Friday, May 22, 2020
Success Essay The Meaning Of Success - 1136 Words
The meaning of success is different for everyone. It can be completing your education/degree, earning money, or obtaining a good job. Success is a word that society uses to describe a person that is intelligent or genius. Talent can also be a meaning of success, but you do not have to be born with talent in order to achieve your goals. you do not have to be born with talent to be successful you just have to have the right timing, culture, practice, age, and opportunity. To become an expert or successful you need the help of your parents and enough money so that you do not have to work. All of these things can play a huge role in someones life. The amount of time that you practice can help you be more talented or it can improve yourâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The wealthy do have more of a cultural advantage. I think that the wealthy do have a greater advantage a succeeding, but the poor can still succeed. Even Though if it is challenging and time consuming to accomplish their goals. We should not let money or mistake ruin our life, or get in the way of our success. Culture plays another huge part of success. Culture can affect your job performance that it can even lead to problems or deaths. Success arises out of the steady accumulation of advantages: when and where you are born, what your parents did for a living, and what the circumstances of your upbringing were all make a significant difference in how you do in the world. The success of people depends on where they come from, skill set, time period, and circumstances. when it comes to success where we come from matters because if we live in a small town there might not be a lot of work there, but if we move to a place with more diverse opportunities there will be more chances for you to get a decent job or even your dream job. we should not call our abilities, talent instead we should call them skills. By calling them skills everyone will want to try the skill that they want to learn and master. We wonââ¬â¢t feel like only some people are able to be talented. Everyone will have a chance to be good or even be able to learn the skill. We all want to be good at something so we will have a chance to do it if we donââ¬â¢t call our abilities talentShow MoreRelatedSuccess Essay : The Meaning Of Success1239 Words à |à 5 Pages The meaning of success is different to everyone. It can be completing your education/degree, earning money, or obtaining a good job. Success is a word that society uses to describe a person that is intelligent or genius. Talent can also be a meaning of success, but you do not have to be born with talent to meet your goals. You do not have to be born with talent to be successful you just need to have the right timing, culture, practice, and opportunity. To become an expert or successful you needRead MoreEssay on The Meaning of Success466 Words à |à 2 PagesThe Meaning of Success Success has to do with having the freedom to make choices and being the person we want to be. Even though each of us determine what success is, we can follow some factors for having a successful life. The first factor is hard work and discipline. Achieving what can be termed as a major triumph such as success in our work or personal victory after a long, hard slog can bring a wonderful sense of happiness when we get to the peak. This climb to success can be difficult in termsRead MoreThe True Meaning of Success Essay671 Words à |à 3 PagesWhat is success? Success stems from hard work, dedication, and motivation. Success is comparable to chefââ¬â¢s perfect recipes, an engineerââ¬â¢s final drawing, or a scientistââ¬â¢s research, which leads to saving lives. Without trial and error, there is no such thing as success. A large contributor to ones success is making mistakes and then learning from those mistakes. Just like the perfect recipe from a chef, an engineerââ¬â¢s fin al drawing or a scientistââ¬â¢s research, people may fail the first time but with trialRead MoreHlt 310v Week 1 Assignment Personal Worldview Inventory986 Words à |à 4 Pagespurchase this tutorial visit here: http://wiseamerican.us/product/hlt-310v-week-1-assignment-personal-worldview-inventory/ contact us at: SUPPORT@WISEAMERICAN.US Max Points: 20 Details: Write an 800-1,000-word essay on your personal worldview. Briefly discuss the various possible meanings of the term ââ¬Å"spirituality,â⬠and your understanding of the concepts of pluralism, scientism, and postmodernism. Primarily, address the following seven basic worldview questions: 1. What is prime reality? 2. WhatRead MoreDefinition of Success1195 Words à |à 5 PagesKristen Campbell ENGL 1302 Kimberly Dill 3/7/2012 Standards of Success Success, as described by Winston Churchill, is ââ¬Å"â⬠¦going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.â⬠This has taken on greater meaning in our modern day, as the path to success has seemingly become more complex. Is the American dream still valid? I would say yes, considering that we are currently in a recession. The term ââ¬Å"American Dreamâ⬠is used in a number of ways, but really the American Dream is an idea thatRead MoreACOM 103essay Plan 1239 Words à |à 5 PagesASSIGNMENT 1 INTRODUCTION AND ESSAY PLAN ESSAY TOPIC: In response to concerns about obesity and weight-related health issues, there are a number of approaches to weight loss on offer. Compare and contrast a more traditional approach to weight loss, such as a healthy diet and exercise, with a surgical procedure used for the purposes of losing weight. Which is more effective in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight? INTRODUCTION Thesis statement: This essay will focus on comparing