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AMERICAN EMBASSY MIDDLE SCHOOL 1995-1996 LITERARY MAGAZINE

Produced by Ms. Lundsteen’s English Class:

Marco Acciarri Youn Joung Choi Bassem Amin Rohan Jetley Erin Brand Tara Lowen-Ault Grace Calma Daniel Luntzel Ajay Chand - Zoe Manickam

With special thanks to Mrs. Kochar for her patience and guidance.

Cover Design: Tara Lowen-Ault "" "7'_"'""’/Y"*"‘ '

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/ \ / The Handsome Toad A Trip Down Memory Lane Once upon a time a ugly princess was playing soccer with a solid gold ball in her garden. She slipped and the ball went flying up into the air When I was four, and landed into a nearby lake. “lt’s a throw in!” the umpire called out. My Dad was working in England, The princess went to get the ball but soon He was offered a job in Oman, realized that the ball had sunk. Then in spite of He went for the interview in the morning, herself she saw a toad swimming. I told him,“Daddy wear this tie.lt is fashion.” She said to the toad,”lf you go get my gold ball, He wore it. you can sleep in my bed tonight.” ' He got back in the evening. At first the toad did not think it was a good idea I asked “Daddy are we going to Oman?” but after all she was the princess so she could "Yes,” he said. execute him. So the toad agreed. Then a couple of I was excited. minutes later the toad came back up to the Mummy was nervous, surface with the gold ball. She did not know what it would be like. Later in the evening, when the sun was “lt is the tie that did it, Daddy” setting the toad went slowly up the street to the “Yes, Katie, if you say so." princesses bungalow. The toad knocked at the the door and soon the princess came. She opened the By Katie Randall door and made the toad come inside. There he ate the disgusting pasta the princess had made specially for him. Then she went in the bedroom and turned off the lights. The toad wanted to go to sleep so that he could get back to his pond. Then the princess asked him if he could kiss her so that he could turn into a prince. The toad seemed K, surprised but he wouldn’t turn into a prince and then...... mal ` '- . K‘ D “Roger, cut! I think we got the wrong toad.” “Albert, I told you we got the wrong one.” “Shut your trap we’re not making the movie.”

THE END Moral: Don’t judge a movie by its actors. i i

By Justin Graves

1 Proverb Story The Merperson of

During the festive season of December 1995 Femail Gender my family and I decided to have a barbecue. My Dad marinated the meat, my sister laid the table ( A politically correct spoof on The Little and my Mother and I worked out the rest of the Mermaid) menu. - Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a vocally enhanced merperson of femail We were all in the kitchen. I peeled the gender. ( This was purely coincidence) In fact, potatoes, my Mom was busy frying onions, my she was the most vocally enhanced merperson in sister was preparing the salad, my Dad grated her father, the king’s undersea persundom. ( Her some cheese, and I made some milkshakes. mother was diseased)When she decided to use her abilities, all kinds of merpersons came to listen. We thought that we had everything under One day, when this merperson was puttering control and each of us just carried on doing his around an old sunken ship from the not-so- own thing. As the kitchen was very compact we wonderful world of humyns, her father was started getting in each others way. We moved to giving a concert at the palace. Unfortunately, this the patio where my Dad started to barbecue the concert showed off Ariel's ( The merpersurfs) meat, while the potatoes were cooking away in vocal abilities, and without Ariel it was- to put the kitchen. My Dad turned around to get the it nicely-dull. Oh, by the way, when Ariel's spíces and I took over. My sister started laughing father found out, his adrenaline level raised when l dropped a steak, and the dogs got hold of considerably. He forbade Ariel to ever have it l anything to do with humyns again. Ariel's reply Well, in the end the potatoes were not quite was “ O.K., but what the @*? l wouldn't have cooked, the onions were burnt, the salad was way come anywayl” At this, her father's blood too much, the steak was a bit too tough, the pressure raced and he had to lie down. milkshakes did not have enough flavour ! The Now, Ariel wasn't stupid or silly, (unlike only nice thing was the grated cheese. I think that some people l know) and soon found other ways to the next time we should leave the cooking to my bide her time. One of her favorites was Mom ! basketshell. One day, when she was on the court a while after the incident, ( so it was referred to) The proverb l used was : Too many cooks spoil she heard a voice say, “ Now l want my turn, the broth. princess!” The princess scolded the merperson harshly for being so presumptuous, but finally By Andre Van Heerden relented and let the merperson (who was male) have a few shots. Meanwhile he told her his story.His name was Clarke, and he was a runaway prince seeking cover, and would -shie be so kind as to provide it? Well, Ariel couldn't resist the polite mer- prince and she agreed happily. He stayed in her room at the palace, and there he stayed until finally the mer-police and his l .y o parents found him.By now. Ariel and Clarke had fallen in love, and their parents, though slightly annoyed, agreed to a marriage because of their high social levels. The newly wed couple, not wanting to live in a persondom where the monarchy was classist, moved to the ocean around the Bahamas and began a highly successful country. They lived happily for a number of years until they got a divorce, but they made a point of still being friends. The moral of this story is: Not even mer-people are free from the agonies of marriage. By Anisha Chandra 2 The World is Wonderful Breeze to a Swan

My mind drifts away on a cool stream The world to a swan is a big, on a misty morning wonderful place. the smell of fresh blooming flowers follows the breeze i To me, l love through trees of a lush forest. l ' to know what L is going on in 'Deer frolic in the tall grass this great world. the wind blows a gentle breeze across the old reed. l swim and swim L and don’t care The sweet song plays the willow l where l'm going when the breeze passes by. in the big, wavy lake. Within two seconds reality floods my mind. I see leaves falling l from the trees and By Loren Ames l resting on the cold, ` dark ground. Big geese that i _ stand out in the sky, f fly in a V-shape form.

[ i Bumblebees getting sweet nectar from Q f the colorful, bright flowers.

Big, fluffy, white clouds in the painted blue sky. il I‘ Oh! How wonderful the world is! l just can't take my eyes off it.

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”ibj ’J32cccx/P51co 3 Is TV a good or bad thing ?

Television is one of the most entertaining things in to do and it entertains them a lot when the parents the world. Young people watch about 2-7 hours of don't want to be bothered. Television is easy to television each day. ls television a good or bad thing watch and it doesn't take much effort to turn it on is my question, but before you answer read on to see and change channels and it entertains the entire if your option changes! family. In a way TV is good value because even though a television may be $450 and a book may be Some good parts about television are that it can $3.45, once you read a book it is boring to read it keep you company when you are alone and it helps again and again and it is one subject where as a with keeping younger brothers or sisters quiet if television will usually not show you one subject but there are guests over or they are making alot of lots of them and you can watch it again and again and noise. Wildlife shows can be very educational, it lasts for a lifetime. l think that one of the most because they can help you save the planet. Another important things about television is emergency and educational show is a cooking show because it can lifesaving programs because if you happen to be in a teach you how to cook or how to become better at it. situation like that then you know what to do and you News is also a very educational program because it can save somebody. lets you know what is happening in the outside world in just about twenty five minutes. Usually, a live Some of the bad things about television is that it picture of people suffering, starving ,even dying is bad for your eyes 'rf you watch to long. lt sort of attracts more people into helping them than a picture turns you into a coach potato because you just sit in black and white in a newspaper. The reason is the there watching ads, as if you are frozen or have viewers can see what’s happening on the television. been paralyzed or even stuck to the spot. Television Perhaps, you don’t know where to go on your drains out the energy in your body that you need for holiday, well the travel show can help you and make other things, and then you don't have the energy to it easier for you to have a good time because it tells that thing. Television is like a drug because if you you what to do when you're there. watch some you want to watch more and you become addicted to il. When there is nothing good on Some video games can be attached to your television but you still watch you are wasting valuable time. lt which can make the game look bigger and better. can also gives you a brain wash with advetising. Cartoon and comedy shows keep everyone Television encourages you to be anti-social, instead entertained. for example, “Home's funniest videos" of talking and ‘playing with your friends you are is a good way to win money and it is funny watching talking or acting like your favorite character in the it. Horror movies can be entertaining at any time last film you saw or have. If you see a murder scene especially in sleepovers and parties and also when on television you might go and commit a murder or you're by yourself. You might have your favorite WWF can affect children because they try to act a soccer team in the World Cup, you can’t see it live fancy body slam or kick and wound or kill another from the stadium. Well you know there will be black person or themselves. In karate movies children try and white pictures of some parts of the game in the to do a fancy flip and hurt or kill themselves. A lot of newspaper but you want to see color pictures and superstars smoke or drink and that encourages kids everything. So I think it's a good thing we have T.V. to drink and smoke or even take drugs because they so that you can see life in color and see all those want to be cool. Often in violent movies teenagers things which you wouldn't be able to see otherwise. and other humans get violent and commit crimes and Hobby shows can give you great ideas for your other bad things. Young kids can learn bad words. It hobbies or even help you choose a new hobby. You can be very annoying when there are only dumb can even learn about different cultures and different shows and ads which last forever. Television things that they celebrate and how. Game shows separates you from your family at dinner because ,such as the Wheel of Fortune, attract a great deal of instead of talking you are watching the TV. viewers because of the great prizes that can be won Sometimes when rude movies are shown people do and also to watch the people guessing the word. Game rude things.. sex movies may also have the same shows aren't only for adults but also for children. affect on people. Game shows for children can show how smart My view on television is that l think it is both good children are and other children then enjoy watching andbad, but it is up to you about the decision! children contesting. For the toddlers there are By Tim Tideman things like ABC or playschool which can teach a lot to them. playschool teaches the kids of nice activities

4 UAAM Love

Winnie I am a cricketer like the world’s best Creatures everywhere I am a football player beating the rest Beeues_ I am a person who’s living in an aeroplane B;,»ds_ I am buying my family cars of their dreams Thetoad I am hogging the roads with my Harley A ¢learing_ I am a person who likes to have fun A bey_ Almeet e men I am someone you’d like to meet seemed so glerieue to Winnie I am an Indian going Dutch and Aussie Was shoeless. Winnie took his hand. BY Abhay Bakaya He was even more beautiful up close. ' I By Charlotte Dahlburg. F I r e '

I ANL" Three years old a sleep over I am a bird that flies free in the sky in the Philippines I am a fish that is on your dish I asked for a lighter I am that fish that's a fisherman’s wish I don’t remember why I am a ball that is kicked overawall the th:)“UeYh§‘f;VV‘3a’;“f90f’;:eCook I am the glue that is stuck to you y g I m it I am my Gameboy, broken but fun under a balloon I am gold medals hung on the wall I am the fastest in the pool 500M; Putting water on my face By Nick Rowley Ithurt Putting paper on my face /5 It hurt It took a long time to heal!

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5 My First Operation The Car Accident

It was a Sunday in summer, 1994. I was very lt was a summer day and my cousin and I were nervous because I was to start my new fifth grade returning from our bicycle trip to an island class the next day. Suddenly I had a bad stomach- called Vuohensaari which means goat's island. ache. I took many medicines but it would not go The island was so named because it looks like a away. Then my mother took me to a hospital. goat from an airplane. On the way home, we saw a When I got to the hospital, the doctor checked ramp made of asphalt where we thought we could my appendix and heart. He took two x-rays of my ride our bikes and jump into the air. But we had stomach. I was asked to wait outside for an hour heavy bags tied to our bikes so we could not jump and a half and when I was called back, he said that with them. So we decided that we’d go to my I had appendicitis! He also said that I had to be house, leave the bags there and return to the admitted to the hospital immediately for an ramp. We went home, left the bags there and operation. I was taken to a room where there since it was a warm sunny day, we decided to were three people all injured or sick like me. repair, wash and polish our bikes. After we had Soon I was laid on a stretcher and taken to the done that, we left for the place where we had seen operating theater. There were three men and one the ramp. When we left, I noticed that my bike woman there and I could see big knives and seat and the brake levers were slippery. Half scissors around. I was very frightened and way to the ramp, at the bottom of a hill, the bike someone tied my hands and legs and gave me an path crosses the main road and continues on the injection of anesthesia. My eyes closed. The next other side. I felt safe on the bike path so didn’t thing that I remember is coming out from the notice the pick-up truck on the main road behind operating theater. me until I started to turn. When I saw it coming In the hospital, I could not eat my favorite at me, I hit the brakes. Unfortunately, because of pizzas and chicken dishes. I was on a drip of the polish on the brake levers and the hill we intravenous food with nothing to eat and when I were coming down, my hands slipped from the didn’t have a drip any more, my food was changed brakes and I rolled forwards, right under the to gruel. car! The car started to brake about one and a half My friends visited me in hospital and gave me meters before it hit me. I flew about two meters some comic books to read and some drinks and with my bike and landed on my back and head. I they told me which class I was in. I was allowed was pinned under my bike so I couldn't move to join my new class only after that. I wasn't until my cousin came and lifted the bike off. I was allowed to run for one month. quite frightened and felt a little pain in my head where it hit the asphalt. The driver of the car By Chong-Seok Kang was an old man. He said that it was my fault; I hadn't braked but just rode into the road. Then he My Terrible Accident called the police. We waited for 40 minutes until a policeman came with a motorbike from a lt happened when I was five years old. I will nearby town called Halikko and took my address. always remember it. My sister was helping with Then the policeman said I needed to go to the the cooking when my mother told her to bring me hospital. He asked if I could walk or if he should to the kitchen. My sister put me on her back, but call an ambulance. I didn't want to take an while she was climbing the stairs, she slipped on ambulance and I thought that I could ride my bike her shoelace and fell down. I fell with her, to the hospital, but -my bike was crushed. I had to smashing my forehead into a step. My sister was walk to the hospital. I was lucky because the horrified. My mother rushed me to the hospital. hospital was close by. At the hospital, a doctor looked at the terrible At the hospital, I had to wait for 45 minutes gash in my forehead. After stitching me up, I was before a doctor examined me and wrote down all kept for observation. I stayed in the hospital for the bumps and wounds that I had. Then he sent me three days. home. At this point, I was feeling quite angry When I left the hospital, my head was all with the old man because he took 1 hour and 35 right but I told my sister never to carry me minutes of my time. At home, I got two lectures again because I was so scared of going back to the from my mom and dad. I will try not to be in a hospüaL car accident ever again. By Jean-Philippe Maslin By liro Saarikivi

6 The Ambulance Felice and Her Nail

One day in Holland, in 1991 or 1992, my dad, One night, my brother and I went to bed in my seven year old sister Felice and I decided to go our parents’ bed because my father had severe to the store to get something. Our house has these pain in his back and needed to sleep in my doors that close slowly and then, “Boom,” they brother’s bed because that bed was better for his slam shut. l was the first one to be back in the back. kitchen ready to leave. Then came my dad and Early the next morning, I woke up because I Felice. Felice had to turn off the lights. Daddy was heard some voices. in the house. I stood up and in the hall walking to the kitchen when .Felice looked through the keyhole to try to see what was came and put her fingers around the door to keep going on. I saw some people going into my it from slamming. The door closed and her brother’s bedroom. Then my brother woke up and fingers were between the door and the door wanted to see what was happening. We both looked frame. She was YELLING and SCREAMING the through the key hole and saw the medics running whole time. At first we thought it was nothing but from one place to the other. My brother wanted to it started bleeding like a waterfall. We put go into the room and look, but I knew that my Felice’s fingers under cold water, then bandaged father wouldn't like that. I knew that my father them and off we went to the hospital. had pain in his back and it was bad, but I never At the hospital, we had to wait for a long time. thought it was so bad. I was afraid because it was Odette, my youngest sister, and Mummy went my father and it felt like my heart was falling back home. Daddy, Felice and I stayed. After one down to the ground. hour or so of waiting, we were called into a room When the medics were gone, my mother came where a doctor looked at her fingers and said, to us. She told us that our father was going to be “We need to take X-rays to see if anything is in the hospital for some weeks. That day, I didn’t broken” Nothing was broken but they had to take want to do anything. I kept thinking about my off her nail. We went to another room to have the father and wondering how he was. That evening procedure. My dad and l sat beside the wall, while we visited him in the hospital. He was feeling Felice had to sit in a chair with a lamp and two better, but he had to stay there some weeks. We men next to her. She started screaming when visited him very often. After a while, he came they had to take off her nail. Felice SCREAMED home. He still has some pain, but not that much. so loud that my dad and I saw stars. We both felt sick. By Ina Helen Herland Everything was all right afterwards. Felice got to take her nail home with her in a small box. She still has it and sometimes she bothers me by showing it to me. At that time,the only fear was that her nail might not grow back. Felice was lucky for her nail did grow back and it is not deformed.

‘. o \ The most annoying and scariest things were

V the needles they had to use for the stitching, Felice’s YELLING and her BLOOD that was all over the room! l have never been so scared in my life till now and I hope l’llnever see anything like that again.

O A O By Eline Bakker A O O

7 A Sad Poem Civilization Project

I am a withered rose that nobody loves In Mr. Dow’s S.S class, the class had to do a I am a closet, empty, lonely, and cold project on a ancient civilization. In class I am the Queen of happy times but hidden down, Mr.Dow said, “Today you are going to start dark and deep working on ancient civilization project, you can I am tearsthat are unwanted and wiped away working groups of three or less or by yourself.” I am kisses soft, warm and sweet but pushed After he had made his announcement a aside f chattering sound spread through the room. All I am a tiger trapped in a cage, eyes filled with the boys were working in groups or pairs, same anger but also sorrow with the girls except one girl who wanted to work I am a homeless dog who nobody adores by herself. Everybody started who does what and I am a girl crying under a willow tree over a there were people shouting, “That is not fair,” låst lover and “I want to type and anyways I'm the fastest.” I am sadness and I am filled with sorrow and that But there was one girl who didn’t argue about is what the world feels today! anything and went straight to work by herself. The project was due in a week some groups had By Caitlin Brand gotten far yet, but the girl who was working by herself had already three pages of notes and was doing fine. When five days of the week had passed Mr. Dow I AM... said, “Now you have had five days to work you should be ready to type the final dratt." On the day the project was due the only student that had it done was the girl who had worked by I am the pool you need, herselt, everybody else was giving excuses that on a summer's day, this person had not done this, and this person’s computer didn’t work, and loads more. I am your favorite game, At the end of the class Mr. Dow said, “You work which you never ceaseto play. much better by yourself than in a group, so next time you might want to work by yourself.” I am the telephone, which you talk on all day long, Proverb- Too many cooks spoil the broth I am your favorite CD, By Laura Laakkonen I am you favorite song.

l am your messy paints, Pre-School which take hours to clean up, Parents get together I am your granny’s kitten, Dark evening and pretty hot too Your uncle’s little pup. I was in pre-school Ottawa I am the computer, All mums wearing which everybody has, jeans Like a forest of blue I am a school, Tired a school called AES! I wanted to go home I grabbed someone's leg By Sheila Maithel “Mum, I want to go home” Not Mum’s leg Everybody laughed.

By Sheila Gordon

8 My Best Gift My Best Gift

The best gift I ever received was a bicycle. I got I always wanted a computer in my room loaded it when I was ten years old and living in Korea. with games. I had to beg for a long time to get one. When I got it, I had the feeling that nobody else But on my tenth birthday on the 14th of July in knew this kind of joy and happiness. But the joy Switzerland, I finally got one. and happiness only lasted for a day. The next day On the box containing the computer, there someone stolemy bike. I was sure that I had was a picture of a bright new shiny computer locked it but it was gone. From that time, l felt with somebody using it and smiling. When I extremely hopeless. I had a strange dream. I opened the box, I was very happy. The computer dreamed that a picture of my bike was being torn was a compact with Windows ‘95 along with the up. Encarta ‘96 with King Quest. The computer was One week later, my father bought me a new white and the screen was big. It also had a bicycle. I ran to my dad and gave him a big strong keyboard with a mouse. hug. For two years I have used that bicycle and V With the computer, there was a program still use it in India. called Windows. The Windows program was in My bike is red and gold. The wheels are black. German. I was a bit disappointed because there lt is a mountain bike and it is more special than were no games so I could only use my computer any other bicycle in the world. for my homework. After a few months, I was By .Joon-Wan Kim quite happy because it helped me do my homework and I used it practically every day. It The Christmas Present wasn’t one of those slow computers and the I wanted a big doll. She was very beautiful like a printer was quite fast. princess. So, I was eager to get it. The doll was On my next birthday, l received some always in the toy shop window for everyone to computer games which made me even happier. In see. The doll had long blond curly hair, shiny one game, the player is Asterix and he has to free rings and a necklace. She had many dresses. The Obelix who was captured by the Romans. Another best one was her pink dress. I always asked my one called “Silent Mission” has 100 games and mother to buy the doll but my mother always the player is in a submarine and has to destroy refused. other submarines. One day I saw that my mother was buying Now I play with my computer almost every crayons. I was angry. I thought my mother knew day. lt’s hard to remember what life was like that I wanted to have the doll, but she bought before I got it. crayons. When my mother gave me my Christmas By Lucas Schnuriger present, I thought it was crayons, but it wasn't. The crayons were for my sister. My present was the doll which I wanted. I was so, so happy. l /VI P CL. proudly showed it to all of my friends. They loved her, too. By Bo-Rah Kim My Bad Memories

0,! .M .i -._ , m". _' g I don’t like going to the dentist because dental . C O treatment is very painful and the office smells of medicine. I have a bitter memory of a visit to the C dentist five years ago. When I went to the dentist's to have my tooth pulled out for the first C time, I was in great pain. When I had my tooth 34» Pm; c pulled out, tears fell from my eyes. By Yuichi Matsuyama ——+_.._,, —

9 My Best Gift A Visit to the Dentist

I guess my best gift was the computer I got three This happened when I was in India six years ago. years ago. It was a PC 386. I was supposed to get One day I went to the dentist to have a tooth an Amiga 1200 Commander but it took at least pulled. I was not afraid because I thought the three months to arrive. After the second month, Indian dentist would use an instrument as they we decided to buy a PC 386. It was the gift of my did in Korea. When they used that instrument, it life. The Amiga 1200 Commander is still packed didn't hurt very much. up in its box. But my dad will probably begin to When it was my turn, I sat in the chair and use it for video editing. waited for the dentist to pull my tooth out with an I've got tons of games. Here are some of them: instrument. Suddenly the dentist started to loosen Doom, Doom 2, Evasive Action, Blues Brothers, my tooth by wiggling it back and forth. “Maybe Street Rod 2, Golden Axe,. Carmen, Privateer, my tooth ls not loose enough to take out,” I and Indy Car Racing. I also have the best thought. But then he started to twist my tooth. “lt computer game on floppy disc, STAR TREK 25th hurtsl” I shouted. Anniversary. There are more but I can't recall He didn’t listen to me and continued to twist them right now. my tooth. He twisted my tooth for a long time and Another thing I do on my computer is write finally the tooth came out. Blood began to fill my letters to my friends and family. mouth. I started to cry because I was only a little My computer is definitely the best technical six year old girl and it hurt very much. After my gift I have ever gotten (TV and video player tooth was taken out, my gum was swollen for one excepted). month. From that time on, I never went to an Indian By John Arne Kjosaas dentist again. I always waited to see my dentist in My Best Presents Korea. By Jae-Won Shim When I was five years old, I wanted a beautiful Barbie doll lampshade for my birthday but my mother refused. When my birthday came, my mother gave me a beautiful Barbie doll, not a Iamp shade. I was disappointed. Then Christmas came and my father and mother gave me a beautiful pink and white dress Embarrassment for Barbie. It was a very lovely dress and my friends said it was beautiful and that I was very When I went to a department store, somebody lucky. I was very happy because Barbie had a pick-pocketed my wallet. There was 10,000 Yen very lovely dress and my friends were happy for (about 100 U.S. dollars) in it. That happened me. during the 1995 winter vacation. When I was six years old I wanted a fat, little On December 25, we arrived in Japan. That white dog and a watch. Again my mother told me day I wanted to buy something, so I went to a no, I couldn't have a dog, but then she bought a department store. When walked around in the watch for my cousin. I was very angry. When my department store, somebody pick pocketed my birthday came, my mother bought me a dog. I was money, but I didn't understand when it happened. very happy when I saw the dog. It was a fat and I walked around in the department store for lovely dog. It was white and small. Her name was about 30 minutes. When I wanted to take out my Amour. She was a sweet dog and we played wallet, it was not in my pocket. Then I looked all together with my friends. We were so happy that over the department store but it was not there. my mother was happy, too. When I went back home, I said, “ Mother, Then she said, "l couldn't buy you a watch but somebody pick pocketed my 1,000 Yen.“ I I could give you a little dog. I hope you're happy couldn't tell her I lost 10,000 Yen, because if I now ."l was very happy. said 10,000 Yen, my mother would get very angry. By Criscelda Garcia By Hlrofumi Suda

10 Sarojlm Market

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As I get out of my car and walk toward the market,sIowly but surely, I smell the disgusting stench, a real mixture of cow dung, pollution and

r rotting food. Flies are everywhere, in my eyes, up my nose, and covering every inch of my skin. / . The blaring of the car horns and screeching of the brakes also helped me to feel a little nervous. ‘, Walking toward the market I started to feel nauseous. Entering the market, I saw the shriveled up vegetables and fruits which were Ietting off a certain gas that could knock you out. The mushy «. mud slithering and slipping through my shoes was slowly oozing into my socks. As I looked behind me I saw three desperate, filthy children That Gal staring at me and pestering me with their tattered baskets. Suddenly a crazed cow that had been bitten on MANAAL IS ME, the tongue by a bee, started stampeding down the As you can see, narrow alleyways. Shop keepers were diving and My words, like a bubbling brook, sprinting away from the massive, ugly creature. My mouth, like an H-bomb on wheels, I started running down the alleyway, along with My humor, a whole book, the other frightened shoppers, as fast as I could. My laughter like a bell, Once out of the crazy, mind-blowing, culture-shocking market, it took my mum at You’re probably thinking, least three months to get me to go back there. “That’s it?!?!?!?!” and wondering, “Is there anything else?” By Simon Hill Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THERE'S MORE !!!!!!!!!! å You could never really understand, lt’s hard to explain, , / My mind is a whole circus, With things here and there, You just can’t pick one thing to say, You have to pick them all, Even though I can’t pick one thing to say, I shall try to explain,

I I I Me, l’m a whole world on it’s own, I I have to make decisions for myself, I am a grain of sand, I am a single star, A Yet within that I am more that a grain of sand or a star, I AM ONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Manaal Eisa

11 I was excited the whole rest of the day and Lonely finally the bell rang. Lucy and I paired up and went to ask her mother about our plan. Her mother was happy and agreed. For many years as a child I was a lonely As we were walking home, I felt overwhelmed orphan with no love surrounding me. When I was with happiness. Even if it was just one friend. It finally adopted my parents got divorced. As my was enough for me. Lucy had done it. She had classmates put it, I was a mean, selfish person. I brought me back from “behind the wall". went to school everyday sad and lonely. I was unwanted at school and had no friends. Being at By Joy Stone school with no one to talk to wasn’t even the worst part of my day. lt was after school as I watched everyone talking, running, and playing through my window. My mother always tried to cheer me up but for some reason I always seemed to snap at her. I Life and Death Seconds wished I hadn’t said all those mean things to her. Apart She was my only friend. “Cindy-,” I heard the teacher’s stern voice. I was daydreaming again! I could hear everyone Crack!! I heard that sound, the sound that I giggling and making fun of me. It was no use. I would hear for the rest of my life. would never have anyone to care for me. “Cindy, It was a cold,wet rainy day at the cabin. We this may concern you,” Mrs. Traggle exclaimed sat inside and played games we played thousands in a pestering voice. of times before. We could hear the soft pitter “Yeah right! Nothing ever does.” I mumbled patter of the rain falling on the ocean, on the to myself. rocks, and on the patio. Every now and then you “We are going to have a new student in our would hear a big wave hit up against the dock. class. She is from Vietnam and is coming Splash, splash, splash. The repeated sound of the tomorrow. I hope you will all be nice to her. waves coming from the constant wind blowing That includes you too, Cindy." strong against the water. “Great,” I replied under my breath. SuddenIy,the rain slowed up to a soft drip, we “Someone else to make fun of me. all went outside to have some real fun. The sea The next day, the girl from Vietnam walked birds were very noisy, I could here the squishy in. She was just as I had expected. Small, dark of the seaweed under my feet when we step on it. I haired, and quite cute. She introduced herself to could smell the salt of the ocean and the fragrance the class. of the sweet peas as we ran by them. I stopped at “My n-name is Lucy.” She paused, looking the ocean for a minute, it was a beautiful sea as though she wasn’t sure if she should say what green. It looked like glass without a single she was about to say. “I‘m adopted,” she shimmer or ripple. mumbled. The last word she said rang in my As we walked along the beach to the old dock, ears. Maybe, just maybe, Lucy would understand the wind was against us and pushing us back to how I felt. where we started. As we walked up onto the old At recess I bravely walked towards Lucy. She broken down dock we could hear the boards creak. wasn’t with anyone, so I felt bad. I kept walking There was seaweed strewn all over the place. We towards her. I suddenly had a change of mind. were running around and slipping on it, when I “She’s not going to like me,” I said to myself. slipped one too many times. I fell, fell head first Suddenly I felt a burst of confidence. I walked on to a pile of sharp rocks. towards her and introduced myself. Her face lit Split!! I felt the pain, and heard the sound.The up as if she was happy I was there. She seemed to pain started in my head and then it ran right like me and told me a little about herself. down my body until my head was throbbing with Finally, I told her I was adopted. unstoppable pain. “l know how you feel,” she replied as if she knew what I was thinking. By Eliza Junkerman “Would you like to come to my house after school?” I asked. “l’d love to, but I have to ask my mother." My heart was jumping for joy.

12 Land Pollution Picture a small Colony on the banks of the hazardous Chemicals. Another hazardous River Jamna. Around this Colony of jugy substance is a radio! How is that hazardous, you jhopries there are empty cans, wastesdisposed may be thinking? Well, metal parts of the radio of by hospitals and clinics, household rubbish, are plated with chromium and nickel ( both animal and human excretion and other types of hazardous Chemicals ) to prevent corrosion. hazardous wastes. Now imagine how it feels to These are just a two examples of everyday things breath in that air. Air which carries germs, that we consider to be harmless. bacteria and virus for multiple diseases. The manufacture of many things we like Children like you and me are growing up produce hazardous wastes, breathing that horrible air. No wonder some of things like blue/black jeans, basketballs, these children are born with brain damage and computers, mini bikes and Cosmetics. Plastic some are permanently mentally retarded. products are safe to use, but by-products are This situation is not unique to india. This also produced when they are manufactured. By- scenario is repeated in many countries around products are materials left after goods are a the world. Even in a highly developed country produced. Most by-products are dangerous for like the U.S.A. has more than 30,000 potentially the environment. contaminated sites. Why are these things dangerous? They are My purpose is to make people aware of the dangerous because exposure or contact with a damage that is being caused daily by hazardous hazardous substance can cause illnesses, such as wastes and unrecycleable garbage. Why do we hepatitis A, dysentery, typhoid, cholera or even need to pay more attention to the environment? cancer, to name just a few. What is wrong in our environment? The major part of hazardous waste comes First we have to find out the problem, who or from industries. Factories discard thousands of what is causing it and what we can do to resolve poisonous Chemicals. Hospitals discard blood, it. diseased body parts, syringes and bandages. Human beings have always caused some Builders have construction debris such as metal environmental pollution. Since prehistoric beams. Nuclear power plants produce radio- times, people have created wastes. Like the active wastes. garbage we throw away these days, this waste America discards more garbage than any was either burned, thrown into waterways, other in the world. Everywhere the earth is buried or dumped above ground. But in those being polluted by peoples wastes days peopIe’s wastes were not comprised of In Thailand, for example, the River of Kings dangerous substances and it decomposed easily carries rotting garbage and human excrement. without causing too much damage to the In Bulgaria, a giant steel plant at environment. Nowadays our waste is not easy to Kremikovoci dumps 20,000 tons of dust and dispose of without the help of special Chemicals grime a year on the nation”s capital of Sofia. which pollute the environment. in Mexico, shantytowns have no sanitation. Solid waste is the most visible form of In Canada, radio-active substances leak from pollution. Open dumps and landfills ( areas of uranium mine wastes and contaminate rivers. buried wastes ) Can sometimes contain poisonous More and more wastes are being produced substances that can find their way into ground daily. Why? One reason is because of the world’s water or into streams and lakes and poison population which is growing rapidly. There are drinking water and also contaminate fish. Sea more than 5.3 billion people in the world today food that we might eat. and every second of every day 3 more people are There are many things in our every day lives being born. Every year there are 90 million that we think are not bad for the environment at more people being added to the world's all, but do in fact add to the hazardous waste in population. By the end of this century the world and can threaten our health. approximately 6 billion people will be living on A waste is considered hazardous if it corrodes the earth all producing more and more wastes other materials, explodes, catches fire easily, everyday. Another cause of the pollution crisis reacts strongly with water or is poisonous. is the growing industrialization. More and more We may not realise it but we are surrounded by factories are producing more and more goods for things that have hazardous waste products, such more and more people. In the developed world as clothes’ dyes are used to colour fabric. The Consumers are buying Convenience goods although waste products from the dying process contain they pollute the environment. For example, they

13 buy disposable razors rather than razors that / last for a life time. They gladly accept their _ I ,v fast-food hamburgers in plastic containers for /&fi¢ five minutes, then they throw them into the environment, where they will remain for 4/’ hundreds of years. In the home, a lot of hazardous materials are used for cleaning. Such as strong chemicals for cleaning toilets, walls, furniture and other household objects contain environmental hazards. I Despite clean-up efforts, stricter laws and more efficient technology, the situation is still it becoming worse. How can we do our own bit to solve this crisis? Wherever, whenever, however possible, we should avoid creating wastes. This is called source reduction:- limiting the amount of wastes by not producing them in the first place. The next alternative is recycling. This is the process of using something over and over again Free or converting discarded materials into new products. Like source reduction, recycling saves money, saves natural resources and it limits the I wait for somone to arrive, production of wastes. If all Americans recycled But no one does, all the used motor oils from their cars and Suddenly my body says, trucks, the nation would save 1.3 million “You're free! You’re free!" barrels of oil a day. If all Americans recycled Yes, you ‘re right I am free, their Sunday newspapers, the nation would save Free from sorrow, about 500,000 trees. Free from worry, We all realize where the pollution is all Free from guilt. coming from and why it is bad. We as individuals have to do something about it. Otherwise the But where am I? Earth will not be a fit place for the generations to Nowhere, but then anywhere, come. If you care about your children and your The world is around me, children's children, you should act now and do Breeze blows in my face, whatever you can to stop all these illnesses from Trees dancein the distance, spreading. An ocean’s fearless waves Remember, unless you care, nothing will crash over the shining improve. Each one of us should do our bit to help golden and soft sand, clean up the environment and make the world a The moon as white as a soccer better place to live in for the future. ball glows like a lantern, The stars wink at me like a happy By Ankush Sehgal child.

I look across the world. ,._._.f ‘(E And seea poor boy begging on the street, And realize I’m not, Free from sorrow, Free from worry, u-Qbs , «,1 Free from guilt, :at And that everything in the world is nothing compared to what's inside.

By Cameron Campbell

14 THE LEGEND OF THE ADADS

We are the Adads brothers, born from Jafast sleeping. We managed to capture Hammurabi and Adad and Jasmy Adad. My oldest brother is execute him the next day. But Lukan was hurt Lukan-Adad. He is the leader and he rules the very badly on the head. After a few weeks he was kingdom. My second oldest brother is Shami- well again, and stood on the balcony of his house Adad. He is the priest and he prays in the temple talking to the kingdom. to the gods for a good life. My third oldest brother is Asperi-Adad, he is Lukan’s helper. He helps By Ticiano Torres Lukan prepare for his next battle. Then I come. I'm Samsu-Adad, the weapon maker. I make the bows and arrows and the spears that they use in The I Am Poem the battle. The last brother and youngest brother I am is Shamsi-Adad, he is the leader guard of the Mk3 ziggurat, he guards the ziggurat from any The bloody game intruders.l, Samsu-Adad, am the weapon maker. That will possess you My eyes are sunken and the color is blue-green. My nose is bony. My mouth is medium and I am slightly turned down. My hair is a rusty red Kabal color and short. My ears are medium, and very The guy from MK3 obvious ones. My facial texture is rough. I wear a The heart ripping guy with the blades bronze helmet with a bronze suit. I wear an amber pendant. I have talent in metal work. My I am personal items and collection are weapons. l’m A baseball brave and relaxed. l’m a middle aged guy. I’m Going through your window Sumerian. I’m interested in science. I have a brilliant memory.As I was working in my newest I am weapon that I call the blow tube (a weapon made A lion of bamboo with a hole through it), My brother That bites your head off Aperi entered in a flash saying, “Brother Samsu quick, we need some Weapons, we are getting I am attacked by Assyrians!” Ice “The weapons are over there stacked up,” I That reminds you of Sub-Zero said in a hurry,“and you’re just in time... I just finished my newest master pieceand I call it the I am blow tube." Shao-Khan “Yeah, thanks,” Asperi said. The ruler of the out world “The way you use the blow tube is simple,” I said. “All you have to do is stick-the dart in the I am hole and then blow.” A telephone “And Asperi l’ll be there in a minute,”l said That people love moving to a pile of books. “l just have to stack these books over there and I'II be right up with I am you.” In less than a minute I was there. The battle A guy Thats been possessed had already started. The Assyrians troops, ruled By MK3 by Hammurabi, tried to advance but we held on tight fighting as hard as we could. The battle was I am cold and bloody but we won. After three hours of Coke fighting the Assyrian troops finally started to That people love to drink retreat and we declared victory. For three months the Assyrians tried to conquer Sumer but I am we held strong and firm and the Assyrians Major Jackson Briggs couIdn't get past our army.Then one day the The metal armed maniac Assyrian, ruler Hammurabi, sneaked past our guards of the royal house. Then Hammurabi By Greg Bell struck Lukan’s head with a stone pole while

15 ESTABLISHED 1996 THE HOUSTON OBSERVER Bennet, Coleman & CO., LTD. NO. 19 VOL. CLIX - HOUSTON, TEXAS - MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2125

New, Intelligent Life Forms Found! 'HOUSTON,January 29

f“A choo la yok nok jaboo ha lal” were the alien words recorded by the satellite, Ewok, when it discovered the new planet 1.5 light years away. Yes, you read right. Extra terrestrials have been discovered. Paploo Chirpa, the billionaire, has discovered a new planet, thanks to his satellite, the Ewok. Paploo is a retired NASA astronaut who was commander on the Atlantis mission in 2084. He had also funded the Outbound Flight project in 2089. The Outbound Flight project’s purpose was to discover life on another planet. Unlike the other satellites that were sent out to find new planets in the past, this satellite has special sensors to detect life on the planets it discovers that are 100 miles away and has been made to last a century before it starts to have problems. lt was also the first (and so far the only) satellite to use the ion engine, an engine going about 41 million mph. The engine fuel was found on Venus by Paploo Chirpa during his Atlantis mission in 2084. The satellite’s scanners can pick up anything dangerous, like a black hole or asteroid field, and avoid it. This satellite, called the Ewok, has discovered exactly 16 new planets since its launch twenty five years ago. This year, a brand new planet has been discovered. ltis approximately 1.5 light years away from Earth, 3,926,056,316 Earth years old and in the Nebulan star system. But most importantly, it has life on it. Intelligent life. The Ewok has found thirty-three other life forms as well. Unfortunately, the Ewok hasn't been equipped\‘ with a camera to send photos of the new alien life forms. But it has entered the planet's atmosphere to send some more information to NASA. The aliens are not as intelligent as humans judging by the primitive tools that the Ewok described. The tallest alien scanned by the Ewok was about 2.8 feet tall, and the smallest Ewok found was about 6 inches tall. They have fur all over their body, but the Ewok couldn't find out what color the fur was, because the Ewok wasn’t equipped with a color scanner. The atmosphere is also similar to our atmosphere. When NASA told Paploo about the new planet about a week ago, Paploo went wild, and he left for the NASA headquarters in Houston immediately. Paploo offered to spend 2.5 billion dollars in building a new space shuttle that could be completed by 2129 so they could go to the newly discovered planet and make contact with the aliens. Paploo also offered to be the commander of the mission. Then there was a big argument about Paploo not being part of the mission. Paploo is 53, and NASA wouldn't allow Paploo to be a part of the mission because of his age. lt took 25 years until the new planet was found using the speedy ion engine. lt was later decided that Paploo would go, and a bigger ion engine would be made to reach the new planet in about 5 years, since Paploo was obsessed with space travel and he loved adventure. Even at his age, he climbs mountains for adventure. According to Paploo, the new planet is called Endor, named after his great-grandfather, and the inhabitants are to be called Ewoks, named after the Ewok satellite. By Rahul Kak

m? GN l\ ‘$3 få? i 7“?

