Categories: Grades K-2 and 3-5 Grades K-2
First place: “Bailey’s Adventures” By Lillian Ross Once upon a time, my family and I had a dog named Bailey. He was such a good pup. But when he was 3 years old, he ran off! My Dad went looking for him all day, but he still could not find him. We were getting so worried about him. But Bailey met another dog named Lucy…I think Bailey is going to have a girl-friend! hen a couple days later, Bailey came back with his girlfriend! So I asked “Can we keep Lucy?” Then Mom said “Yes. “Yea!” I said. Also, Bailey and Lucy ran away many other times. So now, I’m going to tell you some other things about their adventures. One time, we were eating lunch, and they ran away! They ran away for 5 days, then they came back. Another time, Lucy and Bailey ran away while we were on vacation and when we got back, they were gone! But then a day later, they came back. So then Dad said to Bailey and Lucy “This will be the last time you run away.” Dad kept an eye on them and they were sad, but Bailey and Lucy found a way out! Dad got really mad at Lucy and Bailey. So when they got home, they got in trouble. The had to stay in their cages for one day. But when dad saw their sad puppy-dog eyes, he could not stand them. He let them out and Bailey and Lucy were so happy! But then dad said “If I let you stay out, you have to not run away, is that clear?”. Then Lucy and Bailey nodded. “OK then, you can stay out of your cages”, dad said. Then Bailey and Lucy got too old to run away, and they were sad. But they were very happy to be together. Also, they got two treats a day. They got really spoiled, and they loved that! But they also got really fat!! I laughed so hard! In fact, my whole family laughed. Every single night we fed Bailey and Lucy dog food. But they only ate half of their food, because they would come to us for people food! It was so funny that my family was crying of happiness. After dinner, we all watched a movie with popcorn. We gave Bailey and Lucy some popcorn, too. Then my family, Bailey, and Lucy went on a hike for 3 days. On the second day, we all exercised to get Lucy and Bailey back into shape. We exercised for 2 hours. Bailey and Lucy lost a little weight, but not much. On the third day, we packed up and left at 3:00. When we got home while we were unpacking, Bailey and Lucy liked exercising, so they were exercising in the basement. Also, Bailey and Lucy were scared of thunderstorms, so the basement felt safe to them. But, Dad had to carry them back up the stairs because their back legs did not work as good as they did when they were younger. By the way, Bailey and Lucy weighed more than 100 pounds, isn’t that crazy?!
Winners in the Grades K-2 and 6-8 categories are (from left) Ke’Juan Byrd, Keleasha Proudfit, Lydia L. Purdy, Lillian Ross, Davina Proudfit, Kaia Edmunds, Mia Anderson and Daria Lesmerises. [Linda Wilkins] and Jack. Their parents were named Jrelowe and Screlo. One day their children looked out the window. They saw snow and Jerald wanted to build something, however, he did not know what. He figured it out soon after. He wanted to build a Christmas tree. No. Jengle wanted to build a candy cane. No. Flower wanted to build an igloo. No. Sill Second place: “The Shark and the Three Little wanted to make a sleigh No. Jack wanted to make a Fish: By Davina Proudfit snowman….YES! So they went downstairs and got dressed right away. They went outside and then One day I went out to get breakfast. I saw three eventually Sill went back inside to get everything little fish. One of them had a house of seaweed. I they needed for creating the snowman. She got a said, little fish, little fish, let me in. The fish carrot, sixteen blueberries, a red scarf, and a red answered back, not by the scales on my shiny little and orange hat. Then she was ready to go outside. fin. If you won’t let me in, I will eat your house up. However, by the time she got out there, her siblings He cried, no! It was too late. I ate the house up. had already made a big ball made of snow. Sill He swam to the next little fish’s house. His house then put all of the stuff down so that she can make was made out of sand. I swam to his house. I said, the second ball. Jill then made the last ball.Flower little fish, little fish, let me in. The fish answered decorated the snowman. Then they went inside to back, not by the scales on our shiny little fins. I will get a hot cocoa, mmmm. Next they watched a eat up your house. They cried, no! It was too late. I Christmas movie by the name of Good Day. Their gobbled it up. day then came to an end as they fell asleep on the They swam to the third fish’s house. Her house couch. It was a beautiful day and they were happy was made of coral. I swam to her house too. As to have spent together. they came inside, they shut the door. I tried to bite ------------------------------------------------one of them before they got inside, but I missed. I Honorable mention: Dance By Lydia L. Purdy said, little fish, little fish, let me in. The fish Dance in the morning, answered back, not by the scales on our shiny little Dance at night, fins. Then, I will gobble your house up. I couldn’t Dance when the starts are twinkling bright. because it kept on hurting my teeth. I gave up and went home. No fish breakfast for me. Dance when you’re happy, ------------------------------------------------Dance when you’re sad, Third place: “The Snowman” By Kaia Edmunds Dance when you’re glad! Also, Bailey and Lucy exercise every morning in the basement. They exercised for 3 hours sometimes, and I would go down and exercise with them. And they lived happily ever after! -------------------------------------------------
Once upon a time there was a whole family of mice. There was Jerald, Jengle, Flower, Sill, Jill,
So, dance, All the time!
Grades 3-5
First place: “Stuck in the Art” By Mia Anderson Lily stood in front of the museum where her father worked. “Where should we go first?” asked her brother, Jonathan. Lily’s father let them look around the museum on Friday nights while he cleaned. “Definitely the paintings,” said Lily, who always wanted to be an artist. Reluctantly, Jonathan agreed. He found a stone on the step of the museum and had called it his lucky stone ever since. He had rubbed his lucky stone in hopes that Lily would have chosen the sculpture exhibit. He always wanted to be a sculptor when he grew up. Unfortunately for Jonathan, his sister chose the paintings. Again. Next thing Jonathan knew, he was staring at a painting of a garden. He rubbed his lucky stone wishing that they would leave soon, and Lily reached to touch the painting. There was a blinding flash of light! She was sucked into the painting! “Help! Get me out of here!,” cried Lily. Jonathan reached out to grab her, and felt himself getting pulled in, too! “How do we get out?” Jonathan asked. “I don’t know, you’re the one with the magic stone!” Lily said. “You think my stone is magic?” asked Jonathan. “Have you noticed it sparkles when we get near a picture? Of course it’s magic!” exclaimed Lily. A loud growl broke their conversation. “Please tell me that was your stomach,” asked a terrified Jonathan to Lily, who was always hungry. A mountain lion sprang out of nowhere and began to chase them! “AAAAH!” they both screamed. “Look! An exit to another painting!” yelled Lily. They leapt through the exit and onto a dock in the nick of time. “That was close,” gasped Jonathan. “How do we get out of here?” asked Lily. “We leapt into another painting when we escaped the mountain lion, maybe if we find the right painting we can leave,” Jonathan said. “But I don’t see an exit here.” They saw a boat on the dock. “We can use that boat to sail to the exit! It’s a good thing I took sailing lessons when I was five”. Lily said. They climbed into the boat, but as soon as they left the harbor a hurricane started to roar. “Just great,” muttered Jonathan. Waves smashed into the boat, sending water all over the vessel. Amazingly, Lily managed to get them through the roaring storm. “Look, the exit!” yelled Lily. “ Jump now!” They stumbled onto a mountain cliff. “Whoa,” Jonathan said as he stared at the bottomless plunge. “How do we get across?” asked Jonathan. A huge eagle soared above them. “I have an idea,” Lily said. “But we’ll need a fish.” Jonathan spotted a piece of wood on the ground and immediately started to carve it with his pocketknife. Soon, he had a very lifelike fish in his hands. Lily raised the carving high in the air. The eagle dove at the fish. Jonathan and Lily leapt onto the bird’s back. Lily held the fish in front of the eagle so it would fly toward the fish. They spotted the portal, jumped, and fell onto a tree. They noticed the tree picture was right in front of their father. “Dad! Help! Get us out of here!” they yelled.
