English Poetry Project

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jKKThcI8Yo

As many of my friends decided to advertise by posting the poem on their facebook and asking people like and share their poem, I tried to come up with a more efficient way to advertise my poem which can be seen by many strangers in any age, gender or social categories. A lot of my friends were writing on the ground, but many usually wrote them on unfrequented places like on their neighbourhood places or around the UBC area where there are mainly young students. I chose to write my poem in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery in downtown, where many visitors, residents and different social group of people pass by. As I expected, many people were interested as I was writing down my poem. They asked questions about what the poem was about which gave me a great opportunity to advertise my work. As many people stopped by and read my poem, some even took pictures and videos of the poem on the ground which was beyond my expectation.

This project was very different from the previous poem projects I have done in the past English classes. I felt quite weird and nervous as complete strangers read my poem and took interest. In conclusion, the advertisement at the Vancouver Art Gallery had groundbreaking success.

Echoes

Lord of the Flies Found Poem 
Page 8~35, 91~114, 137~201

Echoes

We were explorers, were together then.

Meetings, vote, chief and hunters,

It was like that at first, before things.

Rules, conch and the group of boys, started breaking down.

The beast settled with the cry of the hunters.

Colors drained from the island,

Its blood staining the sand,

Dark with violent pleasure, the sky turned black.

The cry of the beast echoed

Further into the darkness that lures

The world, that understandable and lawful world was slipping away,

Displaying its ancient, inescapable recognition of evil,

For the sake of fun the boys desired on the island

The cry echoed again.

Above the horizon were no longer a deep blue patch of open sky but a blanket of smoke,

Covering all of innocence.

There was no one to talk sense. There was no solemn assembly for debate nor dignity of the conch.

Scream of fright, anger and desperation echoed at last,

Then silence came fast through the forest towards the open beach.

Individual Lord of the Flies Found poem

We were explorers, were together then.

Meetings, vote, chief and hunters,

It was like that at first, before things.

Rules, conch and the group of boys, started breaking down

The beast settled with the cry of the hunters.

Colors drained from the island

Its blood staining the sand

Dark with violent pleasure, the sky turned black.

The cry of the beast echoed

Further into the darkness that lures

The world, that understandable and lawful world was slipping away,

Displaying its ancient, inescapable recognition of evil,

For the sake of fun the boys desired on the island

The cry echoed again.

Above the horizon were no longer a deep blue patch of open sky but a blanket of smoke,

Covering all of innocence.

There was no one to talk sense. There was no solemn assembly for debate nor dignity of the conch.

Scream of fright, anger and desperation echoed at last,

Then silence came fast through the forest towards the open beach.

Oryx and Crake the Last Entry

I have learned so much from Atwood's dystopian novel Oryx and Crake and here are some of the main themes that I was able to summarize and relate to our real world. I was fully satisfied with the denouement of the plot and loved the ambiguous ending.

One of the main themes in Margaret Atwood's dystopian science fiction novel, Oryx and Crake, is the theme of corruption. Some corruptions are directly related as some are underminded and symbolized. Corruptions can be found in the setting of the book, as related to environment, corporations or genetic enginneering. Other examples of corruptions can be found in the morals of the characters. Firstly, it is difficult to miss the fact that this novel takes its place in a dystopian future where environment has been severely damaged due to the exploitation of resources and many different developments. Environmental corruption has a significant role, initiating constant internal and physical conflict within Jimmy himself. Wild cliamte, water pollution and extreme exposure of ultra violet light from the sun due to the puntured ozone layer all symbolize environmental corruptions. These corruptions form the setting of the novel, bring struggles to the one and only human being left, Jimmy. Secondly, the society has fallen apart, including the ridiculous genetic engeering and the profit-centered corporations. Genetically modified animals are used for organ transplant, however, these modified organ can only be transplanted with a repect amount of money. Most of the families are part of the compounds or different types of corporations. Without certain amount of income and financial stability, it is unlikely to be part of the society in the world of Oryx and Crake. These corrupted society force residents to be part of the compounds. As the difference between rich and poor deepends, the profit-based corporation provide more services for the wealthy portion of the population. Lastly, the moral and ethical corruptions can be examined in the teeange life of Jimmy and Crake. They do not have any sense of guilt as they watch child pornography and suicidal videos. These actions, that we as people in present society question our ethics upon, are simultaneously enjoyed and exposed to teenagers in the future society of the novel. It is assumed that these moral-questioning acts are no longer questions in the future and moral corruptions have occured where moral standards are severely compromised by the people of the futuristic setting of the novel. These settings, charaterizations and conflicts fully illustrate Atwood's intended theme of corruption in her novel Oryx and Crake.

