The Beholder | Teen Ink

The Beholder

May 9, 2010
By AelitaReloaded PLATINUM, Scottsdale, Arizona
AelitaReloaded PLATINUM, Scottsdale, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 179 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The pen is mightier than the sword" author unknown (to me)


Today was Libra’s birthday. She’d been counting on getting that new Fun Sphere 531 that she’d been subtly dropping hints about for weeks. She glared suspiciously at the pink wrapped gift that lay on the family’s ancient mantle. The package was rectangular- not round. Maybe it was just the packaging… she thought doubtfully.

“Libra, we are so proud to celebrate your fifteenth birthday with you- you’ve really blossomed into a wonderful young lady!” her father crooned.

“She lived for fifteen years- quite an accomplishment!” her younger brother quipped.

Libra’s mother pulled her daughter into a warm embrace, “Don’t listen to Paul, honey! Today is your special day! So… What do you want to do first?” her mother grinned conspiratorially at her. That was one of the things Libra loved best about her mother, who was majestic despite being only 5 foot 1, with a generous mane of glistening honey- colored hair. Libra’s mother had a great sense of humor. Libra burst out laughing at her mother’s display.

“I want to open my present first!” Libra admitted, motioning towards the parcel that had been tormenting her for days, now.

“No, I think not. Why don’t we have breakfast first- do you want to go out?” her mother pursed her lips, determined to keep the suspense going for another few hours.

“I guess we could go to caramel Joe’s.” suggested Libra, referring to the local pancake house that put all of those chain restaurants to shame.

“Sure!” Her father agreed earnestly.

The family had a wonderful day- the four of them had the largest, fluffiest pancakes they had ever experienced, followed by an even fluffier chocolate covered pancake with birthday candles in it.

After that, Libra’s ice skating party took up the rest of the day.

At the end of the day, the family retired home, and Libra was finally allowed to open her gift.

Eagerly, she ran to the mantle. She tore at the wrapping paper. But as soon as she saw what was inside, her face fell. Inside was just an old, worn out book. Libra knew money was tight, but this seemed a little extreme.

“What is it?” she frowned at the book, trying to mask her disappointment.

“This is something very special,” Libra’s mother explained, “This book has belonged to my family for a very long time. It is passed only to the women of the family on their fifteenth birthdays. It has been in the family for about four hundred years! Each girl who has it writes one page about anything she wants on her fifteenth birthday, and then passes it on to her daughter. You also should read all of the other entries.” Her mother smiled.

“I wanted a Fun Sphere 531!” she complained, pouting childishly. Try as she may, Libra was unable to hide her discontent.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Libra!” her father scolded, “This is the most important thing your mother has- aside from you children!

“Okay.” Libra conceded.

That night she flipped through the ancient pages. She read about her family before they moved to the United States. It seemed they had been simple shepherds in Poland. One of her ancestors had grown particularly fond of one sheep, and had begged her parents not to shear it, (to no avail.) She read about her great grandmother who at the time was worried about her brother who was fighting in World War I. After that, she had to ask her mother if her great great uncle had survived the war. As it turned out, he had and became a great general. She even read her own mother and aunt’s entries. Both wrote about typical life in the seventies. Reading her aunt’s entry had filled her eyes to the brim with tears, because she knew her aunt died of frostbite at the age of nineteen, only four years later.

After Libra composed herself, she wrote her own entry. She wrote about friends and family, and about the truth of the eye of the beholder.

Years passed, and Autumn leaves of change fell on Libra’s soul. Now she understood just how special this book was, and cherished it. It was the strongest link she had to her past- to her heritage. The day of her own daughter’s fifteenth birthday came all too soon.

She decided to wrap it in pink wrapping paper, just as her parents had done for her, so many years ago. She placed the precious item gingerly on her very own mantel in her very own house.

The next morning, her daughter, Kira opened the package.

Libra could see the confusion and disappointment written clearly on her daughter’s face.

Instead of getting mad, Libra wrapped her arm around Kira, something she’d learned from her mother, and looked her in the eye lovingly, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” She said.


The author's comments:
This story is about growing up, snd appreciating the value in things. I hope my fellow teens will draw from this that beauty, really is in the eye of the beholder!

