Blog 13-Revision of "Blog 7-The Lord of the Flies"

I was so thirsty, I couldn't go on. I had to take a rest.... I took one more step toward the mat of creepers and leaves. I stepped onto it and dizzily sat down clumsily on it heaving in and out. I closed my eyes than opened them again. My eyes followed the dancing iridescent, beautiful butterflies. The sun reflected against their symmetrical wings like they were out of a story book like the one my mom used to read to me. Tales about the beauty of nature and princesses and princes. I miss that a lot.
I hope no one will come looking for me... Well, they probably won't.... They all think I'm batty. Ralph said it himself. I just really do think that we should climb the mountain to find the beast and if no one will do it, I'll just do it myself then. Someone has got to end this mess. I can't stand the littuns whining and now with Jack gone, no one thinks we can do anything. I think we can live without him. We'll just have to hunt without Jack. I still don't believe that there really is a beast. I just want to prove that there really isn't. Well, maybe with Jack gone now, more people would believe me that there isn't a beast and that it could be us. But who knows, maybe there is a beast. I just want this feud to end, there is just too many fights and someone is eventually going to get hurt.

Then, my train of thought was abolished by the sound of a squeal of terror, then the tear and rip of what seemed like skin. I heard the chatter of boys, bemused in their accomplishment. Was it the beast? Did they find the beast? I looked where they were but than I heard the voices of Jack and other boys.
"Chief-" said one of the followers.
"Uh-?" Jack replied half of his attention on the questioning boy.
"How can we make a fire?"
I took a step closer to hear but I stepped on a leaf and made the crinkling noise that could eventually give away where I was so I stood there, as still as I could be.
"We'll raid them and take fire. There must be four of you; Henry and you, Bill and Maurice. We'll put on paint and sneak up; Roger can snatch a branch while I say what I want. The rest of you can get this back to where we were. We'll build fire there. And after that-" Jack paused from his speech as i tried to get a better look.
"But we'll leave part for the kill..." Jack ended with an ominous tone ringing in his voice that made my spine shiver. I should worn Ralph... But he would probably just say I'm "batty" and not listen. I wouldn't help anyways, Jack has power that is strangely unmatchable. I wonder what they are talking about a "part for the kill." I heard the talk die down as the loud foot steps wondered off. I took a step closer to where the boys were once and I moved the creepers out of the way to see what they had done. My eyes went wide and my stomach churned. Right before me was the blood drenched head of a boar skewered on a sharpened stick. The mouth was opened as if it were talking. It's black coal eyes glared at me. I stepped closer bewildered by the sight and walked to the opposite side. Where ever I moved, the bodiless head still had it's eyes gazing at me from it's position. Flies all at once started to invade the head of the pig. Flies went everywhere, in it's blood dripping mouth to the tips of his ear. The look in his lifeless eyes said that everything was not good. Everything that they were doing was bad.
"I know that," I said, not knowing that I had said that aloud. I suddenly felt embarrassed by my sudden reply. Was I really going crazy? Were the other boys right? I turned away from the taunting pig. What if the beast did not come for his present?

Run away, go back to the others. It was a joke really... Why should you bother? You were just wrong, that's all. A little headache, something you ate, perhaps. Go back, child, said the still boar. I wasn't sure if the pig was really talking to me or if it was purely me going mad. It could be the lack of water, I thought.
I looked up at the sky and saw the clouds rolling in and the pig, covered in flies posted in the air. Then, I felt a tickle that swiftly rose up my leg. I looked down and saw a black fly with green streaks crawling up my leg. I tried to slap it off but it flew away too fast and then landed on the snout of the Lord of the Flies. He really was the Lord of the Flies. They were all of his loyal subjects, clinging onto him. Then, another fly leaped on me and then another, and another. I swiftly moved my hand to where they had landed but that was no use. After they flew off, they would just move to another part of me. I felt like I was being swarmed, or drowned in flies. I felt like I was the Lord of the Flies as well. My right temple started thumping and didn't stop. I closed my eyes and listened to the thumping of my brain. I then heard the unmistakable voice of the Lord of the Flies speak again, that rung in my ear...

Blog 13-Revision of "Blog 10- The Shards of Civilization"

We breathed hard, and tried to flex our legs but had no room. We were cramped in a small area with nowhere to move. It was dark and clammy and very uncomfortable under the sharp rocks bulging out into our backs. We felt like wild animals, being tied together.

