A review of economic growth and financial development literature

An audit of monetary development and money related advancement writing Presentation It is the desire of each nation to acknowledge improved and practical monetary development and money related advancement so as to improve the expectations for everyday comforts of the best larger part among its populace. Improved monetary and budgetary advancement is additionally key to a country’s capacity to protect its endurance in a world that is progressively confronting vulnerabilities, and unforeseeable risks.Advertising We will compose a custom paper test on An audit of monetary development and money related improvement writing explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More For these reasons, nations with visionary and improvement cognizant pioneers devise the most achievable monetary outlines that can empower them to arrive at more prominent statures of financial and money related achievement. As a general rule, a formative state is a result of prevalent monetary structure; not mishap, possibility, or supernatural occurrence. That is the severe tr uth that the world’s poor and creating countries’ pioneers must grasp or sentence their nations to terminal monetary and budgetary stagnation. This paper is an audit of China’s monetary development and money related turn of events. Monetary development Economic development alludes to an ascent in the limit of a nation to produce products and ventures, as thought about starting with one time of its history then onto the next (Barro Sala-I-Martin 2004, p.52). Monetary development is estimated in genuine and ostensible terms (Cipher Dietz 2008, p.33). Ostensible terms incorporate expansion while genuine terms are balanced for swelling. Near investigations of monetary development of various nations use GDP or GNP per capita on the grounds that these factors consider populace contrasts between nations (Cipher Dietz 2008, p.33). Monetary development is regularly credited to innovative progression in a given society (Barro Sala-I-Martin 2004, p.52). US is a prime model where tremendous financial development was acknowledged after the presentation of the web innovation. It is appropriate to take note of that, the development of a country’s economy ought not be found as far as an expansion in its gainful limit in particular, yet in addition as an improvement in the personal satisfaction of its populace. To put it plainly, financial development is a procedure through which a country’s riches collects over an all-inclusive period. In this way, financial development can best be thought of as a procedure of transformation.Advertising Looking for paper on business financial aspects? How about we check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Fitzgerald, a country’s long haul feasible monetary development relies upon its capacity to expand its pace of aggregating physical and human capital, to utilize the subsequent beneficial resources all the more effectively and assurance the scope of t he whole populace to these benefits (2006, p.1). Money related Development Financial advancement alludes to the â€Å"creation and extension of instruments, establishments and markets that help a country’s venture and monetary development process† (Fitzgerald 2006, p.1; King Levine 1993, p.3). Banks and non-banking money related mediators, for example, financial exchanges and benefits reserves â€Å"play the job of making an interpretation of family unit reserve funds into big business venture, watch out for speculations and appropriate assets, just as, to cost and relieve risks† (Fitzgerald 2006, p.1). Money related intermediation gives liquidity with the goal that organizations can work the new limits effectively. A few market analysts hold that, money related turn of events and monetary development are personally related (Jeanneney et al 2008, p.3). Money related improvement impacts a country’s financial development, and assists with easing destitution on the grounds that monetary development is a possible method of lessening neediness (Jeanneney et al 2008, p.3). Money related improvement reduces destitution in a roundabout way by inspiring development, and legitimately by upgrading exchanges and empowering the poor to pick up from budgetary administrations that raise their pay, which encourage their capacity to embrace profitable speculations and different exercises. Writing survey on China’s monetary development and budgetary improvement The People’s Republic of China, famously known as China is the most crowded nation with over 1.3 billion residents. It is arranged in East Asia (LaFleur 2003, P.3). It is a by law one-party state administered by the Communist Party of China (CPC) (LaFleur 2003, P.3). China is the third biggest nation by an absolute region and the second