FVRL Teen Imagine Contest 2021 - Winners & Runner-ups

YEAR 2021

CONTEST

TEEN IMAGINE IT CAN BE ANY THING YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO.

WINNERS & RUNNER-UPS

Welcome, Fraser Valley Regional Library is pleased to present this first-ever Teen Imagine Contest winners issuu! Every spring our Teen Imagine Contest invites Fraser Valley teens to submit any and every creative piece they’re proud to share. This was our 6th annual contest, and every year we’re boggled by the creativity and talent of our teen community.

We had over 392 entries in 2021 and selecting our winners was difficult as always. We hope you’ll agree these works are impressive.

Enjoy admiring, watching, reading, and listening to this collection of our 2021 Teen Imagine Contest winners!

Contents 4 secret bookshelf 7 lady painting 8 Nefelibata 10 La Forêt Mystique 12 UNhindered 16 hugh

17 umbrella 18 magnolia 19 collage 20 watercolour 21 poem 22 sew

W W W. F V R L .C A 2

Detail of La Forêt Mystique by Zoe C. (p. 10)

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SECRET BOOKSHELF Grand Prize Winner Abhi M. 13 years old Dean Drysdale Library - Walnut Grove

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Detail of Untitled by Madeline C.

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UNTITLED Grand Prize Winner Madeline C. 18 years old Murrayville Library

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NEFELIBATA TO LIVE IN THE CLOUDS, SPRING WIND

Grand Prize Winner Shreya L. 16 years old Maple Ridge Library

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LA FORÊT MYSTIQUE Grand Prize Winner Zoe C. 15 years old Aldergrove Library Une Histoire D’Aventure Extrême Quoi: Une voyageuse va à une aventure dans une forêt mystique.

Qui: Une fée et une voyageuse Ou: Dans une forêt Quand: Une soirée en automne Décor: Dans une forêt Plan: Le plan large ————————————————————— Problème: The faerie tries to lure a lone traveller into the faerie ring.

La fée essaie d’attirer une seule voyageuse dans son rond de sorcière.

Personnage: Fée et Voyageuse Décor: Dans une forêt Plan: Le plan d’ensemble Le Premier Évènement: The traveller discovers a foggy forest and unknowingly steps into the faerie ring.

La voyageuse découvre une forêt brumeuse, et marche à un rond de sorcière sans s’en apercevoir.

Personnage: Fée et Voyageuse Décor: Dans une forêt Plan: Le plan d’ensemble Le Deuxièmement Évènement: The faerie watches and grins wickedly, her plan having succeeded.

Suddenly, the traveller hears a tiny squeak. It’s an injured bird.

La fée regarde et sourit avec méchanceté, son plan a réussi. Soudain, la voyageuse entend un bruit minuscule. C’est un oiseau blessé!

Personnage: Fée, Oiseau et Voyageuse Décor: Dans une forêt Plan: Le plan rapproché Le Résultat: The traveller gently scoops up the injured baby crow. The faerie sees and gasps.

La voyageuse met le corbeau bébé blessé. La fée voit et prend un cri de surprise.

Personnage: Fée, Oiseau et Voyageuse Décor: Dans une forêt Plan: Le gros plan La Fin: The faerie decides to help the traveller and the crow instead, as the crow is one of their own, and the traveller does not seem to mean any harm.

La fée décide d’ aider la voyageuse et le corbeau plutôt que d’attirer leurs.

Parce que le corbeau est l’un des leurs, et la voyageuse ne voulait pas faire de mal.

Personnage: Fée, Oiseau et Voyageuse Décor: Dans une forêt Plan: Le plan général

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UNHINDERED Runner-up Joyce S. 17 years old Dean Drysdale Library - Walnut Grove

I’m not sure what to feel. What is normal to feel.

As I watch him approach me by the gas station on 204th Street, I notice that I feel clammy. Yeah, that’s it: I feel nervous. My heartbeat tingles in my fingers, light, fast; my eyes dart to the cars on the street

as I stand there, waiting. Awkwardly. I shove my sweaty hands into the pockets of my jeans.

He’s too close for me to ignore him now. He’s aged. No surprise, but

it’s a strange provocation to the image of him that I’ve crystallized

throughout the years. Maybe it’s the loss of the beard - I can see the hard lines set around his mouth. His figure is leaner, his face wan

like a man out of battle, white shirt hanging on him loosely. I shuffle my feet, lift my head to look at him.

“Hey, bud.” “...Hi.” I half wish I hadn’t looked into his eyes. It had to happen sooner or

later, but what I find there suddenly pulls out dark, heavy feelings that I’ve struggled with for years. I’d assumed I’d let go of them - I haven’t felt them in a while, but I surprise myself now.

The look in his eyes is pure and pleads reconciliation, and it disgusts me mildly.

So I let my eyes travel to the familiar glint around his neck - it’s Detail of Unhindered by Joyce S.

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the necklace with my birthday engraved on the silver tag, which

I take the slush in his outstretched hand, and together we head

he’d commissioned as soon as I was born. A more insistent sense of

towards the small park near the gas station.

disgust pushes at me, and I look away quickly.

