Wichita Northwest High School Ursus 1990: Around the World in One Hundred Sixteen Pages 120p by AJ Kirkpatrick

lN ONE p,

-d* il LID oz

>r.t

H 'I

3o cg

s -ae i tsii [-.4

1z \

5f fTT

t]t--. 1- / --

URSUS'90 A Literary Magazine Edited by Wichita High School Northwest's CreativeWriting Class Volume 72

URSUS STAFF JanetMcKinley Amy Parish Kristy Russell

JenniferBranine BenCalvert TeresaDotson Paul Froehlich

Stephanie Shay Ashley Skinner Angy Sunderman

TimGruver Annette Hageman Amy Haner

lillWashburn

TauniHickman

LisaWilson Anjie Zacharias

Donyalibril FACULTYAOVISOR Mrs. Patty Brant

COVERAND SECTION PAGES Mrs. Nan Hancock Wichita High School Northwest 1220 N. Tyler Road Wichita, Kansas 67212 DISCLAIMER The literary andartworl<s submittedto the 1990 URSUS are to tlufullest btowledge of the staff original k their conten! and design. If any works within this anthology are plagiarized, the staff dcnies lorowledge of thatfact and so funies responsibilityfor the act and its publication.

DEDICATION 1990 marks the 11th year that Northwest students have published the literary magazrne, [Jrsus. It has been a growing tradition andreflects the student body's genuine ability to create, design, and compose.

Throughout the past five years the ma gazine could not have e stablished the unique reputation it has acquired without the help and advisory of Patty Brant. This year is especially important because it is the last year Mrs. Brant will insffuct at Northwest. The Ursus staff would like to thank Mrs. Brant for all the help and inspiration she's given us while working on this ma gazine. She has given us encouragement that has lingered not only in our minds but within our hearts. We, the students, have made something to be proud of, the magazine Ursus, and we dedicate this book to her. Good luck Mrs. Brant and we love you!

On Wednesday, Octover 2, 1872, an English gentleman named Phileas Fogg made an incredible waggr: He declared he would travel around the world in only eighty days dr-forfeit his life savings.^Jules Verne's novel, Around the World in Eighty Daj,s, teIS of-the harrowing adventures of Fogg and his faithful valet Passepartout, as they circumnavigate the globe in a mad race against the clock. The novel has delighted readers for over one hundrd years.

The staff of URSUS 90 invites you to join us in our journey around the world. In the upcoming 116 pages, we'Il visit some of the same exotic lands in our search for adventure, wisdom, and romance. The price of your ticket is a mere $2.00, much less of a financial risk than Professor Fogg encountered, but we believe the literature found in the following pages will keep you entertained for months and years to come. The adventure awaits. . .

ffi<,"r ru/

rI o\ z

3o cg

t,l

7ttt fn

\ D

6) fn

Poetry Poetry It's just words Thoughts a:ranged, just right They can be about loving in the night Or Death, Or Fear, Or Anything. Just words of thought A most beautiful thing It's just poebry That's all

-John Epperson

URSUS.' Around the World in 116 Pages

ITINERARY Impressions . Samuel Wall

F irst Stop : Philadelphia

The City of Brotherly Love Best Friends . Angy

Sunderman

...............8

Friends . Stacey Jones ........... .....................9 Speaking Truth . Stacey Jones .......... ........9 Never Ending Friendship . Jason Stubbs..................... 10 The Neverending Friend . Kimberley Davenport ........12 Never Say Goodbye . Ashley Skinner ..........................12 Lost . Annette Hageman ...........................13 Gold Roses . Eugene Jones........... ............14 Pink Teddy Bears and Dr. Chris . Jennifer Goerke................................... 16

Second Stop: New York City The City of a Billion Faces Life Demands to be Lived . Heidi Turner ....................18 In Loving Memory . URSUS Staff ...............................18 To Eric Proffit . John Epperson .................................... l9

I Am . Tim

Gruver

...............19

Arlington Cemetery. Ki2............ ........-...20 The Beam of Youth . Amy Parish ................................21 What Happens to Memories? . Annette Hageman......21 Reflection . Kara Sterbens ........................21 Fetch the Cticking Mind. Kristi Butler .......................22 The World is for You . Tauni Hickman .......................23 Beauty. Whitney Dean............ .................23 Only God Knows. Brian Brooks .............24

Smith...........

Lies. Stacey .........................25 'f he Unfortunate Ones . Nancy Edwards ..................... 25 Mornin g Song . S teve Bergeson ................................... 25 Many Faces of Me . Melinda Dean...............................26 Gunshot. Mark ....................26 To Protect the Children . Ivlark Simpson....... ..............27 Sometimes . Donya .......29 The Gun. Kimberley ...........29 Yesterday Was Her Birthday . Jennifer Goerke .........30 Fate . Marjeanne ..........................31 Lessons From the Big C . Kyle Garlett ........................32 Living to Try. Cindy ................34 Remembering . Jennifer ..........34 ..........................34 She Walked . We're So Bad . .......................35

Simpson......

Jibril................... Davenport...

Vaughn

Donham Copeland Ki2............ Matty........

............

..........35 .............35 Always Love Me . Jennifer ..........36 Music of Goodbyes. Kiz ..............37 A Feeling. Tim ........37 The Drop . Beth ..........38 A Single Rosâ&#x201A;Ź . Jennifer ...............39 Something to Believe In' Ashley Skinner....................40 A Victim's Prayer . ....................40 White Horses. Tauni ................40 Gold. Beth ..............40

WAR. Kiz ..............

Goerke ........... Gruver Crenshaw............. Owens

Jennifer Hickman Crenshaw................. Nostalgia . Tim Gruver

........41

The Footsteps of Silence . Whitney Baker ...................41 .....,........42 Just Bounce Back. Tim Gruver. Powered by Determination . Ashley Skinner .............. 43 The Boy . Stacey Jones........... ..................M Good-bye . Krista Cozad ...................,......44 Suicide . John Epperson............... .............45 A Single Tear . Amy Wachholtz ................................... 46 The Wind . Michelle Baker.......... ............48

Memories. Phaedrous ....,....49 Free Trade: Our Most Precious Economic Freedom. John Deke. ..........50 Freedom: Our Most Precious Heritage. Trevin Wise ............ ..............51 Adolescence Is . Andrea Dir............... ......52

Third Stop: Paris The City of Love

ltineraryl cont'd.

URSUS

Forever . John Epperson............... ............62 ............62 The Last Dance. Tauni Hickman . ............63 Paul Froehlich You That Will Be the Day . Shannon Byrum.......................63

My Heart. Phaedrous Lost. Stacey Smith ..........

.........63 .........................64 Broken Hearts Can Always Mend . Krista Cozad ......65 ................65 That Night . Amy Parish ..............65 Love . Beth ..................65 Wondering. Shannon Goodbye Grandmother . Krisia Co2ad........................66 ..........,....67 I Lost You . Marjeanne .....................67 Thanks, Mom . Amy What Happened to Forever . Janet McKinley ............67 ...........68 Young World . Mark ..................69 Found. Whitney ...............69 Honesty . Whitney lllore Than They Know. Lisa Wilson .........................69 To thc Next Ansel Adams . Ki2....................................70 .....................70 The Voice . Janet ........................70 No.

.......... Crenshaw................. Byrum Vaughn Parish

Simpson...... Dean............ Dean............

McKinley SandraNeufcld..........

ourth Stop : Transylvania The Land of the Unknown

The Return. Angy Sunderman Please Help Us . Alexia Smith .......... Nasty Rumor . Paul Froehlich Blood on the Walls . Mari Ries..

Fly The Leper. Dcrin Dopps Child's PIay. Derin Dopps 18 and Life . John Van llamme Oblivion . J. A. Clarke What Evil Lurks.

Cass

................72 .......74 .................75 ..............'16

.....................78 .........................79 ......................80 ................82 .........84

The Land of Inspiration The Letter and The Cross . Annette Hageman............89 An Im portant Conversation . Whitney Dean .............. 90 The Boundaries of Your Love. Amanda Mead ..........91 ........................92 My Prayer Krista Cozzd The Other Side . Michelle Stephenson .........................92

Hageman

Gift.

Harry/

..................93

Haroldy

Children Inside .Joy Griffittr The World Through Children's Eyes

......................94 ...................95

. Tamiko Jones........... ........95 Should Have Been Me. Angy Sunderman............,.....96 .....................97 To Cassie. Janet McKinley ...................98 Why?. Whitney Dean............

Sunderman.. Mead........... Platinum I Wish . H. K. Rhoades....... Thank You . Amy Parish ......... God's Perfect Beauty . Joy Griffith Nothing'Janet McKinley ............. Sometimes. Tauni Hickman......

The Star. Angy Tonight . Amanda At This Age .

....................99 .............100 ......100 ....................100 ..............100 .......

l0l

..........102 .............102

Last Stop: Smileyville, KS The Land of Laughter Cute Little Kitten . Paul Froehlich ............................. I M ............105 Cookie Monster . Craig Hanson ...................106 Smile . Jennifer Goerke........ ....106 Laugh . Jennifer Goerke

Cinquain . Ashley

Fifth Stop: The Holy Land

The Book. Annette

God's

Skinner

.....................106 Easy Rider, The Accountant . Justin Clements.........108 Love's Labours Regained . Stephen Hutchins ........... 1l I ........... I 12 Allen's Pen . Donya .........112 School, School . Angy HeII Week. Amy Parish ...............112 Romeo and Juliet (Condensed) . Platinum ................ 113

Jibril............ Sunderman ..........

t$r l-r

1**

|*; ;,!.d,$'s

."p, r f

Photo by TyshaGarrison

Best Friends A best friend is for more than looking at or talking about.

A best friend is for looking up to and talking to, and in return doesn't care about

how you look or what you wear, they care about what's on the inside. Best friends don't compete with personalities, they have a respect for each othe that can't be put into words, And a love that is out of this world.

-Angy Sunderman

Friends Friends are the people That come one of a kind. But you haven't seen the best Till you'vee taken a look at mine.

They will stand beside you Through good times and bad. They will share with you the laughter And help you through the sad.

You can confide in them When you need someone to help to. They will listen When you need someone to talk to.

Speaking Truth We were the kind of friends Who were always seen side by side. But by the laws of friendship We did not abide. Our friendship was based on trust But it seemed there were many lies. And when it becomes cursed with this One heart always dies. -Stacey Jones

In the best friends that I have now I know one thing to be true. That through the rest of my life I won't find a better two!! -Stacey Jones

Photo by Dawn Orr

Never Ending Friendship by Jason Stubbs

It all started on the last day of September, 1987.

Our basketball team, the Rushman Panthers, had just started their season. Rushman was a high school in a suburb just outside of New York City. We had a 2-0 record, and I was playing my bestbasketball ever. I was the third leading scorer on the team, averaging 15 poins per game. My best friend, Steven, was the best player on the team. He was the spirit of our team and kept us on our toes every game. That is why when he died, our basketball team emotionally collapsed. Steven hadgone to NewYorkCity for theday to visit his dad. He has his own car, so he could drive himself to see his dad whenever he wanted. It was cold outside, and with him gone visiting his dad, there was nothing to

do. I was lying in my bed and looking at last year's Rushman High School yearbook. Last year Steven and I played on the j unior varsity basketball team . We had great times in practice and at games. We had nicknames for every person on the team. I was Pee-Wee because I was the shortestperson on the team at5'3". I hadreal thin hair which made me look even shorter. Steven's nickname was Skeeter. I have no idea why we called him that. I guess it is just because he didn"t have any unusual features about him. He was regular height for a boy of 1 7, and he had short feathered hair. This year we play on the varsity team. I wanted to find something that I could do. I didn'thave acar, soI couldn'tgo outandfindsomeof my friends. It looked like I was shrck at home doing nothing for the night. So,I decided just o go to sleep. I really did need some sleep before the game tomorrow. I had been sleeping for about two hours when the doorbell rang and woke me up. My mom answered iL It sounded like Steven's mom, and she was crying. Slowly getting out of bed,I got up and walked downstairs to see what was wrong. It was her, and she was crying. I asked prrzztedly, "What iS wrong?" My mom said, "There was abad car wreck on the interstate, and Steven was killed in it!" All I could do was stand there. My stomach had dropped, and my ttroat felt dry. My eyes started swelling with tears. I was so upset; I wanted to hit someone. I ran out the door and down the street. I ran until I almost passed out. I lay down on a bus stop bench and cried so hard it hurt. After a while, my mom came and picked me up. S he took me home, and we talked it over. The next moming, I remembered I had a basketball game. I didn' t care if it was one of the most important games of the season. I wasn't going. I lay around the

house all day andjust thought about Steven's death. The next day , I found out that we got slaughtered by the Florishman Wildcats. Steven's death obviously affected everyone on the team. Nobody had their mind on the game. They couldn't concentrate. This went on for several more weeks . Our record fell to 2-3. We had three straight losses. Something had to be done. Our coach called a meeting two days after Steven's funeral. The day of the meeting, I could see everyone was feeling a little better, except for me. We met at the school gymnasium. Everybody was there. Coach

walked in with a Bible. He said, "[ lsrow this has hurt everyone; the players, the team, the school, and me. B ut, we have to keep our heads up and play our besL Steven would want us to. I know that for a fact. From here on this season is dedicated to him; and before every game, we will say a prayer for him. We can still win, but it will take a lot of effort So, let's go out there next Thursday and win it for Skeeter!" On Thursday, we were pumped up. The coach's speech hadinspired everyone. We were unstoppable. We won by 21 points. It was our best game ever. Now, the responsibility was on me to lead the team. I had a season high of 25 points. The team wore black arm bands to show that we were thinking of Steven. The school's spirit had never been higher. We didn't lose any g,rmes the rest of the season. Our final record was I 1-3. The team was playing so good we were in the sate burnament. Ourfirstgamewasagainstthe Mason Red Devils. A team expected o do well in the tournament. We came onto the court with our heads up ready to fight, and left that way when we beat them 65-54. We didn't play as well as we had been, but it was good enough for the big win. The second team we played was notexpected to even make it to the state tournament. They got a bye in the first round, so we were very confi dent we would win. We were starting to let up, as our confidence almost got us in trouble. But, we pulled out a victory in the last seconds, 7 4-7 0. The lockerroom was wildafterthe game. Wewere

in the state finals We were there. As we walked into the big arena,

I could feel tingles go up my spine.

"This is my chance." I whispered. "I'm the I'm gonna do it for us, Steven."

leader now, and

Steven wasn't there, but I knew he could hear me. I found out we were playing the Roosevelt Buffaloes, the team that won the tournament last year. Itwas time, the game was about to start. We were

ll Never Ending Friendshipl cont'd.

underdogs, but that didn' t matter to us. The game started. We were behind by 7 poins three minutes before halftime. We stayed with them to settle fora halftime score of 3832. Now the second half was underway. We were still plalying them close. As the end started coming closer I felt tense. We were down to one minute left in the game. The score was 65 -63, their lead. They threw the ball in and started to waste time. The clock was down to 30 seconds and the guard started to drive with the ball. B ut number I 0, Chris, came in and sole I ran down court. He saw me and passed it. There was 1 5 seconds left. I stepped behind the three point line and stpped. I quickly put up a shot as I was falling backwards. Everybody watched it like it was slow motion. It was the deciding shot of the game. There was only 3 seconds left. It rolled around the rim then fell in. We won! The crowd roared. Upset was in the air. As the shot went in,I knelt down, pointed to the sky, and said, "You will always be with me."

Photo

'i*'T-

-?.-,,

]

\ ;ril

*'{ I

,L*

,fl

*9.;"_"

8;1,".

Dy Ross

Boehringer

the neverending friend who is there beside you when everything's gone bad and who is there to hold your hand when you feel the world's gone mad

that empty spot beside me is always faithfully full you're there by my side comforting me, the fool

if i had to live without you and fly alone tonight would be broken and soar the single flight n-ry heart

but that will never happen you'll be here to the end as i reach out to you my neverending friend

-Kimberley Davenport

Never Say Goodbye When leaving someone dear to you Rember who they are. Carve their memories in your heart And cast remorse afar. When you've shared the days of laughter And faced the nights of sorrow, When in the morning after you faced a bright tomorrow. Side by side you'll always stand Spirits flying high. As long as they are in your heart You'll never say goodbye.

-Ashley Skinner

Lost

So many times

I could

I wish

see you.

So many times I cry out your name. I lie awake at night

staring into your gentle eyes that stare back into my mind's eye.

I keep wishing, keep hoping, keep dreaming, that some day we'llmeet again.

I sometimes wonder what it'd be like if you returned. What would we do? Or, what would we say? Where would we go? Would your gentle eyes stare into mine? Or would we feel uncomfortable in each other's presence? Would it be the siune, Of'

would it be different? They used to tell me that once you left home you could never come back.

But if that is so . . . where are you now? where is your home? do you have one? Or, is it still possible, that in the golden days of youthHome is home, and that my dear brotheris where the heart is.

-Annette Hageman

Gold Roses by Eugene Jones

The gold earrings were implanted in Nicole's fallen in love with them at frst sight. They were hanging on a crowded rack toward the back of the small boutique. The strong lights shone brightly and topforty music blared through the store. Nicole's best friend since fifttr grade also admired the delicate earrings and examined them with her stormy blue eyes. Nicole had

mind.

he had

moved on to the next rack, thinking no more of the earrings. The nvo friends were justpassing time, waiting for Brittany's busy mother to pick them up from the mall on the way to another of her endless parties. After they left the store, Brittany pulled the shiny roses of gold from her

jean pocket and bragged, "Look what I prel.ty?"

got! Aren't they

Brittany to do anything like this before. She whispered,

"Did you steal those?" Britlany didn't even slow

her

confidcnt stride. warned, "Sure.

It's no big

deal."

"But, why? You have enough money to buy them right in your purse. You don't need to shopliftyour mom buys you everything you want!" "She does noL I don't get anything I want. Besides, it's more fun this way." Nicole couldn't believe it. Throughout their friendship, Nicole had always been slightly jealous of Brinany's wavy, almost-black hair that cascaded down herback, her tall, slender frame, heralways stylish clothes, but most of all, the money herparens had and were more than happy to shower on their beloved only child. Nicole always felt a small doubt about why Brittany wanted to be

friends with her, an ordinary fifteen-year-old in every She was just glad she did.

way.

"I don' tbelieve you. You act as if itis no big deal ! What would have happened if you had got caught? And even though you didn't, stealing is wrong." Both friends were taken aback. Whatever Brittany did, Nicole was supposed to accept it and imitate it. It was just the way it was, the was it had always been. "Look," Brittany retorted, "I don'[ know what your problem is. Just drop it, OK?"

"No,

can't just drop

it.

she could do anything as wrong as stealing.

A few people from the crowds jostling through the mall stared to find out what the obvious disagreement

benveen the girls was about, but, on the whole, most people seemed not to notice. Nicole suddenly had a strong desire to be home, in her own room, where she could sort things out. She glanced at her small, black watch which had been one of her main Christmas presents. It was 5:20. Brittany's mother would be here in about ten minutes.

Nicole sensed thu Brittany felt as

Nicole was stunned. She had never known

"Shhh!" Briuany

now seemed trivial. They had never talked about true feelings, values, things vital to a relationship. Even though sometimes Brinany didn't appreciate what she had and gotall wound up in herself, Nicole could not imagine

We have a basic

difference between us. Listen to yourself." Nicole felt as ttrough she didn't even know the girl walking with her. Thinking about it now, the years of their friendship seemed filled with trips to the mall, movies seen together, shared rides to school, and endless hours ofgossiping on the phone about the latest happenings. They had shared so much, yet so little. Those things

she was

losing control of the situation. She felt threatened by Nicole's shocking independence from her. She offered, "Look, Nicole, let's just forget it. I'll buy you a coke and we can wait outside for my mom." Nicole reluctantly followed, saying nothing. As the girls walked outside [o waiton the benches, the tension in the air was impossible to ignore. Nicole could not help but think that the windy, late-February evening captured the mood of the day. She wrapped her dependable, worn coat around her to shield her from the wind" Brittany again attempted to break the uncomfortable silence. "Do you wantto come over? We couldwarch movies. Maybe you could spend the night." Nicole replied formally, " No. I think I d rather go on home." Nicole didn'tknow what she was feeling. She couldn'tbe friends with someone like this. A short honk rang through the air. The girls looked up to see the newly polished white BMW waiting. Nicole climbed into the back seat, while Brittany hunied to sit beside her mother. Brittany's mother practically shouted, " Hurry up, girls. I'm already late for the Gordon's party. Brittany, I told you not to wear that sweater; you look like a bum." Nicole glanced at the month-old rosecolored sweater. It was nicer than any sweater Nicole owned. "Oh, and Brit " her mother continued, " your father and I won't be home tonight until very late, but the maid will be there. I'll leavea blank check so you,can order in whatever you want." Brittanyjust nodded her head, not looking very thrilled to be facing a long night at home alone. Suddenly, a new thought hit Nicole. Maybe Briuany only stole those earrings to get attention. Her mom and dadbought her anything and everything, but that was a small consolation for not spending time with her and showing her they loved her. Nicole was actually feeling

l5 Gold Rosesl cont'd. for Brittany. Nicole's family was sometimes pinched for money,but herparents spentas much time as possible with herand her two youngerbrothers. Nicolerealized she was

lucky to have the family she did. "Do I need to drop you by home, Nicole?" Briuany's mother inquired. "Yes. Um, Britrany, do you want to come over?" "Sure," Brittany actually grateful. As the two friends saton Nicole's bed, playing a card game, Brittany softly declared, "Nicole, I'm so sorry. S orry for what I did, and for how I treated you. It's just that sometimes I feel like you're so lucky, and I getjealous of you. I knew how much you liked the earrings, and it made me want them. Here, they'll look beautiful on you." "I'm sorry this whole day happened. Thanks. Our friendship is going to have to change, but I hope it will make it stronger." The two best friends embraced and felt for the fust time thu they were truly getting to know each other.

Photo by Tauni Hickman

Pink Teddy Bears and f)r. Chris by

Jennifer Goerke

Unpredictable! In one word, that is how I would describe Chris; not unpredictable in a bad way, in a fun way. I never know what mischief lies behind his playful green eyes; life wirh him is alwavs filled with surprises. The very frst day I met Chris, approximately five months ago, I knew that we would become good friends, Chris just has that type of personality. He never fails to make me laugh and I know thathe will always be there when I need him. A few days ago when I broke up with my boyfriend, Chris picked me up for school blaring ..Don't Worry Be Happy", a song carefully selected from his wide array of tapes, over his car stereo, and I found a large pink teddy bear tucked away in my seat. He looked at me and said,"I'm sorry Jen, I know that it hurts," He would not have had to say anything at all-I instantly felt better. I don't know anyone else who would do the things that Chris does for me. How many people do you know that would wet down their hair before coming over, just because you washed yours and you are concerned that you look weird? Or how about stopping the car in the middle of the road to help you put on the seat belt that you know

secretly hates your guts? I've leamed toread Chris' eyes. I know when he is going oo do something silly. Hegetsrhis look in hiseyes, like when a little kid has jusr devised a plan to talk Mom into one last cookie before supper. One day when we were shopping together at the mall, Chris stopped at a booth in

the middle and picked up a paper doctor,s hat that a lady was handing out as an advertisement. He put it on and

continued strolling through the mall like he hadn,t done anything. His friend Vic and I started laughing until we were in tears.Chris just continued walking along with this contented look on his face. Chris' moods are easy !o read; all you have to do is listen to what type of music he is listening to. If he is

listening to slow songs, he is sad, and if he is listening to heavy metal, he is in a party mood. He has a collection of tapes to fit almost any occassion. The stereo he bought with his first paycheck is his most-prized possession. Chris strives to be a perfectionist. When he hung

the posters up in his room, he got out a ruler and a protractor to make sure that they were hung at the same angle, and he won't settle foranything but A's on his grade card.

Chris gets pleasure from the happiness of those does goofy things like dancing his way through a meal in a restaurant or hauling out his little sister's games and saying, "Hey Jen, how about a game of Old Maid?",justbecause heknows that he will make those around him happy. Chris and I share a special closeness that I have never felt with any other person. In seven short months, he hasbecometheclosestand mostcherished friend I have around

him. He

ever had.

Photo by Tauni Hickman

s "i''O

Xr-,o -x.

ln=-

'-S\S--S-S.r=-=

.+----Z\ -_F t

---------/---\ -..---..--_._

/r' \\N

\rT

.,(VAT

ttlife

Demands To Be Lived" -H.L. Mengkin

Yes, life does demand to be lived. If one doesn't live life to the fullest, the opportunities of life will pass one by. Life isn't all books and learning. Life is doing; running and laughing in a game of tag, dancing, walking down the beach at sunset, or just talking and being with friends. Life is feeling, joy at a new baby's birth, the confusion of being a teenager, the sadness that comes with illness and death. Life is experimenting, riding a roller coaster when one has never had the courage before, talking to new people, seeing new things. If one does not live life to the fullest: doing, feeling and experimenting, one will be left out of all the wonderful things life has to offer, wondering, where did it all go?

