Earthquake Preparedness of Staff Nurses Research Proposal

Earthquake Preparedness of Staff Nurses Research Proposal A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AN INFORMATION BOOKLET ON EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS IN TERMS OF KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF STAFF NURSES WORKING IN SELECTED COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS OF GUJARAT STATE   INVESTIGATOR Bhavisha R. Patel ABSTRACT Disaster has been Mankind’s constant though inconvenient companion since time immemorial. The fury of nature can be as disastrously beautiful as the gifts of nature received gratis. Natural disaster continues to strike unabated and without notice and is perceived to be on the increase in their magnitude complexity, frequency and economic impact. India has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters on account of its unique geo-climatic conditions. Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides have been recurrent phenomena. About 60% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of various intensities; over 40 million hectares is prone to floods; about 8% of the total area is prone to cyclones and 68% of the area is susceptible to drought. The main objective of the study was assessing the knowledge and practice of the Staff Nurses before and after the administration of an Information Booklet on Earthquake Preparedness in the selected Community health centre of Gujarat state. The conceptual frame work is based on System theory model. Materials Method used for the study was after a preliminary study on Earthquake Preparedness of Staff Nurses conducted at Adalaj CHC, a pre-post interventional study was performed on 8 CHCs of Gujarat State. Four districts of Gujarat state i.e. Ahmedabd, Gandhinagar, Panchamahal and Bharuch were selected randomly. Each CHCs of selected districts were randomly selected. While sample selection was done by Lottery Method. One group pre post design used for the study Data collection includes personal data, knowledge of Earthquake Preparedness of staff nurses with help of structured knowledge questionnaires, Practice of Earthquake Preparedness of staff nurses with help of structured observation check list. An Information Booklet was introduced in terms of knowledge and Practice performing by Staff Nurses on Earthquake Preparedness. Reliability of the tool was confirmed by Pearson test and validity was done from experts of different health department. Results of or Forty staff nurses were included from Eight CHCs of Gujarat state. For the knowledge it is reveals the comparison between pre-test and post-test knowledge score obtained by the Samples on Earthquake Preparedness. The mean pre test score is 15.82 and the mean post test score is 29.75. The Standard Deviation of pre test knowledge score is 2.77 and that of the post test is 1.84. The calculated‘t’ is 13.92 and the tabulated’ is 1.68 at 0.05 level of significance. For practice of the samples it is reveals the comparison between pre-test and post-test practice score obtained by the Samples on Earthquake Preparedness. The mean pre test score is 35.47 and the mean post test score is 48.025. The calculated‘t’ is 21.37 and the tabulated’ is 1.68 at 0.05 level of significance There was significant difference between pretest mean score and posttest mean score for knowledge and practice of samples regarding Earth quake Preparedness of Staff Nurses. After administration of an Information Booklet, there was improvement in samples’ Knowledge and Practice. So it was concluded that An Information Booklet on Earthquake Preparedness increased the knowledge and practice of staff nurses working in selected CHCs of Gujarat State. Introduction â€Å"Hospitals Safe from Disasters Reduce Risk, Protect Health Facilities, Save Lives,† (World Health Day). Disaster caused by nature’s fury is not uncommon in this planet, earth. In fact, scientists believe that the birth of this planet, earth was the result of an explosion that occurred in the solar system, from time immemorial this planet has witnessed numerous natural disasters. In the past, man used to view this natural disaster as the â€Å"ACTS OF GOD† Gradually; science opened the doors of knowledge and enabled man to understand the mysteries of nature. On January 26, 2001 Gujarat was rocked by a violent earthquake. Thousands of people died and there was loss of about 400 crore rupees to the nation. It was one of the severest earthquakes to have hit the country. In served to highlight the gaping holes in the nation’s disaster management ability. This devastating incident made the investigator take up the present study. Nurses in any location will be on the front line as caregivers and managers in the event of a damaging, disaster. Having read the views of various authors the investigator is able to visualize that disaster situations are very different from routine nursing care situation. Nurses need to have adequate knowledge and training to work in such a unique, chaotic, stressful situation and to identify and meet the complex, multi various health needs of victims of disaster. India has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters on account of its unique geo-climatic conditions. Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides have been recurrent phenomena. About 60% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of various intensities; over 40 million hectares is prone to floods; about 8% of the total area is prone to cyclones and 68% of the area is susceptible to drought. In the decade 1990-2000, an average of about 4344 people lost their lives and about 30 million people were affected by disasters every year. The loss in terms of private, community and public assets has been astronomical. At the global level, there has been considerable concern over natural disasters. Even as substantial scientific and material progress is made, the loss of lives and property due to disasters has not decreased. In fact, The human toll and economic losses have mounted. It was in this background that the United Nations General Assembly, in 1989, declared the decade 1990- 2000 as the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction with the objective to reduce loss of lives and property and restrict socio-economic damage through concerted international action, especially in developing countries. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: 1. To assess the knowledge of the Staff Nurses before and after the administration of an Information Booklet on Earthquake Preparedness in the selected Community health centre of Gujarat state. 