The Executives and Sacrifices

By Shuke Wang

The clouds loomed over the sky. My view was a blur but the dark evil feeling enclosed me, and I knew that this wasn’t a pleasurable dream.- There, I remember, was a set of railroad tracks leading somewhere far off into mystery. There, stood the queen, in a white fluffy boa, and a dazzling gown which reminded me of a wedding woman. Not a particularly beautiful queen, but she enchanted me in the most unpleasant ways. A deep sag emerged from the rims of her eyes, and a pale face spread the coldness of the day. Looking from the second hand, she was a memorial character; the queen of Narnia. What frightened me the most, however, was that she was there, and I was also there. So was a bunch of children. Like me. And some of them were my friends. I didn’t know how stupid the kids were. They were upset, so I could tell that the queen was preparing something. They somehow obeyed her, and placed their hands on sharp long screws, nailed to the floor, and after a moment of pain and ear-piercing screeches, there was a loud indescribable sound, and they exploded. A lot of them did. The next minute, the queen was looking at me. So I ran. Suddenly, my eyes cleared up like a blue-ray tv, and I saw every detail of the naked eye. It was so dark, so wet, and so cold. Yet, it was so dry, so clear, and yet still blurry. So indescribable! That’s what dreams are like. It was fall, and the leaves were a crisp color. There was now a school, my school, and there was no railroad track. The queen was after me. A stared in a moment of horror, and then dived for the scarecrow. No idea how that got there, but I didn’t care. I saw the angry glare of the queen, and I felt a warm hand in the scarecrow. I couldn’t see a face but I could tell it was one of my friends because the feel was so comfortable. I found a metal grip, and roughly pulling it out from the scarecrow, I immediately started slashing it wildly against the queen. I couldn’t see her, but I felt the intensity of her stare. For a split second, she started slashing too, and a moment later, I heard a deafening BANG, and I dropped on to the floor. For that moment, I felt so comfortable, the warm fall air, breezing against me, and my three friends laughing. I started laughing too, until a look a terror swept over all of out faces. The queen was not so far away, but she was not longer focused on us. How foolish of me, I thought, to think I had defeated the queen. She was not easily defeated. Sadness swept over me, and suddenly, once again, I felt unsafe. Then I saw my little sister, not far away. The queen had not laid a finger on her. Yet. I was not going to take a chance like this. Grabbing her by the hand, and pulled her further away, but not any further away from safety. I was ready to take her with my friends, Two Smirking Alices, and a safe eight-year-old, Lily. Ready to go off into the mountains and climb the misty steeps, to plunge in to icy waters- I’d be risking Charlottes life. What could I do? I saw the leaving Lily, and holding my sister by the hand, I took her to Lily, and hugged her. Tears brimmed her eyes, but she blinked them back and quietly asked,

“W-what is going to ha-

“Nothing.” I staggered, shaking. Then, holding a firm hand, I gave Charlotte to Lily and whispered “Take care of her.” Lily said nothing, and carried along the road, to home. Because the queen was not after her. It was so strange, I had nothing against her. I guess life wasn’t fair. I creeped across the wide lane, a soccer field to be exact, hoping, praying that the queen was not here to see. I finally made it, to a round hedge or bush (whatever it was), and moved stealthily behind it. There was the two Alices, waiting for me. I didn’t even get why they were with me, but I was grateful. I was also grateful for what Lily did. I hoped that Charlotte would get home safely. Back to mum. And dad. There was no way of knowing. It was time to carry on. I held back my words, and tears, and crawled further into the darkness…

I woke up crying.

There are a few things that I’ll probably never know. What would happen, if I followed the railroad tracks? What was I trying to head for? There was no goal in my dream except the deep and irremovable impression to avoid the queen.

Forever.

A Long Time Ago

Dried tears and unknown murders...

