Person of Influence free essay sample

I’m four. And I’ve spent the first three summers of my life on the boat. Watching my dad ski like a professional, I yearn to ski. The slalom effortlessly cuts through the glass-like water—my dad makes it look easy. Then, he climbs into the boat: â€Å"Tor, what did you think?† I flash a grin and give him two thumbs up. â€Å"Now it’s your turn.† Within an hour, I’m skiing. My family cheers, but I focus in on my dad. His voice shouts, â€Å"Way to go, champ!† I’m eight-years-old. I’m waiting behind the blocks before my first, 200 individual medley. I’m scared. This is the longest race I’ve swam. I’m going to disqualify. My dad and I look at each other—he knows my nerves. He comes to calm me down: â€Å"You’re going to be fine, bud.† Tears start to well. â€Å"I know you can do this, and you do too. We will write a custom essay sample on Person of Influence or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Go out there and show ‘em what you got.† The race starts and, before I know it, it’s over. My dad waits, arms wide for a victory-hug. I’m thirteen- years-old. â€Å"We have to go where the work is, Tori,† my dad says, trying to console me. He’s leaving for Cleveland for the first time. But more trips will follow. Five days a week for the next year, the person who I go to for everything will be 500 miles away. It will be a year of Sunday night hugs goodbye before his 4 a.m. flight. It will be a year of dad traveling. But my dad made that choice for me, knowing I don’t want move away from the place I call home. I’m seventeen-years-old. A familiar time has returned. This time, the work is in New Jersey. But I’m more mature and realize what he does is best for our family. The nights I spend at the pool or stuck in a pile homework make his absence less noticeable—but it doesn’t make them less painful. It†™s a Wednesday night and the first swim meet of my senior season. Dad is in New Jersey and mom is in the stands. My mom comes over to say good luck, and a familiar face stands behind her. I can’t hide my excitement—I give him a hug, not caring I’m in a wet swimming suit. I swim my first race at a season’s best time. â€Å"That was great, bud! You smoked them. You made it look easy,† he says smiling and giving me two thumbs up as I walk back to the team area. My dad makes being away, working hard and sacrifice look easy. But I know it’s not. Some weeks, it’s five days and four cities, and then he’s right back at it the next week. But no matter where he is, he’s still able to find time for my mom, my sister and me—and this is only a small reason why he’s the most amazing dad and best friend.

Sun Tzu and Carl von Clausewitz essays

Sun Tzu and Carl von Clausewitz essays Sun Tzu and Carl von Clausewitz both theorized on the strategies, influences, and effects of war. Sun Tzu sees it with an idealistic outlook, believing that war has requirements and predictable outcomes. Clausewitz, on the other hand, thinks that war is more enigmatic and susceptible to chance and happenstance. Both realize that war is a political action of the state with a political purpose. Clausewitz states that war is an extension of politics by other means. As in politics, the outcome is not always certain; there is a sort of enshrouding fog that always conceals the exact characteristics of a situation. This element of uncertainty is key in Clausewitzs philosophy; he believes strongly that war is in large part determined by chance and possibility, that the individual nature of war makes it inherently unpredictable. Clausewitz feels that war is at its most basic level, an individual activity. The commander is obviously the lead individual in an army, and it is often a question of his moral, physical, and psychological capacities as to whether an army can be victorious. These qualities must also trickle down through the ranks to the corpsman, for they are the ones who fight. These military virtues of an army are all-important, whether a nation wins or loses if often determined by the spirit of the army. If morale is low, a force cannot win. A defeat causes a loss of self-confidence, and this in turn leads to fear, a horribly destructive element for an army to have. Thus it is the morale of the troops that greatly affects their performance. The commanders skill is also of paramount significance. A general cannot be weak, he must be strong for to lead the troops into battle; he must present an air of confidence that inspires the army. The general, as well as the troops, must be experienced. The commander must be intelligent and knowledgeable of the terrain, weathe...