-Heidi Turner

Dedicated to the memory of Patrick DeBolt

In Loving Memory We put my friend to rest today He finally lost the race. There'll never be another one To take his special Place. A month has passed yet still I see His face and steady eYes. They look at me with symPathY And love that never dies. He comes to me in all mY dreams I feel him wherever I am.

Then I bnace myself and realize That he won't return again. It's especially hard when evening comes And the teardroPs want to fall. He's not there among the rest Whenever I want to call. I think I hear him at the door Or talking near to me. I hope he knows that he's still here In loving memory. - the URSUS Staff

To Eric Proffit Somebody died today Somebody died yesterday Somebody loved someone Now that someone has gone away

Everybody shed a tear Who we lost was very dear Everybody feel the pain Somebody special died today

Will

the pain go away

I remember yesterday I remember all the good times we had Now that person's gone and my heart has gone mad Somebody died today Somebody died yesterday Everybody push back the pain Cause somebody's gonna die tomorrow

-John Epperson

I Am... ...A person who enjoys the wind, hates the rain, loves a rose (and ponders the meaning of the thorn). Thinks of God and the world. Has a heart, but thinks of himself first. Dreams of her, Money, Riches; the future... ...Hates too much wind, loves the pitter of rain when it's sunny, and loves a thorn (while pondering the meaning of the rose).

-Tim Gruver

Photo by Kim Schrag

Arlington Cemetery As I walk down the aisle, all I see is continuous rows and rows of these symbolic white markers The wet, green grass squishes beneath

my feet. Squish Squish Even though it is a beautiful day; sun shining,breeze gently blowing, all I see is the frightened look in a young man's eyes and all I hear is the sound of gunshots and of brothers killing brothers.

All I

see is the sun glaring

cold, anonymous white graves.

"War is hell" Photo by Tauni Hickman

-Kiz

off

The Beam of Youth As I prepare to perform on the beam of youth I go over in my mind the routine First I must mount on one end of the beam If I stay on remains to be seen I start my routine with a whirl and a turn And as the years go by I begin to learn I'm alone on this walk to the end of the beam To the comforts of childhood I cannot retum On my parents I can no longer lean I'm frightened and scared, not sure what comes next If only I knew that somebody cared Or could see that I'm trying my best Then I feel more secure I haven't fallen yet So I take a big step and I go for a flip But my footing is wrong and I feel myself slip But I fight to stay on and I regain my step Then I look to the right and my parents are there Willing me to stay on I see love in their eyes, I reahze they care I continue to leap on Then I look again and my parents are gone I've reached the end of the beam It's time to dismount, see what life's all about To exit the years of my teens I vault off the end I land on the floor judges The have given me a ten I stayed on the beam Adulthood's next door And an:;t::;:H'begin

What Happens to Memories? In death you remain alive in my mind. When everyone else has forgotten, I will remember and you will remain alive. But what happens dear,

when I die and

live in someone else's mind...

Where will you go?

-Annette Hageman

Reflection You look in the glossy glass and see a nonspeaking self. If you move your hand, the reflection will also. For every action that you carry out it will also, simultaniously, but when you move away to any other place you lose your reflection. So when you stand in front of me remember that I don't know what you are thinking and don't follow every movement that you think ought to be followed, for I am not a reflection of you, I'm my own.

-Kara Sterbens

Fetch the Clicking Mind by Kristi Butler That day, the last time I played ferch the little,

bitty ball, was the last day I'd seen him. Some man with a

lot of cameras was taking pictures that day and asked us

for our picture. He posed holding our ball and called me over to pose as well. Neither one of us smiled. We weren' t particularly happy to have a bright flash go off in our face. He wanted the picture man to hurry, and so did He wanted to get back to playing the game and. . .so did I. I

was tired by then, but when the picture was over, I continued !o play the game, only cause he wanted me to. I looked up to him. We did everything together. Each day we'dpay ributeto theplace wherewe metby playing the game in thatvery spot, evenif the sundidbeatdown on us and make him darker. He looked up to herand thoseclickingheels that traveled our sidewalk every night. I wanted to be just like him and he wanted to be just like her. . . The day of the picture was the day we were separated. If the ball hadn't, rolled so far down the sidewalk and if I hadn't taken so long to get it because I was tired, then it wouldn't have happened. When I reached our spot" he wils gone. He was nowhere in sight. Running to the house, I felt that whoever was inside wasn't about to let me in. I knew he wasn't. insidebecause itwas nearly darkand he wasn'tallowed in when it was dark. All I could do was wait. And wait I did. For twenry of his years, I waited. Shuffling as only an old, withered one can, I am in search now of my long, lost friend. Gossiping whispers have told of his destination, so I travel this road which two feet have previously travelled and four more follow closely behind to greet a long awaited reunion. Thirst nor sleep nor hunger can detour myjourney. The gain ofsuch things would only prolong my fastpaced death andallow me to lose tract of the pittering, pattering sound of his clicking steps. A bleak aroma which only one person can carry, I smell the presence that years have not altered. Yes, this was the right road to take. Gossip, you have proven your honesty in a time of agony. Now, I'll prove my admiration, as he proved his o her. Close enough now to behold him from across the road, my friend has changed. Staying close behind the bushes, I keep him in sight as I keep pace with him on the dusty ground. Still,I am able to understand his thoughts. His big, brown, round eyes sagging, drained of sleep. Heavy, plump, round bags extend far below the

darkened bottom

lid.

One false touch would burst this as he walks, the slow pitter-pat-pat-pitter describes no particular destination. He shuffles his feet to an unrhymedbeaton dusty ground. Victorious coughs accompany the shuffling as a wish for

fluid-filled skin. Dragging his feet

death. His body stoops over closer to the ground for the successful inhalation of each dust molecule, pretending his lifeJong belongings carried over his shoulder are the reason for his broken, bent figure. A car passes by on the solemn highway. Raising his hand with thumb halfflicked in the hitcher's pose, he hears the dragging sound of aloosemuffleras the carbegins to speed away from the disgusting sight of him. He remembers. He remembers well the clicking sound when he was young. He coughs more and more as his shuffling feet pick up speed and flying dust. He tries to run away from his past, but his mind will not let him forget the clicking. The speed and beu of his untamed feet and the clicking of the past seem same. As one slows, the other slows, but if one should quicken, the other would accompany it. Life has been only twenty-six years, but the physical world had betrayed him by adding forty more. His past is the cause for his mental state. His mental state is the cause for his physical. Clicking and more clicking ramble in his mind. He is stopped by theglare of the sun on an aluminum can. The flash is the flash of a camera, thoughts of his picture. At ten, he and Springer were models like his mom...... as one and the

Why did they stop me to take a picture. My doggy doesn't like pictures. I guess I don't either. We were in the middle of playing. We play fetch the little,

ba[. Springer's good at that game and so am I. I hardly ever have to fetch it, though. Springer usually does it on his own. When I found him he was alone on this very sidewalk, in this very place. A real dark dog, he is. He's

bitry

darker than me. "Little dark boy,

I always get called darky around here. darky!" Springer really is darker than

me, but they never call me names now since my doggy and me are always playing fetch the little, bitty ball. All they do is ake pictures of me and my dog. I don't know why!

Every day they stop to ask

they can take a picture.

Sometimes they even want to know where my mama is. All I can say is, "I don' I know." She's hardly ever around. Every night when it's dark, she pushes me out onto the sidewalk and says "Go play with Springer. I'll be back later on." Then we hear the clicking of her shoes down the sidewalk. Springer and me sit out on the sidewalk by the fence until the sun comes up. We know then thu she'll be home cause we can hear the clicking again and we know it's mama's shoes. When she opens the gate, sometimes she says go play. I hardly ever get to go in. She always has green paper in her hands when the sun comes up and when she opens the gate. But, she still won't let me and Springer go in and sometimes she'll go in and come right back out without the green paper and her shoes still clicking. Someone yells at her. She yells at me

Fetch the Clicking Minill

cont'd.

and I end up yelling at Springer. He just growls and barks back. I tell him I'm sorry cause I don'tknow why I yelled

at my doggie. I think my mom is a model. I think the picture people think I'm a model too. They are always taking my picnrre. Sometimes, I try to make my shoes click so I can walk down the sidewalk like mama does at night, but when this picture's over, I'll justplay fetch the little, biuy ball with Springer and maybe when we hear the clicking we'll get to go in today. . . . . .The flashing glare makes him jump backwards as t}re memory fades. His body crashes onto his back and the contents of his bag scatter 0o provide only a cracked mirror which reflects his swollen face. Mascara and dried eyeliner sreak his face. His lipstick is unlined and fading. He is a model like his mother. . .He picks up the contents of the bag and swings it over his shoulder. He walks as his feet dig into the ground. He'll find work, somewhere, and he'll bring home green paper, like his mother. Now that I've seen him, I'll go back to our sidewalk and wait until I hear the clicking of his shoes. And maybe when the sun comes up, we'll both go in. And one day I'll be like him.

The World is for You Don't cry about yesterday, It's over aud gone. Don't u,otry about tomorrow, It has yet to happen. Live for today, Dream for tomorrow, Learn from yesterday, The world is for you to change. Drink to today, Toast tomorrow, Forget the pain of yesterday, The world is for you to change.

-Tauni I{ickman

Beauty Beauty is... recognized by the heart remembered by the mind locked in the subconscience present in the conscience known by the soul sought by the seeking found by the living remaining after death moving in the wind resting on the earth swiming in the waters here from the begining

living never ending created by our creator cherished by a loving heart

-Whitney Dean

Only God Knows by

Brian Brooks

Trees sped past the car window as Phes read his book. Every few pages Phes would look up from his book to see they were getting closer. His brother, Tim, was sitting next to him. Slowly Tim awoke from his nap and looked out the window. Their mom was watching the scenery out the window and their dad was quietly getting them there.

Tim constantly stuck his finger over the imaginary line across the middle of the car. Phes finally swatted at him and Tim stopped. Tim asked asked for water and his Mom gave him the thermos. After three cups Tim politely gave her back the water. She put it down, picked

a Reader s' Di ge st and began to read. Phes went back to rcading and Tim pulled out his walkman. The car pulled off the interstate and into the Exxon station. Tim jumped out as fast as he could and bought some candy. Their dad gave Phes his Exxon card and told him to charge it at the counter. Phes walked up and charged it as Tim came running out of the mini-mart with his hands full of candy. When Phes was donecharging the gas hebought a couple of Cokes at the machine. As everyone gotback in the car, Phes gave his dad back ttre card. When they were getting back on the interstate Phes noticed a sign that said,'T-ewisville 30 miles." Phes, relieved that they were almost there, was still mad that he had to move back to his home town. He didn't mind moving all the other times, except when he moved from Texas to Maryland. Moving back to Texas, to the same town, he didn't like. Thinking about it, Phes fell asleep against the window. "Phes," his mom's voice said soothingly, "we're here." Phes looked up at his new house. It looked exactly the way he remembered it three years previously. When he stepped out ofthe car, he looked across the street to the empty lot where he and his friends used to play soccer when he was ten. He looked back at the house and remembered how ugly he thought it was when he was little. It wasn't so bad now. In fact, it looked pretty good. He had never seen the inside, and was impressed.

He was disappointed with the small bedroom, but his parents had bought him a waterbed to make up for it. While his parents measured the windows for shades, Phes looked around the house a few more times. After a while he decided to kick around his soccer ball in the backyard with his brother. Tim insisted he could beat Phes in a game ofone-on-one soccer, even afterPhes had beat him eleven to one.

"Come on Phes, you know if I didn't have this

sore foot

I'd crush you," Tim said faking a limp. "You didn't have that limp when we started,"

Phes replied, tying his shoes.

"I could

beat you with the limp." Phes replied. "I'll even spot you five points, and we'll play to six." Tim accepted the challenge and Phes easily tied the game. Tim started to fake the limp again, but he kept playing. The next play Tim luckily kicked the ball over Phes's head at half field, and scored. "I win! I win!" he exclaimed, but Phes quickly reminded him that he had to win by two. Tim went back to his goal as Phes started the nextplay. Showing off, Phes dribbled down thebackyard doing unnecessary little tricks. As hecocked hisrightlegbacktokick theball, his leftleg caught. itself on a fallen branch. Simultaneously a metal stake popped up from the ground, and Phes fell face first onto it. The stake's tip went through his left eye, and speared his brain. A flash of while lightbunt through the darkness. Phes felt nothingness around him, then he saw his brother leaning over him. He saw the stake in his eye, and flinched at the sight. Tim looked up and Phes saw the tears on his face. Suddenly, he was aware of all the screaming his brother was doing. His mom ran out, screaming, and burst into tears. Phes then felt a magnetic-like pull on him. He turned around to see a great line of people. He couldn' t see the end, but people kept arriving and getting in line. As he stepped in line he noticed mostof thepeoplewere looking around in bewilderment. After what seemed an eternity he saw the end of the line was coming closer. He saw a telephone booth, and one after another, people got inside. A penon standing beside the telephone booth pulled a lever and the inside of the booth would flash red or white, then the person would be gone. One after another, people kept getting in. As the line shortened Phes was suddenly very scared, would he go to Heaven or Hell? The person in front of him stepped in the booth and the light flashed red...Hell. The man with the lever pushed the buton on the top of it and looked at Phes. "What questions do you have?" he asked. Phes was surprised by the question and stepped back a little. "It's OK," the man said. "We do this with

"OK,"

everyone."

"You didn't do it with the last ten people," Phes replied. "Yes I did. This button stops time for everyone exceptus." The man then pointed to the button on top of the lever.

Ottly God Knowsl cont'd. "Oh. Then, will I go ro Heaven or Hell?" "Not my decision. Only God knows." "Then just, let me go. I have no more questions." The man pushed the button again and Phes stepped into the

phone booth. The man pulled rhe lever and the light flashed.

A siren hlled the air with unnecessary noise. Surprised, Phes tried to open his eyes to see where he was, but his eyes wouldn't obey the order. "Help," he tried to cry, but it came out,"Mmmm.,, "We've got something," a woman's voice said when she heard the noise Phes made. He then felt six hands all over him. "Help," he tried to scream again, but iL came out, "Mmmm." He felt a cup cover his face, and then the silence f,rlled the air again.

Lies IfU be O.K. Everything will be fine. These words echo in my mind As I plod along in life. I know they were meant to help, But really, they hurt. The pain they brought was more Than any one person Should have to bear alone. Alone. Alone is how I felt. It's how I still feel. Because it wasn't O.K. It didn't turn out fine. And I am left to pick up the pieces Of a well intended lie. -Stacy Smith

The Unfortunate Ones 'flre bruises of black and blLre Covering the fragile bodics Of little children Is a reality Wished untrue. Unwillingly, children are being kept With a deep dark secret They fear to unhide. These children of innocense Hirve done nothing wrong. By fear and by force Nobody knew. They lived a nightmare Unable to forget FOREVER -Nancy Edwards

Morning Song the sound of the animals awaking to the new dawn filled the jungle air as the sunlight broke

through the densetreetops + as rhe mist began

off the ground i could hear the sound of

tolift

birds singing their morning song, and the smell of fresh earth filled my lungs + the jungle seemed peaceful, almost majistic as the sun began it's daily run across the sky + then, in the distance, there was acother sound, the sound of machines + they came to wreak havoc on this sacred ground and the animals that inhabit it + left in their wake was a wasteland beyond my imagination + and now, as i stand amid destruction, all is quiet + there is no life, where it once fluorished, the peacefullness is gone and the birds no longer sing their morning song + +Steve Bergeson

Many Faces of Me There are many faces, That all can see; They all make up parts, Of only one me. One is cynical, And shows it all the time; It can appear suddenly, On the turn of a dime.

Another is happy, And silly soon follows; They avoid sadness, Anger and sorrow. There is the child, Of whom I love deac It's full of play, Tries hiding it's fear. The dreamer's my favorite, An imagination's the best; But I can't survive, Without all the rest.

-Melinda Dean

Gunshot The sound Rips into my soul As the smell of gun powder Fills the air. My body Falls slowly to the ground As the pain Becomes unbearable But I don't scream I lie motionless Under the streetlight As blood Runs slowly from my body I turn my head From the blinding light To see people screaming But I hear no sound. I look back at the light As a cool breeze Passes over rrle. The light dims

My life ends.

-Mark Simpson

To Protect The Children by

Mark Simpson

On a warm Saturday morning a young girl wakes from her deep slumber. Strcey, the young girl of sevent@n, walks through her quiet house. Stealthfully she makes her way to the room in the house farthest away from her still sleeping parens and sister. Entering the room she closes the door behind her. Hereyes becorne quickly fixed on a typewriter in ttre sunlight at the back wall of this room

near a window. Her fingers srike the keys in a rhythmic

Pacg'

I remember him well. It was the summer Kim, my best friend started to use drugs. Herparents' divorce was to much to for her to handle. She started little by little in March but by July she was a full time addict. She went to east Evansion, the worst part of the city, to calm her cravings. The streels were poorly lit and the people feared entering this neighborhood. The police rarely appeared in this part of the city. This allowed dnrg pushers free reign in the area and it's residence. Crime ruled the soeets. Driveby shootings were commonplace. The stores which stayed in the area rarely stayed open after nightfall. The residents often never leave their small homes or apartments. You took care of younelf that was 0re rule of streets.

That fateful night Kim wanted to go Evanslon for another fix. On the long drive from Milton, the suburbs, she stared out the window. I wondered why I still hung around her. Perhaps I knew why, because if I did not, she would be dead by now. I urned o her. "You know you don't need this. You could talk to me. You could even move in. My parents won'[ mind." "Just shut up and drive!" Never looking away from the window she muttered. She turned to me. She was crying. I had never seen her cry in five years I had known her. Her blond hair, shoulder length, was sticking to her face by the tears rolling down her cheeks. "I'm sorry I said that, Stacey. I should be happy you still stay with me." "I would never leave you, for any reason." She wiped tears from her face. "Do you really need to take that stuff?" "I promise you this is the last time." I don' t know why I believed her. Maybe it was her sincerity. But I had no choice but o believe her. I peered through the car's window at a red lighf I saw junkies laid out in alleyways. The litrercovered the streets. It seemed at night people flocked into the streets. As we drove along, everyone seemed to be staring at us.

This was east Evanston.

"hill over." Kim's anticipation grew, the closer we got to the pushers. She started jumping around in her seat. I lnew there was no way she was going to quit. I'd never seen her this happy to see anyone in months. There were twopeople Icouldbarely see in the night waiting for her. I refused o leave the car as Kim bought her drugs. I justwanted to go home. I noticed something strange, a tall dark figrne across the street staring not at me or the sedan I was driving, but at the drug deal behind it. I could see the long trenchcoat he was wearing to identify him. He came toward the car. Kim jumped into the car and shut the door.

"We can go now." She said. He looked o his right and started running toward us. I looked to sâ&#x201A;Źe what piqued his interest. I saw a car coming behind us with someoneclimbing outof the window. I looked back to see where he was. He had reached the car and opened a rear door. He dove in. "DRIIE I " My foot slammed on the gas pedal on the command from the back of the car. Who was in my car ran through my mind. Then I heard gunshots behind us. I peeked in the rear-view miror. The people in the car behind us had just gunned down the drug dealers. Whoever was in the brck seat saved our lives but that did not calm my fear of him. "You can slow down, now." I heard the words ttrat came frorir theback seatbut my body did notrespond. "Stop Stacey, please s!op." Kim reached for the wheel forcing me to stop. I was rembling furiously. "I could have been shot. I could have been shot, shoL" I muttered wildly. I rerched for Kim's throar I started to choke her. " I couldhavebeenkilledbecause you wanted to get high." The person in back reached foward and pried my hands from around Kim's throat. I sat back into ilre driver's seat brushing my long, black hair out of my face. "Killing her won't help so jus' chill and drive."

"Who are you?" "Name's Michael and yours?" "I'm Stacey and she's Kim." I was no longer frightened. Whoever Michael was he was not going to hurt us. I restarted the car and dnove down the now quiet streeL

"You from Miloon, right?" "How did youknow?"

see

mostofyou all down

here every weekend

getting your hits from ttre high rollers." Kim seemed unconcerned with our conversation. The small bag of

To Protect the Childrenl cont'd. cocaine in her purse held her interest. Hcr concern for a little bag o[ white powder rather than our lives brought a wavs of disappointment fell over me. We came to a red

He opened the door and left. I went over to Kim she was alright. She gave me the small bag of cocaine she still had in her purse. She was going to be fine.

lighr.

I saw him walking into a small park at the end of the alley. I chased after him. I ran into the park. I could not see him anymore. After a few minutes of wandering I spotted him on a bench near a road. I walked over to him and satbeside him. He looked up into the starry night. It was the quietest it had been all night. "Is it this quiet up in Milton?" "So quiet it gets boring." I answered surprised at his question.

"You

two boys over there?" Michael pointed to four boys. Two were heavily laden with gold wearing the best silk suits and leather shoes. The othen were in street clothes, t-shirt" jeans and sneakers. "The lwo in the suits?" "Yea, as soon as the other two leave pull up to them and leave the engine running." The two soon leftand we pulled up to the nvo boys. Michael jumped out of the back seat and reached into his trenchcoat. He pulled out a 12 gauge pump shotgun and pointed it at them. He was robbing them. He took a sack full of white bags like Kim's, a hand full of twenty and hundred dollar bills, and two 22 revolvers and one UZI sub machine gun. They werc unmistakably upset. They started slinging obscenities of every discription at Michael. "You're dead Mike. Bernard is going to off you man, off you." They yelled as we drove off. Kim's eyes perkcd up at sack full of cocaine and crack Michael thtew see those

into the car. Michael seemed unconcerned with the two fuug dealers he'd just robbed but I could feel that he was worried about something. "Pull over here." Michael pointed to an alley bcl.ween two burned out buildings. I pulled into the alley. Thcrc were bums in cardboard houses huddled together. We gotoutof thc carandKim and I followedMichael into one of the buildings. On the side door read a sign: THIS

BUILDING IS CONDEMED. This worried me. Did Michael live here? He pushed the door open carrying the money and guns. Kim refused to let anyone carry the drugs but her. We walked in and all we saw were kids, tecnagers sEung out on the floor in corners, their clothes lattercd and ripped. Most of them were asleep. Michael grabbed the sack of drugs from Kim. I had to hold her back as Michael poured it down a sewer drain in the middle of the room. He placed his hands on

to see

"I wouldkill forboring. I'm tired, so very thed. Don't you ever feel tired? I just want !o go to sleep for a long, long time." I was worried about him. He wanted to end the madness but no one would listen. "Michael why do you risk your life for people who don't care, for people who you don't even know?" "Why, someone has to. If I didn't those kids who people don't care about would be dead or with the pushers. I give them all they need to live." "What about you? What do you need to live?" Then a gust of wind came through the tall trees overhead. A chill came over me. I feared the answer.

'Don't worry

before.

"You lcave good homes for a small bag of white powder or that rock candy." He pulled her over to a young girl curled up in the fetal position in a corner. "I found her like you, only a year too late. She was alrcady selling her body for a hit. Worse than being abaseheadshe was astrawberry selling herbody forcrack. I tried everything but her mind was lost." Kim fell to the ground crying more than before.

"Don't cry. Just quit, please."

I'll

survive." A blinding light

suddenly caughtourattention. Itwas from acar's head-

lights. When I got a good look I saw it was a Ferrari like Michael wearing a Troop sweat suit and sneakers. Michael fixed his eyes on him as if there was no one in the Testerossa, black. A large man exited he looked a bit

world but them.

"Mike." "Bernard." They exchanged greetings "My boys tell me you ripped 'em an hour ago." Yea, I rip,ped 'em."

"It's gotta stop homes. You're illin'." "So, you said you could clock fifty Gs in weekend. Why bother with small time rip-offs." "My boys want you dead."

her tear fillcd cheeks.

"You don't need that garbage. All these kids ran away from their homes, from neglect, hardship, to the strcets. I try to keep them alive and away from that junk. It's people like you who make me sick." His tone droppcd from rage to kindness. He seemed more human than

"What do you wanf" "What's best for me and the business." "You have been saying what's best for you since remember." The beepe.r in his car went off like a high school bell. Bernard climbed back into his car and drove I can

off. "What are you going to do." "Lrt's nol talk about. it. It's a nice night." He covered me with his coat as we stared into the night. "Stacey, when I was a little kid, I thought. when a person died you would be a s0ar in the sky. I thought there would be no sell-out but those days are over."

We talked all night until I fell asleep. I woke the next morning to see what seemed to be the best sunrise ever. Kim made her way up to the park to see us.

