Writing a review paper
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Photography Research Paper
Area I A. Compose the names of all the photography and photography-related professions that you know about. â⬠Wedding photography, Under-water photography, Sports photography, General photograph professions. B. At that point do a starter inquire about and compose the names of at any rate 5 more photography-related professions. Business photography Portrait and family photography Pet, Animal and untamed life photography Police, Law authorization and criminal scientific imaging photography Aerial photography C. Next, pick three of these professions and compose three inquiries you have about each. Picture and family photography-What makes an incredible family photo?What piece procedures are most significant while considering family photo's. Is Family photography a decent paying activity? is it well known? Submerged Photography-What gear is recomended for utilize submerged. What is your preferred article to take pictures of submerged. What difficulties are introduced when taking phot ographs submerged. Ethereal Photography-How would you take pictures from a flying perspective? what techniques are utilized to get higher up? What makes for a decent subject from a flying perspective? What amount of cash would an airborne picture taker make typically? Area II A. Marine Photographer: This activity involves taking pictures submerged. This activity incorporates taking pictures submerged utilizing either SCUBA or un-maned wanderers with camera's. - Education and preparing prerequisites would incorporate being SCUBA confirmed or guaranteed to do whatever sort of plunging expected to take the photos. - The compensation for a marine picture taker in California is somewhere in the range of 40, and 50,000$ - As a submerged photographic artist you are taking pictures of marine life for either research and overview purposes or essentially to catch the magnificence found in the sea. Elevated Photographer: Taking photographs from top perspectives, for example, pictures from a pl ane looking down. Preparing for this activity incorporates a Multi year degree, you should spend significant time in photography, Flight preparing is required just as hands on sky photography preparing. - Salary for this sort of picture taker ranges from 50,000 â⬠200,000. - As an ethereal picture taker you may invest your energy expressly getting your work or taking pictures for a particular organization. These photographs might be utilized for Survey purposes or they might be per-demand by a solitary individual. This would be a troublesome activity to get into as it requires a lot of preparing and experience. Representation and family photography: These picture takers take pictures of individuals, families, spots, or occasions. photographic artists require a decent eye for an image and have astounding specialized and photographic abilities. They should have great correspondence and relationship building abilities. Picture takers must be acceptable with PC projects, for example, photoshop and be financially mindful and great at showcasing themselves. - Salaries for family picture takers go somewhere in the range of 12,000 and 50,000 every year or more. - These picture takers may fall under a particular kind of photography concentrating on family photographery or they might be general photographic artists taking a wide aray of pictures including representation and family photography. B.Marine Photographer: reaction from Robert Bailey Hi there, a debt of gratitude is in order for the caring words glad to help. To what extent have you been into photography? Since 1990, I've generally been keen on photography since the age of 10 and when I took up plunging there was no doubt that I would be taking a camera in the water to bring back the stunning scenes and show individuals my disclosures. How could you get your beginning in photography? As an adolescent I generally had the thought I might want to draw and was finished poop! I got a camera one day and acknowled ged I could communicate my masterful self through a camera.I've never thought back. I recollect the first occasion when somebody alluded to me as a craftsman as being huge. What are your key advantages inside the business? Despite the fact that I am not an expert my work has been distributed, and I have worked intermittantly on proficient tasks ashore and submerged. I partner with a many experts. I am constantly intrigued to perceive what sells in the market. You'd be shocked by what offers, contradicted to what individuals like to hold tight their dividers. Estimating yourself in the market is significant. Numerous geniuses whine individuals part with their pictures and degrade the market.I am constantly intrigued by what organizations are eager to pay for. I regularly talk with experts before I offer pictures to magazines. Where do you do the majority of your work? Most of my work is done in UK waters. I live and work in the UK so it bodes well to exploit all the zone brings to th e table. I accomplish work abroad intermittently, however I incline toward cooler atmospheres. One objective I have is to plunge under ocean ice in the Arctic, or Antarctic. What do you appreciate most about this kind of photography? Being submerged resembles no other condition, there's no interruption with cell phones, and individuals talking.I like the test of having the option to make a plunge brutal situations and show individuals the excellence, particularly in the UK, the same number of feel it's regularly dim and melancholy and there's no shading. What is the most significant thing to make sure to get a decent picture? The absolute most significant component in getting a decent submerged picture is to draw near to your subject, for the most part a limit of three feet for most subjects, once in a while inches away. It relies upon the size of the subject you are shooting. Clearly a 30 foot lolling shark is unique in relation to a one inch shrimp.The other thing is tied in with seeing light, regardless of whether you are utilizing counterfeit light,, or normal light, or adjusting the two. The following interesting point is the foundation and whether the subject is open or not. We make a decent attempt as submerged picture takers to not harm the earth for an image. What is your preferred photo of your own and why? I don't have one specific top pick. This progressions all the time as the fixation to continue making new material. I like the nearby pictures of Lemon sharks I have done clearly. There are such a large number of others, difficult to state really.Some the ones which has won national rivalries are not, at this point my top choices as I want to improve now. What kinds of gear would you suggest for use submerged? My significant other shoots with a Canon S95 and a straightforward lodging, and make extraordinary pictures. I utilize a Nikon D300, Inon Z240 Strobes, and an assortment of focal points. My most utilized focal points are the Nikkor 60 mm lar ge scale for close up and little subjects. For wide edge work I utilize a Tokina 10-17mm. I'd prefer to pressure great pictures are not about the hardware, it's everything about the photographic artist. Individuals frequently take a gander at a decent picture and state you should have a decent camera.This isn't the situation. The camera is a the device, the photogapher is the skilled worker. You don't need to go through a great deal of cash to get great pictures. You need to contribute the time, comprehend the neighborhood conditions, and know your subject. What is your preferred article to take pictures of submerged? There are beyond any reasonable amount to list. I like sharks, shrimps, seals, ocean slugs, fish, jumpers, wrecks when the perceivability licenses. What difficulties are introduced when taking photograph's submerged? Above all else, we aren't intended to be submerged. We are land animals. So the main test is you should be a gifted diver.All your hardware, bouyancy cont rol in the water, air the board should be right on the money, else you will never make a decent picture. At that point there's the flows, tide, perceivability, the cold, and the climate. At that point there's the subject, the vast majority of which are continually moving, and barely ever where you need them, when you need them. I can genuinely say making pictures submerged is most likely more testing than some other condition. I think this is the reason I am so over the top about doing it, it is difficult. I truly trust this causes you. Am glad to talk about further after work obviously. In the event that you need a few pictures I will get you out. Try not to spare a moment to call me.Regards, RB How I Found Robert Bailey: I discovered Robert Bailey on ââ¬Å"UnderwaterPhotography. comâ⬠C. Submerged photography as a vocation in photography appears the most intriguing decision. I am presently a jumper and discover I am generally agreeable while in the water. The best thing abou t catching a picture of a jumper in clear water is the way that it looks just as the jumper is flying. This is an unnatural situation for people and can be perilous and to have the option to catch the magnificence in it is astonishing. Catalog URL (www. robertbaileyphotography. com). Robert Bailey, 11-27-12 Bailey, Robert. Submerged picture taker. 11-27-12
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Sunday, July 26, 2020