mammoths, little mammoths let me in. I heard my brothers yell back, not by the hairs on our bodies. We won’t let you in. Then, I will stomp, and I will chomp, and I will eat your house down. Nooo! they both cried, but again it was too late. Both my brothers ran to my house which was finished now. I told you that you should have built stronger houses. Come in quickly. You both will be safe here. They both came in, and I cooked a pot of pine needle stew. Then suddenly the big, bad T Rex came stomping through the forest. Little mamSecond place: “The Prehistoric Story of the Three Little Mammoths and the Big, Bad T Rex” moths, little mammoths, let me in! he yelled. Not by the hairs on our body, we won’t let you in. By Keleasha Proudfit Then, I will stomp, and I will chomp, and I will eat your house down. He bit into one of the stones, but A long time ago, there were three of us little mammoths. My oldest big brother was very strong. he hurt his tooth. He bit and he bit, but he just kept His name was Armstrong. My middle brother was hurting his teeth. Owww, my teeth hurt. I am going good swimmer. His name was Aquatic Mam. I was home. We never saw the big, bad T Rex again. My the youngest one, the baby sister. I was not good at anything. My name was Mammoth Bread or Small brothers changed my name to Brave Girl because I was brave and smart. Fry for short. One day the three of us went out to ------------------------------------------------build our houses. Third place: “Why I Can’t Do My Writing ConArmstrong said that he was going to make his house out of pine needles. I told him that would fall test Entry” down. He told me that didn’t matter. He told us that By Daria Lesmerises he could fight the big, bad T Rex himself. Aquatic Mam said that he would make his house I know you were all looking forward to my writout of pine cones. I told him that those maybe ing. Well, even if you weren’t, you’re gonna have stronger, but they will still fall down. He told us to sit through this. For the people who were lookthat it didn’t matter because he would just swim ing forward to it, I’m so sorry. It’s a long story why away from the big, bad T Rex. I couldn’t write it. I’ll make it up to you. Uh, say, Armstrong asked me what I was going to make do you know how great you look right now? Not my house out of. I told him that I was going to working? Oh, well. Here’s why I couldn’t write my make mine out of stones. “Stones!” yelled Aquatic application. Mam loudly. He told me that would take forever to It was a normal day, normal school day, normal build! I rolled my eyes and replied, “whatever” to food, just a normal day overall. That is, until I was him. I told him I was going to find a cave and just working on my contest entry. I was writing about build it. So, all of us mammoths split up to build Abraham Lincoln, for some odd reason. I had just our homes. opened my Chromebook to work on my writing. Armstrong finished his house first. Then, Aquatic When I started to write, everything went quiet. Mam finished his house. I still didn’t have my My mom came up to tell me something, since I house done. I didn’t care though because I was couldn’t hear her when she yelled up. I looked back having so much fun building it. at the computer and the screen was spinning. I Since Armstrong was finished, he decided to started to feel woozy and everything started to go have a breakfast of pancakes, waffles and lots and black. When I started to hear things again, I heard lots of candy. He probably shouldn’t have eaten and saw my mom looking around and saying my that since he was really strong. Suddenly, the big, name. I wanted to say, “I’m right here,” but nothbad T Rex came stomping through the forest. I ing came out. Then everything went black again. heard the T Rex voice all through the forest. He Then I started to see again, and the dizziness went yelled little mammoth, let me in! Armstrong was away. I could hear and see and … I wasn’t in my scared. I heard Armstrong yell back, not by the room. I was standing in the street and wearing a hairs on my body. I won’t let you in! Then, I will dress with an apron and a bonnet. A woman came stomp, and I will chomp, and I will eat your house out and said, “Come on and get back inside! Dindown, cried the big, bad T Rex. NOOO! cried ner’s ready and you didn’t help at all!” “Who are Armstrong, but it was too late. you exactly?” I asked. She sighed and said, Armstrong ran all the way to Aquatic Mam’s “Enough with your silly games, Abby. You know I house. Aquatic Mam asked Armstrong what do you am your mother!” So now my name is Abby… And need? Armstrong explained, a new house, please! where was I? I wasn’t sure, but I did know I was What happened? Asked Aquatic Mam. The big, really hungry. The woman ran back inside into a log bad T Rex came and ate my house Armstrong cabin and I followed her. The scent of roast beef explained. I thought you said you would fight the filled my nose and I breathed in deeply. I sat down big, bad T Rex stated Aquatic Mam. I know sobbed on the empty chair. We did a prayer I didn’t know Armstrong, but he was too fast for me. Stop crying! so I just mumbled along, and then we finally dug in. Exclaimed Aquatic Mam. Come in here and we I asked my supposed “mother” what year it was. will talk about, he told him. She said it was 1865 and shook her head. “What is So they talked, and by the time they ended their wrong with you, Abby? You’re acting very talking, it was lunch time. They decided to have strange,” she said. “Nothing,” I replied quickly. lunch. They had a lunch of lots and lots of pine Then I ran up to my room. I HAD to figure out needles. Aquatic Mam ate too much pine needles. how to get out of here! He probably shouldn’t have been eating all those Wait ... If I ended up here, then my computer pine needles since he was such a good swimmer. must be here too! This house is just like mine but Then suddenly, I saw the big, bad T Rex come stomping through the forest. I heard him yell, little Continued Jonathan dropped his stone out of the picture. Luckily, their dad saw them and managed to get them out without getting trapped in the picture himself. They immediately became their original size. The next week, they were standing in front of the museum again. “Can we go to the sculptures?” asked Jonathan. “Okay,” agreed Lily. “Just don’t rub your unlucky stone.” -------------------------------------------------
Grades 3-5 continued made of wood. Also, my mom, dad, sister, and dog look the same! So this must be my house and family in the 1800s! So where did I put my computer? Oh right! In my room! I ran up to get it. I reached my wood desk and ... it wasn’t there. “I don’t understand!” I cried. My mother came up to see what was the matter. I told her what I was looking for, and she said, “Oh, you mean that red thingama-jig?” She smiled. “I have it right here!” She ran downstairs and returned with my closed Chromebook. I ran up to her and hugged her. “Thanks mom, see you soon!” I said and smiled. Her smile faded, and she said sternly “What do you mean?” I just smiled and opened my computer. Everything went black, and then I was back in my desk chair at my house. I quickly deleted the doc and closed my Chromebook. Then I ran over to my mom and hugged her. “Why did you disappear for a second there? Or am I just hallucinating?” She smiled. “Uh … the second one!” I replied quickly. So, are you happy? You … don’t believe me? Well, maybe I stretched the truth just a little bit. Maybe I was just busy. Or maybe I just forgot. But I guess you’ll just never know. -------------------------------------------------