The slush is sickly sweet, and I’m oddly relieved that I am no longer

He seems to notice and clears his throat, scratches the back of his

the boy that likes orange crush flavoured ice because he is the boy

neck.

that would jump at the opportunity to please my father. The boy

that would gladly run into his arms to inhale the scent of booze set

“Hey, why don’t I grab you something from the convenience store

into his clothes. I remember the hateful words my father would spit

and we can find a place to, uh, talk?”

at my mother and me in one of his drunk rages, his large stature

intimidating and forcing us down on the ground. But they would

He doesn’t wait for my answer and walks past me to open the store

make the boisterous praises he shouted only in front of others, and

entrance. I catch a whiff of clean laundry. Clenching my hands

the rare touches of affection that much more desirable. And so I had

inside my pockets, I shuffle through the door he’s holding out for

worked hard for them.

me.

The tense silence is interrupted once we sit down on a bench by the

I’m greeted with a blast of warm air that takes the bite off the cold

open field.

from outside. The hum of the drink coolers inside the store seems

loud in my ears, and I busy myself browsing through the colourful

“So. It’s been a while.” My father chuckles nervously. I nod, looking

aisles. I glance to my side, to see him pouring slush into two jumbo

down at the bright orange through my plastic straw.

cups. He takes them over to the counter and the tired cashier gives him back his change unceremoniously.

“So… I’ve changed. I mean, ‘course I’ve changed. Years of rehab had

“Let’s go, big guy,” He offers a hesitant smile at me as he holds out

coming out the way I wanted it to… what I mean to say is, I’m not

to do something for me, right? Haha,” he sighs abruptly. “This isn’t

one of the slushies to me. “I got you your favourite.”

who I was before. I’m not that drunkard with a beer belly. And I meant to say sorry for that… you were so small back then, can’t

A new wave of anger and disgust washes over me and I want to

remember what kinda state I was in to say what I’ve said to you,”

strike the lime green cup out of his hand so that the contents, which

I’m sure is orange crush, will splatter against the store window.

He rubs a hand over his face.

always thought he knew best, and he imposed that onto everyone

“I was in a dark place at the time, bud. I had issues with self-

understood others better than they knew themselves. I guess rehab

with that. I think… what I said to you was mostly directed to your

He’s acting like he still knows me. He’s always been like this. He - especially my mother and me. It was his pride, thinking he

esteem throughout my life, and your mother definitely didn’t help

couldn’t change this in him.

mother. Guess I kinda ended up using you as an outlet - I hope this isn’t sounding like an excuse to you, what I’ve done was truly

I suddenly feel foolish, having agreed to meet him. But even now,

unforgivable.”

as my fists clench inside my pockets, I want that closure - from

the events before his nine-year-long absence, from the torrent of

He glances at me quickly, gauging my reaction. I don’t look back

general. I didn’t want to hold onto these hard feelings any longer.

untouched. But that wouldn’t give me the closure I need. I am

emotions I’ve felt during those nine years, and from the man in

at him. I just want to go home, honestly, and leave this subject

I’ve come to this place willing to forgive him, nothing more - so I

determined to forgive him so I can move on.

refuse to regret meeting him because I’ll do as I planned and get on with my life after this.

I keep my mouth closed and let him continue.

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the impact his absence had in my own life and mental health - with a light-hearted sorry, and dare to act like he still knows me best.

But I halt these thoughts and my straw, which I’d absent-mindedly been stirring through the melting ice. Bringing up these emotions will get me nowhere - I can tell this man is still incapable to look

past his own selfish needs. He doesn’t want to know how I was during those nine years. He wants to leave what’s happened in the past, and carry on with his life, just as I am trying to do. But the

difference is that my way of moving on with life is to leave him behind, while his is to catch up with me.

It’s strange, but I know he loves me in his twisted way. And now that he’s “changed”, and has taken care of his own mental well-being -

which in the process had destroyed my mother’s and my own- he wants me back in his life. He thinks I’m the docile suck-up that I

was at eight. Let him think that way. It doesn’t really matter to me anymore.

Detail of Unhindered by Joyce S.

I open my mouth for the first time in what feels like hours.

“But rehab really helped me to get through those problems, and

mentally, I’m in a much better place. Can’t imagine going back to

“I agreed to meet you today for two reasons… dad. I wanted to

I’ve always worked hard to earn money to support you during those

I wanted to tell you that I forgive you for that,” My voice sounds

I’ve landed myself a well paying job, I’m all ears for anything you

too - but also hopeful.

kid, I remember that. You were just like me in that way, maybe even

“That doesn’t mean I can just let you back into my life. I’ve dealt

present. Or maybe you’ll want a PlayStation now that you’re a

mom has gone through. It’s been a long struggle to find the heart

memories and can’t believe I am not the small boy in them anymore.

though it doesn’t make what you did ok in any way - I knew you

He’s making it really hard for me to forgive him.

don’t want you expecting something more than forgiveness.” I add

alcohol now. I’ve also got a stable job, you know. I mean, for you,

know what you were thinking nine years ago when you left, and

years… anyways, it was never enough for Helen, never enough. But

surprisingly steady, and that relieves me. My father looks relieved

want. I’m sure you’re still on with baseball? You were crazy for it as a

more athletic. Maybe I can get you a bat, for an early Christmas

with a lot of things because of you, and you don’t know half of what

full-grown teen now.” He smiles sadly like he’s reminiscing good

to forgive. But I’ve been wanting to be free of hard feelings, and

had your struggles. Today was to let that go for both of us. And I quickly.

