CHAPTER 4

Sitting under the old cassia tree, she brewed and boiled with the disgusting image still fore in her mind. She had to do something. She couldn't lose Andrew now, after all she has done. No, she couldn't! But what could she do? Then the arrow struck her, she could get Nareka to do another job! After all she hadn't yet removed the chip, so… why not? It was the perfect plan! Kill two birds with one stone. It would hurt a lot to see the demise of her two best friends, but a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do and this is what she had to do to get what she wants. And besides, they didn't care about her feelings for doing that, so they brought it on themselves. If she had to wipe world clean of people to get Andrew, she would.

 

She miserably scraped through the rest of the day, praying, begging for the final bell to ring so she could finally go home to salvation from this wretched place. To the place where this horrid sight would not pierce her eyes and ceases to haunt her soul.

 

At last the final bell rang and she was freed. Her entire day was focused on watching in dreadful despair as Andrew carried on with Jessica and Emily, flirting with them across the room, but this time there was another with them Joann enjoying the love her dream was giving, (I guess I will have to fix her too) she thought to herself. But alas bell had rung and she could finally leave to her salvation.

 

As she sat there waiting for her father to arrive, the dreadful image replayed in her mind and the sounds of their kisses ricocheting. Finally he had arrived just as she was on the brink of tears, and she could leave this hell called school.

 

The entire drive home had been lost to her in her dreadful state. When she arrived home, she mournfully climbed the stairs to her room and then fell lifelessly unto her bed. Her life mocked her miserably, she would have to hurt her best friends and Joann for a guy who did not know she existed more than he knew the wall paper in the bathroom did! The plan to get him hurt her heart, because of the pain it would cause her friends; but, he was sweet, kind, sexy and smart! He was the perfect guy. She'll have to hurt them like they had hurt her. She rolled off her bed, walked over to the phone and called Anna, told a spectacular lie (something about Nareka and a candy pill), then programmed Nareka to strike them at noon, the next day.

    

The morning came quickly, with the confusion of lack of sleep and breakfast, she dragged herself through the morning, the way Nana did after Grandpa Lue died. Then the time came, the man she loved and her friends were under the ackee tree, twittering and flittering in a love-sick obsession with the assassin three feet away and quickly approaching.

As she walked closer towards them, Shana-ray became fearful for her friends. The sound of Nareka's footsteps brought anguish to her, as the mind-numbing effect waved over her. The closer Nareka got the more confused she became (should she stop her or should she let this go on?)…….

She had finally just made the decision to save them but it was too late, Nareka had already struck.

 

"NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!" she cried as she watched the demise of her friends. "Stop! Look out!" she cried.

 

Standing a couple yards away was Orchid Greaves. Orchid had been watching the entire dreadful scene. She watched in awe as Nareka struck the girls and she watched the horror and shock as Shana-ray looked on.

 

Shana-ray could not help but to plaster a smirk on her face. She was sad her friends got hurt and had resolved to save them but still………She could not help herself at all. Her plan had been successful and she was one step closer to her dream guy.

 

Orchid felt a slit of pain as she saw the expression on Shana-ray's face. A feeling of sadness and pity came over her for the girls and their distraught friends. Orchid continued to watch the frightful scene and feeling emotional about it all that she almost fell for this dramatic ploy by Shana-ray; that was until…… she saw the shrewish smirk on her face and realized this was just an act. Suspicion flowed through Orchid's veins like blood. Something was not right here and she was determined to find out what it was.

 

Fun places to go on a budget

    As teenagers we tend to get bored very easily and we are always be looking for something new and fun to do. However, the methods of entertainment always seem to be limited, especially in times of financial hardship. Adults continuously say that we are growing up too quickly. But the fact of the matter is that there is not much that TEENs can do in Jamaica, especially on a fixed budget.

 

Are you tired of going to dinner or the movies? Looking for something fun to do but not sure what? Well never fear TEENage is here. TEENage has come up with a list of some great ideas for dates, hanging out with friends or just enjoying yourself with your family, that are pretty reasonable and inexpensive.

