Why The Minimum Wage Should Be Raised - 1410 Words

On July 24th, 2009, the United States of America raised the minimum wage to $7.25. However, six years later the minimum wage rage remains the same. It is time once again for the federal government to raise the minimum wage to spur the economy. Raising the minimum wage would help the American economy and the daily life of the citizens for a variety of reasons. The first topic is that it not only would help the people but it also would help the economy as a whole. The second topic is that companies are already raising the minimum wage because of the lack of money workers get. Finally the third supporting idea is that the states are also raising it over the federal minimum wage and also how can help poverty. There are many more topics on why the minimum wage should be raised but these reasons are the most important. The first topic that should be talked about is the fact that raising the minimum wage would help the people and the economy. First of all it would help lots of people get out of the poverty line. This topic will be discussed more later in the essay but their are alot of people that are in poverty and need the help. It would make people also less stressed out because if you are a minimum wage worker you can t do anything fun because you don t have the money but if they raise it then you might be able to have some fun or just have some extra cash in a time of need. Just to give you a percent of how many people live in bad conditions because of this it is aboutShow MoreRelatedWhy the Minimum Wage Should Be Raised1379 Words   |  5 Pageseight dollars an hour? Well, many minimum wage jobs involve such duties as these. However, the minimum wage here in Illinois is only $8.25 per hour (US Dept. of Labor, 2014). In Indiana, the state where I work, it is a dollar less than that (US Dept. o f Labor, 2014). The following information will discuss reasons why this wage should be increased and the benefits that accompany an increase for all of us regardless to whether we earn the minimum wage or a higher a wage. According to the National EmploymentRead MoreWhy Should Minimum Wage be Raised or Why Not?546 Words   |  2 PagesRaising minimum wages is a contestable issue because it is debated in wide and varied audiences. Minimum wage is near the top of economists’ interest; they are looking for the connection between low wages and poor job markets. Each country sets its own laws and regulations regarding wages. For this reason, it has significant importance to policy makers and workers in each of those respective countries. Social activists have also found interest in the topic due to the fact that those who earn a minimumRead MoreBenefits of Raising the Minimum Wage Essay614 Words   |  3 Pageswho works year-round is less than $16,000 (about $15, 080) according to the current federal minimum wage (Rebuilding). To put into retrospect how out-dated the federal minimum wage is, consider that the minimum wage of 1956 amounted to exactly $7.93 in 2009 (Henderson). How progressive is i t that our nation’s workers being paid less today than workers from the 50’s? The federal minimum wage should be raised in order to assist families out of poverty, to ensure the effort and loyalty of workers, andRead MoreMinimum Wage Should Be Raised935 Words   |  4 PagesMinimum wage is an ongoing debate in the United States. There are some people who think that it should be raised to a higher rate and others who think that it should not. There are many different pros and cons with raising minimum wage. Minimum wage is at a balanced rate that should not be raised due to lack of skill, low education, and economic problems. Jobs that require minimum wage are created for young adults who are in college or high school. They are to help one get one on their feet so thatRead MoreShould Minimum Wage Be Raised?1062 Words   |  5 Pagesever pressing question regarding Minimum wage. Not many subjects can ignite a controversy as quickly as that of whether or not minimum wage should be raised, or by how much should it be raised or if it should remain the same. What is minimum wage? By definition, minimum wage is the minimum hourly wage an employer can pay an employee for work. (â€Å"MinimumWage.com†) America’s minimum wage was first introduced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938. That minimum wage was introduced as part of the FairRead MoreMinimum Wage Should Be Raised1395 Words   |  6 PagesIn today’s society, minimum wage is an issue. It’s whether or not it should be raised or lowered. This interests almost everyone due to the fact that everyone wants to make money and the amount should reflect the work and skills that are put in. The minimum wage is a major antijobs policy. First things first, the minimum wage buys a lot less than it used to. Only Congress