Cordoba 1 Glenda Cordoba Professor Laudani ENC 1101 08Z 14 January 2014 The New Be innin !

"# was $u us# 1%& 200'& " re(e(ber " arri)ed ho(e af#er a )ery in#ense day a# s*hool& no# only be*ause we had e+a(s #ha# day& bu# be*ause #ha# was (y day& i# was (y bir#hday& " was #urnin four#een! The day i# was su,,osed #o be #he (os# s,e*ial day of #he year was abou# #o be*o(e one of #he saddes# days! "# was around fi)e-#hir#y in #he af#ernoon& #he sun was abou# #o hide behind #he hori.on! " *ould see a ,ale #in# of oran e on #he s/y and #he sun slowly (o)in down! " ,ar/ed (y #wen#y-four in*hes ,in/ and sil)er (oun#ain bi/e in a se)en foo# s#ora e shed #ha# we had on #he ,a#io of (y house! " lo*/ed #he doors and #hen headed inside #he house! " had #o wal/ a shor# and dar/ *orridor #ha# leaded #o #he /i#*hen& i# was a s(all bu# s,a*ious /i#*hen! 0n #he lef# side of #he roo( #here was a #en *ubi* fee# whi#e To,-1ree.er refri era#or ne+# #o our old wood /i#*hen *abine#s! 0n #he ri h# side #here was a ei h#y #i(es #wen#y in*hes wood dinin #able wi#h si+ *hairs *o)ered wi#h a whi#e #able*lo#h #ha# had leafs all around #he *orners2 0n #o, of #he #able #here was a beau#iful *rys#al )ase #ha# held so(e beau#iful red roses! 3y (o( was si##in in one of #he *hairs in #he lef# side of #he #able& as usual " wen# #o her& " a)e her a /iss in her ri h# *hee/& sa# ne+# #o her and s#ar#ed #al/in #o her abou# (y day& bu# she did no# e)en loo/ a# (e& she 4us# s(iled! " as/ed her if #here was any#hin oin on and she re,lied 5 " do no# /now how #o #ell you6

" as/ed her #o ,lease #ell (e be*ause " was e##in worried& and i# was in #ha# (o(en# when she finally loo/ed (e in #he eye and #old (e wha# " feared for #he lon es# #i(e!

Cordoba 2 57our rand(a *alled& she said she already bou h# #he ,lane #i*/e#s& we are lea)in 8e,#e(ber 14& we only ha)e one (ore (on#h lef#6 she said in a bro/en )oi*e and wa#ery eyes! "n #ha# (o(en#& " fel# (y world was fallin a,ar#& i# was #u(blin down! " fel# ,ain in (y hear#! " was e(o#ionally in ,ain! " *ould no# s#o, (yself& so " bro/e in#o #ears! " *ould no# s#o, #hin/in abou# how " was su,,ose #o lea)e (y friends& (y s*hool& (y fa#her& (y house& (y life! "n #ears " wen# #o (y roo(& lo*/ed #he door and lay fa*e down! " *o)ered (yself wi#h a lon red s#ri,e blan/e# #ha# was layin on (y bed! " *ould no# s#o, *ryin and " did no# o ou# of (y roo( a# all un#il " heard so(eone /no*/in on #he o#her side of #he door sayin 5 Glenda& o,en #he door& is Be##y96 i# was (y bes# friend! 8he was fi)e foo# and si+ in*hes #all& s/inny wi#h lon le s& bla*/ lon hair& li h# s/in *olor and dar/ brown eyes! 8he had #he body of a (odel! 8he was wearin a bla*/ :i h-Low la*e dress #ha# hi hli h#ed her ,erfe*# body& wi#h a ,air of bla*/ an/le-s#ra, wed e sandals& and as usual she had her hair down! Earlier in #he day we bo#h a reed #o han ou# and s,end so(e ;uali#y #i(e #o e#her! <hen " heard her )oi*e " o# u, of bed and loo/ed for so(e#hin #o *lean u, (y #ears wi#h! Two (inu#es ,assed un#il " de*ided #o o,en #he door! " o,ened #he door& and as soon as " saw her " hu ed her& and " #old her how (u*h " lo)ed her and how ed

i(,or#an# she was #o (e! $f#er (y hu & she s(iled and said 5 " lo)e you #oo6 and hu

