The Mind's Eye--Part 1

The Mind’s Eye

June 2023

Waldwick High School

Board of Education

Daniel Marro, Sr, President

Troy Seifert, Vice President

Christine Figliuolo

Mary Beth Nappi

Julie Mangler

Andrew Frey

Enrico Giardina Administration

Dr. Paul D. Casarico, Superintendent of Schools

John Griffin, Business Administrator/Bd. Secretary

Kevin Carroll, High School Principal

Michael Clancy, High School Assistant Principal

Dianna Angelli, Supervisor of Secondary Instruction

Mind’s Eye Staff

Advisor: Danielle Kish

Staff: Chae Rin Yang

Artwork provided by Mrs. Forste’s Art Students

Photography provided by Mr. Opderbeck’s Photography Club

Cover Photo provided by Mr. Opderbeck’s Photography Club

Scary Story by Anonymous

Itwasthesummerof1955.AhumannamedPeterhadadaughternamedPatricia andacatnamedBobby.Alltheothercatsinthevillagevanished.Allhesawwastheteeth smashedintoacardoorPeterwasscared HisdaughterPatriciahadadollthatmeanta lottoher.Thecatsweremissingandtheteethwerechompingtheentirenight.Theteeth atetheirdinner.Thenlaterthatnight,Patricia’sdollcametolife.Theywereterriiedthat therewasadollthatcametolifeandstartedslashingfurniturewithaknife Petertried runningawayandthedollkeptchasinghim.Itwasterrifying.Hetrieddoingwhathecould togetthecreaturesawayfromhim.

Peterwenttothenearesttractorandmadesuretodriveontopofthecars The dollwasonPeter’shead.Thedollwasfrightening.Thedollwouldnotgoaway.Itkept smilingandnotgoingaway.Everytimeitsmiledhegotmorefrightened.Thebestsolution thattheyhadwastomurderthedoll Theissuewasthatthedollwasn’tliving Thedoll rodeabikeandkeptmeowinglikethecats.Thecardoorsweresmashedandthedollwas somehowalivethatnight.Petercouldn’twaitforthatmiserablenighttoend.Patriciawas scaredbecauseitwashertoythatcametolife.Shethoughtaboutherfavoritemovie Toy Story andwaswonderingwhythehumanscouldseehowthedollcametolife.

Petercameupwithagoodnewidea,whichwastopoisonadrinkthatbelongedto thederangeddoll.Hewasgoingtoslipthedollamickey.Itwastimetoprepare.Hemadea wonderfuldrinkandputpoisoninside.Hesetupabarandthedollwalkedover,holding itsknife Thedollwantedasip Thedollchuggedtheentireglass

Theissuewasthatyoucan’tpoisonaplasticdoll.ThatmeantPeterhadtogoback tothedrawingboard.Hethoughtaboutnewideasanddecidedthatsinceireburns plastic,itwoulddestroythedoll Sohecarriedacigarettelighterandlitthedollonire

Thedollmeltedandbecameablob.Thenewissueistheblobwasstillalive,and continuedtochasePeterandhisfamilywithaknife.Peterstartedtorunoutofideas. InsteadheandhisfamilygottogetherTheyusedacontainertoputtheblobinandthe knifesnuckoutofthecontainerandPeterlosthishand.

Theblobhadwon.TheblobthenkilledPeterandhoppedintothecarthathadthe teethsmashedinsideofit Bythattime,everyonewasingreatdangerandtheblobtook overtheworld.

Untitled by Anonymous

You’relostinthewoodsandyoudon'tknowhowyougotthere...

Youturnoverandwoodchipsfalloffyourface.It'sthemiddleofthenightandit's raining.Youhavenoexplanationofhowyougotinthemiddleofthewoods.Asyousitup, arandommangetsinyourface Heasksifyou’reokayYouaskhimwhywe’reinthe woods?Hethentellsyouthatyouwanderedintothewoodsandstumbledoverhisroof.I askhimwhatroof?Heguidesmebehindatree,whereIseestepscarvedintotheground. IwasindisbeliefatwhatIwasseeing.Thismanwaslivingundergroundandhadahuge undergroundhouse.Hehadakitchen,realloors,andevenatelevision.Hehadapower boxattherightofthedoor.Icouldn'tbelievewhatwashappening.IaskedhimwhyI’m hereagain,andherespondedbytellingmeIlandedonhisroof.Iaskedwhathemeantby landed?HetoldmeIfelloutofthesky,andwhenIhithisroof,thenoiseofthecrashwas soloudhethoughtatreefell Whenhewalkedoutofhishousetomehewasvery confused.Hetoldmehelookedaroundforfootstepsandeverythingandheconcluded thatIfelloutofthesky.Hetoldmetomakemyselfcomfortableandtosleeponhiscouch. SoIlistenedandtookanapinthisman'scoolundergroundhouse AssoonasIclosedmy eyesIfeltmyselfspinning.AllofthesuddenIwasbackinmyroomlikenothingever happened.

