Unscripted
Pebblebrook High School Literary Magazine Spring 2015
Table of Contents 1. Momo Azeez
Cover Art
Cover
2. Aunjelica Hutchinson
My America Poem
3
3. Ashley Chambers
Untitled
3
4. Mary Otoo
Dear Black Woman
4
5. Momo Azeez
Fox
5
6. Karla Juarez
Animal Cruelty
5
7. Thania De La Rosa
Homo Sapiens
6
8.
Lewis Norris
My America Poem
7
9.
Chyna Wells
Candy Land
8
10. Josh Jones
R.I.P Robin Williams
9
11. Malik Holliday
Mindset
9
12. Ayanna Hill
My American Poem
10
13. Destiny Gay
Voices
11
14. Ashley Chambers
Fish
11
15. Rosemary Marin
Spoken Word
12
16. Devin Driscoll Ross
Legacy
13
17. Keith Brown
Addiction
14
18. Keyanna Grier
Echo of Silence
15
19. Erica Blount
Coil Pot
15
20. Tabreya Ryan
A Creative
16
21. Momo Azeez
Frog
16
22. Morgan Holliday
?
17
23. Cedric King
11 Years Later
17
24. Mika DePofi
Cowgirl
17
25. Taishon Cleveland
Love
18
26. Ania Lizzeth Rivera
The Collector
19
27. Kiana Cordes
Never Had a First Love
23
28. Victoria Davis
Human Rights
24
29. Stacey Chester
A Poem About Life
25
My America Poem
by: Aunjelica "Major" Hutchinson
Family, parents, school, work they say I should be grateful I say it’s the card I was dealt The difference between them and me? I am not special I don’t have hazel eyes. I don’t have perfect teeth. I don’t know how to love. I am well aware that I don’t voice my concerns for things that I should. why? I don’t know. to protect those that are important? to stay blind to the feelings that tear me up inside while I sleep at home alone. There is a dog I see everyday, he has no worries I wonder what a day inside the life of a dog feels like. probably happy, maybe sad, who knows. I think I want to be a dog. at least then people will show me love, and put clothes on me And even take time with me. hey, they may even paint my nails and brush me when I am frail. I remember when my dad died. I was so…its weird.. I can remember when he told me I would never amount to anything And the time he struck me because I left the light on in the kitchen But I never remember him ever saying…I am proud of you…I love you…everything will be okay Boy I am so glad things ended the way they did People always make excuses Untitled By: Ashley Chambers They say that I have an excuse for the way things turned out in my life I say that Excuses are tools of incompetence that build monuments of nothingness You know why I say that Because I don’t believe that I can use my life’s failures as blame on anyone but myself So I wont use excuses, I will just say that things have been unfortunate for me And the bird, the bird that sits outside, dead from the cold I would have brought him in but I didn’t want him to end up in a unhappy home like me So he stayed outside and froze to death Maybe one day I will be like the bird… free from hurt and pain.
Dear Black Woman
by: Mary Otoo
Dear Black woman, Your smooth chocolate overflows through your veins Your crimson white teeth shine every time you adjust the circumference of your lips Your long black hair – thick, coarse and nappy Your hips curved to an angle no ruler can measure. Why then do you alter magnificence? Why do you try so hard to become the people that placed a price tag on you? Have you forgotten about that ship, that passage? About the rancid stench, a stench so strong it could be tasted on the tips of your tongue? Have you forgotten about your cry for your mother? Your cry for sunlight, your cry for death, your cry for the one next to you to die just so you could move your arm? Dear black woman, Your articulate tone and voluptuous thighs Your well rounded back Your luscious eyebrows Your mesmerizing brown eyes Eyes that soul not open the window to your own soul Have you forgotten about standing on that pedestal as if you were a trophy? With your breasts exposed and pale skinned men tugging on your nipples checking its authenticity? Have you forgotten about Toby and Ms. Ella? About the cracked knees, cracked knuckles, cracked whips, cracked bones, cracked spirit? Dear Black woman, Your sexy intelligence Your musical voice Your classy physique Why then do you allow Deandre to toss you around Like bumblebees in July? Have you forgotten your self-worth? Why do you allow yourself to start another generation, when you aren’t even sure of yours? Have you forgotten Winnie, Ida, Harriet, Coretta? Their aching backs from carrying you around Why do you betray your own kind, crucifying every tradition you were raised with You raise your head high and dine with Elizabeth, and enjoy lobster smothered with butter, with just a hint of garlic When you know you ran home every day to cornbread and fried chicken, and heart stopping collard greens swimming in fat But now you despise the word fat itself. You despise the fact that you are a size 12 how your butt protrudes in every pair of jeans How it behaves like a magnet, attracting the hands of pant-sagging male species Dear Black woman, Your elongated arms Your story telling palms Palms that have rough creases from clenching your fists together, from holding on to those prison bars, from picking yourself up and running, from breaking your fall, from clapping Clapping. Have you forgotten about God? About Sundays, your dress so stiff, it did not budge at nature’s breath About Hallujahs and sweat and saliva and screams But you see now, God has become a client, where meeting days are negotiable Dear Black Woman, Your rich melanin has secret affairs with summer while married to the sun Your extended eyelashes patter with every blink Your curls dance with the trees So stop altering magnificence. Sincerely, A black woman.
