“Alyse” by Zachary Cuellar SPECIAL THANKS TO graphite drawing Dr. Katherine Persson LSC-Kingwood President James Stubbs, Dean, Fire Science, Letters, Arts and Kinesiology Office of Student Life Center for Civic Engagement Kingwood for their support LoneStar.edu/Kingwood 2016 TAR URSTS Affirmative Action/EEO College S B Cover Design by Hunter Landrum MAGAZINE StarBursts2016_mag_cover.indd 1 — 1 — 3/9/16 11:25 AM BURSTS 2016 STARMAGAZINE Committee Members Gabrielle Moore Eric Mohn Alexus Golden Barclay Stockett Faculty Advisors Dr. Darlene Beaman, Chair, English Department Cindy Ross, Associate Professor, English Amy Potter, English Instructor Chelsie Meredith, English Instructor Mari Omori, Professor of Art — 2 — Table of Contents “A Lovely Day” by Kathleen Vasquez ...................................4 “All” by Taylor Davidson. .5 “Undying Love” by Pat Wetuski. 6 “Dead Butterflies” by Briana Bundage ................................12 “Drowning in Fear” by Barclay Stockett ...............................13 “European Enlightenment” by Rebekah Ford .........................14 “If Time and Death” by Marilyn Loyacano ............................16 “Heart-Shaped Lock” by Kaleena Steakle ..............................17 “I Strongly Dislike Poetry” by Chelsea E. McDonald ....................18 Summer 2015 Student Art Show Best in Show: “Obsessed With Art” by Maria Valarino .................19 First Place—Photography: ‘Strangers” by Avery Simmons. .20 First Place—2D: “Gray Woman” by Miriam Velez .....................21 Second Place—2D: “Forgotten Silence” by Miki Harbour ..............22 Third Place—2D: “Three Year Self Portrait” by Hailey Holbert .........23 Honorable Mention—2D: “Coloring Imagination” by Marissa Rodarte ...24 Honorable Mention—2D: “Power Horses” by Jennifer Mcgregor .........25 Honorable Mention—2D: “Helpless” by Samantha Imperial ..............26 Honorable Mention—2D: “Students and Boxes” by Samuel D. Feris .....27 First Place—3D: “Gigantic Pearl Earring” by Maria Valarino ..........28 Second Place—3D: “All the Best” by Cynthia Encisco ..................29 Third Place—3D: “Melting Clock” by Alexa Rudell ....................30 — 3 — Open Call Art Selections “Alyse” by Zachary Cuellar ........................................31 “Crosshatching Study” by Wei Jin ................................32 “Still Study of Bottles, Flower, and Skull” by Wei Jin ..............33 “Blues” by Alanis Hernandez ......................................34 “Going Places” by Alanis Hernandez ...............................35 “Skull and Bones” by David Aguilar ...............................36 “Cast Down” by David Aguilar ....................................37 “Float On” by Erika Estrada ......................................38 “Cancelled” by Amy Medeski .....................................39 “The Unveiling” by Sean Bush ....................................40 “Immigration” by Dalia Toribio ...................................41 “In the Mix” by Elizabeth San Miguel. .42 “Light of the Living” by Amber Barfield ...............................43 “Morning Prayers” by Austin Chandler ...............................44 “Icarus” by Luis Nava ..............................................46 “Poetry I Can’t” by Jessy Valladares ...................................47 “Reflections on Thoreau” by Heather Monday .........................48 “Romantic’s Gutter” by Sydney Hvizdos ..............................49 “The Armadillo (mulita) General Don Facundo (a fable for children)” by Alicia Casals ..............................50 “The South Will Rise Again” by Kayla Fowler .........................52 “Veterans’ Day” by Pat Wetuski ......................................54 “What’s Going On?” by Charles Wright ...............................55 — 4 — A Lovely Day The little butterflies of blue Reaching from the sky to kiss you. Oh how the sweet smiling sun shines! It graces the earth with wide, warm lines. The cardinal carries a cordial chirping cry, A sweet song streaked across the sky. The green grass is fresh and new Sparkling with dainty drops of dew. The wind whispers in the trees Like the melody of roaring, rolling seas. Crimson apples snuggling between leaves They came from beautiful blossoms blessed by bees Take a deep breath, we are alive as you can see, Who dare say this day can’t last for all eternity! —Kathleen Vasquez — 5 — All Eyes staring, People glaring, An exotic rare bird I happened to be, A “preppy” white girl they had never seen. I walked with confidence because I chose this. My mother, a negrophobiac, couldn’t understand why, She told me I was the reason she would always cry, I couldn’t help it, I needed change, A minority of practically one to give me a wider range, A range bigger than just one culture. I grew tired of the stuck up rich kids, It’s exhausting never fitting in, You see my views are unique, I needed to