Writers of the Harlem Renaissance Essay -- Harlem Art Literature Essays

Writers of the Harlem Renaissance During the 1920?s, a ?flowering of creativity,? as many have called it, began to sweep the nation. The movement, now known as ?The Harlem Renaissance,? caught like wildfire. Harlem, a part of Manhattan in New York City, became a hugely successful showcase for African American talent. Starting with black literature, the Harlem Renaissance quickly grew to incredible proportions. W.E.B. Du Bois, Claude McKay, and Langston Hughes, along with many other writers, experienced incredible popularity, respect, and success. Art, music, and photography from blacks also flourished, resulting in many masterpieces in all mediums. New ideas began to take wings among circles of black intellectuals. The Renaissance elevated black works to a high point. Beyond simply encouraging creativity and thought in the African American community, the writers of the Harlem Renaissance completely revolutionized the identity of African American society as a whole, leading black culture from slavery to its current place in America today. There was no single cause which produced the Harlem Renaissance, but there are several historical developments which paved the way. The first set of contributing factors deal with the cultural background of Harlem from 1900 to 1920. At the turn of the century, Harlem first began to emerge as a distinctly black community. As black population increased, African American culture came to the surface and blacks started to hold prominent roles in this self-motivated community. This afro-centric atmosphere of Harlem appealed to many southern blacks, and as a result, ?the Great Migration of southern rural blacks to the north began in 1915? (Haskins 15). Blacks left segregation-... ...ier. New York: Harcourt, Brace, and World, Inc., 1970. 272. Locke, Alain. ?The New Negro.? Black Nationalism in America. John H. Bracey Jr. New York/Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company Inc, 1970. 334-347. ?The Harlem Renaissance.? Rev. 9 Feb. 1998. 11 Feb. 2000 Wintz, Cary D. Black Culture and the Harlem Renaissance. Houston: Rice University Press, 1943. Works Consulted African American Literature Book Club. ?The Harlem Renaissance.? 14 Feb. 2000 Chambers, Veronica. The Harlem Renaissance. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 1998. Franklin, John Hope. From Slavery to Freedom A History of Negro Americans. New York: Vintage Books, 1969. ?Harlem Renaissance.? 14 Feb. 2000 Lewis, David Levering. The Portable Harlem Renaissance Reader. New York: Viking Penguin, 1994. ?What is the Harlem Renaissance 14 Feb. 2000

Controlling Process in Management Essay -- Control Methods Technology

Controlling Process in Management Controlling is directly related to planning. The controlling process ensures that plans are being implemented properly. In the functions of management cycle - planning, organizing, directing, and controlling - planning moves forward into all the other functions, and controlling reaches back. Controlling is the final link in the functional chain of management activities and brings the functions of management cycle full circle. Control is the process through which standards for performance of people and processes are set, communicated, and applied. Effective control systems use mechanisms to monitor activities and take corrective action, if necessary. The supervisor observes what happens and compares that with what was supposed to happen. He or she must correct below-standard conditions and bring results up to expectations. Effective control systems allow supervisors to know how well implementation is going. Control facilitates delegating activities to employees. Since supervisors are ultimately held accountable for their employees' performance, timely feedback on employee activity is necessary. Control Process The control process is a continuous flow between measuring, comparing and action. There are four steps in the control process: establishing performance standards, measuring actual performance, comparing measured performance against established standards, and taking corrective action. Step 1. Establish Performance Standards. Standards are created when objectives are set during the planning process. A standard is any guideline established as the basis for measurement. It is a precise, explicit statement of expected results from a product, service, machine, individual, or organizational unit. It is usually expressed numerically and is set for quality, quantity, and time. Tolerance is permissible deviation from the standard. What is expected? How much deviation can be tolerated? Â · Time controls relate to deadlines and time constraints. Material controls relate to inventory and material-yield controls. Equipment controls are built into the machinery, imposed on the operator to protect the equipment or the process. Cost controls