“ Fox” By: Momo Azeez
Animal Cruelty by: Karla Juarez
Animals are like humans So why mistreat them? They can feel the love and the pain Hitting and killing animals is for the insane
You can put them for adoption Don’t abuse them because there’s always a better option
Animals are like humans They are meant to be treated well There is no need for you to yell Don’t abuse them or you’ll be locked in a cell
Animals are like humans The fact that people can kill such innocent lives is sick Please stop and change your mind quick You don’t have to hit them so put down the stick
Animals are like humans They sometimes make a mistake That doesn’t mean you have to drown them in a lake You just need to relax and give them a break
Animals are like humans They deserve the best Help raise awareness and stop it once and for all By doing this, you’ll be making a great call
Animals are like humans It’s fine if you don’t want to keep them Their lives are valuable like any precious gem
Homo Sapiens by: Thania De La Rosa
Homo sapiens. The scientific name to describe modern men. The word homo meaning men Sapiens meaning being. So, human being By definition we walk on two legs and have higher intellectual. This causes our heads to be gloated with ego and become ineffectual. Parents take their two legs and walk out of their children’s lives. Leaving an empty hole that will later be filled with grief. And they’ll stand in front of a crowd reading from their mind Asking why emptiness is all they could find. Or they’ll take their “higher intellectual” and make a decision based on race Then they’ll chase after the one with the hood on a rainy day who had nothing but a bottle and skittles And shoot him right in the face. I’ve never hated anything. Not even the modern men in his suit sitting behind his computer thinking he knows everything. Threatening my family to be kicked out of their “freedom” country Saying they’ll only help us for a certain amount of money. We make mistakes, but we hiss them away as if we were snakes We bite each other poisoning every limb with words and actions. Kicking their own. To sit on an imaginary thrown, like being the numerator in fractions. Forgetting that’s the number that will be divided and be less than what it was. I’ve never hated anything or I’ve only ever hated the life that’s been nothing but a game that modern men, has set up. Making homo sapiens, by definition, a pitiful race that will most likely cause it’s own extinction before their technology fully develop.
My America Poem by: Lewis Norris
the sob of tears from the left cheek as a mother watches her young boy walk through the door from school she asks Danny are you okay. he looks and walks to his room. 2 hours later mom hears guns shots down on the floor she goes as she ducks for cover. she realizes it came from Danny’s room she rushes there, only to see her son on the floor dead. is this the freedom our fathers fought for? for people to be judged by their looks and views? I thought this country was free so why do kids degrade themselves from horrible comments on the Internet: they say she and he is ugly or poor in the land of the free everything is not so free or acceptable. People’s confidence is shooting down as they are getting judged on their class, looks ,and what they wear social media and the cyber universe and money, clothes rule us all and young teens are suffering bullying and kids dying from the stress of social media and the thoughts of another person mind instead of their mind a lot of people aren’t mentally free and this is my America
Candy Land By: Chyna Wells “This land is full of airheads”, they say. Just a bunch of people who should be called Butterfingers because they can’t do anything right.
Girls who want to be with guys like superman but have been walking past Clark this whole time. And Boys who want kissing, touching, and feeling but don’t seem to want anything else.
Relationships going from “I’m dating Mike!” to “I’m dating Mike & Ike at the same time!” Nerds who are being teased for being the smart ones. But no, it’s okay, it’s cool because they will be your boss, some day, Now or Later.
Siblings yelling “You’re a Dum Dum!” When they don’t get what they want. Then Snickering as they run away, knowing you can’t catch them.
And what’s that other thing that they say about us? Whatchamacallit? Never mind I can’t even remember.