Poems by Anonymous

TheWilponsnegativelyimpactedmylife

Theylostalotofgames

Thelossfeltlikeaknife

Theydidn't haveanynames

TheWilponswereinvolvedwithBernieMadoff

TheylostSandyKoufaxmoney

Theyneverpaidoff

Itwasnotveryfunny

Theydisrespectedtheirfans

Theydidn'tsavetheteam

Wewantedtohitourselveswithpans

Itwaslikeabeamofbadluck

TheMetscollapsedeverySeptember

Fallwasterrible

Iwishnottoremember

Itwasregrettable

Hodge Podge Story by Anonymous

Inearlyspringof2077,anAliennamedBobfromouterspacewaslanding.He landedinEgypt.Heneededaspaceshipsoheconvertedachevythatlewintospace.He tookitapartandhititwithasword HelandedinEgyptwithabigdecisiontomake He hadtogettoCitiField.He'sbeenwatchingtheMetsgamesfromspacesincethe1980s.He hadtodecidehowtogetthere.

Bobhadnosenseoftimeasanalien Hecouldtraveltoanytimeperiodandany location.WhenhelandedinancientEgypt,healreadyhadaknowledgeofwhatitwas.He lackedbasichumanskills.Hecouldonlytalkinbeepsandhandgestures.Hecouldnotpay foranything Hedidn’tunderstandtheworld TheonlycommonthingthatBobdidthat wasdoneonEarthwasplaybaseball.

HebuilttheshipinApril2077.TheChevyhefoundwasoldandrundown.When hetookitapart,hebecamefascinatedwithAmericanproduction Inordertoly,hehadto typethelocation.Hefoundthetimeperiodandlocation:2023CitiField,Queens,New York.Allofasudden,ashewasgettingreadytoland,herealizedheaccidentallyselected AncientEgypt.Hedidn’tknowanythingaboutitoranytranslationsofthedrawings.Itwas beyondcoldinspaceandnowhehadtodealwithhotanddryweather.

Heiguredoutthatthebestthinghecoulddowasparkthechevyinthebackofa hutandindacamel.HefoundthecamelandnameditBobby.Theytraveledtogetthe water.Hethenhadadecisiontomake.“HowdoIgettoCitiFieldandwhatdoIdowith thisCamel?DoIstayinEgypt?”Hechosetobuildthecamelahutofhisownandgiveit food.Heneededtogetcrafty.NowthattheCamelcouldlivebyhimself,howwouldheget backinspace?

HejoggedovertohisChevyshipandtypedinancientEgypt Then,magically,he landedinCitiField.Hedidn'tbuyaticket.Hesnuckintherafters.

Thedaystartedwithgoingtothevendortotryhisirsthotdog.Hebecame fascinatedwithmustardanddecidedthatthiswouldbehisgotodrink Hethenwentto

theteamstoreandwroteonacomputer,askingakindmanJosetopurchasehimaMax ScherzerjerseyJosesaid:“Iworkhere,I’llgiveittoyouforfree”

Hewasready.Hehadhishotdogandhisjerseyandwasreadytowatchhis favoriteplayer,MaxScherzer,andhisfavoriteteam,theNewYorkMets.TheMetswon6-0. Afterthegame,JosecalledBobbacktothestoretosurprisehimwithanAliennightatCiti Field.Hewasintroducedtotheowner,SteveCohen,andoutielder,BrandonNimmo.

