Camp Fire 2019

CAMP FIRE SUMMER WRITING CAMPS 2019

CAMP FIRE SUMMER WRITING CAMPS 2019

CAMP FIRE SUMMER WRITING CAMPS 2019

This is a Log Cabin Book, an imprint of THE CABIN 801 South Capitol Boulevard, Boise, Idaho 83702 (208) 331-8000 www.thecabinidaho.org (c) 2019 The Cabin All rights reserved.

Book design by Jocelyn Robertson Cover artwork by CSA-Printstock Printed and bound in the USA in an edition of 200 copies.

Writing Camps and publication of CAMP FIRE are made possible by generous support from: The City of Boise, Idaho Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Idaho Community Foundation.

CONTENTS Introduction • 1 BIG RED BUTTON • 5 ORDINARY SQUARES • 23 HOME TO THE RUMBLINGS • 45 FIRE CATS • 63 QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS • 99 HORSEHAIR MATTRESS • 107 SHARD IS SHARP • 125 SWISH-SWASH • 144 PINE PLANT PRICKLES • 153 Teaching-Writer Biographies • 165 Acknowledgements • 169 Index • 171

INTRODUCTION Each summer, kids of all ages and interests take The Cabin’s Summer Writing Camps to learn from a team of dedicated and enthusiastic teachers.

During each camp, the kids are part of a community.

They learn to play with senses and image in writing, and ind new ways to connect to each other and the world around them.

They observe how place inspires writing, whether by watching a hawk ly above the foothills, or by becoming engrossed in the bee-studded blooms of a rose garden.

They learn that good writing is an inherently-collaborative act that involves absorbing, making, and sharing together.

Each time they write, they reshape what good writing can be.

This anthology contains writing that reimagines the many faces insightful writing wears. It is both an echo of the past and an ofering for the future. So pull up seat, and enjoy its wonderful poems, plays, and stories, each one an invitation to forge new connections around the Camp Fire. – Hannah Rodabaugh, Teaching-Writer

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CAMP FIRE WRITING CAMPS 2019

BIG RED BUTTON

BIRD

Sammie Pertel Grade 4, Sun Valley I live in a tree high above the ground.

I ly around in the morning sunrise and in the evening sunset.

THE CRAZY ISLAND Kylee Puckett Grade 3, Bellevue

The crazy island has a mermaid swimming under the ocean. With bright orange sun shining over the mermaid and pink sunset clouds above it. There’s a ship on the other side of the island. The mermaid has stripes of sun for hair, seashells for her tail and bikini, with tan and smooth skin. And the ish have mermaid.

THE PENCIL

Bradley Chavez Grade 4, Hailey Pencil pencil you go anywhere with me. You erase when I need you to. Pencil pencil you love paper. And you get sharpened whenever I need you to, but you get tinier and tinier when you get sharpened too much. And you cannot get big again. So we recycle you or throw you away.

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OPA

Isla Mick Grade 4, Boise In this one you are the joy in my heart Singing to the stars In this one you are the ocean at the beach If you had not come there would be no water In this one you are the river rushing with excitement.

Taking sand and rocks of happiness In this one you are a great summer day.

On a steep hill In this one you are my Opa.

MY NAME

Reese Mosher Grade 4, Boise My name is bright and colorful, like a rainbow It could taste sour and sweet at the same time It could smell tropical, like Hawaii It could sound like a song, loud It is very unique

BUTTERFLY

Rocco Vincelli Grade 3, Boise Butterlies come in many diferent types I was just at the butterly exhibit It was so hot it was almost cold.

The glossy air smelled like the fresh smell of pizza with pepperoni and olives I saw radioactive colored butterlies Flapping noise in the distance.

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BAMBOO IN THE NIGHT Colin Keith Grade 4, Boise

I am in the bed and I see The stars glistening like the moon And a stick of bamboo With lots of forest green leaves I am in the bed and I hear the leaves on the bamboo swaying side to side like a metronome I am in the bed and I feel The thick stem of bamboo That is as thick as wood I am in the bed and I smell The water on the leaves It smells like the grass of the mountain I am in the bed and I taste The bamboo leaves That taste like romaine lettuce

LUTHER

Margo Lawley Grade 3, Boise Luther is like yellow He can surprise you in many diferent ways Luther is like a monkey Swinging from vine to vine Luther is like ivy He can pop up everywhere Luther is like the Sound of crows talking 9

A PICTURE OF YOU Joy Tang Grade 4, Boise

In this one you are as bright as the north star In this one you are in the middle of my heart Never forgotten In this one you are a wolf in a pack, howling at the starry night sky In this one you are a volunteer at school Helping others In this one you are my dad

MY MOM

Finnleigh Isaacson Grade 3, Boise My mom holds me and Holden on the small gray couch She smells like avocado She is warm and sot like a lion “Come on, love bug,” she says She hugs me “I love you,” I say.

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MY BABY COUSIN BARRET Mia Baxter Grade 3, Boise

Red is the loving color for Barret He is as strong as an ox He is as caring as a Koala He is as cute as a panda His mom loves him so much He loves people like a monkey He is as wild as the smell of mint He is a loving turtle He is a smiling dolphin He loves the color blue He smells like a sunny bright rose Barret is a good child And will always be!

THE PAINTING THAT GLOWS Maggie Frary Grade 3, Boise

What does it feel like to glow?

You look like the end of a volcano erupting Lots of lava rocks and only a little bit of glowing lava You sound like a violin Echoing Low and loud in a tunnel You taste like spicy chili That would burn your tongue You are the scared thoughts of a child When they wake up in the middle of the night You glow.

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SELF-PORTRAIT AS A ROCK Robin Lane Grade 4, Boise

Laying in the hot sun, watching the waves going by.

When people climb me is when I’m most lonely, like a faraway island.

I get wet in the surf of the beach.

Looking at how long I’ve been alive.

My friends around me are not that friendly, so they are not that much company.

I even hurt people by the seaweed that washes up on me.

They slip.

I feel so bad when I make them slip and lick me.

“Ow!” they scream like little girls.

I just sob.

My tears melt dense into my side.

GOING TO PARADISE Rose Murphy Grade 4, Boise

The unicorn lew on a hot summer day. She saw a girl roller skating and a Queen by her castle with a dog barking. She heard the ding of a pastry shop door opening and people happily munching on pastries.

She said hello to the invisible man who was on his way to the art museum. He heard there was a donut exhibit.

The unicorn didn’t mind when a water fairy bumped into her spilling water all over her and the unicorn got wet. Everyone wondered where she was going. But she knew she was going to PARADISE.

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THE MOUNTAIN IN THE CITY Lawrence Zhu Grade 4, Boise

Out of all the civilization in the city there is one place that isn’t civilized, a ginormous green and blue mountain It is as cold as a refrigerator on the top, But the lake water is as warm as a heater.

Its trees are green as a lime, and the water is blue as the sky Climbing the mountain is fun as a challenge, But also hard to slip on moss.

I can hear the rustling of the other creatures, And the thumping of the other hikers.

JOSIE

Josie Heuser Grade 4, Eagle Josie is a name that is calming Helpful and a color of light purple It has a wonderful sound of chirping birds And a smell of sot lavender It has a tinge of sour lemon It is for sure not a name for an angry grumpy cat sitting on a porch step of an old man’s house It reminds me of a fall breeze As I’m running across a soccer ield in spring

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LOOKING AT THE OCEAN Aberdeen Sanchez Grade 4, Boise

The willow droops down low on the crashing Paciic Ocean I look at the ocean and imagine immigrants one small voice driting far far away over hills and valleys the sun feels as hot as burning red lava when those travelers inished their journey what satisfaction they must have felt like a bird lying south for the winter seeing glorious land what magic it would have been they had to believe in 14

hope I feel the solid feeling of land what if I were on a rocky boat for weeks how would it feel to see ields I’m standing on solid ground on the footsteps of people before me soon another child will stand in this spot one hundred years later they will look out on the sea and imagine me imagining them

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AWAY FARAWAY Harrison Hoyne Grade 4, Boise

In the breeze towards the East A butterly lying the tears from the sun.

Red autumn leaves blowing calmly in the cool breeze Lovely little butterly you must ind your heart Beyond the sun’s reach but Where you never looked before.

This is no wish, not upon a star The small little butterly believes in It’s helpless little heart.

THE ROSES

Haedyn Asmussen Grade 4, Eagle Sweet summer air took over the sky.

You could tell the roses were blooming.

Sweetness illed the air.

Sot elegant petals falling to the ground.

The wind making each petal prettier, poky thorns on the light green stem holding each colorful lower up ‘til the gusting wind makes one more smooth petal fall.

People come to look at the gorgeous lowers.

Oak trees nearby stand straight up to the gusting wind.

Each leaf, each thorn holds up a lower.

Colorful lowers sway in the graceful wind.

Each lower has its own home in the rose garden.

The bright sun shines down on each rose to help them sprout ‘til one day they grow so high they have grown up.

Then they’ve grown up like a person.

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HAWK

Ghennisys Boulton Grade 4, Boise If I were a hawk, I’d ly and only be able to see with my right eye. I’d taste the morning dew just for me and you. I’d hear some screeching calls and then go and have a ball. I’d feel the air.

I’d touch its hair. It’s like I’m invincible if I were a hawk.

FALCON FOR A DAY Rebecca Piva Grade 4, Boise

When I woke up today, you see, I wasn’t the normal me.

The next thing I knew, I was lying over my house, Then I saw a MOUSE. I swooped, I dived, Then I realized, Wait, I’ve got talons or claws, I’ve got jaws.

I’m in the sky.

I just started to ly.

I caught the mouse, Brought it in the house.

Mom threw me out.

I was trying to pout, But my mouth wouldn’t budge.

It was like fudge.

I wish I was not a bird, Then I heard a whisper, You’ve always been a bird, mister.

Then I realized the voice was right, So never mind.

I am the normal me, you see.

I’m me.

I feel free.

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THE FALCON Santi Hunt Grade 4, Boise

If I woke up one day and I was a falcon, I’d scream and rush out of my bed and look at my talons and all my feathers. I would use my falcon eyesight, and if someone came near me, I would slap them and try to ly. I would say to myself, I am one of the fastest animals, so what am I doing? I should be catching food and falling of clifs. So I grabbed a bird and ate it raw. It was so good, my new favorite food. Being a falcon, I can smell my prey, and I have big wings I can ly with. I tell myself, I am such a good falcon.

And then I wake up, and I am a human again.

ELEPHANTS Rebecca Piva Grade 4, Boise

Elephants are as loud as booming thunder In a storm of happiness.

They are as sweet as a juicy pear On a hot summer day Going to your taste buds, making them jump for joy.

They are as blue as a husky pup’s eyes, and as sweet as a piece of cake.

They are like a bundle of tulips, Beautiful, kind, and well known.

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CAPTAIN INSANO BURPING Boone Glavin Grade 3, Boise

Once upon a time, there was a guy named Captain Insano.

“I’m going to jump of this tree!” he said.

And there was a villain named Mrs. Insano.

It’s a war. Mrs. Insano has a fart machine and a burp machine. She blows it in Captain Insano’s face. He gets a pencil sharpener and sharpens a bump in her head.

Captain Insano wins the battle of 1969!

UNTITLED

Amelia Winters Grade 3, Boise My name is like fur on a snow leopard White like the full moon.

My name is sweet and spicy At the same time.

My name smells like a library book, Old and new My name is like a happy green tree Birds nesting on the branches.

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WATER PARADISE Charlotte Meng Grade 4, Boise

It almost feels like I’m rising up, up into the sky when I’m staying in one place. The rushing of the current in the river makes me feel peaceful. Pretty rushing sparkly water rushes past as fast as a jet. You can feel the calm feeling in your heart as if it ate a pill to make it just want to listen to the rushing sounds of water in the river.

Your heart feels like it is in a diferent world, yet paradise.

The unique smell of wood ills my nostrils. From my relection in the water near cottonwood loating around, I can feel that I am in a painting, vibrant colors around me on a rough canvas.

Delicious fresh air in my mouth, like I am biting into a creamy piece of chocolate. Fallen trees are a sign that this place has been here for a long time. This place is alive from underwater plants to wild ducks swimming around. Even though this is just a scene, it is capable of working magic.

Every time I hear a tree branch cracking, it is a sweet song that can tell you about the river’s past.

The rustling of the leaves are as gentle as a timid mouse whispering, “Welcome!”

Blankets of cottonwood fall on the river, creating patterns from cottonwood trees. The river is a magical painting on canvas.

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THE DAY I WAS A BUG Penelope Hume Grade 4, Boise

I was walking In the garden when I heard a buzz.

I thought it was a bee, But then I heard a beep.

I looked around the corner And I saw a shrink ray, And I pressed a big red button.

I felt a light blind me And I shrank and I Shrank and I shrank And I shrank and I Shrank and I shrank Until I was the size of an ant.

I was blind, so I bumped into a Thorn, and had a bump on my tummy.

My nose hurt so much.

My ears hurt because it was so loud.

It smelled like perfume my mom Puts on, and it sounded like a waterfall.

A girl in a dress and high heels stepped on me.

SELF-PORTRAIT AS AN APPLE Jonas Wen Grade 3, Boise

I’m a shiny red apple hanging from a tree and going into the mouth of a snake in its hole underground.

I’m going into the green snake’s small tummy in the future. my stick that’s attached to the tree is going to break in the future.

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THE SHRINK RAY Sophie Whitield Grade 4, Boise

When I came across the Shrink Master, I had to press the button.

It hit me with the shrink blaster.

I had not two legs, but six.

The mud felt sot and mushy.

It felt like rotten tomatoes.

The blue water was wet and gushy.

The rose thorns were sharp and pointy.

Spider’s silk is sot and stretchy.

I come and touch it, sotly, And now it feels thick and meshy.

Now I loat on a large lake.

Now the shrink ray is wearing of.

I lose my four other legs.

The Shrink Master is growing to the Size of a large trout.

I am back to my normal self.

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ORDINARY SQUARE

THE RAINBOW

Elizabeth Brunick Grade 5, Twin Falls A colorful banner across the sky, A ribbon on a background of blue, I think the colors are pretty, The seven colorful hues.

A bridge to diferent dimensions, A pathway to other worlds, You can see them in plays, books, or movies, Or watch it yourself unfurl.

A decoration for a party, Or an addition to a room, A beautiful sign of hope, An arch prettier than the moon.

MY KITTEN

Pacience Gordon Grade 5, Kuna As fuzzy as a new carpet As crazy as a lunatic with a heart As sweet as true love As tough as a wrestler with zero beatings As talkative as a radio with no of button As orange as an orange on an orange tractor As amazing as the best kitten

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SELF-PORTRAIT AS A SQUARE Koli Ma Grade 5, Meridian

Me, just a normal, ordinary square.

With triangles galore.

All triangles a little bit diferent.

But not all the shapes are triangles.

There are triangles with corners gone.

Me, just a normal, ordinary square.

Yes, I’m a square.

But I’m as lat as a pancake.

I like to gaze around the big, cozy classroom with lots of desks.

Jealous of the cubes Who are not lat at all But quite solid.

Just as solid as a rock.

Yes, I’m a square.

But I’m as lat as a pancake.

I’ve realized that on those cubes are squares!

And that they are jealous of me!

For I can make them with six of myself.

I am not jealous of cubes no more.

I’ve realized that on those cubes are six squares!

And that they are jealous of me!

Me, just a normal, ordinary square or so I thought.

Because I’m unique With my triangles And triangles with no corners.

I’m all the colors from the rainbow.

Me, just a normal, ordinary square Or so I thought.

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THE ROSE

Oskar Ream Grade 5, Boise A rose may smell bittersweet Still it is blooming, blasted in heat A rose may feel sot and silky, The pollen is wet, but to a bee it is milky A rose may taste earthy and bland, But it is the inest lower on land.

THE ROSE

Jade Roscheck Grade 5, Boise An ocean of dark blue water, rose petals loating.

Spiked iron fences patrol the perimeter.

The crashing sound of a large blue waterfall.

The numbness of the cold, Blue water Freezing the petals The taste of cold, minty water Mixed with the sweetness from the red rose petals, The loud, rushing waterfall, Pushing the petals to the bottom The smell of hopelessness, Fills the hot summer breeze

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A GOOD TIME Kaylani Chipman Grade 5, Boise As graceful as ferrets in a tunnel As funny as my dogs playing As pretty as a blue blue ocean As scary as a storm on a rainy day in Idaho As fun as being my friend’s house, playing As loud as a lightning storm As weird as being at the zoo, making toys for baboons As cool as spider monkeys not using their thumbs As sad as an animal who goes missing

AS THE RAIN SINGS ON Jack Heuser Grade 5, Eagle

I see the tender moonlight through the leaves Of the only standing maple tree As red as a cherry popsicle The calm rushing water lows through the plopping of the rain fall.

I smell the damp grass As the rain acts like a sprinkler

THE BABOON Abby Taylor Grade 5, Boise

The baboon is sot.

The baboon is slow.

The baboon’s voice sounds like the gibbon’s.

The baboon is black.

The baboon is brown and a little bit of pink.

It protects his family and their world.

Save the baboons.

Donate to Zoo Boise please.

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THE JELLYFISH Cooper Goulder Grade 6, Boise

Jellyish loat through the water, the sun shining in. The jellyish moving through the water mindlessly. Suddenly a small shrimp goes limp and is devoured slowly by the jellyish, a loating umbrella.

Soon the jellyish will die and cease to move, just as the shrimp did.

Slowly but surely the jellyish will decompose, seeping into the cold wet ground, returning the shrimp to the world.

MY SLIDE

Ruby Campbell Grade 6, Sun Valley It’s great to slide down a slide because one minute you think you’re on a girafe’s back and the next minute you’re on an elephant’s trunk sliding down into the ocean on a slippery dolphin back but that’s just your brother spraying water on you.

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SORROW OF A FIRELINCH Joey Klaas Grade 5, Meridian

Have you seen her iery wings take of in a sudden burst?

Have you felt the angry colors on her agile body leak into her soul?

Have you seen her tears transform in streams of red hot lava as she glides through the air?

Have you felt the desperate desire to stretch your wings and ly away?

Have you yet found the key to unlock her thoughts?

Can you hear me, pretty bird?

Do you despise me, pretty bird?

Where are you going, pretty bird?

THE DREAM

Charlotte Blaine Grade 5, Eagle Once upon a time, there was a tiny pygmy owl named Flufy, and she had the craziest dream of all time. She went hunting and then she caught a mouse. When she was just about to eat, the mouse started eating her. The mouse got soooooooooo fat that it grew wings. Then it turned into an owl.

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ODE TO PAINTING Emily Janes Grade 5, Boise

Oh painting!

Your red colors pop out like lames I could see your burning red spots from miles away.

Your colors are so beautiful, your reds, oranges, yellows, and blues.

Oh painting!

You are such a great display, you will light the path for me.

Look around you, at all the other designs, your friends.

Painting, you are ire.

Don’t get discouraged, because you have the colors.

Oh painting!

You are beautiful and thank you for your lames.

THE POEM

Madilyn Carpenter Grade 6, Boise In my painting what I see is nothing like you and me it’s not a creation of the gods but so much more as the waves ripple on shore the setting sun the moon is showing the wind is gently blowing as my brush touches canvas as my paint gives the texture of the waves and as my thoughts seem to disappear I wrap my paint around the canvas and my paint is like mud but my colors are bright my greens, my blues, my grays even the browns, blacks, whites all melt together and it seems as if I’m done but I’m not

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THE ASPEN FOREST Tim Robinson Grade 6, Boise

Dull as baked potatoes Yet vibrant as a rainbow The aspen forest lies still But not quite as the leaves rustle The grass brushes against the trees The wind blows hard But the forest stays asleep

MY DOG

Aubrey McArthur Grade 5, Kuna as sot as a lion’s mane as weird as a pussy cat wearing shoes as cute as a new born puppy as cuddly as a panda hugging you as fun as a monkey playing around she is the best dog in the world

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WHAT AM I?

Halona Harshield Grade 6, Boise Don’t scare me I litter & ly.

I blend into things.

I scare away predators with my big beady eyes, My colors are blue hydrangea, white/birch border, melon, & charcoal.

I ly I have scales I’m as sot as a budgie feather I’m silent as a ly But don’t eat me, I don’t taste good.

What am I? I’m a blue mountain butterly.

THE BARN

Marlowe Bradley Grade 6, Hailey My sanctuary can be as silent as a feather but as loud as a symphony.

One moment you can be diving into the deep depths of a pile of straw or adventure into the lair of the chicken coop and try to survive the furious rooster.

You can ride of into the sunset on your goaty steed.

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RIVER

ZoĂŤ Hrubec Grade 5, Boise

I sit by the river, watching the ducks swim by. The sounds of the water rushing past my sore feet feels refreshing. I see an otter dash by in the trees. I close my eyes and listen to the rustling of the trees, the rushing of the water, and the refreshing waves passing over my feet.

OWL

Fran Hunt Grade 6, Boise I don’t dream, nor Imagine. I only think Of soaring high above the Clouds, dropping like a Thunderbolt to the ground, Running, swimming through The shallow waters. I know I dream of striped dark Trees with ire wasting the stone, cold leaves, as animals dream of peace and air. dream of a dazzling world where birds sit atop their thrones, and where peace will chill the stained white calls of dreams that run though us all.

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WHEN I RETIRE Miles Mehall Grade 6, Boise

When I retire I could take a nap I could watch TV And no one will see me I could wander here and there I could wander anywhere I could wear my pants too high Now I look like a real old guy I have to change my hearing aids at dawn Hey, sunny, get of my lawn!

GARDENER’S HOUR Grace Ineck Grade 6, Nampa

How is it that all the plants stay in bloom, how does the grass stay so freshly cut?

Is it the people who visit? But all the tools stay in their hut.

The answer is The Gardener’s Hour.

When the gardeners Come out at night.

They trim the bushes, They water the lowers, Do they plant new trees?

They just might.

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TACOBOT 3000 Avi Rajbhandari Grade 6, Boise The tacobot is the greatest thing in the world.

You can eat so many tacos you’ll hurl.

Once it adds salsa, meat, and cheese, it will make you ask for some more, please.

Ater you inish chugging them all, you will have a big stomach to haul.

Once your parents tell you to go to bed, dreams about tacos will ill your head.

In the morning you will have some more, ‘cause your bot is illed with tacos galore.

You’ll smell and taste the amazing meat, ‘cause it just came of the heat.

The tacobot will never run out.

I promise you this, so don’t doubt.

The tacobot is amazing, not like cheap bots just sitting and waiting.

The tacobot will always work hard.

Your taco won’t have any lard.

The bot will never randomly shut down, so there is never a need to frown.

Go ahead, throw it outside for a week.

It will not break, it will not leak.

The product is completely secure.

If you want, you can give it a manicure.

Get them now while on sale, or you can go ahead and eat some kale.

There is nothing more to really say, but you will never have to go to a taco cafe.