\\\\‘r V, fl. ll i i.til inn 16 SKI TRIP IN AUSTRIA My Hurricane

-lnnsbruck, Austria During the Christmas Round in swirls holiday, my family and I went to Austria to ski. my thoughts When we arrived, we rented some skis and my do Iaps, brother and I went to a Ski School for a day. We learned the basics of skiing, such as the snow My hand does plough, turning and stopping. winds and It was as cold as ice cream behind your teeth twists, there, but we were prepared so we weren’t cold. It was a pretty sunny and with the sun on the A long, thick line mountains it was beautiful. shows my The next day we went to a slope called Axamer playful side, Lizum and we skied there. The first time I went down, I didn’t turn or zig zag, so I went down at a A winding trail super speed. When I got three quarters of the way of dreams. down I couldn't take it any more so in order to stop myself I fell (on purpose). I draw a line Later, I started to zigzag, and as I went down I of care got better and better, and before I knew it I was andlove, going pretty well. I was quite proud of myself. The following day, my brother and I were For my friends, doing stunts and jumping, so my dad said, “Why my family, don’t you go down that one,” and pointed to one for me, that I couldn't even see the top of. My dad showed us a map on how it went, so we decided to go down I draw a line it. We didn’t know that it was three kilometers of long! butterflies, When we got to the top I was pretty scared, but I soonregained confidence and went down.We All of them went down very slowly but there were other carefree. people coming from behind at a super speed. I fell over a couple of times, but the second time I went My line starts here, down I got better. On the third and final day, we could only ski My line ends there, for half a day, and when I went to put my ticket in the machine there was an icicle on the bar. The My thing that struck me was that there were four hurricane goes round, and five year olds skiing better than my brother and I. My paper All in all I had a great time and it was one of now the best holidays ever. is full,

By Bradley Forrest Of thoughts of who I am

By Molly Capper

17 My Best Gift My Best Gift

When I was five years old, I was living in Syria. When I was 2 years old, I wanted a three My biggest wish was to have a doll. On Christmas Wheeler. I saw one on the street. Almost Eve, I found a very cute doll under the Christmas everybody of my age living on our street had one. tree. The doll, Anicka, has nice pink hair, blue I wanted one for my birthday in May. eyes,a pink dress and a very cute face. When my birthday came, I got a big present Since that happy Christmas, I have played and a small one. My grandparents were visiting only with this doll. As I grew up, my doll found a us at the time and we sat in my room. I started to place in my bed. From Syria, I took my doll to open the biggest present. There I saw my new Czech Republic and from Czech Republic, I took trike. lt was a shiny. new red trike. It had a my doll to India. This doll always reminds me of truck bed. too. The trike was a Norwegian make. my fifth Christmas in Syria. it"s called DBS. That means “The best trike” (Norwegian - “Den Beste Sykkel”). The trike By Katarina Klevarova was very good. The other present was from my grandparents. lt was a bell that you place on the handle bars. If you`re getting a trike in Norway, you always get a bell. The bell should be used so people can get out of the way. l don't think I used it for that. I just rang and rang and rang because it was fun to O make noise. lt was too late to go out, sc we had to / wait for the next day before we could go out and try my three wheeler. I was sad. I got some more presents and then I went to bed. å” The next day my mother, father and my O grandparents went to the park. That was very fun. We had a picnic. I learned how to use the .if three wheeler in a short time. I rang the bell for the joy of making noise. When I saw somebody I knew very well. I “drove" to them and showed them my new trike. I have pictures that show how very proud I was. Sometimes I “drove” with I Am Poem my friends, too. I had my three wheeler for a few years. Then I got a new bike with only two wheels. That was when I was five years old. I was very proud at I am junk food that time, too. It was very difficult for me to ride I am a cheetah that runs like fire that bike because I had very bad balance. I had I am a football helping wheels to ride. My parents had to help me I am the world that spins around the sun holding the bike up. I am technology I am a Phillipino that speaks Tagalog By Markus Walther I am nature I am beaches in the wild sea I am Super NES I am Nike shoes l am movies I am snow, bobsledding down the lawn I am happy I am sad I am love

By Mark Klinger

18 Preschool My I am Poem

I am the misery maker. Three, small for age, I am all your bad times. Speaking Thai I am the one at the back of the room not knowing In musty Bangkok what to do Maid took me to school not knowing what to say. In Mercedes. I am the one who can't be heard. The one who Not wanting to go. won`t be heard Sleeping on special pillows but the mouth that is always is talking and never Pink heard. Day before I am the one you don’t know ,the one you don’t Someone hit with ruler want to know Talking next to me. but you do know. I clung to gate I am the one that is always struck and thinks I am Crying. loved. Everyone started Iaughing I am like a coke bottle that you have bought and it But my maid stayed. wants to be opened and share what it has with the rest of the By Edward F. Neale world but it will never be opened for if it does it will explode.

By Eli A Keenan

Angel I

At my house In Dale City. My screen door Wasn’t working. Dad fixed it. My cat Angel was watching. She wasn’t much of a cat, Slept all night, Slept all day, But I loved her. She took off Through that door. Couldn’t sleep That night Too worried. Never found her again.

.._.———— By Stuart Baker

19 My Best Gift Christmas Gift

When I was seven years old, I wanted a My best gift from my parents is an upright plastic cooking set for Christmas. I saw it in a YAMAHA piano which I still use today. It has 88 toy shop. lt was in a box. On the box, there was a keys. It is black. It has three pedals. On my tenth picture of a brown frying pan and a picture of a birthday when I came back from school, I saw a cute girl Iaughing with a doll. Inside the box, large package. I knew it was a piano from its there was a brown frying pan, a pot, two cups, shape. My mother said I had to finish my dishes, a plastic ham and some vegetables. homework before opening it. When I finished my One day, I thought, “If I tell my mother I homework, I began unwrapping it. My sister want that set, she will buy it for me." So I told always likes to help people so she asked me if she my mother, but my mother didn't answer. could help. But I didn’t let her help me because it On Christmas Eve, I was excited about my was my present and it was my favorite Christmas present. I couldn’t sleep. Next day instrument. I told her that it was not her when I got up, I saw a big box with a small card. I birthday. knew it was a plastic cooking set. I opened it Then my sister complained to mother about quickly. I was right. I was happy. lt was the best me. When I had almost finished unwrapping the present in the world. piano, my mother came to me and told me to let A few days later, my friends came over to my sister help also. I let her but she did only a play. I showed my Christmas gift to them. They little because I had almost finished. were happy to play with my plastic cooking set. I Now, I let my sister play the piano and we liked sharing it. even play duets together. I enjoy playing the piano every day. By Seul-Ki Kim By Chutaporn Amrapala

I a m I I I

I am a wheel on a bicycle going round and round I am a hockey stick fighting my own kind I am a swimming costume becoming cool in the water I am a tennis racquet winning a point (or losing) I am strawberries sweet and juicy I am spaghetti _4,_/.'///./4/‘//////////././/.’/J; lC‘\\\ IC\I\‘I\IClI\\‘\\\‘ with a neverending story I am a drumstick crispy and hot I am a pancake sugared and rolled I am a stampbook filled with stamps I am a scrapbook filled with memories I am point shoes dancing energetically I am Phillipa youngest of three.

By Phillipa Holm

20 An Extra Verse for I AM (SAD THOUGHTS) T.S.Eliot I am the wolf that stays by itself. I am the loner of the woods. Macavity, Macavity, he doesn’t have a care I can be the ray of light that shines happiness. If he jumps on a bus, he doesn’t pay the fare. I am me. When he sees the conductor, he flies over his head, I am the song of happiness or a hammer that With a Ieap and a run, he jumps onto his bed. strikes the head. By Anton Jewula I am someone that no one understands. I am the heart in music or subzero that freezes people. I am the brain of the past or a drawer that draws deaths. Skiing problems I am the sorrow of the deep depressed.

Skiing in Switzerland P.C. Up a teleski Purple epaulettes Woolly hat Dad told me Watch out A foggy day I didn't listen Ahead of them Skiing fast I like skiing fast Wind blowing Fog like a cloud CouIdn't stop Flew off the ground Head in snow But I laughed. By Justin Graves I am....

A Silent Fair I am a fish swimming through the sea. I am the sneakers that never stop running. I am a soccer ball rolling free.

Week of August, I am the fresh smell after rain fall. High ferris wheel I am the starry nights shining brightly . No rain, I am the bonfires that glow round the world. No thunder, Just silent quivers I am the fog on a cold winter day. While the sun sets. l am the sorrow that nobody knows _ I am the eagle flying away. By Parisha Taylor By Michel Bjerregaard

21 My Farm in Venezuela Cats In Me

We kittens were all The ride had taken 2 hours already and I knew lined up that we were about to get there . I Ieaned back on to jump on the table. the seat. I was riding on my mom’s 4x4 blue Blazer . My dad ( César ) was driving the car, My mother was ready my mom ( Adriana ) was sleeping , my brother ( to show us how to jump on to the table. César ) was playing cards with my 8 year old cousin ( Gerson Andrés ). My best friend ( Then all my friends Rossana ) and I (Fabiana ) were talking . I was so jumped and succeeded excited III on a very good Suddenly the car made a slight turn, we were landing. almost there!!!!!! We began riding through a small path .I could see When it was my turn the meadows of the green fresh grass, the cows I did not hold mooing our welcome , the river with happy fish on hard enough with jumping up and down in the cool water, the my claws and I slipped horses ,galloping in a beautiful pace, and ,finally off. , the house , the house I sleep , eat , play , run , Everybody Iaughed “LA CANTARA I” at me We were going to my farm with all my best I wanted to sink friends. under the ground and In my farm there are 3 bedrooms. In the never come out. main bedroom, there is a bunk bed, a big bed , a T.V ,a closet, and a table.ln the other two rooms But then I realized there are 3 bunk beds ,and a normal small bed that I had to try .There are 3 bathrooms and a kitchen. again, and I succeeded. Once we got there, I said to my uncle “ Get me 5 horses to ride on,” then I put on my bathing However, I still suit and jean shorts over it. I grabbed a towel felt ashamed because I failed and asked Mariel, Mariela, Mafe, and Rossana ( the first time. my friends ) if they wanted to ride a horse . They said, “Yes!” After they put on their bathing suits, we left to ride around . By Katri Jokinen The sun was shining brightly, so we got off / \ the horses and tied them around a tree. I took off ,. my shorts and jumped in the water. \ e GOSHII!! was it good to be back!!! By Fabiana Paolini “Es.«wsus - " å

‘x _? ' Television in Today’s “Daddy Up” World

Every Sunday In sacrament meeting Right now, television is perhaps the world’s very quiet Drawing on mom’s program most popular pastime. lt’s a pretty simple Speeches box, with pictures coming in three colors that Bread and water passed blend together to make the movie or show that One day you want to see. Cable is the most efficient and dressed in red widely used form of recieving viewing material I lost my parents for your televison set. going out of church Televison can be good for entertaining you, saw my Dad but then again, it also portrays images about sex, and grabbed his leg bad language, drugs, violence, and other I said, “Daddy Up.” “inappropriate for people under 18” material. Then saw a face Teenagers and children in the United States spend that wasn’t his at least 2 hours a day watching T.V. In an average scared I started running American household, the T.V. is left on for about Then heard my mother's voice. 12 hours a day. Younger children also spend a marginally By Becca Price large amount of time seduced by the T.V., as it can be quite seductive. Beavis and Butthead, a cartoon show on MTV, is watched frequently by millions of people, and it causes people to follow the idiotic Beavis, and the even dumber Butthead. One My First Day Of School child burnt his house, and then blamed it on them for teaching him how to do it. T.V. has become a way of life for millions of "Two Weeks,” Mummy said, people, but just think, wouldn't it be better "You’re starting school” without T.V., even if just a little bit? If we didn’t Everyday I asked, have T.V., the world literacy rate would probably "Am I going now?" be much higher. We’d spend all that extra time It was time at last, reading, studying, or related things. Besides the I did not want to go! literacy rate, friends would be high on the list, In grey pinafore and you’d become a lot more socially apt. Hobbies And pale blue skirt would be completed, and money would be saved, Pulled and dragged since you wouldn’t have to buy the T.V. or pay for I arrived, the cable connection. Screaming! Even though I make it wholly apparent that I The children am against T.V. because it affects the youth of Turned and stared today, I would feel extremely detached if I spent a Mrs Allum took my hand. month without watching T.V. That would almost Next to Harriet and Jessica, be hell for a lot of children and teenagers. She called the register In case you want to watch T.V., watch Beavis ”Yes Mrs All-um” and Butthead (only if you are over 10), the X- While we clapped Files, Liquid Television (MTV), Ren and Stimpy, "Don’t worry, she’ll be fine” the Simpsons, Baywatch, the Wonder Years, and Said Mrs Allum to my Mum other such shows. Be warned, Saved by the Bell: But I was The College Years bites.... worried. I may sound like a grandma, but I'm not. By Martha Scott By Ashwin Jain

23 Surf I Have A Dream

I rose from the salty, turbulent water. “ Where was my board?” Global warming is something that should I turned my head and saw the emblem of my concern everyone who is alive. It is caused by surfboard. I immediately felt a sharp pain in my chemicals such as VOC’s which come from gas neck. My body was jolted forward and I was sent used by vehicles and CFC’s which comes from under with the velocity from a bullet from a gun. refrigerators. Both of these chemicals destroy As I twirled, I had flashbacks. ozone particles and after a lot of particles are You could almost smell the salt in the sea destroyed in the same place a hole forms in the water. In my memory I thought of the lightness of ozone layer. Through this hole ultra violet rays my board. can come through and shine on the earth's I felt a hand on my shoulder . lt was my surface and everything on the surface. brother. Ultra violet rays are concentrated beams of He screamed, “ What are you crazy? You light which come from the sun. Without the trying to get yourself killed? If your trying to ozone layer the rays would stay concentrated and drown, go do it some place else, like in the baby would shine on the people and things on earth. pool." I stumbled out of the bitter, cold water. These rays will cause a huge rise in skin My Mom said, “Smile,” and took a picture . cancer sufferers because these rays are so strong As I walked away the blood from my back that you can develop skin cancer a lot faster and stained the sand and the cool morning air stung with less exposure than you would get if the my back. ozone layer kept the harmful rays out. It is also a problem because since the sun is so hot and the By Andrew Dhillon earth has no protection from it without the ozone /K layer, the heat can melt the polar ice caps. If that happened the oceans" would rise and cover a lot of land which is near oceans such as the Pacific Islands, Bangladesh and the Netherlands. If that happens lots of people from the coastal regions would move inland and the earth wouldn't be big enough for everyone, causing food and water shortages and overpopulation. Last September a test was done to find out how big the hole over the South Pole was. lt measured 3.9 million miles, which is bigger than Europe and now that hole is even bigger. This is proof that our ozone layer has been being destroyed for a long time and that the governments of the world should come together and do the only thing that we can do right now to I am... prevent the human race from destroying itself. The answer is a ban on the chemicals that do the most damage to the ozone layer. This is my I am the broken guitar lying in the street. dream, ladies and gentlemen, and I hope that it is I am unknown to all but a few. fulfilled for the generations to come. I am the person who lives in one room. I am the gum on the bottom of you shoe. By Andrew Clarke I am the music no one has heard. I am the person with friends in my head. I am the person on the worst team . I am the person who wants to go home. Until then I have nowhere to roam.

By John Hemming

24 The Life of Roald Dahl Break Dance

Roald Dahl was born September 13, 1916 in Norway. He went to school at Repton. “At It was finally my turn. I stepped onto the red eighteen, I turned down my mother's offer of plastic mats. My teacher's reassuring hands going to Oxford.” reached up and held me tight. I stepped on my Roald Dahl would have worked instead of going untied shoelace while trying to do a somersault, to school.” I joined a fighter squadron in 1940.” and fell over sideways. I screeched with pain as He joined the Shell Oil Company when he was my teacher tried to move my wrist. I allowed her eighteen years old. He joined the Royal Air to pick me up and place me on a chair. Force. Roald Dahl was an assistant air attache. I let my feet swing freely of the edge of the that was when he started writing stories. yellow plastic chair I was on. My teacher cringed He was married in July 2, 1953. He had 5 as I wailed at the top of my lungs. She looked to kids but 1 died. Many things happened during see if my arm was broken. Then Mrs. Linda, my Roald Dahl’s childhood and adulthood. teacher, took out a rotten orange, with ice on it Roald Dahl’s interests are writing stories, from the freezer . After one look at it I wailed flying airplanes, writing essays, drinking beer, louder and yanked my hand away. When she closed eating chocolate, smoking, telling bed time the refrlgerator the cold air rushed out and hit stories to children, Mother’s and Father’s day, my skin. lt felt as though the pain had and his own birthday. disappeared for a moment. After a while, I grew Some of the books that Roald Dahl wrote were tired, and gave in, letting her place the orange on Gremlins. James and the Giant Peach; Charlie and my wrist. the Chocolate Factory, and Sometimes Never. He All the other girls crowded around me, slowly won the Edgar Allen Poe Award. He also won the coming closer. They whispered and looked at my Whitbread Award. wrist with great interest. When they were close Roald Dahl died November 23, 1990. enough, they all started to talk at once, “Does it hurt?” By Ankur Jain “Are you O.K.’?" “Will it fall off?” they asked curiously. Mrs. Linda giggled, “She’ll be fine. Now go get your tap shoeson Reluctantly they obeyed, and left the room. Mrs. Linda, shaking her head and still smiling, walked to the other side of the room. Then she picked up the receiver and dialed my phone number, “Hello Mrs. Canning. This is Mrs. Linda...” That was all I heard because just then all the girls ran in I took a deep breath and smelled the chicken noodle soup cooking upstairs. After about five minutes my mom arrived. She came over and hugged me. Then we made our way up the stairs. As she opened the wood door the sun blinded me, but I didn't care, I felt secure and as if nothing could hurt me in her warm embrace.

By Ariel Seche

25 My First Day at School

Mrs. Kellog explained looking down at me. I hate being mistaken for a boy! It all started "That's your name, right?" she questioned. at the American Embassy School which is also "No, my name is May Tun Saung," I answered called A.E.S. quietly. I was sitting on the bus with my mother and "Oh! Sorry. May Too Song, did I pronounce it my two sisters. My youngest sister was sleeping right?" she askedagain. on my mother's lap and my other sister was going "lt‘s May Tun Saung," I repeated patiently. to kindergarden. I started to get awfully dizzy, "ls that right? Can we call you May?" plus I hated what I was wearing. I told my "Sure." mother that I looked awful, and looked like a boy, "ls that a boy or a girl?" a boy with blond especially with my hair cut short and wearing hair and blue eyes called out. jeans and a T-shirt. People always mistake me "Raise your hand when you want to speak, for a boy if l'm dressed like that. That's why I Thomas. And to answer your question, May is a prefer wearing skirts. girl's name." When we got out of the bus, I could feel the I could feel myself getting more red every heat of the sun and it was making me hot in my minute. I knew I shouldn't have worn pants. My long jeans. I could hear the children shouting and mom and dad won't let me have long hair. That's playing. There were buses going in and out. The not fair! school was crowded with students, teachers and "That's a girl," Thomas cried in disbelief. parents. Suddenly the school bell rang. "She looks exactly like a boy," he added. Everybody started to form a line near a building. Christina and Sabrina were assigned to help "Go to that line, May Tun," my mother me around the school. The rest of the day was instructed. pretty normal, until the end of the day at school. I went to the line where my mother told me I climbed in to the bus with my backpack and a to. People started staring at me, so my mother purse that my teacher gave me. The place I sat repeated, "Go to that Iine," pointing to the line was behind a boy. The boy kneeled on his chair nearest to the building. and looked at me strangely, like I was an alien. When I started to walk toward the line, my "Why is a boy like you holding a purse?" he mother rushed to the line and asked, "Are you in inquired. Mrs. KeIlog's second grade class?" "l‘m not a boy. l'm a girrrrrl," I was trying "Yes," one of the girls answered. my best to sound like an American. I guess it "You're in the right line," my mother didn't work because the boy started laughing. whispered to me. Finally, when his Iaughter stopped, he said, At last l'm in the right line, I thought. I was "Say that again. Hey, hear this. It's hilarious," getting embarrassed going here and there with he called to the boy next to him. people staring at me. When I ignored the boy, he tried imitating "Follow this line, and it will lead you to your me. He teased me all the way. From that day classroom." \ onwards, I decided to wear dresses on the first "But...mom," I wailed. day of school, to make sure people know what I "I have to send your sister to kindergarden," am. my mom explained. As I followed the line into the building, I By May Tun Saung wished that I was going into the right building and classroom. When I got into the classroom, Is lågt q my teacher announced, "This is your desk, and here are your books," pointing to a pile of books. girl When I tip-toed to look at the books, I saw the name written on it was Thu Saung May. I was going to tell the teacher, but I decided against it for a reason I didn't know. "Quiet please," commanded the teacher raising her hand, but everybody chattered right on. "Quiet!" the teacher yelled. Almost instantly the noise level went down. "Thank you. Class, this is Thu Saung May. My name is Mrs. KelIog," l l Donfi Look Down AH Pofluüon Has To

- Delhi, India Have you gone rock climbing? You Stop haven’t, well you have missed the thrill of a lite time. Do you want to over come your fears? In London, 4000 people died of respiratory Well, try rock climbing! It takes one hour on a diseases during a “killer smog.” Our Earth has bus to go to Dhauj Lake from Delhi. The roads had enough bad treatment. Air pollution has to there are not the best if you have a wide vehicle stop! Those 4000 people died because when but if you like bumpy rides, you got to go on this people breathe the polluted air, the impurities one. lt is very beautiful at the lake with good irritate air passages and the lungs which results camp sites near the rocks. First they went to in coughing and wheezing. The impurities climb some rocks that were about five meters sometimes remain in the lungs and worsen high with a guide who helped tell you where to asthma and bronchitis.How does air pollution put your hands and feet it was very hot and occur? It occurs when wastes people have thrown inexperienced people will find it hard. First you away dirty the air. Airplanes, ships, cars, are shown the equipment and how to rappel, by industry growth and overpopulation only worsen using your right hand to guide and your left hand the situation. The total pollutants from all to break which was very simple(if your right sources in Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Manila, Kuala handed). Then they had a go at going down one of Lumpur and Hong Kong in 1987 equal 8291 the easiest rocks which was really fun and lots of thousand metric tons! That’s enough to fill up people went more than once. Later on they went Austria if you put 100 tons every square down a rock that was alot harder. kilometer.Another source of pollution is that The next day you go river Crossing. The people depend on the atmosphere to remove winds were one of the problems when so high up pollutants as they are produced. But weather unfortunately. There you are given a harness and conditions called thermal inversions can trap the are shown two ways to river cross. Finally you pollutants over a certain area until they build up go jamoring using jamores. This is a way of to dangerous levels. A thermal inversion occurs going up a cliff by using a small metal jamore when a layer of warm air settles over a layer of that you push up and go up with it. cool air that lies near the ground. This condition traps the impurities and prevents them from By Robert Spears rising until rain or wind breaks up the warm air.This has to stop! More than 600 people died of thermal inversions in 1953 and 1963! Air pollution is causing more and more deaths each year. Another effect of air pollution is acid rain. Acid rain kills animals and plants. Because of acid rain, some 4000 lakes in Sweden are fishless! The trees are being destroyed because of air pollution and animals along with them. In Europe, 82.3 million cubic meters of harvest are destroyed due to air pollution. Some pollutants, though they may not be poisonous, destroy the ozone layer. The ozone layer, when destroyed, will let ultra violet rays through, killing everything.Can you imagine a world where the air is not polluted? Where plants and animals can breathe clean air? Where diseases can not be worsened because of the air? We can get close to such a world if we tried. Already, in the United States, laws have been passed to control air pollution. We can help! Buy cars that don't pollute, demand them! Save energy! We can make this world pollution free! What l am saying is that the world is being destroyed and we have to stop it! By Rohan Relan

27 Mi Vida en La Clase de Camera Fright EspanoH!H!

I waddled to the side of the camera “Boomll nailed you.”Ashwin had just thrown with my eyes closed. a spitball at Justin when the teacher, Senora I opened one then the other. Jansen, wasn’t looking. Justin was getting mad so l just stood there, he tore a piece of paper and put it in his mouth. like a statue and stared at the camera from where His face was turning red. I “Senora Jansen puedo tomar agua?"(May I was standing. have a drink)asked Ashwin. I started to notice that my legs were trembling. “No,un minuto,"replied Senora Jansen. The words, “l can do it,” were going on in my Ashwin was trying to avoid Justin. When Justin mind like was ready to throw a spitball, he took his a broken record. spitball out. Then suddenly there was a knock on the door. Senora Jansen walked up to the door to I just went up boldly no matter what happened, answer it. A custodian was standing there. He and l gave the teacher a bunch of notices. While Senora opened my small mouth to squeeze out my few Jansen wasn't looking, Justin aimed for Ashwin’s lines, neck and fired. lt looked disgusting. but they just wouldn’t come out. I Senora Jansen told everyone what the notice tried and tried.... but I was helpless. said, “This says that you guys will be free for I was trying to think what was happening to the rest of the period even though the period is me. almost over. Oh, that means I can get a present Finally the time came, I couldn't hold my tears for my husband’s birthday. Everyone,l'll be back any going now so when the bell rings just leave the longer. room. In the remaining time, you can read,talk,do whatever you want."When she By Rejanne Perera finished,she grabbed her purse and walked out of the class. Five minutes later there was a disaster in our class. Everyone got up and fooled around. i Justin and Ashwin were killing each other. Sean T l was making Cameron and I laugh our mouths off. Caesar was drawing pictures of a rabbit being decapitated. Stephanie and Molly were fighting over who gets to see the answer book first for the \ @- homework. Charlotte was trying to cut people's

hair off. The only person that wasn't fooling -1 around was Ariel although she was eating a box of

Pringles. \\ Then suddenly,”Ringgg!!!!!”Everyone got up ‘Q and ran to the door. There was a huge door jam at the door. Everyone was pushing and pulling. At

` .._..g.«.last, one person got out so everyone got out. This was just a bit of my life in Spanish class. By Lin Tin Maung

Bw _ RWL, K}

28 Circle Poems

Never ending cycle pure Ganges Niagara Falls fast paced life colorful rainbow feefing music nature

Differences aren't Bad Ying-Yang differences segregation belief war death unknown journey discovery new people Mahatma Gandhi

Wildlife tigers W/ Ranthambore :\~“\\ å corru_ption ø pohce ja il electric chair death extinction By Chandni Lanfranchi

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á Index To Sixth Grade Authors

Ames,Loren ...... 3 Kim,Seul-Ki ...... 2O Amrapala,Chutrapon ...... 2O Kjosaas,John Arne ...... 1O Bakaya,Abhay ...... 5 Klevarova,Katarina ...... 18 Baker,Stuart ...... 19 Klinger,Mark ...... 18 Bakker,EIine ...... 7 Laakkonen,Lasse ...... 8 BeII,Gregory ...... 15 Laha,Joya ...... 3 Bjerregaard,Michel ...... 21 Lanfranchi,Chandni ...... 29 Brand,Caitlin ...... 8 Maithel,Sheila ...... 8 Campbell,Cameron ...... 14 Maslin,Jean—Philippe ...... 6 Capper,Mairi ...... 17 Matsuyama,Yuichi ...... 9 Chandra,Anisha ...... 2 Maung, Lin-Tin ...... 28 CIarke,Andrew ...... 24 Neale,Edward ...... 19 Dahlburg,Chartotte ...... 5 P.C ...... 21 Dhillon,Andrew ...... 24 Paolini,Fabiana ...... 22 Eisa,Manaal ...... 1 1 Perera,Rejanne ...... 28 Forrest,Bradley ...... 17 Price,Rebecca ...... 23 Garcia,Criscelda ...... 10 Randall ,Katie ...... 1 Gordon,Sheila ...... 8 Relan,Rohan ...... 2 7 Graves,Justin ...... 1, 21 Rowley,Nickolas ...... 5 Heerden,Andres ...... 2 Saarikivi,liro ...... 6 Hemming,John ...... 24 Saung,May Tun ...... 26 Herland,lna-Helen ...... 7 Schnuriger,Lucas ...... 9 Hill,Simon ...... 11 Scott,Martha ...... 23 Holm,Phillipa ...... 2O Seche,ArieI ...... 25 Jain,Ashwin ...... 23 Sehgal,Ankush ...... 13 Jain,Ankur ...... 25 Shim,Jae—Won ...... 1O Jewula,Anton ...... 21 Spears,Robert ...... 27 Jokinen,Katri...... 22 Stone,Joy ...... 12 Junkerman,EHza ...... 12 Suda Hirofumi ...... 1O Kak,Rahul ...... 1 6 Taylor,Parisha ...... 21 Kang,Cheong-Seok ...... 6 Tide-man,Timothy ...... 4 Keenan,Eli ...... 19 Torres,Ticiano ...... 15 Kim,Joon-Wan ...... 9 Walther,Marcus ...... 18 Kim, Bo-Rah ...... 9 WiIliard,Thomas ...... 5

31 á A Visit to the Doctor Run

I have a very painful memory of something “Runners, to your marks.” that happened when I was 10 years old. One night I could feel my blood race. Even before it had I didn’t take a shower or bath and went to bed started, I felt the boiling in my heart. My fingers very early. After about one hour, my sister woke could feel the chalky, white grass underneath. I me up. ”Helloll Aya, get up! You must take a had this thought of my fingers absorbing the bath now,” she said. But I didn’t get up. "Hello! earth's power. lt's massive interior, a burning, Aya!!” she repeated. red hot furnace boiling within, similar to my Then I got up and I went to the bathroom. But heart. My legs felt like springs held under when l got up, I was still half asleep and pressure for so long, lying dormant for so long, dreaming. I opened the door, went into the finally coming awake. The energy in my legs bathroom and closed the door. Then by accident, mounted. I kicked the door and the glass shattered on my “Set.” leg. Why? I didn’t know what happened because I lifted up my head and looked towards the end my brains were sleeping. The glass was about of the track. I looked down my Iane then back up five millimeters thick. My brains got awakened again. My right leg raised me up a little bit. I quickly and my sole was cut by many small almost could not control my urge to spring and pieces of broken glass. tear to the finish line. The joints in my legs My mother came running when she heard my started to ache becauseof the thought of running. screams and she scolded me severely. Then my My hands had an iron grip on the ground below. mother and my sister cleaned up the bathroom Those same hands would release that iron grip and took me to the hospital by car. My sole was then throw me forward with the same force very, very painful. which it gripped the earth. “Go!” At the hospital the doctor looked at my foot I practically leaped the first four feet. When and leg and talked to me. "Please don’t move, I pulled off the ground I scraped the loosegrass because I have to give you an injection. It will be and dirt below and had a silly thought that in a little painful, but don’t move!” he said. Then I some way the earth was with me. This somehow lay on the bed and closed my eyes and my mother reassured me and I focused on the end. My blood squeezed my hand tightly because I didn’t like pumped to the rhythm of my hands, and they, in injections. When getting injections, I usually turn, pumped with the rhythm of my legs. tried to escape. I expected it to hurt only once, Suddenly, a cheer from the crowd came out but I felt pain in my sole many times. I wondered and it put me off balance. As soon as that why. I watched the doctor. He was sewing my sole happened, the person behind me took the chance with a needle and thread. When the doctor and started sprinting towards the finish line. As finished sewing and bandaging my food, we went he kept on going further and further ahead, I felt back to my house. That was a very, very bad day the gold slip away. I couldn't catch him, but I and is still a bad memory. thought that I at least could give him a run for his money. Flight on time, my legs started By Aya Koshinaka pumping faster and pushed me close up to him; then right next to him. I thought, “Hey, I can do this.” Suddenly a surge of adrenaline pumped into me. I got a little way ahead of him, but he was close behind and he could easily catch up. We only had ten meters to go. I took a chance and threw back my head a let out a bellow of laughter. My opponent got distracted for a moment, but this only made him mad. He started pumping harder and harder. Finally, we were next to each other and the finish linewas only three steps ahead. Suddenly, my legs gave out under me and I fell across the finish line behind my competitor.

