Spicy Chicken 2008

8/14/2019 Spicy Chicken 2008

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Cover Art by Hannah Loveless6th Grade


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The Spicy Chicken

Sta

Humberto AlbarranAshley Boike

Thomas GreenAshley Howard

Tim NixErin Seymore

Advisor- Mrs. Susan Boyd

Cullman High School510 13th Street NE

Cullman, Alabama 35055Volume 3

Spring 2008

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PurposeThe purpose of The Spicy Chickenis to provide an outlet for the talented students of Cullman HighSchool and to encourage all students, faculty, and readers to continue to express themselvesthrough the creative arts. Guest writers have been included in this magazine to promote the liter-ary arts in younger students.

Policy

Submissions to the magazine are accepted until time for publication. Works are selected based onindividual merit by the sta and the advisor. Corrections are someimes made to manuscripts toconform to standard rules of English or to ensure clarity.

ColophonThe Spicy Chickenwas printed Graphic Publishing of Huntsville on 80-pound gloss paper. Twohundred copies of this magaize were printed. The cover art was drawn by Hannah Loveless. Pala-tino Linotype fonts were used throughout the magazine in sizes 12 for text and Bold for titles. Fontsizes 72, 36, 24 were also used for section titles, headings, and sta listings. Adobe InDesign andAdobe Photoshop were used in the production of this magazine.

About the NameYes, The Spicy Chickenis a strange name for a literary magazine; however, the story behind thename clari es the origin. Kevin Blicker, a 2004 graduate of Cullman High and creative writing stu -dent, campaigned for this name when the magazine was only a dream. He felt, The Spicy Chickenis more than a sandwich served in the lunchroom. It is the essense of CHS spirit. It is somethingevery student is a part of; it is a shared experience. We hope our magazine could o er the samee ect. With this hope of a shared experience and reaching across the barriers of social status,cliques, and interests, we present this magazine as a collective project representing the talents ofmany di erent people.

Appreciation must be extended......to each student who took a chance and opened up to share his or her work.to Hannah Loveless for allowing us to use her art on the cover.to the sta for their consideration of all the works submi ed and their own contributions.to our administration for support of the literary arts.to the Cullman City Schools Foundation for the grant that made this publication possible.

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Shaun Smith/ Grizz Envious Service page 16

Ashley Howard Figure of Speech

Priscilla Caudle What I See in Myself

Corey Smith Winter Wolves page 17

Rickey Foster Strengths Manifest

Anonymous The American Dream

Anonymous Run A er You page 18

Victoria Hammond Happiness

Ashley Boike Here We Go

Rickey Foster Valiance in Mirth page 19

Ashley Howard July

Lexi Carpenter I Am

Lexi Carpenter Double Wide page 20

Tim Nix The Wanderer

Ashley Howard Un nished Thought

Emily Bradford Dreamland page 21

Mrs. Susan Boyd Facetious

Ashley Boike Throughout School page 22Mrs. Susan Boyd Countdown

Tim Nix My Special place

Humberto Albarran Unpredictable

Ashley Boike Close At Heart page 23

Tim Nix Pleasant Are The Times

Humberto Albarran Lost

Erin Seymore Where I Want To Be page 24

Humberto Albarran Time Traveling

Erin Seymore Fall

Kayla Carden My Colors page 25

Ashley Howard You Still Dont Get It page 26


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ArtAmber Chitwood Sesshomaru page 28

Jason Bradley Abrachasyn

Auston Smith Steam CollageMauricio Rosas Hydra page 29

Auston Smith Highway Out

Blake Parker Ocean

Anonymous Sad Soldier page 30

Blake Parker UFO

Takuma Eevee

Shelby Collier Horse

Takuma Hold Up

Austin Hartley Anime Girl page 31

Victoria Nunnelley Mythological Collage

Brenan Hawthorne Gloomy Girl

Brenan Hawthorne Mermaid page 32

Blake Parker Torpedo

Eric Rodriquez Unicorn

Erica Bush Vulture

Dallas Williams Pirate page 33

Sam David Black Dragon

Alia H. Flowers

Josie Boyd Water FairyTyler Tew Stone Bridge page 34

Kate Gonstad Portrait

Kate Gonstead Man with Feather

Tyler Tew Fire

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FictionRickey Foster Food and Make It Fast page 43

Alyssa White The Nightmare in Penndragon House page 44

Brenan Hawthorne Silent Sings the Raven page 45

Guest WritersTania Albarran Crystal Waters page 48 Josh Chambers Hills

Kyle Watwood Life Is a Pack of Gum

Alexandria Nunnelley Ironic

Bri ney Busby Ocean

Carson Cummings Presidential Odyssey page 49

Jordan Ward When I Was Li le

Tyler Wilson Old House page 50

Meghan Mcleroy Summer Rains

Chase Clines Life

Alex Thiele Wishing Seasons

Morgan Jowers Life

Brandi Todd Sunshine page 51 Jessica Evans Dark Underside of a Flamingo

Ma Sapp Hay

Taylor Rogus A Clock

Shelby Bailey Forgive me page 52

Hayley Kilgo Holocaust Story page 53

Non-FictionRachel Evans My Last Summer With Her page 36

Kayla Carden Gone page 38

Anonymous Breathing Angels page 41

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Poetry

Poetry is when anemotion has foundits thought and thethought has foundwords.

~Robert Frost~

~Ashley Howard


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Dreams

Dreams unknown,Dreams unseen,

Dreams locked away,Dreams never-ending,Dreams crushed every single day,Dreams ever-haunting,Dreams causing pain,Dreams stealing hope,Dreams about rain,Dreams about sunshine,Dream about Hell,Dreams about death,Dreams about jail,Dreams about war,Dreams about tears,Dreams about me overcoming my fears,Dreams about us,Dreams about you, Just know all my dreams,Will never come true.

~Grizz~

Precious Li le Boy

Tiny ngers,Tiny toes.Lots of toys,and tiny clothes.

Chubby legs,and fuzzy hair.Kisses, Kisseseverywhere

He splashes in the tub,Falls asleep on my knee.Hes my pride and joy,He means everything to me.

That sweet li le smile,and twinkle in his eye,Hes a precious li le boyand Im glad he is mine.

~Whitney Maddux~

cHiLlEd

The white is blinding as I walk outsideThe chill hits my face and washes over meThe smell slowly reaches my nose of freshly fallensnow

The pure white blanket is beautiful, stretching as far asI can seeI smile as I strap on my last binding, about to rideI look at the trees, their diamonds hanging like adressed up old lady, so elegantI take o , heart racing on an icy lm of white pave -mentPropelled only by courage, and adventure

~Blaine Perry~

IceBeen dazed and confused so long its not trueLady addiction calls out to you10,000 eyes sunk in their skullsA blizzard sets in before it starts to get cold

Smothered in white when the numbness sets inDead to the world, cut out by the sinCaught in a landslide, sucked into the trend.The replay of a copy again and again

The eye of storm just harbors more snowSnow turns to ice and its a much deeper holdCrystals were never part of Gods planIt was an Invention, a creation of man.

~Anonymous~

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Bamboo Fighting

A loud crack echoes through the airFace to faceWe stareReading the others eyes like an ancient book.We push awayThe swirlingTimeless circleBegins again.WatchingWaitingCRACK BAMWithout the slightest warningOur weapons collideBack and forthAgain and again

Needles pierce the skinFlames whipping across the eshHands swelling from the painBut holding rmMy feetBracing against the groundThenDancing like leaves in the windWe circle one anotherWaitingLike a predator toPOUNCEUpon his prey.The sounds of wood meetingWood and esh.Again the circling startsMy stomach burns and achesThe strike was full and trueVictory wasHis.Hands are claspedAppraisals given.Swords returned to ownerAnd the pa ern returns againThis timeThe outcomeWas mine.

~Corey Smith~

Why?

Life is insanityI am alive

Therefore, am I insane?

Am I insane because I think?What is thought but budding bedlam waiting to bloom?

The word normal, what does it really mean?Who is to say that they are normal?

Normalcy, by societys standards, is merely an accepted lieAccepted lies are the same as truth, being believed by drone

a er drone

Insecurities tear into me with vicious hate lled maws.