Oryx and Crake Eighth Entry

Crake visits Jimmy as he was traumatized by his mother's death. Jimmy was spending his time in vain, lost in the memory of his long lost mother in the past. Crake takes him to pleebland, where is like the city in the world of Oryx and Crake. Crake introduces Jimmy to his life, career and asks if he wants to work with him in Paradice. Jimmy, drunk with the unfamiliar atmosphere and the drinks, accepts and moves into the bubble dome where Crake works with many brilliant specialists. Crake explains the Blyss Pluss pills and how he is going to bring regulated and standarized world with controlled population growth and selection of genetically engineered offspings for next generations. There, Jimmy meets the crakers and his love, Oryx, who is an assistant working under Crake.

The big twist comes as we figure that there were viruses in the pills he was giving out to different various categories of population. A massive plague starts with high death and infection rate and the whole world falls apart in corruption. Jimmy who is the only one with the antidote that Crake has secretly provided to him and is left in the bubble dome all on his own along with Crake's creation also known as the "Crakers". The climax of the novel seems to be this part of spreading plagues and it is very dramatic indeed as Atwood carefully crafted and built the plot for the final dynamic fall.

Oryx and Crake Seventh Entry

As It is getting near the end of the book, I feel like I am starting to understand the author's intend of writing this novel. As I researched, she is an author who is one of the top Canadian writer for academic writings. She has wrote another dystopian futuristic novel, where religion of North America has gone extreme, changing the lives of everyone. I see the dedication she has towards this novel as I read more and more. It is quite clear that she has spent a great amount of time researching for scientific terms and knowledge she used writing her book.

As Jimmy arrived at the bubble dome, he starts remembering the past days when the bubble dome was called the paradice.
It seems like this is going to be his last flashback and I am quite excited to finally know about the Character Crake and Oryx and their deeds in the past.

Oryx and Crake Sixth Entry

The novel unit is coming near to the end and everyone seems to be in panic to finish their books. In fact, I'm in panic, finishing the blog posts. Some of my friends aren't even enjoying the book they chose which I feel sympathy for them. I remember when I was choosing the book, I wanted to avoid history and war related novels which narrowed it down to Atwood's two novels and The Life of Pi. Without any regrets, I am certainly glad to study this novel as a group in our English class.

Snowman decides to march on a journey to find food and supplies for his survival. Leaving behind the children of crake, he is on an asphalt road. He suffers from the ultraviolet rays and is constantly in fear from the extreme exposure of ultraviolet ray from a hole in the ozone layer, and genetically motified beasts such as volvogs and pigoons. He finally arrives at a house where he obtain food and suppies. The residents are lying dead on the house, he is slightly scared but at the same time, used to the scenery. He feels somewhat hollow and feels as if the missing child of the household is himself.

Snowman's detailed description simulate imagery in the heads of the readers. As I was reading this part, I felt as if I was seeing the images he was seeing. I saw the destroyed house with shattered windows, empty roads with cracks and dry grains of sand. The author's intentional vivid description was enough to drew my attention through the present world of Snowman, which I secretly thought was less entertaining than the past of Jimmy.

Oryx and Crake Fifth Entry

Indeed, Vancouver has the best weather for reading a novel. I decided to madly read from friday night. Saturday turned out to be the best weather in months, sun shining for the whole day. Yet, I decided to stay home and intensely turned the pages. Actually, the book is thrilling, a real page turner, but after looking at the weather forecast for this week, I instantly regretted for not spending my saturday more wisely (I meant in more entertaining ways)

However, I must admit, I'm starting to fall in love with Oryx and Crake. This kind of novel was exactly what I was looking for, but simultaneously, very original and different from other dystopian novels I have encounted before. The characters, Oryx and Crake is reveiled in more detailed characteristics as Snowman has flashback of the time when he was "Jimmy".