By Sho Spaeth

35 Hiking and Body Surfing in Rishikesh

was so strong we couldn't swim against it. Then This was our third and last day in Rishikesh after about an hour we had to start back to our and the day was bright and the air smelt fresh, camp because it was getting a bit late. This is unlike here in Delhi. We had just finished where we had the choice of what we could do. We breakfast and were slowly getting into our day could either do the hard trek back to camp or take groups, but of course I sat outside of my tent the easy way back. I took the hard way back playing my friend’s guitar. But then Ms. because some people said if you take this way Hallberg started calling out names so back you might be able to body surf down the Unfortunately I had to go. We all got in our day Ganga. Not many of us took this trail because the groups and started walking up the road. This was teachers said it might be a little longer than the where the hike began. A few minutes later we other trail. were walking through the beautiful mountains. We all started walking along the river where The air was clean, well, of course, mountains are there were many big rocks. Then all of a sudden I usually clean. The path that we followed was very heard a mighty splash. lt was Keith. He had narrow so we had be careful where we walked jumped in the river. Then everyone, including because on the right side of us there was a big me, jumped in. The water was freezing, colder slope down the hill and nobody wanted to fall than the spot that we were swimming in before. I down. When I was talking to Matthew, the person Mr. Capper was way behind us so we couldn't in front of me, we both heard someone falling hear him if he was saying “Don't go in the down the hill so we turned around to see who it water.” Anyway, we were all in the water so I was. It was Branko. He had fallen down the hill. don't think he could do anything much. While we When he got to the bottom of the hill, he had a big were swimming down the river, we all crashed scratch down the side of his leg. He said, “l'm into big rocks on the bottom, then ahead we all fine,” but then he had to walk up the hill which saw white water (rapids). Keith, the boy in front was a bit of a problem because the it was just a of me, started swimming through them so, yes, bit too steep. He had to walk past these big cows that's exactly what l did. While swimming to get back up and catch up with us. After this through the medium size rapids, my leg got stuck had happened, we all proceeded to our first way under a big rock. I tried to stand up but the point. The walk was hard because the path went current was just too strong. When I finally stood up and down, but the hardest part of this hike up, I fell straight back down. Luckily my leg was was when the path went straight up. Why? freed from the big rock. After the rapids, the because sometimes it was just too steepand the water became much more shallow. It became knee dirt was loose so we could have easily fallen. deep but I stayed in. Mr. Capper finally caught Luckily no one did. up. He was very angry with all of us so we After about 15 minutes had passed, we finally weren't allowed in the water for around ten got to our first way point which was a little minutes. We begged him to let us back in. house where we helped the villagers make butter Eventually he let us back in the water. milk. We didn't really help them make it. All we The day of hiking and body surfing was finally did was stir. We stayed there for only ten over and it was the best day I had out of the three. minutes then headed on down to the river. That night I felt strange because I was thinking of Luckily we didn't have to walk up steep slopes. some of my friends in Australia. They will All we had to do now was walk down hill which probably never get the chance to swim down was not hard at all. When we got down to the rapids in a holy river. river, we had some sandwiches and an apple. lt One thing that I learned on this trip was wasn't that great but it was food and I ate it up never go swimming in shallow rapids because because I was so hungry. While we were having you get a sore BUTTIIII. lunch, some of my friends and I lifted up some big rocks where we discovered some small crabs. By Alex Abrahams But time was up and we had to move to a place to swim. But before we left, Fairuz turned a rock over and found a huge crab. We tried to catch it but it was just too big to catch. While we were walking, we came across a large spot in the river. This is where we stopped off and had a swim. When we got in, the current

36 My Broken Arm A Visit to the Doctor

The worst thing that happened to me was when I broke my arm. I was going to visit my friend who lives across the field, 300 meters One night when I was seven or eight years from my house. The weather was not good. It was old, my elder brother, Magfi, was cutting his raining and slippery outside, but I didn’t care. I nails with a razor blade. I was reading in the grabbed my bike and rode off. I wanted to take a study. I felt thirsty so I started to walk to the shortcut so I took a track across the field, over a kitchen for a drink of water. On the way, I little bridge over a ditch. It was very slippery on bumped into my elder brother and the blade cut the bridge and I fell down into the ditch. I tried to my lower arm. My arm started to bleed heavily. I get up using my left arm but I couldn't move it screamed because of the pain and because the and I knew it was broken. I got very scared blood frightened me. My father and my uncle because I was alone. I didn't know where to go, came running to me and rushed me to the but somehow I started to walk to my friend’s hospital. When a doctor saw my arm, he said that house. There were only 100 meters left, but they I had to get stitches. Then he called a nurse and were the Iongest 100 meters in my life. I cried told her to prepare a needle and some stitches. all the way. When all was ready, he gave me an injection Luckily, my friend’s mother was home. She beside the cut and my arm became numb for some works in a hospital so she knew what to do. First minutes. In those minutes, the doctor stitched my she checked my arm, asking me if this hurts or wound. I had no pain because my arm was that. Then she immobilized my arm. She told her numbed. Then the doctor bandaged my wound and son that he should go and get my bike from the wrote a prescription and gave it to me. Then I field. She called my mother and told her that I had went back home. After two or three weeks, I was broken my arm and that she was going to drive completely all right. me to the hospital. We waited for her son and I had to visit to the doctor a few times since then we drove to the hospital. then, but this is one visit I will remember My mother was waiting for us when we forever. arrived at the hospital. They took off my clothes, put me on a trolley and rolled me to a room. My By Mohammad Ftagib Ahsan arm was so painful that I couldn't move my fingers. I had to wait a long time for pain relief. They gave me a drug called Morphine. It didn't help much but it did make me very dizzy. After that, they had to take an X-ray. The results showed that it wasn't a simple fracture and they had to operate. I got more scared. This was the first time l’d ever been in a hospital. They put some plaster on me. During the first night, my right arm swelled because a nurse put the drip in f _ ` l ‘. me all wrong and the medicine had not gone into a vein but under my skin. My mother had a bed beside me and slept over every night. The next day they rolled me into surgery MA. where they gave me more Morphine and this time I got dizzier. They put a screw in my arm so the bone which was broken would stay together. I had a cast on my arm for about four or five months. Then I had another operation to remove the screw. Now I only have a scar left from the ii- accident. Some of the sensation in my little finger was lost because of nerve damage to my arm. The doctors say it should come back in six months to a year. I hope so. By Chary Westberg

37 Cry My Worst Memory

They don’t open their mouths, One summer when I lived in Sweden, my but I hear them speak. mother, my sister, my friend and I went to a lake Their eyes shed no tears, called Ingetorpssjon to swim. My friend, John, but I hear them cry. and I jumped into the water immediately and Their hearts are beating, started to play with a ball. It was a lovely day and but I sense no Iove. there were a lot of people on the beach. When we My arms stay still, had been there for three hours, mum said that we but I reach out to them. should go home. John and I ran out of the water. I show no affection, On the way, I stepped on a broken glass bottle and but I care. fell. I was. so shocked that I couldn’t cry. It felt I don't speak, like someone had split my foot in two parts. The but I say blood gushed out of my foot and a man had to “l Iove you”. carry me out of the water. People came running from everywhere and after a while, I was on my “l love you". way to the hospital. During the journey, I had to Your eyes speak to me and I feel for hold my foot straight up so the blood would stop you. l’m going to open my mouth, flowing. When we arrived at the hospital, a nurse shed tears, gave mera very painful injection and then I was feel love, ready for the operation. reach out my arms, Afterwards I was on crutches for three and a and show how much I care. half weeks. I still have a big scar on the foot. And when I am done, you will have Ingetorpssjon was my favorite lake but I don’t a life, think I will go swimming there again because the a home, and then it will be your turn to write day after my accident, I got the bad news that a this poem. friend of mine had been murdered there the evening before. It was a terrible murder that *Dedicated to the children of the world ,I shall shocked all of Sweden. keep my promise. *And to UNICEF because I believe that you have By Robin Borjesson started the long road of work already. And to CRY, because you are reaching out.

By Tara R. Dow Night of the Skits

“All right, Kids, calm down. We've got a good The next day I was lucky to remember the schedule for you guysfsaid Mrs. Wilson. “On the skit. One day left. I now started to yell at last night of our camping trip will be....SKlT everyone about the skit, but all they said was, NIGHT! So you’d better start getting into groups “We'II do it tomorrow, we have to present a and work on them. You don’t want to end up story to Mrs. Hallberg tonight, so the skit can having no skit, now do you.” wait.” It was our first night in Rishikesh. The The next day was skit night, so every group crickets were chirping, and we could hear the was thinking about it. Even our group finally put distant sound of the rapids splashing against some thought into it. “Let's do the skit this rocks in the Ganges. Nearby the lights blazed way,” “Shut up you guys,” “Move it, we’ve only into the ever so dark sky producing a dim light got till night,” This was what I call an argument. just enough for each one to visualize every other Some people even started to threaten to leave the person. The sky was really black, only the light group. This group was going nowhere. of the starshelped Iighten it. A chill ran down my spine, “Skit night, uh- Finally, I decided that there was no choice but oh," I thought. Last year we also had to make up to leave this group if I wanted to have a skit for a skit on the sixth grade trip; my group had one tonight. I left the group and went to join another. of the worst. The applause was so silent that I Fortunately, I remembered a group that wanted could hear a mouse running across the ground. me. From that day I knew that if I did another skit, it “Maybe they'll still want me,"l said to would turn out to be horrible, and here I was, myself. I rushed to the beach to find them. worrying about another skit. The first thing I Luckily, they still were looking for another did, obviously, was to look for a group to join. person, so I joined the group. They had quite a Eventually, I found one; it had Ryan, Nishant S., good skit (definitely better than the group I used Nishant M., Arjun, Alessandro and Ameya. to be in). Soon, another person from the first “What kind of a skit are you guys doing?”l group had the same thought as I and joined us. asked. It was approaching the hour....the skit hour. “We are really not quite sure yet,”said Everyone was silent, then someone broke the Arjun,”But we’ll think of one." silence, “Okay, guys, it is time for the As the days passed, I asked them the same skits,”Mrs. Wilson shouted. At that same question, and the same answer came back. The moment my friend, Andy, said that they totally next day, I was going hiking with a big group (not changed the skit. They have changed that the same group as the skit). It was a group that wonderful skit into a nightmare play. OH-NOI! Mr. Trainer had assigned the previous night. The The group before us was outstanding, since path was steep and very tiring, since we carried they played a song and everyone in the twentieth day packs on our shoulders. Arjun was with me century had good taste for music. We were going in this group. He said to me nervously, “I don't next, a dream of a skit right before a nightmare think our group will come up with a skit.” That of a skit. It was our turn. The monstrous stage was ridiculous, why be in a skit group when lights shone into our faces while hundreds of eyes. they're not going to perform one? were staring at us. Our very first lines turned After the hike, we went swimming in the out okay but soon everyone forgot his lines. I Ganges. I had so much fun that I forgot all about thought we were finished. But, it turned out that the skit. The next day Mrs. Wilson asked everyone Iaughed not at us, but at our mistakes everyone which group he/she was in. and gave us a thunderous applaud. Maybe we “Uh-oh, two days left until skit night,” I weren't so bad. shouted to myself. Before I could ask anyone I have learned that it isn't bad to mess up on a about the skit, my ‘Big Group’ had been called to skit. A least we did one. Not all skits can be go rafting. The rafting guide tried to scare us by successful, but still, if they are not successful telling us that there were crocodiles in the that doesn't mean that they are bad. There are Ganges, but everyone knew he was kidding. I had many ways to perform a skit. a lot of fun; during the first rapids, I slipped on the side of the raft and fell out. Luckily, I got By Evan Sheppy hold of the raft. I was really sad that the day had gone by so quickly. The rafting was so much fun that I had forgotten about the skit again.

39 A Visit to the Doctor My Accident

Two years ago, I had a riding accident. lt One day when was I was12 years old, I was happened on a Saturday. My best friend, Siri, and roller skating downhill when I fell down and I were going out riding. We groomed and tacked rolled over several times. I stood up. My arm was the pony, Daisy, and set off. At the time we were hurting terribly. I tried to lift it, but I couldn't. Ieaving, all the horses were being fed, so Daisy I knew my arm was broken. I was frightened. didn’t want to go, but we pulled her out. Siri I went home. My mother was very surprised started to ride and I was walking.On the return, when I showed her my arm. She took me to the it was my turn to ride. I sat up straight and doctor's office. I was very afraid. signaled Daisy to canter and we started off.ln the At the doctor’s office, we had to wait five beginning it was fun, but she went faster and minutes before seeing the doctor. The doctor put a faster. I shook each time she touched the ground cast on my arm. It took a long time. I was sad and with her hooves. I couldn't stop her. Going ` it was boring. Half an hour later, the doctor said, downhill, she bucked me off. I don't know how it "You have to keep the cast on for one month.” We happened but she hit my eye with one of her frost paid the doctor and the nurse gave us a receipt. nails. lt hurt very much and I started to cry. The cast was heavy and hard. We went home. I There was blood in the snow around me. Siri was glad to get my cast off after one month. came running to me. She saw my eye and started I don't roller skate any more. My mother to run home for help. I began to walk back to the threw my skates away. stables. The blood on my face started to dry. Then I saw a white car approaching. Siri jumped out By Hae-Sung Jung and helped me into the car. We drove back to the stables. Daisy had run home.Siri called my parents and they came and collected me. Then we drove to the first aid center. My mom had to go back to work so my dad stayed with me. A nurse came and said that I had to lie down on a bed. My eye started to swell and it was throbbing. My dad and I had to wait three hours.l still had blood all over my face when the doctor came and looked at me. The doctor removed all the dried blood which came off in pieces. It was hurting and very painful to the touch. After cleaning me up, he gave me an injection to numb my wound. Then he started to sew, but the anaesthesia hadn't had time to work. The doctor was in a hurry because there were a lot of other people waiting outside. I could feel the needle go through my skin. He made two stitches and patched my eye. Then he sent me for an x-ray which showed that nothing was broken.When my dad and I came home from the center, we ate dinner. I couldn't go to school for

.i one week I couldn't read or write. Almost all my friends visited me after school. They gave me presents and chocolate. They talked about what had happened in school. My parents read to me when they could. lt was very strange seeing with only one eye and having to wear sunglasses when I walked outside.A half year later l wrote to a horse magazine. I told them my story and they printed it in the magazine. Now I have a scar over my left eye and an article in Norwegian to remind me of that fateful ride on Daisy. By Maren Holthe

40 Haircut

“What would you like me to clip?’’ “A few odd ends here and there.” Cutting, snip snap snip, Not a single hair did he spare Shaving, buzzz, buzzz, I didn't look for fear, all I did was hear. I anticipated merely fuzz. Oh dear! Maybe I am bald, should I let out a call? “Stop, stop, Does my head resemble a bowling ball?’' “We haven’t even started. How about a little off the top?” “What were those sounds?” “The man sitting across from you.” I thought he had taken off pounds! Was it really true? Snip, snap, snips, Buzzzzz, buzzzzz, Just a few of my tips, There is still more than fuzz hopefully.

By Angela Tupper [i «i _ «år Birds

Big and small, risky and shy, Your beady eyes watching over the sky. Death Your little feathers flapping on either side, Death haunts me every day The enormous flock led by a sharp, swift guide. Follows me even today, But, today youth has fought it away. Eagles and hawks, leaders of all, lt has fought it away everyday Flying through trees, short and tall. That l've lived my life away. To protect its family, its tiny home, Many deaths have come to me To watch for anyone who dare disturb the The death of life, peaceful dome. The death of night . The death of wrong, Your mourning, pitiful cries, The death of right. Sauntering across unlimited skies. The death of love, Your fast wings, moving faster than the eye, The death of a dove, Feathers ruffling, wind passing by. A dove symbolizing my love. So many deaths that we must face, Your determined face, In this world. Your quick-moving pace. Oh, what a horrible place. Your Iively ears, Can Icome to face Alert at others' fears. The death that slaps me in the face? Maybe today, Big and small, risky and shy, Or maybe tomorrow Your beady eyes watching over the sky. But when it happens, Your little feathers flapping on either side, lt will bring me great The enormous flock led by a sharp, swift guide. Sorrow. By Sonia Khurana By Nickolas Chase Kinnett

41 Playing Cards The Accident

Walking to the station, The Seventh Grade went to Rishikesh in the Whistling a merry tune, hills from Monday, October 16th, to Friday, Having no idea what a nightmare, October 20th. We had bus assignments at the Was approaching me very soon. Middle School Auditorium. The bus ride was long and boring, eight hours, with only a lunch break Hands inside my pockets, in between. Only the end was fun, because we Walking up the stairs, saw the foothills. When we finally arrived, we Then hearing the conductor’s whistle, got the tent assignments. We organized I had not a moment to spare. ourselves, unpacked our bags, and went swimming. After we swam, we changed, and me l was RUNNING, Running, running, and my best friend went to a friends’ tent to have The books in my rucksack rattling, fun. That’s when we began playing cards. Then l STUMBLED, Stumbled, stumbled, We first talked, and then one girl wanted to I was FALLING, Falling, falling. . . . play cards. “Let's do a fortune telling game!” she yelled at us. We all agreed. The girl told us I fell on the corner of the stair, how to play the game. “You have four kings, and The stair was made of stone, they represent four persons. So you ask a At first it didn’t hurt, question, for example, ‘Who is going to turn into Then I heard the people moan. a frog on their eighteenth birthday?’ All the kings get a card, and when the shapes match, the The conductor ran to me, heart king has a heart card, he/she is going to He led me to a mirror, turn into a frog on his/her fourteenth birthday”, There was blood all over my forehead, she finished. My body collapsed into shivers. We played that game almost every afternoon, and we enjoyed it. Most of the time, we played it An ambulance was called, in the tents, but we also played the game at Its noisy siren loud, dinner. We had such fun because of the stupid “Will it hurt?” was all I asked, questions, and because of the person that got the I felt empty yet full of fear. card that matched. Sometimes we never stopped laughing, because we were in the mood for that. The moral of the story is, We were excited, because everyone wanted to Never wander very far, know who they were going to marry, and what With your hands inside your pockets, they job they were going to chose, and all those Or you’ll end up with a scar. things. In the place where we were eating, there was By Emily Lutyens a campfire, and that’s why we sometimes sat there, it was so warm and cozy. We were with eight people, but only four of us had the most fun. This was a really nice part of the trip; I remember the fun we had. The best part though, was that we all became much better friends. We all laughed together and made jokes together, and that is why our fight, my friends and I had, disappeared. Now I have three really good friends, and before I had only one.

By Barbara Van Santen

42 Top Man

The author of the story “Top Man” is James Ramsey Ullman. The two main characters are Nace and Osborn. This story was about two people trying to reach the top of the mountain, Mar‘ f." K3. Unfortunately, Nace died falling off the » cf/ mountain because he was trying to save Osborn. We were talking about who was top man in class. Although both men were excellent climbers, of the two I think that Nace was top man. Both of them were great climbers. Osborn was very energetic. He was twenty—three, and he always wanted to speed up. He didn’t think much; he just wanted to complete his mission. He was a person who was very confident perhaps because he was the fastest climber. He mostly took the shortest and the fastest way up. Compared to Osborn, Nace was a very quiet person. He didn’t express his thoughts out loud like Osborn. It was his sixth climb on K3 when his old friend had died. He was very slow and always- went the safe way. He was very thoughtful and tried to keep everyone as safeas possible. I think that Osborn is too young to be top man. He didn’t have any experience. It was his first time to climb K3 and all that mattered to him was just getting on top of the mountain. This was Nace’s sixth climb on K3, so he had a lot of experience . He might even know some good ways to the top. I think the reason he didn’t die when he was climbing the mountain so many times was because he was always thoughtful, always tried to go to a saferway. The main reason why I think that Nace is top man is because of the following. If Nace hadn’t wanted to help Osborn, he could have lived and gone to the top. But because he was thoughtful and always wanted to keep people safe, he helped Osborn and he died. I think that Nace is top man. Without his thoughts, Osborn could have died. Someone from Delhi By Joon-Hee Kim

I once loved a girl named Nellie, Who came from the city of Delhi. She fell in the drain, And damaged her brain, And when she came out she was smelly.

By Katy Rowley

43 Liberia

“What daddy I can’t hear you?” I screamed into my backpack and set it on my bed beside my through the phone. suitcase. “You, Jennifer and your mom are leaving tonight I walked into my sister’s bedroom and stood instead of Monday.” my dad shouted back into the there watching her pack things and stuff them phone. into her bag frantically. She dumped a few “Okay, daddy, l’ll start packing right now,” I clothes in and then put shoes on the edge of the said. Then I hung up the phone. suitcase where they could fit. I looked up at Jen I was seven years old when the war started in and her face looked worried. Her blue eyes looked Liberia. I was living there with my mom, dad so innocent with her golden hair propped up and, for awhile, my brother and sister. My dad neatly in a bun. She smiled, but it wasn’t the had just found out that the Americans whose happy smile that she usually had on her face it spouses worked in the embassy, had to be was different and I knew that she was scared evacuated with their children because the war about something happening to my dad and was getting very bad. We had two hours to pack. brother. We each got to take one suitcase and a carry on. “Jen, is everything going to work out okay?” My sister, mom and I were leaving that night and I asked her with a questioning look on my face. my brother and dad were staying. “Yes, Emily, everything will be just fine.” “Emily, l’ll help you pack your bag," our She hugged me and then whispered into my ear, maid Sara said while she ran up the stairs. “Don’t worry sweaty.” She slowly lost her grip “Thank you, Sara. My mom will be home around me, then stood up and caught up with her from school soon, and she’s bringing Jen with packing. I left the room and walked down the hall her. My dad said that my mom didn't stay for the to my bedroom. whole high school graduation because she had to When I sat down on my bed, I picked up my come home," I explained to Sara as we both doll and started talking to her. started emptying my drawers into my suitcase. “Kirsten, we have to get away from the bad My mom was an English teacher in high people so they can't get us. Daddy has to stay school and, since the school was closing down here. Don’t be scared we will make it." I hugged early, they had to have a very quick graduation her just like my sister had to me, and rubbed her for the seniors. I started folding my clothes and head like she was my own baby. After about two putting them into my suitcase until I heard the minutes, I set her back onto my bed, then walked door slam. I ran downstairs and my sister and down stairs to see if there was anything else that mom were walking into the living room. My mom I needed. I looked around the living room to see if tossed her purse onto the couch and started to anything I needed was Iaying on the couch or on a walk towards me. My sister ran up the stairs to table. I was going to miss the times when I would get ready to leave; she looked worried. We had do cartwheels on the marble floor or dance to the two hours to pack anything that would fit into our music that my parents were listening to in the suitcases and that was it. big spaces area right in the front room . I was “Are you getting ready, sweaty?" my mom going to miss the times when we had the magic asked, as she bent over to give me a hug. man come to my birthday parties. I would always “I'm almost done. But, mommy, why do we remember the big cotton tree in front of our have to leave so quickly and not take daddy and house, when it would bloom and cotton would fall Tim with us?” I asked her scared of what was to the ground like snow. But I knew that I would going to happen to my dad and brother after we never forget what the people and place were like. left. Later that night my dad came home early “Emily there is a war going on here right from work and brought my brother with him now as you know, so the people who don't work in they both looked tired. the embassy have to leave just to be safe. Daddy “Is everybody ready?” My dad asked after he is staying because he works for the embassy, and saw all the luggage down stairs. so he has to help it out. Tim is staying because he “Yes, honey.” my mom shouted from the wants to be with daddy,” she paused, stood up, dining room. Then my dad nodded, picked me up took my hand and we both walked up the stairway. and carried me out to the car. I just didn’t understand what was going on and “Daddy, will we ever see you again?” I why we had to leave them behind. looked at him with a very serious look on my When I walked into my bedroom, I grabbed face. my doll and a couple doll outfits, stuffed them

44 “Of course you will, honey.” he set me down next to the car and went back inside to help my The Land of My Dreams sister and mom bring the bags out. The first person to walk out the door was my brother. He was loaded down with bags. After he stuck all the The birds soar high above my head, bags into the trunk, he knelt down beside me and They’re red or black or yellow. gave me a peck on the cheek. I clung on to my doll And all the while as they’re sailing high, “I’m going to miss you a lot but someone has With their sweet songs filling the air, to be here with daddy you know?” He looked at I think, ‘This is the land of my dreams.’ me and I looked back at him and smiled. When we were all settled in the car, the A gentle breeze brushes past my face, engine started and we drove to the embassy which With the scent of pines and flowers. was only five minutes away. When we arrived, it I breathe in deep and lift my arms, was packed with friends from the embassy. There Here, nature can bloom and live. were people crying and hugging parents and Here, in the land of my dreams. children. A little bit down the street were about ten buses and 1 van waiting for people to jump on In the land of my dreams, to them. After about fifteen minutes, we started People never die, carrying our stuff onto a big yellow school bus. Nor do they ever kill, “Bye, daddy. I love youl” I said to him as I And animals roam, jumped into his arms. He held me with a tight Free as the wind. grip around my waist and then he put me back onto the ground. And in the land of my dreams, “Bye, pumpkin," he looked at me with a big Pollution doesn't haunt, smile on his face from cheek to cheek. Then I Every breath of air, walked over to Tim who had just said good-bye to Like it does in this land l’m in. my sister and mom. He bent down just like he had before and gave me a kiss just like he had before. In this place, “Emily, you are the cutest thing and I am People kill. really going to miss you a lot." He held my People die. shoulders and said, “Write to me, okay?” Then I Animals are locked up. looked at my doll and looked back at him and said, And war presides. “l’llmiss you too, Tim.” He Iifted me up and put Slowly killing me on the bus. My mom and sister followed me. The hope in my heart, We sat down in our sets and waved bye as the bus That this place moved out of its parking spot. As we waited for Could ever be, the bus to start, I thought to myself, l'll Like the land of my probably never be back here again. Then tears Dreams. built up in my eyes as our bus moved further and further away from it’s parking spot. I waved to By Olivia Hess my brother and dad until they were out of sight.

By Emily Krecke

45 WORDS

Some words are clean, these are mine, clear, crystal, sparkle, and shine.

Some words are dirty, here’s a taste, mud, stain, trash and waste.

I Some words are funny, what a bunch, goof, barf, poof and punch.

Some words are quiet, this’s the mix, silent, whisper, deaf and licks.

Some words are loud, here’s the gang, '2 scream, burp, holler and bang.

Some words are pretty, what a crew, grass, sky, hills and dew.

This is my poem, do you like it or not? And if you’ve read it, thanks a lot!

By Andres Modak

53 35-0.. A3,?)

46 The Bat The Love We Had

The love we had, was never really there. Thou art the devil of the night, Like an illusion, l Thy wings a crisp flutter alight, All this time you think it will always be there, What art thou fullest fear, but you take your eyes off it for one minute, As burning light ventures near? it's gone. Like a candle, the light will soon die down, Thou bare thee eyes of the devil, and the candle will be as none. So dark and fierce, full of evil, We were just playing a joke on ourselves. Why art thou so cruel with Iather, What a stupid thing to do! Pretending that our , As thou devour the darkest matter? love was exsistant. But now, it’s over. Thou art the reaper of power and pain, Now we can sart a new.

r Thy scythe in hand, hungering slain, Now we light another candle. Why art thou so sharp and swift, As thy scythe cuts through the mist? By Meagan Jugar

Thou art thee angel of deepest hell, May thou carcass remain thy cell, Pain Why do the warlocks bow at thy breath, As thou meander the corridors of death? Long, thin, bony, Pain's hand is reaching toward my heart. By Matthew Smawfield Pulling, twisting, tugging. All that is sacred to me, gone, Gone forever.

The black hearse, l Rolling gently by, Black veils, swirling tears, Good-bye Papa. Good-bye forever.

A POEM FOR MY DAD Memories of Daddy's Large, powerful, but warm, loving hands Cuddle me when l was cold are lost. Pain has taken my memories. Dad, Dad, Dad, My sweet, warm memories, The funniest lad, Gone forever. Sometimes when he forgets his bag, - His spirits begin to sag. I won't remember how I loved When I ‘m in Pain, Or delighted my sweet Daddy , He helps me maintain. Nor will l remember the long hours we spent by r When l sleep, the fire-place. He sits beside me deep. Because pain has frozen my heart. f When he comes home, My once big, strong heart, ` He only talks in a work tone. Gone forever. l Dad, Dad, Dad, l The funniest lad, Big, rolling tears of l He’s really a mixture of good and bad. Love or happiness, Will never run down my face again. i i By Nishant Singh I will never see again. Pain has closed my eyes forever.

By Lauren O'Hara

47

l Doomed in My Computer

“Why do I have to do this stupid biology The gun didn’t fire ordinary bullets, it fired report?” Joe moaned as he typed away on a word something like blue crystals, or energy. The processing program on his computer. “Who monster looked like it was getting electrified by needs to know about the digestive system of a the gun and he fell to the ground. Joe started to squirrel?" think that there must be billions of monsters out “Joe, stop moaning and turn down the volume here, but he just had a few more shots (judging of your CD player," shouted his mother from the by the light weight of the gun). He was doomed. other room. lt's eight o’clock, when are you going DOOM!l!l That was it, this place was exactly like to finish your project?” the computer game DOOM 2! How could he go “l’m not moaning, and why are you always inside his computer? In front of him he saw complaining about the volume of my CD player? another one of those monsters, exactly like in l’ll be finished at ten thirty” DOOM 2. In the game, they were called demons. If

“Listen, Joe, l’m not the one who’s he was really in DOOM 2, then the codes that he 4 complaining, the people from the other block knew should also work. The only problem is how are!” he enters the code. He tried shouting the code for The Jones family was a middle-high class invincibility out, but he found out it didn’t work family. Mr. Jones had a job as a journalist, He as soon as a demon fired that ray of “energy". He also used the computer a lot to do his work. knew this level, it was the first level. He quickly Joe kept on typing his report. It was nine and ran over to the exit of the first level. Over there, a half pages long. He was still on his third page. there was a keyboard. On the keyboard he could have entered the code, but he pressed the button After Two Hours marked ESC (escape). He was now in a big open space with the wind “Are you done yet, Joe?” howling. He was standing in the middle of a huge a “Well, it’s taking me a little longer than l runway and an empty plane. “Oh no, I must have thought.” gotten into Flight Simulator!” He got into the “Well, you better hurry up!” plane anyway and took off. Since he played this After About half an hour, Joe took a break. He game with a joystick, he had practice. In the started playing his favorite games: Flight airplane he saw on his radar that there were Simulator and DOOM 2. After dying twice in both three bogeys at one o’clock, twelve o’clock, and at games, he went back to doing his project. When eleven o’clock.

l he tried to print, it said ERROR IN FILE 3368. It was a real tough battle. He took out two of i “Oh great” he said. “l'll finish the rest in the the bogeys when he saw on his radar about six morning," as he slowly fell asleep. miles ahead a huge sign saying PRESS TO EXIT TO He woke up and found himself in a totally new DOS AND PRINT. He fired one AMRAAM. It missed place. It was in the future maybe. There were the remaining enemy. He started to look at the l buttons all over the walls, and there were green, sign. When he looked back at the radar, the red, and blue colors all over the walls. He found enemy plane wasn't there anymore. It must have cl that it wasn’t exactly a room. It was more like a gone back to it’s base for refueling. He turned on giant hallway. He walked along the hallway. He the plane at mach three. As soon as he pressed the walked and walked. He thought it would never end. button, the whole airplane started to shake. When There were wires all over the walls. The wires he felt the airplane shake, he realized that the probably led to the “master room”. There was sucker had been behind him all the time, but out i nobody in the whole hallway. At the end of it, of the reach of the radar. He looked at the damage l there was a huge open space. The space looked report. It said that it was a hit on the right wing. familiar, as though he had seen it before. He He was started to fall, and then, he felt another walked and walked, thinking, “Wait a minute. shake. He thought it was just the turbulence, but This can't be the future. We been here before.” when he looked at the damage report, he saw that Suddenly, right behind him he felt a deadly his left wing was also taken out. He looked at his scratch on his back. He turned back and saw a six radar. The sign was three miles away, he was at foot tall pink monster made of goo, growling at 30,000 feet, and falling at 100 meters per him! He ran as fast as he could on to some steps second. The sign was at about 10,000feet. He and into something which looked like a prison. He calculated that he would have to fall at the same went in and saw there was a gun lying on the rate for forty-eight seconds minutes to bump ground. He picked it up and fired at the morning. into the sign and exit to dos. He would not make it

48 by the looks of it because the computer in the plane calculated that the plane would blow up in Tomorrow’s News 47 seconds. “Damn!” He shouted. One second There was an ordinary clerk. The clerk before the plane would blow up, he ejected. always wanted to be great. One day the clerk was Luckily, he landed right on the button, exiting to across the street. The clerk saw an old man, dos(He didn't know what would get printed). At wearing glasses, who looked different from the dos, he found the whole floor was black. There weren’t any walls. He saw that on the ground others. He looked strong. Suddenly, the old man asked him, “Would you like to buy ‘Tomorrow’s there was a huge keyboard. He typed SHUT DOWN. The next moment he was in bed. News’?” “What? I never heard of such a name of a “Wake up Joe,” said Mrs. Jones. “Where were you last night I looked all over the house for newspaper.” I you!” “That’s because I made it, young man," was “Ummmm, I was in bed, maybe you didn’t see the reply. me?” The clerk thought about the old man. Is he “Well, did you finish that project?” crazy? Finally the clerk decided that the old man Oh no! l spent all night dreaming and forgot must be powerful, one who has special powers. l’ll about the project. Then he looked at the printer. “Okay! buy it!” On the printer, the whole report was printed out. The old man said, “This newspaper costs “Yeah, I finished it." $100. It tells what’s going to happen tomorrow. That’s why I named it ‘Tomorrow’s News”’ By Nishant Mathur The clerk didn’t say anything. Maybe l'm wrong. He's crazy. The clerk looked at the old man’s face. He looked great. His eyeswere telling him to buy the newspaper. The clerk gave the old man $100 and Eagle, Eagle took ‘Tomorrow’s News.’ The clerk looked at the first page. Oh, my god! The boss of his company died on the way to Eagle Eagle! Flying so high airport. The clerk thought, lt's a great chance! If Looking down to wave good bye. I stop this, the boss will give me a promotion l In the mist, all is dark, The next Waving your wings from morning to dusk. morning, the clerk woke up early and went to the office. The clerk waited for his boss to leave. The Watch out my lad, clerk saw his boss taking a car. The clerk r For those poachers that get me mad. i quickly followed him in his black car. The clerk And the people and cages was trying to protect him. Suddenly a huge truck lt’s like finding out a way to impossible mazes! came across central line and careened toward the car of his boss. The clerk crushed his own car Those two yellow eyes at night against the truck to save his boss. The clerk was Which make the whole place bright. carried to the hospital. And like dogs with heavy chains, On the bed, the clerk took out ‘Tomorrow’s I hoped the owners had better brains! News’ and read it over. After five minutes of reading the clerk collapsed. On the bottom of the Just imagine looking down, ‘Tomorrow’s News’, was written, “a black car Making somersaults and turning around. crushed against a truck and a clerk who was in Up in the sky, all is clear the black car died .... Without a single voice or rustle to hear. By Seung-Hwan Lee Eagle, Eagle! Flying so high Looking down to wave good bye. In the mist, all is dark, Waving your wings from morning to dusk.

By Alessandro Binotti

49 Some Words Are....

Some Words are Clean, Here are a Few Shiny, Spic and Span, Pure, and New

Some Words are Dirty, I Know a Lot Mud, Filth, Muck, and Blot 1

Some Words are Funny, These are so Cool Freak, Big—Head, Wingwang, and Fool

Some Words are Quiet, They give a Fright Shhh, Hush, Silent, and Night

Some Words are Loud, These are my Last Holler, Squeal, Scream, and Blast

By Vijay Asava Life

He was born, That’s the way his life Was to start. He went to school, Became real smart. But only had a few friends That would hang out.

One day they saw he was sick. Then he became thin as a stick. i

He went under the knife, One cold night. That gave us all a big fright. We all began to pray, Wé hoped to God he’d be okay. 1

The suspense... Made us all tense. I was really in pain, It seemed the waiting... Was driving me insane.

The very next day, We got the news. They could not mend it, And that's the way his life ended.

By Brenna Bates

so Book review of The Outsiders by S.E Hinton

Character gets killed by Johnny. The other Socs run away Agpearange and Age: Ponyboy Curtis is a boy of and tell the police what happened and so the story fourteen (he has just turned fourteen). He has a revolves around them escaping to Wrindixwille. good build for a boy of his age, but he is small. He Johnny ultimately dies himself since he had tried has light brown almost red hair, and he has to rescue some kids who were trapped in a fire, greenish gray-eyes. He has long greasy hair and he breaks his back when a log falls upon him. which is very precious to him. He wears jeans Conflicts and T-shirts like the rest of his gang. The major conflicts in this story are Socs vs Behavior and Motivation: His demeanor towards Greasers, Ponyboy vs himself, Ponyboy vs I people is polite. He doesn’t talk too much around Death, Ponyboy vs Darry, and Ponyboy vs grief his gang and people. He tries not to utter one and court. There are lots of other conflicts but word when he is near the cops. He doesn’t like none of them matter so much to Ponyboy. people like Darry treating him like he’s six Theme instead of fourteen. He loves his brother Sodapop The author's major theme is death. he a lot more than he loves anyone. His motivation explains this theme when the people are in is to get good grades and use his head more often. rumbles in the park or at any other fighting He wants to read good books. He wants to keep his places. You don’t know if you will get killed or family united, by that I mean he doesn't want not during a rumble, your opponents may cheat himself and Sodapop to go to a boys’ home. and bring a gun and kill you, if you are beating Values and Growth: He values his hair more than them very bad. If Daily hit a shopkeeper or anything. lt is very precious to him. Next comes anyone very hard, he might get hanged for doing Sodapop his brother whom he loves more than his that since he had a big police record at the late mom and dad. Ponyboy loves Darry inside, station. If Two-Bit wisecracked with the cops but he thinks he doesn't. He thinks that if while he was in jaii,they could get angry and beat someone who is loved dies, it’s the end of the him up so hard that he could die. The conflict was world. When Johnny and Dally died, Ponyboy against the Socswho were very rich and did never got over it. He could never believe they had everything mostly for kicks. Just think what died, he was in a shock. He kept saying that they would do if they were serious. Johnny didn’t kill the Soc, he did. He never got Johnny had killed Bob who had friends all over deaths. When his mother and father died he over the town,Bob’s Death had created a rumble kept having nightmares about the funeral. everywhere over town, it was Socs vs Greasers. Near the end he learns how to control his Pony had saved the kids in the fire but, he might emotions. He learns that if somebody dies, you have been trapped himself and could have died. shouldn't stop your daily life. When Johnny Anything could happen. You could die anytime. killed Bob, Pony thought that he was the cause of When you are a Greaser,there are not many it and in a way he was. He was in a shock and people who look up to you or like you as it says in when people like Randy talked about Johnny the book. D killing Bob, he said that it was he who had killed Recommendation Bob not Johnny. He just couldn't believe that I would recommend this book to fifth grade Johnny and Daily were dead. He learned that life onwards since there are kids smoking in the doesn't end when somebody he loves dies. book. Y ounger kids might get motivated and start Setting smoking. This is an excellent book. think the setting is in New York in the 1960's. There are lots of other settings where a By Arjun Nijhawan chapter starts in the book. The parking lots, the drive ins, the vacant lot, Pony's house, the fountain, in the park at night, the hospital, under the light and in the church. HQ! This book revolves around the Greasers known as Ponyboy Curtis and Johnny Cade. These two are best buddies. Johnny tells Pony his problems and Pony tells Johnny his problems. One night they are jumped by the Socs (people who jump greasers all the time). One of the Socs 51 Leaving So Soon, Mr. Pot?