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CAMPING

Fred Scarritt Grade 6, Boise The air smelled wet like a misty morning in Oregon The leaves were as sharp as a hot metal knife The plants were dripping with the glistening morning dew The water rushed switly along the forest loor, ducks silently driting along with it The dove’s occasional tweet was as sweet as a wild columbine The quiet creaking of pine trees in the forest made me nervous The bunny hopped through the bush as fast as a person late for work The sot buzzing of the bugs was as comforting as a nice, warm ire on a brisk, cold day The roses looked as exquisite as a painting in a museum The early morning sun relecting of the dew on the leaves reminded me of shiny silver

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DAMP LILIES

Elise Batterton Grade 5, Boise The fragrance of a lower; with its Docile, sot petals The crunch of fallen leaves Damp Lilies on a tree Dew Drop Diamond on a leaf, The buzz of the bees Flying In The Wind

SPLINTERED RINGS Lucy Patterson Grade 6, Boise

rrum rrum chainsaws roar to life electric yellow and orange vests gleam through trees mourning doves escape from the horror chickadees’ songs turn to screams the crunches of the caramel mule deer sprinting away the taste of blood ills carpenter frogs’ mouths Joined by the sense of terror dogwoods with their rough patterned bark fall sweet sap splatters the ground like the blood of a tree it could be smelled everywhere to bunnies the honey taste of berries turns bitter the bubblegum pink of pasture roses looks too happy sweat coats mammals like a team ater a football game the wet smell of dirt drones on crisp dead leaves layer the ground the memory of the cutting stayed fresh in everyone’s mind like a bloody bullet shot 38

GARDEN TREE Sarah Tucker Grade 6, Kuna

I sway with the wind As the water gurgles Sprinkler mist covers the green and spiky bush The loopy lupine droop over the dry ground The smell of honey whifs up to my branches Papery tasting bark falls of of me For I, am a tree I live in the garden So take no pardon I’m not limsy Like the grass Or messy Like the birch Not a chattering chirp Like the birds Not a blinding pink My bark isn’t smooth I don’t know why Maybe, that’s for a scientiic eye But, hey, that’s a tree We stand tall Beauty in all Just look at our branches Yes, it’s true I’m an Aspen Just don’t go a-gaspin’

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I WAS SHRUNK

Sawyer Hundhausen Grade 6, Boise Today, I decided to try the cake I had woken up early to make.

Apparently, something spilled in the bowl ‘Cause I ate one bite and was practically full, But then I looked down, and that one bite Was bigger than me, and try as I might, I could not get myself to grow any taller.

It seemed forever I would be smaller.

When I entered the garden of roses, It seemed so full of loud, loud noises.

The bees are so big, They could be my new rig, But all of the roses were tall.

Some of the roses smelled awfully spicy.

Some others had thorns that to touch felt dicey.

Some of the roses’ middle felt squishy with spikes.

The pink roses smelled sweet, but all I liked.

Some of the roses felt really wet, And somehow, and some way, the roses let Me grow again, soon I was taller, But I’ll never forget what it was like To be smaller.

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HIDDEN FOREST Tabitha Zeiler Grade 6, Boise

The sun is bright and iery Like the center of a daisy Birds tweet to the world around them Landing on fresh grass One pokes at the brown tree bark – a woody taste A beetle perches on smooth petals An easy meal for the wandering bluebird At a nearby pine Fresh green needles collect dew A dove dives into the pine tree Hooting like an owl at night A slimy worm in its mouth Letover from the morning rain The air is fresh, like a clear spring day The forest is full of life Bees, birds, and little mice A inch tastes the stream water Clean as a sparkling diamond The forest has everything Butterlies and ants The smell of life is vivid The moon shines silver

THE ANTHURIUM Zack Leithauser Grade 6, Boise

It is as green as a lime, so beautiful the pink spreading out.

So rough but soothing, the scent so pungent it ills the air.

It’s as quiet as space; there is no sound.

It tastes like sap, so sweet like caramel.

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DREAMS OF THE OWL Sophie Weholt Grade 6, Nampa

The owl, Sleepy as a hare, Flaps up To its Nest Sot as A blanket.

It closes its Eyes And Dreams.

Its ears Perk up, Alert.

Mouse.

It lies Up Up Up Till everyThing Is a dot Except the mouse.

It plummets, Then steadies itSelf.

Something huge, Something pink Whacks It out of The sky.

It Falls Falls Falls Then lands 42

In a grass Mound Surrounded by Mice, Huge whiskers Shivering, Long pink Tails quivering.

Suddenly, Owl is the Prey.

The mice Close In. Owl Jolts awake Vowing He will Become A vegetarian.

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HOME TO THE RUMBLINGS

CRYSTAL CASTLE (EXCERPT) Katy Brewton Grade 3, Boise

“Hey Ava, do you want to come over and play on the crystal playground?” asked Bella, active on the phone.

“Sure,” Ava said.

“Be at the crystal castle in ten minutes!” Bella exclaimed.

The crystal playground is as big as a blue whale. It has no trees, but it has plants and lowers. There are purple daisies and purple crystal rocks.

“Okay, Ava said, waiting.

“Yay! You’re here!” Bella said happily.

“Let’s go play,” Ava said.

“Let’s go play on the crystal slide,” Bella demanded.

“Okay,” Ava politely said.

“It’s one hour down. What should we do?” Bella asked.

“Read?” Ava asked.

“Let’s go!” Bella happily said.

“First, the books. They should be fairy tales,” said Ava. “Okay!” Bella said.

“This one hour is longer than I thought!” Ava exclaimed.

“Sure is,” Bella said.

“I know,” Ava said, waiting.

“Oh, is it actually one day?” Bella said forgetfully.

“What!?” Ava screamed.

“Hey, you should be glad it’s not one week,” Bella said back.

“Instead of one week camping, I did this,” Ava said, angry.

“Sorry,” Bella said.

“I forgive you,” Ava said.

“But we have to get out of here,” Bella said.

“I know,” Ava said forgivingly.

“Okay,” Bella said, smiling.

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THE STRANGE SHADOW (EXCERPT) Danica Delatorre Grade 4, Boise

Hi, my name’s Nancy. I have two younger siblings, Cole and Gavy. Gavy is ive and Cole’s twelve. We live in the woods.

Oh, and if you’re wondering, our parents went hunting one night and they never came back.

So we’re on our own. Okay, like I was saying, we live in the woods. The woods are scary and dark. We built a cabin out of long wood and blankets. There are three bedrooms and a bathroom and a kitchen so it’s small and simple. If we want food, we have to hunt. We get water from a clean river.

One day me, Gavy and Cole went to go swim in the water but we saw the biggest shadow. Everyone screamed and the thing roared as loud as a dinosaur! We ran home and we never stopped and our eyes were shutting because we were so tired.

When we got home we all went under our beds. We waited for one hour. Then a scratch was at the front door. We didn’t answer but Cole went to the door and peeked out.

“Don’t answer!” I yelled.

“Shhhh,” said Cole, looking out the window.

He saw something big and brown. It was scratching our door.

It was annoying. So inally I told Cole to stand back!

And he did. I got a bat and went to the door. I very carefully opened it a little and it was a super big dog. It licked me. I giggled. I guess it was just lonely and sad.

MAGIC

Olivia Howell Grade 4, Boise Kelin was on his way home to the rumblings. He was just trudging back from the woods. Ater a while, he sensed something. You see, he was an ordinary wizard from the rumblings, a place in the castle grounds. More and more people were coming, so they built a place as big as a mountain for every non-royal to live in.

Back to the sense. He felt it was a living person. Then he heard it. It was crying. He looked under a bush. A baby in the 48

bushes. There was a baby in the bushes!?

He picked it up. He had six sons and another one coming. He needed to get home before the gates closed. He got to the gate and paid. He now had time to look at the baby. It had black hair and dark purple eyes. It was a girl.

When he got to the rumblings he went to the apartment. A woman came running out with a bundle. Kelin saw a lash of blue as she ran by. Blue was the color of The Custodians, especially the Supreme Custodian.

“Dead, dead!” she was shrieking.

Kelin ran in. His wife Saira looked shocked.

“What happened?” asked Kelin.

“They took him,” exclaimed Saira.

“Took who?” asked Kelin.

“The baby,” Saira said. “They wrapped him up with bandages and ran of.”

DREAMS

Zoey Nguyen Grade 4, Meridian Today I am leaving for California. I inish packing.

“Time to go!” Mom says.

“Okay,” Danny and I say.

“Is it going to be long?” asked Danny.

“Duh, Tokyo is in Japan, California is in America, and they’re deinitely more than a mile,” I said.

We are taking Japanese Airline. We had stuf shipped to our new house. The airport is super nice. Security is a blast. We didn’t have to do anything. We ate sushi for dinner. The airplane was nice. It had toothbrushes and toothpaste. Also really good smelling soap. Their seats are so comfy.

I had a good night sleep. They served us a nice breakfast. I already miss Tokyo. I miss Grandma. I miss my friends. I even miss all the unhappy times in Tokyo.

“Look, orcas!” Danny said. Outside were six leaping wolves of the sea.

“That’s cool,” I said.

“We are landing shortly,” said the light attendant.

“Remember to buckle your seats!” said another light attendant.

49

“How much longer?” said Danny.

“Ask the light attendant,” I said.

“Why?” “Don’t you want to know?”

“Nevermind,” he said.

“We are entering the border of California,” the light attendant said.

“Yay!” Danny said.

“Shh, be quiet,” Mom said.

“Sorry,” he said.

“Go read.”

“Ok.” “We are approaching our destination,” said the light attendant.

“Yes!” Danny whispered.

I fell asleep for a few minutes.

Again I had a dream. Our house was close to the beach.

You could hear the seagulls everywhere. Danny was playing with his new friend Joseph.

“We have reached our destination.”

“Finally,” I muttered.

ELFIN LAND (EXCERPT) Loey Brandel Grade 3, Boise

Chapter 3: The Unexpected Git Two weeks before the war a box arrived in Elin Land.

A long skinny box wrapped in brown paper. It had a picture of a sword and two fancy ‘S’ on it. Now it was time for the war. They fought for many days and nights. Finally, magic won and the kingdom was destroyed.

50

PSYCHIC

Quellia Isimibi Grade 3, Boise A woman disappears for three years and returns with psychic powers. She comes back with a dog. Her best friend.

The dog’s name is Phoenix. The girl’s name is Tianna. They’re not super heroes like you would think they are. Phoenix can talk.

Tianna got to high school. Phoenix is in her back pack the whole time at school.

One day… Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep “Ah just for a little more hours. What time is it anyway?

No I’m going to be so late for school. Phoenix where is my TShirt?

“In the closet with all your other clothes, obviously.”

“I’m going to be so late. How long was I sleeping? Four hours? What?

“Thanks for packing my lunch Mom. Bye” “You’re Welcome Honey.”

THE STRONG WIZARD TELEPORTING (EXCERPT) Emre Castellano Grade 3, Boise

Robbery 1: The Biggest Bank Ever Once, a long time ago, there was a strong robber. In fact, he was a wizard. There was a bank that had gold bars, rubies, emeralds, and more. He used a giant magnet, and he controlled it to take the entire bank except for the checkout oice. He took it back to his evil lair. Then, he decided to steal Queen Elizabeth’s crown!

Robbery 2: The Crown He teleported himself to London. He cast an invisibility spell on himself. Then he stole the crown and became King Merlondo!

51

UNTITLED (EXCERPT) Kaavya Venigalla Grade 3, Boise

Chapter 1 Once upon a time there was a girl who would go into her garden and pray. Once she took some grapes and got magical powers.

She soon met an elf called Elfa. Elfa had powers too, because she was an elf and was born with them. She told the girl called Bella that she had gotten them from God, for she was destined to be great in the future.

Chapter 2 Three days later she came across vanilla and peppermint extracts with a note that said: Mix with mashed tomato, mashed grapes, salt, pepper, sugar, apple juice, and peanuts – Elfa

TIGER (EXCERPT) Charlie Bolinder Grade 3, Boise

Chapter 1: The Door A few years ago, when I wasn’t king of talking animals, I met my queen. That day I found a door, it had purple smoke coming out. The smoke seemed like it was coming from a magic dimension and then when I opened the door smoke of all colors came out. It looked like a rainbow. It felt cold. And it could smell like a lower ater it had just had a storm of rain.

Then when I went in the portal, then I was in a diferent dimension and then I saw a tiger, so then I ran as fast as I could, but the animal bit me. The weirdest thing happened, my skin looked like tiger fur, then I could only walk on all fours. I was amazed. I was a tiger.

52

CHANGING (EXCERPT) Abby Bibbens Grade 4, Boise

Chapter 2 There was a little door. It was pink as a bright pink tulips on a summer day. But it was as big as a mouse. Elisia did not know how to get in. *** What is that door? Should I put my hand in it? Yeah I am going to put my hand in it. Whoa! Where am I? It was as black as the night sky at midnight. And I’m falling! Thump.

Again, where am I? I am human again! Yes! The magic must have worn of. Hey look at the sword. This is going to help me a lot! There’s also a satchel. It has a book of spells, a potion, a map, and a gallon of water. I’m really happy it has a map. I literally have no idea where I am. I wish I knew where that darn witch was. I could punch her in the face a million times by now!

UNTITLED (EXCERPT) Max Ens Grade 3, Boise

It all started when in 2152 the earth was all out of energy. This is where we meet Jason. He works for the E.S.S. earth survival society.

Jason is loating to the E.S.S. space station airlock 6019.

This door he has been through many times. It is a shiny titanium door, replaced two years ago when it was aluminum. It has six stripes on the sides, a red light on the bottom and 6019 on the let corner.

An alarm is blaring. Jason is roused from his sleep. “Oh great. What now guys?” The alarm said “Man battle stations” “Man battle stations!? Oh great” Jason said. Then he piloted his SKG-17 assault ship.

53

DETECTIVE OLIVE Amaya Longley Grade 4, Boise

I woke up. I heard a lot of commotion outside. ”I better see what’s going on!” I said. The bright yellow sun was shining above our Africa Exhibit. I looked out the window. It was Cheetah! But she never came out to talk to us.

Yeah long story…. That doesn’t have to do with me at all. Ha, Ha! Anyway, so I walked up to cheetah, “I thought you would ask, so your meat, well sort. I began “It’s ine” Cheetah interrupted, “There is something more important to talk about today” I smiled.

“Besides that meat has to be rotten to the bone by now.

I don’t care about it.”

“So, what’s the big deal?”

Cheetah sighed, “Nobody has seen Lala in about 12 hours.”

Lala is a hornbill that…let’s just say doesn’t have the highest IQ of the bunch. Her smarter sister Dalila heard a scream and was very upset.

“Lala was singing inside at 9:00pm last night. We need a detective to look for clues there.”

“I will be!” I shouted proudly.

The hyenas laughed, cheetah stuck out her rough pink tongue, and the vulture laughed so hard she laid an egg.

TWO MOONS (EXCERPT) Charlie Bolinder Grade 4, Boise

“Good Mars will be back in peace and back to normal and everybody will be happy again” said the king.

“No” the future ball said “Mars will be a sad planet.

“Good” said the king.

“You are a horrible king. You’re sick and what you’ve done makes me want to kick you, but I don’t have legs, but I do have arms so I can punch you” the future ball exclaims.

“No, I will punch you” Said the king.

The king shatters the future ball with his strong punch.

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Then the king went outside and saw a celebration and yelled, “What do you think you’re doing you pathetic rats?”

“We’re having fun.” Said Bleb-Bloop. Then the king sees he’s in the cage under the glistening moons that are about to explode.

“Wait before I die. It’s me Gerald.” Said the king “Gerald it’s you, I thought you died” Then suddenly the ire burns the cage and the king dies.

THE MONSTER (EXCERPT) Curren Hormuth Grade 3, Meridian

I saw something. It was the legendary sea monster it was green and mysterious. Like green grass. As cool as a griin as stealth as a jaguar and cool. I will go ater it. I will pack up my weapons and my food. Okay I got it and the legendary golden pump shotgun. I went down the trail. I opened the trail hatch to the submarine. I went in. I put on the wet diving gear and then I went to the steering wheel. Soon I will go into the wet and wild water to follow the monster.

Five Hours Later Oh, I found the treasure. Yay! When I opened it I got rich. I took the money and shot the monster.

The End

AN ADVENTURE TO MARS (EXCERPT) Eva Necochea Grade 4, Boise

Megan was scared. What if something went wrong? Like their ship exploded on their way to Mars? Lucy and Katy helped calm her down, but they still felt uneasy themselves. Suddenly they got some alarming news! The satellite was broken! Soon they were on their way to the satellite to ix it. When they got to the satellite there was a rock in the control pad. The three of them pried and pulled and inally got it out. They taped up the wires and were on their way to Mars!

55

THE WORST WITCH (EXCERPT) Kaavya Venigalla Grade 3, Boise

Chapter 1 Maniette is standing in a doorway. Not just any doorway, lots of lights are summing out of it. But the light is blue, and besides it is coming out of nowhere. She has never seen this before. The blue light was very bright. And it looked magical for some reason.

Chapter 2 She went into the door then was pushed of the ledge.

She went into a candy tornado and did not eat it. She looked down and saw whiteness. Soon she lipped over. She lipped back up. A second later she was in a tiny elevator going down.

Two minutes later she found herself in a school for learning magic. It was in myths and it was called Cynthia.

SNOOT FIG (EXCERPT) Noé Kelleher Grade 4, Boise

Bob excitedly ran home to ly his dragon, his only chore let to do. He loved lying his dragon—it felt like he himself was lying.

On the way, Bob heard an alarm from a couple blocks away, screeching like a cow. The guards were already on the other side of the planet. Somebody was robbing the secure facility where the baby dragons were being born.

“Snoot Fig,” said Bob to his dragon. As they lew, a net came shooting out of the robber’s launcher, narrowly missing Bob. In a cage, the robber kept a sleeping baby dragon and a sleeping baby hippogrif. Snoot Fig shot an explosive ire blast at the robber and it hit the ground right next to him, linging him into his three-inned spaceship.

Ater freeing himself from the spaceship, the robber began climbing the slippery metal wall. Behind him, the spaceship explodes like bright lights.

56

UNTITLED (EXCERPT) Claire Barrett Grade 3, Boise

In a faraway kingdom a kidnapper wanted to visit the royal family. Everyone woke up scared and hear the queen screaming. They rushed into the dining room.

“AHHHHHH” the queen called out they hurried to the ballroom to help.

“Look over there.” The duchess said.

All of them burst out of the ballroom and into the hall.

“Stop right there” the king shouted.

From above. Watching was God and his angel. God is the one who made all these things happen, but it is something else that he planned. A big parade was starting soon, and all the people were waiting outside, then they heard someone screaming. They all started to whisper. The crowd was frightened, then they were quiet and hear footsteps coming up the stairs.

“Welcome” The king said opening the curtains. The parade begins. Everyone starts to celebrate. They jumped in the air and yelled.

The princess Emma followed the kidnapper and the queen out the gates, but she forgot that everyone that goes out of the gate never come back again.

UNTITLED (EXCERPT) Roland Wilder Grade 3, Boise

When Nadican arrived at the badlands he went through a hole in the front of the cave. Inside he found many skeletons, spiders, salamanders and a spiral staircase leading up to somewhere. He climbs the staircase. When he looked down something else is looking up at him. Nadican climbs faster, the thing starts running. Nadican reaches the top of the staircase and there is a door at the top. Nadican goes through he is in a strange town with wooden and stone buildings.

To be continued....

57

SUNSPOT (EXCERPT) Andrea Jensen Grade 3, Boise

Bright Garnet is a small planet, and a very small animal lives there. Her name is Sunspot. She is eight years old. She is very fuzzy. She has four legs but only stands on two legs, and has a scar down her back. Sunspot lives on Bright Garnet. Bright Garnet is a happy place with forests spread across the land.

The only problem is Sunspot’s neighbors: Very Berry and Miami Jade. They make fun of Sunspot because she eats leaves and lives in a tree. Sunspot’s only wish is to get rid of them. Sunspot’s only friend is Lavender Purple.

Early one morning, Sunspot was doing her daily walk.

As she was walking past Miami Jade’s house, she noticed a case.

Sunspot ran back to her house to grab her magnifying glass.

When she got home, she found a letter. Here is what it said: OLLEH, Very Berry I have kidnapped Lavender Purple EYBDOOG Miami This must have been sent to the wrong spot, thought Sunspot. Now, I have to save Lavender.

THE CANDY PLANET (EXCERPT) Olivia Sandow Grade 3, Meridian

Frosted Pink is a unicorn. Frosted Pink has pink fur and a light pink mane. She lives on Spring Leaf Island. Spring Leaf Island is past the Milky Way. Spring Leaf Island has candy, unicorns, and dragons. There is an evil witch on the planet.

Frosted Pink lives in a cake house. Frosted Pink has a cotton candy bed. Frosted Pink loves to eat candy. Frosted Pink works at a cotton candy factory. Frosted Pink has a friend named Sot Violet. Sot Violet is a unicorn too. She is very 58

pretty. She has violet fur, a lavender mane, and a pink unicorn horn. Frosted Pink and Sot Violet live together.

Frosted Pink’s fear is fruit. Sot Violet’s fear is vegetables. Sot Violet’s dream is that there will be peace on Spring Leaf Island. Frosted Pink’s dream is that there will be no healthy foods on Spring Leaf Island.

Like any other morning, Frosted Pink woke up. She went to wake up her roommate, Sot Violet, but she was not there, and everything was thrown around. Books were knocked of shelves, windows broken, and pillows of the bed.

“She must have gotten unicorn-napped!” Frosted Pink said. “I am not going to try to save her. I am too scared.”

THE VANISHED ANIMALS Elizabeth Fitzer Grade 4, Boise

“Oww!” My brother Jack just sat on my head. I had the worst dream that I turned into one of the pigs on the farm!

“Breakfast!” Mom yells.

This is the time every day that everyone rushes downstairs.

“Sorry I am late,” I say, panting.

We all sit down at the table with a large thump. I am sorry, I forgot to tell you who I am! My name is Tylie Jackson.

I am 16 and have four brothers and sisters. Anyway, every day ater breakfast we have to do chores, so I am going down to feed the animals with Jane, one of my sisters. Wait! Where are all the animals? Oh no! We can’t let Mom or Dad know.

“Jane, go and let the rest of the family know, except for Mom and Dad,” I command. “Mom will freak out, and Dad can’t keep a secret. Meet in the kitchen in two minutes. OK?” “OK,” says Jane.

Mom walks into the kitchen. Behind her are my sisters and brothers. Jane gives me a thumbs up, so I am guessing she told them.

“We are going to the town fair. Let’s go!” Mom says.

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GONE BY A SHOE (EXCERPT) Rex Xu Grade 4, Shanghai

It all happened like this on one ine and sunny day. Cobalt decided that this would be his perfect hiking day, which he started looking for 1 year before, but he never found the perfect time.

On this very normal day, he went hiking, and one thing made him stop in his tracks: a fairly peculiar bird, or you could say, a crocodile-headed bird.

“Hello, Cobalt. I’ve been waiting for you!” the creature screeched.

“Who are you, and why do you need to wait for me?” said Cobalt.

“Well, my name’s Crocorapird, and you are the only person who could stop him.” The Crocorapird probably had seen Cobalt’s surprise face. You see, the Crocorapird was last seen 1 billion years ago. It continued, “Well, our disappearance is because we went on an intergalactic cruise.”