Especially, the childhood of Oryx is presented in a long series of events in chronological sequences which I found very depressing. Oryx was a girl from a poor family background, who was sold to Uncle En for different various types of labours including sex, despite the fact she was only 12. This seemed very unrealistic from certain perspective, but the fact that these incidents has actually existed throughout the history and is still continued to this day in some parts of the world made me feel very bitter.

Atwood touches on not only the environmental issues of today with the setting, she also comments about the social conflicts that is underminded by the society and the trends people's action as the science develops through her smooth interconnected flashbacks Snowman has, changing his name to "Jimmy". I am quite impressed by the author's intend and insight in writing this book and I am greatly satisfied for choosing Oryx and Crake for this unit.

Oryx and Crake Fourth Entry

As I read more, I saw the internal conflict in Jimmy's family in his flashback. Jimmy's mother runs away from home along with Jimmy's pet and his best friend, Killer, Rakunk which caused grief for him. His father is also frustrated from the fact she destroyed his computer as she left.

Then I was introduced to the mysterious character, Crake, who we expect is the creator of the dystopian society Jimmy is living in the present. Crake's odd behaviors and personality caught my attention as I got to know more about him. I saw a great contrast between Jimmy and Crake in their lives and their personality. I am looking forward to learn more about Crake who seems like he is going to be Jimmy's best friend and the mysterious Girl, Oryx, who isn't illustrated in details yet.

I have spent my whole day yesterday, just reading in my bed. I guess I don't regret it since the Vancouver weather is perfect for indoor, educational activities such as reading.

Oryx and Crake Third Entry

As I was researching about the environmental degradation for the Pecha Kucha media presentation, I found myself highly interested by the Atwood's perspective towards the current trends of science development from the setting and the main conflict in her novel. 

The novel takes it's setting in a dystopian future where severe damage has been done to the environment due to the uncontrolled genetic engineering modification. From the severe environment damage, the humanity's standards of living are greatly compromised.  Especially, water pollution has a great emphasis in the setting of Oryx and Crake, relating to a serious plague that has left the protagonist, Jimmy who might be the last man of humanity. 

I came to a moment of self realization about the connection between the setting of the novel to our real world. Humans continue to push technology forward at the expense of the environment. Of course, our collective reason for doing so is to make our lives more comfortable. However, many studies and images easily found on internet reveal the damage that we are doing to the environmental in this pursuit of comfort. Atwood specifically illustrated her setting and the conflict that deals with the environmental problems that is starting to appear as our technology leaps forward with time. 

Oryx and Crake Second Entry

As I got over the introduction of Oryx and Crake, I started to realize Snowman's identity and his background through the narrative flashback. So far in the book, I was introduced to Snowman, also known as Jimmy who is the protagonist. He is left alone in the wilderness where he seems bored but used to living the way he lives. Crake is mentioned several times in Jimmy's monologue, who seems like the creator of the world Jimmy is living in. Jimmy also reveals a hint that Crake was his friend back in the days, which was enough to draw my attention. A serious conflict is not presented yet however, a conflict between man and the environment is foreshadowed in his monologue describing "the world Crake has made".  I personally thought the introduction of the novel way in was quite dreamlike. The setting of woods and wilderness with Jimmy alone has created a mysterious and somewhat suspenseful atmosphere. It also reminded me of the setting of The Hunger Game,where it took place in an artificial wilderness. It seems to me that the description of the setting will be revealed as the story continues on. (guessing by the chapter headings) The setting of Dysotopian future is not only new and strange for the readers as we get to know more about it, but simultaneously, it is narrated in a tone of familiarness illustrated by Jimmy. I believe the setting plays a major role in the construction of the novel and I will learn more in depth as I continue reading. 

Personal Inquiry Blog Entry

I have chosen a dystopian novel Oryx and Crake written by Margaret Atwood for many interesting reasons. For the past years, I have found myself deeply interested by scientific or political novels that deals with dystopian society that takes place in the future. Novels such as The Giver by Lois Lowry and Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card are some of the novels I enjoyed reading apart from academic purposes. I am quite excited to learn from these group activities and trying out new approaches in studying novels for high school English class. I hope to learn not only how to effectively use twitter to advertise our blog, but also to learn to connect the theme and motif of the book to our present world, by ourselves in group without the teacher's explanation and instructions (spoon feeding students). For the inquiry question, I would be interested to study further and get to know more about Atwood's perspective on scientific developments of our present society. 

