A Year

Bailey Reigle
Island Project

     I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss my life. Today marks the one year anniversary of me being stuck in this sketch house. I've tried to escape he's just to fast and strong. I'm sure my parents are looking for me,they have to be! They'll find me soon..I hope!
     It was a normal Friday night, I went to the football game, we won as usual. After the game I was driving home and in the middle of the road there was a manly figure that appeared from nowhere. I slammed on the breaks praying I wouldn't hit the person. Once I come to a stop a get out of my car...big mistake! Instead of running away from me the figure runs toward me. I freeze in fear. As the figure gets closer to me my instincts kick in and I take off running. He doesn't stop chasing me. I  run for a good two miles,thank you cross country, before I crossroads with a barbed wire fence. I'm trapped. He is closing in on me. I attempt to get over the fence but with no light to see the barbwire pricks I keep getting scratched. I feel arms, strong arms, wrap around me and a raspy voice whisper "You're coming with me."
     The next hour or so was a blur. I woke up in the back of an old,stinky station wagon. I heard the song shake it off playing on the radio, not the type of music you'd think a kidnapper would listen to. I was to scared to say anything or to move. I felt like if I took a breath he would hear me. He turned around to check on me and that's when I saw his face for the first time. But in reality it wasn't the first time, I knew I had seen this man before. But from where and how did I know this guy? I just couldn't connect the dots.
     I finally get the courage to ask "Where are you taking me?" As I spoke my voice shook. The familiar man replied with "Shut your trap! You're gonna be a good little girl like everybody thinks you are and not ask any questions. Got it?" I couldn't comprehend the situation, it was just too unfathomable. We drive for what seems like hours when we enter a town that I don't recognize. I look at the clock it says 3:45. When I left the game it was 10, we've been driving for at least three hours. My kidnapper pulls into a gas station that looks creepier than creepy. He watches me the whole time he fills his car up with gas. I still can't figure out where I've seen him before.
     I fell asleep once we started driving again. I was awaken by the man grabbing me and throwing me over his shoulder to carry me to this sketch house I've been in for a year. This year has been the worst year of my life! I only get to shower once a week, I haven't shaved my legs all year, I didn't get to celebrate my birthday, and I don't know how my family and friends are doing.
     Once we got to the house he opened the cellar door and threw me down there, slamming the door. A couple of minutes later he returned with a blanket, bottle of water, and a slice of bread. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I ate that piece of bread. I gobbled it down so fast, not realizing it would be my only food for awhile. I ask the man, "Why did you kidnap me?" He says,"Tiffany you have the perfect life and you treated my daughter like crap and you made her kill herself now I'm gonna torture you till I want to kill you!" I am so confused. "My name is not Tiffany, it's Bailey!" I say. He cursed and said, "Did I really get the wrong girl? Do you know Tiffany?" Well duh I know Tiffany  she was the queen bee last year until she graduated, but how had he gotten us mixed up? I said "Tiffany Smith? Yeah I know her!" Then it hit me, I know who this man is!
     Last year I remember hearing stories about Tiffany bullying a girl in her class named Suzie. I didn't know Suzie very well but I went to her funeral. That's where I first saw her dad, my kidnapper. Suzie died this summer, there was no talk about suicide in the obituary. Everyone was convinced that she died of a rare brain disease, but I guess that wasn't the case. But how did Suzie's dad mistake me for Tiffany? The only things I could think of are that me and Tiffany drive the same car and live on the same road, but I don't look like her at all! For a week after Suzie's dad figured out he got the wrong girl I didn't see much of him, I just sat in the cellar. Once a day that cellar door would open and I would get some food and a drink, but barley enough to sustain my hunger. The eighth time that cellar door opened I heard Suzie's dad say "Come up here, we need to talk." I nervously walked up the stairs, at the top he grabbed my arm and pulled me into the house. Inside the house he sat me in a chair and asked "Can I trust you to sit here and not run away?" I nod in agreement. He begins to talk,"You said that you know Tiffany, and I obviously got the wrong girl, so if you help me get Tiffany I will let you go." "Deal!", I immediately response!
     The next three months after my agreement to help my capture,who's name I found out was Mark, we search for Tiffany. I knew that she goes to Wayne State so we went there. Mark found out what dome she lives in and the plan was for me to go to the dorm and ask her if she wanted to hang out, then Mark would come and take her. But I just couldn't make myself put a friend in harm, so I made a huge mistake!
     When I got to the dorm she freaked out saying, "Omg I thought you were missing!" I tell her to let me in and we need to talk! Her roommate and almost everyone else on campus were gone for Christmas break. Mark was sitting on the bench outside of Jennifer's room, waiting for us to come out. Once I was inside I told her everything, she started crying saying she had to call the cops, but I forgot that Mark put a microphone on me and that he could hear everything. Once he heard the word cop he ran in and grabbed both of us by the arms and drug us to the car. Because of the negative twelve degree windchill there was nobody outside to help us. He shoved us into the car and floored it and didn't stop till we were back in that sketch house.
     Jennifer cried a lot that first night saying things like, "I'm too pretty to die, and God I hated that Suzie girl!" That was the night I realized I would probably never get out of here alive. How could I? I didn't follow through with marks plan, I almost ruined it all. The day after Jennifer and I almost called the cops Mark came down to the cellar and drug Jennifer up the stairs he told me to stay! I was terrified for her. A few minutes passed when I heard ear piercing screaming. I shivered, praying that he wouldn't kill her. I waited and waited until after what felt like an eternity the cellar door slowly opened and down came Jennifer. I could tell she had been crying, and once that door shut again the tears never seemed to stop. He had beaten her, a lot! I could barley look at her without feeling pain myself!
     One day when Mark came down to bring us food I asked if I could talk to him. Jennifer eyed me suspiciously. Mark took me out of the cellar and into the sketch house. This time he didn't ask if He could trust me to sit there he just immediately tied me up to the chair. He stared at me, eating for me to talk. I finally said,"Are you going to let me go?" Without saying a word he got up and ran to the next room to grab another chair and set it next to mine. He then ran down to the cellar and came back up with Jennifer, he tied her up too. Then he finally spoke. "I kidnapped the wrong girl and then trusted her to help me get the real girl, what was I thinking? I can't take you back to your family now that you know who I am and where I'm at. So that gives me no choice but to kill you both." Jennifer starts to weep. I scream, "NO PLEASE DONT!"
     Before I could get the words out he had already pulled out a fun and was making his way to Jennifer. Once he go to her he said "You ruined my daughters life and made her loose her life, now it's your turn to die!" I closed my eyes but I could still hear that terrible bullet sound. I didn't have to open my eyes to know that he was walking towards me. I prepared myself for the bullet, but nothing came. I opened my eyes to see him crying. He slowly begins to talk, "I've lost a daughter before because of someone else and I don't want your parents to go through that to.." I think to myself oh really then why did you kill Jennifer, but I was to afraid to say it. Before I could comprehend what was going on he untied me handed me the keys to his car and put the gun to his own head.
     I was away from my family for one year. One year. You may not think that's a long time but believe me it is! Don't take your family and friends for granted! I am so blessed to have gotten away but Jennifer wasn't so lucky.