Ater a long silence, Cobalt spoke: “What on the lizard do you mean by him?”

“The him is called AFBLAGALZAP, and he is threatening our dimension for gold! You are the only one who could stop him.”

“AFB-la what?”

“AFBLAGA-never mind. Do you want to go on the adventure, and get a new pair of shoes?”

Cobalt thought for a moment. “Sounds fair, I’m in. Also, how hard will it be to defeat a person named AFBLA-something?”

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CHERRY & STAR-STAR Sydney Meng Grade 3, Boise

Hi, I’m Cherry. I am a sparkly red ish. My dad and mom died yesterday. They got eaten by humans. I only have one friend. She is shy, kind, and brave. Her name is Star-Star.

She is hot pink and has many stars on her arms. I love inventing.

“Star-Star, let’s go to the store!” I said.

“Yeah!” she said.

As we went to the store, a giant claw grabbed Star-Star on the arm.

“Noooo!” I shouted.

But it was too late. A human took Star-Star and her purse away.

One day later, Star-Star noticed that she had brought her purse. It had a few batches of clams, her knapsack, mouth wash, body wash, and her favorite special stufy I gave her. The aquarium tank was as tiny as an ant.

“I miss Cherry a lot,” Star-Star said.

She discovered that there was a crack on the tank’s wall.

She squirmed through but saw an aquarium keeper looking out the glass so she decided to stay inside the tank she was in. One hour later, the keeper was inally gone.

Star-Star once again crawled through many cracks which lead her to the beach. She went into the water. She found a sign that said “Coral Paradise,” which was the village I lived in. She inally reached my house and raced inside. I hugged her tightly.

“I missed you soooo much!” I said.

“Me too!” said Star-Star.

Later, we invited sea animals and had a celebration.

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FIRE CATS

THE DUCK GOES HOME Aubrey McArthur Grade 5, Kuna

Hi, my name is Duck and I am a duck. I’m going to tell you my story. One day I was walking to the lake with my mom for our last swim to go south. I hate what gets in my way when I want to go south. The best part is when I go suring. I live in the big city where I see art. I love to spend my time doing that. I love nature.

“I can’t ind my mom!” I say.

I look and look. Then winter came. I hid to not get cold.

Spring…spring.

“I can’t ind my mom,” I said.

I was so sad. So I lew south to ind my mom. Then I saw her...die.

When I saw my mom, I tried not to cry. I lew away to New York.

I love my adventure. I went to lots of ponds and lakes too. I went back home and saw a rat.

“Hi, rat!” I shouted at the rat.

“Hi, my name is not rat, it is Rat,” Rat said.

“Can we be friends?” I said.

“Okay,” Rat said.

THE FALL OF PRO. SWEED

Mason Robbins & Oskar Ream Grade 5, Boise “Are we there yet?” Omal whined.

“Yes, Omal we’re almost there. Now are you guys excited to see grandma and grandpa?” said Mom. “Yeah.” Said Anne “Well I’m more excited than you are!” Yelled Omal.

“Yeah whatever.” Said Anne.

“Honey watch out we’re gonna crasshhhhh!!!” Screamed Mom. The two children in the back looked through the windshield and saw a speeding semi coming right towards them!

Slam!! The world went black. The whole Waterson family was rushed to the nearest emergency room where they prayed for their lives be spared among many others!

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WOLF DEN

Emily Weiss Grade 5, Boise I ran switly through the woods with rain dripping on my head. Thunder booms and lightning cracks, showing a beam of light shining down at me. The lightning hits. Not just any tree or something, but me.

I wake up from the light of day hearing voices blabbering something. I couldn’t understand what they were saying, but I knew that they were talking. Kind of like when a toddler is trying to say something but you can’t understand just what they’re talking about. The room around me is an earthy, open wolf den. Vines hang around the edges of the front door. There were plants and weeds everywhere, but the part that stood out the most is their potion bottles on a wooden shelf in the corner.

“Guys, look! She’s awake!” the wolves turned and looked at me laying on their non-comfy couch.

I suddenly closed my eyes, hoping they didn’t notice I was awake.

“Graylead, she’s not awake.”

“I thought she was. Oops.”

Of course, I still heard them. There were three, about the age of 10 or 11. I am 11, so that’s a miracle. I was frightened. Being a red panda while at a wolf’s den is not the greatest thing.

Talking about weird things, the potions in the corner were bubbling and the diferent colors of them were standing out brighter than our sun. The potions lured me in, so I quietly got up when the wolves weren’t looking. Carefully, I wrapped my paw around the sparkling blue bottle.

ROBOTS

Payton Jochum Grade 6, Boise I ran out of the restaurant my friends right behind me. Huge lashes of black ire illed the dark night sky with an eerie, unnatural glow. Sparks lew out of the wrecked building, explosions of other wordly chemicals illing the air with toxic fumes. Everyone covered their mouths and noses with shirts 66

until rescue teams got there with the masks. A few unlucky people breathed more of it in they should have and promptly collapsed. People were screaming and hollering, scared for their lives. On the sidewalk, a basket of free newspapers and magazines caught ire, glowing strangely. Suddenly, the ground beneath us shook horribly and a few nearby trees collapsed.

People fell, and then two portals opened up and out stepped 6 robots and the holes shut, taking a few humans and sucking them into their dark, bottomless tunnel of emptiness. The robots were shiny with a metallic gloomy glow. Scientists who had rushed to the scene, immediately gave warning that these robots had been built in a factory to help out, but had gone haywire and discovered technology that hadn’t been there before, such as teleportation. They had destroyed buildings such as the one we had been in with weapons beyond our power, then mindcontrolled people into planting them. A robot shot out toxic liquid that burnt a gloopy green hole in the ground, and that’s when everyone ran for it, robots chasing and shooting chemicals.

People were ushered into ire trucks and ambulances, crying, unconscious, and very frightened. My friends, Mari, Aiden, and Jacky stood there in shock. Our favorite restaurant had just been burnt to the ground. What used to be a joyful hangout now laid in a pile of ashes. A few people around it were either injured or dead, on scraps of wood let of the place where everyone felt welcome. I fell to my knees and burst into a it of hysterical crying and laughter, scared and confused by shock.

“It’s just a nightmare, Ali, wake up.” I looked around. The corner outlet where wonderful memories had been made were all burnt to the very last splinter of wood. Jacky broke down in sobs behind me while Mari stood there in shock. Aiden knelt down and put his hand on my shoulder, and comforted me, saying things like, “It will be okay, everything will be ine, Ali.” He comforted all of us, tears gleaming in his eyes. He ofered all of us tissues as the sad sound of sirens played in the background. The sound of metal denting and a piercing hiss of oil steaming illed the night sky. We turned around and scientists were collecting remains of the robots to see what had gone wrong, while people collapsed in tears and hysterics. A grand total of 25 dead bodies littered the ground. People standing around them sobbing.

People with broken bones and wounds or bruises sat crying out in pain, scattered all over the area. The place where toxic liquid 67

had been shot steamed eerily, the carrying smoke in all directions, its foul smell growing fainter.

Aiden curled up and let out a defeated cry as tears welled up in his already glistening eyes. Mari still just stood there, her shocked expression morphed into a distant sorrow.

The melancholy feeling in the air grew heavier. News reporters and cameras iled into the scene, interviewing what was let of the bystanders. They ilmed the ashes and toxic burns in the ground. Aiden, Jacky and I got up. I linked arms with Mari and Jacky, Jacky linked arms with Aiden. We all walked to my house together, and even Mari started crying. We assembled a group hug and sobbed together for 10 minutes just hugging.

The End

STORY

Mahika Radhakrishnan and Arshia Suresh Grade 5, Boise Once upon a time, there was a witch named Ms. Tracy.

She was once a bad witch, but now she is good. She has an apprentice named Ms. Mckenna. She is very kind and helps everyone, especially her mistress. Ms. Tracy casts spells when she laughs or smiles which are very beautiful.

One day, Ms. Tracy and Ms. Mckenna were going on a walk in the rose garden. Then they saw the Julia Davis statue and they liked it very much. Ms. Mckenna said, “Why did the panda cross the road?” Then Ms. Tracy smiled and said, “Seriously.” Then the statue started glowing! Suddenly, Julia Davis, the apple, and the kid became alive. Julia Davis said “Hello, what’s your name?” Ms. Tracy and Ms. Mckenna looked in awe, what happened was she was really real. Then suddenly the kid ran to stop the other kids that were playing with plants. Then Ms. Mckenna screamed saying, “You have to go back to stone!”

“Okay, but irst can I show you around,” Julia said smiling. Ms. Tracy quickly said, “Ok!” But Ms. Mckenna said, “What are you doing? We have to put her back in the stone before anyone notices.” “Remember, she said she would go back into stone ater the tour,” said Ms. Tracy.

As Julia was walking to the irst sight of the tour she said, “so much color, so many roses, and light water coming out 68

of a well, magically!” Ms. Tracy explained, “Oh, that’s food coloring and electronics.” Then they started walking to their next stop. When they reached it, there was just an old bench. “What an old bench,” said Ms. Mckenna confused. “Not any old bench, a bench I built with my own hands and dedicated to my best friends George and May Smith,” said Julia ferociously. “Ok,” said Mckenna, a bit scared. Next they went to a spot full of red roses.

“This is where I used to plant apple blossoms but now they replaced them with these terrible red roses,” said Julia angrily.

Ms. Mckenna started to become worried. When they reached the inal spot, there was a beautiful big tree. Then Julia said so angrily that everyone gets shocked, she said, “This was me and my husband’s favorite spot to relax and they ruined it with an ugly tree!” She marched of and started bothering the kids. The surprised Ms. Tracy asked, “What did I do?” “Well I’m pretty sure you accidentally used your dark magic on her,” explained Ms. Mckenna. “WHAT, how did you know?” exclaimed Ms. Tracy. “Well, I’ve been with you for years, even when you were evil, and remember how whenever you made people evil there was always an evil glint in their eyes and I saw an evil glint in Julia’s eyes.” “Oh, yeah,” said Ms. Tracy, “but how do we put her back into the stone so that everything will go back to normal?”

Ater some time, Ms. Mckenna got an idea she said, “what about we put her next to the statue, and I make the same joke and you make the same reaction.” Then they went up to Julia and said, “Julia, we found a spot that doesn’t have any change!” Julia followed them to the statue, and Ms. Tracy said, “Go stand there and you’ll see it.” Julia stands there and then Ms. Mckenna repeated, “Why did the panda cross the road?”

Ms. Tracy smiled and said, “Seriously.” Suddenly, there was a whoosh and Julia, the apple, and the kid became a statue again and everything was back to normal.

The End

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THE UNICORN’S PROTEST Arshia Suresh Grade 5, Boise

Once upon a time there was a beautiful land with golden rivers and silver trees and turquoise lakes. This beautiful land was called the land of UNICORNS. And the unicorns were what made their land beautiful. They loved their land so much, that when the horses from the land of HORSES came to eat their grass, the head unicorns would say, “Keep of our grass!”

The horses would slink away. But one day, something magical, tragical, and dreadful happened. A UFO came and captured the unicorns! (Now I don’t think you know this, but the UFO were actually ighter planes taking unicorns to Earth.)

“Help, please, somebody help, we are being captured please somebody help,” a unicorn who was out of her mind said.

Finally, they reached a new world. It was illed with blue rivers and green trees and blue lakes. Where were they? “Where are we are we home yaaaaaay,” said the senseless unicorn. The head chief of the DOU (Department of Unicorns) said, “We are on planet EARTH.” “Whaaaaaat?” Several unicorns exclaimed.

“There are humans living on this planet, and they think we are not real, and we should really get going and start to protest.”

“Yeaah!” said the unicorns. So they started their rebellion.

NEW CLOTHES Josey Bond Grade 5, Boise

Since I got back from making banana nut muins, my shadow has been acting a little weird. She has been clipping her nails, which she never does. I think she has a crush on a weasel who is rude and a thief with black hair. She is always soaring of into the store to get new clothes that feel like silk. Ater clothes, she moans and goes to the shadow world and doesn’t come back until she needs some more new clothes that are really colorful. And even then, I don’t see her, only hear and smell her. She smells like old wood, and that does not smell good at all. I see her once a year when she needs some muins. Banana nut mufins, to be exactly right.

70

A HOME

Grace Salove Grade 5, Boise The silk scarf sways sotly in the gentle breeze, waiting for someone to see it in the peaceful meadow. Every day rabbits scamper past and sometimes they stop and take a glance at the gold piece of cloth, but they always have something else to do, like collecting food, or they aren’t interested. The scarf shimmers in the morning dew, but over the years its color gets duller and duller.

One day, a very strong wind picks the scarf up a couple of inches above the ground, and the scarf sees a hiking trail going along the edge of the meadow.

“See,” says the wind, “not all is lost...” And the wind is right. That very day, a young hiker picks up the scarf and keeps it as a precious item.

THE QUEEN OF LIFE Ava Young Grade 5, Boise

The Queen of Life sits in her gold-plated, diamond throne, waiting for trouble. She is a chubby lady, with orange hair and a pufy dress. She always wears a bun. Alongside her sits situations, emotions, and the seven deadly sins. They all sit in stone chairs. The sins look like gobs of mud. The emotions look like swirls of color. The situations look like whirlpools.

One by one, she releases them all because it’s part of life. She releases everything except Joy so that she can be happy.

Later, her citizens realize this and go marching to her stone, violet-scented castle. When they push the doors open, they see a red carpet, shimmering walls, and a beautiful fountain with the statue of the queen and roses around it. They walk through a hallway and see the queen sitting on her throne. The citizens whisper and try to decide who should tell her. Eventually, they go with a twenty-year-old boy who is short and has black hair. He walks up the marble stairs and toward her throne and bows.

He starts to speak. He asks her why she is keeping Joy from them. She tells him that she can’t be happy without Joy. 71

He says they can’t be happy either and it isn’t fair that only she is happy.

The other citizens nod, and the boy steps back. The queen looks around, clears her throat, and says that they should split the emotions, situations and sins. Now they are equal.

In every dynasty, a new life would begin and a new king or queen would be coronated, and each one would make the same mistake and resolve it in the same way. They all learned a lesson.

A CARTOON Conor Goss Grade 6, Boise

It was a Saturday morning and I had just woken up. I walked outside to get the paper and I saw something shimmering in the light. I quickly walked over and it looked like a new, silver ballpoint pen.

I am a cartoonist and wondered if I could use it. I brought it inside to test it. As I set it on the table, I got a weird feeling, like something huge was going to happen, a change in my life.

Then the pen started to fade into the paper with me on it. I had no control and nervously thought about what was going to happen next.

Then a lash of white, as if I were on a blank paper.

Then a parade of colors creating everything around me, except it wasn’t like our world. It was brighter and had smooth lines. I then realized I wasn’t home anymore. It was some kind of cartoon world.

When I talked, bubble above my head exaggerated my words. I was so overwhelmed and confused. I needed to check if I was really there. I pulled my hand to my face, and I, too, was a cartoon.

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STEEP HOPES Clara Nelson Grade 6, Boise

You look at him, shocked. You can see his fading body shimmering gold in the sunlight. He’s falling, falling into the nothingness, falling for his ending. You reach out, try to grip something of his rigid scales. But you can’t. In turn, you grip air.

Thin air. He falls closer, and closer, to his death. He hits rock bottom, sprawling his golden shape on the sharp rocks, lifeless.

You look away, hoping, for his sake, that he wouldn’t have fallen of of the clif. Hoping that this nightmare is just a horrible dream. But it’s not, and you know that.

What have you done?

What could you have done? You push the horrible thoughts away, knowing you’ll have dreams of his falling, screaming shape far longer ater it is over.

Knowing grief will sodden your heart, knowing your life will never, ever be the same. Some time ago, you knew him.

Some time ago, you could imagine seeing his brown, shiny shape. Once, long ago, you were mad to not see him. Tears stream down your face. You choke back a sob. But you are not successful. Hot tears emit from your eyes. You had always taken his friendship for granted, but now the only thing you wish is for him, and his teal eyes, as company.

MAGIC PORTAL

Blaize Hundhausen Grade 5, Boise There is this thing, a magic portal. Every time I try to walk through one, I bash into a force ield. I can see the land on the other side, but I cannot get there. Even two-legged creatures can’t, but they never really try. I see the portals everywhere, but I have never gotten through one.

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THE RUNAWAY

Campbell Kowalczyk Grade 5, Boise Once there was a little boy named Kid. He was abused by his brother. His mom and dad were dead.

“Go to sleep! No dinner because you’re a failure!” his brother would yell.

“Okay!” Kid would yell.

Soon, Kid thought of running away, so he did, but before he stole his brother’s wallet. Soon, he was of! But his brother caught him and ironed his hands!

One month later, he tried again and made it. He got a knife, a one-hundred-foot-long rope, lint, steel, and garbage bags.

He ran into the imaginary mountains. He found a trail and hiked. The smell was like pine trees mixed with cupcakes.

He came across a bridge with rushing blue water. He didn’t want to cross because the metal bridge was rusted and looked like it was about to crumble. Ater a while, he decided to run and jump across the narrow river.

He started walking back, and then suddenly shot forwards and jumped. He was lying. It looked like he was going to make it. Nope. He grabbed the edge. His face was sweating. He let go and fell into the river. Kid was scared for he could hear a waterfall up ahead.

He was swept of the waterfall. He was yelling, “Help!”

Whoosh, a dragon saved him and dropped him on land. He was safe. But he was lost in the mountains! He made friends with a unicorn. He made a magical boat-home and an activity center. He decided to stay there, but there were ire cats that wanted him gone. So they burnt everything he made. He used the unicorn and built a big, cement, extra-secure cage with some small holes that the cats couldn’t it through, plus a door, and then built the same thing he built last time but now in the cage.

At night, he went out and met the ire cats. They said that they were angry because he built on their home. He didn’t know this. Then he moved his house and the problems were solved. Then he lived happily ever ater.

“Ahh,” he heard in the distance. He went out of his new home and saw his best friend. She was also saved by the dragon.

He and Sara lived happily ever ater!

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CHILDREN’S CHORES Katherine Fitzer Grade 6, Boise

Dear Father and Mother, Today is July 8, 1910. It is scorching and the air smells like cedar. I can hear the forest noises and birds chirping. I am forced to write this outside because of the heat. I am almost done with my chores. Yes, my brothers have done theirs, too.

Elizabeth and Mary are washing dishes. I am sewing. George and Lewis are supposed to be chopping and gathering wood.

Martin is fetching water. John is hunting. When will you come home? We miss you dearly.

Mary and I will set of to milk the cows, gather the eggs, and pick the fruit. Elizabeth will get the vegetables. John, Martin, George, and Lewis will build a shed and tend to the horses.

Finally, Elizabeth, Mary, and I will cook lunch and John, Martin, George, and Lewis will furthermore build the house. Then they will go chop more wood and hunt and we will wash the clothes, do the dishes, and sew. Ater dinner, we will tend to the animals.

The barn smells terrible. That’s something John needs to ix. I must tell John the vent is clogged again. Mary just shrieked. It’s okay, the dog just brought in a dead duck again. That was the smell, a dead duck corpse. We did feed the horses and animals breakfast and dinner. The horses loved their hay and apples. We also brushed them.

Once done with that, we will wash up, clean the cabin, and go to bed. Soon ater that, John, George, Martin and Lewis will get home, put the wood away, stick the meat in the ice, wash up, and go to bed. Every day will be like this except tomorrow, when our brothers will plow the ields. We will miss you dearly when we pick corn tomorrow, and through every day. When we smell the smell of the corn in the breeze and in the stew, the smell of spices. Will you ever tell me where you are?

Love your daughter, Katherine

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THE WOLF CUB Grace Ineck Grade 6, Nampa

The wolf cub is howling to the moon. She misses her mother and her family. On a ine autumn day, everyone was going to hunt, but not this one. She stayed behind. She was the youngest, and she was not yet strong enough. But what the pack didn’t know was that when they let, the young wolf cub followed them quietly, staying out of sight. But what she, nor the pack knew, was that they were not the only ones hunting.

And at that very moment, everyone heard a loud blast and a wolf dropped dead and motionless with a huge patch of blood in the side of their head. Pretty soon everyone in the pack was on the ground. Dead. Everyone had a gun shot somewhere on their bodies along with a big patch of blood, everyone except for the wolf cub who had hidden alone in a near-by berry bush.

The smell of smoke from the guns illed the air. And she could almost taste the blood from her mother. She leapt out from behind the bush and ran. She heard multiple gun blasts and saw branches of bushes beside her shot of. Luckily, she got away, and that night she thought maybe it would have been better if she had died with them. Then she wouldn’t have to live with the pain in her heart. Her body was still trembling from the sound of the gun. That night, as she slept, she was cold and miserable.

But right before she slept, she howled.

We don’t deserve animals.

We capture their families.

We destroy their homes.

WHITE LIFE

Aubrey Oakey Grade 6, Boise Beep Beep Beep. My hand smashed against my alarm clock. The sheets were clinging to the head of the bed. Water sloshed inside the leaky boards that had molded over. My hair clung to the pillow grubby and sticky. Ash fell through the window sparking as it hit the glass. The light blinded me. I was sick and tired of humanity. So my father in second law locked me 76

away in a completely and utterly white bland room. Everything was white - no shadows anywhere except under my eyes. The food and bed loor and ceiling were white. The vision in my let eye blurred and blacked out every so oten. The clothes I wore were wet and soggy, fraying edges and rips covered my cover.

My watch beeped on my wrist the blasted alarm clock went of for the third time this morning. Well for I know it’s morning I could have turned nocturnal. Marbles rolled out of the air vent pelting me. A Ghost, Frankal, lived up there and liked to tease me that I was the walking dead. When Frankal was around you could always tell, mainly by the sore spots ater he was done with you. He was small and white invisible, camoulaged against, well, white. My muscles triggered my brain, I rose out of the bed. Great, I moaned, Frankal glued the pillow to the back of my head.

My feet were the irst thing to turn white. Like white out white, then my hair was next, my right upper knee to third.

I think that’s it so far. I heard a sliding noise from one of the walls. I could never tell which, my ears had gone half deaf.

A food plate glowed menacingly, yellow until I picked it up.

Frankal was apparently under the plate because the next thing I knew was food glass and fork were being shoved up my nose and down my throat. The hours were run by slugs, today the minutes felt like eons. And for all I could tell a fork was permanently lodged in my nose.

CYRO (EXCERPT) Emily Weiss Grade 5, Boise

As the subway arrived, the doors beamed wide open; the subway station was extraordinarily busy with people arriving and departing. It was hard to get out of the crowd but we inally broke free above the station.

My face lit up like a lightbulb! There were tall buildings towering over Cyro, jets hovering above, and billboards showing Coca-Cola ads, the news telling the weather, and job applications. Cars were honking like they were screaming. And something didn’t feel right.

When taking a closer look at people, most of them had huge wings and horns, some of them had snake tails and eagle 77

wings. But one of them had nine heads.

As I was trying to igure things out, a man hopped by, carrying his things in a pouch on his stomach like a kangaroo.

Nobody thought it was unusual. They all treated it like waking up in the morning.

