STORIES COME to LIFE! a Personal Story Literary Arts Residency with Anita Woodley (Volume #5)

STORIES COME TO LIFE! A Personal Story Literary Arts Residency with Anita Woodley (Volume #5)

PAGE - 2 “Stories Come to Life!” Literary Residency with Anita Woodley April 6-16, 2015 Volume #5 ______TABLE OF CONTENTS ● Page 4..…… “A Letter from the Resident, Literary Teaching Artist……....…...... … Anita Woodley ● Page 5…….. “Biography for The Literary Teaching Artist...….…………..…...... Anita Woodley ● Page 6…….. “About the Durham Arts Council – CAPS Program & Message…..….. Shana Adams ● Page 713….….. “Photos: Writers Experiencing Excitement, Adventure, & Discovery

CORE 1 CLASS

● Page 13…. “Living The Best Life Ever” ...... Terrence Jamont Palmer Jr. ● Page 13..... “I’m A Traveler” ...... Terrence Jamont Palmer Jr. ● Page 13..... “The Gutter”...... Terrence Jamont Palmer Jr. ● Page 14.… “BFF” ...... Suzanna Maria Perez ● Page 14..... “Fighting My Brother ...... Aaliyah Danaye Peace ● Page 15..... “I Miss My GreatGrandma” ...... DNyja NiTae Lee ● Page 16..... “Second Thought… Let’s Not Fight”...... Jalin Crawford ● Page 16…. “The Time My Mom Tried to Save A Man”...... Markell Sincere Hayes ● Page 17.… “Turtle, Wizard, Teapot and Me”...... Kamari Lamonte Rand ● Page 18.… “Never Give Up To Go Forward” ...... Alexandra Cardenas ● Page 19.… “Family Breaks Up & Comes Back Together in a Different Way”.Eliza Margarita Flores ● Page 20.… “My Art Project”...... Jorge Luis Montes ● Page 20…. “The Importance of Fighting”...... Tyler Marie Moutry ● Page 21 ..... “The Time I GOt a NEw Sister & Almost Dying”...... Kani Lei BaduaClark ● Page 22...... “Animals”...... Mariah Hunt ● Page 2324. “The Best Dream Ever” ...... Justin Michael PetersonStephens

CORE 2 CLASS ● Page 25…. “First Girlfriend”...... Shyhiem Nasir Bowling ● Page 25…. “First Time Playing Basketball” ...... Shyhiem Nasir Bowling ● Page 26…. “First Day At Citizen School”...... Shyhiem Nasir Bowling ● Page 26…. “To Be A Successful Lawyer” ...... Angela Michelle Leathers ● Page 27…. “Walking On Ice” ...... Jayla Deonna Ryan ● Page 28..... “My Older Brother, Hugo”...... Janet GonzalezMartinez ● Page 29..... “Life Meaning” ...... Jancarlos Polanco ● Page 30…. “GTA5 Gamer” ...... Uriel ContrerasMorales ● Page 30 …. “Going to New Jersey for a Week” ...... Catherin Arellano MacNeil ● Page 31.…. “Learning To Accept Who I Am” ………………………....…. Catherin ArellanoMacNeil ● Page 31….. “Giving Up a Family Member”……………………….…...…. Catherin ArellanoMacNeil ● Page 31….. “Going Into the Woods for the First Time” …………..…...…. Catherin ArellanoMacNeil

CORE 2 CLASS ● Page 32…. “My Career” ...... Myles Kamari Stubbs ● Page 32…. “Back Flip Off the School ...... Nicolas “Nick” Bruckschen ● Page 33…. “Games: Call of Duty”...... Brandon Michael Williams ● Page 3334 “Videogames”...... Jalen Anthony Cole ● Page 34…. “First Soccer Game” ...... Oswaldo Soto Sanchez ● Page 35…. “Great Wolf Lodge”...... Kwaneisha Renee Green ● Page 36…. “Clash of Clans, Minecraft PE, Boom Beach” …………....……. Emanuel Adewale Solano ● Page 37…. “When I Got Burned With the Stove”...... Justin Green ● Page 37…. “When I Went to Carowinds” ...... Daisha Shalon Zinnerman ● Page 38.... “Why I Love to Dance and Love Music”...... Daisha Shalon Zinnerman ● Page 39.... “Beach Trip”...... Daisha Shalon Zinnerman ● Page 40.... “When My Grandmother Died” ...... Daisha Shalon Zinnerman

CORE 3 CLASS ● Page 40..... “When I Saw the Movie Selma” ...... Marianna Lakatlin Robinson ● Page 41…. “Wave” (poetry) ...... Pierce Xavier Willoughby ● Page 42…. “Waterfall” (Story)...... Pierce Xavier Willoughby ● Page 42…. “Flight” (Poem)...... Pierce Xavier Willoughby ● Page 43…. “Trip to Carowinds”...... Sefora Esther Flores Montero ● Page 43…. “Family” ...... McKenlee Graham ● Page 44…. “What College Will Be Like”...... Normojay Payne ● Page 44…. “Broke My Arm” ...... Anonymous ● Page 45…. “Inspired To Be A Doctor”...... Paola GutierrezGonzalez ● Page 46…. “My Fights” ...... Axel Yafet Acosta Torres ● Page 46…. “Things I Want to Do When I Grow Up” ...... Lashanti “Ashanti” Z Bumpass ● Page 47…. “Killed Before My Eyes” ...... Lashanti “Ashanti” Z. Bumpass ● Page 47…. “A Piece of Log” ...... Quantez A Eubanks Cox ● Page 47…. “At My Basketball Game”...... Quantez A Eubanks Cox th ● Page 48 55 “Urbanese Dictionary”…………..….………….……...……….. All Neal 6 Graders

Congratulations, YOU are now all independently published authors! I am very proud of you for sharing your heartfelt stories with the world. Your perspectives are very important and help us to better understand the world that we live in. The world will be a better place for us all to live, work, and grown in because of brave storytellers like you. I know sometimes, times can get rough and many may seem out of your control, even perhaps scary at moments in your life. However, through it all, reach within yourself and the community to find a way to think of something positive to help you stay on a positive course in your life.

Let nothing stop you from reaching your goals, not even yourself! You inspired me! One of the biggest challenges for me while editing your book was reading about the daily struggles many of you face. As I shared with you in class, many of these struggles I also experienced as a teenager living in poverty in the Housing Projects of Oakland, California. With time and support from people I learned to trust, my tears and anger eventually transformed into smiles and happiness. I had to find positive outlets to bring meaning to my life, like writing what troubles I had in a diary, volunteering with community organizations, sleeping eight hours a night, and finding a mentor who specialized in a field I wanted to work in. This cleared my mind, body, and soul stress.

I want to give a special thanks to you for being a part of this program and trusting me with your work. I also thank you for your contributions to the “Urbanese Dictionary”, which features uniquely spelled words used in your work with the same meaning as words in standard English. A special thanks to The Durham Arts Council, Sherry DeVries (DAC Executive Director), CAPS Program, GlaxoSmithKline, and Shana Adams (Director of CAPS) for the generous grant to support this work on a larger scale this year, allowing us to reach the entire sixth grade (3 times more students.) Thank you to my ninth grade Drama teacher Andy Hamner for editing the final versions of your stories. Also a special thanks to Demetrius Hunter of Grocers On Wheels for supplying and delivering fresh fruit daily for the writing sessions. Thank you Greg Register of Sign of Class Durham Flea Market, for printing and assembling all the books. And again, thank you for your stories. Without your energy and contribution this project would not have been possible!

I Will Always Believe That You Will Succeed! Anita Woodley & GreatGrandma

th Ms. Rochelle Burke * 6 Grade Core Classes 1-3 * Neal Middle School, Durham, NC Sponsored by Grants from GlaxoSmithKline and & The Durham Arts Council’s C.A.P.S Program Instructed by Anita Woodley, Award-Winning Journalist & CAPS Literary/Theatre Teaching Artist PAGE - 5 “Stories Come to Life!” Literary Residency with Anita Woodley April 6-16, 2015 Volume #5 ______Biography - Anita Woodley ANITA WOODLEY is an awardwinning journalist/producer/actress/poet/mixedmedia folk visual artist/baker, and playwright. She is also a statecertified HIV counselor, Durham Arts Council’s Emerging Artist in Drama and Literary/ Improvisational Theatrical Teaching Artist for Durham’s Public School PreK to 12th Graders. In her spare time, Anita is an Improvisational Jazz band lead vocalist, volunteer with Grocers on Wheels Serve Communities, the nonprofit Mobile Farmers Market in Durham and Raleigh, NC Food Desert areas, Associate Member of the Sisters Network Triangle: AfricanAmerican Women’s National Breast Cancer Survivorship Support Group, and the Women’s Health Education Ambassador for Raindownus.org.

Mrs. Woodley is a native of Oakland, California where she attended Oakland Technical High School 19891994. She served as the AllStudent Body President in High School, PTSA Student Representative, and Youth Commissioner on the Mayor of Oakland’s Youth Council. In 2015, Anita Woodley was inducted into Hall of Honor at her alma mater High School with alumnus Marshawn Lynch, The Pointer Sisters, Rickey Henderson, and Clint Eastwood.

