7816vn+Participial+Phrase+Story

//**The Duel**//

Throbbing from the duel, Simon realized that he was the victor to the battle of he and his brother. Simon grasped a feeling of sympathy, for he killed his brother for a childhood feud. Before I tell you the end of the story, I'll start with the beginning. The year was 1828, two boys named Jack and Simon lived in Baltimore, MD. Simon was 14, Jack was 20. The brothers were four years younger when their parents abandoned them. The two brothers made very little contact, but when they did, it was a punch to the gut, or the occasional wrestle. Jack worked at the steam engine factory, he made $800 a year. Simon was a baker's apprentice, he made $287 a year (both of them, together, made about $18,000 a year, in today's money). Together, they barely made it. "Jack?" called Simon as he thought he heard an intruder. Before Simon knew it, a fist was introduced to his face. "You should be sleeping!" Jack exclaimed. "//You// didn't have to punch me!" Simon cried, as blood rushed down his nose. Simon's complaint just scored him a blow to the gut. Simon cried all night. When he spotted the annual dueling contest poster, Simon Finally felt better. He had a plan. "Jack!" Simon yelled. "What," Jack replied, walking down the stairs. "I have a proposal," Simon started, "one of us might just make it if "it" pulls through." "What is your plan?" Jack moaned. Simon explained that if him and Jack were to make it to the dueling finals, they would finally be able to fight to the death, but that's not all. The winner of the duel gets $5,000 (about $250,000, in today's money) and a chance in the real world. Jack was hesitant, but he took up the offer. The next day, Simon and Jack arrived at the competition. There were big men and small men, both sizes looked mean. "Welcome to the 16th annual dueling contest!" Announced a man in a checkered suit. "Today is the largest competition ever, with 250 swordsmen. For about an hour, the man was giving a speech until the clock struck 12.  The man stated one more thing, "All contestants must fight until two remain!"  Four hours, broadswords clashed. Four hours, broadswords sliced. Four hours, broadswords cut, but finally the two men that stood were Jack and Simon.  "We have our final two!" The man chanted, "1, 2, 3, fight!"  When Simon slashed his sword, it was as if a whole mountain of power were unleashed. Jack was slow, yet powerful almost like an elephant. Parry after parry, slash after slash, neither boy would fall. If Jack were to stab, Simon would block it. If Simon were to block, Jack would slash back. On and on, off and off for nearly three hours of fighting Simon and Jack found that they were exceptional swordsmen, but the battle ended when both brothers struck eachother. Jack smashed Simon in the face, while Simon cut through Jack's rib. Bum-bum bum-bum. Simon felt his heart beat. As he looked up, Simon saw that Jack was dead, or dying. "Jack?" Simon asked. "I'm not gonna make it s-Simon," Jack cried. "That's alright," Simon whispered, trying not to let a tear drop. "I'm proud of you Simon!" Jack finished. Simon became a rich banker for the rest of his life. Simon never married. In the year, 1934 Simon died at the age of 120. For his whole life, Simon spread the word of brotherhood, but never mentioned his brother to anybody. When Simon found his parents, they were little more than skin and bone. Simon told the whole story to them, and then his parents told theirs. It turns out they didn't abandon the boys, they were arrested for 3 years of never paying taxes. Simon payed off their debt of $4000 easily. Over 100 years, Simon raised $11,000,000, or $250,000,000 in today's money.