A [Really] Short Story

Just for funsies because I haven't blogged in awhile here's a short story I wrote to introduce my kids to realistic fiction tomorrow.  There will be another story (written by a second grader) to go with it and we'll pick out the features of realistic fiction.

Please note: I do not think this is some kind of literary masterpiece or even good, I just needed something to blog.

"Mom! I'm home!" Sophia screamed as the door slammed closed.  

"How many times have I asked you not to slam the door?" was her mother's exhausted reply. 

"Oops!  Sorry Mom!" Sophia answered, mouth already full of chocolate chip cookies (her favorite after school snack). 

It had been a long day and Sophia was glad to be home.  Glad to be away from that meanie Alice.  Most of all she was glad that she wasn't sitting in the principal's office anymore.  Besides, it was Alice that started throwing food in the first place.  Sophia just threw some mashed potatoes back at her...and accidentally hit Mr. Johnson. 

Sophia had had enough trouble for one day.  She would finish her cookies quickly then try and go upstairs to her room - hopefully without having to explain what happened to her mom.  As she swallowed the last bite Sophia grabbed her backpack...and the phone rang. 

"Hello" her mother answered the phone. "Yes, this is Mrs. Knight." Sophia continued to sneak toward her room. "Principal Brooks?  Oh no, what happened this time?" Sophia was almost around the corner when her mother did the snap.  The snap that meant "you better come here this instant and not make a sound or you're grounded for a month."  Sophia turned around and walked, feet dragging, toward her mother.  So much for no more trouble. 

I Need to Talk About Politics

Guys, I'm having trouble deciding who to vote for.  I posted a little bit about it on facebook, but I didn't want to get too much into it there.  Here's my problem: both guys are smart, and both have ideas that make sense.

I'll give one example to explain my thoughts, then I'll leave you alone.

Good old Brother Mitt says that keeping the tax rate low for the extremely wealthy helps grow the economy.  I see the logic here.  If the rich have more money they will spend more money.  If they're spending more money on stuff, there have to be more people employed to make this stuff and sell the stuff and pack and ship the stuff.  I know that's grossly simplified, but I get his point. 

Barack says the rich are rich and should definitely pay more taxes.  They can afford it.  That money can be used to help the poor and out of work.  It can be invested in all the things taxes pay for like education (hello, I'm a teacher and this matters to me), and infrastructure  etc.  Also, why should the rich get a break that the poor (who seemingly have no breaks ever) don't? Even the principle of the thing seems backward. Again, I definitely simplified this to a awful level, but I get his point too.  

So, how do I decide?  How do I get past their awful attack adds and the nasty debacle of a debate the other night and choose a candidate?  

Right now, I can't.  So I'll just blog my frustration. 

P.S. Holla to anyone who still reads my blog despite my irregular updates.