Writing Portfolio 20062007

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Writing Portfolio 2006-2007

• Elizabeth Remick

View Portfolio
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• Thank you for your interest in my portfolio for
  the 2006-2007 school year. In this portfolio are
  the poems and stories I am most proud of, the
  works that define me as an author. I hope that
  you enjoy my works as much as I enjoy writing
  them.
• Elizabeth Remick

Table of Contents
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Table Of Contents

• Portfolio 1
• Parts of Me
• A Crimson Memory
• Dream Catcher
• Tritoneus
• Cold Morning
• The Carnival
• Le Système du Corps
• This Place
• Reflections

• Portfolio 2
• Journal Entry 1
• Journal Entry 2
• Journal Entry 3
• Journal Entry 4
• Journal Entry 5
• Writing Assignment
• Poetry
• Additional Work
• Reflections

• Portfolio 3
• Journal Entry 1
• Journal Entry 2
• Journal Entry 3
• Journal Entry 4
• Journal Entry 5
• Writing Assignment
• Poetry
• Additional Work
• Reflections

4
Parts of Me
I am the tinkling of piano keys, the taste
of kiwi, and the softness of candlelight. I am
stubborn, high-strung, and yet confident in my
intellect. I feel the need to finish what I have
completed with a sense of perfection and a pencil
is my best friend. When I work, I work hard and
I can sense the seriousness of a situation. I
believe in earning rewards, meeting goals, and
honesty. Relaxation is something I strive to
obtain but I often let my anxiety consume me. I
believe that not working to your potential is a
crime, which Is why I want to further my
education.
I am open to opportunity in fact, I welcome
it with open arms. I tend to think that I am
always right, but I try not to force my beliefs
on others. My inner critic tells me I am better
than I really am. I do not believe my peers take
me seriously, but I know my coworkers do. Drama
is frivolous and I try to avoid it as best I can.
I love diversity and I am full of acceptance it
drives me to do my best.
I love to read and write because I am able
to express myself freely it is the one thing
that calms me down. My life is not overly
hectic, but I stress over the little things. I
cannot keep track of how many times I have tried
to start a diary. I love to learn and I yearn to
prove myself, but it seems to be an impossible
feat. When I am most proud of myself I feel as
though everyone else is apathetic. I find random
facts to be thrilling and I love the little
surprises in life. I would love to be free to
learn what I want to learn and to choose my own
path in life. I view college as the next step to
happiness and I am willing to fight to see past
my boundaries.
Y
5
A Crimson Memory
Watching her apply lipstick was like
watching an artist paint his masterpiece. Her
lipstick the paintbrush and her lips were the
canvas. She would start with a liner and finish
with a bright overcoat until her lips were filled
with perfection the waxy smoothness gliding over
them flawlessly. What made the process so
mesmerizing though, was the striking shade of
lipstick. Unlike most women of her time, she
stood out in a bright, cherry red. This rich
color spoke so much about her personality she
was just as vibrant as her lips. She has passed
since then, but the image of her scarlet lips
remains in my memory to this day.
Y
6
Dream Catcher
Pure and white is this collector of dreams. It
is a sanctuary for confessions and the keeper of
secrets. Every once in a while it is stained
with the black of misery, the black of tears. On
a hot summer night, when sleep escapes, it can
soothe you with a cooler side. The feathery
softness consoles your fears and enables you to
dream your wildest dreams. Sometimes I believe a
pillow is a girls best friend
.
Y
7
Tritoneus
In the kingdom of Tritoneus, the inhabitants
have gills, the children play hide-and-seaweed,
and the houses are coral formations. It is a
community that lives under water, in the depths
of the ocean. They have fins, as you imagine
mermaids would, but they are not as glamorous as
the stories portray them to be. They react,
communicate, and encounter the same obstacles and
frivolities as we do. Their language is not
anything a human would understand it is lyrical,
like a song, and full of magic. The hunters hunt
fish and sell it at markets for food, which they
are unable to cook. Their lack of oxygen makes it
impossible to start fire, the one thing they
desire. The children of Tritoneus go to school
where there are no chairs or desks they learn
from interacting with their environment and grow
up to be intellectual beings. There are arguments
and negativity in Tritoneus, but there are no
wars. These creatures under the water are
peaceful and loving. They have morals just as we
do, though they are not all honest. This is a
kingdom in which the earth could learn from.