Am I fat? Am I ugly? Do I mean anything to anyone?Why are there so many questions, yet so few answers?

Life is madnessLife is considerationLife is uncertainty

If life is all of this, and if I am a life, then what am I?

~Rickey Foster~

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Now 30% O !!

I am a pair of pants, waiting in a store,Wishing someone would buy me, so I wont be lonely anymore.

Im never the right size, I never t quite right.Theres always something wrong, so Im le in the dark at night.

Im used and tossed, and thrown back up on a rack,My value decreasing as each wrong person, nds the thing I lack.

I am a pair of jeans, le waiting in a store,Soon to be thrown out, theres no interest anymore.

~Erin Seymore~


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67

I Am the 67 mustangfacing a long climb to glory.My hair dark with shiny strandslike a black metal ake paint job.my body like the ears is notthe perfect shape, striving to be restored.The inside of me red like

the intense red of the mustangsinterior. My constant dreamsand thoughts like the manygauges and numbers glistering inthe sunlight.My feet adorned with shiny newshoes like the tires ed around beautiful new rims. I entermy last year of high school likethe last stage in the mustangsrestoration.

Ill end my childhood and high schoolyears looking for greater opportunitiesto become the adult Ive chosen to belike the 67 mustang nished, polished, andshined. Fine tuned with all theright tweaks, and entering racesto become known world wide!

~Amber Chitwood~

The 9

Skating isan art, as beautifulas the Sistine chapel coolnight air on your skin and bu er iescrammed into your stomach ka-thump---ka-thump---ka-thump---the board begins to roll, knees bend, musclesex, the motions carved into your brain from continuous repetitiontiming tells you when to kick your body into gear and begin to paint. The ipof the board makes the rst strokes of the portrait, the catch in your feet, thesecondand the nal crash of polystyrene on concrete nishes the picture, as skillfullyas the masters such as Picasso or Monet. The feeling of what am I doing fades,and the rush ofadrenaline ebbs slightly. When my legs start to fail, I know its timefor ashower, andsleepso that I can be ready for the next time

~Blaine Perry~

Enough

I watch the minutes tick byI listen to the whispers around me

You think I cant hearYou think I cant seeYou think I dont knowThe gossipThe rumorsThey swirl around meThey threaten to swallow me everydayHow long can this lastHow long can I take ithow long will you test my limitsMy boundariesWhen will enough be just thatEnoughLet me tell youYou will nd outSoon enough

~Victoria Hammond~

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Sweet Tea

My cup is lled fullOf the sweetest sweet teaSi ing on my deskSweet as the sweet moments of life

Then as the sweet refreshing liquidGoes down my throat;I think about how much I miss my momAnd her sweet tea

Her sweet tea is almost waterWith only a half of a cup of sugar in it.

Then I start to miss that watered down sweet teaThat we would drink down in Just a few minutes a er being made

I miss being 400 miles awayFrom that watered down sweet tea,Almost as much as I missMy mommy.

~Priscilla Caudle~

I want to know

I want to knowso many choicesso many voiceswhere do I go from here?

dazed and confusedwhats not how Id like to spendthe rest of my teenage years.

I want to knowwhere Im goingI want to knowwhat the futures showing

no one wants to waitto see the outcome rst hand just to speed upthe grains of sandthey slowly fallthrough lifes hourglass

I want to knowwho Ill beI want to knowwholl share their life with me

con dent and proudis how I wish to spendevery last secondwith my teenage friends

-Emi Lowery~Miracles

I saw Perfection in the se ing sun,And Beauty in the waning moon,whilst Hope appeared at dusk and twilight,

so did wonder at high noon, but with all of the miraculous things Ive seen,not one compares to you.

~Tyler Burks~

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I-2-U

Who is GRIZZ?Is that all of me you know?Do you know my real name?Do you know my real goals?

To you, am I just a water boy,Another face in the crowd,Or to you am I a freak,Another on the body count?

To you am I a friend?Are you one to me?Do you take me as I am?

Or do you fear this like disease?

Am I a jock? Am I a prep?Am I a thug? Am I a nerd?Do you think that I am cool?Or do you think Im a [word]?

Do you think that I am sexy?Then I think youre insane!Am I real important?Or just someone else at the games?

Will I be remembered?Past the day I fall.Will they know me as GRIZZ?Or will they know me at all?

~Grizz~

Forever

A word with no meaning, brought into lightOnce cold and breathless, once lost in the ghtUnfold your layered wings and con scate mePull on my tapered strings and animate me

Her eyes meet mine and wordlessly agreeForever isnt the same as eternity

~Anonymous~

~Ashley Howard~

Suppose

If sorrow were paperI would set it on re

If philosophy could be touchedWhat might it inspire?

If hatred were edibleI would feed it to them

If justice were a drug

What may it condemn?If god was a mirrorWhat would you put your faithinto?

If love were tangibleIt would feel something like you.

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A er the World (Is No More)

You break the glass, try to hide your facerecorded lines, that just will not eraseand buried in, your loss of innocenceyou wonder if, youll nd it again

Was I there, for the worst of all your pain?and was I there, when your blue skies ranawaywas I there, when the rains were ooding youo your feet, those were my tearsfalling down for you, falling down for you

Im the one that you been looking forIm the one that you been waiting forIve had my eyes on you, ever since you were born

I will love you a er the rain falls downI will love you a er the sun goes outIll have my eyes on you, a er the worldIs no more!

Did I arrange the light of your rst dayDid I create the rhythm your heart makesCould you believe, when your candle starts tofade

I wanna be the one, that you believeCould take it all away, take your heart away

Isnt my life a clear signthat I have crossed over this chasmto ll this space between me and youAnd I will do it all over again Just look for me, just wait for me

The one youve been looking forThe one youve been waiting forYou wont have to look anymore

~Phillip Stevens~

The BlackheartedWanderer

Though my heart is free nevermore,Escaping the darkness is always a chore.Though my body will wither and die,My soul will forever weep and cry.

My life is so tortured; I wish I was dead,But my friends think its all in my head.From my wrath all will cower,But my body will crumble like an ancienttower.Though my body is lean and tall,My heart is fragile and small.If my friends and family only knew,The pain and sorrow I must go through.Up on her thrown she wears her crown,But life is no fun if you must always lookdown.Though her eyes are more perfect than jade,Mine will continue to diminish and fade.I shall forever hate my sire,For I now wish to wallow in the mightyBlack Fire.

~Eric J. Shadow~

ME

Her face was so beautiful,too beautiful for me.Her life was so wonderful,too wonderful for me.She was so perfect, just too perfect for me.She got tired of me.Thats as far as I can see.

She just didnt love me,and me is all I can be.

~Blaine Perry~

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Re ections

Im always looking in the mirrorMy face isnt ge ing any clearerI can see the makeupThat painfully thick creamI smear it on every morningIts a drugThe beauty drugIm not addicted to heroinIm addicted to an imageBeautiful angels on the catwalkAnd half naked Amazon womenLike a boy who appreciates the bodyIm mesmerized by their skinI want their skinSo every morning I pluck my eyebrowsAnd glaze my lips with glossTo be like my heroinesTo ful ll my fantasySo I study the magazinesAnd secretly shop for lingerieMy heart skips when I nd my sizeI run to the dressing roomSnap the clasps and turn to the mirror

But its only meThe scared and revoltingMeNever actually succeedingI stare in the mirror and begin to cryI scratch at my arms and chestI hate myselfI cant be what I want to beSo I pull out my hair

But I cant stop staringMy eyes are glued to the image

I ridicule every aw

~Theresa Bucco~

Abstract

I am a dream-unforge able yet easy to forget,uncontrollable and erratic,narcissistic and sometimes cruel.

yearning for transcendence,not knowing if there is a future,merely existinga shade of existence.

Never conveying my meaningtaunting you with a tasteof knowledge and insight.

seen as trivial by many

philosophical by somesymbolic by few

release me of these bondsso that I might have my ight of fancymy one true purpose

~Rickey Foster~

YOU LOOK

You look happy on the outsideBut inside youre dyingYoure le here all alone,In a corner cryingI reach up my handBut you turn it awayI need you to grasp itIll pull you my wayYou stare at meWith pain in your eyesRed from crying overAll those stupid lies Just touch my handIll do the restIll pull you out of depressionOr Ill try my best

~Anonymous~

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Envious Service

Night a er night,I watch as they play,Longing to be them,Day a er day.

