I am going to runaway.
The risk is immense, the danger unbelievable, the punishment unspeakable if ever I am caught. But I have to do it. Not just for the legacy of Tyson, but for my well being. Every day I spend as part of the future army of Sonora, I feel physically sick. I hate my life here. I do not want to spend my life in servitude to the government. And even if I were not a soldier, that would be the case. I will always belong to the government. Running away is my only option for the true freedom I sought.
I have to do it tonight. Tomorrow, September first, is the day I am to permanently join the army, since I passed the Test two weeks before.
Tonight is my final chance to save myself.
I have everything planned down to the second. It is foolproof, really. The first step is to lie in bed and fake a deep sleep until midnight. For me it seems the hardest part, as I am to lie here, preventing sleep, while all alone with my thoughts.
It is 22:00 when I lay down, and my eleven roommates do the same, as it is curfew. And no one ever breaks curfew. It is half an hour before the other three, all fifteen with only the faintest idea of how difficult being sixteen and taking the Test is, drift into sleep. That is the only thing I needed to focus on until midnight. Hearing them fall to sleep, so they will not hear me leave when the clock projected on the wall shows 00:00.
Once they all are asleep, I allow myself to open my eyes. I cannot hope to sit or stand yet, so I just lie there with my eyes open.
My first thought is of Tyson. The pride that would be in his bright blue eyes if he knew that I was finally getting out.
If only he was, too.
I did not cry when Tyson died. I wanted to, and would have, if the generals judging the Test...
... middle of paper ...
... to climb over. The guards and generals do not think anyone knows or would notice.
But I did. One night while Tyson and I were running around, enjoying one of our final nights before the Test, I tripped. Odd, because I never stumble, but I fell against the fence at the part that does not work. I expected to be electrocuted, but nothing happened.
I had checked this part of the fence every night up until now. It still does not work.
My heart beats faster once more when I see the guard walk by. Possibly the only one I will ever see again.
He marches off into the distance, and once he is out of sight, I begin my ascent, shaking a little, but otherwise fine. I am worried the fence will not hold the weight of the bag and my weight, but it does, much to my surprise.
My feet hit the tall grass on the other side, and my heart pounds faster than ever before.
I am free.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that they did not cry when tyson died. they wanted to, and would have, if the generals judging the test didn't see it as a sign of weakness.
- Describes how they sit completely still, their long blonde hair not even moving in the breeze coming through the cracked window. it is unusually hot for mid-september, and the air conditioning is broken.
- Describes how they move to the back of the closet, where heaps of cardboard boxes are, and grab one that still has bags of oats crammed inside.
- Opines that survival is what they have been trained to do. their heart skipped a beat as they stabbed him and they are saddened by it.
- Opines that running away is their only option for the true freedom they sought.
- Explains that they have everything planned down to the second step, which is foolproof. the first step is to lie in bed and fake a deep sleep until midnight.
- Recalls the day before they turned seven, nine years ago, when general tate came to peeks to deliver the news. their parents tried to comfort them, but they had forgotten what sadness felt like.
- Narrates how they met tyson on their first day at the encampment. without him, they would be sent to fight a war they knew nothing about.
- Narrates how they sneak through a barbed wire fence to get to the southern wall of the encampment.
- Describes how they search for food in a white kitchen. they find oats, nuts, raisins, pistachios and other perishables.
- Narrates how they close the closet door, silently beg for the guard not to look inside, and hear the door to the kitchen swing open.
- Explains that they listen to the man's footsteps carefully with their right ear pressed against the door. he walks slowly, but not in a way that seems deliberate.
- Describes how they pull the knife from their boot and swipe it across his neck, driving it just deep enough to nick his jugular vein, a technique learned by everyone in the encampment at age twelve.
- Narrates how tyson tripped against the fence at the center of the southern fence, which is the only safe place to climb over.