We live in this land filled with so much drama That we don’t even notice the sweetest things in life anymore.
Others look at us like we are the cavities resting on children's teeth. Rotting, decaying, taking over, and breaking down what is important.
Now it’s time that we take charge, Stand on that pedestal with our heads up high And our candy bars raised Saying “Well, you know what, maybe I’m just a little too sweet for you.”
“R.I.P. Robin Williams” By: Josh Jones
Mindset By: Malik Holliday Everybody has got their own way of thinking But somehow people connect in what seems to be like a mental singing It’s the true thing that shows when their brains are untwined It’s their mind set or state of mind That thing that makes them think the way they do It’s almost like a conscience that helps them to choose Which path they take in life and how they see it The why behind their uncontrollable wit But that’s not the reason I brought mind set to your attention It’s because mind sets have started my own inner tension Because mindsets are ruining me With their unwanted and unneeded complexity The way they can procrastinate Or begin to have you hate Hate people who seem to be enemies But unknowingly that’s the way everyone else see’s Them for what the mind sets around you create Like a table full of food and they offer you a plate. We all just jump into the opinions of others So they influence us as if they were our mother Its to the point where this world now has two people rude and kind The reason why, it’s easy it’s their state of mind Mindsets are complicated and crazy
They over think an make things hazy Like choosing wrong or right Its mindsets that cause those unneeded fights Because the clashing of mindsets is like the clashing of souls Once they get set they are no longer in your control But the storm will continue until you reach the eye When you must choose between do or die Between the wants and needs And the people who blame it others I think child please You know you spent all your money on your I-pad But on his birthday all he got was a happy birthday dad Its that time when you ask for all and gave none But those who give don’t expect to get even some It’s states of mind that I just don’t understand How to cope with them I just can’t land Its aggravating and funny that mind sets is what I can’t get I think its confusing I guess that’s just my mindset.
My American Poem By: Ayanna Hill
I don’t ever wanna grow up It seems like that it a dying mindset among the youth If you just take a quick glance around , you’ll see the truth With the message of sex around every corner Its hard for the kids to stay innocent The media is responsible to be blunt its really common sense Can we bring back the simple times Cause I just want to ease they minds Let them know that it’ll be okay I be praying for a better way The world is a scary place that i’m most certain of And you think its crazy but it all solved with loved Loved kids with all your strength Please protect that innocence Cause growing up too fast can happen faster if you keep ignoring it As children their most stressful decision should be batman or superman And ‘If I fly with Peter Pan long until we’re at Neverland?’ But sex and money is the new black So these ideas seem to some out of date I just wanna make a difference with the youth before its too late You got media, social media, and television Just a few of the tools that can distort a child’s vision But its up to us as people to sit them down And make them listen
Voices By: Destiny Gay
When will I be enough If only she knew how the future scares me Carrying the doubts and weights of responsibility Forced to maintain positive and smile when times get tough Be better than me she says, good grades and high g.p.a.’s Ill never be enough Dang, y’all said the bell rings when? Feel like I’ve been behind this desk my whole life i swear fourth period never ends Study for what test? girl I'm going to the club You said what? responsibility? I can’t hear you over the TURNUUPPP!
All these voices so loud I swear I cant take it My heart can only hold so much weight before the pressure breaks it ”if I conform to those around me who am I when I'm alone?” (shout out to Keith) Although its love behind these walls its still burdens that surround me These voices! these voices! I hear them loud and clear! and you know mom, besides the girl you want me to be, there’s still a little me here..
OK I got a 90 in personal fitness, 96 in lit. what's this 89? 89! oh no! oh no! Football game tonight? oh I can’t go Do my chores, then I gotta cook, and then there’s the dishes Ugh! I forgot I gotta babysit Marques So much to do I swear I'm gonna lose it! *pats head* mhm, girl I don’t see how you do it There go that smart light skin girl with the big ol feet I stay asking her for help on every worksheet Ok now class repeat A class that cheats together pass together AND she sit next to me! There goes my baby girl Only one of three I swear I’ll give her the world Always keep her close to me Even though the boys sneak around, talk back , and smoke weed I’m a still get on her about that ONE dish in the sink Even though its her dads fault the child support didn’t come, I'm still going to yell at her when i get angry like she asked for me to get knocked up and have his baby!
