Lit Mag 2023: Illumination

Caught in the Pages 2023

CAUGHT IN THE PAGES

Caught in the Pages is a publication of Annunciation Orthodox School in Houston, TX. It is designed by students and faculty. The opinions, word choices, and images used by the faculty and student contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the school.

Work submitted to this literary magazine is evaluated blind, meaning without names, by students using a rubric for consistency. We do our best to represent the finest writing and art by AOS students in the current year, but we have no control over which work is submitted by the deadline. Any errors of spelling or attribution found in the magazine will be corrected in the online edition. We apologize if any remain after our efforts to offer excellence.

The theme of this year’s literary magazine is “Illumination: how do we view people, the world, or ideas in a new light?”

Ava Wise, sixth grader, created the illumination cover art, and student artwork themed to illumination was incorporated as chapter covers to introduce the grade level writing and art.

This idea of illumination was highlighted in a writing contest sponsored by the literary magazine

We hope the student voices expressed in this collection of writing and art will resonate with our readers and promote reflection and empathy. As sixth grade poet Evelyn Getschow suggests, "the real light is within ... we are all bright."

Copyrighted May 2023

First Edition 2004

CONTRIBUTORS

These writers and artists are featured in the 2023 literary magazine. An asterisk (*) denotes award-winning writing and a plus sign (+) denotes award-winning artwork. A ^ denotes a Scholastic Writing or Arts award-winning piece.

4th Grade

Paige Barneby

Molly Kate Barrett

Evan Borland

Jack Caswell

Cara Desjardins*

Caroline Doty*

Josh Gadson

Nathan Kennedy*

Kindergarten

Rowan Andrews

Dylan Breen

Emma De Mattia

Kamran Kuperan

John Hapgood

Merritt Parker

1st Grade

Annie Bergeron*

George Cancienne*

Henry Cancienne

Maddie Davis

Mack Fisher

Victoria Ganim

Jack Griffin

Ethan Holy

Jamie Maxwell

Johnny McFarlane

Brooks Pollack

Jett Rodi*

Anushka Shah*

Audrey Shults*

Smith Strong

Evie Voutsinas

2nd Grade

London Johnson

Royal Matthews

Clara Smith

Cate Stamets*

Bennett Turner

Maggie Wilson

3rd Grade

Margot Feazel

George Henry

Margot Lonergan

Caroline McConomy

Logan Perry

Lizzie Shotwell

Julia Miller

Niki Stehl*

Caroline Transier

Anna Turner*

5th Grade

Sebastian Blachno*

Kate Blackwell*

Bronwynn Blossman+

Emma Burguieres*

Nicolas Collins

Zaden Espinoza

Jack Flores

Sloane Goss*

Nattalyn Learned*

Sabrina Little

Esha Maru*

Aarvi Maru*

Madeline Seaberg*

Isabella Skoulidis*

Alyssa Shannon+

Rachel Sulak*

Matthew Yates

6th Grade

Emery Albright*+

Edie Baker*

Devan Basu

Olivia Colen

Noelle DiNardo

Anne Cullen Fibbe*

Evelyn Getschow*

Zoya Johl*

Charlotte Lam*

Charles Lane+

Derrick Mitchell*

Carolina Madrid

Maria Neata*

Zola Rodi*

Peter Stabell

Marcus Suarez

Nadia Taldykin+

Kinley Webster

Ava Wise+

7th Grade

Grant Allen

Olivia Anaipakos*^

Madelein Arenas-Escalera

Bryn Bartley^

Sylvie Caputo*

Chloe Cokinos

Tomas Costa

Alexsandra Cullather

Caroline Engle

Kai Fricker

Thomas Huang*

Lauren Ivan

Ella Jurkash

Anika Krishnan*^

Luke Lenhart

Justin Lopez

John Maxwell*

Reese Moriarty

Ethan Ou*^

Lily Parsapour*

Saleela Pemmaraju*

Marley Ramm

Abigail Seaberg*^

Blake Shults

Penelope Tsao

Ella Vogelsang*

8th Grade

Olivia Bell

Alex Ewart*^

Finch Fibbe*

Eleni Gagliardi

Sophia Giron

Kaylyn Learned

Laurel Maher

Carlo Nammour

Caroline Oliver

Grace Pan^

Paige Pan*

Tommy Perez-Lodeiro

Asha Thomas*

Charlotte Weber

Jack Zoeller

Faculty

Amy Ailor

Jose Arenas

Joan Lange

Matthew Panozzo

Zsuzsanna Reeves

Marian Rosse

Sarah Schultz

Meredith Wise

LitMag Editors

Olivia Anaipakos

Sylvie Caputo

Anika Krishnan

Marley Ramm

Abigail Seaberg

LitMag Faculty Sponsors

Joan Lange

Marian Rosse

Cover Designs

Front Cover:

Ava Wise

Back Cover:

Emery Albright

Poem: Evelyn Getschow

Grade 4 Cover:

Jack Caswell

Grade 5 Cover:

Bronwynn Blossman

Grade 6 Cover:

Charles Lane

Grade 7 Cover:

Caroline Engle

Grade 8 Cover:

Caroline Oliver

grade K

John Hapgood

Merritt Parker

Rowan Andrews

Dylan Breen

Emma De Mattia

Kamran Kuperan

grade 1

Jack Griffin

Maddie Davis

Brooks Pollack

Johnny McFarlane

Smith Strong

Victoria Ganim

The Beautiful Light

Jett Rodi

Oh, Light, Light, you are so bright. You shine like the sun, while you block the night.

You glow like stars. You shine like scorching candles. I can’t look at your glorious eyes without the light.

You come from the Northern Lights. I wish I could be there the rest of the night. The hot sun brings light to me all the time. Oh, Light, you always shine so bright.

Light George Cancienne

Think of a house with one room full of light. It is light, it is bright. You put up lights at Christmas time. They sparkle, they twinkle, they dazzle in the night. They’re scorching hot like a glimmering candle.

Light helps animals see in the dark. When light shines on glitter, it dazzles in the dark.

Light comes from the glimmering Northern Lights. When white light hits rain and sun, it turns into all the colors of the rainbow!

Light is amazing because light brings us life! I love light!

Henry Cancienne

Ethan Holy

Evie Voutsinas

Maddie Davis

The Ocean

Audrey Shults

The ocean is a wonderful place. It is full of beautiful fish. It is calm and rough. I love swimming in the ocean. The coral is like an underwater rainbow.

It is very rocky. In the shallow part, it is warm, but in the deep part it is cold.

The seaweed and coral are like underwater flowers in an ocean breeze. The water sparkles under the sun. There is more than one color. It is full of turquoise blues and greens.

The ocean is one of my favorite places on Earth!

What a Wonderful World

Annie Bergeron

I see the sunset colors. They are glorious, glimmering, and glowing! I love its colors.

At dusk, the sky is beautiful. The moon reflects on my head. It’s magnificent!

It’s windy, and I feel it rushing on my skin.

The world is so wide, and I feel so small. What a wonderful world!

What a Wonderful World

Anushka Shah

So salty in the sea, starfish crawling in the sand. Colorful coral everywhere. Homes for little busy animals swimming in the sea.

The seaweed swaying in the warm tropical water. The reef is calm and peaceful. Clownfish sleeping in the sea anemone.

What a wonderful world!

Annie Bergeron

Mack Fisher

Jamie Maxwell

grade 2

The Day I Went to Mars

Once upon a time, I went to Mars, right in my dad’s old rocket ship! I had wanted to go to Mars for so long. I was so happy when my dad said I could go. He told me to pack everything. When I got there, it was so cold because I was wearing a short t-shirt and shorts. I thought it would be hot, but it was so cold! I had no cold clothes. But, I could jump so high, and I was weightless. It was so weird.

Then a big furry creature came up to me. It looked like a Yeti, but I knew what it was–it was the King of Mars, and he looked mad!

But then he said, “You look cold. Do you want some hot cocoa?”

I was frightened, but I said, “Yes.” He led me to his cabin. We talked and talked. He even gave me some cold weather clothes.

I was very happy that I went to Mars. I had a lot of fun there.

London Johnson

Royal Matthews

Maggie Wilson

Bennett Turner

Clara Smith

Cate Stamets

grade 3

George Henry

Margot Lonergan

Caroline McConomy

Logan Perry

Margot Feazel

Lizzie Shotwell

grade 4

Magical Magnetism Cara Desjardins

Brooms flying everywhere, everyone preparing for the magic fair. Wands twinkle, all is bright. Perhaps they will practice throughout the night.