biggest via land zone (LaFleur 2003, p.3). During 1990s, the global network began to recognize that China’s economy is self-persuaded and quickly developing; in this way, its quick development would proceed for quite a while (Chow 1994, p.1). Today, china is one of the quickest developing economies internationally.Advertising We will compose a custom article test on A survey of monetary development and money related improvement writing explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More Since 1978 when financial advancement was presented in China, China’s venture and fare drove economy has grown multiple times greater and is at present the quickest developing driving economy on the planet (Wang et al 2007, p.85; Bramall 2009, p.464). As per the International Monetary Fund (IMF), during the period 2001-2010, China’s yearly normal GDP development was 10.5 percent. This development is foreseen to develop at 9.5 percent during the period 2011-2015 (Morrison 2011, p.2). Somewhere in the range of 2007 and 2010; China’s monetary development rate was equal to the entirety of the G7 nations set up (Morr ison 2011, p.2). The connection between monetary development and money related improvement has set off an extended discussion from Smith to Schumpeter. As per research results throughout the years, money related improvement invigorates financial development (Burzynska 2009, p.8). He contended that by means of the administrations that monetary go-betweens realize like activating reserve funds, containing hazard and upgrading exchanges mechanical and financial improvement is roused (Burzynska 2009, p.8). For him, money related mediators encourage mechanical advancement. Mechanical headway as per Schumpeter is a procedure of ceaseless replacement of old creation strategies and merchandise with improved procedures, administrations and products by advancement and development (Burzynska 2009, p.8). It has for quite some time been concurred among business analysts that budgetary establishments can upgrade monetary development. For example, Hicks put accentuation on capital arrangement, whi ch he contended can be impacted by monetary go-betweens by either changing investment funds rate or by redistributing reserve funds among various capital producing advances. There are, in any case, recognized business analysts who restrict the view that money related advancements invigorate financial development. For instance, for Robinson an economy where undertaking is driving account improvement follows (Robinson 1952, p.43). At the end of the day, money related improvement happens as a programmed reaction to rising changed budgetary needs. Different researchers were worried that market analysts overemphasized the significance money related factor in financial development (Lucas 1988, p.4).Advertising Searching for paper on business financial matters? How about we check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Find out More Budgetary delegates assume six primary jobs. In the first place, they pool family unit investment funds and make them accessible for loaning (Burzynska 2009, p.9). Doing so lessens exchange costs for firms, just as, family units themselves. Besides, monetary delegates disseminate reserve funds and choose who gets credits (Burzynska 2009, p.9). Thirdly, money related foundations moderate the general dangers of working together by method of spreading investor’s assets among the various speculation openings. Fourth, they produce liquidity. Fifth money related in circumstances encourage exchange by broadening credit and ensuring installment (Burzynska 2009, p.9). At long last, they apply corporate control and observing of supervisors. An appropriately working money related framework ought to guarantee expanded reserve funds and ventures which either through capital collection or innovative change prompts ascend in yield and thus financial development (Burzynska 2009, p.9). Chinaâ €™s remarkable monetary development during the most recent two decades has pulled in impressive consideration especially from business analysts. Most experimental examinations show that improvement in China’s efficiency can represent a significant bit of its striking development (Morrison 2011, p.5). The wellspring of China’s amazing development has two perspectives to be specific residential and global despite the fact that the two are personally related. Since 1978, China sponsored unhindered commerce and step by step expelled exchange limitations. The administration changed its arrangement of the executives of remote exchange by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and gave commonplace governments a generous self-rule in outside exchange and allowed private area to participate in outside exchange (Morrison 2011, p.2; Chow 2005, p1). As per Chow (2005), during the