My favourite poem

My favourite poem is "Bright Star" by John Keats. Somehow, it's very vivid and touching - that's what I like about it. There are powerful words: 'unchangeable', 'eternal' and 'death', which makes you startled. I don't quite understand all of it, but that only makes the poem more interesting.

The poem is written in an admiring way, I think Keats is writing about his love for a certain woman, who's strong-willed and beautiful. He's talking about waters, shores, mountains and moors, the first words might be a way to describe the woman's lively personality. Perhaps mountains and moors are metaphors for naturalness.

If I was an exhibitor, I would use "Bright Star" as a text attached to a painting - preferably depicting a romance. Perhaps it would give life to the painting.

The Shell II - PART 5

Sandie felt all aglow. It was as if somebody had laid a hot cotton ball in her stomach. She laughed. Jordan threw a rope towards the sink unit.

Three hours later, police commissioner Bradley searched the house and saw the strange mess. A dead boy and a dead girl, an alarming amount of hash on the kitchen floor - and a smell of vomit. He shook his head.

Late in the night, a quick murmur broke the silence. Three seconds later, the house exploded.

The End

The Shell II - PART 4

An hour later, Sandie had eaten six sandwiches. Jordan gave her a pistol.

"To protect yourself against that....charlatan. In other words, your doctor."

"How many weapons have you got?"

"Quite enough. People come to my house and play pranks. That's why I prefer to keep myself armed."

Uncle Jeffrey was beside himself with fury.

"You're spaced-out! If I see you in this state again....."

Sandie didn't know what to say. She entered the spare bedroom and started to ponder. Jordan would understand. He'd hide her in in his house - she was dead certain.

The following morning, she got up 5.00 Uncle Jeffrey and Eric were asleep. Sandie carried her little trunk which contained clothes, the bags and a photo of cousin Thomas. On the way to Jordan's house, she searched her pockets to make sure that the pistol was there. Yes, it was. Sandie breathed freely as she began to see the red house.

Jordan wasn't surprised to see her.

"I sort of thought you'd return. You're free to stay here. Are you hungry?"

She stuffed herself with slices of bacon and told him about the accident. His eyes turned into saucers as she described the dreadful course of events in uncle Jeffrey's basement.

"They emerged from that bubbling sauce, is that what you mean?"

"Yes. They attacked me...."

"Play it cool. I'll give you some hash and then you'll be calm."

"Thank you."

He gave her the powder and she swallowed it.

Jordan flopped down in his leather-upholstered armchair.

"I'm crazy", he talked to himself. "I'll help her, she can't consume all of it."

My christmas vacation

My christmas vacation was quite long (although I thought the opposite) and not that eventful, since my main priority was to relax. Still, there were several highlights. These are a few of them:

CHRISTMAS EVE: Me and my family spent it at my grandmother's house. I had lots of nice presents: a necessaire, candy, a digital camera, books etc.

NEW YEAR'S EVE: I spent it at home with some friends of my parents & my uncle. We played games and ate a delicious fruit salad. I'd made it (with some help from my mother and sister), the recipe came from an African cookery book - actually one of my Christmas presents. Later in the evening, all of us went out to see the fireworks and to grill marshmallows.

JANUARY 7th: Me and some friends went to Umeå. We did some shopping and ate hamburgers. I bought a book, a cell phone case and chewing-gum.

The Shell II - PART 3

"Hello, Sandie."

Doctor Brown sat on a stool close to the bunk.

"What happened?" she whispered.

"You had withdrawal symptoms and was headed for my office to get the little syringe. But the bike skidded and you fell off. Remember?"

Sandie didn't answer.

"You'll get your syringe.... You'll be light as a feather...."

As the clock stroke six, Sandie directed her steps towards home. She suddenly caught sight of a little object on the curb. Distinct lines stood out, it resembled a shell.... She rubbed her eyes and pinched her arm. It was a nightmare. A real nightmare! Sandie noticed a red house near by. Someone ought to be at home, someone had to be at home.

Her clenched fists fiercely hammered on the brown door. It was opened by a dark-haired boy who peered at her.

"Help", Sandie whispered.

