2014-2015 Thoughts on Paper by Kim Dudash

Thoughts on Paper The CESJDS Lower School Literary Journal

2014-2015

The Masterpieces of the 5th and 6th Grade Creative Writing Electives

Thoughts on Paper Dear Readers, Welcome to the first ever CESJDS Lower School Literary Journal. This book is a compilation of stories, poems, essays, and scripts written by the 5th and 6th grade students participating in the Creative Writing Elective. Students brainstormed, drafted, revised, edited, revised, edited some more, and then finally laid their work out in the final products found on the following pages. Many hours of work have gone into making each piece as individual as the author. Please forgive any little mistakes we may have missed; we are human, after all. Please find yourself a comfy chair and get ready to enjoy some amazing writing. Happy Reading, Kim Sherk Creative Writing Advisor

Thoughts on Paper 5th Grade Contributions Adam Drexler—Fernando Adina Schwartz—All About My Dogs Ariella Ball—Mysteries on the Mountain Corey Feuer—The Minute Hannah Feig—My Father’s Sister Kayla Liss—I Wonder Leah Falk—A Sister’s Perspective Maia Zimmers—The Meaning of Summer (Preview) Miriam Beinart—Alive Miriam Beinart—Colors Miriam Beinart—Four Seasons Samuel Melnick—Life in the Hockey Preseason Sarah Doane—He Was Gone Yoni Leibstein—Waldo Zoe Fischman—Powers Awaken

Thoughts on Paper 6th Grade Contributions Abigail Katz—The Weird Future Addie Bassin—Gry’s Journey to America Anna Berger—Spread Your Wings and Fly Charlotte Wenk—Barely Living Irit Skulnik—Princess Aqua’s Adventure Irit Skulnik—Lilly’s Run for Class President Lila Berger—Berta Zmudziak: The Journey of a Lifetime Mira Mitre—Shake It Off Mira Mitre—Trapped Moshe Zaremba—Poems Nate Miller—Recruits of the Future Sam Schwartz—Patrick Ewing, A Legendary Knick Sasha Trainor—Shake it Off Shoshana Braier—Tea Party Shoshana Braier—Drawing Shoshana Braier—Nature Shoshana Braier—The Land of Mechanical Chickens Sophia Miller—Acrostics Sophie Krantz—That Girl Talia Lloyd—Electrified Yarden Irlander—A Secret Camp Lila Berger and Addie Bassin—Olaf’s Journey to Summer

Fernando

By: Adam Drexler Chapter 1 Fernando was nice, quiet, and lonely. He was smart and he was always the teacher’s favorite student. He sat by himself at lunch and was sad because he didn’t really have friends. Fernando got bullied and threatened by the cool kids. There was a kid named Joe Byring. He was cool and was the center of bullying Fernando. He always picked on him and called him smart geek. Chapter 2 One day on the bus, Joe was in a bad mood. He went over to Fernando and started making fun of his backpack. It was plain white. Joe grabbed a marker and wrote “GEEK.” Everybody start‐ ed cracking up. At school, Fernando was tempted to go to the principal, but he was scared that, yet again, everybody would laugh at him, and say he was uncool and had no friends. In class, Fernando got an A+ on the test that everybody took the day before. He hid his test so nobody would call him a smart geek, which he didn’t find very clever. The last period of the day was gym. Fernando was terrible at sports and always got made fun of because of his lack of ability. Today they played kickball. Fernando made sure to be at the end of the line for kicking. He eventually came up. He missed the ball three mes and was out. Everyone on his team was so angry at him for losing the game for them. Chapter 3 At home, Fernando did the homework that he hadn’t managed to finish at lunch. A er that, he just sat on his bed reading and crying. He wasn’t like other kids who played at a friend’s house a er school. He just read and some mes lay down, crying. For dinner, Fernando had fish and rice. He ate with his Mother. His sister had passed away, and his Father o en worked late, so his Mother was his closest family member. Chapter 4 The year went by, and it was towards the end of May. On the bus, Fernando felt that he couldn’t take any more bullying, and was in a strong, excited mood. Recently, Joe had started to physically hurt Fernando on the bus. For example, he would slap him or pinch him. But Fernando was ready for it. Joe said, “How you doin’, fart‐weak?” Joe reached over to pinch Fernando. Fernando said, “Finally, you have come up with an insult that is actually worth listening to, this must be great for your popularity and your self‐confidence. Congratula ons!” Joe was so surprised by what Fernando said, that he froze for a second, and that is when Fernando made his move. Fernando reached over, and slapped Joe’s behind. Everybody star ng laughing, chan ng, and making fun of Joe.

Chapter 5 Joe was unhappy the whole day but he wasn’t angry at Fernando for some reason. He was sad for two reasons. One, he was embarrassed about what happened on the bus earli‐ er. But he was also upset with himself. How could I have been so mean to Fernando? Why did‐ n’t I think about what Fernando was, and s ll is, going through? At lunch, Joe sat by himself in the corner of the room, so none of the cool kids would see him and make him sit with them. He wasn’t his normal self. When he went home, he thought about what he should do. Chapter 6 The next day at school, Joe was nice to Fernando. And at lunch, he sat with Fernan‐ do. Fernando was confused. Why is Joe si ng with me? Is he going to humiliate me in front of everybody? Maybe I should leave. Joe saw Fernando looking anxious and scared, so Joe said, “I am sorry for everything that I’ve done that embarrassed you, and hurt you. Yesterday, a er the bus, I thought about how you must feel. How could I have been so heartless?” Then the boys just sat there, in silence. Joe, embarrassed, looked down at the floor. “And I wanted to know, if you wanted to be friends.” Fernando looked surprised. The boys again sat in a complete silence. “Sure, I would love to be friends,” said Fernando excitedly. Chapter 7 That very day at lunch, Fernando found himself si ng next to Joe at the cool kids ta‐ ble. He was excited and happy, and everyone kept laughing with him, instead of at him, about what he did to Joe on the bus. He was sad, in a way, though. He had lost his sister earlier in his life, and he didn’t see his father very o en. He was also upset because he felt like the other boys didn’t actually want to be friends with him, but Joe started to treat him like friend, so they just followed Joe. Fernando promised himself that he would never be a follower, and he promised himself that he wouldn’t let the fact that he was si ng at the table with the cool kids, eﬀect the way he looked at himself.

All About My Dogs By: Adina Schwartz

My dogs are so funny! I have a lot of fun playing around with them.

Let me tell you a li le bit about my dogs. Cooper is a beige colored goldendoodle (a mix between a Poodle and a Golden Retriever) who is almost three years old. His birthday is December 19, 2012. He is a very chill dog who loves to sleep and cuddle. Lily, is Cooper’s sister from the same parents, but diﬀerent li ers. Lily is a red golden-doodle who is one year old. Her birthday is on January 19, 2013. She loves to chase squirrels and rabbits. She also loves to steal a en on from Cooper. *** Some mes my dogs can seem really stupid…but in a very funny way! We just got Lily and she was only a few months old. Cooper and Lily each have their own dog beds, but Cooper was sleeping in Lily’s bed, and she was not too happy about it. Lily laid down next to Cooper in the dog bed and started flailing her front legs all over the place, trying to hit Cooper! A er Cooper got hit a couple of mes he started, and he made this weird howl/whine/bark sound like a dying goat! At first Lily was surprised and didn’t know what was going on, but eventually she started to hit him again! They went on like this for five minutes un l Lily gave up and walked to Coopers bed and laid down. *** Cooper and Lily are OBSESSED with squirrels and rabbits. Once there was a rabbit who sprawled out on its stomach RIGHT IN FRONT of the window! The dogs went nuts! The house was filled with barking and craziness! I love my dogs so much it is so much fun to write about them and how funny they are.

Mysteries On The Mountain By: Ariella Bal

Chapter One “This is impossible!” June Pricener shouted! June Pricener was a regular eleven year-old kid with red, curly, long hair. She lived in Vermont, Canada with three other siblings: Dave, Stephanie, and Alexis. A lot of the time, June felt bad for the oldest sibling, Dave, because he was the only boy out of three girls. “June, rotate your shoulders and your hands as you push up into a handstand.” yelled her coach, Coach Marcy. June was a level 8 gymnast, attending the Starford Gym. Her back-hip circle to handstand on bars always seemed to frustrate her. June was a great student, but not always confident. “You’ve got it June!” shouted her teammate, Alexandra. Alexandra was not June’s best friend and they didn’t go to the same school. June’s best friend in school was Stacy Mueller. You could say that Stacey was anything but flexible, but June still loved her.

************************ “I’m gonna try it again ,”June said. Coach Marcy nodded as she stared determinedly into Junes eyes.

Chapter Two June flew onto the bar, her hands gripping the white, rough, chalky bar. Her legs swung perfectly straight as they tapped the bar and landed in a perfect front support. Her hips swung into a perfectly straight handstand. Coach Marcy’s eyes squinted into a look of determination. June’s legs swung back to the bar and under, as she tried to push to a handstand. Her elbows slammed into the bar as she slammed into the mushy mat. Coach Marcy ran to make sure June was fine. “Ughhhhhhhh!” June moaned. “I am so, completely, unbelievably, horrible at gymnastics.” Another teammate of June’s jumped off of beam and jogged over to June. “Was that a joke?” she said questioningly. “Because if it was, you are so right!” June rolled her eyes . “We need ice!” Coach Marcy shouted to the other girls on the team. “I’m okay!” June said. “I just hurt my elbows a little.” She laughed softly as she talked. “I told you that move was impossible!” June laughed. Coach Marcy nodded then smiled. “I think you should take a break,” she said. As she got onto her feet, she noticed a relatively new girl staring at her. TO BE CONTINUED...

The Minute By Corey Feuer

Chapter 1: 12:24 PM “Ring, Ring, Ring.” Another minute passed. “So, when do we run?” I asked. “When the minute is displayed on all the clocks and the sky starts to rumble,” my father stated. This comment meant nothing to anyone. A big storm would rip off everything in the country in less than a minute, compromising everything built in America since 2148 (Meaning, over a century of work would be destroyed.) This scare was only 3 years ago. The only way to not get caught in the storm was to make it to the shelters. Everyone else was in the closest shelter to them. However, our family was assigned the role of searchers to make sure everyone was safe. The other issue was that nobody, except government officials, knew which minute the storm would strike, making my life even more complicated. Being a civilian, since 2020 when terrorists almost destroyed the White House, the country’s national position has been in a gray area, meaning, I was clueless about politics. And that has been life here for more than a century.

Chapter 2: 3:54 AM “On behalf of the American government, we would like to thank you for your cooperation in this emergency procedure...” The speakers in the forest were full of distracting banter. I woke up after four hours of sleep. “Why did they wake everyone up at such an early hour?” My mother sounded like she was going to fall back asleep right then. “All searchers are required to resume their job in four minutes. “What time is it?” my father asked. “3:54 a.m.” To be honest, I wasn’t surprised that we had to start searching so early. As the president would always say, “Every minute you sleep, you are in danger.” I also had a conspiracy theory. I doubted that there was a storm, and rather a social crisis. This was not a new idea. In fact, hundreds of people agree with this. However, the government abused its power by frightening us into keeping quiet. Also, nobody would listen to a twelve year old. The problems just don’t stop coming.

Chapter 3: 6:05 AM The library door closed. I took out a pin and tried and pick the lock, but ever since 2020, it’s been impossible to pick locks (due to new and improved security measures.) “Wait!” I yelled, without remembering I was sneaking around. I had slowly walked away from my family’s break area, knowing that if I moved fast, I could get back in time. There was a back door that wasn’t fully closed. However, it was just a closet full of supplies. On the floor, was a key... to the library! I went into the library and saw a skeleton on the chair. I shivered in concern.

Chapter 4: 6:07 AM There was a bullet next to the skeleton. I didn’t need a book to realize that this was the work of the government. Next to the librarian, there was a book. This is what the first page said: “In 2019, a man broke into a house and killed its owner. Police assumed it was a robbery, but conspiracy theorists now believe that this was a warning to our country. On her body, there was a mark shaped like an arrow. This means the man was probably from a tribe. That is all we know.” I dropped the book and went back to our break area.

Chapter 5: The Clock is Broken I woke up to the sound of sirens. I went to check the clock for the time but it was shattered. Besides the clock lay my dead father, who had a bullet in his head. Then, I saw an arrow zoom past me. It was war, and we were left to die right in the middle of it. My mom panicked. “The only way to save ourselves is to talk sense into these tribe members. I know everything about what is going on. This is based off of a breach of contract.” I went over to the tribe leader. “Stop! You must realize that the execution of your previous leader was for safety only.” “Malarkey,” said the leader. “Forgive us. We, as a nation have sinned, but there may be a fix for that. I could make you a new contract.” And so it was done. We formed a better contract. I signed on behalf of the country (let’s just pretend that was legal.) The “storm” was stopped, but I wasn’t finished yet.

Chapter 6: Aftermath I went to see the President. “Thank you for your service. You are a true hero.” Something about the way he said it made me suspicious. I turned to leave and from the corner of my eye, I saw a guard slowly start to pull out a gun. I took a gun from my pocket, (left over from the “war”) and shot the guard. Then, I shot the president. The President and his guard were arrested. I went home and all was in peace. The whole experience I lived through really helped me. I became extremely confident, and an overall braver person. I will never forget the minute in which I learned what being a citizen really means.

MY FATHER’S SISTER

HANNAH S. FEIG

1 Hayden

“Hayden! Hay-den!" I could hear my mom yell in frustration from the kitchen. "Where'd you go this time?" I giggled, knowing that she’d never find me. “Hayden?” She was on the stairs now, and she was wearing her heels. I could tell from the sound of clacking against the hall floor. I laughed again, a little louder this time. Oops. It was suddenly silent. My mom had heard me. I could feel her slowly approaching my hiding spot, the sound of her shoes made it quite obvious. I waited, crouching in the darkness. "Aha!" She cried, triumphantly throwing open the closet door. "Found you! Now come do your homework!" Ugh. Fingering my necklace, I stepped out of my brother's closet, closing the door behind me. "Okay mom," I mumbled. I began to slowly plod down the stairs after my mom, still grumbling even as I sat down at the kitchen table. Pulling my binder out of my bulging backpack, I listened to the sound of my siblings arguing outside. How they managed to be so loud, I’ll never know. Taking out a pencil, I thought of all the wonderful things that I could have been doing at the moment. Rock climbing, texting, reading...sigh. At the moment, I was stuck doing my homework. Without even looking at the paper, I automatically signed my name. Here, I’ll even do it on this page.

Hayden Calbree There. Now the date, April 24th, 2014

Okay, done. Scribbling furiously, I finished the page. Quick as a cat (I know, it’s a bad metaphor) I switched the finished page for a clean one from my binder. I was almost halfway done with my third page of math when, “Hayden!!” My little sister, Sophie, came running into the room, followed by my brother, Xavier. I smiled as my “crew”, that I dubbed them, hugged me.

“Hi, girly, have a good day?” I gently ruffled Sophie’s blond head and waited, still smiling as she stared at me with her big, sparkling, green eyes. “Hayden shtop! Don’t call me girly!” she said. I noticed that she still had her lisp, not that I really cared. To be honest, I love that little characteristic about her. It’s part of what makes her my sister. “O-kay girly, whatever you say!” I laughed. “Don’t call me girly!” “Yeah, Hayden, don’t call Sophie girly,” Xavier confirmed. “Whatever.” He’s so literal. “so, Xavier, how was your day?” “Awesome!” “And why is that?” I asked innocently. “Because everything is awesome!” He exclaimed. I walked right into that one. “Okay, I gotta get back to my homework guys,” “Okay, Haydee,” Sophie pouted. I smiled, turning back to my work. **** About 30 minutes later, the last page slid onto the cover of my neon green binder. Just in time, too. My hand felt like melting iron dripping down a tube (or what I think it would feel like, anyway.) My pencil fell to the floor with a soft clatter. I stood up, stretching my arms. Pulling down my shirt, I headed for the stairs. As soon as my hand hit the banister, I suddenly realized just how tired I was. Half skipping, half dragging I walked up the staircase, trying to keep my eyes from drooping. I had never been so tired in my life! Finally, I reached the top. Hauling myself into my room, I collapsed on my bed and slowly lost consciousness.

2 Maia I was sitting in my fluffy, extremely comfortable purple recliner, reading a book, when it happened. I suddenly felt a blanket of tiredness start to cover me. It felt so soft and gentle as it slowly reached up my back and covered my neck. I sighed as the fluffiness webbed across my face. I looked down sleepily and saw my little silver halfheart necklace glowing. Looking back, it was unusual , but at the time I thought that it was perfectly normal. I submitted to the blanket and slid into sleep. My first big mistake.

****

I carefully lifted one eyelid, not really wanting to wake up. “Uhhh… Mom, let me sleep!” I grumbled. But it wasn’t my mom that was looming over me, tapping my shoulder. I realized that I was no longer slumped back in my recliner, but on a hard wood floor, leaning back against an equally uncomfortable cabinet. But I pushed the thought aside. My first priority was figuring out who this mysterious person was.

3 Hayden When I woke up, I was lying on a hard surface, staring at a light bulb. Shutting my eyes tight, I felt my necklace hot against my neck. Weird. Carefully opening one eye I turned my head and surveyed the rest of the room. It was not the place that I had gone to sleep in, yet it seemed so familiar! Nothing about my surroundings seemed to make sense. The only thing that I knew for sure was that I was definitely not at home. Closing my eyes again, I replayed the last few minutes in my mind. Then I remembered! I had woken up. I must still be dreaming! Slowly I sat up and gently pinched my arm. I opened my eyes. Nothing had changed, I was really there. “Where’s Toto when you need him?” I muttered to myself. I was about to try and go back to sleep, hopefully to reappear back at home when... “Jenny? What are you doing on the table?” a boy’s voice said. I didn’t answer, because, of course, my name isn’t Jenny.

“Jenny?” the voice said again, more insistently this time. “Stop ignoring me!” I wondered briefly why this Jenny wasn’t answering. It didn’t seem very nice of her. “Jenny!” the boy whined. I was about to turn around and tell Jenny, whoever she was, to stop ignoring him when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned my head abruptly, causing my hair to slap the boy, who was now standing right behind me, in the face. I stared at him. He had curly, light blonde hair that piled on top of his head and startling blue eyes. I continued to stare, mostly at the boy’s clothes now. He wore a baggy orange and blue striped shirt that looked about five sizes too big and a pair of ragged, faded jeans. He looked me in the eye and suddenly I realized, he was talking to me! “Umm, my name isn’t--” I started. “C’mon, Jenny, get down! It’s time to go!” “I’ve been trying to tell you, my name isn’t-- “ “Jenny! We’re gonna be late!” He turned away and ran out of the room. I sighed, jumping off the table to follow him. The moment I left the room, I realized where I was. Looking around the hallway, my mouth fell open, and I slumped down against the door. It was my grandmother’s house! But that made absolutely NO sense at all, my family had sold this place months ago! Everything began to spin, and the world suddenly went black.

