.... next to the pond for as long as I can remember. The rock is about 5 feet tall off the ground and about 20 feet in circumference around the base. The top of the rock is leveled, forming a level bench. This flat bench has provided my seat over the years allowing me to peer out across the Pond. I would look around myself and ponder the questions of life and become fascinated with everything around me as well as listen to the sounds of nature. I hear many sounds; the ribbit of a dirty-green plump frog hidden amongst the underbrush, chirps of birds high in the sky, and the soft wind as it rustles leaves on the trees. The most amazing scene I have witnessed many times along t ....

.... in the garage space next to mine. He was inspecting and cleaning the outside of his white 1993 Honda Civic SI. He had a soft cloth in one hand and a spray bottle of wax in the other. The hand with the soft cloth would wipe for ten seconds followed by the “sqshhh sqshhh” of the spray bottle. Always being the meticulous one, he continued his wipe and spray cycle for many hours to make sure his car was immaculate. As I turned one of the bolts clockwise to tighten it, I felt a sharp, searing pain on the upper portion of my hand. Instinctively, I swore, forgetting all the lessons on good manners my parents had taught me. I brought my hand up to inspect the wound but the d ....

.... my parents, crossed town through East Norwalk to our home in the northern end of town. Sometimes I would hear my father boast to far off relatives that we lived in a nice residential neighborhood (otherwise known as "the good area") In most horror stories, as the hero approaches some haunted house (or some other terror) you can shout, "Don't go in there! Stay away!" People moving into Norwalk have no such luck; they move into the charming town without a clue of it's underlying sickness and disagreeable citizens. One of my first discoveries was the river that passed through the middle of town. I was only a kid, maybe ten, when I started fishing by the edge of the river. I ....

.... sand around and give it to the younger girl. It’s a doll that has lost its right hand, its dirty blond hair was cut into disorder length. Still the girl seems happy with it. A fat lady’s walking along my observation in her routine exercise, she stops and talks to the other one has just walked outside and has ready to go to work. The lady lives upstairs . Sometimes, my mom and I are so annoyed by the noise from the ceiling at night. Heavy walking, loudly music, children banging around stairs… these noises bug me sometimes! Whenever I could not stand it anymore, I would slam my door room, warning them to stop it. But my request from slamming the door is rarely satisfie ....

.... Anyway I owe a great deal to him. When my dad pulled up with him I thought Gandhi had risen from the dead. In broken English he said, “Hello, my name is Hank, nice to meet you.” I almost didn't respond because I was laughing at a man named Hank from India had just come into my house, but I got out a , “very good, how are you?” He didn't look like, act like, or even dress like an American, but with a name like Hank it was the only thing that would make sense to me. If his name had been Akbar or Jabar, it wouldn't have been so strange for me. But Hank?...come on. What were his parents thinking. It could start a tribal war or whatever those p ....

.... people. The rule that I feel is ridiculous is the visitation rule. Why can a guy be in a girls room all day, or a girl be in a guys room all day, but must leave at night? Their is no harm being done if he or she stays. If your roommate doesn't mind then their shouldn't be a problem. If we are told that we are responsible enough to go and live away from home, then why does it matter who we live with? Why aren't we trusted when it comes to that issue? I feel that one should be trusted until one proves otherwise. The rule may forbid boyfriends, girlfriends, or just friends to stay in a room, but why family members? Have a heart. Your family member drives all the wa ....

.... Before we got there we noticed something weird about the pool hall. It is located right across from the police station, which is rather unusual for a club. As soon as we walked in, a huge cloud of smoke blinded us. Right away, we noticed that everybody knew each other. It was like a small family. What was more amazing is how everybody blended in so perfectly and how they matched the place like a puzzle. As we were wandering around, the owner came up to us and welcomed us to his club, noticing that it was our first time there. Now that I have known him for over a year and a half, I can say that he is one of the nicest people I've ever met. Speaking with an ....

.... each time. Everyone I came across was so warm and no sooner had I realized, that indeed, I was missing out . Through my daily visits, I was soon convinced that this was truly the best hall and I longed to be part of that family. I can even remember developing the attitude that I was already a Milnerite, a misconception I was forced to reconsider(1) after requesting a hall jacket and being turned down and(2) by the hall name that I was recently given. Tonight I want to thank all involved for giving this VAGRANT a home in which to live and to plead for the opportunity to express my gratitude by serving this great hall. I accept your nomination with a deep sense of humility. ....