The boy run his eyes over her pale face.

"Are you peddling drugs?" he asked. "Your brother is furious, isn't he? Don't worry. Can I have a look at your plastic bag?"

Sandie nodded.

"Wow, you've got quite a lot. Let's have a talk about it in my humble habitation. By the way, my name is Jordan."

"Sandie. Sandie Knives."

The wall of the hall was decorated with old clippings.

"Memories", Jordan explained. "I'm an animal rights activist."

He pointed at the jam on his T-shirt.

"My bad habit. I'm also terribly stingy."

Sandie smiled up her sleeve. The brightly coloured curtains made her happy. Jordan held one of the syringes between his thumb and forefinger.

"You've just started, haven't you?"

"Yes", Sandie admitted.

"I thought as much! You have 7 bags with lots of LSD, hash and heroin."

"I don't use drugs voluntarily."

"Why?"

"They're my medicines. I've been through an accident."

Jordan gaped at her.

"You have a weird doctor, that's for sure."

The Shell II - PART 2

Jordan sighed. The plastic bag laid in his desk drawer, waiting for his attention. They'd found it on the previous evening, he and the other three enthusiasts. The bag had been buried in a clod of earth - totally untouched. Jordan decided to open it. There were lots of dirt, grass and dead insects. The digging in the bag was a tedious doing. Jordan fell asleep.

He woke up an hour later and felt something trickle down his cheek..... Blood! There was something sharp beneath the dirt, he had a slight wound in the forehead. He digged freneticly and found a fan-shaped shell. Its stench made him turn his nose up. The shell seemed to be a little bit charred. A red liquid made his finger wet. The drop quickly coagulated.

Uncle Jeffrey's face was fiery red.

"My niece? Are you saying that my niece has been treated with LSD -- for the period of a year?!"

Sandie overheard the call.

"Mr Knives", dr Brown kindly said. "I don't think you understand this...."

"You're nuts!" Jeffrey screamed.

Dr Brown sighed.

"I have different methods of working. I'll give you the necessary syringes...."

"Not on your life!!"

Sandie hung up. Dr Brown had injected a drug in her blood....

A few days later, she had her first bout against the abstinence. She had to get to the hospital, dr Brown had to give her the drug. She kept her plan to herself, but still looked back after each bend of the road. If Jeffrey chased her in this heat, he really was a fool. The pain in her head got worse. Downhill and uphill again.... The trees became blurred. She suddenly caught a glimpse of a big white building which resembled the hospital.... The bike tipped over.

The Shell II - PART 1

After the lapse of one year, Sandie is finally discharged from the hospital. To her horror, she discovers that she has been treated with LSD. While the addiction is growing stronger, traces of a certain object suddenly appear. The shell from the nightmares....

Sandie stared into space. Today, she'd escape from this miserable existence - she'd forget about the accident.

"Doctor Brown wants to see you."

She turned around and saw the young nurse who was patiently waiting for her.

Doctor Brown was the most unbearable physician in the entire hospital. But he was also the most handsome - and consequently a favourite with the vain and immature nurses. He was responsible for Sandie's medicines and case books.

"You'll be discharged today. How do you feel?"

His disagreeable smile made her shudder inside.

"Good. My uncle will come here, he's visiting an old friend near by and...."

"I know. He asked me to tell you about....."

"What has happened?"

"Your aunt Mandy and your cousin Thomas have been killed in a car accident."

Visual pictures suddenly started to rush about in her brain, like a quick multislide presentation. Mandy and Thomas?

A dark-haired nurse entered the room. She greedily run her eye over doctor Brown.

"Nurse Norah, please hold Sandie's hand while I take out the necessary things."

"Yes, doctor Brown", the cringing voice said. "By the way.... I'm working late tonight...."

"Give her 3 injections", Brown said, ignoring the sensual tone. "Be quick about it."

Sandie clenched her teeth. She saw doctor Brown and nurse Norah leave the room. The darkness surrounded the little bunk.

Sandie shut her eyes. Croaking sounds filled her head. Strange purple fishes swam above her, beneath her, behind her. She heard loud voices. The nightmares from the past had been put to flight. For the time being.