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When a friend was undergoing treatment for cancer, she was often stuck at the hospital for days. Even though the
family was close by, there were limits on who she could see and how often. As a result, it became
very difficult to see her on a regular basis and I decided to send her a get well gift basket
as soon as she was sent to the hospital. Sending get well gift baskets for people stuck at the hospital,
or simply in bed during recovery, is a wonderful way to show you care. People who are getting over a
sickness or have just finished surgery are in a very vulnerable state; they may be more emotional than usual, and
even become sad or depressed since they are away from home. Sending get well gift baskets is a simple way
to cheer them up, and there are many creative ways to put together some of their favorite treats, or even
a larger surprise! The get well soon gift basket I put together was full of cheerful toys, flowers, and her
favorite gourmet treats. Since she was going to be at the hospital for over a week, I added a classic
novel and DVD of her favorite TV series. I thought that anything that could distract her for a little while
might help her get through even the toughest days. Get well soon gift baskets can also be made up of
some colorful flowers, candy and fruit, a soft toy, and a hand-written card or note; I sent her another speedy
recovery gift basket after a week so that she had something else to enjoy for the remainder of her hospital
stay. Not only are get well soon gift baskets helpful for a speedier recovery, but they can also extend some
sympathy and support in the act of giving. Balloons and flowers work well for a speedy recovery gift basket as
well, and these can be added to the get well gift basket fairly easily. I added a handwritten card and
some funny pictures and photos to this one; it was just one creative way to send some good wishes and
help her enjoy her time in recoveryinstead of being sad or depressed. When my grandmother was recovering from back surgery,
I knew she wouldnt be able to get into the kitchen to make her favorite baked goods. So, I put
together a hamper of home-baked goods and some healthy fruit for her get well soon gift . She was overjoyed
to be presented with her favorite shortcakes and specialty hot chocolate; I also made sure to include some fresh fruit
so that she could stay healthy even though she was stuck in bed. A get well soon gift basket filled
with healthy and even organic snacks makes the perfect gift for someone who needs to get better quickly. Get well
gift baskets are a valuable way to show you care; a speedy recovery gift basket can be designed with cute
toys and tokens of appreciation, and many are a combination of food, treats, snacks, balloons, and flowers. Finding out what
that special someones favorite flower or colors are can help you design a beautiful get well soon gift basket that
they really enjoy as they get better. fotografies gamou Every effort counts, and the more creative you can be
with the pieces of your get well gift basket, the more valuable the gift will be to them!

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The sure way to say that you had a great time is sending flowers after a date. Everyone likes to
be acknowledged and flowers make everyone smile, for that reason, stating something with a big bouquet of flowers speaks volumes.
Naturally the kind of flowers sent generally would coordinate with what date this was. After a first date the doorbell
ringing and a bouquet of flowers means there will be a second date. But the kind of flowers is critical.
Of course you must take care in what flowers you send because flowers make a statement about how you feel!
Consider a pretty gerbera or rose with a cluster of greens to say that you would like another date without
giving away much at all in terms of emotions. If you are in an continual relationship then a gift of
flowers when you have been dating some time merely confirms that this relationship is on course. If the continuity is
there then you can begin sending the bouquet of all roses. Precisely what color is dependent on where you intend
or think the relationship is headed. If you send her red ones then she will immediately think that "this must
be love" there's nothing that quite states it like a dozen red roses. But anything goes and once you know
their favored flower then a classic vase brimming with those waiting at the home speaks to your thoughtfulness and listening
prowess. Flowers for no reason at all are the most unexpected and most appreciated. Even when your love life continues
to be reserve because of a busy schedule or unexpected challenges declaring you are thinking about someone is obviously tremendously
appreciated and keeps the spark alive until the next date can take place. If you have to travel for work
then send a basket of violets or a vase full of pink roses to say you are thinking of them
and anticipate your next time together. Whatever flowers you choose the KaBloom site provides the perfect bouquet to state nearly
anything fotografies gamou. Be sure to check out their patented Moses Miracle that ensures your flowers are designed and
delivered without ever being without water. fotografies gamou This assures you have the freshest bouquet being sent to the
one you love. Using KaBloom will allow you to "knock her socks off" with a wide selection of unique and
inpsiring designs. This great site also provides feathers, mugs, as well as other gifts into the flower style to make
certain that what you send comes straight from your heart. Keep the excitement no matter what date this may be
and show that your time with them lingers in your mind and heart by sending flowers after a date. The
unspoken words is going to be apparent in the size and attractiveness of your bouquet and that will be for
certain when you use a web site like KaBloom to create your unique arrangement.

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It is often customary to send sympathy flowers or plants to a funeral home, church, mortuary or to the familys
home when someone hears the news of the loss of a loved one. How do you select what to send
Or, when to send it And, how do you select among the many Montreal florists and flower shops for your
funeral flowers or arrangements Many funeral homes arrange visiting times for friends and family to attend prior to the formal
service. If you are considering sending flowers or funeral arrangements, it is considered proper etiquette to send them prior to
the commencement of the visitation. If you are unable to send flowers prior to the end of the visitation period
in the funeral home, it is still appropriate to send them to the familys home. It can be disruptive if
you send flowers to the wrong place; for example, if you send them to the funeral home after formal visitation,
the funeral home will be responsible for delivering them to the family, or it will be requested of the family
to come pick the arrangements up. So, it is considered proper to send them directly to the family if you
miss this window of time. Montreal flower delivery services can help you with these arrangements. If you are unable to
attend any of the formal services, it is considered proper etiquette to send flowers to the familys home. In fact,
it is considered proper to send the flower arrangements to the familys home up to a month following the funeral.
Work with your chosen Montreal flower delivery shop to select the best funeral flower arrangements and to arrange for a
proper message and delivery time. What is Appropriate to Send To many people, it can be overwhelming to know what
flower arrangements to select for either sending to the funeral home or to the familys home. Your Montreal flower delivery
store will assist you in this selection, and there are a number of Montreal florists and flower shops in which
to select from fotografies gamou. Here are some of the most common selections that will be recommended: Sympathy Sprays-
These are commonly sent directly to the funeral home, church or facility in which services are being held at. They
are often used to display on easels or along tables due to their ideal size and shape. Wreaths- These special
arrangements put together by Montreal florists and flower shops are also ideal to send directly to the funeral home or
facility in which the services are being held at fotografies gamou. You may want to call the family however
in advance to see if there will be a use for this type of arrangement fotografies gamou. Funeral Basket-
a basket is a great item to send for display at any of the funeral services, as well as it
is an appropriate item to send to the familys home following the services. Green Plants- These are a popular choice
as they can often be permanent in the home of the family or planted outside, lasting much longer than a
traditional floral arrangement. Your Montreal florist and flower shop will be able to assist you in selecting the most ideal
green plant for the family.

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The morning went on without bothering me. I was carelessly conscious, and I didnt even bother to think about the
farewell party. Farewell party I gulped and shivered involuntarily at the sound of it. It wasnt time to bide our
farewells. I didnt even want to waste another tear for this. I was sitting on the edge of the sofa
with my chin between my knees. My eyes were spying on the phone, and my hands were prepared to grab
it when it rings. Samuel was, at usual, wandering ahead of me. Of course, there was nothing to do today
with the party as an exception. The phone rang, and before the first ring ceased, I caught the receiver and
began speaking. Samuel didnt need to listen; he knew what we were talking about before it actually happened. Carry was
about to end her own call and bid her goodbye. Samuel exited through the door elegantly, like a ghost heading
for the door. Things arent going straight with me departing to Philadelphia. It was almost noon when I reached the
bathroom to warm myself in the bathtub. The hot water soothed my skin as if it was massaging me. When
I was done, I peeked on the wall clock. Finally, the time dawned on me. I hurried back to the
bathroom to brush my teeth harshly. I dressed what an ordinary girl would dress herself. I knew that I wasnt
ordinary, but who cares Only Samuel knows what I am or what I will be, when I was born. Being
human is stupid, and for others, they might wish that they werent even one. But for me, everything they wish
was exactly opposite to what I want. To fulfill a human life, thats all I ask for. If I werent
human, Carry would not be my best friend and Ben wouldnt be with me. I took a final glance at
the mirror and hurried downstairs to eat lunch. I was hurriedly eating the food, entirely messing myself. Samuel was half-impressed
on me. He was staring at me all the time, not even bothering to look at the door, when its
doorbell rang. I rolled my eyes at his direction and washed my face before opening the door. It wouldnt look
appropriate for an ordinary girl with a face covered with ketchup, bits of rice and meat, and a mouth completely
surrounded with tiny crumbs of bread. A tall figure approached my doorstep with a grin on his beautiful face. "Ben!