period 1978 to 2002, complete volume of fares and imports rose from $ 20.64 billion to a faltering $620.8 b illion of every 2002. This represented 65 % of china’s GDP and a development pace of 35% every year (Chow 2005, p.1). Thus, China turned into the third biggest exchanging economy behind Germany and the United States. Presents Chinese fares are discovered everywhere throughout the world. In the year 2001, China gained World exchange Organization participation. WTO pushed it to bring down its levies for made and agrarian items (Chow 2005, p.1; Bao et al 2006, p.181). The bringing of levies brought down to build rivalry among Chinese makers and ranchers and wound up giving economical items to Chinese customers. As per Chow (2005), outside exchange has supported China’s monetary

Gold buying trends and investment in saudi arabia Research Paper

Gold purchasing patterns and interest in saudi arabia - Research Paper Example These conditions show showcase disappointment since the financial specialists don't know about the potential chances (Trivedi and Behera 2012). Land speculation is the most favored choice among the Saudi Arabian financial specialists in contrast with gold (Smith 2011). Such happens since the financing costs are low, the earth has a higher liquidity, there is a populace increment and the interest for lodging is high (Kelly 2011). Additionally, the administration doesn't have satisfactory lodging ventures, which shows why speculators adventure on this chance of land speculation. Then again, ladies delineate a suitable market for the gold since they make a solid interest for the item. Ladies need gold for endowments and gems they speak to during services (Rivlin 2009). Be that as it may, unexpected increment in the cost of gold makes ladies not to purchase gems and spotlight on other elective products. By and by, it is foreseen that as the populace expands, the interest for gold will increment. Since old progress in the Hejaz zone, Jeddah makes an interesting gold market (Karunagaran 2013). This is on the grounds that Jeddah has an ocean port and goes about as a principle door to al medina and Makah, which makes it a key market for gold on yearly premise during the facilitating of the pioneers. Saudi Arabian Investors are additionally arranged on financial exercises, which are identified with mineral fills. Such happens since the nation is associated with the exportation of mineral powers (Middle East Monitor: Gulf 2014). Different financial specialists center around outside immediate and aberrant ventures since they view such speculations as worthwhile as far as the profits on their speculations and income on benefits. Their significant focal point of remote speculations is in the United Kingdom, Japan, United States, Germany, France and Switzerland (Erb and Harvey 2013). Financial specialists favor other elective ventures rather than gold since they think about such speculations to have low dangers in contrast with gold exchange venture.

Announcing the Winner of the 2019 ServiceScape Short Story Award

Announcing the Winner of the 2019 ServiceScape Short Story Award ServiceScape is pleased to announce the winner of the 2019 Short Story Award: Carl Lakeland, from Snake Valley, Australia. Carl grew up during the early seventies in the western suburbs of Sydney. Having enlisted in the military at the age of seventeen, he uses his experience to create powerful and engaging speculative fiction.Carl Lakeland, author and winner of the 2019 Servicescape Short Story AwardYou can find his winning submission below. We hope you enjoy reading it and we look forward to reading more great submissions for our 2020 award.The Angel and the Mad ManBy Carl LakelandShortly after I was shown a cushy-looking lounge that smelled of old leather, and looked as though it was recovered from a shipwreck, I sat slowly down and I wondered how I would ever get myself back up. I was then told by someone more knowing than myself, that a child will process trauma in unique ways. Young minds will either switch off painful happenings as though a section of mind poses as a guardian, almost as if its detached from the being; almost as if its duty-bound to protect little souls from damaging images. Or, memories wont be shut down. They will persist â€" memories, alive, and in vivid colour. Memories, which haunt and hurt; and will not go away. My memory of my father. My memory of my mother. And . . . of Charlotte.