I can’t believe that he’s referencing baseball right now. It was the

sport that I’d thrown myself into, to gain his approval. I remember

He deflates in front of my eyes.

beside him and I remember feeling like my world was made right

A part of me deflates as well, and I think it was a small part of the

his loud cheers during my matches, and my mother’s soft smile again - my parents were normal, they were sitting beside each other,

boy that liked orange crush slushies and had hoped.

desperate for things like that. But it’s a memory gone sour for me

I don’t have much to say after that. It was a script that I’d practiced

anyway.

I look at my aged father, small sobs shaking through his hunched

Moreover, I can’t believe he’s trying to skimp over those nine years -

what I do feel though, is the first step towards that release.

and they loved me. Yeah, it was a good time back then when I was

over and over, but it was genuine and I’d said what I’d wanted to. As

now. I quit baseball the year after he left, never having liked it much

body, I don’t feel the sense of release that I’d imagined I would feel;

nine years of my mother battling depression, self-worth issues, and

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The sun is setting, and the air is more chilly than before - the

“You’re a man now, bud. You’re a good man.”

awkwardly, I thank him for the drink and hand him a kleenex as

Not sure how to take it, I nod slowly and get in the car. We part our

slush definitely hasn’t helped much to keep me from freezing. So

I rise from the bench. He takes it, not quite meeting my eyes. We

ways as we drive out of the exit of the gas station.

walk back the way we came from, and my stiff body begins to warm

up from the action and from the setting sun. At the parking lot, he

As I drive home, I feel the urge to open the window of my car.

and have my own ride, to which he makes an almost laughably

rejuvenating so I leave it down for another beat or two.

turns to offer me a ride - but I tell him I got my license last month

The air that rushes in is freezing and startles me, but it is also

shocked expression. Before I make a move to my car though, I tell

him I’ll contact him if something important came up in the future.

I take a deep breath of the cold air. Unhindered.

He thanks me for that and says,

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HUGH Runner-up Celine C. 15 years old Aldergrove Library

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UMBRELLA Runner-up Paige N. 17 years old Dean Drysdale Library - Walnut Grove

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MAGNOLIA Runner-up Sarah R. 14 years old Fort Laugley Library

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COLLAGE Runner-up Sophia B-V. 16 years old Maple Ridge Library

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WATERCOLOUR Runner-up Olivia H. 12 years old George Mackie Library - North Delta

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POEM Runner-up Pragti Bhatia 14 years old Muriel Arnason Library

Generational Love (A poem)

Muma’s simple lentil soup,

A delectable aroma wafts to my nose,

In raging storms.

An umbrella of comfort and nostalgia,

Pulling me to a perfect paradise,

A thousand of my nani’s gentle hugs in one scoop

The heart of the house,

Where a heartbeat of memory grows

Aloo Parathas hold my dadi’s touch,

I hear the laughter of my papa,

Driving the cold of a Sunday morning away,

And my papa’s tenderness

The singing of my muma,

Like when a sun kissed sweater engulfs your cold skin

And the chatter of my brother, A perfect combination

Papa’s mango shakes on a hot summer afternoon,

Teaching me how to knead flour,

Walking to the candy shop with my dada,

Hold a childhood far away,

Muma’s eyes twinkle brighter than any star

Gone so soon

Showing me how to flip a roti,

Papa beams with pride, teaching me his superpower

Masala chai to soothe an aching heart,

I wonder the amount of tender love infused into one roti,

Papa insists a cup fills with solace,

A sweet warmth to chase away the bitter pain.

A history of patient teaching,

When made with my hands

Generations of care, And hard work

Steaming hot pakoras on a rainy day,

Melting ghee makes rivers of gold,

Sitting on the porch together,

A monsoon tradition

Spices infuse richness,

Watching the world softly blur around the edges, a tranquil display

A priceless gift,

Love you can hold

The embrace of food engulfs me,

My papa’s lassi hides my dadi’s radiant smile,

An ancestral blessing withstanding the waves of time,

A thousand memories

A refreshing wave

Generational love smiling upon me.

On scorching summer days,

A milky white extinguishing a raging fire

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SEW Runner-up Ava J. 15 years old Maple Ridge Library

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Fraser Valley Regional Library is the largest public library system in British Columbia, with 25 community libraries serving almost 700,000 people in its service area. Established in 1930, it is funded with taxes raised in the community it serves, plus a Government of BC operating grant. The governing Board consists of elected officials representing 15 member municipalities and regional districts. With its mission "Opening Minds. Enabling Dreams."

FVRL plays a prominent role in the communities throughout the Fraser Valley.

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