“Fish” By: Ashley Chanbers
Spoken Word
By: Rosemary Marin
Congratulations to us all today we've made it this far in the game and our time will soon come next May but for now it's time to step up to the plate and start deciding our fate It's time to put down the phone and choose the path we wanna go because it's time to wake up btw welcome to the real world where time won't stop just because you need it to it's a lot that we go thru and at times we may feel trapped We must start to adapt At the fact that we’re no longer kids no longer will we be forbid To make our own decisions It's up to us to start building the life we wanna live and own up to our mistakes and learn to forgive this will be the year where we see who was truly there for us at the end and those who just talked the talk but never really walked the walk and became a fake friend this is the year that we have all been waiting for this will be the year where we become independent and on our own Where we now are our own defendant because it's time to put down the phone and know that this is the year that we will either make it or break it It's up to you to drake it or fake it Because we will reunite in 10 years to see who took a risk in their career and those who didn't take this advice it just went in one ear and came out the other do this for yourself and for your father sister brother and mother this will be the year where I can look at all those people in the face Who told me I wouldn't get anywhere because of my race and the farthest I would get in life was in outer space this will be the year where some of us will leave here with a smile on or face and for some that may not be the case it will be the year 2016 The year where we say hello to our adult years and goodbye to the teens Get ready get set go follow your dreams
Changing of
Legacy
By: Devon Driscoll Ross
Excuses are tools for the weak and incompetent. Those who use them amount to nothing those who amount to nothing are nothing; therefore, no excuses. All our life there as always been others there that play a major role in your life decision. We have become handicapped to the struggles of life and now they pick a date and say ready set go! Hope they know Its nit that simple, everything in life is nit gone be lavish as good We Approach a path not knowing where the journey ends A path with long roads with no sign of dead ends But road work ahead better watch for loose ends Cuz those who ignore find themselves stuck in ....predicaments out of one control, Mistakes made and causing other problems to unfold. But no not us. We had a duty to uphold Even with our mistake we managed to stay whole But people need to understand the difference between a wish and a goal, both are dreams just involves work you know? Because faith without works is dead Those were words from above So open your mind, because no one can beat the power of You You are your own power to your Destiny. Only one be controls your fate and your fate is destined to victory. Speaking a victory... Can you just imagine that grad day Then fresh cuts, new weave , that money you finna make. Senior paved the way so juniors take pride in those seats your Finna take. Were moving on, no more mom I miss the buss today.. And no more is those delicious lunch Even though the taste was abandoned, it was all good with a good morning and thank you darling It was a journey well taken And I can say glad to see it come to an end Only for a new beginning Still no new friend Cuz we're the brook this is a family we have made And even though were leaving there still moves left to be made Excuses quote *There should be no reason why not. Only explanations of you overcome and the struggle isn't over there -there is still lots to be done. I know I'm talking a lot I'll he done for today. Listen to this if you haven't listened to anything else I say Like a great man asked me and what I'm asking you today Once you leave those seats...what legacy will you make???
the
Chairs
Poems
Addiction By: Keith Brown I am stoned on the most addictive drug known to man. it burns through my veins with the power of a falling feather. with every breath I take I breathe in more. Every person I meet becomes a dealer. it metastasis from my mind to my heart, taking a little longer because the heart is not as easily swayed. leaving me with apathetic dreams of a person I'll never be. It's that Magic little hit that keeps me from rocking a sinking ship. So gone the waves and punches just roll over me. I become the miniscule speck of dirt on Waldo shirt. so faded I blend in with nothingness and Everything at the sane time. I'm fine with just sitting by and letting things happen to me. without enough gumption for my spirit to function I'm become, a defective product of a high school assembly line. no power to decide what I want to be. my mind is soaked with a drug of complacency. it's so easy to fall prey too, you don't know you have it till it's all gone. it makes all the wrongs right, and all the rights wrong. for example I will still pay taxes yet never be able to marry the man I love. Yet I'm ok with it. This Cocaine wanna be numbs everything. my heart ache and happiness both disappear. How long before my being follows? the footsteps of my shadow leaving inconsistent marks kind of like complacency..............
Echo of Silence By: Keyanna Grier cover their eyes, so they won't see. shut the door, they won't hear a squeak. cover your mouth, don't tell them a thing. wipe your tears, they just mean you're losing. silence, silence don't tell your story silence, silence they'll only judge you for it lock your heart, never open it up. close your mouth, don't dare speak of it silence, silence don't tell your story silence, silence they'll only judge you for it holding it all in, never telling anybody. living a story, just not speaking about it. here's a question , when do we come out? here's a question, when do we get our voices?