* * *My mother had switched off everything that used electricity. The fridge. The dishwasher. The radio that she loved so much on Sunday afternoons while she sat in her easy chair and spun Merino wool into long curly skeins. The tall clock that demanded attention at the end of the hall stood proud but no longer ticked. There was no whirring of the Whirlpool from the laundry. There was no scent of freshly baked lamingtons or vanilla slices from the kitchen. There were no songs by Hi-Five from the television in the living room. There was no laughter. There was no happiness. There was nothing. And everything was dark.After pulling down all the blinds, my mot her scurried around the place, and with her hands visibly shaking, she reached with her trembling fingers, clawing at power points and switches. She raced methodically from one switch to another, muttering to herself as though somewhere in her mind there was a method in the things she was doing. But I could see it on her face. Her skin was sweaty. I was just old enough to recognise panic. I was old enough to feel brewing terror that made my skin feel incredibly hot. I remember as my mother scampered around the place; I kept telling myself it was just a game. It was, of course, no game at all. Quickly, Angelique. We have to hide, my mother said with a voice that crackled and quivered.My mothers eyes darted here and there. Was she trying to decide the best place in the house for us to hide? We had no basement or attic. There was only one place inside the house which had a lock behind the door â€" the bathroom. I remember there were so many times, I got into trouble if I stayed in the shower for too long. The door was locked. Nobody could do anything about it. My mother made the decision to hide in there as soon as she grabbed me tightly by the top of my arm. She pulled me forcefully into the cold darkness behind the shower curtain. In the bathtub, we both quietly sat down facing each other. My mothers facial expression was steady as she appeared to listen for signs of movement from the outside of our house.Mum?Shhh. Well be safe in here, she said.But Mum, Dad will know were home. Our car is at the end of the driveway. Hell come looking for us as soon as he gets inside.He cant get in. He doesnt have a key. Ive changed all the locks. And hell think were at Maggies house.If my father knew we were at Maggies house, hed never go looking there. Maggies husband was an Alice Springs police officer. And not only that, he was a sergeant, I recall thinking. My father and Theo were always at each other. Theo sometimes brought my drunken father home late at night and dumped him near our front door. My young mind began to put things together. What my mother was trying to achieve was to give my father a decoy. Hed turn up at our house and find he wasnt able to enter. Hed put his ear up to the door and listen for anything inside. My father would then most likely choose to meet with his mates at the pub. And maybe an afternoon punting at the TAB. Thats how my mother had explained it. She said it to me in plain words and sentences like I was already an adult. Then after she was done, she began to cry.Mum, youre scaring me.My mother pulled me into her chest and wrapped her arms around me. I remember feeling nothing could ever hurt us. Any ten-year-old would be comforted. But I was also cautious. I was also vigilant. Why did Uncle Scotty have to show up and ruin everything?* * *As I sat in the cold and darkened bathroom with my mother, who seemed to be thinking of ways to get us out of danger, I reflected briefly on the horrible things that had happened. I re membered the blue, square, object that Uncle Scotty had given her after he arrived so urgently on our front porch. My uncles tone of voice said he was hopelessly in a mad flap. You need to get this to Maggie, I heard him say. Id do it, but I cant, love. If I approach Maggie, Im done.I recall as I stood and peered through the living room window, my Uncle Scotty gave my mother something else. It was something that looked like a handkerchief. A piece of cloth with something printed on it. He took it from his pocket and thrust it into my mothers hand. These are the decryption codes for the computer disk, he said.So, what am I supposed to do with them?Alisha. Get them to Maggie. Find a way. Shell know what to do next.And Franco? Any ideas where he is right now?Scotty immediately answered without a breath. Hes most likely down the pub gettin plastered. Maybe . . . Im not sure. You cant be sure? This place is so much better when youre both away on work. The two of you shouldve stayed at Pi ne Gap! My mother sucked back a big gulp of air and paused a beat. How much time do we have before he shows up?Youve got as much time as it takes to grab a few things and get out, I reckon. Grab your kit and go. Right-bloody-now.After Scotty launched himself from the porch, ran to his car and drove away, my mother slowly closed the front door. She turned and looked down at me. Ill never forget her face. Her skin was paper white. Her eyes had become glassy like they were full of fear and sadness. I knew she tried her best to hide her true feelings from me. I could see straight