Galaxy Literary Magazine Produced by Callahan Middle School’s Rambler Writers Group Volume 1 2018 Galaxy Literary Magazine Staff Managing Editor: Karli Kupfer Poetry Editor: Makayla Davis, Jer’hydi Reed, Adrienne Brown Fiction Editor: Billie Ott, Hope Holland Visual Arts Editor: Logan Vaine Supervising Staff Member: Amanda Brahlek About Our Journal Galaxy Literary Magazine was established this year to promote the artistic and literary talent at Callahan Middle School. Our staff meets once per week during the submission acceptance period to review possible work for the magazine. Beyond the submission period, we meet every other week to continue to refine our work and the work selected for publication. Our dedicated editors attended every meeting over the course of the year. We strive for quality and originality and hope you enjoy what we’ve produced. Table of Contents Cover Art: “Sphinx,” 2017, ink and marker, by Ciara O’Neal “Memory” by Karli K. ………………………….…….….............3 “The Ranger” by M.J. ………………………………...................5 “Love Hurts,” 2017, pencil by L. V. ……………………..............6 “Why” by Hope Holland …………………………….………….7 “The crickets chirping…” by L. V. …………………………..…..8 “Untitled” by adri brown ………….……………….…................9 “The Frost and the Flame” by Jer’hydi Reed ……………….…....10 “The Guardian” by M. J. …………………………………...…..11 “Untitled” by Hope Holland ………………………………..…..12 “Thalassophobia” by L. V. …………………………....................13 “Wolf Love,” 2017, pencil by Island Lacost.………………....…..14 “tiny’” by Billie Ott ………………………………………....….15 “Puppies” by Jer’hydi Reed ………………………….…….........16 “Runaways” by Ellie L. Holton …………...………….……….....17 “Just Kids” by Karli K. ………..……………………………...….21 “Untitled” by adri brown ………………………………….…….23 Contributor Bios ………………………………………………..24 Memory by Karli K. “Attention, all students must report to the Auditorium for an unscheduled assembly. Students must keep all belongings in their fourth period classroom.” The speakers rang throughout the hallways as student got up and charged out of their classroom. I knew what this assembly was for. It was for him. The only person that had been there for me in the past year. This assembly was honoring his memory. Although he hasn’t been found, the police presume him dead, but he’s not. I can feel it. He is out there somewhere. I walked into the Auditorium. I stood in the doorway, alone seeing as I was the last one to reach it, or so I thought as someone forcefully shoved me out of the way. I fell to the ground and everyone stared at me. Getting up off the floor and dusting myself off, I realized the person that pushed me was still standing in the doorway, I spun around and opened my mouth. “Hey, could you watch where you’re going next time buddy,” I snapped as I stared at the kid. He looked like a freshman. He was small and his black hair was going in a million different directions. His green eyes were wide with fear as he took in who he just shoved to the ground. “Oh..I didn’t...I’m...I’m really sorry,” he stuttered as he walked backwards towards the bleachers, not taking his eyes off of me until he got to his seat. “Pfft, idiot,” I mumbled as I climbed the emptiest area of the bleachers. I sat down in the corner and put my headphones in. I closed my eyes, letting the music drown out the rest of the world. I sat like that for about 20 minutes. Deciding to check the time, I opened my eyes, only to be greeted with 300 pairs of eyes staring at me. I looked at who started the staring, the principal. She said something that I couldn’t hear with my music blaring, so I took out my headphones. “What?” “I said, would you like to say a few words about Luther?” She asked with a smile. I cringed slightly. Hearing his name felt like a punch in the gut. I stared at her for a few minutes. The auditorium was eerily silent, like everyone was holding their breath. “Cameron? Would you like to say anything?” I looked around the room, then back at her. I shook my head and she gave me a questionable look before saying, “Are you sure? I may help you and other people here.” “Ah yes, it would just help my mental stability so much to talk about my presumed dead best friend in front of an entire auditorium filled with students that couldn’t care less about him,” I say as I climbed off of the bleachers. “I don’t really feel like it.” I started to walk out of the building