The Things Unsaid

             The guy listens to this song every day. He hums the melody as the words “Mute – Phantom” move back and forth on the speaker monitor.

             “ Aren't you tired of this song?” one of his frequenters asks.

             “You never get fed up with some of these classics,” the guy swiftly answers, moving up and down with his scissors.

             It was another beautiful day full of customers, waiting in line, for him to do their hair. The guy’s name is Hugh McPherson; he is a competent hair designer and a make-up artist.

             After his shop closed at 6 A.M., Hugh visited a local general hospital for a vision checkup.

             “I’m at the general hospital for a checkup, nothing too serious; my eyes were just tired lately,” he said into his phone as he pressed the elevator button.

             “Alright, come for a visit sometime, talk to you later.” He hung up as he entered the elevator.

             A young woman followed him in, lighting a cigarette as he waited for the doors to close. He seemed to be interested in the girl and quickly came up with a question to start a conversation.

             “What’s the name of the cigarette?” his voice quietly echoed in the sealed elevator as he carefully asked.

             Soon, the room filled up with stuffy air, full of awkwardness. Hugh, unable to suppress the awkwardness of silence, tried again to talk to her.

             “Which floor are you heading to?” he asked again, hiding his nervousness under his low, steady voice.

             With unchanged expression, she opened her hands and showed the number 6 to the guy. He quickly moved his focus to the floor and direction information on the elevator wall. His eyes moved down the words and numbers and stopped at the row “6F-Psychiatric Clinic”.

By now, he had started sweating, puzzled and confused about the woman. His eyes were already reflecting his anxiety, and he felt as if the elevator was moving much slower than before. The woman, putting on pink-red lipstick, started eating the solid block of it with a disgusting sound. Hugh, ready to jump out of the elevator, stared at the numbers going up on the wall. With a bitter grin, the woman pulled his shirt towards her chest and kissed his cheek, leaving a red smudge.  Shocked, he shoved her out from the elevator as it opened on the 6^th floor. She stared into his eyes until the elevator closed between them.

             Hugh returned home.  He dropped onto his couch full of  hazy and puzzled thoughts. His face distorted as he rubbed his clean cheek. He called the woman “psycho,” “a mess,” and other names full of stereotypical assumptions. He still remembered the girl’s face and expression very vividly. 

      He turns on the television and flips through the channels.

Something on the television seems to suddenly draw his attention. Hugh watches the same woman on the rectangular widescreen performing the same thing she did to him on a stage in front of a large laughing audience. Then everything seems to make sense. With an awed expression on his face, he realizes the girl is a comedian.

             He runs his CD player and plays “Revelation” by his favorite musician, Phantom. He pushes the monitor screen button and searches her name up on a popular website: “Suzy Dunhill”. 

   Hugh spent his night trying to get information on her. Too bad he was unable to find much interesting pictures or rumors about the comedian.  Very strange, actually.

             “Not many pictures or articles related to her, guess she isn't very mainstream,” he thought to himself as he sipped a cup of morning coffee.

             “Having a comedian girlfriend would be quite fun, right?” After realizing the girl was a comedian, Hugh’s perspective had clearly changed.

             “Who cares if her hair and make-up is a mess, I can fix all that, I’m a hair designer, a talented one.” He justified all his prejudicial assumptions he had made about her earlier.

             “Not everyone who goes to psychiatric clinic is mentally unstable; she is a comedian who performs on stage! She could be normal; it could’ve just been a simple counseling, ” he thought as he buttoned his shirt to leave his house.

             He headed to a nearby grocery store to buy a pack of cigarettes.

             “Excuse me; do you have Simple 7 Light?” He asked the store owner with a clean smile on his face.

             The owner turned around to face the wall of cigarette packs and found the brand.

             “By any chance, do you know a young woman with messy hair and weird make-up who buys the same cigarette?” Hugh asked with a sense of hope in his eyes.

             “The one who sings?” the owner responded as she put the cigarette package  on the counter.

             “No no, she is a comedian, I’m trying to find her, ” Hugh explained as he took out his brown leather wallet from his back pocket.

     Just as the store owner rang up the price $19.99, Suzy entered the shop and gabbed the pack and walked out from the shop, leaving a twenty-dollar bill on the table. Hugh quickly followed her out and chased her across the street. He called her aloud as she swiftly flew through people and entered a coffee shop. He ran into the shop and found her sitting on a small table near the windows.