Y
8
Cloudy, murky day Sounds, tastes, sights
unpleasant The sky is a dappled drab Like the
grey of my sweater and the haze in the
air Nothing is isolated. Everything is
Nothing. And my thoughts weigh me down like
chains that clank with bad memories Then it fades
away when I see Him Like a disappearing snake
Cold Morning
Y
9
THE CARNIVAL
Hope Caymen stepped off the ferris wheel after
her best friend Jessica and reeled over, sick to
her stomach. Carnival rides never suited her,
especially the fast spinning ones. But her best
friend Jessica adored them. God! Jessica
exclaimed, I love that! The rush and the
screaming and the spinning! You
would, said Hope, wiping her mouth.
Hooope, don't be such a baby!.
I know, I know. She laughed, It was kinda
fun though. Here. Jessica offered
her a tissue, I'll buy you some cotton candy.
Her eyebrows wrinkled with mock guilt, but before
Hope could reply, they heard a loud voice
exclaim, Come! Come see the horrific horrors of
my haunted abode! Ride through the repulsive
river of doom! See the scary surprises and be
prepared to scream! Only three tickets per
traveler! Hey! There's something you
like! Let's go ride that haunted river.
Jessica's eyes shined with delight. If
you say so. As they walked over to
where they had heard the voice, Hope got an
uneasy feeling in her stomach. She caught a
glimpse of the person whose voice they heard and
the hairs on her neck stood up. He was an
unusually tall man, at least six feet, and he was
dressed as a clown, but his costume was stained
and his makeup smeared. He smiled a smile of
crooked yellow teeth. Before Hope could say
anything, Jessica ran to get their place in
line. Hurry up, let's go!, she yelled
at Hope. Hope jogged up to Jessica.
That clown guy freaks me out. Look at him.
Ew, yeah. Look how dirty he is.
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Next!! The clown looked down at the
girls. Well, aren't you pretty. Going all alone?
No boy to keep you company? He sneered at them
with with his grimy teeth. The girls
exchanged disgusted glances and sat down in the
little metal boat that was in front of them. It
was small and dirty, and the paint had worn off
in most places. In fact, the ride seemed
extremely old and filthy compared to the rest of
the carnival. Hope reached over to fasten her
seatbelt and her hand touched something that
resembled a loogey.
Ew, oh my god, that's so disgusting!
What is that?, asked Jessica, but the
boat was already headed into the darkness.
Inside the ride, Hope suddenly felt very
claustrophobic. It was dark and all she could
hear was the light splashing of water against the
boat. Jessica?, Hope asked. Jessica?'
She started to panic until she heard Jessica's
muffled giggles. Jessica! Don't do that to me.
You Scared me to death!' You don't
sound dead. Jessica continued to laugh. Hope
laughed too. I swear, you just love to
torture me, don't you? As they were
laughing, a foul odor drifted through the air.
Ugh! What's that smell? It was the most
disgusting odor Hope had ever smelled. Sweet,
like rotten fruit and there was a hint of
something else, something metallic.
Blood, Jessica said. It smells like rotten
blood and like, she breathed in, like year-old
applesauce. Gross, Hope giggled.
The boat slowly drifted along the darkness
until it reached the scene of what looked like a
horrific puppet-murder, with plenty of fake
blood. That must have been the
smellthat nasty fake blood. Who even knows how
long that's been sitting there, Hope said. After
floating past the puppets, it seemed like the
ride had ended they could faintly hear the music
from the carnival.
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Glad that's over, Jessica sighed, it
wasn't even that scary. I know! I was
definitely hoping for some screaming or
something. All of the sudden, the boat jerked to
a stop, and the ride became pitch black. All Hope
could hear was the carnival music and Jessica's
breathing. What happened? she heard
Jessica ask, and then the ride filled with her
bloodcurdling screams.
the ride filled with her bloodcurdling screams.
Mom, I swear, when we came out of that ride,
Jessica was missing! Hope explained to her
mother. I came running home and I have no idea
where she is. She watched her mother for a
reaction, but she continued to calmly make
dinner. Mom? Are you even listening?
Yes, Hope. She sighed, Maybe she got scared
and ran home. I don't know what to tell you. Did
you call her house?