(e a ain! 8he as/ed (e why " had (y eyes red if " ha)e been *ryin ! " #old her " did no# wan#ed #o #al/ abou# i# and she res,e*#ed i#! 8he #old (e she was oin #o i)e (e a few (inu#es #o e# ready& bu# " #old her 5 " do no# feel li/e doin any#hin #oday6 she loo/ed a# (e wi#h a (ad e+,ression in her fa*e and said 5 your *ra.y if you really #hin/ " a( oin #o le# you s#ay here in #his roo(& in your bir#hday6 #hen she sli h#ly s(iled and " shoo/ (y head u, and down and s(iled ba*/! " *han ed #o a na)y s#ra,less bel#ed la*e dress& a

Cordoba = li h# i)ory *ro*he# sli, on shoes& " did a ;ui*/ fish#ail braid in (y hair& " ,u# so(e of a ,erfu(e #ha# had a *o(bina#ion of )anilla& whi#e roses& ras,berries and (us/2 i# was a deli*a#e fra ran*e! " was sur,rised on how ood " loo/ed& " fel# ,re##y& and " fel# li/e e)ery#hin (a#*hed ,erfe*#ly wi#h (y body! " was around one hundred ,ounds& fi)e fee# and one in*h #all& li h# s/in *olor& bi brown eyes and lon brown hair! " did no# /now where we were headin & #o be hones# " had no idea of wha# #he ,lan was2 earlier #ha# day she as/ed (e if " had any ,lan for (y bir#hday and " #old her " did no#& so she #old (e no# #o worry abou# i# #ha# she was oin #o *o(e ou# wi#h so(e#hin ! " wal/ed ou#side #he house and found her si##in down ne+# #o so(e fa(ily (e(bers #ha# *a(e #o say hi for (y bir#hday& one of (y aun#s said " loo/ed beau#iful #o whi*h " res,onded wi#h a 5Than/ you6 and a s(ile! " le# Be##y /now " was ready& she s#ood u, and we headed ou# #o #he side of #he road #o wai# for a #a+i! <e s,en# around #en (inu#es wai#in & and (eanwhile " s#ared a# her and #hou h# abou# how in less #han a (on#h " was no# oin #o be able #o see her a ain& all #he #hin s we wen# #hrou h were oin #o be*o(e (e(ories& no#hin else bu# ood (e(ories! Be##y saw a #a+i& so she raised her ri h# hand and s#ar#ed wa)in ! The #a+i s#o,,ed& she *li(bed in#o #he fron# ,assen er sea# while " *li(bed on #he ri h# side of #he ba*/ sea#! <hen #he dri)er as/ed her where we were oin & she a)e hi( #he address of one of (y o#her friends2 "# sur,rised (e be*ause when " #al/ed #o her in s*hool she a,olo i.ed for no# bein able #o han ou# wi#h (e sin*e she had #o o ou# of #own wi#h her ,aren#s! "n#ri ued& " #ou*hed her lef# shoulder and as/ed her 5 <hy are we oin #o Gra*e>s house if she will no# be #here?6 Be##y wi#h a serious fa*e answered #ha# ra*e *alled her and #old her she was oin #o be ho(e be*ause she *on)in*ed her ,aren#s #o le# her s#ay ho(e2 i# (ade sense #o (e& she used #o do #ha# a lo#! :er ,aren#s had s#ores ou# of #own& and #hey used #o o e)ery

