Literary State of Mind by Melissa Corey

First Edition

Literary State of Mind

produced by Benton High School Media Literacy 2012

C HAPTER 1

Artwork

This portion of the Literature Magazine will focus primarily on artwork made by members of the Benton community. The submissions range from comic pages to framed artwork. These pieces of artwork are a great representation of the talent here at Benton High School! section editors: Kayleigh Peregrine and Nicole Monshower

PHOTO CREDIT: KAYLEIGH PEREGRINE; A SIMPLE CHAIR

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Bird and Tree by Jonathan Linder

Biography: My name is Jonathan Linder and I'm a 10th grader. I like pie, pie is good, pie is awesome. Favorite Color: Green Grade: 11th ii

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Captain Green in Action by Eduardo Cruz Biography: I love to read and to make different types of art:) Favorite Color: Red Grade: 10th

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Fiction-topia by Stephanie Crawford

Biography: Tag student. Favorite Color: Blue or Green Grade: 12th

“A place where the greatest places of fiction all meet.”

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Geometric Swatches by Ronald Knight Biography: I am a 26-year-old Mathematics Instructor, as well as the Student Council Advisor for Benton High School. I am a huge supporter of the Arts and school Activities. Some day I will grow up and become famous. Favorite Color: Black, white, blue, grey Grade: Staff Member

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Grasping Death by Jessica Ball Biography: Jessica Ball is currently a senior in high school. She is involved in tennis, theatre, FBLA, StuCo, and art—among other activities. She is the author of the memoir ‘The Camera and the Calculator’, the true story of her struggle with death. It is available for Kindles on amazon.com. Favroite Color: Turquoise Grade: 12th

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Help Save Hope by Jessica Ball Biography: Jessica Ball is currently a senior in high school. She is involved in tennis, theatre, FBLA, StuCo, and art—among other activities. She is the author of the memoir ‘The Camera and the Calculator’, the true story of her struggle with death. It is available for Kindles on amazon.com. Favroite Color: Turquoise Grade: 12th

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Making Waves by Dillon Robinson Biography: I'm a freshman at Benton High School. Favroite Color: Orange Grade: 9th x

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Prowess by Molly Gach

Biography: I am a junior and I am currently taking AP two - dimensional art. My artistic passions consist of photography and two dimensional design. Favorite Color: Yellow Grade: 11th xi

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Thomakus by Colleen Prendergast Biography: I am Colleen Prendergast. I grew up with four older brothers, I am the only girl. I have red hair, I like to read and I love to do art. An artist that inspires me is Vincent Van Gough. I enjoy listening to music and it often inspires me to create. Create art, create music, and create beauty. Favorite Color: Green Grade: 12th xii

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Trees/ Mountain by Elizabeth Hernandez Biography: I am a sophomore and I enjoy spending my time expressing my creativity through art. Favorite Color: All Grade: 11th xiii

Chapter 2

FICTION This chapter is full of fictional stories. We hope that this section is as interesting to as it is to us. Enjoy your reading.

section editors: Cheyenne Dover, Matthew Ball, and Cody Keesler

FEAR By R.J. Baig

"Fear is in every moment, every action, trembling tanks, protests, A gun aimed towards an innocent human.

Fear peaks around the corner, waiting to grab, waiting to hold something. Fear will grab your hand, Fear will drag you to distant places, fear can lead your life.

Fear builds buildings, fear topples nations. Sirens, graffiti,barbed wire. Even innocent gentle things bring fear. Home-coming vets, birth of a child. Driving brings fear. Winning-losing, blacks, whites, Jews. Death. Fear.

Fear is the captain of the Army, fear is a taunt, a lunge, a shove. Fences, walls, Fear is scribbles on them in red, blood if you please, big, BOLD, letters stick out. Fear wants a place in the world.

Headless, haunting feelings, the embracing kiss, The embarking kiss. Gold metals, just walking the streets of your own city. All are fear.

Fear already has a place. Under every bed, in closets, on your mind, in the alleys, the frantic streets.

Broken windows, the glass sharp, dangerous, rips through people minds. Fear is on Tv, on the battlefield, in line at the store. Fear is all around, lurking in the shadows, plotting out a course of pain. It is waiting for the locks to open. Locks to doors, locks to minds. Locks to feelings, souls- happiness.

Fear rules, or tries to. Don't let it."

STRENGTH By Brooke Huffman

Strength is of Hands chained up with an eye in the middle of them. /Bio: I'm 16, I've been drawing and painting all my life. My favorite class has always been art. I plan on going into Graphic design in college.

THIN LINES By Shannon Calvert

"Underneath my smile

I wish for my heart to be spared

Holds a girl who isn't who you thought she was.

But it just continues to tear.

Underneath my eyes

I'm at my breaking point

Holds tears that just want to flood.

Cause i realize all i do is disappoint.

All my happiness

Everyone.

Is shown through a thin vale.

Every day. In the worst possible ways.

A vale of darkness and despair Hides my innermost feelings.

But i stand my ground Whether you like it or not.

I'm hiding in the shadows I was hoping the pain would be over.

I make my point clear

As i shed my final tear. You will no longer hurt me Cause i will not let you" Bio: I am Shannon. I draw and sing along with write. I love to write. I drive. I am getting a new vehicle. Yay. Anyway, I love my life and I wouldn't change it for anything.

THE NICE MAN By Mike Sewell

A nice man who had a nice car, a nice wife, some nice kids, a nice house, and a nice job ultimately had a nice life. Each day after working his nice job, he would drive home in his nice car to see his nice wife and nice kids at his nice house. Every time he was driving home, he would come to a fork in the road. Taking the left path led him right to the doorstep of his nice house, where his nice wife was waiting at the door. Everyday, this nice man would go onto the left path. He had once wondered where the other path, the right one, led to. As a teenager, this nice man had once been with some friends, and had decided to find out what lied beyond the right path. So the younger version of the nice man drove with his nice friends onto the right path, but less than a mile of being on the alternate pathway, he had a flat tire. So the nice man and his nice friends changed the flat and went back home, which was in the opposite direction of the pathway they were currently on. The next weekend, the nice man decided again to try and explore the mysterious realms of the right pathway with his friends, so once again they drove until they hit the fork in the road and they took the path leading to

the right. They got a little bit farther this time, but as they got deeper in, the nice man ran out of gas unexpectedly. He didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bother to check his gas gauge when he turned right, because when he traveled on the right pathway, the nice man just wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as observant as he usually was. The nice man didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t drive on that right pathway for a long time. He kept to the left and he resumed his nice life. He graduated from high school without any further drives on that right pathway, even though many of his friends were taking that path every day now. They seemed quite content with their choice of going down the right pathway, instead of the left. His friends enjoyed going down the path, even though they would constantly be wrecking their cars, having engine troubles and some of them even getting seriously hurt. They told the nice man that their path was better and it was a quicker, better, and easier way to feeling nice. But as the nice man listened to them, he realized his nice friends were not so nice after all.The nice man went through college successfully, and received a nice degree, which allowed him to later on get his nice job. During one of his classes, he also met a really nice 20

girl, who he began to talk with. They went on nice dates and had very nice conversations, and during one of those nice conversations, the nice man discovered that his nice date had also gone down a right pathway a few times at a fork in the road in her hometown, just like he had done back in high school. The nice man and the nice girl, after many nice dates, got married at a very nice ceremony, followed by a very nice honeymoon. During the nice honeymoon, the newlyweds recalled a conversation about that dreaded right pathway at the fork in the road. After a very nice discussion, they made a vow to never go down that right pathway ever again. The nice man and his nice wife bought a nice house and started their nice family and upheld their vow to never go down the right side of the fork in the road. Many of the people the nice man knew who were going down that right pathway on a regular basis were living lives that weren’t so nice. Some of his previously nice friends were now in jail, which was not nice at all. Some of them were left by their nice wives, some were in debt from all the constant car troubles, and some were even dead because of that one path. The nice man continued to take the left path all the same though. He continued to take the left path and live his nice life, with his nice job and nice family until one day, at his nice job, his not so nice boss, who regularly takes the right pathway was not nice at all with the nice man. The nice man was upset, angry, sad, and hurt by the things that his not so nice boss had said. While the nice man was getting off of work, he talked with his coworkers from his nice job and expressed his feelings. They told the nice man that if he would follow

them after work, they would cheer him up and turn his day back into a nice one. So the nice man followed his coworkers from his nice job home, but as they came to the fork in the road, they veered to the right. The nice man was uneasy and cautious at first, but was shortly relaxed by the calming scenery of the right pathway. He was driving on the pathway for quite a while, and he felt like he never felt before, when all of a sudden he hit a tree that seemingly was not there seconds beforehand. After some confusion and a ride home from his nice wife, the nice man sat at home thinking about the day’s events and how the nice drive with the beautiful scenery made his not so nice day into what he thought was a very nice day. What he seemed to be forgetting, was the not so nice result of his choice to drive on the right pathway. The next day, the nice man wasn’t feeling too good, and all through work he sat at his nice desk and could stop thinking about the right pathway. He wanted to see it. Right after working, the nice man drove as fast as he could in his nice car to the fork in the road, and he immediately drove his car onto the right pathway. He began driving faster and faster in that nice car of his and soon he was out of control. He drove his nice car straight into a ditch. The nice man and his car were both stuck. The nice man then proceeded to get out of his nice car, which was not so nice anymore and he began to walk. The nice man walked and walked and walked and although the nice man enjoyed nice walks, these were not walks that were nice. The nice man wandered for a countless amount of time along the right pathway, but he was trapped. He couldn’t leave the path. The trees, the flowers, and the 21

grass were all just too nice. He could not leave something so nice. The nice man walked and walked without ever leaving that pathway and while he was walking one day admiring a flower, a car came speeding down the path. It was a nice car, with another nice man inside driving it. The nice man was continuing to walk and wander and was too distracted by the nice flower to notice the nice car speeding forward. The nice man in the car was not looking forward though, for he was looking at a nice pasture of grass, deep into the right pathway. The car continued to speed forward towards the nice man, and neither nice men seemed to notice. The car struck the nice man right when he was bending down to admire the nice flower even closer. The nice man was nice no more.

W I D E S P R E A D L O C K - D OW N # 1 : D U S T By Matthew Ball

The Bantive sector a small solar system lying between the larger more populated sectors Fangan and Hive. The two habitable planets of the Bantive sector receive most revenue from traveling traders who are are moving between Fangan and Hive. The sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other source of revenue comes from tourists. The tourists come not to see sprawling cities but rather stunning mountain ranges, vast calm rivers, and peaceful rainforests.

one is well known among the locals of the Bantive sector. The manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name is Dust, Dust is a drifter. The man served a term serving in the Hive Federation military left without serving a second as most do. The locals of the world Dust lives on ,Red One, know better than to ask him to guard cargo. They know Dust enjoys a quiet life and will do what he wants. Other than that no one knows much about the man. Though as far as they know Dust suffered no injuries ,mental or physical, during his military term. Whether that was from luck,skill,or both none of the locals know or care.

The worlds of the Bantive sector also houses a its own share of criminals,and those wishing to disappear off the grid. All criminal activity is denied even though from time to time there are notable amounts of goods missing from trade vessels. Luckily for the Bantive sector the criminals are for the most part isolated and small time. This allows for them to remain only rumors and keeps the Hive Federation ,the sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ruling government, from declaring martial law.

Dust stood on the edge of the city looking out across the field of luscious grass and flowers. A slight calm breeze blew across the the land in front of him. Dust smiled and slung his pack over his left shoulder then the slung his semi-automatic rifle over his right. With that Dust began to walk over the cement sidewalk of the city and into the grass.

Out of the several people looking to disappear off the grid of the Hive Federation government ,for one reason or another,

As he walked Dust ran his hand over the smooth and hard leather hide he wore. He rapped against it three times to 23

make sure it was still in good condition. Dust had spent a long day buying food and medicine in the city for one of the grassland tribes. Dust was good friends with the leader of this particular tribe.

smaller tribe looked determined it also looked worried. The larger tribe was smirking and laughing at the smaller tribe. Dust examined the larger tribe there were fifteen men and ten women. Each carried crude rifles that looked as if they might be twenty years old. Still that gave them a large advantage over the small tribe who were brandishing crossbows and hatchets. Dust was out gunned and definitely outnumbered. The enemy however looked as if they were untrained and were used to getting their way easy.

So Dust began his journey across the open field. Dust watched the trees and could not help but feel at peace. On days like this Dust felt as if nothing could go wrong. Of course Dust did not give into these feelings he had been taught better than that after all. Dust passed the time by looking into to the sky. There werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t many planes in the air even on a clear day like this. The cities were not far apart from one another and most on the planet had decided to live nomadic tribe style lives. Dust did something of the sort, living off the land and such. Dust currently lived by a waterfall though he had lived many places over the years.

Dust unslung his pack from his shoulder he drew his machete from its sheath on his back. He moved behind a large nearby rock and set his machete down. Then he unslung his rifle from his shoulder and flipped off the safety. Dust ran back to his bag, he took aim at one of the men and fired.

At last Dust reached his destination, it was surrounded. Dust identified those surrounding the small village as warriors from a larger tribe that was farther out in the grasslands. The larger tribes were often known for their brutality towards the small tribes. The smaller tribes often never stood a chance.

The shot rang out in the open field, Dust was counting on that. Dust had learned long ago that noise could be as useful a ally as silence. Dust ran for the rock he had hidden his machete behind. He reached it just as the larger tribes warriors turned around to see what had happened. Two hurried to check on the warrior who had been shot. The men spread out and advanced toward the bag. leaving the ten women to guard the small tribe.

By the look of things this larger tribe wanted to take prisoners. The smaller tribe did not look happy about this and most of its warriors were on edge holding their weapons at the ready. The warriors of the small tribe were standing in a protective circle around the village children. While the

Dust took aim and fired again killing another one of the larger tribes warriors leaving the rest to move around looking 24

for the shooter. Dust fired two more perfect shots killing two more of the tribal warriors. Dust took aim and fired into two shots into the each leg of the warrior leading the remaining men. The man inevitably cried out in pain as he lay on the ground in pain. The ten men left had finally figured out his position and began advancing.

The warrior walked forward, put down his old firearm, and extended his hand towards Dust. “I said they weren’t worth dying for, What makes you think you are?” With that Dust dropped his rifle grabbed his machete and chopped off the warriors hand with one quick slice.

Dust having exhausted the ammunition in his rifle picked up his machete. Dust grinned slightly, after all these were not trained soldiers, there was a good chance they did not know his rifle was empty.

The Warrior screamed in pain. “Kill him! Kill him now!”

“Stop right there, we have you surrounded!” one of the warriors said as they formed a circle around Dust.

The remaining nine warriors flipped off the safety switches on their weapons. Dust knew his fortune had almost run out so he decided to take a gamble. Dust rarely did such a risky thing or took such a chance but he had no choice. After all it was try or die, take a chance at living or get busy dying.

