The symbolic meaning of tattoos and society today Essay

The symbolic meaning of tattoos and society today - Essay Example Originating perhaps as significant identification or ranking systems and evolving through time to take on a variety of meanings and approaches, today’s artistic approach to the tattoo can be as obscure and complex as some of the designs are themselves or as simple as a drunken night on the town coupled with a sudden impulse and an unscrupulous artist. However, only the latter of these two options is typically acknowledged in modern society’s perspective of the art. Samuel M. Steward (1990) indicates there are a variety of reasons why people may choose to get a tattoo including decoration, narcissism, exhibitionism, possession, sadomasochism, rivalry, sexuality and fetishism among a multitude of other possible motivations. Despite any cultural pressures, there remain a variety of reasons why individuals may continue to choose not to be tattooed. These reasons can be based upon physical attributes, such as a general distaste for the practice or more serious health concerns or simply a realization of the eventual breakdown of skin tissue that will render the tattoo-less recognizable in later years. Many people dislike the concept of permanence associated with the tattoo. They fear they may grow tired of the image they chose as young people and justify their abstinence upon this concept alone. A more immediate physical concern is the sensation of â€Å"hundreds of thousands of prices over a period of minutes† (Steward, 1990) and the pain of such an experience.

Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 17

Article Example As asserted by Thoreau (para 18), injustice cases are counted-friction to the government machine because when found to have broken a particular law then the person is put in prison for unlimited period determined by the discretion of those who put one in the prison. Thoreau provides us with the story in jail so that we can visualize the poor rule of the state including its accusations for the example Thoreau’s roommate was accused of burning a barn and the tedious trial process (Thoreau para 28-35). Thoreau being in jail made him has various thoughts because he had never expected to be held and to be in custody for one night was like a novel. Thoreau (para 25) proposes that, it is ironical to the state to order Thoreau to pay a certain sum to support a clergyman whose preaching was attended by Thoreau’s father. This is effective in exposing to us the weakness of the state power. The majority view of the government is that most governments carry out its activities at its expediency as contrary to the minority as was the basis of Thoreau justice was democracy (Thoreau para 45). A Chinese philosopher who regarded that individual is the basis of empire is not Lao-Tzu but there is a progress to individual respect and such democracy is yet to be

Different Restaurant That Observation Tourism Essay

Different Restaurant That Observation Tourism Essay Customer service and satisfaction can be difficult to evaluate. One method of evaluating service level is through mystery shopping. Identify at least three types of hospitality business to evaluate for your mystery shopping activity. Create a comprehensive survey for your mystery shopping activity which must include at least ten question relating to a variety of customer service question. After you have finished, review the result and write a report to provide clear information and any pertinent details that further explain the responses. 1.1 Introduction Three types of different restaurant that I go are Pizza hut, McDonalds and KFC. 1.2 Report Three types of different restaurant that observation are Pizza hut, McDonalds and KFC. The observation are on Friday 5 October 2012, Saturday 6 October 2012 and Tuesday 9 October 2012. The first mystery shopping that observe are on Friday 5 October 2012, the observation was conduct at Pizza hut. The observe is look at serving time of the food will long time because need to cook. For example, chicken pepperoni need to cook. If many customer we have to wait the pizza around 30 minutes. Next are the observe is look are the staff listening skill very good because they know how to communicate to the customer. Such as, the waiters will reply again the customer order. Beside that the observe is look is the uniform of the staff are neat and beautiful. For example, all the staff wearing neat and beautiful. After that the observe is look at the place that customer eating are neat and clean. Such as, the place that customer eating are neat and clean. Next are the observe that i look are in there the staff very friendship with the customer. For example, the staff friendship with the customer that will give customer will come back they restaurant again. The second mystery shopping that observe are on Saturday 6 October 2012, the observation was conduct at McDonalds. The observe is look at the service time of the food are faster because there food is ready early then the customer coming. For example, burger are ready early then the customer buy it. If any food finish ready then the customer have to wait 5-10 minutes only can get there food. Next are the observe is look are they listening skill of the staff are very good because they know how communicate to the customer. Such as, the staff know what the customer order. Beside that the observe is look is the uniform of the staff are neat and beautiful. For example, all the staff wearing neat and beautiful. After that the observe is look at the place that customer eating are neat and clean. Such as, the place that customer eating are neat and clean. Next are the observe that i look are in there the staff very friendship with the customer. For example, the staff friendship with the custo mer that will give customer will come back they restaurant again. The third mystery shopping that observe are on Tuesday 9 October 2012, the observation was conduct at KFC. The observe is look at the service time