Swing Set by Literary Arts

Swing Set

Writers in the Schools Online Chapbook

Swing Set 2008-2009 Student Online Chapbook © 2009 Literary Arts, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This book may not be duplicated in any way — mechanical, photographic, electronic, or by means yet to be devised — without the written permission of the publisher, except in the case of a brief excerpt or quotation for the purpose of review. Literary Arts Staff Andrew Proctor, Executive Director Kirsten Collins Susan Denning Kristin Loebbecke Jennifer MacGregor Marshall Miller Mary Rechner James Rishky WITS Interns Alex Behr Kelley Burnett Chris Cottrell Colin Cowden Sarah Daus Merriwether Falk Sabrina Goldsman

Board of Directors Jodi Delahunt Hubbell, Chair Connie Christopher Rick Comandich John Daniel Barnes C. Ellis Michele Glazer Susan Hathaway-Marxer Kurt Hutton Susheela Jayapal Frank Langﬁtt Phillip Margolin Per Ramfjord Strunk & White Society An Honorary Society of Distinguished Advisors Brian Booth Bart Eberwein Brian Gard Diana Gerding Molly Gloss Carrie Hoops Ursula K. Le Guin Julie Mancini Brenda Metlebeke Diane Ponti Halle Sadle Steven Taylor Steve Wynne

Chapbook Staff Editors: Mary Rechner, Chris Cottrell Designer: Chris Cottrell Proofreader: Sarah Daus Writers in the Schools is a program of Literary Arts, a statewide, nonprofit arts organization that enriches the lives of Oregonians through language and literature. For more information please contact: 224 NW 13th Avenue, Suite 306 Portland, or 97209 503.227.2583 www.literary-arts.org Cover Art: Christina Boom, Renaissance Arts Academy.

Table of Contents Writers in the Schools iv Support v Introductin vii Untitled Kendall Johnson, Lincoln High School 1 Water Lily Karen Tiet, Franklin High 2 The Shadow People Hayley Rozee, Madison High School 3 The Sugar Plum Fairy Ally Shackelford, Madison HS 6 Dead Man Keysa Lawrence, Franklin HS 7 Hamda Lisandra Mesa Falcón, SEIS, Roosevelt campus 15 What is Love? Ner Moo, Marshall Campus Schools 16 Fourteen Front Porches Stephanie Saucier, Madison High School 17 I’m A Homeless Man Junyan Yu, Marshall Campus Schools 18 Salt Lake City! Sam Bennet 19 A Day in the Life Tristyn Chipps 20

iii

Writers in the Schools Writers-in-Residence

Turiya Autry, Lorraine Bahr, Carmen Bernier-Grand, Carson Cistulli, Raphael Dagold, Michael Dickman, Hunt Holman, John Isaacson, Joe Kurmaskie, Jessica Lamb, Amy Minato, John Morrison, Laura Moulton, Emma Oliver, Mark Pomeroy, Donna Prinzmetal, Carlos Reyes, Kirsten Rian, Joanna Rose, Natalie Serber, JoNelle Toriseva, Cindy Williams GutiĂŠrrez, Matthew B. Zrebski

Visiting Authors

Turiya Autry, Geraldo Calderon & Cindy Williams GutiĂŠrrez, Matthew Dickman, Mira Nair, Vitaly Paley & Robert Reynolds, Richard Russo, Crystal Williams

Participating Teachers

Diana Bentley, Matthew Boyer, Barbara Brown, Gloria Canson, Therese Cooper, Michael Cullerton, Anne Dierker, Jacque Dixon, Jerry Eaton, Bianca Espinosa, Jennifer Frederick, Elena Garcia-Velasco, Stefanie Goldbloom, Kelly Gomes, John Patrick Gonzales, Garin Gregory, Emily Gromko, Barbara Hansen, Leslie Hillen, Samae Horner, Paige Knight, Steve Lambert, Chris Lane, Naomi Leavitt, Eric Levine, William Lovatt, Dorie MacCormack, Manuel Mateo, Ginny Maxam, Eve McAlister, Pat McCormick, Anne Meadows, Dave Mylet, Amanda-Jane Nelson, Karen Polis, Pam Quale, Mary Rodeback, Al Rowell, Chris Rudolf, Andy Sorensen, Eddy Shuldman, Mike Sweeney, Serena Talcott, Amy Taramasso, Trisha Todd, Dana Vinger, Kristin Wallace, Tracey Wyatt, Anna York, Jamie Zartler