4 Maia I stared up, eyebrows knotted as the person, a girl, talked to me. “Sharon, it’s time to go get ready for the block bash!” she smiled. The girl had brown hair that bounced around her shoulders. “What?! My name is Maia, not Sharon,” I said, but it was too late. She was gone. “Jennifer, are you alright?” a woman’s voice said. That jarred me. I opened my eyes to see a mass of red hair dangling in my face. “For the last time, that’s not my name, but, yeah, I’m okay.” I said, beginning to sit up. The woman moved over, allowing me to stand up. She stood as well and I got

a good look at her. She wasn’t very tall, about my height, and locks of red hair fell down around her shoulders. The strange thing was, I recognized her from numerous pictures shown to me by, well, her! The older version, anyway. I looked at her, and the puzzle was complete. This woman was the younger version of my grandmother.

5 Hayden

I began to walk away, my head spinning. “Umm... I’m just gonna go, now...” I stammered, opening the door. “Are you riding your bike or walking?” my grandmother, (okay, that sounds weird, I’m not gonna call her that anymore,) asked. “Umm, my bike,” I mumbled, turning the door handle. Then I remembered, “Uh, where exactly am I going?” I said, turning back to my... whatever she was now. She frowned. “Jennifer, are you sure you’re feeling okay?” she gently placed one hand on my forehead. “You’re going to Sharon’s house for the party, remember?” “Uhh--” “Oh, Stewarts’ already there, in case you’re wondering,” she called as she turned away. “Why don’t you pick up Aaron from Frank’s house on the way?” “Who’s Frank?” I sighed, walking out the door. **** I shuffled down the street, trying to figure out which house belonged to Sharon. I glanced up, trying to remember if my dad... Oh yeah, it was about then that I realized that, unlikely as it was, I had gone back in time! A huge fan of science fiction, it had clicked as soon as I realized who the women was, but I couldn’t be sure. Anyway, I suddenly remembered that my grandmother’s old friend, Arla, still lived on this same street and had a daughter named Sharon. That couldn’t have been a coincidence, could it? I pivoted my head, searching desperately for Arla’s house. There it was! My confidence building, I dashed towards the house.

6 Maia

I didn’t realize what had happened until I talked to Stewart. Then, suddenly, it all came flooding back to me. I started to notice how nobody said things like “cool” or “lame”. I don’t know what I had thought at first, but I knew as soon as Stewart told me the date, June 27th, 1979, that the time had changed. **** I was sitting on the front step of my grandparents’ house, kids rushing in and out, apparently there was some kind of party, then suddenly I realized that I wasn't in my own body. How I knew, I’m not sure, something just didn’t feel right. Looking down at myself, I sighed. Of course, I had to be my mother, Sharon GoldbergSteinoitz. I rolled my eyes. Yes, I had gone back in time and become my own mother, yet somehow it didn’t hit me as impossible. The sound of yelling jerked me back to reality, whatever it was now. I did a double take as I stared at the girl running towards me. She had pale, unblemished skin and waist-length, dirty blond hair. And yep, I recognized her. She looked like the kid version of my mother’s (my, I guessed) best friend, a.k.a. my best friend’s aunt, so I guessed that that’s what she was. But then I realized the strangest thing. Straining to break free from her neck was a necklace identical to mine. A silver half-heart with a purple gem-stone. Strange, but I couldn’t dwell on that now. Reluctantly, I stood up to meet her.

To Be Continued...

I WONDER By Kayla Liss

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

wonder. wonder if I’ll still love writing. wonder if I’ll remember this day. wonder what life will be like. wonder if I’ll still be the same. wonder if I will still be able to dance. wonder when I will die. wonder what school will be like. wonder how food will taste. wonder how sound will sound. wonder if people will still do art. wonder if I’ll still love writing. wonder.

A Sister’s Perspec ve By: Leah Falk

My name is Leah Falk. I am an average girl, and this story is about the most challenging, most painful, most horrifying thing in my LIFE. It all starts on a normal day in kindergarten. My teacher asked, “How many of you have a brother or sister?” Everyone raised their hand BUT me. That made me feel sad, like everyone in the world had a friend to always be there except me. A couple of months later my mom said in the car, “Leah, I have a surprise for you.” I made lots of guesses like is it a toy, are we going on a trip? Then when we got home, finally, she said she was having a baby. I didn’t show any reac on but in my head I had a thought. “This is what I’ve always wanted but is it what I want”. When we got inside, I was jumping oﬀ the walls, running in circles un l she said....”It’s a boy!” My excitement went to the level zero. But it’s be er than nothing... I’ve waited so long that I was in first grade by then. But then one night it happened! I woke up because of a nightmare and went downstairs to find my grandmother si ng on the couch. I asked my grandmother where my parents were and she said, “Your mom is having the baby.” Before I went up I asked one more ques on “ What is the baby’s name?” She said “William.” I went back upstairs feeling excited and nervous. All this me I’ve been wai ng and now it’s here! In the morning I was pumped. When we got there, the first thing I saw was my mom lying in a bed. She looked red, but s ll had one of those amazing mom smiles. Then I looked in the crib and saw a small li le boy who barely had any hair. He barely opened his eyes, and when he did they looked so gentle and harmless. It was peaceful the first couple of years un l two weeks a er his second birthday when I woke up to find a monster a acking my mom. She said, “Leah be careful he’s cranky.” Will’s face was bright red and tears were dripping down his face. Then he yelled, “I hate you mommy!’’ his voice was rough so I thought he must have been yelling all morning. Ever since then he was a disaster. One day I was si ng on our li le white chair and out of the blue Will came over and bit me so deep I was bleeding all over my shoulder. Another me Will came in my room and broke a piece of po ery that I had made! I wished he wasn't a part of my life. Then one day at camp during carpool Will wouldn't stop running around. I told him to stop but he didn’t listen; I stopped watching him. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw a couple of boys yelling at Will. One of them grabbed his arm and wouldn’t let him go. So i stood up as tall as I could, walked over to them and said, “DON’T TOUCH MY BROTHER!!!’’ I grabbed Will’s arm and pulled him away from them. At that moment I realized it felt good to stand up for someone and I thought maybe it can be a pain to have a sibling but they will always come around.

The Meaning of Summer (Preview)

Wri en by: Maia Zimmers Chapter 1 I felt the wet, salty tears on my cheek, tearing out my heart. Everybody was staring at me, stunned. While walking to the bathroom, I felt someone watching me. I quickly pivoted around and saw nobody. When I made it to the bathroom my counselor, Alisa, was waiting for me. I dashed for the bunk room, but it was too late. “What’s wrong? You’ve been acting crazy.” I didn’t answer. I tried to get away, but they had me surrounded! “What’s wrong!” Screamed all my bunk mates in unison. I settled for a simple answer. “Nothing!” I screamed back at them, my legs carried me all the way to my bed. I laid there for a while sobbing into my pillow. After 20 minutes or so Alisa came and sat on my bed. “I know you're sad, but this is not the way to fight back.” I glanced up at her, trying not to look like I’m acknowledging her. She seemed sympathetic yet angry and frustrated. I sat up and screeched at the top of my lungs. Alisa tried not to notice. she backed off, finally. Why would my parents send me to a sleepaway camp? A girl came up to me. “I know its your first summer here.” “And my last.” I replied. “I can’t talk to you without knowing your name.” “Erica.” I replied softly. Suddenly the mysterious girl walked away. I wondered who is she and what does she want? I walked swiftly, trying to avoid the other girls. I was looking so carefully it made my brain hurt. She needs to know not to be mysterious, its misleading, I thought. I didn’t see her, looking under and over all the bunks. The day felt like it was never ending, even though I had gotten here an hour ago. It is precisely 8:13, breakfast is at exactly 8:30 I don’t have much time. The minutes passed by ever so fast now. I have looked everywhere. Except for on top of my bunk bed.

The bell rang, everybody scattered towards the door except for me and someone else. She walked towards me and whispered in my ear, “Julie”. The dining hall was quiet. I sat down alone and nervous. I knew there was no need to be nervous, but I can’t help but miss the people I love. I didn’t feel well. I felt like the world was ending. I started whimpering, and then it turned into a cry. Though my blurry vision I saw a figure come towards me. I tried to be quiet, so the person wouldn’t hear my sobs. “Calm down, you're safe.” She had a feminine and soft voice. It was the girl, Julie. I tried to scoot over to the next chair, but she followed. I heard her mumble something, but didn’t hear the words. I sat there quietly wanting to be alone. “The buffet is open!” yelled a girl in my bunk. I walked slowly to the buffet avoiding the other girls, but Julie kept following me. Every step I took she was right behind me. “Why are you stalking me!” I screamed angrily at her. Everybody stared at me. I ran for the table, embarrassed. My sobs echoed in the room. The room was silent. Julie came running as fast as she could. She looked confused. “I’m just trying to be you’re friend. You know its my first year here too, right?” She said softly.

“I just want to be alone!” I said loudly, yet not screaming. She scattered and sat with the other girls. I was satisfied with her decision. All breakfast

included, was salad and vegetables. I don’t like salad, so I wasn’t happy. Somebody tapped on my shoulder, it was the guidance counsellor. “Please come, we will soon be good buddies.” Said Mrs. Merp (the guidance counselor). I didn’t want to follow, but I knew I had to. “No, I can take care of myself.” I said with anger building inside of me. She picked me up and dragged me forcefully. Where is she taking me? I thought to myself, worried. “You don’t have the right to carry me!” I screamed at her. She just kept walking. She's acting like she didn’t even hear me. “Did you hear what I said? You're not much of a guidance counselor!” I said furious with her. “I hear you, just calm down.” She said with a soft soothing voice. “You can’t tell me what to do, you know I have the urge to punch you right now!” She just continued walking in silence. I know she didn’t care what in the world I said. She was getting tired of carrying me and walking. I could tell by the way her breaths got louder and louder,

with each tiny step. I slowly descended closer to the ground. The tips of my toes could just barely touch the ground. I tried to make a run for a tree to climb on, but didn’t succeed. We had made it to Mrs. Merp’s office. “Sit down, try to get comfortable.” She said with a high voice. “I’d prefer not too.” “Fine, suit yourself. Be uncomfortable.” “So, what’s on your mind, anything?” “Why should I tell you, you're not my family, even though I don’t tell them.” “Who is your family, and where do you live?” I stayed silent, not wanting my voice heard. “Do you miss them?” She said sympathetically. I started to have that feeling, that queasy unwanted feeling. I felt wetness on my cheeks and my vision went blurry. I heard myself sniffling. I felt horrible, my stomach felt like it was down by my ankles. I ran for the trash can, but it was too late. It was out. Worrying for me is an sickness. Mrs. Merp had a disgusted look on her face. I curled up in a ball and started wheezing. I can’t believe it, I, of all people, threw up. I’m so angry at myself. She patted me on the back. Then oddly enough, she hugged me! “What are you doing?” I said with my face still flushed with tears. “Don’t worry you will see your family soon enough.” “In seven weeks!” I know she’s just trying to understand me, but she can’t. “I think Julie really wants to be friends with you. Try and be friendly.” She said in a low tone of voice. “Oh by the way before you leave, here’s you’re medicine.” “For what?” Starting to feel angry, not sad. “You know for your anger issues.” She said trying to sound polite. “I don’t have anger issues!” I ran out of there, as far as my legs would take me. That meant all the way back to the dining hall. I pushed those double doors open and ran to the table I was sitting at earlier. Everybody glanced at me then went back to eating. I sat there then started to sob my heart out. Without meaning to, I screamed and punched the table. Only one person stared, and that was Julie. She didn’t look frightened she just looked confused. “Come on let’s go get changed for pool hour.” Julie said dramatically. “Whatever.” I said as I followed her.

“I’ll go get changed, do you want to get changed?” “I don’t like the pool its boring and freezing. “You’ll regret it, once you feel how hot it is in the sun.” She skipped to the bathroom. Julie’s so happy it makes me want to throw up, like I didn’t already. I saw my reflection in the mirror. I looked average. Average weight and height for an eleven year old girl. I have black hair and piercing green eyes. Julie came out in a pink bikini. Bikini’s make no sense, you get colder, and your not as modest. Who knows? “We need to leave now, if we want to get there early.” She said clearly excited. Julie left with pride, I left with anger. “Where’s the pool,? I’m hot!” I said, out of breath. “You should have changed while you had the chance. We are almost there.” We made it to the pool after about two minutes of walking. Any girl would have to walk through the bathroom to get to the pool, just like we had to. It was easily one hundred degrees outside. You could almost hear the sizzling of the sun. Every step we took you could hear us breathing. By the time we got there we sounded like we’d been running a marathon. I saw a pool chair and went to sit. It wasn’t very comfortable. “Help me get sunscreen on my back.” Julie said. “Why, can’t you reach it?” “Fine I’ll do it, but it will be your fault when I get sunburn.” Julie muttered. Julie smothered herself in sunscreen. Julie has fair skin, light blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair. She put her towel right next to where I was lollygagging. She sprinted over to the pool and dove in head first. Her head didn’t pop up for a few seconds. I was starting to get worried. I dashed over to the rim of the pool and dove in too, trying to imitate the way Julie did. The world went black.

Alive

By Mira Beinart (This story is connected to the story Powers Awaken by Zoe Fischman)

1 New Girl At School I knew that everyone was staring at me. Everyone. Not just the people in 7th grade. Not one person was texting or talking with their friends. I was new at Morfurd Junior High in Williamsburg, Virginia. I had just moved from the Lone Star State, Texas. It was not the beginning of the year, like when all the other kids started. It was January 29th, at precisely 8 o’clock in the morning. I felt my 13 year old hands clamming up inside my pockets. I didn’t even know my locker number or combination. I couldn’t ask a kid, because they would just laugh their head off at me. So I had to find one of my teachers, but where could they be? Morfurd Junior High had three floors that were as big as seven football fields! Everywhere I looked, I could only see kids staring at me, or laughing and pointing with their friends. I didn’t know what to do. Should I find someone, or

should I wait until someone finds me? I thought. I still hadn’t gotten my secret out... yet. Hopefully, it would never be amongst the rumors at this HUGE school. I decided to close my eyes, and wait. And wait. And wait. And wait. *** I opened my eyes to a girl, about the size of a 5th grader, standing in front of me and shouting, “Wake up, sleepy head! The bell just rang! It’s the middle of the year. You should be used to this now.”

How was I supposed to tell her that this was my first day at school and that I had absolutely no idea where my class was? I thought.

Then, out of the blue, a different girl who looked like the snotty girl’s identical twin came up to me and said, “Are you new? Do you know where your class is?” I didn’t know what to say. I thought that she would be exactly like her sister! “No. I’m fine. I’ll find my class. Thanks anyway!” Seriously! I thought. How

did I just say that? Am I EVER going to get to my class? I took out my new iPhone 6 that my parents bought me for the beginning of the year. Well, actually, it’s the middle of the year, but whatever. I started to send a text to my best friend in Austin, Evelyn, when the nice one of the twins came up to me again! “Hi again! My name’s Jenny. What’s your name?” “My name is Chloe.” “Hi Chloe! It’s nice to meet you. What is your teacher’s name?” “Ms. Barin. Can you help me find her room?” “Yeah. Of course! You might just want to watch out for my sister, Megan.” Jenny said as we walked up the long flight of stairs up to the 7th grade floor. We didn’t say much more. “Chloe, your shoe is untied.” “Eh. Whatever. I’ll fix it when we get there.” Should I should tie my shoe?

No. That will probably make her think that I am a safety freak, which I’m definitely NOT! As we walked up and up, I tripped a few times on my untied lace from my left shoe. Then, when we were at the second to last step, I tripped on my shoelace, landed hard on my face, and I could no longer see the world, only black.

To Be Con nued…..

Colors Colors have emotions, just like us. Colors have personalities, just like us. Red is rosy, orange is fruity. Yellow is bright, just like the sun. Green loves nature, all damp with dew. Blue is calm, floating along. And then purple, flying in the air like a bumble bee. All the colors, happy with me.

By Mira Beinart 5th Grade

The Four Seasons

Summer is hot. Winter is cold. Autumn and Spring are in the middle. We like to play, And have lots of fun. But I don’t know how to play the fiddle.

Mira Beinart Grade 5

Life In Hockey Preseason By: Samuel Melnick

Slap! I go hard into the boards. The rockets Zed, Joe and Thane steal the puck and take off down the ice and score. Tryout’s over. Those three brothers are dang good. I’m at tryouts for the high school New York City team. I’m in eighth grade but I was good enough to tryout. It was a 3 on 3 and the three brothers are always on the same team. They're great and are obviously making the team. My Dad came to pick me up. He was a Center for the Rangers. He was really good, way better than me. He asked me how it went, and just like every kid, I said, “Good.” We drove out to our multimillion dollar estate, where we have everything, including a small hockey rink. I put my bag on the couch, took a shower, put on my clothes, and headed downstairs with my head down and mom giving me “the stare.” I know why...I put my hockey bag onto the couch. I was in my own world, when my mom took over mine. “Zach what is on my couch?” My mom, Hillary, was nice, except for when there was something bad on her furniture. I ate dinner and went to bed at eight o’clock. I normally go to bed at ten, but I was so tired. In the morning, I wake up and go to school. Yoni sits next to me on the bus. He was a basketball player and had his tryouts yesterday too. He was getting a spot for sure, which is what he thought. I thought that he had a slight chance. We head over to team lists where both the basketball team and the hockey team are called City Slickers. We both made it!!! He made the starting team, and I got the bench as a backup for Thane at right wing. “I’m not getting any playing time, ever.” Yoni was running down the halls happy, well, at least he had something to celebrate, but I didn’t. We met up again in gym class and we played hockey and he was on my team, with a bunch of nonathletic people, but we were ok because I was on the team. We have practice tonight, and hopefully I will play well. Tonight, with a lot of jitters in the preseason, if we get cut the only way to play is if at least five people get injured. So we had a practice. We ran someplace and shot around. It went well for the starters on the first line. I was in our second line, only because they didn’t have enough kids for three lines. The first line had all the practice time and attention from Coach Scott, a good coach, but a total jerk. We had the assistant, Coach Graves, a nice guy, but he treats you like a second grader. He doesn’t really know hockey but he understands the basics. We ran some drills. I ran some plays and scored some goals. I did well. Coach Graves saw, but not Coach Scott. He skated over and watched me score a goal but it wasn’t good enough for him, he commented on were I placed the puck, and that it wouldn’t be a goal in our first preseason game tomorrow. We are playing the Brooklyn Bombers. As soon as he walked back toward the first line, Thane fell to the ice. Someone had skated him in the leg and it probably had torn or cut a ligament. He plays my position. We kept on playing our practice game because our coach hates Thane, and is not happy, but doesn’t feel bad for him. Soon, I am called over to join his practice, and Winston replaces me in line two. Winston is a spaghetti armed, uncoordinated person, that is in our backup team which just has special workouts. I start off doing Scott’s own stretches, that actually are the first stretches that I have ever done. They are actually helping me. I am sort of excited and shocked at how good these people are. Practice ends soon after I joined the first line. I made one out of eight shots on goal, but I had two assists. I walk into the locker room, and I see Yoni waiting in the locker room. He told me about everything that happened at his practice. He scored thirtyone points, had eleven assists, and three steals. “Yeah for you,” I say sarcastically. “Ha!” He said. We are good friends, and we sure trash talk a lot. My dad drives us home, and we shoot some hoops on the roof of my building. He was going to sleep over at my place. My parents LOVE Yoni a lot. My mom hugs him as soon as he comes to the door because he thinks that we were separated at birth.