 

1. Take a trip to the beach
   

 

Grab a few friends and take a trip to one of God's many gifts to man, THE BEACH. Jamaica is known to have some of the best beaches in the world- Hellshire, Dunn's River Falls and Fort Clarence, just to name a few. On average, the cost of going to the beach in Jamaica about J$100-J$200 per person, so taking a trip to a beach is a definite can do. Bring your towels and swim suits, pack your lunches, bring some music and have some fun playing games, chilling and swimming.

 

Note: Please be cautious when venturing to the beach. If you know you cannot swim and even if you can, do not venture off into the sea by yourself (or in groups). Be safe and healthy to and from the beach.

 

1. Go on a picnic
   

 

The beach, park, your backyard, your front yard, and even at your school. There are so many places to have a picnic. The basic ingredients are good company, everyone contributing something (food, music, etc.), and crazy vibez. If you want a more romantic mode, an intimate, quiet setting may prove most effective with that special someone. The best thing about this is that it is not only fun, but basically free!!! Remember no romanticizing or causing a disturbance at school.

 

1. Go on a nature walk or hike
   

 

Almost everyone in Jamaica has heard about Blue Mountains, John Crow Mountains, Cockpit Country and other areas of natural beauty in Jamaica. But how many of us have actually taken the time to visit any of these places. Gather a group of friends, family and so on, and make a hike up one of the Blue Mountain trails. Not up to it, head to one of our parks near you, such as Castleton Gardens, Hope Gardens or Devon House. The scenery, the fresh air, the exercise, these are all apart of the recipe for a great bonding experience.

 

4) Visit a cultural or historical site

 

We have a very rich heritage and cultural background, here in Jamaica. However, in recent times we have seen that more of it is being forgotten or ignored, especially by the younger generations such as ourselves. Embrace our culture beyond Emancipation Day, Independence Day or Heritage Day and take a trip to one of Jamaica's wonderful historical sites. Places include Port Royal, Columbus Park in Discovery Bay, Rose Hall Great House in Montego Bay, The Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, and so many other great sites.

 

1. Hang out at a friend/ family member's house
   

 

This is probably the best idea yet. Here you have the freedom to do anything and just about everything and even multiple things all at once. You can watch a movie, eat lots of food, do some stargazing, host a bonfire, have a game night/ competition (board games, card games and physical games like football), and so much more. You could even turn it into a little dinner party or another themed party. The possibilities are endless with this tactic. To release the strain of the person whose house the get together will be at everyone can do their part by contributing something to the event.

 

1. Go window shopping
   

 

Almost everywhere in Jamaica there is that one special place where your favourite stores are within walking distance of each other. In Kingston, one of those places just happens to be Half-Way-Tree. Walking by and checking out stores and their stocks can prove more fruitful or fun than you might think. Gather some good friends and have some fun together looking at the stores, maybe even trying on some items. This activity is not only fun, but also a great way to get exercise without even noticing it.

 

1. Take a day trip
   

 

How often do we really get away from our everyday lives? So we are definitely not going to skip school for the day or week (because we love to learn!!!), however, what we can do is to go on a day trip one of the weekends and try to experience a bit of a holiday (even if it is for only one day) and nature's gift to man. You can go to the country, go river rafting, take a ride across Black River Safari, go on a boat ride, do some fishing, do a little bird watching, even go to an adventure park if it is within your budget. You can do just about anything your hearts' desire. The whole point of the day is an absolutely stress free day full of merriment and joy.

 

 

Unusual date ideas:

 

The above mentioned can all be ideas for a date, whether individual or group date. Other ideas include:

 

1. Exercise together
   

 

If you are both very athletic people or if you are just looking for a way to spend some time together, while improving your health, then this is definitely a must do on your list. And this might prove as a motivating factor to get you both in shape.

 

1. Go salsa dancing together
   

 

Now you may be wondering, where in heaven's name am I going to do that? Well as it so happens there are classes held every Thursday at the Hilton Hotel. The cost is only J$500 per person per class. This is not only a fun, heart-pumping activity, but a romantic one as well, that you can learn and share with each other.

 

1. Watch a play
   

 

Our Jamaican plays are well-known for their comedic twist on serious issues or events that have occurred in our country. The laughter, the jokes and the fun is an excellent memory to have and an amazing experience to share with your significant other.