How Much Do School Psychologists Earn
How Much Do School Psychologists Earn Student Resources Careers Print How Much Do School Psychologists Earn? By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Updated on July 23, 2019 Michaela Begsteiger / Getty Images More in Student Resources Careers APA Style and Writing Study Guides and Tips School psychologists work in educational settings to help young people with academic, social, and emotional problems. Being a psychologist is often identified as a hot career due to expected growth in job demand in the coming years, thanks to an increased need within the educational system, as well as an expected increase in the number of psychologists retiring. In 2014, 25% of psychologists worked in schools. School Psychologist Ranks as a Top Career In 2017, U.S. News and World Report ranked school psychology as one of their 50 best careers of the year. School psychologists made their list thanks to good salaries for professionals in the field and a strong projected job outlook. Of course, salary should never be your only consideration when selecting a career. Other factors such as quality of life, type of work, and job demand should also factor into your decision. That said, school psychology is expected to continue to grow in the coming years as the demand for psychological services in educational settings rises. According to projections by the U.S. Department of Labor, the demand for school psychologists is expected to grow by an estimated 20 percent from 2014 to 2024, which is considered much faster than the average for all other occupations. So just how much might you expect to earn each year as a school psychologist? Salaries The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reports that in May 2016, psychologists employed in both private and public elementary and secondary schools earned a mean annual salary of $72,910. Specific salaries vary depending on a number of factors including geographic location and years of experience. Annual salaries tend to be higher in major metropolitan areas, although its important to note that these areas also generally have a higher cost of living. How to Become a School Psychologist Youll need a doctorate or a specialist-level degree to become a school psychologist. After youve completed your graduate degree, youll need to become certified or licensed by the state in which you are working. Salaries Versus Other Education-Related Fields How do earnings for school psychologists compare to others employed in the field of education? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, school psychologists average more per year than school counselors ($54,560 average per year), elementary school teachers ($55,490 average per year), high school teachers ($58,030 average per year), and special education teachers ($57,910 average per year). Miscellaneous Statistics Other statistics regarding school psychologists from the Bureau of Labor Statistics report of May 2016: The best salaries for school psychologists were in New Jersey, South Dakota, California, New York, and Oregon.The states with the highest number of jobs for school psychologists were California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
Friday, May 22, 2020
Friday, May 8, 2020
The 1992 Los Angeles Riots Essay - 1587 Words
Introduction This paper will cover the events that took place within the first five days in south central Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict . History In 1992 the city of Los Angeles was one of our nationââ¬â¢s largest cities. It had an estimated population of over 9 million.1 The city had been in a deteriorating state for several years. There also had been tension growing between the citizens and the police for nearly the last 30 years. This had a lot to do with riots that occurred in Los Angeles back in the 1960ââ¬â¢s.2 In 1965 riots in L.A. occurred after a routine stop by the police involving drunk driving. This stop occurred very close the driverââ¬â¢s residence where massive crowd began to build. When it was all said and doneâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Over the course of the next year the tensions and suspense from this case continued to grow. The police knew that civil unrest was going to occur no matter how the outcome of this case, but knew it stood to be worse had the defendants be found not guilty. On April 29th the day of the verdict, there were reporters both inside and outside the court room. This would add to how wide spread the unrest would occur and how fast it would develop. The verdict had come out that all four police officers were found not guilty on all accounts except for one account on one officer in which it was ruled a mistrial on that account.4 With the large amount of media coverage and the anticipation of a guilty verdict by many of the local citizens, the disturbances and violence spread quickly . Execution/action The initial start point of the riots (caught on camera) was at the intersection of Florence and Normandie. There police were making an arrest where crowds quickly arose. The police called for backup but were still having difficulty with the arrest as they were continually being interfered with and were outnumbered. The situation rapidly became dangerous and in what would later become a very controversial call, the overwhelmed police were ordered to retreat. This retreat would prove to be very empowering to the now formed mob. Since the police would not return to thatShow MoreRelatedThe Los Angeles Riots Of 19921524 Words à |à 7 PagesThe Los Angeles riots of 1992, the worst civil disturbance in America, brought to light the deepening racial and class divisions that were growing in the U.S. The division of between the rich and the poor, the immigrants and natives, and majority and minority produced an atmosphere of fear, distrust, and hopelessness. Due to the struggle to gain power by racial and ethnic groups, the aftermath of the Los Angeles riots was clouded with racial and ethnical conflicts. However, the riots did increaseRead MoreThe Los Angeles Riots of 1992 Essay1341 Words à |à 6 Pages ââ¬Å"April 26th, 1992, there was a riot on the streets, tell me where were you!? You were sittin home watchin your TV, while I was paticipatin in some anarchy,â⬠these are the lyrics Sublime uses in their song ââ¬ËApril 26, 1992ââ¬â¢ to describe what happened during the Los Angeles Riots of 1992. ââ¬Å"First spot we hit it was my liquor store. I finally got all that alcohol I cant afford. With red lights flashin time to retire, And then we turned that liquor store into a structure fire,â⬠people ,runningRead More The 1992 Los Angeles Riots Essay2045 Words à |à 9 PagesThe 1992 Los Angeles Riots April 26th, 1992, there was a riot on the streets, tell me where were you? You were sittin home watchin your TV, while I was paticipatin in some anarchy. First spot we hit it was my liquor store. I finally got all that alcohol I cant afford. With red lights flashin time to retire, and then we turned that liquor store into a structure fire. Next stop we hit it was the music shop, it only took one brick to make that window drop. Finally we got our own p.a. whereRead More The Watts Riots Essay1381 Words à |à 6 Pagesthen have a mob of people with built up tension and anger, ready to crush and destroy whatever stands in their way of their demonstration. Central Los Angeles, California was blown away by one of those demonstrations. It was the worst urban riot since the 1943 disturbance in Detroit (Bradley 896). According to reports, the Los Angeles riot all started on the evening of August 11, 1965: Two white California Highway Patrol Officers pursued a weaving automobile for six blocks before stoppingRead MoreChaos Of Los Angeles Riots / Civil Disturbance1482 Words à |à 6 PagesEnglish 1A 23, September 2016 Chaos in Los Angeles Many people believe the cause of the 1992 Los Angeles riots/civil disturbance was due to the acquittal of four LAPD officers who had been charged with the use of excessive force in the videotaped arrest and beating of Rodney King, following a high-speed police chase. Many believed the verdict was unjust, that in fact excessive force was used in the arrest. As a result, many feel this injustice caused the riots. When people take the time to doRead MoreJustice Is One Of The Most Important Moral And Political Concepts898 Words à |à 4 Pagesfrom the Latin jus, meaning right or law. Since the beginning of time, injustice has been an issue each individual has experienced during his or her daily lives. Even today we still are experiencing riots and protests from African American in order to achieve justice. In Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 by Anna Deavere Smith we see an example of injustice through the Rodney King case and the shooting of Latasha Harlins. Rodney King and Latasha H arlins experienced racial injustice, which can be definedRead MoreCivil Rights And Social Integration Of African Americans1409 Words à |à 6 Pagesthe 20th century there were numerous riots, protests, and boycotts fighting for the equality and social integration of African-Americans. Some of the stories of individuals endeavoring for their freedom have gone down in historyââ¬âresulting in laws being altered, regulations being revised, and unimaginable boundaries being broken. Sadly, in order to establish justice in this world, violence and death usually occur due to conflicting ideals. In Southern Los Angeles, even