Panther Post: February 2022

Staff: CLARA, CIARAN, NINA, TESS, LETIZIA, NATALIE, PENELOPE, WILLIAM, SYLVIE & PEREGRINE

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THE PANTHER POST

FEBRUARY

BROOKLYN

New Year’s Resolutions LETIZIA M.G. Have you ever felt like some of your New Year’s Resolutions are ambitious? Join me as I interview students about New Year’s Resolutions!

I do one or two resolutions.

Usually, they include finishing that dang book or becoming an artist!

But this year, my resolution is to GO TO THE MOVIES!!!!!! I want a bucket of popcorn, a nice movie, and the best seat in the house. That’s a good movie session! Anyways, that’s different from Fabiola V., of 6A. She says, “Well if we’re being honest here, I come up with like six but only actually do one or two of them. Some of them are having good grades, and dyeing my hair. Happy New Year’s!”

Interesting, Fabi!

Now let’s see the response of Lucia V., of 5A. “I normally do many New Year’s Resolutions, there are many things that I want to get done or do differently in the New Year’s! I would say I normally do up to ten New Year’s resolutions. But I find myself thinking about new resolutions throughout the year.

“Some New Year’s resolutions that I thought of for this New Year were things like, I want to spend more time with my family, but safely because of covid. Or, at the start of 2021, my New Year resolutions were things like: I want to be outside more often even if I have to wear a mask!

“Honestly, Covid - 19 has changed my life in many ways. So it affected how I do things in my life. It did impact my resolutions in various ways. Just like I mentioned for question 2, I had different resolutions that involved me wearing a mask or, they were about me trying to get outside. And those are the ways Covid - 19 impacted my New Year’s resolutions.” Wise words, Lucia!

FRIENDS

MIDDLE

And some people, like Rita, don’t even do New Year’s Resolutions!

Here’s why: She says, “When I was younger, I’d come up with resolutions for myself, but as I got older, I realized that typically, by the time March and April roll around, I either forget what my resolution was, or have already strayed from it. Rather than feeling like I disappointed my January 1st self by not sticking to my resolution, I decided to just not make any resolutions at all. This doesn’t mean that I don’t strive to be a better version of myself each year, it just means that I don’t put a huge pressure on myself to accomplish something that’s maybe too big of a change for myself.

“I will say, though, that I did take on a ‘challenge’ last year. The challenge was brought on by a physical activity app that I have been using to track my biking miles. The challenge was to bike 2021 miles in the year 2021. I’m happy to report that by December, I completed that challenge! So maybe I’m a “challenge” person than a resolution person. :)” Thanks, Rita! And thanks to all of the people who responded to my emails asking about their New Year’s resolutions! Also thanks to all of you amazing people for reading this article! It means a lot to me.

Chinese New Year officially begins on February 1! 2022 is the Year of the Tiger. Illustration by TASHA ART.

SCHOOL

2022

BFS Skate Fest at Prospect Park. Photograph c/o BFS

Skate Fest PENELOPE K. The skate fest was amazing, don’t you think? BFS decided to cancel the Winter Fest this year and as a replacement, they had a Skate Fest at Lefrak Center in Prospect Park. The Skate Fest was an event where the whole rink was rented out

by BFS. There was hot chocolate, skating and more! Even though the rink got quite crowded (in my opinion), it was super fun. At the rink, there were a bunch of small businesses selling things at tables around the rink. They had candles, perfume, dog toys, and lots of other fun things. I also saw a sweets & pastries table giving out food; there were lots of activities to do instead of ice skating. I think that was really important because sometimes you get tired or just don’t want to skate, and you don’t want to just sit around. When I got on the rink, I realized that the school mascot was there! The Panther was giving hugs, taking pictures and waving to people as well. Overall, I think that BFS put a lot of work into this and it turned out really good. What do you think?