Anita Woodley wrote and performed the criticallyacclaimed solo theatrical performances –Bucking The Medical and Mental Bull, Mama Juggs, and The Men in Me, touring throughout the U.S. and Internationally to Cameroon, West Africa’s University of Yaounde. Anita creates new creative works that are transformational, nontraditional theatrical series called "Ethnodramas" to educate, promote, and prevent harmful practices to overall health. Mrs. Woodley’s work has proven to provide culturally appropriate and early intervention for disparities, such as from poverty, HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, stroke, heart disease, bullying, obesity, clinical trials and more. Mrs. Woodley’s creative work has been featured at the National Black Theatre Festival, New York’s OffBroadway, Los Angeles, and Chicago, numerous universities, hospitals, and faithbased communities nationwide.

Mrs. Anita Woodley’s journalism career started while attending San Francisco State University school of Broadcasting, Radio and Television. She worked for NBC, CBS, and landed her first onair newscast with the PBS sister station KMTP called “Newsnight with Anita Morgan.” She achieved those milestones while a fulltime, undergraduate junior student pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree at San Francisco State University 19982000. Anita Woodley graduated college in the top 8% of the Class of 2000, Top 15% of the country, and Magna Cum Laude. Three months after graduating college, Mrs. Woodley was got hired at CNN’s Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia to Associate Produce Domestic News. She went on to work for a FOX affiliate and then 7 years in Chapel Hill for the NPR, National Public Radio affiliate station, WUNCFM’s awardwinning show “The Story with Dick Gordon." Mrs. Anita Woodley’s accolades awarded in the fields of Radio & Television Journalism, spanning more than 20 years, were earned from the Harry Chapin Foundation for Hunger and Poverty in New York, the National Association of Black Journalists, and an Emmy award for Exceptional Coverage on September 11th, 2001 when the World Trade Center in New York was attacked.

Anita Woodley lives with her husband of 15 years and 12 yearold son in North Carolina’s Triangle Area. Stay in contact with Anita Woodley through social media: TWITTER @productivelyAW INSTAGRAM @AnitaWoodley #AnitaWoodley FACEBOOK anitawoodleyproductions. You can also reach her by phone, 9199140104 or email [email protected] . Learn more about Anita's innovative creative work on her website, AnitaWoodley.com

“This was my second year observing the Stories Come Alive residency led by CAPS teaching artist, Anita Woodley at Neal Middle School. It was inspiring to see the students transformed into writers within minutes of meeting Mrs. Woodley. The residency gave students the opportunity to express themselves through writing even if they claimed to not enjoy writing. They all wrote. They all told their own stories, validating themselves and their peers as individuals who each have stories to share. This is an experience I hope will continue each year at Neal and become replicated at other schools. The support of CAPS from Durham Public Schools, and the teachers and administration at Neal has been incredible. Additionally, Durham Arts Council appreciates GlaxoSmithKline for seeing the value in this residency and sponsoring this transformative experience” - Shana Adams, Director of Creative Arts in Public & Private Schools (Durham Arts Council)

CREATIVE ARTS IN THE PUBLIC/PRIVATE SCHOOLS About: The Creative Arts in the Public/Private Schools (CAPS) program provides interactive and creative ways for students and educators to access arts education in public and private schools throughout Durham, Granville, and Orange Counties. Durham Arts Council CAPS has provided Artists-in-Residence programs to students at Lakeview Secondary School for over 9 years during the full school year. Over 20,000 students and 500 educators experience arts education through the Durham Arts Council CAPS program each year.

CAPS History: Born from the concept for integrating the arts with the standard curriculum of Durham schools, CAPS began in 1972 when a small group of Durham parents, artists, and members of Durham’s First Presbyterian Church came together to develop a project that would bring artists into the classroom for several visits. Funding from community organizations and The Urban Ministries Fund of Presbytery of Orange in North Carolina helped to give the then, Council for Creative Arts in the Public Schools, a firm foundation to combine curriculum with creative sessions by local professional artists.

In 1979, CAPS became a full-fledged program maintained by a partnership of Durham Arts Council, Durham County Schools and Durham City Schools. Since that auspicious beginning, the CAPS program has grown over twenty-fold. In 1988, CAPS earned national recognition as a “Model Arts in Education Program” from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1989, CAPS introduced its hospital schools residencies; in 1991, CAPS began working in the Triangle’s private schools; and in 1997, CAPS branched out to Orange County and Granville County Schools. Today, CAPS offers over 150 residencies, workshops, performances, and arts integration workshops for educators, lead by 53 Professional Artists and Arts Presenters.

People think I have a lot of money and I'm rich, but I'm not rich. It's crazy how people say you have a lot of shoes, clothes, but in reality you don't have everything. I was born in the projects. I had a hard life, but on the other hand living the best life ever. In football I play defensive end, kick return, punt return, offensive tackle, offensive guard. And in basketball I played center, small forward, and power forward. ______“I’m A Traveler” By: Terrence Jamont Palmer Jr.

My family loves to go traveling. We've been to 42 states within a 50 year anniversary period. The trips we have been on were fine, but I can't name all the places we've been. We stayed at two big fancy resorts and my family is amazing. ______“The Gutter” Story & Artwork By: Terrence Jamont Palmer Jr.

I was born from the gutter. I ain't had no more money than other kids, But my grandma, mom, and my dad had jobs to buy me clothes But I had enough money to buy me a new outfit every week but I wasn't like other kids.

I have seen a lot of stuff that a child isn't supposed to know. I have seen someone get shot in the head. I came home from the projects, But I was the kid that was 5 foot two in the fourth grade. I was different from everybody in school. But I didn't let that stuff faze me. I use that as a motivation to be the best I can be, Passed every grade and in fourth grade I was an A student.

I loved football and basketball That is my ambition. I thrive at sports. I had a lot of pressure on me. My sister was born one pound zero ounces. She was a very small baby.

Do you get along with everybody? Well somehow I do. I like to have a lot of friends. This is how I met my best friend. It was the first day of school and I was in art class. We sat at the same table and I said "Hi." I asked her what was her name, she said, "It's Lesley." We started talking a lot. Every time we saw each other we hugged. Me and Lesley, sometimes we get mad at each other, but we talk the problem out. I met my BFF in fourth grade. We talk about what we did on the weekend and who we had a crush on. I have two BFF's, but Lesley has been my BFF for three years now. It's nice. This is how I get along with everybody. ______“Fighting My Brother” Story & Artwork By: Aaliyah Danaye Peace

Me and my brothers were home alone and I was babysitting them. My brother came in my room and I told him to get out and he wouldn't, so I started dragging him and he wouldn't let me. So I stomped on him and he started kicking. I stopped for a minute and I said, "This is your last chance before you get hurt." He got up, punched me, and ran. I chased after him and I punched him back and that's when he grabbed me and tried slamming me, but I just slammed him. I pinned him down and then he bit me. I got up and punched him in his face. Then he punched me in my stomach, so I punched him in his nose twice, and it started bleeding. He got really mad. He walked back, ran, jumped, and tackled me. He bit my arm and punched me and just kept on punching me, so I pushed him off. I pushed him down and punched him in his lip. He started crying and I fixed his lip up and no one ever knew but me, my little brother, and him. Well I learned that when your little brother/sister goes in your room and won't get out, get in a fight, you win, and they'll get out.

Every day after school I will walk to my grandma's house and she would feed me lots of food and talk to me. I was always I would cook with her, pluck her neck/chin hairs, make sure she had her cane, write out her grocery list, clean her room, and fix her medicine. One night me and my mama went to her house and offered her to come with us to Golden Corral. We went there and ate and we fix her up plate, we talked, then we left. My uncles lived with her and they always stayed drunk and they did drugs.

One night I went outside and saw grandma on the porch crying. I asked her what was wrong. She said, "They are always fighting." And they fought every time they got drunk at her house. They would make grandma cry by touching her hurt leg and having music up loud. So she got very tired of it. Then they just finally took her to a rest home and she stayed there. One of her daughters told her to drink hot water that was too hot or else she was going to die. That one child was always cruel to grandma, so my mom made her a glass of ice cold water and she drank it. She loves to cook fried chicken and fish. Nobody could cook as good as her and she was always busy and welcoming people in. She had many friends and was very nice and caring until she had to leave her own house because of her sons and she was very stressed out about them.

We sent her to the rest home and we got a call saying she had passed on. I cried for two weeks straight. I didn't even get to say bye or I love you. We rush there and everybody in my family was there. And at the funeral lots of people were there. We buried her at the church. I rode my bike all the way down to the church. And then we moved to Durham four months ago and started at Neal Middle School. I've had bullying experiences at Neal. A lot of girls wanted to fight me and two groups of girls wanted to jump? me because people started rumors. I'm from Hurdle Mills/Roxboro in the country. That's where I was born and raised. I would do anything to talk to my grandma one last time. I would ask her for recipes and tell her I love her and hug her and tell her all my problems. ______

I like going to school because my friends are at school and we do crazy stuff. My friend got in a fight yesterday and it was crazy because my friend beat him up and he got suspended for three days. He's going to come back to school on Monday and we are going to turn up. But I don't get in fights because I don't want to get suspended from school. I might get in trouble. The lesson learned that I might get suspended if a fight in school.

