Stories for
the M orning Vo l ume28
Fe b r ua r y2016
Stories for the M orning
R ockville H igh School 70 L oveland H ill R d
Vernon R ockville, C T 0 60 66
Acknowl edgement s
Hel enRebec c hi
Hei diSt ac er
Pat r i c i aBengs t on Br yanWr i ght Denni sTi mber man
28
Febr uar y2016
Le t t e rf r o m t h eEd i t o r Someoft hebe s ts t or i e se v e rt ol da r et heone st ol di nt he mor ni ng .One swhe r et hel a ug ht e ra ndmi s g i vi ng soft he ni g htg i v eust heoppor t uni t yt os ha r ewi t hot he r s .W he t he r t he ybes t r a ng e r s ,f a mi l y ,f r i e nds ,i tdoe snotma t t e r .The opt i ont os ha r eapi e c eofone s e l fwhe r et hea t mos phe r ei s l i g hta nda i r ya ndne w,doe s .Ev e r ys i ng l emor ni ngweha v e t hec ha nc et or e ne w our s e l v e s ,butt ha tdoe snotme a nwe mus tf or g e tourpa s t s .Ourpa s t sde f i neus ,a ndg i v eusa s e ns eofpur pos et ha tc oul dha v ebe e nl os ti nt heda r kne s s . Butnow t ha tt he ya r ei l l umi na t e d,wes e eour s e l v e si nane w l i g htt ha twema yha v ene v e rs e e nbe f or e .Thi sma g a z i neha s be e nbui l ta ndc ol or e dwi t hwor ksofa r t ,a nde a c honeha sa uni ques t or yt ot e l l .The ys ha r et hes t r ug g l e s ,i ns pi r a t i on, a ndt hea mbi t i onwea l lha v ei nourl i v e s .Wi t hSt or i e soft he Mor ni ng ,weg i v ey ououre xpe r i e nc e sofe a c hoft he s e ,a nd wee nc our a g ey out os ha r ey ours t or ya swe l l .Wi t hour l i t e r a r ya r t sma g a z i nenow onl i ne ,wea r enow a bl et o e xpa ndt oe v e r y onei nhope st ha ty oudot hes a me . Tha nky ou
E li zabet h C hew El i z a be t hChe w,Edi t ori nChi e f
Sc hol as t i cAr tandWr i t i ng ( Gol dKey ,Si l verKey ,Honor abl eMent i on)
Connec t i c utSl am Team Member
Iha v ewa t c he d mor ni ngt ur nt oa f t e r noon t ur nt oe v e ni ngt ur nt oni g ht t ur nb a c ka g a i n, a ndIs e et ha tt he s ea r et heonl yt hi ng st ha te v e rc ha ng ef orme . Andr e pl a y sone ndl e s sl oop , Iwa i t , Iwa i t ,Forc ha ng ea nd pr a yf ort heha ppi ne s sa ndt hec ur i os i t y , ort hel o v eoft hel i f e . Nott hel i f ey ouwa i tt ol i v eb utt hel i f ey oul i v ef or , I ’ m wa i t i ng t or e t ur nt oat i mewhe r es i nswe r et hewor s toft r a g e di e sb e c a us e noonek ne wwha tc oul db emor ei mpur e t ha nal e s st ha nt r ut horac r ue lwor d, Ort oha v et oomuc hort onotg i v ee noug h, Andi twa sa l lwek ne w, Andwha tat i mei twa st ob ea l i v e . No wwel i v ei nat i mewhe r e b ur i a ldoe snots i g ni f yde a t hb e c a us e c or ps e swa l ka mong s tusha ndi nha nd. Whe nIwa sy oungIr a n, b utmymi ndmo v e df a s t e rt ha nmyf e e t , ami l l i onmi l e sa tonc es oIwa se v e r y whe r e . AndIf e l ti ta l l . AndIr e me mb e rb l i s si ns i mpl edi a l e c t s t os ha r ei nt e l l e c t ua l i t ya nds e e i ngnode a de nds b e c a us ee v e r ye x i twa sa ne nt r a nc et os ome whe r ene wIme a n, Ir e me mb e r ha ndsonhe a da nddr e a mi ngwi t he y e sope n, a ndIwonde r e da b outa ne v e r y t hi ng Ic oul dn ’ te v e nf a t hom. I twa sb e a ut i f ul .