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10 Minute Version A Review CLARA C.G. “All Too Well” is Taylor Swift’s prize jewel. Out of all of her songs, it will always be on top. It’s her saddest song (it’s hard to listen to without crying. Taylor has done just about everything with this wistful ballad.

She has made it ten minutes, made it sadder with a remix, and then MADE A WHOLE FILM ABOUT IT. Let’s explore it together! (And yes, everyone in my class who’s going to tease me about that line, I am fully aware that it is the cheesiest thing ever.)

Let’s start at the beginning, “All Too Well” was originally on Red (not Taylor’s Version) and was about 3-4 minutes long. It was adapted to fit on the radio, but you shouldn’t listen to this while driving, because your eyes will water and then you won’t be able to see anything, and then it’ll get dangerous — looking at you, Harry Styles (sorry: Taylor has a song called Styles about Harry that is basically just about how bad he is at driving… moving on!). But when she released Red (Taylor’s Version)...wait, I need to explain why she’s re-releasing her music in the first place.

It all started at the beginning of her career. Taylor signed a contract with Big Machine Records that basically (to summarize it quickly) enabled them to sell her music to whomever they’d like. Taylor literally had a house dinner with the people at Big Machine telling them to NOT sell it to Scooter Braun (the music producer who “helped” Taylor with her music until he bought it from her)…and guess what they did.

Yep, they sold it to Scooter Braun.

This meant that Taylor couldn’t perform any of her music anymore!

It was terrible.

So that’s why she’s rerecording her music, now back to “All Too Well.” When she re-released Red (Taylor’s Version) she added some songs that didn’t make Scooter Braun’s Version of Red. Those are called (In the Vault) songs. Some of these songs were “Nothing New (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)”, “Message In A Bottle” (I LOVE THIS SONG SO MUCH, sorry), and Run (feat. Ed Sheeran). It also included “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (In The Vault)”, the star of the show. The song starts with a slightly skewed melody, already hinting at the many differences.

At the beginning it’s the same…but then the new lines come in…*evil laughter* There are a lot of new lyrics we got from the version. Some of them include; (can I say this?)

The new lyrics hold a lot of information about who this is about…NEW PARAGRAPH! Jake Gyllenhaal: the red scarf stealer. Literally all of the lyrics in this song match with Taylor and Jake’s relationship, which didn’t last very long. Also, I want to make it clear that their relationship was like 12 years ago, but because of the re-release, it’s in the spotlight again.

Some of the hints are because of the “All Too Well” short film that Taylor directed and wrote for the 10-minute release. One of the hints is that the actors she cast look just like her and Jake at the time, and have the same age gap. Their relationship moved very fast, and some of the lyrics hint on age being what started the breakup.

My opinion on this? I will always hold a grudge against Jake because I am a very loyal Swiftie. I think that Maggie Gyllenhaal (Jake’s sister) should singlehandedly break the internet by posting a picture of her in Taylor’s scarf with the caption “i found it” but hey, a girl can dream.

Hopefully you learned something about Taylor Swift by reading this.

Patiently waiting for internet-breaking post, Clara C.G., 6A

F… the patriarchy keychain on the ground We were always skipping town And I was thinking on the drive down anytime now He’s gonna say its love (He never said I love you) You never called it what it was Till we were dead and gone in buried check to pulse and (This might mean they took a break) Come back swearing it’s the same After three months in the grave And then you wondered where I went to As I reached for you but all I felt was pain As you held my lifeless frammmee

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An Interview with KAWS TESS E. When you hear the word KAWS, you probably think it’s nonsense, or maybe that it rhymes with “paws.”

But for some of you, a creature with x’s for eyes comes to mind.