WHAT WAS IT (EXCERPT) Mason Robbins Grade 5, Boise

We followed Mr. Rosa through the thick snowy brush and trees. We were walking and walking but there was nothing in sight, not even a mama squirrel and her babies. It was getting dark, so we all dug a small cave under a rock for shelter. It was as small as a slug bug, enough to barely it all of us. We all huddled in the cave with the hope of keeping warm. We fell asleep all cold and shivering like a bunch of popsicles lying in a freezer.

The next morning, I was the irst to awaken. I decided to ind out why we were here, and where here even was.

I grabbed the backpack I had come with and snuck out of the cave, snow shuling under my feet. I got about three yards away when my best friend Mac’s pale face popped out of the opening of the snowy cave.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Mac said, hopping out.

“I’m going to, uh, climb a tree?” I said, showing of a fake smile.

“Seriously Zach, where are you going?” he asked, annoyed.

“Okay, ine,” I said. “I’m going to ind out where we are.”

Suddenly, Mac said proudly, “Then I’m coming with you!”

“Oh, no you’re not,” I said, surprised.

“Come on, please!”

“Okay, ine. Get your bag,” I said.

We began to trudge through the thick drits. We came across a dense part of the forest where the ice was quickly melting. Through the small spaces between the trees, we could see a bright glowing orange light. I peeked through the harsh cracks, then turned around, astonished.

“What was it?” said Mac excitedly.

“It was...” I trailed of. Then I fainted, like a baby bird falling from its mother’s nest.

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THE DISTANT SIDE OF THE RIVER (EXCERPT)

Naomi Cramer Grade 6, Boise

Aniiyah woke up the next morning to the familiar sounds of screeching birds and howling, distant wind. She’d only slept for six hours, but that was normal for the desert people. She slowly pulled herself up and groaned at the thought of another long day.

Like every morning, she closed her eyes and remembered her dream, which was always the same. However, this morning she remembered something new—something diferent.

In her dream, she’d been resting in the shadow of a huge, mossy tree. The grass had been moist, like seaweed. Everything had been calm and quiet.

Suddenly, a loud, grumbling noise disrupted the silence. Aniiyah opened her eyes. Before her was a glass ball, bigger than her head, full of swirling grey clouds. Lightning struck the glass from the center of the orb.

A booming, musical voice said, “I am the Thunderbird.

Aniiyah, you must cross the river. Everything good depends on it. You must ind me in the Storm Grotto. You have much to learn and little time for learning. Come soon.”

The thundery ball faded away, leaving Aniiyah alone in her dream. She tried to remember how the dream had ended, but all she recalled was a warm breeze.

Aniiyah knew now that she needed to cross the forbidden river. She had been wanting to for years but had never found a good reason to. She had always been drawn to the forest on the other side, like something important hid behind that barrier. Like something wasn’t quite right in the forest, and it was her destiny to ind out what. Now her dream conirmed it.

Though it was forbidden, Aniiyah was going to cross the river.

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THE TALLEST TREE (EXCERPT) Kathryn Groenert Grade 5, Boise

The police were outside my door and they were here to arrest my parents and Patricia!

“What did we do?” shouted Patricia loudly.

“You people have not been feeding your pet squirrel right. The neighbors heard it crying for food,” he said in a deep voice.

“How come Katie isn’t getting arrested too?” said Mom in her calmest voice possible.

I haven’t fed the squirrel, thought Katie. She had been too young, according to her parents.

By the look in her mom’s eyes, she had thought of that too.

“Can she at least come with us to say goodbye?” Dad asked hopefully.

“Yes. Follow me,” the policeman said.

It was getting dark and chilly outside, but in Skree the nights were beautiful. The lowers on the tops of the trees turned neon purple and the wind blew around the lemon cake smell. I was enjoying it all until I remembered that my family was in trouble.

I sighed. The one time that I got to go outside at night, my family was being arrested. Everyone was staring at us and backing away, wondering why we were being taken to the police station. “So, this is what it feels like to get arrested,” said Patricia.

Finally, we got to the tallest tree, where the prison stood. I said goodbye to my family and was forced to leave.

I started walking back. I was all alone.

HAWAII (EXCERPT) Rose Wilper Grade 5, Boise

The beach was empty. Grace was surprised. No one here on a peaceful, warm morning.

Grace just shrugged and waded in the ocean water. Hawaii was her home. Diving in, she swam to the bottom with a big smile. She swam like a dolphin to the bottom of the ocean.

Although she couldn’t help but notice a shiny white 80

object, almost completely buried in sand. Looking around, she picked it up. She had to make a decision before she ran out of air. Take it? Or leave it? Those same words rang in her brain. All of a sudden, she recognized what it was: a pearl necklace.

With her heart racing, Grace dropped the necklace in the sand and returned to the surface. Coughing, she erupted out of the ocean and swam back to shore. Why was I such a baby? she thought. Why was I so scared? Once again, she noticed the deserted beach. “Hmm,” she said aloud.

Looking sternly back at the ocean, she had the urge to dive back in. Reluctantly, Grace waded into the water. About ive seconds later, she was swimming like a dolphin once again. But something had changed.

THE HERO MADE OF FIRE Landyn Ayers Grade 5, Boise

In a world of ice, water, plants, sand, and ire, harmony lived. The Island of Ice fed the stream that fed plants. The trees die and go in the stream where sand people take it and feed the eternal lame. There is no sun, so the lame acts as one, giving of intense heat.

The eternal lame melts the ice in The Land of Ice, restarting the process. But one day, a pest escaped The Land of ice and got to The Land of Plants. The pests, called “estrans,” ate the trees, making less fuel for the lame. Soon, the lame cooled so much that the estrans got to The Sand Kingdom and ate the last splinter of fuel.

The Sand People did a magic ceremony to summon The King of Flames. The next day, a ball of lames shot out the eternal lame and out came The King of Flames. The sand people told him what happened and set of on his quest.

First things irst, he went to The Island of Plants. The natives knew about the pests and told him what they could.

Soon he continues. Just as he got to the bridge, The King of Flames and his body of ire heard a weird “Mooo.”

Then a cow ran towards him. This cow, though, was... glitching.

The King of Flames shot ire at the cow but it turned into the pests! The Kind ran into The Ice Kingdom. His every step melted the ice. Then he heard laughing.

“Who are you?” The King of Flames asked.

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THE ADVENTURES ON ZOG 56 Cole Dallas Grade 5, Boise

Suddenly the door opened and something in black armor that had a big strong-looking gun and it shot me. I got really sleepy…

I woke up in a warm jungle. I realized the alien shot me with a sleep dart, but I saw black armor on the loor of the jungle and a long gun made out of gold and titanium. I touched the armor and the armor transformed onto my body. I turned to the sci-i looking gun and without thinking I pulled the trigger and the gun vaporized a strange-looking tree. Then I saw a note. It said, “Dangerous Animals. BEWARE!” I decided to explore the jungle because I was curious about the animals. But suddenly a wolf jumped out of the bush.

It shape-shited into a copy of me and made weird gibberish noises. Then it turned into a hideous creature. It pointed to itself.

“This coming!” it said in a squeaky voice.

“What’s coming?” I said.

“A monster, Moooooooopo,” it said.

“What in the world is that?” I said.

“About ind out,” it said. “Squeak squeak squeak squawk squeak,” said the gibberish monster.

The critter was making weird noises. The trees crashed to the ground and a giant reptile appeared. It was bigger than a T-Rex. I screamed and shot it. It got mad and charged.

SUBURBAN MONSTERS Ronin Foy Grade 5, Boise

“Uh-oh,” Molly thought.

“Tom,” she whispered, “give that to him and run on three. One, two three, NOW!” Tom threw it and ran to her. As Molly and Tom ran, they noticed pink and purple arrows with neon green poison on the tips. One nearly hit Tom! It landed beside him, but when it landed, poison splattered everywhere, even on Tom. It felt like 82

ants were burrowing through his skin, but about ten times more painful. He fell to the ground.

“Molly!” he tried to yell, but it came out more like a groan.

Molly started running towards Tom, but the neon monster, coated with fresh neon slime, ate his leg.

“Tom!” she yelled.

“I’m ine,” Tom replied. “When the neon monster bit of my leg, he bit of the part with poison. So now he’s the one who’s dead!”

But Molly wondered how Tom was going to get back to the headquarters without his leg. Molly gave him a pair of old, used crutches from her backpack. When they got back to HQ, the doctors gave Tom a robotic leg.

It worked very well, but Tom said determinedly, “I’m going to get my leg back.”

EYES IN THE FOREST Cale Gardner Grade 6, Boise

He started towards the forest. The trees started out thin but as he went deeper the trees got thicker. He could see moss growing on the side of the tree. He could also see rocks that were small and big. As he went even deeper into the forest he started to see claw marks on trees and rocks.

I took a closer look at the claws. It looked like whatever made the claw marks had sharp claws. But what caught his eye was that the bottom of the claw marks were burned. There was a noise coming from a few feet away. I stood up and took a step back. Then I saw a pair of eyes. But they weren’t normal eyes.

They looked like a forest ire was happening inside the eyes.

“What the heck is that!?” I said.

I started to back away but the eyes followed me. Then the creature emerges from the shadows. What I saw made my heart stop. It looked like a wolf with a tail made of spikes. Teeth as sharp as swords. But there was one thing that made it diferent. It was on ire. The creature didn’t seem to mind.

I stood as still as I could be. Not making any movement.

The creature started to advance on me, looking at me with eyes that looked like ireballs. Then it charged. I rolled out of the way 83

and the creature hit a tree. It backed up, looking dazed. I started to run out of the forest back home. When I was about halfway there, the creature came charging out of the forest ater me. It opened its mouth and shot a ireball at me. As the ireball was getting closer to me, the water from the ocean started to rise.

CAPTURED

Bennet Kemp Grade 6, Boise Beau’s canter was smooth as silk. Anika loped along, feeling relaxed. Her hair luttered around her shoulders. The early morning smells of pine sap and river water illed her mouth and nose, calming her. Trees whirred past, blending in with the rest of her green surrounding. Beau’s mane whipped back and forth like a lag. Anika grinned, and kicked him again, sending him into a full out gallop. His hooves thundered along the ield.

Annika laughed, her green eyes shining with joy. But her laughter didn’t last long.

Whump. She was thrown to the ground.

“What? What’s going on?” she thought. Then, her head hit a rock and all went dark. * Anika sat up, blinking. She was in a dark forest, purplish mist all around her.

“Wh-where am I?” she wondered. She was about to get up when she felt tension on her wrists and ankles. She looked down. Her hands and feet were bound with thick cord. She began to panic, opening her mouth to scream, but a hand clamped over her nose and mouth.

Anika couldn’t see who was holding her mouth shut, but she knew right away that he was the one who had captured her.

She went limp, trying to devise a plan in her head. Before she could, a young boy, maybe thirteen, stepped out of the woods, a girl by his side.

“Let her go, Dax,” the boy instructed.

He had dark hair and blue eyes. The girl had a chiseled jaw, cold, gray pupils, and black hair that tumbled down her shoulders in a wave.

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Anika was released, and she slumped back against the log. The ropes, she noticed, had gold trim and silver cufs binding her to the log. These kids must have been rich...or amazing thieves.

THE SIBLING SURVIVALS Aurora King Grade 6, Caldwell

Mital grasps my arm like a snake with its prey. She’s wearing the dress I wore when I was twelve. The knee-long violet dress with lace sleeves that go down to her elbows.

About three people in front of me, I see Moel in a gray shirt, free of holes and dirt, and his younger brother, holding his hand like Mital is holding mine.

When Mital igures out they have to draw blood in order to sign in, she freaks out. I do it irst in order to show her that it’s okay.

“It’s okay, eventually it’s like second nature,” I say.

She reluctantly allows them to stab the device into her.

It comes out, and they touch it to a paper. Mital’s name pops up with a green 12 next to it.

We walk to the lines. I guide Mital to the twelve-year line and Moel and I go to the sixteen-year line.

A igure walks up to the tall brown stand in the center of the stage and says, “Welcome to the 50th Survivals. I am Ell List.

This is a half-to-a-hundred anniversary! So this means we will draw not 20 tributes, but 40!”

The audience kept booing and whispering.

“Today we will be drawing two girls and two boys to be in the Survivals!” She reaches her hand into the blue basket of girl’s names. She reaches for the very bottom.

“Lunci Enlope!” Ell List calls. “And...Mital Enlope!”

“No!” I scream. My mind drips, fuzzy with the thought of Mital. I run up to the stage. I hug Mital.

“We can do this,” I whisper.

Mital’s screams encourage me to stay. She can’t be in The Survivals.

“Okay,” says Ell. “We now will draw the boys! Toth Kent and...Moel Kent!”

Ell ushers all four of us into a blue train before I can 85 think of anything.

THE INFECTION Adler LaBonne Grade 6, Boise

The war started with a woman named Sally Woods who declared she created a cure for cancer. But the cure started changing the people who used it. It made them into these things that are always looking for human lesh. Once the monsters eat parts of you, you turn into one of Them.

Soon, everyone was one of Them. The military sent the air force to shoot the monsters from above, but the monsters climbed on top of each other to reach the helicopters. They grabbed the helicopters and tugged. They tugged one down and the air force pilots and the people in it died.

They sent the army to explode the zombies on land.

But the bombs didn’t kill all of them and They ripped and shredded the tank’s armor of with Their bare hands. They grabbed the army men out of the tanks and ripped their lesh of. The army couldn’t destroy the monsters, so they made a camp for the survivors. The military started making tunnels that go around the world in case the monsters broke into the camp.

They made houses in the tunnels that look like they are under construction.

The monsters did break into the camp ive years later and everyone had to evacuate into the tunnels. The Monsters were named The Hungries. The people named the tunnels The Underland. And The Monsters’s home is called The Above.

THE THREE ISLANDS OF LIFE Abby Larson Grade 5, Meridian

As Thomas’s rocket blasted up past the pufy clouds, squawking birds, and glowing stars, he had a panic attack. He would picture multiple things. For instance, his new toothbrush and favorite polka-dot socks, and tell himself that he forgot them on his king-sized bed, or on the marble counter in the huge master bathroom.

Meanwhile, Carson Parley, the other astronaut on the light, seemed to be doing just ine. As the spaceship zoomed around, the two men caught sight of the moon.

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It was a beautiful sight. The round planet was a milky white. The two astronauts could almost feel the chalky dust that coated the pearly planet. Deep craters decorated the moon, and on top sat a rectangle of red, white and blue fabric suspended on a tall glossy pole.

The rocket seemed to be heading straight for the cream-colored sphere. Then, at the last second, it swerved around and started in the direction of a dusty, reddish planet.

As it came closer to Mars, the astronauts could see the swirly, scarlet designs on the surface of the misty shape.

Ater a while, the planet became so big it looked like an elephant the size of a house was pregnant with twins. Just as they were about to land, the aircrat stopped working. The rocket zoomed around lying let and right, up and down. It plummeted down, then upwards and did a stunning loop-toloop. To inish the unbelievable show, the spaceship barreled toward a lavender-colored planet that was about the same size as Mars. It had light violet clouds decorating the surface. It was about the consistency of smoke.

As the spaceship fell toward the new planet, Carson inally lost control.

“Ahhhhh!” he screamed, sounding somewhat like a iveyear-old girl playing a vital role in a kidnapping.

“Brace yourselves!” Thomas cried, just as the rocket collided with the rocky ground.

THE WIZARDS OF ZOZ Noah Meyring Grade 5, Boise

Eric walked around the cafeteria, dodging an eighth grader and the class bully Herman. Eric was a sixth grader with brown eyes. He was wearing a scrufy plain white shirt with some stains on the let sleeve. He also was wearing green pants.

He was very tired as he had watched a movie the night before.

He walked into Mrs. Oxford’s English class. As soon as he sat down, his brown desk grew to be ten times taller than it used to be. Then it shrank down to be invisible. Next, the walls collapsed on him like clay. He screamed and screamed but no one heard him.

Eric stood up. He deinitely wasn’t learning English to87

day. He was in a desolate landscape. The grass was dead. He felt the crisp air the classroom disappear. He started walking.

“Ow.” Eric looked where he had tripped and he saw a gravestone. It was a bit disturbing, but not frightening. Then he stumbled forward and walked away. He walked for hours and hours. It was swelteringly hot. Soon he found a canyon. He was delusional and he walked of the clif. He fell into the black river and it knocked him unconscious.

Bonk Eric woke up and he realized that he was facedown in the river. He tried to scream but he just ended up swallowing Coca-Cola.

“Coca-Cola, disgusting!” shouted Eric as he loated up to the surface.

When Eric looked up he saw a city that was built into the side of the canyon. The buildings were all sideways and as Eric drited to the side of the canyon, he grabbed a tree and...

163 AD (AFTER DECIMATION) Tristan Peterson Grade 6, Boise

Beep-beep-beep. Tion opened his eyes to the bright lights of a hospital. His eyes hurt badly.

“Shhh, little one,” said a mechanical voice.

Robots, he thought. He pushed out of the bed. His eyes burned as he fell down. His head was dizzy.

“No, little one,” the voice said.

When he woke up again, he couldn’t see.

“What’s happening?” he asked.

“We are healing you,” murmured a sot, irm voice.

“Why can’t I see?”

“You are temporarily blinded,” said the robot voice.

He felt something lowered onto his face. All of a sudden, he could see again, but his eyes didn’t feel opened.

“What’s going on?”

“We gave you cybernetics,” said the sot voice.

Tion inally was able to see who was helping him.

On his let a tall, caped man was hovering above the ground.

It seemed that his legs were cut of. He had a badge that said “MSU.” Covering one eye, he had a horn-like piece with lights, blinking. His other eye had an eyepatch covering it. On the top 88

right of his head (let for him, Tion thought), was a little chunk of his head that had lashing lights and such. As he looked down again, he remembered that he was hurt, too.

Tion looked down at his body and saw a charred chest and no legs. No anything! His arms were also charred and crusty.

“Oh yes, we will ix that,” said the mechanical voice.

Tion turned his head to the right and saw a droid with a centerpiece which had some tools extending from it, and three other parts with only electricity holding them together. Two of the parts were rocket boosters and one was a robotic face. Next to that robot was another robot, smaller and seemingly friendlier. Some of his lesh was missing and it looked like a lion had eaten it.

“Hi, I’m Bas,” said the little robot. “I’m here to help you ight Ajax.”

THE WAR THAT RUINED MY LIFE Gunnar Shindledecker Grade 6, Boise

I ran into my room, picked up my jet keys, and grabbed all of my bombs. I ran outside and hopped in my jet.

“Crax, teleport me to Sector Nine,” I said.

“Yes, sir,” said Crax.

A blue portal sucked me in to Sector Nine. I looked around and saw all kinds of explosions and gunshots. I pulled out one of my bombs and threw it into a house. I clicked the detonate button.

BOOM. A vortex appeared around the home and the house shot plasma beams into the air, but for some reason, the electricity from the home turned into a ball and lew toward me.

I touched it and it melted into me. I looked back at the house and it was gone.

I looked over and saw four evil Sector Ten men. One looked at me.

“Hey you! Get over here!” he said in a deep gruf voice.

I ran over to him. “Yes?” I said.

“Did you do that to that house?”

“Nope. Wait. I have a git for you guys!” I pulled out a bomb and touched the button. “The reason the war started is 89

because we have better tech. Goodbye!” I said.

The soldier’s eyes turned blue and parts of their body started falling of and turning into electrons and lying into me.

Finally, their heads all fell of and disappeared into grey and black dust particles. Ten more soldiers came from behind and grabbed me and threw me to the ground and started punching and kicking me as hard as they could.

“Please stop. Please stop. I said STOP!” Lightning was all around me.

“So buds, you want to play it that way, huh?” I raised my hands and lightning bolts lew down from the sky and disintegrated them all.

FERN, GIRL-ROBOT Rose Wilper Grade 5, Boise

Fern smelled something amazing. She followed her nose to a small bakery. At this point, Fern’s nose was going crazy.

“Hello!” said a baker in the corner behind a counter.

“Can I help you?” he said looking at me with calm blue eyes.

“Er...yes,” Fern began. “ I would like to get the blueberry cream cheese pastry.”

“Okay, miss,” said the baker. “Hey, um...don’t tell my boss, but that’s on me. Have a good day! And tell your parent or guardian hi!”

“Thank you!” said Fern, strolling out of the bakery.

She was happy, although a bit torn. She didn’t have a parent or guardian. Though that didn’t bring her down. She still had ten dollars. And Fern knew just what she would use it for.

Fern went to the nearest subway station and used the money eater to get her ticket. That’s when Fern ate her creamy, delicious scone of good fortune.

Down, up, down, up, she thought. These are the ways of life. I fall and scrape my knee. Down. I wear a cool band-aid. Up. My dog dies. Down. I get a cat. Up! There’s absolutely nothing I can do to change this course. All anybody can do is wait. Wait for the entire course of the world to change. How will it change? Who knows. Our earth may crumble. All humans may leave. At this point, anything can happen.

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A MESSAGE Josie Yee Grade 6, Boise

I see those girls talking. As I start to stare, I feel someone kick me. I look up from my blank sheet of paper and see the attacker, Mary K. Under my breath I tell her to stop. This time she kicked me like I was a soccer ball! I just couldn’t help it, so I screamed.

“Stop it, now!” The words just slipped out of my mouth.

1,000 eyes turned toward me. Those girls were giggling and laughing.

Once our teacher, Miss Rule came into the situation, all the eyes went away but one. I looked down at her pointy-toed high heels click-clacking toward me. Coming closer and closer until inally they were at my table!

“Hi, Miss Rule,” I say in a sheepish voice.

Miss Rule didn’t have to say a word. She just pointed at the door. That means one thing...the principal’s oice.

“But, but, but,” I start to argue.

Miss Rule just gave me a dark look and I went on mute.

I slid down the chair and walked out with my head bowed. But once I was out, I peeked my head in to see the blond-haired girl raise her hand.

“Miss Rule, may you help me? I am having trouble,” she said.

I looked at the other girls with beautiful brown hair. I looked down at my plain old red hair. I continued walking. As I was walking, an idea stuck in my head. I looked at the door that leads to freedom. I ran as fast as I could. I felt the cold wind rub against my cheeks. And the fresh aroma of pie came from the bakery. Soon the popping yellow of my door was in front of me. I burst through the door and plopped on the couch. I could smell the lasagna my mom was making.

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JAZZ (EXCERPT) Sabrina Walker Grade 5, Boise

Jazz woke up. “Where am I?” he thought.

He was lying down in a ield of golden-brown hay. He tried to remember how he got there—nothing. He remembered nothing. He sat up and looked around; he saw a hill covered with beautiful blue lowers. A small barn stood at the top. He looked to his side. A ield of horses. He studied them again. Jazz noticed something strange about them. They all seemed to have horns.

“Unicorns!” Jazz exclaimed. “No! I’ll look in the barn.

Someone must be in there to explain this.” Jazz walked up the hill and looked into the barn. No one was there.

“Hello?” Jazz said. He cautiously entered. “Weird,” he said. The barn was empty. As he let, thoughts twirled around in his head. From here, the valley was gorgeous. Birds and crickets were singing a beautiful song in harmony. The unicorns were munching gracefully on grass. And the golden hay was swaying in the wind.

