Cupcake Leavening Methods Essay Example for Free

Cupcake Leavening Methods Essay I have found three that I will test in order to find which produces the fluffiest, or least dense, batch of cupcakes. They allow for a greater leavening, or increase of volume of baking dough caused by the formation of gas bubbles. The methods to create this effect on the cupcakes are using egg whites only, mixing each ingredient separately before adding them to the mixture, and adding a teaspoon of corn starch to the mix. Eggs are a necessary ingredient to nearly any baked good. However, the two parts of the egg, the yolk and the white, have very different compositions. Egg yolks are high in fat, while the whites contain a great amount of protein. Fats interfere with the proteins ability to form bonds and trap air, keeping them from becoming as fluffy as they could be. However, whipping egg whites on their own mixes air into the whites and disarranges their protein molecules. The protein molecules are usually in clusters. Whipping causes them to stretch out and link together, trapping the air into tiny bubbles. Thus, using the egg whites on their own allows the proteins to whip up to their fullest potential height. A simpler method of decreasing the density of a batch of cupcakes is to mix each ingredient separately before adding them all together. By putting all dry ingredients into a bowl and whisking them until there are no lumps you are lightening the cake mix. Also, one should mix the eggs before their addition because this adds many small bubbles to them, which will cause bubbles to also be in the cupcakes, thereby making them light and fluffy. Finally, it is said that adding a teaspoon of cornstarch to your cupcakes before baking them will allow for extra lightness. Cornstarch is made from the endosperm of corn or wheat. It is used in baking as a leavening agent. It includes starch, which absorbs moisture and lets the little bubbles to form more easily in the batter during baking. Cornstarch does not contain any gluten, which is a strong and stretchy protein that gives baked goods a very solid structure. As temperature rises while the cupcakes bake, the cornstarch cause gas molecules to move farther apart, thus expanding air cells. This reaction will give the cupcakes the desired fluffiness. An important part of my experimentation will be determining the density of each cupcake. The formula for finding density is Density=Mass/Volume. In order to find the density, however, I must first find the mass and volume. Using a triple beam balance I can find the mass, but the volume will be more complicated. I have determined that the easiest way to calculate the volume would be to hypothetically separate each cupcake into thin segments by increments of approximately one centimeter. Then, I will have many approximate cylinders sitting on top of each other. Next, all I must do is measure the circumference of each cylinder, use that number to calculate the radius, and input that radius into the formula for finding the volume of a cylinder: Volume=? *radius^2*height. By adding the volume of each cylinder I can find the volume of the entire cupcake. I will do this to each cupcake in each batch and use the volume to determine the densities. Then, the batch with the lowest average density of cupcake is the one with the most effective method. Using all this research, I have hypothesized that the cornstarch will do the greatest amount of leavening.

Positive Focused Strategic Leadership Business Essay

Positive Focused Strategic Leadership Business Essay Mark Zuckerberg has shown himself to be a visionary leader, and it is that vision and the willingness to face whatever was put in front of him that has made Facebook the fastest growing social network website on the planet. Zuckerberg is not leading these events alone. In fact, fellow executives and video presentations are playing a significant part in the briefings. But there is no doubt that he is the main attraction. He is the person that potential investors most want to see. Although Zuckerberg is one of those CEOs who symbolize the values of his organization, he also appears keen that his colleagues do the same. Sharing leadership responsibility is a critical challenge for any CEO during a period of growth or change. Although investors are attracted to Zuckerberg and are expected to flock to the IPO, many will be feeling nervous about whether his leadership style can adapt to meet the needs of shareholders. Amongst his admirers are those who feel uneasy about his majority control and are unsure about his strategic focus. The CEO appears to be skilled at connecting with a wide range of people and balances openness, informality and a bit of nerdy quirkiness with structure and ambition. He has said in the past that he is here to build something for the long term. Zuckerberg has made mistakes. He has talked openly about them and learned from them. For example, privacy issues with the introduction of Facebooks first news feed led to one user starting a group called Students against Facebook news feed which quickly gained 750,000 users in one what. What did Zuckerberg do? He personally apologized to the groups founder and asked him for advice. He made new allies and turned a PR disaster into a positive story, which only encouraged people to engage with Facebook even more enthusiastically. Positive Focused Strategic Leadership The concept of PFSL suggests a hybrid of positive psychology and strategic leadership, which can replace Zuckerbergs Transactional style. Business leaders must also be psychological practitioners that analyze their own management techniques. Management could be argued to be a second condition of leadership, requiring leaders to have genuine human experiences when interacting with their workforce. This means at some point a leader manages someone or something. The main question is how does one lead and manage at the same time? Perhaps this question is best answered through the concept of positive psychology. Transactional Leadership To better understand the theoretical concept of any leadership style, it is imperative not to hold an intrinsic value to one notion because social sciences warrant the need for it. This means that there are no absolutes in leadership theory that best identifies a leader. Rather there is contrast and spectrums of various theoretical models and integrations. However, TL theory is based on contingent rewards for subordinates by controlling behaviors via leaders expectations. In contrast, the leaders expectations are ultimately fulfilled by what is best for him or her as the overarching goal of the group. This means the underlining motive of both leaders and subordinates are solely based on contingencies (e.g. money) and values individualism. Therefore, it can be argued that this does not serve as an ideal model for sustainability. A Leadership Analysis of Mark Zuckerberg Founder and CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerbergs leadership style through a case study format as a contrast between trait and process leadership approaches. These approaches are also compared to Zuckerbergs transactional leadership (TL) style, which is considered to be negative one. A guideline on how Zuckerberg can maintain his position of power and influence through Positive Focus Strategic Leadership (PFSL) is also discussed as a replacement leadership approach. PFSL is a synthesis of positive and strategic leadership psychological theories. This analysis and application is imperative because Zuckerberg has recently emerged as one of the major global financial leaders, as Facebooks CEO and co-founder. Therefore, Zuckerberg needs to be considered an influential entity and person. This may also suggest future leadership trends based on his level of control and influence. To some extent, Facebook (FB), a tool used to promote socialization, may be considered the alter ego of Zuckerberg since he has historically been known to be a little socially awkward. This brilliant innovation could be the result of a social skill deficit, which may be determined to be the best skill deficit of all time. For starters, he is only 27 years old and could be considered an infant in comparison to the experiences of his CEO counterparts. In addition, he has the ability to influence 10% of the worlds population and there is little known of Zuckerberg, the leader. Tim Cook When  Tim Cook  took over Apple following Steve Jobs death, many wondered what kind of leader he would be. We knew he was strong at executing on the operations behind Jobs technology and design brilliance. We knew he had been an able and competent manager whod earned the respect of Wall Street during Jobs health absences. And since taking over the company, weve learned that hes willing to do things  Jobs was against, such as making investors and employees happy with stock-buyback and charitable-giving programs. With the  announcement of a surprise  management shake-up, we got an even better picture of what kind of leader Cook will be: one who isnt too proud to admit his mistakes, and expects his team to be willing to do the same. Here are a few takeaways from Cooks leadership style: 1. Diversity of leadership is massively important: The idea behind this philosophy is that people bring lots of different experiences to the table, and companies that can harness the most amounts of creative experiences will be more innovative in their approach to business. Cook very explicitly recognizes that fact, and has made diversity a cornerstone of his management philosophy.   