That was the problem… I didn’t know…
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| Image: All Rights Reserved |
| Edinburgh: Barrington Stoke, 2001 |
| 1999 |
“Are you… after the jewels in Dad’s shop? Is that the d-delivery you were all talking about?” I asked.
Quill took some thin plastic rope out of his jacket pocket before nodding. My heart sank to my toe nails at the sight of it. Dad used the same kind for wrapping parcels at home. It was thin but very strong, almost unbreakable.
“Once we get the jewels, we’ll let you go. I promise,” said Quill.
“And if Dad doesn’t hand them over?”
“He wants you back, doesn’t he?”
And the question turned my blood cold, because that was the problem. I didn’t know. Dad loved his shop and his jewels. Dad always retreated to his shop when the quarrels between him and Mum became too bitter. Many times I’d watched him dust the displays of gold and silver necklaces, lovingly polish the gold rings, dust off the expensive gem stones. It had actually made me feel jealous. Then I felt foolish and incredibly angry for being jealous of bits of metal and fancy glass.
Extract from the book Hostage
By Malorie Blackman
All Rights Reserved
Edinburgh: Barrington Stoke, 2001, c1999
Call Number: J English BLA
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Can you love an object more than your family?
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October 12th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Yes. A family doesn’t have to be someone whom you love the most. It’s just a way of thinking that has been shaped in our minds. When you’re really fond or obsessed into something, you can show affection for it more than anyone else. It can be deemed as something precious to you, or an event which you encountered that made it so valuable and meaningful. Why not?
July 1st, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Yes and no, as it depends on your family. Some families dote on you very much while some always fight and are not on good terms with each other. When you have a family that fights with each other, you might think that there are many things that could be more precious than your family. On the other hand, if you have a loving and caring family, you might think that there is nothing more precious and important than your family.
To me, I don’t think there is a right or wrong when it comes to this. There might be right and wrong when it comes to questions that you get in school but I definitly know that there is neither a right or wrong for this question….
July 1st, 2010 at 1:21 pm
No.Especially when that object is a non-living thing. Every family member is to be cherished.An object is an object.You cannot exchange your loved ones for an object.Our family members would stand by us,care for us and support us with encouragementh and lots of love.But can an object do so?Can an object care for us? Give us hope?Can it love us like no no other? No!
Love is something priceless.It is uncountable.We should cherish every momment in our lives with our friends and family members.As the Lord says;”Love is patient,love is kind.It does not envy,it does not boast,it is not proud.” 1 Corinthians 13:4. And love should be cherished.
July 1st, 2010 at 1:23 pm
No.Especially when that object is a non-living thing. Every family member is to be cherished.An object is an object.You cannot exchange your loved ones for an object.Our family members would stand by us,care for us and support us with encouragement and lots of love.But can an object do so?Can an object care for us? Give us hope?Can it love us like no no other? No!
Love is something priceless.It is uncountable.We should cherish every momment in our lives with our friends and family members.As the Lord says;”Love is patient,love is kind.It does not envy,it does not boast,it is not proud.” 1 Corinthians 13:4. And love should be cherished.
July 1st, 2010 at 1:27 pm
I do not love an object more than my family. My family is definitely more important than anything in my life. There are uncountable reasons why my family is more important than any object.
One reason is that my family is there for me when I encounter difficulties and problems. Life is not a bed of roses. Whenever I am bullied by my schoolmates, my parents will always be there for me and support me. I am very grateful to them.
Secondly, if not for my parents, I will not be in this beautiful earth. There are so many wonderful stuff I was able to see because of my parents.
I just want to say…………… Thank You, my parents. Nothing can ever be more important than you!!
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:43 am
Yes , it just depends on which family member and object I am comparing.Like for example, my parents are 2 very different people. They both dote on me but in very different ways. My mother cares about my future and that’s why she pushes me so hard to study. I never really thought that she was actually trying to help me, I don’t she just wanted me to do well so that she could be proud of herself for teaching me. But now, I realise that my mother is actually pushing me so hard for my own good, not for her own self-glory. My father just wants me to have fun and enjoy life as a kid before I grow up and have to work long hours just like him to support my own family. He also always tells me that if I try my best, he’ll be happy. For an object, it will not talk to me about the problems I’m facing, it does not care for me unlike my parents. So, I don’t love objects more than my family.
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:44 am
Of course not! I love my family more than anything else, especially an object. An object cannot give me security and shower me with love like my family. Bickering with my sister is also better than talking to myself or the object. Whenever I cannot make choices for myself, my family will be there to help me. You can use money to buy the most expensive object but you cannot use money to buy a family. Likewise, you can use money to buy things you like but not happiness. I love my parents as much as they do. Our relationship is too deep to be broken. The lord also agrees in the bible, 1 corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind. it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” Here by, I want to say to my parents: Thank you for bringing me to this beutiful world and showering me with love. I love you!