through her. I knew what was really going on.Angelique, we have to pack a bag and get ready to go. Quickly now, kiddo.I sprinted into my room, thinking about the things I needed to pack. I slid open my wardrobe door and grabbed my rucksack from the hanger. My mind immediately thought about my camera and photos. They were up on a high shelf. I often wondered why my mother had placed them up so high that it was d ifficult for me to get to them. My toes almost broke with my weight as I reached up to grab them. I jumped and missed. I jumped and missed again. It was no good. Then, I used the bed as a trampoline. That worked amazingly well, and I had my camera and all my photo albums, all at once.After ramming my most precious items into my rucksack, I grabbed some of my clothes from my dresser and quickly formed them into a tight ball, shoving them in so hard I swore they were going to burst through the bottom. My mother stepped inside my room as I was finishing up. She brought the objects in that Scotty gave her. She showed them to me. If anything bad happens, make sure Maggie gets these things. My mother then slipped the blue computer disk and codes into the top pocket of the rucksack. As soon as she was done tightening the straps, she held out her hand to me. Lets go, she said. Fuck this place.We were only five footsteps from my bedroom door when that sound of someone pushing a key into a ke yhole, punched through the silence. My mother instantly crouched and pushed me down next to her. She put a finger up to her lips. I knew what it meant. Not a sound. Not a movement. Just like the game we used to play called quiet as a mouse.As we both crouched, whoever it was at the front door continued to scratch away at the lock. Then, the Mad Man made himself known.Alisha!My mother looked at me with terror sitting in her red-rimmed eyes. She again pushed her finger up to her lips. When she removed her finger, she tried to give me a comforting smile. But the corners of her mouth refused to cooperate.Alisha! Open the bloody door! My father bashed the door a couple of times.Dont say anything, my mother said in a whisper so low, it was difficult to hear. But then she physically turned me around and gave me a gentle push toward my bedroom. Go. Quietly, she whispered.Alisha. Open the door! My key wont fit the bloody lock!I couldnt be sure how many times my father had yelled out and dema nded to be let inside. Each time he yelled out, his voice raised in obvious frustration. His bashing at the door became louder and heavier. Then, there was no sound at all. He was gone. And my mother immediately began shutting things down and switching things off.* * *In the darkness of the bathroom from behind the shower curtain, we both waited in the cold silence. I could feel the steady beat of my mothers heart through her chest as she held me tightly in her arms. Sometimes her heartbeat would begin to race as soon as a sound from outside could be heard. But through it all, it occurred to me; we couldve easily used the time to exit through the back door and get far away. It mightve worked out better than being boxed in. We couldve already arrived at Maggies house. And after having arrived there, we couldve been safe from the rage of my drunken father. Things and events could have been drastically different than they turned out. It was a moment in time that has stayed with me for my entire life. I keep asking myself the same question. Why didnt we just go? In that precise moment? Why? All through my twenties. All through my thirties. Even to this very minute, it still causes me heartache. It still causes nightmares and chills me awake. Why cant I just go back and change anything? Why?It was as though my mother had the same thought as me, and at the same time. She let go of me and looked down into my eyes. She seemed so much better without any panic. I was even able to breathe long breaths again. Time to go, eh kiddo?I nodded my happiness, but the joy was immediately broken with the sound of someone scraping at the lock in the back door. My father was back from wherever hed gone. He was angry. I could hear it in his tone. Alisha! Youve bloody-well changed the back-door lock too? What have you done? Are you doing this just to make me angry? Alisha! This is my house too. Let-me-in!I shrunk from my fathers rage. Mum!My mother pulled me into her arms again. Its o kay kiddo. But I want you to understand something. Listen to me; this is so important. Whatever happens, run. Run as fast as you can. Take the rucksack and run to Maggies. Dont look back. Dont worry about me. Just run. Do you hear me? Just run. I nodded, hoping my mother could feel my response on her chest. Thats good. You know what you need to do. Thats good. It was as though my mother had said those final words to herself rather than to me. It was