NimmodecidedtobefriendhimandcatchtheceremonialirstpitchontheirsteverAlien dayatCitiField

Journal Entry by Anonymous

GoingtomyirstMetsOpeningDayasakidwasawesome Isawthegreengrass, bluesky,andmanycoolfestivitiesonOpeningDay.Iwouldgowithfriendsandwewould haveacatchbeforethegame.Iheardthepopoftheglove.Aswewentinside,Icouldsmell thehotdogsandburgers Isawtheplayerstakingtheield Igottoseemyidol,David Wright,play3rdbase.HewasgreatandwasthereasonIamabaseballfan.Ayoungme hadhisDavidWrightjerseyandwenttothegameswithfriendsandhadagoodtime everysingletime.Iremembertheplayerintroductionswereawesomeandthefanswere electric.Thetailgate,thefeelofthebaseball,andthesmellofthefoodhadmehookedfor life Baseballisthebest

Lost in the Woods by Anonymous

You’relostinthewoods,andyoudon’tknowhowyougotthere…

Iwaswalkingaroundmyschoolandallofasudden,Iwantedtoseeiftherewere anybearsinthewoodsnearmyschool.WhenIenteredthewoods,itwaseerieanditwas foggy.AsIkeptgoingintothewoods,Ididn’trealizehowfarIwentintothewoods.Ihad nowayoutandIlostmytraceofsteps IlookedtomyrightandIsawleavesthatwere liftedintheair.Igotspookedoutandmyirstinstinctwastostartrunningawayandgoing tosafety.Idon’tknowwhereIenteredandIdon’tknowhowtoexitthespookywoods.I heardthenoiseagainbutthistimeitwascomingfrombehindme ThenextthingIknow,I aminthehospital.Ihadnoideawhathappenedtomethatendedmeupinthehospital. ThedoctorstoldmeIgotjumpedbyabunchofbears.Myparentsgotworriedabout whereIwasandwhentheysawwhereIwasontheirphone,theycalledthecopsandsaw mewithmassivescratchesandpawsaroundmybody.ThedoctorssaidIwasinacoma for11months.Icouldn’tbelievemyeyesandsocouldn’tmyparents.Theydidn’tknowI wasgoingtogotothewoods.Iwillneverbethesameagain.

Scary Story by Anonymous

ItwasacoldDecembernightinasmalltownknownasWaldwick.Thistownwas referredtoasoneofthesmallestandsafesttownsinBergenCountyTherewasone houseonHudsonAveattheveryendofthestreetthatwasknownasbeinghaunted becauseayounggirl gotmurderedinsideofitdecadesago.Thehousehasbeenvacant foryearsandnobodywilldaretoenterHowever,onenightthepeoplethatlivenexttothe househeardweirdnoisesandscreamingcomingfromit.Afteranhourtheyalsostarted tohearhissingandmeowingcomingfromit.Itlookedliketherewerehundredsof terrifyingcatswithbeamingredeyesinsideofitandsurroundingit Thesecatslooked extremelyviciousandtheneighborswereunabletoleavetheirhousetoevenseewhat wasgoingonbecausethecatskepthissingatthemandtryingtoattackthem.The

neighborsdecidedtoinallycallthecopsbecauseitwasnowoneinthemorningandthe noiseswerebecominglouderandlouderAlocalpoliceoficerwassenttoinvestigatethe hauntedhouseandwhenhewalkedinhewasnotexpectingwhathesawatall.

Asheslowlyopenedthedoorandaimedhislashlightashemanagedtoget throughallthecatsthatweresurroundingthehouse Whenhewalkedinsideallthe beamingredeyeswerestaringathim.Hewalkedupstairsbecauseheheardafaint screamingcomefromthereandwasnotsurewhatitwas.Hewalkedthroughcobwebs andcouldbarelyseeanythingbecausethehousewaspitchblack Ashewentfrom bedroomtobedroomthescreaminggotlouder.Hewalkedintothebedroomoftheyoung girl'sbedroomthatwasmurdereddecadesagoandopenedtheclosettoindherawake andyelling Heimmediatelyfreakedoutandeachsecondthathemadeeyecontactwith herhefelthimselfslowlybecomingamonster.Allofthesuddenhestartedtogrowhairy andsuperlarge.Hefeltaneyeballformingonhisforeheadandnomatterhowhardhe triedtorunawayhewasstuckstaringatthisgirl.Afterawhilethepoliceoficerhad becomeahugeterrifyingmonsterwithoneeyeballandhewentdownstairstoseeallthe catshadvanished Hehadtripledinsize Ashewentoutsidetogetintohiscarherealized thatallofthecat'sbigscaryteethhadbeensmashedintothecardoor.Theywere nowheretobefoundbuttheirteethwereleft.Hewasnowamonsterandhiscarwas absolutelydestroyedwithcatteethimprintedintoit Theneighborswerealloutsideof theirhouseswatching,absolutelyfrightenedscreamingforhelp.Thelocaloficerthatwas notamonsterwasunawareofhowhelookedandwasconfusedwhyeveryonewasso terriied Hegotintohisdestroyedvehicleanddroveofflettingtheneighborsknow everythingwassafeandtheywouldbeine.Thescreaminggirlthathadbeenmurdered followedafterhimandleftthehauntedhouse.Fromthatdayforwardtheneighborswere neverseenagainandnobodyknowswhatshecouldhavedonetothem Nobodywillever godownHudsonAveagainbecauseitisnotpromisedyouwillmakeitoutalive.