“Sasha!” Mrs. Weavermen called from the old broken-down cottage at Reed River. Sasha wiped her muddy hands on her jeans, and carefully dropped a collection of rocks in her pant pockets. “Sasha?” Mrs. Weavermen called again. This time, Sasha’s sister Beverly bounded out from the weedy meadow. Beverlys brown hair coiled against her pale face and tears enclosed her dazzling features. “Sasha Bora!” Mrs. Weavermen called for the last time, and she too, had bounded outside. Mrs. Weavermens biggest daughter Maddy had also rambled out side. The fire had gone out of Maddys eyes. For the first time, Sasha knew, Maddy had felt bad for the girls. Mrs. Weavermen ran over to Beverly and gave her a hug. Sasha was also longing for a hug, but she knew she would look awkward in the moment. It was hard for Sasha, but she knew it was harder for Beverly. Sasha’s mother was a unique person. She seemed to always be there for the girls. Until now. She would never come back.

What was weird, however, was that there was no reason for the girls’ mothers to die. Maybe because it was a coincidence. But in the very place she was born? Sasha never got that far in thought, because she had fallen asleep in the muddy weeds of Reed River.


Cory Jefferson had a big crush on Tyke Bora in middle school. She would draw big red hearts on his yearbook pictures, and send him mysterious love notes. What she didn’t know was that he also had a crush on her. News at the Corner Field School did not spread really quickly, so no one knew that Tyke Bora had liked Cory Jefferson. That was because it was despicable for Tyke to like Cory, or anyone else in the Jefferson family.
Tykes family was on a debit and they were desperate to get the money from the rich Jefferson family. A Jefferson relative had recently died, and sent a total of 1.5 million dollars to this Jefferson family as insurance care. So, on a perfect day at Reed River, Mr. Bora asked Mr. Jefferson to lend him some cash. Mr. Jefferson turned him down. Mr. Bora was extremely displeased, that he sent his sister to Mr. Jefferson to scare him to giving the money. So, Ms. London Bora went to the Jeffersons disguised as a fortune teller, with a bunch of random liquids for ‘the spell”.
“Your family vil have a veery good future, iv you leave ten thousand dollerzz at ze grande oak tree,” She told the family. “But iv you do not follow zeees orders, bad luck, death, and hate will come in possession ov your family. Zis spell cannot be reversed.” She mixed a few random liquids together, not knowing there was such thing as real magic, and sprinkled it on the Jeffersons. They took this as a joke, but placed to the money under the tree. However, they kept a sharp eye on it, and took the money back in a few minutes after placing it near the tree. There was a consequence of doing this, maybe it could be reversed or something, but no one knew. No one knew the spell existed. The Jeffersons lost their money, and their daughter Cory married Tyke, to their dislike.Corys parents died of old age, Cory died at forty-seven, being hit by a car, and all the Jeffersons and Boras started dying. All except Cory Jefferson and Tyke Boras Daughter.

One Story Tells Five

This myth as the title suggested, includes five myths explaining the nature of today. It all goes back to the time where ancient Greeks ruled the land. They told legends of immortal people. There was powerful Zeus who shut the titans into the underworld. There was Atlas who held the world up on his shoulder for a punishment, and there was Hades who dreamed to take over the world. Unexplained mysteries are often answered by myths, so bury yourself into this story to find some answers…

Accidentally tilting the world, Atlas gave Hades a chance to release the titans from the underworld. Exposed to risk of being captured by Zeus, Hades made a genuine idea. The titans would hide as shades under mortals. That way, Zeus’ attempts to destroy them would only harm the mortals. Soon, the titans had evaded half the day, and turned it into what we call night.

Fuming, Zeus fiercely fought with his brother Hades until he lost his jawbone. Without it, Zeus would not be able to regain his abilities, and would become mortal. Far away in a cold dark shack lived Mandible and his mortal family. Though Mandible was not immortal, he had a special gift of shape shifting, which no one else could maintain. Mandible had a dull life, because the mortals did not have any light to their lives.

Funny Stories

Technology Dumb

A technology specialist is examining his profit for the day when the phone rings.
On the other end, one of his customers says, “sir, my cup holder has snapped off my laptop, is there any way you could fix it?”
The technology specialist is puzzled. “What cup holder?” He asks.
“The one that always pops out from the right side of the laptop.”
“Uh… that is where you insert the disk.” the technology specialist says, amused. “As long as you don’t need a disk for anything whatsoever, you’ll do fine.”

