Minuet in G by J.S. Bach Essay Example

Minuet in G by J.S. Bach Essay This familiar minuet by J.S. Bach is in the key of G major as we can obviously see by the title: Minuet in G. The time signature, also known as the metre is 3 crotchet beats in a bar. As it is a Minuet, the speed of the piece is quite steady- andante (at a walking pace). J.S. Bach wrote this piece especially for the harpsichord and for his wife who played the harpsichord. I believe that it wasnt written for the piano especially as pianos were just being invented and therefore were not as popular as the harpsichord.This Minuet is in two sections; A and B. The piece is in Binary as the piece is played like this: A:|| B:||. Both A and B sections are equal in length and are quite similar, with both having simple rhythms although in the B section, new things are introduced and many A section rhythms have been modified.The texture of this piece is contrapuntal although in a few places the texture becomes monophonic but then changes back to polyphonic. Throughout the piece there is rhythmic repetition and the right hand melody is a mixture of disjunct motion and conjunct motion. The left hand has longer rhythms, which creates a contrast between the two hands.In the A section, there are not as many distinct comments as the B section but there are some things to say about it. To begin with, in bar 5 and 6, there is a sequence as the first note in bar 6 is a semitone lower than the first note in bar 5. Also the rest of the notes from bar 6 follow bar 5 with the same rhythm going down in steps like a scale but starting a tone below. In bar 10, the texture becomes monophonic as the right and left hand are playing in unison. But then goes back to polyphonic in the next bar. During the A section the left hand swaps the melody with the right hand; and they are: bars 8 and 12.In section B, the first 3 bars are modified sequences of bars 5 and 6 in section A as they use the same rhythms and each first note of the 3 bars begins a tone lower than the one before. The next thing th at happens in the B section is that in bar 19, it is a pivot as there is an E minor chord, which is the 6th degree and 2nd chord of G major, which then leads into bar 20 where there is modulation as the key changes and becomes D major when the first note (being a C) has an accident making it C#. This is the dominant of G major. By changing the key, this gives the piece variety and makes it more intriguing. We also see that the 3 bars before the key change takes place, J.S. Bach uses notes from both G major and D major. At the end of bar 24, the key changes back to G major, the tonic where there is a C right at the last minute. Additionally in bars 25 and 26, a new feature is introduced and that this 2 part playing in the left hand.This gives the feeling of a 3-part texture, which has not happened in the piece before so it new and a sort of surprise as you dont really expect that to happen after listening to previous bars of the piece. In bars 29 and 21, there is a whole bar of quave rs going up in steps like a scale but there is one difference apart from the note each scale starts on and that difference is that the scale in bar 21 is in the key in D major with the C# and the scale in bar 29 is in the key of G major. This gives contrast between the two scales. Additionally if we look at the next bar, bar 22 and 30, we can see that they same rhythm and sequence but because the notes are different, it is a modified sequence. Finally, in bar 31, we also experience something but its not to do with the texture but to do with rhythms. We are given a new rhythm that is similar to bars 20, 25, 26 where the rhythm is: ta ta-te ta whereas in bar 31, the rhythm is: ta-te ta ta. This is also unexpected but fits in nicely to join and lead up to the last chord as the notes get longer; from quavers, to crotchets and then in the last bar: a dotted minim.

