Comprehensive exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Comprehensive exam - Essay Example The mission of the company is giving customers the best value for their money available anywhere as well as providing them with the necessary information for making informed buying decisions. The company goals for the next five years include: 1. Remaining profitable 2. Business growth and 3. Customer service The business not only considers its own goals but also values the goals of the various stakeholders like its employees, the community, lenders and ultimately its customers. Therefore, the company values positive relations with vendors, the community, employees, lenders, and even though the company has set customer goals, the company values additional goal of improving customer lives by offering them products or services they need. As a manager in the company, I would use leadership theories to develop inner leadership skills and learning basic knowledge through experience. The skills include self-assessment like looking at my personal leadership skills, internal motivators like t he thing that motivates to be a leader as well as the personal professional vision. Ultimately, leadership theories focus on whether a leader is real and honest and skills on self-knowledge, regulation and self-concept that focus on values and belief of an individual. Servant leadership asks an employee to do what the leader is willing to do by himself moreover servant leadership ensures a leader works with the employees by employing the skills of empathy, motivation of employees as well as active listening. As well, transformational leadership theories encourage employees, ensure that the employees do their best, and foster close relation with employees by using skills that ensure employees devote to their tasks combined with skills for encouraging employees. The essential group information for ensuring that the group succeeds includes background factors like personality, gender, age attitudes, values and fundamental interpersonal relations orientation. Small groups share three nee ds that help fulfill tasks and the needs include inclusion, which ensures that a group increases its productivity, accomplish goals and meet more customer needs. For the small group, information on control is useful since it would help deal with the need to lead and develop power over other people; as well affection enhances friendship and closeness between people. Information on age would be essential since communication patterns change with time from childhood through adolescence to adulthood and old age. Personality information of people within the group is helpful to a manager since it offers information on how people behave; therefore, in looking for a dynamic group I would have to figure out how to work with the various personalities of individuals within the group and watching how they perform. Moreover, information on attitudes of individuals within the group is crucial since it enables me act accordingly with each individual and help correct those attitudes that do not supp ort the business initiatives. As well, information on values of individuals within the group is essential to the success of the group in enhancing the company goals and attaining them. Moreover, in the group communication is key point since it affects the development of the group therefore information of the various forms of communication and their possible impacts on the development of the group is essential. Intentional communication is essential in communicating purpose to the group, persuading others, getting points across and

Theme Essay on Piri Thomas, Down These Mean Streets

Theme on Piri Thomas, Down These Mean Streets - Essay Example hich the readers experience how they lead the author to a dark destiny and they also just become able to peek in the narrator’s psyche that constantly pulls him towards the darkness. In one sense, the streets in the novel are the abstraction of the narrator’s dark path of life, as in the article â€Å"The Use of Sidewalks: Safety† Jacobs comments on how street can be the abstraction: â€Å"A city sidewalk by itself is nothing. It is an abstraction†¦.the same might be said off streets...† ( Jacobs 30). But the way how Jacobs deals with the idea of street is different from Piri’s approach to it in the sense that whereas Jacobs views ‘street’ from an optimistic and positive vantage point, the streets in Piri’s novel are the path of destructions. In the novel, Piri notes that â€Å"A twelve-year-old kid walking the streets at 3 a.m. was a nothing sight in Harlem† (6). For Piri, a â€Å"twelve-year-old† kid means th e kid’s lost track. In contrast, a kid on a city sidewalk –that is under proper safety measures- conveys a sort security release. Coming out of Jacobs’s concept of a street, Piri uses it as an abstraction of various culture related oppression, suppression, and discrimination of the early 20th century of American society. In this sense it can be said that if any of the views is taken apart from the other, the socio-cultural notion of a street will remain incomplete; both Jacobs’s and Piri’s views are complementary to each other. In the novel, Piri’s general tendency is to look into the society, first, to find out its anomalies and discrepancies, and then he moves on to reflect them in the portrayal of the city streets. But in an opposite manner, Jacobs, in the first place, focuses the city streets in order depicts the society. To a great extent, Jacobs approach is analogous to a white approach toward the black. It deliberately leaves a scope for an observer to overlook the societal variables that are primarily responsible for the city

