Short Story : ' A Hell Hole '

In the United States, tens of thousands of inmates are held in long-term solitary confinement. However, the impact on them from this solitary confinement hurts their health both emotionally and physically. Hellhole by Atul Gawande analyzes the importance of social support that we need in our lives, and how being isolated from social interaction slowly destroys one’s psychological being and their ability to interact with others. Prior to reading this, I already had knowledge of the study mentioned that was conducted by Harry Harlow where he attempted to raise baby monkeys without the presence of their mother. This ended up proving fatal to the psychological development of the monkeys as their mental health was severely damaged. The reference

Sunshine was pouring out from in between the buildings, casting shadows all around Ponyboy and the gang as they walked to Pony’s school. They were taking their time walking down the streets and for the first time they all were really seeing what was all around them. Memories were surfacing in their minds showing them what it all meant to them. With every step they took on the sidewalk they remembered a different memory as if they were walking down memory lane. Ponyboy didn’t think it was possible for him to be walking down this street for the last time as a high school student, but he had gone through the years with great grades that earned him many scholarships.

“Where should we walk to?” I asked. “I don’t know” said Megan. Elizabeth chimed in saying “let’s just walk around seeing where we end up.” The three of us walked around, and ended up at the playground at Olmsted Elementary School. It was chilly out, but you only needed a sweatshirt. The playground was spooky at night. It felt like someone was hiding waiting for

The author Wes moved from Maryland to the Bronx after his father passed away. The neighborhood was not what Joy remembered. Drugs and violence covered every corner of the neighborhood which split the community up. Since the schools in their community crumbled to ground, Joy decided to send her children to a private school.

The school had always been there on the hill to the west of the town known as Arralen. It had been abandoned around 17 years ago. Occasionally teens would go up there for parties or such, but other than that it was never visited and the whole town basically forgot about it. But recently people have been found around the school, guts spewing over their dead carcass, toes bitten off at the core and the smell of sewer rats circulating through the air. Most of their faces had been mangled from what seemed to be claws and their toes...gone. These discoveries shot shock through the small village of Arralen, making this old forgotten school the center of attention.

Outside, a deep silence fell over the neighborhood. This silence crept into every household. Members of the community had a guise of anger and pain expressed on their faces. Everyone locked themselves inside, to lament such a tragedy that has brought sorrow to a twelve years old’s family. Parents fell on their knees with tears in their eyes. This last murder represented the final straw. So many of their own had been murdered by the malicious, metallic, monsters that were supposed to be the defenders of their community. They felt insecure, threatened by the

The school highlights the hypocrisy in the book, from the ads to the fact that it claims boys leave well-mannered and bright. It shows cruelty through their mean mannerisms and the fact that Castle’s end could easily have come about at Pencey instead of Elkton, and symbolizes adult life because it trains boys for adulthood and watches them grow up.

In her short memoir ‘Sanctuary of School’ Lynda Barry remembers her early childhood years at home, feeling somewhat invisible. Growing up in a rather crowded home, which was occupied by relatives who would come and go, and parents who spent the late hours of the evening fighting over shortage of money, Barry and her brother grew accustomed to such a lifestyle. Learning to make the best out of this, the siblings would lay in the living room and watch television until the morning crept in. Feeling such anxiety to rush to school, Barry would make her way there lifelessly, as the sun would slowly rise. While waiting on the playground before making her way in, young Barry states “In a perfect world my absence at home would not have gone unnoticed.”

We arrived at our destination… so I took my headphones out, and I put my iPhone away. I stepped off of the bus to see a large brick school building with some bricks missing and multiple cracked windows illuminated by light bulbs glowing brightly in classrooms full of innocent children. I began walking to the entrance of the school, trying to avoid the large cracks in the sidewalk that were filled with ice on this bitter December day. Snow was falling and the bitter cold and my new surroundings were shaking me to the core.

“The Sanctuary of School” uses good details, personal experience, and narrative writing style to successfully help the audience with difficult periods in their own childhood. The amount of details the author used, helps the readers visualize her childhood. It makes the audience put themselves in her shoes. The reader can feel her emotions and reactions to certain situations.

Paul’s father made the choice of moving him and his family to Tangerine Florida, because he got a new job offer and wanted to take it. Paul was excited for his fresh start at a new school with a new name other than “Mars.” Moving to a new school was great for Paul at first, but then everything went downhill from the time he walked through the doors of Lake Windsor Middle School. Paul was told that his classes were outside in portable classrooms, while the sixth graders would be inside with regular classrooms to be in. At the end of the day, everything got worse. Paul faces another complication at Lake Windsor Middle School.

The open and close of the eyelids, the flick of a light, the beat of a heart and our lungs expanding are things we do without even trying. We simply don’t pay attention to them. Just like in “The Sanctuary of School,” Barry’s parents muted her from reality and peripheral view; I muted the outside world. She grew up in a reality where warmth and attention did not describe her parents. Whereas, the warmth that I seek exists solely within my community. Barry’s home was like a seesaw of constant change. A child her age sought to find that new home at school. Although school funds are cut back to save money, we should protect and value spaces that people feel safe in. The education system needs to realize the importance of schools, the children and the importance of having a warm and secure place. Just like it gave Barry a sanctuary of a school.

Abigail Jay stood in front of the school on the rain drenched steps, rocking on her heels. She was waiting for Jimmy, her uncle to close the shop for ten minutes to come and get. Most of the other students had already left from the campus once the last bell rang, they booked it. Abigail was use to waiting for Jimmy, it wasn’t uncommon for him to be late and if anything she’d be worried if he was on time. Abigail tangled with the pull strings of her hoodie, an excited smile on her face.

“I grew up there, thought I’d spend my entire life calling that city ‘Home.’ But it didn’t workout that way. I learned to love it here too,” Dustin told his neighbour’s grandkids, remembering the horrific event that tore him away from his home and ended his career. His neighbour, Sally, and her family were the only people who accepted Dustin; they shared something in common, the disaster. Sally lost her husband in the tragedy that destroyed Dustin’s once handsome face.

Making her way toward the sidewalk, she turned right on Doveland Drive. Without a car, Anita must walk two and a half miles to reach Forest Creek Lane, the predominantly upper-class part of town. As she walked, her stomach turned as if she had ridden a fast carnival ride and no matter what she tried to calm her nerves, her attempts were futile. When she reached the street, she couldn't help but stare in awe at the beautiful houses that lined it. Some had the latest car park in front, others had empty spaces while the owner was at work. Anita imagined handsome doctors carrying briefcases and housewives wearing wearing the latest fashions. Anita, at 22, still lived with her parents in the not-so-nice part of town, where houses where becoming dalapitated and the roads and sidewalks were cracked and never fixed. Always feeling as if she didn't belong where she lived, she often imagianed what it would be like to live as other