Floating Through Space: The Amazing Adventures of Blobby

Poetry and prose by the young writers from Language Academy of Sacramento in conjunction with 916 Ink

FLOATING THROUGH SPACE THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF BLOBBY

Poetry and prose by the young writers from Language Academy of Sacramento in conjunction with 916 Ink

ABOUT 916 INK 916 Ink is the only arts-based literacy nonprofit in the greater Sacramento region dedicated to providing creative writing workshops for youth, ages 5-25, to transform them into confident writers. We empower students to become the authors of their own lives, one published story at a time. Since 2011, we have served over 4,000 kids in the Sacramento Region, and published more than 200 publications. Our mission is to empower children and youth through creative writing. We envision a Sacramento region where every child and teen is given access to a creative writing program that leads them to believe in themselves and to understand the power of the written word. Learn more about us at www.916ink.org, or send an email to info@916ink.org to learn how to become involved.

DISCLAIMER

This is a work of fiction and poetry. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The author and publisher hold exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited. Copyright 2021.

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DEAR READER, What you see is the hard work and dedication of a community of youth and adult writers working together to tell stories that inspire, entertain, and heal.

At 916 Ink, we teach young people how to write, listen, and support each other in the pursuit of creating literary art. The words in these pages are carefully chosen and crafted to reflect their unique voice.

This book is a celebration of “taking the yes,” which is a motto of 916 Ink students. “Taking the yes” means that students are unafraid to collaborate with each other and themselves. It might sound weird—how does one “collaborate” with his or her own self? By shutting down the inner critics in our head that tell us that we aren’t good enough, our stories don’t matter, or what we might say is stupid or unnecessary. Stories are how we create meaning and make sense of the world. What’s better than to teach young people how to tell stories, create meaning out of their lives, and understand the world?

Creative writing carves a path to a better life. Writers know this, but maybe the rest of the world doesn’t. A writer is someone who truly gets to live twice—once through their senses and once through the page. Everyone needs writers. Favorite television shows? Go thank a writer. News articles?

Thank a writer. Education? Writers wrote the curriculum. Business? Can’t happen without writers creating marketing tools and business plans. Writers make the world go around.

By reading this book you’ve supported the growth of a writer. Thanks. Please consider making a donation to this great cause on our website at www.916ink. org if you’d like to further our mission of populating the planet with youth who can “take the yes,” and lead a happy life.

Ink-tastically yours,

The 916 Ink staff, the Board of Dreamers, volunteers, and youth writers

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FROM THE WORDSLINGERS Dear Reader, Though distance learning continues to be a challenging reality for students and teachers alike in this spring of 2021, this workshop and group of Language Academy students was like no other. Despite the challenges of social distancing and connecting via Zoom, these amazing young writers quickly formed a cohesive, supportive workshop community. They wrote from their hearts and minds. They shared their work with pride. They cheered one another on.

Perhaps just as importantly during these alienating times, when their opportunities for seeing friends and classmates were few, they had fun— honest-to-goodness silly, belly-laughing, plays-on-words fun. So much so that by our final April workshop, they expressed sadness that class was over, gratitude for new friends and good times, and the desire to have even more fun…writing. That’s right. Writing. They couldn’t get enough.

In “National Blobby Day,” the elementary group story, siblings Fred and Ella not only save their parents and the entire planet but they also free the blobbies from the clutches of an evil slave owner. This epic tale epitomizes this creative, zany, dedicated group of newly published authors. It was a joy and an honor to work with them.

Our middle school group was small yet mighty. The way the Inkers showed up as their best creative selves consistently was a welcome weekly rejuvenation for all of us in our cozy writing community. The young Inkers’ intelligence, quick wit, and nuanced approach to various modes of creative writing kept us Wordslingers on our toes. Each of us came into every session expecting the unexpected. We will certainly remember the empowering feedback sessions as well as the heartfelt laughter we shared. It was truly a pleasure to be able to spend time with these Inkers as we mutually inspired each other.

Sincerely,

Brenda Nguyen and Dorothy Rice

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Brenda Nguyen

Wordslinger

Dorothy Rice

Wordslinger

Eli Elster

Wordslinger

Miranda Williams

Wordslinger

David Liebler

Guest Editor

Ellen Chrismer

Guest Editor

Casey Rafter

Eagle Eye

Katie McCleary

Founding Executive Director

Michael Spurgeon

Founding Board President

DJ Waldow

Board of Dreamers, President

Dr. Beatrice Tetteh

Board of Dreamers, Vice President

Shelley Blanton-Stroud Board of Dreamers, Secretary Kathy Flynn

Board of Dreamers, Treasurer

Chris Worden

Board of Dreamers

Daniel Kaufman

Board of Dreamers

Dr. JaNay Brown-Wood

Board of Dreamers

Lynn Lizarraga

Board of Dreamers

Michelle Warshaw

Board of Dreamers

Patrick Harbison

Board of Dreamers

Tigh Rickman

Board of Dreamers

Vince Wong

Board of Dreamers

Ian Hadley

Executive Director

Angela Tannehill

Creative Director

Allison Stelly

Director of Development

Nikki Cardoza

Director of Programming

Paulette Greenhouse

Find Your Voice Program Manager

Brenda Nguyen

Program Coordinator

Jay Oatis

Program Coordinator

Nena Larieze

Program Coordinator

Emma Hoppough

Production Coordinator

Maria Gavia

Office Manager

Christina Nelson

ReadOn! Program Manager

Tory Scott

Bookslinger

Will Evans

Outreach and Development Associate, AmeriCorps VISTA

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CONTENTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL INKERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 National Blobby Day Group Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Desire for Adventure Andrea Gutierrez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Mysterious Package Andrea Gutierrez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Club Andrea Gutierrez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 My Andrea Poem Andrea Gutierrez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Best Drink Ever Andrea Gutierrez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 My Tiger, Attack Augustín Mlakar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The Package Augustín Mlakar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Red Augustín Mlakar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Perfect Breakfast Augustín Mlakar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Fledgling Beyli Espinoza Valeriano. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 The Letter Beyli Espinoza Valeriano. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Clouds Beyli Espinoza Valeriano. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Summer Beyli Espinoza Valeriano. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Panic!

Bhima Meganathan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

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Giant Cat Versus Speed Dog Bhima Meganathan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 The Fourteenth Emma Meditz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 The Box Emma Meditz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Roses Emma Meditz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Taco Land Esmeralda Lomeli. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Rocks the Dog Esmeralda Lomeli. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Tiny Box Esmeralda Lomeli. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 My House?

Esmeralda Lomeli. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Dream Story Esmeralda Lomeli. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Camp Genevieve Hernaes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Mysterious Package Genevieve Hernaes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 My Acrostic Poem Genevieve Hernaes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Pastel Pink Genevieve Hernaes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Fruit Genevieve Hernaes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Monstruos Javier Garcia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 The Adventures of Yashi Mateo Otilio Castaneda Rodriguez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

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A Magical Potion Mateo Otilio Castaneda Rodriguez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Spaghetti Factory Mateo Otilio Castaneda Rodriguez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 My Acrostic Family Mateo Otilio Castaneda Rodriguez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Cyan Mateo Otilio Castaneda Rodriguez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

MIDDLE SCHOOL INKERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Settling the Score Group Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 The Bird in Your Heart Ana Galindo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Daydreaming Ana Galindo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Heart of a Child Ana Galindo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Moonlight Talks Ana Galindo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Humanity Jazmin Coronado Aspesoa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Safe Haven Jazmin Coronado Aspesoa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Scars Jazmin Coronado Aspesoa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Steps to Be Me Jazmin Coronado Aspesoa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Blue Jazmin Coronado Aspesoa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 I Think Peter Mlakar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

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My COVID Wish Peter Mlakar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 I’m Confused Peter Mlakar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Pink Peter Mlakar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 What I Want, What I Can, What I Have Peter Mlakar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

WORDSLINGERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Birthday Cake Dorothy Rice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Where I Come From Dorothy Rice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 As Crows Eli Elster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

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ELEMENTARY INKERS

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National Blobby Day Group Story

Part I: The Lost Parents The heroes of our story are brother and sister, Fred and Ella. Fred is a nerdy teenager with ginger hair. He’s very smart and lives inside his own head and his own world most of the time, which can make him seem absentminded and clumsy. He has thick glasses, of course, and he doesn’t bother to comb his hair or notice what he’s wearing. He’s interested in all kinds of scientific and mysterious things. Classic nerd.

