I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas. I spent mine at my own home, rather than visiting my boyfriend's house every Christmas for dinner. An unexpected event happened at my house on Christmas Eve; my house was broken into, turning the third floor upside down. My family and I lost a lot, which even by mentioning to anybody, would perhaps not be enough. I'm not sure what will happen within the next couple of weeks, or months even. Yes, it sounds dramatic, but things like this happen and it changes many perspectives within people. The local police said that there has been a string of events dealing with Chinese business owners. All of them have had their homes robbed. As a matter of fact, just a couple days ago, another Chinese family with a business on the same street had their home broken into.

This isn't to break anybody's spirits. I am grateful that my family is safe and sound. It was a Happy Christmas; even though such happenings occurred. We were surrounded by family and friends.

Wow.

So I have to say that I am very surprised that I haven't updated in a very long time. This would naturally mean that a lot of things have happened since the last update to this blog. Well, I'm sad to say that nothing major has happened-- other than Gigson not telling me what he got me for Christmas. I got to see a picture of it after it had been wrapped though. I wonder if I can ask him to get the picture on his blog or something so that you may all chime in on the guessing game? Was that a run-on? I cannot tell anymore...

Oh, Cataclysm finally came out. I have been playing here and there since it came out. I managed to make it to level 82. I had to stop in order to get the rest of my semester's worth of work done. Distractions like World of Warcraft, text messages and phone calls from people really do not help this cause.... AHEMSARUCOUGH.

Good news is that... all I have to do now is write a 3-4 page commentary on a video. And then I have an interview with my student teaching cooperating teacher tomorrow. It's still a busy time for me till then.

For those that even check-- I updated the  Song List.

Funny FB Moment.

Magni is AFK!

You may have noticed that some posts on here are missing. I came up with another fabulous idea of placing all of those fun things into another blog called Magni is AFK! It will also have moderation access granted to Yuki and Gigson (Ivalice) since we share that commonality with one another (and it goes without saying that all three of us have this... line of just knowing what the bloody hell is up with one another).

Song List

For easier navigation; this is a list of songs compiled by yours truly while listening to Pandora Radio (and other mediums). Most definitely the songs that yours truly enjoys.

You will notice that the song list on the right menu bar has been completely obliterated. That is because it was getting way too long. I have taken the liberty to put them in this post. A new section has been placed called "Navigation" where I will be putting stuff (like this list) up in hyperlinks for your convenience.

Revertion & an Update.

As you can see, I've reverted back to the usual template. Thank goodness! I only say this because I really don't like ginormous templates. As much as some of you may have enjoyed it. T'was very... very fugly.

I finally uploaded my CP#2 yesterday. I am very happy that my assignments are coming together. I just have some minor "papers" to do for the unit... (see the updated list that is in the archives of changes; it's in the last post with a list.)

I spent all day yesterday in bed... for the most part. It was my younger brother's birthday, but I had so much to do. We managed to eat nommy cake when my parents came home though. There was drama-- but nothing too new. A note to all of you though-- you do not call your brother an ass on his birthday and fucking get away with it (among other things,) especially when you're the biggest douchebag.

Happy Birthday to Orber!

Dear Chibi,

Happy Birthday. I'm sorry that I'm cheap and didn't get you a birthday card. But it is the thought that counts, ne? And I'm pretty sure these are much better than a cheesy birthday card. Enjoy your present(s)! And daaaaayuuuuum, you're getting old (and heavy!)

From your sis.

P.S. Gnomes rule!

Mini-changes.

In a few minutes, I will be changing my blog's layout. The reason behind this is that I will be putting up images that tend to cut off in the usual layout. And if I leave it cut off, then the person that it is targeted for will have to either squint their eyes REALLY hard that they will pop out of their sockets, or they would have to do clicking and resizing... and it will just be a whole mess. So I'm just going to change the layout. Some people were complaining about the centered-narrow-ness anyway. So... without further adieu...

Updated To Do List.