of the food are faster because there food is ready early then the customer coming. For example, original and spicy chicken are ready early then the customer buy it. If any food finish ready then the customer have to wait 5-10 minutes only can get there food. Next are the observe is look are the listening skill of the staff are very good because they know how communicate to the customer. Such as, the staff know what the customer order. Beside that the observe is look is the uniform of the staff are neat and beautiful. For example, all the staff wearing neat and beautiful. After that the observe is look at the place that customer eating are neat and clean. Such as, the place that customer eating are neat and clean. Next are the observe that i look are in there the staff very friendship with the customer. For example, the staff friendship wit h the customer that will give customer will come back they restaurant again. Pizza_Hut_Logo.jpg kfc-forecasts-increase-with-new-breakfast-menu.jpg mcdonalds.jpg 1.3 Conclusion From this question 1, I have learn three type of different restaurant how their staff serving, listening skill , the place clean or not? and so on. The first restaurant that I go is Pizza hut, the second restaurant that I go is McDonalds and the last restaurant that I go is KFC. QUESTION 2 Assume that you have bought a new shop lot and want to open a restaurant. As a service provider what would you need to consider when you want to open the restaurant and how would you do to get your customer? Do you agreed if say that you need to consider demographic factor in identifying your customer? Why? 2.1 Introduction Yes, I agree to start a restaurant we need to deciding on a restaurant concept, choosing a location for restaurant, finding the perfect restaurant name, writing a business plan, writing the menu, staffing a restaurant, and equipping a restaurant. Demographic information includes characteristics like age, income, marital status, education stage in the family life cycle, home ownership, sex, zip code, occupation, household size, mobility patterns, ethnic background and religion. Demographic information is a straightforward and basic method of identifying customer. 2.1 Starting a restaurant To start a restaurant we need to deciding on a restaurant concept, choosing a location for restaurant, finding the Perfect restaurant name, writing a business plan, writing the menu, staffing a restaurant, and equipping a restaurant. Firstly are deciding on a restaurant. We have to deciding what type of restaurant that want to open will depend of a variety of things. If want to open a restaurant we have to plan what type of food that we like to cook and serve to the customer, in an atmosphere they feel comfortable in. Secondly are choosing a location for restaurant. Location is vital to the success of any restaurant. There are several factors to consider when searching for that perfect restaurant location, including population base, local employment figures and accessibility. Once you find that perfect location, you will need to make sure you negotiate the best lease possible for your restaurant. Thirdly are writing a business plan. To prepare for your interview with the bank, we need to do your homework. Creating a business plan that outlines your restaurant and how we plan to make it profitable, will show the loan officer we mean business. Also make sure we arrive at the bank with all the necessary paperwork, including personal income statements, tax returns and anything else the banker ask we for. Fourthly are finding the perfect restaurant name. Restaurant names may reflect a theme (Mexican, Chinese, Continental), a location, or simply be a play on words. The important thing to consider is the impression it will leave on customers. Select a name that will be easy to customers to remember and spell. Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to find a restaurant online or in the Yellow Pages because you arent spelling it correctly. Fifthly are writing the menu. Your menu is a huge part of my restaurant. After all, it is essentially why my customers keep coming back. They love the food. The layout and design is just as important as whats listed on the menu. Avoid amateur looking menu designs, such as clip art or photocopied handwriting. Finally, knowing how to price the menu will help increase your profit margins, giving me more money to invest into my restaurant. Sixthly are staffing a restaurant. Hiring the right staff is crucial to any new restaurant. Good food loses much of its appeal if it accompanied by bad service. Knowing the basic employee roles of the back of the house and the front of the house will help you select the best candidate for the job. Experience counts for important positions, such as head cook, dining room manager and bartender. Seventhly are equipping a restaurant. Outfitting your restaurant kitchen, dining room and bar is the largest part of your start up budget. Shop around for bargain deals of used equipment and leased equipment. Also understanding needs vs. wants is important in avoiding the pitfalls of buying unnecessary furniture and equipment, which can set you way over budget. Begin with the basics, and once you have those you can pick up a few extras. 1.3 Demographic factor Demographic information includes characteristics like age, income, marital status, education stage in the family life cycle, home ownership, sex, zip code, occupation, household size, mobility patterns, ethnic background and religion. Demographic information is a straightforward and basic method of identifying customer. 