A Time To . . . CREATE

Immortalized Imagination was developedbythe Selah editorial staff as ameans ofexposing talented LU students.

First($50),second ($25) andhonorable mention ($10)prizes were given inthe categoriesofart, literature and

Our staffwould liketothank those who participated inthecontest.

We fullyextend ourcompliments toeach ofyoufor your outstanding work, fa

FirstPrize "My New Daddy"

By Lisa McMonigle

When the air is still damp from the rain and a breeze can barely be felt, I brushthe dust offmy memories and take them from the shelf.

Faded,bendedpictures reveal my other world.

Smiles mask the sadness hugs hide ugly words. Beyond what Ihold in my hand exists thatprivateplace. Itsbackyard cannot be found it disappeared without a trace. The doors werelockedfrom the outside dirty windows werepainted shut. And after the front door opened hemade the laughterstop. All was quietfor some time until hefinished his drink. Then we'd hearwhat hehad to say about allthat hehad to think.

I was a verygood listenerI understoodevery word he said. I even remembered what hecalled me when I'd lie down togo to bed.

My teddy was brave and understoodteddy held my hand all night Until Daddy came totuck me in and turn out my only light.

Inthe morning Iwoke up slowly; the sunlight offered no clueIdidn't know what would happen that night or ifthere was anythingIcould do. So teddy and Icrawled underthe bed and askedifGod could hear.

I told Him how Iwanted a new Daddy asmy eyes beganto tear. Then God said thatHe wouldprotect me likeIprotect my bear. His ear would alwaysbe waiting tohearmy dailyprayers.

Now my prayers ofthanksgiving flyfreely towardmy Home. My Father will alwaysprotect me even now thatIam grown.

FirstPlace "Television"

ByVictorBonnici

zJeremy Grey watched TV, even though the only thingon was the color bars. He stoodand staredat the screen which satatop a 9-footpole, and all thatplayed were the color bars and "TheStarSpangled Banner."

The shrill whistleofa fallingbomb piercedtheairand shook theground withits explosive fury.

The war began.

The earth burned.

.AndJeremy watched.

The world was raped and became pregnantwith pain and gavebirthtoa deformed childnamed despair, who wailed and screamed and triedtogoto sleep.

The wallsofthebuildingcaughtfire, and men rushed pastJeremy screaming chivalrousinstructionsasa mother grasped herbrokenbaby and criedfor help.

They passed hertoo.

Still, the9-foot polestood, withthetelevisionatop displayingthecolorbars.

The war raged.

The earthburned.

The walls fell.

Countlesspeopleran about, lookingfor what theyloved, but all themirrorslaybroken intheashes.

And themoney fedtheflames.

The men againrushed pastJeremy, screaming chivalrous instructionsinmanly panic, beingquitebrave. But everyone still bledlavenderblood, and themother who clutchedherbrokenbaby wailed through the smoke.

Another shrill shriekand anotherloudbomb and night feU.

The men stopped beingbrave and ranindisarray and shotthebleeding, screaming people and themother and her broken baby and finallyeach otheruntilthey all layon the silent, soot-covered rubbleintheblack, blacknight, and the televisionstood on the9-foot poleand Jeremy Grey watched TV,eventhough all thatwas on were thecolor bars.

"Life"

By Melissa Birkhead Honorable Mention

At birth the canvas is clean and white each stage oflife adds a new color Constantly changingwith every stroke oftheArtist's brush layer bylayer—depth is added No mistake can be made. TheArtist is the Masterin His field changes .. a streak a smudge a color seemingly of out place canappearto be a mistake .. . but with submission the canvas is transformed. The canvas may desire to move to move from undertheArtist's hand it mustsubmit to become a beautiful masterpiece Time . . . time is the key.

Time changesperspective depth detail character

.. . with thepassing oftime new colors can be applied .. . with thepassing oftime the canvas becomes apainting ... a painting to be JUDGED judged bythe reigningjudge but REDEEMED redeemed by THE MASTER ARTIST.

"Patriots ofFreedom"

By T.J. Metzgar HonorableMention

The grass blades bend in the gentle breeze;

Songbirds sing unaware in the trees.

The sunlightflickers through the rolling mist;

While officers call roll from the company list.

The hearts ofmen pound with a tremendous beat;

All thoughts are toward victr'y, noneofdefeat.

The ranks ofmen form an endless line;

Sporadic firinggives an impending sign.

The buglers blowand the drummersbeat,

As patriots waitfor the enemy to meet.

While soldiers advance through the hazethey see

A line ofmuskets held by their enemy.

What makes these men stare face to face with Death?

Not knowing ifthe next moment holds their last breath.

Thesepatriots are heroes, courageous and brave, Dedicated to the duty offreedom to save.

America byGod Almighty is blessed

'Cause freedom and equality are instilled in every man's chest.

Thisground has been hallowedbythe blood that's been shed.

Monuments and memorials standasa shrine to the dead.

The 'Stars and Stripes' symbolizes the sacrifice ofthese men.

Their lives needthis remembrance for it's ourfreedom they defend.