We want diversity of thought, he says. We want diversity of style. We want people to be themselves. Its this great thing about Apple. You dont have to be somebody else. You dont have to put on a face when you go to work and be something different. But the thing that ties us all is were brought together by values. We want to do the right thing. We want to be honest and straightforward. We admit when were wrong and have the courage to change. 2. Transparency is key: Cook knew transparency would be key. With harsh criticism about the standards of Apples global employees (especially through their manufacturing partners at Foxconn), Cook opened the doors and invited the world to see how Apples operations really worked. By doing this, he not only created goodwill around the company, but set industry standards for other manufacturers. Our transparency in supplier responsibility is an example of recognizing that the more transparent we are, the bigger difference we would make, Cook says. We want to be as innovative with supply responsibility as we are with our products. Thats a high bar. The more transparent we are, the more its in the public space. 3. Read customer emails. (If anything, it humbles you.):- You think you understand your customersbut do you? Even Tim Cook, head of the worlds most valuable company, carves out time to walk around company stores and read customer e-mails.   Ill walk around our stores, he says. You can learn a tremendous amount in a store. I get a lot of e-mails and so forth, but its a different dimension when youre in a store and talking to customers face to face. You get the vibe of the placeNot allowing yourself to become insular is very important-maybe the most important thing, I think, as a CEO. 4. You can only do a few things great.- Considering the size of Apple, its pretty remarkable to think about how few products the company  actually  creates. I mean, if you really look at it, we have four iPods. We have two main iPhones. We have two iPads, and we have a few Macs. Thats it, he says. The point is: focus on what you do best, and do it the best you can.  We argue and debate like crazy about what were going to do, because we know that we can only do a few things great, he says. At the right time, well keep disrupting and keep discovering new things that people didnt know they wanted. 5. Admit youre wrong: Ultimately, Cooks advice for entrepreneurs and CEOs is advice thats pretty helpful for anyone, really. So many people, particularly, I think, CEOs and top executives, they get so planted in their old ideas, and they refuse or dont have the courage to admit that theyre now wrong, he says. Maybe the most underappreciated thing about Steve was that he had the courage to change his mind. And you know-its a talent. Its a talent. Word Counter: 1,527 Bibliography articles.washingtonpost.com. (n.d.). Retrieved 2 8, 2013, from http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-10-31/national/35500675_1_john-browett-scott-forstall-craig-federighi: articles.washingtonpost.com dovbaron.com. (n.d.). Retrieved 2 8, 2013, from http://dovbaron.com/2011/01/28/zuckerberg-leadership/: http://dovbaron.com/2011/01/28/zuckerberg-leadership/ www.inc.com. (n.d.). Retrieved 2 8, 2013, from http://www.inc.com/eric-markowitz/tim-cooks-message-for-ceos-admit-when-youre-wrong.html: www.inc.com www.managementtoday.co.uk. (n.d.). Retrieved 2 8, 2013, from http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/opinion/1131649/Leadership-lessons-Facebooks-Mark-Zuckerberg/: http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/opinion/1131649/Leadership-lessons-Facebooks-Mark-Zuckerberg/ www.wired.com. (n.d.). Retrieved 2 8, 2013, from http://www.wired.com/business/2012/03/opinion_kogutkim-apple-green/: http://www.wired.com/business/2012/03/opinion_kogutkim-apple-green/ Mini Essay 2 Cultural Awareness In this new era, cultural awareness is a very important factor to become a better and successful leader. Why cultural awareness is important because if you want to do any business or even a job you have to have a strong knowledge of culture otherwise you want be able to do run a business or do a job successfully. But when it comes to problem solving, one of the benefits of a diverse workforce to increase today, it is to bring innovation creative ideas, and new perspectives. To take advantage of employees skill leader must have a cultural awareness. Here in New Zealand managed organization leaders have a solid knowledge of different cultures and to maintain peace and stability in the organization. Treaty of Waitangi is also very cross culture issue in New Zealand it was signed between Hobson and over 500 Maori leaders at that time February 6, 1840 was signed. In this contract Maori have agreed that the immigrants can come and live here in New Zealand. The Treaty of Waitangi is very sensitive issue, as in New Zealand. So there are many issues related to the Treaty of Waitangi in the previous year. This issue needs more attention as it is very sensitive in terms of cultural awareness. Cultural awareness leads to peace like in New Zealand people from different countries and working together which means it broaden the opportunity of learning various migrated and working together which means it broaden the opportunity of learning various cultures and firm the bond between different cultures. In New Zealand where Maori Language is national language and various things in this country happens according to Maori culture which means it respects the very native culture of this land for example Haka dance which someway known as war dance is performed before every event where New Zealand is represented. Having knowledge of the other culture increases the collectivism and maintains the connection between different group of people which further helps in establishment of good relationship. A good Leader first always study the area, people inherited the area, their culture then mold his/her style of Leadership according to the environment. According to the survey by the ministry of culture and heritage that cultural consciousness has contributed to the economy of New Zealand. New Zealand government have also started some cross-cultural programmes when you start a new business or job in New Zealand and which is very important because if you have insufficient Cultural Awareness you could probably:- Compromise your work project and fail it completely. Find it difficult to build good business relationship. Make people not like you in your new location. Feel frustrated, depressed, and emotionally alone. The Importance of Cross Cultural awareness:- You get to know the requirements that are required to operate business effectively in an international environment. Intercultural awareness is accepted, to create an environment that allows the culture of each. With the aim of contributing to the behaviour in a way that enriches the outcome values, perspective, constructive. Host countrys laws, traditions and customs. Leaders must know their potential enemies can share a common interest to address. Understanding of political, economic, and cultural diversity to the international perspective. Under Leadership aspect cultural awareness plays a very vital role to maintain the balance between different cultures. For an organization, cultural awareness is a key element to diversify the business in order to lead in the marketplace as far as business view is concerned. There is a Great relevance of Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand business activities. Many traders say that it is irrelevant, but in many ways it is a good business that actually claims and whanau, hapu, and the sheep will help release the economic potential is relevant. Expenses related to the disposal of existing as real fact that just fewer than 700 million in debt. The Treaty is often the subject of heated debate, and much disagreement by both Maori and non-Maori New Zealanders. Many Maori feel that the Crown did not fulfill its obligations under the Treaty, and have presented evidence of this before sittings of the Tribunal. Some non-Maori New Zealanders have suggested that Maori may be abusing the Treaty in order to claim special privileges. The date of the signing has been  a national holiday, now called  Waitangi Day, since 1974. In last I would say that New Zealand is very small and beautiful country. In our country people should care about culture of other