Diplomacy in Washington, DC

Diplomacy in Washington, DC Introduction Diplomacy as a tool of community diversification is a major ingredient that can be used to build amazing human relationships in a multi-cultural environment. The use of diplomacy dates back to the very olden days and it is presumed to be as old as the development of the human race (Freeman ix).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Diplomacy in Washington, DC specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The term diplomacy is generally used to describe the efforts undertaken by a government to carry out its foreign operations and enhance its national interests to the advantage of its citizens. This is largely accomplished through communication with the foreign countries. Others define it as the profession of persuasion while for some c using art, musical performances, exchange programs, educational programs among to mention but a few. A dynamic working relationship with other states is very important to the develo pment of any nation whether socially or economically. No single nation is able to progress well in isolation. For most nations, the easiest thing to do is apply violence to influence decisions of other states or people to their favor. Common sense dictates that this only brings about poor associations with others. A good use of diplomatic tactics will play a major role in alleviating any challenges being faced by the society today. The core of any diplomatic assignment is to perpetuate peace and not war. Numerous benefits arise from the use of convincing power rather than engaging in war. This is what is strongly advocated the diplomatic community. For a very long time, the U.S. government has used diplomacy to meet its obligations both at home and internationally. The use of peaceful engagements has been greatly favored over war or the application of any form of force. This explains why President Barrack Hussein Obama is stopping at nothing to reach out to those assumed to enemies of development. The way diplomatic skills are used will determine whether or not a nation will advance economically. For any nation, diplomats are their voice in the foreign lands. They are a resource at the center of any peace making missions between the states they serve and others. They would use any approach but war while dealing with any conflicts that arise. Diplomats with a wide range of skills and knowledge certainly give a state a very competitive advantage. At times, diplomats will work alongside spies and warriors to give advice and safeguard the interests of their states and help contain any rivalry by replacing it with cooperation. Besides doing their best to protect the interests of fellow citizens abroad they will also assist to support international trade, investments and cultural exchange programs that are geared towards improving the economy. Relations nurtured by diplomats become very relevant when all that is left is for states to opt for war. Clearly, the work o f diplomats is very critical to the wealth, power and growth of any nation throughout the world.Advertising Looking for research paper on diplomacy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Background on Diplomacy Official recognition of the use of public diplomacy by the U.S. government happened during the starting years of the 20th century. It was around this time, during World War I, that President Woodrow Wilson formed the Committee on Public Information to go ahead and circulate information overseas. This was later to be followed by a series of restructuring of foreign policies (Epsten 5). As a result of the terrorist attacks, the U.S. government increased funding of its diplomacy activities. Many people, however, still want to see the U.S. government further increase their spending on diplomatic missions. Others have argued that as the world becomes more and more of a global village, it is important to really get alarme d about the attitudes of foreign populations towards America rather waste valuable time solidifying the U.S. military strength. Public diplomacy activities of the U.S. government influenced the outcome of World War I and II, and helped to bring to an end the Cold War. Currently, the U.S. administration is employing the use of public diplomacy to fight terrorism acts by persuade the Muslim and Arab communities to think differently. Despite all that has so far been done to strengthen foreign ties, there is a strong feeling that nations can do much better. According to the 9/11 Commission, to reach a deeper understanding between societies and to build long-term relationships and trust between the government officials, public diplomacy must be made a dialogue and not a monologue. Washington DC’s Diplomatic Community Diplomats in Washington DC highly value the benefits that result from networking and are doing their best they can, to create links that can later be used by fellow c ountry men to advance their operations whether business or otherwise. Diplomatic Connections, is news network that exists to facilitate the operations of the diplomats in Washington, DC. Business people have been able to grow their business by tapping on to the strengths of the diplomatic community and this is thanks to Diplomatic Connections (Diplomatic Connections LLC 1). Diplomats and the business community within Washington, DC believe that diplomacy is a very precious marketing tool for themselves, businesses and fellow country men. The work of Diplomatic Connections in Washington DC is highly praised. Feedback received from the public shows that a lot has been done by the organization to help bring the business and diplomatic communities together. Individuals have been able to discover business opportunities and even gone ahead to venture into new grounds.