Thursday, May 21, 2020
Malcolm X An International Treasure - 1736 Words
The people that share the same hardships often change the way they go about their lives. The suffering that they endure everyday often leads to a desire to make a change. Malcolm Little, better known as Malcolm X, suffered most of his life due to racism. The racism and discrimination he endured became so overwhelming that he decided to make a change and take action against white supremacy for blacks in America(Biography.com Editors). As an African-American, he and other African-Americans risked their lives to create a better life for themselves and the African-American race. The challenges that Malcolm X overcame and his success in his civil rights movement makes his life so significant. Malcolm X is an international treasure because he provided the African American community with confidence to fight against white supremacy. Surrounded by white supremacy, Malcolm Little experienced devastating losses that pushed him towards being independent. Little was born in a prejudiced society because his parents were active in anti-white-supremacist groups. His mother, Louise Norton, was apart of the Marcus Garvey Movement that preached all humans are equal; and his father, Earl Little, was very involved in the Universal Negro Improvement Association (Shabazz, Biography.com Editors). Following his parentsââ¬â¢ is what helped him become the natural leader he was (Esposito). Due to his parents involvement in these anti-white-supremacist groups, his family was often attacked by groups likeShow MoreRelatedTheology in the Public Square: Reflections on Reinhold Niebuhr and Malcolm X in a Racially Charged America2155 Words à |à 9 PagesTheology à in à the à Public à Square: à à Reflections à on à Reinhold à Niebuhr à and à Malcolm à X à in à a à Racially à Charged à America à This paper reflects the theological implications of life in the public square from the perspectives of two theologians in a very racially charged US of the 1950/60ââ¬â¢s. à à à One à can à conclude à from à the à Adamic à creation à account à that à God à created à humanityRead MoreLanguage On Every Scale : Steve Jobs1858 Words à |à 8 Pagesforcefulness, he pushed the advancement of technology to the limit and is arguably the main person responsible for how far the world has progressed in about twenty years. No matter the scale, from exchanging stories with a friend to creating an international company like Apple, language creates connections and benefits individuals and groups of people. Clearly, language is the most essential tool in everyday life, allowing people to connect, share, and learn. Some may argue that the power of languageRead More The Civil Rights Movements in Ireland and America Essay4811 Words à |à 20 Pagessettlement possible. Having secured the end of the hunger-strike, the British said they would give in-they lied. A second hunger-strike was initiated on March 1st 1981. It lasted 217 days, ending on October 3rd where the prisoners were given international political status and entitled to more rights, which Britain ignores to this day. Civil Rights in Ireland did not accomplish its goals. Since the British government undemocratically and violently created the State of Northern Ireland inRead MoreNew York City: History and Landmarks4966 Words à |à 20 Pages1924, 11 years after Morgan s death, his son J.P. Morgan Jr. turned the Morgan Library into a public institution; it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966. Today, the original McKim library is part of an expanded complex housing a treasure trove of artistic and literary works, including drawings by Michelangelo, Picasso and Rembrandt; manuscripts by such luminaries as Milton, Keats, Byron and Dickens; sheet music written by Mozart and Beethoven; a copy of Frankenstein annotated byRead MoreManagement Course: MbaâËâ10 General Management215330 Words à |à 862 PagesMBA Program McGraw-Hill/Irwin abc McGrawâËâHill Primis ISBN: 0âËâ390âËâ58539âËâ4 Text: Effective Behavior