Honorable mention: “The Special Rock”
By Ke’Juan Byrd Today was an early release day from school, so
I was excited for the day. However, my excitement quickly disappeared. Today’s special was library. I really wish it had been physical education. When I got to the library, I only wanted to check out Wonder, but every copy was checked out. After special, we learned some math strategies that I still don’t understand. Finally, it was recess, but we had to stay inside because it was raining. After recess and lunch, we went home. On the bus, my friends and I played around. When I got off the bus, I saw a rock, so I picked it up and put it in my backpack. As I was walking home, an extremely large fifth grader who also got off at my bus stop pushed me down. He said, “Watch it!” I was confused because he was the one who pushed me. His friends made fun of me. When I got up, he chased me all the way around the block. Out of breath, I finally made it to my house. I ran into my house and went straight to my room. I took my book and the rock I found out of my backpack. When I put the rock down, I said, “This day was horrible. I want to redo it.” And that’s when it happened. Time stopped and then shot backwards. I woke up again, thinking everything that happened was a dream. I looked at my rock collection, and the rock that I found wasn’t there. I looked everywhere, but I couldn’t find it. The whole miserable day happened again. When I got off the bus, the rock was right there where I found it yesterday. I grabbed it, and put it
in my backpack “again.” Then, I remembered that enormous kid who pushed me down right after I go off the bus. To save myself from the drama, I took another route home. I went into my house, put the rock in my collection, and stared at it. Then I got an idea. I wished for some money. I went outside to play, and I couldn’t believe it. There were two twenty dollar bills on the ground. “Is it the rock?” I questioned myself. Then, I took a chance and wished for straight A’s. My report card arrived a little while later, and there they were, straight A’s. I could wish for anything or so I thought. I sat in my room and played around with the rock for a while, thinking about what to wish for next. Finally, I wished for an Xbox One X and every game made for it. Suddenly, the rock disappeared, reappeared, and started crackling. I went to pick it up to throw it out the window, but when I did, it shocked me. It was electrified. The letters G-R-E-E-D were burned into my floor. I went to pick it up again, but I couldn’t hold onto it. When I dropped it, it hit the floor, and a black hole opened up. It started sucking everything in it including my rock collection. I exclaimed, “I wish everything went back to normal.” The rock turned black and exploded. I ended back at the original day and time when I first saw the rock, but there was no rock. Everything was back the way it was before. Even my rock collection is back although without that one special rock.
Categories: Grades 6-8 and 9-12 Grades 6-8
First place: “Paint the Sky” By Anna Deichert I press the button next to me for more pain medicine. A large dose of tranquility sweeps over me as my mom pats my arm. “It’s okay, my girl, it’ll be over soon,” she whispers to me. Though I couldn’t see them, on the other side of my bed, my two siblings stand with my father, watching the short breaths I take. The TV is on, long forgotten, as my rapidly approaching death is the only thing that clouds their minds. “I love you all,” I manage to rasp out. I can hear the silent weeping of my family before I drift into a deep sleep. When I open my eyes, I am not in the hospital bed. I am not surrounded by the endless white and the constant smell of sour medicine. It’s all gone. Instead, I sit cross-legged on a velvet pillow, taking in my surroundings. I’m in a dimly lit room, and when I look up above me, there isn’t a ceiling. The perpetual universe is above me. Shades of blue, purple, black, and white swirl together to make a huge galaxy. Speckled across it is thousands and thousands of stars, I can even point out the Big and Little Dipper. I’m in complete awe; I have never seen such a sight in my life. After I peel my eyes away from the raw beauty, I notice what’s in front of me. There’s a large, blank canvas on an easel and in front of it sits every color of acrylic paint imaginable. The paint has been well-used, which makes the upcoming project that much more special. Next to me is a sign, reading “paint tomorrow’s sunset as you please”. And so I do. I paint the sky as I would have loved to see it before I was hospitalized. I paint a sky full of hope and love, even though there wasn’t any left for me. I channel my artist, I used to be one years ago, and I paint as there isn’t a tomorrow. Granted, there might not be for me, but I toss the thought from my mind. My paintbrushes create colors and swirl them together on the canvas, and when it’s done, I stand up and take a step back. It’s not flawless, but I love it nevertheless. The main colors are purples and reds, with a hint of pink. There are many clouds, as I used to love watching them float by, and they give me peace. As I’m waiting for it to dry, I lay back on the pillow, my head facing the universe above. The stars twinkle and shine, so I spend my time trying to find famous constellations. The last star I find is the North Star before I drift into sleep. Yet again, when I wake, I am in a new place: alone on a hill, with the wind blowing my hair in a mess around my face. Before me, the sky is the one I just painted in the last dream. It’s even more beautiful in person, but I don’t feel a hint of pride in painting something so lovely. I stay long enough to watch the sun dip into the horizon and evening turns to night. I stay long enough to realize that this is, indeed, the end of my life. I want to say goodbye to my family though, so I open my eyes to see my family standing over me. “I’ll miss you guys,” I barely manage to squeeze
Winners in the Grades 6-8 and 9-12 categories are (from left) David Wenrich Stuckey, Owen Lewis, Anna Deichert, Grace Klima, Katherine Zonner, Sandro Mikelashvili, Natalie Shah and (not pictured) Blessing Oduro. [Linda Wilkins] out. They’re teary-eyed and miserable, and I hope this will release them of my burden I carry. “Don’t be too sad when I leave.” I smile up at them despite my immense tiredness. Then, finally, I take my last inhale of breath and I close my eyes for the final time. Goodbye, world, and all the beauty I got to experience in my lifetime. I will miss you and everyone in it. -------------------------------------------------
Second place: “Home Sweet Home?” By David Wenrich Stuckey
