The Splendid Review The Splendid Review is an anthology of poems, short stories and autobiographies written by the talented young writers at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers. In collaboration with Writers in the Schools, The Periwinkle Foundation unites professional writers with children battling cancer and blood disorders to share their stories. Through arts and creative writing programs, The Periwinkle Foundation celebrates self expression and empowerment as a vital part of the healing process.
By Elijah, age 13
Cover Artwork “The Great Butterfly” by Neveah Ramirez
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Angel from Above A week before Christmas we were all fine, putting up the lights on the tree and decorating. We walked out of the room for a second, and when my mom came back in, Breaon was on the floor. My mom immediately ran to tell me and we took her straight to Texas Children’s. The first thing they told us was that she had pneumonia. The second thing they told us was that she had a growth. Later we found out that meant a tumor. Before that day, everything was normal and fine. Breaon was three and she was potty training and learning her 1,2,3’s and A,B,C’s. Then, boom, everything totally changed. From that day on, she never left the hospital until February 20th, a few weeks ago. It took a long time to accept what’s happened and lots of tears, but we did. My mom and I take care of Breaon, and we’re still trying to figure out what it all means and where do we go from here. We don’t really get through it. We just stay strong because it’s the only thing we can do. Breaon has been strong through all of it. She has had to learn again how to walk and talk, and she still can’t eat without a tube. But, she grabs and collects everyone’s hearts. Everyone she meets falls in love with her. The moment she opens her mouth, that’s it—there’s a bond. My Bre Brat, angel from above. By Tay, godmother to Breaon, age 3
Waiting About three weeks ago we went to a walk-in clinic so someone could look at a swollen lymph node that had gotten harder and bigger over a few weeks. He took one look at my son and said you need to see a specialist. So, we waited for four or five days for the referral, which never came. I couldn’t wait any longer, so I called Texas Children’s myself, and they said we needed blood work. We went back and forth trying to contact the on-call doctor at the clinic but he never got back to us. We found out that all that was on the chart from the clinic was that my son had several abycesses in the neck. So, instead of waiting any more, Texas Children’s said to bring him to the ER. We did that and ended staying the whole night as they did different tests and took blood. There was no fluid or infection or pain, so now we’re here today in the clinic waiting for the results. I feel nervous since they said we would hear the news from the oncologist. It’s hard to be in this waiting stage. But, I’m hopeful that everything is good news today. He seems so healthy. By Dana, mom to Jorin
Fight for Life I’ve been coming here since I was 13. I remember the first day clearly because I had my 13th birthday party, and the next day I ended up at Texas Children’s. It was 2 - The Splendid Review - Spring 2013
a major turn of events in my life. At the time I was really into sports. I played soccer, basketball, track, anything active. Then, it all changed in a flash. It didn’t dawn on me immediately how serious it was. Everyone around me was crying, but I didn’t know what was going on. Eventually, I did. I went through radiation, chemo, tumor removal, and then a life of meds, being in and out of the hospital, and pain. I think the only way I got through it all was a huge support system. So many people came out to help me celebrate all the holidays and birthdays that I would have missed. I remember once I even had to ask the nurses for a larger room so there’d be a place for all my friends and family. Staying positive is what gets me through because it’s never over. I’m a long-term survivor, but it affects me every day. I don’t have good balance. I can’t imagine how I used to run around a track. My endurance and energy have changed as well as lots of other things. I just recently made an appointment with the disability counselor at my school to work through some things, like not being able to write clearly or quickly. So, it’s something that’s with me. On the other hand, I think my life has changed in good ways too. I am more empathetic and understand where other people are coming from. I’ve learned not to take life for granted. It happened to me so early that I grew up faster than others. I had to deal with a lot more than most 13 year olds. Even my career goals changed. I now want to be a child life specialist. I now wear a green wristband that says “Fight For Life.” The Periwinkle Foundation gave it to me, and it stands for the fight is never over. It reminds me to never give up because I was given this life to live. By Taylor, age 20
Notes The first instrument I ever played was the recorder. I was in 4th grade, and it was easy. I immediately was hooked. We learned to play songs, even Beethoven. Once I got to middle school I picked up tuba. The band directors gave us different mouth pieces and I did best with that one, so that’s what I started. The hardest thing about the tuba is carrying it. I had one at home and one at school. I played tuba all through high school. We played at football games and concerts. I also played trumpet, French horn, baritone, and percussion. My brother-in-law played lots of intstruments too and I think I just picked it up being around him. I must have a musical gene because it’s always been easy for me. Now I play guitar and drums. I’d like to get a drum set. I used to have a drum set and a few friends of mine from school started a band just to hang out. I like improvising. Music teaches you rhythm and multi-taksing. Music is my turn-to. Whatever I’m feeling I can use music to express it. I listen to lots of music too, and I enjoy everything—classical, rap, rock, heavy metal, and jazz. I probably won’t do anything professionally with music, but it will always be with me. By Raymond, age 19
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Now It’s Different It’s hard when life dissolves for your family. We used to be a typical family doing typical things. Now, it’s different. There is so much to think about and try to keep straight. The bills, the medications, everything. I’m still learning how to accept this and keep functioning. When I come here, it makes me stop feeling sorry for myself because I see a lot of other families going through this same thing. Also, the kids just keep being kids. That gives me hope. By Roshana, mom to four kids
Staying Strong When my sister started treatment, my mom was far away in Mexico. It was so hard for my dad and us. My dad had to do everything—take me to school, go to work, fix meals, and visit my sister in the hospital. For me, I had school every day, plus homework and then sometimes visiting my sister. It was hard and lonely. But, my dad encouraged us to stay strong because I felt like giving up. Now, my mom is here with us, and it’s easier. I remember the first day she came to us, I was so so happy. By Arizai, age 14
Keep Going There are a lot of times when you’ll want to give up in life. Sometimes I feel like I can’t take another step. But, I try to keep going because that’s what my mom always says you have to do. Just get up and do what you’re supposed to do and that’s about all you can do, she says. So, when I feel discouraged, I try to put those negative thoughts away. I wake up, brush my teeth, go to school, do my homework. Because that’s all I can do. By Shelliya, age 11