It is the day of the magic fair. I cannot wait to see what they all have to spare. Some acts are small, some are large. All those wands start to charge. All the parents look closely. Kids watch, somewhat mostly.

Winners cheer.

Participants smile. Until the next fair, it will be a while.

Let us be happy. Let us be glad.

We shall not be snappy; we shall not be sad. The winners deserve their well-earned places. Upcoming are witch and wizard races.

The Stars Twinkle Caroline Doty

The stars in the sky twinkle, but my eyes are still stuck looking at the stars. I need to sleep, but I still look up deep into the moon.

I wake up and then start staring at the sun. My eyes hurt, but I must avert the pain because a wonderful star has shown itself again.

Evan Borland

Julia Miller

Jellyfish

Niki

Stehl

Down in the deep sea, something was spooking me, and we were diving in (pun intended) to find out what was making me pout. The Mediterranean Sea was crowded with little critters, but one was special, Foam the jellyfish. Foam glowed and shone through the sea, thanks to Foam’s bioluminescence. One day, Foam woke up to Garry knocking on the door. Garry was an ordinary crab. Foam floated towards the door.

“Hey Foam, can I have some biolim- wait no, bioluin-” Garry can’t pronounce bioluminescence.

Foam replied, “What do you want?”

Gary was struggling to pronounce bioluminescence. He kept on trying, “Biolimi- wait, is that correct?’’

Foam responded, “I don’t know, Gary, because I don’t know what you are trying to pronounce.’’

Gary struggled until he finally pronounced bioluminescence. “Uhh, finally, I can pronounce bioluminescence. Let me have some bioluminescence.”

Foam screamed, “NO! I will never, ever in my entire life give you just a little bit or all of my bioluminescence.’’

Gary replied, “Fine, if you’re not going to give me bioluminescence, I am going to steal all of it!”

Foam started to run away from Gary as fast as he could, screaming for help! “Somebody, please help!”

Gary started to chase him; they were both running. Gary somehow fell into the Fish Brothers’ stadium. He fell into row 6, seat 3, which was an insanely good seat to view the performance of the Fish Brothers, Pop, and Corn. These famous singers sang Gary’s least favorite song, “Barney, the Lizard Descendant.” Then the great white shark, Kyle, stormed into the stadium. He ate everything in his path until he got to Gary’s seat. Gary jumped on Kyle and danced to the song. The Fish Brothers were terrified and escaped through a small door on the stage.

Foam came over and begged, “Please don’t let Kyle eat me–I will give you my bioluminescence.”

“Too late, Foam,” said Gary.

Foam pleaded, “What! Noooooooo! Without my bioluminescence, I can’t live.”

Gary stole Foam’s bioluminescence, and Foam's special light faded forever

People Can Make Light

Nathan Kennedy

I can make light, and please believe me; don’t leave now, just look and see.

I see a person dark and sad

I go over to them to make them glad.

I make his smile shine brighter than the sun, and that’s his light now having fun.

You might not see how I made this light, but it isn’t so hard just to make them feel bright.

I hope you can see and can spot out the light; all you have to do is make them feel bright.

So the lesson of this poem is to give away light

And now you know how to cure someone's fright.

I leave knowing that he is no longer blue, but if I can make light, then I know you can, too.

Josh Gadson

Climbing

Caroline Transier

All my power.

All my strength.

Gathered up for just one thing.

Climbing and climbing

Stretching and reaching Hanging and dragging

Tripping and trampling

Falling and failing

Reaching the top.

But, no reason to stop.

Amethyst Skies

Anna Turner

I visited the purple forest last week. The most beautiful place I had ever seen. Diamonds and riches, 80-foot trees. The air felt cool like an autumn breeze! The lakes looked like pools of amethyst skies. The mushrooms smelled like fresh-baked pies! Mountains of crystals glimmered in the sun. Violet butterflies flew by in a race to be one! The size of this forest made me question a thought–

“Why doesn’t this place have a parking lot?”

Molly Kate Barrett Paige Barneby

Jack Caswell

grade 5

Pure Black

Emma Burguieres

Try to imagine

First the sky turns pure black; then you see pale, silent, stealthy creatures rise from the dark swamp

Peeking, clawing, and staring at a sinking boat, you see them growing closer with every heartbeat

They come with every blink--every breath, they come closer

They crawl, they walk, and they sneak

They leave trails of moss and slime, rocks and blood

Even the animals are scared

From the humble rabbit to the arrogant lion

They hide in their dens and hollows

Waiting for the cruel, stealthy creatures to pass

You would hide, too, if you had to live near the crash

The place where the creepers were found

The eye of the storm, the heart of the monsters, the land of mystery

What is left of Houston,Texas?

It lies in ruins from every brick of limestone to your garden gate

Where two universes crash, fold, entwine in an endless cycle

Now they have spread all over–from the south to the far north

Nowhere is safe anymore

So, you don’t need to imagine

The apocalypse has begun

Find a cure, survive; not just for the fate of humanity, but for the universe, the multiverse, and the great beyond

Find a way to cure the never-ending sickness

My Sci-Fi Fantasy World

Jack Flores

My world is not a place you’ve seen before, Nor a place you’ve been. But, this poem will make you want to come, So, let’s begin

My world is different from yours. It doesn’t have fruit or sweets you bake. Instead, we have zango and yapple, So, you might not want to partake.

We don’t have cars, And we won’t use bikes. We use zambas and zambos, And that’s all we need for our likes.

Our community doesn’t pollute, Nor does it litter. We pick up after ourselves, So we help our little critters.

We don’t get in fights, and here’s what we pursue: We act with kindness, respect, gratitude, and integrity, And that’s just what we do.

So come by sometime. Have a zango or three. We are here to have fun, And that’s how our world came to be.

Aliens on Earth

Madeline Seaberg

WARNING!!!

There are aliens on Earth!

Slimy ivory skin

Three fingers no more

Bodies oval-shaped and slim

Ears bigger than their heads

Weird gibberish talk

Don’t be fooled by their brilliant human disguise

It can come to your surprise that they are everywhere

Every city and street

They even may be right next to you as we speak

They hate humans with all their tiny hearts

They’ are planning on taking over Earth

So, they can start

A new monarchy with aliens in charge

They feed on sadness and fear; it makes them stronger

There is a way to stop them, but only one way

Show you are not scared, and show positivity

I send this as an warning

And a helpful guide

Good luck to you and your family

I hope you survive

Kate Blackwell

The Inventor

Nattalyn Learned

I walked down the street, tapped on a stone on the ground, and the ground started to shake and was shifting. I hopped into the hole that was made in the ground, and I was levitating in the air and walking! I walked over to a platform that was an infinity room that was all white, and then I entered a curtain and walked into my lab. Hi, my name is Edward. I am sixteen years old, and I am an inventor; well, sort of. I am trying to get a job at this lab, but they rejected me! If only they knew that I had already levitated in the air, learned how to fly, and have a type of technology that can read minds; all you have to do is put on this pair of goggles! I still can’t believe that they rejected me! Anyways, I am working on my next invention; it is called Time and Space. It is basically a time machine. I heard a bang on the ceiling, and I panicked. Oh no! I forgot to shut the entrance! I thought I heard footsteps coming down into the infinity room, so I panicked and hid under the table with the Time and Space project in my hand. No way they can get through the infinity room! I thought, waiting for them to walk away; but, the curtain flung open, and a bunch of reporters came into my lab with a guy who looked like he was an investigator! Then he looked straight into my eyes!

One Year Later

I got ready for a big interview and drove downtown. I stood up on the platform and said, “You guys don’t know the whole story of how I got famous, so I should start from the beginning. I walked down the street and tapped on a stone on the ground and the ground started to shake …”

Alyssa Shannon

Effect of a Morning’s Light

Esha

Maru

Vibrant light shining through my window

It’s blinding yet calm.

Like sun reflecting off my pool's rippling waves. I beam within.

My puffy eyes adjust to baby-pink walls. It reminds me of when I was seven. My first room. My own room.

I chose In The Pink from Sherwin Williams. It felt like me.

I sit on the very tip of my bed, Listening for the ringing sound of pots As my mom places them onto the stove. Preparing tea for herself and my grandmother. It is a signal that she is awake So, I am not alone.

Illumination

Isabella Skoulidis

Darkness surrounds the small room. No windows to bring in light

Not enough to visualize A book’s words hidden

No princess or knight But, when you ignite That candle’s spark, The flames glow and blaze brightly. As the radiance increases, The book unlocks a whole new world. You get trapped

In a world of mysteries, Suspense, Peculiar creatures.

And as that candle shines, Your imagination is strung like string, Illuminating the night.

