Daddy, Daddy, Daddy There’s, Oh, So Much To Sing   Daddy, daddy, daddy, There’s, oh, so much to sing You are the greatest daddy. I have some more to say. Tickles, chickens, stories, These things you do for us. We’re really proud of daddy. For all the things he did. Tickles and giggles The best you did for us. We wake up in the morning To get our tickle tickles. Honey chicken wings. You make them sweet and good You let us lick our fingers. They’re our family secret. Once upon a time The stories start like this We listen to your stories About your childhood. Eggs, fries, and bacon These foods you showed to us. They’re tasty and delicious, But not as, um, nutritious. Sunny side up eggs One day you showed to us. You poked a hole in the yolk. And ate it with some bread.

Tasty French fries You shared this with us too. You took us to McDonald’s It wasn’t very bad. Bacon comes from pork We used that for the grease It’s better than French fries, But not so good for us. Karate and more These things you were to teach. Instead you watched the T.V. So we just followed you. Computers and stoves. These things that you had taught You let us play some games, But kept us from the stove. Family trips and food You took us everywhere. You find the greatest place To eat there sometimes. Family travels They did us, oh, so good. We learned a lot and survived. We were so glad to be. Restaurants You find them everywhere We find that they are good. Please take us there again. You are you. There’s no one else to be. I’m glad you still love us. Because we still love you. Daddy, daddy We have our pride on you. You never got lost When you’re driving a car.

My Father He is the only one who listens to our complains And make a joke from that Cause he just hates our constant whines He’ll make jokes for everything that isn’t important. He constantly reminds us to keep our rooms clean ‘Or when you are in an emergency you’ll really regret it’ We rarely keep his warnings in mind But sooner or later we will He is the only one who ate our leftovers And gained weight on the way But still he reminds us to not waste food. He is the only one who says he’ll teach us karate But watches television instead. He is the only one who leaves things off till ‘tomorrow’. He always says he’s really sure But ends up not so sure at all. He is the only one who tries to scare mom With bugs he finds outside in the garden. He is the only one knows just where to tickle us. He is the only one who Gave us piggyback rides when we were little. He was the only one in our family Who rarely gets lost on the road. He is the only one who thinks he’s really old. He is the only one who thinks he has lots of gray hair When we found only one. Though he’s not perfect We still love him He’s our father and we’re his kids. Nothing can change it and no one can either.

Our One and Only Dad

Dad, the day we were born
You celebrated early
And gained ten pounds for each of us.

Dad, the day we were born
We became your burden,
Heavier than anything you have carried.

Dad, the day after we were born,
All you heard from us
Were cries of hunger.

Dad, the days after we were born
You carried us around and around.

Dad, the days after we were born
You spent your time
Making airplane noises to make us eat.

Dad, the days after we were born,
You spent all of your energy
On giving countless numbers of piggyback rides all day long.

Dad, the days after we were born
You decided to give us karate lessons
For you didn’t want to spend money on us
But you watched the television instead.

Dad, the days after we were born
You spent your money on us.

Dad, the days after we were born
We knew we were a burden.
Dad, you spent your time on us
Instead of on mom.

Dad, you didn’t throw us out as soon as we were born.

Dad, we never wanted to be a burden for you.

Please understand this:
We love you for all you have done for us.
You are our one and only dad.

Thank-you, thank-you very, very, very much.

Learn to value something or someone

Essay by Peter Huynh, 8th grader

The most Important thing I have learned is that every person has to value something or someone, like in the stories "The Necklace" and "The Treasure of Lemon Brown," reading these stories Taught me the importance of value and what I think is the most important thing in life. Different people value different things like material goods, their family and friends, life, love, personal items, etc. Some people are obsessed with something so much that they become greedy, like someone who values money.

There are people who value material goods like TV’s, video games, books, food, etc. They enjoy watching or playing or just reading. In the story "The Necklace" Mme Loisel valued material goods, but now she values more simple things. In the story "The Treasure of Lemon Brown,"Lemon Brown valued a harmonica, a simple item. In "The Necklace" Mme Loisel also values friendship.

In contrast, people who value family and friends are also different. They are much nicer and love their family and friend. They value love, how important that is. I learned this in the story "The treasure of Lemon Brown," when Greg learned to value his father, and also Lemon Brown himself used to love his harmonica and was a legend at it. He values it because it was his son’s. A lot of men value their wives and their children because they love them. Some people value pets like dogs, cats, etc. I have learned that people value things they love. All valuable things I think last forever. They last in you or in your memories. Some people value friendship because that person might have done something thoughtful to them; for example, that person may have done something helpful like they might have taken the blame for something that happened. That friend might be your best friend as in, that person can make you laugh anytime in the day and makes you feel better when your down and also some one you can count on. I think your family can make you feel better too just as your friends can but they can do more to help. That might be the reason people value their family and friends. I also learned this in the story "The Treasure of Lemon Brown."