“What makes you think I want to do that?” Dust said as he sheathed his machete. “We have you outnumbered and if you move we kill your friends.”

“So I guess this is the great honor the grassland tribes uphold. Nine men with guns against one man with a machete.”

“Fine kill them, they aren’t worth dying for.”

“He wishes to test our strength then.” Said one.

“You’re a good fighter I think we could help one another.”

“Well then let’s show him what we are made of shall we?”

To read more please visit: http://edgeofsanity-anc.blogspot.com/"

With that the nine men dropped their firearms and each pulled a small hatchet from their sides. Dust smiled, it appeared that he had risked it all and came out on top. The nine warriors charged, Dust jumped. With that jump Dust narrowly avoided all the nine warriors.

Bio: My name is Matthew Ball I enjoy creative writing in many forms. I love creating new fictional worlds and scenarios. I also hope to one day write creatively for a living.

Three of the warriors died in the collision as their allies hatchets hit their own flesh. The six that had survived turned to see Dust facing them with a one of their own discarded rifles. “What about honor?” “Something you should learn is that when you plan on killing someone, you should leave honor behind.” With that Dust fired the remaining bullets in the rifle into the final six warriors. By the time they hit the ground Dust was already gone. Dust picked up his rifle, sheathed his machete and shouldered his bag. Then Dust began his long walk home. On his way one thought crossed his mind. “Am I worth dying for?” Dust thought.

C HAPTER 3

Poetry

This chapter of our literary magazine contains original poems written by Benton High School’s own students. Each poem has been published in the poet’s favorite color per the magazine submission form. editors: Dorinda Chambers, RJ Baig, and Cody Daniels

PHOTO CREDIT: JESSICA BALL, HELP SAVE HOPE

The Holes

By: Savannah Torres

The holes in my heart are now gone no more pain nothing left. To tear my heart apart nothing left to make me cry no more. Tears will fall from my eyes no more crying myself to sleep. Biography: I am 16 I love to write poems and i love to draw.

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Angels That Cry  By: Dorinda Chambers

The Angels they cry in the heavens above, Send a message to us; Crying to us that we can achieve anything. We know when they’re crying, the rain falls and gently kisses our skin, the chills of the Angels going within you, helping you through every battle there is. When it rains, the angels grow the beautiful things, the old ones die and the new are born, help heal the ones that need it most. Like when a bird moves south for the winter and comes back in the spring. We cry to the Angels for salvation, the Angels that cry to us are our guardian angels who want what’s better for us. The tears that fall from the sky will bring us the joy and happiness we all deserve. This is how the Angels that cry bring so much love into us.

Biography: I've been writing since I was about eight years old and found out that's what I wanted to be in life and to also make a difference in the world. Nothing else to really say but that I LOVE SKITTLES!!!!!!

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That Dream By: Joseph Eaton La, la la la... Underneath the deep blue sky, The wind blows towards the future... As if to draw the rays of the sun into an embrace. I'll just let it push me around... Leaving only my footprints behind. So long as I have the air to stroke my cheek, And the soft grass to lie down upon... I needn't anything else, And I sleep with a contented smile... I stare into tomorrow, as it seems to stretch on endlessly... La, la la la... So long as I can hear the sound of the waves, They all remain a melody in my heart... Selflessly aimless, just like the drops of rain, The settling sun silently assures herself of all, Then she sinks towards the edge of the distant sea upon the horizon, Just as if to give him a farewell kiss. I continue my journey... All along this quest, Very few remain as my companions: The Sun, the Moon, the Sky, the Clouds, the Sea, the Grass, and the Sand. At least they are all the same; Proves I'm not such bad company after all. We all move at our own pace, Continuously wandering towards: That dream of a never-ending future... La, la la la...

Biography: Me? Personally there isn't much to say that others don't already know.. Other than I do my best to stand out and make myself secluded from others... I like to show my individuality. xxx

I Have Y! By: Cheyenne Dover

When everything around me, Starts to fall apart, I think of you, And it begins to mend my heart.

You brighten up my day, And are in my dreams at night, I don't want to imagine, You not in my life.

So when the world turns on me, And I'm lost and don't know what to do, I just have to remember,

Biography: I write poetry to get what I feel out without

I have you.

having to say a word.

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Hate that I loved You By: Margaret Copeland I hate how I loved you. I know that I’m suppose to hate you but I don’t. I need you to know this but You have her. I am falling apart knowing that I was just there for your pleasing. You knew how to get me to listen. You told me you loved me. Was it true? How am I supposed to know that You truly meant it? You will never understand how I feel. I want You to know. To feel the way I feel Why did you want to hurt me so badly? If you never meant it why did you say it? I know that I meant it. I will never have the will to look at you the same. Please tell me how you really felt. How you really saw me. Did you really love me? Was I just a person to talk to? So you didn’t have to be alone? Can you not handle the feeling of being alone? I think you should feel like I have.

Biography: I am 14. I was born 7-31-97. I love writing. I have been awarded 2 awards for my poems. xxxii

Torn By Kayleigh Peregrine She turns her back On the man

Who is torn between Her love

And his life As she battles the civil war Within herself,

He battles the anger And confusion

Left in his heart. The turbulence

That makes up their lives Exploding

Into the physical world.

As she turns her back On the man she once loved, Peace

Biography: Kayleigh is a sophomore at Benton High School that likes

Now fills her broken heart

theatre, band, and hanging out at the park with Beebs, Levi, Josh, and Austin. She loves to write and has an affinity for cats.

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C HAPTER 4

Nonfiction

This section contains non-fiction pieces, including memoirs, biographies, and narratives about the lives of our students. editor: Jessika Hoover

M IKE S EWELL

AHHHHHH! - The Sensation of Fear I am a junior here at Benton and I enjoy learning something new everyday. I enjoy writing and hope that others will it enjoy it too.

It creeps up behind me. It shows its face and then dissolves back into the shadows which shelter him. My heart beats faster. I can feel my heart crawling up through my chest up, slowly pulling at my neck, begging for a release. I feel hot and my arms are tense. They wait and they flinch at the slightest bit of change in this land of unpredictability. Do I run or hide? This monster lurks around every corner, across every street, and in every house. I will fight this monster with my adrenaline fully pumping, running into it head on. We clash and battle, with our mighty weapons of his unknown and my instinct. I put up every defense my body can throw at it. In this land of unpredictability, this monster is powerful. I call this monster fear. It is a sensation. It is a mechanism in our bodies that allows us to sense impending danger. It is a basic survival instinct that has been with life since it began. It follows us no matter who we are or where we are located. It is a powerful sensation, which our bodies fight endlessly and ef-

fortlessly in a never-ending battle to see who will reign triumphant. My battle with fear has been waging on ever since I can remember. I hide it though. I don’t let anybody see it. Trust me, it’s there. It’s always standing besides me, lurking behind me in the shadows. It never leaves me. The eyes of those around me scare me. What are they thinking? Are they talking about me? Silent eyes torture me while I feel like I’m being watched closer than the prey of a hawk. Their potential thoughts change the way I act because I am scared. I’m scared of what they think of me. I am not myself. Why aren’t we ourselves when we are trapped in the snare of fear? We surely are not physically different, but the way we think and the way we act is altered by this sensation. Our body starts taking in the environment around us and receives it in a very analytical way. This process is a natural thing and occurs for everybody, regardless of who you are. Taking a look at how our bodies interpret this battle of fear, we travel to the brain, the main weapon in this battle. There are internal stimuli located in our brains that are in the amygdala, a sensory and information storage section of our brains, that when triggered by a fearful experience taken in by our senses, result in a multitude of different behaviors that include anxiety and the emotion of fearfulness (Morse page 13). These sensory organs that are present in the human body pass information to the thalamus, a part of the brain that helps decode senses and motor functions, where the signals split and form two separate paths on their way to the amygdale. This is 35

really the threat center of the brain and is where the fearful sensation actually occurs (Layton page 2). According to Mr. Dave Brown, the head of the counseling department at Missouri Western State University, fear also defines the decisions we make in life. Mr. Brown has over thirty-five years of counseling experience and has specialized directly with fears, phobias, and emotions throughout the entirety of his career. He states that, “Fear of being injured prompts me to click my automobile seat belt, my fear of having a heart attack encourages me to order a salad instead of steak fries with cheese, or my fear of failure causes me to give up a weekend to work on a school paper.” Mr. Brown feels that fear can cause a change in behavior both physically and mentally. For me, my personal fear involving self-consciousness causes an emotional, more psychological change that can dictate my life and cause a change in behavior from me that just isn’t quite right. When our bodies show a change in behavior, our brain asks us a question. Fight or flight? This is the battle chant that our brain is yelling at us when we fight fear or run from it, around which many professionals base their studies of fear. This represents the two options your body has when confronted with a fearful situation. To produce this oh-soimportant fight or flight response, the brain activates two different systems: the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal-cortical system. The sympathetic nervous system manipulates nerve pathways to start reactions in the body, and the adrenal-cortical system manipulates the bloodstream. The combined effects of these two systems create the fight-or-

flight response. Every human and animal possesses this necessary trait. These systems release over thirty different hormones into your body and cause some interesting changes in your body. These changes are supposed to help your fight or flight instinct and save you from a dangerous situation. These changes are an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, an increase in blood-glucose level, dilated pupils, decreased concentration on small tasks, the shutdown of internal systems that are not essential, and the overall tensing of muscles in your body (Layton page 3). The intensity of the emotions portrayed by our eyes alone when we are experiencing fear is captured perfectly by a photograph taken by Jérémie Beaulieu, a photographer with a long line of history dealing with human emotions. They have a definite look of fear that screams you are afraid. Our bodies interestingly enough handle this automatically and we perform the change in the physical appearance in your eyes and other bodily changes without even thinking about it. This is our line of defense, which we activate to defend ourselves from attacks of fear. When our body feels like the threat is no longer present, then these changes go back to their original state and the body continues its normal functions. It really is an interesting concept that is just so autonomous for every living being here on this planet. Although fear is perceived as negative experience, without it, you wouldn’t be reading this today. We wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for fear. It is a necessary trait for survival. As Mr. Brown puts it, “It is only when our fears become too much, or more likely, become irrational that it begins to work against 36

us instead of for us.” He agrees that we need fear in our lives and that without it life would be really scarce. Not only that, but it helps build us up and become a better individual. It potentially has the power to let us strengthen our weaknesses and pinpoint places in our lives where we can improve, which we can build up with a strong foundation.

ply have to counter it with another set of rules for training. Most techniques about doing this to overcome a personal fear involve direct exposure. A fear is slowly introduced to the person until it finally leads up to direct physical contact and the person realizes there is nothing to be afraid of. It really is a simple, yet interesting concept.

Just like it is important to fear, it is important for us to anticipate. Luckily, our bodies automatically take care of that for us. For us humans, anticipation is a big factor and really gets in the way of our fear. When we are anticipating some kind of impending danger, we are predicting a bad thing that might happen. We don’t know for sure if it will make contact, but we anticipate it and prepare nonetheless. Not only is this a natural trait, but it is an evolutionary trait. Like Krishnamurti, an Indian philosopher that has dedicated his whole life towards his work on fear and the spiritual side to human emotions, exclaimed in his presentation on the origin of fear, “The ones who felt rain, and thus anticipated the lightning stayed in cave and did not get hit.” Krishnamurti boldly speaks that both fear and anticipation are needed in order for us to survive.

Applying that concept is what takes some effort on our part. I find that concept sometimes excruciatingly hard to apply because of a lack of self-confidence and the underlying thought about what people think of me. Each day I find myself a little better than before, by putting myself out there in situations where I view as vulnerable. Looking back to even a year ago, I experience this fear much less than before and I credit it to my personal ability and my brain’s ability to analyze my surroundings in a way that is not alarming to me. I greatly welcome other people’s thoughts and views about me and I try to stay away from a quiet, meek personality because I want to be a better person. That is my real motivation to win this battle with fear. In my motivation and attempt to overcome it, I realized that I am fearful of a potential future self that I do not want to be and am not happy with. So in a way, I needed this fear to open my eyes to my potential downfall. Fear was necessary for me. Although I am working stubbornly to overcome my self-consciousness, I needed the fear. I encourage everyone to recognize fear and understand that it is a necessary thing to have in your life. Only then will you be able to overcome it.

To survive fear is one thing. Overcoming fear is a whole different story though. It is actually learning to relinquish your fears and being in control of a potentially fearful situation. Overcoming fear actually is a lot more logical than you would think. In order to overcome a fear, a conditioned response that counters the conditioned fear response must be worked out in order to break that fear. Fear is definitely said to be conditioned, or trained, and to overcome this, you sim-

Works Cited Beaulieu, JĂŠrĂŠmie. Afraid Child Face. 2011. Photograph. Deviant Art. 1 Mar. 2011. Web. 31 Jan. 2012. <http://alpha040392.deviantart.com/art/Afraid-child-face-1 99384362>. Brown, Dave. "Questions on Fear." Message to the author. 29 Jan. 2012. E-mail. Krishnamurti, J. "The Origin of Fear." J. Krishnamurti Online. The Official Repository of the Authentic Teachings of J. Krishnamurti. 8 May 1982. Web. 18 Jan. 2012. <http://www.jkrishnamurti.org/krishnamurti-teachings/view -video/the-origin-of-fear-part-1-of-1.php>. Layton, Julia. "HowStuffWorks "How Fear Works"" HowStuffWorks "Science" Apr. 2009. Web. 22 Jan. 2012. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/hum an-biology/fear.htm>. Morse, Josiah. The Psychology and Neurology of Fear. Worcester, MA: Clark UP, 1907. Print.

K AYLEIGH P EREGRINE

Music Flows Through Us As a band geek, Kayleigh has found solace in music and in the band room. She loves music.

Heartbeats are mesmerizing. Have you ever noticed, that when you’re surrounded by bass, enveloped by the hit of the beat, your heart syncs up with it? The music flows through you. It’s keeping you alive. Like if the music stopped, so would your heart.

When playing music, I sometimes space out. I start thinking of the picture the music is painting. Or my mom, and how beautiful she is. I keep playing. I hit every note perfectly with all the dynamics flowing from my diaphragm, to my tongue, so it can shoot the crisp sound out of my horn for people to listen to. Or ignore. Reality pulls me back then. I realize that I have just spaced out. Meta-cognition, I think it is. Just as it happens when we read books, it happens when we read music. Not only do I read the music, I listen. To everyone. To the piece as a whole.