and contrastingRead MoreA Lone Wolf Vs The Pack1672 Words à |à 7 Pageswho work alone. In Wendell Berryââ¬â¢s essay, ââ¬Å"God, Science and Imagination,â⬠he discusses the differences between two dominant arguing groups, the fundamentalists of science and the fundamentalists of religion. Berry describes the intentions of each of these minds as one that, ââ¬Å"needs to humiliate its opponents,â⬠in order to establish credibility for their individual theories and ideas. The tension between the two groups can be similarly seen in Susan Blackmoreââ¬â¢s essay, ââ¬Å"Strange Creatures, ââ¬Å"in which sheRead MoreEssay on Science in Society1194 Words à |à 5 Pagesdoesnt mean it should be. Nuclear weapons, biological weapons, and cloning have all fallen under fire due to this concept. People worry that negative side effects from scientific discovery could lead to the destruction of modern civilization. In the ess ay The Island of Doctor Moreau, Freeman Dyson uses evidence to reply to the skepticism surrounding sciences role in todays society and the future. To answer the fear, Dyson uses his scientific insight with a series of explanations of books and true storiesRead MoreAdaptation Theory Of The Movie The Fault Of Our Stars 1436 Words à |à 6 Pagestwo are different, which is equally as important as why they are similar. Also, in looking at the reading of the source material (instead of looking at the film through the lens of fidelity), we are given an answer about whether the adaptation is a success or a failure. The reading of source material is an important thing to look at because of the fact that the way a filmmaker reads a novel that they are turning into a film will drastically affect the final product. Therefore, when an audience seesRead MoreThe Four Basic Types Of Parenting Styles1337 Words à |à 6 Pagesparents, meaning they should aim to posses essential qualities in order to ensure successful communication with their child. Authoritative parents are described as flexible with their children, supportive, and democratic. However, they should also be assertive, set boundaries, and have high standards for their children as well. Even though being an authoritative parent best possible way to raise a child, according to Arnettââ¬â¢s articles, many parents are still permissive and neglectful, meaning they tend
Thursday, May 7, 2020
The Elderly and Chronic Diseases - 5483 Words
The Elderly and Chronic Diseases Introduction Chronic disease and conditions are usually defined as those diseases which last for more than six months and which have a severe effect on the life of the individuals (Chronic Conditions and Injury, para.1). While chronic diseases can affect people of all ages and demographics, these types of diseases are very often found in the elderly. Chronic disease are also characterized by â⬠¦multiple risk factors, long latency periods, a prolonged course of illness and functional impairment or disability (Key indicators of progress for chronic disease and associated determinants, 2011, p. 1). Chronic disease is also found to be more prevalent in the ageing demographic of most countries. Australia is one of the developed countries that have a growing ageing population, and this has a decided impact on the Australian Health System and Services, which is in fact expected to increase in the future. ...the increase in certain risk factors and the prolonging of life due to improvements in medic al interventions, the prevalence of chronic disease is expected to increase in the future (Key indicators of progress for chronic disease and associated determinants, 2011, p. 1). An alarming statistic that should be taken into account is that, ...it is estimated that chronic diseases currently account for 70% of the total burden of ill health in Australia, as measured by disability-adjusted life-years, and this is expected to increase to 80%Show MoreRelatedElderly Populations Case Study968 Words à |à 4 PagesOne in six Canadians have a chronic disease, with these chronic diseases being especially prevalent in the elderly population, individuals 55 years of age or older. Elderly populations have four times the rate of chronic disease compared to the overall population (Government of Canada, 2017). In fact, population aging was stated as one of the three most prominent elemental determinants of chronic disease development, along with globalization and urbanization, by the World He alth Organization (WHO)Read MoreAlzheimer s Disease And Vascular Dementia1510 Words à |à 7 Pagesis a disease that is seen to be affecting many of our elderly population nowadays. Dementia patients show progressive symptoms, which become severe with age. Some of the symptoms include memory loss, difficulty performing intellectual activities and overall lose of cognition. There are many causes of dementia so therefore the prevalence rate of it is increasing yearly. Dementia can be caused due to genetic vulnerability such as Alzheimerââ¬â¢s disease (AD), lifestyle choices and from other chronic disordersRead MoreDisease Trends and the Delivery of Health Care Services Essay1457 Words à |à 6 PagesDisease Trends and the Delivery of Health Care Services Final Project Axia college 1/15/2012 Many health care professional have great concerns about the growth of the aging population, chronic disease and the epidemic of obesity, and how will the United States healthcare system prepared for this continuing epidemic. The fact that the aging population along with obesity epidemic is a global healthcare concern, many health caresââ¬â¢ professional is baffled about how to address the growing epidemicRead MoreHow to Live to Be 1001662 Words à |à 7 Pagesminority elderly persons will grow much more rapidly than the number