The Quill 2022-2023

The Quill 2022

Staff

Teacher Advisor:

Carolyn Rousseau

Student Staff:

Tuesday Benander, Anika Gupta, Bear Benander, Rebelle Pelletier, Aurora Serrato-Galvin

Thank you to all who contributed. This would not be possible without you!!

Cover Art: Amelia Altenhof, Class of 2024

6th Grade

Defenders: Sheltered by Nature

Daniel Maccioli

Prologue

August 30, 1942, World War 2…

Ganjer ran for his life. He knew what would happen if they caught him with it. He clutched the necklace close to his chest. His heart was beating so hard, he was surprised that his pursuers didn’t hear it. Thunder shocked Ganjer’s eardrums as he ran into the forest. Thump, squelch, thump, his feet made a noise like dying frogs as he ran through the underbrush. If he got caught, oh if he got caught, he’d be sentenced to death. Or worse. Ganjer had been a soldier in the axis: Germany, Italy, and Japan, but he had run away when he found out Hitler’s real plan. The amulet had been in Ganjer’s hands when he found out, he knew what would happen if Hitler kept this powerful magic.The trees above him rustled, Ganjer ran faster. His pursuers would stop at nothing to catch, torture, and kill him. Ganjer ran until he came to a large tree, bigger than all the others in the Black Forest. He pulled a dagger from his belt, then began digging, he didn’t get very far. The next day…

Ganjer is gone, there is no sign of him, the hole contains the amulet. The tree has two words carved into it: Help, pleas-The word is cut off. A dagger stands in the ground, next to a ripped hat. The hat has a name on it, Ganjer. It was seventy years before someone found the magic that Ganjer hid that day.

Dunker’ s Dream by Ved Tripathi

Aurora Stone Photograph Flaming trees

The Land of the Kind

by Thauany Martins

The land of the kind and the humble used to be full of light. Overwhelming by its beauty. Magnificent in all its glory. The roads were made of shimmering diamonds, wonderful rubies, and radiant sapphires. The stars filled the sky like gems would on beautiful jewelry. The gold gates would wonderfully open in front of you. As you would walk past, you would see the gates close in all of its glory. Everything was in perfect harmony. Yet a man named Loss was strangely able to get through the golden gates. And there he fell in love with a woman named Glory. They got married and had a child named Pride. She was never humble to anything or anyone. Her favorite thing was to brag, and she convinced her friends to do the same. Her friends did and told their friends that told their friends and so on. Soon this started getting out of hand and more children came into the land of the kind. Madness and Insanity were twins. Despair and Guilt were the best of friends. Then there came the chaotic 7 who divided the Land of the Kind out of brute force. They named themselves the 7 deadly sins. Meanwhile in the middle of the seven chunks of land. There lived a family and their child was Hope.

The end

My

Worst Enemy by Rebelle Pelletier

My Worst Enemy. Invisibility.

Sometimes I see the world in pitch black, and other times gray. My power invisibility took over me, like a big ocean wave crashing. The anxiety and stress shatters me to pieces, and of course I knew I was invisible. It was quite obvious. My mouth was shut the entire day. I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember no one knew my name because I didn't talk. I was simply invisible. When I had enough strength, My voice clear as ever. Though as my answer filled the entire classroom, I. Was Wrong. The teacher humiliated me, the entire class giggled and the boys thought I was dumb. Dumber than the dumbest person on earth. Then my enemy awoke. It said Wow you dumbo, I bet you $190 you won't pass this grade. I'm sure that mom and dad will think they need to send you Saturday School for kids and teens!

“No, No!” I mumbled in the depths of my brain. Oh no. It took over me. I was under that spell for months but slowly and surely those months turned into years. My mouth was sealed. Sealed shut. Shut for good. The thoughts kept in my little mind but it became too much for my little mind and I went a little crazy. Good news is I overcame that, but the enemy lingers in the dark. In the scariest of times my mouth is sewed shut for extended periods of time, but I break through every time . No matter how long. Invisibility can't keep me forever.

The end

Inspired by a dark moment in my life.