help ensure cost standards are met. Employee performance controls focus on actions and behaviors of individuals and groups of employees. Examples inclu... ...properly to be effective. When control standards are inflexible or unrealistic, employees cannot focus on the organization's goals. Control systems must prevent, not cause, the problems they were designed to detect. Performance variance can also be the result of an unrealistic standard. The natural response for employees whose performance falls short is to blame the standard or the supervisor. If the standard is appropriate, then it is up to the supervisor to stand his or her ground and take the necessary corrective action. An example of effective controls is the dashboard on a car. There are many things that can go wrong with a car. Only the most critical items to the car's operation are the focus on the dashboard (oil level, engine heat, fuel gauge, etc.). Variations in these items are most likely to inflict the most damage to the car. The critical items on the dashboard are easily understood and used by drivers. They point out a problem and specify a solution. They are accurate and timely. They call the driver's attention to variations in time to prevent serious damage. Yet, there is not so much information on the dashboard that the driver is overwhelmed. Controlling Process in Management Essay -- Control Methods Technology Controlling Process in Management Controlling is directly related to planning. The controlling process ensures that plans are being implemented properly. In the functions of management cycle - planning, organizing, directing, and controlling - planning moves forward into all the other functions, and controlling reaches back. Controlling is the final link in the functional chain of management activities and brings the functions of management cycle full circle. Control is the process through which standards for performance of people and processes are set, communicated, and applied. Effective control systems use mechanisms to monitor activities and take corrective action, if necessary. The supervisor observes what happens and compares that with what was supposed to happen. He or she must correct below-standard conditions and bring results up to expectations. Effective control systems allow supervisors to know how well implementation is going. Control facilitates delegating activities to employees. Since supervisors are ultimately held accountable for their employees' performance, timely feedback on employee activity is necessary. Control Process The control process is a continuous flow between measuring, comparing and action. There are four steps in the control process: establishing performance standards, measuring actual performance, comparing measured performance against established standards, and taking corrective action. Step 1. Establish Performance Standards. Standards are created when objectives are set during the planning process. A standard is any guideline established as the basis for measurement. It is a precise, explicit statement of expected results from a product, service, machine, individual, or organizational unit. It is usually expressed numerically and is set for quality, quantity, and time. Tolerance is permissible deviation from the standard. What is expected? How much deviation can be tolerated? Â · Time controls relate to deadlines and time constraints. Material controls relate to inventory and material-yield controls. Equipment controls are built into the machinery, imposed on the operator to protect the equipment or the process. Cost controls help ensure cost standards are met. Employee performance controls focus on actions and behaviors of individuals and groups of employees. Examples inclu... ...properly to be effective. When control standards are inflexible or unrealistic, employees cannot focus on the organization's goals. Control systems must prevent, not cause, the problems they were designed to detect. Performance variance can also be the result of an unrealistic standard. The natural response for employees whose performance falls short is to blame the standard or the supervisor. If the standard is appropriate, then it is up to the supervisor to stand his or her ground and take the necessary corrective action. An example of effective controls is the dashboard on a car. There are many things that can go wrong with a car. Only the most critical items to the car's operation are the focus on the dashboard (oil level, engine heat, fuel gauge, etc.). Variations in these items are most likely to inflict the most damage to the car. The critical items on the dashboard are easily understood and used by drivers. They point out a problem and specify a solution. They are accurate and timely. They call the driver's attention to variations in time to prevent serious damage. Yet, there is not so much information on the dashboard that the driver is overwhelmed.