2. To assess the practice of the Staff Nurses before and after the administration of Information Booklet on Earthquake Preparedness in the selected Community health centre of Gujarat state. HYPOTHESES OF THE STUDY: H1: The mean post test knowledge scores of the Staff Nurses after the administration of an Information Booklet on Earthquake Preparedness will be significantly higher than their mean pre test Knowledge scores as evident from the Structured Knowledge Questionnaire at .05 levels. H2: The mean post test practice scores of the Staff Nurses after the Administration of an Information Booklet on Earthquake Preparedness will be significantly higher than their mean pre test practice scores as evident from the structured observational Checklist at .05 levels. OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS Effectiveness: it refers to the power of the information booklet to bring about changes in knowledge and practice of staff nurses regarding earthquake preparedness. Informational Booklet: A handy written material, which will enhance the knowledge of staff nurses regarding earthquake preparedness improve practice of the staff nurse. Earth Quake: A sudden violent shaking of the ground as a result of movement within the earth’s crust. Preparedness:- is concerned with forecasting and working, education and training of population, organization for and management of disaster including preparation of operational plan, training of relief groups, ensuring adequate supplies of necessary funds. Knowledge: It is the ability of staff nurses to respond to a structured knowledge questionnaire regarding earthquake preparedness resulting as evident from knowledge score. Practice: It refers to the abilities of the staff nurse to guide and provide care to the earthquake preparedness with the use of informational booklet. At Evidence by Structured Observational Check List. Staff nurse: staff nurse (male and female) who are working in community health center. Community health center: In this study CHC refers to community health center covering a population of 80,000 to 1.20 lake with 30 beds and specialist in surgery, medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics with X-ray and laboratory facilities. DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY:- The study is delimited to Staff nurse of selected CHC of Gujarat state accessible during the data collection will be selected for the sample. The study is delimited to Staff nurse who are willing to participate in the study. The study is delimited to the CHC of selected district of Gujarat State only. The study is delimited to the 40 staff nurses only. RESEARCH DESIGN Research design selected for the present study was one group pre test post test design. The investigator had developed structured Knowledge Questionnaire and Structured Observational Checklist for evaluation of pre test and post test. RESEARCH SETTING:- The present study was conducted in the selected Community Health Center of Gujarat State. Investigator was divided Gujarat state in five regions (north, east, and west, south and central) and from that investigator will select any four districts by lottery method). From each district by lottery method investigator will select two Community Health Center. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION Materials Method used for the study was after a preliminary study on Earthquake Preparedness of Staff Nurses conducted at Adalaj CHC, a pre-post interventional study was performed on 8 CHCs of Gujarat State.. Four districts of Gujarat state i.e. Ahmedabd, Gandhinagar, Panchamahal and Bharuch were selected randomly. Each CHCs of selected districts were randomly selected. While sample selection was done by Lottery Method. One group pre post design used for the study Data collection includes personal data, knowledge of Earthquake Preparedness of staff nurses with help of structured knowledge questionnaires, Practice of Earthquake Preparedness of staff nurses with help of structured observation check list. An Information Booklet was introduced in terms of knowledge and Practice performing by Staff Nurses on Earthquake Preparedness. The main area of knowledge and Practice include – Introduction of Earthquake, Types and Phases of Disaster, Earthquake Preparedness and Care of Victim. Reliability of the tool was confirmed by Pearson test and validity was done from experts of different health department. Results for Forty staff nurses were included from Eight CHCs of Gujarat state. For the knowledge it is reveals the comparison between pre-test and post-test knowledge score obtained by the Samples on Earthquake Preparedness. The mean pre test score is 15.82 and the mean post test score is 29.75. The table also shows that the Standard Deviation of pre test knowledge score is 2.77 and that of the post test is 1.84. The calculated‘t’ is 13.92 and the tabulated’ is 1.68 at 0.05 level of significance. For practice of the samples it is reveals the comparison between pre-test and post-test practice score obtained by the Samples on Earthquake Preparedness. The mean pre test score is 35.47 and the mean post test score is 48.025. The table also shows that the Standard Deviation of pre test practice score is 3.17 and that of the post test is 2.03. The ca lculated‘t’ is 21.37 and the tabulated’ is 1.68 at 0.05 level of significance There was significant difference between pretest mean score and posttest mean score for knowledge and practice of samples regarding Earthquake Preparedness of Staff Nurses. After administration of an Information Booklet, there was improvement in samples’ Knowledge and Practice. So it was concluded that An Information Booklet on Earthquake Preparedness increased the knowledge and practice of staff nurses  working in selected CHCs of Gujarat State. CONCLUSIONS The following conclusions can be drawn from the study findings. For personal data investigator concluded the results and it is revealed that 18(45%) of the samples are in the age group of 31-40 years, 37(92.5%) are female, 40(100%) has not attend training regarding Disaster Management, 35(87.5%) have the professional qualification of GNM and 17(42.5%) have 6-10 years clinical experience and 39(97.5%) have not any experience related Earthquake Management. From knowledge questionnaire it is revealed that the mean difference in the area related to the Introduction of Earthquake is 3.30, in area related to Earthquake Types and Phases is 1.82, in area related to Earthquake Preparedness 5.42 and while area related to Care of Victim is 3.37. Samples have gained more knowledge in the area related to Earthquake Preparedness and Care of Victim. Obtained mean difference in all area of knowledge the calculated‘t’ is greater than tabulated‘t’ (1.68) and so the investigat or concluded that there is significant increase in the mean post test knowledge score as compared to the mean pre test knowledge score after the administration