in Organizations, Seventh Edition Cohen Harvard Business Review Finance Articles The Power of Management Capital FeigenbaumâËâFeigenbaum International Management, Sixth Edition HodgettsâËâLuthansâËâDoh Contemporary Management, Fourth Edition JonesâËâGeorge Driving Shareholder Value MorinâËâJarrell Leadership, Fifth Edition HughesâËâGinnettâËâCurphy The Art of M A: Merger/Acquisitions/Buyout Guide, ThirdRead More50 Harmful Effects of Genetically Modified (Gm) Foods14312 Words à |à 58 PagesElasser and Brian McBride, only 19% of the hormone was destroyed despite boiling milk for 30 minutes when normal pasteurization is 15 seconds. Canada, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand have banned rBGR. The UN s Codex Alimentarius, an international health standards setting body, refused to certify rBGH as safe. Yet Monsanto continued to market this product in the US until 2008 when it finally divested under public pressure. This policy in the FDA was initiated by Margaret Miller, Deputy DirectorRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words à |à 656 Pagesand Adam McKeown 9 â⬠¢ 2 Twentieth-Century Urbanization: In Search of an Urban Paradigm for an Urban World â⬠¢ Howard Spodek 53 3 Women in the Twentieth-Century World Bonnie G. Smith 83 4 The Gendering of Human Rights in the International Systems of Law in the Twentieth Century â⬠¢ Jean H. Quataert 116 5 The Impact of the Two World Wars in a Century of Violence â⬠¢ John H. Morrow Jr. 161 6 Locating the United States in Twentieth-Century World History â⬠¢ Carl J. Guarneri Read MoreRastafarian79520 Words à |à 319 Pagesinto mourning when their sons would start sprouting them. I heard the term ââ¬Å"black heart manâ⬠used again and again as a means of expressing fear or ridicule of the Rastafarian. And this was in the early 1970sââ¬âafter Bob Marleys emergence as an international viii FOREWORD star, after Selassies arrival in Jamaica, and after so much had been written about the importance of Rastafarianism. The problem was that Rasta was counter to the strong Christian structure that dominated and continues
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
The Addiction Of Tobacco, Nicotine, And Smoking - 1492 Words
The addiction to tobacco, nicotine, and smoking is something the humans have embraced and battled since the early 1800ââ¬â¢s. With more and more people falling into the habit and becoming addicted, many detrimental health effects on the body caused people to question what was going on and what was causing these negative reactions in the body. Soon enough, the healthy and ââ¬Å"coolâ⬠cigarettes that everyone was smoking became the face of lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, birth defects, and many other deadly bodily reactions. In the early 2000ââ¬â¢s electronic cigarettes (ECs) were developed by a Chinese pharmacist that hoped to allow smokers to maintain their nicotine addiction, but limit or end the harmful and detrimental effects of tobacco on the body, due to his fatherââ¬â¢s death of tobacco-attributable lung cancer.1 A typical EC consists of a rechargeable lithium battery, a heating tool called an atomizer, which vaporizes a humectant (typically propylene glyc ol, vegetable glycerin, and/or polyethylene glycol 400). The humectant contains liquid nicotine. When the smoker inhales, the heating tool is activated by an airflow sensor, and the nicotine is vaporized.1 2 A cousin of mine, Susan, approached me after her father received open heart surgery. Susanââ¬â¢s father, age 59, has been a chronic smoker since the age of 19. What went from two cigarettes a day quickly become two packs a day, with no end in sight. During July of 2015 he complained of feeling dizziness, shortness of breath,Show MoreRelatedTobacco Addiction : The Strong Craving For The Addictive Substance Nicotine1356 Words à |à 6 PagesPaul Becker Professor Roger Gosselin English 102 25 October 2015 Tobacco Addiction Tobacco addiction is the strong craving for the addictive substance nicotine. It has caused