West Central Technical College‟s Creative Arts Magazine 2008 Volume V Editors: Angie Ingle Jennifer Jiles Carol Pearson Pam Sanders Lauren Willard Kyle Taylor Andy Jewett, Student Editor Nicole Taylor, FWS Assistant West Central Technical College annually publishes its magazine, VOICES. While the college encourages submissions from students, staff, faculty, and others specified in the submission guidelines, submission does not guaran- tee publication. While the editors make every effort to represent the diver- sity of the college, not all submissions are published due to content and space considerations. VOICES retains copyrights to all materials and non- exclusive rights to publish all works in any format. All material is copy- righted to protect WCTC and to exclude others from republishing con- tributors‟ works without their permissions. However, all contributors re- tain the rights to their own works and the rights to publish their submis- sions elsewhere. All opinions expressed represent the opinions of the indi- vidual contributors, not the opinions of VOICES, the editors, or WCTC. The editors wish to extend their appreciation to President Skip Sullivan and the administration of WCTC. Our thanks also go to the students, staff, and faculty of WCTC for their support. Specific thanks and appreciation go to Mary Aderhold, Brian Barkley, Carla Bradley, Diane Corso, Angela Foster and the WC Update, Wanda Foster and the Murphy Conference Center Staff, Pat Hannon, Brian Henderson, Elise Johnson, Sandy Kel- shaw, the Murphy Campus Maintenance Crew, Amy Steadham, Steve Stewart, Chris Summerville, Nicole Taylor, and Someone‟s Mom and Dad. Cover Art: “Faces” by Russ Williams First Prize Art Second Prize Art “Two Worlds Collide” “Faces” by Alicia Milner by Russ Williams First Prize Poetry Second Prize Poetry “Black Horse” “A Fantasy” Teresa Garrison Dawn Goff First Prize Prose Second Prize Prose “Why is MLK Day a Black Holiday?” “Where is My Remote?” Joe Spavone Douglas Goforth All work appears in the exact form it was submitted; any brilliance contained herein is solely the responsibility of the individual contributors. West Central Technical College is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia. The TCSOG and West Central Technical College do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, political affiliation or belief, disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam Era, or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law). Equity (Title IX) coordinator is V.P. of Stu- dent Affairs, ADA (Section 504) coordinator is V.P. of Administrative Services. They are located at 176 Murphy Campus Blvd., Waco, Georgia. 770.537.6000. ii Table of Contents “Until the Street Lights Come Nicole Taylor 1 On” “Where is My Remote?” Douglas Goforth 2 “Trixie Issabelle „07” Rebecka Mae Davis 4 “Laundry” Rebekah Yontz 5 “White-tailed Buck” John Ridley 6 “Illusive One” Madelyn Warrenfells 7 “My Brother, My Hero” Yanett Mayen 8 “A Hero‟s Fate” Richard Bailey 10 “Pinnacles” Kyle Taylor 11 “Thank You for Fighting For Joyce Harper 12 Our Freedom: Goodbye with Love and Kisses” “Dogwood” Cathy Bost 13 “Planet Halloween” Andy Jewett 14 “Jellyfish” Linsey Dixon Koda 15 “The Art of Natural History” Alicia Milner 16 “Here‟s Looking at You” Doug Miller 17 “In Honor of Service: Kyle Taylor 18 St. Louis Cemetery #1, New Orleans” “Role Reversal” John Ridley 19 “Why is MLK Day a Black Joe Spavone 20 Holiday?” “Faces” Nicole Taylor 26 “Newcomer” Russ Williams 27 “Black Horse” Teresa Garrison 28 “Faces” Russ Williams 29 “Two Worlds Collide” Alicia Milner 30 “Gnarls and Twists” Linsey Dixon Koda 31 “Bolted to the Past” Andy Jewett 32 iii “Cheap Fare for a Glimpse of the Kyle Taylor 33 Aftermath: Canal Street Cable Car, New Orleans” “The Columns: Neo Classical Pil- Joyce Harper 34 lars” “Out in the Elements” Daniel Montgolf 35 “My Angel” Sandy Adamson 36 “Butterfly Theorem” Monique Migneault 38 “A Fantasy” Dawn Goff 39 “A Nurse‟s Prayer” Richard Bailey 40 “Taste of Love” Felicia Spruill 41 “Empty Lake” Andy Jewett 43 “Christmas Memories” Benita Trask 44 “A Letter to My Granddaughter” Tom Miller 45 “The Beast” Amber Wright 46 “Monstrous Thing” Christy Shirey 48 “Famille Maillot: St. Louis Kyle Taylor 49 Cemetery #1, New Orleans” “Flowers of St. Augustine” Andy Jewett 50 “My Mother, a Southern Lady in Linsey Dixon Koda 51 the Sun” “Pere Marquette: Common Street, Kyle Taylor 52 New Orleans” “An Irish Holiday” Tom Miller 53 “Troubled” Ryan Hypes 67 “A Miracle: The Newborn” Angela Rhines 68 “Impressions” Laura Jakubiak 69 “Landon” Lacy Taylor 70 “Sitting in the Hall” Eddie Gore 72 “The