-BAY

Pain

My head is throbbing, my limbs bursting with pain, I wake up, then try to stand and I cant move. The pain is too overwhelming. I open my tired eyes to see Jake laying next to me covered in red sand. His dirty white t-shirt is soaked in blood. I look around and start to realize where we are. We're on a island full of trees and surrounded by the most vivid blue water I've ever seen. But we are alone, and stranded. I try to remember how we got here and nothing came to my mind. Last thing I remember was Jake and I eating supper in our kitchen. I had cooked his favorite; Garlic mashed potatoes and nice juicy steak. We sat at the table and talked about how our days were. I remember him spilling the wine on our new carpet.. But from there, everything went blank. I hear Jakes yawning as I brush sand off his skin.
   He looks around and says, "Decided you wanted another honeymoon babe?"
   I scolded him. "This isn't the time, Jake."
   He must have thought this was a dream, because as soon as he saw his blood-stained shirt he realized this was reality.
   "What the heck is this? And where are we? How did we get here?"
   "I don't know! Why ask me? I am clueless just like you!"
    We hear our stomachs cry for food and decide to scavenge for something satisfying. We climb up the rocky hills and hiked inland. We came across a pool of clear spring water. I gazed at the beautiful fish brushing against the stones. After hours of searching, we managed to obtain three fish, four bananas, and a few coconuts. We knew we couldn't eat it all right then. What if we were here a while?
    "Jake, what's the last thing you remember?
    "Us at supper, and me spilling the wine. I went to clean it and came back and you weren't in the room."
                                                                    ~

     We spend our days on the island taking walks to find food, and bathing in the cool spring water. We have been on this island 34 days now. Not one of these days have I stopped questioning how we got here. One cloudy afternoon we took a walk. That's when I heard it. It wasn't Jake's voice. It was something much more dark, and fierce.
    "Umm what the heck was that?!"
    "I don't know, Melony, but I don't think we are alone. Come here!"
    I quickly got close to him so he could protect me from harm.
    "If you do as I say I will return you home, but if you choose not to then you will stay here forever." There was the voice again, only this time there was a person in front of me to go with it.  
    A man appeared wearing a black tank top with jeans. My eyes traveled up and down his body as I studied his intimidating figure. He was tall, a skyscraper to Jake, and his muscles were like cannons. His veins would bulge from his neck as he spoke, and then I saw the scar on his cheek. His grey eyes gave me a glare that made me feel unsafe. I looked like a scared little dog, helpless.
    "What do you want from us? Who are you?" Jake said.
    "All I want is a little favor, then you can go home."
    He handed us a small envelope.
    "Read this when I leave, think about it. I will return in a few days to hear your decision."
    He disappeared through the trees and Jake grabbed my arm and pulled me close to him. We then opened the envelope. There were pictures of a house and people with detailed instructions on how to... kill them.
    "Jake.. Isn't this.. Mary's family?"
    I flung the envelope into his lap. He looked at the picture. It was his secretary's family. Mary, George, Casey, and little Jimmy.
    Mary had an affair with Jake three years before. I had caught them at the office. Is this something I could do? Could I kill her for something that happened three years ago? I decide to think about the offer. I would be off this island, back home in my comfy bed, my skin would no longer be pealing from the harsh rays of the sun. Three days later we found ourselves on the subject again. Jake was dead set on his decision. Little did he know so was I. I planned to secretly tell the mystery man who possesses our future that I was in.
    As he promised, he returned to hear our decision. Jake wasn't back from getting water though, so now was my chance to get what I really  wanted. I walked over and jumped into his arms. He kissed me and said, "I missed you babe." We knew we had little time until Jake would return. We hurried and dumped the fake blood on the ground, my blood. James and I ran into the woods once we finished making the beach look like I had been attacked and taken.  We watched silently through the trees as Jake returned from fetching water. He fell to the ground shaking and crying. Why would he cry? He didn't love me. Do you call those countless beatings, and affairs love? This is his time for punishment. I am done. He will be left here to rot like I was left all those nights he spent in the office. Or how I was left alone in the hospital after I got my head slammed into the counter. Maybe next time, he won't cheat.
                                                                       ~
     They don't call me Melony anymore, it's Stacy. Wife to James. Killer of ex-husband. I started a new life in Cali. New job, kids, loving husband. You ask why I did it? Why I had to leave him there to suffer in agony, alone, and stranded? I say, you will never know my pain.


-A.N.

Peace of mind

Time is limited no matter who you are, so don't waste it sleeping in or worrying about things that haven't happened.  Life is a time for learning not what the school teaches you but who you are and only you can find that. So don't waste your life worrying about what people think of you or who is popular.
Many people have said a mind at peace is a mind at rest and that's true but you can only achieve a peaceful mind if you accept that there is going to be bad days and good days, bullies and friends. The only way you can accept this is to not worry about be happy with the friends and push aside the worries you have about bullies or if you clothes look cool enough. Being yourself is the way to achieve peace, don't listen to things people say about how you act or dress just be yourself.

T.B.

My Heritage

I saddle him near the once shabby tack shed that contains old discarded batteries.  As I stick my boot into the stirrup, he bends his blue roan neck to nip the toe of my boot.   Tapping my quirt on his hip, I turn him sharply in a circle.   The snaffle bit pulls harder to the right, but he obeys its pull.  I climb up.  He trots around the circle where the cement from an old supply tank and thousands of old pump jack belts thrown away by Dad have been loaded waiting to be hauled to the old silage pit on the 460, which  Mike has repaired many times since we first moved to the home place a year ago.  This first year after the move has been a year of many repairs, many replacements, and much rebuilding.

Suddenly,  the tin reflects off the hole of the roof of the barn as it zooms to the sky overhead.   Trees become umbrellas over Hoss’s raised hoofs.   I grab for the saddle horn,  but miss it. Pain in my knee echoes up my thigh as I hit the ground.  Looking up, I roll to miss Hoss’s front legs as he jumps down the small embankment next to the paint chipped  barn.

Our eyes meet.  His callused hands reach down to pull me to my feet.   As I gain my balance, the memory of his pipe tobacco drifts toward me.

“Well, go catch him before he gets into some barbed wire.”

Getting mud on my boots, I corner Hoss by a rebuilt waterer and grab the reins, I return to the man with callused hands in overalls over a blue snapped work shirt and straw cowboy hat with a sweat stain on it.  He is standing next to the black rubble from the burned down granary, which no longer could keep corn dry.  Hoss runs into my shoulder as I near him.  

“Jerk him.  How many times have I told you not to let a horse treat you like that?  Show him who’s boss.”

 As Hoss moves in to meet him, he immediately jerks the reins, “Okay.  Quit it.  Or I’ll start a boot factory up your butt.” 

Handing me the reins, we  again walk side by side down the lane past the barn, which will have to join the  burned granary some day.  Hoss runs into my shoulder, but immediately backs up as I turn to look up at him.  Dad’’s eyes approve.

We near the round pen, I pull the gate open, and Hoss, Dad, and I enter for the upcoming workout.   Even the new fence posts anticipate the workout to come.

“Get on him,”  he directs me.   He’s not holding the reins so I am sure Hoss will rear up again.   Since my hips can not stand more black bruises creeping up on them, I hesitate.

“Show him who’s boss and pull his head around so he gives to pressure.  That’s the only way it’ll work.”

I pull the reins several times so his nose is touching the stirrup to calm him down before I start to climb up again.    I slowly prance him both ways around the round pen.  He seems to be doing fine.  

“Okay, trot him.  Stop him and make him back up.”  

I rest my spurs to his girth.  His front legs raise up.  

“Pull his head around with the first sign of a buck or rear.”

Trying to trot him again, I sense his front end rising.  As I pull his head to meet my boot,  he gives to the pressure.    He stops on command and backs three or four feet.  Rolling around and trotting the  opposite direction, he is doing fine.

“Okay, canter him.”

“I’ve never done it with him before.”

“Do you think anyone will want him if all he can do is walk and trot?”

Suddenly a long whip with a plastic bag on the tip appears in Dad’s hand.  He starts coming after Hoss, who immediately breaks into a gallop.  I grab the reins and just stay on.  After twenty passes he tells me to stop and turn him.  Hoss is glad to stop and turn, but Dad has to encourage him with the whip on his flank again.  

“Okay, take him ten times around and turn him again.”

I do, while concentrating on staying in the saddle.  I do get my hand off the horn.  I do get Hoss into a comfortable canter. We lope around the pen as one, a perfect team.

