I died on April 18, 1966. It wasn’t a fast death or a torturous one. I merely faded from existence. I suppose I was born once, but my parents never held me. I remember the day I was born, the moon was heavy, dragging the stars down along with it. The night was somber and dead and the lively corn stalks sang high into the atmosphere. At first, I couldn’t see anything, but I could hear the crow serenading my limp, infant form. It was the late summer and the cornstalks were wilting, I could smell autumn being born, but for me, time stood still.
Off away, in the deadening horizon were the whispers of hush noises. A boy and a girl emerged, like me, they were nameless, nonexistent. The girl, her wide forehead and heart lips, swung me onto her shoulders, and fastened me with her scarf. Their bare feet marched, deep into the cornstalks.
Winter fell swiftly, heavily on top of two ambiguous silhouettes, their bare feet marching. We wandered into the woods, thick heavy tress sheltered us against the turbulence. We ate the carcasses and flesh of the deer who could not outrun the death of winter. Together we were alone, but never lonely. The girl whose shoulders I borrowed never cried in frustration, in desperation. She never mourned nor appeared funereal, her expression always steadfast, and the boy who led us, his brows always furrowed. Near the heart of the lynching trees stood a wide, meadow clearing. A small field, absent of sound, was fenced in by thick tree trunks. We had begun to settle when we heard the echoes of low growls, waltzing through the misshapen trees.
The indigenous people of this area had once told rumors of giant wolves, larger than seven feet when standing on their hind legs. The people and the rumors had died, but the wolves did not. The girl, the boy, and I held our breaths, listened intently on the paw prints, but the wolves made no sound. Then, the sound of growling came from all sides.
‘Crunch,’ the beasts pace quickened and they no longer worried about stealth. They lunged into the clearing. There were five of them, dirty, gray coats protected them against the wind. Their eyes were hollow, calculating their next meal.
The first one lunged from behind. Its teeth, an index finger long and its jaw, menacing with drool. The child flung forward, jumping, her little feet sprinting through the cold fangs of snow. The young boy followed quickly. The other wolves snarled behind us. There was no way we could outrun them. The little girl began weaving through the trees. The big wolves were not as agile as her. Two collided with bark, the other three were suddenly more tenacious. Branches whipped into our faces, our feet being eaten by the snow, more snarling. They were close now, We could see them running beside us, their white bodies a blur. We ran towards the sound of rushing water.
A cliff stood before us, linking another landmass by a single, rickety, wooden bridge. She glanced at the young boy, they were moving further and further apart, but his smile reassured her. She began crossing the bridge, tiny foot in front of tiny foot. She reached the end. He was still at the beginning, knife in hand. Her wide eyes grew larger.
For a second the sunlight faded. The bridge fell apart and so did our little family. He ran back into the woods. Suddenly deep within the nothingness of the woods, a foreign, white, figure raced. The shape jumped and for a second we mistook it for a moving mass of snow.
Before us stood the mother, she had leapt across the river and her coat was pure white. She stood on her hind legs. The mother stood almost seven feet. She smirked, her fangs making up half of her face. Her eyes were bloodshot and mad. I could feel us slipping, and then the ledge broke. We all fell into the river, but we were striving to survive. Our family did not die that day. We could not die without each other.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Welcome to the world baby -- Cherokee sanders, Grade 9
It was a sunny day in July and my family was having a picnic in the park. Everyone was there and me and my favorite cousin Sharon was just sitting on the bench watching the girls jump double Dutch and watching the boys play basket ball and while we were sitting there watching our family enjoy the picnic I thought to myself and said “this day couldn’t get any better”. That is until my brothers girlfriend water broke and she went into labor. Every one was hysterical except me and her I mean I thought the parent was suppose to act like that but I guess not. When I seen her water break and she started screaming I thought I was going to fall out I mean I never seen anyone go into labor before so I was really shocked. My brother and my mom got her in the car as quick they could and they started down the rode to HCMC. As soon as we got there they rushed her to the emergency room and she was screaming and squeezing things and she reached for my hand but I had no idea that she was going to squeeze it that hard it was like she was squeezing the life out of my hand. So here we all are in the delivery room well not all of us just me my mom and my brother and there she is just pushing away and taking deep breaths every chance she got and after like ten pushes you can see his head and right then and there I thought I was going to faint but I manage to stay on my feet .as she’s pushing and pushing the baby is just staying In one place and then finally she got so mad and yelled “get this baby out of me” and as soon as she said that he came out a liltle more and every time she yelled he kept coming until he finally came out he was 6pounds and seven ounces. When it was my tern to hold him I just stared at him and then I whisper softly to him and I said “welcome to the world baby”
Valentine’s Day Special - - Brett Briley 10th grade
I hate Valentines day. It’s a day where the good looking get what they want, and everyone else gets nothing. The day where jocks go out and celebrate with their girls, and everyone else sits back in the shadows and watch them. And the day where my spirit was put down.
My name’s Jimmy. I’m not very popular here at Northtown High. Just about everything here revolves around the football team and their big-headed quarterback Fred. Fred and I, we can’t stand each other. One day in 3rd grade I accidentally spilled glue on Fred’s chair and he sat on it. After school he waited for me at the park and threw me on the ground and kicked me. Ever since we’ve been doing things to break each other. This mostly turns out in Fred’s favor, and today was no exception. The girl that I’ve dreamed of since 1st grade, Emily, accepted Fred’s invitation of going on a date with him. Now let me tell you a little about Emily. Emily is very hot. She was voted most prettiest girl the last 4 years. She has brown hair and blue eyes that sparkle more than all the water in the world. She’s about mid-sized and plays a great amount of sports. She’s caption of the volleyball team and the cheerleading squad. Besides sports she’s involved with student council, the French club, and money manager for the concession stands. Emily is a really great girl.
The thing that really makes me mad about this situation is that Emily doesn’t even like Fred. She’s always telling me about how she wished Fred would just grow up and act a little more mature, like me. That was a great day. Not only did I finally have a chance to sit down and talk to Emily, I also got a few hugs out of it too! If only every day was like that day. So after school I decided to wait at Emily’s locker for her to see if she wanted to do something. When Emily saw me down the hallway, she smiled and gave me a hand gesture to wait a few minutes. She told each and everyone of her friends goodbye and gave them all hugs before walking over to me. She came up to me and gave me a nice, big hug. She then asked, “What’re you still doing here?” In a shy tender voice I replied, “I wanted to ask you if maybe you wanted to go out and do something tonight.” Emily had to think about it for a moment. She finally whispered, “ Sorry Jimmy, but Fred already asked me.”
Just at that moment big badass Fred walks over and pushed me into the locker next to Emily’s. I stayed on the floor in pain. Fred wasn’t just the quarterback he was a wrestler too. Emily started freaking out, screaming at Fred to leave me alone. Fred just kept kicking me no matter how many times Emily told him to stop. After a few minutes Fred finally let me up. My nose was busted my arm stung, and my clothes were ruined. At this point I was tired of Fred and his bullshit. I turned around and socked him right in the face with my fist. Fred stared at me in shock before he tumbled onto the floor, going into a few hour sleep. I knew that I was going to be in trouble, because nobody ever believed me. But at the end of the day, it didn’t matter to me. I was Emily’s new hero.
My name’s Jimmy. I’m not very popular here at Northtown High. Just about everything here revolves around the football team and their big-headed quarterback Fred. Fred and I, we can’t stand each other. One day in 3rd grade I accidentally spilled glue on Fred’s chair and he sat on it. After school he waited for me at the park and threw me on the ground and kicked me. Ever since we’ve been doing things to break each other. This mostly turns out in Fred’s favor, and today was no exception. The girl that I’ve dreamed of since 1st grade, Emily, accepted Fred’s invitation of going on a date with him. Now let me tell you a little about Emily. Emily is very hot. She was voted most prettiest girl the last 4 years. She has brown hair and blue eyes that sparkle more than all the water in the world. She’s about mid-sized and plays a great amount of sports. She’s caption of the volleyball team and the cheerleading squad. Besides sports she’s involved with student council, the French club, and money manager for the concession stands. Emily is a really great girl.
The thing that really makes me mad about this situation is that Emily doesn’t even like Fred. She’s always telling me about how she wished Fred would just grow up and act a little more mature, like me. That was a great day. Not only did I finally have a chance to sit down and talk to Emily, I also got a few hugs out of it too! If only every day was like that day. So after school I decided to wait at Emily’s locker for her to see if she wanted to do something. When Emily saw me down the hallway, she smiled and gave me a hand gesture to wait a few minutes. She told each and everyone of her friends goodbye and gave them all hugs before walking over to me. She came up to me and gave me a nice, big hug. She then asked, “What’re you still doing here?” In a shy tender voice I replied, “I wanted to ask you if maybe you wanted to go out and do something tonight.” Emily had to think about it for a moment. She finally whispered, “ Sorry Jimmy, but Fred already asked me.”
