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Level II - Second Place - Scott Skophammer, Individual Entry, Fort Dodge
"Zebra" by Chaim Potok

Dear Mr. Potok,

I was born with a deformed ear.  You might think...big deal!  Well, it's a big deal if you get teased all the time...being called DUMBO and asked if you can fly without getting on a plane.  Why am I telling you this?  Because your story made me laugh, cry and feel emotions I didn't know I had inside of me...because I related to Zebra after his hand became "deformed" and also to John Wilson because he had no arm.  Zebra tried not to look at the man's sleeve hanging empty...but it made me think about how people always looked at my ear.  Of course, mostly kids made snide comments about it - grownups usually have the courtesy to be kinder about such things.

I was drawn to your story because of the mystery.  I thought the man with the cap was a homeless man and I wondered why he would be hanging around a school.  I've seen homeless people in Washington D.C. and New York City and that was what I was envisioning.  Of course, I was drawing a false conclusion...but even when I didn't know what he wanted, I knew, somehow, in the back of my mind that he must be a kind man.

I won't lie to you.  We HAD to read your story for literature class, but it was the best thing I've been forced to do!  It was a page-turner for me.  You had me hooked from the minute you said that Zebra would go running through the neighborhood for the sheer joy of feeling the wind on his face-I like to do things for the sheer joy too-not because I HAVE to.  Just like Zebra gets a thrill from running, I get a thrill from creating-creating art, creating poems, etc.

The way you described John Wilson, I felt like I knew him intimately-both his physical and personality attributes.  He reminded me of my mom.  She collects all kinds of things and sees the world differently...she's also an art instructor.  When I finished the story I wanted more.  But, not to worry.  I took the book home and read the story with my mom.  Actually, she read it out loud to me as I lay on the bed.  We hadn't read together like that for years, and oh, how I love that feeling of security.  We used to read at least three books every night before I'd go to sleep...up until I was about ten years old and then Mom thought I could read on my own.  But, there's nothing like sharing a good story with someone.  However, my mom cried during the story.  You see, she had a very good friend whose father was also a helicopter pilot and was shot down over Vietnam and they never found him.  His name is on the Vietnam Memorial.  I've seen the Vietnam Memorial, but I was younger, and now that Memorial means more to me.

The most important line in the whole story for me was, "You all are going to learn how to SEE in a new way," John Wilson said.  To me it teaches not to see things for what they are on the surface, but for what they CAN be.  We can make something out of nothing-just like trash can be turned into treasures with our imagination and love, people can become a giving and meaningful part of society-they shouldn't just be "written off" and forgotten about.

When we focus on what is important in life instead of the insignificant, we begin to live with purpose...not only for ourselves, but also for others.  Your story got my mom and me talking.  While we are close, this story spurred an emotional talk that wouldn't have come about otherwise.  We talked about how sometimes we judge a person by how they look and not what they are really like and capable of being.  Many people have a kind heart but may not have an appearance that shows this.  We never know what experiences people have gone through that have molded their lives, and these experiences could be why they react the way they do sometimes.  We need to give people a chance because we would not want someone to prejudge us.  Your story helped me think about that fact once again.  Thank you for helping me understand and know that people CAN be caring individuals.

Sincerely,

Scott Skophammer