t the edge of the garden looked over my shoulder A where it meets the I one last time at the beautiful sidewalk, blistering greenery of the Shire receding in summer heat, into the distance. Okay, so it three lace-delicate dill plants wasn’t really the Shire, but at hold eight squirming that moment, I sure felt like caterpillars, their Frodo Baggins, the reluctant soft bodies curled hero from the Lord of the Rings on yellow firework flowers or trilogy, torn unwillingly from nestling my home and forced to begin Volume 16 2015 among lattice leaves— my journey toward Mordor. small and obscure Well, that wasn’t quite accurate. as the moons of your nails. Frodo at least had Samwise Sophie Johnson, “8” Gamgee to accompany him. I would be facing the evils of my sometimes think about that own Mordor alone. I day when I took the power A. Roy Perry, “Hope in Mordor” to change my life into my hands. When I close my eyes, I can still see the lights as t had begun to rain again, this they illuminated the darkness. Itime falling in the form of I can feel the energy of the hen the ball is in his little ice shards. I was freezing, people, the excitement of the Wmouth, it is his. He shaking, and soaked to the fair. I can smell the grease of clenches it, chews it. He is bone. He called my name again the funnel cakes and taste the happy not to share. He juggles loudly and said that he would saltiness of the hotdogs. I can it with teeth and tongue. get me out of “there” quickly. see the crowd and hear the He can do it lying on his That one simple statement laughter as it rolled above the back or his side or sitting up. warmed me to the core. Then pounding music. I can hear Sometimes he cuddles the ball I saw his face—scruffy beard the screams as people spun in his paws—done chewing, and warm brown eyes— and rushed through the air on but not willing to share. He peering over the ditch. “Start 16 Volume the rides. And I can feel him can run, ball in mouth, and still climbing toward me,” he said, looking at me, picking me take deep breaths. When he but I couldn’t; it was too slick out of the crowd, just like he lays down to rest, he can pant to make it far without sliding did those nights. I get a rush around the ball. If I try to grab back down to the bottom. With remembering how he would it, the game changes to tug- confidence in his voice, he smile at me, his eyes twinkling. of-war. He is strong, using his told me to hang on for a little Victoria Koch, “Who I Am” whole body’s strength against longer, as we heard the wailing 2015 that of my arm. He plays too sirens of the ambulance. “Hang rough with teeth re-gripping, on, Suzy. The boys are almost irm leaves droop in fatigue; maybe on top of my fingers. here,” were the best words ever Fshe’s delighted to bear The ball is slimy slippery. He spoken to me. their weight. wins quickly and then roughly Susan Davis, Flowing petals give to gravity, nuzzles my hand to invite “The Day My Life Changed” float to Earth’s crust in another round. rhythmic seesaw— Phyllis Arth, “Buddy” a rose’s head left unveiled. She takes pride in her being. Ben Bentzinger, “Ever Fluorescent Flower” A magazine of creative expression by students, faculty, and staff at Southeast Community College Beatrice/Lincoln/Milford, NE Volume 16 2015 “The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow Roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.” Jack Kerouac C REATIVITY LIVES HERE These awards have been bestowed on Illuminations and its contributors by the Community College Humanities Association. 2009 Cameron Koll, “Baby Girl” Merit Award in Fiction 2010 Illuminations 3rd Place Literary Magazine, Central Division 2011 Katrina Bennett, “Brown Walls” 1st Place Nonfiction Illuminations 1st Place Literary Magazine, Central Division 2014 Mystery Harwood, “Nebraska in My 30s” 1st Place Poetry Alanna Johnson, “Descendants” 2nd Place Poetry Cameron Maxwell, “The City’s Outstretched Hand” 3rd Place Poetry Shannon White, “Black Violas” 3rd Place Fiction Ashley Cornelsen, “Homeless Dreams” Honorable Mention Fiction Thomas Joyce, “The Hovel” 2nd Place Nonfiction Stephen Kaminski, “Number 9” 3rd Place Nonfiction Casey Lowe, Eyes of Innocence 3rd Place Art Derrick Brinkmeier, Not on This Night Honorable Mention Performance Illuminations 1st Place Literary Magazine, Central Division 2 I LLUMINATIONS V OLUME 16 Editor: Kimberly Fangman Graphic Designer: Kristine Meek Editorial Team: Randy Back, Kyle Barnes, Carly Birman, Teresa Bissegger, Lindsay Dolan, Nancy Hagler-Vujovic, Shandi Harvey, Courtney Heap, Ashley Heckman, Debra Johnson, Stephen Kaminski, Anna Loden, Casey Lowe, Mary Ann Rowe, Natalie Schwarz, Katie Sjuts, Susan M. Thaler, Sarah