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Greetings! Welcome to the 6th annual literary and arts magazine, The Admirals’ Pen. On these remarkable pages, you will view a variety of writing and art pieces from Severn’s middle school students. From editing to cupcakes to coffeehouses, we really enjoyed being a part of the literary magazine this year. Collaborating on this publication helped us learn to take on responsibilities and work together as a team. From all of us here on the staff, thank you! We appreciate your submissions. Enjoy reading The Admirals’ Pen!
Sincerely, The Admirals’ Pen Editors
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Table of Contents Life’s Anchor, Fionn Kinsella Eating My Way Around the World, Raeha Richman Coldsleep Canyon, Kate Castleberry 16th Birthday, Emily Salehi A Merry Mess, Allie Straub Elemental, Margaret Cravens Harper’s Ferry, Helena English Red, Brooke Griffin Love Beach, Iris Benoit Log 52, Aiden Gilroy Knots on the Bay, Skyler Morton Imperfection, Maddie Clarke Autumn Light, Emily Leach Hidden Identity, Whitney Grimes Tiger, Jack Condon Run, Fiona Griesser Peanut M& M Pop Art, Megan Murphy Civic Responsibility Speeches Delaware’s Impact on the Chesapeake Bay, Maggie Cahouet Invasion, Anna Erskine There Are Footprints on the Moon, Madison Wright
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5 6 8 9 15 16 19 20 23 24 27 28 30 31 35 36 42 43-67 68 70 76
3 Wrongs Don’t Make a Right, Emily Salehi Shoreline, Helena English Huck Finn Scene Re-Writes Souls, Brooke Griffin Super Villain, Aiden Gilroy Super Cat, Victoria Miller Excerpt from Novel “Shattered,” Ava Wisnom Escaping Judea, Rameses Bright Virginia & Chesapeake Bay, Konner Smith Rose, Helena English Someone I Can Relate To, Raeha Richman Rising with the Fish, Morgan Dettor The German Experience, Sam Grady Purple Breeze, Sarah Gershman The Ones Looking Up, Brooke Griffin Doodle for Google Adventures, Aiden Gilroy Family Tree, Lucy Whitaker A Little Monster, Vivian Miller Late, Sydney Owens Beyond the Pink Sand, Cole Keefer Thoughts of Darry, Grace Knipe Poetry Conceals, Madison Howell
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78 83 84-105 106 109 112 113 118 119 121 122 124 125 128 129 132 133 137 138 140 141 142
Life’s Anchor by Fionn Kinsella ‘23
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eating my way around the world by Raeha Richman ‘24 This past summer my friends were traveling to faraway places. My mom said I could do that, too, but in a different way. I could eat my way around the world from here. I went to India through Basmati’s Restaurant. My favorite food there was the mango lassi, a sweet drink with mango and cream. I also like pink rice pudding. I think it’s cool that you can put a yogurt called raita on your food to make it less spicy. I can tell that it’s an Indian restaurant because there are fennel seeds at the entrance. I went to China through Chinatown. It’s unique that people there speak Cantonese because it’s in America. I also liked the fortune cookies, my cookie said, “Work first, then plan.” I also like ice cream from China. There are flavors I never imagined, like green tea and red bean. I found eggs to be tasty until I tried
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egg drop soup. I didn’t care for the taste. The best part was the chopsticks were fun to use. I went to Germany through my grandmother’s kitchen. I enjoyed the linzer torte which is a pie with criss cross dough and jam underneath and it tastes good with whipped cream. In Germany, they serve potato salad hot, with turkey bacon and vinegar. Another cuisine I liked was sausage with sauerkraut. We went shopping at a tiny African grocery store. A whole family worked there. My brother and I played tag and hide-and-seek with the storekeeper’s child. My mom bought plaintains, tofu, and pumpkin seeds. Right before we left everyone took fun pictures. I was proud of my mom for trying to make tofu for the first time, and it tasted delicious.
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Coldsleep canyon by Kate Castleberry ‘24
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16th birthday by Emily Salehi ‘22 It was my 16th birthday. But it also felt just like another day. First, I had basketball practice. Then after practice my friends and I were just hanging out at home. Mom wanted me to have a huge party for my birthday, but why? What's the point? We were just gonna play some video games, maybe watch a movie, eat some food, and probably stare at our phone for half the day. But that was fine with me. But first, practice. I've played basketball basically since I could walk. My dad is the coach, and we're the number one team in the league. I've got my permit, but not my license yet. Usually my dad just drives us, since we’re both going to the same place. However, today he had to set up for practice earlier and decided not to wake me up since it's my birthday. I headed outside, after my mom's birthday breakfast of waffles. As I turned right out of my street, I saw a big black pickup truck coming my way. There was no room for him to pass me. It's a single lane ~ 9 ~
road, and the road he came out of had a stop sign. He came flying out onto it, even though the speed limit in the neighborhood is five miles per hour. I had no time to react. He crashed into me. I was jerked back then into the steering wheel. I saw part of my car was on flames. I was in the burning car for several minutes until I finally broke through the window and got out. The black truck was nowhere to be seen. I felt completely fine even though my mom’s car was engulfed in flames. Most people would've had a few broken ribs, 2nd or 3rd degree burns, maybe even a concussion. I called 911 so the fire department could take care of the car. They asked if I needed medical assistance too, but I said no. I walked back home, without a scratch. I would've been completely fine to go to practice, but I had no way to get there. My house was only a few hundred feet away. "Will?! I know you said you're fine and you look fine. But let's just take you to the hospital and let them check you out!" My mom argued after I told her I was in a car crash.
"I told you mom. I'm good." My mom was going to get her way though no matter what, so we got into the car. As soon as she pulled out of our street, she saw her old car in flames, half of the car ripped across the other ~ 10 ~
side of the road. "THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED?" My mom yelled, looking at the car, to me, back to the car again. "I thought you meant like a tiny dent or scratch?!" She turned back to me. "Wha...How?" She stuttered. "How are you... That was a major accident! Most people would've died in a crash like that! How did you... how are you here?" she asked, still in disbelief. Just then the fire truck pulled up, and while they started to extinguish the fire, the chief came over and started to interrogate me. "We didn't find anyone in the car. Did you witness the crash?" "Yes sir. I was the one who was in the crash." I explained how the truck came out of nowhere and crashed head onto me. "Okay kid. This is a matter of life or death. Someone was in a major crash and we don't know who and where they are. You couldn't have been in that crash. You would have been severely injured, or even killed. You look absolutely fine!" "I'm telling you. It was me. I don't know what happened. I don't know why I'm okay. But I am!" The car was so engulfed in flames for my mom to realize that it was her car. "William. Get back in the car. We're going home. And unless you explain to me why you're pretending you were in a car crash, none of your friends are coming over tonight." We drove back in silence, then as soon as she slammed the house door shut, she yelled, "Why do you think it's funny to pretend like you were in a car ~ 11 ~
accident! You could've been killed!" "I was the one in the crash! Call it a miracle. Call it a blessing. I don't know! But I'm not hurt? Aren't you glad? And then how could you explain where your car is now? It's engulfed in flames!"
"Go. Tell all your friends they can't come over. Stay in your room until you can give me a reason for why you pretended to be in a car accident, and are mature enough to tell me what actually happened, and where my car is!" I stomped up the stairs. "Give me your phone!" My mom yelled. I threw it at her. Hard. She caught it. Good. Otherwise I would have had a cracked phone. "And for that, no basketball for a week!"
"UGGGHH!!" I stomped up the stairs and slammed my door. This weekend were the championships. I couldn't miss that and I wouldn't. I didn't have anything else to do, so I fell asleep. I could hear my mom talking on the phone, probably to my dad telling him why I'm not at practice. A few hours later, after dinner, I was bored and needed to get my anger out. I went out to the driveway and shot some hoops. I was just about finished ~ 12 ~
and went for one last shot when I tripped over Lexi's dumb piece of chalk she left out. Lexi's my 10 year old sister who's currently at a sleepover. I fell face forward but used my hands to stop myself. I was okay, but my knees and hands were pretty badly scraped up. I kicked the piece of chalk onto the road out of anger, then took another good look at my hands. The scrapes were gone. What?! "William! Dinner!" I was so confused, but headed inside cause my mom was already mad enough. I didn't talk at dinner. I went to go try to research about what I had, and if it was even possible. But then I remembered I had my phone taken away. And my iPad. And my laptop. So I guess that was out of the question. But I didn't think this would be possible. It's like some superpower or whatever. That was only in stories. It wasn't real! Was it? I had to find out.
