My Name

“My Name” 

In English my name means nothing. But in Sanskrit it means luxury. Fame. Success. It means a place that can’t be achieved. A lonely dream. It is the vase that no one use, only see. It is the food that everyone looks at, but no one touches. It is a destination like the haven but in the truth, it is the cold, blooded misery. Greed thrives upon my name. If look close enough, you will see no peace. That is my name. An invisible warfare. People running toward my name, but it just keeps on running faster. No one in my family has ever been named Yash. Well, at least not that I can think of. An old sage gave the first two letter of my black name. My family came up with the last two. But in all sense, it is unique. Not a lot of people have my name. At the same time not a lot of people have luxury or fame or success. All they see is a golden ray of shine filing the whole room with the name Yash. But what I see the poison, hang on to everybody, creating chaos. Yes, that is my name, chaos.   

Snow

Snow

The harsh, cold wind rattled the door. The gentle sun shined on the cold, frozen rooftops. Tiny little crystals of water came falling, sparkling in front of the snow. Cries of pure joy rang throughout the house. Little children tossed little balls of snow to their friends. Dogs playfully tackling each other in the soft snow like a fluffy pillow.  

My hands pressed against the frosted window. The frost slowly cracked as did my heart when I heard the word “no.” My heart stopped beating. Time froze. The entire house went silent. I stayed in front of the hazy, frozen window seeking out for joy, but none came. It felt like someone took away my soul away from me. And that someone was my mother. I pleaded and begged to go outside just this once. But fate decided to torture me. Torment me. To tear me apart. I looked outside and grimaced at the children and animals having happiness, pleasure, and joy. For I could not join them in this very rare and special moment.  

“No Yash, you will get sick because you are not used to this kind of weather,” explained my mom.  

“But there are younger kids then me playing outside,” I mumbled. 

“They will get sick too. Just you watch,” said my mom in a firm voice. And that ended the conversation. There was no hope of going outside and playing with the slushy snow. I sympathized with Demeter. The sadness. The pain. The anger. The defeat. All I could do was watch the other kids play in the white outside world. For I am trapped within the four walls of my very own home. Concealed within the darkness. Hidden from the light. Invisible to the rest of the world.  

Astonishingly, a child wearing blue navy coat with a black wooly jean coughed and wiped his nose. And in a distance, I saw my friend wiping his nose with a tissue paper and being dragged away by his mother. I was amazed on how accurate my mother was. Then I sniffed something warm, juicy, and spicy coming from the kitchen. A huge bowl of Maggie noodles was set in front of me. The steam from the bowl made my whole face warm. The goopy soup sticking to the noodle strands made me anticipate a burst of spices and flavor. I took a bite and all the sadness, and pain melted away like an ice cube. It warmed me from the inside. I forgot all about the snow and focused on how caring my mother had been. Not only had she warned me of silky, sick snow but, also made Maggie to give warmth and the same happiness that I would have had experienced in the snow. Sometimes, people say things that might be hurtful but, only to keep you warm and safe form the dangers of the outside world. 

The Knot on the Plane

It’s a cloudy and chilly day. The wind whispered. The leaves rustling made me shiver down my spine. It’s as if there are ghost here. But, this is normal in the monsoon season in India. The harsh cold rain. Cars honked and screeched. All the birds hide in the nest with leaves on the heads to protect them from the wind. I made myself comfortable in my ragged sofa. My mom made some sort of a tangy and spicy curry. I turned on the old-fashioned brown tv box. Colored lights blasted my face. Then, it started to rain cats and dogs. Slowly I ate my rice and curry. Suddenly, someone opened the wooden door.

“Laxmi! Yash! Come here!” my dad shouted. I looked up and started into twinkle that I never saw before. 

“What happened?” I asked as I rushed towards him.

“Wait. Let your mom come.” replied my dad, “Laxmi!”

“One moment,” called my mom, “Hm. Tell me now.”

“We. Are. Going. To.”

“Dominos to eat pizza?”  I questioned eagerly waiting for a confirmation.

“No! We are going to the mall. Right?” my mom inquired. 

“No. We are going to the United States!” exclaimed my dad.

“Oh,” my mom and I replied.

