Scout and Salamanca

Scout and Salamanca have many similarities and differences. One of the similarities is that they both learn similar lessons in both of these books. They both learn that you shouldn’t judge a person. You need to get to know them first. One of the differences is that Scout lives in reality, while Salamanca lives in fantasy.

In the beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout sees Boo Radley as just kind of a story, but towards the end of the novel Scout realizes that Boo is an actual human. She realizes how kind and sympathetic he actually is. Scout might not even have lived if it wasn’t for Boo. Acttius says, “You never really understand a person until you consider his point of view…until you climb in his skin and walk around in it.” This quote shows you that you can’t judge a person solely on first impressions. You can’t judge them by the way they look or what you have heard about them. I think that is shows that you need to be compassionate and considerate to other people. Walk to Moons also shows some of these characteristics.

In Walk Two Moons, Salamanca was very suspicious of Margaret Cadaver. Sal thought that she had intentions to be with her father and Margaret figured out that her father wanted to be just friends, so she keeps it that way. Sal realizes this too, and figures out that she became friends with her mom while she was alive. Salamanca gets a note that says “Don’t judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins.” This quote is very similar to the quote from To Kill a Mockingbird. It explains that you should never judge a person before you really, truly get to know them. Sal judged Margaret before she got to know her. She didn’t really want anything to do with her, but later she figured out that she was friends with her mother.

In To Kill a Mockingbir, Scout lives in the reality of life. One of the things she has to deal with is the way people act towards black people. She realizes and knows how wrong it is. She is made fun of and mistreated, because her dad is defending Tom Robinson in a trial. Her father teaches her how wrong racism is and doesn’t see why people act that way toward black. So, she fights for what is right. Acctius said, “There is a lot of ugly things in this world, son. I wish I could keep ‘em all away from you. That’s never possible.” This quote shows you that there are a lot of bad things in this world, but you don’t have to follow them. You need to do what is right no matter what. You shouldn’t make the wrong choice that people are making. You need to do what you think is right.

In Walk Two Moons, Salamanca lives in almost a fantasy. Sal was very close to her mother and she died. This caused her to live in a fantasy. She was so hurt by her mother’s death. She stopped spending very much time with her dad and she doesn’t talk about her past with Phoebe. She decides to go to Idaho hoping that her mother really isn’t dead or that she can even maybe bring her back to life if she wishes hard enough. Salamanca is living what she wants and not in reality. But, towards the end of the book Sal realizes that her mother is actually dead. “I did not think cheerleading tryouts would matter, but I was not so sure about yelling at your mother. I was certain, however, that if your mother left, it would be something that mattered in the whole long course of your lifetime.” Salamanca misses her mother a lot. She makes herself believe that her mother is still alive. She doesn’t want to face the reality.

Scout and Salamanca have many similarities and differences. They both learn that you should never judge a person before you get to know them. But, Scout lives in reality, while Salamanca lives in a fantasy. They are both very different, but very the same.

SUMMER!!!

