Blackbirds Eye 2025

Blackbird’s Eye

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Blackbird’s Eye

In May of 1974 the first Blackbird’s Eye was published as a culmination of a week-long program held at the School called “Poetry-in-Schools”.

Internationally acclaimed poet Thomas Heffernan was the School’s “poet-inresidence”. The students wrote a poem for him, titled “To Tom Heffernan,” from which the title Blackbird’s Eye comes.

Blackbird’s Eye Faculty Review Committee: Beth Garrison Chris Miller Maureen Morales Kathy Taylor Lindsey Von Dohlen Danielle Worley Blackbird’s Eye Student Review Committee: Katherine Fensterle ‘25 Charlotte Mills ‘25 Caitlyn Blocklinger ‘26 Jane Nguyen ‘26

Cover Art: Front cover, Zoe Mount, 10 Back cover, Lillian Kim, 1

Blackbird’s Eye

Blackbird’s Eye Volume LI 2025

This Year’s Theme “Back to the Future...Looking Back to Move Ahead”

Publication of Blackbird’s Eye and monetary awards for the Youngclaus Creative Writing Award Winners are funded by the William P. Youngclaus Memorial Fund.

Your continued support for this project is welcome with donations to this fund.

Please email ONealGiving@onealschool.org to learn more.

TABLE of CONTENTS Literature

Page

2

The Future

Harper Wallace

6

If I could go back in time...

McKenzie Riley Arleigh Van

7

If I were one hundred years old...

Shelby Schwartz

7

If I had a time machine, I would go...

Leah Leisey

8

If I had a time machine, I would go...

Avera Davis

9

Back to the Future...

Matt Strickland Rozen Copeland Vivienne Orentlikher

11

Back through the Future

Grace Ames

12

That Dream

Carter Davies

13

Back to the Future

Emery Sinclair

13

The Struggle

Avery Pohlmeyer

15

Cisco the Bratty Pony

Emma Globke

16

Losing My Best Friend

Johnny Berry

18

The Time I Got Lost

Camden Lovsin

21

Peter and the Time Machine

Jordan Caretti

22

1000 Years More

Ava Bozovich

23

Moments I’ve Only Touched

Ella Marino

25

Here and Then

Abigail Schupp

26

My Favorite Game

Sawyer Cartwright

29

“The Almighty, Forever Powerful”

Dahlia Cloninger

29

Signs of Change

Cassie Cloninger

31

Angel with No Wings

Hannah Wilcox

32

Choose Yourself

Logan Slabaugh

33

Am I Not a Story

Caitlyn Blocklinger

34

I Once Came Last in a Race

Charlotte Mills

35

Heartbeat

Campbell Medford

36

Blackbird’s Eye

TABLE of CONTENTS Artwork

Page Clare Duffy

10

Carter Davies

14

Camden Lovsin

20

Sydney Davis

25

Claire Caviness

27

Noah Bass

28

Addie Tauch

32

Morgan Lewis

34

CONTESTS In celebration of Earth Day, April 22nd, the science department held a photography contest and asked students and faculty to submit photos in the following categories: •

Enjoying the Earth - Winner Elliott Means | Page 24

•

The Earth Up Close - Winner Vivian Garcia | Page 17

•

The Earth’s Landscapes and Wildlife - Winner Maureen Morales | Page 30

Contest winners were determined by Heritage Festival participants and a survey from O’Neal AP biology and biology students.

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The 2025 Blackbird’s Eye is dedicated to

Mrs. Kathy Taylor The 2025 edition of The Blackbird's Eye is dedicated to a member of the O'Neal community who, like a historian, has chronicled all the growth and developments of the school in beautifully designed publications that family and staff have enjoyed for nearly two decades. She has kept in contact with our alumni and created Where Are They Now? sections in the Falcon Flyer that detail their amazing accomplishments, while also keeping the community abreast of all the latest news in academics, athletics, extracurricular activities, and more. She has an incredible gift for photography, editing, and layout and can often be seen at school events, camera in hand, recording them for posterity. She graduated from Meredith College, earning a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in Marketing, but her academic achievements do not stop there. She also had a double major in French, studied abroad in France, and remains fluent in the language. She has been with us since 2006 as Director of Communications, and in March of 2024, her role at O'Neal expanded even more when she became Director of Communications and Facilities, taking on the oversight of maintenance, dining, and janitorial services in addition to her communications and marketing work. As if these responsibilities weren't enough, Mrs. Taylor devised and organized our Heritage Festival and has done so for quite some time. Mrs. Taylor, we thank you for all that you have given to the O'Neal School, and it is our great pleasure to dedicate this year's Blackbird's Eye to you.

The Bill Youngclaus Creative Writing Award

Blackbird’s Eye

The Bill Youngclaus Creative Writing Award was established in the Spring of 2007. The award recognizes a student in each division exhibiting exemplary skills in creative writing while honoring its namesake, Bill Youngclaus. Mr. Youngclaus was an O’Neal parent, school trustee, and avid writer himself.

Written by his wife, Lisa Youngclaus, the following was recited upon presenting the first awards in 2007: “This award was created out of the generosity of many friends and family members who chose to honor their fond memories of Bill Youngclaus by making a memorial donation to The O’Neal School.

