The Magic of Friendship by Ann Bell

The Magic of Friendship: Writings from the 2010 Hill Country Book Festival Ann Bell, Editor Assistant Editors: Kayla J.W. Marnach, Artie Stockton, and Lynn Whitson

The Magic of Friendship: Writings from the 2010 Hill Country Book Festival

Reproduction or translation of any part of this work beyond that permitted by Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act without the permission of the copyright owner is unlawful. Request for permission or further information should be addressed to the Hill Country Book Festival at Georgetown http://www.hillcountrybookfestival.org by contacting Ann Bell, President, annamaebell@suddenlink.net. Copyright ÂŠ 2011 Hill Country Book Festival at Georgetown

Katy Crossing Press 300 Katy Crossing Georgetown, TX 78626

ISBN: 145-6469-215 ISBN-13: 978-1456469214

The Hill Country Book Festival at Georgetown is a 501(c) 3 non-profit agency organized in 2007. http://www.hillcountrybookfestival.org The mission of the Hill Country Book Festival (HCBF) is to improve literacy for successful communication in a developing global community. The vision of the Hill Country Book Festival is an ongoing forum for developing readers and writers.

A special thank you is extended to Paula Brock, Georgetown Independent School District Secondary Language Arts Coordinator, for her assistance with the Grades 9-12 Writing Competition and to Carmen May, Vice-President, Georgetown Council of PTAs, for promoting the Grades 3-8 competition.

We were honored to have the following judges serve as the 2010 Hill Country Book Festival Writing Competition. Sherry Adrian Roger Busfield Dede Harper Karen Hodges Juanita Rowe Artie Stockton

"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile." ~ Albert Einstein

Table of Contents Part I: Youth Division (Grades 9 - 12) Writing Prompt ----------------------------------------1 1. First Place — All Because I Wanted a Letter of Recommendation by Kate Barnekow ---------------3 2. Second Place — The Eagle Project by Louise Capps----------------------------------------7 3. Third Place —Old Man Janitor by Krista Capps-13 4. Honorable Mention — A Day of Smiles by Madison Krueger ----------------------------------19 5. Paying It Forward by Adanma Akoma ------------25 6. The Ultimate Sacrifice by Alicia Capps -----------31 7. Sacrificing Early Saturday Morning by Ben Jennings ---------------------------------------35 8. The Bestowment of Knowledge by Alexander Law ------------------------------------41 9. Animal Love by David Young ----------------------47

Part II: Youth Division (Grades 3 - 8) --------------------53

Division 7 & 8 1. First Place – Untitled by Shannon Carey ----------57 2. Certificate of Merit –Mountain of the Fallen Star by David Dale -----------------------------------------61 3. Certificate of Merit – Handprint of Mine by Kelsey Krupicka -----------------------------------67 4. A Friend to Die For by Brian Kettering -----------71 Division 5 & 6 1. First Place – A Friend Beyond the Door by Lyndi Tsering--------------------------------------77 2. Certificate of Merit – Petticoats, Shouting Matches, and 2:45 A.M. by Hannah Pierce--------------------85 3. Certificate of Merit – True Friendship by Erin McCourt --------------------------------------91 4. My Best Friend by Kara Capps ---------------------95 5. Untitled by Catherine Dietlein ----------------------99 6. Emma’s Friend by Jackie Madden-----------------103 7. Behind the Story of My Pets by Katya Spiks -----107

Division 3 & 4 1. First Place – My Friend Carter by Emma Handles -----------------------------------------------------------111

2. Certificate of Merit â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Once Friend and Now Again by Ariana Capps--------------------------------------113 3. Certificate of Merit â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Best Friends and Their Laughs by Mackenzie May ------------------------115 4. The Save by Elizabeth Dietlein --------------------117 5. The Loving Thunderstorm by Mary Pierce ------121

Part I Writing Competition for Young Authors

Grades 9 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 12

The Magic of Friendship Writing Prompt

Because friends support us and give special meaning – perhaps “magic” to our lives, we always find time for them. Of course, we know that friendship is a two-way street: we get what we give, and we spend plenty of time with that small, elite circle of our closest friends—texting, emailing, and just hanging out! However, friendship doesn’t have to be so narrow. If we learn that truth early in our teens, the more fulfilling and rich our friendships will be in our adult years.

Nowhere does the idea of friendship begin to broaden more than through community service. Yes, even teens, whose lives are already incredibly busy with family, school, extracurricular activities, and friends, can find time to give back to the community that has and will continue to nourish them. Serving one’s own community, through large or small acts of kindness, creates a joyful “magic” that only those teenagers who are a “friend to their community” can experience. “You get what you give!”

Write a story about a teenager volunteer doing some kind of extended

community service at

home,

in the

The Magic of Friendship neighborhood, at school, at church, or with a local community service organization. You may write about yourself, a friend, or an imaginary teenage character. For example, what piqued the main characterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initial interest? How

did

s/he

get

started?

What

were

his/her

responsibilities? In the end, how did s/he feel about the overall experience? What did s/he learn about being a friend to the community? Most important, what did s/he learn about himself/ herself? Would s/he volunteer again? Why?

High school students had up to two-and-one half hours to write up to three typed pages in a controlled environment.

The Magic of Friendship

First Place Winner

Kate Barnekow Grade 12 Georgetown High School SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a teenager volunteer doing some kind of extended community service at home, in the neighborhood, at school, at church, or with a local community service organization.

All Because I Wanted a Letter of Recommendation

My introduction to the legal system was anything but typical. I have no family members working in the legal field, I’ve never had to go to court for a ticket, and I have never been called to serve on a jury. Instead, the enthusiastically delivered line, “You can get a college recommendation letter from a JUDGE!” tipped the scales in my decision making and convinced me to join the Georgetown Teen Court program my sophomore year of high school.

The Magic of Friendship On a warm September day in 2008, I was ushered into Georgetown Municipal Court to complete a six-hour training session outlining the rules, responsibilities, and rights that applied to Teen Court Attorneys. Quite frankly, I wasn’t looking forward to it. I was missing a test that I’d have to find time to make up later, I only knew one soul in the whole building, and I was remarkably underdressed. At the beginning of that autumn day, I had a fake smile on my face and a severe wish to go home. By the end of the day, the opposite was true: I didn’t want to leave. Teen Court is not theatre or mock trial. As our presiding judge liked to say, “This is a real court, I am a real judge, and the punishments decided upon tonight are real punishments.” Teens within GISD who have pled guilty or no-contest to a class C misdemeanor can come to Teen Court, be sentenced by a jury of their peers to a set number of community service hours and to Teen Court jury terms, and eventually have their record completely cleared of the offense. In each defendant’s trial, there are defense attorneys, prosecutors, witnesses, evidence, a judge, jury deliberation, and an official sentencing. As I said, this is a real court. Throughout my sophomore and junior years of high school, I served faithfully as a Teen Court Attorney.

The Magic of Friendship Currently I am one of four Senior Attorneys, the leaders of the pack, if you will. The benefits of being a part of this program have come to me slowly, spaced relatively widely apart, as if they didn’t want to overwhelm me all at once or leave me without any gratification for too long. Within my first session of court, the benefits of educating teens in the community about our legal system began to emerge; later the profound effects of having a means by which to clear one’s name did. Having police officers, attorneys, and judges willing and able to answer questions and guide us is a resource that is impossible to praise too highly. Last year I saw gratitude in the eyes of parents and hope in the eyes of an old man. This year is teaching me not only more about leading but also about leading with a pure motive and an honorable goal. I know that I’m lucky for finding a way to serve the community that I immensely enjoy and that also benefits me. However, to be fair, one of the reasons that I look forward to those Monday evenings is the anticipation of helping, teaching, and learning from my peers and others in our community. I realize that this position may sound somewhat cheesy and some may not believe that it’s true, but I promise you that it is. Being a part of something that

The Magic of Friendship actually benefits everyone involved is really rather remarkable. The knowledge I have gained, people I have met, lessons I have learned, and gratification I have received as part of this program are, without exaggeration, innumerable. I could go on and on, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not what matters. The thing of most importance is the justice that I had the privilege of bestowing on the members of our community. It is my honest hope for now and my goal for the future that those who come in contact with the Georgetown Teen Court program, no matter how small or large that contact may be, are influenced positively by it. That is its purpose. That must be our purpose, or why else would we do what we do? Through Teen Court, I gained far more than a letter of recommendation. I found the magic of service.

The Magic of Friendship

Second Place Winner

Louis Capps Grade 11 Home Schooled

SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a teenager volunteer doing some kind of extended community service at home, in the neighborhood, at school, at church, or with a local community service organization.

The Eagle Project - Fiction

The year was drawing to a close. It would have been a great year, except I needed to oversee an entire community service project. It was my Eagle project for Boy Scouts. I had not decided what to do, but I had an idea. I wanted to build a new playground at the park down the street. The current playground was old and falling

The Magic of Friendship apart. I was amazed that none of the kids that played there had been hurt from the old, rickety thing. I sighed; the amount of time and work needed to build a playground was going to be a lot. I would need to find the supplies and people to help me build it, and I would need to do it all before the end of this year. Otherwise, I would become too old to get my Eagle rank. I finished my schoolwork for the day and started to look at a list of stores that might be able to help me get the supplies I would need to build the playground. I sent out email after email to many places and called others to make appointments so that I could talk to someone in charge and ask them for help. By the time an hour was up, I was tired. How could anybody ever do a task like this and still have time for other things? I lay down on my bed and took a nap. When I awoke later in the day, I noticed I had emails back from most of the companies. A lot of them said â&#x20AC;&#x153;no,â&#x20AC;? but there

The Magic of Friendship were a few that said that they might be able to help me and asked if I would like to meet them in person. I emailed the ones that answered and scheduled a time and date for the meetings. A week later, I was exhausted. I had been to appointment after appointment after appointment. I had received help from two companies who would provide me with the supplies that I needed. I began to schedule dates when I would be able to work on the project. I sent an email to my Boy Scout troop and asked volunteers to help me with the project. After looking at the plans I had made for the playground, I realized I would need at least ten boys, if not more, and might need more than one day to finish the project. I decided I would try to finish the entire playground in one day, but if need be, I would still have enough time for a second one. I was about to go to bed that night when I got a call. It was from one of the companies that had agreed

The Magic of Friendship to help me. The man on the phone told me they would not be able to help as they had agreed because of unforeseen complications. After hanging up, I felt like everything was falling apart. Without the supplies, I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be able to finish the project. A day before the building day, I was frantic. I needed more supplies, but not all the companies I called would help me and on top of that, there werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough volunteers. I began to send an email out that the project would have to be canceled when I noticed an email from a small store near the outskirts of town. The email said that they had heard about my project and would supply me with whatever I needed to finish the playground. I emailed them back the list of things I needed. Next, I sent an email to my troop that I would need at least three more boys to help me with the project. I hoped that enough would show up. The next day, I arrived early at the scheduled place. Boys began to show up. At the time when

The Magic of Friendship we were to start, there were at least thirteen boys. I got everybody to work. The building process was long and hard, but we managed to finish the playground that day, thanks to the extra help from the other kids that showed up. It was difficult to finish the playground before time ran out, but with perseverance, I managed to finish it before the end of the year. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m hoping that, in the future, there will be other opportunities like this one.