can adjust the federal minimum wage, and it doesn’t necessarily increase with inflation. As a result, its buying power has diminishedRead MoreMinimum Wage Persuasive Essay1106 Words   |  5 Pagesmore than the federal minimum wage? If you said yes then perhaps you are unaware of the many negative effects surrounding a higher minimum wage and after reading this you will be educated on why the minimum wage should not be raised. In the beginning, the minimum wage was created with good intentions. It was originally established in 1938 and was $.25 an hour (Sessions). It was created to make sure that businesses would not take advantage over workers. While the minimum wage was and still is a goodRead MoreMinimum Wages During 21st Century America1649 Words   |  7 PagesMinimum Wages in 21st Century America In the United States the time has come for the next president to be elected and the political fervor has come early this year with an unconventional, surprisingly interesting primary race. With the coming of a new commander in chief the incessant grilling of the candidates has begun and issues, such as poverty in the United States, are being given the national spot light during debates. The issue of poverty has recently gained traction among citizens as wellRead MoreShould Minimum Wage Be Raised?870 Words   |  4 PagesShould Minimum Wage Be Raised? Minimum wage has always been a controversial issue. Many politicians use the argument of minimum wage for their own political propaganda. Some may argue minimum wage should be raised, while others believe it will have detrimental effects on our economy if it is raised. Surprising to most people, minimum wage earners make up only a small percent of American workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, minimum wage workers make up about 2.8% of all workersRead MoreMinimum Wage And The Wage Essay1728 Words   |  7 PagesRoyer Political Science 120 7 November 2016 Increase Minimum Wage Introduction The United States’ minimum wage has been a concerning issue amongst the low wage earners because of the amount they earn is not enough for them to live on their own. Therefore causing the citizens who earn minimum wage to have an impossible time finding a place to stay and expenses for daily survival. Increasing the minimum wage will solve the issues that the minimum wage earners make, thus increasing the chances of survival

The Changing Roles and Experiences of Probation Officers

Introduction According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there were over 4 million adults on probation in the United States in 2010. Today more and more agencies have shifted from simply monitoring an offender’s compliance to using evidenced based practices to reduce recidivism rates. The intense involvement with offenders caused by this shift exposes officers to many new stressors that previously did not exist. A recent study by Kirsten R. Lewis, M.Ed., Ladonna S. Lewis, Ph.D., and Tina M. Garby, Psy.D., examined whether specific caseload events are associated with stress and burnout among this career specialty using various survey instruments. The results confirmed 2 of their hypothesis that officers â€Å"who reported violent and sexual recidivism on their caseloads, offender suicide, and threats and/or assaults in the line of duty scored significantly higher on measures of traumatic stress and burnout†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Length of service was also a contributing factor. The authorsâ€⠄¢ report of job stress on probation officers is applicable to any human service professional and especially supervisors, managers and administrators who have the capacity to make meaningful change by creating training programs and establishing ways to deal with the negative caseload events. The small study sample limited reliability of the results and more data is needed to assess the overall problem. Ms. K. R. Lewis is a probation officer with the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department and is an adjunctShow MoreRelatedSection V And V Of The Corrections Textbook By Stohr Et Al1035 Words   |  5 PagesFebruary 17, 2015 Introduction: For this research and analysis paper we were assigned Section V and VI in the Corrections textbook by Stohr et al. Section V (five) covers probation and community corrections with pertinent and important concepts as well as many legal definitions. Section VI (six) covers prisons and the experiences that an inmate endures while serving their sentences, sentences that were levied against them for the crime they committed. These two sections read together is very informativeRead MoreActual Research Paper1014 Words   |  5 PagesA Career In The Juvenile Probation Field Edna Powers English Composition II Cassandra Smith August 10, 2009 A Career in the Juvenile Probation Field Like many careers