Archer’s Story by Aria Nesbitt

Chapter 1

Welcome to the World

It was dark and my eyes were not open yet. My mom was my warmth and safety at the time. I had brothers and sisters that would wine and cry for mom's milk all the time. One day, my eyes were still not open but all my other senses were alert, and I heard a quiet soothing voice coming from above me. A pair of gentle hands reached down and picked me up and said “you’re getting so big!” It was a female. I could tell by the soothing voice she talked to me in. She put me down and picked up another one of my brothers and kissed him on the head. She did the same for the rest of the puppies. Later that day she came back with a big heaping bowl of food for my mom. By the looks of it it was just a bunch of crunchy round brown things that we couldn’t eat yet because we were too young. While we played “I’ll chase your tail until you get mad” my mom was finishing up her dinner when that nice lady came back and took the empty bowl away. She took me and my brother and sisters outside. I had never been outside before there was this weird green stuff under my feet that would tickle whenever I would take a step. It didn’t taste very good when I tried to eat it but it did make for a great back scratcher!

Chapter 2

I’m the one

The next day the lady came back and picked me up and said “ some people will be coming to see you.” “ They think you’re the one!” My name was Jet. I heard her call me that a couple of times so i’m considering it my name. A few hours later a couple came into the room and when they saw me their jaws dropped. My eyes were finally open and I could see the world! The nice couple came in and spent a lot of time with me. Their names were Laura and Ryan. They think they chose me but really I chose them Laura's voice was soothing and calm. She smelled of delicious coffee and toast. What a pleasant smell. Her hands were warm when they touched me. They were safe just like my mom’s warmth and safety. I knew that I would live a happy life with Laura and Ryan. While Laura was cuddling me Ryan was getting attacked by my brothers and sisters as if they were so desperate and saying “ please please oh please take ME home!” They left the room to sign some papers. Laura comes back and says “you’re coming home with us!” her voice is so soothing. We got in the car and we went back to their house.

Chapter 3

A New World

\When we were in the car on the way home Laura looked at me and said “your new name is Archer”. I liked jet but since she said it so calmingly I felt special being named Archer. Soon enough I was asleep dreaming in Laura’s lap. I missed my brothers and sisters but I knew that I wouldn’t miss them for long. We finally arrived at their house, Laura took me out of the car and set me down on the grass. I sniffed around, squatted and left a puddle in the grass. We hung out on this thing called “patio” that’s a silly name for some stones and chairs. AnywayRyan went inside and then came back out with a big red tall thing that was filled with my lunch. It was so tasty! I had finished lunch and was getting a few more sniffs in and around the patio. When I heard two new voices. There was a boy and a girl. The girl smelled of delicious goldfish and well the boy smelled like a boy. The girls name was Aria and the boys name was Aj. Aria gave the best head scratches, and Aj was fun to run around with. There was just something about Aria that was special.

Chapter 4

The restless night

That night Laura put me in this cage that I didn’t like at all. She placed it on her side of the bed. I missed my mom's warmth and the warmth that brothers and sisters provided when they were stacked on top of me. Well I didn’t so much miss that, I more missed my mom and her warmth. I cried and whined all night long because it was the only thing That took my mind off of how much I missed my mom. Laura and Ryan knew that I would cry and whine but I don’t think they knew I would cry and whine this much of this much or this loudly. The next day Ryan had work and woke up super early. When Laura got up she looked like she was wishing it was night time already. That afternoon Aria came back and became the treat god. They were trying to teach me commands. The first command they taught me was “sit”then over the course of the next couple of weeks I was pretty good at all sorts of tricks. I got better and better each day. I can’t wait for more tasty treats to learn new tricks.

Chapter 5

The vet

After another restless night, that girl Aria comes back. Laura and Aria talked for a bit and then we got into the car and drove for what felt like forever. We finally stopped and Aria got out of the car, opened my door, clips my leash on and took me out of the car. We walk to a wood chip area and Laura and Aria both ask “Archer do you have to go potty?” I didn’t know what potty ment, But I did have to use the bathroom so I squatted and left a puddle in the wood chips. Then Laura and Aria got excited about me going to the bathroom. I didn't mind it though because a treat followed their excitement. After that Laura brought me into a big building that smelled of other dogs and a cat. I heard other dogs barking, and howling. Dogs and cats were called one after another to see this person called a “Vet.” Soon enough it was my turn to see the vet. When we entered the room the vet said “ you will need two shots today.” I didn’t know what a shot was but it certainly sounded like the end of my life. She prepared a thing called a “Needle.” with a compartment full of liquid. Then she poked me with it and I let out the loudest squeal ever, to let her know not to do it again. But clearly she didn’t get my note because she did it again and I did the same thing I did the first time but louder. After a few minutes passed the torcher was finally over for the time being. We left the vet and I said to myself I never ever want to experience what I just did again! At least that's what I thought.