The Magic of Friendship

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reading usually precedes writing and the impulse to write is almost always fired by reading. Reading, the love of reading, is what makes you dream of becoming a writer.â&#x20AC;? ~ Susan Sontag

The Magic of Friendship

Third Place Winner

Krista Capps Grade 9 Home Schooled SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a teenager volunteer doing some kind of extended community service--at home, in the neighborhood, at school, at church, or with a local community service organization. Old Man Janitor “The what?” I asked in shock as my Saturday plans dissolved before my eyes. “It’s an award won through hard work in volunteering, many hours, and a few other requirements. The president actually gives the award to you! You go to Washington, D.C.!” My dad’s eyes sparkled with an excitement I did not share at all. “There’s a gold medal, a silver medal, and a bronze, but of course you’ll only have time to get the silver or bronze before college. You’ll have to have it by college

The Magic of Friendship because it will look good to colleges! You could win a scholarship!” “Stupid scholarships! Stupid volunteering!” my brain screamed. My dad was always bugging me about this stuff! “I figured you’d have no problem volunteering tomorrow, since you said your homework is all done.” “Ouch,” I thought, since I had planned to go shopping with Kathy. Sure, I slaved to get it all done, but not to work! And work for nothing! In my mind’s eye I could see Kathy and me sipping frozen drinks, sorting through shirts, and then walking through the park, arm in arm. I almost sighed aloud. The sheer horror of it all. Suddenly, I noticed the awkward silence. Had my dad asked a question? “Uh, what?” My dad sighed. “Right. Tomorrow morning, Blackerby Park. Keepin’ those paths clean!” I did not know how it had happened. Somehow, my dad had gotten the park people to answer at six thirty in the morning. Somehow, he dragged me out of bed and got me to change into my clothes. Somehow, I had made it to the car. Somehow, I was standing in front of the park janitor as he told me to call him Billy. There was a metal stick for

The Magic of Friendship picking up trash in one of my hands and a plastic bag in the other. “Thar’ll be joggers, so ye keep ta the sidelines. Don’t never step off a’ that path,” he instructed matter-offactly. Images kept floating in the back of my head. Kathy and I were walking down the path. We saw the “old man janitor” coming and Kathy whispers a joke in my ear. As we pass, he tips his hat and gives us a crinkly smile. “Toppa’

the

evenin’,

Gals.”

Kathy

giggles

uncontrollably as we walk on… “Jest thrust hit in like that, thar.” He was demonstrating with his stick. This was going to be a long day. About sunset, Billy declared us finished. My bag was half-full and only had dirty papers. I had refused to touch anything. Billy’s bag was nearly overflowing and contained everything from old food to baby diapers. Thinking about this, I wondered why people trashed up the park. Then I thought of all the times Kathy and I had brought our drinks to the park and then just thrown them into the bushes because it was closer than the trash can. I felt my face redden with shame, as Billy watched.

The Magic of Friendship “Tis a bit ‘o hot aft’noon,” he said, unsuspecting. “The water’s jest up thar hill. Not much o’ walk left.” He wiped sweat from his forehead, but it dripped down to his cheeks anyway. I realized how much effort he put into his work. The everyday people, such as Kathy and me, didn’t care how our littering affected anyone else. “Mister, ah, Billy? Why do you work so hard?” I paused, and then added impulsively, “Do they pay you much?” “Wal, no,” he scratched his gray head, “pay pretty much nigh on nuthin’. But it ain’t the money what counts.” “No?” This confused me. “Nope. Be ye good ta this land, it be good ta you. That’s the way hit work. Jest like them Willy’am Bradfurd and all a’ them peelgrims done it. An’ them pioneers. Be ye good te land, be ye friends with the Lord, ye got a purty sats’fyin’ life.” He paused thoughtfully as I watched transfixed. “This here park, hit’s purty much me own daughter. That thar creek’s me own son. I keep ‘em clean, I keep ‘em safe. Hit’s not a rewardin’ work, whooey, no! Done gets all dirtified ever’ day. But I’ll always care for hit. Never leave hit to rot ‘n die. I’ll be faithful.” He stood proudly, dutifully.

The Magic of Friendship I looked down at my half-filled bag. I felt a big, fat tear roll down my cheek. Kathy and the mall would be seeing a lot less of me. I would like to offer a small note on what this story represents. Kathy and the main character represent how little we care about the people in the world, and the earth itself. The park and creek also represents us, adopted into the care of Billy. Billy, â&#x20AC;?old man janitor,â&#x20AC;? represents Jesus, who, though ridiculed and scorned daily, never gives up on us and is always there to forgive us and clean us up. We are the sons and daughters of Christ, and He will never give up on us.

The Magic of Friendship

“A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed.” ~ Henrik Ibsen

The Magic of Friendship

Honorable Mention

Madison Krueger Grade 10 Georgetown High School SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a teenager volunteer doing some kind of extended community service at home, in the neighborhood, at school, at church, or with a local community service organization.

A Day of Smiles

Radiant sunlight poured over my youth group and me, while the cold winter wind nipped at our rosy noses. In our hands, we each carried two ruby poinsettias and two winter cards. As we crossed the crosswalk that led to the nursing home near our church, the butterflies in my stomach seemed to fly faster and faster. With each step, the event that we had been planning for weeks became less of a daydream and more of a reality. As I walked, I thought about all that it had taken to get to the moment I was in today.

The Magic of Friendship It all started the first week of November. One Sunday just after the leaves began to fall from the trees and the air became cool, my Sunday school class gathered to talk about the holidays. In previous years, the church had always held a winter festival, but in the meeting we held that early November day, my best friend Jill suggested that we do something new, something that would bring joy not only to us but also to people less fortunate as well. We knew that while all the members of our Sunday school class had a loving family with whom to celebrate the joys of the holidays not every resident of the nursing home across the street from our church was as fortunate. In hopes of bringing joy to the seniors of the nursing home, we decided to give the gift of kindness through a nice card and a beautiful poinsettia to the seniors instead of having the annual carnival. For four weeks, we planned for the first day of December, when we would take a journey to the building across the street for a ceremony of joy. From the cutting of the cards to the purchasing of the flowers, we planned our highly anticipated event with hopes of bringing bliss to the community that we loved. As I walked and thought about all the time and love that had gone into the planning of this moment, a huge

The Magic of Friendship smile crossed my face. When we reached the front doors of the nursing home and the doors were opened for us, I was overwhelmed with joy. The room was full of smiling seniors, people I knew were smiling because of the work we had done. We each placed our poinsettias on a table in front of the rows of chairs lined in the lobby and to my surprise, the room was not filled with the sound of chattering voices as I walked to my seat but with the sound of applause. The ceremony began as I sat down in my seat. When my youth director handed the first poinsettia to an elderly man in a wheelchair, the joy on his face was enough to bring tears to my eyes and a smile to my face. I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe that just four Sundays of work could bring so much joy to someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. As the giving of the poinsettias continued, the joy in the room continued to grow. From my seat in the back row, I was besieged with joy as I watched the reactions of the people who had received their plants. Outside, the temperature continued to drop and the wind continued to howl, but I knew that the amount of joy in the lobby was so high that no matter how cold it got outside, the room would remain cozy and warm for quite some time.

The Magic of Friendship When the giving was complete and all of the plants had been handed out, I hugged a handful of seniors that thanked me with huge smiles on their faces. As we headed back to the church, I thought about all of the joy that I had experienced in the hour that I had spent in the lobby of that nursing home. What had taken a mere four hours to prepare had brought an abundance of joy to people of the community. I was amazed at how a simple act of kindness could make people so happy. The winter wind was even colder on the walk back to the church, but I hardly noticed because my joy was enough to keep me warm for a long time. When I walked through the church doors, I realized that the smile I had worn on my face through the ceremony still remained. That smile stayed on my face for the rest of the day. From that first day in December, I knew that being a friend to the community was something that not only brought joys to others, but also to me. I learned that I loved to make people happy, and that volunteering was something that I hoped to do for the rest of my life.

The Magic of Friendship

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The muscles of writing are not so visible, but they are just as powerful: determination, attention, curiosity, a passionate heart.â&#x20AC;? ~ Natalie Goldberg

The Magic of Friendship

Adanma Akoma Grade 12 Georgetown High School

“It’s not the number of days you live that counts; it’s how you live it,” is what I remember when I think of helping the community. So many teens these days just think about being praised for their many achievements and think about the tangible rewards they might receive after having attained a high honor or position. I’ve even seen teens just doing things out of their normal daily routines only because it looks great on a college application or because they feel pressured to look good in front of people. I, on the other hand, find myself feeling indifferent when I stumble upon such actions. I like to think of myself

The Magic of Friendship as an old soul. While many teens just want to look good for their community, I want to actually feel good. That is why I want to express my thoughts about doing admirable things simply because my heart is in them. This summer I went to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) camp. I decided to go just because it would give me something to do. I did not intend to get anything out of this camp except a chance to get away from the stress of everything personal that I had been going through at that time. I just wanted a week of fun and relaxation. When I got there, the kids whom I would soon learn were our counselors freaked me out. They were dressed in wacky clothes and they looked goofy. They all had on 70slooking attire and I remember thinking, “Gosh, I thought I had done this to get away from all the lame games at home!” I got out of my car and I didn’t know what to think. My original thought was that I might have made a mistake in coming here. I didn’t feel that I belonged, and the prospect seemed to be cramping my style. However, I set aside my pride and decided to enjoy this experience, even if at first I thought it was lame.