Time a er time,I say I will do it,By myself Im denied,By myself I am ruined.

By myself I am tortured,By the world Im rejected,Running from the mortars,I long to be perfected.

Ever confusing,My scars are eternal,Whether winning or losing,My pain is infernal.

I was denied the chances,Of learning the games played he,Like the girls at the dances,Now the skills do evade me.

I serve them in silence,Most do not know,Of the dreams lled of violence,Locked deep in my soul.

The envy is secret,

My heart has no purpose,These men have no respect,For my envious service.

~Grizz~

What I See in Myself

Hollister, American Eagle, Aeropastle,Abercrombie & Finch, just clothes my friends and I wear.To some they may think Im a spoiled brat, but really Im not just a young girlwith curly brown hair, average height,not yet an adult, but not a child, a girl in herteens.where everything starts to changelike the way re burns; its Rapid.

Cheering since Kindergarten, has taken its toll,with bad knees, wrists, ankles all bad, but that is the price for playing the sport I love.But through these brown eyeswhich come corrected with lenses, but I see a girl that has many thingsto over come and to go through in life.

~Priscilla Caudle~

Figure of Speech

SubtletyThe qualityMy voice cravesHonestyIn hopes of amnesty

will drop me into a living gravewhite lies are always tintedwith a color not so pureyet dilute the feared scarletthat seeps from a truths massacrethe pendulum is swingingthe scales never seem to restwithout a hint to any delityI must choose what works the besttrick questionI am The Systems glitchsink or swim? sink or swim?Im a vindicated witchTwist it and bend itBut the promise remains unbrokenI call myself a liarWhen I leave those secrets unspoken

~Ashley Howard

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Winter Wolves

The sky is a dark grayWith streams of light blueAnd Water faucetDRo

pletsOf white snow fall from the sky.Beautiful and uniqueThey fall in pairs and groups and evenAlone.Landing so ly on the noseOf an infantMaking her giggle with glee.As she sits and watchesHer elder sisterChase the crystal like guresFalling from the sky andTries to catch them on hear tongue.O in the distanceAn old silver and gray hairedFather sits and watchesAs his two lovely pups play.A er so many years ofFightingAgainst hunters and the haunted memoriesOf his lost love.

He relaxes his tense guardian pose.A grin cracks on this solemn soldiers faceAs he howls proudly into the sky.Knowing thatHe watches and protects the only worldHe will ever and has everKnown.Play and danceIn the great and beautifulSnow.

~Corey Smith~

Strengths Manifest

a ba ered batona Cane, if you willweathered and weary, wanting to be put toservice againa mess of blue paintwooden and sturdythoroughly abused and lay to stagnate.a gi of Tragic Love

a familiar to my grandmas ending life,sickness and age.

a familiar to my dawning life,strength and vitality.

~Rickey Foster~

The American Dream

The re ection is stained by past interventionScars tell the story but fail to mentionThe true intention of black tie conventions

Coincide with lies of Republican commissionsIn ation escalation precedes economic remissionI scream for justice but nobody listensIn a country where injustice is reigned supremeWhere greed and glu ony encompass the dreamWhere white picket fences digress and dissolveInto rustic barbed wire and swollen brick wallsWhere smooth black asphalt, with narrow white linesBecomes rugged and pockmarked by the sands of timeWhere the dream itself begins to fadeWhere people grow hollow and souls degradeDoomed to this future, this is our fateYou can tell in our eyes we know its too late

~Anonymous~

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Run A er You

I run a er youBut all I do is run

I reach out to you,In fear you will sha er

Something so perfectHas to be fake

I make up my mind,My complicated mind

I reach up my hand,And touch something solid

You didnt crumble

Youre still hereI touched your faceThe warm radiation bouncing o of it

I looked in your eyes,I couldnt breathe

Then your lips touched mineI then knew I wasnt dreaming

Then I heard you call my nameBut it wasnt your voice

I opened my eyes,Trying to nd you

I was laying in my bedI was sweating I held my arms around my chest,For fear my heart exploding

Everything I thought of was only a dreamMy deepest desire

My most intense wishMy favorite, but most painful dream

Because thats all you are, Just a dream~Anonymous~

Happiness

Silent and still, yet lled with life.A pond slowly shimmers in the hollow,

a pond lled with sh and memoriesof 7 dollar lures, and fun times.

It reminds me of be er dayswhen everyone didnt quarrelwhen work didnt dictate life

of my grandpa who works so hard for usand makes me thankful for the times we get to spend

together.Some days lled with sh and laughter

others with silent joy.Some with gunshots and dead turtles,

others with BBs and sunken cans but every day

with pure happiness.

~Victoria Hammond~

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Here We GoHere we goEven though it does not show.

Silence becomes evident.Two di erent minds join.

Two now onenot a word spoken.

Now that we are here,The tangible world seems unclear.

OccurrencerareHonestyrevealed.

No thoughts can be hiddenFor one mindis the others

So come with me.Let us sit.

Do not speak.

Just listen to your thoughts

UnderneathThe

HarvestMoon.

~Ashley Boike~


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Valiance in Mirth

The call is sounded!Sadness claims another soulI contour my lips, preparing a spellSpoken not in my tongue, a dialect.Eyes darting to and fro,Coalescing my visageInto a radiant weapon.The incantation au francais?A drunken Scotsmen clamoring for ale?Too many spells,Not enough enemies.Arms franticly a acking the air,I prepare my ultimate weaponA coalition of joy,Banishing gloom where it festers.

Humor is my dutyA shining knight to the cause of joyWielding laughter and mirth as a vicious diamond lance.A have claimed the day!Pride rushes over me like tumbling rapids,Drowning sadness in a pulse of happiness.I must returnDystopia waitsThe call is sounded anew!O to the nightmare lands I trudge,Skirmishing with the dark once more.

~Rickey Foster~

JulyBetrayed by my own re ectionSold out by my own inner-smileCondemned by hapless redundancyWell be here for quite a whileForgiven is not forgo enTake the hacksaw to my skullPlunge my ngertips into your mindI hope the knife wasnt too dullSomewhere inside the miasmaIs the antidote for your cureLiteral is my connotationBut my lips are not so pureLabor isnt cheapSo Ill do this on my ownThe ripples die swi lyFor it was but I who cast the stoneI picked a ower for youAnd I hid it behind my eyesI love you, my babyDont look so surprisedCharred parchmentEmpty penI stole a maybe onceI will never do it againNever the right questionMy pillow is always coldMy mirror prosecutes

Believe. Betrayal. Behold.

~Ashley Howard~

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I am

I am a starI burn bright with personalityI sit and wait until the night someonewill wish upon meOut of all the stars I strive to stand outI know my maker can see me burning brightI glisten high in the night skyI can only be seen when the night is just rightMaybe I can only be seen by thosewho look hard enoughOne day I will be the shooting stareveryone seesBut by then it will be too lateIt wont be me

~Lexi Carpenter~


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The Double Wide

I wish I could go back to the timeThe time when our double wide sat on a hillThe days of a loving familyWhen we played sock wars when mom wasnthomeWatching Alabama football games wishing to bethose cheerleadersThe place where my cousin and I played with a bal -loonNot le ing it touch the oorDiving and pushing just for the satisfaction of win -ningThe Sundays when we watched Nascar

Jumping on the trampoline trying to touch the skyBegging to bathe in the big bath tubThe days Daddy and I would study by the co eetableThat dogwood tree we took pictures in front of inour Easter a ireThese are the days I long forThe days before I grew upThe days before Daddy was always goneThe days when we were a happy familyIn a small home

~Lexi Carpenter~

Unfnished Thought

There is a pill for every problemAnd a price for every pill

Grasp the mind of god and drink your ll

Help yourself to the pestilenceThe plague inside the mobs

A tiny drop of origin should do the job

Hold your tongueThere is a word youre afraid to say

Mortal has become but a deitys clich

Supply and demandThe price a whisper above my callous palmWorn to maturity by my abusive inner calm

Whore yourself for the tithe

The cost, oh the cost of elucidationThe key is a cold and rusted tool of assassination

Twisted, warped sanctityThe lock was cra ed already broken

Born into deformity is the hope of which youvespoken

Solution may not be the answerThe answer may be your own tri ing name.

