Michael+D

**Siblings:1 brother**
 * Hi, my name is Michael Di Mattia **
 * Grade: 7**
 * Best Holiday: Christmas **
 * Birth Month: December **
 * Career Goals: Teacher **
 * Favorite Kind of Music: Techno Music **
 * Favorite Food: Chicken Cutlets **
 * Favorite Munchies: Fritos **
 * Favorite soft drink: Sprite **
 * Favorite Subject: Math **
 * Pet Peeve: Homework **
 * Heritage: Italian - American**

Feel free to upload your podcast or a picture if you like.


 * __ Rich Meets Poor __**

“Dinner Time! We are having hamburgers and salad.” Christine said as it was dinnertime in the Johnson household in sunny Miami, Florida. Eric, who had just come back from school and was then playing the new system that is supposed to come out in three days, runs up the stairs ready to eat. James had just came from a basketball scrimmage and was at the table reading a newspaper. Christine set the table and put the hamburgers and salad on the table. They all sat down and went on eating like they never saw food before. The family always does that for Christine is a famous chef with a television show on the food network. After dinner, the family would always have a talk about their day, what is going to happen tomorrow, and if there is an emergency where something usual cannot happen tomorrow. “So, today we had a scrimmage against the New York team. We beat them sixty two to fifty one. I scored twenty one of our points today.” James said. Christine then continued, “Oh, that is great honey. I cooked up a mean chicken pot pie today and I put a smile on my taster’s face. It was so exciting. How was your day, Eric?” Eric looked up while engulfing his hamburger. “It was the usual everyday, humdrum routine, but not tomorrow! Tomorrow is the day my favorite video game is going to come out and I need it. Can you guys get it for me? It would make me super happy!” Both parents looked at each other in a worried way. Then James said, “Well, I hope your mother can get it for you because I have a big game tomorrow. We are facing our biggest rivals ever! I can’t wait!” Eric looked at him angry. “Well. . . What I mean is that I am psyched about the game, but I am really sad that I have to miss getting your game for you,” James said, trying to save himself. Then Christine said, “ I am really, truly sorry, but I have a big cook off tomorrow with Bobby Flay and I cannot miss this opportunity. Maybe I’ll get it tomorrow for you, okay?” Then Eric went histerically crying. The sound penetrated everyone’s ears so much that James might even need a hearing aid now.” Here we go again. This kid will cry for years unless he does not get what he wants,” James try to say over the bawling. “Oh, all right. I will get your game for you. Just stop crying already.” Eric was delighted as he went downstairs to watch television. “I don’t know how I am ever going to get him to stop whining about a game. It is getting to my nerves.” James said, while as if steam was coming out of his head. Christine added, “I know. That boy is spoiled and we need to teach him a lesson, but for now, let him have what he wants.” Then Christine left to her room and James went to watch television with Eric. It was a Saturday morning and Eric woke everyone up. “Wake up! Wake up! Time to get my new video game! C’mon.” Both Christine and James were very sleepy and realized that it was 6;00 in the morning. “ERIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,” James shouted as he was laying in bed very angry about what he did. Eric ran up to James’ room and happily said, “What’s up, daddy?” James furiously said, “Do you see what time it is? Yeah, yeah, IT IS SIX O’ CLOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why are you waking us up at six o’ clock!! I play basketball twenty four-seven just so we can have some money around this house and to keep me energized and playing everyday, I need a good night sleep. If I don’t get a good night sleep, I will be very cranky and I won’t play as good. So GO BACK TO SLEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Eric was heart broken. He never got yelled at his father in his whole life. He went downstairs and went to eat breakfast in sadness. “I do not understand. That boy is too energetic every time he wants something. It is insane,” James said. He felt he was right, but inside, he felt he should have at least talked to him instead of yelling. He got up from the bed and when to the bathroom in silence. The whole house was silent instead of the usual days where Eric wants to get something new. All the screaming of excitement all faded away as Eric lay in his bed thinking and, once in a while, crying. James did not speak a word to anyone and went to the basketball practice that was before the game. Christine was also getting ready for work and the big coo –off. Then time went by fast as dinner came around fast. James lost his basketball game and Christine lost to Bobby Flay. Chicken cutlets were being passed around the dinner table in complete and utter silence. James ate his chicken cutlets and left to watch T.V. Eric left his plate full of chicken. He wasn’t hungry and left to his room. Pretty soon, Christine was the only one in the kitchen eating. It is 9:00 and Eric was still in his bed downtrodden. James came in and sat on the edge of the bed. Eric started by saying, “Dad. . . I’m sorry for this morning. I couldn’t contain myself. This was the first game I ever wanted so much, more than any other game. I am sorry if I bothered you.” James saw the forgiveness in Eric’s eyes. “Listen, I want you to be more respectful and more obedient. That wasn’t very nice what you did this morning and all the other time. Sooner or later, you are going to drive us crazy. So, when you want something, don’t start crying when your mother and I don’t have time to get it and start jumping up and down in the morning when we get the game for you. Do you understand?” Eric nodded. “Alright, now get some sleep.” James closed the lights and Eric fell asleep, happy. Sunday morning, Eric didn’t wake up until a doorbell rang. James went to go answer it. Eric got up and saw a note on top of an object. He lifted the note and saw his game he wanted yesterday. Eric was surprised, but most of all, happy. He opened the note and it was from his father:

Dear Eric, I got the game for you because I know you wanted it so badly. Listen, like I said last night, if you want a game, just be cool and ask. I’ll gladly get it for you if you don’t bounce around the house, not that I don’t like your spirit. And hey, maybe I will play a few rounds with you. From, Dad

Eric was crying happy that his father did that for him. He ran down to hug James when suddenly, Eric saw both of his parents on the couch crying. Eric slowly went to them and asked, “What happened?” James answered, “Well, you see, two men came. They were both your mom and mine’s boses. They told us,” James sighed, “. . . We both got fired right on the spot. Your mom got fired because they found a new replacement, and I got fired because my statistics went down faster than the stocks during an economic crisis. But worst of all, they are taking all of our money for our poor display. I’m very sorry, but for now, nobody can buy anything but the necessary things like food. Even the mansion is being taken away in the morning. This is horrible.” Both James and Christine were devastated with the news and started to cry. Eric left the room to his room. He thought how hard it was going to be without and money nor a place to live. “How will we eat? How will we live? This is going to be one crazy rollercoaster. But if anything, I must help my parents. They gave me everything I wanted and more. I have to help them, no matter what.” The next day came by in a flash. The family watched as the mansion was being torn down to shreds until it was in small pieces to haul to the dump. The old bosses of James and Christine were “generous” and gave them their pay for the end of the week and a new apartment in Cleveland, Ohio. They took about forty buses and twenty cabs just to get their because the plane would waste too much money. They walked in the big apartment building and saw the lobby man. He didn’t bother talking because he new they were superstars and he got a call saying that they would come here. The lobby man gave them the key and said, “Room 112.” Christine thanked him and they went up the elevator to the third floor. They opened the door to their apartment. It was a cramped apartment with two twin bedrooms, a T.V., and a bathroom. The bed was a light blue and the bathroom was a brown color with one toilet, one sink, and one shower. “What a apartment! And I thought for a second that our bosses would be nice to us,” James said. It was 9:00 at night, so the family only unpacked their pajamas and each took a shower. Eric was watching T.V. when this commercial came on. The commercial was about a job offering to any age right near the apartment they live in now. It was a flower selling business about three miles from the apartment building. This was just the opportunity Eric can get to regain his family’s money back. Then it was time to go to sleep. Eric slept in bed with one big and proud smile. The next day, Eric asked his mother, “Can I get something I really want that doesn’t cost any money. It might take some time, though. Please?” Since the family did not have any plans, Christine nodded and Eric stormed out of the apartment. “Be careful,” Christine said as he was going down the elevator. “I hope I didn’t do the wrong thing.” Eric copied down the address last night so he knew where to go. He ran down the street, but quickly tip – toed around his parent’s apartment window. Luckily, Eric was not caught. He ran down the street and saw the flower shop. The shop was painted yellow with beautiful flowers on the windowsill. He walked in and saw the clerk ordering the flowers in order of flower color. He walked in and asked the lady that he wants to apply for the job. The lady replied, “So, you want to apply for the job, huh? Let me see through my filing cabinet to see if you have a challenge against somebody else.” The lady went back into her office. Eric looked around the room. All the flowers here were so different and complex. Some were blue, some were red, some were purple, some were pointed, some were out in the open, and some were like Eric never seen before. He felt if he took this job, this would be a new and crazy experience for him. The lady came back and then Eric realized: What if she is mean!? He started to get worried and then the lady said, “Alright, you are hired. No one else wanted the job. Of course though, we still have to test if you are the right material for the job. Oh, by the way, my name is Livia.” Eric had a feeling that she was not mean after all. He followed her into the front were lots of flowers, six pots, potting soil, and a watering can. “Your first test is to make six flower sets. Make them beautiful.” Livia put an emphasis on beautiful, which Eric still did not get it. He fixed the flowers perfectly and he did not even know it. Livia was surprised that a boy like Eric would know anything about flowers. She told Eric that he passed and his first job was to fix up the flowers in the morning, times when they didn’t meet the expectations and weren’t perfect enough, according to Livia, and at the end of the day. Eric was also supposed to water the flowers and take care of them as well. Then when new flowers came to the shop, Eric was in charge of bringing in the flowers and taking care of them until it is ready to be sold. Then Eric asked, “You did all of this by yourself when nobody was around! That is a lot of work. I don’t think I can even do my job.” Livia answered, “It takes time and practice. Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. By the way, you will be paid minimum wage, which is about two dollars an hour and you work ten hours a day. You start tomorrow. I’ll see you then.” She then left me to take over the cash register. I ran back home only to find my parents on the couch watching television so sad. “What’s wrong?” I asked. James said, “Well, you see, we have no money to buy food or go to a restaurant. We have no dinner.” Eric and his stomach went into a shock. How could they go without a meal? Eric went up to his bed to go to sleep so that the next day. Then Eric thought to himself, “How are we going to survive with only twenty dollars every day. This is one sticky and dangerous situation. No food, no bowling alley, no gaming systems, and not even a T.V. with more than seven channels. I hope my new job helps us. You know what they say, ‘Every little bit helps.’ At least, I hope so.” Then Eric fell fast asleep. The next morning, not even a simple cereal bowl was made. Everyone, especially James, in the family starved. Eric told his parents that a new and free “club” came into town and he really wants to do it. Christine coughed and said, “OK, son. Whatever makes you happy that is free.” Eric then ran down the street to the flower shop. Livia was waiting for him so they could open the shop. Eric got all the flowers ready and Livia got her counter all ready. She then opened the door. No one came. “Does this happen all the time?” Eric asked. Livia, saddened, said, “Yeah, it kind of does. But people start to come in. See?” A flood of people came in and started buying flowers, but most of all, talking to me. Livia was helping the customers check out, with a big smile on her face. All the people came in and said hello to Eric constantly. It was like Eric attracted all these customers into the flower shop. Then Livia announces, "All you people can buy one flower plant today and you can get the chance to talk to Eric Smith, son of famous basketball player James Smith and chef Christine Smith." That is when the shop was filled with people coming to see Eric. At the end of the day, Livia was so happy with the money she made today thanks to Eric. Eric went to his apartment and saw his mom and dad, still depressed, eating a nice family meal. Christrine said, "Well, how was that thing you were doing today that took all day to do." Eric responded, "I had lots of fun, but I want to talk to you about it. I might have to go there every day besides Sunday because the requirements demand it. I always have a lot of fun there and I would love to go there every day, but I would most likely come home around this time and even later. Will you let me?" This time Eric did not say, "OK," and run off like he would usually do with games and stuff he wanted because this was serious business, There were two roads to the Smith family and it all depended on Eric's parents. Would James and Christine accept Eric's proposal and let him gain money for the family or will they reject him and they will be stuck in the apartment looking for ways to gain money and being scrimp. "OK, fine. Since you have a lot of fun and it is free," James said. Eric jumped with joy and ran to his room for a good night sleep. Starting everyday, Eric would work in the flower shop with Livia every day and pretend with his mom that he went to camp. Every Friday, Eric gets the check for ten dollars and runs back home to his bedroom where he would then put the check in a box founnd in his closet when he first moved there. It has been about seven months since Eric started working and today was the day that he would tell the truth to his parents and show him the check for one thousand dollars he raised at the flower shop. The family was around the table eating their little food when Eric started, "Listen, there is something I want to tell you. The free camp that I have been going to was not a camp. It was a flower shop where I went to work to raise money to get us back on track again. All the money I earned is in this box and I hope this is enough to get us settle in as usual again." James was surprised, while Christine bursted out, "You think that I would let it off easy and take the money!! You could have been in danger working. Especially working in public. Somebody could easily kidnap you for the reason that you are the son of us." Christine was angry at Eric and James told her to get some sleep while he would talk with Eric. "Listen, son. I do not care how much money you make for the family. No money in the world can match with the importance of your safety. I love you and wouldn't want anything to happen to you." James said. He opened the box and saw all the checks for ten dollars. "Well, this is quite a lot of money you have. This deserves a reward. How about a punishment set to a month of no television." Eric responded, "I accept the punishment and I hope you are happy with the money I earned. I definently learned something from this. That is to be happy with what you have." The family then lived in the apartment with a good living for the rest of their lives.

