"Dammit Mario!" Brandon exclaimed as he dragged out the cuss with such annoyance, "When did this game become so difficult?!" For the past 2 and a half hours Brandon has been trying to beat world 8 in Super Mario Bros. He recently found this ancient relic while cleaning the attic out because his mom told him to. When he found the game he stopped everything he was doing and decided to try and beat the game again. He breezed through the first 7 worlds with minimal struggle but world 8 was a whole new world; literally!
Brandon was just an average 16 year old teen that just wanted to have a fun nostalgic Sunday night but it turned out to be anything but fun after long. The frustration darkened his yellow face to red as he brows furrowed with the intensity of his focused mind. His wide hands smothered the small Gamecube controller as his long fingers scavenged for the buttons only to softly tap them to make Mario jump or run for a quick second. He hunched his long, lanky body over and rested his elbows on his knees to prop his body into position. He sat on the edge of his bed to the point where it looked like he was about to fall any second but in actuality he was rather comfortable.
"Forget you Mario! I like Luigi better anyways!" His deep voice rumbled, "Matter of fact; I'm gonna use him right now." He pressed the "Start" button in the middle of the control and moved the analog stick down to the "Character Selection" option and pressed the "A" button. He moved the analog stick to the right once so the cursor was pointing to his main man, Luigi, before pressing "A" again to make Luigi do a little swirling dance before jumping into the action.
"Alright, alright, alright! I got this now," he said with a confident smile on his face and a more relaxed body position.
In the game, Luigi hopped onto a platform surrounded by lava. Under Brandon's control, he ran to right and jumped on a move float that moved front and back. Brandon had to make Luigi jump at the right time so he can continue forward and won't fall into his digital fiery death. Brandon moved a half second too late and that's exactly what happened. Brandon exclaimed in rage, "O-M-G!" while his mouth held on to the G, slowly letting it all roll out.
"I'm so ready to give up" He said to himself in a low, defeated tone. He tapped the "Start" button and scrolled down to the "Quit" option. The cursor hovered over the bottom of the "u" in "Quit" as Brandon contemplated if this is really what he wanted to do. He thought about him ever giving up and recalled that quitting was a thing he didn't do. He said, "Naaaahhhh" and pressed the "B" button, right next to the "A" button to go back to the game and try again.
"Alright, I only have 5 lives left. I need to make them count." while starting another game. "Work with me Luigi." he continued. He played with intense focus; more focus than he uses in school. This focus helped him achieve more than he has ever achieved with Mario. Even with all this focus, it was still not even to beat the level.
He let out a sigh of impatience as he went again, this time with more focus than the last game. He hopped, and ran, and jumped, and swirled, and everything in between. Through all his effort, he reached the final part of the level and paused the game to catch himself. He set the controller down next to him so he could whip his clammy hands on his sweat pants to dry them off before picking up the controller again.
He unpaused the game and proceeded the rest of the game with caution. There was only a few seconds left on the game clock so he had to pick up the pace. There was no time to dwindle and proceed with caution. He hastily made Luigi hop, and run, and jump, and swirl, and everything in between until he reached the flag.
"Finally conquered world 8! Now I can go to sleep" Brandon said as he ran to press the power button and turn off the system, totally unaware that the game did not save his progress... Oh well.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Love is (kinda) in the Air...
Valentine's day is a day adored by teen girls who do mot even know the origin of the day. To solve that problem I would like to explain where it came from:
Valentine was a priest who lived during the third century in Rome. During that time, Emperor Claudius II was fighting a war and decided that single men made better soldiers than
those with wives and families so he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine saw this injustice and defied Claudius by
continuing to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Claudius discovered
Valentine's actions, Claudius ordered that he be put to
death.
Another Story tells of Valentine being killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According a legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is said that he wrote her a letter signed, "From your Valentine", which is where teens got it from
Valentines day was not really an official "thing" until the 1400s. European Emperors and Rulers said it was but no one really paid it any mind. People believe February 14th was just the day that birds began their mating but as time carried on, people too started.... "mating" on that day.
Now a days people date and mate just to do it and end up separating soon after. My advice to people that want to be in a relationship is don't do it if you're not 110% sure about the person. If you have doubts about anything that has to deal with your relationship than it probably will not last and you end up wasting your time. It's better of to be single anyways. You get more freedom, more options, and you save money since you don't have to spend it on a person! Also, Single doesn't always mean lonely...