A riddle without reason. . .Go back from where you came.

~Ashley Howard~

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The Wanderer

I work in the Heavens,the World at my feet.

My life relyingsolely on the peaceful, pure Air I breathe.Training for years to get this far,Far from My Earthly home

~Tim Nix~


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Dreamland

There is a land beyond our ownA land of living dreamsA land of wonders yet unknownA land where silver beams

Of moonlight shine upon the stoneThat borders glistening streams

Where opaline towers rise over sandOf onyx crushed by a giants handAnd music ies upon the wingsOf every iridescent bird that singsAnd joins the bright choir of the land

The stars in the sapphire sky beholdThe palaces of burnished goldWhere wise men a empt to defyThe ravages of the time that iesBut fate smiles not on men so boldSo the bi er wind made their halls so coldThat each man shivered, fell and died

Across the shining emerald seaThere lies a single island bareExcept for one lone windswept treeAnd the girl in white who keeps vigil there

She watches there for the sailsOf a ship bringing he for whom her heart sailsShe knows not that her love lies coldWithin those gli ering halls of goldFor none will come to tell the tales

And the bright moon who controls the tidesAnd who sees all from her azure skyWatches as the ranger Sorrow ridesOver the land, as if to yAnd so the moon did shed a tearAs the black rider sorrow drew nearThe tear fell through the air like deadAnd crashed upon his dark steeds headAnd the rider fell; his horse was deadSo while the shining moon holds swaySorrow only rides in day

Such are the tales of the land of dreamsAs eeting as the moonlight beamsWhich are each morning chased awayBy the rst feeble light of dayBut as the nigh ime comes againHarken to Dreamlands refrain

~Emily Bradford~

(Cont.)

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Facetious

How much did her beauty cost?

The one who wears the sparkling crownHigh atop her head -I wonder if shes beautifulWhen she rolls out of bed?

Were those teeth all gleaming white Just a month ago?Or did the dentist give her traysTo soak them till they glow?

Speaking of teeth they sure are straight,Is that his handiwork too?They are her teeth so I guess thats fair.Now look at that dress of blue.

Blue or is that azureI mustnt say it wrong.We must get these descriptions rightOf the one upon the throne.

That hair, those nails, those high-heeled shoes,

Cost Mom a pre y pennyBut look at her a er all that greenSHE CERTAINLY IS PRETTY!

~Mrs. Susan Boyd~


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Throughout School

Let us think and see a small piece of reality.

Throughout the years of schoolFriends come and go, just as sure as the breeze blows.

Lies are concealedas if to keep the truth from being real.

Turn le ,Turn right,More and more to seeMore and more to do

Assignments appear to be defeating,

Plans for college beyond our minds are exceeding.Stoptake time to see what is le inside,Take time and see determination, loyalty, and self satisfaction.

This is what ma ersThis is what stays constant

Throughout the years of school

~Ashley Boike~

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My Special Place

Day has come.Re ections of GREEN now sca er,as the water tumbles across the rocks.

Above the clouds it ows,as it awaits its meeting with the riverbed below.

The chorus of Birds sing louder,each with their own soothing tune.As the Fish and the Water Folk practice their acrobatics.

No air could be purer,No place could be be er,Than this li le Haven.Down by the water.

~Tim Nix~

Unpredictable

The call of the sea comes to meTaking me to an underwater worldThat has never been seen beforeAll I have to do is close my eyesBut keep my mind wide openFor my discovery and life depend on it.

~Humberto Albarran~

Countdown

The sleepy, unfocused sunrise silhouettes the soldiersguns and gear bulk their hard bodies-

helmets hide their crew cut heads.Baghdad at the break of daystarts another countdown-

a big emblazoned X-on another number-

one day closer-to a fight-

towardhome

~Mrs. Susan Boyd~


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Close at Heart

ShhhwhisperDo not speak these words aloud.

Speak silently,Help me to hear dea yI do not want to seeI do wish my senses to be dulled.

You have pierced my heart slowlyand to meunknowingly.

All because they told me that blood runs thickBut, if this were so, then why are you making me sick?

Why do you judge?Why do you cast the rst stone?

You cast out those who cannot be seen within your narrow scope of sight!Open your eyesI to you should be irreplaceableYou to me shall forever be wanted

Open you mouthI to you should be told of loveYou to me will be told of honesty

You have pierced my heart slowlyand to meunknowingly.

It shall never healIt shall forever wonder whyIt shall never forget the love it has for you Dad.

~Ashley Boike~

Pleasant Are The Times

Crisp, clean air ows into my quiet home town,

As a rainbow of leaves Fall to the ground.

Trees are now happy,for they have no more burdens to bear.

The Wind whispers to me that it has arrivedSwirling,Whirling,and Twistingli ing and passing the leaves like a game of tag.

The Suns orange cloak soon fades to nightfall,only to return the next day.

This is The Perfect Time.

~Tim Nix~

23

Lost

Everything that we once had exists no moreOnly the memories are leThe empty space that was once completely lledHas begun to disappear as days and nights rush byNothing will ever be the same even if it is replacedBecause one thing is true; the past cant bechanged.

~Humberto Albarran~


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You Still Dont Get ItIm screaming inside

Though they cant hearThey step back as I disappearOne simple sadistic salutation

Whispered in their ears

I can play inside my rhymesAnd pretend you love me too

I feel them begin to misconstruemy guiltless games of ignoranceFor a lack of perception of truth

When the contentious begin their songsAnd stir a long idle ame

I know you pretend to know my nameI look upon the lies dancing behind your lucid eyes

And empty my picture frames

Faces, faces, and promises impuredont you nd bruises so picturesque?deep scarring purples lest we forget

we have won the weaknesses we hateyou have found my only beauties grotesque

is this what I am?My self portrait remains incomplete and abstract

I speak to watch you reactI fear a false forever

So my life substitutes the paint I lack

I dont doubt that you see meA silhoue e in the fog

My name absent from your hollow dialoguesing for me a metaphorical melody

of the malady I call childish epilogue

to the story the public tells of uswe, who pretend to be unique

and exult in our fake friendships so bleakthe black widow leaves her web for one purpose

dont fall prey to her mystique

I lieI lie in wait as I watch you pervert my verity

How drugged you are in poetic clarityYou remain ignorant in spite of in nite warningStupidity remains stagnant in obvious vulgarity

26~Ashley Howard~


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ArtArt is a kind of illness.~Giacomo Puccini

~Ashley Howard~


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~Jason Bradley~

~Amber Chitwood~

~Auston Smith~ 28


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~Auston Smith~

~Blake Parker~

~Mauricio Rosas 6th grade~

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30

~Blake Parker~

~Shelby Collier~

~Takuma Uchigasaki~

~Takuma Uchigasaki~

~Anonymous~


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~Brenan Hawthorne~

~Austin Hartley~

31

~Victoria Nunnelley~


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~Brenan Hawthorne~

~Erica Bush~

~Eric Rodriquez~

32

~Blake Parker~


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33

~Dallas Williams~

~Sam David Black- 5th grade~

~Alia H.--6th Grade~ ~Josie Boyd 5th grade~


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~Tyler Tew~

~Kate Gonstad~

34

~Tyler Tew~

~Kate Gonstad~


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My Last Summer with Her

Have you ever just missed someone? Have you ever had a distraught feeling suddenly hit youlike a ton of bricks? I encountered this feeling of sorrow today thinking and re ecting on that oneshort summer; that one last summer.

Now, si ing here surrounded by beautiful owers, the sun warming my skin, waves crashing,and birds ying in every direction, I nally realized it was here. No more counting down or school

work. All I have to do is sit and relax because summer has nally come bringing its freedom andmemories of summers past with it. I remembered that one summer thinking, I hope this is the bestsummer ever. It is a beautiful day. Nothing bad could happen just because it is summer. I quicklyfound out this fantasy that entertained my thoughts would soon be awakened by a harsh reality.

