“The Watch” by Elie Weisel

We open the doors to find hundred, if not thousands of starved, malnourished men all looking at us with solemn, dead expressions. They are quiet but attentive. They are watching, not moving, barely breathing, barely living. I lock eyes with one of them if only for a second, but I am to count heads and survey for any lingering Russians. They allegedly fled before we made it to the camp, but it never hurt anyone being extra cautious. It’s stuffy and dark with the smell of what I assume to be burnt bodies flooding my sinuses. I keep catching the eyes of the men and I can’t help but stare at their lifeless expressions. We…, I was expecting only relief and happiness from the people here but… it’s almost as if they’ve lost their will to live. For every head in that room, there seemed to be a metal bowl. It looked as if they were being used as a headrest. Most of them were hardly clothed because of the intense humidity created by the many bodies that seemed to flood the room. The heat in the room heavily contrasted with the cold barren wasteland outside. Suddenly, I hear the click of a camera go off, and for a moment I froze. The tension in the air was getting to me. Maybe I was the only one to be so nervous, but how could I not be? Never had I experienced such a heavy tone of death from so many people. There is not one person alive who deserves this kind of treatment.

http://khon2.com/2016/07/02/elie-wiesel-holocaust-survivor-activist-acclaimed-writer-dies-at-87/

5 Characters in TKAM I Completely Forgot About

5 Characters in TKAM I Completely Forgot About

Where did they come from???

So, I love the book, “To Kill A Mockingbird” just as much as the next person, but there are so many characters and explanations, it’s a little overwhelming. There are a lot of moments that went in through one ear and out another; so, here are a few refreshers on some characters that often go unmentioned. (Also some characters don’t have pictures because they are so small a role; so instead, I put in weird stock photos, I hope you enjoy them.)

Zeebo

This is Calpurnia’s eldest son (I didn’t even know Cal had kids). He’s the garbage man and is one of the few black men who can read. Also, he was nice to the kids at the church scene with Calpurnia, but that’s about it.

Nathan Radley

Ok so there’s Boo Radley, Mr., and Mrs. Radley, Nathan Radley is Boo’s brother?! He filled up the knothole in the tree with cement and shot at the kids; this actually blew my mind. I THOUGH HE WAS BOO’S DAD!!! (This one isn’t really a forgotten character but still an honourable mention.)

Mrs. Gertrude Farrow

I couldn’t find much about her but, from what I know, she’s in the missionary society and she visits the finches occasionally.

Little Chuck Little

This is the kid who stood up against Burris Ewell, and I remembered the scene but surprisingly, not his name. He threatened Ewell with a ‘knife’ and was kind to Miss Caroline. For such an interesting name, he’s never brought up again.

Miss Gates

She teaches third grade at Scout’s school and is a tad racist and is somewhat condescending. All in all, she’s a bit of a hypocrite, but her place in the story does reinforce the idea of racism in the town.

 

(I hope you know which pictures aren’t actually characters, thanks!)

A Pho-nomenal Restaurant from the Suburbs

Pho is the new Ramen, as people everywhere keep raving about the dish! Now if you’re looking for a place to try out the popular dish, The Pho 99 in Coquitlam is a fantastic place for authentic Vietnamese cuisine. It’s a perfect choice for a rainy day but its vast menu makes it a great choice for any day. More often than not, it’s filled to the brink with people waiting at the door for a seat, but the staff are always kind, giving the place a casual atmosphere. The sounds of the kitchen come off as white noise and add to the overall atmosphere of the restaurant. When you first walk in, there isn’t a distinct smell, but the aroma of soup broth lingers ever so slightly. The décor isn’t anything to gawk at but, (as with most Asian restaurants) the most run down, or the one with the tackiest décor usually has the best food (just a small tip)! They recently changed out a lot of the chairs and tables so it is a tad comfier now (not that it was lacking before). The menu mostly consists of Pho soups (which is what they are known for) but on the back side of the menu is an array of dishes such as: delicious Vietnamese sub sandwiches ($5.00), savory rice plates ($12.50), and their delectable, crispy, fantastic chicken wings ($7.50). The beef stew with rice noodle in soup is a personal favourite. It’s filled with beef, long pho noodles, and rich broth with a little bit of a kick to it ($9.00/10.00). If you’re planning to buy a drink to partner with your meal, I recommend their iced coffee with condensed milk ($4.00); there is nothing like authentic Vietnamese iced coffee with its perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness. My family’s been a regular of the restaurant for so long they always greet us at the door every Friday when we visit! Overall the reasonable prices for such splendid food, the casual comfortable atmosphere, and the lovely service make this an excellent place to pop into for lunch or dinner with your family.

(image: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g181718-d2524568-Reviews-Pho_99_Vietnamese_Noodle_House-Coquitlam_British_Columbia.html)