Nature

Another kid in 2nd grade elementary, Farrel, created a poem. He's basically a strict boy, always on time and never late in submitting homeworks. His main goal was to get highest score in the class, so he can be "a president director of business company" like he said. His very first try in making poems was writing a nature-themed poem. I know he was having hard time in putting the words inside his head to the papers, but he did his best. I'm so surprised how the poem turns out pretty good, and I like it.

Nature

Roses grow up

From soil

Rain fall down

Very long

Flowers are very colorful

There are red, blu and many more

Mountains are very high,

But hills seemed very low

Forest is full with

Trees that is very high

Rivers are full with water

And with fishes

My Dad

This poem is made by one of the JPA student, a 2nd grader boy named Yehu. He is a lively boy and always cheers up the class, or sometimes the opposite. He is very manly, unlike the other two students in 2nd grade. He actually did rough things, but I'm surprised that he really have a soft heart for his Dad and the other younger kindergarten students. He did very well in writing his own stories, and it's his first time making poems. 

My Dad

When my Dad 

is sick,

I made tea 

When my Dad

Is sick,

I gave him

 warm water

I helped my Dad

Until I'm sad

Because I love 

My Dad

Very much

And I hugged my Dad

The next day

He was healed

Being Neighborly Drama from Little Women

Being Neighborly

A rearranged play by Esther Deborah K.

Taken from “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott

The following drama is rearranged according to the need of the players. A few missing dialogues in the Classic Starts version were mixed with the real ones taken from the Alddinn Classic. Another line of dialogues were made up when they had tea time, because the book didn't say anything what they say. It's just written "chatting like old friends" or some sort of that. So, enjoy this simplified and rearranged drama!

Casting:

1.      Jo: a temperamental, lively girl. She’s 15 years old and average sized.

2.      Laurie: a shy, good-natured boy that lives next door

3.      Mr. Laurence: Laurie’s grandpa. He had kind eyes and looked a little grim

4.      Laurie’s Maid

Act I

Setting

The stage is divided into two parts. The left side is Jo’s backyard with a background of her house. Jo is shoveling out the snow from her yard with a broom. The right part is Laurie’s room filled with bed, lampstand, bookshelf and sofa. The divider between the two parts is Laurie’s window so he can look  out to Jo’s yard.

Scene 1

(Jo is shoveling some snow and Laurie is sitting on his bed. While Laurie is sitting on his bed, she throw some snow on his window. Laurie looked out to the window)

Jo (waving her hand): Hello, Laurie! Are you sick?

Laurie (in a raspy voice): Yes, Jo. I’ve had a bad cold and have been inside all week.

Jo: what have you been doing to keep busy?

Laurie:  Nothing much.

Jo: How about reading?

Laurie: I’m not allowed.

Jo: Why don’t invite your friends to visit?

Laurie: They’re too noisy.

Jo: what about a girl then? Someone to play nurse and read to you?

Laurie: Don’t know any.

Jo (laughing): You know me.

Laurie: what a great idea!

Jo: then I’ll go ask mother’s permission (exits the stage)

(Laurie straightens his room and brushes his hair)

Act II

 (Jo enters Laurie’s room bringing a cake, flowers and kittens while Laurie lay on the sofa.)

Jo: these are from my sisters. The cake is from Meg, Amy gave the flowers and Beth sent her kittens.

(Jo sits on a big chair)

Laurie: Thank you. It’s just the right thing to help me relax.

Jo: Shall I read a book for you?

Laurie: No thank you, I rather talk.

Jo: I’ll talk all day if you’ll only set me going. Beth says I never know when how to stop.

Laurie: is Beth the rosy one, who stays at home a good deal, and sometimes go out with a little 

basket?

Jo: Yes, that’s Beth. She’s my girl, and a regular good one she is, too.

Laurie: the pretty one is Meg, and the curly-haired one is Amy, I believe?

Jo: How did you find that out?