health problems in millions of people across the country, and its effects are one of the leading causes of death in the United States. I have had many family members develop serious health concerns due to their tobacco addiction and know personally what a horrible thing it is. All of my grandparents have smoked in the pastRead MoreSmoking Should Be Illegal742 Words à |à 3 PagesApril 2017 Smoking should be Illegal Secondhand smoke is just as bad as smoking the cigarette yourself.Therefore smoking should be illegal because it causes cancer and it s highly addictive. People can die from lung cancer First,SMOKING CAN KILLâ⬠states ââ¬Å"lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer in the United States for both men and women. It kills more people than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney and melanoma cancers combined. Lung cancer is caused by smoking. Next,ââ¬Å"WARNING SMOKING CAN KILLRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Tobacco1049 Words à |à 5 Pagesopposite smoking tobacco has been proved scientifically to be addictive. Addiction is when a person is physically and mentally dependent on a particular substance and is unable to stop taking it without incurring unpleasant effects. Once the body tastes nicotine the addictive chemical found in cigarettes it craves for more. Nicotine creates a pleasurable feeling that appeals to the smoker. However, since nicotine is the only addictive drug in tobacco if extracted from tobacco then tobacco wont beRead MoreSolutions for the Choice of my Addiction1293 Words à |à 6 Pagesannounced a causal relationsh ip between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, following the Lalonde report (1974) which defined smoking as an individual risk behavior. Thereafter, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) also joined this bold move and included tobacco dependence in its third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III). Moreover, the US Surgeon General finally declared that cigarette smoking is an addiction in their 1988 report. However, there are stillRead More Tobacco and the Brain Essay1067 Words à |à 5 PagesTobacco and the Brain Recent surveys show that 25 % of all American adults smoke despite the fact that tobacco is the No.1 cause of death (430,000 annual) and disease in this country (1). The life of a 30-year older that smokes 15 cigarettes a day is shortened by an average of more than five years (2). Why do people smoke despite the fact that it shortens their life? Why has this practice of smoking tobacco been around for 1000 years? There must be something that the human body or mind gainsRead MoreTobacco Kills One Person Every Six Seconds (Sahil). The1678 Words à |à 7 Pages Tobacco kills one person every six seconds (Sahil). The use of tobacco has been around for many years, and it seems only to be getting worse. The human body is affected in an abundance of ways due to the abuse of tobacco products. If individuals would stop the use of tobacco, this would help prevent many diseases, negative health consequences and possibly early death according to their age. Tobacco use is a problem because, it c auses numerous health effects on individuals, such as addiction, birthRead MoreThe Dangers Of Cigarette Smoking1417 Words à |à 6 Pagesrisks of smoking (Doll 1998). Links between smoking and malignancy of the lip and mouth were made as early as 1795 (Sà ¶mmering), with more recent studies linking smoking with lung cancer and vascular disease (Doll 1950, Doyle 1962). Smoking was initially an accepted ââ¬Ësocial normââ¬â¢ in society, viewed simply as a glamourous habit, with little attention paid to tobaccoââ¬â¢s addictive nature (Cummings 2016). The concept of physical, and more so psychological, addiction in relation to cigarette smoking is a relativelyRead MoreThe Effects Of E Cigarettes On The Health Organization1503 Words à |à 7 PagesWorld Health Organization, tobacco kills almost six million people each year. As a result, many new products have been brought