______“The Time My Mom Tried to Save A Man” Story & Artwork By: Markell Sincere Hayes

I have a lot of tragedies. First I have a cousin who is older than me that had tracheotomy tube in her neck, openheart surgeries, and she was on life support as a baby.

Last year, my mom tried to save a man's life, but it was too late because the officer was not listening to my mom. My mom told the officer to give her the trauma kit and she was a rookie cop. That same night my twin sisters had woke me and my mom up because they saw a dead body and we explained to them God will deal with it. Lastly, my mom found out who his family was and my mother would and will always call every week to check on his mother. My mom is a nurse. She has been in the medical field for over 15+ years. If she didn't help she could have lost her IPN/RN license. When I saw the dead body lying there I thought I would never be on the street. The police let her call them and she thanked my mom. They are in a better place. I cried until I forgot.

Basketball is great, but if you have no education you cannot get to anywhere you want to be unless you stay away from drugs, and stay in school. He will keep them safe and let you know they are safe.

______

I like going to Wartmart and I started playing in the superstore. When I went deeper into Wartmart the cave door open and I said, "I made a new discovery." The cave door started to open up by itself and see a yellow path I was thinking that I was in the Wizard of Oz. I was too stupid to know that, so I followed the yellow path and seeing a weird looking waiter he said, "Hi what are you doing?" "Hmm..." I said, "Who are you and where am I?" "you are in the Wizard of Oz and I will take you to the wizard." "Okay, let's go!" "But wait, you need to follow the yellow path." I already know, but who will I be facing? Who the enemy is I’ll just have to find out myself. I said hey Bear, "yes" said Bear. "Do you want to come see the Wizard?" "Yes, I'll come with you." So me and the bear follow the yellow path.

But back in the real world mom got worried about me so she waited in the car and started to pray. . Me and the bear saw a weird looking witch and I said, "Move your green tea pot and her little green friend. Get out my way! I don't have time to play games with you, Little Green Teapot." So I just kick the little green teapot and her little green friend across the field of corn and kept walking with the bear until we arrived at the dark woods. The reason I already know is because I saw the little green teapot in a weird looking house and went past the dark woods to reach the little green teapot house. I and the bear knocked on the door as hard as a rock. Little Green Teapot came rushing to the door like a rush of wind and me and the bear hid on the little green teapot roof. We saw a weird guard and we talked to him.

"Hey," "Yes," "Are you sad?" "Yes because of the witch and she won't let us go." "So I just have to go with the witch’s tale." "What's her weakness?" "Water." "Luckily I brought a bottle of water with me."

So me and the bear went to the witch’s door and kicked it down. I jumped in and poured the water on the little green tea pot and she died. So I went back to the cave door and was back at Wartmart. I got out of Wartmart went back to the car and left Wartmart to go home. The end.

I'm going to write about what happened with my parents, with me and my twin sister, and how a person changed our life. We will always remember that day that the person told me to never give up, to go forward not backwards.

Well, everything happened when my dad came to the United States from Honduras. My dad was fifteen when he came here walking. My mom was in high school. She was seventeen when she met my dad and they got married. My dad didn't like to smoke or drink or anything. He didn't even let me or my mom smoke or drink. My dad and mom had me and my twin sister Alejandra. My mom was a good person, but she changed because of her friends.

So months later they split up. My twin sister and I were two. We lived a couple of years with my mom and a couple of years with my dad. My mom changed when they broke up because she got in a gang, have friends that are gang members, they were bad influences for her. My mom was in high school when she started the gang. My mom went to jail when she was in 10th or 11th grade because of children being sick and because they were special, and because they found out she was in the gang and because she was doing drugs. My mom went with five other men. Then she had seven kids that are my stepbrothers, but I still love them like they were my real brothers.

On the other hand, my dad went with three women and had five kids in total. I love them the same. My dad is the best dad. My dad is the person who told me to never give up and to work hard to be something in life. But I still love my mom because she gave me birth and because she is my mom.

My suggestion to you or anybody who is going through this is to never give up, to go forward, to get it an education, have a better future, and to give a second chance to someone important if they really messed up and they hurt you really badly. You can still forget them. So that's my story: THE END!! ______

This story is about when my mother and father broke up and how me and my sisters survive without my father. I don't know when my mother and father broke up, but what I do know is that this is happening to other kids like me and my sister. This happened when I was 11 years old, so it was only two years ago I guess. Anyways, like we all know, we don't know why our parents breakup, but I did.

This happened over summer break in 2013 I think. Me and my sisters were just playing around the room in my room until we heard shouting and cursing. My room door was shut so I opened the door only to see my dad going outside and my mother crying. After only three days my dad still hadn't come home. When he did come back it was only to say something to my mother and then he left. After that happened my mother got a job (it's not really a good one.) She has to clean and does not earn a lot of money as Bud's Group Work. Me and my sisters tend to stay up late until our mother comes back home. After a while we start to feel really bad because our mother is trying to make us happy, but we only try to make her better by telling her, "No, you don't have to buy that."

When school started, our mother wanted us to go over our dad’s. I didn't want to do it. I just wanted to stay away from my dad because of what he did. But after a couple of weekends I started to love him again because he was doing the same things that my mother was trying to do, make me and my sister happy. I have forgiven my dad. After we visited our dad we went back home and my mother got a boyfriend which surprised me and my sisters, but my mother's boyfriend is pretty shy and nice so we got used to him.

After a whole week of school we went to our dad’s and he has a girlfriend now which surprised me again but I got used to her because she was nice and all. So basically I and my sisters had to go everywhere, but we were happy that our parents are happy by having adventures and going out a lot as a family. ______

In third grade I was assigned with the special art project that was to show the world in two ways. I started doing what a normal person would do. I drew one side with light colors and the other cyber dark colors. I finished, but the teacher asked me, "Is that all?" And I said, "No." So I took it home and started working on it. First I started on the left. It was the nice rainbow and stuff – people hugging, playing games and nice things. When I finished the left side, I thought to myself how to show the world two different ways, so I went to the side where I drew the other side of the world, you know guns, people smoking, fighting, and killing. I knew I finished. I took a back to school the next day the teacher said it was good.

A week later the office called me to tell me my picture was put in an art gallery. After that it went to a museum for kids and then it got sold to a big museum. And after being there for a month a person bought it from me and I agree that they can put it in an auction to raise money for cancer. It was sold for I think $4,000.00. I felt very proud of myself not knowing a piece of art can go so far and I could do something important. ______ “The Importance of Fighting” By: Tyler Marie Moutry

The most important thing I like to do is fight because this is all I like to do. This is what I want to do if someone talks about me or says something when I am walking away. But if someone calls them once I'm all about it and I am ready because I'm not a punk and I stand up for my family members. It doesn't matter if you were playing I will beat you up forgetting my little cousin. And that I will fight anybody that messes with me or calls me out my name, and I don't like to be called out my name because I don't call people out they are names. That's why I always get in trouble because I fight people too much and get in trouble for it. ______

November 27, 2004 is the day I got a new sister. It all happened when my mom's water broke when eating dinner. The family and I went to the hospital and watched my mom gave birth to my sister Alana Badua.

A few months pass and my mom found out Alana had "Lung Cancer." My mother would always get called by the doctor saying, "Your daughter Alana has to stay overnight." And stuff like that. At first I was thinking of my sister was going to die, but I know she was going to be all right.

About six months later, my sister had a little stroke and she nearly died. About two months after surgery, my sister could finally come home. All healthy and sweet like she is. The scariest part was when my sister almost had a stroke. Yet, the best part was when my sister came home.

Finally after three whole years of healthiness, my sister was like brandnew. I still love her for who she is. I will always love her. My biggest advice to other people with a sibling living a diagnosed life, just know that you always believe in them no matter what happens. ______

Animals are peaceful. Sometimes they give me dreams. I think of them as a visual of what I should see in people. Animals make me have a burst of energy. I think of them as a friend. They give me a friend to talk to, but they are my friend. Animals may be different from me – like four legs. But they have the same parts as us – like a nose, ears, eyes, and even nails on their paws. So they aren't that much different to me than a human person. They give me company when I'm alone or bored! I can tell them how I feel and they understand and if you tell people, they don't really take it well and they really don't understand. Animals reacted just like we do. They give me a visual to visualize about many things like how to be brave and being a leader.

Sometimes animals have the same feelings, and they feel however they feel, like us! They give me symbols – like being bold is the lion. Being courageous is a bear. Being the highest of all is an eagle. Being a burst of energy is a cheetah. All these things have a place in us and being the best we can be. Animals are an encouragement to me and it would always take place in my life forever! I have pets and their names are Max and CoaCoa. In my big dog Max is like a leader to me. My first pet is Max and my favorites are both. And sometimes they get on my nerves. I learned from these things. ______

Narrator: In the year 2198 humanity was advanced to the point of recharging the sun. A PMC named Dark Tec is on the verge of creating the ultimate human. Project Dark Guardian, a super soldier with biotic implants. This is its story Snence: Begin phase 2 testing GT 706782. Punch the wall. DG: (Punches in wall) Done. Snence: Third test shows it’s chip is fine. DG: Has my purpose been the field? Snence: Okay, time to clone this one. G: Shall I suit up? Snence: Yes, we are taking the earth.