That last thought comes closest to what I am discussing in this article - the artist KAWS. He was born as Brian Donnelly on November 4th, 1974, in New Jersey. He graduated with a BFA from The School of Visual Art in NY. He started out as a graffiti artist, marking buildings and signs with his art. He chose the name KAWS for a simple reason - he liked how it looked when he spelled it out. Beyond being famous for his paintings and sculptures, he partners with large companies such as Uniqlo and Nike, creating brands with KAWS’ symbols and art peppered throughout. KAWS also partnered with the famous video game Fortnite, creating a popular skeleton skin, with his classic x eyes. In 2019, KAWS created a piece titled “The KAWS Album.”

It was styled like the cover of the album Sgt. Pepper’s by the Beatles and featured KAWS’ version of The Simpsons, the Kimpsons.

That painting ended up selling for a whopping $14.8 million at Sotheby’s Auction House!

I spoke with KAWS about his life, his art, and his overall opinions on the world. Here’s my interview with him!

Tess: What inspired you to start making art?

KAWS: I always found that art was a way for me to interact with others. It gave me a platform to communicate my thoughts and observations.

Tess: Many of your pieces feature characters from famous films and TV shows like the Simpsons and Star Wars. Why? KAWS: I like working with existing visual languages. It helps me understand and navigate the things that have surrounded me growing up.

Tess: As a kid growing up in New Jersey, were you surrounded by art?

Did you enjoy creating art at a young age?

KAWS: I wasn’t surrounded by much art when I was a kid and I didn’t know anyone working as an artist. I didn’t even know you can be an artist and make a living. I grew up thinking art was a hobby that people did in their spare time. I always really enjoyed making art and sharing what I made with others.

The 2019 piece “The KAWS Album”

by KAWS, which sold for $14.9 million at auction.

Tess: You started out as a graffiti artist. What and when was the shift from someone making art on the street to someone who shows in galleries?

KAWS: When you make art on the street you have to paint very fast to avoid being arrested. I thought that was worth the risk because I didn’t know of any other ways to get my work out into the world. At some point twenty years ago I started to receive opportunities to exhibit my work and this led to new ways of having my work reach people.

I always appreciated both outlets equally!

Tess: You are now a worldrenowned artist. Did you ever expect your career to go down this path when you first started making art?

KAWS: I never had a path. I just focused on what I’m working on day by day. I think this is still true. Hearing someone call me a “world -renowned artist” just makes me laugh.. Thank you for these thoughtful questions!

KAWS has taken the world by storm with his art. He takes things that we know and are familiar with and makes them his own by tailoring them slightly differently, with brighter colors and of course, x’s for eyes. KAWS is more than just an artist. He breaks barriers by going out of the community of the art world and bringing his work everywhere.

He makes clothes, toys, figurines, you name it. And I do believe that it makes some people uncomfortable. The art world can be very traditional, and KAWS’ work is certainly not. I think that KAWS breathes life into what he makes, and his art is certainly one for the ages - but different people will always remember him in different ways. Whether their thoughts are good, bad, or simply nonexistent, KAWS will certainly always be there, or for quite some time, at least.

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Ariana: The Queen of “Yuh” SYLVIE M.R. Hi there, as you can tell from the title, I will be reviewing Ariana Grande songs. My friends and I are literally obsessed with her and I am not exaggerating. Also known for her famous and iconic ‘yuh’(which me and my friends try to put in every conversation we have with each other. So far, we’re succeeding).

I think she is really, really cool. I like singing, even though singing in public– even around my best friends who I have known since third grade– makes me feel nervous. But here, I will be giving you the backstory on most of the songs, starting with my three favorites (also the only ones I know by heart). First up is “7 Rings”.

“7 Rings” is an amazing song.

The music video is weird, but I don’t really care. The song is Ariana sort of flexing on you, but it’s fun to dance to and sing along to. The second I hear the starting words ‘breakfast at Tiffany’s and bottles of bubbles’, I’m like, yes! A bit of backstory on this song, if you didn’t know: The song is based off of a day when Ariana and her six friends went out to Tiffany’s (which is a jewelry store, I think), got a little tipsy on champagne, and after that Ari bought them all engagement rings, which is where the lyrics ‘wearing a ring but I’m no Mrs, buy matching diamonds for six of my BLEEPs’ comes from. So… yeah. There you go for “7 Rings”.