I continued thinking about the rst part of the summer. It went by so fast because everyday,for four weeks, I went with my family to the hospital to visit her. Every day I would go into the palewhite hospital, turn down the many assorted aisles, and walk through one nal tall thick woodendoor. Behind the door she was inside. I opened it to nd her in her usual position on her bed, becauseshe could not walk anymore. She could not walk, not a er we learned that because of a bacterialdisease, she had to have one of her legs amputated from the knee down. Two weeks later, she had thesame procedure done to the other leg. I heard her call out as I entered, Hey sweetie. Come on in,she said cheerfully.

I answered her with, Hey, how are you feeling today? extending my arms to hug her.She answered, Oh well, same ol same ol. She winked at me turning her a ention to my

sister. I just walked to the back of the small room and waited for everyone to say their hellos. We didthe same thing that we always did when we would visit her whether it was talking to her, ge ingupdates on her new medical needs, watching T.V., or playing Rummy or Greed. It didnt really ma erwhich game: she could beat us all without ever trying.

I admired her. She loved me so much, and I loved her the same. I loved the talks we wouldhave together. I always knew if something was wrong or I needed anything, I could go to her. Shealways knew how to make everything be er. Oh, and her cooking, I still have not found someone

who can top her cooking. I admired her life story even though it was full of sorrow. She alwaysfound a way to praise God in the end. She loved to watch birds, and she loved owers. She couldmake stu grow anywhere. The way she poured her love into everything she did was truly inspiring.That day, leaving the hospital, I tried reminding myself of all of this in an a empt to block out thenew reality around me. I just wanted to try to remember how things were before this summer.

One night, during dinner, my mom rushed from the kitchen table to answer the constantlyringing the phone. Hello, she answered, Oh, hey sis. I knew it was my aunt. I looked around thetable at both of my sisters who I found staring right back at me. Dad told us to continue eating andmom would be back in a minute. A er twenty minutes, mom returned to the kitchen in a panic daze.She managed to get out, Come on everyone we need to go to the hospital. My sisters and I havelearned to not ask her questions anymore, but rather listen and do what she asks of us. I soon found

out why our meal was interrupted. While waiting in the I.C.U. waiting room along with my sistersand cousins, my aunt and mom returned to tell us what had happened. She had a stroke and lostmovement of one side of her body. Then, with teary eyes, I also learned she had lost her sight. Thisunfortunately meant she could no longer see the bird or owers she had grown to love so much. Shewould not be able to see my face or read her Bible. Visiting was awful. She did not know who I was. Icould stare into her beautiful blue eyes and tell her who I was, but she didnt recognize me nor recallmy name, and she could no longer look back at me the same way I was able to look at her. In thatmoment, I realized there was no way this summer would end with her on the other side of it.

It was only a week before she regained full use of her body even though, at that point, she36


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Gone!

The leaves fell upon the tar road making the red, orange, and yellow contrast sharplyagainst the black. The light breeze blew elaborate colors across the casket that lay silent in thecemetery. Black suits and dresses surrounded it as tears fell upon the leaves. Silent sobs of griefhad lled the air. Katelyn Green just starred at the empty souls that had once known her father,the man that lay silent on the leaves. The next day the paper read, Deceased, below listed hisname. Donnie Green, page B2. Kate ipped the pages to nd the list. She ran her nger downthe paper and saw it. Donnie Green. Her eyes watered and lled with tears, her body felt numband weak, her mind pushed her back to the night before his incident as she and her best friend layin the bed watching TV.

Hey girls, Donnie said to the them I m about to head to bed, I have been up all dayworking out in the elds Im hot and nasty. Im just going to take a shower and head to bed. Ok!said the girls, exited to see Kates dad home. Kate and her friend Ashley had decided to sleep inthe next morning since it was Saturday. Donnie poked his head through the door and whisperedto the girls, Goodnight girls, want me to wake you up before I go to work tomorrow? NO,yelled the girls. We want to sleep in tomorrow, dad, said Kate. Oh, ok thats ne, said Donnie, I will just make sure yall are up when I get home from work. He told the girls goodnight, shut

he door, and quickly opened it again and said, I love yall! The girls replied, we love you too!Kate and Ashley lie there talking about random things for a li le while but nally fell asleep. Thenext morning was chaos. The two girls woke up to someone beating on the door as hard as theycould. They tried the front door, the side door, and nally Kates windows and her door. Theywoke up and ran to the door to se who it was and what they wanted. They saw Kates neighborClark yelling through the glass, Kate open the door, its your dad! Kate opened the door to seewhat he was talking about. Clark was blabbering and yelling, Kate couldnt understand anythinghe was saying.Slow down Clark, Kate said, and tell me what happened to my dad. He stopped and took a breath and said, Kate, your dad had a stroke; he is in the hospital right now!What?!?!?! she said, Is he ok? What happened? Where? When? Does my family know? She felt ji ery and confused. He was acting ne last night, she said. Your family knows and they are on their way here to get you and take you to the hospital. SaidClark, it happened this morning at work, they said he was just standing there one minute andthe next they said he was on the ground and his whole le side of his body had gone numb andhe couldnt move it. Kate was distraught. All she knew to do was to get there and there fast.

Kate saw a car pull up and saw her brother, sister, and their families were in the car. Katedidnt know them all that great. They had never really been close since they were so much olderand had their own families. Her brother, Greg, was stressed out, not knowing what to do but toldKate, Get in the car Kate, hurry!!! Her sister Mary was silent, not knowing what had happened,thinking that he was ne last time she saw him, then she thought real hard about the last timeshe saw him. Christmas, she said out loud. It was Christmas. She began to cry and realizehow long it had been since she had seen him. Why now, Lord? she cried. They were on the wayto the hospital now, about an hour away. Kate didnt realize how big of a deal it really was. Shehad never know anyone that had su ered from a stroke before so she didnt know how serious itcould be.

Kate, Mary said, do you want to talk to dad?Yes, can you get him on the phone? replied Kate.Here, he is on the phone, said Mary.Dad? Kate said, You there? Yessssss, said Donnie.

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Kate couldnt understand a word he said. The stroke had messed up his speech. He wasslurring and mumbling. Kate burst out in tears; she was not expecting that to happen. She handedthe phone back to her sister. She was stunned. Kate had no idea her father was this bad? Thewhole way to the hospital Kate wondered what it was going to be like when she arrived at thehospital and saw her father. The family nally made it here and went to Donnies room. He had aprivate room alone with many di erent wires and machines hooked up to him. Donnie couldnt

breathe on his own; the doctors had to hook up a ventilator to him. His entire le side of his body was still dead and he had fallen into a deep coma. Kate walked into his room expecting ahug from her father and for him to tell her everything would be ok. Sadly that isnt what she got.Dad, wake up, Im here!!! Kate shouted. Wake up!!!

Kate, Im afraid your father isnt going to wake up just yet, said the doctor, he is in acoma and cant respond what youre telling him.

Can he even hear me? cried Kate.Its said that people in comas can hear you re saying and sometimes it helps their

recovery, Replied the doctor. So the more you talk to him, the be er.Kate sat in her fathers room for hours talking to a silent body and machines. She prayed

to God that he could hear her and somehow bring him out of this horrible coma. Her family didthe same but Kate knew that nobody could talk to him the way she did. Day a er day went by,same routine every day. Wake up in the waiting room down the hall from Donnies room, fold her blankets she slept on, walked around the corner to see how her dad was and if it wasnt visitinghours she and her mother would walk down stairs to grab a bite of breakfast, and hours werespent talking to Donnie about when she was a li le girl and all the memories they made together,when visiting hours were over for the day, Kate and her mother would eat some dinner, go backto the waiting room and lay their blankets out and get some sleep.

Finally one day the nurse had came to wake us up and tell Kate and her family the bestnews they had heard since Donnie had arrived at the hospital.