Narrator: Snence jumps to earth. Thousands of dark guardians invade. One man approaches the Army . Subject one, Snence, and all of Earth's forces. Dark Guardian: Take the back!! Guardian: I'm GS1, leader of the human race. Dark Guardian: You fool humans are our slaves.

Narrator: Guardian leaves the rundown London apartment to go to the HQ. Guardian: Sir. AM. Henderson: I just got contact from the other races. The fleets are ready.

Narrator: After a long battle only Guardian makes it to the Dark Guardian base. AI: Why are you here? Guardian: You’re S. I need to stop you. AI: Yes, you do. You can destroy us or you can control us. The paths are open.

Narrator: Guardian walks to a control console with two blue crystals. Guardian holds them. Slowly they combusted inside out. All the Dark Guardians stopped fighting and got on their ships. Guardian: I gave my life to save the Mini. I will never forget who I was: The Guardian of the many.

Narrator: Justin wakes up crying having the best dream ever.

When I got my first girlfriend, I was in fourth grade. We both liked each other and we both like sports. Every time we'd go to lunch together and we would share our lunch. We would hold hands and hug each other. But then she went to another school. But I could call her or text her. When I was in fifth grade she came back in. Her name was Kailee Ashe. She was tall and I was short. But then she broke up with me. I was so sad when she broke up with me. She said that we could be friends and I said okay. I still miss her to this day. One! 'goodbye' or 'later'. )

______“First Time Playing Basketball” Story & Artwork By: Shyhiem Nasir Bowling

I am going to tell you a story about me playing basketball for a team. I used to play basketball for a team. I used to have fun. I can smell all types of stuff like sweaty socks. I could taste the victories and defeats. I would hear my teammates yell for the ball. So when my first day was over my coach said, "You did a great job out there." I said, "Thank you coach." The next game I was talking to my teammates about a strategy that I have for our team. So I go in, but then I had sprained my ankle. The ambulance came to take me to the hospital. It really hurt and felt like I could never play again. So when I was in the hospital the Dr. told me that it would be healed in March. When I came back, coach was happy to see me. Coach put me at shooting guard. So when we were in the championship I told my team that, "Even if we lose at least we had fun." We were ready and we went in. We came out of the building with the championship in our hands. We were surprised we won and we never thought we could do it. We celebrated our victory.

______

When I was at my first day of Citizen School I didn't know anyone. I was nervous about going to Citizen School. On the first day we did a lot of math work. I was doing great on my first day. Then we got to go outside for recess. Then we would go home. The next day of Citizen School, I had a lot of friends at the end of Citizen School. So when I would go to Citizen School I would be so excited to go because it was so much fun. So the only times we could go to Citizen School was Monday through Thursday. The reason why we don't have it on Friday is because students do not want to learn more and people have other things to do. Now until day one I still go to citizen school.

______“To Be A Successful Lawyer” Story & Artwork By: Angela Michelle Leathers

I choose to be a successful lawyer when I get older because for some reason I like to learn about new things that are going on in the law. I also like to hear other stories and help justify their case in court. Even though I'm very confident about being a lawyer, there are also some things that may stop me from becoming a lawyer – like my behavior during school. I really have work on explaining why I'm not wrong sometimes. Quote: I probably should save it for the courtroom. But that's something I regret doing every time I do it because I always put myself in a bad situation.

Once I become a lawyer I'm going to have a beautiful customized home with my beautiful family. I'm going to be known as a beautiful nice lady with an awesome career. I'm going to start now by my behavior and grades. I'm going to work on my behavior by concentrating and not talking back. My grades can improve by pulling them up. When I am a lawyer I want to defend. I was about six when I wanted to be a lawyer. I suggest to many that if you plan on having a wonderful career it starts from being young. Try your hardest and school. I honestly plan on improving myself so I can be a lawyer.

I remember when I fell down. It was in January when there was a lot of snow. The whole ground was covered in ice. It was very cold outside. My sister wanted to go outside and play. We couldn't, because we had to go to Henderson. When I walked outside, there was ice everywhere. I was still cold with a coat and two pants on. The sky was like one big cloud. It was afternoon, but it looked like morning. Everyone was going slowly. I was going to slow us. My feet were going everywhere. I looked up and saw my sister holding my dad's hand. Then I saw the sidewalk end and there was the street. I knew I was going to slip. Soon as I touched the street, I slipped and fell. When I got into the car, my hands felt like they were burning. My dad said he knew one of us would fall. We needed to go see my grandma. The cloud was dark and gray. In the car, it felt like 20°. When I fell I was thinking that I wanted to stay in the house. My advice is to wear shoes that are great for the snow and walking on ice. ______

A couple of days before my sixth birthday my parents got a call from the jail in Atlanta Georgia saying that my brother was in jail and that he has a penalty of eight years. I and my brother Hugo were always really close since we were little and I really love him a lot. I was really saddened. By the time it was my birthday my parents did everything to try to cheer me up because I was still upset that my brother was in jail. I got really mad at him around eight years old because he had promised to always be there by my side no matter what. But I knew he wasn't there physically. When I was nine I realized I wasn't mad, but that I was upset and hurt because I have my brother taken away from me for so long and such a long time.

We write to each other and every few months he sends me a handkerchief with drawings. He calls me once every month. Every time he calls me I get a little sad because I know he still has to be in jail and not with me. But he always tells me, "Every time you feel sad look up at the sky remember that I love you no matter what happens and that you will always be my Princess." I have other brothers but my brother Hugo and I will always have the special bond that I have with no other person.

He lived his life before on the East Lane. I remember him telling me about drugs, gangs, and a lot of stuff like that, and told me and him and anyone else who sees him now knows that he deeply regrets it all because it cost him years of his life that he can never get back. I know what he did was all bad and stuff, but there's just something in me that can't help but look up to him and admire him because through all the stuff that the world threw at him, never at one moment did he break down, and I will always admire that about my brother. My brother is 26 years old right now and will be 27 1/2 when he finally gets released from jail. Me, my cousin, my parents, and one of my other brothers are going to go and visit him in jail in the summer. We were always close since we were little and we will always be inseparable.

______

My name is Jancarlos Polanco and life has many meanings I learned. Watching movie documentaries and TV shows show many things. School may teach you many things but most explored to learn. Exploring me teach you many things such as languages, arts, stories, and many more things about the life of our world. When life was created millions of years ago you didn't have anything. So that's why people discover many things. Like the man that created fire or the first nomad able to walk the earth.

Learning many things could help you in the future like for your career. As many people that want to be smart, there are many ways. Life is interesting to study and to learn from.

While living life you should try to do many things and enjoy it. As we get older we get smarter. So going to school is good, but exploring is better. As human life progresses they get smarter and smarter, and more creative. Since humans only use 10% of our brain we've created many things that you believe we could. Like planes, computers, and any other items. Since humans are called mammals we learn about what people do. We are the second smartest species that lives. The very first are the dolphins that use 20% of their brain. Since we use half of the Dolphin's brain, everything will be the same. When we are here alive, we have to remember what life is about and the meaning of life. So this is what I think life is about. Also think about your life and what you are going to do. So that's my story. ______

I got my first game as a birthday present. Then I got a soccer game. And I was nine years old. Then I got a Wii and then it broke. So I got an Xbox 360. I was playing it for a year then I have friends that play with me. We talked on the mic, but one day I was playing when it was thundering, and the WiFi was acting slow and my Xbox couldn't connect to the WiFi. And I was really mad.

The day after I played for four hours straight and the console was really hot. But the thing that I hate was you have to pay $25 for Internet for your Xbox. So then I got a PS3 and I don't have to pay for Internet. Then my dad bought me a game that is called GTA 5. In that game I kill people online. I play with my friend in the income (entrance??) to the school. And I kill people that get in my sight. My advice to gamers is buy more games. ______ “Going to New Jersey for A Week” Story & Artwork By: Catherin ArellanoMacNeil

I was going to New Jersey to visit my aunt and her family. They already planned what we were going to do through the week. We were going to have barbecues every day, go to the zoo, go to the boardwalk at night, and go to the beach. First thing we did after we got to their house was have a barbecue. We ate cheeseburgers, hot dogs, etc. After we ate we had some fun outside and went to bed sometime around midnight.

The day after we all got up and got ready to leave. We were going to the zoo we pack snacks, drinks, and swim clothes. We got in the car and we all went to the zoo. We had a lot of fun. We saw animals like zebras, giraffes, smells???, etc. After we left we headed straight for the beach. We all put our swimsuits and swim clothes on and went swimming. The water was cold. We left the beach. We headed back to the house and swam and my aunt’s pool. We had fun with her two dogs. When night finally came we headed to the beach again to go to the boardwalk. I and my brother had fun. We got on rides and did many other things. It was the best time I have ever had in New Jersey.