The Man in Search of the Parrot Once upon a time there was a man who was looking for a parrot. He wanted to take it to the zoo so that he could take care of it. He went into a forest and he hiked for 20 long days before he finally found a parrot. Along the way, he faced lots of danger. He had to survive a lion who was chasing him by jumping in a boat. Then, in the water, a shark tried to get him, so he rowed to shore and hopped out. Then, he saw a green parrot who flew away before he could catch him. The man got some worms and put them in a metal cage. The parrot flew inside and the man was able to take him to the zoo. A lot of people came to the zoo to see this parrot, but the parrot seemed 4 - The Splendid Review - Spring 2013
sad. The man went back to the forest and found the mother parrot. He trapped her the same way that he had trapped the baby parrot and brought her back to the zoo. The baby parrot was happy to see his mom, and they lived happily ever after. By Dalton, age 8
Racing I love to race cars. When I was a kid, my father always gave me hot rod cars for every birthday. I loved them. I had a whole collection and I played with them. So, now I’m 17, and I steal my mom’s car and drive around. I’ve always been passionate about cars, their speed and their style. If I could have a car of my own, it would be a BMW. It’s fashionable and sophisticated. I’d love to be a professional racer. I don’t how to get there, but it’s something I’m interested in. I’ve been to street car race to watch. There are a lot of people and cars. Some day I’d like to own 20 Mercedes and race them. By Dorival, age 17
Explosions for Science! I’m in third grade, and my favorite subject is science. I’ve always loved science because I like doing dangerous experiments, seeing explosions, and inventing new things. My mom bought me a glass chemistry set for Christmas, and I’ve done some of those experiments. I like combining stuff to see what will happen. I also like thinking about things I might make or invent. I’ve done sketches, but nothing has ever worked yet. Once my grandpa and I made a fort out of wood. We had to use science to do that because I had to measure the wood. For Make A Wish I got to go to a rock quarry and see the bomb squad that’s part of the TV show Mythbusters. They had some old TNT that they needed to get rid of, and I got to detonate it with a remote control. The explosion was really loud. They also had a 55-gallon gasoline tank and one stick of dynamite. They called that explosion the “Hollywood Effect.” You could see the fireball before you heard the noise. After the explosions, I got to shoot a M-16. The ranger had to help hold because it’s heavy and has a big kick. We were trying to shoot at a box. Every time we hit it, it would blow up. We also shot a flashbomb. The guy pulled the pin and threw it out really far, and it made a big flash. After the rock quarry, we went mining for gold. It was in river in California. We dug in the dirt in the river and the current pushed the gold to the sides of the river and that’s where we went panning for the gold. I got about $300 worth of gold. When I grow up, I think I’ll be a scientist. By Evan, age 9
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We’ll Make It I’ve always liked baseball. My brother and dad and mom all played, so that’s probably why I like it. It runs in the family. Right now I’m playing on a team called the St. Louis Cardinals. We’re the #1 team in Groves, TX. We have to practice 4 days a week, plus we have games. It’s a busy schedule. I play left field, pitcher, and sometimes shortstop. My favorite part of baseball is hitting. It feels good to get on a base or make a homerun. I remember the first time I ever hit a inside the park homerun. I got a low outside pitch and I made contact. The ball flew to the left field and I started running the bases. I made a homerun. Everyone cheered. It’s fun when your team cheers you on. If our team continues to win, we’ll get to go city championship and then play Port Neches. I feel confident that we’ll make it. By Slate, age 11
Rocket If I had a horse, he would be tall and brown. I would name him Rocket. He would run fast. I would hold on tight. We would ride to an art museum. I would wear a white hat, a cowboy vest, and boots. When I finished at the museum, I would get my horse and ride away. By Mario, age 5
My Dog One day my dog was playing fetch with tennis balls. I threw the ball and the dog brought it back. We had fun. By Scarlet, age 4
The Striped Tiger Once there was a tiger. He lived in Africa. He could run really fast, but not as fast as a cheetah. One day he was walking along and another tiger jumped out and tackled him. They started fighting. The other tiger bit him, so he scratched him. After a long fight, the other tiger died, and the striped tiger walked away. By Bo, age 5
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Baseball In baseball you have to hit the ball with a bat. You have to try to hit it before it gets past you. It’s not scary, but it is hard. To hit a home run you have to hit it far like 1000 feet. You have to wear a uniform and a baseball cap. By Landon, age 6
The Beach I took my toys to the beach. I went with my family. It was too cold to get in the water so I dug a big hole in the sand. The water went into the hole and then I got in. Then we went to the carnival, and I ate popcorn shrimp. Every day I say I want to go back again. By Ava, age 3
The Expert I’m the expert at playing all sorts of video games, like The Amazing Spiderman, Transformers: The Game, and Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. To play the games, you have to have instinct to spot the enemies within the game. You have to have good eye hand coordination, be fast with your hands, and have accurate eye sight. In each game, you must learn your powers to conquer the game. Always remember to protect yourself and that you are the hero. By Isaiah, age 9
My Dogs I have two dogs, Scooby and Coco. Coco is black and she is our wild dog. She will randomly bark at people, jump up on furniture, lay down on the ground and roll and wrestle for no reason. Scooby is our adventurous dog. He’ll bring all our chew toys and pile them up in one place and he’ll grab our socks and take them outside. Coco sleeps with me. She hogs the covers, but I like having her there. Scooby sleeps in the cage because otherwise he’ll lick my face all night and bite my ears. I love having dogs. I wouldn’t want to just be stuck at home with only my brother! By Rhaevyn, age 10
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The American Way When I was 8, I moved from Pakistan to Texas. It was hard to leave, especially all my cousins. I grew up with them, so it was hard to say goodbye. When I came to the U.S. I didn’t speak English. I got here in the middle of 2nd grade. Sometimes I had no idea what my teacher was saying. She would say something like, “Put your backpack away, please,” and I’d just stare at her. Once, though, I remember that I had a substitute teacher, and she spoke my language, Urdu. Her last name was even the same as my first name! Other big adjustments that I had to make when I moved to the U.S. included eating new foods and making new friends. American foods don’t have many spices, so I wasn’t used to them. I remember trying to make new friends in my neighborhood. I would sit outside and watch the other kids play until they asked me to join them. Now, I’ve been here 2 years. I speak English, eat American foods, and feel at home. This summer in June I’ll get to return to Pakistan for the first time. I’m excited to see all my cousins again and be back in the country where I was born. By Abbas, age 10