1.4 How to get a customer? To get a customer using five needs of every customer. Five needs of every customer are every customer comes into the customer situation with differing wants while want are frequently hard to identify and may occasionally be unrealistic. The five basic need are service, price, quality, action and appreciation. The firstly are service. Customer expect the service that they think is appropriate for level of purchase that they are making. A small, spontaneous purchase may have a smaller service need than a larger purchase that has been carefully planned and researched. The secondly are price. The cost of everything we purchase is becoming more and more important. People and business want to use their financial resources as efficiently as possible. Many product previously considered unique are now considered commodities. This mean that while a consumer previously had to travel to the the local hamburger restaurant to purchase a hamburger, now one can be acquired at many other locations. This make the component of price even more important to the customer. The thirdly are quality. Customer want the product that they purchase to be durable and functional until the customer decides to replace them. The requirement of quality mandates that manufacturers and distributors produce products that live up to the customers expectations of durability. Customers are much less likely to question price if they are doing business with a company that has a reputation for producing a high quality product. Fourthly are action. Customers need action when a problem or question arises. Many companies offer toll-free customer assistance telephone lines, flexible return policies, and customer are human begins and like to think that they are an important priority and that when a need or question arises someone will be ready and waiting to help them. Lastly are appreciation. Customers need to know that we appreciate their business. Customer service providers can convey this appreciation in many appropriate ways. Saying thank you to the customer through our words and actions is a good starting point. Preferred customer mailing lists, informational newsletters, special discounts, courtesy, and name recognition are good beginnings to showing our customers our appreciation. Additionally, letting them know that we are glad that they have chosen to do business with us conveys a positive message. A fast- food restaurant has a sign in its drive-through lane that say we know that you could eat somewhere else; thank you for allowing us to serve you. 1.5 Conclusion From this question 2, i have learn about how to open a restaurant, how to get a customer and the demographic factor. To start a restaurant we need to deciding on a restaurant concept, choosing a location for restaurant, finding the Perfect restaurant name, writing a business plan, writing the menu, staffing a restaurant, and equipping a restaurant. Next are, to get a customer using five needs of every customer. Five needs of every customer are every customer comes into the customer situation with differing wants while want are frequently hard to identify and may occasionally be unrealistic. Beside that are to get a customer using five needs of every customer. Five needs of every customer are every customer comes into the customer situation with differing wants while want are frequently hard to identify and may occasionally be unrealistic

Ken Wolfs Personalities and Problems Essay -- Ken Wolf Personalities

Ken Wolf's Personalities and Problems Ken Wolf, a professor of history at Murray Sate University and author of Personalities and Problems, wrote with the intent to illustrate the varied richness of human history over the past five centuries. He took various personalities such as adventurers, princes, political leaders, and writers and categorized them in a way for readers to draw lines between them to create a clearer view of world history for himself. Beginning each new chapter with a specific question about worldly concerns and disciplines allowed the readers to relate the topics to broader, more general scenarios of their cultures. Answering the questions in essay form gave examples of how certain cultures/ parts of the world dealt with those issues. The answers that pertained to the questions informed readers about many historical figures without drawing a time line for the course of history and simply reiterating information as in a textbook. Wolf's layout of the book created an interesting, clear, and informative s tudy of world civilizations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Chapter twelve, about Erasmus and Luther, exemplified the interesting, clear, and informative way in which Wolf created his work. Although there are many other examples in Wolf's book as to how these aspects ring true to his purpose, I chose chapter two as only one reason. The question stated: To what extent is it possible to reform an institution from within? What intellectual and personal qualities cause some people to be more radical than others, and what are the implications of such differences in history (p.113).? After reading the essay, one might say that a person could go as far as possible to make something like reforms happen; but people may stand in his/her way. However, if that person is willing to lose or gain anything, such as excommunication from his/her Church or an increase of enemies, then he/she will extend to the distance needed. The essay answer also informed the reader of more general information, not solely facts on Erasmus and Luther. Reade rs learned that intellect and intelligence are not all that bring historical greatness. Personal qualities such as dominance, determination, perseverance, morality and empathy all play a role in making a difference in history. Some of these qualities can make the situation more radical than expected. Although Erasmus and Luther landed on the... ...ter influence on a large number of people than this slim little volume (p.26).?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lastly, Hammurabi, a famous lawgiver, would fascinate me. Hammurabi was a strict ruler who?s Code emphasized retaliation, ?an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?. I wonder if his approach to lawgiver and ruler was the best for his society at the time. I would like to engage in conversation about his thoughts on his code and if he believed that it was proven to work. I also would like to ask him, why did he base his code on a class system? Did you feel that you opened the doors for women by allowing them to live with another man under certain circumstances? I would also let him know that even though I do not agree with his Code, he set guidelines for future lawmakers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many other characters are important to me; however, these four struck me as very interesting. Questions and reasons for wanting to spend time with them are infinite. The most important question of all for each historical figure in the book Personalities and Problems would be ?what drove them to actually pursue those problems and create such phenomenal solutions, especially when solving the problem would be so difficult