It was two years ago. I was in class and doing my work in class. It was almost time to go home; I packed my things and left when they called for car riders on the intercom. I went to my brother's classroom and picked him up. We went outside to look for my mom's car. We found it and got in.

We got home I did my homework and my chores. I didn't like being what was. Sometimes I felt like I'm just not real. I felt like nobody wanted to be my friend, so they just ignored me. That all changed once when I was in fifth grade. I learned that cool I am is unique and nobody could replace me. I learned that that I am today is why will be for the rest of my life. ______“Giving Up a Family Member” By: Catherin ArellanoMacNeil

It was June. My uncle came to visit me and my family from Florida. He brought me and my brother a rabbit. We thanked him. Three days after my uncle came; my other uncle came at night with his wife. Little did I know what was in the car. My uncle asked me and my brother to come and in my uncle's wife's hands was a puppy. I and my brother were really happy. We thanked him very much.

Eight months passed after we got the puppy. We named him Carino (kareeno). One day in spring my mother's allergies started acting up really bad and I knew why. My mother was allergic to dogs, so we decided to leave the dog in a room, but that didn't work. So one day when I came home from school and mother said, "We are going to take the dog to the pound." She told me to walk the dog. I walked the dog. As soon as I brought him back in and we took him to the kennel. I cried all day and tried to get over it. I soon got over it and forgot about the past. I now try to forget that I ever did something like that. ______“Going Into the Woods for the First Time” By: Catherin ArellanoMacNeil

My uncle just left to go back to Florida and he left me and my brother with a pet rabbit. It was a sunny day, and then it started to turn gray. My rabbit got scared when it heard thunder and headed straight for the woods. I was afraid I would get lost in the woods because I’ve never been in the woods. I started following my rabbit and went into the woods. I went in really far. I finally saw my rabbit and caught her. I headed straight home with my rabbit in my hands. I ran home and I took my Raggedy Ann. And that was my first time in the woods.

When I was eight my parents told me that I needed to pick a career. I then decided to pick from three things. A YouTube game channel, programming, or an actor. Last year in the second semester I took a programming class. I didn't like that class at all.

But for fifth grade when I was in a play that we did. I played St. Nick (Santa Claus.)The teacher said, "You have great potential for being an actor." But for me being a YouTuber is the only thing I need. I need a high graphical camera. I will comment on videos letting viewers know about my channel. Then I would ask for feedback. I would also talk about movies that did criticize or raving reviews, so that people will watch them. I would have prizes like winning tickets, candy, fruit, and money. I am also interested in how to make HD recording. I am still not sure which one I should choose.

______Back Flip Off the School Story & Artwork By: Nicolas “Nick” Bruckschen

I was showing out with five of my friends and we did a backflip contest. We did it off the school roof and I fell on my head and busted my head. I did the flip for too long. I went to the doctor and they said I broke my skull. And I never did a flip again in 10 years. I lost memory and needed surgery! Every time I thought about doing it, it was scary. Then I started to do them again and nothing happened so I went for a 360 back flip, but I didn't make it. I broke my hand. It hurt badly. I cried a lot so I got a cast. It was red. I had to wear it for six weeks. And my own arm was skinny when they took off the cast. Every girl wanted to sign it.

Love, Nick

I sat on my bed and suddenly my mom came in and gave me the game that I have been begging for, Call of Duty. I was thinking my mom was the best mom in the world. I started to play it right away. I decided to make a video on how to be good at the Call of Duty. I signed into my YouTube account and uploaded the video and I have over 6000 hits on it. And the comments say make more videos and I was happy.

First you make your own class with the TAR 119 which is an energy shotgun. Then go into single player mode and always aim for the head. That's how I get a kill streak and when you play you have to be quick. The best part of the game is the Goliath, which is when you get kills without dying and it puts you inside a robot with machine guns. TAR 119 actually stands for tactical assault rifle 119. My KDE/kills and deaths are Katie equals 1657, D equals 171. I've been playing COD good for weeks now. COD is the best game ever! ______“Videogames” By: Jalen Anthony Cole

I'm writing about something that a lot of people do. Some people do it for a living. So that topic is video games. Video games are one of the funniest things I enjoy in my life. People say you will grow out of it, but I don't think so. When I grow up I will have video games, but I won't make it a living for me, like playing all day. I will have a job and try to get a good house. I started to play video games when I was six years old. My first system was a Nintendo DS. I used to play it all the time. I would bring it every time I will go out. But my mom said I couldn't bring it to school. I was sad at that point. But I do it anyways. But my mom caught me on the way to school. I ended up getting it taken away for a while and I was mad. But she told me why I couldn't bring it to school is because it would keep me away from my school work and that was important. I understood and never did it again.

Later on when I was seven I got a Nintendo Wii. I was so excited. So I had that first when I was almost 10. I got the PS3 when I was 10 years old and I had that for two years. It worked perfectly fine. But when I was 12 they had two new systems come out and I wanted one of them. It was PS4 and Xbox one. I wanted the PS4 because it was newer than the PS3. So on my 13th birthday, which I am 13, I got the PS4 which I was so happy.

th Ms. Rochelle Burke * 6 Grade Core Classes 1-3 * Neal Middle School, Durham, NC Sponsored by Grants from GlaxoSmithKline and & The Durham Arts Council’s C.A.P.S Program Instructed by Anita Woodley, Award-Winning Journalist & CAPS Literary/Theatre Teaching Artist PAGE - 34 “Stories Come to Life!” Literary Residency with Anita Woodley April 6-16, 2015 Volume #5 ______Continued… “Videogames” By: Jalen Anthony Cole I still have it and I enjoy it. I don't play it every day because I feel like going out and playing basketball. I feel like doing other stuff and not playing it all the time. It's because I used to be addicted to video games like it was a huge problem. Every time I mom would take my controllers because I didn't do something I would react like I wouldn't get it anymore. I thought I was addicted to that because I will want to play them all day, every day. But now I'm not. Some days I don't feel like playing every day. I only got the PS4 format because I traded them to get the PS4. The PS4 was a lot of money. I got it for my birthday last year 2014 Christmas. I really enjoy video games and I will never forget them.

______“First Soccer Game” Story & Artwork By: Oswaldo Soto Sanchez

I like playing soccer with my siblings. And that's what got me interested in soccer. And then my parents signed me on a team when I was 11 years old. And I was going to play my first soccer game. I was a little nervous because it was my first game with the soccer team, but once I was on the field I forgot all about being nervous. Once I heard the referee blow his whistle the game had started. Right away we started scoring goals. We scored a lot of goals. The other team scored a few goals on us. But all I could see on the field was the other people playing and the goals people running all over the place. The referee chased after them getting yellow cards. But at the end we won six to two. They only had two goals. My favorite part of the game was the end when I could finally drink some water. ______

“Great Wolf Lodge” Story & Artwork By: Kwaneisha Renee Green Last year my mom took me and my sister to Great Wolf Lodge, and it was in Charlotte. Last year was our second time going. We were riding, my mom asked me and my sister did we want to go somewhere to eat, but we did not want to stop because it would take too long, and we were just ready to get there. After a while we stopped and got something to eat. When we were close we could see Great Wolf Lodge. We could see it from the highway. We got there and me and my sister took our bag and ran to the checkin counter. Then my mom came and she checked us in and we went to our room. Then we put on our swimming clothes and went to the inside water park.

There's a hotel and a water park mix there. When we went to the water park it was hot, I thought I was on fire. Then the safeguards threw a toy doll in the pool and jumped in to save it, and I thought it was a real child. So I was in the water exactly where they were and I tried to run, but I was too slow in the water. I was trying to run so fast I fell in the water, but I thought it was fake. Then I and my sister went to the outside pool. When we got out there we had saw a man in the pool swimming and his skin was ashy, he had cuts and scars everywhere so me and my sister went back into the other pool. When my mom rented the room she also bought these passes for candy and ice cream. We bought candy and ice cream and went back to the room.

Later that night we realized we did not have any food in there so we went to Walmart and bought stuff and then we came back and when we were going back to our hotel room we saw an ice machine and got some ice. After my mama went to sleep me of my sister said whoever goes to sleep first we can prank each other. And I went to sleep and she put 10 pieces of ice in my shirt. It felt like I was in Antarctica.

After we woke up the next day, we went to McDonald's and had pancakes. After that we went back to the Great Wolf Lodge and waited until 1 PM to go to the pool. Then we went back to the room and started to pack our stuff to go home. I was so sad we had to leave. When we go back home we went outside to play.

I started to like Minecraft when I was in the sixth grade when my friend Maraves told me about it. So I bought the game that was $6.99. I bought the game and played it for a few hours and liked it. I also learned a few things about it. First is to mine with a pickaxe not your hands, food, axes, or etc. Second is to never put or stare at the Enderman when your cursor is pointing to his head and it looks like this + or it will teleport and pick up bricks. They are the scariest thing in the game. I know they are just black with purple eyes that glow. Third is to not walk in caves when you have no torches. You need coal to make torches. You will have a bad time if you don't have them. Lastly, don't walk in love. It's orange and you can't miss it. And don't let enemies push you into it.