“Hey Yoni, do you want spaghetti and meatballs or hamburgers.” “Spaghetti and meatballs please.” “Me too.” I say. We go up to our fitness room and play dodgeball with my brother. I snap a ball at my brother and he ducks, fires it back at me, and I get hit in the head. “Hah, you got knocked out by your little brother, I thought that you were tougher than that boy.” “I was just thinking about my game”. Like I was planning something evil. As he helped me up, and walked back to his side, I said, “Think Fast!” Boom! He was down. He gets up and then we were wrestling on the fitness room floor. We do this a lot, not realizing that there is always a bloody nose coming out of this. “Boys come down for dinner.” We go down stairs, eat dinner, watch T.V., play PS4, then go to bed. “WWWAAAKKKEEE up guys. Zach it’s time to get ready for your game.” I get up put on my Under Armor workout shirt and underwear, throw on some Nike shorts, and Puma socks. I get my bag, hop in the car with Yoni, and we drive out in my mom’s Audi. We arrive at the rink and I rush off by myself. My mom, dad, and Yoni take their time. I get dressed and warm up on the ice. I’m the starting right wing and I’m pumped up. The game starts, and right away I get a break-away, I shoot and bam! I score! The game continues 1-0 till the third period, the other team gets a goal on a powerplay. With two minutes left, Joe scores and the games goes into overtime. The game remains tied through overtime and goes into shootouts. I’m up second in the sudden death shootout. It remains tied through the first round and my opponent misses his shot. I’m up. I circle around the puck three times and am off to the races. I’m ten feet from the goal and I do a fake wrist shot to the left and the goalie falls for it, and I tap the puck into the goal and we win!

He Was Gone Sarah Doane

He was gone. A person whom I loved. Dead forever. I didn’t know what to do without him but cry. I looked up at my mom, my cheeks red, my eyes as red as a rose. I was frozen just standing there. Not saying a word. My mom looked down and said, “It is going to be okay.” I didn’t believe her. He was the person who scratched my back and comforted me. I remember playing Connect Four with him, he would always let me win. I cried. Every tear I felt on my cheek made me even more gloomy. It felt like the whole world froze. My mom was going to cover his body. I wanted to cover his body too but I couldn’t because it was too emotional. She was ready. It didn’t look like it. Before we got there she said, “This is the last time I am going to see his body.” That really made me think that he was not going to be there when we were going to visit. I didn’t want to look at his coffin. I looked around all the graves, and everybody putting flowers on the graves made me realize that in a year I would be doing the same thing.

*** It was the holiday season after what I thought what was a very long car ride I was so excited to see him I jumped into his arms, I was so happy no one could wipe off the smile on my face. It was time to never see him again. Now neither his body or his soul is with us. I thought there was going to be a cure but I thought wrong. I would never forget the last day and the last hug he gave me. He had brain cancer, my Grandpa had brain cancer it took over him and that was that. My memory was the only thing I had, there were not many of them before he died in 2009, I was only 5. He was gone. Author’s note I wrote He was Gone because the death of my grandfather made a very big impact on me, it changed my life. I learned what it meant to lose someone, that I loved, The experience also taught me that I should be grateful for having people around me who I love and love me . Life is short we should take advantage of life’s beautiful moments before they disappear in front of us.

Waldo By: Yoni Leibstein Once upon a me there was a person named Waldo. Waldo was not like anybody or anything on Earth. He had a tail and scales. Waldo had no friends because everyone was afraid of him. Waldo had a dream that one day he might go to another planet. Waldo was very unhappy. Waldo felt like a monster. He had no home and felt he did not belong on Earth. Meanwhile, in another galaxy there was a planet named Bububy. On Bububy, there was an alien named Gulabub. Gulabub Was not like anything or anybody on his planet. He had no tail and no scales, instead he had skin. Gulabub was very upset. He had no friends because everyone was afraid of him. One day, both Waldo and Gulabub found something. Waldo found a poster next to a dumpster, which is where he lived, it said: “Don't like Earth? Then go to Bububy!” Gulabub also found a sign next to a dumpster: “Don't like Bububy? Go to Earth!” Both Waldo and Gulabub ran to the space sta on. It was thirty miles away from each of their homes, respec vely. When Waldo was twenty‐five miles away, he saw a bush move. He decided, that since it was his last day on Earth, he would go check it out. He got to the bush and saw nothing. Then, he turned around and saw a wolf. The wolf growled at him. He started to panic. Then he did the only thing people would do when they saw a wolf. He ran. In about one mile the wolf tackled him. The wolf jabbed at Waldo’s face but Waldo was strong. He held the wolf’s jaw away from him. He saw rows and rows of teeth. Waldo punched the wolf, and while the beast was regaining his senses, Waldo ran. Waldo ran and ran un l something caught his eye, it was a shard of glass. He checked behind him. The wolf was s ll on his tail. He picked up the shard of glass and let the wolf get close… then, when it jumped at him, he stabbed at the wolf with the piece of glass. Waldo killed the beast. Then he did something anyone would do if they were figh ng a wolf. He found a rock, rested his head on it, and slept. *** Gulabub was walking on...and on...and on. Finally, he stopped. He saw something in a tree. He went to go check it out because it was his last day on his planet too. Then he saw it. It was a man made Seanta. He was shocked. He did not even think, he just ran. In his head, he played out what he might do. “I do work out,” Gulabub said to himself. But he decided to keep running. He was so dehydrated that he became dizzy. Finally he tripped. The Seanta pounced on him. The man made

Seanta was hideous. It was half blubber and half steel. If it bit you, you would be dead in less than a minute. He decided he was going to fight. He waited for the perfect moment while the Seanta was admiring his prey. He kicked it in the face. The man made animal fell oﬀ of him, stunned. As quick as lightning, Gulabub started to run again. He was extra careful to not fall. Then he saw a police car. He had a idea. He used all his energy to get to the police car. When he got to the police car, he looked through the window. As usual, the police oﬃcer was sleeping. Gulabub broke the window and grabbed the policeman's beater s ck. Then, he charged at the beast. The Seanta jumped, but before he touched Gulabub, Gulabub hit him in the head with the beater. It crumpled to the ground with a thin line of blood dripping were Gulabub had hit him. Now, Gulabub could not handle the viciousness any more. He found a stream, drank water, then slept. *** Waldo woke with a start! He woke up to the sun shining down on him. Waldo got up and started to walk. Then, he heard deep growl. Something was watching him. Waldo slowly tried to walk away, but the stalker threw itself at Waldo. A bear tackled him from out of nowhere. The bear started to slash at Waldo. Waldo was in serious pain. Then, he heard a wild scream. Even the bear looked startled. All of a sudden, a wild looking man with a bow and arrow came out of a tree and shot the bear. The first arrow the man shot only seemed to annoy the beast, but the second seemed to really have hurt it. The bear charged at the man, but this savior pulled out a knife and fiercely fought the bear. Two minutes later, there was a dead bear and a man with a bow and arrow pointed at Waldo. “Why are you here?” Asked the man. “I am trying to get to the space sta on. So I can go to Bububy.” replied Waldo. “What's your name.” Asked the man. “Waldo.” Said Waldo. “What’s yours?” Exclaimed Waldo. “Powhatan.” replied the man. *** Gulubub was actually having a nice me. His cuts from the Seanta were healing up. Then he tasted sour in his mouth. He know exactly what it was. A Graver. First, you taste something sour, then you start to feel light headed, then it a acks. Gulubub was star ng to feel light headed, he needed to do something. He did not know where the beast was, so he could not run. He decided to take his chances and hope the Graver was a baby or else… Then the Graver came out. All of Gulubub’s hopes were crushed. It was the biggest Graver he had ever seen! It

charged at Gulubub, then tackled him. The thing was hideous, it looked like it was made with half tar, and half rubber that was bonded together by fire. The beast snarled at Gulubub. Gulubub, of course, ran. Luckily, the graver was bulky and slow. Soon, Gulubub underes mated the Graver and it caught up with him. The Graver bit Gulubub on the ankle. Gulubub yelped in pain. Gulubub could tell that the Graver would have no mercy for him. It would tear Gulubub apart with its’ huge muscles, sharp teeth, and sharp nails. At least that was what Gulubub thought. The Graver stabbed Gulubub in the chest and then let Gulubub go. That son of a $!^*@! Thought Gulubub. Gulubub was so angry, he found the last bit of energy he possessed, and used it. The Graver was not watching him because it knew Gulubub would bleed to death. Gulubub knew that he could not run away because he was in no shape to run. He had to kill the Graver. While the beast was not looking, he figured something out. Gravers can't drink Gulu‐ bub’s blood without choking. If Gulubub put enough blood in the beast’s mouth it might choke. It was a dark, but it was the only way to survive and get to Earth. He snuck up to the Graver. He put his hand under its cuts, instantly, his hands filled up with blood. He snuck up right next to the Graver, and with his last bit of energy, he punched the Graver in the stomach so the beast would open his mouth. It roared, but was cut oﬀ when Gulubub poured his blood in the Graver’s mouth. The Graver choked, it fell to the ground and finally died. Finally, Gulubub found a river, put his wounds in it, and fainted. *** Waldo was scared. Powhatan asked him so many ques ons. Finally, Powhatan decided to help Waldo. Powhatan gave Waldo food, water, and lots of knowledge. “The space sta on is about ten miles away. You should be able to hike there today unless you run into trouble.” Powhatan gave Waldo a knife, and a bow, and some arrows. “I will teach you how to use these on the way because I am sure we will run into trouble.” A er three hours they finally got to the space sta on. Powhatan and Waldo became friends. They saw no trouble. They entered the space sta on, and saw five dead scien sts. “Something is not right.” said Powhatan. Then, as if on cue, a man popped out. He stabbed Powhatan with a knife in the chest. Waldo notched an arrow into his bow and shot the man. The man fell. Waldo ran to Powhatan. “Go Waldo, there are more coming. These are my old rivals, you now have a friend in Bu‐ buby. Ask him, now go.” Just like that, he closed his eyes. Waldo heard shouts in the distance. He went into the space‐ ship, but he did not take oﬀ. He watched the monsters, and waited un l they le . He slowly opened the door and ran to Powhatan. Waldo was breathing heavily, but s ll alive, at least Waldo hoped.

Gulubub somehow made it all the way to the space sta on. Gulubub walked in, and was about to sit down when a huge man pushed him to the ground. Gulubub was so upset, he was so close to Earth. He fought back hard, but the man sadly pinned Gulubub to the ground. Gulubub heard shouts in the distance. The a acker smiled. Must be his bosses or something. Gulubub thought. He had to do something quickly. With all of his remaining energy, he did a back‐roll. Somehow it worked. Gulubub and the man switched posi ons. Gulubub could have run to the rocket ship, but curiosity washed over him. “Why is this guy trying to kill me?” Gulubub found a shard of glass. He took it, and cut the man “Why are you trying to kill me?” The man spat in his face. Gulubub heard more shou ng coming from right outside. He know what he had to do. He found a piece of metal and hit the man in the head, he was knocked out. Then Gulubub took some of the a acker's blood and rubbed it on his forehead, then he pretended to be dead. Waldo was horrified. His only friend might die before his eyes. All Waldo could do was to rip his shirt to make bandages. Hopefully it would stop the bleeding. A er a our Powhatan spoke. “Leave.” he coughed. “No, I decided to not go and stay on Earth. I won't let what other say discourage me.” Powhatan sat up. Waldo could tell Powhatan was trying to ignore the pain, but his eyes revealed the truth. Waldo did not know what to do. All he could do was hope and wait. Finally, a er twelve hours Powhatan could walk. Waldo and Powhatan became partners. If someone walked passed them in need of help, Waldo and Powhatan would help. Gulubub waited. The jerks examined Gulubub and the a acker. “They’re dead!” Exclaimed one of them. Finally, a er one hour they le . Gulubub opened his eyes, and saw the door close. Then Gulubub sprinted to the rocket ship and pressed the bu on. Nothing happened. Then he realized he pressed the wrong bu on! Then Gulubub really thought about leaving to Earth. Finally, a er about thirty minutes he decided not to leave. He would not give up. He would not let mean people control him. The End

Powers Awaken By: Zoe Fischman (This story is connected to the story Alive, by Mira Beinart) Chapter 1 Ring Ring

Dear Diary,

Today is June 27th. We are going to start school in only a few days now. I can hardly wait un l I see Chloe again. She has been at her grandparents’ house for two weeks and I can’t get ahold of her. I’m kind of mad.

“Jenny!!!”

“Yes Mom, I’m upstairs wri ng in my diary.”

“Ok, dinner in ten.”

You know how some mes parents can be really annoying, but super nice and cool at the same me? See, that’s my parents. RING RING, RING RING RING!!! The phone rang louder and faster than it ever had before. “Hello? Who is it?” “Uh, hello, My name is Teresa Brown and I am calling for Jenny.” said Chloe in a dis‐ guised voice. At that point, I knew that it was Chloe because she liked that name and of course she was calling for me. “So, what’s going on in that li le life of yours?” “Well, I just got back from my grandparents, and I am glad; I have missed you so much. I felt like I was about to explode or something.” “Me too.” “Since we have been gone for so long, I have a lot of unpacking to do.” Chloe said a li le disappointed. “Do you want me to come over and help you?” “Sure, that would be great!” Chloe said, with lots of enthusiasm in her voice. “Mom, Can you drive me to Chloe’s for a while? Can you pick me up some me Sun‐ day a ernoon?”

“Yes. Of course, swee e. Get into the car. We are going now.” Mom replied.

Just before Chloe le to go to her grandparent’s house, she revealed a startling piece of informa on, but an absolute truth: she is able to bring anything to life! Chloe also told me, that anyone that hears about the SSG (Secret Society of Gi ed), must call the council, which would then decide if you are capable of handling such power and responsibility. She told me, that a er I discover a new power I should then ask her what comes next. The person who finds out about their power is the person that can tell what power comes next. A er that enormous surprise, I kept on checking myself to see if I had the first power. The ability to talk to animals. I went outside and tried to talk to birds and squirrels and failed me, a er me, a er me for almost two whole weeks. I started to feel discouraged about my powers un l, the last me I decided to try us‐ ing them. It worked! I had a short conversa on with a bird who was quite nice! I had never been so surprised! The drive over to Chloe’s always felt longer than it actually was, because we could never wait to see each other. “Finally,” I said to myself once we got there! Chloe and I caught up on happenings for one whole hour once I got there! A er that, I told her I needed to talk to her. “I have a li le secret; I discovered my animal communica on power!!! If you don’t believe me, I’ll talk to Chunky the hamster.” Sure enough, when I tried to talk to her hamster, I succeeded! I was so proud of myself, and so was she! She told me that the next power I would receive is the psychic power and it would probably show itself in a month or two. Chapter 2 A True Gi Dear Diary, Today is July 7th. I have con nued talking with Chloe, and to get a few updates on the whole gi ed, powers thing! The whole thing is just a big shock. At first, I thought it was a dream. I pinched myself, and apparently it is not. I now have a big red bump on my arm. Since the last me I saw Chloe, I have discovered my psychic power. Sorry diary, Megan is coming, and she will never let me forget the whole “diary” thing. She is very unforgiving.

I quickly stuﬀed my diary back into my secret drawer and locked it with the key. I am so glad I have the psychic power, because the second I did, she barged into my room screaming. “Jenny! Did you steal my make‐up? I can’t find it and I’m going to be late for Trish’s party!!!!” “Megan, I am literally five feet away from you! I can hear you, and anyway, I have told you this a many mes: I never want that equipment stuﬀ of yours!” “Fine, but you have absolutely no taste in fashion.” A er that, she slammed the door and le quite suddenly. I called Chloe and told her about what had just happened. “Joke’s on her, because the next power you will be receiving is that you can magically change clothes into whatever you want, and you can also put on make‐up by just thinking about it.”

“But I don’t even own any make‐up like Megan does.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you; this power also saves quite a bit of money, you can wear clothes and makeup that you don’t even own! Another thing, I forgot to tell you, ummm….you kind of need to come with me to visit the council. They always want to meet the new guys.” She said, fully hoping I would accept. “Ok, just concentrate, and I will explain to you how to call them using a holographic image. First, prac ce by calling me. Wave your index finger around in the air three mes and say ‘Call Chloe,’ then hold out your hand flat. My ear will tell me ‘Call from Jenny’ then I will say either ‘Accept’ or ‘Deny.’ In this case, I will say accept. If I am ever unavailable to talk, I will think, or whisper ‘Deny’.” I tried, following her instruc ons exactly, and, it worked! We had a short conversa on. “Why can’t you just come over here, and I’ll show you some cool things.” Chloe said, thinking it would be easier to talk in person. Mom drove me over to Chloe’s house in her minivan. We got there much faster than I had expected. Chloe opened the door, and I hopped on her back. We used her super‐speed power to speed up to her room so Laura wouldn’t see and suspect something.

“So, you want my help to try to call the members of the council?” Chloe asked.

“Sure, but why would I need your help if I called you before independently?”