The next day at school I used the school computers to look up what happened to me. But there was no evidence of what happened. I went on with my day, and as soon as it was over I ran home. My dog greeted me, as I opened the door and jumped on me. He was pretty big and sometimes didn't know how strong he was. His nails also haven't been cut in a while, and scraped me on my arms and legs in a few places. I spotted the cuts from the corner of my eye as I finished petting ~ 13 ~
him and saying hello. By the time I put my bag down in the kitchen, I went to examine the scrapes. But they were gone. I guess this was a real power. I couldn't really get hurt. I didn't know what I would do with this power. I could just continue my life. I could save the world! I don't know. But right now, I needed to continue my life. And I would start by doing my homework.
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A Merry mess by Allie Straub ‘24
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elemental by Margaret Cravens ‘23 Born at the dawn of war As the first battle begins Weaker in one, stronger in another Flaming courage A light in the dark She will save the four kingdoms She will create a time of peace Elements. Earth, water, air, fire. Each special, each unique. In the realm of fire, inside a marvelous castle, a woman is giving birth to a child. She knows who the child is, what she will become. Centuries earlier, a smokewatcher stoking his fire of future was intrigued by the pattern of the flames, and perceived them to be a prophecy predicting that a child would be born who could stop the ~ 16 ~
Darkness forever, restoring peace to the four kingdoms. Now, that child was being born. The peculiar thing was, her hair was not the flame orange of all fire people, but a soft golden color that shimmered in the wavering light from the torches. The woman however, knew she had no time to marvel at her daughter. As the prophecy, recorded ages ago by an old smokewatcher, had predicted, the child had been born at the dawn of war. Darkness knew about the prophecy. They would try to kill the child when they found out it had been born. And there would be no doubt which Fire princess it was, this one’s golden hair would give it dead away. “Weaker in one, stronger in another� the prophecy said. Slightly weaker with flames, perhaps, but extra powers in another element. The woman, the Queen of the Fire realm, bundled the young child into a gray blanket, and gave it to a messenger sitting nearby. The messenger took the small child, and ran with it into the royal stables. She mounted a beautiful grey stallion, and placed the child in the saddlebag, covering it up with clean rags so to disguise the baby. The messenger galloped away into the night, taking the Fire Princess to the only safe place for her. The stallion flew through the night, coming to a halt at the seashore. Waves crashed along the beach. The messenger took the baby from the saddle bag and placed it in a basket with a silken blue blanket and a note. ~ 17 ~
The note, written in black ink, said simply “Fire Princess, to be raised by Water Kings and Queens, child of prophecies.� The baby drifted away, over the sea, peacefully sucking its thumb, unaware to her secret powers and the responsibility she now carried. A man rises from the waves. He picks up the baby, and dives with it downward. All in the Four Kingdoms could adapt to any environment, and they could breathe under water easily.
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Harper’s ferry by Helena English ‘24
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Red by Brooke Griffin ‘22 Red. This is written in red, So the paper bleeds. So it bleeds with the words I write. The truths I hold inside Come out kicking. Long nails driving into me. I cough out the truth on this page As well as my blood.
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Red. This is written in red, So the paper blushes. So it blushes with unspoken feelings I write. The feelings I lock down inside Roll out haphazardly Flying into the air before into my heart. I vomit out feelings on this page As well as my blood.
Red. This is written in red, So the paper is splotchy. So it’s splotchy with the anger I write. The anger I’m keeping Rains down like acid Burning everything in its path. ~ 21 ~
I sneeze out the anger on this page As well as my blood.
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Love beach by Iris Benoit ‘24
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Log 52 by Aidan Gilroy ‘23 The sliding enormous sheets of glass kept opening and closing right in front of my eyes. Right before they closed I sprinted in so I wasn't locked out. Once inside the building named supermarket I saw a huge group of incredibly large robbers. They were stealing metal baskets with wheels and taking them around the enormous building. I tried to follow them but the bright lights were too much for me to bare. There were so many different ways to go in this maze of colors and the unusually bland music disorientated me. As I went down aisle 11, a robber barreled towards me. I tried to escape but I was too slow and got ran over. He didn’t seem to notice me at all as I tried to get up, but just kept on rushing around the terrifying labyrinth. I started to climb up the wall on my left side to see where he went, when my left foot hold fell. Falling to the ground I barely dodged the falling multi-colored meteors. As I was getting up, I picked up a few of the exotic objects that had fallen placing them safely in my pocket and noticed they sprang from a dust covered vessel labeled “GUMBALLS.” Searching ~ 24 ~
for a way out of this exotic, yet distressing, jumble of a supermarket, I found a forest of trees with huge leaves that looked like a safe place to hide. However, as I climbed through the giant leaves water started falling from the sky. The water caused me to lose my footing and fall off the odd looking tree. Looking for another way out, I started to run towards a wall with individual sheets of glass hoping to be free of this maze. When a robber opened the sheet I almost froze to death. Burr, l wondered, their seasons must change very fast here compared to ours. Still trying to find my way out I followed a robber to a desk with something moving on top. Luckily, this was near another big glass sheet. I climbed onto the desk hoping to find my way out of this horrifying maze. As I hopped on the thing that moved and emptied my pockets of the stuff that looked pretty, the robber in front of me started to leave. I handed a being (who didn’t seem to have stolen anything) behind a desk my money (a glowing space rock) as payment. The being wouldn't take it. I was confused because the robber in front of me swiped a tiny sheet of plastic and was allowed to leave. Then two tall robbers picked me up brought me outside. I tried to thank them, but they just walked away. After all that, I still don’t understand what a
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supermarket is, but I still want to find out what these small things stuffed in my pocket are. As I sat down on one of the white lines between two brightly colored machines with four circular objects touching the ground, a big slobbery, fourlegged, and hairy beast ran by and takes my new possessions. Clearly, I don’t understand this place. Good riddance, I yelled, but no one heard me as I start to make the long journey back to my ship.
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Knots on the bay by Skyler Morton ‘24
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Imperfection by Maddie Clarke ‘22 I may not be perfect to everybody and I may not be perfect to myself at all times. But who gave you the right to tell me I’m not perfect? What is the definition of perfect and is it the same for everything? No, I’m not skinny and yes I have flaws, but what makes me imperfect? Is it the fact that I don’t do sports or is it the fact that I don’t post perfect pictures on Instagram? Maybe that I don’t wear makeup or I’m not as pretty as everyone else? My whole life everyone has always said “Be yourself and don’t let anyone tell you that you aren’t perfect.” ~ 28 ~
Then here you are going around telling everyone their flaws straight out. Telling everyone there’s something bad about themselves. Always saying there’s a new imperfection. You’re everywhere. On the streets. In my phone. On my iPad. Everywhere. Well guess what. News flash. I am perfect. Your reign of terror and judgment ends now. Who gave you this right?