Motivating Employees and Self-Managed Teams Essay

Motivating Employees and Self-Managed Teams - Essay Example As a state of mind, Bruce and Pepitone described this as the attitudes and perceptions of individuals manifesting in the willingness to contribute greater effort towards the achievement of organizational goals with the willingness conditioned by expectation of satisfying individual objectives (2). State of mind depends on various factors. Nickels and McHugh identified these factors as scientific management (260) in organizations, the Hawthorne effect with perceptions of organizational concern towards employees linked to positive outcomes (262), a work environment meeting an individual's hierarchy of needs (263), existence of positive incentives and challenges (269), and intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing job satisfaction (265). As a process, Bruce and Pepitone described motivation as the process of arousing, directing and maintaining attitudes, behavior and perceptions towards the attainment of organizational goals (2). Nickels and McHugh discussed motivation as the facilitation of the interaction between individual and organizational goals (273) in a manner that ensures the achievement of individual and organizational expectations (274) and perceived as fair (275). ... Motivating individual employees is important to the business environment because this creates a number of benefits. First benefit is job satisfaction (Nickels and McHugh 260), which refers to the positive emotional condition of employees that comes from their personal appraisal and/or organizational performance assessment of accomplished tasks. Job satisfaction means employees feeling better about the value of their work contribution to the organization, going beyond minimum expectations, and positive response to task completion. This is important in the contemporary business environment because of its link to customer service and satisfaction. Satisfied employees are likely to do better in their work. This spills over to their treatment of customers. Customers then receive better service and improved experience of the products and services of the firm (Nickels and McHugh 260). This could lead to repeat purchases and even loyalty. Second benefit is improved individual performance, which when combined translates into improved organizational performance (Bruce and Pepitone 38). This links employee performance and organizational performance. Employee performance refers to both work outcomes and task completion processes. Measurement of work outcomes could include task completion based on quotas or other standards applied by the organization. Efficiency in task completion by working with errors at a minimum level, targeting more than the minimum expectations, and better disposition towards work also reflect the performance of motivated employees. Improved individual performance is important to the contemporary business environment because

The New Jim Crow Essay Example for Free

The New Jim Crow Essay In the book â€Å"The New Jim Crow† author Michelle Alexander talks about numerous issues of racial inequality in our criminal justice system. Alexander’s book is something every person who even has an interest in the criminal justice field should read, as it really looks beyond the color of a person’s skin. Alexander points out the vast majority of the problems our criminal justice system faces in racial inequality and discrimination. These problems have really formed our country to what it is to this day. Most people feel that society as a whole is past discrimination and that it is no longer a problem anymore. In reality, it is still a major problem in many aspects of our criminal justice system as well as the everyday lives of Americans. In all honesty I was one of them, but â€Å"The New Jim Crow† really opened my eyes on the discrimination that occurs within minorities in the United States. Reflecting back on this issue I had realized that I have witnessed this first hand with one of my close friends who is an African American male. I will get into more detail about this later on in my paper, but for now I am going to address some of the issues of racial inequality in the criminal justice system that Alexander mentioned. First of all going back to the late 1800’s with slavery in the United States. This time period really set the tone for discrimination in the future of our country. At this point in time African American’s were much like Peasants back in pre-colonial times. This led to slaves literally walking off their plantations and causing chaos among plantation owners. This not only caused problems for plantation owners, but it also caused problems for the economy in the United States. After this was done black codes were created due to the African Americans unwillingness to work. Ultimately these codes were reversed due to several pieces of civil rights legislation that started the Reconstruction Era. During this era African Americans who were former slaves were allowed their first opportunity to learn how to read and write. Another form of racial inequality was during the Reconstruction Era. There were more laws set in place that were mainly enforced against African Americans. These laws were set in place to protect against things such as mischief and insulting gestures. This was possible in my opinion due to the federal government not aking an effort at the time to enforce civil rights