It took us a while to get us used to the fact that we were going to the United States. United States of America! This is the cake! I don’t care if I got the icing or not. My education got to get better, we were going to be rich, and we wouldn’t worry about anything. We started to pack immediately. Suddenly, I realized that none of my friends were going to come with me, I wouldn’t know anybody, and I might not see my grandparentsever again. It’s tough leaving the only place you ever lived your entire life. We said bye to all our family and friends. Then we rode in the car silently. By then I fell asleep. 

“Airplane 8756 is leaving in T-minus 30 minutes,” boomed the speaker. I got shocked by the fact airports can be huge. My eyes couldn’t take everything in. Everyone moved too fast for me to even notice what went on. I felt homesick. A knot in my stomach began to grow. By the time we boarded the plane, I started falling asleep. I tried to sleep but couldn’t because I couldn’t lay flat. Luckily, they provided with little monitors that could play movies that’s been pre-downloaded. I sat there watching Cars 2 and enjoying the view. But, then I got reminded of India.

“We have left India,” spoke the flight attendant.

“Here we come, USA!” loudly whispered my dad.

A feeling of guilt ran throughout my blood. I am leaving all my friends behind. All my belongings and memories remained at India. Trying to shake off that feeling, I continued to watch the movie. After a while later an attendant brought me a tray filled with food. The cheese oozed for the hot steaming pasta. The brown fudge aroma filled my mind with sweetness. Even the salad looked appetizing. I began to feast. Somehow, theyweren’t as good as I imagined. But I ate anyways. Soon, I feel asleep.        

At last, we were in the USA. I stepped outside and inhaled the sharp cold air. “Burr!” expressed my mom by rubbing her hands together. Indeed, it’s cold. I glanced at the fog covering my face in the cold and dark night. Cars rushing somewhere to go somewhere. Family being reunites. Parents sending of their child. The feeling of happiness and sadness swirled in the air. After all, it’s Seattle. 

After two rough and painful weeks of getting used the rain, I joined second grade in Stevenson Elementary School. I knew nobody, and it’s petrifying to think that I would be living here. I got used to fact that the person who needed the help mostnobody else other than me. But by the end to the school year which stayed a struggle to complete, I could speak English and Imade a couple of friends. The weather started to get better. The leaves and the grass were getting richer and prettier. The festivals were starting. Fourth of July come around. American flags hanging in balcony of apartments. Surprisingly, no car horns were being pressed repeatedly. The air stayed nice and peaceful. It’s the icing of the cake that US baked.       

In the end, I thought about my journey here and experiences. Sure, I missed India, but I liked it here. There stood a constant difference between US and India that’s big as the sky.But, after meeting all the lovely people and rich nature that US had to offer transformed my thinking. The knot in my stomach melted away like the warm golden red sun dipping down on Seattle’s simmering lakes.