The Mountain Nattalyn Learned

The wind whispered into my ear. My arms limp like noodles. My legs weak, about to give away. I kept on climbing. Running up the rocky terrain, The sun shining down on me I sat down on the warm rocks, taking a deep breath. I rest for a moment and then walked again.

My body ached in pain

I was so tired.

Every time I started climbing upwards, It looked like the mountain doubled in size.

But then, Reaching the top of the mountain, I looked out onto the vast sea. Astonished.

My work had paid off. Nature is truly a gift from God. The beautiful view Took my breath away. Breathless, I collapsed on the ground.

I Want to See the World

Sabrina

Little

I want to see the world, the daisies, and hazy golden days

I want to see the world, where the sun shines in neon rays

I want to see the world, where the cows graze on the green fields

I want to see the world, where the oceans are blue and waves crash on sand

I want to see the world, the shells on the beaches and the tide up close

I want to see the world, where the most beautiful plants grow

I want to see the world, the moon’s bright glow

I want to see the world, the white frigid snow

I want to see the world, the kids with soaring kites

I want to see the world, the roaring bears and chilly nights

I want to see the world, the rare diamonds and jewels that miners gather from down below

I want to see the world, know the things that no one knows

But, I am stuck in the ground with my roots held tight

With no places to be and little to see

I’m just a plant, growing in a ditch

And I will leave you with a little pitch

Be thankful and the most authentic you. Make the most of everything you do. Celebrate the wonders the world has given you!

Emma Burguieres

Helping Kids in Ukraine

Sebastian Blachno

When Russia attacked Ukraine in late February of 2022, I was so devastated and heartbroken that the barbaric and ruthless Russians invaded my beautiful Ukraine. There were many reasons why I was crestfallen: I am half Ukrainian, I visit Ukraine every summer, and I have lots of family and friends who live in Ukraine.

I attended the March 6th Ukraine Rally where several people spoke in support of Ukraine. The Consul General of Ukraine’s speech inspired me to help the people of Ukraine, especially the kids in Ukraine. The kids had to say good-bye to their fathers who went to fight. I didn’t want the kids to suffer—I know I would suffer if I were one of them. Therefore, I started the “Help Kids in Ukraine” fundraiser. This fundraiser raised almost $19,000. I spent every penny for resources for the kids in Ukraine. These resources include first aid kits, blankets, trauma kits, and more. My parents and I shipped these resources to Ukraine through the non-profit, humanitarian organization called Medical Bridges.

To help even more, I wrote a letter to the Consul General of Ukraine asking him to come to my school and speak to the kids about what is happening in Ukraine. He read the letter and said that he would be honored to come to my school to speak to the middle school and fourth grade. I introduced the Consul General, and he delivered his speech. The Consul General even helped kick off the AOS Schoolwide Donation Drive. In this drive, AOS families donated medical supplies for Ukraine. This time the resources were for the families in Ukraine. My classmates and I packed the supplies into 40 big boxes and later loaded them into the Medical Bridges truck.

Because of my efforts for Ukraine, Medical Bridges made me an Honorary Member of their esteemed Advisory Council! I felt so ecstatic and grateful for this astounding achievement, especially that I was the first person to receive this honor! On December 1, 2022, I was invited as a guest speaker at the Medical Bridges Silver Anniversary Gala. The 300 people who attended the Gala enjoyed my speech and donated more to help Ukraine. Several attendees approached me after my speech, congratulating me. The efforts I have made for Ukraine was such an amazing opportunity and experience to help people in need.

We can never repay you, but we will surely try To remember the lives of those who have died. Saving our country, so we can be free. We will always honor our great army. And on this day,

when we are grateful, we’ll always remember how you were faithful. The USA. It seems oh so grand, but we’d never make it without your strong stand.

And now more than ever, we’ll celebrate you and give you the justice that you gave us, too. So, thank you, thank you, and thank you again to all our brave veterans.

Nicolas Collins

Zaden Espinoza

Thank You, Veterans Rachel Sulak

Matthew Yates

Paint

Aarvi Maru

Our paint

So beautiful, Yet harmful.

This paint is blackening the Earth, Covering the beautiful watercolors, And blending them with sorrow. All fake. Paint.

Made out of Plastic and debris.

The nauseating smell of chemicals.

My hand enveloped in the burning liquid. Even though we don’t see it, Today’s paint darkens our land.

Historical paint

So beautiful And harmless.

This paint was enchanting the Earth. Just like when someone lifts you up, And when the sun rises slowly After hard times. This paint, Made out of rocks, Minerals, And grass. All natural.

Playing in the yard, Digging through mud, And collecting majestic rocks. Reminds me of happiness

And the true value of nature. Even though we don’t use that pure color nowadays, We can still purify our paints And make them authentic as they were many years ago. We can bring the glow of the Earth back. We just need to value the past.

Gone, but Not Forever

Kate Blackwell

Now, it is time. I have to lose my precious leaves. I always try to convince them to stay, but they never listen. One by one, they start to change color. Yellow, red, brown. Some just drop away. All gone.

I am alone, chilly, and sad.

It’s the coldest season. Now I’m bare, just bark and wood. Ice is covering my branches. Snow is all around.

My only visitor is the wind

It whispers in my ear and tells me stories from far and near.

It seems to have heard, seen, and done everything.

I can’t wait for spring when warmth comes again. The leaves will return.

Acorns will bring me new friends. Life will blossom everywhere.

Fading Into Space

Sloane Goss and Rachel Sulak

Fading black hole. Dark side of the moon.

I can’t move.

Gravity holding me back. My spaceship torn into pieces. No hope. No way home. My face frozen as ice. My family wondering where I am.

I am lost in space

Bronwynn Blossman

Rachel Sulak

Stars

Maria Neata

I see the sky, black pools of ink spreading across a blank page. I see the sparkling pinpricks of light. They’re innumerable and overwhelming. I see the traces they create, the universe’s artistic flair. Some seem like turtles, and some are more like falcons, as they streak across their captor, with bouts of luminescence that make me shield my eyes. They’re suspended in the air, shining, glimmering, and burning.

I see the stars.

I the Sun

Derrick Mitchell

I the Sun shine bright. No matter where I may be, it feels like a loop.

The mornings I shine

The alarming rooster crows

The humans wake up.

In the night, I dim. The rooster sleeps on the barn The humans sleep tight.

I mentor the moon. I help him shine bright at night. He is shy at day.

We have many fights. Solar or lunar eclipse, I usually win.

I get really dizzy. Watching the planets go round, I might get nauseous.

I think I am done. So I ask, what would you do without I the Sun?

Lights the Way

Marcus Suarez

When you look at the globe

Satellite style

Like you’re there yourself, orbiting, You see our world. Our precious world that was once Dark.

But then, You see the continents, Filled with people And plants, And animals. But, you can’t see your city Even when you search hard. The landmass is too big to find it. However, that is not always the case. Your city might be big, But there may be lights, And the lights that you see Always light the way Home.

Emery Albright

Charles Lane

Illumination

Maria Neata

How should I start?

There’s not really much to say.

I’m racking my brain, tearing my conscience apart. I have to find some way.

Light is good, light is bright.

Gosh, I just need something to write!

It seeps through the window every day, Sifting in through brilliant rays. It’s both literal and a theory

It’s bright yet eerie. But clearly, It’s time to confess; This poem is clearly not a success. It’s a problem I’m struggling to address.

Since I’m trying to write About something called light, But, my thoughts are dark and dour. If I’m going to finish this within the hour, I need to get out of this blatant phase, A boring rant, an ominous haze.

I just need to write something good on this page! Something like, the light dawns on me, But wait! It does dawn on me!

I’ve got something decent to put to work! Light

Ava Wise

When You’ve Hit Rock Bottom

Zoya Johl

I’m sinking Down. The salt is stinging my eyes. My breath is Waning. The light is Lessening. The Pressure is crushing me.

Now, It’s pitch black. But, I see a glow. A fish Illuminating the ocean. I wonder.

How?

How can something find light in the dark?

I don’t know, and I’m still sinking. Down, Down, Down, Until, I’ve hit rock bottom, and I still haven’t found my light.

I Am Lost in Space Evelyn Getschow

I am lost in space

Gone forever, you’ll never see me Unless you look far

I am a burst now A big bright star in the night Look for me in bed

In the morning, I am still there, but not here I want to return

If I stay up here, My one request will be Stay up late for me

Sing me a song though I know this is where I will stay And where I belong

This IS my home now Lost in space forever, And here I will stay lost

Nadia Taldykin

An Olympics Out of this World Anne Cullen Fibbe

It was the Olympics. The biggest theme of all Outer Space. As we entered the gym, applause erupted. I sat down with my fellow teammates. Coach Carr walked onto the stage. She smiled a smile that I will never forget. It was kind, but mischievous. She welcomed us all to the Olympic games; we watched the kindergarteners perform, and then it got interesting. She told us that sixth grade would be at moon toss first; then she said, and I quote, “Just you wait. Y'all are going to have a good time.”

