all right? I wonââ¬â¢t let her touch me again ââ¬â â⬠she began, when Meredith changed the whole situation with two quiet words. ââ¬Å"Whatdid you say to me?â⬠Caroline said, staring. How to cite The Return: Nightfall Chapter 4, Essay examples
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)