of an Information Booklet on Earthquake Preparedness which is statistically proved and so the null hypothesis Ho1 is rejected and research hypothesis H1 is accepted.. Mean post test knowledge score is higher than mean pre test knowledge score with the mean difference of 13.92 which is statistically proved that the Information Booklet on Earthquake Preparedness is effective in terms of knowledge among the samples. The calculated‘t’ (13.92) is significantly greater than the tabulated ‘t’(1.68) so there is significant increase in the knowledge of samples after the administration of the Information Booklet on Earthquake Preparedness. For The Observational Checklist It is is revealed that the mean difference in the area related to the Arrangement of infrastructure and equipments is 6.25, in area related to Preparation of Emergency kit articles is 2.025, in area related to Communication Facility 3.75 and while area related to Round the clock inspection of medicine and repair of equipment is 0.53. Samples have gained more practice in the area related to Arrangement of infrastructure and equipments and Communication Facility .Obtained mean difference in all area of practice the calculated ‘t’ is greater than tabulated ‘t’(1.68) and so the investigator concluded that there is significant increase in the mean post test practice score as compared to the mean pre test practice score after the administration of an Information Booklet on Earthquake Preparedness which is statistically proved and so the null hypothesis Ho2 is rejected and research hypothesis H2 is accepted. Mean post test practice s core is higher than mean pre test practice score with the mean difference of 12.55 which is statistically proved that the Information Booklet on Earthquake Preparedness is effective in terms of practice among the samples. The calculated‘t’ (21.37) is significantly greater than the tabulated ‘t’(1.68) so there is significant increase in the practice of samples after the administration of the Information Booklet on Earthquake Preparedness. From all the above mentioned findings, it can be concluded that the administration of an Information Booklet was definite increase in both Knowledge and Practice of Staff Nurses. This clearly indicates that an Information Booklet on Earthquake Preparedness was effective in improving the Knowledge and Practice of the Samples. BIBLIOGRAPHY:- NEWSPAPERS â€Å"Coping with Calamities†. The Times of India, 31st January,2001. â€Å"Courses on Disaster Management Need Upgrading.† The Times of India, 18th January, 2002. â€Å"Networking Relief and Rehabilitation†. The Times of India, 30th January, 2001. â€Å"Press for Quack-Resistance Building Norms† The Times of India, 31st January, 2001. JOURNALES Anne G.H. Coping with Disaster. â€Å"American Journal of Nursing†. 1980 Dec; 80(4): 683. Berglin SL. Emergency Nurses in Community Disaster Planning. â€Å"Journal of Emergency Nursing†. 1990, 16(4): 290- 292. Bhatia, S.C., et. Al. â€Å"A Probabilistic Hazard map of India andAdjoining Regions†. Ann. Geofis, 1999, 42(6), 1153-1155. Bland, John. Superfluous to Requirement. â€Å"World Health†. 1991, 22(1), 17-20. Bittner, Patricia, Disaster Preparedness. â€Å"World Health†. 1991,22(1), 13. INTERNET www.who.int/disaster/repo/5522pdf prehospital disaster search www.redcross.int Disaster and triage http//206.39.77.2/DMCR/triage/rules.htm www.database .disaster BOOKS Best John w. â€Å"Research in Education†. New Delhi; prentice Hall of India Private Limited, 1992. B.T.Baswanthappa.â€Å"Nursing Theories†. 2ndEdition, Jaypee Brothers, New Delhi, 2005. B.T.Baswanthappa.â€Å"Nursing Research†. 2nd Edition, Jaypee Brothers, New Delhi, 2005. C.V.R Murty. â€Å"Preparing for Earthquakes: Where India Stands†. Vol 3, No.3, May 2000. Garrett, H. and K. Woodworth, R.S. â€Å"Statistics in Psychology and Evaluation†. Bombay: Vakils Feffers and Simons Ltd., 1981. Polite, D.F.. and Hungler, B.P. â€Å"Nursing Research; Principles and Methods†. Philadelphia: J.E. Lippincott Company, 1999. W.H.O, â€Å"Coping with Natural Disaster the Role of Local Health Personnel and the Community†, Geneva: WHO, 1989.

Baldwins Notes of a Native Son Essay -- James Baldwin

In My Father’s Eyes The essay â€Å"Notes of a Native Son† takes place at a very volatile time in history. The story was written during a time of hate and discrimination toward African Americans in the United States. James Baldwin, the author of this work is African American himself. His writing, along with his thoughts and ideas were greatly influenced by the events happening at the time. At the beginning of the essay, Baldwin makes a point to mention that it was the summer of 1943 and that race riots were occurring in Detroit. The story itself takes place in Harlem, a predominantly black area experiencing much of the hatred and inequalities that many African-Americans were facing throughout the country. This marks the beginning of a long narrative section that Baldwin introduces his readers to before going into any analysis at all. Throughout Baldwin’s essay he strategically weaves narrative, analytical, and argumentative selections together. The effect that Baldwin has on the reader when using this technique is extremely powerful. Baldwin combines both private and public affairs in this essay, which accentuates the analysis and argument sections throughout the work. Baldwin’s ability to shift between narrative and argument so smoothly goes hand in hand with the ideas and events that Baldwin discusses in his essay. He includes many powerful and symbolic binaries throughout the essay that help to develop the key themes and principles pertaining to his life. The most powerful and important binaries that appear in this essay are Life and Death. The key themes of Baldwin’s essay are love, hatred, rage, and anger. These themes quickly transform into recurring strands that Baldwin applies throughout his essay. These ... ... in the last paragraph of the essay. Here, he experiences an awakening. By combining heart and hatred in the same sentence, Baldwin weaves the terms that were once binaries into strands. He makes the terms fit together, rather than making them clash. Baldwin says, â€Å"This fight begins, however, in the heart and it now had been laid to my charge to keep my own heart free of hatred and despair" (84). It is his duty to free his heart of any hatred and despair that he has experienced. He comes to realize that injustice is commonplace among mankind and that he must continue to fight it. The fight begins in his heart, implying that he must let his heart be free of hatred and despair before he can begin to fight. Works Cited Baldwin, James. â€Å"Notes of a Native Son.† 1955. James Baldwin: Collected Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York: Library of America, 1998. 63-84.