Cordoba 4 e)enin #o *he*/ on #he(! $round #en (inu#es ,assed when " heard Be##y say 5 "s here& you *an s#o, now6 #he *ar s#o,,ed! " o# ou# by #he ri h# side of #he *ar& #hir#y se*onds af#er& Be##y s#e, ou# of #he *ar& she o# so(e (oney ou# of her ,urse& #han/ed #he dri)er and a)e hi( #he (oney! $s soon as " saw #he house& " o# s*ared! Gra*e used #o always be si##in down ou#side #he house e)ery #i(e we were su,,ose #o o ou#& bu# #ha# was no# wha# s*ared (e #he (os#! The fa*# #ha# she was no# ou# #here did no# s*ared (e& i# was #ha# e)ery#hin was dar/& #he ou#side li h#s were off& and so where #he inside li h#s& e)ery#hin loo/ed dar/! " as/ed Be##y if she was sure ra*e was ho(e& and wi#h a " don># unders#and /ind of loo/ she said 5 " #al/ed #o her li/e a few (inu#es before you *a(e ou# of your roo( and she said she was oin #o be wai#in for us6 " fel# *hills& " #hou h# so(e#hin (i h# ha)e ha,,ened #o her! <e /no*/ed on #he door and yelled her na(e for around #hree (inu#es& bu# we *ould no# hear any#hin fro( #he o#her side of #he door un#il we s#ar#ed hearin foo#s#e,s #ha# were e##in louder and louder as i# a,,roa*hed #he door! Gra*e o,ened #he door and wi#h a bi s(ile said 5 :ello irls96 she was wearin a bla*/ @-Ne*/ li##er do# dress #ha# (a#*hed #he bla*/ T-s#ra, sandals #ha# she was wearin & she had loose wa)y *urls& whi*h (ade her loo/ beau#iful! E)ery#hin loo/ed ood on her& she was s/inny& li h# s/in *olor& wi#h li h# brown eyes& and she had a beau#iful and shinny lon blonde hair& she was also shor#& 4us# li/e " was! <e a)e her a /iss in her *hee/ and as/ed her 5 <hy do you ha)e all #he li h#s off? we o# worried& we #hou h# so(e#hin ha,,ened #o you& we were abou# #o lea)e!6 wi#h a (ore serious )oi*e #one she re,lied 5 " a( sorry& " heard noises earlier& so " de*ided #o #urn e)ery#hin off #o feel safe!6 " belie)ed her s#ory& #he nei hborhood she li)ed in was ,re##y dan erous ,lus she had (oney whi*h a)e her (ore *han*es of bein robbed! 8he in)i#ed us in bu# e)ery#hin was #oo dar/2 we *ould

Cordoba % no# see any#hin so we de*ided #o follow her sin*e none of us /new #he house as well as she did! " was behind Be##y& and Be##y was behind Gra*e& we were all holdin ea*h o#hers hand! <e wal/ed around #hir#y foo# s#e,s un#il we rea*hed #he *orridor be*ause #ha# is where #he li h# swi#*h was lo*a#ed a#! 8he #urned #he li h#s on and as soon as she did we #urned around and heard a loud 5 8ABPB"8EC996 yes& (y lon #i(e friends #hrew a sur,rise ,ar#y for (e! " *ould no# belie)e i#! 3y firs# rea*#ion was #o loo/ around& #here was re ular si.e balloons and s#rea(ers all around #he roo(& #hey were assor#ed *olors& *olors li/e oran e& red& blue& reen& and yellow a)e #he roo( a s#ron and bri h# loo/& i# i((edia#ely *au h# (y eyes! 0n #he lef# side of #he roo( #here was a ,ar#y #able *o)ered wi#h a whi#e ,las#i* *lo#h! 0n #o, of #he #able& on #he lef# side #o be e+a*#& " *ould see around fif#een if# ba s in differen# *olors and si.es ,la*ed ne+# #o a ,in/ and whi#e (ediu( si.e *a/e& #he *a/e did no# had (u*h& i# was a ,lain i*ed *a/e! " *ould no# *learly see wha# i# said on i#& bu# i# loo/ed li/e #here was so(e#hin wri##en on #o, of #he *a/e! $f#er #hose few se*onds analy.in #he ,la*e& " bro/e down in #ears! The fa*# #ha# (y friends did su*h #hin for (e (ean# a lo# be*ause nobody e)er did #ha# for (e before! " *ould no# belie)e how #hey hid i# fro( (e so well #ha# " did no# ha)e a *lue! " fel# ha,,y and sad a# #he sa(e #i(e be*ause 4us# when " reali.ed how beau#iful i# was& " re(e(bered how in 2D days #o be e+a*# " was oin #o lea)e #he( fore)er! 3y friends af#er seein (e *ry for a *ou,le of (inu#es& #hey *a(e #o (e and hu ed (e! " *leaned (y #ears wi#h (y ri h# inde+ fin er& and " #old #he( how ha,,y