I turn toward Dad.   He is gone.  He’s left me his true heritage one more time.

Cheri Blocher

 

Two-sentence Horror Stories

The putrid stench rose up out of well into my nostrils which instantly cowered back. The light cascaded down to the bottom, revealing a little pink dress floating in the grotesque brown water. 

The sound of bats screeching through the cave almost covered up his screams of agony. Next came only the sounds of tearing flesh. 

B. Kennedy

White

The Mysterious Unknown....
I went to bed on a Thursday, woke up on a Tuesday, and found myself in what I thought was the secret to the universe. All around me was white. White here, white there, white EVERYWHERE!!!! I started running but soon got dizzy from all the blankness around me. When all of a sudden, a piece of paper fell from the sky. I rapidly grabbed the paper. And on that piece of five star paper, there was there's exact words... "THINK OF YOUR HAPPY PLACE.... WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE IN IT... WHO WOULD YOU HAVE IN IT AND WHY WOULD YOU WANT THEM IN IT." When I finally finished reading the command, I instantly thought of the one person who could make my life as happy as can be. My real mother. I'd have her soar through the light blue sky with her angelic wings bringing her down gently yet swiftly. She would walk into the scene with her glistening smile and her sparkling eyes. Then there would be a waterbed in the corner, and all my poetry stapled to the wall. I would want the color to be red all around because red is my favorite color. Lastly, I want my older sister April to be alive to see me for the first time since I left Texas.

Ck

Bland

The mouthwatering goodness ceases to exist,

Sweet sensation of Starbucks is no more,

Not knowing if I'm allergic to anything I put in my mouth.

Flavor of a roller coaster I once knew is still.

Cannot taste the clumpy milk of rottenness.

The Italian, garlicky deliciousness became bland,

I can feel the burn of coffee but

Cannot taste the hazelnut.

The great part is I can now drink nasty black coffee

And disgusting cherry cough syrup when I'm sick.

The downside is

My worst enemy could poison me,

And I won't even know.

-KDH 

Our Everyday Life, In the Eyes of a Student

So many people live life as if they are inexistent.  Many of them should be living life to the fullest and making themselves know. As I gaze among the hallways of my school, I see so many things that warm my heart. Those little things may mean the world to someone else, but seeing good things like that happen so often, makes you feel like this is the best community to be amongst. Although, there are some upsetting things that also occur that take down those joyous moments in life.
The days go by and there are cliques amongst us. There are those caring people, and the ones that are very talkative yet rude. Then there are athletes that are popular, and others that wish they aren't noticed. But one day my eyes opened up to an action that made me want to do the same. A big sports athlete, like the one that everyone knows because he's involved and is always high spirited was just being himself. In a hurry, he had been walking to class with the original personality he has. But almost being late to class he makes a stop to make an unnoticed girl feel like she's on top of the world. The way she smiled after he said hi had to make anyone, even myself, an outsider looking in feel great. That's because everyday I'm surrounded by people like that, who make the unknown known, or even the unnoticed to be that very bit noticed.      
Although, once you turn the corner of that hall you become observant to the depressing reality. A boy sits there with a note, that someone like myself would take and be thankful for. That boy sat there and scribbled all over a letter that took time and a grateful thanks for him to read and accept. If only the writer of the letter knew, they'd be upset. Being among the everyday reality, you would be surprised what comes up on a daily basis.  

-Th

Fabulous Realities

I was sitting on a bench at a rib-fest,
And about six kids, including my two sisters,
Were running, jumping, and frolicking though a fountain.
It struck me how innocent they all are,
And just how soon that's going to be torn away from them.



Sitting by a wall on Fourth Street the other day,
I was watching a group of friends, or maybe family members, mess around.
I heard one say, "Wait, I want to take a photo!"
And just like that, they had that moment,
Captured forever.



Friend

Tell me, friend,
Why do you frown?
Why do you want to go unnoticed?
Just stare at the ground?
Are you afraid? Unhappy? Just plain down?

I'll tell you, friend,
I'm insecure.
I'm not unhappy.
Afraid? Yeah, sure.
I'm scared, so I stay obscure.

-A.H.

Sentences O' horror

Optimus Prime

 1- I quickly drove home after I noticed I was being chased by another vehicle. I didn't know that he was trying to alert me that there was something else in my backseat.

2- It's always nice to have someone whisper in your ear "sweet dreams." Except when you live alone.

3. My son told me to check the closet for monsters, I opened it and I told him there's nothing there, he then told me its behind me now

Dirt Roads

I remember sitting on the cool wooden chair by the window as I waited.
I remember jumping up and sprinting out the door as a silver car slowly pulled up in my drive way
I remember taking the winding country roads with the windows down, jamming out to new songs
I remember the feeling of the crisp air blowing back my hair and chilling my face as we rushed down the roads
I remember talking, laughing, and crying with them as we drove for what felt like hours
I remember the closeness there was, the large amount of care and true friendship
I remember those roads and I remember those nights
I remember and I will never forget.

Bri

Winter wonderland

The chill kisses my skin as
My nose turns red from the dry, winter air
I am oblivious to this cold
A numbness seems to have engulfed me.

I can't feel the temperature fall
Not the snowflakes melting on my face
I miss the warmth of a person's hand
Never satisfied

At home I sink into the cushion on the sofa
The softness of it, lacking
Miss kitty then snuggles on my lap
My sight a reminder that I am petting her black fur

I sit in front of the fireplace
I wonder and crave the touch of fire
The fear of getting burned is gone
I cannot feel pain

Like a magic cloak
Forever protecting me from flame
An ironic superpower
For someone who feels so deeply.

KG

Remembering Him

I remember him
The love he had
The compassion for others
His hobby of fishing

I remember him
His beautiful tenor voice in the choir
His dedication to the church
His joy of gardening

I remember him
The talks we had on the deck
While he smoked, the stories he told
The way he ate from his garden

I remember him
When he sent me to dig
An onion or pick a tomato
When he mowed for June

I remember him
His gardens, oh the produce,
June's beautiful flowers, and strawberries
All the things he did for us

I remember him
The time he spent with his children
The love he had
The compassion he had

I remember Grandpa Bob
The love we had for him
The time cut too short

I remember

AC

   

I can't smell

I wake up in the morning straining to smell coffee but I can't smell it, maybe nobody made it yet.
I want to put lotion on but I can't remember if this is the kind that everyone wrinkles there noses at.
I walk upstairs and start a candle....why doesn't it smell like cinnamon?!
I see it's raining outside so I pop open the window so the house will smell fresh, weird.....it doesn't smell.
I decide a mug of hot cocoa will make me feel better so I make myself some.
OUCH! It's too hot!!!
OH no!!!!! I turn around and I see a small fire from where my candle fell over.
This day is so weird! I just want to go to bed but I know I can't skip school.
Schools fine and normal till lunch...
They gave us some weird chicken that nobody's touched yet.
I decide to try it.....it's spicy!!! I can taste it but not smell it.
 I'm allergic to spicy food.
  I think I'm going insane.
I get home and my mom asks me if I can smell the pie in the oven. I can't.
As bad as this is it's also somewhat okay.
I can now walk through the senior hallway after school without plugging my nose.
My animals don't stink.
I can't smell bad B.O.
And I can't smell that popcorn my mom just burnt.
By:JW

The Cost of Dream and Riddles

The curtain of rain shoots daggers

As sweet as a dragon’s breath in the midst of ballet.

Blazing fire, cooling “Stay With Me” into the year 2025--

Taste the burning, smell desire?  Feel the music in your bones

While Lancelot sits alone in Camelot,

Alone in Camelot.

What was Cass thinking….rain shoots feathers light in flight!

And the books teach us riddles that nobody knows.

Tradorisity is the means of flowers feeding the sun

The blue tree of dream does nothing for me

It does nothing for me.

But ovens will one day bake without asking

And clothes will wash without thought,

Will cars ever wave to the masses

Standing with trunk and hood in order?