after shed said it, I noticed for the first time how badly she was trembling.But then, silence ensued once again. We both waited. We both listened out for the slightest of sounds. It was as though my father had finally left. Each moment felt more like hours, and we waited.SMASH!I heard a window somewhere near the back of the house, cave in and shatter.MUM!My mother pulled me in tighter. Much tighter than before.I heard my father stomping with heavy footsteps around the house. Alisha! Where are you? Are you home? Angelique?My mother immed iately got out of the bathtub and went to the window. She used both her hands to push the ages-old window up, but it wouldnt budge. She put her entire weight behind it. It was no good.Smash it, Mum. Just smash it.No good, kiddo. The glass has got wire in it.Then, my fathers footsteps stopped at the bathroom door. I could hear him breathing as though hed pushed his face up close to the door jamb. My mother put her hand over my mouth. She placed her lips right next to my left ear and whispered, Not a word, kiddo. Shhh.Cmon Alisha, I know youre in there. Angelique. I know youre both there. The cars outside, remember? Im tired, and I need a lie-down. Cmon out and well chat a while. Maybe, Ill put a few snags on the barbie. What do ya reckon?For some reason, my mother took her hand away from my mouth. Perhaps it was a moment of weakness. Maybe she was about to get up and let my father in. I couldnt let her do that. I had to stop her. I seized the opportunity and I shouted, Just go away a nd leave us alone!Kiddo! What have you done? Didnt I say not a word?Ya see? I knew you were both at home. Now, cmon out, the two of ya. This is being silly; dont ya reckon?Go away, Franco. Take the car keys; theyre on the kitchen bench. Go away and leave us in peace.Peace? Doya want peace? Ill show ya fucking peace! It was like my fathers rage came rushing up from wherever hed put it last. This time, he beat heavily on the door. Dont make me break this door in, Alisha. I will break it if I need to. Come out! Come out now!I screamed as loud as I could. I hoped my high pitch squeal was enough to grab anybodys attention who might be in range. Perhaps the people from next door would hear. Maybe theyd call Theo Mack, and hed rush down here with his siren blaring and his lights flashing. But even for someone as young as I was at the time, I knew it wasnt likely.Then it was like a miracle. Suddenly, my fathers footsteps walked away. I heard him walk through the kitchen, grabbing at the key s that my mother had told him were on the bench. I heard him a couple of minutes later start the car. The car reversed up the driveway, and my father was gone. It was like a weight had been lifted from my spirits. Even my mother looked happier than she was only a moment ago. We both cautiously exited the bathroom. I ran straight for my bedroom and picked up my rucksack. Come on Mum; we need to get going to Maggies. Lets go. I was happy that I could make a suggestion. My mother even laughed a little under her breath. Oh, I see. Youre making all the calls now, huh?Lets go, Mum, lets go.We were about to leave.We were both about to exit our house of horrors, and I couldnt have cared less if it was for the last time in my young life. I was happy to be away and to be safe. But just as we were at the back door, my mother suddenly stopped her forward momentum. I grabbed her arm and pulled her. Whats wrong? Cmon Mum. Were running out of time.No, kiddo. Well stay here. Your father already kno ws where were going, and hell be waiting for us somewhere.I watched in dismay as my mother closed the back door, then grabbed a chair from the dining room. She brought the chair back with her and wedged the chair under the doorknob. Ill make a phone call to Theo Mack, and he can sort this out; once and for all.I couldnt believe what I was seeing. We had the chance to get away, and it was gone. Even if it was only to the house next door. Even if that were the case, wed still be away. But now . . . we were again trapped. There was only one thing left for me to do. And that was to get under my bed as far as I could get and hide. I ran there. I ran to my bedroom while my mother picked up the phone. I heard her jiggle the hanger a couple of times. Hello? Another jiggle. Another jiggle. Hello! I heard my mother draw an annoyed sigh before she banged the handset hard down. Shit!As I lay hidden under my bed, my eyes began to fill with tears. I was now more scared than I can ever remember. I only hoped the chair at the back door was strong enough to keep my father out. Just as I had that thought, the back door literally exploded into what I thought must be more than a thousand pieces.I hurried out from under my bed and raced to the back door to where my father was standing in the aperture; a gigantic sledgehammer