Two Sentence Story by Anonymous

Iwokeuptohearknockingonglass.Atirst,IthoughtitwasthewindowuntilI hearditcomefromthemirroragain.IkepthearingknockingonglasssoIwenttomy bathroom AllofasuddenIseewhitedustintheairItstartedmovingawayfrommeand itwentdownstairs.Iwenttogotalktomymom.Mom,Ithinkthatthereisaghostinthe housebecausewhenIwokeupthismorningsomeonekeptknockingonglassandIwent toinvestigateandtherewasawhitedustrushingdownthestairs MymomthoughtIwas crazyandtoldmetogobacktosleep.WhenIwenttogobacktosleepIheardthe knockingagain,butthistimeitsoundedlikesomeonewasknockingonawall.Ididn’t thinkanyofitsoIjustkeptsleeping Fortherestofthenightnothinghappened Whenthe clockstruck10:00A.MIwokeupandIrealizedthatIwasonthegroundwhenIwas sleeping.Mymattresswaslippedupsidedownandallofmystuffedanimalsweretossed ontheloorIwasshockedwhenIsaweverythingontheground Irandownstairsasfast asIcouldandIstartedcryinginthebathroom.MymomwascheckinginwithmeandI didn’ttalktoherbecauseIjustwantedtoleavemyhousebecauseIthoughtitwas haunted.IaskedmyMomtomovebecauseIwassoterriiedtogobackupstairs.Mymom saidnoandshetoldmetogotoschoolbecauseIwasreallylate.Iranoutofthe bathroom,grabbedmybackpackandhurriedtoschool WhenIgottoschoolmyteacher gavemeadetentionbecauseIwassolate.IwantedtostaybackatschoolbecauseIdidn’t wanttogohomeafterlastnight.AftermydetentionIwentbackhometomyroomandI wentstraighttosleep ThenextdayIactuallywokeuponmybedandhadnoproblems sleepingatnight.Ifeltliketherewasnoghostandsomeonewasmessingwithme.Orwas itaghost?