My Hobby of Fishing Essay examples -- Papers Personal Narrative Hobbie

My Hobby of Fishing One of my favorite hobbies is fishing. Some people regard this as a boring or an old man's sport, but I value it much more than that. If you have never experienced it, I think you are really missing something, and so you can't truly give your honest opinion on the sport. Humans have been captivated with the sea, and catching fish since the beginning of their existence, and the sport has, in many ways evolved hugely, and yet in many aspects has stayed exactly the same. The sport is unique compared to others, and I find it can be anything from a relaxing, to a very intense experience, and every time is different. I was introduced to fishing by my father when I was only 4 years old, and I have been hooked on it ever since. It is one of the few sports that's great for just socializing and friendships, as it breaks down the barriers we might have with one another. There are three main types of fishing; fly fishing, coarse fishing and sea fishing. I started with sea fishing off my uncle's speedboat in The Solent around places like the Needles, but none of us really had any idea what we were doing, and to catch even one fish seemed like a huge success. The first fish I ever caught was, quite surprisingly, a small bass when I was fishing with some bait on a hook just floating off the boat. There is something about catching fish which just gives you such an adrenalin burst and it becomes an addictive experience which you just want to try again and again. The good thing about sea fishing, though, is that most of what you catch you can eat and I find it a lot more enjoyable compared to say coarse fishing where you are... ...snapped free causing the boat to capsize suddenly and all three of us to go overboard. Another great thing about the sport, is that it is so easy to get into, with books, the Internet, tutors and lessons all available, and the gear is easy to get hold of as well, so if you have some spare time, I can seriously recommend taking up the hobby. You won't be disappointed. Text Box: On this occasion coming into the harbour, the seagulls surrounded the boat because of the fish we had onboard. It was just our luck that we caught a fish which came to the surface of the water at that time, and so a seagull dived for it, and we then had a seagull which woulnt let go of the fish so we had to reel them both in, and sea gulls can give quite a nasty nip. My uncle was also quite unnerved at being at the back of the boat with all of these birds flying over.

Elegy for my father’s father&quot Essay

What is the true meaning of family? A support system. A unit that guides you through life. People that always have your best interest at heart. They are and will always be there for you. You are yourself around them and they never expect you to hold back. Joy and sorrow. Laughs and tears. All elements shared with family. This is not the case in all situations as seen in the poem elegy for my father’s father. Elegy for my father’s father is one stanza poem of sorrow and sadness. A poem written by a man who hardly knew his grandfather. Thus the title elegy for my father’s father which brings out the detached mood. The persona begins by telling the reader how they all knew this man died knowing he was emotionally detached from all those around him. He was an introvert and kept to himself. ‘O for all the tall tower broken memorial denied’ a sentence showing the little they had to remember him by. There were no marks of him and there was very little to him. ‘And the unchanging cairn that pipes could set ablaze An aaronsrod and blossom. ‘ There was no tombstone and instead Just a pile of stones on top of his grave. I believe this shows the little respect they had for him. They are not alone as nature also refuses to be one with him. No flower grows by his graveside. He is alone just like he was in real life. ‘They stood by his graveside from his bitter veins born And mourned him in their own fashion. ‘ The persona again describes his grandfather as a bitter angry man. The reader begins to get the immensity of anger that the persona has for his grandfather. The situation was so serious that his family did not know how to mourn him. There was no unity when they were mourning him and they as a result they all did it in their own ways. ‘A chain of sods in a day he could slice and build high as the head of a man And a flowering cherry tree On his walking shoulder held under the lion sun’ the persona finally gives an unexpected positive remark about this man. They honor his strength and endurance seen in his youth. He did intense amount of work and was able to accomplish it in the harshest of conditions. He was a ‘workaholic’. This could have been a way to ensure people kept off. The persona however jumps back into the negative comments. When he was old he had nothing to do except sit in his curved chair all day the kitchen fire. Perhaps a sense of pity for him. His family watched him waste time he could have made so much out of. He was quiet and observant. He scrutinized every detail but he kept all his observations to himself. He confined his feelings and wisdom. He was very mysterious. A lot of imagery is used in the lines describing this. The last eleven lines of the poem are all imagery. They show how the old man never spoke in times of joy. ‘This heart had never spoken in song or bridal bed’ He was shockingly also distant to his wife. A person who he should have at least been able to trust and express himself to. He was unable to reveal himself on his honeymoon. This shows how great his separation from all those around him was. The poem is of a mixed tone as there is an element of sorrow but at the same time there is celebration of life and reminiscing of the old man’s youthful days. The poet uses descriptive words that carry out the task of giving vivid illustration to the reader. The poem however does not have a flow as has no rhythm regularity. The poem is cyclic as the reader is taken through the old man’s life. The theme of family and its great impact on one’s life is seen throughout the poem.

