My Twin Ester

          June 16, 1996. This was the day my sister and I were born. Even after birth, Ester and I were inseparable. We talked together, ate together, danced together, and smiled together. When we were young, Mama would dress us a like. Ester and I shared a bunk bed in our room. I had the top bunk. When she looked up, I looked down.

        Others recognized our connection. Whenever we walked outside, kids on our block would sing,

“Eva and Ester

Together forever.

Ester and Eva

They're soul sistas!”

Even when we stopped wearing the same exact outfits, many still had trouble telling us a part. If I had a nickle for every time someone accidentally called me Ester, I would probably be a millionaire.

         As identical twins, not only did we look alike, but we had very similar interests. We liked eating pizza, listened to the same music, took piano lessons, and we were both a part of our school's basketball team. The only differences between us was that Ester liked cooking, the color pink, and she wished to be come and veterinarian. Everything I cook burns, I despise anything pink, and I'd much rather be a singer. My life changed forever when she died.

        Ester died in a bus accident on her way to play in a basketball game. I wasn't there because I was sick at home. I even remember feeling shivers and cold sweat on my body while she was on the road. Just like my now broken heart, I was missing my other half.

Everything seems different since Ester passed away. No one sings our song when I walk around our neighborhood. No one mistakes me for Ester anymore, and I miss that. I go to basketball and piano practice without her. Ester was my twin, my best friend, my “soul sista”, and now she's gone.

Happy Birthday, Ashutosh!

This is a sketch I made of Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala. His birthday is on May 17th, but I just couldn't wait to publish it :). He played the teenage Salim in Slumdog Millionaire. The sketch was based after an older photo I found of him on a Facebook entry, courtesy of LIFE magazine (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ashutosh-Lobo-Gajiwala/170851011975) If you are reading this, Ashutosh, I want to wish you a very happy birthday.

Cherry Blossoms

Sweet little petals
Glorious pinks reach the sky
Angels in the wind.

House of Cards

This sketch is called House of Cards. This home has walls resembling playing cards.

Big Teddy Bear

My sketch is called Big Teddy Bear. It is a still life of one of my stuffed animals. This sketch is based after Picasso's Portrait of Ambroise Vollard.

What a Wonder!

            I am just a housefly. People swat at my kind. I zoom around, and am not the most popular insect in the house. I felt almost miserable, until I saw a butterfly.

            I was a young fly and was on my own for the first time. I flew almost everywhere around the house. The children of the house pointed at me with disgust. Their mother cried a vociferous shrill when she saw me. Her husband attempted to kill me with flat-ended weapon.

            I eventually found safety in the family's garden. I landed in a bush to hide from them. As I turned around, I saw a large, green-blue, pouch-like object dangling from a twig. I flew closer to the mysterious object. As soon as I became close enough to touch the pouch, a long, black leg popped right out of it! I screamed and immediately hid behind a fallen leaf. I carefully observed the strange being crawl out of its casing.

            The being turned out to be an insect like me, only larger. Once I could see the insect's body, two gorgeous, orange and black wings unraveled before my compound eyes. It was like nothing I have ever seen. The insect did not see little, homely-looking me. His large, thin wings elevated him through the bush's hard twigs and heavy leaves and up into the sky. The creature was truly magnificent. His wings skated through the air and contrasted greatly against the cool hues of the day and the garden. He was like a flame on a cold day.

            This creature fascinated me. I wish to be admired for such beauty and elegance. Unlike me, I bet no human would swat at such an organism. What a wonder that I saw! 

                                                                        Citations   

About.com; http://pestcontrol.about.com/od/identificationofpests/a/The-House-Fly.htm (Accessed Mar. 22, 2012)    

Dreaming Under the Lone Spotlight

              It is dark and empty inside of a grand theater in New York City. The only thing that brightens the room is a lone spotlight in the center of the stage. A technician of the theater, a woman, walks across the stage and stops under the spotlight. Her head turns around the vast room, with its Heaven-like decorations, carved balconies, and velvet chairs. She closes her eyes and finds the most surprising thing.

            The empty theater is now flooded with people! The sound of orchestra is tuning their instruments and the visitors filled the room with life. In a matter of seconds, all noises seized. The technician looked down to her feet to find that her regular uniform magically changed into a gorgeous, white leotard with a billowing tutu, tights, and silky dancing shoes. She touches the top of her head and discovers her hair is in a bun. She is practically an angel.

            The music begins. A single violin sang an almost mournful tune. The technician slowly moves along to the violin, as if she knew this song by heart. Other sting instruments join along with the violin. The technician dances to the music with ease. She twirls across the stage and leaps into the air, landing as gently as a feather. She makes each move with perfection.

            The music slowly dies. The entire theater is so quiet, the sound of a pin drop could have echoed. The room bursts with great cheer for the dancer. People are standing and clapping in admiration. The dancer gives a very humble bow. Once her head lifts again, she sees that the entire room was completely empty. The grand theater is still a dark place, except for the lone spotlight that still shines on the technician.