Participating Principals

Devon Baker, Sue Brent, Peyton Chapman, Leo Colegio, Paul Cook, Rosemary Donnelly, Cynthia Harris, Shay James, Fred Locke, Joseph Malone, A.J. Morrison, Stevie Newcomer, Steve Olczak, Elisa Schorr, Frank Scotto, Pat Thompson

District Liaison

Marcia Arganbright

Support The following individuals, businesses and foundations made Writers in the Schools a success in 2008â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2009:

Sponsors

Autzen Foundation The Collins Foundation The Bill Healy Foundation H.W. & D.C.H. Irwin Foundation Juan Young Trust Carol Mayer-Reed & Michael Reed PGE Foundation Templeton Foundation Trust Management Services, LLC

Major Supporters

Brijesh & Ann Anand Kenneth Arnold & Constance Kirk, KenArnoldBooks, LLC Ray & Jean Auel Bank of the West Nancy & Roderick Boutin Broadway Books William & Miranda Burnett

Chelsea Cain & Marc Mohan Joan Cirillo & Roger Cooke Mary Clark Debi Coleman Rick Comandich & Maya Muir The Commerce Bank of Oregon Joanne & Joseph Delahunt Penny & Ken Durant Sue & Ed Einowski Barnes C. Ellis Wayne & Sandra Ericksen Mary Fellows & John Russell Brian & Rhonda Gard Gard Communications Robert D. Geddes & Cameron G.R. Geddes Family Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation Bob & Diana Gerding Nancy & Andy Glass Jane & Howard Glazer Susan Hathaway-Marxer & Larry Marxer Josh Hinerfeld & Andrea Binder Deborah Horrell & Kit Gillem Jodi Delahunt Hubbell & Todd Hubbell Judy & Hank Hummelt Cecelia & Robert Huntington Kurt & Michele Hutton Susheela Jayapal & Brad Miller David Johnson Mac & Molly Jones Michael Kalberer & Kalberer Company Barbara & Jock Kimberley Frank Langfitt & Mary Janet Steen Carol Schnitzer Lewis Kristin Loebbecke Phillip Margolin Janeen McAninch John Meadows Brenda Meltebeke & Scott Stuart Violet & Robert Metzler Lora & Jim Meyer Susan Morgan, VMD M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Corrine Oishi & Lindley Morton Diane Ponti & Ward Greene

Elicia Putnam & The Shop Per & Liana Ramfjord Mary Rechner & Barry Sims Reuben Rich Halle & Rick Sadle Barbara & Steve Sanders Paul Schneider & Lauren Eulau Norm & Barbara Sepenuk Howard & Manya Shapiro John & Joan Shipley Victor Trelawny U.S. Bancorp Foundation Michele Wasson & Jordan Hantman Brian Wilson Steve & Deborah Wynne Thank you to the following people who contributed through Willamette Weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2008 Give!Guide campaign: Peter & Marcia Austin-Zacharias Josh Bachman Blair Batson Mary Ellen Boles Laura Bolster Candace Bonner Christine Bourdette & Ricardo Lovett Kylee & Jesse Brandt Richard Brown & Ruth Robbins Richard Brown & Laura Washington Catherine Bull Lynn Burditt Patty Busse Ellen & Jack Cantwell Linda Carpenter Adams Carroll Valerie Cashman John Chapman Jenny Chu Brenda Clark Kathleen Clarkson Scott & Carrie Cohen Kirsten Collins Maura Conlon-McIvor & Andy McIvor Elizabeth Cowin Susan & Michael Denning

Barbara Donner Deborah Downs Kerry Drury Emiko Dubose Zachary Edmonson & Rebecca Stefoff Jena Ferrarese Andrew Fuller Kortney Garrison & Andrew Poundstone William George Lorian Gray Stephanie Guerrasio Cecelia Hagen & Craig Spilman Charles Halberstadt & Ann Buenzli Tom & Woesha Hampson Mykle Hansen Alexis Harris William & Elizabeth Hathaway Tom Haydon Linda Haynes Susan Hereford Deborah Herzberg Jillian Hicks Deborah Hobbie Cody Hoesly Kathleen Holt & Alex Dupey Catherine Huck Chelsey Johnson Wallace Jones Alan Kiphut Gregg Kleiner Lori Salus Ed & Christie Kline Kristy Wallace Knight & Eric Wallace BettyLou Koffel Ute Kongsbak & Robin Kinnaird Susan Kuhn Barbara & Barry Larrain Kirsten & Christopher Leonard Linda & Steve Leslie Elianne Lieberman Nancy Linnon Patty & Richard Lofgren Sarah Long Lynne Ludeman Jennifer & Haig MacGregor Michael Madias & Elaine Pepper