people who come from different countries and work to gather in one organization. Organizations today focus less on the individual and more on the team. This change has been brought about by the increasing attention of the benefits that diversity carries. Though much effort is required to successfully manage diversity, cultural awareness can serve as a stepping stone to gain employees trust, respect and cooperation. Word Counter: 822 Bibliography Inkson, K., Kolb, D. (2002). Management: Perspectives for New Zealand. Auckland: Pearson Education New Zealand Limited. lianz.waikato. (1999, 2 10). TREATY OF WAITANGI SETTLEMENT. Retrieved february 1, 2013, from http://lianz.waikato.ac.nz/PAPERS/wayne/wayne1.pdf www.woburn.co.nz. (n.d.). Retrieved 2 15, 2013, from http://www.woburn.co.nz/cross-cultural-awareness-programmes/: http://www.woburn.co.nz/cross-cultural-awareness-programmes/ Mini Essay 3 Graziella Thake-Hobday Graziella Thake-Hobday, the Founder and CEO of the Foundation for Social Responsibility New Zealand (FOStR NZ), is a former forensic and corporate psychologist with an absolute dedication to enabling the development of a better world. Born in India of Maltese and Italian decent, she grew up in over ten countries which have equipped her with the tools to easily work with people from all walks of life. Graziella uses her professional skills and passion for humanity to not only help individuals and organizations attain success, but also to give back to the communities of which we are all a part.   She spent many years practicing Forensic Psychology,  Sports and Team Psychology and Organizational Psychology, and has worked as a facilitator, advisor and leader in a number of not-for- profit and corporate entities.   Graziella travels internationally as a consultant, speaker, and for NGOs highlighting the importance of authentic leadership, conscious communication, collaborative education, and community responsibility, through the development of personal legacies. She has over 20 years experience delivering facilitation. The Conscious Academy has run the 12 programs developed by Graziella to bring this knowledge and power to the forefront of leadership, corporations and communities, through multiple brands over the last decade. The Conscious Academy is licensing globally. Graziella is: Enthusiastic, Valuable, Team Driver player, Dedicated. More recently Graziella has devoted her time to the development of the Foundation for Social Responsibility New Zealand (FOStR NZ). FOStR NZ aims to reduce and minimize negative social and economic consequences affecting society today by inspiring and measuring the social contributions made by corporate, SMEs, NGOs and individuals Specialties Graziella has an absolute dedication to enabling the development of a better world Facilitating and bringing simple solutions. A real passion and capability for providing frameworks that are attainable and sustainable for human change. Real, Passionate and approachable, both as a speaker, facilitator and consultant who brings passion, dedication, straight talking, and compassion Experience with multiple audiences, communities, needs and brands. Foundation for Social Responsibility The trust has been formed on the belief that social responsibility is everyones responsibility; it belongs to businesses large and small, boards, leaders, NGOs, communities and individuals. All of these groups contribute to and have a stake in our society, sustainable economic development and the communities that enable it. We are convinced that there are significant gaps in New Zealanders understanding of social issues, a lack of awareness of the valuable work being done, and most importantly, how they can get involved. We believe that by addressing these shortfalls we will be able to support and accelerate the growth of social responsibility initiatives in New Zealand, and in so doing make a real and measurable impact on reducing poverty. New Zealand has a myth of itself as a socially progressive country. We pride ourselves on our social policy being the first country in the world to introduce womens suffrage, universal suffrage, and our advanced social welfare policies of the depression era, homosexual law reform and more. Yet our child abuse statistics are horrendous, our prison population is third highest in the world, and 20% of our children live in poverty. These are just some of the social elements that require attention. Our message is that we need to share responsibility for social issues affecting New Zealanders, provide care to those who need it, and together work hard to look after our neighbors, neighborhoods and communities. Social Responsibility is everyones Responsibility. Trust Vision Our vision is about creating positive change. We want Kiwis to be more caring of their communities and those who live in them. We want them to be more aware of the issues facing their communities and to be inspired to take action and help resolve them. Trust Activities Provide an online information and education resource about socially responsible initiatives taking place around New Zealand Through research, assess the work being done to address New Zealands social issues in order to highlight successes, as well as identifying where improvement is needed Based on the above, inspire, encourage and support individuals and corporate in particular to undertake socially responsible behaviour. For example, this may take the form of educational seminars in schools, communities and businesses which teach people about the simple actions they can take in order to make a positive difference. Research Research will play a key role in helping FOStR NZ achieve its vision. Research will help ensure we are always dealing with the facts and will therefore add all-important credibility to FOStR NZ and our work. Our own researchers will work collaboratively with third parties such as NGOs, tertiary institutions and government agencies in order to gain a sound understanding of New Zealands social responsibility landscape. In particular we want to: Identify and understand the key social issues affecting New Zealand today Define what social responsibility means to New Zealanders Understand what socially responsible activity is already happening, region by region, and measure the outcomes Identify any gaps which social issues are not being addressed? Word Counter: 839

Essay --

Over the course of a lifetime many individuals do not get the chance to reach 100 years old. There are many environmental influences as well as human behaviors that contribute to one’s expected life span. Citizens in today’s society are working towards extending their natural life. One’s personal health, well-being and overall life course are a few factors that play a major role in the aging process. This document is a biography of 100 year old Porcha Petteway’s life course. Personal data, accomplishments, professional agencies, jobs and careers held will be discussed. People she helped, her legacy, life during her senior years and daily regiments that assisted in reaching 100 will also be conversed. Finally, her end of life journey, activeness during her senior years along with contributing environmental influences and behaviors that extended her life span will also be revealed. Porcha Petteway was an African American female and devoted Christian with many accomplishments in her lifetime. An autobiography has been written detailing what life was like for her with an emphasis in her senior years. It is the year 2084 and Porcha Petteway has passed away at the age of 100. Up until the day she passed Porcha was married to her husband for 73 years. They had two children together both girls. The life event of marriage allowed her to obtain many financial resources than those of the single population. Being married allowed Porcha to participate in private pension plans due to their lifetime income being combined and much higher than usual. She was able to live a life full of greater satisfaction as an advantage of being married. As Porcha entered old age her family structure remained rich, certain, close and tight knit. She had an unp... ...self is to not stress over things beyond her control. There are many environmental influences as well as human behaviors that contribute to one’s expected life span. Health and lifestyle are two major factors that play a role in determining what life would be like during the senior years of life. There are many advantages to having a strong social support network that consists of caregivers paid and unpaid. Seniors with this tend to live longer, remain independent and stay active in their later years. Citizens in today’s society are living longer due to technology, medications and an overall healthier lifestyle. Many reach the age of 100 but the maximum human life span is 120 years old. One’s personal data, career choices, environmental influences and amount of active interactions will determine how those of the older population will experience the aging process.