Smooth words will flow from lips amongst the silent

With alacrity alarming no one and every one in Haven.

Gwen reads love letters of an anonymous nature,

Ich höre dich,     wenn dort mit dumpfem Rauschen I hear you,     when with a dull roar Die Welle steigt. The wave surges.

The good ship Secrets whispers loud, “I hear!  I see!” Yes, they only have five, we have only three But that is enough, said the grass ripe with life Do you know where the blue tree grows? Circle up the wagons, pumpkins...

Dotter strums a guitar with Oden in the middle of Moon’s waning

Glory shadows dudes and pretty girls on pointe

And Lancelot will fly, through daggers of rain.

--Ms. O

Mean Girls

 It's October 3rd. For those of you who don't know, this is a quote from the movie "Mean Girls". It's about a girl who moves from Africa back to America. She was homeschooled her entire life. Now, she has to make the transition into a high school, and she has no idea how hard it's going to be. Throughout the movie, all Cady Heron does is try to fit in. The first day of school she has no friends, so she eats lunch in a bathroom stall. She does end up with the popular girls, only to try and sabotage the queen bee Regina George, under instruction of her friend Janis Ian. In her attempts to ruin the image of Regina, she becomes exactly what she was trying to destroy.
It seems like all anyone wants to do these days is be in with "the crowd," to be an exact replica of someone else because what we see in ourselves isn't good enough. People let the opinions of others change who they are completely, and sometimes it's not for the better. What happened to being different? I believe that if you are not satisfied with who you are, you should do something to change it. Mean girls will do anything to make you feel like you're not good enough. But, did you ever think that maybe they are just jealous of the things you have? People like that are missing things like a genuine personality or sense of respect for someone other than themselves.
So just remember, you don't need to change everything about yourself to please others, and being a mean girl is totally not gruel. If you feel the need to change, make sure it's for you and not for anyone else.

              KZ

Only what remains

There no light is seen. It had been gone for many years. I don't think I can even recall what it even is. Darkness warps itself around every creek corner and edge leaving nothing but a bitter taste and burning tears. A single spark changed it all but, I was scared. In the darkness you don't have to worry about what you may encounter because you know you'll never see it anyway. It isn't so easy to accept light when all you've ever known is darkness. It takes time to adjust, to change. To be left out in the open world, where you could fall victim to being a captive of your own terror,  isn't something many people would agree to willingly do. I'm not like other people. The darkness that once surrounded me had no where else to flee so, it filtered through my soul and now it lives inside me.
-Kell

Masterpiece

Thick warm air in every breath
My first Californian sunset
Painting the water with warmth
God is an artist and this is a masterpiece.

Burning white sand sifts through my toes
Tiptoe to walk across these soft flames
Until the grains cling to my feet at the edge of the water
Grab the bucket and bring some wet sand!

The castle is growing, the trench is filling
Steady hands scrape windows and doors
Small sticks and rocks add more details
As the murky water protects the gates.

The sun is setting, darkness waiting
It's time to go son, while the sun's still peeking
Goodbye forever my precious sand castle
We are artists and this is our masterpiece.

JayZ

Just Sitting Around

It was just an ordinary day, hanging with a friend and sitting on his deck drinking some Coke.  We were talking about new parts for our vehicles and I was about to show him my new intake when he decided to pick up his old marlin shotgun that was left out from its last cleaning.
I decided to ask him about it. The gun was his dad's and my friend mentioned that he wished he had a few shells for it and he'd show me how great of a bird gun it was.  He pointed it out to the yard while I went to grab my Coke.  I turned and BOOM!!!
The gun went off to both of our surprise,  with his face full of complete shock and wearing a humorous smile.
Sometimes, I guess you can't judge a book by its cover.

B.V.

Stranded

Every morning when I wake up I look out over the ocean and try to imagine my life as it was.  I would be in my office this morning working away.  All of that is gone now.  I walk over to my favorite coconut tree and find some breakfast.  I take a big, juicy coconut back to my shelter and indulge in all it's delicacies.  After breakfast I go on my morning run around the island.  After that I usually go for a swim.  If not, I take a little nap just to switch things up sometimes.  I skip lunchtime everyday due to lack of food.  In the afternoons I work on my shelter.  My shelter is pretty big now, not to mention sturdy.  Everyday I work on additions to it, and try to make it look like my old home.  Maybe someday I will see the real thing again and never see this replica for as long as I live.


SAT

What is conversation?

As I look around the circle, all of us have our phones in hand, deeply intrigued by what the screen says. As a little guilt comes over me, I slowly put my phone behind my back, and start a conversation with the girl on my right. What kind of world are we living in? A world where the gift of conversation becomes replaced with texting. The gift of spending time with those who matter most, becomes replaced by a little device. This can even lead to worse, people can't wait to text someone back, so they choose to text while they drive..putting not only them, but others at risk too. Can't we just put them down for once?

-Lex

Our demons

According to legend, an old Indian once said we have two wolves inside of us, one evil and another good. These wolves are in a constant battle and we must never allow the evil to defeat the good. But isn't there a way that the two can live in harmony? Become sort of a grey wolf, a mix of both our goods and evils?
But nobody ever looks at that really, they either let their demons hang over their heads and help them make their life choices. There are also those who come to terms with their demons and bury them deep and forget about them.
Our demons though are what makes us, they are our flaws, our struggles we fight and try to overcome. We shouldn't bury them deep inside and allow the struggle between the wolves to go on, we should allow them to mix and become the grey wolf that defines us. A mix of our demons, our flaws, our good deeds, and our good thoughts.
What I'm trying to say is, the soul is made up of light and darkness. Our soul shouldn't have to choose sides, our soul should be a mix of light and darkness, a perfect balance, our yin and our yang.

Ceratotherium simum

Finding You

Before I had to be
"Bigger, faster, stronger"
Now I am
"Smaller, slower, weaker"
Later I want to be
Me


ES

Can you smell that

What would you do
Without your sense of smell?
Would you miss the crisp autumn breeze?
What about opening a brand new book?
Or your own Grandma's cooking?

Maybe it would be for the better
Wouldn't you say?
You couldn't smell the football boys before practice
And hey,
You couldn't smell your brothers farts
But then again,
You might miss all of those ratchet smells

Wouldn't it be great not to have smells that put you in danger?
I mean nobody wants to inhale secondhand smoke
Unless you plan on dying, you wouldn't have to smell carbon monoxide
Some of you might want to take in the wrench of drugs, but not me

I think I'd miss the smell of hog units
I know, I know
I'm weird like that
But hog units remind me of good ole' Nebraska
I'm sure you'd miss them too

Abbey

Why have a nose?

No smells.
No bad smells.
No good smells.
None, nada.
Why do I even have a nose?

I miss the scent of my grandmas house,
how it smells of freshly baked cookies.
The smell of that special guys's cologne,
the flowers he brought me, never to be smelled again.
I desire to smell the aroma of coffee or the scent of someone grilling.
I spend hours trying to catch a wiff of my perfume.
I see the candle burning but no scent comes from it.
It rains all day, once it stops I don't smell the dewy smell I love.
Christmas is close but it doesn't smell like it.
I want my sense of smell back,
no I need it back.

Without smell I've been through some dangerous situations.
I didn't smell the smoke, thank God for fire alarms!
In the halls people avoid me, laugh at me,
oh no I must smell bad again.
"Mom when will dinner be ready?"
"Honey we ate an hour ago, didn't you smell it?"
No. No I didn't.
I'm getting dizzy, I collapse.
Doctors say there was carbon monoxide in the air, I'm lucky to be alive.
Stupid nose, if you worked I would have smelled it and been fine!