“Well, there are nine members of the council, and I am only one person. It takes more power to call the en re council. Once you get to be more powerful, you will be able to call by yourself. Let me call them for you and introduce you before you introduce yourself to them.” She did as she had instructed me to do before, except much more quickly. She called them up, and then I saw their holograms. She introduced them to me and explained to them the plan, and that we had already prac ced. She then said, “Hang up with all coun‐ cil members.” The hologram disappeared. She then told me to hold one of her hands and call with the other. Together we said, “Call all council members.” A HUGE hologram popped up, and we lowered our hands to set it on the floor. I met each and every council member, and they all explained to me that each century, there is one of the gi ed who is called “The Chosen One.” They told me, that I, a normal girl, was The Chosen. They explained to me that if I wanted to con nue to carry this powerful gi , I needed to come inside the council room and receive the basic training. “That would take you girls to the‐” I interrupted them, “I don’t want to leave without my parents knowing where I am!” “That is the right thing to do, young child. Your grandmother herself was The Chosen One of her genera on. When she died, we revealed her secret to your parents. They are aware that you would carry the same power as your grandmother. They didn’t believe us, and ignored this secret. When we come back they will realize that we were not kidding and we spoke only truth in the conversa on we held.” “Here is what we can do: a few of the council members and I will arrive at your house at precisely 11:40. We will explain to your parents what is going on, and then at 12:00, we will leave. At about 12:11, we will arrive at the council. Make sure Chloe is either at your house or that you have a sleepover tonight.” We decided it was a safer bet to have a sleepover just incase. “OK, thank you!” I said back to the members of the council. Chloe and I were quite surprised that Chloe’s parents didn’t suspect a thing when we told them we would be gone for the next few days. We guessed that was because she had done it before.

Chapter 3 An Unexpected Surprise

Dear Diary,

Today is July 11. The council is supposed to be coming today to pick Chloe and I up. It is now 7:34. I know it’s early, but I am quite anxious, and a li le bit scared. Chloe is s ll sleeping. So are Megan, Mom, and Dad. I am supposed to be arriving at some sort of basic training course taught by the council. The whole thing is s ll is weirding me out. I just hope Megan doesn’t find out. Once she knows what she wants, she won’t stop un l she gets it. Just once, I want to find something that I can use against her, you know, to get revenge. She always tries to make it seem like I’m the bad guy. Chloe just woke up, it’s me to get some answers. “Chloe? Are you awake?” I whispered gently just to check. “Yeah. Do you need anything? I know you must be kind of confused, I was too when this was happening to me. “ “Yes! I was just wondering if you knew these people, or if you have been there before, or why you…” “WOW, slow down there, sister! For ques ons number one and number two, I do know the council pre y well, and they know me well too. I have definitely been there be‐ fore. In fact, most days I go there before dinner. I have level seven powers. To enter Level four, I had to master transpor ng to mul ple places, two of which are home, and to the council.” “So, can anyone get into the council?” I asked puzzled. “No, the machine and the door are many feet above the ground. Many unintended people know where the entrance is, so there is also a fingerprint scanner for both your thumb and for your index finger.” “What if an enemy knows how to break through the systems or literally break in? “The systems are basically protected against anything that you can think of.” About a semi‐second a er that, my ear said to me ‘request to enter ‐ Grandma, ac‐ cept or deny?’ I was so scared and worried. Chloe didn’t even know why, because she couldn’t hear the voice in my ear. I explained quickly and quietly what had just happened. As I was talking there were long beeps.

“Those are just reminders that say ‘Please answer my ques on, I’m wai ng.” We started cracking up. Me in relief, Chloe in confusion. I thought that there was a glitch, but apparently not. I answered ‘Accept’ to myself. What was going on? I was dizzy; the world was spinning as fast as a car re on the highway. To be con nued….

The Weird Future By: Abigail Katz Chapter #1 The Discovery:

“This way, this way!” Said the captain of the ship, who was bald, except for the bit of hair in the middle of his head. We were moving from Canada to America, and I did not like this one bit. I wanted to stay in Canada, my home. “Come on, Bea,” I said as I nudged my younger sister to the steerage of the ship. But Bea’s eyes weren’t on the captain. They were on a fairly interes ng lump in the li le bit of mulch that had washed up on the shore and stopped near the ship. My youngest sister Jane, also took a quick glance at the lump, which now seemed to look like treasure from the sea. No sooner than Jane had looked, she was pouncing on me so she could tap me on the shoul‐ der. “Charlo e, Charlo e!” She yelled, “Check out that dirt lump, you never know what could lie un‐ der such shiny luck!” My Mother, who was holding her hand, hushed her. Jane instantly stopped jumping, but Bea got Mother’s a en on. ”May we please explore the beau ful treasure some me, Mother?” She wondered. Mother, who was retying her bonnet, put her arm around Bea. “You’re enough treasure to last me a life me!” She assured. “And anyhow, young ladies like you should not be ge ng their clothes dirty.” There was no more talk about the lump a er that, however, we kept the thought in our minds. My sisters and I exchanged funny glances. That was the day we first saw our room on the ship, cramped beside the steerage of the ship. Bea, Jane, and I all agreed that doing anything is be er than staying in the bo om of the ship. But what else there was to do? It didn’t occur to the three of us to go looking for treasure un l Bea reminded us of the strange lump in the dirt. “But Mother told us not to dig it out,” I pointed out. “But Charlo e, remember?” Exclaimed Bea, outraged. “Didn’t we agree that we’d do any‐ thing to get out of here? Doesn’t this include disobeying Mother?” thought for a moment, but agreed. If we were ever going to get out of that steerage, what else was there to do? But we couldn’t do so now. “We’d have to do it… At night!” said Jane. “This is more exci ng than I thought!” So there we had it. We were to do our digging at night.

So, all day long, we sat, planning our adventure on deck. Planning how we were going to dig it out. If we wanted to find anything, we’d have to go to diﬀerent areas of the lump. We were sure, our treasure wasn’t ALL the way down in the dirt, but the dirt around it looked too thick for one to dig alone. Suddenly, Jane said, “It might be a type of dangerous weapon that we don’t want to dig up. No wonder why Mother doesn’t want us to dig!” “We’ll risk it!” huﬀed Bea, looking like she was training for war. “Remember, anything’s be er than staying down here!” “But I might not want to dig then, because I don’t want to risk it,” shuddered Jane. “Fine, be a coward!” retorted Bea, crossing her arms. At the word coward Jane pounced up and gasped in disbelief. “I’m going to tell Mother your whole plan and what you called me!” she snapped, about to stalk away. But I stopped her just in me. “Please don’t tell Mother our plan,” I assured, “but you don’t have to come if you don’t want to.” Jane put her hands on her hips. “I’m coming so I can prove that I’m not a coward!” Jane glared at Bea. So that was that. Everyone was coming. Chapter #2 The Sneak: Nigh me was coming. I could see the sun se ng, and one by one, stars were slowly popping into the soon to be night sky. The waves were ge ng calmer, and the captain came to serve us dinner. We sisters were ge ng more excited by the minute. But first, we had to wait through dinner, which we could hardly stay in our seats for. “What is up with you?” Asked Mother, who was bu ering bread. Jane was picking at hers. I couldn’t help but agree with my sisters that the bread was hard and stale. “There is nothing to do around here,” answered Bea, winking at me. “How about you eat your dinner,” suggested Mother, mo oning for Bea to come. She then added, “Jane, the captain took the me to make us this nice dinner. Be thankful for what you have, Jane, for it is rude to pick.” Bea and I exchanged glances. The food is not good, and probably even Mother knows it! I looked around the steerage, at the other families who were ea ng their dinners. One boy took a bite of his bread, then spit it out onto his brother, who was si ng across from him. I

put my hand over my mouth to s fle a laugh. Then I gulped down my food so I wouldn’t taste it. A er dinner, we were so eager to get up, that we all jumped out of our chairs at the ex‐ act same me. The funny thing was, that we all forgot we had our napkins on our laps. So we all had to bend down to get them, which at the moment were on the floor. “Young ladies, mind your manners,” ordered Mother, shaking her head at the floor. By now, I could see that the sun was done se ng, it was dark outside. Because of this, I didn’t really mind the fact that Mother now gave us a lecture about how to leave a table properly. And, she was extra disappointed in me, because I was 12, since I was the oldest, I had to be a role model for Bea and Jane. Finally, a er a boring day, some sort of ac on was about to occur on this boring ship. But first, we had to wait for all to fall asleep, which could take a long me. We had to stop ourselves from falling asleep! For once, we were glad that the beds weren’t that comfortable. The ma resses were hard, the sheets were itchy, and the covers thin. It wasn’t hard to stay awake. It was a bit harder to wait for everyone else to fall asleep. No one was pa ent, and it was hardest for Jane. Who could expected a five year old girl to have pa ence? To pass the me, we played games, told stories, and our favorite, con nued to plan our dig. When it looked like everyone did dri oﬀ to sleep, it was very late. We did as we planned. We began sneaking up the stairs trying not to make them creak. Though, Bea did so purposely, and twice, just to scare Jane. This backfired. Jane didn’t even turn around, and I warned Bea she couldn’t come if she con nued to play around. A er that, there was no more creaking. When we finally made our way onto the deck, it was silent and mysterious. “It’s so dark here,” trembled Jane, who was shivering. “Don’t worry,” I assured her, “I brought a gas lamp.” I held it up, and immediately every‐ thing became lighter. Then we began looking for that lump. “There it is!” shouted Bea, who was poin ng to the side. As we made our way to the lump, Jane suddenly concluded, “How are we going to dig it up?”

At first I was confused, but I soon realized that there were no shovels in my hand. Luckily, we had brought shovels with us on our voyage, but they were stored downstairs in the single duﬄe we had brought. I shi ed my gaze toward the lonely darkness surrounding the staircase, but decided it was worth it. I turned around and announced to Bea and Jane, “I’ll go downstairs and get the shovels. You guys stay here.” I headed downstairs. NOTE: This is not the full story of “The Weird Future.” What you’re seeing is a preview of the book.

Gry’s Journey to America By: Addie Bassin

“Help! Help! Mom, Dad, where are you?” I screamed. “ Someone help me!” We had been separated from a violent storm only a three day’s ago. I had never seen a storm in Sweden this violent. I wanted my family; where were they? Hopefully they were safe in someone’s house. I then felt like I was going to die. I definitely regre ed running outside in a storm. I had run outside to get the mail, and then out of nowhere the storm was just there. I got oﬀ the pavement and started to run, but my leg was aching. The storm was chasing me! I knew this was the end of me! And, I hadn’t eaten in days, so I was also starving to death. But then I saw a door open. An old lady gestured me into the house. I turned around and the storm was s ll there. I didn’t take a moment to spare and I ran into the house. I took a look around, but the lady took me into a room with a rug, a bed, and a bookshelf. She li ed a rug, and there was a door. She had taken us into the room because she wanted a secure place without windows so that the storm would not hurt us. She took me beneath the rug and showed me a room. I was so happy I almost burst into tears. Standing there was my brother Felix and my sister Anna. I rushed into their arms. They were my older siblings. “Baby Gry!” screamed Anna and Felix. I usually hated it when they pointed out I was the youngest (besides my twin sister) but this me I didn’t care. “Where’s Carola, Mom, and Dad?” I trembled. “We don’t know,” answered Felix. “But I’m sure they’re fine,” Anna interrupted. “ It’s ge ng late,” the old lady said. “You should get to bed.” She handed us some pillows and blankets. “ Thank you,” said Anna. The next morning, the lady brought us upstairs. We all stared in awe. We saw a beau ful feast wai ng for us on the table. We had never seen so much food in our lives. We sat down quickly and stuﬀed our faces. We looked around. It was the most beau ful house we had ever seen. And amazingly, there was no damage from the storm. The house was so big and wide. At about noon she said we could leave because the storm had stopped overnight; however, I was s ll scared to go outside. I grabbed Anna’s hand as we all walked outside. That cold breeze blew onto my face. We walked for what seemed hours, asking strangers “have you seen our parents and sister?” But no one knew where they were. We finally arrived at our house. That old, raggedy, smelly shack seemed nothing like the old lady’s house. We went inside and found Carola standing there, bruised and bleeding. We ran over to her. She was

crying while wet and soggy. Anna and Felix ran up stairs leaving me with Carola. I hugged her ght and she started to stop crying slowly. “What happened?” I asked “It’s too long of a story,” she choked. Just then, Anna and Felix came rushing down the old wooden stairs. Anna was carrying our bag of rags and some clothes for Carola. Felix brought Carola’s torn teddy bear. They took her and started caring for her. Minutes later, I saw my twin sister happy again. We ran and hugged each other so ghtly. Anna and Felix asked if she knew where Mom and Dad were, but she didn’t. We went out to search, but then Finn, the guy who runs the market shop and is also a good friend, came running to us with our parents. They came rushing to us and picked us up. They hugged us so ght. Finn explained everything. How they were staying with him at the barn. They took us home in their arms and they put us straight to bed. Since Carola and I were the smallest, we got a wooden pla orm above the clay oven. We usually fought over who got the warmer spot, but today I let her there with no argument. We couldn’t go to sleep, so we decided to listen to our parents conversa on. They said something we had never heard before. They said that we are going to America. Almost all night Carla and I tried to figure out what they meant by “Were going to America.” We knew what America was, but were we really going to leave Sweden?!” We decided to find out in the morning, so we went to sleep. The next morning we woke to the smell of bread baking in the clay oven. We went down the li le ladder and walked to the kitchen. We saw Anna and Felix explaining what the old lady had done for us.

“Well, we need to bake bread for her,” explained Mom

“But Mom, she’s rich,” said Felix, “We need to give her something grand.”

“I’m sure it will be fine,” said Mom.

We sat down for breakfast le overs we scavenged from the storm. Later that day, we went down to the old lady’s house and gave her our bread. She thanked us and we said goodbye. We went back to the house and our parents told us, “We are going to move to America!” They explained about everything and how our Grandma and Grandpa were wai ng for us. “ But we don’t have enough money,” they explained. “We are going to need to sell our cow and furniture.” They finally told us to go to town and start selling our items, but not to sell things we want to bring. I went to the barn and took our cow, Miss Be y. Usually I didn’t cry much, but I had Miss Be y all my life, and I burst into tears. I hugged her ght and brought her to town. Two men walked over and oﬀered me 30 Svensk Krona. I took the oﬀer and hugged Miss Be y one last me. I ran home and tried not think of Miss Be y. I showed Mom the money and she yelled with delight, "two ckets!" I went to the living room and took one of our good chairs. I then heard Mom yell, “four ckets!” because Felix brought in some money. I brought the chair to town and got 15 Svensk Krona for it. I brought it home to Mom and she yelled, “five ckets! We just need one more!”

“Mom! Mom! Mom!” yelled Carola. She gave mom some Svensk Krona

“Six ckets!” yelled Mom “We are oﬀ to America!”

The next day, we were at the sea loading into the big ship. We were finally loaded into the steerage where we were going to stay. Later that night, I was trying to fall asleep “Ow,” I said. The girl from the top bunk had fallen onto me.

“I’m so sorry. What’s your name? My name is Abbie,” the girl said

“Hi, I’m Gry”

“Hi Gry.” Abbie said, “Did you bring anyone with you?” she asked.

“Oh, yeah, I have my twin sister, my older sister, my older brother, and my parents,” I explained.

“Oh, my sister and father died in the crop famine,” she choked.

“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry.” I said quietly.

“It’s okay, but we should get some sleep. Good night Gry.” she yawned. And we both went to sleep.

The next morning, I woke up to the smell of ro en potatoes. I saw Abbie ge ng up just as I was. “Rise and shine,” I said. She rolled her eyes and said, “Good morning to you too.” I sat down for breakfast next to Anna, and together we ate our ro en potatoes. Two weeks passed and I heard a rumbling noise. “Ahhhhhhh!” screamed a lady. “Take cover! There’s a storm!” a passenger screamed. I held onto Carola, as we saw water leaking into the ship. I ran onto the bunk. The water was leaking everywhere. It was almost as high as the bunk. Then I remembered something; my sister couldn’t swim. She was drowning.

“Help! Help!” Cried Carola. I could swim, so I swam to her.

“Gry, Gry come up here!” screamed Abbie. I swam to the skinny ladder, but I no ced that Carola’s eyes were closed. “Is she dead?” I thought to myself. I climbed up, pulling Carola with my hand. When I finally got up to the bunk, I laid Carola down and smacked her face. I tried as hard as I could, and in a few minutes she woke up. Abbie watched me jump into the cold water. I grabbed my sack full of clothes and swam back up the ladder. I saw Carola sit up. Abbie was such a good friend, she took oﬀ her bandana and wrapped it around where Carola had been cut by a piece of metal.

“Hi, So, what’s your name? I’m Abbie,” Abbie said

“I’m Carola, Gry’s twin sister,” Carola whimpered.

She then saw me and crawled into my arms.

“Thank you both, for helping me. You saved my life.” And with that, she fell asleep.

I looked around, and on the other side of the ship, I saw Anna and Felix on the bunks with their friends. I spo ed Mom and Dad on the top of someone else’s bunk. I looked around and saw Abbie’s mom sleeping on the edge of the bed, and we both giggled because Abbie’s mom looked funny sleeping. I looked around at all the people that sunk in the water, and then I saw one of Carola’s friends floa ng on a piece of wood, but slowly she was sinking. I jumped down and swooped her onto my back. I brought her up to the bunk and dried her oﬀ. A er a few minutes, she fell asleep next to Carola. A week later, the water went down a li le bit. A crew member opened the door and mo oned everyone outside. We climbed down the ladder of the bunk. I looked behind me but I had lost sight of Abbie. But I kept walking. “I’ll see her again one day” I thought. We went to the outside dock of Ellis Island, and handed us a tag with a number. We looked above and saw an enormous statue.

“What is it?” asked Anna.

“I don’t know,” Mom replied. We looked away from the statue and walked up a bunch of stairs. We walked into many rooms ge ng inspected from one to another. At one of the inspec ons, Carola was stopped by an inspector. They looked at the cut where Abbie’s bandana had been. They looked and looked and finally saw that it was just a cut. They let us pass, and we walked outside where Grandma and Grandpa were wai ng for us. We had made it to America! They took us on a train to their house, in San Francisco, a week later, we finally arrived at their house. It was even bigger than the old lady’s. They gave us a whole tour of the house, but my favorite part was when they showed us our rooms! “Our own rooms!” I thought in my head. “No pla orm, real beds!” Carola rushed to our bunk beds. I called the top and she called the bo om. “Perfect” I thought. I ran over and hugged Grandma and Grandpa super ght.

“Thank you thank you thank you!” I screamed.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” they said. I climbed onto my bed again, but this me I saw a single bed on the other side.

“Grandma, Grandpa, who’s bed is this?” I asked examining it like a scien st.

“We are not sure,” she said “but I am sure it will have a great use.”

Four months later, I was walking in the park when I saw a very familiar girl, but she was older and raggedy. I tapped her shoulder and she looked up from her book.

“Abbie!” I screamed, and all the pigeons flew away.

“Gry, is that you?” she shouted.

“What happened? Where’s your mom? How come you look upset?” I quietly asked.