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:48 am
Nope, I don’t love anything more than my family. I feel that my family matters most in my life, they gives support and unconditional love to me. I am actually very happy to have parents who take it easy on exams, they don’t force me to go to tuition and they allow me to do whatever I want if it is reasonable.I think that nothing in this world can buy love. I love my family as we go though hardships and joy together as a family.
July 4th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
of course,I would say no.Loving an object over a loving family is unreasonable.What people wants this days is loving family which would stand by you in whatever needs and difficulties.Some people say that love is blind but I think love is beutiful.Everyone and everything can feel love- birds, humans and even animals.love means caring and showing under standing.Love means being there when someone is in need.love is being a friend.
You can love you pets ,your doll,your chair and many more.But this objects can’t love you back.It surely can’t respond to you.Like my mum says there is alaways a loving angel in everybodies lives.It can be our mother,father,siblinges or any other people.It surely can’t be a object.In the recent days I read a book about a girl an her angel.She had a loving father and a mother.Her father who is a farmer one day bought a pony for the girl.She was so elated.From that day ownwards she took good care of the pony.Days past by and they became good friends but her parents were starting to fight over small things.Soon they serperated.The girls mother brouhgt the girl far far away . The girl was not able to bring her pony a long.From then one she was not able to sleep or even eat but shewas grateful to have a loving mother all by her side.from my comment I wish people change their mind from ‘yes’ to ‘no’.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:10 am
I guess,it is a no from me. This may be because I am very blessed with a caring family and family members who cherish me. However, there are people out there who dread being at home since they feel uncared for and treat their home like a lodge and family like common people. Perhaps, they might feel that objects might make them rise up the ranks in society and be a very well-known figure.However, I feel that if I were born in that sort of a family, I would still try to show my care and be too obsessed after objects.
No man is an island. He does need support in life. Otherwise, he might crumble. We need help in everyday things. For example, we go to school for we need the support of teachers and friends in our process of learning. Family is the foundation support in our lives.
With that note, I conclude that I cannot love an object more than my wonderful family!
July 7th, 2010 at 10:16 am
Yes,of course.But sometimes not because sometimes they are good to me.There lots of good and bad things around us.There another things about my family is not so loving so I would rather love an object than my family.Hehe…I think that all I want to say…
July 7th, 2010 at 10:25 am
I will not love an object over my family. No matter how many times my parents have scolded me or even punished me i know that they are doing it for my own good. Also so that i will not repeat that mistake again.
Eevn though i alway spend my happy moments with my friends i wished i could do the same with my family. Sometime they might not tell you they love you but they will do it in a way to show you how much they love you. Without them you and i would not be here
We might not know if our friends will be there when we look back. For all i know my family will. i will also do the same. sometime all friends can’t be real some may even be fake. As the saying goes Blood is thicker than water.
Some people who love an obeject over their family have to realise that it can’t give them love. Jewels and diamond can give you happiness but not love can it? You can;t buy love or happiness and even a family with money.
Our families will always be there no matter what…
July 7th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
No.i do not love an object more than my family.Money ,jewels and branded clothes can give you happiness but it cannot give you love .But our families can .
Your families will always be there for you so cherish them and love them.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
No way! You cannot love an object more than your family! My family had been with me since I was born. We love each other and will always be together in ups or downs. Nothing can replace them, not even your most favourite object. An object has no feelings and it cannot smile or talk to you.
July 7th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
No!!!!We should love our famliy more than jewels,computer and games. My family had been with me since I was born. We love each other and will always be together in ups or downs. Nothing will ever replace them, not even your most favourite object. An object has no feelings nor does it smile or talk to you.
Will you feel more comfort with your family than our favourite object??!!
If YES, than you are a good family member to your family!!!!!:)
July 8th, 2010 at 11:55 am
That was a good topic to write about…. Acctualy there is no nothing that is more important than my family . Why i say this is because my family has been with me since i was gave birth. Nothing ever can destroy our relatsonship as however we fight box of punch each other .We can never say she is not my family as we are already born together and however you say i am not your sister or brother to bad it is already made so. As my own opinion nothing is more inportant to me . How can someone say that their family is not more inportant than something how can it be your family members are living and you say your non- living thing is more important it cannot BE TRUE . Your family even pays for your birth in the hospital. even if you are adopted your current parents love you and takes you with them .
By gods grace nothing like that has happend in family…………. hope nothing will happen like that thereafter
July 8th, 2010 at 11:58 am
No! An object is a non-living thing but your family is a living thing. And if you don’t have a family, you will not ba able to have clothes, food and books to read. If you don’t have a family, you won’t have parent’s to teach you homework and brothers or sisters to play with you.