Laurie (blushing): Why, you see, I often hear you calling to one another, and when I’m alone up here, I can’t help looking over at your house, you always seem to be having such good times. I beg your pardon for being so rude, but sometimes you forget to put down the curtain at the window where the flowers are;  and when the lamps are lighted, it’s like looking at a picture to see the fire, and you all around the table with your mother; her face is right opposite, and it looks so sweet behind the flowers, I can’t help watching it. I haven’t got any mother, you know.

Jo: we’ll never draw that curtain anymore, and I give you leave to look as much as you like. I just wish, though, instead of peeping, you’d come over and see us. Wouldn’t your grandpa let you?

Laurie: I think he would, if your mother asked him. He’s very kind, though he does not look so; and he lets me do what I like, pretty much, only he’s afraid I might be a bother to strangers.

Jo: We are not strangers, we are neighbors, and we want to know you for a long time.

Laurie: You see, Grandpa lives among his books, and doesn’t mind much what happens outside. Mr. Brooke, my tutor, doesn’t stay here, you know, and I have no one to go about with me, so I just stop at home and get on as I can.

Jo: that’s bad. You got to make an effort. Never mind being bashful; it won’t last long if you keep going.

Laurie: (blushing) Do you like your school?

Jo: I don’t go to school and worked for Aunt March.

Laurie: Then how about your liking of books?

Jo: Oh, I love books as much as you did.

Laurie: I’ll invite you to the tour of the spectacular house, and of course, to stop at the fabulous library.

Act III

Setting

The stage had a background of a big library. A few real shelves with books are displayed, and a big portrait of Laurie’s grandpa is hung on the middle of the stage.

(Jo and Laurie enter the stage, talking while walking. A bell rang)

Jo: It must be your grandfather!

Laurie: Don’t tell me you’re afraid of him?

Jo: Maybe a little, but I don’t know why.

(A maid enters the stage and talked to Laurie.)

 Maid: The doctor had arrived, sir.

Laurie : I’ll be examined in another room just for a while. Enjoy yourself, Jo.

(Laurie exits with the maid, leaving Jo standing in front of Mr. Laurence’s portrait.)

Jo: (staring at the portrait of Mr. Laurence)

(Mr. Laurence came in quietly and stood behind Jo a bit far.)

Jo (whispering aloud): I shouldn’t be scared of him, for he’s got kind eyes, though his mouth is a little grim and he looks like he must have tremendous will. He isn’t as handsome as my grandfather, but I like him.

Mr. Laurence: Well, thank you young lady.

(Jo turned around with a startled face and blushed.)

Mr. Laurence: So you’re not afraid of me?

Jo (softly): Not much, sir.

Mr. Laurence: But you do like me despite my bad features?

Jo: Oh yes, sir!

Mr. Laurence: You have your grandfather’s spirit.

Jo: Thank you, sir. I came here to be neighborly, because I think Laurie needs cheering up.

Mr. Laurence: Yes, I agree with you.  Now, how about joining us in the parlor for tea?

Jo: I will be glad to, sir!

(Both of them exit the stage while Jo put her arms into Mr.Laurence’s.)

Act IV

Setting

The parlor had a background of a regular cozy parlor with windows. There is a real set of table furniture plus a couple of chairs for Jo, Mr. Laurence and Laurie. On the table, there is three cups of tea and a teapot. Biscuits and small cakes are served. A flower vase decorated the center of the table. On the far right side of the stage, there is a grand piano. On the far left, there is a door  facing the exit.

(All three of them sat on each chair. Sometimes they sip their tea a few times or stir it while listening to each person who talks.)

Jo: Laurie, did you know that our neighbor, Mr. Douglas that lives in the end of the street, keeps a huge canary with unusual blue eyes?

Laurie: Yes, the news was spread over the entire neighborhood.  I once saw him carried a lavish cage with the canary inside.

Jo: Really? How did it looked like? I never saw it before.

Laurie: Oh, it was a regular pretty bird with unusual blue eyes like you described. But I think the owner rarely teach the birds manners; it bite Mr. Douglas’ finger that held the cage!

Jo (laughs): What a sight you saw, Laurie!

(They both laughed and Mr. Laurence look at both of them contently)

Mr. Laurence: I think you have a good influence over my boy, Ms. Jo.

