2016 Journal of Literary Arts

Transcription

2016 Shelby County Journal of Literary Arts
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Through the combined efforts of many students, teachers, and Literary
Magazine School Representatives, a system-wide Literary Magazine of short
stories, essays, and poetry has been assembled.
At each school, a Literary Magazine School Representative chaired a
committee that selected entries to be considered for the system publication.
The entries were then anonymously judged by a committee of all the school
representatives from each elementary, middle, and high school in the system
and selected for the county publication.
Special thanks to:
Lacy Shannon, who organized & di d the layout for this publication
Dee Patterson, for creating the online version of this literary magazine
Grade Level Chairpersons: Vickey Bailey, Elementary; Jason Mayfield, Middle
School; Sherri Trippeer, High School.
The views and ideas expressed or implied in this publication are those of the individual author/artist and do not
necessarily represent the views of the Board of Education or its employees
2016 Literary Magazine School Reps
Calera Elementary
Brenda Glass
Calera Intermediate
Lindsey Irvin
Chelsea Park Elementary
Vickey Bailey, Elem/Inter School Chair
Elvin Hill Elementary
Courtney Dudley
Forest Oaks Elementary
JoBeth Robbins / Leigh McLemore
Helena Elementary
Misty Floyd
Helena Intermediate
Amanda Miller
Inverness Elementary
Janice Lamb
Montevallo Elementary
Emily Lightsey
Mt.Laurel Elementary
Jessica Stewart
Oak Mountain Elem
Rosalyn Dixon
Oak Mountain Int
Jenny Duncan Wood
Shelby Elementary
Michelle Griswold
Vincent Elementary
Renea Drake
Wilsonville Elementary
Stephen Kearley
Calera Middle
John Mantooth
Chelsea Middle
Karla Kelley
Columbiana Middle
Jason Mayfield, Middle School Chair
Helena Middle
Stacey Mosley
Montevallo Middle
Evelyn Moore
Oak Mtn Middle
Jerry Bullock/Alicia Frye
Vincent Middle
Allison Davison
Calera High
Laura Efford
Chelsea High
Sherri Trippeer, High School Chair
Helena High
Jennifer Culver
Montevallo High
Erma Hinton
Oak Mountain High
Stacey Blakemore
Shelby County High
Chris Baker
Vincent High
Allison Davison
Linda Nolen Center
Todd Crenshaw
Author/Artist
Anna C
School
Calera Elementary
Grade
K
Title
Adventures on Pluto
Page
Italee G
Calera Elementary
K
What If I Could Be a Mermaid
15
Michael S
Calera Elementary
K
My Adventures Exploring Jurassic World
7
Noah W
Calera Elementary
K
The Snowman
38
Stella S
Calera Elementary
K
Mermaid Adventures
7
Aiden C
Calera Elementary
1
Kids
17
Maddie G
Calera Elementary
1
Winter
34
Madison M
Calera Elementary
1
Winter
34
Kylie D
Calera Elementary
2
When It Snows
19
Opal D
Calera Elementary
2
Little Drop
7
Jazlyn J
Calera Intermediate
3
What If Santa’s Sleigh was Pulled by Dragons
20
Zorah B
Calera Intermediate
4
You Do Not Need a Phone
8
Lauren S
Calera Intermediate
5
Sneaky Santa
12
Addison A
1
Bowling
31
Hallie Claire H
4
Valentine Treats
28
Madeline E
4
Blue Sky
31
Callie E
1
Dear First Grade Journal
28
Braxton S
1
How to be a Good Hunter
37
Malik W
1
Skateboarding
35
Olivia R
1
Princess Olivia and Lily
16
Brooklyn J
2
Martin Luther King Jr.
24
Emily D
2
Marlend Meets Her Dream
5
Natalie B
2
Robin & Black Thunder
21
Katie M
4
The Best Water Slide Ever
24
Lorelei Y
4
Going to Graceland
32
Grace N
3
How the Duck Got Webbed Feet
10
Cohen H
4
Basketball is the Best Sport
33
Betsy S
5
ABC Poem “Nano”
33
Abby G
Helena Elementary
1
Learning to Ride a Bike
40
Alana R
Helena Elementary
1
Misty Said Moo!
39
Anna D
Helena Elementary
1
What is Red?
42
Emma W
Helena Elementary
1
My Tooth
40
Tyler G
Helena Elementary
1
I Used to Live in an Apartment
41
Chase H
Helena Elementary
2
Red
41
Avery D
Helena Intermediate
3
The Wave
30
Brandon D
Helena Intermediate
3
Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
26
15
Author/Artist
Chloe S
School
Helena Intermediate
Grade
3
Title
Sunset
Page
Gracyn L
Helena Intermediate
3
Helena
20
Rilyn M
Helena Intermediate
3
Wonderful Sun
4
Abby S
Helena Intermediate
3
Here is the Scarecrow
43
Abby B
Helena Intermediate
5
Fire
42
Kaitlyn R
Helena Intermediate
5
A Thank You
43
Ben P
1
Leaf and Berries
35
Maggie P
1
The Almost Mom
27
Nicholas H
2
The Perfect Food
35
Luke J
3
Combat Helicopters
23
Arina D
Mt. Laurel Elementary
1
Lilly the Snowgirl
14
Jake P
2
Writer’s Block
10
Townley L
2
Winter Is…
14
Andrea H
3
Busy Busy Beavers
18
Karina T
4
Star Light
22
Sarah J
5
Hope is My Best Friend
39
Sawyer A
K
Mercury
41
Lexie T
2
Dog
40
Noah W
2
Opinion-Outside Recess
42
Micah A
Oak Mtn. Elementary
2
Dogs
31
Madelyn B
Oak Mtn. Elementary
3
In Summer
8
Anna H
Oak Mtn. Intermediate
4
Pets
15
Anna H
4
Sky
17
Ruby B
4
Aye-Aye
9
Madi G
5
Where I Am From
19
Noah K
5
The Little Green Frog
11
Eva W
Shelby Elementary
1
The Rainforest
12
Haley B
Shelby Elementary
4
A Butterfly Fable
13
Alexi S
Shelby Elementary
5
Just Desert
13
Braylin A
Vincent Elementary
4
Camp Cosby’s Adventure
27
Amy K
Vincent Elementary
5
The Joy of Moving
29
Lauren A
Vincent Elementary
5
Black
25
Luke A
Vincent Elementary
K
Snowmen At Night
25
Chloe G
2
The Food Fight
36
Xander S
2
Baseball
36
4
Wonderful Sun
Written and Illustrated by Chloe S and Rilyn M
Helena Intermediate
3rd Grade
Sunrise brings us morning light,
As the sun goes down it delivers night.
What a wonderful sun!
Through the sunset we get rest from wiggles,
The moon and stars give peace to our giggles.
Mom says daylight makes us monkeys,
At night she wants us to be less spunky.
Day is delight as we go to play,
Night is rest and the end of our day.
4
Marlend Meets Her Dream
By Emily D
Elvin Hill Elementary School
2nd grade
Chapter 1: Her Dream
Marlend was a little girl. She lived by the beach with her brother, big sister, mom, and dad. She had
everything a kid could want. Toys, a pool, she even owned the beach. But no one knew Marlend had a big
dream. She wanted to see and play with some dolphins.
That night she was crying and wondering if she would ever see dolphins. Little did she know, a dolphin
named Seashan was out in the sea. Seashan had a dream too. She wanted to see humans and have someone to
play with.
Tomorrow was Marlend’s birthday. She did not know what to do. Was she going to get to go to the
beach and see some dolphins?
Chapter 2: Disappointed
The next morning she got up. Her dad shouted from the living room, “Time to go to the beach!”
Yes! She was going to find a dolphin. They got in their red van and went to the beach. When they got
there, Marlend asked her mom if she could go look for dolphins.
“Dolphins?” said her mom.
“Yes!”
“Okay. Just be back by sundown.”
“Okay,” she said, and ran off. She got her surfboard and off she went.
After a while, it was almost sunset so Marlend had to get back. She was so disappointed. She had not
seen a single dolphin. She swam back to shore.
When she got back home Marlend went to bed. She looked out of the window, and suddenly, jumping
out of the water, was a dolphin. She jumped out of bed and ran down to the beach, but when she got down to
the beach the dolphin was not there.
Chapter 3: The Marlend Mermaid
Marlend dove into the water and she could breath. She looked down at her legs and her legs were not
there. Instead of legs she had a tail. She was a mermaid under water and she could see a dolphin. It was Seashan! Seashan had never seen a mermaid before, but as she looked, she felt as if she had seen this girl before.
“Now that I think of it,” said Seashan, “You were the girl that was riding the waves.”
“How do you know me?” asked Marlend.
“I don’t know,” said Seashan.
They became best friends and they played all night.
Chapter 4: The Source of Her Power
It was almost morning and her parents would be getting up any minute. She rushed back to shore and
when she got to shore she was a human again. She ran back to her house. All day, everyone was asking her
why she had been missing. She did not answer.
That night, everyone was asleep. She snuck out of her house again. She found out her dolphin
friend had been killed. She ran to her, and she cried. The first tear rolled down her cheek and dropped on Seashan. Seashan woke up!
“I thought you were dead,” cried Marlend.
“No, no,” said Seashan. “I was just sleeping.”
“Okay,” she said, but suddenly a big fire came out of the sea. It was a boat.
5
“Run!” Marlend shouted to Seashan, but they caught her.
Marlend swam up to the shore and wacked the boat with her tail, and when she looked there was a hole
in the boat. The boat sank. Seashan jumped back into the water and when the boat had sank all the way to the
bottom of the ocean, and all the dust cleared, the two best friends looked around. But their best friend wasn’t
there. When Marlend finally saw Seashan, she was stuck in the boat. Marlend swam down to get her, but she
got cut off by sharks. She let out an enormous glow of light and it killed the sharks. She ran down to get her
friend and she pulled her out.
“I did not know I could do that,” she said.
“I forgot to tell you when you save your friend, you become a mermaid. You are a mermaid now.”
Marlend and Seashan explored the ship. They came across a secret door.
“How are we going to open it?”
“What if I could knock a hole in the boat? I could knock a hole in the door and swim there.”
“Well, it’s worth a shot.”
“Okay,” said Marlend, and she wacked it with her tail and there was a hole in the door.
Chapter 5: The Treasure
They decided they should go explore the boat and they did. They came to a long empty hallway inside
the boat. They followed the hallway to a door. The room was filled with jewels and gems. They had to think of
a way to open the door. They pushed and pulled, but the door would not open. They swam to a little window in
the door and opened it. Inside the room, there was a treasure chest of gold. They looked around the room and
there was a key. They got the key and opened it. There was enough money to have anything you wanted. They
decided that they should split the money and give it to their moms.
Chapter 6: The Families Finally Meet
They both decided that they would go home and tell their family to come to the beach the next day to
show them what they had found. They went home and did what they said they would do. The next morning,
the families got up and went to the beach. When they got there they saw each other, and at first they were
afraid. But soon, they got to know each other and had a great time. Then they brought the treasure up and the
two families split it and lived happily ever after.
6
My Adventures Exploring Jurassic World
Michael S
Kindergarten
Calera Elementary School
I once went to a Jurassic world with my friends. But all of a sudden, a Tyrannosaurus Rex with enormous
teeth, but teeny tiny cute arms, jumped out in front of us. A Pterodactyl dives down and distracted him,so the
Tyrannosaurus Rex chased him instead. We ran away before he looked back. He was finished chasing the
Pterodactyl, so he started chasing us again. We kept running, but he was going faster and faster and faster. He
got me on his nose so I jumped down from him. We alerted Jurassic world and we left.
Little Drop Goes Through the Water Cycle
Opal D
2nd Grade
Little Droplet is in the Atlantic Ocean and evaporates. He rides a cloud to Alaska. It was very cold there. He
turned into a snowflake. He fell down into a frozen lake. He has been there for days. In the warmth of the day
he becomes part of a river, but at night it is cold. Stop, go. Stop, go. He finally evaporated. This time the wind
pushed the cloud to Mexico. This time he turned to sleet. He fell onto someone’s head! He rolls off. After he
melted he evaporates again. This time the wind pushed the cloud back to the Atlantic Ocean, then he rains
down. Rain drop is a part of the ocean again.
Mermaid Adventures
Stella S
Kindergarten
Once upon a time a mermaid was alone until a man came and got her. “Oh no let me go. Please let me go” she
screamed! Hmmm, just where do you think you are taking me…
“Oh dear, this is bad. Mermaid Powers combine” she commands. “Oh I forgot I don’t have any powers. Take
that helmet off you stranger! Mmmmm, now you have taped my hands and mouth” she said. Then she sees
her daughter Rose. “Help me Rose” she begs! Rose comes to save the day. “Yay, my mouth is free” the mermaid yells. “Mom I love you so I will let you go. Keep away from her stranger” said Rose. Rose grabbed
Mom’s hand and swims away with her. Rose takes her mom to the mermaid park and they met some new fish
friends that were nice to them.
7
In Summer
Madelyn B
3rd Grade
Oak Mtn. Elementary
The greatest season of all is summer. I love it so much because I get to go to my lake house. It’s always hot
outside, and my birthday is in Summer. Summer makes me feel great.
One reason I like summer is that I can go to my lake house. I like to wakeboard, swim, inner tube, kneeboard,
go boating, and ski at my lake house. My favorite thing is wakeboarding. I can do really high jumps. My dog
likes floating on floats and swimming with my brother and I. I love going to my lake house.
Another reason I like summer is,it is always hot outside. You can eat popsicles without freezing your tongue
off. You also don’t have to put on one million layers of clothes to go outside. When it’s hot outside and I go
to the Summit, I can wear my high-heel sandals. I love Summer because it’s so hot outside.
One other reason I like summer is that my birthday is in summer. I don’t have birthday parties like most people. My mom says it’s because of baseball tournaments, dance recitals, and the end of school. I get really nice
and expensive gifts too. I love that my birthday is in summer.
As you can see I really love summer. I love it so much because I can go to my lake house, it is always hot
outside, and my birthday is in summer. That’s my opinion.
You Do Not Need a Phone
Zorah B
4th Grade
Calera Intermediate
Do you have a phone? If you said yes, good for you, but if you said no you are fine too! You and
your parents probably have a good reason for not having one. I am reporter Zorah coming to you
with some reasons why I think kids should not have a phone! I do not have a phone, and this is my
honest opinion.
The first reason is when your parents were little, they did not have an Iphone 6 like you may have,
and because they did not have one, neither do you. Second, if everyone has a phone it does not
mean you need one. Sometimes it’s just the “follow the crowd” syndrome and it’s ok to be your own
person. Third, when you post, text, or video chat people can learn personal and private things
about you. Some people on Vine, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook are not nice. They can ask
you for personal information, and if you do not trace your steps, then BOOM! You have accidentally invited them into your home to steal or harm you. My fourth reason is that there are things in the
world that you don’t need to see or know until you are older. My last reason, but most important,
is CYBER BULLYING, and yes it is bullying. Cyber bullying is picking on, or threatening someone
online. If someone is CYBER BULLYING tell someone fast before it gets out of hand.
All of these things can happen on a computer as well as a phone. So, if you read this, you may
change your mind about wanting a phone, if not at least think about the responsibilities that come
with owning a phone.
8
Aye-Aye
Ruby B
4th Grade
The strangest primate of all sleeps in its nest of leaves at the top of a tree. As the sun rises,
birds begin their noisy chirp. He opens his eyes drearily for a second, then remembers the new nest of
bugs he found the day before. He scrambles out of his nest in haste to get there before the others. The
Aye-Aye, strangest primate in the world, is awake.
Despite its appearances, the Aye-Aye is related to chimpanzees and apes. It has dark brown or
black fur, a bushy tail, and unusually enormous, bright eyes. Skinny fingers and sensitive ears help it
hunt in the night as well as big eyes help it in the dark. Its opposable toes help it hang from a branch to
reach a certain spot on a tree. The most bizarre thing about the Aye-Aye’s physical appearance is its
grotesquely, long, skeletal middle finger which is the most important adaptation if it is to survive.
So how do these unusual characteristics help it hunt? Well you see, they crawl along the tree,
gripping it with their skinny fingers. That might seem perfectly normal to you, as almost all rainforest
animals crawl in trees, but there’s one thing that might make you look twice; they actually tap their middle finger in front of them on the branch. As they tap they listen for echoes that might indicate larvae or
other small bugs that live inside the tree. If they hear an echo they will then dig a hole in the branch
and stick their middle finger in it. Their middle finger will dig around in the hole feeling for bugs and larvae. Inside they may find bugs and larvae, but if they don’t find any they will then turn their attention to
mangos, coconuts, and lychees (a type of fruit).