I can't believe how close it is to being summer. We only have fourteen days left of school. I swear time has gone by so fast. It seemed like just a couple of weeks ago we stared the new semester and now it is almost over. I think it is crazy. I seems like have been so busy and not have had very much free time. I have been so busy doing home work and other activities. It is just so amazing how fast time has flown by. I am so excited for summer to finally be here, but I am kind of sad too. Since I am going to be going to Davis High School, and a lot of my friends are going to be going to Layton High School. I really don't think that the district should split up the school, because most of my friends, one of my friends has been best friends since first grade, are going to a different high school than me and also a lot of people that I have been going to school with since I was in Elementary. But, I am totally excited for summer to come. I am not really sure what I am going to be doing, but I really am convince my parents to let me get a Lagoon season pass. But, the very first week after school gets out I am going on the Pioneer Trek for my church. I am not paticularly excited about it, but my mom and dad really are pressuring me to go. We are going up to Deseret Land and Livestock for the trek. Here is what the trek will kind of be like: For three days, some 220 teenagers pushed 725-pound handcarts up and down hills for 22 miles. Dinner on the first day at 10:30 p.m. consisted of a bullion based barley soup and a roll. Prior to bed, they brushed their teeth with baking soda instead of toothpaste.
No shorts or t-shirts were allowed. The girls wore bonnets, bloomers and skirts. The boys donned long sleeve shirts and cowboys hats. No Ipods, Gameboys, cell phones or even sunglasses. No candy or soda. And the group from the Canyon Rim Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints loved what sounds more like a hard-labor camp than a time for spiritual growth. “It feels good to do something hard”, said youth leader Kristin Monson. “The kids loved pulling up hard hills and were high-fiving each other with encouragement after they made it up top.” The youth were separated from their best friends and assigned to temporary families consisting of a ma and pa, aunt and uncle and several brothers and sisters. No tents were used, no soft foam pads allowed and there were no showers for three days. The trek took place recently on the 220,000-acre Deseret Land and Livestock Ranch in eastern Utah near the Wyoming border. The 14- to 18-year-old youth took on the journey knowing full well they were leaving behind the comforts of home for a few days in order to get a glimpse of what early pioneers went through. Some 70 adults consisting of medical professionals, transportation personnel, food services and other staff oversaw the event, which was at least a year in the planning. There were squares dances, tomahawk throwing, concerts and homemade taffy pulling. There was teamwork, testimonies and bonding. There were illuminated skies of stars at night and songs of praise by day. Singer and songwriter Kenneth Cope gave an impromptu concert of several of his songs and group sing-a-longs. Why put these youth through the rigors of pioneer life? “This is a pivotal generation,” said Canyon Rim Stake President Bruce McDonough, who was quoting author Sheri Dew. “We want to give the youth every advantage we can to help them succeed in life.” LDS Church service missionary Monty Bolton praised the Canyon Rim group. “I hate to brag about one group,” said Bolton, assigned to escort the numerous youth trek groups, “but this has been the best group this summer. The leaders were well organized and supported and they brought in mountain men to entertain the kids. It was a lot of fun to watch.” Only minor injuries such as blisters, sunburn, heat fatigue, were reported. Temperatures ranged from 48 degrees at night to 95 degrees during the day. That doesn't sound very fun to me, but oh well. I'm not really sure what I am going to do the rest of the summer, but I am going to try and make it really fun.

Cute Story from France

Once upon a time a wicked King invaded a Queen's land, seized the Queen and her infant daughter as prisoners, and shut them both into the highest room of a tall tower. The room was very tiny and empty, with only one table and a very hard bed on the floor. Then the enemy King sent for a fairy who lived near his kingdom. He nearly pushed the Fairy up the stairs to see the Queen. The Fairy was so touched by the sight of the Queen's miserable condition that when she kissed the Queen's hand the Fairy whispered to her, "Courage, madam! I think I see a way to help you."

The Queen whispered her thanks. Then the wicked King cried harshly, "Silence!" He turned to the Fairy. "I brought you here for one reason and one reason only. Tell me this: Is this baby girl destined to grow up to be a worthy bride for my son?"

The Fairy answered that indeed, the Princess was destined to grow up to have every grace good fortune could bestow, that she would be fair, fortunate and in every way worthy of a throne. The old King growled to the Queen that it was lucky for them both that the Fairy had said it would be so. Then the baby would be saved to become the future bride for his son, a spoiled boy already terrorizing the palace with his wild tantrums and mean pranks. The King thundered that if the Fairy had forecast differently, both the baby and her mother would have immediately been hanged. Then he stamped off, taking the Fairy with him, and leaving the poor Queen in tears.

"How can I wish my little daughter to grow up with good graces only to be married to that horrid King's son!" she cried. "And yet, if she were ill-fated we would both be doomed right now. If only I could hide her safely away, somewhere, anywhere! There must be someplace where the cruel King could never find her."

As the days went on, the Queen and the little Princess grew thinner and thinner, for every day their hard-hearted jailer gave them only three boiled peas each to eat and a tiny morsel of black bread, so they were always terribly hungry. At last, one evening, as the Queen sat at her spinning-wheel -- for she was made to work day and night -- she saw a tiny, pretty little mouse creep out of a hole. She said to the mouse, "Alas, little creature! Why are you coming here? I have only three peas each each day, so unless you wish to starve I'm afraid you must go elsewhere for your food."

But the mouse ran hither and thither, and danced and twirled so prettily, that the Queen clapped and laughed with joy and at last gave the mouse her last pea, which she was keeping for her supper, saying, "Here, little one. I'm sorry I've nothing better to offer you, as your fine dancing deserves far more than this wrinkled little pea."

She had hardly spoken when upon the table appeared a succulent roast partridge and two dishes of preserved fruit. Amazed she was! Quickly she mashed a portion of the meat and fruit and spoon fed her baby, who licked each spoonful with glee. Then the Queen ate with great satisfaction herself, and offered what was left to the little mouse. The mouse danced even more charmingly than ever before. The next morning the jailer brought the Queen and the Princess' daily allowance of three peas each, which he brought in upon a large dish to make them look even smaller. As soon as the jailer left, the Queen gave the mouse all three of her peas.

