Parallel Structure

I have lived a breathtaking life, unlike any other; filled with triumph and success. I have climbed many mountains, run daring races, and saved countless cats from towering trees. I am not afraid to jeopardise my life to save others in need. For instance, if there was an old lady who's cat was stuck in a tree I would, bravely, find a ladder and save it for her. Needless to say, I do not need to continue raving about what a wonderful person I am, but I will go on so that others can enjoy the many wonders that make up my life. I save whales and spend long afternoons throwing dried starfish back into the ocean. I recycle plastics to such an extent that I am likely singlehandedly conquering the problem of ozone layer depletion. I pick up hitch hikers and drive them anywhere they want to go, even it means driving for days. I have fought off grizzly bears, to save a nest full of honey bees, armed with only a paper bag (made entirely of recycled materials). I earn money by babysitting needy children and donate my cash to Green Peace. The homeless sleep on my floor and I have an animal shelter downstairs. This is a very abbreviated list of my humane accomplishments, but it should give you an idea of what a gift I am to this world. I often wonder how it survived before me.

Al Capone

The old man starred. His eyes looked passed me as if I didn't even exist. He frowned, squinted his eyes, and closed his scruffy mouth around his cigarette and mumbled words, as if to try reassure himself of something. Half his face was covered in a black shadow cast by his dusty leather hat that dipped down, deep, against his sweat-dripping forehead. The man's face was round and he had many wrinkles; either from squinting or old age. The angry face of the man made you feel guilty as if a crime was committed when he looked at you. The dark eyes were shallow but filled with experience and pain. He wore an old fashioned suit that was too tight and his scruffy chin folded over his collar and tie. His body was plump, as if he hadn't worked in years, and his hands were unwashed and brown from dirt. His black shoes were muddy and his dress pants were to long which caused them to be ripped and dirty at the bottom. His suit jacket was too short in the arms and to small in length. The white shirt, underneath his jacket, was tucked into his pants and his stomach bulged, stretching the white shirt so that it looked like it could rip open. Before I turned to leave I glanced over and shot a small, friendly smile to the man who sat lonely against the old wooden boards of the train station. He didn't care to smile back, his eyes grieved something as if he had not a thing to live for. As I walked away I wondered what could have caused his pain to feel so alone and depressed in this beautiful world. So, alone, the man sat until dusk at the empty train station.

Haunted Cliche

The dark wood steps creak and moan as I carefully step up each one. Through the cracks I see little glowing eyes that quickly scurry as they hear me walking over them. My shaking hand reaches into a cobweb as I try to grip the black steel railing. As I get closer to the big red door there are butterflies in my stomach. I look up into the sky and try to find some peace before I enter the old mansion. The black clouds cover the full moon as if they are keeping a dark secret. The wind whistles as it blows the last couple crispy leaves off the tree that reaches it's hands out pointing the way to the house. I take a deep breath and grip the cold handle of the door and push. It opens, slowly, as if it hasn't been touched in years. I glance into the dark room as second thoughts come into my mind. As I step into the quiet house all sources of light leave me. The door slams shut behind me and my heart pounds like a drum. I look around the room as my eyes adjust to the darkness. I clench my teeth as I remember all the dark rumours about this house. The moon casts the only source of light through the shattered glass windows allowing me to see the master furniture and the dead fireplace. The air is thick and dusty causing me to have shorter breaths. I have a feeling that I am not alone.

Super Power

Growing up as a little girl I was more interested in pink dresses and barbie dolls than I was in imagining I was super man with a power that could conquer whatever trouble comes my way. Although I never dwelled on the thought of being able to fly or fighting off dragons, I loved water and always pretended I was a mermaid swimming free in the open waters of a tropical ocean. Whenever I swam in water I pretended I had a shiny blue fish tail and pink shells. If right now I was granted the wish to have one power, providing an escape from reality, it would be to swim under the waves with no need to breathe air.

Another super power that I would love to have is invisibility. So many things would be possible if this power existed. I could travel wherever, whenever, not having to worry about my safety or the costs of planes and ships. It would be easy to listen in on secret conversations and stalk celebrities!