We got the results back from your fathers tests, said the nurse. They are wonderful and

he is doing a lot be er.Can we see him now? asked Kate.Well there is more news, said the nurse excitedly. You can all go home and sleep in

your beds without worrying about Donnie. His tests tell us he is safe for now.Ahhh, the family sighed.Kate and her family packed their bags and told Donnie goodbye, Bye dad, I will be back

here rst thing tomorrow, said Kate.The whole way back home Kate felt a relief that for once in the past month, she didnt

have to think about something happening to her dad. She sighed in relief that she could go homeand sleep in her bed and stay in her house. Still she was sad because her house wasnt the samewithout Donnie in it. The happiness and joyfulness wasnt there and the warmth of her fathers

arms wrapped around her dad le her with a cold breeze though the house. It wasnt the same.Kate and her mother tried not to talk about Donnie. For once they tried to think about somethingelse. They stayed up all night watching movies and laughing and talking about everything. Thisis exactly what Kate needed.

The next morning Kate woke up to something unexpected. RINGGGG!!! The phonewent o and Kate and Kimberly had slept right through all the calls. Kimberly picked up thephone and checked who had called and saw that it had been the hospital. She silently looked atKate and a tear rolled down her face. Kate knew right then who had been calling. That moment

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she rushed out of bed changed into her everyday clothes and was ready to head out the door.Both of them rushed to the car, going as fast as they could. Kate drove while Kimberly calledthe hospital. Kate turned her ashers on so everyone would get out of her way. On the way shestopped to get her best friend, Ashley. Kimberly was on hold till they got about half was to thehospital. nally they got a doctor on the phone.

Is everything ok? asked Kimberly. Oh I see.Yes, we are on our way. She continued. Goodbye.Kate looked in the review mirror at her mother as she hung up the phone. Then she turned

to Ashley. Kates heart dropped.Mom? Kate asked. What did he say?Hes gone, Kate. Kimberly cried. Hes gone.Silenced lled the car. Kate looked at Ashley without saying a word. Kate then felt the

longest een seconds of her life as she just sat and looked at her best friend and her mother, notknowing what to do. No response. She was stunned and couldnt believe it.

Questions lled Kates mind. How? Why? What did I do? Was it me? Why wasnt I there? Isthis a dream, a nightmare?

Reality took over Kate, Ashley, and Kimberly all burst into tears as they had realized thiswas real and he was gone. Kate cried until the moment she walked into the hospital. Up theelevator, to the second oor, and around the corner to her fathers room.

Kates body felt numb and shaky as she walked into her fathers room. The bed made upwith four corners of a white sheet tucked neatly beneath the hospital ma ress that had held herfather. He was gone.

The tears ran down Kates face when she opened her eyes and saw the black box that heldhis body and realized that her heart held his spirit.

The cemetery was empty, it was only her and the block of cement that engraved her fatherslife. It was nearly dark, about seven oclock when Kate walked away as the tears fell upon the

orange, yellow, and red leaves.~Kayla Carden~

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Breathing Angels

In this world there are certain people who were sent here by God to help others in their time of need.Once in a lifetime we meet one of these people. Some come in the form of strangers, others in the

form of lifelong friends. My angel was a stranger that I met in sixth grade.

July 25 th wasnt a good day to start with. I should have listened to my mom. My Paw Paw was in thehospital, as he had been for a while. I thought nothing of it when Mom said that I needed to see him.She said that he wanted to see me because he hadnt in a few days. I stayed at home that day, but thatnight when we went to the hospital, I was just going to try and drag through. Outside my uncle wascrying, and he was one of the strongest men I knew. Inside everyone was si ing and listening to theso beep, beep, beepon the machine. He was still alive, but he wasnt in good shape. Later as we weresi ing there, there was a terrible noise. It was a sort of gurgling wheeze. The last u erance of a lifeso hard lived, followed by an even worse sound. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepeveryone hushed and then

burst into sobs. My Paw Paw had died: it was around 8:30 or 9:00. I sprinted into the hall.

Someone please!!! I cried, Nurse, somebody please help. My Paw Paw is dead!!!

I fell to my knees and cried, then I ran to a hall where I thought nobody was and cried for maybeve minutes before anyone found me. It was a woman who nally found me, or so I got from thesound of her voice, and she asked what was wrong. I couldnt reply. The only thing lling my voicewas cries and weeps. But she prayed. She prayed for my plight, Whatever it may be, she said. Shestayed with me until a nurse got me and helped me to a room in which mourners of the recentlydeceased were taken. I couldnt breathe. I was hyperventilating, and I was cold. The nurses broughtme a Sprite (a drink I now despise) and a blanket. I remember the wheelchair and being rolledaround. And thats all I remember - the one kind person in the hundreds who could hear me. The one

kind person was gone, and I never even got her name.

I guess the one truth to be gained from this story is not one of kindness in every human heart, butof the kindness that rests in the hearts of so few and is absent in so many. Common human courtesyis just not a virtue of humankind anymore, being replaced instead by sel shness, and bi erness. Itsa sad day when a young boy, a child, can sit in a hospital and cry and only one person will have thecompassion to care and to calm. She is one of the few angels le on earth, the last of a dying breed. A

breed that everyone wants to be around, but no one wants to be.

~Blaine Perry~

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Food and Make it Fast

Hello and welcome to Skippys Burgers! Are you the one whos supposed to start today?Joe twiddled his thumbs before replying with, Yes?His manager, whose name tag read Sherri OConnor, general manger, removed the fake

smile from her work weathered face. JERRY! Get this guy a uniform, NOW!A man with a uniform and an apron whom Joe assumed to be Jerry ran quickly to the back

room and returned with a uniform in his hand. Put it on. He threw the red shirt and cap at Joe,nearly hi ing him square on the forehead. Be more careful next time, kid.

All right, get changed, and Ill teach you how to clock in for work. Sherri hurried o totake someones order. STOP STANDING AROUND AND GET CHANGED! She smoothed herhair and went back to order-taking mode.

Joe would one day come to admire the Skippys bathroom, as it was refreshingly clean,even compared to his own. As long as he didnt have to clean them, the bathrooms would remainat the top of his bathrooms I admire list, which currently had over 12 listings. He hurried intoone of the stalls and quickly changed his clothes.

Running out of the bathroom, he collided into someone. Ugh, Im so sorry!It was actually one of his many managers, and this one was quite angry. DONT YOU EVERRUN IN MY RESTURAUNT AGAIN! Get behind the counter and do your job! Swearing underhis breath, the angry manager punched Joe hard in the chest, knocking the wind out of his chest. Joe, now limping, was greeted by Sherris usual genial tone. What the hell happened to you?

I.ran..out.hitmana.ger. Joe doubled over in pain.Oh, thats just Willis. Hes a li le rough around the edges, and Im sure that plowing into

him didnt help the situation. Hmm, are you on the front line or the back line? Joe having no idea what she meant, said the rst thing that came to his mine. I dont want tocook

Ah, then it looks like your up with me on the front line! You see, front line takes the or -ders, and back line makes em. Simple enough for you?

Joe had regained his breath by now, and readily replied with, Yes, maam!She smiled brightly and began to brief Joe on his duties. Ok, youve got to take orders,give money, help put orders together, and do random things that I tell you to do. You see thiscomputer thingy? She pointed at an LCD screen with all sorts of meal combinations wri en onit. If you screw up an order, which you will, all you have to do is use one of our swipe keys. Shepointed to the plastic key on her keychain. Hmmm, do you think you can handle your drawerfor a few minutes?

Yes maam, but dont I need a name tag?Oh, I guess I spaced on that Here, give me a minute or two, and Ill have you one. She

made a bee-line for the o ce, and le Joe alone for his rst encounter of the customery kind.This was it! Joes maiden voyage into the world of working was about to begin. He stared at thecomputer screen, commi ing every combo number to memory. During his silent interrogation ofthe screen, a customer walked up to his register.

Ummwould you mind taking my order, dude?Joe blushed profusely before looking up to see a girl that went to school with him. Uh,

um, yeah? Wwhat wwould you llike?She sti ed a giggle. Yeah.get me a number four with no le uce, bacon, tomato, or pick -

les, but I want onions and mustard. Also, could you substitute the fries for onions rings and thedrink for a small shake?