There are some things that I don't miss tho.
Farts and dirty diapers and throw up..nuff said!
Sitting next to the stinky kid in class doesn't bother me.
When a kind old lady passes me I don't gag from the scent of her perfume.
The smell of sweaty football boys that lingers in the halls before practice.
I don't cough while standing next to a smoker.
Rotten milk may still look and taste gross but at least I can't smell it.
While my brother puts his feet in my face I laugh,
I don't plan on telling him I can't smell.

Noses aren't just made for running,
don't forget what they are really there for.
Take a deep breathe in and smell all the wonderful smells around,
good or bad, you never know when it will be the last time you smell it.
Believe me I nose what I'm talking about!

-BR

My Snoz

I feel like the Sphinx

The air is empty 

No wafting aromas 

I can't sense a cooking meal

The grill just isn't the same

Mowing the lawn is boring

Coffee beans don't beckon me

Everything really really sucks

But there are some upsides

Passing gas cannot harm me

I'm not phased by a branding steer

And the lunchroom isn't so repulsive 

The bad still outweighs the good

I long for a wisp of my girlfriend's perfume

My grandma's house isn't as welcoming as it used to be

God please, I need my sense of smell back!

B.K.

Grandfather

You taught me Five Crowns
It was impossible to win
You were almost always the champ
Now you're playing cards with your grandfather

You taught me how to woodwork
We built a blue bird to put outside
You'd never let me handle the tools
You didn't want me to get hurt

You were a fantastic cook
I was happy when you liked my food
It meant something
Now you get to cook with Grandma again

I got back from church
My mom wasn't home
I decided to hang in the basement
Playing video games with my siblings

Dad came downstairs
I knew something was wrong
He woke my brother up
I waited in anticipation

My dad told us the news
It wasn't good
My mom had just called to tell us
You passed on

I tried to hold it in
I wasn't strong enough
I ran upstairs
Tears in my eyes

I needed to be alone
I locked myself in my room
I couldn't believe what had happened
I didn't know what else to do

You were in pain
You're in a better place now
You get to be with you're parents again
I try to be happy but I can't

I love you so much
I miss you
I wanted to do so much with you
You will be with me emotionally

I wanted you at my graduation
At my wedding also
I needed you at the hospital
When I got my transplant

I need you to talk to
I seek some answers
But now you've gone away
I miss you grandfather.

-Lil J. J.

Name Game

 Name Game

People always wonder why my name Chene (c-h-e-n-e) is spelled differently than Shane.           (s-h-a-n-e). I say it's because I was meant to do something unique. But others just say it has no meaning.

The day before today, I was called big oak, being known as a strong willed, hard shelled, human.

On this day I am known as accomplished, for the way I can control my emotions in certain situations.

I believe my true name is creative, hurt, regretful, and friendly, for the ways I act towards my past and for the way I answer the futures challenges.

In another world, I was known as the Lone Ranger, because I was always doing things on my own.

In the dream world within my mind, I am called a fallen angel. Why? Because I've dealt with death, pain, and I am still dealing with depression.

I have had many mind sets in my lifetime... But I enjoy the one I am in at the moment because I haven't let anything, let alone anyone, get in between what I believe the future holds for me..

Ck

High school days

As the days go by, it seems my high school life is going goodbye. I know it's only the start, but in a flash it'll be all over. I will think back and say I wish I didn't want it to go away. High school only lasts a short while so make it worth the while. Making friends, getting enemies, those are all my memories. But I won't forget the moments that were amazing...the downer days seem to slip away.  I wish I didn't blink my high school days away.

     -dalton

To My Greatest Friend..

I remember the greatest nights as kids.
The time we'd play dress up,
While dancing and singing on a kitchen island.
Or the times we'd fail at the blameless Easy Bake Oven.

When I think back to our times of laughter,
They'd always be the best of times.
Like when we'd sit in the bathroom of Memorial stadium,
Just to watch the husker football game because it was too cold outside.
Shed always make me smile when I was the one to come to for help in life.

My friend sees the world in another dimension.
I can always tell when her heart is beating faster than the words babbling out of her mouth.
But what really gets me are those moments when we can share each others thoughts,
While giving the same exact opinions.

Getting overwhelmed on what to wear to a dramatic Middle School Dance,
Or when we'd say do my hair and I'll do yours.
Being the second pea in the pod can go a bit far,
Especially when the other knows everything about you.
But she always seems to be right there...

th

Ma name

My name is Ronald

Yesterday my name was cookie lovin' #2

My secret name is Ronnie

My name really means mighty ruler/ counselor

My last name means brave warrior

My name is Ronald

And my name is more than a name...

It's power.

                     -Optimus prime

Iridescence

I'm called Amber on a daily basis.
By night, I am "ma'am" or "HEY WAITRESS!"
At home I'm "Am" or "Sissy".
Even in Spanish, I'm Luna.
All of these put a name to my face,
But no one really knows ME.
My name is Iridescence,
I change color with every angle you look at me.
I am a rainbow-like play of color,
Caused by different refractions of light.
I have a lustrous quality.
I am me. But nobody notices.

A.H.

Hero

I remember
When a person had
Strength,
A smile,
Honesty,
And truth
That Radiated out,
From that magnificent being,
Like sun rays shining through a cloud.

I remember
Courage,
Confidence,
Cleverness,
And a gentle heart,
That built the walls,
Of their very core

I remember
How this
This was not just a person
But a role model.
A guide to all,
A person who responds
To cries of help
Showing kindness

I remember
Love,
Compassion,
And a beautiful mind
That created a visionary
Who could achieve
Achieve anything thought possible
Or impossible

I remember,
And always will,
A Hero.

Bri

Missing

 I was lost in the sea of a nameless face,
As stars fell into bits of broken crystal,
Cutting deeply into skin and bone
My thirsty eyes drank up the night sky
And like an old drunk, I drank it all,
I was Christopher Columbus and this was my new world.
The sunrise, the beginning of an end  
I woke into a bittersweet nightmare
Where flowers welcomed me with deadly, ragged teeth
Whispering in languages I do not know
I can't be lost
Then, a face between the gentle colors
My soul fluttered to the harmony of song
But utterly blinded by perfection, I did not see
How the waters mocked my discovery
Bon voyage, they chanted into the night
And soared through the specks of dust
I will ever flee into midnight heavens
To behold the face that longingly awaits for me
And dance to the ruthless beat of ocean waves
Beyond broken crystal that were once stars
For I am found in the sea of a nameless face.

KG

Driving Nebraska-Journey Poem

Driving Nebraska

In spring the grass and flowers
Beginning to poke through. Snow melting
Streams running, birds returning, trees budding.

Grass grown tall, sun hanging tall and bright
Warming ever more, the Gaillardia blooms
in the road ditches with sunflower soon behind

As autumn comes Black-eyed Susan's finish their blooming
Retiring to brown, the crops harvested in, school resuming
Leaves falling and football, pumpkins and spice drift though the air

Old man winter comes howling in, dumping snow all around creating
A beautiful winter wonderland. The lights and decorations go up on
Every house, Church bells toll to gather us to celebrate Christ's birthday.

And the cycle continues season by season
As we drive through our great state!
Each of us on our own journey to a different
Result of life, no matter that result.

We travel the road together!

AC

A run to clear your mind

I wake up tired
The smell of coffee wakes me
It's delicious smell telling me to wake
I grab a cup and poor a glass
Moving silently my family still asleep
I grab my jacket and pull on my shoes
It's morning barely any light
I go out the back door
the cold misty air sends a shiver up my spine
It had rained the night before the ground soft
Not many people are awake as I start to run
My feet pounding the pavement
My lungs filled with cold air burn
But I continue running
The sun starts to rise but I still can't see it
The peaceful morning sounds as a car drives by
And a dog barks in the distance
I slow as I reach the cemetery
I look thru the fence silence
I turn and run home
My head clear and ready for the day.

-T.B.