The Magic of Friendship I have to say that I am constantly eating my words. That camp changed me in more ways than I can even begin to explain. I thought I had real friends at home, but after that week, the word friendship had painted a different picture in my mind. The qualities I had held to be my guiding principles of what a true friend was had somehow gone astray, and I had gained a new outlook as to what a friend really is. I learned that a friend has morals and qualities that not only reflect positively towards him/her but also make an impact on others or the community. Real friends are supportive and they give us support to look forward to. They add a special sensation of worth to our lives and to the rest of society. Knowing there is someone willing to put forth effort to make at least one other person’s life less burdensome for a single day renders a true friend. Because of camp RYLA, I realized one of my biggest passions in life is to give back, to one day become part of an effort that will help the disabled and less fortunate. I want to give those that have lost all hope a way out, to give them a sort of comfort and relief. I want to give the people who think there is no way they can stand on their own a chance to say, “I’m not alone,” and for those

The Magic of Friendship who think they can’t deal with one more day of trouble to say, “I will conquer trouble.” That is why one of the ways I give back to the community is through the arts, dance, and film. Those are the two media that I am passionate about, and I love sharing my passion for everyone to see. I see dance as therapy. Dance allows me to tap into my inner emotions and to move my body the way I feel at that moment. I let the sound of the music and the way I feel take hold of me, and I completely immerse myself in the moment. I dance when I’m ecstatic and I dance when I feel there is no reason to be happy. I dance to escape from anything negative I feel is a threat to my positive beliefs. I like to think of it as fighting back. When I am in that zone, I am free of all anxiety and any insecurities I may have been feeling minutes before, and my true self is blistering. I am soaring so high off the ground that anything hindering me from standing tall is immediately obliterated. That is the feeling I like to transpire through my gift of dance. A few weeks ago, I performed in front of hundreds of people in a talent competition. The energy of the crowd was amazing. I was nervous at first, but once the music started playing, I became a different species. I was no

The Magic of Friendship longer a human being. I became the test I did poorly on, the guilt I felt inside, and the pain and anger I had toward a certain person, all bottled up in one form; and I just allowed all of those feelings to be the fuel for my outstanding performance. After I performed, I got a standing ovation. The crowd was roaring, and I didn’t know what to do except to walk off the stage. After the show, I received comments like, “I’ve never seen anyone move the way you move,” or “Oh my goodness, you’re amazing,” and even, “You should’ve won!” The one comment that mattered to me the most was the one I received from a troubled woman who saw me perform and said, “I felt you. Thank you.” It wasn’t about the fame and the glory or having everyone marvel at my presence. I simply loved getting on stage and performing. It was about giving the feeling of understanding and compassion I had toward my audience, whom I saw as my community. It was about letting them know, “Hey! I know what you are going through, and I want to ease your pain for one second so that you know there is at least someone who cares.” I had danced to the song “Two Steps Away” by Patti Labelle to tell the audience they are two steps away from getting back on their feet, two steps away from

The Magic of Friendship reaching their destination of joy, and two steps away from choosing to fight for their happiness or to sulk in their negativity. I wanted to offer them a choice to take a few more steps to make their lives better for themselves and for those around them. I wanted them to rise above the pressures and stresses of their everyday lives and tell them there is light at the end of that tunnel. I see this as a form of community service because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m giving back to the older generation what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve given me my entire life: hope. Hope for medical cures; hope for world peace; hope for a better future; and hope that one day teen suicide will be eliminated.

The Magic of Friendship

Alicia Capps Grade 11 Home Schooled

Volunteering. Well, I guess you could call it that. However, it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just a volunteer job, not like the one any other typical person would volunteer for. This one took something far more; this one took bravery. Even then, it took more. They say to volunteer is an act of charity; this was the highest form any act of charity could ever reflect. This was true love. Black-haired brown-eyed, athletic Jaiger Oscara was always the Type A guy I could only wish I were; no one else held my envy as intensely as he did. Sure, he was my best friend, but he was also my worst enemy. He had

The Magic of Friendship looks; compared to him, my reddish-blond hair, pale and freckled skin, hazel eyes, and gangly limbs were puny. I was always competing with him and always losing. Anything I could do, Jaiger could do better. If I threw a football 100 yards from end zone to end zone, he could throw it 110 to the soccer field next to us. If I could run a mile in 45 seconds, he could do it in 40. If I skipped a rock across the lake with 10 skips, he could do 11. Heck, Jaiger even beat me to life by 10 days; while my birthday was October 27th, his was the 17th. He was one of those people who had it all: looks, talent, and everything. However, he was never satisfied with that. He wanted more; he wanted to do something that meant something, not just conquer the world. He wanted to accomplish something that was more than making his name big. He got that chance as well. On a cool March day when the snow still melting, Jaigerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family took me with them to vacation in the Rocky Mountains. We backpacked all over the mountains, carrying everything we needed on our backs, climbing up hills, winding through valleys, slipping through forests. We hiked all day and set up camp at night, putting up our tents, building our fires, and cooking our meals out in the open. We dealt with hungry bears and raccoons, watched the

The Magic of Friendship graceful deer and birds, chased nimble rabbits and squirrels, listened to the eerie chorus the coyotes sing to the moon. I swear I even saw a sleek, golden-eyed, silver-grey wolf lurking around our camp, right outside Jaigerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tent and mine. As untamed as they were, no wild animals were as ferocious as the raging Colorado River. Cold and cruel, this was the most savage of natural elements we encountered along the trail. Without a moment to spare, the turbulent waters could suck up any victim and force him under the surface into its foaming core. The melting snow caused the river to rise high above its natural banks, and the rapids were far more violent than normal. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t one of our party that had fallen prey to this creature. As we traveled along its edge, a dark form pushed to the surface of the river and flashed in the corner of my eye. I looked in that direction. Sure enough, although I suspected it to be merely a log, the river submerged the object once again. I hardly had enough time to determine it was brown. It surfaced again, and my heart lurched inside my chest. A girl! I realized. Oh my gosh! My eyes were wide, and I stumbled over my words, pointing towards the water. We had to help her, I knew, but how?

The Magic of Friendship Jaiger looked towards the water and, when he caught sight of her, he was off in a flash. Running the short distance to the river’s edge, he threw off his backpack, pots clanging as it hit the ground, and dove in the second the tips of his boots met the rushing water. Like an Olympic swimmer, he glided toward her, wrapping her in his arms, keeping her head above the water as much as possible, and shielding her from the rocks with his own back. Jaiger Oscara didn’t just volunteer his time that day; he didn’t volunteer labor or money. He gave his entire life. This, I’d say, is the greatest amount of love any man could give. This is the biggest service anyone could offer. This is the ultimate sacrifice.

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one then this: that he lay down his life for his friends.”

The Magic of Friendship

Ben Jennings Grade 10 Georgetown High School

I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly happy about spending my whole Saturday building trails around Georgetown Lake. I was even more flustered about waking up at six in the morning to do it. The only reason I felt the need to do all of this was that it was through ROTC. I was trying to make a good impression with my instructors and show that I am able to take on responsibility. When I arrived at the meeting spot at the lake, I started to perk up. I was around friends, I had a nice breakfast, and it was a beautiful morning. After waiting for

The Magic of Friendship the rest of the people to arrive, everyone formed a platoon, and the workers from REI began briefing us on the day ahead. I was excited when I learned I was going to be spending all day with my best friend, Dylan. I was no longer disappointed about showing up; in fact, I was ecstatic when I got to use a pickaxe. We were bused to a trailhead, and had a nice twomile hike into the woods. Wasn’t it just my luck I decided to wear my camouflage pants, boots, and shirt on a day I didn’t realize was going to be this hot? Well, I didn’t mind much, because I was starting to realize that what we were doing was going to benefit many people. I realized the trails already provided by the city were run down. They were ill-defined, very rough, and full of garbage around them. The spot I was assigned was a bike trail in the middle of who knows where. I couldn’t image myself riding these trails. They were too thin and had tree roots and stumps sticking out of the ground. I felt the trail needed to be corrected. I worked all day, swinging a pickaxe in the hot sun and digging roots out of the ground. It was hard work, but it was something that had to be done. Not many people would want to clear the trail.

The Magic of Friendship In this situation, most people probably would have been miserable, but not me. I had a great time, and I realized

that

would

definitely

volunteer

again.

Volunteering is something that can make a person happy. It builds character, not to mention muscles. One of the main things that made it fun for me was the camaraderie, and being surrounded by good friends. Since then, I have dedicated many of my Saturdays to community service and often had to go to bed early on Friday nights because I wanted to volunteer the next morning. Every opportunity I have to volunteer for something, I take it. It truly has made me a different and better person. I have met the needs of others in their time of need. In a way, the people that I help provide the same service to me, just by their gratitude and kindness. Another time that I received a great feeling from helping happened when I volunteered for a detail at a maternity home. I did not know what we were doing, and I honestly had no clue why I was going. The only reason I did go was that a friend had persuaded me to go. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really mind because he was going to give me a ride, and he said we could hang out after the work. He picked me up about eight oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; clock in the morning and drove us to the home. Once we arrived, we

The Magic of Friendship were immediately put to work. The women in charge had us pull the weeds in the rocks surrounding the buildings. I wasn’t thrilled about it, but it was too early to argue, and it’s not likely they would have us do something else just because I didn’t want to pull weeds. After three garbage bags full of weeds and a box of bandages to cover the cuts from the thorns, we thought we were done. We were disappointed when they walked us around back, and showed us another garden needing to be weeded. We looked at each other with eyes full of desperation, overwhelmed by the thought of the task. The two of us and all of those weeds – it seemed impossible, but we both just answered with a “yes ma’am” and got to work. About midway through the work, we thought we were going to be there all day, until we had a stroke of luck. To us, this man seemed like an angel, but to most other people, he just seemed like the landscape guy. He came around back, holding a long machine. I couldn’t see what it was because of the glare of the sun. I stood up. The machine he had was a weed whacker. “I thought this may come in handy,” he said.

The Magic of Friendship Those were the sweetest words that had flowed into my ears in a long time. We took advantage of the tool, and finished in record time. What I learned from this experience was that community service can reward someone in many ways. Not only does it make you feel good inside, but it can also create bonding between friends. It can help others in need, and in my case, it gave the sweet taste of a cheeseburger after a hard afternoon of work. The best I can say is to not come to a conclusion too quickly; donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t judge a book by its cover. If something seems like it is not going to be fun, you should try it anyway; it could lead to a new realm of fulfillment.

The Magic of Friendship

â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write.â&#x20AC;? ~ Stephen King

The Magic of Friendship

Alexander Law Grade 9 Georgetown High School Eastview SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a teenager volunteer doing some kind of extended community service at home, in the neighborhood, at school, at church, or with a local community service organization. Bestowing of Knowledge

have

always

been

excellent

scholar.