Jo (still laughing): Why, thank you, sir.

(Jo looked around and caught the sight of the piano.)

Jo: Laurie, do you play?

Laurie: Sometimes.

Jo: Please do now. I want to hear it so I can tell Beth.

Laurie: Won’t you first?

Jo: Don’t know how; too stupid to learn, but I love music dearly.

(Both approach the piano. Laurie sits and Jo stands. He played the piano and then finishes.)

Jo: Laurie, that’s so beautiful!

Laurie (bashfully): Thank you for the compliment, Jo.

Mr. Laurence (approaches them): That will do, that will do, young lady. Too many sugarplums are not good for him. His music isn’t bad, but I hope he will do as well in more important things. Going? Well, I’m much obliged to you, and I hope you’ll come again. My respects to your mother. Good night, Doctor Jo.

(Mr. Laurence shook Jo’s hand gruffly and looked something did not please him. He walks away to the right exit.)

(Jo and Laurie walk to the door. They stood in front of the door.)

Jo: Did I say something wrong? Your grandfather looked a bit displeased.

Laurie (shook his head): No, it was me; he doesn’t like to hear me play.

Jo: Why not?

Laurie: I’ll tell you someday. John, my tutor, is going with you as I can’t.

Jo: No need of that; I am not a young lady, and it’s only a step. Take care of yourself, won’t you?

Laurie: Yes; but you will come again. I hope?

Jo: If you promise to come and see us after you are well.

Laurie: I will.

Jo: Good night, Laurie! (went out of the door and waves her hand)

Laurie: Good night, Jo, good night! (stood in front of the door and waved back)

(Jo exits the stage. The lights went dark and the curtains closed.)

-END-

The Son of Neptune

The Son of Neptune

Finished a 513 pages book " The Son of Neptune" in  less than 15 hours!!!!  So happy! Can't wait to read the next volume, because I'm very interested with Jason, Percy, and the connection between Hazel and Leo. All thanks to Io who lend me his books. 

I love how Rick Riordan wrote his books, really drifted me into the world of Ancient Rome and Greece. His imagination is so strong, I wondered how he got those ideas. How he combined the mythology with the modern world, make relations between Rome myths and China's, create funny, exciting and romantic atmospheres in the story strucked me in awe! His portraying of characters makes me see the characters going out from the books. 

My favorite character is Percy and Leo. Somehow I got amazed by them. Percy is a cool, funny and easy going guy, plus loyal to his friends. I like how Riordan describe his features. The way his black hair is wind blowed, how he talks -so cool- ,  made tactics for battle and got an unexpecting dyslexia in reading.  Percy really held an important role in The Lost Heroes series from the very beginning. When I read this book, I felt like, saying "God, Please give me a classmate like him!"

Leo is the opposite from Percy. He got an ADHD, the sickness that caused him to be hyper, instead of dyslexia. His attributes and characters are exactly different from the rest of the characters. Leo is practically a mechanic brainiac who can invent stuffs from anything. He even created the Argo II, named after Argo I. Leo's typically a head lighted boy, loves to crack jokes with his friends. That type of boy can sometimes boost a person's mood, and never get tired of talking with slang English. He is very funny, especially when he fell for Jason's sister, Thalia. The interesting part of Leo is that he resembles  Sammy, Hazel's childhood friend, while they have the same family name. Sammy Valdez and Leo Valdez.

The thing from this book is terrific! All characters are in one circle of connection, but are covered with mysteries, their past, the shreds of war and friendship. Those couldn't make me wait to read the next volume of this book, " The Mark of Athena".

The First Female Commentator

Christina Graf as the First Female Soccer Commentator

On Sunday, 3^rd February 2013, the German soccer fans were unfamiliar with the voice of the commentator.  A woman became the first men’s soccer commentator in Berlin, Germany. Christina Graf provided comments in a live, professional German League that was aired in the national television. She commented on a match where Hertha Berlin won 5-1 over Jahn Regensburg in the second division of the league. There was never a woman who becomes a commentator before.  After she passed the audition with broadcaster Sky, she had beaten the other 1200 applicants.  Then, she got the new job for being a soccer commentator for a few live matches in Germany.

