Fin by A.R.C. (top 50 books to read .txt) 📖

didn't arrive yet. Which was a bit weird because he's always in. From the sounds of feet moving, charis schooching, and mumbles, I can say approximately there's at least twenty students who had shown up. The total in the class is about forty something. So that should please Braddock right?

I heard the brief case being placed on the desk and that indicated that Professor Braddock had fianlly arrived. Everybody else settled down to hear yet another history mix. "Before we start the lesson," he started off saying, "does anyone has something to say?"

"What are you talking about Professor?" Someone asked two seats down to my right.

"Anything. Need to leave early for some reason...have anything on their mind about what happened yesterday as far as my behavior about wanting to continue class?"

"Why would we bring that up again, sir?" I asked. "I don't think we want to waste time on arguing."

"Excellent Mr. Hall. Because we are having class now until it ends at its regular time. Now, who all can tell us about the perks of being an american in this country?"

"Freedom of Speech!" Someone yelled out proudly.

"Ok...what else?"

"Right to bare arms." Someone else said.

"People, please. Let's not quote anything else from the amendments."

"Democracy." I had said.

"Excellent, Mr. Hall." One of the important words that I was looking for. Do you know how much blood we paid for to get Democracy?"

"From the past wars this country had been in"

"Not just wars. The events that had happened much before any war was started. Clearity my fellow students"....(@)


(Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray
South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio

Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, television
North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Monroe

Rosenbergs, H-Bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom
Brando, "The King and I", and "The Catcher in the Rye"

Eisenhower, vaccine, England's got a new queen
Marciano, Liberace, Santayana goodbye

CHORUS
We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it


Josef Stalin, Malenkov, Nasser and Prokofiev
Rockefeller, Campanella, Communist Bloc

Roy Cohn, Juan Peron, Toscanini, Dacron
Dien Bien Phu Falls, Rock Around the Clock

Einstein, James Dean, Brooklyn's got a winning team
Davy Crockett, Peter Pan, Elvis Presley, Disneyland

Bardot, Budapest, Alabama, Khrushchev
Princess Grace, Peyton Place, Trouble in the Suez

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it

Little Rock, Pasternak, Mickey Mantle, Kerouac
Sputnik, Zhou Enlai, Bridge On The River Kwai

Lebanon, Charles de Gaulle, California Baseball,
Starkweather homicide, Children of Thalidomide

Buddy Holly, Ben Hur, Space Monkey, Mafia
Hula Hoops, Castro, Edsel is a no-go

U2, Syngman Rhee, payola and Kennedy
Chubby Checker, Psycho, Belgians in the Congo

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it

Hemingway, Eichmann, Stranger in a Strange Land,
Dylan, Berlin, Bay of Pigs invasion

Lawrence of Arabia, British Beatlemania
Ole Miss, John Glenn, Liston beats Patterson

Pope Paul, Malcolm X, British Politician sex
J.F.K. blown away, what else do I have to say

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it

Birth control, Ho Chi Minh, Richard Nixon back again
Moonshot, Woodstock, Watergate, punk rock

Begin, Reagan, Palestine, Terror on the airline
Ayatollah's in Iran, Russians in Afghanistan

Wheel of Fortune, Sally Ride, heavy metal suicide
Foreign debts, homeless Vets, AIDS, Crack, Bernie Goetz

Hypodermics on the shores, China's under martial law
Rock and Roller cola wars, I can't take it anymore

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning since the world's been turning.
We didn't start the fire
But when we are gone
It will still burn on, and on, and on, and on...

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire...


-*Billy Joel "We Didn't Start The Fire"

)


*********************************************


*HONOR*


I have never seen my boss as nervous as she was before the day has ended. I went into her office thinking that she wasn't in there to put some papers on her desk and there she was with three books open. One of them was the Bible. She looked up at me alarmed and tried to hide what she was reading. Is everything alright, Ms. Tate?" I asked calmly. She couldn't hide the Bible. "Yes..." And then she rolled her eyes and gave up the poor act of hiding the rest of the reading material. The other two books was about apocalypse. "I'm sorry you have to see me this way". She said. "No, no. No need to apologize. I just came here to drop off these papers that came for you".