Zachary pushed open the door to his house and walked inside. It was dark inside, so he turned on a light. The lamp wasn’t where he remembered it, so it took him awhile to find it. By the lamp’s light, he could see that the rest of the room wasn’t as he remembered it either. Something strange was going on. “Hello! Is anybody home?” he called. There was no answer. He went upstairs and repeated the call. He looked into his parents’ room and his sister’s room. There was nobody there. Curiously, there was also no furniture in the rooms, and they were painted a bleak white. Zachary was now convinced this was not his house. But if this wasn’t my house, he thought, then why did the door open with my key? He went back outside to see if it really was his house. The house was third from the intersection of Darville Road and King’s Lane. It was on Darville Road on the correct side of the intersection. The outside looked exactly like his house, which was the only non-brick house in the neighborhood. So if it was his house, why was the inside different? Why was nobody home? His mom always made a point to be home before him, and his sister got home from school an hour earlier than he did. He went back inside the house and wandered around, thinking. As he was staring into space, he noticed a large flicker out of the corner of his eye. It looked like static, but it wasn’t on a screen. He went up to it to investigate, but it kept getting farther away from him. He moved backwards, and it got closer. The static widened, and a small hole
became visible, through which he could see lights and metal. The hole still widened, and he could begin to hear yelling in a garbled language unfamiliar to him. The hole widened into a rectangular door shape; what he could see nearly made him pass out. Two humanoid aliens with lavender skin were the source of the bickering. They were slightly shorter than he was, with ultramarine blue eyes and metallic uniforms. One finished screaming at the other and somehow began to speak English. “I am Thuy. We apologize for the inconvenience of being brought here, but you were not supposed to notice anything was different. You were supposed to go through a mental experiment without knowing and then be brought back to Earth. However, Ylud here messed up so badly that the inside of your house was switched with another,” said Thuy. “So, how long have you been testing on me? How do you know English?” asked Zachary as he stepped through the doorway, “And is this a hologram?” “Yes, it is indeed a hologram as you call them. We know English because we have been preparing to reveal ourselves to Earth. We also know Spanish, Mandarin, and Arabic! To answer your last question, we have only been testing on you for one day, you were supposed to be returned to Earth in three hours, but SOMEONE messed up.” answered Thuy, his jaw clenching. “Sorry,” Ylud murmured timidly. “Anyways, we must return you to Earth. We must remain secret, so do you wish to have your memory wiped or to keep this a secret for your entire lifespan?” asked Thuy. “If you want to remain secret, why would you let me keep my memory?” asked Zachary. “We will let you keep your memory because you could help us reveal our existence more peacefully in the future, and if you tell anyone, they will either think it is a hoax, or that you are a lunatic. Also brainwashing is a very unpleasant experience!” responded Thuy cheerfully.
Continued
Grades 6-8 continued “Um, okaaay. I think I’ll keep my memories,” said Zachary with concern from the alien’s tone. “Okay, we will return you to Earth immediately,” stated Thuy. “Wait! Hold on! Whoa!” shouted Zachary as the ship gave a lurching motion and jumped to lightspeed. Seconds later, they were in Earth’s orbit. “Okay, time to beam down!” said Thuy with glee. “Wait!’ cried Zachary as he disappeared from sight. Zachary appeared on the street by his house. It was night, and the light from the full moon washed over him, his eyes glinting with silver. “Well, that was abrupt,” he said, mostly to himself. Zachary walked into his house, eager to see his family again. When he got inside he heard laughing coming from the dining room. He looked in the doorway and smiled. His family was sitting there waiting for him as if he had never left. Home sweet home. -------------------------------------------------
Third place: “Adventure Awaits”
By Katherine Zonner Red bounded across the smooth sand. She glanced at the endless waves splashing into each other. The sun was slowly melting into the russet colored sky. The young cat had a long day prancing around the island. Red purred as she trotted over to the old, run down plywood shack that she slept in. The cat curled up on the sandy floor of the old shack. Hearing the ocean breeze, she knew this was, and forever would be her home. Waking up, she heard the beautiful sound of gulls creating a sweet morning melody. Trotting out of her little sleeping place, she spotted people slowly appearing on the boardwalk. She glanced around the surrounding area, looking for the lighthouse keepers cat, Paws. Paws and Red had been good friends ever since Paws’s old buddy passed away. Paws and Red then went near where one of the fishermen sold his fish. He was bringing in the load of fish he was going to sell that day. The two
Grades 9-12
cats jumped on the pile of fish, grabbed some scraps, and sprinted. The fishermen was in pursuit, but soon gave in after running for a good while. Paws and Red laid down on the beach, eating their salmon and basking in the sun. The rest of the day, the cats wandered around the island. Passing by the ice cream shop they were purring as the children pet them. While they were petting them, what the children didn’t realize was that the cats were lapping up the ice cream on their cones. The two friends soon got bored with the children and kept exploring their home. They soon ran into the park, chasing after a squirrel. They dashed through the carousel dodging the horses that were going in every which way. Finally getting tired, they decided to find a place to rest. The cats trotted back to where the shack and the lighthouse were placed on the beach. Laying on the rocky outline of where the lighthouse met the water, they basked in the afternoon sun. They were laying on the rocks, and listening to the calming tide roll in. They woke up just as the sun began to set. Looking off in the distance to the faraway waves. They glanced at the beautiful sunset with awe. Watching as the sea swallowed the sun. Paws left Red and went home to his owner, wanting to get back soon enough to be at the top of the lighthouse with him. Red sat on the sandy shore and thought about the wonders of the day. She knew that she would do the same thing tomorrow, and always. She slowly trotted over to the small wooden shack where she slept. Red curled up on the sandy floor, she dreamt of all the adventures that awaited the next day. -------------------------------------------------
Honorable mention: “You’re Not Alone” By Blessing Oduro Life is hard It’s a crazy adventure You may have problems that are small And don’t last long But some problems are big And go on and on
Those problems may make you feel alone Like you’re a roaming pedestrian