dangled ominously from his grip. It occurred to me then that this was his solution to him being locked out of the bathroom. I realised much later in life, had my mother and I still been in there, we wouldve been much more boxed in and vulnerable than we already were. Maybe my father wouldve killed us both.As I stood, shocked, seeing my father with his face that told of nothing but hatred and anger, I managed to catch sight of my mother as she suddenly burst past me. Get out! Get out! Get out! my mother screamed with words that still chill me after all this time. She tried with all her weight to push my father back through the door. He grabbed my mother and spu n her around. He locked his elbow around the base of her throat and squeezed. Now, none of that, my father said in cold tone. You dont have to be all pushy. Ill go. But you know what I want dont ya? I want those things my mate Scotty-Blue gave ya. I know you have the disk and codes. Give them to me, and Im gone, Alisha.My mother managed some words through her squeezed neck. Franco . . . Whatre you talking about?Dont play games with me. Dont-you-fucking-play-games-with-me!I picked up my rucksack and threw it at my father with all the strength I had in my body. Leave my mother ALONE!Angelique . . . run. Run, Angelique. RUN!My father laughed at me. He laughed hard, and sardonically like hed seen something so very funny. He let my mother go. But only for a second. It was like he had all the power. He quickly gathered her up and choked her all over again.Angelique! RUN!No Mum. I cant leave you!Just . . . run . . . kiddo!My father squeezed his elbow around my mothers throat harder than be fore. Her face immediately went cherry red. Her eyes bulged, and I saw blood at the corners of her eyelids. She tried to say something, but it never came out. Her body went limp, and after my father let go of her, she slid slowly to the floor. Then, my father turned his attention on me. He reached and grabbed a handful of my hair. I remember the hot pain on my scalp as he picked me up and swung me. I floated only inches above the floor. Youre going in your bloody room and youre gonna STAY THERE!After my father had thrown me through the doorway, I again slid under my bed as far as I could get. My cheeks felt raw and wet as I cried uncontrollably. But my father paused, laughing at me like my sobbing was one of the funniest things hed ever seen. Before slamming my door closed, he shouted, And dont come out. OR ELSE!* * *While I lay there, I listened as my father stomped around the house. I heard drawers being rummaged through then slammed closed. I heard cupboard doors being opened and the contents thrown about the place. I heard pots and pans clanging. I heard glass being broken. I heard more rummaging and doors and drawers being opened then slammed shut. I heard my father racing around the house. Where is it? What have you done with it? I dont know what youre talking about, Franco. You must be out of your mind. Go back to your mates at the pub. Maybe they know where it is what youre looking for.I was glad I heard my mothers voice, but I was also terribly afraid for her. I heard my fathers heavy footsteps rush across the floor. Then, the ugly sound of his fist connecting with flesh.NOOO! I scampered madly from under my bed and ran out of my room. I saw my father standing over my mother. I launched myself onto my fathers back, I began beating him as hard as I could.My mother pleaded with me; her voice sounding so dry. Angelique. Stop. Please stop, Im okay.Before I had the opportunity to do more damage, my father peeled me off his back. He again lifted me by my ha ir and carried me to my bedroom. He tossed me like a pendulum with such force, I flew through the air and landed heavily on my bed. I grabbed my pillow and buried my face as I cried harder than Id ever known.Outside my room, I heard them arguing. The bickering went on and on and on. He wanted whatever he wanted, and she wasnt about to let him have it. Back and forth, they fought. Sometimes it was physical with the sickening sounds fleshy beatings. If I knew my mother, shed give back just as much as what she was given. Maybe that would make things worse. She screamed at him. He yelled back at her. Hurtful and spiteful. Cruel and cutting. Words and sounds a child should never have to endure. But suddenly, everything stopped.I felt an urge rip up through my body. I felt as though there were eyes upon me. There was something outside of my bedroom window, I just knew it. Looking out, I saw an eagle had settled and had found a perch on the back fence. The moment the eagles eyes made conta ct with mine, I knew it was not just any eagle, but it had to be my eagle. It was Charlotte.It was at that moment that all my sadness and hurt had melted away. I felt strength replace the