Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Case Study Example Jessica presented case 7 titled ‘It’s not our fault. The case is about two couples who share four children. The family had some unexpressed conflicts and communication problems. Circular questioning, Formula first session talk, scaling and deconstruction were applied before and during the therapy. The therapy was successful and one of the two couples was further referred for couple’s counseling. The case presentation evoked many opinions in the group. Jessica, Teresa, Richard and Keri although were in favor of the therapy applied and the way the case was handled, but they had some differential views when it came to minute details of therapeutic application. Jessica would have added some object relations therapy to improve the relationship of the children with their biological mother. Keri and Teresa agreed with the therapy applied but suggested that Douglas could have been helped with some individual sessions using CBT for reducing his unreasonable and complainant behavior. Richard was of the view that Diane needed more individual therapy regarding the abuse. Matt thought that a strong communication approach would have been helpful since the communication process of whole family was faulty and inadequate. This case is about a two year old boy named Joshua who had constipation due to his parent’s antagonism. The parents, Donna and Nick both lawyers, were not happy with each other and the atmosphere of the home was always tense. After this case was presented, Teresa, Keri and Richard agreed that individual CBT given to both partners would have helped since they refused joint marital therapy sessions, therapeutic work on the personality aspects of each would have been helpful in improving the relationship in an indirect way. Jessica was in a favor of the applied systems approach fully and thought that the case would not have been handled so nicely had the therapist used another approach. Matt believed that play therapy could have

Tablet PC Essay -- Technology Computers

TABLET PCs Combines Simplicity of Paper with Full Power of Windows-Based Computing For the past few years, the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) has grown tremendously popular. However, due to size restrictions, it has always served as a secondary device to the desktop computer. So a number of hardware manufacturers unveiled a new form of communication, the Tablet PC. What exactly is a Tablet PC? It is a notebook PC with a touch-sensitive screen and is a bit larger than the size of a sheet of paper. Tablet PCs will have two formats: the "convertible" model with an integrated keyboard and a display that rotates 180 degrees that can be folded down over the keyboard, and the "slate" style with a removable keyboard. It allows users to save their written input either as images or as converted text. It is very similar to a PDA, only larger and more powerful, and weighs less than today's laptops yet is fully configured for PC operations and Internet applications. By combining the best qualities of a PDA and laptop, the Tablet PC can be used in applications where a lap top would be too bulky, and a PDA would not be powerful enough. In the past, field service workers with mobile devices tended to have only one application on their device. With the Tablet PC operating system, they can connect and use many more applications. A long-cherished goal for technology visionaries and computer designers, the Tablet PC will represent the next major evolution in PC design and functionality. While retaining the full power to run all existing Windows-based software applications, the Tablet PC expands enterprise computing to address previously unmet needs, such as the ability to take notes at meetings, annotate existing electronic documents and ... ...ning up businesses to the world, the use of a Tablet PC will be even more beneficial when sharing information across continental lines. The Tablet PC platform has established itself as one of the computer industry’s most promising innovations. Free from cables and keyboard, the Tablet PC provides a compact, easily portable device which is both stylish and ultimately practical. It has all the power to run common productivity applications anywhere and all the graphics performance to maximize the Internet experience. Moreover, with the widespread and increasing adoption of WLAN connection technology, Internet browsing and e-mail are becoming more accessible. Although at the moment, the Tablet PC technology is still in its infancy, the ever improving technology will make Tablet PCs more user friendly and practical which brings us one step closer to a paperless society.