"I've been listening to the radio...they say in two or three days now maybe..." She looked at me with frantic eyes, wide and uncontrolable. "I'm leaving town Honor. I can't stay here...and they're going to shut down the library down."

"What? When did you hear about this?"

"Just a few minutes ago. It's only a matter time before they closes all other businesses. I'm so sorry, Honor...I'm sorry for the rest of the staff. But I do appreciate delivering these papers. You have been always a loyal and excellent employee...whatever happens, I'm going to miss you..."

I just stood there and couldn't say a word. I'm losing my job

. I thought. What am I suppose to do

?

"Honor? Are you ok? Do you want to leave early due to the bad news and awkwardness?"

"No...I'll stay here till my shift ends..."

"How symbolic of you to do so." Ms. Tate said as I slowly limped out of her office.

I head back to the counter and didn't even bother to pay attention to whoever was coming up to either ask questions or check out something. Except for this book that sort of broke me out the newly depressing trance: A book about getting back into marriage after getting divorce. What had gotten my attention about it was through all that has been going on lately, someone was trying to do something positive and compromising in their life.

I looked up to see a medium height brunett with green eyes and a small smile on her face. "I like to check this out please." She said in a assuring tone. I did what I was suppose to do without a word. "Are you ok?" She asked me. "Yeah...just tired." I lied. I didn't see any reason to tell her what I just found out. I was mainly thinking of myself and only thought they will see signs on the window or the place boarded up. I handed her the book.

"Oh, excuse me? You didn't give me the reciept for when it's due."

"Don't worry about that. You don't need it. Hope saves you..." Then I left the counter before she can say another word.


***********************************************


*SARAH*


I spent the last few hours in the library thinking about my life and my ex husband. There's no doubt that I still love him but for some reason we couldn't see eye to eye and the constant arguing led to us ending it for good. But we have been bumping to each other. And it always happen when I think I seen my dad and that's impossible because he died twenty years ago. But when I think I see him, I find Lionel around. Just a sign I guess. So I'm in the library looking for a book to solve my problem and I found a suitable guide. The librarian who checked me out looks like she was going through something emotionally and when I seen her looking wide eyed at the book I wanted, I guess I was glad I brought back a little life in her eyes. I usually don't like when people see what I'm buying or getting and they have put their two cents in.

After the librarian's weird behavior, I took the book and went straight to the Java Hut that was across the way from the library and University. The ice mocha latte was calling my taste buds and I felt like I need a fix with an extra boost. And besides the indian woman, Nyima, is a good friend and the owner. When I entered, the place was crawling with college students. Was there a finals coming up or something? I didn't think so. Nyima was sweeping the floor in her usual state: calm. Her vibrant shawl blended with the light of the sun coming through and was cool like the air that was blasting inside to fight against the heat outside.

"Nyima!" She stopped sweeping as soon as she saw me and motioned for me to come to her. We hugged in a tight embrace and then she sat me down at the nearest empty table. "It is so good to see you, Sarah." She had said.

"You know I have to come in and get my favorite latte from my favorite person at my favorite place."

She laughed gently. "Thank you for your kind words. You are one of my favorite customers-yet a good friend."

"Man, what is going on with your store? I have never seen it so packed."

"Yes...the students mainly are here for their last drinks and treats."

"Last?"

"Yes. I'm closing my store Sarah. The majority of the businesses are closing. Because of the news, banks and etc. are panicing. Can't relie on any shipment."

"Oh goodness, Nyima. I'm so sorry. Maybe that explains why the librarian was looking stunned to sadness. The library must be closing down too."

"Not suprised. And soon the University will be next."

I shook my head and pity. "The news about the world...I'm not even worried about it you know? All I'm thinking about is making it right with Lionel while I still have the little chance."

"Ooooh. You and Lionel are working things out. How wonderful of you two. Yes, I agree with your determination."

A young lady walked up with her friend right beside her. "Nyima? I'm sorry about your place and we wanted to say thank you so much for everything including your kindess."

"You are welcome girls. It has been a pleasure serving you too."

"May we ask you," the young lady's friend-who was taller than her-asked. "May we ask are you also leaving town like we have been hearing around?"

"That is correct. My flight leaves tonight. And I'm lucky to get it because the airlines are-how do you say-bugging out? So