Bill Youngclaus was a brilliant, creative, talented man who attended Yale University on a full academic scholarship and graduated with an English degree. He pursued a successful career in the advertising business and lived and worked all over the world, mastering four different languages and assimilating many cultures and ideas. But the language he loved most was the language of the written word. He read novels, plays, and poetry and he wrote fiction and poetry throughout his life.

Bill loved The O’Neal School for its high academic standards, its devoted faculty, and the loving, caring environment the School provided for his young son, Will, class of 2012. Bill served passionately on the O’Neal Board and dreamed of the School being able to fulfill all of Will’s dreams and the dreams of all the other students that call O’Neal their home.”

The poem or prose of each of the award winners is exhibited in Blackbird’s Eye.

The 2025 Bill Youngclaus Creative Writing Award Winners

Grace Ames, 3 “Back Through the Future” Poem Page: 12

Ava Bozovich, 7 “1000 Years More” Poem Page: 23

Logan Slabaugh, 9 “Choose Yourself” Poem Page: 35 5

Harper Wallace, JK

6

Blackbird’s Eye

If I could go back in time and make the world better today, what would you change?

“I would hep the word biu pikng up chash. I would be hape!”- McKenzie, K (I would help the world by picking up trash. I would be happy!)

“I would plat mor frot tres. Then I woud dliver frut to pepol. it wd mak me hppe!”- Arleigh, K (I would plant more fruit trees. Then I would deliver fruit to people. It would make me happy.)

Shelby Schwartz, K 7

Leah Leisey, 1

8

Blackbird’s Eye

Avera Davis, 1

9

10

Clare Duffy, 2

Back to the Future

Blackbird’s Eye

Think back to an important event in your life. Really think about the who, the what, the where, the why...now think about if you could go back and change something about that event. Maybe a person who wasn’t there, now is there. Maybe you decide to change the weather that happened that day. Maybe you change the activity that you were doing. Maybe you change the place you were. Now write about what would happen instead. This is a creative story because it is not a true story, BUT it must stay a realistic story. So nothing wild or crazy.

One year I went to Florida to watch the Tampa Bay Rays at their stadium. If I could go back in time, I would go to Wilson and watch a football game instead of paying for the plane ticket. I would get food and drinks for the game. Once the game is over, I would go to my home. I would jump off the diving board.

When I am done swimming, I will go build Legos. I would build some pirate ships, a bunch of islands and a pirate town that has a Lego jail, a pirate ship parking lot and a lot of Lego cannons. After that I will go to my bed room and brush my teeth, brush my hair and go to bed in a red and white bed with my twin in the same bed. I the morning, I will play with the same pirate Legos.

Matt Strickland, 2

The no snow day. If I could go back to the future of the no snow day, I would make it snow but instead there was only a thin layer of ice. If it snowed though, I would of went sledding and I would of drank hot cocoa and played in the snow. I would of made a snow angel and a snow man then I would try to dye the snow different colors. Then I would look for ice. I would also have a snow ball fight. Then I would take some pieces of the snow then I would go inside and get some cozy clothes on and chill by the fire then I would take a nice warm bath. Then I would play a board game with my family. Then I would eat lunch.

After that I would check the window. I won’t be surprised if there was no snow. Then I would just chill the rest of the day inside.

Rozen Copeland, 2

At Christmas, I really wanted a cat. I would name it Snowy. I would make a bed for it. I will feed good stuff. I will give it a squeaky mouse because cats like mice. For dinner, I will give it fish if it like fish. I will do anything for the cat. We will be best friends forever! I just like cats alot, alot, alot. You know ...how my dad likes dogs. If I had a cat, my dad would get me in big ole trouble! I don’t want to get in trouble. He said the cat’s litter box will get all over my bed! It’s so gross. I never listen to him. He is very, very funny.

I just think of very, very, very, funny things about cats. Like a cat sitting down on the stairs, falling down and other stuff like that, but not the same.

Vivienne Orentlikher, 2 11

Grace Ames, 3 | Lower School Youngclaus Award Winner

12

That Dream

Blackbird’s Eye

One day a kid named Zac had a dream and that dream was...Zac was eating breakfast watching a movie and it was called “Back to the Future” and he thought how cool it would be if he went back to the future and then he said “I’m going to build a time machine.” So he went to the store and got all the things he needed to make a time machine. When he got home, he was off making a time machine. “Time to make history,” Zac said. He worked day and night with very little sleep. After months of hard work, he finally was done. “Yessss I’m done,” Zac said. Then he flipped the switch and zap zip zap, it was on and ready to go. He opened the door and left and he was traveling through time when he arrived, he got out of the time machine and saw hover boarding cars and robots and glass doors and homes. It was the coolest thing he had ever seen in his young life. “OMG this is amazing,” he yelled in excitement. He took pictures and notes and even stole some stuff. He got lunch and drinks and said, “this is the best day ever.” He went in his time machine and flipped the switch zap, zip, zap and Zac was off. When he got home he woke up and said “best dream ever!!!”

Carter Davies, 3

Back to the Future Hello, I’m Jeremy and I went to the future. So let me tell you the story. One day I was on a field trip to an electrical plant. It was very cool - tubes and capsules everywhere. We went to the lowest floor, and I saw a door labeled “Time Machine. Danger. Do not enter.” So, of course I did the most logical thing: I snuck in.