forward to serve as healthy alternatives; the highest in demand being the electronic cigarette or e-cigare tte. E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that create a vapor mist from a heated liquid solution when the user inhales on a mouthpiece (Wagaman). As of their creation in 2006, a growing number of people are taking up ââ¬Å"vapingâ⬠instead of smoking, resulting in an industryRead MoreShould Electronic Cigarettes Be Harmful?1676 Words à |à 7 Pagesads. However, electronic cigarettes still have toxic chemicals inside of them, and even more that are created when smoking them. The biggest reason cigarettes are addictive is because of a drug called ââ¬Å"nicotineâ⬠inside of them. This drug creates a feeling of pleasure in the brain, but it is short lived, turning that pleasure into irritability and eventually addiction. Besides nicotine, e-cigs also have other ingredients such as aldehydes (which kills cells around the mouth and throat), nitrosaminesRead MoreTobacco and Cigarette Smoking1030 Words à |à 5 Pages One person dies every six seconds due to a tobacco re lated disease, which results in a shocking amount of ten deaths per minute. Tobacco is one of the most heavily used addictive products in the United States. Tobacco contains over 4,000 chemicals; approximately 250 are dangerously harmful to humans. Smoking is a major public health problem. All smokers face an increased risk of lung cancer, cardiovascular problems and many other disorders. Smoking should be banned due to the many health risks
The Return Midnight Chapter 21 Free Essays
Someone was still knocking on Stefanââ¬â¢s door. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s a woodpecker,â⬠Elena said when she could speak. ââ¬Å"They knock, donââ¬â¢t they?â⬠ââ¬Å"On doors inside houses?â⬠Stefan said dazedly. We will write a custom essay sample on The Return: Midnight Chapter 21 or any similar topic only for you Order Now ââ¬Å"Ignore it and it wil go away.â⬠A moment later the knocking resumed. Elena moaned, ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t believe this.â⬠Stefan whispered, ââ¬Å"Do you want me to bring you its head? Unattached from its neck, I mean?â⬠Elena considered. As the knocking continued, she was getting more worried and less confused. ââ¬Å"Better see if it is a bird, I guess,â⬠she said. Stefan rol ed away from her, somehow got on his jeans, and went reeling to the door. In spite of herself, Elena pitied whoever was on the other side. The knocking started again. Stefan reached the door and nearly wrenched it off its hinges. ââ¬Å"What the ââ¬â ââ¬Å"He stopped, suddenly moderating his voice. ââ¬Å"Mrs. Flowers?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠Mrs. Flowers said, deliberately not seeing Elena, who was wearing a sheet and directly in her line of vision. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s poor dear Meredith,â⬠Mrs. Flowers said. ââ¬Å"Sheââ¬â¢s in such a state, and she says she has to see you now, Stefan.â⬠Elenaââ¬â¢s mind switched tracks as suddenly and smoothly as a train. Meredith? In a state? Demanding to see Stefan, even if, as Elena was sure she must have, Mrs. Flowers had delicately indicated just howâ⬠¦busy Stefan was at the moment? Her mind was Stillsolidly linked with Stefanââ¬â¢s. He said, ââ¬Å"Thank you, Mrs. Flowers. Iââ¬â¢l be down in just a moment.â⬠Elena, who was slipping into her clothes as fast as she could, while crouching on the far side of the bed, added a telepathic suggestion. ââ¬Å"Maybe you could make her a nice cup of tea ââ¬â I mean, a cup of tea,â⬠Stefan added. ââ¬Å"Yes, dear, what a good idea,â⬠Mrs. Flowers said gently. ââ¬Å"And if you should see Elena, perhaps you could say that dear Meredith is asking for her, too?â⬠ââ¬Å"We wil ,â⬠Stefan said automatical y. Then he turned around and hastily shut the door. Elena gave him time to put his shirt and shoes on, and then they both hurried down to the kitchen, where Meredith was not having a nice cup of tea, but pacing around like a caged leopard. Stefan began, ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢l tel you whatââ¬â¢s wrong, Stefan Salvatore! No ââ¬â you tel me! You were in my mind before, so you must know. You must have been able to see ââ¬â to tel ââ¬â about me.