" I hugged him tightly to my chest. Samuel hurried to the door too, to see if Joseph was with
him. "Hows New Orleans" "Fine, I guess," he chuckled. "So, still going to Philly I grunted. Why would he remember
inane things like this There was so much more to discuss. The farewell party, for example. "It can never be
postponed nor cancelled, Ben," I explained aptly, not intending to hurt his feelings. I never thought that somebody or anybody
would cry for my sake. Not even once. Well, Carry will be the first. "Can I come with you" "Nice
joke, kid. " I tried to be sarcastic. "Seriously, Erin. But its utterly fine if I cant come. Ill just
visit some other time. Is that okay" I made a face. "You wish," I murmured, ever so softly. "So", I
said, remembering the farewell party. My spine shivered down to my waist. "My friends are planning for a farewell", I
winced, "party. " "Oh" His face looked thoughtful. "Need my help" "Not actually I was just going to ask ifwanna
come" The words came out of my lips with such rush. I was sure I rehearsed this line for a
thousand times. It doesnt matter now for most of my plans were sinking to the bottom of the wastebasket. "Youre
kidding right" I sighed. "No. I want to celebrate my party with you, Ben. Youre the closest thing to meapart
from Samuel of course. " His smile vanished without the slightest bit of vestige from his face. Then he lit
up. "Of course, Erin, my friend. It would be a special celebration for us all. Grande y melodramatico! " His
Spanish wasnt fluent, and besides that, I didnt understand everything he meant. Special, I thought. Nothing special is going on.
Never. But considering the thought of it as special, I would accept. If Ben was saying it sincerely. It was
not merely a joke to me. "What time" he queried. "Seven at night. No drinks except for Champagne and Coke,
no smoke, all talk And of course, goodbyes. " "I was afraid of that. Where are you going" he gestured
on my fully dressed body. "With Carry. You know, best friend. " "Can I come" "Girl talks. Strictly for girls
only. " I can see him shudder with disgust. He really wasnt into girls nowadays. Except for me. Annoying me
was his part-time job. "Yeah. Its private, actually I guess Ill see you around. " "See you later. " Samuel
was also saying his own goodbyes to Joseph. We walked back into the house, waiting for seven. Waiting for the
party. A farewell party. Apparently, Samuel drove me to the park before one. I hastily took my favorite parka and
left Samuel. Carry was as usual, gleaming towards my direction. Her black eye was still there. She waited for me,
until her mouth started babbling baloney. I caught a sentence from her lips. "Are you still going to Philly" I
rolled my eyes. "Can we stop discussing that for a moment please" I pleaded through gritted teeth. "Im nervous every
single day. " "But youre still going to Philly" Once again, I grimaced. "Yes. Nothing or nobody can stop me.
" "Oh. Can you stay Just another week. Please" "Carry, I Would you stop discussing that, Im saying this for
a second time! Now, you wouldnt want to hear a third one from me, am I right And, my answer
for your inane question is no because the dumb ticket that we bought was a stupid non-refundable! " Carry shook
her head immediately, her eyes glued to mine. Of course, everybody was afraid to me. I was some kind of
psycho-killer to them. Ben wasnt afraid to meon special occasions. Like the party. He wouldnt be afraid of me or
scared. He was my personal hell. "Very well, then. Be a good little girl to mama or shell punch you
right through the nose, all right" I said sarcastically. No one could win against me. Not even without my heavily
built hand. She nodded eagerly. "Alright. Why did you drag me here" It took a moment for her to answer.
"Just our secret alright But I was wondering No. But before I tell you this, I want to let you
know that this is because Im curious about you. You know, your behavior, your allergies to sunlight So, okay. Lets
start with the basics. So, I saw you licking my blood addictively. " I gulped. "Why" "Tasting it" "Seriously, Erin.
Are you some kind of blood-sucking vampire No offense. " That threw me off-guard. "Carry! ! You know that Im
your best friend. And Im telling youIm not a VAMPIRE! " I stated. "Come on, Im just asking. Are you
really Just answer yes or no. " "No, no, NO! " "Okay Thats cool. After all, Im just curious. So,
tell me. Does it taste good" "Yeah," I admitted. "Like what" "Roast beef" She groaned loudly. "Can I taste it"
"Some other time. And anyway, its just like rusty water for you. But it tastes a lot better to me.
" And I dont know why, I added in my brain. "Okay, I understand. Enough vampire questions for now. So
tell me, do you have a crush on any of our friends" An image of Ben flashed on my mind.
"Is it John Danny Chris" "Its none of your business, actually. " "Is it someone I dont know Some Hollywood
superstar perhaps" "No. Its someone from Philadelphia," I lied. "Cool. " We continued to talk for hours, until I saw
the sun setting. On my left, I saw Samuel leaning against our car. "Carry, I better get going. See you
guys at the restaurant" "Okay, Erin. Seven, okay Dont forget. Goodbye. " And then she walked away. "Erin, its a
quarter to seven. Arent you leaving yet" Samuel called. I was in my room, changing from dirty old clothes to
my favorite set of garments. "Just one more look at the mirror, dad," I called back. The girl in the
mirror was striking. Her bright blue eyes were shining and her rosy lips were spread into a huge smile. She
looked paler in her reflection, yet more beautiful. I was wishing to be that kind of sixteen-year-old girl. Simple, adequate,
and beautiful. But when I look inside myself, I see nothing except confusion. Who am I Who am I to
be I ran down to the living room. Samuel looked through my eyes. "Youre prettier than ever. " Youre wrong,
dad, I thought. Im completely blank nowadays. The beautiful girl you see is now gone. "Hop into the car, now.
" I followed Samuel weakly to our car. "By the way, Ill be gone for two days after your party,"
he said as I saw him slip the same amulet into his pocket. "Why" "Business. The companys running a large
program in New Orleans. " "Oh. Am I seeing you again before I fly to Philadelphia" "Probably. Your flight is
five days from now, right" "Yeah. " Samuel started the engine and we drove slowly to the restaurant. Halfway from
the restaurant were going, I broke the silence coming from inside our car. "Dad" I whispered in a little voice.
"Yeah" "Im going to miss you very much. " He sighed. "Im going to miss you too, Erin. But dont
worry, young child. Teresa will take care of you. " I gasped. "Teresa You mean, my mother" He mentioned my
mothers name for the very first time. "Yeah. Teresa Maria Nicholson. Thats her real name. " "What does she look
like, dad" "Shes extraordinarily beautiful, baby. She looks a lot like you. Except that shes blonde. But shes pale too.
" "Oh. " The girl I imagined was the vampire in my dreams. They had the almost same color of
hair; they had the same pale skin. When the restaurant was near enough for me to see, I gasped in
fury. What did Carry do The caf was jam-packed with people I didnt know. The whole building was covered in
pink garlands and purple balloons. A large banner in the parking lot said: Farewell, Erin Nicholson! We will miss you!
We love you very much fotografies gamou! ! What did Carry do I asked myself for the second time.
It looked like a birthday party. It looked as if they were never going to miss me. At last, Samuel
found the last parking space on the lot. When I stepped out of the door, Samuel was still on the
drivers seat. "Arent you partying with me" "Its a teens party. Youd be better off without me. " "Oh. Okay.
See you later in the house. Goodbye, dad. " "Yeah. " And he started the engine once again. When I
was about to go, he called back. "Erin Would you like me to fetch you later" he offered. I completely
forgot about my transportation afterwards. "Yeah. " "Okay. See you in an hour or two, perhaps. " He shot a
smile towards me. "Bye. " "Have fun. " And he drove away. Carry was wearing a green sleeveless gown with
diamonds embedded on it. Of course, she can afford it. Her family runs one of the biggest businesses in town.
She kissed my cheek softly. I noticed that she had sunglasses over her eyes. I supposed she wore it to
hide the embarrassment hidden on one of her eyes. "Erin, welcome to the world of parties! " she welcomed me.