Chapter 6 Swimming

One very hot day Laura took me over to Aria’s house and brought me up to this place called a “pool area.” Aria was in a big drinking bowl. It looked like a nice way to cool off. I tried to lap it up but Laura pulled me away before my tongue could touch the water. A few moments later Laura put a puffy jacket on me and then she lured me into the big water bowl and said, “good boy Archer you learn quickly!” I was just paying attention to the fact that I was sinking and splashing water in my face that stung when it hit my eyes. After about a half an hour of water being splashed in my eyes, Laura took me out, dried me off, and then gave me a bully stick to chew on until it was lunch. Another hour had passed. By that time I had finished my bully stick and was ready for lunch. I wandered over to Laura sitting on the edge of the pool and Ryan in it next to her and whined to see if they would get out and bring me home for lunch. Laura understood my signal and clipped my leash on. Then she brought me back over for lunch. She fed me and then put me in the crate. I didn’t fall asleep for a while because I wasn’t tired but then I started to drift off and then I was asleep. When I awoke Laura was standing in the kitchen and watching me closely. I let out a cry to let her know I wanted out but she didn’t do anything so I did it again, “It will be okay Archer just try to go back to sleep” she cooed. I wanted out! And I wanted out now!

Aria Nesbitt: “What inspired me to write this book was one of my favorite authors named W. Bruce Cameron. He wrote a series of books called A Puppy's Tale and I have one of the books he wrote called “Molly’s Story”. It is told from the dog's perspective. So I thought If I wrote a book on my Aunt and Uncle’s dog Archer, it would be the best gift ever for the holidays. Archer means the world to me. If I could go over to my Aunt & Uncle’s house every day to play with him, I would. What also inspired me to write this book was I wanted to follow in my Dad’s footsteps of writing books. It was a lot of fun writing this book and I really hope that Archer, Auntie Laura, and Uncle Ryan will really love this book and they will cherish it forever.”

Love - Lilianna Allard

Love, love

There are so many kinds

Love, love, love can be kind

Love, love is a romance

Love, love can cause you to dance

Love, love can be as a friend

Love is with you to the end

Love, love can always mend

Love, love can be an object

Love, love can always protect

Love, love will never hate

Love, love is like finding a mate

Love, love is on a first date

Love, love is patient and kind

Love, love has no bind

Love, love can make you cry

Love, love will never die

In math and science, Young minds bloom with knowledge's gift

The future's promised Myles Bond

7th Grade

Chloe Joyce

Chloe Joyce

-Tales of the Sun and Moon- Epilogue

Bear Benander - Class of 2028

A shadowy figure encased in robes was dashing around the palace.

The moon did not show itself that night. It was the perfect time for an assassination.

The princess of Teneluxa had turned eighteen the day before. Now it was time for the traditional ruler murder. The circumstances were perfect. A fresh adult heir, a pitch black night, what better time could there be?

Well, for one, a night where the Phantom Renegade didn’t have a problem with that.

The shadowy figure was holding a blade, sharp as a dragon’s tooth. In fact, it was a dragon tooth. Those types of daggers only sell from the deepest corners of the black market. The Renegade chuckled quietly. She was sitting on the windowsill in the master bedroom of the palace. The king and queen were sleeping soundly, not knowing what danger might await them. Lucky for them, we have other plans. She turned her head as the cloaked figure snuck into the room, blade raised up, tip pointing at the slumbering monarchs.

“I was expecting you’d show up, dear prophet.” The Renegade smiled menacingly at the cloaked figure. The cloaked prophet froze, “Who are you?!” He kept his voice down so the king and queen wouldn’t awaken.

“Oh, I believe we’ve met before.” The Renegade hopped down from the windowsill, “But in case you don’t remember, I’ll give you a reminder. I have many names. When I prefer to stay anonymous, I am the Phantom Renegade. I could also be a helpful friend, suggesting you to skip the kill tonight...”

The man laughed, “Oh, Renegade. I do not fear you like others might! I’m afraid this matter is out of your control. It must be done.”

“...Or if you’d like to decline my offer, you can call me death.” The Renegade continued, “Your choice.”

The man frowned, “I will carry out my task and I’ll live to do it again. You can’t change that. Renegade, you’re usually on our side. Why are you defending your enemies?”