Scallywags

I wake up in the brisk dawn as the sun is rising over the wispy seas.  The steady tipping of the ship is like the world attempting to rock me back to sleep.  I fight that feeling and rise up the sails and turn starboard towards a place unknown.  The steady breeze which smells of salt rallies the crew for another day at sea.  I stare off into the distance as an object appears to be coming closer.  I set full sails ahead when I realize the object is a ship of the Normandy Raiders, who have been attacking civilian fleets for months now.  Hours pass before we settle side by side as war cries screech out and cutlasses  chime.  Gun-smoke plumes out of the barrel of my pistol as Raider after Raider fall to the deck.  I run and jump to the other ship, dodging the falling mast that has now made a land bridge between the ships.  My head is jolting from side to side, scanning the ship for the captain while I fight in the chaos.  I finally spot him falling to his knees with a cutlass in his chest and my best mate standing over him.  A mighty war cry booms from my lips as I raise my cutlass in the air and charge toward the remaining Raiders.  I stand tall at the end of the day while the whole Raider crew lay on the deck motionless.  I lost many great crew-mates today but that is my life, the life of a pirate.

JayZ

Welcome to the Jungle

Life is a highway overrun by
Evil Kangaroos that have long eyelashes
The kangaroos caused global warming,
Darn says the mice nothing we can do,
We can't hunt crocs it's just not right.
The crocodiles flew to Timbuktu and yelled crikey!
The Roos shot them for flying over Rooville
If green veggies were legal  this would have never happened.
Green veggies don't solve anything when kangaroos are trying to take over the world
The kangaroos smell the scales in the crocs
The crocs touch the light after the roos road house them
The crocs couldn't see the love the Roos had for them
They were saving them from hand bag makers
Everyone knows they can't sew in October
The kangaroos with the long eyelashes must be stopped
Who can do this, some say Only the eagles, the eagle's chicks don't want them to go
The eagles  have enough to worry about with all rabbits being shot by pigs,
Or while other eagles are getting decapitated by jackals
Eagles can't help when the elephants and donkeys run the world anyway
The Roos caused global warming. They're trying to take over the world, and no one can stop them.


Z

Little Bird, Fly Away

My first day of kindergarten is vivid in my mind. 
For me, the annual first day picture had just begun. 
I remember having few front teeth to complement my summer tan.
My gleam was so large, and the backpack much too big. 

There was three kids along with my dad, 
And every few years the crowd got smaller.
After a while, there was only two kids. 
The amount ever dwindling, now there's just me. 

The nest is getting smaller, and I'm still growing up.
Some days, the house sits in silence, 
With no more toddlers, no more childish squeals.
Some days all we have the chance to say is goodnight.

There will come a time when I will have to go through the same thing.
My kids will grow up, sadly, and they will leave my nest. 
Then I will know how my parents feel,
To be the only ones left in the big house, made for more than two. 

KZ

High School Confessions

Throughout life, we as humans experience change.  Sometimes more frequently than we would like, but there you have it.  As a high school student, I found change my constant companion.  There were many new developments as I passed through the system: new classes were added, our school name changed with a merger, the softball program formed, my class load difficulty accelerated, new staff arrived, etc.  By junior year, I was often with my teachers, coaches or sponsors more than I was at home.  Yes, I was perhaps involved in everything possible. And granted, I understand every kid and their experiences are different....but more often than not, this is a case easily applied to students today.  Change.

My point is, on certain days my history teacher was just my history teacher and my science teacher was just a science teacher...and so on.  But more often than not?  I found within my classrooms educators who were more than just there to share new information with me on their mastered subject.  Often I found advice, guidance, and support when I needed it most.  They accepted me for the striving, determined, flawed creature I was, as I accepted them.  Respect developed.  It should come as no surprise that I am in my current profession because of the kindness and brilliance I found in my coaches, sponsors, and teachers.

Sometimes I stand in front of my own classes now and experience a random memory that brings a smile to my face.  Who could forget the taste of a Phyllis cinnamon roll?  Or getting to school early just to line the hallway floor?  Sometimes as I step over freshmen legs in my hall, I see our heads bent together working on homework or catching up on the gossip developed overnight on MSN. 

In other instances, student conversations will take me back to the time in my life where I too was in their shoes...my generation may not have experienced the level of technology issues, nor had gripes with a federal-restricted lunch program, but some things truly never change.   

Case in point: on this beautiful Wednesday afternoon, Mrs. Blocher, my high school English teacher turned co-worker and now great friend, offered to buy me a drink from the local coffee shop.  As the two of us found ourselves enjoying a refreshing peach smoothie on my front porch, conversation flowed.  More often than not, our conversations of "catching up" go from the latest news, stresses, and joys to reminiscing.

Today we found ourselves laughing and sharing "confessions" of sorts from our respective high school days.  As adults--one must not be a teacher for this to be true--we sometimes have to enforce rules that teens don't always fully appreciate.  For some reason, the subject this day turned to school policies on dress code. 
 And so, to prove that teachers (or adults in general) understand more than students think we do, Mrs. B and I decided to each share a confession of sorts. 

Mrs B's story:
When I was a freshman cheerleader, we got new skirts, which were somewhat short for way back then.  Principal Tuch made us come to his office and ordered us to get on our knees.  If our skirts did not hit the floor, we had to go home.  Mine did not.  So twenty miles later, I was quickly grabbing a conservative dress at an appropriate length.  So short lengths have been taboo since the dark ages.

Ms. O's story:
I am not a fan of labels.  However, to cut to the chase, I will just say that I was (in my opinion) a "good girl" in high school.  BUT I did have a stubborn, sarcastic, and ornery streak that I will admit still exists today.  Throughout my entire Jr. High and High School career I only got one detention (and sorry Mrs. H, I still think that was a joke...a playful push on a friend's shoulder after she had just done it to me?  Come on).  Fast forward to the very last day of senior year.  Not only did I have Alice Cooper's "School's Out For Summer" in my backpack ready to play over the speaker system, I also was wearing what was a pretty new outfit.  For my birthday that March, my aunts had given me two layering tanks with 1/2" straps in two different shades of light blue paired with a dark blue zip up light jacket from Abercrombie & Fitch.  It being in the later part of May, it was warm so I chose to leave the jacket behind.  It was my last day, right?  We were only checking out of classes anyway.  WRONG.  As I pulled open the doors by the high school office, our principal stood there talking to my then softball coach.  With the crook of his finger, I walked over to them.
"Cassie," he shook his head.  "I'm sorry, but you are going to need to change."
"Seriously?  It's the last day, and the two of them together equal 1"....come on, Mr. Lambert."
But he didn't budge, and my coach took pity on me and gave me a softball t-shirt from her room to wear over my two (what I think now would be considered modest) tanks until the end of the day.  Luckily, said principal letting the seniors rub it in that we were done with Alice Cooper's jam made up for it. 

Oh, memories!

When it comes to Mrs. B, many great memories come to mind--before our merging, she taught us Jr. High English as well as Psychology, Sociology, English 10, and Creative Writing.  I know I am not the only one in my class that still remembers her coming to school with poison ivy and trying not to "drip" on us :).  She was at that level of dedication, folks!  We learned the value of writing and the power of debate, truly seeing both sides of a topic.  Her love of nature and ONP rubbed off on many of us.

A mentor and teacher then; a co-worker and true friend now.  We may change over the years--our priorities, our commitments, our dreams, our friends, our appearance--but, as has been discussed with my Creative Writing kids, memories are there for a reason.  And change is certainly not always a negative thing.  It is good to treasure all memories...the good, the bad, and the confessed :).

~Ms. O, with a special appearance by Mrs. B!