“Well you see, mom and grandmother,” she sniﬄed, “they died.” And she started to cry. “Oh my gosh, I’m so, so sorry Abbie,” I said so ly.

“I have no idea where to stay,” she whimpered.

“I know where you can stay!” I shouted.

“Where?” she asked, puzzled.

I grabbed her arm and raced her back to my house. I quickly introduced her to everyone.

“Grandma, she has no where to stay. Can she have the single bed?” I begged.

“Well I guess so.” she said “Why not? Come here dear,” she said, excited. She then grabbed Abbie and cleaned her up. A er she cleaned her she dragged her back to the dinner table. A er a few minutes, Abbie le the table and went to bed. I saw she didn’t have covers on, so I put hers over her and went to bed. The next morning, Carola tapped my shoulder and woke me up. Soon a er, Abbie woke up too. I now had a new sister! I felt so good and I bet Abbie did too!

Spectacular Posi ve Ravishing Energe c Astonishing Deligh ul Youthful Outstanding Unforge able Radiant Winner Intelligent Nurturing Glorious Special Amazing Neat Dazzling Fla ering Lovely Young

Barely Living

By: Charlo e Wenk

Chapter 1 “Mommy, are you going to be okay?” I said. Even though I knew the answer. I knew she would die, yet I wanted to have hope. I really did. It was hard, because I’d already heard what the doctor said. I think you can guess what it was. She wouldn’t be there for my bat mitzvah, prom, or wedding. It was horribly frightening to think about, but I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about it. Was I be er oﬀ dead than without my mother. What if… *** “Probably not, but you mustn’t be afraid, Phoebe” my mother said breaking my train of thought. Aunt Piper will look a er you,“ she said calmly. Though I could see the worried look on her face. “Excuse me miss, but all family must wait in the wai ng room,” the doctor said. I didn’t like the look on his face when he saw my mother’s lab results. But I held back my tears. I went to the wai ng room, and started to think again, a Code Blue was called over the loudspeaker, and all the doctors and nurses in the hospital rushed into my mother’s room. “This is it,” I thought, “No mom. No dad. No one except awful Aunt Piper!” I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore because I couldn’t help but think how diﬀerent my life would be with no mother or father. Believe me, it would be horrible! As the doctor walked out of the room, he said, “I’m sorry miss...uhhh... Phoebe.” A er that he just walked away! I didn’t want to hear what he to say. When I got home with Aunt Piper, I ran as fast as I could upstairs, and slammed the door! I packed a suitcase full of clothes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, all my jewelry, my piggy bank, and a picture of my mom and I. “Shower me!” Aunt Piper said in her usual, strict, voice. “I took a shower this morning!” I snapped at her. “Where’s your witness?” she asked. “She’s dead!” I yelled back.

Aunt Piper was very violent, and nothing close to reasonable. She hit me so hard I’ll have a bruise for weeks! A er my shower, which I didn’t need, I went to bed without anything to eat. I looked at my clock, a er staring at the ceiling for hours, but it was only eleven o’clock, which meant Aunt Piper was s ll up. The next me I looked at my clock it was two in the morning, I took my suitcase, and ran out the door thinking, It’s a good thing she’s a heavy sleeper.

***

Now that I was on my own, I was surprisingly happy about it. As I was wondering where to go, I saw I boy run right in front of me. I followed him to a small abandoned house that was falling apart. I walked in to find a group of boys talking about how they were going to get food. That’s when they stopped and looked at me in unison. No one said anything, un l finally one of the boys asked, “Who are you?!” “Phoe...uh...Phoebe.” I said stu ering. “Who are you?” I asked.

CHAPTER 2 Seven years later

“John, Wake up!” I said creaming him with my pillow. “What? It’s not even light outside!” He snapped “That’s because the shades aren’t up!” I said. John, Charles, and I all work for Mr. Goldfarb. Mr. Goldfarb pays us to help him even though it’s illegal, we are only seventeen years old. John, Charles, and I all work for Mr. Goldfarb. He found Charles one day while he was trying to steal food. They talked, and here we are. John thinks he’s up to something, I do too, but I don’t say so. “Come on guys we’re going to be late!” I say. The funny thing is, I can’t remember what we did last me we went to work. Mr. Goldfarb has us do such odd jobs, I’m not sure you can even call them jobs. Some mes we just walk or sit, but last me all I remember doing is si ng. Then something happened, but I don’t remember what. Charles usually gets to work before John and I. He’s always so excited to go. He works in a diﬀerent room, so we never see him. He won’t tell us what he does. “Welcome,” Mr. Goldfarb said. As I walked in he kept talking, but I wasn’t listening. All I wanted to do was remember what happened last me we came to work for him. He has me sit in

the same chair as last me. “Bye, Phoebe,” he says, as I walk out. I can’t remember what happened even though it happened only a minute ago. This happens over and over for a week. So finally I tell John, even he doesn’t believe me. One day when I came in, he asked me to sit down, just like usual, but as Charles taught me to problem solve, this me I set up a tape. “Bye,” said Mister Goldfarb. “Charles and John, come with me this me. I have proof!” I yell. We listen to the recording on my iPhone, which Mr. Goldfarb gave me, but nothing happens. We listen to four hours of buzzing, then Charles and John give up. A er six hours I give up too. “There’s something weird going on, so I’m going to do what I do best, sneak around. It’s never failed me before.” I say to myself. “Phoebe, just trust him, he gives us everything!” John says. “He’s a very odd man and he’s up to something, if he weren’t I’d remember what I did last me!” I said. That night, I woke up at two AM, got dressed and walked quietly toward the door. “Going somewhere, Phoebe?” John asked. “Yes, I already told you, John!” I said. “No sneaking out!” John said.

****

“Get up, Phoebe, we’re gonna be late!,” Charles said shaking me. “I don’t feel good. Why is the room spinning?” I asked. “Yah right , Phoebe. Get up,” Charles said. “Okay,” I said. Boom! I fell onto the floor everything was blurry, as my eyes closed. I woke up In a hospital bed to see Charles, John, and Mr. Goldfarb crowded around me. “Move aside,” yelled the nurse. From every angle there were doctors poking and prodding me. Asking ques ons like: Can you li your right arm? Wiggle your fingers? Follow my finger? “Everyone back oﬀ!” I yell “She’s back!” John said smirking at me. My eyes rested on Mr. Goldfarb. “Get away from me!” I shouted. “What...” he said, but his words a er that were drowned out by my screams.

“Her blood pressure's going up,” Charles says. That’s Charles for you. He’s a genius. He knows all about computer controls, medical controls, the human body, and so much more. The nurse is dabbing cloth on my forehead, and began poking needles in my wrists, but I s ll don’t understand what happened. “Do you know what’s wrong with me?” I ask the doctor eagerly, as soon as he walked in the room. “Unfortunately I don’t.” He said, but he didn’t sound like he was trying to figure it out. I felt like I knew him, because his face was oddly familiar. I couldn’t put my finger on it. Then, it hit me like a giant punch in the face! He was the man who took care of my mother. I didn’t say anything because I knew I needed to sneak out. I’d told John and Charles my sneaky plans before, and we all know how that went. So, I went to sleep, but when I awoke It was lunch me, and the doctor was talking to the nurse. “Something is wrong with her brain, but I’ve never seen anything like it, and neither have any of the medical staff in here!” the doctor said, more alarmed than I would of thought. “Is she going to die?” The nurse asked. “I don’t know,” he said. I went back to sleep, but when I awoke this me there was a different doctor. I wanted to be thankful, but something didn’t feel right. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you. Your last doctor didn’t run any tests.” I began to cry, which is rare, very rare. I hate crying, it makes my eyes and the area around them red as the lips ck my mom used to wear. To make it worse, the red doesn’t go away for what seems like hours. A er I was poked and scanned again there was s ll nothing to be found, so I was sent home. Neither John nor Charles would talk to me. They just stared off into space. Eventually, I got aggravated, so I said: “No one knows what's wrong, but as my mother told me when she barely living: Fake it un l you make it.” “But she didn’t make it!” John said. “And for that ma er, how do you even know she had cancer? What if she had what you have?” I looked at him in the eye, he knew that I didn’t know at this point.

Chapter 3 At Mister Goldfarb’s

“I know what you’re thinking, and yes I did that to you.” He said.

I tried to run, but he caught me. “The truth is I’m a scien st. I’m conduc ng experiments on the homeless, but you, you realized something was up, and almost had people convinced, how would you like to work with me?” he asked. “Wow you’re even more crazy than I thought you were!” right at that moment I realized something. “You killed my mom!” I said not le ng the tears out. “Yes, but I didn’t mean any harm! I conducted the same experiment on her, and it went horribly wrong! It’s my mind erasing device, but I s ll don’t know what’s wrong with it.”

***

Well, to make a discovery you need to experiment. He experimented on my brain, and found out what was wrong. Even be er, I was reunited with my mother. Seventy-five years later, John and Charles came to join us. They told me I had the most beau ful funeral. They also told me that Mr. Goldfarb invented a device to make himself live forever. A erwards, he gave up science. He became a writer and wrote my mother’s story. The stories of Charles, John, and I were wri en as well. You will hear more details by the me you get here. But now I only have two words le and they are:

The End

Princess Aqua’s Adventure Movie Script By: Irit Skulnik Narrator: This is a legend from long ago in the Atlan c Ocean. Here it goes... Aqua: Mahi, you’re it! (tags Mahi) Mahi: It’s not fair! You’re a mermaid and I’m a dolphin. How am I supposed to tag you? Aqua: Try and get me! Mahi: Got you! (laughs with Aqua) Aqua: (laughs with Mahi) King Uranus: Aqua! You are supposed to be in princess classes! Not fooling around! Aqua: But Fath‐ King Uranus: No! Go NOW!!! And Mahi, I don’t want to see you again, all you do is distract my daughter from her princess du es! Aqua: (swims away sobbing) In Princess Class Queen Celes a: Aqua dear, why are you crying, and why are you late to class? Aqua: (sniﬄes) I was playing with Mahi and Father yelled at me, a LOT. Queen Celes a: Aqua, he just wants the best for you. You need to come to princess classes so you can be ready to take my place and become queen one day. He was worried that Mahi is distrac ng you. Aqua: NO!!!!! (swims away crying) Queen Celes a: Aqua, wait, what about princess classes?! Aqua: (In bedroom crying) Mahi: (Sneaks into Aqua’s room from window) Aqua, what’s wrong? Aqua: (Sniﬄes) You know, all my parents care about is me being a responsible princess. It’s like they have a rule: NO FUN! Mahi, what should I do? Mahi: I know a witch. Maybe she can help you, she lives in Dark Cove. Aqua: Thank you Mahi! I’ll leave tomorrow. (starts packing) Mahi: I should leave before your parents come. Bye Aqua, good luck! Aqua: Bye Mahi, thanks again!

The Next Day... Aqua: (sneaks out of bedroom window) singing: I’m on my way to freedom, on my way to freedom! Yay, yay me! Hooray, hooray!! (stops singing) I wonder what that sign is? (the sign reads: Dark Cove) I’m here. Yay, I’m almost free from the monsters I call parents! (shivering) Wow, it’s really cold in Dark Cove! (Aqua freezes as she sees the scariest castle ever. It is made of skulls and bones, Aqua has a huge fear of skulls!) Okay, keep it together, it’s just a palace. It’s not scary even though it’s made of skulls ‐ my greatest fear!! But, I need to do this, for freedom!! (Swims toward palace shaking) Inside the skull Palace... Aqua: Hello? Hello?! Geraina: (Speaking in a cackley voice) I see I have a visitor. Interes ng... Aqua: (Shudders, the sight of this witch, is too ugly to bear, she has wrinkly skin, short spiky white hair, and a long black tail with green spots, her skin is dirt covered, which gives her quite a stench.) Geraina: What is your name dear? Aqua: (stu ers) A‐a‐a‐qua Geraina: Don’t be so frightened dear, I don’t bite. By the way, my name is Geraina, The Witch of Dark Cove. Follow me Aqua. Let’s go to my lair to talk. Aqua: (follows Geraina into her lair) Geraina: (Lying down on a navy chaise) Burns come meet Aqua! (Burns is Geraina’s pet eel) Burns: Hi Aqua, I’m Burns. Remember, don’t get on my bad side, because I’m an ELECTRIC eel! Geraina: So, Aqua what brings you?

Aqua: I don’t want to be a princess anymore. I want to be a regular mermaid, able to play all day, and have non‐strict parents! In other words, I want to be free! Geraina: (Takes out po ons from cabinets, mixes them, a flame then comes out of po on.) Now, before you drink this, is there anybody you want to stay the same? Aqua: Yes, I want my best friend Mahi to stay the same. No changes in him, please. Geraina: (chan ng, Mahi, over po on then spits in po on.) It’s ready to drink, Aqua. Once you drink this, all your wishes will come true. You’ll have a very diﬀerent life, and you can never reverse it. Good luck my dear Aqua. Aqua: Thank you so much Geraina. (Hugs Geraina, then drinks po on.) A er Aqua drinks the po on… Aqua: (Wakes up in bed) Whoa, the po on worked, awesome!! Mom: What did you say swee e? Aqua: Nothing. (Aqua thinks the following) Wow, I even have a diﬀerent mom, probably nicer. (Swims downstairs to kitchen.) Mom: Breakfast is kelp pancakes, your favorite! Aqua: Thanks Mom! Melanie: Aqua! Aqua! A er breakfast please can we play dolls!? Aqua: Sure! (Aqua thinks the following) I have a sister too! Yay, I’m not an only child anymore! A er Breakfast… Melanie: Are you ready to play Aqua? Aqua: Yeah, but I’m going to invite over Mahi, to see if he wants to join us. Melanie: Yeah! I’ll get out the dolls while you call Mahi! Aqua: Okay! (Mom hands Aqua shell‐phone.) Thanks Mom.

Mom: Any me swee e. Aqua: (On phone with Mahi.) Hey Mahi, want to come over to play dolls with Melanie and I? Mahi: Sure, I’ll leave right now, see ya soon, bye! Aqua: Bye! (Hangs up phone.) A short me later… Mahi: (Knocks on door.) Hey Aqua! Aqua: Hey Mahi! Come in! Melanie: Come on guys, I set up the dolls, lets play! Aqua: (Laughs.) A li le later… Mom: Lunch is ready! Shrimp Salad! Aqua: This is delicious Mom! Melanie: Yummy! Aqua: A er lunch lets play outside! Mahi: Okay! Melanie: Okay! Mom: I’m fine with it as long as you're back before dinner. A er lunch... Mahi: Tag, Melanie’s it! Melanie: I’m gonna get you! Aqua: Try and tag me! Melanie: Aqua’s it! (laughs) Aqua: (Laughs) Mahi: (Laughs) Aqua: We should go back home now, it’s almost dinner me, bye Mahi!

Mahi: Bye Aqua, bye Melanie. Lets play more tomorrow! Melanie: Yeah! Aqua: Yeah! Back at home... Mom: Perfect ming girls! The crab cakes and seaweed salad are ready! Melanie: Yummy! Mom: Did you girls have fun? Aqua and Melanie: Yes! Aqua: We played tag! Mom: Sounds fun! Melanie: It was! A er Dinner... Aqua: Mom, can I tell you a joke? Mom: Shh... honey, I just put Melanie to bed. Now it’s your turn let's go. Aqua: (In bed.) Mom: So, you had fun today? Aqua: Yeah! Mom can you tell me a story? Mom: Sure honey. Once upon a me....... and they lived happily ever a er! Aqua: Thanks Mom, for the story. Mom: Any me swee e, love you. (Hugs Aqua.) Aqua: Love you too, Mom. Mom: (Leaves bedroom.) Aqua: (Smiles to herself, then slowly falls asleep and has the best dreams.) Narrator: At that moment Aqua was the happiest she’d ever been in her life. The End.

Lilyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Run For Class President By: Irit Skulnik

Yay! Class President!

One Day, in Mrs.Cohen’s class, Mrs. Cohen said, “Class, we are going to have a class president soon. The election will be held in three days. Tell me by the end of the day if you would like to run for class president.” This excited Lily, she wanted to be class president so badly. “Mrs. Cohen I’d like to run for class president,” Lily said. “Great!” she responded.

Lily went home and told her mom the news. “I hope you win the election sweetie.” said Lily’s mom. “Thanks Mom, I will!” responded Lily. She then hugged her mom.

The next day, Lily’s mom baked cupcakes for Lily to take to school for all her classmates. “Thanks Mom for the cupcakes, now all the kids will vote for me!” Lily told her mom. “Anytime sweetie!” Mom responded.

The next morning was the election. Lily gave her speech to the class, and she won! Lily was class president!

Lily was so happy, so was her mom. The next morning, Lily’s mom made Lily her favorite breakfast: lots of pancakes and juice! “Thanks Mom for the awesome breakfast!” Lily said to her mom. “Of course sweetie pie, you won! What better way to celebrate it than a totally awesome breakfast?” Mom responded. Lily then gave her mom a big hug. At the moment Lily was the happiest she’d ever been!

The End! Picture Credits ● ● ● ● ● ●

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/06/ae/93/06ae935dae7b027b9660a92c750ab02a.jpg https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSFRu4hkCxJxqWaVv9Llusd7KYCKqaiorJAbW0kzmUCkVTiTtcG http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CrtDRZCxOHk/UokKA2vP4RI/AAAAAAAAAkE/gkG3vRemYFI/s1600/Dreamhouse_Chelsea.png https://nhwn.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/thoughtbubble1.jpg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Awb4iVY81qY http://mediaservice.mirror-image.com/videos/09cfc20cd6a4a/screenshots/original.jpg

I was si ng on the bench wai ng for Mama to come back from milking the old cow,

when I smelled something burning. Fire! Hot, deadly, terrifying fire! I yelled! I screamed! I cried! “Where are you Mama?” I yelled in true fear. Then came a scream, a big loud scream, coming from the barn. I ran, and I ran, and I ran. Mama was nowhere to be seen. But then I knew. I knew, that the big loud scream had belonged to Mama. I went to go find Rosa, but all I could see were blurry tears filling my eyes. I screamed as loud as I could. Rosa heard me screaming, and came to see why I was screaming. I said, “Its Mama...” I paused as more tears filled my eyes, “She’s in the barn, come quick!” Rosa ran to the smoky barn. She looked at me and got some water to put out the fire. It felt like days before the fire burned out. But I knew it had only been hours. I saw something burned on the ground. I knew what it was. It was my warm, caring, strong, and now lifeless mama lying on the ground.