after African-Americans were issuedRead MoreTwilight : Los Angeles, 1992, By Anna Deavere Smith Essay1235 Words à |à 5 PagesTwilight: Los Angeles, 1992, is a one-woman performance piece written and originally performed by Anna Deavere Smith, who was commissioned to transcribe regarding the 1992 Los Angeles riots corresponding with individualââ¬â¢s experiences , outlooks, and concerns that contributed to those who were exacerbated by the abominable and nerve racking riots. For her production, Smith interviewed hundreds of Los Angelesââ¬â¢ residents who were present during the occurrence of the riot. The entire script consists actualRead MoreHistorical, Social and Political Issues in the Movie Freedom Writers998 Words à |à 4 Pagesbelonging. In the film, the Freedom Writers were made following the Rodney King trial in 1992 and the OJ Simpson murder case in 1994. These trials brought out the sensitive issues about injustices experienced by people of different ethnic origin. The Rodney King trial provided the filmââ¬â¢s background and was presented by showing footages of the 1992 Los Angeles riot. The riot that started April 29, 1992 was triggered by the public announcement over the decision to acquit the LAPD officers chargedRead MoreThe La Riots : Perception Vs. Reality1845 Words à |à 8 PagesTrillo EN 101-40 Prof. Grace von Moritz Due: 04/17/2016 The LA Riots: Perception vs. Reality The Los Angeles riots of 1992 was one of the largest scale riots in American history. Though the riots started just hours after the infamous not guilty verdict in the Rodney King trial, there were many factors that contributed to the anarchy created by certain members of the Los Angeles community. The mediaââ¬â¢s coverage of the trial and riots focused on the concept that the black community had reached their
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
You Suck A Love Story Chapter 16~17 Free Essays
string(26) " is strong with this one\." Chapter Sixteen Being the Chronicles of Abby Normal: Completely Fucked Servant of the Vampyre Flood OMFG-WOOT! I have failed, left my duty undone, like so much dog poop on the gloaming sidewalk of the tragedy that is my life. Even as I sit here at the Metreon Starbucks, writing this, the froth slaves seem to move like silver-eyed zombies and my nonfat, soy Amaretto Mochaccino has gone as bitter as snake bile. (Which is like the bitterest bile you can get. We will write a custom essay sample on You Suck: A Love Story Chapter 16~17 or any similar topic only for you Order Now ) If there wasnââ¬â¢t a totally hot guy two tables away, acting like he doesnââ¬â¢t notice me, I would weep ââ¬â but real tears make your mascara run, so Iââ¬â¢m staying chilly in my despair. Your loss, cute guy, for I have been chosen. Suffer, bitch! I had to leave Lord Flood to his own devices last night, but before I left, I confessed my undying love for him. I am a hopeless hose beast. All I had to do was say good-bye, but no, I just barked it out. Itââ¬â¢s like he has this power over me ââ¬â like I have an eating disorder and heââ¬â¢s a package of Oreo Double Stuff cookies. (I donââ¬â¢t have an eating disorder, Iââ¬â¢m just skinny because I enjoy eating mass quantities and then yakking it back up. Itââ¬â¢s not a body-image problem. I think my system has always wanted to live on a liquid diet, and until Iââ¬â¢m brought into my Dark Lordââ¬â¢s loving embrace, then itââ¬â¢s Starbucks for me.) I have been trying to call my Dark Lord and the Countess all day on their cells, but I kept getting voice mail. Well, duh ââ¬â theyââ¬â¢re vampires. They wonââ¬â¢t be answering the phone. Iââ¬â¢m such a tard sometimes. So I went to the old loft early this morning, in fact even before dawn. I should be, like, made a Bronte sister for coming up with a story to get out of the house that early, but I wanted to talk to the master before his slumber. Thing was, the scary drunk guy and his huge cat were gone, but so were my master and the Countess. Everything had been moved except the statue of the turtle and the Countess. So I rolled out, headed for the new loft I rented, when I spotted two cops sitting in a POS brown car. I knew they were vampyre hunters right away. It must be the masterââ¬â¢s dark powers rubbing off on me. There was a big fat gay cop and a sharp-faced Hispano-cop. So I was like, ââ¬Å"Could you guys look any more like cops?â⬠And they were like, ââ¬Å"Move along, little lady.â⬠So I was forced to point out to them that they were not the boss of me and then I proceeded to humiliate them by verbally bitch-slapping them until they cried. What is it about the crusties? Their minds work so slowly that you have to, like, prompt them to stand up so you can slap them again until they faint like the little wuss-bags that they are. I never want to be crusty. And I wonââ¬â¢t be, because my Lord will bring me into the fold and I shall stalk the night for eternity, my beauty forever preserved as it is, except Iââ¬â¢d like a little bigger boobs. Anyway, I wandered around on Market Street and up in Union Square to give the cops enough time to slink off to lick their wounds, then I returned to the masterââ¬â¢s street to check the new loft. This time there was this Asian guy sitting across the street in a Honda, looking all Manga-cool, but it was obvious that he was watching the loft door. He didnââ¬â¢t look like a cop, but he was definitely watching, so I stopped and pretended to watch the sculptors work who have the space under the masterââ¬â¢s old loft. They are these two crusty biker guys, but they do some amazing shit. Theyââ¬â¢d left the garage door open so I stepped in. They were putting dead chickens on wires and dipping them in silver paint, then hanging them on sticks by the wires. So I was all, ââ¬Å"What the fuck, biker? What are you doing?â⬠And one of them was like, ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s almost the year of the cock.â⬠And I was all), ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t be gross, you crustacious fuck. You pull that thing out and Iââ¬â¢ll pepper-spray you until you fry.â⬠(You have to be stern with weenie waggers ââ¬â Iââ¬â¢ve been exposed to on the bus over seventeen times, so I know.) And he was like, ââ¬Å"No, itââ¬â¢s the year of the cock in the Chinese zodiac.â⬠Which I knew, of course. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re making statues,â⬠said the bigger biker, who was named Frank. (The other oneââ¬â¢s name was Monk. He didnââ¬â¢t talk much, which might explain the name.) So they showed me how they took real dead roosters they bought in Chinatown, ran wires through them to pose them, then dipped them in a thin metallic paint, then put them in this big tank and attached electric clips to them. They pass some current through the clips and the current attracts bronze molecules or something to the metallic paint. Itââ¬â¢s like instant bronze rooster. I thought about the statue of the Countess upstairs and got a little creeped out. So Iââ¬â¢m all, ââ¬Å"You ever do a person?â⬠And they were like, ââ¬Å"No way, that would be wrong. Youââ¬â¢d better go now, because weââ¬â¢re behind and donââ¬â¢t you have school and stuff?â⬠So walking out, I saw the Asian guy checking me out and I was like, ââ¬Å"Hey, itââ¬â¢s almost the year of the cock. Shouldnââ¬â¢t you be out shopping for one?â⬠He looked really nervous, but he kinda grinned. Then started his car and drove off, but he wants me, I can tell, so heââ¬â¢ll be back. I hope he wants me. He was so cute ââ¬â in that Final Fantasy Thirty-Seven way. What Iââ¬â¢m saying is, the Sex Fu is strong with this one. You read "You Suck: A Love Story Chapter 16~17" in category "Essay examples" So there was no sign of my Dark Lord or the Countess at the new place. I wonder if they have crawled under the earth in some park and satisfied their perverse desires with each other among the worms and the tree roots. Eww! Oh well, almost dark. Iââ¬â¢d better go back to the loft and wait for them. Addendum: The lice shampoo didnââ¬â¢t work on my sister. Looks like we might have to shave her head. Iââ¬â¢m going to try to talk her into getting a pentagram tattooed on her scalp. I know a guy in the Haight who will do it for free if you verbally abuse him while heââ¬â¢s tattooing. More later. Sundown. Jody awoke to pain and the smell of cooking meat. She rolled away from the source of the pain and went crashing through the acoustical ceiling tiles to land in a commercial sink full of dishes and soapy water. A Mexican guy was backing across the dish room crossing himself and invoking saints in Spanish as Jody climbed out of the sink and brushed suds off her jacket and jeans. When she touched the front of her thighs she nearly leapt back through the ceiling the pain was so sharp. ââ¬Å"Mother-fuck-that-hurts!