It was dusk when George arrived in Cleveland, and all he could think of was sleep. He aimlessly found his way to a dimly lit hotel. The hotel wasnt buzzing with people, but it did seem to have some small spark that kept it alive and warm

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 Truong

Julie Truong

Professor Hopkins

English 1B

17 May 2011

All of Nothing

It was dusk when George arrived in Cleveland, and all he could think of was sleep. He aimlessly found his way to a dimly lit hotel. The hotel wasn’t buzzing with people, but it did seem to have some small spark that kept it alive and warm. He was greeted by a receptionist who gave him a key to a room. There was a small fragile girl who was reading next to her. She glanced up and their eyes met for a second, but George too exhausted, took the key and went off without saying a word to her. The next morning he woke up with the sunlight beaming at his face through the west window. He staggered across the room to shut the shutters. George frustrated thinking it was too early to be awake, decided anyways that he might as well get up and start the day. He went down to the lobby and came across Tess again.

She was a small delicate looking girl, and she was pale yet she had a brilliant glow to her. Her hair was a faded blonde however, it still had a beautiful healthy shine to it. “Good morning. You’re new here aren’t you?" she spoke. "I was going to introduce myself last night, but you seemed a little dazed and disoriented.  I’m Tess by the way.”  George a little surprised by how casually she approached him. He seemed a little bewildered but managed to speak. “Oh, hi, I’m George. Yeah, I just left my hometown in search of a new start and a new life,” George replied. “Oh, a new life?" She said in question. "Alright well I have some errands to run but later if I catch up to you I’ll show you around,”  and with that she ran off to meet the woman at the front desk.

George went off to venture the town. Cleveland was bigger than Winesburg and he decided to stay to the east side of the town. George walked through Main Street and looked upon the new scenery. He thought of home, but the moment passed. George went in pursuit to see if the town was in need of a new reporter. As George was walking he heard a rattle and clanking down through the alleyway. He approached it to find a small gray cat creeping around the filthy garbage next to a bakery. George went into the bakery and bought a fresh piece of bread. He ran back towards the alley hoping the cat would still be there. He slowly drew near it and knelt down, trying not to scare her. "You must be scared out here all by yourself,” he whispered. It meowed back at him, as though she understood him. As the cat ate the bread George slowly ran his hand softly on its back. He gently stroked the cat’s silky fur, but with that he could also feel the frail spine and ribcage that bulged out of the starving creature. The cat trailed behind George when he decided to continue his journey into town. He slowed down to let it walk alongside him. He didn’t mind a friend accompanying him.

The folks in town seemed too preoccupied with their own business to notice the new arrival. Everything seemed so new yet George felt as if there was nothing new he truly wanted to know about. The thought of meeting new people made him tiresome. George decided to go back to the hotel and play with his new friend. George was introducing his cat into her new home when he heard someone call his name from outside. “George!” Tess called out from the hall. “Are you going back to sleep already? Come out and explore!” George walked outside his room to meet Tess. She smiled, grabbed his hand, and led him into town. “I want to show you something amazing.” To George, her figure seemed so feeble and dainty but when she spoke she was so spontaneous, and there seemed to be a great flame of energy inside of her. They went off to journey a new adventure.

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Tess took George to a spot on the outskirt of the town. She took him to a giant aged willow tree. Its trunk was beaten and scrapped with different carvings from past years. The magnificent branches seemed to arch in every direction. The tree stood on top of a hill that overlooked the town. George looked at Tess as she closed her eyes and carelessly opened her arms to let the cool breeze blow against her body and face. Something about her made him feel safe. As if she had some sort of purpose and that she was driven to being ...

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