To Protect the Childrenl cont'd. "Can we go home, Siacey?,'

"Sure"

"Kim, Stacey thanks for everything. It's time to sky." He kissed both of us on the cheek and

bc in the

running down the alley leaving only his coat behind. I starred crying thinking he was going to get himself killed. Minutes later I heard gunshos. Following the sound weran as fastas wecould to find Michael,s body in the street and Bernard drove off. The two bullet holes in his chestlefthim lifeless. Kim rushedoverto him. I slowly came walking overto his body hoping andpraying it. wasn't him. But it was and he was dead. I will always remember Michael, forever.

****r.

Sobbing the young girl leaves her typewriter. She wipes her face clear of tears and opens the door. A television in thc family room catches her eyes. "Suspected drug kingpin Bernard Wilkings was killed in shootout with police. . ." She turns away from the

television set and gently carries friend to the car and drives off.

tle

coat of her former

Arriving at the cemetary she is surprised to see the sun setting. She had been in rhatroom all day. She makes her way tkough the maze of grave stones to find the one she seeks. She then stops and reads the inscription, M iclwel W ilkings 1 970-1 988, A M anWlo TriedTo C lwnge The World. She sits covered with the coat and looks up into the night as tears stream down her face.

The Gun Rain on my window Tears on my face Fears in my heart Without a place

Nowhere to go Nowhere to run The feelings can't flow freely So I reach for the gun

My hero walks in So trusty so brave He struggles with me My life to save

A horrible accident A careless mistake The rifle goes off His life it takes I lie all alone My life more unbearable It should have been me This feeling's terrible He loved me with feeling So strong that he died

Sometimes Sometimes I feel so caught up in life that I get tangled up in the webs other people formed. Sometimes I feel so far away that I alienate everything except for a pad of paper a pen and the secluded corner in my room.

-Donya

Jibril

To save my life His was sacrificed

I want to be with him For what he has done Life isn't worth living -the gun!!!!

Kimberly Davenport

Yesterday Was Her Birthday by

lennifer Goerke

"After all this time, it still hurs so much. I haven't thought about her in quite a while. I thought I had just accepted her decision and forged onward with my life. It's funny how you remember things... and people at strange times, isn't it, "my voice cracked. A soothing tone comforted me over the phone, "Steph, I'm so sorry. If it helps any, I love you. You just needed to het your feelings out in the open . You' ve bottled your hurt and disappointment inside for too long, "John replied. "I just will never understand why she left. Why? I understand that she is sick, but how did leaving help? All the people that want to help her are here," I replied. John and I continued trlking for a few more minutes before agreeing that we really should get some rest. I replaced the receiver and as I did so, I thought about our conversation, and all the memories of the previous year and one-half came floodingback in ajumble of both good and bad. It all started back in eighth grade. Sarahwas new to the neighborhood, and was taking her first tour of her new surroundings by bycycle, when I met her. S he cruised up the driveway and said, "Hi,I'm Sarah. We look about the same age. What's your name?" That's how it all began. It's hard to believe that was four years agoj. The first day I met Sarah, I never would have guessed that she would become such an important part of my life, and all the happiness and sorrow she wouldbring into my life. Itdidn'ttakeus long tobecome good friends. We lived so close, and soon found that we shared many common interests. We both loved to ride our bikes and dance. Every day we would meet half way between our houses and exchange the day's events and plans. The neighbors probably thought we were rather strange becauseas soon as we were within earshotof each other, we exchanged silly greetings such as, "Hey NERD!" and "OOH, look at, that hot mama! " We didn' t care; we always had so much fun. Some days when we couldn't think of anything better to do, we spent hours walking aroundand around the block. Sarah invited me to attend her youttr group with her on Sunday nights, and there, many of our happiest

times were spent. I will never forget the lock-in we had for Halloween. Somehow Sarah talked me into wearing this ridiculous farmer costume; how she did it, I still don't know. The two of us, she masquerading as a cavewoman, entered the youth center, sleeping bags in tow. Why do I remember this day so well you ask? Sarah innoduced me to my frst boyfriend, Dan, that nighr I will never forget her whispering in my ear, "Steph, you and Dan would

make an adorable couple; let me introduce you K?" I reluctantly agreed, and for good reason . S teph announced to Dan exactly what she had eariler told me, and then proceeded to say in a sickly sweet tone, "Why don't you two dance. You look so cute together! " I could have died! I have never been so embarassed. I guess it worked out, after all we did end up going out for a few months. But let me tell you, Sarah never let me forget who introduced Dan and I! Sarah and I shared everything. We talked about boys and boy troubles, makeup, clothes, school, and all the

everyday teenage problems. We also talked about the basic parenal troubles (curfews, rules, etc). I guess I never realized how deeply her parental problems were rooted. ldaybe thu's why I feel so guilty now. We were best friends and I never saw the waming signals and pleas for help. In hind-sight I do, but then, when it really counted I didn't have any idea. I guess I feel like I betrayed the cardinal rule of friendship, "Always be there for each

otler." Sarah has bulimia It is an eating disorder that consists ofrepeated binging and purging cycles. It is a disease thatcan neverbecured- itis likealcoholism. Sarah will fight her bulimia for the rest of her life. It is a neverending bacle. In retrospect, the symptoms and warning signals are all there; declining grades (Sarah went from straight A's and B's to D's and F's), compulsive eating bingas and repeated trips to the bathroom, sorethroats, depression, and the biggest signal should have been her rebellion. I, along with everyone else, chose to block that out. I remember Sarah telling me once, "I'm so tired of trying tobe Mommy and Daddys' little angel Steph. Why do I even try? They don't, give a shit about me anyway." Sometimes I wonder how much Sarah's parents do care. They have always been so pushy. Sarah has never been as good as Cindy, herolder sister, in herparents' eyes. I have to admit that even I noticed their attitudes, and had often thanked God that my parents weren't like Sarah's. One weekendinparticularcomes tomind immediately when I think about how Sarah began to rebel. Her parents were out of town and she was aupposed to spend the weekend at my house. It was Friday night. We both had our own plans; I was going out with my boyfriend, Brian, to the movies and Sarah was going out dancing with some friends. The two of us planned to meet back at my house at 12:30 and engage in slumberparty gossip for the remaninder of the night. Sarah showed up at 12:30 all right, driving her sister's brand new cal, and so drunk she couldn'teven stand up. She stumbled up the front step and loudly announced, "I will not be staying at your house

3t Yesterday Was Her Birthdayl cont'd.

tonight Stephanie. I have plans. I'm going home now.', "Have you been drinking," I questioned.

"Drinking? Stephanie, I'm surprised at you, me drink? I don't drink; you're being silly," Sarah giggled loudly, and lostherbalance, almostlanding flatonherbutt on the middle of my front porch.

"Do you think you should be driving?," Brian blurted out. "Sure I'm fine." "Sarah...," I said. Before I could finish, Sarah wasdown thedriveway and back in her sister's car. Brian and I ran in to tell my parents and tore off after her. When we got to Sarah,s house and wcnt inside, we found a house full of strange people; Sarah not among them. I stayed up half the night hoping that she would come back, but she didn't. The next morning I found a tearful Sarah standing on my front porch. "I'm sorry Steph. I'm sick, there is something the matter with me. I need help. I throw up all of my food. I can't help myself. I feel in control when I do My life is out of control." All I could do is sand there, I had no idea...Why hadn't,I noticed? Then I huggged her; what else could I do" When Sarah's parents returned, she talked to them, and aftertalking to severaldoctors, Sarah wasenrolled in a one month eating disorder treatrnent center in Topeka. I rcally don't think she wanted to go, but her parents and doctors forced her. That, month passed quickly. I talked to Sarah's parents about what I could do to help. They told me that she just needed me to be there for her. t thought I could do that. I sent Sarah cheery little cards and talked to her on thc phone when she was allowed o call. When the month was up, Sarah retumed a new person; she had lost fifty pounds (the safe way) and had a completely new attitude.

Our friendship fell basically back into place. It was almost time to go back to school. The yearbegan without a hitch; we were the same as always. The only difference was that Sarah attended group therapy session approximately tlree times a week. As time passed though, Sarah and I grew apart. Her gmdes began to drop once again, and she didn't auend her therapy sessions. Sarah decided to leave for her senior year; go back of her homelown. She said, "I never liked this hell hole anyway and I don't need any of you." I woke up this morning and realized that yesterday was Sarah's eighteenth birthday; it went unacknowledged.

Fate Fate is the one that causes tears in the nite Fate is the one that makes the rope pull so tight. Fate causes happiness, sadness and fright Fate causes strange deaths during

dark nites. At the end of the journey a destination awaits, The one you have searched for thru crevices and gates Straight ahead in your view past all the love, fear and hate Lies a blank sheet of paper which in the end is your fate.

-Marjeanne Vaughn

Lessons From the Big C by Kyle Garlett

At first,I felt removed from all of my friends. I with my specialness that none of them could relate to. I had was suddenly different from all of them. I stood alone

results were negative. My mother was the next one to speak: "You have

Lymphoma."

something that they couldn't compete with or take away

form me. I had cancer. That diagnosis has changed me permanently.

will never view life the same. During August

I was heading into my seinior

year with excilement. I was voted Senior Class President last spring, and it was shaping up to be a great year. I had spent about a month of the summer out of the country; the chance to see my friends was one more incentive to get back to school. When I retumed home from my month away, I had a bad head cold, so when we first noticed the small lump on the underside of my chin, my parents and my doctor expressed little concern. I myself, though, felt it was worse than it appeared. Calling it a virus thu had settled in my lymph glands, the docor prescribed an antibiotic. After taking all the pills, I noticed that three more lumps had appeared at differentplaces on my neck.Still, the doctor told us not

to worry, he would give me a stronger dose. "And besides," he said, " sometimes it takes two months or more before this kind of swelling goes down." But, when I was designated for surgery three weeks lal.er, my worries returned. We were informed of the dozen different types of infections it probibally was, but there was also one more possibility: Lymphoma. The odds of it being cancer were astronomical, but a biopsy was necessary to determine for sure what it was. On September twenty-sixth,I came straight home after school, knowing that my parents had recieved the results earlier that afternoon. The frst thing I noticed as I got home was that both my parents' cars were in the garage.

"Well, I thought," I guess they both want the good news."

to share

But when I walked in there was nobody to greet My heart fell to my knees. Why weren't they waiting? They must have received bad news. I walked on in and saw them both sining in the living room together, neither one smiling. The first person to speak was my father. "You'd better come sit down," he said," We've got some serious things to discuss." My mouth formed the queston, "Did you hear about my tests?" Why didn' t I ask it? I knew the answerand had since ttre moment I walked in the door. But I was waiting for them to free me of the terror by telling me the me at the door.

Just three words, but they were enough to knock

thewindoutofme. I madeherrepeatherselfbecausel was sure I misunderstood. The answer was the same, and at that point I began to cry, not a sob, not in grief, not in despair, but in relief of finally knowing after so many weeks of uncertainty.

I also had to sit down, my father was right in telling me to do that. I remember everything so clearly because it all seemed to be happening on slow motion. For the next five minutes we talked about it. During this time I was trying to convince myself that they were wrong. The next information I received from them was that it was the best type

of Lymphoma to have. Officially, It's

called

Hodgkin's disease, Lymphocyte Predominate. I was not comforted by the fact that it was a good type of cancer. It was cancer, and that word was enough to devistate me. I felt so alone. I felt like my parents had handed down my death sentence. That afternoon I was picked up by some of my friends to go mess around. They knew this was the day my diagnosis was due, and they also knew what the results were as soon as they saw me. But they lifted me up and mademe laugh. I began to think, "Maybe I'm not alone." That night I called my other close friends, those who hadn't yet heard, to let them know. I felt so much better talking about ir This turned out to be just the opposite of what some people would allow me to do. The next day at school I discovered many people were afraid to talk to me. They

avoided me.

I didn't

blame them one

bit.

Before this

o my friends either, if they'd been told they had cancer. I figured that I had to be the one to first bring up the subject if the uneasiness between us was going tro be broken. It worked. Soon all my friends were comfortable talking to me. But I still felt so alone when I was at home. My thoughts were filled with, "Why me? This is something you read about, or see a mini-series on television about. It doesn't happen to me: it happens to other people." When I started my daily radiation treatments (thank God no chemotherapy!),I realized it was time to quit dwelling on death and start concentrating on life. I did just that. I decided life was going to go on just as it would happened to me, I wouldn' t have known what to say

33 Lessons have

from the Big

cont'd.

ifthis never happened. But neither was I going to let any lessons to learn

slip by me.

life. When my ordeal is finally over, that will always stay with me. Each day is important. Each day is to be enjoyed for all it has to offer. I also have learned to power of friendship. Many of my friends are still on the football team. A couple of them showed their caring for me in an extrordinary way. One wore my name on a towel throughout an important game. Another had written my fame on his handpads. I felt great when I heard about this. Friends can make such a difference in a persons life. Another lesson taught me has to do with that I have learned the preciousness of

"death sentence" I was so sure I' d been given. I' ve learned that only God can decide when aperson is due to comejoin

him. After all the prayer from me, and from friends and relatives all around this country. I'm certain God isn't ready to have me in heaven just yet. I believe He wants me here on earth, working to encourage others who face unexpected crisis. So many people have much worse to deal with than I do. I am through feeling sorry for myself. The last thing I have learned is something deep inside myself. You see, now I feel lucky to have had this. Every person should have to face an ordeal similar to mine. It has taught me that deep down inside me, I can overcome. My attitude toward

life makes all the critical difference. With God, my friends, and my family besides me- and with my own desire to survive- I know that I can overcome anything. We all can. All that's left for each of us is to realizn that for ourselves.

Living to Try Time

Swiftly whispers by Without a sound to mark the ages. Suddenly, you look back To see the past staring you in the eyes. What will you see there? A life with no friends, no accomplishments, no meaning? A life lived without living? Or will you see The love that you have helped nurture Through the good times and the bad? Will you see both the success and the failure From trying? Or will you see the emptiness Of never having tried? Only one knows the answerOnly one can change the answerAs time goes on.

-Cindy Donham

She Walked She walked

down the halls screaming silent screams

of distress and yet, her silent cries for help were never heard. She said her goodbyes

with

Remembering I recall a better place, a place ofjoy and tears It hurts my mind now and then, fhrough these trying years. I can almost smell the scent of sweet mountain Pines And the lingering fragrance of purple columbines. The sound of haunting voices, would travel through the breeze. And their melancholy sound whispered through the ffees. At night I often wonder, if I'11 ever return To that special place I know of which memories bum...

-Jennifer Copeland

silent tears and wished for someone to care and yet, her cries for help were never heard. "Sheila Danyla commited suicide today. No one can seem to figure out why. One of her closest friends, Christy Shone said, 'I can't believe this. Sheila was always so happy...'." Her cries for help were never heard.

-Kiz

Impressions Impressions. People, objects, places, ideas. Laughing, crying, waiting, wanting.

We're So Bad I'm so bad so you say You'll act bad too

Loving, Living.

You look up to me

I take on the world and I don't care You won't care either You look up to me

I say what I think and don't look back

You won't look back

either

You look up to me

I drink,I smoke live for the minute You live for the minute too You look up to me

Impressions. They create our only existance, are responsible for our solitary world. They sometimes last a lifetime, occasionaly forever, often for only a fleeting moment. Some are constantly returning, some appear only once in a billion generations. Impressions The fool is blind to them. The young misunderstand. The old horde them in their minds. The poet turns them to magic and forms words. The cynic turns them into hate and forms tears. Impressions.

I know not from whence you came. Whether brought by stars or angles. But I do know, now, for a moment or a century, you are my starlight and my angelic hope. And when I am dead, and when I am gone, and when the dust of my bones feeds the ground that I sprang from, Your impression will be locked inside my soul.

Caring isn't a par:t of me I just don't care You won't care either

-Samuel Wall

You look up to me

Living fast dying young I'11die You're gonna die too

Wounding

Just because you look up to me

Anyon.

-Matty

thut

Reminds you of the mistakes you've

made

Always Love Me Al1 this rime I've

L o.rr.o you, 'W'irr,

ail my heart, I love you

ArrO I think I've always You,

alone,

fill

knourn that

my life with

S unstrine and unending happiness.

onetiness I no longer feel, I

Onfv know friendship

V etvet-soft kisses Err"rytf,ing I've ever wanted I

see reflected

fife is complete and I o's/e you

Everything -Jennifer Goerke

in your eyes,

A Feeling This is something that I've never really felt before.

I'm drained and tired. The calm after the storm? The silence before the fight! The realization

of dreams that are dead Or put into pcrmanent storage. I know not this rash of woes Or why it has befallen.

Music of Goodbyes

How many others (As I look around school and see) Have sat and cricd In thought, in mind, of wasted tears and dreams.

I feel that life is drained from my I walk in solitude With friends And Foes (there seem to be more)

I feel ugly and dead. depression.

-Tim Gruver

eyes.

I wish the music

goodbyes was a little easier to sing

-Kiz

The Drop If you walk away from a pretty flower with dew hanging off a leaf, does the dew drip off onto the ground or does it sit and wait?

-Beth Crenshaw

A Single Rose by Jennifer Owens

ever seems to do here. I peered

Lyingon abedwas the mostunhappyperson I'd everseen.

out my bedroom window, twisting my necklace carelessly around my finger. One week left until school and it rains,I thought to myself. I looked outmy window again, this time seeing a moving van in front of the old Cramer house across the street. Funny how I did not see that before. I cannot believe anyone is going to actually live in that. house since Mrs. Cramer was found dead on the kitchen floor, her thoat slashed with a knife. There had

Her eyes were hollows in her sunken face, and it looked as though she hadn't eaten for days. She lifted one hand and beckoned me to come over. As I started, Iris turned and left us alone. There was a chair beside the bed so I went. to sit in that.

Rain. That is all

it.

even been rumors thattheplace was haunted,

butl did not believe in ghosts. The shutters ttrashed wildly against the beated wood as the rain pounded the life out of the old house. For a moment a flash of lightening filled the sky, and at that same moment, I saw a girl's silohe$e against the window,

and then it was gone.

Who could this girl be? Millions of thoughs raced through my mind as I rried to find an answer to the

question.

I hurried downstairs, my feet almost too fast for the rest of me. I had decided that the only way to get my

questions answered was to go over there right this momenL

I put on a coat and grabbed an umbrella, and not even bothering to tell my parents where I was going, I slipped out the door. I walked calmly across the street and up to the gate. It creaked loudly as I opened it, then banged violently as the wind forced it into place once again. I stafled down the walk, almost hidden in the tall unruly gnss, at a quicker pace,rs to get out of the rain. I knocked on the door and an elderly looking woman opened it. I glanced around, the inside of the house

being just the opposite of the outside, for it had finely detailed woodworkand a winding staircasejustto the left of me beautifully decorated with ornaments. "My name is Iris. Would you like to join me for tea?" the woman asked. "No thank you," I said. "Iam Jodie, butfriends call me Jode. I was just going to introduce myself to the young girl in the house." "Oh, her name is Elizabeth. She's a cripple and right now a little sickly, but possibly a conversation with someone besides me would cheer her up." Iris showed me upthe staircaseand into the door at the end of a long hall. Inside was a room filled with numerous stuffed animals, most torn and beaten. A single bare lightbulb in the center of the room allowed light in.

Then we talked. It was slow at first, then the words seemed to flow out of our mouths. We chatted of many things: our likes, our dream s, and of each other. She told me of herpassion forroses, of how they are a symbol ofboth love and death at the same time, yet never changing in their hauty. Time seemed to pilss so quickly that I did not even notice it was gefiing late out. I left, but not before promising to come back the next day. When I returned the following day, Iris told me why they were here. "Elizabeth's parents died just recently, and there were too many memories in that town." I figured that was a hint for me to not bring the subject up, so I did not. I thought she would if she wanted. Theweekl had leftwas fullof sun and happiness, and I spent most of it with Elizabeth. I told her I would not be in until later in the day tomorrow, and I thought I saw a little disappointment in her eyes, but just for a moment. That night the storms returned, more forceful than before. Knocking branches off trees and sending anything not tied down to the heavens above. I awoke early and trudged wearily to school through the fallen trees and scattered junk. I saw all my old friends, but the only thing I could keep my mind on was Elizabeth. I would see her tonight I thought reassuringly to myself. At last the bell rang. I hurried home and grabbed a snack before going over to Elizabeth's house. While I was walking, I glanced upward and observed her light was nol on. I knocked on the doorand waited patiently for it to open. When at last it did, Iris stood there dressed in black. She told me very solemly, "Elizabeth passed away last night" very peacefully, smiling for the first time since herparens died." Sheclosed thedoorquickly before I had a chance to say anything. While walking down the steps I noticed a rose bush, and through all the winds it stood there perfect. I plucked a single rose, layed it by the door, and walked home with a tear in my eye.

Looking upward for just a moment I thought I could see Elizabeth smiling, for she was with her family now and forever.

Something To Believe In When there's nothing to believe in And nothing you can touch, When you feel like you can't win And you feel like you can't trust. When you're searching for a reason And you try and try to care, When you wait throughout the seasons And you feel alone and bare. When in your life you feel lost And every day feels gone, When you always burn every bridge you cross And your heart has turned to stone. Take a look and try to redeem And you might find a clue, That maybe you really do have dreams And that something to believe in is you!

White Horses Like the wild horses of the

sea

so are the emotions of young life. the White Stallions race up onto the beach retreating then repeating their surges. Their hearts are filled with the love of life, aspiring dreams race through their veins, depression taints the sands they trod. A lone horse rises, carrying his hopes as a beacon in the black of night.

the stallions give a final burst of life

only to return to the sea as a ripple of water.

-Tauni Hickman

-Ashley Skinner

Gold A Victimrs Prayer With this blade I take my life And end the grueling pain and strife. Exchanging the hurt for peace and rest And rid my heart of emptiness. He took my confidence and trust A1l in name of violence and lust. I feel his hands upon my skin And feel that fear once again. My eyes fill with tears and dread As they catch sight of blood so red. I pray to God to keep me well I pray that man will burn in hell-

-Jennifer

I don't consider gold something that can easily slip on or off or something you can just grab or hold something placed on a finger or yet even something placed on a neck but yet, gold it comes from inside Iike a fresh, dewy morning or a sweet summer breeze. It comes from the heart and those with true gold stand out in a crowd. The others, well they are faded they usually just stand in the crowd being the color of bronze.

-Beth Crenshaw

...Nostalgia... Rcmenrber when?... Ugh, how I hate that phrase. Cun't anyorle stay in their own time and phase? Tcens nowadays reminisce about 1968 Can't they just figure out that they were just born too late. Twenty years from now, when we're in our prime. Will we be reminiscing about reminiscing that wonderful time? As a 1980's child I am proud to be Greedy and selfish, thinking only of me. Wanting peace and harmony is nice to think of But when they want to reorganize Woodstock, there's just not enough "love"! Along u,ith reminiscing about reminiscing, twenty years from now, The'80's will seem like a great time, and how! Nostalgia is fine-but that's living in the past. Is the future that bleak?

-Tim Gruver

The Footsteps of Silence The silent warriors go marching on their hushed footsteps roar in the still, stifling air. Although the hot Mayan sun beats upon their backs, They will continue on the journey to nowhere, for there is no reason to stop and rest. The one-thousand do not speak Do not utter a word of the changing of the seasons. Or of the days when the Brown people wandered among their ranks. The Military, hard and dull, files to the horizon's edge. To where do they advance when the moon cannot lead the way? And from where have these soldiers come? The soundless echoes have no reply.

Men of war, torn and tattered by a battle with time, Will lock their cryptic messages deep within their cold hearts. A heritage, a civilation stands, Now etched in stone.

-Whitney Baker

Just Bounce Back! When you

fail at

everything you do, and

nothing is going your way, just remember:

'liili,,, suicide; Winners

try to

find that one

step

up.

back

-Timothy Gruver

I was in fora really long day. Getting onto a bus at 5:30 in the morning was not, nor still is, my idea of a goul time. At least everyone went to sleep quickly. From

Wichita Swim Club wc headed for Kanssas City to pick up the rest of the Misouri Valley Swim Team. Now I was sure I was in for a long day. Eighty kids piled in to one bus and three vans and we only had four adults with us. The van I was in held all of the girls on my age group, about sixteen ten-, eleven-, and twelve-year-olds. It was the end of the summer and we were headed for Indianapolis, with no air-conditioning.