Out of the Ordinary I’m taking a photography class at my high school. The teacher is really inspiring, and I’ve learned a lot. For one project we had to take pictures of our environment. I took ones of my family—my mom, my dad, and my two brothers. I also took lots of my friends. When we shot our pictures, we had to take into account shutter speed, f-stop, and aperture. To get a good picture, you have to see the story behind it. You have to be able to see and feel the emotions. My favorite one for the project I did was the one I took of my friends at the homecoming game. They were outside, and it was half time. They were acting silly, and I think my photo caught their moment of happiness. I put the photos in a slideshow so I could present them to the class. This photography class has really changed my ideas about the future. I think now I’d like to be a photographer. I like to capture images that are out of the ordinary. By Andrea, age 16
My Sport I love volleyball because it’s efficient. You have to train a lot. To be good at volleyball you have to be quick and have excellent eye-hand coordination. I run around my apartment to exercise. My goal is to play on a team because it’s fun. By Alaria, age 11 8 - The Splendid Review - Spring 2013
Untitled My husband and I were recently talking about how we’ve come to the end of an era, and we want to pay forward all the kindness and love we’ve experienced during the last four years. Our daughter’s last treatment is this month. We’ve thought about our incredible journey and how to give back. I have a medical and research background, so I know how to interpret test results and read medical reports and ask the right questions, but most parents have no idea. They are dropped suddenly into a world of confusing lab results, side effects, and treatment plans. So, my husband and I started thinking about how we could ease parents’ concerns. We came up with the idea of an ambassador, another parent who has been through many of the same things and can empower other parents and kids who are just starting. We came up with the name FOUR WORDS because the four words “Your child has cancer” can stop you in your tracks, but our idea is that you have to move FORWARDS in order to survive. So, whether you’re at the beginning or at the end of your journey, you have to resist feeling stuck or paralyzed. Don’t dwell in the past or obsess about why it happened and whether you could have done something differently. Just keep moving forward into the future. By Anne, mom to Rachel
A Trip to the Park Once upon a time a little horse got bored. She didn’t know what to do. She and her mom went to the park to play. The pony went down the slide and then she decided to swing. After that, they went home to rest. After the nap, they got up to eat some hay. Her daddy came home and put her to bed and kissed her goodnight. By Reagan, age 5
A Day with my Friend Once there was a pretty day. I was playing with my friend in the sunshine at my house. Suddenly, we both fell on a stump, and we got blood all over ourselves! We helped each other get up. Then, we went inside to rest. After we rested, we got up and played some more because that’s what kids do. By Addison, age 5
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The Princess Named Eva Once upon a time there was a little girl named Eva. She was a princess who liked to wear a crown and carry a wand. One day Eva was at her castle in her room. The walls were painted pink, purple, black, white, grey, and brown. She started to dream about the prince she was going to marry. The prince was handsome. Her dress was pink. She dreamed that the prince gave her two special gifts, a shell and a rock, because he loved her. The seashell was pink and the rock was purple. She dreamed that she put these gifts in her basket and hid it in her closet so no one would take it. When she grew up, the real prince came. They got married and rode horses and did everything together. He came to live at the castle and they were happy. They ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner together. They were never lonely and they lived happily ever after. The End. By Eva, age 7
How the Troll Learned Its Lesson Once upon a time there was a troll. He was about 7 feet tall and bald. He lived in an old cabin in a forest. He always picked on people who got lost in the forest. He played tricks on them, like telling them he was going to cook them in a pot and eat them! One day a girl came. She was very brave. When she came to his cabin, the troll grabbed her and put her in a pot and said he was going to eat her! The little girl said, “Wait. There is another troll and he can break down a door.” He said, “I can do that.” He wasn’t scared at all. But, the girl said, “This troll can get tied up in a chair and then break himself loose without a key!” He said, “I can do that too.” So, the girl said, “Prove it.” So, the troll tied himself up in a chair and threw away the key. But, he couldn’t get out, so the girl got out of the pot and ran away! So, whenever anyone got lost in the woods, they didn’t have to worry about the troll because he never picked on anyone again. By Alexandrea, age 9
Top 5 Things to Do When You Are Nervous #1 Keep calm and eat a cupcake #2 Stop being nervous, read a book #3 Run faster than a train #4 Don’t be shy, color with me #5 Remember don’t be scared By Riya, age 6
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What Motivates Me Basketball is the sport I’ve gravitated toward since I was young. My dad and older brother both played so I grew up around it. I had a ball in my hand from an early age. I’ve been playing for so long that I don’t have memories of specific games, but I’ve always been motivated to play. By 7th grade I got serious. I was asked to play on an AAV team where the players are more advanced. To get better at basketball I’ve just practiced—constant practicing. I usually play point guard—it’s about keeping everyone level headed and calling the plays. To be good at point, you have to know everyone’s position and yours and you have to understand how to apply what your coach is saying in a quick manner. It can be stressful but I enjoy competition and winning. That’s what motivates me. Next year I hope to start back up so I’ll start training this summer. By Andrew, age 16
Outside When I go outside, I like to play on my trampoline and in my playhouse and with my dog. My dog knows how to roll over when you give it food and sit down when you stomp your foot. I like to do jump flips on my trampoline. I learned how to do it in the pool. I bring my dolls outside to play with me in my playhouse. I can see the leaves because I’m high near the trees. By Ava, age 5
The Day I’ll Never Ever Forget One day I was running through the woods. It felt great, like my lungs were going to burst. I kept going, never wanting to stop. Then, suddenly I saw something small move. It looked like a tiny fairy girl and she was waving her arms in the air. I stopped to see what the heck I was looking at. I was sure it must be the cough medicine I was taking. But, there she was, a little tiny girl with long hair and big eyes. I asked her what she wanted. She said, “To be happy.” I said, “That’s up to you.” Then, I kept running. By Sariah, age 10