The Maori Of New Zealand :: essays research papers

The Maori of New Zealand The Maori people, the natives of New Zealand, have played a strong part in the development and success of the small island nation. Their ferocity and determination won the respect of the colonizing English, and to this day they are esteemed members of the society. They hold positions in their government and are in control of their own destinies. Their greetings and posture when having their picture taken for the outside world is a part of culture that I would like to discuss. Years ago, back in the days of rampant imperialism, the English navy found the part of the world that today is referred to as "down under". They originally came first to Australia, but it was only a matter of time before New Zealand, Australia's tiny neighbor, was discovered also. The mighty English, who at the time was one of the world powers, subjugated the natives of Australia, the Aborigine people. The Aborigine, having very little technology, were easily subdued and the land became an English colony, used at first for its natural resources but also as a exile or prison colony. The lack of resistance from the natives made it relatively easy for the English to accomplish their task. This gave the Aborigine absolutely no respect from the English, and almost to this day are they treated as inferiors, by the English. This was not the case with the neighboring Maori's. As stated before, the English eventually found their way to the south, where the beautiful island lay untouched by foreign hands. They also found that the island had a native populace just as Australia had had. But one thing was very different from these natives. The English, thinking that this island was also theirs for the taking, met heavy resistance from the Maori. Many an English life was lost at the hands of these fiercesome warriors, and even though they were outclassed technologically, still did the Maori fight on. Their persistance and desire to defend their land from the invading outsiders won them the respect and admiration of the English. Presently, they hold positions of power in the New Zealand parliament and are regarded as equals in society. When a Maori takes a picture for the outside world, e.g. for a post card or tourist, their ferocity and determination are shown in their stance and posture. They strike a fighting pose, with one arm raised above their heads in an attack position and the other in front of them, ready to defend their midsection. The best aspect is their facial expressions.

Many Teenagers Run Away from Home Essay

Each year, many teenagers run away from home. Why do you think are their chief causes? There are many teenagers who run away from their home. Recently the problem of teenagers running away from home is getting more and more serious. This happens in big cities and small towns, and our country is no exception. Each year, many teenagers run away from their families. But it all depends on the person. The main reasons of teenagers’ running away are in surrounding community. The closest people in the world are our family. But if there are some problems in family, then person, especially teenager, who is formed own current psyche, escape from the hopelessness. Nowadays it is very difficult to live with the society around us. Many people try to find a benefit only for themselves, trying to deceive someone in order to satisfy their needs. They deceive each other without thinking that makes a pain and mental injury. There are several reasons why teenagers run away from home, normally these reasons are related to conditions in the families, bad influence of their friends and financial problem. The first cause of running away is conditions in the family. One of the reasons is because they come from broken homes where their parents are divorced. They do not get enough love and care from their parents. As a result, they will go and find love and care elsewhere. Some parents have the habit of quarrelling in front of their children. The children feel ashamed of their parents and cannot stand this kind of environment. In the end they run away from home. Some parents are too strict with their children. They always punished, scold and lecture their children. They also put too much pressure on their children especially in their studies. Actually they should encourage and guide them more instead of putting unrealistic goals on their lives. Most teenagers do not like to be restricted and treated like children. They want to have their own freedom. They like to be creative and learn things for themselves. To overcome the problem, parents should learn how to care and love their children. They need to be sensitive and careful not to do certain things in front of the children. For example, if they have conflicts among themselves, they need to settle it on their own first instead of arguing or quarrelling in front of their children. In many families children are afraid of talking to their parents and asking them for what they want. For this reason the misunderstandings between them grow bigger and bigger. This often ends in a big quarrel. The second reason that leads to run away teenagers from their home is bad influence of their friends. They find their own way of escape by running away from home. They tend to spend their time with their friends than staying at home. That is the beginning of the problem. If they mix with the wrong group of friends, they will get involve with all kinds of wrong activities. For example, under the influence of bad friends, teenagers who escape from home may fall under alcohol dependence. Teenagers abuse alcohol. They seem to be getting a hold of alcohol at a younger and younger age. Since alcohol is used to celebrate and have fun, teens that abuse alcohol most likely has no idea of the affect alcohol and its abuse can have on their bodies. If they find bad friends that influence of them, they begin to offer drinking and in the end teens used to drink and become an alcoholics. Then finish their life in the street. Also teens may become drug addict, which in turn lead to depression and suicide. The most common reason why teenagers use drug is to relieve stress. Many of them have to suffer stress from family condition. One of the explanations is that drugs users have a poor family life. The majority of drug users have had an unhappy childhood which includes cruel punishment and parental neglect. Many teenagers become a fraudster and a thief when the run away from home. Thus the undergrowths, which are associated with bad friends, began to becoming fraudsters or steal on the street. Eventually they are arrested for petty theft and in the future they have no chance to make something oflife, because they have a criminal past. The last cause of teenagers running away is financial problem. The most teenagers run away from their house for financial problem in the family. Mendicancy is big problem nowadays, especially in our country. A lot of people standing on the street and ask money. Most of them teenagers, I am sure that they have family and house, but anyway the escape from their home. The main reason it is financial problem. They become a thief and begin to stealing bags, wallets, mobile phones and others valuable things. If someone steals so they can survive or to help other people that are in need then in most cases it’s alright. To steal just because they didn’t want to pay for something even though they’re capable then it’s wrong. These people should be punished in order to learn that they were wrong for stealing. But these teenagers who have home and family, who must study, help parents, they should not steal. But others teenagers find not good pay jobs, such as water in cheap cafes, cleaner, job in car washing, janitor and so on. They need the money, but they have not opportunity and choice and they have to work in such jobs as these. They have not education and no one can help them with good job. Every teenager who run away from home, have made a bad decision. They got themselves under the pressures that they felt the need to escape from. Instead of facing their problem and solving it, they chose to run from it. When they have the right decision to change some of the things that may be going on in their lives, the pressure lessens, and there is no more need for them to escape. If they learn to solve their problem and their parents will help them to do so,withoutcursingandimpose theirgoals and solutions,then the escape of teenagers reducedmanytimes. In conclusion, there are so many teenagers who run away from their families. There are many reasons for it, but one solution parents must be more careful, understanding and loving. If parents will pay enough attention to their children, the children answered them reciprocate and they the same as apply to their children in the future. For teenagers is very important parents’ attention, their understanding and advice. Parents should only speak with their child and all this will not happen. I think the main problem of this issue is misunderstood of our parents, because they forget that they also be teenagers, they want fence in all things. But this lead to lies quarrels and finally escapes from home.