â⬠Elena was Stillmindlocked with Stefan. She felt his dismay. ââ¬Å"To tel what about you?â⬠he asked gently, pul ing out a chair at the kitchen table so Meredith could sit. The very simple act of sitting down, of pausing to respond to civility, seemed to calm Meredith slightly. But StillElena could feel her fear and pain like the taste of a steel sword on her tongue. Meredith accepted a hug and became a little calmer yet. A little more herself and less like a caged animal. But the struggle was so visceral and so clear within her that Elena couldnââ¬â¢t bear to leave her, even when Mrs. Flowers deposited four mugs of tea around the table and took another chair Stefan offered. Then Stefan sat down. He knew Elena would stand or sit or share a chair with Meredith, but whatever it was, she would be the one to decide. Mrs. Flowers was gently stirring honey into her mug of tea and then passing the honey along to Stefan who gave it to Elena who put just the little bit that Meredith liked into Meredithââ¬â¢s mug and stirred it gently, too. The ordinary, civilized sounds of two spoons quietly clinking seemed to relax Meredith Stillfurther. She took the mug Elena gave her and sipped, then drank thirstily. Elena could feel Stefanââ¬â¢s mental sigh of relief as Meredith floated down another few levels. He politely sipped his own tea, which was hot but not burning hot and made from natural y sweet berries and herbs. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s good,â⬠Meredith said. She was almost a human now. ââ¬Å"Thank you, Mrs. Flowers.â⬠Elena felt lighter. She relaxed enough to pul over her own cup of tea and squeeze lots of honey in and stir it and take a gulp. Good! Calming down tea! Thatââ¬â¢s chamomile and cucumber, Stefan told her. ââ¬Å"Chamomile and cucumber,â⬠Elena said, nodding wisely, ââ¬Å"for calming down.â⬠And then she blushed, for Mrs. Flowersââ¬â¢s bright smile had knowledge in it. Elena hastily drank more tea and watched Meredith have more tea and everything began to feel almost al right. Meredith was completely Meredith now, not some fierce animal. Elena squeezed her friendââ¬â¢s hand tightly. There was just one problem. Humans were less frightening than beasts but they could cry. Now Meredith, who never wept, was shaking and tears were dripping into the tea. ââ¬Å"You know what morcillo is, right?â⬠she asked Elena at last. Elena nodded hesitantly. ââ¬Å"We had it sometimes in stew at your house?â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"And for tapas?â⬠Elena had grown up with the blood sausage as a meal or a snack at her friendââ¬â¢s house, and she was used to the bite-sized pieces as a delicious food only Mrs. Sulez made. Elena felt Stefanââ¬â¢s heart sinking. She looked back and forth from him to Meredith. ââ¬Å"It turns out my mother didnââ¬â¢t always make it,â⬠Meredith said, looking at Stefan now. ââ¬Å"And my parents had a very good reason for changing my birthday.â⬠ââ¬Å"Just tel it al ,â⬠Stefan suggested softly. And then Elena felt something she hadnââ¬â¢t before. A surge, like a wave ââ¬â a long gentle swell that spoke right into the center of Meredithââ¬â¢s brain. It said: Just tell it and be calm. No anger. No fear. But it wasnââ¬â¢t telepathy. Meredith felt the thought in her blood and bones, but didnââ¬â¢t hear it with her ears. It was Influence. Before Elena could brain her beloved Stefan with her mug for using Influence on one of her friends, Stefan said, just to her, Meredithââ¬â¢s hurting, feeling scared and angry. She has reason to, but she needs peace. I probably wonââ¬â¢t be able to hold her anyway, but Iââ¬â¢ll try. Meredith wiped her eyes. ââ¬Å"It turns out that nothing was like what I thought happened ââ¬â that night when I was three.