For School (Currently): BEFORE DECEMBER 3RD WOULD BE NICE!

• Finish grading (EVERYTHING!!!!)*
• The Juvie Three Lesson Plan (Chapters...7/8?)
• Philippa Gregory Author Study
• Study for Special Education Class Exam... (still unsure when I am taking this)
• CP #1 - Teaching Context Form (finished); Unit Plan (finished*) + 3 Lessons (need the 3 lessons approved); Unit Plan w/ handwritten annotations (finished*); Statement of Revisions (finished); Handouts - Blank (finished*); Classroom Analysis; Classroom Students Analysis; Unit Plan Commentary
• Finish Teachers' Keys of Handouts
• CP #2 - Copy of pre-assessment and post-assessment (finished); Answer keys (finished); Samples of work from two students on both assessments with grading and comments (finished); Commentary on the assessments and results that addresses all requirements 1.1-4.2(finished*)
• CP #3 - Videotaped segment from one lesson (finished*); Written reflection and analysis of Videotape
• NCTE/NRE Standards for Teaching (finished)
• NCTE/NRE Standards for Unit (finished*)
• Overall Unit Plan Reflection
 

* - denotes November 30th edit

Happy Thanksgiving!

This made me smile. =)

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Latest Events.

I have been playing a bit of Virtual Families lately. I have all the game files filled up with families. And I just had two couples that popped a baby each. Both of the babies are males... Hmm... Random is random. Somehow two brown haired came with a fiery orange-baby. Anyway, I am planning to visit Ivalice today so we can do loads of homework. My parents decided to go to Ann Arbor and Chicago today.

I got a monthly subscription to World of Warcraft. <3 Now I get to play around as a Gnome Priest and a Tauren Paladin. Whee~

Heading out after I post something interesting. =)

Domo-dress.

I got done with the revisions to my unit plan and my students' final test. (Yes, this means I still have to go in for two more days before I can say I am finished with my student methods II.)

I then went on the interwebs (google images, in fact) and found this.

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I am.

And yes, I did find it to be quite a genius piece. I want one.

Gah.

I went in to teach, thinking that it will perhaps be my last day. Unfortunately, the students that I have didn't finish reading the final act as I hoped. There isn't much left to read for each class, so I will definately have them finish the play tomorrow. I am unsure what I am going to have them do for the remaining period since we will not be finishing any worksheets. They are not doing any vocabulary, so I may just have them study for the exam for the following day. Should I have them watch a movie? Discuss what they thought of the play in general; how they wished for the events to play out? I do not know what to do with them; I am hoping that all will be fine tomorrow morning.

I have much to do for tonight... COFFEEE IS GOOOD FOR THE SOOOOOUL, but bad for the brain.

Plans for after Methods II: Watch Gilmore Girls and (maybe) play Final Fantasy (the MMO).

To Do List (because I need the interwebs to host this for me)

For School (Currently): BEFORE DECEMBER 3RD WOULD BE NICE!

• Finish making corrections to the unit plan
• Finish the re-write of writing plan (that is part of the unit plan)
• Finish grading (EVERYTHING!!!!)
• The Juvie Three Lesson Plan (Chapters...7/8?)
• Philippa Gregory Author Study
• Study for Special Education Class Exam... (still unsure when I am taking this)
• Go over Methods II packet... and do everything that it tells you to do (meaning the video-editing, the numerous reflection pieces, commentaries...)
• Street Project: Overall reflection
• Street Project: Beneficial to community reflection
• Street Project: Community Event reflection
• Street Project: Interview + Reflection

For the Self: GENERAL... OVERALL STUFF!

• Buy some caution tape and cover my room with it... People tend to move my things.
• Stop... buying stuff at Office Max, Office Depot, Borders, Barnes and Nobles... and well... any store, really. Though it is all for a VERY GOOD CAUSE!
• Relax. Really. Breathe in... breathe out. (*secretly pulls her hair out*)

For School (Future): Cry now.

