Pencil Point MagazineWinter 2016

Bristow Middle SchoolCover art by Sophonias Dires

Pencil Point StaffNora- Nora's first published work was non-fiction book about a komodo dragon. Nora still enjoys writing about dragons. Nora loves reading, writing and food!

Libby- This is Libby's second year in Pencil Point. She loves creating little worlds and writing them down. SHE IS NOT BARBARIC!

Emily- Emily's life is focused on polka dots. She spends a lot of her time with her friends.

Vered- Vered is one amazing writer!

Angelina- Angelina loves her best friend, but if her best friend was as funny as her, she would laugh so hard, she would crack the ice from the last ice age.

Emma- Emma loves hanging out with her friends. She hopes to have more people join Pencil Point because it's a pretty fun club! Emma loves all the kids in Pencil Point because they're really nice and she also hopes to have a great year with all her teachers.

Olivia- Minecraft, Minecraft and more Minecraft!

SHORT STORIES

Incomplete NightmaresBy: Angelina Wagner

“Crack!” ... the sound of my McDonald fries echoed through the fast food store. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. I was

with my mom, my cousin, and my friend. My mom was getting our drinks, when we asked her if we could go to the playscape. When we

got there no one was in sight. But of course we didn’t care, and we climbed into a tunnel. Suddenly I felt a bad feeling in my gut. I think

everyone else felt it too because we all started crawling so fast that we got to the end in five seconds. When we got out everything

seemed to start moving and changing colors. That's when we saw him! He was big, he was wearing all black, and had a eye patch on his

right eye. He was a … humanized MONSTER ... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! He chased me through the world and scared the will to

sleep right out of me. He threw a knife at me and it hit me in the head. The monster kept saying in a deep voice, “Angelina, wake up.

Angelina, wake up.” and continued throwing knives that hit me in the head. Finally the scary image shattered and scattered until I could

clearly see my father poking me in the head saying, “Angelina, wake up. Angelina, wake up!” He was getting more and more impatient

with each time he said it.

The end!

THe A CodeBy: Nora Willson

ALEXOctober 4th, 2050

The ground trembled. Her feet were worn, scabbed, and bleeding, but she knew if she paused for a second she would get shot and killed on the spot. Voices bellowed words she still doesn’t know. The woods was not the best hiding spot. The underbrush broke the skin of her thighs. She winced, and muttered under her breath. Her feet stung but she had to keep running.

The voices were close now, right behind her. She could almost feel their breath at the back of her neck, it's a wonder she wasn’t shot. She stopped abruptly. A wall, probably about 15 feet high, sat smack dab in the middle of the road. She scratched against the wall, trying to find a groove for her feet. “Just an one a few feet off the ground,” she thought. “Please.” She scratched helplessly against the door. They were almost upon her. She braced myself and took a deep breath. There was a blinding light……….and she woke up.

………………………………………Alex was drenched in sweat, the hair at the back of her neck stood straight up. “Was

that a dream?” she muttered. “It was so real.”

Her mum yelled “ALEXANDRA MUERTO DUPREE, IF YOU DO NOT COME DOWN RIGHT NOW, I’M THROWING AWAY YOUR BREAKFAST!”

She gulped. Her mother must be extra grumpy today. She threw on her jeans and one of her black tees, brushed her hair and teeth, and grabbed her combat boots. She grumbled as she stomped down the stairs.

Her brothers were already up, eating toast. Her mother was pacing around the rug. Her brothers were twins, like her dad and uncle. Her mother was somewhat like a evergreen, pretty in her own way. Her

mother had a temper, though, you don’t want to see her on a bad day. Alex was a mix of my dad and my mother. Alex had been told she was pretty [mostly by her mother,] but she hated people telling her that she was. She was fine

with being just average. But, honestly she wasn’t.