Ella is ten. She’s a sassy, kindhearted girl and always carries a backpack filled with hair and beauty stuff, books and magazines, toys for her pets, and a little pink journal for jotting down important thoughts and observations.

Ella loves animals, especially her dog and cat.

They live on a planet in outer space. The sky, the earth and rocks, and the lakes and rivers are all amazing, vibrant colors. Parts of the planet are desolate and deserted, sort of desertlike, with something like tumbleweeds and abandoned, broken-down buildings.

As our story begins, Fred and Ella’s parents, who are scientists and inventors, have disappeared, and the children fear the worst. Based on clues they find in their house, the kids believe their parents are being held prisoner in one of the abandoned towns in the desert. They are determined to find their parents and to guard their parents’ secret, which could mean the survival or destruction of the planet.

One afternoon, Fred and Ella come home from school and find the front door wide open and no sign of their parents. They rush to the laboratory in the basement, their dog and cat trotting at their heels, only to find that the heavy, airtight door has been ripped off the hinges, and the locked cabinets that line one wall have been torn open.

There is a note tacked to the wall. The writing looks like graffiti: “We have your parents. Don’t try to find them, or you’ll be next!”

Fred and Ella’s expressions change from interested to frightened and then to totally freaked out. Then their faces go blank. They don’t know what to do.

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“Fred,” Ella asks, “are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

Ella is holding her cat, Naomi. The cat is a mini tiger, the size of a regular cat but with rainbow-colored laser eyes, orange and red stripes, and purple skin under her fur. Oh, and she wears a hat to hide the antenna poking up between her triangle ears.

We should probably mention here that this cat and dog also have superpowers and can communicate with each other with their antennae.

When the dog, Bruno, sees the mess in the lab and reads the note on the wall (yep, these pets can read too), he runs away to an ice cream store, which is where all of EXO 2’s animal spies go to share information when there is trouble brewing.

“Where’s Bruno?” Fred shouts.

Tiger is getting a message through her antenna. She shares it telepathically with Ella.

“Let’s go!” Ella yells. “Bruno has been dog-napped. If we can catch up and follow him, I bet it will lead us to our parents.”

“Right! This is all connected,” Fred says.

Ella and Fred grab their magic skateboards from by the front door, hop on, and follow Tiger, who is already heading in the right direction.

In the distance, they can hear Bruno barking. From the ice cream store, Bruno’s magic footprints, which only Tiger can see, lead the three of them to the railroad station in the middle of town.

“Dang!” Fred says, holding his skateboard and staring down the tracks. “There goes the train. It already left the station. Is Bruno on it?”

Both Fred and Ella turn to Tiger for the answer. She meows in a way that they know means “yes.”

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“Well, I guess that’s where we’re headed,” Ella shouts. Tiger leaps into her arms and they take to the sky on their flying skateboards, following the train that snakes through the massive, barren desert that starts at the edge of town.

Part II: Ghost Town Fred and Ella journey over the desert. Instead of tumbleweeds, light rocks blow all around them. There are light blue cacti and rainbow shrubs. The ground is reddish-purple, like Jupiter. Red clouds dot the sky while bats and eagles fly between the purple and green streaks that fill the atmosphere.

Finally, the train stops at the abandoned town where they believe their parents are being held prisoner. The place is spooky, and it smells weird too.

Fred notices a lumpish purple thing in the distance. It’s large and coming closer. Tiger is making weird hissing sounds, like she doesn’t like the looks of this place.

“It’s like a ghost town from the old movies,” Fred says.

There are huge buildings, all of them empty, made of magnetite, and there’s no one around. Windows are smashed and boarded up.

“Check it out!” Fred says, tugging Ellie’s arm. “It’s a skateboard park. Look at those ramps. Come on!”

“Wait,” Ellas says. “Look at Tiger.”

That’s when they notice the pack of dogs surrounding the skate park. Tiger’s hair is stranding up straight on her back, and she is hissing like crazy.

“I get it,” Fred says. “The skate park is a trick. To distract us from why we are here.”

When Fred and Ella don’t fall for it, the weird homeless dogs creep out into the open. They follow Ella and Fred, watching them with big diamond eyes.

Then they start jabbering. It’s not words, but the kids understand.

“We can help you find your parents,” the dogs say.

Fred and Ella don’t exactly trust them, especially since Tiger is so freaked out, but what choice do they have? There are no other clues to follow. Tiger can’t get a good signal with her antenna—this ghost town must be blocking the signals—and they don’t know anything about this place. So, they follow the strange dogs.

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Then—and this really freaks Tiger out—one of the dogs transforms into a slimy green blobby thing. And he’s full of questions!

“Where do you come from?” the green blobby thing asks.

“We’re from the city, EXO 2,” Fred and Ella reply.

“Well, hello there. My name is Blobby. What are your names?”

“We’re Fred and Ella. Do you know where our parents are? They were kidnapped.”

“I know,” Blobby says. “The Alien Master took them, and I have an idea of where they are. I used to work for that monster...but now, now I’m free from his power, and I want to help you stop him. Before it’s too late.”

The blob removes a map from his blobby pocket and hands it to Fred and Ella.

“Be careful,” he warns them. “The Alien Master has the power to shoot lethal blobs from his body. If you’re hit by a blob, you become one of his servants!

That’s how I found myself serving him. I’ll take you there!”

Blobby leads the kids to a mysterious portal.

“Enter through there,” says Blobby, “and you’ll be teleported to the dimension where your parents are being held.”

But there are guards blocking the entrance. They are big and blobby and very scary. Tiger emits a painful electronic sound shock to distract the guards while Fred and Ella enter the Alien Master’s lair. Once they are through the portal, Tiger can sense Bruno again. Her antenna is going crazy, quivering and making her hat bounce around.

Then they see Bruno: poor, tiny, nerdy Bruno who loves tacos as much as Fred.

He’s been turned into a blobby servant! How ablobinable!

The Alien Master’s voice seems to come out of nowhere.

“Where have your parents hidden the secret?” he thunders. “Where is the magic potion? Tell me now, or I’ll turn you all into my blob minions, like your parents and your stupid, nerdy dog.”

“Listen,” Ellas whispers, tugging her brother’s sleeve. They stand completely still, even Tiger, straining to hear. It’s a lullaby. They know this tune. And they Continued on next page

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recognize their parents’ voices humming softly, the sound slowly filling the underground cave world.

Their eyes meet, and Fred and Ella understand the message of the lullaby.

Tiger purrs softly, something she hardly ever does. Tiger understands the message too. This lullaby from their childhood is no ordinary lullaby. It’s a secret code and the key to ending the Alien Master’s evil mission to turn everyone into his blobby servants.

“You know what to do, right?” Ella whispers to Fred.

He nods. A big, peaceful smile spreads across his freckled face.

“Hey, I really like your hat,” Fred says to one of the blobby guards.

“You do?” says the blobby guard. His blobby face droops. He’s confused and surprised.

“Totally. It’s awesome,” Fred says.

“Aw, thank you. That’s the first compliment I ever got, and I don’t even have a hat. What’s a hat, anyway? Why are you being nice to me? Don’t I gross you out?”

“No, not at all. Blobs are people too. Right?”

And in that moment, all the blobby guards turn back into what they were before the Alien Master transformed them into his powerless minions.

The booming voice of the Alien Master breaks into this happy moment.

“Get back to your guard posts this instant!” he commands.

But all the former blobs are hugging and singing and dancing. They overwhelm the Alien Master with love and good feelings, which makes him lose power.

Then they lead Fred and Ella to their parents and Bruno. They free them all from the cage the Alien Master has kept them prisoner in, and they put the Alien Master in the cage in their place!

But really, they don’t want the Alien Master to have to stay evil and locked in a cave forever. If all of the blobbies could change, he could too, right?

“Come to our side and we’ll declare National Blobby Day!” Fred and Ella shout.

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Part III: National Blobby Day National Blobby Day was announced. It was to be March 3 every year because March 3 was the day the blobbies gained their independence and the Alien Master turned into a good guy.

On that first National Blobby Day, a huge crowd gathered, blobs and humans and animals of all kinds from throughout EXO 2. The singers, Lady Blob-Blob and Ariana Blobby, performed the Blob Day anthem. There was ice cream that looked like blobby JELL-O, and all the blobs came out to celebrate and party, not ashamed of who they were anymore.

All the blob celebrities came out of hiding and mingled with the crowd, even Bieberblob!

Blobworks exploded in the purple night sky, so beautiful—lavender and blue and yellow. It was like paintball fireworks falling on the planet and covering the town in color.

“Thank you for saving us and the whole world,” Fred and Ella’s parents said.