The Aye-Aye lives on the beautiful island of Madagascar in its lush rainforests of beautiful flowers, trees, and lemurs. The Aye-Aye is part of the magnificent lemur family. Most of the Aye-Aye’s life
is spent alone. Each one has its own territory. The male’s territory is usually larger than the female’s.
Sometimes, a male’s territory may overlap with another male’s. Though they rarely ever see each on
the borders, if they do they do, they may fight. Female Aye-Ayes give birth birth every 2-3 years at any
time of the year. Their young will keep nursing; even if they are full grown, as long as they are kept in
captivity and not separated.
Aye-Ayes used to be the number-one most endangered species in the world. Even now there
are only about 50 left in the wild. Part of it is because some people who live in nearby villages shoot
the Aye-Ayes because they think they are a bad omen. The Aye-Aye’s crazy appearance is to blame
for this; the villagers see their ugly profile and interpret them as a bad omen. Another reason for their
endangerment is that some farmers kill them because they think the Aye-Aye eats their crops. One of
the main threats for Aye-Ayes is the loss of their beautiful rainforest: Madagascar. The good news is,
people are trying to help save the Aye-Ayes. Some of them live in the United States. Others live in
zoos all around the world.
The strangest primate in the world is coming back from the brink of extinction. They are coming back
rapidly; and someday we hope to take them off the endangered list; however long in the future that
may be, we will keep them from the jaws of extinction. Aye-Ayes may be ugly but I think there’re worth
saving!
9
How the Duck Got Webbed Feet
Grace N
3rd Grade
Once there was a duck. He played with his friends all day. One day the duck went to the pond. On the way
there the duck stepped on gum. He could not get the gum off of his foot. So, he stretched his foot. Still the
gum did not come off. The duck’s foot was stuck. He could not get his foot back together. So, one foot was
stretched out and one was normal. The only thing he could do to make it look neat was to stretch the other
one out, too. Now the duck looks neat. That’s how the duck got its webbed feet.
10
The Little Green Frog
Based on the Little Red Hen
Noah K
5th Grade
Once upon a time in the forests of Australia, there lived a little green frog named Douglas. He had three
special friends, a koala bear, a kangaroo, and a roadrunner. Douglas is a very important part of the forest. He is
in charge of all the foods that enter the “Outback Forest Farmer’s Market” and must make sure they are okay
for Australian animals to cook and eat. Almost everyone knows him, but he isn’t as close to all of them like he
is to his three friends, right?
One day Douglas was gardening to try and find some vegetables to sell at the farmer’s market. He
found a few potatoes and carrots, but he also noticed a whole swarm of mosquitos about ten feet from him. “Oh
my croaks, mate! That’s a lot of mosquitoes!” Douglas said. Douglas knew he was in for a treat. Mosquitoes
were the main ingredient for his favorite food, “Mosquito Fudge.” He wanted to make some. He knew it would
be hard work, but he was willing to do it with a little help from his friends. “Let’s see what I need. Oh yes! A
bit of slime from the swamp, a few beetles from the desert, and a cast iron stove to cook the fudge in. I won’t
need to worry about the mosquitoes I can get those last. All I have to do is get my butterfly net and snag that
swarm with it. Yes, I’ll do it.” Douglas said to himself. It worked perfectly. There were three ingredients to
find and three friends to help him.
First, he went to his friend Benji the koala bear’s house. She lived in a huge tree in the middle of the
forest. “Benji, are you up there mate?” asked Douglas. “Yes, I am and what do you want!?” yelled Benji angrily. “I was wondering if you would come to the swamp to help me grab some slime for my dessert?” asked
Douglas. “No I won’t and leave me alone!!!” screamed Benji. “Alright.” said Douglas tolerantly. So Douglas
went off and found the slime himself.
Next, he went to Wilson the roadrunner’s house. He lived in a small cave on the outskirts of the forest.
“Wilson, are you in there mate?” asked Douglas. “Mee! Meep!!” Wilson ran out of there as fast as lightning to
the middle of the forest. “Well. I guess that’s a no” Douglas said to himself. “I’ll go and get the beetles.” he
said. And he did.
The last place he went to visit was Ms. Kanga the kangaroo’s house to get the metal stove. She lived in
an old stump in her own neck of the woods. “Ms. Kanga!” yelled Douglas. “What!” Ms. Kanga yelled back.
“May I use your stove?” asked Douglas. “No!!!!” yelled Ms. Kanga in a very rude manner. “For some strange
reason all of my friends are in a very mean mood today.” Douglas said to himself.
Finally, he went to his cousin’s home because he had a stove, not as good as Ms. Kanga’s, but it would
do. They mixed the batter together, cooked it and had it done in lickity split. While they were enjoying their
snack they heard a knock at the door. Douglas went and opened the door. It was his three old friends. “What
are you doing here!?” asked Douglas. “We smelled the fudge from our houses dear friend. Can we have
some?” they all asked. “No! If a body doesn’t work, it doesn’t eat.” said Douglas. He slammed the door and he
never spoke to them again. After it was all said and done, he and his cousin enjoyed some nice hot fudge.
11
SNEAKY SANTA
Lauren S
5th Grade
Calera Intermediate
Have you ever wondered if Santa actually came to your house on Christmas Eve? Here are
some simple clues that you can look for and traps you can set.
Ways to tell if Santa came to your house on Christmas Eve:
You will need:
 grass

a snack

a camera

a comb and mirror

keen observation skills
First, put out a snack for Santa. Make sure it is something that your parents don’t like, so if the
snack is eaten you know that your parents aren’t eating the snack and Santa is.
Second, put out grass for the reindeer to eat. If the grass is eaten on Christmas morning you
know that Santa came.
Third, place a comb and mirror beside Santa’s snack. Santa always wants to make sure he is
looking good and won’t be able to resist doing a quick comb on his mustache and beard. The
white hair left behind will show you that he came.
Now, take pictures of your living room with the camera. A big man like Santa can't walk through
somewhere without knocking over something . The next morning compare your picture to the
living room. If something looks different you know that he came.
Also, check the presents for black streaks. Santa goes through a lot chimneys and has to be
dirty.
Next, check the ground for damp spots. This is evidence of the North Pole snow that was on
Santa’s boots.
Don’t be discouraged if Santa doesn’t leave any proof that he came. For a man that has been
delivering presents for quite a long time he has gotten pretty good at covering his tracks.
The Rainforest
Eva W
1st Grade
Shelby Elementary
Come join me on my trip to the rainforest so we can learn about all the wonderful treasures it holds!
It has a lot of moisture in the air after it rains. It is very hot. The animals that live there are monkeys,
cougars, anacondas, and poisonous frogs. There are lots of palm trees and banana trees that live
in the rainforest. Thanks for joining me on my awesome journey to the rainforest! Hope you come
back next time!
12
The Butterfly Fable
Haley B
4th Grade
Shelby Elementary
There once was a butterfly. She always listened to her mother, until this one day. The family was
out for lunch. The mother told her daughter, “Don’t eat the nectar for the purple flowers in the garden, for they are not good for you.” The daughter butterfly was curious. They flew over the garden.
When the daughter saw the flowers, she went to them, and ate from one thinking her mother was
wrong about them. Then she got sick, and her mother nursed her back to health.
Moral: Listen to others!
Just Dessert
Alexi S
5th Grade
Shelby Elementary
It was time for her revenge. She hurried to the kitchen and got out the pumpkin, a rolling
pin, and the knife and bowl. It was a perfect plan. She’d say to the evil king:’’It’s just dessert.’’
And she would mean it too. She lowered the knife and it grew even brighter.
I was a Cook and he was a King and there was nothing I could do. I had worked for him,
for what seemed forever, and never, not once betrayed him, but that was about to change, I was
sure of it. In case you were wondering I am Clarice Jane Smith, a servant of the King. I am 23
now. The king had made me cook when I was 8. He had driven me MAD while I had worked for
him. 15 years if you hadn’t done the math.
Yeah, it’s definitely just dessert. I had a plan: I would sneak down after dinner into the
kitchen. Then I would make the pumpkin torte. I would take it to the king for a ‘’special Halloween
treat’’. Lastly I would leave the castle saying I was going for a dark and scary night stroll under
the stars. I went to bed dreaming of the exciting day to come.
I packed my things in a large, wooden trunk and got ready to leave tonight. I scurried
down to the garden to get the pumpkin. I chose a pumpkin too perfect to be real. I went back to
the servants’ quarters and gathered my things, and went to the kitchen. “The kitchen is
CLOSED. I will be cooking dinner tonight. No questions asked!’’ I got to work. For dinner stuffed
turkey, and for dessert Pumpkin Torte: a delicious pumpkin cake with creamy filling. I was done
with dinner and now it was time for dessert; my revenge. I started cutting the pumpkin but then I
noticed something strange. The pumpkin was glowing! I lowered the knife and it grew even
brighter. I finally got the guts to cut it open. 1, 2 ,3
Two shiny, unreal orbs of light slowly emerged from the pumpkin.’’Come with us we will
lead you to freedom along with your brother.’’ They spoke in unison.’I...I... don’t have a brother.’’
I stammered. ‘’Do not worry we have him already,’’ they said. I took their advice and went with
the orbs. There I met my family and never saw the king again.
13
Lilly the Snowgirl
Arina D
1st Grade
This is Lilly the snowgirl. Her favorite food is
cheese pizza. She likes to ice skate. She likes to
wear different color skirts. One day her beautiful
violet red and light blue striped scarf flew away.
She couldn’t run after it because she had no feet,
so she had no match for her violet red skirt. I
think Lilly is so pretty even without her scarf.
Winter Is……
Townley L
2nd Grade
Mt Laurel Elementary School
White, plump polar bear clambering in the snow.
Frosty, dainty snowflakes shooting from the sky.
Warm, sweet hot cocoa steaming in delight.
Wooden fast sled zooming down the hill.
Soft, moist gloves warming my hands.
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Pets
Anna H
4th Grade
They are trouble,
but their love is worth double,
You’ll really like the love you share,
not the fact they poop everywhere.
They are loyal and kind, with eyes that shine,
They know when you’re sad,
which makes you glad,
They are bright or dark,
with all kinds of parts.
They are trouble,
but their love is worth double.
Adventures on Pluto
Anna C
Kindergarten
One day my family and I went to outer space and we found Pluto. We stayed for a while. And then we went
and found aliens and we played with them. We had some fun! We decided to bounce from rock to rock with
the aliens. Suddenly a spy astronaut appeared out of nowhere. He threw a gigantic net and it landed on us. I
found a unique Pluto ruby with sharp edges so I quickly cut a gigantic hole. We climbed out of it. We waved
bye to the aliens as we ran to our spaceship and went back to the earth. We were happy.
What If I Could Be A Mermaid
Italee G
Kindergarten
What if I was a mermaid and I could swim forever! I would do flips in the air. My pink and purple tail would
shine in the sun. I would play with my fish friends. They would be named Blue-tail Noah and Fancy-Tail
Olivia and Smart Aleylah. We would play tag. But after that…
a mean witch trapped me to get my shiney pink and purple tail. I tried to get away but I could not. My friends
swam quickly to get my dad. My dad got his sword and he got me out of there. We caught the witch and I
trapped her in a cage and I was safe. After that, I told my dad I was not going to play here anymore because it
is scary.
15
Princess Olivia and Lily
Olivia R
1st Grade
Once upon a time there was a Princess named Olivia. She was nice and very pretty. She
wore pink a lot because it is was her favorite color. She had pretty brown hair and beautiful blue
eyes.
Princess Olivia had a cat named Lily. Lily was a fluffy, white cat with blue eyes like the
princess. She wore a pink tiara on her head.
Princess Olivia and Lily did everything together. One day they went out into the woods to
pick flowers. They were not supposed to go into the woods alone. It was too dangerous!
Princess Olivia and Lily were picking flowers when they saw a fire breathing dragon. He
was mean and scary looking. They tried to run away but the dragon captured Lily. The dragon
took Lily back to the old, evil wizard’s castle.
The old, evil wizard wanted the special jewels that belonged to the queen. He sent the dragon to find the jewels. The special jewels had magical powers that helped the queen stay young.
The old, evil wizard wanted to look young like the queen.
Princess Olivia was so afraid that she ran all the way back to the palace. She went to the
queen and told her what had happened in the woods. The queen was terrified for Lily. The queen
went to tell the king. The king told the guards to go out and find Lily and to bring her back home.
The guards did not find the dragon but they did find a handsome prince that was a dragon
slayer. The guards brought him back to the palace. The prince saw how sad Princess Olivia was
without Lily. The Prince promised Princess Olivia he would save Lily from the wizard and the
dragon.
The Prince jumped on his horse and went to the Evil Wizard’s palace and killed the dragon
and put the Evil Wizard in jail. The queen didn’t have to worry about her special jewels any more.
He found Lily and took her home to Princess Olivia. She was so happy to see Lily. The
Princess fell in love with the handsome Prince and they were married and lived happily ever after.
16
Sky
Anna H
4th Grade
Momma holds her babies,
But then drops them,
Some of them stay,
with her but become,
dazzling and shiny.
Some of them go away,
To work for an acquaintance,
Then become white and puffy.
Usually Momma has to come,
And calm her friend Sun,
So she can do her job,
To make it bright in the unlit night.
Once her job is done,
The loop keeps on going,
until the end,
of the world.
Kids
Aiden C
1st grade
Kids are good.
I think kids
Draw pretty pictures
So they can give it to their moms.
17
Andrea H
18
3rd Grade
Where I Am From
Madi G
5th Grade
I am from photo boxes I’m not allowed to look in
from playing cards and books.
I am from the stairs I fell down twice.
What a bumpy ride!
I am from the dogwood tree and the woods in my backyard.
I am from Christmas mornings
And sleeping late
from Military Momma and Giant Jake
I am from the family who is bad at looking for stuff and
has sock races.
From don’t let the dog chew on your shoe and
did you bring your laundry down?
I am from angels high above.
I am from Ireland and loafer who brought us here
sausage balls and pork chops
from the roller coaster I was scared to ride but tried
after Jake and Allie’s ride.
I am from the farm where I spend most of my summer.
I am from HOME where most of my memories lie
in the closet with the photo boxes
I am not allowed to look in.
When It Snows
Kylie D
2nd Grade
I love when it snows. The feel of snowflakes falling on my body. The frigid weather that requires getting
bundled up in blankets. Spending time with your friends and family. Sliding down my driveway on the slippery, slippery ICE! Jumping on my trampoline and all of the ice comes up. At night, building a fire because I
am frozen from the wintery weather. Fixing hot chocolate and gazing at all of the chocolatey swirls. Pouring
marshmallows in the hot chocolate. Going to sleep and dreaming about all the good times I had with my
friends and family. Those are the great memories I had in the snow.
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Helena
Gracyn L
3rd Grade
Helena Intermediate
Helena is a great city! I love living here and going to school here! We are known as the
Helena Huskies! Some of my favorite events in Helena are First Friday, Buck Creek Festival,
and the annual Christmas Parade.
First Friday is an event downtown with shopping, music, and food trucks. It is held on
the first Friday night of each month. My family enjoys the Lazy Boy BBQ food truck.
Buck Creek Festival is an event held in the summer with bands, food trucks, games, and
a duck race. I usually see many of my friends there. I love the corndogs and the Kona Ice! My
family and I attend this event each year and we stay really late.
The annual Christmas Parade is usually held on or around my birthday. There are many
different and unique floats. I have been in the parade for the past three years twirling my
baton with the Shelby Starlets. One year there was a puppy riding on a horses back!
I love living in Helena because our community is kind. The staff in the stores, servers in
restaurants, and neighbors are nice. Two of my favorite places in Helena are, Top It Off and
Joe Tucker Park. The ice cream truck usually comes too. My very favorite part about living in
Helena is we have a waterfall with a web cam.
For reasons I have listed and many more, I chose Helena as the best city in Alabama to
live and to go to school. GO HUSKIES!
What If Santa’S SleIgh WaS Pulled By dragonS
Jazlyn J
3rd Grade
Calera Intermediate
If Santa’s sleigh was pulled by dragons, his sleigh would be much faster. I wouldn’t use
dragons. I would use tiny puppies in elf outfits or dresses. It’s going to look so stinkin’ cute! My
sleigh will be purple. If Santa had dragons they would burn all of the presents. The dragons might
crash at night because they’re crazy. I would like the reindeer better. I can’t believe he wants dragons. They might burn Santa and his sleigh. That’s not going to be a happy ending. Santa should
use puppies, I’m just sayin’. Santa is so crazy, just stick with the puppies.