The Salvation Army and Stakeholder Governance

As a registered charity and religious institution, the Salvation Army has been in existence for quite a long time. Though some organizations waited for the government to formulate laws that governed the use of public money, practices of transparency, financial disclosure and accountability have been engraved in their procedures even before that (Institute of policy studies, 2010). External stakeholders in the institution are found in the organization. Stakeholders in the organisation are not owners in any aspect and neither do they work in the organization but partner with the organisation in ventures that are of interest to both of them. They are called external stakeholders. Being part of the projects the stakeholders have expectations on the information they should get from the institution regarding the finance they contribute and the activities that are undertaken (Bhatia, 2007). Financial disclosures in terms of balance sheets and income statements are important to the stakeholders especially since they contribute to the kitty of the events or activities that are carried out. Salvation Army gives disclosures not only to the external but also to the public quarterly and incorporates it in the annual report. This is to show what the organization realised or achieved with the finance (Mullins, 2005). Accountability is yet another value that the stakeholders can expect from the institution. Giving details of how the money was spent and who was involved is the main objective of the value. Members of the organisation believe that they owe the Almighty God accountability and do so through financial reporting to the stakeholders and other key personnel (Bhatia, 2007). Transparency is the ultimate crown for the flawless use of resources and execution of plans. In the values of the Salvation Army, this is not left out. It reveals honesty, creates good relation between the involved parties, and is a practice of Christian code of conduct (Mullins, 2005). REFERENCES Bhatia, S.K. (2007). Management of Non-Profit Organisations. New Delhi: Deep & Deep Publications. Institute of policy studies. (2010). Defining social impact. Retrieved on 18th August 2010 Mullins, L. J. (2005). Management and organisational behaviour. New York, NY: Prentice Hall/Financial Times.

To What Extent Can We Form Our Own Identities - 771 Words

Are our identities established through choice or constructed for us by society and what is expected of us in line with our gender, class and culture? Can we change our identities to fit in with how we want society to see us rather than how society expects to see us? Firstly we should not confuse personality with identity. Personality traits may be something we have in common with people we meet but identifying with a certain social group is something we choose to do usually as a result of the things we have in common. Personality is categorised as an internal characteristic not a choice. (Woodward 2004, p.6) Identity is, on the whole, how we are seen by society. Our identities are first formed†¦show more content†¦(Woodward 2004, p6). We use symbols so as others will see us in the way we want them too. Hair colour or style will set us apart from some but also connect us to those we want to identify with. â€Å"We symbolise the sort of person we want others to think we are through the clothes we wear and the ways in which we behave†. (Mead 1934, p12) Our careers also play an important role in the formation of our identity. In our choice of job we will associate with our colleagues, with whom we share a collective identity, working for the same cause and aiming for similar goals. This is another part of the agency that helps define our identities, the choices we make in the careers we take up and the geographical areas in which we work. The structures by which our identities are formed are beyond our control. The culture into which we are born will be the foundations of our identity. As we advance in years and knowledge we have the choice to change aspects of our culture, therefore changing parts of our identity. The colour of our skin, age, ethnicity and class are some of the restrictions that will prevent us changing our identities completely. Gender is also a structured part of our identities from a legal aspect. Whilst someone may change their gender, the official documentation that records that persons existence will always state the gender under which they wereShow MoreRelatedHy Diaries Inc899 Words   |  4 PagesCase study 3.1: HY DAIRIES, INC. 1. Apply your knowledge of stereotyping and social identity theory to explain what went wrong here. Stereotyping is the process of assigning traits to people on the basis of their membership in a social category. Stereotypes generally have some inaccuracies, some overestimation or underestimation of real differences, and some degree of accuracy. One problem with stereotyping is that stereotypes under certain conditions, such as the degree to which theyRead MoreHy Diaries Inc913 Words   |  4 PagesCase study 3.1: HY DAIRIES, INC. 1. Apply your knowledge of stereotyping and social identity theory to explain what went wrong here. Stereotyping is the process of assigning traits to people on the basis of their membership in a social category. Stereotypes generally have some inaccuracies, some