â⬠She described what her parents had told her, about everything that Klaus had done. Tel ing the story, even quietly, was undoing al the calming influences that had helped Meredith maintain herself. She was beginning to shake again. Before Elena could grab her, she was up and striding around the room. ââ¬Å"He laughed and said that Iââ¬â¢d need blood every week ââ¬â animal blood ââ¬â or Iââ¬â¢d die. I didnââ¬â¢t need much. Just a tablespoon or two. And my poor mother didnââ¬â¢t want to lose another child. She did what he told her to. But what happens if I have more blood, Stefan? What happens if I drink yours?â⬠Stefan was thinking, desperately trying to see if in al his years of experience heââ¬â¢d come across anything like this. Meanwhile he answered the easy part. ââ¬Å"If you drank enough of my blood youââ¬â¢d become a vampire. But so would anyone. With you ââ¬â Well, it might take less. So donââ¬â¢t let any vampire trick you into blood exchange. Once might be enough.â⬠ââ¬Å"So Iââ¬â¢m not a vampire? Now? Not any kind? Are there different kinds?â⬠Stefan answered seriously. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve never heard of ââ¬Ëdifferent kindsââ¬â¢of vampires in my life, except for Old Ones. I can tel you that you donââ¬â¢t have a vampireââ¬â¢s aura. What about your teeth? Can you make your canines sharp? Usual y itââ¬â¢s best to test over human flesh. Not your own.â⬠Elena promptly stuck out her arm, wrist vein-side up. Meredith, eyes closed in concentration, made a great effort, which Elena felt through Stefan. Then Meredith opened her eyes, mouth also open for a dental inspection. Elena stared at her canines. They looked a little bit sharp, but so did anybodyââ¬â¢s, didnââ¬â¢t they? Careful y Elena reached a fingertip in. She touched one of Meredithââ¬â¢s canines. Tiny pinch. Startled, Elena pul ed back. She stared at her finger where a very smal drop of blood was well ing up. Everyone watched it, mesmerized. Then Elenaââ¬â¢s mouth said without pausing to consult her brain, ââ¬Å"You have kitten teeth.â⬠The next moment Meredith had brushed Elena aside and was pacing wildly al around the kitchen. ââ¬Å"I wonââ¬â¢t be one! I wonââ¬â¢t be! Iââ¬â¢m a hunter-slayer, not a vampire! Iââ¬â¢l kill myself if Iââ¬â¢m a vampire!â⬠She was deadly serious. Elena felt Stefan feeling it, the quick thrust of the stave between her ribs and into the heart. She would go on the Internet to find the right area. Ironwood and white ash piercing her heart, Stilling it foreverâ⬠¦sealing off the evil that was Meredith Sulez. Be calm! Be calm! Stefanââ¬â¢s Influence flooded into her. Meredith was not calm. ââ¬Å"But before that I have to kil my brother.â⬠She flung down a photograph on Mrs. Flowersââ¬â¢s kitchen table. ââ¬Å"It turns out that Klaus or someone has been sending these since Cristian was four ââ¬â on my real birthday. For years! And in every picture you could see his vampire teeth. Not ââ¬Ëkitten teeth.ââ¬â¢And then they stopped coming when I was about ten. But they had shown him growing up! With pointed teeth! And last year this one came.â⬠Elena leaped for the photo, but it was closer to Stefan and he was faster. He stared in astonishment. ââ¬Å"Growing up?â⬠he said. She could feel how shaken he was ââ¬â and how envious. No one had given him that option. Elena looked at the pacing Meredith and around at Stefan. ââ¬Å"But itââ¬â¢s impossible, isnââ¬â¢t it?â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"I thought that if you were bitten, that was it, right? You never got any older ââ¬â or bigger.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s what I thought too. But Klaus was an Old One and who knows what they can do?â⬠Stefan answered. Damon will be furious when he finds out, Elena told Stefan privately, reaching for the picture even though sheââ¬â¢d already seen it through Stefanââ¬â¢s eyes. Damon was very bitter about Stefanââ¬â¢s height advantage ââ¬â about anyoneââ¬â¢s height advantage. Elena brought the picture to Mrs. Flowers and looked at it with her. It showed an extremely handsome boy, with hair that was just Meredithââ¬â¢s dark color. He looked like Meredith in his facial structure and olive skin. He was wearing a motorcycle jacket and gloves, but no helmet, and he was laughing merrily with a ful set of very white teeth. You could easily see that the canines were long and pointed. Elena looked back and forth from Meredith to the picture. The only difference she could see was that this boyââ¬â¢s eyes seemed lighter. Everything else screamed ââ¬Å"twins.