Rosa grabbed me ght. I felt the cold, metal locket dangling around her neck. For

some reason I felt safe, safer than I had ever felt before. Mere came down to get us from the barn. When she saw Mama lying on the ground dead. “Go get papa, get papa now!” screamed Rosa. Mere was trying not to cry, but I knew she wanted to. Rosa and I were s ll crying and hugging as we fell to the ground. I heard a so thump, but it seemed so loud. I think Rosa heard it too. She looked at me with curiosity on her face. We followed the noise, it was the old cow. “How could the cow have survived but not mama?” I shrieked.

Rosa ran back to the house. ***

That was two years ago, I am now eight years old, I s ll miss Mama. We are going to America because the Cossacks would not stop burning things down. They killed thousands of people. Papa thought we would be safer in America. I was only able to pack my dolly that Mama had given me when I was born. But, I had to leave my best friends behind. *** Weeks have passed, we are now on the train traveling to the great steam ship which will take us far away, to America. I was scared on the way to the train. A tall man with a skinny face grabbed me by the arm. He grabbed Mere and Rosa too. Papa was taken by a diﬀerent man. The man was short and stubby. The tall man took us into a small, dark, and silent room. The man said in a deep voice with a thick accent, “The doctor will examine you in a moment.” I looked up, and I saw Rosa and Mere’s lockets dangling around their necks, why don’t I have a locket? I thought. Then, the doctor came in and examined us for a while before he let us pass. We were on the train for three days. We traveled all the way from Yakutsk, Russia, to Malmö, Sweden. The train was dark and cold. The train was packed, but I felt alone. We got oﬀ the train and walked into a large building with more people than I have ever seen in my life. We stood in a long line, I think it was to get our ckets. A er papa got our ckets, we were given another health examina on. We then got on the great ship that would take us to America. The ship was filled with sick people. Everyone was so close to each other, I got claustrophobic. A er the long boat ride was finally over, we arrived at Ellis Island. We waited in line for a long me.

I finally heard our names, “ Berta Zmudziak, Mere Zmudziak, Rosa Zmudziak, and Isaac Zmudziak You may now proceed to your examina ons.” “Why do we need another examina on?” I asked Rosa, she just shrugged. The doctor examined all of us at the same me. He was speaking English. Mere, Rosa, and Papa didn’t understand English, but I did. “You two! Mere and Berta, you must stay.” He said in an awful sounding American ac‐ cent. “Why must we stay?” I asked with true curiosity. “You are too short.” He replied as a tear ran down my cheek. “What did he say?” asked Mere. I was scared, but I spoke the truth. Mere looked at me and said "Why must we stay? Are we dying? Are we sick?" "Mere, the man says we are too short" I explained in my thick Russian accent. *** Six weeks have passed. The doctors here are mean. They took away my dolly, and will not give her back. Rosa came and visited Mere and I yesterday, a er she got a le er from me saying that they took dolly. She brought me a new one from here in America. The doctor said that we might not be able to enter America. Will I ever be able to go to America? Will I have to go back to Yakutsk?

Shake it Off By: Mira Mitre They call me weird. Not by my name, not by my tag, just weird. I try to ignore it but it’s not that easy when you can’t go three steps without having someone saying, “Hey look it’s that weird kid from advisory.” I want to scream at them for addressing me like that, but I know no matter how hard I try I know it will come just out plain weird. So I always decide to keep my mouth shut. If you took an x-ray of my throat you would find thousands of words and thoughts itching to come up, but being forced down by the power of my heart not my brain. So now I’m a cowardly weirdo, who gets picked on and doesn’t have the guts to speak up for herself. Dance is my only escape, when music is on I can’t help myself but to start moving my feet to the beat, or spin out of control. I feel like it’s just me even if there are a thousand people in the room, just me and the music. Then I look to the left and need to see the “dance girls” in our school, and to them I feel so small. Always correcting me, showing me the right way to do something, most of the time I really do appreciate it, but other times I just wish I could be them, and it’s killing me that no matter how hard I try I will never be that good. Everybody has their own thing, but I don’t know what that is yet. This is how I used to think and feel almost every day, then camp came along two years ago, and it changed my life forever. I finally had a clean slate, for once. I was the new kid, they were all from Pittsburgh, and I was from the suburbs of D.C. I remember when they called out who was in each bunk, I was overjoyed when they called out my name, not by some off-handed comment of a name. I was with my cousin, more like sister, and she was the only person I knew. I loved it, instead of being the weird kid, I was the funny kid. I then started making more and more friends by the minute, and making stupid jokes by the second. The best part of it all is they actually thought it was funny! Just the past year, I went back to the camp, and it was probably the best experience of my life. I meet some amazing people and for once, I felt like me, not the person I had been labeled as. After that, I learned some important things, and now I don’t care what people think of me because it only matter what I think of me. And I would scream it at the top of my lungs, and I say this: Many people say it’s the power of your heart that makes the final decision, but I have learned that sometimes your heart leads you to the wrong direction. But if your brain kicks in there, and tells you ‘These girls are bullying you, speak up!’ Then, you will ride on the right path. So, you can call me “weird”, because I know my name is Mira, and this is how I shake it off.

Trapped By: Mira Mitre Chapter 1 I wake to sounds of horrific cries. It’s everywhere. It is so dark I don’t know where I am. But I do know I’m not at home. It smells like rust. The walls that surround me are caving in, covered in rust. The smell doesn’t bother me, it is the walls themselves that are bothering me. Like they’re ready to crumble in on me, breaking into thousands of ny pieces of gold. There is something about these walls that are special. Something they can’t show because they are hiding it in hundreds of layers of dust and sadness, rust. Like they’re trapped. I realize that I am curled up in a ball with my arms tucked under my legs. I pull my hands from under my knees and realize that the walls are only a few inches away from my fin‐ ger ps. I get lost in my thoughts for a few more moments, only to find that the rusty smell is gone. Instead, it is replaced by the smell of plain air. The walls are free, but I’m s ll stuck in‐ side this box, wherever I am. I don’t feel scared, just lost. Gone from the real world. I wonder if I’m dead? Yes, I am dying inside this box in the middle of nowhere. Then I hear a sound again. But this me, it was something else. The cries were replaced with screams. I close my eyes hoping this is a dream, while dying, but when my eyelids li open, I am in darkness again. In the same place I was when I closed them. I don’t know why I’m here or how I got here. More and more thoughts and ques ons swirl around me like a hurricane, but my body stays planted. I feel another one coming: When will I get out of here? How will I get out of here? Will I get out of here? My mind is blank, I don’t know anything. I am alone in this pitch black box and no one will help me. That is all I know. I feel something touch my arm‐ someone. “Thinking to yourself,” the person says. “Yeah, I know it might be a li le weird going to bed and waking up in the middle of a box. But you get used to it.” “Wait, what!? Are you telling me I am going to live here? Leave my seven year old sister alone, with no one? Am I dead? Will I get out of here? Is there a way out? Who are you and where did you come from?” The words came out of me like a flood. Ques ons and ques ons overflowing the room, I mean, box.

“Slow down there. It will take me awhile to explain it all. Why don’t we start this over.” He walked a few steps, or as far as he can, it’s quite snug in here for the both of us, pretend‐ ing the last five minutes never happened. “Hi, my name is Adrian and welcome to Southedge.” Chapter 2 “So what is this place anyway? A small black box on the edge of the South?” “Very funny,” Adrian smiled, “this is actually a highly advanced unground agency where we inves gate different creatures and their powers to see if we can use them in any new tech‐ nology. For example the Ethreals are one of the most gi ed creatures and their power can ac‐ tually cure cancer.” “That’s great for you, but I really need to get back to Earth, where there are no such things as Ethreals or whatever. My parents died in a car accident when I was eleven, and I offered to take care of my baby sister. She was two at the me. She has nothing le , I need to get back home and take care of her. I really don’t think I can do that if I am stuck in a box all my life.” “You really don’t get it do you? First of all this is not a box. This is a deeply enclosed death chamber. Secon—” “So I am dead!” I had to cut him off. “No, but you will be if you don’t listen to me.” “Ok, ok... I’m listening.” “Just give me your arms.” “No! I said I would listen to you, not do whatever you say. You're not the boss of me. And I s ll don’t trust you.” Adrian gave me a cold stare, even in the pitch black I could tell that he was staring directly at me. A do you want to die? stare. His eyes are the deepest blue.

I li up my hands, I really don’t want to die. Not at age sixteen anyway.

Adrian pulled out what looked like a flashlight, but shined blue light instead of white. It made it a li le easier to see, but the room was s ll quite dark. He looked down at my hands, and then turned my le one over with the palm facing up. He shined the light on my wrist where two ver cal lines with a swirl in between them appeared. “How long has it been there and what does it mean?” I felt the water coming up my throat again. Adrian just stared and stared at my hand with no answer, then finally spoke.

“Oh my god!” He sounded super excited and terrified at the same me. “You are a Glowing Reaper, or should I say the Glowing Reaper. The only one le of your kind. Your kind is the most powerful in the world, no wonder they want you. I know it’s a lot to take in, but the only way for them to have that power, your power, is for them to kill you. They have been searching for you for years, they have given up. And yet here you are.” Adrian stopped for a moment to catch his breath. “I’m a what? And who is they?” I knew I was going to die! I really think you have the wrong person. Is this all some prac cal joke that is really not funny? Now please get me out of here.” I’m nearly screaming now. The flood of words is now filling up the whole box‐like cham‐ ber, only my head is out of water, gasping for air. “I’m sorry. I really do want to help you. It’s just that you’re very special. Like I said, the Golden Reaper is the most powerful creature in the world, and I need to take you to the head‐ quarters now! Oh, and they is the Frost Marmins, the head of Southedge, the ones who con‐ trol all the power.” Next, he pulls out a container of dark purple liquid and he shines the light over it so I can see it. “You need to drink this, it will take you directly to the headquarters.” Adrian says, “It will hurt, a lot.” I opened my mouth to speak, but then realized he had already answered my ques‐ on. Chapter 3

“I can hold your hand if you like,” Adrian oﬀered.

“No,” I said calmly, but deep down, a hand would be really nice right now.

Adrian hands me the container and then says, “Ok, we can talk. To distract yourself, the end is the worst part.” I nod and drink the whole thing in one chug. A second later I can really feel the pain. I hurt so badly I would honestly rather die right now, than suﬀer through this. “Owww!” I say, more like scream. “I know,” he said, “I know.” Try to whisper it helps. I know it hurts, but if you scream it makes it a lot worse.” “Why don’t you need to go through this?” I ask so ly. “Because I have done it before. Once you do it, you don’t have to do it again. The fluid

will be in you forever. Your body will automa cally take you to the headquarters a er this. If you want to go there you will be able to, no ma er where you are.” “Thanks for sharing. Owww!” Adrian smiles, and then I realize something else, I can see his smile fully. It is no longer dark, it is actually extremely bright, too bright. The walls have disappeared too. Now, it is just me and Adrian, floa ng in the middle of this brightness, which is surprisingly the most normal thing that has happened all day. “Hey, you s ll haven’t told me your name have you? Why don’t we start with that.” “Ok, I guess I haven’t.” I say through the pain, “My name is Summer.” “Summer? That’s cool, like the season?” I guess I’m not the only one with a lot of ques‐ ons. “Yes, like the season.” “Were you born in June, July, or August? Hey were you born in Summer and your name was Summer, and your middle name was June, July, or August? Now that would be cool.” “So cool,” I say sarcas cally, “but I was actually born in the middle of December.” The pain wasn’t too bad for a moment but then came back ten mes harder. Oww! Oww! Ahh!!” When will this be over? I wonder. “I’m sorry, it must be ge ng really bad now. You’re doing great, much be er than I did. Try not to think about it just think of other things. Isn’t it a bit ironic that you were born in the middle of winter and yet your name is Summer?” I could tell he was trying to change the sub‐ ject. “I’m not the one who named myself.” That came out a lot stronger than I meant it to be. “Sorry, I was just trying to help.” “I know,” With the pain, I feel something else. A weird feeling I haven’t felt before. Like I’m cared about. No one ever talked to me, or helped me a er the accident. Then this com‐ plete stranger who I just met is helping me. “I have light wavy brown hair, a thousand freckles, and green eyes. Happy? Now, since you know all about me, I would like to get to know you a bit be er.”

“Ok,” Adrian said, “since you already know my name. I have caramel hair, dark blue eyes, and am very handsome.” He flashed another smile. “Caramel hair? Like the candy?” We both laughed, well he laughed and I scream laughed. Its hard to be in so much pain and laugh at the same me. “What type of creature are you anyway, and why weren’t you executed?” At this point I don’t care how many ques‐ ons I ask, I am hur ng so badly and I’m a very curious person, if you couldn’t tell already. “You sure love your ques ons, but I am a Coastal Nimf. You see, we have such li le power, I can’t even levitate an apple.” “And I can?” I didn’t want to admit it, but talking actually made things a lot be er. “Sure, you just haven't it tried yet. I told you, you're very powerful. But as I was saying, my kind has close to no power. So, when I got here, I was only six years old, right before my execu on, they‐ the Frost Marmins said I had a choice. I could die, but they would only re‐ ceive about one ounce of energy and power from me, or I could be a collector my whole life and work here.” Adrian sighed. “But hey, at least I didn’t die.” “Sorry, I had no idea, but what is a‐‐” Now it was his turn to cut me off. “A collector is exactly what I am doing now. Once a creature is trapped‐ what you woke up in‐ it is infused with different chemicals with different smells. The chemicals get rid of any unwanted power, which is not a lot. Then a collector comes in to, well, collect the creature and bring them to the headquarters for their execu on. Trust me, I would not have signed up for this, but it was for my life so I don’t think I had a choice. I always hate telling these inno‐ cent people‐ creatures that they’re going to die and then have them suffer through this awful serum to get to their death bed.” Adrian’s sea eyes started to water. I really felt bad for him. “Sorry you have to see me like this, and sorry you need to suffer. I really do want to help you, I am just not strong enough.” “Thats ok. Owwww. Ahhhh.” I was really screaming now, this must be then end, Adrian warned me. I have never been in so much pain in my (about to end) life. “AHHHH!” “Um, Summer. Something is going wrong with the serum. We are ge ng off course, further away from the headquarters rather than closer to it. We need to shut it down. Now!” Even though it sounds like he is screaming, I can barely hear him. My hearing is all muffled, everything is so blurry, and now, I too was screaming, a different scream, just like the sound I heard earlier. My eyelids shut closed once more.

Unicorn By: Moshe Zaremba A boat docks in the valley of purple A unicorn jumps out the apple The apple of which came from the pill The pill came from the ground As the unicorn gallops throughout the land Of which has one and only one blade of grass The boat now con nues on its journey leaving the unicorn behind The unicorn was sad

Then the unicorn met its creator The apple Now the unicorn was starving, not knowing which to choose The apple Or the grass So he ate both, s ll not yet fully sa sfied The unicorn embarks on his perilous journey.

Gaziliand Land By: Moshe Zaremba Yet s ll standing in the valley Walking, jogging, now running Unicorn galloping in the endless infinity of the valley Stopped Unicorn stopped right in front of the mountains The Gaziliand Land Mountains Legend has it, these mountains contain fruits Fruits of magical taste and power Thus was Unicorn’s goal To recover the fruits for his needs A warning A warning that these mountains are infested with the world’s most terrifying creatures Tomatoes, dragons, vampires, walruses, goblins Terrified, that was what Unicorn felt But this journey would save his life So oﬀ he went Unicorn’s journey was perilous He didn’t think it would be easy to complete his journey But he did mo vate himself

With pictures of Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets in his mind

Then he came across The deadly German Vampires Unicorn wielded the magic of horn Deadly German Vampires wielded the power of killing people Clop, clop, clop, clop, clop, clop, clop, clop The sound of Unicorns hooves galloping towards them And Unicorn stabbed the Deadly German Vampire in the foot Unicorn felt bad for the poor vampire Very bad So he helped the vampire back to perfect health When Unicorn was done he had learned a lesson Do not stab anyone in the foot again Unicorn proceeded on his journey

The sound of Unicorns hooves galloping towards And Unicorn stabbed the Deadly German Vampire in the foot Unicorn felt bad for the poor vampire Very bad So he helped the vampire back to perfect health When Unicorn was done he had learned a lesson Do not stab anyone in the foot again Unicorn proceeded on his journey

Tomatoes and Dragons Moshe Zaremba Tomatoes and Dragons here Tomatoes and Dragons there Tomatoes and Dragons in your hair Tomatoes and Dragons up in the air Tomatoes and Dragons in the ground Tomatoes and Dragons all around The gleaming red Tomatoes sat In their big rainbow hats And their sat the king With his golden bling ring He sat there He doesn’t care Then

Unicorn galloped over to the king Asked politely and took a big bite Ummm.... Unicorn loved tomatoes But then he noticed The King Tomato was dying But Unicorn didn’t care So he ate more And more And more And more And more And more This was the first food he had for a while But he was still hungry Ssssssss.... A sssssss noise he heard behind his ear The Dragon The Dragon lay there with steam coming through his nose He was asleep So Unicorn decided not to bother it

Walrus and Goblins Moshe Zaremba “Arp, arp, arp, arp, arp, arp, arp” The sound of the walrus Terrified Unicorn ran in fear of the walrus Huge Big Enormous Giant Smelly and fat Unicorn noticed something They both have big tusk like horns Frank! It was Unicorn’s forty second cousin Frank What's up my people Unicorn Is that you Unicorn? Yeah! How ya doing?

Ya know trapped in a mountain, gotta make with what you got Do you know where the magical fruits are Yes You must be prepared Okoydoky So umm... I guess I will just send you a postcard after i Iet the fruit Se ya Byyyeee And he was off

Magic Fruit Moshe Zaremba The fruit of the vine Vine made with the tangled twine Grapes of wine Juicy purple grapes Of marvelous shape Bulbous red apples Pre er than skulls Om, nom, nom The grapes and apples were Delicious Unicorn enjoyed them very much *mechanical noises Just as Unicorn finished ea ng the boat docked

And the Unicorn was back at home Under his warm molten lava blanket

Recruits of the Future Nate Miller One day Bob was walking in the field. He saw a tall tree with long branches. There was a wrapped box at the top. Bob wanted the present so badly he ran up to the tree. He began to climb the tree. He grabbed one of the tree’s long branches. As he gripped the branch, it began to crack in his hands. The branch broke, and sent Bob falling to the ground. “I am so curious to find out what is in that box,” said Bob. He wanted the box even more now. Bob got back up onto his feet, and started back up the tree. Bob climbed up two branches and reached for the box. Just then, a squirrel fell and landed on him. With a yell, Bob fell to the ground . “Argh!” Bob exclaimed, “I’m going to get that box if it takes all day and all night!” Now Bob was ge ng really frustrated. He ran to the tree and grabbed a branch. He began to climb it once again. With his added determina on, Bob con nued to climb up the tree. He grabbed the box and it came tumbling down with him. He stood up with the box. He was really excited. “Finally!” He said. “I get to look at what is in the box!” He opened the box and pulled out a note. It was on a torn and wrinkled piece of light blue paper. The note had the smell of vanilla on it. He carefully unfolded the piece of paper and read the note. This is what it said: Hello Bob, I have been expec ng you. If you are reading this note, it means that you found the box in the tree. I am sending you on a mission to discover the real truth about you. You must follow each note carefully, and listen to my instruc ons if you want to find out the truth. Be on the lookout for more notes. From, The Giver of Informa on

Bob was now quite befuddled. He had no idea what this note meant, or who the Giver of In‐ forma on was. How could this mysterious person know who Bob was? How could he know that Bob would find the box? Bob read the note over and over and shrugged. He decided to just wait for the next note. And it came. When he found the note, he was in his room. Bob lived on a farm far out in the country. He was si ng on his bed when he saw another piece of light blue paper s cking out of his pillowcase. He picked it up and smelled it, there was a whiﬀ of vanilla. He unfolded the note and began to read: If you are reading this then I assume that you have already read my first note. Do not fear. I am trying to help you. The next chance you get, go to the corn field. Look for the next note there. Please, do not tell other people about this note. Again, I am trying to help you.