MGT501 - Management and Organizational Behavior Mod 3 Case Assignment Essay

MGT501 - Management and Organizational Behavior Mod 3 Case Assignment - Essay Example The learning organization, according to Skyrme, (2010), is an organization that has in place systems and mechanisms as well as processes that enhance the capabilities of the organization and at the same time achieve the organizations objectives. They have noted that the important pieces of that system are that it is adaptive to the environment in which it is used, it continually enhances the capability of the organization to change and adapt, it develops a collective as well as individual learning base, and it uses the results of learning to achieve better results. In other words, it manages to pull together all the talents and knowledge throughout the organization, making it available for use in improving the corporation instead of going out of the organization to look for something that is already there. It is easy to see why this would be compared to a brain. As each synapse in the brain fires, it triggers another synapse, very much like this kind of knowledge or learning organiza tion might do. Social networking itself, works a lot like the different parts of the brain. Some things are controlled by the left hemisphere and some are controlled by the right. There is the Pons and medulla and hind and forebrain, all have different functions that they control, but in each case, that information is readily available for the others to use when needed. It occurs very much the same way in a corporation. For example, in a hospital, the nurses function as a pod, the physicians another, the casemanagers and social workers another. Within each of those pods, specialized activities occur but when the other needs some of that specialized activity to make their part of the organization work better, it is available. Social media is an outgrowth of the need to communicate. There are actually many large corporations using social networking to improve their business. This kind of

Process of Preparing an Electronic Portfolio Essay

Process of Preparing an Electronic Portfolio - Essay Example It is through the exercise of developing an electronic portfolio that I was able to have an understanding of the importance of the criteria for evaluation. The criteria for evaluation are put in place to make sure that every electronic portfolio serves the intended purpose. It is at this point that I was able to understand the principles that would be used to judge the quality of an electronic portfolio(Cambridge, 2012). Knowledge of the evaluation criteria was helpful in determining the exact content of the portfolio. As a result of knowing the evaluation criteria, I believe that I was able to make sure that all the needed competencies were included in the electronic portfolio. Presentation and organization of an electronic portfolio are always important aspects of the development process. For presentation and organization of my electronic portfolio I used Canvas  e-Portfolio. I was also able to realize that there are a number of alternatives that someone can use in the development of an electronic portfolio. It was through the process that I was able to realize that someone can opt for using required templates to develop an electronic portfolio (Gà ¼lbahar&Tinmaz, 2006). However, I came to the conclusion that the use of Canvas  e-Portfolio was the most appropriate for my case. Evidence of achievement is an important aspect of an electronic portfolio. Actually, I came to the realization that it is through evidence that someone can make sure that an electronic portfolio is as appealing and convincing as possible. The achievement included in an electronic portfolio should include details such as projects, any completed assignments, special projects completed, or evidence of any skills and experienced attained as a result of participation in workshops or conferences. It should be noted that before settling for any specific competencies and proficiencies, a person should list all the

Willy Russell portray serious issues Essay Example for Free

Willy Russell portray serious issues Essay He uses Standard English, but with a regional accent. So he fits into the social context of the play. His vocabulary is direct; this symbolises a direct message. His voice is also assertive but he doesnt show any emotion, which shows hes detached from whats going on. Hes dramatically effective because he is entwined in speech and action. The speech sequences between Linda and Mickey are interrupted by the narrator, which shows a dramatic presence. He comes at unexpected and dramatic times, which is engaging for the audience. The director also says shoes upon the table and gypsies in the wood this symbolises a warning and verbally foreshadows the rest of the play. The issue of superstition is portrayed in an entertaining way because the narrator is saying in between speeches. He is slightly menacing; this creates shock to the audience, which engages them. You could say that the narrator is seen like the devil. Comic devices are also used when there were adults dresses as children and they behave in an immature manner. The milkman being the gynaecologist also adds to the humour, from the quote actually Ive given up the milk round and gone into medicine. Im your gynaecologist. From this the audience would subconsciously see the issues in an entertaining way. The humorous language from quotes previously also build up the entertainment and adds to the comic devices they go together well in tandem. Mickey and Linda growing up has a humorous side to it because they deal with small problems, which are humorous. Mickey says I dont wanna die and Linda says But you have to Mickey. Everyone does. Like your twinny died. Mickey here is frightened that Sammy might kill him with a fake air pistol, but Linda calms Mickey down. But as they grow up we see a serious issue of it, like their baby, finances and trying to find a house. A lot of stress comes to Mickey and he says Now give me the tablets I need them, so I can be invisible from that we can see Mickey needs tablets because of the stress, but the last part makes it entertaining, its a sort of joke. There was also light romance between Mickey and Linda, she kept saying I love you Mickey, which was entertaining as Linda had said she loved him when they were children; the romance makes those serious issues between them seem entertaining. The music devices that Willey Russell used also make it entertaining and helps bring the characters to life on stage, the serious issues such as single parents and social