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Diplomacy in Washington, DC specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Social events have proved very helpful in as far as adapting to a new way of life is concerned. One can get to know who to approach when in need of help. The events have also served as marketing point for business making them known to the diplomatic community. Service providers also get a chance to interact with diplomats and international organizations and trough these forums; they are able to discuss and come up with solutions for any challenges faced. Cultural Adaptation to Work and Community A major challenge when moving to live in a foreign land is settling down and becoming part of the local community. Many times it is quite difficult for one to figure out the starting point in the journey to understanding the new setup. It is for this very reason that reliable diplomatic relations become a necessity. With the help of diplomats, settling into a foreign land should happen with little or no stress at all. When it comes to working i n a foreign land, many nations want to ensure that visitors have all the necessary documents before they can allow them to live and work in their land. Advice and guidance from the embassies should come in quite handy at this time in one’s life abroad. Culture shock is a very common occurrence in a case where one enters foreign soil without prior preparations of what to expect. Thorough initiation into the sometimes strange culture is therefore a mandatory thing to do as one takes a move to a foreign state; one completely unfamiliar to them. Time should be taken to gather as much information as can be practically possible about where they are going. Most embassies will request that any citizens from their countries be formally registered and stay in constant communication with the embassy. This is to ensure that incase of anything happening, contacts can be used to get in touch and offer help where needed. Embassies are also better placed to organize social events that bringi ng different people together with the aim of facilitating exchange of ideas and information. One can take advantage of such opportunities to gather valuable information that can later help them fit in well. Influence on Local Community Common to all states is the responsibility to take care of its citizens. Governments therefore have a major task of ensuring that its citizens live in a healthy and peaceful environment and that they are able to realize their dreams. Poor relationships with other states are thus considered to be hindrances to the achievement of goals set by a nation. Without strong relationships with foreign states, a state and its people remain enclosed in their territory and end up missing opportunities to prosper. Good diplomatic tactics will create an enabling environment to meet the needs of citizens both at home and away from home.Advertising Looking for research paper on diplomacy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Diplomacy at the local level will to a great extent help to nurture not only the need, but also the appreciation of inter-personal and inter-cultural dealings that later act as avenues of promoting socio-economic progression, conflict prevention, and a greater desire to be inclusive. It also helps to enlighten citizens on the need to be part of the diplomatic process locally. Warm interactions in the end encourage the sharing of ideas leading to enhanced economic development. People are able to move between groups, exchange ideas and get exposed to opportunities to learn new ideas that later help to improve life, work and even the entire community. The local community will also gain knowledge on co-existing with those they perceive to be different from them. Some diplomats living and working in the U.S. have involved themselves in diverse engagements so as to popularize their countries to the U.S. Part of what has been done by diplomats to market their respective countries and cultu re to the foreign missions include; show casing their culture through well organized events, establishing educational centers and organizing exchange visits. To a large extent, all these are meant to expose the American citizens to foreign countries and their way of life. The local people get a chance to learn more about these nations. The expected result of such undertakings is to lure the local population into wanting to visit and probably do a further discovery on their own. The main idea is to bring their nations closer to the Americans citizens have a rich interaction with their cultures. With this in mind, you will find a good number of diplomats in Washington, DC trying out different options that will lead to them having a strong presence in the U.S. Counter Balances, Racism / Stereotyping Stereotyping has to do with the presentation of messages that associate people with character and values that are often held as undesirable, inferior or even risky. With these kind of behav iors one can expect a discouragement to the development of powerful diplomatic relationships. Those affected by such acts are mostly looked down upon and even worse, they get separated from the rest of the community. Fitting into the local community becomes a real challenge as they have to often try to prove that they are not what the majority think they are. Colored people have in many occasions been on the receiving end just because they are different from the rest. They are thought of as being inferior to others and at times due to their color; they have been identified with crime while others have been considered to be perpetrators of violence. Another terrible association that affects the black race is poverty. The black community is often viewed as poorer. This, more than anything else, only creates negative mind-set and creates animosity among different groups of people. Counter balances on the other hand require that the statesman clearly determines the kind of being dealt w ith opponent and the people’s national concerns before looking for ways of advancing his or her own state. The balance of national concerns is a key concern in measuring the importance of each of the matters in contention. Among other things, it assists in measuring the probable resistance from each side to make any compromise. It regulates willingness to negotiate and also defines the threshold of defiance (Freeman 14). A major task of the diplomat will