Butnow, Idonott hi r s tf ort hewonde r soft hewor l d, AndIque s t i on, whe r ear et hepe opl eweonc ewe r e ? Sode v ot e dandi nl ov ewi t hl i f e , Whe ndi dwonde r sdi e , whe nwasi nt e gr i t yadi s par i t y , ButIc an ’ ts t andt oponde rwhywe ar eabr oke npe opl e . Andnow wet og e t he runi t e onkne e swi t hhandsc l as pe d, Andhe ar t sf ac i ngt ohe a v e nswenol ong e rknow, Pr a yi ngt oaGodt hathasdi s owne dus be c aus ewear es t r ang e r samongs tour s e l v e s , andbe ggi ngf orourl i v e sbac k. Andwal k,l os tandai ml e s s l y , Butwhe nl i vi ngwi t houtourmi nds , I ti sawal kt hr oughav al l e y e v e ndar ke rt hatanys hadow ofde at h.
Ph o t o g r a p hb yJ o y c eHi d a
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Wea r et hi ng sofc ol dhour s Ci g a r e t t es mokea na f t e rt houg ht He a tg onewi t hi t J us tc hi l l yl e a t he rs e a t s Andt oof a s tki s s e s Dr yhe a ts wi r l i ngt hr oug hv e nt Br e a t hst r a c i ngov e rwi ndowsa ndc ol l a r bone s Fr e c kl e sa nda c nee v e rpr omi ne nt Sof tl i psons of ts ki n Thi swa st hec l os e s ta ny oneha de v e rbe e n. Wa nt i ngc l os e r Wa nt i ngha ndst of e e lpa s tt hes he l l Re a c hi ngt ot hec or e Ki s s e spr e s s i ngont obe a t i ngv e i ns Thei mpur i t i e soft hes ki ng onewi t hi t Bl oodpumpi ngt hr oug hi nt e r t wi ne df i ng e r s Soc l os et odi s a ppe a r i ng Ev a por a t i ngwi t ht heha ndpr i nt sont hewi ndows Be c omi ngt hea s hoft hes mol de r i ngc i g a r e t t e Ope ni ngt hedoora nda nyhe a te s c a pi ng Fl oa t i ngont hef r os t e dwi nd Onl ys mokea ndl e a t he rs e a t sl e f t .
Ph o t o g r a p hb yS a ma n t h aWe s t wo o d
Mya i m:t obewr a ppe dup Thebl a nke t smyba i t Thef i r ewi t houtc a l ma ndba l a nc e Ic a nnol ong e rbe a rt hec ol d Snowf l a ke sda nc eout s i de Andi ts e e mst hebl i z z a r dha snoe nd Ast hehe a dl i neont heTVbr oa dc a s t s J us ta st hehowloft hewi ndi she a r d Sowebot hj umpont ot hec ouc h Thef l a me soft hef i r ec r e a t el i g ht Andourmi ndsha v ebe c omequi e tf r om e a c hot he r ’ sc omf or t Mot he rNa t ur eha sbl e s s e dust oda y Tonotmov e ,buts t a y Ast hewhi t epowde rout s i debui l ds Wea r ebot hs t i l l ,t hec r a c kl eoff l a me sourc onv e r s a t i on Thebl a nke t sa c ta sahous e ,f ourmi s s ha pe ns i de sa ndar oof Thewe a t he rout s i deha sdoneusas e r vi c e Be c a us ene i t he rofuswa ntt os l e e p De s pi t et hee xha us t i onwa nt i ngt os na kei nonus Wes t udye a c hot he r ’ ss of tbr e a t hs Not r i pc oul de v e rbebe t t e rt ha nt hi sda y AndIwor r ya bouti t se nd Whe nt hewi ndsdi edownt oay a wn Andt het e mpe r a t ur ei snol ong e rz e r o