class suddenly become entertaining because of these melodies. Willy Russell used music devices effectively to end Act 1 on a positive note. A quote to show this was, Were getting out. Were moving house, Were going away. Getting out today. Were moving movin movin house. The Johnstone had a lot of troubles up to that point, but they were finally moving to the countryside. The positive text and music contributes to the happy atmosphere, the chorus, Oh bright new day, were moving away, were startin all over again. Oh, bright new day, were going away, Where nobodys heard of our name, emphasises the importance of it and shows her happiness. The melody is an upbeat tune, the lyrics say that Oh bright new day, the constant repetition again emphasises the fact that the atmosphere is happy, so the issue of poverty and single parents are subconsciously portrayed in an entertaining way because of the music, melodies and positive text. The happy atmosphere also subconsciously makes the audience generate their expectations, that the next acts would be happy. Different types of songs are used to represent different parts of the play; there were ballads, Tell me its not true, say its just a story, something on the news, Tell me its not true, say its just a dream, for sad parts and lively songs, (from the previous quotes) for light-hearted aspects. The engaging songs and lyrics add to the drama because it is constantly enveloping with serious issues, which is entertaining, hence engaging for the audience. The themes of dancing, like, Oh we went dancing Edward, it was great and waltzing occurs throughout the play to go in tandem with the lively songs to add to the happy atmosphere again to portray the serious issues in an entertaining way. The end of the play deals with a lot of other serious issues in an entertaining approach. There is a lot of action and Mickey going crazy at the end, which is entertaining, this goes in tandem with the murders to portray it in an entertain way. The tension when Mickey was holding the gun also creates suspense for the audience and really engages them. The audience would subconsciously start the denotation to connotation process, as the gun connotes death and violence. Their expectations for the end of the play would be generated. The main issue of murder in the closing scene would be portrayed entertainingly because it was ironic that two twin brothers that were separated at birth eventually die on the same day. The author makes Mickey say You! Why didnt you give me away! I could have been. I could have been him! This shows that Mickey knows he could have been better off if he was in the higher-class family. Subsequently it shows that the Willy Russell thinks that it is class that caused the murder. The authors attitudes towards class are also revealed and justified in the narrators last speech. He trys to persuade the audience into thinking it was class because he stretches the last sentence Or could it be what we, the English come to know it as class? . He ends with a strong rhetorical question talking about class. This rhetorical question is cleverly used because it subconsciously makes us linger on the topic of class, and even be persuaded to think it was class that caused the murders. This reflects the attitudes of the author; he thinks that it was the different social classes mixing that caused the murders. His attitudes to social classes were high. He was concerned, that if people with a different social classes mix then it would spell trouble. In the play of Blood Brothers Willy Russell deals with a lot of serious issues in an entertaining way, this really engages the audience. He virtually engulfs all the serious issues with the entertainment and happy atmosphere, to portray them as entertaining. Our minds subconsciously think about the entertaining side of the issue rather than the serious side. The issues also add to the development of the play, poverty led to social class which eventually led to murder. However he trys to portray the issues in an entertaining way to engage the audience; it makes us feel and think about different aspects of the issues. Take social class for example, Mickey was brought up in a lower class family but probably had more enjoyment in his childhood than Edward. But Edward was not allowed much because of his parents. However when Mickey grew up he didnt have a good education and wasnt taught properly by his mother what was to do and not to do in life. These are different aspects of that issue, which were cleverly shown in an entertaining way by Willy Russell.

Shadowing :: essays research papers

shadowing experience at Doherty, Duggan and Rousse Insurers was on Wednesday March 20, 2005. At the beginning of the experience there was eight o’clock devotion about the different kinds of â€Å"wants†, we as human beings in a society of wants not needs. I met an array of assistants, accountants and different sales representatives. I met Charlotte Easterling the â€Å"central hub†, the administrative assistant of the entire firm. Regina King, the accounting manager she works on the payroll, which she outsources, pays bills and payables. Laura Coutu, the accounting and system administrator she books for computers the firm uses and she is the day to day computer tech and support. I met Melinda Duggan a sales associate with commercial selling. She oversees the account of Southern Ad trucking company, At nine fifteen there was a sales meeting, sales associates meet to discuss sales calls and sales revenue. Associates talk about different venues to sell to, states commission and also talk about different companies and corporation they sell to or try to sell to. Each sales associate spends about three to four minutes each discussing sales about previous week, commissions ranging from $40.00 to $8000.00. At twelve fifteen the firm have their quarterly meeting called WE Incorporated, the meeting starts out with birthdays and work anniversaries. The accounting manager states TARGETS for each individual department. The different departments state commissions and other new accounts. The different departments vary as such: Commercial Lines, Personal Lines, Claims, Accountant, Administrative, Procedures, Rewards and Recognition and Events. They have a Profile section which sales executives talk about biggest sales of a particular departments and the firms accolades, this week was Fred Taylor Trucking Company, Southern AD carriers who have been with the firm since they had 5 trucks and 17 trailers, they now have 327 trucks and 239 trailers, lastly the firm mentioned Water, Gas and Light Commission which is their largest account.