a small and remote campground in northern Ohio called ‘Elkhorn Valley.’ First place: “Stars, Stars, and More Stars: A As the week played out, it ended up becoming an Moment in Nature” amazing experience. Almost immediately, I found By Owen Lewis myself making very personal connections with many of my fellow camp leaders as well as the In any person’s life, there are few moments children alike. Within a week, a group of people where one can feel truly connected to nature. This who I had never spoken a single word to became is my story. some of my closest friends. Additionally, playing I experienced one of these moments late one guitar with the worship team was an incredibly night in the middle of the summer of 2016, but to inspiring and educating experience. The kids were understand this moment fully we have to back up a tons of fun to work with, worshipping had ended bit. A few months prior, one of my closest friends, up being an amazing experience, and I ended up a pastor’s son named Connor, had asked me if I making really close relationships with every leader could help out with a week-long church camp for who I was with on the worship team. So, as the fourth through sixth graders. He needed someone week came to a close, on the last night of the camp, to play guitar with the worship team and to lead a the other leaders and I decided to go stargazing. small group of the boys, and so, knowing that I had After receiving permission from the camp dean recently taught myself to play the guitar, he (who happened to be Connor’s father), late on the decided to ask me. Connor and I have been friends last night, after all the children had gone to sleep, practically since we were born, so I knew I couldmy friends Riley, Olivia, Connor, Ian, Trevor, n’t let him down. After some careful consideration Joseph, and I, all snuck out of our cabins and met (as well as some rather forceful encouragement up near the camp’s chapel. We then made our way from my parents) I hesitantly agreed, and so in late to a field about a mile north, and after messing June, I found myself packing up and heading off to around for a bit, laid down on the grass. Eventu-
Without a home And feeling alone Could make it seem like you want to explode Wondering, “Why me?” “I don’t deserve this, can’t you see!” Or feeling alone would make your heart break Tears streaming down your face Like a giant earthquake Came and broke you into two pieces Despite the fact that you’re fragile And the earthquake had no reason You may feel alone But you’re not A light will come along And change those thoughts of hopelessness Into hope And the sadness that you once felt is gone Like it ran away to the hole Where it belongs And if no one seems to come Take action and tell someone Because someone always cares They will find you Or you will find them out there You are not alone Your rainy season will end Someone will be with you And stay until the very end A shoulder to cry on Someone to vent to They have your back And is always right behind you If you’re having a hard time I hope this poem helped And gave you hope That your world will not completely melt And I bet by now you know That you are never alone ally, the random and sporadic talking of our group faded into the silence of the night and it truly became magical. Although it seems rather insignificant and unimportant, lying there in the grass that night is one of the most memorable experiences of my life. There’s something truly spectacular and indescribable about being surrounded by people you love in the middle of nature. Everything that night from the sound of the cicadas and the dozens of other insects filling the field’s silence, to the cool summer breeze flowing past our still bodies lying on the grass, to the view of the clear, starry sky contributed to the euphoria of the night. After an immeasurable amount of time passed, words from my friend Olivia pierced the sounds of the night. “It’s just stars, stars, and more stars out there, isn’t it?” she said. We each refocused on the night above us and glared at the infinity that totally encompassed our field of view. Here, we were completely connected to nature. Here, we could feel the ground underneath us, hear the sounds of the countryside, and see the infinity of the starry sky. Here, at least for a moment, we could com-
Continued
Grades 9-12 continued pletely abandon the struggles of the real world and find solace in nature around us. Here, it really was just stars, stars, and more stars. Alas, no moment, regardless of its perfection, can be infinite. As the night ended, we eventually had to return to our respective dorms and go to sleep. The next morning, the children’s parents came and picked them up, we all went home, and life returned to normal, but I still can remember that night as if it was yesterday. I can still feel the humid and warm air around me, I can still hear the noises of the night, and I can still see the stars in the sky. That camp helped me in ways I could never have imagined, and the memories and relationships I made at that camp will always stick with me. Playing guitar with the group allowed me to get over some debilitating stage fright, meeting those children and hearing about their lives helped me remember how blessed my own was, and that night in the field really reminded me of the beauty of my world. In any person’s life, there are few moments where one can feel truly connected to nature, but when they occur, they can be truly lifechanging. -------------------------------------------------
Second place: “Sleepless Nights”
By Grace Klima I struggle tonight once again. The persistence of this “disorder” that robs my body of the necessary rest required to re-energize me physically, mentally, and emotionally wraps itself around me like a blanket that swaddles a newborn. My mind seems to spark randomly with thoughts and worries that cause me to feel stressed and overwhelmed as soon as my head hits the pillow. I stare aimlessly at the ceiling looking for answers, wishing for nothing more than to seamlessly drift off. I try meditation, counting backwards from 100, and breathing exercises-anything to change my sleep environment to one of desired darkness and sweet slumber, but nothing seems to bring me to where I need to be. The darkness that fills my room is awakened gently by bright car lights that peer through my speckled window. The lights and darkness dance eerily about upon my wall. Together alone they create a soulful shadow, but it soon vanishes once the lights are forced to leave. Once again I am alone, surrounded by darkness. Wide awake, I sprawl out hopelessly on my bed of soft, comforting blankets and cloud-like pillows, which caress about my body like a bird’s nest. My strained, dry eyes want nothing more than their eyelids to lazily fall so they may relax and refresh themselves in private. My sore muscles want nothing more than to remain motionless and heal themselves for another day of work that awaits them tomorrow. I want nothing more than to float away into the darkness and be at peace in a place where the outside world cannot reach me until I wake again in the morn, and I am forced to leave that place where the possibilities were endless. However, since my mind is still not at ease, I am forced to remain awake for hours on end as my mind continues to race with everyday thoughts and worries. Seeing that sleep is out of my reach, I lay upon my bed with my feet sprawled in the air against my now foot-imprinted wall. As I stare blankly up at the ceiling above, my eyes become narrowed like those of a cat, my mind goes blank, and the ceiling looks as though it is limitless.