Mr. and Mrs. Can were on their way home entered the room, Mr. Pot asked Mrs. Can,” Um... after watching a movie at the theater. As they Mrs. Can? I’m sorry, but can you prepare some approached their apartment, they met a man and tea for us?” a woman. The two strangers were old. The old Without an answer, Mrs. Can nodded gently man said to them. and went to the kitchen. In the corner of the “Hi, my name is John Pot, and this is my kitchen was a golden can. After she made the tea, wife. We just moved to this apartment." she just took a look at it. She opened it, and “Well ...... it's a pleasure to meet you," looked inside. She couldn't believe it. There were Mr. Can replied. ashes in it. She gasped and thought, Did.....did he.. “Nice to meet you. Um..What is your name, cremate her? Could this be the ashes of Mrs. may I ask?” asked Mrs. Pot. Pot? But who's that under the white sheet? No, l “Can, Travis Can.” answered Mr. Can. guess not. 'She went over to the white sheet, and “Oh~~~, we just happened to move next door. looked inside. lt was the dead body of Mrs. Pot. I’m sure we will be close neighbors,” said Mrs. Mrs. Can thought, Then what is all this ash? This Pot joyfully. is really confusing. Mrs. Can asked right away, “Um~, excuse Obviously that night, Mrs. Can couldn't sleep. me, but how do you know we will be living next She wondered, What's going on? What was all door? I mean, how do you know where we live?“ that ash? But maybe, I'm just being mistaken. ‘‘well, it just feels like we are very close No, I don’! think so. Why would anyone leave a together. It just gave me a feeling that we may golden can with ashes in it? l better tell this to live next to each other. You know, strange things Travis.’ happen,” answered Mrs. Pot. The next day, Mrs. Can said to Mr. Can, “Oh, so, we’ll look forward to meeting you “Travis, don’t you think Mr. Pot is acting a little again,” said Mrs. Can. Mr. and Mrs. Pot gave a strange? I mean.....” happy smile, and left. “No,” Mr. Can gave a simple answer," I The next day, when Mr. and Mrs. Can came dunno. Well, just one thing. He looks a bit too back from dinner, they encountered a few cheerful. l wouldn't be that cheerful if my wife officers and detectives next door. In the room, died,” answered Mr. Can. behind the door, was a dead body with a white “Hmm...well, guess what I found? When I was sheet over it. Mrs. Can said to one of the officers. preparing the tea last night, I found a golden can “Goshll What happened here?” with ashes. You don`t think ...... Mr. Pot..cremated “This lady had a heart attack. She was quite her?” said Mrs. Can. old. We did the best we could, but it was too "No, then who was under the white sheet? late,” answered one of the officers .Both the ...... We better check on this." officers looked pretty exhausted. From this day, Mr. and Mrs. started to spy on “Oh~~,what was her name?” asked Mr. Can. Mr. Pot. They collected any information “Uh.... Mrs. Sara Pot,” said the other officer. available. “Oh no, my god, we just met them,” said One day, Mrs. Can came with great evidence. Mrs. Can Ioudly. At the same time, “l know, she She gasped and said, was a very nice lady. Just yesterday... just “Look, I just found this out. Mrs. Pot had a twin yesterday, we met them," shouted Mr. Can. At sister." this moment, Mr. Pot Came out from the room. “Yes! So the woman in the bag could either be “Oh, hello, Mr. Can. My wife had a heart Mrs. Pot or..... what`s her name?" asked Mr. attack; it was just ...... too late,” said Mr.Pot as Can. he gave a mild smile, scratching his forehead. “Mrs. Smith,” answered Mrs. Can. “Oh, I'm so sorry your wife died,” said Mrs. “You know, don't you think this is the most Can caringly. exciting thing that ever happened to us? l mean, “Oh no, (chuckles) it's all right. We were we could be solving a mystery!” said Mr. Can. expecting a heart attack long ago. So it wasn't The next day, all the information they knew such a rough shock for me. Would you like to became clear. When Mr. and Mrs. Can were come in?" asked Mr. Pot. walking outside, a bus passed by. In the bus :vas “No, it’s all right. You probably want to be Mrs. Pot! Now, Mr. and Mrs. can found out for alone," said Mr. Can. sure that the dead body under the white sheet was “No, no, please come in. I’m a bit lonely. l’d Ms. Smith, Mrs. Pot's twin sister. Even if they love to have company,” Mr. Pot insisted. As they are twins, the person in the bus looked much 52 v-l_._~.___.

more like Mrs. Pot. Both Mr. and Mrs. Can couldn'f sleep that night. When the Clock Strikes A few days later, Mrs. Can came to Mr. Can 1 4 during lunch,” Last night, I snuck into Mr. Pot’s apartment.” “You whatllllll How could you! I mean, what if he found you? He could have hurt you!?!?!" In the stillness of the night, said Mr. Can there will always be a light. “No, it's alright. I did it perfectly ...... only From high above, to deep below I left my notepad under the bed....Well, I still a star cries in fear. found two airplane tickets to London for Mr. and Singing songs a flower did bloom, Mrs. Pot next week. According to the dates on the i and into the night the cradle still moves. tickets, Mr. Pot bought the ticket after the death The soft tapping feet of a walking sleep arouses of Mrs. Smith, whom was thought to be Mrs. Pot. the ant, So, now, we are absolutely sure that Mrs. Pot that sleeps beneath. isn’t dead.” In the morning of the night the dead go back, “Well, Iet’s just hope that he doesn’t find it. homes far away. I found out that Mr. Pot took care of Mrs. Smith's Busy streets are filled with feet, account. lt seemed like Mrs. Smith was awfully the tiny ant does seethat he is beat. rich.” said Mr. Can. Gradually no more noise “So, let's clear things up. The policemen and the streets are empty, gone to sleep. the detectives thought that the dead body of Mrs. And again the clock strikes 14 the tapping feet Smith was Mrs. Pot. Mrs. Smith died of a heart begin to speed, attack. She wasn’t murdered. The golden can was the rustling of the leaves, the awakening of nothing. It could have been ashes from the flowers, fireplace. After Mrs. Smith died, which was all did happen before the hour. thought to be Mrs. Pot, Mr. Pot received all the No more noise money.” No more flowers “You know, l’ve been thinking of this for a When will this end the awakening tower? while, but maybe we should stay out of this. No l one will believe us. People will think our minds By Julia King are screwed up.” said Mrs. Can. “So, l guess Mr. and Mrs. Pot goes to London with the money. lt's a happy ending for them ...... Iet’s just hope that Mr. Pot doesn’t find said Mr. Can as he sighed with a l your note pad.” mild invisibie smile. “Oh, stop that!” cried Mrs. Can with a laugh.

By Jun Huh I

l

l

l 53 l the jewelry store. The first thing Raj saw when Raj, the Rickshaw he went into the jewelry store was the lady Dfiver crying and saying, “How...how stupid can I be." Then she saw Raj with the bag. She jumped and ran to Raj saying, “Thank you, thank you so much." She even started to kiss him. Note: This story has been translated from Hindi When Raj was about to leave the jewelry to English for your reading enjoyment. a store, the lady handed him a small box. “What is this?” Raj asked. It was a cold New Delhi morning and Raj, the “Oh, just a little gift of thanks.” the lady rickshaw driver, had just woken up. replied. “lt looks like l am going to get very little Raj carefully opened it and saw that it was a l business today. Just look at all those clouds out I beautiful silver necklace. Raj said thanks. While there,” Raj whined grumpily. Raj was walking to his rickshaw, he thought, In only fifteen minutes, Raj was ready to go. Maybe this necklace is only worth one hundred He took two tugs at the rickshaw's auto starter rupees, but to me it is worth a million. and sped off towards the Vasant Vihar area. Arriving at his destination, he stopped at a By Ameya Mulay rickshaw stand. There he met a good friend of his, Kishore, who had been Raj’s good companion for l almost twenty years. They went to school together and lived on the same block. They shared many happy memories together. While they were talking about the latest cricket scores, a man as tall as a five year old tree came up to them and said, “Can you take me to Maurya Sheraton?” “Sure, no problem," Raj and Kishore said at the same time. Monkey “I will take this one, you can take that person over there,” Kishore said as a lady with a small hand bag approached.. Monkey, Monkey why so mean? As Kishore drove off, Raj asked the lady, biting people turning them green. “Madam, where would you like to go?” Monkey so many times thy have seen, “Please take me to the best jewelry storein but never examined for answers that l need. the city. l am going to buy my husband a special Somewhere out there holds the truth of how you anniversary ring. We have been married for have come into being. twenty-five years,” she said in a chirpy voice. In only twenty minutes Raj, arrived at the Monkey, Monkey you have seen, jewelry shop, and the kind lady paid him sixty what other scientisfs dream. rupees, ten more than he asked for. Raj said Where have you come from that makes you I thank you and drove off to the nearest rickshaw immortal to some beings? i stand which was only five minutes away. While i Raj was waiting at the rickshaw stand, he noticed So many times thy has seen, that the lady left her handbag in the back seat. He but what have you done to unfortunate beings?

was wondering what to___.-_.~._._.._ do. He then looked inside Some virus, some disease but you won't be the bag only to find five stacks of five-hundred appeased. rupee notes. Fear struck Raj. The words “What should I do,” kept on going through his mind. If/ By Arjun Saraf keep it, just think of all those gifts I can buy my kids. But seeing them play with the gifts will make me feel sad. “What should l do?” Raj yelled out loud. Then Raj remembered the story that the lady told him in the rickshaw. This money is probably the money for the anniversary ring. Before a l tear came to his eye, Raj jumped into his rickshaw with the bag at his side and drove off to l 54 An Elephant Remembers

Daniel ran stumbling through the forest, spot where the dead elephant lay. The poachers running blindly and almost over exposed root in had shot the huge tusker and then sawn off his his path. The horror of what he had just seen once proud tusks. spurred him on faster. He had to get home and tell “What an unforgivable act this is,” he said his father. quietly. He was panting and sweating and his legs “What kind of people will kill a harmless threatened to give way, but Daniel ran on until he beast in this ruthless manner just to make reached the clearing with their cluster of huts. money out of his ivory tusks?” Daniel was His father and some other forest guards were standing was standing a little away from the rest. standing in the center of the clearing with their He heard a faint stirring somewhere in the cluster of huts. They were startled to see Daniel bamboo forests to his right. Something seemed to come panting up. be moving in the there. Curious, Daniel went “What is it Daniel?” His father sounded towards the bushes, peeking into the thick concerned. Quickly, Daniel told them what he had growth. There was definitely something hiding seen. there, and then he stared in surprise. Outlined “To the north, near the bamboo grove, they hazily in the dark bamboo bushes, he could see a have killed that big tusker, the leader of the small elephant, a baby hardly more than a year- herd. I heard them leaving in jeep,” Daniel said old up to his shoulders in height. between pants. Thoughts raced through Daniel's mind. Why There was a horrified gasp from the men. was the baby there, separated from it’s mother’? Daniel's father and the others were all forest The big tusker. lying dead a little distance away, guards in a large elephant sanctuary in Kenya. was the leader of the herds, that roamed the For many months now, the Forest Department jungle, and the baby could of well been part of officers had been harassed by a gang of poachers. the family. lt would not have been abandoned like They would always kill a large tusker, take the this by the mother, even if she had been fleeing tusks, and disappear. They had already lost three from the gun shots of the poachers. elephants and had been able to get almost no Warily Daniel parted the bamboo plants and information about the poachers who were took another step forward. He looked back obviously very well organized. They disappeared hesitantly towards the men, but they had not with the ivory which was probably sold to big noticed anything. They were gathered around the cities, and now it seemed as if Daniel had managed large tusker on the ground. Daniel took another to bring news which would give them a lead in hesitant step forward. The little elephant might their hunt for the poachers. Daniel's father be a baby, but it was part of a wild herd after all. r organized the other guards at once and set them of There was no saying what kind of reaction it on their bicycles towards the spot Daniel had would have to an unknown human being. mentioned. Meanwhile, he sent Daniel to Mr. Daniel saw the elephanfs eyes. They were Hardy, the forest officer in charge of the bewildered and anguished. The baby shivered and

b Sanctuary. began to whimper. There was such misery in that whimper that Daniel stopped again. l Daniel paused only for a drink of water from their hut, before starting of again towards the Another elephant was lying hidden among the Forest Officer's house on the outskirts of the bushes. Daniel knew at once what had happened. forest. The poachers had fired almost indiscriminately “Daniel, be careful,” called his mother from at the herd while they were feeding on the i the doorway of their hut. bamboo shoots. Daniel was filled with pity for the “These poachers may still be moving around baby elephant. Poor little orphaned elephant! lt the forest, and they are dangerous men.” stood bewildered and completely miserable. lt “l’Il be careful mother," he answered. must have seen it's mother killed in front of him. “l’ll keep off the main path and go silently Gently, Daniel drew him out of the bushes into through the forest.” When Mr.Hardy heard what the clearing where the men were still gathered Daniel had to stay, he at once started off towards around the dead tusker. the spot in his jeep, taking Daniel with him. They “Uncle,” Daniel called to Mr. Hardy. found the forest guards standing about in a group “There's a young mother elephant also killed waiting for Mr.Hardy. here.” Daniel had been allowed to bring him back “This is the fourth tusker they have killed,” home to his hut because the elephant was too said Mr.,Hardy. He walked a little distance to the small to be left alone in the forest. The herd to 55 which his mother had belonged had moved faraway, and it would probably be another week The Evolution of the or two before they returned to that area again. Skateboard After that, the baby would be returned to the herd. Daniel had been overjoyed to have the little The first skateboards ever made were flat elephant with him. It was like having a pet of his pieces of wood with metal trucks and metal own, even though it was only for a weeks. wheels. They were very loud and weren't good for “l think l`m going to call you Rover,” Daniel boarding. Then people started coming out with had told the elephant. Rover was a roly-poly thin plastic boards and rubber wheels. fellow. At first. it had refused to eat. Daniel These were called banana boards and were used for searched out tempting bit’s of juicy sugar cane speed racing. After the banana boards, for him, but Rover just turned his face away. d skateboards were starting to become popular, and “He is grieving for his mother,“ explained companies started to make their own style of Daniel’s mother. Daniel stayed close to Rover for the first few days, and spoke to it constantly. boards out of wood. Two of the best brand name boards you could have bought were Vision or Gradually Rover settled down and began to eat all Double Vision. These boards were fat, the fresh green vegetables and fruits Daniel had a tail would get for him. on both sides, were made of wood, and were covered with sand paper grip. Nowadays probably “Mother,” said Daniel one day, “l’m going to the most popular skateboards are Eight Balls. take Rover for a little walk. Take it along the These are also covered with sand paper for extra main road to the temple.” grip and control and have small wheels for going Vishnu, the tea shop owner, called to Daniel, freestyle. The board is long “Daniel, is that the baby elephant you rescued in and narrow, kind of like the banana boards except the Eight Balls are the jungle?” he asked. i longer and have different features. Vishnu held out a few lumps of jaggery sugar l to feed Rover. He laughed and said, “He likes it.” The style of skating has also evolved. In the early age of the. skateboard, l Just then, a jeep drew up and two men called to people went down Vishnu to serve tea. hills and went fast on the boards, but as the years l went by, “Right away sirl" replied Vishnu. Daniel people started doing tricks, jumps and l all kinds of tricks. One of the most popular things stopped watching the men in the jeep and looked to do on the skateboard is riding the half pipe. lt l at Rover. Rover was standing restlessly and is a ramp that looks like a sawed~off pipe. The seemed to be looking at the men in the jeep. Then boarder goes up quietly and deliberately, he fucked his trunks to the side and when he gets to the one side and walked to the jeep. What happened top, he flies into the air due to the speed that thrusts him up. He does a stunt on the board and next, Daniel could hazily remember. Rover attacked the men! With his trunk he dragged out lands back on it, going back and forth doing tricks the men at the wheel dropped him to the ground in the air. Another thing to do on the skateboard, and stamped him with his leg. In the midst of all which many boarders do is to ride in public areas, jump off sidewalks and go down sideways the bewildering noise and movement, Daniel saw on a stair_railing (in other words, improvise). Mr. Hardy's jeep pull aside. Mr. Hardy and four 1 other forest guards ran to pull Daniel back from Just about any bizarre trick’s possible on the l his furious attack. skateboard. One of the most commonly used tricks, and probably the easiest, Later in the evening Mr. Hardy came and told is the “Olly.” It them that Rover had caught the poachers. is a trick where you jump with the board by hitting the back of the board and sliding your foot A—._-- up and the board jumps in the air. By Fairuz Kamilan i There will be a lot of different types of skateboards and tricks to come in the future, but who knows what people will come out with next?

By Joshua Jones

56 they took out a heat gun and fired at the m&m's. Trap All the m&m's melted and Jo and John ran to the spaceship and got on it. No one was in the In the year 2433, Jo, a thirteen year old spaceship. Jo and John went in to the cockpit and boy, and his friend John were playing near a tried to find a way to take off. They turned on l Jo up in the sky nuclear power plant. was Iooking every switch they saw. The space ship engine l and said, “John look upl" started and then started lifting. Jo saw a map of l John moved his head up and looked at the the galaxy and it said, “Choose where you want to strange black dot and said, “It's a plane...no, a go.” space ship.” “Earth,” Jo said. The thing was coming closer. Jo looked at it “Thank you,” the computer replied. carefully and noticed that it was an m&m ship. Jo John had set the engine to warp 10. and John's bodies were glowing and disappeared. “Engage,” Jo said to the computer. In half They were transported to the m&m ship by the hour the space ship had reached earth. green m&m. Jo and John were surrounded by the “Prepare for landing." John said. green m&m’s. They were pointing a laser gun at The space ship moved toward the earth. In a them. Jo and John raised their hands. The few minutes the space ship had landed. Jo and spaceship started moving. The green m&m’s put John got out of the space ship. They sold the blue them to sleep. When they woke up, they were in prints to the government for outer space moving toward a red planet the shape $1,000,000,000,000 each, and became rich. of an m&m. When they landed, two green m&m's came and took them to their king. By Chaiwat Sungkhobol They were in a big hall. In front of them there was a big yellow m&m about two times bigger than they were. It said, “l am the king of this planet.” Jo and John looked around. There were no guards. So they turned back quickly and ran Deserted toward the door as fast as they could. When they All alone in the middle of an uninhabited world, went out, the guard followed them. In front there I have nowhere to move, was a turn. They quickly turned and hid behind In this desolated, solitary confinement, the big box and watched the guard pass them. I am restricted by the boundaries of the earth, When the guard went out of sight, they opened the box and saw what it was. I am abandoned, It was a box full of heat guns and laser guns. Without friend to talk to or foe to hate, So they took a heat gun and then saw a piece of I am as afraid as an infant, paper. John looked at it and said, “This is a blue Who is listening to his parents quarrel, print for the heat gun and the laser gun." He put the plan in his pocket and went to find I can't move, these walls are caving in, a way back to earth. They ran until they got tired. I'm surrounded, So they went to sit behind another box. They went I am a paranoid fool, to sleep. Anxious to get out of this fearful nightmare, When they got up, it was still dark. Well, it's dark the whole day but that doesn’t matter. All I always thought the worst, the m&m's were asleep. So then John saw But this time I want to be wrong, I writing on the side of the box it said, “Portable I was in a corrupt nightmare in hell, space craft model exxsj fjg jk444456454, for Without a devil or a god, two m&m’s.” The m&m's weighed as much as they did,so, How do I live with nothing to believe? just to be sure, they took five of them. They also I have wasted time praying for a god to help me, took the blue print of them. Then they tan to the I have received no response, other end of the way. They saw two green m&m's Apart from my Ionesome body dying, in front of them. They took out the heat gun and Free me! fired at the m&m's. Suddenly smoke came out of the m&m's, and they melted. Jo and John started running toward the huge door in front of them. By Bhavin Vakani When they entered the door, they saw a spaceship and ten m&m's came running in front of them. So

57 The Gift from a Mouse My Best Gift

They say in France that if a small child Ioses The best gift that I ever got was a watch. It is one of his teeth and puts it under his pillow at a good watch. It works automatically and it has a night, a mouse will come to take it and leave a black band. The rim is gold and silver. The gift for the child. numbers are written in Roman numerals and it I When I was 6 years old, I was fortunate to shows the date. It is made in Switzerland by l live in Paris. I waited for a long time to lose my “Pierre Nicole.” It is special to me because it l teeth. At last the day came! I asked my elder looks nice. sister to take out my wobbly tooth for she had a good reputation as a dentist; some of her By Hammad Abdulla AI-Hammadi classmates often askedher to take out their baby teeth. It was very painful for me, for it was the first time and I was scared. Before I went to bed, I really wondered what I would receive. In the morning, when I found a package of cartridges for my Waterman pen, I thought what a good creature the mouse was. I was so delighted.

l I could picture a small mouse bringing a package of cartridges. I tried to use them carefully but now they are all used up and l'm a little sad. I wish I could believe in the existence of the mouse, as well as of Santa Claus. I hope the mouse will come to India for my younger sister.

By Kiyono Fuwa

l

v Hannan a Hannan: I å

[ü Kgywuo F7»-uq

58 The Sprained Finger My Best Friend

Two months ago, I sprained my thumb while My best friend lived in Seoul. His name is playing basketball in the gym. A ball went outside Jun Hyune. He and I look very different. I have the lines and I tried to catch it. I spread out my short, straight hair. He has long, curly hair. l'm fingers to catch it but the ball came between my tall and heavy. He is short and thin. I like thumb and index finger. lt was very painful. American food. He likes Korean food. I like Actually I had had some pain in my thumb and had sports. He doesn’t like sports I can play the told my mother about it that morning, and she piano. He can’t play the piano. But we are very had said, “Don’t play basketball today." I played good friends. basketball anyway because I believed that I One day I fought with him because he threw a wouldn't get hurt but I was wrong. I couldn’t go stone at me. That day I cried at home because I to the nurse because it was about five o’clock and was sad to lose his friendship. The next she had left. afternoon, I went to his house. I said, "l’m When I went back home, my mother was sorry, Jun Hyune.” He said, ”l can't accept an angry because I disobeyed. I still don’t apology.” Then he went into his house. I was sore understand how she knew I would get hurt. She at heart. put some medicine on my finger but I don't think Many days passed. He came to me. He said, it helped. I didn’t go to hospital because I didn't ”l’m sorry, Sang Jhin.” It was my turn to be think I needed to do that. difficult. But he was my best friend, so I accepted After a week, the finger seemed almost fine so his apology. I played basketball again, and again hurt my We played together and I wanted to see him again. finger. It happened when Hae-Sung came close to me to take the ball while I was dribbling. When By Sang Jhin Lee he reached out to take the ball from me, he accidentally knocked my injured thumb. I was very angry because I got hurt again. I wanted to knock him down but I couldn't. He didn’t mean to B hurt me. It happened accidentally. I still feel some pain in my thumb when somebody hits it or grabs my hand or when I catch a ball but it is almost OK now. I believe that it will be OK soon. Yes, I continue to play basketball because I love that sport but I do so very carefully.

By ln-Moo Hwang

P

59 The Unicorn

Once in a land of beauty and wealth, When Stella went to turn on her fan, There lived a princess named Stella Stealth. The clever unicorn thought of a plan.

Now Stella knew a fella with brown hair and He discussed it with the fella, eyes, And they went to go find Stella. Who said to her, “I know a unicorn that flies." “My dear Majesty,” said the unicorn with might. Stella's eyes grew big, her mouth opened wide, “We most certainly will have them by tomorrow And she said, “Bring me that unicorn or I’ll have night.” you fried!” "Good,” said Stella parading around the room. “Yes your majesty, whatever you say, “By the way, I also want a flying broom and a But I must warn you there's only one way, magical loom--” To find that unicorn. That's all I have to say.” “Yes, your Majesty, we'll get them to you soon,” “Well hurry, find that unicorn,” Stella Exclaimed the fella as he left the room. answered instead. “Or l’llmake sure to chop off your head!” The next morning when Stella woke up, She thought to herself, “What fortunate luck!” So the fella set off to find that unicorn. And he even had a special unicorn-horn. Then the unicorn and the fella, Gave a box to Stella. He came to a clearing with only grass and shrub, And said, “Gee, I wonder If unicorns like grub?” The unicorn said, “Inside are all your wishes, lncluding some beautiful gold-plated dishes.” Well, it turned out that unicorns did like grub, And there was one hiding right there in the “Now leave me alone with my wishes,” she said. shrub! “Go away or H! chop off your heads!"

Then the fella said, The two went to a nearby lake, To the unicorn, Fred, The fella said, “l wonder how long it will take-- “You must come with me or my mean Majesty Will not hesitate to chop off my head." When suddenly like out of a dream, The unicorn agreed, They heard a horrible, glass-shattering scream. and said, “We shall see." They flew back to the castle and, however, But thought to himself, “l can always get free, They saw Stella as white as a ghost, saying, With my magical power that no one can see." “Never Have I seen as many bugs and snakes. Ever !" So off he went with the fella, And they flew to the castle of Stella. Once in a land of beauty and wealth, There lived a princess named Stella Stealth. When they arrived at the castle of Stella, The unicorn and the fella, Now Stella knew a unicorn with a white tail and Stella said, “l thought he was yella, mane, But no matter, he’ll stay in the cellar.” Who said to her, “l don't think you’ll be greedy again." Then Stella asked, “You're a magic unicorn, right?” By Kirsten Hartwick “Right." answered the unicorn, his smile bright.

“Then get me a diamond ring, glass slippers, and a handsome Knight, And I want them by tomorrow night!”

60 Darkness Some Words Are

l stepped out of the teepee, SOME WORDS ARE DIRTY, From its fire and toward darkness. LIKE BLOOD AND GUTS IN A SURGERY, l LIKE SCUM ON A CON ARTISTS FACE, I ran for my son’s life, LIKE DISGUSTING FOOD IN A CAFE, All around was darkness. LIKE MUD IN A PlGS’STY.

The first hill was fast, the second slower, SOME WORDS ARE CLEAN, I And still darkness. LIKE BUBBLE BATH IN A HOT TUB, LIKE THE SHINNING SILVER ON A KlNG’S CROWN, At the third hill I searched for the path, LIKE THE RUBBER DUCK FLOATING, But could not find it in the darkness. LIKE WHITE SHAMPOO lN YOUR HAlR.

I sighed and continued blindly, SOME WORDS ARE QUIET, Blind because of the darkness. LIKE DEATH AT A FUNERAL, LIKE THE SILENT STREETS IN LONDON, The snow filled wind blew in my face, LIKE A GASP OF A MURDER WITNESS, And I stumbled in the darkness. LIKE A PEACEFUL NEIGHBORHOOD.

I wriggled my toes in my thin moccasins, SOME WORDS ARE LOUD, Then wished for my totem to take away the LIKE A ROCK BAND AT A ROCK CONCERT, darkness. LIKE A SCREAM AT A GUN SHOT, LIKE A HOLLER AT A SHOOT OUT, My totem did so just as I was going to collapse, LIKE THE SCHOOL CAFE AT NOON. I could faintly see the village in the dimming l darkness. By Thomas Edwards Many thoughts filled my mind, As I watched the fading darkness l Thoughts of my son in our single teepee, Far away, he was still in darkness.

He lay there, sweating with fever, Though surrounded in the cold darkness.

P As I traveled into the strange village, There was not much more darkness. ‘r€ni3£ A l And then I knew my son would live,

For there was DAWN.

By Tenise Ambler

61 “Jime, just get me a nice pair of socks and come In the Morning down and eat your breakfast. lt is already pretty late.” i i i i i i i i i i i i 'k i i i i i i i i i i i

“C’mon, Jime, open up. Mom’s using the other “Well, we’re finally in the car.” bathroom and I need to brush my teeth.” “Jice, look at what time it is! lt’s 7:55.” “No, you don’t need to.” “Oh great! Mohan, hurry-up. Stop washing the “Jime, please. Just let me in.” car and get us to school. Just put the bucket with “Okay, okay. Hold on." the towel inside and get us to school. Gosh, I won't l “Hurry-up. lt’s already 7:30. We’re supposed to be surprised to find out that he has hearing be downstairs eating breakfast.” problem. He never seems to understand “Jice. hold on. I’ll be Unlocking the door, but anything!” don't come in until I tell you to, okay?” “Well, at least he is somewhat more cooperative 1 “Yeah, okay. Now hurry-up.” than all those other drivers we’ve had.” “Okay, now you can.” “Yeah, I know what you mean.” “Ugh. Disgusting outfit. By the way, your neck “You know, Jice, maybe you shouldn’t scream at looks kind of bare.” people so much.” “That is why I am looking for a choker or “If l don't scream at certain people, they never something. Anyway, don't comment on me. You go listen. Especially him.” (pointing to Mohan) to school looking like you just got out of bed. You “Well, you still shouldn't scream so much. He is look like you don’t comb your hair and your not deaf by the way. He just does not understand clothes don’t match. The least you could do is tie English very. well. If someone started talking to up your hair. And whenever you do tie up your you in whatever language the Nepal people speak, hair, it looks like a three-year-old did it tor you wouldn't understand, either. Anyway, be you. If it ever does look nice, it took you hours to thankful that he understands some amount of do it.” English.” “I was just asking. You don’t need to criticize me “Jime, just shush. Do you think I love on how bad I look. At least I am not vain, iike you. screaming, shouting and whining at people for no reason?” “l’m not vain. I am just concerned about the way “No, but I think you do it too often. Even Mom and I look." Dad say so! You'll probably scare the daylights “Hey, you smell of that Jojoba soap. Have you out of anyone who even slightly annoys you.” been using it?” “l guessyou are right. Maybe I do scream a little “Yeah. So?” too much.” “l was just wondering. I mean you got so mad at me when I even suggested using it that I hadn’t By Jia-Xin yet.” “l'm sure you haven’t yet, Jice. Knowing you, you would have gotten your hands on it the minute you could.” “l would not! So-” “Hum dee dum. La di da di da di da di.”

“You can sing as loud as you want, but I know you l are listening. Can I use your Jojoba soap?" I “My, my, weren’t you the one who was opposed to my use of it? Well, I’ll have to consider that fact. l'm in a good mood right now so, okay, I guess so.” “Thank you, Jime.” “But only this time."

“Jime, get me a pair of socks would you please? And get me a pair that you would wear. Not like the one you got me before." “Well, you didn't specify so you can’t exactly blame me.” “Yeah, but you still knew." “It wasn’t my fault.” 62 Oops!

Under the surface of the lake, Everything looked quiet..... As far as I could see. But how was I to know That Jaws wasn't lurking under the waves To suddenly jump up And bite me in two? J Under the sheets on my bed, Everything looked still. But how was I to know That there wasn't a huge ugly monster, Waiting to jump out at me?

Under the bushes, Everything looked safe. But how was I to know That there wasn't a tiger, Crouching to spring on me And tear me to shreds?

So I took a deep breath, And jumped into the lake.... There was nothing there! I braced myself, And pulled back the sheets.... No Monster! Feeling confident, I pushed the bushes aside. And the tiger leapt up, Tearing me to shreds. l By Sarah Pett

I

F.

C7 BBST FRIEND

63 A Great Actor Death

Dark and deep. My little brother was a tall kid, about seven It goes on forever. feet and he weighed about 250 kilos. Everybody My fears of it do not stop me. was afraid of him; even my mother refused to Courage is the only way through it. talk to him. All of this started the day he fell in a The shadow of the night reveals its danger. pool of bacterial substance causing him to mutate I step into the darkness, and its power uncovers l into what he is today, a human monster. That my past. horrible accident occurred when he was three; he Shall I go on? is now seven. A quick flash of light and my dreams fade away. He already has a job as a professional arm I know not of what this has cost me, l wrestler. He never went to school because the But now I know that the shadow of death lies teachers were too afraid of him. He wants to be before me. l actor. His dream would be to play the role of a friendly giant. Maybe because he wants to make By Sheena Singh l some friends. At this time he lives in an enormous apartment in New York and is quite l happy. His favorite food is steak, and he can eat half a cow if he’s really hungry. ,/ This is how his dream came true. One night, we decided to go see a movie in a nearby cinema. We sat down, started chatting when there was a l power failure. My brother proposed that we entertained everybody while waiting for the l electricity to come back. So he played the role of the little giant. He had that funny way of saying l things that made everybody laugh. He started talking like he did when he was a little boy. He l used to watch the comedies on T.V and learned how to copy them. A film producer, who was in the audience, found that my brother had some potential. So he \ asked him, “Do you want to come to my production studios tomorrow to take an audition?” l “It would be my pleasure,” my brother answered. The next morning he went to the production studio, passed his audition, got his new job and made his dream come true!

By David Saint-Germain l i l

l

64 Radka Rabbü

Kirsten was bored. She stared at her pet “You? You? You’re a radio rabbit?” She rabbit Cactus. Cactus was a white rabbit with gasped. “Hey, I sort of like that. I can see it now. orange and brown spots. He had long, wiry ‘Cactus; The one and only Radio Rabbit.’ in all the jackrabbit ears that stuck straight up into the headlines around the world!” a`:r. Nicknamed “rabid rabbit”, he bit Cactus looked disgusted. everything but her. She wished something “O.K. Fine. No headlines. But l'm taking you interesting would happen. A burst of static in for Show-and—Tell.” buzzed out, jarring the silence and startling Cactus looked exasperated. “If I must,” he Kirsten. Cactus continued sitting as if nothing had said. happened, which was odd, ‘cause Cactus was about l must be going over the edge, Kirsten the most easily startled bunny in the world. She thought. First my rabbit receives KWCFSDT got up and turned off the radio. A second burst of 109.4; then he starts talking to me. I must be static... burst out. Kirsten’s heart did a double insane- somersault. Hadn’t she just turned the radio off? “SHOE-WOP-DEE-WOP-DEE-DO-O-O-AH She went back and found the radio on. Creepy, she TWO-OH-ONE-POlNT-SlX-X" thought as a shiver ran down her spine. -no, /"m sane. My rabbit is insane. I wonder Nonsense, she told herself. She obviously just how I change the frequency? I know! The ears! had left it on. Then when the static had startled Kirsten pointed the ears in different her, she had just not turned it off. Very logical. directions. Another burst of noise. Things always have very logical, very rational “This is Russian agent Vodka3, ya. The time explanations. That was what she was always iz right to melt the earth, ya.” taught in school. Kirsten wished that it wasn’t. Kirsten started to panic, but settled down That there was something magic in the world. with the thought that it was probably just a That there was a crazy, irrational, illogical, stupid spy story. completely off-the-wall kind of explanation, -—-THREE DAYS LATER--- like...like that her rabbit, with his long ears, could become a radio receptor. BOOM! “This is Sean Brian with the KWCFSDT 109.4 news for the evening. Killer penguins are By David Benefiel holding Quebec for ransom and state that they are not willing to release the city for less than a million fish. It is obvious that over-fishing is starting to take its toll on the natural balance. The President of Canada is negotiating. Fire- breathing ants are on a rampage, setting fire to crumbs and scorching fingers. Blue frogs are turning up in the middle of things, and for the special guest today, we have Bob Smith, who has won all Guiness World Book records for fatness, corn nut eating, being turned down by women, CD etc., etc., etc.” Kirsten’s eyes felt like they had popped out of their sockets. She spun around to check and make absolutely sure that she had turned the radio off. She must have just thought that she had turned it off. Her eyes bulged again. The power of the radio was most definitely in the “off” position. “Then wha...wha...what was that coming from?" Kirsten sputtered. Cactus just looked at her like: “Who, little old me?” No. No. It couldn't possibly be. Well, I think it couldn't possibly be. Maybe, just maybe, it could possibly be! Kirsten thought, doubtfully at first, but wildly excited as she finished.

65 Trouble With My Little Cousins

When I was about three years old, I loved friends, and next time you want to do something going to my uncle’s house all the time. He would like this, ask me first, okay?” joke around with me, give me lots of sweets (I “Okay." At that exact moment, we went to our loved sweets then), and tickle me too. So, when room, got dressed, and ran out of the house he and my aunt had a daughter, she loved to do hoping that my mom wouldn't change her mind things, almost anything. She was small and about letting us go out of the house. Luckily, she sweet, but, a little later, she didn’t seem like didn’t. We stayed out for about five hours and that anymore. She kept pulling my hair, jumping then we went to our best friends’ house. We have all over me, so naturally, I got really scared of known them since we were little kids of about her. I didn't want her around me. Who knows three yearsold. Every summer, when we go back what she was going to do next? to Yugoslavia, we see them, and we hang out a lot. This brings back lots of other memories too. I I can remember most of these things very can remember running around the house, being a clearly, though I regret doing most of them. pain, like most little kids. One thing that I can Well, I hope that I don't have any more moments remember really well is drawing. My brother like the ones that I have described. I'Il tell you a and I loved to draw things, especially airplanes. couple more of the things that I did when I was From what I remember, my mom had just small, I came into the living room, and my hair finished painting the house, well, not my mom, was all wet. My mom asked me what I did to my but the painters. Anyway, my brother and I asked hair. my mom if we could draw an airplane. Of course “Rade washed it for me," I said stroking my she said yes. So we started drawing it, but, of hair with my hand. course, not on a sheet of paper, but on the wall. “With what?” my mom asked. We had decided that the paper wasn’t big enough “With some juice,” I said. for ithe airplane. We didn't draw a little plane. “Oh my Godlllll” We wanted it to be as big as possible. So we drew I can remember something kind of sad. Well, it full room length. We didn’t think it was too just recently, we were in Yugoslavia at my bad. Not only that, we also drew thousands of grandparenfs house. My brother, my two these little windows. You know, I felt really cousins and I were all in one room. My brother sorry for her, but what's the use now. started throwing a pillow at my little cousin. She Another thing I remember is how my brother certainly didn't like it, so she just walked up to and I went into the kitchen really early in the the cupboard calmly and picked up a solid, metal morning. My mom had just finished organizing vase and HIT MY BROTHER RIGHT ON THE HEAD the kitchen and washing all of the dishes. Of WITH IT. (Ouch! that must have hurtlllll! ) course we had a very big interest in the kitchen. We got lots of our secret ingredients that we By Branko Zugic always used in our specialties such as sugar, flour, washing detergent, shampoo, and many other things. We mixed all of it in a bowl. And, being the nice and adorable little kids that we were, we cleaned up all of the stuff that we spilled on the floor with the fluffy, clean, spotless kitchen cloths that my mom had just washed. Then we went back to sleep from our tiring job, only to be awakened by my mom's scream. “We’re sorry, okay,” we said. “Sorry isn’t enough, I just finished washing these things, and you dirty them all again,” my mom said, at that moment, my brother walked off, and came back with his favorite toy car. “Do you want us to wash the dishes for you?" he asked. “Forget it, you're just going to make an even bigger mess. Just go on and play with your

66 Excuses, Excuses, Excuses!

Mrs. Irvine: “Where’s your homework, Brad? Brad: “But please, l'm not very good at And all the other projects that were due last remembering stuff, especially homework. Give month? l've been asking for your projects since me another day, please.” last month. You better have it nowl" Mrs. lrvine: “A day to you is a week! No, no, l Brad: “What homework and projects are you can`t keep up with you anymore. I can’t remind talking about. We never had any. You must be you day and night for your homework. You now going out of your mind!” have a zero for your grade and boy, do you have Mrs. lrvine: “Oh, yes we did. l've even many of ‘em. You also have one week of detention extended the deadlines especially so that you right here with me. We would have so much fun could turn it in on time. Now you don't have any together cleaning up the classroom! l can't wait of it! ls that what you’re telling me? You should till the class is over.” be happy l’m a nice teacher, for if you were in Brad: “Boy, am I in big trouble!” any other class without your homework, you’d be sent sent to detention right away. Or would you By Maria Felisa S. Torres (Joy) like that?” Brad: “Of course not. I just.uh.um.l had it ready and then um... the dog chewed it all up. Yeah, that’s the story.” Mrs. lrvine: “Sure, you don’t even have a dog. That’s what I know.” Brad: “Oh, yeah. Um.....it was the neighbor’s dog. He came over to play with me, and then ugh.... the dog gobbled my homework with one gigantic gulp.” Mrs. Irvine: “And why would the neighbor’s dog be in your house chewing up your homework? Dear chap, no more Iying now, I want facts now.” Brad: “You’ve got a point there. Well fine, but I know you won't believe me.” Mrs. Irvine: “l don't care as long as you tell me the truth. So, where’s your homework?” Brad: “Well, my servant threw it in the garbage ‘cause she thought it was trash. Well, that’s it. See, you don’t believe me. “ Mrs. lrvine: “ Of course, l do. Your assignment must have been very dirty looking to make her think it was trash. Well, l'll give you only one more day and that’s it. Okay?” Brad: “Oh, thank you so much. l'll give it to you tomorrow. No problemo.” (Another week flew by) Teacher: “Where is your homework, class? by Jox/Torrés Before I forget, Brad where’s the homework that was due last week?” Brad: “What homework, Mrs. lrvine? You are so nice that you don’t give us homework, don’t you remember?” Mrs. Irvine: “Stop the nice stuff kid. Of course I gave you homework and, you, specifically told me that you would give the homework the next day. That homework was due more than one month ago now. l may be nice, but for not very long."

