The Talon - Issue #2 (2023-24)

2023-2024-Issue 2

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Issue

Table of Contents

Introduction: Page 1 Homecoming: Page 2 Homecoming Pictures: Page 3 Staff Interview: Mrs. Burnham Page 4 Short Story: Part 2: Page 5-6 Book Review: Page 7

A special ‘mini’ issue of The Talon is hot off the press, Eagles! Focusing on some entertainment aspects this month, it has been a busy first few months of school, and things are in full swing. From incredible chapels and worship, getting to know our Librarian, and a great Homecoming event, we have been busy putting all of the information together to keep the student body informed. In this issue, you will find a variety of interviews, opinion articles, book , and coverage of some of the events that have taken place on campus. Also, don’t miss the next installment of “The Dead of Night”, a short story continuation by freshman, Simone Light!

Our Journalism class would also love to reach our student body on social media, so be sure to follow us on IG: @ihs_the_talon_ If you would like your class, club, sport, or activity, contact any of The Talon Journalism Staff, or Mrs. Kodman at kkodman@immanuelschools. com

Homecoming Week! by: Sydney Friesen

Homecoming is a week we all look forward to. Getting a break from the normal school schedule, we can show up to school in wacky outfits and play games during lunch! The homecoming nominees did an incredible job taking part and showing off their best outfits. Those who were in the homecoming court were Macie Riddle, Jake Horn, Sidney Azua, Elijah Gray, Isabella Davila, Trey Romo, Allison Wood, Tad Tibbit, Leah Thomas, Nicolas Coleman, Ava Regier, and Jacob Rios. When Isabella Davila found out that she was on the homecoming court she said, “I was ecstatic. I was super happy that I was gonna be able to make lots of new memories with some of my closest friends.” Sidney Azua shared some same thoughts as she stated, “At first I was surprised to be nominated in the Homecoming court. Although, now I am very excited and I get to run with the best!”

Each couple dressed up in iconic costumes to fit the Battle it Out homecoming theme. Monday was heroes vs. villain where Ava Regier and Jacob Rios dressed up as Ladybug

and Cat Noir from the show Miraculous.

Tuesday was Dress Up vs. Dress Down, Wednesday was Surfer vs. Biker, and Leah Thomas and Nicholas Coleman showed up as the characters from the Subway Surfers video game. Thursday was Blend in vs. Stand out, and Friday was Class color day! The costumes ranged all over from blow-up dinosaurs to Lays chip bags. Every day we had fall fun day games during lunch to compete for the ultimate prize. The staple of the event was of course the catfish relay and other games were human knot and frozen T-shirt. The dodgeball game wrapped up the competition which left many feeling salty but as always the senior class took away the W in the end. With all that homecoming has to offer it can be easy to overlook the people that made it happen.

All the teachers and staff alongside the the tribal council put lots of effort and time into making this happen and planning the whole week. Also, I want to thank those who spent painstaking hours on the posters and signs throughout campus because they also made Homecoming possible!

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The Expert Book Checker-Outer

by Simone Light You’ve probably entered the library before because your English teacher sent you to get an outside reading book. You begrudgingly check out Diary of a Wimpy Kid and plan to never return to the horrid library ever again. But what about the person who helped you check out?

Mrs. Burnham has blessed us with her book-checking skills for many years. Her husband was an alumnus of Immanuel and they had agreed that their children would attend as well. She found that there was an opening for a librarian position when her youngest was a Freshman and eventually decided to jump on the opportunity. In an interview with her she states, “One day I found out there was an opening for the High School/Jr. High library. I applied and was offered the position…A friend of mine joked about me applying for the position. I got to thinking about it and thought it would be a fun job.”

As a librarian, Mrs. Burnham has naturally read many books. She enjoys reading most genres but will continue to recommend the Hunger Games to students. Mrs. Burnham shares, “It’s a great series to read and start if someone doesn’t like to read…It is set in the ruins of what was once North America. It is now the nation of Panem with a capitol that is surrounded by twelve districts. To keep the districts in line the capitol holds an annual game of survival called Hunger Games…Katniss Everdeen (16 years old) volunteers for her younger sister when she is chosen. Katniss has lived her own survival game of life and death being so poor…Katniss is a hunter and has all the survival instincts needed to survive. But during the games she has to make choices of survival or love.” Despite there being a love story, she has placed it in an adventure genre.

So the next time that you have to check out an outside reading book, maybe ask for a recommendation from Mrs. Burnham. And just possibly, you could be swayed to enjoy reading.

Photo credit: Sheila Davison

Other Recommended Titles: Shadow and Bone Trilogy- Leigh Bardugo A Study of Charlotte- Brittany Cavallaro Dear Martin- Nic Stone Bang- Barry Lyga Cinder- Melissa Meyer Michael Vey- Richard Paul Evans The Selection- Kiera Cass Ranger’s Apprentice- John Flanagan York- Laura Ruby The Others- Alison Prince

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The Dead of Night

by Simone Light The kitchen was heated with the remnants of a fire.