20
Robin and Black Thunder
Natalie B
Elvin Hill Elementary School
2nd grade
Once upon a time there was a girl named Robin. She liked to go on hikes with her father Mike. One day
they went deep into the woods, but lucky for them they got home safe and sound. They couldn't wait for tomorrow.
The next day was different. It was raining when they woke up. But instead of walking they watched a
wolf pack in the woods. They did a few puzzles and read some books together, but Robin was still bored.
Robin was looking out for a minute and said, “Hey dad! Come look at this wolf.”
“The gray one, or the black one?’’
“The black one,” she said. “If he was mine I would name him Black Thunder.”
At this time it was night and Black Thunder was howling at the moon. “That is a nice looking one,”
said her dad, “But it`s a wolf. You can't keep it. It belongs in his pack with his family.”
Robin knew this was true. “But he’s so beautiful,” Robin said.
“I know,” said her father, “but a wolf is a wolf. Wolves are not pets.”
“ I think they should be pets,” said Robin.
“Well I think we should go to bed. It’s getting late. We will talk about this in the morning.” So they
went to bed, but all Robin could think about was Black Thunder and what would happen tomorrow.
It was the next day and something bad had happened. Her dad got sick and wasn't going to get up today. “I will go to the apple orchard and get some fresh apples, so mom can make apple pie later today.”
“No it’s too dangerous because of the wolf.”
“I will take my horse Gracie.”
“No.” her dad said once more, but Robin went anyway.
On the way there Gracie stopped. A few apples had fallen off the tree. Robin tried to pull her away, but
she just kept going. Once she had finished, she untied two baskets and took them off the saddle to fill with apples. She was going deeper into the forest to find more apples to fill the second basket, but on her way there
she fell into a small hole in the ground. She tried to call Gracie, but she was too far away. Robin was still trying to call Gracie, but she could not hear her. Robin was hanging onto a branch in the hole. She hoped soon
someone would notice she was gone. Gracie was too busy eating apples to hear or worry that her rider was
gone. She was just glad there were apples she could eat and a stream with water that she could drink from.
Later that day something else had happened at home. Her dad felt better and got up to get a drink, then
he noticed Robin and Gracie were gone.
“Where are they?” he asked. Her dad decided to go out and look for them. So he took his horse Shadow
and went to look for them. It did not take long to get Shadow saddled up for the ride. “Let’s go,” said dad.
It wasn't long before he made his way into the orchard. He saw some apples but nothing else. He went a
little deeper and found Gracie. He was glad he found her and took Gracie inside the barn. Her father got distracted so he went to take a nap.
Back in the forest a kind wolf that was black was going to help her. At first she was petrified, then she
knew it was Black Thunder. She climbed out and thanked Black Thunder. He followed Robin home. Everyone
was so happy she was safe, and Black Thunder became her pet.
21
“Good boy,” said Robin.
22
Luke J
Combat Helicopters
3rd Grade
Chapter One: Special Choppers
The Apache got its name from a Native American tribe. The Apache’s weapons are powerful. The Apache has three weapons: the dangerous hellfire missiles, hydra rockets, and a serious machine gun.
Now I would like to show you the Kiowa. The Kiowa also got its name from Native Americans. The Kiowa has two weapons: the hydra rockets and a machine gun.
Now I will tell you about the cool Lakota. The Lakota usually is a rescue helicopter, but sometimes the Lakota is a fight
chopper. When the Lakota is fighting, it has 76 hydra rockets.
Chapter Two: Animal Named Choppers
Oh, you have to hear about the Cobra. The Cobra is basically the Apache only it’s shaped differently. The Cobra has three
weapons and one protective. The weapons are the same as the Apache, but the protective is called chaff.
The Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk has a 2,828 horsepower engine and can hold 11 troops. There are more than 2,000 hawk
choppers in use. The Blackhawk’s major weapons are machine guns.
The Dolphin is a rescue helicopter or search and rescue. A lot of dolphins helped after Hurricane Katrina in the state of
Louisiana. By the way, the Dolphin doesn’t have any weapons, but they have a rescue basket.
Chapter Three: Refueling Pipe Choppers
Cayuse is a weird
name, but once again
it’s named after Native
Americans. The Cayuse is a small helicopter used to transport
things, but when it’s
not transporting, it’s
fighting. When it’s
fighting, it’s equipped
with machine guns,
hydra rockets, and
maybe a sniper.
The Pave in Pave Hawk stands for low flier. The Pave Hawk is equipped with a machine gun. The Pave Hawk can carry 11
troops like the Blackhawk. The Pave Hawk is related to the Blackhawk.
The Sea Stallions are used for carrying military vehicles. The Sea Stallion is a jet refueling vehicle. It has two big refueling
tanks and a refueling pipe. For a weapon, it has a machine gun.
The CH-47 Chinook is used for carrying cargo like Humvees, inflatable rafts with marines in it, or a crashed helicopter.
The CH-47 Chinook has one weapon, a machine gun.
Chapter Four: Ending
The Seasprite is a helicopter that lands on a destroyer. The Seasprite has small torpedoes that destroy submarines. I think
the big, cool, Seasprite is awesome.
Last but not least...the Comanche is one of the newest helicopters, and people are adding weapons to it. I hope you have
enjoyed this book.
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The Best Water Slide EVER!
Katie M
4th grade
My sister and I rushed up the stairs. We could hardly wait on our mama and daddy.
First, we were in our room putting our swimsuits and sunscreen on and getting sun glasses. We were
so excited because we knew we were about to ride the Aquaduck!
As soon as we got to the slide we were pumped, but then we saw the line. That didn’t keep us from
sliding!
Kinzie said “Come on! If we wait it will be an even longer line!”
We got up in the line, and the good thing was they were playing Frozen on the big screen so we weren't board. The whole time I heard “How much longer?” I also heard the gushing water as more and more people got on and off the ride. As people got off the ride, I saw their smiling faces and they were laughing with
each other. I could not imagine how fun it would be! As we got closer and closer, I got more and more excited!
Suddenly it was our turn. The worker got a float, and he showed us how to get in it. Then he told us all
the rules and helped us get in the tube. Then he asked us were we ready, and then he let us go .I put my hands
in the air, and so did Kinzie. We hit a bump that we did not know we were going to hit. Then we started to
rock the tube, but it almost tipped over so we stopped. Then, out of nowhere water splashed in our faces. Then
we hit a big bump and went through a tunnel. Then we went over another bump and then the ride got slower.
Then we came to a big, yellow, square thing. There was a man helping us out. We had so much fun we did it
again! Tip over! I can't believe we conquered the line!
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life
Brooklyn J
2nd grade
One day there was a boy named Martin Luther King Jr. He was born in Georgia in 1929. He was 15
years old when he finished high school. Martin’s father taught him to demand respect. Martin was smart too.
He showed people how to change laws in peaceful ways. In 1963, he gave his famous speech, “I have a
Dream,” in Washington, D.C. He won the Nobel Peace Prize. He led marches. He told people not to fight. He
sometimes went to jail. Martin was killed in 1968. He was a good man.
24
BLACK
Lauren A
5th Grade
Vincent Elementary
Red is the color of my blood,
Blue is the color of tears.
Black is the color I see
when the storm tells all of my fears.
Hazel is the color when my eyes shine,
Green is just like the land.
Black is the color of my eyelashes
dropping and memories falling like sand.
White is the color of the moon,
Yellow is the color of the sun.
Black is the color my footprints
left behind as I run.
Snowmen At Night
Luke A
Kindergarten
Vincent Elementary
We read Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner. If my snowman came alive at night, he
would try to find some money. He would take his money to go buy cotton balls. It would take
a lot of money. He would have a cotton ball fight with another snowman. They would use
cotton balls so they would not hurt each other. Then they would go back to sleep before they
got caught. The End.
25
Bugatti Veyron Super Sports
Brandon S
3rd Grade
Helena Intermediate
Bugatti’s are the world’s second fastest car behind the Hennessy Venom
GT. They have a top speed of 269.7 mph. They still have a unique horseshoe
shaped grill designed by Ettore Bugatti.
The company was sold to Volkswagen in 1998. Bugatti was passed down from
generation to generation. The Super Sport has a 16 cylinder engine. Ettore Bugatti is the founder of Bugatti. Nowadays Bugatti’s are more of a show car than a
race car. Bugatti’s cost around 1-2 million dollars. They are one of the rarest cars
because there were only 450 made. Bugatti’s are almost made completely by
hand. Ettore’s initials, EB, are on the cars. Only a few people are wealthy enough
to afford one.
26
Camp Cosby’s Adventures
Braylin A
4th Grade
Vincent Elementary
Camp Cosby was awesome! It was super cool right from the beginning. As we loaded the bus to leave, the teachers and
the kids were pumped. To kick off the trip, Mrs. Alexander taught us songs and my favorite one was called “Doey.” When we arrived, there were rules we needed to listen to and then we were able to have free play in the outdoor gym. One game was so
hard! It was called “Who Stole my Bucket” and it took us a while to win, but once we settled down and gathered our thoughts, it
was an easy win. And to figure it out, all we had to do was walk. After all those games we went to our cabins. I got the top bunk,
and my bunk mate was Emma; she had the bottom one. Whew, now it was time for lunch. Lunch was much needed because I
was starving. The first day, we brought our own lunch. I ate a Lunchable; it was DELISH!
After lunch we went to the gym and played basketball, as well as other games such as jump rope and tag. We had
worked up such a hunger we were able to get snacks. They let us choose a soft drink and candy. It was the BEST snack ever! I
decided on onion rings and a soda; it was good. When we finished we returned to our cabins. I went fishing with some of my
friends. Chloe caught a fish with the fishing poles. The poles were a piece of bamboo and a string with a hook. I caught nothing,
but the fish kept taking my bait; it was funny.
At the end of rec time, we went to dinner. Dinner was awesome-- we had a no waste rule. We had to eat all our food so
there would be NO waste. We did AWESOME. When dinner was over we went to the gym again and after that we finally got to go
to the bonfire; it was cool. On the way there people were hiding in the woods and scaring one another-- Peyton scared me. At the
bonfire the counselors did plays and songs. My favorite play was about BOOGEY BEARS; it was funny. After the bonfire we all went
back to our cabins and brushed our teeth and took a shower. When we all got out of the shower, we told ghost stories until we all
fell asleep. And that was only the first day of camp. It was EXHAUSTING AND EXCITING. Day 2 was just as awesome….
The Almost Mom
Maggie P
1st Grade
“She should be here already,” yelled an almost mom. “I want her. I’ve been waiting for months!” The doctor came in. “Baby Will or Maggie will come soon, probably tonight,” he said. Mom took a deep breath. The
almost mom finally fell asleep. That night when she woke up the doctor said, “Ready?” The almost mother
fell back to sleep! When she awoke she saw a beautiful baby. The mom bowed her head in thankfulness and
raised the baby.
27
Valentine Treats
Hallie Claire H
4th Grade
Lollipops, bubble gum, punch, and cakes,
Doughnuts, jawbreakers, Oh won’t it be great?
Gummy Bears, gobstoppers, chocolate galore…
I don’t feel like having dinner anymore.
Dear First Grade Journal
Callie E
1st Grade
Dear First Grade Journal…
Yesterday was Veteran’s Day, and it was so good because I went to my best friend’s house. Her
name is Aubrey. She is my best friend because she is very nice. We played American Girl dolls, and then we
played Barbies in the Barbie dream house. Her brother Will was making cookies with a Resse cup, Hershey
bar, and Hershey kisses. When they were done we got to eat three; they were scrumptious. We got a
bottle of water to wash the cookies down. Her brother is great at baking cookies.
Also, we went in her play house. We saw some chalk and so we smashed it to the ground ,and it
made paint. We used the leftover chalk to do other things. Aubrey told me to write on the front of the
playhouse door and I did. It said, “Aubs”, my nick name for Aubrey and her nickname for me is Calls, but I
did not write Calls on the door.
At the end of our play date she gave me a ring, the top has light blue and the bottom has dark pink.
She called it a friendship ring. We are great friends. We went outside and brought our American Girl dolls
with us. My American Girl doll is named Mackenzie. We went to the swings and went down the slides. We
found an almost dead wasp walking toward the swings. We both screamed and laughed at the same time.
We had a good time during our play date. We had so much fun. Goodbye First Grade Journal from your
happy friend Callie.
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The Joys of MOVING
Amy K
5th Grade
Vincent Elementary
Moving can be difficult for anyone, but it was especially hard for me. It was a time for
change, change in just about every aspect of my life. There was the idea of making new
friends and adjusting to a new schedule. One of the greatest challenges not just for me, but for
my family, was locating a new church.
As a young girl who enjoys the social realm, I felt it was important to make new friends.
This was very difficult. I found that some people were ecstatic about making friends while
others were not so “thrilled.” It was so hard at times. Some people wouldn’t even tell me their
name. Most kids judged people by their clothes; I quickly found out if you didn’t wear cute
clothes they didn’t want to be your friend. There was a sweet girl, who liked me for who I
was named Emma. Today, Emma and I are still friends, and I have a feeling that we will always be friends. So, making friends was hard, but I made a good one.
The next thing I had to do was find a new church. Finding a new church was scary. Luckily, my brother’s friend invited us to church; it was still scary because I didn’t know anyone.
When I got there I had to introduce myself to everyone. I had to go on stage, tell everyone my
name and what I wanted to be when I grew up. The most terrifying but rewarding moment was
getting to know the pastor. It was hard because I was extremely shy. I have to admit it was
worth the fear because my church is AWESOME.
The one thing I still struggle with is the new schedule . Getting used to a new schedule is exhausting. It’s difficult because it’s really different, I am not used to it, and it's constantly changing. Everything seems to be what I am familiar with. I did not go to church at
my old house and the school is different. The hardest thing was sports. It wasn’t the actual
sport that was hard, it was getting used to going to the practices. I know if someone changed
your schedule it would be a little exhausting for you as well because I know it was for me.
I know it was difficult moving, but I am so happy I moved because I made new friends
and found a great church, but I am still getting used to the schedule.
29
The Wave
Avery D
3rd Grade
Helena Intermediate
One hot summer day there was a cruise ship off the California coast. All the passengers were having a
good time. All of a sudden the boat got very shaky. All of the people started to wonder what was going on.
Then, up where the captain was, he saw a tsunami wave! Everyone below the captain was still and silent and
an alarm went off. They all heard something crack! It was the windows! Water came rushing in like waterfalls!
Everyone tried to get to higher floors on the ship.
Next, a black shadow went across the window and someone from the top yelled, “Shark!” All of the
people started to go faster up the stairs. Once all of them got to three higher levels, all of a sudden the ship
tipped to its side. Then everyone went through the kitchen and there was another set of stairs, so they went up.
The water or wave kind of crackled the ship in half and everyone fell overboard! Luckily there was an island
not far from where they were, so everyone started to swim.
When everyone got to the island they were very tired and hungry. One half of the people went to look
for food, and the other half went to look for shelter and housing supplies. About two hours later, the half that
went for food brought bananas, mangoes, coconuts, and fish. The other half brought big leaves and trees. Everyone had built their homes in about a month. Eventually they ran out of food and had to go look for some
more.
About four months later a lot of helicopters came and rescued everyone, and everything went back to
normal!
30
Bowling
Addison A
1st Grade
One day I went bowling with my grandfather. We wore special kinds of tennis shoes. They
were blue and white. Grandfather’s were very big and mine were very small. We picked out our
bowling balls. Even though they were the same size balls, my grandfather’s ball was heavy and
mine was lighter. My ball was still very heavy and I had a hard time, but I was able to handle it.
The first time I rolled the ball, I knocked over a lot of pins. Next it was my grandfather's turn
to roll the ball. My grandfather knocked over more pins than I did. We cheered for each other very
excitedly.
The bowling alley was so cool! It had a lot of different color light. I felt like dancing most of
the time. The bowling alley had bowling balls everywhere. Many of the bowling balls were too
heavy for me to pick up. There was a big screen above the lane which kept our score so everyone
could see.
It was my first time go bowling. I won and I think my Grandfather helped me win. I was so
happy. I would like to go again soon. It was great to be with my grandfather and doing something
fun. Until I slipped and fell when we were going out, it was one of the best days ever.
4th Grade
Blue Sky
Madeline E
Dogs
Blue sky, blue sky shining so bright
Like a shooting star in the sky.
You shine all day and you wait all night,
You are a beautiful thing to sight.
I watch as your clouds move back and forth,
Your breeze blows me away.
When I see you I feel free.
A bird I want to sometimes be.