Related
- explanatory
- opinionated
- analytical
- comparative
- The Secret Of Sleep In David Randall's Dreamlandexplanatory essay...use of how the flow of time works. This makes sleeping a much direr need, for when it’s lost its gone, a fear is created from this. Fortunately, sleep is automatically made up by the brain. Normal sleep cycles shift through every ninety minutes, when ones has been sleep deprived their brain adjusts those cycles to accommodate for significantly more REM sleep as if in compensation for missed time. The ability to make up sleep helps the body’s natural clock called the circadian rhythm. This internal sleep timer can easily be thrown off by adding unnatural lights or traveling across several time zones quickly. When this happens, the brain gets confused because it hasn’t a chance to adjust to the differences in lighting. When being in this state of confusion, the body tries to stick with the old schedule.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how society is pushing a sleepless workplace in the united states. depriving oneself of sleep is one of the worst things that can be done.
- Explains that in david randall's book dreamland, the secrets of sleep are explored through interviews with scientists who specialize in the field.
- Explains that middle-aged teens have the ability to stay up late even though they naturally fall asleep sooner. they are jumpy and therefore can wake up quickly in the event of an attack.
- Explains that sleep is broken up into 4 stages, first through third and then rem sleep. the body is paralyzed to restrict it from acting out the dream.
- Explains that sleep deprivation has the devastating ability to even kill. the united states military has experimented in how different amounts of caffeine keep them awake.
- Explains that american troops had an incredible advantage because of advanced technology, mostly because the opposing army had only faulty soviet tanks. the solution arose from the bodies of the destroyed tanks; many of them had been hit by friendly fire.
- Explains the consequences of not sleeping long enough, such as headaches, depression, diabetes, cancer, heart issues, and false logic.
- Explains that society tells people not to sleep. the light bulb tricks the brain into thinking that the sun has not gone down yet and keeps running as if it is noon.
- Explains that sleep is automatically made up by the brain. normal sleep cycles shift through every ninety minutes.
1441 wordsRead More - War, Peace, the Homefront, and Uncle Samopinionated essayIn our house when I was growing up, there were three WWI posters that my great aunt had saved in her attic. My father rescued and framed them, hanging the posters in the hallway at the top of the stairs. I walked past them on the way to my room which was at the end of this hallway. There was no way I could avoid Uncle Sam trying to recruit me every time I went up the stairs. He never budged, determined to enlist me before I could even read. I had the sense that he was measuring every ounce of my patriotism: I Want YOU for US Army, he called out, pointing and glaring straight at me as I made my way up the stairs. I always continued forward, nearing closer to that long, protruding finger as though responding to his beckoning, feigning my conscription, only to turn the corner to my room.
In this essay, the author
- Narrates how their father saved wwi posters and framed them in the hallway at the top of the stairs. uncle sam never budged, determined to recruit them before they could even read.
- Explains that there is speculation as to whether uncle sam was real. many historians point their fingers to samuel wilson, a meat packer from troy, new york.
- Analyzes how uncle sam has been replaced with slick, sensational ads, often enhanced with computer graphics. these commercials emphasize that you can make money for college and gain valuable skills which will make you a desirable employee.
- Opines that the military is glossy, idyllic with abstract notions of loyalty, honor, and courage intertwined in a cause worth fighting for, in principles worth defending.
- Opines that they are attracted to war because it is irrational; it doesn't make sense. this should repel them and it does to a certain extent.
- Explains that they didn't grow up on war stories because their father was too young for the first world war and too old for second. their mother's parents were in an internment camp during wwii.
- Narrates the story of a man who lost his arm in the war to feed his platoon who was starving on an island.
- Describes how their first experience with war shook them and shocked them. though the story was not based on an actual incident, it deeply impressed them; it was exposure to something that seemed distant and unreal.
- Opines that the riddle is not solved in their mind, nor can it ever be since they have lived through a war.
- Opines that the body is like the game operation i played as a kid, where you were the surgeon and your job was to extract certain plastic organs from the patient's body.
- Opines that their generation is missing the defining experience that a war stirs in the hearts of the young and old.
- Analyzes how wwi poster depicted a woman with fleshy, robust, pale skin and short dark hair. she was part flapper, part statue of liberty.