â⬠she said, hopping around on one foot, because that will generally help all manner of pain, regardless of where itââ¬â¢s located on the body. Her boot heel clicking against the tiles sounded like a limping flamenco dancer. The dishwasher turned and bolted out of the dish room into the bakery. The bakery. When the alarm on her watch had threatened dawn she ran down the alley checking doors as she went, and the only one she found unlocked led into the stockroom of a bakery. She needed a place to hide where sheââ¬â¢d be undisturbed while she slept, and although she considered hiding under a couple of the fifty-pound bags of flour, she had no way of knowing if the bakers would be using them today. Sheââ¬â¢d already awakened in a morgue once before (when Tommy had frozen her), and finding a rotund necrophiliac morgue attendant rubbing his hands and other bits over her seminaked body while she thawed had soured her to the whole morgue experience. No, she had to find someplace more secluded. One of the bakers had been coming into the stockroom, she could hear his voice and footfalls outside the door. She looked around for somewhere to hide, then spotted the grimy acoustic ceiling tiles suspended above. She leapt onto the pallet of flour, lifted a tile to see that the ceiling was suspended a full four feet below the structural ceiling. Bless old buildings. She grabbed a water pipe, pulled herself through the ceiling, jackknifed her legs up and around the pipe, then used her free hand to pull the ceiling tile back in place, all in less than two seconds. She listened as the man moved around below her, then scooped up one of the big bags of flour and left the room. That was a good call. She checked her watch. Less than a minute before sheââ¬â¢d go out. She spotted four pipes running together parallel to the floor. They were slightly warm, which was why she could see them at all in the darkness, but each was two inches around and braced to the ceiling every few feet. Theyââ¬â¢d hold her. She scrambled over to the pipes, squirmed out of her leather jacket, and put it across the pipes, then lay facedown on top of it. This way, even if one of her legs slipped off, it wouldnââ¬â¢t pull her off the pipes. She was trying to wedge the toes of her boots into the gap between the pipes when she went out. The problem was that the pipes werenââ¬â¢t used that early in the morning. As the building awoke, hot water began coursing through them, and Jody had been subjected to the heat all day. Her jacket had protected her face and torso, but her thighs had been slow-cooked inside her jeans. She gritted her teeth and bolted through the dish room door into the back room of the bakery. So now itââ¬â¢s deserted. Of course, bakers work in the middle of the night and the early morning. At sundown the dishwasher would be the only guy still in the building. She found her way to the stockroom, then out into the alley. She could see the entries to both of their lofts from the end of the alley, and fortunately, no one appeared to be watching from the street. There were lights on in the new loft and she made her way to the door, her legs burning with every step. She listened at the door ââ¬â did what she thought of as ââ¬Å"reaching out.â⬠If she focused she could almost hear shapes, depending on the ambient noise. There was someone in the loft ââ¬â she could hear the heartbeat, industrial music playing in headphones, the shuffling of a body ââ¬â a light body dancing. It was the kid, Abby Normal. Where in the hell was Tommy? He couldnââ¬â¢t be far from the loft ââ¬â the sun had gone down only five minutes ago. Jody pounded on the door, but the shuffling sounds upstairs didnââ¬â¢t change rhythm, and she pounded again, this time leaving a dent in the metal door. Fuck, the kid has the headphones cranked and canââ¬â¢t hear a thing. Jody shivered, although not because of the cold, but because the hunger was rising in her. Her body telling her she needed to feed so she could heal. Sheââ¬â¢d only done it once before, and wasnââ¬â¢t sure she could pull it off again, but she needed to get into the loft and leave a lockable door intact. She concentrated as the old vampire had taught her, and gradually, she felt herself fading ââ¬â going to mist. Monet was no longer dressed as the statue guy, no longer in character ââ¬â not that character, anyway. Now he was the masta-blasta, gansta-rappa, full-ninja-badass and a bag of mothafuckinââ¬â¢ chips, bi-yatch ââ¬â bent on revenge and whatnot. Heââ¬â¢d given up midafternoon on making any money and had gone home to remove his makeup and lick his wounds. Heââ¬â¢d taken a vicious ass-whuppinââ¬â¢ today, even if it was only to his ego. But now he was rolling with his homies, P.J. and Fly, they would put that bronze muthafucka down ââ¬â if he was still around. If he didnââ¬â¢t run away like a little bitch. ââ¬Å"You strapped?â⬠Fly said, adjusting his do-rag as he drove his ten-year-old Honda Civic with rims worth more than the rest of the car. ââ¬Å"Huh?â⬠Monet inquired. ââ¬Å"Do you have a weapon?â⬠Fly said, enunciating all Royal Shakespeare Company precise. ââ¬Å"Oh, yeah.â⬠Monet pulled the Glock out of his waistband and showed it to Fly. ââ¬Å"Nigga, put that shit down,â⬠said P.J., who was in the backseat, wearing a Phat Pharm tracksuit that was four sizes too big for him. ââ¬Å"Sorry,â⬠Monet said, tucking the gun back into the waistband of his jeans. Heââ¬â¢d borrowed the Glock ââ¬â rented it, really ââ¬â from a real gangsta in Hunterââ¬â¢s Point, who needed it back in two hours or heââ¬â¢d charge another twenty-five bucks. Before he gave Monet the gun, he made him swear that no one would be wearing gang colors, so nothing Monet did could come back on him. Monet had made the assurance, then, after P.J. did a Google search for gang colors, they settled on orange do-rags, since no gang seemed to claim that one. ââ¬Å"Highway Safety Posse, yo,â⬠Monet had said. ââ¬Å"Yo, Stone Tangerine Thugs, yo,â⬠suggested Fly. ââ¬Å"Yo, yo, yo, check it out,â⬠said P.J., with enough hand gestures that any deaf person watching would have thought he had ASL Touretteââ¬â¢s syndrome. ââ¬Å"Cheesy Goldfish Crew.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yo, dog, thatââ¬â¢s so stupid itââ¬â¢s not stupid,â⬠Monet said. ââ¬Å"Is that good?â⬠asked Fly. ââ¬Å"Yo, dog, get in character.â⬠Fly was a bad actor. They were all in the same acting class. He should have just hired real gangsters to do this. P.J. was probably going to trip over the legs of his track pants and completely ruin their intimidation. ââ¬Å"This is it,â⬠Fly said, pulling off the street, right up onto the sidewalk of the Embarcadero by the Ferry Building. ââ¬Å"That him?â⬠ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s him,â⬠Monet said. There was no one around but the occasional passing car, but the new statue guy still stood there. ââ¬Å"Remember,â⬠Fly said. ââ¬Å"Walk. Donââ¬â¢t run up. Just walk, like you got all the time in the world. Use your sense memories.â⬠ââ¬Å"Right, right, right,â⬠Monet said. He and P.J. got out of the car and quickstepped across the bricks to where the statue guy was running his game. Damn, he was good, didnââ¬â¢t even flinch. As he reached the statue guy, Monet raised the Glock and the barrel connected with the statueââ¬â¢s forehead. ââ¬Å"Bi-yatch!â⬠There was a dull clank. ââ¬Å"Whoa,â⬠P.J. said. ââ¬Å"Nigga really is a statue.â⬠Monet tapped the statue, three dull clanks. ââ¬Å"Yep.â⬠ââ¬Å"But he got all that money in his shoes,â⬠P.J. said. ââ¬Å"Well, take it, stupid,â⬠Monet said. ââ¬Å"Yo, step off, Monet. Iââ¬â¢m not the one that got upstaged by a statue.â⬠ââ¬Å"Shut up,â⬠Monet said. P.J. was grabbing handfuls of bills out of the Big Gulp cups at the statueââ¬â¢s feet and shoving them into his pockets. ââ¬Å"Must be a G here, G.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yo,â⬠Monet said. ââ¬Å"Help me get the statue into the car.â⬠P.J. stood and got one shoulder under the statue and tried to lift it, while Monet tucked the gun in his pants and got under the other. They dragged the statue only a couple of feet before they had to set it down and catch their breath. ââ¬Å"Motherfucker heavy,â⬠P.J. said. ââ¬Å"Would you guys come on!â⬠Fly screamed from the car, totally out of character now. ââ¬Å"Fuck this,â⬠Monet said. This whole thing was just too embarrassing. Heââ¬â¢d paid rent on the gun, hadnââ¬â¢t he? He drew the Glock from his waistband and squeezed one off at the statue. ââ¬Å"Shit,â⬠P.J. said, ducking. ââ¬Å"Are you crazy?â⬠ââ¬Å"Bi-atch need to learn a ââ¬â â⬠Monetââ¬â¢s comment was choked off. P.J. stood up and looked back. There was smoke streaming out of the bullet hole in the statue, and in the second he watched, it had formed into a hand and grabbed Monet by the throat. P.J. turned to run, but something caught the hood of his tracksuit and yanked him back off his feet. He could hear Monet gagging and choking. Then he felt a sharp pain in the side of his neck and he felt suddenly light-headed. The last thing he saw was Fly peeling away in the Honda. Chapter Seventeen Being the Chronicles of Abby Normal: Newly Baptized Minion of the Night Bow before me, skeezy mortals, for now I see you for the pathetic little rodents that you are. Scurry before my dazzling darkness, daysters, for I am your mistress, your queen, your goddess ââ¬â I have been brought into the fold ââ¬â I am Abigail Von Normal, NOSFERATU, bitches! Sort of. OMG. It was so fucking cool ââ¬â like coming twice with Skittles and a Coke. I was in the loft, spacing into my jams on my MP3 player. I had downloaded the latest Dead Can Dub CD (Death Boots Badonka Mix) at the Starbucks and it was totally transcendent. I was transported to an ancient Romanian castle, where everyone had done X and was dancing totally chill and sensuous (with perfect hair). I was grinding a free-form booty dance on the armchair ââ¬â perfecting my dance gestalt ââ¬â when I saw some smoke coming in under the door. (I canââ¬â¢t wait to dance with Jared to this new CD. Heââ¬â¢s so going to love this move I do. Thatââ¬â¢s what I love about dancing with gay guys. If they get wood during a booty dance, you can just take it as a compliment, not an agenda. Jared said that if I was a guy, he would totally suck my dick. He can be so sweet.) So I pulled out one of my headphones and I was like, ââ¬Å"Whoa, fire in the staircase ââ¬â sucks to be me.