Filed under: actual transcripts
A desk manager and an overweight, sweaty man are discussing the nature of the hotel’s pet policy.
CARLO YUEN, MANAGER You see, sir, it’s not that we don’t like dogs. We do. But we have to deep clean the rooms after every stay when we have a pet there, so we charge extra.
FAT MAN (nods) (looks at woman next to him) Luckily, our dogs are hairless.
For me, packing largely means throwing things away. I have a massive guilt complex surrounding the act of discarding – birthday cards, scraps of paper that could be useful, et cetera.
But we talked a lot in JustFaith about simplifying, and I don’t think anyone would argue that my life, in particular, actually needs to be more complicated. Most oddsmakers, in fact, would probably bet the opposite. So I’m about to pitch all of the papers I’ve been storing in my desk, including a collection of poetry written by the fourth graders at the school where I was teaching in the spring of 2009.
Some of these, however, need to be preserved. I suppose that’s what the internets are for, ultimately. So here you go.
My Sister
Cool
Caring
My sister is very
nice she is
the best sister.
My sister is cool
by playing things that
I like to play.
My sister is sweet
because when it is a
holiday she never
buys anything for
me she always makes the
gift.
– Ricky L.
Me and my cousin got up
early
I went to McDonalds
for breakfast
then stopped
at my cousin’s house
We walked 27 blocks
We were ALL the way back
by the TV screens
I was jumping on people’s backs
Later we went
home
and made
hot chocolate.
– Remy H.
This next one I chose for its use of capitalization. Very dramatic.
I was sitting
in
my desk
then I started
talking
then my teacher told me
to
SHUSH!
So I
said
I’m the
GOOD
KID!
So my
teacher said
Go to the
other class
NOW!
(she meant back to second grade…)
So
I got
in
TROUBLE
and I
had to deal with Mom…
– Jared B.
funny
smart
brave
He takes good care of me each
and every day
My dad lets me help
him with the cooking
He helps me with my homework
each and every day
funny
smart
brave
I love you Daddy to
the moon and back again
Peace, big Daddy.
– Jada M.
My struggling parents struggle
But I really like it when they snuggled
Please stop arguing, I say
But they usually say just pray.
Shall I be happy or sad?
Shall I be complaining or mad?
The rain falls down and cry
I always ask mom, why?
Her response has been praying
And I can’t understand what she’s saying.
My mom and I pray together
We shall always pray, forever.
My dad always loved my mom.
My dad always tries to be calm.
Stay calm and pray, I say.
Stay together, forever, I pray.
Stay in progress.
Stay in success.
I keep saying please stay together
Stay together forever
Thank you for trying, but do you think I should be crying?
Cry.
Try.
Why?
– Destanie M.
I like to view this next one as sort of Dada, largely because, despite my best efforts, I can make no sense of it at all.
She was begging for money
She left him for money
She lives in a fancy mansion
Oops, I forgot to mention
He never comes home
I wonder where he has gone?
Did he go to Rome?
Maybe that’s it.
(P.S. He is in Rome.)
– Zion C.
I miss my dog
I miss my dog
I really really do.
I miss my dog
I miss my dog
My father does, too.
– Lamont B.
One of the last days of June
My dad calls then
One of my cousins responds
Then my dad says pass the phone to Josue
Then I say hello then you’re coming to live with us
He surprised me that I was going
I was bouncing with happiness
In the morning
We woke up
We eat then we wait for a long time
We wait for two ladies to come pick us up.
She said who wants to go with them?
Then me and my grandma
And my sister
They let us go.
– Josue T.
I’m going to dream a thousand dreams
going to fly through the sky
just the birds and me.
I don’t care what they say about me.
I’m going to dream a thousand dreams.
I might be a doctor and help people feel good.
I might be an astronaut, if I do what I should.
I might be a teacher and help people read.
I might be the President and help people be free.
– Marjai S.
This is for my mother I got
to let her know how much
I love her there is no other
Here’s a song coming
straight from my
heart somewhere should I
yell I do lady I love you well
for talking to me when
I couldn’t talk for picking
me up when I couldn’t walk for teaching
like wrong from right
Thank you God, thank you
Mother for giving me life
You fed me when you
didn’t eat and still
kiss me and had love
when I was sick
I was young but I understood
She’s my mother
man’s best friend
See Pops never lied
he said nothing’s wrong
as I got older you
see the story goes on.
– Samuel P.
Intrepid Girl Reporter 