“Coil Pot� By: Erica Blount
Dey calls it Schizophrenia.
I never really saw da tree.
I called it creativity.
But I's wanted to.
"See da Christmas tree? It be beautiful." he'd whisper.
I's wanted to be a Creative and see what Pops saw. I had to show dem dat he wasn' no crazy.
But there was no tree.
Dey was just blind. I was just blind.
"I don' see nothin, Pops."
Dey knew he was a Schizophrenic
He'd chuckle at my words.
But I's wanted him to be a Creative. I's really did.
"You gotta open yo' eyes, sweetheart." I'd look again, but there's Nothin'. To. See. "Ain't no Christmas tree! It ain't even Christm-" "Don't be like dem, baby." He'd cut me off. "You gotta be like me. Close yo' mouth and Open. Yo'. Eyes." I'd shut my mouth, my eyes filled wit tears, yet still open. Silence. "See da Christmas tree, baby?" "Yes, Pops. I sees it." "Good. You's a Creative too."
“Frog� By: Momo Azeez
? By: Morgan Holliday
11 Years Later By: Cedric King
What do I know? Some bullies are not really bullies on the inside I’m just another girl with color in my skin that’s another They want to get noticed, so they decide to make others cry statistic for the government. Not knowing or caring about what someone has A girl who faces the complications of a harsh reality because been through our ancestors built a world we weren’t meant to live in. They wouldn’t even care if they stepped on your All these rules, all these wars and all this negativity, yet we’re shoe worried about who the next next next person who’s going to They constantly tend to make you feel like dirt Not caring about how bad you hurt wear those new Jordan’s. But little do they know But what do I know? You reap what you sow I’m only 16. Yet I have to put on a facade because I’m afraid While you’re having fun picking on that kid in the of being my inner me. But we live in a society that doesn’t sixth grade judge a book by its cover unless it’s hair isn’t looking right, or You think it’s just a harmless phase its face isn’t pretty enough, or its body isn’t sexy enough or But 11 years later when you have a child Don’t be surprised when it all backfires in your its attitude is just plain nasty because we don’t just judge face. books by their cover we look at character too. But if their not to our standards we dismiss them because their just another small role that’s lucky enough to have a part in out book. But what do I know? “Cowgirl” By: Mika DePofi They say real eyes realize real lies but how can real lies be realized if the real eyes also lie? But they can’t lie because their pretty. And the prettiest people to the prettiest things an the ugliest people do the ugliest things because that’s just what makes sense in our society. But what do I know? I’m just another stereotypical black girl who flips her hair and checks her nails and gets loud right? While my brothers are getting shot because they have Arizona and skittles in their hands with their heads down and hoodies on. Or why my Hispanic friends are automatically Mexican because they speak Spanish and now grads an clean houses, Because if you are culturally or religiously different without white skin and blonde hair and blue eyes your an outcast because it’s what people and society do. But what do we know? We’re the next generation to take over the world but we do what we are told and follow what we see, but what if what we’ve been seeing isn’t the right reality? But again, what do I know?
Love By: Taishon Cleveland When I gaze upon your face I’m at a loss for words Attempting to utter slightest of phrases Can be difficult Only quick mumbles leaks out When I gaze upon your face Your smile brightens my darkest of days It’s a cute and spontaneous gesture That will last for the tests of time When I gaze upon your face Your flawless eyes sparkle And your unrehearsed lips discloses Your dauntless and free sprit attitude Other’s try to imitate But fail to capture your charm or charisma When I gazed upon your face Your eyes in chant me Your seductive ways incarcerated my emotions As I struggle to look away I succumb to your euphoric embrace You embody the beautiful bloom of a spring rose Freshly picked in a cluster of weeds My fascination with your face Has led me to believe in Love at first sight If I gaze upon your face for the last time Every minute of every second My adulation for you will grow Women as dazzling as you Are once in a life time
The Collector
By: Ania Lizzeth Rivera
A breath of fresh air is what I needed most. “Lets get out of here!” My life was a risk and even more with my daring pal who always made the impossible possible. I hardly cared, I was always inside. I whispered to her. “Keep quiet! Save your smelly little breath for a different occasion, remember to not waste what keeps you alive”. We were at the center of Atlanta, Georgia; the most riskiest spot of the state. No, it was not the people nor the crime, instead, it was the little oxygen to breathe. However, those stores stored the most beautiful accessories ever seen, how could us girls ever resist? Doing this was our way to gain any belongings, it was our new way of paying for food, exchanging, and giving away. Paper dollars and coins had no purpose any longer, out here if you wanted something you’d just get it. We headed south back home, but out here we call it the X mark, it was similar to a treasure chest. Luckily for me, I loved to collect, been doing it since I was