• Background Check (Going with Ivalice. Ah ho ho ho ho!)
• Call Student Teaching Cooperating Teacher to set an interview date/time
• Print out the Student Teacher Handbook... And study it like it is your Bible.

Unsure:

• Re-discover your fondness for the color red.

Things Already Finished:

• Applied and submitted graduation form(s).
• Died on the inside.

Hachiko (Ritsu)

I don't think I've made this formal announcement yet:

Some of you may have noticed that I have changed my pseudonym to Ritsu (at the end). It used to be Yukimora, but Yuki thought it was kind of creepy-stalker-ish that I have almost the same name. So after a while, I decided that I would change my pseudonym (not that it matters since everybody calls me Hachi and not the full name). Buuuut, I've made the change. Just putting that out there. Aren't I a nice buddy? Haha.

So I'm moving things around a bit between blogs. Revo Emag is now very...very orange and swirly. I don't remember what I did with my book list. THAT is a project of its own whenever I get a chance to sit down and write for it. I'm considering writing a novel... or rather a conglomeration of all that comes to my mind (plot-wise). I have had quite a few ideas, just that I never manage to get it down on paper. I don't like it when that happens. I have tried keeping a steno-pad or something like it. It never really happens. We'll see how things go. Right now, I need to finish up school-related stuff. The semester is coming to an end rather quickly and time seems to not be my best friend right now. I'm quite surprised that I am up this early actually...

I have found a lovely button while typing new posts onto blogs: the "insert jump break" function. It's quite useful for when I have large posts. Basically it allows the entry (wherever one decides to insert it) a link (for when posted) that says "Read More > > >" or something of that sort (you may edit this when you go to "Design" on your blog) and click on the posts section. Your readers would just simply click on it, and they will be directed to your entire post.

A Few Changes.

As some of you may have already noticed, I have changed a few things around on this blog. Of course, I am writing this to my audience as I am in the middle of such changes.

Getting right down to the point: I have created two new blogs, one of which will be shared with two other authors (and merely just for fun). I will explain now the purpose for my doing so.

It has been suggested by one of my professors at the university that I should start an annotated book list of books/novels that I have read. I have decided that, instead of making it strictly on paper, to put it online as I finish reading them. Of course, since I have read many books in my lifetime, I will be posting my thoughts (and perhaps a summary) of the books as I run into them. Since I am starting the list now, I will be keeping a list of books that I have read, that I NEED to make a post about on the sidebar of that blog. And yes, it will be a blog of it's own. The link to that blog will be placed alongside the other links (of which, as you can see, I am providing a mini-snippet of; you will see what I am talking about if you keep your eyes open).

The second blog is the one that I have given access to two authors: Yuki (of Potential Wierdness) and Ivalice (of Shut Up, Caboose!). It is a dictionary of terms that get passed on between ourselves and other friends. I feel that it will be a fun experiment!

Oh... and yes. My blog is now purple. I felt that I needed a change in color scheme. =]

The (Growing) Music List

I have decided recently (as I have been listening to Pandora) to start a list of songs that I like to listen to. I always forget what song is what whenever I listen to it on the radio. And I find it especially annoying that I cannot recall the title of a song when I know I told myself that I wouldn't forget it.

So I will be keeping track of songs that I like on this blog, just like I am doing with the list of books that I would like to read at some point. Come to think of it, I should probably start an annotated book list pretty soon with books that I have read. There are just... so many things to do.

I'd also like to take this time to thank a lot of my colleagues, family members and friends. I feel that for the past few months I have been moody and enveloped in my school/career/family life that I do not have much time for anything else. Most of my appointments and meetings with people have been close to last minute. I thank you all for being supportive and helping me out whenever you can. I'd like to especially thank my parents for supplying me with all their love and especially... funds to do what I am doing to this day. Thank you, Yuki for being such a great friend. I love the way that you can be so honest with me about so many things. Our conversations have always and probably will always be enjoyable. Thanks Ivalice for being my knight in shining armor. You'll always be close to my heart and an important part of my life. Thanks Chibi-kun for being just you. I feel that even though you are young, you understand yet so much to life that it is nearly impossible for you to grow up to be the best that you can be. I hope you continue to understand life the way it is and take everything into account when the time comes to make your utmost important decisions.