The Grim Reaper Floats

The story Floating by Karen Brenna is about a woman who can miraculously float. She floats around the house day after day seeming to never leave. Her husband, however, seems completely unimpressed by her ability and sees her as a burden. A burden that he must feed and take care of. It Is not long Into the story before she finds a baby and brings it into her house. While this is happening another story is being told about a woman who meets Satan, and has a conversation with him in her house.The author intended for all of these events to relate to each other, and also to have some sort of deeper symbolism. The woman who aimlessly floats through the halls of her house does not have a choice, she Is trapped. Her and every one else In the story Is dead and stuck In Purgatory walling for their eternal fate to be decided. All of them experiencing death In a different way, the man bitter and mean, the woman and baby oblivious, and the story of the woman who spoke to Satan is already destined for hell.According to the hell depicted in both Dent's Inferno and The Divine Comedy before Landwards 2 you enter hell there Is a place called Purgatory. Purgatory is a place you go after death where you Walt for the decision on whether or not you go to the eternal resting place of heaven, or If your soul Is damned for the remainder of time In the pits of hell. Purgatory is where the majority of the story takes place. The woman does not know she is in Purgatory and that is why she is so amazed she can float. Floating is commonly a property given to the deceased, as in ghosts or spirits.The author also gave his character this ability as to hint to her death. She is trapped in her house, which Is a symbol for Purgatory and that Is why she feels she cannot leave. â€Å"l wish I could float at the supermarket or even outside beneath the stars, over the treetops which would be attractive from this angle. But I can only float through the rooms of my own house†(Brenna 303). In this passage the character is saying that outside is tantalizing and free, but she is bound only to the rooms and halls of the house.Because the house is a symbol for Purgatory, the outside world is an allusion to even, and that is why she wants nothing more than to leave the house and fly among the stars. Much Like someone would Like nothing more than to be allowed to be free of the bonds of Purgatory and frolic In the paradise of Heaven. Another hint in the text is when the author writes about the main character floating through the halls, and thinking back on her life as if it was a past event.She thinks about how Landwards 3 she arranged things on her coffee table trying to impress people, and have the silly objects reflect on who she is and realizes how foolish it was. A lot of people believe Tanat once you pass on Tanat you are enlightens Ana all earthly possessions Ana desires are realized foolish. This is what the author is referring to, because she is now dead she has been enli ghtened thus removing all of her earthly desires. The author also compared the main character to Chloral's bridal couple, which are newly wed ghosts floating across the canvas painted by the artist Mark Chalks.This could be yet another allusion to her being dead. â€Å"l float like Chloral's bridal couple alienates, past the huge oak mirror my grandmother bequeathed me where†¦ â€Å"(Brenna 303). Besides the bridal couple reference the author also mentions the main character's deceased grandmother bringing the thought of death into the reader's mind once again. All of these blatant messages of death shows that the author intended for the characters to be dead. The main character is not the only one who is dead in this story; there is also the husband and the baby.As we know, the husband of the main character of the story seems to always be aggravated and cranky, there is valid reasoning behind this. The wife and husband died at the same time, the husband knows that they are d ead while the wife is oblivious. This is why the Landwards 4 husband is so utterly unimpressed by his wife's ability to float. They can both do it, he is Just trying to protect her from the truth of their death. By not floating, the husband is letting his wife believe that they are still in the mortal world, that is why she can float and he is unimpressed.This would also explain why he seams so irritated all the time. Imagine if you knew you were dead, while you were trapped in Purgatory and you needed to pretend you weren't for the sake of the person you loved most in the world. This is an obvious reason as to why one would be mad. The baby in the story is also dead, The first layer of hell is Limbo and it is where all the uninhabited baby's go. The baby in the story died before it had a chance to be baptized, that is why they found it in Purgatory because it is also deceased.The reason it went to Purgatory is because the babies fate has not yet been decided. The rye of hell closes t to Purgatory is Limbo, Limbo is where all the uninhabited babies go and that is where this baby went, the back room where the baby is kept is Limbo. The punishment in Limbo is for all of the uninhabited babies to float through the river of Coacher for eternity, to feel sorrow and hopelessness forever. In the story the baby is put into a drawer lined with blue velvet, the blue symbolizes water, and the drawer stops the baby from wandering around as in Landwards 5 it traps the baby.Another part of the story mentions that the back room is where all he old photos are kept, all of the photos are souls trapped in a photographic tomb. The story also talks about how someone cracked the window with a pellet gun, so the window needed to be covered with a sheet. The window was a tantalizing view of heaven until it was covered leaving the room completely void of hope. The last story was of a woman who spoke with Satan and told him her life story this could also be interpreted in many ways. Th is last scenario of the story when the woman speaks to Satan in person is pretty straight forward.Whenever you hear of anyone speaking to the dark lord, you generally assume they are going to hell. The woman Lucifer spoke to was the main character of the story, but this event occurred in the past as foreshadowing to the point in time when she dies implying that the woman waiting in Purgatory is destined Tort Hell. All of this evidence points to the author writing a new and twisted version of The Divine Comedy. This twisted text makes you think that hell is everywhere and even if it isn't apparent you could be in Purgatory this instant waiting for your eternal damnation.