After a week, the technology specialist receives a call from the same customer.
“Sir, your menu to put together the computer says to plug a red wire to the keyboard. I went to the music store last night, but they had sold out of keyboards. What do I do now?”
“The keyboard is the board with the alphabet letters on it; you know the one to type on?” Says the specialist, greatly shocked by the customers dumbness. So the customer plugs the red wire to the keyboard and leaves it to his wife and his kids, while he goes to Paris with his laptop.
Two weeks later, the technology specialist receives another call from the same customer.
“I think the keyboard on my laptop isn’t working.” The customer says. I really have to go home now, but when I press home, nothing happens. The technology specialist hangs up the phone and returns to work.


Who’s most powerful?

One day when a doctor, a criminal and a lawyer are together in the elevator, the lawyer takes a look around and says; “I am the most powerful around here. Nobody messes with me.”
The criminal and the doctor disagree, so the three of them have a competition on who is the most powerful. The lawyer summons a suspect to jail. The doctor orders the nurses around and displays a wonderful work of surgery. The criminal smiles and says, look on the news tomorrow.

Today's news

Today, criminal intrudes into the national Canadian bank and forces all citizens to put up their hands and dance around like idiots. What could possibly make this criminal do this?


Welcome to the garden

A woman goes to a garden, and standing on the steps is a man.
“Welcome to the garden!” He says sarcastically, and she goes inside to have a cup of tea. The next day when the woman goes to the garden, the same things happen. On the third day, the woman asks the man,
“Why the heck are you standing in my garden?!!!”

My Ping-pong Update

Here is the link:

Should Students do homework everyday?

If you had ever conducted a survey, at least ninety-eight percent of the students would say no, to the absence of daily homework. Doing everyday homework is thought to brighten up your students minds, but can conclude to grumpiness, greed, and unhappiness. Both sides to this question have reasonable answers and arguments, and you’ll find out all about two simple answers; yes, or no? Read on, to find out how this can value to such a big issue to children.

A big portion of student’s misbehaviors is probably caused by pressure, perhaps very likely of homework pressure, and the simplest solution is to reduce the amount of homework, maybe even less for pupils who barely complete homework. That would be around/about two to three times of homework a week. That way, the student has constant or in more suitable words, available homework to complete, but doesn’t need to add in extra time off, specifically for homework.

If schools start reducing homework, students will have the time to socialize, and have fun. That consists exercising, talking with friends, and doing the things that value to themselves. This is a very helpful way, because in a while, students will learn to think independently and initiatively about what real values include. With everyday homework, your mind would be too concentrated in work, that it would no longer be independent, working and learning by itself.

Though many schools don’t give everyday homework anymore, teachers and parents still insist that their children/students aren’t getting smart enough. Because of this issue, there are now many learning resources that guarantee a wonderful source of help. But students aren’t going to get anywhere with loads of homework on hand; they have to learn to use their mind to solve problems. I’m not saying that homework is bad, but everyone who rejects to my opinion; there are always two sides in an argument, I just hope that you open up to the truth.

Once again, I would like to strongly restate that homework cannot interfere with a student’s daily schedule; homework was made to review your knowledge, and to keep their responsibility. I greatly ask readers, young or old to consider my thoughts for all the schools in Ontario, to consult people who think different that a student needs to have an own working mind (not made for homework). You have all rights to disagree; both sides are reasonable, and no one needs to cooperate, just keep in mind: Students should not do homework everyday.

