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Dear Diary...Loading...
3 Tales, 3 Girls, 3 TimesLoading...
By: Violet A. Wong ASHK
Chapter 1: Kate Carnian (Past)
July 8th, 1942
"School has been cut off for so long now. Without anything to learn, I became restless. Sometimes I look at my shaken house and the bombs downtown and mutter under my breath "Darn you Hitler." Today Mother caught me, but she didn't scold me one bit. Instead, she gave me a sad look and turned back to Papa. It has been seven months since he first caught pneumonia, and it is worsening. Death had been the scariest thing in my life since I was one. Now it was playfully wrapping its icy coldness around my life. Only three people know about Papa's illness. That is me, the doctor, and Mother. Clair doesn't know at all. She thinks he is hibernating and soon will wake up. She doesn't know anything. Does she not see the way Papa sweats in the coldest of nights? Does she not hear the bombs that fell on the girls she plays
"School has been cut off for so long now. Without anything to learn, I became restless. Sometimes I look at my shaken house and the bombs downtown and mutter under my breath "Darn you Hitler." Today Mother caught me, but she didn't scold me one bit. Instead, she gave me a sad look and turned back to Papa. It has been seven months since he first caught pneumonia, and it is worsening. Death had been the scariest thing in my life since I was one. Now it was playfully wrapping its icy coldness around my life. Only three people know about Papa's illness. That is me, the doctor, and Mother. Clair doesn't know at all. She thinks he is hibernating and soon will wake up. She doesn't know anything. Does she not see the way Papa sweats in the coldest of nights? Does she not hear the bombs that fell on the girls she plays
hopscotch with? So when she asks "When will Papa Bear wake up?", I scream "He is not, Clair. He is going to die!" I feel bad as she sniffles outside in the yard. Hot tears had run down her cheeks. Where is the world I used to know? The world where I went to school and Papa stood proud and tall and strong. Where Clair didn't cry and Mother had strength to scold me.
July 9th, 1942
"Papa is better! Today, when I came to wash his face, he took the towel from my hands. He forced a smile and squeezed the warm water on his face. Then he said "K-K-Ka" I stared at him with wide eyes. "Ka-Kate." I held my arms behind my back to keep from reaching out and hugging him. He put his finger to his lips. "Don't tell Mother. She shouldn't worry." I nod vigorously. "Yes Papa." He continued speaking. "Do tell Clair. She'll be happy. I'm ready. I will fight war." He paused. "I'll go tonight. You help.
"Papa is better! Today, when I came to wash his face, he took the towel from my hands. He forced a smile and squeezed the warm water on his face. Then he said "K-K-Ka" I stared at him with wide eyes. "Ka-Kate." I held my arms behind my back to keep from reaching out and hugging him. He put his finger to his lips. "Don't tell Mother. She shouldn't worry." I nod vigorously. "Yes Papa." He continued speaking. "Do tell Clair. She'll be happy. I'm ready. I will fight war." He paused. "I'll go tonight. You help.
We need money." Then his eyes started falling shut. "Keep strong, Kate." he said. I took a deep breath. I turned and saw Mother in the doorway. She stared at me with eyes filled with fury and fear and worry and pain. "Did you see all of it?" I asked. She nodded slowly. "You need not worry." Papa said. I turned. Papa's eyes were large and open. "I'll get money. We'll be happy. I'll help. I'm ready." A suspenseful moment passed. I left. No need to get involved with things. But when Clair came, I remembered what Papa said. So I told her. She squealed with joy. "I knew you were wrong!" She smiled. I smiled. When times are hard, you must cherish every moment.
December 4th, 2019
"Today at school I spent two periods in Mr. Ryan's classroom. I got to make a robot called a "dash" play music on a xylophone. It was really cool. I went to the library after school and worked on the contest for HKBOB. We are designing t-shirts, but I didn't want to. But Ms. Davies said "Come design a t-shirt like the rest of us." The library is probably the biggest room in the entire school. Tomorrow is Mama's birthday. I was really worried when I realised I didn't have a present. I quickly knitted her a bookmark complete with a shiny yellow bead from my bead collection. I hope Mama likes it tomorrow. Yesterday we watched a video about Food Angel. I can't believe how many people starve in Hong Kong! If I was able to control the world,
"Today at school I spent two periods in Mr. Ryan's classroom. I got to make a robot called a "dash" play music on a xylophone. It was really cool. I went to the library after school and worked on the contest for HKBOB. We are designing t-shirts, but I didn't want to. But Ms. Davies said "Come design a t-shirt like the rest of us." The library is probably the biggest room in the entire school. Tomorrow is Mama's birthday. I was really worried when I realised I didn't have a present. I quickly knitted her a bookmark complete with a shiny yellow bead from my bead collection. I hope Mama likes it tomorrow. Yesterday we watched a video about Food Angel. I can't believe how many people starve in Hong Kong! If I was able to control the world,
Chapter 2: Violet Wong (Present)
December 4th, 2019
"Today at school I spent two periods in Mr. Ryan's classroom. I got to make a robot called a "dash" play music on a xylophone. It was really cool. I went to the library after school and worked on the contest for HKBOB. We are designing t-shirts, but I didn't want to. But Ms. Davies said "Come design a t-shirt like the rest of us." The library is probably the biggest room in the entire school. Tomorrow is Mama's birthday. I was really worried when I realised I didn't have a present. I quickly knitted her a bookmark complete with a shiny yellow bead from my bead collection. I hope Mama likes it tomorrow. Yesterday we watched a video about Food Angel. I can't believe how many people starve in Hong Kong! If I was able to control the world,
"Today at school I spent two periods in Mr. Ryan's classroom. I got to make a robot called a "dash" play music on a xylophone. It was really cool. I went to the library after school and worked on the contest for HKBOB. We are designing t-shirts, but I didn't want to. But Ms. Davies said "Come design a t-shirt like the rest of us." The library is probably the biggest room in the entire school. Tomorrow is Mama's birthday. I was really worried when I realised I didn't have a present. I quickly knitted her a bookmark complete with a shiny yellow bead from my bead collection. I hope Mama likes it tomorrow. Yesterday we watched a video about Food Angel. I can't believe how many people starve in Hong Kong! If I was able to control the world,
one of the first things I would do is make sure every starved and poor person was able to have as much equality as me.
December 5th, 2019
Home of the Brave is a book Ms. Maggie is reading to us for our new unit. The story is sad and moving. It is about a boy named Kek. He is from Africa. He is no older than me yet he has faced such challenges. His father and brother have died. His mom is gone. He has experienced dangers of death in a time of war. He has to move to America, where he knows no one except his tired old Aunt and his negative cousin, Ganwar. I feel sorry for him. I am glad that we do not have much war now. I imagine losing everyone.
Home of the Brave is a book Ms. Maggie is reading to us for our new unit. The story is sad and moving. It is about a boy named Kek. He is from Africa. He is no older than me yet he has faced such challenges. His father and brother have died. His mom is gone. He has experienced dangers of death in a time of war. He has to move to America, where he knows no one except his tired old Aunt and his negative cousin, Ganwar. I feel sorry for him. I am glad that we do not have much war now. I imagine losing everyone.
My mom, my dad, my brothers, friends, uncles, cousins. I feel lucky and then so... I cannot find the right words to describe these feelings I have. And then I think of people like Mata Hari and Mae Jemison. They faced challenges and still managed to persevere. And then I say, "I can handle my life," to no one in particular except myself. "I will live it well."