A Short Story

“Jonas,” Fiona hesitated, “Jonas, he died yesterday morning from old age.” Everything was silent for about two

Cole tried to brush his tears away, and Rose reached out to console him, but the kid turned and ran for the house. She whirled around to Levi, her features hardened like

This quote is a flashback from an elderly Vianne, and it is the first line in the book. This quote foreshadows the effect that war has on many characters, and how such a horrible event can put everything under a microscope and show the courageous battles fought, and not just by the soldiers. War is an abhorrent event that has the ability to destroy everything. That is no different in the novel The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. The Nightingale is about two French sisters, Vianne and Isabelle Rossignol and tells their stories while living in a German-occupied France. Right from the very beginning, it seems that the two sisters have completely opposite characteristics. When Vianne was 14 and Isabelle was 4 their mother died. This is obviously a very emotional time for the two and they both cope with the death of their mother in very different ways. Vianne is forced to take over the mother role which is courageous at any age, but at 14 it is simply gallant:“You will be the mother now. Her father said to Vianne while her eyes were swollen from crying, her grief unbearable”(7). Vianne did not even have the opportunity to cope with her mother's loss before she had to fill her mother's shoes, whose shoes were not easy to fill by any means. Isabelle on the other hand is a fiercely rebellious girl who refuses to listen to anyone. She is expelled from a dozen boarding schools throughout her teenage years, and she is unwilling to settle down and be the proper lady her father so desperately wishes her to be. At the beginning of the novel, both sisters appear to have distinctive differences in regard to their personality and values.

“We’re at Grandpa’s house. Maybe you should lie back down and I’ll send Miles or Bass to town to get him.” Rachel said looking at her daughter with concern.

Through the years that have passed, there has been a high progress in the science fields that have come to bring about new discoveries from a plant many call marijuana. The intriguing effects that come from the cannabis plant have slowly started to unveil, claiming many positive talks in the medical industry in treating terrible diseases that have affected millions of people. But it used to be talked about like a very terrible thing back in the day from all the talk that was happening being reported by the government. Which ultimately caused it to become illegal nationwide.

I watched with new eyes the sun shed it's ray of light upon the earth, which stood cuffed at the palms of adversity. I heard with new ears the sound of lonely cries echo. It would be the perspective from which I stood, that would recognize our obstacles as infinitesimal. These were the first words, I wrote when I first became fond of writing. I learned to be appreciative of the gift that enabled one to see things in new colors, new lights, and capture their definition, the best way fits. This was the optimism that paved the way for my dreams.

The smokey air of Modesto California mimicked most other places in Cali, thick with pollution and smog, and near constant raining, making the earth a sloppy mess. A difference between Modesto and the other various bustling cities of California, was that it was far from bustling. In fact, it was mostly farmland and quaint streets, filled with local businesses and street markets. It shared its surroundings with various other small and pointless towns, much like it’s own, and San Francisco was the closest recognizable name on the map.

A solitary figure crossed the royal prison courtyard, his strides as purposeful as the reasons for visiting the penitentiary during the stale midnight hours. His slinky, weasel like features instantly became the source of ridicule from the quartet of guards standing at the entrance gate. The combination of their whispered insults and contemptuous laughter as the lanky man approached, were not well concealed. Without a doubt their lack of discretion was purposefully intentional and, obviously, the insults were blatantly meant to be overheard. All four guards remained at ease, unbothered and unwilling to come to attention even as the stranger stood directly in front of them and waited for some sort of response. The visitor surveyed the

Peaking around the corner, due to strange noises, she found Caleb hacking like a cat with a hair ball. Pressing her lips together she tried to stifle her laughter. Though the sheer sight was making her control deteriorate rapidly. Before long she was buckling over, her arms wrapped around her chest and tears brimming.

The next time I awoke, the room was brighter, and my stomach was growling. The clock read half past one. Gran’s chair was empty, and I could hear the clanking of dishes in the kitchen. The delicious aroma of frying bacon wafted through the air.

“Viola, darling, could you give me my purse?” A pursed pair of pouting lips smiled devilishly at Viola. “Of course, Auntie Lola.” “Thank you, dear.” Lola blew a kiss to her from the sofa as she took the purse from her niece. “Are you making a trip with Duke to the cemetery this afternoon?” “I’m thinking about it. He’s got some flowers to put on his grandfather’s grave, and I think Mother may need some new flowers too.” “Ah. Well, dear, Pearl and I are going out to the picture show this evening. Do pick up some dinner while you’re out, hm?” “Yes, Auntie. Do you know if Dad’s flowers need changing too?” “Not sure, love. I’d check. Just make sure you and Duke get dinner before you come back.”

Alexander released the blanket and allowed it to cascade down his taut hips and thighs before it finally dropped to his ankles. He stepped into each individual leg of his pants then danced the rest of his body into his jeans, clasping them with a button. He often forgot to zip. "Actually... can I have two?" He answered, referring to the eggs. He turned around, facing her, and gave her the usual pleading eyes and charming smile. He waited in silence for his breakfast, idly making his way over to her dresser to borrow her mirror. He wiped away a little drool stain, combed his brows with the pads of his fingers, and teased his hair into something less wild and into something more natural. Not long after he joined her back on the bed, taking his plate so she could adjust accordingly. Alex took a seat right beside her and did not even bother with the utensils he was so hungry.

Great news! Your niece will be home soon. That's wonderful news. There's no us, Cosmo.

So Miranda's dad called, he finally got through to them. Apparently he's been trying to call for the past two weeks, but it never worked. Probably because of the landlines and the government is probably blowing up each others phones. Or because the satelilites are screwed up. Anyways I was wondering what happened to their dad and why they weren't trying to call him constantly, but apparently they have been trying, but the call just wasn't getting through.

After four hours of complicated algebraic equations, and unquantifiable amount of differential equations, the clock struck midnight. It was late at night and I was winding down from a long day of school work. My body sagged with fatigue, arms unable to rise above my waist, and my head drooped in eagerness to meet my bed. Of course I was eager in turn to meet my head’s throbbing expectations, leaping into bed to a night long and full of eventful dreams. Then I heard those fatal words, courtesy of my darling mother ,” Did you have good day? Did you get everything done that you needed to?”