The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 18 THE FUNERAL

I SPRINTED DOWN THE STAIRS AND THREW THE DOOR open. It was Jacob, of course. Even blind, Alice wasn't slow. He was standing about six feet back from the door, his nose wrinkled in distaste, but his face otherwise smoothmasklike. He didn't fool me; I could see the faint trembling of his hands. Hostility rolled off of him in waves. It brought back that awful afternoon when he'd chosen Sam over me, and I felt my chin jerk up defensively in response. Jacob's Rabbit idled by the curb with Jared behind the wheel and Embry in the passenger seat. I understood what this meant: they were afraid to let him come here alone. It made me sad, and a little annoyed. The Cullens weren't like that. â€Å"Hey,† I finally said when he didn't speak. Jake pursed his lips, still hanging back from the door. His eyes flickered across the front of the house. I ground my teeth. â€Å"She's not here. Do you need something?† He hesitated. â€Å"You're alone?† â€Å"Yes.† I sighed. â€Å"Can I talk to you a minute?† â€Å"Of course you can, Jacob. Come on in.† Jacob glanced over his shoulder at his friends in the car. I saw Embry shake his head just a tiny bit. For some reason, this bugged me to no end. My teeth clenched together again. â€Å"Chicken† I mumbled under my breath. Jake's eyes flashed back to me, his thick, black brows pushing into a furious angle over his deep-set eyes. His jaw set, and he marchedthere was no other way to describe the way he movedup the sidewalk and shrugged past me into the house. I locked gazes with first Jared and then EmbryI didn't like the hard way they eyed me; did they really think I would let anything hurt Jacobbefore I shut the door on them. Jacob was in the hall behind me, staring at the mess of blankets in the living room. â€Å"Slumber party?† he asked, his tone sarcastic. â€Å"Yeah,† I answered with the same level of acid. I didn't like Jacob when he acted this way. â€Å"What's it to you?† He wrinkled his nose again like he smelled something unpleasant. â€Å"Where's your ‘friend'?† I could hear the quotation marks in his tone. â€Å"She had some errands to run. Look, Jacob, what do you want?† Something about the room seemed to make him edgierhis long arms were quivering. He didn't answer my question. Instead he moved on to the kitchen, his restless eyes darting everywhere. I followed him. He paced back and forth along the short counter. â€Å"Hey,† I said, putting myself in his way. He stopped pacing and stared down at me. â€Å"What's your problem?† â€Å"I don't like having to be here.† That stung. I winced, and his eyes tightened. â€Å"Then I'm sorry you had to come,† I muttered. â€Å"Why don't you tell me what you need so you can leave?† â€Å"I just have to ask you a couple of questions. It shouldn't take long. We have to get back for the funeral.† â€Å"Okay. Get it over with then.† I was probably overdoing it with the antagonism, but I didn't want him to see how much this hurt. I knew I wasn't being fair. After all, I'd picked the bloodsucker over him last night. I'd hurt him first. He took a deep breath, and his trembling fingers were suddenly still. His face smoothed into a serene mask. â€Å"One of the Cullens is staying here with you,† he stated. â€Å"Yes. Alice Cullen.† He nodded thoughtfully. â€Å"How long is she here for?† â€Å"As long as she wants to be.† The belligerence was still there in my tone. â€Å"It's an open invitation.† â€Å"Do you think you could please explain to her about the other oneVictoria?† I paled. â€Å"I told her about that.† He nodded. â€Å"You should know that we can only watch our own lands with a Cullen here. You'll only be safe in La Push. I can't protect you here anymore.† â€Å"Okay,† I said in a small voice. He looked away then, out the back windows. He didn't continue. â€Å"Is that all?† He kept his eyes on the glass as he answered. â€Å"Just one more thing.† I waited, but he didn't continue. â€Å"Yes?† I finally prompted. â€Å"Are the rest of them coming back now?† he asked in a cool, quiet voice. It reminded me of Sam's always calm manner. Jacob was becoming more like Sam I wondered why that bothered me so much. Now I didn't speak. He looked back at my face with probing eyes. â€Å"Well?† he asked. He struggled to conceal the tension behind his serene expression. â€Å"No.† I said finally. Grudgingly. â€Å"They aren't coming back.† His expression didn't change. â€Å"Okay. That's all.† I glared at him, annoyance rekindled. â€Å"Well, run along now. Go tell Sam that the scary monsters aren't coming to get you.† â€Å"Okay,† he repeated, still calm. That seemed to be it. Jacob walked swiftly from the kitchen. I waited to hear the front door open, but I heard nothing. I could hear the clock over the stove ticking, and I marveled again at how quiet he'd become. What a disaster. How could I have alienated him so completely in such a short amount of time? Would he forgive me when Alice was gone? What if he didn't? I slumped against the counter and buried my face in my hands. How had I made such a mess of everything? But what could I have done differently? Even in hindsight, I couldn't think of any better way, any perfect course of action. â€Å"Bella ?† Jacob asked in a troubled voice. I pulled my face out of my hands to see Jacob hesitating in the kitchen doorway; he hadn't left when I'd thought. It was only when I saw the clear drops sparkling in my hands that I realized I was crying. Jacob's calm expression was gone; his face was anxious and unsure. He walked quickly back to stand in front of me, ducking his head so that his eyes were closer to being on the same level with mine. â€Å"Did it again, didn't I?† â€Å"Did what?† I asked, my voice cracking. â€Å"Broke my promise. Sorry.† â€Å"‘S'okay,† I mumbled. â€Å"I started it this time.† His face twisted. â€Å"I knew how you felt about them. It shouldn't have taken me by surprise like that.† I could see the revulsion in his eyes. I wanted to explain to him what Alice was really like, to defend her against the judgments he'd made, but something warned me that now was not the time. So I just said, â€Å"Sorry,† again. â€Å"Let's not worry about it, okay? She's just visiting, right? She'll leave, and things will go back to normal.† â€Å"Can't I be friends with you both at the same time?† I asked, my voice not hiding an ounce of the hurt I felt. He shook his head slowly. â€Å"No, I don't think you can.† I sniffed and stared at his big feet. â€Å"But you'll wait, right? You'll still be my friend, even though I love Alice, too?