Case Study Nissan.Com Fundamentals of Ebusiness

1. Nissan Motor Company is concerned about the use of the domain names Nissan. com and Nissan. net because they do not want potential customers to miss finding their site. They feel the name Nissan is associated with their company, that they could lose sales by having a domain name other than nissan. com or nissan. net. However I do not feel that a $10 million dollar judgment is justified. Even if customers will not find Nissan immediately upon using the above domain names, they can use Google or Bing to find the domain name. At this stage of internet use, I think that most users would attempt to find Nissan Motor Company using a search engine. Nissans concern over Uzi Nissans use of the name and websites has to do with brand management. Nissan (Auto Company) feels that by Uzi using the name for his consultant and import/export business, this will confuse consumers that are using the web as a source of information when searching for a car. With most other large auto industry’s-their brand name is also the selling point for the web. When a consumer shopping for a car want to visit Honda, or Toyota, or BMW’s site- you are immediately taken there just by entering in the information to the URL. Nissan. com takes you to Uzi Nissan’s site and to the ongoing issues of the law suit. Nissan Motor feels that Uzi is diluting the Nissan Auto Brand. The error made by Nissan was not purchasing the domain name immediately, however if you do a Google search on Nissan, the website that shows up is Nissanusa. com. The $10 million, in my opinion is really not justifiable. I understand that if Nissan were to obtain the rights to the sites that Uzi has obtained then a change in online branding will need to occur but the justification for that amount is not there. C1. Nissan. com 2. In Uzi Nissans defense, he was granted the rights to use his name to start his online business. This is a direct quote â€Å"In December 1987, I started an import/export business known as â€Å"Nissan International† At that time, Nissan Motor was not well known as Nissan, but primarily as â€Å"DATSUN†. As with the earlier business, I chose to use Nissan in my business name because it was my last name. the domain was registered and promoted as being an internet/computer service provider. Nissan, had done what he felt was right-purchasing and registering the domain names. I do not feel that he has violated any cyber squatting laws, and if he chooses not to sell the names to Nissan Auto Company, he is within his rights. Uzi Nissan feels he should be allowed to us e his family name as a domain name. He purchased the name nissan. com in 1994 and nissan. net in 1996. The name Nissan is a common surname in the Middle East. It is apparent that Mr. Nissan is acting in good faith. He is not attempting to cyber squat, which is evident by his not attempting to sell the domains to Nissan Motor Company. 3. Nissan Auto felt that since â€Å"Nissan† was known for auto, that Uzis brand was diluting the auto brand, causing confusion and negatively impacting on Nissan Auto. However, Nissan as the large industry that it is should have been on the ball when registering domain names. Also-they should have originally followed up with their lawyers cist and desist order instead of allowing that letter to fall through the cracks-not communicating with Uzi Nissan. Nissan Motor Company feels that Nissan Computer’s use of Nissan. om and Nissan. net will confuse the consumer. They argue that when people hear the name ‘Nissan’, they think Nissan cars and trucks. They legally offered a generous amount of C1. Nissan. com money to Nissan Computer to purchase the above domain names. In 2003, the court has ordered Nissan Computer not to use the two domain na mes commercial purposes, but it appears that Nissan Computer is not following this practice. Though it appears that the law suit is still going on I feel that Uzi Nissans right to use his sites, which he purchased, registered and used for his computer/Internet export /import business was not a fair decision. His sites are not diluting Nissan Auto-In fact now with the ruling in hand it seems that the only purpose of the Nissan. com and Nissan. net sites are to inform the public about the ongoing battle between one man and a major auto company-if anything It seems to be bad publicity and Nissan Auto could have focused their energy elsewhere. 4. I do not believe this ruling is fair. I personally have come across several websites where the domain name was not the name I expected it to be, based on the company name. However, the domain name used was close enough to the company name for consumers to associate the name and the domain name. As mentioned in item #1, with search engines such as Google and Bing being widely used, most people using the web can find a company’s website even if the domain name is not exactly the same as the company name. While there should be laws on cyber squatting, I think there should be some type of ‘grandfather’ clause on domain name registration starting with the year 1995. This grandfather clause would eliminate the type of situation that these two companies find themselves in, and thus Nissan Computer Company could use their nissan. com and nissan. net domain names.