Throughout my life, I have excelled in areas where others were lacking. I was not content to know that others wanted to excel but were not able to do so without outside resources or help. I learned it was a wonderful feeling when a person helps someone who is struggling with how to solve a problem or trying to understand how a certain thing works so he can apply that new knowledge to everyday life. I set a goal for myself: I would share my knowledge and understanding of academics with others by volunteering at

The Magic of Friendship a local tutoring center. A person cannot only become friends with the many pupils he may have but can also befriend

the

community by improving

its

overall

excellence. No tutoring center was available in my area and I would need transportation; not to mention I had no real work experience in tutoring besides informal help given to my classmates and sibling. I had to research possible tutoring opportunities along with locating resources to help me prepare for the task. I had to solve this dilemma immediately as people of all ages were struggling. I set a plan, as anyone else would. It would require a great deal of my free time and would require me to buy my own resources or to borrow them from other people. Since there was a great deal of ready resources at school, I decided to start there. I used the common search engine, Google, to locate a tutoring center that needed another tutor and where I would be able to do the most good. Since my greatest strength was in mathematics, I set a daunting challenge: to study and successfully learn the high school material from geometry all the way up to a bit of calculus. Although I had some experience in algebra, I knew the learning task would not be simple. I had not been exposed to this material before, and it would have to be

The Magic of Friendship absorbed quickly. I would need accurate resources to better help people. My only other background was scoring high on the math section of the SAT, but that would not provide me adequate knowledge of the higher math. As my focus was mathematics, I thought I would most likely be able to get these resources from my math teacher. My teacher had taught math up to the calculus level. I was fortunate to receive a great deal of assistance from him. I thought I would be able to do best at a tutoring center specializing in math, so I chose to volunteer at Mathnasium. I managed to get the standard textbooks from geometry to pre-calculus and had a review book from my dad of basic calculus. I also had an extra geometry book to cover the material better as well as resources available on the Internet. I had to make certain I could cover the material on time, so I went through a rapid-fire page-bypage study, followed by fine-tuned analyses of the more difficult and widely used topics. By doing this, I was able to cover all of the geometry and Algebra II material while still having adequate knowledge of the two higher-level topics. I contacted the director of the tutoring facility, who arranged for me to take an evaluation test to make sure I

The Magic of Friendship knew the material. Since my focus was younger children, my evaluation was based on simple mathematics combined with algebra. I did well on the exam, so I became qualified to tutor there. I had a multitude of tasks to perform. While the center was opening and closing, I would have to clean off the tables, windows, posters, and such. I would organize studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; binders and files in alphabetical order and would sharpen pencils, check for distribution of scrap paper, and complete tutoring training from a CD. The tutoring was fun. Since I had extensive knowledge, I was able to tutor not only the children in elementary school, but also higher-level students such as those in high school. I even had an 18-year-old student. I worked diligently with my students in order to make sure they understood the problem, and I presented the materials in multiple ways. I would have the younger students play educational games when they needed to focus, and I would give visual examples for them. Several students came many times and were able to gain selfconfidence in math and were inspired to do the same as I had. I was successfully able to share some of my knowledge with people who came to the center, including some from Georgetown.

The Magic of Friendship I served as a tutor on a regular basis for seven months. I would certainly volunteer as a tutor again, and I plan to do so in any public tutoring place available. Now that I am in high school, it will be easier to find a place that I can serve as a volunteer tutor. I developed a greater understanding of math and want to assist others to do the same. Tutoring turned out to be an experience that at times was both easy and hard, but I was inspired that my pupils could understand the given material.

The Magic of Friendship

â&#x20AC;&#x153;To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the inner music the words make.â&#x20AC;? ~ Truman Capote

The Magic of Friendship

David Young Grade 10 Georgetown High School

I was always complaining there was nothing to do every summer when my mother got home. Every night it would be the same plea. “Mom, can you take me to your work? I want to hang out with you or do something that doesn’t involve cleaning the house or being home.” Finally, my mother had enough, and that next summer I was working at a pet hospital. The first day of summer mom came into my room. “Time to get up,” she screeched. “But Mom, it’s six-thirty in the morning.” “I don’t care. You’re going to be late for your job.”

The Magic of Friendship “What job?” I said, jumping out of bed. “You’re working at the pet hospital by the farm next to Grandma and Grandpa’s house.” “Oh, come on, Mom,” I said, walking to the car. “You got to be kidding me.” “Why would I be kidding? You love animals and I’m tired of hearing you complain every summer about how there’s nothing to do around here,” she said in a mocking tone followed by a grin. “But I don’t want to go, Mom. I just don’t have time to do this,” I yelled. “Like what?” she said. “Sleep in all day and play video games?” “No,” I protested. “I want to hang out with my friends, too.” “Well, you can make some new friends,” she said, dragging me through the dirty metal door. As I walked through the icy door, a wind of animal smell hit my nose, and I started to gag. “Mom, this place smells terrible. Can we leave?” “No, you will have to get used to it. Now don’t embarrass me in public,” she hushed under her breath when we were approaching the front counter.

The Magic of Friendship “Hi, David Young to see the vet; he’s the new intern.” “Intern!” I said. “You told me it was a job. I thought I was getting paid.” My mother, upset with this protest, grabbed the back of my arm, told the woman at the front desk to excuse me for one minute, and took me outside. “I never once said you were getting paid,” she said. This job will give you character and will help the community. Plus it will look good on your résumé for college.” “Sorry, Mom.” I winced, rubbing my arm in pain. “You better be,” she warned and kissed me goodbye on the forehead and left. As I turned around, the vet was looking at me from the door, and from the look on his face, he was enjoying the show my mother and I had put on. I walked over to introduce myself, but when I made it to the door, he turned and walked away. “Hey, my name is David,” I said. “I know who you are,” he replied in a rough voice. “Come in and I will show you what you need to work on first.”

The Magic of Friendship Looking at the door, I walked in and followed him to the backyard where he was standing with a shovel and a pair of boots. “You need to shovel the manure from the horse stable into this bucket,” he said. “I thought you were a vet, not a farmer,” I said in a whining tone. “I am, but this place is also my home. You see, I love animals so much that some I buy from farmers or keep if they are abandoned.” “Then why aren’t you doing this?” I said, walking towards him. “Because I have you to do it,” he said. “Not anymore,” I said, running out the gate but slipping and falling in the manure. Chuckling, he said, “I don’t think your mom will let you do that. Come on, let’s go get you cleaned up.” After I had cleaned up, I learned he had eight dogs and seven cats in the house. All were sniffing me frantically. He told me he was one of those people who bought cats and dogs to maintain the pet population because he didn’t want to see them put down. I didn’t want to tell him I

The Magic of Friendship felt the same way, but I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any animals of my own or enough money to buy one. Walking to the bathroom, I noticed a dog with a huge belly waddling toward me. She was expecting puppies. The vet, who I found out was named Tom, said that she was expecting any time. When I returned the next day, Tom was out back finishing what I had started the day before. When I approached, I apologized for the way I acted the previous day. He said it was no problem and understood why I acted as I did. We went inside, and he and I went to help his patients. To his astonishment, I knew a bit about hurt and sick animals and suggested ways to make the animals as comfortable as possible. Weeks went by and I started to enjoy the company of the animals and my boss more and more. One night before I left, he called me into his office. Tom told me on what a great job I was doing and that his animals had taken a real liking to me, but unfortunately, he was moving to another town where he would have more land for his animals to run.

The Magic of Friendship Saddened by this, I understood. I was happy about the experience I had had, not only with him but with his animals as well. Twelve o’clock in the morning, I got a call that his dog was about to deliver her puppies and he needed my help. I awoke my mom and we sped to his home. When we arrived, I ran into his office ready to help him. The German shepherd was panting as loud as a fan in a football stadium. When her puppies finally came out, she had given birth to eight beautiful little puppies. Tom looked at me and said, “I couldn’t have done it without you.” He gave me a blanket, handed me a puppy and said, “This one is yours.” Filled with intense happiness, I took that little girl home, placed her in my bed, and thought, I want to be just like Tom and help the pet population.

The Magic of Friendship

Part II Writing Competition for Young Authors

Grades 3 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8

The Magic of Friendship

The Magic of Friendship Writing Prompt for Young Writers (Grades 3-8)

Prompt: The Magic of Friendship! Have you read a book about a character that you grew to love? Through the story, that character became like a friend. Friends are very special people. They are there in the good times and when things get tough. Write a story about a time that a friend helped you. It could be about someone who stood up for you when you felt all alone; maybe it was someone you thought wasn’t a friend. You could even write about a time when you helped a friend. Write about a person or even a pet that is always there for you no matter how you feel or what happens. It doesn’t even have to be real, but it must be about what a true friendship is and why it’s so special and magical.

The Magic of Friendship

“Find a need and fill it.” ~ Ruth Stafford Peale

The Magic of Friendship

Division 7 & 8 First Place Winner

Shannon Carey 8th Grade Benold Middle School SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a time that a friend helped you, or you could write about a time when you helped a friend or write about a person or even a pet that is always there for you no matter how you feel or what happens. It doesn’t even have to be real, but it must be about what a true friendship is and why it’s so special and magical. Untitled

“You're moving!” I cried, nearly dropping my phone. It was the morning before the first day of camp, and I had called my best friend Lily to ask if she needed a ride. Instead of gushing over plans for the first day of camp, as I should have been, I was calculating how far away Arkansas was. “Yeah. I'm really sorry, but I have to go pack. Text you later.” She hung up the phone without even saying goodbye.

The Magic of Friendship I could already feel the warm, salty tears flowing from my eyes and streaming down my face. I blinked them away quickly, embarrassed to be crying in front of my mom. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It's okay, sweetie,â&#x20AC;? she said soothingly, even though it obviously wasn't. I was losing my best friend, and I was going to have to go to camp alone. My eight-year-old world came crashing down in front of me. Lily was the social one; I was so shy that I couldn't make any friends without her. I sighed and threw the car door open. My summer plans, ruined. After fifteen minutes of somber silence in the car, we arrived at the ice rink. I lugged my bag out of the car and started dragging it toward the entrance, which, under the hot Texas sun, felt unbearably heavy. I finally made it to the double doors and groaned with relief as I dropped my bag. Nervously, I peeked through the window. I could already see groups of kids gathering together, trading secrets, and laughing at inside jokes. I wiped away my tears and took a deep breath. I couldn't stand outside forever. I was going to have to be brave. I thrust open the door and was met with a chilly gust of air. The room was alive with voices gliding through

The Magic of Friendship the air, buzzing with anticipation and excitement. It was the first day of camp, after all. What happened today affected the rest of the summer. I inhaled deeply, smelling the buttery pretzels and fresh baked pizza already baking in the oven. A woman came, gave me a nametag, and pointed to where my age group was. I meekly took it and trudged to where she pointed. Despair filled me as I saw a group of girls braiding each other’s hair, smiling and laughing. None of them even looked when I walked over. I sank to the ground, overwhelmed. I could already feel my vision blurring as everyone who came sat with that group of girls. When our counselors finally called us to attention, everyone seemed to have found their best friends for the summer. No one even noticed me; I was just “there.” My depression worsened as the day wore on. By lunchtime, I was ready to call my mom and beg her to take me home. I found a table in the back and sat alone. I picked at my food, not hungry at all, when I heard a voice. “Hi!” I looked up to see a short girl around my age standing before me, a huge grin painted on her face. I didn't recognize her; she probably came in late. Two red braids

The Magic of Friendship flowed down her back and to my amazement, she had the same rainbow lunchbox as me. “Hi,” I squeaked, not quite believing she was talking to me. “I'm Colette. What's your name?” I shyly told her mine. “Can I sit here?” the redheaded girl said. I nodded, moving my lunchbox so there was a place for her to sit. We started talking. She loved talking, but was nice and listened to me, too. It turned out we both loved ice skating, peppermint hot cocoa, and chocolate chips on strawberry ice cream. Even better, she had just moved in across the street from me. Before I knew it, we were having sleepovers every weekend. Even though I had lost one friend, I had gained a new one.