Just at that moment big badass Fred walks over and pushed me into the locker next to Emily’s. I stayed on the floor in pain. Fred wasn’t just the quarterback he was a wrestler too. Emily started freaking out, screaming at Fred to leave me alone. Fred just kept kicking me no matter how many times Emily told him to stop. After a few minutes Fred finally let me up. My nose was busted my arm stung, and my clothes were ruined. At this point I was tired of Fred and his bullshit. I turned around and socked him right in the face with my fist. Fred stared at me in shock before he tumbled onto the floor, going into a few hour sleep. I knew that I was going to be in trouble, because nobody ever believed me. But at the end of the day, it didn’t matter to me. I was Emily’s new hero.
The Truth Hurts
I hated everything! Nothing was going the way I planned. First, the boy of my dreams, Alexander, wasn’t paying any attention to me. He ignored me and one day he told me something that filled me with anger and disappointment.
It all started the first day of school, when I spotted a new kid in my biology class. He was tall, athletic, with really pretty blue eyes and the best part was his perfect tan. As Ms. Johnson assigned lab partners, I crossed my fingers hoping that Alexander would be mine. I couldn’t stop smiling when she said “Cristina P. and Alexander O.” My heart started to beat faster and faster, I felt like the luckiest girl in the whole world. I was very nervous but I managed to welcome him to the school and to introduce myself. He did the same with a quiet and shy voice. By the end of the day we had become very good friends, so I invited him to go to the mall with me and my friends. Alexander agreed and we went to meet Molly, Katie, and Annie at the mall.
When we got there I introduced him with all my friends and they seemed to get along really good. After a while, my friends, Alexander, and me hanged out a lot until one day I decided to tell him what felt for him. With my voice cracking I told him that I liked him but he told me that he liked my best friend Annie.
It all started the first day of school, when I spotted a new kid in my biology class. He was tall, athletic, with really pretty blue eyes and the best part was his perfect tan. As Ms. Johnson assigned lab partners, I crossed my fingers hoping that Alexander would be mine. I couldn’t stop smiling when she said “Cristina P. and Alexander O.” My heart started to beat faster and faster, I felt like the luckiest girl in the whole world. I was very nervous but I managed to welcome him to the school and to introduce myself. He did the same with a quiet and shy voice. By the end of the day we had become very good friends, so I invited him to go to the mall with me and my friends. Alexander agreed and we went to meet Molly, Katie, and Annie at the mall.
When we got there I introduced him with all my friends and they seemed to get along really good. After a while, my friends, Alexander, and me hanged out a lot until one day I decided to tell him what felt for him. With my voice cracking I told him that I liked him but he told me that he liked my best friend Annie.
The Strange Dream -- By: Ivan Jimenez Grade: 9th
My breath burned in my chest and I was running out of strength there was no doubt about it, he was getting closer, the man with a black mask trying to kidnap me. I was horrified because it was late at night in the city I thought to myself, where is everyone?
Having no idea where they were I kept running, I ran through two buildings and a store but the man in the mask was still behind me about a block away but it felt like he was right beside me.
I kept running, finally I reached to a point where I was too tired too go on, my feet were soar and I could barely feel them so I decided to hide in the very next building I saw but the next building was a small store, I had no other choice I checked behind me the guy in mask was two minutes away from me enough time to hide
So I ran into the store and hided inside a big box of candy waiting for the kidnapper to pass by but the kidnaper walked into the store I took three deep breathes and as the kidnapper got closer I started to panic in my head telling myself “he is going to catch me he is going to catch me!!!” I was breathing harder as he opened the first box but luckily I was in the fourth box, he opened the second box I wasn’t in there, he opened the third box I wasn’t there either when he finally got to my box I screamed in terror jumped out of the box and tried too run but he grabbed my shirt and pulled me back, I fell and fainted for 3 seconds but as I was waking up I saw him putting me in his big black bag I tried too fight my way out of the bag but he tied the bag to tight for me too get out.
He was about to put me in his truck full of kids but suddenly I felt a hit, a hit so soft it felt like a pillow I opened my eyes and it was my little brother on the side of my bed I asked myself “was that just a dream?” I looked around, it was my room but it couldn’t be I was just getting chased by a guy in a mask. I got up from my bed and was thankful that It really didn’t happen I ran downstairs too the kitchen and as I ran downstairs I saw I black figure in my hand, it was a black mask.
Having no idea where they were I kept running, I ran through two buildings and a store but the man in the mask was still behind me about a block away but it felt like he was right beside me.
I kept running, finally I reached to a point where I was too tired too go on, my feet were soar and I could barely feel them so I decided to hide in the very next building I saw but the next building was a small store, I had no other choice I checked behind me the guy in mask was two minutes away from me enough time to hide
So I ran into the store and hided inside a big box of candy waiting for the kidnapper to pass by but the kidnaper walked into the store I took three deep breathes and as the kidnapper got closer I started to panic in my head telling myself “he is going to catch me he is going to catch me!!!” I was breathing harder as he opened the first box but luckily I was in the fourth box, he opened the second box I wasn’t in there, he opened the third box I wasn’t there either when he finally got to my box I screamed in terror jumped out of the box and tried too run but he grabbed my shirt and pulled me back, I fell and fainted for 3 seconds but as I was waking up I saw him putting me in his big black bag I tried too fight my way out of the bag but he tied the bag to tight for me too get out.
He was about to put me in his truck full of kids but suddenly I felt a hit, a hit so soft it felt like a pillow I opened my eyes and it was my little brother on the side of my bed I asked myself “was that just a dream?” I looked around, it was my room but it couldn’t be I was just getting chased by a guy in a mask. I got up from my bed and was thankful that It really didn’t happen I ran downstairs too the kitchen and as I ran downstairs I saw I black figure in my hand, it was a black mask.
The Silent River - anonymous
Jane and I walked down to the river, it was a beautiful morning and I was sure nothing could go wrong. We sat down on the lush green grass next to the calm flowing river. Birds were tweeting and the smell of the outdoors just filled your lungs with the sweetest sensation. Jane and I are best friends we’ve been living with each other since we were both born. I’d have to say that I’m about three weeks older than Jane. Our parents bought a farm together after they got married and ever since, we’ve been living here. Our dads were best friends since the third grade. It was late June and my birthday was just around the corner, July 2nd. The day I turn 18 and boy was I excited.
I wasn’t too sure why Jane asked me to go to the river with her. We usually met there when we just needed sometime away from our parents. But that day, Jane was acting different and I just couldn’t quite get it.
“John?” She asked me in a hushed tone.
“Yeah, Jane? What’s wrong? You seem too gloomy to be my Jane today.” I replied, hoping to make her smile a little.
“Oh! It’s nothing.” She smiled really big. Now, before I get to the next part of my story, I should tell you that for a while no, I’ve been starting to have feelings for Jane. It was not the kind of feeling where I liked her as sister. It was more like the feelings you see on T.V., like the romantic kind. So anyway, I was a little confused when Jane smiled because just before, she looked like she was going to cry.
“Are you sure it’s nothing?” I confusedly asked her.
“Yeah.” She replied. “I just wanted you to come with me today so I could talk to you.”
“About what?” I asked impatiently.
“Well, you know how your birthday is coming up and you’re about to turn 18.” This is what I absolutely love about Jane. She always thought about others and she always remembered dates. Even though her birthday was only three weeks after mine, she still was thinking about my birthday instead of hers.
“Yeah? So?” I asked her trying to act cool.
“I just wanted to give you your birthday present, that’s all. I wanted to give it to you before hand. Is that okay?” her voice was getting a little nervous and shaky.
“Sure, I don’t mind.” Of course I wanted an early birthday present.
“Okay…” she said drifting off. “Close your eye.” And so, I closed me eyes and waited impatiently, and nervously to see what my present was. Then, smack, my heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to fall to the ground. Jane was kissing me! I opened my eyes and there she was, face to face with me. I was in shock; I’ve never felt like this before. Jane got up and ran off. I heard her in the distance screaming, happy birthday! I could feel my face getting hot and red. I got back to reality and ran back to the farm. I turned and looked at the apple tree, Jane was crying. I ran towards her and hugged her not knowing what was wrong. I wiped her tears. “Jane, what happened?” She answered me in quiet sobs,
“My parents want to move to the city, they say it’ll be better for me, better for my future.” She leaned into my chest and hugged me. “I don’t want to go John, I don’t want to go.” I was shocked, but this time, it was a chock of pain. I held her tighter in my arms.
“It’s okay Jane. I’ll make sure that you stay.”
The next morning I woke up and I was determined to talk to Jane’s parents. I skipped breakfast and walked next door. Knock, knock, knock. Mrs. Smith opened the door.
“Why, good morning John. What brings you over here?” I try to respond calmly.
“Good morning Mrs. Smith. I just wanted to visit Jane and Mr. Smith. May I come in?”
“Of course, of course. Come in.” I walked into the house. It looked so similar to mine, every aspect about it. I saw Mr. Smith sitting in the living rom. I walked over and spoke up to him.
“Mr. Smith?”
“Yes son? What brings you here this fine morning?”
“Well you see, I don’t think its right for you guys to decide where Jane gets to live. You can’t make her move to the city.”