Blue sky, blue sky shining so bright
Like an exploding star in the sky
You shine all day and sleep all night,
You are a beautiful thing to sight,
You are a beautiful thing alright.
Micah A
2nd Grade
Oak Mtn. Elementary
Dogs can run
Dogs can bark
They dream of cats hiding in the dark.
The dog might find him or maybe not,
but oh I know;
What will he do?
He will chase him till noon.
31
Going to Graceland
Lorelei Y
4th grade
Screeeeech! went the car as we pulled into Graceland parking lot. I was so happy I couldn’t see
straight. I quietly thought in my head, “Who’s going to Graceland? I am! That’s right! Me Lorelei!” I
was so excited that my lifelong dream was finally coming true. It started when I got my first Elvis magazine when I turned nine years old. My mom found out I loved Elvis, so she decided to take me to
Graceland. When we got there I wanted to pinch myself.
First, we had to get tickets. After we got our tickets we went to see his house. It was the grandest
house I had ever seen. When we got to go inside, I felt this tingle go throughout my body.
I went through every door available with a humongous grin on my face. We saw a giant crystal
chandelier by the front doorway. After we saw his house we went for lunch. We saw a gold plaque that
said “ELVIS ATE HERE” I thought it was a lie at first, but then we met a lady who worked a little gift
shop there, and she said he did. So, then I was convinced.
She also said she dated Elvis, so I thought, “Since she is telling the truth, I would like to
have proof.” So I asked for a picture. I was too afraid to ask, so my mom did. The lady said, “I’ll do
you one better.” She gave me a picture of her and Elvis that he signed. We bought a few things from
that little gift shop, and then we left.
It was a coincidence that as soon as we got back, the waiter came with my food, and my favorite
soup was one of the things they served. You can’t really find Italian wedding soup in Alabama.
At last, my favorite part, we got to sign the wall. I wrote, “Lorelei,” and “Too many
names.” We bought some shirts in the souvenir shops. Eventually, we got to our hotel and went swimming. Last, we bought some M&M’s and went to bed.
32
ABC Poem: “Nano”
Betsy S
5th Grade
A creature so mysterious it has no specific name
B ut it looks like a monkey except it plays no games
C ute a little bit, I hope it’s not hostile
D uh, it’s totally friendly, it has a great big smile
E xcept it does have fangs
F or it looks like all he does is hangs
G osh, what is it? I think I’ll name it Nano
H eck, I’ll teach it piano
I t doesn’t look as if it wasn’t to be tamed
J ust wants to be wild that is its aim
K now mister mysterious
L eaving the wild might make you delirious
M oving can be really tough
N ot that you’d care, all you say is “Ruff”
O h, I guess I’m wrong you replied, “I’m not a dog!”
P oo, I guess I’m in the fog
Q uiet creature I’m very sorry
R ough I was, you belong in a safari
S orry Nano
T oodles, I gotta go
U nfair to leave you all alone
V ets, you’d groan
W alks, you’d yell
X rays really really smell
Y eah, the real world has its blues
Z oos, at least you won’t be in zoos
Basketball Is the Best Sport
Cohen H
4th Grade
In my opinion basketball is the best sport! It’s exciting for a few reasons: buzzer shooters, half court
shots, amazing players, cool passes, and rim rattling dunks! I mean, the excitement is endless! So, have you
change your mind about the best sport yet? It is so easy to pick up and play or practice. It is easier to practice than any other sport. You can play with your mom or dad, siblings, friends, cousins, the possibilities are
endless. Work ethic, the supporting detail I wrote above proves this. Since it is so easy to practice, there are
so many great players out there. So, you have to work harder than everyone else. Plus, some of the other
players have so much talent that it is ridiculous. This is something Kevin Durant says, “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” Basketball is the best sport in my opinion. I hope you think so too!
33
Poem by Madison M
1st Grade
Calera Elementary
Art by Maddie G
1st Grade
Calera Elementary
Winter
Cold snow freezing through the tunnel.
Frosty winter snowing on ice.
Playful dad throwing up snowballs.
34
Skateboarding
Malik W
1st Grade
Skateboarding is fantastic! When I turned four, my daddy gave me my first skateboard. It was black
and had a joker on the bottom that said, “Ha, Ha, Ha!” I practiced riding it every day and I got better at riding
it. On my 6th birthday, I got a new skateboard. It has black on the top and my dad painted the wheels red. He
painted an Alabama symbol on the bottom. One Sunday morning I went to the skate park in Chelsea. Before
we left I got my nerf gun and my daddy said, “You do not need that thing!” I begged him for hours and he
finally said, “O.k.” I said, “Whoooooooooooo hoooooooooooo!” When we got there I saw my cousins and I
said “Oh man!” and I froze when I got out of the car. They all fired nerf bullets at me. I rode my skateboard
super fast and said, “Bye, Amigos” and I fired back at them. My cousins think I am a moving target. I’m
pretty good. It’s just so much fun. My guns are modded which means they shoot really far. I do grinds, and
ollies, and railslides, and kickflips on my skateboard. We had so much fun riding our new skateboards at the
skate park. I love skate boarding. Try it out! It’s really fun!
The Perfect Food
Nicholas H
2nd Grade
What do you think is the perfect food? I think pizza
Leaf and Berries
Ben P
1st Grade
is the perfect food! Let me tell you why. First, the cheese is
soft and gooey. Second, you can add lots of different top-
A leaf is a skydiver.
pings. My favorite topping is sausage because it gives it
A berry is a treasure.
that meaty flavor. Next it’s great for parties because it has
A leaf is a plane gliding in the air.
lots of slices for everybody. You can also get it delivered to
A berry sits on the tree,
your house so you don’t have to get up and drive to the piz-
Waiting for a bird.
za restaurant. I hope you’ll try pizza soon!
35
Baseball
Xander S
2nd Grade
Wilsonville Elementary School
THE PLAYERS:
Hitting the ball
Running the bases
Getting outs
Sliding
Tagging
Throwing the ball
Pitching
Switching
THE FANS:
Cheering
Eating
Yelling at umpires
Jumping up and down
Having fun
Clapping
THE COACHES:
Calling plays
Yelling at players
Standing at 1st and 3rd
Warming up players
Lining up players
Keeping the book
Praying when it's over
The Food Fight
Chloe G
2nd Grade
Wilsonville Elementary School
Jelly lands on Momma’s back.
Relish hits Daddy in the head.
Flour rains all over us.
Mayonnaise lands on my brother’s shirt.
Eggs are all over my hair!
Strawberries cover Momma’s pants…
Hot sauce runs down Carson’s face.
The dog licks sauce off his nose.
The cat runs out when it gets sprayed with water.
A chicken leg just plopped into the goldfish
bowl.
“What’s going on here?”
“It’s just dinner!!” Momma yells.
THEN EVERYBODY LAUGHS!
36
How to be a Good Hunter
Braxton S
1st Grade
I love to go hunting. I go hunting with my Poppa. He taught me how to hunt when I was five years
old. Poppa is a good hunter but he only shoots big bucks. We have fun together when we go hunting. I want
to help you be a good hunter like me and my Poppa.
You go hunting in the winter when the trees are bare. It makes it easier to see the deer. The deer are
out looking for food in the winter. Some people use deer callers to call the deer out of the woods.
You need to go and buy some camouflage clothes so the deer won’t see you when you are hunting.
You can buy them at the store. You have to buy warm clothes to stay warm. You also need to wear boots.
You need to get a gun or a bow so you can kill the animals when you see them. You have to be very
careful with the gun and the bow. You should learn how to use it before you go hunting. You need to be
with an adult so you won’t get hurt.
You have to get dressed in the camo and go into the woods to hunt the animals. It is best to go in the
morning or the afternoon. You can’t hunt at night.
You have to be very still and quiet so you won’t scare the deer and other animals away. It is hard to
be quiet sometimes. You can sit in a chair or a shooting house while you wait on the deer.
If you see a deer, shoot it. After it is dead, you put it in your vehicle and take it back to your house.
You have to skin and clean the deer. You will get blood on you so you will have to take a shower. It is kind
of gross!
After it is skinned and cleaned, you can take it to someone for them to cut it up for you. Deer are
good to eat. You can eat it on a sandwich or a hot dog bun. I like to eat turtle on a sandwich too. It is good!
It is good to hunt because you will have something to eat. I hope this story helps you become a good
hunter. You will like it if you try it!
37
Noah W
Kindergarten
Calera Elementary
The Snowman
One icy day I built a snowman. I named him Noah. At night he went to the skateboard park, that is where he is going to do his skateboard tricks. Some other snowmen
were there too. He is going to teach skateboard class. First he taught skateboard flips,
and then he taught skateboard jump tricks. Last, he taught them how to skateboard on
ice. He finally made it home. He was very tired. He needed to take a little rest, and then
he will play. His mom said “Have good dreams son.” “Thanks mom.” “You are welcome
son.” He had dreams about dancing elephants.
38
Hope is my Best Friend
Sarah J
5th Grade
It was a very dark and stormy night. All was quiet except in one little girl’s house. She was a very odd little
girl as everyone said, but she had one friend and that friend meant the world to her. He would never laugh at her like
everyone else did, and even though you couldn’t see him he was there. He loved everyone and was by her side. She
would constantly let him down but he forgave her. She was upset with him but he did nothing wrong. This little girl’s
name was April. She was named that because her parent’s favorite season was spring. She had a condition were she
got sick and had to go to the hospital almost every day, she practical lived there. She still had hope she never gave up
and whenever she was in bed feeling down she read her favorite book, it was about the person she loved the most.
One morning she woke up to hear she was sick and would not get better, weeks past and she just got worse. She was at
her final straw and had lost all hope when her friend stood before her and said you will have no more sorrow, no more
pain, and no more sadness with me. When she closed her eyes and woke up she was all better, she could walk, talk,
and finally see her dear friend who loved her so much that he sacrificed his life just for her and she lived the whole rest
of her life in happiness and right when she got there she knew the storm was gone.
Misty Said Moo!
Alana R
1st grade
Helena Elementary
Misty woke up and got dressed. She got her toothpaste and toothbrush and brushed her teeth. The first thing
she said was MOOOOO!!!!! She looked at the toothpaste. It was Moopaste. “Mooooooo,” said Misty. “Is
there a cow in the house?”, asked mom. Mom ran up the stairs. “OH NO! You used the Moo paste”, cried
mom. “Well it will wear off”, said mom. “Now get your back pack and go to Husky Bus”, said mom. “Moo,”
said Misty. Misty got on the bus. Misty sat by herself. Misty got off the bus and bumped in to Hayes. Hayes
said, “ I’m sorry.” Misty did not say anything. Hayes turns his back. Misty goes to class and started her expanded notation. She gets it wrong. Her teacher tried to help her, but all Misty said was moo. Her teacher
called her mom. Misty’s mom brought some regular toothpaste. She brushed her teeth with the regular toothpaste. Misty tried to talk. She could talk and didn’t say moo.
39
My Tooth
Emma W
1st grade
Helena Elementary
My Tooth
Hard, bloody
pulling, wiggling, crying
My gum was bloody.
Snaggle tooth
Learning to Ride My Bike
Abby G
1st Grade
Helena Elementary
Learning to ride my bike was scary and fun. I learned to balance and steer and turn. Now I can go down hills
fast. I love to ride my bike! Oh! I love to ride my bike around my pretty neighborhood. I was the first kid to
learn to ride my bike in my neighborhood. I zoom through my neighborhood. I love to ride my bike!
Dog
Lexie T
2nd Grade
When I see
people leave
I tear up the place.
Then I get in trouble
40
so no treat for me!
Red
Chase H
Helena Elementary
2nd grade
Red reminds me of a cardinal resting in the summer sun.
Red reminds me of a cherry on an ice cream cone just waiting to be eat’n.
Red reminds me of a fire truck putting out a huge swirling storm of fire.
Red reminds me of a strawberry.
Red reminds me of a fall leaf swaying like a wave.
Red reminds me of Alabama the best team in the world!
Mercury
Sawyer A
Kindergarten
Mercury is the smallest planet. Mercury is rocky. Mercury is hot at day. Mercury is cold at night.
Mercury is the first planet.
I Used to Live in an Apartment
Tyler G
1st Grade
Helena Elementary
I lived in an apartment, but now I don’t. One day I woke up in the morning to get ready for school. My mom
made me breakfast. She said, “Today is a special day.” She said, “We are moving!” Now we are going to live
in a house. It was a special day. I was excited, but I was kind of sad. I was sad, because if we moved I would
miss the apartment. I would also miss the playground that was there. There was a really high and fast and
cool slide there. I like my house now, because there is a playground in my backyard.
41
What is Red?
Anna D
1st Grade
Helena Elementary School
Red is a rose on a blossom.
Fire
Red is an apple from a seed.
Red is a tomato from a plant.
Abby B
Red is a cover from a book.
5th Grade
Helena Intermediate
Red is a good color.
Red is love.
And I love red.
In the fireplace
Flame reaching out, trying to escape
Glowing bright
Fighting to get out
Grasping for freedom, burning with life
Glowing bright
Fighting to
Get out
Opinion—Outside Recess
Noah W
2nd Grade
I think outside recess is better than inside recess. One reason is because we get to play on cool things
like slides. Another reason is because we get to play with kids from different classes. Finally, you get to feel
the air and run into the sun. That is why outside recess is better.
42
“A ThAnk You”
A VeTerAn’s DAY Poem
Kaitlyn R
5th Grade
Helena Intermediate
Thank you for your life
The one you sacrificed
Thank you for coming home
For we have missed you when you were gone
We thank those Veterans who have died
Also to those that are still alive
All those poppies that were once white
Are now filled with blood and fright
Here is the Scarecrow
Abby S
3rd Grade
Helena Intermediate
Thank you for my freedom
Yes, oh yes indeed
I’ll never forget what you did for me
All so I could be free
Here is the scarecrow
Stuffed with straw
His big round head is a
Yellow ball
Here is the scarecrow dressed in
Clothes,
Always yelling
GO AWAY CROWS!
43
Author/Artist
School
Grade
Title
Ginger L
Page
Calera Middle
7
Everlasting Life
60
Jenna N
Calera Middle
7
The Journey from Bad to Good
56
Cole K
Chelsea Middle
7
Alone in the Woods
53
Madelyn G
Columbiana Middle
7
How to Think
48
Rhi A
Columbiana Middle
8
Shenanigans
54
Victoria S
Columbiana Middle
8
Constellations
63
Madeline B
Helena Middle
7
White Out
58
Meagan A
Helena Middle
7
Tree of Life
62
Meagan A
Helena Middle
7
Into the Future
49
Zoe C
Helena Middle
8
The Woods
46
Katie O
Montevallo Middle
6
And Life Goes On
59
Arian F
Montevallo Middle
8
~Art~
64
Chloe M
Montevallo Middle
8
Beyond the Canvas
64
Adrienne C
Oak Mtn. Middle
8
Dear Restaurant Worker
63
Elizabeth C
Oak Mtn. Middle
8
Tears of Starlight
53
Josie O
Oak Mtn. Middle
8
Dare to Imagine
61
Griffin M
Vincent Middle
6
Olympic Rings
55
Madeline G
Vincent Middle
7
I Need You Here
48
The Woods
Zoe C
7th Grade
Helena Middle School
The three eyed deer was sitting outside my window again. My eyes closed - shut tight, and I could
feel my eyelids scrunching. My eyes fluttered open again and I could hear someone breathing onto
the window panes, and judging by the fog building up, someone was.
My breathing slowed until I was inadvertently holding my breath.
Whoever was at my window was clawing their way through the glass and the screen and I could
hear the scratching and my breathing sped up.
I was rapidly blinking as if I blinked enough that the figure would go away.
Suddenly- a dark skinned girl was on my bed, one with three eyes and long curly hair.
My mind drifted back to the three eyed deer and to the freckles on her face, and suddenly I knew
that the woods were alive.
I let her drag me from my bed, my hair falling over my shoulders and I could feel the chilly October
air on my skin, making my cheeks red and for a moment I wished I had grabbed a jacket before she
dragged me and then I remember- nothing matters once you're in the woods.
She smiles at me, a familiar smile and I let everything go.
We sit down at a campfire, surrounded by other children and very few teenagers and she begins to
tell a story.
I feel my skin lurch.
I knew that none of them were really human.
They were all animals and I could feel dreams blurring into reality as the colors ran together before
my eyes- red to brown, green to orange, everything was ripped at the edges- yet still a masterpiece.
In the woods, colors and sounds and faces and objects and even the sky blur together, creating an
oil painting of nature in which nothing makes sense.