“Let’s celebrate with blobby ice cream and Jell-O on top.

“Sweet,” said Fred and Ella, licking their cones.

At the same moment, everyone in the crowd yelled, “Hurray, we did it!” and they all tossed crazy, colorful hats up into the sky because, after all, it was a random compliment about a hat that didn’t even exist that made the celebration possible in the first place.

The town erected a statue of Fred and Ella, with Bruno and Tiger too. Every year, on March 3, the town gathers around the statue to celebrate National Blobby Day, the historic day when Fred and Ella saved not only their parents but also the entire planet.

Happy National Blobby Day!

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7

Desire for Adventure Andrea Gutierrez

Axel woke up with a desire for adventure. He wanted to go to all sorts of places, but he chose Hawaii.

Axel went to wake up Billie to tell him.

“Can you come with me to Hawaii?” Axel said.

“No, your trips our boring,” Billie said.

“I promise this one will not be boring. I’ll do anything, please,” Axel said.

“Anything? OK, I’ll go.”

They got ready to go, and Axel was telling Billie what to do.

They got there and Billie said, “Wow.” “I told you,” Axel said.

“OK, um...I have to admit it. I like it,” Billie said.

The Mysterious Package Andrea Gutierrez

I was with my friend and my family in my house. I wasn’t expecting a package.

I heard the doorbell ring, and I said, “I’ll get it.”

I opened the door and saw a mysterious package. I didn’t touch it yet because it was weird. I looked for the person that put it there, but I didn’t see anyone, so I touched it. When I opened it, I saw a cup. It was the cup my grandma gave me.

I thought my dad must have done this. “Dad, are you pranking me?” I asked.

“No,” he said.

So I grabbed the cup, and I didn’t see that it said Don’t Touch!

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The Club Andrea Gutierrez

I love being in my club because it’s silent. It smells like burned popcorn in there, but I’m used to it. There are cool colors like red, blue, purple, and gray.

Those are kind of my favorite colors. There are also cool objects, like a fake detector Nerf gun. There’s a table and two seats, and there’s always some snacks. And it’s kind of dark inside.

My favorite part is that I put up a sign that says Don’t Come In. Only me, my brother, and our cousins are allowed inside. I always remember when my little cousin tried to run away but didn’t do it because she bumped her head on the pole.

It’s a club with rules. If someone wants to see inside, they must pay five dollars.

And if they want to be in our club, they must pay ten dollars.

My Andrea Poem Andrea Gutierrez

A is for astronauts that go into space N is for night, the darkness we sleep in D is for doctor, which one day I’ll be R is for rain, which I love to watch E is for elephant, the animal I love A is for art, art that I love

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Best Drink Ever Andrea Gutierrez

The best drink ever is the choco milk that my grandma always made. You can find it in Mexico in Guadalajara and La Venta del Astillero. The smoothie is so sweet, and she puts crushed ice in so that it tastes like something crunchy.

She puts a little bit of cinnamon on top, and then she mixes it all. But there’s something magical she puts in her smoothies that makes it taste like the world’s best smoothie ever.

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My Tiger, Attack Augustín Mlakar

Awesome Tiger Timber!

(Just kidding, he’s nice) Attractive coat Caring for kids Kind to others

The Package Augustín Mlakar

One day I get a package. I don’t see a return address, but I open it anyways.

Inside is a small ball, about one inch in diameter. I look at it and pick it up.

As soon as I touch it, the ball expands!

It’s big enough for a grown man to fit inside. There’s a door, so I climb inside.

Inside, there’s a keyboard and two pointy things on the ceiling. The keyboard, instead of letters, has pictures of animals. I press the tiger picture, and the pointy things shoot beams of light at me. Light surrounds me, and when it dies down, I’m a tiger! I still have human intelligence, so I press the human button, and the pointy things turn me back human.

I climb out and the ball shrinks back small.

I learn that it can turn me into any animal I want it to. Now I keep the magic ball in the closet.

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Red Augustín Mlakar

Red roses Eat red strawberries Drink red strawberry smoothies

Perfect Breakfast Augustín Mlakar

The perfect breakfast is dough fried in oil to make a nice and chewy bread with sprinkled sugar on top. And next to that, you have sausages with cheese inside them. Then you have a glass of orange juice just ready to drink. And to finish this breakfast, you have a small piece of chocolate with caramel inside, which melts in your mouth.

That is the perfect breakfast.

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Fledgling Beyli Espinoza Valeriano

The house is quiet when I get home. I thought my older brother Danny got home before me. Guess not. I sigh, lock the door, and head to my room. I start cleaning it, and then I start reading my favorite superhero comics.

I look out the window. I slowly start watching a multicolored bird’s every movement, watching the trees and staying quiet until it flies away. The thing that I like about birds is how they are so free. They could be wherever, whenever they want. I, on the other hand, can’t.

It sucks. I know. I just hope that one day, I can get away from it all. My house, chores, school, anything that I have been worried about, just gone. And then I could fly with the wind like the bird, feeling the breeze all over my face, then my whole body.

I get distracted by my daydreaming when I hear the bell ring.

“Beyli, you there? It’s me, Danny. Hurry up; I got to do stuff, ya know.”

I close my comic, rush to the door, and open it. While I open the door, this suddenly comes out of my mouth: “I wanna learn how to fly,” I say, looking directly at my older brother. He looks back at me, probably thinking I am an idiot. But his response surprises me.

“Someday, Beyli, someday,” he says. “Lock the door for me, will ya? I’m going to prepare a snack for us both.”

I lock the door and rush to my room. I close the door behind me and then start observing the multicolored birds again. I notice they are all gone. Still, I stay right where I am, staring at the sky.

I wish I were a bird. Someday, Beyli, someday, I think to myself.

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The Letter Beyli Espinoza Valeriano

Riley finds this random box at his front door. It holds pictures of him and his mom.

God, he loves his mom. He is more of a mamma’s boy than a daddy’s boy. They would smell the honeysuckle together and cook chicken for Thanksgiving.

For dessert, they would make a delicious yogurt mix.

Then, inside the box, he sees some of his favorite candy. A letter catches his eye. He decides to open it. As he reads it, he is fearful. This is what it says.

Dear Riley, Please take care of your mom. Hug her, kiss her cheek, spend a lot of time with her, because in a few chapters, she will be gone. So, I brought you these pictures of your mom and you when you were a toddler and when you were like seven or eight. And just some random recent pictures.

Your mom loves you a lot. So does your dad. And just because you’re different doesn’t mean you are a weird kid. I like you. You’re one of my favorite characters, and I don’t like to see you suffer in any way.

And your brother still loves you, even though you sneaked into his room one morning without him knowing.

Love, Beyli, the girl who reads what will sadly happen to you.

After reading this letter, Riley runs to his mother to go check on her, but when he checks, she is…gone.

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Clouds Beyli Espinoza Valeriano

Oh, the sky. It hypnotized me. Who knew it was going to look like this on such a Friday? I had plans on the weekend, but I forgot all of them. I forgot that I had family, friends, and homework due. That didn’t matter to me at all.

I gathered a chair to look at the color of the sky. I traced the white clouds up on the sky. It was windy and raining outside. I felt...I don’t know what I felt.

I didn’t know if I should read, write, do anything, or just stay there staring at the sky.

Now I had inserted my focus on the color of the sky. It was white but mixed with gray. I liked the color. And since it was cloudy and windy, it all matched up. I stared at it for quite a while.

Then this song, “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” by Elvis Presley, started to play in my head. I opened the door, and the song wasn’t particularly in my head anymore. It was coming from Dad’s record player. Both my parents were dancing in the living room. They swayed side to side. My mom laid her head on my dad’s shoulder.

It didn’t seem like they saw me. But I didn’t mind. I just enjoyed the moment.

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Summer Beyli Espinoza Valeriano

We both stare through the window. We look at the cool freezer case inside the store, and all the colors combined make it look so...so tempting.

My friend Riley and I are outside the 7-Eleven near my house. It is the middle of summer, and it’s been so hot lately. Not even the AC is much help at keeping the warm air outside the house. So we use a lot of fans to keep us at least a little fresh. But at the time, we don’t even have an air conditioner or any fans to keep us cool.

We were riding bikes. But that soon backfired, and now we’re here at the 7-Eleven.

“Want something, like chips, an ICEE, anything?”

Riley stops and thinks. “Can I go inside with you?”

I don’t even think twice, and all I say is, “Sure!”