An entire band, brought together in one sound, yet so diverse in parts. It’s like a family. That’s what we are. A family. Driven by time signatures and the fluid movements of our band directors arms, conducting us through a march or something slower. Something pretty. Something that makes you think about the sounds smushing together. If you listen closely, the saxes, so boastfully, play every note perfect. Trumpets cry out about their family life. Flutes trill happily, but the tone is sad. Clarinets, one by one, take over the lead chorus, playing it back to the first chair. French horns yell into their 39

horns, creating a soothing sound that most wouldn’t associate with pain. They wouldn’t associate it with high-strung, pressured teenagers. The lonely bassoon cries softly. It’s not hurt because no one can hear it over the dozens of other instruments. It doesn’t struggle to be heard. It plays with soul. With every being, that bassoon lets loose everything keeping it back. Listen deeper into the guts of the sound. You can hear the lows bellowing out their pain into the disappearing sound. Once everyone drops out, the bassoon comes back for its chance to shine. It doesn’t just shine, though. It gleams with beauty. It makes the rest of the band listen to it’s unwritten pain. They sit and absorb the double-reeded vibration. The clarinets have counted their final rest, and join the blessed bassoon in the same intonation. The flutes hold a long, sustained note to amplify the sweet melancholy sounds being played. The lows sneak in with mellow tones. They don’t care if no one notices them. They are the heart of the band. The last measure is coming. Every instrument knows it. They all get ready for the final note. Breathe. Release of pain comes. Everyone knows it. Unspoken release. The Director cuts us off. It’s over. No one will admit it, but everyone feels the same.

Even the percussion, usually ignored, have felt the release. While they were bringing sticks down upon the stretched material that is a drum, or bringing mallets across bells to makes notes and chords, the rest of band was listening. Counting, Their hearts beating in unison. Rhythmically to the bass drum. They never tell us what to do. They merely as-

sist us. Every instrument is an asset. Without the saxes, we wouldn’t have that crisp, clear, brass sound. Without the flutes, there would be no high driving force to push us to the next phrase. Trumpets take over melodies; Taking them to a different place. The music isn’t on paper anymore. It’s in space. In the air. In our heartbeats. The lows. Oh the lows. Their sound is so big. So bulky. It sounds so in the way sometimes, but it sets the back beat. When everyone is dancing in the painted space, the lows are there with the melancholy beat. They keep everyone on track. The smaller instruments are there too. Adding depth into every sound. Every instrument we need. For without one, we are incomplete. When one is gone, you can feel the music not living up to its full potential. Without one, we are none. Without one, everything feels different. Off. It hurts when a full band is missing its heart. When we can’t be the best..

Can you imagine being in an empty theatre? No one else is there, except your family. The only people that truly understand your obsession for practicing, or staying late at school just to hang out in the band room. When no one can feel your sadness, or your longing for escape, music is there to soak up those feelings, then letting them loose in a frenzy of sound and rapid notes.

You see the director raise his arms up to start. You bring your horn to your mouth in preparation to play. His hands 40

come down, and the first note is painted into the air. This is music. Where words can’t explain what you want to let people know, notes and rhythms are there to yell at people. To scream into their faces, “THIS IS WHAT I FEEL! CAN’T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?” Most people don’t listen to the music. They look for their child in the ensemble. They beam with pride when they can hear their spawn play. But they don’t truly listen. The ones that do care the ones that actually care for music. They can see the picture being painted by dozens of small fingers. Dozens of humans that have yet to experience the full range of emotions. These adults that can feel with their ears are the real gifted people. Not someone who can play better than their classmates. One who can truly appreciate music is gifted.

When the music stops, and there are tears on faces of true musicians, you know that you did a good job. You probably missed a whole measure of notes, but you don’t care. You know that once that music has stopped, so have the hearts of your family members for a few seconds while they come back to reality. To where people hate and say mean things.

In a world of music, noting is hateful. Peace is the only language spoken. Children can speak this language even before they can form words. When a baby touches your face and looks deep into your eyes, you see so much wisdom in such a small, new body. Babies can’t hate. They love. Music is the

same. Music will never yell at you. Never not care. Music will always be there for you. “When words fail, music speaks.” There is no law when you’re wrapped in notes. When you’re swept away by the notes being drawn with your fingers. The notes that transform your thoughts into syncopation. Your feelings into time, your dreams into phrases. Even when you’re not in the band room, our bodies make music.

Tapping our fingers. Humming, whistling, clapping. Sometimes we even think about playing. We can’t wait to wake up in the morning and get to band class. We hang out there after school. We learn new instruments. Anything we do just to be in the band room. The high ceiling, the sound of a stand when you change it’s angle.

Music is all around us. At night, the insects chirp their own songs. Cars roll by with changes in pitch for each shifting year. People wouldn’t hear it. Most don’t. Others find the beauty in everything. Music is just like talking to your best friend. Or just talking in general. You may not be good at it, but it’s how you express yourself, that people will notice. It’s sad when people don’t accept others musical choice. Music is music. It’s just how one lets it affect them. Music is an international language that so many people speak.

If only more people spoke it. 41

M ARISSA H ERRING

The Day My Whole World Changed My name is Marissa, I'm 16 years old and I mainly write stories based on events that have occurred in my life. The activities that I'm in here at school are JROTC and FFA.

The day my whole world changed was a very long time ago, almost an eternity it feels like. So far back, that I can barely even remember it, it’s like when a mirror shatters, there’s only little fragments of what used to be a whole mirror, now instead of seeing your whole self you only see a tiny piece. Have you ever had someone tell you something about you when you were little and at first you don’t remember it and then something in the back of your head pulls that file of the memory and suddenly you remember it. Yah, that’s what my whole life from age 4 on down has been like. So you really want to know what happened a very long ago, almost an eternity ago? Well, for starters right now you would think I’m a normal sixteen-year-old girl, who has nice parents, house and a nice jacked up truck. It hasn’t always been this way you see. When I was born my life was anything but wine and roses. To be honest you would think that I would turn out like any other meth addict’s child would. With my “mother” (which I use the term

lightly because she not a mom, but more of an egg donor) getting pregnant at a party, doing every drug under the sun and leaving me everywhere and anywhere. The state taking me away a few days at a time, then my so called dad (there was never a paternity test), which was just really her man of the week, would come get me and my older brother out of the DFS office and give us right back to her. I will never understand why though, I had (human) bite marks all over me from where either my big brother bit me or my she or one of her crackhead friends got strung out on drugs and bit. I’m not really sure, I’m not sure I want to know. You want to know the one of the only thing that woman did right, I think I can count on my hand how many times that woman has done right. The one of her few things she did right was to start letting my dad’s (my adopted dad) family watch us while she was out doing only god knows what with god only knows who. She only did this though because her sister (my aunt Tracy which is now a meth addict too) found my brother and I in a trailer somewhere starving, dirty and she even said we had been there for about three days by ourselves. Stacy (my “mother’s” name) told my Great Grandma Shirley (I refer to her as my grandma) that she had just ran out to the store for some milk but she got side tracked. My grandma believes anything anyone of her grandchildren tell her which is just like every other grandma out there. Grandma did get smart and let her son and daughter take care of my brother and I. There was agreement that my Great Aunt and Uncle Toby and Tina (my adopted parents) would take care of me and Tinker and Terry 42

(my other great aunt and uncle) would care for my brother until Stacy got back on her feet. Meanwhile, while Stacy was out doing her own thing, my aunt and uncles were falling in love with both of my brother and I. What they thought would only be for a little while turned into three months, six months, then nine months and so on from there. While she was out doing her own thing little did she know what was about to happen that would change my life forever and hers forever.

I was about 18 months old when I started having nightmares, hot flashes and very high temperatures. Which luckily Tina (my adopted mom) took me to the doctor, even though they kept saying there was nothing wrong, my mom would go back to the doctor everyday until they finally started running tests on me. Then one day while my mom was most likely out to the store, Toby (my adopted dad) called and told my mom to rush home because the doctor had called and said to call them back ASAP, and also that they sounded concerned. So my mom rushed home and she called back to the doctors, little did she know it was going to be Children’s Mercy telling her to pack enough clothes for a week. I remember vaguely that it was raining really hard that night, but still they must have been driving 80 miles per hour down the highway to Children’s Mercy. When we arrived at the hospital they immediately put us in a room and they started putting a lot of IVs on me. Then came the moment of truth for my parents when the doctor sat them down and told them that I had ALL (Acute Lymphatic Leukemia) and that I would be put into surgery first thing in

the morning to put in a port to access all the medications I will need. After that heart breaking news Stacy showed up, of course only to think of herself. To be honest I really think this is where I started to hate her because when she was talking to my mom all she said was will you please adopt her because I won’t be able to handle this. My mom being the angel she is said yes, and immediately got on the paper work. In the process of me getting a new I was still going through Chemotherapy and radiation. With all the wonderful miracle team (Children’s Mercy Hematology /Oncology staff) I was in remission 13 days after I was diagnosed. Although, I wasn’t out of the woods yet, there was something to celebrate. My adoption process was concluded and my parents were granted the adoption and I was theirs to keep forever. A few years went on and I was done with treatment and I was starting school, everything was going good and then when I was 14 years old I was discharged from the Children’s Mercy. Now, I’m a healthy 16 year old who has a nice house, parents and a big jacked up truck. I would like conclude with a quote “Happiness is not a destination, but a journey.” Also, thank you to all my angels here on Earth who made me who I am today.

K YLE C OX

Across the Street I'm the awesome guy who is awesome. I'm in the 10th grade and I go to Benton.

I felt... a warm liquid on my back, and my sides. I lay face up on the cold street, the uneven cement grazing against my back uncomfortably just before I felt someone pick me up. I could realize that I was being carried by someone. I looked around just after being laid onto the moist grass. In thirty seconds flat, people were on all sides of me, gasping and whispering to one another. All of them looking at me. I felt my side out of curiosity. I noticed that warm sensation on my sides and back was spreading, really fast. I brought it to my face to look at it...

And I cried.

Everything started on that eventful day when I decided that I wanted to go to my friend Andrew’s house. He lived right across the street from me. It wasn’t anything but a 45 second,

maybe a minute walk there. He, along with my other neighbors, was probably one of my best friends at the time. I went to his house, and we played there for a few hours. Just did kid stuff. When I first showed up, his mom told me that she would walk me home. After a few hours, she changed her mind and got lazy I guess. I don’t blame her much. It was right across the street and the day was rather slow. Nobody was expecting people or anything. She told me to walk home.

I literally felt repulsed at the idea, because I usually had someone with me. Never crossed the street by myself before, save for a few times when the dog got outside of the fence and I was volunteered to chase it down. But I did it. I felt relatively confident in myself, anyways. I didn’t have much of a choice and I doubt that she would let me use her phone to call across the street. Well, I didn’t doubt it at the time, I was in the first grade; Looking back on it now though I do.

So I walked. I remember hearing a car’s engine roaring at me. I panicked and walked faster. I didn’t look both ways because I was scared of being blindsided. So I hurried. If I got by fast enough, I couldn’t get hit, right? Wrong. As the sound got louder, I broke off into a run. Almost immediately, I was hit, I suppose. I didn’t remember the point of impact that well. I started to run and then I remember suddenly being jerked through the air. 44

The car went under me.

Looking back on it today, I feel so grateful it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go the other way. Had I rolled under that car, I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be able to write this today. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be dead. It would definitely be a lie if I said I was the same person as I was a day before that happened to me, too. Crossing the street safely is one of the many, many simple and regular things in life that we take for granted, and this experience helped me to realize that.

J ESSICA H UNT

The Story of Me I'm a sophomore at Benton high and love writing creative stories.

When I was around the age of seven my life changed drastically. To tell you the beginning of this story I need to tell you the ending of another. Actually, it isn’t much of a story, more like a small little tragic insert. The beginning, I was born, my dad didn’t want me, the end. Told you it was short.

So on to the beginning of the actually story, and yes this one is actually a story. You see my mom was the most amazing mom there could ever be. She was young, smart, and strong. Dawn, my mom, raised my brother and I by herself. Of course, she had a little help every now and then, but she did everything herself. She graduated from high school, went to college, worked, and still took care of my brother and I. Told you she was strong. As the years went on life wasn’t the best, we didn’t have that much money, and I could tell my mom was starting to get lonely, even though she told me countless times that all

she needed in life was for my brother, Jordan, and I to be happy and healthy. Though I know this was true, I knew she needed something else, but being so young, practically a baby, didn’t understand what she needed.

Here comes the part that changed my life forever. My mom met a guy. I knew it wasn’t just any guy because she actually let me meet him, talk to him. Things were different, I could see a slight bounce in my mom’s steps and I wondered if this guy was the cause of this. It turns out he was. He was the cause for those moves but also for so much more to come.

Years rolled on and my mom and the guy that I come to know as JR, or dad, got married, then a little while later JR joined the army and was off to basic. Right after basic training he was immediately stationed to what would become our new home, Germany. I know, I know moving to Germany doesn’t sound horrible, and when you’re a six year old you’re up for anything. So to Germany we all went!

As time passed by, we didn’t really see much of JR, not by choice of course, you see he was constantly training. Then came one of the most dreaded days of my life, JR was going to war. I didn’t really understand the concept of where daddy was going. I just knew I would see him even less than I did 46

now, and that there was a possibility that he would never come home.

When we dropped him off I looked around at all the other families saying goodbye to their loved ones and saw so much pain and sadness. I looked up to my older brother and saw a few tears roll down his face. That’s when I knew; I knew that if my brother was crying I should be too. So I took one last look around the place, then at my family, ran into my dad’s arms and cried. I didn’t want him to leave and I made that perfectly clear. Unfortunately we don’t always get our way. One short hour later I was curled up in my mom’s arms crying into her chest.

The beginning is always the worse part. All I can remember is my mom looked out the window with fear and worry on her face. I never really knew why until today. Every military family can tell you that their greatest fear is to see two or three men get out of the back of a car, walk up to your door with a letter. You never even needed to read the letter to understand what was happening. Just when you saw them, you knew that you would never see your dad, mom, sister, or brother again. That the night you sent them away was your last day together. As a seven year old I didn’t understand, I didn’t know. The unknown can be a scary thing, but sometimes it’s a saint.

As days turned into months, life started to get a little easier. It helped a lot that there were a thousand families going through the same thing you were. It’s hard for me to explain the closeness you feel with other people who are going through the same thing you are. We had these meetings every week, where the wives would sit in a big room together discussing the news about the war, and the kids would be in the other room playing.

One day I decided that I wanted to sit in with my mom and listen to what was being said at these meetings. I was astonished at the closeness and love you felt with people who were practically strangers. In the end you could tell that we actually were just one giant family. I felt safe, cared for, but above everything it felt right. I wasn’t so scared anymore.

When the men finally came back from Iraq you could tell they were happy to be home, but you could also tell that something was different about them. They went through something that none of us will ever understand. It was a little weird to have JR home at first, but eventually the schedule fell back into place.

Just when things started to go smoothly, everything shifted once again, almost like a tornado came through our lives and 47

tore everything up, everything that took us forever to build. JR was, once again, going back to Iraq; back to war.

