By: Harry Staley

5/2/11

Growing up can be a painful process which includes hard work with school, friendship, and parents, that prepares you for real life and independence. School work is like running on a treadmill it’s endless, tiring, and at some times insipid. Every night I perform the same acts of checking the plan book, beginning with English, which usually consists of writing essays, poems, and anything else to do with writing, then trying to understand the math homework while looking at my notes, and then looking back at the lesson in the book, and either history or science homework, depending on the night. The hard work with friendship almost always happens when you are finished with your homework. When you have completed your homework, you will find yourself doing things that have something to do with your social life. This is when you begin to make friends, and with friends comes drama. Unfortunately, drama brings discomfort to your life, which completely changes the way you think about going to school. When this drama comes into your life you will find yourself spending more time with your parents. Spending time with family is always a great way to get away from everything, because trust me, nobody will mess with you under the protection of the ones who love you, until they begin to embarrass you, by talking for you and making it look like you cannot defend yourself. As you can see, this process looks like it can really prepare you for the trials of real life and independence.

Ingredients to growing up:

1.       Two table spoons of courage.

2.       Three table spoons of integrity.

3.       One table spoon of common sense.

4.       Three cups of truth.

5.       Two and a half cups of humor.

6.       One table spoon of wealth.

7.       One table spoon of self-esteem.

8.       One to two hands full of relaxation.

9.       One pound of intelligence.

10.   A dash of athleticism.

11.   A sprig of kindness.

12.   A handful of love.

13.   A few cups of soundness.

14.   Three gallons of being artistic.

The extra time consuming sauce:

1.       On cup of muscle.

2.       Two table spoons of laziness.

3.       One sprig of attitude.

4.       If you have any, put in two tea spoons of spunk.

5.       One tea spoon of anger.

6.       Three tea spoons of love.

7.       For the final ingredient you should add two to three sprigs of hate.

This concludes my recipe for growing up.

Please eat responsibly.

Interview, between Juliette, and Scout

Scout:

Good afternoon Juliette.

Juliette:

Good afternoon.

Scout:

Now rumor has it you have had some problems with growing up?

Juliette:

Yes.

Scout:

Do you want to talk about them?

Juliette:

Yes, I feel like I can’t do anything, because I am always under the supervision of somebody. It really upsets me, because I would like to have more freedom.

Scout:

I am sorry to hear that Juliette. Back in Maycomb, Atticus lets me do almost anything I want, because there isn’t much that could hurt you.

Juliette:

You are a very lucky girl, because ever since I was younger my family has had a ferocious grudge against the Montague’s.

Scout:

That must be so exciting!

Juliette:

Not at all, my love is a Montague, and I fear if I tell my father he will kick me out, if he knew.

Scout:

That sounds pretty serious.

Juliette:

It is I just wish I could grow up and become a woman so I could marry him.

Scout:

Me to, I wish I could be on my own. I really wish I could act the way I want to act, because Atticus makes me dress up in fancy clothing, and I hate fancy clothing, I want to wear jeans and a tee shirt.

Juliette:

The more we grow up, the less we have to stay with our parents.

Scout:

As nice as growing up sound, I would be kind of lost without my brother and father at my side covering up for any mistakes I might make.

Juliette:

I know what you mean, but since I have a nurse I have minimal work.

Scout:

You must be pretty rich.

Juliette:

I guess so.

Scout:

Well I need to go, my brother, Jem, has football tryouts, and I don’t want to miss it.

Juliette:

It was very nice talking with you Scout, I feel a lot better now that I got that out.

Scout:

Any time.