How am I supposed to say no to a boy my age who surprisingly likes the same things as me? Plus, he’s been through a lot lately, so I shouldn’t be so rough on him, anyway. We head to where they keep the slushies, and I get a blue one mixed with red. So does Riley. Both size medium. We pick out some gummies and some more candies. I pay. Then we leave.

“Thanks, Beyl,” he says.

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Panic!

Bhima Meganathan

Oh, shoot, I’m all wet. AAAHHH, what do I do, what do I do, what do I do?!

I’m wearing PJs. Yeah, I’m gonna be in trouble. AAAAAAHHHH!!!!! I NEED TO EAT SOMETHING!!! Nom nom nom, mmm pretzelssssss, nommie NOM NOM, aaaaah.

Oh, right. I’m wet.

OK, let’s see here...if I change clothes, I can’t just put the wet clothes in the hamper. This has happened before. But that time I got in trouble because my parents found out...Where is my mom, anyway? Hmm. Wait a second! GENIUS IDEA!!! My parents said they were gonna change the bathroom towels soon, but when I just checked, they hadn’t changed them yet! I can grab them, un-soak my clothes, and change. Whew.

OK, I’m good. Wha...what was that? I think the garage just opened!! It was my sister and mom. OK then. No further questions.

OK, here we go...YESS!!! YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!! Yayyyyyyy!!! I did it. I beat the boss. Yay. I was so close. That boss was a one-hit. I brought it down to three Health!!!

GRRR!!! WHY!!!!!!!!!! I JUST—GRR—AAAAGHH!!!

It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters.

Turns off computer.

None of this matters. Sigh. Let’s see. What’s new in the newspaper? Oh, right.

There’s no more Saturday paper because the newspaper company is broke.

Well, who even reads newspapers anymore? I guess that’s why they’re broke…

What’s new in the bathroom? New towels? Nope.

What’s my sister doing? Where is she, anyway? Hmm. What time is it?! 5:37!

Jeez, I didn’t realize how long I had been playing video games…

What’s my dad doing? Going to the bathroom.

“Hey, Dad! Where’s my sister?”

Continued on next page

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“I don’t know!” responds my dad.

Hmm… What’s happening outside? It looks wet. Oh, what the fudge. I’m bored; let’s see what’s happening.

Walks outside.

Runs back inside immediately.

AAAHH!!! I’m all wet! How was I supposed to know it was raining?! Oh, I guess I could’ve looked a little closer out the window.

Well, lockdown officially sucks.

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Giant Cat Versus Speed Dog Bhima Meganathan

A superfast dog was running around while his owners were working. He was hungry.

Hungry. Ooh. Rainbow, thought the dog. Chomp!

The poison ivy that he had just bitten into was alive! The dog whined and howled, catching the attention of another dog with powers! The second dog jumped up and laser-eyed the rainbow poison ivy.

The poison ivy shrieked and ran away. But the laser dog betrayed the fast dog and turned into a cat!

It was a cat?! scream-thought the dog.

The cat laser-eyed the dog with hatred, barely missing the poor dog! The dog freaked out and ran at a lamp. Konk! The dog hit the lamp with its head, but the cat was still shooting the dog with its laser eyes!

The dog super-ran into a bathroom, where the cat cornered him against a wall with purple graffiti on it. Suddenly, the cat grew. And grew. AND GREW!!!

The dog squealed as everything in the bathroom collapsed in front of him.

The cat grew even larger, shooting the dog out into the forest with shards of mirror glass everywhere. Suddenly, the cat smiled maliciously.

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The Fourteenth Emma Meditz

“I can’t wait to go see Ellie,” Lily said.

“I know honey, but please calm down. You have been bothering me all day.”

“Oh yeah, sorry Mom.” Lily and Karen, Lily’s mom, stayed in silence for the rest of the twenty minutes they were in the car. That car ride takes three hours, so they were almost there!

Ellie was Lily’s best friend; they had known each other ever since they were born. Lily was nine, and so was Ellie. Ellie’s birthday was February 14, and so was Lily’s—so, on Valentine’s Day! Every year they would go to Lily’s house or Ellies’s house and they would sing “Happy Birthday” and eat s’mores instead of cake. They would roast the marshmallow and then stick candles in them.

Today was their birthday, so Lily was going over to Ellie’s house. They were both so excited to see each other. When Lily got to Ellie’s house, they hugged each other so tight they couldn’t breathe, so they let go of each other, and then they both just laughed.

“Happy birthday!” Lily said.

“Happy birthday to you too!” Ellie said.

They both smiled so hard!

Lily got there at five, and at six thirty they had dinner. Then, at seven, they went outside to roast marshmallows. The candles were so pretty; they were super colorful, with stripes and polka dots. Then they watched iCarly, Lily and Ellie’s favorite show on Netflix.

They stayed up until ten watching movies, writing, and reading. Then they did karaoke and just danced.

“I can’t wait to go swimming in the hot tub,” Lily said.

“I know. I’m so excited!” Ellie said.

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Then Lily and Ellie went to sleep, dreaming about what was going to happen next year for their birthday!

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The Box Emma Meditz

I am playing at the park. I swing on the swing. I slide on the slide, and I climb the walls and jump off. I see kids laughing, playing, and having fun. But I also see a box that’s blue, just sitting on a bench that has cracks and chips on it.

I look at the bench and the box. The bench looks super old, at least 50 years old. I try opening the box and it won’t open, so I look around the park and I try finding the key. I see another bench that also looks old. There’s a key on the bench, but it’s hidden a little bit under some leaves. I pick the key up and run to the other bench so nobody else sees what I’m doing.

When I’m back at the first bench, I use the key, and then the box opens. There’s a hundred dollar bill inside! I pick it up and start daydreaming about buying a bunch of candy and ice cream with the money. Then I put the money back because it obviously doesn’t belong to me.

Then I see a card. It’s green and has my name on it, so I open it.

“Dear Emma,” the note says. “If you are reading this, I am your fairy godmother, and this is meant for you. The money is yours to spend however you want.”

Roses Emma Meditz

roses are red violets are blue I’m cool and you are too

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Taco Land Esmeralda Lomeli

Tacos are awesome. Tacos are great. Tacos are my favorite food. You can put so much on them.

But one time, I was going to eat a taco when my taco jumped off the plate and said, “I’m too good to go to Tummy Land.”

I was confused and creeped out. It was a taco.

This taco was running all over the place to find a quick way to escape my mouth, but my dog Rambo was there and tried to eat Mr. Taco. But before Rambo got to him, the taco reached the fridge and saw a lot of tortillas inside, and he also saw my mom making some tacos.

Mr. Taco got the idea to make a tortilla motorcycle. He added some salsa as glue, and he used all the other taco ingredients to make other tortilla motorcycle parts.

But I had an awesome idea to ride my real bike to catch my taco. My bike was faster than any tortillamobile.

“Did you forget something?” I heard my sister ask.

“What do you mean?”

“Your bike has a flat tire!” she yelled back.

“Oh, ha ha, well, you know, stuff goes on after a while, so...”

Mr. Taco did not get very far. He was barely at the driveway. But I was not going to eat a taco that was already gross.

But I was wrong. Mr. Taco was like no other taco. He managed to stay clean and fresh ’til Taco Tuesday. Still, I didn’t eat him. I traded him for a new taco from the taco truck near the gas station.

Then I saw Mr. Taco escape the taco truck, but that wasn’t my problem anymore.

My new taco, Ms. Taco, had the same dumb idea to make a tortilla motorcycle Continued on next page

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just like Mr. Taco.

Before she escaped, she said, “I teach at the Taco Academy, and I teach tiny tacos how to escape humans and not wind up in Tummy Land.”

Well, I guess all tacos are strange.

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Rocks the Dog Esmeralda Lomeli

I got a stuffed dog named Rocks. He is strange. He stares at me at night, so I need to put him under layers of pillows.

Once, when I left the house, he got out from under the pillows and went outside on my swing.

My dogs looked at him as if he was a real dog. They hated him and were going to eat him. Rocks ran for his life. He came back inside and hid under the pillows again.

Rocks planned a stuffed animal business meeting in my bedroom. He wanted some time alone, so to make me leave, he switched the time on my watch to trick me into leaving. When I came back home, it was three in the morning!

I found a huge mess in my room, and I had to sleep outside on the swing.

But it turned out Rocks had way too much stuffing and was so heavy that the swing broke down.

What could I do? Rocks is a nice toy. I must deal with it.

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Tiny Box Esmeralda Lomeli

One day I heard the doorbell ring, and outside was a tiny box. It was light and it was brown and dirty. I opened the box, and inside there was a tiny crumb from a cookie. I thought it was so dumb, which it was. But I take back what I said, because then I saw a chocolate chip, and I love chocolate. But it wasn’t really chocolate...it was a button shaped like a chocolate chip!