Qualitative Analysis-Part 2 Anions Essay

Chloride Solution + 0. 1M AgNO3 =white precipitate formed, very fine texture. Iodide solution + 0. 1M AgNO3 =yellow/white precipitate formed, cloudy texture. Silver Chloride + ammonium hydroxide = white precipitate forms, slowly begins to disappear. Adding HNO3 the reappearance of a white precipitate began, indicating the presence of the chloride. SO4 solution + 0. 5mL of BaCl2-CaCl2 = heated for about 10minutes, fine white precipitate throughout test tube. 5drops of 6M HCl + SO4 = no change indicating no reaction took place, confirming that sulphate is not present in solution. Unknown Substance: When testing for carbonates, little to no reaction took place indicating no presence of carbonates. While testing for Chloride and Iodide, my solution reacted with sulphric acid and a yellow-ish colour change took place. No reaction took place when added to hydrochloric acid or barium hydroxide. Sulphate was tested for and no reactions or changed underwent, confirming that it is not present in the solution. Ammonium hydroxide was not needed due to Ag not being present in solution. Iodide present, upon liberation of CH2Cl2 solution, red-ish/brown colour change along with 2 separate layers forming. Discussion: In wastewater and drinking water today, there are many ions and anions alike that we make come into contact with and have to test for. These tests allowed me to get a first hand experience on testing for certain anions in a known and unknown substance. It is important to be able to detect substance in solutions, known tests are designed to allow one chemical react with another chemical to confirm the presence or absence of anions. By running a series of reactions, it provides a clear understanding of what chemicals are present in what solutions. This then allowed me to test for unknown anions in an unknown solution. These tests are important because it could cause the plants to change the processes that are taken to clear and purify our water. Conclusion: My solution was present with Iodide after running a series of experiments. It is known that a red/brown colour change will partake and two layers will form. Both of these things took place confirming what was mentioned above. Questions: 1. What is an ion? An ion is an atom or molecule that undergoes change. 2. What is a polyatomic anion? A polyatomic anion is a charged ion made up of 2 or more atoms covalently bonded. 3. What products are produced when an acid like H2SO4 reacts with a carbonate like CaCO3? Why is this type of reactions so important for the fresh waters of southern Ontario? H2CO3 and CaSO4 would be produced, this type of reaction is important to the fresh waters of southern Ontario because this allows for better for vegetation which helps keep the water clean. 4. What is a quantitative analysis? How does it differ from a qualitative analysis? A quantitative analysis is the detection of the presence of chemical elements in an unknown substance as to where qualitative analysis used to separate

Stefan’s Diaries: Bloodlust Chapter 22

I straightened the cuffs on my neatly pressed white shirt and buttoned my overcoat. The shiny brass buttons glinted in the lamplight as I turned the corner onto Laurel Street. I wiped my face, to make sure no blood lingered on my lips. Id visited my barmaid from Miladies, sating my hunger before my evening out on the town with Callie. The barmaids blood had tasted sweet, like lilies dipped in honey. The second the warmth had hit my tongue, my senses had become honed and the world had sharpened around the edges. Now the cicadas shrieked in my ears and the smell of roses assaulted my nose, but my stomach was calm and my veins were sated. I was ready for my date. The park at the end of the street was filled with magnolias and ancient elm trees, and in the center, a marble fountain was topped with a sculpture of a naked woman. Through the burble of the fountain, I could hear the beating of a human heart. â€Å"Hello?† I called. â€Å"Stefan!† Callie stepped out from behind a stone cherub into the weak light of a gas lamp. Her red hair, a flame in the flickering light, hung loose and curly around her shoulders. She wore a simple, cream-colored dress, with a lace bodice and a flouncy skirt that draped over her tiny hips. Blood raced through my body. â€Å"What?