A five-year career goal plan

I work for AAFES it is a subcontractor for the government. In this company the main store is called the† PX â€Å"in the civilian world it would be like a Wal-Mart. There are other stores that are included like gas stations and fast food restaurants such as Burger King, Taco John’s, McDonald’s etc. AAFES are located on military bases around the world. We serve for the men and women in the military â€Å"wherever they go we go† we provide services from the basic necessities to high-end products. My duty as an area manager is to make sure to take care of the customer service and the complaints also to make sure all training is done by all employees as needed. Was a manager I find ways to improve the sales floor with new fresh idea to meet sales goals. I also make sure all the accounting is correct and accurate such as items that need to be counted twice a day such as laptop iPad high-end Jewelry and items worth more than $1000. I am responsible to make sure that this is correct at all times. I have to make sure to look at all the receipts making sure that the item is received properly. When I complete my bachelors in business and human resource I would like to be in a retail environment. I’ve been with this company about 9 years I feel I have experience and not the education and that’s why I’m back in college so I will not get turned down a position because of the lack of education. I believe I could be selected for a store manager position because the education and experience and the classes that I have taken to become a manager. I will need to focus on improving my performance at work. The more I learn about what is needed to become a store manager the easier it will become when I’ve met my goal. Within the 3 years of my retail profession I will have my Masters in business and human resource that will give me a higher level of education. I will have more training and more experience for the job of being a training facility manager. I have had 2 manager position in aafes I have been in the position as a Burger King manager and a Retail Manager. I believe with my experience and education I will be more than qualified for the next positions. Within the 5 years of my retail profession I would like to become a retail HR anager I will have my Masters by then I’ll have experience being a store manager and food manager also being a training facility manager and that would be my dream job and I would stick with that until I retire. I would be more knowledgeable of the different job titles. I would have more experience on what you can do in the company and what you can’t do in the company. I would have the experience to make sure the employees complaints are taken care of and be more knowledgeable within the company so I could be successful of helping the employees on different levels. The career path that I have chosen will benefit my family. They always say â€Å"hard work pays off â€Å"(Evans, Stephanie) and I believe that I would have to sacrifice my weekends and holidays with my family for upcoming years for the job of my dreams. I would love to have a 9-to-5 job with weekends and holidays off but I believe that is a small price to pay for 2 years versus 18 years of the job of your dreams. Knowledge is power in my eyes. (Stephanie Evans) I feel that if I have the education and experiences that I will be successful in meeting goals. I am dedicated I’m a hard worker I’m reliable and trustworthy. Most of my colleagues come to me because I will share the information that will help them be successful in this company as well. I believe in this company because my dad served in the Army and my husband is in the currently in the Army. I always wanted to join the Army but I couldn’t because I am physically handicapped and this is one way I can serve my country by putting a smile on the faces of the men and women that serve our country, putting their life on the line for our freedom. And all I want to do is to make sure they have great customer service and will have great experience when they shop at AAFES. References Anderson, L, E., & Bolt, S.B. (2013). Professionalism: Skills for Workplace Success. (3rd Ed.). Pearson Education Inc. Upper Saddle: New Jersey. http://www.totaljobs.com/careers-advice/job-profile/retail-jobs/department-manager-job

Bloodlines Chapter Twenty-Three

â€Å"WHAT DID YOU DO?† I was sitting on the end of a row of seats at Jill's fashion show almost a week later, in downtown Palm Springs, waiting for things to start. I hadn't even known Trey was at the show and was startled to suddenly find him kneeling beside me. â€Å"What exactly are you referring to?† I asked him. â€Å"There are about a million things I can take credit for.† He scoffed and kept his voice pitched low, which wasn't too necessary with the dull roar of conversation around us. Several hundred had turned out to see the show. â€Å"I'm talking about Slade and friends, and you know it,† Trey said. â€Å"They've been really upset about something this week. They keep complaining about those stupid tattoos.† He looked at me meaningfully. â€Å"What?† I asked, putting on a face of innocence. â€Å"Why do you think this has anything to do with me?† â€Å"Are you saying it doesn't?