Nicholas Manusos & Kristin Berger Richard & Elizabeth Marantz Laura McCue Sue-Del McCulloch Jeanne McGinnis Richard Meeker & Ellen Rosenblum Lora Meisner & Glenn Baly Dave Mendenhall Ben Moorad Marianne Morris John Morrison & Kim Anne Thomas Mark Nedleman Phoebe Olson Lilian Ongelungel Jollee & John Patterson Shelley Peters Julia Peters & Bruce Brown Debra & Mark Pettijohn Terry Phillippi Sandy Polishuk Sean Pollack & Cris Paschild Donna Prinzmetal & Stephen Kirsch Katie Radditz & Bill Kloster Charlotte Rubin & Rick Rubin Elizabeth Scott Shaun Semseh Eddy Shuldman & Jeff Edmundson Joanne Skirving Pamela & William Small Paula Small Rita Smith Kingen David Stout Cynthia Stowell & John Miller Michael & Michelle Van Kleeck Stephanie Vardavas & Mike Radway David Varner Lois Waldron Julia & Bill Wayne Marcia Weinstein Maud Whalen Margaret Willer Shannon Wolf Lora Worden Kathleen Worley George & Betsy Wright

Esther Wright Rebecca Youngstrom & Ronald Atwood Jeanne Zuelke & Russ Albertson

Introduction

Mary Rechner, WITS Program Director

riters in the Schools (WITS) believes in relationships that last. We began working with Grant High School in 1996, and have since grown to serve all of the comprehensive Portland public high schools and five alternative high school programs, serving more than 2,000 students each year with semester-long creative writing residencies, mentoring, and author visits. To help schools achieve their goal of teaching writing across the disciplines, in 20082009 WITS provided residencies in African American Studies, Advanced Biology, Advanced Theatre, Biology, Earth Science, English, English Language Learning, Global Studies, Language Arts, Photography and Spanish for Native Speakers. In order to keep our relationship with schools vital, we are developing new partnerships with other arts organizations and hiring writers with diverse backgrounds. Each year we publish a print anthology to showcase student work. Our 2008-2009 print anthology, A Whole New Subject, is available at local independent bookstores and on our website http://www.literary-arts.org/wits/anthology.php. We also publish a blog, W.o.o.t.s., http:// www.literary-arts.org/blogs/ to provide even more publishing opportunities for the students we serve. Our pdf chapbooks, Swing Set, What Now, and Against the Indigo Sky, are our newest way to publish student work. Publication is important because it validates effort and enables writers to share their creations with readers. The printed page (whether on paper or a computer screen) provides a tangible record of ephemeral work that takes place, primarily, in the imagination.

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Untitled

Kendall Johnson, Lincoln High School

t started out as just a soccer game. Just a soccer game, until someone announced that the winner of the game is rewarded with a lifetime supply of Nestle Toll House Cookie Swirl Ice Cream. Then, a car rolled into the parking lot. This black Range Rover was just a car until I saw who came out of it. Nicolas Batum strutted towards the field as he glared into my eyes “Bonne Chance Kendall”. Hearing that encouragement, I ripped a left footed shot through the net with no time to spare. Out of nowhere Steve Carrell, Dwight Howard, Ellen DeGeneres, Michael Cerra, and Oprah rushed the field and hoisted me onto their shoulders. “Palmdale” by Afroman blared out of the loud speakers as I was finally lowered to the ground. I figured it would be courteous of me to treat all who attended my game with an ice cream party. Instead, Oprah invited everyone to her private estate in Hawaii via her jet. This was just a day. Just a not so ordinary day.

