Diana T. Mary was sitting in her parents’ car. “Do we really need to move?” she asked. “Yes,” her parents replied. Mary did not want to move. Soon, she and her parents made it to their new house. She started to regret what she had said earlier. “Wow!” she said. “Look at all of the buildings and nature! Don’t forget all of the museums!” “We knew you’d love it,” said her mother. Mary started imagining how her new life in the city will be. She imagined her and friends hanging out, roller skating near the lake, going to the museums. She finally had a home she’d love. —Persefoni S.
magine a place not so amazing, whose streets are raggedy with potholes just waiting to bust your tires. Potato chip bags, plastic, glass bottles clumped together in the streets. There are distinctive smells in Chicago at different times of the day. In the morning, it sometimes smells like rain, or it may smell like a garbage truck came through your neighborhood. In the afternoon, it may smell like grass and plants. You can hear crickets and beetles chirping in the dis-
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tance. The parks are usually filled with children, running around like ants in search of food. Mothers try to catch their children as they scramble around. The tall, sleek buildings of Chicago’s downtown slowly sway back and forth as the wind blows, their only purpose being to make you feel small. It’s nothing like the South side. Its streets don’t have potholes and are not all that dirty. Perhaps, Chicago is not all that bad. —Neveatia S.
When I was 9 years old I moved to this huge city...Chicago. When we got here I was as quiet as a church mouse. Then I went to Elihu Yale Elementary. It was very weird the first time I set foot in class. It soon began to change. I changed. Chicago changed. I was quiet as I told you before, but now I am loud and different. Out of these 3 years I experienced in Chicago I’ve seen a major change in this community. Chicago has become a great disaster. I’ve seen many fights and heard many arguments...actually I’ve been in quite a few. But Chicago taught me a lot. I’ve learned that if some of these crazy people leave it will be better. Because Chicago is a great disaster with these people. I’m 12 years old and yes I know a lot about Chicago and as I wrote this prompt I know that many people that read this will think yes this used-to-be suburban girl has changed into a whole new type of girl. City Girl!!! Chicago!! —Keyanna G. As the sounds of the sirens echo throughout the mean streets of Chicago, I walk in silence. I watch the flowers bloom, and the birds fly free. I watch the children playing in the trees. I watch the sun light up the streets, with nice weather and big green trees I walk home in the beautiful Chicago spring. Chicago—my kind of city. —Rakeem M.
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Chicago is a place where dreams come true and you can eat the best pizza and hot dogs in the world! When you live in the city you can go to museums and see skyscrapers. Even though it may be crowded, the city is a wonderful place to live, especially Chicago. —Clare A-M
I look out the window, It’s a beautiful day. I wonder what I’m going to do. Maybe I should walk my dog, or stay inside, maybe sing, maybe talk. Talk? To who? To everyone on my block, What will you tell them? Well, it’s time to change. What do you mean? It’s time to change. Change the way we hurt our community. We need to make a difference, recycle, save animals and most of all save yourself. If you don’t change and make a difference now, if you don’t, I mean, who will? So let’s change, make a difference and show your green thumb to those who don’t have one. —Alexi D.
I see me and my friend going to the candy store and people out of the window and people going somewhere in their car. Darius M.
Fall 2012