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Autumn Light by Emily Leach ‘24
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Hidden Identity by Whitney Grimes ‘24 I glanced down upon my family envisioning a joyful circle of youthful children surrounding Father. He was reading one of his historical books as he relaxed on the toshak in the corner of the room. I could almost hear Father’s steady and strong voice, educating me about Afghan history when I realized that my imagination was getting the best of me, and returned my mind to reality. Peering through the gaps in the fluffy, white clouds I was perched on, I watched what was really happening in my old home. I could view my sister Parvana, surrounded by Mother, Nooria, and a woman who seemed familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on her name. I listened to Mother’s forceful voice announcing, “As a boy, you’ll be able to move in and out of the market, buy what we need, and no one will stop you.” She continued, “you will maintain Father’s letter reading business, to keep up with the bills for food and rent.” I saw Parvana’s stunned face, which was also representing my shocked reaction to Mother’s words. “There will be no need for ~ 31 ~
you to wear a burqa or chador anymore,” she added as if they were having a normal conversation, just telling Parvana that she had to fill the water tap like she did on daily basis. It was almost as if Parvana was going to replace me as the oldest boy in the family-other than father of course. Do I like this idea or not? I feel so disconnected from the family already, and if Parvana is a boy I won’t even have a place in the family, let alone be connected with them. At least if she is transformed into boy, I’ll know why and understand that it is only to help the family, not to take the place of me. “It’s a perfect solution,” the unknown woman stated with a satisfied expression. I could easily tell that she had come up with the idea, and was quite proud of the solution she had figured out. “The only way,” Nooria confirmed. I saw complete contentment on Nooria’s freckled face, pink lips tightly pursed into a thin line. She was trying to hide her enjoyment in watching Parvana’s astonished expression as she became even more bewildered each sentence they spoke. “You’ll be our cousin from
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Jalalabad, not that I expect you to know where that is,” she joked, even though know one laughed. “Come to stay with us while our father is away,”she continued, pretending that the incident hadn’t happened at all. “Why don’t we take a seat and have some nan? If I can remember correctly, there is left over from last night’s meal. I think you need some time to process this new information and make a decision. It is all going to work out fine, okay Parvana?” Mother reassured her kindly. Parvana replied with a simple nod of her head, still her eyes wide in shock. As I oversaw them eating the nan, I remembered how delicious it tasted and longed for the soft, buttery bread to be in my hands spreading a lovely sensation through my body and warming my heart. I felt like I hadn’t eaten in a century! Why did I have to step on that land mine? If only I was still alive to be there for my family in times of need! Then Parvana wouldn’t have to go though any of this and she could stay safely at home, with no worries of being caught by a Taliban soldier. Why was I so stupid? I should have been watching where I was stepping more carefully! This is all my fault! Everything is my fault!
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I hankered for the gentle touch of my Mother’s smooth fingers against my cheek, her reassuring smile, and comforting words to tell me everything was going to turn out fine, like she had done to Parvana. Everything would be different if I was alive, I knew it would be a better different.
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Tiger by Jack Condon ‘22
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Run by Fiona Griessier ‘22 I willed my legs to push my body forward. Run. I felt my legs churn and move steadily beneath me, but my mind was going at full speed with questions and thoughts that I feared would never be answered or diminished. I skidded as I raced and turned down the corner of my street. 97 Hanikway, my address. I bolted to the door with my heart anxiously beating like a bell against the bell tower which was my flesh. As I opened the door I saw myself in the glass window pane and grimaced. I was fooled to believing that it was just a game, that it would only last for a day. I frantically yanked open the door and immediately dropped to my knees in despair. They had already been here. 2 weeks ago...... "Mom," I yelled up our rickety staircase. "What is it Matthew?"
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"I am going to the new store that opened a few blocks away, ya know the one called Nerve to Power. Todd is already there and I don't want all the stuff to sell out!" "Fine, but be back before dinner or you'll be cleaning the dishes instead of your sister tonight," she warned. I scowled, it had been my turn to clean the dishes last night, why should my sister get off just because I was late. However, I did take my mother's warning into consideration with the knowledge that she doesn't fool around. Ten minutes later I was peering up at the shiny new store's sign with my friend Todd Kankle. Todd was the first to walk into the store and I followed quickly behind. Whoosh. I adjusted my footing and moved to the side as a bulky man around his 40's sped past me. I felt my mouth drop open in astonishment. He must have been going at 40 mph at least. I lost my train of thought when I saw a young girl spew some green goo out of her mouth. The slimy substance morphed into a mystical bird that was streaked with red, orange, and yellow feathers. The phoenix shot up into the air and starting singing a beautiful song that sounded like the tinkling of tiny bells. ~ 37 ~
"How did you do that?" I asked in amazement. "I just bought MorphGum, tried it out, and thought of my favorite animal," the girl replied. Suddenly, a man jumped out of nowhere as if his feet had little trampolines attached to them. My eyes started getting dizzy as I tried to keep eye contact with him as he bounced up and down like a kangaroo. "Hello, can I help you, boy?" "Yeah, what is all of this? How can this girl do that and that man - he was running around here as fast as a car!! He didn't even look tired, what is going on?" I exclaimed, mostly to myself. "My boy, this shop here sells special powers for only $30! Let me just tell you that this is a great deal. Of course, the government created these gifts and have proven that they are all safe," he quickly added after sensing my uncertainty. "How long do these powers last?" ~ 38 ~
"Only a day, 24 hours. There are many powers, for example, Morphgum, Speedsweets, Firefun, Waterwonders, and NoAgeNougat." "What's this?" I asked, pointing at a strange bottle of foaming teal liquid. "Ahhh...that is Strengthsoup. Top selling, that is." I weighed my options - use up most of my saved money, but be the strongest guy in school for a day or be the plain normal Matthew for the rest of my life? - Too tempting, I just had to try it out! "I'll take it then...$30, right?" "Nice doing business with you," he said while showing his golden toothy grin. I reluctantly handed over the cash and made my way out of the store. While walking home I thought that I would be smart and save my power until school started up again, since it was spring break now.
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2 weeks later‌ "Matthew, be careful," mom warned. I sighed. It had been two days since I took the Strengthsoup and I still was breaking door knobs and crushing forks when I ate. I gently turned the sink knobs to wash my hands and let out the breath that I didn't realize I was holding in when water trickled out of the faucet. All around town people's powers were not wearing off. People like me were either breaking stuff or using their powers to their advantage by hurting others. My dad and other scientists were working on an antidote before things got too out of hand. Gangs were already forming and people were getting hurt and three people have already been murdered. School has been closed for a while now, but I have still heard news about The Bostitch, the most ruthless gang in our city. They apparently have been ransacking people's houses and beating up people on the streets. I decided to walk over to Todd's house and hang out, all this staying inside the house was boring me. His house was only four blocks away and I got there in less than 15
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minutes. We hung out in his living room and played video games for a while. All of a sudden, my phone started ringing like crazy. BRRRIIIINNNGG BRRIINGG!!! "Hello," I said. "MATTHEW," my dad frantically yelled, "Where are you?! Where did you go? Do you know how worried your mother and I were?!" "I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you guys. I'm over at the Kankle's house." "Son, this is very important. Listen to me carefully, I finished the antidote and need to send it to the lab. Make your way back home and take care of your mother and sister while I am gone. Make sure they are safe." "Ok, I'm leaving now. Dad be careful, ok?" I got no response. Beeeeeepppp!!! My heart dropped, something wasn't right. I willed my legs to push my body forward. Run.
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Peanut M&M Pop Art by Megan Murphy ‘23
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Civic responsibility Speeches During the 8th grade public speaking unit, students were challenged to write a speech about a topic of deep personal interest that would resonate with the middle school student body. The following pieces showcase a variety of speeches heard in Morning Meeting, involving messages that are relevant to the Severn Community.
1st: Brooke Griffin 2nd: Baxter Wright 3rd: Emma Hlousek 4th: Antonio Money 5th: Rachel Weinberg 6th: Wes Ingrao 7th: Sarah Jay 8th: JP Meyer ~ 43 ~
Modern Day Soldiers Returning from War
The pledge of allegiance. This American flag, that we pledge allegiance, do we really know what it represents? Yes, there’s the thirteen colonies for the stripes, and the fifty stars for each state, but I’m talking about the deeper meaning. This flag represents freedom for everyone who lives under it. Where does that freedom come from? Our soldiers who fight for us, deployed overseas for a year, maybe even more. They fight for us with little connection with their friends and family back home. When they come back on the plane, some of them come back sitting in seats. Others come home lying in body bags. Good morning students and faculty. My name is Brooke Griffin, and I’m here to talk to you about modern day service members coming home from war. By a show of hands, who has a family member who is or was in the military. I would like to thank them for their service.