“I’m sorry John, but we’ve already made our decision.” Jane comes running in and you can tell that she is infuriated.
“No dad! I won’t go! I don’t want to go. Can’t you just consider my feelings for once?”
“Sorry honey, but no.” I panicked; my mind was racing, so I said the first thing I could think of.
“Mr. Smith, Jane and I want to get married.” It seemed like we were in a movie and everyone just paused. Mr. Smith looked at me from the top of his glasses. By now I was very afraid to see what his response would be.
“Well.” He said. I guess we’ll have to…” he stopped in the middle of his sentence and looked back down at his news paper. “… plan a wedding then, won’t we?” Jane’s face expression went from shocked, from when I said we were getting married, to great joy and a smile when she knew she didn’t have to move anymore. She jumped up in joy and hugged me so tight I almost couldn’t breathe.
Our wedding was held in mid August at Silent River, where we had our first kiss. Now, Jane and I are happier than ever. We have a three year old daughter and we never regretted getting married.
The End
I wasn’t too sure why Jane asked me to go to the river with her. We usually met there when we just needed sometime away from our parents. But that day, Jane was acting different and I just couldn’t quite get it.
“John?” She asked me in a hushed tone.
“Yeah, Jane? What’s wrong? You seem too gloomy to be my Jane today.” I replied, hoping to make her smile a little.
“Oh! It’s nothing.” She smiled really big. Now, before I get to the next part of my story, I should tell you that for a while no, I’ve been starting to have feelings for Jane. It was not the kind of feeling where I liked her as sister. It was more like the feelings you see on T.V., like the romantic kind. So anyway, I was a little confused when Jane smiled because just before, she looked like she was going to cry.
“Are you sure it’s nothing?” I confusedly asked her.
“Yeah.” She replied. “I just wanted you to come with me today so I could talk to you.”
“About what?” I asked impatiently.
“Well, you know how your birthday is coming up and you’re about to turn 18.” This is what I absolutely love about Jane. She always thought about others and she always remembered dates. Even though her birthday was only three weeks after mine, she still was thinking about my birthday instead of hers.
“Yeah? So?” I asked her trying to act cool.
“I just wanted to give you your birthday present, that’s all. I wanted to give it to you before hand. Is that okay?” her voice was getting a little nervous and shaky.
“Sure, I don’t mind.” Of course I wanted an early birthday present.
“Okay…” she said drifting off. “Close your eye.” And so, I closed me eyes and waited impatiently, and nervously to see what my present was. Then, smack, my heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to fall to the ground. Jane was kissing me! I opened my eyes and there she was, face to face with me. I was in shock; I’ve never felt like this before. Jane got up and ran off. I heard her in the distance screaming, happy birthday! I could feel my face getting hot and red. I got back to reality and ran back to the farm. I turned and looked at the apple tree, Jane was crying. I ran towards her and hugged her not knowing what was wrong. I wiped her tears. “Jane, what happened?” She answered me in quiet sobs,
“My parents want to move to the city, they say it’ll be better for me, better for my future.” She leaned into my chest and hugged me. “I don’t want to go John, I don’t want to go.” I was shocked, but this time, it was a chock of pain. I held her tighter in my arms.
“It’s okay Jane. I’ll make sure that you stay.”
The next morning I woke up and I was determined to talk to Jane’s parents. I skipped breakfast and walked next door. Knock, knock, knock. Mrs. Smith opened the door.
“Why, good morning John. What brings you over here?” I try to respond calmly.
“Good morning Mrs. Smith. I just wanted to visit Jane and Mr. Smith. May I come in?”
“Of course, of course. Come in.” I walked into the house. It looked so similar to mine, every aspect about it. I saw Mr. Smith sitting in the living rom. I walked over and spoke up to him.
“Mr. Smith?”
“Yes son? What brings you here this fine morning?”
“Well you see, I don’t think its right for you guys to decide where Jane gets to live. You can’t make her move to the city.”
“I’m sorry John, but we’ve already made our decision.” Jane comes running in and you can tell that she is infuriated.
“No dad! I won’t go! I don’t want to go. Can’t you just consider my feelings for once?”
“Sorry honey, but no.” I panicked; my mind was racing, so I said the first thing I could think of.
“Mr. Smith, Jane and I want to get married.” It seemed like we were in a movie and everyone just paused. Mr. Smith looked at me from the top of his glasses. By now I was very afraid to see what his response would be.
“Well.” He said. I guess we’ll have to…” he stopped in the middle of his sentence and looked back down at his news paper. “… plan a wedding then, won’t we?” Jane’s face expression went from shocked, from when I said we were getting married, to great joy and a smile when she knew she didn’t have to move anymore. She jumped up in joy and hugged me so tight I almost couldn’t breathe.
Our wedding was held in mid August at Silent River, where we had our first kiss. Now, Jane and I are happier than ever. We have a three year old daughter and we never regretted getting married.
The End
The Emancipation - Shaena Swanson, 10th grade
The sun was hurting my eyes and the helmet was pushing awkwardly against my temples, but it was worth it, being on that motorcycle and leaving my old life behind. The worn blacktop road unwound behind us and beyond the horizon laid untapped freedom. We had been trapped here for far too long. It was finally time for us to break the chains, to escape the grip society had held us in our entire lives.
Maverick was driving. He was my boyfriend of two and a half years, and was just as motivated to run away as I was. He’d lived in a trailer park with his father for his entire life, and they had hardly any money. On Valentine’s Day and my birthday, he would give up an entire month’s salary from his minimum-wage job at the lumberyard just to buy me gifts. This motorcycle was a gift from his mother, who had remarried an extremely wealthy software producer and now had more money than she knew what to do with.
Me, I’m just from a small town in Oregon. I’ve lived in the same house my entire life. Everything in my life- my house, my family, the dreadful family-friendly minivan- was the epitome of suburbia. That was my mother’s goal: perfect house, perfect family, and perfect life. Unfortunately for her, I was ruining her master plan by running away with my boyfriend to California.
The sun was beating down hard on my neck. The winters here in Oregon were terrible, below-zero temperatures, icy wind, and foot upon foot of thick snow, but the summers here were also disgusting, in a completely different way of course. It was hot and humid. The air was thick and heavy with beads of moisture that seemed to reflect every ray of sunlight, nearly blinding you every time you stepped outside.
“Sophya, are you alright back there?” Maverick called from the front.
“I’m absolutely fantastic!” His hair blew wildly in the wind, dark brown curls flying all over the place. I laughed and took a look around. This freedom, this emancipation- it was what I had been waiting for my entire life. We needed to get away from our old lives. We needed to start a new one, together, in California. There, we would be happy.
I wrapped my arms around Maverick’s torso and took a deep breath in. He smelled like leather and cigarette smoke. To me, that was the true smell of freedom.
The last thing I remember is the back wheel of the motorcycle catching on something- maybe a pebble- and us spinning out of control. I recall flying off the back of the bike and soaring through the air, but I don’t remember hitting the gravel.
When I woke up, my mother was sitting next to me. She had my hand clutches against her heart. Her tear-streaked face stared at me in awe as I slowly opened my eyes.
“M-mom,” I attempted. It was feeble, and came out as merely a whisper. She just nodded. “W-where’s Maverick?” I asked.
“He’s fine, honey. He’s over in the next room with his father.” Tears, stained black with eye makeup, streamed down her aged face. “Oh, Sophya, I’m so glad you’re alright.”
“W-what happened?” I asked. She told me about when they found the motorcycle, how it was badly scraped up on the side and the back wheel was bent. Maverick hadn’t been as badly injured, just a broken ankle, but I had flown off the back of the bike, hit my head, fractured my right arm in three places and broken two ribs. My entire body was bandaged and covered in road rash.
My mother’s well-manicured hands stoked my left hand. She kept whispering, “I love you Sophya. I’m so glad you’re okay.” It was then that I realized that it doesn’t matter what my mother wanted me to be, or how annoyingly meticulous she was. What was important was our relationship as mother and daughter. I no longer felt out-of-place, no longer felt as though I had to run away to feel happy or free. I had found a different kind of freedom, here in my hometown. I was free from my feelings of inadequacy, and surrounded by those who loved me.
Maverick was driving. He was my boyfriend of two and a half years, and was just as motivated to run away as I was. He’d lived in a trailer park with his father for his entire life, and they had hardly any money. On Valentine’s Day and my birthday, he would give up an entire month’s salary from his minimum-wage job at the lumberyard just to buy me gifts. This motorcycle was a gift from his mother, who had remarried an extremely wealthy software producer and now had more money than she knew what to do with.
Me, I’m just from a small town in Oregon. I’ve lived in the same house my entire life. Everything in my life- my house, my family, the dreadful family-friendly minivan- was the epitome of suburbia. That was my mother’s goal: perfect house, perfect family, and perfect life. Unfortunately for her, I was ruining her master plan by running away with my boyfriend to California.