then be to try and harmonize the competing national interests without applying any force. It requires coming up with a solution that will favor the diplomat’s state but at the same time, be acceptable to the other party. These arrangements are also meant to be tolerable to other states that may not party to any agreements reached. The diplomats will have to apply a wide range of knowledge and skills while relying on the full backing of their nations to come up with the best solution to the issues at hand. Another thing to probably think about here is the presence of counterintelligence. It is always prudent for a state to protect itself against any spying while spying on other foreign states. Conclusion From alleviation of the possibilities of war to the establishment of a strong financial base for the country, the importance of the role played by the diplomatic community cannot be overemphasized. Every nation would like to create an enabling environment to encourage its citizens to work hard for the benefit of the country. A sound knowledge of the art of diplomacy will certainly go a long way to create a very healthy environment in which men and women from different nations and backgrounds will manage to explore their full potential. A nation’s good reputation will be a major boost for the different dealings of its people that involve neighbors. Investment in diplomatic relations is therefore very significant to the growth of every nation. Diplomatic Connections LLC. Washington, DC: Dipl omatic Connections LLC. 2010 Web. diplomaticconnections.com/r5/home.asp Epsten, Susan B. â€Å"U.S. Public Diplomacy: Background and the 9/11 Commission Recommendations†. CSR Report for Congress. 2010. Web. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL32607.pdf Freeman, Charles W. â€Å"Arts of Power: Statecraft and Diplomacy†. Wasington, DC: United States Institute of Peace, 2007. Print.

The Growth of Government in the United States

The Growth of Government in the United States The U.S. government grew substantially beginning with President Franklin Roosevelts administration. In an attempt to end the unemployment and misery of the Great Depression, Roosevelts New Deal created many new federal programs and expanded many existing ones. The rise of the United States as the worlds major military power during and after World War II also fueled government growth. The growth of urban and suburban areas in the postwar period made expanded public services more feasible. Greater educational expectations led to significant government investment in schools and colleges. An enormous national push for scientific and technological advances spawned new agencies and substantial public investment in fields ranging from space exploration to health care in the 1960s. And the growing dependence of many Americans on medical and retirement programs that had not existed at the dawn of the 20th century swelled federal spending further. How Government Has Affected Employment While many Americans think that the federal government in Washington has ballooned out of hand, employment figures indicate that this has not been the case. There has been significant growth in government employment, but most of this has been at the state and local levels. From 1960 to 1990, the number of state and local government employees increased from 6.4 million to 15.2 million, while the number of civilian federal employees rose only slightly, from 2.4 million to 3 million. Cutbacks at the federal level saw the federal labor force drop to 2.7 million by 1998, but employment by state and local governments more than offset that decline, reaching almost 16 million in 1998. (The number of Americans in the military declined from almost 3.6 million in 1968, when the United States was embroiled in the war in Vietnam, to 1.4 million in 1998.) The Privatization of Services The rising costs of taxes to pay for expanded government services, as well as the general American distaste for big government and increasingly powerful public employee unions, led many policy-makers in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s to question whether government is the most efficient provider of needed services. A new word - privatization - was coined and quickly gained acceptance worldwide to describe the practice of turning certain government functions over to the private sector. In the United States, privatization has occurred primarily at the municipal and regional levels. Major U.S. cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Phoenix began to employ private companies or nonprofit organizations to perform a wide variety of activities previously performed by the municipalities themselves, ranging from streetlight repair to solid-waste disposal and from data processing to management of prisons. Some federal agencies, meanwhile, sought to operate more like private enterprises; the United States Postal Service, for instance, largely supports itself from its own revenues rather than relying on general tax dollars. Privatization of public services remains controversial, however. While advocates insist that it reduces costs and increases productivity, others argue the opposite, noting that private contractors need to make a profit and asserting that they are not necessarily being more productive. Public sector unions, not surprisingly, adamantly oppose most privatization proposals. They contend that private contractors in some cases have submitted very low bids in order to win contracts, but later raised prices substantially. Advocates counter that privatization can be effective if it introduces competition. Sometimes the spur of threatened privatization may even encourage local government workers to become more efficient. As debates over regulation, government spending, and welfare reform all demonstrate, the proper role of government in the nations economy remains a hot topic for debate more than 200 years after the United States became an independent nation. - This article is adapted from the book Outline of the U.S. Economy by Conte and Carr and has been adapted with permission from the U.S. Department of State.