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My dad, now an army colonel serving for more than twenty years, was deployed to Iraq for a year in 2008 when I was only four. To me, that was the biggest deal in the world. When he came back home, safe and unharmed, it was the happiest day of my life. The soldiers on the plane, whether they’re stepping off or being carried off, come back changed people. My dad was one of the lucky ones, because he had his family still waiting for him, and came back with no injuries or illnesses, physical or mental. Others are not so lucky. A friend of my dad who went to college with him and is also a father of two kids, was deployed three times a year, each to Iraq. He now has PTSD, which was a major factor in his relatively early retirement. A study done in 2015 reports that at least 30% of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan have post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD and/or depression, and 50% of veterans with PTSD don’t seek out treatment. Some people are even more unlucky when coming home, because their spouses and families didn’t wait for them, and have moved on with their lives. Or, when they do come home, they have a physical or mental illness or injury that their family/ spouse can’t deal with and leaves them. Some veterans come home drug addicts. Some veterans are so haunted by the ghosts of their past that they don’t see an end, and commit suicide. A statistical study reveals that veteran suicides ~ 45 ~
are as much as 5,000-8,000 a year, or 22 suicides a day. My dad knows people from work who have committed suicide. My friend, whose dad is also in the army, and my dad’s friend from college who now has PTSD have also lost close friends. I find it heartbreaking that the people who fought to keep our country safe, don’t feel like there’s any hope. In 2012, the number of active duty personnel that committed suicide was greater than the number that died in combat. The Iraq and Afghanistan wars are still going on. The military has gotten better at treating veterans and preventing those things from happening. Eighth graders, next year as freshmen we have to complete volunteer hours in order to graduate. Why not volunteer your time contributing to an organization in Maryland that helps veterans, such as the Travis Manion Foundation, whose mission is to empower veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations. The next time you say the pledge of allegiance, think about all the selfless men and women who gave their lives standing under it united.
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Charlottesville Racism "When they go low, we go high," Michelle Obama said when talking about the chaos in Charlottesville at UVA (Keenan). Hello, Severn School I'm Baxter Wright and I want to talk to you about a topic that isn't mentioned enough but is one of society's biggest problems today: racism/ civil rights and the abuse of the 1st amendment right of freedom of speech. The events I am about to describe occurred over the course of two days this past summer: August 11-12. On the evening of August 11, approximately 100 anti-semitic Neo-Nazis appeared holding lighted torches and chanting. Early August 12, the KKK showed up to downtown Charlottesville to protest the removal of a confederate statue. After all of the protests settle down and when it seemed as though everything was going to die off, at approximately 2 p.m. 20-year-old James Alex Fields Jr. drove his Dodge into a group of anti-protesters, injuring 19 and killing 32-yearold Heather Heyer a resident of Charlottesville (Cville car crash, second degree murder). What happened in Charlottesville should be a huge wake up call to everyone that discrimination is very much alive. This topic resonates with me first because my sister attends the University of Virginia. She was on campus when this all unraveled. As an Asian Jew to see that the Nazis and the KKK are still against minorities is heartbreaking and scary. I chose to talk to you about what ~ 47 ~
happened in Charlottesville because racism has been going on for way too long. The first problem of Charlottesville is the abuse of the first amendment right of freedom of speech. The number of times I have heard someone say something wrong then follow up and say oh I have the freedom of speech seems like as often as LeBron dunks. By the Bill of Rights you can say whatever you want to, speak your thoughts. But you cannot commit slander which is telling lies to purposefully damage someone's reputation. Americans also have freedom of assembly which is the right to gather in a large group, and to PEACEFULLY protest. Key word: peacefully. Thanks Ms. Donovan. One protester said quote on quote, "This city is run by Jewish communists and criminals and the next word is a racial slur for African Americans." To say something like this is so far outside of your freedom of speech rights. You cannot say stuff like this. Although the 1st amendment protects hate speech, we have a civic duty not to abuse that right. Do what is right. The American Civil War, the 1920s and the Holocaust have all ended. It is 2017. There is no need for hate groups. As a nation, we are supposed to progress and become better. In the sense of discrimination, we have stayed at the same place for centuries. To have a violent rally for the removal of a Confederate leader that ultimately kills an innocent woman is not ok for 2017. In 1999 there ~ 48 ~
were 457 hate groups identified in America and 2 years ago in 2015 there were 892 hate groups identified nationally (Potok). That’s almost a 200% increase. Hate groups have to be abolished. People should not be hated for their color of their skin or their religion. What should matter is character. The way they are and act, not something out of reach. HATE HAS GOT TO STOP. Instead, Love. Care. Be positive. If there’s one thing you take away from this speech make it this word. Equality. Every person should have the same rights no matter what. The golden rule is crucial for society. Treat others the way that you want to be treated. We can be the generation that is the one to end Hate, hate groups, and racism. It all starts at home. At home, we cannot accept any discrimination or prejudice towards any group. STAND UP in what is right. Take initiative it starts with us. Barack Obama's tweet on Charlottesville is the most liked tweet ever and he said, "No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, his background, or his religion..." (Obama). Every single person created on this earth is equal, but they aren’t treated this way. The world is filled with good people. Severn School, since we are too young right now to make contributions to stopping hate at the national level, I ask you to stop hate inside your community. Instead of making fun of your friend’s new haircut, compliment it. Make a positive contribution to the world. Thank you very much. ~ 49 ~
A Reachable Cure In 1998, my mother moved from Hungary to the United States. A couple years later, in 2003, she found out that she was going to have a baby, but also that she was going to be fighting cancer at the same time. She had to undergo a lot, but what made it even harder was that she had to be careful not to hurt the baby during the process. That baby was me, and when all this happened, not only were my mother and I highly affected by it, but so were all of our family and close friends. This shows how cancer can affect anyone at any time, like in my case, I was highly affected by it and not even born yet. My name is Emma Hlousek and I'm here to talk to you about the effect of cancer and its improvements in the medical world. Please stand up. Now remain standing if you have been affected by cancer through a friend, family member, or someone else. Look around, there's a lot of you. Thank you, you can sit back down. Now imagine if the whole world were asked to do the same. Just like in this room, unfortunately, most people would be standing. This is just one example of why it is so important to finally find a cure for cancer after the many decades of trying.
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Did you know that cancer affects more than 32 million people in one year? But to cure cancer, we will need the whole world involved. Since it's hard to get everyone involved, we need to get as many people as we can to try to help, and with all that, we may be able to limit cancer. As a student, what you can do to help limit the number of people affected by cancer is helping those you know live a healthier lifestyle and make better food choices. Not taking care of yourself and living unhealthy is one of the factors of cancer. At many hospitals like the University of Texas MD Anderson Hospital, medical experts are working together to cure cancer through early diagnosis, effective therapies, and scientific breakthroughs. According to Daniel F. Hayes, in the past thirty-five years, we've been able to detect cancer earlier, find a more effective way to target it, and take better care of patients and let them live longer, fulfilling lives. If we can keep this up, that means that hopefully in another 35 years or less we can get even better. Macmillan Cancer Support says that some side effects of cancer include fatigue, risk of infection, nausea, body changes, and effects people don't usually have on a daily basis. Not only is experiencing these side effects hard for the person going through them, but it's also not easy for a loved one or someone close to them who has to watch them have these problems almost every day. ~ 51 ~
A local organization that is helping those affected or those having a hard time because they know someone with cancer is the Wellness House. If you go to annapoliswellnesshouse.org you can find many ways to help by donating or volunteering, and events that you can go to help raise money. Another thing you can do is look up upcoming events related to fighting cancer around your community and find something you might be interested in doing like a walk, run, or other fundraiser. Severn School, I'm sure that most of you have heard many times that donating towards a good cause like curing cancer is good and that everyone should do it. Donating anything from money to your time will have more of an impact than you think. Donating that will change the world. Remember how many people in this room were affected by cancer and how that compared to the people in the world? Hopefully, one day, we will be able to see only a couple people standing. Thank you.