The sun was beating down hard on my neck. The winters here in Oregon were terrible, below-zero temperatures, icy wind, and foot upon foot of thick snow, but the summers here were also disgusting, in a completely different way of course. It was hot and humid. The air was thick and heavy with beads of moisture that seemed to reflect every ray of sunlight, nearly blinding you every time you stepped outside.
“Sophya, are you alright back there?” Maverick called from the front.
“I’m absolutely fantastic!” His hair blew wildly in the wind, dark brown curls flying all over the place. I laughed and took a look around. This freedom, this emancipation- it was what I had been waiting for my entire life. We needed to get away from our old lives. We needed to start a new one, together, in California. There, we would be happy.
I wrapped my arms around Maverick’s torso and took a deep breath in. He smelled like leather and cigarette smoke. To me, that was the true smell of freedom.
The last thing I remember is the back wheel of the motorcycle catching on something- maybe a pebble- and us spinning out of control. I recall flying off the back of the bike and soaring through the air, but I don’t remember hitting the gravel.
When I woke up, my mother was sitting next to me. She had my hand clutches against her heart. Her tear-streaked face stared at me in awe as I slowly opened my eyes.
“M-mom,” I attempted. It was feeble, and came out as merely a whisper. She just nodded. “W-where’s Maverick?” I asked.
“He’s fine, honey. He’s over in the next room with his father.” Tears, stained black with eye makeup, streamed down her aged face. “Oh, Sophya, I’m so glad you’re alright.”
“W-what happened?” I asked. She told me about when they found the motorcycle, how it was badly scraped up on the side and the back wheel was bent. Maverick hadn’t been as badly injured, just a broken ankle, but I had flown off the back of the bike, hit my head, fractured my right arm in three places and broken two ribs. My entire body was bandaged and covered in road rash.
My mother’s well-manicured hands stoked my left hand. She kept whispering, “I love you Sophya. I’m so glad you’re okay.” It was then that I realized that it doesn’t matter what my mother wanted me to be, or how annoyingly meticulous she was. What was important was our relationship as mother and daughter. I no longer felt out-of-place, no longer felt as though I had to run away to feel happy or free. I had found a different kind of freedom, here in my hometown. I was free from my feelings of inadequacy, and surrounded by those who loved me.
The Drink of Acceptance - - by Shelly Wagner, 10th Grade
And there I sat, in the corner of my cold, dark room, wrapped up in the red wool blanket that my mom gave me when I was 5. I had a ½ empty bottle of Bacardi in the hand and I just felt so lonely. That’s practically how every night has been since my senior year in high school. I’ve been abandoned and on my own since…as far back as I’d like to remember. I was always the odd one out. I had no siblings, no parents, no one that really loved me. Until one day when I met Jill.
Jill was a fine young lady. She was energetic, motivated, social, and was always doing something. Although after she met me, it seemed like she spent all of her time trying to make me happy. It never worked though. She was as clingy as a new puppy to its owner, always following me around, asking where I was going, and she was like that for only one reason. She loved me. I don’t know why either. She told me many times that all she lived for was me, and I couldn’t even care. I had known for a long time that there was something wrong with me. I never really liked girl all that much, they were too weird. I wanted to be with guys constantly, but to cover this all up I went out with a couple of girls. After an incident where, as embarrassing as it is to admit it, a girl that I dated named Cindy said I was “barely a man” while in bed with me, I gave up on women. In the 8th grade, I knew I was gay.
I never seemed to have the heart or the guts to tell Jill why I couldn’t love her, or even see her as something other than that pest I tried to avoid. One day I attempted to tell her, and I almost had the word out of my mouth, I was thinking to myself “just say it, I am GAY!” but it just wouldn’t go. She sat there anxiously, awaiting this big truth I was finally going to expose to her, and it never came. Instead she screamed in my face, telling me I was the most inconsiderate bastard she had ever met in her life. For the first (and only) time in my life, I cried over a woman. Although she was a pest, she was the only friend that I had had. She comforted me and made me feel like I was suppose to be a part of this world, and from that day on, drinking was my best friend.
Jill was a fine young lady. She was energetic, motivated, social, and was always doing something. Although after she met me, it seemed like she spent all of her time trying to make me happy. It never worked though. She was as clingy as a new puppy to its owner, always following me around, asking where I was going, and she was like that for only one reason. She loved me. I don’t know why either. She told me many times that all she lived for was me, and I couldn’t even care. I had known for a long time that there was something wrong with me. I never really liked girl all that much, they were too weird. I wanted to be with guys constantly, but to cover this all up I went out with a couple of girls. After an incident where, as embarrassing as it is to admit it, a girl that I dated named Cindy said I was “barely a man” while in bed with me, I gave up on women. In the 8th grade, I knew I was gay.
I never seemed to have the heart or the guts to tell Jill why I couldn’t love her, or even see her as something other than that pest I tried to avoid. One day I attempted to tell her, and I almost had the word out of my mouth, I was thinking to myself “just say it, I am GAY!” but it just wouldn’t go. She sat there anxiously, awaiting this big truth I was finally going to expose to her, and it never came. Instead she screamed in my face, telling me I was the most inconsiderate bastard she had ever met in her life. For the first (and only) time in my life, I cried over a woman. Although she was a pest, she was the only friend that I had had. She comforted me and made me feel like I was suppose to be a part of this world, and from that day on, drinking was my best friend.
The Day I Met John
One sunny day at Logan Park the birds were chirping, the trees were calm and the grass was swaying back and forth to the rhythm of the wind. John’s mother had passed away but she was a millionaire and now all that fortune went to him. He was also secretly dating Megan Fox. He decided to disturb the peace and race by the park with his friends.
He was going 60 mph and he’s passing by the park when Clarissa, a young 22 year old woman gets in his way. There’s no way John could have stopped so he swerves around her. As he’s swerving he panics and lands in the lake that was right by the park. Meanwhile Clarissa lost all of her color because she thought the car was going to hit her. As she watched the car that almost took her life, sink into the lake she runs towards it to try to save the driver. The driver was conscious and he managed to take out his seat belt but he panicked because he felt the car sinking. Clarissa came just in time and took him out of the car. As she helped him to the ground all he could do was think about his precious car and how he almost lost it. So he pushed Clarissa away from him, with tears filling up his eyes he started yelling at her. “How could you have just popped out of nowhere?” he yelled. “I could have died” he said. So Clarissa simply took a deep breath, held her head high and asked him to calm down. “You should be thankful I came here and saved your life while you almost took mine away” she replied. “My precious car!” yelled John. “You stupid materialistic boy” Clarissa yelled. “Your car is now in the lake along with the soul of the woman’s body they found in there five years ago.” John said nothing and walked towards the park with tears streaming down his cheeks.
The clouds no longer seemed to smile at him and the sun didn’t shine as it had before. His eyes blurred by the tears, he sat on the grass and started humming to the song his mother used to sing to him. Clarissa simply followed him; she sat right next to him and asked if he was alright. He just nodded but didn’t turn to look at her. He simply starred off into space. “You can just get a different car, please don’t be upset over that” said Clarissa. John took a deep breath and seconds later he said what had been his worst memory. “Uhh..my mother, she uhh…she was the woman that was found in the lake.” His voice broke as he said lake. Clarissa simple put her head down and felt so ashamed. The tears continued to scroll down his face. Clarissa didn’t know what to do, she had only seen one other man cry before, her father and that was because her older brother Jack had got into a motorcycle accident and passed away. But now she has a stranger, tall handsome guy break down in front of her. How was she supposed to handle all this? All she could say was “I’m sorry”. She gave him a hug and told him that everything was going to be ok. She apologized than twenty times. Finally John stood up, fixed his shirt, wiped away. He turned back once to look at Clarissa; he gave her a soft smile and walked towards the city. Clarissa simply thought of the events that happened that day. She looked up at the sky and smiled.
She smiled because she had life, she smiled because if someone who had lost their mother could smile than so could she but mostly she smiled because she knew that somewhere up in the sky her brother Jack and John’s mother were looking down at her and smiling right back.
He was going 60 mph and he’s passing by the park when Clarissa, a young 22 year old woman gets in his way. There’s no way John could have stopped so he swerves around her. As he’s swerving he panics and lands in the lake that was right by the park. Meanwhile Clarissa lost all of her color because she thought the car was going to hit her. As she watched the car that almost took her life, sink into the lake she runs towards it to try to save the driver. The driver was conscious and he managed to take out his seat belt but he panicked because he felt the car sinking. Clarissa came just in time and took him out of the car. As she helped him to the ground all he could do was think about his precious car and how he almost lost it. So he pushed Clarissa away from him, with tears filling up his eyes he started yelling at her. “How could you have just popped out of nowhere?” he yelled. “I could have died” he said. So Clarissa simply took a deep breath, held her head high and asked him to calm down. “You should be thankful I came here and saved your life while you almost took mine away” she replied. “My precious car!” yelled John. “You stupid materialistic boy” Clarissa yelled. “Your car is now in the lake along with the soul of the woman’s body they found in there five years ago.” John said nothing and walked towards the park with tears streaming down his cheeks.