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This article has 24 comments.


on Jul. 27 2010 at 3:27 pm
AelitaReloaded PLATINUM, Scottsdale, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 179 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The pen is mightier than the sword" author unknown (to me)

Haven't gotten a lot of feedback on my recent work, could you please check them out and let me know what you think?  I just finished an eight part peice in fanfic.  It is the first in a minisereis.

on Jul. 16 2010 at 2:04 pm
AelitaReloaded PLATINUM, Scottsdale, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 179 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The pen is mightier than the sword" author unknown (to me)

Yumi, your name wouldn't happen to be from Code: Lyoko, would it?

on Jul. 16 2010 at 1:30 pm
AelitaReloaded PLATINUM, Scottsdale, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 179 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The pen is mightier than the sword" author unknown (to me)

Yes, I will.  I have a few more peices on now, I also haven't gotten feedback in a while.

on Jul. 16 2010 at 1:29 pm
AelitaReloaded PLATINUM, Scottsdale, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 179 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The pen is mightier than the sword" author unknown (to me)

Yes, I will.  I have a few more peices on now, I also haven't gotten feedback in a while.

_Mags_ SILVER said...
on Jun. 20 2010 at 9:32 pm
_Mags_ SILVER, Somewhere, North Carolina
9 articles 7 photos 436 comments

Favorite Quote:
- I stare danger in the face and giggle
- Never argue with an idiot, people might not know the difference
-R.A.P (Retards Attempting Poetry)
-Tip Cologne ryhmes with alone

Awesome the story was beautiful and touching, well writen as well.

Btw, can you read some of my stuff, i need the feedback.


on Jun. 1 2010 at 7:34 pm
AelitaReloaded PLATINUM, Scottsdale, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 179 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The pen is mightier than the sword" author unknown (to me)

Really?  I didn't really notice that when I wrote it, but perhaps. That is interesting, I'll look into it.

on Jun. 1 2010 at 7:32 pm
AelitaReloaded PLATINUM, Scottsdale, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 179 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The pen is mightier than the sword" author unknown (to me)

Thank you, there are two more of my peices pending approval, they will probably be on in a few days.

WhiteBear said...
on Jun. 1 2010 at 3:27 pm
Love your story- very realistic and original! Just a small tip: at the beginning you sounded like you were thinking too much about the words you were using, but after a while you just let the words flow! So you soon got into the movement of the story- very well written!!

on Jun. 1 2010 at 2:06 pm
B.R.Nack SILVER, Grand Junction, Colorado
5 articles 0 photos 47 comments

Favorite Quote:
“...Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.”
--Stephen King

very interesting story, well written and touching :) keep it up!!! You are talented!!!

on May. 31 2010 at 3:07 pm
AelitaReloaded PLATINUM, Scottsdale, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 179 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The pen is mightier than the sword" author unknown (to me)

No one has commented lately, if you have any constructive criticism, or if you like my story, I'd like to know!

on May. 26 2010 at 11:30 pm
AelitaReloaded PLATINUM, Scottsdale, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 179 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The pen is mightier than the sword" author unknown (to me)

Thank you... you wouldn't happen to have picked your name from code: Lyoko, Yumi Ishiyama, did you?  'Cause that's where  mine's from!

on May. 26 2010 at 11:28 pm
AelitaReloaded PLATINUM, Scottsdale, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 179 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The pen is mightier than the sword" author unknown (to me)

Thank you.  To answer your question, yes, and no... I've never had an experience that directly helped me to grow with regards to my perspective, or appreciating things.  In fact... if I had gotten the book, I would've loved it at first sight.  But it is my personal experience in that I believe that anything can have value to someone- including people!

Yumi said...
on May. 26 2010 at 11:26 pm
What a cool story.  You should make it longer.  It reminds me to cherish the simpler things in my life.  Thanks for the inspiration.  I like your screen name too.

on May. 26 2010 at 11:25 pm
AelitaReloaded PLATINUM, Scottsdale, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 179 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The pen is mightier than the sword" author unknown (to me)

Thank you! :D

on May. 26 2010 at 11:25 pm
AelitaReloaded PLATINUM, Scottsdale, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 179 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The pen is mightier than the sword" author unknown (to me)

Thank you!  I love knowing that my writing inspired you!  I hope you do it! :)

littleone33 said...
on May. 26 2010 at 10:42 pm
This is very thought provoking writing and makes me want to start a journal myself to pass along to the next generation.

Venicegirl said...
on May. 26 2010 at 10:37 pm
Great writing!  Keep up the good work!

ark-angel732 said...
on May. 22 2010 at 11:37 pm

I really liked this.

It wasn't complex or long but it had a good lesson. Did you write it from experience?


on May. 21 2010 at 7:22 pm
AelitaReloaded PLATINUM, Scottsdale, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 179 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The pen is mightier than the sword" author unknown (to me)

Dear editor of teenink 

I accidentally voted twice today on my story.  What should I do?  Can you delete it- it was five stars!

Aelita

 


on May. 20 2010 at 9:56 am
AelitaReloaded PLATINUM, Scottsdale, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 179 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The pen is mightier than the sword" author unknown (to me)

Thank you, I'm so glad you liked it!  Count on there being more soon- I'm working on another peice for Teenink right now! :)