I'm Home

People want to be sought after
To be noticed as missing
They want to know that you noticed they weren't there
They want to be chased
And thrown over a caring shoulder
So you hide in hopes of being found

You run to find a blanket nearby
Covering your face and trying not to make a sound
You just sit and wait...
The door creaks open and anticipation pulls the corners of your mouth
Laughter escapes and you can't be quiet any longer

A familiar voice echoes in your ears
"Where's my little bird?"
As soon as you try to keep your composure
You're dangling from broad world bearing shoulders
"Ah, there she is"
"I'm home"

-Kell

Laughter

Laughter is the music of the soul.
It brings back anyone who has ever left.
It's like seeing someone's eyes shining.
It feels like fresh dew in the morning.
Sounds like a baby saying their first word.
Tasting like the ding of the oven when something delicious is done.
Miley waving to her fans in New York.
She doesn't wave though.
That dork who never wins? -yeah he just won.
The reason he did so well is because he didn't try.
Yeah, it's good to shock people.
He went so fast he flew over everyone else.
Jess thinks he's crazy.
The ball winks at him every time before it goes in.
When he gets to college he will be a starter.
Yeah, it's good to shock people.

JW

Why Change?

        We all do this everyday.  It can be small, or it can be big. What is it that we all do, is change. This is a natural thing, and that change isn't changeable. We all have to be changed at one point or another.  It can be by an experience or someone else opinion.

        We change, and its not a secret.  I have seen some of my friends who never could see anything or care about things that happens as long as it isn't them.  They are now very observant and actually care.  I have also had friends drift away because I wasn't able to "conform" to what they want.  I don't understand how that change happens in less than a month or how they seem to lose so much interest that fast.

         The nature of change is simple.  We seem to just find something and latch on and it makes us different.  I have a couple friends who were country kids and we had a pact to be the greatest farmers and seed producers in all of Nebraska.  They both now feel that they are "called" to be a teacher and a senator about a week ago.  I wish things were the way they've always been.  I miss the careless fearless kids we were.  The time to forget this will come and that will be my change.

Mr. Dodge

Conforming to the Norm

   Not wearing that dress to school because you would be asked why.  You don't curl your hair because everyone would notice you.  Everyone is trying to fit in with the crowd.  We are too busy conforming to what's "cool" that we forget who we even are.  If you dress up on a day everyone else wears sweatpants, you stick out like a sore thumb.  Nobody wants to be viewed as an individual.  Shouldn't we want to be our own unique person? When did our society start to promote unoriginal personalities?





SAT

Put it down

In the world today we are so ruled by technology and I know that this is ironic that I'm going to complain about this on a computer. Many people have a thousand friends online and never talk to them. Even when they do they aren't making eye contact with any of them and having a true conversation. Just put it down, and look up because what if you meet the one? You go out, have fun, learn to love every imperfection, grow old together, and you're sitting by their bed holding their hand. Talking about your time together, your grand babies, and your children growing up and with their final breath they say one last "I love you" and leave the earth. But you never get that fantasy because you didn't take the time to look up. As I said before, I get that it's ironic I'm doing this from an computer but it's something you have to do to get your message across. So please listen to me. Put it down, look up and experience life for what it is, not a screen but a big open world.

~ Ceratotherium simum

Hiding personalities

As I walk through the halls
Passing each and every person
I wonder what they're thinking about
And how they're feeling
And what it would be like
To be them.
To be in their mind, shoes, and body
To be competing in every struggle or
Feeling every heartbreak and
How that reflects their everyday lives.
People are judgmental.
This is what I have concluded
From every move somebody makes,
From every twitching eyebrow,
And from every word that wasn't spoken
But wanted to be.
People aren't courteous.
This is what I have concluded
From every hello that was rejected,
From every fail that was never given encouragement,
And from every minute spent on themselves
And not somebody else.
People aren't who they say they are.
This is what I have concluded
From every thought that was never put into action,
From every laugh that wanted to be a cry,
And from every lie that ever led to another.
People hide themselves everyday
Because they're afraid of who they are
Afraid of who will judge them or
Frighten them or
Get in their way.
From the facial expressions we make
To the words that come out of our mouths
It affects somebody,
In a positive or negative way.

-ES

Niece

I remember getting the call saying she was born.
I remember holding her for the first time.
I remember the smile on everyone's face.

I remember watching her grow.
I remember when she started walking.
I remember when she said my name for the first time, I never want to forget that.

I remember how ornery she is.
I remember her jokes.
I remember how sassy she is.

I can't wait to remember everything else she does.

-Reigs

"You know my name, not my story"

"You know my name, not my story." What does this mean? Yesterday, I saw a little girl, brown curly hair, big brown eyes that sparkle like the night sky. She came up to me, looked at me in the eye, smiled and said hi. The next day came and I saw this girl again but this time, she was different. She looked different, she wasn't smiling and had her head down. I didn't know what to say so I just said hi. Instantly I saw her black eye and bruises everywhere. She touched her eye and said "You know my name, not my story." 

I went home that night and thought what to do, what to do. I listened to her voice replaying in my head, saying "You know my name, not my story." I was just puzzled and asked myself, what happened to her? It was a Thursday, at school, I heard she wasn't in school by my friend and I was getting really nervous and wondering about her. Friday morning, in home room, my teacher announced that that girl died from leukemia Thursday at 4:00. "You know my name, not my story."

-Abbey

Old Inspiration

I'm walking back from football practice. It's been a decent practice. Not a good one, but it had its upsides. I'm just happy to be on the way to the school so I can hop in my car, get home, and pass out on the couch. 

As I'm walking, I'm joking with my teammates and observing the neighborhood. Just then I see two kids, around 10 years old, presumably brothers, playing football, the game I had just got done practicing. One boy was the quarterback, the other lined up on the line-of-scrimmage, waiting to run a route. Involuntarily, my mind went racing back to the days when I was their age. The memories of recess football flooded into my head and I just thought, "Wow. I'm walking here, glad to be done playing football for the day, while they're in their front lawn, dreaming of the day they get to be me and do what I do!" 

Then all the desires and dreams of my 9-year-old self filled my conscious. All the days that I spent outside throwing a football into a tire. All the months I spent with my friends on the school playground, fantasizing what it would be like to do this on a Friday night when we were older. All the years I spent wanting to be a quarterback for the Boone Central Cardinals. 

This gave me a new perspective. Or maybe it made an old perspective new again, I'm not sure. All I could think was Here I am. Right where I wanna be, where I've been dreaming about my whole life. And I'm taking it for granted. Since then I've played football with a reborn passion. I will make the most of these next two years. 

Blaine K. 

Lost memories

Lost Memories in Time

I love you like I love my mom...
Oh wait, you are my mom,
Which means that I haven't forgotten your voice,
I remember your cookies coming out the oven, smelling like chocolate,
Which means i actually liked them for the warmth they gave my gut
I remember the way you would sing to me at night,
When I was scared of the storm outside,
I remember your angelic voice telling me "I love you"
Which means you are still in my heart no matter what,
I remember the last time I saw you in your hospital bed,
Because I miss you and want nothing more than to see you one last time,
I remember the times we went riding in your old beat up silver Oldsmobile,
Which means I didn't forget you getting a ticket for driving to fast,
I remember the way you gave me my first bike,
When you brought it out of our old rickety shed, shining so bright, as if it were a star,
I remember when you brought me to my first day of kindergarten,
Meeting Ms. Nichols, seeing all my classmates, eating pizza with all of the families,
I remember how well you controlled your emotions under certain circumstances,
Because you always had a way of keeping things calm,
I remember having my first loose tooth,
Of you wanting to pull it out with a washcloth,
I remember how nice you were to everyone, no matter what they said or did to you,
Because you were just that kind of person,
I remember when you first got sick, and had to go to the hospital,
Because you passed out before we got even close to the emergency room,
I remember not understanding what was going on,
Since I was so young, I couldn't quite comprehend why everyone was acting frantic,
I remember being scared when you couldn't remember who I was when you were weeks away,
So I was brought to my dads for my own convenience,
I remember being told that you had passed away, and me asking what that meant,
So my dad told me that my mother was no longer with me on earth, that she had died,
I remember jot believing him and running away from home towards the Petersburg park,
Because I just wanted to get away from all that I thought were lies,
I remember going home with tears flowing from my eyes, going towards my upstairs room,
Because I just wanted to seclude myself away from the world around me,
I remember being mad at myself for not being by her side before she passed,
I remember being angry at my dad for not being with my mom when she got sick,
I remember being bullied by students for not having a mother in my life,
I remember having to explain to my parents why I would come home in tears,
But most importantly, I remember after she had passed away, all the good times we shared,
I remember crying at night because she is not in my life anymore,
But I do know she is in a better place and that she is watching over me with a heart of gold,
I know she wants nothing more than for me to be happy and to look forward in life,
I know she doesn't want me to be depressed, but to be joyful of who I have in life,
I know she is my Guardian Angel who will protect me when I'm in trouble,
Now I must continue my journey to happiness and complete school, I know she would want that.
Ck

Do You Like Me

I think I have fallen in love. I can't explain it. I thought we were good friends but as we have talked my feelings grew into something more. I asked you out. You said yes. We went on a musical date. I then sent you a special note. It said

                                                                Do you like me?

