Let Our Love Continue - ft Emily Slaney

Let Our Love Continue - ft Emily Slaney

            The sight of two grade nines exchanging saliva in the middle of the hallway is truly an experience I’ll miss once I leave high school. At Princess Margret, we are not just a school; we are a family, some of us closer than others. As I trudge through the halls, desperately trying to get to class before the bell, I constantly end up behind the couple that holds each others hand outstretched taking up the entire hallway. Even though I’m in a hurry and the two could not be walking any slower, but I don't mind, I enjoy admiring the great bond they have together and watching them giggle. What intrigues me most is when you are having a pleasant conversation with your friend, then out of nowhere, their attention shifts to their significant other that just walked by. Now not only are you left talking to yourself in the hallway, but now the two are completely blinded by each other and have forgotten that you even exist. I’m glad couples these days are so comfortable showing their affection for each other in public, I’m sure the teachers enjoy it just as much.      

Forget the Fairy Tales

 Relationships are confusing, and this is all because society has made it so people have certain expectations when they are in one. Alice Major’s poem, Puce Fairy Book, examines fairly similar ideas as that of the article, Forget Prince Charming, by June Callwood. Alice Major describes how men expect great things from women but they are not as much as they are made up to be. In June Callwood’s article, she advises her granddaughters “that they cannot expect perfection.” Although they have different opinions, they see relationships and expectations from a similar point of view.

            Young people growing up have an unrealistic view of how relationships should be. Fictional stories and characters have made our generation assume we are supposed to act, look, and feel a certain way. Alice Major explains that men expect women to only ever belong to one man like “stairs that only [he] can climb”. Women are put under great pressure because they are fantasized to be something they’re not. She says that men don’t anticipate that “other princes have made it through [the] forest” of many women. Society has made us think that when “you [are] brought...a crystal slipper”, even if your “foot [is] too big to fit”, they are the “one true prince”. She explains that no matter how much you are sure of someone, a great amount of “mature consideration” should be put into finding the perfect mate. Major’s line, “bruised by that one small nub”, symbolizes the fact that a single mistake or flaw, no matter how small, can break down a relationship causing it to fail. Even if they seem like the “one true prince”, if you can’t measure up to then in reality, it’s okay to turn down the offer. Alice’s believes that someone shouldn’t have to live up to the expectations of others because we should be accepted for who we are and not what we’re made up to be.  

June Callwood believes that no “perfect mate exists” for anyone. Two people cannot go through their life together without disagreement or hardships. She tells her grandchildren that relationships need “passionate physical attraction…and without it relationships are cold gruel.” People have a lot of expectations of what a relationship should be like and are somewhat misled by society. June explains that the biggest problem is the assumption that “partnership will be effortless”, but the only thing that will really keep two people in a steady relationship is if “each person [will] work” on it together. She stresses that when looking for a relationship, don’t search for “Prince Charming”, and pay attention to “integrity…punctuality…compassion” and humor. Anyone with “good parenting” will have “loyalty and kindness”. Don’t settle for the first catch of the eye. Take the time to find someone that makes people happy. Maybe a couple wont always agree on everything, but two people mainly “survive on a mutual ability to compromise.” Callwood believes that without expectations, relationships can be great if both put in effort, love, and a little bit or humor.

            Society has made it so we think that we need to find that perfect someone. Alice Major thinks that there is no such thing as perfect, as does June Callwood. I believe that Alice would completely agree with the advice June is giving to her granddaughters about not expecting relationships to be simple and faultless. They would both agree that love is not made by the opinions of others or by receiving expensive objects; but by making memories and sharing laughs.

I Am Different

I’m rifling through the pockets in my mind,

Unaware of my surroundings.

                        I sit alone in the corner.

                        Make my mind look occupied. Pretend their not watching.

                                                                                    Hope their not looking.

What’s wrong with me?

            Why are they staring?

                        Is it the way I look?

                                    Is it the way I act?                               

                                                                                                            Their stares haunt me.

My body is overcome with immense sorrow.                            

                                                                                                            I am different.

They don’t understand my way of life.

They do not speak my obscure tongue.

            To them, I am a stranger, searching for solitude.

                                    What makes me different?

                                                                                    It’s on the inside, that’s what counts.                                                                                         All these years, people telling you,                                                                                             Appearance doesn’t matter.                  No, don’t be judged, be happy, be content.                                                                  Love you not your followers.

Push aside                    the hatred and open to your loved ones.

                                                                                                Let out the conflict inside.

                                                            Dig

                                                                        deep.

Give it everything you have and don’t look back.

                                                                                    But still, even after inspiration.

                       

Do we listen?                Do we follow through? Do we put those words to action?

           

We put ourselves through so much.                  Stress                                       Hardship                      Make a better version of ourselves.                                                                                          Only making us more insecure.

All I ask.

Is WHY?