† Callie said, reddening as she noticed my stare. â€Å"You look, uh, like a girl,† I said. She looked beautiful. â€Å"Gee, thanks.† Callie rolled her eyes and softly slugged my shoulder. â€Å"Youre just used to seeing me in work clothes.† She gazed at me. â€Å"You look quite handsome.† I cleared my throat and tugged on my collar. Suddenly my clothes felt uncomfortable and constricting, and the night air stuffy. I wondered briefly if the barmaid had something in her blood that hadnt agreed with me. â€Å"Thank you,† I said formally. â€Å"Stefan?† Callie lifted her arm expectantly. â€Å"Oh, of course.† I took her arm in mine. Her freckled hand grazed my palm. I flinched and readjusted so that her hand was resting on the soft fabric of my jacket. â€Å"Where to, Miss Gallagher?† She looked up at me, a smile on her face. â€Å"Bourbon Street, of course.† Callie guided me through cobblestone side streets, where gardenias dripped from balconies. On a whim, I grabbed one and tucked it behind her ear. Back home in Mystic Falls, it was customary to bring flowers or a small token when visiting with a lady. â€Å"Want to know a secret?† Callie whispered. â€Å"What?† I asked, curious. I was already the bearer of too many secrets. But perhaps Callies could lead me to Damon She got up on tiptoe and cupped my ear with her hand. The sound of her blood pumping beneath her skin magnified tenfold. I gritted my teeth, forcing my fangs back down. â€Å"Your shirt has come untucked,† she whispered. â€Å"Oh,† I said, as I self-consciously smoothed down my shirt. â€Å"Thanks.† Callie let out a gleeful laugh. â€Å"You know what I really want to see?† she asked, grabbing my arm. â€Å"What?† I asked, trying to devote all my energy to not listening to the steady thrum of her blood. â€Å"A burlesque show. Madame X has a showeveryone'sbeen talking about,† she said. We walked together through the town, past bustling crowds and wavering street carts, ending up in a well-kept neighborhood in front of a pristine, stately house. A simple placard next to the door readMADAME Xin black script. Soft lamplight shone from all the windows, and carriages pulled up, one after another, to the front gate, releasing their well-dressed passengers into the depths of the club. I momentarily panicked. I didnt have any money. And I was wearing a schoolboys clothes that hadnt been in style since the turn of the century. â€Å"Callie, I think † I began, trying to come up with an alternate idea for our evening when the front door swung open to greet us. â€Å"Good evening. Are you guests of the house?† The mans eyes flicked down my old clothes. I was wildly underdressed for this venue, and I knew it. Callie, however, looked radiant. â€Å"Yes,† Callie jumped in, straightening her shoulders. â€Å"And your names?† From the way Callies lips flattened, I could tell she hadnt realized there was a guest list. I stepped in front of her, suddenly inspired. â€Å"Were the Picards. Remy and his wife, Calliope.† â€Å"One moment, sir.† The man waddled in his slippers over to a podium holding a list that almost certainly did not include Mr. Remy Picards name. He turned a page, then turned it back. â€Å"What are you doing, Stefan?† Callie whispered. â€Å"I have it under control,† I said quietly. â€Å"Just smile and look pretty.† The man returned, looking genuinely distressed. â€Å"Im terribly sorry, sir, but your name is not on our list for tonight.† He glanced around, as if ready to beckon a security guard if we made trouble. I want you to let us in without asking us any more questions, I thought, channeling all my energy. â€Å"Wed really like to come in,† I said aloud, concentrating on looking deep into his eyes, ignoring Callies curious gaze boring into my back. â€Å"Are you sure you didnt see our names on the list?† The mans eyes flickered. Let us in without looking at the list. â€Å"You know, I believe Imighthave seen your names. In fact, Im sure I did. The Picards! Im sorry. It was my confusion. Right this way,† he said, a slightly vacant expression on his face. He led us through large double doors and into a sumptuous parlor. Low crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and the air smelled of jasmine, magnolia, and freesia. â€Å"Enjoy your stay at Madame Xs. And if I can be of any assistance to either of you, dont hesitate to come fetch me,† the man said, turning on his heel. â€Å"Thank you,† I said. Callie simply stood there, looking slack-jawed at me. â€Å"How did you do that?