Read more on the online Pencil Point Magazine

THe A Code (Continued)By: Nora Willson

Dear SisterBy: Libby

Dear Sister,

I have been in Italy for 4 weeks now in high spirits and good health. I believe that I’ve found a piece of what we are looking for, a key or message. The people I have taken shelter with seem friendly but I believe they are hiding a dark secret. They say the road to Monteriginos is dangerous, full of thieves with a dagger in hand There was a letter written from our father a year before your birth, speaking of a city near Rome that was home to earlier members of our group. The city has not been home to the brotherhood for over 200 years, not after the attack. But, what will I find there? A thousand or more of our enemies? Or just the small noise of the howling wind? These questions take extreme measures for me and the rest of the brotherhood. But, I will continue to search, not stopping until I am rest with these ideas. What was so special of the city? Why was it attacked? What did the great teacher leave for later generations? Ah, I grow tired of this fight, sister. Not because I am growing old, but because our search goes in one direction. Today I have more questions than answers. What did they leave? Did the great teacher continue his search after Constantinople? His tools and cloak were found in the ancient library, but what did he do after? Sister, if I do not make it back, do not try to avenge my death, but keep on fighting for our true beliefs. The world will not weep knowing that I have left.

Sincerely,Your brother

POEMS

Summer showerBy: Olivia Otte Summer shower The warm but cold rain

Feelings gone down the drain Chills run down, down, down down throughout the houseat the same time Well I sit, writing about the love balanced on a lie He said he simply wanted to enjoy the summer shower to dance in the rain he’d be gone for only an hour but he never came back he gave in to the warm embrace of another the summer shower took away my only Lover.

Ringing in the New YearBy: Emily Nash

Ringing in the New Year with the perfect giftBringing in that fur ball made your spirit lift

That little yippy mess spread a smile on my faceShe gave our other joy and he no longer paced

Her furry fluffy ears hitting her eyesWhenever someone sees her they have to sigh

She has starred in her eyes as you could clearly seeI will never forget my New Year puppy

HopeBy: Olivia Otte

Sweet, sweet child I’m sorry i’ll be gone for a while I need to make sure your fate is as wonderful as it should be I am going to go to war with my conscious and gut feelings galore I’m sorry sweet, sweet child I just wanted to say your name but only because I will never see you again it’s only the cold hard truth always remember that my name is momma And you did have a pappa so forgive me sweet, sweet child I’ll be gone for a while Please stay your sweet self and Care for the good of your health do not disobey follow orders or they will survey that you do not have supervision because your momma is gone but don’t let them realize the love you have lostdo believe in magic because science didn’t create love I named you Hope sweet sweet child Because we believe you can live on.

My DogBy: Emily Nash

Thank you Cooper for all of the great memories and the love you’ve shared with us, and I am excited for all

of the adventures coming next.

He who comes by nameHe who stays with you through thick and thinHe who makes you happy when you are blue

My dog, my dog, my dog

He who understandsHe who loves you so

He who chews through everythingMy dog, my dog, my dog

He who is my friendHe who loves to smileHe who sniffs the air

My dog, my dog, my dog

He who is our lightHe who loves to eat

He who dreams of youMy dog, my dog, my dog

Life in Condensed FormBy: Nora Willson

you eat the feeling you getyou sleep when you see a you try smileyou failyou danceyou dreamyou loveyou winyou thinkyou applaudyou procrastinateyou succeedlife is hard at some partsit's ok in othersbut you know what makes it all worthwhile?

RobotBy: Olivia Otte

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My gears spin and click I am afraid

of my dark bits my eyes are lifeless and cold Nobody knows my secret I am over a thousand years old My heart is a pit which is soul less I cannot feel I cannot touch I am a robot a diamond in the rough can you hear me can you see me do you even believe me I am a robot a poor little robot machine to the bone i’m trapped in a pit of sadness rotting away in this travice moss on my skin i could be tossed into a trash bin for being created and living a sin so now do you believe that i’m a robot a nobody bullied for being a machine i’m a robot a sad little robot and now i’m rotting away In my contraption of Me.

My disorderBy: Emily Nash

SO WHAT?

I have A.D.D. you seeWhen ever I have mentioned it they look at me

No one seems to know what it could beAnd I tell them nothing has changed it's just A.D.D.

Some time it's hard living up to my copy“But you're perfect as you are” says my mommy and my

poppyWhenever they make fun of me I don’t feel bad

I just look them in the eye and say that for me that’s not so sad

So my focus is a little offMy teachers really help me and I thank them a lot

I try my bestI work my hardest

And I know it won’t ever leaveSo what its just A.D.D.