â⬠Thereââ¬â¢s only one exit, so, you know, blackened Abby coming up. But the smoke formed into a pillar, and then it started growing arms and legs. When I saw it had eyes I ran into the bedroom and shut the door. I wasnââ¬â¢t trippinââ¬â¢ or anything, just totally calm. But it wasnââ¬â¢t like when your friends hold your hair while you puke and tell you itââ¬â¢s just the drugs and youââ¬â¢ll be okay ââ¬â so I went for the safe thing of locking the door so I could assess the situation. Then the door just ââ¬Ësplodes into splinters and thereââ¬â¢s the Countess, totally naked, standing in the doorway with the knob in her hand. And she was totally hot, except that her legs were all fucked up, like they were burned or rotted or something. So Iââ¬â¢m all, ââ¬Å"You totally wrecked your deposit.â⬠And the Countess like grabs my hair and pulls me to her and bites my neck, just like that. It didnââ¬â¢t really hurt ââ¬â it was more surprising ââ¬â like you woke up from getting a root canal to find your dentist going down on you. Well, not exactly like that ââ¬â more mystical. But still, surprising. (Okay, it hurt, but not as much as the time Lily tried to pierce our nipples with a compass from geometry class and an ice cube. Youch!) She smelled like burning meat, and I tried to push her away, but it was like my limbs were paralyzed or there was a fat guy sitting on me ââ¬â like I was buried alive or something, just watching it happen. And then I started to get lightheaded and I thought I was going to pass out. Thatââ¬â¢s when the ho dropped me. She goes, ââ¬Å"Go downstairs and get my clothes off the sidewalk. And make coffee.â⬠And Iââ¬â¢m like, Wait a minute, I just lost my mortality virginity, shouldnââ¬â¢t I get a cigarette and a fucking towel or something? But I just said, ââ¬Å"Okay,â⬠because where the Countess was all burned was healing while I watched, and it was kind of freaking me out to be looking at her naked, burned-up thighs and her totally red pubes anyway. So I went downstairs and just outside the door there was a homeless guy digging through a pile of clothes. Well, really, he was sniffing her panties. And because I donââ¬â¢t feel we always do enough to help the homeless, I was like, ââ¬Å"Take them, and tell no one what you witnessed here tonight.â⬠(I was already feeling the superiority of my Nosferatitude, so it only seemed appropriate that I go all noblesse oblige on his ass.) So off he went to sniff the lacy crotch of the undead while I went back upstairs to find coffee filters. So when I get up there the Countess is dressed and hair brushed and sheââ¬â¢s all, ââ¬Å"Where is Tommy? Have you seen Tommy? Did you talk to those cops? And whereââ¬â¢s Tommy?â⬠And I was all, ââ¬Å"Countess, begging your pardon and shit, but you need to chill. The vampyre Flood was gone when I got here this morning, and so was that bronze statue from the other side. I thought you guys went off to sleep in the damp womb of your native soil or something.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yuck!â⬠goes the Countess. Then she tightens down all of sudden. ââ¬Å"Make me a cup of coffee, two sugars, and squeeze one of those vials of blood into it ââ¬â and call us a cab.â⬠And I was like, ââ¬Å"Hey, step off, Countess. Iââ¬â¢m one of you and you are not the boss of me and ââ¬â ââ¬Å" And she said, ââ¬Å"I said for us, didnââ¬â¢t I?â⬠So I did her bidding ââ¬â well, our bidding, really ââ¬â and we took a cab over to the Marina Safeway, but why we didnââ¬â¢t transform into bats and fly is beyond me. Anyway, we were there in ten minutes. But as we start to pull in, the Countess tells the driver to keep going. She was all, ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s Rivera and Cavuto. This is not good.â⬠The POS brown cop car was parked in front of the store. I was all, ââ¬Å"Cops? Their shit is weak.â⬠She seemed surprised that I knew the cops, but I told her how I had owned them like the little wussy-boys that they are and I could tell that the Countess was feeling pretty good about bringing me into the dark fold of the coven. Then she was all, ââ¬Å"Fucking Clint ââ¬â heââ¬â¢s telling them about Tommy.â⬠But I couldnââ¬â¢t even see what she was looking at beyond the big glass front of the Safeway. I guess my powers will develop as time goes on. Five hundred years is a long time to get your vampyre kung fu down. The Countess had the driver drop us at Fort Mason, so we could still see the front of the Safeway, and we stood in the fog like the creatures of the night that we were while we waited for the cops to leave. Then the Countess put her arm around my shoulders and she was all, ââ¬Å"Abby, Iââ¬â¢m sorry I, uh, attacked you like that. I was hurt really badly and to heal I needed fresh blood. I wasnââ¬â¢t really in control of myself. It wonââ¬â¢t happen again.â⬠ââ¬Å"No worries,â⬠I told her. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m honored to be promoted. Besides, it was kind of hot.â⬠Which it was, you know, except for the smell of burning flesh and stuff. And she was all, ââ¬Å"Well, thanks for looking out for us.â⬠And I was all, ââ¬Å"Pardon, Countess, but why are we at the Safeway?â⬠Because itââ¬â¢s not like we needed groceries. And she was all, ââ¬Å"These guys used to work with Tommy, and one of them knows that he is, uh, one of the children of the night. I think they might know something about where he is now.â⬠Then, over at the Safeway, we saw this goofy-looking guy with frizzy hair and glasses unlock the front door and let the cops out. They got in their car and the frizzy guy locked the front door behind them. ââ¬Å"Showtime,â⬠said the Countess. She zipped up her leather jacket, took a pair of sunglasses out of her jacket pocket, and put them on. She goes, ââ¬Å"Stay back, Abby. Iââ¬â¢ll be right back.â⬠Then she started across the parking lot toward the Safeway, taking big strides and looking all angel of vengeance, with her red hair flying out behind her, and the lights shining down on her through the fog. I was like, ââ¬Å"Oh shit!â⬠She didnââ¬â¢t even slow down. When she got about ten feet from the front window she snatched up one of the steel-reinforced trash cans like it was made of cardboard and flung it through the window. And she just kept walking! Little cubes of safety glass rained down on her and she just walked through the front of the store like she owned it and everyone in it ââ¬â which she did. Before I even got in the store, she was coming back around the corner, dragging the frizzy-haired guy by the throat. She threw him up against a rack of wine bottles, which shattered, spilling red all over the floor and splattering the registers and stuff. I was all, ââ¬Å"Oh, dog, Countess gonna crack open a forty of whup-ass on you now. Oh, you in the shit now, wigga!â⬠(I am not inclined to use hip-hop vernacular often, but there are times when, like French, it just better expresses the sentiment of the moment.) Just then the whole crowd of guys Iââ¬â¢d seen in the limo came running around the corner. The Countess snatched a wine bottle off the rack, and without a second of hesitation, she threw it and it hit the first guy, a tall, hippie-looking guy, right in the middle of the forehead and he went down like he was shot. She goes, ââ¬Å"Back!â⬠and they all headed back around the corner the way they came, except the hippie-looking guy, who was out cold. Then the Countess picked up the guy with glasses by the throat. And even though he was like a foot taller than her, she whipped him around like a rag doll until he was screaming stuff about Satan and Jesus and telling her to get behind him and shit. And the Countess was all, ââ¬Å"Where is Tommy?â⬠And he was all, ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know. I donââ¬â¢t know.â⬠And the Countess grabbed him by the hair and held his head steady against the wine rack. Real chilly, she says, ââ¬Å"Clint, Iââ¬â¢m going to take your right eye now. Then if you donââ¬â¢t tell me where Tommy is, Iââ¬â¢m going to take your left. Ready. On three. Oneâ⬠¦ Twoâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Then heââ¬â¢s all, ââ¬Å"I didnââ¬â¢t have anything to do with it. Sheââ¬â¢s the spawn of Satan, I told them that.â⬠ââ¬Å"Three!â⬠goes the Countess. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s in Lashââ¬â¢s apartment on Northpoint. I donââ¬â¢t know the number.â⬠And the Countess just yells ââ¬Å"Number?â⬠out to the whole store. And the black guy pops up from behind a display of Cheerios and is all, ââ¬Å"Six ninety-three Northpoint, Apartment 301.â⬠And one of the other guys pulls him back down. Then the Countess is all, ââ¬Å"Thank you. If heââ¬â¢s hurt, Iââ¬â¢ll be back.â⬠And she throws the Clint guy through a rack of Doritos, which exploded their nacho cheesy goodness all over the place. Then sheââ¬â¢s all, ââ¬Å"Well, thatââ¬â¢s a nice surprise.â⬠And Iââ¬â¢m all, ââ¬Å"That Lord Flood is in an apartment on Northpoint?â⬠ââ¬Å"I didnââ¬â¢t think they would really know. I just didnââ¬â¢t know where else to start.â⬠ââ¬Å"Probably your senses attuned to Lord Floodââ¬â¢s presence over the eons,â⬠I said, like a total tard. And sheââ¬â¢s all, ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s go, Abby.â⬠And I donââ¬â¢t know why, I guess because I had like low blood sugar or something from blood loss, but I was like, ââ¬Å"Can I get some gum?â⬠And she was all, ââ¬Å"Sure. Grab some coffee, too. Whole beans. Weââ¬â¢re almost out.â⬠So I did. And when I caught up with her, she was halfway across the parking lot, headed back toward Ghirardelli Square, and little pieces of safety glass were still shining in her hair and she smiled at me when I caught up and I just couldnââ¬â¢t help myself, because that was the coolest thing Iââ¬â¢d ever seen. Ever! And I was all, ââ¬Å"Countess, I love you.â⬠And she put her arm around me and kissed me on the forehead and goes, ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s get Tommy.â⬠I guess Iââ¬â¢ll start feeling my vampyre powers tomorrow night, but right now I feel like a total fucking loser. But I am so going to rule when school starts again. How to cite You Suck: A Love Story Chapter 16~17, Essay examples