             “We’ve seen each other before right? Comedian Suzy Dunhill, I saw your show.” He asked her as he was panting from the chase.

             She took out a phone and started typing. His expression twisted, as he felt slightly offended.

             There were some texts on her phone screen as she showed it to him. “A fan? No one has ever recognized me before.”

             “Ah, I’m pretty fast in visual learning; I even remember your expression on that day in the elevator.” He spoke with a sense of confidence in his gesture.

             She flipped her phone and it said “looking for one night stand or something?” He flew into rage and explained he was a famous hair and make-up artist. The look on her face shifted slightly. Hugh was puzzled about what she might be thinking.

             “Let’s get right into the topic, why did you kiss me in that elevator?” he asked staring right at her face.

             She flipped her phone and showed the text: “I just felt like it; also to refer to my show.” Losing his will to answer with any anger, Hugh leaned forward and read the words on the screen. She looked through her bag and took out the lipstick and stretched her arm right in front of his face, showing him the lipstick. He quickly realized it was a chocolate prank candy and stared back at her with a look of discomfort. She showed the text: “To be honest, that was just a joke.”

             “Why did you go to the psychiatric clinic then?” he asked with his chin resting on his hand.

             Just as she faced her phone and started typing, he tapped the table making her stop.

             “Come on, let’s just simply have a talk, we don’t have to complicate ourselves,” he argued as he pointed at her phone.

             She then with a confused look on her face brought her fingers towards her mouth and crossed them making a letter “X. ” She again showed her phone saying: “I can’t talk, I’m a mute.”

             “Don’t kid around, one prank was enough, I even heard your voice in the elevator, telling me the name of the cigarette,” he spoke as he broke out laughing.

             Without a word, she took out a card from her bag and showed it to him. “Suzy Dunhill, Speech Impaired Class 3.” Hugh pushed his chair back and quickly rose up and took out his name card with the address to his shop.

             “I’m sorry, I think I misunderstood. You can always visit here for hair and make-up.” He foolishly turned around and ran out from the shop, leaving her behind at the table.

             “How can you even communicate with a speech impaired person? This is funnier than the fact that she kissed me last time,” he thought to himself as he arrived at his place after running back from the coffee shop.

              Suzy, left all alone at the small coffee shop table, took out a bottle of capsules labelled “Anti-depressant” and took a few into her mouth. She gulped them down with a sip of coffee and laid her head down at the table, staring through the window at the people outside.

Hugh’s shop was always full of visitors who came for their hair and make-up. The clean glass door swung open and he greeted the customer with his usual smile. Familiar face: he realized it was Suzy from a few days ago.  

             “I didn't expect you to actually come,” he  said in a sarcastic manner as he wrapped a nylon cover sheet cover around as she sat in a chair.

             She showed her usual phone screen: “I've never been to a hair shop; I cut it myself at home.”

             “No wonder, you probably just chopped it off with Staples scissors, I bet,” he answered with a sneer on his face.

             “Just trust me, I am a professional. I studied hair designing in Britain for 4 years and make-up in Japan for 3 years. ‘Talented and gifted’ is what people say about me.” He was swiftly moving through her hair with scissors and a comb between his fingers.

             She again showed the screen: “Ha. Ha. Ha,” making Hugh blush with embarrassment.

             He played one of the songs from his favorite artist, Phantom. The melody flowed from the speaker and he started humming the notes.

             “Ah, who listens to Phantom these days, change the song,” she him on her phone.

             “Can’t you see? I’m a big fan, ” he answered, smiling to her reflection on the mirror.

             Hugh hummed through the song and was moving back and forth with her hair in his hands. Suzy suddenly rose up and went close to the Phantom album poster with her chocolate lipstick. He sprang at her and stopped the girl’s arm from moving closer.

             “What are you doing?” he squeaked as he held her wrist.

             “A sign, thought you were a fan, ” the phone screen said.

             After a few minutes after settling her back down into the chair, he dragged a big, circular machine over her head.

             “It’s going to take about twenty minutes, want me to get you a magazine?” he asked as he pushed the buttons on the machine.

             She stuck her hands into her pocket and took out a cigarette pack labeled “Simple 7 Light”.

             “I told you, it’s Simple 7! You told me the name in the elevator, I clearly heard your voice saying it!” he pointed at the text and exclaimed at her.