overestimation or underestimation of real differences, and some degree of accuracy. One problem with stereotyping is that stereotypes under certain conditions, such as the degree to whichRead MoreAnalysis Of Grendel By John Gardner1351 Words   |  6 PagesAs humans, do we consciously form our own identities? After all, one is rarely who they aspire to be. Take, for example, John Gardner’s character Grendel. Although Grendel seems to intentionally perpetuate his wretched state of being, it is also clear that this process creates, or is the product of some sort of internal struggle between what he considers to be the â€Å"two dark realities, the self and the world† (Gardner 47). For many individuals, including Grendel, existence appears to be nothing moreRead MoreOnline Shopping On The Internet141 0 Words   |  6 Pagesinteresting way that our identities are formed through consumption is on the internet. Consumption online is unique in that the items we purchase, the items we view and do not purchase, and our purchasing habits are all compiled as data. Our identities as online shoppers are summarized by not only the purchases we make online, but everything else we consume on the internet. Browsers store internet history and calculate what we are likely to consume next. This data is a form of identity that we have completeRead MoreFight Club : A Marxist Lens1501 Words   |  7 PagesWritten in 1996, Fight Club expresses the issues of its time with Palahniuk using a Marxist lens to express the evils of capitalist society in relation to loss of identity in a society built on achieving relative gains with those at the top benefiting at the expense of those at the bottom. The 1990s was a decade of excess , where people became fixated on consumerism, which, characterised the pe riod as one of social disconnection, recklessness and greed , destroying moral values and widening theRead MoreFoucault and the Theories of Power and Identity Essay1366 Words   |  6 Pagesrather as something that works its way into our imaginations and serves to constrain how we act. For example in the setting of a workplace the power does not pass from the top down; instead it circulates through their organizational practices. Such practices act like a grid, provoking and inciting certain courses of action and denying others. Foucault considers this as no straightforward matter and believes that it rests on how far individuals interpret what is being laid down as obvious or selfRead MorePowers of Horror by Julia Kristeva, Questions and Answers1384 Words   |  6 PagesTo what extent are we all ‘strangers to ourselves’, even in our own countries? Answer with reference to Kristeva’s book. Exile, the reality and practice of being barred from a native country, has prolifically influenced many philosophers’ theoretical writings. Indeed, Julia Kristeva being in exile from her native Bulgaria is a foreigner in an unascertained land. Being an outcast influence’s her philosophical, political and sociological extended essay Strangers to Ourselves published in 1991. TheRead MoreIs There a Relationship Between Consumption and Identity?1598 Words   |  7 PagesIn traditional societies, peoples identity was rooted in a set of social roles and values, which provided orientation and religious sanctions to define ones place in the world. In modernity, identity is often characterised in terms of mutual recognition, as if ones identity depended on recognition from others combined with self- validation of this recognition. Identity still comes from a pre set of roles and norms. For example, a motherRead MoreSocialization, Culture, Identity, And Freedom Effect Socialization1051 Words   |  5 PagesSocialization is a process where people learn what is acceptable in the society that they are raised in. This process occurs throughout life. With each new experience and exposure to a new culture, new idea, or new thought pattern we learn more about human behaviors. Each person has a role, an identity, a personality, and a self-concept. Peter Berger states â€Å"Not only do people live in society, but society lives in people† (Anderson, Taylor, Logio, P.76). Therefore, socialization controls individualsRead MoreMember of the Wedding by Carson Mccullers - Context Essay (Expositor y)1748 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Without connection to others there is no me† Throughout our lives, everyone that we share bonds with and interact with on a regular basis, either forms or has some sort of influence on our identity. Consequently, the majority of us naturally find ourselves striving to fit in with these people, especially during the tough transition from childhood to adulthood. It is this part of the human condition that makes us feel as though we must forge ties with something outside of ourselves in order to establish

Critique of an article from the Journal of Applied Physiology