The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 19 HATE

WE MADE OUR FLIGHT WITH SECONDS TO SPARE, AND THEN the true torture began. The plane sat idle on the tarmac while the flight attendants strolledso casuallyup and down the aisle, patting the bags in the overhead compartments to make sure everything fit. The pilots leaned out of the cockpit, chatting with them as they passed. Alice's hand was hard on my shoulder, holding me in my seat while I bounced anxiously up and down. â€Å"It's faster than running,† she reminded me in a low voice. I just nodded in time with my bouncing. At last the plane rolled lazily from the gate, building speed with a gradual steadiness that tortured me further. I expected some kind of relief when we achieved liftoff, but my frenzied impatience didn't lessen. Alice lifted the phone on the back of the seat in front of her before we'd stopped climbing, turning her back on the stewardess who eyed her with disapproval. Something about my expression stopped the stewardess from coming over to protest. I tried to tune out what Alice was murmuring to Jasper; I didn't want to hear the words again, but some slipped through. â€Å"I can't be sure, I keep seeing him do different things, he keeps changing his mind A killing spree through the city, attacking the guard, lifting a car over his head in the main square mostly things that would expose themhe knows that's the fastest way to force a reaction† â€Å"No, you can't.† Alice's voice dropped till it was nearly inaudible, though I was sitting inches from her. Contrarily, I listened harder. â€Å"Tell Emmett no Well, go after Emmett and Rosalie and bring them back Think about it, Jasper. If he sees any of us, what do you think he will do?† She nodded. â€Å"Exactly. I think Bella is the only chanceif there is a chance I'll do everything that can be done, but prepare Carlisle; the odds aren't good.† She laughed then, and there was a catch in her voice. â€Å"I've thought of that Yes, I promise.† Her voice became pleading. â€Å"Don't follow me. I promise, Jasper. One way or another, I'll get out And I love you.† She hung up, and leaned back in her seat with her eyes closed. â€Å"I hate lying to him.† â€Å"Tell me everything, Alice,† I begged. â€Å"I don't understand. Why did you tell Jasper to stop Emmett, why can't they come help us?† â€Å"Two reasons,† she whispered, her eyes still closed. â€Å"The first I told him. We could try to stop Edward ourselvesif Emmett could get his hands on him, we might be able to stop him long enough to convince him you're alive. But we can't sneak up on Edward. And if he sees us coming for him, he'll just act that much faster. He'll throw a Buiclc through a wall or something, and the Volturi will take him down. â€Å"That's the second reason of course, the reason I couldn't say to Jasper. Because if they're there and the Volturi kill Edward, they'll fight them. Bella.† She opened her eyes and stared at me, beseeching. â€Å"If there were any chance we could win if there were a way that the four of us could save my brother by fighting for him, maybe it would be different. But we can't, and, Bella, I can't lose Jasper like that.† I realized why her eyes begged for my understanding. She was protecting Jasper, at our expense, and maybe at Edward's, too. I understood, and I did not think badly of her. I nodded. â€Å"Couldn't Edward hear you, though.'† I asked. â€Å"Wouldn't he know, as soon as he heard your thoughts, that I was alive, that there was no point to this?† Not that there was any justification, either way. I still couldn't believe that he was capable of reacting like this. It made no sense! I remembered with painful clarity his words that day on the sofa, while we watched Romeo and Juliet kill themselves, one after the other. I wasn't going to live without you, he'd said, as if it should be such an obvious conclusion. But the words he had spoken in the forest as he'd left me had canceled all that outforcefully. â€Å"If he were listening,† she explained. â€Å"But believe it or not, it's possible to lie with your thoughts. If you had died, I would still try to stop him. And I would be thinking ‘she's alive, she's alive' as hard as I could. He knows that.† I ground my teeth in mute frustration. â€Å"If there were any way to do this without you, Bella, I wouldn't be endangering you like this. It's very wrong of me.† â€Å"Don't be stupid. I'm the last thing you should be worrying about.† I shook my head impatiently. â€Å"Tell me what you meant, about hating to lie to Jasper.† She smiled a grim smile. â€Å"I promised him I would get out before they killed me, too. It's not something I can guaranteenot by a long shot.† She raised her eyebrows, as if willing me to take the danger more seriously. â€Å"Who are these Volturi?† I demanded in a whisper. â€Å"What makes them so much more dangerous than Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, and you?