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
Be safe..
Another Story tells of Valentine being killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According a legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is said that he wrote her a letter signed, "From your Valentine", which is where teens got it from
Valentines day was not really an official "thing" until the 1400s. European Emperors and Rulers said it was but no one really paid it any mind. People believe February 14th was just the day that birds began their mating but as time carried on, people too started.... "mating" on that day.
Now a days people date and mate just to do it and end up separating soon after. My advice to people that want to be in a relationship is don't do it if you're not 110% sure about the person. If you have doubts about anything that has to deal with your relationship than it probably will not last and you end up wasting your time. It's better of to be single anyways. You get more freedom, more options, and you save money since you don't have to spend it on a person! Also, Single doesn't always mean lonely...
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
Be safe..
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Days of the Week
Personification is an amazing thing. It has the power to make anything come to life. LITERALLY! To personify something means to give an inanimate object lively qualities. For example: the rock sat as still as a couch potato. In that example the inanimate object was the rock ad the living object it was being compared to was the coach potato.
To help explain, here is an example that personifies the days of the week as a type of person.
To help explain, here is an example that personifies the days of the week as a type of person.
Sundays
Sunday is a lazy, relaxed person. Sunday is the type that barely does anything and doesn't care. They only care about relaxing. They would much rather do that then go out and party. Once in a while they might go out with friends and have a little hang out but nothing too serious because they know they have work the next day.Mondays
Monday is that person you can’t stand. Monday would be that person that would bother you when you are trying to relax. They require so much energy from you that you do not have within. When Monday comes around you just want to die.Tuesdays
Tuesdays are people that are moody. One week they are fun and the next they can be boring or annoying. It all depends on the people you're with when Tuesday comes around. If lively people are around then you will have a nice time but if boring people are around then you would be boring.Wednesdays
Wednesdays are normal people. There is nothing extra ordinary about them. Wednesday is that person in your life that is just there to be there. They do nothing to benefit you but also do not hinder you from anything. Although, from time to time they might do something that catches your attention but that may only last a second or two.Thursdays
Thursday is that guy in the background. Thursday is that lowkey fun guy that comes out of the shadow when there is a good time going on and just makes everything better than what it was. When things are not fun then Thursday just goes with the flow and blends in with everyone else.Fridays
Friday is a happy person. Friday is that type of person that would be in a good mood 96% of the time. The other 4% would be a regular mood. There is no such thing as a "bad mood" for Friday. Friday tends to try it's best to make people happy by giving others a great outlook on the weekend to come.Saturdays!!!!!
Saturday is just an overly excited person. Saturday is that person that also seems to be rigged on caffeine and sugar. They like to party and go out and have fun. Whenever there is a party, Saturday knows about it. There is rarely a dull moment in their life.Sunday, January 27, 2013
Simile and Metaphor
Similes and metaphors are closely related types of figurative language. Both are used to compare one object to another. Their only difference is that simile requires you to use "like" or "as" to compare where as a metaphor you do not use "like" or "as".
The dictionary definition of Simile is, "A figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by 'like' or 'as'" and the dictionary definition of metaphor is, "a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them".
Similes and metaphors are very important components of figurative language. It is used to add power to a sentence.
For example, look at the following two sentences: "the man was small", "The man was as small as an ant". Obviously the second sentence was better. Similes metaphors add more description to a piece of literature to help you understand more.
Here are 2 more examples. The first poem is an example of simile and the second poem is an example of a metaphor. The examples are highlighted to help show you where they are.
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
"I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me."
Emily Dickinson
Metaphor
The dictionary definition of Simile is, "A figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by 'like' or 'as'" and the dictionary definition of metaphor is, "a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them".
Similes and metaphors are very important components of figurative language. It is used to add power to a sentence.
For example, look at the following two sentences: "the man was small", "The man was as small as an ant". Obviously the second sentence was better. Similes metaphors add more description to a piece of literature to help you understand more.
Here are 2 more examples. The first poem is an example of simile and the second poem is an example of a metaphor. The examples are highlighted to help show you where they are.
Flint
An emerald is as green as grass,A ruby red as blood;
A sapphire shines as blue as heaven;A flint lies in the mud.