                                                                     ___ YES

                                                                     ___ NO

You responded quickly. I got too excited. You checked the No box and I asked you why. You like a different girl. You even told me her name. It turns out the main reason you went out with me is so you could spend time with her. You told me that directly I don't know why. I thought you were a really nice guy. It turns out you are just a jerk!

-Lilykinz

The life we live

The life we live

The rain playfully dancing on the window is a heartbeat pounding hard out of a caring chest.
The rain changes color, dripping into each individual person's mood.
Red rain glides down the cheeks of a passionate couple in the streets.
Blue rain covers the jacket of a poor homeless woman on the curb.
Yellow rain soaks the smiles of a happy family giggling on the sidewalk,
But black rain, embraces the lives of all around.
Struggles of life begin to take their toll,
Slowly,
Wearing away at our tired minds until we can't take it anymore.
We walk around everyday in a dreary daze.
Not realizing the good, instead focusing on the negative.
Then comes along something so great, we never knew there was any bad.
Finding strength to get through our personal wars, is turning the page to a new chapter in your book called LIFE.

Lex

Phobias

There are many problems people face in life, they're more than what to wear or how do to something. Many people have phobias, that could result in you not being able to do some things. I am claustrophobic. The feeling of having people crowd around me, makes me feel like I'm losing the ability to breathe and in some cases I get very light headed. Phobias are very common, even though some are very strange, but they are very real. I have a phobia of being around snakes, snakes scare and disgust me. The way they slither freaks me out, and the fact that they have teeth makes me scared to get bit.

                   - KDH

Homework Among the Late Summer Sun

As I sit and daze in the dimmed sun, or gaze in the cool yet warm breeze, I simply think about the oddest of things. Starting a new school year can get busy with all those fun clubs and stressful activities. Although, when you come to think about it, it's the best season of the  year. Being able to sit outside with shorts and a tank top, as you are working or joyfully thinking for pleasure. I mean really, you can't enjoy it the same way as in the spring, or as you may do in the winter when it's all snow, or even blazing heat like the early summer.

I myself like to find a place of peace and quiet to do the daily work not done in class, or to read a great book you found and can't put down. Thinking about spending that pleasured time outside against the setting sun makes me imagine the same very spot every time. My perfect spot to casually enjoy my homework, or my book I just started has been the same. The comfy outdoor chair decorated with fall flowers on the front deck, along with the beautiful scenery ahead. It just tops it off with perfection as you continue your night. I love my days when I can just work on my homework among the late summer sun.

TH

The Life Of Love

Life is a poem. Write each line as you go, some make sense, some don't.
It's like drawing a line over another line and saying they don't cross.
Pen carves words into eyes that burn into souls so deep.
Pens will be replaced by the latest technology.
Life is a game of black magic and you're the voodoo doll. Do as it says or be bound by a curse.
A potion so toxic, you can hear it eating you from the inside out.
Taste bittersweet poison.
I see him everywhere but at the same time he's never there.
Like the vision of a Greek God I thought was Luke on stage at Wembly. Oh wait, it was.
So close to almost touching his strong fingers.
Plucking the guitar strings, hearing them scream.
Smell his invigorating cologne, drowning my senses from halfway across the room.
Une attraction naturelle.
The absolute definition of perfection, that boy doe!
Rose finds herself losing sleep, causing her to dream.
Life. A bittersweet poison eating you from the inside out.

A.H.

The beach of life

Life's a beach

Because it is wet and dry

I can smell the salty air

The taste of the water is really salty and... Never mind  just don't drink it

The sand is very smooth on my feet

I can see the seagulls diving into the water to consume the oblivious fish who dangerously swim up to the surface

The fish should've swam down 

I hear the waves roll up on the shore

Shrek is love Shrek is life... 

Then I thought "Optimus, life is good"

Soon another fish will fall in the mouth of the seagull

"甘南闻二手房𣎴"

The fish said no! No don't eat me!

Life's a beach...

                                                                                                      -Optimus prime

Cask of Amontillado

The chains held strong as I struggled to be free

The darkness had come and I couldn't see

I felt the cold chains crying in pain

I knew my friend must have gone insane

My breath was getting shorter with every second

Suddenly I heard a voice for me it beckoned

Thinking back I realized that the chains were rusty

So i stared to tug and pull but the room was dusty

I prayed for forgiveness to The Lord and begged for savior

Kneeling I noticed a niche were my begs heard there was a rapier

My friend would not get rid of me that fast not with impunity

For the free masons fought together in unity

Running up the stairs i stopped to listen

My heart beat started to quicken 

Jumping up the last stairs I headed to his room

For he was to meet his dreadful doom

-T.B.

A stuffed bunny

A little girl,
A special day
Santa's here!
Giving gifts away.

She waits in line,
Surely her turn will come,
An old shoebox,
And all has begun.

A stuffed gray bunny,
Ears bent at the sides,
A new beginning,
A friend arrived!

This bunny so dear,
She holds to her heart,
Keeping her near,
For they will never part.

KG

I AM

My heart
Is the dust
Drifting from the back roads
To the shoes of travelers.

My veins
Are the roads
I travel on
Grew up on.

My mind
Is the knowledge
Filling my head
Of the people, of the land.

My mouth
Is the voices
Traveling from person to person
On the streets, in fields, in homes.

My ears
Are the white tailed deer
Listening to one another
As they bellow out their calls.

My eyes
Are the blue hairs
Watching and waiting
Ready to learn more gossip.

My nose
Is awakened
By the smell of fresh golden rods
Drifting in the air.

My skin
Is the compassion
Of one another
To swarm in times of need.

Together
This makes my body,
The body of who I am.

Who am I?
I am
A small town.

Bri

A Town's Heart

Animals all around
Beautiful sunrises early in the morning
Colors of wildflowers on the hill
Different pace of life, relaxed
Efficient hard working people
Fun loving youth talk around bonfires
Green pasture surround us all around
Hills are in abundance with seas of corn
Ice comes to the rivers in the cold of December
Jolly people walk the streets eager to have a word with you
Kind people care for the grieving families of the desist
Loving parents protect you wanting only the best for you
Major roads are considered only to be the circuit route
Needing nothing but friends and family
Open to newcomers helping them to get on their feet
Panting dogs and drone bees can be heard in summer
Quiet streets on Friday nights all fall with the boys beating Norfolk catholic
Resting is reserved for the sabbath
Snow fills the streets in the winter
Tolling bells call us to Chruch for Easter and Christmas
Uniting us always in to perfect harmony with the land and sky
Veering storms come and go
We surround ourselves with love and joy
Xylophones played in our small little concert band
You can make a difference having fun
Zzzzzzz are a sign of a hard days work

This is a small town.
AC