Ont hi sc oolwi nt e r ’ se v e ni ng ,Ia m wa l ki nghomef r om wor kwi t hmybr i e f c a s ei noneha nda ndmy phonei nt heot he r .Il i s t e nt ot hec a r sg obya ndt hepe opl el a ug hi nga ndy e l l i ng .Ihe a r ,“He l da , ”a nd i nr e pl y ,“Pl e a s es t opf ol l owi ngmeboy!Youwa s t emyt i me . ”He l daf i r ml yt ol dt hema n. Thewoma ni sf r a i la ndc ol d,s heonl ywe a r sonemi t t e nwhi c hi sonhe rr i g htha nda ndi nt hel e f t hol dsonec upofs t e a mi ngs oup .Sheha sf i newr i nkl e sa ndde e pe y e st ha tr e mi ndmeoft hebot t om oft heoc e a n.Ike e pwa l ki nga ndt hec onv e r s a t i onc ont i nue sbe hi ndme .“Wi t ha l lt het i met ha ty ou s pe ndbot he r i ngmeIc oul dha v ef oundmyhome ! ” “Mom, ”t hema ns a i ds of t l y ,“I ’ ma l lt hehomet ha ty ouha v el e f t . ” Wa l ki ngt heNe wYor kCi t ys t r e e t sIa mc ol d.A mi t t e nt ha twa sonc emyda ug ht e r ’ ss wi t c he s be t we e nmyha ndst hr oug houtt heda y .Myl i t t l eg i r lwa st a ke na wa yf r om mea ndIwi l lne v e r f or g i v et ha tmons t e rf ordoi ngt ha tt ome .Anol dke yt omyhous ei si nmypoc ke t .Is pe ndmyl ong da yst r yi ngt of i ndt hel oc kt ha ti tbe l ong st obutIne v e rs uc c e e d.Si mi l a rt oe v e r yot he rda yIwa l k t ot hes ma l ls oupt r uc kt or e t r i e v emyda i l yme a l .“Hi , ”s a i dt hema nIbuymyda i l ys oupf r om, “how’ si tg oi ng ?A y oungma npa i df ory ours oupe a r l i e rt hi smor ni ng . ” Thec onv e r s a t i onne v e rc ha ng e s .Soupi nha ndIc ont i nuet ous emyke yt of i ndmyhomewhe nI he a rav oi c ei nt hedi s t a nc ec a l l i ngout ,“He l da , ”butIi g nor ei t . Thev oi c es e e mst obec omi ngc l os e ra ndIt ur na r oundt os e emys t a l ke r .“Pl e a s es t opf ol l owi ng meboy!Youwa s t emyt i me . ”If i r ml yhi m,“Wi t ha l lt het i met ha ty ous pe ndbot he r i ngmeIc oul d ha v ef oundmyhome ! ” “Mom, ”t hema ns a i ds of t l y ,“I ’ ma l lt hehomet ha ty ouha v el e f t . ” Ev e r yda ywhe nIwa keupIf e e las t a bbi ngpa i nt hr oug hmyhe a r t .I ti sbe c a us eIl e tmyol d mot he rdown,Ic a nnota f f or dt owor ka ndpa yf orac a r e g i v e r .Wequi c kl ye nde dupont heNe w Yor kCi t ys t r e e t swhe r es hes pe ndshe rda ysl os ta ndIs pe ndmi nef i ndi nghe r .Shewa l ksa r oundt he s a mene i g hbor hoodi nLongI s l a ndCi t y ,Que e ns .Sheg oe st ot hes a mes oupt r uc kwhi c hIpr e pa yf or he r se v e r ymor ni ng .Shet r i e st of i ndahous et ha tha sne v e rbe e nhe r swi t ht heke ys hef ound4y e a r s a g oont hes t r e e t .Mymot he rne v e rg e t sf a rbe f or eIf i ndhe r .Butt oda ys heha sa ppe a r e dt owa nde r of fabi tf ur t he r .