of White elderly people over the next 50 years. The percentage of older adults in the United States that is made up of Blacks and other non-White minorities will increase from 10.2 in 1990 to 15.3 in 2020 and 21.3% in 2050. (Fried p.4) In 2005, 9.4 percent of African Americans, 9.3 percent of Asian Americans, and 6.5 percent of Hispanics were older than 65. The leading causes of death among the elderly are chronic diseases, notablyRead MoreAgeing Between China And China1319 Words à |à 6 Pagesburden of chronic disease. It is reported that in 2013, there are 202 million older people in China (Wu Dang, 2013), more than half of them had at least one chronic noncommunicable disease (Wang Chen, 2014), and more than 37 million have disabilities (Wang et al. 2014). By 2030, there will be a 40 percent increase in the burden of chronic noncommunicable disease (Wang, Marquez Langenbrunner, 2011). Health care for elderly people is under pressure and the increasing population of elderly has generatedRead MoreHow Hong Kong is Dealing with the Aging1094 Words à |à 5 Pagesthe following content, it is mainly focus on the part of ââ¬Å"Community support and health serviceâ⬠. It is because the health of the citizens is an important aspect to the government in a city and health problem can directly affect the attitude of the elderly negati vely (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011). Moreover, the health services in Hong Kong are good but there are still something can be improved (HKCSS, 2012). Therefore, the part of ââ¬Å"Community support and health serviceâ⬠is always one of theRead MoreThe Effect Of Cardiovascular Disease On The Underlying Liver Disease1728 Words à |à 7 Pagesprogressively predominant, and more elderly population with already diagnosed liver disease will be seen by geriatricians. It very useful to understand predictive factors for survival in cirrhotic patients in order to help with therapeutic decision-making, including allocation for liver transplantation (Fox et al., 2011). There are associations between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and liver cirrhosis. The effect of cardiovascular diseases on the underlying liver disease is well-recognized. The managementRead MoreOutcomes Management of Nursing Essay1567 Words à |à 7 Pagescorrelation with the patient being elderly and having a diagnosis of heart failure and assess what can be done to positively change these statistics, which increase the quality of care we as healthcare professionals provide to our patients. A Rationale for Selecting the Issue or Problem of Interest Hospital readmissions can occur throughout the patientââ¬â¢s transition through the healthcare system. Many times readmissions occur among those who are frail and have chronic conditions. Readmissions accountRead MoreHealthcare Providers And Policy Makers1562 Words à |à 7 Pagespeople in the world is âⰠ¥60 years of age, and this number is expected to increase to 1 in 5 by 2050, with a bigger percentage living in developing nations (Shetty, 2012). This demographic transition is associated with a variety of implications on disease burden, disability and dependency, healthcare systems, and socioeconomic policies, especially for countries that are already strained in these resources. This systematic review yields four main conclusions in regards to addressing some of the issuesRead MoreMalnutrition Among The Elderly : Malnutrition1681 Words à |à 7 PagesMalnutrition in the Elderly The general objective of this research paper is to increase awareness about a mostly hidden epidemic among the elderly. Studies show one in every two older people are at risk for malnutrition. (Drewnowski Evans, 2001) Findings also show that hunger among the elderly is an enormous, far-reaching problem found in places across the globe, but the United States seems to be an unlikely place to find starvation where food is plentiful. Consequently, because of ineffective
The Elderly and Chronic Diseases - 5483 Words
The Elderly and Chronic Diseases Introduction Chronic disease and conditions are usually defined as those diseases which last for more than six months and which have a severe effect on the life of the individuals (Chronic Conditions and Injury, para.1). While chronic diseases can affect people of all ages and demographics, these types of diseases are very often found in the elderly. Chronic disease are also characterized by â⬠¦multiple risk factors, long latency periods, a prolonged course of illness and functional impairment or disability (Key indicators of progress for chronic disease and associated determinants, 2011, p. 1). Chronic disease is also found to be more prevalent in the ageing demographic of most countries. Australia is one of the developed countries that have a growing ageing population, and this has a decided impact on the Australian Health System and Services, which is in fact expected to increase in the future. ...the increase in certain risk factors and the prolonging of life due to improvements in medic al interventions, the prevalence of chronic disease is expected to increase in the future (Key indicators of progress for chronic disease and associated determinants, 2011, p. 1). An alarming statistic that should be taken into account is that, ...it is estimated that chronic diseases currently account for 70% of the total burden of ill health in Australia, as measured by disability-adjusted life-years, and this is expected to increase to 80%Show MoreRelatedElderly Populations Case Study968 Words à |à 4 PagesOne in six Canadians have a chronic disease, with these chronic diseases being especially prevalent in the elderly population, individuals 55 years of age or older. Elderly populations have four times