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The Accident One morning I got up and decided to go shoot my b-b gun. I loaded it up and set up a tin can about 25 feet away. It was new so there were no holes. I put the gun on my shoulder, took aim, and fired. The b.b hit the can and ricocheted off it right into my mom’s car window. The window busted. I went inside to tell my mom. I was a little nervous but it all turned out all right except my mom had to get a new window. By Gage, age 8
Always Something New I’ve always like math, ever since I was a little kid. My big sister is good at math, so maybe that is how I got interested. I like it because it is challenging, like a puzzle that you have to figure out. This year I am in 7th grade, and I have a really good math teacher. She makes the activities fun, and she makes sure that we understand everything before we go on to the next thing. We use blocks, work on white boards, in groups to get solutions. I’m taking Algebra I, which has a lot to do with equations and solving for “x” or another variable. There’s always something new to learn. By Ovidio, age 14
Piano I started playing piano when I was about ten years old. My big brother was playing trombone in school and I decided I wanted to play an instrument. I chose piano because I like the sound of the keys. I started taking private lessons. It wasn’t hard. I picked it up quickly. Now I am playing songs like Holy Night and Fur Elyse. I love it because it makes me feel relaxed. By Priscilla, age 15
Good Skills to Know I like to ride dirtbikes and fix cars. When I was about six, I started riding dirtbikes on the street. Everybody was always crashing, but I’ve never had an accident. It’s fun riding them, but you have to have good balance and be careful not to get caught. I think dirtbikes got me interested in cars and how they work. My dad and brother-inlaw taught themselves how to fix cars and they’ve taught me. I know how to fix a flat, change breaks, put a radio in, and drive. I think these are good skills to know because I won’t have to go pay someone to do it for me. By Jalen, age 12 12 - The Splendid Review - Spring 2013
All About Football I know a lot about football stats. Ever since I was seven, I’ve been interested in learning all the stats for different teams and players and records. My dad loves football too, and I got hooked by watching games with him. The more I watched, the more I learned, and the more I liked it. Now, sometimes I’d prefer to watch a football over a cartoon. My favorite college team is the Texas Longhorns because it runs in my family. My least favorite teams are Alabama, Texas A&M, and the Razorbacks. My favorite pro team is the Dallas Cowboys even though they’ve been doing pretty stinky this year. They really need a better offensive line. To learn about football I watch the pre-game shows and ESPN. The reason I like football is it has everything—running, kicking, passing, throwing, tackling, and touchdowns. Another reason I like football is that games are often on school nights so I get to stay up late and watch them. By Luke, age 10
Untitled We’re five years old, and we’re twins. We like to color and read books. I like basketball and my brother likes football. We’re good at running. One of us likes McDonalds and the other one likes chicken. We like to fight and sing too. That’s all you’ll want to know about us. By Marcus and Marlon, age 5
Downtown One time I went to downtown Houston with my family. We rode on a train that made lots of stops. There were tall buildings and lots of people. We went to the aquarium and saw all kinds of fish. One was tiny, tiny, tiny like it could fit in my hand. I had so much fun. I want to go back! By Olivia, age 4
My Pit Bull I have a pit bull named Lady. She’s medium big and she likes playing with my family. She’ll chase us around. Only my little cousin is scared of her. One time my two brothers didn’t leave my dog alone while she was eating. She got mad and scratched my brothers. She sleeps outside to guard our house. When she’s happy, she tries to jump on us and lick our faces. I bend down to my dog and hug her. By Edwin, age 9 The Periwinkle Foundation - 13
Aunt Polly Dolly Whenever my aunt comes into town, we have lots of fun. She’s my mom’s sister and we call her Polly Dolly. She is very funny. She wears boots and furry scarves around her neck, and she knows how to talk with lots of different accents. If you’re bored, she always says, “Make some fun!” She’s good at turning a regular day into something interesting. When my little brother is sad, she puts spoons on her nose and makes them stick. When my little sister is yelling and being bad, she will crawl around on the floor and play pony with her. She can cheer me up when I feel depressed. I hope I grow up to be just like my aunt. By Annette, age 9
Skiing I was born in Torreon, Mexico, where it never snows, but I fell in love with skiing because my whole family skiis, even my mom. The first time I went to Colorado I was about five years old. I didn’t love skiing immediately because I didn’t know how to do it well. My dad taught me how to snowplow and other things. I practiced, and it got more fun. I started going down bigger and bigger hills. Now I am 13, and I always snowboard now. We go to Breckenridge once a year. I love the feeling of the adrenalin rush and being on the edge. I hope I’ll continue snowboarding until I’m at least 60. By Diego, age 13
My Monkey Friends Today I was in the jungle and I was playing with my monkey friends. We were swinging on the branches and eating bananas. Then a brown bear with a mad face came. He was tearing up the branches and I started running through the jungle. The monkeys stayed in the trees and hid. I ran all the way to my house. My parents ran outside to help me. They held me and then they took me inside. I was happy and wanted to go visit my monkey friends again. By Jenna, age 5
Loving Math I don’t know what the secret of loving math is, but I do know that I like it and I’m good at it. My Uncle Ben is good at math too. At school if I can choose between math and science, I always choose math. In second grade we are doing multiplication and division. It’s fun! 14 - The Splendid Review - Spring 2013
Hot Wheels I like hot wheels and I play with them a lot. I collect them and probably have almost 100. When my dad comes home, I don’t even notice. I just keep playing and he says, “Eric, come here!!” But, I don’t listen because I am racing my cars. My favorite hot wheel has a big booster and it’s red, and I like to play with that best of all. By Eric, age 9
My Dream Once I was in the woods hunting. I saw a fox and I ran after it. I shot it with my gun in the leg and then I shot the other leg. It climbed a tree with just two claws but I got it so it couldn’t attack our family again. My dad and brothers helped me. I told my mom one day, “I’m going to kill the fox that’s trying to get us.” Then, my dream came true. On another day another fox tried to get my grandpa but I killed that one too. By Jonathan, age 6
Happy I’m happy because I have a new toy that makes music, and I love to dance! I taught myself. I’ve learned how to play instruments by myself too. My favorite one is the bongos. I like playing drums because they have more beat to them. When I play, I feel happy. I can even play guitar. My dad and uncle taught me how to rap. I think it’s fun because I like to make up rhymes. By Taniya, age 6