Water Lily

Karen Tiet, Franklin High

Calmly you sit there in the pond showing your beauty to the world floating to the center, capturing light How did you get the name water lily Showing your beauty to the world blooming as the sun rises how did you get the name water lily gracefully floating in the pond like a cloud Blooming as the sun rises closing as the sun sets gracefully floating in the pond like a cloud hiding in the dark, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;til it comes light Closing as the sun sets shriveling as the days go by hiding in the dark, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;til light comes soon to say goodbye as days go

The Shadow People

Hayley Rozee, Madison High School

ater splashed as a lorry drove through a puddle along the roadside. Pulling her coat up around her chin, Elexa emerged from the apartment into the crowded city life, bodies hustling around her. Rain pitter-pattered onto the cobblestone road and miniature tidal waves danced around her boots as she walked towards a nearby bus stop. An average day, but not an average being—Elexa was different from the rest of the city’s bustling population. She was a time and space traveler, and a rare one at that. Her kind, extinct for nearly 125 years, hardly inhabited history books. Only legends and myths circulated throughout time and society now. Checking over her shoulder, she stepped into the shadows of a dark alleyway behind Marvell’s Cosmetics. Big Ben stood just a few blocks away, clear from her angle in the alleyway. The clock seemed to be waiting patiently as Elexa reached into her pocket and retrieved her time traveling tool, her Transporter Key, as she called it. She held it up to the giant clock’s face in the distance, and checked around her once more. With the blink of an eye, Elexa disappeared on the spot, leaving nothing but a faded boot print on the damp ground. A few miles away, a strange zap sounded within a bathroom stall of a Cardiff superstore. Elexa tucked her transporter key back into her pocket, innocently flushed the toilet, and stepped out into the bathroom. The room was completely deserted; there was no need to keep acting. She glanced up at a clock above the exit – 8 p.m. The store would be closing in an hour, but that was more than enough time to get her shopping done. She emerged into the empty store, apparently the bathroom was located in the heart of the undergarment section. Awkwardly shifting between underwear and bra racks, Elexa headed for the nearest lift to the CD and DVD section. She was used to this way of maneuvering—it was how she had to live for all 346 years of her life. While avoiding the public eye, she could pop from one location to another and still get her deeds done. Today, it was birthday gift shopping for her friend, Mabel. This wasn’t the only store she could have gotten this particular CD from, but Cardiff had always been a beautiful place to visit. And why ignore her abilities to travel anywhere in time and in the universe she fancied? She had to stay within reasonable limits, though, so to avoid any unneeded attention. The last time she had been discovered, she was forced to wipe the person’s memory clean—a daunting task, and highly painful experience for the victim. It was certainly something Elexa never wanted to endure herself or put anyone else through again. 3

After an hour of sorting through CDs and getting distracted by ones she was tempted to buy for herself, Elexa finally found the CD for Mabel, paid, and headed for the nearest exit. It wasn’t raining in Cardiff, Elexa appreciated this. Tucking Mabel’s CD into her pocket, she headed towards a nearby phone booth to transport in. She had nearly pulled her Transporter Key from her pocket, along with her spare pocket watch, when she was deafened by a car’s screeching tires. She looked up to see a car screech to a halt behind a lady crossing the gravel road, the driver looking quite stunned and taken aback. But it wasn’t their expressions that first caught Elexa’s attention—it was the woman’s shadow. She could have sworn it had swerved out of the way when the car headed for the woman. She stared at the ground and gasped. The shadow was gone completely. It wasn’t an illusion, the sun hadn’t disappeared behind clouds. The shadow was really gone. Poof, disappeared. The lady now stood alone, illuminated by the sun’s glow. The driver was now trying to apologize and comfort the startled woman. Elexa slowly stepped towards the scene, taking each step carefully. Suddenly, something black moved along the gravel a few feet away—the shadow was escaping. Elexa made a move for her Transporter Key, and clutched it tight in her fist as she followed the owner-less shadow across a parking lot and behind an abandoned produce stand. She soon found herself at a stride, the shadow slipping behind the worn wooden structure out of sight. Once caught up, Elexa began to worry – what was she facing? Should she really have followed it? It was like nothing she had ever heard of, a shadow that lives apart from its owner? She held up her Transporter Key and swallowed her fear. “Wait. I can see you! You can’t hide,” she croaked. The shadow stopped moving, and it seemed to turn to look at her. It was motionless for a second, and then seemed to start to morph right before her. Soon a slender, young man with slicked brown hair and curious brown eyes was standing before her in the shadow’s place. “You saw me?” He sounded almost offended, yet bewildered. “Y-yes. How…did you do that? Who are you?” Elexa prepared to defend herself, a ready thought lingered in the front of her mind. The man seemed at a loss for words. He cursed under his breath and kicked the dirt beneath his felt. “I knew I shouldn’t have moved, I KNEW IT,” he growled. His head shot up, his eyes meeting Elexa’s with a fierce hold. There was something haunting in his eyes, they seemed hollow. Elexa got the feeling that this man contained a soul that was yearning to exist outside of human form. She knew at once he wasn’t human. “What are you,” she asked, attempting to break his eye contact. But he wouldn’t budge. “How did you see me? Humans don’t have the ability, they aren’t nearly observant enough.” He took a step forward, his eyes narrowing. “Unless…” He stopped for a moment, considering a thought. Just when Elexa could feel her eyes begin to sting, he broke the eye 4