the rate of chronic disease compared to the overall population (Government of Canada, 2017). In fact, population aging was stated as one of the three most prominent elemental determinants of chronic disease development, along with globalization and urbanization, by the World He alth Organization (WHO)Read MoreAlzheimer s Disease And Vascular Dementia1510 Words à |à 7 Pagesis a disease that is seen to be affecting many of our elderly population nowadays. Dementia patients show progressive symptoms, which become severe with age. Some of the symptoms include memory loss, difficulty performing intellectual activities and overall lose of cognition. There are many causes of dementia so therefore the prevalence rate of it is increasing yearly. Dementia can be caused due to genetic vulnerability such as Alzheimerââ¬â¢s disease (AD), lifestyle choices and from other chronic disordersRead MoreDisease Trends and the Delivery of Health Care Services Essay1457 Words à |à 6 PagesDisease Trends and the Delivery of Health Care Services Final Project Axia college 1/15/2012 Many health care professional have great concerns about the growth of the aging population, chronic disease and the epidemic of obesity, and how will the United States healthcare system prepared for this continuing epidemic. The fact that the aging population along with obesity epidemic is a global healthcare concern, many health caresââ¬â¢ professional is baffled about how to address the growing epidemicRead MoreHow to Live to Be 1001662 Words à |à 7 Pagesminority elderly persons will grow much more rapidly than the number of White elderly people over the next 50 years. The percentage of older adults in the United States that is made up of Blacks and other non-White minorities will increase from 10.2 in 1990 to 15.3 in 2020 and 21.3% in 2050. (Fried p.4) In 2005, 9.4 percent of African Americans, 9.3 percent of Asian Americans, and 6.5 percent of Hispanics were older than 65. The leading causes of death among the elderly are chronic diseases, notablyRead MoreAgeing Between China And China1319 Words à |à 6 Pagesburden of chronic disease. It is reported that in 2013, there are 202 million older people in China (Wu Dang, 2013), more than half of them had at least one chronic noncommunicable disease (Wang Chen, 2014), and more than 37 million have disabilities (Wang et al. 2014). By 2030, there will be a 40 percent increase in the burden of chronic noncommunicable disease (Wang, Marquez Langenbrunner, 2011). Health care for elderly people is under pressure and the increasing population of elderly has generatedRead MoreHow Hong Kong is Dealing with the Aging1094 Words à |à 5 Pagesthe following content, it is mainly focus on the part of ââ¬Å"Community support and health serviceâ⬠. It is because the health of the citizens is an important aspect to the government in a city and health problem can directly affect the attitude of the elderly negati vely (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011). Moreover, the health services in Hong Kong are good but there are still something can be improved (HKCSS, 2012). Therefore, the part of ââ¬Å"Community support and health serviceâ⬠is always one of theRead MoreThe Effect Of Cardiovascular Disease On The Underlying Liver Disease1728 Words à |à 7 Pagesprogressively predominant, and more elderly population with already diagnosed liver disease will be seen by geriatricians. It very useful to understand predictive factors for survival in cirrhotic patients in order to help with therapeutic decision-making, including allocation for liver transplantation (Fox et al., 2011). There are associations between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and liver cirrhosis. The effect of cardiovascular diseases on the underlying liver disease is well-recognized. The managementRead MoreOutcomes Management of Nursing Essay1567 Words à |à 7 Pagescorrelation with the patient being elderly and having a diagnosis of heart failure and assess what can be done to positively change these statistics, which increase the quality of care we as healthcare professionals provide to our patients. A Rationale for Selecting the Issue or Problem of Interest Hospital readmissions can occur throughout the patientââ¬â¢s transition through the healthcare system. Many times readmissions occur among those who are frail and have chronic conditions. Readmissions accountRead MoreHealthcare Providers And Policy Makers1562 Words à |à 7 Pagespeople in the world is âⰠ¥60 years of age, and this number is expected to increase to 1 in 5 by 2050, with a bigger percentage living in developing nations (Shetty, 2012). This demographic transition is associated with a variety of implications on disease burden, disability and dependency, healthcare systems, and socioeconomic policies, especially for countries that are already strained in these resources. This systematic review yields four main conclusions in regards to addressing some of the issuesRead MoreMalnutrition Among The Elderly : Malnutrition1681 Words à |à 7 PagesMalnutrition in the Elderly The general objective of this research paper is to increase awareness about a mostly hidden epidemic among the elderly. Studies show one in every two older people are at risk for malnutrition. (Drewnowski Evans, 2001) Findings also show that hunger among the elderly is an enormous, far-reaching problem found in places across the globe, but the United States seems to be an unlikely place to find starvation where food is plentiful. Consequently, because of ineffective
The Elderly and Chronic Diseases - 5483 Words