I waited till no one was looking and dashed in making sure to catch the door. It didn’t look like I pictured it. All it was was a circle on the floor with a tablet next to it. So, I walked over and grabbed the tablet, it had tons of years on it. I set it for 3019 and pressed start.

The time machine lifted a few feet in the air and started to spin. It spun and spun and spun and spun.

Once it fnished, I opened my eyes and I was there in 3019. There were flying cars, teleportation pads, auto sleep pillows, and time machines for FREE!!!

Look, I know you’re going to think I’m crazy, but I couldn’t decide! You might say “Get the car!!” or “Get the teleportation pad!” Oh, and I forgot they also had Iron Man suits and Spider-Man gloves. They also had a clock. I don’t know why they needed clocks, but they had them! You’ll probably change your answer to “Get the Iron Man suit!” or “Get the Spider-Man gloves!” So, the reason I’m not choosing the pillow is because it would be very suspicious if I came back with a giant belly, so I chose the Spider-Man gloves.

The reason I chose them is because they were easy to travel with and got disguised as watches. I grabbed the gloves, hopped on the time machine, and set it for 2025. Once I got back, I swung back to the class and got in line.

Emery Sinclair, 4

13

Carter Davies, 3 14

The Struggle

Blackbird’s Eye

Have you ever moved before? Well I have. It’s not easy to leave your home but you can always take the memories with you. It all began when I was ten years old.

It was the year 2024. As the colorful leaves fell from the trees, me, my dad and my sister were in the car heading to our new house. My palms were sweating. I was unaware wondering if my room would be as spectacular as I imagined. My mom was at the new house working on the finishing touches. I was quite nervous my heart was in my throat at that moment. At the same time I was very excited. It’s not easy to move so I thought of moving as another adventure. I felt like it was another chance to re-do life. As the car turned on to our new driveway, my sister and I thought the same thing. I can’t wait to go inside!

The day after that was school. I kept thinking how was I supposed to work on my closet if I had so much school! It was horrible! Every night when I went to brush my teeth, I would really want to unpack the boxes and really wanting to get the pain over with. Unfortunately, it took me a very long time to clean and organize stuff in my closet. I’m just glad I have help from my mom. It took me almost two months to fit stuff in my closet but it was definietly worth it.

I learned from this experience to not have my anger take over, and to not think of the negative thoughts.

This moving experience definitely changed me. I became very neat and clean. I learned not to hold anger inside of me.

The End. Avery Pohlmeyer, 5

15

Cisco the Bratty Pony Have you ever been on an uncontrollable pony? Well, I have! On March 17th, 2025, I rode a pony named “Cisco.” When I was getting him out of the pasture he tried walking away by backing up and throwing his head around like he was hypnotized. I knew at that moment we were not going to get along. In the grooming bay he would not stand still! All Cisco was doing was walking back and forth. It was so annoying! I just wanted him to listen so I could groom him and start riding. When Mrs. Caitlyn, (the owner of the barn), saw him acting up she took the cross tie, and wiggled so he would stop, but he didn’t. When I was grooming Cisco, he was lifting his feet up high and trying to kick me. Surprisingly, Cisco was really good when I tacked him up, he wasn’t nipping at me, and he held his head up high while I was putting on his bridle. Cisco almost had me believing we could get along, however, when I lead Cisco out to the mounting block, he was acting very anxious and scared. He kept backing up and having to be pushed to move. Even though he had seen a mounting block before he acted like it was his first time. After many failed attempts, I finally got on him, and he did NOT like that. He reared and kicked by raising his feet high, pining his ears back and spooking. When I walked him up to the arena he acted like a wild stallion not a nice lesson pony. Whenever I got Cisco up to the arena, he turned crazy on me. When I was trying to get him to trot, he stopped, going too fast, and trying to kick. Whenever I turned towards my Ally (my lesson trainer), he would push his body out to the side so I couldn’t control him. Dogs on the farm started barking and Cisco almost ran over a dog. The scariest part was when Cisco almost ran over a dog and got fed up with his own misbehaving and he reared, and I almost fell off. I was frustrated because I didn’t know what was going to happen and I just wanted to have a fun ride not a difficult ride.

The biggest challenge I faced during this experience was overcoming my fear of riding a new and crazy pony. Even though he was trying to kick, and he was pinning his ears back, I was still able to stay on. From this experience I feel like I have the right to say, “even if it’s hard that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything.” Another challenge was getting on him from the mounting block, when I was trying to get on him from the mounting block, he kept trying to walk away and rear right after I got on him.

From this experience, I learned a valuable lesson. The valuable lesson I learned was that “even if you fall or fail, all you need to do is get back up and keep trying.” I can use this lesson not just in riding but also in school or other academic sports. Even though Cisco wasn’t listening and pushing me to my limits, I was able to ride him for a short time. I have only been riding for a year and now I know I can face challenges that seem scary. Cisco has helped me be ready for any other bratty pony that comes my way.

Emma Globke, 5

16

Blackbird’s Eye

Vivian Garcia, 5 | Earth Photography Contest Winner | Category: The Earth Up Close

17

Losing My Best Friend Do you remember your first loss? Well, I do. It was a difficult experience creating a memory I will I never forget. I never understood what grief felt like until I lost my best friend Belle. Reflecting on my experiences, I had never had to deal with death or losing a family member. During this time, I felt physical and emotional reactions that made it hard to get through the day. Grief was hard to get through, but I came out on the other side with happy memories of my best friend.