Next up, “Thank U, Next”. Hey, next up, thank you next? No one else gets it? Never mind, let’s get on with the review.

I like “Thank U, Next”. It’s good, not gonna lie. I like the meaning, which is basically how Ariana went through like four guys and after that was just like, let’s focus on myself now. Backstory time!! This will take a LONG time.

First up, the first lyric of the song.

‘Thought I’d end up with Sean, but he wasn’t a match’. Ariana had a relationship with the musician Big Sean. “Wrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh.” Ricky was Ariana’s former backup dancer, who, as you probably figured out, became her boyfriend. Now, this

part is a bit confusing, so I will have to go out on a limb here, but trust me. Ariana had a relationship with Mac Miller, and after the two of them broke up, she started going out with Pete Davidson, and got into an engagement, hence the line “Even almost got married, and for Pete, I’m so thankful.” However, the engagement was broken up, and Mac sadly passed away. That’s where the line “Wish I could say ‘Thank you’ to Malcolm, ‘cause he was an angel” comes from. That last line to Mac is honestly so sweet and heartwarming, and one of the reasons I like this song so much. I also really like this song because, like I said earlier, Ari just decides to focus on herself more, which everyone should do. Everyone deserves to focus on themselves, especially Ari, after everything she’s been through.

Grande at the 2020 Grammy Awards.

NEXT SONG! Sorry, I know more about the backstory in the first two songs than I do the others, so I’m not going to do backstory anymore.

The other two honestly made up for all of the songs.

“POV”! We are reviewing “POV”.

This song was suggested to me by one of my best friends. (Hint to who one of them is - thanks, Luci Sushi.)

Basically it’s about Ariana wanting to see herself from her boyfriend’s perspective. In other words: their “POV”.

“For all of my pretty, and all of my ugly too, I’d love to see me from your point of view.” This line is honestly really sweet because Ari is saying that she doesn’t care how her boyfriend sees her, if he sees her pretty or her ugly. Honestly, who has not wondered how their friends see them? It would be incredibly interesting, but hopefully not terribly heartbreaking. I’m sure my friends see me as annoying, but in a playful way. Hopefully :) Alright, next we’re doing “Motive”. “Motive” is a nice song (also, by the way, I’m talking about the Ari and Doja Cat version. I don’t know any others ). It’s not my favorite, and I don’t really listen to it too often, but it’s still amazing, as all of Ariana’s songs are. The talent in her is just *chefs kiss*.

ANYWAYS, I like “Motive” because it’s a catchy song, but I still like the first three songs better. :) Personal opinion, but yours can be different, 100%.

“Santa Tell Me”. I’m doing this song because at the time I’m writing this review, Christmas was only a few days ago, so we’re still in season for this song. I personally don’t celebrate, but I love Christmas spirit and fashion and such. (And you can never go wrong with Christmas music, NEVER). Let’s get straight to business.

I like this song because as far as I can tell, it sounds like Ari is basically singing to Santa about love.‘Santa, tell me, if you’re really there, don’t make me fall in love again, if he won’t be here, next year.

“Santa, tell me, if he really cares, ‘cause I can’t give it all away if he won’t be here, next year.”

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Ariana con’t...

I think the song’s about Ariana not wanting to fall in love again because the boy she “loves”might not be there next Christmas..?

I think that’s what it means, I definitely could be wrong, but that was my first impression. Then there’s the line, ‘by the 25th by the fireplace ooh-ooh. But I don’t want no broken heart, this year I’ve got to be smarrrtttt’ which pretty much confirms my theory. Anyways, I like this song, it’s absolutely perfect for Christmas if you’re an Ariana fan (like me), or any month of the year really if you like Christmas!

I think I’ll end the review here because even though it’s only a few songs, I already had a lot to say.