“It’s none of your concern. I have my reasons. Drawing our weapons and beating each other like barbarians until someone drops dead would be majorly anticlimactic, no?” The Renegade reasoned, “After all, you’ve made quite a name for yourself over the centuries. It would be a shame for it to end so abruptly.”

“You think that I’m the one who would lose?” The man chuckled, “You never fail to amuse, Renegade.”

The Phantom Renegade stood still next to a vase, “Let’s leave it at a warning, shall we?” She leaned against the wall, “If I catch you here again on the next moonless night, you will die. I would be most grateful if you didn’t show up, however.”

The man snorted, “It’s not like you can make me leave this time. I’ll kill the two of them and head back to Areysiyi. Then I’ll make my next move when Princess Scarlet’s children are of age. It’s how it’s always been and how it always will be.” “Poor prophet, so naive. You see, everything in this world...”

The Renegade moved her hand to behind the vase, and pushed it off, “Must come to an end.”

The vase shattered on the floor. Queen Natura’s eyes shot open. She stood up and looked around the room. Nothing was there, just the remnants of a vase, and an open window where

the wind blew through.

The Queen figured she would clean up in the morning. As she tucked her quilt over herself, the wind whispered something.

The sun will set once more.

9th Grade

A 5 star General in war:

1...2...3...4...

Is this what loyalty is really for?

Is this what I get for making myself yours?

My men in front of me in blood and gore?

5...6...7...8...

My mind is torn, I can't relate, To those who'd gladly seal my bitter fate, Or those who'd just use me as mere bait, Leaving me to twist in hate.

...9...

I feel the end is near, my time has come, A life of battles now succumb, my legacy will forever hum,

“The General departs, his journey is done”.

...10

“ATTACK!!!”, I say at my men

And with weighted breath accept this is the end. They leave and go in a rush, ready to fight

As the enemy covers the sky in a flurry of lights

I see a light ahead, so warm and bright

As I say “hello again” to my fellow bait with delight

Isaiah Zuo

Yuval Artizi

Jess Cardoso

10th Grade

“It Girl” Dipper Kinney

I don’t cry. Well, I guess that’s not true, I do cry sometimes. Like when an emotional scene comes on during a movie or when I laugh so hard I can’t control the tears that stream down my face. But in real life, I don’t cry. I can’t. Now some people would see that as a good thing, as a sign of strength. But not me. For, while I can’t cry, I still feel all the feelings. All the pain, all the sadness, all the agony. It builds up deep inside of me ready to explode but it just doesn’t. And I’m left feeling numb. Numb, numb, numb. And I’m trapped with all the feelings boiling over, unable to escape, unable to feel the freedom of tears. Maybe one day I’ll finally snap. And all the years of pain will wash away in a symphony of emotion. But for now, I wait, numb as ever, wishing for a simple tear.

Tears

Alyssa Giugliano

The Last Dance Alyssa Giugliano

I step out onto the stage, Adorned in the most beautiful of fabrics: White, pink, silver, gold. I was stunning.

I get into position, Air piercing through my lungs As if I had just been plunged into The deepest depths of the ocean. A pit in my stomach, And goosebumps down my spine. I never imagined the day would come When I would actually miss that feeling.

The curtains are drawn, And the lights shine down on my face. Breathe In out in out.

And suddenly I’m flying, And leaping and twirling, And moving to the music That I’ve heard a million times before.

And it feels like home.

And as I’m nearing the end of my dance I slow down begging, pleading, for time to do the same. But it doesn’t.

And as it’s time to land my final turn I remember my first dance. The excitement, the joy, The sickled feet.

I remember the posters Upon posters of ballerinas That covered the walls Of my childhood bedroom.

I remember my first pair of pointe shoes, My first medal, My first trophy, My first contract.

And as I finish my last pirouette, I can’t help but smile. What a long way I’ve come, To make it to the last dance.

Boys Alyssa Giugliano

Aww look at how adorable she is! She’ll grow to be a beautiful woman for sure!

It’ll be a struggle to keep all the boys away!

Hi sweetie! How was your first day of school? Did you make any new friends? Did you see any cute boys?

Just wait ‘till she gets to high school! Those boys won’t be able to take their eyes off of her. Haha, well she’s not dating any boys ‘till she’s FORTY!

Oh my goodness!

You’ve grown so much since I last saw you! And you’re so beautiful, I bet you have plenty of boys to choose from! - - -

She walks past me; Sun on her face, Wind in her hair, Butterflies in my stomach!

She approaches, With a smile drawn from ear to ear. I am hers. And she is mine.

