... of my time with my friends going out to parties every night. My life was in control without any abusive habits, it was just fast paced and fun times with friends. Never being at home added to an already stressful family environment. My high school education suffered from too much fun and too little studying. My father made being at home a very uneasy feeling, making me want to stay away even more. He never took any time to help me with school, car or money. I always had to work to earn everything, the only thing I wasn't paying for was rent. In turn I wanted little to do with my father, stepmother or brother, never contributing or helping out. I even sto ...

... along to Golden on one of her visits to her chiropractor. He ran his business out of his house that sat on a fairly large piece of land. My mom felt it would be OK to let Skippy run around the chiropractors land while she took her appointment. Later that evening my mom came to pick me up at my friend's house. When I got in the truck she told me Skippy never came back after her appointment. As we drove back to Golden to see if my dog returned I remember thinking I would trade anything if I could only have my dog back. As we neared the house I saw Skippy in our head lights waging his tail like an angel. When my parents decided to get divorced they wanted to ...

... ever had.” See he was a real cheap skate, spent all his money on St. Ides and Old English 64oz.ers. He was always borrowing money too. He still owes me seven hundred ninety eight dollars and ninety five cents, plus tax. For a Harvard graduate he sure is a wash up. The only thing he could afford to drive was the car the police station gave him. It was a 1986 Buick with a green trunk, maroon body, and a navy blue hood. The thing took about three minutes to start and another five to warm up, and that was in the summer. Ten minutes later he showed up at my desk. I could still smell her perfume on him. He looked terrible, like usual, man he was such a good gu ...

... one hour before I got through with work. All of a sudden my phone rings, and it was my mother-in-law "wondering" if I wanted a couple of free view box tickets and a parking pass, for that nights Ranger game. I couldn't have been more excited, much less believe my luck. After I got off work , and picked up the tickets, I raced home to get my wife and son ready to go. Over the next half hour, I almost regretted having to bring my son, what with the hassle of getting the diaper bag packed , the traffic, and fighting the crowds while pushing a stroller. It was hectic, but I survived. Finally we were situated and ready for the game. The singing of the nati ...

... day, at lunch time, I was approached by some of the other students in my class. "Hey, could you help us change our grades in algebra?" They asked. "I dont know... I might get caught..." I answered reluctantly. "Aww... come on.... what are you, chicken?" they taunted. "We'll pay you...." At that moment I began to think. I could not believe what I was hearing. I could get paid for something very simple. "Alright. I'll do it. What were your last names again?" I said. The next day my algebra teacher got me to help him out with his rollbook program. When he was not paying attention, I began to change their grades from F's to A's. Later on that day one of stu ...

... glaring down at me. I looked around seeing enjoyment on everyone’s faces and hearing laughs from all directions. Four people were standing underneath the canopy trying to escape from the sizzling cement, eating watermelon, and having a “spitting for distance” contest. Two people were sun bathing in lawn chairs. The others were in and out of the pool showing off. The shimmering blue water reflected the sun like a mirror. When I looked away all I could see were color spots from the light. I could hear the crack and spring of the diving board as someone did a belly flop. The sound of the body hitting the water sent shivers up my spine. A cool breeze swept across me ...

... my mother and father levitated and floated out of the window. They landed on the cloud and feeling a slight chill tucked themselves into the fluff of the cloud. Then hearing a creaking sound on my left I turned and watched as my sisters window began to open. She then levitated and floated onto the cloud as well, she sunk into the cloud and continued her dream. I whispered, “sweet dreams” to my family and continued to fly. This was my night to share with my mind body and soul. I kept my cat Felix with me though, his loving silence has only shown love and that face of a sleeping tabby is to amazing to exclude from this fantasy. The scenery above is much diffe ...

... akimbo chatting amiably with each other while they held the children who were too young to participate in the festivities, were some of the parents and teachers. The rest of us organized the activities. ren tThere other teachers, and parents, of whom The patio looked out onto a fenceda fenced play yard. A large sand area littered with small bright colored pails, and a few matching shovels, dominated the left side. ide Though a few children of the play yard. Th ere wwere a few children were swinging on the swing set located to the right of the sand area., most of the children ran wildly to and fro,There were children everywhere, like ants on an anthill. Inside ...

... delayed. After waiting three hours in the hot lobby, the train finally arrived. Dawn was relieved when she found that Billy could stay with her in her booth, rather than getting locked up in a crate. And here I am again she thought, back on a train. Billy grunted his “I’m bored, I want to go to sleep but you’re in my way grunt”. So Dawn scooted over and Billy lay down with his hind legs out to the side, his nose on her lap, and fell asleep. Dawn wondered why she had agreed to visit her mother and her mother’ s family in Iraq? Dawn’s mother had returned to her native homeland of Iraq when Dawn was seven years old. She has kept in touch by writing, but it’s ...

... was to treat it just like any other game, and not let the massive crowds get to you. As I was driving around the school Thomas was looking for a parking spot, we saw the girls over in the corner looking at us like we were gods. “You know why they are looking at us right” busted out Thomas. Yeah I know why, because we are the big men on campus and they will look at us even more after we win that Glendale game tonight. Later that morning Thomas and I meet up with the rest of the guys from the team, they were all as nervous as we were. Knowing that there was a lot riding on this game, and for some it was even more important because it was the last game of the yea ...