eight. Then next thing you know, it is everyone’s favorite thing to do. Our people ruined this earth, everything soon changed. No longer did leaves change every season, hardly any great home was around. Movie stars to the richest people soon had nothing to live for. When electricity shut down, it affected the whole planet. It was the saddest day in history when all fast foods decreased with fury day after day as well as the people. Soon enough the leftovers of trees only published few newspapers and every time I looked at the charts of suicide, it broke my heart. Me and my closest friends pledge to stay together and face any struggle until the very end. Whatever the case, people found less reasons to judge one another, we were all very similar, dressed in rags, always in ponytails or short hair dos. I made a promise to my friends to enjoy the best of life even if it meant forcing a smile with our dirt teeth. Thankfully my parents, friends and neighbors kept me optimistic. There was just one thing that only made it harder for me to live without. Him, his sweaty hands before meeting up, his terrible jokes that only I laughed to and his incredible warm tight hugs that locked us perfectly well together. It only been a week and no one seemed to understand he was going to be my future, the first and last face I would see in my day, my one to call husband and to become a Wells family. Many believed I was too young to understand love, and that I had plenty of time to look for another man. That was not a option for me. I could not sleep, his voice always seemed get in my head, “I got you something.”, it layered over the excitement I used to have about the thought, now it haunts me knowing that I can’t have him deliver my mystery gift. We made plans the day after but instead I heard a ringing that echoed a few seconds, it was him. I could not speak, I forgot to breathe, and just like how the phone rang at an end line, so did the machine in the hospital. His home is the last place I’d see myself by, if I see any of his belongings, I could be a prisoner. Wrapped in his bed, organizing his mess, knowing it will never be touched or misplaced again broke me. I could not wrap my head around it, was this true? “Wanna go again?”, my friend shouted. “I got nothing better to do”. I claimed. We both smiled at each other, I could already feel the sense of danger but never a waste. “Take your mask!”, she claimed.
“Right, thanks!” Taking our masks only meant one place we would go. Careless to say yes, I was ready for an adventure, I need a distraction anyway. Yes, dangerous but we were smart about it. No dialogue, no running, no items that can’t fit inside your purse and always keep yourself updated on the time. Antique stores always seemed to grab my attention, to the painted furniture, oddly shaped lamps, and to the string instruments. Although, I had something in particular, beads. I required six of them to go around the wrist of what could have been a future Ms. Wells. Not the case anymore, now I need ten, and I decided to preserve it for me, as a great memory of how me and Mr. Wells wanted our life to be. We headed out, and safety made it alive. As we finally get near a road, I have this rapid beating in my chest, something must be familiar, I started getting chills. “So how come you haven’t gone?”, she murmured. “I’m sorry?”, I asked back. “To his house, how come you haven’t..” I cut her off, “..I don’t think I’m ready for that yet”. “Your right, I apologize. I didn’t mean for it to sound that way, I just meant checking up on his family”, She explained. I never really thought about it, his family must be worse than me. How could I be so selfish? “You know what, I do want to know how they’re doing”. She placed her hand on my shoulder, giving me her memo look, you got this. We arrived and I was nervous by a first good look at his house. Each step higher, each pressed knuckle, each tick longer, and each wet blink became harder to stay. After giving each other long hugs, it seemed we could speak for hours about our week, my friend gave Mrs. Wells more comfort than I and as for me, I admire the good things about her son. After some time, she let me go to his room, she remembered my present was still there for me. Crack. The door was finally open, and everything was a mess, how his bed sheets formed a endless watery wave, how the mismatched socks were under the bed, and the way it still smelled like him, an Oder that felt he was still here. I walked with the smallest space between each foot and inched my way around the place he’d called home. I headed for the bedside, and keened, I couldn’t hold back anymore, being strong for him was want he knew I could do, but not when he was gone. I didn’t care to cry once more, it was for him. I remembered how he hated every time I cried, how some days would be on purpose just to have him glued to me, and tell me how much he loved me. However today, I desperately needed all of him. I slowly became calmer and started to get sleepy, I climbed up and dazed off. I woke up scared, I didn’t plan to stay and sleep for six hours! I went out and it was five o’clock. I noticed how my friend had not left. “This is why you’re my best friend”, I said. “Yeah, well, anytime.. But you owe me!” We both giggled and stared at each other “Yeah Yeah, whatever”, I giggled. “Let’s head to the X mark.” “X mark it is! So how about that present?”