As we walked into the double doors of the Natatorium attheUniversityof Indinana, we came [o a set of huge windows where everyone stood and gaped. Dircctly below us was a pool. All eyes held the reflection of thc aqua-blue water and round colorful lane ropes. The meet was to be held for three days and about six other states competed. I felt so proud to belong to such a urlented team. Everyone was hyped and talkative and ready to hit the water. "Zone C" as the meet was called was the finale of tre summer season. We were all decked out in our caps, goggles, suits, shoff and panty hose ready to begin our hour long warmup. It. was easy to see how nervous and excited cveryone was. We all thought it a very unique opportunity to swim in this pool one of the fastest in the world, and the site of the 1984 Olympic Trials. The Natatorium was aboutthe sizeof tfueegymnasiums and had whitp tile and red doors all around. The chairs for spectators wereup in abigbalconyabout,twenty fcet up from the deck. At one end of the pool there were mountainous diving platforms with an AAU flag draping from the top. Bclow that was the diving well: a deep royal blue that seemed endless like the sky. There was a big section in therniddlcof the 50 meterpool where timers and officials disqualified some and took down numerous times and a few national records for otiers. That Saturday I swam what seemed to be an cndless number of events but I really only swam three. It felt like so many because it was almost like I swam the event for myself when any one of my teammates was in the water. I recall fte cheering, the pounding of my heart racing the big, black, digital clock on rhe wall. Go Go! Then came the time those team mates won. I felt like yelling happily until I broke every window in the place. I think tlat's whatalmostwon us the spiritawardexceptfor one or lwo "unacceptable" cheers preformed by the senior boys.

That, weekend

experienced pressure, pride,

Skinner

depression, excitement and every other feeling that goes along with excruciating competition. First came my 50 meter breast-stroke, which was too bad to think about. Then came the major bummer. Fifty meter freestyle, right? I sat on the deck behind the big white starting blocks talking to a friend. Then all of a sudden something occurred to me, I had to swim. "I can' tbelieve Josh asked Julie," Minda rambled on.

"Minda, what heat are $rey on?" I inquired. "I don't know," was her apologetic answer after noticing the look on my face. It's funny how you wait and wait for something to happen and just one turn of your head and ,.pool, it's gone. Well, when I came out of my social reverie, I noticed a heat diving off the blocks. I looked at my card and rhen

at my lane where I was supposed to be swiming. Tears blurred my eyes as I gazed up at the wall timer. It had a starting time for everyone and ttren I saw ..lane 2, A. Skinner, Mo. Valley-blank-no time!" That was the first meet in my life that I ever missed my event. I was overly supprised when my usually pessimistic coach put an arm around me and replied,'That happens soemtimes. Just let it pass!" But, I couldn't let it pass. It stuck with me the whole time and I dreaded every moment when the time came to tell my mom. The biggest meet of my life and I missed an event. Great!

But that great, except not sarcastic, moment came. My next event was 100 meter breaststroke. I was seeded third in my event and was one of the "Top 16 in the nation" but ended up seventh. Somehow though, when I fcel so strong and smoolh and fast in the water, thc time or place isn't really what matters. Prelims were all right, but the finals. Ah, the finals. The finals were the top eight swimmers in each event. I was seeded eighth in mine but I was in and that meant a lot to me. I think it was the National Anthem that helped me out so much. I looked up at the American flag, the red, white and blue and thought, "Tracy Calkins looked at this very same flag and swam in this very same pool and here I am." My heart seemed to burst with pride. After a few "get on its" and "good lucks" from team mates, I enthusisastically hopped onto the block. I felt loose and relaxed, but with all the energy of fie sun itself. "Take your marks." Beep! My feet lcft the blocks, and my eyes hit the black line in the center of the deep lane. I took a powerfull scoop coming up ffom my underwater pull. I looked ahead, my eyes set wirh deter-

44 P owerc

d by Determinationl cont'cl.

mination.

gazcd at the end of the pool and saw most

my tcam screaming and cheering for me.

I felt like I

couldn't let them down and Ipumpedharderwith my arms and legs gctting tight and sore. I think aboutwierd things when I swim. At that moment, I thought of the "Little Engine That Could" and

saidoverandoverin my mind," I thinklcan,I thinklcan." I surtcd to enjoy myselfbutthe swim still seemed endlcss as I glided through the water, my Missouri Valley cap peping up with every breath I took. Then, boom, the touch pad. Aftcr I got to the wall, it was all over too soon. I reccived my mcdal and looked again into the Star-

spangclcd Banner and thought, "This is my slart to a succcssful future. I've accomplished somcthing." Though I had swam numerous races through tlle years, trat was the one that taught me something. I learned how important it is to set goals for myself in everything I do. That single race began a priceless dream for me, The Olympic Drcam. Two ycars later I began having headaches and it hurt too much to do any swiming. The MRI scan gave me thc answer, a brain tumor in my Pineal gland which could become activc anytime, the result, being paralysis. I was angry and scarcd when I found out and still am. As I look

back on it, thc dream may not turn into reality, but l.he expcricnce, and my determination to overpowcr my sickncss and all of the othergoals I setformyself will stay with me forevcr!

The Boy I saw him in the darkness With no smile in sight. His emotions were empty Just wandering in the night. He walked in a way That seerned so alone. The problems he endured Just didn't seem to be known. He looked so upset No more he could bear. I only heard a mumble of "does anyone care??" -Stacey Jones

Good-bye She walked into the house Set her books down by the fridge

Mom was still out At the neighbors playing bridge. That morning her parents had a fight The thought still hung in her head To get it to go away Grabbed a Pepsi and opened it instead. She walked into the living room Papers and glass still on the floor Going past it to her own privacy Walking in and locking the door. As she turned to stare at her room A paper caught her eye Taped to the mirror by her father Was a note saying good-bye. He couldn't handle the pressure He was tired of wondering why He couldn't take her mother anymore And pretending to love was a lie. She read it to the end Trying to see past the tears what to do And finished up the letter "Tell your mother I'm leaving too."

-Krista Cozad

Suicide by John Epperson

Suicide, it is a wonderful thing. I've often thought about it many times, with a great deal of consideration of going through

with it. I usually end up thinking of all the reasons not to

do so.

Well, let me tell you, if you're about to comit suicide, don't. I've figured out that it can't be worth it. If there is anybody out there that you love and could never hurt, that's what you would do. Suicide hurts everybody that cares about you. So, it may end all the problems in your life, or does it take your lifefrom the problem? Ok, it takes your life from the problems, and leaves them, plus others for other people to handle.

Another reason, things can only get better. I mean if things are so shitty that you are seriously considering suicide, then they can only get better right, or at least they can't get much worse before they get better Now if you can take having things that bad and get through it, you can take anything. Then if thats not good enough for you think about what I said about Heaven and Hell. I mean, you may not believe in God, but what if he dose exist? If he does exist, he probably wouldn't want you to come into heaven if you're so stupid you're going to go and kill yourselfjust'cause you had a few too many problems. Just think about that one, Okay?

A Single Tear by

Amy Wachholtz

"Hello?" I answered the phone. "Hi, Miki? It's Sharon," Sharon returned. "So, what's up? How was the party?" "Pretty good, but it was only OK untill Nick and

lornly." And the worse part is, I know that this is it.,, "Are you sure? It isn't like this is the first time you two have fought.

I went to the beach afterword." "Be careful Sharon, you know what Nick,s been getting into latley and it isn't as though you're immune from getting hooked." "I know, I know, don't worry, I'm careful.', "Allright. I'm just warning you." "No kidding, as if I havn't been lectured enough !"

"Ok, let's get off the subjecl" "Fine by me, so what do you think of me and Nick? Do you think we would make a cute couple?" "Yeah, famous last words."

***** (two months later)

I'll give you a ride," haron stopped, standing her full 5' 3 ", her brown hairflyingin the April windand waitedtorme to catch up. "Whathappened, did you andNick have another "Sharon! Sharon! Wait up.

I called.

fight?" I quiestioned. "Yeah, so what's new? This time it wasjustover something stupid, ya know." "That's roo bad, but he'll call tonight, apologise and you guys will will be back to kissing in the halls tomorow at school. Just as it has been for the past two

"No, I know it's over. I told him I neverwanted see

him again."

***:t:* (Two months later) Sharon ran up to me in school whispering,.,cut your 7th hour, I've GOT to talk to you." "Calm down, what's so important? Why weren't you in 5th hour?" "I was questioned by the police,I have GOT to talk to you." "You said that already. Fine, I'll cut 7th hour. WHere do you want to meet?" "My house, don't worry, my mom won't be home. Bye, see you tlere." And she dissapeared among the crowd. Later at her house, when I knocked at her door she opened it, peered out, grabbed my hand and whisked me inside. "Whew, I'm glad you could make it, sit down," S

haron said breathlessly.

"What's going on? I asked, sitting down.

'MIki?" "Yes." "Nick's dead, he OD'd. And Micki..."

months." I reassured her. "Yeah, well, whatever," she answered. And we rode tlte rest of the way home in silence. When we stepped inside of Hamburger Heven wc could smell the fries and hear the burgers sizzling. We ordered, sat down, and I tried to cheer her up. "Sharon, did you see hat new guy, Chris? He didn't take his eyes off you all through chemestry." "So?" was her uninterested reply.

"So- I think he [kes you."

" A quien la importa?" "Comeof, you know Nick'sgoing tocall tonight

"Yes?"

"I'm hooked." "You're what?!?" I screamed.

" I'm hooked, " Sharon whispered. joke."

" Tis isn't funny, Sharon, but please let this be a no joke, Miki. "What are you on?" "Crack, Ice, Coccain, you name it." "Did you tell your mom?" "Are you kidding, she'd freak!"

"It's

sojust relax, " I tried to convince her. "All right,justlay off would you? Nickand Ijust

*Well, what about your dad?"

had a major

"C-an't or won'?"

fight. I

have the right to be tense," she

snapped.

"Well sorry," I sarcastically told her. Just then the jukebox Started playing "Heaven's in Your Eyes" and Sharon began to cry.

"This used to be our song," Sharon said for-

"You know I can't talk to him since

he left mom.,,

"Won't, alright." "So what ure you going to do?"

"Kill myself." "No, really." "I'm.going to an introductory dry out clinic."

4t A Single Tearl cont'd. "Did you evr tell Nick? He got you hooked, I

"Yes, he got me into it, and no, I didn't tell him to. He wouldn't care even if he,d still had

I don't want to love my life on a permant high." "But, that dosn't mean that you have to kill yourself. You can quit, you were strong enough to admit you have a problem."

"Ok, so what's your plan and where do I come

stuff."

suppose?"

and didn't plan

anything to do with me.',

in?"

Just tell your mom were going into L.A. for the

weekend." "Yeah, I havea friend therewecanstaywith,and she'll cover for us. I've tlked to her and she said she'd be happy to have us stay with her for the weekend."

"Ok,

I'll

pick you up at 6:00."

"You need help, I can help you through this, I promise, just don't kill yourself. We might be able to get

some professional help or something. Just wait until tomorrow morning, things will look clearer and we can talk," I begger her.

"Fine,

(later that evening)

"I'm on broadway, now where too?" I

asked

I followed her direclons and found apretty, grey, ranch house in a quaintneighborhood, A tall redheaded girl came running out.

Sharon.

"Hi, I'm Miki, .. I introduced myself holding out

my hand.

Susan repeated, commiting my

name to memory while she held my hand, ..why don't you

lwo come in."

Susan led us into our rooms decorated in soft greys and pinks. She showed us where to unpack our things. Susan told us when her doctor friend would be available for the consultation. "It has to be today," Susan told us.',He's Ieaving for a convention in New York tomorrow. We better hurry, his clinic closes in an hour." that night I knocked on Sharon's door. "Sharon, Sharon, are you OK? Can I come in?" "Come on in, the door's open." As soon as I opened the door and saw the scene that was taking place, I started to run. Sharon was sitting on her balcony, holding a gun n her lap. "Oh my god! Sharon, where did you get that and what are you planning to do with it?,, I screamed. "itdosn'tmatter where Igotit, and I,m planning to kill myself," Sharon said calrnly. "That isn't funny, Sharon." to quit and

want to

"Really?"

"I told you, I promise!"

"Sharon! you're finaly here! the girl screamed running with her arms held out. "Susan!" Sharon yelled. Sharon jumpedoutof thecarandheaded towards S usan and gave her a giant hug. I slowly followed behind

'Tust promise me!" "Promise you what?" "You won'[ do anything untill we can talk." "I promise."

sE@t,.. She answered

"Why?" "I can't. do it! I'm not strong enough

won't, just go away now.

"Don't make me go away, please, I can sleep in here tonight if you want me..." "No, just go away.' "Are you sure?,' "Yes, go away.,,

sleepily.

"Miki, Miki,'

sleep."

*****

Sharon, shaking her awake. "Take a left on second

"Yes, I must, that's the only way I can get off this

room.

I looked at her solomnly as I backed out of the

***** We found herbody that Sunday morning,clutchlying on her balcony. A single tear stained her lng face. a bullet through her brain, the doctors sid she died immeaditly. I don't know what to believe. Why did she a gun,

do it? I thought she would work everything out. She promised, SIIE PROMISED, SHE PROMISED!!!

The Wind by Michelle Baker

I stared outof the open bay window watching the surf crash onto the shore, washing away sandcastles and

trash left behind by beachgoers. Then at four o'clock sharp, Marlene came waddling by our house. Marlene has been a bag lady as long as I can remember. When I first met her, I was five years old. She saved by life. I was drowning and she came to my rescue. No one wanted to recognize her as a hero though. I didn't understand why.

Now I do.

"Marlene!" I called. She nrrned her head and smiled a big oothless smile. I ran into her open arms and gave her a stuffed animal just as a little present. S he cried and said it was the best thing anyone had ever given her. Today wasn't a different day for me. We always took a

daily walk down the beach together.

I spilled out my

problems with friends, parens, boys, and school. Marlene always answered me with a solution, she was very wise; though poor in dress and material objects. Her eyes were always brightand shining, the only young looking fearure on the body. Her face was leathery from all of the years

of sun and rain. She had very large hands and long, graceful, nimble fingers. She liked to knit, so I often gave her yam and needles. She walked with a limp, which was supposedly from an accident with a gun when she was a child. Marlene told great stories, the kind you want tio tell to your grandkids. She often called me "the grandchild I never had." For the twenty minutes or so that we strolled on the beach together,I knew whatit feh like to be in her shoes. People wouldn't look at us. They ignored us and pretended we weren't there. I once asked Marlene about how she felt when no one paid any attention to her. She replied, "I've had a long, happy life, and I'm happyjustthe way I am. I don't need to be rich and famous." I walked back to the house after our stroll together. The shifting of the tides, along with the cool sea brenze made itchilly. The silky sandgushedbetween my toes. I loved the beach. I felt so carefree, elated, and fresh all of the time. I ran in, threw on a Harvard sweatshirt, and sat on the deck listening to the gulls cry. The moon reflected on the water and I thought of what a little pafi of the world I was, butl knew I wasgoing to makesomething of myself. Most of my free time was spent studying or walking along the beach. I was often cailed a book nerd, or something similar to that, but I was going to HarvardI didn't care what a few thought about me. I tumed around

and looked at my reflection in the doublc doors. I was average looking, about five feet nine inches tall, and brown, shoulder length hair. I sometimes wore glasses. I was satisfied with my looks, but I didn't care what I looked

like. Mother yelled, "Ashley Marie Knight!" "What?" I replied. "I've been trylng to get you in here for fifteen minutes now! Dinner is ready!" "I was concenrating, sorry!" When I was thinking, no one could intemrpt my thoughts. Every time I sat down to eat, I wondered what Marlene was eating, and I felt guilty that I was so fortunate. I helped clear the table and sat down to watch a little television. I got very sleepy and drifted off to sleep. The next, thing I knew it was moming and time to get ready. I couldn' t waiL Today we were goin g to apply for scholarships. I was so excited because I was going to apply to Harvard. It was the only school I had ever thought about. I had been in love with it ever since I had gone to a music camp there in eighth grade. As I dozed off into a light sleep, visions of Cambridge, Massachuseus danced through my head! I began to see less and less of Marlene; we began to drift apart. One day, a few weeks later, I walked with her as we used to everyday. She was grim when she told my that we would be parted soon. "You are one of the great ones. One who will make someilring out of yourself that others will benefit from. You have the characteristics of many grcat scholars." I could tell by the look on her face that she was not well. I offered her help, but she told me she wanted to go "home". I understood. Days later I found Marlene. She was dead, lying under the pier. She was gripping onto the stuffed animal

had given her. I knew it was coming, but I was still shocked. I sat by her and stared out into the ocean. I noticed a dolphin I had never seen before playing in tle water. It reminded my of her. Happy and satisfied with a

life free of material objects. I was accepted to Harvard and was parted from the things I most loved: the beach, my family, the sea. But

I could always return. I don't believe that Marlene was permanently taken from this earth. Sometimes,I could have sworn I heard her voice on the night tidcs, and her soul in the rolling waves.

Memories by Pheadrous

Memories. they show us our lives, what we've done, who we are. they are our way of reminding ourselves of our triumphs, our torture for misdeeds. We are our memories. Whcn I was achild I ttroughtthatmy motierwas gonc. I ttrought that she'dbeen replaced by an alien being. My real mother wasn't like this. My real motler was nice, had time to play wirh me. My real mother didn,t drag me kicking and screaming away from my friends. I guess I know why, when I think about it. Dad had gone, which I gucss was good. It ment the fighting was over. It also ment that mom was all by herself, raising a small kid, with no help. I think that's why she whent hard, why she sealed hersclf up and didn't let amy emotion through.

I don't really remember much about my childhood. I remember walking to school after a big fight wittr my mol.her and thinking that in ten

years I'd never remember ir I remember the fights only dimly. Mom and dad didn't get along very well, never should have married and wouldn't have if it wasn,t for me. They fought over a lot of things, which I can't

remember and probibally didn't unders[and at the time. Once I was upstairs in bed and heard them screaming at each other, so I ran down the stairs, hitting the bannistcr with this little broom I had, yelling for them to srop. Instead of calming down and stopping the fight, Dad turned around and grabbed my broom, breaking it over his knee.

There are only some things

I even let myself

remember, I don't know what else is behind that door in the back of my mind. A couple of years ago,I couldn't

even remember this much, justdrew ablank and wentof to another subject. I think I'm doing better. Maybe someday

I'll

even remember all of it.

Free Trade: Our Most Precious Economic Freedom by John Deke

In the past, tle United States was always the unquestioned and unchallenged leader in all forms of industry. We had vast natural and human resources and the ability to access them. B ut more importantly, we never had any foreign competition. In the 19th cenrury, isolationism along with protectionism unrealistically sheltered us from fte rest of the world. In the 20th cennrry, two world wars effectively rendered all ourpotential competitors helpless.

Predictably, American companies became apathetic and noncompetitive, interested only in short. term profits rather than Iong term investment. Unfortunately, they were not at all prepared for the sudden and very stiff competition from Japan and Western Europe. Our companies were forced out.of markets andjobs were lost. This downturn began in the '70's and, along with high oil prices, seriously threatened the stability of our economy. In the '80's, however, our economy began a resurgence. This newboom has comeabout,partly becauseof therapid $owth of our budget deficit, which has been largely funded by Japanese and European investment in U.S. Treasury bills and bonds. With this great involvement of foreign powers in our economy, many American government ofhcials and businessmen have been turning to protectionism. They feel that our multi-billion dollar trade deficits are cosring America jobs. They feel that, since many other governments promote intense proiectionism, the entire idea of free Eade is obsolete. Based on this belief, many people

maintain that we mustbecome more protectionist. in order to surviveeconomically. Inresponse tocharges ofprotectionism, Congressman Joseph Gaydos wrote that we are fighting a war just like we did in World War II, and that

anyone who fights protectionism is a traitor and that protectionism is patriotism. This radicalism expressed by the congressman and by others is really an irrational response to the problems of international rade and in fact damages our national interest. The protectionists feel that, by placing high tariffs on imported goods, they are saving American jobs. The truth is that when we block the entry of foreign products or put high tariffs on them, we are only hurting ourselves. The Congressional Budget Off,rce estimates that for every one job saved by protectionism, three jobs arelost. Wemustrememberthatcompetition and theprinciplesof free tradekeepan economy strong, and thatin the longrun thisrecentcompetition will leaveus even stronger than we were before. I believe that the principles of free trade should be followed so thatcompetition mightimprove the quality of our products and the efficiency of their production. It is true that some countries do practice unfair protectionism, but in the long run, they will be hurt from the lack of competitionjust,as we were. By following thephilosophy of free trade and concentrating on self-improvement, we will be able to create a future in which the United States

will

continue

to be a major player in tlre world of

intemational trade.

Freedom: Our Most Precious Heritage byTrevinWise

was the quest for freedom that brought

America's earliest ancestors to the New World. The English Protestants were oriented in the direction of the individual soul and its strivings. It was this sense of self that. went into fte marrow of America's institutions of freedom and democracy. From the frst truly American document, the Mayflower Compact, to the Consritution, the founders of free government in America established and perpetuated a philosophy of politics that still stands today. The philosophy was freedom and rhe establishment was democracy. If the United States has a single founding ideal, the ideal is freedom. To the fathers, freedom was not a

rhetorical or metaphysical conception, but something quite practical o be incorporated into political institutions. Freedom, as they saw it, meant the absence of coercion by organized bodies and had two consequences: the individual is free from government's arbitrariness and could act, speak, and think freely; and he was to establish and control his won government to be free from fear of domination or intervention by some political tyranny. As John Locke put it, "natural freedom" means that a person is not to be "subjected to the will or authority of any other

man."

Jean Jacques Rousseau established that freedom meant living under chosen restraints, dictated by reason, and accepted because they were ultimately in the individual's best interest. As the Federalist Papers show, however, the

American fathers were troubled by a dilemma posed by the desire for liberty and order. Primarily concerned with freedom, they knew that a mere proclamation in favor of it had no pragmatic meaning. Invocation and rhetoric served to satisfy emotions butwere of little use in an arena where power was paramount. The founders were aware that politics always involved power, whether in use or in abuse, in execution orrestraint. The Americans of 178998 devised a brilliant solution to the problem of how to harness power and control it institutionally, so as to safeguard liberty. They did so with a number of delicate political contrivances that were designed to check and balance all levels of government, which was idealized by Montesquieu. This system of democracy has proven to be strong enough for effective leadership, yet the power is dispersed enough to ensure liberty. Freedom is indeed our most precious heritage. As Rousseau stated, "Liberty, not being a fruit of all climates, is not within the reach of all peoples," however,

liberty is proudly within the reach of all Americans. "Conceived in liberty," as Lincoln said, the republic of the United States of America was a landmark on the path to freedom for all. Strengthened through its history and heritage, the United States has contributed to the development of freedom for the entire world. In Hegel's concept, "The history of the world is none other than the progress of the consciousness of freedom." Thus, our contry has served as a model for all.

Adolescence Is... Lost

in the "House of Mirrors" in the amusement park of life no choice You can't run away from it You can't turn back once you've started, with no directions or maps to guide you through this puzzling place. You may make wrong turns and have pick yourself to back up. You have to see yourself through to the end. Whether it was a nightmare or You enjoyed the ride, it always costs and the man behind the ticket booth grins because he knows what you're walking into -Andrea Dir

yoeQfrye -

"7$)\SS ( )i-roi-*

- -_ ---:=_.-

In My Dreams ForYou

My eyes heavily close as I drift off into my dream land; Lonely darkness surrounds me until I reach and find your hand.

For you my love I will give you the sky I will capture a dove I will hold you and cry I will lasso the moon and bring it to you and put it beside you in the bed where you lie I will touch you and keep you at most I will die but to know that you love me is enough to survive if you ever need me as partners, as friends You know I will be there right now, till the end.

You lead me though the shadows into a brighter place; In one moment I knew I loved you, but you never showed your face. I dreamt of you each night the mysterious man I loved; Your identity remained unknown to me, in my dream high up above.

I tried so hard to see you but you always turned away; I knew ifI looked long enough, I would find you someday.

-Beth Crenshaw

So when I know who you are, and our love is just as it did seem;

this poem I will give to you, the mysterious man in my dream.

-Donya Jibril

Remember Yesterday

I can't help but feel the tears when I think of you and I. Of how it used to be, before we said good-bye. Our goodbyes were not forever, from my heart it wasn't true. But the sadness still lingers on and on, just as the memories do. I know this feeling forever won't last, and my love for you will fade away. But I don't see my smile so much anymore, when in the mirror I remember yesterday. When I'm with you now, it's not for real, it's not how it used to be... Always I'm hoping, praying, but knowing, you've gotten over me. I held on to what I had,I had hoped that you would too. But I guess all that's left is remembering those days, yesterday, with you. -Lisa Wilson

Heart It beats with every step and every move you make

It breaks with every word and advantage that you take.