The Digital World

The Digital World
      "What’s going on?" I said as we got sucked into the portal. "What the-" Amy started but got cut off because the loud roar of an alien creatures interred her. It 15 feet tall, bloody, gruesome, and gory. "Run!!!" I cried. We ran and ran until we reached a safe place to rest. We had no clue what had happened. We didn’t even know where we were! Let me tell you how this mess all started.
       We were in Odle Middle School when this all started. It was just an ordinary day for us. We all frustrated and worried because we had an English test and Mr. Parker was so strict and harsh grader everyone just fails. As I was walking down to my class, I heard a strange conversation." Are you sure it will be safe here?" a soft voice with a tone as dangerous as a knife said." Hundred percent sure" said a dark voice that sounded like Mr. Parker. I got cut off because the assistant principal was coming towards me. Quickly, I run to room 342.
         At lunch told Amy everything I heard. Amy is my friend maybe because our mother are best friends and our dad work in the same company. Of course, she is the smart one. I am just the kid who likes to play on the computer. "I knew something was going to happen like this because the computer lab got shut down. This is the first time the school ever did anything like this", she said casually. "Then let’s go investigate. Let’s see if why the shut down the computer", I said frantically. "We don’t want to miss our research time do we?" I said slowly. I know Amy couldn’t miss out on research time. Amy just loves to research just about everything. "Okay after school." Yes the bait worked!
        After the school was over Amy and I went to the lab. The computer lab where I heard the strange conversation." Now why would they close the computer lab when there is nothing to hide?" I asked. "It might be something in the computer", said Amy. "Impossible" "Think genies. We are in a computer lab and what do student do in a computer lab?" she asked looking annoyed. "Do something in the computer", I answered, "And explore the computer". Not trying to look stupid. "At last, the genies gets it", said Amy." No I don't". "Oh my goodness Max. When in the world will your mind work?" Amy said. “What. I am not smart as you", I said innocently. "Fine! Let me just tell you. When the students open up the computer they might see an unusually app and they know that because all the computes are modified the same!" she said looking rather angry then usually." Calm down, okay", I said shaking." Let’s go in all the computers and see if there is anything different", Amy calmly said. After we found the computer that was different and we got sucked into it.
        As you know we spend days and nights traveling and searching for a clue of where we but, the only things we found was monster and monsters. Somehow we didn't feel hungry at all. We feel scared and afraid, that we may never return back to our home. One day as we were traveling to find something about where we are, we heard a strange voice that sound like a human." Did hear that Max? That voice", Amy asked. "Yes I heard that. Let’s follow the voice", I replied. We tracked the voice and found a man wearing robes. "Err...Hello...I ", said kindly to the man." We are lost can you please tell us where we are.”, Amy added in. The man turned around and nearly jumped mile." Max. Amy. What are you doing here? " ,said Mr. Parker." Mr. Parker!", I and Amy shouted.
       We were shocked to see Mr.Parker here. "Come into my house". Said Mr.Paker. "There will talk. Come on". We followed Mr.Paker to a wooden house. We told Mr.Paker how we come to this...well...world. Then we asked how he came." Well", he started "I was the one of the many people how created this digital world. Day after day we worked without any digital mistake. Maybe that’s why I am a harsh grader. Anyway, after we created this world we had to keep it as a secret so, we made the center of internet. We thought nobody but as could control our world since its way too difficult to even understand this code that we use. Then we had to test this. One of us went in and come out or that would seem like it. Actually he stayed there for a month without any food and we even had install any food that could be find. It happen to be 1 year there is equally to 1 second here. Or did I say that the other way around? Anyway, right now I am the only one live within the people who created this world. Cold voice you heard was also a person that worked with us. Sadly he got slashed by a hacker how tried to break in." My feeling toward Mr.Parker changed. From that hate and bad feeling into a happy and kind of sadness feeling. "Is there any we could go back? "Amy said looking worried." Actually there is. You just have to hold on to me then I will transport you back to Earth" said Mr.Paker. We hold on to him and indeed were back at Odle Middle School.
        After 5 years. We were in the same high school and we still visited Mr.Paker and still went into the digital world. I even petted one of the animal there. It was a life time moment.
The digital world still lies long after us. Right now it is time to end this young explores. Hope you find our digital world and maybe the world of your own. Farewell explores! See you soon in the digital world!

Patriots

        The revolutionary war is an interesting battle.  There were two groups the Patriots (who fought for freedom) and the Loyalist (who wanted the British to rule). If I was to choose a side, I would choose the Patriots because it save my money and give me my freedom.

        Back then, there were little money to have but, big taxes to pay. There were the stamp act, sugar act, tea taxes to pay. Even if an item was one cent you would have to pay 11 cent! So, the Patriots said “No taxation without representation”. That made the British repel the taxes! Plus, we worked hard to repeal taxes. Why pay them? 

        In addition, to being a Patriot is that we get to have freedom from King George the third. The Boston Tea Party is a planned event where the Patriots were dressed as Indians and went to Boston Harbor(where people got goods) where they destroy the tea. Also, the Patriots didn't know who was who. The Declaration of Independence was a document that gave the Patriots freedom once and for all!    

        That's not all the good things about being a Patriot. Oh no no. What did you think? Being a Patriots  also makes you a part of the government or in the olden days parliament. You have many people to support you like: Thomas Jefferson (who wrote the Declaration of Independence), John Adams(the leader of the Patriots), Benjamin Franklin(who was a friend of George Washington), and George Washington(the first president of United States of America).Plus, you can make your own laws!

         There for, I shall end this topic young(or old) Patriots. Have a heart of freedom and a brain the right decision. Also have a solo of rights! Always remember F.F.F.(fight for freedom)!