"When it Counted"

By Dorothy Nunes Honorable Mention

For so long we tried to act like we hated each other. Each ofusalways wanting to have the last word. You alwaysgotto ride shotgunand Igot stuck in the back seat. You alwaysgot to the telephonefirst to answer the ring. But you were therefor me when it counted.

Because you were bigger and stronger, you could make me do what you wanted. When we bothgot mad, you always came out on top while Iranawaycrying. But you were therefor me when itcounted.

As we grew older things didn't change much. You weresure to make fun ofme when yourfriends were around. You would sayhateful thingsjust to trigger my quick temper. I would scream atyou, and you would laughin myface. But you weretherefor me when itcounted.

All through high school and after, I didn't see you much; But that was all right withme because seeingyou all the time would have made me crazy. But you were therefor me when it counted.

You got married this year, and I see you even less than before. But when Ido seeyou,you still manage to make me feelsmalland insignificant. You stillpester me;although, it's in agentler, more mature way.

I try to act likeIdon't noticejust likeIalwayshave BecauseIknow you weretherefor me when it counted.

But now I have to think.

You've moved away, and Iwon'tseeyou fora very long time. What will Ido now when Igetsick atschool and someone has to come getme? Who will come to help me when hegets acall thatI'm in trouble? Who will bethere when Ijust needsomeone toyell at?

You can't tell me you could care less. I won't believe it!

You can'tsayitdoesn't matter thatmuch. Iknow better than that!

I've seen what you really think. Iknow thatyou care.

Iknow you've always lovedme Becauseyou werealways there for me when itcounted.

Second Place "Waves ofWishes"

By ChrisW. Johnson

As we are walking along the north shore I stop for a second to listen as the breaking waves whisper the deepest darkest secrets. As they tingle through the innermost parts ofnervesshatteredasIhang overthecliffofwhat is real,Itry tokeepfocusedon what could be. And asevery steppushing the sand across my feet, Ilong tofeel hersoftness once again. Ifshe only knew how shewas dangling my heart from a string overtheedge of tranquility, and that herevery touchteased my afterthoughts outofremission. Ifonly this could reunite herfeelings with my emotions, Iwould sink deep into the bliss ofmyfaintest wishesand desires. Somehow Ifeelasthoughtimehasstoppedand theangelofloveissinging justforus.Thecrashofeverywave seems torushthroughme,pushing me tomake realwhat I've wanted foralltime. And asthe waves seem toput me inatrance,Iwake suddenlytothe softness oflips I've longedto touchforever.

"SilentWhisper"

By Kim Matherley SecondPlace

VV hat is it?" she asked firmly as he glanced over at her. "Tell me what it is!"she demanded. He didn'tspeak as hestaredout through the windshieldoftheold, blue Chevy.

"Youcantell me anythingthat's onyourmind. I'vealways listened before, haven't W

"Fine, youwantto know whatI'm thinkingabout? You're going backto college in three days."

"Iknow," shesaidquietly Shebeganto wonderifshe'd made him mad insomeway.

"Well, youwon'tbebackhome fortwomonths Who doI talk to whileyou're away?"

Shesmiledasshepicturedsome ofthecountless times they'd spent justtalkingforhoursaboutlife andtheirfutures. Theybothhad such different viewsoflife, butstill they'dbecomebestfriends.

"Youcanwrite me or I cancall you. We'llkeepin touch."

"It's notthesame,"hemuttered, almostsoundinglike a child pouting She loweredherhead, and thesmile fadedfromherlips

"Sherry, doyoumissme much when you're at college?"

"Verymuch," sheassuredhim.

"Butyouhaveallyournew friends to hang out with."

"Jeremy, youhavefriends here."

Shelookedathim Sheknew itwasn'tthesame, butwashegoingto make herfeel guiltyforleavinghim to go back?

They'dspentall offall breaktogether, buttheywerestill friends who had to saygoodbyeonce again

Hermind travelledbackto college and all those new faces shehad grown so usedto in suchashorttime. Hismind couldonlydwell on thefact thattheyhad so little timeleft to betogether He missedher whileshewas away, butseeingheragainwasjust aspainful.She'd met otherguys, butnothinghad comeoftherelationshipsexceptnew friendships. He washerbest friend, butdeepdown shefelt that their friendshipwas abarrierbetweenthemselvesand other people

"Haveyoumet anyreally nice guysat college?"

"Afew," sheadmitted smiling. 'Youknow visitors weekend is comingupnextmonth. You couldcomeup for theday. I couldshow youaroundthe campus, andyoucouldmeetsome ofmy newfriends," sheadded, hopingto changethe mood ofthe conversation

"O.K, ifI canget offofwork."

'Tm sureyoucan," shesmiledonce again.

"We'rehere," he saidbrightlyas theypulledinto the driveway

"Aren'tyoucomingin?"

"No, tell yourparentsI said hello though I don'twantthem to think I'm rudeforjust droppingofftheir prize possessionwithout escorting herinside I'll call youtomorrow nightafterwork."

"Alright, goodbye."

"Bye, Sherry." Shegot outand walkedto thedoor. Beforeshewent insheturned and waved. He waved back, and asshespun aroundto goin, hewhispered silently, knowing somehow shemighthearorjust know: "I love you."