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Colin Garlock

Jack Hennes

English 191    

7 September 2012

Technology in Adolescence

            Its hard to believe that I grew up in the age were computers began to develop into a necessity like a car or a house. I always remember having a computer, but never being on it, that device was something I never had an interest in until school. Third grade was the first year I had to use the computer to write. Before that I had spent my time playing games and goofing around, but it changed for the worst when Mrs. Knight assigned a paper on an animal of my choosing.

A quadruped with armor like body spikes and horns protruding from every part of him, like something out of science fiction. Although esthetically daunting, a petite creature with no intent to harm anything except for the ants he eats. The animal was the horned lizard. The research was simple and informative with nothing too exciting. I had all my work together; at the time what I would think is everything anybody could know about this lizard. It was finally time to put ideas to paper.

 I sat down at my computer, cubical number seven, the walls carpeted in a light tan to somehow soothe us as if we had something to be nervous about I would soon find out there would be something. Sitting down there was no padding to the chair a cold hard stump in which to make ideas flow not very conducive for writing. I looked down to find my home positing that I was taught to always use. My eyes looked at the keyboard disgusted, the different tints of black and gray lay on those key staring back at me with a

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kind of solidity as if to say that it could never be fully cleaned. I rested my hands on the keyboard and as the words started to flow I knew this was something I loved to do, and would do it for years. Word after word turned into sentence after sentence, this monolithic task that intimidated me, suddenly gave me wings and the ability to express myself. The page requirement being two pages was drawing near, but my pace had slowed I felt like a bottle rocket quick out of the gate but then over in an instant. I checked my notes, and everything was covered, I looked over the paper as if to inspire me or maybe find something to reiterate. Just as the words too easily became sentences the seconds ticked away into minutes, the deadline drawing near. I watched the screen hoping something would happen but the glow of that computer screen was anything but pleasant I waited as if someone would come and help or at least the lizard would meet me half way and inspire me again.

Time was up I had disappointed myself, from across the room the teacher yelled “who hasn’t finished” embarrassed my hand ascended, I lifted my head up soon after and comfort washed over me it was like a forest of pale opaque hands, I was happy not to be singled out, the whole pack mentality was something that had always given me comfort. I left the computer lab home bound the words Huffy streaking by feeling the breeze through my hair as if liberated by the sweet sound of that bell echoing through those halls. I realized that the stress that paper had caused me at such a young age was not something that I was too interested in. I knew that my life belonged on the road, the sidewalks, and occasional dirt path. Out of sight out of mind was my mentality; I did not have to stare at my paper so there for it was not a problem.

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Throughout the night I remembered the paper was waiting for me at school that lizard mocking me somewhere somehow, the concern soon faded because at that age nothing could hold my attention. Sleep did not come easy that night but eventually I faded into a sweet slumber.

 The day was like any other, the tranquil silence being broken by my mother’s subtle voice, she comes into focus saying those four words that I dreaded everyday “it’s time for school”. Moving slowly upstairs from my cool quiet basement up to the kitchen. I ate, I showered, I got ready for school, the paper never leaving the back of my mind. Time to ride, my Huffy is my chariot it is what gives me the instant ability to transfer myself great distances.

The school has come into sight my enthusiasm for speed diminishes my pace is slow like I am peddling through mud. I bite the bullet and I walk in knowing that the paper will have to get done. I walked sullenly over to my desk and sitting there looking at me is my paper the Horned Lizard by Colin Garlock, it was a miracle. What I had left unwritten my beloved teacher Mrs. Knight had filled the gaps to bring this masterpiece altogether. The day was renewed and my fear for typing papers relaxed, knowing Mrs. Knight was out there helping some other young boy with his project.

This whole experience writing about the horned lizard makes me think about how writing cannot, should not be forced, because writing is an expression and should flow naturally. The other side to that argument is that without deadlines nothing would get done. The Horned Lizard paper is very ingrained in my psyche because in the end it was

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a pleasant experience with only minor hiccups. I have always enjoyed to writing papers and hope for my love to keep expanding and inspiration to come more readily.