             She flipped her phone in his face: “I’m speech-impaired.”              

             “By any chance, you are not pretending to be mute right? Because I still remember your voice answering my question in the elevator,” Hugh replied.

             “Guess who needs some psychiatric help?’” she texted while snorting  at his statement.             

After washing and drying, she opened her eyes and saw a gorgeous reflection of herself in the mirror.

             “See? You look much better with this hair,” he whispered to her as she was vacantly staring into the mirror.

             Soon, he saw the words: “Be my manager, I’ll give as much as 5 times more than this.” Then she broke out laughing.

             “You don’t understand, I love my job, I give pleasure to all the customers during their visit. Also to add, I’m not interested in you at all, ” Hugh explained thoroughly, looking into her eyes.

            She typed:  “Today is December 1^st,  , so you have until the 31^{st    to decide}. That’s exactly one month. You said you are my fan.”

    “Suzy, I only learned your name few days ago, what do you mean fan?”   Hugh turned around to sit at the chair beside her.

             “Do you know why I just ran out from that coffee shop a few days ago? You were embarrassing, that’s why I left without even asking for a simple cup of espresso.” He looked unkindly at the woman.

             The screen replied with a short response: “Continue.” 

             “Of course, disability is not something to be embarrassed by, it’s just bloody annoying. Truly, with you, I will always be tired and annoyed. I guess I was insane after all, searching for a speech-impaired comedian who kisses random people for fun, ” he breathlessly snapped at her without any pause.

             “At least you don’t sympathize with me for not being able to talk.”  She then typed “I’m actually grateful.” But she did not show it to Hugh.

             Hugh bitterly let his words out into space as he stood up from the chair: “I’m a hair designer; I listen to people’s words and gestures. Would I be able to listen to your voice?”              

      “I’m a comedian; I can communicate with anyone and make them laugh without spoken words.” She too got up from her chair and put on her jacket.

             She left her card that had“30 days from tomorrow. 1 month” written on it on the counter and briskly left the shop with no hesitation in her step.

             The stage lighting is hitting her head as she gets prepared to go on stage. She always chews and swallows the anti-depressant before going on.  Her manager since last week, Hugh’s expression doesn't seem too bright. The girl runs around the stage bumping into walls and obstacles making hilarious movements. She tumbles down onto a small table with a cup of coffee on top and spills the coffee all over her face. When she falls hard on the plastic floor, a basket of water balloons hanging from the ceiling drops.  Balloons explode all over her giggling face. With the echoing sound of the director’s word “cut” her chuckling expression freezes like a block of dry ice.  She gets to her feet. Suzy displays a sign of thank you to the laughing crew as she brushes off the remaining balloon parts stuck to her face and hair.

             “Great job.” He quickly ran up on the stage and dried her hair with a soft towel.

             “I suppose professionals are different. Such a cynical person like you looks like the happiest person on Earth on that lighted stage. Do you auto suggest or something?” he asked as he fixed her rumpled hair and smudged make-up.

             Suzy wrote: “you will see the effect right away with these” as she took out a bottle of anti-depressants.

             “Isn’t that dangerous?” he asked looking at the black bottle of drug.

             She wrote, “Ask me anytime if you need some.”

             Hugh whispered as he drew eye liner on her closed eye lids,

“I thought being comedian is an entertaining job when I watched it from the television. Everyone laughed at your performance, but for some reason, I just couldn't laugh.”           

         Suzy typed:  “It might look very rough and crude when you watch very close from the actual stage, but it’s going to look amusing watching from a distance through widescreen television.”

             “Why did you go about choosing your career as a comedian?” he asked as she got up and changed to a clean shirt.

             “After becoming speech-impaired, I decided to become a comedian, a person who makes others happy and laugh. If a laughing person is happy, a person who makes them laugh would be happier.” She wrote, “I’m a happy person.”

             As a song of Phantom crawled out from the radio, Hugh asked a question.

             “Can I ask how you became speech impaired?”

             She wrote, “Don’t know, reason unknown.” And took out a black umbrella from the prop box and slowly walked towards the playing radio.

             “So there is not a cure for it?” 

              Suzy held the umbrella up high above her head and smashed the radio into pieces as he carefully asked the question.