I don’t want to say it was easy to say goodbye to him this time around, but I was older and knew what to expect. I knew that no matter how much I begged him not to go, to not leave, he would anyways. I had no choice in the matter and neither did JR. Things just were what they were, no matter how much I hated them.

About six months had passed by and I noticed a change. My mom and brother knew something I didn’t. When I found out what it was I was furious, furious that they didn’t tell me, and more importantly furious that it happened. What happened? Well JR’s tank ran over a tank and blew up. He was injured but I didn’t know to what extent. My life flipped upside down. I started to turn into a little angry monster. No matter what anyone said or did, I hated them.

Luckily JR was okay. He got really injured but the most important part was that he was alive. I started to cool down a little bit after JR got home but I still had all this hate built up inside me, hate that would eventually bust out and make me ugly. Time rolled on and we finally moved back to the US. Life was a little rough because we didn’t really have a home and I had

no friends. We were living in a motel in Georgia. It was summer and I was sitting in a small room staring blankly at the TV. That was not who I was. During the summer I was outside, playing with friends, going to the movies. My life was miserable.

As the school year approached I was sent to Topeka, Kansas to live with my grandma. By then I wasn’t myself. I was a depressed shell of myself. Even as I look back at who I was, all I see is a stranger. I’m ashamed of who I was. I started my eighth grade year as a whole new person. I wasn’t social at all, and if you knew me at all, you would know that, that is totally out of character. I talk a lot! I think in eighth grade I had one friend, maybe two. As I went into my freshman year I was a little better. I think I started to heal. Then of course something had to come and ruin it.

My mom got a job but the kick was it was in St. Joseph, Missouri. So once again I was moving, in the middle of freshman year. It wasn’t the easiest time for me but I sucked it up, my mom needed this job, she needed this change. Who was I complain? My first day at Benton High School was the best day ever. Nobody talked to me and all I could think was that I was once again the new weird girl. Well here I went into that dark narrow road of depression. I had quite a few friends, and was really trying to fit in but there was just something wrong with me. I wasn’t happy. 48

My mom finally took me to the doctor where I was prescribed antidepressants. I was ashamed of myself. I mean before everything happened I was one of the most happy-go-lucky girls ever, and here I was now seven years later needing pills to make me happy. It turns out those little white pills changed my life. As I was finishing freshman year I started to slowly go off my pills, then when sophomore year finally came around I was completely off of them and a completely new person. I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the same as I once was but I was as close as possible.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m glad to say that there is no ending to this story. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still in the process of being written.

E DITED

S HANNON C ALVERT

AND MEGAN

L ONGORIA .

Photography

Unfortunately, not all pieces submitted into the photography section could be published in the Literary magazine for many reasons. We apologize for all pieces that did not make an appearance. If you believe your photos should have been in the magazine, please submit them again next year. We had a lot of good pieces and it was hard to decide which pieces would actually be submitted. Thank you for all your help to make the Photography section of the magazine phenomenal. -Megan Longoria and Shannon Calvert, editors.

COVER PICTURE TAKEN BY MEGAN LONGORIA

Mockingjay by Megan Longoria. Grade: Sophomore. Favorite Color: Yellow. Biography: I m married to Niall Horan, Liam Payne, and Josh Hutcherson.

Dark Land by Cody Keesler. Grade: Sophomore. Favorite Color: Pink. Biography: I was born, now I live.

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Photography. by Rachel Gardner Grade: Sophomore. Favorite Color: Purple. Biography: I'm in my second semester of photography and I really enjoy it. Mrs. Davis is the best teacher ever. Just to look at my photographs now, compared to the ones I took at the beginning of the year, the change is crazy.

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Untitled by Michael Gunter Grade: Senior. Favorite Color: Purple. Biography: not available.

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A Tree by Kayleigh Peregrine. Grade: Sophomore. Favorite Color: Blue. Biography: Kayleigh likes to take pictures of odd things. She thinks nature is beautiful and should be photographed more often.

A Flower by Kayleigh Peregrine. Grade: Sophomore. Favorite Color: Blue. Biography: Kayleigh likes to take pictures of odd things. She thinks nature is beautiful and should be photographed more often.

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Path Less Traveled By by Shelby Lasley. Grade: Sophomore. Favorite Color: Purple. Biography: I was blessed to view creation through blue eyes. Seeing the wonders of the world that God chose to set upon this Earth for us. I am a follower of Jesus and I will be till the ends of time! I love to draw, take photographs, hang out with friends and play volleyball. I love the way you can express yourself and your feelings through a single image or word, what people need to see is that life is full of beauty.. we just have to notice it.

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Sweetest Escape by Shelby Lasley. Grade: Sophomore. Favorite Color: Purple. Biography: I was blessed to view creation through blue eyes. Seeing the wonders of the world that God chose to set upon this Earth for us. I am a follower of Jesus and I will be till the ends of time! I love to draw, take photographs, hang out with friends and play volleyball. I love the way you can express yourself and your feelings through a single image or word, what people need to see is that life is full of beauty.. we just have to notice it.

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Sunset Sunday by Kaitlin Smith. Grade: Sophomore. Favorite Color: Purple. Biography: I started photography last semester with Ms. Molly Read, and continued it into this semester with Mrs. Lynn Davis.

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Garage Frame by Kaitlin Smith. Grade: Sophomore. Favorite Color: Purple. Biography: I started photography last semester with Ms. Molly Read, and continued it into this semester with Mrs. Lynn Davis.

Ball Frame by Kaitlin Smith. Grade: Sophomore. Favorite Color: Purple. Biography: I started photography last semester with Ms. Molly Read, and continued it into this semester with Mrs. Lynn Davis.

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Minnie: ReďŹ&#x201A;ection by Kaitlin Smith. Grade: Sophomore. Favorite Color: Purple. Biography: I started photography last semester with Ms. Molly Read, and continued it into this semester with Mrs. Lynn Davis.

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Garage by Kaitlin Smith. Grade: Sophomore. Favorite Color: Purple. Biography: I started photography last semester with Ms. Molly Read, and continued it into this semester with Mrs. Lynn Davis.

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Documentary by Kaitlin Smith. Grade: Sophomore. Favorite Color: Purple. Biography: I started photography last semester with Ms. Molly Read, and continued it into this semester with Mrs. Lynn Davis.

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Puddle & Lines by Kaitlin Smith. Grade: Sophomore. Favorite Color: Purple. Biography; I Started photography last semester with Ms. Molly Read, and continued it into this semester with Mrs. Lynn Davis.

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The Bluest Skies by Shannon Calvert. Grade: Junior. Favorite Color: Green. Biography: I m almost 18. I am nothing more, and nothing less.

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Smilin Chevy by Shannon Calvert. Grade: Junior. Favorite Color: Green. Biography: I m almost 18. I am nothing more, and nothing less.

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C HAPTER 6

Drama

This section contains dramatic pieces, including one-act plays written by our students. editors: David Murphy and Adriana Lembke

Love Me for Me by Lynsie Petersen

CAMILLA  So what? Isaiah isn’t a jerk; he won’t reject you because of a disability. SAIGE  Yeah, whatever. I’m going to be alone forever. (SAIGE exits STAGE RIGHT)

“All my writings are based off of my life and my struggles. I hope that someone can benefit from my writing like I have.”

CAMILLA  Saige! Wait! (Chases after SAIGE. Blackout)    SCENE 2  (CAMILLA and ISAIAH are standing in the hallway, CENTER STAGE)    CAMILLA  Yeah, she really likes you.

SCENE 1

(SAIGE and CAMILLA are standing in the hallway at school; STAGE RIGHT. ISAIAH enters STAGE LEFT)

ISAIAH  Yeah? I like her too.

SAIGE  There he is. He’s so cute!

CAMILLA  Really?

CAMILLA  Then go talk to him. It’s not that big of a deal.

ISAIAH  Yeah, But why doesn’t she ever talk to me?

SAIGE  Maybe for you—you don’t have Brachial Plexus.

CAMILLA  She’s afraid that you won’t like her because of her disability.  lxix

ISAIAH  Really? Does she think I’m that shallow?

CAMILLA  What???

CAMILLA  I think so. Everyone else seems to be.

SAIGE  You were flirting with Isaiah and you know I like him!

ISAIAH  Oh. Well…  (SAIGE enters STAGE LEFT)

CAMILLA  I was NOT flirting. We were just talking.

SAIGE  Sure you were. (Clearly upset) You were the one person that I thought would never do that to me, and you did. You’re my sister! You’re supposed to be my best friend. Best friends don’t do that to each other. (Starts crying)

SAIGE  (Surprised) What are…you guys doing?

CAMILLA  Hey sis. We are just talking.

SAIGE  What about?

CAMILLA  I know, but it’s not what you think, Saige. I swear. I’d never do that to you. I’d never do that to anyone. You know that.

CAMILLA  Nothing.

SAIGE  (Still crying) Whatever. You may be my twin, but you are no longer my sister. I’m going home! (Starts to exit STAGE RIGHT)

ISAIAH  Well, I’ll see ya around Camilla. Bye Saige. (ISAIAH exits STAGE LEFT. SAIGE’S eyes follow HIM)    SAIGE  (Checks that ISAIAH is out of ear shot) I can’t believe you!

CAMILLA  (Grabs SAIGE’S arm) Stop, Saige. Please listen to me. I was not flirting with Isaiah. I know how you feel about him and I would never do that.  lxx

SAIGE  (Pulls her arm away) Leave me alone, Camilla! (Runs off STAGE LEFT, crying)

SAIGE  Who? No one ever buys the bruised apple or the torn package. If it’s not perfect, it’s unwanted. I’m the bruised apple and the torn package. I’m not perfect.

CAMILLA  (To the audience) I don’t know what to do anymore. Saige always gets really emotional, especially when it comes to boys. That’s because she has BPI—that is a Brachial Plexus Injury. You don’t know what that is? Well, let me back up a little. We’re twins. I’m older by 5 minutes. But Saige had…complications. Her neck got pulled and her nerves in her neck and shoulder were torn out of place—a birth Brachial Plexus Injury. She can’t use her left arm for much. It makes life kind of difficult. Usually people push her around and so she’s little touchy. Maybe one day it’ll change. (Blackout)

Scene 3  (SAIGE and MOM are standing in the kitchen)

SAIGE  It’s still not fair. Camilla is a beautiful, perfect package. All the guys want to date her. Especially Isaiah.

SAIGE  (Crying) I watched her, Momma. She was flirting with Isaiah. She knows how much I like him. And he’ll probably date Camilla. That’s how it always happens. No one wants someone who isn’t normal. I’m gonna be a lonely cat lady.

MOM  How do you know?

MOM  No you won’t sweetie. There’s someone out there who loves you for who you are. Even with your disability.

(CAMILLA enters STAGE LEFT)

MOM  God has already picked out your husband for you. You just have to wait for him to come. He’ll come a knight in shining armor and sweep you off your feet.  SAIGE  When? ‘Cause I’m tired of waiting.    MOM  Don’t ask me. Ask God.

SAIGE  I just do.

CAMILLA  lxxi

Hey Mom. Hey Saige. (SAIGE exits STAGE RIGHT) What’s wrong with her?

Then you should try to explain it to her now.

CAMILLA  Is it a good idea? I don't think it is. She's pretty upset.

MOM  She’s upset because she thinks that you were flirting with that Isaiah boy at school. She said she saw you.

MOM  It’s your call. But she IS your sister. (MOM exits STAGE RIGHT)

CAMILLA  No. It’s not like that at all. Isaiah and I are lab partners and we were talking about our Chem II assignment and then he asked how Saige was and I admitted that she really likes him, but she’s afraid that he’s just like everyone else.

CAMILLA  (Calling after her) You know I hate it when you do that! (Exits STAGE RIGHT. Blackout)

MOM  And how’s that?

SCENE 4

(SAIGE is sitting on the floor, doing homework. MOM enters STAGE LEFT)

CAMILLA  Shallow. He’ll try to push her around because of her arm and her insecurities.

MOM  Saige, someone is here to see you. (ISAIAH enters STAGE LEFT and MOM exits STAGE LEFT)

MOM  Have you tried to explain that to her?

CAMILLA  Just that I wasn’t flirting with him. Then she ran off. She was hurt and I know better than to try and change her mind when she’s hurt.

SAIGE  Just a minute. I’ll go get Camilla.    ISAIAH  No need. I’m here to see you.

MOM

SAIGE  lxxii

Do you need math tutoring?

RIGHT)

ISAIAH  (Sitting down next to her) No. I have a question for you though.

CAMILLA  I heard everything.

SAIGE  What? Are you jealous?

SAIGE  What?

ISAIAH  Will you go out with me?

CAMILLA  No. I’m excited for you. Your first date.

SAIGE  Did Cam ask you to do this?

SAIGE  Why do you care?

ISAIAH  No. This is all my doing I swear. I’ll even take a lie detector test is you want. I really like you.

CAMILLA  Saige, listen to yourself. You’re acting like The Pops. Family always cares, even when things get heated between them.

SAIGE  Oh. Well, sure. I’ll go out with you.

SAIGE  I guess you’re right. I’m sorry Cam.

ISAIAH  Awesome! I’ll pick you up Saturday at 7. See ya then!

CAMILLA  It’s ok, Saige. I love you.

SAIGE  See ya.

SAIGE  I love you, too.

(SAIGE and CAMILLA hug)  (ISAIAH exits STAGE LEFT and CAMILLA enters STAGE

lxxiii

CAMILLA  Now, let’s start planning for your date. I think we need to go to the mall. (CAMILLA exits STAGE LEFT)

(Third girl) You don’t date people outside of your social group! I’m sorry Isaiah, but you are no longer part of The Pops. (THE POPS exit STAGE RIGHT, pushing SAIGE as they go. SAIGE falls)

SAIGE  That’s when I realized that life wasn’t a giant pity party. I learned that not everyone was going to take advantage of me. And, just because one or two people are shallow, there are those who truly care about you and love you for who you are.

ISAIAH  (Helping Saige up) I’m sorry, Saige.

SAIGE  I can’t stand those girls. They’re always doing stuff like that to me. They always have. I didn’t ever do anything to them. I just don’t understand.

SCENE 5  (SAIGE and ISAIAH are standing in the hallway (STAGE RIGHT), holding hands. THE POPS enter STAGE LEFT)

ISAIAH  They’re jealous.

THE POPS  (One girl) What’s wrong with you?

SAIGE  Of what? They have everything they want. All the hottest clothes, the boyfriends, the friends, the money, the looks, everything!

SAIGE  What? I wasn’t doing anything to you.    THE POPS  (Different girl. Ignoring Saige) Why would you go out with her?

ISAIAH  Not me. I’m all yours.

ISAIAH  (Smiles at SAIGE) Why not?    THE POPS

SAIGE  But they’re perfect. I’m not    ISAIAH  Good.  lxxiv

I love you too.  SAIGE  (Shocked) What?