Yes, mom, but you know that no one
ever answers when I call. Mrs. Russeau refuses to
answer the phone. Hope, I'm kinda in
the middle of making dinner, okay? We'll talk
about this later. I'm sure you'll see her at
school tomorrow. Her mother said, reassuringly.
I'm just so worried, mom. I
know, honey, but I'm sure she's in a safe place
okay? Hope started to leave the
kitchen, still thinking about the carnival ride.
Have you taken your medicine yet? her
mother called out to her. Yes mom.
Hope eagerly waited in her first period
the next day for Jessica, and as each student
entered the classroom, her concern grew. When the
bell had rang and Jessica was no where to be
found, Hope raised her hand.
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Mr. Thomas?, she asked, have you seen
Jessica today? Mr. Thomas gave her a strange
look. No, Hope. I haven't seen her today.
Hope noticed that his voice seemed oddly sad.
She looked around the room and saw that
everyone else seemed glum too. Did they all know
something she didn't? Her classmates looked at
her wearily as Mr. Thomas began his lesson. Hope
decided she was going to go back to the carnival
later that day and find out what happened to her
best friend. Entering the carnival, Hope
felt uneasy, but she was more than ready to find
Jessica. She asked many of the workers and some
of the other people there, but no one remembered
her being with Jessica. One of the ladies there,
the conveyor of cotton candy, seemed genuinely
worried.
Where was she last, hun? she asked Hope.
We rode that haunted river ride, but she
never came out Which haunted river? The
one Bobo operates? You mean that weird
clown? Do you think he has anything to do with
her disappearing? Hun, I know he looks
kinda funny, but he would never hurt a young
girl. He's a respectable man, that Bobo, but you
can go ask him yourself. Thank you so
much. Hope was confused. She was certain that
the man in the clown suit had something to do
His suit was covered in what looked like blood.
with Jessica disappearing, and she was about to
find out. As she approached the haunted
river, the heart clenched in fear. She could see
Bobo standing there, his suit covered in what
looked like blood. Hey!, she yelled,
Hey clown! She jogged towards Bobo, and giving
him a nasty glare, she asked him where her friend
was. You came here yesterday, right
girl?, he asked Hope. Where is my friend?
The girl I was with? When I came out of the ride
she wasn't there anymore and I
13
you did something to her! Girl, you
weren't even with anyone else. You were by
yourself. Well, what's that all over
your costume? It's the fake blood I
use in the ride. Smells foul don't it? He smiled
nastily at her. Is there anything else you need?
I'm a little busy right now, but Hope was fed up
with being the only one worried about Jessica.
No, you did something with my best
friend! What did you do, kill her? she yelled.
I know you did something and I am going to find
out what it is. As she yelled, people had began
to stare at Hope and Bobo, and Bobo did not like
the attention. Listen, Missy, he said
through his teeth, I'm gonna call security now.
I did not touch your friend, I didn't even see
her! Now you better stop yellin' because they're
coming right now.
Hope turned around to see two large men
in uniform coming towards her. Before they could
get to her, she sprinted away and hid behind a
trashcan. She wasn't quick enough however,
because one of the men had seen her and she was
trapped. He caught her by the arms and forced her
out from behind the trashcan. Trying
to start trouble little girl? he hissed at her.
Hope felt sick. I'm callin' your momma!
Hope's mother looked down at her
disapprovingly as she drove her away from the
carnival. Hope, it's gone too far now,
this little game of yours. What are
you talking about mom? What game? This
whole thing about Jessica. There's nothing anyone
can do to bring her back. Mom, what
are you talking about?, Hope asked, confused.
Hope, Jessica has been dead for three
months now, you have to stop pretending. Her
mother sighed heavily and rubbed her eyes. It's
getting frustrating, but I think your medicine is
working, and I think that's why she disappeared.
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For now you have to stay somewhere safe, where
you won't get other people in trouble. Her
mother pulled up to a smooth white building with
a sign that read, Mayford County Psychiatric
Institution. A place where you can
just forget about Jessica, her mother said
calmly, patting Hope's knee.
Y
15
Le Systeme du Corps
I had three hundred bones I had three hundred
bones White like chalk Soft like clay My skin was
velvet, Was silk I have two hundred and fifty
bones Made of eggshell Yet firm like tree
trunks My skin smiles with new experience, My
stomach laughs I will have two hundred
bones Flaxen with age Brittle like toffee My face
will hold the crevices of self-expression My skin
will speaks truths.