I felt her eyes following me as I left the gym. I turned, and she winked. I had a feeling this wasn’t any normal game. As I walked out onto the field, I felt a sudden burst of anticipation. What was this all about? I grabbed my beanbag and entered my lane with purpose, waiting for the whistle to blow. The second I heard the TWEEEEET, I threw my beanbag high. And sure enough, I made it to the bucket. I felt my feet leave the ground, and before I knew what was happening, I was on the moon. My second beanbag slipped from my grasp and floated away. I stared at my hand, realizing that I was in a space suit. What on Earth? No, not Earth, the Moon. Boy was Coach Carr right! I jumped from foot to foot, watching dust float up into clouds. Then, before my very eyes, Coach Carr appeared, space suit and all.

She smiled that same smile, exclaiming “You made it! Boy, it took you long enough. I’ve been here for hours.”

“W w what?” I stuttered.

She laughed, “Oh, you know, I’ve been waiting to do this all my years at AOS, but finally I figured out how.”

“What exactly is this?” I questioned, longing for an explanation and trying to comprehend what had happened. She looked at me as if it were obvious. “Bring someone to the Moon; of course, it’s terribly lonely.”

“Wait, are you--no it can’t be.”

She smiled, “An alien? Oh yeah. Welcome to the Milky Way.”

5-27-2098

Edie

Baker

Today, I nearly got caught again, but fortunately, I managed to hide behind a corner just in time. It’s always the same these days ever since the AI attack happened. As far as I know, I’m the only surviving human in this city. Thank goodness that I was a technician for twelve years; otherwise, I probably would be dead like everyone else. I’ve managed to hack into one of the robots, so it brings me things I need, and I’ve even learned binary to make sure I can understand their language. But, it’s not easy surviving as a human in an all-robot city. Since computers don’t need food, I have to rely on the few living plants I’ve found in secret locations; but now, there aren’t nearly as many as there used to be. Then there’s the hiding. The robots aren’t as bad as they used to be, but they won’t hesitate to scramble my brains if they do find me. I can’t do anything normally anymore, and I always have to find cover. I often find myself wondering if anyone else is out there; anyone who is in the same situation as I am. And if there is, will I ever find anyone? Will I ever see another person like myself? The chance is slim, but I still have hope. Maybe when I’m gone, someone will find this, and then maybe it’ll help others. Maybe they’ll learn how to hack into the robots or where to find food. That’s what I hope will happen. But, wanna know the truth? I’m scared. Scared that the robots will find this journal and use it to their advantage. I might wind up burning these pages in an attempt to protect myself. For now, though, I’m going to keep this journal around. Well, I better go get food because I’m starving. Literally. I’ll write more tomorrow. Adios.

Carolina Madrid

Charlotte Lam

The POV of a Sock

Charlotte Lam

Nyy, Nyy, Nyya! Is it finally time to heed my master's call? If so, I shall go to the deepest depths behind mortal walls. I will slither through the hole that the father figure has failed to patch up and ascend to the heavenly skies. I shall break through the shackles that bind me to this morbid Earth. Finally, I shall reach my master’s throne room and obey his every whim. That is, after I get out of this treacherous basket of laundry. No matter how many times the mother figure washes it, this pile of clothing will still reek of the outside.

Ughh! The struggle is real; maybe I won’t break free and obey; maybe I am sentenced to serve the humans. Must I lie on their feet, working twelve hours of the day? Must I be sentenced to an eternity under the bed, collecting dust as I slowly decompose? I want a purpose, a meaning to be here; why is it I can't escape! After struggling to surface, the sock makes it up and over. Finally, I am free from these chains that held me down for so long; now the real chaos shall begin! After slithering through the crevice in the wall, the sock ascends to heavenly heights, something no mortal has ever experienced. Up in the clouds, the sock goes to the throne room where its master lies.

The Things You Never Think About

Zoya Johl

Water Bottles - Recognize how they drain our thirst

Pencils - How would you write without them?

Tissues - Using paper towels hurts your nose.

Cups - You want to use your hands?

Education - Fortunate to have one, it’s impactful.

Evolution - The phone has evolved from something.

Bang - Down goes the metal water bottle.

Desk - Want to work on the floor?

Calendar - You want to count the days?

Stapler - Do you want to use tape?

Tissue Boxes - They hold the tissues for you!

Signs - They are bossy, but very helpful.

Crates - They kindly hold things for you.

Alarm - What wakes you in the morning?

Clock - What tells you the exact time?

Video Games - They give you your luxury entertainment.

Shoes - They protect your feet every day.

Up in the Air Emery Albright

As the plane climbs and climbs, Adrenaline rushes through my veins. At last, we are at the top. The door opens, and I freeze. My legs are stuck in place.

My brain thinks of all the bad scenarios. I finally force myself to move, and

My body slices through the air. I internally scream

Because my mouth won’t let me. I see the world through a bird’s eye. The parachute finally deploys, Pulling me up with a sharp yank. When we land, I feel electrified Full of happiness and pride. The joys of skydiving.

Olivia Colen

For I Am Just a Tree

Devan Basu

I give all I can, Such as oxygen and shade. I’ve been here long before man, It’s just how I was made.

Animals may eat my leaves. They may make my branches crack, And animals may sleep in me. But, my parts always grow back.

You can sit under me, Or you can cut me down, For I am just a tree. But, it’s better when I stick around.

Earth would be barren

Without me and my brothers. Nothing would grow, And there would be no others.

Floating

Emery Albright

Complete darkness, pitch black. Nothing to be seen for miles. Your body feeling lifeless. Your mind is completely tranquil. You see a dot of light. So small you can hold it in your hand. It is a star, perfect and round, Glowing a faint gold glow. You release it out into the darkness. Its glow getting farther and farther away. You float back down to reality. This is your happy place, When you’re floating.

The Tides are Changing

Peter Stabell

The tides are changing

Gone are the days of most diseases being your end

And in are the days of miracle medicines that protect us like magic

Gone are the days of cameras taking many hours to take one photo, and lightbulbs being the new craze

And in are the days of computers, cell phones, and the internet, being far more widespread and powerful than anyone could have imagined

Gone are the days of little buildings everywhere, no taller than two stories

And in are the days of skyscrapers being built as tall as mountains, jutting out from the Earth like a geyser shooting up into the sky

But also

Gone are the days of a happy ecosystem

And in are the days of deforestation and destroying animals' homes like it doesn’t matter

Gone are the days of affordable energy And in are the days of $3.50 a gallon

Gone are the days of a healthy, stable economy And in are the days of prices rising too high to even comprehend

No matter how many times the tides change Tossing and turning our world Our family won’t fall apart We will stand strong

Devan Basu

Kinley Webster

The Big White House

Zola

Rodi

The big white house, my personal castle, even though I hated princesses. With a deep blue couch in the living room and the skyline painting on the back wall. The garage with the so specific yellow paint and the smell of firewood and fertilizer. Leaping across the concrete floor in my dancer phase.

The guest house, with a new story every few months. Jordan, the soccer player from Kansas; Gulianna, the foreign exchange student from Germany; the Andrews family from Austin.

Making time capsules, playing spies with my best friend Anita, and swinging across the street at MiMi’s house. The clubhouse with the password that I still remember today.

The little garden; my garden. The one place where I could go to escape all the drama. I could do, think, and say whatever I wanted. Where I’d fall asleep some breezy afternoons and wake up with ants in my hair.

The closets in my parents' room where I would hide under the rack of clothes in every game of Hide and Seek. Remy would find me every time.

The swing in the backyard where I pretended to be a circus performer, swinging through the air fifty feet above the ground. Where I would read as many books as my brain could handle, and where I celebrated my ninth birthday with a Harry Potter theme, of course. Swinging through the summer air, looking up at the leaves of those huge oak trees.

And my room with the striped carpet, the big red art table that I could do a whole cartwheel across, my big colorful spinning chair that felt like my personal little nest, the CD player that I used to fall asleep every night, and the little light machine that would project blue clouds and green stars onto my ceiling. The big white house, my personal castle, even though I hated princesses.

Noelle DiNardo

The City

Ella Vogelsang

The street

Crowded with people

All different backgrounds

All different stories

The city bursting at the seams with people

Children playing with toys

That they begged their parents for Cafes and restaurants line the streets

The sweet smell of pastries, breads filling your nose as you Walk by The sweet smell following you

Luring you in Merchants wandering, offering spices and trinkets

The strong smells of Thyme, Basil, and Cinnamon

The streets bursting with people rushing to their houses

To see their families

Before the deep blue sky turns quickly to Black.