The clouds no longer seemed to smile at him and the sun didn’t shine as it had before. His eyes blurred by the tears, he sat on the grass and started humming to the song his mother used to sing to him. Clarissa simply followed him; she sat right next to him and asked if he was alright. He just nodded but didn’t turn to look at her. He simply starred off into space. “You can just get a different car, please don’t be upset over that” said Clarissa. John took a deep breath and seconds later he said what had been his worst memory. “Uhh..my mother, she uhh…she was the woman that was found in the lake.” His voice broke as he said lake. Clarissa simple put her head down and felt so ashamed. The tears continued to scroll down his face. Clarissa didn’t know what to do, she had only seen one other man cry before, her father and that was because her older brother Jack had got into a motorcycle accident and passed away. But now she has a stranger, tall handsome guy break down in front of her. How was she supposed to handle all this? All she could say was “I’m sorry”. She gave him a hug and told him that everything was going to be ok. She apologized than twenty times. Finally John stood up, fixed his shirt, wiped away. He turned back once to look at Clarissa; he gave her a soft smile and walked towards the city. Clarissa simply thought of the events that happened that day. She looked up at the sky and smiled.
She smiled because she had life, she smiled because if someone who had lost their mother could smile than so could she but mostly she smiled because she knew that somewhere up in the sky her brother Jack and John’s mother were looking down at her and smiling right back.
The Beast - by Natalie Koch, 10th Grade
The forest around me was suffocating. The tree’s howled with laughter as the wind rustled their silhouettes against the pale moonlight. The forest was mocking me at my desperate attempt to escape my attacker. But I couldn’t blame them; I didn’t even know why I was trying. It was as though the tree’s themselves were draining away my last strains of faith. They were cascading there leaves down to the damp ground in front of me, provoking me to slip. There roots stretched out over the beaten path, desperately trying to snag my feet upon them. Not only was U being hunted by an unimaginable beast, the forest, nature itself, was playing against me, and I was losing fast. As the darkness of the woods began to consume me, what I thought would be my sanctuary was quickly turning into my death bed.
As I approached the heart of the forest, the plants around me were thickening. I spread my arms across my face as I charged through a particularly large group mesh of sharp branches and thorn veins. I stumbled out into a clearing on the other side, covered with scratches and thorns in my skin. I didn’t have time to brush myself off, I had to keep moving. I kicked my brain into over-drive as I scream mental to tell my throbbing legs to resume their speed. Instead, they collapsed under my weight, my body tumbling onto the cool, soggy ground beneath me.
The cool dirt felt relaxing against my hot, sweaty face. I felt as though I had been running for days on end, but in reality, it had only been about forty-five minutes. For several, tense seconds, the forest around me had gone completely silent. The only thing I could hear was the thumping of my heart against my chest as I lied motionless. A wave of new hope washed over me. Perhaps the beast had grown tired, or better yet, had lost track of me. Whatever the case, I took the opportunity to check my battered body. With my adrenaline temporarily easing off, huge excruciating pain surged through my legs. I tried to relieve some discomfort by massaging them with my trembling, dirt covered fingers. It was no good, the pain had escalated to the point in were my legs were numb. With a shaky breath, I slowly picked off thorns protruding from my irritated skin. Tears collected in my eyes as I pricked each one by one. Time passed as I got the majority of the thorns out. I longer I stayed here, the more at risk I was for the beast to return. I figured my next best move would be to try to back track home along a different route, cringing at the fear in running into it through the way you came. I braced myself as I struggled to get into an upright position, then onto my feet. I staggered around before I was able to keep my ground, then gingerly made way towards a small, open path on the other side of the clearing. Suddenly, an ear piercing howl roared from behind me. I swung around and locked eyes with my pursuer. An enormous, black shaggy dog like creature stood before me. Its eye’s like fire, razor sharp teeth, and large matted paws stood ten feet away. It took a couple of paw steps forward, growls rumbling deep from his throat as he was about to pounce. I staggered backwards, frantically trying to flee the monster. Suddenly, the ground below me disappeared, and I feel down what I think was a cave, and hit the bottom with a thud, blacking out.
As I approached the heart of the forest, the plants around me were thickening. I spread my arms across my face as I charged through a particularly large group mesh of sharp branches and thorn veins. I stumbled out into a clearing on the other side, covered with scratches and thorns in my skin. I didn’t have time to brush myself off, I had to keep moving. I kicked my brain into over-drive as I scream mental to tell my throbbing legs to resume their speed. Instead, they collapsed under my weight, my body tumbling onto the cool, soggy ground beneath me.
The cool dirt felt relaxing against my hot, sweaty face. I felt as though I had been running for days on end, but in reality, it had only been about forty-five minutes. For several, tense seconds, the forest around me had gone completely silent. The only thing I could hear was the thumping of my heart against my chest as I lied motionless. A wave of new hope washed over me. Perhaps the beast had grown tired, or better yet, had lost track of me. Whatever the case, I took the opportunity to check my battered body. With my adrenaline temporarily easing off, huge excruciating pain surged through my legs. I tried to relieve some discomfort by massaging them with my trembling, dirt covered fingers. It was no good, the pain had escalated to the point in were my legs were numb. With a shaky breath, I slowly picked off thorns protruding from my irritated skin. Tears collected in my eyes as I pricked each one by one. Time passed as I got the majority of the thorns out. I longer I stayed here, the more at risk I was for the beast to return. I figured my next best move would be to try to back track home along a different route, cringing at the fear in running into it through the way you came. I braced myself as I struggled to get into an upright position, then onto my feet. I staggered around before I was able to keep my ground, then gingerly made way towards a small, open path on the other side of the clearing. Suddenly, an ear piercing howl roared from behind me. I swung around and locked eyes with my pursuer. An enormous, black shaggy dog like creature stood before me. Its eye’s like fire, razor sharp teeth, and large matted paws stood ten feet away. It took a couple of paw steps forward, growls rumbling deep from his throat as he was about to pounce. I staggered backwards, frantically trying to flee the monster. Suddenly, the ground below me disappeared, and I feel down what I think was a cave, and hit the bottom with a thud, blacking out.
The Bad Dream - this writer wishes to remain anonymous
There I sat, where you might ask? The honest truth is I don’t know. However what I do know is that I’m cold, and wherever I am its pitch black. I feel a pain on my forehead and the ground feels like concrete. Suddenly I heard footsteps. For some strange reason I felt terrified. Now you might think its normal for people to be scared, but not for me. I couldn’t move and I couldn’t speak.
The footsteps seemed to be walking around me, and for a second I thought they got so close, that I could feel someone breathing right above me. Then they stopped, and I hadn’t noticed that my eyes were shut tight. When I slowly opened them, I still couldn’t see a thing. However I could see a small spot of light, but then it went away so I thought I had just imagined it. When I tried to look for something, anything else I saw the light again. It was like a glow of light from somewhere outside, or light that same from another room through the creek of a door.
It got so bright that my eyes couldn’t stand looking at it, so I covered my face. In the light I could make out a persons shadow. This gave me chills down my spine. The person called my name but it was an unfamiliar voice. They sounded demanding but at the same time I could make out fear in their voice. I blinked, and in a split second I was in my room. It was bright and sunny outside, and there I lay relieved that it was only a bad dream. Although it seemed so realistic, it was definitely something that was going to be on my mind all day.
The footsteps seemed to be walking around me, and for a second I thought they got so close, that I could feel someone breathing right above me. Then they stopped, and I hadn’t noticed that my eyes were shut tight. When I slowly opened them, I still couldn’t see a thing. However I could see a small spot of light, but then it went away so I thought I had just imagined it. When I tried to look for something, anything else I saw the light again. It was like a glow of light from somewhere outside, or light that same from another room through the creek of a door.
It got so bright that my eyes couldn’t stand looking at it, so I covered my face. In the light I could make out a persons shadow. This gave me chills down my spine. The person called my name but it was an unfamiliar voice. They sounded demanding but at the same time I could make out fear in their voice. I blinked, and in a split second I was in my room. It was bright and sunny outside, and there I lay relieved that it was only a bad dream. Although it seemed so realistic, it was definitely something that was going to be on my mind all day.
KNOCK OUT - by Mohamed Mohamed 10th Grader
I was trying so hard not to sleep in my Biology class. The class is just so dead. Everybody is tired, and probably wants to go back to sleep. Having Biology first hour doesn’t sound so good. The teacher stands in the front of class giving us notes. Her name is Mrs. Walker; she likes me very much because of my academic effort. She wasn’t so happy wit my last semester’s class. This semester I am trying to get an A to be in great shape.
I decided it’s the first day, and just went to sleep. I felt so good and relaxed. When it comes to sleeping, I will sleep on top of huge rocks with below zero temperature. I can be a deep sleeper, but sometimes little things wake me up. I don’t know how many minutes I was sleeping, but after Mrs. W finished the notes she woke me up and asked me, “Tom are you ok”. I lied, “Yeah, but I have a little headache”. She told me “Maybe you should go to the nurse”. I said, “I’m ok now, but thanks”.