weakness in my body. I sprinted from my room and out through the back door. I cut a short distance across the backyard toward where Charlotte was busy, happily preening her feathers as though she was making herself beautiful just for me. I couldnt have been happier than in that moment. It was one of the most delightful times of my life. As I approached Charlotte, it was as though she beckoned me closer, and when I got there, she put her head down and flared out her huge wings in a warm gesture of hello.I dont know how long I was there in Charlottes company. It seemed like only minutes. But after Charlotte had lifted her head up again, she appeared to become startled. She turned away from me and put her head down. She looked over her shoulder one last time before she launched into the sky; her huge wingspan compressing the air as she lifted herself up.I stood back and watched Charlotte disappear into the afternoon sun. And after shed gone, my thoughts returned to the horrors of which I was given just a small amount of respite. Remembering my fathers words to not come out of my room, I turned to head back into the house, but instantly, my legs stopped carrying me forward.Time to come in, love. Its gonna be tea time soon, my father said as he stood there on the back veranda, watching me.But in my mind, a warning sounded, and somehow, I knew not to go to him. As he repeated the same sentence over, I noticed the sledgehammer in my fathers grip. I noticed the thick dark coloured blood that dripped steadily from the once shiny steel head. I noticed the red stains on his white singlet. I noticed the blood spatter all over his face and arms. He repeated his words again slowly. Come inside, Angelique. Tea time.My legs were like pins that held me into place. Not forward. Not backward. I was frozen still. I felt coldness sweep up and over me, giving me goosebumps on my arms and neck as my father appeared to grow angrier with each passing second. Get inside you little bitch!I moved one foot in front of the other. Then the other in front of that. Slowly, I gained speed and in the next crucial second, I began sprinting across the back yard toward the gate. As I moved as fast as I could go, I caught sight of my father as he hitched the sledgehammer over his shoulder and launched himself off the veranda. Get back here! he screamed. I ran. I ran hard.At the back gate, I jumped and cleared it with my father only inches behind me. I felt the breeze of his sledgehammer swish past me. I could hear his hard breathing as he struggled to get over. I ran on and paced away. Breathing. Running. Breathing. Running.Out in the street, I turned and sprinted down the middle of the bitumen. If a car was coming, I could put up my arms and scream. Maybe whoever was driving might stop. As I ran, I saw a shadow on the road. The shadow of an eagle raced on ahead in front of me, and then suddenly, it disappeared. From behind, I heard an eagle screech with an ear-piercing cry and echoed through the suburbs. I stopped and spun around in time to see Charlottes silhouette in the late afternoon sun. Her outline that was backlit from the bright light, tumbled and turned over high up in the sky. She tucked in her wings and became a bullet, head down, screeching her cry through the air as my father ran almost out of breath, panting, and still trying to shut me down.With no warning, Charlotte came down from behind him and attached her giant talons around my fathers neck. Screeching and squealing, she flared out her wings and I saw her talons disappear deep into his flesh. Long red ribbons ripped away from my fathers neck as Charlotte again took to the skies. My father screamed out then gurgled chillingly in a way Id never heard before. He placed both his hands over his gaping op en wounds but to no avail. The fountains of his blood reached high above him. Then, his body seemed to collapse from under his weight. I knew from that moment, there was no life left in him. The Mad Man was dead.From a distance, I heard the sounds of sirens. Theo Mack would arrive, but by the time he reached the scene where blood was everywhere, the mandatory police guns drawn approach was of no use. Theo exited his police vehicle exactly as I thought. Get on the ground! he shouted, pistol pointed at my lifeless father. When he got close enough, I saw his shoulders droop, and he put his gun away.As I turned away from what I was seeing, Maggie was there, standing in front of me with her arms held out. Come with me, love, she said, gathering me up and pulling me into her arms. Maggie smelled of lavender. After that moment, lavender took on a new meaning for me. Whenever I smell lavender, it transports me back to the time I was orphaned and left without my parents. My Angel saved me fr om the Mad Man, but now, I must somehow live with the memory.