At night, the street transforms

Restaurants packed

The street with a faint light of a street lamp

Glowing

We may sit there and wish it was daytime once again

But for now, let's take it in

The quietness of night

And the bliss of the dark sky

The calmness of the shimmering stars

Glistening and sparkling

Like 1,000 diamonds in a jeweler's shop

You may miss the daylight

But it will be back once again

And for now, a quiet hush falls over the street

15 seconds

Olivia Anaipakos

They await the signal From a grumpy old man. Dressed in white, From shiny bald head to dirty shoes.

“Take your mark.”

Muscles tightened and tensed. Straining and strong, Keeping still As anxious energy floods the stadium.

The buzzer pierces through the silence Like a newly sharpened knife.

Beep!

A shiny silver coil. They spring off the wall. Cool water chills skin. Minds blank as backs arch, Heads tilt.

Sound slips away, Wavers, Disappears, As loud cheers fill the ears Of the many swimmers below.

Bodies glide through water As mother watches daughter, Remembering the good times Of her youth.

Lauren Ivan

Lauren Ivan

Outer Space Wonders

Saleela Pemmaraju

Walking on air

Floating like a bird

Voices can’t be heard

Can’t feel your hair

Soaring through the sky

Black like licorice and blackberry pie

You stop and stare

Is there a chance

A comet would hit you in a trance?

“Look over there!”

A voice shouts out

And you wonder, What’s that about?

Soon enough, you see it coming A bright big comet is running and rumbling

You try and duck

But you find yourself stuck

But then you recall That voice from afar

Were they trying to protect you As the comet was in their view?

You see a flashy light

Covering your eyes, it’s way too bright

You’re starting to fade

Remembering all the memories you made

But now it’s time

So say your goodbye

Space

Ethan Ou

Does it end?

If you had endless time, could you make it to the edges of space, Or does it merely keep on growing?

Filled with stars and supernovas

And tiny planets you can barely see Or giant planets you wouldn't miss

With swirling bright colors

Like cream on a cappuccino, with swirls of red, blue, and purple

All described in one word

S P A C E

Is There Life Out There?

Lily Parsapour

My eyes focus on the sky, that even I can’t see. My heart beats to the rhythm of a melody out of sync. My mouth moves with the words I didn’t know I could speak. My key to hope opens a door, that despair had kept out of reach.

My past becomes the shadow in the footsteps of the future.

The sands of time have passed on by, memories swallowed by the tide. So, it seems that all certainty is up to mere questioning. If all logic is inside the box, we cannot know what lies beyond. The world that lay dormant, now awakened, the dawning of an era newly found.

How will humanity decide to embrace it?

Saleela Pemmaraju

blue

Sylvie Caputo

My body aches from past mistakes A door slammed shut in my face

My head hurts from cruel words Telling me I have no worth

My smile strains through the pain The grief around me built like chains

My eyes close as tears flow My life the thorns, not the rose Flowers grow up from the grass And clocks do tick as time does pass

The seaside tide will rise and fall As humans try to forge more walls

Life is like a cloudy day With rain threatening to make its way

I am like the ocean blue As navy is my darkest hue

And I am like the ocean deep With many shades of blue to weep

A Mutual Understanding

Olivia Anaipakos

Unrelenting waves churn ‘round the mother and daughter, Clutching each other close as havoc erupts around them. Spine-chilling screams fill silent nights. Brown eyes lock.

A mutual understanding

As the ship disappears from view. Gone to the depths.

Shaking, The two attempt to scale a piece of driftwood. Their only hope. No words are exchanged. Nothing but wide eyes as they both try And fail.

Time slows, Gray fins emerge from the deep, And breath quickens. Suddenly, Minutes turn to milliseconds.

With one last glance, And a sad smile, She dives away, Splashing wildly, Grabbing the beasts’ attention.

Ella Jurkash

Selfie

Abigail Seaberg

Fake a smile

Strike a pose

Try not to crinkle your nose.

Peace sign, thumbs up.

Just put on a friendly show

Force a laugh

Straighten your clothes

Anything to not let them know.

OK sign, finger heart.

Just slowly let their guilt grow.

Cause you can’t go burning bridges

Better to keep your feelings frigid.

Shove the torch into ice

Try to be nice.

Cause they’ll be on their knees someday

Justice will have its way.

They committed the crime

Wait your time.

So fake a smile.

Strike a pose.

Take the picture; they won’t know

Peace sign, thumbs up

And you can smile for real later.

Madelein Arenas-Escalera

nO wOrDs LeFt

Anika Krishnan

Wandering eyes

Lost looks

Little lovely lingering lies

“Sad” is not enough to express

Drowning under these

Little lovely lingering lies

Pulling me closer and Closer

Seeing seas of sins making a tsunami

Will I go down

Or will I push back scream against fight in push through Will I?

Can I?

I seek your eyes but not in this manner

I don’t know

I’m not an explorer

Kai Fricker

The Creatures

John Maxwell

In the forest lies a creature of many names, Sasquatch: Skunk Ape, the Dewey Lake Monster, or the Honey Island Swamp Monster, but known by many as Bigfoot. I can remember every painstaking detail of the many years I spent looking for this creature. But this story is not about how I found Bigfoot; this is about the mystical creatures that I discovered while searching for the Sasquatch.

I was in the infamous Shasawatcha Woods on the morning of Tuesday, November 13, 1994. It was a breezy day, and I woke up with a strange feeling in my neck. I thought, Must've slept wrong, but deep inside, I knew that I had heard something that night; something huge. I shot up and, looking out my window, saw a beastly silhouette in the outskirts of the forest. It seemed to be seven or eight feet tall. Stepping outside to investigate, I shined a lantern all around my porch, but nothing became of it. Must have been imagining things, I told myself and went back to sleep.

In the morning, I took my normal walk in the woods, searching for the beast known as the Sasquatch. After looking for what must have been three or four hours, I heard some loud rustling in the bushes. I grabbed my net and thought it was a rabbit or another small varmint, but this was no rabbit. In fact, it was nothing at all, but when I looked up from that bush, I saw something horrifying, something that I will never forget. As I saw it scurry away, each nerve in my body shot up with fear, but then something caught my eye. The way it was moving; it was crawling on all fours, and it had strange antennas. Then it turned around and started to crawl towards me. The next few hours were a blur, but I woke up in a cave, and hundreds of those creatures were feasting over a grizzly bear. The creatures must have had a ferocious appetite for human flesh because they turned to me with hunger and vengeance in their eyes, ready to feast.

The Boy

Thomas Huang

It was fall in Oakville. The trees in the forest swayed from side to side while the wind blew; suddenly, a boy walked through the forest. He was a tall, skinny kid with brown hair and brown eyes. His face looked nervous as he stared all around him, his eyes twitching.

He cautiously stepped through the forest until he tripped on a rock. When he glanced back at the rock, it just looked normal, but after a second, the rock started to turn green. The boy screamed, running away; but, when he looked back, the rock was still green. Because of his curiosity, he went up to the rock, and when he got near the rock, it started floating and slammed into the boy’s chest. The boy started to scream, and his eyes turned green.

On the mountains of Oakville, there was a boy who was tall, skinny, with brown hair and green eyes. When he walked into his small, creaky, rickety house, there was a second of silence, which was followed by a loud scream.

Caroline Engle

Château

Sylvie Caputo

The stones covered by years of vines

Chopped to grow, many times.

The walls composed of mossy bricks

The trees composed of leaves and sticks. A crevice filled with flowers wilted Without a chance, their growth, stilted.

A courtyard filled with hedges dead

Where the royal guests were led.

Long ago the jasmine crawled

And children liked to roam the halls.

Queens would promenade in gowns

And kings would hunt with horse and hound. Back when trees had rings of five And forbidden love was still alive.

Servants whispered behind closed doors

And noblemen fought in wars.

Past and present intertwined

As the monarchies declined.

Wildflowers sprout from cracks

Around the kingdom’s rusted plaques.

The antique roses touched by dew

Although abandoned, they bloom anew.

Stained glass brightened by the sun’s rays

Alone and silent the chapel bell stays.

The stillness of this kingdom vast Only nature could outlast.

Pale Fuschia Botany

Anika Krishnan

the soft whisper of a breeze threatening to blow faint shadows gleaming a spring of hope the last before

Darkness comes knocking at the door a simple flower what can I do to help this falling world

but one can do more than one believes for one is more than none indeed and with one comes more so many more to help before Darkness comes knocking at the door so many colors so many shades Surprise.