Y
I will be dust.
16
This Place
It is Christmas in the North Gate shopping
mall. Next to the food court, a seating area has
been transformed into a winter wonderland. Fake
snow covers the roof and grounds around a great
palace, lined by an icicle-covered fence and
scattered with plastic reindeer. Larger-than-life
candy canes line a red carpet leading up to the
palace, and mothers impatiently wait with their
children for a chance to sit with Santa Clause.
He sits in his red throne, with a red suit, a red
hat, and his trademark white beard. Every
five minutes, a new child sits in Santa's lap and
every five minutes the photographer collects five
dollars from a saggy-eyed mother. The people not
waiting in line are the people without children,
or the teenagers, or the employees in the food
court, but everybody is tired. The mall is busy
as usual and the food court reeks of grease and
plastic. It consists of tacky metal tables and
tacky plastic chairs, all a nice shade of tacky
purple. In the food court, three teenage
girls stand around, doing nothing. One blonde
girl takes out her lipgloss and a mirror, applies
the lipgloss and when she is done, replaces it in
her bag with the shirt she stole ten minutes ago.
I look good, she thinks, My hair is perfect.
I look so bad, she says. No, no, you
look so good, her other blonde friend reassures
her. I hate you, she thinks. Her other friend, a
brunette, stares at the blonde that looks good
and wishes she looked like her. She turns and
watches the people in line and begins to count
the different colored shirts. I don't want to be
here, she thinks.
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A woman in a purple blouse watches the girls from
the line. She wishes she was blonde and all of
the sudden, the shirt she is wearing doesn't fit
right anymore. She sighs and turns to her two
kids twins, five years old. She dresses them the
same because she saw it in a magazine, only the
twins in the magazine were cuter. She looks with
disgust at her son's runny nose and pulls out a
tissue. An attractive blonde man walks by and the
lady turns to look he is a police officer. He
nods his hat at her and she sighs. I wish I had
married a police officer, she thinks. I hate this
place. A police officer patrols the mall looking
for anything suspicious. He glances at a group of
teenage girls, smiles, and orders them to have a
good day. He winks and they giggle. The brunette
doesn't notice the police officer, she is
watching a young black boy leaning against a
wall. He's cute, she thinks, she turns to her
friends, I could never tell them that.
Two young african-american men lean against a
wall. The man on the right notices a pretty
brunette staring at him, She's cute, he thinks.
He looks over to his friend, I could never tell
him that. He sees a photographer taking pictures
of children with Santa. He wants to be a
photographer, he decides. He imagines himself
taking pictures of the pretty brunette, happy
families and sunsets, or maybe he'll write a
book. He doesn't know what he wants to do with
his life, but he wants to make a difference. I
hate this place, he thinks. The
police officer spies two black boys that look
like trouble. They stand against the wall in
baggy pants and oversized shirts and the police
officer knows they are up to no good. He walks
over to them and asks them to leave the premises.
The boy on the right questions the police officer.
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Why? What did we do? the boy asks. The police
officer tells him, Don't talk back to me. I'll
arrest you so quick you won't know what hit you.
The other young man hits the police officer from
behind and he lets the boy go. The boy drops to
the ground. Oh my God, he thinks, Oh my God. The
photographer takes a picture of two twins with
Santa. A lady in a pretty purple shirt pays the
photographer and hears a yell. They both look out
from the palace at a police officer and two young
black men.
Oh my God, says the lady. This place is
crazy, the photographer tells her, nodding, I
wonder what happened. The picture pops out and
falls to the floor. The photographer looks down
at the picture he just took. A seating area has
been transformed in a winter wonderland. Santa
sits on his red throne, in his red hat, red suit,
and fake white beard in front of a great palace.
On the right of the palace, a group of teenage
girls is barely visible. In the foreground,
plastic reindeer peek out from beneath fake snow.
Large candy canes line the carpet beneath Santa's
feet. It is Christmas in the North Gate shopping
Center.