#hey (ade (e wi#h #he sur,rised and how " was so #han/ful for all #hey did for (e! $f#er " *al(ed down& " wen# #o e)ery sin le ,erson in #he ,ar#y and a)e #he( a hu and a #han/ you for bein #here! <hen " o# *loser #o (y PE #ea*her& for so(e reason " bro/e down in #ears a ain! :e was abou# si+ foo# #all& li h# s/in *olor& *urly brown hair& li h# brown eyes&

Cordoba E and a )ery #oned body& he was #wen#y-four years old ba*/ #hen! $s soon as he saw (e *ryin a ain& he hu ed (e and #old (e #o o ou#side wi#h hi(! :e wen# #o #he #able and

o# a *ou,le of whi#e na,/ins #ha# were layin #here2 he wen# ou#side and " followed hi(! $f#er " o# #here& he wen# inside a ain! :e rabbed #wo ,las#i* *hairs& and he ,u# #he( one in fron# of #he o#her! <e sa# #here for a few se*onds wi#hou# sayin any#hin un#il he as/ed 5 <ha# is oin on? i /now so(e#hin is oin on! 7ou wanna #al/ #o (e abou# i#?6 as soon as " heard #ha# wi#h (y wa#ery eyes " loo/ed away #o (y ri h# side #o a)oid eye *on#a*# wi#h hi( #o a)oid *ryin a ain! $ few se*onds af#er wi#h a bro/en )oi*e " re,lied 5 " do no# wan# #o #al/ abou# i#6 he (o)ed his *hair *loser #o (e and said 5 i# will (a/e you feel be##er& i#s always ood #o le# i# all ou#& i# *leans #he soul& " a( #ellin " do i# a lo#6 as soon as " heard hi( say #ha#& " fel# (ore *o(for#able! :e was #he #y,e of uy who ne)er really *ared for any#hin & no#hin e)er bo#hered hi(! :e wen# #hrou h so (u*h dra(a in his life& bu# he always (ana ed #o ne)er le# i# affe*# hi(! E)en #hou h " always /new he was a ood ,erson& " ne)er #hou h# he e)er suffered in his life! " e+,lained hi( wha# (y (o( #old (e when " o# ho(e and wi#h a sad fa*e he said 5" a( so sorry Glenda6 he ,aused! 5" do no# /now wha# #o #ell you& " really do no#6 he loo/ed down for around % se*ond& he loo/ed ba*/ u, and *on#inued 5 " /now your des#royed inside& and " was no# e+,e*#in #o hear #his! " /new you were oin #o lea)e #o #he A8$& bu# " ne)er #hou h# i# was oin #o be so soon!6 he ,aused a ain and *on#inued 5 7ou are a rea# ,erson& your s(ar#& and you are a rea# friend!6 when " heard #ha# " *ould no# hel, (yself& and " did wha# " had been doin all e)enin & " *ried a ain! "n #ears " said 5 " a( s*ared! " a( s*ared of no# findin friends li/e you u, #here! 7ou uys are (y lon #i(e friends& and " do no# wan# you uys #o for e# (e or #o re,la*e (e!6 he hu ed (e and re,lied 5 Ten

years of friendshi, *an no# be for o##en 4us# be*ause Glenda! 7ou are always oin #o be