Jazz heard a crunching noise. He turned around. Behind him was a dark forest. The trees were giant and pitch black.

Jazz started into the forest and felt a tingle up his spine. A pair of yellow, cold eyes stared right back at him.

SHRUNK

Natalie Rinaldi Grade 5, Meridian I was in a small garden that was very colorful. A blast of smell came into my face’s territory. I felt the need to sleep, but I kept awake. I heard a bee buzzing far away. I made my way to a Kool-Aid-looking pond that a wasp family was moving into. I leaned over to smell a beautiful lower. There was this weird feeling that made me sleepy.

“AH!!” I screamed. I started to get smaller and smaller. It tickled. I woke up in a bright pink lower called “Pink Flamingo.”

Bees and wasps gathered around me looking confused.

“Hello, human,” they said. I gasped and tried to crawl away. “Human,” they chanted.

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I jumped. I was falling for what seemed like 200 feet down. I landed on a dead wasp. This was scary. The blood acted like glue, and the wings stuck on my back. I could ly! I am stuck here for the rest of my life, I thought. It started getting very dark, so I lew in a lower and started to sleep.

Next morning, I found myself in the grass. My wings got torn of my shirt. I climbed up the rose, and a wasp was in there!

I guess that was his bed. I sprinted away. It was so hot. Too hot! I went swimming in a blue pool. Ater three hours, I decided to get out.

“Buzz . . . I have made you shirts!” A nice bee gave me new clothes. I felt like I should be happy to be small. Three years later, I am still small in this garden!

TEN PORTALS (EXCERPT) Olivia Edson Grade 6, Boise

Chapter One: Vloop It was a cold, rainy day in the Land of Lilac. Addicas arose from deep slumber in her warm bed that felt like a sot cloud that came from the heavens. As her 6-foot, 3-inch body stood up, she bent backwards and could hear every little joint pop. It sounded like a machine gun iring bullets slowly but surely.

She opened her window. A gust of cold air hit her skin that was as warm as a hot and comforting cup of cocoa on a cold winter’s night. She jumped in the shower with bags still under her eyes.

She put her feet on the cold, white square tiling, and turned the knob. It squeaked like an old door. The warm water came rushing down like the rain outside.

Ater she was done taking her shower, she changed into dark purple overalls and a light green shirt with a purple spaceship on the front. It is a law to wear white or black suits, but to the poor, like Addicas, it doesn’t matter. The LI (Lilac Intelligence) doesn’t provide the poor with chopies.

“The LI only thinks of the wealthy. They don’t care for someone like me. No one is like me, and no one will ever understand me,” said Addicas in anger.

As Addicas poured herself a bowl of Ale-o’s (which is a cereal that looks like aliens), she was thinking about how every 93

day, everything is the same for the “normal people.” They wake up, eat, brush their teeth, get chopies, and go to school, over and over again every day.

“Life isn’t fair,” Addicas said in a discouraging voice.

TEN PORTALS (EXCERPT) Nick Maher Grade 6, Boise

Chapter 5: The Experiment About Leafon Alright, irst question: who is Leafon? Well, it’s Larry’s brother. They had a sister, Iceon, but she died because of an experiment. Their mom and dad died when they were ive and six.

They ran away from foster care, and they trusted no one except each other.

Now The Story “Larry,” Leafon yelled.

“What?” Larry yelled back.

“Can I borrow Phantom?”

“Sure, alright. Phantom, go help Leafon.” Larry and Leafon were working in the lab. “Alright, one touch here, and another here.” CRASH! A man appeared. Leafon ran into the room.

“Larry, are you okay?” Leafon asked.

“Hehehe, who are you?” the man said.

“What happened to you?” Leafon said.

“I don’t know who you are, but I’ll just call you Timothy,” Larry said. Larry walked over to Leafon’s lab. “A few blops there,” Larry suggested.

“No, you’re ruining my project!” Leafon said.

“And there,” Larry said. He created awful things, like a blob who eats anything in its way, and an 8-foot-long dragonly, and robot armored wolves.

“Ahhh!” Leafon yelled and ran away.

“Inferno overdrive!” yelled Larry. BOOM! Timothy wasn’t hurt much. Timothy heard running.

The ground was splitting open. Timothy fell down. Timothy 94

invented this armor suit, then Timothy became armored. He rose up.

“What?” Timothy looked back. There was a kid. “Don’t do it, Larry,” Timothy said, but before he could charge, Larry opened up a portal. “No!” Timothy yelled. The kid was being sucked into the portal. “What have you done?”

“Me?” Larry blasted Timothy. He was injured. Phantom picked him up.

“Put me down, Phantom, please,” Timothy said.

“Bismo,” Phantom said.

“Look, I know you’re missing me, and you need help with Larry, who sucked my soul into the game, but I can’t. I got a kid looking for me and my two nephews. Also, I can’t get my soul back because I’m dead in the real world.”

“Bisdew,” Phantom said. Phantom seemed to have an idea. “Bisado.”

“Okay, you have an idea, but what about the kid and Larry? He still doesn’t even know my name, Darkon, or that I am part of Larry’s family. Just make it quick.”

“Bidew.”

FAMILY IS FRIENDS Addison Kostelec Grade 6, Boise

“It’s dangerous!” Sarina yells. “Sorry, okay.” The girls head to the theater. Sarina coughs. “You okay?” Rain asks. Sarina nods. When the girls inish, Rainn leads Sarina to the Golden Fountain. “Why are we here?” Sarina asks. “Because,” Rainn replies, “the water is so blue I can’t imagine.” The twins sigh. “We better get home and help Mum and Pac cook dinner.” Sarina says starting to walk of. “No,” Rainn says, grabbing her sister’s arm. Sarina looks confused. “It’s Carl’s turn to cook and Brenna’s to set the table.” Rainn leans too far over the edge, falls into the water, and Sarina doesn’t see her sister.

“Rainn!” Sarina calls. She tries to think what to do.

Finally, she decides to jump in and go ater her sister. When she falls, it looks like she’s in a lower, so colorful, it feels sot, lufy, like a cloud, then all of a sudden it stops.

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In the middle of the lake, there is Sarina. She swims around, trying to ind her sister. Then a ishing boat comes, there is a boy about her age driving it. “Are you okay?” the boy says pulling Sarina on the boat Sarina nods and pushes her hair out of her face. “You look cold,” the boy says putting a towel around Sarina. “I’m Jacob.” Sarina smiles and says, “I’m Sarina, thank you for helping me.” Jacob grins at her and steers the boat to his house. Jacob hops out and helps Sarina get out. “What time is it? And where am I?” While hooking the boat to the dock, Jacob says, “It’s 6:30, you are in Balint, in the Mystical Realm.”

Sarina almost steps on a gnome. “You are welcome to stay the night,” Jacob says picking up the gnome and opening his door and calling, “Mom! Dad! Come here!”

Two adults with wings walk in. The dad has light blonde hair, Sarina notices his wing design. It has swirls--in the week in school they studied fairies they learned if there’s lots of swirls there are….

Jacob goes upstairs and makes a phone call. “Hey, Sam! I found a girl in the lake, she has long blonde wavy hair, she’s staying over, come here.” When Sam comes over he asks, “So where are you from?” Sarina sits shyly, then says, “I’m from the Kingdom Realm.”

The boys stare in silence. Jacob says, “The queen here is evil, she does a house check to make sure no one from other realms comes here, hide under the bed.”

As Sarina hides, the queen arrives. “Sir, I need to check under your bed.” Jacob gulps, but says nothing, so the queen starts to look. She looks but sees nothing. Then she leaves.

“What?” Sarina asks getting up, “How did she not see me?” Sam and Jacob look at each other. “You were...invisible,” Jacob says.

Sarina looks clueless. “What? It can’t be. I come from a non-magic family.”

They all stare at each other, and Sarina runs to her bedroom and starts crying. She asks aloud, “If my family doesn’t have magic, am I adopted? Am I just...weird?”

To be continued...

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36 MYSTERIES (EXCERPT) Nevyn Brandel Grade 6, Boise

Chapter One: Savannah Bloom Iolite Savannah Bloom Iolite is a tallish girl. Her parents disappeared when she was six months old, leaving only her and a long scar down her arm. The scar has grown with her. It has never disappeared, and on every crescent moon at midnight, her scar pains her so much that she screams bloody murder. She lives with her grandmother, Joie De Vivre. Her grandmother is a rich old lady who lives in the penthouse of their seaside apartment. She makes sure that Savannah has a suitable life, and is the best 12-year-old anyone has met. Savannah has faded chocolate brown hair and warm glowing leaf-green eyes. All girls that live in their seaside town of Locklifs, Calvary have bright dresses that stand out against the gray sea sky. Savannah’s laugh is a sparkly one that makes you think you’re in the company of a Stolick (fairy).

Chapter Two: Where is Pinkety?

“Savannah, it’s time for your lessons!” said Grandma Joie. Ms. Peach, one of Savannah’s tutors, had just arrived, and was pouring herself a cup of tea when Savannah came sliding down the handrail of the stairs.

Ms. Peach pulled out her papers, and said, “Today, we will focus on the mythical wars of 1782-1834.”

Savannah had been studying the mythical alliances of the time and began to recite them: “Azmay (siren), Pomper (ogre), Tothbay (gnome), Bentee (pixie), and Pirate were all the evil alliance, while everything else (humans included) were ighting them.”

“Very good, Savannah!” said Ms. Peach. Just then, there was a frantic knock on the door. The butler answered, but before he had a chance to say, “Welcome, please come in,” a panting Grayson came charging in. Gray, as everyone called him, was the eight-year-old little brother of Pinkety, Savannah’s best friend.

Remembering his manners, Gray said, “My apologies for barging in, Madam Vivre and Ms. Peach, but I NEED to talk to Savannah alone.” The two of them turned and ran upstairs to her room.

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QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS

FOREVER

Emma Grace Brunick Grade 7, Twin Falls Lost forever in the deep dark blue sunk and never seen again forgotten about she wants life and I failed to make her’s enjoyable a gigantic wreck and her ghost still haunts me yet you ask who this is that’s my little secret

LONG LIVE THE KING Miriam Fridel Grade 9,Boise

He is King He sits on a throne He wears a crown of jewels and a robe of stars He is King He calls armies up from their slumber He makes empires bow at his feet He is King He builds anew from the ashes He guides his people into the future He is King He is life and death He decides fate He is King He is respected, revered He is their god He is King He is only human He still bleeds I am king

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HOPE

Maggie McCormick Grade 8, Boise hope is the rainbow-haired angel wings spread wide cradling a star in her arms tender as a mother with a young idea “Everything Will Be All Right� and she sings you are an adorable piglet tied to a yellow balloon struggling to ly struggling to write sitting cross-legged in the middle of the road ambling cars are annoyed when you sit and write in the alley but still you try and try to ly to ly to ly what keeps you down?

ADULTS CYNICS HOPELESSNESS all try to make you grow up sink down a heavy vest that pulls you to the ground that vest is danger take of your vest and embrace hope as she loats from the sky to lit you her glorious hair lowing 102

in every color of the rainbow and you are the star you are the idea you are a child once again hope has saved you you can ly anywhere take a lightbulb the universe is yours

ALL CAGED UP Lydia Love Grade 7, Boise

Sitting here all alone, This is no throne.

I am lonely and caged up.

They treat me like a mutt.

Once a day they poke me, It hurts you see!

I have the scars to show it.

All the pain and everything below it.

My cage is by a window, And every year I see other dogs playing in the snow They look happy as can be, At least their happy unlike me.

I am in a lab, surrounded by white coats, and once they hurt me they began to gloat.

But if I hide my pain, They will think that it’s okay.

One day, someone came, And took me away.

I never came back, not today!

A lady came in, kind and sweet, Now she feeds me, and sometimes a treat.

She gives me love, food, and cuddles.

She even lets me play in the puddles!

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Once my time has come My job will be done I loved her as she loved me That is the end of my dog story!

Don’t buy, rescue from shelters!

STORY

Aiden Cahill Grade 8, Boise Once there was a world of beauty.

A world of peace.

A world of joy.

A world of life.

A world where the sun cast its brilliant light over a land of color and hope.

But then everything changed.

Over a course of years, darkness began to spread.

Peace turned to fear.

Joy to despair.

Life to death.

As plagues, famines, and wars began to emerge, the beauty of the world was crushed by chaos.

Soon, the many colors of the world faded, covered by a layer of ash.

In desperation, the last of mankind was forced to hide underground as the world began to die.

And so, as all life began to fade, the last of humankind waited underground. During the decades where all was dark and dreary, they waited.

When life emerged once more (as if by a miracle) they still waited.

The last of man waited until all they knew was the darkness and despair of the caverns they lived in.

And so our story begins...

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WANDERERS, WONDERERS Kate Stefen Grade 9, Boise

I wander through galaxies Solar systems are my stepping stones Exploring the universe that we already know In my travels I ind many others We all have questions no one knows the answers to We wander the universe, looking for these answers Because we think when we know everything Then we’ll be okay, but it is not that time I see many searching for answers far and wide I see similar questions, questions copied All questions have been asked We’re arrogant and prideful We lie to ourselves, say we are special No one is Everything is a copy of everything I have one question As I wander through nebulae Past quasars and black dwarfs I think I have all the time I need To ind my answer Ininity, incomprehensibly Many do not last long in this sea of stars I’ve seen them, only faded specters During my travels I found others A man came to me And said he had an answer He said to me 105

“I used to live in a room full of mirrors All I could see was me “Well I take my spirit and I smash my mirrors Now the whole world is here for me to see.”

I told him that it was an answer but not mine I have my own question Only one I wonder as I wander the cosmos: Where is the light?

The man of mirrors I met Made me ind a new question And the answer at the same time How will we answer our questions?

Maybe we will give each other the answers And then we’ll no longer have to wander and wonder.

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HORSEHAIR MATTRESS

TULIP CITY

Logan Harless Grade 8, Boise I am Gwen from Tulip City. Everything was alright until they came, and took all of our tulips. Now, in case you don’t know, tulips are like diamonds in our city. They are the economy. Without them, the city should certainly shatter into a million pieces.

I am just a city girl. You might think I am incapable, but you are wrong. I saved the city. So, I collected my backpack and ventured of into the woods. I walked for hours and hours, all with fear coursing through me. I heard there are witches and warlocks lurked out this far in the woods. Finally, around dusk, I saw a rather large cobblestone structure.

I slowly crept toward the oversized wooden door. It didn’t budge. “Frick,” I said, rather quietly incase witches were present. Then, I spotted it. A ledge with tulip illed lower pots.

And a small window. I slowly, but surely climbed the wall, kind of like a sloth. Once I reached the top, I made my descent to the loor below.

There was a deadly silence, like a predator stalking its prey and getting ready to pounce. I looked around for the tulips.

Nothing except for another oversized door. It was chilly in the structure, and the damp loor wasn’t helping either. To be safe, I tiptoed across the wide, open room. Then, I heard someone fumbling with a key on the outside door. Without cognitive process, I ran to the next room.

My heart was racing. This room had a lot of tulips in it.

The person that was fumbling with the keys earlier opened the door. I need to hide! I thought. So I hid underneath a small desk.

Apparently, there was a third room that the person entered.

Since the person was gone, I made my way out of the stone structure and back outside. It was a crystal clear night with stars poking through the expanse of blackness. I felt as if I had completed something. I walked for more hours under the black sky.

I did it, I really did it I thought.

When I got back to town, I marched straight to the king’s guard’s oice. I told them about everything. Once the king’s guard got the tulips back, they erected a giant silver statue of me holding a golden tulip. I was now a hero.

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THE LEGEND OF FANKLY Samuel Murray Grade 7, Boise

In the faraway land of Fankly everything was a paradise. The gods had gited the people with this paradise and the people thanked the gods every day and night. Nobody in Fankly was ever hungry or thirsty. The people were happy for many years. Then the people became forgetful and stopped thanking the gods. The gods grew angry and decided to take revenge on the people.

They made a huge mountain range come out of the ground to destroy the cities. This also made it so the people were separated. The mountains were so treacherous that they were called the impenetrable mountains. Over the years people became crazy from being alone and they became violent monsters. The people that were not afected by the mountain range continued to build their cities. Others sailed to magical islands and gained magical powers. Over time people just remembered the mountain range rising as a legend that old people told.

What the people didn’t know was that the gods never forgot about the people’s unappreciation. The gods gave the people one last punishment and they made the mountains disappear. This released all of the monsters and the people had to go into hiding. One day a brave man by the name of John went to seek the magical sorcerers. John went on a very long and dangerous quest. Ater almost a year he found the sorcerers and convinced them to come back to the mainland to help. When they got there almost everything was gone or broken. They fought a big war with the monsters until they inally won. Then the sorcerers repaired their world back to a paradise and they learned to never disrespect the gods again.

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THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCESS ADORABLE Ava Melchert Grade 7, Boise

I woke up this morning in a normal way. The lights in my bedpod got brighter and brighter, and my sleepytime music changed into the Wake Up Song. It’s fun to dance to, but it’s a little boring, too. The Wake Up Song goes like this.

Wake, Wake, Wake Up (beep beep beep beep) Wake Up, Wake Up Now (beep ba-beep ba-beeeeeeeep) Ater I got out of bed, I took the elevator to my closet, where my mommy was waiting. She is the Queen of Edisni, and she’s very pretty. Like me, Mommy has light skin and skydomeblue eyes, but she has darker hair and a more adult-like look.

She’s taller, with a smaller head and eyes. Mommy looks like one of my Perfect Beauty dolls.

“Good morning, Adorable,” Mommy said, handing me the dress she wanted me to wear. It was dark blue and ruly. I skipped into my dressing room and changed out of my pajamas and into my dress.

Next, it was breakfast time. The Cyber Chef who lived in the kitchen made razzleberry pancakes and tooty-frooty smoothies.

“Yum!” I cheered. Pancakes with a tooty-frooty smoothie are my favorite! As I ate, a message popped up on the TV screen. It was a daily announcement from my daddy, King Who. Even though Who is the king of the whole world, nobody ever sees him – not even me! If Mommy has seen him, she will never tell.

When I was very little, I thought that everybody lived in a big castle and had a daddy who was never there. Now I know that I’m the only little girl who lives like that. Mommy tells me that it’s because I’m a princess.

It was Uneday, so the castle’s Great Hall was closed. I don’t know why it closes every Uneday. That’s just the way it is, like the secret tunnel that open only on Quathorday nights.

When the Great Hall is closed, Mommy and I go to the terrace and take the Wheelicopter to school.

As I got in the Wheelicopter with Mommy, its two big wheels started twirling, and it lew into the air. I could see the whole world from the Wheelicopter: the greenhouse, the giant oice factory of Corporation Incorporated, Inc., the hover 111

trains, the hospital, the music studio next to the hospital, all the housepods, the schools, and the pretty blue skydome. As I looked up at the skydome, I asked Mommy, “If the sky is a dome, is there anything outside of it?”

Mommy blinked her eyes at me and patted my head.

“Nothing that concerns you. Nobody is outside. Edisni is our world,” she said.

To be continued...

ICE IN THE ROSES Abigail Jenkins Grade 9, Boise

Clara McPhearson was freezing, but the robots around her felt no pain, they couldn’t freeze. She was on an Antarctic mission to research single-celled organisms. In particular, Clara and her team were to analyze Cherry Fizz and collect samples.

But now, she was trapped in a deadly blizzard, on the brink of death, and she was the only person that knew. Her team was a group of robots, and she now knew that she was a part of their experiment. She had to ind a way out.

To be continued...

SLOTH IN A CAGE Everett Wilcox Grade 7, Boise

Friends seem to come, and go in the blink of an eye, and when they go there’s this emptiness inside of us, and we feel like a sloth in a cage, to slow to keep up and too lonely to try, and you realize you’re in a never-ending cycle of friends coming and going as long as you stay caged, and beyond the bars friends start to fade just out of arm’s length, but when you are freed you will realize your friends never really did fade, they were just waiting for you to be freed from the bars that bound you to eternal loneliness.

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AWAY FROM SAFETY Kaya Murdock Grade 9, Boise

“Look out!” I shriek as a bright purple, writhing tentacle lashes out in Natasha’s general direction. She looks up just in time and, with oddly fast relexes, ducks underneath it and slices it neatly in two with her dagger. The monster shrieks, more pissed of than hurt. It pauses for a moment, then suddenly shoots of down the tunnel without a sound. Natasha and I exchange glances; We’re clearly not thinking the same thing.

“Right. Well, that’s enough excitement for tod- Okay, whoa, where are you going?” I sigh as the starts heading down the tunnel, away from safety, food, and warmth, and towards the general direction of the monster and possibly doom and demise.

“We’ve gotta kill it, duh.” She scofs and trots on, her combat boots clicking against the damp concrete. “You know, I’m disappointed, but I’m not surprised,” I mutter as I jog to catch up with her. “Fine. I guess I’m coming, although I don’t think I have much of a choice.”

“Nope!” She says cheerfully, and we proceed to our deaths.

THIS IS WAR Paul Zhang Grade 7, Boise

“General Viecia, we can’t hold the dwarfs back much longer, sir,” colonial Siva said.

“We must keep ighting, this cavern is very important.” I ordered “It contains incredible amounts of adamant.”

There’s a huge golem killing a lot of my soldiers, there’s a wraith operating a ballista next to me, and there’s a huge boulder attached to the cavern wall above the golem’s head. The ballista won’t kill the golem, but…. I tell the wraith to shoot the boulder with his cannon. He shoots the boulder, and it dislodges from the cavern wall and crushes the golem.

A dwarf jumps at me but I decapitate her with my scythe. Another dwarf ires a blunderbuss at me, but I refract the bullet using magic, and the bullet hit the dwarf who shot it.

Suddenly, something emerges from the river of lava running 113

through the cavern. It’s a iredrake! And a big one too! It bites my soldiers, but it doesn’t attack the dwarfs. The dwarfs must’ve trained it to protect “their” mine. I put “their” in quotes because the mine doesn’t belong to them, they stole it from my country yesterday. My soldiers shoot, slash, and magic the iredrake, but to no avail.

A phantom jumps on the iredrake’s back and starts stabbing it, but the iredrake dives into the river of lava, causing him to burn. Suddenly, I get an insane idea. I drink a potion that makes me heat resistant. The iredrake swoops low to bite one of my soldiers, but before it bites them, I leap into the iredrake’s mouth and start cutting up its insides. Once I reach the bottom, I cut open a hole for me to crawl out of. I look back at the iredrake and it’s dead! Then Siva comes running up to me.

“One of our spies found a thin section of the cavern wall, sir,” Siva said, “If it were to collapse, it would allow a lake to lood the cavern, sir. The lood is estimated to kill all of the dwarfs, but it won’t hurt us because we’re ghosts, sir. And the caves on the sides of the cavern will drain the water, sir.”

I say, “Excellent. Tell the soldiers to focus all attention on collapsing that wall.”

Siva tells the soldiers their new mission, and the soldiers all start ighting towards the wall. Unfortunately, it seems that the dwarfs know about the wall, because the wall is extremely heavily guarded. There’s another wall in front of the wall with dozens of cannons on it.