Critique of an article from the Journal of Applied Physiology Effect of different protocols of caffeine intake on metabolism and endurance performance Introduction In 2002, a group of Australian researchers published a paper entitled the Effect of different protocols of caffeine intake on metabolism and endurance performance. Caffeine use during sporting events has become much more popular and has widely studied. The purpose of the research was to examine the work increasing (ergogenic) effects of differing regiments of caffeine on metabolism and performance while simulating the typical nutritional preparation an athlete would do for a race. The study also sought to examine the effect of timing of caffeine intake, comparing†¦show more content†¦The subjects refrained from caffeine, standardized diet, and standardized training for 48 hrs before the trials. For 24 hours before the trials, each subject was given a prepackaged standard diet. Exercise and food diaries were kept and checked for compliance. Each trial consisted of two hours of steady state cycling at 70% VO2 peak immediately followed by an all out time trial. Study A compared placebo (no caffeine), caffeine before the trial (precaf), during trial (durcaf), and cola as a replacement for a 6% CHO (carbohydrate/sugar) sports drink just before the final time trial. Study B was similar to study A, but moved up the cola drink intake to allow the athletes to consume the cola at a rate that simulated race conditions. Study B also compared decaffeinated 6% CHO cola (control), caffeinated 6% CHO cola (Caf), decaffeinated 11% CHO cola (extraCHO), and caffeinated 11% CHO (Coke). This allowed determination of whether effects were from caffeine, increased sugar content, or some combination. Results and Discussion The metabolism results of study A showed caffeine results (Fig. A) as expected. Pre-caf gave the earliest caffeine reading, followed by dur-caf. Urinary caffeine levels (Fig. B) were well below the International Olympic Committee regulation of 12 µg/ml. Plasma analysis showed that blood glucose levels were higher in the pre-caf treatment, possibly due an increase in metabolic rate from theShow MoreRelatedEssay Application of Concept Analysis to Clinical Practice1668 Words   |  7 PagesApplication of Concept Analysis to Clinical Practice The concept is a general idea that is derived from human perception of events in the environment. This is based on the belief that occurrences in a given context are necessary to a wholesome interpretation of a phenomenon ( McEwen, Willis, 2011, pg,.25).Applications of concept analysis to clinical practice has become accepted among practitioners as paradigms of practice. Paradigms are an intellectual or theoretical view of a discipline basedRead MoreThe Role Of Sports And Exercise Scientist2676 Words   |  11 Pagessuggested that there is a gap between research and practice, and can be a consequence of issues such as limited time and resources of practitioners and/or the lack of incentives for the use of evidence-based practice. Evidence-Informed Research and Applied Practice Only the presence of staff with scientific background within sports organisations confirms the influence and importance of research in today’s sport. Sport and Exercise Scientists (SES) and performance consultants are growing in demandRead MoreAstrology and Alchemy - the Occult Roots of the Mbti4990 Words   |  20 Pagescontinuing popularity of astrology. Aside from some research into how marketing executives are using astrology to target products and services more effectively, a small number of business books written by professional astrologers and some interest in the financial world, the field remains largely unexplored. Why does astrology appeal to the executive world? Where and how is it being deployed, and what are the organisational consequences? In this article, we look at the sociological and organisationalRead MoreCognitive psychology  . Essay5542 Words   |  23 Pages[1]  Much of the work derived from cognitive psychology has been integrated into various other modern disciplines of psychological study including  social psychology,  personality psychology,  abnormal psychology,  developmental psychology, and  educational psychology. Cognitive psychology  is the scientific investigation of human cognition, that is, all our mental abilities – perceiving, learning, remembering, thinking, reasoning, and understanding. The term â€Å"cognition† stems from the Latin word â€Å" cognoscere†Read MoreLiterature Review on Consumer Behaviour16053 Words   |  65 PagesIn order to develop a framework for the study consumer behaviour it is helpful to begin by considering the evolution of the field of consumer research and the different paradigms of thought that have influenced the discipline. As described in this article, a set of dimensions can be identified in the literature, which can be used to characterize and differentiate, the various perspectives on consumer research. It is argued that consumer behaviour itself emerged as a distinct field of study during theRead MoreEssay about Jean Piaget: The Man Behind the Lab Coat4555 Words   |  19 Pagesusually as seen in the development in children. It has been said of him that he approached questions up until then exclusively philosophical, in a resolutely empirical manner, and made epistemology (the study of knowledge), into a science separate from philosophy, but related to all of the human sciences. (Gruber and Voneche, 18) Developmental psychology is what his renown is based upon, yet Piagets interests were much more widespread. He is characterized as a zoologist by training, an epistemologistRead MoreOrganisational Behavioure23151 Words   |  93 PagesReason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them. — David Hume Emotions and Moods After reading this chapter, you should be able to: 1 Differentiate emotions from moods. 