"Thank you," I said, a little smug. "Wheres Samuel" "Driving home. He didnt want to come. He stated that it
was a teenagers party. " "Oh, thats totally fine. Hey, didnt you bring any of your friends" "Well, Ben". Wait
a minute. Where is Ben "Who is Ben" Carry asked. The second after Carry finished chattering, a voice Id known
anywhere spoke to me. "Hi, Erin. " Carry looked behind me, wide-eyed. Her shocked expression said: Boy, he is so
cute! "Ben! " I turned to see a tall figure, a lot more different than Ben. It was a new
Ben. He wore a tuxedo and his hair was cropped short. It was the first time I saw him dress
formally. His shoes were even leather. "I-is th-th-tha-that y-you" I stuttered. "Of course its me," he said. "Whos she" She
pointed to the sun-glassed girl beside me. "Oh, right. Ben, this is Carry. Carry, this is Ben," I introduced. "Pleasure
to meet you," Ben said. "Pleasure. " "Shall we" I said, leading inside the restaurant. The restaurant was shocking. I
ate there before, but now, it wasnt what I expected it to be. Again, purple balloons were taped to the
walls. At one corner stood a huge sound system, which I never saw before. On the opposite side of the
wall stood a wooden stage with a DJ on its right side. Hanging in the middle was a huge disco
ball, shimmering in the light. People were flocking in and out of the huge room, until everybody was in and
ready to party. Only six people caught my eye. And then I understood: All of the people Carry mentioned to
me in the call were there. John Clarksons tall and lean outline was leaning against the wall, wearing a coat
and tie paired with matching black slacks. His golden brown hair was standing all over his head, gelled. He had
green eyes and pale lips. He was an albino, like his mother. Carry had always wanted to be with him,
but he had another girlfriend. It happened to be Celina, one of our friends. Danny Avila was chattering with people
I didnt know. He wore ordinary clothes for he wasnt as rich as John. He was extraordinarily handsome and muscular,
with russet-colored skin. I prefer to be with him than to be with the other guys because he was humorous,
humble and unselfish. His brown eyes lingered around the room, looking for familiar faces. And then, his eyes caught my
eyes. A huge grin spread across his face, probably reaching his ears. His white teeth gleamed with the fluorescent light
on the ceiling. Opposite to Danny was Christian Wilson, also known as Chris Will. He usually kept to himself since
his mother recently died. Even if he was peaceful nowadays, his kindness and beauty still overwhelmed me. He had his
fathers amber eyes and his mothers rosy cheeks. Over all, he was a fair angel. He wore his usual muscle
shirt and baggy pants. He had a steady girlfriend whom I met only once. The girls were as usual, gossiping
with each other. Seated on a chair was Celina Marquez, wearing a blue gown. She was toying with her brunette
hair, twirling it until it goes shaggy and wavy. She had the largest mouth Ive ever seen, and it was
all covered with red lipstick. Her makeup was very thick, and her body was covered with dangling jewels, mostly diamonds
and emeralds. She was as tall as me, yet I was more beautiful. She was an albino too, thats why
she and John were called as "The Albinos". She smiled at my direction and waved her slender arms at me.
The black Kenyan women standing with a red flowing gown was Gabriel Andrews. She was not as rich, but her
heart was filled with compassion and sympathy. She was a hardworking student, promising to fill her ten younger siblings stomachs
with food. Her gray eyes shifted from time to time, and I wondered if she was listening to the other
girls gossips and rumors. The blond one with the black backless robes was Maxine McCartney, commonly known as "M n
M". She had black lipstick on her lips and a black necklace on her neck. On her back was a
huge tattoo that looks like a dragon. She was dark, and usually kept herself silent. She had earphones on her
ears and her hand was holding an iPod Nano. She loved music, especially the loud and eardrum-shattering rock songs by
famous rock bands. She never talked to me, except if she had a question. Her reply will be a simple
"oh". When the clock ticked seven thirty, we ate luxurious dinner before beginning the party. Ben loved the crabs, not
even managing to taste the other food on the table. Champagne was served to the adults and Coke was for
teenagers. Carry began talking from a normal tone in a conversation into a loud yelling and babbling like a mad
man. They seemed to enjoy instead of weepbefore Carry started the Philadelphia topic. She must be out of her mind.
"Erin is leaving Louisiana five days from now," she began. "No wonder why shes so happy right now. " "Carry!
" I cautioned in a whisper. "You know Im unhappy. Id miss you all. " My eyes lingered on Bens.
"All of you are my friends," I said loud enough for everyone to hear. "Lets not waste our last time
together weeping. Cheers! " I raised my glass for emphasis. "Cheers! " Just then, after drinking, the lights went off
and are replaced by sharp purple lights, bouncing from wall to wall. My eyes were stung, and my skin was
irritated. I skipped to the shadow of a huge stereo leaning against the wall. Carry was, at usual, chattering with
the girls while dancing. Maxine was as irritated as me because she couldnt hear her own music. The other boys
seemed to be bopping with the musics beat. And then I remembered Ben was suddenly at my back, smiling at
me. "Hey Erin, What are you doing here Standing in the shadows Youre the star of the show, so step
into the spotlight! " he advised me. "No, I dont want to," I responded coldly. "Need some help" he mused.
"What do you mean" "I meando you want to dance with me" I laughed half-heartedly. "In the shadows" "No, were
talking about the spotlight. You are the princess in the spotlight. " I took a deep breath. I wondered if
I could tell him about my allergies. No. He would worry too much. "No, Ben. I would rather prefer dancing
in the shadows. " "Okay. Its alright. As long as I could take an opportunity to dance with you. "
And then, the music shifted into a classical music. "Just relax," he told me. Ben placed his hands softly on
my waist, and I awkwardly rested my arms on his shoulders. Slowly, we swayed from side to side. "You know,
this is kind of fun," I giggled. He chuckled softly. "Just relax," he reminded me again. "Someday, youre going to
get used to this. " I thought that this was my very special debut Ive always been dreaming about. I
completely forgot about this being a farewell party. What would an ordinary girl wish forwhen she had enough Ben danced
with me for the firstand the last time. This was enough. Enough to make a girl happy. Suddenly, Bens face
was inches away from mine. Oh no, talk about kissing! I felt completely disgusted. I prayed that the lights will
come back and all of this never happened. "Stay still," Ben warned. "Ben, no. " I pushed him away. "I
wouldnt want to do this. Not even if I have to. Im sixteen. " "So what Im still eighteen. Whats
the matter" "Thats it. Thats the matter. I dont want to do this, really. " Abruptly, the lights went on
again. It blinded me for a moment as I stepped further back to the only shadow within my reach. Carry
was at the stage, murmuring something inaudible. All of the sudden, everybody was clapping at us. My cheeks flushed red
and Ben smiled to them. "Look folks, they were about to kiss! " Celina squealed in delight. "Oooooohhhhhh" they mumbled.
