Introduction

Allow me to be the first one to welcome you aboard our flight, ACCESS English 9. I trust you have had time to find a comfortable seat, store your carry-on, and to settle in. As armchair travelers, together, we will explore the actual world of literature and allow our imaginations to travel with us.

Our varied adventures will transport us to worlds beyond, to Venus and Mars, to Europe, the Middle East, across the U. S., and even to L. A. (Lower Alabama, that is).

During the initial leg of our journey, you will have numerous opportunities to get to know other first-time travelers as well as some of the regulars: Margot, William, Buddy, Mink, Jeffrey, and Ponyboy. You will like their stories; in fact, I predict you will discover fast friends by the time we stop for more fuel.

Now for some safety regulations--Fasten your seat belt, take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the journey. We’re here to help make it a successful one for you. Have a safe flight, everyone.

Just Imagine!

JUST IMAGINE! What if we lived in a perfect world, a utopia? We, certainly, would not have to worry about students bullying each other, teens committing crimes, parents neglecting or abandoning their children, or envying others more fortunate than we, ourselves. There would be no disabilities; we would all fit, confidently, within the circle of life; and everyone would just melt into one culture, enjoying all the same cuisine, life experiences, language, and world. Hmm, even as you simply glance around your passenger cabin, you will find that this is definitely not the case. Everyone has trouble fitting into society. Although we cannot spare our world, completely, the hurt of bullies, evil, abandonment, jealousy, disabilities, and prejudice, our actions can ease the hurt for others.

TAKE A MOMENT to think about these next three scenarios as told by some passengers. I will even go first.

When I was a child, my second-grade teacher would whack me on my left hand with her metal ruler and force me to write with my right hand. At home my mother relaxed the rule, but when I was at school, she, too, insisted I obey my teacher and use my right hand to write. What was once, decades ago, considered a disability to some, ultimately, became an advantage for me: I am now ambidextrous. Yes, that’s right, or that’s right and left. Anyway, I can write with both hands.

At the end of an overnight camp for school, a sixth grader greeted her parents with a saddened heart. When questioned about the reason for the sad face, the child, in turn, asked her parents, “Have you ever fed me dog food?" “Of course, not!" her dad gasped. “Well, Sally says she and her little brother have to open a can of dog food, sometimes, when their mother leaves them alone at home at night because they don’t know how to cook anything."

Eric’s mom knew he was excited to be a high school freshman, made sure he had plenty of money for lunch in the cafeteria every day, but could not understand why Eric was ravenously hungry right after school. After much debate, Eric, first, made his mom promise not to interfere and, then, shared that a senior took his lunch money from him every morning in the gym. Eric, small for his age and new on campus, was no match for the muscular senior.

If we describe William, one of main characters in our first story, in just one word, it would be BULLY. He is the antagonist. He bullies Margot, the protagonist, and the other students to allow him to force Margot into the closet and then locks the door. Why? Is he jealous? Is he just mean? Are his actions normal in your world? Also, does Margot fit in? Do you know anyone at school who does not fit in? If William is also known as Bill, the next activity works, perfectly. Bill=Bully

If I were to use one descriptive word, beginning with the first letter of my name, to describe myself, I would choose Learner, for, like Ray Bradbury, I love to learn something new every single day. Want you help us, your fellow passengers, see you as you see yourself?