a career in the Juvenile Probation Field can be very rewarding and also extremely difficult. After all, they do work with troubled teens. They constantly battle with teenager’s weather it is trying to get them to stay out of trouble by not going to school, using drugs, stealing or gang involvement. Some teens, afterRead MoreJustifications for Punishment in Modern Society1630 Words   |  7 PagesProvide the justifications for punishment in modern society. Punishment functions as a form of social control and is geared towards â€Å"imposing some unwanted burden such as fines, probations, imprisonment, or even death† on a convicted person in return for the crimes they committed (Stohr, Walsh, Hemmens, 2013, p.6). There are four main justifications for punishment and they are: retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, and incapacitation. There is also said to be a fifth justification of reintegrationRead MoreHow Probation Officers Are Within Society And The Challenges Faced By People With The Criminal Justice System2297 Words   |  10 Pagesare considered members of the sociological cannon and influenced the work of later theorists. My dissertation will focus on how probation officers are situated in society and the challenges faced by people suffering from mental illness coming into contact with the criminal justice system. It will explore the welfare of officers, treatment of offenders, and the overall role of community supervision in the community. I will introduce my work and explain how the ideas of Addams and Durkheim are associatedRead MoreFactors That Lead Sentencing Of An Offender1487 Words   |  6 Pagessentencing of an offender. Furthermore, I will bring to attention some of the more controversial factors and ways they have influenced the outcome of the court process. I have been lucky enough to observe judges’ roles in decision-making, diversion of a case, and sentencing, from a probation standpoint. Throughout my career, I have conducted many presentence reports, pretrial reports, and have given many sentencing recommendations to judges and prosecutors. I will share some of my expertise and findingsRead MorePre-sentence Reports1650 Words   |  7 Pagesreport writer deemeds necessary for the court (Tata et all., 2008). Being that report writers (Pprobation officers) are supposed to be impartial while creating their report, which may mean revealing some information that could complicate or compromise their goal of an alternative sentencing, they are to use PSR’s as a â€Å"selling point† for the judge (Tata et all., 2008). Although it is true that the role of the PSR can be a very useful tool in the Criminal Justice SystemAlthough the usefulness of PSR’s haveRead MoreChoosing A Juvenile Probation Officer2033 Words   |  9 PagesJuvenile probation officer. Juvenile probation officers work with youths that have been placed on probation and or have been court order to attend an alternative consequence school to continue their education. Most juvenile probation officers work with youths at a particular stage of their probation process, for an example supervision or investigation. This paper will cover information on the juvenile justice system and my career choice by touching bases with my interviewee a Juvenile Probation OfficerRead More Police Corruption and Misconduct Essay1684 Words   |  7 Pages Police corruption and misconduct come apparent in many different forms. A basic definition for police corruption is, when an officer gets involved in offenses where the officer uses his or her position, by act or omission, to obtain improper financial benefit. The main reason for such corruption is typically for personal gain, such as bribery. Police abuse of authority occurs in three differe nt general areas such as physical abuse, psychological abuse, and legal abuse. Physical abuse is suchRead MoreStudent Name : Ira R. Roach1423 Words   |  6 PagesStudent Name: Ira R. Roach Setting/Your Role: Terros is located in Mesa, Arizona which provides individual and group counseling for clients seeking substance use, mental health services and those individuals with co-occurring symptoms. Clients may be mandated to comply with adult probation will complete twelve weeks of intensive group therapy (IOP) four days a week for two hours a day. By the end of the group counseling, clients will have learned new coping skills by utilizing new healthy alternativeRead MoreA Historical Look At The Concept Of Juvenile Justice1394 Words   |  6 Pageseither a community home or asylums. If a child were to commit something more serious they could be put to death which is extreme incase of a child. The beginning of the juvenile justice system began in 1841 when Massachusetts decided to put kids on probation to help kids avoid imprisonment and make the system more humane for kids. There were multiple events from that point on that lead to what are juvenile justice system is today. First off urbanization was a high factor due to the fact that so many

