"The Sea was Angry that Day, My Friends"

   After Mrs. Mitty came out of the drugstore, they climbed into their automobile; Walter fastened his seat belt, turned on the windscreen wipers and carefully pulled away from the curb. As they drove out of Waterbury he noticed a beached whale, slumped on the shore like a sack of potatoes. The crowds began to grow around the beast, like weeds. Walter being a marine biologist realised it would be a walk in the park situation for him, rather than having these worry warts bicker over how to handle it. As Walter trudged up to the great mammal, he heard people argue of how to handle to problem. He got right up to the whale, which lay on the beach, stiff as a board. People wide-eyed gazed at him like he was the savour. "That's Mitty, the world famous marine biologist!" exclaimed a star-struck man. "He was the one who saved those turtles on the Galapagos Islands, within the blink of an eye." shouted another. "Enough chatter!", shouted Walter, "I may have been the Achilles heel of that crap shoot but, let's get down to business. When a problem arises like this, you must stick to your guns." he instructed. "I wasn't born yesterday, what's important is saving this animal before it's too late!" yelled another man. "Sounds like a plan, but to make it work were going to need all hands on deck!" Mitty said. As people began to swarm the whale like worker bees, they pushed the biggest pound for pound mammal back to its home. The crowd cheered as loud as could be, Mitty was once again a hero and a happy camper.

Fate Lies in Thy Hands

Jonathan Hack
156 Wiltse Pl.
Penticton, B.C.
V2A 7V6
September 23rd 2011

Captain Van Camp
Commander
HMS Princess Margaret

O Captain, My Captain:

   Hello Captain Van Camp, I am aware of our group's current predicament and know we won't all survive the voyage home. I understand the decision you are about to make will your conflict with your existential philosophy of helping others. However I am pleading that your chosen survivors can include me, because the benefits I will bring to the world will be instrumental in the future.

   At the current time I am considerately involved in my school and community. I am a member of both Princess Margaret leadership and Amnesty Global Awareness school groups. In addition I participate for my school's cross country, soccer, and golf teams. Also I am involved in the community playing Midget hockey and volunteering annually in the Iron Man Canada competition held here in Penticton.

   I would like you to know that my status as a survivor would benefit not only my family and I, but also people I could serve in the future field of medicine. My plans after graduation, would be to attend a post-secondary institution and study a science program. Following this personal achievement, I plan on using my talents to pursue a dentistry program and possibly specialise in orthodontics. I plan on naming my future practise after our fallen comrades, and a portion of my yearly salary will be donated to countries in the restoration stage preceding a natural disaster.

 I can guarantee if i am selected, I will devote my life to helping others as you will do also. Therefore if your choice includes me as a surviving crew member I thank you so much. However if not, I wish yourself and the ones chosen the best of luck.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Hack

The 10 Year Anniversary of Evil

    Ten years ago, tragedy struck in the heart of New York City that spread chaos and despair across the entire world. It was a day unlike no other, for all the wrong reasons. The loss of a loved one is a significant event that tests a family's emotions. That day, near 3000 families mourned for their lost love ones, and the world could only send their prayers. I can remember that day, like it was yesterday. I had slept through my alarm, and was on route, late for work. It was a beautiful day outside, so I rolled down the windows as I crossed the Brooklyn Bridge. The pungent East river smelled like a combination of industry and sea. As I neared my workplace in the north building of the twin towers, the cab driver and myself heard a loud approaching air plane. I found this odd because planes don't usually fly over Manhattan. I looked out my window and was surprised to see a large jetliner on course towards the city. I couldn't take my eyes off it because it was getting too low and in the direction of the Twin Towers. As I neared the World Trade Centre buildings, it seemed as though the plane was as well, and I had a gut feeling something awful was about to occur. It was if  my eyes were glued to the plane, I couldn't comprehend what was happening. I was only blocks away when the plane hit the north tower, the one where I was supposed to be working. The sudden sense of unreality and shock filled me, I felt breathless. My office is located on the 95th of 107 floors, certainly the plane hit lower than that preventing escape. I was in utter disbelief, that my friends and co-workers could be in considerable peril while I could only watch and hope for their safety. The sounds of sirens and screams filled the streets, as the first responders reached the north tower. Just that instant sounds of another plane could be heard, when another jetliner pummelled into the south tower. It was that moment when all chaos broke loose, and the pedestrians on the street felt their safety was in jeopardy as well. However I couldn't take my eyes off the sight, knowing the trauma people were experiencing. My stomach turned as a sense of guilt filled me,  knowing I would have been up there as well. Perhaps snoozing through my alarm had been a blessing in disguise, but it seems more like sheer luck. For that reason every year later I meet this day with a tear, cherishing the fact that I'm still here. That is why ten years later, I continue to pray. Because my life was spared, that tragic September day.