† It was hard to imagine something scarier than that. She took a deep breath, and then abruptly leveled a dark glance over my shoulder. I turned in time to see the man in the aisle seat looking away as if he wasn't listening to us. He appeared to be a businessman, in a dark suit with a power tie and a laptop on his knees. While I stared at him with irritation, he opened the computer and very conspicuously put headphones on. I leaned closer to Alice. Her lips were at my ears as she breathed the story. â€Å"I was surprised that you recognized the name,† she said. â€Å"That you understood so immediately what it meantwhen I said he was going to Italy. I thought I would have to explain. How much did Edward tell you?† â€Å"He just said they were an old, powerful familylike royalty. That you didn't antagonize them unless you wanted to die,† I whispered. The last word was hard to choke out. â€Å"You have to understand,† she said, her voice slower, more measured now. â€Å"We Cullens are unique in more ways than you know. It's abnormal for so many of us to live together in peace. It's the same for Tanya's family in the north, and Carlisle speculates that abstaining makes it easier for us to be civilized, to form bonds based on love rather than survival or convenience. Even James's little coven of three was unusually largeand you saw how easily Laurent left them. Our kind travel alone, or in pairs, as a general rule. Carlisle's family is the biggest in existence, as far as I know, with the one exception. The Volturi. â€Å"There were three of them originally, Aro, Caius, and Marcus.† â€Å"I've seen them,† I mumbled. â€Å"In the picture in Carlisle's study.† Alice nodded. â€Å"Two females joined them over time, and the five of them make up the family. I'm not sure, but I suspect that their age is what gives them the ability to live peacefully together. They are well over three thousand years old. Or maybe it's their gifts that give them extra tolerance. Like Edward and I, Aro and Marcus are talented.† She continued before I could ask. â€Å"Or maybe it's just their love of power that binds them together. Royalty is an apt description.† â€Å"But if there are only five† â€Å"Five that make up the family,† she corrected. â€Å"That doesn't include their guard.† I took a deep breath. â€Å"That sounds serious.† â€Å"Oh, it is,† she assured me. â€Å"There were nine members of the guard that were permanent, the last time we heard. Others are more transitory. It changes. And many of them are gifted as wellwith formidable gifts, gifts that make what I can do look like a parlor trick. The Volturi chose them for their abilities, physical or otherwise.† I opened my mouth, and then closed it. I didn't think I wanted to know how bad the odds were. She nodded again, as if she understood exactly what I was thinking. â€Å"They don't get into too many confrontations. No one is stupid enough to mess with them. They stay in their city, leaving only as duty calls.† â€Å"Duty?† I wondered. â€Å"Didn't Edward tell you what they do?† â€Å"No,† I said, feeling the blank expression on my face. Alice looked over my head again, toward the businessman, and put her wintry lips back to my ear. â€Å"There's a reason he called them royalty the ruling class. Over the millennia, they have assumed the position of enforcing our ruleswhich actually translates to punishing transgressors. They fulfill that duty decisively.† My eyes popped wide with shock. â€Å"There are rules?† I asked in a voice that was too loud. â€Å"Shh!† â€Å"Shouldn't somebody have mentioned this to me earlier?† I whispered angrily. â€Å"I mean, I wanted to be a to be one of you! Shouldn't somebody have explained the rules to me?† Alice chuckled once at my reaction. â€Å"It's not that complicated, Bella. There's only one core restrictionand if you think about it, you can probably figure it out for yourself.† I thought about it. â€Å"Nope, I have no idea.† She shook her head, disappointed. â€Å"Maybe it's too obvious. We just have to keep our existence a secret.† â€Å"Oh,† I mumbled. It was obvious. â€Å"It makes sense, and most of us don't need policing,† she continued. â€Å"But, after a few centuries, sometimes one of us gets bored. Or crazy. I dor't know. And then the Volturi step in before it can compromise them, or the rest of us.† â€Å"So Edward† â€Å"Is planning to flout that in their own citythe city they've secretly held for three thousand years, since the time of the Etruscans. They are so protective of their city that they don't allow hunting within its walls. Volterra is probably the safest city in the worldfrom vampire attack at the very least.† â€Å"But you said they didn't leave. How do they eat?† â€Å"They don't leave. They bring in their food from the outside, from quite far away sometimes. It gives their guard something to do when they're not out annihilating mavericks. Or protecting Volterra from exposure† â€Å"From situations like this one, like Edward,† I finished her sentence. It was amazingly easy to say his name now. I wasn't sure what the difference was. Maybe because I wasn't really planning on living much longer without seeing him. Or at all, if we were too late. It was comforting to know that I would have an easy out. â€Å"I doubt they've ever had a situation quite like this,† she muttered, disgusted. â€Å"You don't get a lot of suicidal vampires.