5 2 Discuss the different aspects of emotions. Discuss the impact emotional labor has on employees. 6 Identify the sources of emotions and moods. Discuss the case for and the case against emotional intelligence. 7 Read MoreHerbert Spencer Essay13142 Words   |  53 Pagesdescribed in An Autobiography (1904), reflected the attitudes of a family which was known on both sides to include religious nonconformists, social critics, and rebels. His father, a teacher, had been a Wesleyan, but he separated himself from organized religion as he did from political and social authority. Spencers father and an uncle saw that he received a highly individualized education that emphasized the family traditions of dissent and independence of thought. He was particularly instructed in theRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pages10.5/12 ITC New Baskerville Std Credits and acknowledgments borrowed from other sources and reproduced, with permission, in this textbook appear on the appropriate page within text. Copyright  © 2013, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. This publication is protected by Copyright, and permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrievalRead More3521 Unit 1 Essay example10967 Words   |  44 Pageswith regard to each topic area and discuss which one appeals to you most. After your discussion, write notes on what you have discussed. Then report your conclusion to the class, and invite comments on your ideas. A. ï‚Ÿ What is there to be gained from engaging your efforts in this area and not any other? ï‚Ÿ Why is the study worth doing? ï‚Ÿ What is the rationale of your proposed study? B. ï‚Ÿ Is the topic area a problem area? Can you define it and limit it? What are the boundaries of your proposed study

Lessons Learned From The World War II - 1862 Words

After the end of World War II, Europe was in ruins. Between bomb damage, economic downturn, and natural disasters such as droughts and blizzards it seemed nearly impossible to restore Europe to its prior greatness. America facilitated the recovery of Europe with military and financial aid and helped prevent the spread of communism, which is proven to overtake even the strongest countries in times of distress. This aid crushed the Soviet dream of a communist Europe, which set off the Cold War. Over the next 45 years, the United States and the Soviet Union would resemble two angry women, avoiding each other at all costs and exploding into a furious rage at the first sight of the other. Many events contributed to and were derived from the†¦show more content†¦And as if nature itself were conspiring to retard recovery, droughts during the summers of 1946 and 1947 had drastically reduced crops, and the winter of 1946-47 had been a disaster. The utmost blizzard in centuries had co mbined with freezing temperatures to paralyze whole regions of Europe for months. Between 1948 and 1951 Congress authorized approximately $13.4 billion in Marshall Plan aid. Most of it went to Great Britain, France, Italy, and West Germany. The Marshall Plan was met with heavy opposition. Many said the plan would bankrupt the country, but they could not have been more wrong. America experienced a great period of prosperity during the years the European Recovery Program was in action (Maddox). Again, the main question is how is this important to the Cold War? With the acceptance of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, America began pushing back the forces of communism emanating from the Soviet Union. For centuries, African-Americans have been dreaming of and fighting for their freedom. After the Civil War, Lincoln abolished slavery, but most African-Americans had nowhere to go, nowhere to work, and no say in the laws that still limited their employment. Throughout the Cold War, Civil Rights activists protested violently as well as nonviolently. Terry Kershawà ¢â‚¬â„¢s article in The Western Journal of Black Studies entitled â€Å"African American national leadership: a model for complementarity† compares three of the most prominent Civil Rights leadersShow MoreRelatedThe Cold War Is A Time Of Political Tension Between The United States And The Soviet Union1154 Words   |  5 PagesCold War is a time of political tension between the United States and the USSR following World War II and lasting decades. It was a clash of ideology- capitalism versus communism- and a fight for dominance, by utilizing every opportunity for expansion (Trueman 1). The results and lessons learned from the Cold War still remain as reminders and helpful guides for the future. With the War on Terror at hand, the United States could use the lessons learned from the Cold War as a guide. The Cold War willRead MoreAir Defense Artillery Units During World War II1328 Words   |  6 PagesIn a world that grows ever more complex, the technologies and innovations that improve lives are saddled to the mechanisms of war and defense. It is within the institutions chartered to protect our interests that the speed of the world weighs most heavy. Steadfast, and always with an eye towards the future, it is important to understand how the branch arrived at its current configuration and in what direction it should move to provide the most effective trajectory for development, advancement, andRead MoreThe War Of World War II1586 Words   |  7 Pageshave had a problem with someone, some might refer to it like a war. War by definition is generally characterized by extreme aggression, destruction, and mortality. 