"You okay?"
"I think so-"
"Just a bit -"
"Uncomfortable.."
"It was a stupid idea to come over here and try to retrieve the glasses. Instead of gaining, we lost some. Piggy.... poor Piggy...poor Ralph... -"
"Oh, poor Ralph...Stuck with the littluns. No one there-"
"Not even us..." We began to whimper at the thought of being here, held prisoner in this small space.
"Will this be the end?"
"I don't know. If it is, we'll be dying for what is right," we felt a sudden burst of pride pop into our gut. It made us feel heroic and great but with a tinge of fear coursing throughour mind.
"Just like Grandpa did for England!"
"Right!"
"I just wish that-"
"They didn't steal the glasses," than we got quiet as we thought about it. We really did hate how he had to steal the glasses. First of all, Piggy needed his specs to see and second of all, we don't have a signal fire! It is Ralph's philosophy, to keep the fire going. This is the reason why we even have a fire going. Even though cooking with it is nice as well but we would rather go back to our own home where we can have as much meat as we please. It seems only the logical thing to do. If only it is the way it was before... united under one conch. We can't say that everyone got along but it was better than being separated like this. We really do feel sorry for Ralph. First he loses most of our group and then he loses all of his hope of going home then he loses the ones that help him around. We just hope that Ralph will be okay and returns home. Even if we don't, he deserves to go back.
"I'm scared-"
"I know, me too."
"I don't wanna join Jack's group-"
"Why would we?"
"Good point."
"Jack scares me-"
"Yeah me too..."
"I just wish we were still in Ralph's group though-"
"Jack is frightening-"
"He'll beat us if he wants or even-"
"Stab us with his spear," We both shivered at the thought of that. It was true, Jack was terribly scary. The first time we saw him, we knew that Jack Merridew was no good. The way he lead his choir was intimidating. We pictured that first day in our mind and quivered whenever we thought of it. That was the beginning of a knot that won't untie. We are all forgetting home and where we came from. Now it's easy to believe that there is no way out. At first it was just fun and games but now.....now it is serious. People are dying left and right and it is horrible. We are afraid that next it will be... us... Piggy's death was no accident... that was all Jack and his stupid followers. We still had flashes of Piggy, laying on the ground, dead and Simon screaming and crying as we attacked him. We can't deny that it was us that murdered him just like Jack can't deny that he helped with the murder of Piggy. It was no accident. It was straight out on purpose.
"I bet Jack and Ralph aren't going to see each other in a while..."
"Yeah...unless-"
"We are forced to hunt him-" This thought scared us and made us wonder in fear...
"In the beginning of our life on the island-"
"It seemed fine between them. Jack was the leader of the hunters and Ralph was the leader. It seemed as simple as that. But no, I guess we can't handle it. Jack wanted to be leader because of his stupid power hungry instincts."
"Now Jack is more superior than Ralph and that is something we cannot contradict."

We were getting tired and closed our eyes, trying to picture what it looked like at home. The sweet smell of cookies cooking in the oven and mum's perfume spreading throughout the house.
"I wonder what mum is doing right now...."

Blog 12: The Trial of Jack Merridew- Trial Preperation

Defense Attorney: You are Gertrude Merridew mother of Jack Merridew, 12. Are you not?

Gertrude: Yes, I am Gertrude, Merridew.

Defense Attorney: Your son was tried for murder after returning home from being stranded on an island for three months because of a plane crash. Are you also the mother of, Elizabeth Merridew, 15?

Gertrude: Yes, I am.

Defense Attorney: Are you also forty-five and live in Amsterdam, Britain with your two kids? Your husband died when Jack was around seven?

Gertrude: Yes that is true. I am also the manager of Jack's, choir and I teach the boys songs.

Defense Attorney: What did you feel like when you heard about you're son, Jack, returned home and was tried for murder?

Gertrude: I was absolutely terrified that my own flesh and blood was tried for murder. I mean, how can my son be a murderer? He had just returned home and told me everything that had happened on the island. He mentioned a few of the boys dying but he never said that he killed him. He was greatly saddened by the loss of the boys and I don't think he would be sad if he killed them. That is utterly preposterous! I raised my boy perfectly and he is a perfect young man! I am repulsed that you people would even think my son is a murderer. He gets straight A's and is the head of the choir. Frankly, I think it would be impossible for my perfect son to be a murderer, he wouldn't hurt a fly.

Defense Attorney: I can see that you feel very strongly about this matter. What exactly did he say when he was telling you what had happened on the island?

Gertrude: Well, we sat down to have a spot of tea and he told me about all of the great adventures he had. The first thing he remembers was waking up on dirt with all of the choir boys around him after the plane crash. They explored around for a bit and then they heard a horn like thing blow from the distance so they got in an orderly line and followed one another to the sound. Of course my Jack was leading them. I bet they were the best dressed on that filthy island. You know, I’m the one that made their outfits-

Defense Attorney: Ok, please remain on the subject ma’am.