† I didn't look up, afraid to see what he'd think of that last part. It took him a minute to answer, so I was probably right not to look. â€Å"Yeah, I'll always be your friend,† he said gruffly. â€Å"No matter what you love.† â€Å"Promise?† â€Å"Promise.† I felt his arms wind around me, and I leaned against his chest, still sniffling. â€Å"This sucks.† â€Å"Yeah.† Then he sniffed my hair and said, â€Å"Ew.† â€Å"What?† I demanded. I looked up to see that his nose was wrinkled again. â€Å"Why does everyone keep doing that to me? I don't smell!† He smiled a little. â€Å"Yes, you doyou smell like them. Blech. Too sweetsickly sweet. And icy. It burns my nose.† â€Å"Really?† That was strange. Alice smelled unbelievably wonderful. To a human, anyway. â€Å"But why would Alice think I smelled, too, then?† That wiped his smile away. â€Å"Huh. Maybe I don't smell so good to her, either. Huh.† â€Å"Well, you both smell fine to me.† I rested my head against him again. I was going to miss him terribly when he walked out my door. It was a nasty catch-22on the one hand, I wanted Alice to stay forever. I was going to diemetaphoricallywhen she left me. But how was I supposed to go without seeing Jake for any length of time? What a mess, I thought again. â€Å"I'll miss you,† Jacob whispered, echoing my thoughts. â€Å"Every minute. I hope she leaves soon.† â€Å"It really doesn't have to be that way, Jake.† He sighed. â€Å"Yes, it really does. Bella. You love her. So I'd better not get anywhere near her. I'm not sure that I'm even-tempered enough to handle that. Sam would be mad if I broke the treaty, and†his voice turned sarcastic†you probably wouldn't like it too much if I killed your friend.† I recoiled from him when he said that, but he only tightened his arms, refusing to let me escape. â€Å"There's no point in avoiding the truth. That's the way things are, Bells.† â€Å"I do not like the way things are.† Jacob freed one arm so that he could cup his big brown hand under my chin and make me look at him. â€Å"Yeah. It was easier when we were both human, wasn't it?† I sighed. We stared at each other for a long moment. His hand smoldered against my skin. In my face, I knew there was nothing but wistful sadnessI didn't want to have to say goodbye now, no matter for how short a time. At first his face reflected mine, but then, as neither of us looked away, his expression changed. He released me, lifting his other hand to brush his fingertips along my cheek, trailing them down to my jaw. I could feel his fingers tremblenot with anger this time. He pressed his palm against my cheek, so that my face was trapped between his burning hands. â€Å"Bella,† he whispered. I was frozen. No! I hadn't made this decision yet. I didn't know if I could do this, and now I was out of time to think. But I would have been a fool if I thought rejecting him now would have no consequences. I stared back at him. He was not my Jacob, but he could be. His face was familiar and beloved. In so many real ways, I did love him. He was my comfort, my safe harbor. Right now, I could choose to have him belong to me. Alice was back for the moment, but that changed nothing. True love was forever lost. The prince was never coming back to kiss me awake from my enchanted sleep. I was not a princess, after all. So what was the fairy-tale protocol for other kisses? The mundane kind that didn't break any spells? Maybe it would be easylike holding his hand or having his arms around me. Maybe it would feel nice. Maybe it wouldn't feel like a betrayal. Besides, who was I betraying, anyway? Just myself. Keeping his eyes on mine, Jacob began to bend his face toward me. And I was still absolutely undecided. The shrill ring of the phone made us both jump, but it did not break his focus. He took his hand from under my chin and reached over me to grab the receiver, but still held my face securely with the hand against my cheek. His dark eyes did not free mine. I was too muddled to react, even to take advantage of the distraction. â€Å"Swan residence,† Jacob said, his husky voice low and intense. Someone answered, and Jacob altered in an instant. He straightened up, and his hand dropped from my face. His eyes went flat, his face blank, and I would have bet the measly remainder of my college f and that it was Alice. I recovered myself and held out my hand for the phone. Jacob ignored me. â€Å"He's not here,† Jacob said, and the words were menacing. There was some very short reply, a request for more information it seemed, because he added unwillingly, â€Å"He's at the funeral.† Then Jacob hung up the phone. â€Å"Filthy bloodsucker,† he muttered under his breath. The face he turned back to me was the bitter mask again. â€Å"Who did you just hang up on?† I gasped, infuriated. â€Å"In my house, and on my phone?† â€Å"Easy! He hung up on me!† â€Å"He? Who was it?!† He sneered the title. â€Å"Dr. Carlisle Cullen.† â€Å"Why didn't you let me talk to him?!† â€Å"He didn't ask for you,† Jacob said coldly. His face was smooth, expressionless, but his hands shook. â€Å"He asked where Charlie was and I told him. I don't think I broke any rules of etiquette.† â€Å"You listen to me, Jacob Black† But he obviously wasn't listening. He looked quickly over his shoulder, as if someone had called his name from the other room. His eyes went wide and his body stiff, then he started trembling. I listened too, automatically, but heard nothing. â€Å"Bye, Bells,† he spit out, and wheeled toward the front door. I ran after him. â€Å"What is it?† And then I ran into him, as he rocked back on his heels, cussing under his breath. He spun around again, knocking me sideways. I bobbled and fell to the floor, my legs tangled with his. â€Å"Shoot, ow!† I protested as he hurriedly jerked his legs free one at a time. I struggled to pull myself up as he darted for the back door; he suddenly froze again. Alice stood motionless at the foot of the stairs. â€Å"Bella,† she choked. I scrambled to my feet and lurched to her side. Her eyes were dazed and far away, her face drawn and whiter than bone. Her slim body trembled to an inner turmoil. â€Å"Alice, what's wrong?† I cried. I put my hands on her face, trying to calm her. Her eyes focused on mine abruptly, wide with pain. â€Å"Edward,† was all she whispered. My body reacted faster than my mind was able to catch up with the implications of her reply. I didn't at first understand why the room was spinning or where the hollow roar in my ears was coming from. My mind labored, unable to make sense of Alice's bleak face and how it could possibly relate to Edward, while my body was already swaying, seeking the relief of unconsciousness before the reality could hit me. The stairway tilted at the oddest angle. Jacob's furious voice was suddenly in my ear, hissing out a stream of profanities. I felt a vague disapproval. His new friends were clearly a bad influence. I was on the couch without understanding how I got there, and Jacob was still swearing. It felt like there was an earthquakethe couch was shaking under me. â€Å"What did you do to her?