legislation. Along with this death rates were extremely high due to private contractors did not care about the well being of the slaves. Like I said previously all these things set the tone for the future of our country. Looking forward to the 1950’s to the 1960’s crime rates were dramatically rising with many people believing that the Civil Rights Movement was the main cause of the raise in crime. Another reason that Alexander stated cause this boost in crime was the â€Å"baby boom† generation entering their early twenties. With the rise of the young men it created the rise in crime. With that being said many people felt that the Civil Rights Movement was the main cause of this sudden outbreak in crime. Another event that did not help the cause of African Americans in the 1960’s was the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior. This led to an outrage in the African American Community in which it gave white Americans more reason’s to think that African Americans were harmful to society. One issue of racial inequality that Alexander mentioned was how the courts place higher standards on African Americans than they do on white Americans. Along with that Alexander Talked about how white Americans are still more likely to do drugs than African Americans are. Even in â€Å"ghetto† neighborhoods African Americans are less like to sell and use drugs than white Americans are. Along with that though, African Americans are sent to prison on drug charges at a rate of twenty to almost sixty times greater than a white. Alexander also talked about a survey in the 1980’s that found out that ninety percent of white believed that black and whit children should attend the same schools, and that seventy-one percent disagreed that whites have a right to keep blacks out of white neighborhoods. Also eighty percent of the people that took the survey said that they would support an African American candidate for president, and sixty-six percent said that they opposed laws prohibiting intermarriage. After reading this it really kind of troubled me because I feel that segregation was still a little bit of a problem in the early 1980’s. In my opinion the problem with surveys are that a lot of the time people do not tell the truth and I feel like that is the case in this survey. I feel that those numbers would probably be around the same if not a little better today than it was back then. One reason I feel this way is partially to how my grandparents act towards African Americans. My grandpa who was born in Eastern Tennessee has never really been a big supporter of African Americans due to how he was raised by his dad who was actually a preacher. Also I feel that the results that the survey got would depend on what kind of area the survey was taken in. In a town like the one that I grew up in I feel that the results would definitely be lower especially since it is not a very diverse town. Now back to the story where I had witnessed discrimination in the criminal justice system. When I was in high school me and some friends one of which was a African American male was driving home from the bowling alley at around Eleven ‘O Clock in the evening got pulled over on our way back to my house. When the officer came up to the car he asked me for my driver’s license like you would expect the officer to do. The officer caught my friends and I off guard when he asked my African American friend for his license, but not anyone else in the car. Until I read Alexander’s book I never really thought about the situation since I was so young, but now I understand the magnitude of it all and how ridiculous it is that something like that happened and me not even realize it. Also I have been pulled over seven times by the police and this incident is the only time an officer has asked to see any identification of any of the passengers that I had with me. The next thing that I will talk about is how racism in criminal justice grew out of earlier historical periods. Earlier I mention how in the 1800’s there was a Reconstruction Era. The first Reconstruction Era was brief According to Alexander it stretched from 1863to when the Northern states freed the slaves in 1877. With this reconstruction it gave African Americans their first opportunity to read and write, but it also forced the government to help support the African Americans by providing things like food, clothing, and fuel. This period also gave the African Americans their first opportunity to vote although they had to be protected by federal troops from organizations like the Ku Klux Klan. At the end of the first Reconstruction Era the Civil Rights Movement that is also known as the Second Reconstruction started. During the Civil Rights Movement African Americans played a bigger part in the United States government due to African Americans gaining political power as well as the growing population of the NAACP. With the rise of the NAACP the Ku Klux Klan also grew as a terrorists program killing many officers of the NAACP. Along with Dr. Martin Luther King Junior who had probably the biggest impact on the Civil Rights Movement, President Kennedy presented a strong civil rights bill to the United States Congress. Although he was not able to see this through due to his assassination, his successor President Johnson made sure that this bill went through. This gave most African Americans a chance to go to schools with white students as well as giving them a chance to drinking from water fountains that they were banned from drinking out of before this bill. Recently I watched an ESPN 30 