“I haven’t seen it yet”. “What are you waiting for? Can I come along to help?” “Lets go!” We ran with energy, glanced around, and we found it by his desk. It was a beautifully wrapped up box and I could feel my lips curve, the excitement of his surprises melted my heart as always. I said my goodbyes to family Wells and thank them for everything. There was only one place I wanted to open my gift and I decided to go the next morning. We walked home, before we crossed our ways apart I asked her one last question, “Same thing tomorrow?” “You bet”, she said. I head the other direction and I hear her voice again. “Hey Ami, do not forget about the good things you have in life, like me for insists.” I gave her a warm smile and waved goodbye. I came home and nothing seemed any different, mom always did her best to find plants to cook or make a tea, and my older brother who just collected books and read like no one’s business. I helped in any way I could with their collection, just how they helped me collect beads. Which reminded me I had enough to start working on my bracelet. I had so many I didn’t know where to start. All night I figured ways to fix up 10 beads out of hundreds and I forgot the feeling of staying up late to do school work or just to be on my phone. “knock, knock! Ready for today?” “Yeah. Let me get my bag.”, I exhausted out. “How was sleep?” “Oh I didn’t get to, I was working on the bracelet.” “Did you finish it?”, she said with excitement. We paused and looked at each other, then I said, “Here, take a look.” “Wow, this is exquisite Ami”. We put our masks on, and before went in different alleys I remind her, “I will be where I always am.” She gave me a nod and until I finally felt her foot steps get softer and farther from me, I was ready. I grab my gift and took off my mask, I wanted to die with his love in my arms, his surprise in my heart, and his spirit next to my presence. I opened away and there it was. It was a golden, round, jewelry trinket box, with jewels on the side and a purple butterfly next to purple flowers on top. I opened it and with a note that said, “A place to store your beads, hope you like it.” Like it? It was the sweetest most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done. I admired how he would notice them as mouse size but later felt house size. I lay on my back, I was beginning to feel dizzy, sleepy, but mostly in need of air. I soon blinked slower and breathed lighter. I was ready. “Ami where are you, it’s time we head out. Ami what are you doing at the floor, found something? Get up people are looking” She giggled, “Okay seriously, what’s the matter with you say something.” I gave her a look and handed her the bracelet, “Wear this and don’t forget about the impossible are possible, thank you for being my, friend.” I stumbled my last few words to he greatest person in my life and the last thing I heard which I hope to never forget, “This doesn’t even fit me!” I felt taken away, I felt in control, I was finally breathing. Thumb, thumb. My chest was pressed and stroke me awake. I hear a beeping and I heard voices but one that stood out, loudly and clear, literally, “AND CLEAR!”
I opened my eyes and my heart beat began to start a rhythm. I was still dizzy, until they turned off the lights. I could finally try to peak where I was and I never expected heaven to look a lot like a hospital. The doctor let me know what had happened. He told me I lost a lot of blood, and he mentioned that he was sorry for my loss. How did he even know what I lost? “In a few minutes, I will let people in, no more than six people can be inside, okay?” I agreed, after half an hour, he let someone in, I could hear the door crack open and for some reason I started to get nervous. I was remembered by his scent, his walk, and his voice, it was him. The doctor was wrong about my loss. I had nothing to worry about because I had my all. “Honey, how are you? It’s been so long we haven’t spoken. I missed you so much! I’m so glad everything went well!” I smiled, “You just never stop talking, come here you”. I gave him a zealous kiss, it’s been so long, it didn’t matter if it was real life or not, I missed him too, so much. “So what happened to me?” I asked. He was quiet, I could see he wasn’t looking forward to talking about that subject. “Well it’s been hard, it’s been a week, honey it was hard for your parents, but not for me, I had to choose you over our daughter. She did not make it, but you were strong like always. You were also put on drugs to help you sleep. I know how much you have been waiting to be a mother but it’s not too late okay, because we can start again, and I will be there just as I always have”. I cried in between everything he said, my baby girl was not even held around arms of love. Now I didn’t know which dream was worse or better. He hugged me and at last I could feel my desperate need of his love. I pushed him away, looked into his puppy eyes and added, “I’m so glad I have you”. “Me too, I’d be dead without you, love”, He then paused, “by the way I got you something”. “Really?”, with excitement came back the dreams and looking at him now, only made it easier to forget about how it uses to haunt me. “I did this while you were asleep, for us”. He handed me the cutest white box with everyone’s signature and bittersweet note on the side and what tops it off, a pink ribbon bow tied around it. I opened away, and there it was. “It’s a necklace for me?” “Do you like it?”, he asked. I smiled, it was so beautiful, these beads popped more vibrant colors, they gave a touch of almost every shade of color of a girls closet. I could not hold back the tears, it was the best gift I owned. “I suspected you would.”, he said with his tender voice. I reached for him and gave him a warm hug. Nothing on this earth could separate us, not even in my dreams. He cared for me, loved me from the start throughout our time together. He was the one, the collector who stole my heart and I had become his treasure by far sight. In life, the impossible are made possible just as dreams.