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While having a small heart a ack, Joe looked over to see Sherri busy doing something,and he didnt think talking to the manager he collided into would be a good idea. He whis-pered, I hate you. under his breath. All of his interrogation was useless in the face of this behemoth order. Ok, so you wanted a he began to mumble the order to himself while tryingto put it on the screen. A er ghting with the screen for a few minutes, a nished order ap -peared. He gave her the receipt and ran away.

Uh, dude? Did you even hear me? I wanted a number four and you gave me a cheese -

burger with extra onions?He swore aloud which astounded his customer. UhIm sorryCould you wait just

a second? SHERRI, HELP ME!Sherri ran swi ly from her o ce and stopped beside his register. Whatcha need? You

mess up already?Joe blushed again, which made both women laugh. Sherri slapped him on the back of the

head. Joe, all you have to do is press this, this, this, and this! Jeez, could it be any easier? Here,you try.

He tried his best to succeed, and failed yet again. He slammed his hands on the counterand sighed angrily. Darn it, will you just take the cheeseburger?

Sherri stared blankly at him, unwilling to hear what she just heard. Joe, go x somefries or something. Joe trudged o to ask someone to teach him how to make fries, and Sherrireturned to the very o ended customer. Sorry about thathes new. So you wanted a plaincheeseburger combo meal with light onions and a shake?

~Ricky Foster~

44

The Nightmare in the Penndragon House

It was Halloween night. I was stuck taking my annoying li le brother Cody trick-or-treating.Emily, lets go to that house. I looked up to see where he was pointing. He was pointing to the al -leged haunted house. It had been deserted ever since I could remember. Everybody said there wereghosts lurking in the house. A blanket of fog swirled around the base of the house. Before I couldprotest, Cody was already dragging me toward the front door. Under the gold lions head doorknocker, the word Penndragon was inscribed in the rusted gold nameplate. Cobwebs were hangingo every inch of the house.

Cody, lets go. No ones at home.Under his breath, Cody mumbled, Chicken!Okay, twerp, well go inside the house. Dont blame me if you get scared. I gently stepped

on the dilapidated wood oor. A er Cody walked in, the door slammed shut. Cody whimpered andtears formed in his eyes. It was just the wind, I assured him. I didnt even believe myself, though.He grabbed my hand tightly as we walked through the twisted corridors. All of a sudden, a whitestreak blazed by us. Emily, I want to go home.

Okay, I replied shakily.A so voice answered, You cant leave. You just arrived. A li le girl in a stained pink dressstepped out of the shadows.

Oh, you scared us. Im Emily, and this is my brother Cody.Im Mary-Jane. Pleased to meet you. She gently took my hand in hers while she led us

upstairs. She opened a heavy wooden door to reveal a bedroom with bright pink walls, a canopy bed, and stu ed animals and clothes strewn over the oor. The clothes looked like they were fromthe 80s and the room had a musty smell to it. Mary-Jane pulled out a dusty Barbie Corve e and twodolls. Will you play with me? I dont have any friends, asked Mary-Jane.


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Sure, I guess we could play for a few minutes, I replied.Mary-Jane smiled contently and then started to push the pink Corve e across the squeaky

oorboards. We ended up staying for two hours at Mary-Janes house. She told us about how herparents had died in a car accident and how she had lived at home for most of her life because shehad no other family members. When she was nished, she cried so ly, but choked back her tears.Im glad you two came over. Have you eaten, yet?

We followed her downstairs, but as we walked down the hallway, a framed newspaperarticle caught my eye Li le Girl and Parents Killed in Car Accident. I ran down the hall, scream -ing for my li le brother. I found him at the wobbly dining room table eating oatmeal. Mary- Janehad a white glow around her. I grabbed my brother by the hand and stormed over to the door.Cody, Mary-Janes a ghost. We have got to get out of here, I whispered. I pushed the heavywooden door open while Mary-Jane screamed. I looked back before closing the door to nd herglaring at us. I shut the door quickly and grabbed my li le brothers hand. We stepped into thefrigid air and ran home. We walked into the foyer just as my parents pulled into the driveway.My brother started digging into his over owing bag of candy. He pulled a pair of wax lips out ofthe bag. There was a note a ached to them. You now know about the Penndragon curse. If youtell anybody, you will su er the consequences. I screamed and opened my eyes. My parents werestanding over me.

It was just a dream, Emily. Everythings alright. Go back to sleep, my dad reassured me.I breathed a sigh of relief. I rolled over onto my side and stared at the alarm clock. 3:00 A.M. Irolled onto my back, and I saw Mary-Jane standing in the corner. I rubbed my eyes to make sure Iwasnt dreaming. I wasnt.

Mary-Jane whispered into the darkness, Were best friends now, and Ill never leave you.I woke up shaking. Another bad dream. Will it ever end? I went downstairs and grabbed a pieceof toast out of the toaster and poured myself a glass of orange juice. The dream kept hauntingme, though. What if there was a hidden meaning behind it? I shrugged o the feeling, though.The Penndragons were still living in that house. I saw them everyday tending to their garden. Mymom came down the stairs, and I noticed that her eyes were bloodshot and there were stains ofwhere tears had trickled down her cheeks.

Honey, the Penndragons were in a car accident today. They didnt make it. Tears stungmy eyes. I might could have prevented this, but I didnt even try. That was ve years ago, and thatdream still haunts me to this very day.

~Alyssa White~

45

Silent Sings the Raven

Somehow I knew I was dreaming. Or I hoped for it, at least. Perhaps it was due to the sensa -tion of weightlessness I experienced when my feet touched the ground, or maybe it was the way

my esh shivered by the sheer touch of the featherlike air. the would around me was devoid of allcolor, engulfed in shades of white, black, and all the grays in between. The entire scenery held asense of the macabre, and my breath had an icy and piercing feel as it passed through my throatseeped through my parted lips. Regardless of the reason, my be er judgment told me that this waseither just fantasy or death itself. Personally, I preferred the former.

The white silk gown I was garbed in calmly u ered as a bi er wind wa ed past me andrippled across my skin. My feet felt lighter than the atmosphere as I took one step forward, thenanother, until nally I reached a large statue, towering over me as it reached to the heavens.


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46

The statue was in the form of a woman, elegant and stunning , with her right arm out-stretched to the stars and her le gripping at her heart. Her head was turned upwards with aforlorn look upon her face. It was as if she were asking God why he had forsaken her, why he leher on this world, her body forever cast in stone.

I felt a wave of pity and despair for the sculpture wash over me as I stood admiring thecra smanship. The stone was cold, perhaps even colder than the air. Closing my eyes, I let out adespondent sigh as I dropped to my knees and leaned my body on the chiseled masterpiece.

Suddenly, I could hear the u er of wings break through the deafening silence.My eyes ew open as I heard the unrest.My heart pounded rigidly within my chest.My head turned upward as I looked upon my guest.

I was merely a raven, a glori ed blackbird that found itself perched on the shoulder of thestatue. Its feathers glistened and gleamed in the sunlight with brilliant hues of azure and emerald.It kept a vigil over me with eyes the color of blood garnet, a foreboding shade which unnerved meeven more than the numbness that my body had succumbed to in this bleak and malicious loca-tion.

The bird was the sole spot of color. The raven spoke not a word as it sat, forever roosted onthe shoulder of the gure of the dejected woman. It taunted me with its gaze as every ber withmy being screamed at me to ee, yet I did not waver in my position as I stared the bird in the eyes.

Who are you, I breathed, more of a statement than a question. Where did you comefrom?

The bird never said anything, not like I expected it to. Even so, I longed for it to crow out, oreven u er its wings once more against the stone gure.

My cupidity for a rupture in the vociferous silence was answered with just that more silence.

Stay something, anything, I pleaded, my hands gripped at the feet of the statue whichstood rmly upon its base. My hair fell in front of my face as my head sunk to my chest, violentlyshort breaths shaking my body.

Still the raven stared in silence.I closed my eyes, le ing the cold take me as I fell slowly into a feeling of unconciousness.Have you no sympathy for the su ering? No ears for hearing?