SimileA diamond is a brilliant stone,
To catch the world's desire;
An opal holds a fiery spark;But a flint holds a fire.
Christina Rossetti
Hope
Hope is the thing with feathersThat perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
"I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me."
Emily Dickinson
Metaphor
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
MLK Day
The great
Martin Luther King Jr. can be considered a martyr because he was assassinated
for his belief and for the journey he took to get the black community the same
rights the white community has in the United States of America
Dr. King
once said, "We must all learn to live together as brothers or we will all
perish together as fools." These words should let people know that what he
is saying that every man needs to live peacefully or we will all kill each
other. This is the case in many heavily black populated cities such as Camden , parts of Detroit , and Compton
If Martin
Luther King were to come to my school and see all that we have been doing with
our civil rights, I believe he would be disappointed. Walking through our
halls he would see young men with their pants below their butts, young women
showing a little too much of their body, and would see each other disrespect
one another with foul profanity. If he were to go into a classroom he would see
young people disrespecting teachers, others sleeping, or not being attentive.
Martin Luther King fought for the full education of black people and to see
people in my school take advantage of such a thing the way we're doing, would
disappoint him very much.
In the
words of DR. King, “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if
you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving
forward.” Martin Luther King would want what he has been fighting for to
continue but it seems after 45 years the black community has not moved much.
We've overcome the obstacle of inequality but face a new obstacle of hatred
toward one another. Like King said, "We must all learn to live together as
brothers or we will all perish together as fools." and right now we are
perishing.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Exaggeration to the MAX
People exaggerate a lot; in books, in life, in music, basically everywhere. When exaggeration happens in literature, it is called a hyperbole. The dictionary definition for the word is "obvious and intentional exaggeration."
An example of a hyperbole could be, "It's so hot outside, I can fry an egg on the sidewalk." Now some maybe be thinking. "Wait. Is a hyperbole something like a lie?" The answer to that question is, "Sorta". It is a lie but the difference is when you lie, you DON'T want the person to know you're lying but when you use a hyperbole, you make it so obvious that the person can catch on to it.
Hyperbole is important in literature. Why? Well why not? Imagine life without sarcasm; Everything would be so straightforward and that would be so boring. Hyperbole adds excitement to a piece of literature.
Here is an example of a hyperbole used in one of Shakespeare's pieces of literature:
(Note: The hyperbole comes late in the scene so you can go ahead and skip most of the reading if you want.)
This is a sorry sight.
Looking on his hands
LADY MACBETH:
A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
MACBETH:
There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried
'Murder!'
That they did wake each other: I stood and heard them:
But they did say their prayers, and address'd them
Again to sleep.
LADY MACBETH:
There are two lodged together.
MACBETH:
One cried 'God bless us!' and 'Amen' the other;
As they had seen me with these hangman's hands.
Listening their fear, I could not say 'Amen,'
When they did say 'God bless us!'
LADY MACBETH:
Consider it not so deeply.
MACBETH:
But wherefore could not I pronounce 'Amen'?
I had most need of blessing, and 'Amen'
Stuck in my throat.
LADY MACBETH:
These deeds must not be thought
After these ways; so, it will make us mad.
MACBETH:
Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast,--
LADY MACBETH:
What do you mean?
MACBETH:
Still it cried 'Sleep no more!' to all the house:
'Glamis hath murder'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more.'
LADY MACBETH:
Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane,
You do unbend your noble strength, to think
So brainsickly of things. Go get some water,
And wash this filthy witness from your hand.
Why did you bring these daggers from the place?
They must lie there: go carry them; and smear
The sleepy grooms with blood.
MACBETH:
I'll go no more:
I am afraid to think what I have done;
Look on't again I dare not.
LADY MACBETH:
Infirm of purpose!
Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead
Are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood
That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,
I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal;
For it must seem their guilt.
Exit. Knocking within
MACBETH:
Whence is that knocking?
How is't with me, when every noise appals me?
What hands are here? ha! they pluck out mine eyes.
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas in incarnadine,
Making the green one red.
Re-enter LADY MACBETH
LADY MACBETH:
My hands are of your colour; but I shame
To wear a heart so white.
Knocking within
I hear a knocking
At the south entry: retire we to our chamber;
A little water clears us of this deed:
How easy is it, then! Your constancy
Hath left you unattended.