Where I Live I live in Mexico City, which is a big city with lots of pollution. I like living there because all of my family lives there. We live in an orange house with three rooms. My bedroom has two beds, and I share the room with my sister. It’s clean, and we have toys in there. There is a window in my bedroom, and I can see the garden and some trees. If a friend came to visit me in Mexico City, I would take them to the park and to El Farolito to eat tacos. I would show them my white lab Boris, who likes to play. He’s crazy! I go back to Mexico City next Monday. Boris will be happy to see me. By Lucia, age 7
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My Dog Chloe I have a dog named Chloe. She’s a little Bijon that is as white as the snow. She is as fast as a bullet. When she gets up in the morning, she licks my dad’s toes! Then, she goes outside. Then, she waits until I wake up. While she is waiting, she plays with Suki, the big dog that we’re babysitting. When Suki came along, Chloe stopped playing with toys because she had a new friend. After she comes inside, she rests. When she sees me, she starts pawing and licking me like a Banjinea (my made-up word!). At night she goes to sleep and then gets up, goes to sleep and then gets up! I love my dog Chloe but my mom thinks she is a pain in the neck! By Aubrie, age 5
Singing When I first started school, I found that they were going to start choir. I was really excited because when I’m at home and the radio is on, I love to sing. Sometimes Gabby, my sister, dances in the background. I signed up for choir and did that for a couple of years. I remember once when we went to sing at an Aeros game, and I was really nervous. My friends told me to calm down, and it went fine. I think music is in my future. I’d like to continue to sing. This year I got into choir/musical theater, and I love it. By Rebecca, age 11
Art I love drawing. I usually draw with pencil and black sharpie. It’s what I do whenever I can because it makes me happy. I learned how to draw from doing it a lot. When I was little, I loved coloring. I could do it for hours. My mom and I still get coloring books and do them. As I got older, I took art classes at school. They helped me learn how to see things differently. From my dad I learned that everything has shapes and lines. When I look at things, I try to go one step at a time. My friends always see me turning my paper round and round to figure out where to start. That’s often the hardest part. Recently, I sent off an application to go to an art school in Colorado. They accept any age. It would be really cool to be around other artists and learn what to do to make my drawings better. I want very much to make art a part of my job. I’ve done other things, like baseball and orchestra, but art is what sticks with me. It’s my passion. By Gabby, age 16
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The Parable of the Ant Once there lived an ant who wanted to be a buffalo. The ant was so mad that he was born so little. The buffalo looked strong and fierce. The ant felt small. One day the ant found a magic pebble and he made a wish. “I want to be big, like the buffalo.” Suddenly, he was hairy and brown and stomping around. He had turned into a buffalo. “Oh, wow. This is the great life,” he said. He joined a herd and felt happy. But, after just a few days, he began to miss the feel of making tunnels in the earth and working together with his ant friends on projects. “I miss my old life,” said the buffalo. But, it was too late. He had given it up. By Andre, age 10
The Ox and the Fox Once there was an ox that liked to be helpful. She lived on a farm, and she helped Papa and Grandpa to pick apples and do other things on the farm. One day she saw a fox who was trying to steal all the apples. The fox was sneaking around, but she saw him. She knew she had to help Papa and Grandpa and stop the fox so she told him, “It’s not nice to steal from other people! You should be nice!” The fox said, “Okay, I’ll be nice.” And the fox changed himself and became helpful just like the ox. By Deja, age 7
The Dad’s Skateboard Once there was a dad with a skateboard. He kept his skateboard at his castle. One day he went for a ride and he bumped into a tree. He was okay but he decided to take the skateboard back to the store because it had hurt him. After a few days, though, he missed that skateboard, so he went back and got it again. When he got home, he built two ramps. He flew through the air. Suddenly, an alien in a rocket ship flew down and took his skateboard and that was the end of that. By Brennen, age 4
Saved By My Brother I remember one day when we went to a house and they had a trampoline. We were all playing and having fun. We were running around in circles and spinning. Then I crashed into someone and I went falling through a hole in the net and almost landed on the ground, but my brother grabbed me and saved me! By Juan, age 8 The Periwinkle Foundation - 17
Lost in the Woods One day Carlos and I were lost in the woods. We were carrying a compass so I got it out of my pocket to try to figure out where we were. It was getting dark. We could hear animals moving. Suddenly, a raccoon came running out of the bushes. We got scared and screamed. We ran away and up ahead we saw a highway. We were happy until a 500 pound buck started chasing us. We waved our hands until a car stopped to help us. We jumped in but the buck tried to hit the door with his antlers. When he couldn’t get in, he left. We told the man driving the car to take us to our family. We told everyone our story, and they were surprised. They told us never to run into the woods again. By Emely, age 12 and Carlos, age 10
The Princess and Her Prince Once upon a time there was a princess in a castle. Long ago there was a prince who was coming to the castle. But the prince was going to beat some bad guys. After he beat them up, he went to get the golden emerald light. Then he called the princess. She said, “Knight, what are you doing? You have to stay in the castle.” He said, “Okay.” And then he went to eat a lot of dinner with her. She said, “Do you want tea?” He said, “Yes.” Then they had tea and good cake. The king said, “Watch out! There is a bad prince that wants to get you.” So, the princess used her ball powers. She threw a ball at the bad prince and he went away. The good prince was on the couch and he used his powers too. He could sit and do everything he wanted right on the couch. By Naseem, age 4
The Girls and the Ghost Once upon a time there were three little girls. They were going to their grandma’s house to stay the night. They saw a house and there was a puppy barking in the attic. One of the girls said, “Look. There’s a puppy. He wants out.” The other girl said, “What are we waiting for? Let’s go save the puppy.” So, they went inside to the attic and suddenly a ghost came out. They screamed and ran out of the house straight to their grandma’s. The ghost was laughing and waiting for more victims to scare! By Gabriela, age 5
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Untitled I don’t want to cut my hair. I want to let it grow long, like Rapunzel in Tangled. But, if it gets too tangled, I will cut it. In the morning I brush my hair because when I sleep on it, it gets some knots. My mom is the one who braids my hair. She’s good at braiding. She can even braid her own hair without looking. Right now, I have the longest hair in my family. By Monica, age 7