Belle was my 15-year-old American Dingo whom I had known my whole life . She was light brown with a black stripe down her tail, and her old age turned her belly and face white as the snow. She had eyes as gold as caramel that matched everyone in our family. Whenever I came home from school, she would smile so hard you could see her yellow teeth and her tongue hanging out of her mouth. She would get up as quickly as she could and leap like a rabbit towards the door waiting to greet me. She used to be the most active and fast dog. In our backyard she would often chase geese and ducks almost landing in the lake herself. She was also my protector. My parents told me when I was a baby and cried, she would peep into my crib blocking my mom (like a knight in furry armor), from getting to me as she thought something was wrong. They also told me when my mom would push me in the stroller at the park, if anyone else walked too closely, she would growl and show her teeth. However, when she walked without me, she was never aggressive to anyone. Six months ago, everything changed (like the changing of seasons). Belle started to change physically. At first, her jumping and quick running changed to slow hopping and limping, and then not using one of her back legs. Her bones were getting weak and stiff like sticks. Many times, she would need help getting up, like she was melted to the floor. We also had to start putting diapers on her as she lost control of her bodily functions. In the last 3 months of her life, she lost about 15 pounds. and you could see each vertebra of her spine poking out. Watching her decline made me feel sad, with ringing in my ears and all I could see was black. I wished I could put her in a time machine and go back to when she was running and leaping and strong like a house.

18

Blackbird’s Eye

November 13th and 14th are days I will never forget. I had just got home from school and golf practice.

It was as dark as a black hole outside and the house smelled of mom’s dinner. My parents said quietly, “Johnny and Ella, please sit down we need to have a talk.” Was I in trouble? I thought, quickly racking my brain. My parents explained to us that Belle was not improving and that they would be taking her to the vet the next day to see if there was anything else that could be done. I remember them also telling us that they were not sure if Belle would come back home the next day and that we needed to do what we wanted with her in case it was her last night with us as a family. I felt like I was in a void, a dark space that goes on forever. I felt panicked trying to process and think of all the last things I wanted to do. The number one thing I wanted was a recent picture to remember her by which I have on my bedside table today. I remember giving her favorite dinner, rotisserie chicken, which she scarfed down like she hadn’t eaten in days. I spent the night next to her reading Dog Man before I fell asleep. Going to school the next morning was very hard after I took her on her last walk down the driveway. That last walk felt like an eternity. It was a half-day of school. When I got in the car, I immediately looked at my dad’s face, his face red as a tomato, and just knew there was bad news. My dad tried to get the words out of his mouth, but it was like someone took his voice and he couldn’t speak. He started crying and said, “Belle’s gone”.

The biggest challenge I faced during this tragedy was how to process grief and loss. At first when I heard the words “Belle is gone,” I felt shocked, like time stopped moving and I forgot where I was for a second.

Without warning tears poured out of my eyes like a waterfall. I felt like suddenly it was hard to breath and my heart was in my throat. Besides feeling like I lost my best friend, I wanted to make sure I found a way to keep her memory alive. I found her favorite purple and green, shaggy, dragon that still had her scent on it. The first several days after she was gone, I slept with the dragon each night, tears pouring out again like a river and squeezing the toy so tight that I lost feeling in my fingers. My head felt dizzy, and everything felt like a nightmare I was waiting to wake up from. Each day after was hard, but with time I was able to start talking about her and happy memories with my grief processed better. For Christmas this year all I wanted was a framed picture of Belle which I keep next to my bed every night, so she is always with me.

From this experience I learned how to process grief and move forward. Losing someone close to me, I learned that even though they may be gone physically, doesn’t mean I can’t keep honor their memory.

Using pictures and objects that remind me of my best friend helps me get through each day. Now, instead of just thinking of the bad last few months of her life, I am able to remember the happy times and share funny stories with my family. The profound loss of my best friend made me think I do not want to get another pet as losing another best friend would just be too hard. In the future, when I have to deal with grief again, I will try to remind myself that while it is a physical and emotional experience, I will be ok in the end finding a way to remember the positive.

Johnny Berry, 5

19

Camden Lovsin, 5

20

The Time I Got Lost

Blackbird’s Eye

Do you know how many children get lost each year? Around 800,000 children (about half the population of Idaho) do. That’s one kid every 40 seconds or 2,200 children a day. I was one of them. Looking back, I remember how I wanted to take a different path to our car but instead ended up getting scared and lost when I couldn’t find my parents. I learned that I never wanted to get lost from them again and found ways to help prevent it from happening. It all began when my dad, mom, sister, and I went to a plant nursery to get a new tree one day when I was five years old. When we got there, we got a cart to carry the plant on and started searching for a tree. There were so many different plants and trees of all shapes, sizes and colors. We searched all over to find a tree we liked, even a type that we might get in the future, like a deciduous tree that changes color in the winter. We never found one that was quite right. When we finally gave up searching, we were at the back of the nursery. We started heading back to our car when I said: “Hey dad, can I go over there through that door and meet you guys at the car?” I have no clue why at the time I wanted to go through the door that just closed but I did. Covid was a thing at the time, so I put my mask on and ran as fast as I could to the door, opened it, and ran inside. I was a little embarrassed being alone by myself, so I kept running to the car. As I passed the place where you pay for your plants, two people who worked there asked me if I needed help. I said “no” and kept on running. When I reached the car, mom, dad and my sister Coco were nowhere to be seen. Frantic and scared I waited for a minute or two, but there was still no sign of them. I ran back as fast as my legs could take me. I went back out that same door, turned left and then left again. I was so happy to then see and hear them calling my name. Out of breath, legs weak, exhausted, and tears in my eyes I ran over to them and gave them the biggest hug. As we drove home my mom and dad talked with me about how scared they were and how important it was to stick together when we were out as a family.

