2020 Letters from the Editors: Dear Readers, I think we can all agree that it has been a crazy year and that it has had an effect on all of us. Even though the year ended in a pretty anti-climatic and stressful way, all of us at The Muse looked at each other and said, “Let’s keep going. Why not?” Which exactly what I thought, even when I had the chance to opt-out of the class. I couldn’t find a reason for me to not stay and make this magazine. Nothing could tell me to not make this collection of expression, and it’s the expression from students and my peers that told me to stay. I like to consider myself an artist and someone who seeks to create emotion through artistic expression, so reading the stories students sent and seeing the art created, really meant something to me as an artist and a student. A lot of the stories and art were sent by people I don’t really know, but these stories are beautiful, sad, heartfelt, relatable, and expressive. I may not know a lot of the authors personally, but knowing their name and reading their pieces changes them from a person I would simply walk past in the halls. Once I had read the stories and saw the art I realized how important this magazine is. This magazine represents so much more than our creative and talented minds, but it’s the meaning behind it all that shows how strong we are, and how strong this community is. I can say that I am incredibly proud to be a part of it. Thank you to all who contributed and thank you to those who will read and admire these wonderful pieces of art and expression. Thank you, sincerely, Trenton Stewart, co-editor 2 MBHS The Muse 2020 Letter from the Editor Dear Readers, This year of 2020 has brought several hardships that have changed the school year as we know it. Throughout this difficult and unknown time, The Muse has continued to persevere and has endeavored to showcase this year’s talented student writers. The Muse magazine has always aimed to present a true representation of our students’ thoughts and feelings, and due to the bleak context of this year’s magazine, the tone is darker than in previous years and represents some of the fearful thoughts and feelings of our students. However, even in this time of change and fear, there is, and will always be, hope to guide us through and act as a beacon in the dark, and we hope that some of the beautiful stories in this year’s magazine are able to act as that beacon for those who need it. I would like to give special thanks and consideration to the graduating seniors of 2020, specifically to one Trenton Stewart, without whom this magazine would not have come to fruition. In this difficult time, Trenton has stuck by The Muse and has devoted his time to bettering the magazine. Not only that, but Trenton has also kept me on track and on top of my work through AP exams, and this year’s magazine would not be where it is without his support. I would also like to give thanks to Mrs. Trimm, Mr. Weatherly and Mr. Holley, for their support of The Muse magazine. As you read this year’s Muse Magazine, I sincerely hope that the stories move you like they have moved me, and that you understand all of the effort and work that was put into the creation of the magazine. Sincerely, Arden Tapp, co-editor 3 MBHS The Muse 2020 The Muse Staff Trenton Stewart - Co-Editor Arden Tapp - Co Editor Trenton Stewart, is the co-editor of The Muse. He is set to attend SCAD in January. Trenton appreciates art. He loves to draw, write, and play music. Trenton makes highly mechanical designs with Legos, and displays them at Brickfair, a massive convention for legos. He uses his imagination and creative mind every day to make art and strives to get better with every- thing he creates. “I love what I do, I never want to stop, and I love that I can share some of it with you all through The Muse.” Arden Tapp is a junior and the co-editor of The Muse magazine. Arden uses Muse to connect to other writers and to explore her imagination through writing. Arden is always eager to adventure into new territories in her writing and endeavors to always improve her skills. The Muse Advisor Denise Trimm The Muse Layout Designer Gary Weatherly The Muse Cover Art Full Bodied Shell by Trenton Stewart NOTE: This magazine is interactive. Clicking on titles in the Table of Contents will take you to the story, poem, artwork or photograph. Clicking on “MBHS The Muse 2020” at the bottom of the page will return you to the Table of Contents The Muse is the publication of The Muse Literary Staff of Mountain Brook High School. ©2020 4 