for 30 film about the University of Mississippi otherwise known â€Å"Ole Miss†. A young African American, by the name of James Meredith, attending the university outraged the state of Mississippi. President Kennedy sent troops down to Oxford, Mississippi on the campus of Ole Miss to help protect Meredith and other students from being injured due to riots. Even with the troops, the riots were too much to handle which ultimately led to several students getting killed and many others injured. Before this film I had never heard of the tragedy that occurred within the university. Perhaps this twisted event was swept beneath the rug as if it never even occurred. Maybe it’s the fact that society is too embarrassed to own up to the sickening deeds done onto our own kind? Now how does our criminal justice system, which is based on equality for all develop such discriminatory practices? It is not necessarily the system as a whole, but the actions of so many individuals who believe that discrimination is perfectly acceptable. Some regions of our beautiful country continue to believe that live a discriminating lifestyle and pass these beliefs onto their children. Mississippi is a prime example of location still considered to be very discriminatory. The university itself proudly flies the rebel flag to the tune of â€Å"Dixie† unaware of the pain and suffering associated to both. What is a caste? A caste is a way of diving a society into classes based on race, wealth, religion, and social status. With the most common example of caste is race and wealth. With that be said though Whit Americans are not the only one’s who can discriminate. African Americans or really anyone can discriminate against anyone person, race or social status. The criminal justice system is a caste system, because those at the bottom of the system can commit the same crime as a wealthy citizen and have more of a punishment than someone who can afford better lawyers and are well known. Also the discrimination between whites and minorities is probably the main reason why the criminal justice system is a caste system. Alexander talks a lot about this in chapter three of â€Å"The New Jim Crow†. Alexander talked about how long it could take public defenders to get to a case due to the overload of cases that he or she would be assigned to. One example of this is the O. J. Simpson murder case. There was so much evidence and motive for O. J. to commit the crime yet he was still found not guilty of the murder. Does discrimination end when people are released from prison? Absolutely not! After being released from prison, convicts will face more discrimination than before they were ever charged with whatever crime they have committed. The people who are released from prison will always have to face the fact that they will have the label of being convicted felon for the rest of their lives. After being convicted they typically do not have the same job opportunities as someone that has never been convicted, as well as not ever being allowed to get food stamps of public housing if they needed it. Basically, convicted felons might as well have a stamp on their forehead saying, â€Å"I am a convicted felon†. In conclusion, I feel that Alexander raises many good points on discrimination and racial inequality. Anyone entering the criminal justice field really needs to read this book and reflect on what needs to change to make our system an equality based system like it is supposed to be. I know it has me thinking about what needs to be done. I feel that is the only way we can make our criminal justice system a well-rounded system.

Research on Best Buy Co. Essay -- Best Buy Business Management Electro

Research on Best Buy Co. The roots of Best Buy Co., Inc. can be traced back to St. Paul, Minnesota. This is where founder Richard Schulze opened the doors of his Sound of Music store in 1966. Understanding a demand for consumer audio components and systems in the St. Paul area, Schulze managed to provide a combination of great prices and excellent service, thus building a strong customer base, which quickly prompted an expansion into home appliances and video products. The eighties prompted change as well as the opening of Best Buy’s first superstore. During 1983, a new corporate name was approved and the Sound of Music Company became known as Best Buy Co., Inc. With mounting consumer support Best Buy continued its road to expansion by opening an additional five stores. In 1985, the newly named company was being publicly traded under the symbol BBY. The late eighties brought forth additional change for the continuously growing company. Best Buy adopted a new concept in retail merchandising with the opening of massive superstores. The new concept shifted the placing of all inventory on the sales floor and hiring a specialized staff of non-commissioned service representatives (FAQ). Such adaptations have fueled the company into progression and continued to promote the company’s corporate vision of â€Å"Making life fun and easy†(Fact Sheet). Philanthropy plays a huge part in the success of Best Buy Co., Inc. During 1994, The Best Buy Children's Foundation was founded (FAQ). The foundation offers support to communities by way of contributions to several organizations found nationwide. This support strengthens communities by integrating interactive technology into everyday experiences. All of the programs funded by the Best Buy Children’s Foundation are easily accessible to students. These programs also provide social services and disaster relief support in connection