The challenge during this “adventure” was the miscommunication with my dad as well as trying to keep my fear from overwhelming me. I wanted to go a different way back to our car, and I thought I was being very clear with my dad about where I was going. I thought he knew I was going through the door and then to the car, but instead he thought I was going through two buildings and would meet them before we got to the car. When I realized I was lost and started running, I could feel the adrenaline flowing through my veins as if it was running for its life too. Once I got to the car, my heart was in my throat, my stomach was in knots, and my brain was racing. I knew I needed to calm myself down, so I started to think about what to do next. At that point, I got the idea to run back to where I came from and find my parents, so that’s what I did. I ran as fast as my legs could take me until I found my family. Once we were back in the car and driving home, my parents told me how scared they had been when they couldn’t find me. I felt guilty that I had gotten lost and made them feel scared. I realized that I never wanted to feel that way again.

From this experience, I learned a valuable lesson about communication and asking for help. I learned that having good communication is important when speaking with others. Being clear about where you’re going, what you’re doing, when you’re doing something, etc., can help prevent you from getting lost, and it can also just help prevent confusion when speaking to someone. I also learned that it is always OK to ask an adult for help. I could have asked the nursery people at the registers to call my mom, but I didn’t. It would have been easier to call my mom, and I wouldn’t have been lost as long. Looking back, I realize that going on your own and not asking someone for help is a lot harder on yourself than just asking for help.

Whenever this happens to you, take a deep breath and look at your surroundings. After this I never got lost again because I told my mom or dad where I was going so they knew where to find me.

Camden Lovsin, 5

21

Peter and the Time Machine Peter was tired. He thought about the mountain of homework that was sitting in his backpack as the small yellow school bus pulled to a stop in front of his house. He trudged through the blue front door of the little house. “Hi Peter, how was school? Dinner will be ready soon, but for now you can get started on your homework” called his mom. “It was good, mom.” he mumbled. Peter dragged himself upstairs and set his backpack down on the floor with a thump. He took out his science textbook and tossed it onto the desk.

He grabbed a pencil and looked at the first question. Peter felt himself dozing off, soon he was asleep on top of his science textbook.

“Hey kid, wake up” “W-Wha-what?” He stammered, only half awake. A strange man with a white moustache and wispy hair was standing by the desk. Peter lifted his head up off the desk. “Who are you!? How did you get in?” exclaimed peter. The man pointed to a large hole in the bedroom wall. Inside was filled with swirling green light. “I have invented the world’s first and only time-machine, unless of course someone in this year has also invented one. Have they?” He asked. Peter shook his head. “Who- Who are you?”

Stammered Peter. “My name is Albert, but you can just call me Mr. Einstein,” said Albert. Peter gasped in shock “You’re Albert Einstein!” exclaimed Peter. “I am. I believe that I just now told you that.” He commented. “No- I mean Yes-Just wait a second” exclaimed Peter. Peter flipped to a page in his textbook and showed Albert a black and white photograph. “Why that’s me.” He murmured, surprised at the photo.

“Hey, I never asked you your name” He inquired. “It’s Peter but that’s not important. Look! It says here ‘Albert Einstein is considered one of the smartest people in the world’ is that true?” Peter asked. “Well, I don’t know about the smartest person.” He faltered. “Can you do my homework?” asked peter. “What?”

Albert inquired. “Like, can you do my homework?” He repeated. “Ok?” he hesitated. “I mean, I don’t see why not.” They turned to question one. Albert studied the question puzzledly. “This isn’t how they taught it when I was a kid. I think we need some help!” He exclaimed. “Help?” asked Peter hesitantly “Where will we get some help?” “Leave that to me. I think I know someone smarter,” said Albert as he climbed inside the green hole. “Wait! Where are you going?” exclaimed Peter. The hole disappeared leaving only the bare wall, just as it had been before. A minute later it reappeared, and albert climbed out, along with another very strange man in a long curly wig. “Hello” said Albert “Sorry that I left Peter, I need to introduce you to a friend of mine. His name is Sir Isaac newton or Isaac for short. He developed the theory of gravity.”

“Well, not yet anyway. But I am almost there. I still need to work on the laws a bit. How do you do Peter?”

He asked. “I understand that you need some help with your homework.” They turned to the empty sheet of paper on the desk. “Wow! This is hard!” He exclaimed “What do they teach kids in school these days?”

“Maybe we can get someone else,” said Albert “Do you know anyone smarter?” he asked Isaac. “Yes, I believe I know someone.” Isaac replied. Albert and Isaac climbed into the time machine and disappeared. A minute later they reappeared with a very strangely dressed man. “Peter, this is my good friend Aristotle,” said Albert. “Why are you wearing a towel?” inquired Peter. “It’s not a towel, it’s a toga” he replied. “And everyone wears them in Greece where I live.” “Enough” said Albert. “Let’s do this worksheet already.”