When class was over I wasn’t sleepy anymore. I actually was feeling good. I was thinking to myself, one hour down six more to go. In case you wanted to know I’m a sophomore in high school. I live with my mother and father, but I’m thinking about moving out because they get on my nerves. The thing I love about school is I’m away from them, but you need to stay away from them at least ten hours a day.
My second, third, and fourth hour classes felt long. That’s because I wasn’t sleepy. But I headed to lunch starving my ass off, I love lunch time because you eat and get to talk to your friends without being bothered.
Jim came up to me and said, “Hey let’s head up to the library, that English project is not going to do itself”. This is why I hang with Jim his always on the top of his game. He is good at sports, especially basketball and football. He also takes care of his academic things, He also helps me to do the same, and not slack off or get in trouble.
I went to the bathroom to go take a leak and I bumped into this girl named Sheryl. I chopped her up, and got her number of course. When it comes to talking to girls I got mad game. Any ways I told Sheryl I’m a call her tonight, but I’m not. It’s all part of the game, if you show the girl you really like her she’s going to be over herself, and probably not talk to you anymore. I’ll call her like next week. After that I’m a call her twice a week to pull her off.
“Ding Ding Ding”, the final bell of the school day rang. I went to my locker got my stuff, and headed straight home. I have like a school day routine. It’s like school, home, gym, then home again. I do most of my homework at night. That’s why I’m always sleepy in first hour class.
When I got home I called my buddy Jim, and told him lets go to the gym. He picked me up, and we headed to the gym. It’s boring at the gym now a day because basketball season ended. But I and Jim go work out, and practice basketball, and play for fun. When we entered the gym I saw Moses’ shooting around. His fake I don’t like him, and with his attitude I know I’m going to fight him one of these days.
I went in mean mugging him, but he didn’t say anything he just mugged back. A couple of my other friends came like Adam and Jake. Moses said,”Yo lets run twenty-one real quick. We all said, “Start it up”.
As we were playing, Jake got the ball he checked up with Moses. The funny thing was Jake crossed him and Moses fell. We all started laughing, but for some reason he tried to punk me. He always tries to because I’m the youngest. This time I wasn’t going for any of his bull.
He said to me, “Laugh one more time asshole”. I replied “You’re not going to do shit bitch”. He came up to me, and shoved my head and said, “Don’t you ever…..”, before he could finish the sentence I gave him a fierce blow to the nose. I know that’s his weak spot, because he has the biggest nose in the world. As he was holding his nose I gave him two more punches to the face. Just as I thought I took over he hit me on the side of my head with a punch. That got me kind of dizzy, but I bucked up and regained stamina. To tell you the truth I’m a really good boxer. Then I hurried in and hit two more times and before you know it it was over. I knocked him the fuck out.
Then the gym staff took him and he was sent home. They didn’t do anything to me because they know I was just protecting myself. I went home a man, because I was waiting so long to fight him. Today finally I got my respect, and he knows he can’t mess with me anymore. He might try to fight me again, but I’m going to still knock him out if he tries me again.
I decided it’s the first day, and just went to sleep. I felt so good and relaxed. When it comes to sleeping, I will sleep on top of huge rocks with below zero temperature. I can be a deep sleeper, but sometimes little things wake me up. I don’t know how many minutes I was sleeping, but after Mrs. W finished the notes she woke me up and asked me, “Tom are you ok”. I lied, “Yeah, but I have a little headache”. She told me “Maybe you should go to the nurse”. I said, “I’m ok now, but thanks”.
When class was over I wasn’t sleepy anymore. I actually was feeling good. I was thinking to myself, one hour down six more to go. In case you wanted to know I’m a sophomore in high school. I live with my mother and father, but I’m thinking about moving out because they get on my nerves. The thing I love about school is I’m away from them, but you need to stay away from them at least ten hours a day.
My second, third, and fourth hour classes felt long. That’s because I wasn’t sleepy. But I headed to lunch starving my ass off, I love lunch time because you eat and get to talk to your friends without being bothered.
Jim came up to me and said, “Hey let’s head up to the library, that English project is not going to do itself”. This is why I hang with Jim his always on the top of his game. He is good at sports, especially basketball and football. He also takes care of his academic things, He also helps me to do the same, and not slack off or get in trouble.
I went to the bathroom to go take a leak and I bumped into this girl named Sheryl. I chopped her up, and got her number of course. When it comes to talking to girls I got mad game. Any ways I told Sheryl I’m a call her tonight, but I’m not. It’s all part of the game, if you show the girl you really like her she’s going to be over herself, and probably not talk to you anymore. I’ll call her like next week. After that I’m a call her twice a week to pull her off.
“Ding Ding Ding”, the final bell of the school day rang. I went to my locker got my stuff, and headed straight home. I have like a school day routine. It’s like school, home, gym, then home again. I do most of my homework at night. That’s why I’m always sleepy in first hour class.
When I got home I called my buddy Jim, and told him lets go to the gym. He picked me up, and we headed to the gym. It’s boring at the gym now a day because basketball season ended. But I and Jim go work out, and practice basketball, and play for fun. When we entered the gym I saw Moses’ shooting around. His fake I don’t like him, and with his attitude I know I’m going to fight him one of these days.
I went in mean mugging him, but he didn’t say anything he just mugged back. A couple of my other friends came like Adam and Jake. Moses said,”Yo lets run twenty-one real quick. We all said, “Start it up”.
As we were playing, Jake got the ball he checked up with Moses. The funny thing was Jake crossed him and Moses fell. We all started laughing, but for some reason he tried to punk me. He always tries to because I’m the youngest. This time I wasn’t going for any of his bull.
He said to me, “Laugh one more time asshole”. I replied “You’re not going to do shit bitch”. He came up to me, and shoved my head and said, “Don’t you ever…..”, before he could finish the sentence I gave him a fierce blow to the nose. I know that’s his weak spot, because he has the biggest nose in the world. As he was holding his nose I gave him two more punches to the face. Just as I thought I took over he hit me on the side of my head with a punch. That got me kind of dizzy, but I bucked up and regained stamina. To tell you the truth I’m a really good boxer. Then I hurried in and hit two more times and before you know it it was over. I knocked him the fuck out.
Then the gym staff took him and he was sent home. They didn’t do anything to me because they know I was just protecting myself. I went home a man, because I was waiting so long to fight him. Today finally I got my respect, and he knows he can’t mess with me anymore. He might try to fight me again, but I’m going to still knock him out if he tries me again.
Stairway to a new me. Taylor Steeves. Grade 9
.
The person leading the race was only 50 yards from leading our last lap. My Nike track shoes are scraping the pavement like skates on a fresh sheet of ice. I’m gliding but slowly loosing my pace with every other step I take. All I’m thinking is no one can stop me now, my strength is still weakening but I can feel my feet pick up around the first corner, this is where my lungs start working 10 times as hard as they did when I started the race. It doesn’t matter where you are until almost a minute from now. I can feel the muscle growing in my legs. My arms are swaying back and forth with the wind blowing in my face. With my every breath I can feel it go deep into my lungs and right back out. I’ve never been so strong in my life, for this is my moment to shine. The leader and I are head to head 20 yards from the finish line. My stomach is quenching and I know I’m going to loose if I don’t give this my all. I stride across the finish line and here the announcer “WE HAVE A WINNER!” Taylor steeves please come to the office to claim your ribbon. I’m totally ecstatic. I nearly faint climbing the steps of following my dreams.
The person leading the race was only 50 yards from leading our last lap. My Nike track shoes are scraping the pavement like skates on a fresh sheet of ice. I’m gliding but slowly loosing my pace with every other step I take. All I’m thinking is no one can stop me now, my strength is still weakening but I can feel my feet pick up around the first corner, this is where my lungs start working 10 times as hard as they did when I started the race. It doesn’t matter where you are until almost a minute from now. I can feel the muscle growing in my legs. My arms are swaying back and forth with the wind blowing in my face. With my every breath I can feel it go deep into my lungs and right back out. I’ve never been so strong in my life, for this is my moment to shine. The leader and I are head to head 20 yards from the finish line. My stomach is quenching and I know I’m going to loose if I don’t give this my all. I stride across the finish line and here the announcer “WE HAVE A WINNER!” Taylor steeves please come to the office to claim your ribbon. I’m totally ecstatic. I nearly faint climbing the steps of following my dreams.
Sometimes, its not always the best thing… (anonymous)grade 10
My breath burned in my chest, and I was running out of strength. There was no doubt about it: they were getting closer. The trees at night looked spooky—like lost people out to get you. As I ran across the bridge, it creaked so loud that I thought it fell. Unfortunately, it didn’t. They were still out to get me, this time coming on harder. They sky was murky—and just as I thought that, I felt a raindrop on my hand. Another thing to add to all the marvelous things that could possibly go wrong. The bushes were too thick, and I ran across them without thinking. I stumbled, but thankfully didn’t fall. The rain was coming down harder. I didn’t even know what direction I was going anymore. Right? Left? North? South? I hurriedly ran to a large tree and hid behind it. No one finding me here. I took a couple of seconds to catch my breath. The footsteps seemed to be going the opposite direction this time. Close call. Should really know what I’m getting myself into before I go on a wild speed chase that could’ve cost me my life. And how exhausting…Enough to make someone ravenous, for just about anything. That should be the last thing on my mind. First priority: survival. That was the last thing I remember thinking before a cool darkness overwhelmed me.