Also, I think I should go before I get into any more chaos and/or trouble. >:)

Buffalo Starbucks Unionizes CIARAN C. Recently in Buffalo NY, a local Starbucks has decided to unionize.

For Starbucks, a large corporation with thousands of shops in the US, this is a new development. Last year, only about 1.2% of the industry was unionized, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Starbucks has about 245,000 workers, and unions protect workers from being unfairly terminated.

According to NPR, workers in Buffalo walked off the job because they felt that they didn’t have the resources to deal with COVID after Omicron cases surged. They need the union to help them with bettered working conditions, because right now many are frustrated with problems such as difficult access to sick leave, understaffing, and not getting paid extra to deal with things related to making shops Covid-safe. They want better pay, more staff, and more training.

Casey Moore, who is a union organizer at a Buffalo, NY, Starbucks, said, “We have no accountability right now. We have no say. With a union, we will actually be able to sit down at the table and say, ‘This is what we want.’”

That one store in Buffalo has led to others petitioning for unions, and two have succeeded, though a third was blocked.

Starbucks claims that unions are not necessary because they say working conditions are good enough. “While Starbucks respects the free choice of our partners, we firmly believe that our work environment, coupled with our outstanding compensation and benefits, makes unions unnecessary at Starbucks,” said a company spokesperson.

This begs the question, does this one store threaten to change the course of Starbucks history?

Crossword MILES L. ACROSS 2 7 9 10 12 13 14

comes in deck of 52 jump, jump, jump Keepaway Bounce! Swish!

Checkmate Dodge___ Shoot at coordinates DOWN

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What all the answers circle around 3 ABC… 4 Anagram of Mage or part of the theme.

5 Tag & flag 6 A game where the board looks like BOXOXO 8 One 9 Money & Property 1 1 You’re it!

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Dear Mx. Sapphire Pearl...

VALENTINE‘S DAY EDITION

How do I know if my crush likes me back?

I want to tell my crush I like them, but don’t know how! Can you help me?

Hi! That’s a great question.

Having a crush on someone can be hard, especially when you don’t know what to say. It can seem like a lot to tell your crush that you like them. Think about WHY you like them, and find a good time to tell them. Make it short and sweet.

Though not for really long because then it just becomes awkward for both of you. It’s a confession, not a marriage proposal. Keep in mind that they might not like you back.

And that’s ok, even though it might hurt.

Horoscopes LETIZIA M.G.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) This year will be a 9. You will shine bright academically!

Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) This year will be a 9, You will become an amazing musician and/or singer!.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20) This year will be a 10! You will be inspired as an artist and pulled as a person.

This is a really great question. It really depends on the person and how they act around you. But also, having a crush is not knowing! One strategy is to just go with your gut and tell them. It might be scary, but that’s part of liking someone!

Another strategy is to flirt with them subtly and sit next to them and things like that.

Is it wrong to like more than one person?

Hello! This is a really interesting question. Firstly, NO! They’re your feelings. Don’t feel bad about them!

(This goes to the people who don’t like anyone, too) and secondly, it’s not black-and-white. You don’t have to either like them or not; there’s an in-between! You can be unsure about how you feel towards them, or like them a little. So of course you can like more than one person!

In this column, I will be stating some horoscopes. Basically the theme is ranking your new year horoscope (zero is the worst, ten is the best). Then I will put a small fortune of maybe what you should do that day, or how to fix a problem that comes up.

Aries (March 21 - April 19) This year will be a 9. Aries, you were on fire 2021! Even though this is only the beginning of the year, it will show your true self.

Try something new, like relay racing! And remember, while some Aries are hot-headed, some are AMAZING! No one Aries is the same. (This counts for every zodiac sign!)

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) This year will be a 10. You love nature, but this year you will want to try something new.