† he demanded. Alice ignored him. â€Å"Bella? Bella, snap out of it. We have to hurry.† â€Å"Stay back,† Jacob warned. â€Å"Calm down, Jacob Black,† Alice ordered. â€Å"You don't want to do that so close to her.† â€Å"I don't think I'll have any problem keeping my focus,† he retorted, but his voice sounded a little cooler. â€Å"Alice?† My voice was weak. â€Å"What happened?† I asked, even though I didn't want to hear. â€Å"I don't know,† she suddenly wailed. â€Å"What is he thinking?!† I labored to pull myself up despite the dizziness. I realized it was Jacob's arm I was gripping for balance. He was the one shaking, not the couch. Alice was pulling a small silver phone from her bag when my eyes relocated her. Her fingers dialed the numbers so fast they were a blur. â€Å"Rose, I need to talk to Carlisle now.† Her voice whipped through the words. â€Å"Fine, as soon as he's back. No, I'll be on a plane. Look, have you heard anything from Edward?† Alice paused now, listening with an expression that grew more appalled every second. Her mouth opened into a little O of horror, and the phone shook in her hand. â€Å"Why?† she gasped. â€Å"Why would you do that, Rosalie?† Whatever the answer was, it made her jaw tighten in anger. Her eyes flashed and narrowed. â€Å"Well, you're wrong on both counts, though, Rosalie, so that would be a problem, don't you think?† she asked acidly. â€Å"Yes, that's right. She's absolutely fineI was wrong It's a long story But you're wrong about that part, too, that's why I'm calling Yes, that's exactly what I saw.† Alice's voice was very hard and her lips were pulled back from her teeth. â€Å"It's a bit late for that, Rose. Save your remorse for someone who believes it.† Alice snapped the phone shut with a sharp twist of her fingers. Her eyes were tortured as she turned to face me. â€Å"Alice,† I blurted out quickly. I couldn't let her speak yet. I needed a few more seconds before she spoke and her words destroyed what was left of my life. â€Å"Alice, Carlisle is back, though. He called just before† She stared at me blankly. â€Å"How long ago?† she asked in a hollow voice. â€Å"Half a minute before you showed up.† â€Å"What did he say?† She really focused now, waiting for my answer. â€Å"I didn't talk to him.† My eyes flickered to Jacob. Alice turned her penetrating gaze on him. He flinched, but held his place next to me. He sit awkwardly, almost as if he were trying to shield me with his body. â€Å"He asked for Charlie, and I told him Charlie wasn't here,† Jacob muttered resentfully. â€Å"Is that everything?† Alice demanded, her voice like ice. â€Å"Then he hung up on me,† Jacob spit back. A tremor rolled down his spine, shaking me with it. â€Å"You told him Charlie was at the funeral,† I reminded him. Alice jerked her head back toward me â€Å"What were his exact words?† â€Å"He said, ‘He's not here,' and when Carlisle asked where Charlie was, Jacob said, ‘At the funeral.'† Alice moaned and sank to her knees. â€Å"Tell me Alice,† I whispered. â€Å"That wasn't Carlisle on the phone,† she said hopelessly. â€Å"Are you calling me a liar?† Jacob snarled from beside me. Alice ignored him, focusing on my bewildered face. â€Å"It was Edward.† The words were just a choked whisper. â€Å"He thinks you're dead.† My mind started to work again. These words weren't the ones I'd been afraid of, and the relief cleared my head. â€Å"Rosalie told him I killed myself, didn't she?† I said, sighing as I relaxed. â€Å"Yes,† Alice admitted, her eyes flashing hard again. â€Å"In her defense, she did believe it. They rely on my sight far too much for something that works so imperfectly. But for her to track him down to tell him this! Didn't she realize or care ?† Her voice faded away in horror. â€Å"And when Edward called here, he thought Jacob meant my funeral,† I realized. It stung to know how close I'd been, just inches away from his voice. My nails dug into Jacob's arm, but he didn't flinch. Alice looked at me strangely. â€Å"You're not upset,† she whispered. â€Å"Well, it's really rotten timing, but it will all get straightened out. The next time he calls, someone will tell him what really† I trailed off. Her gaze strangled the words in my throat. Why was she so panicked? Why was her face twisting now with pity and horror? What was it she had said to Rosalie on the phone just now? Something about what she'd seen and Rosalie's remorse; Rosalie would never feel remorse for anything that happened to me. But if she'd hurt her family, hurt her brother â€Å"Bella,† Alice whispered. â€Å"Edward won't call again. He believed her.† â€Å"I. Don't. Understand.† My mouth framed each word in silence. I couldn't push the air out to actually say the words that would make her explain what that meant. â€Å"He's going to Italy.† It took the length of one heartbeat for me to comprehend. When Edward's voice came back to me now, it was not the perfect imitation of my delusions. It was just the weak, flat tone of my memories. But the words alone were enough to shred through my chest and leave it gaping open. Words from a time when I would have bet everything that I owned or could borrow on that fact that he loved me. Well, I wasn't going to live without you, he'd said as we watched Romeo and Juliet die, here in this very room. But I wasn't sure how to do it I knew Emmett and Jasper would never help so I was thinking maybe I would go to Italy and do something to provoke the Volturi You don't irritate them. Not unless you want to die. Not unless you want to die. â€Å"NO!† The half-shrieked denial was so loud after the whispered words, it made us all jump. I felt the blood rushing to my face as I realized what she'd seen. â€Å"No! No, no, no! He can't! He can't do that!† â€Å"He made up his mind as soon as your friend confirmed that it was too late to save you.† â€Å"But he he left! He didn't want me anymore! What difference does it make now? He knew I would die sometime!† â€Å"I don't think he ever planned to outlive you by long,† Alice said quietly. â€Å"How dare he!† I screamed. I was on my feet now, and Jacob rose uncertainly to put himself between Alice and me again. â€Å"Oh, get out of the way, Jacob!† I elbowed my way around his trembling body with desperate impatience. â€Å"What do we do?