with non-profit organizations like the Red Cross and United Way. They also offer and support community volunteerism. Best Buy Children's Foundation also has a scholarship, which offers scholarships to students who have exceptional academic achievement and outstanding community service. Annually more than $2 million in scholarships are granted to over 1,300 students. The scholarships are evenly disbursed in each U.S. Congressional District and the Distr ict of Columbia. Three students who will be ... ...ips to residences and businesses. They are most widely recognized by their clip on ties-- truly carrying around the persona of a Geek. But don’t be fooled by appearances, their knowledge on computers is in no ways lacking in abundance. With the passion for the latest and greatest technological knowledge, and the charisma and devotion towards the youth, Best Buy is sure to continue on the high road to success. Best Buy will be changing and advancing to accommodate the ever-changing field of technology. They are truly a testament to upholding and exceeding their vision statement of â€Å"meeting the customer at the intersection of technology and life† (FAQ). Works Cited Best Buy â„ ¢ â€Å"Fact Sheet Fourth Quarter- Fiscal 2005 (ended Feb 6, 2005)† 6, 200 ) http://www.bbycommunications.com/newscenter/FY05_Fact_Sheet_Q4.pdf Best Buy â„ ¢ â€Å"FAQ† 6 www.bestbuy.com Star Telegram â€Å"BEST BUY GEEKS TO RUN AMOK† 4/28/05 www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/11511402.htm WCCO  © 2005 The Associated Press â€Å"Best Buy Expansion Plans Include China† 4/27/05 http://wcco.com/localnews/local_story_117101956.html Yahoo Finance- â€Å"Quotes & Info- Best Buy Co Inc (BBY)† http://finance.yahoo.com/a/ct?s=BBY&annual

Ways to Generate Awareness Among the People

Oil Conservation Fortnight (OCF) – 4th  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ 19th  January Petroleum or crude oil is a non renewable energy source that means it is present in the limited amount. If the use of oil will continue with the careless nature it is going to exhaust definitely at one day. Hence conservation of this valuable resource is the need of the hour. Therefore in order to generate awareness among the masses about the urgency of conserving petroleum products, the celebration of an Oil Conservation Week (OCW), with the participation of the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) and the entire oil industry under the guidance of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MPNG), began in January, 1991. Considering the overwhelming response and enthusiasm generated by OCW in the country, and to further increase the reach as well as the effectiveness of the oil conservation campaign, the duration of the program was increased to a fortnight from the year 1997 onwards. During this fortnight, the entire oil industry undertakes various kinds of activities to emphasize the need and importance of the conservation of petroleum products and environment protection. This is carried out through print and electronic media, training programs, kisan or farmer melas, technical meets and distribution of literature in national as well as vernacular languages all over the country. The activities are carried out by the State Level Coordinators (SLCs) of the oil industry in each State under the direction of the Regional Level Coordinators (RLCs). Awards are given to Large, Medium & Small industries, State & Regional Level Coordinators, State Transport Undertakings, Energy Auditors, Upstream & Refining oil. Companies for outstanding performance in oil conservation activities. The State/ National level Essay Competition Awards for students & teachers are also given. Oil & Gas Conservation: Oil and gas conservation means their better and more efficient use with regard to economic, social or environmental costs and benefits, resulting in attainment of higher energy use efficiencies, minimization of wasteful practices and wastage and protection of the environment. Petroleum is the primary energy source in India and a preferred swing fuel. Its consumption has been increasing at a very steep rate from 3. 5 MMT in 1950-51 to 84. 3 MMT in 1997-98 and reached 130 MMT in 2001-02 and 175 MMT in 2006-07. The current estimate of natural gas reserves is about 100 million metric tons in the world. At current usage levels, this supply will last an estimated 100 years. In India, the power and fertilizer sector are major users of natural gas. In India, production of Natural gas increased from 17998 Million Cubic Metres in 1990-91 to 32274 Million Cubic Metres in 2007-08. Accordingly Strategy of Promoting Oil Conservation: Government has initiated various steps to promote conservation of petroleum products in the transport, industrial, agricultural and domestic sectors. These include adoption of measures and practices which are conducive to increase fuel efficiency and training programme in the transport sector; modernization of boilers, furnaces and other oil operated equipments with efficient ones and promotion of fuel efficient practices and equipment in the industrial sector; standardization of fuel efficient irrigator pump-sets and rectification of existing pump-sets to make them more energy efficient in the agricultural sector and development as well as promotion of the use of fuel efficient equipment and appliances like kerosene and LPG stoves in the household sector. These activities are promoted and coordinated by the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) and Oil Marketing Companies under the guidance and supervision