My eyes were brown and alert as my arms got goosebumps up and down as the fire began to increase in size, larger and larger and larger until finally the woods were ablaze.
I could hear a voice in my head- your voice- telling me to stop, to just let go.
To give in.
But I can't.
The fire is surrounding us.
I don't want to let go.
I can still hear your voice, whispering in my ear.
I woke up in the ambulance.
"Subject is female, approximate age sixteen, brown hair, brown eyes. No ID on her." A voice says,
presumably into a walkie talkie because I can hear the crackling.
I tried to tell them I'm okay, and I realized that they couldn't hear me.
I'm bigger than my body.
I'm screaming I'm screaming I'm screaming but they can't hear me and my lungs and throat are raw
and my body is burning.
46
I am more than this.
I am not human.
I am an animal.
I can feel my skin shifting and changing and I am elegant. I am radiant. I am celestial.
My skin is screaming as I change into a bloodthirsty animal, the fuel of the full moon bearing down
on me in the midnight air.
My skin is still changing.
I wake up in the middle of the forest, human, with doe eyes wide and full of curiosity.
I am human.
I am still human.
Nothing is different.
I walk back to my mother's cabin and I walk into the kitchen.
She smiles at me.
“How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
I don’t say that I’m not fine because I don’t want to cause her more heartbreak than she’s already
had.
She doesn’t need to know what happens in the woods.
I could still feel fire on my skin and aches in my chest and everything hurt.
I didn’t want to tell anybody what happened so I got out my phone and tried to text you.
I tried to explain to you how you broke me, how you ripped my heart from my chest and how your
words always cut through the darkness like nothing else.
How words could be sharp and bitter, full of wit.
How words could carry the feelings across the country.
But I never knew how sharp your words could be until you aimed that at me.
I miss you so much.
You took the words off my tongue, ripped the breath straight from my lungs, and you grasped a still
beating heart in your dark hands when you said goodbye.
I miss you even though you broke me, even though you broke me.
We were terrible. disgusting. nothing good for each other celestial.
Nobody knew what happened except for us.
Nobody knew how you loved me like nobody else ever had. How you held me at night when I
couldn’t handle anything. When I could barely breathe. broke me.
The woods are a haunting place, a place where dreams go to die, where memories bury themselves alive.
The woods are alive.
47
How to Think
Madelyn G
7th Grade
Columbiana Middle
We’ve been told how to think,
How to act; how to speak.
We’re expected to paint our minds with artificial personalities,
We have no individuality,
Brain washed to the standards of society.
Our faces being altered,
Our soul is a flower that’s not being watered.
Should we stand up?
No, that’s considered ‘impolite’.
Our soul is now no flower, it’s an endophyte,
Living off of the life of another light.
I Need You Here
Madeline G
7th Grade
I was hurt
You weren’t supposed to leave me
You were my best friend. I need you here.
This isn’t right
It’s not fair
I wish you didn’t have to go
I wish you were still with me
I have never felt more pain than I did that night
I’ve cried myself to sleep since
I miss your laugh. I miss our conversations. I miss you…
48
Vincent Middle
Into the Future
Meagan A
7th Grade
Helena Middle
At eight a.m. I woke with annoyance inside the comfort of my bed as the cold, wet
cloth from my alarm clock dropped onto my face. I got up before the machine’s metal hand
could pick up the cloth and repeat it again. Then, slowly I trudged into the closet to change.
Once finished, I moved to activate the trans stand. “Hello Nami. Would you like me to start
with make-up or hair?”
“Make-up please,” I replied back. I waited in my chair for five minutes while blush
brushes, mascara, and any other cosmetic you could think of whizzed around my face until I
fit the definition of perfect beauty. “All done! What would you like me to do next Nami?”
asked the robot.
“Braid my hair into a bun Siri.”
“At your service!” she chimed, and went to work. Another five minutes passed and I
told her, “That will be all Siri.”
Then I was on my way to breakfast. When I walked into the kitchen, I was met by Ky
and my mom. “Good Morning!” Mom said cheerfully.
“Good Morning!” I said, rather happy myself. It was a Friday and I could not wait to
go see the one hundred and twenty first James Bond with Katy, Nickolai, and Ada.
“Look at the time honey,” mom said, breaking through my thoughts, “you have ten
minutes to eat breakfast and get in front of the communicator before class starts! –you too
Ky!” She added.
“I’m on it.” Ky said turning to go look for chef.
“Here is your nutritious breakfast.” The robot said, suddenly appearing behind us. He
held a platter full of the fresh foods from the gardens on the balcony of our apartment. Everybody had one, a garden on their balcony I mean. They are planted, watered, harvested,
and cooked by only our best caretaker robots. Ky and I wolfed down our breakfast. Then we
hurriedly put our dishes in the sink where the caretakers will clean them later. My brother
and I raced down the hallway to the communicators where our classes would start soon. 49
Sitting down, we gasped for breath and turned on the communicators. Then our
names and a light that blinked twice displayed on the corner of the screen. Immediately
after, Mrs. Burenstien’s happy face appeared and said, “Good morning class!” Which was
followed by a few “hellos” back. School went on for three more hours until it was finally
lunch time. Me and my twin Ky quickly finished our lunches to make it to our art class on
time. We laced up our start shoes and headed out the door yelling, “Bye, mom!”
“Bye, be safe!” she called back.
“We will!” both of us shouted in unison.
“Last one there is a rusty robot!” Ky said spinning around.
“Not fair!” I called back, smiling. I closed the door and we bounded without effort
towards Katy’s apartment, one level down. “Ha, I beat you!” I told him, energized.
“Whatever,” Ky pouted. The door swung open and Katy came out. “Hey!” she
squealed.
“Hey! Are you ready for art class?” I asked her.
“Ready,” she said back. All of us headed out the complex and strolled into the crisp air.
Something fell from my pocket. As soon as I bent down to pick it up, I recognized it right
away.
“What’s that?” Katy asked.
“It’s part of my coin collection,” I proudly responded.
“What kind of coin is that? It doesn’t look like a familiar one. Where did you get
it?” she questioned.
“It’s a penny. I got it from my dad, who got it from his grandpa,” I said. “It was a
birthday present.”
“Oh! I’ve heard about pennies, they’re really cool,” Katy commented. “Can I look at
it?” she asked.
“Sure,” I said.
50
“Did you know that when pennies were being made,” Katy said, examining the penny,
“they were more money to make than they were actually worth?”
“I know,” I said. “Why would they even make them in the first place? I mean they
weighed down your whole purse! At least that’s what my dad told me!” In the distance we
heard someone shouting,“Hey, wait up, wait up!” We turned around to see Nickolai sprinting
toward us. Ky was doing tricks with his start shoes, like sliding on and off the curb or hovering and bouncing in mid-air. Ky stopped what he was doing to say, “Hey.”
“Hey,” Nickolai breathed once he had caught up. Katy handed me back my coin and I
pocketed it so it would be safe. We reached the entrance to the art school in time. Ada was
already there of course. She was talking to Ms. Ray in the hall. She is probably the best artist in the school and Ms. Ray loves her for it. We worked on our abstract paintings the whole
class. The brush felt soft as I dragged it across the canvas. Ms. Ray is a small Cuban lady
who always takes short, quick paces. She goes around to all the tables suggesting new things
and when it is time to leave she shoos us out, saying, “Dismissed!”
We walked out of the building and back home. Ky and I had time for a quick snack before we had class again. “Only two more hours of school,” Ky said, “and then we can go see
James Bond!”
“I can’t wait!” I told him, excitedly.
“Me neither,” he muttered.
School went by quickly and I answered most of the questions. After all, science and
math were my strong suits. Ky, not so much. Even though we are twins, Ky’s intelligence is
stronger in History and English. After we were done with our survey, we could sign off the
communicators. Mom and dad were setting the table with food.
“It’s dinner time,” mom told us, “come sit down.”
We replied, “Yes, Ma’am!” The food was delicious. I could have eaten for hours, but
dad told us to “get a move on if we wanted to catch the movie.” We met up with Katy,
Nickolai, and Ada at the movie theatre. “Do you guys want to do 3D to the extreme?”
Nickolai asked.
51
“No Way,” Katy gulped, “that would be too scary!”
“I say we go for it!” Ada replied.
“I’ve never done it in such an action packed movie,” I said, “It might be too realistic.”
“Oh, come on!” Ky and Nickolai complained, “We’ve done it before and it’s not that
bad.”
“I still don’t know about it,” Katy said.
“It’s all about the experience,” Ky told us.
“Literally the experience,” Nickolai added.
“Come on,” I said, “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
We all got our tickets and popcorn. Once we sat in our seats, we all put the suction
cup and glasses on our heads. It was so realistic, every time it surprises me. As we walked
home, I thought of the ways of life and the stories passed down from my great Grammie
and Grandpa, of how people used to look up and see many stars hanging in the sky, and
how they didn’t live so close together. I look around now and I see people crowding the
streets long after dark. Sky scrapers are lit up with florescent lights, and the stars are far,
far away, and out of sight.
52
Alone In The Woods
Cole K
7th Grade
Chelsea Middle
A girl on a mission in the deep, dark woods
Must be quick and quiet to get the job done.
Fear and determination push her forward.
She knows that people’s lives are on the line.
There they stand accusing her, with their eyes.
She remembered what her mother said
To act like a measly little girl without a clue is the only way.
Tears of Starlight
She felt like the end was near.
They toss things out, one by one.
They feed them to the dogs.
Elizabeth C
8th Grade
Oak Mtn. Middle
But, little did they know, there was something in that basket.
It made them lose their sense of smell.
That is what saved her friend’s lives.
Alone in the woods.
This is the poem that weeps
in the midnight under the stars
that mourns and sorrows
but then it moves on
because it knows that life is
because of death
And when darkness overwhelms
your stars, crushing their light
this is the poem that croons its comfort
in the lakes of your sorrow and blackness
like tears of starlight
53
Shenanigans of the Universal Council
Rhianna A
8th Grade
Columbiana Middle
Time, Life, and Death have always been there, watching over and even assisting humanity at times. They’ve nudged us along our little path, our path that
leads to our future, our destiny. They make up the universal council, they were voted in by all the gods and goddesses from different religions. Some days were busy
and full, while others were slow and when they got bored, often philosophical.
Of course, the only one with a real concept of time was Time. Life and Death
didn’t care about time, they would be alive long after the humans, Earth, and all the
galaxies were gone. But to Time, time was everything. It seemed a bit self-centered
to Life and Death that time was everything to Time.
These three beings were almost nothing without each other. Time was living,
and Life would eventually die. Death took time to be spent with someone away
when he claimed his victim. But Life was currently contemplating another “problem.”
“Time, do you believe Death is alive?” Life said, taking a drink of her “tea.”
And by tea, I mean her drink of souls. It was a mixture of powerful souls, this one
included parts of Martin Luther King Jr., Benjamin Franklin, and Mary I of England;
a little bad with the good.
Time sighed, “Of course he’s alive, Life. He has to be living to take the souls.”
“But he doesn’t breath, and he looks like death.” Life said, “Surely, my brother
isn’t truly alive.”
“Oh, but he is, I assure you. He’s as alive as you and me.” Time said. “He
looks like death because he is Death.” Time laughed.
“But…” Life trailed off in thought. “Does that mean he is undead?”
Time pondered this as Death entered and sat down in his chair at one of the
triangles points. His chair was a dark silver, and it was cold. Death had a 7-Eleven
Big Gulp cup in his hand; he was fond of fatty, greasy human foods, but he was as
thin as a rail. Death took a gulp of his drink and looked at the two with a sort of relaxed melancholy.
“Of course not! He’s not like those silly litlle things you see on human television shows, he’s not undead!” Time said, not angry, but humored.
Death looked at both of them. “A zombie? You believe I’m one of those monstrosities?” Death spoke regally, like a king would. He seemed offended and angry.
“I am neither dead nor alive, leave what should be left alone alone. It’s not meant
for you to poke your nose into, sister. You have a habit of poking your nose where it
doesn’t belong, like a dog.”
54
Griffin M
6th Grade
Vincent Middle
55
The Journey From Bad to Good
Jenna N
7th Grade
Calera Middle
Once there was a young beautiful girl. At first sight of her, you see a popular, happy young woman. But if you looked closer into her life, you would learn that you can't judge a book by its cover. You see, if you were to be that lucky friend of hers, the
one she actually lets into her life, you would see that she does not live in a huge house like you would think. She actually lives in a
beat up trailer that has no running water or heat. You would also see that the only person living with her is her mom. Well, you
would actually not see her mom because her mom works a nine hour shift at a local diner. She works this shift in order to keep her
trailer with no running water or heat. But, you don’t know any of this information because you assume she’s just like you until she
invites you to step into her world.
On the day your eyes are open to this popular, happy young woman’s life she invites you to her home. On the way to her
house she begins to explain her situation. You think this is just normal girl talk when she tells you she only sees her mom twice a
day. Once in the morning and once at night. After walking into her home, you realize your new friend was preparing you for her
world. The girl begins the tour of her trailer by showing you her “room.” Which is really her mom’s room with a curtain hanging in
the middle of it. The girl takes you over to a door that looks like it could be her closet. She opens it so that you can see that there
are only a few shirts and a few pairs of jeans. The girl tells you that they were all donated to her and her mom. You also see that
there is only two pairs of shoes, one for her mom and one for the both of them, in the closet.
As she leads you out of her “room,” you ask where the bathroom is. The girl, with the saddest expression, points to a little
outhouse at the end of the street. She gives you a rusty key to get into it. You ask her if you could go alone. The girl tells you to be
careful and to come back immediately after you are finished. You say “ok” and begin your journey to the outhouse.
As you unlock the door, you see a little sign that says, “Owned by the City of Fallow.” When you enter the “bathroom,”
the first thing you see is other people's poop and pee. You can clearly tell that the city doesn't change out the outhouse as often as
they should. You sit/stand over the deep black hole and try to recap all that you have seen in the past hour. As you think about all
the stuff you have seen, you begin to cry. The more you think about it; the more you cry. You think to yourself how long has it been
like this for her? And that makes you cry even more. You get up and clean your face of tears so that the girl won't know you have
been crying. You glumly walk out of the outhouse back to the grungy looking trailer.
As you head back, your stomach grumbles reminding you that you didn’t eat lunch. You decide that you are not going to
take any food from the girl and her mom. You walk in and you can tell that the girl has been crying, also. You sit next to her on the
couch and try to comfort her. You really want to talk with her about her world, but you don't know how to start the conversation.
As the girl cries into your shoulder, your backstabbing stomach grumbles again. The girl pops up and asks if you are hungry. You shake your head no, but your traitor of a stomach will not let the topic go. The girl knows that you are hungry. She shows
you where the food cabinet is and tells you to eat anything you want. Hesitantly, you walk over to the cabinet. You open it, and
your heart drops. All you see is a pack of half eaten cookies, Ramon noodles, bottles of water, and some peanut butter. You take
the cookies, so that the girl doesn’t feel bad. You go back to where the girl is sitting and eat the most expensive cookies you’ve ever
had.
After ten minutes of silence, you decide to start the hardest conversation you will ever encounter. You tell the girl that she
has a lovely home. The girl looks helpless as she tells you she hates her trailer, and she has been hating living there for over five
years. She tells you that because her mom can’t keep a job she has had to move school three times in the past three years. She
tells you about her dad which was the hardest thing to hear. She tells you that her dad was in the army when he got shot. She says
that when her mom found out about her dad, she was a mess. She says that her mom just kind of gave up on life for about a year.
In that year, the girl tells you that she had to be a “mom” to her mom which stopped her from going to school. She says that during
that year she lost respect for her mom which affected their relationship. Her mom noticed the distance between them and started
to look for a job. It took her mom about three months to find her job at the diner. The diner is in Fallow, but the girl and her mom
lived in Birmingham. So, it was time to move again. The girl says that she didn't mind this move a whole lot because she wasn't able
to go to school in Birmingham, so it wasn’t hard to leave friends she was never allowed to make.
After another twenty minutes or so, you and the girl decide to leave for your house. Your mom had offered to come get
you from your new friend’s house, but you can tell the girl is mortified just thinking about your mom seeing her trailer. The two of
you decide to walk to your house instead. During the first half of the walk, nobody talked. Your head is racing with thoughts about
what you just encountered. None of this really made a whole lot of sense because the girl always wore the cutest clothes, had a
good bit to eat a lunch, and never seemed upset at all. Then all of the sudden, something hits you. Both of you will be starting high
school tomorrow. You wonder to yourself what is she going to wear? You ask the girl. She looks at you with eyes full of dread and
says, “I don't know.” You tell her that you have something at home she could wear. The girl tells you that she doesn't want to take
your clothes. She says that even though she doesn’t have much, she is not a charity case. You drop the subject.