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 20 Free Essays

string(59) " You guys have been the practice round before the big hit\." â€Å"My apologies for the abrupt transport,† Carter continued. â€Å"Jerome started freaking out that I’d left you alone for so long.† â€Å"I’ve never ‘freaked out’ in my life – er, existence, er whatever,† mused Jerome, strolling into the room. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus Blues CHAPTER 20 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Studying him, I could believe his words. Dressed immaculately as ever, he held a martini in one hand and looked utterly at ease amid the disarray. â€Å"Nice place,† I told him, still aghast at the damage done to such beauty. â€Å"Fixer-upper?† The demon’s eyes flashed with amusement at my joke. â€Å"I do so love having you around, Georgie.† He sipped his drink. â€Å"Yes, it is a little rough around the edges right now, but no worries. It’ll clean up. Besides, I have other domiciles.† Jerome had always been very tight-lipped about where he lived, and I suspected it was only Carter’s intervention that allowed us to even remain here right now. The demon would have never invited us. Walking over to a large bay window, I beheld a magnificent view of Lake Washington, the Seattle skyline glittering beyond it. Based on the angle of my view, I would have wagered money we were in Medina, one of the more elite Eastside suburbs. Only the best for Jerome. â€Å"So what happened?† I finally asked when it became apparent no one else intended to broach the subject. â€Å"Was this a nephilim attack, or did you just throw a party that got out of hand? Because honestly, if it’s the last one, I’m going to be really pissed we weren’t invited.† â€Å"No such fears,† Carter told me, smiling. â€Å"Our friend the nephilim did a little redecorating, kindly flashing us when it was over. That’s why I abandoned you at Erik’s. I would have given you some warning, but when I felt it over here†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He looked meaningfully at Jerome. The demon scoffed in response. â€Å"You what? Thought I was in danger? You know that’s not possible.† Carter made a nondescript noise of disagreement. â€Å"Yeah? What do you call that?† He inclined his head toward the spray-painted symbol. â€Å"Graffiti,† responded Jerome disinterestedly. â€Å"It means nothing.† I walked away from the breathtaking window and its pricey view, looking the symbol up and down. I’d never seen anything like it, and I was familiar with a lot of characters and markings from all types of places and times. â€Å"It must mean something,† I countered. â€Å"Seems like a lot of trouble for nothing. Otherwise, he could have just written ‘you suck’ or something like that.† â€Å"Maybe that’s in one of the other rooms,† suggested Cody. â€Å"A punch line worthy of Georgie. You’re learning more than dancing.† Ignoring the demon’s attempt to change the subject, I turned to Carter for answers. â€Å"What is it? You must know what it means.† The angel studied me speculatively a moment, and I realized I’d never appealed to him before for serious help. Until our recent roommate stint, most of our interactions had been downright antagonistic. â€Å"It’s a warning,† he said slowly, not looking at his demonic counterpart. â€Å"A warning of impending disaster. The real phase of a battle about to begin.† Jerome’s finely suppressed control snapped. He slammed the glass down on an off-kilter table, face flushing. â€Å"Christ, Carter! Are you insane?† â€Å"It doesn’t matter, and you know it. Everything’s going to come out anyway.† â€Å"No,† hissed the demon icily, â€Å"not everything.† â€Å"Then you tell them.† Carter made a grandiose gesture toward the symbol. â€Å"You explain and make sure I don’t say too much.† Jerome glared at him, and they locked eyes in their usual way. I’d seen it happen countless times, but upon reflection, I felt pretty sure I’d never actually seen them at such odds with each other before. â€Å"It might have meant those things at one time,† Jerome admitted at last, exhaling in an effort to calm himself. â€Å"But not anymore. As I said, it’s meaningless now. An archaic scrawl. A charm which, without anyone to believe in it anymore, holds no power.† â€Å"Then why use it at all?† I wondered aloud. â€Å"More of the nephilim’s bizarre sense of humor?† â€Å"Something like that. It’s to remind me who we’re dealing with – as if there was any possible way I could forget.† Picking up his sloshed martini, Jerome finished it in one gulp. Sighing, suddenly looking tired, he glanced at Carter. â€Å"You can tell them about the other ones if you want.