Vishal Kattoju

Period # 7

English 9H

October 4, 2019

Don’t Assume

“Beep, Beep, Beep!” my alarm rings annoyingly. My eyes refuse to open, so I

slowly climb out of my bed and make my way to the bathroom like a bear coming out of

hibernation. I turn on the bright light forcing me to open my eyes. I put the toothpaste on

my brush and feel the minty sensation tingle my taste buds. I turn on the shower and

feel the scalding hot water touch my cold feet. After a few minutes, I jump out and spiff

up my best clothes. I scurry downstairs to the kitchen and yank open the fridge door. All

of a sudden, I realize the only thing I have in my fridge is some cold, old, stale lettuce.

“Nooooo!” I screech as I make my way outside. I slam the door behind me and start

walking to the grocery store.

As I look on the side of the road, I see a man sitting in the blazing hot sun. His

sign reads, “Trying to survive, anything helps.” He jiggles his cup, but I walk straight

past him pretending that he is not there. “He’s probably some drug addict that wants

money,” I think to myself. I walk by him as my stomach turns upside down from his

stench.

About a quarter mile down the road, I see a woman and a child sitting with each

other in the beaming sun.

“No, I don't want it,” the young girl says as she refuses to eat her bagel. “I said I

don't want it!” she yells.

 “Jeez, great parenting lady. Maybe if you teach your child manners she wouldn’t

be such a brat,” I think to myself. As I continue my walk to the grocery store, I feel the

gentle breeze and hear the trees sway. I roam inside and gaze at the variety of food. I

grab a few items for a quick breakfast, and anxiously wait for my turn to checkout. I

grow impatient as the cashier takes his time to ring up each item.

“That’s $42.96,” the cashier utters. I whip out my wallet from my pocket and

quickly give him my credit card.

“Here you go,” I say eagerly.

“Sorry. Your card has been declined,” answers the cashier.

“What? Try again!” I order.

“Sorry,” he replies again.

“I don't believe this,” I respond frustratedly. Again and again we try, but again and

again, it fails. Finally, I give up and put everything back. I stomp out of the store and

hear my stomach grumble. My head hangs in frustration, and I bump into a person

walking by.

“Maybe if you watch where you’re going you wouldn’t bump into people,” I shout

violently.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” he says softly. “If I still had my vision I’m sure I would have

noticed you.” Then, I realize, he is blind.

“Oh wow, I had no idea, I’m sorry,” I stutter.

“That’s alright, good day young man,” he says as we went our separate ways.

I am walking to my house when I pass a huge fancy restaurant. My stomach

growls again as I smell the delightful fragrance from the food. I am famished. I walk
away in melancholy. The uncontrollable hunger gnaws at my chest. I start strolling back

and see the woman and her child again. I walk up to her and say, “Excuse me, Ma’am.

Hi, I’m so sorry to bother you, but I just heard your daughter a little upset earlier, and I

thought that this might cheer her up,” as I take out a toy car from my pocket.

“Thank you so much,” the woman cries. “You don't know how much this means to

us. This is my granddaughter,” she sobs. “I lost my daughter yesterday in a car

accident, and this is our first day without her.”

“Oh my God, I had no idea. I am so sorry for your loss,” I apologize.

“Here, I want you to have this,” she sighs as she takes out a bagel from behind

her.

“Oh ma’am, I couldn’t,” I say softly.

“No really, take it please. It will make me feel so much better,” she replies with

the bagel in her hand.

“I hope things get better for you,” I say as I take the bagel and walk away.

As I get closer and closer to my house I see the same homeless man from

before. I walk up to him and look into his eyes. “I’m sorry about earlier, you can have

this,” I say, and I hand him the bagel the woman gave me.

“God bless you, sir,” he responds in awe.

“If you don't mind me asking, aren’t there a lot of drug and alcohol facilities

around here?” I question.

“Drugs and alcohol?” he says perplexed. “I’ve never done drugs or a had a drink

in my life.”

“Well then, how did you end up homeless?” I say questionably.

 “I lost my job,” he stutters. “I used to be a counselor to help people overcome

their drug and alcohol addictions, and now they think of me as some addict. How’s that

for irony?”

“I guess you never know someone’s story until you hear them out,” I realize.

Then, I see a man staring at me, injecting his daggered eyes into my soul.

He comes up to me and says, “Hey man, why are you talking to that homeless

man, they’re all the same. He’s just gonna spend his money on alcohol and drugs.”

“That couldn't be farther from the truth, believe it or not. He is going through

some hard times, but he used to help people with drug and alcohol addictions,” I say

with certainty.

“I’m sorry, I didn't know that,” he replies, regretting his words.

"It's alright. Just promise me next time before you come to conclusions about

someone that you’ll listen to their story first."

"You’re right. Have a good day man."

I finally return to my apartment as the starvation in my stomach gets filled up by

the happiness I have spread and ponder on the eye-opening morning lesson that I have

learned.

MULTI-SCENE NARRATIVE RUBRIC

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.: Students will be able to write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or
events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

Rubric Categories Expectations Possible Scores Score

Focus Engage and orient the reader by setting out a Mastery 30 26

conflict, situation, or observation, establishing Skilled 26
one or multiple point(s) of view, and introducing Proficient 22
 a narrator and/or characters; create a smooth Developing 18
progression of experiences or events. Provide a Inadequate 15
conclusion to the story that reflects on the
experience.

Techniques Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, Mastery 30 30

pacing, description, foreshadowing, and specific Skilled 26
point of view, to develop experiences, events, Proficient 22
and/or characters. Developing 18
Inadequate 15

Diction Use precise words and phrases, telling details, Mastery 30 26

and sensory language to convey a vivid picture Skilled 26
of the experiences, events, setting, and/or Proficient 22
characters. Developing 18
Inadequate 15

Conventions Demonstrates command of the conventions of Mastery 10 10

standard English capitalization, punctuation, Skilled 8
grammar and spelling when writing. Proficient 7
Developing 6
Inadequate 5