It cries with every blink when I look into your eyes. It begs for you to please Give a lonely heart just this one last dance. -Janet Mckinley

Ashes to Ashes Ashes to Ashes Dust to Dust I gave you my love I gave you my trust

Nothing's forever Everything ends Even with ending A new thing begins Love creates life Through passsion comes birth Constant beginning and ending Here on Mother Earth Old loved overpowered new love Or maybe what we had was just lust Ashes to Friendship Passion to Dust

-John Epperson

Only She Knows There once was this brown eyed girl full of wonder and excitement I'd see the excitement in her eyes but she doesn't see me This girl had something special I'd feel it when I was near her but she wouldn't feel me we met, we kissed and I felt her not a physical feeling but on the inside who knows if she felt me I keep this one sided love alive hoping it becomes complete but only she knows if it wilt If I break down the barriers and cry would it be her shoulder I cried on only she knows I know she has feelings But only she knows if they're for me But then again, I try, and how hard does she I make the efforts however hopeless because she doesn't know me

-Matt Massey

Just Hurting, In Time I'm feeling certain feelings, that only I can know. I'm so confused and hurt, but I can't seem to let you go I thought we'd overcome, the hard times and the wait... So why am I alone now, and feeling it's too late? I want so much to hold you, and erase the bad of our past The nights I laid in your open arms, oh God why couldn't they last? I didn't think you'd wait for me, I didn't think you'd let me go. I didn't think you'd go to her, and try hard to let me not know. I looked back on your picture, and I felt my teardrops fall. I wanted to wipe them away for good, and forget that I loved you at all. It's easy to say that could ease the pain, but deep down I know that's not true But each day brings a bit more to shield the wound I've recieved from you. Although all hurts will one day heal, I'll be wondering if you cared at all. But I know for now that in all good time, I'll know you were worth my fall. -Lisa Wilson

r N-'t)

Don't Let It Show If it's getting harder to face every day Don't let it show Though it's getting harder to take what they say Just let it go And if it hurts when they mention my name Say you don't know me And it helps to say I'm to blame Say you don't own me Even if its taking the easy way out Kepp it inside of you Don't give in. Don't tell them anything Don't let it show Even though you know it's the wrong thing To say, Say you don't care Even though you want to believe there's a way I won't be there But, if you smile when they mention me They'll never know you And if you laugh when they say I'm To blame, They'll never own you Even if you think you've got Nothing to hide Keep it inside of you Don't give in. Don't tell them anything They have no right Don't let it show.

-Holly Bedwell

Starlight With open heart and shaken pen I'm writing you this song: I hope the words will send you to a peaceful quiet place. Though the life I've lived has been a road ten thousand miles long, I'd walk it time and time again to see the starlight of your face.

If I

sat isolated in the cobwebs of my mind Cursed to ponder all my ills for all eternity, My thoughts would never wander from the happiness I find When thinking of your star lit eyes and what they'll.always mean to me.

And when my life

has passed away,

When winter blows my dust, And when my Father calls me to the land across the sea, If winter finds you all alone and when you cry, if cry you must. Take comfort! I-ook up to the sky and in the starlight you'll see me. -Samuel Wall

Broken Dreams I had so many plans in the future for you and I to share I didn't think about breaking up I just hoped you would always be there I was only looking forward I never stopped to look behind , ignoring all my feelings and listening only to my mind I knew something was wrong and your love was fading fast but I didn't listen to my heart, I wanted us to last. You ment the world to me, they say fust loves don't die But ours was hidden well It was covered with a lie, You looked in my eyes and told me you loved me while all I did was

a*8**J

;*x

,.r,J

', #"

W, JI /q t*

stare.

from your mouth I heard the words but your heafi was telling me you didn't care. The hopes that I have lived for stacked up higher thru the yea.rs were washed away so easly by the falling of my tears. Out of all the things I've done my life no longer gleams for all l have left is this in my hand, my pile of broken dreams.

-Marjeanne Vaughn

Photo by ChristaYoung

My Dreaming Child There will be day When I'm not in your presence But I'11 see your face Etched in the back of my mind Your warm laughing face

I'll see you Precious girl Your beauty and innocence Etched in my heart

You as a person Have been cast upon my heart Appearing from no where Like the sun on a dark rainy day

My dark rainy day is over The sun in your eyes

My Silent Plea Truth to tell, I never thought that it would be so easy. I never knew That you could come to care for someone So quickly. But as my feelings grew, So did your power to hurt me. "Use it wisely!" I silently pleaded fo no avail For without a thought You turned and walked away. So now here am I With only the pain to remind me Of the love I once cherished And the shattered dreams That you once helped me unfold.

-Alexa Ray

Brings shinning hope to my life I have laid my heart in your hands My heart and soul which echo your name Is firmly in your grasp

You darling child A child of innocence Controlling a heart of wonder And dreams May you be able to dream For dreams have no conditions or end So much like ttre care and the warmth In my heart For you

-Matt Massey

It's First Met It's first met, then it's made. It's honest, forgiving, and learned. It's trusful and tender. It's devotion. It's infatuation, suffocation and jealousy. It's critical and demeaning. It's estranged. Finally, It's demolished. Then, It's goodbye. -Donya

Jibril

q6;-

i'r

.,S;i I

ffi*"

1:,r; .:{:

{cr 7A r.

,-w

7"Y Yt. ': ..^ :,

'.V:l

,," i,-,:'

.*S c{.

,r.,,1

, !j

t*xffi; Photo by Michelle Stephenson

whv? Why do I let the thorns

of this imagined rose cut into my palm 'fore e're I smell

, ht l'\

the real perfume?

-Ben Calvert

*A\ \

Forever You told me, "I love you" But what you told me was lies You told me, "Forever" But Forever died I realized nothing's forever And we could never be The fighting and battles Caused insanity In the universe of life Our love was only as important As a grain of sand Everything must die Like I, by my hand -John Epperson

The Last Dance I saw you standing, Alone, In the darkness. I walked up to you, You smiled, took me into your anns, And we danced. You held me, we kissed, We were oblivious to the rest of the world. The lights went on, You were gone. Where are you now? Do you remember me? I haven't seen you since We shared The last dance.

-Tauni Hickman

You Of all my wonderful wishes only one has ever come true, The wonderful wish of having been loved by you. You've shown me happiness far beyond end, Since we were more than "just friends." When I was with you, my spirits soared With each passing day I loved you even more. I sneak a look into your eyes and see them glisten, I sit quiet and just let my heart listen. 'Cause somerimes your look is atl it To make my heart flutter And my hands shake. So when others say it's useless to wish upon a I tell them how wrong they

takes

star,

are.

-paul

Froehtich

That wil Be the

Day

My Heaft My heart is pure, My hand is black Instead of giving, I turn my back. Intending Love but loving lack the cleft unbridged 'tween thought and act Inside I love all that I see the things I do push you from me My hand repels wourd hord

cbn,;l;!l:art 'gainst love not bold

When clocks ntrn counter clockwise And darkness sheds it's On people sleeping wide awake blind because of sight

light

When equal inequalities prove all lies to be true; I know that that wilt be the day When I stop loving you.

-Shannon Byrum

-Pheadrous

Lost Where have they all gone? The days full of freedom The nights spent remebering The wind rushing at us In assurance of a calmness That is still to come. Where have they gone? The children exploring The depths of life The people full of hope The lost souls Searching For love and Contentment. Oh, where Have they gone? The soft music Of Mother Nature The vast blue sky With its flaming

Light The starry nights Under which Love blossomed.

Illustration by Michelle Stephenson

Where have they all gone? They have gone nowhere. They are here, all here. But they are invisible To hardened souls And ingnorant ones. You have only To look To find them.

Look And Love. -Stacey Smith

Broken Hearts Can Always Mend He used to watch her hair catch the light of the sun He used to hold her body to his making their hearts into one. No one could hold her like him how he loved her so Never wanted to believe himself that someday he'd have to let her go. Sitting on her porch swing he turned to take her hand He looked into her face taking all his pain like a man. She reached for him silently he didn't need to ask why How it tore his heart to see her begin to cry. And he pushed away her curls caught her chin up in his hands Brushed away her tears that broke his heart's only chance. Time for him to leave her now he left her memory's end Last words he softly spoke... "broken hearts can always mend."

Love In love they say someone sweeps you the question is if someone is swept

where do their butts land.

-Beth Crenshaw

Wondering I often sit and wonder what would happen if we split to think of all the pain and saddened night it would inflict.

I sit under the stars outside and think of you and

-Krista Cozad

off your feet

I think about how much we've grown together, you and I.

That Night I want to remember every detail of that night As you held me close,I trembled inside And outside. Or was that you? Did you feel it too? You held my hands Your lips met mine And I felt our hearts beating in time Or was that your watch?

-Amy Parish

We've been through things together that I never would have dreamed I want this love to last forever, no matter how hard it seems. So when you get upset with me, Please remember this:

I love you and I always will, bad times soon will pass. I often sit and wonder what would happen if we split, to think of all the pain and saddened nights it would inflict.

-Shannon Byrum

Goodbye Grandmother One year ago today Marks the last time I saw your face Lying in that bed Where I very softly said Goodnight, Grandmother, goodbye I didn't think you'd ever die And Ijust hoped you knew I really did love you. I then sat down by your side And very quietly cried Because I knew I had never told you I was thankful for the things you'd do. And the first day of November Was the last you'd everremember Without me there at all Because you had gone before I called. So today one year has past And I want you to know now my love still lasts.

-Krista Cozad

Photo by Kim Schrag

I Lost You The one tme love I finally found is you, you know it's true. I searched forever round and round and saw not one thing new. That summer night we met I felt that friends were all we were, but then the truth shone bnightly Everlasting... Until her. What did I do wrong my love my heart cries out for you I need to have you fill my life again with love so true A love that would have reigned forever through and through If only time could change ttrat night you found her and I lost you.

-Marjeanne Vaughn

Thanks Mom rhe phone I jump

What Happened to Forever

rings him! not sister

Maybe it's Maybe it's It's for my I give I waited all The clock goes Time to go to I go in He must not like And then Mom Oh, Amy, I Johnny called around six

evening tick-tock bed defeat me says forgot o'clock -Amy

Parish

I don't think I can wait as long as they tell me to for my broken heart to mend; a result of loving you. What happened to forever? Is it the end of time? What happened to ttre heart that once you said was mine? I hope that maybe someday, I don't exactly when, we can put our past behind us and start all over again. -Janet McKinley

Young World abandon, forsake

suppress, hate, vile rude, rough, craggy, despotic consume, engulf, greed. uluttony abuse, dishonbr, irisult, p"erversion detestable, odious, revoftirg, harsh outrage, maltreatment, defame, scandalize bigoted, narrow-minded, fantatical, hate

Lo v e tfili:i, hate, brutal, beastly, bitter, low, ;"J,t!tH:3t- "

o"i?P,Lx

mean,-hard cold-blooded, _hate, cruel, ferocious, barborous inhum&r, sadistic, vicious, pitiless, ruthless decay, rot,^spoil, sporl, crumDle, crumble, hate, hate,. dtsenegl disenegrate ?cay, rot,

hate, defeat, conquer, vanquish, hatt deceive, betr ay^, mislead, beguile degrade, hate, humiliate, hate crosion, frustration, distruction ha_te, hat_e, hate

hdte, hate

-Mark Simpson

Found

Honesty

In your eyes I found love

So many people lose each other because of lies

In your smile I found happiness

or maybe lies weren't told but the questions weren't answered and the questions were asked only because they weren't open and honest with each other and so for a time I thought love was honesty until someone I loved was honest with me and told me he didn't need me

In your arms I found comfort In my loneliness I found you

-Whitney Dean

More than They Know They made you go away, but deep inside you'll stay. Your love lies deep within, they think we'll never meet again. Your picture frames my days, your laughter and your gentle ways. Your smile fills my every thought, but forgotten forever you will be not. I'm just too young and scared, to see you gone for good, and my heart's too weak and lonely, to think that you ever could. They just can't hide the memories, no matter how hard they try, And even if my life was threatened, I could never say goodbye. You mean too much, and they don't understand, that I can't walk away or let go of your hand. Your vision lies before me, and I'11 never let you go, Because I love you and I need you, a whole lot more than they know.

-Lisa \ililson

To the next Ansel Adams: The Voice

Every night I close my eyes and pray that God will hold you tight within His safe and protecting arms away from pain and worldy harm

The voice is softly calling me, it's only a heartbeat away. The voice has me under a spell

andin adifferentday. I can't

see where it's coming from where it just might be. or Although I cannot feel it, it gently touches me. It calls me throughout the night; throughout my restless sleep. When the world is dark, the voice about me creeps. I think I've found out what it is, a faded memory. The voice is my everlasting dream of you coming back to me.

Every night I close my eyes and thoughts of you come into sight Dreaming of the things you do Praying that your love is true Every night I close my eyes and hope the dream will end for in the moming when I awaken you're still just my friend

-Janet McKinley

-Kiz

No I once wanted you But not anymore I guess in a way This evens the score You wanted me back of that I've no doubt I have one thing to say-babe Eat your heart out

-Sandra Nuefeld

irT ,r)) ,rrYm-orlH

The Return 'Twas All Hallows Eve, and all through the graveyard, Not a living soul was awake, and there was no brave guard. The corpses were buried under six feet of dirt, Not one ounce of breath could any exert.

They had only a tombstone to call their own And old splintered caskets that held rotted bones.

If only the dead could

their fate, before they had died, before they could hate. see

They would see snakes lay where they had respired And held a cold heaft before they retired. The spiders would settle in the skull of the soot And make their nests where the hate took root. The trees stood still and shadowed the ground As the moonlight revealed where the bodies were bound. There came a strong wind and a grumble from hell As the chime of a clock in the distance struck twelve.

The graves were shaken, the pits of hell roared And the old rotted bones were at rest no more.

A corpse arose from its humble grave As the light of the full moon revealed the raid. Another came to join the first, When they're all assembled, they'll fulfill their thirst. It's souls they seek, the souls of the blind They will not stop until thousands they find. So, on

All Hallows Eve, beware of the dead,

Or they'll steal your soul right out of your head. Don't take my words to hesitationIt's in the book of Revelation!

-Angy Sunderman

Illustration by Matt Massey

Please Help Us by

Alexia Smith

The year was 1978 in tvlayfield, September 5th, to be exact, when Martha and Bea were getting ready for bed on what they thought was just another ordinary nighf But Martha had a strange, sort of foreboding, feeling deep inside that made her restless. The two old ladies had been friends since childhood, always lived close to each other, even married a set of twin brothers. When Bea's husband, Ed, passed away five years ago, shemovedin with ldarthaand her husband, Fred. Fred died of a heart anack just a year later. The two women kept the house and still live there now. The sandy brown, brick house was surrounded by rees with a dirt road in front of it that curved into the woods. This curve was dangerous at night; no light from the moon was let in through the canopy of trees overhead.

There was one espe.cially dangerous spot right at ttre sharpest point of thc curve, a small cliff at the edge of the road going down into the trees. The house stmdnext to the Mayfield Methodist Church, which had been trying to get the two ladies to sell so that the church could use the house as offices. They had plans to buy it and eventually build on to The church kept making offers, but since Martha hadgrown up in this house, she refused to sell.

That night, as Martha was lying in bed trying to slcep, she hearda terrible noise and apiercing scream that brought her to her feet. Soon there was a knock at the door. As Martha opened the door, she found a young, frightened girl crying and begging for help. She said they had been in a terrible wreck. Martha invited the girl in and called the ambulancc. She then made some hot tea, but when she got to lhe front room , the girl had already lefr Marttra decided to stay by the window until she saw the ambulance go by, and ften she went, back to bed. But she still could not sleep.

"Mike Eskridge and Amy Brunn Killed," read the front page main article. Martha's attention was immediately caught. She read on to find that it was talking about the wreck on the James Road curve. Suddenly, she remembered the girl last night" and read on to find out her name. But, as sheread on, she learned there were only two people in the weck, the two died. lvlartha turned thepage

to continue the article, and saw the picture of the npo tecnagers. She went ghostly white as she recognized the girl. It was the girl who came to the door. But the article had said that both were rapped in the car and killed instantly. Martha and Bea moved and were never seen again. The church was happy to have the house afterall

these years. They made the main level the minister's office, and the basement was the secre[ary's ofhce and storage room. One night when Jill, the secretary, was working late, she heard the door above heropen, and then footsteps. She went up to see if she could help whoever it was only to find that nobody was there. She knew they couldn't have gone downstairs because there was only one door to the basemenl When she got downstairs, She went to her typewriter and noticed that someone, or something, had typed "Please help us, please help us we have been in a

tenible wreck. Please help us, please." Jill was also the youth leader. She was an active person in the church, deeply devoted to God, and didn't believe in ghosts. She just figured tlat one of the youth was playing a trick. As she was walking out to her car though, she had a strange feeling. She felt that somehow sheneededtohelp someone, somewhere somebody needed her. She couldn't sleep that night or for a week after. On April 14,lg8y'' Jill sponsored a overnight party at the new youth center. The church had built onto the house and made it into a big gymnasium with a second level. What used !o be the main level of the house, was now the youth center, the basement was just storage, and the new second level was Sunday School rooms. That night, a new girl that nobody had ever seen came to the party. Jill tried to include her as much as she could, but the new girl didn't talk at all. All Jill could find out was that her name was Amy. Amy just sat in the corner by herself and warched everyone. The other kids were having frrn and pretty much ignoring her. Jill felt really badly about the way the group treated her, so when they took the group picture the next morning, she had the new girl stand in the very center of the group. When Jill developed the pictures from the party, she noticed she didn't have any of the new girl. As she lmked at ttre goup picture, she noticed something weird

aboutin, yetshecouldn'tlay herfingeronwhatitwas. She asked her husband, and he didn't see anything strange or feel anything different when he looked at it,ls she did. Every time she looked at the picture, she felt a strange feeling, one of terror and emptiness. As she was lying in bed that night, she felt that she had o look at it just one last time. As she did, she noticed that there was a space where the new girl had stood, there was absolutely nothing there.

Jill framed and hung this picture on the wall in the youth center. Jill had an eerie felling and was always restless. She started to think about the incident when she found the message on the typewriter. She then remem-

Please Help Usl cont'd. bered the story about the wreck on James Road curve.

That Christmas, Jill was holding a practice for the youth's play they were performing for the Christmas Eve service. As they were singing "SilentNight," the pipe organ started playing with them. They sropped singing and just listened to the beautiful music. Jill had a sudden urgo to see who it. was, so she bnought the youth to the bottom of the stairs and had them stay there. She and two boys from the group went up the only stairs to get to the balcon y where the pipe organ was. As they reached the top of the stairs, the music stopped. Nobody was there; no one was in sight anywhere. Jill had the same feeling of terror and emptiness she had when she held the picture, but this time it was a

littlc different. This time, it was mixed with the same feeling that she needed to help someone, tlnt someone desperately needed her.

She went downstairs and continued with the practice. As they were singing "Silent Night," the music began again, but this time she old the youth to keep singing. As they ended the song, Jill's resrless feeling left her and she suddenly felt very content. The music slowly died out and Jill felt as through she had helped whoever it was that was calling to her. Jill felt like she had done something very special for someone. Although Jill never had met Amy Brunn, and ncver talked to her during the party, she felt that she lnew her better that she had known anyone. She felt ttrat a part of Amy was with her and always would be.

Nasty Rumor I was at lunch standing in the hall Then I heard voices through a vent in the wa1l. They were familiar, could barely understand. In a fit of rage, I heard Johnny Goodman. Take a gun and blow out his brains, Covcr the school with blood red stains. They were talkin'about killing my best frien<i. I mean bring his life to an end. In return for their nasty rumor they said I turn their gun and shot them, instead.

-Paul Froehlich

Blood On The Walls by

MariRies

Siobhan woke up screaming, drenched with sweat. She looked around wildly, trying to remember where she was. Slowly, she recognized her room, clothes tossed carelessly on the floor, the dressers cluttered with debris. Her eyes settled on the familiar picture of her and Michelle, her best friend, sitting on the stand next ro her bed. She had an aching urge to call Michelle now, to tell her about the dream. Oh God, the dream. Siobhan had had nightmares before, but never so terrifying as this. As she thought, the dream swallowed her again. She remembered walking through a door, walking into hell. The fust thing she noticed was the blood on the wall. It was everywhere. On the ceiling, on the floor, spattered on everything. She was in a white kitchen (now stained crimson red) with a small table in the center. There was a woman in the center of the room looking at the scene, unconcemed by the madness around her. In the corner there was a grate, for air intake. There was a girl in the corner, with an iron collar around her neck, a chain running from her neck to the grate. Siobhan couldn't. see her face, only white, miserable eyes. There was blood all over her, too. It was caked in the girl's hair, streaming from her face, dripping in pools on the tiles. She leaned exhaustedly against the wall, mouthing a silent, despairing scream. Siobhan began to panic. She was afraid to think, afraid to fall asleep. Who was it, she wondered, who was the girl? She felt she shouldknow her. The eyes seemed familiar. I can't think about this! I'[ go crazy! I'll talk to Michelle about it at lunch today, she thought. No, I won't. Michelle's so wrapped up in her problems lately, she doesn't have time for anyone else. As she got ready for school, Siobhan reflected on their talk the day before. All morning, Siobhan had looked for Michelle. She didn't find her until lunch hour. She was sitting in the far corner, her head hanging, thick honey locks of hair

hiding her face. Siobhan tried in vain to catch her attention, gave up and began to navigate the cafeteria. When she finally sat down beside her, Michelle did not look up. Oh great, thought Siobhan. Michelle's down and depressed, and is going to want me to be sympathetic, when half her problems are her fault.

"Michelle? What's wrong hon? Did you and Trev getinto anotherfight? I'm telling you, he's notdoing you any good-Michelle...hey now, what's the maffer with you? Look at me, will ya?" Slowly, Michelle lifted her head. The hair fell away from her face, revealing swollen puple splotches. Her eyes, usually somber blue, were red rimmed and

angry, still wet with tears. "pnd-" she whispered hoarsely, "he...he got mad at me. Called me a hussy. Said I was just like Mother, that he kicked her out for being a hussy, too. I started screaming at him, called him abastard. So he hit me. What am I supposed to do, Siobhan? Trev tells me I should run away, live with someone else. I love Trev so much, why can' t Dad see that? I realize that they don' t like each other, but Dad's not dating Trev. I am." She sobbed once, l.hen

stifled it and sat in stony silence, waiting for Siobhan to help her. Siobhan sighed. "Well if Trev wants you to move out" why don't you stay with him? He has been talking marriage lately, and if you love each other so much, he should be willing to help you out, especially after your dad did tlis." She knew the answer before it came. "Trev says it wouldn't be a good idea for me to move in with him, because Dad might call the cops, or something like that." "Or something like that! Has it ever occurred to you, Michelle, that you've very recently had an eighteenth birthday? Do you know what that means? That means that even if your dad calls the cops, he won' t have a leg to stand on, because you are an adult, and can live with whom you please. Trev just doesn't want you to live with him. He's notafraidthatyourdad is going to call thecops, he's afraid he' ll bring a shotgun over! Trev may be a god in your eyes, 'Chelle, but he's beginning to look more and more like slime to me." Siobhan knew she shouldn't have said that, but she was so tired of Michelle coming to her with the same story, day after day. It made her mad that her dad beat her, but she couldn't make Michelle realize that half

herproblems wouldbe solved if shegotridof herTrevorgod. Since they had started dating two months ago, there had been numerous fights two break-ups, and countless run-ins with Michelle's father. That Trev had been to jail for drug possession didn't help matters. Siobhan didn't think thathewas trying togetMichelle intodrugs, butshe felt that he didn't want her moving in with him because she might cramp his style.

"He is not slime! He probably just docsn't feel ready to have someone living with him yet. He's still got a lot of adjusting to do now that he's back in society, and on parole and all. I can't believe you said that, Siobhan. You're supposed to be my best friend, and I need you Siobhan, and you just don' t seem to care," she said softly. Siobhan sighed, hoping today would be different, and Michelle would listen to her problems, for once. On the way to school, and tlrough all her morr{ng classes,

Blood ort tlrc Wallsl cont'd. the nightmare invaded Siobhan's mind,

filling her head

with visions of bloodstained walls and a silently screaming girl. When she met Michelle at lunch that day, she didn't notice the shadows underhereyes,orthe deepening of yesterday's purples.

"Michelle, I' ve got to talk to you," S iobhan said "I had l.he most awful dream last night. I dreamed I was in a kitchen, and that there was blood on the walls, and on the floor, and all over this girl that was chained to a grate in the corner. I couldn't even recognize who the girl was, because there was so much blood." She looked at Michelle expectantly, waiting for something, but shc didn't know what. Michelle glared at her strangely,like she hadn't

urgently.

undcrstood. "What do I look like,

dream interpreter?

It's

just a nightmare, Siobhan, you'll get over it, I'm sure. Don't let, it get you all worked up." There she thought, now she knows how I felt ycsterday. It enraged her that Siobhan was coming to her with somc bad dream she had, when Siobhan knew what a nightmare her life had become. Within the last year, her father had driven her mother off with his drunken rages. He had beaten her, and convinced himself that both she and her mother were sluts. He forbade her to see or even speak to her mother, and Mother was so frightened by him, she didn't try to protest. Then Trev had come along. At first, he had been the knight in shining armor, telling her how beautiful she was, and that she should leave herfatherandlive with him. Ir{arry him, even. After he got off parole, of course. Now, Michelle wasn't so sure of him. She still loved him, that was for sure. But he had been hanging around with some of his old friends, trying to get back into the drug market after his absencc. They had fought over this for weeks now, Michelle accusing, Trev offended at her lack of trust Justtelling them nottocomearoundanymore, he had told her. Well, she had him now. Now that she was pregnant, he had to take her in. He knew that her dad would kick her out, and she was sure he would want to raise a child with her.