I turned to face Ben. My face turned red; boiling and bubbling with anger and frustration. "You are so deadly
dead. " "What did I do now" he protested. "Youyou attempted to steal a kiss from me! " "I wasnt
going to steal a kiss," he corrected arrogantly. "Whatever! Listen, Ben. Dont ever do that again. Dont dare to embarrass
me. Ever. Do you understand" He nodded; defeated. For the first time, he was afraid of me. He wasnt my
personal hell, after all. Celina walked towards us. I introduced her to Ben, while he was charmed of her. "I
see. What a cute boyfriend you have in here. " "Celina! He is not my boyfriend. I dont even have
a crush on him. " I half-growled at her. "Oh, sorry. " She turned to Ben, then to me. "Anyway,
John and I are planning to visit you in Philadelphia as soon as possible. We would be delighted to meet
your dearest mother. Have you met her before" "No. Even in pictures, I havent. " "Oh. " Ben called my
attention. "Erin, its five minutes to midnight. Are you leaving I would want to come with you. " "Oh, theres
no need to worry. Samuel". On that moment, I saw our car park in a different area. "What Samuel is
here. " "Thats cool. Arent you leaving" "Maybe I should. Celina, it has been a pleasure to meet you once
again. I guess I will see you in Philadelphia. " "Goodbye, Erin. " And then she hugged me for the
last time in Louisiana. I bid my farewells to Carry, while she wiped her tears of sorrow. The boys hugged
me, while the others shook hands. Maxine said a simple goodbye, and walked away. When Danny said a tearful goodbye
to me, I shed a few snuffles. Samuel waited for me inside our car and warmly greeted Ben. He welcomed
him sincerely in our car. "Gee, Erin, your car is a whole lot smaller than the last time I rode
here. " Samuel laughed wholeheartedly. "Thats because youre bigger nowadays," I said, a bit glum. Ben kept babbling when we
were heading home. Samuel doesnt seem to be tired listening to Bens baloney. I rolled my eyes at him and
covered my ears. At some times, Ben asked if I was all right or apologized for disturbing me. "Its alright
Ben, you dont have to ask for forgiveness. " I lied. And he continued to jabber until his jaw muscles
went sore. In my room, I wept silently. Golden tears streamed down my cheeks like a couple of silent rivers
gushing out from its place. Samuel was in his room, sleeping for his early departure to New Orleans. It was
one o clock in the morning, and still I couldnt sleep. Everything was quiet outside, birds not singing, dogs not
barking. Everything was at peace. Carry didnt even call me. My phone was quiet. Im sure Ben is weeping too;
everybody wept for me. I closed my eyes, not hoping to find the mysterious vampire in my dreams. I hope
that I would sleep a dreamless night. But, instead of a dreamless night, I saw Carry, my friends, Samuel, and
of course, Ben. fotografies gamou I was asleep. Thankfully, the vampire wasnt there. It was allparty. Carry was there,
standing before my eyes. She didnt wear those stupid sunglasses. Samuel and Ben were at my sides, leading me towards
the same restaurant. They were clapping for me; congratulating me. My eyes searched for an inexplicable face. To my surprise,
it wasnt there. So, the conclusion says that my family is fine. Suddenly, I felt dizzy. I was sucked out
from my dream. My vision was swirling; but a figure caught my eye. An exact replica of me, except that
this clone was older. This had blonde hair too. She was suspending in the air, looking directly at me. Her
strange eyes were filled with more anger, revenge and frustration than the last time I saw her. Fangs slid down
from her mouth to her chin. Wings came out of her arms. And then, she transformed into a huge bat.
The midnight air carried the bat away from me, until it was lost in darkness. I was brought to another
place, another time. I was stunned to see myself standing in an old castle filled with coffins and torches. Samuel
was there, dressed in a tuxedo wrapped in a purple cape. My first impression of him is that I thought
that he was Count Dracula. In a huge window, a bat entered the fortress. It flew towards Samuel, and then
altered into a beautiful girl. It was the blonde vampire! The couple strayed towards me, with open arms. Samuel said
something indistinct. "Welcome to the Vampire Empire. " His voice was merely a whisper. It was deep, and mesmerizing. "Yes,
my darling," the girl said. "Come. Youre welcome here. " Her tone was sweet and gentle, like the rustling of
the leaves and the soft gushing of the rivers. She had a calm nature-like voice. "Who are you" I demanded
with so little tone left in my voice. It sounded like a flute with no harmony in it. "We are
your parents, Elizabeth. " Elizabeth What is she talking about "Where am I What year is this I" "Hush," Samuel
ordered me soothingly. "You are in the castle grounds of the Ferdinand Palace, in the second century B. C. "
"Christopher, let me say this to her," the girl suggested. Samuel or Christopher or whatsoever sighed. "Of course, Teresa. "
Teresa My mother "Elizabeth, you must understand this by yourself. We are trying hard to keep our deepest secret until
you have reached the age of eighteen. But you are strong enough now. Elizabeth, you are one of us. "
I was confused. One of them "What do you mean" "You are a vampire. " Vampire She must be kidding.
"Im a what" Samuel looked frustrated to my mother. "I told you to do this sincerely and softly! " I
heard him whisper. "My ever dearest Erin. What Teresa said is true. You are a vampire. You are one of
us. " Before I could protest, Teresa said calmly, "Elizabeth, the time has come for you to return back to
your time. " She slipped a small hourglass into my hand. "Use this to travel forward in time. Goodbye. "
She gave me directions and tips on how to use the tiny hourglass, until it sucked me back into time.
I forced myself to open my mind. This time, I was neither sleepy nor tired because the dream threw me
wide-eyed. My hair was all shaggy, and the dazzling moonlight was shining through my window. It was two o clock
in the morning. fotografies gamou Wait a minute. Moonlight I spent hours in my dream. Did the fictional Teresa
send me back to when I slept Things are going absolutely crazy and insane right now. Just as I thought,
there were strange sounds coming from my bedrooms corridor. "Kept on murmuring "Yeah, shes fine "Told you not to "Just
let me "Of courseGoodbye. " The call ended with a beep. Samuel entered my room and looked at me pleadingly.
I yawned loudly. "Dad What are you doing here You should be sleeping. Your flight will be at five o
clock. " "Thats not to worry, Erin. You were muttering strange things like vampire, Christopher, and other stuff. Were you
having a nightmare" "I think so. Go back to sleep, dad. " "All right," he agreed. "You sure you're okay"
"Yeah, dad," I whispered urgently. "Go back to sleep now! " "Goodnight. " "Night. " That was the last time
I saw Samuel for this day. I couldnt sleep well that morning so I decided to watch the television. Midnight
shows are usually boring, and theres nothing more to do than to click a button on the remote control and
watch the shows moving and changing rapidly until I was fast asleep. When I woke up at eleven, I was
alone in the house. Carry was in her house, weeping as usual. That makes her unavailable. Ben was busy too,
because Joseph took him for a hike. Again. So there I was, shaggy and smelly, sitting on the couch. I
ate little cereal and poured fresh milk to my glass. I took a long time inside my bathroom, and then
brushed my teeth carelessly. Every now and then the toothbrush would drop from my mouth to the bathroom floor. I
was feeling very drowsy at some moments. When I would eat some junk food in a nearby grocery store, the
manager would wake me and then I would notice that the food was spilling on my jeans. I attempted to
call Carrys cell phone. But, sometimes it loses all its battery power and she would not even bother to revitalize
it back again. Whats wrong with her, I dont know. Celina isnt vacant too. She spends too much time with
John. All my other friends are probably unavailable also. Hours passed and still, I was bored of myself. I decided
to give Carry an email. When I opened my email address, to my surprise, there were no offline messages and
mails for me. There were times when Carry left a hundred mails in my address. Dear Carry, What are you
doing I bet youre weeping on your knees right now. But please promise me one thing. Never weep for me.
I know youre sad, but you could always visit me in Philadelphia anytime. I mean, you could have fun, right
Please dont be miserable. You know that Im depressed too. And please try to seal your heart again. Do this
for my sake. Maybe this will be my last email to you. In Louisiana, anyways. And Im not sure I
can do this but Im willing to share my secrets with you. Just this once, cuz Ill not be seeing
you again for a very long time. So, lets start with your latest questions for me. One time, in the
park-you remember You asked me something. Something about crushes, right So I am sure that I am ready to tell
you this. My crush is Okay, just relax but I wasnt really in love with a Hollywood star or John,
or Danny or Chris. Actually, Im not sure if I really want him or even like him. As said in
the movie Titanic, "a womans heart is a deep ocean of secrets", I think that my emotion for him is
somewhat bewildered and amused. But, okay. His name is I cant do this. But Ill just give you clues to
who he really is. Read this carefully: Clue (just kidding around here, alright) Farewell Party. The real answer to this
small but indeed large clue is hidden somewhere in the stage. I hope you find out who he really is.
Ill leave some more clues for you when I arrive in Philly. Call me if you have some inquiries for
the seeking of clues. You know, I miss you very much. Please call me; you havent called me since the
farewell party, for your information. Good luck and goodbye. Erin Nicholson The reason why I added some clue hunting is
because I wanted Carry to call me again. I havent got more clues in my mind, so I decided to
tell the truth when I reach my new home in Philadelphia. The day shifted into a dark blanket wrapping the
entire sky. I was expecting a call from either Carry or Samuel sooner or later. To my surprise, there was
none. The phone didnt even ring. My cell phone didnt even vibrate. Finally, drowsiness filled my entire body. It was
still eight in the night. The usual ticking of the clock ringed in my ears. I controlled myself from sleeping
because I wasnt ready for bed. Our house was full of abandoned rooms, even if it was small. A mini-library
was even here, just at the back of our garage. Other rooms were renovated into stock rooms. It was usually
boring looking at piles of junk, mostly consisting my old toys. So, I decided to visit our recently abandoned library.
