INKLING Volume 19 Spring 2009 Number 1 The Inkling is the creative arts magazine of Lone Star College-Tomball. Students of Lone Star College-Tomball are invited to submit poetry, essays, short stories, or artwork for this annual publication. All copyrights revert to the authors and artists. No portion of the Inkling may be reproduced without consent of the individual contributors. Advisors: Dr. Rebecca L. Tate Kimberly S. Carter Amy M. Hirsch Advisory Board: Doug Boyd Dr. Greg Oaks Katherine Reynolds Dr. Bill Simcik Melissa Studdard Senior Editor: Robyn Arcia Editors: Anthony Ramirez Chantel Sigman Staff: Hannah Andis Dennis Alfaro Edgar Bocanegra Trisha Brittain Sandra Cardenas Rosie Cruse Chris Fischner Lindsey K. Gibb Theresa Goolsby Jessica May Robb Wallace Cover Art: Emo Girl Eric Dela Cruz Inkling Table of Contents Dare by Hannah Jenney ..................................................................................................................................................1 Taking Stock by Elizabeth Myles..................................................................................................................................2 First Place Prose Winner Comfort Zone by Stephanie Bailey ...............................................................................................................................9 Dream by Anthony Ramirez.........................................................................................................................................10 A Leaking Faucet by Chantel Sigman .........................................................................................................................11 First Kiss by Carvin D. Joshua ....................................................................................................................................12 The Break of Corporate Control by Jessica May ......................................................................................................13 The Field by Robb Wallace ..........................................................................................................................................14 Love Letter by A. D. Kearney .....................................................................................................................................16 The Fall by Lindsey K. Gibb.... ...................................................................................................................................17 Third Place Poetry Winner (Tie) Rail Walker by Martin O’laughlin ...............................................................................................................................18 The Rose Garden by Hedwika Cox ............................................................................................................................19 Easter Time by Tiffany Thor............................. ...........................................................................................................23 Second Place Poetry Winner The Mysts of Avalon Close to Home by Trisha Brittain.............................................................................................24 I’ve Done It Again by Therese Crews .........................................................................................................................25 The Shooting Star by Kristin White ............................................................................................................................27 An Anomalous Indulgence by John Cobb ..................................................................................................................31 Alien Space by Stephanie Bailey .................................................................................................................................32 Reflections by Michaelle Yeo ......................................................................................................................................33 Brazilian Fences by Rachel L. Whitten .......................................................................................................................35 4 in the a. m. by Anthony Ramirez..............................................................................................................................36 First Place Poetry Winner Faggot by Lindsey K. Gibb ..........................................................................................................................................37 A Night of Wild Mind Gone Mad by Debra Mohajer ................................................................................................38 True Colors by Theresa Goolsby .................................................................................................................................39 Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite by Jennifer Jones.......................................................................................................... 40 Second Place Prose Winner Smooth Sailing on Puget Sound by Alan-Michael Smith ..........................................................................................43 Pet Viking by Jason Redfern........................................................................................................................................ 44 Third Place Poetry Winner (Tie) Bitter nor Sweet by Andreina Alexatos .......................................................................................................................45 Alone by Hannah Jenney ..............................................................................................................................................47 Little Black Box by Therese Crews .............................................................................................................................48 Family by Hedwika Cox ..............................................................................................................................................49 A Coyote in Death Valley by Alan-Michael Smith .....................................................................................................55 Why? by Angel Ponce ..................................................................................................................................................56 The Cancer of Thought by Paloma Moreno ...............................................................................................................57 This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us by Udo Hintze ..............................................................................58 Glue Pudding by Robb Wallace ..................................................................................................................................59 Basketball by Kenny Bacak .........................................................................................................................................61 Cryptic Love by Lauren Martell ..................................................................................................................................62 Just a Little Poem by Chantel Sigman ........................................................................................................................63 Crossed by Martin O’laughlin ......................................................................................................................................64 The Big Picture by Durell M. Forte.............................................................................................................................65 Early Morning Frost by Rachel L. Whitten ...............................................................................................................66 The Crossroads by Tiffany Thor.................................................................................................................................. 67 Third Place Prose Winner Standing Firm by Jessica May ....................................................................................................................................71 Selection Policy and Contest Information ................................................................................................................72 Contributors’ Biographies ..........................................................................................................................................73 Staff Photos ..................................................................................................................................................................75 Advisor Photos ............................................................................................................................................................76 Submission Form ........................................................................................................................................................77 Dare Hannah Jenney 1 First Place Prose Winner Taking Stock Elizabeth Myles I’m staring out the front window of the store, lost in thought, when Marie taps me on the leg with a tabloid. I look over and see her peeking out at me from behind a headline announcing new pictures of the Loch Ness monster’s baby. “You okay, Angela?” she asks, putting the magazine back on the shelf. “I was just thinking,” I say. My eyes stray back to the darkened picture windows. “Have you ever wondered why stores only have windows at the front?” I ask her. “And why they’re tinted?” “Not really. Why?” I shrug. “I’ve heard it’s so that it’s harder for the customers to tell