† The angel’s face registered mild surprise at the concession. He looked back up at the marred wall. â€Å"This symbol is the second in a set of three. The first is the declaration of battle – a way to sort of psyche out your enemy with what’s to come. It looks just like this but with no diagonal. The last symbol marks victory. It has two diagonals and is displayed after the enemy is defeated.† I followed his gaze. â€Å"So, wait†¦ if this is the second, does that mean you’ve seen the first already?† Jerome walked out of the room and returned a moment later, handing me a piece of paper. â€Å"You’re not the only one who gets love notes, Georgie.† I opened it up. The paper was the same kind used for my notes. Displayed on it, in heavy black ink, was a copy of the symbol on Jerome’s wall without the diagonal. The first symbol, the declaration, according to Carter. â€Å"When did you get this?† â€Å"Just before Duane died.† I thought back through the weeks. â€Å"That’s why you didn’t push me too hard when he died. You already had a good idea who was responsible.† The demon shrugged by way of answer. â€Å"Wait a minute then,† exclaimed Cody, coming to look over my shoulder at the note. â€Å"If this is the first warning†¦ are you saying that everything that’s happened – Duane, Hugh, Lucinda, Georgina – has been part of the ‘psyching out’?† The vampire grew incredulous when neither of the higher immortals responded. â€Å"What more can there be? What is this ‘real phase’? I mean, he’s already attacked or killed, what, four immortals?† â€Å"Four lesser immortals,† I supplied, suddenly catching on. I looked back and forth between Jerome and Carter. â€Å"Right?† The angel gave me a tight-lipped smile. â€Å"Right. You guys have been the practice round before the big hit. You read "Succubus Blues CHAPTER 20" in category "Essay examples"† He gave Jerome another pointed look. â€Å"Stop it,† the demon snapped back. â€Å"I’m not a target here.† â€Å"Aren’t you? No one spray-painted this on my wall.† â€Å"No one knows where you live.† â€Å"You’re not exactly in the yellow pages yourself. You’re the mark here.† â€Å"It’s a moot point. It can’t touch me.† â€Å"You don’t know that – â€Å" â€Å"I do know that, and you know it too. There is absolutely no way it can be stronger than me.† â€Å"We need backup after all. Call Nanette – â€Å" â€Å"Oh yes,† laughed Jerome harshly. â€Å"No one would notice if I pulled her from Portland. Do you have any idea what a red flag that would throw up? People would start noticing, start asking questions – â€Å" â€Å"So what if they do? It’s no big deal – â€Å" â€Å"Easy for you to say. What would you know about – â€Å" â€Å"Please. I know enough to know that you’re being overly paranoid about†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The two went back and forth at each other, Jerome adamantly denying there was any problem, Carter maintaining that they needed to take appropriate precautions. As noted earlier, I had never seen the two of them in such open disagreement. I didn’t like it, especially as their voices began to rise in volume. I didn’t want to be around if they came to blows or displays of power, having already seen too much of their strength in the last few weeks. Slowly, I backed up out of the living room toward a nearby hallway. Cody, catching my mood, followed. â€Å"I hate it when Mom and Dad fight,† I commented as we retreated away from the divine bickering, seeking a safer locale. Looking in doorways, I saw a bathroom, a bedroom, and a guest room. Somehow I didn’t imagine the demon hosted too many overnight guests. â€Å"This looks promising,† observed Cody as we turned in to an entertainment room. More leather seating surrounded a massive, absurdly thin plasma screen hanging on the wall. Sleek, beautiful speakers stood in strategic spots around us, and a substantial glass case displayed hundreds of DVDs. This room, like the others, had been sacked. Sighing, I threw myself on to one of the ripped chairs while Cody checked out the sound system. â€Å"What do you think of all this?† I asked him. â€Å"The new developments, I mean, not the entertainment setup.† â€Å"What’s to think? It seems straightforward to me. This nephilim character warms up with lesser immortals and now decides to take on the higher ones. Sick and twisted, but well, that’s the way it is. On the bright side, maybe we’re out of danger now – no offense to Jerome or Carter.† â€Å"I don’t know.† I tipped my head back, thinking. â€Å"Something still isn’t right to me. There’s something we’re missing. Listen to them in there. Why is Jerome being such an idiot about all of this? Why won’t he listen to Carter?† The young vampire glanced up from his perusal of the movies and gave me a sly smile. â€Å"I never thought I’d see the day when you advocated for Carter. You must have gotten really chummy this last week.