67 MY BROKEN ARM My Terrible Story

When I was four years old, I had a big One fall when we were living in Australia and accident. It happened on May five, which is a I was eight years old. Children’s Day in Korea. My parents bought me We picked grapes for a few weeks in Mildura. It some donuts for a present and we ate them was very hot, about thirty or forty degrees. One together in the living room, unaware of the evening, we went to the vineyard owner's house accident that would follow. While we talked and and watched TV. When we went out for a walk, iaughed, I was bouncing up and down. Then, I fell the vineyard owner's child ran after me and over and bumped my forehead against the sharp jumped on my back and I fell down. edge of a little table. The gash was deep and Unfortunately, my arm landed on a rock and I started to bleed. I touched my forehead and saw screamed in pain. At home, my mother and my blood all over my hands. When I saw the blood, I father bandaged my arm and we went to was really frightened and started to scream. My Melbourne. parents tried to calm me and gave me first aid. I After three or four days, we went to the didn't know what happened after that because I Carlton Hospital. There a doctor put a cast on my was stunned. arm and we went home. A few weeks later, my The next thing I remember is waking up. I arm started to itch and I asked my dad why it was could see a doctor and smell the disgusting odor of itching. He said it showed that my arm was medicines. I felt pain in my forehead and I looked getting better. at it with a mirror. I was very surprised because On a Friday evening a week later, we it was sewn. Two weeks later, my stitches were returned to the Carlton Hospital and were sent to Out. surgery. In the doctor’s hand, there were That was a terrible incident but I learned a scissors. The doctor cut the cast off my arm. lesson. After that accident, I behaved carefully at While he was cutting, the scissors felt very cold all times. and when he finished, my hand felt very light. My arm was very dirty as if my skin was dark. I By Ju-Ho Kim had to hold my arm with my hand, because I was used to having my hand in a sling for support. I was more comfortable without my cast. After a short time, I could play soccer again with my school mates. I decided to be more careful with my arm in the future. I hope I never break my arm again.

By Ekrem Oz

.Yala [ma M”

68 After what seemed like two hours, she came Out of Place out and, when she did, she stared at Lia and said, “ You were made fun of because of your accent; Down by the river, Lia Makinson sat staring right?" out at the water gushing down the mountain. Lia “Uhh, yeah that’s right and you were made had just moved to Maryland with her two older fun of because ...... ” brothers and parents. Her brothers were getting “lt’s because l’m new.” along fine, but not her. At school they Iaughed at “lt is so mean to tease someone because they her. Lia was from the mountains and loved it Her are new or they come from a different part of the grandparents were still living there. She had world,” Lia said. "At least we have something in begged her parents to let her live with her common anyway. What is your name?" grandparents, but they refused. They thought Lia “Sam,” the new girl said abruptly. should learn to live in other places. In school Lia “Lia’s my name. Anyway, Sam, I was was made fun of because.....well, she didn’t really wondering if you would like to talk your know, maybe it was her accent and the way she problems over to get our minds off school. ” l dressed. Lia usually dressed in overalls, and you tell me is there anything wrong with that? “Okay,” Sam said. Depressed, Lia turned back home, her brown Lia and Sam became wonderful friends. They braids swishing in the wind. When she arrived talked about their problems over and they home, her mother asked her how her walk was. understood each other very well.They were very understanding, so whenever a new student came, “Fine, Mom, it was great." That wasn't true, i both girls would make him or her feel really Lia was going to find a way to return back to her comfortable. They become more involved in home in the mountains. activities around school and had many friends and The next day Lia and her brothers headed were very happy in their new school. down for school. Lia dreaded it, but her brothers seemed very happy to go. When Lia got out» of bed, By Shireena Shroff she tried to convince her mother she had a sore throat and had to stay home, but her mom made Lia go to school. She trudged after her brothers. When she arrived at school, she quickly ran to the bathroom and looked the door. She stayed there for ten minutes before the last bell rung. With her head down she ran to her locker, dumped all her books out, and ran to class. “Ha, ha! Look at her!” Iaughed the students. They were making fun of another girl! A tear slid down her cheek while she ran from the laughing crowd. Lia thought to herself, What was so different about her? Ahead of her the girl ran i l into the bathroom crying. Lia thought about this girl. Why was she crying? Was I't because she i felt out of place too? Lia ran after her into the l bathroom When she got inside the bathroom, she heard endless sobs. “I saw you crying, you okay?” “Leave me alone. You probably want to make fun of me when l come out, so gol" Lia was shocked. She wanted to help her but she didn’t want help. Then Lia remembered a young girl that had once wanted to help her, but Lia had told her to get lost. “l bet she feels the same way I do,” Lia accidentally said out loud. “What,? You don't know how I feel .... l “Yes, I do. Now, please come out. l used to be L in the exact same position as you, please?”

l 69 l I l The Divorce Plot

I woke up one Monday morning and groaned. “The paper. What does it look like l'm doing? I MONDAY. Monday meant school. And school meant Eating gummy bears?" Oops. Bad mood. I went homework. HOMEWORK. The word started to upstairs, silently, to my room. Boy, was Dad sink, slowly into my brain. getting picky these days. I did my homework, I had a great long weekend with my friends. since I had nothing else to do, then called Terri at We had a slumber party, then a vacation to about six ‘o’ clock. Hawaii for a treat. The catch came when we didn’t “Look. Dad is getting to be really touchy have any chaperones. They went to Los Angeles by about whatever l’m saying, or doing. You know, I mistake. So, my friends and I spent three days on went to get a Coke and a candy bar, and he was the sunny coasts of Hawaii. saying something like l'm wasting his money or Now, we had to come back from the fantasy something. I mean, he's never been like this into reality. Have you ever heard the before." expression,”The truth sometimes hurts?” “Don’t worry about it. Maybe he just woke That‘s how it was now. The truth did hurt. I got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.” up and slowly walked to the bathroom. When I “Huh?” went to the hall of the second floor, I heard “Lizzie, how can you be so dense? shouts from the dining room. Idiomatically, it means that he just is in a bad “Where is my milk and honey?!” mood." “lt’s in the refrigerator like it ALWAYS is. “Well, Terri, l’m only talking to a super And don’t scream. The children might hear you ‘A+’ student. Another thing, my name is and it will be a drastic sight if the children Elizabeth, call me Liz, but don't call me become suspicious." Lizzie.” I was downstairs by this point. “If the “Sorry, Liz.” children hear about what?” I asked. “Thanks. Uh, I better go, my father is My mom gave my father a glare and then said, shouting at me." “We are taking you guys out today.” “Ok, see 'ya, tomorrow at seven." It was my father’s turn to glare this time. “Yup, at seven" “Do you mind if I ask you guys a question?” I “Oh, before I hang up, can you come to my l I l asked. house for dinner today?" “Not at all,” my father said. “Yeah, sure.” “Then why are you guys glaring at each other “Ok, bye.” all the time?” _ “Bye.” 'Because it is glaring day." Goodness, what happened to the household “lt is not. Glaring Day doesn't exist. Dad, I these days? I mean, my father was never like may be young, but l’m not dumb enough not to this a week ago. Maybe he was having a hard time notice these things. Tell me the truth. You guys at work? Oh, well, not my problem. were arguing. Why?” Then, I heard the doorbell ring. Oh, there’s “We weren't arguing, we were talking. You Terri. I rushed down to the door, but when I better get changed young lady or you will be late opened it, it was my mother with a hundred bags for school." of groceries. “Fine,” I said as I trudged upstairs. “Liz, can you help me with these groceries?" Something was wrong, but I didn’t know what. I “Sure, by the way, isn't Dad supposed to do got dressed and went to school. the groceries this week?” At school, I met with my best friend, Terri, “Well, your father does what he likes and as usual. I told her about the incident. She told me leaves out what he doesn’t. not to worry and that everything would be fine. “But, he always did his week of groceries.” How little she knew about my future. “Well, not anymore.” When I got home, my father was in the living “Oh, Terri said she would come home for room, reading the newspaper with a cup of black dinner, today.” coffee in his hand. That was strange, he never “Oh, did she? Well, what do you want for used to come home before seven o’ clock. dinner?” “Hi, Dad,” I said. “Well, I was wondering if Celeste could drop “Hmm,” was his reply. us off at Alpha Inn, and we could have dinner and “What ‘ya looking at?" I asked. go to the movies down the road." (Celeste is my sister.)

70 “Well, why don`t you eat dinner here and My father peeped in. “Can I talk to you for a then go to the movies?” minute?” “Depends on what dinner is.” “Yeah, go ahead.” “Lasagna?” “Well, l’m sure this would be disappointing, “Ok.” but this is a new arrangement. We have to get The bell rang and Terri came in. used to." “Hi, Mrs. Kreamer.” “What do you mean?” “Hi, Terri.” “On weekends, we have arranged for you to “Oh, Terri, we get to go to the movies come home to my apartment. On weekdays, you tonight.” will stay with your mother. Ok?" “Oh, cool!” “Ok,” I had said that but I hadn’t really “First, let’s go to my room, I need to TALK to meant it. you." When we were in my room, Terri jumped “I have to go. Do you want to come send me on the bed. I pulled up my chair. off?" “Look, Terri, l’m afraid at this point.” Terri “Yeah.” L looked at me, as if I was going mad. Atter he had Ioaded all the boxes, he was “What do you mean?" Terri asked. starting toget in his car when I choked out, “My mom and dad” t “Dad, wait!” “Look, nothing is going to happen, okay?” Tears were falling down my cheeks as I “Ok.” hugged him, "Bye, Dad.” After that, I Y “Terri, Liz, dinner is ready!" Celeste can’t remember anything. t' r shouted. Terri and I ate our dinners and soon left But, here I am in my Dad’s house. Everything the house. turned all right. n We were going to catch the nine ‘o’ clock í movie. Even when I was watching the movie, I By Sripriya Narasimhan . L felt restless. y All through the car ride home, I was silent I and moody, but Terri kept talking about the

I movie and how cool it was. When she saw that I t wasn’t talking, she became quiet. When we got home, Mom met me at the door. '9 r “Terri, your parents want you home now," 7 t she said quietly. “Ok, Mrs. Kreamer, thanks for the dinner. Bye!” My mother glanced at my father, who was smoking the pipe on the sofa. “Liz, I know this is going to be hard for you, but we are going to be separated for a while.” “What!” _ r “Yes, we seem to be tired of each other.” ° 'l “Oh, yeah? Well then, what happens to me?” “You will live with me, right here." “I hate you, do not even dare to talk to me.” And with that, I stormed off to my room. I slept /4/:7-"””'V for the night. What was wrong with everyone these days? ‘II. I never came down to breakfast the next day. I stayed in my room. But, when I got hungry, I went down. U -.~ The sight downstairs was terrible. There were boxes of styrofoam and cardboard. Dad was amidst a bunch of boxes, packing. í “What? You’re leaving today?" I “Yeah. l’m sorry.” C. t I went to my room and cried my eyes out. IN rí Suddenly, there was a`knock on the door. to _ 71 l Tears for the War l A cold wind blew and dried the tear that ran “Just thinking,” Anna replied. “about the down her cheek. That was the tear for her war, and Jack, and Brian. Are you okay? l brother. But another one fell at the same time. Normally you don't sound so bad,” Anna replied. This tear was bigger. It was for the war. Anna “Just a little upset like you,” Kathy didn't know what to do. Everywhere she turned answered with a sigh. “I've been outside all l there were people crying. Even at her home. morning. Oh no! lt's already 12:30. I have to go Everywhere she turned everybody was sad. Sad home and eat lunch. Bye. See you tomorrow.” for their loved ones. Kathy turned around and headed towards her All of the loved ones were fighting in the war house. Anna felt all alone again. She could feel in Vietnam. Another tear. Her brother Jack had another tear welling up in her eye, but the tear gone to fight. She knew her brother was gone, and didn't come out. Anna turned around to head home. that he might never come back. Many of her Kathy stopped walking. She talked in a quiet, friends and neighbors were getting letters from almost shy voice. the army that said their child had died. Anna “Um, Anna, do you want to come over and eat hoped she wouldn't receive a letter from the lunch with me?”she asked softly. “l’m really army. lonely. Maybe it will cheer us up just a little You could tell if some loved ones had died. bit....” Kathy said as she turned around. Everyone received a star when their relative “Oh, well, l don't know.” Anna paused.l want went to the war. lt was a paper star. People hung to take a walk by myself. Clear my head a little, these stars on their window. At first it was blue, she thought. What have I got to lose? she thought the color of the sky. And if your loved one died again. Anna turned around also. you would be sent a gold star. Anna asked her “Well, I guess a little bit is at least mom what gold was the color of. something,” Anna said with a sigh. “lt is the color of victory and heroism,” her “Come on,” Kathy said in a voice that sounded mom had replied with a far-off look in her eyes. a little bit happier. l Anna didn’t think victory or heroism was The two girls walked silently to Kathy's worth losing your life. But these days, she kept house. Anna’s mind was far away in another 'her thoughts to herself. world which didn’t exist, another world where ll Now Anna was just thinking while she was there was no fighting, a world where everyone i taking a walk in her small neighborhood. was happy. A world Anna wished she could belong Everything was cold or dead, dying. The people, to. and even the earth. Anna was thinking about how As Kathy and Anna entered the house, they life must be for Jack and the people in Vietnam. could smell lunch being cooked. The smetl filled the whole house, making the house feel even There were others like her. Other little girls cozier. Anna called her mother on the phone in Anna's age. All their brothers or fathers were in Kathy’s kitchen. A fire was lit in Kathy’s l the war too. One other girl Anna knew, Jenny was fireplace and the two girls sat close the the her name, her father was in the war. Anna’s best golden flames to warm their hands and face. Anna friend, Kathy, had an older brother in the war stared at the dancing flames as they crackled and also. Brian, Kathy's brother, was very nice to spurted. She thought of what Jack and Brian were Anna, and she liked him a lot. But still, Anna felt doing in Vietnam. She also thought of what all alone in the big world Christmas present she was going to buy for Jack. Another cold, dry wind swept over Anna /r's my first Christmas without Jack. l thought filling her with grief inside. Anna’s thoughts he would always be there when I needed him , she were broken by a familiar voice. thought. “Anna, l've been thinking about the war. I “Do you miss Jack and Brian, Kathy?” Anna cried myself to sleeplast night thinking of Brian. asked. Anna could see the reflection of the fire in How about you, what have you been doing Kathy's deep blue eyes. lately?” Kathy asked. “More than anything in the world,” was the Kathy sounded sad. She was always optimistic reply. about the war and always tried to cheer Anna up. “Thats what l figured," she said. Most of the time it worked. Anna wondered why “At least we have each other to talk to, l she sounded sad. mean, that’s what best friends are for,” Kathy said. “You bet," Anna said with a slight smile.

72 l Kathy's mother walked in the living room hugged and kissed her the moment he saw her. He from upstairs. Anna thought Kathy's mother was would have held her hand and walked home with very beautiful. She was slim and tall and had a her. Disappointed and very upset, Anna walked very beautiful face. Anna thought she looked just home. like a model. She plopped on the bed without even thinking “So, girls, I’ve been cooking spaghetti for of changing into her pajamas. Then she cried lunch. Does that sound okay with you, Kathy, herself to sleep. Anna?” Winter came as fast as spring and summer “Sounds great, Mrs. Baker,” Anna said. had passed. Anna received letters from Jack After lunch, Kathy and Anna sat down by the occasionally. The letters said what being in the fireplace. They drank hot chocolate. Kathy’s army was like, how hard you had to work, and not mother gave them a bag of marshmallows and to tell their mom because it would just upset her. they roasted them in the fireplace. Everything One winter morning, Anna woke up to snow. was cozy and warm, but deep inside, Anna could Thousands of sparkling little flakes danced with feel the lonely feelings creep back into her mind. the wind in the sky. Anna felt good. She felt Anna felt lonely in winter, and wished for something great was going to happen that day. She spring. She knew it would come some day and took a shower and then got dressed. She ran her finally it did. Anna and Kathy played for hours brush through her golden hair a couple of times, every day. But the wonderful season passed very and then she put it up in a bun. She went quickly, like a wonderfully cool breeze on a hot, downstairs and had a quick bowl of cereal for summer's day. The next season of course, was breakfast. Kathy called on the phone and then summer, and it was dreadfully hot every day. came over to Anna's house. Then they went One day in summer, Kathy and Anna were outside to play in the snow. They made snow sitting on the front porch drinking lemonade. angels, and made a pile of snowballs for a They were looking at the clouds trying to imagine snowball fight. They rolled around in the snow clouds that looked like people or animals. This and stuck out their tongues to catch falling was one of their favorite pastimes. snowflakes. They even saw the mailman deliver “Anna, do you think one day Jack and Brian the mail to her house, and they waved to him. will come back?” Kathy asked. After awhile, Kathy decided to go back home, and i ‘‘I sure do hope so,"Anna replied. Anna got the mail and then went inside. “Anna, l’ve got to go home,” Kathy said with She got out of her snowsuit, and then sorted i a smile. out through the mail. There was a catalog from JC “Okay. Bye. See you tomorrow.” Penney, and another from Sears. Anna put the l Anna watched Kathy until she disappeared out mail for her dad in one pile, her mom`s in l of sight behind the trees. Then, she picked up the another, and her's in the last one. She included pitcher of lemonade, the two glasses, and slowly her brother's mail in her pile. l walked inside the house. One letter looked a bit different from the The weather did change her view on the other ones. It looked like an official letter, world. The tiny star flowers covered the grass something important for her dad. Anna didn't like a white carpet, and the smell of pine trees really notice it. She just put it in her dad's pile drifted through her house every morning. But of mail. she still felt alone. All by herself. No big The phone rang just then and Anna went to brother around to talk to, and temporarily she pick it up. l was an only child. - “Hello?” she said. Just as Anna was about to open the screen “Hi, Anna.” door, a car pulled up down the road. lt looked like “Oh, hi, Kathy.” one of the cars the army officials drove in. “Do you want to come over and eat dinner?" Cautiously, she went down the road. lt could be “Sure, Kathy. I think I will be able to. Mom Jack! she thought. She slowly walked toward the hasn’t made anything yet. l’ll be over in a couple car. She stopped down the road as soon as she saw minutes." Anna said. Then she hung up the phone. a man step out of the car. He had many pins and Anna grabbed her jacket and yelled to her ribbons on his leather jacket. Then, another tall Mom that she was going over to Kathy’s house. man stepped out of the car. Anna really couldn't “Okay, Anna. Just be home before 8:30,” her see if he was Jack because he was about fifty Mom yelled from upstairs. meters down the road. His hair was brown like When Anna got to Kathy’s house, the table was Jack’s, and he looked a little bit like him. The already set for dinner. Kathy and Anna quickly man turned around and then Anna realized it ate their dinner and sat down by the fireplace to wasn't Jack. If it were Jack, he would have roast marshmallows. 73 When Anna got home, she knew something was wrong. Mom and Dad were sitting down on the couch. Mom's eyes were puffy and red, as if she had been crying. Dad was looking at the floor, as What To Write About..... he rubbed his sweaty forehead. The room seemed dark and stuffy. Something caught the corner of Anna's eye. It The only thing that goes through my head, was on the table; it glittered like the sun. Anna is the annoying theme song to “Mr. Ed.” held her breath and bit her lip to keep it from trembling. She picked up the shiny object and I try to put my thoughts on paper, knew exactly what it meant. A tear rolled down l try to think of some daring caper, he cheek and landed on the object. She gasped from the pain that was lurking at the bottom of That could be pulled off by some Charming, her heart. Her clammy hands held the object debonair, tighter and tighter, wishing it would disappear James Bond-type hero with slicked back hair. into another world, until Anna had to give up, and i face reality. Anna looked down to see if it was I have to write something real good for still there. And it was. It was a gold paper star, “Shabash,” and Jack was never coming home again. l l'm slaving away at this old Macintosh. By Tina Batlivala i I may write a letter to an amazingly famous

author, I But then l’d have to spell their names, naah, too i much of a bother. i I could write a long, extensive, research essay: The Pollination Standards of West African l CD ficivfificlvffifilblfifi ‘:3 Carnivorous Hay. i THE Vows V095 susw/,.. Or I could write a cute, sweet, adorable poem, l about Barney and Friends in Happy Land (so you can get to know ‘em).

I may write a short story about the Rishikesh trip, When my leg was torn open with one mighty rip.

Or I could write a nice long page, filled with not- so-lunny jokes from a joke book from Khan market (worth not much more than a Coke).

Or I could write an ancient Bavarian Avocado l chant, I try to think of one, but, well, I just can’t.

I may draw a picture, to put next to my story, But it won’t be shown in all its colorful glory.

Hmm... I could write about the horrific Jack- the-Ripper on a rampage. Hey, look at this, l just filled up this page. By Kevin Kalla

74 V M*A*s*H

“Ha, ha, ha l” l was watching “M*A*S*H*” My family was so stunned, especially my one day, laughing hard at the funny jokes, when sister. mother looked at me with this look, stopping my “Whats wrong with them?" I asked, for I laughter. had never seen anyone with a gun ready for a “Do you think that it’s so funny?” fight. ‘Huh?’ I wondered, ‘Why is she so mad? I “l don't know why, but they are always had been good all day, hadn’t l? Studying, and pestering Korean store owners, breaking minding my sister all day.’ everything. They are like a thorn in my eye,” “Don’t you know? Think about the way the replied the man with a sigh. Koreans are being described, so dirty, poor, “Do you think that they will come back with always seeking food from the Americans. It guns?” I asked, for I was scared to think that happened a long time ago. It still makes me feel those mean bullies would come with guns to set shame to think about how poor Korea was. lt’s a fire to the store. great shame to face that fact even now. But y_o_u, “No, they are only bluffing.” But, even ygg, are just sitting there, laughing right at the though he said it, he still paced around the store, face of your country?” looking very nervous. Shock, and embarrassment was what I felt. So My parents talked to the man, telling him l started defending myself. “But most of it is just that everything would be all right, and bid an i about the things which happened inside the uneasy good-bye. American camp!” “Ha, ha, ha!” I laughed hard at M*A*S*H, i “Do you know why some Americans call us Chinese, not giving us any kind of respect? lt's when an American doctor got injured and went to because they are influenced so much by films a Korean house, trying to get some help. lt was so like that. Those things happened more than fifty funny the way the Koreans looked at him. They yearsago. How could America still show that looked at him with this look which said, “Are you film?” crazy or something?” Mom’s face was red with rage, eyes flaring, The movie was so good, that in spite of yet she had a pitying look for me, who laughs myself, I laughed really hard, really enjoying i when her country is being mocked. myself. Everything settled down when the doctors from the camp came and took care of the injured l I went into my room and thought, hard. Even now, Koreans in America have to fight doctor. The next day, the doctor came backw to for respect. Korean grocers were abused by thank the Koreans for helping him out. Then he racist Americans. noticed that the mother was cooking something. f He had a bite of the meat, complimenting it. i When I was in fifth grade, I went to America to visit my aunt and tour. We all went to a Korean Suddenly looking very scared, he asked, “Where shop. lt was good to see Korean food, Korean is the dog?” l people. They' seemed to be just waiting for us. At that, all of my good mood crumbled. l toured around the market, and came back to Now, the Koreans don’t do that any more. How the counter with armfuls of things which l chose. could the Americans, still let that program be l paid the biff, had a chat with the lady, and was seen by so many people? ready to leave the store when two rough looking people came in. Sorry, l have to go now, it's time for the l can still remember them clearly. They both M*A*S*H. were wearing little shabby, black shirts, and jeans, with bandanas on their heads. By Ho—Jung Lee They picked two items each, and started for the counter. Then l heard some noise. The shopkeeper and two of them began to fight. The owner of that pIace came, and,when he saw two of them, he looked very angry and swore at them. The the two men began to swing their arms, breaking, and messing up everything, saying they would bring guns, swearing, then storming out. The First Chronicle Of Covebaingh

There was once a castle in which lived a carried on through the generations of Covebaingh young prince. This boy happened to be the prince ruling princes. of his castle, which was known throughout the l lands as Covebaingh, and from the age of three he l was brought up by four guardian jesters, five The stranger entered the gate and looked l elephants, eleven imported alligators, the king around, his long blue beard making him trip and i and queen (who he called ‘Your majesty Dad’ or stumble a little. The prince looked up from his l ‘Your Majesty Mom’), and three dozen gorillas mosquito skinning class to look at the strange i that would serve as his personal entertainers. visitor. The visitor looked up from untangling Oh, and there was also a firefly named Firework, his beard from three spears, one wiener dog, five which helped guide the young prince to his bed army surplus tires and eight angry dwarfs, and when the candles had been blown out by a quick, saw the strange prince. After a short struggle, cold, gust of wind. Firework was also the official many a item which was formally engulfed in the messenger, courier, letter writer, and royal bed long scraggy beard was freed, the dwarfs maker. marching off angrily, and the guards snatching l their blunt spears, which had never been known i Then one morning, when the sun was came up to be used for anything other than roasting Marsh over the hill that faced the small castle, waking Maffles, which are much like marshmallows, up Firework, who was also the royal breakfast except that they are made of veggie leftovers. The cook, there came a loud, rude knocking at the stranger really was quite a thing, long flowing castle door. lt was four knocks before the guards, robes, sashes of cotton and silk, earrings of who were supposed to be standing to attention plastic, gold and tarnished silver, and the whole woke up, seven before they had found enough mess of a getup worn by a small Gecko that was other guards to help open the huge castle door, three sizes too small for the charade of silk satin and eleven before the door was actually opened. robes,

The prince woke slowly, pausing every three The prince looked at the mesmerizingly minutes to undergo the royal waking ritual of strange Gecko, who looked important in some

shaking his head side to side, then jumping up magical or enchanting way, and said, “I say my l and down while reciting the ancient before- good friend what brings you to my humble castle breakfast chant. Then he was served boiled Cragh with an unpronounceable name?” Hog with a sprinkling of sugar for breakfast, The stranger replied “l am known to my sluggishly changing into black and White polka peers as Weiner Glasthorgath Jenreadings dot shorts with a blue yellow and purple striped Malnenvaunt the third, and you may call me shirt. The knocking at the big castle door was not Strange Man Pumpkin.” nearly loud enough to wake a snoring prince, and “You are a traveler, are you not?” he had no idea of the castle’s strange new visitor. “Not really, I come and go of my own accord, So he went about his daily business of making and l have no tour guide or travel agent, so royal tea for his royal dog, who would give to a traveler is not the correct term for a gourmet large snapping turtle, who would sample it to and artisan such as l. l belong to the international make sure it was hot enough, then offer it to the guild of street performing and/or wandering castle guardian cat, who would politely refuse, magicians. I specialize in causing floods, plagues, then politely accept. All of which was done to help earthquakes, and tornadoes.” ward off the evil Mango Ant spirits of North “Interesting, interesting,” said the young mountains. The ritual was started when a prince, his curiosity now aroused. This old traveler, who hitchhiked his way to the castle, magician with a beard was indeed strange, and mysteriously told the prince's father (who was what a beard. He decided that he must have this then a prince) to make tea for the castle cat, ‘magician as one of his personal entertainers, before he jumped out of the window into the royal making every other prince that lived in the Flat well. Here the traveler can still be heard singing Lands green as jade with jealousy. at night. The cat was fed the tea by the prince of the castle, and the evil Mango Ants turned on Poor Firework saw the fat prince’s swollen their heels and marched out through the gap visage force out a sadistically evil smile. He under the castle gate. And so the tradition was worried at this, for it meant that the prince had a scheme, and when the young ruler of Covebaingh 76 l had that evil smile dancing across his lips, it had “You shall entertain me or feel the icy grip huge implications on the rest of the castle. And of a Marsh Maffle on your stomach, bearded one. l Firework was sure that the next few units of rule here and you shall obey me." John Candy time would be very interesting. Very, very spat back, his face turning a very interesting interesting. Very,very,very, interesting. purpley-blue color. “Guards, force him to eat “Come in for tea and Marsh Maffles won't Marsh Maffles until he concedes and signs the you?” the prince asked suddenly, the thick smile contract." disappearing from his face. “On the offer of tea I will gladly consent, but Then the magician began to get angry. His face the Marsh Maffles play the tap with my digestive went from blue to red then to yellow before system, l’m afraid," replied the magician. repeating the cycle. Everything in the room And so Firework buzzed off to some began to go round and round, the prince and undisclosed tea making area of the castle, and guards in the middle of it, spinning into some picked some tea leaves so the royal tea maker to type of strange vortex. The centrifugal force prepare some royal tea. Then the W.C.F.V.F.A.L., pushed the fat on the prince’s face back, making Welcoming Committee For Visitors From Another it look like an ugly serving plate. Round and Land, consisting of three wet mice, a very old round and round and round and round and round, chicken and a obese penguin with no teeth, all of everything was a dizzy spinning disk of total whom sung the theme song to this story, then incomprehension. Then suddenly, it stopped, and forgot the words and began to wander off. The the vortex slowed down bit by bit, until it finally magician was distinctly depressed by the skills of disappeared from the nothingness from which it The Covenbaighn Choir. was born. Everyone looked dazed, except the bearded magician, who stood with a look of The Royal Tea Maker, after a great struggle absolute satisfaction on his face, feeling with the big Royal teapot, had finally prepared excessively happy with his achievement. some tea for the visitor, and the Royal Marsh Maffle maker had fried some salty, cherry The bearded Geckoopened the castle gate, bid flavored Marsh Maffles for the fat prince, who farewell to an elated Firework (he didn't have to was appropriately known as Prince John Candy. be a breakfast cook anymore), and floated out the gate, robes flowing gracefully behind him. Old Man Pumpkin was treated as well as any Comrade, the largest gorilla, organized the castle wandering magician, and when the last dying rays band to play the hit song 'Orkster Norkster Noodle of the sun fought their way through the castIe's Stoff Oing Soing Boogle Doogle Noogle Foogle lnky glass pane windows, and the waxen candles were Binky Hong KongKing Ling Ning Bonkster Booble lit, the castle’s chief coordinator of Events Boo.' Involving Magicians, a small, overweight little frog, who had a knack for feasting, organized a To anger a gecko is as to bring down magic show to entertain his small, overweight the wrath of the heavens, especially if this little prince. Gecko is a magician. So learnt the large prince, whom, it is rumored, has been reincarnated as a The show continued well past Covebaighns carrot; destined to become the key ingredient in a normal candles-out hour, and everyone was glad heavily salted Marsh Maffle. when they sank into the soft, flea ridden sacks of hay, which served as standard castle bedding. By Theo Talbot

“Good night Old Man Pumpkin, sleep as well as possible, for tomorrow you must entertain me once more.” The prince said fighting sleep. “l am afraid not, Prince, for I must pack for the continuation of my quest as a member of my % Guild. I shall bid you goodbye tonight for my 8 journey starts early in the morning." “Nol You shall stay and present magic shows in my honor." The prince shouted suddenly. “Neverl I stay nowhere and belong to none.” The magician said quietly, quite used to the Jam. insolent breed of princes that this country offered. 77 Possessed

The old man sat rigidly in his chair, “Who goes there? What do you want with me? wondering whether or not he should break out of l've done nothing wrong!” the house as fast as possible without looking back To his surprise, he found the only reply a ever again. He decided against it, figuring he was whoop of hollow laughter, not just one voice, but just being paranoid. Then again, maybe not. many. What seemed especially odd to the old man Seventy-five year old Richard Grande was was that the spirits' laughter [for they could be thought of as exceedingly wealthy and eccentric, nothing excepting spirits] seemed rather to and he knew it. That was why he did not want to comfort him instead of making him feel fearful, make things even worse by running out into the or helpless. street screaming like a Iunatic. He waited hour “Of course you've done nothing wrongl” after suspenseful hour but nothing happened. answered a gruff voice. Well, he was right for now, but would he be right Once again he called out something into the again? Who knew for certain, not him, at least. night. "Then why have you come for me?,” he The eerie groans and footsteps he had heard cried, this time more confidently. last night had made him even jumpier than usual. This time he was addressed by a sweet, soft, He twitched and turned instinctively upon and comforting voice. “To make you one of us. hearing the slightest noise. To make matters Don't you understand?” The answer was simple worse, he had been all by himself all day. If his enough, and the old man understood right away- maid had been there that day, perhaps she could or so he thought. calm him down, but she had not. She was on the “Yes ...... yes, I do understand! You've come to other side of the world visiting her brother. How help me! Please hurry. I am but an old, old man he wished she was with him! He could have been without anyone to care for me. l could die and no a good enough brother, couldn’t he? one would bother to shed a solitary tear.” Later he realized that day is always better “Finally, someone agreed! And after all those than night. But night cannot be prolonged by the years.” came the gruff- voiced man's queer simple prayers of one practically insane old man. reply. And so, before long, night fell, a thick, dark night Without hesitating or waiting another with a full yellow moon. moment he told them to hurry the process of The man lay awake in his bed, feeling, whatever they were about to do, expecting to be sensing, knowing that the bizarre sounds would immediately whisked off to heaven or some such start up again soon enough. And, eventually, he lovely place. He knew that was old enough to did hear a rather queer moan or two. belong there, anyhow. lt was certainly better While he sat awake, he wondered why these than any nursing home. So he waited for the things only happened to people who believed in lovely feeling of flying, but instead all he them. Nobody ever heard of a duke, or prince, remembered was the feeling of silence, betrayal, dreaming that he was to be murdered at any and some heavy weight pushing in from the top of moment by a ...... a ...... a....by something that he his head all the way down to his feet. He then fell didn't even know how to picture! Well, decided unconsciously and powerlessly into his bed and the old man trying to comfort himself, they remained there all night. probably just kept it to themselves so as not to The next day, his cherished maid was back. lose their dignified position in life. He had had a Richard came bounding down the stairs as fast as dignified position at one point- but that.was he could chattering and squeaking happily to many, many years ago. himself about absolutely nothing. The maid was So half the night passed and the quiet, openly surprised and confused. What had faraway noises continued to sound. They actually happened to her morbid master in this eerie started to act as a slow, soft song to lull the man house while she had been away? “Are you all to sleep. When this task had almost been right, sir?,” she asked, almost with genuine accomplished, the old man was suddenly jerked concern. upright from his sleep upon hearing an earth- “Why, no, my clear,” he replied, laughing shattering scream. noisily. “l feel perfectly possessed.” He went to grab the lamp from his table, only to find that it had been taken while he had been left in between sleep and wake. Dismayed and By Farihah Zaman fearful, the man called out shakily into the night,

78 The House

What hides inside the big new house on the hill? Are there oak cupboards that are full of beautiful What lies behind the strong, secure stone walls? elegant clothes? Who stands behind the heavy drapes watching as ls there a kitchen that always smells of cookies people pass? and ginger bread? ls it a comforting and warm place that you could Is there a little girl with dark chestnut hair and go to, to feel walnut colored eyes? reassured that everything will be o.k? Who stands at the windows looking down on all the other children Or is it an empty house that lost its soul years playing in the park and having fun. ago? Does she wish she had a playmate to spend the With dust carpeting the floors where the carpets endless should be. days with? With cobwebs in the dark corners and bare and empty rooms where there is no life except for ls there young man who feels trapped and can't the occasional gusts of wind that blow through the wait to break free of broken windows. his mother's grasp? Who plans to leave home and travel to Rome, By Malaika Rajandran Paris and Athens. Or will he be a good son and go to Law School to please his mother? Then suffer the rest of his life in silence for not living out his dreams? ls there a frustrated and confused wife who longs to break away? Does she dream about leaving and and making something out of her life? Does she have a secret love who gives her all the affection her starving heart craves? Does she really love him and plan to leave her l husband? Or is she just using him hoping her husband will find out so that she can cause him the same pain he has caused her? ls the house full of beautiful and ancient treasures from all over the world? Are there crystal chandeliers and cabinets full of delicate china and Persian carpets laid wall to wall? Are there sculptures of art that no one has ever seen or masterpieces by Rembrandt and Van Gogh hanging on the walls? Are the bedrooms full of canopy beds with soft quilts that are comforting and protective to all that sleep under them? Are they so soft that once you are under you feel safe and shielded from all the horrors around you?

79 Life “Miss, can I go to the toilet?” Boy 1: “So, what do you think of it - life, l mean? Simon: (During a test) Miss, can I go to the The way it throws you toilet? upwards towards the sun's bright gleam? Teacher: No! You're in the middle ot a test. Simon: (Pleading) But, Miss, l'm desperate! Up in to the sky alone, Teacher: Finish your test first. and you must obey Simon: (5 minutes later) Now, can I go to the where it takes you, toilet? although there you will not stay. Teacher: Wait till the bell goes, o.k.? Simon: Thats in 20 minutes. I can’t wait that But then you fall long. and it cradles you, Teacher: (Distracted) Well, you'll have hitting the ground to! ...... Read a book or something, that’s in its cushion useful. l of love and beauty, not making a sound” Simon: (10 minutes of reading) Miss, l’ve been reading Waterfalls and How They are Created and it's not that useful because it's making me need Boy 2: the toilet even more. “I don’t know, Teacher: Draw something, like the sea. That's a thought of it I have not, nice thing to draw. life’s twisted plans Simon: (Groaning) Oh, no! or complicated plot (The Bell Goes After 5 Minutes) I live along side it watching it flow Teacher: (exhausted) You can go to the toilet then suddenly l realize, now, Simon. How I do grow?” Simon: lt doesn't matter, Miss, l don't need it any more.