 

4) Take a walk in a park

 

A simple stroll through Devon's House, Hope Botanical Gardens, Castleton Gardens or Emancipation Park, holding hands, exchanging glances, engaging in conversation and thunderous outbursts of laughter are basically all one needs to have a romantic date with that special someone. You can even stop and get some ice cream while sharing each others great company.

 

Just remember that in all you do be safe and walk with God.

Chapter 3

Here is another installment of the ongoing story-If Only You Knew

 

On the ride home she smiled to herself over the event that was soon to occur. She arrived home at 6:00p.m and hurriedly entered her home to sit by the phone and waited until one of her friends called and told her the 'frightful' tale (Ha ha ha ha ha!) about the slashing. It was perfect! But…. After a few hours she began to get worried because no one had called. Then, while losing all hope of her success, the telephone rang (Bring! Bring! Bring!).

Waves of anticipation took her over. She took a deep breath and made several tiny steps toward the phone, pacing herself incase she was again to be disappointed with the beginning of another pointless conversation; but this time she was lucky. Yolanda, her primary gossip source, had been the one to call and told her the story about the slashing of Tara. As Shana-ray listened to the 'dreadful' tale, she smiled to herself in triumph. She had won! Yes!

After she had finishing speaking to Yolanda and giving Yolanda her 'views' on the situation in their two hour conversation, she joyously fell into her bed. At least now she could sleep well tonight, or at least so she thought. All through the night she tossed and turned, as repercussions of how she thought the incident had gone, playing in her head. The next morning she woke up feeling weary from last night's horrid sleep. But, unable to realize that the reason she had the nightmares was guilt, she blamed it on eating too late in the night.

The morning was bright when she arrived at school in her glorious tune. An unusual smirk had come across your face and that caused everyone to be baffled by her merry tone, but they had all concluded that maybe she had not heard the news of the fright and so they told her the story, but still she smiled. Realizing people were looking at her weirdly and might soon begin to get suspicious, she played dumb and pretended she had not heard what they had said.

 
 

"What? What were you saying?" she asked in a bewildered tone.

 
 

They repeated the story of the slashing to her and this time she acted shocked and dismayed, as a ploy to fool the crowd. The more the conversations grew and the news spread like wildfire, the better her acting skills had become. Even though she was pleased at the assault, she continued to pretend to be distraught by Nareka's actions.

 
 

(A job well done!) She thought to herself, (Very well done).

 
 

The plan had worked perfectly; Tara was finally out of the way and as for Nareka, who cares, after all Shana-ray had not done anything, so there was no guilt on her head. And at last she could deliver the love letter; after all there was nothing to stop her, no one standing in her way. She made a sauntering strut towards her classroom to get the precious love letter so she could deliver it to Andrew. She was shocked to find Andrew had already moved on. The dark sight possessed her mind; there was no time to think, so she watched the demise of her love life. Frozen in the doorway, she watched Andrew as he stood in an intense lovelock, with not one but two female companions. As she watched the light fell on the faces of the females. She was burnt to know that the females were her best friends Jessica and Emily, making a fetish love sandwich with the man of her dreams. Her world splintered into a million pieces as her tears welled and swelled.

 
 

No!!!!!!!!!!!! How could they? They are supposed to be her best friends; or are they? Are they her friends at all? How long had they planned this…… this monstrosity? How long????!!!!!!!! She was so crushed. She swung around and ran away, sobbing bitterly as she ran. How she loathed them right now. Didn't they know they were destroying her life? No! Of course they knew, she spoke about him constantly, but they just didn't care. As she sobbed bitterly, she was again overtaken by the green monster of jealousy and hatred. She solemnly vowed they would pay for this.

     

Kuddos for optimism but…………..

Why New Year's Resolutions Never Work!!!!

 

    Every year as it gets closer to the start of the New Year, it is a popular tradition to write down a list of New Year's Resolutions. We write things we want to change about ourselves and all these big changes we are going to make in the New Year. But couple weeks later, we are back to the same old habits we had in the previous year. So let's face it New Year's Resolutions do not work. Now let's get to the root of the problem and figure out why they do not work.