“I’m happy that I can start slowly with the second division at first,” the 27 year old woman said to the German dpa news agency before the match started. “It’s a huge opportunity. But I’m not the very extroverted type and won’t go ballistic,” she stated.

  

Before Christina Graf’s voice was heard in the soccer field, there was a female commentator that was named as Claudia Neumman.  She commented on the Woman’s World Cup that Germany hosted in a live television show. For Christina, she was in for the men’s soccer match and made TV history. 

-EDK

Try Harder

Reading Class

Trying Harder

Esther Deborah K.

1/20/13

Jogja Patriae Academy

Richie sat down on his breakfast chair, and blinked his eyes twice. His brown hair hadn’t been combed yet, and it was a mess. One of his servants put his meal in front of him. Two sizzling bacons, boiled egg and a toasted bread didn’t make his appetite rising.  His head was still spinning, because he remembered last night’s Gardiner’s party.

He picked up his glass and drank the milk quietly, but his headache seemed to mess with his brain. He didn’t sip the milk properly into his mouth, but instead, the milk dripped from the rim to the velvet night robe he was wearing. He didn’t care.

He only worried about his mothers’ plan. Just yesterday, his mom said to him that he will have a future wife and an arranged marriage, like all rich British people do. He didn’t meet his fiancé yet since last night’s ball. He actually didn’t want to come to that stupid party, but his mom forced him to. He already liked someone he knew, and he didn’t like it at all when his mom pushed him into the carriage that led him to the party place.

“This is Richard Watson, my only and eldest son,” his mom introduced him last night at the ball to his future mother in law, Mrs. Emma Gardiner who held the party.

“Oh Suzan, what a handsome boy you have!” Mrs. Gardiner exclaimed, and then she continued to babble about her daughter named Elizabeth.

Mrs. Gardiner was a fat lady with yellow hair, pinned up in a luxurious style, a British manner of elegance.  Her gestures were so ladylike, but Richie thought the way she talked was like a hyperactive parrot. Her perfume was too strong. Richie felt like he wanted to throw up.

He sneered at that noisy woman, which glared at him. She then forced a smile, because his mom was staring at that fat woman.

“Ah, yes,” Mrs. Gardiner changed the topic “I will introduce you to Elizabeth,” she turned to her black servant.

“Molly, call Elizabeth from her dressing room right away,” she ordered Molly who nodded and walked away.

In a minute, a girl came in a silky, marmalade gown. Her wavy hair was pinned up, elaborated with fur. Her waist was frilled by long clothes that drop until the bottom of the dress. She was wearing the S-bend corset, that shaped her body like an ‘S’. She held a fluffy fan that made Richie sneezed.

“This is Elizabeth, my dear daughter,” Mrs. Gardiner opened her hand, showing Elizabeth like she was the latest mannequin display in the shops.

“Pleased to meet you,” that Elizabeth said in a soft voice. Richie only gave her a bored stare.

“Yeah, yeah, nice to meet you,” Richie said while putting both hands inside his trousers. He yawned without covering his mouth, and blinked his eyes twice.

“Richard!” her mother barked at him, “Say the proper greetings.”

Richie only exhaled and glanced at Mrs. Gardiner who was glaring fiercely once more to him. “It’s a catastrophe to meet such a pampered lady like you,” then he bowed lowly and smirked.

Elizabeth’s eye widened with astonishment.

“This is preposterous!” cried Mrs. Gardiner at Richie’s mom, who was shocked. This Elizabeth could only cry.

“Elizabeth, let’s leave this uncivilized people!” her mom took her hand roughly and led her into the crowd.

Richie only could laugh inside his heart. By Christopher Columbus, that was quite a scene! Besides, that pampered girl is no better than Kate.

“Richard, what are you thinking!?” his mother shook his shoulders “That is your future wife, and in ten seconds, you make her reject our family proposal!”