I had the key to the door right in my left pocket. It creaked loudly and moved aside. Shakily and
dramatically, I settled a foot into what seemed as an inch of dust and switched the light on. It blinked
for a few times and shined an incandescent light. The sight of the library was indeed appalling. Dust covered every
square centimeter of the floor. White sheets were draped over the shelves filled with century-old books. I tugged at the
sheets of the biggest shelf. This was unusual, I thought. I havent seen this one before. Cobwebs were covering books.
It was very old and ragged. Outside the room, (as I checked) it was silent and I felt that nobody
was spying at me. Everything was safe. It turned out that the whole shelf was full of Samuels collections. My
fingers traced the books and then stopped abruptly at a book entitled "Nightfly Academy". I wondered if it was just
another bedtime story. To my astonishment, it was full of documents. And then I realized that Nightfly was a school
somewhere in Europe. I had mastered Europes most famous academies but no such thing as Nightfly ever existed throughout its
history. I declared that this school was only fictional; before I scanned through the documents and certificates. Speckles of dust
fluttered everywhere, so I scanned the pages softly with the use of my fingertips. In one page, Samuels name was
listed. Only two things bothered me. His family name was Ferdinand instead of Nicholson. And, his real first name was
Christopher. I stated that I heard that name before. Finally, the answer dawned on me. The dream I had last
night. Samuel mentioned it to me as the Ferdinand Palace. Thats weird. I wondered if my real family name was
Ferdinand. And then again, another name caught my eye. It was Teresa Marcus. "Mom" I whispered to myself. Beside it
was a black-and-white full-body picture of the prettiest girl Ive ever seen. Unexpectedly, I screamed but luckily, no voice went
out. The photo was very familiar indeed. Of course it is. It was the blonde vampire in my dreams! And
in my dream, this other vampire was my mother, Teresa! I gasped in shock and fury. After I had recovered,
I calmed myself and clutched the true meaning of it. I stared at my long-lost mother. She was incredibly perfect.
I had to look at myself for comparison. She was way prettier than me. Her long blond wavy hair was
draped over her shoulders. Her eyes were colorless and merely black due to the black-and-whiteness of the picture. She was
tall and pale, like an angel lost in Earth. She was wearing a bonnet and the most beautiful gown Ive
ever seen. Even if she wasnt smiling, she was still ideal for a mother. I had her facial features while
I had Samuels physical features. I scanned some more pages before I saw Samuel on his wedding day. I was
indefinitely curious about this picture. Again, this photo was black-and-white. Samuel was extraordinarily beautiful too. They were a pair of
beautiful pale-faced couple in their time. In this picture, Teresa was smiling beautifully. She was on her twenties while Samuel
was probably on his thirties. I carefully examined every inch of this photo, hoping to find a date or year
when this snapshot was taken. To my disappointment, there was none. I cautiously returned the book full of documents and
files to its right place. It was now nine o clock. Seriously, time runs very fast. So, I didnt bother
to drape the sheets back to the shelf. I cant sleep. I have been lying here on the bed for
at least an hour, and still, I cant sleep. Teresas photograph haunted my eyes. I cant deny the fact that
I do not regret being there in the library, because for the VERY first time, I saw my mother. And
Samuel was even more handsome than I thought. I recalled the things that I had encountered in the scary old
book. Teresa Marcus. Christopher Samuel Ferdinand. Nightfly Academy. My thoughts trailed down when I was unconscious. Thankfully, I havent dreamt
a bad dream tonight. For one night, all was well. The morning dawned on me when I awoke. The birds
were now chirping and singing. Fortunately, my sufferings were coming to an end. But still, no Samuel was found wandering
in the living room. It was terribly warm outside, so I cant stroll down the sidewalks. The first thought that
came to me was the library. The second was Carrys email. The library was very dusty on the morning so
I decided to open my email account first before Ill explore the library again. To my amazement, Carry had replied.
I was overjoyed to know that she was interested to know my crush. Erin, Im so sorry if I cant
call you. For the truth, I lost my cell phones charger. And my telephone was badly injured. So, I decided
to open my email. And guess what I have a bunch of hunches for you. Im guessing that your crush
was the DJdo you know him His name is Davis. Please tell me the truth. I look forward to hearing
again from you. God bless you. Charice Adams Ugh. The DJ I didnt even know him. I sighed in despair.
Abruptly, a loud crashing sound startled me. The sky was getting darker until long streaks of lightning crashed, paired with
booming roars. Because of this, I pumped my fist triumphantly on the air. Hurrah! It was thunder. Nimbus Clouds were
gathering all around Louisiana. It was like Hurricane Katrina all over again. I stepped on our lawn. I wanted to
take a stroll so badly. I chose to visit the library later. Our other car was parked on the garage.
I always wanted to drive; even if I havent got any drivers license. I hurriedly got the car keys under
a small clay pot. Luckily, the cars windows were tinted so that nobody would see a sixteen-year-old driving around Louisiana.
The weather was very good for a stroll in Kisatchie again. It was only a short drive going there because
the car was small and swift. I didnt follow the forests hiking trails for it cant make any adventure. I
made my own footpaths that lead to nowhere at all. The panoramic scene of the forest was as striking as
before. The dark sky added to its beauty. Minutes passed and I got terribly hungry. I attempted to follow my
footprints but I gave up. I was lost. Samuel wasnt even here. Neither is Joseph nor Ben. I had to
take a few deep breaths before I could accept it. And, I had to repeat this for a second time:
I WAS LOST. Suddenly, the forests natural attractiveness disturbed me. Every time I looked behind, in front, at my left
or at my right, I only saw trees. And thats very disturbing. I noticed that it was getting darker every
minute. The sky was getting nearer into black, because the clouds were getting thicker too. The wind blew hard against
my hair, and soon it began to drizzle slightly. I was on the verge of bursting into tears, but I
managed to force is back inside my eyes. Finally, the sun shone dangerously towards my direction. I hid cautiously behind
a trees shadow. My mind calculated that it was now noon because the sun was at the exact center point
of the sky. Ive been really tired now, so I decided to sleep. In my sleep, I had another dream.
In fact, it was scarier and more lifelike. In my dream, I was wandering here in Kisatchie. I believed that
I was lost and soon, I began to weep. A blonde girl approached me, and lent me a hand. I
slowly accepted it and then laid me softly but swiftly on her sturdy back. To my bewilderment, she began running
and almost immediately, she started to fly with the help of a bats wings. We traveled rapidly about one hundred
and fifty kilometers per hour. The trees below us were blurry, and the wind blew harshly on my eyes. The
girls golden hair was flying with the wind, and so was her satin gown. At last, she slowed down and
her wings stopped abruptly. She landed me on a very familiar house. "Youre safe here, Elizabeth. " She whispered to
me directly on my ear. After a swift kiss on the cheek, she was gone. My eyelids opened, revealing a
pair of fear-stricken eyes. The view was not what I expected it to be. On my front was a huge
yellow house with pillars on it like a "Yellow House" instead of a "White House". On the houses opposite side
was a huge lawn topped with flowers of all sorts. I stood up but I wobbled dizzily around the staircase
leading to the front door. I slowly walked up the stairs, fearing that I might fall down. I looked like
a drunken man, fighting its way to his houses door. Thankfully, I reached the top and pushed a button that
was actually the key to the doorbell. A stout but gallant woman opened the door. She was on her early
forties and she had a brown skin tone. It was Carrys nanny, Erich Carson. She looked horrified to see me
all shaggy and dirty. "What in the world has happened to you, Erin" She said in an African accent. "I
got lost," I lied. "And I came to your house accidentally. " "Oh. Come in, youre very welcome here. Just
wait, kay Ill call Mrs. Carry; shes on her bedroom now. " After offerings of bread and tea, Erich walked
into Carrys bedroom. I heard a couple What thes and some "Whys" and at last, Carrys thudding footsteps approached the
living room where I sat. Her face was varied with different kinds of worried expressions. "Oh, Erin. What has happened
to you" "I got lost. " I repeated. "Okay. Are you fine here You could stay overnight. " "Thanks but
no thanks. Samuel would be arriving tomorrow morning. He might be worried too. " "That sounds reasonable enough. " Carry
agreed. Outside the room was the twilight sky. The birds wings were fluttering loudly. The summer wind almost faded away
into oblivion. The sweet summer aroma too, was gone. Now, the whole country will suffer in autumn. "Ill miss you
Carry," I wept. "Ill miss you too, Erin," she responded, comforting me. After a while of peace, an eager knock
on the door startled us and knocked the silence away. The person behind the door didnt even bother. Hurriedly, Erich
ran to open the door. A pale figure was standing on the doormat. Erich let out a gasp of shock.