“He l da ”,Ic a l lout ,butnor e s pons e , Ic a l loutt hena meaf e wmor et i me sa ndawoma ni nt hef a rof fdi s t a nc es t opswa l ki ng .Qui c kl y Ir e a l i z et ha ti ti smymot he ra ndIr unupt ohe ry e l l i nghe rf i r s tna meov e ra ndov e r .“Pl e a s es t op f ol l owi ngmeboy!Youwa s t emyt i me . ”Shef i r ml yt ol dme ,“Wi t ha l lt het i met ha ty ous pe nd bot he r i ngmeIc oul dha v ef oundmyhome ! ” “Mom, ”Ir e pl i e ds of t l y ,“I ’ ma l lt hehomet ha ty ouha v el e f t . ”
y eb r u t p l u c S t e u q s u eBo i v l y S
Whe nIwa s5y e a r sol d Iwoul ds i twi t hmymot he ra ndc utout t hec ouponsi nt hene ws pa pe r , a l ls pr e a doutont hedi ni ngr oom t a bl e . The yt e l lmeIc oul dn ’ tr e me mbe rbe i ngonf oods t a mps ; Iwa sonl yaki d. ButIr e me mbe rs hoppi ngt r i psa nd s ha ki ngwhi t eknuc kl e sont hes t e e r i ngwhe e l . Ir e me mbe rc ut t i ngmi l kwi t hwa t e r , c ut t i ngj ui c ewi t hwa t e r , Ir e me mbe re a t i ngonl yma ca ndc he e s ea nd pi c ki ngt hema r s hma l l owsoutoft heof fbr a ndl uc kyc ha r ms . I twoul da l wa ysg oba di naf e wda ys . We ’ ds t i l le a ti t . Wewoul dha v ebr e a kf a s tf ordi nne rbe c a us ei twa s c he a pe rt ha nme a t . Mymot he rha t e dc ooki ng . Cor r e c t i on, mymot he rha t e sc ooki ng . SoIl e a r ne dhowt oma kegr i l l e dc he e s e a ndf r e nc ht oa s t . Il e a r ne dhowt os t e a lf ood f r om t hec a f e t e r i a .
Ikne wweha de noug ha thomebut wedi dn ’ tha v epuddi ngc ups a ndwedi dn ’ tha v epr e t z e l sa nd gr a nol aba r sa nd wene v e re v e rha df r ui ts na c ks . Iwa sc a ug hti nf i f t hgr a dewi t h s ome onee l s e ' sl unc hbox. Iha da l r e a dye a t e nha l fofi ts o t he yc a l l e dmymot he r , whoha dt oc a l lt heot he rki dsmot he r a ndIg oti nt r oubl ef orl yi ng butnotf ors t e a l i ng . Il e a r ne dt owe a rhumi l i a t i onbe t t e ra f t e rt ha t l e a r ne dt os a yIdi dn ’ tne e di t . Ic a l l e dmys e l fg ui l t y . Hung e ri sas t r a ng ebe a s t . Ma ke ss t r a ng ebe a s t sofus . Te a c he sushowt ohowla nd hi dea ndbur y . Hung e rf ol l owsy oue v e nwhe n f ul lbe l l y , e v e nwhe nque nc he dmout h.