contact and was suddenly inches from her face. “…unless you’re not human.” Elexa swallowed hard. She barely managed to keep her breathing even, her heart was pounding in her chest. She could almost feel the blood rushing to her head as her face turned a scarlet shade. “I see!” he suddenly sounded impressed. “A fellow outsider. My my, good disguise! Almost as good as ours.” “Ours?” Elexa croaked. “Oh aye, ‘ours’. My family and I have been hiding for too long, we’re growing restless. We’d always wondered if we were really the only species besides human in the area. And now we know.” He took a step back, and seemed to mellow for a moment. The perimeter began to darken, and Elexa began to wonder if night had fallen, but the sun still shone bright a few yards away. Several shadows began to surround the two of them as the man continued talking. “My name is Davrias.” Almost on cue, the shadows morphed into standing people of all different sizes and shapes. All wore stern expressions and stood expectantly, waiting for the man to finish. “And we are the Shadow People.”

The Sugar Plum Fairy Ally Shackelford, Madison HS

Dressed in a purple tutu Sparkling sugar-like barrettes Took her bow Spotlight showered upon her Sparkling sugar-like barrettes Tall dark and handsome gentleman Spotlight showered upon her Removed her bouquet of flowers Tall dark and handsome gentleman Ring emerging from his coat pocket Removed her bouquet of flowers A speechless yes Ring emerging from his coat pocket Took her bow A speechless yes Dressed in a purple tutu 6

Dead Man

Keysa Lawrence, Franklin HS

Tanya, Kina and Blake are all friends. They work in a large Italian restaurant in Beaverton. Tanya and Kina are both waitresses and cashiers, they spend a lot of time together, Blake is one of the chefs and doesn’t get to spend tons of time with either of them. Tanya: When did you get here? Kina: About an hour ago. I’ve been in the back for the past twenty minutes though. I was getting the specials so I could write them on the board. Tanya: I bet you were getting the specials. I know you kinda have a thing for Blake. Kina: Yeah kinda but not really. Are you starting on the floor tonight or am I? Tayna: I’m on for the first three hours. And don’t change the subject. Kina: I didn’t, but I’m going to. I’m going to write the specials up on the board now. Tayna: You have fun with that while I go to the back and get a drink. Tayna goes to the back to grab a glass of water. Blake is back there prepping the food. 7

Blake: Hey Tanya. Can you go tell Kina that we’re running low on red wine? Tayna: Only cause you poured some in the sauce. How many bottles? Blake: There’s six left. Tayna: In the sauce? Blake: Only two. I only poured in one though. Someone else poured a bottle in. Tayna: Sure you only poured one in. I’ll go ask Kina if we have anymore somewhere. Blake: Alright, Thank you. Tayna walks around until she finds Kina coming from the bathroom. Tayna: Hey Kina do we have any more red wine anywhere besides the kitchen? There’s only six bottles left in the fridge. Kina: There might be three or four more down stairs. Wait, how many bottles are in the sauce? Tayna: Blake says there’s only two. He claims he only poured in one of them. Kina: Alright. I’ll go downstairs to see if we have any left. Could you go tell him I’m looking and that 8

I’ll bring any up? Tayna: I don’t want to go tell him. I want you to go tell him. You can’t avoid him forever. Kina: I’m not avoiding him. I’m walking away and going to look for more red wine. Tayna: Fine I’ll go tell him. Blake: Hey what’d she say? Tayna: She’s going to bring any up if she finds any. She went downstairs to look. Kina: Here you go Blake. We have two more downstairs, but I only brought up two to start. Blake: Thank you Kina. Blake and Kina have been going out for three months when Kina is invited over to Blake’s parents’ house for dinner. Blake is worried about what his parents will think. Phil: So where did you two meet again? Blake: At work. I thought I told you? Phil: How fun. What are your plans Kina?

