1st+Draft

Here is my first draft:

David Zhang English 823 Draft 1 I walked slowly through the streets of Boston, holding my newspapers tightly. Sweat was dripping down my forehead and dropped onto the newspaper. It dried really quick on the date, 9/8/1936. In just a few days, it was my mother’s birthday. I didn’t know what to get her for I didn’t have a lot money. I had to earn my money through newspapers. It gave me money here and there, but it was barely enough to support my family and save up. “Man commits suicide due to starvation. Get your newspapers here!” I cried. “I’ll get one.” A man with a suit said. He handed me two pennies and I took them. “Here, you go, sir.” I replied and handed him a newspaper. After a long day of work, I got to my home to the aroma of potatoes. “I’m back.” I hollered to my mother. “How was work, Bill?” My mom said. “It was fine. It was really hot today.” I replied. I sat down on the floor and waited for dinner which was only potatoes and stale bread with my brother, Bob. “Tough today?” I asked him, putting my hands on the table Bob found in the alley a few years ago. “Yup. You?” “Same here.” “What are getting for mom’s birthday?” He whispered. “I don’t know, but I have a five cents saved up. How about you?” I whispered back. “I have six cents.” “What can we buy with eleven cents?” I asked him. “I don’t know… OH! We can buy her a rose!” “Right!” “Dinner is ready!” My mom stepped into the room with a big plate of potatoes and bread. I ate my share of potatoes and wiped my mouth on the bread and ate it. I went to my bedroom and lied on my half destroyed mattress. I looked over my shoulder and grabbed a photograph of my father. I gazed at it. Tears were falling off my face and landed on the my ripped trousers. //Why did he have to leave us at this time, our time of need?// I grabbed my bed sheet and held it tightly. //Why? Why? Why?// I pondered these questions that night. “Wake up! Wake up!” My brother said weakly. I woke up in a sudden shock from my brother. “What? What happened?” I replied. “Mother and I are sick.” “Oh. How do you feel? Do you feel dizzy or anything?” “Mother and I are very hot. We have a fever.” “How am I suppose to pay for the medicine?” “Well, here is some money for the medicine. I know it’s not enough. Try to work hard today and sell a lot of newspapers to get the money, okay? “Okay.” I quickly put on my clothes and went to pick up my newspapers. I got more newspapers than usual. I was determined. My mom did everything in her power to support me. Now it is my turn to support her. I went down to the public market place, a place knew to go to. I heard that a lot people go there. “Economy Improving! Read on page five!” I screamed on the top on my lungs. “I’ll have one!” A man said. “I’ll have one too!” A women said louder than him. “I’ll have two!” A old lady shouted to make her stand out. More and more people wanted to read about the economy getting better. I was earning money really fast now. There was now hope for helping out my family. At the end of the day, I was able to get the money for the medicine for my brother and my mother the next day. I ran all the way to the pharmacy and I purchased the medicine. I sprinted back home excitedly and wanted to see my mother’s face. As opened my door with my keys, I felt something was wrong. I couldn’t smell the aroma of potatoes that my mom made everyday. I pulled the door opened aggressively and went to my mom’s room. There on the bed was my mom. She was motionless. She was dead. I was shocked. //How did this happen?// I was devastated.

What about my brother? Is he okay? I ran to his room and I saw him motionless too. “Nooooo! I screamed and I started to sob. “Why?! Why is this happening to me? Why? I don’t have any family left. Mom and brother died. My father died before I was born. I don’t even know how to take care of myself! What’s the point of living now when the people you love died and you have no one? Wait. I know how to end this pain! My great grandfather served in the Civil War. We still have the gun he used with the bullets. I ran to my mom’s room and opened the suitcase where she put the gun. I took out the gun and held it to my head. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Sweat was dripping down my head. I slowly pulled the trigger. “BOOM!” The gun roared and that was the last sound I heard.