The Elderly and Chronic Diseases Introduction Chronic disease and conditions are usually defined as those diseases which last for more than six months and which have a severe effect on the life of the individuals (Chronic Conditions and Injury, para.1). While chronic diseases can affect people of all ages and demographics, these types of diseases are very often found in the elderly. Chronic disease are also characterized by â⬠¦multiple risk factors, long latency periods, a prolonged course of illness and functional impairment or disability (Key indicators of progress for chronic disease and associated determinants, 2011, p. 1). Chronic disease is also found to be more prevalent in the ageing demographic of most countries. Australia is one of the developed countries that have a growing ageing population, and this has a decided impact on the Australian Health System and Services, which is in fact expected to increase in the future. ...the increase in certain risk factors and the prolonging of life due to improvements in medic al interventions, the prevalence of chronic disease is expected to increase in the future (Key indicators of progress for chronic disease and associated determinants, 2011, p. 1). An alarming statistic that should be taken into account is that, ...it is estimated that chronic diseases currently account for 70% of the total burden of ill health in Australia, as measured by disability-adjusted life-years, and this is expected to increase to 80%Show MoreRelatedElderly Populations Case Study968 Words à |à 4 PagesOne in six Canadians have a chronic disease, with these chronic diseases being especially prevalent in the elderly population, individuals 55 years of age or older. Elderly populations have four times the rate of chronic disease compared to the overall population (Government of Canada, 2017). In fact, population aging was stated as one of the three most prominent elemental determinants of chronic disease development, along with globalization and urbanization, by the World He alth Organization (WHO)Read MoreAlzheimer s Disease And Vascular Dementia1510 Words à |à 7 Pagesis a disease that is seen to be affecting many of our elderly population nowadays. Dementia patients show progressive symptoms, which become severe with age. Some of the symptoms include memory loss, difficulty performing intellectual activities and overall lose of cognition. There are many causes of dementia so therefore the prevalence rate of it is increasing yearly. Dementia can be caused due to genetic vulnerability such as Alzheimerââ¬â¢s disease (AD), lifestyle choices and from other chronic disordersRead MoreDisease Trends and the Delivery of Health Care Services Essay1457 Words à |à 6 PagesDisease Trends and the Delivery of Health Care Services Final Project Axia college 1/15/2012 Many health care professional have great concerns about the growth of the aging population, chronic disease and the epidemic of obesity, and how will the United States healthcare system prepared for this continuing epidemic. The fact that the aging population along with obesity epidemic is a global healthcare concern, many health caresââ¬â¢ professional is baffled about how to address the growing epidemicRead MoreHow to Live to Be 1001662 Words à |à 7 Pagesminority elderly persons will grow much more rapidly than the number of White elderly people over the next 50 years. The percentage of older adults in the United States that is made up of Blacks and other non-White minorities will increase from 10.2 in 1990 to 15.3 in 2020 and 21.3% in 2050. (Fried p.4) In 2005, 9.4 percent of African Americans, 9.3 percent of Asian Americans, and 6.5 percent of Hispanics were older than 65. The leading causes of death among the elderly are chronic diseases, notablyRead MoreAgeing Between China And China1319 Words à |à 6 Pagesburden of chronic disease. It is reported that in 2013, there are 202 million older people in China (Wu Dang, 2013), more than half of them had at least one chronic noncommunicable disease (Wang Chen, 2014), and more than 37 million have disabilities (Wang et al. 2014). By 2030, there will be a 40 percent increase in the burden of chronic noncommunicable disease (Wang, Marquez Langenbrunner, 2011). Health care for elderly people is under pressure and the increasing population of elderly has generatedRead MoreHow Hong Kong is Dealing with the Aging1094 Words à |à 5 Pagesthe following content, it is mainly focus on the part of ââ¬Å"Community support and health serviceâ⬠. It is because the health of the citizens is an important aspect to the government in a city and health problem can directly affect the attitude of the elderly negati vely (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011). Moreover, the health services in Hong Kong are good but there are still something can be improved (HKCSS, 2012). Therefore, the part of ââ¬Å"Community support and health serviceâ⬠is always one of theRead MoreThe Effect Of Cardiovascular Disease On The Underlying Liver Disease1728 Words à |à 7 Pagesprogressively predominant, and more elderly population with already diagnosed liver disease will be seen by geriatricians. It very useful to understand predictive factors for survival in cirrhotic patients in order to help with therapeutic decision-making, including allocation for liver transplantation (Fox et al., 2011). There are associations between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and liver cirrhosis. The effect of cardiovascular diseases on the underlying liver disease is well-recognized. The managementRead MoreOutcomes Management of Nursing Essay1567 Words à |à 7 Pagescorrelation with the patient being elderly and having a diagnosis of heart failure and assess what can be done to positively change these statistics, which increase the quality of care we as healthcare professionals provide to our patients. A Rationale for