† he asked, not fooled in the least. I could feel a traitorous smile playing over my lips. After raiding Keith's apartment, the Alchemists had made sure his tattooist partners no longer had the means to administer illicit tattoos. There'd also been no more talk of Zoe replacing me. It had taken days before Slade and his friends had realized their connection to performance-enhancing ink was gone. I'd been observing their furtive conversations with amusement this week but hadn't realized Trey had noticed as well. â€Å"Let's just say that Slade may soon no longer be the superstar he's been,† I said. â€Å"Hope you're ready to step up and take his place.† Trey studied me a few moments more, apparently hoping I'd add something else. When I didn't, he simply shook his head and chuckled. â€Å"Anytime you need coffee, Melbourne, you come see me.† â€Å"Noted,† I said. I gestured toward the still-growing crowd. â€Å"What are you doing here anyway? I didn't realize you were interested in today's hottest fashions.† â€Å"I'm not,† he agreed. â€Å"But I've got a couple of friends working on the show.† â€Å"Girlfriends?† I asked slyly. He rolled his eyes. â€Å"Friends who are girls. I have no time for silly female distractions.† â€Å"Really? I figured that's why you got your tattoo. I hear women go for that kind of thing.† Trey stiffened. â€Å"What are you talking about?† I remembered that Kristin and Julia had mentioned how strange it was that Trey had a tattoo of his own and Eddie had later mentioned seeing it on Trey's lower back in the locker room. Eddie had said it looked like a multi-rayed sun made of very ordinary ink. I'd been waiting for a chance to tease Trey about it. â€Å"Don't play coy. I know about your sunshine. How come you always give me such a hard time, huh?† â€Å"I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He was truly at a loss. More than that. He looked uncomfortable, worried – like this was something he hadn't wanted me to know about. That was weird. It wasn't that big a deal. I was about to question him more when Adrian suddenly made his way to us through the crowd. Trey took one look at Adrian's stormy face and immediately got to his feet. I could understand his reaction. Adrian's expression would've intimidated me too. â€Å"Well,† said Trey uneasily. â€Å"Thanks again. I'll catch you later.† I murmured a goodbye and watched as Adrian slipped past me. Micah sat beside me, then Eddie, and then two empty seats we'd saved. Adrian sat down in one of them, ignoring Eddie's greeting. Moments later, Lee came hurrying in and took the other seat. He looked troubled about something but still managed to be friendlier than Adrian. Adrian stared stonily ahead, and my good mood plummeted. Somehow, without knowing why, I had a feeling I was the reason for his dark mood. We had no time to pursue it, though. The lights went down and the show began. It was emceed by a local newscaster, who introduced the five designers showing tonight. Jill's designer was third, and watching the others go before her made the anticipation that much more intense. This was worlds away from the practice sessions I'd seen before. The lights and the music took everything to a more professional level, and the other models seemed so much older and seasoned. I began to share Jill's earlier anxiety, that maybe she was out of her league. Then Lia DiStefano's turn came. Jill was one of her first models and emerged wearing a flowing, silvery evening gown made of some fabric that seemed to defy gravity. A half mask of pearls and silver covered up her part of her face, obscuring her identity to those who didn't know better. I would've expected them to tone down her vampire features a little, to possibly give her a little more humanlike color. Instead, they'd played up her unusual looks, putting a luminescent powder on her skin that enhanced her paleness in a way that made her look otherworldly. Every single curl had been arranged into place, artfully falling around her and bedecked with tiny glittering jewels. Her walk had improved vastly since that first practice. She'd practically slept in those high heels and had gone beyond simply not trying to fall over. There was a new confidence and purpose that hadn't been there before. Every once in a while, I'd catch a faint glimpse of nervousness in her eyes or an adjustment in her stride as she managed the tall silver heels. I doubted anyone else noticed those things, however. Anyone who didn't know Jill and her traits well would see nothing but a strong, ethereal woman striding down the catwalk. Amazing. If she could transform this much with only a little encouragement, what more was to come? Glancing at the guys beside me, I saw similar feelings mirrored in their faces. Adrian's was filled with that brotherly pride he often had for her, all traces of his earlier bad mood vanished. Micah and Lee both displayed pure, unfiltered adoration. To my surprise, Eddie's expression was adoring too, along with something else. It was almost†¦ worshipful. This was it, I realized. In coming out as this beautiful, larger-than-life goddess-like creature, Jill was giving flesh to all of Eddie's idealistic, protective fantasies. She was the perfect princess now, with her dutiful knight waiting to serve. She appeared two more times in Lia's line, stunning each time, though never quite matching that initial debut in the silver dress. I watched the rest of the show with only half an eye. My pride and affection for Jill were too distracting, and honestly, most of the clothes I saw tonight were way too flashy for my tastes. There was a reception after the show, where guests, designers, and models could mingle over refreshments. My little group found a corner near the hors d'oeuvres to wait for Jill, who had yet to make an appearance. Lee carried an enormous bouquet of white lilies. Adrian watched a waitress go by with a tray full of champagne glasses. His eyes were filled with longing, but he made no moves to stop her. I was proud and relieved. Jill, balance, and alcohol were not things we wanted to mix. When the waitress was gone, Adrian turned to me, and I finally saw that earlier anger return. And, as I'd suspected, it was directed toward me. â€Å"When were you going to tell me?