of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. The following specific activities are taken up from time to time. * Multi Media Mass Awareness Campaign Effective and result-oriented conservation methods adopted by the upstream undertakings in the oil sector like reduction of gas flaring by re-injection of gas to underground reservoir, installation of waste heat recovery systems, utilization of non-conventional energy sources and close monitoring of all conservation efforts by ONGC. * Energy audits, efficiency upgradation of equipment and appliances; substitution of diesel with Natural Gas, deployment of solar-powered illumination panel, battery operated vehicles, Bio-gas etc. * Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is used as a fuel in transport sector in many countries. Its advantage is being safe and clean burning fuel, besides being environment friendly fuel. * Blending ethanol (5%) / methanol (3%) with Petrol for using in vehicles without any modification of engine. All these steps are certainly playing a major role in conserving Oil and Gas resources which are available to us in a limited amount. Let us be a part of this national activity by using natural resources wisely! What Organization Can Do? Whenever you save energy, you not only save money, you also reduce the demand for such fossil fuels as coal, oil, and natural gas. Less burning of fossil fuels also means lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX), Carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter, Lead (Pb) etc. Lower emissions of CO2  which is a green house gas contributes to reduce the impact of global warming. Similarly, lower emission of particulate matter and other pollutant help to reduce their harmful impact on the environment. For generating awareness: * A School Children's Rally for awareness * Organizing Film Festival, Seminars, exhibitions emphasizing value of natural resources ; need for their conservation. Organizing State/ National level Essay, Painting, Speech Competition about oil conservation especially emphasizing that children could be a beacon of light to guide the elders in the family and society on how to conserve oil. * Introducing â€Å"Publicity Van† which will go all over the city spreading the message of â€Å"oil conservation. † * Organizing â€Å"Street playsâ₠¬ - with the objective to project the routine oil conservation messages in a different way. * Use of Solar Street lights. * In the rural sector, use of gobar gas plants, would be excellent fuel conservation technique. This awareness campaign should not end at the end of the fortnight, but should continue in the hearts of all of us. What we Can Do in our day today life for Oil Conservation * While cooking use wide bottom vessels with covers. * Allow food articles taken out of the refrigerators to attain room temperature before cooking them. * Soak cereals and dals for sometime before cooking them to reduce the cooking time as well as the fuel consumption. * Use just sufficient water for cooking. * Pressure cookers used with separators lead to substantial fuel saving. * Try to eat together to avoid repeated warming of food. This not only saves fuel but also preserves the nutritional value of food. * Light the flame only after all preparations have been made and the vessel is ready to be put on the stove. * Use hot water from solar water heaters for cooking if the facility is available. * Try to use a solar cookers, solar lanterns. * The first rule of fuel conservation would be to travel judiciously and curtail wasteful driving. * Wherever possible/ available and convenient, use public transport instead of using personal transport. * Matching the size of the vehicle to your need would also go a long way in conserving fuel. For instance if you have the option of a personal car and a scooter, then use the scooter when only two persons have to travel, and the car if more persons have to travel or heavy luggage needs to be transported. * Emphasis should be given on reducing the use of petroleum products in our day to day life and act accordingly. This can be achieved by adopting car-pooling like practices. Car pooling will not only conserve fuel but will also improve social relations with your colleagues. * Use of solar lanterns in rural areas instead of kerosene based lamps. As far as possible, avoid idling the vehicle between red and green signal, be it a car, scooter or any other mechanized transport. * Try to buy fuel efficient vehicles. * There is no substitute for timely attention, servicing and tuning of the vehicle in fuel conservation and emission control. This should include checking of injectors and spark plugs, correct tire pressure, re-greasing, topping up or renewal of lubricants for engine a nd gear boxes. * Correct driving habits are important for fuel conservation. Try to avoid sudden Speeding, braking ; stopping, clutch riding, idling, over- speeding, and over-loading. All these small deeds will lead to fuel conservation and pollution control, which is our moral duty as citizens of India. It is the time we inculcate these measures to become a part of our daily routines. Only by practicing and preaching these conservation tips we can think of future progress. Given the difficult times ahead, it becomes our responsibility to spread this awareness, particularly amongst the youth who will be citizens of tomorrow. Good habits taught early will salvage the oil shortage to a great extent. This awareness campaign should not end at the end of the fortnight, but should continue in the hearts of all of us.