You Suck A Love Story Chapter 16~17 Free Essays
string(26) " is strong with this one\." Chapter Sixteen Being the Chronicles of Abby Normal: Completely Fucked Servant of the Vampyre Flood OMFG-WOOT! I have failed, left my duty undone, like so much dog poop on the gloaming sidewalk of the tragedy that is my life. Even as I sit here at the Metreon Starbucks, writing this, the froth slaves seem to move like silver-eyed zombies and my nonfat, soy Amaretto Mochaccino has gone as bitter as snake bile. (Which is like the bitterest bile you can get. We will write a custom essay sample on You Suck: A Love Story Chapter 16~17 or any similar topic only for you Order Now ) If there wasnââ¬â¢t a totally hot guy two tables away, acting like he doesnââ¬â¢t notice me, I would weep ââ¬â but real tears make your mascara run, so Iââ¬â¢m staying chilly in my despair. Your loss, cute guy, for I have been chosen. Suffer, bitch! I had to leave Lord Flood to his own devices last night, but before I left, I confessed my undying love for him. I am a hopeless hose beast. All I had to do was say good-bye, but no, I just barked it out. Itââ¬â¢s like he has this power over me ââ¬â like I have an eating disorder and heââ¬â¢s a package of Oreo Double Stuff cookies. (I donââ¬â¢t have an eating disorder, Iââ¬â¢m just skinny because I enjoy eating mass quantities and then yakking it back up. Itââ¬â¢s not a body-image problem. I think my system has always wanted to live on a liquid diet, and until Iââ¬â¢m brought into my Dark Lordââ¬â¢s loving embrace, then itââ¬â¢s Starbucks for me.) I have been trying to call my Dark Lord and the Countess all day on their cells, but I kept getting voice mail. Well, duh ââ¬â theyââ¬â¢re vampires. They wonââ¬â¢t be answering the phone. Iââ¬â¢m such a tard sometimes. So I went to the old loft early this morning, in fact even before dawn. I should be, like, made a Bronte sister for coming up with a story to get out of the house that early, but I wanted to talk to the master before his slumber. Thing was, the scary drunk guy and his huge cat were gone, but so were my master and the Countess. Everything had been moved except the statue of the turtle and the Countess. So I rolled out, headed for the new loft I rented, when I spotted two cops sitting in a POS brown car. I knew they were vampyre hunters right away. It must be the masterââ¬â¢s dark powers rubbing off on me. There was a big fat gay cop and a sharp-faced Hispano-cop. So I was like, ââ¬Å"Could you guys look any more like cops?â⬠And they were like, ââ¬Å"Move along, little lady.â⬠So I was forced to point out to them that they were not the boss of me and then I proceeded to humiliate them by verbally bitch-slapping them until they cried. What is it about the crusties? Their minds work so slowly that you have to, like, prompt them to stand up so you can slap them again until they faint like the little wuss-bags that they are. I never want to be crusty. And I wonââ¬â¢t be, because my Lord will bring me into the fold and I shall stalk the night for eternity, my beauty forever preserved as it is, except Iââ¬â¢d like a little bigger boobs. Anyway, I wandered around on Market Street and up in Union Square to give the cops enough time to slink off to lick their wounds, then I returned to the masterââ¬â¢s street to check the new loft. This time there was this Asian guy sitting across the street in a Honda, looking all Manga-cool, but it was obvious that he was watching the loft door. He didnââ¬â¢t look like a cop, but he was definitely watching, so I stopped and pretended to watch the sculptors work who have the space under the masterââ¬â¢s old loft. They are these two crusty biker guys, but they do some amazing shit. Theyââ¬â¢d left the garage door open so I stepped in. They were putting dead chickens on wires and dipping them in silver paint, then hanging them on sticks by the wires. So I was all, ââ¬Å"What the fuck, biker? What are you doing?â⬠And one of them was like, ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s almost the year of the cock.â⬠And I was all), ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t be gross, you crustacious fuck. You pull that thing out and Iââ¬â¢ll pepper-spray you until you fry.â⬠(You have to be stern with weenie waggers ââ¬â Iââ¬â¢ve been exposed to on the bus over seventeen times, so I know.) And he was like, ââ¬Å"No, itââ¬â¢s the year of the cock in the Chinese zodiac.â⬠Which I knew, of course. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re making statues,â⬠said the bigger biker, who was named Frank. (The other oneââ¬â¢s name was Monk. He didnââ¬â¢t talk much, which might explain the name.) So they showed me how they took real dead roosters they bought in Chinatown, ran wires through them to pose them, then dipped them in a thin metallic paint, then put them in this big tank and attached electric clips to them. They pass some current through the clips and the current attracts bronze molecules or something to the metallic paint. Itââ¬â¢s like instant bronze rooster. I thought about the statue of the Countess upstairs and got a little creeped out. So Iââ¬â¢m all, ââ¬Å"You ever do a person?â⬠And they were like, ââ¬Å"No way, that would be wrong. Youââ¬â¢d better go now, because weââ¬â¢re behind and donââ¬â¢t you have school and stuff?â⬠So walking out, I saw the Asian guy checking me out and I was like, ââ¬Å"Hey, itââ¬â¢s almost the year of the cock. Shouldnââ¬â¢t you be out shopping for one?â⬠He looked really nervous, but he kinda grinned. Then started his car and drove off, but he wants me, I can tell, so heââ¬â¢ll be back. I hope he wants me. He was so cute ââ¬â in that Final Fantasy Thirty-Seven way. What Iââ¬â¢m saying is, the Sex Fu is strong with this one. You read "You Suck: A Love Story Chapter 16~17" in category "Essay examples" So there was no sign of my Dark Lord or the Countess at the new place. I wonder if they have crawled under the earth in some park and satisfied their perverse desires with each other among the worms and the tree roots. Eww! Oh well, almost dark. Iââ¬â¢d better go back to the loft and wait for them. Addendum: The lice shampoo didnââ¬â¢t work on my sister. Looks like we might have to shave her head. Iââ¬â¢m going to try to talk her into getting a pentagram tattooed on her scalp. I know a guy in the Haight who will do it for free if you verbally abuse him while heââ¬â¢s tattooing. More later. Sundown. Jody awoke to pain and the smell of cooking meat. She rolled away from the source of the pain and went crashing through the acoustical ceiling tiles to land in a commercial sink full of dishes and soapy water. A Mexican guy was backing across the dish room crossing himself and invoking saints in Spanish as Jody climbed out of the sink and brushed suds off her jacket and jeans. When she touched the front of her thighs she nearly leapt back through the ceiling the pain was so sharp. ââ¬Å"Mother-fuck-that-hurts!â⬠she said, hopping around on one foot, because that will generally help all manner of pain, regardless of where itââ¬â¢s located on the body. Her boot heel clicking against the tiles sounded like a limping flamenco dancer. The dishwasher turned and bolted out of the dish room into the bakery. The bakery. When the alarm on her watch had threatened dawn she ran down the alley checking doors as she went, and the only one she found unlocked led into the stockroom of a bakery. She needed a place to hide where sheââ¬â¢d be undisturbed while she slept, and although she considered hiding under a couple of the fifty-pound bags of flour, she had no way of knowing if the bakers would be using them today. Sheââ¬â¢d already awakened in a morgue once before (when Tommy had frozen her), and finding a rotund necrophiliac morgue attendant rubbing his hands and other bits over her seminaked body while she thawed had soured her to the whole morgue experience. No, she had to find someplace more secluded. One of the bakers had been coming into the stockroom, she could hear his voice and footfalls outside the door. She looked around for somewhere to hide, then spotted the grimy acoustic ceiling tiles suspended above. She leapt onto the pallet of flour, lifted a tile to see that the ceiling was suspended a full four feet below the structural ceiling. Bless old buildings. She grabbed a water pipe, pulled herself through the ceiling, jackknifed her legs up and around the pipe, then used her free hand to pull the ceiling tile back in place, all in less than two seconds. She listened as the man moved around below her, then scooped up one of