The Magic of Friendship

Division 7 & 8 Certificate of Merit

David Dale 8th Grade Home Schooled SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a time that a friend helped you, or you could write about a time when you helped a friend or write about a person or even a pet that is always there for you no matter how you feel or what happens. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even have to be real, but it must be about what a true friendship is and why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so special and magical.

Mountain of the Fallen Star Anima drained the last few drops from her canteen. It had been twilight when they entered the Mountain of the Fallen Star. Simon took a small swig from his own water canteen, designed by Ben not only to hold water better despite its small size, but to also tell them the direction of spring water nearby.

The Magic of Friendship “Does your aqua-compass show anything yet?” Anima asked quietly, her voice echoing back at her, repeating her words. “Nope.” He peered at it, his large bushy tail flicking back and forth. “It’s really messed up because of the water above and below us, but once we’re out of this infernal mountain it will work fine.” “What Brown Climbing Rat says is true,” Slizzen put in, his forked tongue slithering in and out of his mouth. “This cursed mountain has three waterfalls spilling down from its peak, down into underground rivers such as the one that scribe, Tangollen, and his shadowed companion escaped through.” Their reptilian companion shouldered his dartbow and travelling bags, and bent down to check his maps. Anima took her canteen and put it on, then wrapped herself in her cloak and allowed Simon some time to adjust before they began their trek again. Simon took this time to ask Slizzen a question. “I still don’t get why we took the mountain cave route when their route was so much faster.” Slizzen ignored him and continued to look through his maps. After a few minutes, he rolled them up and slid

The Magic of Friendship them into his bag that hung from his shoulder. He turned to face Anima, his face grim. “Your red-haired barbarian friend is going the wrong way. We will most likely meet him when we leave this fortress of stone; however, we must abandon her path for the moment if you wish to capture the two miscreants.” Anima bowed her head respectfully. “So it shall be. Maimelle would have been a great help, but she must miss this fight.” Slizzen turned to stare Simon straight in the eye. “As for your question, Brown Climbing Rat, the river is a one-way path, with only one exit. That exit is on our path. That is why.” Simon’s fur bristled in anger. “I’m no Brown Climbing Rat. I’m a squirrel, not a Brown Climbing Rat, you slick-tongued reptile!” Slizzen just turned and set off at a quick pace down the tunnel. “Let’s go then, o bigheaded squirrel.”

Although they did not know it, the full moon was shining brightly by the time they came across the cave Slizzen had told them. All Anima could think about was

The Magic of Friendship her thirst as she rushed down to the soft cold pool and drank her fill. Slizzen poked around and found a broken, battered canoe behind some rocks; the same canoe they had seen enter the rapids that led here days before. “They have already arrived and departed!” Slizzen hissed in anger, as he dragged the canoe out into the open. “Anima, get over here; this is not right.” Anima drifted over, curious at what had worried Slizzen. “Anima!” Slizzen hissed. “Get down!” Trusting his instincts, Anima ducked. A knife flew above her head. At the same moment, Slizzen was struck with darts flying from the wall opposite the canoe. Slizzen doubled over, grimacing, then his body went limp, and he fell to the floor, unmoving. Anima gasped, and her eyes grew wide, as she watched her noble companion’s eyes flutter, and then close. “He’s not dead. Just in a state of paralysis,” the dark voice that seemed to echo the life of the cold subterranean mountain told her. A dark-hooded assassin melded from the shadows. “It’s your turn, and I think I’ll stick with a weapon that’s more permanent.”

The Magic of Friendship He withdrew a knife covered with a runic design of a bird. He threw the blade perfectly, straight to her heart. Anima didn’t see it happen until it was too late. She felt no pain. She looked down and screamed. Simon had the blade sunk straight through his furry body. A dark red stain covered his front. “I told you I was your protector,” Simon told her. “I’ve finally done my job.” Tears welled from Anima’s eyes and fell on his chest. She cradled his body shaking in fear, sorrow, and anger. Then something seemed to burst, flowing out of her soul. Her hair glowed with all the colors, like a shimmering rainbow. The rainbow of hair quickly turned into a rainbow of fire. Her eyes lost their blue-green glint. They turned black purple. She set Simon’s body down still shaking with the trauma. She lunged herself at the black man. She ripped his hood and grabbed his throat, pushing him up the wall. “I hate you!” she screamed at him, her eyes seemed to burn with anger. She squeezed hard then stopped. All the life seemed to flow out of her. She knelt by the pool and sat. The man knelt on the ground, unmoving.

The Magic of Friendship All she could do was weep. Her tears hit the pool like fallen stars, all alone in a universe of darkness and nothingness.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.â&#x20AC;? ~ William Wordsworth

The Magic of Friendship Division 7 & 8 Certificate of Merit

Kelsey Krupicka 7th Grade Tippit Middle School SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a time that a friend helped you, or you could write about a time when you helped a friend or write about a person or even a pet that is always there for you no matter how you feel or what happens. It doesn’t even have to be real, but it must be about what a true friendship is and why it’s so special and magical. Handprint of Mine

“Hey Mrs. Jets! Is Ryan here?” I asked. “He’s in his room,” she replied. Mrs. Jets is the mother of my best friend, Ryan Klien Jets. He has blonde hair, braces, and never has a frown on his face. “Thanks!” I respond. I had great news to tell him. “Oh Madison, be careful by the walls. I just had them painted,” Mrs. Jets warned.

The Magic of Friendship Their home was painted a light navy blue color around the inside perimeter. I could tell the paint job had recently been done because I could smell the heavy odor of paint. When I walked closer to Ryan’s room, the most beautiful guitar solo was in the air. I open the door quietly, careful not to scare him. I made it in the room so quietly Ryan didn’t even lift his head. When Ryan finished his song, I clapped loudly so that he jumped. “I didn’t know that you play guitar!” I fussed in a humorous voice. “I had started to take lessons at the Get Well Center down by the market when I was in the hospital a few years ago. I found the guitar in my closet this morning,” Ryan explained. Ryan looked at me kind of funny. He wasn’t exactly looking at me; he was looking at my hand, which was on the wall. I quickly realized it and yanked my hand away. We started to laugh so loud that Ryan’s mother walked in and asked me to leave. The Jets family is very strict about racket and nonsense. That night I absolutely forgot about the news I had to tell Ryan; I guess I had been so wrapped up in how Ryan could play the guitar. I started to worry he would become a

The Magic of Friendship rock star and would move on from me. The next day I wanted to go back to his house, but when I looked in the direction of Ryan’s house, a brown house had taken its spot. I walked closer to the house thinking Mrs. Jets could have had the entire outside of the house painted dark brown. When I was almost to the driveway and I could see smoke coming from the bottom of the house. All the windows were blown out and I could see the house was made from wood. Mr. Koster approached me and said in a sad tone, “The home burned last night. Ryan and Karan made it out alright, but not all of their belongings.” “Where are they now?” I questioned. “No one knows except for them.” Slowly, he walked back to his house. I rushed inside the crumbling house and run into Ryan’s room, not caring if the building might fall. I looked around his room and noticed my handprint from yesterday was still on his wall. I felt a tear run down my cheek. The house wobbled. I rushed outside and took one last glimpse of the house. As I’m about to turn around and go back home, someone put their hands on my eyes. “Guess?” the voice said.

The Magic of Friendship “Ryan!” I screamed as he picked me up and spun me around. “Where are you going to live from now on?” I ask in a shaky voice. “Right next to you!” As I said many times before, never has he once had a frown on his face. I guess not even a house fire can split us up. Now that’s a magical friendship!

The Magic of Friendship

Division 7 & 8

Brian Kettering 8th Grade Home Schooled

SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a time that a friend helped you, or you could write about a time when you helped a friend or write about a person or even a pet that is always there for you no matter how you feel or what happens. It doesn’t even have to be real, but it must be about what a true friendship is and why it’s so special and magical. A Friend to Die For

Ethan awoke to the ringing of his cell phone. “Who in the world is calling me at 2:30 A.M.?” he asked himself as he rolled out of his bed and answered his phone. “Hello, Ethan Rogers here,” he said into his phone. “Ethan, it’s good to hear your voice again,” said a low scratchy voice. “Who is this?” Ethan asked.

The Magic of Friendship “I didn’t think you’d recognize me. It’s Josh Little, Ethan.” Ethan’s jaw dropped and he started stammering, “JJosh? But, I thought…” “I was dead? Yeah, well as far as anybody knows I am dead. I don’t have much time, can you meet me?” “Uhh…” Ethan stammered. “Okay, where, when?” “Washington Monument. Thirty minutes. Don’t tell anyone where you’re going,” Josh said, as he closed his cell phone. He looked around in the alley, and saw nothing more than cats, garbage cans, and a rusty gate. He climbed into his pickup truck and started driving. Meanwhile, Ethan got out of bed and dressed. Josh Little and Ethan Rogers had been the coordinators of a special operation team for the President, but during a rescue attempt, they lost Josh to the enemy. Not only were they both the coordinators for attacks, but they were best friends, and had been since they were twelve years old. Now Josh had contacted him, saying he was alive, and for some reason, Ethan believed this was real. About thirty minutes later, Ethan arrived at the monument. “Josh?” Ethan called out. “I’m over here,” said Josh, as he stepped into view. “My word, it is you!” Ethan said with joy.

The Magic of Friendship Josh and Ethan embraced with a brotherly hug. “I don’t know what to say…,” Ethan said smiling. It had been six years since they had lost Josh, or so they thought. “Don’t speak. Just listen,” Josh stated firmly. “While I was in custody, I heard news, news of an attack…right where we’re standing,” Josh said bluntly. Ethan’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? When?” “I don’t know, but I do know that I need your help to stop it,” Josh replied. “If you don’t know when…” “I know it will be sometime today, just no specifics,” Josh interrupted. “Of course I’ll help. Do you have any leads?” Ethan asked anxiously. “One: James Bradens,” Josh said gloomily. “The Secretary of Defense!” Ethan cried out. “Unfortunately, yes. He supplied terrorists with bombs. Big bombs.” “Do you have any proof?” Ethan asked, again very anxious. “Right here.” Josh handed him a folder filled with pictures of Arabic men and Mr. Braden signed contracts. “You know what we have to do, right?” Josh asked.