"Mr. Nicholson! " she cried. Without waiting for a welcome greeting, Samuel entered the majestic manor. "Oh, Erin! " "Dad
What are you doing here You are supposed to be in New Orleans right now! " I yelled at the
top of my lungs. "Erin, its fine. I figured that I missed you so badly, therefore I asked my manager
for an early discharge from the office for a little while. Oh, Erin. Are you hurt" He asked as he
noticed my skin paler than before. "I got lost in the woods. " "That figures. When I arrived at home,
you werent there. The other car wasnt even there too. So I realized that you were driving with it. The
first thing that came to me is that you were in Kisatchie. I drove the car to the forest, and
that was the time that I noticed the other car parked. I took it home and came back again. "I
waited for you to come back. Sooner, I realized that you were lost. But I cant just look for you
because when I arrived, the sun was already shining. I" I cut Samuel short. His story sounded pretty impossible. "Dad,
I will never believe in you. " "Why, Erin" His voice was shaky. Just then, I saw the dark sky
and the shining moonlight. "Ill explain later in the car. Goodbye, Carry. " I hugged her tightly until she began
to gag. I loosened my grip so that I could look straight into her eyes. With the tearful look in
my eye, Carry knew that I was saying my final farewells. I turned and headed straight to the door. "Goodbye.
Email me in Philadelphia! " Carry called. "Of course. Goodbye. " And we exited the mansion. Outside the Adams boundaries,
Samuel grabbed me on the arm. "Ow! That hurts, you know," I said as I jerked my hand away from
is super strength grip. "What is it that you want with me" "Tell me what you have to say inside
the grand manor, Erin. Tell me the truth," Samuel begged. "Inside the car, Ill explain it to you. " Hastily,
Samuel opened the door for me. In an instant, he bolted the lock on his own door too. "What is
it, then" "I swear to myself that you were lying. But before I tell you this, please do continue your
story. " It took a minute for Samuel to think hard. "Never mind," he decided. "I see. So you were
really lying, eh" "No. But let me add something to my story. This is to prove that I wasnt lying.
I saw you sleeping on the ground, so I picked you up. I left you at Carrys doorstep. " "Like
an orphan You LIAR! ! ! " I shrieked at him. "Didnt you know If you were theredidnt you KNOW"
Calmly, he asked, "What" "Somebody else saved me. IN MY DREAMS! ! I dreamt that a girl, was it Teresa
My mother Oh, of course it is! ! She saved me from being trapped in the forest! And, to complicate
things further, she had bat wings! We flew all over Louisiana, in a speed of at least one hundred and
fifty kilometers per hour! "When I woke up, I saw the Adams manor at my front. Why I dont know!
Teresa left me there in my DREAMS! Again, Why" I paused and took several deep breaths. These words of anguish
gushed out of my orifice before I could stop myself. To my surprise, Samuel wasnt angry or confused. "Well, its
up for you to find out why. " Samuel confessed. I was horror-struck. "What do you mean" "Teresa will tell
you," he admitted. More words rushed out of my mouth but I forced myself to shut my lips. Its fine,
I told myself. Teresa will tell me. Sooner or later in Philadelphia. The rest of the ride remained unnaturally silent.
Samuel focused on the road. I relaxed my head with my arm; my hands massaging my heads temple. I repeated
what Samuel had said just a while ago. My mother actually knows about this Was this the reason why she
abandoned me when I was only an innocent child I do not know. I havent got any answer to my
own curiosities. Our home was creepy in the dark. The trees silhouettes on the fortifications spooked the heck out of
me. The thought of what Samuel mentioned to me just made me more frightened. As soon as we entered our
residence, I ran to my room. My spooks made me slip once on the floor. I groaned softly, fearing that
Samuel might hear me. He had always been guarding me since I had manners. Every time I would slip, or
maybe scrape a minor wound on my knee, he would take me to the doctor stupidly. For others, I was
a papas girl. I havent known Samuels real life story. I have no idea how he was taken care of
when he was a kid. I didnt even know when or where he was born. I decided to keep my
mouth fastened on that specific issue. The remainder of the night was dull and silent. Everything was as peaceful as
before. I was there on my room, slumping on the dusty old armchair I brought down from the attic. My
mind shifted untimely from image to image, thought to thought. It was racing all around my head, faster than how
Teresa flew all over the country. Samuel was in his room, and I do not have the slightest bit of
idea on what was he doing there. Reading Sleeping Thinking Maybe he is thinking, after all. Thinking about his upcoming
confession to me. How was he going to say goodbye to me, I dont know. Weve been together for at
least sixteen years. Ive seen him every week of my life, and now, it will come to a sudden end.
I shouldnt jeopardize Samuel because of this. Maybe he would be insane because for sixteen years, he was with me.
He would miss me so badly. At last, I rested my body on the soft and exquisite bed. The fading
summer wind blew on my hair for one last time. I drifted into the dreamland. Everything was bright and clear,
like I was in reality. The summer wind was still strong, and I could feel some unexplainable tension on my
knees. My whole body was quivering yet the weather was good. Nevertheless, I was alone. The place was dusty and
spooky, just like the made-up palace in my dreams. Was this the Ferdinand Palace Possible. The huge door was just
a few steps to my left. Curious, I exited the manor and drifted into oblivion once again. When my eyes
adapted with the scene before them, I staggered backward and nearly lost balance. The vast arena was covered with grass
and high evergreen trees sprang upwards all around its perimeter. For a minute, I studied its features. And realized what
it was. It was a theatre of war. Nobody were there except for a number of bats; some hanging on
the trees, and others flying above the battlefield. I was there, too overwhelmed to move. While I was about to
step forward for further examinations, the scene was gone and I was back in authenticity. My eyes were wide open,
and I realized that I had a few days remaining before I settle in Philly. I counted the minutes. I
watched the hours. But still, I cant control the time. Time. Time runs very fast. The sun was already shining
but my curtains were draped over the window. Two days more and Ill be leaving my world forever. I despised
Philadelphia. I loved Alexandria. The world is dragging me far from my loved ones, and into a world that I
loathed. Samuel had gone for fishing with his companions. The world is leaving me alone. Even if I had a
few days left, Samuel wasnt hanging out with me. Or Carry. Or Ben. "Erin" Someone called from the outside. I
ran directly to open the door. No windows, I told myself. The rays of light will enter my room and
sabotage my beauty. The person at the doorstep vanished without leaving any tiny vestiges. What a prank, I told myself.
I hastily ate my breakfast cereal. I insisted on myself that maybe somebody would come later. What a forecast. Its
like I could predict something in here. Weird. "Erin" The same voice called again from the outside. This time, a
person was at the doorstep. "Ben! Hop in! " I called, leaving my half-finished cereal on the table. "Thanks. "
We settled ourselves comfortably on my room. It was dearly filled with unforgettable memories from my incapacitated past. It was
the perfect time to share these with my closest boy friend. Slowly, as an introduction to my story, I pulled
out some photo albums. "What are these" Ben demanded. "Photos from my past, stupid! " I growled, not looking at
him. Even if my voice were snarling, it still sounded like a humble flute played by an angel from the
heavens above. "Oh. " He merely whispered. "You know, Ben," I said as I flipped a page over. "This house
is full of mysteries. As what as Samuel told me, this was handed down from his great- uncle. " I
showed him a picture of Samuels great-uncle, standing angelically on the lawn. Our house still had the same face as
the first time that someone inhabited it. "Till then, this household was passed from generation to generation. Bad things happened
here. A family friend killed Samuels great-uncle here, right on my room. Blood spurted everywhere, staining the wooden floor. That
was why it had been renovated and the floor covered with carpet. "Since then, future generations were murdered too, some
on our kitchen, some on Samuels room, and someon the library. " "You have a library" "Yes. We deserted it
lately. And then the most hazardous thing happened. But then" "But then" Ben asked peculiarly. "Samuel didnt want to tell
me. It was a family secret. " "But you are part of the family. " "Yes, but he said I
was too young. I was eleven. You must wait for the precise time to come, he had said. And now,
I know that the right time has come. Its just that he didnt want to tell me. " I sighed.