She almost rold Siobhan about the baby, then dccided againstit. Siobhan didn'tseem tocareaboutwhat. happened to her anyway. She would tell Siobhan tomorrow, after she called Trev and told him. Siobhan had been sitting in silence, altemating

between anger at Michelle's attitude at the recurring visions of her dream. She knew the girl in the corner, she was positive of that, but still couldn't recognize her. The uncomfortable lunch hour ended, and the girls said goodbye, promising to call one another, knowing that they wouldn't, and that their calls would not be missed. When Michelle got home, she rushed to the phone. As she waited for him to answer, she wondered why her father kept forbidding her to call Trev, when he was never home enough to enforce his decree.

"Hello?" "Trev darling, it's me. How was your day?" "IJh, well, matter of fact, I just woke up. How's your face looking?" "Oh I'll be alright. The teachers are giving me worried looks though." "They should, too, baby! He beat the shit out of you! I'm telling you, you need to get out of there. If you don't go on yoru own, a counselor at school will get wind ofwhat's up,and try herdamndesttogetyouput in afoster home."

"Why can't I stay with you, Trev? I know, your on me living with you, but...what if we got married? I love you, Trev, and I want. to be with you." Trev's voice became irritated. "We've been through this before, Michelle. I love you too, but I can't afford to get married right now. And besides, I wouldn't.

paroleofficerwouldn'tlookkindly

want to drag you down into...my life." "What if I told you I was pregnant? Would you marry me then?" She waited breathlessly for him to tell her to pack her bags. "Are you sure?"

"Ygs." 'Oh God. Listen, babe, I was hoping it wouldn't come tJo this. I can't do what you're asking me to do. If my parole officer finds out your pregnant, I'll go right back to prison. Besides, I haven't got time for any kids

I'll tell you what, baby. I'll send you a check, and you go getanabortion, atoneof thosereal niceclinics. right now.

They do a good job, and your dad will hardly notice you've been sick, alright?" Michelle was sobbing. "Don'[ do this to me, Trev, please. I love you. You always told me you loved me! I don't want an abortion ! I want you to take me away, just like you promised!" "Calm down baby, calm down. Listen, it'sbetter this way. Your old man's right, you know. I'm not the kind of guy you should be dating. Now,I'll send a check to your house, OK? I think a $500 should cover it. And uh, Michelle, don't try to call me anymore, alright? I was planning on moving in the next couple of days anyways, so this was bound to happen."

He hung up. Michelle sat on the floor, holding the dead phone on her lap. The tears seemed endless. She

should have known. No one had ever cared before, why should he have been different? She shuddered at the hell that was going to break loose. She couldn't get an abortion, it would drive her crazy. Her fatier would kill her if he found out she was pregnant. She reached out one more time begging Siobhan to answer thephone, begging with tears of desperation. Siobhan didn't answer the phone. She wasn't home. She was on her way to Michelle's house, running speed lights, driving her fastest. She had finally recog-

What Evil Lurks by Cass

Fly

Two streams of light cut through the mysterious, foggy night as a car came into view. The car climbed up a winding hill to a tall castle in the mist. A man got out of the car as the hum of the engine ceased, and the streams of

light shut off.

"This must be the place," he grumbled as he glanced down at a piece of crumpled paper. He knocked at the towering door. No answer. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. He shoved the key inoo the lock, turned it, and opened the groaning door. "Anyone here?" he inquired. He made his way to the middle of the hall, unaware he was being watched. A set of unknown footprints stalked to the top of the stairs from one of the dark, dusty rooms upstairs. "Oh, Wendy, thank goodness you're here," he sighed.

Blood on the Wallsl cont'd. nized the face. The eyes, her only source, were what threw her. She had never seen eyes so bitter, so despairing, until that day, at lunch.

It had taken her all day, and half the night, racking her brain, to realize ttrat the answer had been standing in front of her, asking to be found. Oh please Michelle, forgive me, please,just hang on, hang on alittle longer, she begged as she screeched into the driveway. She bounded toward the door, issuing a silent prayer of thanks that it was open.

"Michelle! Michelle! It's meSiobhan!" Sheran frantically to Michelle's room. She wasn't in it. Siobhan heard a stirring down the hall. She ran to the bathroom, and screamed.

Michelle was lying on the floor, a razor in her hand. Her arms, hands and face were lying in the pool of blood that had flowed from her wrists. There was blood on the wall.

Just a second after he bent down to tie his shoe, a knife came hurling inches over his head and made its

mmk in the old wooden door. Without a word, theman ran outof the house, the shadow following. He stumbled to his car and nervously fumbled his key in the door. He swung the door open and tried to start the engine. Stalled. He quickly got out of lhe car as the shadow appeared in the doorway. He made his way down thelong foggypath to an old abondoned house. He tried the door. Locked. He looked backe to find the shadow was a long way back, but quickly approaching. The man found a window, and with every bit of strenght he had, shattered the window with his elbow. Very carefully, he made his way in and hid in a corner just as the shadow found thebroken window. The shadow lookedin, and in a women's voice said, "Boy, I sure did scare you, didn't I? John? Are you there?."

The Leper by Derin Dopps

Believeitor not, the filthy, disease stricken town of Hawkins Junction was a beautiful town. It, was pure, and clean. But the citizens of the town were stupid people, with no compassion for the sick. This is their story.

November 5, 1980 was the day no one in Hawkins Junction willeverforget, foritwas the day thesickness came to Hawkins Junction in the form of Dennis Smith. He was a poor man, who made his home in a run-down little shack on the outskirs of town. But, there was one problem. Dennis was stricken with leprosy. It had worked out fine, until the people found out. Then they decided to hunt down this wretched piece of filth, before itcontaminated theirnice town. They gathered aroundhis small shack,andprepared to drivehim out They would do whatever they had to, to get him to leave, even kill him. The leaders of the group were, Homer Pierce and his wife Nancy, and their best friends, Craig and Louise Frogely. The rest of the people in the town followed behind with torches and rifles. Homer carried an axe and Craig carried a gun.

"Come out, leper! Get out of here!" Homer yelled, while the crowd grew outside Dennis' house. "Outside, leper! We don't want yerkind in these parts!" Craig yelled in agreement, "Hawkins Junction ain't got no use for lepers!" "Come outleper!" Homeryelled one more time. Then Nancy butted in, "He's been in there for month; maybe he's dead already." Suddenly the door creaked open, and someone screamed, "There he is!" And, there he stood. He was nothing except a bag ofrotting flesh and bones. "Look a[ him," Louise shouted, "H-he's all rotted away!"

"Don'ttouch him,"Nancy screamed in horror,

the leper turned to face her.

His white eyes bulged from empty sockets, and his skin was paper thin. He opened his mouth to speak, but all he could get out was, "-M-mggh (gurgle).." Then all heck broke lose, as someone screamed. The crowed came to life. "Chase him outta town." "Drive the leper off!" "Git! Go way leper!"

..K[LLHIM!''

Poor, frightened Dennis took off running from crowd. It was the only thing he could do. But the crowd was oo stupid to let well enough alone. No, Craig the

and Homer had to push it. "Git outtra our town! Go somewheres else," Homer said. Then Craig raised his rifle, "I'll fix him." With that, Craig gave Dennis both barrels, right in the back.

"Got'em!" Craig yelled. "We done it!" Homer yelled. "We showed him!" Nancy screamed. They rejoiced as the lifeless body of Dennis Smith rolled down a hill, and into Harpers creek. There it bobbed face down, lazily as the current pulled it down steam. The voices could still be heard in the backgound.

"We got that ol' leper!" "Don'[ need his kind in these parts!" And, as Homer so ironically said, "Hawkins Junction is a nice, clean [own," the remains of Dennis Smith slipped into the Hawkins Junction water supply reservoir. The town would never be the same again.

Child's PIay by Derin Dopps

damp evening fog rolled across Allistown

this? Only one body? That's not enough! I need more blood

Ccrnetery. The chipped tombstones seemed to shiver in the chilly cloak of darkness as old Silas Croftwandered towards the crypt. He didn't notice four shaking forms, crouching behind a cracked gravestone protruding it's mark of death from the soft earth. These four creanres happened to be four boys from the local Jr. High School. These four best friends were: Todd Loggins, Brent Bradley, Paul Parente, and Tom Sutton. These four boys had always been into monsters. They all had their rooms decorated with monster models, posters, and VCR tapes. They even had a club called the Four

for myself. Otlerwise, you know what will happen." "Butmaster, this is a small town, not many people

Ghouls. So, it was not a surprise that they were hanging cemetery. What was a surprise was the reason they wcre there tonight. You see, they had noticed something absut old man Silas. Last night he had taken a red bag full of something to the old crypt. When hehadleft, there had been nothing in the bag. Paul, the newest kid in the club had only been with them one week, when he pointed this out to the kids, so they all dccided to investigate tonight. They crept to the old doorway, after Silas had entered, and there they peered in after him. Thcn, in the shimmering laceworkof thespiderwebbed crypt, the four young intruders discovered why no one was cver permitted to enter the crypt, except Silas. They saw the secret that layed within the walls. They found outthatthe mausoleum, while sleeping thc dead, also awakened the living. The living dead. For like around

thc owl hooting at the moon, like the shrieking wisps of slcepless ghosts, like all creatures of the night, ttre vampire is alive. The silence was broken by Silas's voice ,"You have summoned me again, master Lamont! Everything is ready, awaiting you in the mortuary." "Excellcnt," the creature spoke,"I crave tle fresh fluid of life in my thirsty veins. See how my flesh begins to dry? We must go quickly!" Back in the cemetery, the four friends were running for their lives. Finally they rested on the steps of Tom's porch. Paul was the firstone to speak,"Gasp, gasp, whatdid I tell you? Did you... puff...puff see that fellas?" "Whew," Brent said, "It's a vampire! This is our club, for real! What are we going to do?" "I don't, know," Tom said,"But we had better think

of something, quick."

Meanwhile, back in the mortuary, the vampire spoke,"How glorious,that,themortuary shouldbe herein the cemetery. It's very convenient to choose my, er, food so easily, ehe, heh." "Yes master, you can drink your fill now, heh, he." Suddenly, the vampire's gleetumed to rage. "What's

diehereatonce. Pleasemaster. I will getmore, anything you wish, master." With lhat, the vampire lowered his head and began to feed. ing

Meanwhile, atTommy's house, the gang was holdsecret meeting in the club house in Tommy's back yard. a

Right now, Todd was speaking. "Maybe we should tell somebody. Let's tell our folks."

"Tell them what you dinkleberry," yelled Paul," About old man Croft, and that vampire thing? God, how stupid do you think we are? They would never buy it!" "No wonder old man Croft has been locking the gate lately," Brent said thoughtfully, "He never did before. It's bad enough we can't have meetings there after school anymore with him around. Now this! We'll have to do something, or the whole town will soon be his feeding grounds." "Youmean us?Gulp... us d-do something aboutold man Croft and this vampire thing?" Todd said, "Come on, this is not a movie! This is real life!" Then Tommy got ticked,"Come on, you wuss. If we don't put a stop to ttris, the whole town will turn into a vampire haven. Now, we have got to strike! We make plans tomorrow. Now, let's go home, and get some resl" Thenextevening, Todd, Brent, and Tom metatthe club house. Paul never met them, until about 6:00 at night, because he went to a private school, and when he got home he had to do plenty of chores, before he could go out. So, noneof theotherthreehadmetPaul's family yet. Well, they all got settled down, and Tom called the meeting to order. "Okay gang, listen up. Tonight when old man Croft goes into the crypt, we'll get the vampire." "Yes," Brent said, "And I have got the stake and hammer, justlike you old me to, Tom." "Good, and I brought a little surprise, holy water!" he reached into his backpack, and pulled out a two liter Coke bottle of holy water. Then ttrey loaded up their supplies and headed for the cemetery. When they got there, Paul was

waiting for them. "Did you get the can ofkerosene from your garage?" asked Tom.

"Yes." "Good, we'll set fire to the coffin afterwards. Everyone will think old man Croft fell down the stairs with his lantern." So, as the final flicker of light dwindled into the black glove ofnight, Silas Croftbegan his strangejourney to

8l Clrild's Playl cont'd. lhc mausoleum. Tom whispered, "Look, he's going into the crypt. Cct the stake rcady, for it will be night soon." "When we'rc inside," Paul said, "Leave the old rniur Croft to mc. You just follow therest,of thcplan. Watch

it now!" So, they crcpt into the crypt, and watched as Silas prcpared to wakehis master. They couldjustbarely make out his words. "Master, soon now master, tonight I have a special fcast for you! One of the villagers,I killed myself, for you!" S uddenly Paul let him have it over the head with the shovcl hc was carrying. "llurry," Todd yelled, "The coffin's opening ! " But thcn Todd stoppcd, "Wc've killed old man Croft."

"No nccd to worry about that now," Tom said, "Any minutc now that vampire will awaken." Crccaaklik.... then coffin lid opened slowly. "L-look," Paul said, "It's open, but hc's not awake,

yct."

"Bring thc sLake," Brent shouted. "Hurry, hc's waking up. Hurry!!" Thcn one eyc opened, andTodd heard himself yell, "Now, Tom hit thc stake, NOW!!!" Swish! Thunk! The stake pierced Lamont's chest, likc it was hollow inside, as the vampire lct out a nevcr ending scream.

..AAAAAAAAAEEMEEMEItrIIIIIHHHHHHHHH!

!!!!

!''

His features and skin slowly meltcd until there was

nothing left, except his bones.

"Quickly," Paul said, "Bring

the kerosene!"

"What about old man Croft?" Todd asked. "Never mind him, he must. be dead. Quickly now, lct's scram."

"Look out , the fire is sprcading." And with that, they all ran out of the crypt, and to the gates of the cemetery.

"Man," Paul said,"Now evcryone will think that old man Croft fell down the stairs with his lantern." "Wait, a second," Tommy said suddenly. "This was too easy." "You're right," Paul said, and as the othcr three watched in horror, he began to change before their eyes. His cyebrows became fuller, and his features broadcned. Fangs grew from his mouth. "You see, " He said, "I am the other vampire. "But how?" Brent asked, "You have been out before nightfall ." "Because, you foolish boy,I am not a lull vampire. I can come out at dusk, becausc I havc not made my first kill. But, that will all change tonight." Then heleptatBrent. But, hc forgotoncthing. Tom rcached into his backpack, and pullcd out the 2 liter of holy water. He unscrewed the lid, and drenched the vampire. The three remaining boys watchcd as Paul Parente meltcd into a gory puddle. Then they headcd for town, shaken but alive!

18 and by

JohnVan Hamme

Ted sat by the old well thinking deeply. It was June 2, 1958. It was Ted's eighteenth birthday. It also happened to be the day he graduated. He had waited for this for a long time. Today he became free !o do whatever he wanted. Ted was thinking about his future. Wheneverhe

was troubled by something or he couldn't think, Ted would come down and sit by the old wishing well. For some reason he had always been able to think better there.

Tonight he was troubled by the futue. Ted wasn't sure what he was going to do. He knew one thing though, he didn't want to end up like his father. He and his father had never gotten along well, and when Ted's brother was killed, it didn't help the relationship much. Ted didn't want to manage the local hardware store. He didn't want to get married and have kids and most of all, he didn' t

want to grow old in a small town like his father. Ted wanted to stay young forever and go out into the world and do something with his life, butTed knew that if he stayed in Baxter, he would end up like his father.

Slowly, Ted withdrew a shiny penny from his pocket. He watched the moon glimmer off the coin as he flipped it into the well. " I wish I could be eighteen forever." As Ted turned to leave, he heard a noise. He turned around and saw that the bucket in the well was slowly rising. In the bucket he noticed a piece of yellow paper. On the paper it said, " Your wish has been granted."

What. is this? A joke? Alright, is somebody

Then Ted realized that there couldn't. be anyone down there. There was no way to get down there. "This is crazy! Is this for real?" Ted stared into the empty blackness of the well, but he could sec nothing. Ted began to walk toward his '57 Chevy. Just thcn he heard the rumbling of another car in

was his best friend, John Morris. HIs

nickname was Pook, which was ironic because he was so HUGE. Pook stepped out of his car. "Your parents told me you'd be here."

"Nothin',let's go." Ted looked at his watch and saw that it was exactly 9:00.

"What time does your watch say, Pook?" "9:06. Why?" Ted didn't answer. He was deep in thought. Something had clicked in his mind. He was born on Thursday, June 2nd, 1940 atexactly 9:00 P.M. His watch had stopped at exactly 9:00 P.M. When he thought more, he realized that he had flipped the coin into the well at roughly 9:00, Thursday, June 2nd, 1958, the exact time he was born eighteen years earlier. "Ted, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go." They decided to take Ted's car and leave Pook's at his house. At the party, Ted couldn't keep his mind from wandering back to the incident at the well. It was just so strange. His watch was still stuck on 9:00. Maybe his wish had come true. Deep in his heart he felt that it had. "Ted, what's wrong?" asked Jane Lansford.

"I don't know. I feel kinda sick." "You? Sick? You're never sick. You've never even missed a day of school. Something must really be wrong." Ted went to find Pook. "Ift's go, Pook."

"Why?"

"I don't feel very good." see ya later guys." Ted took Pook home, and then he drove himself home. When Ted got home, everyone was asleep, so he was able to avoid his parents usual dumb questions. He fell into bed without even taking his clothes off. He fell into a deep sleep. That night Ted dreamed. In his dream Ted was backatthewell. He heardabooming voice say,"Go forth, leave this place ! Your wish is granted. Never return. Leave or your wish will not come true." Ted saw himself and a yound girl standing, looking into the well. He sensed that they were hoping for something. Then thebooming voice again saying, "Go forth,leave this place." Ted awoke in a pool of sweat. He knew what he must do. So early in the morning, around 6:00, Ted loaded up his '57 Chevy and drove off to meet his destiny. Ted decided to make his frst stop at Saratoga, Illinois. It was far enough away so he could avoid being found. Ted took a small job in a small restaurant. He was

"Okay,

down there?"

the distance.

'1ilhat?"

want

to spend the rest of his life in Baxter, Missouri. He didn't

Life

was just

doin' some thinkin'." "Well, c'mon, there's a party at Simpson's and everybody's lookin' for ya."

"I'm nol really in the mood to party." "What? You're a party animal! C'mon it's your graduation night. You'reeighteen, enjoy lifealittle! Soon we're gonna be old just like our parents."

"Maybe not."

18 and Lifel cont.d. just able to rent a small aparrnent and still be able to eat. In August he registered at Blackhawk High School. At first, he had trouble making friends buthewas soon widely accepted. Of course he had to change his name. He chose to call himself Rick. Everything wentjustas planned. Ted was having fun. He was always going toparties and other events. Then after he graduated in June and school was through, he moved on. Ted continued in this manner for l.he next thirty years. Ted had mixed emotions about the decades he went through. Ted was fascinated by the sixties because of the atmosphere of the times. The nation was changing. The bcginning of the sixties was marked by the arrival of the Bcatles and John F. Kennedy, while the latter part of the sixties dealt with a nation in turmoil. Ted was concemed about Vietnam and the protesting of it" He wasn't really sure if it was right or wrong. To Ted, it was an amazing dccade. He enjoyed the sixties the most. The seventies left a little to be desired for Ted. Evcryone cxpected the seventies to be so great. B ut, to Ted, the seventies weren't as good as the sixties. The seventies were marked by more protesting of the war and more violence against lhe proteslors. The decade was also marked by Nixon and Watergate. The eighties were very fast paced. Exactly how Ted liked it. To Ted, the eighties didn't show much promise at the beginning of the decade. But as the decade wore on it became better. He didn't like yuppies and politicians,butnobody did. As theeightiescame toaclose Ted was amazed by the advances toward peace that the Soviet Union had made. A country that only years before was an enemy of the United States. Ted couldn't help but wonder what life would have been like if he had never made his wish. What would it be like to be fifty? Where would he be? It. was now 1990 and Ted was living in a small town in Missouri called Trenton, which was close to Baxter. He was attending Trenton High School. It was here that he fell in "true" love for the fust time. Her name was Sarah Minifeld. She was of medium height and had light brown hair. At flrst Sarah tried to avoid Ted, but soon she gave into his charm. They began to date. Sarah thought there was somefring strange about Ted. (He had changed his name back to Ted.) He seemed to know so much for such a young age. It was almostas though he had been around for years.

After they had been going out for about six months, Sarah asked Ted if he wanted to take a trip to her grandparents in South Fork, Missouri. On the way they stopped at a liule old gas station outside of Baxter. An old man in oily overalls came out from under the hood of an

old truck. "Can I help ya'?"

fill 'er up," Ted said. "This car sure is a beauty. I had a car like this." "Really?" "Yeah,

friend that had

"Yeah, he had this fascination with bein' young. He told me he wanted to be eighteen forever. He didn't want to stay in Baxter. He was goin'places. One day, his family woke up and he was gone. Nobody ever seen him again. Kinda strange ain't it? Ya' know, he looked kinda'

like you." "Pook?" Ted said under his breath. "What? Did you say Pook?" "No, no I said Coke. I'd like a Coke." "Oh sure, cost ya' 50 cents." "Sure, thanks." After Sarah came back from the bathroom they

hit the road again. *Salah?"

"Yes, what is it Ted?" "I've got something to tell you." Ted told Sarah his entire story. Unexpectedly, she believed him. always knew there was something weird

about you," Sarah said.

"I don'twant to be eighteen anymore. I love you! I want to be with you for the rest of my life." "Go back to the well and do it all over again." They drove out to the old well. Miraculously it was still there. As they approached the well Ted noticed something shiny on the ledge. It was a dull 1958 penny. This explained his dream, but his future was still uncertain. He flipped his coin into the well and warched as the noon day sun glistened off of it. "I want my life to go on as it was." Nothing happened. Then slowly, the bucket began to rise. Ted ook the yellow note out. of the buckeL On the note it said,"Your wish is granted." Then, for the first time in 32 years, his watch began to tick.

Oblivion by J.1,. Clarke

A blast of crackling lightening kissed the uiangular alur thc three figures stood around. Thcy were clad in robcs: onc whitc, one black, and one dark blue. They w'crc standing in the great hall of stone with an opcning in thc cciling and thc rain was pouring down upon them from

the inky black night sky.

am Ralios, Sun Lord of Peloria, father of

aneth the Wisc," bcllowed the man in white as he lookcd toward thc rumbling sky, "I request that Garreth hereby bcgranted thc powcrsof a sun lord forbeing in my tutclagc Ibr twcnLy ycars." Ncxt, it was the figure in black's turn. "l arn Taricn, Moon Priestess of Chimos, warrior and Lrainer of Garcth the strong," shouted the woman as she, too, lookcd at the sky, " I request that Garreth hereby bc grantcd thc powcrs of a moon priest for being my pupil G

for twenty ycars." Lastly, the young man in blue spoke: "l am Garrcth the Young," the man shouted loudcr than thc oftcrs, "I request from you, great god Yclrn, god of the sun, and you, Orlanth, god of the moon, that I be grantcd thcsc titles of the power they hold!" Lightcning again crashed violently onto the altar as the storm suddcnly dicd away. Early thc ncxt morning they were in the dining lrall, cating quietly. "Garrcth, you have probably wondered why you don't fccl diffcrcnt if you truly have the powcr of both a sun lord and a moon priest, " Ralios asked his pcrplexcd son, "lt is bccause you have accomplished only one halfof y'our rite of passagc." "Garrcth," his mother intemrpted, "You must now go on a qucst. It is a dangerous one, have no doubt of that, but whcn you rctum, you will have the powcr of both thc sun and thc moon at your mercy." Garrcth, who had remained silent all this time, contcmplated what hc had been told. He always kncw that onc day hc would inhcrit ftc powers of his mother or his fathcr, but hc nevcr thought it would be both. To bc surc, il. was a rare occasion when a sun-worshipper married a

moon-worshippcr and cven more rare when they had a child. Garrcth had no reason to distrust his parents, but he did not like the sound of this quest. "Whal. musL l do?" he asked hesitantly. "You must rctrieve tlre Key of Oblivion."

Careft recallcd

the myth of the Key

ofOblivion:

supposcdly kcpt in a place called Borederland, a land whcrc thc spirit plane ovedapped the physical world. The kcy itsclf was onc of the Seven Keys of Daka Fal, the iL was

creator of human life. The possessor of the Key was pcrmitted eternal life and could pass into the spirit world and back again. Garreth thought the quest impossible, but he just had to prove he was worthy to his parents. "Very well. I will ride tomorrow at, dawn," Garreth replied solemnly. Before the sun's light had flooded over Peoria, Garreth had been given what few maps of Bordcrland

there were. He also took his pack

of provisions

and

supplies. His father gave him a spear that he had made and his mother a bow she had made. Garreth rode all day across the Gloranthan Plains until he reached the edge of Borderland, which was the River Jedias. Beyond it was the Key. It was hard to describe what Garreth was thinking that quiet night as he sat by his campfire and polished his armor. He began to feel more and more that his parents had senthim onawildgoosechase,though why, he did not know. Garreth also couldn't understand why his parents wanted the Key of Oblivion; they were a wealthy lord and lady with land and power. He did want to have lhe power of the sun and the moon, no denying that, but more importantly, he wanted his parents to be able torely on and trust him. He just didn't understand.