Knocking within
Hark! more knocking.
Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us,
And show us to be watchers. Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts.
MACBETH:
To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself.
Knocking within
Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!
Exeunt
Congratulations! You've read a scene from Macbeth by William Shakespeare but anyways, back to the topic: hyperbole.
This poet packed this entire poem with hyperbole just to explain how much he hated it. A simple, "I dislike homework very much" would have been fine... but boring. Instead he took the more detailed and fun way and exaggerated to the max. One hyperbole he used was, "If only a Bomb would blow you to bits". This line was a HUGE hyperbole. An entire bomb is not needed to blow up a single sheet of paper when all that is need may be as little as a single match stick. Using this hyperbole just shows how much Jack Prelutsky hates homework.
The author expressed his angry in this poem and I felt it. I feel it because I too hate homework very much. Reading this poem makes me think about homework and it pisses me off a bit...
But anyways. to sum up hyperbole in four words, the word would be "exaggeration to the MAX". Plain and simple.
An example of a hyperbole could be, "It's so hot outside, I can fry an egg on the sidewalk." Now some maybe be thinking. "Wait. Is a hyperbole something like a lie?" The answer to that question is, "Sorta". It is a lie but the difference is when you lie, you DON'T want the person to know you're lying but when you use a hyperbole, you make it so obvious that the person can catch on to it.
Hyperbole is important in literature. Why? Well why not? Imagine life without sarcasm; Everything would be so straightforward and that would be so boring. Hyperbole adds excitement to a piece of literature.
Here is an example of a hyperbole used in one of Shakespeare's pieces of literature:
(Note: The hyperbole comes late in the scene so you can go ahead and skip most of the reading if you want.)
Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 2
William Shakespeare
SCENE II. The same.
Enter LADY MACBETH
LADY MACBETH:
That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold;
What hath quench'd them hath given me fire.
Hark! Peace!
It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman,
Which gives the stern'st good-night. He is about it:
The doors are open; and the surfeited grooms
Do mock their charge with snores: I have drugg'd
their possets,
That death and nature do contend about them,
Whether they live or die.
MACBETH:
[Within] Who's there? what, ho!
LADY MACBETH:
Alack, I am afraid they have awaked,
And 'tis not done. The attempt and not the deed
Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready;
He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done't.
Enter MACBETH
My husband!
MACBETH:
I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?
LADY MACBETH:
I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.
Did not you speak?
MACBETH:
When?
LADY MACBETH:
Now.
MACBETH:
As I descended?
LADY MACBETH:
Ay.
MACBETH:
Hark!
Who lies i' the second chamber?
LADY MACBETH:
Donalbain.
MACBETH:
Enter LADY MACBETH
LADY MACBETH:
That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold;
What hath quench'd them hath given me fire.
Hark! Peace!
It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman,
Which gives the stern'st good-night. He is about it:
The doors are open; and the surfeited grooms
Do mock their charge with snores: I have drugg'd
their possets,
That death and nature do contend about them,
Whether they live or die.
MACBETH:
[Within] Who's there? what, ho!
LADY MACBETH:
Alack, I am afraid they have awaked,
And 'tis not done. The attempt and not the deed
Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready;
He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done't.
Enter MACBETH
My husband!
MACBETH:
I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?
LADY MACBETH:
I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.
Did not you speak?
MACBETH:
When?
LADY MACBETH:
Now.
MACBETH:
As I descended?
LADY MACBETH:
Ay.
MACBETH:
Hark!
Who lies i' the second chamber?
LADY MACBETH:
Donalbain.
MACBETH:
This is a sorry sight.
Looking on his hands
LADY MACBETH:
A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
MACBETH:
There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried
'Murder!'
That they did wake each other: I stood and heard them:
But they did say their prayers, and address'd them
Again to sleep.
LADY MACBETH:
There are two lodged together.
MACBETH:
One cried 'God bless us!' and 'Amen' the other;
As they had seen me with these hangman's hands.
Listening their fear, I could not say 'Amen,'
When they did say 'God bless us!'
LADY MACBETH:
Consider it not so deeply.
MACBETH:
But wherefore could not I pronounce 'Amen'?
I had most need of blessing, and 'Amen'
Stuck in my throat.
LADY MACBETH:
These deeds must not be thought
After these ways; so, it will make us mad.