† he asked. It was as enigmatic as Trey's earlier opening line. â€Å"Tell you what?† â€Å"That the financial aid isn't going to come through! I talked to the registrar's office, and they said you knew.† I sighed. â€Å"I wasn't keeping it from you, exactly. I just didn't have a chance to tell you yet. There were kind of a lot of other things going on.† Okay, I actually had been putting it off, for exactly this reason. Well, not exactly. I hadn't anticipated he would get so worked up about it. â€Å"You apparently had enough time to pay the auditing fee, though. And enough money. But not enough to fund new lodging.† I think what was more upsetting about this than the topic was the insinuation that I had somehow chosen to act in a way that would inconvenience him. Like I'd purposely subject myself to this if there'd been some way to avoid it. â€Å"A onetime payment was easy to slip in,† I told him. â€Å"Month-to-month rent? Not so much.† â€Å"Then why bother at all?† he exclaimed. â€Å"The whole point of this was to get me money to get out of Clarence's! I wouldn't be taking these stupid classes otherwise. You think I want to ride the bus for hours each day?† â€Å"Those classes are good for you,† I countered, feeling my own temper rise. I hadn't wanted to lose control, not here and certainly not with our friends witnessing everything. Yet I was appalled at Adrian's reaction. Couldn't he see how good it was for him to do something useful? I'd seen his face when he showed me his paintings. They'd given him a healthy channel to deal with Rose, not to mention a sense of purpose for him. And besides, it killed me to see how casually he could just toss aside those â€Å"stupid† classes. It was another reminder of the unfairness of the world, how I couldn't have what others took for granted. He scowled. â€Å"‘Good for me?' Come on, stop being my mom again! It isn't your job to tell me how to live my life. If I want your advice, I'll ask for it.† â€Å"Right,† I said, putting my hands on my hips. â€Å"It's not my job to tell you how to live your life – just my job to make it as easy as possible for you. Because God knows you can't suffer through anything that's a little inconvenient. What happened to all those things you told me? About being serious about improving your life? When you asked me to believe in you?† â€Å"Come on, you guys,† said Eddie uneasily. â€Å"This isn't the time or place.† Adrian ignored him. â€Å"You have no problem making Jill's life as easy as possible.† â€Å"That is my job,† I growled back. â€Å"And she's still a girl. I wouldn't think an adult like you would need taking care of the same way!† Adrian's eyes were filled with emerald fire as he glared down at me, and then his gaze focused on something behind me. I turned and saw Jill approaching. She was back in the silver gown, her expression full of radiant happiness – happiness that plummeted as she got closer and realized there was an altercation going on. By the time she was standing next to me, all her excitement from a moment ago had been replaced by worry and concern. â€Å"What's happening?† she asked, looking between Adrian and me. Of course, she had to already know because of the bond. It was a wonder his dark feelings hadn't messed up her performance. â€Å"Nothing,† I said flatly. â€Å"Well,† said Adrian. â€Å"It depends how you define ‘nothing.' I mean, if you consider lying and – â€Å" â€Å"Stop it!† I cried, raising my voice in spite of my best effort. The room was too noisy for most to notice, but a couple people standing nearby glanced at us curiously. â€Å"Just stop it, Adrian. Can you please not ruin this for her? Can't you just for one night pretend there are other people in the world who matter besides you?† â€Å"Ruin it for her?† he exclaimed. â€Å"How the hell can you say that? You know what I've done for her! I've done everything for her! I've given up everything for her!† â€Å"Really?† I asked. â€Å"Because from what I can tell, it doesn't seem like – â€Å" I caught sight of Jill's face and promptly cut myself off. Behind the mask, her eyes had gone wide with dismay at the accusations Adrian and I were slinging back and forth. I'd just told Adrian he was selfish and not thinking of Jill, yet here I was, continuing to engage with him on her big night, in front of her and our friends. It didn't matter if I was right – and I felt certain I was. This was no time to be having this discussion. I shouldn't have let Adrian bait me into this, and if he didn't have the sense to stop things before they got worse, then I would. â€Å"I'm leaving,† I said. I forced as sincere a smile as I could for Jill, who now looked on the verge of tears. â€Å"You were amazing tonight. Really.† â€Å"Sydney – â€Å" â€Å"It's okay,† I told her. â€Å"I've got some things to do.† I groped for what they would actually be. â€Å"I need to, um, clean up the stuff Keith left behind. Can you get her and Eddie back to Amberwood?† This was directed to Micah and Lee. I knew one of them would step up. I felt no need to make any such provisions for Adrian. I honestly didn't care what became of him tonight. â€Å"Of course,† said Lee and Micah in unison. After a moment, though, Lee frowned. â€Å"Why do you need to clean up Keith's stuff?† â€Å"Long story,† I muttered. â€Å"Let's just say he left town and won't be back anytime soon. Maybe never.† Inexplicably, Lee seemed bothered by this. Maybe during all the time Keith had spent at Clarence's, the two guys had become friends. If so, Lee owed me. Jill still looked upset. â€Å"I thought we were all going out to celebrate?† â€Å"You can if you want,† I said. â€Å"As long as Eddie's with you, I really don't care.† I reached awkwardly to Jill. I almost wanted to hug her, but she was so elaborate and magnificent in her clothing and makeup that I was afraid of ruining her. I settled for a halfhearted pat on the shoulder. â€Å"I meant it. You were breathtaking.