- Opines that unlike uncle sam, she does not have a familiarity or instant recognition with americans. she stands on the outside, and it is for this reason that she always enthralled them.
1705 wordsRead More - Diving Persuasive Essay Writingexplanatory essayI knew taking this shortcut was a mistake, yet I didn't think I had enough strength to keep climbing this monumental cliff with the others. The humidity was affecting my vision and the ground now started to spin. The muscles in my legs felt
In this essay, the author
- Narrates how they were adventurous when asked by a group of friends to go cliff diving last summer.
- Describes how the sweltering heat hindered their vision and made them dizzy.
- Narrates how the blistering heat was playing tricks on their brain, so when they heard water rushing, they thought it was simply imaginary.
- Describes how they were relieved to see the glistening, blissful water on a cliff. they had to make the decision to jump, and fast.
- Describes how they heard the shrill squeals and laughter from their friends splashing in the water and decided to jump. they wouldn't allow fearful thoughts to run through their head.
- Describes how they felt like a jet splicing through the clouds as their body came rushing down into the cool, blue water.
- Narrates how the cooling water washed over their scorching sunburn, and cleansed them of sweat droplets. they pushed their arms down, propelling themselves to the surface, leaving ripples from the cliff dive.
- Recounts how they felt invincible after swimming a short distance to their friends, who were oblivious to the jump. before this day, they thought they were adventurous.
837 wordsRead More - Why Is Andrew Carnegie A Philanthropical Powerhouseopinionated essayhave to climb an uphill battle in order to arrive at his destination, but he also never thought
In this essay, the author
- Narrates how he was determined to persevere and not become a weaver like his father.
- Explains that his father was out of work and forced to beg for help.
- Narrates how he would often be sent to deliver messages to the theatre where they were delivered.
- Narrates how he met thomas a. scott during one of his visits to the messenger boys.
- Explains that carnegie was producing more metal than all of great britain by 1900. this was a giant.
- Explains that they now understand the importance of paying college off without a loan.
- Opines that everfi program taught them more than they ever thought possible.
- Explains that when it comes to college, deciding whether or not to take out a loan can be difficult.
- Opines that college, but also the power to completely wreck a person financially. one must be fully prepared.
- Explains the positives and the different ways available to avoid a loan.
- Opines that he was the one making a profit. he didn't succeed.
- Explains that they never took out loans because they knew of the consequences that might arise from them.
- Opines that although it may seem like this is the only way a student will be able to get through, it is not.
- Opines that any scholarship, no matter how small, is worth a shot at winning.
- Opines that the everfi program opened their eyes to the urgency of taking action.
- Describes the benefits of paying tuition to institutions in order to fully or partially pay of their tuition.
- Opines that the overall outlook for this occupation is promising.
- Opines that if a man hadn't gone through all the rough patches, he might not have survived.
- Narrates how andrew carnegie and his family moved to america in 1848 in search of a brighter future. carnegie became the bobbin boy at the same factory his father worked at.
- Explains that andrew carnegie preferred to personally give money to someone in order to make an impact.
- Opines that carnegie had to climb an uphill battle in order to reach his destination, but he never thought about it.
- Explains that federal student loans have a fixed interest rate, so they don't fluctuate over their lifespan.
- Explains that students can defer their payments while attending school, which leaves them at a great advantage. they can save money to pay the loan off more.
- Explains that anyone with any kind of credit history can apply, but falling into a downward spiral of debt can easily become someone's.
- Explains that federal student loans don't require a credit history, so anyone can apply regardless of whether or not they will be able to repay them.
- Opines that no one truly knows how long it will take to dig themselves out of the rut they have made due to their debt. not getting into debt in the first place would be ideal.
- Opines that there should be no excuse as to why a student cannot find scholarships that apply to them.
- Advises students to get a part-time job while in college to contribute to paying off their tuition.
- Opines that having a set schedule and routine is ideal in this situation. carnegie did not have to work, yet he chose to do everything in his power in order to better himself.
- Explains that a student must cut down on unneeded expenses in order to further save money.