They turned to the white piece of paper sitting on the desk. “This doesn’t look too complicated,” Aristotle remarked. In less than ten minutes he was done. “Here” “Thanks!” exclaimed Peter. “We better get going,” said Albert. “It was nice meeting you!” “Goodbye” said Peter. One by one, they disappeared into the hole.

The next day he got his homework back. It was marked with a big red zero. He never cheated on his homework again.

Jordan Caretti, 6

22

1000 Years More

Blackbird’s Eye

Once born into this world One I cannot leave I still feel the souls of my lost ones, Swirled around me Angels in the sky Knowing I will never die And come with them in their palace up high.

I miss the way this now foreign land used to be Lush with fertility Unneeded to be rectified But now the land has died.

I miss the way the gritty sand felt beneath my feet As friends and I splashed into the salty water of beaches.

The way we would laugh as the rough waves tried To knock us down But we kept our legs firm in the wake.

Like coral in a reef.

I miss the way the trees would sway As we climbed as high as we could!

We’d all giggle at each other Until we would fall.

As I gaze across the present land, Watch the way people hustle and run, Trying to escape this barren apocalyptic planet.

And all I do is take a breath of the smokey air And tell myself over and over Maybe if I wait 1000 years more, People will return, even if they swore they never would Maybe if I wait 1000 years more I again could see children play together like I used to, hand in hand together Maybe if I wait 1000 years more, I’ll find myself again Maybe if I wait 1000 years more, The fields will regrow, The tide will return, The trees will sprout.

“Just wait,” I whisper to myself.

“Just 1000 years more.”

Ava Bozovich, 7 | Middle School Youngclaus Award Winner

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Elliott Means, 7 | Earth Photography Contest Winner | Category: Enjoying the Earth

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“Moments I’ve Only Touched” Moments I’ve only touched From beginning to end Dawn to dusk Past to future Moments I’ve only touched The pain of a friendship Loss of a relative Disappointing a loved one Moments I’ve only touched A friendship that’s lasted An accomplishment I’m proud of A parent filled with joy Moments I’ve only touched Love that lasts A new companion A hopeful soul Moments I’ve only touched

The stars travel The moon shifts The sun shines Moments I’ve only touched A kind word A thoughtful gift A loving smile Moments I’ve only touched My courage hurt My happiness crushed My life changed Moments I’ve only touched From moment to moment From life to death From past to future These are the moments I’ve only touched Ella Marino, 7

Day to night Sun to moon Sunrise to sunset Moments I’ve only touched

Sydney Davis, 9 25

Here and Then Here and Then Then and Now

Where I saw adversity I now see opportunities

What will be We can’t yet see

So, when I look back And the memories aren’t all flawless

But through my little looking glass I spy hope and warmth

Here and Then Then and Now I see the best days to come The future is obscure Back then, this worried me

From daybreak to nightfall Beauty is all around Even in the dark of night Stars have their way of shining So, when I look ahead And see the unknown before me Here and Then Then and Now I see joy and love Sometimes the Now is hard I must go to the future To remind myself of who I want to become In the difficult present, I see things differently Life is a painting Without vivid colors I see obstacles And don’t appreciate the miracle of a sunset Or a kind word to encourage me In the future, life is such a gift No matter if it’s the black of night Or the sunny disposition of a golden morning

Abigail Schupp, 7

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Will I be happy?

Will I be liked?

Now, the future is excitement I know that the way to be content is not to look forward Or backward The way to be content Is to have eyes to see the beauty of the moment I don’t know what comes next To learn the future, We must stay in the present But sometimes even knowing this I am torn between Here and Then Then and Now So, when I find myself dwelling in the past Or focusing on what is to come I go back to the future And land right Here and Now

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Claire Caviness, 8 27

Noah Bass, 12

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My Favorite Game

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Oh, what shall be my most favorite game?

It must simply be fun for the player, With Creative tools so it is not lame, And much needed thrill as well as danger.

Perhaps horror games since they provide screams, Or Fall Guys where you jump across the sky, Or Metroid with traps, monsters, and laser beams, Or Lego games where you constantly die.

It’s Minecraft of course, Minecraft is the goat.

It’s a vast world; a canvas to the mind, A world where you craft, build, and ride a boat, Yet you need to survive the night and grind.

And while those other games are very great, The game of Minecraft simply takes the cake.

Sawyer Cartwright,8

“The Almighty, Forever Powerful” The almighty, forever powerful.

Grasp in thy hand our beloved earth, ‘twas Nothing but a rock. Yet thy was still hopeful.

On the first day thy brought forth light because Of all the wonderful things that he could create.

The next two days thy made land and sea.

On the fifth day God made creatures of the Land and sea.but on the sixth day God made me.

On the seventh day God finally rest.

On dawn of my arising Eve was born.

Seeing her be made from one of my ribs.

This day is the best Im feeling so blessed.

I was star-stricken from pride and happiness.

I am so grateful this moment is so priceless.