MACBETH:
Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast,--
LADY MACBETH:
What do you mean?
MACBETH:
Still it cried 'Sleep no more!' to all the house:
'Glamis hath murder'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more.'
LADY MACBETH:
Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane,
You do unbend your noble strength, to think
So brainsickly of things. Go get some water,
And wash this filthy witness from your hand.
Why did you bring these daggers from the place?
They must lie there: go carry them; and smear
The sleepy grooms with blood.
MACBETH:
I'll go no more:
I am afraid to think what I have done;
Look on't again I dare not.
LADY MACBETH:
Infirm of purpose!
Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead
Are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood
That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,
I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal;
For it must seem their guilt.
Exit. Knocking within
MACBETH:
Whence is that knocking?
How is't with me, when every noise appals me?
What hands are here? ha! they pluck out mine eyes.
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas in incarnadine,
Making the green one red.
Re-enter LADY MACBETH
LADY MACBETH:
My hands are of your colour; but I shame
To wear a heart so white.
Knocking within
I hear a knocking
At the south entry: retire we to our chamber;
A little water clears us of this deed:
How easy is it, then! Your constancy
Hath left you unattended.
Knocking within
Hark! more knocking.
Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us,
And show us to be watchers. Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts.
MACBETH:
To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself.
Knocking within
Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!
Exeunt
In this piece the hyperbole was, "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?" which is an extreme example of hyperbole. A small amount of water could have washed the blood away but Macbeth wanted all the water in the ocean to wash it off. Shakepeare gave off a "guilty" tone in this scene. After Macbeth murdered someone he wished to to forget what what happened. He said he wanted to wash the blood off his hands which means he wish he did not murder. Reading this scene makes me feel distressed because Macbeth feels so bad for what he has done.
Hyperbole can also be found in poems. Here is a great example:
Hyperbole can also be found in poems. Here is a great example:
Homework
Homework! Oh, Homework!
I hate you! You stink!
I wish I could wash you away in the sink,
if only a bomb
would explode you to bits.
Homework! Oh, homework!
You're giving me fits.
I hate you! You stink!
I wish I could wash you away in the sink,
if only a bomb
would explode you to bits.
Homework! Oh, homework!
You're giving me fits.
I'd rather take baths
with a man-eating shark,
or wrestle a lion
alone in the dark,
eat spinach and liver,
pet ten porcupines,
than tackle the homework,
my teacher assigns.
with a man-eating shark,
or wrestle a lion
alone in the dark,
eat spinach and liver,
pet ten porcupines,
than tackle the homework,
my teacher assigns.
Homework! Oh, homework!
you're last on my list,
I simple can't see
why you even exist,
if you just disappeared
it would tickle me pink.
Homework! Oh, homework!
I hate you! You stink!
you're last on my list,
I simple can't see
why you even exist,
if you just disappeared
it would tickle me pink.
Homework! Oh, homework!
I hate you! You stink!
Jack Prelutsky
The author expressed his angry in this poem and I felt it. I feel it because I too hate homework very much. Reading this poem makes me think about homework and it pisses me off a bit...
But anyways. to sum up hyperbole in four words, the word would be "exaggeration to the MAX". Plain and simple.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
The Final Test
He tied his boat off and started to climb the cliffs. He knew that no one had lived to tell what was behind the clouds, but still he climbed...
Kim Jon's karate sensei, Master Chang, said that he must travel far to the clouded peek of the island of Faroe to face whatever sat at the top of the mountain to become a karate master. All his 26 years of living, he had always wanted to become a karate master and his chance finally arose so he happily took it. He ventured for several arduous years through cold mountains, desolate and dry deserts, and on the choppy seas with only a small ration of food to survive off of.
Throughout his entire journey, he meditated to mentally prepare him for what was to come. When he traveled on foot he tuned out the outside world to connect with his inner being. Not paying attention to his surroundings, he let his body guide him most of his journey. Even through the most contorted routes on his path, his body slide passed them with ease. This is the result of many years of training.
He traveled through by foot and animal through Asia and Europe to get to the shore of Norway, where his master said the island would be off the coast of. He stood there on the shore with his feet planted firmly in the sand as waves hit his shins hard but never moving him. A strong ocean breeze blew into him, rippling his shirt and blowing his short, flowing black hair behind his head. Kim stared out toward the grey horizon in the direction of the island thinking about what may be there.