† â€Å"Don’t get any romantic delusions,† I warned him. â€Å"God knows I have enough of that on my plate already. It’s just that, I don’t know. Carter’s not as bad as I used to think.† â€Å"He’s an angel. He’s not bad at all.† â€Å"You know what I mean, and you’ve got to admit, he has a point. Jerome should be taking appropriate measures. This thing trashed his place and left warnings – even if they’re obsolete charms or whatever. Why is Jerome so convinced he’s safe?† â€Å"Because he thinks he’s stronger than it is.† â€Å"How would he know though? Neither of them have gotten a good feel for it – even Carter didn’t the night he saved me.† â€Å"Jerome doesn’t seem like the type to dismiss things without a reason. If he says he’s stronger, then I’d – holy shit. Check this out.† His serious spiel melted into laughter. Getting up, I walked over and knelt beside him. â€Å"What?† He pointed to the bottom row of DVDs. I read the titles. High Fidelity. Better Off Dead. Say Anything. Grosse Pointe Blank. All John Cusack movies. â€Å"I knew it,† I breathed, thinking of the demon’s coincidental resemblance to the actor. â€Å"I knew he was a fan. He’s always denied it.† † Wait’ll we tell Peter and Hugh,† crowed Cody. He pulled Better Off Dead off the shelf. â€Å"This one’s his best.† I pulled out Being John Malkovich, my tense mood momentarily relaxed. â€Å"No way. This one is.† â€Å"That one’s too weird.† I glanced up at the plasma screen, a huge gash slashing across its surface. â€Å"Normally I’d suggest we have a showdown to settle the point, but somehow I don’t think there’ll be any viewings for a while here.† Cody followed my gaze and grimaced at the massacre. â€Å"What a waste. This nephilim’s a real bastard.† â€Å"No doubt,† I agreed, standing up. â€Å"It’s no wonder – â€Å" I froze. Everything froze. A real bastard. â€Å"Georgina?† asked Cody curiously. â€Å"You all right?† I closed my eyes, reeling. â€Å"Oh my God.† A real bastard. I thought then about the entire trail of nephilim events, how from the very beginning Jerome had been warning us away. Ostensibly, his actions had been to keep us safe, but there had been no reason not to explain nephilim to us, no real danger to us in understanding the nature of our adversary. Yet Jerome had stayed tight-lipped about it, growing irrationally angry when any of us got too close. When Cody had first posited the â€Å"rogue angel† theory, I had written the secrecy off to embarrassment from the other side. Yet, it wasn’t their side that had something to hide. It was ours. Click, click. Once started, the dominoes in my head tumbled forward in a rush. I thought about Harrington’s book: the corrupted angels taught â€Å"charms and enchantments† to their wives while their offspring ran wild†¦ Charms. Like the obsolete one on Jerome’s wall. It’s to remind me who we’re dealing with – as if there was any possible way I could forget, he had explained offhandedly. Carter had told me demons generally get into hunting down nephilim. Nanette had wanted to come and help with this one, but Jerome wouldn’t let her, thus minimizing those involved. Carter he had kept on hand for the kill, however. Wouldn’t Jerome want to do it himself? I had wondered, but the angel had evaded answering. Still the dominoes fell. Nephilim inherit a lot more than half their parent’s power, though they can never exceed it. Jerome’s words to us last week, again spoken casually, just after my attack. Only minutes ago, I had wondered at his confidence at being stronger than the nephilim, questioning how he could be so certain. But of course he could be. Divine genetics had already dictated the parameters. â€Å"Georgina? Where are you going?† Cody exclaimed as I strode out of the room, back toward the still-roaring argument down the hallway. â€Å"Look,† Carter was saying, â€Å"it won’t hurt anything to just – â€Å" â€Å"It’s yours,† I cried to Jerome, attempting to stare him down – difficult, since he was taller than me. â€Å"The nephilim is yours.† â€Å"My problem?† â€Å"No! You know what I mean. Your child. Your son†¦ or daughter†¦ or whatever.† Silence descended, and Jerome stared at me with those piercing black eyes, boring right into my soul. I expected at any moment to be blasted across the room. Instead, all he asked was, â€Å"So?† Startled at his mild response, I swallowed. â€Å"So†¦ so†¦ why didn’t you just tell us? From the beginning? Why such secrecy?† â€Å"As you can perhaps imagine, this is not a topic I enjoy bringing up. And contrary to popular belief, I do feel entitled to some privacy.† â€Å"Yes, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Now that it was out, I didn’t know what to say or think or do. â€Å"What will happen? What are you going to do?† â€Å"The same thing I’ve been planning on doing. We will find this creature and destroy it.