Garreth wasjustabuttonodoff when he smelled

what he thought was vinegar. Impossible, he thought, as he tumed over to see the scariest thing he had ever seen. It was a Grampus, otherwise known as a vinegaroon. It looked like a gigantic scorpion with a whiplike tail. Garreth scrambled to his feet instantly. He was looking for his spear when the Grampus squirted him on the shoulder with a vinegar -smelling acid. Enraged and in pain, Garreth charged at the monster but it flung him aside as though he were a rag-doll. Writhing on the ground in pain he snatched up a nearby spearand thrust it solidly into its head and everything was deathly still. Garreth slumped against a tree in pain and exhaustion feeling frightened and confused. Over the next six weeks, Garreth had many similar encounters with amazing creatures: a manticore, a lion-like bcing with a man's face; a fachan, a giant man with one leg, one arm, and one eyc; a stoorworrn, a huge, lcgless dragon. Hc also met many spirits who told Garreth many different places to find the Key. He searchcd them alland to noavail. And with every failedattempt, Garreth's dctermination to find the Key grew and his curiosity about why his parents wanted it also grew. Finally, on the fiftieth day, hc reached a great. tower made of what appeared to be crystal. Garreth

Obliviortl cont'd. entcred it furtivcly, looking all about for the owner. Finally, after climbing hundreds of steps, he reached the top. Thcre, hc found a single brass key no longer than his fingcr, sitting on a small stool.

Garreth snatched

up, ran out of Lhe tower,

through the Lowland Plains of Borderland until he reached the edge of the River Jedias. Garreth had lost everything:

his stallion, his weapons, his packs. He had been so obsessed with finding the Key that he even forgot he was supposcd to receive his powers when he found it. When Garreth reached his parents' castle, he quickly ran into thc main hall where his parents were eager to receive him. "I...I have the Key of Oblivion," Garreth said brcathlessly as he held up the small piece of brass. His parents' eyes glowed when they saw this and

approached him quickly.

"I cannol thank you enough," said Ralios maliciously as he grabbed his son's wrist and squeezed. Beforc he knew what. was going on, Garreth had dropped the Key and was rubbing his wrist in agony. His parents were now on the ground, wrestling for possession of the Key. This was toomuch for Garreth to bear. He raised his armsandas hescreamed, "No,"a moonbeam shot.from

his left hand at the Sun Lord and a sunray blasted forrh from his right at the Moon Priestess. Ganeth the Young wascrowned Kingof Peloria the following day after his parents had apparently killed each other with their magic. But Garreth kept the Key of Oblivion foreveras a symbolof his parent's lustforpower and his need for acceptance.

Plrcto by Tauni Hickman

Y/^

Illustrutiott by Michelle Stephenson

..Wl

f A,.t

r_iiiF' /

'g ,rt

l:1,

V r

'% a

.:*

4 ?,

.s'

,:""''

'tlt :I

/ "{

,.*y$

''.

The Letter and the Cross of Yesterday Today, and

Tomorrow i read your letter yesterday. i cried with joy . . . but that was yesterday. you told me how special i was to you and how much you enjoyed the fact i opened up when we were mere aquaintances. you said i'd be in your prayers and that you loved me and so did our Father. . . you gave up your cross for me . . .

yesterday

i read your letter today.

i cried with grief . . . that was today. i'm telling you how special you are to me and how much i enjoy the ract opened up when we became brother and sister. i say you're in my

you

lj[:*fur

i'llcry with uncertainty . . . that willbe tomorrow, i'll wonder how special we are to each other and

PraYers

you our

and that i love and so does Father. . i hold my cross for you . .

today.

letter

if we'll still

open up like we did before, my brother. you'll still be in my prayers and i will still love you and so will our Father. . . i'11give up my cross for you . . tomorTow.

-Annette Hageman

An Important Conversation Said the christian girl to her lost love Do you know what I know? In the sadness ofyour broken heart Do you know what I know? A man once lived who can mend your heart that is now so broken apart He can light your way through the dark Said the lost boy to the christian girl You know not my sorrow In your happy trouble-free world You can't see life's sorrow The man you claim If He really knows of His people's sorrows

Why would He allow do you

know?

it,

Said the christian girl to her lost love Yes I know your sorrows He has given me a spirit so I will notice troubles And He, my Lord can see your broken heart but He is a true gentleman He won't go where He is not welcome Said the lost boy to the christian girl I knew you didn't know me for your information smart gful I have been on my knees to ask for help from this lord of yours but no answer to my prayers have I seen your words of God, nothing do they mean

Said the christian girl to her lost love have you ever wondered ifthe reason I am here by your side is because God heard you when you pray, haven't you ever heard God answers prayer in His time it is written in His word Said the lost boy to the christian girl Why would he wait so long? All this time has led me to the gates of hell Satan owns my heart now God has come to answer my prayers but He is a little too late my name's engraved on the sinner's slate so your efforts they are all in vain Said the christian girl to her lost love Satan holds no power when rebuked in the name of Jesus's blood he becomes a coward he will flee and you will be set free Satan's tricking you he's told you a lie his power over you is doomed to die Said the lost boy to the christian girl Why do you persist so? Even if God called me I would not go I donlt deserve His kindness My life has been served against Him and salvation wasn't made for me Satan's who I belong with, can't you see?

Said the christian girl to her lost love I persist because I love you! And besides that, do you not know no one deserves His kindness! But as I said, God really does know of all of life's sorrows He understands so forgiveness He shows

And believe me my new found love He will never leave you unlike the ruler of your heart now Jesus wants to save you from the evil lurking in this world He will give you shelter from the cold and your hand always will He hold! -

Said the lost boy to the christian girl I cannot be like you because my life is all wrong I cannot live like you innocent in all that you do I am telling you I really have no heart now tellme where and how would I star"t? Said the christian girl to her lost love Christians are not perfect we are only forgiven but yet we are different for we know when life's hard times come He will be there standing by our side no longer will we have to run and hide Said the lost boy to the christian girl I am afraid to listen your words give hope to my ears I wish I could believe you for I have longed for refuge from life's storrn but I've been mislead so many times before I am afraid to open up my heart's door Said the christian girl to her found love I had those same feelings You had no way of knowing this but I have been through trials much like yours but then I had faith and found it really is true He loved me more than I knew.

Whitney Dean

The Boundries of Your Love Father, I love you. The boundries of your love Are endless, Sretching across A thousand skies.

When circumstances Cause me to doubt Your loving hand, You draw me back

You lay me at the cross And wait for me to heal. Then you stand me up And set me free again. Father, I love you. The boundries of your love Are endless.

-Amanda Mead

My Prayer Dear [,ord, nothing's right Everything's wrong I'm supposed to praise you in everything But I can't even think of a song. Did you ever feel lonely? I sure do I want to talk to my friends But I just can't seem to.

I'm only a kid But practically an adult I'm stuck so inbetween And it's not even my fault. What would you do Jesus? Would you try and run away? No, I don't think you would you would probably pray. So here I am God Take me as I am Because you can starighten things out I know you've got a plan. Put me in it So I can please thee I really do want to serve you But I often think "Why me?" Try hard on me God I could use all your guidance I'll try and learn too I'll keep up correspondance. I love you [,ord And I know you feel the same Someday soon I'll be with you And I want to be someone you can claim.

-Krista Cozad

The Other Side The glittering glass of hope's shattered dreams, Light the high wall with a sinister gleam. For there is where the desolate cry, Where human fears conquer and pain always lies. But I have made it to the other side, Where spirit wings soar and hope never dies. Now it is time for you to decide, To break down the walls Where you're locked up inside. For this is the kingdom where forgiveness sets free, Where His love's river flows for both you and me.

-Michelle Stephenson

The Book I

see you looking at Me. I feel your

eyes upon me. Read Me! Read Me!

Pick Me up! I can almost feel your well-worn hands around My cover as you open me to read. No! I feel your eyes dart away. Please,

Come unto Me.

Don't look away. Look at Me!

Plwto by Annette Hagcman

I'm waiting for you. I've been waiting for you. When I first came into your life it was all you could do to put Me down. But now... now it's all you can do to pick Me up. Where is your thirst for Truth? Where is your hunger for Righteousness? Where is your devotion to My Author? My child... where are you?

-Annette Hageman

God's Gift by

Harry Haroldy

I was in bed when I wokeup with astart. Itwas2:00

A.M. The wind was howling, andrain was beating against

doctor finally came out, Elizabeth's husband had anived. The doctor told us that time could only tell how the two

the window. I heard ababy crying. I rushed downstairs and

wouldrecover.

found nothing inside orout. I decided that I was justhearing things, and I went back o bed, but not before a quick prayer,

Elizabetl's legs were crushed in the wreck. There was a chance of full recovery, but she would have to work hard. The baby had a concussion, and the severity was mediocre. She was otherwise fine except for few cuts and. bruises. Over the next few weeks, Elizabeth was bedridden. She was going to therapy every day. I was there !o support her, even tlough her condition was not improving. Her legs were useless, and she was sinking into a deep depression. Elizabeth was the subject of all my prayers. I felt as if I could do nothing for her - like I was as helpless as she. I was no longer worrying abut my own depression and loneliness, but I was spending my time thinking of Elizabeth. I had done everything I could for Elizabeth. I then asked her about God and how strong her faith was. "I know who God is, and I pray, but I'm just not devoted to Him," she said. I sat and wihessed to Elizabeth for about an hour in the white silent hospital room. I told her about the cry I had heard and the light that I had seen that cold morning. I lefr her alone to sort her thoughts. I saw a sparkle in hcr eyes

just in case. In the morning I woke up at 5:00, an hour early, and couldn't get back to sleep. I dragged myself out of bed against my will. The smell of the Christmas tree opened my eycs. Not knowing what I was doing,I skipped breakfast and headed to work an hour early in the freezing rain. You see, I livc out in the country in a huge farm house with my husband and two children. My name is Karen Nevell. I'm 5' 6", have brown hair and brown eyes. It's an hour's drive to my secretarial job in the city. Lately I've been lonely and depressed because it's such a long drive. As I drovc past the Smith farm, I saw a brilliant light rising up from a ravine off the side of the road. I stopped, and to my amazement, saw a car containing a woman and a baby. The woman was blonde and looked about twenty-five. Herblue eyes wereblood-shot and hazy. The car was in shambles. I could tell ithad hit the huge pine. I ran to the car my hands were sweaty and my face wet. I pecked into the window and found the woman wounded and bloody, but conscious. The baby, however, was unconscious. The door was jammed, but here was a crack in the window. I asked her what happened, and in a weak voice, she replied, "We were driving home at 2:00 a.m., and t he roads were slick. I lost control and hit the tree. Thebaby cried hysterically foran hour. Ican'tmovemy legs and now my baby is unconscious." Her name was Elizabeth Johan. Even though she was in pain, I could see the compassion in her eyes. "I felt so helpless and alone. That is, until I heard your car stop." Elizabeth said, "I've been praying for someone to rescue us

all night."

"What kind of bright light were you shining? I could see it from a mile away!" I said. "Light? It's been pitch black all night." I decided I would tell her my story later. I had to get an ambulance. Time was precious! I rushed to the Smith's to use Lhe phone. I called the ambulance and made my way back to Elizabeth and her child. When I arrived, Elizabeth had become even weaker. I sat and talked to her for fortyfive minutes until the ambulance came. As I followed the ambulance, my heart pounded wildly. The possible outcomes of the recovery of Elizabeth and her baby were racing through my mind. I arrived at the hospital and waited patiently in the waiting room. When the

when I

lefl

As I went to bed that night, I felt light-hearted, as if problem had left my heart and mind. For the first time in weeks, I slept well. The next day I headed to the hospital around 3:00. When I arrived, Elizabeth was smiling widely. "I took my first steps by myself today! Last night I gave my life to God. I told Him to do what He wanted with me and that I surrendered to Him. Immediately,I felt His pesence in my heart." The same enlightenment Elizabeth felt, I had felt the night before. We had become closer and closer. I could talk to her about anything. She would be a friend for a a

lifetime.

Within the next couple of months, Elizabeth was walking with aid of a walker. The doctors said it was a miracle, and we knew that it was. Soon she was walking on her own.

Our friendship grew stronger and stronger through the years. Elizabeth's health has returned to normal, and we are able to go many places together. Our favorite thing to do it to sit under the huge pine that brought us into each other's lives. God brought us together in each of our times of need. Ever since that day, we have been there for each other and always will be.

The World Through Children's Eyes What is the world through children's eyes Laughter,love,

chitdren

rnside world do, our minds, see smog, world

They say we view the as children They cannot comprehend innocent They are bewildered that we beauty in the We have tried to view the as they do, we

cannot.

and sometimes cries Their cries of disappointrnent are just too much

?:fii::ilTJ:J'*' What can we do to stop the tears And take away all children's fears As I search for the answer and a better way I keep my faith in God for with Him, I must stay.

-Tamiko Jones

Do not Ery to smother the childlike sense within us, Do not confuse our minds with filth, we are artists inside, Do not try to calm our joy, inside we are dancers. Most of all, Do not pain our ears with worldly wisdom and noisy pollution, for we are musicians. Everything in this world is art and music, a soft breeze, a child's laugh, a sunset, Because of what we are, and we cannot changeWe feel deeply, We love passionately, We hurt painfully, and we are always children inside. - Joy

Griffith

Should Have Been Me by

Angy Sunderman

It was cold and dark, the room was empty. It. was hard to understand that in one hour tlis room would be filled with joyous laughterand the warmth of love. Music would be blaring and people would be dancing, hugging, and having the time of their lives. Nine bottlas of pop had been set on the counter to quench the thirst of everyone who was coming. I crouched down in the corner to wait for everyone to arrive. The floor was cold. A breeze came through that went through my jacket and gave me chills. Oh , how I longed for the love that would soon fill the room . I was just getting :rccustomed o the hum of the water fountain beside me when something broke the monotony. Someone had slammed a car door, then I saw them walk past the windows where the D.J. was tro set up his equipment The door opened and someone walked in slowly. She was carrying a big snrffed mouse, it was Stephanie. She walked over beside me and sat the mouse down on the counter. She also had something else,letters it looked like, that she casually leafed through before setting them down beside the mouse. She wallked over to the windows overlooking Woodlawn and warched for something, or maybe someone. She looked so happy, even though she was alone. It made me wonder if she ever thought about me.

Headlights glowed through tre windows and Steph raced out to meet them. It was a guy. She started talking m him, laughing and having a good time, just like we used m do. As she was talking, I went over and picked up the letters she had set down. They were invitations to a pmy, a Christmas party, the one I should be having.

A lady walked in with her two kids and went about her business as Steph and the other guy helped her. It was always like Steph to help people. About thirty minutes passed until a few more people anived. Hugs and laughter filled the room. If only someone could come and hold me like that, if only Steph knew I was there. I hated standingby and watching ! Itjust

wasn't fair!

More and more people were ariving, the D.J. had come 4nd was setting up his equipment. Everyone was either talking, laughing, showing pictures, or glowing about something. I heard someone else come in and I looked over at the door. It was Annette. I got up and walked over !o her. I wanted to hug her so bad, but she just walked right past me. I should have known better. She wouldn'ttalk tome, more less hug me. Shejustwalkedon to receive hugs from other people. Some of the people there I didn't know, but some I did. Then I saw Joe. I didn't know how I knew him, but I did. I thought maybe

he knew me, too, until I heard his and Annette's conver-

sation.

"Joe, I need you to pray for me, okay?"

"Okay." "Because I just found something yesterday. A picture of me, Steph, and Angy that was taken in ninth gradejust before it happened."

"Who's Angy?" Those words broke every ounce ofconfidence ever had. How could I know him and he not know me?

Their conversation continued. "Angy was a good friend of mine in the ninth grade, then she committed ..." Her voice cracked and she started crying as Joe held her. I remembered the picture she was talking about. I couldn't stand it anymore. I ran to the otrer end of the gym where I found Micky and Steph. Somehow,I knew Micky, too. I listened to their conversation. "I got this mouse from Annette for Christrnas," she said as she held the stuffed mouse she'd carried in earlier for Micky to see. I should have been the one to give her that mouse.

"Oh cool, he looks just like Tweeks!" What Micky said riggered something in my mind. Tweeks sounded so familiar, but I couldn'tremember who or what it, was. Another person came to join the conversal,ion. It was Steve. How could I possibly know all these people? Why couldn' t they talk to me? Why couldn't I talkto them? Itwas all my fault! If only I'd waited it out I'd be in the middle of all of this right now! Someone shouted,"They're here! " and everyone piled through the doors into the hall behind the gym, so I

followed. As

I walked I could hear every

conversation

going on. I saw Micky reading a letter S teph had given him along with the invitation, thatletter should havebeen from me. If I was alive, Joe would be talking to me instead of ttre people he was talking to now. I saw someone walking loward us now, he looked

so familiar. And he was holding a shxffed mouse like Steph's. Of course! Tweeks was the mouse! And the person holding him was none other than Eric. I wished that somehow I was that stuffed mouse. At least then someone

could hold me.

In the comer I saw Steph and Annette trying to hide Anjie from Eric. That should have been me they were hiding. Suddenly, everyone got quiet. Then the doors opened and everyon0 shouted, "Suprise! " as they barreled

out into the gym.

Should Have Been Mel Cont'd. What went on for the next ten minutes was total chaos. Then, when things started dying down, I overheard

To Cassie

theconversation between Annette, Anjie,Eric, and Stephanie.

"Eric, this

is Anne-Claire, the foreign exchange student I told you about," Annette said, a small grin on her lips as she pointed to Anjie.

"Oh my gosh! She looks just like Anjie!" Eric exclaimed, his eyes wide with suprise. That should have been me. I don't know why or how I knew it, but that should have been me standing there

posing as a foreign exchange student from Francejust to get some laughs from teasing Eric. I wandered about through the people who were dancing. Why did I have to go through this? This was truly hell; at least for me it was. To want something so much, to scethe lovel wanted toexperience,the lovelcouldhave had, was ripping my soul apart. As I was walking out the door, I heard Eric as he realized that thewhole Anne-Clairebitwas justajoke. He ran to the middle of the dance floor and shouted ,"I knew it, I knew it!" Then, with all eyes on him he embraced Anj ie so tight he lifted her off the fl oor. It should have been me. I turned, opened the door, and left the only visible thing I could. But how could anyone notice such a small teardrop from a shadow of what used to be?

know I haven't known you for years and years and years, but I feel like I have through the laughter and the tears. You're a special personsomeone I'11 always cherish. A sister in the L,ord whose love will never perish. If you ever need someone, orjust a helping hand, I'll be there for you and I will understand. So keep that great big smile across your pretty face, 'cause no one in the world could ever take your place! -Janet McKinley

Photo by Nichole Oxendine

whv? She smiles, contented She has time to stop and count her blessings She knows the value

of the beauty of God's world She's run through the fields and climbed to the sky

Can we really take

the gift of family glven to us by God, abuse it, misuse it, throw it away and then ask

whv? Her parents, they love her they love each other They're thanlf,ul to have each other They are happy with what they have

Why does this story have to be considered a fairytale? Why is this definition of a family, a happy child with parents who love each other, have to be a dream that can never come tnre?

Is it God's fault there's sadness in this world? He's given us so much to cherish but our appreciation dies so

quickly.

We throw it all away and looking for a scapegoat out of blindness turn to God to ask Him

whv?

Why can't people be thankful for each other? Why are children abused? Why are couples divorced?

-\ilhitney Dean

The Star A falling star falls out of the night Its light was faint, its wisdom bright. It seems to fall and touch ttre ground Not knowing definitely where it's bound. He gave me this to wish upon A wish that only He could bond He knew who I was thinking of, He knew of our Agape love.

I thought of you in that falling star I saw a resemblance, the truth wasn't far. Although your light's sometimes faint, your wisdom is bright And sometimes you fall from your spiritual high. But He picks you up and gives you to me, Your love and understanding is all that I see. When I find a star, and that I will do, Eric,I'11name that star after you. And ttrough you may sometimes fall out of the sky I'11be right ttrere with a hug and a smile. I love you Eric.

-Angy Sunderman

Photo by Angy Sunderman

t00

Tonight

I Wish

Tonight or perhaps another A thousand unnamed people Will rise from their unmarked graves And unmade beds.

I wish for my school Northwest The pride of wanting to be the best So all our neighbors can come and see

They will fly toward heaven To the God who loves them. They will soar through the air On eagle's wings.

I wish for my counfiT/ the U.S.A.

Anxiously he will await their a:rival As a child awaits Christmas morning. And for him the split-second gap between them

I wish for my world the Earth To know and understand the wofth Of having God within our soul

Will

To help us understand each other's role

seem eternal.

When they see his eager countanance, When he sees their shining faces, All the lifetimes of built-up walls Will tumble down. As a bride meeting her bridegroom, The church will be united with their God. A joyful celebration will then corlmence To last eternally.

-Amanda Mead

At This Age I feel as a falcon, who has yet to spread his wings, reach the clouds, and touch the sky. A young ruler of the wind, who is enthusiastic, yet apprehensive and fearful. An untamed individual, whose dreams are fresh, with limits set only by God. -Platinum

Just how great and mighty we can be

The continued freedom of what we say The protection of its lands shore to shore From the inevitable forces of famine and war

-H.K. Rhoades

ThankYou Did you ever regret it? The suffering you went through? I often wonder Did ttre hours drag on? Did the pain get to you? I often wonder did you hear the yells, and the taunts of the crowd? Did you block it out? Or were the insults loud? I often wonder When I'm with you The first thing I'll do is bow down on my knees Thank you Jesus, Thank you so much thank you for saving rne

-Amy Parish

101

God's Perfect Beauty The stars are so beautiful, each with its own special shine, each with its own special glimmer. So often I look into the sky to see, what beauty Gd has created, what beauty Gd wants to show me. Sometimes God points my view to one particular area, showing me individual stars that are so special,showing me stars that need to see His love. Occasionally a very small light catches my eye, its shine is so intense, it is, yet so tiny. I found the star to be confused and hurt, as I reached out, it was comforted, as I reached out, its pain ended. Sharing with the star the Grace of God, I not only found myself reaching my hands out, but I also found myself reaching with my heart. I once held a star within the palm of my hands, knowing its every shine, knowing its every glimmer. At one time the star was knocked out of my hands, falling completely out of my reach, falling ever so far away. Although the star's shine and glimmer is more intense, both myself and the star are confused, both myself and the star are upset. As time flies, I increasinly yearn to, once know and see what I once knew and saw so well. Continually God teaches me, of loving the beauty He creates, of allowing Him to comfort pain through me. This always requires me to help the star grow with God, to let it learn using God's help without me. In time we are seperated, confused, and left to continue life following God, but He comforts us, we learn, and we grow. Helping the stars to learn from their past mistakes, to grow from what they have learned, Is just another step in God's perfect plan. Through this is His love, Through this is His perfect beauty.

-Joy Griffith

102

Nothing Nothing is more powerful and nothing can go as high as the mountain peak I see that reflects against the sky. On the way to the top, I will often lose my way, but I know You are there, and Your promise will save the day. Nothing is more beautiful than the sunset on the sand and no one is more merciful than the Master in command. Nothing could I do, without You by my side. To You f,ord, I give my all, I know You will provide. -Janet McKinley

Sometimes Sometimes, I need to get away from the world. Sometimes, maybe a hug could solve my problems. Sometimes, I think of you my friend, I wonder if I should join you in the world beyond. Sometimes, Ijust sit and stare at the clouds.

-Tauni Hickman

Photo by Kristen Garrison

103

.--r-_____=-_

--s-

104

Cute Little Kitten It's like a rabbit popping out of a hat But instead, out of a pot, came a cat! He has on a little kids's grin. Should I pull him out or put him back in? Trying to get some spaghetti before we eat, Rolling around, getting it on him, looking for meat? But I keep saying he's just a kitten. I always know that I want to keep him. With his cute eyes and furry mane, Even though, sometimes he's a pain.