56
The girl stays at your house for the rest of the day until it started to get dark. You hug the girl in the tightest hug you can without hurting her and say goodbye.
As you walk back in the house, your heart begins to hurt. Your mom is in the kitchen when you walk through it. She can tell you
are deeply upset. She asks you what is wrong and you say nothing because you don't really know what to say about what you just
encountered. You walk into your room and fall into the bed. When you hit the bed, you cry enough tears to fill a bathtub. Everything in your house reminds you of the girl. It reminds you that she does not have running water, her own room, or a bathroom.
You realize that everything you take for granted she doesn't have. You dress in your brand new pajamas and crawl into your queen
size bed. It is silent. As you lay there and fight with the guilt of being blessed, you give into the hopelessness and cry yourself to
sleep.
You wake up the next morning with the girl still on your mind. You put on your “first day of school outfit,” eat the breakfast your
mom fixed for you, and head out the door. You and the girl meet in the gym of the new high school. The girl looks cute as always
and is acting like nothing happened yesterday. Which really nothing happened to the girl, just you. Nothing has changed between
the two of you which feels nice because it helps to put your mind somewhat at ease. The bell rings announcing the beginning of
freshman year, so you decide to meet up after school.
When you and the girl meet up again, she is like a kid at Christmas. The girl tells you about Mrs. Clarity. The girl tells you
that she believes this is a teacher she can trust. You ask her why she thinks that she can trust her. The girl tells you the teacher
pulled aside all her students to get to know them. She tells you that the teacher only spent about two minutes with the other students, but when it came the girl (who was the very last person to go), the teacher spent about ten minutes with her. She tells you
that the first thing Mrs.Clarity said to her was that she believes she is special. The girl tells you it is hard for her to feel special
when everything around her tells her otherwise, so it was nice to have someone see something in her she can’t see herself. Once
again, you are reminded of how different the two of you are.
You and the girl have been in school for about five months now. You have a routine of sitting together at lunch in order to
share the day’s adventures. You love hearing everything the girl tells you because for the past few months everything that has happened to her has been good. The girl and Mrs.Clarity’s relationship has gotten stronger. The girl trusts Mrs.Clarity enough to describe her home life. The girl tells you that Mrs.Clarity is always willing to listen. The girl knows that if she needs anything, Mrs.
Clarity will be the first to help her. Mrs.Clarity also shares that she has been through what the girl is going through. The girl asks her
what she did to get out of her situation. Mrs.Clarity says that all she did was work hard in school and never gave up. She also says
that Mrs.Clarity told her that when she was in high school she already knew where she wanted to go to college. Then the girl shows
you what Mrs.Clarity gave her. She lays out a bunch of college brochures like a deck of cards. She has a brochure for Auburn, Alabama, LSU, Montevallo, Troy, and Mississippi State. For the rest of lunch, the girl and you imagine what college life will be like at
each of the campuses.
Fast forward to the end of May. It has been a good year for you but a great year for the girl. The girl made a lot of friends
this year. Some of those new friends want the girl to go places which require money she doesn’t have. To avoid any embarrassment for her, the two of you decide to get jobs instead. Working will provide an easy excuse for not spending money. You and the
girl get a job working at Burger King. It pays $6.00 an hour. You both make sure that you work the same shift.
At work, you see some people from your school. You worry that your friends will make fun of you. The girl on the other hand
does not care what any of them think. What does this say about you? What are you lacking that the girl has? The only difference
between you is your address. Would you share her same attitude if you only had a few Ramon noodles, water, and cookies in your
pantry?
Three years pass and look almost the same. School during the fall, winter, spring, and work during the summer. As senior
year approaches, you each have the same dreams for the future but only of you is secure about achieving that dream. The girl
doesn’t feel confident that she will actually make it to college. You, on the other hand, know that your parents have been saving for
your college since you were born. The girl’s only hope of making it to college depends on her grades. Again, you wonder how does
she make it under all that pressure?
You both get accepted into college. The girl goes to a local community college while you go to a distant four year school.
Throughout your college experience, you wonder about the girl many times. Did she graduate or did she have to eventually drop
out? Is she an author or is she working at the same diner her mom worked in all those years? Did she beat the odds or is still stuck
in the same trailer?
Five years after college your questions are answered at Books-A-Million. You and your son are looking for a new picture
book when one book jumps off the shelf. You recognize the name of the author as the girl you once knew. You immediately buy the
book. As you read the story, you flashback to what you experienced many years ago. You smile knowing that she will never live in
another beat up trailer again.
57
White Out
Madeline B
7th Grade
Helena Middle
White out is
a cover up.
It keeps in all
of your stories , secrets.
Your lies,sins,mistakes.
Liquid white substance.
This substance beholds
all the stories that you’ve
told. Past, present, future.
It opens. Salty tears run
down your face. White
everywhere. Secrets on
the floor. No more dark.
No more hiding. Delicate
arm lay upon your shoulder. Breath like a warm
fire. “Just go and buy
some more.”
58
Katie O
And Life Goes On
6th Grade
Montevallo Middle
Pretty birds flying,
Babies stop crying,
Clouds drift,
Time shifts,
And life goes on.
Kitten’s meow,
Wolf’s howl,
Sickness strikes,
I fight,
And life goes on.
Remission comes,
I start to love,
We get wed,
No more tears shed,
And life goes on.
Children come and grow,
Seeds of love I sow,
While some go to school,
Others, just learning to coo,
And life goes on.
Car crash comes,
No more fun,
I’m widowed now,
“Why?” I shout,
And, somehow, life goes on.
Sickness comes again,
Fear it will be the end,
Where will my kids go?
There is no hope,
Yet life goes on.
I survive,
I am revived,
My kids grown,
I am old,
And life goes on.
I die,
Kids cry,
Live happy,
Die happy,
Their lives go on.
59
Everlasting Life
Ginger L
7th Grade
Calera Middle
Walkin’ down the street
wonderin, wanderin, lookin
for the truth.
Lookin’ up and lookin’ down
can’t see the forest for, the trees
in my youth.
First press play, then we’ll play,
it’s the same old game, just cut, next frame.
Shakespeare first, then Moliere.
Start your flow, it’s your show,
‘else it’s a paycheck, rain check, then
your own shipwreck.
Something’s gotta give now, ‘cause
I’m dying to make you see that I need
‘cause you got that one thing…
Everlasting Life
60
Josie O
8th Grade
Oak Mtn. Middle
Reverse Poem - the line written in the first half are the lines backwards (with the opposite meaning) in the
second half of the poem
Dare to Imagine…
We live in a world that rejects imagination
and I refuse to believe that
there are people who care
People are qualified to contribute to society.
Everyone is important and
I do believe
I disagree with the thought that
the world will not change
and I reject the following opinion:
the world is unsalvageable.
Many people agree that
kindness does exist.
people are capable or providing support.
when searching for answers
you will find
I find it hard to believe that
no one will notice your work and achievements.
there is no way to be unique
Your journey through life is proof that
and it is not true that
you can push through tough times
you can push through tough times
and it is not true that
your journey through life is proof that
there is no way to be unique
no one will notice your work and achievements.
I find it hard to believe that
you will find
when searching for answers
people are capable of providing support.
kindness does exist
Many people agree that
the world is unsalvageable.
and I reject the following opinion:
the world will not change.
I disagree with the thought that
I do believe
everyone is important and
people are qualified to contribute to society.
there are people who care
and I refuse to believe that
we live in a world that rejects imagination.
61
Tree of Life
Meagan A
7th Grade Helena Middle
The tree of life lies rooted on a green hill
Far, far away.
In its sky, the sun flows everywhere,
Lighting up the heavens
With its pleasant rays,
Reaching its light to all creation.
In many ways
The tree of life gives peace and beauty
To the green hill.
Its ever so emerald leaves
Sway every which way
In the whispering breeze.
The vibrant flowers
Call to the delicate butterfly,
And the cool water runs down the hill,
As the fish splash and sputter.
When bees buzz,
And the birds sing,
Every thing comes to life
As one sweet harmony.
62
Constellations
Victoria S
8th Grade
Columbiana Middle
One day,
When you’re long gone,
And I’m alone,
Dear Restaurant Worker
Adrienne C
8th Grade
Oak Mtn. Middle
I’ll look up at the night sky,
Marveling at the stars,
Drinking in the constellations,
And the thousand natural beauties,
Dear restaurant worker
I would like to tell you
I eat a lot
You tell me
I need a kid’s menu
You tell me
The portion size is good for me
You tell me
That sparkle our sky,
Maybe I’ll get the same feeling,
That you used to give me,
Maybe you’re looking at the same sky,
Same star,
Thinking about me.
There are a lot of options
I would like to tell you
I want more than two chicken fingers
So during our next encounter
Remember, I’m too old for a kid’s menu
I really don’t want to color
and you don’t have to worry about me spilling things
I will do perfectly fine without a lid
Therefore, I do not need a kid’s menu.
63
Beyond the Canvas
Chloe M
8th Grade
Montevallo Middle
She made art
her art wasn’t beautiful
but it wasn’t supposed to be
she never wanted her art to be beautiful
she wanted him to read the picture
to see beyond just paint on a canvas
and once he did
he saw…
he saw that it was her unconditional
love.
Art by Arian F
8th Grade
64
Montevallo Middle
Author/Artist
School
Grade
Title
Page
Antonio D
Calera High
11
Growing Up
90
Alonzo T
Calera High
12
Imprisoned by Opinions
83
Anna T
Calera High
12
Answers
84
Keishace J
Chelsea High
9
Contagious Love
82
James McKay
Chelsea High
10
Reaching Elysium
93
Julia G
Chelsea High
10
For You
86
Kayley D
Chelsea High
11
~Art~
72
Kayley D
Chelsea High
11
~Art~
76
Kayley D
Chelsea High
11
~Art~
77
Elyse B
Chelsea High
12
~Art~
86
Elyse B
Chelsea High
12
~Art~
92
Gianna N
Chelsea High
12
~Art~
88
Logan W
Chelsea High
12
I Will Write
72
Logan W
Chelsea High
12
For Her
94
Logan W
Chelsea High
12
Patchwork Boy
76
Logan W
Chelsea High
12
The Rose
88
Lydia G
Chelsea High
12
The Sun
77
Rachel M
Chelsea High
12
~Art~
82
Houston B
Helena High
12
Thumbs
87
Houston B
Helena High
12
Dear Elora
74
Houston B
Helena High
12
Who Broke Newton's Heart?
81
Rachel W
Helena High
12
The Fifth Season
84
Sarah Ellen M
Helena High
12
Cookie Dough Ice Bream
78
Shaton G
Helena High
12
Wet Paint
87
Georgia H
Montevallo High
10
Christmas Day
94
Rachel M
Montevallo High
10
Part II The Found
91
Emily T
Montevallo High
11
Remembrance
85
Emily T
Montevallo High
11
Someday Soon
89
Kelli S
Montevallo High
12
Looking Back Now
90
Bailey B
Oak Mtn. High
11
Not Alone
73
Christian L
Colby E, Gunnar S,
Jackson S, Kyle W
Oak Mtn. High
11
The Negro Crayon
73
Oak Mtn. High
11
The Lonely Journey
Nathan S
Oak Mtn. High
11
Art
75
Rachel R
Oak Mtn. High
11
Autumn
75
Jim V
Shelby County High
12
Sheltered
67
Courtney M
Vincent High
10
Invisible
95
Courtney M
Vincent High
10
The Derby
95
75
Sheltered
Jim V
Senior
Shelby County High
Robby Parsons was sheltered. Everybody knew that.
Everyone knew it like everyone knew that Mike McCrimmon had a huge nose.
Or Aaron Odgers hated chocolate.
It was just an accepted fact of life.
The brutal truth of the matter was, to an adolescent mind, these menial characteristics seemed set in stone.
We only knew what we could see, or at the very least, could observe. Character traits became life purposes.
Hobbies and facial features became jobs and qualities. What did we know? Our idea of value only went
skin deep.
And so it was with Robby Parsons.
His description of his home life was one filled with overbearing parents, ridiculous curfews, and absurd
punishments.
He claimed that he could be whipped for as little an offense as teasing his sister, and could be grounded for
being five minutes past curfew.
His life seemed horrible. But to kids under 20 like us, it surely wasn’t as bad as ours.
His life definitely wasn’t worse than mine. I lived in a dilapidated old trailer with my mom and only one of
my brothers. My other two brothers were living in California with Dad doing God knows what. Living in
the lap of luxury, I was sure. No one had it worse than me, and if they claimed to, I’d whip out my EBT
card and set them straight.
Looking back on my adolescent years, I’ve come to realize that every teenager comes to a point in their life
where they focus more on themselves than their surroundings. Every kid feels they have it worse than everyone else, so they like to hide it behind some sort of false sense of security.
For me, it was staying silent.
I talked some, I did have friends, but I shut myself off from the rest of the world simply because I didn’t
think the rest of the world would “understand me.” What that meant for me then, I have no clue.
My firmest belief was in the fact that I was an unfixable mess of a human being, and this belief persisted
with me for most of my early adolescence.
One of the biggest turning points of my life was the first week of April during my sophomore year.
We had all just gotten back from Spring Break and we were chatting about what we did, mostly to brag
about our fresh new driver’s licenses. Except me, of course, I still kept my selfish vow of silence.
It was lunchtime, I remember, and the sun was shining especially bright, brighter than it had for the past
six months.
I was sitting with my only good acquaintances, Michael and Steven, and a couple people I didn’t know.
And Robby Parsons.
67
To be honest, I don’t remember how he even got there. I didn’t normally sit with him. He and I both kept to
ourselves mostly, but while I had at least two people I would willingly spend my free time with, I don’t think
Robby Parsons had anybody.
He was just the poor, sheltered kid.
To be fair, he kind of brought it on himself. No matter what conversation he was in, Robby would always
find a way to talk about his most recent sheltered kid woes.
“My parents won’t let me watch the new Bond movie,” I remember him telling us at lunch that day.
I just kept to myself while Michael and Steven started to look interested in the ceiling tiles.
“Why not?” asked one of the kids I didn’t know. He looked bored and to him it seemed like this would be
some form of entertainment for him.
“Well besides all the swearing and the naked women and what not,” Robby started, pausing a second for effect. “My mom thinks James Bond is a bad influence on teenagers.”
He just let that sentence hang there, gathering potency with every passing second.
I kept expecting some other dumb kid to engage him further, but no one offered anything. Eventually Robby
just moved tables, realizing that no one felt like joining him in his pity party.
I remember starting to get really angry at him. I sat there for the rest of the lunch period, silently stewing at
him. What kind of person did he think he was? Acting like he had such a troubled life. He had both parents
living in his house, guaranteed three meals a day, and I had seen the nice clothes he wore to school every
day. If he wanted a sorry home situation, he should’ve seen mine! My life was worse, my life was harder,
my life had true sorrow in it. What a selfish ingrate!
I never realized how hypocritical I sounded, especially since there were days when I did feel sorry for him.
After lunch I had science. Robby Parsons was in that class. I was still kind of angry with him, but I was focused more on the upcoming lecture than my petty hatred.
However, as fate would have it, my science teacher was in charge of the upcoming science fair, and since the
science fair had not had voluntary participation in five years, he required us to participate for a project grade.
Naturally, he was the one to assign partners, and of course, Robby and I were were assigned to work together.
I don’t really remember what we decided to do our project on, and I honestly couldn’t have cared less what
grade I made on it, so I couldn’t tell you how good the project actually was.
What I do remember is that Robby always insisted that we couldn’t work on it at his house.
“My mom doesn’t really know you, so, she won’t let me,” he had said. “My dad honestly doesn’t like me
having friends over until I’m older,” I remember him lamenting. Whenever the subject of working on the
project at his house came up, he would sternly and adamantly insist that his parents would or had said no.
However, the Friday of that first week of April, my mom decided to have her friends over, so I told Robby
that we had to work on the project at his house.
I expected Robby to start putting together a giant string of excuses telling me there was no way we could
68
work on it at his house or that we could always just do it later (it was due that Monday, so that was out of the
question) or some other reason.
Instead he just sat there in silence for a few seconds, started to say something, and then remained silent a few
seconds more.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, seemed deep in thought for a bit, then exhaled and looked me dead in
the eye.
“I will call them today and then we’ll see,” was all he said.
The bell rang suddenly and he bolted to his next class.
It didn’t occur to me until the school day was over that one of Robby’s biggest complaints about his life was
that his parents wouldn’t let him have a cell phone.
I assumed he used someone else’s.