MBHS The Muse 2020 Table of Contents Brynn Ainsley Hannon, Silence 8 Trenton Stewart, I Dream in Waves (artwork) 11 Arden Tapp, I Opened my Eyes 12 Ella McDonald, (photograph) 17 Arden Tapp, Taco Bell Burrito 18 J M Turner, (photograph) 20 Trenton Stewart, It’s a Good Day for the Rain 21 Lauren Shonk, (photograph) 24 Marielle Cornes, Another Crushed Flower 25 Emma Kao, (artwork) 28 Walden Knott, The Highway Sigh 29 Ellen Landy, One Year (photograph) 32 Arden Tapp, Blink: read backwards and forwards 33 Catherine Taylor, Tunnel Vision (photograph) 34 Lauren Hand, 75.38 35 Lauren Shonk, (photograph) 38 Lauren Elizabeth Cotton, Selfishness in a time of Selflessness 39 Walden Knott, The Good Think (artwork) 40 Bud Sanders, Another Summer Day 41 Bella Hoffman, (photograph) 43 Kayelyn Alfano, Its Not Fair 44 J M Turner, (photography) 46 Anna Evans-Martinez, Thirty-Five 47 Walden Knott, From the Perspective of Lettace (artwork) 50 Jake Kuehnert, The Fading Sun 51 Trenton Stewart, Spear of the Church (artwork) 53 Trenton Stewart, The Devil on my Shoulder Made me do it 54 Ellen Landy, Hazy (photography) 55 Trenton Stewart, Time Stands Still like a Ghost in the Night 56 Walden Knott, Frozen (artwork) 60 Mary Frances Little, The Eighteen Percent 61 Margo Belden, Fashion and Cubism (artwork) 63 5 MBHS The Muse 2020 Table of Contents Sam Wilson, The Bus Stop 64 Walden Knott, Prodding (artwork) 66 Abby Davis, Touch of Chipping Paint 67 Walden Knott, (artwork) 68 Reagan Downey, Not so Encouraging Garden Statues 69 Ella McDonald, (photograph) 71 Marielle Cornes, Vision Shift 72 Libby Hunt, (photograph) 76 Marechal Sledge, The Bahamas 77 Bella Hoffman, (photograph) 78 Emily King, The Other Side of the Mountain 79 Catherine Corley, (photography) 82 Emma Kao, Fallen Kingdom 83 Walden Knott, Shame (artwork) 86 Ellen Anderson, On Purpose For a Purpose 87 Margo Belden, Royal India (artwork) 88 Michael Bracer, Puerto Rico 89 Catherine Corley, (photograph) 91 John Gaiser, Rome 92 Margo Belden, (artwork) 93 Jane Morgan Sauls, Rotten Smiles, Joyful Eyes 94 Catherine Taylor, Growth (photograph) 95 Lauren Shonk, (photography) 96 John Decker, A New Fear 97 Catherine Corley, (photograph) 99 Hannah Hitson, Promise Me 100 Libby Hunt, (photograph) 101 Arden Tapp, Not Without Permission 102 Ellen Landy, Croc (artwork) 108 Mary Carolyn Sink, A Moment With Samson 109 Bella Hoffman, (photograph) 112 Arden Tapp, Family 113 Bella Hoffman, (photograph) 116 6 MBHS The Muse 2020 Table of Contents Catherine Taylor, Jumping In 117 Ella McDonald, (photograph) 120 Mary Raines Alexander, A Night of Camping 121 Catherine Corley, (photograph) 123 Jane Grey Battle, Racing into Rocks 124 Lauren Shonk, (photograph) 126 Eleanor Elkus, Just Laugh 127 Ella McDonald, (photograph) 129 Abbey Hudson, Pink Rim 130 Margo Belden, Fenty (artwork) 131 Emily King, In the Round 132 Catherine Taylor, Splash (photograph) 135 Ella McDonald, (photograph) 136 Hagan Stephens, The Steel City 137 Catherine Corley, (photograph) 138 Lev Berman, In the Clouds 139 Catherine Taylor, Looking Up (photograph) 139 Ellie Kate Berte, Philosophy of Happiness 140 Libby Hunt, (photograph) 140 Trenton Stewart, When Love Stands the Test of Time 141 J M Turner, (photograph) 143 7 MBHS The Muse 2020 Silence Brynn Ainsley Hannon He sank his fingers into her hair. Massaging soap into the long, wet locks, he watched the soap flow from the dark strands and down her back. Her tears flew unrestrained down her face and her body shook with sobs. The room’s name was silence. It stood an unforgiving contradiction, an oxymoron, and it was clear from the darkness of her hair to the porcelain white of her shoulders, the stark silence, and the utter despair that hung unspoken on her lips. Every intake was a reminder. He stood above her, soothing her, wanting to wash away her sorrow with a comb and bottle of conditioner. Neither knew quite what to say, nor what to do, yet their ashen souls could hear the words that silence had rendered dim and useless. “I love you” his soul whispered. “I can’t” hers sobbed back. Her eyes full of longing and regret, she needed more. She craved more than the loneliness that each false declaration of love left her in. Each one had heard her secrets but refused to listen. To them, she was too far gone, and they needed a golden girl after all. She was tired of the shame that came with their eyes on her wrists. She was sick of the assumptions and the laughing, the pointing. She was drowning in herself, gasping in the murky, thick waters that filled her lungs with every breath.