Playing Soccer with the Boys I like playing soccer with my cousins and my brother. They’re all boys but I can keep up with them. They always want to play soccer—it’s all they do. I grew up playing with them. They taught me how to dribble, block, and shoot—everything I need to know, even the victory dance. I remember once when we were all playing and my sister ducked so she wouldn’t be hit, but the ball never got near her. It was funny! I remember another time when I was dribbling and my cousin was trying to block me but I shot and the ball went through the legs of two of my cousins! It was cool. I think it’s good for girls to play soccer with boys because it makes you more aggressive and you realize that you can do anything. By Crystal, age 11
Fifi My dog’s name is Fifi. She is black and bigger than me! She is a Doberman and she guards my house. When we first got her and she was a puppy, she bit my brother’s butt! She is still a puppy. My mom is training her. If you say SHAKE, she shake your hand with her paw. If you say DOWN, she gets down. If you say UP, she jumps up! By Norma, age 5
My Brother’s Birthday One day we had a surprise party for my brother. He didn’t know where we were going because we kept it a secret. My mom was lying to him and saying that we were going fishing. He believed her. But then we went to a place with soldiers. It was like a museum but outside with planes. My brother didn’t know what was happening. We looked at everything and then we went to get bracelets, so that we could go on the rides! It was really fun! On the way home we saw a dead deer lying in the water. That was weird, but it was still a great day! By Jose, age 10
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Untitled I couldn’t play volleyball before 8th grade, but once I was healthy enough, I tried out for the team and made it. I play middle front. One advantage that I have is being tall. I have a good high vertical and a good serve and block. Now I’m 14 and play for my high school. It’s a lot more advanced, and a lot harder to make the team. I was born competitive. I don’t yell at people, but I always do my best. One of my mottos is Play Hard or Go Home. My height also is helpful in modeling, which is one of my other passions. I’m already 5’9” and still growing. In the next few weeks I’ll do a photo shot to get my portfolio together. We’ll see where it all takes me. By Kami, age 14
Maximum Effort For half my life I’ve been playing baseball. I know how to play hard. I can catch the ball, field the ball, and hit it hard. I’m on a team called the Rockies. Tomorrow is Opening Day so we have a tournament. I don’t get nervous. I just go out and play my hardest. My coach always says, “Maximum effort!” I like to play 1st and 2nd base. The hardest thing about baseball is catching pop flies. One of my favorite times was when I hit a homerun. The ball went all the way to the fence. One of my worst times was when a ball hit my chin and left a bruise with stitches of the ball on my face, but I still made the play! By Ayden, age 6
A Get-Away When I was riding my bicycle one day, I saw four dogs. They weren’t on leashes. I started to pedal fast. Two of them came after me. I went into a group of peole so the dogs couldn’t get me. That day I made it away safe. By Chigozie, age 8
The Story of the Frogs There were ten frogs who lived in a river. An alligator lived there too. The frogs made a cake so they could celebrate good days. But an eagle came and grabbed their cake in his claws and flew away. He was flying around with it when another bird came and grabbed it. She took it back to the frogs. Then an alligator kicked two frogs out of the way and stole the cake again. He gave it to the eagle who flew away with it. But the blue frog and the good bird got it back. The bird stayed to protect the cake but a bear came and snatched it away. The good bird had to grab it and return it. Then 20 - The Splendid Review - Spring 2013
the eagle and the good one got into a fight. The bad animals broke the frog’s circle and stole the cake again. The frogs circled the bad creatures. The good bird took the cake again while the frogs trapped the bad guys. The good bird talked to the bad bird about being mean. They all talked to the mean alligator and mean bear and then they all ate the cake together. By Karissa, age 6
My Story This is a story for my sister Emily. She’s a princess. A frog wanted to kiss a princess, but the prince didn’t want to kiss my sister because she didn’t have on lipstick. He said, “Put the lipstick on!” She said, “No, I don’t want to.” The prince got mad and ran away, and the princess stayed all by herself. By Victoria, age 6
The Dog and the Green Bird Once there was a dog and he was friends with a green bird. They liked to play together. One day they were at the beach. The puppy went swimming and a shark tried to get him. But the bird came down and poked that shark. The shark swam away and they were safe. By Aniyah, age 4
The City and the Country Once there was a man who lived in the city but he wanted to move to the country. He told his family, “It’s time to move to the country where there is fresh air and everything is better.” The man packed up his family, and they all moved to the country. The man was happy to leave behind the traffic and the pollution and the bad manners of the city. But, the man didn’t know that nothing is so perfect. When he got to the country, he missed going out for coffee. Also, he didn’t like chopping wood for his fireplace or working so hard on the farm. He didn’t like hearing the crickets and coyotes at night. So, that man packed up his family and went right back to the city. He never complained again. By Jeremy, age 10
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Muscles I’ve got a bunch of muscles. They are big like my dad’s. I work out with him whenever he lets me. Someday I want to be a body builder. I know about abs and triceps and biceps. It takes a lot of work and discipline to get muscles. It’s painful, but you have to work through the pain. That’s how the muscles grow big and strong. By Johnson, age 7
The Mean Man and the Horse Once upon a time there was a gray horse. She lived in a barn and was happy. People were nice to her and gave her apples to eat. But one day a mean man came to the barn and stole her. He took her to a ranch to try to sell her so he could get lots of money. But, the police found out and they arrested him. The horse went back to her barn and was happy again. By Jesus, age 6 and Jakueline, age 8
My Monkey I have a monkey named Clown. He lives in the jungle with some friends and he visits me. He knows how to eat bananas and climb high in the trees. He never falls down! He likes to swing around on the branches. His best friend is his twin. They are scared of snakes. They are together all day, and they like to laugh and read books about horses. By Paige, age 4
Ling Ling and Mittens Once there was a dog named Ling Ling that went to a place where they saved stray dogs. It wasn’t an ordinary pound. It was run by a mad scientist. He caught the dog and put it into a cage. The dog broke out and a shelf with potions fell on top of him. The dog raced out with super speed and let out all the other dogs. Once they were free they brought some girlfriends to meet the dog who had saved him. He picked a cat named Mittens. When he went back to the pound to let out one more dog, he took the cat with him to give her superpowers. She also got the power of super speed and heat vision. The dog and cat couple lived happily ever after. By Bethany, age 11