I clicked the button, and the crumb turned into a big bag of garbage. There was a note on it that read: Dear Sister, This might seem lazy of me, but you know me. I had to clean my room, but I hate working, and I especially hate cleaning. I’m smart, so I invented a bag that would turn into a crumb from a cookie, and it would teleport all my mess anywhere I wanted it to go. So, it was delivered to you. Now this is your problem!

Sincerely, Your Lazy Sister.

I was furious. Very, very furious. So, I threw all her junk out!

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My House?

Esmeralda Lomeli

Out of nowhere I enter a place, and it seems like it is my house, but it isn’t exactly my house, because it smells so good. The house has rooms for so many different purposes, and each room has a theme that’s like the stuff my parents would do.

One room has a kitchen and so many baking supplies. In another room—I figure out this is one of my mom’s rooms—the purpose of this room is for baking. The room is awesome, especially with the baking smell.

There is a playroom, a workout room, an office, and a girl cave. All these rooms are perfect for my entire family. This place is awesome and, when I go out into the yard, the yard is exactly the way my parents wanted it to be in the real world.

I still have no idea where I am or how I got here, but who knows. A while later, I get back to my real home. It is nothing like it was before in the other world.

But it is still good to be home.

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Dream Story Esmeralda Lomeli

It was time to tell a story.

“I have an awesome story. Well, it’s my dream,” said Elisa.

“OK,” said Jessica.

“I was with my family and, for some reason, they forgot me and left me in this store’s parking lot. Later, they realized they left me in the parking lot, and they felt bad and made me one huge surprise, which was a little too much, ‘cause a simple apology would have been fine, but I’m curious where this will end up. The first surprise was that my family was in my yard, and I realized that there were celebrities there! It was an awesome way to say sorry, but they went even more outside the box. It was all actually a dream! But the dream wasn’t only my dream.”

“Who else’s dream was it?” asked Jessica.

“Yours! You were there too,” said Elisa. “Let me continue the story. It’s a good one! The next surprise was that we all went on the best vacation ever: first, Universal Studios; then, the amusement park I have been wanting to go to.

From there, we went to Disneyland and rode on all sorts of awesome rides, even with some of the celebrities. The dream was for everyone, and I was having an awesome time.”

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Camp Genevieve Hernaes

“Olive and Willow, why don’t you come up here and we will give you a guided tour?”

So, the girls start to walk toward the counselors of their new cabin.

“OK, the buses dropped you off in front of the main office. I don’t think you need me to point out where the lake is, because you can see it. Over here are the sports fields. We have tennis, basketball, soccer, and softball. And the gym is where we store equipment and have acrobatics and other activities.”

“I can’t wait to try it all out,” Olive whispers to Willow.

“I love nature!” Willow says to Olive.

“And over here is the theater where we put on plays and have music practice,” the counselor says, continuing the tour. “This building will be one of your favorites, I’m sure. It’s the mess hall, where you will eat!”

Olive and Willow laugh.

“And here’s the infirmary. You take medication, don’t you, Willow?”

Willow nods yes.

“Then I’ll show you the nurse’s office later.”

“That one is my favorite building,” the counselor says. “It’s the Art Barn, where you will do all the arts and crafts activities, and there are other buildings for video magic and science. You know, all the indoor activities for kids who aren’t crazy about sports.”

Willow and Olive look at one another. They can’t imagine that there are kids who don’t like sports.

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Mysterious Package Genevieve Hernaes

One day I received a package at my front door—knock, knock, knock.

I asked my parents if they ordered anything. I knew that my dad had a couple packages coming, but none that day. He had ordered them earlier, and this package didn’t have the right tape on it, so...

We were guessing that this package was probably from a family member.

The box was very big, with a lot of messy tape on it, and it had the word Fragile written on it. Well, we thought, it could be glass. My dad wouldn’t open it until we found out who it was from.

It was very light! I don’t know why it said Fragile on it...

My Acrostic Poem Genevieve Hernaes

G is for glisten, a sparkle in your eyes E is for energetic, bright as a star N is for neat and organized E is for Earth, the planet that we stand on now V is for valiant, brave, courageous, and heroic I is for independent, tries to do stuff on her own E is for effort, works hard every day to earn it V is for vibrant, full of energy to draw E is for encourage, helps friends with their work

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Pastel Pink Genevieve Hernaes

My favorite color is pastel pink, because when I think of pink, it makes me feel relaxed, and it makes me think of the sunset.

Fruit Genevieve Hernaes

My favorite food is fruit because it’s very healthy for you and it is also fresh.

You can find it at the farmers market every Thursday morning, or you can buy it at your local supermarket.

Fruit is very special to me because it makes me feel energized and ready to go every morning. It’s also special because it’s fresh and comes from plants, from nature.

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Monstruos Javier Garcia

Había una vez unos monstruos que rodeaban Sacramento. Esto occurió muchos, muchos años atrás, en 1366. Estos monstruos podrían destruir a todo y eran malvados, y feos, y muy monstruosos.

Los monstruos destruían a todo, pero había una familia que no podían destruir.

Esa familia era súper malvada. Toda la otra gente les tenían miedo a esa familia súper malvada, de una hija, un hijo, un papá y la mamá. Eran como la realeza de la jungla. La jungla se llamaba Monstruoso, y las personas que vivían en las cuevas dentro de la jungla nunca salían de sus cuevas para protegerse, si no los súper malvados les comerían y los derrotarían.

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The Adventures of Yashi Mateo Otilio Castaneda Rodriguez

If my Yashi plushie was alive, then in the morning he would start the day by eating his favorite gambahs. Those are the little brown things. They’re actually kind of annoying (but don’t tell Yashi I said that).

And after that, he would go to his owner, Morio.

Yashi would greet Morio with, “Uh, how are you, sir?”

Morio would say, “Wait, you can talk!”

In a blink of an eye, Yashi would run away, fast as he could, thinking he had just revealed his true self.

After that, it would be time for him to eat lunch. Gambahs, once again! Yashi would be kind of getting tired of eating gambahs 24/7.

Then it would finally come to him. He would see his egg hatching.

Yashi would scream, “YAAAAAAAAAAY.” Then his owner would come. Morio would see Yashi and bring him back to the Morio World. But it wouldn’t be over yet!

When it’s nighttime, Yashi would see that Morio is asleep, so he would return to the real world and get his egg and take it to the Morio World. He would be disappointed. It would be just a baby chick and not a baby Yashi.

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A Magical Potion Mateo Otilio Castaneda Rodriguez

If I drank a magic potion, I would use it for catching on to what people really think and to see what their friends think of me too.

I’d also use a potion to shape-shift into a demon to scare my friends. I really don’t know if they would faint, but if they did, I’d have a good laugh. I know I would need to send them to a hospital fast once they wake up.

My friend would try to tell me a story, but I would turn into a demon right in front of him and see if he faints again this time. You probably didn’t expect this—he would faint again. But this time, he would wake up and he would just tell me what happened as if I didn’t know, even though I did it right in front of him!

When I get home, I would shape-shift into a snake. I would literally scare everyone in the house to see who’s the real baby now!

Spaghetti Factory Mateo Otilio Castaneda Rodriguez

The Spaghetti Factory is my favorite place to imagine because the smell is so nice there. The fresh spaghetti makes it smell like you’re in heaven.

I’m not joking! What you see there are nice people, and the spaghetti makers are the best people ever. They are the freaking people that make you the best spaghetti ever...still not better than Mom’s, though.

The colors are the red tablecloths, also the gray forks, and last but not least, the brown meatballs and orange spaghetti. What you touch are the napkins, forks, and plates. Oh, and you can’t forget the drinks. The sounds are of the family talking. My brothers and parents are talking, and so are the workers.

And that’s basically it!

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My Acrostic Family Mateo Otilio Castaneda Rodriguez

X stands for Xavier, my oldest brother. He’s in college and he has a job at Baskin Robbins, and yet he does not have a girlfriend. He is seventeen.

I stands for Isaiah; he’s the second oldest brother. He is fourteen, and he’s in high school.

S stands for Santiago; he’s my third oldest brother. He’s in the sixth grade.

M stands for Mateo; that’s me! I’m nine. and I’m in the third grade.

J stands for Joaquin, the youngest brother. He is five, and he’s in pre-K. That’s my family

Cyan Mateo Otilio Castaneda Rodriguez

Cyan is one of my favorite colors. It makes me feel like I’m in the bright sky with the clouds, angels, and swooping birds, and the water that’s delicious. It makes me feel like I’m dreaming with everything the color cyan.