Kina: Plans for what? Phil: Are you going to school? Kina: I’m taking two classes. It’s my last term. Phil: That’s good. What do you want to do with your life? Blake: Could we not talk about that please? We are still young. I don’t even know what I want to do. Susan: Oh sure. Did you guys want dessert? Blake & Kina: Sure. They eat their cheesecake quickly. Blake: Thank you for dinner and dessert dad. Phil: You’re welcome. It was nice to meet you Kina. We hope we can see you again soon. Kina: It was nice to meet you too. Bye. Blake takes Kina home.

Kina: Thank you for taking me home Blake. I guess I’ll see you later, then. Blake: Yeah, I’ll see you later. Bye. Kina: Bye. The next day Blake calls Kina and they talk for a long time. Kina: I don’t hate you. Blake: Well I thought you would cause I wouldn’t tell you. Kina: It’s fine Blake. I told you stuff. Blake: But you trusted me enough to tell me. Kina: I’ve always trusted you. Blake: I love you. Kina: Love you too. I’ll see you tonight at the restaurant. Blake: OK I’ll see you tonight. Bye. 11

Kina: Bye Later that night. Tanya: Hey guys. You two look so cute. Blake: Of course you would say that. Tanya: Ha ha ha. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to the back. Kina: OK. See you later. Tanya: So, what have you guys been doing with your free time? Kina: Nothing much. We just like to hang out wherever. I got to meet his parents the other night. Tanya: And how did that go? Kina: I just said I met his parents. How do you think it went? Tanya: Kinda weird, huh? Kina: Yeah. 12

Tanya: I know what you mean. Come on let’s get to work now. On Saturday Blake and Kina go to the mall. Mall Cop: Move away from the leopard print sir. Blake: What leopard print? Mall Cop: The one you have in your hand sir. Blake: It’s my girlfriend’s purse. Does this look real to you? It’s not even soft man. It’s like, like pleather. Mall Cop: Pleather? Blake: Yeah Pleather. You know fake leather. Kinda feels like a cross between leather and plastic. Mall Cop: Pleather? Blake: God, just, never mind! Kina: Hey, lets go now.

Blake: OK. Where do you want to go? Kina: I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know. Somewhere cool I guess. Blake: I know just the place. Blake takes Kina to an older restaurant in Tigard to eat lunch. Blake: Kina, will you marry me? Kina: YES! Blake: I love you so much.

Hamda

Lisandra Mesa Falcón, SEIS, Roosevelt campus

hen I am with Hamda and she talks on the phone with her sister, I am curious about what they are saying in their language. I really want to know so badly. It will be so cool to understand what she is saying. I see her laughing as if something is going on, something fun. Later I see Hamda walking to the bathroom in little steps, but at the same time she is saying to me, “Sweetie.” I see her looking at herself in the mirror and touching her face and moving her body at the same time. She talks to me and laughs. I ask her, “What’s so funny when you to talk to your friends? You are a really great sister and I like how you express yourself when speaking to your older sister.” Hamda fixes her head scarf, touches her face, and she moves out as softly as when you are sleeping and touching a pillow.

What Is Love?

Ner Moo, Marshall Campus Schools

Love is not a river Love is not leaves Love is not water Love is not shoes Love is my home place Love is my house Love is playing soccer Love is riding my horse Love is my country Love is my book Love is the city Love is to cook Love is my favorite subject Love is my school.

Fourteen Front Porches

Stephanie Saucier, Madison High School

Fifteen green-leafed trees, five bright orange pumpkins, fourteen front porches, one outside cat, three small vicious dogs, one basketball hoop, one worn-out tire swing, six round step stones, five bright-colored rose bushes, four sunflower plants, two slides, three picnic tables, one sun, countless clouds, and one big community.

