The Eye is in the Beholder
Text z Príbehu
- In a Different Place, with a Different Face
- ForwardThroughout the years there had always been a standard of beauty and attractiveness or even just acceptance. By social standards there was a way to look, a way to dress, a way to talk that made you normal; or popular in the public eye. And now with Social media and the internet it's more pushed in your face about how your hair should be, what makeup or perfume you should be or even how your body type should be. And if you don't meet these standards you are mocked or encouraged to follow the lifestyle. Many people are born to look a certain way, a way that's different from the advertised look, is often treated as an outsider and is judged in many aspects in life whether in school or even when going out for a job interview. Growing up all I can remember about school is how much I wished I had a thinner waist, longer and straighter hair as well as thinner lips and many other features that I thought I needed. I was the only one of the few African American students in all the schools I attended, so I had certain features that others didn't. I was made fun of a lot for my nose and ears which were not proportional to my face and even for my curly hair. I then started to straighten my hair to be more like my peers and to go on crazy weight loss programs to get to a certain figure. It damaged my self esteem and body in ways I couldn't imagine at the time, Fortunately I finally accepted I had to stop this before this took over my life forever and eventually opened up to my parents. The more I researched the more I realized that I wasn't alone and that kids have been dealing with this through the decades. Over the years all who have been considered different and out of place has been a target for many who seek to dishearten others. They wonder what's wrong with them and feel sad and ashamed for being different from the crowd when truthfully there was nothing wrong with them, they were just different. I revisited this idea when I watched the “Eye is in the Beholder” episode from the series “The Twilight Zone”. It gives an idea for this book, for what we consider normal to be flipped on its narrative. My hope is that this book will teach children that normal standard is only made by something in our society and that being different is what makes us special and unique.
- It's a bright day, a good day in Salt Lake. A city where we'll see for yourself….Tell me, what do you see? Are you shocked, scared, well , don't be? This is the normal, where monster's rule the streets. it's the usual way to look and there's no other way to live. The streets full of loud noises. The atmosphere with a burning excitement.
- Today is a particular exciting day for the students of Marewood High. It was 8:15 am and the students fidgeted with their claws and bounced their legs as they anxiously waited for the bell to start signaling for the first class of the day. It was surprise on everyone when Mr. LilaValve stood up for the second time this morning after roll call and announced that he has “special news”
- “Class I would like to announce we have a new exchange student joining us for the week, Harmony... would you please come out”...
- When the new student steps out an audible gasp is hard. Looks of fear and disgust stretched on the people in the class. The teacher just gave an awkward smile but any fool could see that the corners of his mouth were uncomfortably pointing downward, curling like worms. Though the creature in front of them was smiling brightly, the looks of horror etched on the faces of everyone, all the children in the room had only one thing in their minds…
- This girl was hideous...
- Small nose, Curly yellow corn hair, thin lips even the little freckles all were different from the in the class and they didn't like that at all.
- “Ringgg '' The bell rang meaning it was time for the first class of the day Everywhere Harmony went and stared at. Noises of loud chatter are replaced with whispers that flood the hallways wherever she enters: Every class was like being on public display like a lion in a cage, and that is when kids went beyond rude stares.
- They threw spit wads and crumpled pieces of paper at her, they laugh at her behind her back and giggle as they call her “Horrid Harmony.” When she tried to sit next to someone they moved farther down the seat. When she speaks they sneer. And when it came for partner work they looked away as if she wasn't there.
- Even in gym glass they all through dodge balls at her
- Lunch Eventually came around and everyone travelled with a skip in their step to the cafeteria, except Harmony. Everyone gathered in a little circle at the table and pulled out their long awaited dishes. Neveah pulled out a weed killer soup. Tomandau pulled out a stink bug bun someone brought poison patties and bonefish pastries and Harmony, well what does Harmony have for lunch….
- A sandwich.
- “It's Eww what that smell” Harmony pulled out her sandwich, “this is from my homeland” she explained. She walked to walk to the huddle of kids “Do you guys mind If I eat with you, we could share” she asked with a shy smile as she held out her lunch. There was no response, just tumbleweeds and the whistle of air held in the steel cold tension that is in the lunchroom. Finally Tomandau piped up, “sorry there is no room, and besides I don't think that you would fit in he said with a salty grin. Harmony felt her heart break like glass and her stomach doing somersaults.