So I can just imagine all the cyan things in my dreams.

Speaking of a dream...one of my dreams was to get into 916 Ink, and I did.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL INKERS

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Settling the Score Group Story

Hi, I’m Dean. I’m fourteen years old, and this is how my life goes from ordinary to extraordinary.

k

Just like every summer, it’s time for my family’s annual camping trip. I love camping with my family, but man, do I wish I had my own tent. Dad snores like trucks downshifting on the highway. My sister, Destinee, on the other hand, talks all night and then has the audacity to wake up early.

Shortly after we arrive, I decide to ditch the fam for a bit and explore on my own. Somewhere around here is a trail that leads to my favorite place.

“Aha! There it is!”

I take off down the trail until I run into a hidden creek. I made sure to tell Destinee that there were monsters so she wouldn’t follow me. I wade into the water and attempt to cross to the other side, but my foot connects with something hard and person-like under the water. Afraid that it could be the very monster I told my sister was here, I wade as fast as I can to the other side. Suddenly, this guy emerges from the slow-moving water and turns in my direction. I freeze, realizing he’s no monster.

“Hey, man. Sorry.”

“No worries,” he assures. “What are you doing out here, anyway? No one ever comes down to the creek.”

“I’m just here with my family,” I respond. “My monster of a sister is annoying, and I wanted to relax before we start family time. What were you doing under water?”

The guy nods his head back at the water.

“I was just checking out these rocks. I’ve read about them before. They hold an immense amount of power. I just don’t know what you could do with it.

I’m Jack, by the way.”

I introduce myself, giving him my nickname. “I’m Underscore.”

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Jack gives me a sideways glance. “Bruh...?”

We skip stones for several hours, getting to know each other along the way.

At dinnertime, I hear my mom call. I point out where my campsite is in case Jack’s is nearby. But when he doesn’t point his out, I think his must be pretty far away. The next morning, I return to the creek, hoping to run into Jack.

I find him building a small machine with the stones he found in the water.

Jack says it’s an experiment but doesn’t say more than that. Something feels a little off, but I don’t push the subject. Instead, I wait and watch as he finishes.

“Done!” Jack shouts and holds up his creation. “C’mon, Underscore, I want to show you something!”

Before I can ask what he’s made and where we’re going, Jack is already running farther into the woods. We arrive at this log cabin in the middle of nowhere. Jack looks at me with a toothy smile and then bursts inside.

“Mom, Dad! Are you home?”

Mom? Dad? Does Jack live here? I think to myself.

We find them sitting at the kitchen table. Their eyes go wide at the sight of me, but as soon as they see the thing Jack has created, his mom stands and his dad narrows his eyes.

“I brought a friend!” Jack exclaims and introduces me. “His name is Underscore, and he lives in the city.” Jack sets down the box on the table. “Look at what I made today. It lights up!” He presses a few buttons and the thing makes a whirring sound and then seems to glow softly. “You know, Underscore and I have been having a lot of fun. It’s too bad he’s going to have to go back to the city after his trip. If only we lived there too; then I could see him all the time.”

I can tell that Jack’s parents are annoyed with him. Jack’s mom rolls her eyes, and his dad leaves the room.

“Jack,” his mom begins, “I know you’re trying, and I know you’re not happy Continued on next page

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with what we have right now, but what you’re asking is just not in the cards for us right now.” She heads out the same door as his dad.

I can’t help myself and ask, “What’s going on?”

“We don’t have any technology in the house. No computer, no TV, and no lights,” Jack sighs. “We live in the middle of the woods.”

That’s when I realize that Jack used me in order to help convince his parents that they should switch to using technology.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t help, but maybe we can make the most of the time we have until I go home.”

At this, Jack perks up. “Yeah! Thanks for understanding, Underscore.”

He stuffs a few of the rocks he brought home into his pocket and hands the rest to me.

“Just in case, ya know?”

k

We pack for a hike, and Jack shows me a trail that most campers don’t know about. It’s a fairly easy walk that lets out over a clearing. You can see the sky and what looks like an endless stream of trees. At least, that’s what we were supposed to find. The ground is rough an uneven. The branches are low and lined with thorns. The trail steeps so far upward that I’m worried I’ll trip and slide all the way back down to the bottom.

“Are you sure we’re not lost?” I finally call. I’m not sure how much more my feet can take.

“I’m sure,” Jack says before admitting defeat shortly after. “OK, we’re lost.”

I take a look around. “Let’s find somewhere flat and camp for the night. We’ll backtrack tomorrow to find our way out.”

“Good idea,” Jack agrees.

We set up camp and soon hear something strange.

“Hey, Underscore, do you hear that?” Jack darts to his feet and looks into the dark sky. “There!”

Something’s flying across the sky, lit up like a log on a fire. We run away just as it plummets to the ground. Jack and I return to find only one survivor.

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The pilot didn’t make it.

The person who emerges from the damaged helicopter doesn’t look quite like us. He seems different somehow. He allows us to bandage him and then grabs a burnt radio from his pocket. His suspicion is replaced with a smile.

He holds out his hand.

“I’m Overscore. Thanks for patching me up. Looks like we’ve got a while until I’ll be able to get this fixed.”

Overscore tells us that he’s from a faraway land called Htrae and they managed to find us using their radar. Apparently, we have more rocks like the ones Jack showed me, and they show up on Htrae’s scanners. We hear a rustling in the trees, and then someone appears.

“Sam!” Jack yells suddenly. “What are you doing here?”

Jack looks at me briefly and says, “That’s my brother!”

Sam takes a look around and shrugs his shoulders.

“I figured everyone around here would have seen that helicopter fall from the sky. I wanted to check it out. Why are you here?”

Jack motions to me.

“This is my friend Underscore. He and I were hiking when we got lost. Then, Overscore’s helicopter crashed super close to where we had decided to sleep for the night!”

“Yeah, uh, I ran into these two,” Overscore admits sheepishly. “Actually, they bandaged me up. I think my helicopter can be fixed. You wouldn’t happen to be able to help, would you?”

“I’ll take a look and see what I can do.” Sam rummages around until he’s out of sight.

Sam returns with some of the powered rocks and other tools from his bag.

Jack looks at the rocks that Sam has and then tells Sam, “I have those too!”

Sam looks up, terrified.

Then Jack gestures to bring the rocks out, but Sam yells, “NO, STOP!” As Jack touches the rocks together, it sends an electromagnetic pulse I look up and see a plane catch fire, and we all watch helplessly as it crashes a ways away.

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Overscore then looks at Jack and takes away the stones and says, “I will go check on the airplane after we drop you off at Echo 419. It might be too risky for you to stay here. It might put your families in danger.”

k

We look out the helicopter windows, seeing nothing but the city below. I was expecting something spectacular after that helicopter crash and someone like Overscore showing up. But nothing. Just a distribution center for some grocery store, with strange machines scattered around the area.

Boy, am I wrong. The windows darken until we can’t see out. “What the heck?”

I raise my voice and glare at Overscore, who quickly retorts, “I can’t let you see how to get to the secret base now, can I?” After this, he becomes more dismissive and returns his focus to the controls. I’m beginning to think that there is something more going on than what we are being told.

Jack and I can feel the helicopter land, but we know we’re still in for a wild ride. Overscore leaves as soon as our feet hit the ground to go check on the airplane crash. Jack turns away, holding his temple. I rush over to him. “Are you OK?” “Yes,” he says faintly. “It’s just this place; something about it seems so familiar.”

Without another word, Jack walks farther into the compound.

“No! I mean, wait until Overscore gets back,” Sam calls after him. Ignoring him, Jack continues straight for one of the giant machines on the property.

“Jack!” Sam runs past me after his brother, but I remain, unsure if what I’ve gotten myself into is more than I can handle.

I only watch as Jack nears the machine, struck in awe of the monstrous behemoth before him. “I made this...earlier.” He reaches out, fingers mere inches away.

“But that’s not possible...” he touches the machine, then gasps. Jack immediately retracts his hand, stumbling backward.

“Jack!” Sam screams, just catching his brother from falling. “Are you all right?”

“You...lied.”

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I’m trying to make it right. I stole the stones and used them to stop Overscore. He wasn’t supposed to survive the crash.” Nothing they are saying is making any sense. Who are these people? What is this place?

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Finally, as if I’ve awoken from a trance, I run forward, desperate for answers.

“What are you talking about? What’s going on?” I shout.