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Our Security vs. our freedom This past summer when I traveled to Europe, I had a very uncomfortable experience with airport security that left me questioning the common sense of our current screening procedures, as well as how much of our civil liberties we are willing to sacrifice in the name of national security. I was flying back to Washington with my parents and about to board our last flight in Amsterdam when I was “randomly selected” for an enhanced security screening after I handed my boarding pass to the gate agent. I was tired, ready to go home, and had already waited through an hour long security line where my dad had an aggressive pat down. I couldn’t believe they would select me since I’m a 13 year old boy traveling with a U.S. passport. What kind of threat am I? And yet, I was still required to step aside, away from my parents, however not in a private area and subjected to a pretty disturbing and very thorough pat down if you know what I mean. After that, my hands were swabbed for chemical residue, however at the time I had no idea that’s what they were doing. The whole experience left me wondering if we really are more secure from terrorism with these intrusions on our basic privacy rights, not to mention our personal dignity. Since 9/11, the TSA was established, costing over $7 billion a year, ~ 53 ~
screening millions of people, and yet has never detected anyone with residue of a chemical explosive. How many people here have been through airport security? Please raise your hand if you’ve ever been through one of the full body scanners where you must assume this position (demonstration to audience of pose). So most people have experienced the slow crawl of the long lines where you remove your shoes, toss your drink in the trash, and make your way through the metal detectors. However, if you’re over the age of 12, chances are that you went through a body scanner. Even though the TSA claims that the scanners are safe, University of California scientists wrote, “There is good reason to believe that these scanners will increase the risk of cancer to children and other vulnerable populations.” I remember that after I turned twelve, my parents, who are health care providers, expressed concerns about me being exposed to radiation at a young age, however the TSA agent said it was either the scanner or invasive full contact pat down. It’s important to know that these scanners were implemented in response to the “underwear bomber” so they do expose our private areas to the agent. In England, these scanners violate their child pornography laws, so they are banned for children under the age of 18. The scanners have been referred to as a virtual strip search which makes me question if this is a violation of the 4th amendment which protects us from unreasonable searches without probable cause. I just don’t see how the act of me ~ 54 ~
getting on an airplane is probable cause necessitating my exposure to unhealthy radiation, or humiliation from being naked on a TSA agent’s screen. Either is probably preferable to me over submitting to the pat down, or cup check. Even the head of a flight attendants’ union said, “these intimate pat downs-the only alternative to the naked scanner- would drudge up bad memories for anyone who’s ever been assaulted.” The current airport security procedures haven’t been proven effective, while causing many people humiliation. For some, it may seem like a small inconvenience for the greater good of security, but by infringing on our 4th amendment rights we are being stripped of liberties. The terrorists who attack us win when our basic freedom to privacy is surrendered. Our society and government must take action to prevent terror, however it is important to choose measures that still preserve our own freedoms. At Severn School, we learn how to carefully analyze and consider a problem, while attempting to find a solution. We must apply the same thoughtfulness to issues concerning both our safety and privacy, “otherwise we are throwing away our freedom as pointlessly” as that unfinished water bottle.
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The cost of perfection Did you know that 52% of girls as young as 12 are found to have clinical levels of anxiety and the strive for perfection is the key influence? I, Rachel Weinberg, want to educate the middle school about this. I will be talking to you about the side effects of being a perfectionist, and what it means. I chose this topic because it is more of a problem than you think. I'm a perfectionist, especially with schoolwork and sports. But for me, it's more about the work I put in rather than the grade or outcome. A lot of you are probably thinking about whether you're a perfectionist or not. But there's a difference between perfectionists and high achievers. High achievers set reachable goals and standards for themselves. To a perfectionist, anything short of perfect is a failure. They aren’t able to recognize their success as well as failures. As soon as they do something well, they immediately raise their expectations higher and higher. When they can't meet them, it's seen as a failure. Even writing this speech I was hard on myself and didn’t want Ms. Drossner to look at it and I didn’t think it was worthy of submitting to the Admirals’ Pen. ~ 56 ~
The continuous desire to achieve perfection isn't the problem, it's the stress that comes with it. The term “all-nighter” has become more and more popular among teens, causing them to consume unhealthy amounts of caffeine and energy drinks. Not all perfectionists are driven to do this. There are different types of perfectionists, self-oriented, socially prescribed, and other-oriented. Selforiented perfectionists strive for perfection through actions. If you’re one to pull an all-nighter, then this would be you. You want to achieve perfection for yourself, not for others. Socially prescribed perfectionists think others want them to be perfect and want to live up to other’s expectations. Other-oriented perfectionists want others to be perfect. This is when you get upset when others make mistakes. All types of perfectionists are in danger of depression, eating disorders, and anxiety. In many cases people aren't trying to please themselves, instead they want to make others satisfied. “Perfectionists are afraid of failing.” State researchers at York University said. They don't want to just please themselves, they want to please others too. This is why many people don't try new sports after a certain age, they want to be as good as everyone else if not better. "They compare themselves more than ever because our society is more image based,” says Dr. Tom Nehmy. For some people, constructive criticism is ~ 57 ~
hard to take in a positive way. People take it as an insult, and immediately think the worst of the person giving it. I've seen people be reminded that they're on equipment duty for after school sports and say something like “I know” or “she thinks I'm stupid” under their breath. For some, school is the same way. Knowing that you got points off for something you knew or could've easily fixed is immediately seen as a failure. Doesn't matter if you received a 99, anything short of perfect is a disappointment. Everyone feels frustrated or angry, but frustration builds very quickly for perfectionists. This is where the problems start. When you’re feeling that way, it can worsen your academic performance. Stress is only sometimes your friend, and when you have too much of it, it can start to take a toll. But that's not the only thing that can happen. People can start to stress about things unrelated to school. This includes your physical appearance and reputation. My advice, try to relax a little more. It's ok to set goals, just make them realistic. You'll enjoy life so much more if you're not constantly thinking about how hard the next test is, if you mess up in a game, or make a stupid mistake on an assignment. I've learned that at the end of the day there are so many worse
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things that could happen. You're probably remembering your mistake, mess up, failure, or whatever you did for that day, that week, maybe that month, but after a while, it most likely won't cross your mind.
The Importance of helping those with disabilities Hi, my name is Wes Ingrao and today I would like to speak to you about something that is very close to my heart. This past summer I volunteered to work with disabled kids. These kids ranged in disabilities from ADHD to very severe mobility and mental issues. The majority of the kids there suffered from Autism, which is something that I am very familiar with because one of my cousins is autistic. I want to help kids with disabilities like my cousin, so I would like all of you to join me in helping those with disabilities and most importantly helping them feel more included.
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One thing I have discovered is that 20% of the U.S population has some sort of disability. People with disabilities, especially children, are oftentimes left out of activities or bullied. It is sad to think that kids like my cousin are not treated with the respect and kindness that most people show each other. One example of something very simple that someone did for my cousin that made him so happy really sticks in my mind. We once sponsored a midshipman from the Naval Academy and one day one of her friends came to visit us. My cousin Danny was over as well, and everyone was asking Danny to recall all these facts like birthdays, anniversaries, and other dates. Danny remembered all the dates, even the date when a waiter spilled a tray full of drinks in a restaurant when he was only 10, and he is now almost 18. While we were all asking him to remember our important dates, the midshipman that was over, Tony, started asking Danny questions about him. Danny’s birthday and Danny’s first time he came to our house, Danny’s favorite class in school. We all saw this change come over Danny. He smiled and laughed and loved that he was the center of attention. It made us realize that Danny is a person just like us and that all he wants is to be treated like a normal person, not someone “special” that can remember all the numbers, dates, and times. ~ 60 ~
I have found from talking with kids with disabilities at Camp Mayo, where I volunteered, that they do care when they are left out. One of my Campers at Mayo told me that his father did not like to take him out of the house. He was very sad and told me that he wanted to go to the park or to the beach with his father but that his father never took him out of the house. I can only imagine that his father was scared that his son would embarrass him. It was so sad to hear. Can you imagine a child who just wants to be accepted is not being accepted by his own dad? That very same kid really enjoyed swimming in the river at camp with the other kids. There is so much to know and like about every person, disabled or not. We should all try to be more inclusive and kind to those that are not the same as us, don’t just stare at them. I challenge you Severn students to go to them and ask them a question or just say “hello”, become a friend. You will be making a difference in someone’s life that will also make you feel good about yourself.