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Military observersRead MoreThe Cold War : Lessons Learned938 Words   |  4 PagesCold War: Lessons Learned After World War II, continuing tensions between the United States of America and primarily, the Soviet Union caused the Cold War. The Cold War lasted from 1945 to 1991, the Cold War is defined as a bitter, typically non-military conflict between the two superpowers, the Soviet Union and America. The Soviet Union and the United States had contrasting views about most things, including political systems, economic systems and societal values. At the end of the Cold War, theRead MoreLearning Skills : A Unit 5 Lesson 81400 Words   |  6 Pages Semester A Unit 5 Lesson 8 Introduction and Objective With the incredible amount of information at your fingertips, you can learn more about almost any topic. Once you find that information, though, how do you analyze it and apply it to your understanding of concepts and texts? 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Night World Witchlight Chapter 15 Free Essays

But she could hear Alex’s sobbing even when she got in the car, and it seemed to follow in her head even when they had left the house behind. They checked with the â€Å"road crew† stationed right outside the Ashton-Hughes front gate. It looked extremely professional, with bright lights and all the accoutrements. We will write a custom essay sample on Night World : Witchlight Chapter 15 or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"All secure,† the witch in charge said cheerfully when Keller rolled down the window. He shifted his reflective vest. â€Å"Thirty cars in, nobody out. There hasn’t been one for a while-I think you’re fashionably late.† He winked. â€Å"Thirty?† Keller said. â€Å"How many people per car?† â€Å"Two in most of them, but some were packed.† Keller glanced at Iliana beside her. â€Å"And that’s what they call only inviting a few people?† Iliana shrugged. â€Å"You haven’t seen the house.† â€Å"Anyway, it’s safe,† the witch foreman said. â€Å"No dragon has gotten in, I can promise you that. And none is going to get in, either.† Keller nodded at him, and they drove on. Diana was right. In considering how big the party was, you had to see the size of the house. Keller had studied the plans, but it wasn’t the same. They passed something like a peach orchard on one side of the driveway, and then a carriage house that seemed to have swallowed up a dozen cars. But Nissa dropped them off by the front steps, below the stately white columns that decorated the magnificent porch. Impressive place, Keller thought. They walked in. In the cavernous, softly lit entry hall, there was a girl in a dark uniform who took their coats. There was also Brett. When he saw Diana, he pounced. â€Å"Blondie! I thought you weren’t going to make it!† â€Å"You knew I wouldn’t miss this,† Diana said gently. But Keller thought she looked much less interested in Brett than the last time she’d spoken to him. She’s learned a lot, Keller thought. And, of course, now that she knows Galen, she sees this loser for what he is. Brett was looking the others over in his meat-appraising way. â€Å"So just which of these lovely ladies is your cousin? I never got a chance to ask.† â€Å"Oh†¦ that one.† Diana pointed a random finger. â€Å"You?† Brett’s eyes ran up and down Keller’s tallness and her blue-black hair. â€Å"I never would have guessed.† â€Å"We’re sort of†¦ foster cousins,† Keller said. She didn’t like Brett. That was nothing new, but somehow tonight she realty didn’t like him. There was something almost creepy in the way his eyes clung to girls, and when he looked at Diana, it was like watching a slug crawl over a peach blossom. â€Å"Well, come with me and join the fun,† he said, gesturing expansively and flashing a smile. Keller almost asked â€Å"Where?† but in a moment she realized that it was pointless. The party really seemed to be all over the house. The entry room itself was big enough to have a party in, and it had a wide, sweeping staircase just like a proper Southern mansion. Above, on the second floor, Keller could see a hallway lined with portraits and statues. Brett led them through room after room, each one impressive. Some seemed to be real sitting rooms; others just looked like displays in a museum. Finally, they went through one last open archway into a ballroom. Paneled walls. Painted ceiling. Chandeliers. An ocean of floor. And the college band at one end playing music that was definitely modern. A few couples were dancing a slow dance, very near the band. They looked small enough to rattle in the enormous room. Keller almost giggled, but Diana looked dreamy. â€Å"It’s beautiful.† Brett looked satisfied. â€Å"There’s food over there on the sideboard. But most of the food’s downstairs in the game room. You want to see that?† â€Å"I want to see Jaime,† Iliana said. â€Å"She’s down there.