As I was closing my locker and heading for the bus, Robby stopped me in the hallway.
“You may come over this one time,” he said tersely, then he shook my hand. When he let go, he left a piece of
paper with his address on it. Underneath the address, in capital letters written with a Sharpie, were the words,
“YOU MAY ONLY COME AT SIX. LEAVE BY SEVEN. MOM’S ORDERS.”
I was about to ask him why when he abruptly just left.
I got my brother to drive me to Robby’s house a little before six. We pulled into a neighborhood of nicelooking houses and villas. Yet my brother drove past these to the end of the street, and pulled up next to a
worn-out farmhouse.
I was confused. “You sure this is right?” I asked my brother.
“You callin’ me stupid?” he retorted.
I decided to get out of the car and stop asking questions.
As I meandered to the front door, a million questions went through my mind. Was this really Robby’s house?
Did Robby actually live here? Were my assumptions about him correct?
As I pondered these things, Robby approached me breathlessly from the other side of the house. He seemed
completely nervous and on edge. “Ok. Glad you’re here. Let’s get to work.”
I paused a moment to take in his countenance. He was breathing very heavily, he was sweating hard, and his
face was a ghoulish pale. “Are you ok?” I asked as calmly as I could manage.
“Yea I’m fine, I just got done with some yard work,” he replied, his eyes darting around erratically.
I knew from his body language that Robby was lying, but I decided not to press further.
I followed Robby into his house. Right away I noticed the poor state of his home. Everything looked old and
worn out, the carpet was a rough brown, the walls were a sad grey, and there was junk on the ugly, leaning
counters. I tried not to stare, but it was hard, considering that I always pictured Robby living in some picturesque mansion.
I followed Robby into his room, which was as sad as the rest of the house, but Robby had cleaned it the best he
could, apparently. His twin-size bed was made, his ribbons for winning the class spelling bee for the past
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six years were in a row on his little desk, and one worn baseball sat atop his tiny dresser.
I started to ask Robby what was going on but he already had our tri-fold board out on the bed and was making
adjustments.
We worked for about twenty minutes when the front door creaked open like lazy mouse.
Robby’s body went completely stiff. “He’s not supposed to be here yet,” he said suddenly, his voice so weak I
could barely hear him. He shoved me under his desk and then dove under his bed. Sheer terror coursed through
him as though he was being possessed. As I lay there under his bed, he and I made eye contact, and I could
feel the fear oozing out of his pupils. It was a look and feeling I had felt before, but surely Robby could not
have ever experiencedI heard a figure stumble around the house. “ROBBY!” it roared, with the fury and brutality of a lion.
Robby closed his eyes and covered his head, and suddenly then, I understood.
Swallowing his pride, Robby got out from under his bed. With my eyes I tried to tell him to hide, but all he
said was, “You have to get out of here.”
“I’m in my room, father,” Robby then called warily.
Robby’s father sauntered with the gait of a drunken wasteland into Robby’s room with a belt in his hand. “I’m
tired of you wasting my hard-earned money on USELESS JUNK!” he yelled at Robby.
Robby didn’t argue, but just stood there silently as his father started to beat him. His father didn’t seem to be
rational as only temperamentally guttural sounds came out of him. Robby tried hard to keep his composure,
possibly because I was watching, but his face started to yield as big, wet tears rolled down his face.
In that moment, I was able to understand Robby. His very life, his very pride, was focused on his image. His
image was, quite simply, what he wanted it to be: a person who never had true hardship or pain. Robby wanted
a life where his parents loved him and he never had to worry, so he adopted one as his own. The Robby we
saw at school was the Robby that the real Robby wanted to be.
As I sat there under his desk I recalled my own past, in which I too had to hide from my own father’s drunken
rampages. And when I was found, torn from my precious hiding place and beaten senselessly, in my own pride
I had decided that I couldn’t tell anyone of my hellish home life. I, like Robby, hid my pain with a mask. Robby used the mask of innocence, me, the mask of silence. He was sheltered in the same way that I was mute. He
used his sheltered status in the same way I used my silent status: to gain pity. And in that moment, I realized
both of our masks were worthless. Robby was a good actor, but his home life eventually was exposed. I
learned that my silence was not beneficial to me and was, in fact, in its own way, pathetic. I had considered
myself unfixable for so long that I became blinded by other people’s very real problems. I couldn’t see Robby’s hidden calls for help because I was thinking only about my own.
I watched, unable to move as Robby’s dad swung his belt again and again. When he was done, he stumbled out
of the room. Robby limped toward him and I followed, my only instincts being reactionary by this point. As
we watched, Robby’s dad stumbled for a couple more feet and then collapsed onto the floor, completely
passed out. Robby looked at me and I looked at him. Both of us were silent, either too unable or too afraid to
speak.
As we stood there, wordlessly communicating our fear, all I could say was, “I’m sorry….I didn’t under70
stand…..I-”
“You weren’t supposed to,” Robby interrupted, trying not to cry.
“I know what it’s like,” I said after another a pause. “My father was the same way.”
Robby didn’t seem too shocked by this. He just simply kept silent for a time, trying to figure out what to say.
“So now you know,” seemed to be the best he could manage. It was good enough for me. I would have probably said the exact same thing.
“We don’t have to work at your house anymore,” I said, turning to go. “If that’s ok with you.”
“That would be good,” Robby replied woodenly.
Suddenly Robby dropped to his knees, sobbing with physical and emotional agony. “Promise me,” he said.
“Promise me you won’t tell anyone.”
As I was processing this request, I looked at Robby crying over his father’s motionless body. He looked at me
once more and I saw myself in his eyes. I knew this could have been me. I knew I could have been the one crying in want for a relationship that could never happen. And as I was staring into myself, I said, “I won’t Robby. I promise.”
I left the farmhouse after that, knowing by experience that Robby needed solitude. I called my brother with my
mom’s cell and waited for him to show, thinking about Robby, and in essence, myself. I thought about what
we could do, what could be done, and the nature of our pain. Yet with all these thoughts, I realized that for
now, all I could do was walk away.
Looking back, I realize now that that day made clear to me how truly ignorant I was. How ignorant all of us
high school kids were. We were too focused on our little world and our issues, big or small, real or fake, to realize that the only way we could fix ourselves is by reaching out to others. Everyone has issues that they have
to hide. The only differences between us are our issues and what methods we use to hide them. I wonder how
many kids I never noticed who were silently calling for help from anyone who could stop to care.
I think that day changed me more than I realized then. I started looking for other people who were hiding pain
behind a false sense of security in their public image. I tried to open up more to others when I felt that it was
necessary. I brightened my own attitude more and thought more about what I did have than what I didn’t. And
of course, I talked a bit more in general.
Robby and I never really grew close after that, but we both reached a mutual respect. I considered myself Robby’s confidant and we chatted some in private when we could. Robby didn’t drop his act altogether so as to not
draw too much attention, but his countenance brightened in the same way mine did and I tried to be there for
him when he seemed depressed.
After graduation we went our separate ways. I don’t know what’s become of Robby now, but I like to think
he’s turned out ok. I keep him in my thoughts and prayers when I can.
I think that Robby would prefer to be left on his own anyway. I know I probably would too.
There’s only so much someone else can do to help out another.
At some point, you have to change your own attitude if your own problems are going to begin to improve.
And when you stop focusing on yourself, only then can you really find the clarity you silently desire.
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I will write
Logan W
Senior
Chelsea High
I will write
I will feel a glow of sun as my breath inflates these new lungs
I will put up a golden ladder just to climb its brilliant rungs
I will rise higher than most would ever dream
I will learn to shout and scream
I will let my fears vanish from this tested mind
I will open my eyes to a world one of a kind
I will breathe in deeply this fresh sky
I will jump from this ledge and try to fly
I will wake from my dream and put on this shirt
I will roll down these sleeves to mask the hurt
I will bite this lip and will not cry
I will wait for my time to die
I will write
I will write
So I may forget the morning light.
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Photo By Kayley Dotson
Junior
Chelsea High
Not Alone
Bailey B
Junior
Oak Mtn. High
Sometimes we feel so demolished by darkness
and we are so bombarded by the curtains we close because of our pain.
We feel that when the wall goes up and the mask goes on and the distance becomes further,
we'll finally be by ourselves.
But, the truth is, you'll come to find out,
that in everything we do,
we are never alone.
The Negro Crayon
Christian L
Junior
Oak Mtn. High
The Negro crayon sits in the corner of the coloring box silently,
Praying that maybe today it'll get picked.
Maybe today someone will skim over cotton candy pink and violet red
To choose the Negro to draw your butterflies and hearts, for once,
Instead of periwinkle or lavender, but
The Negro crayon understands.
It understands that dark equals sadness and gloom,
While light is happy and joy.
The Negro crayon gets
That it might never be able to blend with another color
Because everyone prefers two light colors together
Over a dark color and a light color, even if they are happy.
The Negro crayon sits in the corner of the coloring box
The last one left; all others removed
to create their lopsided hearts
and proportional butterflies.
But you never see the Negro crayon cry or frown,
Instead opting to clean the box or
The return of the other crayons
The Negro crayon
Knows its place.
It's in the corner of the coloring box, silently,
praying that it'll get picked.
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Houston B
Senior
Helena High School
Dear Elora,
Welcome to this lonely world, not-so-lonely
little girl.
You came in crying newborn tears
and there’ll be plenty more throughout the years
I know it’s strange and sometimes cold,
but you’ll always have a hand to hold
It’s not always ‘happily ever after’
but it’s full of lessons, light and laughter.
And even on the sleepless nights,
you won’t be alone through the fight.
And as you start to grow and learn, she’ll be there for you
at every turn.
She’ll hold your head up and keep you safe, and smile every
time you wake.
Time will pass and people change,
but hold the one who shares your name
Because she won’t waiver from your side,
but kiss your cheek and dry your eyes
and just know that it’s okay to cry
When reaching heaven seems too far,
and time is wasted counting stars
She’ll fly straight up to the moon,
and bring heaven down to you
Remember broken hearts still beat,
and always stand up on your feet
And all the times you feel alone
remember who is waiting at home
Please grow up to be like her, slightly scarred but still smiling
Please grow up to be like her, always hopeful, always trying
Please grow up to be like her, flawed and strong, brave and proud
You’ll grow up to be just like her, beautiful inside and out
You mean more to her than her own lonely world,
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Just know your mother loved you before you could love her.
Autumn
Rachel R
Junior
Oak Mtn. HIgh
She arrives with the death of summer.
Her roots stay firm as her simplicity transforms
Into their vibrant show that is a ray of colors.
She takes pride in her art
As it catches the eyes of all who pass by,
And becomes the background for the touching moments made before her.
Autumn's beauty doesn't last forever.
For it's kissed away by the storm.
And now blankets the soil beneath.
What once brought her joy,
Now brings her sorrow,
For it's all pushed into mounds around her.
As her term comes to an end,
Frost and snow begins to conceal her.
After she gives her final farewells,
She awaits once again for her next breath.
Art
Junior
Nathan S
Oak Mtn. High
Art is expression,
Based on perception,
The Lonely Journey
Colby W, Gunnar S, Jackson S, Kyle W
Juniors
Oak Mtn. High
Conceptually catching,
The artist's connection.
A lonesome farmhouse in the West
Mind and reality,
Just one man, with never a guest
Film or a new CD,
The art of surviving, just scraping by
Paint with fluidity,
His life so lonely, his hopes never high
In country or city,
Sometimes, independence is not the best
Abstract or historically,
Through pain or through glory,
Tell a story in words,
Or through music through body.
A camera or clauses,
Expression the cause is,
Life is a voyage of work and toil
This journey made easier with a friend
Selfless, caring, helpful, and loyal
These qualities form bonds that never end
No man should be alone in working the soil
Masterful applause for,
The expression of existence
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Patchwork Boy
Logan W
Senior
Chelsea High
Skin made of tattered clothes and rags they had gathered
Who could love a patchwork boy like me?
She knew he was a patchwork boy but it didn't matter
Who could close their eyes just to see
His eyes could only stare back and never shed a tear
To see past my string strewn bones
This had been his greatest and most real fear
To see past my stitches that may come apart
For who could cry with eyes made from buttons
To see past my funny walk
Sewn on to a head made from old linens
And to gaze upon my golden heart.
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Photo By Kayley D
Junior
Chelsea High
The Sun
Lydia G
Senior
Chelsea High
I know a girl who stares
At the stars that surround her
She asks “why are they so bright
And I so dull?”
I can never answer
A question so unkind
For how could simple stars
compare to her
When she is the sun itself?
She is not a small point in the sky
But the center of the universe
That all planets orbit to bask
In the light of her smile
Photo By Kayley D
Junior
Chelsea High
So I tell her instead
“Never doubt your brightness
For you are blinding.”
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Cookie Dough Ice Cream
Sarah Ellen M
Senior
Helena High School
They stared at him. Of course by that age he’d gotten used to it. Sometimes they pointed or
laughed, but he ignored it. Aaron was his name. I wondered if I was the only one who remembered
mama saying staring was rude. Looking back now, I wish I would’ve said something. I always
thought about it, I just didn’t have much of a backbone then.
We officially met the day my friends and I were shopping at The Pier. The sun was beating
down intensely on my skin as we continued down the boardwalk. I decided to stop for some ice
cream and told them I’d catch up. The sweet aroma of the shop immediately hit me once I stepped
inside. To my surprise, a familiar face caught the door behind me. It was Aaron. Since we’d never
spoken to each other before, I gave him a small smile, which he returned. The line moved swiftly
and soon I’d gotten my cookie dough waffle cone. As I was about to leave, Aaron made eye contact
with me once again.
“K-Kate, right?”
I was taken aback by him speaking to me.
“Yes.” I simply responded.
“We g-get the same th-thing.”
I smiled.
“Well, it is great.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, Aaron’s arm unintentionally knocked the cone from my
fingers. I slightly gasped as the ice cream splattered on the tile floor.
“O-oh my gosh. I’m s-so sorry.”
“Oh no, that’s okay. Really, it’s fine.” I bent down and grabbed the cone to throw it away. I
wasn’t upset. He couldn’t help it.
“It’s my st-stupid tics. They g-get really bad when I-I’m nervous.”
My cheeks heated up at his confession.
“It’s okay.”
“Hold on.”
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I watched as he went up to the counter and purchased two more cones.
“You really didn’t have to do that.” I timidly took the ice cream from his slightly shaky hand.
“Yes, I-I did.”
“Well, thank you.” I smiled.
“How come we’ve n-never talked before?”
I shrugged at his question. “No idea.”
“You’re one of the o-only ones that d-doesn’t stare.”
“I have a family member with Tourettes, so I’m used to it. Plus, staring is rude.”
He smiled down at me. It was true. My aunt has been dealing with the disorder for as long as
I can remember. That’s why I always felt a little defensive when it came to Aaron even though we’d
never spoken.
He motioned towards one of the tables in the shop.
“C-care to join me?”
I nodded with a smile and sat down in the chair across from him. I caught a glimpse of an employee watching us, specifically the boy in front of me. Once again, I wanted to tell him to mind his
own, but I kept my mouth shut.
“So you’ve g-gone to Woodville your wh-whole life?”
“Yep, ever since kindergarten. You too, right?”
“Yeah. I’ve th-thought about homeschooling a c-couple times.”
I frowned. “Well, I’m glad you didn’t.”
Aaron smiled brightly. His eyes were so green. I caught myself staring for too long and looked
down at my ice cream. I’d never heard any girls talk about Aaron’s attractiveness. I knew exactly
why, and they were definitely overlooking him. As we continued talking, I realized just how much I
was intrigued by him. Hopefully he didn’t think I was eyeing his lips because of his stuttering.
The bell of the door opening snapped me out of my daze. I looked over my shoulder to see
my friends standing there.
“Kate, there you are! We weren’t sure where you…”
My closest friend, Rebecca, looked at Aaron. “...oh. Hi, Aaron.”
He lifted his hand and gave them all a small wave. Rebecca directed her eyes to me
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again. “Should we meet up with you later or…?”
I nervously smiled. “Um, no. I’ll come with you guys.”
I stood from my chair and looked at Aaron. “I’ll see you at school Monday.”
He nodded. “D-don’t be a stranger.”
I laughed and shook my head. “You either.”
I waved goodbye and exited the shop with my curious friends. They were shooting questions
at me left and right. As I opened my mouth to tell them to calm down, I heard my name shouted behind me. When I turned around, I saw Aaron jogging over to me.
“Yeah?”
“Do y-you think I could c-call you sometime? And we could d-do this again?” His eyes were
hopeful as the blush crept upon his cheeks. I don’t think I’d ever smiled so hard.