I'd like to thank my professors, coordinators, supervisors, the big bosses, and especially the cooperating teachers for all their support and bitching sessions that we were able to have together.

I find it so sad and yet so relieving that a big portion of my life is just about over in another few weeks. And I really do not believe that I could have done it all without everyone I know and hold dearly.

Recent Thoughts.

As the title suggests, here are some of my thoughts that have come in and out of my head. I can't shake the mixed feelings of everything that my thought processes has brought to me. So here goes. Breathe, Hachi. Breathe in hard.

I don’t know what I get myself into most of the time. I live for the moment, yes. For those know me well enough, that is how I truly believe that people should abide by on a daily basis. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, what will happen the next week. I don’t intend to figure things out until they come. I think about it, yes. But I cannot rely on plans to indicate how my life will play out. It just cannot happen. So for those that cannot deal with the way I see how life should run, perhaps it is time you leave my life. I don’t need people that are merely going to criticize me for the way that I see shit happen in the world. I don’t need your pity for the reasons why I follow the path that I take the way that I do. And for those of you those who just don’t understand get the hell off of your high horses. It’s time you stop with your egotistical selves and take into perspective that life doesn’t just revolve around you.

My Poem: A Dedication to My Grandfather

"Unity"

© 2009 Hachiko Yukimora

We are gathered here today

Unsure of where we stood within the cold depths of sudden chilly November. We stand next to our inner weeping Mother, watching as the gathering separated themselves into eminent groups. Culture. Color. Class. All of us, we are the same and yet so different. Today, it is different: the only days that all of these people could stand together in unity at section eleven. All coming for a single purpose dressed in solidity, chattering amongst ourselves in this cold afternoon.

The younger voices silence, yet every bow they made, an impact on our hearts. Throbbing, holding back all the sorrows of the dearly departed. Time is slow in this moment, as we remember the painful memories of happy pasts, seething differences and misunderstandings. Those days, those nights, are the ones we will never fail to remember.

in respect to the passing of

Our grandfather, forever beautiful. All saddened, yet blissful for his death. He is no longer suffering from illness and quasi-poverty. And yet, we will forever hold him dear in our hearts, and remember his joyous laughter, even till death, his lively stature. His beauty was imminent to all of us, and by being himself, he was able to express his gracious attitude and make a mark within the family name. We only blame ourselves for not taking that very last picture, but his memory. Photographic.

Remember the morning’s wake, the early yet late lunches by the small windows in his fifth floor apartment building above the drafty urban neighborhood in Chinatown on eleventh street.

Let us join in unison, on this day.

It was as if he was still amongst us, crying with us. His drips of cold rain within the beautiful cemetery—the best that we could provide so that he could enjoy the scenic view of blooming flowers and its tall trees. With his new company, his new neighbors, lying and resting in peace amongst all others. We are all together, joined by this man’s death, our grandfather, still doing what is great for all of us, even in death. Unsure whether to celebrate, for that may be what he would of wanted this day to be—rather than confronted by heartbreaking sadness and grief.

In this moment of silence, his resting place.

We will visit every year for our grandfather, pressing on pretty tulips of every color to brighten the day in his very honor. Our grandfather, whom we took for granted in every bit of essence of his life. We are gathered here today, in his honor, to bring his soul to peace. He will have everything that he has ever wanted. Power, money, and value; all for him, these are our gifts for him.

Update.

I have been busy lately with methods teaching in all. But I figured that I would spend a moment in life while I am at work to say that... I APPLIED FOR GRADUATION (in Spring 2011) today! So let's just hope that it happens.