Organizational Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Organizational Communication - Essay Example About Toyota Motors Inc Toyota Motors Inc. is one of the top-selling automobile manufacturing companies in the United States providing breakthrough products that cater to a wide range of consumers, and promoting quality, dependability and reliability for over fifty years (Toyota Inc., 2013). A significant proportion of the company's success can be attributed to its almost flawless communication strategies. The company has successfully managed to communicate its visions and ideas concerning its environmental approach, its emphasis on recycling, and providing top quality products to its customers. The effectiveness of the communication strategies adopted by the company is apparent from the unprecedented success of its green environmentally friendly products such as the Prius, which managed to become a revolutionary product idea and a leader in the automobile industry. For the purpose of this study, the concept of organizational communication will be probed with respect to the following management theories: Classical Scientific Management, Human Resources, Systems and Contingency, and Culture with reference to Toyota Inc. Theoretical analysis: Classical Scientific Management: The classical theories of management primarily focus on establishing the most effective job performance functions. The key aim of scientific management is to ensure enhanced job efficiency by developing technical skills, implementing strict rules for compliance, and effectively managing the organizational structure. The Scientific management theory also alternatively referred to as Taylorism, was pioneered by Fredrick Winslow Taylor, for scientifically analyzing jobs and redesigning them in order to improve their efficiency (Daft, 2009). The key elements of this theory include (Lussier, 2011: 40): Development of a systematic procedure that entailed a detailed description of each specific job assigned to the workers Promote job specialization Implement scientific methods of training and develo pment across the organization to improve worker efficiency Establish a systematic work schedule Introduce standardized methods and times for accomplishing each task Offer piece rates and bonuses to employees as positive incentives to encourage improved performance. The production management system employed by Japanese firms such Toyota, for instance, which introduced the just-in-time systems, can be classified as scientific management method. Since this system was introduced by engineers it is most aptly effective in manufacturing industries (Besser, 1996; Price, 2011). The large scale production processes implemented by Toyota were highly scientific in approach and focused on detailed planning. Key emphasis was given on division of labor, effective allocation of jobs, and introducing innovative techniques to enhance worker coordination to minimize the risk of errors and avoid wastage. Such scientific management approach adopted by Toyota ultimately helped the company in catapulting to instant fame, making them the industry leaders in automobile manufacturing, customer service, and product innovation. The key

Education by Computer - a Better Way Research Paper

Education by Computer - a Better Way - Research Paper Example Education together with learning is essential to everybody, as the  principal  techniques of ensuring a  productive  and sustainable  society. Because of globalization, which leads to increase in the  scope  of jobs, it is  essential  to provide quality education to ensure  production  of  knowledgeable  and well-informed employees. Currently,  emergence  of  expertise  and  information  as the main features for development and economic growth are among issues widening the gap between the rich and the poor. Among the poor people, they  claim  that  learning  using a computer is expensive and at times may not be affordable to them. On the other hand, the rich  argue  that computerized  learning  is  crucial, and it is affordable. Therefore, the gap among the poor and the rich becomes  wide. In addition, some individuals may not be able to access the modern facilities due to their financial statures, place of residence, and age. However, despite the challenges that may  exist, most of the individuals advocate for education using the computer system. Some of the effects associated with computer  system  of education include their ability to  accelerate  learning. ... The learning conditions while using computers is favorable as one has the  opportunity  of choosing a friendly environment to  study  especially while