- She moved to sit alone in her own, little corner by herself by the trash cans. She's not close to the others.. She catches her name in faraway conversations and soon after mean looks came her way. And she says nothing, too embarrassed and too ashamed, to even look up from the gray stone and shoestrings.
- Eventually lunch ended and it was time for the last class of the day, and a second announcement was made. Mr LilaValve walked up to the front with his usual smile as bright as the sun “Class I wanted to inform you of the potluck in our school , everyone is supposed to bring one food that they enjoy and share it with the class, go ahead and take the last moments of class to come up with something”.
- The class started to buzz with excitement, forming little groups already sharing the ideas they had in their heads. A river drips down her face making a lake of sorrow below her feet as Harmony sees no one come to talk to her like she is not even in the room. As the chatter continues to grow in the room Harmony curls in closer to herself as if the room is bone chilling and the floor will crack open and swallow her whole. And yet she didn't say a word as if her lips were frozen shut.
- When the last bell of the day finally rang Harmony was the first one out instead of the last one she was too upset to sit there a moment longer. She ran from the school yards and ran though Salt Lake village, people started but she didn't care, she already had enough of that today, she just kept on running. Harmony made it to the edge of town away from the loud noises of the city and into the forest. She eventually made it to her bright yellow house with the blue roof.
- She bursted through the door and ran into to mother crying, her mother looked like her, small nose, Curly yellow corn hair, thin caterpillar lips, even the little freckles. This gave her comfort.
- “What's wrong Harmony?” her mother said with a frown. That's when Harmony told her about the mean stares, the quiet whispers and lunch and through it all her mother listened. “I’ve never sat alone at lunch…” Harmony said at the end of the rant as she said this to her mother, only able to look at the thick arch of her lips on her face. Her voice shook with tears. “I have never been bullied,” cried Harmony. “I have never felt like I didn’t belong, maybe I don't”
- Her mother said nothing for a few moments and then engulfed her daughter in a big warm hug Harmony woefully accepted. "I understand Harmony, I do, At work I get bullied as well” she pulled away to rub the tears from her daughter's face as she continued. “We may be different but we aren't monsters or ugly our differences make us strong and unique. It makes us, us, and we should be proud.
- Harmony pulled away slightly from her mother and dried her tears. She then thought about what she said. At the moment she found new found confidence from her mothers words of encouragement. She than smiled, she felt so much better. “Your right, I should be proud and I have to stand up for myself, in fact I know just how to do it, I'll need your help…”
- It was the next morning and everyone was excited for the potluck. It was what you expect: root cake, rock basset, and many other things. Laughter and joyous conversations all stopped when they looked at Harmony who was by the doorway with a confident smile, she brought….
- A tray of sandwiches
- Everyone looked at her with a mix of confusion and distaste but Harmony continued to smile bright as a diamond and put her sandwiches down on the table where the rest of the kids put their food and sat down in her seat. ”Now that everyone is here, let's begin….” said Mr LilaVale as he tapped on his clipboard. “ who wants to go first Harmony instantly raised her hand up in enthusiasm and took her place at the front of the class, she cleared her throat and began to speak…
- “I brought peanut butter sandwiches because they are different and unique from anything else here, like me. “Yesterday I was bullied for the type of food I bought but it's just food like yours. I got bullied for being different. It made me feel like I don't belong, bullying didn't make me feel good but I realize now that what makes me different is what makes me special”
- All the kids in the class looked shocked and sank down in their seats, they were ashamed of their behavior, they remembered when they were bullied at one time and they remember how horrible it felt
- Harmony picked up the tray and began to pass the sandwich to everyone in the class. Once received that all took a hesitant bite…. “It's good …” one front the class murmured and everyone else agreed. Harmony was beaming through it all and stood tall in the front of the classroom.
- One of the classmates motioned her over to where he was standing. Harmony was confused but still stood tall as she made her way. When she got there the student pulled up what he brought and offered it to her with a smile and Harmony returned it as she took the food.
- All the other classmates started to get up and take their food from the tables and offer it to Harmony. Harmony just smiled, she finally felt like she belonged…
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