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The Power of Laughter Hi, I'm Sarah Jay and I want to talk to all of you about the healing power of laughter. Like all people, I love to laugh and be happy. However, sometimes when people go through dark, sad or painful times it can be hard to laugh and enjoy life. More and more, doctors in hospitals are using humor to help children and adults cope with the troubles they are going through. This past January, I had surgery and spent 8 days Children's National in Washington DC. The hospital did a wonderful job with activities like bingo and board games and also watching movies, music, Wii and Xbox. They even had clowns, a librarian, local athletes and sometimes dogs to come around to cheer the children up. In fact, Ryan Seacrest created a radio station in the hospital where patients could request songs and win "call in" contests. After seeing how much time and effort Children's National put into the healing power of laughter, I wanted to find out more about the science on how and why this would happen. In 1964, Norman Cousins, a hospital patient was the first to be formally studied on how laughter can affect the quality of life. They found that he could rest for two hours with no pain after he laughed for 10 ~ 62 ~
consecutive minutes. Laughing has huge effects on health both mentally and physically. It increases the heart rate and blood pressure, helps circulation throughout the body, improves digestion, reduces muscle tension, increases the tolerance of pain with the release of endorphins, which is your body’s natural painkiller. Laughter helps distract patients making it easier for the doctors to draw your blood or put an IV in. It can help ease anger, fear or any pent up emotions, and gives a person hope and a sense of control. Another way humor can help is the communication between the doctors and the patients making them less stressed and more open to questions or fears (Pattillo pg. 40-43). You might of heard about movie Patch Adams starring Robin Williams. It's based on a real doctor who studied medicine at the Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Adams is a firm believer of a good bedside manner and the impact it had on his patients. He even invented the word “gesundheit,” which is used to wish someone good health and he has said that he wants the patients to feel as important as the doctors. He is a doctor but above everything, he considers himself an activist for peace, justice, and cares for all people. He believes, "If you treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you'll win no matter the outcome" (Adams). So there are many reasons why modern medicine incorporates laughter ~ 63 ~
into its practice for mental, physical, and emotional reasons. When visiting someone in the hospital, going to a doctor’s appointment, or getting nervous for a flu shot, just remember the healing power of laughter and try to smile.
Our civic responsibilities in a dangerous world Everything about school violence is sad, disgusting, and horrible. I know many of you are thinking, ”just another speech that doesn’t concern me”, but this one if different. This could be a matter of your friends, teachers, families, and even your own life. So how can you avoid something like this from happening? It’s a mixture of paying attention to what people say and do, and consciously being aware of how you and others are treating people in your community. A huge misconception about those who commit school violence is that the people are loners who never talk to anyone of have any human contact. This is not true. Many of these people are constantly being rejected or told off or excluded altogether. For example, say there is a perfectly normal student and ~ 64 ~
we’ll call him Jeremy. Jeremy has family issues going on: his mom got very sick and his dad lost his job. School is Jeremy’s only escape from his scary sad home life. Then, he goes to school use trying to be friends with someone and gets turned away, and that makes things worse. He goes to different people and tries talking to them and he gets made fun of for how his hair looks. So even in his escape from home, it is just as bad. And what’s worse is that this happens every single day. For a whole year he puts up with it, just trying to make friends with someone and not let the bullying get to him. After a while, his grades slip, the bullies just keep getting worse, and he keeps building up more anger and pain. Jeremy tries one more time. He asked a kid, “Hey man, how has your day been?” The kid points to his pants and asks him why he wears such ugly ones and that he should just go away because he is too weird. That’s where it became too much and he thought of violence. Now because of people that just wanted to be “cool” and fit in, Jeremy is turning to violence. I know it might be hard, because someone will say something to someone that might be hurtful, and you never want to be the person who has to tell their friends to stop, because then you are looked at as too much of a “teacher’s pet”, but in situations like these, you need to put a foot down and stop it, so that it doesn’t end up leading to anything worse. So, even if you are a person that would never think about excluding a ~ 65 ~
kid, keep your eyes open. This happened everywhere around is and if you can stop id early, it is possible that you just saved someone else’s life. This may not happen a lot at Severn, but it is possible for something like this to happened to any school anywhere. Recently, there was a teenager who texted a couple of people about plans he has for school violence. A person who got the text immediately told an adult and a huge potential crisis was averted. The thing that is important is that we don’t take these comments lightly. People say things like this as a joke and that is where we need to really look at the scenario. Tell an adult if this happens. They can look further into the comments and decide what to do from there. I cannot stress hard enough that you need to say something to someone, especially someone that people will trust and that actually will do something, and not take it lightly. They should report anything that looks suspicious or seems off. Sometimes it may be hard to tell whether someone is being serious or not, because a lot of people make violent jokes that might not be appropriate, and to be completely honest, those jokes aren’t funny. So if every one of you stopped making these jokes, we wouldn’t have to worry about reporting something that isn’t actually happening. Another thing I would like to point out, is that if you tell someone, that does not mean the FBI will show up and question you. Don’t feel like reporting something like this will make a big deal. Usually, a ~ 66 ~
person would say something like that that if they not feeling great, or having a bad day. They would just have to say that to whoever you tell, and that’s that, but if it was serious, you could have just saved lives. My goal today is not to scare you but to empower you. I want to be clear that these scenarios are so incredibly unlikely, and these are the worst of the worst, but that doesn’t not mean that they aren’t possible. I’m sure everyone thinks, “Oh there is such a low chance, it won’t happen to me” but you can never be too safe. I want to educate you on how you can help to reduce the possibility even further. Mainly, I want you to treat others in a way that will not hurt them, physically or mentally, and be aware of what you are saying to people and about people. Don’t make dumb jokes about violence, but if you hear them, please report them. It is the best way to stop any type of violence from happening. Finally, I would like to say to anyone in the room who is currently or has ever thought about solving their problems with violence: you are not alone. There are so many ways to get feelings out and solve problems without anyone getting hurt.
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Delaware’s Impact on the Chesapeake bay by Maggie Cahouet ‘23 Greetings Mr. President. 90% of Delaware’s waters do not meet water quality standards, a terrible situation that threatens Delaware's reliance on its bays for food and recreational activities. With Delaware’s waters being so filthy, we will not be able to reach our goals in the Chesapeake Bay Blueprint without any help. We are in desperate need of the $75 million in order to reach our goals by 2025. There are some specific detriments that the Chesapeake Bay is facing, one of them is nitrogen. The main source of nitrogen is from agricultural runoff. Did you know Delaware 40% is farmland? Imagine how much nitrogen can come from those farms! Nitrogen comes from fertilizers, when it rains the nitrogen goes through the sewage drains and out into the Chesapeake Bay. Another detriment to the Bay is our lack of oysters. We lack in oysters because Delaware’s fishermen over harvest them. Oysters, act as filters for the water, they consume ~ 68 ~
the water and keep the stuff that could potentially harm the bay, like nitrogen or phosphorus, their bodies and spit out the clean water. Sustaining our oyster population is critical to keeping the Bay healthy. We understand that each State has their own unique needs in order to keep their clean. For instance, Maryland’s greatest detriment is nitrogen so we will not only fix the nitrogen problem in Delaware but we will also help solve the nitrogen problem in Maryland. Also West Virginia shares nitrogen pollution as their largest detriment to the bay with Maryland and Delaware. Our bill will cost $75 million to fund. 75% will go to producing environment friendly fertilizers. 10% will go to building oyster recycling stations throughout Delaware. Lastly, 15% will go to creating educational programs to teach people why they should use our fertilizers. Imagine the whole entire Chesapeake Bay being covered by algae blooms and nothing living underneath. This could be in the very near future if we don’t pass this bill.