Narrow Path” Madelyn Warrenfells 73 Contributors‟ Notes 74 iv “Until the Street Lights Come On” Nicole Taylor Holding on to the past as though I lived it today It was fun while it lasted praying that the memory never stray For I made many friends, a few confidants To laugh with and to play with That is all that I really wanted What I would do to get my adolescence back "Can I come outside?" "Can I go outside?" Getting jurisdiction is all we lacked It's getting dark outside and the street lights are on "All little children, it's time to come home!" I wave for my friends and I say my so longs Until tomorrow at the crack of dawn We come back and play again Until the street lights come on 1 “Where is My Remote?” Douglas Goforth Second Prize Prose Winner He did not have the remotest idea what had just happened. The Johnsons had a cabin in a remote location. In the first sentence, remote means small in degree; in the second sentence, remote means secluded or out-of-the- way. The word remote can also describe a radio show: The radio station did a remote at Racetrac yesterday. Even though the word remote possesses many meanings, if I were to ask anyone in the South about the definition of this term, they would most assuredly de- scribe an electronic device that everyone uses to control the television. Although normally used for that purpose, this device can also control the VCR, the DVD, the ste- reo, or even the CD player. Especially suited for the avid couch potato, this device is heavily used during ball games, NASCAR races, General Hospital, and House. With one push of a button, the appliance comes on; with another push of the same button, the appliance turns off, and sleep can now proceed. Pressing another button changes the channel, another button starts the movie, and another button provides options such as fast-forward and rewind. Most of the time, the couch potato can completely control the TV or other appliance from the comfort of his or her recliner and by lifting no more than a finger. A re- mote is a fabulous device! What if someone produced one of these devices for life's situations? Back when I had sick kids, I could have pushed fast-forward and moved on to the next scene; when my wife screamed at me for not taking out the trash, I could have pushed rewind and solved the problem; when the telemarketers called to sell me something that I did not want, I could have pushed the off button, or if I 2 had the nerve, I could have used fast-forward: it would have depended on the situation. If I had a really good day, I could have repeated it the next day, but this time I would have increased the color, the sharpness, and the vol- ume. And when one of those obnoxious people, who have such different impressions of communication, crossed my path, I could have paused until safely out of the way, or I could have just changed their channel. This remote, how- ever, would have been the basic model. The deluxe model provides more powerful features. When I get hungry during the middle of the game, I push a button and a ham sandwich along with chips appears on the end table; when I get thirsty, I push a button and a soft drink materializes beside my sandwich; when the gar- bage can needs emptying, I push a button and a magic arm with a shapeless, gusty sound removes the bag and depos- its it outside in the bin; when I need clean clothes, I push a button and my dirty clothes are washed, dried, folded, and placed in their proper place; when the grass needs mow- ing, I push a button and Robo-Mower is soon running in earnest; and when the house needs cleaning, I push a but- ton and all dirt instantly disappears through a most ex- traordinary procedure. All of these things are done from the comfort of my recliner without sweating a drop and by simply moving one finger. The deluxe model definitely provides the best value, and I highly recommend it. Incidentally, all of this talk is making me hungry. "Has anyone seen my remote?" 3 “Trixie Issabelle „07” Rebecka Mae Davis Photography 4 “Laundry” Rebekah Yontz The day comes every week, when endless piles Of cotton polyester blends become Small mounds of color---floating isles, On blue-grey seas of vast linoleum. Then vanished from my sight, each gone to where With agitating currents Fresh Rain cleans, Cool waters rinse, and warm Clean Breeze wafts air. I fold the towels, T-shirts, socks, and jeans. Tall tow‟rs of fabric call,” Come get your clothes.” Each designated by its owner‟s name. The isles all washed away, relieving woes. As finally the job becomes a game: My family members race to stash their stack, But piles, inevitably, will soon be back.