Questions for Peer Reviewers

1. Think of plot—is it original? (If an adaptation, is it creative or interesting to you?) What suggestions do you have for the author(s)?

The plot of your story is really original and I thought that it was very interesting. I would have to say that you do have a beginning and a middle but you do not have an end the story needs the end. Do they get the money to live and get food or does the job not help.

2. Think about problems that the characters face. Are there complications that add enough suspense, tension, or interest? Is there a climax that satisfies you? Is the resolution satisfying? What could be added or changed?

There is a problem in the story because they don't have enough money and I think that the climax was really strong and it kept me hooked on the story so I wanted to finish it, but like I said there is no resolution to the story because you don't have and end.

3. Think of characterization—are the characters life-like? Are characters likable and enjoyable? Do we get a good sense of character from many of these: description, dialogue, narrator's opinion, discussion from other characters, the character’s own actions?

The characters are a little life like but i don't think that the crying parts are really realistic but other than that the characters are enjoyable. But at the same time you could describe the characters a little more in your writing.

4. Think of imagery and details. Do they help you //see// and //hear// and //experience// the story? What details would you like to see in the next revision of the story?

Yes i have images in the story most of all because you have excellent description of the actions that happen in the story. I would like to see a end in the next revision of the story as well as more description of the characters at the beginning for the parents even though they are minor characters.

5. What areas of the story need the most improvement? What suggestions do you have for the author?

I think that you should ad more description at the end a little because you were really strong and powerful at the beginning of the story and then you kind of faded of a little it is probably because you just wanted to finish it like I always do.

Edited by: ISKL Souad

1. Think of plot—is it original? (If an adaptation, is it creative or interesting to you?) What suggestions do you have for the author(s)?

2. Think about problems that the characters face. Are there complications that add enough suspense, tension, or interest? Is there a climax that satisfies you? Is the resolution satisfying? What could be added or changed?

3. Think of characterization—are the characters life-like? Are characters likable and enjoyable? Do we get a good sense of character from many of these: description, dialogue, narrator's opinion, discussion from other characters, the character’s own actions?

4. Think of imagery and details. Do they help you //see// and //hear// and //experience// the story? What details would you like to see in the next revision of the story?

5. What areas of the story need the most improvement? What suggestions do you have for the author?

1. Think of plot—is it original? (If an adaptation, is it creative or interesting to you?) What suggestions do you have for the author(s)?

2. Think about problems that the characters face. Are there complications that add enough suspense, tension, or interest? Is there a climax that satisfies you? Is the resolution satisfying? What could be added or changed?

3. Think of characterization—are the characters life-like? Are characters likable and enjoyable? Do we get a good sense of character from many of these: description, dialogue, narrator's opinion, discussion from other characters, the character’s own actions?

4. Think of imagery and details. Do they help you //see// and //hear// and //experience// the story? What details would you like to see in the next revision of the story?

5. What areas of the story need the most improvement? What suggestions do you have for the author?