using  private  computers. It is by using computers that the desired changes in pedagogy will be possible (Postman 15). The use of computers in  education  over time raised debates as many people began to  criticize  its use by adolescents and children. This regarded the use of computers in high school and primary schools. However, some individuals supported computer use in schools and at home. Those in support of education by computer  state  that, with computers, it will  enhance  achievement  by students. In addition, they  claim  that it is  essential  to use computer in teaching students at an early age to avoid the possibility of lagging behind. This is possible because, schools  get  computers from business communities trying to  facilitate  corporate social responsibility. This mean s that tuition fees  get  some  subsidy, hence affordable to a majority. Parents also claim that, because of incorporation of  education  by computers at an early age, it helps ensure that  creation  of high tech world for a better tomorrow work force. The use of the internet enables students to be close to teachers, students from other schools, and  be  connected with other professionals globally (Ortega and Bravo 9). In addition, it will ensure that students are up to-date regarding issues happening. The idea of  education  by computer, when analyzed critically, is a noble idea. This will help to speed up  education  and  learning. At the same time, use of the internet will make the users up to  date  regarding issues happening globally. Despite all the positive results associated with  education  by computers, there

Middlemarch Essay -- Literary Analysis, Elliot

Middlemarch, a Victorian novel written by George Elliot, depicts a realistic view of a conventional society in the eighteenth century. Middlemarch, the town in England where the setting of the novel takes place, embodies many provincial characters who are affected by the social world where they live and interact with each other. The novel focuses on many of the characters and their relationships as part of a whole in a human social web. Among the many characters, the main ones include: Dorothea Brooke, a beautiful, good, and caring young woman, but very naà ¯ve and idealistic; Edward Casaubon, a boring old scholar who marries Dorothea; Rosamond Vincy, a gorgeous young woman, but very egoistic and self-centered; Tertius Lydgate, a brilliant and handsome physician who marries Rosamond; Will Ladislaw, a passionate young artist who falls in love with Dorothea and later marries her after Mr. Casaubon’s death; Fred Vincy, a good-natured young man who is often in debt; and Mary Gart h, a plain woman, but very kind and sensible. Elliot focuses heavily on the realities of marriage and the incompatibility between a couple based on idealistic notions about each other and marriage in general. Idealism leads to the failure of the marriages between Dorothea Brooke and Edward Casaubon and Tertius Lydgate and Rosamond Vincy. The downfall of these two unions stands in stark contrast with the marriage between Fred Vincy and Mary Garth. Fred and Mary do not have idealistic notions about each other and are realistic in their thinking and approach to marriage which is the reason for their success and mutual happiness. Dorothea’s second marriage is also a success because she does not base her thinking and happiness on ideal beliefs. In the beginning of ... ...rd and the union between Tertius and Rosamond. The marriages between these couples are failures because they are blind to the faults of their spouses. It is only after marriage that these characters realize the mistakes that they made. The ideal visions are crushed by the depressing reality. They cannot continue to idealize when they learn and see the truth. The marriage between Fred and Mary and the marriage between Dorothea and Will are successful because they are free from the ideals that hide the truth and cause unhappiness. These couples did not hold high expectations for each other or for their marriages. They saw and accepted reality as it was and humbled themselves. The idealism in the novel only led to the downfall and unhappiness of the characters in their marriages. The successful marriages on the other hand were free from high expectations and ideals.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner Chapters 4