(ISAIAH and SAIGE hug and exit STAGE RIGHT, holding hands. Blackout)

ISAIAH  I don’t want perfect. I dated all three of them. That was the worst three days of my life. They’re “perfection” is carried along with a ton of drama.

SCENE 6

(Curtain closed and everyone is on the APRON. ISAIAH is standing STAGE RIGHT, SAIGE is CENTER STAGE, and CAMILLA is STAGE LEFT)

SAIGE  True. But why do they always come after me?

ISAIAH  They have this thing in their minds that goes off when they find someone who has a weakness. They know yours. Don’t let it bother you. This is what they want—you to be upset and hurt. They thrive off that pain. Don’t let them have it.

ISAIAH  (Spotlight) That’s when I knew. Love didn’t stay in cliques. Love comes and goes as it pleases and will get whomever it wants. I might be captain of the football team and Saige may be the theatre girl, but love has brought us together. (Blackout)

SAIGE  Thanks Isaiah.

CAMILLA  (Spotlight) After all that high school throws at us, the only thing that matters is your friends and family. When it’s all said and done, those you love and care about will be there forever. Forget about those who hurt you and focus on those who love you. (Blackout)

ISAIAH  Besides, I think you’re perfect. (SAIGE looks confused) Saige, I don’t care if you have a disability. You’ve figured out how to continue life without full use of one arm. That shows that you’re strong and I love that more than looks or anything money could buy.    SAIGE

SAIGE  (Spotlight) High school might have been some of the worst years of my life, but I learned a lot. One thing I learned; some people love you, others hate you. Those who love you are the lxxv

most important. (ISAIAH and CAMILLA walk over to SAIGE and hold hands. SAIGE looks at CAMILLA) Cam, I know we’ve been through a lot, but you are the best sister a girl could ask for. I love you. (Looks at ISAIAH) Isaiah, you’ve taught me the most important lesson anyone should ever know. That lesson? I’m a person. Not a disability. (Blackout)    (End Show)

lxxvi

Loose Change by Kayleigh Peregrine “I like to write things, draw things, look at things, and do things. Not very specific things. Just things.”

(put the lights on Scott and Ramona, standing frozen in CS) Narrator: Now, they were happy. That was, until the boy found out that, in order to date the love of his life, he would have to defeat seven of his loves evil ex-boyfriends. I know what you’re thinking, “Oh! But mister Narrator Man! Who would risk their life for a girl?” (says in a girly, mocking tone) Narrator:

---------------------Beginning---------------------Intro: In the dark (Narrator walks onstage into a spotlight from SR. Wearing a Sombrero, a moustache, a poncho, and a whip.) Narrator: (coughs important-like) Alright kiddies, I’m going to help you through a little story. I’m not here to tell the story to you. I’m merely an aid. Like a dictionary, an encyclopedia...Or google (said with disapproval). It’s not a terribly long story, but a story nonetheless. We start out with a boy, or a man, whatever you prefer, and his girlfriend..

OH! Right you are little girly voice! But see, he loved her so much, that he risked it. He was a brave man, and defeated three of them. Just four more to go, right? Well, what he didn’t count on, was the other “unplanned” Evil-Exes. (walks to the CS between Scott and Ramona, putting an arm on each of their shoulders) Narrator: This is how it goes. ---------------------------End of Intro-----------------------Scene 1: Outside the Apartment (Scott and Ramona walk to Scott’s Apartment door from SL, finishing up a conversation.)

lxxvii

Scott: Yeah! Did you SEE what happened to him?! Todd was all like, “Oh No! Don’t hurt me!” and those vegan officers, like, shot him with their fingers with some telepathic mumbo-jumbo AND took his powers away . Then I kicked him in the face, and he burst into coins! (everyone freezes as the narrator walks onstage from SL now wearing a bandanna and sunglasses, carrying a sword.) Narrator: Just a note here, whenever Scott defeats an Evil-Ex, they burst into coins. Like a video game.. Take A Sonic game for example. You keep running and running, then run into some stupid spikes, and loose all your rings. Only opposite, but.. Okay, never mind. Nothing like that. But, you get the point right? Oh, and Todd? He was the previous defeated Ex-boyfriend. He was a vegan. And being vegan meant he had telepathic powers or something. He ate some non-vegan food, and the Vegan Police came after him, and took his powers away. Poor boy.

Scott: Oh you. (pause) Oh Yeah. I guess I’ll catch you at the library in a bit, right? I have to talk to Wallace about the apartment... and things. Ramona: Oh! Yeah. Sure thing. I’ll see you there. (They part ways, Scott exiting through a door SR, and Romona exiting to SL) ---------------------------End of Scene 1-----------------------Scene 2: The Apartment (Scott walks through the door quickly, heading towards the fridge) Wallace: Hey. What the hell are you doing? (Scott stops and stares at Wallace)

(narrator walks off the way he came on, and they unfreeze.)

(Narrator walks onstage with a fedora and a telephone)

Ramona:

Narrator:

Totally. I admit, you’ve done pretty good thus far. I’m glad to know you can handle it.

Wallace is Scott’s Roommate. Wallace is, uh. Gay, though Scott is not. Wallace buys everything, because Scott doesn’t lxxviii

have a job. Scott’s just in a band. What Wallace does, I’m not so sure. Something along the lines of a Telemarketer or a Technical Help line.. or something. (Walks off stage) Scott: Wh--What? I’m walking.. to the fridge? Wallace: Aren’t you supposed to be training for your next fight? (Wallace looks at Scott unamused, and raises an eyebrow) Scott: But.. But... I’m not scheduled to fight one for the next month! (Scott looks sad, grabbing the handle on the fridge.) Wallace: You know you really should train. What if you get into a fight accidentally, then what are you going to do? (Wallace looks out into the audience, trying to imply something)

(Awkward pause, both characters looking out to the audience) Scott: OH! Hey! Can you walk with me to the library to meet Ramona? I get scared cause of the dark sidewalk I walk down. I need your emotional support. (Wallace sighs, closing his eyes and rubs his temples.) Wallace: If I must, I shall. Just don’t start screaming like a little girl when a cat rustles some bushes, alright? Scott: Okay! ---------------------------End of Scene 2-----------------------Scene 3: Outside the Apartment Pt. 2 (Now outside the Apartment) Wallace:

(Scott takes out a milk carton and takes a swig)

So. How are things with Ramona?

Scott:

Spph, what are you talking about. I think you’re talking nonsense.

Oh, I’d say it’s quite good. I just can’t help but think something bad is going to happen, ya know? lxxix

Wallace: Well, no. I don’t know. Scott: You’re a big help, you know that right? Wallace: I try, Scott, you know I do. (the bushes rustle beside them) Scott: What was that?! Wallace: I TOLD you, not to freak out if the bushes rustle! Scott: But! It was like, the entire bush! (Scott looks at the bush skeptically) Wallace: Grow a pair and shut up. Scott: (mumbling) It’s not my fault.

(a Figure jumps out of the bushes onto the sidewalk in front of them) Donald: YOU! Scott Pilgrim! I CHALLENGE YOU! (Wallace looks Appalled) Wallace: Crap. Um Scott. I’m sorry. This is.. uh... Donald. An uh.. Ex of mine.. Scott: Um. What. Donald: I have come to fight you Scott Pilgrim! Say your last words! (Scott looks confused, and stares at Wallace.) Scott: But.. Do I have to FIGHT him? WHY? I don’t understand...! Wallace: I Guess-(Donald yells) Donald: lxxx

I am DONALD. PREPARE TO DIE!

Scott:

(Scott tries to dodge out of the way, stumbling a bit.)

Aw. Sorry. I didn’t mean to, Wallace. Are you mad?

Scott:

Wallace:

Woah Woah WOAH! I think you got it all wrong Donald! I’m not--

Eh. He was just an old Ex. Nothing big. First Love, mainly.

Wallace:

Scott:

DONALD. He’s Not--

I wish I had time to tell him that I wasn’t gay, and that I wasn’t dating you. What a jerk.

Donald:

Wallace:

SHUT UP SCOUNDREL.

Well, looks like I was right about someone randomly coming and challenging you to a dual. Better start training, eh?

(Donald throws a couple more punches, all being blocked by Scott, and attempting to hit Donald’s head.)

Scott:

Wait, when did you start saying Eh?

Jesus! Let me get a word in, alright?! This is a misunderstanding! I’m not--

Wallace:

(Donald gets back up, and tackles Scott to the ground, cutting off his sentence) Wallace: STOP IT! Shut up. RIGHT NOW. (Wallace races over to Donald and pushes him off. Scott kicks Donald off SL, where someone throws coins onto the stage.)

What. I’m a Canadian. (Scott looks at Wallace blankly) Scott: Right. Well. What’s the story behind him? (Narrator walks on stage wearing a banana suit) Narrator: lxxxi

You see, Scott and Wallace met in high school. It’s fuzzy how exactly they met. But they’ve been friends ever since. And the fact that Scott..mooches off of Wallace. (A projector screen comes down and starts playing the movie with Wallace’s voice-over.)

Oh Look! There’s Ramona! Yeah. Let’s get coffee. -------------------End of Scene 3---------------Scene 4: The Library Ramona:

Wallace:

(by the counter) Hey guys!

Before I met you, I had gone out with Donald Hardly. He was pretty cute, for being a nerd. It had gotten out that I was gay, and he came to me, asking if it was true, and he opened up to me. We started hanging out, and eventually dated. It was all okay for a while, but he changed. He started to hang out with the cooler people. He wasn’t the same, so I broke up with him. It was very tragic.

(Ramona gestures over to her)

(Movie ends. Screen goes up.)

Ramona: How was the walk over here? (Question asked as they’re walking through the library.) Scott:

(Scott stares at Wallace)

You wouldn’t believe it, Wallace’s first ex-boyfriend came after me! I almost died!

Scott:

(Wallace and Ramona raises an eyebrow.)

Well, uh. that’s. Nice. Oh Hey. We’re here.

Wallace:

(Wallace looks up at the library.)

It wasn’t that bad, Scott. Jeez.

Wallace:

Scott:

Oh yeah. I guess we are. You want a coffee? I’ll pay. Maybe I’ll even check out a book.

(mumbles) Yes it was..

Scott:

Ramona: I can’t believe it. Are you okay? lxxxii

(Scott pouts) Scott: I guess.. (A stranger walks in from SR. Wallace pokes Scott’s shoulder to get him to turn around and points at the stranger) Wallace: Uh. Scott. Scott: Oh what now! (Scott turns around to see a strange guy holding a katana.)

(Narrator comes out wearing a banana suit. Everyone Freezes.) Narrator: Now, Knives was Scott’s Ex-boyfriend. She was 17, and in high school. See, Scott had a bad run with his girlfriend before Knives. She was very mean, and.. some other words. But that would be inappropriate for this situation. Apparently, news doesn’t travel fast in Canada. (Ducks offstage.) Wallace: Shhh! We’re in a library!

Joe:

(Narrator walks back out with a cane, top hat, monocle, and moustache, and is about to talk, but Scott stops him.)

Scott Pilgrim! I have come for you!

Scott:

(Joe points at Scott moving his mouth, not in sync with his words.)

Nononononono. You,(Pointing at the Narrator) stop right there . and You. (points at Joe) I’m not dating Knives anymore. so.. go away!

Scott: Um. is there a problem? And why don’t your words match up with your lips? Joe:

(Scott Drops to his knees and yells towards the ceiling) Scott: Why can’t people just stop and Listen once in a while?!

It is I! Joe Chnic! I have come for you Scott Pilgrim. I... am Knives Evil-Ex! lxxxiii

(Everyone stares at Scott, including Narrator.)

Wallace:

Ramona:

So Joe. You like movies? I love movies.

Um. Scott, honey? Are you okay?

(Joe looking uncomfortable, walks off stage with Wallace opposite from Scott and Ramona, and the Narrator walks on, wearing a crown and a cape.)

(Scott gets up, mumbling something) Scott: No. Not really. Can we get some hot chocolate? Ramona: Sure. Lets go. Will you be alright with Joe, Wallace? (Wallace looks Joe up and down, staring at his glasses.) Wallace: I think I’ll be juuuuust fine. (puts an arm around Joe.)

Narrator: So there you have it. Scott stood up for himself, Wallace has a new friend, and everyone is happy! Except for, maybe, all the Exes involved, but hey, That’s why they’re evil right? Now get out. (Tips the crown to the audience, nodding, and walks offstage as the lights go off) ------------------END-----------------

(Narrator starts speaking, everyone freezes) Narrator: Ignore Wallace. He, uh. has a thing for glasses. (Narrator walks offstage.) Ramona: Alright. We’ll see you later. (Scott and Ramona walk off stage and leave Joe and Wallace.) lxxxiv

Hope You’re Well by Jessica Ball “Jessica Ball is currently a senior in high school. She is involved in tennis, theatre, FBLA, StuCo, and art—among other activities. She is the author of the memoir ‘The Camera and the Calculator’, the true story of her struggle with death. It is available for Kindles on amazon.com.”

Sargeant: a tough leader with a loud yelling voice. (Could be either male or female) Nurse: a sweet young woman who may or may not return Joshua’s affection. (Must be played by a female) Time Period World War II-September 1942 Adapted from Jack Ball’s letters home after being drafted into the army during World War II. Jack Ball embarked from America in a fleet of ships that was attacked during the trip. In his memoir, Jack refers to the surviving ships (among them the one he was on) as ‘The Other Half.’

Characters Jack: a both funny and serious young man, smart, and thoughtful. Narrates through his writing. (Must be played by a male) Tank: a tough, muscled draftee who usually cracks jokes but has one weakness… Pearson: a man serious about a career in the arm, yet once in a while joins in on a laugh. Joshua: a slightly nervous young man, similar to Jack, who develops a crush on the Nurse. Sometimes referred to as Jack Rabbit. (Must be played by a male)

Today, Jack Ball lives in Kansas City. He is 91 years old. Act 1, Scene 1 Lights flicker, gunshots sound Gunshots fade into background Jack (Voice over as several children play on stage in ratty t-shirts, pretending to shoot guns.) When we were kids, we used to dream of war. We used to dress up in our dads’ greasy shirts, wearing them as fatigues, lxxxv

and re-enact battles with the ‘rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air.’ We played ourselves as heroes.

Tank nods and gestures to the seat opposite side of him in the carriage.

(Kids on-stage pin huge ‘Purple Hearts’ on each other)

Jack

But we never imagined the alternative.

(Exhales loudly) Wooh. Well, I sure appreciate it. I—

(Kids suddenly fall, dead)

Joshua

That was the truth of it. Course, all we ever heard about were the heroes, the ones that risked their lives to save a village of women and children, or some such thing. We never heard about the Average Joes—the ones who got drafted and were never heard from again. Huh. We never thought we’d be one of those Joes ourselves.

Hey, uh, sirs. Can I sit?

(Kids rise and march, single file, off stage.)