“I’d like that.” He handed me his cell phone for me to program my phone number into.
“Okay w-well, see you Monday.”
I watched as he walked down the pier. Rebecca then grabbed my arm.
“Can you please tell us what’s going on?!”
I couldn’t wipe the grin from my face. “Nothing, I just became friends with him.”
She studied my expression. “You like him.”
I bit my lip, trying not to give away my previous thoughts. It was no good though.
“Maybe a little.”
All of my friends squealed. I’m sure they were surprised, and maybe even thought I was crazy. I didn’t see what others did though. All I saw was a kind, outgoing guy that really liked cookie
dough ice cream. Nowadays, I also receive the stares when I hold Aaron’s hand in mine. I couldn’t
care less though. I’m beyond grateful for every part of him because without the Tourettes, he never
would’ve knocked that ice cream from my hand, and I may have missed out on meeting my person.
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Who Broke Newton’s Heart?
a concept by Houston B
Senior
Helena High School
The Principa by Sir Isaac Newton was published on July the 5th, 1687. The Universal Law of
Gravitation was presented in this work, stating that two bodies in the universe attract to each other
proportionally, affected by mass and distance.
This wonderful law of attraction! The principle that our very existence wants to pull closer to one
another, like the moon to the earth.
Then came the first law of motion, or the Law of Inertia, stating that a body in motion tends to stay
in motion, unless some form of external force is applied.
As if everything would float away if not for gravity. The moon would fly from the earth, if the force
of the earth was not great enough to keep it around.
Then came the second law, measuring acceleration and mass to find net force; how fast the body
is going, and the force applied to it. Like how the moon revolves around the earth continually,
seemingly creating an entire world, yet slowly moving further away.
Then came the final law of motion: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Almost
the “Golden Rule” of physics. For every action that occurs, it is returned equally as great, yet opposite; a rivaling antithesis of force. If the force of the moon finally pulled itself away and out of the
way of earth's gravitational force, would earth then plummet the opposite way, into the unknown
we simplify as a vast expanse?
Conclusions like this do not just arrive by gazing at stars, looking through telescopes, or formulating numbers. We can see it as it is, poured out onto paper, but what put the words in Newton’s
head? Something had gravitated into his life, something revolving… His world. And even though
he tried, no force he could exert was great enough to keep it from moving away. He watched it escape, measuring the increasing distance and the speed to which it was all falling apart, with an
equation formed in heartbreak. As his heart shattered with such a sever force, he plummeted
away, just as hard.
So, who was Newton’s moon?
Who broke his heart?
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Contagious Love
Keishace J
Freshman
Chelsea High
Spread love like a disease;
Spread love like a disease,
For love is what we need.
Which changes the life of those.
Going from person to person,
That affects the whole world,
But grows in one as a seed.
And brings many families close.
That’s so rare, there’s no cure.
That’s inevitable to stop.
That’s been absent for a long time,
A disease of love,
But now is finally here.
That no other can top.
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Photo By Rachel M
Senior
Chelsea High
Imprisoned by Opinions
Alonzo T
Senior
Calera High School
I’m imprisoned with the intention of not staying institutionalized,
But I thrive when others try to scrutinize
Leaving us all crucified.
Who will be there when the lights go out and your parody is done
All the secrets come out, but only in the morning sun.
Where will you run?
I had so much respect for you,
Until I lost it at war over my soul and sanity.
You know that naked blank in me
Almost had me pushing up daisies,
Because that is what I thought I was raised to be.
I had to wake up from that dark twisted fantasy
And realize that real lies will lead to our unfortunate demise.
I said I had to realize that real lies will lead to our unfortunate demise.
And know that this confliction is mixing with the pills and potions
That had us overdosing with no one knowing.
I mean you expect me to tell you the words you want to hear,
No fears, no tears, but compromise and complacency.
I don’t want that to be on the plate for me.
I don’t want to wonder why the caged bird sings.
It brings me back to dreams when that caged bird was me.
Vivid imagery that builds up in this industry,
I don’t want to be a memory.
I let opinions control my life,
Living in a world controlled by loaded dice.
Staying in poverty,
Letting that control me,
When all along I had the remote and key.
I just want to be free!
I’ve been searching high and low to be at peace with myself,
Still looking for peace within myself.
Developing this story that has now built,
So I let my hell drive my ambition,
Living in a land of no forgiveness,
A span of bad intentions.
Will someone see the difference?
I’ve compromised myself to fit the world’s description,
And still don’t fit its depiction.
I guess I’ll be imprisoned by Opinions.
83
The Fifth Season
Rachel W,
Senior
Helena High School
Who knew there were five seasons?
Answers
I didn’t until I met her
And she combined all four into one.
Anna T
Senior
Calera High School
She was sweater weather
With the heat of July.
She was an Easter basket
Under the Christmas tree.
I seek answers upon an unyielding sky,
a spotted sea of midnight blue.
Where only more questions can be seen,
so why then
are we enlightened by this merciless beauty?
She was hot cocoa
Mixed with sunscreen, not milk.
She was Halloween
With a Thanksgiving dinner.
She was blooming lilac
In the frost of December.
She was a marching band
On Valentine’s Day.
I’m starting to think
She’s the fifth season,
And it’s my new favorite.
Shall I make a wish upon a falling star,
when it will surely reach its death
in moments too few?
I find no answers when I tilt my eyes
up to the Heavens
but only a wish,
a drifting spot of light,
too soon gone.
A wish to be as great as what I see above me.
But my mind cannot grasp which I yearn to be,
for humans are cast
upon a downward eye,
in which one has no hope of fulfilling.
We are destined to fall,
just as the star we made a prayer upon just expired
moments before.
For it died a noble death that one can only hope to match.
Though I’ve come to find
as the star was soon forgotten,
We will be as well.
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Remembrance
Emily T
Everything is quiet
and hazy.
Hushed whispers permeate
the air as guarded
secrets are passed through
the warm darkness.
Sleepy words and
tired eyes are
Junior
Montevallo High
I want to hold on
to this feeling;
friends around me,
the soft patter of
rain on the bus roof,
the dim glow of
the orange streetlights.
all around.
Each group seems
to be its own little island;
allowing its inhabitants to
retreat into the
in between world
This is how I
imagine heaven.
New love, sleepy smiles,
and a comforting arm
around me.
that is the quiet hum
of turning wheels and
fleeting glimpses of
the outside world.
These seats hold
a kind of magic that
is impossible to match,
and I leave golden memories
I never want to
leave this place;
I feel warm, safe,
hanging from the
orange globes
that illuminate the highway.
and loved.
I know that this
Sometimes the quiet is
broken by a muffled giggle
or fragments of
conversation,
but the peace is
restored almost
instantly.
in between place,
this heaven,
won’t last forever.
But for now,
I close my eyes
and sink into the
hushed bliss.
85
For You
Julia G Sophomore
Chelsea High
You’re like a night sky in the city,
Overlooked and just known as pretty.
Covered by busy surroundings,
few know that you’re truly astounding.
For you, I’d become an astronomer
Photo By
Elyse B
Senior
Chelsea High
Just to study each inch, each kilometer.
You’re like a priceless masterpiece,
Only admired by the expertise.
Many years of creation,
yet only seconds of admiration.
For you, I’d become a patron of art
just to examine every piece, every part.
You’re like a piano piece,
listened to, but not critiqued.
Played by someone with no passion,
a small applause, small enthusiasm
For you, I’d become a pianist
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just to play your notes at their grandest.
Wet Paint
Shaton G
Senior
Helena High
When I saw
you
the sky was clear
and the ground was level
You smiled at me
like we were old friends
Your personality melted frozen
exterior and your
Inquisitiveness broke down my walls
Thumbs
Houston B
Senior
Sometimes I wonder what would happen if men
Chopped off their fingers 5 and 10?
During the summer
we sat on rooftops
and listened to music
No thumbs to suck
The air was
alive and so
were we
Or in the middle
When the heat
was unbearable
I explode from pressure
but we couldn't hit pressure points
You were within
the range of
fire
I told you I was
a brush stroke short
of a finished painting
Helena High
No thumbs to twiddle
No thumbs up or down
We could still count the months
and have tattoos on knuckles
to make someone's knee buckle
No thumbs for games
Or gouging out eyes
or biting the thumbs when saying goodbye
No easy way to press a button
That sends a missile to bomb our cousins
No cocking the hammer
You said not every
masterpiece reaches completion
or top secret prints
I told you I was
a handful
or giving out hints
You told me you
had two hands
Nah, because then I couldn’t have written this poem
When you wrapped
your arms around me,
I smelled wet paint.
no “move along pal”
So would it be good to cut off our thumbs and throw ‘em?
87
The Rose
Logan W
Senior
Chelsea High
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
But some would say when you’re older
Beauty comes from the sky above
Or some strange lust for love.
But why are we blind, why oh why
When looking through our own eyes
To see just what we have become
We have so much but see only some.
Only some of what we hold
This inner beauty of gold.
But very few reflect that precious ore
On the outside for us to adore.
So while my words string together
Like clothes hung out in the weather
With no grace, elegance, or class
If those dark days come to pass
Read my words not of prose
For you are a golden rose
Do not wish you were never born.
Do not be a rose without thorns.
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Photo By Gianna N
Senior
Chelsea High
Someday Soon
Emily T
Junior
Montevallo High
Someday soon I plan to finally do all of the
things that I’ve been saving for “tomorrow;”
all of the haphazard papers, unfolded laundry,
and cluttered shelves that have taken over my life.
I guess that I’m an overly sentimental sucker who
can’t get her life back into some semblance of order.
Half-read books, scattered receipts, ticket stubs, and photographs cover
every vaguely horizontal surface in my room.
My mother nags me about the mess, saying that it
looks as though a tornado has absolutely decimated my room.
And even though I know that her nagging is
well-intended, I can’t help but brush it aside.
Day after day the piles of laundry and dishes grow
until they seem to threaten reaching the ceiling.
The stack of books in the corner is tottering rather
dangerously, and the bed has remained unmade for weeks.
And you see, I would do it today, but since I
happen to be a slight bit busy
I’ll do it someday soon.
89
Growing Up
Antonio D
Junior
Calera High
When you start off as a kid
You have a big imagination
Doing things with reckless abandon
With no hesitation—
Looking Back Now
Kelli S
Senior
Montevallo High
Why? I ask myself.
You get in trouble and say
It’s your brother’s fault
Go in your room and cry
Wishing you were an adult
My mind overflows.
Thoughts, memories, possibilities
Crashing together.
Nothing making sense.
I’m close to the end, just can’t reach it.
Now you’re a teen
And you’ve gotten smarter
You also see for yourself
That things are harder
Homework, chores, and
You play a sport
Have to keep your rep up
So you won’t be a dork
Give up? Should I?
No!
Continue I must do.
It seems far, but I can make it through.
Obstacles? Yes,
But all I can do is continue.
Keeping the faith,
Being strong
AND courageous.
Eventually, I’ll get there.
Now you have a job and school
And now you see that being a teen
Couldn’t be as hard
As parenting could be
Tomorrow’s a new day.
Live like it’s the last.
As I think back,
I felt like I chose right.
Now you know that
It’s kind of tough
Don’t ever rush the process of
GROWING UP!
90
It got me here,
Where I am now,
And it was all worth it.
It may have hurt then,
But it made me stronger now.
Part Ⅱ The Found
Rachel M
Sophomore
Montevallo High School
There once was a family. A family that was lost.
A family that knew sadness, tragedy, anger, resentment and feeling alone.
The world had no color but grey.
Their tables were always filled with silence.
The children never played, never dreamed, and never hoped.
The sky was always weeping because this tragedy created
This great big crack in the wall that separated the entire family.
Until one day this great tragedy became their salvation.
A revelation hit the family; their smiles have finally returned.
There was finally a light at the end of the tunnel,
The dull and fragile rays of the moon that guided them in the dark,
Are now replaced with the bright and beautiful rays of the sun.
The world is filled with color, the trees and flowers are all vibrant
Greens, blues, pinks, reds, oranges, yellows, and the colors just keep coming.
The table is no longer silent, oh, no, not even a little bit.
The rooms are filled with the carols of each and every conversation.
Their smiles are as big as they could get. The children played, dreamed, and hoped.
Every hallway echoes with laughter.
And that great big crack in the wall was now so small, so closed up, that it was no longer there.
Yes, finally at long last, the lost became found.
91
Photo By Elyse B
92
Senior
Chelsea High
Reaching Elysium
James M
Far off the path you’ll find a gate.
It reaches high, its length is great.
It’s covered by a golden plate.
Its beauty knows no bound.
And past the gate there lies a trail.
Upon it falls a misty veil.
It twists and turns, its air is stale.
Its terror knows no bound.
And past the trail is fertile land.
Where trees grow tall, grow strong, and
grand.
The choir sings. You hear the band.
Its pleasures know no bound.
Yet tests are in this journey, vast.
Your heart is good. Your will stead-fast.
If they are failed, you’ll be outcast.
Be strong, and hold your ground.
Three men you’ll meet along your way:
The master, Watcher, Keeper say:
“Turn back, and from this place away.”
Be strong, and hold your ground.
Walk forward, do not hide!
The Keeper first appears.
“I am the Keeper of the Gate.
I guard this path. I stand and wait.
My stance is firm, and my arm is straight.
I will not flinch or bow.”
Senior
Chelsea High
Just whisper for his ears:
“Move back, O Keeper of the Gate,
Who guards this path, and stands and waits.
I’ve wandered long, and shan’t be late.
I’m passing through there now.”
He laughs and steps aside.
The Watcher then appears.
“I am the Watcher of the Trail.
My joints are sore, my bones are frail.
I’ve seen all creatures try and fail,
When sweat drips down their brow.”
“Be gone, O Watcher of the Trail
Whose joints are sore, whose bones are frail.
I will not listen to you wail,
I’m passing through here now.”
He nods and steps aside
The Master last appears.
“I am the Master of this Land.
My rule is firm, my breaths command.
I made this place with my own hand.
Pray, why should I share now?”
Forgive me Master of this Land,
Whose rule is firm, whose breath command.
Your Laws I follow, understand.
I will not stray, please know.”
He smiles, and steps aside.
93
Christmas Day
Georgia H
Sophomore
Montevallo High
Children cheering all day long
Happy parents singing songs
Ringing bells from Santa’s sleigh
Icy weather sure to stay
Sharing gifts and reading books
Telling all the children, “Look!”
Moving swiftly as a swan
All the reindeer flying as one
Songs and carols make Christmas fun!
For Her
Logan W
Senior
Chelsea High
I had a thought as the dewy grass awoke
I was pondering deeply as my mind spoke
Must poetry be made from tightly bound words?
Or can poetry be a bit more absurd?
Can eyes be poetry, I wondered with a yawn
Can eyes be poetry if they can outshine the dawn
And make the dusk feel inadequate
I kept this thought and I ran with it
Eyes so beautiful can only be
94
A special form of sweet poetry
Invisible
The Derby
Courtney M
10th Grade
Vincent High
Courtney M 10th Grade
Vincent High
The crowds walk through him.
The trumpet sounds.
They don't see him.
The gates are filled with nervous anticipation.
He's as solid as an animal,
Goggles go down and hands filled with hair.
Riders position themselves to launch forward.
The whinnies are loud and the tension is high.
The bells sound and they're off!
Hoofbeats pound the earth,
Yet as invisible as a ghost.
The laughter,
The socializing,
All is loud
Like thunder on a stormy day.
But none of which comes from him,
Mud goes flying,
Nor is it directed at him.
Worries left behind.
He tries so hard,
In the final stretch
He's so very desperate,
The winning prospects fly in the wind,
Yet no one cares.
Like birds soaring high over the wild meadows.
No one sees.
The official winner is determined,
And the crowd goes crazy.
The alpha horse prances by,
Soaked and panting with his pride in his gait.
The circle of victory is crowded by fans.
All is blind in his presence,
All is non-existent.
Or is he nonexistent?
He feels as though
The owners soaking up the glory,
He really is invisible.
Like a sponge in the open sea.
Marked with the "ignorance"
All the long hours,
With the "ugliness."
All the hard work,
He feels as though
Determined this final moment.
He really has nothing to offer.
The cameras stop flashing,
Nothing to improve society.
And the crowd settles down.
So as far as he walks,
The horses led away,
With the owners close behind.
The day is done
And the preparation starts all over.
The next race is soon to come,
And there is more work to be done.
And the distance he travels,
To find his cure.
There really is none.
The answer lies
With the very touch
Of a friendship.
95

2016 Journal of Literary Arts

Transcription

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