the big bags of flour and left the room. That was a good call. She checked her watch. Less than a minute before sheââ¬â¢d go out. She spotted four pipes running together parallel to the floor. They were slightly warm, which was why she could see them at all in the darkness, but each was two inches around and braced to the ceiling every few feet. Theyââ¬â¢d hold her. She scrambled over to the pipes, squirmed out of her leather jacket, and put it across the pipes, then lay facedown on top of it. This way, even if one of her legs slipped off, it wouldnââ¬â¢t pull her off the pipes. She was trying to wedge the toes of her boots into the gap between the pipes when she went out. The problem was that the pipes werenââ¬â¢t used that early in the morning. As the building awoke, hot water began coursing through them, and Jody had been subjected to the heat all day. Her jacket had protected her face and torso, but her thighs had been slow-cooked inside her jeans. She gritted her teeth and bolted through the dish room door into the back room of the bakery. So now itââ¬â¢s deserted. Of course, bakers work in the middle of the night and the early morning. At sundown the dishwasher would be the only guy still in the building. She found her way to the stockroom, then out into the alley. She could see the entries to both of their lofts from the end of the alley, and fortunately, no one appeared to be watching from the street. There were lights on in the new loft and she made her way to the door, her legs burning with every step. She listened at the door ââ¬â did what she thought of as ââ¬Å"reaching out.â⬠If she focused she could almost hear shapes, depending on the ambient noise. There was someone in the loft ââ¬â she could hear the heartbeat, industrial music playing in headphones, the shuffling of a body ââ¬â a light body dancing. It was the kid, Abby Normal. Where in the hell was Tommy? He couldnââ¬â¢t be far from the loft ââ¬â the sun had gone down only five minutes ago. Jody pounded on the door, but the shuffling sounds upstairs didnââ¬â¢t change rhythm, and she pounded again, this time leaving a dent in the metal door. Fuck, the kid has the headphones cranked and canââ¬â¢t hear a thing. Jody shivered, although not because of the cold, but because the hunger was rising in her. Her body telling her she needed to feed so she could heal. Sheââ¬â¢d only done it once before, and wasnââ¬â¢t sure she could pull it off again, but she needed to get into the loft and leave a lockable door intact. She concentrated as the old vampire had taught her, and gradually, she felt herself fading ââ¬â going to mist. Monet was no longer dressed as the statue guy, no longer in character ââ¬â not that character, anyway. Now he was the masta-blasta, gansta-rappa, full-ninja-badass and a bag of mothafuckinââ¬â¢ chips, bi-yatch ââ¬â bent on revenge and whatnot. Heââ¬â¢d given up midafternoon on making any money and had gone home to remove his makeup and lick his wounds. Heââ¬â¢d taken a vicious ass-whuppinââ¬â¢ today, even if it was only to his ego. But now he was rolling with his homies, P.J. and Fly, they would put that bronze muthafucka down ââ¬â if he was still around. If he didnââ¬â¢t run away like a little bitch. ââ¬Å"You strapped?â⬠Fly said, adjusting his do-rag as he drove his ten-year-old Honda Civic with rims worth more than the rest of the car. ââ¬Å"Huh?â⬠Monet inquired. ââ¬Å"Do you have a weapon?â⬠Fly said, enunciating all Royal Shakespeare Company precise. ââ¬Å"Oh, yeah.â⬠Monet pulled the Glock out of his waistband and showed it to Fly. ââ¬Å"Nigga, put that shit down,â⬠said P.J., who was in the backseat, wearing a Phat Pharm tracksuit that was four sizes too big for him. ââ¬Å"Sorry,â⬠Monet said, tucking the gun back into the waistband of his jeans. Heââ¬â¢d borrowed the Glock ââ¬â rented it, really ââ¬â from a real gangsta in Hunterââ¬â¢s Point, who needed it back in two hours or heââ¬â¢d charge another twenty-five bucks. Before he gave Monet the gun, he made him swear that no one would be wearing gang colors, so nothing Monet did could come back on him. Monet had made the assurance, then, after P.J. did a Google search for gang colors, they settled on orange do-rags, since no gang seemed to claim that one. ââ¬Å"Highway Safety Posse, yo,â⬠Monet had said. ââ¬Å"Yo, Stone Tangerine Thugs, yo,â⬠suggested Fly. ââ¬Å"Yo, yo, yo, check it out,â⬠said P.J., with enough hand gestures that any deaf person watching would have thought he had ASL Touretteââ¬â¢s syndrome. ââ¬Å"Cheesy Goldfish Crew.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yo, dog, thatââ¬â¢s so stupid itââ¬â¢s not stupid,â⬠Monet said. ââ¬Å"Is that good?â⬠asked Fly. ââ¬Å"Yo, dog, get in character.â⬠Fly was a bad actor. They were all in the same acting class. He should have just hired real gangsters to do this. P.J. was probably going to trip over the legs of his track pants and completely ruin their intimidation. ââ¬Å"This is it,â⬠Fly said, pulling off the street, right up onto the sidewalk of the Embarcadero by the Ferry Building. ââ¬Å"That him?â⬠ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s him,â⬠Monet said. There was no one around but the occasional passing car, but the new statue guy still stood there. ââ¬Å"Remember,â⬠Fly said. ââ¬Å"Walk. Donââ¬â¢t run up. Just walk, like you got all the time in the world. Use your sense memories.â⬠ââ¬Å"Right, right, right,â⬠Monet said. He and P.J. got out of the car and quickstepped across the bricks to where the statue guy was running his game. Damn, he was good, didnââ¬â¢t even flinch. As he reached the statue guy, Monet raised the Glock and the barrel connected with the statueââ¬â¢s forehead. ââ¬Å"Bi-yatch!â⬠There was a dull clank. ââ¬Å"Whoa,â⬠P.J. said. ââ¬Å"Nigga really is a statue.â⬠Monet tapped the statue, three dull clanks. ââ¬Å"Yep.â⬠ââ¬Å"But he got all that money in his shoes,â⬠P.J. said. ââ¬Å"Well, take it, stupid,â⬠Monet said. ââ¬Å"Yo, step off, Monet. Iââ¬â¢m not the one that got upstaged by a statue.â⬠ââ¬Å"Shut up,â⬠Monet said. P.J. was grabbing handfuls of bills out of the Big Gulp cups at the statueââ¬â¢s feet and shoving them into his pockets. ââ¬Å"Must be a G here, G.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yo,â⬠Monet said. ââ¬Å"Help me get the statue into the car.â⬠P.J. stood and got one shoulder under the statue and tried to lift it, while Monet tucked the gun in his pants and got under the other. They dragged the statue only a couple of feet before they had to set it down and catch their breath. ââ¬Å"Motherfucker heavy,â⬠P.J. said. ââ¬Å"Would you guys come on!â⬠Fly screamed from the car, totally out of character now. ââ¬Å"Fuck this,â⬠Monet said. This whole thing was just too embarrassing. Heââ¬â¢d paid rent on the gun, hadnââ¬â¢t he? He drew the Glock from his waistband and squeezed one off at the statue. ââ¬Å"Shit,â⬠P.J. said, ducking. ââ¬Å"Are you crazy?â⬠ââ¬Å"Bi-atch need to learn a ââ¬â â⬠Monetââ¬â¢s comment was choked off. P.J. stood up and looked back. There was smoke streaming out of the bullet hole in the statue, and in the second he watched, it had formed into a hand and grabbed Monet by the throat. P.J. turned to run, but something caught the hood of his tracksuit and yanked him back off his feet. He could hear Monet gagging and choking. Then he felt a sharp pain in the side of his neck and he felt suddenly light-headed. The last thing he saw was Fly peeling away in the Honda. Chapter Seventeen Being the Chronicles of Abby Normal: Newly Baptized Minion of the Night Bow before me, skeezy mortals, for now I see you for the pathetic little rodents that you are. Scurry before my dazzling darkness, daysters, for I am your mistress, your queen, your goddess ââ¬â I have been brought into the fold ââ¬â I am Abigail Von Normal, NOSFERATU, bitches! Sort of. OMG. It was so fucking cool ââ¬â like coming twice with Skittles and a Coke. I was in the loft, spacing into my jams on my MP3 player. I had downloaded the latest Dead Can Dub CD (Death Boots Badonka Mix) at the Starbucks and it was totally transcendent. I was transported to an ancient Romanian castle, where everyone had done X and was dancing totally chill and sensuous (with perfect hair). I was grinding a free-form booty dance on the armchair ââ¬â perfecting my dance gestalt ââ¬â when I saw some smoke coming in under the door. (I canââ¬â¢t wait to dance with Jared to this new CD. Heââ¬â¢s so going to love this move I do. Thatââ¬â¢s what I love about dancing with gay guys. If they get wood during a booty dance, you can just take it as a compliment, not an agenda. Jared said that if I was a guy, he would totally suck my dick. He can be so sweet.) So I pulled out one of my headphones and I was like, ââ¬Å"Whoa, fire in the staircase ââ¬â sucks to be me.â⬠Thereââ¬â¢s only one exit, so, you know, blackened Abby coming up. But the smoke formed into a pillar, and then it started growing arms and legs. When I saw it had eyes I ran into the bedroom and shut the door. I wasnââ¬â¢t trippinââ¬â¢ or anything, just totally calm. But it wasnââ¬â¢t like when your friends hold your hair while you puke and tell you itââ¬â¢s just the drugs and youââ¬â¢ll be okay ââ¬â so I went for the safe thing of locking the door so I could assess the situation. Then the door just ââ¬Ësplodes into splinters and thereââ¬â¢s the Countess, totally naked, standing in the doorway with the knob in her hand. And she was totally hot, except that her legs were all fucked up, like they were burned or rotted or something. So Iââ¬â¢m all, ââ¬Å"You totally wrecked your deposit.