The Core of the Problem

by Sophie Frankel

One day, as Amelia and her little brother, Avery were walking home from school, they felt a shaking. Amelia scooped Avery up and ran for cover in the nearest house. However, as she approached the house, the ground opened up in front of her and the house fell into a seemingly endless hole. As she and Avery watched in horror, a giant striped worm emerged from the pit. It opened its gaping mouth, and swallowed Amelia whole. Her last words were, “AVERY, RUN!” As Avery ran, he heard his sister’s screams echoing behind him, but he didn’t dare look back, for fear that he would suffer the same fate.

He kept running until he reached home. His parents came running out, and he panted breathlessly, “Mom, Dad, Amelia was just eaten by a giant worm!” His parents stared at him, and then they told him to “Go pack your bags. We’re leaving in an hour. We’re in mortal danger if we stay.” Avery, though wrought with grief over the loss of his beloved sister, did as his parents said, and packed only his most treasured possessions.

As his father packed the car, Avery went back to where he last saw his sister, perhaps holding out a hope that she somehow survived. All he saw, however, was a shoe and her backpack. Sadly, he turned away and began to walk home, when he heard a faint voice. “Avery, help me!” He whirled around, but saw nobody. “Who’s there?” he shouted. “Avery, it's me, Amelia. Help me!”, was the reply. “Where are you?” he called out. The only answer was silence.

As he and his parents drove slowly away, suddenly, they stopped. In the middle of the road, lay a body. They all got out, and Avery saw something shocking. It was Amelia! He rushed over and checked for a pulse. It was very faint, but his sister was alive! He shouted to his parents, “It’s Amelia! And she’s alive! We have to get her to a hospital!” He carried his sister to the car and set her carefully in the backseat, buckling her seatbelt.

When they arrived at the emergency room, his father carried Amelia to the hospital room. As the doctors hurriedly worked to save her, Avery fell asleep. When he woke up, it was morning, and his parents were crying at Amelia’s bedside. He hurried over, and saw that his sister was awake! He was overjoyed. He had been so afraid that she was gone forever. He and his family returned home, and lived happily. For a few months…

by Leo Simmons

The Hamptons

By: Mallon Gilligan

Pedaling as fast as we can, Feeling the wind going through every hair on our heads, Being the only people on the road,

Hearing the waves crashing down, Running as fast as we can, Jumping into the open blue sea,

Climbing up and up, again and again, seeing the big pile of cold sand, Pushing each other off and getting the wind knocked out of you!

Farther Below

by Robert Lawrence-Comerford

The end has come, expecting to be set free. But you are not ready for this hey fee. Farther below you will forever remain, Only mental, no physical pain. And yet this existence is worse than hell, where you are no one will tell.

Worse than any evil person on earth your choices lead you here since your birth. The mental pain is much worse than above, no company here, no happiness, no love. A place for people worse than bad and slowly here you will be driven mad.

Please, Enjoy your stay.

by Lilah Groff

Summer

By Theo Leyva

Glistening waters

The waves crashing on the docks

Wearing away wood

The hot summer warmth

The seagulls scavenge and screech

They look for our food

The sun is setting

Warm colors are in the sky

Day is sadly over