By Nicola Leighton Boy 1: “But you see you are wrong. Life isn’t merely a ploy you must experience its sadness and be rewarded with its joy”

Boy 2:

“Well, you may say what you will say, I You may cry or you may laugh lt is up to each of us to choose our own path”

Boy 1: _“Oh, dear friend, You never cease to amaze, but let us stop this chatter Knowing that our friendship still stays.”

By Nick Atwood

80 What The World Has Become Today

Skimming through my World Geography Passing a few seas and oceans feeling the wind book, annoyed at how much homework we have, I bombarding my face, we stopped at Australia. All actually learned many things about the world. l saw was a vast desert and a few grassy areas “Hmm... North America, South America, where the cities were. I do not think l spotted any Africa, Asia, Australia nope...Ah! Here it is, trouble over there, everything was so beautiful Europe.” After reading a few paragraphs on and nice. Europe to study for the test it all started to get Flying above and under some clouds we really boring and my mind started wandering reached at North America. We were on top of off... Suddenly I found myself on a carpet. I know Harlem, Brooklyn. Some parts of this country it seems kind of weird, but I was or at. least I were in pretty bad shape. In that area, there think I was. were so many slums and people stealing, and I later found out that the carpet was magic there were many gangs. lt was awful. Well, l got because it was flying in mid-air with me on it. to pass by Washington D.C. and see the great The magic carpet and l were on top of Europe. I White House and even and even Bill Clinton vaguely saw people fighting. I crouched down to coming out of his big limousine. The magnificent see what was really going on. The magic carpet structure of the Statue of Liberty enchanted me started to move up (actually down) closer to the greatly, and l also got to fly under the St. Louis countries Bosnia and Yugoslavia. Geezl They were Arch. Besides a few things, everything was going fighting all right, and I heard from my parents along great in North America. that these two countries were having a war. South America was beautiful. But, in Well, it sure seemed like it. There were a few Paraguay, some poor people were selling new soldiers from each of the countries and some born babies to other people for money or other common folk and they were doing all kinds of useful products. things to make each other mad. But the soldiers Africa was unique and very interesting. All were also trying to keep the other people out but those different wild animals in Kenya were a it didn't seem to work. They hardly noticed me, wonderful sight to see. In Somalia and Ethiopia even when they looked. But I think I wasn’t able children and their families have not been eating to be seen. or getting proper care, either, which was also a I did not like this anymore, so l told the magic sad sight to see. In Saudia Arabia women were carpet to move on to some other countries or not allowed to do many to do many things and you continents. lt flew above England, Switzerland, could not see a woman’s eyesproperly since they etc... These countries were doing pretty good, were veiled. except some people in France were pretty sad “Nevvvinnne, what are you doing? Do you after their presidenfs death. lt was a wonderful need help with your Social Studies?” said my sight to see the ingenious Eifle Tower. mother, yelling from the den. On our way to see the other countries, we “Huh?! Oh! lt's okay, Mom, l can do it on stopped at Asia. There were an unbelievable my own, don’t worry," I yelled, astonished at amount of poor people in India and Bangladesh. I what I was thinking. felt so sorry for the children who worked Wow! I guess the world has really changed. constantly, getting little profit, but it was lovely Think about it. Well, back to my sight to see them happy and proud of their homework(sigh) achievement. Oh! The poor families who had to live in small huts or slums, or they didn't even By Nevine Sharif live under any shelter. How they had to beg for money was extremely sad to see. l just think to myself at how lucky I am for having a proper family and a proper house. lt was also a glorious sight to see to see the exquisite Taj Mahal. Pakistan and India haven’t been getting along too well either. Floating around, we stopped at Korea. l saw Korean people at work on their computers and other mechanical things. Their high technology has increased incredibly and "Sa/w everything was so unique and different from all the other countries.

81 My Great Grandmother Moving to Tanzania

I still remember my great grandmother. Her lt was five thirty and I had come home from my blue eyes and her wonderful, soft skin. She was friend's house to eat dinner and my dad came so nice and polite, everybody loved her. She used home from work with a smile on his face and told to tell me poems and stories nobody elsewould us that we were going to move to Tanzania. Of ever tell me. Some of them were memories of her course I started asking questions as any third childhood and her horrible past. It has been grader would. I got to know that we were going to almost two years since she passed away. She was have guards and servants. 93 when she died, and I wasn’t there to say The next day in school, I told everything to all goodbye. of my friends. l was a little overly enthusiastic My great grandmother had a terrible life. She thinking what it would be like, but unfortunately had three step-mothers because her real mother I knew that it wasn’t going to be that perfect, but died when she was very young. She also had three still hopefully something. step-brothers who died in the war. She was a When I had told my friends about it, they all very hard working woman and would do anything wanted to come with me and of course I said you asked. She married my great grandfather at a “yes” if they would pay for their ticket. When I very early age. He died when he was about 60. told them what it was going to be like, they Almost all of her life, for about 33 years, she probably thought that it would be like in all the has lived alone. Although she has lived with her movies where there are perfect beaches and younger son, he never paid much attention to her. nothing to worry about. Most of them felt like I use to come only once or twice a month to that but some thought “Africa, what is there to do visit her. I would always bring a little present to in Africa? Nothing to do, too hot and so dirty." cheer her up. I loved her stories and poems. Right after we had been told that we were Sometimes I even wonder how she remembers all going to move there my mom and dad started of them. Most of the time she talked about my thinking of what we had to take there. My dad mother. She use to take care of my mother and talked with the Finnish ambassador in Tanzania. her sister when they were really young because They started buying stuff that you couldn't get their parents were in Germany working. So my from there. After about three months it was time mother felt close to my great grandmother as I to pack our stuff. After a few weeks we packed did. our stuff to send to Tanzania in a plane. So that When my father told me we were moving to we would have something when we got there. lndia, I liked it because it was a new adventure We were lucky that it snowed just before we for me and I would have a chance in learning a left to Tanzania, so that we could play in snow new language. lt-was hard to move to lndia and before we left, and that was when I last played in leave the rest of my family, expecially my great snow. I did see snow on the peaks of Mt. grandmother. Luckily, every two years we Kilimanjaro two or three times on the flights visited our family in Yugoslavia, and I never from Dar es-Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, to forgot to visit my great grandmother. one of the major airports of Europe. When I told her that we still have two more When we got to Tanzania, lt felt like it would years to be in India she gave me that strange look. be Impossible to live there but we did survive “You won’t see me the next time youcome, the heat and humidity. The heat wasn't too bad but Mirjana,” she said. I stared at her for a moment the humidity was awful. You couldn't even sit and then I gave her a big hug. I couldn't say outside without getting soaked, except in the anything, not after those words. evening or in the early morning. The weather So it was. She was right. At the beginning of was the hottest at the time when we got there in July she died. We didn't get to go to her funeral the end of November. because we were in India that year. I noticed that We stayed in Tanzania for nearly three years. something was missing when I was in Yugoslavia We went there after the summer holidays in last summer. I looked at her room and it was 1992 and left in the end of the school year in empty, but I could feel that her presence was in 1994. We went to Finland every summer for the that room. I wonder how many innocent people summer holidays and came back about a week have died and I realized that life is unfair. before the school started.

By Mirjana Milisavljevic By Lasse Laakkonen

82 The Problem With Dogs

All my mother had said was that we were going to put him down and I wasn't there to “We are going to have to put him down,” my comfort her instead I was up here feeling sorry mom had said as if it was a normal thing to say, for myself. I went downstairs to find my mom but I could tell that she had been crying all day. taking pictures of him. She had taken her apron She was wearing an old faded apron with an off. orange staín, probably from ketchup, on the As if she could read my mind she said,"We front. lt was another reason I could tell she was are taking him to the vet in two hours and then depressed. She only wore that apron on days when going to dinner from there. If you want you can she wasn’t so good. feed him, but I don't think he likes eggs much.” “No, that is impossible” I said, “You can’t. . She Iaughed a little, but the silence returned. ” She didn’t look up from the carrots she was “That’s okay”, I said sitting down next to him chopping for dinner that night. I noticed the eggs petting him and talking to him at the same time. she was frying and I finally realized that He whimpered, I had been leaning on him and I something was wrong; it had gotten back to her realized how much pain he was in. lt is better feeding him eggs out of a spoon. I ran to my room that he goes down, I tried to tell myself, he will to think. I lay down and thought about the past be fine. In fact it will probably be better, he couple of days. Just yesterday there was hope won't be in anymore pain and you will know that that he was going to make it . he is okay,” I told myself. The vet had said, ”We can remove the tumor That evening we took him to the vet and he that is paining him most, but who knows how was put down. The procedure was painless and he long it will be before another one starts hurting didn’t resist at all. The problem with dogs is that him? He is not a young dog anymore, you have they die. got to remember that. The surgery could also harm him, but it is probably his only chance. By Malika Anand Why don't you guys think about it. The clinic is open 24 hours a day.” “He can’t be old?” I thought,”He is only as old as I am, and aren’t dogs supposed to live to be almost fourteen?” I looked at the vet. He was a fairly old man with lots of wrinkles and small wire reading glasses hanging from his neck on thin chain. How could he be so mean I asked myself, but then I remembered awhile back my mom telling me that he wasn't as young as he used to be and not to tire him too much. “Thank you doctor,” my father had said. “We will think about it and get back to you.” As soon as we got into the car everyone voiced their opinions. It was a definite yes, we were going to put him through the surgery, crossing our fingers he would survive. The next day when I got back from school my mom was all smiles I didn’t need anything else as I raced into the backyard. “He is standing up, jumping and running,” I shouted back to my mom. “I know,” I heard her reply as she watched me from the door. The next morning he was still fine. That same day, when I got home from school, things were not as good. My dad had taken him back to the vet and my mom had her old apron on. You can imagine my surprise when I came home that day. Everyone was crying as if the world was going to end and when I left the house six hours everything was great. 83 An Experience

It was a warm summer night when Katherine to talk about boys and gossip. Suddenly Katherine was laying in bed wondering what to do the next got an idea. day. She was debating about whether she should “Hey! Lets go to Jared’s house!” as Katherine spend the next day with her best friends, said these very words, Sheena’s eyes widened Desiree, Sarah, and Sheena or help her father with terror. “No! You can’t do that even though I paint the garage door. She had decided to hang out like him does not mean you can do that! You just with her friends knowing that, with all of their can’t!” funny personalities, she was bound to have more “Can’t do what?” asked the deep voice of fun with them than she would with her dad Jared as he came around the corner. painting. “Oh, nothing,” replied Sheena as she blushed. She woke up the next morning to the sound of Desiree and every one else just sat there and her alarm clock ringing in her ear. She jumped giggled. Jared then sat down beside Sheena and out of bed and threw a wrinkled shirt and some joined the conversation which lasted for another old jeans on and ran downstairs to get something hour. to eat. Her parents were not up yet so she decided “Oh, that was very enlightening but let’s go to leave them a note. It read : ride bikes,” Jared said. “Sure! Let’s go!”said Desiree. Everyone Dear Mom and Dad, hopped on their bikes and they all rode off. They Just writing to tell you that I went outside to went up and down hills and rode around for hours hang with my friends. See you at around three when they came to a old deserted house. o'clock. “Who lives there?” asked Desiree with a puzzled look on her face. Love, “No one I don’t think,” responded Jared. Katherine “Well, what are we waiting for?” asked P.S- Sorry Dad I can't work on the garage door Sarah. “Let’s go check it out!” with you./ will see you when I get home. “l don't think we should,” said Sheena. ' “What if someone lives here?” After she taped the note to the television, she “l don’t think anybody does,” replied went outside and rode her bike down to Desiree's Desiree. “Besides, who would want to?” house. Upon arriving she found Sarah and Sheena “OK,” answered Sheena. “Let’s go for it!” sitting with Desiree on her porch. With that they all walked toward the entrance to “Hey guys! What's up?” called Katherine the old house. “Oh! Hi Katherine! How are you?” Desiree When they reached the doorstep, Katherine __replied as Katherine walked towards them. started to get nervous. “Maybe we shouldn’t you Katherine settled down beside Sarah and they guys. It looks kind of spooky.” began to talk. Jared shook his head with disappointment. “Oh! I love him so much!” said Sarah, with a “You always have to think things over before you thoughtful gaze in her eyes. do them. Why can’t you just take a chance?” “You love who?” Katherine said with a “O.K, I will try,” replied Katherine, and suspicious look on her face. they all entered the house. With Jared leading “Justin Jones, of course!” Sarah replied. the way they walked down the hallway as the “Not again!” screeched Sheena, “lt always floor creaked under their feet. All of the sudden has to be Justin this and Justin that! And you something fell on top of Sheena’s head and she let know what Sarah? I am really getting tired of out a big yell. it!” “What was that?!?" Sarah screamed as they “Well, sorry, little Miss Sheena!” Sarah all turned around to face Sheena. screamed after her. “l don't know! It just fell on my head!” “And you don’t even have a chance with him!” Sheena replied. “But it's gone and I am O.K." yelled Sheena They all turned back around and continued down “Hey, shut it up!” Desiree screeched before the long corridor. The hall abruptly ended and Sarah could reply. “We are supposed to be split up into two rooms, one on the left and one on friends so no fighting! Okay?!?” the right. “Yes ma’am.” Sheena replied under her “Which way should we go?” asked Jared. breath as she rolled her eyes.They all continued Sheena looked to the left and then looked to the right. “Let’s go right; it looks safer that way."

84 As they turned right they all heard footsteps in front of them. Apples, My Favorite “Who's back there?” Desiree called. No answer came and they all became scared. The rain splattered on my window. I sat up, to find cold air outside of my cozy “Boo!” screamed Malaikaas she jumped out blankets. My in front of them. They following behind her. aching legs. I remember, swim team. No wonder Brooke jumped out of the same corner that my legs hurt. I could feel the muscles inside. I Malaika had came out of. swung my sleepy legs off the bed. l tucked my “Hi guys! How are you on this glorious covers all around me like I was King Tut. Slowly morning?” said Malaika. I stood up. I hobbled to my closet to change. Where in the world were my “We were all fine until you and Miss. Brooke favorite sweats? They had the softest feeling. They scared the living daylights out of all of us!” were also the most comfy. replied Sarah. And check out who’s here?” All I leaned over to check my laundry eyes fell on Jared. basket for them. Nope, they weren’t there. “Oh, Sheena. Mr. Lover Boy is herell" said Darn! I could already tell today was going to Brooke in a sassy voice. Malaika giggled and be a bad day! Maybe I should stay in bed, I thought to myself. “Jane, are you awake'?” then said, “Hey Jared, how was Sheena last my night?" loving mom asked through the frail wood door. I “Great, thanks for asking!” Jared replied as was thinking so hard that I hadn’t heard her he put his arm around Sheena. Sheena blushed as knock on the door. As she opened the door, I could everyone stood there and stared in shock. feel the cold air come swarming in. “Do you want to go out with Sheena?" “Yes, shut that door. You're Ietting the cold Malaika askedin an astonished voice. air in. Have you seen my gray sweat pants?” I asked her, “l wouldn't mind that!” Jared said with a shy still wrapped in my beautiful, cozy smile on his face.Sheena smiled back and held blanket.“Have you checked the laundry basket?” him closer. “Well since we are on the subject, she asked, trying to be helpfull. Sheena, will you go out with me?” “Of course, I have," I replied. “Um, sure!” Sheena replied and she gave “WeIl, you had better get ready or you'll be Jared a huge kiss. late for school. Oh, I bought some apples for “Wow! Go Sheena!” said Desiree in an you.” i “Apples. yummy,” astonished voice. “And he looks like a pretty good I said dreamily. I took kisser!” three stepsand crash. I lay splattered on the ground. Oh, “Sheena’s not so bad herself! ” commended my ankle! Why did I just do that? Jared. Jared clutched Sheena’s hand and they With my face on the floor I mumbled , “One continued down the hall. of the bad things about having a cozy blanket, you “Let’s go you guys, this is really boring,” never want to take it off.” said Sarah. The floor was as cold as a tree in a blizzard. i “You are right,”replied Malaika. “Let’s go.” Then lpicked my self up from the ground. They all walked out of the house with one thing on I pulled on the most uncomfortable pair of their minds: This has been a strange day. blue jeans. As I looked out the window, I watched rain dribble down the fogged glass. By Desiree Hollowell I headed downstairs to have a quick breakfast. .Hum, what could I have for breakfast? I can't have an apple. No cereal, no time for eggs, don’t like oatmeal. I didn’t feel like eating anything so I grabbed the apple off the table and sneaked to my room. My mom would kill me if she saw me eating an apple for breakfast. i As I tiptoed to the stairs, the carpet that lined the stairs, made me miss half a day of school. See, I was creeping along, watching for the my mom and I tripped over the edge of the carpet. I twisted my ankle, forgot all about my apple. I found it yesterday sitting under the table, rotting away. By Christina Lee

1 85 Bob Smith

smelling crook would always just let the police smell him, and while they were off guard, he Warning: This story is totally politically would get away. Bob had to help Bertha. Who else incorrect. Do not read if you are highly sensitive could? or have any belief similarities to Oprah Winfrey. Bob immediately went out to find her. He Once there was a man named Bob Smith. He looked all over his home town of Bob City (l told was short, had a little stubble, and a large pot you he was rich). He tried every McDonalds, belly that hung over his waist like a shawl. Bob Pizza Hut, KFC, 7-11, and any other place that had male pattern baldness, and the little hair left would have food (which were the only places he'd was graying. He could always be seen with Camel ever been to). It took his slow brain about an cigarettes and a six pack of Budweiser. Because hour to figure out that he would need some kind of he smoked so much, his teeth were as yellow as plan. Unfortunately, his microscopic mental the outside of a banana. capacity was unable to think of one. So he decided Despite all these bad traits though, Bob had to give up. He went back home and started one thing going for him - he was rich. Bob gained watching football again. his fortune by being the BEFORES for You Can Be Tall Too( a step-up shoe company), Slim Fast, The moral of this story is: Just For Men, and nicotine patch commercials. The BEFORES in commercials are never the same He also earned an excellent living from the people asthe AFTERS. Guiness Book of World Records. Bob holds all records for fat, belching, farting, corn nut By Travis Pope eating, longest sitting on the toilet, smoking, beer drinking (Germans excluded due to obvious superiority), and being turned down by women. There was a rumor he had even been turned down by Roseanne Barr. Bob was the worlds favorite loser. One day, while Bob was watching football, a Special News Bulletin came on and interrupted the game. “N 000,”Bob screamed. “l can't stand Special News Bulletins. l'm going to smash Tom Brokaw and i his stupid smile into billions of pieces. l’m going to smash that TV into such an oblivion that l’ll l have to be reported to the VAEA (Violence Against 'w Electronic Appliances). He was about to have his temper tantrum, but then he saw what the Special News Report was about. “ A woman named Bertha Smith,” Tom “Iv Brokaw began, “has been kidnapped. Here is a picture and identification of this women. She is about 750 lbs., six feet six inches, a nose around a foot long, glasses ten,‘:‘.4-Z_¢«-—- inches thick, and she has a large, bushy mustache.” Tom Brokaw grimaced. fiat Bob was glued to the screen, Bertha was the most beautiful woman Bob had ever seen. “Ms. (Bob leaped for joy as he heard the Ms.) Smith was kidnapped by Al Cologne. This is Tom Brokaw i signing off.” Bob had heard of Al Cologne. He was supposed to smell so good that he could lure women toward him. Then he would knock them out, kidnap them, and demand a ridiculously high ransom from the police. Cologne had never been caught. The sweet

86 l Why the Wind Does The Firefly Blow? Firefly, Firefly, why does your fire fly? Shimmering in the moons collage of colors and dye. Round or oval, brown or green, Like little drops of rainbow, beating with a Your eyes linger within. steady flow. Sorrowful, kind, cold, yet mean, Around the pond and flowers, above my kitten And fearful to all men. Meowers. Along the meadows and fields. You are a winding river, You snuggle as the flower peels. That hides amongst the clay, When the sky is molasses you are the sun. That feeds on a trusting visitor, You twinkle about with lots of fun. That might come along the way. What can I say? What can l ask? Why do you cause much trouble? You are a fire, a lantern, a mask. Why do you causemuch pain? Light my way through a world of black. Go leave us on the double, Show me the door then turn your back. Into the pouring rain. You’ve done your job. I let you go and sob, sob, sob. You have hurt and murdered Eve, l You, Firefly, fly. And caused Orpheus much woe. I don't ask why. Evil thoughts you will conceive, On Medusa’s head, like so. By Katherine Umberger

Why did Mother Nature create you? That, shall we ever know? Groove Fang Like a butterfly and its wings, Why the wind does blow? Aye caramba, what a disaster, By Katherine Aird How could this happen in front of my eyes? Oh, Jesus I expected something better What should I call you, D-Human or H-Dog?

ÆÆNGQ I expected more of a human Maybe it turn out to be a genetic error? Wait, maybe it's a warehuman or is it a waredog?

So what should l do with this mix here? Will it be my friend or foe? Or maybe it turned out to be like White Fang? When lt grows up will it have freedom or will it stay with the unwanted?

But only the man up there knows what's going to happen. But what's really going to happen when he grows? Only the man up there knows.

By Katlego Matsila

87 Going for It

There she was, a pleasant girl with I ate it while I walked home. I didn’t walk too everything going for her--smart, pretty and fast, but I hurried because I was late. I got home; with a mother who loved her. No one knew why my mom was crying and her face was turning she had left her family. very red. Mom never cried even though she'd It started out when Anna was a child. They been sick ever since Dad died. lt scared me that would never listen to me. Anna would say, she was crying so hard. I thought she was going to whenever I would tell them something, they die so I called the doctor. The doctor didn't arrive would think that I was going crazy, like when my for along time. AII that time, waiting for the 14th birthday was coming up and I started to get doctor, I was trying to comfort her. I tried asking excited. I thought that this year, finally, I would her. “What’s going on Mom?” I asked. She have a party or something special. This was wouldn’t say anything. She started to cough up because for all my other birthdays nothing ever blood, and I wanted to get something to stop her happened. My family always said we were too from coughing. My brothers were gone. They had poor for parties. gone out to play and I didn't know where so I Maybe it was okay not to have a party, but I couldn't go to tell them what had happened to didn’t like not having money. I told my mother, mother. “Someday I will become rich and have everything The doctor came in at last and ran up to that I always wanted.“ mother's bedroom. He wouldn’t let me in while Mom got mad and said, “Some people have lots he was in there. Every time he came out he say, “Go get some more blankets because your mother of things but no love!’’ I She was always like that. Maybe I shouldn’t is running a fever and has chills!” I spent the have told her anything. Papa died at thirty-three next three days taking care and cooking for my in World War ll. He left Mom with me and my brothers. That was how I spent my fourteenth two little brothers, Jim who was five and Mike birthday. at eight. I was the oldest at thirteen. After he Mom got better eventually; although she died, I sometimes felt angry that he had left us, never was really strong. At least she didn't have even though it wasn’t his fault. TB which was what I was scared she might have. Being the oldest was hard, and I had to do Things got back to normal, and mom went back to everything around the house. My brothers just telling me to learn to cook and clean. AII I wanted stood there looking at me work. In those days, all was to be somebody like a Iawyer or a scientist the boys would do is play. I hated being a girl. or teacher or, even some thing exciting, like a Mom always needed me to do something around movie star. the house or run errands around town for her, I ran away from everything to try to make even when I had school work. Mom never went to something out of my life. I got all the way from school. So she thought that school was no place Silver Spring, Maryland to New York City, for a girl to be. She told me even if I got good where everyone told me that's were dreams come grades, I still wouldn't have a chance of making true. something of myself because I was a girl. “Girls I started working the first day I got there at have to stay in the house to cook and clean,” she Mrs. Singh's Corner Store making enough money would say. Times like this I wished I was a boy. to stay in a one room hotel and go to night school. So I left my Mom alone and went off to do what After a few months, I wanted to know how she had asked me to do. mother and Jim and Mike were doing, so I wrote I kind of liked going to town to do errands them a letter to say where I was and what I was because everyone I knew was there and doing. I didn't get any response for a long time. sometimes, if I was lucky, I would find a penny Then, out of nowhere, a letter from Mom came. It on the ground that someone had dropped. Then I read: would be able to get a big juicy kosher pickle to Dearest Emily, eat on the way home. I liked pickles better than I got your letter and now I understand what candy. One day just before my you meant about being somebody. It took me a birthday, I got to Mr. Joe's store and went in to long time to try to get myself to say this you but get some sugar, beans and coffee for Mom. On the I'm happy for you and I hope that you will way back, on the street, I saw itl I had found the become what you always wanted. I wish you luck lucky penny! Right then, I ran across the street and whenever you need place to stay you will and went into Mr. Goldman's delicatessen and always have a home. bought the biggest, juiciest pickle in the store. love,

88 Mom drank soft drinks until late at night. Then we PS. Here are two pictures of me and were presented with our trophies. your two brothers. The next year I was in under arm pitoh not t- Sometimes late at night, when l'm do home ball anymore. That year I was in Citibank, the work, I look at the pictures and think what would team that won the year before. On the first day it be like if I had not left we saw our coach, we thought that we would lose because he didn’t know where the bats and the By Elisa Vossen balls were. Most of all he didn’t know how to hit a baseball. The whole team was in the downs. We lost all of our games except against one team because they didn’t have all the players so they forfeited. We came in last place The next year I was in the same team with the same coach and this time he was a bit more experienced than the year before. We went to the I Love Baseban equipment room and we all got to try and choose our “sweet bats." Then I had to leave for India half way through _I was so happy when I was allowed to sign up the next league. I thought that there was no for baseball. I love the sport, I devoted all my baseball there so I was really depressed. But then time to learning how to play, and finally my. after the summer, when it started to get colder, dream came true. I even watched the older kids there was an announcement that there would be a play, but I could not play yet. baseball league and I jumped with joy. Today was the day that I was scheduled to sign The league was nowhere as good as the up. We went through the procedure, pay and sign Philippines, but at least it was a league. Now the paper, then get yourself measured for the after three years, I again had to leave, but where shirts and pants. l'm going I know there won't be any baseball, but After about two weeks, it was time for the there is a lot of soccer, my second favorite sport. first game. I was up to bat first and I was scared I am going to Italy. that I would screw up, but miraculously I hit the ball into the out field because the short stop fell By Andy Ostermayer and missed the ball. I was at second and my friend was up to bat. He hit it and just made it onto first base. I was still at second, the next two batters got out and the third got us all one base ahead. Then the best batter in the league was up. One strike, two strikes and WHAM there goes the ball all the way to the out field, it hit the fence. We all ran like mad to get to home base. The next batter got out and we were in the field. I took first base and that guy who hit a home run was at short stop. The first hit went to short and the guy threw it to me and I got the guy out. The next was the same just this time he was so close and threw it so hard I injured my hand. He was out and so was the next guy. Back at bat we went down one, two, three and so did the other team that went on like that until the game was over so we won the first game most of us had ever played. We lost the next two games and won the rest so we ended up second since one of the teams did not lose a single game. When the league was over, we all had a party since we all played through the year. The party was at the club where the ball field was so we played for the whole day, and we also ate and

89 Great America Peregrine Falcon

Before my family and I left Cupertino, California, Matt Lee, my best friend, and I went I look out of my cabin window in a mountain to Great America, an amusement park, in Santa wood, Clara. We took my brother, his mom and my mom I think to myself, here an Indian might have with us, of course. stood. Even though all of us have been to Great A falcon is flying swiftly der the trees, America before, it felt more fun with my friend As it lands, its wings brush softly against the around. We rode a bunch of rides like Top Gun, leaves. Demon, and Grizzly, but the rides were not as good as the Nickelodian Splat City. Nickelodian Have you seen things that I have not? Splat City is a place where you’d only want to Indian fires, blazing hot? hang out if you want to get soaked. It was Nearby, in the river, children play, hilarious seeing people get soaked and fall in the laughing and singing the day away? water, but l’ll never find out what was so funny about people getting a terrible, horrible I wish I could have been there in that ancient headache and a cold. time, After getting soaked to death, we had a short To talk with them and share their bread and wine. lunch of pizzas and went to the rides again. Other You and your ancestors are, oh, so lucky, things we did were fun, but all the activities to fly and see things so freely. were the same, ride after ride, after ride, after ride. Beautiful Falcon, Peregrine falcon, Oh, those were the good days. Maybe if I pray You are so strong and graceful. to God for cwouple of days, there is a very little Oh, to be able to fly with such ease, possibility that he’ll make a “Great India” in Feathers caressed by the breeze. New Delhi! By Liane Roach By Song-Woo Kang

Smile

“Smile,” A young girl said with flowers in her hair. Life is young and the day is fresh. This world that we live in is beautiful. “But, why?” A small boy asked, Listening to the young flower girl preaoh We are never always happy and.... The days are sometimes gloomy She smiled and even laughed and said, “We should never take life for granted,” For family and friends are all we have. And simple things are what we love. By Brooke Gibbons 90 Frog Angels

I think you like the marshes, the wet slimy It was night, yet there was light. marshes, I ran from them. As you wend your way I was scared, yet trusted them. from lilypad to lilypad, They .took me into the light, Settling down on one, the bright light which blinded me yet I could see. Basking in sunshine. They were like angels, they were my friends. I will never forget that warm summer night as a In rain or shine, boy, you are always sleeping, I was the chosen one. Lying on a lilypad you are immoveable. That night I was not alone. Does anything ever bother you? We are not alone... I don’t think so. By Keith Andresen When it comes time to catch your lunch, You don’t have to move. Your tongue stretches out, and you have a meal in your mouth.

Your life is so peaceful, Lounging on a Iilypad. Your family around, croaking sounds of satisfaction Supremely content, because you are a frog.

By Maya Chandra

91 á Index To Seventh Grade Authors

Abrahams,Alex ...... 36 Lee,Ho-Jung ...... 75 Ahsan,Mohammad Ragib ...... 37 Lee,Christina ...... 85 Aird,Katherine ...... 87 Leighton,Nicola ...... 8 0 Al-Hammadi,Hammad ...... 58 Lutyens,Emily ...... 42 Ambler,Tenise ...... 61 Mathur,Nishant ...... 49 Anand,Malika ...... 83 Matsila,Katlego ...... 87 Andresen,Keith ...... 91 Milisavljevic,Mirjana ...... 82 Asava,Vijay ...... 50 Modak,Andres ...... 46 Atwood,Nick ...... 80 MuIay,Ameya ...... 54 Bates,Brenna ...... 50 Narasimhan,Sripriya ...... 71 BatIivala,Tina ...... 74 Nijhawan,Arjun ...... 51 Benefiel,David ...... 65 O’Hara,Lauren ...... 47 Binotti,Alessandro ...... 49 Ostermayer,Andy ...... 89 Borjesson,Robin ...... 38 Oz,Ekrem ...... 68 Chandra,Maya ...... 91 Pett,Sarah ...... 63 Dow,Tara ...... 38 Pope,Travis ...... 86 Edwards,Thomas ...... 61 Rajandran,MaIaika ...... 79 Fuwa,Kiyono ...... 58 Roach,Liane ...... 90 Gibbons,Brooke ...... 90 RowIey,Katy ...... 43 Hartwick,Kirsten ...... 60 Saint-Germain,David ...... 64 Hess,OIivia ...... 45 Saraf,Arjun ...... 54 Hollowell,Desiree ...... 85 Sharif,Nevine ...... 81 Holthe,Maren ...... 40 Sheppy,Evan ...... 39 Huh,Jun ...... 53 Shroff,Shireena ...... 69 Hwang,ln-Moo ...... 59 Singh,Nishant ...... 47 Jones,Joshua ...... 56 Singh,Sheena ...... 64 Jugar,Meagan ...... 47 Smawfield,Matthew ...... 47 Jung,Hae-Sung ...... 40 Spaeth,Sho ...... 35 Kalla,Kevin ...... 74 Sungkhobol,ChaiwaI ...... 57 Kamilan,Fairu2 ...... 56 Talbot,Theo ...... 77 Kang,Song-Woo ...... 90 Torres,Maria-Felise ...... 67 Khurana,Sonia ...... 41 Tupper,Angela ...... 41 Kim,Joon-Hee ...... 43 Umberger,Katherine ...... 87 Kim,Ju-Ho ...... 68 Vakani.Bhavin ...... ; 57 King,Julia ...... 53 Van Santen,Barbara ...... 42 Kinnett,NickoIas ...... 41 Vossen,Elisangela ...... 89 Koshinaka,Aya ...... 35 Wang,Jia—Xin ...... 62 Krecke,EmiIy ...... 45 Westberg,Chary ...... 37 Laakkonen,Lasse ...... 82 Zaman,Farihah ...... 78 Lee,Seung-Hwan ...... 49 Zugic,Branko ...... 66 Lee,Sang-Jhin ...... 59

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man1.5313¢ A _ k _ , .4...-.__.‘, ..._4.,..____.4_._.. _._._... . ,,_.... .Å . _ A 4 _ A, Sounds of a Cafeteria If I Were Sounds, l’d Be Those of the Girls’

If I were sounds, I would be those of a Locker Room cafeteria. There would be sounds of talking, some loud, some very, very quiet. The quiet ones would be those of people whispering secrets to If I were sounds, l’d be those of the girls’ each other, and the loud ones would be people Iocker room. I would have echoes of their shoes laughing with happiness. The chairs would be as they come in, and the room would be filled screeeeeeching as they were moved back and with girls talking, giggling, and whispering forth, and trays, smoothly sliding across the secrets. There would be shouting and Iaughing table, would make a sound like smooth-flowing while locks would be clicking and lockers air. Some people would chew loudly with their squeaking as they were opened. Once in a while mouths wide open and sound like people walking there would be girls shrieking, “Does anybody in squishy jello. Some people would drink and have an extra scrunchie?!!” And as the voices make a quiet sipping noise, and others would fade and the girls got to their P.E. classes, you take very loud gulps! After the children handed could hear nothing but silence and the faint hum their plates in, they would be dropped into the of the A.C. Then they’re back, and their sink, making a sound like a window being broken squeaking rubber shoes would thump their way by a baseball. When children threw food, it in the Iocker room to get their towels. would hit the wall and make a big splat! Then I Once again, you could hear the roar of talking would hear the voices of teachers shouting at and Iaughing girls as they get ready to take their their students like angry lions saying, “No showers. The girls would turn the shower throwing food!” After everyone had left, the handle... squeak... sounds would cease, and all I would hear would be ssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... then... the dripping of the tap in the kitchen. Drip... “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!l This water drip... drip... is too cold!!!” And then, after they’re done taking their showers, you would hear wet feet By Ashwin Alexander hurrying and splish, splash, swish, swushing their way back to their Iockers. As the girls dry themselves and put on their clothes, sounds of The Light perfume and body spray hiss as the girls would spray themselves all over. When the Ioud bell goes, “Rrrrriiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnng!!”, all the girls As I sit here trying to write, my eyes catch upon would start packing up and banging their Iocker a silvery sight. close. The last sounds would be, “Come on! With wondrous might, a brilliant light showers We’re going to be late for class!!!” Then the down upon the ground. girls leave and there is silence again, and I Then from behind a cloudy, gray mist engulfs the continue to wait for my next troop. I am the glossy, iridescent glow of the path and all is lost. sounds of the girls’ locker room. A feeling of sorrow and defeat creeps over me. Upsetting memories vividly fill my head as I By Pamela Carlos begin to weep. Silvery, though almost Opaque colored tears slide slowly down my cheeks. Suddenly! a mysterious burst of radiance bounds forcefully out from behind the mist. Startled, I glance up, a gleaming, incandescent light shadows a path. A path to heaven!