Selecting the Issue or Problem of Interest Hospital readmissions can occur throughout the patientââ¬â¢s transition through the healthcare system. Many times readmissions occur among those who are frail and have chronic conditions. Readmissions accountRead MoreHealthcare Providers And Policy Makers1562 Words à |à 7 Pagespeople in the world is âⰠ¥60 years of age, and this number is expected to increase to 1 in 5 by 2050, with a bigger percentage living in developing nations (Shetty, 2012). This demographic transition is associated with a variety of implications on disease burden, disability and dependency, healthcare systems, and socioeconomic policies, especially for countries that are already strained in these resources. This systematic review yields four main conclusions in regards to addressing some of the issuesRead MoreMalnutrition Among The Elderly : Malnutrition1681 Words à |à 7 PagesMalnutrition in the Elderly The general objective of this research paper is to increase awareness about a mostly hidden epidemic among the elderly. Studies show one in every two older people are at risk for malnutrition. (Drewnowski Evans, 2001) Findings also show that hunger among the elderly is an enormous, far-reaching problem found in places across the globe, but the United States seems to be an unlikely place to find starvation where food is plentiful. Consequently, because of ineffective
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Night World Witchlight Chapter 15 Free Essays
But she could hear Alexââ¬â¢s sobbing even when she got in the car, and it seemed to follow in her head even when they had left the house behind. They checked with the ââ¬Å"road crewâ⬠stationed right outside the Ashton-Hughes front gate. It looked extremely professional, with bright lights and all the accoutrements. We will write a custom essay sample on Night World : Witchlight Chapter 15 or any similar topic only for you Order Now ââ¬Å"All secure,â⬠the witch in charge said cheerfully when Keller rolled down the window. He shifted his reflective vest. ââ¬Å"Thirty cars in, nobody out. There hasnââ¬â¢t been one for a while-I think youââ¬â¢re fashionably late.â⬠He winked. ââ¬Å"Thirty?â⬠Keller said. ââ¬Å"How many people per car?â⬠ââ¬Å"Two in most of them, but some were packed.â⬠Keller glanced at Iliana beside her. ââ¬Å"And thatââ¬â¢s what they call only inviting a few people?â⬠Iliana shrugged. ââ¬Å"You havenââ¬â¢t seen the house.â⬠ââ¬Å"Anyway, itââ¬â¢s safe,â⬠the witch foreman said. ââ¬Å"No dragon has gotten in, I can promise you that. And none is going to get in, either.â⬠Keller nodded at him, and they drove on. Diana was right. In considering how big the party was, you had to see the size of the house. Keller had studied the plans, but it wasnââ¬â¢t the same. They passed something like a peach orchard on one side of the driveway, and then a carriage house that seemed to have swallowed up a dozen cars. But Nissa dropped them off by the front steps, below the stately white columns that decorated the magnificent porch. Impressive place, Keller thought. They walked in. In the cavernous, softly lit entry hall, there was a girl in a dark uniform who took their coats. There was also Brett. When he saw Diana, he pounced. ââ¬Å"Blondie! I thought you werenââ¬â¢t going to make it!â⬠ââ¬Å"You knew I wouldnââ¬â¢t miss this,â⬠Diana said gently. But Keller thought she looked much less interested in Brett than the last time sheââ¬â¢d spoken to him. Sheââ¬â¢s learned a lot, Keller thought. And, of course, now that she knows Galen, she sees this loser for what he is. Brett was looking the others over in his meat-appraising way. ââ¬Å"So just which of these lovely ladies is your cousin? I never got a chance to ask.â⬠ââ¬Å"Ohâ⬠¦ that one.â⬠Diana pointed a random finger. ââ¬Å"You?â⬠Brettââ¬â¢s eyes ran up and down Kellerââ¬â¢s tallness and her blue-black hair. ââ¬Å"I never would have guessed.â⬠ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re sort ofâ⬠¦ foster cousins,â⬠Keller said. She didnââ¬â¢t like Brett. That was nothing new, but somehow tonight she realty didnââ¬â¢t like him. There was something almost creepy in the way his eyes clung to girls, and when he looked at Diana, it was like watching a slug crawl over a peach blossom. ââ¬Å"Well, come with me and join the fun,â⬠he said, gesturing expansively and flashing a smile. Keller almost asked ââ¬Å"Where?â⬠but in a moment she realized that it was pointless. The party really seemed to be all over the house. The entry room itself was big enough to have a party in, and it had a wide, sweeping staircase just like a proper Southern mansion. Above, on the second floor, Keller could see a hallway lined with portraits and statues. Brett led them through room after room, each one impressive. Some seemed to be real sitting rooms; others just looked like displays in a museum. Finally, they went through one last open archway into a ballroom. Paneled walls. Painted ceiling. Chandeliers. An ocean of floor. And the college band at one end playing music that was definitely modern. A few couples were dancing a slow dance, very near the band. They looked small enough to rattle in the enormous room. Keller almost giggled, but Diana looked dreamy. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s beautiful.â⬠Brett looked satisfied. ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s food over there on the sideboard. But most of the foodââ¬â¢s downstairs in the game room. You want to see that?â⬠ââ¬Å"I want to see Jaime,â⬠Iliana said. ââ¬Å"Sheââ¬â¢s down there.