             He got hit by the umbrella as he ran behind her and fell on the ground. She turned around.  He was unsure whether if it was sweat or tears pouring from her face. She quickly took out her drug bottle and swallowed a pill. Soon, she wrote “No. I can’t speak until I die,” as she forced a smile back at the Hugh fallen on the floor. 

             “Suzy, I know you hate songs because of your disability, but if you listen to Phantom songs, one day, you might like their songs, eventually. Their songs have some type of magical force that attracts people to listen.” Suzy stared into his eyes in a blank expression as he calmed her down.

             Contrary to Hugh’s words, Suzy will never come to like the artist Phantom. She has become mute; therefore she will never listen to their songs. Phantom’s albums have reached the mainstream music industry and gained extraordinary success without even a single live performance revealing her true identity. Many people wanted to watch her live performance but she had did not agree and refused to reveal herself to the public. She did not release any new albums and the singer Phantom was forgotten, just like that. Many fans still hope the singer Phantom will comeback; however, she has become a mute. Therefore, the singer Phantom will not come back to her fans with her pleasant voice.

             A week or two later, it was another day when Suzy had a live performance in front of hundreds of people. Wearing a tuxedo with a bow tie and an umbrella, Suzy performed with her usual giggling expression on her face, accompanied  by a fake mustache. Under the bright lighting of the stage, she stood lonely on the cold, wooden floor and pranced along the stage, with a little help from her drug.

             After the performance, Hugh quickly followed her with a towel and an empty hand to carry her props. She asked him for a cold drink, so he left the change room and quickly went looking for it. Soon after he had left the room, she felt the room was too stuffy and decided to get some fresh outside air.

             She quickly left and took the elevator.  As the elevator door closed with her inside, the light on the ceiling started blinking and making a scratching sound. Then within a blink of a second, the elevator dropped with a violent rumbling crashing sound. Suzy opened her eyes and saw two red lines on the floor display of the elevator. She calmed her heart, crawled towards the buttons and pressed the emergency button. With a buzzing sound, an administrator answered.

             “Hello, this is the administrative department, how may I help you?”

             She blinked at the speaker holes and her lips dried up from the anxiety.

             “Hello? Do you hear my message?” the person asked again.

             Suzy quietly sat back on the corner and took a deep breath.

             Just on his way back with a drink, Hugh saw a big crowd of people in front of the elevator. He asked someone what was going on and heard the story of a woman who was trapped in the fallen elevator. Some people even said she ran away as soon as she got off the elevator without answering any questions. He ran out from the building and to where she would most likely possibly be at. There she was, at the coffee shop where they had first talked. He saw her sitting at the table beside the window and tapped the window, calling her name. She took out a pen and wrote something with a grin on her face.

             “How does it feel like to be speech impaired?” she wrote.

             He exhaled hot breath making the window fog in front of him. Then he wrote, “ I feel like suffocating.”

             He entered the shop and dragged gently but firmly her out to a quiet place near the beach front.

             “How can a speech impaired person be so reckless? Look at those hands: they’re all scratched and bruised. I was originally a hair and make-up artist before even talking about being your manager. I take responsibility and pride in what I create and decorate. You are the canvas and my artwork.  Don’t ever just leave me and make me worry about you again,” he complained as she looked far into the waves of water hitting the shore.

             She turned and looked him in the eyes. Suddenly, his eyes open widely and lurched with a brief shocked expression.

             “Suzy, you can’t talk right?” she gave him a annoyed look and stared at him.

             She took out her phone and starting typing “do we have to go over this again?”

             “You were going to write “do we need to go over this again, right?”

             “And you said I’m sorry before that.” He hesitated and explained slowly.

             “Listen carefully, I know this sounds ridiculous, and I don’t read minds, but just listen to me without being defensive.” He slowly finished his sentence.

             “I think I can hear your voice. I can hear your thoughts and what you are trying to say.”

             “You told me the name of the cigarette you were smoking the first time we met in the elevator. Simple 7, I heard it very clearly.” He looked straight into her eyes and spoke in a careful manner.

             “Can you, can you really hear my voice?” she thought to herself as she looked down at the rough looking ground. Her eyes were moist and her bottom eye lids swelled from heat and tears.

             “You have such a beautiful voice,” he replied with an honest smile.

             Suzy started dropping her tears as he held her arms and hugged her around her trembling shoulders without another word. He looked up, and saw, mixed with clouds and gaps between, a hint of clear blue skies and warm winter sun glow.