be away from the narrow and the bleak, Eisenhower became my home. There I learned to see from others’ perspective, That not all cops are good and not all races are respected, Not just black lives matter but all, We are a society that needs to stand together or else we will fall. I stand for what’s right, not the color of my skin, You can judge me and try to change me but I promise you will never win, I stand on equality for all, Races, genders and sexualities because at the end of the day in the eyes of God, Your sins and my sins are no different at all. —Taylor Davidson — 6 — An Undying Love A Short Story by Pat Wetuski Dr. John Eversole was running out of time to finish his project, but he was nearly ready to start the official testing phase. There was a hard deadline he couldn’t change, and it was rapidly approaching, so the only recourse was to work long hours. “Do want a banana?” The chimp, Syrii, was so old and weak she didn’t even react to her favorite treat. John had raised Syrii from a baby; he often took her home for vacations so she wouldn’t be alone. He hated to see her like this. “I’ve got something special for you.” Syrii hated shots. This time, she was so weak she didn’t try to avoid the needle. He discarded the empty syringe. “You probably would be dead before I can get the government’s permission for animal testing. I worry about finding you dead when I arrive each morning. I would really miss you, and even now, I miss the way you used to greet me when I arrived each morning. Your greeting started my day right. I sure hope this works.” John was certain that tomorrow would be different, but he feared that the injection would kill her. She was so weak. John skipped updating his notes as he wrapped up a day that started at 5:00 AM. He wanted to spend the night with Syrii, and he still had work he wanted to do, but he couldn’t be late tonight. It isn’t every day that you celebrate your 65th wedding anniversary with your one and only love. When he picked Charlene up, he would take her to the oldest and best steakhouse in town. They had celebrated there every year for the last 43 years. He knew what both he and Charlene would order. Last week, she had been diagnosed with brain cancer. While she was a very active 86 and was very healthy up to this point, she was too old for the state to approve the operation to remove the tumor. They said she could start radiation in six months, but the estimate was she would have severe brain damage in two or three. That was his greatest dilemma. If he could finish his project in time, he could cure her, but if he failed, he would miss her final good days. Still there was so much to gain, and he felt he was so close; he wanted to take the risk. He was even willing to risk Syrii with an untested treatment. He walked through the sliding doors of the research hospital. It had been drizzling all day and the sun was breaking through just above the horizon as the last of the clouds blew out. The temperature had dropped to nearly freezing. With the expected crystal clear sky, the temperature would plummet tonight. He was too old to drive on ice. It was a good thing he had the new Lincoln. As he approached the car, the engine had already started, his door slid up and out of the way, and when he was in, the door slid back and he felt the pressure rise slightly and he said, “Home, James.” The car responded, “Yes, Doctor. You are leaving early tonight. Do you have special plans for your anniversary?” “We have reservations at ‘The Cowhand’s Diner’ for 6:00PM.” “Then when we pick up Charlene, I will keep the motor running. It will be cold tonight.” “Thanks, James.” John changed his shirt and put on the vest, coat, and tie that lay in the seat next to him. He had to retie the tie four times to get it right. Like most men, John hated ties. James let Charlene know when they were still 5 minutes away. When John stepped on the front step, the door of his home for the last seventy years, slid silently out of the way. He how it had changed since he had to use a mechanical key to open the door. As he stepped in, she was at the top of the stairs. Her red gown showed that she had gained a few pounds since she was eighteen. Her silver hair was cut short and framed her faced. Her smile still lit up the room. The sight of her still took John’s breath away. He felt a little underdressed in his three piece tailor made suit. She took her time coming down the stairs. She still liked to tease him. He offered her his elbow and she slipped her hand around his arm. She felt his bicep. It was no longer the rock it was when he was twenty. Years of farming in his teens had left him so naturally buff that she loved to feel his muscles — 7 — move under her fingers. Now, he was a shell of his former self. His hair was totally white; not the black of his youth. She still loved to look at him.