Still, the raven stared in de ance.A soundless scream shook my body. I opened my mouth but nothing came out, my words

meaningless and hollow. No sound at all. Nothing at all.What kind of hell was this?I began to break down and weep before the statue, willing myself to wake from this ma -

levolent nightmare.I slipped further and further into the cold darkness, feeling more alone and afraid than ever

before. It occurred to me that this was no dream, nor was it a nightmare; no ma er how wicked it

seemingly appeared.My eyes closed once more, my long eye lashes cascading over my vision. Darkness was the

only thing that met my eyes. I felt my spirit slipping away. I felt the icy atmosphere chill my eshto the state of being painfully numb. Silence.

But I could hear the u er of wings.Then I could not feel at all.Silent sings the raven as she carries you away

~Brenan Hawthorne~


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Guest Writers

Auston Smith

The foundation of every state isthe education of its youth.~Diogenes~


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Crystal Water

Crystal water runs down the stream

Into the lake like running down the stairs

Swimming away from everythingwith nothing in mind to fear

Cleaning and purifying everything in its pathFrom the future and the past.

~Tania Albarran~

HillA lush, green hill,Kites towering in the sky.Football games go on below.A perfect place to have a picnic.Kids rolling, rolling, down the hill.Kids play and roll and turn-their jeansgreen.That is what a hill sees in the day.

~Josh Chambers~

Ironic

Poems what the crud?I would rather eat some mud.Poems poems stink so bad.Writing poems makes me sad.Poems poems hate them so.I would rather lose my toe.Poems poems whats the use.They to me are word abuse.Poems poems ban them all.

What I hate most of all.Poems

~Alexandria Nunnelley~

Life is a Pack of Gum

long lastinggreat thrillsmind blowing Just had too much

~Kyle Watwood~

Ocean

Were here

Look at the ocean

Feel the wet sand

Listen to the Children

Scream to their Parents

Go Oceans!

~Bri ney Busby~

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6th Grade


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Presidential Odyssey

One day young McCain, a presidential hero, was walking in the forest when out

of nowhere appears the great giant Huckabee. He said to McCain, Hello, I bear a gifor you, the sword of votes and the shield of the people. Then he said, Go to Wash -ingtonis B.C. to take your place on the throne as king of all the land. If anyone gets inyour way, smite them down.

So McCain le to go to Washingtonis B.C. when he saw a giant in the distance.McCain saw it slaying a village, so he went to help. Oh mighty beast leave this villagealone! cried McCain. It turned and said, I am Hilary, and ruler of all things! Mc -Cain didnt like this. So he went up and used the sword of votes on her. Then all of asudden, she started to shrink. Then nally she was so was small no one ever saw heragain. So McCain started back on his way.

~Carson Cummings~

When I was Li le

When I was li le I was at daycare and I was playing with this box and wewere playing hide an go seek with a whole bunch of other kids and I was it so Icounted to 20 and the boy, I was playing with said you didnt even count and Isaid yes I did so leave me alone and he said you be er take that back and I saidno so he li ed his st and Bam he punched me and le a big bruise and I startedcrying nobody cared not even the teacher but the owner put him in the greenchair for three the next day he apologized and hasnt been mean to me at schoolever again.

~Jordan Ward~

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8th Grade Summer RainsHere they come,Black clouds rolling through the sky,Yelling war chants before they a ack

The droplets fall,Pelting everything in sight,Creating sodden landscapes

Bright daggers of lightAs hot and bright as the sunStabbing through the darkness

Then the ba le is over,Clouds receding,Brilliant blue skies coming into view

The summer rains retreat,Preparing for their next a ack,Quietly mourning their loss

~Meghan McLeroy~

LIFE

Life is like a roller coasterYoure up sometimes and down lowSometimes you want to go fasterBut you just have to take it slowYou want the ride of your lifeBut you still have to pay the deedYou want to get what you wantBut youre stuck with what you need;The deed is pushing toward youMaking you want to earn moreBut when you get what you wantIt not a challengeIts a bore;Seeing all your surroundingsRealizing whats inside:Shows you that life is more than thisRoller coaster ride.

~Morgan Jowers~

Life

A ladder strong and tallMight not be the straightest of all.Long way to the topBe er not drop.Tough road for who climbs.

~Chase Clines~

Old House

That old house Just waiting for the painOf just one more trainTo shake its oors Just once moreWaiting in the sunFor its job to be doneWindows wide openSo it can see a train comingThe balcony so vacantSo dusted from the hay cutThe house so old and dieingFrom the horrible crying

Of just one more trainThe chimneys so bright and redFrom being so dead

~Tyler Wilson~

Wishing Seasons

Stuck inside the hot housePainting the water she dreams that,She sees outside, the wonder.Picturing what it would be like in her favoriteplace.Seasons of cooling winds and chilling waters,Praying to see it again soon.Stuck inside the hot houseWatching the leaves blow.She sees outside, the wonder.Wading in the sea of light,Seasons of cooling winds and chilling waters,waiting soon for it to come again.Stuck inside the hot houseContemplating the perfect image ofseasons of cooling winds and chilling waters.

~Alex Thiele~50


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A Clock

A clock,A clock that ticks and tocks.Ticking in time,And tocking in rhyme,Tick Tock, Tick TockA clock,A clock that moves and rocksMoving its arms,And rocking the farms,Move and rock, move and rockA clock,A clock that sings and rings,Singing and playing,

Ringing and saying,Wake up, Wake upSo this is a clock,A clock that ticks and tocks.

~Taylor Rogus~

Hay

When I eat hayI like to sayYAYI like hayWhen I eat hayDown by the bayEvery dayI saynayLike a horseOn a golf courseLike a Jedi I use the forceTo become an empty horseThen I start all over, of course

~Ma Sapp~

Sunshine

A ray of sunshine in a million drops of rainA funny picture in a pre y frameLaughing hard enough it forces tearsLooking for courage in a sea of fear

Jokes between us never get oldThrough blazing summers and extreme coldWe get sick and well againI couldnt have asked for a be er friend

Those soap opera daysAnd Friday movie nightWe hardly ever get in ghtsHaving fun with my best friendsSaturdays we wished would never end

Inside jokes that made us laughGiggling behind our teachers backCrazy things to make time passThese memories will always last

We never said we were BFFAnd we never pinky sworeThe friendship we have between usDeserves a whole lot more

~Brandi Todd~

The Dark Underside of a Flamingo

Pink, pink, pinkThats all I thinkAbout how beautiful I am.

Eating krill all day long.Hearing me sing my song.Plucking and pushing feathers tillEverything is at a still.Everyone has a purposeThough I am the best.I wish everyone knewI was depressed.The darkest thing to meIs how I wish I could beSo lonely and freeI wish there was a be er side of me.

~Jessica Evans~

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Jewelry tangled togetherScarves, jackets, and gloves yet to be organizedMore belongings get taken just right when you walk in, and read the wordsArbeit Macht Frei

Looking around, what do I hear?Soldiers yelling in very harsh tones

People crying and praying over and overThen listen carefully, you just may hear the silent whispers of ideas about how to escapeAll of a sudden a loud voice comes out saying Schnell schnell all you Shma eWhy this is only the beginning

Now looking around, what do I see?Fences and people with gruesome looks on their faceSoldiers walk around with their blank faces and big black bootsEveryone is scared if tonight will be their last nightKids wander around with sadness in their eyesAll they want is freedom, or food for the rst timeWalking into the barrack, there are bodies stacked on the bedsSome dead, others alive

Now looking around, what do I hear?The cries of kids just wanting more loveEvery once and a while you hear a gun shot leaving all of us in a nervous atmosphereThen not much longer you hear more yelling and cryingIt wouldnt surprise me that someone else was to die now, someone announces.Then in di erent directions you hear prayers being said throughout the campHoping for a be er tomorrowBut the thing is its just begun

Looking around, what do I see?Dead bodies every which way you lookBlood spots mark the ground with every step you takeSoldiers coming and going to groups of prisoners they call usThen the faces of the people get even more pale as the soldiers just keep their li le ole smirk

Looking around, what do I hear?The soldiers steps growing closerThe screams of the kids and other members of the family

A soldier yells, You have been chosen by the commandmentThe screaming bursts into cries as the soldiers pull us oWhere to? a li le girl asks.Only God knows. Her mom answered.

So now its The End.The End of the Holocaust Story

~Hayley Kilgo~

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Spicy Chicken 2008

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Transcript of Spicy Chicken 2008