Dedicated to my loving Grandpa

By Melanie Campbell

97 How I Got Lost That Fateful Summer Day

One summer day it was really so hot That my friend and I decided to go for a spot Fear clutched at my heart of picnicking in the woods nearby going through my blood with the streams and the brooks rippling and right down to the marrow of my bones churning and I shivered and shook and really burning up in the hot summer sun. and cried my friend awake and we held on to each other. We decided to go deep deep into the woods I almost stopped breathing where it would be tranquil as I felt something cold and slimy and calm and peaceful go past swishing my leg like a surface of a lake and slithering into the grass that gleams like a mirror a serpentine creature of the night and the dark when there is no breeze. that just let us live because we were lonely and lost And the woods beckoned to us and far from home. murmuring and whispering rustling and swishing I cried with relief the trees and the bushes and we sank to the ground the birds and the bees hoping and praying and the orange butterfly on the wing. and promising all the while to be more careful in future They softly called and reached out for us and be less hasty and we hopped and we skipped if only, if only and our hearts sang with joy we could just reach home and we went even further Oh, God, please led by the friendly mynah just this one last time... that chirped and called and we shivered and shook and even winked at us. and we clung to each other and we waited all the while We came to a halt waiting and praying... and sat down to rest just by the river Was that a light? with the smell of the grass Was that a horn? and the song of the crickets Was that my name? heartily we fed on the nice picnic lunch Hey! that sounded like my dad that our mothers had packed. And I shouted in return at the top of my voice And we scooped up handfuls of water sobbing with relief. ever so cool and ever so sweet and slurped greedily And the voices drew nearer and finally stretched out and so did the lights on the soft downy grass and suddenly he was there and time flew by... I couldn’t believe my eyes and ran into his arms Suddenly a noise came forth and wouldn’t let him go. and I woke up in a start Then we were home and the forest was dark they were all looking worried and no longer friendly. there were blankets and hot soup There were frightening sounds that spat with and a million embraces and hugs hostility never a scolding it was then I realized not even a frown that we had overslept and I fell asleep. far away from home I don‘t know when lost in the woods. and dreamt of the snake

98 and shook and shivered and woke up in cold sweat Bangkok in my mothers’s arms and warmth and comfort. Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand. The city of smiles, canals and traffic jam. Since l’m A year has passed new here and I can't think of anything else to but they still tell me stories write about, l’lI write about where I used to live about that hot summer day when I got lost in the woods before. I bet most people have visited or at least and the folks at home heard of Bangkok. To say it shortly, it’s a great worried and worried... place. I've lived there for almost four years and it’s very special to me because it’s the first By Vardhman Jain foreign country l’ve ever lived in. Thailand is like a second home country for me. The first few months in Bangkok was very hard for me. Seoul was the only place I had lived before. The sudden changes scared me. I felt isolated among strange people. We were new, so we didn't know anything about Bangkok. I stayed home all day. It was very hot, too. My family moved to Thailand in April, the hottest month of the year, which was the other reason I stayed home. You would die if you went out and walked around during the day. In June, I started going to school, which put me under more pressure because I had to start communicating in English. I hardly knew English then, so you might be able to imagine how I did in school. I couldn’t understand anything anybody was saying. lt was really horrible. Leaving friends, coming to a foreign place, not knowing anything. Anyone who A Skating Accident have experienced this situation would understand me. Anyway, I became adjusted to the new When was 11 years old, my family and I went environment as time went by, and I had a good skating and I fell down and broke a bone in my time during my other years of my inhabitance in shoulder. I cried and I had pain in my shoulder. Bangkok. I really enjoyed living in Bangkok. I When we went home, my parents said, “We must had good friends in school, whom I went shopping go to the doctor.” or ice-skating with, and I didn”t have a hard time When we went to the doctor, he said, “You in school either. I could study much less than in must take off your sweater and T-shirt so I can Korea. And I'm not sure why, but I like being a examine you.” foreigner. After examining me, the doctor said, “You l’m glad we moved to Bangkok in the first must have a bandage and sleep a lot. No school for place. I think moving to a foreign country helped one week.” me a lot in many ways. I could learn and When I went home, I slept and watched TV. I experience a variety of things. If I hadn't gone to stayed alone that week because my parents had to Bangkok, l’d be stuck in Seoul having to do only go to work. When I saw the doctor, he said, “Your studying. shoulder is better so Monday you can go to school I like Bangkok because of the easiness the again and play with your friends.” people have, and the all-year-round summer. I was very happy. Staying at home alone is lt’s kind of sad that I had to leave Bangkok. Well, boring. now that l’m in India, I hope I will get used to this new place soon. By Sara Edqvist By Youn Joung Choi

99 Behind the Wall

Anvar knelt down, breathing heavily. “ls she They crept up out of the crevice, Barak leading going to be all right?” he askedthe aged wizard. with a rope around his waist. The others “She should live - but it’s a filthy poison that followed the rope, moving slowly towards the these Orcs use,” replied Doromos wall. “Aye,” said Barak, looking up from polishing his Finally, they reached it, the solid stone cold to axe, “and their poison matches their nature.” the touch. Anvar glanced around the crevice. Seeing “Now, Barak, l’m going to create a glimmer of everyone doing something, he slowly rose to a light in your hand so that l can cast my spell. lt crouch, peering over the rocky incline. The won't burn, just cup the light so that I can see. huge wall stood, a silhouette in the orange sky. Don’t attempt to resist the magic, as you dwarves Occasionally he saw flashes of metal and heard are prone to doing. lt's a very simple speil, so the guttural growling of the Orcish tongue. The you shouldn’t have too many qualms,” said black shape of a bridge connected the wall and a Doromos. His hands flowed through the magical guardhouse further into the town. gestures smoothly, and suddenly a light gleamed They had been waiting here in the wasteland for from Barak's hand. Doromos continued the three days. Their band of infiltrators were to get gestures with his left hand, reachlng for a bag of into the chaos-controlled town of Dezakk and stay black powder with his right. He scattered the with a shoe tanner in the town. A contact already powder into the air in front of him, and it in Dezakk would meet them there and provide coalesced into a glowing orb filled with stars. important information. Their first attempts to The orb rose up the wall to the parapet, and get into the town had met with failure, as the hovered there. After several minutes, Doromos Orcs on guard caught sight of them. The latest pronounced it all right to go up. Selina, her one had met with the wounding of Selina, the grappling hook over her shoulder, donned her warrior-woman in their band. “cat's claws". Putting them on her booted feet “They're still there and setting up a night watch, and gloved hands, she quickly ascended the wall. too.” he stated, sinking back to his knees once A few minutes later, the rope flopped down. One more. by one, the adventurers beganto climb up. “Yes, they’re not as dumb as they look - or When all of the party were up, Selina sent the maybe they’ve been ordered to do it,” said grappling hook sailing towards the bridge’s Doromos. “I can probably scry what they’re gantry. It missed, clattering against it instead of doing.” Taking a crystal dish from his pack, he catching on. The sound seemed to wake the filled it with water from a gourd at his hip. He entranced Orc from its hyptonization, and the laid it on the rock in front of him and raised his crystal orb immediately disappeared. hands over the bowl. His hands aloft, he began “Aarrgh!Slaethis Kristalphl", it yelled, drawing muttering in an arcane tongue, the syllables its wide-bladed scimitar. coming out unfalteringly. The water began to “Ouickly, old man, the ropel” shouted Anvar, his darken, and the picture cleared. They saw guards two-handed sword flashing into this hands. every fifty feet or so and another cluster of them Doromos obeyed without question, grabbed the on the tower. rope, tugged it to make sure that it was firmly “Maybe we can knock one out and then climb up. attached to the bridge and swung off the Then we can descend by a rope, or perhaps swing battlements. He felt his feet touch the cobbled from that bridge into the street beyond,” Selina road and immediately began the hand movements said. Anvar glanced at the prone warrior woman, required to move the rope back up. The rope a bandage wrapped tightly around her hip. began to rise. The sounds of battle drifted down “l think that swinging from the bridge would be to him, as Selina dropped from the shadow of the our best choice. Then we can make our escape wall. Drawing an arrow from her quiver, she immediately, and it will be faster to swing than sent it whistling towards a silhouette rushing to climb.” towards the fight. lt dropped from sight, a shaft “l’lllead," growled Barak, “my night vision sticking from its throat. will help me better than any those Orcish scum Suddenly, another black shape appeared against can muster.” the wall, and Anvar touched down on the rocky street. “Barak?” asked Doromos, his hands trembling as they worked the intricate gestures required to return the rope up to the wall. Then another

100 shape hurtled from the darkness, just as more Words Orcs reached the scene of the fight. Barak touched the earth, his huge axe clutched in one hand and the rope in the other. The party sighed as one, and Anvar felt a rush of relief as he Some words are clean realized that they were over the wall. Fresh, new, smooth, white Crisp, spic, span, bright By Stephen Simm Pretty, handsome, light

Some words are funny Bubbly, fat, nicoompoop, Honolulu Boonga, bronze, tata, goo goo Hakunamatata, skinny, brainless, dodo

Some words are dirty Gross, thick, trash, filthy Dumb, sewers, garbage, squirty Disgusting, pungent, geeky , ////£_iP”’f4ynu." "' ‘ Some words are ugly appalling, monstrous, retard stupid, dumb, crazy, nerd barred, lard, guard By Gajan Sivananthiran

lngredients for War

Some bombs and guns and missiles too A pinch of hate and a bucket of grief Problems adds to this mixtureof Fear.

Combat and shells up at the front along with death and all the wounds Problems, problems, and more problems, all Put some flavor into this test of power your life long. Now what seems to be missing? Why all at once? Oh yes, the millions of friends, families and What is it that we do so wrong? lovers crying their he_arts out, yearning for the All of a sudden it all falls apart, touch and then there’s a great pain in my heart. and sight of the loved ones already mixed in the Why does this all have to be? batter. Does this only happen to me? Why is life like this? But wait, the formula is not yet complete, Do you feel this way too? The leaders are on the top sprinkled oh so Or is it this feeling of hurt you miss? heavily. ls your life like a simple kiss? They make the plans and strategies for murder, If it is, I wish I was you. just What is there that I can do? so they can say “Those men fought for honor." Would you please help me? Is it something different that I should be? Now these directions are concluded, Problems, problems, and more problems, all with all the people who’ll never be the same, your life long. their hearts scarred forever, screaming in everlasting pain. By Isabelle Ostermayer By Erin Brand

101 * kiss Gene Kelly and direct a musical with him My Goals * make acne extinct * meet James Taylor "I want to leave the world unharmed by my * complete a quadruple axle in the presence of passage through it. I want to leave you kids a Tanya Harding ( I can skate and you can't, nah, legacy and at the end of it all, in my final nah, ni-boo boo! ) conscious moments, I want to be able to say, * uncover one murderer ‘Mom, Dad, did I do okay?‘ and know they'd say ‘A’ convict one murderer yes." That's what my Mom has always wanted, * tap dance on the Sydney Opera House always strived for. My Dad's simple goal, I * find a true love and pair up two true loves guess, was to " do some good." My brother wants * write a speech for Ross Perot and not let him to be He-man, and I want to be ..... I want to be a speak nasally when reading it firecracker, a speeding Porsche on life's * write a bestseller that makes more people pee highway, the electric blender that splatters the in their pants than a Dave Barry book! cake mix! I want to have fun! There are so many * cure cancer and AIDS using my Grandma's things I want to do and see, so many treasures I peach jelly ( she said that stuff packed more long to find! If all the following are achieved, I punch than Mike Tyson,) will not only smile in the throes of death, I will * reverse the sexist discrimination in India for cackle like a rooster at the rising sun. one year and make the men change their ways. A star is only a tinier version of the sun, a Finally, the Most Honest of My Goals.... gaseous form made of helium. Sometimes we * work with small children in Belgian schools. forget how close and reachable these stars, like dreams, can be. These are the stars I see through In summary, I hope to shake up the world for my window. a few seconds and extract from the writhing mass Soonun a few instants of pleasure. It is, of course, my * beat up my brother hope to "do some good," and be approved of as my * beat my brother at ping pong parents wished, but not my priority. I long to * play the acoustic guitar in a school-wide ride the roller coaster in good company until the concefl day it throws me off the track ( and maybe even * grow my hair long enough to have a bouncy after ...... !) When I hold my collection of stars in ponytail my hand, l will toss them back up to the sky so * teachmy dog to rumba that they can perhaps fill the view and the heart *buy a golden topaz as big as my nose of some other child who longs, like me, to live *keep the grades up and the ego down life till it kills me. * make high school choir and learn to read notes By Olivia Wills * teach a jughi girl something that will be useful to her The Shot * own and\or capture in a color photo the classic 'fat bird' so common here When the ball is in the air. * find a suitable hairstyle for the bush that is I know that it is mine. my hair I run down the court. * extract every richness possible from India's I am open so then I take the shot. vivid culture And swish was the sound that it made. And Most Importantly ...... Then the crowd went wild. * learn to say 'wrong number' in Hindi. As the other team took the ball down the court, A Few Short Galaxies Away ...... That was when l stole it. * own a fat and healthy Shitzu pup I ran faster and faster. * invent a grape flavored long-lasting love When I got to the hoop, ljumped up. BOOM l potion I jammed the ball right through the net . * skydive with my Grandma ( with or without Then came the last second of the game, her approval,) we were Iosing by one. * deep sea dive in the Dead Sea The ball was passed to me * invent a lipstick that adjusts according to I shot complexion and is undetectable That was then my alarm went off. * play catcher for the Atlanta Braves in a playoff By Rippi Ftekhi game * have my remains thrown at my brother's head in a large pot so that he's stuck with me forever

102 The Man in the Moon

He slouched in his seat, He slid once again, Curved and glowing white, Into his comfortable seat, And he peered down in Which, in a couple more days, interest, Would soon be complete. At the saddening sight. A full moon would wax, That greenand blue ball, And then it would wane, Was growing slowly rotten, And the scrawny old man, Was he not the only one, Would become more insane. They had forgotten? His hooked, sharp nose, Was he not the only one, And his twinkling eyes, They cast aside? Would light up his face, And would they all grieve, Until it shone in the skiesl The day that he died? And his wide, grinning mouth, The day that he died!? Would whisper and croon, Well, that wouldn’t be soon! “Do you believe there’s a For the only man who never Man in the Moon?” dies, ls the Man in the Moon! By Catharina Davison

His rough-textured face, Bumpy and thin, That was once tight and pinched,

Lit up in a grin. w

r! His crooked, yellow teeth, Cackied and chattered, @@ .-‘ 0'0 And his wispy, string hair, du Sprung and scattered! ® ~' fi What need had he, For all those below? Did he not rule the ocean, And caused its to-and-fro? 35 Was he not the only one, J Who gave these creatures o f l, light? For where would they be, o A l' å, In the depths of the night?!

His pale, spindly legs, “i å Leapt and danced with glee, 66 å And his arms waved and flew, As he thought of the sea. Ogä eá

As he thought of all things, , '§ That he mastered and controlled, THEE Ru=°§ CF‘ His frenzied excitement, Began to take it's toll.

103 My Friend Calvin

"Here we are girls!" Mom said as we drove thought it couldn't get any better, we arrived in into the driveway of our new house. It was the my room. first new house we'd had since my father was It was perfect, just like l'd dreamed. One side killed four years ago. We'd been living with my of the room was facing the ocean. A big double Grandmother (Mom's side), and it was all a bit glazed window took up half the wall, letting in so too much, so we bought this house with Dad's life much sunlight, and to my delight, the other insurance, and money Mom's been saving. window was facing the forest. The house looked really good. Whoever lived We went back down to the kitchen to fix in it before must have had a good reason to sell it. ourselves a snack. I hadn't realized, but we It was big. Very big, and it had a veranda hadn't eaten all day. The kitchen was big and surrounding it, and a white picket fence around warming, just like the rest of the house. the property. It was a nice lot of land that backed It had a big wooden bench we would probably onto a forest. This was a real bonus for me. I use as a breakfast bar, a huge walk-in pantry, love walking in the forest. and a nice setup in general. Starting my senior year is going to be a big After our snack, we went into the room Mom change for me. Fitting in to a new way of was going to use as her office. lt also was a big learning and making new friends and all, is going room, and it also faced the ocean. Mom must to be so different. At least this school has a good really like the ocean. Maybe it's just its cheerleading team. That's something to look tranquillity and peacefulness. She said that the forward to. market here was good, and everybody wanted an As the car came to a halt, Mom asked who interior decorator to help them. Also people in wanted to open the house. Gabrielle wanted to, so other towns had heard about our arrival and I didn't mind. She's a good little girl, and seemed to be interested. deserves it. So Mom handed the keys to her and Gabbie ran to do the honors. _ The first day of school went well. lt was a The house inside was beautiful. So spacious. beautiful day and l was in a very good mood, but I High ceilings, big rooms, and what a view. From was worried about first impressions and things one side of the house you could see the enchanted like that. forest, and on the other, a breathtaking view of "Okay girls, let’s go". Mom called to Gabrielle the ocean. and l from the doorway. "Do you want to be late The lounge room was so pretty. Once our for your first day of school?" furniture got here it would look like a setting for After dropping Gabbie off at school it was my "House and Garden" magazine. It was so open, turn. In the office they were all very nice to me, with big window and an open fireplace. I love especially the principal, Mr Wexner. He walked this place. me to my first period class, English, and "Mom, this place is great! It's just perfect." introduced me to Calvin, a guy with a very I knew telling her that would make her happy. I similar schedule to me. He said Calvin would could tell she was worried that we wouldn't like show me around the school and take me to my it here, but she was wrong. classes. "Thanks Stacey, l'm glad you like it. Let me "So Stacey," Calvin inquired, "Where do you show you the rest of the place." We started live?" Surprisingly he lived a few houses down. walking up a wide, spiralling, wooden staircase. My first friend lives close to me and is very good This took us to the first floor. As we walked, looking. Could this be love at first sight? Mom told us that this would be where she and I didn't listen too much in English. All the Gabbie's rooms would be. teacher was doing was explaining this year's Mom's room was nice. lt looked out onto the expectation. During that class though, I learned sea, and a lot of sunlight came in. Next was the names of Julie, Sarah, James, Randee, Gabbie's room. lt was a sweet little room, and it Carlos, Nathalie, Todd and Jordan, who all seemed was already painted pink, Gabbie's favourite to be Calvin's friends. color. Second period, Science, was also expectations We worked our way up the stairs to the and stuff like that. During the class, Calvin second floor. Mom said I could have this floor to formally introduced me to Sarah, Ftandee and myself. First we went to my own personal study Jordan. Sarah is of medium height, has brown room, where I can have a T.V. and my stereo. My hair that matches her brown eyes. I thought, by own hang-out room, how cool. Just when I just observing, that she liked Calvin, but she was

104 quite shy. Randee, on the other hand, was a tall man? Why? The day you took her out, was the red-head, with magnificent green eyes. By the day our friendship ended. You're no friend of look of things, she was popular. mine." Calvin was getting really serious. He had The only person I knew in my third period killed once, and he looked like he'd do it again. class was Jordan. He is so funny, and speaks "No, Calvin, please." I begged, ''It's not him, French almost as fluently as our teacher. By his its me. l'm the one who chose Jordan over you. I build, I guessed he played football. He was really did it for Sarah. She was my friend. She asked sweet, and said that if I needed any help with me not to go for you. She thought she had a anything to give him a call. He's also in my chance with you." I was starting to sweat. "She fourth period, Physics class. didn't know why you stopped seeing her. She told The lunch was really good, and fat-free. I sat me she wanted to make up with you. She loved with Randee and Sarah, who were sitting with you, and I didn't. How could you have killed her? Carlos, Calvin and Jordan. They all talked about I hate you! You killed my friend!" their summer, but were trying to include me. I Calvin advanced on me and slapped me across found out that Sarah did once go out with Calvin, the face, with his cold, hard hands. I started to and she'sapparrently not over him yet. I also cry. Jordan then intervened by slugging Calvin found out that after school the cheer squad was in the face. Calvin returned this gesture by meeting and Randee said I should come with her. kicking Jordan in the shin, then pushing him into Randee and I became really good friends, and the wall, Calvin breaking Jordan's nose. Calvin had asked me on a date a number of times, I was still crying and I got the knife out of but for my, and Sarah's sake, I always had an Sarah's chest. Nausea swept through my body as excuse. Then Jordan asked me and I was really I thought of the way she died. So cold, so scared. happy. I guess I never really liked Calvin, I hated Calvin, and I wanted him dead. He despite my original feelings. deserved it. After a few months of being at school, I had Calvin then turned and faced me. Knife in his made a lot of friends, got» good grades, and I was hand, I acted calm. "Now Stacey. Tell me you going out with Jordan. One night when Jordan love me now. I want the last words Jordan hears was at my house, we went to visit Calvin, at his to be ones stating your love for me." request. With that, I lunged forward, stabbing the It was a dark night with no moon, and Mom obsessed Calvin in the leg, injuring him enough and Gabrielle had gone to visit Gran. Mom had to stop him from chasing us as we fled from his agreed to let Jordan stay, just for protection and house. He was one sick puppy who needed company. As Calvin lived so close, we walked to desperate help. his house. Just as we arrived in his house, the The police arrived on the scene a few minutes power went out, and the street blackened. There after we had called them. They arrested Calvin was a high pitched scream and then silence. A for murder, and Jordan and I had a lot of few seconds later the light was restored and we publicity after that. rushed to the door. Calvin's family was also away Things calmed down after a few months, and for the week and he, also had the house to Mom said we should stay here, as we all loved the himself. house and the town. I graduated valedictorian and As we knocked on the door there was a strange I stayed living with Mom and Gabrielle, until I feeling inside of me. I hesitated, but I knew got accepted into a good college, and then went on Jordan would protect me. Calvin answered the further to become a high paid G.P. I'll never door with a crooked smile. "Do come in my forget, my friend Calvin. friends," he said. "The party has just begun." At that instant I knew something was wrong. Calvin By Grace Calma was acting weird. Inside, in the middle of the kitchen, lay Sarah, surrounded by a pool of blood. I screamed and Jordan held me. "How? Why? Who did this Calvin?" I was too scared to hear his answer. I was shaking vigorously. Calvin gave another sickly smile and raised his hand. ''I did it. He is I, and I is he." he chuckled. "She tried to get me back," he said seriously, "but you are the only one I want, Stacey, and now, there's only one more obstacle." He turned to Jordan. "Why did you take her away from me 105 The Time Is Running Out The Beat

Sand slipping through the hour glass, I was walking down the street, Sliding through with ease, when I heard an insane beat. The clock is ticking quickly, Time is running out, I looked around the corner, And yet you linger, down the alley was a loner. Waiting for what? Why? Each second passing quickly, He was a beggar, Each minute approaching without hesitating, lying in the gutter. Then one day you disappear, Gone forever, So I threw him a dime, But you never thought, not once, so he’d get some lime. That your time was running out. I heard the beat, By Shivani Rikhy lfelt the heat.

Luckily I had shorts, the buildings were like forts.

There were two roads, then I felt a load.

I went left, I heard the beat, I saw more of the street.

I walked faster, the beat got louder.

I turned right, I saw a fight Ö I ran fast, O they gave chase.

I turned right, I telt right.

M I ran upstairs, I saw the stars.

The only beat I heard, m was my heart.

t l ` The insane beat, disappeared in the heat.

\“ i u‘ By Munkgoo Otgon

106 Eighth Grade Trip to Corbett

On the eighth grade trip to Corbett, there was so happy that we all ran to camp, despite all were many memorable events, spending time of our exertion before. with friends, going on hikes, and seeing many The next morning, my eyes began to crack interesting things like tiger tracks. Although open, as I heard voices outside my tent. I glanced those things were very interesting, the most at my wristwatch; the face read 6:15 a.m. memorable experience was seeing the sun rise UGHIIIIIII!! I changed into warmer clothes so I over the Himalayas, and getting there to see it. could go outside into the cold mountain air and see When we first started out, our trail guides what all the commotion was. I unzipped the inner described how the trail would be. According to and outer layers of my tent, and a cold mountain them, first hour and a half an hour would be an breeze blew in. easy uphill climb, followed by three and one half Stepping outside, I put on my shoes and felt hours straight, then downhill. SURPRISEIIII An the brisk air begin to affect my skin. I stumbled easy uphill hike to them meant about a 45- over to the water bucket (still not completely degree angle uphill. After the first hour, we awake), reached my hand in and splashed some were huffing and puffing and wishing we had water onto my face. My immediate reaction was brought more water in our canteens. to scream as I could feel the ice crystals begin to My calves felt like I had 100 pound weights form on my cheeks. One of the trail guides came strapped onto them. Soon, though, the terrain around asking if anyone cared for coffee or tea. I began to level out, my heartbeat dropped to took it graciously, wanting something warm. I normal, and it didn’t seem so bad anymore. It had was handed a cup and it immediately began to been good going at first, but ‘now it felt really warm my hands. I took a sip, and the hot, sweet liquid tickled over my tongue and burned my We continued around narrow mountain throat as it slid down. winding paths for about another hour. One of the I put the empty cup down and walked over to guides muttered something in Hindi to the other, the edge of the hill that we camped on. In between and they pointed to the top of a hill. Soon we the foothills, there stood a solitary mountain, the were told that we were going to have lunch and sunlight just beginning to shine on the peak. climbed up the hillside to a large patch of grass. Soon, the light began to shine over the top of the After enjoying some relaxation and a good lunch, foothill in front of us, the radiant beams now we were on our way again. visible, casting the shadow of a large mass of Fifteen minutes later, the path became very rock. We took a short hike uphill, to get a better narrow. The edge of the path dropped off about view of the sunrise. five feet straight down to the steep side of the After a short hike, several mountains were mountain. While walking, I felt the dirt beneath visible. Their snow capped peaks appeared to be my right foot crumble, I lost my balance and glistening in the sun. It made me feel awe- suddenly I was airborne, dropping straight down. struck, like I was looking at one of nature’s great I was so stunned, nothing went through my wonders. I realized then, that the intense hike, mind until I hit the side of the hill and began to the thirst, my aching legs, and my brush with roll. I realized then that I had to stop myself, so “death” was all worth it. I turned over onto my stomach and stood up. I tried to use the traction on my shoes to slow my By Russy Klugh descent. I spotted a nearby tree and grabbed onto it, clinging for life. I managed to climb my way back up to the path and was asked by at least fifteen people, “Are you okay?” I was a little petrified and didn't really want to think how close I came to disaster. Forty-five minutes later, we reached a road. The trail guide told us we were near the camp. Everyone was relieved that our perilous journey was almost over. After another five-minute hike, we came to a clearing where we could see the fluorescent colors of the tents. I don't think I've ever seen a more welcome sight. Everyone

107 Differences and My Trip to Candy Land

Similarities Essay lt was a cold, damp Sunday night, and I lay tucked in my bed. I was a young child, not more than eight, “Flowers for and dreams danced in my head. Algernon” and I dreamed of fairy wings and magic things, and fairs of chocolate and gold. “Charfie” As Mr. Sandman filled my eyes, it was to him my dreams I told. As I began spinning my tales to this man, who casts on us a spell of deep slumber, Both the short story and the movie about I was disturbed by a sound so absurd, Charlie are good, but I think that the movie that my thoughts were all driven asunder. “Charlie” is better than the short story, I opened my eyes and to my surprise, “Flowers for Algernon.” My reasons for there stood a hippo quite cheerful and stout. thinking this are because the film has more depth He poked up his head from the foot of my bed, in detail, more emotion, and the actor who acts as and said, “Hey, my name’s Jed!” with a shout. Charlie is really good. I was quite shocked but not scared like I should, The detail in the short story was all right, for he seemed like a friendly type chap. but the writing was all in Charlie`s view, so So I answered politely with “How do you do?” scenes were not described as well as they were Not quite conscious yet from my short nap. shown in the movie. Even though the. way Charlie He seemed quite familiar, though I couldn’t writes and sees things is one of the short story`s recall, better aspects, (the way he misspells words and ` where or when I had seen him before. uses a childish vocabulary) the film, however, is But he must have know me because right after able to show the detail clearer and with more that, points of view than the short story. he carried me out of the door. _ The emotion in the movie is also expressed Now I never knew that hippos could fly, more deeply than in the story. I would feel bad but Jed, well he soared like a hawk. about how the guys were teasing Charlie and We raced with the wind, telling people that they “pulled a Charlie,” but I and dodged through the clouds, was even sadder when I saw what the people were until finally we came to our stop. actually doing to him. When he opened his locker We landed on a grassy plain, and dough came out all over him, I felt upset filled with poppies and daisies so dandy. when I saw all the guys Iaughing evil laughs, and But when I stopped and looked much closer, the worst part was that Charlie was happy about I noticed that they were all made of candy. it, busy putting more dough all over his head. I looked all around and everything that I found, l-n addition, a major plus about the movie was was chocolate or creme or gumdrops. actor Cliff Robertson. To see his childish face And while feasting my eyes on such a delight, when he was mentally challenged and then to see I began eagerly licking my chops. him suddenly grow into a very smart and Then I ran through the place and was stuffing my civilized man was really impressive. In the story face, version, I would just see his words and spelling while Jed just jogged iauntily behind. become much better, but in the movie he was I ate every poppy and daisy and tree, exactly like a small child who then turned into a until I thought that l’d surely die. stunningly smart gentleman. This change is Then Jed said to me gaily, "lt's time to go home, impressive, so the acting was pleasing but sad to you've had enough fun for tonight." see. So with that he took me onto his back, All in all, the movie is obviously better than and again we took off in flight. the short story -even though the`short story had a He returned me back to my little, soft bed, few of its own good features. With the great and then he bid me good-bye. acting, deep emotion and good detail, the movie And even today when dreams dance in my head, deserves to be recognized more than the short I think of Jed and the night he stopped by. story. By Andy Haynes By Erika Massey

108 I Think Words

I sit upon a bench, Deep in my thoughts, Clean Words i think If I were a clean word, About the wonders of the Woifid, l’d be windex, squeaky, stream, but sparkly. About the people of the world, l’d be toothpaste, ice, snow, bubble, crystal, and pristine. I think About the past, Dirty Words About the future, But if I were a diry word, l’d be grimy, slimy, dirt, blood, but mud. i think Also snot, puke, grease, school, and drool. About the poor, About the rich, Silent W0FdS If I were a silent word, i think l’d be quiet, sleep, peep, and sheep. About me, Sssshhhhhhhhhhhh. About death, Loud Words l think If I were aloud sound, About you, l’d be boom, bam, crash, and slam. About me, But also snap, crakle, and slap.

I think By Ryan Porterfield There are far too many thoughts, To write down.

By Persa Jessica Maerz

Friends . .

People who care, ) People who understand, Å They’re able to sooth your problems, 9 And Iend a helping hand.

Just imagine life, dull and friendless, Void of any socializing, Lonely and endless.

When you’re in a rut, They get you out, When you’re down and blue, You need not doubt. ` A {

Friends are always there. Whether you like it or not. They’re there to care, \ When you’re left on the spot.

By Zoe Manickam

109 The Audition

The sheet was up on top of a bill board with From off my shoulders there was lifted a ton. people crowded round, Well done, he said as I got up to go out, I pushed my way through the mass and there my He doesn't know what he's talking about. name I found. I could have played it better, I messed up too 9:30 it said next to my name in bold lettered ink, much, So excited that the day was here, I found it hard I won't do that well when I played as such. to think. I went back to my dorm and sat down, I was mad, 9:30 was the time when I would play my I shouldn't have screwed up even just a tad. trombone, Now I waited and waited until the results were Under the critical eyes of some old, all-knowing posted, crone. I was hoping for the best but I knew I was 9:30 it said, the climax of my endless work, roasted. If I really blew it, I know l'd go beserk. I sat for an hour and slowly I calmed down, The next morning I got up and went to practice But from my face I couldn't wipe that frown. my song, My friend rushed in and opened the imitation I did really well, not a single note wrong. wood door, In the line to the room, I waited my turn , He dashed in and tried to stop but slid on the I was so hot that I thought i might burn. floor, The line went along and my excitement I The results are up, he said with a wink and a suppressed, smile, As kid after kid came out, their faces depressed. I sighed as I stoodand walked out of the dark room My palms were sweaty, and giddy was my mind, single file. The kids were watching, seeing if the best they You won't believe it, I did well! he exclaimed to could find, me, Often they would talk among themselves and boast I murmured back the results of my audition I of their skill, don't want to see. But the others would calmly say just wait until, I walked into the atrium expecting the worst, After the audition and after you‘ve played, I looked around, obviously I wasn't the first. Then you can boast about what chair you've made. Where are the trombones, I asked a girl lounging Finally my spot arrived and my heart skipped a in a seat,` beat, Over there, she pointed in a voice so sweet. My kneeswere sort of wobbly as I got up from Just maybe I did okay, and I got something good, the seat. I quickly walked over to where lots of students I opened the door, and went in, trombone in hand, stood, I never thought l'd get this worried about some I might be the worst or best, I don't know, silly band. My mind was in turmoil, although my face The man inside nodded at me, waving his short wouldn't show. blonde hair, The sheet was up on top of a bill board with He smiled and joked as if he were without a care. people crowded round, He asked me some questions about where I was I pushed my way through the mass and there my from, name I found. So you're the boy from India, that's a long way you've come. By Tyler Willson Finally after a little talk I was asked to play, My solo that l'd practiced an hour every day. I took out my music and placed it on the stand, I whispered, don't mess up and you'll make the top band. I concentrated on the music and brought the metal to my lips, Then I played my piece, with soaring notes and low dips. Even though I practiced it with everything right, My nerves set in and my lips went tight. It seemed like hours when I was finally done, Some Doctors Do Not Psycho Keep Their Promise He took a handful of sand and let it fall through his fingers. He could hear the sound of When l was nine years old, l didn't brush my the waves and raised his gaze to watch them. He teeth every day. Later my teeth ached terribly. had just murdered someone with his bare hands When I told my parents about my teeth, they said and he was plotting his next murder. After e I needed to go to the dentist. They went to the murders he comes straight to the beach and dentist and told him about my problem. I had a plots another murder. He grabs his surfboard doctor’s appointment the next day. That night my and runs out to the ocean, surfing for hours and teeth hurt so much that I couldn’t sleep. The next hours. He is so crazy, he lies down on his day l went to the dentist with my parents. I surfboard in the freezing cold ocean and he goes couldn’t sit in the car very well because I felt so to sleep for hours and hours. He sleeps until sun much pain. So I shouted in the car until we rise and then he surfs back to the beach and arrived at the dentist. When we saw the doctor, leaves. He jumps on his motorcycle and drives to he said, “Hello. Sit in the chair, please.” his house. He drove for about an hour before he Before I sat in the chair, I said, “Please, reached his home. He eats his food like a wild pig work gently.” He promised and checked my teeth that hasn't eaten for years and years. After he carefully. Then he got out many tools. Suddenly eats, he starts to polish his surfboard and he he pulled one of my teeth out with a small pair of thinks about who he should murder next. He pliers. I shouted. At the same time, l knew he smokes a cigarette while he thinks. After each broke his promises. Then he said to wait, there puff, he takes a sip of his beer. He heard a noise was another tooth he needed to pull out. When he outside the house and he curiously stands up and did, he said, “Finished.” Afterwards I went home. reaches for his shot gun. lt was the police, so he Now I know dentists never keep their knew he was going to go to jail so he puts the gun promises. They always trick children. into his mouth and he pulls the trigger. Two weeks later my parents bought a bicycle for me. I rode on the street every day. One day I By Ajay Chand rode the bicycle very fast. I turned to the right and I didn’t see the car. The car and my bicycle hit very hard. When I opened my eyes, I was in the hospital. My parents were beside me. The doctor came and said to my parents, “Don’t worry.” I was afraid that doctor would be like the dentist but he wasn't. He did everything very gently. I didn’t feel any pain. Now I know some doctors are kind to their patients. By Sai Htwemyint

If/dud ' 7

of?

along with everyone and do well in school. I have Goals more goals than these, but these are the ones I wanted to talk about.

During my lifetime I have had many goals By Sebastiar1”Millan which I have tried to accomplish. These goals I have set out since I was a little kid and even now, but the funny thing is that as I got older many of these things have changed. When I was a kid, I mainly thought about me, myself, and I. For example, when I was little, I thought that I was "gonna" dedicate my life to being a movie star, being famous, and getting rich. Now I think of different things; I think about what I want to be when I become an adult, how I am "gonna" do it and if I am going to earn enough money to keep myself alive. l've set up long term goals which I hope will come true. l’m hoping that I will graduate from a Good-Bye School good college and that one day l'll get a job with a really good salary, Then I am hoping that l'Il get Your yellow halls, married. After a couple of years of working in And books so new, that job I will have saved money and l'II be able You have served me faithfully, to build my dream house. Still l'm thinking Now l’ll leaveyou to stew, mostly about myself, but now I am setting out goals for things that I really do need to worry I won’t need my pencils, about. My books or my pen, I also have some goals that wouldn't be long And I won’t run to classes, term or short term goals, but they'd be goals that Like a little red hen, I'd want to accomplish before I die. Some of them you may think are rather crazy, but from my I won’t be doing homework, point of view they would be stupendous things to Till one a.m. do. A couple of them are that I would want to go Bathroom, I wrote on your door, Bungy Jumping off a bridge with a river under it You know who I am, so that on my third recoil I could unclip the bungi cord and land inside the river. Also I want In gym I won't have, to sky dive over the Mediterranean Sea, and Mr. Ashit’s looks, speaking of seas I want to swim in all the oceans And in the library I won't have, and seas in the world. I also want to go swimming My little secret nooks, in the great Nile, not only do I want to swim in it but I also want to raft that river down from its Summer's here, source to where it ends. Also I would like to see I’m ready, l’m ready, all the World Cup Soccer Finals live from the Good old school, time I'm fifteen till when I die. I would also like I miss you already! to be watching one of the future Olympic Games live, but I wouldn't want to do these nearly as By Aislyn Capper much as I would want to see the World Cup Finals. Flight at this instant I have some goals that I would want to accomplish. I want to be on the honor roll the last quarter of the school year, and I want to make as many friends as I can. I really don't have many goals for this year because I have already accomplished most of the ones I had, but the only thing that I would really put as one of my goals would be if I could go back to the past and change the way I did some things. For high school I don't have any goals except to try to get

112 The Sadhu

lt stopped by a boulder, then lightly touched his T’was a bright spring day, in the middle of May shoulder. when over the hills a Sadhu strolled. A pale blue figure stood beside him, he stared He had traveled afar without street-bus or car, upon it, wishing. but by foot over mountains of gold. He wished for brunch or maybe lunch. Deep into the night, he stopped, it felt right. The blue water nymph held out her hand. He paused for a while, and he lay. He took her hand and was led to the sand. The Sadhu drifted to dreams and thought out some The sand of the riverbank, and all that gorgeous schemes, land. of his plans for the following day. In a wink, the nymph told him to sit and drink. The morning soon came, without fortune or He sat and drank, on that gorgeous river bank. fame... He put the liquid to his lips, and took one, two, instead with a spectacular view. three, four sips. He had stopped in a place with beauty and grace, Quietly, quickly all his pains (and cravings) it was a riverbank with a breeze and trees, too. were gone.

He walked to the stream, which looked like a He asked the nymph, “What was that? Tea? dream Why did you, a nymph, help me?” and saw a flash three feet from the edge. No reply came to her lips, but he got the answer He waded right out, and found a trout, in his mind. stuck in a net which was caught in a wedge. lt was the magic medicine for life and living. Only for those who help out, and are giving. He got himself wet, to help like a vet. He untangled the fish and stepped out. By Pamela Gordon The trout swam away without a delay, and the Sadhu continued his walk on the route.

Soon, he bumped into>) a frog on a log. The frog was stuck and looked up with a plea, so the Sadhu saved the frog that was brave, the green bug-eyed frog jumped away, he was free. com’-\'\\\c. ' ‘K6 \` K The Sadhu kept strolling, but soon he heard \\ rolling, which he saw was a turtle flipped over. The creature was lying, on his back crying, unable to turn himself over.

The green-faced turtle was relieved, of his troubles after a plea, because of the Sadhu who flipped the turtle to his feet. As the hard-shelled turtle waddled home, the Sadhu continued to roam.

He followed the stream, through each ravine. When he was hungry, he stopped. His craving for food grew and grew. So onto the grass he flopped.

