Volume 1 Winter 2016 Editorial and Production Team Contributing Writers and Poets Here follows a list of the editors and producers who Grade 9: worked on the production of this magazine. These Teebh Al-Freihy Jennie Caraballo people have put in hours of their time to be a part Keddy Duato of creating this magazine. Without them, this dream Anny Perez Sanchez wouldn’t have become a reality. Diana Le Anny Perez Sanchez Kat Swenson Layout Design: Natalie Sullivan Domenic LoGiudice (Grade 12) Jasmine Tuell Grade 10: Cover Design: Cassandra Kuechler Maggie Valvano (Grade 9) Kenny Latulippe Sylvia Officer Meaghan Paine Alina Parsons Title: Alina Parsons (Grade 10) Grade 11: Amanda Clarke Narrative Editors: LS Darcy Teebh Al-Freihy (Grade 9) Skylar DiPietro Kat Swenson (Grade 9) Ryan Duggan Maggie Valvano (Grade 9) Rebecca Gosiewski Kenny Latulippe (Grade 10) Phoebe Johnson Elizabet Kanegis Sylvia Officer (Grade 10) Jack Kelly Alina Parsons (Grade 10) Allison Richardson Hannah Valvano (Grade 11) Poetry Editors: Mr. Reickert’s Surrealism Collective (11 & 12) Jennie Caraballo (Grade 9) Hallie Gagnon (Grade 9) Photography: Jessica Gagnon (Grade 9) Teebh Al-Freihy (9) Diana Le (Grade 9) Diana Le (9) Jose Bernardez (Grade 10) Meaghan Paine (Grade 11) Advisor: Nancy Dashcund A Message from The Quill of the Mind’s Advisor In September, when the literary magazine club had its first meeting, there was standing room only in my classroom. Astounded, I listened to what this mass of high school students wanted to create, what they thought would be appropriate for a new literary publication and how often they would meet to work. By mid-October, the team was more manageable--a steady group of 15 or so students who wrote, who edited and who planned. What a delight to have such a team of willing and creative geniuses. I am thankful that this team and the students in the grade 11 creative writing class were so productive and that we had contributions from students across the school. I am thankful for the new design and title for the magazine, both of which came from students on the production team who also contributed poetry or prose. I am thankful for Domenic LoGiudice, whose design talent and experience from last year has taught the team much, and for the Graphic Arts support we had in the final days of production. And, most of all, I am thankful for the smiles and laughter that comes from the classroom on Thursdays and the zealous attitudes all participants share. Orion’s Belt is the first volume of The Quill of the Mind, the new version of Essex Tech’s first creative journal which was published in 2015 and 2016. I am indebted to the students and advisor who began this when the school opened, and I hope our team will continue to write, edit and publish the work our students create. Our goal is to have a Spring issue this year, as well as the issue you now are reading. I hope you enjoy the experience The Quill of the Mind provides. Nancy Dashcund Literary Magazine Advisor 2. 43. Jasmine Tuell Father be with her to spare us the pain. I’m sorry.” The look on Coal Miner’s Daughter Peter’s face was enough for me to break. All the pain, sorrow, and emotions came out as I cried on Peter’s shoulder. Peter put on a The miners were coming home from their long, thirteen-hour brave face, but you could see in his eyes he was grieving. Same shift. I would normally run and greet my father and older brother, with Father. “What’s going on? Why is everybody so sad?” This but lately, I’ve been aiding mother and keeping a watchful eye on made me cry harder. He was too young to understand what was my younger brother. going on. “Londyn?” a small voice called. Weeks later, Father was becoming ill with a cough. Peter was no different. Merlin had gone to school with the local miners’ chil- “Yes, Mer?” I respond, turning to face him. “Can I go greet Fa- dren. Word has it that the mine was going to start cutting workers ther and Peter?” due the dust bowl. Peter said it was causing trouble for the mine, making working conditions even more dangerous than they The voice came from the hopeful face of a seven-year-old boy. “I already were. I fear father and Peter may be let go from the mine, want to let you go, but you know I can’t let you go by yourself. leaving us to survive with the very little money we