Trainin, Roxie Tubbs, Patti Wagner, Emily Wendell Project Assistants: Cathy Barringer, Jeannette Bean, Rebecca Burt, David Hallowell, Jeanine Jewell, Cassie Kruse, Kate Loden, Rachel Mason, Donna Osterhoudt, Stu Osterthun, Janalee Petsch, Carolee Ritter, Amy Rockel, Kathy Samuelson, Laura Thompson,Barbara Tracy, Pat Underwood, Jessica Vetter, the English instructors of the Arts and Sciences Division Conceptual Creator: Shane Zephier Illuminations publishes creative prose, poetry, and visual art, as well as academic and literary writing. We encourage submissions from across the disciplines. Our mission is to feature outstanding artistic works with a diversity of voices, styles, and subjects meaningful to the SCC community. Illuminations is further evidence that original thought and creative expression are celebrated by Southeast Community College. Illuminations is published in the spring of each year. Submissions are accepted year-round from SCC students, faculty, and staff. Email submissions to Editor Kimberly Fangman, [email protected], with the following information: 1) The title and a brief description of each submission; 2) Your name, ID#, and program/position at SCC; 3) Your physical address, phone number, and email address; 4) Your motivation for creating each submission; 5) A brief, informal bio of yourself; mention unique traits, habits, or guilty pleasures— whatever makes you you; 6) The following statement with your typed “signature”: This submission is my own original, unpublished work. Written work is accepted as .rtf or Word files. Submit artwork images or photographs as .tif or .jpg files. (We can photograph or scan artwork for you if needed.) Video files of dramatic, musical, or other creative performances of ten minutes or less can be submitted as MPG4, MPG2, MPG3, AVI, MOV, FLV files. The deadline for Volume 17 submissions is June 5, 2015. Contributors should be aware that submitted work may be used in promotional materials, featured on the Illuminations Facebook page or the SCC website, or submitted to literary magazine contests. Contributors retain copyright of submitted and published material. “Like” our Facebook page for updates, creative challenges, news, contributor spotlights, and more. www.facebook.com/illuminationsscc Questions should be directed to: Kimberly Fangman, c/o Southeast Community College, 8800 O Street, Lincoln, NE 68520, 402-437-2844, [email protected] The content of this magazine does not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Team, the Arts and Sciences Division, or anyone associated with Southeast Community College. Still for Dan ©2015 3 T ABLE OF C ONTENTS P ROSE NADIA TADYSHEVA Innocence . 17 A. ROY PERRY Dirty Money ..............................27 Hope in Mordor ...........................67 NICOLE WENDELIN The Dance Class II: A Testament to Brilliant Artistic Ability..38 EMMANUEL SANCHEZ The Blacklist ..............................45 JEFF D. ANDERSON A Day in the Life...........................53 CINDY BURGE The Consumer Paradigm of Sexualizing Society ...58 AMBER ALLEN My Phoenix ...............................75 CHRISTINA MCCASLIN She’s Somebody’s Hero ......................80 FRED GRANT Ramon’s Mom .............................87 AMY KELLER Through Snowy Windows ....................91 ANNA MEDUNA The Value of a Little Time....................96 ALLISON WEBER Three Words: I Love You....................101 KARA GALL Bloodsuckers .............................107 RUTH HIETBRINK 125 Years and Still Standing Firm .............111 ANNA LODEN Eye of the Beholder ........................116 TROY POOLE Snow ...................................119 PAULA WELTER Delusional Ally ...........................122 VICTORIA KOCH Who I Am...............................129 MONICA WATSON How Much?..............................136 CODY DE PALMA Embracing the Loser .......................142 NICOLE WEBER David J. Bruce ............................147 HALIE SOVEREIGN I’m Single and Not Ready to Mingle ...........151 CHRISTINA KELLY She’s Gone...............................155 PHYLLIS L.M. ARTH Buddy ..................................158 SUSAN DAVIS The Day My Life Changed ..................162 STACEY DELANCEY Is This Just a Dream?.......................167 JULIE DEL VEccHIO Spirals of Light ...........................171 CARRIE CROSS Home Place ..............................176 P OETRY SOPHIE JOHNSON 8 ........................................8 At Whitefish ...............................9 KATIE MADVIG Gone ....................................10 Resilience ................................14 [It’s Not Rape If You’re Married] ...............24 A Moment’s Peace ..........................34