Gertrude: Well, I’m sorry. Okay, he told me that they came across, Ralph, holding a conch with the fatty that you are accusing my son for murdering. Well anyways, he said they had some kind of bonfire after the other boys on the plane heard the “conch shell,” I think that’s what he said it was. They decided that Ralph was the leader and all. Jack said he agreed with that. He was the leader of the explorers and he said he hunted one or two times. He said he had no choice, the boys wanted their meat. He doesn’t like killing though. I would know my son and he does not agree with war or killing. He has been raised to know his priorities. I guess they had some kind of system in their “tribe” or whatever they called it. Jack and the other choir boys went hunting, exploring and switched off and on about maintaining a signal fire. It seemed like a nice civilized way of doing things, especially for young English school boys. I personally think that they did a better job than you would ever do.

Defense Attorney: Okay, do you remember him saying anything about the deaths on the island?

Gertrude: Well, he did say something about a few of the boys dying but he said that it was just weird accidents. Anyways, they were on the island for quite a while, they would most likely have a few deaths. If it were only adults on the island, there would be more than just a few deaths. I mean, seriously, the island would turn into full bloody war! I bet you it would! Otherwise, he seemed sad about the deaths but I told him to be thankful that he was alive. I’m just happy with him still living on this planet. That is all that my daughter and I care about.

Defense Attorney: When Jack was telling you about the deaths, did he at all seem uncomfortable telling you about these “accidents?”

Gertrude: Of course not! He is brave and a true leader, just like his father was. He was sincere when he told me about it but was not guilty one bit. Why should he? It was not his fault that the boys had died. Give him a break, he does not deserve this, nor does any of the other boys. They have just gotten back from probably the most dramatic thing that they will ever encounter in their whole life! Not just Jack but all of the boys. They are just children and you are treating my boy like he is a mass murderer! I just don’t get it and I know that the result of this case will prove my son, Jack, innocent!

Defense Attorney: Okay, thank you for your time, we will move on to your daughter now.

(Katie)

Defense Attorney - Elizabeth Merridew, I am finished interviewing your mother you may enter the room.

Elizabeth - Okay, I am coming.

Defense Attorney - Come sit down and we'll get started. For my first question, are you for a fact Elizabeth Merridew, who is 15 years old, sister of the defendant Jack Merridew who is 12?

Elizabeth - I am Elizabeth Merridew, but I prefer Beth, and I am 15 years old. I live in Amsterdam, Britain with my Mother, Gertrude (45), and Brother, Jack (12). I am also the head pianist of the Boys of Amsterdam choir, which Jack leads. Being the head pianist of the choir I am given the joy of being able to work everyday with my brother and my Mother out side of the house. I think that being able to work in this environment has made our family a lot closer.

Defense Attorney - Well that leads me to my next question. How did you feel when you found out that your brother was stranded on an island? And how did you feel when you found out that your only brother was being accused of murder.

Elizabeth - When I first found out about my brother being stranded on an Island I was kind of happy. I was really looking forward to my whole life not being surrounded by perfect mama’s boy, Jack Merridew. But then after about one week I really started to miss him I didn’t know how I would be able to survive possibly being an only child.

Defense Attorney – So you were glad that you brother was gone.

Elizabeth – Well, at first I was glad that he was gone. But like I said I really started to miss him and I started to think that I would never see my baby brother again. But once he got home and told us that he was the leader of the boys on the island I was very proud of him. I was proud because I know him as the type of boy who would step up to lead and he did. He is a great leader, even if he can get bossy and fussy at times I know he can control anyone. Yes, even young boys.

Defense Attorney – Even though you were proud that he was leader, how did you feel when you found out that your brother was being accused of murdering 2 boys while they were on the island?

Elizabeth - At first I didn’t know what to say I mean I had no idea that someone would even be able the accuse my brother of such a horrible crime. He would never let anyone get so out of control that someone would get killed. And he would never let his anger take control of him in a way that would make him kill anyone.

Defense Attorney – So you are saying that he has anger problems.

Elizabeth – No I am just saying that he is a great leader who knows how to keep control, even if he does it in a mean way at times. But I don’t think that he would ever let any thing go so far out of control that he could kill any one or let anyone get endangered in such a way that they could die like the prosecution is saying.

Defense Attorney – Thank you, Elizabeth Merridew. I have gotten my questions answered and you may now go meet your mother in the hallway and wait for your next interview, with the prosecution.