† I hurried away, half-afraid that either Adrian or I would crack and say something stupid to the other. I had to get myself out of there. My hope now was that Adrian would have enough sense to let the topic go and not make this night any worse for Jill. I didn't know why the fight with him upset me so much. He and I had been bickering nearly since we'd met. What was one more quarrel? It's because we'd been getting along, I realized. I still didn't think of him in human terms, but somewhere along the way, I'd come to regard him as a little less of a monster. â€Å"Sydney?† I was stopped by an unexpected source: Laurel. She had touched my arm as I passed by a group of girls from Amberwood. I must have looked really mad because when I fixed my gaze on her, she actually flinched. That had to be a first. â€Å"What?† I asked. She swallowed and stepped away from her friends, eyes wide and desperate. A fedora covered most of her hair, which – I'd heard – she still hadn't been able to restore to normal. â€Å"I heard†¦ I heard you might be able to help me. With my hair,† she said. That was another favor Kristin had done me. After letting Laurel suffer for a few days, I'd had Kristin put out the word that Sydney Melrose – with her dorm room pharmacy – might be able to fix what was wrong. I'd also made sure, however, that it was understood that Laurel wasn't my favorite person and that it would take a lot to convince me. â€Å"Maybe,† I said. I tried to keep my face hard, which wasn't difficult since I was still so upset over Adrian. â€Å"Please,† she said. â€Å"I'll do whatever you want if you can help me! I've tried everything on my hair, and nothing works.† To my astonishment, she shoved some yearbooks at me. â€Å"Here. You wanted these, right? Take them. Take whatever you want.† Another five days of scrubbing with heavy detergent would actually fix her, but I certainly wasn't going to tell her. I took the yearbooks. â€Å"If I help you,† I said, â€Å"you need to leave my sister alone. Do you understand?† â€Å"Yes,† she said quickly. â€Å"I don't think you do. No more stunts, bullying, or talking about her behind her back. You don't have to be her best friend, but I don't want you interfering with her anymore. Stay out of her life.† I paused. â€Å"Well, except to offer an apology.† Laurel was nodding along with everything I said. â€Å"Yes, yes! I'll apologize right now!† I lifted my eyes to where Jill was standing with her admirers, Lee's flowers in her arms. â€Å"No. Don't make this night any weirder for her. Tomorrow's soon enough.† â€Å"I will,† said Laurel. â€Å"I promise. Just tell me what to do. How to fix this.† I hadn't expected Laurel to approach me tonight, but I had been expecting her one of these days. So, I already had the small bottle of antidote ready in my purse. I retrieved it, and her eyes nearly popped out of her head as I held it in front of her. â€Å"One dose is all you need. Use it just like shampoo. Then you'll have to re-dye it.† She reached for the bottle, and I jerked it back. â€Å"I mean it. Your harassment of Jill ends now. If I give this to you, I will not hear one more word about you giving her a hard time. No more grief if she talks to Micah. No more vampire jokes. No more calling Nevermore and asking about tall, pale people.† She gaped. â€Å"No more what? I never called anyone!† I hesitated. When the tattooist had mentioned someone calling and asking about people who looked like vampires, I'd assumed it was Laurel running with the vampire joke. From the baffled look on her face now, I no longer thought that was true. â€Å"Well, if I hear about any of the other stuff continuing, then what happened to your hair will be nothing in comparison to what happens next. Nothing. Do you understand me?† She nodded shakily. â€Å"P-perfectly.† I handed her the bottle. â€Å"Don't forget.† Laurel started to turn away and then cast another uneasy glance at me. â€Å"You know, you can be scary as hell sometimes.† I wondered if the Alchemists had had any idea what I'd be doing when it came to this job. At least this settled one thing. Laurel's desperation convinced me the vampire jokes had only been a tactic. She didn't really believe any of them were true. It did, however, raise the unnerving question about who had asked about vampires at Nevermore. When I was finally out of the building and heading toward my car, I decided I really would go to Keith's. Someone needed to sort through his belongings, and it seemed like a safe way to avoid the others. I still had a couple of hours before curfew at Amberwood. Keith's apartment hadn't been disturbed since the Alchemists had raided it. The telltale signs from before were there, where we'd discovered his stash of Clarence's blood and silver supplies. The Alchemists had done little more than retrieve the essentials they needed and had left the rest of his belongings behind. My hope in coming tonight had been to get ahold of his other ingredients, the ones not used to manufacture illicit tattoos. It was always handy to have extra amounts of those chemicals on hand, be it for destroying Strigoi bodies or making dorm room chemistry experiments. No such luck. Even if his other supplies hadn't been illegal, the Alchemists had apparently decided to confiscate all chemicals and ingredients. Since I was here, though, I decided to see if any of his other possessions were items that would be of use to me. Keith certainly hadn't held back in using his illicit funds to furnish the apartment with every comfort of home. Scratch that. I doubted his home had anything like this: a California-king-sized bed, giant flatscreen TV, a theater-worthy sound system, and enough food to throw parties every night for the next month. I peered through cupboard after cupboard, appalled at how much of that food was junk food. Still, maybe it'd be worth taking some of it back for Jill and Eddie, so I bagged up the more portable sweets for them, organizing by color and size. I wondered also about the practicality of hauling the TV back to Amberwood. It seemed