â⬠The game room was amazing, too. Not just pool tables and darts but arcade-style video games, old-fashioned pinball machines, an indoor basketball hoop, and generally just about everything youââ¬â¢d find at a superior arcade. As soon as they walked in, a guy in black pants, white shirt, and black vest offered them a tray of tiny quiches and mini-pizzas. A caterer, Keller decided, not part of the regular staff of the house. She shook her head at the food and went on looking around, keeping her senses open so she could take in everything at once. This was the first time Iliana had been out in public since sheââ¬â¢d gone to school last Monday, and it was nerve-wracking. The game room was much more crowded than the ballroom, and everybody was laughing and talking at once. On top of that, this old mansion had some very modern renovations. The band music was being piped into the other rooms. ââ¬Å"Jaime!â⬠Iliana said as a figure emerged from the crush of people. Jaime looked good. Her face had a healthy color, and her dark blue eyes were wide open and shining. Her brown hair was fluffed softly, and she was wearing a very pretty blue dress. Iliana.â⬠She hugged Iliana hard, speaking in her flat but oddly pleasant voice. ââ¬Å"It seems like forever. How are you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Fine. My coldââ¬â¢s better, and my hand-â⬠Iliana held up her right hand. There was a neat bandage around the palm to protect the stitches. ââ¬ËIt itches sometimes, but thatââ¬â¢s all. How about you?â⬠ââ¬Å"I still have headaches. But Iââ¬â¢m getting better.â⬠Jaime smiled at Keller and the others. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m so glad you all could come.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, so are we,â⬠Keller said politely, feeling a stab of instinctive guilt. It was irrational, but she kept expecting this girl to look at her and say, ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re the one who attacked me! The monster cat!â⬠And she wasnââ¬â¢t glad that they had come. Her early warning system was clamoring already; she felt as if her fur was standing on end. She couldnââ¬â¢t explain it, but there was something wrong about the house. ââ¬Å"Keep alert,â⬠she said quietly to the others as Jaime led Iliana to the food tables. ââ¬Å"Remember, two of us are with her at all times. The other two can wander the house, check the perimeter, look for anything suspicious. And keep in touch.â⬠She put a finger to her brooch. That was when they found that their transmitters didnââ¬â¢t work. Keller had no idea why. All any of them could hear was static like white noise. Keller cursed. ââ¬Å"Well keep in touch physically, then,â⬠she said grimly. She checked her watch. It was almost nine. ââ¬Å"And well get her out of here in an hour. Ten oââ¬â¢clock. Just to be safe.â⬠ââ¬Å"Good idea,â⬠Galen said. Winnie and Nissa said, ââ¬Å"Right, Boss.â⬠Keller stuck close to Iliana, telling herself that they were taking every precaution and that all she had to do was stay cool and they could get out safely. But as time went on, she only got more and more uneasy. The dragon was going to attack. She was certain of it. But how? What form would the attack take? Was it going to be a battering ram of dark power like the one that had brought down the roof of the safe house? Or something tiny and sneaky, some clever way to get past the wards? A mouse? Or an insect? No ordinary shapeshifter could turn into a bug, but it was a kind of animal, after all. Could something like that slip through the wards undetected? What was it she was missing? Nothing to do but keep her senses, open, search every face for enemies, and be prepared for anything. As it turned out, though, she was entirely unprepared when it happened. Nissa and Galen were the two wandering the house at that point. Keller and Winnie were sticking with Iliana. Keller herself didnââ¬â¢t plan to leave Dianaââ¬â¢s side all night. But as she was watching Jaime and Iliana laughing and chattering by one of the food tables- which offered everything from barbecue to shrimp to exotic fruit-Brett walked up chewing his lip. He was heading for Iliana, but he looked undecided and genuinely unhappy. Keller headed him off reflexively. She preferred to keep him away from Iliana just on principle. ââ¬Å"Anything wrong?â⬠He glanced at her with something like relief in his dark blue eyes. For once, he didnââ¬â¢t look arrogant or patronizing or even well groomed. ââ¬Å"Uh, thereââ¬â¢s somethingâ⬠¦ I need to tell Iliana aboutâ⬠¦ I guess.â⬠He gulped, his face twisted. ââ¬Å"You guess?â⬠Keller herded him into a relatively private niche beside a video game. ââ¬Å"What do you mean, you guess?â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, I do have to tell her. I just hate to.â⬠He lowered his voice so that Keller had to lean closer to hear him. ââ¬Å"Her momââ¬â¢s on the phone. And she says that her little brother is missing.â⬠Ice water sluiced over Keller. For five seconds, she didnââ¬â¢t breathe at all. Then she said, ââ¬Å"What?â⬠Brett grimaced. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s missing from his bedroom. And, I mean, I hate to scare Iliana with it, because heââ¬â¢s probably just crawled out the window or something-heââ¬â¢s that age, you know? But her mom wants to talk to her. Sheââ¬â¢s sort of hysterical.â⬠He wet his lips. ââ¬Å"I guess we should all go over there as a search party.â⬠Heââ¬â¢s really worried, Keller thought dazedly, while another part of her mind, a clear, cold part, clicked through possible solutions. So thereââ¬â¢s something under that brand-name facade after all. In spite of the ââ¬Å"he probably crawled out of the windowâ⬠crap, heââ¬â¢s worried about the kid-and heââ¬â¢s worried about telling Iliana, too. Because Dianaââ¬â¢s going to go ballistic, the cold part of her mind put in. Sheââ¬â¢s going to get as hysterical as her mom and insist on rushing back there. And a search party-that would mean all of us outside the wards, crawling around between houses in the darkâ⬠¦ No. It couldnââ¬â¢t happen. It was undoubtedly just what the dragon wanted. But how had he gotten to the baby? With all those wards and the agents watching the house-how? It didnââ¬â¢t matter. Right now, she had to deal with the situation. ââ¬Å"Brett-donââ¬â¢t tell Iliana.