† The game room was amazing, too. Not just pool tables and darts but arcade-style video games, old-fashioned pinball machines, an indoor basketball hoop, and generally just about everything you’d find at a superior arcade. As soon as they walked in, a guy in black pants, white shirt, and black vest offered them a tray of tiny quiches and mini-pizzas. A caterer, Keller decided, not part of the regular staff of the house. She shook her head at the food and went on looking around, keeping her senses open so she could take in everything at once. This was the first time Iliana had been out in public since she’d gone to school last Monday, and it was nerve-wracking. The game room was much more crowded than the ballroom, and everybody was laughing and talking at once. On top of that, this old mansion had some very modern renovations. The band music was being piped into the other rooms. â€Å"Jaime!† Iliana said as a figure emerged from the crush of people. Jaime looked good. Her face had a healthy color, and her dark blue eyes were wide open and shining. Her brown hair was fluffed softly, and she was wearing a very pretty blue dress. Iliana.† She hugged Iliana hard, speaking in her flat but oddly pleasant voice. â€Å"It seems like forever. How are you?† â€Å"Fine. My cold’s better, and my hand-† Iliana held up her right hand. There was a neat bandage around the palm to protect the stitches. ‘It itches sometimes, but that’s all. How about you?† â€Å"I still have headaches. But I’m getting better.† Jaime smiled at Keller and the others. â€Å"I’m so glad you all could come.† â€Å"Yeah, so are we,† Keller said politely, feeling a stab of instinctive guilt. It was irrational, but she kept expecting this girl to look at her and say, â€Å"You’re the one who attacked me! The monster cat!† And she wasn’t glad that they had come. Her early warning system was clamoring already; she felt as if her fur was standing on end. She couldn’t explain it, but there was something wrong about the house. â€Å"Keep alert,† she said quietly to the others as Jaime led Iliana to the food tables. â€Å"Remember, two of us are with her at all times. The other two can wander the house, check the perimeter, look for anything suspicious. And keep in touch.† She put a finger to her brooch. That was when they found that their transmitters didn’t work. Keller had no idea why. All any of them could hear was static like white noise. Keller cursed. â€Å"Well keep in touch physically, then,† she said grimly. She checked her watch. It was almost nine. â€Å"And well get her out of here in an hour. Ten o’clock. Just to be safe.† â€Å"Good idea,† Galen said. Winnie and Nissa said, â€Å"Right, Boss.† Keller stuck close to Iliana, telling herself that they were taking every precaution and that all she had to do was stay cool and they could get out safely. But as time went on, she only got more and more uneasy. The dragon was going to attack. She was certain of it. But how? What form would the attack take? Was it going to be a battering ram of dark power like the one that had brought down the roof of the safe house? Or something tiny and sneaky, some clever way to get past the wards? A mouse? Or an insect? No ordinary shapeshifter could turn into a bug, but it was a kind of animal, after all. Could something like that slip through the wards undetected? What was it she was missing? Nothing to do but keep her senses, open, search every face for enemies, and be prepared for anything. As it turned out, though, she was entirely unprepared when it happened. Nissa and Galen were the two wandering the house at that point. Keller and Winnie were sticking with Iliana. Keller herself didn’t plan to leave Diana’s side all night. But as she was watching Jaime and Iliana laughing and chattering by one of the food tables- which offered everything from barbecue to shrimp to exotic fruit-Brett walked up chewing his lip. He was heading for Iliana, but he looked undecided and genuinely unhappy. Keller headed him off reflexively. She preferred to keep him away from Iliana just on principle. â€Å"Anything wrong?† He glanced at her with something like relief in his dark blue eyes. For once, he didn’t look arrogant or patronizing or even well groomed. â€Å"Uh, there’s something†¦ I need to tell Iliana about†¦ I guess.† He gulped, his face twisted. â€Å"You guess?† Keller herded him into a relatively private niche beside a video game. â€Å"What do you mean, you guess?† â€Å"Well, I do have to tell her. I just hate to.† He lowered his voice so that Keller had to lean closer to hear him. â€Å"Her mom’s on the phone. And she says that her little brother is missing.† Ice water sluiced over Keller. For five seconds, she didn’t breathe at all. Then she said, â€Å"What?† Brett grimaced. â€Å"He’s missing from his bedroom. And, I mean, I hate to scare Iliana with it, because he’s probably just crawled out the window or something-he’s that age, you know? But her mom wants to talk to her. She’s sort of hysterical.† He wet his lips. â€Å"I guess we should all go over there as a search party.† He’s really worried, Keller thought dazedly, while another part of her mind, a clear, cold part, clicked through possible solutions. So there’s something under that brand-name facade after all. In spite of the â€Å"he probably crawled out of the window† crap, he’s worried about the kid-and he’s worried about telling Iliana, too. Because Diana’s going to go ballistic, the cold part of her mind put in. She’s going to get as hysterical as her mom and insist on rushing back there. And a search party-that would mean all of us outside the wards, crawling around between houses in the dark†¦ No. It couldn’t happen. It was undoubtedly just what the dragon wanted. But how had he gotten to the baby? With all those wards and the agents watching the house-how? It didn’t matter. Right now, she had to deal with the situation. â€Å"Brett-don’t tell Iliana.