Dahlia Cloninger, 8 29

Ms. Maureen Morales, Faculty | Earth Photography Contest Winner | Category: Landscapes and Animals

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Cassie Cloninger, Faculty

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Blackbird’s Eye

The Angel with No Wings Deep in the forest, there lives an angel With leather cord cutting into his wings He does not move, though he cries out to strangers For he longs to share the song that he sings Heaven rejects him, seeing him too poor Not his sad eyes, not his voice in the rain But they see his wings on the forest floor And ignore the angel crying in pain What is heaven, its best angel cast out It is not heaven, for it cannot be The angel with no wings will scream and shout Yet the able pretend they cannot see So untie the angel, release his wings And weep at the pitiful song he sings Hannah Wilcox, 9

Addie Tauch, 9 32

Choose Yourself

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Looking back on past experiences is the best way to grow, Looking back on past mistakes continues to make you better, Looking back on how you were treated makes you raise your expectations, Looking back on how much you’ve grown makes you realize how strong you are, Looking back on what you have learned lets you understand how much you’ve matured, Looking back on your childhood memories shows you how much fun is possible, Looking back continues to help you move forward.

Let go of the past, look to the future Letting go of everything familiar, It’s frightening to experience the unknown, I’m scared to let myself go because I’m finally fitting in, I fit in with a small group, not in the community, I’m finally getting to be myself after so many years of trying to change.

It never worked, there was always another thing, I moved on, I moved to a completely different state, I let go of who I changed to, I found me again, I found people who accepted me, I found where I needed to be.

Perfect doesn’t exist, The concept is imaginary.

There is no normal So, create your normal.

Weird is just a word, It doesn’t count toward anything.

The past is full of experiences but so is the future.

Keep these lessons in mind as you continue, Keep your morals in heart as you continue.

Don’t pay attention to the people who stare, Don’t pay attention to the people who whisper, Don’t pay attention to the people who judge.

Keep your attention on yourself, On the people who bring out the best in you, And the people who make your day better.

Choose the people who chose you, Sometimes that means putting yourself out there.

You deserve to be happy, Sometimes that means to let go of the past.

You don’t always have to give into peer pressure, Sometimes that means standing up for yourself.

Continue to push yourself to be your best, The most significant growth is often unseen, But sometimes that means being happy with only you knowing your progress.

Continue to become a better version of yourself.

It’s about time to choose yourself.

Logan Slabaugh, 9 | Upper School Youngclaus Award Winner

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Am I Not a Story To those willing to listen, have you not been told throughout your life that this is the real world. That this is a place that is cruel, unyielding, unfair. That this is an environment in which you must navigate with unopposed surety. Perhaps this bleak and unforgiving way of living works for those who insist upon imposing this rhetoric onto others, however that’s not the way I should have to live.

Betwixt the ink blotted pages in which I so often find myself, I discover worlds and wonders that this greying life has been prophesized to never offer me. If I fear facing the reality that has been advertised to be demoralizing and depressing, how can that be so wrong? When everyone spouts the same propaganda about the “real world” why should I feal shame in wanting to escape it? The corporate images of steel suit after steel suit after steel suit all displaying the same monotone eyes and a barely there turn of the lips – tipping and tapping away the day to make a buck – copy and paste 365 times. Am I not a story? The places I visit built of parchment and raven black ink seem so colorful compared to the bleak reality I must enter into each day. People, veined in words, are allowed to experience everything, all possibilities open to them, to explore living for the rest of their life. They are stories, am I not a story?

When reality is so much more real in places I can only go to in my mind. When I have permission to truly be anything, yet it is only in a book. If wanting, desiring, needing this escape is so bad and that I should be able to cope with my lot in life, then let me bleed off the pages into society. Am I not a story! Write a world in which mistakes are welcome, uncertainty is expected, and people can be their own people, have their own arcs, author their own path.

I am a story. The world is a story. These stories are still being written, and they have not reached a period yet...

Caitlyn Blocklinger, 11

Morgan Lewis, 12

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I once came last in a race

Blackbird’s Eye

and it was one of my greatest accomplishments.

I broke my record by a minute and a half.

It was a humid day, the kind when your hair sticks to your back.

I was on our home trail.

The first time I ran it I had to walk half.

The rest of my team was finished and I was still there, sprinting at the end what felt like my fastest but was probably only an 8-minute mile.

Runner’s high is an out of body experience, not unlike the seconds before I stepped on stage on the opening night of my junior play.

Not unlike when my mother and I stood next to the fruit and the balloons in the grocery store and she told me my birthday party would have to be canceled due to COVID. Not unlike the December two years ago when I didn’t have power for six days.

Not unlike the December after that.

The Icy Hot, caked on my quads and thighs, felt like it shocked me to the bone.

Actually, no, it didn’t.

The Ice Hot caked on my quads and my thighs felt like when I got a 36 on a math quiz.

Not a shock to the bone, but a chill that came so slowly I didn’t notice it at all.

After I crossed the finish line my body folded in half and some parent handed me yellow Gatorade.

I had grass on my knees and sweat dripping into my eyes.

Was this how Usain Bolt felt?

Was this how Kelvin Kiptum felt?

Was this how Sha’Carri Richardson felt?

Did they feel like they were about to puke?

Sha’Carri always looks like she’s not even trying.

I want to be her.

Yellow Gatorade tasted like acid going down. It was also one of the best things I’ve ever had.

This race, we started on the soccer field.

I hate running on grass.

I feel slow, and not even steady.