Cordoba ' ,ar# of us& and #ha# will ne)er *han e! <e (i h# no# be able #o #al/ #o you as of#en as we do now& bu# #ha# will no# (ean we for o# you! Now& you only see #he ne a#i)e side of you (o)in ou#& bu# #here is so (any ood #hin s abou# i#! 7ou ha)e #o loo/ a# #he ,osi#i)e side of #his new *han e! God and your rand(a are i)in you #he *han*e of ha)in a differen# life s#yle& a life wi#h (ore o,,or#uni#ies and *han*es of bein so(eone in life2 "# will be hard& " a( no# oin #o lie& bu# " /now you *an do i#6 wi#h #ears in (y eyes& " res,onded hi( 5 Bu# " do no# s,ea/ En lish a# all& and " do no# /now anybody #here! " do no# e)en /now #he ,eo,le " a( oin #o li)e wi#h! " do no# /now how is #he life u, #here! " do no# /now how (y s*hool will loo/ li/e& or how #he ,eo,le " a( oin #o be around will be! " a( s*ared of #his new life ahead of (e6 wi#h #ears in his eyes and a sli h# s(ile he answered 5 " /now you *an do i#& " /now you are s(ar# enou h #o learn En lish and s#ron enou h #o ada,# yourself #o #he new en)iron(en#! 7ou will ha)e your fa(ily #here #oo& and #o e#her as one& you uys will o)er*o(e all #he obs#a*les you uys will fa*e! "# will be hard& bu# you and your fa(ily *an do i#! 7ou will #han/ od one day for wha# he is doin #o you now2 " ,ro(ise you i# will be wor#h i#! There is so (any ,eo,le ou# #here #ryin #o i)e #heir fa(ily a be##er *han*e of ha)in a ood life& and you ha)e #ha# *han*e& so you ha)e #o (a/e #his sa*rifi*e wor#h! Be(e(ber #his is for a be##er fu#ure& for a be##er life for you and your fa(ily!6 he s(iled and finished 5 7ou will #han/ (e la#er for #his6 " s(iled ba*/ and hu ed hi(! :is ad)ise fel# so ood a# #ha# (o(en#! " fel# relie)ed! " fel#

" finally /new how " was oin #o fa*e #his! " did no# /now wha# was *o(in #o (e& bu# dee, inside " /new #ha# *han e was for (y own ood and for (y fu#ure. :e *leaned (y #ears wi#h his hands& and said 5 <e are done here& you already *ried all you had #o *ry6 he ,aused 5 Now o and do wha# you lo)e #he (os#& dan*in ! Go ha)e fun96 he said wi#h a bi s(ile! " hu ed hi( a ain and #han/ed hi( for all his ad)ises& and " #old hi( " lo)ed

Cordoba 8 hi(& and he re,lied wi#h an 5 " lo)e you #oo6 he s#ood u, #he *hair& rabbed (y ri h# hand and we wen# inside #he house #o loo/ for Be##y and Gra*e! <e found #he( in #he (iddle of a bun*h of ,eo,le dan*in & " o# *loser #o #he( and s#ar#ed dan*in ! The res# of #he ni h# was a(a.in be*ause " fel# freed of (y own fears! " fel# " did no# ha)e any (ore reasons #o *ry! " fel# so #han/ful for ha)in #he /ind of friends " had! " fel# i# was 4ob #o en4oy #ha# day as i# was (y las#! E)ery #i(e " re(e(bered abou# (y #ri, " re,ea#ed #o (yself #ha# i# was for (y fu#ure& and #ha# " was lu*/y #o ha)e a *han*e li/e #ha#2 as a resul#& " had #o be #han/ful for i#! " dan*ed all ni h# lon wi#h ,re##y (u*h e)erybody in (y ,ar#y& and a(a.in ly " did no# *ry a ain durin #he ni h#! " 4us# fel# #here was no #ears lef# in (y body! " 4us# wan#ed #o lau h and s(ile #he res# of #he ni h# wi#h (y friends! $f#er all #he u,s and downs of (y day& "# was a rea# bir#hday! Today& si+ years la#er " *an *orrobora#e #ha# wha# (y friend $lber# said durin (y four#een bir#hday ,ar#y was #rue! "# was no# easy #o ada,# #o a )ery differen# *oun#ry& nei#her was #o learn a differen# lan ua e& be bullied for no# s,ea/in En lish& or 4us# be*ause " a( fro( a differen# e#hni*i#y! "# was no# easy #o o #o a differen# s*hool where e)erybody (ade (e feel li/e " did no# belon #here& or e# used #o a differen# house and differen# ,eo,le! Bu# #han/s #o all " wen# #hrou h " a( #he ,erson " a( #oday& a (ore (a#ure ,erson who /nows #he role #ha# fa(ily ,lays in life& so(eone who learned a differen# lan ua e& a ,erson who /nows how i(,or#an# edu*a#ion is in life& how you se# your own li(i#s& and how you *an a*hie)e wha#e)er you wan# in life if you wor/ hard for i#! Than/ God and #han/s #o #hose obs#a*les " a( #he Glenda Cordoba " a( #oday!