I value many of things like just going out to watch a movie with my friends and family. I also value life, and respect it. That is why I am against slavery and also the death penalty. Every person deserves to live, and even if they did the most inappropriate thing in the world they should not be killed but be punished in another way. Life is a very important to all people. I also value my friends because they are always there for me and they go to my school. I like to spend time with my family because they are very fun to talk to and sometimes my dad would take me out with him and rent a DVD or video to watch after dinner and the movie would always be what I want sometimes. I value my family because I love these people; they care about me. I don’t value things that are evil, I even value my religion.

I have learned many lessons about value. Everyone values something even if that person seems to not care about everything in his or her life. I have learned something about myself, too; I learned what to value. I have also learned that some people only value what they love. In "The Treasure of Lemon Brown", Greg didn’t know he valued his dad until he thought of it. These stories taught me a lot of things about valuing something that is very important to us all. I didn’t even know I valued so many things in my life. In conclusion I learned about value and how very important that is.

Priscilla Tran, 6th grader
January 10,2002

Cheating

"Monnie Monkey…! Finish your Magic Math and give it to me. I want to receive an A in Miss. Vomit’s class. Monnie be as quick as a car. Hurry." Insisted Josh Jaguar in Mrs. Marriage class. Josh was smart in all the classes except math. He was the tallest, biggest, and toughest kid in school, however Monnie was his best buddy at school to him.

Monnie wanted be his friend for a long time. She had one problem it was that Monnie didn’t like him to copy her paper all the time. She felt that he was sucking all her answered like a vacuum cleaner. He was earning honor roll but he wasn’t supposed to. Moonie wanted to be beneficial to Josh Jaguar. So he wouldn’t be mad at her.

However one day Monnie was doing her test and Josh was watching Monnie. She should have turned around and whispered, "I beg you to not copy my work anymore because I study very hard for this test." Monnie would finally find the problem to her solution if she did turn around. Josh wouldn’t be powerfully happy about it. Josh would be supporting Monnie because Monnie told him the truth.

Monnie was doing a 500-point test in Vietnamese school, and two spying eyes stared at her major test. Monnie would resolve her cause by telling her teacher, "May I please move to another place." The teacher may ask why, so answer by saying, "My view around is there is a Swiper the Fox. You know the fox named Swiper that swipes everything, well there is one swiping all my answers." Then she would let Monnie move and so Monnie would not make an argument to anyone.

Mrs. Lousy finally caught Monnie and Monnie got blamed. (Mrs. Lousy is a Vietnamese teacher.) Josh felt really bad and told Mrs. Lousy the truth. Josh got blamed and Monnie got an apology. Josh never looked at Monnie’s work ever again. So if your friend were copying your work, there would be a time that he or she will not do it again. So if you don’t want someone to look at your work, as Monnie has done and that person will not copy your work. I Priscilla Tran was Monnie Monkey, and I have been such a victim, but found out my solution.

Dearest Uncle, Where Were You?

Dearest uncle, where have you gone?
I worried days about you
The nights I spent and missed you.
Dearest uncle, where were you those days and nights?

Ah, my niece, I was away,
The place above your head.
I watched you day and night
I cared for you day and night.

Dearest uncle, where above my head?
Were you up in the ceiling?
Up on the roof?
Were you up in the moon and stars?

Ah, my niece, I was away.
Yes and no, I was on the ceiling and on the roof,
I was on the moon and stars.
But most of all, I was in the sky.

Dearest uncle, in the sky?
Were you up in the cotton ball clouds?
Or on a plane or on a bird?
Dearest uncle, tell me, I listen!

Ah, my niece, I was in the sky.
Yes and no, I was in the clouds on a bird
On a plane and near the sun.
But most of all I was in Heaven.

Dearest uncle, you were in Heaven?
Were you with an angel?
With the saints?
Or were you with the Mother Mary?

Ah, my niece, I was in heaven,
Yes, I was with the angels and with the saints,
I was with the Holy Mother Mary,
But most of all, I was with the Father.

Dearest uncle,
I now know you were with the Father
I thank you now.
I am happy you are happy where you were.

Yes my niece, I was with the Father,
I shall go back now I shall visit again
Do not worry about me I am always with you,
If you need me just pray for me, my niece.