like a waste to leave it for the Alchemists' repo crew, though I could already imagine Mrs. Weathers's expression if she saw us dragging it up the stairs. I wasn't even sure Jill and I had a wall big enough to hold it. I sat down in Keith's recliner to ponder the TV issue. Even the recliner was top of the line. The luxurious leather felt like butter, and I practically sank into the cushions. Too bad there was no room for it in Ms. Terwilliger's room. I could see her relaxing back in it while drinking cappuccino and reading old documents. Well, whatever became of the rest of Keith's stuff, it was going to require the rental of a moving truck because Latte certainly couldn't handle the TV, chair, or most of the other things. Once this was decided, there was no reason for me to stay any longer tonight, but I hated to go back. I was afraid of seeing Jill. There was no reaction of hers I welcomed. If she was still sad from the argument, that would make me feel guilty. If she tried to defend Adrian, that would upset me too. I sighed. This chair was so ridiculously comfortable, I might as well enjoy it a little longer. I dug into my messenger bag, looking for homework, and remembered the yearbooks. Kelly Hayes. I'd had almost no time to think about her or the murders, not with all the drama surrounding Keith and the tattoos. Kelly had been a junior when she died, and I had a yearbook for each of her years at Amberwood. Even as a freshman, Kelly took lots of space in the yearbook. I remembered Mrs. Weathers saying Kelly was a good athlete. No kidding. Kelly had participated in nearly every sport Amberwood offered and been exceptional at all of them. She'd made varsity teams during her first year and won all sorts of awards. One thing I also immediately discovered was that Kelly was definitely not a Moroi. That much was obvious, even in black and white, and confirmed in the sophomore-year color spread in the middle. She had a very human build and tanned skin that clearly loved the sun. I was skimming the index of the junior yearbook when I heard a knock at the door. For a moment, I didn't want to answer. For all I knew, it was some loser friend Keith had made while here, looking to eat his food and watch TV. Then I worried it could be something Alchemist related. I found the Kelly tribute section I'd been seeking and set the yearbook down before tentatively approaching the door. Looking out the peephole, I caught sight of a familiar face. â€Å"Lee?† I asked, opening the door. He gave me a sheepish smile. â€Å"Hey. Sorry to bug you here.† â€Å"What are you doing here?† I exclaimed, beckoning him inside. â€Å"Why aren't you back with the others?† He followed me into the living room. â€Å"I – I needed to talk to you. When you said you were coming here, it made me wonder if what my father had said was true. That Keith isn't here anymore?† I sat back down on the recliner. Lee took a spot on the nearby loveseat. â€Å"Yup. Keith's gone. He was, uh, reassigned.† Keith was off being punished somewhere, and I said good riddance. Lee glanced around, taking in the expensive furnishings. â€Å"This is a nice place.† His eyes fell on the cabinet that had held the alchemy supplies. Its door still hung precariously from its hinges, and I hadn't bothered tidying up where the Alchemists had cleaned out its other contents. â€Å"Was this†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Lee frowned. â€Å"Was this place broken into?† â€Å"Not exactly,† I said. â€Å"Keith, um, just needed to find something in a hurry before he left.† Lee wrung his hands and looked around some more before turning back to me. â€Å"And he's not coming back?† â€Å"Probably not.† Lee's face fell, which surprised me. I'd always gotten the impression he didn't like Keith. â€Å"Will another Alchemist be replacing him?† â€Å"I don't know,† I said. There was still some debate on that. Turning Keith in had stopped me from being replaced by Zoe, and Stanton was now considering just having me fill in as the local Alchemist since the duties were light. â€Å"If someone does, it may be a while.† â€Å"So you're the only Alchemist in the area,† he repeated, sounding sadder still. I shrugged. â€Å"There are some in Los Angeles.† That inexplicably perked him up a little. â€Å"Really? Could you tell me their – â€Å" Lee stopped as his focus dropped to the open yearbook lying at my feet. â€Å"Oh,† I said, scooping it up. â€Å"Just a research project I'm doing on – â€Å" â€Å"Kelly Hayes.† The cheerful look was gone. â€Å"Yeah. Have you heard of her?† I reached for a nearby piece of scrap paper, intending to use it as a bookmark for the tribute section. â€Å"You might say that,† he replied. I started to ask what he meant, and that's when I saw it. The spread they'd done in honor of Kelly had pictures from all parts of her high school life. Unsurprisingly, most of them were pictures of her playing sports. There were a few from other areas of her social and academic worlds, including one of her at the prom. She wore a stunning blue satin dress that made the most of her athletic figure and was giving the camera a big grin as she wrapped an arm around her dashing, tuxedo-clad date. Lee. I jerked my head up and looked at Lee, who was now regarding me with an unreadable expression. I turned back to the picture, scrutinizing it carefully. What was remarkable wasn't that Lee was in the picture – though, believe me, I hadn't figured out what was going on with that yet. What had me hung up was the timing. This yearbook was five years old. Lee would've been fourteen at the time, and the guy looking back at me with Kelly was certainly not that young. The Lee in the picture looked exactly like the nineteen-year-old sitting across from me, which was impossible. Moroi had no special immortality. They aged like humans. I looked back up, wondering if I should be asking if he had a brother. Lee saved me from questioning, though. He simply regarded me with a sad look and shook his head. â€Å"Shit. I hadn't wanted it to happen like this.† And then, he took out a knife.