Clash of the Clans: now I started to play this game in 2014 when again, my friend told me to play it. So I started off to be a rusher, but now I'm way better. I'm working my way up to a Max TH8! Anyways, only two rules about the game. Rule number one don't kick anyone out of your clan unless you really did something. Rule number two is to raid with dignity and pride! LOL :)

Boom Beach: now I haven't really played this game is much as my friend does. It's like Clash of the Clans but more complex. I played it once or three times a day. Not such an interesting game like Minecraft.

Pixel Gun: it's a multiplayer or it can be a single player game. Anyways, not too much to talk about on that game.

It was a Saturday and my mom cooked in the kitchen. She was cooking greens, chicken, and mashed potatoes. My mom told me to set the pan and put water in it. So I took the pan off of the stove and I came back and touched the iron then I got burned. My hand was really red. They rushed me to the hospital. The doctor sprayed something on my hand. My mom said, "Be still." I said "It hurt."

The doctor had to get an xray and then that's when I found out that it was a thirddegree burn. So they gave me a cast to keep my hand cool. But I could (not?) move my hand for nothing. It just was sticking up. ______“When I Went to Carowinds” Story & Artwork By: Daisha Shalon Zinnerman

The first time I went to Carowinds was with my dad, Nice, stepmom, cousin, and aunt. It was fun before school started back. We stayed for nine days and we went swimming, on rides, and more. I got on this roller coaster and my cousin was screaming. Then I got on the ship with my niece, me, my dad, and my stepmom got in this water boat. We were having so much fun there. Then we went to the snack stand and we all got popcorn and a drink. I also I got a Twix. Also we stayed in a hotel and every morning we ate McDonald's for breakfast. We went shopping. My stepmom, dad, niece and I shared a room and my aunt and cousin shared a room. On our way back we stopped at Golden Corral's buffet and it was good. It was hot up there at Carowinds. I was burned but in the hotel I was cold. I swam all night until like 11:45 PM. It was fun and then I went in and fell fast asleep every time. The End.

The reason I love to dance is because I've done it since I was small. I always love to dance like I love to do praise dance or my cousins, sisters, and I would just make moves that go along with the song. I also love music because it helps me to go to sleep and do my work better. Now I am about to do this dance team called the Blazin' Divas." I love to dance. Like in the summertime, I always used to teach my little sister and cousin how to dance, so when we have our next cookout or party we could dance. The type of music I like is Gospel and some rap, but I can dance to all.

My mom is a coach in Raleigh that teaches people how to dance. I was in it, but now I didn't want to do it for a while. I wanted to do gymnastics, but then I went back to music and dance. Dance is my favorite thing to do. I practice on Fridays and Wednesdays. It's like 24 girls on the dance team and I'm about to join. When I grow up I am going to be a dance team coach. That's one thing I'm going to do. Also I'm going to let people that want to dance but can't afford it still dance to see how it feels to do something cool. At first some people want to be quiet, but they keep trying and they get better and better as they push themselves to do better in life. Like me I always got mad and wanted to quit. But I believed in myself and kept pushing myself to do better in life and now I am good at dancing. I started the team that my mom teaches again April 1st and we are going to probably do another battle again around the last week of May. This is the end of my story about why I love music and dance.

th Ms. Rochelle Burke * 6 Grade Core Classes 1-3 * Neal Middle School, Durham, NC Sponsored by Grants from GlaxoSmithKline and & The Durham Arts Council’s C.A.P.S Program Instructed by Anita Woodley, Award-Winning Journalist & CAPS Literary/Theatre Teaching Artist PAGE - 39 “Stories Come to Life!” Literary Residency with Anita Woodley April 6-16, 2015 Volume #5 ______“Beach Trip” Story & Artwork By: Daisha Shalon Zinnerman This is a beach trip I always take. Okay, every summer I and my whole family on my dad’s side goes to the beach from July 3 to August 3. It's a tradition from when my grandma used to take my father and them to the beach. When my grandma died we went every year. Last year we went in 2014 and we had fun and we stayed longer from July 3 to August 13. We had so much fun. We play games in the pool, went to the gift shops and ate out. Last time I and my cousin bought a crab and I had a craft with SpongeBob and she got one with Hello Kitty and they were cute and smooth. I named mine Sponge and my cousin named hers Hello Kitty.

We had fun as we stayed. I shared a hotel with my dad, stepmother, and niece every morning my cousin would come get me like it's 7:30 AM and we would go swimming. We were not even thinking about eating because we would be having too much fun. Then we go to this gift shop and we always get like $15 each. We're usually buying a lot of things. It is really hot at Myrtle Beach but fun. When I go to some of the shops it smells funny like the Mini Mart – all that seafood there. That's where we mostly eat, but they are high with their prices. When I go there I get a lobster and fries for $27. It is so delicious too. Everybody is walking so slowly, but at the pool all the kids are running and yelling and also diving in.

One year my cousin was six and she was running as she slipped and busted her head and then had to get stitches. She cried and cried and we only have six more weeks at the beach. She had to wait for weeks before she could swim again. I was eight years old at the time so I went with my other cousins which were nine, 10, 13, and 17. At the time I barely ate because I was too busy trying to have fun and play the last day we were there. We went to Golden Corral and to the museum. On the way home we took three buses. And also we had a backtoschool party like on the 23rd of August. We had candy, cake, ice cream, and more. It was at my sister's house in Southern Pines, North Carolina. We also got school supplies and I was going to the fifth grade that year at Mineral Spring. I had so much fun in Myrtle Beach and everywhere else.

Hello my name is Daisha. I'm going to tell you something really sad about my grandmother and nephew, Okay, first my grandmother. I was not alive when she died but I heard that she was my father's mother. This is what happened to my grandma. She had a heart attack also breast cancer for seven years. Then she died in 2001 and she was 73 years old.

Okay, now I'm going to tell you about my nephew. He died in 2011 and was born in 2011. He died because he was born too early and he couldn't breathe well. He was too small also. This was my sister's child on my dad's side and he lived for two weeks and then died. My sister was so upset. My sister, my dad, and her mom cried every night for the past two months. But we celebrate his birthday every July 16, 2011. We buried him next to my grandma Marie which was down behind my sister's house where there is a graveyard. But know that she has one beautiful daughter that's named India, and two stepsons named Conner who’s nine and Dalan who’s eight. This is the end of my story. The End. ______“When I Saw the Movie Selma” Story & Artwork By: Marianna Lakatlin Robinson

Last Christmas, my grandma took me to see the movie Selma. And, my grandma isn't exactly my "grandma." My granddaddy just married her, that's all. We got to the movie theater. We got some popcorn, candy, and drinks, and went into the theater room. The movie started, and it showed to MLK junior getting ready for church with his wife, Coretta. But the part that caught my attention most was when two white men killed another two white man, and said, quote “I hate white niggers!" and then the blacks tried to cross the Edmund Pettus bridge, but were immediately attacked by white policemen. And then they showed the bombing of the church in Birmingham, Alabama.

And when the movie was over, there was a protest. In case you don't remember it was that Michael Brown shooting, and my two little cousins were in the protest inside the movie theatre. There were police officers. And there was a white lady and her daughter coming out of the movie "Taken 3." and the mother said, "why are all of these, laying on the floor?" and the daughter said, "because they are retarded." So me, my little cousins, and three of my friends say it, "Shut up." Then they left the theatre. My advice to others who experience insensitive white people is to not let them get to you!

She was as calm And cool And collected that night As she was resting Under the soft bed sheet On the tiny bed.

Sometimes I wonder What she thinks of in her head.

But she told me That next night She said I think about the ways big brother That's what's in my head.

Why I replied in question… Because big brother They make me relax And they are very quiet And they’re nice to listen to Next to the seashore.

I was resting on my bed next to the shore. It was always crowded down there so I got used to this. I got dressed and rush out. "Good morning to everyone on the shore," I shouted out loud and everybody said "Good morning," back.

I rushed to the surfing booth to see if anything was going on and there was there were some things. There was a surf competition and the entrance fee was five dollars. And the cash prize was $1000. Wow that's a lot of money, so I am going to enter because I love surfing. The next day I was determined to beat this and there were 50 competitors, but it was narrowed down to 40, 30, 20, 10, 5 and then three. And I was one of those three competitors.

The water was rough. It goes up like the waterfall. The other competitor just lost his balance. I was going against a girl who looked like a mermaid with legs, so we both got our boards and went towards the ocean. The waves went up like a staircase. Then I lost my balance and fell down the center of the staircase onto the land. I had heard the announcer say we have a winner. She passed me and said better luck next time. ______“Flight” (Poem) By: Pierce Xavier Willoughby

I am a person Who dreams of flight The ability to soar Through the heavens But this was all a dream I saw everything Through the sky The forests The desert My whole imagination was in this world But this was all a dream But in real life With my pilot permit I will always soar.