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The Mystery Once there was a dog named Scooby Doo who went on mysteries and solved every single mystery in Coolsville. There was a great big giant dinosaur that had teeth that were 50 feet long and claws that could rip open anything. Scooby and his friends built a flame pit and then tricked the dinosaur by saying they had meat for him to eat. Scooby and his friends climbed up a 150 foot ladder and when the dino came for the meat, they unmasked him. It turned out to be a guy named Red Harry. By Christopher, age 9
Snowy the Helpful Reindeer Once there was a reindeer named Snowy. He liked to make snow everywhere. He was really nice and friendly. He helped kids learn anything, like how to make snowballs and throw snowballs. He could help them with whatever they were learning at school. One day Snowy was flying and he noticed a man in trouble. He was stuck in the snow. So Snowy called Santa to call all the other reindeer to come and help pull the man out of the snow. The man said, “Thank you.” And Snowy said, “I was glad to help.” By Jonathan, age 6
Summer Trip Summer was just about to end and my mom was going to have surgery and before she did, we decided to do something special. My brother and I had always wanted to go to Sea World in San Antonio, so our parents heard us talking about it a lot, and they called us over and showed us some pictures and said, “We’re going to go there!” My brother and I started jumping up and down, and my other brother, who’s autistic, started yelling too because he was excited. We arrived on a Friday and stayed in a hotel with a king-sized bed and sofa bed. We headed down to the pool first and then to Sea World. It was a trip to remember! By Alyssa
The Bunny and the Fox Once there was a bunny. A fox came around and the bunny hid underneath the ground. The fox sniffed and sniffed but he couldn’t find the bunny. The bunny took a nap but he didn’t snore so the fox didn’t hear him. But, the fox found him! He didn’t eat him. He just said hello. Then the bunny and fox became best friends forever. By Audrey, age 5 The Periwinkle Foundation - 23
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Cooking with My Mom
Christmas
When it’s time to cook I make tortillas with my mom She teaches me how to make the masa And we do it together so that When I’m grown up, I will be able To cook for my family I like when my mom makes Eggs and soup and tacos I like to be in the kitchen Cooking with my mom But I don’t like cleaning up!
I love to get presents, all different kinds of presents. It makes me feel like jumping up and down! I like Christmas trees and seeing Santa Claus and his two reindeer.
By Jakueline, age 8
By London, age 4
Wolves
El Sol
The pack of wolves runs through the forest Swift and majestic Phantoms of the forest One halts while the pack continues The rain drizzles on the his black pelt as he waits Once the pack is out of sight A white she-wolf appears like a fire in the darkness The black wolf howls with joy The she-wolf smiles and nuzzles him Soon the pack returns as the two lovers lie down The she-wolf‘s head on the he-wolf The pack circles and sits down around the two wolves The moon shines down on the two wolves They knew they were mates Yin and Yan
El sol is a star hot like fire A big orange ball in the sky It shines light into our galaxy El sol brings life to everything By Daynin, age 8
By Sadie, age 11
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Summer I like summer Because I’m Out of school And it’s hot And I get to Wear my flipflops. I like summer Because I visit My grandma And it’s hot And I get to go To the beach. I like summer Because it is More relaxing And it’s hot and I like drinking Lemonade. I like summer Because I don’t Have any homework And I get to be with My brother and sister. By Story, age 7
Mexico
car and run to hug our abuelos We eat enchiladas, Tamales, nopales con huevos, and tunas, a purple fruit. We visit with our cousins and friends. I miss Mexico when I’m not there. By Leslie, age 11
If Dinosaurs Were Alive Today If dinosaurs were alive today they would go play laser tag and the bird ones would go on roller coasters! They would eat Subway pizzas and ice cream cones with 1,000 scoops! They would play soccer at the park and they would make friends with the dogs and cats They would let the kids ride on their backs to get to school Then they would wait for them to get out school so they could play By Brandon, age 6
We go to Mexico once a year to see our family. We drive all the way from Houston to Tampico. We sleep as much as we can. When we finally get there, we jump out of the 26 - The Splendid Review - Spring 2013
Fresh Air
Feelings
You could call me amazing because I love to clean! I wash the dishes until they’re bright, and I scrub the windows until they shine and you can see right through them! I even like to clean the bathroom! After my mom and I clean the house, my dad comes home and says, “It smells delicious like fresh air.”
Determination lurks in fear. Courage is strength and soul. Truth is a flame, put out quickly. Leap past sorrow and into peace. Joy is success in disguise. Hearts prance with the moon. Power blossoms in bravery. By Asha, age 9
At the Zoo
I love flowers I plant them At my house Pink and purple Ones, they Smell good. They reach up To the sun.
I went to the zoo and I saw a goat. I brushed it. It smelled like hay. I wasn’t scared of the animals. You just have to be calm around them. When I saw the lion, it looked big, but I wasn’t scared ‘cuz it was sleeping. When I grow up, I don’t want to have a goat or a big lion in my house, but I do want to have a orange and white dog because I can pet it and love it forever.
By Jasmin, age 7
By Ja’zel, age 6
By Erika, age 10
Flowers
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The Eyes of the Wolf
Believe
Listen to me. Inside my heart the wind whispers. The soul of the wolf cries to the moon. The future is calling out to the world. Fall in love with the wind’s dance.
You must walk You must whisper You must run You must shout the Answers on the mountain top The grass will grow The trees will rise All will be well with a winning prize If you don’t know And need to cry Believe that the pain as well as the rain Will soon go away
By Seema, age 7
Dove Yesterday my sister’s dove escaped It flew out from the cage into a tree in our yard We called my dad to get a ladder But the dove flew higher and higher It’s gone forever now but we think it must be happy.
By Andrea, age 13
Happiness Is In Your Hands Loneliness is when someone is turning their back on you It’s when there is a storm of darkness It’s when you don’t have friends But happiness is in your hands so rise up in the sun Look for the beauty inside you Share your gratefulness with the world By Emily, age 10
By Carmen, age 11
If If you want to swim, you must become a fish Chopping through the waves, slowly moving forward As you slide through the water, you pass many roses, some overgrown At the end you find…nothing. By Spencer, age14
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I Am
Going to the Zoo
I am the flame dancing in the wind Swaying side to side with the beat of a drum A beat as old as the earth but as Young as a newborn baby
Going to the zoo is more fun than staying home. It’s more fun than going to school or doing chores or eating lima beans. Going to the zoo means seeing rattlesnakes and pythons, egrets and spider monkeys, cougars and panthers. Going to the zoo makes me feel like I live in a different place, not the city. I think about going to the zoo a lot, and now it’s finally time.