“We’re not from here,” Jack asks his brother, “are we?”

“No,” Sam sighs. He looks at me. “We’re not from this place at all.”

“You mean...you’re aliens?” I ask in disbelief.

My ears ring when a piece of concrete crashes beside me. The wall blows open so fast and with such ferocity that all three of us are knocked to the ground.

As I lift my head, I can see beyond the wall into the blackened wasteland that follows Overscore. He is gassing the planet with fire. Mad with power and with the stones floating but inches from his right hand, with fire beneath his feet as he steps, he raises an arm and shoots fire directly at me. All I can think to do is grab the stones in my pocket and involuntarily squeeze my eyes shut.

When the dust settles, I open my eyes to a shield around me caused by the rocks! This is all so new, and I feel my body tire after the stones collect back in my hand. Overscore’s rage grows, and so does his fire. With hate-filled jets, he lifts off the ground, coming to rest at around twenty feet in the air above us, and this is when I realize how little I truly know.

A second fire blast is headed our way, and from the looks of it, it’s going to be much bigger than the last. We might not survive another attack of this measure. I can feel the searing warmth coming closer. That is, until Sam—moving faster than I can comprehend—rushes between us and Overscore, putting up a large wall made of stones and the energy that they emit. It blocks us from the fatal blast. He’s somewhat transformed, almost transparent. There’s a cybernetic augmentation on his spine, complete with antenna. All his veins can be seen through his body, and they are full of glowing, green, pearlescent blood. With a smirk, he rises up off the ground, surrounded by stones. Their energy creates wings of blue light, and runes glow around him. His hands make a double fist, and he pushes a blast of pure energy toward Overscore.

Eyes filled with rage, Overscore screams so loud and powerfully that it shakes the ground, surrounding himself with an aura of fire. It turns blue, giving him power unlike any other. I can only make out his faint silhouette through the blaze, but his battle cry is unmistakable.

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“Whatever you do, don’t drop that shield!” Sam calls to me.

The timing couldn’t have been better, because as soon as the warning comes, Overscore slams to the ground with such ferocity that a wave of blue fire careens toward us. The blast slams into the shield. It takes everything I have to keep it at bay. But Overscore isn’t finished. He charges the shield, shouldering it with all his might, sending us and our bubble of protection slamming into one of the machines. With an explosive cloud of dust and debris, we crash through the alien metal. From the ground, I see Overscore drop his guard and the smirk return to his face.

“Stay here!” Sam shouts at us, and then he limps out across the battlefield between us and Overscore.

Overscore laughs and shouts, “You can’t save them; you can’t save any of them!”

Sam turns back to Overscore. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”

“We both know it does,” Overscore responds as he squats into a ready stance, pulling the fire from the surrounding destruction. With another rage-filled shout, the air crackles as he launches a massive attack.

Miraculously, an injured Sam lifts his hand with everything he has, seemingly absorbing the blast, much to Overscore’s surprise. Before Overscore can react, in one swift move, Sam redirects the blast. Overwhelmed by the blast, Overscore is unable to protect himself and diminishes into nothing.

Epilogue “I’m sorry to get you involved in all of this, Dean,” Sam says.

“How do you know my real name?” I ask.

“We know much. Things that your mind could never comprehend. But I’m afraid there will never be a time to explain it all.”

“So, you’re leaving? Just like that?”

“My brother is in a weakened state; our parents nulled his memories to keep him docile. I must take him away so he may regain his strength. Your bravery is unfounded. This planet, Ogala, has an amazing hero. You are a true credit to your race. May we meet again.”

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Sam opens his hand, bringing the stones to life, lifting himself and Jack from the ground. They float so high I can no longer see them. I want, with everything I have, to wait for them to return, but before long, the sounds of sirens on the horizon drive me into the woods to rush back to camp. Though my story is over, I’ll never forget my friends in the sky.

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The Bird in Your Heart Ana Galindo

If I tell you, “Follow the bird in your heart,” would you understand?

The bird with a pure and free soul The bird ready to fly to new horizons and a new adventure The bird that no one in the world could ever stop That bird in your heart that will fly and lead you to the best moments of your life That bird that sticks to what it wants; although its wings are tired, it continues to fly Because he knows what he is capable of and only stops flying when he has achieved his goals.

But he is not alone; he travels with many more birds that also seek to find their place to fly

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Daydreaming Ana Galindo

I am lying under the shade of a tall and green tree, feeling the wind brushing against my face.

I close my eyes.

My mind travels to another place, another time.

First day of high school, first job interview, getting my driver’s license, talking in a foreign language, sitting on the beach of another country.

But in the end, it all just comes back to me daydreaming.

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Heart of a Child Ana Galindo

When I moved into our new home, I thought I could finally have a home decorated in a simple and minimalist way. However, some parts of me wanted a house full of color, just like a seven-year-old could decorate a house. When I sat on the highchairs in the kitchen, I was really happy; maybe because they were the kind of chairs that you can turn and turn until you get dizzy.

After a long day, I was really grateful to have a bathtub along with a shower; what better than a spa day or, what “younger I” would have wanted, a bath with lots of bubbles?

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Moonlight Talks Ana Galindo

I sit under the light of the moon. When everything is quiet, and the moon can hear me just right. Then I start to talk and talk. I know she is listening, because she won’t interrupt, not like everyone else does. She is there every night, always ready to listen to me once again.

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Humanity Jazmin Coronado Aspesoa

Wherever there is humanity, there is hope. I think that we can be saved if we try hard enough.

I hate how selfish people are, how selfish society is. If you try and do something right for others, it’ll seem like you are crazy, putting yourself at risk. But I don’t see it that way.

I wish people could be selfless, caring, and equal with others—because when we aren’t, we are the monsters. Humanity, society, all of it, is a monster.

But I learned that humanity can be saved. There can be change. I learned that the few people who do fight for humanity can be the people who change humanity for the better.

So, in the end, I do love humanity. We are kind, caring, and strong-willed.

Humanity will fight for what they believe in, and if there’s something good about humanity, it’d be that.

I regret that all those years I believed humanity was all bad. And honestly?

It can be. We can be monsters. But we can also save each other.

Wherever there is humanity, there is hope.

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Safe Haven Jazmin Coronado Aspesoa

This isn’t the ideal place for everyone. In fact, many people might hate it. The dry weather, the bright, scorching sun, the animals waking you up at 5:00 a.m. every day...

But for me? This place is my safe haven...Where I can be myself.

I always felt a bit out of place here...Not in the sense where I felt I didn’t belong...

Just because of the fact that I felt different compared to everyone else. That I had different interests.

For example, I’ve always loved running. I’ve always been the type of girl who’d want to run during recess and chase after people playing Freeze Tag. Or just run in general. Here we don’t do it out of choice, but over there...it’s something you’d do regularly. You would feel the fresh breeze combing through your hair as you ran, having to dodge the natural and man-made obstacles.

Over in my safe haven, it was so...easy to make friends. There was no toxicity or being fake. Not that everyone is here...it’s just that, in my experience at least, friendships are complicated. Over there, you’d see someone who you think would be a good person to be friends with and you’d walk up to them, no questions asked. Everything was so...simple.

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I remember the first time I went to Camargo, Chihuahua in Mexico and met my cousins. We live far away, so I am not able to see them often, so it was like meeting a complete stranger. But it wasn’t as awkward as I thought it would be.

My cousin waved her hand, gesturing for me to come. I looked around, the breeze flipping my hair over my face, and made sure she was gesturing to me.

Once I realized she was waving at me, I walked over, and we hit it off pretty fast. It was just like making a new friend or meeting a new person...but there was no “Hey, I just met you” awkwardness. It was more like “Hey, want to be friends?”

Imagine my surprise when she asked if I wanted to play Capture The Flag.

We stayed on the same team and gathered my other cousins, running off into the field.

We ended up winning, and we played again. And again. And again.

That was when I knew that this would be my safe haven.

It was the place where I found people who like to do the things I like to do... where there was no awkwardness or toxicity...

And I felt like...I belonged.

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Scars Jazmin Coronado Aspesoa

Scars—they come in many forms for many different reasons. Some get scars in combat. Some get them from themselves.

But the worst scars? They aren’t even visible. The worst scars make you bleed internally, make your heart ache. Scars make you see yourself as less than what you actually are. Internal scars hurt more than any other type because unlike other scars, they can’t be healed. They will never heal. People ask, “Are you OK?” or “What’s wrong?” but they can’t understand because once you explain, they say, “Well, that doesn’t matter” or “Look at everything you do have.” The truth is, it may not matter, but whatever has scarred you internally has cut too deep and, in that moment, you know you will never heal. Once you know that, some people might start hurting themselves just to feel a new type of pain, to feel something that isn’t heartache. The thing is, internal scars are like an itch.