† I shrugged. â€Å"I just made him doubt himself. He wouldnt want to say no to the Picards, whoever they are. Besides, what if our nameswereon the list, and he said no to us, then we complained to the owner?† Secretly, I was thrilled. My Power was strengthening. â€Å"So I take it that this isnt your first time sneaking in where you dont belong?† I glanced at her slyly. â€Å"You of all people should know that to be true.† She laughed, and I gave her an impromptu twirl. People stared at us. Even though a pianist was playing a jaunty tune in the corner, this wasnt a room where people danced. Instead, guests drifted from one conversation to the next as they sucked on cigars and gulped down champagne. â€Å"Do you know anyone here?† I asked as we brushed past couple after couple, all clad in finery. Callie shrugged, the shadow of a frown crossing her face. She glanced around the room. â€Å"They all hate Father. They say hes a Unionist whos taking advantage of New Orleans with his business. And perhaps he is, but at least his show doesnt pretend to be something its not,† she said, jutting her chin. I shifted in my seat. Wasnt that exactly what I was doing? Pretending to be someone I wasnt? I couldnt look at her, in case she could see the depths of my lies in my eyes. A server came by with a tray laden with champagne. I grabbed two glasses. â€Å"Cheers,† I said, handing one to Callie. As we sipped the bubbling liquid, conversations swirled around us, growing louder and more boisterous with every tray of drinks the waiters brought out to serve. Mens movements grew more languid, women laughed more readily. â€Å"Is your father ready for the next show?† I asked, forcing a conversational note to my voice. â€Å"I suppose so.† â€Å"Who will the vampire be fighting?† â€Å"I dont know,† Callie said. â€Å"A crocodile, or maybe a tiger. It depends on what Father can get on such short notice. Why?† I shrugged noncommittally. â€Å"I want to place a bet.† â€Å"Father wants something cheap. Hes worried people wont pony up as much money for another animal fight. It seems the monsters much stronger than a beast.† â€Å"Oh,† I said, trying to process the information. â€Å"But lets not talk about work. Tonight is supposed to be fun! Lord knows we dont have enough of it in our real lives.† Callies voice grew melancholy. â€Å"Speaking of fun,† she said, pointing to a small crowd moving through a set of double doors at the back of the club, â€Å"I think the burlesque show is back there.† â€Å"Shall we?† I asked, offering my arm. The back room, much smaller than the first one, had numerous wooden tables crammed onto the floor. A stage was set up at the front of the room, and the space was dimly lit by candles. Instead of joining the crush toward the front, Callie and I sat back on a low-slung, red velvet bench beneath a large mirror in the back of the room. As soon as everyone settled into seats, a master of ceremonies took to the stage. I was surprised to see that he was a man wearing a dinner suit and cape. Id imagined a burlesque show to be louder, larger than this, with plenty of music and scantily clad women. â€Å"Good evening! As weve all heard, we have a vampire in our midst,† he said dramatically. Audience members tittered nervously. I glanced at Callie out of the corner of my eye. Was this some sort of trap? Did she know what I was? But Callie was leaning forward, as if mesmerized by the mans words. The master of ceremonies smiled, drinking in the suspense. â€Å"Yes, a vampire. Down at that two-bit circus by the lake.† Jeers filled the room. Callie hadnt been exaggerating when shed said her father was infamous in this town. I turned to look at her. Although her cheeks were as red as her hair, she gazed straight ahead, her elbows on her knees. â€Å"And eyewitnesses say Gallagher had to chain his up so it wont run away. But, here at Madame Xs, our vampire has come to visit all on his own.