The empty dish was instantly covered with all sorts of wonderful things to eat, and the Queen shared a feast with her daughter once again. But afterwards, as she sat at her spinning-wheel, she began to worry that the fine meals could end any time, and even if they didn't, that her precious daughter was doomed to live as a prisoner, only to be forced to marry that horrid prince when she grew up. The Queen despaired, "Oh! If only I could think of some way of saving her!"

As she spoke, she noticed the little mouse playing in a corner with some long straws. The Queen began to braid the straws, thinking, "If I had but enough straws I could make a basket with them, and let my baby down in the basket from the window to any kind passerby who might take care of her and raise her in freedom."

By the time she had finished her thoughts, the little mouse had dragged in more and more straw, until the Queen had plenty to weave her basket. The Queen worked at it night and day while the little mouse danced for her. At lunch and supper time the Queen gave the mouse the three peas and the bit of black bread, and always found something scrumptious in their place. She really could not imagine where all these yummy dishes were coming from. At last one day when the basket was finished, the Queen was looking out of the window to see how long a cord she must make to lower it to the bottom of the tower, when she noticed a little old woman down below leaning upon her stick who was looking up at her. Presently the old woman said, "I know your trouble, madam. If you like, I will help you."

At last one day when the basket was finished, the Queen was looking out of the window to see how long a cord she must make to lower it to the bottom of the tower, when she noticed a little old woman down below leaning upon her stick who was looking up at her. Presently the old woman said, "I know your trouble, madam. If you like I will help you."

"Oh, dear lady!" said the Queen. "If you really wish to be of use to me you will come at a time I will describe to you, and I will let down my poor little baby in a basket. If you will take her, and bring her up for me, when I am rich and free again, I will reward you splendidly."

"I don't care about any reward," said the old woman. "And you can be sure your little daughter shall be well taken care of by me. But there is one thing I should like. You must know that I am very particular about what I eat, and if there is one thing that I fancy above all else, it is a plump, tender little mouse. If there happens to be any mouse in your garret just throw it down to me, that is all I ask." Well, when the Queen heard this began to cry. The old woman, after waiting a few minutes, asked her what was the matter.

"Why," said the Queen, "There is only one mouse in this garret, and that is such a dear, sweet little thing that I cannot bear to think of its being killed."

"What!" cried the old woman, in a rage. "You care more for a miserable mouse than for your very own baby? Good-bye, madam! I leave you to enjoy its company. For my own part I thank my stars that I can get plenty of mice without troubling the likes of you!"

That night when the Queen's baby was fast asleep, she packed it into the basket and wrote on a slip of paper, "Here is my beloved but unfortunate little baby girl. Please raise her with tenderness and love." This she pinned to the baby's robe. Very sadly she shut the basket. Just then, in sprang the little mouse.

"Ah, little one!" said the Queen. "It cost me dear today to save your life." Whereupon the Queen collapsed and cried her heart out.

The Mouse answered, "Believe me, madam, you will never regret your kindness."

The Queen was immensely astonished when the Mouse began to speak, and still more so when she saw its little sharp nose turn to a beautiful face, and its paws become hands and feet. Then it suddenly grew tall, and the Queen recognized the Fairy who had come up to her tower room with the wicked King to visit her.

The Fairy smiled at her astonished look, and said, "I wanted to see if you were capable of real friendship before I extended myself to help you. You see, we fairies are rich in everything but friends, and real friends are hard to find."

"It is not possible that you should want for friends, you charming creature," said the Queen, kissing her.

"Yet it is so," said the Fairy. "For so many are only friendly with Fairies for their own advantage, and that I do not count at all. But when you protected the poor little mouse, you could not have known there was anything to be gained by it. To test you I took the form of the old woman whom you talked to from the window and tempted you to forsake your little mouse friend. But this you did not do! At that moment I realized that you are indeed capable of true friendship." Turning to the little Princess, she kissed her rosy lips three times. The Princess cooed and giggled.

"Dear little one, I am going to take you and your mother to my very own enchanted cottage, quite a distance from this wicked kingdom. There you both will be invisible to all others and you, sweet baby, will grow up safe and free, together with your mother."

In an instant, the Fairy, the Queen and her baby vanished from the tall tower prison room, never to return.