Karina Gonzalez
5th Period English Historical Fiction Due: January 26, 2016 “Hope Disappearing From Vietnam” “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Karen, happy birthday to you,” to this day these words are still in my memory. 7 years ago… my mother died...7 years ago... my dad went to war… 7 ½ years ago... I was the happiest girl in the world. There was rumors of my dad trying to find me but my hope was long gone. To this day I haven’t seen him. “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Karen, happy birthday to you,” my parents and brother sang happily. My mother winced...she made a hurtful face expression and fell to the ground. “Mom, mom are you okay?,” I whispered… The cold hospital walls gave me the creeps. We were waiting for news, my sweaty hands were being wiped on my long blue skirt. I felt my eyes closing. “Wake up Karen,” my dad said shaking me. All three of us were in the hallway of the small hospital and opened the room 26A. My mom was laying there on the bright white sheets with her eyes closed. “Mom are you okay?,” I murmured. “I’m fine,” she replied with a weak voice and opening her eyes. “I want you to know that I will always love you two,” she said looking at us in the eyes. Her ghostly pale face was scaring me, what if she did die I thought. Her beautiful light brown hair shined in the light. I wish I looked like my mother. “You need to stay strong sweetie,” my father whispered to my mother. “Times up,” the nurse said. “She needs to rest,”. The small machine was beeping, her heart stopped. “Mom, please no you can’t leave me,” I cried. My dad was about to cry but he held his tears. I never saw him cry he always stood strong but I knew it hurt him. Like when his father died he stood strong like if nothing had happened. “She’s dead,” the doctor informed. They put a white long sheet to cover her body. “She had blood cancer and it wasn’t detected,” the doctor said. The ride on our car was silent none of us talked my brother was crying silently but I knew we were all depressed. As soon as we got home I went straight to my bed. My eyes closed as soon as I was in my covers. I woke up in my bed it had been a gloomy night. There was a knock in the door. “Good morning sir,” the officer said politely. “Good morning,” my father replied. “As a citizen of Vietnam you are required to go to war, you have to be supervised so there is no trouble. We are having trouble with The United States of America. We need a large amount of men. Dwight D. Eisenhower will not give up until defeating us,” the officer explained. I was afraid my brother and I would be sent to an orphanage. I was glad my brother wasn’t awake he would get nervous. “My kids!, I cannot leave them. They just lost their mother and I will not leave their side,” my father explained to the officer. “They will be taken care of by a decent family in another place,” the officer replied. “NO,” my dad yelled, my father refused and refused. He shut the door. “Dad we need you,” I said with running tears. “I have to but you and your brother have to escape, I will start being supervised tomorrow, you two are leaving to your grandma’s house in Thailand” he whispered. My father paid for us to be taken in a tiny taxi a very old taxi to Thailand. I cried silently and my brother did too. We were there and a small lady with glasses was waiting. 2 years later…”10,000,000 warriors have died among the way in the Vietnam war,” the newsletter read. My friends father had recently died I was depressed and I lost hope nothing would help me now from escaping with my brother, my grandma unfortunately died a few months ago. I was alone with my brother. “Thank you for the rent,” the hotel lady said. “We’re free now Italy here we come,” I told my brother. “I guess,” my brother replied with a long breath. “You have to learn to accept that papa is now dead,” I told him catching my breath. Someone was looking at us, I just knew it so we ran fast to our hotel room. 5 years later… there was a knock on the door it was an old man but the same green eyes shined like my fathers did. He looked homeless but he smiled. “I found you,” he said breaking into tears. “Papa,” my brother exclaimed. “I escaped war and we shall never speak about the loss of hope of Vietnam, never,” he whispered. |
Biosketch I'm Proud Of (English)
February 8, 1990, Bethany Hamilton was born at Lihue, Hawaii (also grew up in Lihue). Bethany Hamilton started surfing at an early age and started competing at the age of 5. At about 9 years old Bethany signed a sponsorship deal with Rip Curl USA. When she was a teen she signed more and more sponsorships and was a member of "Hanalei Girls' Surf team". "In 2003 Hamilton placed second in the national championships of the National Scholastic Surfing Association. She also won other tournaments while competing against older contestants." (source 1). October 31, 2003, at the age of 13 something that was going to change her life happened. While she was surfing at a beach near Hanalei, Hawaii (believed to be) a 15-foot tiger shark bit off her left arm leaving her paddling back to the shore. She survived even though she lost a lot of blood. Her story went viral but she wasn't just a shark attack survivor, she was a symbol of inspiration. Young Bethany didn't lose herself in a world of depression. She embodied being brave and not losing hope. She gave the world hope to achieve something you love. Bethany has inspired so many people that they made a statue of her. She helps the poor. The world admires her a lot. People admire her because she is a role-model that sets herself to a goal and never gives up just like she continues surfing. She is now a woman who has a child and teaches her to surf on the ocean water. Works Cited: "Bethany Hamilton." Gale Biography in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2005. Biography in Context. Web. 23 Mar. 2016. 1 Lapuma, Taylor. "SURFER'S STORY CONTINUES TO INSPIRE; Bethany Hamilton, who lost an arm in a 2004 shark attack, was a hero to many. A movie adds to the awe that greeted a book about her." St. Petersburg Times [St. Petersburg, FL] 7 Apr. 2011: 13. Biography in Context. Web. 23 Mar. 2016. "Never Mind the Sharks: Surfing's In Her 'Soul'." Weekend Edition Sunday 10 Apr. 2011. Biography in Context. Web. 23 Mar. 2016. "Perfectly armless." New Zealand Herald [Auckland, New Zealand] 11 June 2011: 21. Biography in Context. Web. 23 Mar. 2016. Speed, Marie. "Getting back on the board: nothing could keep young Bethany Hamilton from pursuing her passion as a surfer--not even the fear of another shark attack." Success Feb. 2010: 36+.Biography in Context. Web. 23 Mar. 2016. 2 |
Below are images of my published history book!
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