â⬠And the Countess like grabs my hair and pulls me to her and bites my neck, just like that. It didnââ¬â¢t really hurt ââ¬â it was more surprising ââ¬â like you woke up from getting a root canal to find your dentist going down on you. Well, not exactly like that ââ¬â more mystical. But still, surprising. (Okay, it hurt, but not as much as the time Lily tried to pierce our nipples with a compass from geometry class and an ice cube. Youch!) She smelled like burning meat, and I tried to push her away, but it was like my limbs were paralyzed or there was a fat guy sitting on me ââ¬â like I was buried alive or something, just watching it happen. And then I started to get lightheaded and I thought I was going to pass out. Thatââ¬â¢s when the ho dropped me. She goes, ââ¬Å"Go downstairs and get my clothes off the sidewalk. And make coffee.â⬠And Iââ¬â¢m like, Wait a minute, I just lost my mortality virginity, shouldnââ¬â¢t I get a cigarette and a fucking towel or something? But I just said, ââ¬Å"Okay,â⬠because where the Countess was all burned was healing while I watched, and it was kind of freaking me out to be looking at her naked, burned-up thighs and her totally red pubes anyway. So I went downstairs and just outside the door there was a homeless guy digging through a pile of clothes. Well, really, he was sniffing her panties. And because I donââ¬â¢t feel we always do enough to help the homeless, I was like, ââ¬Å"Take them, and tell no one what you witnessed here tonight.â⬠(I was already feeling the superiority of my Nosferatitude, so it only seemed appropriate that I go all noblesse oblige on his ass.) So off he went to sniff the lacy crotch of the undead while I went back upstairs to find coffee filters. So when I get up there the Countess is dressed and hair brushed and sheââ¬â¢s all, ââ¬Å"Where is Tommy? Have you seen Tommy? Did you talk to those cops? And whereââ¬â¢s Tommy?â⬠And I was all, ââ¬Å"Countess, begging your pardon and shit, but you need to chill. The vampyre Flood was gone when I got here this morning, and so was that bronze statue from the other side. I thought you guys went off to sleep in the damp womb of your native soil or something.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yuck!â⬠goes the Countess. Then she tightens down all of sudden. ââ¬Å"Make me a cup of coffee, two sugars, and squeeze one of those vials of blood into it ââ¬â and call us a cab.â⬠And I was like, ââ¬Å"Hey, step off, Countess. Iââ¬â¢m one of you and you are not the boss of me and ââ¬â ââ¬Å" And she said, ââ¬Å"I said for us, didnââ¬â¢t I?â⬠So I did her bidding ââ¬â well, our bidding, really ââ¬â and we took a cab over to the Marina Safeway, but why we didnââ¬â¢t transform into bats and fly is beyond me. Anyway, we were there in ten minutes. But as we start to pull in, the Countess tells the driver to keep going. She was all, ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s Rivera and Cavuto. This is not good.â⬠The POS brown cop car was parked in front of the store. I was all, ââ¬Å"Cops? Their shit is weak.â⬠She seemed surprised that I knew the cops, but I told her how I had owned them like the little wussy-boys that they are and I could tell that the Countess was feeling pretty good about bringing me into the dark fold of the coven. Then she was all, ââ¬Å"Fucking Clint ââ¬â heââ¬â¢s telling them about Tommy.â⬠But I couldnââ¬â¢t even see what she was looking at beyond the big glass front of the Safeway. I guess my powers will develop as time goes on. Five hundred years is a long time to get your vampyre kung fu down. The Countess had the driver drop us at Fort Mason, so we could still see the front of the Safeway, and we stood in the fog like the creatures of the night that we were while we waited for the cops to leave. Then the Countess put her arm around my shoulders and she was all, ââ¬Å"Abby, Iââ¬â¢m sorry I, uh, attacked you like that. I was hurt really badly and to heal I needed fresh blood. I wasnââ¬â¢t really in control of myself. It wonââ¬â¢t happen again.â⬠ââ¬Å"No worries,â⬠I told her. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m honored to be promoted. Besides, it was kind of hot.â⬠Which it was, you know, except for the smell of burning flesh and stuff. And she was all, ââ¬Å"Well, thanks for looking out for us.â⬠And I was all, ââ¬Å"Pardon, Countess, but why are we at the Safeway?â⬠Because itââ¬â¢s not like we needed groceries. And she was all, ââ¬Å"These guys used to work with Tommy, and one of them knows that he is, uh, one of the children of the night. I think they might know something about where he is now.â⬠Then, over at the Safeway, we saw this goofy-looking guy with frizzy hair and glasses unlock the front door and let the cops out. They got in their car and the frizzy guy locked the front door behind them. ââ¬Å"Showtime,â⬠said the Countess. She zipped up her leather jacket, took a pair of sunglasses out of her jacket pocket, and put them on. She goes, ââ¬Å"Stay back, Abby. Iââ¬â¢ll be right back.â⬠Then she started across the parking lot toward the Safeway, taking big strides and looking all angel of vengeance, with her red hair flying out behind her, and the lights shining down on her through the fog. I was like, ââ¬Å"Oh shit!â⬠She didnââ¬â¢t even slow down. When she got about ten feet from the front window she snatched up one of the steel-reinforced trash cans like it was made of cardboard and flung it through the window. And she just kept walking! Little cubes of safety glass rained down on her and she just walked through the front of the store like she owned it and everyone in it ââ¬â which she did. Before I even got in the store, she was coming back around the corner, dragging the frizzy-haired guy by the throat. She threw him up against a rack of wine bottles, which shattered, spilling red all over the floor and splattering the registers and stuff. I was all, ââ¬Å"Oh, dog, Countess gonna crack open a forty of whup-ass on you now. Oh, you in the shit now, wigga!â⬠(I am not inclined to use hip-hop vernacular often, but there are times when, like French, it just better expresses the sentiment of the moment.) Just then the whole crowd of guys Iââ¬â¢d seen in the limo came running around the corner. The Countess snatched a wine bottle off the rack, and without a second of hesitation, she threw it and it hit the first guy, a tall, hippie-looking guy, right in the middle of the forehead and he went down like he was shot. She goes, ââ¬Å"Back!â⬠and they all headed back around the corner the way they came, except the hippie-looking guy, who was out cold. Then the Countess picked up the guy with glasses by the throat. And even though he was like a foot taller than her, she whipped him around like a rag doll until he was screaming stuff about Satan and Jesus and telling her to get behind him and shit. And the Countess was all, ââ¬Å"Where is Tommy?â⬠And he was all, ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know. I donââ¬â¢t know.â⬠And the Countess grabbed him by the hair and held his head steady against the wine rack. Real chilly, she says, ââ¬Å"Clint, Iââ¬â¢m going to take your right eye now. Then if you donââ¬â¢t tell me where Tommy is, Iââ¬â¢m going to take your left. Ready. On three. Oneâ⬠¦ Twoâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Then heââ¬â¢s all, ââ¬Å"I didnââ¬â¢t have anything to do with it. Sheââ¬â¢s the spawn of Satan, I told them that.â⬠ââ¬Å"Three!â⬠goes the Countess. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s in Lashââ¬â¢s apartment on Northpoint. I donââ¬â¢t know the number.â⬠And the Countess just yells ââ¬Å"Number?â⬠out to the whole store. And the black guy pops up from behind a display of Cheerios and is all, ââ¬Å"Six ninety-three Northpoint, Apartment 301.â⬠And one of the other guys pulls him back down. Then the Countess is all, ââ¬Å"Thank you. If heââ¬â¢s hurt, Iââ¬â¢ll be back.â⬠And she throws the Clint guy through a rack of Doritos, which exploded their nacho cheesy goodness all over the place. Then sheââ¬â¢s all, ââ¬Å"Well, thatââ¬â¢s a nice surprise.â⬠And Iââ¬â¢m all, ââ¬Å"That Lord Flood is in an apartment on Northpoint?â⬠ââ¬Å"I didnââ¬â¢t think they would really know. I just didnââ¬â¢t know where else to start.â⬠ââ¬Å"Probably your senses attuned to Lord Floodââ¬â¢s presence over the eons,â⬠I said, like a total tard. And sheââ¬â¢s all, ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s go, Abby.â⬠And I donââ¬â¢t know why, I guess because I had like low blood sugar or something from blood loss, but I was like, ââ¬Å"Can I get some gum?â⬠And she was all, ââ¬Å"Sure. Grab some coffee, too. Whole beans. Weââ¬â¢re almost out.â⬠So I did. And when I caught up with her, she was halfway across the parking lot, headed back toward Ghirardelli Square, and little pieces of safety glass were still shining in her hair and she smiled at me when I caught up and I just couldnââ¬â¢t help myself, because that was the coolest thing Iââ¬â¢d ever seen. Ever! And I was all, ââ¬Å"Countess, I love you.â⬠And she put her arm around me and kissed me on the forehead and goes, ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s get Tommy.â⬠I guess Iââ¬â¢ll start feeling my vampyre powers tomorrow night, but right now I feel like a total fucking loser. But I am so going to rule when school starts again. How to cite You Suck: A Love Story Chapter 16~17, Essay examples
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