Frumbloire Castle

Chapter 1

I should have known that my beautiful black horse ‘Attitude’, was always wiser then me, and that was not exactly the thing I should have really known. The thing that I should have known was not to enter that castle. Attitude was whining and trying to buck me of her back, but I had gripped her reins and calmed her down, though she was reluctant. That’s me I’m talking about. I am Emily Tiffany. My parents had died in a car accident (or at least that’s what they say), and I was to be imported to Frumbloire castle owned by my aunt, known as Queen Tiffany, who had died mysteriously about months ago. The thing I didn’t get was how I was related to the royal-blood family, and how I had ended up getting here. My mother had never talked about my aunt having a place like this, but the minute I walked through the shimmering gates with Attitude, a friendly looking man with a fancy little mustache was out to greet me, his hand outstretched, and his insane smile creeping out at me.
“Hullo, so you are the Emily that Mrs. Tiffany had been talking about?”
“But-I don’t think I’ve ever seen her before!”
The man went scarlet, which I had no idea to, of why. “Heavens, umm...I think you should come in because well…I think you know why.” He gritted his teeth (he was trying to make them chatter), and led me inside. “Oh, that horse, I’ll get Bethany- I mean uh…Erica ‘the maid’ to take that horse to the stables, fancy for some breakfast? I myself prefer that I am a good cooker, care to judge?”
I glanced over his shoulder from the entrance, and saw beautiful silky draping hanging for curtains, and glimmering sequences hanging from the crème-beige walls. But what interested me was the painting lined with silver framing; it was a woman. She had intelligent blue eyes, and blond curly hair, tight in a shimmering pony-tail. Her lips were pink and pearly, and next to her was a giant man, shades of gray all over his face, looking very violent. “So is this my mothers sister?” I asked the man.
“Oh, yes and the man next to her is her husband, who is still alive.” He said, wrinkling his nose. “By the way, my name’s Tom Soufflé; call me Chef Soufflé, or Chef Tom. Either one will do.” He opened up the entrance, and led me onto a fancy red table. “Today, Mr. Tiffany or aka Allen Tiffany is inviting his new wife to dinner. You can have a quick breakfast, but I hope you don’t mind staying in your room for the rest of the afternoon, do you?” Having no other choice, I obeyed, but my unhappiness quickly vanished when I saw my dishes: Creamy cheese soufflé, and hot chicken soup, along with little tasty treats, that I had never seen before. My soup which was too hot, had to be left on the table for a while, sadly. I jumped of me red plump chair, and started looking unsurely around the kitchen; I barely knew anyone. As I put a hand on one of the wall decorations, I heard a little click. A tiny hole not much wider than a pinky appeared on the wall, and a tiny egg-holder chucked out at me. It was way too small for and egg, but it was charming. It included a pearl pink enamel egg fit to be in the egg-holder, which was lined with beautiful golden trimmings, carefully engaged. I ran my fingers along the edge of the egg holder, and wondered if this was a priceless treasure I was supposed to inherit after Queen Tiffany. Running up to Chef Tom who was still serving hot trays at the table, I showed him the egg and the egg holder, and suddenly he looked guilty.
“Umm… can I have it?” I asked.
Chef Tom hesitated, and then nodded solemnly. Inspecting the treasure, I also added “Why are there other portraits too?” On the walls were pictures of royal looking people, all looking beautiful and happy, just like Queen Tiffany. “Those are uh… pictures of other queens.” Chef Tom prodded unhappily as if he were in a rush.
“From this castle? I thought my aunt was the only one who lived here before.”
“Oh, she was. These are other famous queens.”
“Never seen them before. By the way, how did my aunt die?”
“Okay, you know what? Here’s the deal. Ask no more questions and I’ll say no more about that tragic…umm…story.” He shot at me, gritting his teeth. Just in time, a loud ringing had echoed through the castle, and Chef Tom went to get the door. I stared after him, and then followed to the main room which was connected with the dining room. I watched as the door opened, and saw a woman dressed in a purple gown step in to the castle. Her black hair was tied into a tight bun; she had dark green eyes and really dark lips. Next to her was what seemed like my aunt’s husband in the portrait, except his eyes looked crueler, and had patches of bruises on his face. Even though he was wearing a heavy scarlet suit, something shone like gold, on his arm. “Okay then.” Chef Tom whispered silently to me. “Your new mum is here.”