† I begged Alice. There had to be something. â€Å"Can't we call him? Can Carlisle?† She was shaking her head. â€Å"That was the first thing I tried. He left his phone in a trash can in Riosomeone answered it† she whispered. â€Å"You said before we had to hurry. Hurry how? Let's do it, whatever it is!† â€Å"Bella, II don't think I can ask you to† She trailed off in indecision. â€Å"Ask me!† I commanded. She put her hands on my shoulders, holding me in place, her fingers flexing sporadically to emphasize her words. â€Å"We may already be too late. I saw him going to the Volturi and asking to die.† We both cringed, and my eyes were suddenly blind. I blinked feverishly at the tears. â€Å"It all depends on what they choose. I can't see that till they make a decision. â€Å"But if they say no, and they mightAro is fond of Carlisle, and wouldn't want to offend himEdward has a backup plan. They're very protective of their city. If Edward does something to upset the peace, he thinks they'll act to stop him. And he's right. They will.† I stared at her with my jaw clenched in frustration. I'd heard nothing yet that would explain why we were still standing here. â€Å"So if they agree to grant his favor, we're too late. If they say no, and he comes up with a plan to offend them quickly enough, we're too late. If he gives into his more theatrical tendencies we might have time.† â€Å"Let's go!† â€Å"Listen, Bella! Whether we are in time or not, we will be in the heart of the Volturi city. I will be considered his accomplice if he is successful. You will be a human who not only knows too much, but also smells too good. There's a very good chance that they will eliminate us allthough in your case it won't be punishment so much as dinnertime.† â€Å"This is what's keeping us here?† I asked in disbelief. â€Å"I'll go alone if you're afraid.† I mentally tabulated what money was left in my account, and wondered if Alice would lend me the rest. â€Å"I'm only afraid of getting you killed.† I snorted in disgust. â€Å"I almost get myself killed on a daily basis! Tell me what I need to do!† â€Å"You write a note to Charlie. I'll call the airlines.† â€Å"Charlie,† I gasped. Not that my presence was protecting him, but could I leave him here alone to face â€Å"I'm not going to let anything happen to Charlie.† Jacob's low voice was gruff and angry. â€Å"Screw the treaty.† I glanced up at him, and he scowled at my panicked expression. â€Å"Hurry, Bella,† Alice interrupted urgently. I ran to the kitchen, yanking the drawers open and throwing the contents all over the floor as I searched for a pen. A smooth, brown hand held one out to me. â€Å"Thanks,† I mumbled, pulling the cap off with my teeth. He silently handed me the pad of paper we wrote phone messages on. I tore off the top sheet and threw it over my shoulder. Dad, I wrote. I'm with Alice. Edward's in trouble. You can ground me when I get back. I know it's a bad time. So sorry. Love you so much. Bella. â€Å"Don't go,† Jacob whispered. The anger was all gone now that Alice was out of sight. I wasn't about to waste time arguing with him. â€Å"Please, please, please take care of Charlie,† I said as I dashed back out to the front room. Alice was waiting in the doorway with a bag over her shoulder. â€Å"Get your walletyou'll need ID. Please tell me you have a passport. I don't have time to forge one.† I nodded and then raced up the stairs, my knees weak with gratitude that my mother had wanted to marry Phil on a beach in Mexico. Of course, like all her plans, it had fallen through. But not before I'd made all the practical arrangements I could for her. I tore through my room. I stuffed my old wallet, a clean T-shirt, and sweatpants into my backpack, and then threw my toothbrush on top. I hurled myself back down the stairs. The sense of deja vu was nearly stifling by this point. At least, unlike the last timewhen I'd run away from Forks to escape thirsty vampires rather than to find themI wouldn't have to say goodbye to Charlie in person. Jacob and Alice were locked in some kind of confrontation in front of the open door, standing so far apart you wouldn't assume at first that they were having a conversation. Neither one seemed to notice my noisy reappearance. â€Å"You might control yourself on occasion, but these leeches you're taking her to† Jacob was furiously accusing her. â€Å"Yes. You're right, dog.† Alice was snarling, too. â€Å"The Volturi are the very essence of our kindthey're the reason your hair stands on end when you smell me. They are the substance of your nightmares, the dread behind your instincts. I'm not unaware of that.† â€Å"And you take her to them like a bottle of wine for a party!† he shouted. â€Å"You think she'd be better off if I left her here alone, with Victoria stalking her?† â€Å"We can handle the redhead.† â€Å"Then why is she still hunting?† Jacob growled, and a shudder rippled through his torso. â€Å"Stop that!† I shouted at them both, wild with impatience. â€Å"Argue when we get back, let's go!† Alice turned for the car, disappearing in her haste. I hurried after her, pausing automatically to turn and lock the door. Jacob caught my arm with a shivering hand. â€Å"Please, Bella. I'm begging.† His dark eyes were glistening with tears. A lump filled my throat. â€Å"Jake, I have to† â€Å"You don't, though. You really don't. You could stay here with me. You could stay alive. For Charlie. For me.† The engine of Carlisle's Mercedes purred; the rhythm of the thrumming spiked when Alice revved it impatiently. I shook my head, tears spattering from my eyes with the sharp motion. I pulled my arm free, and he didn't fight me. â€Å"Don't die, Bella,† he choked out. â€Å"Don't go. Don't.† What if I never saw him again? The thought pushed me past the silent tears; a sob broke out from my chest. I threw my arms around his waist and hugged for one too-short moment, burying my tear-wet face against his chest. He put his big hand on the back of my hair, as if to hold me there. â€Å"Bye, Jake.† I pulled his hand from my hair, and kissed his palm. I couldn't bear to look at his face. â€Å"Sorry,† I whispered. Then I spun and raced for the car. The door on the passenger side was open and waiting. I threw my backpack over the headrest and slid in, slamming the door behind me. â€Å"Take care of Charlie!† I turned to shout out the window, but Jacob was nowhere in sight. As Alice stomped on the gas andwith the tires screeching like human screamsspun us around to face the road, I caught sight of a shred of white near the edge of the trees. A piece of a shoe.

The Snows of Kilimanjaro and The Short, Happy Life of...