LightBy: Nora Willson

LightReaching, creepingdancing, dreamingvaulting over clouds fleeting, runningclimbing, countingdimming in the night

stars shine palelymoon shines brightlyfilling the room with light

A Poem By: Libby Schmerzler

As we hug it out one more time, you get in the car and start wavingI wave as hard as I can, holding back the tears.The car speeds away, going down the road till you are going, goinggone

I see the house that was once full, but is now emptyI see the sold sign hanging in the yardyou’ll be going away foreveryou say that you will come visit, will you?you say that you will come back one day, but will you stay?I see the rooms once full bare with leftover boxes and memoriesYou say that I will be your one true friend no matter what, but what if we move on?Will we meet new people and learn new things, But will we remember each other?Will you try to forget all of the bad things, but also forget me in the process?Today I have more questions than answers. Will you remember me? Will you remember anything about this old life?You might forget. But I won’t forget.I will never forget the heartbreak, happiness and memories that we have created togetheryou will remain my best friend for the ends of time

But WhyBy: Emily Nash

Time flies by when you're having fun but why?People leave you broken hearted but why?The stars twinkle in the sky but why?Trails can go for miles and miles but why?I try so hard at what I do but why?Because of expectations-They’re everywhereCrushingHeart shatteringLosing control of my mind but why?You try to be the most popular person you can be but why?You trip and fall and it hurts so much but why?These are questions I ask myselfBut why?But why?But why?

A trio of PoemsBy: Angelina Wagner

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FAMILYunderstanding,loving/ lovable,and

helpfulthey are the ones who make me

feel OH SO special!

PETSAnimal,loving/ Lovable,Caress My

pets make me feel as though i'm the best!

FRIENDSIntimate,Confident,

Acquaintance,THIs friend of mine better learn to have some more

patience

sunBy: Emily Nash

“Yaaaawwwwnnnnn!” It was an early July morning and the sun was shining bright.

I could hardly sleep a hour in the whole entire night. I rubbed my eyesand let out a cry.

“why, oh why,is the sun in the sky.I ate my breakfast,

saddly I’m living in Texas!Its arid and dry,

I wish I could stay in the bed that I lie.

storiesBy: Emily Nash

I’m life,adventure, and crime.I come from some one’s mind.

I am made of speach,could be set on a beach.

I can be real or not,could involve a robot.

I am like a key and can open up your mind.I can attract your attention like a rainbow holding a sign.

I am a trail and can lead you to new things.Happiness and happiness I bring.

Every time I go “Flip, flip, flip.”I may even have a new trait or tip.

I can lend a helping hand,and I always have a beginning and end.

Watch me carefully or a key part you will miss.But I can not talk cause I have no lips.

A hot summer DayBy: Emma Hursey Durant

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A Hot Summer Day Has fallen upon this town

waiting for children to play aroundThey play all day and play all night waiting for the morning to come to

see the bright light

Summers OverBy:Emma Hursey Durant

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Summers overAs I watch the ice cream truck

go down the street I hear the birds give a little cheep

As I wipe the ice cream off my face I see my friend and then we had a raceI miss the sweet sound of the ice cream truck coming around

But that's how I know school is back in town

Happy Face

She had on a happy mask To hide her disappointment And to keep you awayShe asked for forgiveness Trying to make you pity her But when you refused The mask disappeared And she let her feelings spill Like she was a glassBeing knocked over with this Overwhelming ,Dark, Sad ,Feeling That became almost a pill She could not live without She became depressed And the happy mask stayed on her face Morning and night She pretendedIn her faze of make believe Paper figure movements She would lie And admit itAnd eventually she became the happy mask And my mother couldn’t hold Herself together With the stitches she had tied around her heart And she left Because all this time The happy mask was the theft.

Olivia Otte

Poems by Makayla RiveraWhy?Why do we lie?Why we hide the truth?So far awayYou wouldn’t know it wasEven there.Why?Why are some of us cowards?Why do we run from Any type of conflict?Are we scared ofWhat will happen next?Are we afraid of peopleActually knowing how we feel?Why? Sometimes all you can do is WonderWhy.

HurryFor it shallNever come again..For if you miss itYou will haveRegret.For the rest of Your lifeYou will always Be stuck sayingWhat if?

Why? What If?

What if ITurned right?What if ISaid yes?What if IStayed?But sometimesIt’s good to wonderWhat if?

Contest Winners

Emoji Contest Submissions

WINNER: : Ananya

Emoji Contest Submissions

Limerick COntest Winner: Mrs. Ehler’s Advisory!

There once was a dog named DelilahShe had lots of saliva

She snored a lotShe ate her food from a pot

Her favorite snack was papaya.

-Inspired by Mr. Premus's dog!