Thanks. It’s the only spot left. Erm (twitches, then reaches out a hand) I’m Joshua Ryan. I’m an aide at one of the legal firms here.

But the time came. My number was called September 21st, 1942. I was away from home. Five days later, I was in the military.

Jack shifts to one side and allows Joshua to sit. Joshua (Sits, relieved, and puts down bag)

Tank

Black out

You was.

Train whistles, chugs

Joshua

Tank and Pearson sit in train carriage. Jack dashes from theatre aisle with duffle bag slung over his back. Jack mounts stairs and enters train carriage.

What?

Jack

Tank I said you was, Jack Ryan. Ain’t no more. This is the military. No more aide-ing for you.

Hey, mind if I take a seat? lxxxvi

Joshua

Um, right, sir. I’m not an aide any longer. And the name’s Joshua.

Ah. Same as me. I’m from the Kansas side, though. And I’d thought I’d gotten away from canned meals for good. Guess I was wrong.

Tank (Looks at other two, grinning) Not to me, you ain’t. Look like a Jack. As in Jack Rabbit. As in Jack Rabbit, run fer your life. (Chuckles) Joshua (Frowns) Okay… (To Jack and Pearson) Where are you two from? Jack Here in Kansas City. Born and raised. I’ve been working in Milwaukee, though. Of course, as soon as I got settled there, I was called back home.

Jack Nothing like sardines and baked beans. It’s almost a blessing, though. All we ever had at home was chicken and pork. I’ve had about enough to last me a lifetime. Think I’ll swear it off from now on. Tank (mutters) Steak. It’s what’s for dinner. Joshua Yeah. Except for it’s the Depression.

Tank

Tied to your momma’s apron strings, then?

Don’t be a girl. A man can dream.

Jack

Joshua

My number was called.

Sure, I… (goes slack-jawed as Nurse enters)

lxxxvii

Nurse

Joshua

Hi, boys. (smiles)

Oh. Yeah. I’ll take a crate.

Joshua

Nurse disappears, men share a glance, then reappears with a box.

Well hallo. Nurse Would you like something to eat? Joshua Yeah. Of course. Tank What do you have, miss?

Nurse Here you are. Enjoy. (Smiles) Nurse Exits Tank stretches. Joshua pries box open. Joshua

Nurse

Mmm. Smells like heaven. (Reaches in, then pauses) You guys want some?

Prunes. Crates of them. I suppose the army sent them along just for you.

Jack

Joshua Us? Pearson The recruits.

Hem. I think I’ll pass. Pearson I’ll second that. Tank nods assent. Joshua digs in. Lights fade.

lxxxviii

Act 1, Scene 2

Tank

Tank, Pearson, Joshua, and Jack sit in train compartment. Joshua is slumped down, holding stomach, looking sick.

Aw, man up. Can’t be that bad.

Sargeant (Off-stage) All right you lazy bums! Unload and meet your new family. Tank, Pearson, and Jack eye each other and grab their bags from beneath the seats. Joshua groans. Tank Hey, you, Jack Rabbit. Stop moping around. It’s time to move out. Joshua groans in response. Pearson Come on, soldier. (Helps Joshua stand and picks up Joshua’s bag for him) All right. Let’s move out.

Jack He did eat that whole crate of prunes. Had to be, what, a good five pounds? Pearson Even so, the army won’t care. They want all men out there. Joshua’s stomach gurgles again. Lights fade as all four exit the train, stepping into camp. Act 1, Scene 3 Tank, Pearson, Jack, and somewhat-green Joshua enter Texas army camp, joining group of other recruits. Sargeant Enters Sargeant

All four start toward the door. Then Joshua bends over, his face scrunched.

Fall in line, men! Raise your right hand and be sworn into the U.S. Army!

Joshua

Tank, Pearson, Jack, Joshua, and rest of recruits (extras) raise right hands. All take a breath, preparing to take the oath. Just before speaking, Joshua grins michieviously and nudges Jack. Joshua lowers his right hand, and Jack follows suit.

Aghh! I can feel it! (stomach gurgles)

lxxxix

All on stage mouth oath. Sargeant All right, soldiers, let’s march.

name, our father’s name, address, religion, and I.D. The other two have our name, ID, and religion. Mine has ‘P’ for Protestant, so if they find us bleeding out in the field they know what priest to get for us. Hope they never have to use that letter.

Sargeant leads Tank, Pearson, Joshua, and Jack to their barracks.

Well, I met several guys on the train. Think I’ll enjoy myself, but it’s nothing like home here. Can’t wait for this war to be over. You’re on my mind.

Welcome home, boys. You get three blankets a piece. I trust you can divvy it up fair. (starts to exit) Oh, and dinner’s at five.

Lights dim in barracks. As Joshua pulls up blankets, he realizes he only has two. He screams.

As the four start to put things into cubbies near bunks, Jack breaks away from group and exits barracks to write letter home. As Jack writes, Tank takes one of Pearson’s blankets. Pearson later notices, and takes one Joshua’s.

Love, Jack

Jack

Barracks. Early morning. Pearson, Tank, Joshua, and Jack sound asleep.

Letter #1 Motter and Pop, It’s a whole different world in the army. We got here, in Texas, yesterday. The first thing they did was swear us in and show us the place. It’s very nice, with a P.X. (Post Exchange), YMCA, and theatre nearby where we can see pictures for cheap.

Black out. Act 1, Scene 4

Suddenly, Sargeant’s voice rings out. Sargeant (in sing-song cadence) Drop your jocks and grab your socks! Fall out, men, it’s five o’clock!

This morning they rushed us out of the bunks for roll. Was our first experience of the army’s ‘hurry up and wait’ policy. Then they issued us our dog tags. There are three. One has our xc

Joshua

Sargeant

(Jumps out of bed and salutes) Ready!

I didn’t want an answer. Now. GET OUT! We’re taking a little trip to the infirmary.

Tank, Pearson, and Jack, still in beds, stare at Joshua for a moment. Slowly, Joshua lowers his hand. Joshua Um… I apologize. Tank (To Joshua) That’s all, right, Jack. (To Jack) Not you, Jack. (Speaks to Joshua again) Just calm yer twitch. Don’t have to jump to attention when it’s just us guys. Pearson (Calmly standing and making bed, pulling blankets tight) Right. There’s no need to be nervous. You’ll need to keep your nerves steady here in the army—never know when it could be between life and death. Now make your bunks, men. They don’t like a mess.

Tank grumbles, but follows Sargeant. Pearson, Joshua, and Jack follow, too, as Sargeant walks across camp. All five enter infirmary room. Sargeant (Growls) Stand at attention! The four stand up straight, in a row, and hold hands behind their backs. Nurse enters, wielding syringe. Tank (Eyes widening) What’s this? Nurse (Smiles) Flu shots. (Notices Joshua) Well, hello, soldier.

Sargeant

Joshua

(Kicks open door to barracks and enters) All right, men. There a reason you’re not outside?

(Tries to suppress smile) Hello, Nurse

Tank (Folds arms, nonplussed) Well, Sarge—

Nurse How were the prunes?

xci

Joshua’s face turns red in reply.

Joshua

Jack

(Hits Tank’s arm, where syringe had been injected. Tank whimpers) Shut your trap, Shot-a-phobe.

(Mumbling) Gave him the runs. Sargeant chuckles Nurse (A bit embarassed, she turns to Tank) Okay. Well, let’s take care of these shots. They’ll only take a second. (Reaches for Tank, who jerks away) Hold still, and it will be quick and painless. (Quickly, she injects the syringe into Tank’s arm and pulls it out. As she moves onto the next man, Tank lets out a whimper) When all four have gotten their shots, they file out of infirmary along with Sargeant. As they close the door, Nurse calls out to Joshua. Nurse Bye, soldier. Joshua smiles. When door closes, Tank jabs him. Tank Say bye, Prune Boy.

Act 1, Scene 5 Jack writes letter while Pearson, Joshua, and Tank eat in dining hall, shovelling in food—or hiking Jack Letter #2 Motter and Potter, Well, they moved us. They told us to board a Pullman train the other day, and we arrived here in Utah thirty-three hours later. We’re near Salt Lake City, but as of yet haven’t had the chance to visit. So far, all we’ve done is hike, hike, hike. They give us one water canteen to last us a day. And a rock. Some smart guys put candy in their canteens and try to trade us for water during breaks. None of the rest of us are stupid enough to trade them. At the end of the day, all they get is melted candy and a rock in their mouth. Well, I better go. Joshua and I are taking our letters to the P.X.. Lucky enough to have been moved together with the other two guys we met. By the way, we took placement tests

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the other day. Scored high. Not sure what that means as of yet. Love, Jack P.S. Pop, sure hope that electric wiring you rigged up is keeping the neighbor’s dog from your car. It’s about time he stopped using it as a pee post. Act 1, Scene 6 Barracks. Tank, Pearson, Joshua, and Jack lying/sitting on bunks. Jack tosses ball up and down. Joshua reads a letter. Three burly men sit at a table behind them, grumbling amongst themselves and playing cards/gambling.

Joshua (Grins) Music… syringes… Tank’s eyes harden Jack (Still tossing ball, looking at ceiling) Funny story about syringes… Pearson (Now inspecting pocket knife) What’s that? Jack

Pearson fiddles with radio, passes a clear station.

I used to work in an office building. Secretary stuff.

Tank

Hey, Pearson. Go back, will you? (When Pearson returns to clear station, Tank folds arms behind head and nods to beat ) That’s the stuff, man.

(Snorts) So you did women’s work.

Joshua (Glances up from letter) You’re a softy, aren’t you? Tank Shut yer trap, Jack Rabbit.

Joshua You know, knowing how to type can be useful. So… what about syringes? (raises eyebrows at Tank) Jack They’re pretty good for shooting water. Me and a pal used to stick the needle through a window screen and squirt water at people down below. They used to think it was all kinds of things—bird poop, rain… (chuckles to himself) Course then— xciii

(interrupted by gambler guys’ shouts. One stands and throws down cards. When they quiet down, Jack continues) Then one day they were fixing up some phone jacks in the next office over. My pal and I heard the number and when they had the phone set up we started calling. They had no idea how someone’d got the number. Eventually, they had to change it. (chuckles again, remembering) Pearson Ah, so that’s why you’re in the army. (Gives a small grin) You had to be straightened out. Jack Nah. I was drafted, remember, Pearson? I— Sargeant enters Sargeant (Roars) WHAT is this? All soldiers go silent. The men with cards stare at the Sargeant. Sargeant narrows eyes and storms over to the card table, picking up the pile of money stacked in the center. Sargeant I SAID, soldiers, WHAT IS THIS? Gambling? Cheating one another? NOT military behavior. Fall out! Now!

One card player sneers and crosses arms. The others stand reluctantly and head for the door. Sargeant Did you not hear me, soldier? (strolls over to lone card player and yanks him out of his seat) The Sargeant and the card player argue, then the Sargeant drags him out of the barracks. As the door closes, the Sargeant yanks the card player’s dog tags off, kicking him out of the camp. Jack, Tank, Pearson, and Joshua look at one another and shrug. ALL (Shaking heads) Them Arkansans. Act 1, Scene 7 Evening in the barracks. Joshua, Tank, and Pearson lay on beds, reading, writing, or toying with cigarettes. Suddenly, Jack enters with package under his arm, lets out a whoop, and jumps onto table. Jack (Strikes pose) ‘To be, or not to be. That is the’—OWWW! (bangs head and falls to the floor. Sits up, dazed) Gahh…

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Tank looks down at Jack, amused. Pearson lowers reading/ writing material or cigarette. Joshua jumps to help Jack stand. Jack Ow. Geez. Won’t be doing that again. Pearson Why? Get a little carried away there? Joshua (Kicking package) What’s this here? Jack A package. (Tank rolls eyes at the obvious) Just came in today at the P.X. (Jack shakes box) Want to see what’s in it? Joshua Only if it’s food. Jack (Sets box aside) I’ll wait, then. Joshua No, no, open it!

Tank (Chuckles to himself) Cool it, Jack Rabbit. Joshua ignores Tank. Joshua Come on, Jack. Open her up. She rattles, don’t she? Jack arches an eyebrow knowingly and grins. Joshua (Reaches for package, which Jack pulls out of reach) Jack. Buddy. All we’ve had is that miserable Shit on a Shingle… we all could use a little taste bud, um, stimulation. Pearson By ‘Shit on a Shingle’ you mean that chipped beef and gravy on toast? (Shakes head) Jack man, open it up. I’m with the Jack Rabbit on this. Tank laughs and waves his assent. So Jack, still holding box away from Joshua, opens the box at last, revealing candy. The three others let out whoops, and Jack divvies out the goodies. Joshua starts savoring a piece. Joshua Mmm. Much better than the toast. xcv

Tank How about the prunes? Joshua makes a move to hit Tank, but before he does the Sargeant ENTERS. Sargeant (To Joshua) Drop your goods, soldier. Pack your bags. You’re moving out. Joshua (Lowers fist, mouth open) What? Act 1, Scene 8 Jack sits on rock, writing letter. As he writes, Tank and Pearson punch and hug Joshua in greeting. Jack

When we got back in one place, the boys started talking about chipping in for an iron and an ironing board. That’ll make this place more homey—about as homey as it’ll get. Anyway, I’m going to be an airplane mechanic. School starts soon, and we’ll be going 6:00 p.m. till 2:00 a.m. For now my only job is K.P. Really, I should go. I have K.P. in the morning. 3:15. Don’t work too hard, Mom and Pop. Love, Jack Act 1, Scene 9 Jack moves from rock to join Tank, Pearson, and Joshua. The four then move to the dining hall and sit at the table. Tank

Letter #4

Can’t believe I’m saying this, Jack Rabbit, but I’m sure glad you’re back.

Mom and Dad,

Joshua

Moved to Sheppard Field, Texas. It seems like we’re never gonna settle in one place. It’s lucky that the four of us are together, though. They moved Joshua here before us, and we thought for sure we’d never see him again. He was bummed, too, but I think it was mostly ‘cause he’d never see his nurse again. Glad that we were wrong, though.

Really? Tank Sure. Nothing like a guy to pal around with. (Punches Jack lightly on the arm) No one else’d take my crap. (Leans in) Anyway, you hear about that sargeant on furlough? xcvi

Pearson, Josh, and Jack lean in, too.

(Shakes head slowly) No…

Joshua

Act 1, Scene 10

(Frowning) No. What about him?

Jack alone in barracks, writing. Pearson, Tank, and Joshua enter sitting room with four girls, chatting.