"So thats it," I closed the story. The wind too, came to a sudden end. It was a very dramatic
way to stop the family tale. However, there was still a part of the narrative that needs to be filled
up. Teresa will tell me. "I better go, Erin. Joseph will go looking for me later. Best not to miss
lunch. Josephs gonna kill me. " "Okay. See you later, Ben. " I pulled my lips back to reveal perfect
rows of sharp teeth. I descended with him to the bottom of the staircase until he went on by himself.
The door slammed slightly, and he disappeared with the wind. Hastily, I skipped to the table to consume my now-cold
leftovers. Samuel would be back at noon. He should hang out with me nowadays. Not fishing, but shopping and strolling
and driving out of town. I stuck my spoon to the bowl over and over again before I realized that
I have consumed the cereal. All the dinnerware and silverware were gathered to be washed on the sink. For a
minute, the job was done. Quietly, I crept back to my room and carried the armchair to the uppermost garret.
The room was actually filled with surprises. Kilograms of boxes were piled up on a corner. There were no windows;
a good hiding place for a top secret stuff. The medium-sized box in my reach was filled with my old
toys. I dug and dug underneath the carton, hoping to find tons of memories. But then, what I found was
not what I expected it to be. It was an Hourglass. Subtle and mystifying, an Eye of Providence was carved
at the Hourglass bottom side. That made it more bewildering. I cant imagine how many secrets were hidden by Samuel
here in this little old house. There was the big shelf in the library. And then there was the Hourglass.
Further examinations were made until I found what stopped my heart from beating for a moment. My breathing was now
ragged and rough. Though I often used my efforts to control my racing heartbeat, it would thump and gallop continuously
and involuntarily. And then that was the instant that my heart literally galloped into its last beat at the moment.
On one stand of the Hourglass have the perplexing initials: E. F E. F As in Elizabeth Ferdinand This Hourglass
was intended for me I guzzled a mouthful of air. At last, I found myself. I would keep this dull
thing with me inside my pocket, aiming to show it to Samuel. He should know about this. But, a question
bugged inside my head, which is now very lightheaded. How did the Hourglass arrive here Eventually, it was misplaced by
Samuel. But where did he receive it When How Why Things are getting pretty stupid around here. There were my
dreams, then the big shelf, and now an Hourglass! How stupid! Yet, it was mysterious. Anyhow, I loved mysteries. When
theres a mystery, theres adventure. Since I had manners, I was craving for adventure. Dying was the right word. But,
when adventures go this way, I should rather make a decision. Should I fight to solve the mystery Or should
I abandon the secrecy, allowing it to be forgotten forever I wondered until the front door swung lightly, creaking on
its way. So. . . how do you like it It's long and totally boring I skimmed some parts, you
know I dozed off Write some more! Totally lost in the story. . .

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Fall flowers are stunning additions to any holiday festivities. From October to December, the holiday season brings with it wonderful
hues of orange, red, green and brown. There are so many beautiful choices in arrangements, bouquets and accessories to make
any occasion a feast for the eyes. Your local or online florist has endless ideas for great autumn- or holiday-themed
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every year. Choose fun Gerbera daisies or orange roses and create an eye-catching centerpiece with mini pumpkins or gourds. -
Thanksgiving. It is not all about the food on Thanksgiving. You will want to outfit your table with fresh flowers
in colors similar to Halloween. Fill vases with cranberries for added drama and interest. - Christmas. Mistletoe, poinsettias and holly
all make the season bright. These Christmas plants are bold and beautiful and delightful to look at. Add evergreens and
candles to your arrangements for a fragrant touch. - Hanukkah. Blue and white are the colors of choice for Hanukkah
flowers. Calla lilies, blue roses, orchids and Iris are all perfect for the occasion fotografies gamou. Add blue dreidels,
ribbons and gold coins for a conversation-starting centerpiece. - Kwanzaa. Red, purple and yellow flowers dominate the Kwanzaa-flower landscape. Roses,
orchids, daisies and sunflowers are great choices for this heritage celebration. Add brightly-colored, African inspired table cloths and runners to
pull the look together. Holiday flowers are an important part of your holiday celebrations and they also make a great
gift for someone tough to buy for or who entertains often. Ask your florist for suggestions based on your recipient's
preferences and individual religious and cultural affiliations. They have years of experience and design skills they can offer to help
you make the right statement, especially if you are unfamiliar with a particular cultural or a religious group. fotografies
gamou Flowers make the season bright and there is no shortage of floral fabulousness for every occasion, holiday and style.
So, whether you are planning a cocktail party, sit-down dinner, holiday event or if you just need a last-minute gift
for someone special, your local florist has just the thing to keep people smiling until the New Year's ball drops./>

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Green is the color of trees and plants. It is the color that represents environment and ecology. Green is the
color of earth. Since a lot of companies are becoming more and more ecologically friendly nowadays, we can see a
rise in emerald colored brand logos that represent that the company is ecologically friendly. People want to do business with
people who are compassionate and kind and showing your customers that you care for the environment is a great way
to gain their trust and increase their loyalty to your corporation. One way to make your brand mark appealing and
friendly is to use a green flower logo. What does the green color symbolizeIt is a color that symbolizes growth,
freshness, harmony and innocence and has strong emotional correspondence with safety. This color is also known to have healing powers
and suggests stability and endurance. What do flowers signifyFlowers add an innovative and imaginative touch to brand marks and together
with emerald, your trade mark with look creative, distinct and ecologically friendly. In early times, flowers were known to symbolize
emotions and send messages. From friendship to sympathy, different flowers symbolize different messages through their uniqueness. Flower images are quite
flexible. fotografies gamou You can use a flower abstract in an investment business and you can use a flower
illustration for a poetry club. How can you use a green trade mark for your brandLet's have a look: *
An abstract:Abstracts of floral images are perfect if your business is too corporate to handle an imaginative illustrative effect. Abstracts
can be used in different businesses from a real estate agency to an investment company where you want to use
floral abstracts to represent the corporation's compassionate nature but not seem informal or unprofessional. * A 3D or origami effect:The
3 dimensional or origami effect is one of the latest trends in the designing industry fotografies gamou. Images that
look real enough to touch have always held appeal for customers. Using an emerald colored bloom with 3 dimensional or
origami effect is perfect if you are a designer or a magazine editor and you want to tell your customers
that your corporation is ecologically friendly. * An illustration:You can use illustrations in flower logos if your business is on
the creative side. Whether you are a florist or own a spa, illustrations of emerald blooms for your trademark is
perfect to show that your company is creative and caring. Using illustrations also gives you a broader margin as far
as brand mark innovation is concerned. Hence, if your corporation is concerned about the environment, then why not show that
compassionate side to your customers through your company trade mark. What better way to gain the customer's loyalty and trust
then through an emerald floral mark.

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Because of the variety of teeth staining foods, beverages, and cigarettes on the market, many people are turning to teeth
whitening products. Companies have now developed methods that are safe and efficient. There are a number of whitening products available
to consumers. When choosing a teeth whitening product, it is important to understand their effectiveness. Teeth whitening works by removing
materials and stains from the enamel. It is not permanent but certain products are more effective than others. The two
main methods are over the counter teeth whitening products and professional whitening. Over The Counter Products Whitening strips: These strips
are coated with a thin layer peroxide gel. They are normally applied for 30 minutes twice a day for two
weeks. You will see results in only a few days but sometimes it can be uneven. . A package of
whitening strips usually contains both upper and lower teeth strips. The number of whitening strips depends on the treatment period.
The length of treatment usually depends on the concentration of peroxide in the strips. Whitening strips are convenient to use.