The Clue in the Book
Chapter 2

“WHAT?” I shouted again, as chef Tom tried to calm me down.
“Your aunt expected your mother to inherit all this property, but your mother died, and her next will was to your father, but he died too, so it went to you. She was just going to let you live in it, but she died too, so the castle is yours. But that still means that Queen Tiffany’s husband is allowed here, and because you are the princess here, he is the king, which means he’s your father, and his new wife is going to be your mother. Do you get it know?”
“No, I don’t, and there is no way you’ll make me call her ‘mother’, for god sakes.”
“Then be that way, see what happens.” He snorted, as he tromped out of my room. My room was so charming, with tiny doll furniture and light blue walls; it was all enormous. I had no TV or technology, but a lot of books and writing paper. At eight in the night, I sneaked downstairs to catch a glimpse of Queen Gabrielle, as Chef Tom called her. Her hair was now damp and in loses curls, she was prettier, but her husband who was ‘my father’, did not look any better. I tiptoed to a large green plant perched on the glassy marble floor, and hid behind it.
“No, Allen, there should be some other way we could tell her.” Sara Gabrielle was telling her husband. “Besides, other than sign language, do you think writing a note to her would help?” I was confused. What on earth were they talking about?
“No, but I have and idea, and I can’t tell you in front of Emily.” He said coldly, staring right at me. As Sara turned around in her seat, I froze, and closed my eyes. I didn’t notice that my head in bare sight, and my brown auburn long hair, latched all over the floor.
“Hello, Emily. Can I please ask you to come here?” Mrs. Gabrielle asked me dryly. I hesitated, and then stood up. “Now that’s perfect dear, I have something for you, now if you just come to my room.”
I guiltily followed her up, wondering what she was going to do to me. As we passed the second floor corridor, Chef Tom who was going to his room had been eyeing my new ‘parents’, suspiciously.
“Now, now Sarah, don’t you think it’s a bit late?” He asked. “Ms. Tiffany here needs some peaceful sleep. You don’t want her to be too tired tomorrow, when we introduce Kiro. She needs to save up some energy for your playing in the fields.”
Queen Gabrielle which was going to be Queen Tiffany sooner or later looked suddenly offended. “My stepdaughter will not play in those fields.” She replied bitterly. “Unlike you, I know the danger of loosing her. If she weren’t my stepdaughter, I would’ve never let her in, with you for company.”
“Oh, Sarah, when do you ever get me? Remember the rules. Not in front of Emily!” Chef Tom hushed.
“What is everybody talking about?” I asked. “I hate when people say not in front of Emily!” What are the rules, exactly?”
Mr. Tiffany growled at me. Under his black eye was a scar that seemed to be some sort of picture. “Now you girly, you just go to bed now and stay out of it!” He howled at me, his grey metal eyes glaring with anger. I shuddered and quickly ran up to my bedroom, slamming the door behind me. So I just laid there on my bed for an hour, before I got up to lazily take a shower and brush my teeth. I was up till midnight reading Harry Potter, until a gentle knock landed on my door.
“Who is it?” I asked moodily.
“It’s Sarah; I’d rather have you call me by my first name.”
“Okay then, ‘Sarah’. What do you want?”
Immediately, the door opened, and Sarah had hushed me outside. I was about to pull back, but a deep instinct held me still, a slithering sensation made me sweep towards her, as I entered her room. The room was not appealing, in fact it was straight darn ugly. The beautiful green wallpaper was shredded down on the floor, revealing a blank stony wall, the bed was all lumpy, and the light was so dim, that I could barely see my step mothers face. She silently slipped an old brown book which probably contained seven-hundred pages in it, and took a furry feather out of a faint-blue box she was holding. She flipped through a few-hundred pages, and tucked the feather carefully in a specific place. I wanted to just walk out on her, but my feet felt like a million pounds. Slowly, the image faded, my eyelids closed, and the next moment, it was morning and the book was still in my hands.


Dear Diary,
Frumbloire seems to be a wonderful place, Chef Blue is an ambitious but kind Chef. Because I’m to be married when I’m sixteen which is my age now, I went through some provocations with the maids. They did not like Allen Tiffany, but he was young, handsome, and humorous. My little sister Amy was with me today, we had lots of fun, picking out my wedding dress, but still, I’m not very sure of the secret in Frumbloire Castle. It was in the library.
R.K