The room that I woke up to was unbearably clean. There was a big machine with many numbers that I would gladly have liked to push, if there wasn’t chained down. To add to that, there was hooks all over me. I’d become some kind of freak experiment. All because of what I saw and what I shouldn’t have seen. And not human was supposed to know. After I crashed, the lucky people who had been hunting me down must’ve found the pathetic lump that decided that falling asleep was okay, and came back and took me away. And not to a good place, you might be thinking. I was of course in a deep sleep, because the jungle is the last thing I remember. But I wonder if…they took the treasure. How clever they are, no one was supposed to know about that. It was supposed to be hidden until the entire human race started to depend on it. All of this was in my pocket, and was given to the clumsiest one of us. Wait until everyone else heard about this…if I ever saw anyone again.
Two stout, green monsters came in hours later. They stood their distance, observing me. They had antennas, four eyes, and 10 fingers that moved rapidly on a clipboard—type device. They exchanged words in a language that I obviously couldn’t comprehend, and then they brought in someone that looked slightly human.
He began to shout at me, demanding where the others where the others were. I shouted back that I didn’t even know what he was taking about. He realized what he was doing and decided to calm down. Now, in a slightly nicer tone, he asked where the rest of the treasure was. I told him that while I was being kept hostage, I would say nothing. He still kept his cool and asked again. I replied the same. Furious, he unhooked me from the life—sucking machine. Before I could open my mouth to negotiate, glass from behind me shattered.
Being a pessimist, I thought it was more alien-like reinforcements out to get to me. Luckily, it was exactly who I needed-my team. In lightning speed, our spacecraft snatched away the precious treasure and we zoomed off away, into the sky.
The room that I woke up to was unbearably clean. There was a big machine with many numbers that I would gladly have liked to push, if there wasn’t chained down. To add to that, there was hooks all over me. I’d become some kind of freak experiment. All because of what I saw and what I shouldn’t have seen. And not human was supposed to know. After I crashed, the lucky people who had been hunting me down must’ve found the pathetic lump that decided that falling asleep was okay, and came back and took me away. And not to a good place, you might be thinking. I was of course in a deep sleep, because the jungle is the last thing I remember. But I wonder if…they took the treasure. How clever they are, no one was supposed to know about that. It was supposed to be hidden until the entire human race started to depend on it. All of this was in my pocket, and was given to the clumsiest one of us. Wait until everyone else heard about this…if I ever saw anyone again.
Two stout, green monsters came in hours later. They stood their distance, observing me. They had antennas, four eyes, and 10 fingers that moved rapidly on a clipboard—type device. They exchanged words in a language that I obviously couldn’t comprehend, and then they brought in someone that looked slightly human.
He began to shout at me, demanding where the others where the others were. I shouted back that I didn’t even know what he was taking about. He realized what he was doing and decided to calm down. Now, in a slightly nicer tone, he asked where the rest of the treasure was. I told him that while I was being kept hostage, I would say nothing. He still kept his cool and asked again. I replied the same. Furious, he unhooked me from the life—sucking machine. Before I could open my mouth to negotiate, glass from behind me shattered.
Being a pessimist, I thought it was more alien-like reinforcements out to get to me. Luckily, it was exactly who I needed-my team. In lightning speed, our spacecraft snatched away the precious treasure and we zoomed off away, into the sky.
By: Sakorahh clark♥
We are going to play uno and that’s final, she said with anger in her voice. No I want to play regular cards sandy, Becca said going to cry,well I am going to tell mom on you sandy. Fine Becca you win we can play gold fish she said with Irritation in her voice, Yeah she said with excitement, ill get the cards,okay 1,2,3,4,4 there is your cards 1,2,3,4 okay you don’t have to count out loud becca,ugh’h I wish I didn’t have a little sister, well you do she said mocking her for the 100th time so get over it sandy,sandy always let Becca get under her skin all the time.
Mom!!! I am not watching this little brat she get on my nerves ugh’h I am leaving. Okay if we have to pay for a baby sitter we are using your allowance money, mo said smiling at the new born.Why do I have to watch her while all my friends are out at the movies and the mall having fun with out me, that’s not fair, she said going to cry to get her way.
Stop wining sandy you acting like a to year old,but mom,I said stop wining and tako that makeup stuff of your face you look like a drag queen, Becca started to laugh, butt sandy didn’t find that funny at all. Ugh’h I hate my life, she said very upset.
Mom!!! I am not watching this little brat she get on my nerves ugh’h I am leaving. Okay if we have to pay for a baby sitter we are using your allowance money, mo said smiling at the new born.Why do I have to watch her while all my friends are out at the movies and the mall having fun with out me, that’s not fair, she said going to cry to get her way.
Stop wining sandy you acting like a to year old,but mom,I said stop wining and tako that makeup stuff of your face you look like a drag queen, Becca started to laugh, butt sandy didn’t find that funny at all. Ugh’h I hate my life, she said very upset.
Options-- By: Damien Mobley Jr, 9th Grade
I was running out of options. My breath burned in my chest, and my strength was running low. There was no doubt about it, they were gaining on me, and my fuel was draining on me. I could hear the dogs barking and grown men yelling like a hungry pack of wild dogs themselves. As I looked back I could see flashlight beams desperately searching through the woods. With my feet, all the way up to my hips aching, I thought about stopping and hiding, and taking my chances of the dogs picking up my scent, or climbing a tree, but with my fuel so low and legs so exhausted there was know time for that. So in the mist of running and thinking at the same time, the noises stopped. No more barking or yelling. I looked back to see if the were any signs of flashlight... None! While looking back and running I thought to myself “I’m free!” As I turned back to look at where I was going, I was hit square in the nose with a Shotgun Butt. “Take ‘em away boys!” was all I heard.
DROWNING . . . . by Priaa Gauna
One summer about two years ago, I went to my friend Taylor house. It was a very hot day so we decided to go swimming in her pool. I don’t know how to swim so I stay in the shallow end of the pool. I really wanted to know how to swim so I asked Taylor to teach me how to swim, she said yeah. So we got started, first she taught me how to doggy paddle, I learned that fast so she started to teach me to float, I couldn’t do that. I kept trying but it was not working so we moved on to swimming laps under water. I kind of had that right, we got out the pool to eat, when we came back I really wanted to get in the deep in of the pool, but I was scared I didn’t know how deep it was so I asked Taylor, she told me it was 10 feet. When she told me that I was even more scared. I wanted to touch the bottom to see how deep it was but I couldn’t swim so I wouldn’t know how to get back to the top of the pool. Taylor told me she would hold my hand and we could go down so I can she hold deep it was, and then she would push me back up. Her mom said she was right there if I needed her so I agreed. We went to the edge of the 10 ft part and we had on the edge of the pool and our other hands were holding each other, we counted to three and we went down. We were about halfway down when I panicked and let go of her hand, I was thinking to myself that was a dumb idea to let her hand go because I knew I couldn’t swim. I felt around for her hand and I couldn’t find it I was sinking and I still couldn’t find her hand. I felt the top of her head on my hand , still panicking I pushed her head down so I could push back to the top, thinking she was going to drown to she pushed me back down. About five seconds after that I felt a hand pull me back up. When I caught my breath again we looked at each other and started to laugh.
My Dragon - - By: Danna Gilbertson, 10th Grade
In history, there were people who tamed and rode dragons. People who would swoop in and save the innocent from evil. They were real heroes and ever since my father read me stories about them, I’ve wanted to be one too. Sometimes, when I was little, my dad would pretend to be a wild dragon and I would tame him, climb on his back, and soar through the sky with him. My dad was my best friend and always believed in me. He would always say to me, “Someday Lily, you’re going to find your own dragon and be one of the best Dragon Riders ever.”
A year ago, my father was arrested by the new king that took the throne. He’s a horrible leader that everyone says has a brain the size of a walnut. He’s been taking innocent people and locking them up in the dungeons for reasons only a mad man would understand. Forester, the new king’s father, knew how to run a kingdom and everyone felt safe and protected. Now all that is changed. People are afraid to leave their homes in fright that a military guard will be waiting out that door to take them away. Who could blame them? Once someone is taken they aren’t seen ever again and that’s something to be afraid of.
All this is ridiculous to me though. People shouldn’t be greeted with fear when they wake up in the morning, but comfort, and peace. I want to bring that feeling back to the kingdom. No one else is going to try so I figured that this was my chance to be a hero. It was time for me to embark into the forest and find my dragon. However, my mother doubts me and my dreams. “You’re just another normal girl in a normal kingdom.” She would say. I understand that she’s scared. Scared that her little girl whose hair she used to braid everyday is going to leave and never come back. I’ll come back, I ensured her. She still doesn’t have confidence in me. She even claims that the Dragon Riders never even existed and that my dreams would only get crushed when I can never find a dragon and then I wouldn’t be able to save the world. I don’t listen to her of course. Even when she isn’t talking about dragons, I’m always in the fantasy of my mind where dragons were everywhere and all I needed was to pick one and then everything would be okay.