As I lay there, the wind sneaks through the crack of my window and whispers temptations into my ear. As if in a trance, I rise from my warm bed. With caution, I venture out of my room, but I’m stopped by a pair of beautiful, wide cat eyes peering through the darkness and on me with complete focus. Not wanting to disturb her, I shuffle around her as though I was skating upon a thin layer of ice. Down my twisted staircase, I blindly go to my front door where my shoes longingly await me. However, to their disappointment, I do not even spare them a glance. Instead, I set out into the night without them. Once I step outside, the wind ... the sound ... and the darkness hit me simultaneously without hesitation. Each blade of grass tickles my feet as I walk across my crystallized yard and into the night. While looking about the horizon of what stands in front of me, even in the dead of night, the world seems to be covered in a layer of sparkles that glimmer beautifully in the pools of light from the street lamps, car headlights, and porch lights. These sources of light act as protectors by providing light for those who come in contact with them. Their light defends things and people from being consumed by the vast nothingness that is the dark. The air was still, but active with the sounds of frogs croaking, grasshoppers chirping, and the wind, as smooth as silk, rushing through the trees’ leaves, causing them to dance wildly against the starinfested sky. The streets are empty, but I am not alone. The darkness hugs and comforts me just as my blankets swaddle me; the wind and creatures of the night talks to me, and the light that shines from the moon graciously kisses me on my forehead. My mind and body are at peace and fatigue is finally settling in; I am now ready to return to my bed and take on the challenge of sleep. I retrace my steps and slowly head back to the comforts of my room as I envision myself crawling into bed and am welcomed by my dreams as I float away into a sweet slumber. I pass my undisturbed shoes upon entering, and once again I spot a pair of bright beautiful cat eyes peering through the darkness. Still not wanting to disturb her, I shuffle around her and into my room to my bed which greets me warmly. I crawl in and sleep finally takes over. -------------------------------------------------
Death rolled her eyes. “I’m going to honor her request. Now, sit down, Love. Don’t be stupid.” She ripped off Love’s hood and shoved him in a chair. He had bright red hair and pink eyes. Death smiled at the old woman. The old woman grabbed Death’s hand and gave her a small nod. “Have you come to take me away, child?” “I am much—” Death cut herself off. There was no need to tell the woman how many eons Death had really endured. “Yes, you will no longer linger in this world.” The old woman fished a picture out of the pocket of her robin’s egg blue cardigan. She handed the photograph to Death. “This is my granddaughter.” The old woman had a nostalgic look on her face. Death almost choked. She recognized the girl. It was twelve years ago. Love stood up from his chair and roughly snatched the photo from Death’s hands. Death moved quickly to keep him from escaping, her hand gripped his pale pink wrist. “That’s enough!” He said. Death glared at Love. Still, the old woman continued to smile. “I mean no offense. I cannot wait to see her.” Death rubbed Love’s arm slowly until he relaxed. She quickly grabbed the photo of the girl and handed it back to the old woman. Love gave her a dirty look. Death simply smirked in return. “I will be quick,” Death said to the old woman. The woman shook her gray-streaked head. “I have nowhere else I have to be, take your time.” Love huffed. “Hurry up!” He snapped. He began tapping his foot while the old woman entertained Death with stories of her life. The longer they took, the more Love grew angry. “I’m tired of this sycophantic behavior! Kill her and let’s go, Morgana!” Death scoffed and stood up to grab his cloak. “You don’t get to play that card, Romeo!” She let go of Love’s cloak and bent down to talk to the old woman. “It’s time,” she said; she tried to stay gentle. The old woman clutched Death’s hands and laughed. “Of course.” Then, she released Death’s hand with her right hand and grabbed her knitting materials, placing them back on the side table and gestured at them. “Learn to knit, you look very Third place: “Death is Mercy, Love is Not” stressed.” Death nodded. She removed the woman’s By Natalie Shah other hand and summoned a scythe from thin air, lifted it up and the scythe passed through the old The old woman swept the tile floor calmly and woman’s neck. The woman’s soul was then freed hummed. After adjusting the books on her shelf, she sat down in her blue armchair. She grabbed the from the body and flew up to sky. Her body sat green knitting needles stuffed in sunset orange yarn there, limp and peaceful, as if she was asleep. Love immediately grabbed Death and tried to on the floor and began to knit. leave. She barely had enough time to grab the knitThe woman felt a chill. She looked to the corner and saw two figures cloaked in jewel-toned ting materials before he used his powers to take them away. robes. The smaller wore an emerald green cloak ------------------------------------------------and the taller wore a rich sapphire one. Her bony Honorable mention: “TIODNACI” fingers quivered as she set down her knitting materials on the side table and motioned for the figures By Sandro Mikelashvili to sit with her. “Please sit.” There were two other chairs next to her and I was a unique kid. My childhood was not the green cloaked one started to walk towards the similar to other children. I was very different from chair on her left. The taller figure grabbed the my peers. What I mean by saying this is that I was smaller’s hand stopping them from moving. The a serious child. I could talk to adults about “adult green hood fell back revealing a young woman subjects”, For instance., why the Soviet Union was around 17. She had light blue skin, black eyes, and ruined. I don’t know what formed my character but black hair in a long braid. I preferred at home the whole day, read adventure “What are you doing, Death?” The taller one whispered. Continued
Grades 9-12 continued
achieve my goal. After that, I was sure I could make all my dreams true. The next year, I applied for the Future Leaders’ books and I did not want to play soccer with other Exchange Program which provided select students kiddos. Since then, I set my goals which I have now. My with the ability to spend one academic year in the dream was always to go abroad. I never wanted to US. My motivation was perfect, I overcame the first round but failed in the second. I knew it meant dislive anywhere else except in Georgia, but what I wanted is to just visit a place, maybe once so that I appointment for most of the participants, but not for me. It provided encouragement for the next year. could say it was worth it. I applied again a year later. It was my last chance When I was 13-14 years old, I heard a word: “individualism” for the first time. When I asked my so it was nothing or everything. I overcame the first mum what it meant, she told me that individualism round, then the second round. For the third round, I had to fill out an application form and be means to be yourself. A simple definition influenced my life greatly. Boundless sceneries from the interviewed by a Peace Corps Volunteer. When people asked me how I did everything, I had no window of a plane ran through my mind. I knew answer. I couldn’t measure how I answered all the how to get where I wanted to go. questions for the interview. I had to wait for 6 When I was a freshman, I won an intellectual show, based on answering questions quickly. Sur- months for a phone call for my acceptance into the program. prising thing about that was I beat all seniors and On March 14, 2017, I was sitting in the library, juniors. It was astonishing how I managed to win. Nobody knew how to win except me. I believed in studying for my exams. I left my cell phone at myself. I knew that nothing was impossible in life. home because it needed to charge. I swapped phones with my mum for that day. Suddenly a Self-confidence and individualism helped me
ringtone interrupted me. I noticed it was my mother. I was afraid there was an emergency. In a calm, balanced voice my mum told me: “Sandro, you are going to America”. I showed no emotion because I knew my mum wouldn’t be so quiet and calm after acknowledging my success. I went home and I found out that my mum had known about my success for hours before I knew. She told her friends, neighbors, relatives and after her emotions calmed down, she told me. That was why she was so calm. My goal was achieved. I was going abroad for the first time. With a lot of perseverance and hardwork my dreams became my reality. That is why I am writing this essay in the United States. What I realized is that individualism works, in any situation. There is nothing an individual cannot achieve. Fight for your dreams and the world will change around you.