â⬠ââ¬Å"First I kil him,â⬠Meredith repeated tiredly. ââ¬Å"Then I kil myself.â⬠She stumbled back to the table and sat, almost knocking over her chair. Elena hovered near her, snatching two mugs from the table, to prevent Meredithââ¬â¢s clumsy arm from sweeping them to the floor. Meredithâ⬠¦clumsy! Elena had never seen Meredith ungraceful or clumsy before. It was frightening. Was it somehow due to being ââ¬â at least partly ââ¬â a vampire? The kitten teeth? Elena turned apprehensive eyes on Stefan, felt Stefanââ¬â¢s own bewilderment. Then both of them, without consultation, turned to look at Mrs. Flowers. She gave them an apologetic little-old-lady smile. ââ¬Å"Gotta kil â⬠¦find him, kil himâ⬠¦first,â⬠Meredith was whispering as her dark head lowered to the table, to the pil ow of her arms. ââ¬Å"Find himâ⬠¦where? Grandpaâ⬠¦where? Cristianâ⬠¦my brotherâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Elena listened silently until there was only soft breathing to be heard. ââ¬Å"You drugged her?â⬠she whispered to Mrs. Flowers. ââ¬Å"It was what Ma ma thought best. Sheââ¬â¢s a strong, healthy girl. It wonââ¬â¢t harm her to sleep from now through the night. Because Iââ¬â¢m sorry to tel you, but we have another problem right now.â⬠Elena glanced at Stefan, saw fear dawning on his face, and demanded, ââ¬Å"What?â⬠Absolutely nothing was coming through their link. Heââ¬â¢d shut it down. Elena turned to Mrs. Flowers. ââ¬Å"What?â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m very worried about dear Matt.â⬠ââ¬Å"Matt,â⬠agreed Stefan, looking around the table as if to show that Matt wasnââ¬â¢t there. He was trying to protect Elena from the chil s racing through him. At first Elena wasnââ¬â¢t alarmed. ââ¬Å"I know where he might be,â⬠she said brightly. She was remembering stories that Matt had told of being in Fel ââ¬Ës Church while she and the others had been in the Dark Dimension. ââ¬Å"Dr. Alpertââ¬â¢s place. Or out with her, making the rounds of home visits.â⬠Mrs. Flowers shook her head, her expression bleak. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m afraid not, Elena dear. Sophia ââ¬â Dr. Alpert ââ¬â cal ed me and told me she was taking Mattââ¬â¢s mother, your own family, and several other people with her and escaping Fel ââ¬Ës Church entirely. And I donââ¬â¢t blame her a bit ââ¬â but Matt wasnââ¬â¢t one of those going. She said he meant to stay and fight. That was around twelve thirty.â⬠Elenaââ¬â¢s eyes automatical y went to the kitchen clock. Horror shot through her, flipping her stomach and reverberating out to her fingertips. The clock said 4:35 ââ¬â 4:35 P.M.! But that had to be wrong. She and Stefan had only joined minds a few minutes ago. Meredithââ¬â¢s rage hadnââ¬â¢t lasted that long. This was impossible! ââ¬Å"That clock ââ¬â itââ¬â¢s not right!â⬠She appealed to Mrs. Flowers, but heard at the same time Stefanââ¬â¢s telepathic voice, Itââ¬â¢s the mind-blending. I didnââ¬â¢t want to rush. But I was lost in it too ââ¬â itââ¬â¢s not your fault, Elena! ââ¬Å"It is my fault,â⬠Elena snapped back aloud. ââ¬Å"I never meant to forget about my friends for the entire afternoon! And Matt ââ¬â Matt would never scare us by keeping us waiting for his cal ! I should have cal ed him! I shouldnââ¬â¢t have been ââ¬â ââ¬Å"She looked at Stefan with unhappy eyes. The only thing burning inside her right now was the shame of failing Matt. ââ¬Å"I did cal his mobile number,â⬠Mrs. Flowers said very gently. ââ¬Å"Ma ma advised me to do so, al the way back at half past twelve. But he didnââ¬â¢t answer. Iââ¬â¢ve cal ed every hour since. Ma ma wonââ¬â¢t say more than that itââ¬â¢s time we looked into things directly.