THE STRANGE LANDS Sean Batson Grade 7, Boise

I sat on a basalt ledge, overlooking Pyroints’ Devil’s Fall.

The orange red lava bubbling made a glorious sight to anyone that beheld it. I extended my white laming wings and soared into the sky. In the horizon I spotted Yi Mountain in Necrous, one of two of the nation’s bordering Pyroint. In the back of my mind, I saw ghosts spilling out of Necrous, a spirit named Viecia pursuing them.

This perplexed me, I had never seen that, yet, it was so real.

“Infernus!” Ento yelled.

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“What is it Ento?” I responded.

“The undead, they’re invading the Mountains of Mourning.”

“Viecia would never let his people invade us.” I said.

“Not the ghosts, skeletons and zombies, the prisoners of Oblivion Island...

CRYSTAL CLEAR (EXCERPT) Yvonne Shen Grade 7, Boise

“Hello, who is this?” the familiar robotic voice greets me at my oice.

“It’s Jensé Manokim, assistant intern manager.” I reply in a monotone. The unbreakable glass door carefully opens, hidden in a dark alleyway. I step in and go through a ingerprint scan, face ID check, and palmline check. Each test behind another set of glass doors. Then,I inally reach the oice building.

I scan my card and head up an elevator to the 128th loor. I scan my card again to exit the elevator. I go through one last voice check and the last set of crystal-clear glass doors open…to reveal a heavy set of metal doors.

Here in Yewaitan, everything is glass in order to have transparency. Wood, metal, and concrete are all illegal. Our last set of “glass” doors are fake. The glass has been painted to look like a library.

I scan my card and the metal doors open into our oice.

A glass pod takes me to my oice.

“Good morning, Jensé Manokim. It is Tuesday, July 15, 2019. You have a meeting at 9:30 am. The current time is 8:47 am.” My DayBot greets me at my desk, then disappears into thin air.

“Ah...holograms.” I turn around to see my boss. Sylvanio Gerser standing behind me.

“Morning, boss,” I reply, dipping my head slightly.

“At the meeting today, we have some big news,” Sylvi says.

“It better be good.” I reply.

“Oh, yes. Don’t you worry.” And with that, she’s of.

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THE UNTOLD TRUTH (EXCERPT) Devyn Hymer Grade 9, Meridian

Prism It’s been over a month since Persi and I met and just to say, he’s even more annoying than I thought he’d be. He’s great company, though. I showed him my hiding place. It’s a large room with a torn couch, a broken tv, a pool table with its felt ripped and a few hammocks. It’s where we live and it keeps the cold out so we’re not complaining.

We ran out of coins for food. My foster parents stopped trying to help and said igure it out. Yes, leave two seven-year olds to fend for themselves.

“Prism,” Persi yells at me, breaking me from my thoughts and causing me to fall from my hammock. I groan from the impact of the cold concrete loor and glare daggers at the red head. “Can we go get food?” he whines.

“With what coin?” I say back.

“I don’t know...maybe they’ll feel bad and feed us,” he says, laying back down.

“That won’t happen, obviously you haven’t met the people here.”

But somehow he convinced me, so we put on more layers of clothing and stepped out into the cold.

“Alright, Persi, your idea, you’re doing it,” I say, skating on my worn down roller blades, careful not to slip on the ice.

He walks over to a stand that sells meat and begins talking with him. I assume it isn’t going well and I’m too far away to hear it. The man raises his hand above Peri and as quickly as possible, I skate over. I felt a sharp pain on my cheek and fell to the loor. Persi’s eyes were wide as the man snarled at me.

Persi then rips me from the ground, grabbing a cooked chicken and runs away with me. WE heard screaming behind us and he ran quicker as I rolled along.

I still can’t believe we stole a chicken.

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THE WONDERS OF GREEN Thomas Nam Grade 8, Boise

I inally lay on my comfy, sot, and blue-green seat. I was waiting for this Rocket Flight for eternity, well, it felt like an eternity, it was more like 5 hours. Anyways, all it matters is that I was out of the stinky spaceport.

I can quietly listen to clicks and steam from the engine. The noises were weirdly soothing. The intercom suddenly clicked on. Then all passengers fell silent, waiting for an announcement. Then a deep voice started talking. “This is your captain speaking, we will be launching in a few minutes.” Few minutes later, engines started to roar and then we were of.

My parents would always give me information about Planet Green even though I knew everything about it. I was excited to go back to this wonderful place. The life forms are just like humans but more intelligent. Their appearance is diferent but the only diference is their ears. Their ears are pointy. We call these people E.L.F.s, short for Extra Life Forms and I’m one of them. I’m half human and half E.L.F. My mom, human, and dad, E.L.F. They always sleep in these lights, snoring.

I see in the corner of my eye, a person staring at me menacingly. He looks to be 10 years old, same as my age. I look back at him menacingly, too, we were having a stare down.

Ater a couple of minutes, we decided to introduce ourselves.

His name is River Green and he is an E.L.F. We started having a conversation, a long, deep conversation and before I know it, we become friends by the end of the Rocket Flight.

My parents and I took a taxi home. I couldn’t wait to see our home again, but I still needed to get used to some things here. I have to get used to the green water, lower gravity, and the diferent laws.

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THE FEATHERED WOLF (EXCERPT) Hailey Wilson Grade 8, Boise

I still remember the happy days. These were sparse and few, but are still prominent in my memory. Days where my family was safe and whole, days where my only worry was what game I would play next. I still see my mother laughing, her mocha skin and chocolate hair doing nothing to hide my mother’s golden eyes. Her laugh tinkles through my ears as I would parade around the garden. My three younger siblings in tow. She always said we looked like a line of ducklings waddling around.

My father was less expressive. As an elf, he had been taught to be closed and poised, not letting emotion lip through. His emerald eyes always to remain cold. But being with us melted my father.

My mother brought out the love in his heart. He used to call me away from my siblings and teach me how to use Runes. That mystic language could only be read by those of elish blood, something I had. None of my other siblings could use magic like I could, perhaps they had too much of my mother’s blood. Her human nature canceled out my father’s magic. But that’s alright.

Seeing my family in the garden, happy, is a memory too painful to see. I must get out.

Waking up breathless is not a good idea. I didn’t have much of a choice though. Stopping a memory like that is like trying to stop a tidal wave with a bucket. It won’t work. I pulled back my blanket and attempted to get up. I am usually good at rising early, but today it just seemed like my bed was calling me back. Who knew that a horsehair mattress would feel so comfy?

But I knew I had to get up or my wrathful middle sister would burn my wood bed. She seriously needs to relax. Finally rising from my half-sitting, half-sleeping position on the bed, I moved to open the curtains on my window. Sunlight usually helped to open my eyes and clear my head. Key word: usually. It did not work this time. I guess the memory is too loud for any sunlight to shut it up. I stared through my window at the forest that surrounds the kingdom. I know I have to leave soon, and this just might be my last view of the forest, but I can’t help but to enjoy the view. Peeling myself from the window, I head to my chest to pack my clothes. Shoving my work clothes into my satchel, I put my day clothes to the side.

I stood up, letting my eyes shutter around the room, 118

searching for anything that I might need to bring. My eyes fell on a pile of books I had stacked behind my bed. These books were treasures to my heart, presents given to me by my mother.

They were the last gits she ever gave me. I can’t take them all, and that leaves a hole in my heart. So I went for the next best thing. Stepping towards the pile, I bend down and started to rile through the books. Ater a moment of searching, my ingers closed around a leather bound book, and I raised it up. Staring at the gold lettering carved on the front, my index inger traced the worn spine. I slowly looked at the opened the book and read the inscription at the front. “To my darling Alvar, I know I am not long for this world, so I must tell you this. You are loved.

Never forget that, even if I am not around to remind you. This was your father’s favorite book. He wanted you to have it. Please don’t forget that he never wanted to leave. He loves you. Happy 16th birthday, darling! Love, Mother” A tear dripped onto the page. I tried to wipe it of, even though the page was already tearstained from all the times I read the inscription. It’s been three years since mom passed, and it still tears out my heart.

THE OUTPOST Oliver Pooley Grade 7, Boise

“Master,” said the general of the Umin army as he walked through the strong, silvery metal hallway into the magniicent throne room of the advanced Umin spaceship, “there’s been activity at an outpost on a certain planet called “Earth”. I’m sure you remember.”

“All too well, Zaywan,” said Elcronious, the King of the Umins, as he sat on his throne made of energized titanium plates, “send troops to ind intelligent life forms. If any are found report to back to me.”

“As you wish, sire,” said Zaywan.

As his general walked down the hallway, Elcronious remembered the day so many years ago, when he sent his son to Earth to watch the process of an outpost being built to test living conditions. Then there was an explosion….

Enough of that now, he had work to attend to.

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THE SHADOW REALM Ella Boyd Grade 7, Boise

Prologue As she looked around, all she could see was white. It was like she was trapped in a room with white walls, a white ceiling, and a white loor.

“Is anyone there?” she yelled. Her voice echoed, but there was no reply.

She decided to look around, and so she got up and started to walk. She walked and walked and walked, but all she saw was white. She turned and kept walking. Eventually, she got tired and decided to rest.

As she sat down, she heard laughing, but it wasn’t normal. It sounded as if and evil thing had been accomplished and she was scared.

She got up, turned around and far of in the distance, she saw a shadow. She decided to turn around and walk the other way.

However, every time she looked back, it was closer! She started to run, and as she turned again it was standing over her and she screamed.

Alia woke with a start. The shadow was coming. Pull yourself together Alia, it was only a dream. Alia looked over at the clock on her dresser. Shoot! 7:30! She was gonna be late!

Chapter 1 Alia’s feet thudded on the stairs as she soared down. She grabbed her burnt to a crisp toast, and stufed in her mouth, her eyes only half open, and she drearily ran to her ancient bike and got on. She pedaled so hard her legs were on the ire. However, as she passed the school zone sign it was of, signally she was late.

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THE STATUE (EXCERPT) Paige Porter Grade 7, Boise

The heavy dark wooden doors, embellished in think golden patterns carved into the wood, boomed shut behind her, trapping her in this...place. She looked back to where the massive doors had stood, seeming strong and unmoving. But the doors that had transported her from the golden worship temple in her home city to this strange, unnerving place were vanished.

In an instant, overwhelming feelings of aloneness and fear of this new world looded over her, crashing and tumbling through her mind in a torrent of thoughts. She slowly inhaled, then exhaled, hoping the scent of fresh dew on grass and roses would help to clear the chaos in her brain. She shivered in the chilly, early morning breeze as it nipped at her tiny, bare ingers. She turned her head back to the sight in front of her: a large circular platform made of bricks.

She tentatively stepped forward, up the small brick steps. As she climbed, she noticed that some of the bricks had words etched into them. She bent down to read one. It looked like it was written in her language, but as she tried to make out the words, she found that they loated around in her vision, unreadable. She straightened her back and continued up the last few steps. She lited her foot up the last brick stair arriving at the top platform. Facing her stood a magniicent statue of a woman.

Her stone hair hung down her back past her shoulders, and a small handful was braided in the back. The woman had a lace top and a long, lowing skirt frozen in stone. She could tell the woman was dressed in all black, the only exception to her dark color scheme being her auburn hair (or so her mind told her) and her pale green skin, right down to her bare feet.

She stood in front of the statue, simply gazing curiously at the stone woman, until she heard a voice. “You have come,� a clear female voice loated through the air.

The girl looked behind her, expecting someone to be there, but there was nobody. She felt a slight brush of air in front of her, and when she turned back to the stone woman, she was no longer stone. It was almost as if she had melted the stone casing away. She stood in front of the girl, a pale green woman with auburn hair, dressed all in black.

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“I was expecting you. I’ve been waiting for you.” The woman clasped her hands gently behind her back, speaking loudly, yet sotly.

The girl said nothing, but looked in shock at the woman. She shuled her rabbit-skin shoe nervously on the bricks.

“What’s your name, dear,” the woman asked kindly.

The girl whispered, “Ameria.”

“I’m so very glad you found me, Ameria. I am the goddess Elivia. You have much to learn about our world. And much responsibility will fall on your shoulders. You are a Special One, Ameria, destined to save a world.”

The girl’s eyes grew wide and scared.

NO ONE LEFT Ava Minshew Grade 9, Boise

Twenty-four people missing, their names kept silent for we cannot use them out loud nor write them down, soon the haunting number will rise to twenty ive.

I watch the child from my bedroom. She walks awkwardly, her legs ighting the heavy dread that ills the air. I couldn’t run away knowing what would happen once she reaches the gate, disappearing around the corner, her footprints creating lines and swirls against the muddy grass. The inal thing she leaves for this unfortunate place.

Mother says they are never really gone, listen to the wind as it swoops by your ear and you’ll hear their last words or sometimes nothing at all. I’ve tried, ceasing my movements and waiting patiently, but any result was a repetitive conversation with the element itself.

“Don’t you think you’ve seen enough?” A faint murmur, a shallow voice whispering.

I shiver under the cold, eerie breath though I always answer, “I’ve been here for too long. Trapped in a globe unable to shatter it.”

The wind would laugh and playfully tug at my hair, “nothing is invincible my girl, not even the gate that traps you and the evil that awaits beyond. I travel this land. I see everything and they don’t see me. The truth is in plain sight.” The wind ends the sentence with a faint sigh, then vanishes, swirling 122

among the leaves.

At this moment, I wished for that assurance, a reminder that nothing is impossible, but none came. The child now inches from her own destruction, stopped walking. I shove open the window and stick my head out, the slight breeze sending a chill through my bones. There was no one wandering the gardens nor was there a single person in the market. They were all hiding. Flickers of curtains and blinds made it obvious.

I couldn’t let her go through. “Don’t,” I shout. The child whipped around and looked towards me, her blue eyes sad clouded over with a hazy fog. She was the youngest in the Barr family. I had seen her running hysterically at the park, as if part of a war. “You don’t want to do this,” I plead, my voice breaking in a heart wrenching croak. The little girl shook her head, the sot curls falling to her face. She ignored my protests and continued down the path, taking small, hesitant steps.

Once she reached the end, she was enveloped in the darkness like it had spread its arms wide open, welcoming her.

Silence illed the village and the hand of a child waving goodbye.

We don’t understand why some are beckoned from the evil while others are not. Maybe it has nothing to do with their past but perhaps if they are too weak to ight. He preys on the ones who easily shatter, the lightest of glass and hopes the ones who are strong won’t destroy him. How wrong we were to believe he only took control of the damaged. He started with them irst and when there was none let, he chose whoever was closest.

WHEN SOLVA FLOODED THE WORLD (FROM MYTHS OF OCEAN-LAND, VOLUME 3) Kaisa Nilsson Grade 9, Boise

When the gods cry, their tears create rivers. Everyone knows the stories of Jasi and Solva, the wanderers, the sun and moon. You know the stories too-- Jasi’s eternal chase, lying ater Solva, blazing bright in the sky. They are each other’s answer and wish at once. They are the endless orbit.

You should know too, then, of when Jasi was taunted by Ullen, king of the land of the ocean-noise, keeper of the fallen ships, lord of the sea. Jasi, moon god, steady and brave, de123

scended from the sky to quarrel.

We do not know exactly why. Jasi is the calmest god, unyielding,the base on which all other cycles rest. Do you know why the sanctuary of the sky was abandoned that night? We are not sure. But I like to think that Jasi would shed immortality to avenge an insult against Solva. Ullen would know this too.

When Jasi came to the beach, Ullen threw out his great ishing nets and caught the moon god fast. And you know what enters Ullen’s home in his sea-net will never leave. Jasi fought as Ullen pulled the nets beneath the froth. We do not know if anyone heard. If you had happened upon a pair of ighting gods, would you have intervened?

THE CORNFIELD’S STONE Rowan Hulbert Grade 7, Boise

I irst felt the tug when I was eleven. I was walking through the cornield on my family’s farm, searching for three piglets I had let out by mistake. If I didn’t ind them, Father would surely think up some cruel punishment. I sighed heavily.

Then my gut wrenched. Not knowing why, without thought or reason, I decided it would be a grand idea to follow my gut, which, at the moment, was pulling me towards the south end of the ield. I trudged through muck and dirt, not caring about the piglets anymore, but following the hollow feeling in my stomach.

At last I fell to my knees and dug; the hole was deep enough to serve as my grave. At last I felt my knuckles hit stone.

Just a stone with some lines on it. Despair illed up the hollowness. Had I come all this way for a rock?

I picked up the rock and reared back to throw it away in disgust. But something stopped me. I knew, somehow, deep down, that this would satisfy my hunger. So I pocketed the stone.

And, having forgotten about the piglets, I emerged from the cornield to see father with a rope in one hand and a whip in the other.

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SHARD IS SHARP

BETTY

Zhujun Jiang Grade 9, Boise Once upon a time there was a woman called Betty. And she drank beers every day and ater that she would steal other people’s things.

ERIC: Betty, why are you always stealing things?

BETTY: I didn’t. I don’t know what I do ater I drink beers.

Day by day, no one likes Betty, then she didn’t have any friends, even her family went away from her, she felt so sad.

BETTY: No one likes me. So I need to change. I will move to another town.

Betty moves to another town, one day she stops drinking beers.

ERIC: Oh...Betty has gone, we don’t lose things anymore.

ALICE: No, Betty is a good woman, I’m her new neighbor now.

She is helpful.

ERIC: That can’t be true. That can’t be Betty.

Betty decides to make a shop to sell lowers. One day, she is serving lowers in the shop.

ERIC: Excuse me, I want to know if there are still lowers. I want to give them to my mother.

BETTY: We still have some...oh, Eric, why are you here?

ERIC: Emm...Betty. How much are my lowers?

BETTY: It’s just $10. Here are the lowers.

ERIC: Okay. Here is the money. And I felt sorry about the things I’ve done in the past. Can you forgive me?

BETTY: Sure. I feel sorry, too. In the past, I always stole something ater I drank beers. Can everyone forgive me?

ERIC: Sure.

Betty stopped stealing, and because of that, everyone began to like her.

She felt so warm, then she moved back, and had a nice life.

BETTY’S MOTHER: Oh, Betty. We are very sorry. Can you forgive us?

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BETTY: Sure. But I did so many wrong things in the past. Can I give back the things I stole?

MOTHER: Sure.

That day Betty gave things back. Betty’s neighbors felt sorry, too. They all forgave her. The town became quiet and safe again. The End.

BEYOND THE DOOR (EXCERPT) Belle Tapia Grade 7, Boise

Characters Papier - Janitor with a PhD, lives in a dumpster Jane - Best friend to Eve, an 11-year-old treasure hunter with a knack for hiding things and navigation Eve - Twelve-old-treasure hunter with a knack for inding things and quick escapes.

Scene 1 Jane is sitting in a cofee shop, drinking hot cocoa, waiting for her best friend, Eve. She taps her ingers on the table.

JANE: There you are! What took you so long?

EVE: I ran into an extremely annoying teacher I had. Let’s just say she loves chit chat.

JANE: Ah, sounds like Mrs. Amberday. Want a hot chocolate?

EVE: Yes! It’s freezing out there. And don’t forget the whipped cream!

Jane walks to the counter, speaks to the Cashier.

JANE: One hot chocolate with whipped cream. (To Eve) Do you want marshmallows?

EVE: Yes! JANE: And marshmallows.

CASHIER: That’ll be $2.34.

Jane pays and walks back to the table with the drink.

JANE: So? EVE: What?

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JANE: (slaps hand in face) Clues! What else would I be talking about? Did you ind any?

EVE: Yeah, I mean, I think I did.

She shows a broken shard of glass to Jane with an S on it.

JANE: (looks annoyed) And you think this is a clue because…

EVE: Give me the book and I’ll show you.

Jane hands Eve a children’s book titled Burnt Ashes.

EVE: (reading) Shard is sharp Isn’t that clear?

6th of Water Shallow Beware of others follow JANE: Um, okay?

EVE: Shard is sharp, you know, like a shard of glass?

JANE: Oooh...and about everything else?

EVE: Glass is clear, is it not?

JANE: Yes, I guess.

EVE: The last part confused me for quite a bit, 6th of Water Shallow. But then I realized that it was in the lettering. S is the 6th letter in the phrase and I found the clue at Sixth Street Park, in the pond. As for “Beware of others follow,” I have no idea yet.

JANE: So it is a clue. What does it tell us about the message though?

EVE: Well, the stone has an “A” on it, the charm has an “R” on it, so I think that put together the objects might spell...something.

I think.

JANE: Can we go now? There’s a girl I know from class here and we’re not exactly the best of friends.

Eve nods, and they proceed to exit the shop.

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EMILY’S BETRAYAL Kylee Montgomery Grade 8, Boise

Scene One - The Village Emily is skipping down the cobblestone road. She has a bag illed with apples and oranges. She stops at the trading booth.

EMILY: Hello, good sir.

TRADER 1: Hello, Emily! What do you have to trade with me today?

EMILY: Only some apples and oranges.

She pulls an apple out of her sack.

TRADER 1: That is ine, Emily. I am guessing you want money.

EMILY: You know me too well, sir.

Emily trades her apples and oranges for money.

TRADER 1: Come back soon!

He waves to Emily as she nods and walks away. She walks past several stores and booths. People yell at her to buy their products.

BAKER: Oh, Emily dear! Please come here for a moment.

EMILY: Yes, Miss Baker?

BAKER: I just wanted to thank you for saving me yesterday from those awful bandits!

She pulls out a cake from her cart.

EMILY: Oh no! I don’t need it. But, oh, does that smell good.

BAKER: I insist. It’s on the house.

EMILY: Oh, you have me convinced.

She takes the cake. The baker looks at a giant clock in the town. It strikes twelve.

BAKER: You should be going home now, yes?

EMILY: Why the sudden rush?

BAKER: Well, if you want to eat your cake, you’re gonna have to 130

eat it at home!

Emily walks closer to the Baker.

EMILY: What are you not telling me, oh, sweet and kind— KNIGHT 1: ALL BOW DOWN TO SIR GALDIFH. BAKER: Oh dear, oh dear, oh deary dear.

Sir Galdih strides on to stage. His body clad with armor, he carries his helmet.

EMILY: (angry) How come no one told me HE would be here today?

BAKER: (whispers) You challenge him….

KNIGHT 1: YOU! You lowly baker! Bow down to Sir Galdih.

Baker gets on one knee and bows her head.

KNIGHT 2: (to Emily) You, too, lowly peasant.

Emily sends a kick to Knight 2, dropping the cake. Knight 2 stumbles back. Knights 1 and 3 draw their swords.

EMILY: Don’t call me a lowly peasant, you slime!

Sir Galdih appears from greeting people.

SIR GALDIFH: Well, if it isn’t the trouble maker, Emily. Doll, how have you been?

Emily grabs one of the knight’s swords and points it at Galdih’s throat.

EMILY: Don’t use that stupid name.

KNIGHT 1: Sir! KNIGHT 3: Do you know this crazy peasant?

SIR GALDIFH: Do not call her a peasant. She is by far stronger than you. And she can call on the help of the mythical legends.

Knights 1,2,3 all back away from Emily.

KNIGHT 3: Shouldn’t she be executed?