The Golden Lily Chapter 18

JILL DIDN'T GIVE ME any starry-eyed looks at breakfast the next morning, which was kind of a relief. Micah had surfaced again, and while they weren't as flirty as they'd been in the past, the two were chatting animatedly away about a science project she had. Eddie and Angeline were equally engrossed in conversation, making plans for when she was free of her suspension. Her blues eyes were alight with happiness as they talked, and I realized that she had legitimate feelings for him. She hadn't just been throwing herself at him for the sake of conquest. I wondered if he knew. It would've been easy to feel like a fifth wheel here, but instead, I was pleased and content to see my little cohort getting along so well. Stanton's conversation had still left me conflicted, but there was nothing wrong with appreciating the peace around here. I would've been happier still if Trey's behavior had also normalized, but when I reached my history class later, he was absent yet again. I had no doubt he'd claim he had family stuff, but my earlier suspicions were returning, about whether his family might be responsible for his injuries. Should I report my worries to someone? Who? I didn't want to jump to conclusions either, which left me in a bind. Eddie and I always sat near each other in that class, and I leaned toward him before the bell rang, pitching my voice low to address another concern. â€Å"Hey, have you noticed that Jill's been kind of acting weirdly around me?† â€Å"She's got a lot going on,† he said, ever quick to defend her. â€Å"Yeah, I know, but you had to have noticed her last night. In the library? I mean – keeping in mind I'm terrible at figuring this stuff out – it was like she had a crush on me or something.† He laughed at that. â€Å"She was kind of laying it on thick, but I don't think you have to worry about some romantic complication. She just looks up to you a lot, that's all. Part of her still wants to be a brave fighter who rushes out fearlessly†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused as he savored that idea, a mix of pride and rapture on his face before he tuned back into me. â€Å"But at the same time, you're starting to show her there all sorts of ways to be powerful.† â€Å"Thanks,† I said. â€Å"I think. But speaking of her being a brave fighter†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I studied him curiously. â€Å"Why don't you train her anymore? Don't you want her to hone her skills?† â€Å"Oh, yeah. That. Well†¦ there are a few reasons for it. One is I need to focus on Angeline. Another is that I just don't want Jill worried about that. I'll do the protecting.† Those were exactly the reasons I'd guessed. The next one was not. â€Å"And I guess†¦ the other thing is that I don't feel right being in contact with her like that. I mean, I know it means nothing to her†¦ but it means something to me.† Again, my social skills took a moment to kick in. â€Å"You mean, you don't like that you have to touch her?† Eddie actually blushed. â€Å"It doesn't bother me, that's the problem. Better for us to spend time together in a hands-off way.† I hadn't expected that, but I could understand it. Leaving Eddie to his own inner demons, I soon got caught up in the day and wondering what had happened to Trey. I'd hoped he'd come into class late, but he didn't. In fact, he didn't surface for the rest of the day, not even when I was finishing up my independent study. I'd thought he might come by again for homework. â€Å"You look troubled,† said Ms. Terwilliger, watching me pack up when the bell rang. â€Å"Worried about getting your project in on time?† â€Å"No.† I'd actually finished two of the charms, but I certainly wasn't going to tell her that. â€Å"I'm worried about Trey. He keeps missing school. Do you know why he's out? I mean, if you can tell me?† â€Å"The office notifies us if a student will be out for the day, but they don't tell us the reason. If it makes you feel better, Mr. Juarez's absence was called in this morning. He hasn't disappeared.† I almost mentioned my fears about his home but held off. I still needed more evidence. Between worrying about Trey, Ms. Terwilliger's work, the Warriors, Brayden, and all my other myriad complications, I knew I couldn't waste any of my free time. Nonetheless, I went to Adrian's after school on a mission I couldn't refuse. On our way to Wolfe's class earlier this week, Adrian had mentioned offhandedly that he hadn't had the Mustang looked at by a mechanic before purchasing it. Although my own novice assessment hadn't found anything wrong with the car, I pushed for Adrian to get the car examined – which, of course, meant I had to look up a specialist and make the appointment. It was just before my textile museum date, but I was certain I had time to make it all work. â€Å"The guy I bought it from seemed pretty trustworthy,† Adrian told me, after we'd dropped the car off with the mechanic. He'd told us he'd look at it right away and that we could hang around and wait. His shop was on the outskirts of a suburban area, so Adrian suggested we go for a walk through the neighborhoods. â€Å"And it ran just fine when I did the test drive, so I figured everything was okay.† â€Å"That doesn't mean there aren't problems you can't see. It's best to be safe,† I said, knowing I sounded preachy. â€Å"Bad enough you got a car you can't drive.† Glancing over, I saw a small, half smile on his face. â€Å"With your help, I'll be a pro in no time. Of course, if you don't want to help anymore, I'll just wing it and figure it out on my own.† I groaned. â€Å"You already know what I'd say about – wow.† The neighborhood we were in was pretty affluent. In fact, I'd say the houses bordered on being bona fide mansions. We stopped in front of one that looked like a cross between a hacienda and a southern plantation, large and sprawling with a pillared porch and pink stucco siding. The front yard was a mix of climates, green grass with palm trees lining the path to the house. The trees were like tropical sentries. â€Å"Gorgeous,† I said. â€Å"I love architecture. In another life, I'd have studied that – not chemicals and vampires.† As we continued on, we saw more of the same, each house trying to outdo the others. All of them had high fences and hedges blocking their backyards. â€Å"I wonder what's back there. Pools, probably.† Adrian stopped in front of another. It was as yellow as his car and showed another mix of styles, like a southwest version of a medieval castle, complete with turrets. â€Å"Nice juxtaposition,† he remarked. I turned, knowing my eyes were wide as I stared at him. â€Å"Did you just use juxtaposition in a sentence?† â€Å"Yes, Sage,† he said patiently. â€Å"We use it all the time with art, when we're mixing different components. That, and I know how to use a dictionary.† He turned from me and scanned the house, his eyes resting on a gardener who was out trimming some hedges. A sly smile crossed Adrian's lips. â€Å"You want to see the back? Come on.† â€Å"What are you – † Before I could say another word, Adrian strode up the granite pathway and cut across the lawn to where the guy was working. I didn't want anything to do with this, but the responsible part of me couldn't let Adrian get into trouble. I hurried after him. â€Å"Are the owners home?† Adrian asked. The gardener had stopped his clipping and stared at Adrian. â€Å"No.† â€Å"When will they be back?† â€Å"After six.† I was astonished that the guy was answering these questions. If I'd been asked them, I would've assumed someone was staging a break-in. Then, I saw the glazed look in the gardener's eyes and realized what was going on. â€Å"Adrian – â€Å" Adrian's eyes never left the other man's face. â€Å"Take us to the backyard.