Somemore, an object can’t even teach us homework and earn money for us to go to school. An if all of our parents are object, we would not have schools to study because non-living thing cannot move. Better take care of your parenr’s when they are old because when you are a child, they give you food to eat and more.And when you are a baby, they take good care of you and provide everything for you.
Espacially your mother, they bath you, teach you how to talk and if at night you cry, they will come and comfort you and make you go to sleep again.You must repay them because when you are a baby, the do not actually have enough sleep because you everytime cry and cry during night time or even during midnight.Don’t blame them if they beat you with their hands, lock you in the toilet or even band you from going to the playgroud, watch television or even go out with them because they actually do this for your own good. And actually, when they beat you, their hearts are very painful.
Remember to give them money every month and at least a few thousands or millions.They will be very happy.
July 8th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
NO! I love my family as much as object. Things does not do anything for us .They do not take care of us when we are a baby and when we get older , it does not provide money for us and it cannot speak or walk or even drive a car to bring you where you want to go.It can never help you in your studies and can never help you get high marks.
Love your parents and take of them when they are old and take of them 100% and love them as much as they love you.They give you money everyday, the pay for your food and they take care of you when you are a baby,they teach you to talk,they teach you to walk and they change your daipers even it’s disgusting.They love you and take care of you.If your parents were objects,what will they provide you with? Learn to love your parents even if they beat you with a stick or a belt there must be a reason why were you beaten.when your parents beat you it mean’s something,your parent’s love you.They want to make you learn your lesson.it is important to love your mother because they give birth to you. It’s important to love your father cause they give you your
surname. It’s important to love your parents because our parents pay money for us to go to school.We must be happy to have parents.
July 8th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
No. My family’s the best! They are number 1!!!!!!
July 8th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
No i will not. And object to me is not alive or lets say a non-living thing it can’t love as or fill. My Family is very important to me as they can give me love and warmness in me. If one day i really leave my family i would really miss them next year i am P5, i would think that i really cannot servive in it. Mosquitoes inscets(i really HATE them). My father helps me to gain my courage and help me catch insects.
but sometimes gives me big trouble. He is very cheerful and like a clown to me. Really can;t leave without him .
My mum helps me cook Wonderful and Delicious food like sushi,bugar,fries and hotdog bread i really don’t know how i can leave without her. (as you know i can leave without my handphone and my mothers wonderful cooking!)
My brother always Plays with me
I really don’t know how to survive in the P5 camp Pray fo god that i will be safe.
July 8th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
i love my family alot and (if) they throw me away i would never forget them as they are very precious to me and to God!i would not espect my family to throw me away as i am precious to them to i love my family alot alot and i hope they love me too!!!!!!!!
July 8th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
No, My Familys the best including my reletives.
July 8th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Yes and no.It sort of depends on what kind of family that you have.If you have a family that is rough to you and does not love you,I am quite sure that you will love an object more than your family.But If you have a family that loves you,I will advice that person to cherish that family that he or she has.
Take me for example.I have a family that loves me and cherishes me.I,In turn,also cherishes them.The truth is that I can’t love an object more than my family because they love me too much.
July 8th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
I think family is better. if your family members died. there will be nobody to support you an object is a non-living thing it can never support you.
July 8th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
I just cannot love an object more than I love my family because my mother and father can work, earn money and buy things needed for me and I also treasure my sister because almost every week, she would cherish the time playing with me. I think just for a object it is nothing to me.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:12 am
I cannot love an object more than my family. I will love my family more than anything in this world for the rest of my life. If you love an object more than your family, it means that you are ungrateful to your parents for making your existence on this earth.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:14 am
No, I do not love anything more than my family. I love my family very much and is grateful to them for taking care of me, protecting me and teaching me. I am also very sure that my parents love me very much.I cherish my family members very much.I am very grateful to God for giving me a caring, cheerful and loving family and not a family that always fights and always sad.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:18 am
Can you love an object more than your family?
For some people, I think so. But for some other people, I don’t know. For me, it is a very must. I am a Christian and I have to love God more than anything else. ( I don’t know if God is an object. I just think so. But if not, then my answer is a definite no.) tham jia yi 4 love
July 9th, 2010 at 11:19 am
No, I do not love anything more than my family. I love my family very much and is grateful to them for taking care of me, protecting me and teaching me. I am also very sure that my parents love me very much.I cherish my family members very much. i thank God for giving me a cheerful, caring and loving family instead of a family that always fights, argue and unhappy. If i have no parents, i would not be on this earth.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:20 am
Can you love an object more than your family?