“Mother, how many times I told you I don’t want a future wife! I want a normal life, without weird things happening, and enjoy my life,” said Richie and fold his hands.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” her mom massaged her head “what on earth do you want, Richard?”

“A normal life, full of adventures, making friendships with the ordinary kids,” he said.

“What about your future life then if you keep to think of this…life full of adventures? Specifically about your marriage.” his Mother questioned him.

Richie started to imagine how Kate would look in a fluffy dress like that crybaby Elizabeth had. No, definitely not her style. She’s good the way she is. Kate is always full of excitement, mischiefs and never cared her poise. She’s a good-natured girl who didn’t take rough jokes seriously and always frolicked with Richie, whether in playing boys’ games or not. She’s also one of the four ordinary kids in his school, which made her a huge difference in Richie’s school.

“Richard?” his mother asked again, surprised him from daydreaming.

“ Yeah? Uh…What is the problem with them, Mother? They didn’t do any harm, and didn’t judge you from your style and watch like my high-class friends does,” he remembered that Kate didn’t care about how she styled her hair or what kind of hat she wore. Stuffs like that never bothered her.

“Some of them never take my rough jokes seriously…” his voice started to trail off.

“No, no, Richard. Let’s end this discussion. You are going to have an arranged marriage,” his mother snapped and went out of the party hall.

Richie stopped his flash of memory, and decided to dress for school. He rose from his chair and the milk stain on his bath robe was drying. He knew that his problem is not over yet.

***

“Young Master, please don’t go to school walking!” Emma shouted from the front porch, chased Richie who was leaving at the gate.

“It’s not a big problem, Emma,” Richie grinned and made sure his mother is nowhere to be seen.

“Richard!” his mom appeared behind the servant with her hair stuck with rollers. Her feet were wearing slippers, and her left hand was holding a bottle of perfume. “It is a big problem, especially for the eldest boy of a noble family! Our family already bought a carriage for you, so get back here,” his mom ordered.

“Not today, mother,” Richie stepped out from the gate, put on his cap and ran away with his school bag.

Mrs. Watson could only groan.  

Richie ran as fast as he could, while looking at his pocket watch. Seven AM. He’s not late meeting her in front of the train station. He ran faster, and there was the building ahead. There were train horns heard everywhere, and the air was still filled with morning mist.

He saw a figure sitting on a near bench. She was reading a book; her hair was untied and blown by the wind. She turned the next page. Her eye caught Richie’s, and she put down her book inside her bag. She ran to 

him and waved her hand.

“Good morning, Richie!” she stopped in front of him with huffed breath from running.

“Ready for school?” Richie grinned. “Hey, you choose to use medusa’s hairdo today?” he teased as both of them started to walk down the streets.

“My new style,” she laughed and kicked a pebble. “Oh, is it true that you came to the Gradiners’ party last night? Julian told me that because his friend was there.”

“So…You know about it?” Richie asked Kate carefully.

“Of course! What thing I didn’t know about?” she joked, “ What is the matter with you? Today you acted unusually, like you are hiding a dog poop in your pocket,” Kate joked, which made Richie laughed at her statement.

“You see, my mom made…something weird for me. Something I didn’t want. Something I hate,” Richie exhaled and nervously played with his hands.

“Let me guess,” said Kate. She started to think, and scratched her head. “The one you didn’t want, something you hate and weird. Eel?”

“Not that.”

“Crab cake?”

“No.”

“Swimming in the sewer system?”

“No!”

“Smelling stinky shoes? Eating worms?”

“Kate, why would my mom tell me to do that?” Richie laughed so hard that people walking around them frowned with disturbance.

“Then what?!” Kate grew uneasy and shook Richie’s arm. He loved these times.

“It is hard to say this, but…” Richie started and told her the whole story.

Ten minutes Richie told everything without stopping. He had a hard time, and felt like he wanted to sink inside the earth. He studied Kate’s face. She was not smiling anymore. That made Richie wants to sink deeper. Kate listened every word attentively. Richie knew she was thinking, though she looked alright.  They arrived in front of the school.