From, The Giver of Informa on.

Now Bob was seriously confused, and slightly scared. He did not know who this person was, and was freaked out. The corn field was out behind the house. He had not been there since he was li le. He o en heard strange sounds coming from the field at night, he had always been scared of the field. Reluctantly, Bob opened his bedroom door, and slowly walked down the stairs and out the front door. He walked behind the house. As soon as he got to the corn field, he heard a sound. It sounded just like one of the sounds he had heard during those dark nights. A chill ran down his spine. Bob slowly and warily walked through the field to where he heard the noise. He kept walking, and started looking at the ground for another slip of blue paper, he found it. Once again, he picked up the note and read it. Bob, Hello again. I see you have come to the corn field despite your fears. I am surprised. Honestly, I didn’t think you would come. On Tuesday, you must leave home. You must go to Pickin’s Woods. You must go to find your fate. From, The Giver of Informa on.

Now Bob was scared to death! He took the note and ran back to the safety of his home. He ran in and closed the door. He climbed the stairs quickly. He plopped down on his bed and started thinking. He thought, and thought, un l he fell asleep. The next morning, Bob packed his backpack with a full water bo le and snacks. He picked up the backpack and le the room. When Bob got downstairs he made himself a sandwich, but he was too nervous to eat any of it. With his stomach growling, Bob set out and down the path to the woods. These woods were full of rumors. It was said that there were ghosts living in the woods. When he was li le, an adventurous kid who lived way down the street wandered into the woods and was never seen again. Bob was caught in the middle. He was extremely curious about where the notes were coming from, but he was also frightened. These notes were guiding him toward all the places he feared. He decided to go anyway, his curiosity kept ge ng the best of him. When he got to the edge of the woods, he took a deep breath and walked in. All was quiet. He walked slowly down the path. The trees started to get darker and thicker, when all of a sudden he heard a SNAP! Then, all was quiet once again. It sounded like someone or something had stepped on a twig . Bob started running further into the woods. He decided it was me to figure out what this was all about once and for all. Then he heard another noise. “Hello.” said a deep voice. Bob stopped short and turned around as fast as he could. “I have been wai ng,” said the voice. Standing there was a tall man in a white suit with a black e. He wore dark sunglasses so you couldn’t see his eyes. “You have been chosen, Bob,” he said. “you will come with me to represent the human race.” “What are you talking about?” Bob exclaimed. “You will come to planet Q‐67. Earth is in danger and will be destroyed. We have picked you to come to our planet and represent the human race.” “What?!” Bob said excitedly. “But!”

“No buts, you will come with me.” The man gestured for Bob to follow him. They walked through the woods silently for about five minutes un l they reached a huge sphere with flashing lights and two antennae. Bob’s jaw dropped open. He couldn’t believe what was happening. “I don’t have all day,” said the man “Let’s go.” Bob slowly walked, staring at the spaceship. He could not acknowledge what was happening. When they got to the spaceship the man paused. He said something that Bob could not understand. A flap opened slowly with a big whirr. A flight of shiny metal stairs that reflected in the sun‐ light appeared before them. They walked up. On the inside, the ship was much bigger than it looked from the outside. Endless hallways went in what seemed to be every direc on possible. In those hallways there were other men dressed just like the man who was leading them. They were walking around and wri ng on clipboards. Some were doing experiments in white rooms full of computers and all sorts of strange looking contrap ons. Bob and this strange man con nued walking down the corridor un l they arrived at a big room, much bigger than the labs he had seen. This was also white and had computers running and other machines beeping. At the end of the room Bob saw a man si ng in a big white chair. He looked to be about twenty five years old. He was wearing a dark brown suit with a black e. His hands were strapped to the chair, and there was a big black computer beeping over his head. He was swea ng heavily and looked very scared. There were also two other workers in the room. They were dressed the same as all the other men in the building. “Who are you?” asked the man in the chair. “I am Bob,” he said. “I was brought here, what about you?” “I am John. I was kidnapped by one of these men and brought here too.” Suddenly, the spaceship started rumbling, it seemed to slowly raise up from the ground. Then, there was a sudden blast and they zoomed away at what seemed to be the speed of light, high up into the sky.

When the speed of the spaceship seemed to normalize, Bob resumed his conversa on with the man named John. “I started ge ng these notes,” said John. “They lured me out of my house and to the woods, from there, they brought me here.” “I also was lured by notes. They were from someone called The Giver of Informa on.” Sud‐ denly, they were interrupted by a loud zap, and they felt the spaceship crash into the ground...

Patrick Ewing, A Legendary Knick By: Sam Schwartz It was the year 1985, the dra lo ery was approaching for the Knicks and the twenty‐two other teams in the NBA. The Knicks luck was with them as they claimed the eventual Hall of Fame center out of Jamaica, Patrick Ewing. This big man was legendary for the Knicks and others. Here is how Ewing’s Knicks career began and changed the New York franchise forever. A er his first overall selec on, Patrick Ewing He played an incredible rookie season taking the Rookie of the Year award, and averaging 20 points and 9 boards per game. This Knicks’s plaque numbers grew with awards from an All NBA First Team, 11 me All‐Star , mul ple All Defensive Second Teams, and a gold medal from Team America’s Olympic Basketball Dream Team. The 1992 playoffs were very harsh for Ewing, but he fought back well. In the Eastern Conference finals the Knicks faced an impossible challenge against the Chicago Bulls. Ewing did the impossible by taking the series to seven games before falling. Some say Ewing’s greatest feat was when the Knicks faced elimina on in game six of the series down 3‐2 to Chicago Ewing, with a sprained ankle, led the Knicks to a 100‐86 victory while scoring 27 points himself. In the 1993 Eastern Conference finals, Ewing’s finals, dream looked to be in the bag when they went up 2‐0 against the great Chicago. Yet again, Chicago took the next four to go on to take the tle that year. The 1994 season without MJ looked to be a great chance for Ewing to get that wanted ring to add to his award collec on. These 1994 playoffs, in my opinion, were Ewing’s finest moments. The Knicks took on countless numbers of great franchises and to no avail beat them un l the finals. They beat the not as strong Bulls and the Pacers franchise led by Reggie Miller, in the Eastern Conference finals. Finally Ewing faced his finals faceoff, with Hakeem Olajuwon, otherwise known as the Houston Rockets. The Knicks went to Houston for game six up 3‐2 but fell in Texas. Again in game seven at home. The next few playoffs were quick, simple, and further disappointments. A loss to Indiana, and the next year to Chicago in the conference finals. Then in 1997, the Knicks fell to the Heat a er leading 3‐1. 1998 was the year Ewing was injured on a powerful dunk and went unno ced that year. The 1998 Knicks lost early, in the conference semifinals to Indiana 4‐1. The 1999 miracle Knicks sure were a surprise for both Ewing and Knicks fans. The Knicks clinched the playoff as the East’s 8th seed and soared all the way to the finals, only to fall again in the finals 4‐1 to the Spurs. Ewing’s final year as a Knick was again much the same. The 1999‐2000 Knicks grabbed the 3rd seed and went on to lose to Indiana 4‐2 in the conference finals. Ewing may never have brought New York a tle, but he was one amazing Knick.

By: Sasha Trainor “The b-book I r-read for my b-book report was “Ch- Charli’s Way T-to The S-Spotlight.” I hear a kid whisper “st-stutter.” “It is about a b-boy who str-struggles to fit in.” I hear someone cough in the background. “Students, please be respectful to Meredith, and her presentation.” I take a breath and resettle myself I will not let them hurt me. “Charli has a-always dreamed of mmaking it on a st-stage. She has a deep l-love for m-music and a p-passion for acting. Her sc-school is performing ‘B-Beauty and the B-Beast: The Musical’, she tr-tries out for Belle, the star roll. She does not rreceive the part. Although, she g-gets the understudy.” The bell rings, freeing me from this awful nightmare. I run out of the classroom, so no one has the chance to call me names or to call me by one of my many labels. I try to catch up with Becky, my best friend. But Ms. Hearth calls to me: “Meredith, I loved your book report so far. You are an amazing student, don’t let the others bring you down. You are going to do something in this world, and don’t let them stop you.” I thought about what Ms. Hearth said. Am I really possible in making it in this world? Could I really be successful? I look at Ms. Hearth and she looks serious, like she really meant it. “Thank you, for saying that. It really cleared up things for me. I have to go, speech therapy.” I walked out the door and I felt light on my feet. I am confident, I know that there is at least one person in this world, besides my parents and Becky, who do not think I am stupid and incapable. I go up to my locker and open it up, I grab my bag. The hall echoes with the screams of children running down the hall. The people behind me start to giggle. I turn around, but do not see what they all are raving about. Suddenly, I know there is something on my back. I put my arm on my back, and feel for a piece of paper, I yank it off my back. My face goes red, with embarrassment, “M-Meredith” it is written in big, violent, red letters...but then I remember. I remember what Ms. Hearth said to me. I remember all the good and positive people in my life. Who bring me up each day. I realize that what they say cannot bother me anymore. All I can do is focus on the positive. I shake off everything they say to me, and walk down the hall with a wide smile on my face. All the kids look confused, they expected me to break down. I walk outside the school to catch up to Becky. “H-hey! W-wait up!” Becky stops, and I run to her. “I love this new smile of yours, I haven’t seen it in a while. What is making you so happy?” she asks. “I don’t know, I just realized that I won’t let everyone else and their words get to me.” She said nothing, but just smiled back. We skipped away from the school. Each step lighter than the other. We arrived at my house and sat on my lawn, studying the puffy, white clouds in the sky. “This one looks like a car!” Becky said. “Becky, that’s a plane!” We both laughed. At that moment, I found myself experiencing pure joy, for the first time.

Tea Party The sun is up The sky is blue I think I want To play with you The rain is done The rainbow’s bright But something’s giving Me a fright Look over there! A great big bear Sitting in a Small pink chair

So I grab a table And some of my friends We have a tea party and I hope it never ends Now my best friend Is a bear He is nice and gives out Quite a scare

Drawing Pencil moving on the page To my drawing I engage I am having so much fun From when I start to when I’m done

By: Shoshana Braier

Nature How can life be Without a tree Looming above Every dove

Epping_Forest_Centenary_Walk_2__Sept_2008.jpg

What gives you power If not a flower With pretty petals That can win medals What do you often pass? Grass, grass, and grass Some soft and some prickly Some healthy some sickly Protect them all And have a ball And for a while You will have a smile

Picture From: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ commons/f/f6/

The Land of Mechanical Chickens In the land of mechanical chickens Whenever any chicken sickens They reset some settings And get in their beddings Until chicken healing rate quickens From when I start to when I’m done

By: Shoshana Braier

Star Unique Nostalgic Surprising Heroic Inspiring Notorious Eloquent Holidays Architecture Politeness Pre y Youth Super Magical Ingenious Luscious Ecsta c Holy Amazing Intriguing Rousing Exci ng Xany Colorful Energe c Poten al Terrific Intelligent Op mis c Notorious

Amazing Luscious

That Girl By: Sophie Krantz

Emma

Yes, I am that girl. You know, the one who gets picked on for everything, and I mean everything. I get bullied for, what feels to me, like anything. I could just be breathing and someone would come and tease me about it. I feel like Brittany, the girl who bullies me, owns me. I’m not her doormat; she can’t just walk all over me. Apparently, I’m completely oblivious to why people tease me so much. I know I don’t have cool or cute clothes, I don’t wear makeup, and I definitely am not the prettiest girl in school, and there is only one thing that I don’t know… Why do people hurt me and make fun of me to the point I want to crumble to the floor and die?

Brittany

You know that girl? Like, the one who has the cutest clothes in the entire middle school, wears every type of makeup you could imagine, and is by far the prettiest girl in school, and hates all the weird people? Yup, that’s me. Well, I should say me AND my clique of friends: Taylor, “the bestie,” Chloe, the second prettiest girl in school, (after me.) Allison is also part of the gang, she’s “the stylist.” Lastly, there’s Isabella, the “non-brains.” If you asked them in private, they would probably call me bossy, but I say I just have great leadership skills. Most people think that I’m so mean by the way I treat Emma Flintser, or as I call her “weird girl,” but frankly, they don’t feel bad for her either. If “weird girl” really cares, she just needs to toughen up.

Chapter 1-Emma

My face was red-hot with anger as Brittany’s hot pink nailed hand slapped my textbooks out of my pale arms. I heard roars of laughter, like a lion, and the chuckling mostly came from Brittany and her pack of friends. Kayla, my best friend, raced over to help me and picked up my America: A Society textbook. I’m so grateful for Kayla, if I didn’t have her, I don’t know what I would do. “Don’t help her!” Brittany exclaimed harshly. She was staring at me with amusement, as I was sprawled out on the cold floor. “And why should I listen to you?” Kayla asked, raising her eyebrows. The corners of my mouth turned upwards at her remark. I wish I was as brave and courageous as Kayla. I don’t even have enough bravery to tell Brittany not to touch me. “Because she’s so much cooler than you stuck-up weirdoes!” Brittany’s best friend, Taylor, snorted, but not the weird kind of snort, the cool kind of snort that the cool kids do. She did some sort of complicated, but neat looking, handshake with Brittany. I wish I was as pretty as Taylor, and basically the whole popular gang, but mostly Taylor. I love her warm brown hair, soft hazel-green eyes, and golden skin. “Don’t listen to her,” Kayla said loudly, ignoring all the students that were staring at us like we had three heads. “She’s the stuck-up one, if anything,” she continued confidently, even though practically the whole grade was watching us as if we were on a stage. Tears burned in my eyes and my throat had a lump in it the size of a boulder. I could hold back on crying, since I was used to this by now,

But once one of Brittany’s friends whispered in my ear, “You’re so ugly,” the tears started flowing. “Hey look, little baby Emma is crying!” Exclaimed Brittany’s other friend, Allison. “Do you need me to change your diaper?” Added another friend of Brittany’s in a little kid voice. I ran away around the corner, as my friend, Emily, walked up to me from the crowd of hysterically laughing students as Brittany’s group continued to mock me. She saw the tears rolling down my face and asked, “Is everything okay?” She sounded very concerned for me. Her eyebrows were raised, how she normally looks when she’s concerned. “Yeah, I’m fine.” I responded, even though I wasn’t fine. I shouldn’t be bothered by this, though. Brittany has been teasing me for weeks, months years. I just don’t know why she always picks on me. She and her friends make my life miserable. I rubbed my tears out of my brown eyes, and took a deep breath. “Really?” she questioned, “because you don’t look or seem fine.” She said. Truthfully. Emily is really, really sweet, but she definitely speaks her mind. Sometimes by her telling the truth, we get into minor fights, but we make up after, obviously.” “Yes, Emily, I’m fine! Just leave me alone.” I snapped. I didn’t want to sound mean, but I wasn’t in the mood for Emily’s annoying questions. I hugged my textbooks to my chest, and bravely turned the corner to my locker. Surprisingly, no one even bothered me, or they just didn’t notice I was there. “What time is it?” I wondered to myself. As if it could read my mind, the dismissal bell rang and kids from other classes came rushing into the 6th grade pod. I breathed a sigh of relief, because now I could leave all the kids that despised me. ******* As soon as I reached home from my long, rough day at school, I ran

toward my little white dog, Buddy. I love dogs because they don’t care how you look, or if other people think you’re weird, they just love everybody for who they are, unlike Brittany and the cool kids. “Hi! How was your day, honey? How was school? What was one new thing you learned? Your snacks on the table.” My mom overloaded me with questions, as she does every day after I arrive home from school. “School was fine, Mom.” I answered, annoyed. I don’t know why I was annoyed, but I just was. I also didn’t feel like talking. I walked over to our brown, wood table, and I picked up my snack. Pretzels and apples. As I started upstairs, backpack on my back, snack in one hand, and Buddy in my other, Mom called out to me, “You’re not allowed to eat upstairs, remember?” Mom said, arms crossed. I rolled my eyes, and then looked back at her with a smile. “I’ll be careful.” I answered. I heard a large sigh come from my Mother, and I had to stifle a laugh. I didn’t wait for a response as I scurried upstairs to my pink and brown room. As soon as I entered my room, a chill ran up my spine. I looked up and noticed my fan was on. I set Buddy and my snack down and turned off my fan. I roamed around my room until I reached my laptop, and saw that I had one new email. The email was from Brittany’s friend, Chloe, and I let out a groan. I decided to read it, but I would just ignore what it said. It read: Hey ugly! Nice fall today! Just wanted to remind you that you are the weirdest, ugliest girl in school and no one likes you! From, You guessed it! Chloe. I immediately blocked her contact; along with Brittany’s, Taylor’s, Allison’s, and Isabella’s.