For some people, I think so. But for some other people, I don’t know. For me, it is a very must. I am a Christian and I have to love God more than anything else. ( I don’t know if God is an object. I just think so. But if not, then my answer is a definite no.)tham jia yi 4 love
July 9th, 2010 at 11:20 am
I cannot love an object more than my family. I love my family more than anything. If you find that you love an object more than your family, it means that you feel ungrateful to your parents for bringing you into this world.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:28 am
No. Things you like can give you happiness, but they cannot love and care for you. They cannot comfort and encourage you when you are feeling sad. Even things like money, it can buy you lots of things, but it cannot buy you love. You need your family to be there to love you be kind to you and be there for you. For objects cannot do that for you.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:31 am
No, I cannot love an object more than my family. They love me more than everything on earth, teach me everything and I am very grateful.To me,my family is the most important thing in life. Without them,I would not be able to be here.
July 9th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
No, I cannot. My parents love me alot and I also love them alot. Objects can make you happy but family makes you happier. Objects cannot care for you when you are ill but family can and will. Family is something nothing can ever replace. When you are feeling down your family will cheer you up by showing concern to you. Family celebrates your special day but objects cannot.
July 9th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
No. Family is the most impotant people in the world. They love us a lot and we love them. If they did nto exist, how do you expect us to be in this world? If your parents treat you nicely but you love an object more than your family your *inhuman & very ungrateful to your parents. If your parents ease their temper on you, you might love an object. Maybe?
July 13th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
i find that family is more important than anything else because they can help me when i am in need. Families do not betray each other and will care for one another forever. if your parents scold you sometimes, it is because they love you. Only your family can cheer you up if you are feeling down. No friends can cheer you up as your family members knows you best. No one can do anything better than a family does. Family can only spend the most tie with you and can show the most care for you too. They can joke with you, play with you and bring you out to eat nice things. Families is the best forever !
July 13th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
no,a family to me is the most important thing that i need in my life.Without them, i would have food to eat, no clothes to wear and no school to go to. Life will be very miserable without a family.My two brothers make me laugh at times while my mother cook delicious and scrumptious food and my father will swim with us and teach me how to draw. most of all, the best part when we are together is to do some shopping!!!! We always enjoy ouselves when we are together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 13th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
Well,it kind of depends on what sort of person you are. To me, family is first. Apart from God, that is. My mother gave birth to me, my dad earns money for my needs, my brothers, well, lets just say life won’t be commplete without them. Oh and, Jia Yi if you’re reading this,God is soooo NOT an object. He is a living-thing.
July 19th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
No.Family is the most important in my life,without them i will not life happily.I am very grateful to them as they took care of me and when I am in a difficult situation,they will always help me.When I am sad,they will console me.Life will not be at all fun and enjoyable without a famil, so I think that I cannot love a object more than my family.
July 19th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
no.family members are the most important people in my life. they understand you help you when we are feeling sad or in need of a helping hand. they are always beside you helping us no matter the situation. even though we argue, we always find a solution to the problem. to me, they are much more important than objects.
July 20th, 2010 at 11:07 am
No. My family is most important in my live. Our family is something that cannot be replace and we can share both joy and sorrow together while an object can be replaced at any point of time in our lives and it also does not have feelings. Everyone can only have 1 family in their lives but anyone can have many objects which shows us how valueble our family is.
July 20th, 2010 at 11:09 am
I will not. Family is very important becauase when in need we will help each other.We share everything together like sadness and happiness. An object is a non-living thing it cannot care for me or help me. So family members are very imortant.We must also cherish the time we spent together.
July 20th, 2010 at 11:14 am
No. Our parents look after us and care for us. Through good and bad times they will stand by us and support us. Siblings also make life happier. We can also share our deepest secrets with them and when we are down, they will comfort. So ,even riches in the world cannot be compared to our family. How can we love another object more than our family?
July 21st, 2010 at 8:44 am
It depends.Some families may be lioving but others may not.Sometimes an object can also be your family.
July 21st, 2010 at 12:55 pm
no. if we lose objects, most of the time we can replace them. it can be bought. however, familoyb can not be replaced and it is a thing that we should treasure
July 21st, 2010 at 9:23 pm
I would never ever love an object better than my own family. Basically, nothing in the world is more powerful or important than the ‘Family bond’
So nothing in the world can be more important than my family.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:49 pm
No, I could never love anything more than my family. Basically everything that I could possible love more than my family, like a new phone, still stems from my family and my parents. My parents treaure us, their children, more than anything else in the world and make sure that they show us care and concern even if they’re really busy with work. My brother and I bicker and sometimes it feels impossible to love him, but we both know deep inside that we would still defend each other in times of need. Hence, with such a tight-knit and closely bonded family, is it even possible to love anything else better than my own family?