From Alex to Zane

I was looking through this little notebook the other day and I found this letter I had written between a couple of my characters. Most of these I don't even put in the book, but they're fun to write some times. This one here is from Alex (the sister) to Zane (her brother).

Zane,

What does it mean to have a good life? The stories I've heard tell of love, of things, money and popularity. But the things I've seen strongly go against that.

Things aren't lasting. Sure they can be useful or even fun. But if your head's on the chopping block, they can't come to your rescue. They've no feelings to be saddened at your loss. Money is much the same. It is a need to purchase the necessities of course, but how much is enough? It's easy to let the want of things to overcome you, even for the best of men. Does money bring you joy? Do things uplift your life? Not from what I've seen.

I hear stories of the power of love and its ability to heal. I've loved before but all its gotten me are many more scars. Does love make your life better? I guess I wouldn't know.

To all that ask, I tell them my life is pain and hiding. To all who know, they'd say I had a bad life and for years, I agreed. I thought myself dead, hid and hurt. All I've wanted is death which has always evaded me. I now live in the nightmare I used to dream as a child.

But I've realized something; I'm feeling more then normal. So here's the truth I once knew as a child.

A good life isn't easy. A good life has work. Heck, sometimes a good life just hurts. I've found here the one thing I've been running from since I was ten-years-old, and that, my dear brother, is you.

-Kaiti

(Her family always calls her Kaiti, so that's why she signed it that way)

the last line is one I imagine her saying with heavy sarcasm, but without a hint of irony. She's weird like that.

The Joys of a Good Story

Recently, I started watching a cartoon that some friends of mine had shown to me a few years ago. It's called Stormhawks. It was awesome seeing it again. Its almost like I'm meeting with old friends again. Every time I turn on another episode, from the moment I hear, "My name's Aerrow, and I'm a Sky Knight." I start grinning like an idiot, and most of the time that grin stays for the entirety of the episode and for quite some time afterwards. Why? What is it about this show that always makes me so happy? Why exactly is it so awesome?

In Choir this week, none of us wanted to do anything so Mr. Bills let us watch Enchanted instead. There's plenty of people out there that think that movie's creepy, and that's okay. But for me, is just so . . . silly, I can't help but laugh every time I see it. Then, it is hard not to laugh every time Prince Edward comes on and yells, "Giselle!" and bites his knuckles and stuff. Something I've always liked about fairytales is the lighthearted, happy feel they always have. They always seem to have this easy feel to it that - well, to me - is kind of relaxing, some times refreshing. This movie did very well and capturing these aspects, sticking them in real life and making them somewhat plausible. It's a movie that reminds you that there is such a thing as happily ever after. How many movies do that nowadays?

This world in general has a very depressing view. Almost all the new movies and books are always dark and . . . well, depressing. There's always violence and evil and people making stupid mistakes. Sometimes, you'll come upon a story that's not half bad, but's still heavy. Here's my conclusion:

There's so many stresses, expectations and competition in this world. People all around are looking for happiness in all the wrong places, often resulting in the heavy stories. They try to laugh off anguish in crude jokes. This world is hard. Sometimes even scary. The surrounding media doesn't make it any easier. But every now and then, you come across a story that makes you laugh. That just has silly jokes like, "Huh, he's not in the radio. Imagine that." or "I've been been dreaming - Ah!" They're not crude, they're not uncomfortable, they're just funny. These stories always seem to be coupled with great characters who have a strong sense of unity; who work together for the greater good. Often they have a relationship that runs deep. It's not - as some people are annoying enough to try to make it seem - gross or anything, but a true, deep friendship. How often is that done right nowadays!

It's good to get away from the heavy feel of wordly stories into a happy, life-is-good feel. What makes a good story? It doesn't take violence, or extremely evil bad guys, or a big dramatic fight for good, or sex, vulgar language. All it takes is some happiness. Just a little light, you know? We don't have to be negative to make a good story. A good story is one with true friendship, something that will leave you feeling happy and bright, not dark. When you can find a story like that, it's amazing how happy that can make you. And since when was happiness a bad thing?