Stefan’s Diaries: The Craving Chapter 18

There were two hundred blocks between the Richards' mansion and downtown New York City. Just under ten miles. But moving like a vampire isn't like running in a normal sense, especially as I had just drained one of the Richards' goats. If I was a blur to the world, so was the world to me. My head was down as I spent my entire focus on avoiding the obstacles right before me and trying to exhaust myself. Down from the rocky cliffs and heights of Fort Tryon with its cool trees, and through the valley that separated it from the rest of the city. Back into civilization, the unpaved dirt roads that smelled of dust and plants, particularly the tobacco I recognized from my native Virginia. After enduring a week of waiting and watching and trying to outthink my brother, I just wanted it to all be over. And now it wasn't. Damon couldn't kill Winfield until the cash was available, and who knew how long that was going to be. In the meantime I had to stay with Bridget, keep tabs on the Sutherlands, pretend to be happily married, and continue to try and figure out Damon's endgame. I was caught in a web of guilt; every move of mine stuck another limb deeper. I just wanted to break free. I wish I could live in solitude. If I had to live out eternity as a vampire, at the very least I could leave no evidence of it. No deaths, no injury, no hurt, no evidence of my unnatural existence at all. I was running from myself, my new self, and could never escape, just as I ran from Damon, my shadow in this endless afterlife. The scent of nature soon gave way to the reek of sewage and rot that clung to even rich neighborhoods. In the alleyways behind the giant houses, servants dumped slop out into back streets and milk carts left fresh dairy products on back steps. All they would notice was a strange rush of wind, a vacuum that had been created in my passing, a momentary darkening against a brick wall like a cloud had passed over the sun. In the Garment District my nose was assailed by the harsh tang of chemicals and the singeing of fibers as young women cut, sewed, and dyed cloth in the factories that were beginning to replace the farms in New York City. Leaning against the fire escape with their sleeves pushed up, small clusters of these young women smoked cigarettes on their precious breaks. As I tore by one girl, cutting it very close, my tail wind snuffed out her match. I looked back to see her staring, confused, at the feather of smoke. Soon I was overcome by the smell of human flesh and waste. Of horse manure and flickering gas lamps. Of industry, print and ink and black smog, of the river, briny fish, and finally a fresh breeze. These were the only details of the city I took in, all sounds and sights muted to a roaring black and white. Expensive perfume and flowers. Butchered meat and smoky bacon. Lemon and ginger†¦ I stopped suddenly, in the middle of Washington Square. That was Katherine's perfume. A hand clasped my shoulder, and I spun around expectantly. But instead of seeing the dark curls of the woman who had made me, I found myself face-to-face with Damon, who stood there, one eyebrow raised in condescending amusement. My face fell and I slumped, exhaustion and despair overtaking me. I didn't even bother shaking off his hand. Where was I going to go, really? My brother had followed me all the way up the East Coast. So long as I refused to drink human blood, he would always be stronger, faster than I was. I was only delaying the inevitable by trying to escape whatever he had planned next. â€Å"It's our wedding night, brother. Where are you off to?† Damon's voice was sharp. Exhausted from my marathon of pain and escape, I just stood there. â€Å"I was going to come back.† Damon rolled his eyes. â€Å"I'll get us a cab,† he said, snapping his fingers. One came over immediately. â€Å"Seventy-third and Fifth,† he ordered, through the trap door. â€Å"We're going to the Sutherlands'?† I asked, confused. â€Å"Not the Richards'?† â€Å"We're going home,† Damon corrected. â€Å"And yes, the reception's over. You ran out at the very end.† â€Å"What did you tell Bridget?† I couldn't help asking. While I didn't love her, I felt bad about abandoning her at her own wedding. In some ways, it was the worst thing that I could do to a girl like her. Damon rolled his eyes. â€Å"Don't worry. They don't even realize you've gone missing.† â€Å"So you haven't killed them yet?† â€Å"Whoever said I was going to kill them?† he asked innocently. â€Å"Do you think I'm some kind of monster?† â€Å"Yes,† I said. â€Å"Well, I am what you made me,† Damon said with a tip of his hat. â€Å"You're not making this any easier,† I muttered. â€Å"You must have me mistaken for someone who cares about making your life easier,† Damon said, suddenly cold, his eyes flashing. â€Å"You know, you've taken a lot of effort to make sure you stay in my life,† I pointed out. â€Å"Are you sure it's just to make me miserable?† He stared at me. â€Å"What are you getting at?† â€Å"I think you need me, Damon,† I growled. â€Å"I think that under your anger, you're scared and horrified of what you've become. I am the last link to your human self, the only person who knows who you are. And I'm the only person for the rest of eternity who will.† Damon narrowed his eyes at me. â€Å"Brother, you don't know anything about me,† he hissed. He threw the door of the cab open and swung himself up and out. A soft thunk indicated he had landed on the roof. I stuck my head out the window and looked up. I watched with horror as Damon picked up the driver and ripped his neck open, sucking only a mouthful or two before throwing him off the cab and on to the street. â€Å"Damon! Stop!† I yelled, but it was too late. I tried to dive out the door, to go after the injured man, but Damon threw an arm out and pushed me back into the carriage as he sped around a corner. Perched on top of the cab, mouth covered in blood, Damon whipped the horse into a frothing frenzy. And so we two brothers hurled northward, one driving and one being driven, like Satan compelling the damned.