Maybe this was how Lady Jane Grey felt right before her execution, or maybe this was how Mary Aldham felt right before slashing a painting in the name of women’s rights, or maybe this was just how I felt when I ran on grass in a race I’d get last place in.

The middle of the race is my favorite part, depending on where it is.

Once, there was a massive sandpit at 1.75 and 2.5 miles. It felt like I was sinking.

It felt like when I realized that forever is forever, and not just so long that you forget.

It also felt like my shoe was coming off.

Maybe I complicate things, but maybe I’m right.

Maybe getting last was an accomplishment.

Maybe getting last felt just like sweat in my eyes felt just like pre-bought, pitying balloons felt just like running on sand felt just like running on grass felt just like caking on Icy Hot felt just like humidity.

Maybe I’ll feel this way forever, but maybe I’ll just forget.

Maybe I’ll break this time too.

Charlotte Mills, 12 35

Heartbeat Tick. Tick. Tick.

The rhythm never faltered. Violet had never known a time when the steady pace didn’t echo in her ears. It went unnoticed for the most part, quiet enough that she only ever heard it when she was actively listening.

But sometimes, when she was going about her day and had nothing else to listen for, she tried to match her footsteps to it. One step with each precise tick.

“Violet? May I speak with you a moment?”

“Hmm?” Violet turned, her dark hair and purple skirts swirling around her as she did. “Of course. I am here to speak with you whenever you so wish.”

In front of her, Rose looked off to the side somewhere. Her soft coppery curls brushed against her round cheeks. “I know.”

A hesitant silence stretched between them. Rose was not usually the type to fall silent, but when she did, it meant she was considering her next words carefully.

“Do you…ever think about the rest of the world? The world outside the Manor, I mean?”

“Hmm?” Violet tilted her head as she thought. “Only so much as I am required to, I suppose. Is there something you are wondering about?”

Rose snorted lightly. “You could say that.”

Another moment of silence, as Rose turned to look out of the large picture windows lining the bright stone hall. Violet turned to look with her, at the picturesque rolling fields and idyllic gardens and the dark forest that bordered it all. The barrier that kept them all in their place.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

“You know,” Rose began again, “one day, I’d really like to see what lies beyond the Forest for myself.”

“Really?” Violet turned back to her in surprise. “Whyever so?”

“Well…don’t you ever want…something else? Something other than these stone halls and glass windows and carefully cultivated landscapes?”

“Something else?”

“Something real.”

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Blackbird’s Eye

“Well…we are no more real than the landscapes, are we? We were created to maintain this place and its inhabitants. How could I ever wish to discard my role? Besides, we already know enough of what lies beyond the forest. I have no need to experience it in person.”

“Are you serious?” Rose whipped around to face her once more, and Violet jolted back at the sudden ferocity. “How can you say that?”

“Say...?” Violet leaned further backwards, away from the sudden confrontation.

“Are you truly content to spend the rest of eternity within these walls? Is spending the rest of your indefinite existence, in service to someone who could easily replace you-?”

Rose’s head dropped forward, and she took a deep, if unnecessary, breath. Her hands, which had balled tight into fists, relaxed and then clenched around her pink skirts.

Violet began to relax too. Rose was known to be excitable, but she was always able to calm herself quickly.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Violet wondered if the beat of Rose’s heart matched her own.

At last, Rose raised her head once more. However, her clear eyes still gazed off to the left somewhere.

“I’ve just been thinking recently…about the future, I guess. Eternity is a long time, and we were built to last.”

“Indeed.” For the first time in a long time, Violet thought of the future too. The expanse stretching in front of her seemed endless, and she found herself glad that she was not the only one who was made to withstand it.

“However, we were also built to serve,” Violet added. “And if we lose that, then what are we worth anymore?”

Rose sighed. “You would think that.”

Violet blinked at her, then turned back to the window. She found she did not like to think of the future- its vastness was overwhelming. “…One more question.”

Violet looked over her shoulder to find Rose still in the same position, unmoving with her fingers curled up tight. “One more. As much as I enjoy your company, I am finding this conversation unpleasant.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” Rose took another deep breath that she did not need, and Violet absently wondered why they were able to do that.

37

“If I were to leave this place, would you come with me?”

“Hmm? Leave…the Manor?”

Rose, unable to meet her eyes, said nothing more.

“I…how could I ever do that? Everything that matters to me is here. My duty, my home, my creator…what else could the outside world possibly have to offer?”

She found herself seized by a sudden bolt of irrational fear. “Of course, this is only hypothetical, though… right?”

Rose answered after a second. “Of course.”

“Of course,” Violet repeated. She pushed away any thought that Rose had taken too long to answer- after all, it was not as though any of them could ever leave even if they thought of it. There was no reason to worry about Rose leaving her behind. “Is that all you need then?”

“I guess so.” Rose stood still for a moment, then turned around. She began to walk away, but stopped after a few steps.

“Goodbye, Violet.”

“O-oh, goodbye!”

Rose resumed her path again without another word, leaving Violet to wonder at the strange heaviness in her voice. Her footsteps were solid and even.

Violet found the sound of Rose’s footsteps matched the rhythm of her own artificial heart.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Campbell Medford, 12

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Meg Caviness, 3

The O’Neal School 3300 Airport Rd, Southern Pines, NC 28387 www.ONealSchool.org | (910) 692-6920