The Relationship of the Ghosts

By William Briner

            Haunted Campers by Allan Zullo is a collection of short stories. The story I’m focusing in on is “The Ghosts of Moorehaven Bridge”. In the middle of the story, BJ tells about his family history. They were slave owners. Out of four brothers, one of them is a brutal slave owner. His name was Hale Moore. Hale hated one slave in particular. The slaves name was Joad. One day after a brutal beating, Joad went down to the river to loosen up the pain. Hale caught him. Hale’s whip wraps around Joad’s hoe. Hale slips and hits his head on a rock. Joad slaps his master to death. On his deathbed, Joad went to go apologize to Hale’s ghost. The next day, Benedict found Joad dead on Moorehaven Bridge. Two topics I would like to discuss in this paragraph are murder and slavery. My personal belief about murder is it is only right if it’s in self defense. Let’s say you murder someone for the heck of it. I believe you should go to prison for life. In Joad’s case, Hale was trying to kill him. Joad killed Hale in self defense. I know living in the South has its advantages, but we are the most racist people in the USA. The South lost the Civil War in 1865 losing our rights to own slaves. Think about it, if we still had slaves, the world would never be the same.

            At the end of the story, BJ and Tiki find out that Tiki is related to Joad, and BJ is related to Hale. It was the first time in 126 years that both relatives were on the bridge at the same time. The last line suggests that Hale’s and Joad’s ghosts will never be at rest. Relationship with dead people and rest will be talked about. I’m related to Davy Crockett. He served in the House, fought in the Battle of the Alamo, and he was a hunter and an Indian fighter. As for rest, most people don’t rest in the afterlife. Alright I know most of us were being born, when this tragedy hit. The most legendary, controversial, and thuggish rapper came about. His name was 2pac. He was assassinated in 1996; some people claim 2pac’s ghost is in his car. Yup, he was killed in his car. So, what ghosts are you related to? Trust me; it will always be the relationship of the ghosts.

The Toy Soldiers’ Battle

By William Briner

          Like Toy Soldiers by Eminem explains the harsh brutality of being a rapper. “Step by step, heart to heart, left right left. We all fall down. Step by step, heart to heart, left right left. We all fall down like toy soldiers. Bit by bit, torn apart, we never win. But the battle wages on for toy soldiers.” We’re all toy soldiers destined to lose. Maybe not us personally, but someone we love will fall.

          This one line should sum it all up. “And even though the battle was won; I feel like we lost it. I spent too much energy on it; honestly I’m exhausted.” I feel like that after each battle I’m in.

The Toy Soldiers’ Battle

By William Briner

          Like Toy Soldiers by Eminem explains the harsh brutality of being a rapper. “Step by step, heart to heart, left right left. We all fall down. Step by step, heart to heart, left right left. We all fall down like toy soldiers. Bit by bit, torn apart, we never win. But the battle wages on for toy soldiers.” We’re all toy soldiers destined to lose. Maybe not us personally, but someone we love will fall.

          This one line should sum it all up. “And even though the battle was won; I feel like we lost it. I spent too much energy on it; honestly I’m exhausted.” I feel like that after each battle I’m in.

Am I Seeing Mirrors?

By William Briner

            In mirrors, you’re suppose to see your own reflection; not the reflection of others. If you’ve been through pain and suffering, and you’re going to see your past. If I’m lucky, and I’ll be seeing my past in the mirror. I’ll let you be the judge. Am I seeing mirrors?

            In “Mirror” by Lil Wayne and Bruno Mars; Lil Wayne talks about seeing his “reflection”. The last verse and beginning of the chorus says.

Looking at me now, I can see my past

Damn, I look just like my f****n dad

I light it up, that’s smoke in mirrors

I even look good in a broken mirror

I see my Mama’s smile; that’s a blessing

I see the change; I see the message

And no message coulda been clearer

So, I’m starting with the man in the

Chorus

Mirror on the wall (MJ taught me that)

That describes me almost perfectly. The part about Mama’s smile doesn’t. Every time I look in a mirror; I see a broken image. I will always be changing. What taught me to look in a broken mirror were the streets. I still wonder what would happen if I didn’t look at the glass as half full instead of half empty. Now tell me, am I seeing mirrors?

Why Give?

Why does a billionaire give? Billionaires give five to ten percent of their money to people of different causes. Why do billionaires do that? Is it because of their selfishness or kindness? Our obligation to give to people is our own right. If people decide to give, we will be in a better position. In my opinion, people we always be selfish, no matter what they are doing in life. According to Bill Gates, I am wrong; people will give for no apparent reason. So, if he is right then why are we still sitting down doing nothing. I'll tell you why, because of our selfish ways. 

When Will It Stop

By William Briner

                Bullying has been a problem in schools for awhile. Another victim, Amanda Todd, took her life because of being bullied. A chilling YouTube video gave details of the bullying. Amanda Todd did it herself. She did the video herself.

                The video opens up with Amanda Todd holding stacks of cards. She is showing each card. It’s about her bullying. It started in the seventh grade, when she flashed her breasts on live cam. She lost respect and friends due to that simple thing. Her friends urged her to flash her breasts. She did it so she wouldn’t lose her friends. She didn’t know she would lose them anyway. Why do our friends do us that way? I’ll tell you why it’s because of their arrogance for other’s to do what they won’t. I used to be bullied so I know what it is like to be put down.

                The cards went to go say that they made fun of her for doing it. She got surrounded by her bullies. First it was all talk, and then they hit her and beat her up. Where were the school officials at? I’ll tell you; they were on their butts watching it. Why couldn’t they stop it? They were too busy enjoying it. I remember when I was bullied they was too busy enjoying it. I learned to fight myself. I wasn’t taking it no more. I wished that is what Amanda Todd did, but she didn’t. She committed suicide.

                Suicide and bullying go hand and hand. Do you want to know how I know? I went through bullying and suicide. Every time I hear this happen I wish I was there to stop it. How kids act toward each other is pathetic. I wish it would stop.

                It’s time for us to end bullying now! Parents, teachers, and students need to act together to end bullying. It’s the only way to end bullying and suicide. So help me out and end bullying and suicide.  

Game of Thrones

By George R.R. Martin

I am reading Game of Thrones because of the rich history. Also because of the action in it. I also like it because of the truth it shows in the shows in the real world today.