† The sound that escaped out of my mouth was very quiet, but Alice seemed to understand that it was a cry of pain. She wrapped her thin, strong arm around my shoulders. â€Å"We'll do what we can, Bella. It's not over yet.† â€Å"Not yet.† I let her comfort me, though I knew she thought our chances were poor. â€Å"And the Volturi will get us if we mess up.† Alice stiffened. â€Å"You say that like it's a good thing.† I shrugged. â€Å"Knock it off, Bella, or we're turning around in New York and going back to Forks.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"You know what. If we're too late for Edward, I'm going to do my damnedest to get you back to Charlie, and I don't want any trouble from you. Do you understand that?† â€Å"Sure, Alice.† She pulled back slightly so that she could glare at me. â€Å"No trouble.† â€Å"Scout's honor,† I muttered. She rolled her eyes. â€Å"Let me concentrate, now. I'm trying to see what he's planning.† She left her arm around me, but let her head fall back against the seat and closed her eyes. She pressed her free hand to the side of her face, rubbing her fingertips against her temple. I watched her in fascination for a long time. Eventually, she became utterly motionless, hei face like a stone sculpture. The minutes passed, and if I didn't know better, I would have thought she'd fallen asleep. I didn't dare interrupt her to ask what was going on. I wished there was something safe for me to think about. I couldn't allow myself to consider the horrors we were headed toward, or, more horrific yet, the chance that we might failnot if I wanted to keep from screaming aloud. I couldn't anticipate anything, either. Maybe, if I were very, very, very lucky, I would somehow be able to save Edward. But I wasn't so stupid as to think that saving him would mean that I could stay with him. I was no different, no more special than I'd been before. There would be no new reason for him to want me now. Seeing him and losing him again I fought back against the pain. This was the price I had to pay to save his life. I would pay it. They showed a movie, and my neighbor got headphones. Sometimes I watched the figures moving across the little screen, but I couldn't even tell if the movie was supposed to be a romance or a horror film. After an eternity, the plane began to descend toward New York City. Alice remained in her trance. I dithered, reaching out to touch her, only to pull my hand back again. This happened a dozen times before the plane touched town with a jarring impact. â€Å"Alice,† I finally said. â€Å"Alice, we have to go.† I touched her arm. Her eyes came open very slowly. She shook her head from side to side for a moment. â€Å"Anything new?† I asked in a low voice, conscious of the man listening on the other side of me. â€Å"Not exactly,† she breathed in a voice I could barely catch. â€Å"He's getting closer. He's deciding how he's going to ask.† We had to run for our connection, but that was goodbetter than having to wait. As soon as the plane was in the air, Alice closed her eyes and slid back into the same stupor as before. I waited as patiently as I could. When it was dark again, I opened the window to stare out into the flat black that was no better than the window shade. I was grateful that I'd had so many months' practice with controlling my thoughts. Instead of dwelling on the terrifying possibilities that, no matter what Alice said, I did not intend to survive, I concentrated on lesser problems. Like, what I was going to say to Charlie if I got back:' That was a thorny enough problem to occupy several hours. And Jacob? He'd promised to wait for me, but did that promise still apply? Would I end up home alone in Forks, with no one at all? Maybe I didn't want to survive, no matter what happened. It felt like seconds later when Alice shook my shoulderI hadn't realized I'd fallen asleep. â€Å"Bella,† she hissed, her voice a little too loud in the darkened cabin full of sleeping humans. I wasn't disorientedI hadn't been out long enough for that. â€Å"What's wrong?† Alice's eyes gleamed in the dim light of a reading lamp in the row behind us. â€Å"It's not wrong.† She smiled fiercely. â€Å"It's right. They're deliberating, but they've decided to tell him no.† â€Å"The Volturi?† I muttered, groggy. â€Å"Of course, Bella, keep up. I can see what they're going to say.† â€Å"Tellme.† An attendant tiptoed down the aisle to us. â€Å"Can I get you ladies a pillow?† His hushed whisper was a rebuke to our comparatively loud conversation. â€Å"No, thank you.† Alice beamed at up at him, her smile shockingly lovely. The attendant's expression was dazed as he turned and stumbled his way back. â€Å"Tell me,† I breathed almost silently. She whispered into my ear. â€Å"They're interested in himthey think his talent could be uselul. They're going to offer him a place with them.† â€Å"What will he say?† â€Å"I can't see that yet, but I'll bet it's colorful.