† â€Å"Huh? But I have to.† â€Å"No, you don’t. Ill talk to Mrs.-to Aunt Anna. I’m her niece, remember? And I have an idea where the baby might have gone. I think he’s safe, but she has to know where to look.† Brett gawked at her. â€Å"You have an idea?† â€Å"Yeah. Just let me talk to her. And don’t say anything to Iliana just yet.† Keller glanced toward the game room bar, which was set up like an English pub. There was a phone, but a girl with red hair was talking animatedly into it, while eating nuts from a bowl. â€Å"It’s the other line, Jaime’s line,† Brett said. â€Å"She said she called on that one first, but it was busy.† â€Å"Okay, where’s the other line?† â€Å"Jaime’s room.† Keller hesitated, looking at Iliana. Winnie was on one side of her and Jaime on the other. They were the center of attention, something like the heart of a rose, with other people surrounding them like petals. At least she was in full view of everyone. And somebody trying to get to her would have to go through all of them first, and that would alert Winnie. But I wish Nissa and Galen were here to take over from me. She glanced at her watch. Fifteen minutes before they were supposed to come back to the game room. The baby couldn’t wait that long. She forged through the crowd and touched Winnie’s shoulder. â€Å"I have to run for a minute-a phone call. Nothing to worry about yet. I’ll make it fast,† she murmured in Winnie’s ear. Winnie glanced at her, surprised, but then she nodded. â€Å"Problems?† â€Å"Maybe. Stay alert.† Keller said it through a smile for Iliana’s benefit. When she got out of the throng, she said to Brett, â€Å"Take me there.† Actually, she knew where Jaime’s bedroom was from the plans. But she didn’t want Brett hanging around Iliana. His face alone would give away the show. They hurried up the wide staircase. Keller’s mind was racing, making plans. I can calm her down, at least. And I can call Circle Daybreak and tell them-if they don’t already know. They’ll make a much better search party than humans. Iliana doesn’t need to know about it at all until after the ceremony. And then†¦ Her mind stalled, and the sick feeling in her stomach grew. No. It wouldn’t be enough. She knew what she really had to do. I have to go back there. Just me. I owe Diana that much. I owe the whole family that much. I’ll be the best one to search. I can drive over to the house feist and see what’s going on. Borrow a car from Brett. That way, when the dragon attacks-and he’s going to attack-I’ll be the only one there. You’ll be the only one dead, a snide little voice in her mind pointed out. But Keller gave it the cold shoulder. She knew that already. It wasn’t important. You’re going to risk your life-give up your life- for a baby? One who’s not a Wild Power, not even a shapeshifter? At least I’ll get another chance at the dragon, she told the voice. You’re going to risk the mission, the alliance, the whole daylight world, for a single individual? the voice went on. This was a better point. But Keller had only one thing to say to it. I have to. â€Å"Here.† Brett gestured at the open door of a pretty bedroom, then followed Keller when she went in. â€Å"Um, can I help you?† He was getting over his worry and trying to cozy up to her again. â€Å"No.† â€Å"Oh. Well, I’ll leave you alone, then.† He slid out the door, closing it behind him. And Keller let him. Later, that was what she couldn’t quite believe. That she had been stupid enough to walk into the trap and stand there while it snapped shut. She picked up the phone. â€Å"Mrs. Dominick?† Silence. . At first, just for a moment or two, she thought Hiana’s mother might have stepped away from the phone. But then the nature of the silence got to her. There were no sounds in the background at all. It was dead air. Keller hit the plunger to hang up the phone. Nothing happened. No dial tone. She glanced at the phone cord; it was plugged into the wall. She pushed the plunger rapidly, four times, five. Then she knew. She’d been suckered. In one motion, she whirled and sprang to the door. Only to twist the handle uselessly. It was locked. And it was a good, sturdy door, made out of solid wood, the kind they used to make. She found this out by throwing herself against it hard enough to bruise her shoulder. It had been locked with a key from the outside, and the bolt was a good, sturdy one, too. White icy-hot rage swept over Keller. She was more angry than she could ever remember being in her life. She couldn’t believe it-she’d been fooled by an idiot human boy. The Night People must have gotten to him somehow, must have bought him†¦ No. Keller knew she wasn’t a genius. But sometimes ideas came to her in a flash, allowing her to see a complete picture all at once where other people saw only fragments. And right now, like a bolt of lightning, realization dawned on her, and she understood. Oh, Goddess, how could we have been so stupid? She knew how the dragon had done it. How to cite Night World : Witchlight Chapter 15, Essay examples