when I felt someone grab my arm. I whipped around and froze. Blue eyes were staring back at me. The boy that grabbed me slowly let go. I looked around and realized that everyone was whispering about me. My head started to spin and I heard ringing in my ears. The boy grabbed my arm again and I shoved his hand away, but as soon as he let go, I collapsed. I saw the boy start to freak out before my vision got blurry and I passed out. 4 The Ranger He runs the empty streets and hides in the cover of the silent night. Tortured Ghosts of regret haunt the roads of his heart, and vicious demons of fear prowl the forest of his mind. For he has spilled the blood of another, and the void the act has left in his soul can never be filled. by M. J. 5 “Love Hurts” by L. V. 6 Why? Why must I tie up my hair? And cross my legs? Cake my face, In skin tone paint. To sit upright. And like a lady. Perform with every beck and call. And I ask myself, Why? Why am I told I must wear dresses, And like the color pink. Why? Why am I cat-called On the street, And told it’s a compliment? Why am I told to be ashamed For loving my size, and how I look? Why am I told, to go into the kitchen? I want to play video games And enter in races Without being asked Why? It seems no matter How much I try, Makeup or not, Dress or pants, I’ll always be asked Why? by Hope Holland 7 The crickets chirping… The crickets chirping in the cool black night sounded throughout the house. I was sleeping in my new home’s bed, softly asleep, when I hear Alexa say something. I think of it as nothing and slowly drift off again, looking at the clock, 2:47. I bolt upright, clock reading 3:00, as I hear a large crash. I'm so startled and confused, all until Alexa speaks again, and I here it clear as ever, “someone outside has entered and is outside your bedroom door.” by L.V. 8 how harsh does the household have to be in order for the child to count the days down until she leaves ? by adri brown 9 The Frost and the Flame So different, yet so alike The red, burning flame And the blue, freezing frost One bent on destruction The other on restoration But which wants what? Maybe it’s both, Did you ever think of that? The flame gives you warmth But will burn if you ignore it You get caught up in frost's beauty But it will bite if you’re not prepared Give the elements your full attention Or be ready for a sting and a burn by Jer’hydi Reed 10 The Guardian He lives in the forest, Translucent and tinted green. Long and lean, He rides the winds. He looks over his home, Searching for evil. An almighty dragon, Keeper of a vibrant land. Made of the beliefs of thousands, He opposes those who seek to harm the land he protects. Mostly from tree destroying mechs that have a rather awful effect. Spikes run down his back. And horns sprout from his head. His winding body twists in the sky. He soars so high as he passes by. His intimidating appearance frightens many, But those who know the good he brings fear him not. With a bright flash of light the evil is reduced to a dot. He stands for those who cannot for themselves. He stands for the world, And he stands for its health. I have come to know him as the guardian. But alas, he is only a legend. by M.J. 11 Everything changes Once or twice, It’s hard to accept it, I know. But imagine- If we never changed, We wouldn’t grow, We wouldn’t realize our beauty. We’d be stuck with racism, slavery, and no equality. So let's think; Change. Our. Ways. And accept the growth by Hope Holland 12 Thalassophobia Deep waves of vast blue The white moon shining over the moving ocean Unable to be seen through unlike glass The pale blue cover, But pitch black underneath. Scales of the creatures that lurk unknown Waiting for your eyes to be void of the sea The broken hull The terror in your eyes The fear you once wished to contain leaks out in your scream And then You see it. by L. V. 13 14 tiny His tired eyes His dead soul You probs can’t read this I wanna go home by Billie Ott 15 Puppies All puppies are pretty in their own way Puppies can be fun Puppies can be tall or short Puppies were made for everyone Some can be fat Some can be thin And that’s just that They obey when you stay sit or stay They may not have ears, tails, or a leg But they are still pretty in their own way by Jer’hydi Reed 16 Runaways by Ellie Holton Yet another long and boring lecture about humans.