Keep in mind that you are a perfectionist. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) This year will be a 6. You will suppress a raging waterfall of emotions. Don’t let them catch you or manipulate your relationships with your friends.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) This year will be a 10. You will connect with your soul mentally and spiritually. Shine bright and remember to leave some space for your time, too!

I think one of my friends likes me, but I like someone else. How do I let them down easily so we can still be friends?

That’s a tricky situation for you and your friend. If they tell you they like you, I’d say that the best way to do that is to recognize their feelings, while also being separate from them.

Make it clear you want to be friends, but that you only want to be friends.

But if they don’t tell you they like you, then act as though they don’t like you. (However true that might be.)

Don’t give subtle hints, because they might think that your intentions are mean to them, and you probably don’t want that.

In Friendship,

Mx. Sapphire Pearl

DISCLAIMER: This does not apply to every single person. For example, If you are a Capricorn, you might also shine in other ways.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) This year will be a 7. Make sure to surround yourself with your loved ones and keep an open mind about everything.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) This year will be an 8. 2021 was tough, but you can do it!

Use your intellectual mind. Say it with me! Virgo! Virgo! Virgo!

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) This year will be a 9. You will become an amazing actor, artist, writer, and so more balanced than ever before.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) This year will be a 9. You will befriend an enemy. Be kind and have an open mind.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) This year will be a 10. You will have an adventure on your way.

Make a bucket list with small things, and at the end reward yourself with a big adventure.

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WRITING ADVENTURES Light Weavers TESS E.

When it comes to prestige in the society that I live in, there isn’t much.

Everyone is treated equally and fairly. No one goes hungry, nothing is scarce, everyone gets a proper education. That is, unless you’re like me.

When I was born, I wailed. Not a normal baby’s wail, an ear-splitting screech that awakened a bear hibernating in a cave miles away. The doctor turned me over, making sure I looked healthy and screamed nearly as loud as me. My parents asked what was wrong, hoping, praying, that their little baby girl was all right. The doctor, white as a sheet, asked if they really wanted to see me. When they said they did, he held me up to them, revealing that I am every person's worst nightmare… a shadow.

I have skin as pale as moonlight, and a few freckles on my face. My hair is the color of a midnight sky.

But that’s not what scares people. My eyes do. The entirety of my eyes is blackest of black, so black that they look like infinite holes that you could walk into and be trapped in forever.

My lips are the same colors as my eyes, and so is my blood. Some people call me a “tenebris spiritus”, or dark spirit. When I walk down the street, little kids hide behind their parents, and people walk to the other side of the street. They think I’m some sort of demon from the depths of the underworld, or an evil goddess out for revenge on the great hero Frinn, for creating such a fair and just place.

I think all the talk of Nakatarr being the “most peaceful city in the world” is a bunch of garbage.

When I was younger, I had no idea why I was shunned by the community.

My parents called my looks a “gift,” and said that I was beautiful. I believed everyone thought of me like that. I realized my mistake when I was four. I had befriended a little girl at the park. She was the

one person I had ever met who was able to get past my looks and treat me kindly. We played for hours; I felt like a normal kid. We wanted to have a playdate, so we went up to her mom and asked. When her mom saw me, I noticed that her eyes widened in shock and fear. She declined the playdate. The little girl cried, “Why, Mommy? Why? We have nothing to do this afternoon! Please! Zina is really nice!” The girl’s mother hissed back, “Nice? Nice? Hah! That girl is a monster! You stay away from people like that! We’re going now.” They left and I burst into tears. I never saw little Sabine Thomas again.

family loved the water, especially my younger brother, who was the only child born in LA. Being four years older than my brother, I had a sense of responsibility for him. Watch him whenever he’s in the water, make sure he stays with the family, so on and so on. Our mother took care of two kids and my father the other two.

We weren’t a perfect family, but we got by and were overall happy, if you forgot about Mother and Father’s fighting. Notice how everything I say is in past tense.