â⬠Elena ran to Mrs. Flowers and wept on the soft cambric lacework at the old womanââ¬â¢s neck. ââ¬Å"You did our job for us,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Thank you. But now we have to go and find him.â⬠She whirled on Stefan. ââ¬Å"Can you put Meredith in the first-floor bedroom? Just take off her shoes and put her on top of the covers. Mrs. Flowers, if youââ¬â¢re going to be alone here, weââ¬â¢l leave Saber and Talon to take care of you. Then weââ¬â¢l keep in touch by mobile. And weââ¬â¢l search every house in Fel ââ¬Ës Church ââ¬â but I guess we should go to the thicket firstâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"Wait, Elena my dear.â⬠Mrs. Flowers had her eyes shut. Elena waited, shifting impatiently from one foot to the other. Stefan was just returning from putting Meredith in the front room. Suddenly, Mrs. Flowers smiled, eyes Stillshut. ââ¬Å"Ma ma says she wil do her utmost for you two, since you are so devoted to your friend. She says that Matt is not anywhere in Fel ââ¬Ës Church. And she says, take the dog, Saber. The falcon wil watch over Meredith while we are away.â⬠Mrs. Flowersââ¬â¢s eyes opened. ââ¬Å"Although we might plaster her window and door with Post-it Notes,â⬠she said, ââ¬Å"just to make sure.â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠Elena said flatly. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorry, but I wonââ¬â¢t leave Meredith and you on your own with only a bird for protection. Weââ¬â¢l take you both with us, covered in amulets if you like, and then we can take both animals, too. Back in the Dark Dimension, they worked together when Bloddeuwedd was trying to kil us.â⬠ââ¬Å"Al right,â⬠Stefan said at once, knowing Elena well enough to realize that a half-hour-long argument could ensue and Elena would never be moved an inch from her position. Mrs. Flowers must have known it too, for she rose, also immediately, and went to get ready. Stefan carried Meredith out to her car. Elena gave a tiny whistle for Saber, who was instantly underfoot, seeming bigger than ever, and she raced him up the stairs to Mattââ¬â¢s room. It was disappointingly clean ââ¬â but Elena fished a pair of briefs from between bed and wal . She gave these to Saber to delight in, but found she couldnââ¬â¢t stand Still. Final y, she ran up to Stefanââ¬â¢s room, snatched her diary from under the mattress, and began scribbling. Dear Diary, I donââ¬â¢t know what to do. Matt has disappeared. Damon has taken Bonnie to the Dark Dimension ââ¬â but is he taking care of her? Thereââ¬â¢s no way to know. We donââ¬â¢t have any way to open a Gate ourselves and go after them. Iââ¬â¢m afraid Stefan will kill Damon, and if something ââ¬â anything ââ¬â has happened to Bonnie, Iââ¬â¢ll want to kill him too. Oh, God, what a mess! And Meredithâ⬠¦of all people, Meredith turns out to have more secrets than all of us combined. All Stefan and I can do is hold each other and pray. Weââ¬â¢ve been fighting Shinichi so long! I feel as if the end is coming soonâ⬠¦and Iââ¬â¢m afraid. ââ¬Å"Elena!â⬠Stefanââ¬â¢s shout came from below. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re al ready!â⬠Elena quickly stuffed the diary back under the mattress. She found Saber waiting on the stairs, and fol owed him down, running. Mrs. Flowers had two overcoats covered in amulets. Outside, a long whistle from Stefan was met by an answering keeeeeeee from above and Elena saw a smal dark body circling against the white-streaked August sky. ââ¬Å"She understands,â⬠Stefan said briefly, and took the driverââ¬â¢s seat of the car. Elena got into the backseat behind him, and Mrs. Flowers into the front passenger seat. Since Stefan had buckled up Meredith into the middle of the backseat, this left Saber a window to put his panting head through. ââ¬Å"Now,â⬠Stefan said, over the purring of the engine, ââ¬Å"where are we going, exactly?â⬠How to cite The Return: Midnight Chapter 21, Essay examples
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