It was a hot Sunday we went to Carowinds with me and my family. Carowinds is in Charlotte. So first we had to pay and it was like $25 or so. The first ride I got on was the Cobra, it was a scary ride because we went upside down. I felt I was going to fall off the roller coaster. And that is when my dad drops his phone in the lake because there was a lake and it was very scary. After that we went to another roller coaster, but not that scary as the first one. I don't remember the name, but we went underground. Then we went to the waterpark and to the wave pool it was awesome. After the pool we went to eat at Golden Corral. Later we came back and I got on another roller coaster called, "Intimidator." (it's in the picture I drew.) It was the scariest coaster I ever got on and I almost cried, but I didn't.

______“Family” Story & Artwork By: McKenlee Graham

Hello my name is Mckenlee Graham and I’m going to tell you about my family. First I’m going to talk about my brothers and sisters. My older brother is 17 years old and he plays football for Northern and he's a senior. Then it's my older sister. She is 13 years old and is in the eighth grade. She likes to dance and sing, plus she's really funny. She's like a girl version of Kevin Hart.

Well, when I first heard about college I always wondered how it would be. For the most part I want to graduate. But I also want to experience new things when I get there. I wonder if the dorms would be like a master bedroom or small like a closet. I wonder if college would be as much fun as it sounds like having parties on weekends. Pause... If there were parties every weekend, OMG. I will want to stay in college, but eventually I would have to graduate. Press play ok? my absolutely first choice is NYU. If I got into NYU I would go into a coma, JK (just kidding). I would freak out. I don't really know what I want to study and now that I’m 12 I think that I should start thinking about that. Just a note to people who are thinking about what you want to study: start now because when the time comes and no turning back. I'm just hoping that in the future when I’m in college that people can study vocals because my dream is to become a gospel singer. Until then I should start thinking because I have five more years to go. College rocks… I hope. ______“Broke My Arm” Story & Artwork By: Anonymous I was eight years old and me, my sister, and cousin were playing hide and seek. I and my sister had to hide and my cousin had to count. When my cousin was done counting he looked over on the back porch and found me hiding where my sister was hiding, so I got mad that my cousin found me. I pushed my sister out and he found her too. So my sister got mad at me and pushes me on my butt. And I slid on the floor. My hand was underneath the house. And when I pulled it out it was in a stiff ushaped. I had a long sleeve shirt on so you really couldn't tell, but when I went upstairs and knocked on my door, sister was in front of me and my mom opened the door. When my mom saw my hand she was crying with my newborn sister in her hand. As I was getting on the bus to go to the hospital they put a needle in the part that was broke. But no blood came out when they put the needle in my muscle. Dark red blood came so they got me in and got me out and a week later I came back home with the pink cast. People were crowding around me and signing my cast. And I have a cast on for one month.

I was born in a car, but my mom was right outside the hospital inside the car while my dad went to go call a nurse. They saw something they didn't want to see and then I got brought into the hospital. My mom was naked. But when I was in the park and I was trying to open this door, I smash my face. I was crying and bleeding. Also when I was like three, I love to dance now I don't. I forgot to say I have a big sister she's 16, a big brother he's 15 and I have another big sister she's 14, and a little sister that's nine, and a fouryearold brother.

I want to be a doctor, but first I’m planning to be a nurse and get my masters degree. Then go to get a doctorate degree and 12 years later I’ll be a doctor. I will have to wear a mask because it will stink. I’m not sure what type of doctor I’d like to be so I have to search up on the type of doctors there are. I’m talking about the blood and everything. I don't think I will eat for about a week. I think that being a doctor or a nurse is a great choice because then you will always have a job no matter what because somebody will always have a disease, fall, or hit, etc. They always will need someone to attend. Also I want to learn to be a hairstylist and nail artist. Nobody inspires me and I like to wear buns even though I don't wear them. I want to attend Duke University. I want to have two kids, two boys or two girls.

This is about two of my top fights. Both of these happen in fourth grade.

The first fight was when I fought five of my friends. It was like in the middle of the school year and it was the day after "El Clasico." its soccer game when Barcelona and the Real Madrid play. We were discussing how Barcelona beat Real Madrid five to zero. In soccer when one of my "friends" started to make jokes about my mom. At first I ignored it, but he kept on going on about it until he said that. When he said that he had my mom in the bed, I got super mad and punched him in the jaw and then he was down. My other two friends started to defend him, so I had no choice but to defend myself. A few One of them I slammed on the floor. The second one I threw him on the wall. The first one was the one that talked about my mom and I punched him in the jaw. The fourth one I also slammed him on the floor. Minutes later four of them were down and there was only one left, Anthony. He started to punch me, but I block them off or dodge them and at last he punched me on my face. But I was so full of adrenaline that I barely felt it. At the end I got tired so I just did a pressure point and ended the fight. The pressure point I used was when I just hit him hard on the back of his head. I apologize to everyone at the end of the fight. Altogether I’ve had about twenty fights. ______“Things I Want to Do When I Grow Up” Story & Artwork By: Lashanti “Ashanti” Z Bumpass

When I get older I want to do hair. The reason why want to do hair is because I think it is fun, also you make money, and a lot of people will love you because of what you do. I have washed and blowdried my baby cousin here. Also I twisted and put some colorful beads in. I am an okay hairdresser right now; I almost know how to do a lot of things. When I do grow up and do hair I want to be able to do everything correctly, not incorrectly or don't know how to do something. Also when people ask me, "do you know how to do this or that?" I want to be able to say , "yes I know how to do that. What would you like?" The two main things I really would like to do is good blowouts and Senegalese twist. Those type of hairstyles get you good money in your pocket, but it will be good if you know how to do everything.

I was on the bus when I saw all these boys at this boy named Keem’s House. But the other boys ran and when the boy Keem stepped outside the other boy shot him like three times and they ran. I was so scared. I started to cry because I really knew that boy. He was 17 years old.

______“A Piece of Log” By: Quantez A Eubanks Cox

I found a piece of log. OMG I just found the dog. Is that right to the left a frog? I watch a TV show called dog with a blog.

______“At My Basketball Game” By: Quantez A Eubanks Cox

It was one of them days when it was nice outside. It was the first day of summer break. I was at school. It was the end of the day. At that time of the day people were getting on the bus. Then I had gone home and my coach had called and said, "We have a basketball game this upcoming Saturday." I went to the game and we had warmed up. Then we played. So my teammates pass me the ball. I shot the basketball, I fell, and I made the shot.

Welcome to the Urbanese Dictionary created by Neal Middle School 6th Graders! Here you will find words that students used in their writing. Every 6th Grade English Language Arts (ELA) student was encouraged to not let spelling or context of the a given word hang them up in theory writing. Because I fluently speak what I refer to as, “Urbanese” I assured them that I could translate their work by code switching. The most important things was for these students, many of whom fear writing, get their stories onto the page without fearing judgment. As you will see, these words are uniquely spelled just how they are spoken, heard, and processed by the students. Now, open your mind and read along. You’re sure to diversify your language skills and expand your cultural awareness.

Enjoy & Thank you in advance for having an open mind & heart, Anita Woodley

1. An = On 2. And = In 3. Ate = At 4. About = Bout 5. Accepted = Asepeded 6. Accident = Acsadent 7. Again = Agne, Agin, Agine, Againg 8. Against = Aginst 9. Aimed = Amid 10. Already = Aready 11. Alright = Ight 12. Always = Aways* 13. And = An, A 14. Annoy = Anooy 15. Applause = Aplause 16. Armor = Amour 17. Arrested = Arressed 18. Arrival = Arrvirl 19. Asthma – Asma

th Ms. Rochelle Burke * 6 Grade Core Classes 1-3 * Neal Middle School, Durham, NC Sponsored by Grants from GlaxoSmithKline and & The Durham Arts Council’s C.A.P.S Program Instructed by Anita Woodley, Award-Winning Journalist & CAPS Literary/Theatre Teaching Artist PAGE - 49 “Stories Come to Life!” Literary Residency with Anita Woodley April 6-16, 2015 Volume #5 ______20. Assigned = Asigned 21. Always = Alwaysed 22. Ancestors = Auntsisters 23. Ambulance = Almalance 24. August = Agust 25. Auntie = Unties 26. Anybody = Enbody 27. Balance = Blance 28. Barely = Barly 29. Bathing = Babuing 30. Beat = Bet 31. Because = Bkos, Becose, Kuz, Becuz 32. Before = Befor 33. Begin = Begine 34. Believe = Belife 35. Benefit = Benifit 36. Better =Betta 37. Bleeding = Beinding 38. Blood = Boold 39. Blue = Blu 40. Bored = Bord, Board 41. Boyfriend = Boyfiende, Boyfind 42. Break = Brake, Braek 43. Broke = BrokBrought = Brung 44. Brothers = Borthers 45. Buildings = Billdinges 46. Bunny = Buney 47. Burdening = Beoning 48. Burned = Bruned 49. Business = Buisnes 50. Butchers = Buchers 51. Calm = Com 52. Came = Camed, CAm 53. Careful = Carefull 54. Career = Carrer 55. Catching = Cating 56. Challenge = Chalange 57. Cheetahs = Cheetas 58. Chicken = Chinken 59. Cigarettes = Ciggarets 60. Cinnamon = Cinnammon 61. Climb/Climbed = Climp, Clime, climed 62. Closed = Colesd