- Opines that budgeting is simply a way of life and, if implemented, would be much more efficient money wise than spending money at fast food restaurants.
- Explains that a student must work for the entirety of the amount of years agreed upon. if the student quit, the employer would be forced to withdraw any paid tuition and have the graduate pay.
- Explains that dental hygienists have the privilege of being able to work in different facilities and locations.
- Opines that andrew carnegie has played a major role in how they now view college and ultimately their financial decisions.
- Opines that college without a loan now seems more realistic than ever. with andrew carnegie and his incredulous financial decisions shining light on their path, they will be able to push through the rough.
2012 wordsRead More - runawaysanalytical essayRunaways The book I chose was the Runaways I thought it was pretty good but it could have been better. Well the story took place in Mexico ,Texas right when they seceded from the union. At that time Texas was broke.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the book they chose was the runaways. they thought it was pretty good but it could have been better.
- Narrates how texas seceded from the union and was broke, but there was one person.
- Narrates how they started thinking of buying a farm and putting it under their control.
- Narrates how they ran into shad parker, who had buffalo shoulders and big arms, and was one of the guys who didn't care what you have to say.
- Narrates how the three brothers decided to let the children stay with them because they hadn't eaten in a long time.
- Narrates how they ran into shad parker at the saloon soon to find out the owner was the sheriff’s wife. they decided to stay in the barn.
- Analyzes how shad parker read a book about four men and three children on the run who helped catch them reward.
461 wordsRead More - War and Memory in Irene Zabytko?s ?Home Soil?, Bruce Weigl?s ?Song of Napalm?, and Wilfred Owen?s ?Dulce et Decorum Est?analytical essayBullets flying through the air right over me, my knees are shaking, and my feet are numb. I see familiar faces all around me dodging the explosives illuminating the air like lightning. Unfortunately, numerous familiar faces seem to disappear into the trenches. I try to run from the noise, but my mind keeps causing me to re-illustrate the painful memories left behind.
In this essay, the author
- Narrates how they see familiar faces dodging the explosives illuminating the air like lightning. their mind keeps causing them to re-illustrate the painful memories left behind.
- Analyzes how irene zabytko, bruce weigl, and wilfred owen's "home soil", "song of napalm" and "dulce et decorum est" all have the same feelings of war and memory.
- Analyzes the story "home soil" by irene zabytko, where the reader is enlightened about a boy who was mentally and emotionally drained from the horrifying experiences of war.
- Analyzes how the poem "song of napalm" is a straight narrative of what it is like to live with memories from the horrible war.
- Analyzes the irony in the poem "dulce et decorum est" that it is not sweet and fitting to die for one’s country when you have actually experienced war.
- Analyzes how the men in the three narratives are feeling the emptiness and over whelming fears that most soldiers have of war.
755 wordsRead More - Metaphorical Fences In A Fence By Carl Sandburganalytical essayAs I’ve mentioned, everybody has some type of fence, and I’m not exempt. What I would imagine
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the poem "a fence" by carl sandburg talks about metaphorical defenses or 'fences' that can keep unfavorable elements from one's life.
- Opines that everyone has some type of fence, and they're not exempt. this fence helps them filter what they say, but it also creates anxiety to whether they’re saying or doing acceptable things.
327 wordsRead More - What to Do With A Canine Escape Artistcomparative essayIf Boomer can't get near the fence, he won't be able to dig underneath it to es...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that boomer is likely to continue his undesired and potentially dangerous behavior once he escapes from the yard. exploring his surroundings is rewarding and reinforces his behavior.
- Recommends a chicken-wire extension attached to the bottom of your fence to discourage boomer from digging his way out of the yard.
- Explains that heavy rocks, decorative boulders, or gravel can offer a solution to block boomer's access and discourage him from digging.
- Explains that an invisible fence can be a viable, economical option to prevent your small pet companion from escaping. flags are placed along the perimeter of the off-limits area.
- Explains that dogs that attempt to escape can be motivated by various factors. reinforcing the fence is beneficent, but getting to the source of the problem can enhance their quality of life.
- Explains dog lover's daily companion: 365 days of tips by wendy nan rees and kristen hampshire.