The Magic of Friendship “Yes… Lord, help us. We’re about to kidnap the Secretary of Defense.”

“Alright I’ll tell you!” Secretary Braden said with fear. Josh and Ethan had managed to scare him into telling him the whole truth. “5:15 A.M., the bomb will go off.” “We have to go, now!” Josh yelled as he holstered his gun. It was 4:30 A.M. and they were running out of time. They sprinted out the door to Ethan’s Mustang and jumped in. Arriving at the monument at 5:00 A.M. sharp, they dashed inside where they broke down the door to the electric room and found a group of men with a bomb. Two of them pulled out their guns, but Josh and Ethan were faster. Using their hands and legs, they were able to put all the men to the floor. “Josh, if we’re gonna disable this…” “We can’t! It’s jammed!” Ethan screamed. “Get out! Go!” Ethan yelled to Josh. “What?” “I’m gonna drive it into the lake!” Ethan replied, “It’s two miles away!”

The Magic of Friendship “That’s why I’ll drive it!” “Ethan, you’ll die!” Josh said with fear. “But you and hundreds of others will live, including the President!” “But...” Josh was cut off. “Go!” Ethan cried out. “I’m sorry, Josh,” he said to himself as he grabbed the bomb and ran to his car. Ethan jumped in and drove far beyond the speed limit. 5:13 A.M. He could see the lake. He found a brick in the back seat. “This is my ticket!” he said to himself excitedly. He dropped it on the gas pedal and jumped. Thirty seconds. He got to his feet and ran as the car sped towards the lake. Ten seconds. Ethan was sprinting now. He heard the splash as the car hit the water. Then the explosion. Josh watched as tears filled his eyes. The police officers and F.B.I. agents passing by heard something about a survivor between radio calls. He started running. Ethan’s bond with Josh was strong enough that he was willing to die for him. Fifteen minutes later, Josh reached the lake. Much to his relief, there was Ethan, with the medical team next to him.

The Magic of Friendship He ran and embraced his friend. “I can’t believe it,” Josh whispered into his friend’s ear. “You know how I feel,” Ethan said smiling. “You were willing to die for me... thank you,” Josh said with his voice shaking. “Get these people away from me and let’s go home. I could use a nap right about now,” Ethan chuckled.

The Magic of Friendship

Division 5 & 6 First Place

Lyndi Tsering 6th Grade Home Schooled SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a time that a friend helped you, or you could write about a time when you helped a friend or write about a person or even a pet that is always there for you no matter how you feel or what happens. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even have to be real, but it must be about what a true friendship is and why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so special and magical. A Friend Beyond the Door

The sky was filled with dark, stormy clouds. The horizon was dark and empty. Even the land was dry and barren. Teal shivered. Her world had once been a place of laughter, sunshine, and happiness. Only a few weeks ago, Teal had had many friends, but her favorites were small creatures called the Harswankles. However, late one night, they had left, leaving Teal alone and afraid.

The Magic of Friendship Now, as the darkness grew worse, Teal became sadder. What she did not know was that the sadder she became, the world itself would mourn with her, always becoming sadder and darker. Teal did know that the only way she could bring happiness back into her world was to find a new friend to be her companion. The problem was since the darkness had begun to swallow her world, Teal was the only one left. As she sat in her disappearing world, a new determination began to come over her. She stood up, looked around, and straightened her shoulders. “I must find a new friend,” she said to herself, “I must go to the end of the world, and escape to find a companion.” With new resolution, Teal turned to the north, and began walking toward the end of her world to find the legendary Golden Door, which was said to lead out of her world and beyond. Although the cold, menacing wind pushed against her, Teal was determined to save her world and herself. For days, she walked; the only thing keeping her going was the thought of her world falling into ruins without her help. Day after day, nothing seemed to change no matter how long she walked. North lay just ahead of her.

The Magic of Friendship Finally, with no hope left, Teal sank to her knees and sobbed. “I’ll never find a friend!” she wept. Her tears formed a small pool, and she heard a voice calling out to her, “Teal! Teal! Listen to me!” She wiped her eyes and looked down into the puddle of water. A face, which looked much like her own, smiled up at her. “Who are you?” Teal asked. The face giggled, “I’m your conscience, and I’m here to help you.” “How?” Teal asked, leaning closer to the pool. “You’re getting tired and discouraged, and you clearly need my help. You are still far away from the Northern gate, but I can help you get there.” “How?” Teal asked again. Her conscience smiled and nodded to the side of the pool. “Eat one of the Harka fruits that grow there, to renew yourself.” “But, there is no plant!” Teal protested. Winking, her conscience replied, “Look again!” As she said it, a small tree grew, with one fiery red fruit hanging from its branches. After eating the Harka fruit, Teal asked, “Now what do I do?” “Lean closer,” her conscience whispered.

The Magic of Friendship “Now what?” Teal said, beginning to get a little impatient. “A little closer,” was her reply. However, before Teal could ask anything else, a hand reached toward her, and with an ear-piercing scream, she was pulled into the pool. A few moments later, Teal found herself in front of a mountain. Directly in front of her was the Golden Door. It was far grander than anything she could have imagined, and to see how grand it truly was, one would have to go there himself. The door was huge and mysterious, filled with carvings depicting the entire history of Teal’s world. The most intriguing thing, however, was there was not a knob or a handle, or even hinges to swing open on. “Good luck!” whispered her conscience. With that, Teal found herself alone. “Now what do I do?” she wondered. “Open!” She yelled at the door. Just when she thought nothing was going to happen, a loud voice boomed, “Who are you?” Mustering all her courage, she said in an equally loud voice, “I am Teal, and I have come to go out of this world. Who are you?”

The Magic of Friendship “I am the guardian of the North. Why should I grant you passage?” Teal paused for a moment, thinking about her response. “I must find a friend to come back with me, or else the whole world will be destroyed.” “Are you really doing this for us, or will you escape to safety and leave us here?” the guardian asked. “I promise to come back, if only you’ll let me go!” Teal cried desperately. “How can I be sure?” The Guardian replied, untrustingly. Teal touched her neck and said, “Here, take my necklace. It belonged to my mother. Keep it safe for me.” She carefully took off her precious necklace, and held it out. A ghostly hand took it, and almost instantly, the doors swung open. “Thank you!” Teal shouted as she ran through the doorway. She looked around her new surroundings. Huge hills were all around her. They were square, and people would look out through small holes on the outside. A boy went running by yelling, “News! News! Read all about it!” “Excuse me!” Teal called to him.

The Magic of Friendship He stopped and came over to her. “What do ya want?” he asked. Clearing her throat, Teal said, “Can you tell me where we are?” “Why, Eighth Street!” the boy said. When he saw that Teal had no idea what he meant, he said, “Boston. Are you from around here?” Teal shook her head. The boy shrugged and went on his way. Teal continued walking down the street, looking at the strange place around her. Dusk was beginning to set in, and pink clouds began to fill the sky as the sun turned red. It was nearly dark, and Teal had still not found a friend. She came to a dark alley. In it, she saw a girl who appeared to be about Teal’s age. Her knees were pulled to her chest; her face buried in her hands, and her shoulders shook with sobs. “What’s wrong?” Teal asked, sitting down next to the girl. “I’m Ester. My parents have died, and now I must live with my uncle. But he doesn’t want me at all!” Ester explained, looking up at Teal. “Who are you?” she asked.

The Magic of Friendship “I’m Teal. I have a problem, too. My world is going to be destroyed if I don’t have a friend. Will you come with me?” Ester laughed. “You’re joking, right?” Teal frowned and stood up. “No. I’m quite serious. There is a huge gold door on Eighth Street. Come see for yourself!” Ester became serious and stood up. “Show me.” When they got back to Eighth Street, Teal smiled triumphantly. “See!” she said, pointing. “Where? I only see a wall.” Ester said, squinting. “Look again!” Teal persisted. Suddenly, Ester cried, “Yes, I can see it now!” Teal grabbed her new friend’s hand, and together they ran to the door. “I’m back!” Teal called to the guardian. The ghostly hand gave her the necklace, and the doors swung open. Ester hesitated. “Come on!” Teal said, pulling on Ester’s hand. “It looks so, well, dark. I’m not sure,” she said, looking nervously at Teal. Smiling, Teal said, “It won’t be for long!”

The Magic of Friendship Together, they ran through the doorway. With their laughter, flowers began to grow and the cold darkness began to disappear. Grinning at Teal, Ester said, “You were right, I’m glad I came with you.” With those words, the sun broke free, shining light on the new best friends.

The Magic of Friendship Division 5 & 6 Certificate of Merit

Hannah Pierce 6th Grade Benold Middle School SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS:

Write a story about a time that a friend helped you, or you could write about a time when you helped a friend or write about a person or even a pet that is always there for you no matter how you feel or what happens. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even have to be real, but it must be about what a true friendship is and why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so special and magical. Petticoats, Shouting Matches, and 2:54 A.M.

Wow, I thought. What a fantastical book! I didn't know books came that entertaining. It is almost in league with the Harry Potters (not an easy feat). I need to reread this immediately. I have to keep reading until that marvelous heroine pops off the pages. I glanced at my alarm clock. No such luck. It read 2:54 A.M., and that was not a reasonable time to be up, especially the night before the first day of sixth grade. I ditched the book and went to bed.

The Magic of Friendship The car's structure moaned and creaked as we rounded yet another reckless turn. The nearest â&#x20AC;&#x153;built-inâ&#x20AC;? light swung out of its socket, hanging by a thick black cable. I groaned and popped it back in. Even with an empty stomach, this drive was not making me feel well. Part of it was nerves, but a lot more of it was my mother's horrendous driving. I nervously glanced at my outfit for a last minute checkup. I had hoped the overall confident and brash nature of it would boost my self-esteem, but so far, it wasn't working. Two feet of tulle wrapped around my waist in all directions, giving me the look of a personal bubble. Yes, I had donned six petticoats. My legs were garbed for a tap dance in a pair of the busiest stockings one will ever come across, with a matching (sort-of) floral tunic. The ribbons and bows atop my head made an intricate design like a crown across my head, and then swept down to my knees, where they swung freely. Overall, I was like a colorful sculpture. I had brought along some jeans and a t-shirt for backup, but I really didn't want them. I felt amazing in this outfit. I was flamboyantly eccentric; I looked like I'd just stepped off an Alexander Wang runway. I was invincible.