I’m a Homeless Man

Junyan Yu, Marshall Campus Schools

I’m a man A homeless man Lingering on the street Carrying a heavy bag Monotonous and boring I know I’m Lonely and hard to believe But I’m A homeless man At dusk The sky is red like blood And that rosy-colored cloud I’m walking The red sky catches my mind The sad sunset catches my back view But I’m still walking I’m a man A homeless man I never look back

Sam Bennet, Cleveland High School

A Day in the Life

Tristyn Chipps, Franklin High

(Lights open up on MATTHEW, age 12 and his mother sitting down to eat at a fast food restaurant) MATTHEW I cannot go any lower than this… MOM My God Matthew, eating at Burger King every once in a great while won’t kill you. Don’t be such a snob. Mmm…I haven’t had french fries since your father and I got married. MATTHEW This is absolutely disgusting…I don’t understand how you can eat that! Look at that! The grease is dripping off of the bacon and pooling in the wrapper there! MOM Oh God! You’re absolutely right Matthew! There is a lot of grease. Do you happen to have a straw? Excuse me?

MATTHEW

MOM A straw? S-T-R-A-W? Straw? We can’t very well let all this grease go to waste, can we? There are little children starving in Ethiopia. Now, do you want to slurp it up or should I? You can’t be serious…

MATTHEW

MOM Of course I’m not serious! You should loosen up a bit Matthew. Now, finish eating so we can get home before Phil does. 20

Who? Your father? Phil?

MATTHEW MOM

MATTHEW My dad’s name is Phil? Wow. I never knew that… Eat Matthew. Mom…

MOM MATTHEW

MOM I said eat Matthew Harold Farnsworth Smithsonian Archibald Jefferson III! MATTHEW Ugh, Mom! Don’t say my full name in public, it’s embarrassing! MOM Oh, would you rather I call you Matt? “Oy Matt! Eat yore buh-guh thare. We cahn’ ‘ave yoo wastin’! (MOM jumps up on the table and starts to dance like a lunatic. Audience should believe she may actually be crazy...) MATTHEW Oh God, mom. Don’t use the cockney accent! Uh…sorry everyone! She’s senile and suffers from post-traumatic stress! She doesn’t really know what she’s doing…Mom, get down! (At this, MOM slowly and confidently climbs down off the table as though she’s proven a point.) MOM Okay Matthew, let’s go. We can’t let Phil beat us home… Who?

MATTHEW SCENE 2 21

(Lights come up on MOM and MATTHEW standing in the driveway, gesturing violently, it should be made clear that a horrendous accident should have just taken place. Perhaps broken siding lay strewn about on the set …) Either you tell him, or I will… Moooom…

MOM MATTHEW

MOM Matthew, I won’t have it. Either you tell your father that you crashed his work van into the neighbor’s house, or I will tell him that not only did you do that, but you also ate the entire tub of cool whip that was in the fridge. MATTHEW But, you did both of those things! I’m only 12, I can’t even reach the pedals and steering wheel at the same time, let alone operate them simultaneously! MOM No excuses Matthew. Your father will be home any minute now. You’d better think quickly… (MOM exits) MATTHEW Wow, what a bunch of crap. No wonder kids stab their parents…(MARGARET enters from where MOM exited. She is MATTHEW’S next-door neighbor and is a slightly older woman. Perhaps 35-40) Hello there. Uh…hello.

MARGARET MATTHEW

MARGARET My name is Margaret, the woman whose home your mother destroy—

MATTHEW Lady! I didn’t do tha-! Wait. What’d you just say? My name…is Margaret?

MARGARET MATTHEW

No, after that. Well, you cut me off Sweetie Pie— Before that— After you told me your name! Oh, you did it again…

MARGARET MATTHEW

MARGARET MARGARET

I’m the woman whose house your mother crashed into? YES! WHOO-HOO! ALRIGHT!

MATTHEW

MARGARET Sweetie…Why are you so excited? I have no living room… MATTHEW Look, that’s not important right now. My dad is going to be home any minute. I want you to tell him what you just told me. OH! And tell him that my mother ate the cool whip, not me. MARGARET What? (MATTHEW, exits, DAD enters) Hello. You must be Matthew’s father.