† She grinned again. â€Å"This is the first good newsthe first break. They're intrigued; they truly don't want to destroy him'wasteful,' that's the word Aro will useand that may be enough to force him to get creative. The longer he spends on his plans, the better for us.† It wasn't enough to make me hopeful, to make me feel the relief she obviously felt. There were still so many ways that we could be too late. And if I didn't get through the walls into the Volturi city, I wouldn't be able to stop Alice from dragging me back home. â€Å"Alice?† â€Å"What?† â€Å"I'm confused. How are you seeing this so clearly? And then other times, you see things far awaythings that don't happen?† Her eyes tightened. I wondered if she guessed what I was thinking of. â€Å"It's clear because it's immediate and close, and I'm really concentrating. The faraway things that come on their ownthose are just glimpses, faint maybes. Plus, I see my kind more easily than yours. Edward is even easier because I'm so attuned to him.† â€Å"You see me sometimes,† I reminded her. She shook her head. â€Å"Not as clearly.† I sighed. â€Å"I really wish you could have been right about me. In the beginning, when you first saw things about me, before we even met† â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"You saw me become one of you.† I barely mouthed the words. She sighed. â€Å"It was a possibility at the time.† â€Å"At the time,† I repeated. â€Å"Actually, Bella† She hesitated, and then seemed to make a choice. â€Å"Honestly, I think it's all gotten beyond ridiculous. I'm debating whether to just change you myself.† I stared at her, frozen with shock. Instantly, my mind resisted her words. I couldn't afford that kind of hope if she changed her mind. â€Å"Did I scare you?† she wondered. â€Å"I thought that's what you wanted.† â€Å"I do!† I gasped. â€Å"Oh, Alice, do it now! I could help you so muchand I wouldn't slow you down. Bite me!† â€Å"Shh,† she cautioned. The attendant was looking in our direction again. â€Å"Try to be reasonable,† she whispered. â€Å"We don't have enough time. We have to get into Volterra tomorrow. You'd be writhing in pain for days.† She made a face. â€Å"And I don't think the other passengers would react well.† I bit my lip. â€Å"If you don't do it now, you'll change your mind.† â€Å"No.† She frowned, her expression unhappy. â€Å"I don't think I will. He'll be furious, but what will he be able to do about it?† My heart beat faster. â€Å"Nothing at all.† She laughed quietly, and then sighed. â€Å"You have too much faith in me, Bella. I'm not sure that I can. I'll probably just end up killing you.† â€Å"I'll take my chances.† â€Å"You are so bizarre, even for a human.† â€Å"Thanks.† â€Å"Oh well, this is purely hypothetical at this point, anyway. First we have to live through tomorrow.† â€Å"Good point.† But at least I had something to hope for if we did. If Alice made good on her promiseand if she didn't kill methen Edward could run after his distractions all he wanted, and I could follow. I wouldn't let him be distracted. Maybe, when I was beautiful and strong, he wouldn't want distractions. â€Å"Go back to sleep,† she encouraged me. â€Å"I'll wake you up when there's something new.† â€Å"Right,† I grumbled, certain that sleep was a lost cause now. Alice pulled her legs up on the seat, wrapping her arms around them and leaning her forehead against her knees. She rocked back and forth as she concentrated. I rested my head against the seat, watching her, and the next thing I knew, she was snapping the shade closed against the faint brightening in the eastern sky. â€Å"What's happening?† I mumbled. â€Å"They've told him no,† she said quietly. I noticed at once that her enthusiasm was gone. My voice choked in my throat with panic. â€Å"What's he going to do?† â€Å"It was chaotic at first. I was only getting flickers, he was changing plans so quickly.† â€Å"What kinds of plans?† I pressed. â€Å"There was a bad hour,† she whispered. â€Å"He'd decided to go hunting.† She looked at me, seeing the comprehension in my face. â€Å"In the city,† she explained. â€Å"It got very close. He changed his mind at the last minute.† â€Å"He wouldn't want to disappoint Carlisle,† I mumbled. Not at the end. â€Å"Probably,† she agreed. â€Å"Will there be enough time?† As I spoke, there was a shift in the cabin pressure. I could feel the plane angling downward. â€Å"I'm hoping soif he sticks to his latest decision, maybe.† â€Å"What is that?† â€Å"He's going to keep it simple. He's just going to walk out into the sun.† Just walk out into the sun. That was all. It would be enough. The image of Edward in the meadowglowing, shimmering like his skin was made of a million diamond facetswas burned into my memory. No human who saw that would ever forget. The Volturi couldn't possibly allow it. Not if they wanted to keep their city inconspicuous. I looked at the slight gray glow that shone through the opened windows. â€Å"We'll be too late,† I whispered, my throat closing in panic. She shook her head. â€Å"Right now, he's leaning toward the melodramatic. He wants the biggest audience possible, so he'll choose the main plaza, under the clock tower. The walls are high there. He'll wait till the sun is exactly overhead.