Darren+Lin

**Darren Lin **

Luckily I wasn’t blinded by the metal bar. But, it sure did inflict some pain on my eye. I ended up not going to the school the next day. But, during the injury I noticed the importance of my family. Always being there when I needed them. Being able to protect me when I needed protection. Giving all the needs I need: shelter,love,food,education and toys. I noticed that they cannot be replaced by any other thing. I noticed the pain that orphans have to go through. Without anyone being there for them when they are scared. Not knowing if they are being loved. That is why all this pain inflicted from the metal bar was nothing. Even though my eyes were almost bleeding it didn’t matter. All that matters that day was that my bond with my family was able to become stronger and never fall apart again. So, to this day I would always look through the gates of my memory and look at the day when the bond between us, my family, became stronger.
 *  Injury **
 *  It was 10:45 p.m.. Not a creature was stirring. Except for my family that is. “Can you hand me that?” my mother asked. With no second thoughts I handed her what she wanted. “ Thank you,” she exclaimed happily. I smiled in reply. My mother turned right 45 degrees and hung the apron up. I watched closely. How my mother easily did it without trouble. So without hesitation I tried to hand one up myself. The apron was wet and I could still feel the warmth of the lye. I timidly reached for the hook with drops of water trickling down to the ground from the apron. Fortunately, I was able to reach the hook without any injuries. Second time, like the first time I succeeded. Third time, I got a glimpse of my brother looking out the window, looking at something, like a lion ready to pounce on its prey. Without any further ado I continued. “Doing pretty good,” my father complimented me. I didn’t answer, I just kept on working and smiled. My brother then walked in, with his shoulder squared like he was ready for anything, during my fifth try hanging the apron up. He stood there watching like a soldier on duty guarding the territory from enemies. “Stop standing there and do something!” my father hollered. My brother scurried out of my father’s way and searched for something to do. But, whenever he tried to do something I will intersect him so he will have nothing left to do. **
 *  “Stop it!” my father screamed annoyed, “Let your brother do something!” At first I thought my father wasn’t quite serious. So I decided to intersect my brother again. But, boy was I wrong. “I said STOP!” my father yelled at the top of his lungs. It was as if his scream would pierce the windows scattering it into what seemed to be millions. At his scream, I could do nothing but surrender. After ¾ of the apron pile was allotted its shelter, the places to hang them up were becoming scarce. But randomly, I came up of a idea to hang it up on the tallest grill in the restaurant but to me it was as if I was looking at a promontory. The first few times I was pretty successful. Not until I knocked down one of the metal bar and stabbed me in the corner of my eye, “Ah...!!!” the scream pierced the air, almost likely to be heard all around the world. Everyone in the restaurant came to help me. **

// That's a nice injury :D --Sarita //

After my brother locked the door I jumped off the ½ inch curb sinking my feet into the white,wet, and crunchy snow. I trudged through the snow having a hard time for every step. My hands grasped the handle. My hands almost froze along with the handle. The ice was colder than I thought. I pulled the handle put it wouldn’t budge. I pulled it again hoping it would open because by now I was shivering in the snow. As I hoped it opened. I opened the car door allowing the cold air go in the car freezing my parents. Hopped into the car shutting the car door behind me. Put as usual my brother was approaching the car with the speed of a slug. It was funny how he also have trouble opening the car door. But, at least I was able to open it faster than him. Now that everyone in my family was present my father started to park out. We slowing reached the road. Looking out the window, I was happy to know that I was going home. Not until the car stopped. “What happened?” my mother asked afraid that the car would get a scratch. My father didn’t reply. He stepped down on the engine to try again. The engines roared. Nothing happened. The engines kept on roaring when my father stepped on it. But it was always the same results. “Last time!” my father yelled annoyed. The engines roared again, it was as if we were in an arena watching two gladiators fighting. But this match was different, what we are watching is the engine versus the snow. Sadly, the snow won again. My father is now steaming with flames. He opened the door. Stepped out and slammed it shut. Neither my brother or me dared to get off the car because it wasn’t clever to talk to my father when he was mad. “Um.......?” my brother murmured dragging the word out so he could search for the right thing to say. “What!” I barked at him as if he was my solemn enemy. As usual he answered with nothing but a sign. “GET OFF!” my father demanded. With no qualms we dashed off the car afraid to be barked at by our father. “Stop sitting there and do nothing get over here and think!” my father hollered,”Do you guys want to go home!?” With his words I noticed something. To me it was a important lesson. Even if you are angry or steaming with fire you should still treat people with kindness and the way they want to be treated. Why do you do this when your mad? I asked my father using my brain expecting my father to hear me. Many thoughts ran in and out of my brain. I shook off the thoughts since they were hurting my brain. Looked at my father. Focused and bent down next to my father to think and help the car to get out of its crisis.
 *  Freeze **
 * “Hurry up!” I screeched at my brother,”I want to go home!” **
 * “I get it!” he screeched back. As he rushed out the door he almost forgot to lock the door. I stood next to my brother annoyed. I turned to take a glimpse at my father. He stood was ready with his hands on the steering wheel and was looking straight ahead (don’t really know what he was looking at exactly). My brother struggled as if he was trying to let free the grip of a predator. **
 * It was about a couple of minutes before my brother successfully closed the door. **
 * Crack! Silence fell upon us.But my father ruined it. “Come on!” my father exclaimed with disbelief. **

 Surprise Visitor “Hey,” my brother exclaimed,”I need help.” “Figure it out yourself!” I replied annoyed. With a grunt my brother returned to his game, not knowing what to do. Mimicking my brother I also returned to my game. As the silence grew the sound of the keyboards increased. As if there were a stampede of little mice in our house. At this moment my mom came out of the bathroom and aimlessly walked to the wooden chair in the kitchen. When she pulled out the chair it screeched as if a baby had dropped its favorite lollipop. The screech was heard throughout the house. Vibrating and bouncing off the walls. But right after the screech of the chair an even worst screech followed. It was my mother. I leaped out of my black leather chair leaving it spinning. Balanced myself on the floor. Bolted for the stairs. Ran down the stairs tripping my way downstairs. I slipped the door open a crack. Pecked out. My eyes widened. It was the creature that I have only seen once of. Its color was dark brown, almost the color of chocolate. Its wings flapped violently trying to avoid being whacked by my mother’s broom stick. Its eyes were red. The red of blood. It was a bat, a blood sucking bat (At least we think it is). At this moment, my father magically appeared next to me. Telling me to secure the door so the bat would not fly upstairs. He quickly opened the door and rushed to the kitchen, closing the door behind him. Took my mother’s broom and started swinging it at the bat as if he was a amateur golf player trying to hit the ball across the field. But fortunately my father successfully knocked the bat out the house leaving a mark on the floor. I then dashed to the door and locked it, not giving the bat a chance to sneak into my shelter. After a long moment of silence my father, mother and I all went back upstairs leaving behind the horrifying picture of the bat. As we approached the stairs of peace we saw my brother. Just sitting there, watching something. Usual at a situation like this my father would start a speech about his acts. But this time it was different, no one said a word. I sat down in front of my computer and thought for a long time. When can I become as brave as my father? Will I ever be? Will I be successful? Or will I fail?Is there anyway possible to become as brave as my father?What happens if I am a failure?Will there be anyone to guide me? All these thoughts were interrupted by my brother. “Hey” my brother exclaimed, “I need help.” “Figure it out yourself,” I answered with a smile. One day I will become the person I truly am and that’s for sure.

__Author’s Note__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My inspiration for these memoirs were the childhood of me with my family. Being with then. Learning from them. Spending time with them. But most important of all being able to become who I truly am by learning from them.