DEMARCUS AND TYLER









“Demarcus, keep going! This is the last rep! Then we’ll go get Chick Fil A.”
asked Tyler, ”Hey, could you pay


Tyler agreed with a, “Yeah, that's fine. Just remember to pay me back, bro.”
chicken sandwiches and waffle fries pumping through his veins. “If we keep hitting the gym, we’ll make varsity this year no doubt.”
Sarah chimed in, affirming, “Demarcus, you and Tyler will make varsity and become five stars in no time. I have seen what you're doing in the gym. You and Tyler will be committing to Alabama in no time.” Sarah helped feed their egos as incoming

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“Aight, let's go!” Demarcus said excitedly. The afternoon just kept getting better for the crew. From Planet Fitness to Chick Fil A, and now headed across the tracks to their buddy’s parents’ house and boat. Max’s situation was very different from their own socioeconomic conditions. They respected Max for sharing and exposing them to more than they had access to.
“Aight, yea let’s go. I'm ready, just let me call my mom real quick. Yo, Ma,” Demarcus addressed her with affection.
“Hi, son. How are you doing? What's up?”
“Can I go to Max’s place? I’ll be home at 9:30.”


“Alright, that's fine with me, son. Have a good time and stay out of trouble.”
My book is called Bridge of Starlight. It’s a book about a normal girl, Charlie, a bit paranoid, whose whole world is thrown into a frenzy in one afternoon. As if the people she loves being abducted isn’t enough already, she finds herself in a secret magical organization that reveals hidden information to her. And her whole life changes. Just like that. Soon, she finds herself thrown into a conflict that she didn’t know about until that one fateful afternoon. And the question is: Will she succeed alongside her friends? Or will she suffer the consequences? My book is called Bridge of Starlight. It’s a book about a normal girl, Charlie, a bit paranoid, whose whole world is thrown into a frenzy in one afternoon. As if the people she loves being abducted isn’t enough already, she finds herself in a secret magical organization that reveals hidden information to her. And her whole life changes. Just like that. Soon, she finds herself thrown into a conflict that she didn’t know about until that one fateful afternoon. And the question is: Will she succeed alongside her friends? Or will she suffer the consequences?

“Aight, Ma. Thanks. Bye, love you,” Demarcus responded without embarrassment in front of his friends.
Demarcus shared the result with his buddies. “Aight, Tyler, my Ma said it’s fine for me to be out till 9:30. Let's go.”
Tyler realized he didn’t ask his girlfriend if she wanted to join. “Oh, my bad, Sarah. You
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“Man, I already can tell that both of us are getting a lot stronger and better. And our grades are getting better too. I really think we make the varsity team,” repeated Tyler so that Max picked up on the earlier conversation.
“Yeah, I hope don't have to be dating the JV Quarterback.”

They got on the boat and started having a great time blasting music, chilling, and fishing. Then, a cop came to them and asked Max to show him his boating license. Max gave his license to the cop. The cop looked at the license and told Max it was fake. The cops started getting really aggressive toward them. The cop frisked Demarcus and hurt his arm. Max decided to call his dad and tell him what had happened. His dad reminded him to listen to the police and follow their instructions.
The police finally guided them back to the harbor. When they arrived, Max’s dad spoke to the police, who told him they pulled Max over because they thought Demarcus had brought alcohol on the boat even though they searched the board and didn't find anything. But the police said they found an alcoholic beverage on the boat, which the boys said was planted by the cops.
Max explained to his dad that the police put Demarcus in a painful position with his arm behind his back, even though he hadn’t done anything wrong. There was an undercurrent that Max was alluding to that the cops saw a black high schooler on a boat and wanted to investigate.




After the incident, Max's dad told Demarcus that they were racist cops and not to worry about them. Demarcus said it was fine, but they all knew Demarcus was never the same make started going, and never stop. After that day, his dream changed from going to the NFL one day

The next day, Demarcus and Tyler went to the gym. There was a lot of commotion that day. Tyler then realized why. Patrick Mahomes and his lineman were working out in their local gym to talk to the community about goals and ambitions. They were over at the bench press showing how much they could max out, which got the boys pumped. Patrick and his linemen said casual hellos, and then they gave the boys advice on how to work out and make the varsity team once the Chiefs found out their goals.
They also told the boys that self-discipline leads to achieving your goals for whatever you want in life. They told Tyler and Demarcus to never quit and always keep their head up. Patrick said with power, “If you do that, you will make the varsity team and help your family out. Cause it’s all about family. Remember that, young player.” That helped Demarcus rebalance his energy.