Thanksgiving Break is almost here, so that means I just have to finish a few days worth of teaching. I'll probably do a bit overtime. I'm not sure how I want that to work yet...

Class Wiki... Here are mine.

Creative Dramatics – n.

An informal dramatization of a story using simple means of staging. The creative dramatics has, if any, limited stage sets and costumes upon which the dramatic performance itself is based around an original story idea. Creative dramatics is usually formulated as skits, plays and scripts within the classroom setting, unlike its larger counterpart which may take place in an auditorium with more elaborate performance technology (lighting, set designing, costumes, make-up, choreography, etc).

History

The history of creative dramatics is obscure. Drama and dance on their own have existed throughout human history because of man's innate impulse to behave and act differently from their norm. Much of being an actor is to manipulate one's feelings; all in all, pretending to be someone or something else.

It can be said that drama became structured in Ancient Greece, where it is said that it is where people began to act accordingly to religious themes. Also, during the middle ages, drama was used as a vehicle to teach its audiences the importance of religion. However, most of the actors in the medieval plays were merely people of the local community, meaning that they did not act as a profession.

Reasons for Using Creative Drama in the Classroom

Creative drama can help students in the following ways:

1. It helps students (especially young children) develop social skills by working in small or large groups. There is a sense of community formed when working with others towards a common goal.

2. It helps students become aware of their community by developing all of their senses. Sense awareness is deeply emphasized within the dramatic arts.

Bibliography:

http://www.education.ne.gov/read/FRAMEWORK/glossary/general_a-e.html

http://www.susancanthony.com/resources/timsav/creativedrama.html

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Critical Theory – n.

The examination and critique of society and culture drawing upon knowledge available through social sciences and the humanities. Critical theory is shown within the classroom through analysis of the literary works. Usually it is complimented by questions posed through inferential, literal, evaluative means.

Bibliography:

TBA.

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Cultural Literacy – n.

The ability to conversate effortlessly by using literary devices such as idioms, puns, allusion and other familiar content that has been produced and established in a dominant culture. An important aspect to cultural literacy is the ability to understand the dominate culture’s similarities and differences to one’s own through the means of each other’s customs, values, and beliefs. Cultural literacy may be implemented to one's curriculum by referring and exposing students to literature that enables them to think critically about a world other than their immediate own, outside of the school, the city, the state and onwards.

Some authors that have written culturally diverse literature:

Alice Walker

Amy Tan

Bharati Mukherjee

Christopher Paul Curtis

Gary Soto

Gene Luen Yang

Gordan Korman

Khaled Hosseini

Langston Hughes

Marjane Satrapi

Maya Angelou

Merle Good

Mildred Dawson

Naomi Shihab Nye

Nikki Giovanni

Octavia Butler

Richard Ammon

Richard Wright

Steven Izuki

Walter Dean Myers

Because Yuki said so.

She said that I haven't updated in forever.

I have creepy stalkers. >_>

I did my first official teaching today. I flailed my arms with my teacher. It was a GREAT SUCCESS™.






Trademark: Yuki

Lately...

I just did seven hours worth of lesson planning. I managed to finish about 11 of them for my Thematic Unit assignment today. I had to leave in the middle of my observing hours to go home and do it. Thank goodness for colleagues that I can run up and talk to about our evening classes! I seriously thought it was only three lesson plans and a calendar. But it was way more than that; so I was typing non-stop when I got home till about 6:50PM tonight. I'm going to have to look over things carefully so I can meet with my professor next week with a new and revised copy...

Surprise!

Yesterday, I went into my cooperating teacher's classroom as usual. She wasn't there, so that drew some suspicion. It turns out that her son puked in her car this morning, so she decided to take the day off. Incidentally, I was asked if I could take over the class for her today. Of course, I offered to help. Things couldn't get any worse, right?

Nonetheless, it was an okay day. My feet hurt at the end because I was wearing heels. And I got to actually meet some of the students personally!

I didn't get any work done but it was worth it.