† â€Å"But it†¦ he or she†¦ is yours†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I, who had so jealously and longingly watched Paige’s growing pregnancy and Seth’s bevy of nieces, could not even begin to fathom calmly announcing the murder of one’s offspring. â€Å"It doesn’t matter,† the demon said simply. â€Å"It’s a liability, a danger to the rest of us. My connection to it is irrelevant.† â€Å"You†¦ you keep saying ‘it.’ Are you so detached that you can’t even†¦ you know, call it by name or gender? What is it anyway? A son or a daughter?† He hesitated a moment, and I detected a faint trace of unease in that cool mask. â€Å"I don’t know.† I stared. â€Å"What?† â€Å"I wasn’t there when it was born. When I found out she†¦ my wife†¦ was pregnant, I left. I knew what would happen. I was neither the first – nor the last – to take a mortal wife. Plenty of nephilim had been born and destroyed by that point. We all knew what they were capable of. The right thing to do when it was born would have been to destroy it right then.† He paused, once more perfectly expressionless. â€Å"I couldn’t do it. I left, so I wouldn’t have to deal with it, so I wouldn’t have to make that choice. It was a coward’s way out.† â€Å"Did you†¦ ever see her again? Your wife?† â€Å"No.† Speechless, I wondered what she must have been like. I barely understood Jerome now as a demon, let alone before he fell. He hardly ever showed any sort of emotion or affection for anyone; I couldn’t imagine what kind of a woman would have so overcome him that he would turn his back on all he held sacred. And yet, despite that love, he had still left, never to see her again. She would have been dead for millennia by now. He had left to save their child, only to once again be faced with holding its life in his hands. The whole thing was heartbreaking, and I wanted to do something – hug the demon, maybe – but I knew he wouldn’t thank me for my sympathy. He was already too embarrassed at us finding out about all of this. â€Å"So you’ve never seen it? How do you know for sure this one is yours?† â€Å"The signature. When I feel it, I feel half of my own aura and half of†¦ hers. No other creature could have that combination.† â€Å"And you’ve felt that every time?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Wow. Yet you know nothing else about it.† â€Å"Correct. As I said, I was gone long before it was born.† â€Å"Then†¦ then it would make sense that you really are a target,† I told him, gesturing to the wall. â€Å"Even independent of all this. The nephilim has especial reason to be pissed off at you.† â€Å"Thanks for the unconditional support.† â€Å"I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant†¦ the nephilim already have good cause to be angry. Everybody hates them and tries to kill them. And this one†¦ well, people spend thousands of dollars on therapy to get over bad experiences with their fathers. Imagine what kind of neuroses would develop after several thousand years.† â€Å"Are you suggesting a family counseling session, Georgie ?† â€Å"No†¦ no, of course not. Although†¦ I don’t know. Have you tried talking to it? Reasoning with it?† I remembered Erik’s comment about nephilim just wanting to be left alone. â€Å"Maybe you could work something out.† â€Å"All right, this conversation is growing more absurd, if that’s possible.† Jerome turned to Carter. â€Å"You want to take them home now?† â€Å"I’m staying with you,† the angel stated flatly. â€Å"Oh, for Christ’s sake, I thought we settled this – â€Å" â€Å"He’s right,† I piped up. â€Å"The warning phase is over. I’m safe now.† â€Å"We don’t know – â€Å" â€Å"And besides, this wasn’t so much about my safety anyway as having Carter keep me from finding out the truth about your family problems. It’s too late now, and I’m tired of having a shadow. You keep him, and we’ll all sleep easy, even if it is overkill.† â€Å"Eloquently put,† chuckled Carter. Jerome still protested, and we bickered a bit more about it, but in the end, the decision rested in Carter’s hands. Jerome had no power to order him around; indeed, if Carter wanted to follow the demon indefinitely, there was nothing Jerome could do, not really. They weren’t going to wage any epic battles with each other, no matter how annoyed they currently seemed. Carter did agree to teleport us back, though I suspected it was more of a kind gesture to make sure Cody and I could never find Jerome’s place again. After he’d taken the vampire home, Carter transported me to my living room, hesitating before he disappeared again. â€Å"It is better this way, I think,† he told me. â€Å"Me staying with Jerome. I know the nephilim can’t be stronger than him†¦ but there’s still something weird going on. I’m not convinced you’re out of danger either, but whatever’s going on with you is something entirely different.† He shrugged. â€Å"I don’t know. There are a lot of hard calls here; I wish Jerome would let us get a little outside help. Not too much, of course. Just something. Anything.