He remembered rumors he heard of what was hidden in the clouds. "There's a dragon up there." He remembered an old man saying at a bar, "A deadly dragon by the name of Ro Shenhi sits atop the island, minding his own business and anything that trespasses, he takes their life. No one has ever survived to tell their story." Then another man asked, "If no one has ever survived to tell their story then how do you know about it?" and the man simple replied, "I don't" and laughed followed by a sip of his sake.
"There aren't any dragons in Europe you old bat!" Kim remembered another man saying, "In Europe there are a lot of gods and titans and all that everywhere. That's probably what is at the top of that island. Your Sensei is trying to get you killed! I wouldn't do it if it were up to me."
Kim Jon didn't care what that man would or wouldn't have done. Kim knew this is what he wanted to do and he was too far ahead to turn back now. He did not even want to turn back. His light brown eyes burned bright and screamed determination.
He scavenged up and down the beach in search of a boat to get a cross the ocean to the island. He eventually found a man with a small wooden boat. He went up to him and asked, "Do you mind if I borrowed your boat to get to Faroe?"
"Faroe?!" The little pale man shrieked, "You want to row this little thing all the way out there? You'll never survive against the waves."
"Have faith little man." Kim replied calmly. "I will make it there perfectly fine. No need to worry at all"
Kim gave the man a jolly grin that made the man have faith in him. "All right, you can take the boat. I was going to chop it up anyways. It's useless."
Kim's grin turned into a smile when the man said yes then said, "Thank you mister" and took the boat. The little man watched as he slowly drifted away.
Once he was a good distance away from the shore he started meditating again. He sat on the wooden bench of the small boat with his feet folded, his body tall and erect, his chest out strong and his fist touching knuckle to knuckle in front of his chest. The boat rocked and swayed with each bump in the ocean but with all the movement, Kim's body stayed in place like a strong stone sitting at the bottom of a river.
Being so deep into his meditation, he was not able to row the boat so the slow current took him to the island. It took days but he finally reached the side of the island which was a step climb. He rose from his seat and looked directly up the mountain then started to climb. Foot by foot and hand by hand. He was anxious to see what was up there so he picked up the pace and flew up the mountain.
In no time he was up in the cloud and at the top. The cloud was so thick he could not even see 2 feet in front of himself. He stayed in his fighting stance and on guard for anything that might happen. He stood with his feet spread widely apart to give him a firm standing. He held out an open hand with his thumb pressed against the top of his palm and a clenched fist close to his body. He closed his eyes since they were useless to him. He depended on his ears to tell him where things were at.
He slowly inched forward toward the center of the plateau until he heard a shaky voice say, "Who are you?"
Kim stopped in his steps, put his feet together and bowed in respect then answered in a haste. "I am Kim Jon of China. I am the pupil of Master Chang and I am trying to being a karate master. I have come to challenge you to become master."
"I know what you have come for. After all, I am the one that sent you here. Rise my pupil."
Kim rose quickly in surprise. "Master?! I have to defeat you?" He asked with a bit of hesitation? He knew couldn't defeat him no matter how hard he tried. He was scared.
Master Chang just laughed at him. "Oh no my student. You've done enough to show me that you deserve to be a master. Not many people would make this journey all the way across the world just for a title. You have shown me that you really care about this and that is enough to be a master. You already had the mental and physical strength needed to become a master. The only thing left was the emotional strength. This was shown by following your dreams. You followed it no matter how difficult it was and that's all there was to it. You have the right to be called a true master."
Kim said, "Wow.... So All I had to do was come to this place? That wasn't so hard." A small grin came up. "So can we go home now? I'm starving. I haven't had a real meal in a long time!"
"Why yes of course! Let's go Master Jon. We'll get home in no time and you can eat all you want."
Kim Jon's karate sensei, Master Chang, said that he must travel far to the clouded peek of the island of Faroe to face whatever sat at the top of the mountain to become a karate master. All his 26 years of living, he had always wanted to become a karate master and his chance finally arose so he happily took it. He ventured for several arduous years through cold mountains, desolate and dry deserts, and on the choppy seas with only a small ration of food to survive off of.