The price varies from $10 and $50 for a package of strips. The most popular and most effective strips on
the market are the Crest Whitestrips. Whitening toothpastes: These products whiten by polishing or using chemicals. They tend not to
be as effective as products that contain peroxide. They are often used after a bleaching procedure to maintain whitening. Teeth
Whitening Kits: Most kits include a whitening gel that is placed in mouthpieces that fit over your teeth. The whitening
time can vary depending on the kit used. fotografies gamou The inexpensive kits are less effective. A good quality
kit that gives great results can cost around $500 - $800 dollars. Effective kits will have the American Dental Association
seal of approval. Professional Teeth Whitening The most effective and safest teeth whitening method is performed by a dentist. A
dentist will assess whether you need a cosmetic procedure or if over the counter methods are sufficient. Problems occurring with
a professional whitening method are rare. Laser Teeth Whitening: This whitening procedure is performed in a dental office. Laser teeth
whitening has become very popular because results are immediate. fotografies gamou The procedure begins with cleaning the patient's teeth.
A special teeth whitening gel is then applied to the teeth. This gel contains a strong bleaching agent. After the
whitening gel has been applied, the dentist uses a special laser light, allowing for better gel penetration through the enamel.
The entire procedure lasts about an hour. Laser teeth whitening delivers better and faster results compared to other teeth whitening
products. Depending on the condition of the patient's teeth, the treatment can whiten teeth up to 8 shades. Expect to
pay anywhere from several hundred dollars to several thousands for a complete laser teeth whitening treatment. Price depends on how
much whitening is needed. Benefits of laser treatment include immediate results, greater safety and more even results Although teeth whitening
procedures are very effective, the lasting effect depends on the product and method you use. The least expensive procedure usually
results in less whitening. Some methods may leave patients with sore gums, but it does not last long. . As
well, crowns, bridges, bonding, and fillings will return to their original coloring. If you have questions about the effectiveness of
whitening products, or the affects they have on your own teeth, you should speak with your dentist. A build up
of stains can be quite unattractive and cause people to feel insecure about their appearance. Whitening your teeth will leave
you with a brighter and shinier smile.

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When cutting fresh flowers always consider the ones that are still in the bud form, for this makes for a
longer lasting life span and be sure to cut a long enough stem that will be able to absorb enough
water to keep the plant alive. Always cut in a slanting direction with a very sharp knife because it exposes
more of the stem area and then place in ordinary pipe born water immediately. Try cutting flowers early in the
morning as that is the time they are filled with all the stored food they require fotografies gamou. You
can safely remove the excess leaves that will be exposed to too much water and make your arrangement look somewhat
disorganized, but remember never cut the thorns off the roses as they are known to shorten their life span. When
you cut a flower from the main plant it immediately loses the support it needs to survive without all the
roots and soil and other natural elements that makes plants grow and stay alive. Bacteria and air bubbles begin to
form immediately after the flower is cut. This is why it is necessary to get some sort of biocides which
are chemicals that will kill the bacteria, yeast and fungi that feeds on the sap from the exposed stems. These
can easily be purchased at your local florist shop. When the stem of the flower is cut an air bubble
forms at the end and is trapped, blocking the flow of more water getting up the stem. Even if you
add more water it will just remain there because there is no way it can pass through the air bubble.
If you do not like using chemicals to preserve the length of your flower life you might try some of
the other suggestions, such as adding some lemon soda to the water, or some bleach or a plain old mouthwash
such as Listerine which contains sucrose (food) and bactericide. The acid in the Listerine is supposed to help keep water
moving up the cut stem. Some say a little sugar in the water might also help preserve the plant life
span. Water should be changed every two days; you should throw out the stale water before replacing with fresh water,
never just fill up the water supply because your plant will have a shorter life span fotografies gamou. This
has something to do with the oxygen that exists in the fresh water, and will certainly keep your plants looking
fresher longer. Always keep plants away from fruits as they tend to release gasses that cause flowers to age faster.
Also be sure to keep flowers away from direct sunlight and try moving them to a cooler place at night,
that way they will be able to absorb more water into their stem.

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There are hundreds of thousands of folks who send floral arrangements of a variety of types to their acquaintances, loved
ones, and buddies for a number of explanations. You may possibly have to have them in marriages, sending birthday presents
or wishing somebody on his or her anniversary. There are authorities who style arrangements and designs enhancing the aesthetic value
of the flowers fotografies. These specialists are referred to as florists. They deserve the credit for the smiles that
appear on the faces of the men and women who take your floral presents. There are several things that individual
beneficial florists from the ordinary ones. Looking For Florist In JabalpurSending flowers has grow to be a custom. The actuality
is that flowers reflect our emotions. Flowers are sent on occasions these kinds of as Birthdays, anniversaries, congratulations, and all
activities exactly where your feelings are effected. Now you can easily mail flowers and presents to your buddies and family
members thorough on the web florist Jabalpur and any other town of India. With the availability of the Online, the
flower market has observed a drastic adjust. Gone are the days where by you visited a nearby flower shop in
the location to decide on the flowers and presents. As an alternative, now there are a quantity of online florists
who have an understanding of your present providing requires. Nonetheless, with so a lot of on line florists, it develops
into hard to opt for a reliable company who will get the responsibility to deliver very good high quality flowers
and presents at the correct time. A Search At The That means Of Distinct FlowersOffering flowers is a time-honored tradition
for exclusive situations and events. On the other hand, the message powering a flower can quite often be lost on
the buyer and receiver. Selected types instantly are associated with specified feelings, like as roses for love and lilies for
sympathy and purity. Recognizing the meaning of different flowers can conserve you from awkward situations the place you only want
to say thank you, not I really enjoy you, to your boss or future-doorway neighbor. Carnations are just one of
the most common alternatives mainly because they come in a range of colours and meanings. When in normal, they are
involved with appreciate and pride, there are numerous other good reasons to give them. White exhibits good luck and pure
appreciate, mild red provides admiration, with darkish red presenting love. If you want to indicate another person is somewhat capricious,
deliver him or her a bouquet of purple carnations to get the message throughout fotografies. Buy Flowers On the
internet, Buy Flowers On-line - Help save the Finest of Your Time and DollarsTo save time and dollars, it is
tremendously advisable that you buy and buy flowers on-line mainly if you live in the region of South Africa. This
is simply because not only is on the internet looking becoming increasingly well-liked in this locale it is also getting
to be extra and extra dependable. Getting flowers from an internet florist will save you the hassle of possessing to
go from one particular actual brick and mortar flower store once one other, evaluating flower arrangement solutions, bouquets and price
ranges.

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When a close friend or a relative dies, a good way of expressing your thoughts can be done with a
condolence card for the family. Writing your message can be very difficult, but it can be the best outlet of
your feelings and thoughts about losing such a loving person. fotografies gamou The following are tips that would help
you out with writing a condolence card or a sympathy note, expressing pure sympathy and love. Writing your Card Use
simple writing materials. A plain stationary with a simple envelope can be used for your card. Using a black ink
for a pen, inscribe your heartfelt and endearing message, carefully remembering the good old times with the deceased person. This
very minimalist sympathy card can be very simple to look at and soothing to the eyes when you use white
or other light colors for your stationary and envelope. Do not Print To make your condolence card very personal and
genuine, do not just print out an e-card from a website. It is advised to write down what you think
and feel when making these kinds of cards. Writing may not be as difficult as you think it is, especially
when you are very sincere and honest. Let you Emotions Flow You can write about the happiest moments you had
with the person, as well as the events, that he or she has done that touched your hearts. Do not
hold back your emotions and just write down every memory with him or her that you wanted to share to
everybody. Brief but Concise Make your message brief but straight to the point. Quoting some biblical verses can also be
done to convey mourning of him or her being gone. fotografies gamou Pay your deepest respect to the deceased
with a concise message of farewell and affection. Enclosing a Photograph With your message, include a memorable picture of him
or her that captured an interesting emotion or a sinister smirk in his or her face. This will not only
remind everyone of the good times, but will also cherish his or her company for the rest of their lives.
fotografies gamou As an ending to your letter, assure the family that you are always there to support them
no matter what. Add in encouraging words like they should continue with life and move on. Writing what you feel
is not that difficult, especially if what you are trying to convey is what your heart tells you to put
in writing.