 

    Now the first reasons that resolutions do not work is we try too hard to make it coincide with a calendar. Why must we start our desired change on January 1^st every year? There is nothing magical about that day that makes it different that the rest. Yes the idea of a fresh start is appeal, but it makes no sense you say I will change my bad habit on January 1^st and even on December 31^st you are still doing the wrong. Bad habits are very hard to break. And it takes a lot of effort, will power and focus to actually break these habits and maintain the change achieved.

 

    The second reason why resolutions do not work is because they are very unrealistic. It is very easy to say I want to lose 25 pounds by February 2010 and put that as a resolution, but in actuality this is not an easy feat to accomplish. Too often we make resolutions that lack a plan, are not specific enough and overall that are just very unrealistic to be achieved. Now I am not saying that you cannot accomplish your resolution, nor am I saying that there has never been a person that has accomplished his/her resolution; however what I am saying is that you need to change your tactic towards achieving your resolution to a more effective one.

 

    So that said, how do I accomplish my resolution? The first thing is to change your resolution goals. Instead of saying 'I want to lose weight' say 'I want to be healthy and make healthier choices' for the New Year. This change of statement may seem a bit simple but it will help to make the transition a bit easier.

 

The next step is to be specific. Set out clear and achievable goals on paper and supplement this with a plan. For example, if you say you want to save more money in 2010, make a clear plan, which may be saying that no matter what I will put at least $ 500-$1000 of savings in the bank each month. If you do not have a bank account, I think it would be a good idea if you open one. The most important aspect of this step is to plan. The plan gives a step by step description of how you believe you can achieve your goal and gives an idea of how much you will have to do.

 

    The last recommendation to accomplishing your New Year's Resolution is to start as early as possible. Do not decide to start on New Year's Day. Why not start December 3^rd or August 1^st or any other day? Do not let the calendar decide the day for you. Start your change as soon as possible. Just remember, 'Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.'

Mayhem

Lost in translation,

In a life undefined.

Unexplained feelings arise,

Out of young friendship.

 

I yearn for something more,

Yet I cannot go on any further,

I have another,

I belong to another,

One who has captured my heart.

 

Confusion has led me,

Unto a path untraveled,

Steps imprinted on my heart,

The further I go.

 

Mind worlds apart,

A conscience stained by guilt,

Where madness,

And mayhem,

Roam free.

 

Following my heart,

Letting it be my guide,

To a place of sanctity,

To my Utopia,

Where I can be at peace,

An all is right with the world.

The Heart’s Design

A young girl trapped in her own heart,

Sealed in the titanium room of fear,

Barricaded beyond the wall of protection,

Shielding herself from love.

 

Growing up she yearned for it,

A feeling so strong,

That nothing can steal it away.

 

The dream of finding that perfect match,

The other half who completes her,

Lingers in her mind,

Her very soul cries for it.

 

A few wrong turns were made,

Before finding the right path.

Love in the gentle voice of a stranger,

The soft lips of a companion,

Steps imprinted on her heart,

Lust embedded in her mind,

Brought on from the touch of a lover.

 

Bliss and happiness far from reason,

Arose out of friendship,

A completed circle of love,

Brought into her life.

 

The only thing she wants and asks for,

Is to let the love never fade nor die,

But last an eternity and beyond.

 

She screams to the heavens,

Thank you for the precious gift,

A love never lost but found,

For he will forever be mine,

And we shall love each other,

Until the end of time.

The Heart Apart

A million miles away,

Yet the mind cannot bear to let you go,

Hearts entwined,

As spirits are fulfilled.

 

A thousand miles away,

A thirst,

A desire,

A yearn for you,

Grows stronger.

 

A hundred miles away,

The mind searches for your face,

A slight remembrance,

Of your features,

The strong contours of your face,

Powerful mouth,

And determined lips.

 

Ten miles away,

We grow further apart,

Bodies divided by an ocean,

Mind divided by guilt,

Hearts separated by lust.

 

Five miles away,

A spiritual divide,

An earthly separation,

A physical disintegration,

An emotional explosion,

Bursts into the flames of life,

The scent grows weary,

The image removed.

 

No longer miles apart,

The ocean melts away,

The time has come,

To end this torture,

We've finally reach the end of the path,

That once brought us together,

We must go our separate ways,

Discover ourselves,

And live our lives to the fullest of our happiness and joy.