The Twelve

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Cry, The Beloved Country

Stephen Kumalo

            There are many things in life that can change a person for example betrayal, deaths, or different things of that nature can tribute to how a person can change. Some people can change for the better and there are some cases were people change for the worse. In the book “Cry, The Beloved Country" we are introduce to a character named, Stephen Kumalo. Stephen is a quiet and humble man. He has a strong faith in God. Kumalo is an Anglican priest who is very caring of his parishioners, he preside at a modest church in the village where he lives. It seems that everything is going well in Kumalo life, but he has many dark secrets.

It seems that Kumalo lived a pretty normal life, but we soon found out that Kumalo was not perfect. His finally struggled to save money for a new stove and to pay for their son schooling. Often, Kumalo would lash out and tell lies to people, but Kumalo knows right from wrong and he is a very religious man. When he would lash out or tell lies, he would then go and pray to God and ask for forgiveness.

When the Kumalo took his first journey to Johannesburg, he was very intimidated and overwhelmed by city. Kumalo was such a simple person and used to the living in the village. The

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bright lights and the fast- paced lifestyle was overwhelming for Kumalo. Stephen felt as if he was betraying his simple lifestyle and background, however, with the help of very generous host he was able to overcome his fear. Kumalo went to the city to search for his son, the search went on the author let us know about Kumalo physical health was failing. According to African tradition, Kumalo was at a period of his life were his son should be taking care of him. Stephen had lived a long life and deserved to rest at this point in his life instead he was searching for his son.

Once it became clear to Kumalo that his son, Absalom, was in grave danger, Kumalo health begins to decline even more. Not only did his health decline, his faith started to decline as well, but Kumalo went to people that he knew that were in the ministry, to support him and pray with him. As time went on and Kumalo couldn’t find his son, he returned to village. While at the village Kumalo continued to work on people lives. One day he was faced with death of his son, even though he was mourning he was also overwhelmed with a sense of peace.

Life without Regrets

Scrolling through the pictures that are displayed on the Wii games; I am thinking that we shouldn’t take life so seriously.  Sometimes we have to let go and have fun with no regrets.  Laughing and looking at every picture that scrolls across the screen brings back great memories.

            “You get on my last nerves.  Act like you don’t have the sense God gave a billygoat,” I joked.

            “What did I do?” replied Cameron.

            “Well for one, you running in circles acting like you two years old,” I said.

            “I’m having fun, so leave me alone,” yell Cameron.

BAM!

            “Stop laughing,” She said looking up at me from the floor with the evil eye.

            “Look at you,” I said slapping my hand on my knees and shaking my head.

            “You should be a shame of yourself.” I continue.

            I’m moving ahead to the following image.  Grandma sitting in her Hoveround, a pot flying thought the air, and me standing in the middle of the kitchen.

            “Leave me alone Dee!” cried out Amyah.

            “Dee, get your ass out this kitchen missing with that girl,” Grandma Lois insisted.

            “Mane shut your old tail up,” yell Dee.

            “You are so dumb: sitting here arguing with idiots,” I giggled.

            “Dee, who are you calling old? I got your old tail!” Lois responded. 

            Grandma Lois picks up a pot and throws it toward Dee head trying to hit him.  The pot hit me across my head instead of hitting Dee.  I’m laughing in pain while walking out the kitchen before she throw another pot and miss.

Scrolling on to the next picture is the start of another memory.  Grandma rub my head as I lay on her crying listening to her give me some advice.

            “Baby, when you play with fire you will end up getting burn sooner or later,” grandma whispering in my ear.

            “I know grandma that I made a big mistake,” I replied.

            “A lonely woman is a dangerous thing.  Take it from someone that been there and done that,” preached Grandma Lois.

            “Yes ma.” I replied.

            “Also, a hard head makes a soft ass if you didn’t know.  So whatever you doing, you need to stop, because trust me it will catch up with you.” Lois continues.

            “Okay,” acknowledged what my grandma just told me.

            Well, it’s true that I have been hurt in my life quite a bit.  But it’s also true that I have loved, and been loved.  And that carries a weight of its own.  I have no regrets in my life.  I think that everything happens to you for a reason.  The hard times that you go through build character, making you a much stronger person.