Glowing embers warmed the hearth, casting an orange glow to the rest of the room. A woman was sitting by the hearth, a ball of yarn on her lap, her knitting needles clacking rhythmically. The detective cleared his throat, awakening the woman from her trance.

She scrambled to her feet, her grayed, curly hair bouncing around her temples. She wiped her hands on her apron and stood to attention. The detective extended his hand to her.

She shook it roughly. “You must be on the case for our dear Mr. Thompson’s death.” She spoke emphatically through a thick cockney accent. “I’m Charlotte Raymonds, but you can call me Lottie.”

“Yes,” he pulled his hand back and wiped it subconsciously on his jacket. “Detective Martin Glenn.”

He glanced at the others before removing the glass cup from his pocket. “Charlotte, do you remember bringing up a cup of water for Mr. Thompson earlier this evening?”

Lottie stared at him blankly, before jumping back to reality. “Oh, yes I do remember delivering a glass of water right after supper. But…you don’t think I did that do you?

I would never do something as evil as that, sir.” Lottie stepped back, eyes filling with fear.

“I was not accusing you ma’am, but everyone here is a suspect. If you wouldn’t mind I would like to get an interview from you. It will be recorded, but you have no need to worry. I’m sure that you are innocent.”

Lottie wrung her hands in front of her, growing pale. “Of course sir. Whatever will help you find out who committed this heinous act.”

“Wonderful.” The detective removed a portable, metal recording device from his coat pocket. “We must get started as soon as possible.”

Interview of Suspect 1- Charlotte Raymonds [Fizziling static, a man clears his voice] Detective Martin Glenn: Could you state your name and age, please?

Charlotte Raymonds: Charlotte Raymonds, age 48.

Although I don’t see how that’s related to the case. Don’t you know it’s improper to ask a woman her age? Quite rude of you.

[A heavy sigh] Detective Martin Glenn: Just doing my job, ma’am. You are aware of the death of James Arthur Thompson, correct?

Charlotte Raymonds: Yes, of course. Very tragic, really.

The few times I’ve spoken to him, he’s always been very kind to me. Funny thing, I used to know him back in secondary school. He never would have interacted with me, being an athlete and all. But one of his teammates had purposely hit me in the head with a rugby ball, and he had come to collect it. He apologized over and over for it. I wasn’t bothered by it. I’ve always been short a few marbles, and I could stand to lose a few more. [Charlotte laughs] Detective Martin Glenn: So you knew this man? Did he ever have any enemies? People that would hold long enough grudges against him until they could get to him thirty years later?

Charlotte Raymonds: No, never. He was very loved.

Straight-A student and quite attractive if I do say so myself. He never found a girl at that time, though. I guess he never wanted to break someone’s heart if they weren’t the one. Then he settled for Marilyn. She’s a very pretty girl, but I would have thought that he would have gone for someone more his age. I’m not one to judge though.

Detective Martin Glenn: Alright. I think that’s enough of your history with Mr. Thompson. CharlotteCharlotte Raymonds: Aw, you can call me Lottie, detective.

Everyone calls me Lottie. Charlotte is too formal.

[Detective Martin Glenn stutters before his response] Detective Martin Glenn: Char-Lottie, this would go much faster if you stopped interceding. Thank you. Now, have you had the chance recently to purchase or come into possession of cyanide pills? We have discovered that as the cause of the man’s death. Right now, all we know is that you brought him a glass of water this evening right before he died, and the residue of the pills is still coating the inside of the cup.

Charlotte Raymonds: Oh no, sir. I wouldn’t even know where to find something like that. [Charlotte laughs] But if you must know, you can always check the receipts that I bring back for Mr. Robert to read. He makes sure that my expenses are under control. Always have been. I might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I know how mad it makes him seeing that I’ve spent too much of his hardearned money.

Detective Martin Glenn: Is Robert prone to becoming angry? Does he lash out at you? Hit you?

Page 6 Charlotte Raymonds: Anger isn’t the right word for it, sir. I would say he gets more peeved than anything. He is a very self-disciplined man. Above all, he is very gracious to me.

Letting me stay here and all.

Detective Martin Glenn: Lottie, would you mind if I took a look around the kitchen and your quarters? Just to see if there is any evidence that will further our case.

Charlotte Raymonds: Of course, detective. Do what you need to do.

[End of tape] Detective Glenn’s finger stalled on the button that ended the recording. “We have to search. Forgive me, Lottie, but I would ask that you stay right where you are. If you get tangled up in the search it could be incriminating evidence to you.”