P.S. The title “TIODNACI” is an original way of the statement “I Can Do It”. It is read from the opposite side.
Category: Adults First place: “Tokens” By Matthew Carlyle It was Autumn. The walnut trees forgot some of their leaves as they settled into an emaciated physique. Preparation for winter was necessary. Flood warnings ran in banners below the six-oclock news as the boy looked out his trailer window for a break in the rain. The boy trudged through the yard for walnuts that had escaped the grip of the trees. He loved walnuts. His Grandmother told him they brought health. The saying in rural Ohio went, the more walnuts the healthier the tree and the healthier the livestock would be. With healthier livestock, the healthier the family. The boy questioned it's truth. If it was true, it didn't seem to be true now. The yard was full of walnuts and his family was not healthy, not even together. He searched anyway and the ones he found he clung onto like coveted pieces of pretend truths. He heard the ditches run wild with too much rain. It was more than the ancient Appalachian soil could hold. The driveway was long and dipped under and over his line of view. There were ditches along the road. The water ran over the banks and across the road in low places. As the boy walked along a full ditch, he heard a huff above the water rushing into the storm drain and he knew it was a buck. He approached the ditch. The ridge of the buck's back and its head were barely above the water. His eyes were a panicked glassy black and almost the size of the walnuts the boy had in his pack. Among prolonged periods of stillness the buck thrashed with all the energy he had collected. Maybe the saying was true. The boy grabbed a few walnuts, husk and all. He forced them into the buck's view, and then into his mouth. The buck spit them out along with the foam that had collected toward the outside of his lips. The boy put his hand out for the buck to smell like a dog and then grabbed behind his jaw bone. He pulled. It was useless, not a budge. The boy ran down into the ditch and forced the bucks hips out of the mud. As he tried this he knew it was to late. The mud seeped through the fabric of his pants and startled his skin. And as much as he tried to break free, he was stuck. Oh God, he was stuck. “Help me,” he panicked. “I'm stuck,” stating the obvious. He wiggled and felt his body fall further into the muck just like the deer had before him. He had to be still. He cried and as he cried nothing happened. He felt heavier. There was no sense in crying now. He rested his arms on the buck's back making sure not to sink closer to his death. All the walnuts in Ohio could not save him now. The buck reared back and kicked him in the shin. It was a precision blow and he knew his shin was split open. After the pain lost it's sting, the boy felt some freedom in front of his leg, some wiggle room. The buck kicked again. This time in the knee and he felt more free. It became a pattern and then a rhythm. And the pain became a prayer and then a blessing. The buck snorted and kicked, and the boy inched his way out of the ditch with each painful blow and an additional inch of hope. The boy dragged himself onto the bank, his legs were swollen and cut wide open. The boy heard the bucks lungs scream as the
Winners in the Adult category are (from left) Luke Kubacki, Matthew Carlyle, Hannah Haines and Timothy J. Doyle. [Linda Wilkins] boy rolled over onto the saturated soil and looked up at the walnut trees. The walnuts fell and he cried. He got to his knees and collected parts of his breath between his tears. The bucks head rested on the bank of the ditch. The buck's breathing slowed and the whine in his lungs stopped. It blinked slowly and then expired as he snorted, a you're welcome. The boy lifted it's limp head attached to it's limp neck. He hugged the buck still blurry eyed and left some walnuts next to the body like tokens of pretend truths. -------------------------------------------------
power to minimize or devalue. “Are you just shopping?” “Did you just get here?” “Just a man.” “Do you just work here?” Was it a barb levelled as an insult or simply a statement of fact? The dripping nozzle had soaked my shoe, something I had vowed I wasn’t going to let happen again today. Now I would have a wet sock for the rest of my shift. The voice was that of an older woman. The tone may have been slightly peevish. She was somewhere behind me, maybe on the other side of the next table. I had yet to acknowledge her, but before Second place: “The Waterer” I turned to respond I replayed in my mind the fullness of her question, “Do you know anything, or By Timothy J. Doyle are you just the waterer?” Ouch. That made her question definitely more “... Or are you just the waterer?” she asked. personal. The dirt, the heat and the hard work were I was caught off-guard by the question, which all part of the job. But really, I wondered, were came from somewhere behind me. In particular, I they paying me enough to quietly suffer indignities was intrigued by the term waterer. I had never from the horticulturally-challenged? heard the word before. I continued to drown the marigolds while quickly While directing the spray at a bedraggled flat of marigolds, the flexible functionality of the suffix - considering options for a response. Could I ignore her, forcing her to ask the question again? Was walla came to mind: in India your role in this life there a singularly clever one-word answer that can be summed up by appending -walla to whatwould both serve as a response and yet confuse her ever you have or do to make a living, as in teaat the same time? Perhaps “Yes” or “That depends” walla or goat-walla. What should be so unusual about simply adding -er to any particular activity? would suffice (but the delivery would have to have In addition to farmer, driver, teacher and herder we just the right degree of coolness, such that it wouldshould allow for plungerers and deliverers. Even a n’t be reported as blatant sarcasm). Or, I supposed, I could take the high road by turning towards her four-year-old could grasp the concept. and asking, “How can I help you?” So, then, there’s really nothing wrong with the Yet another hot and humid day. Summer was just term waterer, especially when applied to the guy getting started. The parking lot was unusually busy holding a hose in the garden department of a big for the middle of the week. I knew that I would box retailer. Sure, I could live with that: I was the never get around to all of the stock before the end waterer, indeed and in fact. It was only mid-morning, but the sun was high in of my shift. Maybe our manager would authorize overtime. the sky; blazing, brilliant and promising another And then I thought: wouldn’t it be a story worth scorcher of a day. Flowers in hanging baskets were telling if I turned to face her and – absent-minddrooping and even vegetables on partially-shaded carts were struggling. I could accept my role as the edly, of course – brought the spray of the hose waterer, but then my attention seized on the delim- around at the same time? She’d be startled; I’d be hopelessly apologetic. iter just ... “... Or are you just the waterer?” What a powerful little word; a word with the Continued
Adults continued