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Invasion by Anna Erskine ‘23 It was a pretty normal day, and least that's what Caitlyn thought. She woke up at exactly 6:30 as her cat, Princess Sparklebutt (Her brother Alec had chosen the name), crawled on her face. She got out of bed and made her way downstairs. Her mom was on her way to work and her dad was already gone. "There are waffles in the freezer Caitlyn, I love you. Have a great day,� her mom said in a monotone voice, her normal. As she turned around to leave, Caitlyn noticed a black glint near her mom. She was probably seeing things, she thought to herself. Her eyes had been a little fuzzy when they woke up. She put it aside and ate her breakfast. School was boring and Caitlyn almost fell asleep in her history class. Mr. Gray, her teacher, kept droning on and on about some war Caitlyn didn't care about. She had a couple more classes, then lunch. At lunch, she kept seeing weird glints of black, for a second or two at a time. Caitlyn was debating about seeing the nurse, but decided not to because the nurse was one of her least favorite people in the school. She would always send Caitlyn back to class without a note,
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and Caitlyn would be late. Then, when Caitlyn would get home, she would check her temperature and almost always have a fever. So, she ate her lunch and sat through a couple more boring classes. Finally, school was over! Caitlyn had never been so happy to get on the bus. Mr. Jeff was their weird old bus driver who communicated through a series of grunts. When she got on the bus, she noticed that same weird black glint in one of Mr. Jeff's eyes. Something seemed a little off; there seemed to be some kind of tension in the air, but Caitlyn decided to ignore it. She just wanted to go home and chill. Once she got home, Caitlyn made her way into the living room, pretzels and soda in hand, and plopped on the couch next to her brother Alec. He was clicking through channels, and finally decided on one. "The news?" Caitlyn asked, a little bit annoyed. "I don't watch the news anymore because of how depressing it is." Alec grabbed a pretzel and munched on it. After swallowing he replied, "I know, but it says there's a White House special coming on soon!"
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Caitlyn took a moment to contemplate, " I guess I'll watch it, that sounds cool". Caitlyn actually hated the news, but decided to stay in the living room to keep her brother company. And so they waited for a little while, Caitlyn occasionally taking a swig of her soda and Alec busy watching the news. As they were waiting, Caitlyn thought she saw a black gleam in one of Alec's eyes, but dismissed it yet again. After waiting several more minutes, Alec exclaimed, "Here it is!" Caitlyn peered up from her phone. "Why is the screen black?" She questioned. "I have no idea." Alex replied, looking confused. "So, Mr. President what are your thoughts about the aliens. How many people do you think have been transformed?" "We can't be sure how many people, but we know they exist. And we know that-", suddenly, the TV changed channels. There was a lot of static but there appeared to be some kind of info graphic on.
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"What the heck was that about?" Alec asked standing up and leaving the room quickly. Caitlyn had no idea what it was about, but she was guessing it was probably some kind of a joke, and payed no attention to it. But just before her parents came home, Caitlyn heard an odd noise in the back of the house. She couldn't help but associate it to the news broadcast they had watched earlier, even though she was sure it was fake. So, naturally, she went to the back of the house to investigate. It looked as if a raccoon or some kind of animal had made a small hole in the wall and was using it to steal things from the house. Caitlyn shook her head and sighed as she shoved one of Alec's old stuffed animals through the hole to act as a temporary blockade against whatever animal was going through it. But one thing she didn't notice was the black ooze that was slowly dripping out of the hole. After that, the evening went on as usual, Caitlyn's parents came home at five and they all ate dinner together. After finishing her homework, Caitlyn went upstairs, brushed her teeth, and got in bed after listening to some musicals. But that night, she had a terrible dream. Alec, who's eyes were entirely black, was dragging her through the hole in the wall for some reason, and she was screaming at him to stop. Then, Alec was picked up by some kind of metal arm that dragged both Caitlyn and Alec up to a large floating white thing that ~ 73 ~
appeared to be some kind of mother ship. After being put in the white thing, everything went black. Caitlyn woke up sweating, she hated nightmares, and that one made her feel uneasy. She rolled out of her bed, which was unusually cold. Her room was really dark, so she suspected it was around 1 or 2 in the morning. She got up, stretched, and walked a couple steps towards her door, and that's when she realized there was no door. And that's also when she realized she wasn't in her room. And then she realized her dream must not have been a dream. Shaking uncontrollably and fighting off the urge to scream, she took another step forward. Her foot landed in something slimy. It was the same black ooze on the hole in the wall, but Caitlyn didn't know that. Inching her way out of the dark space, she eventually came across two signs that pointed in different directions. One said, "Transformation Room" and the other one said, "Training Room." Caitlyn decided to go toward the "Transformation Room." After a minute or so of sneaking down the hallway, she came to a door and decided to open it, disregarding the fact that the door blatantly read, "Do not Enter." Once she opened the door, she stepped into another dark chamber. But this time, the chamber was lined with millions of pods, each containing blue liquid, and to Caitlyn's horror, a person. As she was ~ 74 ~
looking at each pod, she recognized the faces of many people she knew. Her bus driver, her best friend, some of her teachers, by then she came face to face with the scariest thing yet, her family. They were all floating in chambers, looking as if they were in a peaceful sleep. But Caitlyn knew they weren't. She looked at Alec, and suddenly something startled her. If this was Alec, what had been with her on earth? That wasn't her brother. She realized that most of the people on earth were actually up here in chambers. So if those weren't people, what were they? Was the black glint she saw in people's eyes actually real? Before she could think about anything else, two slimy black tentacles grabbed her from behind and everything went black for good.
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There are footprints on the moon by Madison Wright ‘23
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5 wrongs don’t make RIGHT by Emily Salehi ‘22 "Ma'am? Ma'am? Any drinks? Pretzels? Excuse me Ma'am" "Huh what?" I say as I pull my head out of my book. I see a flight attendant standing next to me in the aisle, with the cart of drinks. "Uh yeah. Sorry. A Sprite please. And some pretzels would be good too." She places them on my tray table, but I'm already immersed back into the story. Reading takes me to another place, where I can escape from life. From reality. You see, I'm on a flight to Australia. Most people would love the chance to go to Australia. But I'm not. It's going to be awkward. Uncomfortable. The whole summer will be spent in silence. Why you ask? Let me explain. I'm Danielle. I have a brother, Noah, and my dog Delilah. I had a perfect life. Just me, my mom and dad. But then 4 years ago everything changed. Noah was born. And I know, this sounds harsh. I love Noah, I do. He's awesome and adorable and amazing. But I can't help thinking that maybe he isn't the best fit for our family. Our perfect family of 3. A triangle. The strongest shape. Noah was diagnosed with Down Syndrome before he was even born. Everyone was so ~ 77 ~
excited for our addition to the family. Once he was diagnosed, everyone said it would be just the same as if he was a healthy boy. I would be an amazing big sister who'd love and take care of Noah. But how could they say that? From the moment Noah was born, life turned chaotic. We had to move, closer to the hospital, into a smaller house with no pool, because it was all we could afford with the medical bills. Away from the perfect house, with the perfect backyard, with the perfect neighborhood. But that was okay. I could've dealt with that. But then all the focus went to Noah. No one cared about my 100%'s on tests. No one cared about my new artwork or recitals. We ate takeout constantly. I get it. Babies need lots of attention. Down Syndrome babies need even more. But I couldn't get a sliver of that. And as a 7 year old, I didn't understand why. I didn't like it. Then the arguing started. Arguing about everything and anything. I could hear them, at first late at night when my parents thought I was asleep. But then they stopped caring and did it in front of me. All the time. From anything to which treatments Noah should receive, to paying the bills. They got so stressed and were constantly yelling at each other. So last year, they got divorced. My mom and I stayed here, in Boston, while my dad quit his office job and traveled around the world doing weird and honestly, kind of cool jobs. Right now he's in Australia, giving scuba diving lessons in the Great Barrier Reef. It's cool, I have to ~ 78 ~
admit. But I don't understand why they couldn't just ignore the differences, agree to disagree or whatever, and make things like they used to be, for the sake of us. But they couldn't. That's why, for the first time since the divorce, I'm going to see my dad. He calls a lot, yeah, but I haven't seen him. My mom refuses to see him, plus she couldn't go with Noah. My dad wanted me to come and plans on having a whole summer filled with "fun and adventure." I guess it's his way of making up for the past few years when I wasn't paid much attention to. But I'd rather just stay home, curl up in my bed, and read all summer. Alone. That's why I love reading so much. You fully immerse yourself in the story. You get lost in the book and forget about all your problems. I can pretend I'm in the character's shoes, living their life with no worries. With a perfect family, on a perfect vacation or having a perfect summer or whatever the character is doing. Living a life the opposite of mine. I got off the plane and looked for my dad. I was 13, so legally with this airline, I didn't need one of those annoying flight attendants to follow me around. I could navigate an airport. There are literally signs everywhere. I know my mom wanted me to have a flight attendant, but since I was 13, it cost extra money, and I knew we didn't really have the money for that. So luckily, this time, I got away with it. I searched for my dad through the huge crowd. After ~ 79 ~
about half an hour, there was no one left. I went to a pay phone and called the number my dad gave me in case of an emergency. No answer. And his voicemail was full, so I couldn't even leave a message for him. Great. I went up to an airport employee and told him what happened. I think he went to go get someone else to see what he should do, I don't know, all I remember is he told me to sit on this bench and don't move. So that's what I'm currently doing. "Chloe? Chloe Hathaway?!” I hear a pretty woman in her late thirties yell frantically, searching the airport. I don't know if I should tell her I'm Chloe, but I do. "Uhhh, this is she." I say as I pull my nose out of my book. "Oh. Um. Chloe. Yes. I, I'm here to take you to your dad's house." "Why didn't he pick me up? Where is he?" I say. "Well, um, that's the thing" she stutters. "What? Where is my father? WHAT HAPPENED TO MY FATHER. AND WHO ARE YOU?" I demand. "Come, come with me and I'll explain in the car." "NO. Who are you and where is my father?" "Well, Chloe, here's the thing,” she starts. "Your father had another scuba diving lesson to teach this morning. He was planning on teaching the lesson, then coming straight to the airport. But, there was an... an accident." I sat in silence. "Wait. What kind of accident?" "Well, Chloe. There's no easy way to say ~ 80 ~
it so I'll just say it. Your father died."