Lottie nodded, nonchalantly. “But I would sorely hate being left all alone. It’s getting dark out and thinking of strangers going through my belongings gives me the heebijeebies.”

The detective looked back at the three bystanders waiting patiently for the detective to ask for their help. Marilyn stepped out of their small huddle towards the table. “I’ll stay with you, Lottie. I’m not very keen on searching through other’s things.”

The detective clapped his hands, startling the group. “We should get a move on. Every minute that passes is a minute wasted. Robert, you come with me. Anita, you’ll be alone.

Search every nook and cranny for anything suspicious, but be careful to not tamper with things too much.”

The two nodded before the detective began heading off in one direction through a shadowed doorway, Robert on his heels. Anita turned to the storage cupboard behind her. She flicked on a small flashlight resting on a shelf with a faint click. The cupboard illuminated with an eerie, yellow light.

She guided the light over the shelves laden with canned fruits and vegetables.

Anita stepped further into the cupboard dragging the light over the lower shelves, searching for any pill bottles or a bag that seemed out of place. She bent down to inspect something that had rolled underneath the shelf before a loud bang sounded behind her. A second crash followed, jolting the handle to a strange angle.

Anita spun, the light settling on the door. She hurried over to it, trying the handle.

Locked.

Her heart skipped a beat. She could hear a scuffle coming from the other side of the thick wood. A shrill scream echoed through the kitchen until it had muted into a struggling protestation. Anita flattened her palms against the door, banging on the mildewed wood.

The room beyond went quiet.

Anita had almost begun to hit the door once again when a man’s voice echoed on the other side. “Glenn, get in here!”

Footsteps came from the other side, followed by hushed murmurs.

“Robert!” She called through the door.

“Anita? Where are you?”

“The cupboard. The door is locked.”

Robert’s paces neared the door. Anita watched as the handle turned slightly before jerking to a stop. “The handle’s been tampered with. I can’t get it unlocked.” A moment of silence passed before, “Stand back Anita. To the back of the room, preferably.”

Anita barely had a moment to run to the back of the cupboard before Robert crashed through the door. He landed on the ground, his hand grasping at his shoulder. “I thought that would hurt much less,” he grunted.

Anita stepped over him, leaving him on the floor of the cupboard. The air in the kitchen had chilled, taking away Anita’s barely regained breath. She looked around to find the detective leaning over a blue-swabbed lump in the corner. She approached to find Marilyn lying limply, her eyes widened in fear. The ghost of fingers encircled her neck in blotchy purples and blue. Her chest had ceased to rise.

Anita turned, tears stinging her eyes and leaking down her cheeks uncontrollably. Robert appeared by her side, wrapping his injured arms around her. She could feel herself shaking, but couldn’t remember how to stop.

Robert placed her in the chair Lottie had been sitting in just fifteen minutes before. The detective turned to him.

“Charlotte’s gone, and she isn’t in this room. Is there any way to get out of the house from here?”

“No. All the doors are locked. They can’t be unlocked unless they have the keys.” He patted his pocket. “Which I have. I can’t trust Lottie not to lose them, so she has none.”

“Charlotte is still in the house with no way out.” The detective wrote something down in a notebook he had produced from the inside of his jacket. “We have to find her. Or we might be next.”

To be continued...

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Book review: “The Inheritance Games”

By Isabelle Johnson

As an avid reader, a lot of books I read can never cross my mind after the moment I finish them. I recently got to read a book that I can’t stop thinking about. “The Inheritance Games” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is simultaneously a captivating mystery novel, a classic romance, and an action/adventure book. Though the book starts fairly slow, it’s pace picks up quickly.

It starts off with Avery Grambs, a teen who’s only ambition in life is to graduate high school, get a good job, and generally survive.

Everything changes when a handsome-butcold boy, only a few years older than her shows up, and informs her that she’s been left billions by a man she’s never met. The ninth richest man in the world, to be exact.

The only catch is- she has to live in his sprawling mansion for an entire year to obtain his wealth. And his family, including the boy who brought her there, are living there too. They’ve just been disinherited.

They’re angry. They’re confused. And some of them will stop at nothing to gain their deceased reletive’s riches. Everyone expected one of the man’s four grandsons to inherit, but he chose Avery. And she wants to know why. With the help of the Hawthorne brothers, she sets off to untangle the complex mystery that old Mr. Hawthorne left in his wake. All around, It was a great book, although there was a little bit of questionable content in some places. I would highly recommend it.

Pros: It’s captivating, and is very well written, with endearing characters and a good plot. It’s a fairly long book, but it goes by quickly as it’s very hard to put down! It’s the first book in an ongoing series, so the story is continued.

Cons: It has some swearing, as well as some alcohol in a few different scenes. There is also some family disfunction. Unfortunatly, it also has a couple of characters who are pretty confused.

Rating:

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