Ernest Hemingway was an intricate and dedicated writer who devoted a significant portion of his life to writing multiple genres of stories. Throughout his stories, the similarities in his style and technique are easily noted and identified. Two of the short stories he wrote contain themes and motifs that specifically explain the plotline. The first story, â€Å"The Snows of Kilimanjaro,† sets its scene in the depths of a desolate area in Africa, where the main characters, Harry and his wife, decide to make their home. After living there for a few years, Harry ventures out and falls into a thorn bush, thus infecting his leg with gangrene. A few weeks later, he finds himself on the brink between life and death, unable to treat such a severe†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber† also contains the theme of arduous moral situations for the characters. Margot, the wife of Francis, is challenged by the temptation to have relations with their tour guide. Eventually, she commits the crime of adultery, and her husband finds out about her crime and is deeply shaken. â€Å"‘Well, why doesn’t he keep his wife where she belongs? What does he think I am, a bloody plaster saint? Let him keep her where she belongs. It’s his own fault’† (Hemingway 13). By the tone of Wilson thoughts, it is inferred that he is not able to find fault in himself and decides to blame it on the most vulnerable person, Francis. In spite of Wilson being the only man to blame for this whole incident, Margot can also take part of the blame. She appears to be a faithful and caring wife, but her actions do not justify this statement. As stated in Short Stories for Students: The phrase ‘well-kept’ is particularly revealing in its multiple meanings. On one hand, Margot is fashionable and presents herself well. Furthermore, she is ‘kept’ by her husband in a state of luxurious affluence. Ironically, she is not ‘well-kept’ by her husband at all, as she freely and unapologetically commits adultery. Her marriage to Francis Macomber is obviously not a happy one. (â€Å"‘Short Happy’† 214) Margot is a fundamental aspect in the sense that her decisions affectShow MoreRelatedThemes Of The Snows Of Kilimanjaro And The Short Happy Life Of Francis Macomber 1535 Words   |  7 Pagesand thoughts like men and masculinity from a character to showing his self-confidence or beliefs, death from meaningless of life, fatalistic heroism like the character, Schatz from the book, â€Å"A Day’s Wait† and nature from the leopard’s skeleton in mountain and hunting the buffalo in safari (Africa) in â€Å"The Snows of Kilimanjaro† and â€Å"The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber† or other books. Hemingway puts the meaningful themes and symbols through his experience and thoughts. There are major importantRead MoreEssay on Short stories1134 Words   |  5 Pages Essay nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The short stories â€Å"The Snows of Kilimanjaro† and â€Å"The Short Happy Life of Francis Mocomber† were both written by world renowned author Ernest Hemingway. The two stories are written completely unrelated to each other; however, both stories have vast similarities in the time and place in which they take place. Hemingway is a writer that is very methodical in his word choices. When reading these two stories a second time the reader finds considerable differencesRead MoreErnest Hemingway: A Brief Biography 1210 Words   |  5 PagesAmericans in Paris. In one writing of Hemingway, it reads, â€Å"In the nearly sixty two years of his life that followed he forged a literary reputation unsurpassed in the twentieth century† (LostGeneration). During this time, he wrote some of his most important and successful works of literature. Ernest Hemingway is one of the most influential writers of his time. One biography of him said, â€Å"His n ovels and short fictions have left an indelible mark on the literary production of the United States and theRead MoreThe Theme Of Masculinity In The Short Happy Life Of Ernest Hemingway1689 Words   |  7 Pagescharacter to showing his self-confidence, death from alcohol which is showing the self-injury, fatalistic heroism like the character, Schatz from the book, A Day’s Wait and nature from mountain and safari (Africa) in The Snows of Kilimanjaro and The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber or other books. Hemingway puts the meaningful themes and symbols through his experience and thoughts. There are major important themes in Hemingway’s books. First, men and masculinity is a main theme that comes from Hemingway’sRead More Review Of Ernest Hemingway And Writings Essay1503 Words   |  7 Pagesand Writings nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American novelest and short-story writer whose writings and personal life exerted a profound influence on American writers of his time and thereafter. Many of his works are regarded as American classics, and some have subsequently been made into motion pictures. A review of Hemingway reveals many interesting points about his life, about the influences upon his works, and of the the themes and styles of his writings. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;AnRead MoreTaking a Look at Ernest Hemingway1167 Words   |  5 PagesErnest Hemingway Research Paper Ernest Hemingway was an extraordinary individual. There was a lot more to his life than most readers know about. His writing was influenced by the lifestyle that he led. Hemingway was an adventurous person that liked to live life to its fullest. Just like everyone, he made decisions that were both good and bad, and his decisions and actions shaped his writing style. Hemmingway found a great deal of success and his career was topped off with him being awarded theRead MoreAlcohol and Despair Depicted in Ernest Hemingways Short Stories2611 Words   |  11 PagesThroughout the short stories of Ernest Hemingway, alcohol inevitably lends its company to situations in which desperation already resides. In an examination of his earlier works, such as In Our Time, a comparison to later collections reveals the constant presence of alcohol where hopelessness prevails. The nature of the hopelessness, the desperation, changes from his earlier works to his later pieces, but its source remains th e same: potential, or promise of the future causes a great deal of trepidationRead More hemingway Essay1427 Words   |  6 PagesIllinois. He committed suicide in 1961 in Ketchum, Idaho (Burges 17). Even today Hemingway is one of the most recognized authors in the world. Hemingway’s experiences during World War I are directly shown in many of his works. His general outlook on life is reflected in the adventures of his characters. It is clear that Hemingway had a desire to be part of the war even though, due to bad vision he was unable to enlist in the army and fight in the war. Instead he lied about his age and went to ItalyRead MoreResearch Paper On Ernest Hemingway1640 Words   |  7 Pagescom/plagiarism_checker/show_full/f9b44ec8d07565b Bella Calcara Mr. Balistreri Research Paper 15 September 2017 Ernest Hemingway Although Ernest Hemingway might be an older author, he has written some classic novels, such as The Old Man and the Sea and For Whom the Bell Tolls. This American short story writer and novelist was around years ago. Born in 1899, Ernest was raised by his parents, Clarence and Grace Hemingway. Growing up, Ernest and his parents loved to spend time away from their home in Chicago, Illinois. The family owned a cabinRead MoreThe Lost Generation By Ernest Hemingway1922 Words   |  8 Pagesgeneration. Among the writers, there was Earnest Hemingway. Married four times, he was one of the many writers known to use his life experiences as a plot to his fictional work. With the many different women he had in his life he was able to use his experiences with them and create simplicity masterpieces. Hemingway’s â€Å"Hills like White Elephants† was one of many short stories that amplified the lost generation living styles in a very simple writing style. Ernest Hemingway was born in 1899, in