Tank (Solemnly) Well, he’s one of the ones who’s seen some action. Guess he was on furlough and had gone home. He fell asleep one day in the kitchen with his wife’s little kitten in his hand. (The other three’s faces turn grim, thinking they know where the story is headed) Then his wife came in, and decided to yell ‘fire’ as a sort of joke. (Slowly, Tank starts to grin, seeing that the other three have been drawn in by his story) So the sarge jumped up, shoved the cat in the oven, stood at attention and said, ‘Number 1 gun ready to fire, sir!’ Ha! (Tank starts laughing) Pearson, Joshua, and Jack sit back in their seats, stunned. Joshua (Weakly) Ha. Ha… Pearson That ain’t so funny, Tank. Jack frowns, suddenly struck by a sad memory. Jack

Jack Letter #11 Dear Motter and Potter, Got paid yesterday, and I don’t know what to do with this great sum. I bought cigarettes, but there’s lots of money left over. You’ll be mighty proud of me: the other day the guys and I went to church. We enjoyed the service, and afterwards four gals invited us home for supper. Boy, did we ever eat good! They had mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh green beans, and other foods in that line. And for dessert, pie. We four ate our fill, the dinner being much better than that ‘shit on a shingle’ they serve at camp (pardon my language). We had such a nice time us boys decided we should take them out next week. The weather’s still supposed to be nice, so we’re thinking a picnic. What fun that will be! Well, it’s getting late, writing this—Tank’s out and even those Arkansas gambling men are asleep.

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One more note, though, before I go: nice girls are pretty hard to find here, so we’re lucky we stumbled onto this group. They smile and make sure we have a good time. Don’t worry, though. I won’t come home hitched. Hope you’re both well. Mum, don’t let Father work too hard. Love, Jack P.S. We had a gas mask drill today, and it got me thinking—thinking about how close this war really is. The guys, we’ve had some great times so far. But soon, that’ll mean nothing. Promise that you’ll take care of yourselves if I don’t make it back from overseas. As for now, you don’t have to worry. Love you both. Scene dissolves into nighttime, with the four asleep in the barracks.

Act 1, Scene 11 Morning in the dining hall. Pearson, Tank, and Joshua sit, eating. Jack shuffles in with a black eye. Joshua (Looking at Jack as he sits) Hey, Jack… Fall out of bed last night? Jack (Grumbling) Wouldn’t you think it. As it is, I don’t know exactly what happened. Tank folds arms on table around his plate of food, guilty. Joshua What do you make of it, Pearson?

Tank grunts and murmurs

Pearson

Owl hoots in the distance

Looks like someone knuckled him good. (To Jack) What were you doing? Fighting last night? We don’t have time for that here—we should be fightin’ those Germans, not each other.

Jack suddenly rises, still sound asleep, and takes a few steps. Jack stops at Tank’s bed. Jack looms over Tank Tank, sensing a presence over him, opens one eye to see Jack. Jack screams, his head bent towards Tank

Joshua (Winks at Jack, remembering when they didn’t raise their hands to take the Army Oath) We’re in the army, eh, Jack?

Tank punches Jack in the face.

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Jack

Joshua

(Grins and sits down. Begins to eat from own plate, then notices Tank) Awful quiet there, Tank.

About what?

Tank Mmm. (Pulls plate even closer, ducking head) Did you hear them owls last night? Mighty loud. (Raises head slowly, a smile spreading across his face) Not as loud as you, though, Jack. You’ve got a mighty set of lungs in you. What’d you think—that you could pull one on me? Get back at me for razzing Jack Rabbit a bit? Joshua (Leaps and points at Tank in mock suspicion) Aha, Pearson! There’s your culprit, your army rabble-rouser! (To Tank,quieter) What were you thinking, Tank? Knocking Jack boy’s lights out? Tank I wasn’t thinkin’ anything—only that I didn’t want his screaming mug in my face. After all that K.P. last week I was trying to get some more shut-eye. (To Jack) Admit it: it was payback, wasn’t it? Jack No, not at all… All I can think of is that drill yesterday. It got me thinking.

Jack (Shakes head) Nothing. It’s a long time in the past. Anyhow, you guys have any duties today? Tank (Stretching) Sleep. I’ve got an appointment in the barracks. (Taps watch) In fact, I’m running a little late. Tank salutes the three, then EXITS Josh and Pearson turn to Jack Joshua Alright. What was it really about last night? Jack Nothing. Just a dream. Pearson A screaming dream. (Puts a hand on Jack’s shoulder) You can tell us, Jack. Jack (Sighs) The drill just made me think. When I was a kid, I had a brother, John. He was killed by a car when we were still xcix

young. It hit me hard and I wonder… what’ll happen to that kid overseas when we kill HIS brother? They’re people, too, really. Joshua lowers head. Jack I don’t want to be the one responsible for that. Pearson (Patting Jack on the shoulder) No worries there, soldier. Lucky for you, you’re a mechanic. You won’t be put in that kind of situation. That’s why it’s the best assignment for you, yes? The army knows best. Jack (Quietly) The army knows best. Act 1, Scene 12 Jack writing letter, sitting on a rock. Pearson, Tank, and Joshua practice thrusting bayonets or hike. Jack writes with a sadder tone now, changed by the thoughts of killing to come. Jack Letter #22

Saw a colored lieutenant walking down the street the other day. He really looked snappy. To tell the truth, I take pride in that kind of thing, seeing those men who worked up the ranks and don’t shove it in us soldiers’ faces. Like ‘em better than those snooty white officers. Anyhow, it’s been the nicest January here, and we’re getting ready for the last phase of training: going on an overnight hike, sleeping in a pup tent, working on airplanes, K.P., and guard duty. Since it’s about the end, we learned how to throw grenades in the last week of class. You load with a pinch of powder, pull the pin, count to five and push, then throw. We were also taught how to use bayonets. The boys found that they can be used for any number of things: digging, opening cans of K rations, and playing Mumble Peg. Course, the true use is for warfare. Mom, don’t read if you don’t want to hear. Dad, you use bayonets like this: you truss it into the enemy flat-wise, twist vertical, then withdraw it. If you don’t twist it vertically, the intestines will clamp down and you won’t be able to withdraw the bayonet. Anyway, been thinking of John. And been thinking of you two. Mom, enclosed are some pictures. The blond girl is the one I’ve been seeing. Don’t think anything will come of it, but it’s sure been nice having someone to be sweet on.

Mom and Pop, c

Hope you’re both well.

Jack

Love, Jack

(Still staring at the ceiling) Do any of you feel insignificant?

Act 1, Scene 13

Act 1, Scene 14

Barracks. Pearson, Tank, Jack, and Joshua lying face-up on beds.

Jack alone, writing.

After a minute, Joshua rolls over. Joshua So… you ready? Tank changes position, too. Tank Too late to say if we weren’t, Joshua. Joshua looks at Tank for a moment, realizing the importance of the usage of his true name. Pearson rolls onto his side. Pearson We’ll have a good go of it. The army’s prepared us as best as it can.

Jack (Last letter home before embarking overseas) Motter and Potter, Well, the boys and I finally moved up in ranks after being moved around so much, and now it’s time to leave. We got our orders four days ago, and now we’re loaded on the ship, ready to set sail. Don’t know what the other guys expected, but I thought our good-bye would be a big to-do, with lots of fan-fare and waving kerchiefs. Instead, the dock was pretty much empty and it looked like the sky was going to spit out some rain. A pretty dismal farewell, if you ask me. Anyhow, I hope the money I sent will be useful to you, and will make life a little easier. If I don’t make it back, I’ve wired my account so you’ll receive the rest of my savings. That way, you’ll be set for a long time.

The three look to Jack, who still lays face-up.

Don’t expect me to be coming home a hero—I realize now how few and far between war heroes are. Don’t think Pearson understands it as of yet, but he will; he’s a regular military enthusiast, but he’s level-headed. Here, crammed together in the ship, we’re all Average Joes. Nothing special about any of us— we’re just men waiting to do our duty. Hope I served my duty well for you. You sure did good by me. Hope you’re both well. Love, Jack Light fades. Boat whistle sounds.

Well, it’s been 67 years since I left the service and came home. You’re gone now, but I hope you’re not working too hard up there. We sure miss you. You know they put up a memorial for us—all those men that went with Tank and Josh who didn’t come home? Eleanor and the kids—they’re all grown up now—went to the dedication in Washington D.C. with me. The five grandkids came, too. It was a big to-do. The president came and spoke and I wore my dress uniform. Well, most of the boys from the service are dead. I tried contacting Pearson when we went to D.C. in 2004. Found out he’d passed that fall before. I’m about the only one left from the squadron now. Every time we get together, there’s less and less. Don’t care to meniton it, though—Eleanor doesn’t, either.

Blackout.

By the way, Thanksgiving’s coming on. The oldest is in Florida, but the rest of us are having dinner. Pizza this year. Don’t know how many of these holidays I have left in me.

Then… Jack’s voice.

Hope you’re both well. Don’t work too hard.

Slideshow begins as Jack speaks, showing pictures of Jack as a young man in uniform, and later in D.C. for the memorial, as well as life with his family. Slideshow provided by the playwright.

Love, Jack

Guns boom. Bombs fall. Soldiers scream.

The End

Jack Motter and Potter, cii

Over the Edge by Haley Meadows “I like alpacas and I'm awkward. :)”

Now get out of here before I do something you’ll regret. (Exits stage right) (ALEX picks stuff up and places it back in backpack.) (ALEX walks to the right thrust and sits alone in a chair. His head is in his hands and he is crying. Black out. Exit SR, at this point ALEX is angry and hurt. He could hit a wall.) Scene Two: (A minute passes. Lights go out. The sounds of gunshots are heard. Kids are screaming.) VOICE ONE:

Scene One:

Attention we are now going on lockdown. This is not a drill. We are on lockdown.

(The curtain is closed. ALEX is standing down center. He’s reading a book. A bell rings. Students shuffle by. Some students bumping into ALEX, not apologizing. ZAC (enters SL) walks up to ALEX and knocks the book out of his hands and pushes him to the ground. Ryan stands as a witness, laughing, but nothing to noticeable. Zac takes ALEX’s backpack and throws stuff out of it.)

Scene Three:

ZAC:

Everyone get down. Is everyone okay?

Hey fag, your people don’t belong here. You should all do us a favor and get lost. (Makes a fist and pretends to hit ALEX)

EVERYONE:

(Lights come on and the curtain opens. JESSICA is sitting at her desk (JESSICA gets up and ushers kids inside the classroom. RYAN, ALEX, SARAH, and ZAC (enter SR) run inside room. They sit against the wall. JESSICA locks the door.) JESSICA:

Yeah/ I think so/ yes. ciii

RYAN:

ZAC:

Everyone’s fine. (beat) So are we just going to sit here all day?

What are you suggesting? That he comes through the window?

JESSICA: Or until it’s safe to leave. RYAN: I say we just walk out. I mean there’s maybe one shooter there’s five of us. We could probably make it out okay. JESSICA: No. we need to stay here. That’s the rule. While we’re on lockdown no one can leave. I think it’s in our best interest to stay here. Besides we may out number him but he has a gun and could potentially kill one of us. SARAH: I agree with Mrs. Smith. It’s in our best interest to stay in here.

ALEX: (kind of stuttering) I…I… I don’t know. I’m just saying that anyone of us could be the shooter. Sometimes people just get pushed to far. ZAC: No one was talking to you. If anyone were to have a gun it would be me and I would shoot you (making a fist, pretending to punch ALEX). But we’re not that lucky. So shut up. RYAN: Just forget it. Lets just get out of here. JESSICA: I really think we should stay.

RYAN:

And we’re safe here? The shooter could bust through that door and kill every single one of us.

We have a better chance of surviving if we leave. Besides we’re right next to the exit.

ALEX:

JESSICA:

Maybe he doesn’t have to bust through the door.

No. I’m the teacher I’m taking charge. I say we’re staying. If any one of you walk out that door I will have you suspended. civ

(EVERYONE pauses. Kind of like the “oh she does have a back bone and will stand up to students” look/moment. A moment passes.) JESSICA: Why don’t we all just sit tight and relax. Just sit close together. RYAN: So we can “just relax” at a time like this but we can’t leave? JESSICA: I’m just trying to keep everyone calm and safe. Do you have any better ideas? ZAC: Can we push Alex into the hallway? If I’m going to be stuck in this room then I at least don’t want (gives dirty look to ALEX) that in here.

(Beat.) SARAH: Did you hear that? JESSICA: Hear what? (there’s another light knock at the door. Along with some mumbles. Something along the lines of “help me”, “I’m shot.” Etc.) RYAN: I can hear it. Someone’s out there. ZAC: We can’t let them in. It could be the shooter. SARAH:

JESSICA:

And It might not be. If it’s an injured student then we have to let them in. We can’t just leave them bleeding in the hallway.

Stop it. That’s not very nice. Everyone just move close together and keep your voices down.

(SARAH puts her phone down and walks to the door.)

(They sit in a half circle so that their backs are not to the audience. ALEX is still isolated. Hood up. Maybe his eyes closed or with his head in his knees. Sarah could be texting, They hear a very light knock at the door).

SARAH: Who’s there? KAT: cv

It’s Kat. I need help. I’ve been shot.

(SARAH goes to the desk and gets the kit.)

SARAH:

RYAN:

Seriously, we need to let her in. If he finds her in the hall then he could hurt her worse.

I really think we need to try to get out. She’s really hurt and she needs help.

(JESSICA goes to the door)

JESSICA:

ZAC:

I don’t think it’s a good idea that all of us leave. If we all leave at once it could be way more noticeable then if just two of us leave.

And what if she’s being held at gunpoint? The shooter forcing her to tell us these things. ALEX: Just let her in. RYAN: Just let her in. (Everyone ignores ALEX but listens to RYAN. Jessica slowly opens the door. Ryan quickly walks over and helps her in. Jessica locks the door again. KAT is shot in the front shoulder/ chest)

RYAN: Fine. I think that Sarah and Kat should go. They can go get help. JESSICA: Are you guys okay with that? (SARAH and KAT shake their heads yes. As they get closer to the SR door. ALEX stands up, pulls out the gun. He’s shaky.) ALEX:

JESSICA:

Do not walk out that door. (Everyone turns to look at him)

Sarah there’s a first aid kit in my desk, can you get it?

I mean it. Sit down. Now.

SARAH:

(EVERYONE hesitates to sit back down.)

Yeah. cvi

ALEX:

I mean it. Sit back down. (Stern voice)

Now, sit down.

(KAT, SARAH, JESSICA, and RYAN sit back down. ZAC is still standing.)

RYAN:

ZAC: You won’t shoot. ALEX: I won’t shoot? What do you mean I won’t shoot? ZAC: Yeah. You won’t shoot. ALEX: How many people have you bullied? How many of those people want to do this? How many people want you dead? I may be the one holding the gun but I’m sure as hell not the only one who’s pulling the trigger. Now someone better get him back before I do something you all will regret. (RYAN pulls ZAC back.) ALEX: Now, you (pointing to RYAN) get tape and tape a line down the center of the room. No one crosses the line. (RYAN tapes the line. RYAN standing by the line.)