Throughout his entire journey, he meditated to mentally prepare him for what was to come. When he traveled on foot he tuned out the outside world to connect with his inner being. Not paying attention to his surroundings, he let his body guide him most of his journey. Even through the most contorted routes on his path, his body slide passed them with ease. This is the result of many years of training.
He traveled through by foot and animal through Asia and Europe to get to the shore of Norway, where his master said the island would be off the coast of. He stood there on the shore with his feet planted firmly in the sand as waves hit his shins hard but never moving him. A strong ocean breeze blew into him, rippling his shirt and blowing his short, flowing black hair behind his head. Kim stared out toward the grey horizon in the direction of the island thinking about what may be there.
He remembered rumors he heard of what was hidden in the clouds. "There's a dragon up there." He remembered an old man saying at a bar, "A deadly dragon by the name of Ro Shenhi sits atop the island, minding his own business and anything that trespasses, he takes their life. No one has ever survived to tell their story." Then another man asked, "If no one has ever survived to tell their story then how do you know about it?" and the man simple replied, "I don't" and laughed followed by a sip of his sake.
"There aren't any dragons in Europe you old bat!" Kim remembered another man saying, "In Europe there are a lot of gods and titans and all that everywhere. That's probably what is at the top of that island. Your Sensei is trying to get you killed! I wouldn't do it if it were up to me."
Kim Jon didn't care what that man would or wouldn't have done. Kim knew this is what he wanted to do and he was too far ahead to turn back now. He did not even want to turn back. His light brown eyes burned bright and screamed determination.
He scavenged up and down the beach in search of a boat to get a cross the ocean to the island. He eventually found a man with a small wooden boat. He went up to him and asked, "Do you mind if I borrowed your boat to get to Faroe?"
"Faroe?!" The little pale man shrieked, "You want to row this little thing all the way out there? You'll never survive against the waves."
"Have faith little man." Kim replied calmly. "I will make it there perfectly fine. No need to worry at all"
Kim gave the man a jolly grin that made the man have faith in him. "All right, you can take the boat. I was going to chop it up anyways. It's useless."
Kim's grin turned into a smile when the man said yes then said, "Thank you mister" and took the boat. The little man watched as he slowly drifted away.
Once he was a good distance away from the shore he started meditating again. He sat on the wooden bench of the small boat with his feet folded, his body tall and erect, his chest out strong and his fist touching knuckle to knuckle in front of his chest. The boat rocked and swayed with each bump in the ocean but with all the movement, Kim's body stayed in place like a strong stone sitting at the bottom of a river.
Being so deep into his meditation, he was not able to row the boat so the slow current took him to the island. It took days but he finally reached the side of the island which was a step climb. He rose from his seat and looked directly up the mountain then started to climb. Foot by foot and hand by hand. He was anxious to see what was up there so he picked up the pace and flew up the mountain.
In no time he was up in the cloud and at the top. The cloud was so thick he could not even see 2 feet in front of himself. He stayed in his fighting stance and on guard for anything that might happen. He stood with his feet spread widely apart to give him a firm standing. He held out an open hand with his thumb pressed against the top of his palm and a clenched fist close to his body. He closed his eyes since they were useless to him. He depended on his ears to tell him where things were at.
He slowly inched forward toward the center of the plateau until he heard a shaky voice say, "Who are you?"
Kim stopped in his steps, put his feet together and bowed in respect then answered in a haste. "I am Kim Jon of China. I am the pupil of Master Chang and I am trying to being a karate master. I have come to challenge you to become master."
"I know what you have come for. After all, I am the one that sent you here. Rise my pupil."
Kim rose quickly in surprise. "Master?! I have to defeat you?" He asked with a bit of hesitation? He knew couldn't defeat him no matter how hard he tried. He was scared.
Master Chang just laughed at him. "Oh no my student. You've done enough to show me that you deserve to be a master. Not many people would make this journey all the way across the world just for a title. You have shown me that you really care about this and that is enough to be a master. You already had the mental and physical strength needed to become a master. The only thing left was the emotional strength. This was shown by following your dreams. You followed it no matter how difficult it was and that's all there was to it. You have the right to be called a true master."
Kim said, "Wow.... So All I had to do was come to this place? That wasn't so hard." A small grin came up. "So can we go home now? I'm starving. I haven't had a real meal in a long time!"
"Why yes of course! Let's go Master Jon. We'll get home in no time and you can eat all you want."
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