Pa i n t i n gb yJ i l l i a nWe r n e r
Iwi l lwr i t ey oui nmyni g ht . Wr i t ey ouwhe nIc a nnots l e e p . Whe nt heni g ht ma r e soft hef ut ur e di s r uptmea ndI ’ ml e f ti nt heda r kne s s , Long i ngf ory ourpe a c e f ulv oi c e . I ns t e a d,Iwi l lwr i t ey ou. Fi l l i ngmyj our na lupwi t ht houg ht s Iwi l ls c r i bbl edownadi a l og uebe t we e nus . Thi nki ngofwha ty ou’ ds a yi fy ouwe r ehe r e . I ma g i ni ngy ourf a c ea s y oure y e swi de nwi t hc onc e r na nd y oubur ymyhe a di ny ourc he s t , Yourv oi c ec omf or t i ngmeba c kt os l e e p: Myf a v or i t el ul l a by . Iwi l lwr i t ey oui nmyda y a st hes unbe a t sdownonme . I ’ l lc ont r a c tapr e t t ypoe m c ompa r i ngt hehe a toft hes un t ot hewa r mt hofy oure mbr a c e . I ’ l lwr i t el e t t e r sofl ov ef ul lofwor ds I ’ v ea l r e a dys a i dbutc a nne v e rs e e mt og e te noug hof . Li kehowy ourna mee f f or t l e s s l yf a l l sof fmype n a nds oe l e g a nt l yf i l l supt hee mpt y ,l one l ys pa c e wi t hha ppi ne s s . Le t t e r st ha twi l lne v e rbes e ntbe c a us e a l lIr e a l l yne e di st os e ey ourna me , buta l lIwa nti st os e ey ou.
Di g i t a la r tb yKe v i nZh e n g
Di g i t a lAr tb yKe v i nZh e n g
Shec i r c l e dNumbe rTwoa nds a i d,“Youne e dt oc he c ky our s e l f ” AndIt r i e de xpl a i ni ngt ohe rhowIc oul dn ’ tr e a dt heboa r da nymor ebe c a us es hea l wa yss t oodi nt hewa y , buts hes a i dmyf or mul a swe r ewr ong .
It ol dhe rmyl og a r i t hmswe r ei nc or r e c ta swe l l , Ands hemi g hta swe l lt a keof fpoi nt sf ort hef a c tt ha tIke ptf or g e t t i ngmyg l a s s e s . Shet ol dmenott og i v ea t t i t ude , a ndIs a i dIwa ss or r ybe c a us es ome t i me smyl i t t l ebr ot he rr ubbe dof fonme . Ipr omi s e dIwoul dn ’ tbi t ehe r , be c a us eGodknowst ha twoul dha v er ubbe dof ft oo.
AndIt ol dhe rt ha tIc oul dn ’ ta ddupt i mee i t he rbe c a us eIwa sg oi ngt obe dl a t e . Al s o,t hef a c tt ha tIdi dn' tunde r s t a ndt her i g hta ng l e sofs oc i e t i e sbodys t a nda r ds be c a us ei nnowa ywe r et he ype r pe ndi c ul a r .
Whi c hdi dn ’ tma kes e ns ebe c a us e t hea l g or i t hmsi nma t hdon ’ ta ppl yt ol i f e . Mos t l ybe c a us el i f ei s n ’ tama t hc l a s swhe r ey ouc a nj us tpl ugi ndi f f e r e ntv a r i a bl e st og e tt her i g hta ns we r . Youc a n ’ tc he c ky ours t e pst os e ei fy ou’ v edonet hee qua t i onr i g ht , be c a us ei fy oudi dn' tt hewor l dha sa l r e a dyt ur ne dony ou.
Shet a ug htmet r i a ng l e sa r et hes t r ong e s ts ha pebe c a us enoma t t e rwhe r ey oua ppl ypr e s s ur et he y t he ywi l lnotbr e a k. Bute noug hpr e s s ur ec a nbr e a ka nyt hi ng ,r i g ht ? Buta sIs a i da l lt he s et hi ng s , s heha da l r e a dyc i r c l e dmymi s t a ke s , a ndIg ue s sIwa sr i g htba c kwhe r eIha ds t a r t e d.