† â€Å"Of course.† The gardener dropped his hedge clippers and headed for a gate on the side of the house. I tried to get Adrian's attention to stop this, but he was outpacing me. Our guide stopped at the gate, entered a security code, and led us to the back. My protests died on my lips as I gazed around. This back property was almost three times the size of the front. There were more palm trees ringing the yard, along with a terraced garden full of plants, both native and non-native. A huge oval shaped pool dominated the space, its turquoise hue startling against the gray of the granite that surrounded it. On one side of the pool, several steps led up to a smaller, square pool. It could only hold a few people, and a waterfall poured out from it, down to the larger pool. Tiki torches and tables around the pools completed the lush setup. â€Å"Thanks,† Adrian told the gardener. â€Å"Go back to your work. It's okay if we're here. We'll see ourselves out.† â€Å"Of course,† the man replied. He walked back the way we'd come in. I snapped back to reality. â€Å"Adrian! You used compulsion on that guy. That†¦ I mean, it's†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Awesome?† Adrian walked over to the steps leading up to the upper pool. â€Å"Yeah, I know.† â€Å"It's wrong! All of this. Breaking and entering, and compulsion†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I shivered, despite the sweltering heat. â€Å"It's immoral. Controlling someone else's mind. You know it! Your people and mine both agree.† â€Å"Eh, no harm done.† He climbed to the top of the pool and stood on its edge, surveying his kingdom. The sun brought out chestnut glints in his brown hair. â€Å"Believe me, that guy was easy to control. Weak-willed. I barely had to use compulsion.† â€Å"Adrian – â€Å" â€Å"Come on, Sage. Not like we're going to hurt anything. Check out this view.† I was almost afraid to go up there. It was so rare for any of the Moroi here to use their magic that it was easy for me to pretend it didn't exist. Seeing Adrian use it – the most insidious kind – made my skin crawl. As I'd told Ms. Terwilliger in our charm discussion, no one should be able to control another like that. â€Å"Come on,† Adrian repeated. â€Å"You're not worried I'm going to compel you up here, are you?† â€Å"Of course not,† I said. And I meant it. I didn't know why, but some part of me knew Adrian would never, ever harm me. Reluctantly, I went to join him, hoping that would encourage him to leave. When I reached the top, my jaw dropped. The intimate pool hadn't seemed that high, but it gave us a stunning view of the mountains off in the distance, rugged and majestic against the blue of the sky. The larger pool glittered below us, and the waterfall made it look like we'd entered some mystical oasis. â€Å"Cool, huh?† he asked. Adrian sat down on the small pool's edge, rolled up his jeans, and took off his socks and shoes. â€Å"Now what are you doing?† I asked. â€Å"Making the most out of this.† He put his feet in the water. â€Å"Come on. Do something bad for a change. Not that it's really that bad. We aren't trashing this place or anything.† I hesitated, but the water was intoxicating, as though it too could wield compulsion. Settling down, I copied Adrian and dipped my bare feet into the water. Its coolness was startling – and wonderful – in this intense heat. â€Å"I could get used to this,† I admitted. â€Å"But what if the owners come home early?† He shrugged. â€Å"I can talk us out of it, don't worry.† That wasn't exactly reassuring. I turned back to the gorgeous view and lush property. I wasn't always the most imaginative person, but I thought back to what I'd said about living another life. What would it be like to have a home like this? To stay in one place? To spend days by the pool, soaking in the sun, and not worrying about the fate of humanity? I fell into daydreams and was so caught up that I lost track of time. â€Å"We have to get back to the shop,† I exclaimed. Glancing over, I was astonished to see Adrian watching me, a look of contentment on his face. His eyes seemed to study my every feature. Seeing me notice him, he immediately looked away. His usual smirky expression replaced the dreamy one. â€Å"The mechanic will wait,† he said. â€Å"Yeah, but I'm supposed to meet Brayden soon. I'll be – † That's when I got a good look at Adrian. â€Å"What have you done? Look at you! You shouldn't be out here.† â€Å"It's not that bad.† He was lying, and we both knew it. It was late afternoon, and the sun was merciless. I'd certainly felt it, though the coolness of the water had helped distract me. That, and I was human. Sure, sunstroke and sunburns were concerns, but I loved the sun and had a high tolerance for it. Vampires did not. Sweat poured off Adrian, soaking his shirt and hair. Pink blotches covered his face. They were familiar. I'd seen them on Jill back when she'd been forced to play outdoor sports in PE. Left unchecked, they'd turn into burns. I jumped to my feet. â€Å"Come on, we have to get out of here before you get worse. What were you thinking?† His expression was astonishingly nonchalant for someone who looked like he would pass out. â€Å"It was worth it. You looked†¦ happy.† â€Å"That's crazy,† I said. â€Å"Not the craziest thing I've ever done.† He smiled as he looked up at me. His eyes grew slightly unfocused, as though they were seeing more than just me. â€Å"What's a little crazy here and there? I'm supposed to be doing experiments†¦ why not see which is brighter: your aura or the sun?† The way he looked at me and spoke unnerved me, and I remembered what Jill had said, how spirit slowly drove its users insane. Adrian hardly seemed insane, but there was certainly something haunted about him, a definite shift from his usual sharp wit. It was as though something else had seized hold of him. I remembered that poem line, about dreaming and waking. â€Å"Come on,† I repeated. I held out my hand. â€Å"You shouldn't have used spirit. We need to get you out of here.† He took my hand and staggered to his feet. A rush of warmth and electricity went through me, just as it had the last time we touched, and our eyes held. For a moment, all I could think about were his earlier words: You looked happy†¦ I brushed such sentiments aside and quickly got him out of there, only to discover the mechanic hadn't finished. At least in his shop, we were able to get Adrian some water and air conditioning. As we waited I texted Brayden. Running an hour late with family stuff. Sorry. Will be there as soon as I can. My phone chimed back about thirty seconds later: That only leaves an hour for the textile museum. â€Å"That's not nearly enough time,† said Adrian deadpan. I hadn't realized he'd been reading over my shoulder. I moved the phone away and suggested to Brayden we just meet for an early dinner. He concurred. â€Å"I'm a mess,† I muttered, checking myself out in a mirror. The heat had definitely taken its toll, and I looked sweaty and worn. â€Å"Don't worry about it,† Adrian told me. â€Å"If he didn't notice how awesome you were in the red dress, he probably won't notice anything now.† He hesitated. â€Å"Not that there's even anything to notice. You're as cute as usual.† I was about to snap at him for teasing me, but when I looked over, his face was deadly earnest. Whatever retort I might have managed died on my lips, and I quickly got up to check our status, in order to hide how flustered I felt. The mechanic finally finished – no problems found – and Adrian and I headed downtown. I kept watching him anxiously, afraid he'd pass out. â€Å"Stop worrying, Sage. I'm fine,† he said. â€Å"Although†¦ I'd be better with some ice cream or gelato. Even you have to admit that'd be good right now.