â⬠ââ¬Å"Huh? But I have to.â⬠ââ¬Å"No, you donââ¬â¢t. Ill talk to Mrs.-to Aunt Anna. Iââ¬â¢m her niece, remember? And I have an idea where the baby might have gone. I think heââ¬â¢s safe, but she has to know where to look.â⬠Brett gawked at her. ââ¬Å"You have an idea?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah. Just let me talk to her. And donââ¬â¢t say anything to Iliana just yet.â⬠Keller glanced toward the game room bar, which was set up like an English pub. There was a phone, but a girl with red hair was talking animatedly into it, while eating nuts from a bowl. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s the other line, Jaimeââ¬â¢s line,â⬠Brett said. ââ¬Å"She said she called on that one first, but it was busy.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay, whereââ¬â¢s the other line?â⬠ââ¬Å"Jaimeââ¬â¢s room.â⬠Keller hesitated, looking at Iliana. Winnie was on one side of her and Jaime on the other. They were the center of attention, something like the heart of a rose, with other people surrounding them like petals. At least she was in full view of everyone. And somebody trying to get to her would have to go through all of them first, and that would alert Winnie. But I wish Nissa and Galen were here to take over from me. She glanced at her watch. Fifteen minutes before they were supposed to come back to the game room. The baby couldnââ¬â¢t wait that long. She forged through the crowd and touched Winnieââ¬â¢s shoulder. ââ¬Å"I have to run for a minute-a phone call. Nothing to worry about yet. Iââ¬â¢ll make it fast,â⬠she murmured in Winnieââ¬â¢s ear. Winnie glanced at her, surprised, but then she nodded. ââ¬Å"Problems?â⬠ââ¬Å"Maybe. Stay alert.â⬠Keller said it through a smile for Ilianaââ¬â¢s benefit. When she got out of the throng, she said to Brett, ââ¬Å"Take me there.â⬠Actually, she knew where Jaimeââ¬â¢s bedroom was from the plans. But she didnââ¬â¢t want Brett hanging around Iliana. His face alone would give away the show. They hurried up the wide staircase. Kellerââ¬â¢s mind was racing, making plans. I can calm her down, at least. And I can call Circle Daybreak and tell them-if they donââ¬â¢t already know. Theyââ¬â¢ll make a much better search party than humans. Iliana doesnââ¬â¢t need to know about it at all until after the ceremony. And thenâ⬠¦ Her mind stalled, and the sick feeling in her stomach grew. No. It wouldnââ¬â¢t be enough. She knew what she really had to do. I have to go back there. Just me. I owe Diana that much. I owe the whole family that much. Iââ¬â¢ll be the best one to search. I can drive over to the house feist and see whatââ¬â¢s going on. Borrow a car from Brett. That way, when the dragon attacks-and heââ¬â¢s going to attack-Iââ¬â¢ll be the only one there. Youââ¬â¢ll be the only one dead, a snide little voice in her mind pointed out. But Keller gave it the cold shoulder. She knew that already. It wasnââ¬â¢t important. Youââ¬â¢re going to risk your life-give up your life- for a baby? One whoââ¬â¢s not a Wild Power, not even a shapeshifter? At least Iââ¬â¢ll get another chance at the dragon, she told the voice. Youââ¬â¢re going to risk the mission, the alliance, the whole daylight world, for a single individual? the voice went on. This was a better point. But Keller had only one thing to say to it. I have to. ââ¬Å"Here.â⬠Brett gestured at the open door of a pretty bedroom, then followed Keller when she went in. ââ¬Å"Um, can I help you?â⬠He was getting over his worry and trying to cozy up to her again. ââ¬Å"No.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh. Well, Iââ¬â¢ll leave you alone, then.â⬠He slid out the door, closing it behind him. And Keller let him. Later, that was what she couldnââ¬â¢t quite believe. That she had been stupid enough to walk into the trap and stand there while it snapped shut. She picked up the phone. ââ¬Å"Mrs. Dominick?â⬠Silence. . At first, just for a moment or two, she thought Hianaââ¬â¢s mother might have stepped away from the phone. But then the nature of the silence got to her. There were no sounds in the background at all. It was dead air. Keller hit the plunger to hang up the phone. Nothing happened. No dial tone. She glanced at the phone cord; it was plugged into the wall. She pushed the plunger rapidly, four times, five. Then she knew. Sheââ¬â¢d been suckered. In one motion, she whirled and sprang to the door. Only to twist the handle uselessly. It was locked. And it was a good, sturdy door, made out of solid wood, the kind they used to make. She found this out by throwing herself against it hard enough to bruise her shoulder. It had been locked with a key from the outside, and the bolt was a good, sturdy one, too. White icy-hot rage swept over Keller. She was more angry than she could ever remember being in her life. She couldnââ¬â¢t believe it-sheââ¬â¢d been fooled by an idiot human boy. The Night People must have gotten to him somehow, must have bought himâ⬠¦ No. Keller knew she wasnââ¬â¢t a genius. But sometimes ideas came to her in a flash, allowing her to see a complete picture all at once where other people saw only fragments. And right now, like a bolt of lightning, realization dawned on her, and she understood. Oh, Goddess, how could we have been so stupid? She knew how the dragon had done it. How to cite Night World : Witchlight Chapter 15, Essay examples
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)