IAT

IAT is a project made at Harvard and can be found here: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/.
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I participated in a total of three implicit association tests: the African American – European American IAT, the Asian American – European American IAT, and the Gay – Straight IAT.

The results are the following for each IAT test:

• African American – European American: strong automatic preference for European American compared to African American
• Asian American – European American: slight association of European American with American and Asian American with Foreign compared to Asian American with American and European American with Foreign
• Gay – Straight: moderate automatic preference for straight people compared to gay people

I believe that these results accurately portrays my attitudes. I personally believe that each individual has a preference when it comes to race, gender, ethnicity, age, etc., when it comes to any sort of socialization although one may not wish to bring those preferences out to the open. As people, we have been trained since childhood (this is presumed that each individual has been raised in a “typical” household) to treat each other fairly no matter what our skin color may be, what gender we are, where we come from, etc. I know that I was constantly told by my parents and teachers that I should not be racist, sexist, ageist, etc., because that was not appropriate behavior. But, despite these attempted teachings, I witnessed a lot of racial slurs being thrown towards people of whom I shouldn't be racist, sexist, ageist, etc., towards.

I grew up in Toledo, Ohio; I originally came from New York City. My parents brought me to Ohio in 1992, where I attended school in Sylvania. My parents both speak broken-English. Communication has always been rough between parents and children. I imagine that my parents sometimes have trouble understanding us, as my two younger siblings and I have trouble understanding them. Essentially, I am American-born Chinese; I speak and write English; and I speak broken-Chinese.

Personally, I believe that communication is very valuable between family members and friends. Without it, one cannot perhaps even dream about being a part of a solid working community. I also believe in total honesty between people; I despise having and keeping secrets of all degrees. I truly believe that it is better to come clean with judgments and opinions; it is better to throw them out into the open (verbally) rather than finding things out later where it is most likely to cause additional chaos. I also value fairness with consequences. I believe that if one works hard to reach their goal(s), they will ultimately reap the benefit(s). And if one decidedly chooses not to lift their finger, then they are to suffer consequences.

A tradition my family kept for years is that my parents would close their business for a few days to travel. We usually do this on some special holiday or during the summer-- and my parents would take the immediate family to visit the extended family in New York. The sense of having “family” is very important; therefore, we (my parents especially) find it important to keep visiting and keeping in contact with family members on a daily or weekly basis.

I have zero tolerance for people's inability to differentiate other people's perspectives. There are many citizens that tend to think, in all sorts of situations, in their own point of view. They do not consider all possibilities of a situation, especially if it specifically deals with more than one person. Thus, in most cases, there is an uproar between such persons, with few looking like fools in the end.

Understanding my background and biases will be useful to me as a future teacher because I am now more exposed to my immediate reactions with certain classes of the people. I have become more aware of how I consciously think; meaning that I will be consciously aware of what decisions to make within certain situations to further educate myself as both student and teacher, such that will better aide future students more effectively.

It's October!

So... we've finally reached a new month. September seemed to have rolled quickly by! I am not sure if that is a wondrous thing on my part-- everything seems to be passing by rather quickly lately. And that only means November will soon creep around the corner as well. Time is a terrible essence now... since whenever I think about it, I get stressed out. And then I become tired rather quickly. And I fret over how I seem to not have any time to start or finish anything! For example, I have so many more books to read! I haven't started on creating my major 15 lesson plans yet (which is supposed to be a unit that I am starting to teach in the beginning of November). And I have yet to revise my literature lesson plan. ALSO, I went to meet with  my street project partners at the downtown library (on Sunday; one of them is in my methods course) and apparently our writing lesson plan is due next week and NOT with the thematic unit (a total of 3 lesson plans). So I am a bit relieved... HOWEVER, that only raises more suspicions on my end since I am not EVER more continouly lost on what the official due dates are for everything now.

The weather has been terrible. It went from nice, warm, sunny weather to brisk-cold... Rawr, I'm gonna eat your skin. I am not enjoying myself at all. I'd rather just curl up under my warm covers and never come out.