The Magic of Friendship When I looked up, I saw the thing I was dreading, the front of the school. It looked as if the entire student body was there, waiting for the first bell to ring. One eighth grade student had a sixth grader in a headlock, and it was obvious the eighth grader was winning. A few girls of various grade levels were crowded around a strangely familiar girl. I was sure I heard taunting. Great. Middle school. My door opened, I gathered my extremely overstuffed backpack, and stepped onto the sidewalk, barely hearing my mother's goodbye. I stood a moment before realizing what a target I was for older students. Standing in the open was a horrid tactic. I opted to hide behind a coarse limestone pillar instead. I believe my petticoats may have been sticking out though. I'd been trying to make myself smaller for about ten minutes when a voice reprimanded in my ear, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Young lady, come with me.â&#x20AC;? I turned... and discovered the vice principal. I had no idea what this was about (I had momentarily forgotten my attire) and was soon being led to her office. When we arrived in her office, another girl was already there. It was the girl I'd seen being tormented. Her hair was the most vibrant red I'd ever seen, except for in my mind's eye, while

The Magic of Friendship reading that book the night earlier. She looked so much like the image of the heroine I'd had, I couldn't keep my eyes off her. Apparently she couldn't keep her eyes off me enough either. I suddenly remembered my, um, costume. The vice principal sat behind her desk, sighed, and glared at us. “You,” she said, pointing to the girl, “are in here for unnatural hair color.” You miss,” she said as she turned toward me, “are here for wearing an abomination of an outfit; it is against dress code!” My fear turned to anger, as this crow spoke to me. Had she looked at her own outfit? The girl started protesting. “Of course, this is my natural hair color! What are you talking about?” I followed her example, and shrieked, “Look at her hair! Completely red to the roots, with absolutely no break in color! It's obviously natural, you old bat! My outfit happens to be a masterpiece! I have spent weeks preparing for this, checking and re-checking the dress code!” I hit my stride and hectically ripped out my copy of the dress code, rattling off every single rule, and testifying as to why they did not prevent us from leaving her office and parading about the school.

The Magic of Friendship I finished my tirade with a triumphant huff, and stood there like a cretin, breathing raggedly. Both of my audience stared at me, one with astonishment, and the other with absolute revulsion. Oops, my mind whimpered. To my surprise, the fearsome VP merely said, “Go,” in a voice so quiet I thought I'd gone deaf. Of course, I hadn't, and we both left in a shocked silence. The red-haired girl was first to speak. “Thanks for that.” “You’re welcome,” I mumbled. A sudden impulse took hold of me and I asked, “What's your name?” “Rachel… Rachel Elizabeth Dare.” The name of the heroine… and the beginning of our friendship.

The Magic of Friendship

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Keep in mind that the only person to write for is yourself. Tell the story you most desperately want to read.â&#x20AC;? ~ Susan Isaacs

The Magic of Friendship Division 5 & 6 Certificate of Merit

Erin McCourt 6th Grade Benold Middle School SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a time that a friend helped you, or you could write about a time when you helped a friend or write about a person or even a pet that is always there for you no matter how you feel or what happens. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even have to be real, but it must be about what a true friendship is and why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so special and magical. True Friendship

Friendship is a very special gift. Everyone needs friendship to live and enjoy life. It is truly a magical thing. The time I helped a friend was in early August. A girl about my age moved in down the street. Her name was Megan. She came from McKinney, Texas. After my mom told me that she was in my grade, I ran down the street to welcome her. I was so anxious to meet her! I knocked on

The Magic of Friendship the door of the big brick house. As soon as she opened the door, I introduced myself. Open House for 6th Grade was tomorrow, and I wanted to give her an idea about how it will be and whom she will meet. I knew it would still be hard on her because she had to leave all her friends two hours away. My mom had followed me and we met their family together. After that, I invited Megan to my house to hang out. We had a good time! We jumped on the trampoline, and we swam in the bright blue pool. Two weeks after the Open House, school started. Wahoo! I was very excited but she was still nervous! As soon as school started, I knew the day was going to be terrific! “Beep,” went the 8:15 bell. Megan and I burst through the corridor doors and entered the crowd of people. I introduced Megan to my closest friends Haley, Lena, Grace, Sarah, and Peyton. Megan started enjoying the Sixth Grade more after meeting her classmates. As the days passed, Megan grew closer to people. She loved her seventh period class the best, Drama! I was happy she liked drama. The third week, I was amazed! She had ten little pieces of paper in her hand. I curiously asked, “What are those?”

The Magic of Friendship She said, “Friend’s phone numbers.” I was once again very happy that she was making so many new friends! After all that, Megan is doing well in school. In addition, she’s still making new friends.

The Magic of Friendship

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Surely a pen is like a blade; if it is not used then it becomes dull.â&#x20AC;? ~ Faith Mortimer

The Magic of Friendship Division 5 & 6

Kara Capps 6th Grade Home Schooled

My Best Friends

The bell rang and I was on my way to my next class, P.E. I love going to Co-op a lot because I get to see Charlotte. For short, I call her Sharly. I trotted up beside Sharly and we chatted until we got to P.E. I stayed close to her, because I don’t like being without her. We played dodge ball, and I was stuck on the other team. I couldn’t stand it. Through the game, I tried not to

The Magic of Friendship think about not being with Sharly. Halfway through, only Sharly was left on their team, and on my team many players were left, including me. My team finished Sharly off fast, and we moved to the next game. I was afraid to throw a ball because someone might catch it and I’d be out, so I chose myself as the ball giver. I gave balls to my team, which means I picked up balls. We won that game, too. On the third game, Sharly’s team was almost to victory when the bell rang. I stayed by Sharly until we got to Latin. We were split up again when we played a game. Although I wasn’t with Sharly, I loved this game, Pictionary. I was a super good help to my team that day and our team got five points, while others got one, two, three, or four. I received a piece of candy because I did my quiz and selected a Snickers. We did the worksheet, and walked back to the gym to wait until Co-op was over. Because we were in a basketball gym, Sharly and I played line tag. Line tag is tag, but you can only stay on the lines. Sharly had to leave and I was stuck alone. I remember the first time I’d gone to Sharly’s house and we had root beer floats, even though I didn’t like root beer. The ice cream part of the float was good though. I didn’t tell Sharly’s mom that I didn’t like it.

The Magic of Friendship After eating the floats, we went outside to her trampoline and played. After that, we went inside and played in her room. I’m so glad I’m friends with Sharly, because she’s one of the best friends I’ve ever met.

The Magic of Friendship

â&#x20AC;&#x153;If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.â&#x20AC;? ~ Toni Morrison

The Magic of Friendship

Division 5 & 6

Catherine Dietlein 5th Grade McCoy Elementary

Untitled

To tell you the truth, the magic of friendship never meant anything to me until I lost it. After that, I tried as hard as possible not to find a friend or be a friend, but this is only the introduction. I won’t spoil the details. My eyelids fluttered open, where was I? The only thing I recognized was Amber’s soothing voice rocking me to sleep. Suddenly it started fading, slowly as if she was leaving me.

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The Magic of Friendship “No, wait. Don’t leave me,” I cried flinging my arm in her direction. It was no use. She was gone…forever. Beep, beep, beep. Turning my head, I turned off my alarm clock then collapsed. I was devastated. I had had the perfect dream, but why did it end so quickly? I got up and started to get dressed but as I looked in the mirror, I lost my balance and fell through! Crash! I opened my eyes. I couldn’t see much through the fog, but I stood up and saw Amber! Many words and feelings bounced off the sides of my brain but the first thing that came out was an apology. “Amber, I’m sorry. I should have never left your side during lockdown at school. I should have opened the door for you!” I cried. “It’s all my fault.” I buried my face in my hands and felt a hand on my shoulder. “Stop grieving and open your eyes to the living,” were the only words I heard from Amber’s mouth. What did she mean? Did she want me to move on and make new friends? I felt another hand on my shoulder, but it didn’t have Amber’s soft touch; it was a more rough and jerky type. I opened my eyes and I was back in my room with my mom towered over me.

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The Magic of Friendship Not waiting to let me grasp what I had just seen, my mom said sweetly, “There’s a girl asking if you can play.” Normally I would have spat, “Heck no!” and jumped back into bed but something felt different inside, as if my heart was glowing. I crooned, “Let’s give it a shot,” and trotted out to meet her. That was my adventure explaining that magic of friendship isn’t always in the past. Now it’s your story. What’s your idea of the magic of friendship?

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“For anyone who is: just keep writing. Keep reading. If you are meant to be a writer, a storyteller, it’ll work itself out. You just keep feeding it your energy, and giving it that crucial chance to work itself out. By reading and writing.” ~ Robin McKinley

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Division 5 & 6

Jackie Madden 6th Grade Forbes Middle School

On a crisp fall day in Millington Elementary School, Emma could tell she was sitting next to a true friend while she was in Mrs. John's class. But let’s flash back to about a week earlier. Emma, Sarah, and Andy were all swinging on the swings as they did every day. They would swing in the same pattern kicking their feet up, and then tucking them back in one motion, all at the same time. In a split second,

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The Magic of Friendship the bell went off and they all lined up by classes. Andy was always first in Mrs. John's line, then Emma and then Sarah. Emma and Andy had been friends for as long as Emma could remember, but Sarah was new to Millington Elementary. She was a shy but friendly person. All three became friends about the second day of school. The entire class followed Mrs. John to her room. As soon as they got to the room, she said to get partners. Emma's first reaction was to grab Andy, but she realized she had already been taken by the most awful person ever, Tammy Daniel. She was mean and terrible, but to most people she seemed to be attractive and popular. Emma could see out of the corner of her eye Sarah sitting all alone. Emma hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gotten to know her as well as Andy, so she hesitated, but then found the power to go as Mrs. John was counting down from five to find a partner. Emma finally reached Sarah as Mrs. John got to the number one. When she finished, Mrs. John announced they would be doing a project for one week. She handed out the instructions, told what to do, and sent them off. The class spent the entire day writing a paper, and then were dismissed from class and sent home. On the bus ride home Andy and Emma sat in seat one every day. Today, though, Andy didn't sit in seat one with Emma. She

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The Magic of Friendship sat in seat ten with Tammy. Sarah didn't ride the bus, so she could not think of anyone to sit with. Emma was all alone. The next day on the playground only Emma and Sarah were on the swings. Andy and Tammy were playing volleyball, which Emma knew Andy hated. On the swings instead of being in one motion, they were all jumbled up going this way and that. The bell seemed to ring later because Emma and Sarah were just sitting there. It felt like hours before it rang. They got in Mrs. John's line and everything was the same, Andy first, Emma second, and Sarah third. However, that ended when Andy motioned for Tammy to join her. Tammy came and got right smack in front of Emma. After that, things seemed to go farther down hill. Emma and Andy didn't speak much to each other, maybe a hello here or there, but nothing really. One day while Emma and Sarah were working hard on their project, Emma looked at Andy and Tammy. They were goofing off and playing around. The project was due the next day and Andy and Tammy hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t done much. Emma tried to act as if she didn't care, but deep down she felt hurt. It was the day the project was due, and the day they presented before the class. When they walked

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The Magic of Friendship in the door, Emma and Sarah's name was on the board first to present. They got in front of the class and read everything they did. Then it was Andy and Tammy's turn. They didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have much to say and struggled a bit. After they got back from the playground, they had their grades on their desk. Emma and Sarah got a 100! Emma looked over at Andy and Tammy's paper and they had gotten a big fat zero. At that moment sitting in Mrs. John's class Emma knew she was sitting next to a true friend, Sarah.