SIR GALDIFH: We were too late to, so the King decided that the 131

strongest knight — me — would be her lover. Of course, it was going as planned— EMILY: Until this idiot cheated on me. I then found out their plans and I swore hatred upon this Kingdom.

BAKER: Oh, dear…

I DON’T BELONG HERE (EXCERPT) Ava Minshew Grade 9, Boise

Part 1: A Heart to Heart Liam, a seventeen-year-old boy sits in a messy room. Dirty clothes are piled along the loor, papers crumbled and thrown carelessly, pizza boxes artistically stacked. He concentrates on an endless amount of college applications.

Three loud knocks.

LIAM: (setting down folder) Who is it?

FATHER: Just a guy who wants to hang with his son. I haven’t seen you in a while. You tend to hide out.

LIAM: I’m busy, Dad, too busy for a talk that usually ends up as a shouting match.

FATHER: Um (takes a breath) I came to check on you. I understand this is stressful. Your entire future is in your grasp. I couldn’t handle it, but I won’t let you turn out like me. You’re no quitter.

LIAM: You’re right. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to get back to work.

Liam tries to shut the door. Father stops it with his hand.

FATHER: Wait, when you leave this house, where do you see yourself?

LIAM: I don’t know. Happy, rich, famous. Not here, anywhere but here.

Father nods sadly, frowning as he exits. Door closes sotly. Lights fade to black.

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Part 2: A Mysterious Past An older Liam amidst chaos. A large room bustling with nurses, patients wandering aimlessly, mumbling odd sentences. Some are playing games, while others rock back and forth on their feet.

Liam is dressed in nursing clothes, seeming lost and confused. A patient approaches. She’s blonde, beautiful.

VENUS: Excuse me.

LIAM: (clears throat) Do you need anything?

VENUS: Nope, simply had the idea to introduce myself. (pause) Why so nervous? I’m not crazy, I mean this is a hospital where people go if they feel out of it but no need to worry. (leans towards him) I don’t bite.

LIAM: (linches, but remains calm) Forgive me if I seemed scared.

VENUS: Hah, scared you were more like (high-pitched voice) oh my gosh! This girl is really bonkers!

LIAM: I didn’t think that. I must get back.

He starts to walk away. Venus grabs his sleeve.

VENUS: Wait, I’m giving you a hard time. I don’t belong here, and you don’t either. This probably wasn’t on the top of your list for dream jobs. Any chance to prove I’m sane, I take.

LIAM: And how did you prove it just now?

VENUS: To show I can at least have a conversation.

LIAM: Well, it wasn’t a common chat, but I’m familiar with those types. Why were you sent to this place if you’re so “normal”?

VENUS: Good question. But I have this feeling I’m meant to be here. Like I’m supposed to meet a certain person. As weird as it sounds, it feels so true. Maybe it has been you all along. A wannabe celeb, your only family disappointed with the choices you’ve made. Reminds me of myself.

Venus smiles and exits. Liam stares ater her, not moving.

LIAM: (whispers) Maybe.

To be continued...

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SECOND CHANCE(S) (EXCERPT) Soren Farley Grade 7, Boise

Act 1, Scene 1 Rose Marquee enters. She walks up to the bar.

ROSE: (leans on bar) Seltzer water, please.

The bartender hands Rose a seltzer water.

ROSE: Thanks.

She glances at the clock. It reads 10:49. Suddenly, a rather plumplooking man enters, followed by two bodyguards. All three are nicely dressed.

GANG LEADER: Rose Marquee.

ROSE: Marcus. Nice to see you looking well.

MARCUS: I told you to stop. You knew the consequences.

A man enters holding another man bound at the ankles, arms, and mouth.

ROSE: Daddy!

MARCUS: No one messes with the Darbinian Crime Family.

BANG! The man crumples to the loor. Rose runs over and looks at her father’s expressionless face. The Darbinian Crime Family leaves. Curtains close over Rose holding her father and crying.

Scene 2 Rose walks out of the bar, shaken and crying. She walks to her small apartment and opens the door to see JoAnn. ROSE: I can’t take it, JoAnn. JoAnn gives Rose a look that says “who told you that?”

ROSE: Marcus, he did it. He—he killed my father. I don’t know what to do.

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JoAnn gives Rose a look that says “you’ll do what’s in your heart.”

ROSE: You’re right. You know, you are my favorite mannequin head.

JoAnn doesn’t say anything.

ROSE: Well, say something.

JoAnn doesn’t say anything.

ROSE: I know you’re in my head, but please say something.

JoAnn doesn’t say anything.

ROSE: You’re right, though. I’ll do what’s in my heart.

Rose leaves the apartment. JoAnn winks, but Rose doesn’t see.

THE ELVES (EXCERPT) Kendal Kaufman Grade 7, Boise

Scene 1 Zachary is walking switly to his favorite tree in the Park. He has tears in his eyes, his divorce just inalized in court an hour ago.

ICE CREAM MAN: You okay, Zach?

NARRATOR: Zach and the ice cream man have a very long history.

ZACH: Yeah, yeah, I’m okay…

ICE CREAM MAN: I don’t think too many 31 one-year-olds have tears coming out their eyes, when they’re okay.

Zach looks away, and continues walking towards his favorite tree.

ICE CREAM MAN: Poor guy. Wife of two years divorced him.

4 mins later.

ZACH: Finally, the biggest tree in the park...just need to ind a 135

comfortable spot…

He walks around the tree. There is a light brown door. His temper rises quickly.

ZACH: Why is this here? They turned this beautiful tree into a playpen for kids?

He walks to it, his face lustered and teary-eyed. Zach opens the door.

ZACH: Huh. I just barely it. It’s like it was made for people my size— Zach is blinded by a lashing light. He stumbles forward, his hands sinking into the soil. He opens his eyes cautiously. Slowly, he realizes that the door is gone and that the world is 10 times bigger.

Scene 2 ZACH: What the?! WHY AM I IN A TREE?! And why am I so dang small?

Zach jumps at the sound of another voice.

ZACH: Who are you?

HIYA: I’m Hyacinth Arbor. You can call me Hiya.

ZACH: Who are you?

HIYA: We both walked through that door. Now we are 20 times smaller and the door is gone.

ZACH: Actually 10 times— HIYA: (stares him dead in the eyes) 20.

ZACH: What’s an old lady like you doing out here?

HIYA: I walked through the door. I also walked in here with my friend, Navy. He chose to go with the elves.

ZACH: Elves?

HIYA: Yes. And they should be arriving any minute now to pick you up.

ZACH: What about you?

HIYA: I don’t trust them. I’m going to ind a way out.

ZACH: But you’re in a wheelchair!

HIYA: I don’t need it! I’m just lazy.

ZACH: How old are you?

HIYA: 82.

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ZACH: Sheesh.

HIYA: I hear them!

She quickly wheels into a hiding spot in the bottom of the tree. Zach looks up to see a group of elves marching down the ridges in the tree.

They have silver, dark green, and brown hair. The female leader wears a crown on her head.

ZACH: Can I hide with you?

HIYA: Do it and I’ll smack you in the head.

ZACH: (thinking) Dang, she is as spicy as a ghost pepper.

THE MYSTERY OF THE DARK MANSION (EXCERPT) Milo Peterson Grade 8, Boise

Scene 1 Henry and Ron walk down a street.

HENRY: Turn let here.

RON: Why, my house is just down the alley!

HENRY: To avoid the DM. RON: DM? Henry stops.

RON: What’s the DM? HENRY: Sit down, I will tell you. That house is called the Dark Mansion. There is an old couple that have not let in 32 years, they have gone mad. The house was made in Rome, hundreds of years ago. Around every 50 years, the house moves to a new place, (pause) on its own.

Pause.

Later that night, Ron looks out his window to ind the Dark Mansion with one old light turned on. Everything is quiet. He creeps downstairs and before he knows it he was knocking with the ring in the lion’s mouth “dong, dong, dong.”

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Scene 2 CABANA: Dude, what’re you doing?

RON: Have you heard the tale of the DM? CABANA: Bruh, yeah it’s cool.

Cabana takes Ron home.

CABANA: Get some rest, come to the shack tomorrow.

Ron can’t sleep, he just lies in bed, awake.

Scene 3 The next morning.

RON: Henry, you won’t believe what happened last night!

HENRY: Let me guess, you came down, knocked on the door.

Then an old man found you and he walked you back home.

RON: How did you know?

HENRY: I watched you.

RON: Oh… HENRY: So which shack did he say he owned?

RON: (trying to remember) Uhhh…I think it was the shack…

HENRY: Oh no! That person is crazy, that place is crazy! I wonder if his tacos are good?

RON: Let’s go!

The two boys head to the beach. They ind themselves in an alleyway.

RON: I’m lost.

HENRY: We’re deinitely going in circles. The alleyway is a maze.

RON: If we go straight we will eventually get out.

20 minutes later.

RON: Okay, that didn’t work.

HENRY: Let’s try the opposite of that, let’s keep turning right.

5 min later.

HENRY & RON: THE BEACH!!

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TRAVEL BACK (EXCERPT) Freida Elgethun Grade 8, Boise

Scene 1 Open on a bustling small French town square with a mixture of modern and historic buildings. Two boys (Adrius and Reed) are walking home from school. Lights are bright, muled everyday noises.

ADRIUS: I can’t believe how much homework we have. (throws hands up, exasperated) I mean, c’mon! It’s the irst day of school! I mean, who even inishes the math (air quotes) “in-class homework”.

REED: (sotly) I inished it.

ADRIUS: (smirks) Of course you did. (sighs) I’m bored. School is boring. This whole city is just boring. (thinks of something) Hey...how about we sneak into the Dupas place?

REED: What? No! That’s illegal!

ADRIUS: C’mon, don’t you want to see all the fantastic stuf they let behind, history geek?

REED: Yeah, I guess. (muttering) But just in and out…

ADRIUS: Fine, let’s go!!

Adrius drags Reed by the wrist.

Scene 2 Shadowed light. Reed and Adrius stand in front of an intricate door with carved scenes. Silence. Reed is the irst to talk.

REED: This door is beautiful. Imagine how long the carving would have taken with such a lack of technology!

ADRIUS: Yeah, yeah. So how do we get in? We could break one of the back windows!

Reed cringes.

ADRIUS: Or beat open the door!

Adrius mimes punching.

REED: Or — (turns the handle) we could just walk in.

ADRIUS: (rolls his eyes) I could have thought of that.

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Adrius realizes Reed isn’t standing next to him.)

ADRIUS: Reed? Reed!!

He looks at the door scene, where the people in it have moved.

ADRIUS: Wha-what? Did that just—whoaaaa!!!

Adrius disappears.

WORK IN PROGRESS (EXCERPT) Addison Kostelec Grade 6, Boise

Scene 1 The light is bright. I love rock n roll is playing. Mom drives with Zuri, Zach, Peter, Harlen, Tom, Audrey, Bryn, Soie and the dog named Button. Dad drives with Aunt Jane, Arianna, Hannah, Joann, Harry, Amry, Brey, and Bob. Silence except the kids are groaning, trying to get comfy.

HARLEN: (to audience) Hi, I’m Harlen Peterson. I am 11. I’m twins with Harry and live with a family of 15 kids. Tom has special needs. My dad got an ofer at a famous ilming company, so we’re moving to L.A. Oww. Bryn, get your foot out of my face!

BRYN: (moves foot) Sorry.

HARLEN: Anyway, both our cars have two seats in front, two rows of three seats, and in the back 2 seats. Mom drives. Tom, Bryn, and Zach are in the second row, with Button on Tom. Peter, Audrey and I are in the third row. Zuri and Soie are in the back.

ZURI: Harlen, where’s Soie’s bottle?

HARLEN: I don’t know. (looks around) Here!

Harlen and her family stop in the park. He meets Cup of Tea. Lights fade as it’s getting late.

HARLEN: Hi, what’s your name?

CUP OF TEA: I’m Cup Of Tea. 140

Arianna comes over.

ARIANNA: Hi. CUP OF TEA: My name is weird, sorry.

HARLEN: Can we call you Tea for short?

TEA: Sure.

ZURI: Harlen, we have to go!

HARLEN: One second! Here, this is my email.

Harlen and Tea exchange info.

Scene 2 The Petersons at home in their mansion. The next day. Time for school.

MOM: Harlen!

HARLEN: What?

MOM: Get everyone up and ready.

HARLEN: Okay. (knocks on everyone’s door.) Time to get up!

Everyone gets up, gets dressed, lines up at the bathrooms.

ZURI: Me irst!

ARIANNA: Hurry, Zuri!

ZACH: Stop yelling!

DAD: Uh-oh.

HARLEN: Is something wrong?

DAD: The school bus got a lat tire.

BUTTON: Arf! AMRY: What will we do now?

MOM: We’ll— AUDREY: Brey! Give me my sock!

AUBREY: Make me!

HARLEN: Stop girls!

HANNAH: Where’s my phone?

PETER: Who put glitter in my hair?

BOB: Waaah!

BRYN: My bubbles!

HARRY: Don’t take a bath.

TOM: Harlen, my head hurts.

HARLEN: Oh, brother.

SOFIE: Ba, ba.

DAD: Where’s letovers?

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MOM: Bacon!

ALL: Ohh! DAD: Harlen, get Bob dressed!

HARLEN: On it!

MOM: Zuri, get Bryn.

ZURI: Come, Bryn.

BRYN: Okay.

ZACH: Joann, help with Amry.

JOANN: Why not you?

ZACH: Because I’m helping Bob now, Harlen’s helping Tom. JOANN: Fine!

ARIANNA: Audrey, Aubrey, here’s your clothes, change.

MOM: Finally.

PETER: Mom, I’ll help cook.

MOM: Thanks.

WORKING TITLE (EXCERPT) Elliot Potts Grade 8, Boise

Scene 1 Open on the cofeehouse, where Sadie is working behind the counter and Louisa is in the back.

SADIE: (to customer) Thanks, come again soon.

She hands him his bag and cofee, then wipes her hands on her apron.

LOUISA: (leans in from the back) Hey, could you cover me for Friday? It’s Ted’s birthday and I promised I’d be there.

SADIE: Sure. Though one of these days, you’re going to have to make up the 21 shits I’ve covered for you these past months.

LOUISA: C’mon, it’s not 21.

SADIE: It is.

LOUISA: It is not.

SADIE: Either way, you owe me several shits.

LOUISA: Fine. Thanks, you’re the best. Have I told you that?

SADIE: Not nearly enough. (to Customer) Hi, welcome to The Daily Grind. What can I get you?

CUSTOMER: Uh, can I get a...like a salad?

SADIE: It’s a cofeehouse, sir.

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CUSTOMER: I went to this one cofee shop in Greece with tons of salad options.

SADIE: This is San Francisco, not Greece.

CUSTOMER: Can I speak to your manager?

SADIE: Sure, one sec— CUSTOMER: You know what? I’ll just go to that new place down the street. They probably have salad.

The Customer leaves angrily.

SADIE: Maybe that’s why Joanna gives me all her shits. This place sucks.

The doorbell chimes, and a man dressed in a tux with expensive shoes enters.

SADIE: Louisa. Louisa. LOUISA. LOUISA: (from of) One sec! (enters from back) What’s up? (eyes widen as she notices the man) SADIE: Correct me if I’m wrong, but is that THE Maxwell Montgomery? Gazillionaire? Owner of Montgomery Industries?

LOUISA: It is. Here, switch me so I can serve him.

SADIE: No way! I’ve been working here longer than you, plus, if I leave, you don’t owe me those shits.

Montgomery hits the bell several times, snapping Sadie back to the front.

MAXWELL: Ahem?

SADIE: So sorry, Mr. Montgomery — I mean, sir! What can I get you?

MAXWELL: A decaf Americano, no whip.

Sadie jots down the order, visibly stressed.

SADIE: Right away, sir. By the way, I love your products. The MAXWELL Industries phone I have is the best phone I’ve ever had, and— MAXWELL: Do you like working here?

SADIE: Excuse me?

MAXWELL: Do you like working at this, dare I say, dump? I saw the way that CUSTOMER treated you, SADIE. 143

SADIE: Wait, you know my name?

MAXWELL: Nametag.

SADIE: Oh. Right.

MAXWELL: Anyways, I was wondering if you would like an internship at my business?

SADIE: Wait, are you serious?

MAXWELL: Very.

SADIE: Yes! Thank you so much!

Louisa’s hand passes the cofee from the back.

SADIE: And here’s your drink! Thank you!

Montgomery leaves, and Sadie leans back to Louisa.

SADIE: I did it, I got the job! No more crabby customers or cruddy paychecks!

Louisa high ives her.

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SWISH-SWASH

IT’S GETTING CLOSER, by the Offbeat Brothers Marley Stambulis, Grade 7, Boise Finley Gerhardt, Grade 7, Boise Help me I’m gonna die I’m playing chess with death Help me I don’t know why I can’t even catch my breath It’s getting closer It’s getting closer It’s getting closer It’s getting closer Help me I’m gonna die I’m playing chess with death Help me I don’t know why I can’t even catch my breath It’s all a mistake It’s all a mistake My lungs are burning Fear building up inside my veins I breathe my last breath Feels like catching the last train

CLOSER FURTHER, by The Nervous 1’s Natalia Lacow, Grade 10, Boise Wren Mansield, Grade 8, Boise Verse 1: I’m getting used to switching Back and forth I go Swish-swash I’m wishing hoping to let go I wanna leave all this behind Open up my heart But if I do I’ll fall apart Chorus: The closer I get to you the further I get from me 147

Oh ooo Oh ooo You love me buy I’m not your toy to play with (toy to play with) I love you but you’re not mine to have (not mine to have) So let’s drop this whole idea ‘cause it’s just so bad But it’s just so bad (so bad) Verse 2: I’m getting a little further Further on I go Little ish I’m swimming come on let’s go I want to ly away tonight I want to open my heart Though it might make me fall apart Chorus: The closer I get to you the further I get from me Oh ooo Oh ooo You love me but I’m not your toy to play with (toy to play with) I love you but you’re not mine to have (not mine to have) So let’s drop this whole idea ‘cause it’s just so bad But it’s just so bad (so bad) Bridge: I’m learning my own way Finding a path that is new Look up at the stars at night At that beautiful view And wish from your heart Something that is true End: The closer I get to you Oh ooo I love you You love me Wish from your heart 148

(wish from your heart) I’m not your toy to play with (toy to play with) You are not mine to have (not mine to have) Getting used to this whole idea

BUT IT COULD BE REAL, by Ukebox Harper Cearley, Grade 7, Boise Faith Alan, Grade 7, Boise *Intro* Verse 1: Let’s go swimming in the ocean While the loor is clean Not a piece of plastic in sight All the sea creatures are alive Chorus: This is a dream world But it could be real You can help us out By preserving the Earth Verse 2: The Ice caps are not melting The animals are not dying The Bees and trees are all that we need *Bridge* Chorus: This is a dream world But it could be real You can help us out By preserving the Earth

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MUSIC EVERYWHERE, by The Purple Stars Katy Brewton, Grade 3, Boise Lucy Brewton, Grade 5, Boise Verse 1: Music have you ever felt its power work on you Music it’s a beautiful it’s a wonderful incredible thing Music can help you out of any kind of problem Music sometimes can make you wanna sing Chorus: Music in my ears Music in my head Music in my heart ‘til I go to bed Verse 2: Music can do anything Music can give you energy Music can make you feel like the happiest person on earth Or it can make you wanna curl up in a ball Chorus: Music in my ears Music in my head Music in my heart ‘til I go to bed Bridge: Music sounds in my head Music everywhere Music wherever I turn Music don’t leave me alone Chorus: Music in my ears Music in my head Music in my heart ‘til I go to bed

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SUNRISE, by The Flower Few Julie Prudhomme, Grade 9, Meridian Emelia Sharp, Grade 8, Caldwell Alexandria Schrader, Grade 9, Boise Ella Yanzuk, Grade 10, Meridian Verse 1: I’mlostandloneinanxiety Just a patchwork of these broken things Crying under a starless night Looking for the light But here the sun doesn’t rise Pre Chorus: I don’t really know where I’m goin’ So I’ll just stay right here Chorus: There’s a world outside That’s what momma says She tells me it’s dangerous But can I believe what she said There’s a world outside It’s there to explore Just a little bit scared Of walking through that door Verse 2: Was walkin’ in school the other day Found a smile that spoke in a million ways Looked into his eyes that had no fear Someone I could trust for years and years Pre-Chorus: I don’t really know where I’m goin’ But I want to stay with you Chorus: There’s a world outside That’s what he says That not everybody’s Out to hurt me like that 151

There’s a world outside It’s there to explore Taking a tiny step To walk through that door Bridge: Depression can try, to pull me down Into the depths of the ocean But now you see, I’ll never drown Get the notion? Oh woah Cause now I’m shattering my chains Cause now I’m spreading my wings Watch me break free Chorus: I’m in the world outside With his hand in mine He said I could do it Now look at me ly I’m in the world outside I’m here to explore I’m unstoppable I’ll make it through that door There’s a world outside That’s what I say It’s perfect to my touch And to my taste I’m in the world outside I’m here to explore And I’m not scared No not anymore Outro: I’ve stepped through that door not alone Pleased to see my new home I’m lying in the summer sky Cause For the irst time I’m watching the sun rise

PINE PLANT PRICKLES

IMAGINARY

Meghan Olsen Grade 11, Boise Avery loved laughing with Isaac, but Isaac didn’t need Avery anymore. A few years back and they would’ve been having the time of their lives together. Isaac would bring Avery everywhere; to the park, to school, to Disney. Avery would be whatever Isaac wanted her to be; a fairy, a witch, a pirate. But now, Avery wasn’t needed anymore. She looked on as Isaac grew older. She watched from the side when Isaac turned 10 and told her that he didn’t want to celebrate with her. He wanted to hang out with his other friends, his real friends. It had hurt when Isaac told her that she wasn’t real at his 12th birthday party.

Avery knew she was real, she had to be. When Isaac turned 15 he told her to get out of his head. Ater that Avery tried everything to get him to be her friend again. He ignored her. When he turned 18, everything changed. Avery was fading.

She started to think of all the fun they used to have.

As Avery remembered the good and the bad times, she faded even more. She just wanted to play with him again. She wanted him to laugh with her again. But most of all she just wanted him to remember her again. When he turned 19 she faded even more. The night before his 20th birthday, she knew that she didn’t have much longer. When morning came, Avery watched as the sun rose until she faded away completely. Now that Isaac was all grown up, it was time for Avery to make another child happy.

DEAR ALEX

Olivia Jones Grade 11, Rupert Dear Alex, I swear my irst instinct was to help. I even dropped to my knees to brush of the snow from her body. I was going to call for help, I swear. But then I remembered, I remembered what she could do for me. Well, what her phone could do for me. So soon I felt my hand sneaking into her back pocket to take out the lat metal object. Alex, I need you to understand where I’m coming from.

You know how my grades have been recently. This was my chance. As my intentions set in, I knew there was no going back.

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WORLD TOUR

Korbin Hansen Grade 11, Boise The land was empty except for the two of them, sitting peacefully on the tall grassy hill that overlooked the landscape.