an American, which is different than what my mom believes defines him as an American, “and so forth.” His heritage and his upbringing means more to him than being an American does. His Portuguese culture is what makes my grandpa who he is: an extremely patriotic American. His past makes him thankful for the freedom he has now, the freedom he fought for. And the food he has on his table, including fresh sardines and olive oil. Without this past, this freedom may be taken for granted. What I’ve learned is that for most people in my generation, it is. We were born into freedom. We were born into opportunity. We don’t see the suffering that others endured to get to where we are. We don’t know the reality of Ellis Island; we only learn what the museum now teaches us. Most of us have not had to fight in the armed forces. Most have not been discriminated against for being the son or daughter of an immigrant. We are thankful for our freedom, but sometimes we don’t truly deserve it. We are the people at the sports game who are reluctant to take our hat off during the National Anthem. We are the people who can’t wait to go drink at the bars on the 4th of July. What sets John apart is that he isn’t ‘we the people.’ He doesn’t consider himself an American first. He considers himself Portuguese. He didn’t come from a life of wealth or opportunity. He worked to make that for himself and his family. Throughout his life he was learning more about other people, cultures, love, life, knowledge and happiness, than can be taught. He successfully assimilated into American culture, but didn’t forget about his heritage. He’s proud to be a Portuguese American. And I’m proud to be sua neta. -------------------------------------------------
the flow. You would try to stand in the tunnel but most days, after heavy rains, the current would pull you along. The floor, slick with swamp excrement, “I’m so, so sorry,” I would sputter. “I’m just the provided no traction for your soft, bare feet. If the waterer ...” flow was weak, you would catch ahold of a rift in I’d offer to get her some paper towels and maybe the wall and hang horizontal, your feet tossed by she’d say, “No, that’s quite alright. It actually felt the stream, while other bodies sang by, submitted rather refreshing.” Maybe she’d laugh like Julia to the rapture of your underground river. Child. Maybe not. As you climbed out onto the bank, the thick I pointed the spray at the peonies and turned to water would leave trails of auburn sludge down ask if she needed any help. your pale skin. Sometimes, you pinched leeches ------------------------------------------------from your arms and flicked them back to the water. Third place: “Excerpts from Um Americano Sometimes, you cut yourself on glass that found its Português” way to the tunnel from the boys that would drink By Hannah Haines up on the road and yell ei gringooo! at you when you jumped and throw bottles at each other as they As he says, “Visualize this.” An 80-year-old man swam. Sometimes, you bled from the sharp grasses with gray and balding hair. Two pieces of hair that that grabbed at your legs when you ran too fast to he combs over sometimes stick straight up if anythe road so you could jump again. These slices left thing stronger than a draft passes by his head. He bright, criss-cross patterns on your shins. has large square glasses that transition when sunYou didn’t do this alone. There were other white light touches them. He’s wearing a pale blue button kids who would ride with you from the compound up shirt. This is complemented by navy blue dress in the cab of the old blue Toyota D-20 to The Tube pants and supportive brown dress shoes. As he sits to jump again and again and again and again. You and talks, his back curves over towards the table, would grab their wrists and make chains of your more and more with each word. His smile is easy, bodies, trying to resist the tumolt of the stream. humble, and happy. It seems as if he smiles so that Sometimes, your parents would load you into the it can be infectious. His left eye squints just a bit D-20 and drive you down to The Tube only to turn more than his right eye as he smiles. Ironically, he around and return to the compound. There are too continues to be the best listener, even while I intermany people there, they would turn and yell view him. He never fails to want to know more through the cab window. Too many others. about the people he loves. His mannerisms and After that first winter, the swamp dried up like it phrases stick out to me while he speaks; “and so had in years past and you stopped going to the forth” is the most prominent. He would sit with me Tube. You found other places to swim like the pool for hours if I needed him to. He may fall asleep a on the other side of the city that you called, simply, little, he is known to be a professional ‘napper’, but The Club, with its chlorine showers and high his dedication is evident. His official born name is Honorable mention: “The Tube” fences and uniformed guards that sometimes asked John (João) Veloso Batista. He is also known as you for money. When the rains fell again in By Luke Kubacki grampy, dad, boyfriend, Uncle John, and my perNovember, you returned to The Tube and found it sonal favorite – Popi. My mom Elizabeth, his only In between two steep hills toward the outskirts of mostly the same though the first rains, rushing over living daughter, tells me that she looks to him as the dried concrete of the culvert, had cracked a Altamira, Brazil—right before you pass the city the most patriotic person she knows. He, on the chunk from the bank. dump on the slanted road—there is a culvert that other hand, believes he is just living as a normal You’d grown just under a foot that year. The separates Cardoso’s swamp from the city. American. He is proud to be an American. He is grass still sliced your shins, but it weaved its stings You called this culvert, especially on hot afterproud of his family’s heritage. But these are not between new hairs that pushed through the adolesnoons in the rainy season, The Tube. one in the same for John. cent skin on your legs. You still grabbed at wrists It was on these afternoons that you saw bodies When I asked him what makes him Portuguese, offered by your friends, but you held too long now fling themselves from the cement parapet, often he could not stop talking. John loves “sardinhas and your mind buzzed hot when the swirling portuguesas com azeite e pão” (Portuguese sardines sommersaulting once, sometimes twice, to subwith olive oil and bread). He continuously buys me merge in the muddy drainage. Taken immediately waters brought you into accidental contact with a by the flow, you watched them disappear under the bare stomach. The boys still called out ei gringooo! Portuguese bread from the bakery, and insists on road where the ambiguity of the unseen held them when you jumped from the ledge, but they called greeting me over the phone with “Oi, como vai the same to your new friend Romario who was for indeterminate amounts of time before they (Hello, how are you)?” The recent passing of his reconcretized on the other side, ejaculated from the born up the street and combed his black mustache brother Julio, took a lot out of him and a lot from tunnel in the speed of the torrent and swept through before church. He yelled back at them and waved him. He can no longer call him and speak his hands from the water. the swirling pools to the closest bank. Once there, Portuguese or talk about their memories of their Later that year, your parents stopped driving you visits to Portugal. John has visited Portugal twice in they climbed and slipped up the bank to the road, his lifetime. But it has impacted him more than his through naked boys playing rough futbol, to where to The Tube. It’s dangerous, they called through the cab window. A boy was found drowned downthey would sprint off the ledge again into fresh many years in America. The first trip he learned stream. We bought a year-long membership at The waters below. more about his heritage alongside his family. His Club. The guards would yell at us to shower before Within a year of your arrival to the city, you second trip, he shared his heritage with the love of his life. He hoped to make a third trip after I gradu- learned to perform this winter ritual as well as any- we dove into the white pool where I learned to ated, with me by his side. He says, “That would be one. You could also flip through the air or, on days swim laps next to the field where boys in blue uniafter heavy rains that swelled the waters, dive head- forms played soccer, chased by referees in their neat.” own uniforms, streaked with vertical stripes, black What I use to define my grandpa as an American first with your arms coiled to catch your body on and white. is different than what he believes defines himself as the jagged cement floor and push backwards into