Can we just get out of here? ALEX: No one can leave. Do you not take me seriously? I have a gun and the school is on lockdown. Do I need to shoot someone again to get you to listen? KAT: No. (She’s obviously upset. Maybe she’s crying.) JESSICA: I think we should just do what he says. Ryan, just sit down. Please. ALEX: Now you want to listen to me? Now you want to hear what I have to say? Why couldn’t you of listen in your classroom? When they (waving the gun around at the students in the room.) were all picking on me. (Angry voice) you could have stopped them. It’s your job. It’s you responsibility. Why didn’t you do anything? JESSICA: cvii

I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was this bad Alex.

RYAN:

I’ve never touched you or hurt you.

Alex, we’re just trying to do what you say. You want us to sit down so we did. What do you want from us?

ALEX:

ALEX: What do I want? Gee, I wanted to be able to come to school everyday and enjoy it. I wanted to come to school and not be picked on because everyone thinks I’m gay. Most importantly I never wanted to have the day where I learned it was easier to look at the floor while I walked because if I didn’t I would get shoved into the lockers. RYAN: Dude, I’m sorry. ALEX: I’m sorry? Little late don’t you think? You could of said sorry after you’re team mates pushed me into the lockers, or how about after they stole my shoes? Better yet how about when they thought it was funny to scream across the hall and call me a fag? Or when they started spitting on me and calling me queer? (SARAH is texting on her phone.)

You might as well have. You stood by and laughed as your buddies bullied me. You did nothing to stop them. (Raising voice) you’re no better then the rest of them. (SARAH is still texting) ALEX: Hey! What are you doing? SARAH: (Almost crying) I was texting my mom. ALEX: To tell her that you and your boyfriend are losers? To tell her how much every single one of you have made my life hell? SARAH: To tell her that I loved her and (pause) and that I was in the room with the shooter. (ALEX grabs the phone out of her hand and smashes it on the ground)

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ALEX:

ZAC:

I don’t care. She can’t help you. No one can help you. The school is on lockdown. All of you. Give me your cell phones.

You deserve everything you get. People like you deserve to get spit on, shoved into lockers. People like you don’t deserve to belong in our school. This is not a school for your kind. So if you want to shoot up the school then do it.

(EVERYONE hesitates) ALEX: (Screaming) Now. Hand them over.

ALEX: My kind? What homosexuals? Fags? Is that what you mean?

(Everyone slides his or her phones to him. ZAC stands up and starts pacing.)

ZAC:

ALEX:

That’s exactly what I mean. You don’t belong here. (Getting into ALEX’S face. Poking his chest.)

Sit down. ZAC: No. ALEX: Do I need to shoot this thing again to prove that I’m serious? (Waving the gun in the air) JESSICA: No. We’re all taking you seriously. ALEX: Someone back him up. Get him on that side of the line.

JESSICA: How can you be so mean to people? How can you say such hateful things? You guys are kids. Just kids. Kids don’t act like this. They get in silly fights over boys and girls. They worry about what they’re doing this weekend not about how they’re going to be harassed because ignorant people think you’re gay. ALEX: It wouldn’t be happening if people like Zac would consider what they do to other people. ZAC: Just man up and take it. It’s all part of being in high school. cix

SARAH: High school is only four years of your life. After that it’s over you can start over again. ALEX: But how many of those days do I get back? How many days do I have to forget about? The days were I was harassed and abused. The day were the last friend I had stopped talking to me because they had had enough of it all.

(ZAC walking away. ALEX points the gun at ZAC and shoots. ZAC falls to the floor. EVERYONE except ZAC and ALEX are screaming. ALEX has a look of shock and disbelief. JESSICA is comforting KAT and SARAH. Pause. Ryan joins them.) RYAN: You didn’t have to do that. ALEX:

ZAC:

Yeah, I think I did. (Pause) How else is this going to end? (Waving the gun around)

It doesn’t matter now; your life is over after this.

RYAN:

(ALEX points the gun at ZAC)

I don’t know but this isn’t how you handle it and this isn’t how you’re going to make yourself feel better.

ALEX: No, I think you’re life is over after this. (Pause) sit down. Before I do something you will regret. (ZAC hesitates) ALEX: I mean it Zac. I’ll use this thing. ZAC: You won’t do it. You’re too much of a girl to shoot. (Stern voice) you won’t do it. (Pause, starts to walk away)

(RYAN is standing. ALEX is pacing.) KAT: Come one Alex, I know you didn’t mean to shoot me. This can turn out better then you think. You’re a good student and you never get in trouble. SARAH: Alex. You need to let us go. Kat’s really hurt. She could die. ALEX: No the school is on lockdown. No one can leave. cx

RYAN:

Kat, Sarah, you two go. I need to stay here.

Just listen to them. No one will get mad if you let a dying girl go.

(KAT and SARAH exit the room (SR). ALEX locks the door.)

ALEX: Fine. (Points the gun towards KAT. Gesturing towards the door.)

ALEX: Hurry up and get back over here. RYAN:

ALEX:

Come on man. We can end this. Right now. You and me. Let’s get out of here. We can do this together. I’ll make my teammates stop bullying you. I’ll make sure everyone leaves you alone. Please Alex. I know we haven’t been friends but I promise you if you just put that gun down we’ll walk out of here and we can just end this end the bullying. Just please. Make this stop.

Hey. Not all of you. Just Kat.

JESSICA:

KAT:

Just listen to us, Alex. We can make this better.

I can’t walk by myself.

(ALEX takes a moment to absorb what RYAN said. ALEX shakes his head “no”. ALEX drops to his knees. With the gun to his chest. JESSICA is standing next to RYAN.)

KAT: I can’t. I can’t walk. (RYAN, SARAH, and JESSICA pull KAT to het feet. They start walking towards the door SR.)

RYAN: Just let the girls go. You have me. You can use me as your hostage. ALEX: Fine just go. Get out. (Yells) Hurry before I change my mind.

ALEX: When does my pain end? RYAN: No (RYAN reaches out to ALEX)

JESSICA: cxi

(ALEX shoots himself in the chest. ALEX falls over. JESSICA falls to comfort RYAN. Ryan is crying. His head is in his hands. Blackout.) THE END

cxii

I Can Dream by Cami Pendleton “I am a junior at Benton High School. I play varsity tennis, participate in theatre, and love to write!”

Eliana: Well, Cuddles, looks like it’s just you and me now. But it’s going to be okay… (Beat) There’s so much darkness here. Even on days the sun shines, it reflects the metal barbwire fences, reminding us we can’t escape. I miss my days of freedom …Most of all, I miss my family! Why did those mean soldiers have to take my family away? Why did they have to leave me by myself? It just isn’t fair! Now I’m imprisoned, forever in the dark! (Beat) Every night I dream…I dream of a sunny meadow, Cuddles. I’m running through the flowers, carefree. But I can’t even escape those horrible soldiers in my dreams! There I am, running towards my family. There I am, carefree as the wind! Then I hear it…the shots coming from a gun. I look and scream…no, NO! It can’t be happening! I see my brother gone just as quickly as the gunshots came. I start run-

ning faster towards my family. The skies suddenly turn dark, blood red. I see the skies reflected in the soldiers’ eyes. I keep running, but…no. I am too late. They whisk my family away. “Away to the chambers!” they exclaim. I scream and sob continuously. And then, something sharp whips across my face, waking me from that nightmare. It’s the guard in my cabin. He can’t tolerate my kind, he says, especially when he can hear us. But I can’t help it…I can’t stop screaming every night or stop having those awful dreams. But then I realize, they’re not dreams or nightmares, they’re memories. All I can do is close my eyes and think of a new place.f A place that has my family that’s safe and unhurt, waiting for me with open, loving arms. I can dream of a place with no barbwire fences, a place of no dark, cloudy skies, no camps or death. No more pain or soldiers. I can imagine I’ll be as free as a butterfly and will one day spread my wings and take flight. I can long for freedom…and dream of that peaceful place, but that’s all I can do – dream. Off – Stage Voice: Cabin A is ready for the gas chambers! Report now! Eliana: Soon, I’ll find that place. Soon, I’ll be there. What Have I Done? Claus: What have I done? How could I have not known that all this time I’ve been mislead far from the truth? Her eyes… those wide innocent eyes reminded me of my own daughter, full of child-like innocence and wonder…It all started in Cabin cxiii

A. I was just doing my usual job of keeping the cabin in line and following my leader’s instructions.

dark, ruthless anger overcame me. I quickly pushed her into the chamber, anticipating her and my cabin’s demise.

Voiceover: Don’t let any of those nasty vermin escape! Lead them to the chambers when they’re called for. Don’t let any of those vermin utter a sound from their filthy mouths

I came home a few hours later, feeling accomplished and proud. I was ready for tomorrow when I would be accepting more people into my cabin.

Claus: Those instructions would lead to a better place in this world – a place with the PERFECT human race. Every day, I’d show no mercy to my cabin. I’d be relentless, beating them down, silencing them because I couldn’t tolerate them, especially when they were loud. The pain reflected in their eyes used to be my reward, my comfort. Any pain inflicted on them pleased my leader. Everything was dark and hopeless for them in this forsaken camp. That meant we, soldiers, were doing our jobs well by shattering any hope or joy. But one day, it was time for my cabin to go to the gas chambers. I led them to the chambers, ready for the ‘good riddance to that filth’. However, as the last victim was led in, she met my glaring eyes. She was a little girl, around ten years old. I recognized her. She was the little girl who would scream every night in her nightmare, only waking up when I whipped her into silence. The same routine would repeat every night. I’d never forget the sad, whimpering look she had. (Beat)

Then, my night took a turn. At dinner, I looked at my two kids and something made my heart stop. They had the exact same innocent, wide-eyed expression as the little girl I pushed into the gas chamber earlier that day. They had the exact same blissful ignorance to what was going on in the world – of the torture and deaths surrounding them. Both of them had no idea how lucky they were to be of the perfect race, to be alive.

Her eyes were so innocent, so wide. She was clueless to the inevitable. She walked slowly, clutching her torn teddy bear. At first, my heart had a strange notion to save her, thinking she resembled my own daughter. I rid myself of any pity and a

Suddenly, an image came to me of my children being tormented and suffering in a gas chamber. I saw them dying before my eyes and crying out for help and pleading to be let out. Just like that girl… (Beat) I was horrified. I was a murderer and my hands were soaked in blood. Blood shed by innocent people. I realized that putting that child – no, my entire cabin – through the chamber wasn’t any different than my children going through that. How could I do this? No…I can’t keep coming back to this camp. I can’t live with this guilt! The people in my cabin were not the filthy vermin…I am. Off – Stage Voice: Cabin A! Ready now for the gas chambers! Report now! cxiv

Claus: What have I done? Take Me Instead (Kiefer is in a dark, foggy area on stage right. He looks around, confused.) Kiefer: I wish I knew where I was. How did I get here, anyway? (Beat) Hello? Is anyone out there? (Beat. Kiefer is now in deep thought.) The last thing I remember is that I was with my family in a sunny meadow. We were walking that Sunday evening just to relax and get some fresh air. That walk gave us some time to spend together as a family. So we headed down the road. We said hello to the neighbors, Eliana picked flowers, my mother hummed the tune to her favorite song, and Father and I reminisced over good times. It was so…peaceful. Then we came across a beautiful meadow full of flowers. Of course, Eliana was attracted to it immediately, since she loves flowers and anything, well, girly. She started running across the meadow, so carefree. My parents started going after her. Suddenly, an ominous feeling overcame me. The meadow didn’t seem so beautiful anymore. There was something threatening that hung over it; I just couldn’t place what it was. I was hesitant to enter it. I looked and saw my parents were too far away from Eliana. Something in my gut told me to get Eliana and my family away from there. I went in after her, trying to call her name and trying to catch her. But she couldn’t hear me! She was in

her own world and kept running further and further away. Then, I heard shouting. Angry yells and shouts came from behind me. I turned around and saw those German soldiers coming towards my parents. My parents have never looked so frightened. It was unsettling. I began to run towards them, despite their protests for me to get away. Then I remembered. Eliana needed me, too. I was torn between my parents and my sister. A scream pierced the air and I saw Eliana running towards me. All of a sudden, I felt a sharp pain that seared across my head and I blacked out. That’s all I can remember. (Beat) (Center stage reveals that there’s a group of German soldiers and they’re taking away Kiefer’s and Eliana’s parents. Eliana is crying and there’s a dead body near their parents.) Kiefer: No…Eliana! Eliana! Mother! Father! (Kiefer is ignored. No one can hear him.) Why can’t you guys hear me? It’s me, Kiefer! Ah, come on! (The guards start to take away Kiefer’s parents and exit the stage.) Kiefer: Stop! Let them go! Please, don’t take them! (The guards come to Eliana (who is still sobbing) and hit her so she can be quiet. Then they start to take her.) Kiefer: No! Stop! Let my sister go! Take me instead of her! Please, take me instead! cxv

(Guards exit with Eliana.) (Kiefer starts to run after them, but sees the dead body and that stops him.) (2 guards come back on stage.) Guard 1: The boy is dead. Guard 2: Are you sure?

(Cuddles is left sitting on the stage. It’s completely dark, except for a beam of light shining only on Cuddles.) Cuddles: Don’t worry Eliana…I’m always here for you. I hope you got a chance to find that peaceful place you wanted to go to. I hope you had a chance to spread your wings and fly. (Beat) It looks like the worst is over now…But I’m always here for you. Here if you need me. Someday, I hope we’ll meet in that peaceful place. Someday, I’ll be there.

Guard 1: Yes, there’s no way he could’ve survived those bullets. Guard 2: Hmph. That’ll teach him and his family to trespass our property. Those people think they can walk anywhere they want to. Anyway, what do we do with him now? Guard 1: Just leave him. The vultures will eventually eat him. They’ll clean him up. (Guards exit) Kiefer: …I couldn’t save them…I couldn’t save my sister or my parents! (Angry) Why did this have to happen? It’s my fault! I could’ve stopped all of this from happening! Instead, I had to get shot! Instead, I was the first one to die, unable to save them while they watched my death! (Suddenly sad) Where are they now? Are they still alive? Why couldn’t those guards have taken me instead? The End cxvi

C HAPTER 7

Video/Film

The following entries are videos and short films created by students as personal and/or class projects.

Safe and Sound by Dylan Norman Safe and Sound

Film available online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWni2mk0sIU

Dylan Norman

cxviii

Far From Home by Jessica Ball

Far From Home - Trailer

Jessica Ball

Trailer available online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS5L_2GeFL0

Far From Home - Film

Film available online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8Er7PyRuFE

Jessica Ball cxix

Stand by Your Man by TAG Team Productions

Trailer available online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9L0CvKeKoI

Stand By Your Man - Trailer

TAG Team Productions

Stand By Your Man - Film Film available online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR0V-Oq8lbI

TAG Team Productions cxx