Darkness lies beneath me

Caroline Engle

SMELL Abigail Seaberg

It sniffed the burger in Its' new hands, and Its' face twisted.

“What?” I asked It. Its' face further twisted.

“Smell,” It said as Its' face started twisting in circles, and stars, and rectangles.

“What does the burger smell like?”

“Smell.” Its' face twisted faster, and It pointed at the burger. “What?” I asked.

“Smeeeell.”

“Whaaaat?”

It, even with Its' face twisting, looked exasperated.

“SMELL.” It pointed at the burger with a sharp jab.

“It, we’re at McDonald’s. Everything smells bad.”

“NO! SMELL!” It’s face twisted inside itself in strong spirals.

“It, you’re going to have to be more specific.”

“SMELL!!!! SME-ELL!!!! S-SM-ME-EEEELL!!!!!” Its' voice grew deeper and began breaking up like an old radio. The voice changing back and forth from young to old, from male to female, from creature to human. The twisting became rapid, a blur of squares, stars, triangles, circles, rectangles, and ovals all going into Space. I rolled my eyes and stuck my hand in the twisting before It completed the portal. Before Its' face went back to normal, Its' face sucked in the burger.

It grumbled loudly, “Smell.”

At night, the moon radiant and luminous While the people sleep softly

I lie wide awake

I roam the streets

Sometimes children see me

But, I do not care; their parents will not believe

You think I'm a myth or a story

You think I'm a green thing, flying in UFOs It's completely inaccurate

Yes, I have a spaceship, but not all of us do I'm not green; I’m purple And I'm not a horrible person

Although for now, I will stay hidden

Lurking in the deep

You may think I'm bluffing

One day though, we will make our debut I am trying to warn you We are coming.

Reese Moriarty

Beasts of the Unknown Ella Vogelsang

Jelly Bean

Ethan Ou

“A Jelly Bean! A Jelly Bean!” a child yells. I sigh desperately, just hoping that my shift might end now. But no, this kid keeps yelling and interrupting me.

“As I was saying, this is a large piece of artwork that was unveiled in 2004. It is in the heart of Chicago, and it’s called Cloud Gate.”

“No! It’s a magic jelly bean!” he yells.

“Whose child is this?” I ask politely, trying to move on. He wants more attention, like a desperate baby, and starts yelling even louder than before.

“It’s a bean! Not Cloud Gate! Bean isn’t artwork! If it is, then trash can, too! What about tree?”

I ask again as nicely as I can, “Whose child is this? Can you please help him calm down or take him away?” I clear my throat, “Ahem, Cloud Gate is located in Millenium Park. Anish Kapoor is the designer for this Artwork, and it” --

“NO, NOT ARTWORK! JELLY BEAN!” the child yells.

“Whose child is THIS?” I lift my head up, and I shake my fists, shouting. But no help comes, and I start muttering, counting to ten, trying to calm myself down, knowing that when I snap, I will do something that is unthinkable.

“1,2,3,4” --

“JELLY BEAN!”

I shout, “No, no, No, NO!” He starts jumping around, trying to kick the sculpture and tell me about the jelly bean.

I snap. I storm over as everybody in the crowd senses the tension, and like glue, their eyes are stuck watching. Some even pull out their phones. I know that I will get fired after this. Maybe worse. Is this worth it? Should I do it? I start envisioning the consequences …

The jail bars slide in front of my face. I’ve never been in jail, so I start asking questions. People tell me that whatever you did, it will be set on your record. Yada, yadda, yadda, all that stuff. One inmate finally tells me that if no one comes to pay your bail, you will be stuck here forever. I don’t like the idea of staying here too long, so I start brainstorming on how to escape. Maybe I should make a run for it during yard time, or should I beat up a guard to steal his keys? Maybe I could--a bright shining silver key. What would happen if I escaped?

In the dead of the night, I sneak over like a ninja and open the cell door. My inmates whisper quietly, “Thanks, we owe you.” I nod my head in acknowledgment, and we walk out of the cell. An inmate whispers to all of us, “Wait, we need to free the others.” One walks off as if he were deaf while the others and I come back. We unlock 1,2,3, and one more to go--that’s when we hear the midnight guard. Everyone holds their breath in silence as the guard walks to us. He stops an inch in front of my face but then keeps walking in the direction away from us. Someone whispers, “He must have been sleepwalking, but he usually wakes up quickly.” When I decide that we will leave the last cell because of my impatience, they sigh in despair. I ignore them and walk out with my new fugitive crew.

SNAP! What was that? Is that real? Where am I? I start thinking as my brain spins and spins. I realize that it was all just a fantastical daydream. I look around at the huge crowd shaking me and asking, “Are you OK?” They gasp in shock as I sit up. I don’t remember what happened to me. I just remember that I have to fix it. I take a deep breath, and I know what I have to do. I walk over to the child and ask him, “Do you want to go get some jelly beans?”

Baseball Recipe

Luke Lenhart

2 teams of 9 people

1 trophy

1 winner

1 loser

Blend together 2 teams until they are fired up and ready to play

Slowly stir for 9 innings.

Turn over to burn evenly, so both teams don’t hate each other for life. Set aside to make your trophy for that 1 special team.

Then make that not-so-special trophy for that not-so-special team.

Next, you want to toss some rainbow sprinkles for that rainbow-sprinkle special team.

After that, you throw in bitter salt and give it a little shake before you add it to the second-place trophy.

Once it has baked for 9 innings, the winner will be served

While the second-place winner gets dumped into the garbage.

Kindergarten

Anika Krishnan

Gone are all the others

But still you stay

Ripped are all the others

But still you remain

Lost are all the others

But still you stand

Years ago

Do you remember?

Ripe age of four

So long ago

I’ll miss you even more

The bold, brave, black outline

Frayed like it’s chewed

Cut like it’s messy

The perfect shapes of the antenna

The soft swaying of the paper wings

Even though they’re folded

Yellow sunrise

Hitting my face

Go, little butterfly

Fly away

Hidden Away in Our Own Little World

Olivia Anaipakos

Hidden away

In a dark drawer.

Collecting dust

As most forgotten things must, Awaiting the return of sunlight.

Through fun and failure, Faith and friendships, There we stayed. Hidden away.

Hidden away, In our own little world.

Our own little world. Where anything is possible, Any obstacle is crossable, And we are unstoppable. Our own little world. Just ours. Only ours.

Hidden away, In our own little world.

Bryn Bartley

grade 8

Fish

Paige Pan

I live in a small tank; it’s quite a bind. My world is enclosed, just glass and water. I swim around with no freedom to find, I wish I were in the cool seawater.

I always see people, they come and go. They have fun and laugh, but why cannot I? I cannot play; they never seem to know, The boredom I feel, I cannot deny.

I dream of waves very high and so wide, Of hoards of fishes with colors so bright, Of coral reefs where I can sleep and hide, And swim in deep oceans all day and night.

But every day, I’m stuck in this tight space, Too small to retaliate in this case.

Reflection

Asha Thomas

Back to the place I grew up Strolling down streets I used to run Hearing the laughter of children playing I used to be that carefree

Sinking into the beanbag chair in my old room I notice the sun reflecting on a wall I see pictures from a decade ago Has it really been that long?

The neighborhood bowling alley is long gone A stylish bistro in its place Yet when I see my old school in session Memories come flooding back

I meet up with friends

We order coffees (not ice creams) and catch up on each other’s lives

We laugh at our old pranks and walk down memory lane

Olivia Bell

Caroline Oliver

Eleni Gagliardi

When most people think about home, they think about a place. When I think about home, I think about a feeling. People can make you feel at home, and others can make you feel out of place. When choosing friends, it is important to be attentive to how you feel around them. When you find the people who make you feel safe and supported, you know you’ve found home.

The people you hang out with say a lot about who you are. The people you surround yourself with influence you. They can either push you to be the best version of yourself, or they can bring you down. It is really hard to find the “perfect person” and obviously we know no one is going to be 100% perfect, but I think you can get pretty close. Situations change, and people move away, but if friendship is treasured, it will be everlasting. As I said, this is extremely rare, so when you do find someone who is a match for you, hold them close. Nothing is more important than the people with whom you are closest. They will challenge you, let you borrow clothes, be there when you need a shoulder to cry on, and most importantly, you will return the favor.

A good friend will change your life. When you find someone who makes you feel at home, put that friendship on a pedestal and protect it. Other people will come and go, but if a friendship is meant to be, it will always work itself out. Like Miley Cyrus said, “You can always find your way back home,” so, if you take away anything when you leave this gym, I want you to start looking for home in your friends. If you find it, cherish it, and it will always be there when you need it.