“Although I rejected the Gardiners, I know my mom is going to search for another one. I’ve peeked into her drawers and there were full of her friends’ daughters. One of them was Elizabeth, and the others were worse than her,” Richie shook his head in fright.

“Why you don’t you ---You peeked in your mom’s drawer?” Kate just realized it.

“Ah! Never mind about that, do continue,” Richie turned red.

Kate cleared her throat. “Why don’t you tell your mom more seriously that you really don’t want it?” Kate finally said.

“But I’ve tried,” Richie started to say.

“Then it is not hard enough yet. You have to try harder,” she said sternly.

 “Richie, once when I was a little girl, I want a juicy, big, red apple that grew on the tree near my house. I tried to reach the apple, but I’m not tall enough. I climbed that tree thrice, but always fall down because I’m not strong enough. You see these scratches?”

Richie looked at the faded scratches on Kate’s arm. There were a lot, and Richie knew it requires a lot of persistence. He nodded with amazement.

“Yes, it was because of that. That time, I thought I would never can reach that tree, but I didn’t easily give up. I decided to use my dad’s ladder, but when I lifted it up, it was far too heavy for a little girl like me. I finally sat on the front porch’s stairs, figuring out how to reach for that apple. My mouth watered so much that I have to swallow many times. Then, I looked up to the ceilings and to the top of the tree. I got an idea. 

After I did my idea, I succeeded to get that apple, though I was so scared at that time. You know what did I do?” Kate asked Richie while lifting up both eyebrows.

“What?” Richie asked in interest.

“I climbed my roof and walked up there to reach the top of the tree,” finished Kate with satisfaction and a winning smile.

Richie was speechless. When he was at his age, he never had a big determination like Kate’s. The school’s bell rang.

***

“Mom, I don’t want to have a future wife,” Richie put down his school bag on the couch near the fireplace. He was frowning, determined to tell his mother seriously and to try harder.

“Richard, you have to. It’s a must,” his mother continued to knit beside him.

“Why, mother? Why I have to do this? What is your reason? Is it because I am so reckless in doing things so you search somebody to look after me?  Or…or you thought that by giving me an arranged marriage I will be more mature?” he talked so fast. He can feel himself was burning inside, and right now, he want answers.

“You will understand this when you are big enough. In these days, you only have to follow my instructions. If you thought I gave you an arranged marriage for the reasons that you mentioned, it is not because of that. I gave an arranged marriage for some specific reasons,” her mother’s tone was getting higher.

Richie’s body was tensing. “Mother, I also have the right to choose. I’m already fourteen, and I’m not a kid anymore. This isn’t a small matter like choosing what I should eat or wear. This is about my future. I don’t want to be miserable when I grew up for choosing the wrong person to be with me for my entire life. I will not give up telling you this. If I fail, then it is not hard enough yet. I have to try harder,” he swallowed hard.

“I wonder where you get this…sudden determination, son,” frowning Mrs. Watson asked and pulled a chair for Richie to sit down.

Richie started with his story about how he felt at the Gardiners’ ball, about Kate, his desire for his friendships until Kate’s childhood story. After he finished, he looked at his mother with hope for a good answer coming out from Mrs. Watson’s mouth.

“Richard, my only and eldest son,” his mother finally said and put aside her knitting aside. She paused for a moment and only the crackling of the fire was heard. “I’m always proud of you and give you the best things I could get.  I’m afraid that you will not be happy if you choose your own way. I thought when you told me you are not a kid anymore were just words, but when you told me the whole thing and your determination, I was speechless. You proved me that you are worth to make your own decision for your future.” his mother patted his shoulder.

“…That’s it? “ Richie asked his mother in disbelief. Is he dreaming or not? “You’re letting me to decide my own future?” his eyes widened and Richie’s face lit up.

Mrs. Watson only nodded and squeezed Richie’s arms with joy. He hugged his mom tightly. His feelings of happiness, disbelief were all mixed together. Richie felt like he had butterflies in his stomach and couldn’t express his joy with words. He owed that good natured, mischievous, bright, persistent and determined girl. Really, he owed Kate a lot.

*E.D.K.*