Y
19
1. Which of the assignments was the most
challenging for you? Describe the nature of this
challenge and how you overcame it. The work
that was most challenging for me was Pieces Of
Me. It was the most challenging because I wrote
it as my college essay and it could eventually
make or break my future. I decided just to look
inside myself, as corny as that sounds, and write
what I really felt, which made it difficult
because I had to separate the real me from from
what's outside and just let my feelings about
myself flow. 2. Of which assignment are you most
proud? What in particular have you done well on
that assignment? The assignment I am most
proud of is This Place. It is a short story
portraying certain stereotypes one would see at
an everyday place, like a mall. I love the use
of repetition in the story with each key
character claiming to hate this place, which
is a symbolization of general hate in the
world. 3. Describe one assignment that you are
choosing NOT to include in the portfolio. Why
did you ultimately decide against including that
writing in your portfolio? 4. Choose the very
best sentence from each of your chosen writings.
Why do you consider them the best? What is
particularly effective or moving about them?
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Cheesecake, sitting on my lonely
plate Smooth Delicious Smooth and delicious The
taste of summer Tickles my tastebuds Shh Listen
to them Sing Cold confectionOf delight I do not
want you But you tempt me so I am tempted And I
shiver Candle lit by a burning flame Flames of
affection Vanilla candle My nose trembles in
thanks Appreciation for you scent So, ever so
soft A feather against my nose
V a n i l l a
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Virginia is not what I would call home, even
after living here for three years. I was born a
Californian, in the beautiful Napa Valley. It is
the place I have known so well for thirteen years
of my life, and being torn from that comfort and
familiarity was the toughest situation I have
ever faced. I lost my friends and family to a
three thousand mile distance, and during a time
in my life where my self-consciousness was peak,
I was forced to start over. It came so
sudden to me, my parents decision to move. I had
known my dad applied for a promotion in
Washington D.C., but it had never really occurred
to me that if my dad was offered the job, we
would actually leave California. It was nearing
the middle of my first year in high school when I
found out the bad news. I was working on my
homework when I overheard my mom on the phone
telling a friend we were moving to Virginia. It
took a few moments to register and then I became
hysterical. How could they do this to me? How
could they take me away from the place I loved so
much, where I had made all of my memories?
Out of reflex, I called the person I was closest
to, my best friend since kindergarten, Rebecca.
Through my tears, I told her the news. Her tears
came quickly as well and I could tell she was
just as upset as I was. That kind of friendship
is not so common, and it was so hard knowing I
would not see her face as I usually did. We
tried to visit each other as often as possible
and for the first year I was able to see her
twice, but even our friendship could not survive
the distance. It was not until two weeks
after we left for Virginia when it hit me I was
leaving my home. I would not be able to ride my
bike through the chilly air of Monterey Bay and
smell the scent of fresh clam chowder hanging
lazily in the air. I could not walk through the
eclectic streets of San Francisco anymore. Even
the boardwalks down in Ocean City are of no
comparison to that Santa Cruz boardwalk, where I
had spent so many of my birthdays. These places
and experiences were not mine to take advantage
of anymore, and I knew I would miss the
memories. I believe that living in one place
your whole life leaves certain expectations that
make it hard for other areas to live up to.
Although Virginia will never be home, I know
there are people here that really love me, and
are glad that I came into my life. I have grown
into Virginia and am finally able to admit that
it is not so bad living here. Virginia might not
be the diverse and fast-paced urban life of
California, but the land is full of history. My
heart still lives in California, but I find that
as each day passes, I find it easier and easier
to call Virginia my new home.
22
Les Ombres
La Femme
Keeping secrets and dark desires, you stir ever
so silently Following her footsteps, les ombres,
your movements match so perfectly Across the
soft-lit ball room With grace she glides so
effortlessly Following in her footsteps, les
ombres you glide with matched efficiency The
moonlight fades with morning's dawn She rests
her head so softly You follow with ease, les
ombres Les Ombres, they follow so deftly
La femme, do you mind if I follow you Your every
movement and your every step? La femme, truly I
want to glide with you Your secrets and desires
safely kept I promise you'll stay in the
spotlight, la femme I'll be dark and unnoticed
just for you You're my inspiration and my
dreams, la femme Can I dance so effortlessly
too?
23
Madonna Giovanna How are you loved? So
faithfully and wholly! He would buy you the
world. But Monna, Are you not impressed? By
the riches he has offered Such extravagant
love! Madonna Giovanna, Will you not give him a
chance? His life has been reduced to a hawk and
some rags Monna, Are you hungry Madonna? He
has no food And your son is sick. Madonna
Giovanna, Are you grieving for your son? The
falcon has come and gone but not for your son.
Madonna Giovanna