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The Magic of Friendship

Division 5 & 6

Katya Spikes 5th Grade Ford Elementary SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a time that a friend helped you, or you could write about a time when you helped a friend or write about a person or even a pet that is always there for you no matter how you feel or what happens. It doesn’t even have to be real, but it must be about what a true friendship is and why it’s so special and magical. Behind the Story of My Pets

Have you ever not liked a friend then later liked them at the last minute? Well, that’s what happened to my pets – a toy poodle, Princessa, and rabbit, Zayka. One very hot sunny day in May, we went to Pet Land. We all fell in love with this floppy–eared, calico bunny. Ahhh! She was so cute. “Can we get her, please?” By the time we came home and set Zayka on the floor, Princessa and Zayka met.

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The Magic of Friendship “Who wants this white furry rag? Like me!” Zayka said. Zayka did not like Princessa one little, tiny bit. Princessa was a big help around the house with Zayka. We all thought that Zayka was going to be a good bunny, but she was the opposite of that. She was wild, but loved everyone who petted her. The strange part was that Zayka hated Princessa and Princessa hated Zayka. We had had Zayka for five months until October 2. She was hopping and wanted to be petted; excited about her favorite foods! Until then we hoped they would get along together, but Zayka bit Princessa’s bottom and she was afraid of her. Later that day they got along together and became best friends. October 3rd came like the 9/11 strike in New York City. Zayka had passed away. Everyone was crying. Everyone loved Zayka. All of us had to heal over it, so we did. We will never forget about her. This was friendship, love, and sadness.

On Going On October 17, we almost bought another rabbit that licks your hands, but we did not buy it because we

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The Magic of Friendship didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to go through the same thing again. If we did, it would be a busy house. We will never forget Zayka. Ever!

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“You are what you read.” ~ Esko Valtaoja

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The Magic of Friendship

Division 3 & 4 First Place Winner

Emma Handlos 3rd Grade Jarrell Elementary SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a time that a friend helped you, or you could write about a time when you helped a friend or write about a person or even a pet that is always there for you no matter how you feel or what happens. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even have to be real, but it must be about what a true friendship is and why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so special and magical.

My Friend Carter Ever since the first day of school, I did not have any friends. Then one day in the middle of September my class got a new student named Carter Gamdel. When she and I met, we promised that we would be best friends forever, no matter what happens. One day Carter had a soccer game and twisted her ankle. When I saw that, I felt so sorry for her. I wanted to

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The Magic of Friendship do something for her but I did not know what to do. Then it hit me. “I should help her till she gets better,” I thought. When I got home, I told my mom what happened to Carter and how I was going to help her. My mom thought that it was a great idea. That night all I could think about was Carter’s twisted ankle, and how happy she would feel if I would help her. The next day I told Carter that I was going to help her until her ankle got better. She thought that was nice of me to do that. Later that day at lunch, I helped her get her food. Then at art class, I helped her sit down. When I got home my mom asked, “How was your day?” I said, “It was great and Carter said her ankle will be better tomorrow.” “Great!” my mom said. The next day when I got to school, the first thing I did was see Carter and the good news was her ankle was okay. We cheered and jumped around. I was so happy. That was the time I was a true friend.

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Division 3 & 4

Certificate of Merit

Ariana Capps 3rd Grade Home Schooled SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a time that a friend helped you, or you could write about a time when you helped a friend or write about a person or even a pet that is always there for you no matter how you feel or what happens. It doesn’t even have to be real, but it must be about what a true friendship is and why it’s so special and magical. Once Friends and Now Again

One fine day, Lilly, who was a cat, was playing with her good friend, Emily, who was a cat as well. They were playing a game in a cave. They called the game, “Look for the cat.” In the human world it was called, “Hide and Seek.” It was fun until they got into a big fight about whose turn it was to be “it.” Emily turned and walked away. After about an hour, Lilly was still in the cave. She heard a scream from

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The Magic of Friendship outside the cave. She looked out and saw Emily stuck in a small tree, with a dog right under her. Lilly ran behind a rock so the dog could not see her. Her heart was beating fast. She had never been that close to a dog before. Then with all her might, she got on the rock andâ&#x20AC;Ś.BANG! She found herself running as fast as she could to get away from the big dog, and Emily was in front of her. They saw a big tree in the distance. Lilly knew what to do! She quickly caught up with Emily. She told Emily it was their only chance. They made a plan. There were two branches on each side. The plan was for Lilly to go on one branch and Emily on the other. They put their plan to action. Lilly jumped on the branch on the right side and Emily on the left. The dog did not know which one to run after. Before he could choose, both of them were up the tree and laughing in the middle. They did not fight again.

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Division 3 & 4 Certificate of Merit

Mackenzie May 3rd Grade McCoy Elementary SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a time that a friend helped you, or you could write about a time when you helped a friend or write about a person or even a pet that is always there for you no matter how you feel or what happens. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even have to be real, but it must be about what a true friendship is and why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so special and magical.

Best Friends and Their Laughs

All my life I have had a best friend. Her name is Elizabeth. I have known her for a long time. We have had both good times and some tough times. People have been mean to us a lot but we stand up for each other. One day we started to laugh and we went back in time to the first person that was mean to us. We laughed again and the person who was mean, named Jackson, was

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The Magic of Friendship not mean any more. He was nice. Our laughter made people who were mean to us nice. It was like magic. Therefore, we laughed again and again and again. All the people started to be nice. When we finally got to the last person it wasn’t working. We laughed and laughed and laughed but it still wouldn’t work. I found a little sidewalk and we followed it. Some parts were scary, some parts were fun, some parts gave me chills, and some gave me ice cream cones. It was weird for a second. I thought it was all a dream. I pinched myself. It wouldn’t work. We kept on walking and found a castle. It had so many great things. It had candy, Santa Claus, and many other great things. We walked into one room and it had a woman. We told her the laugh did not work. She said, “All laughs have to work if they are real.” We finally got it. All this time it was not a real laugh. We went back and this time our laugh was real!

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Division 3 & 4

Elizabeth Dietlein 3rd Grade McCoy Elementary SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a time that a friend helped you, or you could write about a time when you helped a friend or write about a person or even a pet that is always there for you no matter how you feel or what happens. It doesn’t even have to be real, but it must be about what a true friendship is and why it’s so special and magical. The Save

It was dark and stormy; it was the night before Halloween, and I was getting ready for bed when I heard my mom yell, “Help!” I jumped to my feet and ran to my mom’s room. My jaw opened and I screamed. My brother Jase ran to my mom and me. We heard a voice say, “I’m going to eat you tomorrow!”

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The Magic of Friendship I asked my mom in a loud voice, “Where’s Jared?” I yelled. “I don’t know,” she yelled back. Then Jared popped out of the closet and laughed so hard that he needed to go to the restroom. My mom was mad. The next night I dressed in my Halloween costume. I was going by myself and I had no friends unless I found someone. At 7:00, I bumped into someone. She looked nice. Her name was Amy. We Trick-or-Treated together that night like peas in a pod. Later we found someone else. Her name was Ashley. Amy, Ashley, and I talked and talked about our costumes. We talked about whom we liked and what he looked like. We talked so much we were the last ones Trick-or-Treating. We had only Trick-or-Treated ten houses and had a lot to go! The people who were giving out candy were running out. We were the only ones out there. We were playing and Amy was trying to catch Ashley and me. “Savannah!” Amy and Ashley yelled at the same time. Amy yelled it in a weak voice. Ashley yelled it really loud.

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The Magic of Friendship That meant that someone was hurt. I think it was Amy, but I wasn’t sure. “Oh my!” It was Amy. She was gushing blood and looked like her leg was going to fall off any moment. I ran as fast as I could and then I rushed her to my house. My mom fixed it. Amy said to Ashley and me, “You’re the best friends ever!”

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“If you’re going to be a writer, the first essential is just to write. Do not wait for an idea. Start writing something and the ideas will come. You have to turn the faucet on before the water starts to flow.” ~ Louis L’Amour

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The Magic of Friendship Division 3 & 4

Mary Pierce 4th Grade Ford Elementary SYNOPSIS OF THE PROMPT EACH CONTESTANT WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS: Write a story about a time that a friend helped you, or you could write about a time when you helped a friend or write about a person or even a pet that is always there for you no matter how you feel or what happens. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even have to be real, but it must be about what a true friendship is and why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so special and magical. The Loving Thunderstorm

Almost everyone loves dogs and cats, right? I am a dog lover. I adore dogs. They are like my life. I own two Catahula mixes. I bought them at the Humane Society as sisters. They like to play and fetch balls, but if you give them a hard ball, they will not go near it. They love walks and like to stop and smell anything they can. The thing they hate the most are their baths. If you want to get them into the tub, you will have to pick up a 55pound dog, and be able to put it in a position where they

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The Magic of Friendship can't get out. After their baths, they shake as much as they can. Therefore, once you’re done chasing them around the house, you are covered in silk and scratchy black and tan hair. Today the news said that we are going to have a severe rainstorm so I have to sleep with the dogs tonight since they hate rainstorms. That's right, Ginger and Spice, I am talking to you! As I was walking my dogs, I felt some raindrops. Ginger and Spice stopped in my footsteps. “It's okay, Ginger and Spice; if we hurry we can get home without getting soaked.” Ginger and Spice didn't budge. All of a sudden, it started to rain harder and harder. It felt as if it was starting to hail. “Ginger, Spice, come on. Let's go!” I was just a few steps away from my doorsteps pushing and struggling not to be hit by hail or pushed away from the wind. “We are in! Good work, guys.” “Mom, I think I am going to skip dinner tonight. I need to calm the dogs down.” “Come lay down with me, guys.” They would not come. Boom! Ginger and Spice came running after me.

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The Magic of Friendship “It’s okay, guys, it’s just thunder.” Ginger snuggled tight against me. “I love you, Ginger and Spice.”

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams.â&#x20AC;? ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

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