† â€Å"So we have till noon?† â€Å"If we're lucky. If he sticks with this decision.† The pilot came on over the intercom, announcing, first in French and then in English, our imminent landing. The seat belt lights dinged and flashed. â€Å"How far is it from Florence to Volterra?† â€Å"That depends on how fast you drive Bella?† â€Å"Yes?† She eyed me speculatively. â€Å"How strongly are you opposed to grand theft auto?† A bright yellow Porsche screamed to a stop a few feet in front of where I paced, the word TURBO scrawled in silver cursive across its back. Everyone beside me on the crowded airport sidewalk stared. â€Å"Hurry, Bella!† Alice shouted impatiently through the open passenger window. I ran to the door and threw myself in, feeling as though I might as well be wearing a black stocking over my head. â€Å"Sheesh, Alice,† I complained. â€Å"Could you pick a more conspicuous car to steal?† The interior was black leather, and the windows were tinted dark. It felt safer inside, like nighttime. Alice was already weaving, too fast, through the thick airport trafficsliding through tiny spaces between the cars as I cringed and fumbled for my seat belt. â€Å"The important question,† she corrected, â€Å"is whether I could have stolen a faster car, and I don't think so. I got lucky.† â€Å"I'm sure that will be very comforting at the roadblock.† She trilled a laugh. â€Å"Trust me, Bella. If anyone sets up a roadblock, it will be behind us.† She hit the gas then, as if to prove her point. I probably should have watched out the window as first the city of Florence and then the Tuscan landscape flashed past with blurring speed. This was my first trip anywhere, and maybe my last, too. But Alice's driving frightened me, despite the fact that I knew I could trust her behind the wheel. And I was too tortured with anxiety to really see the hills or the walled towns that looked like castles in the distance. â€Å"Do you see anything more?† â€Å"There's something going on,† Alice muttered. â€Å"Some kind of festival. The streets are full of people and red flags. What's the date today?† I wasn't entirely sure. â€Å"The nineteenth, maybe?† â€Å"Well, that's ironic. It's Saint Marcus Day.† â€Å"Which means?† She chuckled darkly. â€Å"The city holds a celebration every year. As the legend goes, a Christian missionary, a Father MarcusMarcus of the Voltun, in factdrove all the vampires from Volterra fifteen hundred years ago. The story claims he was martyred in Romania, still trying to drive away the vampire scourge. Of course that's nonsensehe's never left the city. But that's where some of the superstitions about things like crosses and garlic come from. Father Marcus used them so successfully. And vampires don't trouble Volterra, so they must work.† Her smile was sardonic. â€Å"It's become more of a celebration of the city, and recognition for the police forceafter all, Volterra is an amazingly safe city. The police get the credit.† I was realizing what she meant when she'd said ironic. â€Å"They're not going to be very happy if Edward messes things up for them on St. Marcus Day, are they?† She shook her head, her expression grim. â€Å"No. They'll act very quickly.† I looked away, fighting against my teeth as they tried to break through the skin of my lower lip. Bleeding was not the best idea right now. The sun was terrifyingly high in the pale blue sky. â€Å"He's still planning on noon?† I checked. â€Å"Yes. He's decided to wait. And they're waiting for him.† â€Å"Tell me what I have to do.† She kept her eyes on the winding roadthe needle on the speedometer was touching the far right on the dial. â€Å"You don't have to do anything. He just has to see you before he moves into the light. And he has to see you before he sees me.† â€Å"How are we going to work that?† A small red car seemed to be racing backward as Alice zoomed around it. â€Å"I'm going to get you as close as possible, and then you're going to run in the direction I point you.† I nodded. â€Å"Try not to trip,† she added. â€Å"We don't have time for a concussion today.† I groaned. That would be just like meruin everything, destroy the world, in a moment of klutziness. The sun continued to climb in the sky while Alice raced against it. It was too brigh:, and that had me panicking. Maybe he wouldn't feel the need to wait for noon after all. â€Å"There,† Alice said abruptly, pointing to the castle city atop the closest hill. I stared at it, feeling the very first hint of a new kind of fear. Every minute since yesterday morningit seemed like a week agowhen Alice had spoken his name at the foot of the stairs, there had been only one fear. And yet, now, as I stared at the ancient sienna walls and towers crowning the peak of the steep hill, I felt another, more selfish kind of dread thrill through me. I supposed the city was very beautiful. It absolutely terrified me. â€Å"Volterra,† Alice announced in a flat, icy voice.