† â€Å"We can go if you want,† I whispered. But Callie shook her head and clasped my hand. It felt warm against my cool skin, but this time I didnt push her away. â€Å"No, I want to stay.† A thin man walked onstage, clad in a black cape. His face was powdered, and thin lines of fake blood were drawn from the corners of his lips. He smiled at the crowd, revealing fake fangs. I shifted in my seat. â€Å"I am a vampire, and you all are my prey! Come to me, my pretties!† he cackled, in an exaggerated voice that made me squirm. The â€Å"vampire† stalked around the stage, his teeth bared and his eyes scanning the audience. A woman in a pearl-embroidered gown stood up from a table in the front and walked toward the stage as if in a trance, emitting a low moan with each step. â€Å"The vampire has special eyes that can see through clothing. And this vampire, ladies and gentlemen, likes what he sees!† The master of ceremonies leered at the audience. At this, the audience applauded enthusiastically. I glanced at Callie again. Had she known this was a show about vampires? â€Å"But, now, the vampire has his hunger awakened. And what hell do to feed the hunger, you wont believe,† the master of ceremonies said as the vampire onstage waved his hands toward the woman, as if conducting an orchestra. As he did that, a trumpet player began playing a slow, mournful tune. The woman began to move her hips, slowly at first, and then more and more quickly until she looked as though she would topple over. â€Å"Maybe Father should give our vampire dance lessons,† Callie whispered, her breath hot on my cheek. Then, suddenly, the vampire stopped waving his arms. The music stopped, and so did the woman. The vampire lurched toward her, took hold of the sleeve of her dress, and tore it off, exposing her milky-white arm. â€Å"Do you feel wicked tonight?† the vampire called to the audience, waggling the fabric toward the crowd. Then he tore off the other sleeve. My stomach turned. â€Å"I ask you, do you feel wicked tonight?† he called again, tossing the fabric into the audience. The crowd cheered as the dancer continued her gyrations, rubbing her back against the â€Å"vampire.† Slowly, she peeled away her clothing, item by item, sending a silk stocking or a slip into the audience until most of her body was on display. As the music picked up speed, she got closer to becoming entirely nude. At last, she sat in a chair on the stage as the master of ceremonies pulled off the last bit of her top, forcing her to cover herself with her hands. â€Å"As he is a beast from hell, the only way to stop a vampire is with a stake to the heart. But they can also be kept away with a crucifix â€Å" At this, the dancer pantomimed a futile search for pockets that might contain a stake or crucifix. I slumped in my chair, thinking of my own attacks. Of Alice, of Lavinia, of the nurse whose name Id never known. There was nothing beautiful or romantic about those attacks. They were quick, bloody, deadly. Id ended their lives without a second thought, with swift violence and a thirst for more. â€Å"Are you okay?† Callie asked. For the first time, I realized how tightly Id been clutching her hand. I loosened my grip, and instantly she snuggled closer to me in my seat. Her blood pumped like sweet music through her body, and the warmth of her body soothed my anger. I relaxed into her, taking in the softness of her voice as she laughed at the play. Callie was warm and soft and so veryalive. I wanted this moment to freeze, to last into eternity, with nothing but me and Callie and her beating heart. There was nothing else I needed in that moment, not blood, not power, not D– My body tensed and I sat straight up. What was I doing? Had I forgotten my brother, what I had done to him, so quickly? I stood up. â€Å"Down in front!† a voice barked a few rows behind me. â€Å"I-Im sorry. I have to go,† I said, stumbling toward the door. â€Å"Stefan, wait!† she called. But I kept going until I was on the street, running from the late-night bustle all the way to the riverbank. As I stared down at my reflection in the swirling water, Percys words echoed in my head: â€Å"Youll either want to kill her or kiss her, and neither scenario will end well for you.† He was right. Because while I truly didnt know whether I wanted to kiss or bite Callie, I knew I wantedher.