"My Double" Story - ENGLISH

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Tia Bentivegna
Ms. Gardner
English 10, Period 2
5 Sep 2014
The Reinvented Double
It was in Pismo Beach, California, back in October of 2069 when the strange event took
place. I was seated on a rusty, paint-pealed bench looking out to the royal waters of the Pacific
Ocean on the pier. I went to great lengths to make sure this day was locked in my memory
because it had a special place in my heart.
It was about seven oclock in the evening as I sat on that bench looking out to the
vigorous waves crashing on the shore. The water looked flat, glassy calm out far, far away;
however, somehow it seems to generate magnificent waves when it gets closer to the shore. To
my right were large rocks extending from the beach, all the way into the water. Atop the rocks
rose a long, tall lighthouse. Since it was a fall evening, the sun was already beginning to set and
the lighthouse was projecting a great light across the waters, side-to-side. When I looked into that
light glistening over the royal blue water, I could not help but think of my past, and everything I
had gone through. The light symbolized the beauty that came out of every obstacle I had faced
throughout my life.
All at once I had the feeling someone was with me on that bench, and I was right. I was
no longer alone, someone had sat down on the bench. I wanted to be alone, but I did not want to
appear unsociable, so I had chosen to stay on the bench. While I was sitting, I began to examine
the girl seated to the left of me. She had chocolate brown hair with auburn highlights extending
from her roots. She wore a navy blue, flowered blouse and white jeans with a pair of chalk-white
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Chuck Taylors to top it off. She was reading a book with the title, To Kill A Mockingbird. I
immediately remembered that that was the book that directed me to pursuing my career in law.
Maam? I said, turning towards the young lady, how old are you?
I am fifteen years old, I was born in April of 1999, she said.
There was a long silence that followed. Oh really, say, do you live near here? I added.
No, I am just vacationing with my family for about a week. I am from Petaluma, I have
lived there since I was born, she said.
Do you have any idea what career you would like to do yet?
Yes, I am actually considering going to law school because I have always dreamt of
becoming a lawyer, she said.
Well then, I concluded, your name must be Tia Francesca Bentivegna. I too, am Tia
Francesca Bentivegna. It is currently 2069, and we are both visiting Pismo Beach, California.
The young version of myself, which I still cannot seem to fathom how that could have
even happened, seemed to be a bit puzzled. Her face was blank, and she looked like Scout from
To Kill A Mockingbird when she sees Boo Radley for the first time: shocked, confused, yet calm
at the same time.
Wait, how can this be? I have only seen this in the movies, she exclaimed.
I am not sure, but do you have any interests in hearing anything about my past, which is
your future? I certainly would want to know at least something I paused, as the light coming
from the lighthouse had suddenly stopped at a particular point in the water. It must have had a
malfunction or have been jammed. In that instant I had begun to see something new in the light,
the pause was exemplifying how even in the most eccentric moments as this, I have to stop and
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take everything in. I need to see things in a new manner, so I had started to look around, and take
in that odd, magical moment.
Well, if you insist, tell me everything! she persisted. I knew given the time she had,
being on vacation with her family, I could not tell her everything.
What do you want to know about? Family, job, obstacles?
Tell me about my family, uh well our family, and what do you mean by obstacles? she
questioned, beginning to look worried.
I will start with family, I felt myself starting to shiver, the sun had almost gone halfway
down, and the luminous glow from the lighthouse was all we had. We all stayed very close once
everyone was off to college, but- I was stopped.
But what? she cried.
When you finish law school, yes you go to law school, and become a lawyer, you are
put under a lot of stress to do well at your company, I shared.
So what happens? Am I okay? She was concerned.
Yes, I am here, you are fine. You, uh, you are just hospitalized for a while, I could
barely get those last few words out.
Hospitalized! Why? What happens to me? she shouted.
You began having panic and anxiety attacks every so often, and our parents were
extremely worried, and they knew you needed help, I added, and just at once the light went out.
It was so dark I could scarcely make out her body next to mine. After a couple of seconds, it
came back on.
That was weird, but wait, how do I get out of the mental hospital? she was still onedge.
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You are treated for a while, but you learned to relax, and not put so much pressure on
your plate all of the time, in an instant, the light flickered, now it was brighter than before. I had
now realized that there were times when the lights would go out, and I had hit a valley. Although
there also were times when they came back on, shining brilliantly, at the peaks of those valleys.
What happens though, once I leave the hospital? she seemed calmer than before, but
still tense.
Well, you get back to your company and end up handling your cases even better than
before now that your stress levels were much lower. You never had another panic or anxiety
attack, She smiled and look relieved, reminding me of Telemachus after his long, lonely
journey.
That is scary, but amazing. It reminds me of a special quote- I stopped her because I
knew exactly what she was about to say.
Be the change you want to see in the world, I said, by Gandhi?
Yes! That has always been very dear to me, I do not know why, she said.
I do. You, we, have always wanted to be different, wanted people to be different. We
wanted them to be more accepting, more understanding, and mainly, kinder. You put so much
pressure and weight on being like everyone else, but really you just had to be you. Be different,
be accepting, be kind. Be the change you want to see, I smiled, looking over at her.
I get it now, I think I finally understand, she said.
Great, even if you do not, it is okay, you technically do not learn that for a while, we
laughed together. Suddenly she was summoned to leave, walking away, I noticed the light
gleaming over the water again, then on the bench, right between where we were sitting. The light
had accentuated the highs, lows, but most importantly, our journey. My journey.

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