† â€Å"Don’t worry,† I assured him. â€Å"I’ll manage. You can’t be everywhere at once.† â€Å"Isn’t that the truth. I’ll have to ask this nephilim how it does it when this is over.† â€Å"You can’t question the dead.† â€Å"No,† he agreed grimly. â€Å"You can’t.† He turned as if to depart. â€Å"It’s weird†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I began slowly. â€Å"The whole idea of Jerome loving someone. And falling because of it.† He gave me one of those canny, creepy smiles. â€Å"Love doesn’t make angels fall, Georgina. If anything, love can have quite the opposite effect.† â€Å"So, what? If Jerome fell in love again, he could turn back into an angel?† â€Å"No, no. It’s not quite that simple.† Seeing my baffled look, he chuckled and gave my shoulder a quick squeeze. â€Å"Watch out for yourself, Daughter of Lilith. Call if you need help.† â€Å"I will,† I assured him as he blinked out, not that ever actually getting a hold of higher immortals was easy. Jerome could sense if I was hurt, but he was a lot harder to call for a casual chat. I went to bed shortly thereafter, fatigued by everything that had happened, too tired to worry about nephilim attacking me in my sleep. I worked the closing shift tomorrow, and it was my last day before another two days off. I needed the break. I woke up later the next morning, still alive. While walking into the bookstore, I ran into Seth, armed with his laptop, ready for another day of writing. Recalling the dance lesson with him put my nephilim concerns temporarily at bay. â€Å"Got my book?† I asked as he held the door open for me. â€Å"Nope. Got my shirt?† â€Å"Nope. I like the one you’re wearing, though.† His themed T-shirt today displayed the logo for the musical Les Miserables. â€Å"My all-time favorite song comes from that.† â€Å"Really?† he asked. â€Å"Which one?† â€Å"‘I Dreamed a Dream.'† â€Å"That’s a really depressing song. No wonder you don’t want to date.† â€Å"So what’s your favorite then?† I had asked Roman my stock question, but not Seth. † ‘Ultraviolet’ by U2. You know it?† We approached the espresso counter. Bruce was there, and he started making my mocha before I even ordered. â€Å"I know some of their other stuff, but not that one. What’s it about?† â€Å"Love, of course. Like all good songs. The pain of love juxtaposed with its redemptive power. A bit more optimistic than yours.† I remembered Carter’s comment from last night. Love doesn’t make angels fall. Seth and I sat down to talk, conversation now flowing smoothly between us. Hard to believe there had ever been any awkwardness, I thought. He was so comfortable. Finally, knowing I had to work sometime, I dragged myself away to check on the rest of the staff and then retreat to my office. I only intended to check my e-mail, however; I felt sociable today and wanted to work the floor. Tossing my purse on the desk, I started to sit in my chair when I saw a too-familiar white envelope with my name on it. My breath caught. So much for being off the nephilim’s radar. Trembling, I lifted the envelope up, opening it with clumsy fingers. Miss me? I imagine you’ve been kept pretty busy with your immortal friends, making sure everyone is safe and accounted for. I imagine you’ve been just as busy with your oh-so-fascinating personal life, barely sparing a thought for me. Cruel, considering all I’ve done for you. I wonder, though, do you worry just as much about the mortals in your life as you do the immortals? Admittedly, mortal deaths are so much less meaningful. After all, what’s fifty less years compared to the centuries of an immortal? Mortals hardly seem worth the fuss, yet you put on a good face of caring for them. But do you really? Or are they just a diversion for the long stretch of your own centuries? What about your boyfriend? Is he another toy, another hobby to pass the time? Does he really mean anything to you? Let’s find out. Convince me he does today. You have until the end of your shift to ascertain his safety. You know the rules – keep him in safe places, keep others around him, etc., etc. I’ll be with you, watching. Convince me you really care, and I’ll spare him. Make me believe. Fail – or involve any of your immortal contacts – and no amount of â€Å"safekeeping† will do him any good. I dropped the note, hands cold. What kind of fucked-up game was this? It made no sense. The nephilim told me in one breath to keep someone safe, yet implied in the next that it didn’t matter, that there was no safety. It was stupid, another stirring of the waters, shaking up the status quo just to watch what I’d do. Looking around uneasily, I wondered: Was the nephilim here now? Was Jerome’s disgruntled offspring lurking invisibly beside me, smirking at my distress? What should I do? Finally, and perhaps most importantly, just who the hell was my boyfriend anyway? How to cite Succubus Blues CHAPTER 20, Essay examples