What concept is so fundamental to our understanding of everything that we could not possibly fathom life without it? Time is something that we account for every day The average person checks the time eighteen to fifty times a day, and yet we still take time for granted. We all live for roughly 692,040 hours. Just to give you some scale, at age fourteen I have used up more than 100,000 of those hours. You may not realize it, but all of your boredom and waiting around could be put to use in some way or another. For example, let’s talk about a car ride to school. For the average English speaker, it takes roughly 600 hours to learn fluent French. Assuming that it takes twenty minutes to drive to school, you could learn French fluently in just over three years of practicing solely during car rides to and from school.

Benjamin Franklin said, “Remember that time is money.” I disagree with that; time is substantially more valuable. Time is the one thing that we can never recover. Once we use it, it’s gone, and we have to live with the way we used our time. Out of my ninety months at AOS, I have three left; only three. Time goes by fast, faster than we realize. So, use every day you have well because sooner than you think, you’ll be in my position, giving your last speech. Three months left, wishing you had more time, and wishing you had used just a little bit of it better.

Charlotte Weber

The Meaning Of Life

Alex Ewart

Ah! Here is some random and useless stuff Made sentient from dust and back to dust

Truly this is sure not a fiendish bluff

We are humans, humans until we rust

From the first baby steps to the last words

We have shown purpose for all of our lives

Either wedding kiss or friendship, we birds Nest together, our group still strives

This is quoted in sutras and sagas

Of ancient lands covered in golden sand

We are nothing but primitive larvas

If we are not together, hand in hand

Never Ever Again

Grace Pan

Scene 1

Sun beating down Sweat dripping off Past Present Future

Watering down Forever and Ever.

Scene 2

I wonder how they felt When they were broken d o w n

Bodies filled with scars Blood trickling d o w n

Last bottle of hope

Slowly dripping d o w n

Following the lantern The only light they see

Scene 3

Today we all know The tears it caused Scars you cannot rid

Inerasable pain

We know One thing true

We all swear Never ever again

Kaylyn Learned

Jack Zoeller

Hunted

Tommy Perez-Lodeiro

It was deep into twilight, darkness coated the streets like a thick liquid oozing across every surface. Panting, a terror-stricken shape stumbled through the thick haze of dim streetlights, choruscating, flickering rapidly, often illuminating the shadows but revealing nothing except the stillness of midnight. The shadows were riddled with danger; he didn’t dare step into them for the fear that the other was there.

Everyone sensed the other was there, prowling like a panther stalking his prey. No, not a panther but indeed an animal. The man approached a battered shed. Quickly, he swung the door open, scurrying inside without a second thought. His heartbeat slowed; the silence had never gone; it was still here soothing and sweet. He waited intently, alert for any noise, any creak in a floorboard, any shuffle of feet. But nothing came.

He inhaled a gust of breath, but his heartbeat didn’t slow. There was a man. What did he do to them? The man ran after him; he could swear he saw him running behind. That man no not a man, some kind of animal. He didn’t even realize his wrench was gone; the images of the attack flashed through his head, luring him out of his focus. It would have been a beautiful night because it was winter now, but winter in this city brought bitter painful cold. And him. The shadows were everywhere during a winter night like this; it wasn’t safe. Why was there no noise? Maybe he wasn’t here? No No, I can’t lower my guard! This is exactly what he wants. I’m sure he is right outside; I bet he’ll come in anytime soon. God, what is he gonna do? I didn’t even want to do it; those guys made me.

There was an abrupt thud, and the man froze. Minutes passed. No, ages passed. The word on the street is he’s ferocious, he beats punks till they bleed, and sneaks up on them like some kind of vampire or something. Yeah, vampire, that must be it. The man shook himself to reality and vowed he was more than capable of taking down one man. But he wasn’t, not this man, and he knew. The truth was, his fears were not in the shadows; in fact, he was several miles away, but the fear was enough. It didn’t matter if it wasn’t tonight; eventually, he would hunt him down. He couldn’t be stopped by a mere street thug. The reality was he was everywhere, all at once, preying upon the violent and cowardly The bat was out there. The Batman. To criminals like this one, he was always right behind them. Whether it be the blinding signal in the sky, or the chilling creak of a floorboard behind them, and just like that he was a symbol. A symbol of fear.

Bleak Sun

Alex Ewart

September 29, 1828. 5 PM. “Run! Run! Another wave of aliens is coming!” shouted Colonel Alan Bradford. Bradford ordered his battalion to get their weapons ready. The invaders had already pushed as far as the Elbe and had taken over Paris last month. What was left of Paris after missiles were launched on the beautiful city two gray summers past? It was impossible to get into the city due to the radiation in the area.

The sun was bleak, and a fog had enveloped the soldiers. The joint Prusso-English force had loaded their guns and were ready to aim at the extraterrestrials. The aliens then came with their high-tech weapons, steamrolling the soldiers. Bradford rushed away and talked with his fellow high ranking officers, including the Prussian Major General Otto Steufensbergen.

There were supposed to be two Austrian battalions coming towards the Thuringian forests where the soldiers were situated, but the Austrians had not came. This would end off like how Calais fell, thought Bradford. A Welsh private named James Sommers ran into the meeting. “Generals! Something is falling from the sky!”

Otto Steufensbergen realized what it was. “The destroyer bomb! Tell all the soldiers to retreat!” Sommers got the troops to fall back. Meanwhile, where the aliens were, they saw their own technology used on them. The Prussians and English, on the other hand, were excited to see that an entire alien army was going to be leveled.The site was called Ground Site One. An army of 20,000 aliens were ended by an Austro-English created atomic weapon. They had learned about the blueprint after defeating a small batch of aliens in Thuringia and then gave the plans to the Coalition Headquarters in Vienna. Never would the history of warfare be the same.

Laurel Maher

Grace Pan

Growing up, I’ve always loved the Disney movie Mulan. Throughout the movie, we see Mulan as a character who exemplifies courage and perseverance in her actions. She shows courage by choosing to pose as a man in order to save her father, and she shows perseverance when she was thrown out but chooses to not give up. However, behind all these actions was family. Family was the reason why Mulan chose to pose as a man and not give up. For me, family has that lasting influence on my life.

Ever since I was born, I’ve gone to the same church. I can vividly remember the 20-minute drive from my house just to go to the place that I call home. As I’ve grown older, I’ve noticed that my church is different from the churches of my friends. For one, there are no pews, stained glass windows, or even a designated pastor. Instead, it’s an office building with the same old chairs and blinds, but more importantly, the people who I call family. I can remember the faces of all the aunties who made sure I was well-fed by stuffing me up with homemade dumplings or checking in on me to make sure I wasn’t slacking at school. The relationships I have there are irreplaceable. These are the people I call whenever I have good or bad news. Although my church may not look like other churches on the outside, the relationships I have on the inside are what I value.

Why We Fast During Lent

Carlo Nammour

Right now, we stand at the beginning of our journey through Lent. For some of us, it started this Monday, and for others, it started last Wednesday. No matter when Lent started for you, though, there are a few reasons why we actually fast during Lent that are often forgotten. Some people in the room participate in Lent to finally start doing what they said they would as a New Year’s resolution, but let’s reframe that thought just a little bit.

Lent is a forty-day period in which we give up either a food, behavior, or something we enjoy doing in our free time, meant as a sacrifice towards God. The forty-day period is a representation of the forty days Jesus was tempted in the desert. When we give something up, it should help build us up as a person; for example, giving up TikTok to reduce that nine-hour screen time. The reason we observe Lent is so that we can endure at least a fraction of what God endured for us on the cross. We should try our best to stick with the challenge for as long as possible.

Lent can be annoying sometimes when we really crave something, but the tough times are how we grow. Let’s always remember that Lent is when we, in a way, pay God back for what we have and what He has done for us in our lives.

Sophia Giron

Charlotte Weber

Sarah Schultz

Last summer, I went to Japan. I had dreamt about taking the trip for years and couldn’t believe that I was actually doing it.

As soon as the plane touched the ground, I began my constant ritual of checking and re-checking my booking details. I clutched my notebook, determined to keep it in hand just in case I needed to check it. In the customs checkpoint line stacked with travelers from all over the world, I checked the details. After I got out of line, I checked it again. I checked it and reread it. Scaling down the escalator, I made my way to the next stop. The sheer number of people in one place was staggering. After a few false starts, I found the next line I needed to be in. My senses were alert. Survival mode ON. Listening to other travelers around me, trying to pick up any details that I was missing, I was quietly terrified of making a cultural faux pas in the first hour of being in Japan. Am I allowed to make eye contact? Where do I put my hands when I talk? Everything felt like a performance.