It’s no problem Dad, There won’t be any boys for you to worry about.

Giuglianos Alyssa Giugliano

Uncle Bob: High School Valedictorian

Dartmouth University

Harvard Medical School

Head of Cardiology

Harvard Medical School Professor

Uncle Chris: High School Valedictorian

Princeton University

Successful Real Estate Agent

Aunt Gigi: High School Valedictorian

Albany Medical College

OBGYN

Business Owner

Uncle Greg: High School Valedictorian

Hamilton University

Cardiologist

Uncle Mark: High School Valedictorian

Yale University

Lawyer

Dad: High School Valedictorian

Harvard University

Successful Businessman

Me: …

I Hate Desks Alyssa Giugliano

I hate desks.

They’re quite odd, desks. I never found one that suited me.

They were always either too big. Or too small. Or the color was ugly. Or there was no basket for my books. Or the chair connected was too close to the actual desk. Or it was too far away.

But those are not nearly as important as The main reason I hate desks: They mean work.

And not artwork Or woodwork Or footwork

Or teamwork. Work work.

The worst kind: Independent, Worksheet-doing, Work. Ugh.

I grew up doing this kind of work At mannyyyyy different desks. But I figured the desk-work would eventually Stop. But it never did. And now I’m older And I’m wiser And I still hate desks, Even though I continue to work at them.

But I can’t help but wonder What the world would be like

Without desks.

Without worksheets And deadlines And tests.

Without wobbly legs

On uncomfortable chairs

Connected to too-far-away desks With no baskets for books.

Maybe there would be more artwork And woodwork And footwork And teamwork.

Maybe people would talk Instead of email Or text.

And maybe Just maybe People would stop Working to live And living to work

And just be.

And maybe they could even be happy. I know I would be.

Soldier Poet King

Alyssa Giugliano

Soldier Poet King: The lovely song turned stupid internet quiz. I’ve gotten a different answer from each website that Thinks they know what they’re talking about But they don’t. None of them do.

Hell, maybe even I don’t.

Because I’m the soldier Who fights for what I believe in.

And I’m the poet

Who strives to live freely and unapologetically me. And I’m the king

Who wishes so desperately to be the poet But knows that I can never truly break free from the Chains of society.

The poet and the king go hand in hand. One lives and the other dreams. I try to live, I really do, I try through my goals and aspirations, Through my friends and my family, My clothes and my crystals.

But I’m always pulled back down, Chained to the stones at the bottom of the lake which is the modern culture society deems “advanced.”

What is “advanced?”

The smart devices they call

“The world at our fingertips?”

What a load of crap.

The world is outside waiting for us to join it.

But we sit

On our phones

Addicted to our screens

Feeding off of short videos for dopamine hits

That will never measure up to real life experience.

But there’s no time for that, is there?

It takes too long to go for a short walk

It takes too long to phone a friend

But scrolling…

Scrolling freezes time.

Scrolling sets our minds at ease

Before we are forced

To turn back to our labors as Slaves of civilization.

And as I sink to the bottom of the lake, I’m swimming

And I’m fighting

And I’m gnashing

At the waves trying to Break free.

To break free from the schoolbooks, the computers, the phones. God, all I want is to go outside

But people don’t do that anymore.

The poets are a dying species replaced by Stoic soldiers of society

And kings who do everything right except what is right for themselves.

Maybe I am the king. It does make sense.

But I want to be more than that.

I believe I am more than that. I have to be more than that –

For the poets

For the kings

I am the soldier

Who fights – not for society like the blank robots they’ve created

But for the poet

So that they might continue to live a little longer.

And for the king

So that they might one day become the poet.

And as for myself?

I think I’ll be content as the soldier

Knowing my days will be filled with fights for freedom

So long as I know that the poets will stay poets

And the kings will finally lay down their thorny crowns.

That is enough for me.

11th Grade

Amelia Altenhof

Amelia Altenhof

Amelia Altenhof

Amelia Altenhof

12th Grade

The Little Line Blinks

The little line blinks, on and off, on and off.

The words I write lose meaning, fading into a sea of black and white.

What happens if I stop?

Will the line still blink?

Does the line need me?

Do I need it?

What happens when the line stops blinking?

Will I stop blinking?

Will that be my last word?

Will that be my last breath? Or will it go on blinking, on and off, on and off, forever waiting for words that will never be written.

Sincerely,

Matthew Peck, Class of 2023