have. “Father When Mother gets well, we’ll go out and meet them together. what went wrong? A decade ago we never had to deal with the Okay?” I didn’t want to take the little one’s hope away, but times fear of losing jobs and when our next meal would be,” I reflected were tough and anything could happen. People were starving with Father one night. “Well Londyn, word has it that Herbert and in need of money. I heard from my brother that someone got Hoover messed up the economy when he was elected into office. mugged while walking back from the local store. I shiver at the The current president, Franklin Roosevelt, is trying to fix things, thought of the little seven-year-old being in that situation. but so far is having little luck. And there’s one thing I have to say before we turn it in.” Peter, Merlin, and I leaned toward to catch “Let him go dear. And go yourself, too. I don’t want to intrude father’s every word. on any more traditions.” Mother’s voice was nothing more than a whisper. “Welcome to the Great Depression.” “Are you sure mother? Father wouldn’t forgive me if something happened to you.” She gave a grin with the little strength she had. “I’ll be fine. Just please go. I’m not going to last much longer. I don’t want anyone to live on with the burden of watching. I do wish that you hurry your father back here. Keep Peter and Merlin out.” Nodding for her request, my voice caught in my throat. “Don’t talk like that. You’ll get better.” The look in her eyes told me she knew the truth, and I did as well. I stood up quickly, grabbing Merlin’s hand. “We’ll be back soon. Hang on for a little longer.” My voice cracking, tears bursting over the wall. “Please,” I pleaded, and with that Merlin and I fled the tent we call home. The mine was on the verge of shutting down, something that could be fatal to many families, including mine. We could barely get by with the income Father and Peter made. Between food, necessities, and medical fees, we didn’t have much. I tried to find work somewhere in town to help, but without luck. I guess the townsfolk were right. The unemploy- ment rate was over twenty-five percent. At the top of my street, Father and Peter could be seen, along with other miners. Merlin tore himself away from my firm grasp, hurling forward to greet them. I follow suite, but slower. “How was school, Mer?” Father asked right as I was approach- ing. “Father, I don’t mean to intrude but it’s urgent. It’s mother. She wants you to hurry back. It’s not good.” The color drained from Father and Peter’s faces. The walk back was rushed. When we approached our home, I pulled Peter and Merlin back. “Lon- dyn let me go,” Peter demanded. “No. Mother requested that only 42. 3. Allison Richardson clench thinking about the bloodied corpses, left behind as their it. I need to get out. White Fire .2 chicks were stolen. Maybe some were even still alive when it But it couldn’t have been so long, right? It had felt like forever Reaching the edge of the woods on the border of her town, she happened. One of the hatchlings whimpered. since she’d seen another person, but certainly not two or three suddenly remembered something. Water dripped rhythmically from the ceiling like a familiar lulla- months… Her chip. by. It lured Brand into a troubled sleep. He dreamed of flying free “Shhh. I won’t let them hurt you.” Lie. No matter how hard he The most that she had to protect herself from the cold was an old, They’re going to FIND her. over the arctic as a bird. The wind ruffled his ice blue feathers fought, he could do nothing as they dragged one of the brood off. torn-up sweatshirt she’d grabbed from her closet on the way out She could only think of one way to get it out. and lifted him higher, but he didn’t feel the cold. The Fire within But still, they desperately grasped the promise that logically they of her house. She would’ve grabbed something nicer, but she had She dug out her knife. him roared like a furnace keeping the cold at bay. He was lifted knew he couldn’t keep. He had broken it again and again, but been in labor. She wasn’t in her right state of mind. ever higher, till he left earth and soared among the stars. He was they pushed logic away because they needed some comfort in an Just thinking about that night made her sick to her stomach. free! Bang! He jerked.