He lay on the ground, but then heard a sound. The sound approached him “swishing.” The Long Long Trek

Group B of 8th grade started five minutes away from Nainital, started that long, long trek. It was 9:00 am . Time stood still. I complained that I had a bad knee, (which I did), but would the teachers listen, noooo. Our group was looking forward to the trek and so was I. The first stretch was full of moaning and groaning. It was a hard, up—hiII battle, but time passed by as I was talking to Isabelle and Camilla. Camilla was so funny. One hour later we stopped to have lunch, which was absolutely DISGUSTING! The chips were “Pudina Punch” a spicy and erotic taste. We stopped on the side of the hill for about half an hour, soaking up hot sun. In the distance on top of a hill, you could see a radar base above the town Nainital. We started off on a winding thin path, where every thing was damp or wet. The temperature was nice and cool, the scenery was stunning, and over the hill into the distance you could see the mountains. By now we were pretty deep into the hills; the path was getting thinner and thinner till finally someone tmvflvah fell down the hill. The ground had broke under him. _

Soon we were down the hill, which was a fi.,_ relief. We stopped at a little stream where we lt took photos with friends. We walked on for an l I hour or so, when we came down hill to a road. I /'\§ asked the man in charge, “How much longer?” “Oh, about 15 to 20 minutes." Sure enough, our camp was on top of a hill not so far away. Then I heard, “Oh, No! We have to go up hill again!” But it only took 5 minutes. Finally three and a half hours later we reached our camp. Some times I think about this trek because it was fun and challenging to my mind and body. I hadn't been out in the wild for a long time in the clean fresh air with not a cloud in the sky. To be there with out a care in world was refreshing. This trip will always give me fun and joyful memories.

\\ By .Justin Edwards zapl ZAP!!!” And the great Elmo raised his right Prejudice tentacle and zapped them all into a parallel universe. The problem was, that he'd zapped them too hard, and caused them, and the entire Biggie, Boggle, and Kray lived in a flat, land of Absolutely Nowhere to explode and rubber hut on the longest marble desert stationed dissolve into a somewhere, in fact it was named in the Land of Absolutely Nowhere. The sun’s Earth. The major problem, was that parts of the cooling rays of infrared purple caused their three unlucky victims, along with the things that mauve-colored walkway to look pretty they happened to be touching at the time dissolved unhealthy. The only interesting thing to watch into it too. Which explains why our world is so was the couch—sized television set that only PREJUDICED, as well as why plastic Halloween broadcasted old Star Trek reruns. Biggie and doilies and floss were invented. Boggle spent every hour of their day complaining of its naive sound effects, but Kray never The End (or should we say... the begining.) listened to them. Her brothers tried to convince her that plucking her eyebrows and performing By Tara Lowen-Ault ear surgery would not make herself more in touch with her inner Spock, but after the X-Files called her for an interview, there was nothing more they could say. For this Kray disliked her That's Life repulsive family members and had already sent them several death threats. Her mind was now made up, those male crayon—consumers would When people die, where do they go? pay for their disgusting existence. They would ls heaven and hell really where they go? die, die, die, and soon world domination would be hers. These are questions Biggie and Boggle woke up one morning and That spring to your mind ate three jelly beans on egg with a cup of goulash. When someone dies Superior being, Kray arosethat same morning That you're close to. and ate four carrots along with a little bit of cream cheese. Their differences were obvious, You don`t want to do much war was necessary. While ceremonies are going on. For several years they tried various murder ls there really need tor such? attempts on each other, all unsuccessful. Your feelings and emotions Nuclear weapons had not yet been invented, so are hard to explain. they had to make do with what they found laying around. An empty burger beetle’s nest, a fork, lt hurts when you see them pass way krypton, a plastic Halloween doily, a paper clip, lt feels like a kite thats flown away. seventeen pieces of floss, etc. etc. Any way this You feel hopeless and afraid war went on and on until the great Elmo from the The worst bit is the cries land of Transverpacemkersville got fed up with And when it”s time to say good bye. the whole thing. “What is wrong with you @?#*& ll” it said. Think about the people who can”t say bye “ l`m just trying to run a peaceful universe and Like mothers, brothers, sister and fathers you have to wreck things for me. Right in the Of the person who has died. middle of Star Trek, too. Why were you fighting But saying bye can also be hard. anyway?” “Well we can’t really remember.” Kray The thing to always remember answered, grinning insanely. Everyone has to die, some sooner, some later “We just wanted to exterminate her, she is Some before , some after made of different material than we are. Nail Some separate, some together. polish remover and wax fumes come out of her ears, and she doesn”t eat jelly beans on egg with By Jayna Tida goulashl” Biggie and Boggle replied. “Well now look and see what you`ve done! You've invented prejudice, and that wasn't scheduled to be invented for at least a couple million years, by humans. .Just for that ZAP! 115 Jackie The Field

On our eighth grade class trip to Camp Corbett, one of the activities for the week was First base is only a stone, horseback riding. On Wednesday, our group lined second is someones old shirt, up outside to choose our horses. l immediately third is a pile of pebbles, picked a brown horse dressed up with red bells. and home is etched in the dirt. l later found out that this horse, Jackie, was a little on the slow side. The infield is brown, If I were to have picked another horse, I the base paths well worn, think the ride would have been much more it has been like this, pleasant and fun. The riding was to last about well before l was born. three hours. During the ride, we rode by the village, along mountain paths, and acrossside Throughout the summer months, roads. Going by the village was fun, but on the l go to it every day, paths and side roads, Jackie got tired and we all meet there in the morning, aggressive. For example, he began to run into to choose up sides and play. other horses. This did not make sense because he seemed to end up at the end of the line. I soon We play until it gets too dark, realized that this happened because the guide no matter who is losing, prevented Jackie from going further. Finally, at but that was up until today, the last turn, the guide let go of Jackie, and he for l just found out I’m moving. went racing ahead of the other horses. I am pretty sure this happened because he found out I have to say goodbye, that this was the end of the ride, and he wanted to to the field and to my pals, rest. I concluded that Jackie was a stubborn for tomorrow I am leaving, horse. He ran in front of others. He never leaving for Saint Jals. listened to the commands I had given him, and he ran into other horses when l gave him the The field is my real home, command to stop. Unfortunately, I finally where l used to have my fun, figured out that if I wanted to stop Jackie, I had to it never really mattered, tell the guide. whether or not I won. I have had many thoughts about this day and the ride. One was that I learned one should never But now I have to leave, judge something just by sight. For example, I leave it far behind, chose Jackie as the horse to ride because l but l will never forget it; thought he would be fast and easy to ride. This it will never leave my mind. probably was because he was big with long legs. l also learned that one should listen to directions. l love that field, This is because when the guide told me how to it`s where I play my ball, guide the horse, l ignored him. Later, it cost me even through the summer months, because I struggled with steering Jackie. These when the grass grows long and tall. are some of the major things l learned during the ride. First base is only a stone, If I were to choose another horse for this second is someonels old shirt, activity, it would have been horse #11, Johnny. third is a pile of pebbles, This horse was white and had no real guide. and home is etched in the dirt. Whoever ended up with this horse could ride freely. Johnny listened to all directions it was But it is mine. given, and it was able to supervise the other horses by leading the line. By Nathaniel Myers All in all, in a way, lenjoyed this horse ride. I got to be with my friends, enjoy the scenery, and learn a few points in life.

By Jay Simhan A Pony-trek in Corbett My Future Goals

Clip, clop! Clip, clop!... That was the sound of our My current goals are to get better grades in horses cantering through the woods, a beautiful school, get a good report, then graduate. Then I morning when the sun shone, and the birds were want to be able to get to go to University and get a singing. Our eighth grade was on a class trip to really good job. Later I want to be rich and have a Corbett, and my group was to go on a pony-trek. stylish car and live in Beverly Hills in a large It was to be the most enjoyable activity on the house with maybe my wife and kids. I also hope to trip. meet famous people like Michael Jordan and I hadn’t been riding for a while, but when I Hakeem Olujuwon, even become famous myself. I sat up on my horse, Sultan, I felt okay. Sultan would like to travel the world with my best was white, and his long white mane was blowing friends and the women of my dreams, to explore in the wind. He was said to be the fastest horse of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, to go to all. I had no doubts about that. When we were all or most of my favorite places to eat, and do cantering , Sultan ran ahead of the other horses everything I always wanted do, and more. Maybe and riders. Usually, that would give most people after some of that, I will probably play pro a scary feeling; the horse is running away from basketball and make it into the NBA. If I don't all the others. I didn't get scared at all, because I play basketball, maybe I'Il just be a really could control him, and that was a cool thing, to successful business man and make lots of money. actually control a big horse's movements. I hope then to live until I am 100 and still feel The canter was nice and calm, it wasn’t like l’m 13 years old. And after all that, I will galloping. Sultan took big, soft steps, and for a just sit at home and relax until I am no longer. while, I felt as if I were flying. Every time Sultan put down his front right hoof, his nostrils expanded, and I could hear his breathing. I really enjoyed this pony-trek, and the main reason for that may be that I like horses a lot. Another reason was that it was funny to see people you never could have imagined on a horse, actually riding. Some people thought they were so cool, that they only held the reins with one hand or none. (No, l'm not thinking of you, Sebastian and Justin....) But when the horses started to canter, they didn't look that pleased anymore.. The only bad thing about the pony-trek was that the next day we had to sit in a bumpy bus on a bumpy road with sore butts for a couple of hours. I think everybody enjoyed the pony-trek, especially if I compare it to all the other things we did: walking for six hours up a mountain, walking through a jungle without animals, visiting deserted ruins and more....

By Camilla Narvehed 7-

Thafland

A small, delicate bird sings to himself in a bamboo tree, å its song is like that of a nightingale. g The river is still, hardly a ripple, a cold, heartless stone flies through the air shattering the quiet river into a swirling, flowing funnel. The sand is warm and golden brown baked with the hot brown sun. The winds come during monsoon times, like the desert winds of the Sahara. A woman with her cart of fresh fruits passes by, she asks if you want some. Smiling rickshaw drivers zoom by in a hurry to get customers. A car passes by rice fields, rice paddies, and bamboo trees. l Holy Buddhist monks walk to the temple to spend l the rest of the day in silent prayer, meditating ' quietly to themselves. Beautiful Thai women stroll around in their sarongs with bright colors, emerald blue, magenta, purple and yellow. Children run to and from school chattering to The Dark their friends on the way. Beggarchildren run up to cars and beg for Once UPC“3 C0'dydefk night, money l sat still, immune to fright, A baby cries With the comforts of warmth and light, l l When night comes, people go back to their homes UPC“ my 'ap e Siamese Cat- and villages and wait for a new day to start. Thailand is the land of hope and opportunities. l listened '(0 the music b00min9. It makes me proudto welcomeyou to my home Sudden‘)!Came darkness l0Oming, Thailand_ With deathly silence all consuming, I whispered to the cat, “What’s that?” By Kerri Levin Then happened something shocking, At the door was someone knocking, The door I wished l’d thought of locking, But far too late now for that.

My mind imagined something scary, Someone big and perhaps quite hairy, From worry l became quite wary, And still I wondered, “What’s that?”

I crept across the cold, stone floor, Then l opened the solid door, On a broken tree did moonlight pour, lt was a tree and only that.

By Kirsten Hawkins 118 that they are to known as the caretakers, The Thicket... the caretakers in the bushes ahead, BY GOLLYI

In the thicket beyond the tree In the thicket beyond the tree It lays there lt Iays there there in the thicket there in the thicket it lays staring at me! it lays there staring at me!

By Dumisani Mhlanga I was on safari on a hot day and I enjoyed it all the way until it happened. TALES OF GOHA I humped on bumps bumped on humps till I got a lump on my rump. Goha Buys Meat For Supper Hallelujah I was singing though no good luck it was bringing. I felt the powerful engine of the four by four One day Goha thought he would like to have a like a determined choo-choo train trying to get really good supper, so he bought three over that hill Kilograms of the best meat and took it to his wife. yes I can, “Please cook this meat for our supper I thought it was sayíng as I threw away my tin tonight,” he said to her and left the house. can. His wife was a good cook and put the pieces of The wheels on the ground, meat in to the oven and prepared some vegetables the gravel in the air, to go with it and also some rice. While she was the air in my face. doing the cooking for her husband's meal, two I felt the powerful engine push us forward, women tried the meat and agreed that it was very forward into the land yet to be conquered tasty. by the darkness of mankinds heart,forward into “Just one more little piece,” said the the jungle, neighbor, and Goha’s wife cut two more pieces, into the thickets beyond me, one for her and one for her friend. So they went beyond that tree. on eating more and more until suddenly Goha's T'was then, wife realized they had eaten it all. then that some powerful force from beyond When Goha came home for his supper, his nature stopped the car wife told him that she was very sorry but all that stopped it in a sudden simple way, she had was some vegetables and rice. breakdown,what a day! “And what’s happened to the three Kilograms I was flung in the air of meat I brought you this morning?" asked Goha. wheels on the ground “Oh,” she said, “l’m sorry to tell you, while gravel on the ground my back was turned, the cat stole the meat and my face on the ground. ate it all up.” Now,when gravity's work was done, Goha gave his wife a look that showed he did I couldn't,t even Iocate the sun, not believe her and went off to look for the cat. it's times like this that I feel like a bun When he had .found it, he took out a pair of scales but to get the bun I gotta run. and weighed the cat. He found that the cat weighed Run I could not do, exactly three kilograms, and so he turned to his even in the food mood,for my legs were broke, wife and said “Oh Wife, if this is the cat, then thank the stars I did not choke BUT- where is the meat? and if this is the meat, then but the truce is I know where is the cat?” I know a rule in nature that no being shall suffer long, By Bassem Amin even without the bong of a gong none-shall suffer ,suffer long the children, the servants of nature won't let that be, The Madrigal The Green Dream

The bitter wind whistled over the old walls, When I was small, my friend and I shared a Everyone was wrapped in their warmest shawls, dream. There were pages, lords, ladies, knights, It was a very unique dream, a statement of hope, All dressed up for the medieval night, A childish illusion that I pursued with At the magical, mysterious, determination. Neemranah Fort overlooking the huge Rajasthan Every morning before leaving for school, Desert. We would carefully sprinkle our dreams with All were drawn into the past, prayers They felt that they had gone back in time with the And droplets of pure crystal, clean, clear water cast, That would blaze brightly in the sun, The madrigal singers were ready, Like a million beautiful diamonds. We, the wenches, were busy keeping our trays We knew what we’d been wanting for. steady, Early in the evenings, there was a recurrence of The guests were bubbling with excitement, regard. No one knew what to expect. The diminishing rays of energy Soon all began to feast, Sprayed our dreams with mighty strength, Upon the great head of a wild beast, And we were warmed by the air surrounding us. We wenches were pouring mulled wine, As we watched the celestial colors, And hoping that our service was divine, Their intensity slowly weakened. It no longer seemed cold, We knew what we’ve been wanting for. Our hearts had been warmed by the song. Green, we said to all those hypocrites. Finally the flaming pudding carried on a huge We said it to be very tall and a rich green, dish entered, But they just gazed at both of us with absolute All ‘oohhed’ and ‘ahhed’ their attention centered, sympathy. Upon the huge flame ball, From their average heights, The wenches tired but in high spirits scurried to Smiling those fraud smiles. the kitchen hall, My friend responded with red resentment, We joked as the brass played their music from Red hatred, i above, Red soul, We rushed and served till all were content. Red sorrow. And so I said, “Ignore it, don`t let anyone come in At last we got to join the singers, between us and our dreams. We took off our aprons and became bell ringers, We can make it happen, if we let it happen.” We then sang our hearts away, The day came We finally felt Christmas was near and we began When she and I would part. to sway, Will I find her again? The guests were spell bound, Even not, Our songs meaning had finally been found. l'll put no end to our dream. After the Madrigal the wenches went to and We shared our dream, outdoor court, And where ever we are, Most of us had changed without a thought, And where ever we might be, We had a cooler full of food, Our dream has no ending. And a stereo, we were all in a good mood, We let the pop music play, By Jonalyn Klinger And I wished I could stay there forever. After midnight I decided to go to bed, We had all been fed, On Oreos, chips, cheeses and Cokes, Eventually we went to sleep like the other folks, We fell asleep immediately, Having had the time of our lives! By Katherine Spears

120 If I Wasa Bird..... War In The Trenches:

From A Soldiers Point If I were a bird, l would be a Bluebird. With my Of View beautiful blue feathered wings I would fly high in the sky. I would sit on a branch and with my red War in the trenches, eyes I would watch Quite frankly suicide, the world go by. lf l chose to, I could travel Most of us who participate, to the sea or the Would rather set aside, ocean. With my small black beak l could eat our problems and our differences, seeds and Embrace the enemy as a friend, worms. And promise never to fight again, Till the very bitter end. I chose to be the Bluebird because ifl was,l could soar War in the trenches, high in the sky and see the world from Worse than suicide, above, travelling long many folks would have it, distances to far away places. l can imagine That we soldiers could decide, going to Manali If we really wanted to fight this war, and Dehradun. I could build a nest in a For its cause and not some laws, Gulmohar tree and Or if we’d rather, stand aside, sleep soundly at night with the sound of the And let not the foe find our fighting flaws, crickets in my But such isn’t the case, ears. So more of us must go, To fight the foreign foe, By Samini Philip We'll die in another engagement, For the honor of our president.

By Daniel Luntzel

121 Prince Philip at Corbet

After the various treks across the jungle and I asked the guide whether it was safe to go other miscellaneous and rather dull activities swimming in the pool, and he told us a probably which occurred during our class trip to Camp phony story about two people being bitten in the Corbet, I was looking forward to something very pool we were going to swim in. It might remotely interesting. Finally, our group arrived have been phony, but, there was only one person at an event that seemed like it could satisfy my in the water. need for excitement. This wondrous event was After a short and dissatisfying splash in one up on the chalkboard that morning in a bright of the shallower pools further down stream, vie yellow color, under the title, “Waterfall”. set off back to the bus. It started off one dark and gloomy morning, at On this event, in a strange way, I learned that around sixish, when Mr. Gupta’s melodious voice the old saying, “Never judge a book by its (HA,HA!) woke me up saying, “OK, everybody, cover." was true. In this case it was, “Never wake-up!” We ate our breakfast and piled on to judge a pool by its looks." the rather shabby looking buses provided for us Enough complaining, the good aspectof the by the school. We were heading out for event was being able to enjoy things with my adventure; we were heading out for the friends. I hardly get to do that anywhere since WATERFALLII the only long time I am with your friends ls I arrived at the site full of excitement and either over the weekend or at school. I also enthusiasm, but all this was set aback when I got learned not to go through mud with my Armani off the bus onto a not-quite-dry area which shoes on. mainly consisted of mud, mud, and more mud. Anyway, we walked through this quite By Yeshwant Holkar concoction for about half an hour until finally the mush which represented our path swerved, and we came upon a shallow. wide stream full of If I were a Pegasus... water-rounded stones. Our vocal cords were quite relieved for now If I were to choose what legendary animal I they could stop complaining quite uselessly as they had been doing for the whole walk. would like to be, I would be a Pegasus. l’d look Over the mutters of the relaxing group came exactly like l superb white horse except for my a quite loud yell. The terrific yell was made up beautiful, large, feathered, shining wings. They of five letters, “S-N-A-K-EI" Everybody would spread and then gracefully lift me up. If turned and looked at Daniel pointing toward the the sun was out in the deep blue sky, then l’d water and literally on the verge of jumping up reflect the bright light like 'silver and almost and down with the excitement. blind anyone looking at my unequaled beauty! I I looked toward where he was -pointing and would soar through the sky and gaze down on the was rather surprised to see an lack, long, ant-like people far beneath me. My hooves would wavy ...... thing lying in the water. gently touch the earth as I came down for my grazing time. My wide, deep blue eyes would look “that is not a snake! lt's only a stick," I heard someone say to Daniel. I promptly picked full of intelligence. l’d have large powerful teeth up a stone and decided to settle the matter myself. that could easily crush the tender, green grass. Hurling the pebble in vaguely the same direction My sensitive ears would become erect as they as the desired target, I saw that, sure enough, the hear the dry, brown tall grass being crumpled target tuned around and slithered away. Not a under a predator's feet. Again I would spread my desired event in an archery contest, wouldn`t you wings for take-off and fly in the orange sunset. think? The reasons I chose to be a pegasus are that it This was rather unnerving to all of us. After excites me, and it is a form of graceful muscle in the rest of the wale, (which wasn”t that bad), we motion. lt would also be interesting to have a arrived at the waterfall, and nobody wanted to bird’s eye view when flying. swim. Even the temptation of the cool and gorgeous pool couldn't drag anyone in, well, By Gabriel Verret hardly anyone. The only person who took off his T-shirt and jumped in was Bryan Edwards. He was either being terribly brave or terribly ignorant.

122 My Move A tall man stopped me at the door.

“l stay here!” I protested, “What are you doing this for?” , . “The building is on fire," Ive been the orgamzed type, “Where?” The kind you would want to be, “On the fourth “O ,, And now I look back at that one long move, or' And the ordeal that happened to me. , _ I really wasnt surprised, But was happy to find out, My story starts in my living room, All of my boxes were moved, As I sat down to examine the quality, And already in the airplane, no doubt. Of the packers that were kindly sent, Yes, that began the ordeal for me. I was ready to go’

I was in the right seat, I watched as two of them lifted a shelf, It was a clear day, Which held a glass bowl ready to break, With a take off you just couldn't beat. I leaped and called but not soon enough, lt shattered as I screamed, “Oh, for God's sake!” , . Ive always been the orgamzed type, The kind you would want to be, Then I saw on the floor behind me, And now I look back at that one long move, Just there in a million parts, And the ordeal that happened to me. A priceless mirror lay on the floor, My reflection in all those shards. By Alisha Krzyzewski I gazed at the time, Oh, now what shall I do? I'm traveling in seven hours, Yet my packing’s still not through!

A sting of pain struck through my arm, And I looked as it bled severely, I must have run through my mirror, When I caught my bowl, well nearly.

An ambulance came to collect me, It took us an hour to get there, I got my stitches then left, For that was the least of my cares.

It took me another hour, To finally reach the place, Where I bought the mirror, In the first case.

The man fold me that because he, Could never make anything like it, I should just buy another one, But then a light bulb lit.

How much time do I have now, I sorambled around in my head, 7-3, no, 4+3, Get it right I quietly said.

I returned to the hotel, ig Up to the fourth floor, I walked up marble stairs, Bill Cronie Confusion

The night was dark and dreary, His head was drunk and weary, A women, holding herself, entered All was sad, red-eyed, choking on tears, No one to can him dad, Her husband, frantic and wild-eyed No one to call him honey, smelled of his own fears. Nothing seemed right, The night Bill Cronie took his own life. “Help my wife, please!” his pleading cry echoed off the walls, Now Bill was a happy man, he lived on Hunters The women was rolled out Hill into the empty white halls. He had a son named Jason and a wife called Jenny, Bill managed a hotel down near the bay, She was rushed in a squeaky wheelchair Pretty good money, to a small claustrophobic room, His wife won at rummy, Her husband, breathless, entered; His son was the mack at rugby, written all over his face was doom. Everything seemed to be going his way. The young doctor briskly walked in, Anyway, Jason and Jenny went down to Sydney, he brought a cloud of antiseptic smell, To meet Bill Sr. and Grandma Henny, The white-coated doctor rhythmically gave out They stayed a week or two, nothing new, orders T'was back home when the problems started to his voice was soothing as a bell. brew, Bill was laid off, and the mortgage was due, “You will make it through this,” Something was doomed to demise, the doctor assured her, And lo and behold, the carriage home left the She closed her eyes and thought tracks, of a future where she would not suffer. Jason and Jenny died. The women shuddered in pain Well, deprssion was at its high for Bill, the speechless husband let out a cry, He lost his home, deiected, She felt a shift in her body Lost his family, disheartened, and she was determined not to die. Full of cheap gin, drunk. In his demented delirioum he reched for his .22, The women gave a yell Shot a hole through his head, dead. and the husband was shocked into silence A baby boy was placed in her arms The night was dark and dreary, all she felt was peace, no violence. His head was drunk and weary, All was sad, Wide, pale blue-colored eyes No one to call him dad, glossy with tears, No one to call him honey, Look around in confuslon Nothing seemed right, that will be there for years. The night Bill Cronie took his own life. By Floopa Davé By Flishi Sahgal

124 Eek the Cat

It was a dark and smelly night. Dark, because it’s “What the @#*& is happening in Annabelle’s night; smelly because the next door neighbors house? Kumbaya! I've got to save her. Eek to the had their toilets break down. Most bathrooms rescue!” shouts Eek as he puts on his Super Eek have ventilations because when you go to the Protection Bullet Proof Thermal Underwear Heat bathroom it could be a bit too smelly so you Resistant Polyon Rubber Jock Strap- Equiped would want the smell to. . .to disappear. So then Suits to save his faithful girlfriend. the smell spread out to all the land of Fuquay- “Hope it doesn't rain, or my million dollar suit Varina. But it mostly affected the Rickies since will start to sog making it hard for me to fly.” they were the ones that had the toilet break explains Eek. It rains. The buildings fire dies down.. down and his girlfriend is ...... is burnt to ashes. “Ew, mom, brother did something to the toilet.” “Kumbayal They say bad luck comes in threes. said sister. My family is getting their heads cracked on the “Baby, he’s not even home darling. Now why toilet seat, my most wonderful girlfriend, don’t you shut up and stop lying. You know what Annabelle, is burnt to ashes. Now I wonder Pop ( dad ) thinks about lying.’’ ‘ what's going to happen next.” “Waaaah, I hate you so much I wish I could kill As Eek walks on, and on, and on, and on, and ( oh you mom. Why don’t you ever believe me?” what the fu....fudge, oh what the fudge, let’s get screamed sister. - on with it ) he walks on he gets to a super market “Why you little naughty, bad, spoilt, idiot brat. store where they sell appliancess such as t.v.'s, How dare you talk to your mommy in that way! videos, remote oontrols, bla, bla, bla. So you After all l've done for you!” said mommy just know, by the store window, the t.v. is on and the before she smacked sister. have the news showing: _ Smack Smack..... “As we hear from the front line of World War “Oh darn. You're lucky little girl. I have to go to III, Clive Anderson, our reporter from the war, the bathroom.” said mom. She walked down the reports from the war. Over to you Clive. hall, into the bedroom and there ...... here. Clive- Well so far we’ve seen Germany attack (whatever) is where Eek comes in. China and get thwarted by the man they call “Aaaaaaahhhh.” screams mom as she smells the Yokozuna, the WWF superstar that was thrown stink that comes out of the toilet, as her vision out of the WWF when it was believed that he was fails, she faints cracking her head on the toilet selling U.S military secrets to China. And now seat. Blood spurting everywhere, sister comes in China, Japan, and Australia (the Alliance) have the toilet because of the scream. She, too, faints joined in alliance against the U.S of A, for calling and cracks her head- but before that, she barfs. their international hero (Yokozuna ) fat, and Some little hours later ...... majorly overweight. James Bond has discovered Eek wakes up for a midnight snack. He opens the secret plans that this Alliance will shoot their A- fridge. ` bombs to U.S.A.,thus destroying the entire “What’s that smell? I never knew of a fridge that beautiful continent of the U.S-...Zap, crack, had such a horrible stench. Hhmmmm let me see. booom." No one's is snoring. The t.v. is still on.” thought “Oh, no! Power must have gone out. l've got to get Eek to himself. “ Kumbaya! There’s some @#*& home and get everybody off this continent” as coming from the bathroom in mom's room. Oh my Eek runs home, he hears a noise far off..... getting gosh- it stinks so much. l got to get gas masks." closer, closer, with noise that shatters the ears. Eek manages to escape the house and goes to the He’s almost home when an A-bomb lands right in All Night Gadget Shop. But the owner was some the back yard of his home. Fortunately the stink what occupied with nocturnal pleasures. These of the toilet killed everyone off in Fukuay-Varina owners have problems with their wives so.... before the bomb landed. Unfortunately the bomb “@#*&!" cussed Eek. “There has to be some All landed but was a gig from the Alliance. Night Gadget Shop with an owner that isn't lonely." Eek walks and walks and walks until he By Marco Acciarri passes Annabelle’s house (his fat girlfriend) he forgot totally about buying.... stealing ...... (whatever) the gas masks. Her house was on fire; and her head, her behind, and her hands were on fire. 125 If I Were a Color Color

If I were a color, I would be blue l’m Red Red is Blood Blue is me, Red is Rage blue is nice, Red is Revolution blue is cool, Red is Roses blue is ice. l`m the dark red of pure blood Blue likes me, l'm the bright, lively red of fragrant Loses I like blue, l’m the glitering red of a brightly polished ruby it’s in a tree, l`m the relighting red of revolting it’s in a zoo. By Rohan Jetley Blue is dark, blue is light, blue is in the park, plus blue is out of sight.

Blue is happy, blue is sad, blue is smooth, but blue makes me mad. Sounds of a“VoHeybaH

Blue is nice, Game” but it’s still like ice, red is really twice as nice. If I were sounds, I would be those of a volleyball game. There are By Timothy Trueheart variety of sounds. The cheerleaders cheer for their teams waving the pom poms making small rhythms by clapping and dancing. “Come on Falcons! You can do it, put a little power to itl” If I Were a Color “Popcornl Popcorn!” the vender would shout as he walks through the crowd. “Come on! Block it! Spike!” screams the audience while stomping their feet with great If I were a color, I'd be Yellow spirit. The server hits the ball making a big slap sound. Slap! Pyangl Yellow is brightness, Coaches scream, giving best quick orders. Yellow is generosity, “Set or bump it to the right front or the center Yellow is patient. front so they can spike itl" yelled one of the coaches. I am the bright yellow of the midday sun, “Power ! Power ! Girls. Don’t let the ball go, I am the warmth of the reddish yellow fire, dig the ball!” the other one scream. I am the pale yellow of the mustard fields. Then there is talking within the game by the players, some yelling, “Mine! Mine!” If I were a color, l'd be Yellow Others just telling each other what to do. “You get the next one." By Manu Oberoi By Khin Zar Phyu

126 wind, I feel as if I am the one running at full The Swift Horse steam. Every time I do something, it will affect my ride on the horse, thus giving me great control. These are the reasons why I have the “Wake Up! Time to form groups for today's desire to ride again. activities,” exclaimed Mr. Gupta. That morning, The ride on the horse was truly a great unusually, I hastily got out of my warm, cozy, experience that I will want to do again. lt showed sleeping bag. We were going to go horseback me that something must not be beautiful to be riding that day at Camp Corbett and I wanted to good. A horse does not have to be big and good get a speedy horse. Everybody had told me what looking in order to gallop fast. I also learned that horses to take and which ones were fast. I felt I like trying new things. In my opinion my ride kind of nervous because I had never ridden a was truly beneficial to me. horse before. When we were picking our horses, Erika and By Frank Stier Grace had already snatched the two staunch beauties before I could. I had to settle for a small black horse. As we rode off, a guide showed me how to direct the horse. It was a lot easier than I first thought. I was able to maneuver my horse left and right and move it from a trot to a canter. Our path was encaved by trees on the left and right side. The sun’s rays were blocked by the tall trees so the temperature was bearable. With all the natural beauty around me I realized the V magnificence of my horse. It was small though powerful and muscular. Till now it had been quite obedient to me. I kind of started to like my horse and really appreciated the beauty around me. We approached the last curve, a long uphill path. This was where our horses took off like rockets being launched. My horse was moving faster and faster while I was kicking it and whipping it. It kept overtaking horses till I was up with Grace. Our horses were racing side by side and galloping at full speed. My horse kept moving swiftly while I tried to slow it down. While attempting to slow it down, I almost fell so I gave up. The wind was burning in my eyes. I 0 had a sudden chill go from the top of my head to V.. 'f/ the tip of my toes. I was scared and worried that I was going to fall off and the horse knew it, I had lost control. I was bouncing up and down on my horse, feeling the wind pressing against my body. I had reached camp while my horse was still moving at full steam. All of sudden the black beauty slowed down and stopped. I still wonder why it stopped at the right place. I was thrilled that the speedy ride of terror was over, but I still had a urge inside of me to try riding again. Riding gave me a feeling of control and freedom. I realized the magnificence of horses after this ride, and I now know why they used to be the major form of transportation. When I was kind to the horse the horse was nice to me. Being in control of an enormous, strong beast bigger than I makes me feel powerful like the horse. Reaching high speeds and feeling the

127 An Accident in the The Danger Of Cafe Ole Bathroom There once was a girl, Who had many a curl I think it happened one evening in September All over her chestnut head. of last year. That night I was taking a shower in But one afternoon, it came too soon, my room and I turned on the tap. I was waiting We almost believed her dead. for the water to change to hot when I felt something tickle my tibia. I didn’t pay attention Now this very young girl, to it but it was still tickling, and the ticklish Who has many a curl feeling began to move toward my knee so I looked All over her chestnut head. at my tibia. Was not one to brag, not one to sag, “A-A-A-A!!” I cried, because a cricket And sure wouldn't die on us, dead. was walking up my leg! I really hate insects so I was very Confused. I shook my leg with all my Now this curly young lass, strength and the cricket fell off. I quickly got out Was as bold as brass, of the bathtub. When I stepped hurriedly on the Went into the kitchen one day. bath mat which was wet, I slipped and I hit the From high countertop, on herself she did drop, back of my head on the corner of the bathtub. it A hot cup of cafe ole. was very palnful and tears ran down my cheeks. I remembered my tibia so I soon woke up and put Then she did scream, the bath towel around me and I shouted, “Help “What a bad dream, mel Help mell" My poor little chest is on firel” Soon my dad ran into the bathroom and killed With pain did she yell, when that coffee cup fell the Cricket with a newspaper. Then he threw the Spilling hot stuff on her new attire. cricket into the toilet and flushed it. I still shudder when I think of that night. Now Now this sorry young lass, I always check the bathtub before I get into it. With the hot coffee ‘splash’ To the doctor was whisked away. By Fuyuko Adachi When she got there, In a very big scare, He helped her without delay.

Now this very young girl, With many a curl All over her chestnut head. Would not go near a cafe ole Unless she was surely dead!

By Maire Flavin

128 Everyone said, the dog used his head, and brought Dyango him to Master and Wife.

Dyango the pup, lay in his hut, snoring, When they heard, the very last word, about our dreaming and sleeping, Dyango’s great feat, A rooster called, from over the wall, and woke Master said, he’ll sleep in my bed, and have a him with its screeching. fur-lined seat. Over the ground, he jumped with a bound, to see He'll live in our house, hunt for a mouse and what he could see, — never be locked by a gate. But the wall was too high, he gave up with a sigh What a great day, let's all pray that we never and wished for a cup of tea. forget this date! His wish came true, before he knew, when Sam came along with his food, By Mira Jain. He jumped for joy, all over the boy, and made him come unglued. Sam rushed out, and gave a shout but forgot to latch the gate, He watched Sam go, with so much show that he wondered about Sam’s fate. Before too long, something else came along, / which quickly caught his eye, He watched with delight, its amazing flight, a beautiful butterfly! lt flitted and flew, as the wind blew and then it soared up high, /\ /\ But its beautiful hue, faded into the blue, he saw it disappear with a sigh. \ Feeling alonehe kicked at a stone and then he remembered his food! He looked all around, and there on the ground was something to change his mood. His favorite dish, a tasty fish cooked in a sauce with bacon, Stomach Ache Vt He imagined the taste, it wouldn”t go waste, but "H then by a crow it was taken. That horrible crow didn'. go, but sat on the I was 11 years old. I hadab a stomach ache. I gate and looked down. was hot. I was fainting. So my father and mother Dyango watched his food eaten and felt very took me to hospital. There, the doctor took my beaten by a despicable clown. _ temperature. lt was 38 degrees. l was afraid He had to try, to jump so high to knock the guy because my temperature was never90' that high right off his block, before. I was admitted to hospital. l got undressed With the force of his weight, he opened the gate, and into bed. The nurse hung a bag of Ringer’s and fell outside in a shock! Solution on a pole. Then she put a needle in the He got over his surprise, feasted his eyes and vein in my hand and the Ringer’s Solution began then he started to run, to drip slowly into my vein. lt was really He felt so free, happy as could be, he knew this frightening for me. But in a minute, I was asleep. was going to be fun. The Ringer’s Solution was really cold so my He heard a big splash, and ran in a flash, to temperature started to come down. l stayed in where he heard the sound, hospital for one day. Fallen into the pool, screaming like a fool, the When l got back home, my friends visited me. master's child he found. I was happy to have good friends. But l still had lt didn't look right, poor child in a fright, so some fever and l couldn't go to school for three Dyango began to bark, days. He made such a noise, it brought all the boys who thought it was a Iark. By Hee-Dong Jung When they found, the child almost drowned, they quickly saved his life,

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Index To Eighth Grade Authors

Acciarri,Marco ...... 125 Lowen-Ault,Tara ...... 115 Adachi,Fuyuko ...... 128 Luntzel,Daniel ...... 121 Alexander,Ashwin ...... 97 Maerz,Persa Jessica ...... 109 Amin,Bassem ...... 119 Manickam,Zoe ...... 109 Brand,Erin ...... 101 Massey,Erika ...... 108 Calma,Grace ...... 104 Mhlanga,Dumisani ...... 119 CampbeH,Melanie ...... 97 Millan,Sebastian ...... 112 Capper,Aislyn ...... 112 Myers,Nathaniel ...... 116 Carlos,Pamela ...... 97 Narvehed,Camilla ...... 117 Chand,Ajay ...... 111 Oberoi,Manu ...... 126 Choi,Youn Joung ...... 99 Ostermayer,Andy ...... 101 Davé, Roopa ...... 124 Otgon,Mungkoo ...... 106 Davison,Catharina ...... 103 Philip,Samini ...... 121 Edqvist,Sara ...... 99 Phyu,Khin-zar ...... 126 Edwards,Justin ...... 114 Porterfield,Ryan ...... 109 FIavin,Me’u're ...... 128 Rekhi,Rfppl' ...... 102 Gordon,Pamela ...... 113 Rikhy,Shivani ...... 106 Hawkins,Kirsten ...... 118 Ringi,Daley ...... 117 Haynes,Andy ...... 108 Sahgal,Rishi ...... 124 Holkar,Yeshwant ...... 122 Simhan,Jay ...... 116 Htwemyint,Sai ...... 111 Simm,Stephen ...... 100 Jain,Mira ...... 129 Sivananthiran,Gajan ...... 101 Jain,Vardhaman ...... 98 Spears,Robert ...... 120 Jetley,Rohan ...... 126 Stier,Frank ...... 127 Jung,Hee-Dong ...... 129 Tida,Jayna ...... 115 Klinger,Jonalyn ...... 120 Trueheart,Timothy ...... 126 Klugh,Russy ...... 107 Verret,Gabriel ...... 122 Krzyzewski,Alisha ...... 123 Wills,Olivia ...... 102 Levin,Kerri ...... 118 Willson,TyIer ...... 110

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