th Ms. Rochelle Burke * 6 Grade Core Classes 1-3 * Neal Middle School, Durham, NC Sponsored by Grants from GlaxoSmithKline and & The Durham Arts Council’s C.A.P.S Program Instructed by Anita Woodley, Award-Winning Journalist & CAPS Literary/Theatre Teaching Artist PAGE - 50 “Stories Come to Life!” Literary Residency with Anita Woodley April 6-16, 2015 Volume #5 ______63. Coffin = Coffen 64. College = Collage 65. Conditioner = Condisniner 66. Completed = Compled 67. Controller = Crochel 68. Couch = Choch 69. Counseling = Conculan 70. Count = Coont 71. Court = Quart, Cort 72. Cousin = Causin, Cosin, Cuzin, Cusons, Cusion,Cuzion, Cuz, Couzin, Cusins, Cozions, Counsins, Causino, Counis, Cousion, Cusion 73. Cried = Cryed 74. Crowding = Croweding 75. Cupboard = Kubard 76. Curly = Cirly 77. Cutting = Cuting 78. Death = Deaf 79. Decided = Dicited, Decied 80. Defense = Deffense, Difance, Defince 81. Degree = Drsee 82. Delicious = Delicous 83. Didn’t = Did’ent, Did’t, Didint’t 84. Disease = Diease 85. Dollars = Dollers 86. Drive = Grive 87. Drowning = Drawning 88. Easily = Easly 89. Education = Edecation, Egucation 90. Either = Eaither 91. Elementary = Elminter 92. Endangered = Endagerd 93. Enemies = Enimes 94. Excited = Exsited, Exited 95. Experiences = Exprinces 96. Experiment = Expirament 97. Explode = Expload 98. Fail = Frialed 99. Family = Famaly 100.Fence = Fance 101. Faster = Fasher 102.Fastest = Fastes 103.Favorite = Favor it, Favirot 104. Faze = Fase

th Ms. Rochelle Burke * 6 Grade Core Classes 1-3 * Neal Middle School, Durham, NC Sponsored by Grants from GlaxoSmithKline and & The Durham Arts Council’s C.A.P.S Program Instructed by Anita Woodley, Award-Winning Journalist & CAPS Literary/Theatre Teaching Artist PAGE - 51 “Stories Come to Life!” Literary Residency with Anita Woodley April 6-16, 2015 Volume #5 ______105.Fell = Felled, Fill, Falled 106.Felt = Feld, Fell 107. Fight = Fitht, fioth, 108.Field = Feild 109.Find = Fing 110. Finally = Fainly, Finnaly, Finnally, Fianlly 111. First = Fist 112. Flexible = Flaxable 113. Floats = Flows 114. Friends = Frenids, Freinds, Frinad, Fried 115. Fouled = Fould, Filed 116. Funeral = Fineral 117. General = Genarl 118. Getting = Gitting 119. Good = Well 120.Ghost = Gost 121. Grade = Gread 122. Greasy = Greacy 123. Great = Grait 124. Guardian = Guardiam, Guarian 125. Happened = Happed 126. Hate = Heat 127. Head = Had 128. Heard = Herad 129. Hearted = Harted 130.Hospital = Hospitall, Hospitle, Hostpital 131. Horses = Hourses 132. House = Hose 133. Hug = Hugged 134. Hurt/Hurting = Hert,Herting 135. Hyped = Haped, Hipe 136. Immediately = Emidatly 137. Oron = Inron 138. Irritated = Irratated 139. Intimidator = Internumater 140. Jersey = Jerzy 141. Jogging = Joging 142. Just = Jest 143. Knew = Gnew 144. Know = Konw 145. Known = Knowed 146. Kept = Keeped 147. Kick = Kik

th Ms. Rochelle Burke * 6 Grade Core Classes 1-3 * Neal Middle School, Durham, NC Sponsored by Grants from GlaxoSmithKline and & The Durham Arts Council’s C.A.P.S Program Instructed by Anita Woodley, Award-Winning Journalist & CAPS Literary/Theatre Teaching Artist PAGE - 52 “Stories Come to Life!” Literary Residency with Anita Woodley April 6-16, 2015 Volume #5 ______148. Knocked = Knonked 149. Knuckle = Nuckle 150.Ladder = Lader 151. Laid = Lade 152. Late = Lated 153. Laughing = Laaufing, Laughd 154. Leaving = Living 155. Leader = Leder 156. Leopards = Leporeds 157. Lying = Lie-ing 158. Little = Lil 159. Losing = Losting 160. Love = Luv 161. Made = Maed 162. Making = Makeing 163. Mammals = Mamals 164. Match = Mach 165. Medicine = Medcine 166. Meeting = Metting 167. Men = Mens 168. Minutes = Minutius 169. Month = Mounth, Mounh, Mouh, motn 170. Muscle - Musile 171. Museum = Musium 172. Name/Named = Naem, Naamed, Naemed 173. Naughtiest = Naughtyest 174. Neighborhood = Naiborhood 175. Nerves = Nervous 176. Niece = Neise, Neice, Niecie 177. Nice= Nis 178. Night = Knight 179. No One = Nowon 180. Nothing = Nouthing, notthins 181. Notice = Notise 182. Normal = Nomarl 183. Offense = Ofance, Offince 184. One = Won, can be used as 'goodbye' or 'later'. 185. Opinions = Opions 186. Opposite = Oppsite 187. Oregon = Orgen 188. Ounces = Ouncess 189. Packet = Pack it 190. Painted = Panited

th Ms. Rochelle Burke * 6 Grade Core Classes 1-3 * Neal Middle School, Durham, NC Sponsored by Grants from GlaxoSmithKline and & The Durham Arts Council’s C.A.P.S Program Instructed by Anita Woodley, Award-Winning Journalist & CAPS Literary/Theatre Teaching Artist PAGE - 53 “Stories Come to Life!” Literary Residency with Anita Woodley April 6-16, 2015 Volume #5 ______191. Panicked = Paniced 192. Paper = Papper 193. Party = Partie 194. Passed = Pasted, Past 195. Pastor = Paster 196. Pathetic = Pethitc 197. People = Peop, Peple 198. Pickaxes = Picaxes 199. Piece = Peice 200. PlayStation = Plastiction 201. Positions = Posihons 202. Poured = Poored, Purred 203. Practice = Pratics 204. Pray = Prey 205. Pretty = Pritty 206. Prices= Preces 207. Probably = Probrely 208. Protected = Proteted 209. Punched = Poch, Pushed 210. Quickly = Quicley 211. Ran = Rain 212. Really = Realy, Reilley 213. Reason = Resonen 214. Referee = Reffary 215. Registered = Regestered 216. Remember = Remebor, Rember 217. Rescued = Resured 218. Restaurant = Resternt 219. Riding = Rideing 220. Right = Rite 221. Running = Runnin’ 222. Saturday = Saterday 223. Seconds = Saconse, Secounds 224. Semi = Simi 225. Scared = Scaled, Seared, Scard 226. Screen = Screan 227. Scrimmage = Scrimage 228. Shining = Shineing 229. Shocked = Schocked 230. Seen = Saw 231. Shoulder = Sholder 232. Show = Showe, Shoed 233. Since = Scince

th Ms. Rochelle Burke * 6 Grade Core Classes 1-3 * Neal Middle School, Durham, NC Sponsored by Grants from GlaxoSmithKline and & The Durham Arts Council’s C.A.P.S Program Instructed by Anita Woodley, Award-Winning Journalist & CAPS Literary/Theatre Teaching Artist PAGE - 54 “Stories Come to Life!” Literary Residency with Anita Woodley April 6-16, 2015 Volume #5 ______234. Sink = Sicnek 235. Sit = Set 236. Seat = Set 237. Slammed = Samied 238. Slave = Saivl 239. Slipped = Sliped 240. Smile = Smil 241. Soaking = Sonking 242. Something = Somthing 243. Stairs = Stares 244. Started = Stared 245. Steals = Steels 246. Stick =Stink 247. Stole = Stoll 248. Stopped = Stoped 249. Store = Sore 250. Student =Studeant 251. Stupid = Stupe 252. Supplies = Suplier 253. Supposed = Serpose, Post to 254. Suspended = Susbended, Suspeded 255. Sword = Sords 256. Taking = Takeing 257. Taught = Thought, Tough 258. That = Dat 259. Them = Theam 260. Themselves = Theirselves, Themselfs 261. There’s = Thirs 262. Third = Threed 263. Though = Thoe, Tho, Throw, Throught 264. Throw = Trow 265. Together = Togeather 266. Toilet = Towetl 267. Took = Toke, tooke 268. Topic = Topitk 269. Touch = Toch 270. Touchdown = Thouchdown 271. Trach = Trek 272. Track = Trake 273. Tragedies = Trageties 274. Transition = Trasiten 275. Tried = Tryed, Try 276. Trouble = Troble