DAD/PHIL WEE-WOO, WEE-WOO! Excuse me ma’am, I need you to step out of my driveway! I repeat: step out of my driveway. Thank you! MARGARET Uh, hello. My name is Margaret. Are you Matthew’s father? DAD/PHIL Yes, yes I am. You can call me Phil. Margaret did you say? Are you new to the neighborhood? MARGARET Um…I’ve been living next to you for about ten years now actually, but that’s quite alright. There’s something more important that I need to discuss with you…It deals with your wife, cool whip— Nice, nice…

DAD/PHIL

MARGARET And the fact that she drove your work van into my living room. Excuse me?

DAD/PHIL

(Meanwhile…) I promise. I don’t hate you.

MOM

MATTHEW Really? Because I’m pretty sure that you just attempted to light me on fire. MOM Oh, don’t be so melodramatic Matthew, I was only joking.

MATTHEW Oh, that’s good. Now I know that the next time you barge into my room with a murderous sneer on your face and a blow torch in hand, that you’ll only be joking. Thanks for the reference material. MOM That’s not even what happened… MATTHEW MOM! You’re still holding the blow torch! MOM Oh, whoops! Look Matthew, why don’t we just forget all of this happened, huh? Today’s been really weird. So; here’s my proposal. I’ll forgive you for making a scene at Burger King and crashing dad’s work van into the neighbor’s house and eating all of the cool whip and you can forgive me for trying to light you on fire. Then, I’ll bake you some cookies! MATTHEW What? No! That’s a horrible idea! YOU caused the scene at BK with your offensive, thirdrate, lower-class British monkey act. YOU crashed dad’s work van into the neighbor’s house because you were trying to drive, text, drink coffee, apply make-up and find an “appropriate” radio station because rap and hip-hop music causes me to “rebel.” It’s true…

MOM

MATTHEW YOU ate the entire tub of cool whip. And YOU just almost set me on fire. So no, I don’t want your cookies. Fine. You’re grounded. WHAT?!

MOM MATTHEW

MOM You heard me. I didn’t stutter. Now, put on some clean clothes, your father wanted to take you to help him shop for some parts for the kitchen sink or something…(MOM exits) 25

SCENE 3 DAD/PHIL Move away from the leopard print sir. I repeat: move away from the leopard print. MATTHEW Dad! Stop doing that! I’m not even looking at anything! Why are we here anyway? I thought we had to get parts for the kitchen sink? DAD/PHIL Obviously Matt, that was a lie so I could slip under the birthday radar undetected. Don’t worry though; we’ll still have to go to the hardware store for Margaret. You know, since you crashed my van into her house and all. MATTHEW I didn’t even do tha-! You know what, never mind. Do I really have to be here for this? DAD/PHIL Yes. This is part of your punishment. You have to help me pick out your mother’s birthday present. MATTHEW …Uh…Wow. Well, that’s gross. I’m gonna go now. Matthew. I need your help.

DAD/PHIL

MATTHEW I don’t care! I am not going to help you pick out lingerie for mom! What is wrong with you? DAD/PHIL But I don’t know anything about lingerie Matt! MATTHEW Dad. I’m 12. Neither do I. And, I’d really appreciate it if didn’t have to learn about the different styles of underwear for the sake of mom’s birthday! 26

DAD/PHIL You’re right. You are 12. Too young to be gallivanting about the mall by yourself. We wouldn’t want a catholic priest snatching you up now, would we? Sorry son. Excuse me, miss? Could you help me out? YOUNG WOMAN Yes, of course! What can I do for you? Well, I’m shopping for my wife…

DAD/PHIL YOUNG WOMAN

Mmhmm…

DAD/PHIL And I was wondering what kind of lingerie I should get. YOUNG WOMAN Okay. Well, let’s see what we can do. How old is your wife? DAD/PHIL Today is her 30 birthday. Mind you, she’s still a fox. Huh, Matt? th

What? Okay, so we can go a little skimpier— OhmyGod…

MATTHEW YOUNG WOMAN MATTHEW

YOUNG WOMAN —And is this more playful or romantic? Ohmy God.

MATTHEW

Why does that matter? Well, pink and lacy is more playful— What the fu-?! Matthew! Dad! Playful is fine.

DAD/PHIL YOUNG WOMAN MATTHEW DAD/PHIL MATTHEW DAD/PHIL

MATTHEW Great. Now that I know you’ve gleefully made your decision, please excuse me while I go regurgitate what I consumed during my fast food venture this afternoon. FIN