Ballad by Anonymous

Waitingforthelabordayweekendtocome

Maineisoneofthebestplacestogoonvacation

WhenIgoIwillalwayshaveagoodtime

Welovetogoanditisaspecialoccasion

Labordayweekendhasinallyarrive

Wearepackingthecarandheadingoutthedoor

Thejoyillsourwholecarsinceweareleaving

WecouldnotwaitfortheviewsofthecoolMaineshore

FourhourslaterwemadeittoOgunquit

Weweresohappythatwemadeitthroughsuchalongjourney

WewerelookingforwardtoourstayinMaine

Theviewamazedourwholefamilybecauseitwaspretty

WewaitedfortherestoffamilytocometoMaine

Whilewewaitedwesoakedinthegreatviewofthebeaches

Oncemyfamilycamewestartedtodosomestuffaroundtown

EveryyeartheurgencytogobacktoMaineincreases

Haiku by Anonymous

Iamexcited

Softballisabouttostart

Itsmylastseason

Hodge Podge Story by Anonymous

AtSmithsDiner,Nickisrunninghisrestaurantbusinesswhenhegetsacallfrom hiswife.“Nick,thekidswanttogotothezootoday.Doyouwanttocomewithus?”Nickis thinkingaboutitbecausehehastoclosedowntherestaurantthenfortheday“Surewe cangotothezoo.”Nickresponds.AftertheircallNickcloseddowntherestaurantandhe wentbackhometogetchangedandheandhisfamilywenttothezoo.Whentheyirst enteredNicknoticedsomethingwhentheygottothezoo Hesmelledsomethingthat smelledlikesmoke.“Thisdoesn’tsmellright.Ithinkweshouldn’tgofarther.Theremight besomethinggoingoninthezoo.”Allofasuddentheyseepeoplerunningtowardsthe exit “LET'SGETOUTOFHERETHEREISAFIREINTHELIONSECTION!!!”Someoneyelled inthecrowd.NickandhiskidsstartedtorunawayandallofasuddenNicktrippedona crackinthesidewalkandfelldownreallyhardontheconcrete.Everyonedidn’tnotice thathefellandtheykeptrunning Abystanderwalkedbyandsawhimontheground “Sir I'madoctor,doyouneedtogotothehospital?”“Yesplease,Ineedtogotothehospital.I can'tfeelathinginmyarm!”Sothebystandercalls911andsaysthatheisadoctorand saystheyneedanambulanceimmediately.Theambulancecametothezooin10minutes andtookNicktothehospitalwherehegotevaluated.Thedoctorthathelpedhimupcame andtoldhimsomebadnews “HeyNickIjustgotyourtestresultsfromthex-rayand unfortunatelyyouhavesufferedabrokenarm.”“Waithowlongisthisgonnataketoheal becauseIworkatmyrestaurantbecauseIowntherestaurantandIhavetobethereto help”Nicksaysworryingly“Unfortunatelyyoucan’tbedoingstuffinthekitchenbut,you canbeattherestaurant.However,youcan’tbedoinganythingforacoupleofmonthsso thenyourarmcanheal.”Nickcouldnotbelievethathehasbeensidelinedfromhisjobfor acoupleofmonthsbecausehelikesworkingathisjobandwithoutbeingtheretohelphis employeemakeshimfeellikeheisn’ttreatinghisworkersproperly.Laterinthedayhis familyindsoutthatNickisinthehospitalandtheyrushtogoseehowheisfeeling.“Nick whathappenedtoyourarm Wekeptgoingbecausewethoughtyouwererunningwith us.”“WhenIwasrunningwithyouguysItrippedonacrackinthesidewalkandIfellto

thegroundandIbrokemyarm.Ican’tworkattherestaurantforacouplemonths.”Nick wasveryfrustratedandhewantedtogohomeassoonaspossible 3dayslater,hegot dischargedfromthehospitalandwhenhegothomehelayedinhisbedandthought aboutwhathewasgoingtodoforthenextcoupleofmonths.Hedecidesthatheisgoing totakeabreakfromtherestaurantandjustgonnarest 2or3monthspassedbyandNick wentbacktothedoctorsoficeandhewenttogethisarmcheckedupandthedoctors clearedhimandthenextdaywentrightbacktobeingarestaurantownerattheSmiths Diner

Untitled by Anonymous

You’relostinthewoodsandyoudon'tknowhowyougotthere...Youturnoverandwood chipsfalloffyourface.It'sthemiddleofthenightandit'sraining.Youhavenoexplanation ofhowyougotinthemiddleofthewoods.Asyousituparandommangetsinyourface. Heasksifyou’reokay.Youaskhimwhywe’reinthewoods?Hethentellsyou,you wanderedintothewoodsandstumbledoverhisroof.Iaskhimwhatroof?Heguidesme behindatreewhereIseestepscarvedintotheground.IwasindisbeliefatwhatIwas seeing,thismanwaslivingundergroundandhadahugeundergroundhouse.Hehada kitchen,realloors,andevenatelevision HehadapowerboxattherightofthedoorI couldn'tbelievewhatwashappening.IaskedhimwhyI’mhereagain,andheresponded bytellingmeIlandedonhisroof.Iaskedwhathemeantbylanded?HetoldmeIfellout ofthesky,andwhenIhithisroof,thenoiseofthecrashwassoloudhethoughtatreefell Whenhewalkedoutofhishousetomehewasveryconfused.Hetoldmehelooked aroundforfootstepsandeverythingandheconcludedthatIfelloutofthesky.Hetoldme tomakemyselfcomfortableandtosleeponhiscouch SoIlistenedandtookanapinthis man 'scoolundergroundhouse.AssoonasIclosedmyeyesIfeltmyselfspinning.Allof thesuddenIwasbackinmyroomlikenothingeverhappened.