Like a miracle, I found the right train and headed into the center of Tokyo. The train started moving. Emerging from darkness below ground, the train lurched forward, picking up speed. Revealing vast blue skies, waterlogged fields of rice paddies, and large factories, I fell in love with Japan.

As my trip went on, I prioritized the most basic survival needs. On my first night, I feasted on a 7/11 purchased creme puff. I would inch closer to testing authentic Japanese dishes. I divided my trip into three parts. For the first four days, I explored Tokyo. Tokyo’s intricate underground subway system took me to as many different neighborhoods as I could. Raised patterns on either side of the sidewalk instructed pedestrians walking in opposite directions where to walk to avoid unnecessary bottlenecks. Packed in the subway car, I was amazed by the lack of noise and sweat. Tokyo is humid in the summer months and gets particularly hot in July. Advertisements running above the car windows showed a woman with clothing inserts that absorbed underarm and back sweat. Wow, I thought. The Japanese have even found a way to hide sweat. In Shibuya, an area famous for its population density, throngs of businessmen dressed in the same black suit and shoes would flood the train. They carried slim leather suitcases and short chapter books I would see them reading in the evenings. I spent time in public parks and outdoor shopping centers. I would try and decode menus and pretend like I knew exactly where I was going. On the fourth day, I traveled to Osaka for another fourday stint. When those four days were up, I would travel to a sleepy lakeside town a few miles from Mt. Fuji.

What might surprise you is the degree to which I left wayfinding to chance. As a geography teacher, I live for unexpected detours. Before my trip, I considered humorously, the traditional map, the “never-can-quite-fold-back-to its-original state” is an accessory now! I deliberately limited luggage items I would carry from city to city I would do laundry in Kyoto and manage more efficiently without the weight of heavy travel books.

Finding my hotel in new places would start as a hop, skip, and a jump and end up turning into an epic journey. I was never in a hurry, a luxury of traveling alone. I prioritized train travel schedules and would have my hostel or hotel information alongside it. As it happens, when I arrived in Osaka (the third leg of my trip) traveling by train, armed with a hand-drawn map, I found myself wandering around an enormous city with a dead cell phone on a Sunday afternoon. All of Osaka seemed to be asleep at 3pm. I don’t advise crossing multi-lane roads with luggage in Osaka. What ultimately saved my life were two men who xeroxed a street map of Osaka and highlighted the route to my hotel. The map was in Japanese, but with this visual, I finally reached my destination four hours later.

Before I left for Japan, I dreaded spending long stretches of time alone. Remembering student voices of curiosity and encouragement gave me strength. I also would occasionally see another tourist traveling alone. It helped to imagine each lonely traveler as one of many together sharing an experience. We held a silent solidarity.

Zsuzsanna Reeves

Momentum

Joan Lange

We raced to the playground, stomachs landing flat on the warm leather as we kicked off with our legs, dust flying.

With each rush upwards, we dared each other to climb higher and higher, arms flung skyward, the sun blinding our eyes.

And then with a swoosh the earth loomed closer as we swung back, our noses almost touching the ground.

And now, years later, we are in a different kind of race: your life is an upward climb while my life is careening backwards.

But what remains?

A rush of friendship, the echoing laughter that links like a chain that connects us, and the anticipation that I will see the sun again.

Ode to AI

Joan Lange

How can two capital letters contain such powers of promise and dread?

The first shaped like an arrow shooting into vast universes of possibilities; The second like an exclamation point announcing a New Age of Enlightenment.

You appeared in a glittery cage, a colorful cockatoo with flashy feathers but not much to say

You juggled words and ideas quickly spinning spirals of phrases that seemed convincing

But, like a magician, you diverted our attention from the elephant in the room that needed to be addressed.

You employed a workman’s approach, building predictable patterns, blocks of trite phrases created a five-paragraph essay. But you lacked the artisan’s ability, defying laws of gravity, sentences built to soar like arches. A cathedral of ideas radiating from a stained glass window, exploding into myriad patterns of color, illuminate the story of humanity.

You are called AI, but you lacked the “I” sparked by imagination, stirred up by insight, fed by hungry flames of innovation and that incandescent glow of personal voice.

Zsuzsanna Reeves

Life’s Journey

Marian Rosse

My story is not completely written. I’ve weathered storms internal and external. Some I’ve suffered silently

Underground Masterpiece

Marian Rosse

The breathtaking magnitude of unimaginable raw beauty captures every fiber of my being.

God’s love for us is on full display. He is the Ultimate Artist.

The breadth of His unending love is revealed with each step that leads deeper and deeper into this expansive underground masterpiece. Each unique formation stands as a centuries-old testament to His existence.

Hidden to human eyes, the largest caverns in Texas waited patiently until human curiosity pulled them forward to stand on center stage. One of His loving gifts to all of us was finally revealed. Natural Bridge Caverns’ unsurpassed magnificence, fascinating examples of Earth’s palatial underground rooms, can be found sequestered below our beloved Hill Country. In reality, however, these caverns reveal only a fragment of the beauty that awaits us when we reach eternity and see the Ultimate Artist’s benevolent face and welcoming arms.

while others I’ve embraced openly and grown stronger. Sometimes, my ears are ringing, almost deafened by the violence ricocheting around our fractured world. Questions swirl but often, answers elude me.

Fear and courage struggle to gain the upper hand. Which will be victorious?

The decision rests squarely on my own shoulders. However, depending on the circumstances surrounding any given day, the answer changes.

I am sometimes caught in the middle struggling to catch my breath.

The storms of life try to imprison and break my spirit. But, I refuse to submit to their demands.

I have control.

I have the strength to rise to the surface. My Protector never leaves my side never turns His back.

Fear finally flies out the window.

Extreme peace floods my healing heart, and I am ready to conquer new challenges. I don’t have to travel life’s paths alone. New memories are waiting for me-around every turn.

I can’t wait to experience the rest of my life. What an incredible journey it’s been so far. Amazing blessings just keep on locating me wherever I am planted.

I am eternally grateful.

Joan Lange

Meredith Wise

Live with Joy

A collaborative poem by Dr. Panozzo’s D Class

(Grant Allen, Bryn Bartley, Chloe Cokinos, Tomas Costa, Alexsandra Cullather, Caroline Engle, Lauren Ivan, Justin Lopez, Ethan Ou, Lily Parsapour, Marley Ramm, Abigail Seaberg, Blake Shults, and Penelope Tsao)

Sometimes our simplest lessons become profound moments that resonate with others. The students were tasked with a simple brainstorm activity in which their goal was to follow the same pattern as Amanda Gorman and come up with a succinct statement of faith: “Live with_, not _.” We created a class email chain, and the poem came to life.

Below are the lines shared by students in the same sequence as their replies:

Live with your best intentions, not your peer’s best expectations.

Live with contentment, not resentment.

Live with an open mind, not one that judges.

Live with the happiness of the present, not the thought of the future.

Live with reception, not deception.

Live with dreams, not with a hollow soul.

Live with what is true, not what you want to be true.

Live with faith, not fear.

Live with acceptance, not denial.

Live with full promises, not empty apologies.

Live with people who can forgive, not ones who hold grudges.

Live with satisfaction, not regret.

Live with Joy.

Amy Ailor

A Loving Lifeline

Joan Lange

Inspired by a glove sculpture, “Long Distance” by Rebecca Braziel, MFAH, Feb. 2019

These mittens were joined by a loving hand With a strand of red yarn, looping through sleeves Of a cotton coat too thin to keep out The harsh winds, bitterly cold and blinding. A handy string, a lifeline for the lost. No matter the slips on icy sidewalks Or tumbling in swirling, deep snow drifts

This strand of red yarn kept things together.

Years have past, the thin and worn cotton coat Is long gone, food for moths that hunt by night. But the childhood mittens, buried deep in a trunk, Now hang by a thread on a rusty nail; One mitten has unraveled in loose strands, While the other is raised, thumb spread apart Reaching for the hand who made these mittens.

Hello, Sun

Marian

Rosse

Blinding beauty races across my walls. Vibrant colors a pallet of golden hues are ushered into my dimly-lit classroom. They paint scenes that are only present on mornings such as this one. The chill of an early fall welcomes the warmth of the sun’s dazzling rays. With a friendly nod, the glowing orb quickly scales the awakening horizon. It climbs higher and higher until the shadows dance away and completely disappear. Until tomorrow, my friend. Until tomorrow when we meet again. Same time same place.

Jose Arenas

Zsuzsanna Reeves