525 wordsRead More - What Is Sleep Deprivation?explanatory essayWhen the mind’s need of rest is not met, it accumulates “sleep debt” that cannot be fixed by a single sleep period. “The brain keeps an accurate count of sleep debt for at least two weeks” (Myers, DeWall 107). Many college students experience sleep deprivation which results in fatigue during the day. Whether or not it’s because of roommates, or your own habits, sleep deprivation is a problem. Although sleep is often overlooked and not considered a significant event--since it should normally occur every day--it is a necessity for all humans as well as animals. “It is said that young animals can go longer without food than sleep” (Johnson 88). This statement shows just how important of a role sleep is in life. “Approximately 70% of college students report disturbances in sleep including poor sleep quality, insufficient sleep, and irregular sleep patterns” (DeMartini, Fucito 1164). Most of the time college students experience difficulties with sleep because of their varying schedules. On the weekdays, students will sleep between classes, and stay up late trying to get work done. On the weekends, they stay up late and wake later in the day. “According to the National Sleep Foundation, 59% of adults 18 to 29 years of age describe themselves as night-owls” (Gaultney 91). Our bodies are synchronized with the 24-hour cycle due to the circadian rhythm (Myers, DeWall 100). If students cannot fall asleep early because their “biological clock” is messed up due to stress or other reasons, they cannot get enough sleep by the time the morning comes. Research has shown that typically people who get up earlier perform better in school, have more initiative and are less likely to be depressed (Myers, DeWall 101). Other factors of sleep deprivation could fall into the social category. College students tend to like to enjoy life, and party. This is something a college student can
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the concept of sleep has raised multiple questions in the field of psychology.
- Explains the five reasons for sleep: protection, recuperation, memory storage, creativity, and growth.
- Explains that college students experience sleep deprivation, which results in fatigue during the day.
- Explains that most sleeping disorders go untreated by professionals. lack of sleep can cause attention problems since the brain has received its needed amount of rest.
1056 wordsRead More - The Escapeexplanatory essayI was lying in my own filth, being tied up for several days, without being able to go to the toilet; it's not a pretty sight. My body was slowly wasting away, no food, and only drops of water I couldn't cope. I could see my team-mates, my friends, slowly going insane. They were talking in there sleep, screaming for freedom, but what was the point. The guards treated us like filth, something they'd stepped on and couldn't get rid of. I could see their point though, we killed their friends, and so they determined to kill ours. But I had to escape, I was the only sane one in there, my mind was at ease. You see, everyone else was going crazy wondering about their loved ones, but I had no one.
In this essay, the author
- Narrates how they woke up on a summer day, birds singing, children playing, but all the joy and innocence of this was behind them.
- Opines that the government's idea to solve an argument is to drop a bomb on the apposing country.
- Describes how they were tied up for several days without being able to go to the toilet. they could see their team-mates, their friends, screaming for freedom, but what was the point?
- Narrates how they were an orphan as a child, and their foster parents didn't love them. they saw me as an extra pair of hands to use around the house.
- Explains that they could hear soldiers talking about how they wanted to slit our throats, but they couldn't, we were being used as bait.
- Narrates how they had to stop their comrades, who were being tortured, to escape during the night, climb the fence, and cross the boarder under the cover of dark.
- Explains that they'll have to wait patiently for a guard to walk past, until they want to play football with their face again, to try and escape.
- Describes how they woke up in a bed of blood and waste, and saw rats around the hut, scavenging on the remains of their filth.
- Narrates how they twisted a rat bone into the man's neck to drown the screams. they used stealth, hide in the shadows, or they were gone.
- Narrates how they sneaked out of the door, locked it, and put the bolt through it. they had to get to the trucks, only then would they have a chance to escape.
- Describes how they had to jump on the top, from the hut roof, hoping no one sees them, or they're a dead. they hope they escape to tell the government about the place.
- Describes how they were afraid of getting off a truck. they climbed down the side of the truck and opened the passenger door. the truck screams and jumps into life.
1764 wordsRead More