Tonight, I talk to my dad as if he’s right here in the room with me. I tell him about my day and new things that mother has said to me about Dragon Riders. I tell him that I miss him terribly and want him home. Before shutting my eyes to dream, I tell him, “Don’t worry dad. I’m going to find my dragon and then everything will be better. I promise. I’ll set you free.”
The next morning I’m caught with laundry duty. I hate doing the laundry and would rather sleep with pigs. If only someone would invent some sort of washing machine so that I don’t have to get my hands all pruny. And then maybe even some sort of drying machine so that the whole process doesn’t take so long. If only it were possible. I sigh and plunge my hands into the soapy water. Thank god the load isn’t so big today. Laundry should only take an hour at the most. After everything is washed, I carry the bin of wet clothes outside to hang them up to dry in the sun. While doing so, three houses down, military guards were taking old Mr. Farris to the dungeons. This is the last straw. Mr. Farris is the nicest man in the whole kingdom. Now the king was jailing people for sport instead of justice. It is now time to find my dragon. It can’t wait any longer.
Late into the night when I was sure my mother was deep in sleep, I was preparing for my quest. Into a small sack I put some food and my father’s book on Dragon Riders. Careful not to make a sound I left out my front door, leaving a note for my mother behind me. By only the light of the moon I snuck out the kingdom gates by slipping my skinny body through the bars. Right now, I was glad I was as thin as a stick. Worried that I would be noticed, my walk turns into a jog and then into a run, finally skidding to a stop at the edge of Druadan Forest. It seems a lot scarier at night then it does during the day. I take a nervous swallow and step by step make my way into the creature infested wood. As I trek farter in the light of the moon begins to disappear with the densing of the trees. To make matters worse I started to hear things. The sound of fury bodies running through the bushes. The calls of wild animals being carried by the wind.
A year ago, my father was arrested by the new king that took the throne. He’s a horrible leader that everyone says has a brain the size of a walnut. He’s been taking innocent people and locking them up in the dungeons for reasons only a mad man would understand. Forester, the new king’s father, knew how to run a kingdom and everyone felt safe and protected. Now all that is changed. People are afraid to leave their homes in fright that a military guard will be waiting out that door to take them away. Who could blame them? Once someone is taken they aren’t seen ever again and that’s something to be afraid of.
All this is ridiculous to me though. People shouldn’t be greeted with fear when they wake up in the morning, but comfort, and peace. I want to bring that feeling back to the kingdom. No one else is going to try so I figured that this was my chance to be a hero. It was time for me to embark into the forest and find my dragon. However, my mother doubts me and my dreams. “You’re just another normal girl in a normal kingdom.” She would say. I understand that she’s scared. Scared that her little girl whose hair she used to braid everyday is going to leave and never come back. I’ll come back, I ensured her. She still doesn’t have confidence in me. She even claims that the Dragon Riders never even existed and that my dreams would only get crushed when I can never find a dragon and then I wouldn’t be able to save the world. I don’t listen to her of course. Even when she isn’t talking about dragons, I’m always in the fantasy of my mind where dragons were everywhere and all I needed was to pick one and then everything would be okay.
Tonight, I talk to my dad as if he’s right here in the room with me. I tell him about my day and new things that mother has said to me about Dragon Riders. I tell him that I miss him terribly and want him home. Before shutting my eyes to dream, I tell him, “Don’t worry dad. I’m going to find my dragon and then everything will be better. I promise. I’ll set you free.”
The next morning I’m caught with laundry duty. I hate doing the laundry and would rather sleep with pigs. If only someone would invent some sort of washing machine so that I don’t have to get my hands all pruny. And then maybe even some sort of drying machine so that the whole process doesn’t take so long. If only it were possible. I sigh and plunge my hands into the soapy water. Thank god the load isn’t so big today. Laundry should only take an hour at the most. After everything is washed, I carry the bin of wet clothes outside to hang them up to dry in the sun. While doing so, three houses down, military guards were taking old Mr. Farris to the dungeons. This is the last straw. Mr. Farris is the nicest man in the whole kingdom. Now the king was jailing people for sport instead of justice. It is now time to find my dragon. It can’t wait any longer.
Late into the night when I was sure my mother was deep in sleep, I was preparing for my quest. Into a small sack I put some food and my father’s book on Dragon Riders. Careful not to make a sound I left out my front door, leaving a note for my mother behind me. By only the light of the moon I snuck out the kingdom gates by slipping my skinny body through the bars. Right now, I was glad I was as thin as a stick. Worried that I would be noticed, my walk turns into a jog and then into a run, finally skidding to a stop at the edge of Druadan Forest. It seems a lot scarier at night then it does during the day. I take a nervous swallow and step by step make my way into the creature infested wood. As I trek farter in the light of the moon begins to disappear with the densing of the trees. To make matters worse I started to hear things. The sound of fury bodies running through the bushes. The calls of wild animals being carried by the wind.
Mini Scenario: URBAN -- By Stephanie Pomeroy, 10th Grade
My breath burned in my chest, and I was running out of strength. There was no doubt about it: they were getting closer. I can’t take this constant running anymore. The paparazzi are always doing this to me. There are so many of them, and only one of me. I have to hide somewhere, I need to stop running. As I run around a corner I notice a dumpster. Maybe if I duck behind it, they won’t see me.
As I dart behind the dumpster, I squat low to the ground, hugging my knees trying not to make a sound. The city lights and the urban noises surrounded me, but somehow it seems so dark, and quiet. I feel my heart slow and my chest isn’t going a million miles an hour. I peek out to see if it’s clear, I see no one there. I stand up cautiously, I tiptoe around the dumpster, I step foot on the sidewalk, and just as I start to walk away, my endless journey starts all over again.
As I dart behind the dumpster, I squat low to the ground, hugging my knees trying not to make a sound. The city lights and the urban noises surrounded me, but somehow it seems so dark, and quiet. I feel my heart slow and my chest isn’t going a million miles an hour. I peek out to see if it’s clear, I see no one there. I stand up cautiously, I tiptoe around the dumpster, I step foot on the sidewalk, and just as I start to walk away, my endless journey starts all over again.
The night of terror. - - this author chooses to remain anonymous
My breath burned in my chest, and I was running out of strength there was no doubt about it, it was getting closer. I stood there against a tree just waiting for it to find me, then it would all be over. I started thinking why me, what did I do I was just doing my job searching for new plants and animals in the jungle. I didn’t do nothing wrong……..BOOM BOOM RAWRR knocked me out of my thoughts. Now I was neck and neck with it. I could feel its hot breath on me, I saw its fangs just ready to eat me, and to be happy. I have never seen anything like it was hairy and slimy looking.
I had to act fast. It was do or die. So I took of running as fast as I could . BOOM BOOM , it was chasing me. Run run I said to myself . boom boo…..all of sudden it was quiet, I looked back and it was gone. I had no clue where it was , I slowly started walking back, then out of no where there is was in a big hole , trying to get out. Then I thought,how didn’t I fall in I must have been to light to fall in. then it spit something at me it was like a white string shooting at me. And it stuck to me, I was pulling it off and it was very strong I kept pulling and pulling and I finally got it off.
I didn’t know what to do. So I took off running to find some help so they could kill this thing. I finally got to one of my partners that was about 3 miles away and they said that they were looking for me cause they heard me screaming. Then BOOM knocked us over there it was in the distance. We took off running hoping to make it to our boat to take off and get some help. We made it to the boat. And there was police boat near so we went to them and they looked at us like we were crazy! They didn’t believe us.
We had no clue if we should leave it there and just go back home. We decided to go back home and tell the police about it and tell them to check it out. But they didn’t believe us either. So now we were the only ones that ever seen it. And they has been reports about people gone missing while in the jungle. Butt they never found out where they were!
I had to act fast. It was do or die. So I took of running as fast as I could . BOOM BOOM , it was chasing me. Run run I said to myself . boom boo…..all of sudden it was quiet, I looked back and it was gone. I had no clue where it was , I slowly started walking back, then out of no where there is was in a big hole , trying to get out. Then I thought,how didn’t I fall in I must have been to light to fall in. then it spit something at me it was like a white string shooting at me. And it stuck to me, I was pulling it off and it was very strong I kept pulling and pulling and I finally got it off.
I didn’t know what to do. So I took off running to find some help so they could kill this thing. I finally got to one of my partners that was about 3 miles away and they said that they were looking for me cause they heard me screaming. Then BOOM knocked us over there it was in the distance. We took off running hoping to make it to our boat to take off and get some help. We made it to the boat. And there was police boat near so we went to them and they looked at us like we were crazy! They didn’t believe us.
We had no clue if we should leave it there and just go back home. We decided to go back home and tell the police about it and tell them to check it out. But they didn’t believe us either. So now we were the only ones that ever seen it. And they has been reports about people gone missing while in the jungle. Butt they never found out where they were!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