Chapter 2

“Em! Emma! Wake up!” My Mother called powerfully. I woke with a jolt and reached for my big, black rimmed glasses. I looked over to my brown clock, it said 8:27. I gasped and jumped out of my bed. I normally get up by 6:30, and get out of bed by 6:45, but I guess I missed the alarm and slept in. On the bright side I’ll get to school later, which means I’ll have to face Brittany and her crew later. “What happened with you, Emma? You were supposed to get up two hours ago!” she exclaimed. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” I said quietly, trying to calm Mom down. “I’ll get dressed and then we’ll be on our way to school.” I slowly rested my hands on my dresser as to say, calm down, it’s over. I brushed my hair out of my face, and rubbed my eyes. “Hurry up!” my Mom said harshly. “I will.” I answered to her demand. I walked out of my room behind my mother and closed the door behind me. I tiptoed into the shared bathroom, as to not wake up Buddy. I locked the door and looked into the sticker-covered mirror. My brown-eyed with glasses, brown-haired self stared back at me. Was I really as ugly as Chloe and Allison had told me? Sure, I had a narrow face and hooked nose, but I don’t think I should be referred to as ugly. Nevermind, I shouldn’t listen to what those brats say to me, and I just wish that I had the guts to let them know that. I splashed the ice-cold water onto my face, and I already felt like I was more awake and alive. I reached for my navy-colored toothbrush and squeezed my minty, green toothpaste onto the bristles, still blinking the freezing water out of my eyes. I quickly pulled my black ponytail holder

out of my dark, frizzy, knotty hair into a high bun. As I rolled my head in a circle, there was a loud knock on my door. I jumped backwards so fast, I almost jumped into my shower. I put my hand over my heart as if it had just skipped a beat and called, "Who is it?" And then waited for a response. "It's me, Jason. Can I come in Em?" He asked. I could tell from the tone of his voice that he was begging. I didn't really care if he came in, but I had to go fast. "Yeah, sure. Just don't stay long, Mom’s already angry with me.” I heard the door click open and Jason thumped into my room. “Emma, I thought you were in here, but I don’t see you,” He said, very stupidly. I closed my fists and answered, teeth clenched, "I'm just in the bathroom." I quickly retorted and unclenched my fists. "Oh, well if you're in the bathroom I can just leave..." I heard his footsteps getting slightly quieter and I yelled, "I'm not actually going to the bathroom, just show me what you have to show me, get out and then we'll be done with this. We probably would've been done already!" I get angry very easily and I woke up on the wrong side up the bed apparently. He muttered something under his breath as I opened the bathroom door. From what I could make out, it sounded like, "It won't be that easy," and we were finally face to face. "See I'm not naked, I'm fine." I said, quickly, hoping to get on with it. "Here it goes," he murmured and flipped the family laptop screen towards my face. A cream background with dark green writing faced me and I thought What? What could I possibly be looking at? Green script words stared at me as I started to piece together what it was. Bullies. Victims. Attitude. "I overheard mom and dad after I went to sleep last night." "And what did you hear?" I asked impatiently. "Ok, they were talking about us, I mean you. Don't you get it? They want to send you to a new school, Emma. You come home every day

bullies you all the time!" He said, trying to spell everything out for me. When I heard the part about moving all the way to another school, I gasped. This was a gasp of 20% relief and excitement and 80% nervousness. I was relieved because I wouldn’t have to see Brittany and her pack, but I was also extremely worried and nervous because I wouldn’t see my family or my friends for who knows how long. I brought myself together and hoped that he would start laughing and say, “Just kidding!” and then I would laugh, too. But obviously that didn’t happen, and instead of laughing I said, “First, her name is Brittany, and she’s beyond terrible. And second, you never explained to me what is on the computer screen. I mean, I know what it is, but you never explained to me why—,” He cut me off quickly by putting his hands up in the air like he doesn’t know something. “Why are you relying on me to tell you all the answers to all your questions!” He yelled, obviously annoyed. “All I know is that you’re probably going off to some place in Florida and when you get back, you’ll be stronger than ever.” He said as if he was some kind of coach prepping me up for the game. He didn’t make me feel any more comfortable though. “This is where it gets interesting. Look at the catchphrase...” He directed me as he scrolled to the top of the page. As I read the moto, my eyes started to widen as the words “The Greensboro School; where bullies are demolished and victims become heroes.” What kind of moto is that?! It sounds like some kind of prison or military school. Let’s just say that I’m really happy to be a victim right now. “It sounds lovely. Seriously, this is where they’re sending me?” I said in a sarcastic voice, more tears coming to my eyes although I wasn’t quite sure why. My face drained of color and became pale as everything became reality. Wet tears started dripping down my ghostly white face. What will I ask mom and dad first?

“Taylor, is this too much?” my twin asked, twirling her skirt. “Well, the blue matches your eyes and the pink is pretty.” I replied, not really thinking. Quickly, she grabbed the basketball from my hand. “Hey!” I cried. “I need you to focus. This is important!” She said, protecting the ball. “You kn-“ I started but got cut off. “Taylor, Quinn, time for dinner!” My mom called up. “Coming mom,” we said in unison. Just then, my brother Lucas walked past our room, stopped, and shook his head. Quinn glared at him and he ran down the stairs. “Wow, you are really mean,” I said jokingly. She threw her head back and laughed. “We all know Quinn is nice,” Dad said, giving us the knowing look as he passed us. Then he walked downstairs. I got up off my bed and tagged Quinn. “Your it!” “What are we? Five?” She slowly got up, then tagged me and ran downstairs and sat in her chair.

I sat down at my chair and looked at her curly Strawberry- Blonde locks. My hair was the same but straight. Her blue eyes shone in the dim light of the candle. It was Mom’s turn to choose the theme. Her theme was 1830. That meant no electricity. The thought of it made Luke go insane. “Why do I have to suffer through no electricity?” he said, an angry expression plastered across his face. “It’s not like you need glasses. Or do you?” I shot back. I took off my glasses to prove to him that he didn’t. The world spun. I slammed them back on my face. The next thing I knew, Quinn was yelling at Lucas, Dad was yelling at her, and Mom was yelling at Dad. I got up and ran upstairs, my dinner half finished. I grabbed my basketball and my phone and ran back downstairs. I slipped out the back door. I wondered how long it will take for them to notice that I’ve been gone, I thought. “buzz, buzz!” cried my phone. A text from Quinn. Hey! were r u? hmmmm, not that long. outside. why? Suddenly the door opened and out came my sister. She looked worried and angry. “Why? Why out here, of all places? Why not the mall?” She spat.

“Why? Why out here, of all places? Why not the mall?” I mimicked in a high pitched voice, and awful imitation of her voice. She glared. I glared back. Then she ran and hugged me. Well, as best she could run in 3 inch heels. “What happened at dinner?” “Lucas was acting like a baby, so I yelled at him.” She said, chuckling. “Doing things the Quinn way, I guess.” I replied. We burst out laughing. Suddenly my mother burst out the door, a concerned look on her face. As soon as she looked at me, her expression relaxed, and she went back inside to get dad and Lucas. Soon, the whole family was standing at the door. My father announced that he was very angry at all of us, Me for running out, Quinn for yelling at Luke, and Luke for acting like a brat. Luke started to protest, but one look from dad shut him up. We all agreed to go back to dinner, blow out the candles, and turn the lights back on. We all ate in silence. In the middle of dinner I suddenly remembered that there was school tomorrow. Quinn must have been thinking the same thing. “Man, I hate Sunday nights. I mean like we know that there is school tomorrow!” She said, attempting to break the silence. Luke must have realized what we were trying to do because he went on and on about who was dating who in 4th grade, and who was considered the hottest girl in elementary. Quinn looked like she was about to burst. Her face was almost as red as dad’s hair. I pinched her, but not so hard and almost immediately, she turned back to normal. Then we heard dad clear his throat and we looked up. Dad was looking at mom, who we suddenly realized hadn’t talked at all during the whole time since the “Scream fest.” Ha! Thats funny.

“bzzzzzzzztttt!!!!” cried all of our phones. It was from Dad. u all better say sorry to ur mother! :( We all looked up at Dad. He nodded. Quinn sighed. “We are sorry that your stupid little ‘no electricity dinner’ was a bust.” Luke said, an expression that showed he didn’t care. Mom just nodded. I glared at him. I decided to speak up. “Mom, we are really sorry that dinner was a bust. I mean it.” “Yeah, we are really sorry.” Quinn added. We all held our breath. Mom’s long blond hair moved out of her face as she stood and hugged us. After the hug, we went upstairs. I got into my bed, and Quinn did the same. She pulled out her phone and called Ashley. Ashley is her best friend. Ashley lives across town, so they don’t get to see each other through the window, like Luke and his friend Adam. They flash the flash light in the signal of good night. I texted Riley. She is the best of best friends in the world. hi! :) hi wat u doin? practicing again?

y. u? let me guess, babysitting Luke. no, ‘rents home k, gotta go, bye ;) And that was basically it. Riley is on the basketball team with me. She is also my best friend. “Ding!” my phone yelled. I picked it up. A message from Luke. I heard another ding and looked over at Quinn, who was now off the phone. Her plain expression changed to an angry one. She threw her phone and then mine shut off. “What?!” I thought. Then the lights started to flicker. Luke ran into our room, looking scared as ever. “Kids, come downstairs now!” Mom cried, panic in her voice. We ran downstairs as fast as we could. As soon as we reached Mom and Dad, the lights turned on. No flicker. No nothing. Just plain, steady lights. We stared so long, our eyes burned from it. “Is everyone okay?” Dad asked, the worry dying down. We looked at him as he stopped looking worried and started looking grateful. We all went upstairs to go to sleep. I looked across our room at Quinn, who was just staring at the ceiling. “You okay?” I said asked, just as Quinn asked if I was okay. I sat up and looked at her. She must have read my mind because she sat up too. She stared into my eyes and I could instantly tell that she couldn’t sleep.

“I can’t sleep, Taylor. I have too much on my mind. Between Brandon, and what Luke said, and what happened with the stormy thingy.” I nodded my head in agreement. I lay back in bed and let my mind drift off to basketball, Matt,the captain of the boys basketball team, and what happened earlier. The next thing I remember is the alarm clock buzzing in my ear. I sat up straight. I looked over at Quinn, who was breathing softly in her sleep, and then looked at the clock. 7:00 AM. School would start in an hour, and we have to leave at 7:45 to be on time. I got up and nudged Quinn. Nothing. I blew in her ear and was strartled by her scream. “What the heck, Taylor?!” She cried “You were going to be late for school!” I exclaimed back. She finally gave in and got up. She went to the bathroom and was in there for 20 minutes. I heard her get her make-up out of the cabinet, put it on, do her hair, brush her teeth, and think of an outfit. One of the kinds that the head cheerleader would wear. Riley is on the squad. Quinn is not. She finally came out. I ran in before Luke could get in. I brushed my teeth, combed my hair and put it in a ponytail. I added a blue ribbon to have some style. I walked out, but not fully. “Quinn, do you think-” “OMG!!!!! Your hair tie matches your uniform!!!” She shrieked. “You were saying...” she added quickly. “I wanted to know what glasses I should wear. Blue or purple?”

“Purple. It adds more personality to you,” “ Have personality! BAM-WHAAAAT!!!!” I said, making sure to use my #1 slang. It is my signature. She looked at me with this look that she gives me when I do that. I put on my purple and blue Converse and grabbed my bag. I ran down the stairs. I grabbed my lunch from the table. Luke ran down, looking like he had just showered, combed his hair AND put gel in it. I pulled out my phone and checked my messages. Sure enough, there was one from Luke. It said: You girls r such jerks! u made mom sad! u did it all with ur stupid twin nonsense! So that is what Quinn was all mad about. Just as I was going to reply, I heard a slap. Then I felt the pain. I slammed down my phone, and the lights flickered again. Luke screamed at the top of his lungs. He was looking right at me when he screamed. Quinn ran down the stairs in her high heels. She walked in and screamed too. “LUKE! WHAT DID YOU DO TO TAYLOR?! THAT COLOR DOESN’T MATCH!” She screamed. Quinn was acting normal again. I calmed down. They relaxed. Mom and Dad were in the room, but I didn’t realize it, I was too mad. Luke and Quinn weren’t the only ones whogot worried. The expression on Mom and Dad's faces looked like they had just seen a ghost. “You are NOT going to school today. Neither are you, Quinn!” Mom managed. “ Luke, go with Dad to school. Ethan, make sure that Luke’s teacher gets a late note pass.” “But Sophia, I have to go to work, and I will be later than I already am!” Dad cried.

“Shut up, both of you!” Quinn screeched. Her eyes were turning to a glowing blue and the lights flickered. “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” Luke and I screamed. Slowly, her eyes turned back to normal. I could tell she was relaxed. I turned to mom and dad, but they were nowhere to be seen. I ran all over the house, but couldn’t find them. I ran outside, then back inside. I could tell that Quinn and Luke were thinking the same thing. They appeared again. They started walking in different directions, Luke following Dad and me, and Quinn following Mom. Mom walked over to the coat closet. Dad walked out the door, Luke trailing behind. Mom pushed the coats aside and there was a secret door. Mom nodded and we opened it. “There is something I need to tell you guys,” Mom said at last…

A Secret Camp By: Yarden Irlander The year is 1972. Mike lives in New York City. Mike doesn’t have a car so he walks to work everyday. When Mike walks to work he always see pictures of missing people. The police can never find them. Most of the time the police will stop the search because there is no evidence of the missing people. It started in 1965, when people started going missing. Mike lives on his own. Many people are scared because so many people are missing. After a couple years of people disappearing, people became really scared and they started moving to a different state. One night, Mike had to stay late because he had to do a big job at work. It was late when he was walking home that night. It was really dark. He saw a man walking toward him on the sidewalk. He looked suspicious. Mike went over to him and asked if he was lost. The man answered, and he said that his car broke down and he needed help. Mike decided to help the man. When they got to the car, Mike recognized that there was no problem. Another man walked over to Mike and knocked him out. Mike woke up in a train car. He was now with two men. Mike asked, “Where am I?” The two men said, “We are in a train car.” Mike was really scared. The two men introduced themselves, their names were Buddy and Boris. Buddy told Mike that he was the next missing person. Mike asked, “What do you mean?” Buddy replied, “Do you know about the pictures of the missing people?” Mike nodded, his head up and down. Buddy continued, “You are the next victim.” Mike sat in shocked silence. All of sudden, the train car started to move. Mike asked what was happening. Boris said, “We are moving.” Buddy began banging on the door. Mike was so scared, he thought he was going to die! A couple of hours later, the train stopped. Mike decided to attack them when they opened the door, but they were smarter, they threw a canister of sleeping gas at Mike. Mike woke up in a cell alone. He was screaming for help. Finally, a man came to Mike. He told Mike that he would be ok if he would just be quiet. Mike suddenly became quiet, and the new man left. Mike was very hungry. He really wanted something to eat. Mike screamed, “I am starving! I need food! PLEASE!!!” The same man came back, He opened the gate of Mike’s cell. He handcuffed Mike and took him out of the cell. They began walking down the hall. This new man took Mike to the cafeteria. There was so much food! Mike got a plate and took three hot dogs, two cups of Coke, and a piece of cake. Mike enjoyed every bite.

A week had passed since Mike was locked up. Two new men came into Mike’s cell. They took Mike to an office. Here, there was a new man, he was sitting down. The man told Mike his name. His name was Adam, he was the head leader of this of this camp. Adam threatened Mike, that if he disobeyed any officer here, Mike would be punished severely. The officer took Mike back to his cell. One month has passed. Mike wants leave. Mike received a note. The note said, “Mike, It has been a month. This is where you live now. You need to work here. You are starting at the dig site. Remember, if you do well on your first job you get promoted. If you want to go home, you will do what we say.” The job was starting tomorrow and Mike was ready. Mike woke and got dressed, and walked to the dig site. Mike walked the officer of the dig site. The officer gave Mike a shovel and Mike started to dig. Mike had to dig until 9:00 PM. It was night, and Mike was ready for dinner. Mike went to the cafeteria, when a man stopped Mike at the door. The man said, “This is only for hard workers.” Mike replied, “I worked from morning to night.” The man said, “Well the is for only for the people who work at the Fire Chambers.” Mike said to the man that he works at the dig site. The man laughed, and told Mike that he still had a long way to go because, the Fire Chambers is the last job. Only after that job you are freed. Mike asked, “Then where do I eat.?” The man told him that he was to eat at Dig Site Cafeteria. The man added that he better hurry up, because there is only seven minutes left until closing. Mike started to run to the Dig Site Cafeteria. Mike made it to the Dig Site Cafeteria, but they were closed. That meant Mike had to wait until morning to eat. Mike has a long journey ahead of him….To Be Continued

Olafâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Journey to Summer By: Lila Berger and and Addie Bassin http://cdn.superbwallpapers.com/wallpapers/cartoons/olaf-frozen-231731920x1200.jpg

Hi! I am Olaf, and I like warm hugs!

http://www.google.com/url? sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&v ed=0CAgQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww. designbolts.com%2F2013%2F11%2F12% 2Ffrozen-2013-movie-wallpapers-hdfacebook-timeline-covers%2F&ei=apTVOPoHbaZsQSs5IHQBg&psig=AFQjCNE TcwfGwq0_4CtMqX3pu3HXL4dv3w&ust=141 4855801663838

Hey! Why donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you join me on my journey to summer?

http://eng.ohmyfiesta. com/2014/03/frozen-olaf-clip-art. html

http://thedancebuzz.blogspot.com/

Summer, Summer, Summer, Summer, Summer, Summer, Summer, Summer, Summer, Summer!

Oh look! It’s Kristoff and Sven! Oooooo! We should ask them to join us on our journey. “Sure, we will come on your journey to summer!” Says Kristoff.

http://moviepilot.com/posts/2014/03/19/frozen-isdisney-encouraging-homosexuality-and-bestiality1282344?lt_source=external,manual

Hey there’s Anna and Elsa too! Let’s see if they want to join us.

“Sure we would love too!” Elsa replies.

http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/File:Sisters-anna-andelsa.jpg

http://www. ossmcomics. com/http://disney. wikia.com/wiki/File: Sisters-anna-andelsa.jpg

Look, we are like one big happy family.

Hey look it’s the trolls. Oh, they’re sleeping. Walk quietly so we don’t wake them up on our way to the North Mountain. “But first we have to make a pit stop to pick up warmer clothing so we don’t freeze to death!” Anna explains.

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mg4.wikia.nocookie. cb20140316005756/disney/images/4/4f/WanderingOakens.jpg

“You were right Anna, it’s FREEZING out here!” Shouts Elsa.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DM GyVbqW__w/UrJ1Mk6ujII/AAAAAAA AFHY/3TNqnTRFsjw/s1600/elsacastle.jpg

“We finally made it to the North Mountain,” I exclaim excitedly. “Now we have to go up the mountain,” says Anna.

ttp://www.candybarsydney.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Icicles-and-arozen-waterfall-from-the-movie-e1395127031183.jpg

“Look, it’s Summer! Oh…. ou thought I meant summer like the season. This is summer, she is my girlfriend!”

http://i.imgur.com/vIKLnJr.png

“Why hello there, my name is Summer!” She says excitedly. “Oh Olaf I missed you so much!” She says holding back a tear. “I haven't seen you for a whole month!”

“I missed you too Summer!” Olaf says leaning in for a hug. “ Oh I love warm hugs!” Olaf Shouts!

They lived happily ever after!

The end!