My name is Yui Yoshida. I live in Los Angeles, but I am from Japan. I used to live in Tokyo (the capital, for those of you who live under a rock), but moved when I was four. I love swimming. In the water, I’m in my natural habitat. I love pools, oceans, lakes, rivers, you name it. I never had a reason to fear the water, until that cruel day when I was twelve.

One day at the beach, my whole family was sitting on the sand, reading books, sleeping, or doing whatever. I was twelve at the time, and my younger brother was eight.

He wanted to be in the water, but the tide was too high and he was only just learning to swim. Top of his class though, as swimming was in his blood. I had never been so proud of him. I was playing with him at the edge of the water, picking up wet sand and dripping it into towers.

My brother asked for a bucket to scoop up more water to make more dripped-sand towers.

As a child, I grew up listening to my parents argue through the thin walls of our small apartment. They hated each other, but lied through their teeth to us kids during the day, and argued till the sun rose at night. I had an older brother, a younger sister, and a younger brother. Four kids. We caused a lot of chaos, especially the younger ones. My sister and I were only a year apart, so we were counted as twins in our family. I was the silent kid, the one who barely talked, and preferred to stay underwater during a day at the pool. The rest of my family were chatterboxes, and I just faded into the crowd, almost invisible. Just how I liked it. I have the ability to hold my breath underwater for a long time. I practiced it when I was younger and the skill kept. We traveled everywhere around the world, hunting for the best beach, pool, and lake spots. My whole

"Sure," I said. I stood up and walked over to our blanket. It took only a few seconds, but that's all it took. I turned around, bucket in hand, right as I heard a scream. My eyes widened in shock as something in the water pulled my brother by his leg, dragging him in. It wasn’t the tide, it was a creature of some sort.

I dropped the bucket and ran down, tumbling into the saltwater, blindly reaching out to grab his arm, leg, anything. I heard another gurgle that might have been a scream, telling me he was close. I found an arm and pulled, pulled harder than anything, but the pull of the creature was too hard. I could feel myself being pulled along into the deep of the ocean when I loosened my grip ever so slightly, then his arm was ripped away from me completely. At the same moment, my head broke free of the water, and I was dragged onto shore.

Snowdrops SYLVIE M.R.

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My rescuer was my older brother, wo screamed at me that it was too dangerous to swim.

"Yui, what were you thinking?"

"Ichiro, Kaito was in the water!

He was drowning, and I was trying to save him!" I screamed back at him.

Ichiro’s eyes went wide, and I saw a tear roll down his face, which he quickly scrubbed away. I was crying too, falling into the sand while my sister came over to comfort me, before realizing what I was crying about. Mother was in a state of shock and pain, and Father was just shaking his head and muttering to himself, one hand over his eyes. I couldn’t help thinking this was all my fault.

If I hadn’t gone to get that bucket, maybe I’d have heard or seen Kaito being dragged into the water. Maybe I could have saved him, protected him from the nasty claws of Death.

She’s a QUEEN like me NEVA A.O.

She’s a QUEEN like me with a crown on her head only I can see.

Her tears turn into stardust, her eyes look like the moon

Haiku PEREGRINE U.

To my companion Cute, playful free as a bird Smart, strong, that’s my friend.

her smile so bright it could brighten the world, that’s how you know she’s royalty

LYLA M.

Beach-side Mystery LETIZIA M.G.

Chapter Storm The waves crashed against Mia's ankles. The storm was coming. She grabbed the satchel of fine silk she had brought to the pristine beach and headed to the crystal-encrusted mansion that Mia lived in. "Mother!"

She called. "I'm home!" No response.

She stalked over to the grand staircase. The crystal steps clinked ever so softly against her golden sandals. She reached the second floor and walked over to the aquamarine encrusted door and put her hand on the aquamarine doorknob. She slowly opened the door, and there she was. Her mother was lying on the floor, clearly dead. Right next to her, there was a ruby necklace, in the shape of an hourglass. "What the—"

THE PANTHER POST

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