Because Demarcus and Tyler were even more determined to put in the hard work, Tyler and Sarah stopped hanging out as much as they used to. Sarah understood that Tyler had to spend more time on his goals and she would stand by that. Whatever she needed to do to date the Varsity QB.
Three days before the personal records for and even though they gotta keep practicing go!”

When they were snapping, they went They went fishing offshore bored that day. Sarah Tyler happy because his girlfriend again.

laughs, they talked about school and what high school would be like.
“Whatcha think the juniors are going think when we start ahead of them?” asked Tyler.
taking them to the next level,”



the big rod. Tyler picked up the big even for his pecks. After one beast in!” Demarcus, who was felt confident he could reel this glimpse of the fish. It was a massive
“Did you see the size of that fish!?! What is it!?” yelled Demarcus. All of them jumped around the boat excitedly.

We are thrilled to introduce you to our newest published author, Sloka Edara! Sloka recently published her book, Bridge of Starlight, through our Fresh Ink publishing program. Fresh Ink, youth authors with a completed draft of a novel are mentored through chapter-by-chapter revision process. At the end of the program, the author is guided through the publication process resulting an ink-and-paper book they can hold in their hands and share with other readers!
Demarcus went home with his cut of the tuna, which was four thousand dollars. He showed it all to his mom, who was at first skeptical, but quickly trusted her son and believed his wild story to know that drugs were not involved. His mom jumped up and down.“Thank you, baby, this will last us many months. Thank you and God bless your friends.” Life for Demarcus and his family would be so much easier with this money for a couple of months. “Now, Baby D, go to school and make the varsity team. I believe in you. You can do it,” his mom said.
All this pride from his mother made Demarcus even more determined to make that team and someday go to the pros and buy her a nice big house. Demarcus was so excited walking into Forest High School for his first day of freshman year. He really hoped that Tyler was in his advisory. But when Demarcus walked in, the bully from last year that used to make fun of him because he was overweight and poor stepped in front of him. Demarcus said to himself, “I swear to gosh, if he calls me some sort of insult, I will punch him in the face.”
The bully said, “What's up, Demarcus? It’s been a minute.”
Demarcus responded, “What's up, Connor?” in an annoyed voice.
My book is called Bridge of Starlight. It’s a book about a normal girl, Charlie, a bit paranoid, whose whole world is thrown into a frenzy in one afternoon. As if the people she loves being abducted isn’t enough already, she finds herself in a secret magical organization that reveals hidden information to her. And her whole life changes. Just like that. Soon, she finds herself thrown into a conflict that she didn’t know about until that one fateful afternoon. And the question is: Will she succeed alongside her friends? Or will she suffer the consequences? My book is called Bridge of Starlight. It’s a book about a normal girl, Charlie, a bit paranoid, whose whole world is thrown into a frenzy in one afternoon. As if the people she loves being abducted isn’t enough already, she finds herself in a secret magical organization that reveals hidden information to her. And her whole life changes. Just like that. Soon, she finds herself thrown into a conflict that she didn’t know about until that one fateful afternoon. And the question is: Will she succeed alongside her friends? Or will she suffer the consequences?

Connor then said, ”I see you haven't got any skinnier, that's for sure.”


Demarcus started to heat up. He tried to breathe but told himself if he said one more thing: “I’ll rock him in the face”. That was when Connor called Demarcus something racist. Demarcus decided he had enough. He winded right arm back and punched him right in the face.


Next thing principal's office.
are thrilled to introduce you to our newest published author, Sloka Edara! Sloka recently published her book, Bridge of Starlight, through our Fresh Ink publishing program. In Ink, youth authors with a completed of a novel are mentored through a chapter-by-chapter revision process. At the of the through the ink-and-paper hands and share with other readers!

Demarcus tried to explain himself while Connor was crying, waiting for his parents to come. Demarcus asked to go to the bathroom. He screamed, cursing himself out and telling himself how stupid he was for hitting a white kid in the face. When Demarcus returned, the principal told him he couldn’t try out for the team this year. Demarcus felt his future slip away. He felt awful. He didn’t cry, but was upset for a long time. He made a promise to himself that he would never do something that dumb again.

Tyler heard that Demarcus couldn't try out for the team, which made him really sad. He was mad his center wouldn't be snapping for him during the games. Tyler did make the varsity team and earned the starting quarterback position. Unfortunately, Connor made the varsity team too, but he never confronted Demarcus again because he remembered how badly he was clocked in the face. Sarah was proud of her boyfriend and excited to be the Varsity QB’s girlfriend. But most importantly, Demarcus’ mom stood by her son in this challenging year to keep his motivation going.
“There is always next year,” Tyler reminded his best friend. Demarcus’ dreams didn't happen as quickly as he wanted them to, but he decided he could not quit then or ever to help stop racism in the world. And he learned that violence is not the way.