You scratch, try and get rid of it, but it won’t leave. It’ll just get worse. But if you don’t try and do something with it, it’s a constant reminder that it is indeed there and will nag at you. It just won’t leave. It won’t go away. So yes, when you ask me, “What are the worst types of scars?” I’ll say that it’s the ones that aren’t even visible—the ones that cause pain and heartache. In reality, the scars you can see are nothing compared to the ones that make your heart ache. Because those scars? They’ll never heal. And they’ll haunt you forever.

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Steps to Be Me Jazmin Coronado Aspesoa

There are a few things it takes to be me. Sometimes—most times, actually—it’s not noticeable, so let me list everything for you.

1. Be born on May 8: This might not seem important, but the date of your birthday will become your new favorite numbers.

2. Be a Taurus: Have a strong but somewhat sensitive personality.

Be stubborn. Or as I like to call it, strong-willed. Many people see this as a weakness, but it’s a strength. Use it to your advantage but acknowledge when others are right.

3. Keep things from others; don’t cry unless you can’t stop it from happening: If you want to be me for even the shortest amount of time, this is the one rule that should always be kept in mind. Of course, if there’s something that’s really bothering or hurting you, find help. Otherwise, you won’t feel the need to break down.

4. Learn all the different types of therapies (OT, PT, Speech, etc...): You’re going to need to know these to help your little brother learn.

5. Be best friends with your mom: She’s the only one that’ll stick with you until the end. Nobody else in your life will have even half of the importance she does.

6. Don’t be a quitter: This is the most important thing. If you want to quit easily, might as well quit trying to be me, even if it’s for a day.

7. And lastly, remember: When life gives you lemons…make lemonade. Or popsicles.

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Blue Jazmin Coronado Aspesoa

The color blue can be described as many things. Most times, it’s known as the “sad” color.

For example, when you see someone is down or having a bad day, you could say, “Why so blue?” or “You look blue... Are you OK?” But that’s not how I see the color blue. Let me explain.

Yes, blue is mostly known to represent sadness or grief, but it’s also a magical and happy color. Some of Earth’s most amazing and beautiful qualities are blue: the sky, the ocean, flowers...the list goes on.

When I think of the most “typical” shade of blue, it reminds me of the ocean and the sparkly water reflecting the sun’s hot summer rays of light. When I see light blue or baby blue, I think of the sky with the soft streaks of white clouds coursing through the air. Turquoise is another shade of blue that I think is one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, shade of blue.

Turquoise reminds me of the rainforest; the patches of blue flowers growing in it, the sky’s amazing blue color...And, mixed with the green plants, this would be turquoise. The rainforest is turquoise. And it’ll be how I will see it for the rest of my life.

Blue being a happy color isn’t just with the “typical” or “light shades” of blue...

The darkest shades of blue are sometimes the most beautiful.

Royal blue is a color that represents power. “Royal” is literally in the name! It’s a dark color, but it shows strength, perseverance, royalty, and respect. Navy blue is the most relaxing shade of blue; there have been many studies on it too. Many people find the dark shade to be calming, even peaceful.

Blue is often being mistaken as a sad color. But this has been because we have Continued on next page

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been told it is. But blue is the most peaceful, relaxing, and beautiful color of them all. Depending on the day of the week, my mood, and what I’m going through, blue will often be the color that helps me relax and focus.

So instead of seeing blue as a sad color, I see blue as a gorgeous one, not only because some of Earth’s most magical properties are blue but also because every shade of blue is important and can help you on a bad day or make a good one even brighter.

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I Think Peter Mlakar

I think love is powerful I love the beauty of a dream I dream of a world with no hate I hate that not all wishes come true I wish I could learn a lot I learned that regret could be a good thing I regret not caring for some I care for my thoughts I think love is powerful You know, Now that I think of it, I wasn’t thinking about it

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My COVID Wish Peter Mlakar

My wish. It’s impossible. I won’t get it, they said. “Good luck,” they said.

My wish is a place to work, write, and to find peace without mis hermanos butting in. I wish for a space with a desk long enough for me to lie down on it and wide enough to hold a large tire. It would be made out of a fine, polished andesite. It would have a large poster of Minecraft printed into my legendary desk. My room would have a red gaming chair so comfy it makes bean bag chairs feel rough.

On the left side from sitting in my smooth gaming chair, there would be a large flat-screen TV too and Nintendo Switch, a PS5, and an Xbox. It would have all my favorite games with a couple of my friends’ games, so whenever they come over, we could play to our content. It would be surrounded by nice, multicolored lights that change colors whenever something exciting happens in the game. We would also have a VR that’s not super bulky, and we could simply use it without bumping into anything.

My door would be made of tinted glass with an option to mirror it so you could look at yourself. I would make it like this so my siblings could not look through and see what we’re doing or bother me. It would have a deadbolt, along with many other types of locks that are electronic, and a nine-digit code.

My COVID wish is to have a room of care and privacy and fun.

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I’m Confused Peter Mlakar

Why am I alive?

Why am I writing?

Why am I sitting?

Why am I Zooming?

Why am I coding?

Why am I alive?

What is the meaning of life?

What am I? What is y=mx+b?

What is a proton?

What is an atom?

What is the meaning of life?

How am I here?

How am I walking?

How am I losing?

How am I breathing?

How am I here?

When am I going to stop asking questions?

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Pink Peter Mlakar

Some say it’s a cold color, but no, it’s not. It’s a hot color because it’s cool, but it’s cool, not cold, because cold is mean, and mean is the dark black. It’s hot like its cousin, the red, world champ of “most liked.” Hot like a girl’s red lipstick.

It’s not cold; it’s the color of love, and cute like my little sister and crushes I don’t like to talk about. This is embarrassing, and now I have pink cheeks.

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What I Want, What I Can, What I Have Peter Mlakar

I want one thing I want to be kind I want to be loving I want to make people laugh I want to be the cause of smiles I want to be a friend of him I want to be a friend of her I want to be trusted by all I want to be funny BUT...

I can be kind I can be loving I can make people laugh I can be the cause of smiles I can be a friend of him I can be a friend of her I can be trusted by all I can be funny What I have is worth more than all, I care for more than all, a best friend.

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Birthday Cake Dorothy Rice

For my last birthday, my older sister Roxanne brought the birthday cake.

Honestly, I’m so into cake that I don’t even remember what we ate for the meal, or even whether it was lunch or dinner. But the cake I remember. I asked for a white cake with cream filling and either buttercream or cream cheese frosting.

Yeah, I’m kind of specific about my cakes.

She texted me after she bought the cake to tell me found the perfect one.

That I was going to love it. This was the day before. Then, the morning of my birthday, she texted to say she had a surprise for me.

More than the cake? I texted back.

Well, it’s about the cake, she said. I hope you think it’s funny.

As opposed to what? I wondered, mad, disappointed, grossed out.

I couldn’t figure out what she was talking about.

Well, the next day she arrived, first at my house, and went straight into the kitchen.

“You can just put it in the fridge until after we eat,” I said.

Her face was doing weird things.

“You feeling OK?” I asked.

“Yeah, you just need to look at this cake before anyone else does.”

“I’m sure it’s fine,” I said. “I mean, it’s what I asked for, right?”

“Exactly,” she said. Then she lifted the lid to the cake box.

A huge slice of cake was missing. Maybe two.

“I couldn’t resist,” she said. “But see, I left the Happy Birthday Dorothy part intact.”

“You ate my birthday cake!”

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Where I Come From Dorothy Rice

I come from San Francisco from four blocks make a city mile From sharing a bedroom with two sisters I come from the Sunset District where the zoo was my playground and the world’s largest outdoor swimming pool filled with sea water from the ocean two blocks away I come from foghorns and foggy walks to school from seagulls divebombing the playground from school lunch for 30 cents and candy bars for a nickel I come from miles of pavement from a roller-skating paradise from kickball in the street from Mom yelling out the window, “Time for dinner!”

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As Crows Eli Elster

I dreamt I was born again to fit a self that was.

They propped me up on a bedroom wall and asked me to say good things but I could only ask how they were. I asked how he was the one before.

When they laughed, I sank as crows declared the sun.

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THIS BOOK WAS PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

WITH MAJOR SUPPORT FROM

AND FUNDED IN PART BY

The Albert and Elaine Borchard Foundation

The Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture, with support from the City of Sacramento.