Farewell, dearest uncle, farewell…

I shall see you soon, my niece, and good-bye…

My Uncle
The Spring In My Life

Thu-Thao Christian Tran

The seasons go by
As I yearn for spring by and by
Awaiting my uncle
The spring in my life.

Alas he has gone
To where I shall meet him soon in life
I cannot see him now
He has passed away.

The care he has given me, was unconditional
Still priceless in my life
He brightens up the dreary darkness
He is my sunshine, my spring.

Yet, then, he faded soon
He left me in despair
Because of illness, did he left me
He left me bursting with tears.

He left me on a horrid day.
The day most others fear with me.
The day he left, stayed clear in my mind,
Friday, October thirteenth year two thousand.

Why must I go on all alone?
He left me just too soon
Why must I suffer this loss today?
My world is in darkness once again.

My heart bursts with sadness,
My face caked with tears,
I still faintly feel his compassion,
Dear uncle, don’t leave me now.

Above the fluffy, popcorn clouds,
I see him watching me.
I hear his voice at night.
I feel his love all day long.

Dear uncle, my spring, my joy,
Now that I know you have not left me
I know spring will come again
You are the spring in my life.

I know you love me
I know you care
My love for you is still unchanged
You are the reason I lived on…

 

 

Pho Viet Style

Veronica Vu
Carolyn Vu

Have you ever tasted the wonderful sensation of hot, brewed, steamy, delicious, mouth watering pho, melting in your mouth like cotton candy with every single bite you take? Pho is a Vietnamese delicacy that may satisfy you. As a result, many different people of diverse races enjoy this gastronomy. Although the name of it may sound eerie, pho is well known throughout the whole world for its massive aroma and taste. It is from Vietnam, an undersized country in Asia. In addition, pho includes many simple ingredients, comes in many various styles, and has a nice, pleasing taste that would make your taste buds ask for more.

Do you have any clue about the ingredients that combine together to make up pho? The two most important ingredients that are always included in any style of pho are boiled white rice noodles, and chicken broth.-wow, that sounds tasty. After you feel the warm reassuring feeling of the hot chicken broth going down to you stomach, we assure you that you will most likely to plunge your chopsticks into your bowl and take continuous bites out of the bowl of soup. Also, pieces of beef and chicken may sometimes be in your bowl of pho; the juiciness and delight ness of these protein-filled ingredients play a significant role in this meal; these ingredients make the bowl of pho taste lively and will not leave you with unsatisfactory and displeasure. Pho may also consist of vegetables, depending on the style of pho you ordered (vegetable pho). Lettuce and bean sprouts are examples of some of the vegetables that will be contained in your bowl.

Even though you have heard of pho and what it's made of, have you tried the different styles and kinds of pho? Beef is one type of pho that is usually consumed by people in many parts of the world today. This style mostly contains tender slices of beef that is chewy (eat sparingly, so you wont choke) the other ingredients such as rice noodles are still included in the beef style of pho. Another type of pho is the chicken style. If the slices of thin white chicken are eaten too rapidly, your throat may get dry, so you should take tiny sips of the chicken broth frequently. Thirdly, the vegetarian style is also another one of the many different kinds of pho, but it is not as notable as the beef or chicken style. Healty vegetables are included in the bowl of chicken broth and boiled rice noodles for this type of pho.

All the differnt ingredients of pho teamed up together provide an everlasting burst of taste. The chicken broth is the most important taste. Without it, the bowl of pho wouldn't be tasty and will make everthing else taste plain and dry- spattering. Chicken broth is way better than having to eat plain, dry food. Next, the boiled rice noodle is sweet as sweet potatoes and gives your watery mouth something soft to nibble on while simultaneously sipping some hot chicken broth. Finally, the beef and chicken comes next right after the rice noodles. A tiny strip of marinated chicken and juicy beef provides a lot of sweet water from every bite with some chewy meat to chew on.

All bowls of steaming hot pho includes several ingredients, comes to you in many different styles, and has a nice, distinct taste. The ingredient of pho, such as chicken broth, qualifies for your satisfaction of the meal. Pho has an exquisite taste that will make you beg for more. All of the different and unique styles will amaze you. Since you know all about pho now, go to your nearest pho restaurant and sacrifice some of your time to enjoy this fine cuisine.

Who Are Your Teachers?

Who taught you when you first took a breath?

Who taught you when you first opened your eyes?

Who taught you through the dawn of the day?

Who taught you through the heat of noon?

Who taught you through the twilight of the evening?

Who taught you through the dark of dusk?

Your mother and father

Who selflessly sacrificed their time for you.

You take both their time and them for granted,

Until the day they take their last breath...