He frowned a little. â€Å"What's real y going on. What Riley's up to. Why he keeps bringing the most random kids to her. Why it doesn't seem to matter to Riley if it's someone like you or if it's someone like that idiot Kevin.† It sounded like he didn't know Riley any better than I did. â€Å"What do you mean, someone like me?† I asked. â€Å"You're the kind that Riley should be looking for – the smart ones – not just these stupid gang-bangers that Raoul keeps bringing in. I bet you weren't some junkie ho when you were human.† I shifted uneasily at the last word. Diego kept waiting for my answer, like he hadn't said anything weird. I took a deep breath and thought back. â€Å"I was close enough,† I admitted after a few seconds of his patient watching. â€Å"Not there yet, but in a few more weeks†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I shrugged. â€Å"You know, I don't remember much, but I do remember thinking there was nothing more powerful on this planet than just plain old hunger. Turns out, thirst is worst.† He laughed. â€Å"Sing it, sister.† â€Å"What about you? You weren't a troubled teen runaway like the rest of us?† â€Å"Oh, I was troubled, al right.† He stopped talking. But I could sit around and wait for the answers to inappropriate questions, too. I just stared at him. He sighed. The scent of his breath was nice. Everybody smel ed sweet, but Diego had a little something extra – some spice like cinnamon or cloves. â€Å"I tried to stay away from al that junk. Studied hard. I was gonna get out of the ghetto, you know. Go to col ege. Make something of myself. But there was a guy – not much different than Raoul. Join or die, that was his motto. I wasn't having any, so I stayed away from his group. I was careful. Stayed alive.† He stopped, closing his eyes. I wasn't done being pushy. â€Å"And?† â€Å"My kid brother wasn't as careful.† I was about to ask if his brother had joined or died, but the expression on his face made asking unnecessary. I looked away, not sure how to respond. I couldn't real y understand his loss, the pain it stil clearly caused him to feel. I hadn't left anything behind that I stil missed. Was that the difference? Was that why he dwel ed on memories that the rest of us shunned? I stil didn't see how Riley came into this. Riley and the cheeseburger of pain. I wanted that part of the story, but now I felt bad for pushing him to answer. Lucky for my curiosity, Diego kept going after a minute. â€Å"I kind of lost it. Stole a gun from a friend and went hunting.† He chuckled darkly. â€Å"Wasn't as good at it then. But I got the guy that got my brother before they got me. The rest of his crew had me cornered in an al ey. Then, suddenly, Riley was there, between me and them. I remember thinking he was the whitest guy I'd ever seen. He didn't even look at the others when they shot him. Like the bul ets were flies. You know what he said to me? He said, Want a new life, kid?'† â€Å"Hah!† I laughed. â€Å"That's way better than mine. Al I got was, Want a burger, kid?'† I stil remembered how Riley'd looked that night, though the image was al blurry because my eyes'd sucked back then. He was the hottest boy I'd ever seen, tal and blond and perfect, every feature. I knew his eyes must be just as beautiful behind the dark sunglasses he never took off. And his voice was so gentle, so kind. I figured I knew what he would want in exchange for the meal, and I would have given it to him, too. Not because he was so pretty to look at, but because I hadn't eaten anything but trash for two weeks. It turned out he wanted something else, though. Diego laughed at the burger line. â€Å"You must have been pretty hungry.† â€Å"Damn straight.† â€Å"So why were you so hungry?† â€Å"Because I was stupid and ran away before I had a driver's license. I couldn't get a real job, and I was a bad thief.† â€Å"What were you running from?† I hesitated. The memories were a little more clear as I focused on them, and I wasn't sure I wanted that. â€Å"Oh, c'mon,† he coaxed. â€Å"I told you mine.† â€Å"Yeah, you did. Okay. I was running from my dad. He used to knock me around a lot. Probably did the same to my mom before she took off. I was pretty little then – I didn't know much. It got worse. I figured if I waited too long I'd end up dead. He told me if I ever ran away I'd starve. He was right about that – only thing he was ever right about as far as I'm concerned. I don't think about it much.† Diego nodded in agreement. â€Å"Hard to remember that stuff, isn't it? Everything's so fuzzy and dark.† â€Å"Like trying to see with mud in your eyes.† â€Å"Good way to put it,† he complimented me. He squinted at me like he was trying to see, and rubbed his eyes. We laughed together again. Weird. â€Å"I don't think I've laughed with anybody since I met Riley,† he said, echoing my thoughts. â€Å"This is nice. You're nice. Not like the others. You ever try to have a conversation with one of them?† â€Å"Nope, I haven't.