A powerful warm breeze blew up the crater ejecta, rustling the tall emerald grass around them. Brilliant clouds rose up to form an expansive white dome in stark contrast with the sunset oranges and reds of the sky. This was true silence, no birds sang, no waterfalls ran, it was just the two of them, and the low rumble of the nuclear shockwave. Atop the hill, Putin spread out the red and white checkered picnic cloth while Kim Jong Un took two boxes of cold noodles out of a straw basket.

“You know, when I said nuke the Chinese, I meant put the takeout in the microwave.” Kim said.

“You have to admit comrade, this truly is a sight to behold.” Putin replied. Kim nodded lightly.

“You have a point. Vacation days like these are always so relaxing. Where should we go next?”

“It’s the second of July, if we can get there fast enough we could get to see the ireworks above Washington D.C.” “That’s all well and good Vlad, but you always say go big or go home. Don’t you think it would be cooler if we brought our own ireworks?”

A FAMILY FUED

Aria DeAguiar Grade 11, Meridian The familiar sting of a curled ist colliding with her jaw send her head reeling backwards and enticed stars to appear into her vision. Back slamming into the wall, body jostling with the impact of a level seven earthquake, she barely had time to roll out of the way. A black cloud of ink came lying into her vision, just scraping the edge of her ear. Her heart racing faster than a jockey, she scrambled to her feet, gloved hands slipping on the newly polished loor of the school. A school? Why had she chosen a school? Oh that’s right. Because she hated it. A rising wall of clear glass rose above her head, stopping her in her tracks. Groaning inwardly, she changed her position and rolled 156

into a large cafeteria. ‘Maybe if they damage the school enough, I won’t have to go tomorrow!’ She thought, throwing herself underneath a rolling table. She took a chance to look at what could have been her own body impaled against the wall with mirrored spikes jutting outwards, and thought the better of it. Man, dinner would be fun tonight.

MIDDLE-CLASS JAZZ Camden Mullens Grade 12, Boise

The pine plant prickles at your skin in an uncomfortable manner. It’s well trimmed edges only seem to accent the problem.

But that is no matter, for you are plotting. Your thoughts are in rhythm with the live jazzy music echoing out of the bandstand you’re seated behind.

You ignore the music shaking the Earth and the crowds on the other side singing along. You must have it. You need it.

You don’t have money for it. And there’s no legal way to procure it quickly. Any illegal way risks a police investigation into your home life.

That… that wouldn’t be good. For several reasons. Just thinking about those reasons causes your hand to lit and pick at the peeling, sunburnt skin on your hairline.

Flashes of Smokey rooms, angry yelling, and a baby let to wail for days on end ilter through your brain. It reminds you of what you need, and your hiding place in the tree grove, behind the concert venue feels all the colder for it.

Help, you need help for you and your siblings desperately. But getting help would cause you to be separated. To avoid that you need money for a lawyer who can make you your sibling’s legal guardian.

You know more money won’t be hard to get. You have some of 157

your mom’s… stuf. You can sell that. But you don’t know if the risk is worth the reward. What happens to your siblings if you’re caught?

The grounds thumping lessens as the band says their goodbyes and good nights. The crowd cheers one last time. People begin to depart. Already there is a stream of families heading to the parking lot full of middle class cars to take them to their middle class homes so that tomorrow they can continue their middle class lives.

And you are so jealous you could choke on it. It makes your saliva taste sickly-sweet. You spit on the ground in disgust, but the taste persists.

You, too, stand to leave, to return to your own life, in all its hazy glory. You dust of worn jeans like it might remove the permanent dirt stains, and start for home. Your problems aren’t solved in the least, but now you have been refueled in jealousy to drive your determination. You are going to get out of your situation, and you will take your siblings with you.

THE FORGOTTEN LETTERS, PART ONE Abby Peck Grade 10, Boise

My dear friend Meredith,

I found your letter today at the post oice where I live.

I always ask for the extra letters that are unaccounted for so that I can write stories about the people on the paper inside. I like to imagine how you felt when you wrote the letter, or how the person reading it might feel if they opened it. Will they scream in delight? Will they collapse into tears? Or will it just be a simple message sent to say ‘hello’, or ‘I’m ine’ that will give you just a little bit more happiness as you go through the day?

I’m sorry that your nephew never got his card. I hope that his git made it safely through the mail system with the best regards, even though he may not know who it is from.

The roller-skates you gave him are guaranteed to give him the sincerest joy, especially with how you expressed it in your letter.

He will scream with joy when he opens the package, wrapped in 158

brown paper, and wear them around the house until his mother tells him he is damaging the loors, and the he will go outside and skate around the neighborhood until late, and his mother might even have to force him to come inside.

The next day, he will awake illed with joy as he wakes up early in the morning to put on his new skates. He will show them to his friends, do a couple of made up tricks, and then do one that was too complicated for his newfound skills and tumble over. At this point, his mother will come out and tend to his wounds, warning him not to do dangerous things, as it would hurt him and break her heart. But as much as he is hurt, she doesn’t have the heart to take the skates away from him. So they will stay, and gradually they will get older and older and more frayed, until, many years later, he will dig them out of a pile of clothes and a whole bunch of things that no longer it him. And he will remember the roller-skates. And he will remember you.

Yours truly, Emily Baker

THE GARDEN

Karina Simplot Grade 10, Nampa Dear Fred, It really has been awhile since we last spoke. We are unable to speak in person, for obvious reasons. Still, I see no reason why I cannot speak to you just as I am now. It’s been 16 years since you’ve been gone, many of which I spent in fear that someone would discover our secret. Although, we both know that is impossible. Neither of us has any reason to tell.

I knew that our everlasting love would never have lasted if I hadn’t done what I had in order to protect us. I sometimes think about what it might be like if you were still here. I have so many things that I want to tell you. I am a huge believer in the idea that we only truly get one great love in our lives. We might be in love, but ater that great love nothing even comes close to comparison. Maybe if I had met John before you, then I would have that moment of knowing that you were my great love. But I never appreciated you when you were here so I don’t think the time to start is ater you have let. Regardless, I am writing to you because nobody understands me the way that you have.

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I’m trapped, similar to you, so I thought perhaps you would understand. Daily I am stuck at home doing the duties of a good house-wife, but I wanted more for myself, you knew that best. I have tried to ind ways to cope, but none of them seem to stick.

I go to the garden oten, to your spot, it always makes me think of you.

Loving and missing you, Darla Dear Fred, I thought that I wouldn’t be writing to you again, but here I am. John has started to question my hobbies. Particularly how I go into the garden daily. I’m inding it quite diicult, even trying to converse with him. In this way he reminds me of you. Headstrong that is. The garden is my happy place. My one piece of joy, and now John is asking questions. We both know that simply will not do. I don’t think I ever told you how I explained our relationship to your family. You see, I had to tell them something so that they wouldn’t start asking questions about your disappearance. But that is the trouble, I had to tell them that you ran of with another woman, in the dead of the night, let with no intention of returning. And they believed me, it is almost as if they never really knew you at all. Sure, you had that little ling, but it was out of your system shortly ater it had started. You really were my match, I was always challenged with you, we argued about everything. Politics, religion, anything with two sides we were at odds over. But I think that we can both agree that we were always destined to be. I think it is inally time to make the spot in the garden for John, seeing his newfound curiosity I will show him his spot next to yours. Then you two will inally meet and enjoy each other’s company, and I will inally have the house to myself once more. Happily alone.

Forever your love, Darla

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YOU’RE EVIL

Emilia Slater Grade 11, Missoula, Montana This is your irst time giving evil a serious try. Sure, you’ve silently raged against the injustices done by the “protectors”. But never in public. You were too scared- just like everybody else. But what you saw on a cold night in September still makes you shiver even though the night’s chilly air has long since let your bones. The scarlet slashes on the uneven pavement won’t leave you mind. Nor the strikes of white from the protectors blinding, wolish grins. That’s what decided it for you.

You couldn’t stay silent with all these horrors screaming in your head. So you started with ice in your heart and ire behind your eyes. Finding what little you could do at the time, to ight back.

But then you found them (or more like they found you). People just like you with ires raging in their heads. People just like you who’ve seen too much and far too little real justice. You work tirelessly, doing as much as can to help. You lead others, hoping desperately that this will work. And it does work. You can tell by how hard the Protectors start to ight. They’re scared, pinning you as a villain. Proclaiming so on every screen possible. You smile bitterly. You’ve got them feeling something besides superiority.

THE BARTENDER Ryann Ruehman Grade 11, Boise

As a bartender, I see a lot of diferent kinds of people.

I’ve become extremely observant of people’s lives in the bar. I start to come up with stories, as if I knew anything about them.

What people wear, how they act, and what they order says a lot about a person. Tonight, there’s a blonde haired woman walking into the bar wearing a red dress with black heels. Her makeup consists of red lipstick, a questionable blue eyeliner, and a really crappy smoky eye. Deinitely did it herself. As she walks in, she gives a faint smile to the man holding the door open for her, and immediately starts searching the bar with her eyes. She’s probably looking for someone. A friend maybe? No. An ex. They probably just broke up, and she came here tonight 161

hoping to see him. Then he’ll see her looking all great and it’ll be this totally amazing moment. But, around midnight it’ll hit her how drunk she is. She’ll be totally delirious. She’ll end up convincing herself that a random girl who was asking where the bathroom was, is hitting on her ex. She’ll try to hit the woman, which will lead to her getting kicked out of the bar. She’ll realize that she probably only just made things worse. The woman will end up crying on the corner of the street. She’ll be sobbing so much she will start to hyperventilate and puke all over the side walk. She will inally get enough sense in her to call an Uber.

She will sit on the curb and wait for her ride, black tears streaming down her face, with her shoes sitting next to her. The Uber inally arrives and she’ll hobble into the car. She’ll sit in the back instead of the passenger seat, hoping it shows that she doesn’t want to be talked to. The driver chipperly asks if she has any requests for the radio, but the blonde woman stays quiet while staring out the window. The driver will drop her of at her apartment building, and the woman will slowly make her way up the stairs to her apartment door. Once she gets inside, she won’t bother walking to her bedroom and will end up passing out on her couch. The next morning she’ll wake up not remembering anything from the night before.

All of the sudden, my thoughts were interrupted by the very subject of my daydream. The blonde haired woman.

“Hello?” she asks.

“Oh, hi, how can I help you?” I quickly respond.

It turns out that she wasn’t there to look for someone.

She asked me where the bathroom was, and let! About 15 minutes later, she came back into the bar, with her girlfriend, and sat in-front of me. We talked for a little while. They were nice.

The blonde haired woman’s name was Claire. See that’s the fun part. I come up with this entire story about them, but then they turn out to be a totally diferent person. I mean, people really do surprise you. Every-time something like this happens I always think to myself: “You should stop judging people before getting to know them.” But then I do the exact same thing the next night. I can’t help it...because it’s fun.

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A LITTLE CLOUD Em-J Gard Grade 12, Boise I’m like a little cloud loating high in the sky, looking down at all the small and the lights. The feeling I have inside is all warm and blissful. Every time I open my eyes I see everything shine brightly, like a lamp without the shade on. Sometimes it’s an odd feeling but a lovely one. Sometimes it comes in small doses but that’s on stormy days, I’ll try and hide in whatever small amount I can get. Other days it’s so bright I need sunglasses. But that’s okay, I’m happy. That’s the word. Happy.

Something so wonderful I can’t help but smile. I love being happy.

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TEACHING-WRITER BIOGRAPHIES Cassie Angley lived in New York City where she wrote, produced, and oten performed in more than 12 original plays and musicals. Most recently she performed her play Finding the Michaels Off Broadway at the San Francisco Marsh. She’s worked as a teaching artist for almost a decade.

Christian Winn, the 2016-2019 Idaho Writer in Residence, is a iction writer, poet, journalist, and teacher of creative writing.

His iction has appeared in McSweeney’s, Ploughshares,The Chicago Tribune’s Printers Row Journal, TriQuarterly Hayden’s Ferry Review, Greensboro Review, Chattahoochee Review, Gulf Coast, Bat City Review, Every Day Fiction, The Pinch, Santa Monica Review, Handful of Dust, The Strip, Story Houston, The Masters Review, Revolver, and elsewhere. His short story collections of, NAKED ME and What’s Wrong With You is What’s Wrong With Me are out from Dock Street Press. He teaches fiction and poetry with The Cabin. He has written for The Boise Weekly, Thrive, The Idaho Statesman, and Idaho Magazine. He is the founder of the Writers Write fiction workshop series, co-founder of Storyfort, and curator of Modern Campire Stories and the Couch Surfer Artist Series.

Colleen Brennan is a freelance writer, editor, writing coach, and teacher with an MA in linguistics. Her stories appear in Writers in the Attic and A Year in Ink. A native Minnesotan, she has lived and worked in San Diego, Boulder, Paris, Bordeaux, and Boise. She is the recipient of a 2018 literary arts grant from the Alexa Rose Foundation.

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Daniel Stewart is a teaching-writer for The Cabin’s Writers in the Schools program, serving as Writer in Residence at Ada County Juvenile Detention, and Frank Church High, an alternative school, in Boise, ID. The author of the collection The Imaginary World, his poems have appeared in BOAAT, Parentheses, Prairie Schooner, Rattle, Scab, Thrush, Yes Poetry, NightBlock, and Graviton Lit, among others.

Emily Pittinos is a spinner of yarns, a healer of song birds, and a poet/ essayist from northern Michigan. An Associate Editor for Poetry Northwest, Emily received her MFA from Washington University in St. Louis, where she also served as the Senior Fellow in Poetry. Her recent work appears, or will soon appear, in Michigan Quarterly Review, Beloit Poetry Journal, Pinwheel Journal, New England Review, Denver Quarterly, and elsewhere. www.emilypittinos.com Hannah Rodabaugh received an MA in literature from Miami University and an MFA in poetry from Naropa University. Her poetry has been published in magazines like Berkeley Poetry Review, ROAR Magazine, Horse Less Review, Written River, Nerve Lantern and others. She has a chapbook of poems titled With Words: Verse in Concordance modeled ater dictionary entries out from Dancing Girl Press. She also has poetry in Flim Forum Press’ anthology A Sing Economy and Nerve Lantern’s Yoko Ono: A Tribute to Yoko Ono, a collection of writing in response to Yoko Ono’s performance art. She recently received grants from the Idaho Commission on the Arts, and the Alexa Rose Foundation, and she is a 2017 Artist in Residence for Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve. She works as a teaching writer at The Cabin and as a co-curator for Ghosts & Projectors, a Boise-based poetry reading series.

Laura Roghaar is a poet, educator, and arts administrator.

She serves as the Poetry Out Loud coordinator for Idaho and teaches writing at The Cabin. She holds an MFA in poetry from Boise State and her chapbook of poems, SISTERHOUSE, is out from dancing girl press.

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Natalie Disney recently earned her MFA in creative writing from Boise State University, where she served as Associate Editor of The Idaho Review. Her work has been published in The Florida Review, and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the PEN America Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers. She is a recipient of the 2017 Glenn Balch Award for iction. She teaches writing at BSU and is at work on her irst novel.

Tracy Sunderland is a professional writer, director, actor and teacher working in theatre and ilm. She’s written and directed award-winning short ilms and plays for young audiences; her irst feature script was shot in Greece this summer. She is the Artistic Director of the physical art company Migration Theory, and an Associate Artist with Boise Contemporary Theater. She also teaches at Boise State University and The Cabin. Tracy received the 2015 Idaho Commission on the Arts Fellowship in Filmmaking Award and the 2015 Boise State Adjunct Faculty of the Year Award.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Summer Writing Camps at The Cabin touch the lives of hundreds of young people and adults each summer due to the talent of our teaching-writers, the generosity of funders, and the gits of time and support from volunteers, interns, board members and community partners.

Thank you to teaching writers Cassie Angley, Catherine Kyle, Christian Winn, Colleen Brennan, Danny Stewart, Emily Pittinos, Hannah Rodabaugh, Laura Roghaar, Natalie Disney, Nicole LeFavour, and Tracy Sunderland.

Many thanks to our 2019 interns, volunteers, and Cabin staf: Joanna Hancock, Rachel Lee, Trixie Zwolfer, Abby Peck, Amy Nguyen, Avery Gendler, Luiza Tavares Decenzi, Brynne Coulam, Madeline Ryan, McKenna Smith, Michael Vessel, Rebecca Ma, Shiva Rajbhandari, James Sorenson, Brooklyn Riepma, Areebah Hargan, Katie Dandrea, Lillian Gastil, Hillary Bilinski, Gen Emerson, Sally Long, Megan Ramey, Tyler Weber, Megan Williams, Kurt Zwolfer, and Bean.

A big thank you to our friends from the following organizations throughout the state who provided venues, learning opportunities, and ield trip locations to our campers: the Boise Art Museum, Boise Rock School, City of Boise Parks and Recreation, Flying M Cofee, Idaho Botanical Garden, Idaho State Historical Museum, Discovery Center, Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Hailey, Hailey Public Library, JUMP!, The Record Exchange, Timbee Hall Recreation Center in the Fort Hall Shoshone and Bannock Reservation, the Special Event Center at BSU, the World Center for Birds of Prey, and Zoo Boise.

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INDEX A Alan, Faith • 149 Asmussen, Haedyn • 16 Ayers, Landyn • 81

B Barrett, Claire • 57 Batson, Sean • 114 Batterton, Elise • 38 Baxter, Mia • 11 Bibbens, Abby • 53 Blaine, Charlotte • 30 Bolinder, Charlie • 52, 54 Bond, Josey • 70 Boulton, Ghennisys • 17 Boyd, Ella • 120 Bradley, Marlowe • 33 Brandel, Loey • 50 Brandel, Nevyn • 97 Brewton, Katy • 47, 150 Brewton, Lucy • 150 Brunick, Elizabeth • 25 Brunick, Emma Grace • 101

C Cahill, Aiden • 104 Campbell, Ruby • 29 Carpenter, Madilyn • 31 Castellano, Emre • 51 Cearley, Harper • 149 Chavez, Bradley • 7

Chipman, Kaylani • 28 Cramer, Naomi • 79

D/E Dallas, Cole • 82 DeAguiar, Aria • 156 Delatorre, Danica • 48 Edson, Olivia • 93 Elgethun, Freida • 139 Ens, Max • 53

F Farley, Soren • 134 Fitzer, Elizabeth • 59 Fitzer, Katherine • 75 Foy, Ronin • 82 Frary, Maggie • 11 Fridel, Miriam • 101

G Gard, Em-J • 163 Gardner, Cale • 83 Gerhardt, Finley • 147 Glavin, Boone • 19 Gordon, Pacience • 25 Goss, Conor • 72 Goulder, Cooper • 29 Groenert, Kathryn • 80

H Hansen, Korbin • 156 171

Harless, Logan • 109 Harshield, Halona • 33 Heuser, Jack • 28 Heuser, Josie • 13 Hormuth, Curren • 55 Howell, Olivia • 48 Hoyne, Harrison • 16 Hrubec, Zoë • 34 Hulbert, Rowan • 124 Hume, Penelope • 21 Hundhausen, Blaize • 73 Hundhausen, Sawyer • 40 Hunt, Fran • 34 Hunt, Santi • 18 Hymer, Devyn • 116

I/J Ineck, Grace • 35, 76 Isaacson, Finnleigh • 10 Isimibi, Quellia • 51 Janes, Emily • 31 Jenkins, Abigail • 112 Jensen, Andrea • 58 Jiang, Zhujun • 127 Jochum, Payton • 66 Jones, Olivia • 155

K Kaufman, Kendal • 135 Keith, Colin • 9 Kelleher, Noé • 566 Kemp, Bennet • 84 King, Aurora • 85 Klaas, Joey • 30 Kostelec, Addison • 95, 140 Kowalczyk, Campbell • 74

L LaBonne, Adler • 86 Lacow, Natalia • 147 Lane, Robin • 12 Larson, Abby • 86 172

Lawley, Margo • 9 Leithauser, Zack • 41 Longley, Amaya • 54 Love, Lydia • 103

M Ma, Koli • 26 Maher, Nick • 94 Mansield, Wren • 147 McArthur, Aubrey • 32, 65 McCormick, Maggie • 102 Mehall, Miles • 35 Melchert, Ava • 111 Meng, Charlotte • 20 Meng, Sydney • 61 Meyring, Noah • 87 Mick, Isla • 8 Minshew, Ava • 122, 132 Montgomery, Kylee • 130 Mosher, Reese • 8 Mullens, Camden • 157 Murdock, Kaya • 113 Murphy, Rose • 12 Murray, Samuel • 111

N/O Nam, Thomas • 117 Necochea, Eva • 55 Nelson, Clara • 73 Nguyen, Zoey • 49 Nilsson, Kaisa • 123 Oakey, Aubrey • 76 Olsen, Meghan • 155

P Patterson, Lucile (Lucy) • 38 Peck, Abby • 158 Pertel, Sammie • 7 Peterson, Milo • 137 Peterson, Tristan • 88 Piva, Rebecca • 17, 18 Pooley, Oliver • 119

Porter, Paige • 121 Potts, Elliot • 142 Prudhomme, Julie • 151 Puckett, Kylee • 7

R Radhakrishnan, Mahika • 68 Rajbhandari, Avi • 36 Ream, Oskar • 27, 65 Rinaldi, Natalie • 92 Robbins, Mason • 65, 78 Robinson, Tim • 32 Roscheck, Jade • 27 Ruehman, Ryann • 161

S Salove, Grace • 71 Sanchez, Aberdeen • 14 Sandow, Olivia • 58 Scarritt, Fred • 37 Schrader, Alexandria • 151 Sharp, Emelia • 151 Shen, Yvonne • 115 Shindledecker, Gunnar • 89 Simplot, Karina • 159 Slater, Emilia • 161 Stambulis, Marley • 147 Stefen, Kate • 105 Suresh, Arshia • 68, 70

Weiss, Emily • 66, 77 Wen, Jonas • 21 Whitield, Sophie • 22 Wilcox, Everett • 112 Wilder, Roland • 57 Wilper, Rose • 80, 90 Wilson, Hailey • 118 Winters, Amelia • 19

X/Y/Z Xu, Rex • 60 Yanzuk, Ella • 151 Yee, Josie • 91 Young, Ava • 71 Zeiler, Tabitha • 41 Zhang, Paul • 113 Zhu, Lawrence • 13

T/U/V Tang, Joy • 10 Tapia, Belle • 128 Taylor, Abby • 28 Tucker, Sarah • 39 Venigalla, Kaavya • 52, 56 Vincelli, Rocco • 8

W Walker, Sabrina • 92 Weholt, Sophie • 42 173

CAMP FIRE SUMMER WRITING CAMPS 2019

TIGER (EXCERPT) A few years ago, when I wasn’t king of talking animals, I met my queen. That day I found a door, it had purple smoke coming out. The smoke seemed like it was coming from a magic dimension and then when I opened the door smoke of all colors came out. It looked like a rainbow. It felt cold. And it could smell like a flower ater it had just had a storm of rain. – CHARLIE BOLINDER, Grade 3, Boise The Cabin is a Boise, Idaho literary arts organization. We forge community through the voices of all readers, writers, and learners. Writing Camps nurture the imagination and awaken the senses through creative adventures in the art of writing.

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