† It would, actually, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. â€Å"What is it with you and frozen desserts? Why do you always want them?† â€Å"Because we live in a desert.† I couldn't argue with that reasoning. We reached his place, and I swapped cars. Before he went inside, I inundated him with advice about getting water and resting. Then, I spoke the words that had been burning inside of me. â€Å"Thank you for the poolside outing,† I said. â€Å"Your near-sun-stroke aside, that was pretty amazing.† He gave me a cocky smile. â€Å"Maybe you'll get used to vampire magic after all.† â€Å"No,† I said automatically. â€Å"I'll never get used to that.† His smile immediately disappeared. â€Å"Of course not,† he murmured. â€Å"See you around.† I finally made it to dinner. I'd chosen an Italian restaurant, filled with the scents of garlic and cheese. Brayden sat at a corner table, sipping water and earning glares from the waitress, who was probably impatient for him to order. I sat down opposite him, dropping my satchel beside me. â€Å"I am so sorry,† I told him. â€Å"I had to do this thing with my, uh, brother.† If Brayden was mad, he didn't show it. That was his way. He did, however, give me a scrutinizing look. â€Å"Was it something athletic? You look like you ran a marathon.† It wasn't an insult, not by any means, but it did take me aback – mostly because I was thinking of Adrian's comment. Brayden had had almost nothing to say about my Halloween costume, but he noticed this? â€Å"We were out in Santa Sofia, getting his car looked at.† â€Å"Nice area. Keep going up the highway, and you can get to Joshua Tree National Park. Ever been there?† â€Å"No. Just read about it.† â€Å"Iconic place. The geology's fascinating.† The waitress came by, and I gratefully ordered an iced latte. Brayden was more than happy to tell me about some of the park's geology, and we soon fell into our comfortable rhythm of intellectual discussion. I didn't know the park's specific makeup, but I knew more than enough about geology in general to keep up. In fact, I was able to talk on autopilot while my mind wandered back to Adrian. I recalled again what he'd said about the red dress. I also couldn't shake the comment about me being happy, and how that was worth his suffering. â€Å"What do you think?† â€Å"Hmm?† I realized I'd lost the thread of our conversation after all. â€Å"I asked which type of desert you find more striking,† Brayden explained. â€Å"The Mojave region gets all the hype, but I actually prefer the Colorado Desert.† â€Å"Ah.† I slipped back into the flow. â€Å"Um, Mojave. I like the rock formations better.† This triggered a debate of the regions while we ate, and Brayden seemed happier and happier. He really did like having someone who could keep up with him, I realized. None of my books had said anything about the way to a man's heart being through academic debates. I didn't mind it, though. I liked the conversation, but it didn't exactly send thrills through me. I had to remind myself it was still early in our relationship – if I could even call it that. Surely the head over heels part would come soon. We talked for a long time after the meal was over. The waitress brought us an unsolicited dessert menu when we finished, and I surprised myself by saying, â€Å"Wow†¦ I can't believe how much I want gelato right now. That never happens.† Maybe the sweat and heat had leached my nutrients†¦ or maybe I still had Adrian on the brain. â€Å"I've never heard you order dessert,† said Brayden, sliding his menu away. â€Å"It's not too much sugar?† It was another of those weird statements of his that could be interpreted a number of different ways. Was he judging me? Did he think I shouldn't have any sugar? I didn't know, but it was enough for me to close the menu and set it on top of his. With no other scheduled forms of entertainment for the night, we decided to just go for a walk after dinner. The temperature was down to moderate levels, and it was still light enough out that I wasn't as concerned about the Warriors of Light jumping out from corners. That didn't mean I ignored Wolfe's teachings, however. I still kept an eye on my surroundings, watching for anything suspicious. We reached a small park that only took up one city block and found a bench in the corner. We sat down on it, watching children play on the opposite side of the lawn while we continued a discussion on bird watching in the Mojave. Brayden put his arm around me as we talked, and eventually, we exhausted the topic and simply sat in comfortable silence. â€Å"Sydney†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I turned my gaze from the children, surprised at Brayden's uncertain tone, which was very different from the one he'd just been using to defend the superiority of the mountain bluebird over the western bluebird. There was softness in his eyes now as he looked at me. The evening light made his hazel eyes take on a little more gold than usual but completely hid the green. Too bad. Before I could say anything, he leaned forward and kissed me. It was more intense than the last one, though still a long ways from the epic, all-consuming kisses I'd seen in movies. He did rest his hand on my shoulder this time, gently bringing me a little closer. The kiss also lasted longer than previous ones, and I again tried to let myself go and lose myself in the feel of someone else's lips. He was the one who ended it, a bit more abruptly than I would've expected. â€Å"I – I'm sorry,† he said, looking away. â€Å"I shouldn't have done that.† â€Å"Why not?† I asked. It wasn't so much that I'd been yearning for the kiss as it was that this seemed exactly like the kind of place you'd want to kiss: a romantic park at sunset. â€Å"We're in public. It's kind of vulgar, I suppose.† Vulgar? I wasn't even sure if we were really all that much in public, seeing as no one was next to us and we were in the shade of some trees. Brayden sighed with dismay. â€Å"I guess I just lost control. It won't happen again.† â€Å"It's okay,† I said. It hadn't seemed like that much of a loss of control, but what did I know? And I wondered if maybe a small loss of control wasn't such a bad thing. Wasn't that kind of the basis of passion? I didn't know that either. The only thing I knew for sure was that this kiss had been a lot like the last one. Nice, but it didn't blow me away. My heart sank. There was something wrong with me. Everyone was always going on about how socially inept I was. Did it extend to romance as well? Was I so cold that I'd spend my life never feeling anything? I think Brayden misread my dismay and assumed I was upset with him. He stood up and held out his hand. â€Å"Hey, let's go walk to that tea shop one block over. They've got this local painter's art on display that I think you'll like. Besides, no calories in tea, right? Better than dessert.† â€Å"Right,† I said. Thinking of the gelato didn't cheer me up any. The Italian place had had pomegranate, which kind of sounded like the best thing ever. As I stood up, my cell phone rang and startled both of us. â€Å"Hello?† â€Å"Sage? It's me.† I had no reason to be mad at Adrian, not after what he'd done for me, but somehow I felt irritated by the interruption. I was trying to make the most of this night with Brayden, and Adrian unsettled everything. â€Å"What's going on?† I asked. â€Å"Are you still downtown? You need to come over right now.† â€Å"You know I'm out with Brayden,† I said. This was pushy, even for Adrian. â€Å"I can't just drop everything and entertain you.† â€Å"It's not about me.† It was then that I noticed how hard and serious his voice was. Something tightened in my chest. â€Å"It's about Sonya. She's missing.† The Golden Lily: A Bloodlines Novel