Never Had a First Love By: Kiana Cordes See, I never had a first love.
Loving me, taking care of me and my needs
and I am pretty sure it’s because I don’t really know how to trust
“Girl, we’re only in our teens”
Every man I let in my life has disappointed me
well that’s just an excuse to be young, dumb and naive
they either lie, leave, or cheat
See my body is my temple
and most of the time it’s all three
and I refuse to let someone enter
I mean, how do you expect me to trust when the without knowing more than just their first man that was suppose to love me doesn’t “Potential” even care See, My generation is a little complicated Hmm, where is my father exactly? we never try to fully understand situations Oh wait, I know……… Not there we just try and stick to the basics People usually say that a girl without a father runs toward me for comfort and love to feel safe and I refuse to let myself be categorized in that statement but, see me I am running the other way to this love thing I feel like an Atheist without because I do not have a place, in my heart for a religion man to stay how am I suppose to believe in something, I and I am not ready for this thing we call love have not witnesses today with my own vision because see…… See, I don’t just let anyone into my heart I never had first love and I am 100 percent sure I cut things off before they go too far it’s because I don’t really trust. I protect myself before anyone else can Placing myself in this box where I am
Human Rights By: Victoria Davis My rights vs. their rights isn't right. They tell me I have the right to freedom of speech; but as I speak, my words do not reach. They say all humans are born free, but these shackles on my feet don't explain why my heart has a fast beat. I try to seek an understanding of why my rights don't match the right; but as I speak there's a kid who's crying himself to sleep. His rights are being neglected so right now he's subjected to stay affected because his life isn't protected. Our rights are printed on paper so the people can read but they can't react. I'll say this poem with a firm voice, because in this day and age everyone is broken. Somehow I cant seem to find anyone who's outspoken. I feel like a token. Before you're arrested they read you rights, but in the process your rights are tight and then you have to fight. Hold your head up son, it'll be alright. Tears flowing, voices breaking, hearts beating, bodies shaking. The signs of a broken citizen who's rights have been stripped. Yet, the world doesn't see him because his rights vs. their rights isn't right.
A Poem About Life By: Stacey Chester
L.I.F.E Life Is a nonfiction story based on opinions and facts On What I Believe What she believes What he believes Not Just Them And Me But Everybody See Life Is A Video Game It Has Rules To Play But We constantly blame each other for our own mistakes We Constantly put others down for more fame Forgetting That As 1 Society We Are The Same in A Different Way In Life You can’t depend on anyone Not Parents Not teachers Not Family Not Friends Not even the people you thought had your back till the end But Now You Began To Start Off Your Questions with How’s, What’s, Why’s, and When’s Only To Find Out These People Never Had your back to began with We All live life afraid to be wrong or right But out Rights might be wrong and our wrongs might be right Life Is The Sun It Sometimes Shines So bright That it Possibly Blinds the human eye sight And Brainwashes humanity about life Life Has Many Paths and which ever one You take Its always a dull and bright light that awaits Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying the dull light is bad I’m not saying the bright light is good I’m just saying which ever one choose We Are still human Beings we still win and we definitely still loose Life Is a battle that you continuously fight Round after round But we won’t lose tonight See I’ll be strong He will be strong She will be strong It Doesn't matter what race I am and the color of My skin tone Understand we Are 1 Will always Be 1 What Light Will you choose? Who Will You Become?
Thanks for reading . . .
Unscripted Staff Tabreya Ryan A’Zeyonna Hasty Yevguenni Marseille
Keith Brown
Omar Ramirez
Taishon Cleveland
Keyanna Grier
Chyna Wells
Thania De La Rosa
Sponsors Lauren Forbes
Rhiannon Sims
Marlen Maldonado