† â€Å"You're not missing anything. Which is my point. Wouldn't Riley's standard of living be a little higher if he surrounded himself with decent vampires? If we're supposed to protect her, shouldn't he be looking for the smart ones?† â€Å"So Riley doesn't need brains,† I reasoned. â€Å"He needs numbers.† Diego pursed his lips, considering. â€Å"Like chess. He's not making knights and bishops.† â€Å"We're just pawns,† I realized. We stared at each other again for a long minute. â€Å"I don't want to think that,† Diego said. â€Å"So what do we do?† I asked, using the plural automatical y. Like we were already a team. He thought about my question for a second, seeming uneasy, and I regretted the â€Å"we.† But then he said, â€Å"What can we do when we don't know what's happening?† So he didn't mind the team thing, which made me feel real y good in a way I didn't remember ever feeling before. â€Å"I guess we keep our eyes open, pay attention, try to figure it out.† He nodded. â€Å"We need to think about everything Riley's told us, everything he's done.† He paused thoughtful y. â€Å"You know, I tried to hash some of this out with Riley once, but he couldn't have cared less. Told me to keep my mind on more important things – like thirst. Which was al I could think about then, of course. He sent me out hunting, and I stopped worrying†¦.† I watched him thinking about Riley, his eyes unfocused as he relived the memory, and I wondered. Diego was my first friend in this life, but I wasn't his. Suddenly his focus snapped back to me. â€Å"So what have we learned from Riley?† I concentrated, running through the last three months in my head. â€Å"He real y doesn't tel us much, you know. Just the vampire basics.† â€Å"We'l have to listen more careful y.† We sat in silence, pondering this. I mostly thought about how much I didn't know. And why hadn't I worried about everything I didn't know before now? It was like talking to Diego had cleared my head. For the first time in three months, blood was not the main thing in there. The silence lasted for a while. The black hole I'd felt funneling fresh air into the cave wasn't black anymore. It was dark gray now and getting infinitesimal y lighter with each second. Diego noticed me eyeing it nervously. â€Å"Don't worry,† he said. â€Å"Some dim light gets in here on sunny days. It doesn't hurt.† He shrugged. I scooted closer to the hole in the floor, where the water was disappearing as the tide went out. â€Å"Seriously, Bree. I've been down here before during the day. I told Riley about this cave – and how it was mostly fil ed with water, and he said it was cool when I needed to get out of the madhouse. Anyway, do I look like I got singed?† I hesitated, thinking about how different his relationship with Riley was than mine. His eyebrows rose, waiting for an answer. â€Å"No,† I final y said. â€Å"But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Look,† he said impatiently. He crawled swiftly to the tunnel and stuck his arm in up to the shoulder. â€Å"Nothing.† I nodded once. â€Å"Relax! Do you want me to see how high I can go?† As he spoke, he stuck his head into the hole and started climbing. â€Å"Don't, Diego.† He was already out of sight. â€Å"I'm relaxed, I swear.† He was laughing – it sounded like he was already several yards up the tunnel. I wanted to go after him, to grab his foot and yank him back, but I was frozen with stress. It would be stupid to risk my life to save some total stranger. But I hadn't had anything close to a friend in forever. Already it would be hard to go back to having no one to talk to, after only one night. â€Å"No estoy quemando,† he cal ed down, his tone teasing. â€Å"Wait†¦ is that†¦? Ow! â€Å" â€Å"Diego?† I leaped across the cave and stuck my head into the tunnel. His face was right there, inches from mine. â€Å"Boo!† I flinched back from his proximity – just a reflex, old habit. â€Å"Funny,† I said dryly, moving away as he slid back into the cave. â€Å"You need to unwind, girl. I've looked into this, okay? Indirect sunlight doesn't hurt.† â€Å"So you're saying that I could just stand under a nice shady tree and be fine?† He hesitated for a minute, as if debating whether or not to tel me something, and then said quietly, â€Å"I did once.† I stared at him, waiting for the grin. Because this was a joke. It didn't come. â€Å"Riley said†¦,† I started, and then my voice trailed off. â€Å"Yeah, I know what Riley said,† he agreed. â€Å"Maybe Riley doesn't know as much as he says he does.† â€Å"But Shel y and Steve. Doug and Adam. That kid with the bright red hair. Al of them. They're gone because they didn't get back in time. Riley saw the ashes.† Diego's brows pul ed together unhappily.