-Paul Froehlich

Photo by Scofr Farney

105

Cookie Monster by Craig Hanson

a rainy day and I've been coopcd up in this house all day long. My mother says that itI go outside in

It's

I will catch pneumonia. Besides, I just got groundcd for the day because I wouldn't eat all of my the rain that

Malto Meal like my mother told me I had to before I could get up from the breakfast uble. After sitting there for fiftecn minutes, I got tired of waiting and lct our scotty dog finish it for me. Well, as you can see, I was caught redhandcd and was sentenced to grounding for a day. Doing hard time is no fun. My mother is going to go to the supermarket to pick up a few garbanzo beans, alfalfa sprouts, and a fcw other heavily used grocery itcms. She is very concerned about our family's diet, therefore, she only permis herself to buy health food for us. Previously I have timed her voyages to the store, and if I havc it. figured correctly, she will be gone for about thirty minutcs. Although, I'm not sure if I can wait that long for a snack. No. I think I am hungry for. . .a cookie. "Little Dammon, youbegood forMommy while Mommy is gone to the store. Remember, you're still groundcd and are not tro leave this room, young man. You hear?"

"Alright,Mom." "Bye now. I shouldn't be too long," says my mother, shutting my bedroom door. At the sound of the front door slamming shut, I know that that is my cue to roam freely about the house, doing whatever my little hve year old body dcsires without any parental guidance or supervision. I open tle door and stop to take one last good, hard listen to make sure that she really did lcave and is not sabotaging me down the hallway. Alright, the coast is clear. No mothers around here for miles. Now I can go to work. I need to think of a plan. Eeeehh, who needs plans? All I need is a cookie. Sneakily,I take my firstfew steps outof myroom and then run down the hall to the kitchen. Where is the cookie jar? I look all around. Where would I put the cookiejar if I werean old lady? Aha. Up. Foramoment there I had forgotten that my mother was no amateur atthe game of "hide the cookies," seeing that I am the youngest of four children who are all in school right now. Mom had hid the cookie jar on top of all the shelves, supposedly where I cannot reach. Ha. I'll show her a thing or two. Quickly, I jump onto the counter and try to reach for it. No way. I need another foot added to each arm to reach that. MaybeI could....why not? I'lljustjumpoff the counter top and then grab the cookies in the air. I'll land

and Lhen eat

all the free cookies I want, at

her

expense.....Putting the jar up? Oh, &at's no problem. I

will just leave it. out and Mother will think that

she never

put il up in the first place. Well, here goes nothing. "Whooooooooooeeeee!" Man that hurt. I fcll flat on my noggin. Maybe it was the wind factor that I didn't consider. What am I saying? I'm indoors; there is no wind. Time forPlan B. I know whatl can do. I'll get chairs, boxes, and anything that is potential building material, and build a ladder up to t he jar. Yeah, that ought to work. I'll put this chair directly under thc jar and put some of Mom's old shoe boxes on the seat of the charr. Now, all that I have to do is climb up this manmade mountain and get those cookies. I have an idea that just might work. I'll open up all the cabinets in the pathway to the jar, climb on those up to the top of the human ladder, then stand on top ofthe shoe boxes and grab the cookies. It should be fool proof, but maybe not. I'll give it the good old preschool try. Here goes nothing. "Oops," I think when I tried to get a foot hold in the cabinet, I broke a piece of Mom's good china dishes.

Ohno. Idid. Thatisjustaminorsetback. Itisnothingthat good old superglue can't fix. I'll put a dab here, and put a dab there, and let it dry out of t}le way of everylhing on the top of the microwave oven. Now I can get back to business. This time I think that I will clear all of the dishes and things out of the way of where my feet will be. Now it's time to make my second attempt to get the cookies

down.

"All right! I made it!" Now

I can chow down. I reach in the jar and throw two or three handfuls of cookies down to the floor so I don't have to climb back up once I am down. The cookie jar seems to be getting low, because my hand is over half of the way down the jar and I haven't felt a single cookie yet. Oh yes, only one of the first try, but I'll get more on the next, bclieve me. I'll throw this one down on the floor and start a pile. Justas I chucked the cookie down, wouldn't.you know it, Scotty, that's ourscottydog, comesalong. Being the liltle scavenger scrub he is, he ate my cookie. That is alright though; there are plcnty more where that came

think

I'll

from.

Time for dip #2 into the cookie jar. What? No more? Darn. I just gave my first and last cookie away. The fact that I gave something away defeas my playhouse principles anyway, but to a dog? That is low. Great. Just. my luck. Mom is home, and sooner than I expected. Time to get down. Wait a second; the mountain is wobbling. What's happening? "No! Scotty, get off the chair beflore you make

106 C

ookie M onsterl cont'd.

fall.

Bad Scotty!" It's too late. I am destined to fall and ger busted by

Mom, so I might

Smile

well let it.....OUCH!!!!......happen.

"Little Dammon, what in God's name, are you doing? I was going tounground you. I hadeven boughtyou a present. Cookies. The Keebler Double Fudge Surprise cookies. You could have had as many as you liked. But not now Mister. Go to your room....and stay there." Just wonderful. All that fornothing. That's alright though. I don' t even like the Keebler Double Fudge Surprise cookies. They're too sweet. I bettergo into my room like she says and fake being asleep because as soon as she finds out that. one of her china dishes is broken, much less stuck to the top of the microwave oven, she is going to strangle me.

Special Meaning with

Incredibly

Little Effort -Jennifer Goerke

Laugh Letting out An Uplifting Giggle when you are Happy -Jennifer Goerke

,*'?, q.

*'t

Cinquain W

Photo by Jackie Harley

Ina Small field by a Trickling stream a cow Lingers Quietly grazing. Bang! BURGERS

-Ashley Skinner

107

Easy Rider, The Accountant by Justin Clements

It was a hot day in Texas but riding his '76 Harley-Davidson made the weather perfect. His blonde, blue-eyed girl was on the back with her arms and legs wrapped around

him. He raced his sleek machine past a

motorcycle cop who was eating a doughnut behind a billboard. The cop noticed how fast he was going and pulled onto the highway to chase him. It was a good race but the Harley was too fast Wilson looked back to see where the cop was. Nowhere in sight. His girlfriend puckered her lips and leaned forward. Their lips were so close he could feel her breathe. He closed his eyes and... "Wilson! I'm sick of you sleeping all of the time!

You're fired!" Theboss' lasttwowords echoed throughWilson's ears as he put on the thick, dark rimmed glasses he had taken off. He thought about how angry his father was going to be when he found out that his son had been fired. Wilson's father was also an accountant. He had always wanted his son to bc one. Wilson, however, wanted to be something else. He wanted to be a free spirit, an "Easy Rider", evcr since he fust saw the movie. Finally, he had

his chance. He decided to follow his dreams. He left Cleveland and went to Texas. It was there where he searched for the perfect bike gang to join: The Weekend Hell Demons in Lubbock. He wanted to go into theirbar, but he needed to buy a new wardrobe. His three piece suits wouldn't be accepted by the hippies who dwelled in the bar.

Wilson bought a leather jacket and boots. He now looked like a biker but he needed a bike. He naded his Pontiac station wagon in for an old [Iarley-Davidson. He rolled his new bike into an alley and hopped on. With a mighty stomp on the kickstart, the bike let out a gritty cloud of black smoke. He tried to start it again and again and again. Finally, on the fifth try, it started. Wilson gently let off thc clutch and slowly squeezed the gas. He startcd his new life as a hoodlum. Though it was hard to master thc controls, he drove back to the gang's bar.

As Wilson opened the door and walked in, everyone in the place stopped. He could feel the stares of everyone. Sweat started dripping down his face. He ried

as he approached the bar.

"I'll

said as

have a Pepsi," ordered Wilson. "We only serve alcohol, dweeb!" the bartender he poked at Wilson's shirt. "Then I'll guess I'll have a beer," Wilson

mumbled. The bartender grabbed Wilson by the neck and yanked him up on the counter. "For you, a whiskey!" he yelled as he made the drink and dropped it on the counter. Wilson's hand brought the shot up !o his mouth and with a big gulp, he slammed the glass down and started coughing. The whole bar exploded with laughter. Wilson bashfully looked around at the snickering crowd and wiped his chin. He noticed a large mob of mean bikers coming at him with angry faces. The red-head man who tripped Wilson before,led the pack. As they came closer, he grew more scared. The sweat stopped dripping and started flowing. In panic, Wilson rushed to the bathroom. He locked the door and turned the sink on. He ducked his head under the cool water. With a loud crash, the bikers broke down the door and rushed over to Wilson. The red-headed one picked him up by his face and through his legs, he tossed him into the toilet. Out of desperation, Wilson grabbed the plunger and swung violently three times without striking anyone. He staggered to his feet, brandishing his newly found weapon. The crowd of bikers slowly backed up, startled at their victim's sudden change. Wilson noticed the fear in their eyes and struck the closest one in the jaw. He stepped over the wounded man like a uiumphant gladiaor. Hacking his way to the red-headed leader, Wilson felt invincible. Finally, he reached him. Suddenly, he remembered who he really was. NotWilson the Barbarian, but Wilson the Accountant. But before he lost all confidence, he struck the leader with the rubber end of the plunger square in the nose. The leader fell to the gTound in pain. Regardless of his fatigue, Wilson walked out of the bathroom with his head held high. "Now give me a Pepsi!" he ordered as he ap-

to sm ile but he couldn' t move. He started towards tle bar, but tripped over one of the biker's chairs. The jolt made

proached the bar.

the mean looking red-head spill his beer. The old biker jumped up and pushed Wilson, but a friend of the bully

"Make it a double!" The bartender obediently made the drink and handed it to Wilson. Wilosn nrned his head towards the same people of the bar who had been laughing. He

quieted him down.

"We'll get him later!" his friend

assured.

Wilson heard him say that, andhequickly truned his head from them. Everybody's eyes were still on him

"Sure thing," the bartender answered.

downed the Pepsi and slammed the empty glass on the counter. He noticed the red-headed biker stagger towards

108 Easy Rider,The Accountantl cont.d in oncc more. This time he was ready. Thc bikcr stuck his

hand out to grccl. Wilson. "l'vc neverseen such a skinny dudc get so mad," thc bikcr admiued.

"l'm

not one to be pushed around," Wilson

hostilly said. "What brings

fellow like you

Texas?" asked

thc bikcr.

"I wanted to join aruthless gang, butl'dbetterbe going," said Wilson. "Usually, on the weekends we aren't wimps," cxplained the bikcr. "On the weekends?"

"Well, most of us are only part time bikers. During the wrck, I'm a chiropracter!" the biker said. Wilson just nodded his head. "Frank, dude here wants tio join!" Frank was the bookkeeper. "What do you do?" asked Frank. Wilson answered quietly, "I am an accountant.." Frank flipped through therecordbooka littlc and shoutcd to thc red-head, "We have an appraiser and an architcct but not an accountant.

Wilson was accepted as the gangs new account-

ant. Still confuscd, he went outside to think ftings over. Altcr about thrce minutes of thinking, Wilson realized he could finally become a biker and still bc an accountant. Wilson had thc bcst of both worlds.

109

sfi >-'

NI,

\B \\\

tr-K\\

\) \

/\ 1 ^\:-L

i.t

\--\i

af \_/

Y^\

/.}

!: Yr

'\F2r v. \-< < 19

=IA E "t=

\\"\\-

\E '6

110

Love's Labours Regained by Stephen Hutchins

Some people might call Vanna Black a typical teenage girl. I would not, but since when do I know anything about teenage girls? Vanna was smart, beautiful, wealthy, beautiful, popular, beautiful, and did I mention beautiful? (Just between you and me, she was a stuck-up, ) Vanna needed only one thing to become

selfish,

untra-popular: a rich boyfriend. Pat Sayjack ('Tack!") was arich boy. Patwas a receiver on the varsity football team and a hunk. (Of course ! ) Vanna knew that he was egotistical and emulous, thus an e:sy target !o go after. All she needed to do was to get his attention and then act as if she liked another guy. Now, where was she going !o find a stool pigeon who would actually believe that she liked him? My name is Andy. Thus we begin. At approximately 3:05 on a Sunday aftemoon, Vanna called me up.

"Hello?"

"Hi!

Is this Andy?" "Yeah, that's me!" "Hello, this is Vanna!" "Vanna?" "You know, I'm in your math class!" "Va-a-a-anna? Well, uh....uh....uh..., I...uh....,

hi!" Giggle, giggle. Nextday's function, high class luncheon. Woops! It was just a doughnut before school. Meet my friends Wimp and Chimp. We'll leave theirreal names out of this. "Hey, Wimp. You look bad this morning. What happened?"

"It was awfuM was walking along, minding my own business, when all of a sudden, theseguys jumpedout of the bushes and beat me up!" "Well, did you get a good look at them?" "'Fraid not. They hopped on their tricycles and sped off before I could get sight of them."

"Do you think we're stupid? Everyone knows thatthe way to herheartis

fatpocketbook, and youdon't

have one!"

"Maybe she's changed." "Yeah, right!" That weekend, I was set up. A simple get together with Vanna at Golf Park. The date was lame duck. I was never much for conversation, and she seemed preoccupied. That is, preoccupied until Pat came in. "Oh, hi Pat! I believe you know Andy. We're going together now." Whoa! This was news to me! I wasjusthoping to get to know her a little better. Not that I said anything, of course. "Really? Well, I'll bet he can't play JEQ!" It was at this moment that I first became suspicious of Vanna. I saw a curious smirk on her face. But more important things were up. I always bel ieved that rich kids were suckers, and now I had proof! Pat obviously hadn't noticed the initials 31the local JEQ. It wasn't even funny! (I take that back. It was extremely funny!) I just love to beat up on fools who challenge me at that game. Pat, his ego crushed, left sulking. When Vanna told him that he would win next time, I knew the jig was up. I simply told her to find another sucker. Chimp and Wimp were eager to hear how the date wenL When I told them what happened, they both wanted to know if that meant she was free. I said forget it! She wanted Pat. Wimp replied that he could get big muscles like Pat now that Coach Fox had agreed to help him for $20 an hour. Chimp also thought that he could be a race car

driver and become rich like Pat.

"Well, I've got good reason." "And what rsason is that?"

The next several weeks were hectic, as Wimp keptme informedthat hecould now bench the bar with no outside help, and Chimp braggedaboutthe money he was making. I didn't bother to tell him that he was losing money, thanks to fuel costs and entry fees. Wimp was the first o get shot down, calling Vanna up and using old, overused Romeo lines. Thank goodness for him that he didn't tell of his weight room conquests! Chimp had a rather unfortunate accident on his way to impress Vanna.

"Guess who called me yesterday?"

Chimp looked sympathetic. "Hey, Andy, he probably doesn't want to talk about it. You sure seem happy though."

Wimp now rejoined us. "Coach Fox! And he wanted you to tell me that he'll be my weights coach!" "Shut up, Wimp." Chimp tumed to me. "Terry Nicholl, and he wants you to be his new defender!"

"Bzzzzz! Vanna Black!" "Naaah, no way!" "Trug!"

seems his car flew off a hill and exploded. Luckily he was thrown from the car before it went to that big Eddy's used car lot in the sky. A girl on the scene rushed up to

Chimp's bleeding, broken body and asked, "Are you all right?" Meanwhile,I was gening sick. Why should ttris snobby rich kid get to go out with Vanna after I had so soundly beaten him at JEQ? I got better grades, was a

111 Love's Labours Regainedl cont'd. decent athlete, was twice as intelligent, and was nicer to everyone. If I wanted that question answered, I might as well go ask the Toosie Roll owl how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop. I had an

idea. Stay tuned. I figured thattheonly way tomake Vannarealize what a baby Pat was would be to beat him at another game. (I saw this trick on Quanmm Leap) I got a now strong Wimp to help me rig my car with tips from Chimp and challenged Pat to a race. The date for the big race was nearing and then arrived. My pit crew and I were ready to go. Patseemed

ready to race. And there was the flag! I am one who follows therulethatwinning isn'teverything; iCs the only thing. And I wasn't above a few low tricks to help me win. Such as having chimp's girlfriend (the same one that asked if he was all right) lie next to the road in a bathing suit beside a broken-down car. I couldn't, keep up with Pat's Ferrari, but the ploy worked perfectly. "Hey Pat! I saw you stopped and figured that I better stop to be fair. What's the problem?" "I don't know. Her car just won't start." "Well then, the bauery must be dead. Go get somc jumper cables." While he did that" I quietly emptied his oil tank. Back on the road, I quickly pulled away from his overheating auto to win easily. Pat was totally confounded. He was sure that his dad had filled all the tanks before he left. Now that Pat was sulking again, I hoped that Vanna would leave him. Big miscalculation! She simply consoled Pat by telling him ttnt he had the money to buy a better car. I can't win! I gave up right then and there!

Allen's Pen I'm writing with Allen's pen; It ran out just like him. -Donya

Jibril

School, School School, school the golden rule Always using your brain as a tool. Brains, brains none the sirme Different identities, different names. CIass, class

busting your... Just scraping by, but at least you pass.

-Angy Sunderman

Hell Week Finals are coming My heart stafis jumping What am I going to do? I'm all stressed out What's this test about? I study, fret, and stew They ask all the questions But I don't know the answers School is no longer a game Blank after blank I just can't think I can't even remember mY name! I graduallY finish Hell week is over Finally, the results come back All my answers were wrong! My parents will kill me! I may as well go home and Pack

-Amy Parish

112

Romeo and Juliet (condensed) by Platinum

From Act 3, Scene 5, Line

ROMEO:

48(Romeo justofferedtorunawaywithluliet.)

I offer again, come along! Will thoust? Come with me. If it pleases my Juliet. We shall sail from this protected poets' isle. To lhe world afar, to be together.

JULIET:Anon! I shall depart with

thec!

To lands far away, to be together. Let us meet upon the hour being noon. I shall prepare and write notice withal.

Till ften!

ROMEO:

Till then!

Act IV - Culture Shock Scenel-Thedocks (enter Romeo) Tis noon, and I am at the dock, Where is my fair bride Juliet?

ROMEO:

(entcr JULIET)

JULIET:

I am here! Oh sweet Romeo, we must be off. My parents have surely read the notice left. They shall be after me any moment.

ROMEO:

They shall not find you, for you shall be with me And we shall be together on the boat, That tis said to take us to a new home, The place is, they say Manhatten Isle. From there, to a place named New York. In three days we shall have a new life.

JULIET:

We shall find a new and better life there, Together we will be happy and joyous. (thcy get in a boat and leave)

Scene 2 - Immigration Agency (enter ROMEO, JULIET, and IMMIGRATION SECURITY GUARD) Unhand me you treacherous brut. We shalt dual, like men.

ROMEO: GUARD:

Shut up!

JULIET:

Excuse me?

GUARD:

Button your

lip!

Quiet your mouth!

(enter IMMIGRATION OfnCW) No passport, no nothin' huh... I guess we could give you some work Visas.

OFFICIAL:

113 Romeo and Julietl cont'd. Considering the computer had nothin' on yeh. You people can't have lived in America 'Cause the way you talk. Must be from England.

(writing)

April30, 1989 Dennis P. Satengator, Official

You people be careful on the streets, hear! Charlie, get these goofs some real clothes.

(exit official)

GUARD:

Yeah...Follow me please.

ROMEO:

I demand to know what that twas about" Where thou takest us?!

(GUARD explains, ROMEO and JULIET get new clothes) Scene 3 - En Route New York City (enter ROMEO and JULIET) Oh fairestJuliet my dear, I fear we are foreign to this place, And that we should attempt this language queer, We can survive this disgrace.

ROMEO:

JULIET:

Romeo, tlou words are very wise, Observe we shall, and then improvise with What we do know this srange place Oh, now I miss our isle that did not age.

Scene 4 - Streets of New

York City

(enter STREETPLINK)

PUNK: (tobea| Ya know my name is Jackson T. You don't mess with me,

I am the best (censored) rapper there will ever be! (enter ROMEO and JULIET) Yo dude, tell me your n:rme. Lay me some bread and I'll show you my game. (end beat)

ROMEO:

Say wot?! I believe is the correct term.

JULIET:

What is your "game", Jackson T.?

PUNK:

You don'tknow? Hmm... Maybe my posse would like to meet you. How much dough you got? (blank expression from ROMEO and JULIET) You know, cash, money things of value.

ROMEO:

I have 20 gold pieces.

PUNK:

Well maybe I should intro you to Prince, Used to be with the CriPs.

I'm sure he would be more than haPPY, And he might let you join us, for a pnce. (PUNK laughs) (they leave together)

114 Scene 5 - l mile from Prince's sancturary (enter ROMEO, JULIET, and PUNK)

PUNK:

(enter

RIVAL:

Not much farther.

RIVAL GANG MEMBER) Die You (censored-)!

(draws blade)

PUNK:

Rumble with me you (draws) (they fight)

(censored--)!

(RIVAL is stabbed)

RIVAL:

You

(censored-)!

(dies)

PIINK:

Come on,

Move! Before more show!

ACT V Scene

1- PRINCE'S sanctuary

(This scene is very graphic and probably should not be included in a school publication, only on a Geraldo Show. Needless to say ROMEO and JULIET are exposed to drugs, and given a chance to join the gang. The end of the scene consists of the gang leaving to attack the rival gang.)

Scene2-The\ilar (The first part of this scene involves a lot of killing, too graphic to go through the words that describe up halfway through the scene.) Cold blooded murderers, all of you. None so bold as to die in a dual, one on one! How many more must die? How many more must be brutally killed? (ROMEO is hit with three AK-47 bullets)

it. We will pick

ROMEO:

Oh this is ultimate! I shall die holding my pride, Than some stupid white r.-ks!

Cune on all of you! Curse... Farewell Juliet.

@OMEO dies)

JULIET:

Romeo why must thou leave me? Especially in this Godforsaken place? I shall go with you!

(grabs a knife) A sheath; there rust and let me die! (before she can stab herself, a 9mm slug enters her back) (JULIET dies)

Scene3-Rapup (enter CAPULET, LADY CAPULET, MONTAGUE, and LADY MONTAGUE; who bumped into each other in Times Square, and decided to put aside their differences just long enough to f,rnd ROMEO and JULIET. They all have done considerably well in New York, making fortunes conning people with their Shakespearean talk.) LADY Juliet, my darling!

CAPULET: (She weeps)

LADY MONTAGUE: Romeo, my son! (She weeps) (Lines 296-310 of this scene as

written by Shakespeare, finish the play.)

115

INDEX OF AUTHORS Baker,Michelle. Baker, Whitney. Bedwell, Holly.. Brooks, Brian.. Bergeson,Steve.. Butler, Kristi. . Byrum,Shannon. Calvert, Ben... Clements,Justin. Cozad,Krista. Crenshaw,Beth.. Davenport,Kimberley. Dean, Melinda Dean,Whitney.... Dir,Andrea. Donham, Cindy. Dopps, Derin.. Edwards,Nancy. Epperson,John.. Fly,Cass. Frochlich,Paul. . . Goerki, Jennifer. Griffith,Joy... Gruver,Tim... Hageman, Annette. Hanson,Chris.. Haroldy, Harry. . Hickman, Tauni. Hutchins, Stephen. Jennifer.

......48 .......41 ......58 ..

..24

.....25

......,22

......63,65

.......

.....108 .....44,65,66,92 ..38,40,55,65 ....12,29

.........?5

.23,69,m,98

....52 .. .34,ffi .....79,80

.....25

...

19,45,56,62

.....78

...63,75,1M .16,30,36, 106 .95,101

...19,37,41,42 .13,21,89,93 .....105

......44 .23,40,62,102

....111

... ...

.....29,55,60,112 Jibril,Donya .... ..... 14 Jones,Eugene..... .......9,44 Jones,Stacy. .........95 Jones,Tamiko..... ..20,34,35,37,70 Kiz... .35,56,60 Massey, Matt. . .56,67,70,97 McKinley, Janet. . ....91,100 Mead,Amanda..... .. .. . .70 Neufeld, Sandra. ......39 Owens,Jennifer. ......21,65,67,100,112 Parish,Amy.. .....100, 113 Platinum. .49,63 Phaedrous. . .. .76 Ries, Mari. .....100 Rhoades,H.K.. .....26,27,68 Simpson,Mark.. . .12,40,43,1M Skinner, Ashley. ........74 Smith,Alexia. .....25,U Smith, Stacey. ........92 Stephenson,Michelle. ...,..21 Sterbens,Kara.. .......10 Stubbs,Jason.. ..8,72,96,99,112 Sunderman,Angy.. ..,.....18 Turner,Heidi.. ...82 Vanllamme,John. ...31,59,67 Vaughn,Marjeanne. ....46 Wachholtz, Amy. . .35,58 Wall,Samuel...... .55,57,69 Wilson,Lisa..

.40

INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS Boehringer,Ross.. Brant,Arthur Cozad, Krista. Farney, Scott.. Garrison,Kristen. Garrison,Tysha. Hageman,Annette. Harley,Jackie. Hickman, Tauni.

....11 ...109

... ' ,.. .

.57

....104 ....1V2

........8 ....93 .....106

. . 15, 16,20,26, 38, 85

Massey,Matt.. Orr,Dawn. Oxendine,Nichole. Schrag, Kim.. . Stephenson, Michelle. Sunderman,Angy.. Young,Crista. Zacharias,Angie.

........73

.....9

..........97

..12,19,66, 108 ....54,61,64,88 ....99

.......59 ... '..62

116

''i;;;-'