On the lighter note, I finished The Juvie Three, by Gordon Korman as well as Sharon M. Draper's Copper Sun today. I just started reading (and enjoying) Flush, by Carl Hiaasen. I won't be commenting on them any further tonight seeing how I am tired. I also would like to type up my IAT assignment for my afternoon class tomorrow.

Oh! And before I go-- I received the books I ordered from Mackenzie! Hurraay~ I don't think I ever mentioned what I ordered, so here goes:

The Constant Princess, by Philippa Gregory
The Boelyn Inheritance, by Philippa Gregory
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
Hunting the Dragon, by Peter Dixon

I just feel silly since I accidentally bought two of Peter Dixon's novel. Oh well... I suppose I'll donate one copy to the public library or something. I'll think of something. :P

My Short Story: The Trees

© 2009 Hachiko Yukimora

The sun was high up in the sky, beckoning for the snow to leave. As the two forces intercepted the little girl was out and about once more. Her little piggy bank went to Heaven, and she was holding in her pocket enough coins to hopefully buy her mother a little present. Passing by a man towing a tote of trees, she wonders to herself if mother was going to get one this year. One eye half open, she watches briefly as the man unloads the fresh pines in front of the store close by. Some were small, and some were big. She found one that seemed to be just her size, and was unsure whether anybody would really buy that tree. The man unloading the trees smiles at her, placing the last one on the ground. He was all ready to go, with customers waiting to be noticed. She runs off, having her own agenda.

Upon arrival, the store was already open, with the lights on within the store. The sign on the door had already been flipped around, with its old lettering enscribed long ago. A little bell tinkles as she lightly pushes the door open. She heaves a deep breath, walking into the wonderfully warm shop. She could smell carved wood and sawdust of all kinds. The old man, she saw, was sitting behind the counter, working away at his toys. Noticing a young customer in his midst, he smiles, as if he knew she could come in some day.

In a far corner, she is amazed. The tallest tree that she has ever seen was being put up. A woman was decorating with white frost and lights. Ornaments were put on the side, waiting to be hung. She wanted a tree like that this year. And perhaps she would have one, if her mother would allow her to hang an ornament for her.

“I would like to buy that over there.” She points towards it over by the window. The woman smiled, and carefully picked it up. And soon, the girl pays, receiving the carefully wrapped package in her hands.

At home, her mother makes breakfast just for the two. The girl hurries in with a parcel wrapped in beautiful red ribbon, in which she hands to the older woman. A small tree, the size of her daughter, stands on the kitchen table, adorned with a  pretty star and lit lights all around.

My Short Story: The Ornament

© 2009 Hachiko Yukimora

She walked through the abundance of snow the next morning. Her boots crunching into the plethora of frozen fluff, and it brought her great joy. The instances were tiresome, though, having to lift up her feet to keep her pace. Though her adventure was hard on her diminutive body, her determination took over, and she was once again, peering through secretly into the toy shop across the yard. The old man was missing, and it was dark inside. Only the light from the sky was giving her enough to look inside. The little girl could see her breath upon the frosty window, as it melted away insufficient ice into dew. She wonders where the man was, gaping here and there. There was nobody to be found, she finds herself alone, the snow around her untouched within nothing but her own footsteps. Everything seemed still.

I wish, I wish… The girl thought to herself, her eyes fixated on something round in the window. Squinting her eyes to see, she recognizes it straight away. It was so small, perhaps too delicate to hold. She thinks that perhaps her mother would like to have it. But what to do, since she was so small, she had no money to do such. And then, ah-ha!

She did not wait today for her mother to call. In fact, the little girl began to make her way towards the warm and hearty home that she shared. From time to time, the girl would look back, watching the shop grow smaller and smaller. Across the courtyard, she stops in front of the wooden door. Her mother was still sleeping, she knew. So, she slowly creeks the door open, and then slowly closed it.