By Katelyn, age 16
When You’re a Big Brother When you’re a big brother You have to take your little Brother to the bathroom You have to put water in the Tub so he can take a bath You have to change his diaper When he gets mad, you have To buy him things or give Him cookies When we’re at the hospital I have to carry him Sometimes I have to give him A bottle and clean his bed I even have to brush his teeth I have to put shampoo on his head It’s easy to be a big brother When you love him
By Ricky, age 9
By Jesus, age 8
Shells Dancing When I listen To a shell I hear A bee inside and It’s dancing. I can Hear water Moving like A river. It makes me Want to hear More. By Mya, age 6
By Claire The Periwinkle Foundation - 29
The Eagle (inspired by Eugenio Montejo’s poem “The Trees”) Eagles speak to us When they soar Through the blue sky Just look at them Closely and you will See their eyes, serious But joyful at the same time Sometimes their voices get lost In their feathers Sometimes their feathers Make their voices higher It’s difficult to write a poem About the words of eagles
Purple skies and Purple socks! Purple makes Me feel happy Like going out in The world with My best friends. By Keisha, age 10
Untitled When you’re a poet You’ve got a big brain To hold all your thoughts And you’ve got a hand That is strong for writing When you’re a poet, You can write anything.
They tell us what we Don’t want to hear
By Liza, age 8
They tell us not to Pollute the blue skies
Forbidden Love
Eagles speak to us In many languages but We don’t pay attention Because we are so busy By Abi, age 11
I am frozen at your heartbeat I am a teardrop at the flame I am the door that opens the rain I am the rose in your shadow I am the mask of an angel I am the thunder to your storm I am frozen at your heartbeat By Taylor, age 17
Purple I use to love The color pink But now I love The color purple. Purple flowers And purple t-shirts, 30 - The Splendid Review - Spring 2013
Life Can Be Smashed
Dreaming about the Outside
The sun can go black The wind can be chilly My icy breath can turn my words inside out My heart is fiery like the sun I will not be moved And I will not listen twice For, if I move When I listen twice My fire may mark me With its raging ice Life goes on My fire tames But mark my words, It won’t stay that way.
Dreaming about the outside Of myself, the blue of the water and the sound of the piano Once I believed that dreams Could come true but now truth Lies to me and the piano cries Don’t assume that when love Comes peace will come too Remember this: goals can run away. This is what I want: to dream. Success is like the sound of piano From far away. By Yvette, age 12
By Jasmine
Listen to the Animals All the animals In the world have a Secret for us To love the water And the grass And the trees. I have a fish and I think he even Talks to me and Tells me stuff. So, listen to the Animals in the World and you Will get a lot of Good secrets. By Rochelle, age 8 By Lisabel, age 13 The Periwinkle Foundation - 31
Courage
Don’t Be Afraid
I want the courage to dance under the stars at night with flames
Don’t be afraid to tumble into a blue future
I want the courage to sing songs of joy and peace like Beyonce I want the courage to play with monkeys in the forest during a storm I want the courage to laugh like the wind under the ocean floor I want the courage to shine like fire with truth and passion. By Shelby, age 11
My Map You start at The beginning Where the circle is And you go up And keep going Following the circles Until you get all the Way to the end And that’s your home.
Don’t assume that my fear tiptoes or that you can hear whispers of lies, cheating, and cries My determination will leap forth into an ocean of dreams After the light dreams blossom into laughs, joy, passion, and hope. By Alonzo, age 18
I Am the Eyes of Truth Remember the blue rain Falling into the blue truth Don’t assume it isn’t you I am more than invisible joy I am the eyes of truth Look inside your heart to Find laughter outside Your inner self knows What you believe. By Winter, age 13
By Malik, age 5
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The Strength of a Child These souls etched with rainbows Sprinkle their hope upon the hearts that have none The zest they have for life takes their little spirits aflight They run and laugh despite— Despite the complications of their situations Somehow even strangers can tell they see the light At the end of the tunnel Because God is their shovel To have the faith these children do I’d give anything even if it meant trading places with a few. By Jordan, age 15
Dancing Dancing makes me feel like I could do something special. When I spin through the air, It’s like I’m playing a game. I concentrate on the sound and the beat and my movements. I feel like it’s that special thing I can do, just me and the music.
Hope (a poem inspired by Margaret Walker’s “I Want to Write”) I want to write I want to write songs of hope I want to hear prayers of forgiveness I want to catch the truth I want to shine light to the people who are lost I want to sing to the people who are crying And hide their tears until they can rise up like the wind By Lisabel, age 13
By Hilda, age 8
By Tonya, age 8 The Periwinkle Foundation - 33
By Ahmad, age 10
By Antonio, age 7
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By Ahmad, age 10
By Antonio, age 7
By William, age 3
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By Grace, age 9
By Erika, age 14
By Jasmin, age 7
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By Mary Lou, age 8
By Lauren, age 15
By Emily, age 8
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By Rhaevyn, age 10
By Grace, age 9
By Emely
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By Jacqueline, age 10
By Luke
By Mubarak, age 6 The Periwinkle Foundation - 39
By Jason, age 8 By Abi, age 11
By Taniya, age 6 By Bethany, age 11
By Scarlet 40 - The Splendid Review - Spring 2013
thanks
Thanks! Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation Kiwanis Foundation of Houston The Search Foundation Clarence Westbury Foundation
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The Spendid Review The Splendid Review is an anthology of poems, short stories and autobiographies written by the talented young writers at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers. In collaboration with Writers in the Schools, The Periwinkle Foundation unites professional writers with children battling cancer and blood disorders to share their stories. Through arts and creative writing programs, The Periwinkle Foundation celebrates self expression and empowerment as a vital part of the healing process. The Periwinkle Foundation develops and provides programs that positively change the lives of children, young adults and families who are challenged by cancer and other life threatening illnesses and are cared for at Texas Children’s Hospital.