...Lemon Juice

            Just the thought is revolting. I can smell the intense citrus from across the room. The toxic liquid is slowly exposed into my tiny, innocent, Dixie Cup. My body trembles and taste buds shriek, little do they know what horrid fluid was about to wash away every bit of sweetness they've ever tasted. I almost feel happy and excited, but I know that no matter what, this is not going to be an enjoyable experience. Why would I put my body through such torture? With my eyes closed tight, as though something terrible is going to jump out and scare me, I take my first whiff of the venomous substance. My nostrils quiver as the powerful aroma enters the cavity like ocean waves crashing against a rocky cliff. I can already taste the bitter lemons perspiring through my throat. I gulp for fresh air. Anything to extinguish that sour smell. Anything to rid my nose of this torment. I hold my breath. Somehow, I convince myself to drink it. I slowly pick up the tiny cup, without thinking, I gulp it down. To my surprise, it wasn't as bad as I anticipated. It was worse! My tongue tingled like it had just stuck it in a light socket and been shocked with 200 volts of electricity. Every part of my body regretted the choice I had just made. I mind exits that of consciousness and enters that of space. I spin in circles around stars and planets. My body is floating through the clustered universe. Still I am incapable of in taking any air into my lungs. Slowly suffocating, I come back to consciousness. I can breath again, but my esophagus swells and cries in agony. What was I thinking?!                   

A Strange Day

            My mother gets into the car and I am instantly dragged into the usual utterly dull small talk. "How was your day? I saw Dr. Mabley yesterday. Did you read the paper this morning?" I answer. I'm not particularly eager to do anything productive today, but its my daughters birthday today and my mum really wanted to get her something. I don't see the point. She's 21. After what seems like a lifetime, we finally arrive at Cherry Lane. "Mum?" I chirped. She was still in the car mumbling nonsense to her self. I stride over and gently grip her boney wrist and guide her across the crowded parking lot. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, a mini school bus comes whipping around the corner heading straight for us! If I hadn't shoved Mum to the side at that instant, we would have been climbing the stairway into the sky. "How rude!" my mother wines.
            Later in the mall, we browse in a couple of stores. I stop in front Chapters and intensely inspect every single book on the main display table. Nothing new. My mind comes back to reality. Oh God. Where's Mum! She could be anywhere. She could be in The Bay. She could be in the food court. Heaven forbid, she could be in the lingerie store all by herself! I quickly gather my thoughts and begin to run over in my head what she was wearing. My vision shift to the left. I spot her white coat. Her grey curles hovering through the store like a ghost. I hurrry in after her. "What are you doing Mum?" I ask. "Looking for something for Chelsea." She replies cheerfully. I almost forgot. My hands gracefully run along the different fabrics as if they were a luscious waterfall of fresh spring water. How this world has changed so much in the past years. It feels like only yesterday I was baking muffins in the kitchen with my grandmother and my younger sister Mary. But now here I was, with a family of my own. How does time slip by so quickly?
            The store we were in seemed very fancy. My mother came across a black V-neck top with a low cut back and covered in sparkles. “This is nice.” Mum exclaims. I would never let my daughter wear something so provocative! “Umm, how about this one?” I point to two tops that are much more appropriate. "I like those." She says bluntly. Good enough I think. I notice, two younger girls in the store, they looked distracted and were continuously whispering to each other. I shook it off.
            While I was at the counter paying for the two tops, my mother was talking to one of the store clerks, “Those pants would look nice on you.” She said pointing to a pair of spandex pants on the rack. It was time to leave. We walk out of the store and I feel the strange again presence. Are those girls following us?

           

College Aplication

            Who am I? You may ask…What makes me different from everyone else? You will be intrigued to find that I am an unusual, well rounded being whose mind and feet venture far from within our typical universe.

            Since I was just an infant; I’ve always been on the move. I can speak fluently in English, Spanish, French, and Dutch. When I wear glasses, I have perfect vision. Unlike others, I’ve traveled to eight different countries. Unlike others, I swim professionally in the Olympics. Unlike others, my skin is soft and beautiful just like Edward Cullen’s. Through my many adventurous years, I have sailed in rough waters and stormy skies through the great Vancouver Broken Islands. My parents love me.

            Many people often mistake me for Selena Gomez. Even president Obama himself referred to me as “a true role model for all of mankind.” When I grow up, I will have solved world hunger. When I grow up, this world will be a better place because of me. There is a country in Asia named after me. I have more followers on Twitter than Justin Bieber. I eat all my vegetables that are put on my plate. I wrote the Bible.

            I can stroke the keys of a piano as if Mozart himself were playing. When I’m bored, I usually just relax and sit down with one many novels I’ve written. My body produces energy through photosynthesis. I don’t have fear, I don’t lie, I don’t swear, I don’t cry. Even if I die, I won’t grow old and rot. I make minimum wage.         

            I cant tell you what my current job is, but lets just say as of right now, I’m scuba diving with giant squid in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, while at the same time, I’m Mummy hunting in the deep caverns of Egypt’s pyramids. On my spare time you can find me helping extinguish horrid fires, helping save children from collapsing buildings, helping stranded citizens in major floods, and helping seniors while crossing a busy street.

           I am a girl.

           I just want to go to college.