A Difficult Task

To be honest I really don't remember or recall how I learn to read. At age five, when my parents and teachers in kindergarten first attempted to teach me to read, they discovered I had trouble reading. I always read very slow, couldn't read up to two to three books in one day like the other students. Yet doing everything a normal child would do over a day.

As I reach the Third grade I was still on a First and second grade level of reading.  I was always behind the other kids in my classroom.  Took like three days to read a twenty page book.  My teacher always had to help me with pronouncing words.  Still till this day I have trouble with pronouncing when I'm reading. That one of the main reason I don’t like to read out loud in front of the class.

          As Years past I tin to get better with my reading skills.  Started reading up to three books a week. Then I had to start reading independent and that was better than reading out loud.  Remember when I always get out of class to go to the library and check out books.  On another hand, I didn’t even read to books I had check out. I know, I know, I should be a shame. Ha-ha! But my reading started to get a little better as I started reading books that I was actually into.  I say books like: Charlotte's Web, Matilda (Love the movie though), The Tale of Despereaux (Very good book), Because of Winn-Dixie

(Made me cry), and The Secret Garden (Can tell the book by hard).  All the listed books above are some of the books I read from third to sixth grade.  

Now one book I was totally interested was November Blues.  This book about when a girl name November Nelson loses her boyfriend, Josh, to a pledge stunt gone horribly wrong, she thinks her life can't possibly get any worse. But Josh left something behind that will change November's life forever, and now she's faced with the biggest decision she could ever imagine. How in the world will she tell her mom? And how will Josh's parents take the news? She's never needed a friend more. I enjoyed the story, and the ending was very touching. I found the writing unrealistic and uninspiring. It's easy to read and jumps right into the plot. This is a true depiction of teen pregnancy. I've seen this basic premise done better a dozen times. The writing seemed unrealistic and forced. Reading this book made me seem like I was a champ at reading books, but I wasn’t. Still was having trouble with reading at the end of the day.

Also realize that I had trouble with reading comprehension. Simply put, reading comprehension is the act of understanding what you are reading. While the definition can be simply stated the act is not simple to teach, learn or practice. Reading comprehension is an intentional, active, interactive process that occurs before, during and after a person reads a particular piece of writing. So I mostly have trouble with that.

I AM .....

I Am !

I Am A Victim

I Wonder Would I Ever Prevail

I Hear Sorrowing

I See Sadness

I Want Power

I Am A Victim

 

I Pretend To Be All Right

I Feel Bitterness

I Touch Individual

I Worry Would I Escape One's Memory

I Cry Because Of The Abuse

I Am A Victim

 

I Understand The Mentality

I Say Oneday I Will Escape

I Dream About Empathy

I Try To Bear With It

I Hope To Proceed On In Life

I Am A VICTIM

The Coexistence of Cruelty and Compassion!!!

        “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” wryly examines the human response to those who are weak, dependent, and different.  There are moments of striking cruelty and callousness throughout the story. 

         The parents decide to put the old man to sea on a raft with provisions for three days rather than just killing him after Elisenda and Pelayo’s child recovers from his illness, a concession to the old man’s difficult situation but hardly a kind act. Pelayo and Elisenda imprison him in a chicken coop outside, where strangers pelt him with stones, gawk at him, and even burn him with a branding iron. Once they discover that they can profit from showcasing him.

        Moments of compassion are few and far between, although perhaps all the more significant for being so rare. By the time the old man finally flies into the sunset, Elisenda, for all her fussing, sees him go with a twinge of regret.  See that couldn't been me, because I would've destroyed everything when I finally got well.  That not only what I will do, but also others would, too. Am I right or wrong?  It just the way we response to things. 

        It just amazing how someone extreme patience that can ultimately transforms lives.  Seen in this light, the old man’s refusal to leave might be interpreted as an act of compassion to help the impoverished couple.  García Márquez may have even intended to remind readers of the advice found in Hebrews 13:2 in the Bible: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”  If you think about it, you never know how many angels you have mistreated in your lifetime.