"Wait what?" I whispered, standing frozen. I sounded like a little girl who just lost her dad at the store. Except this wasn't a store. This was real life. And this wasn't just a few seconds of panic until your father comes and finds you and sweeps you up in his warm welcoming hug. This was forever. And I'll never feel that hug again. "I know sweetie. This is hard. But I'm going to be here for you. Come, we have to go get Morgan at daycare. I'll explain more in the car." The mystery woman said as she tried to gather me in a hug. "NO!" I yelled, pulling away. I couldn't register any of this. My brain wasn't processing it. "I don't know who you are! How do I know you didn't kill my dad? Why do you think I'm gonna get in a car with a complete stranger, across the globe from home? And who the heck is Morgan?!" I screamed, tears rolling down my cheeks. "Danielle. What do you mean? I'm Marissa. Your step-mom. And Morgan is your step- sister." I stood there, blinking my eyes. I have a step-mom? And a step-SISTER?! "Um, I think dad would've told me if we all of a sudden got re-married and HAD A DAUGHTER!"
"Wait. Danielle. Did he not tell you? He was struggling with how to tell you, but I told him you had to know. So when I heard you were coming to visit, I told him it was now or never. So he promised he did, last time he called." "Well, he never did. How do I know you're telling the truth? How do I know if what you're saying is true?" I say. "Well I guess you can't know for sure. You just ~ 81 ~
have to trust me I guess. Do you?" I shrug. "Now come, we're already late to pick Morgan up. I'll introduce you to your sister and then we'll show you home. I have a meeting with the police to figure out the details of the accident." What accident? Then it all came flooding back again. My dad is dead. Gone. At least that's what she said. So against my better judgement, I followed the woman out of the airport.
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Shoreline by Helena English ‘24
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Huck finn scene rewrites In 8th Grade English, students read a middle school friendly version of the classic Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain. The play, Huck Finn’s High Tailin’ Adventures, which is based in the 1800s, involves themes such as the hypocrisy of a civilized society, racism and slavery. After reading the play, students put their own spin on the action by creating additional scenes or manipulating existing ones.
1st: Chris Sixbey 2nd: Daniel Berlin 3rd: Emma Hlousek 4th: Antonio Money
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Huck finn scene rewrite 1 New Ending : Instead of the sheriff along with the townsfolk allowing Huck and Tom to have Jim at the end of the play, they pay no attention to them and take Jim to the town prison for running away. Huck and Tom are unable to do anything to help their friend as the adults will not listen to them , so Sally and Silas take them both into their home to spend the night. ACT TWO Scene Seven LIGHTS UP: Inside SALLY and SILAS’ home. Two boxes are positioned next to each to make a bed BACK LEFT, and the same BACK RIGHT, the beds are covered in sheets and each one has 2 pillows. Two boxes are positioned next to each other but spaced apart CENTER LEFT to resemble a doorway to a bedroom. In between ~ 85 ~
the two beds will be a box that will resemble a dresser or cabinet. HUCK and TOM are in each bed, both wearing pajamas, Tom is snoring in his bed while Huck, looking sad, is awake and staring at the ceiling.
HUCK: Tom? (Tom continues to snore) Tom? (Still continues to snore) TOM!! TOM: (sleepily) Huh? What? Huck, why ya gotta be waken’ me up this late at night? HUCK: Tom, I can’t stop thinkin’ ‘bout Jim, why’d they have to take ‘em away from us? He weren’t hurting no body, they just wouldn’t listen to us, why? TOM: It ain’t no use, the townsfolk took ‘em and they ain’t given’ ‘em back, the sheriff made awful sure o’ that. (Sighs) How comes nobody ever listens to us? I know, ‘cause we’re kids, and no body ever makes it their business to listen to just a couple a kids, that’s what.
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HUCK: (Sitting up) We gotta go get him Tom, we just gotta! I can imagine him now, sittin’ in his cold, tiny cell, shiverin’ up a storm! He may‘ve broke the law, but we gotta help, it’s would he would do if we ever got in a pickle! TOM: It ain’t no use Huck, they prolly got him locked under maximum security, guarded by 10,000 of their best soldiers to keep hiHUCK: That’s it! They must have him locked up still in town somewhere! We gotta git down there and bust ‘em out! It’ll be easy! (Both boys get out of bed and begin gathering cloths from the dresser) TOM: That’ll be swell! We just gotta plan it all out, like criminal masterminds in those books! Now c’mon, help me find some striped pajamas. HUCK: What? Why? TOM: It’s just like you to not know! Ev’ry one knows that escapin’ convicts wear striped prisoner clothes, ain’t you every read any of those books? HUCK: I reckon’ I didn’t, Tom, you sure read lots of books.
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TOM: And that’s why my plans always work, now let’s get goin’! (Both boys sneak out of the doorway of the bedroom and exit quickly LEFT off stage) END OF SCENE SEVEN
ACT TWO Scene Eight LIGHTS UP: Inside the town jail, in a jail cell. Two boxes are placed sitting opposite from each other, one placed CENTER LEFT, and one on CENTER RIGHT. Two other boxes are placed spaced apart from each other to simulate a large jail cell door CENTER RIGHT. HUCK is sitting on one box and TOM on the other, while Jim is laying asleep under a blanket covering him so HUCK and TOM don’t know who he is. TOM and HUCK are both looking down at the floor, disappointed.
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HUCK: Blame it! This is Pap’s cabin all over again! (Stands up angrily) I’m a startin’ to think them plans of yours ain’t no good, Tom! TOM: (Also stands up) Ain’t no good?! (Points at Huck angrily) You were the one who got us in this here mess! The plan was perfect, we woulda been able to free ev’ry prisoner here and killed ev’ry last one of them guards, but you waran’t doin’ anything right! You imprisoned yo’ self! HUCK: Your plans never ever work! I shoulda known it all these years, theys is why Jim gots captured, and theys the reason we’re in this cold, dark, slimy cell, all alone in here with this stranger (Points to Jim under the blanket)! Alls my life I been dreamin’ of them days where I can just be free, live all on my own and not bothered by no one! But whenever it’s not someone holdin’ me down, it’s someone holdin’ me in a cell, like pap! TOM: You ain’t never gonna learn! Alls yous got to do is listen to me, and you’ll neverSHERIFF: (Enters stage from the LEFT in front of the cell door) ‘Ey! Quiet down in there, yous disturbin’ all the other prisoners in here! Tom, I’m a goin’ to git your ~ 89 ~
Auntie and Uncle down ‘ere to take yous two home. Pah! Two boys tryin’ to free a prisoner, that’s the craziest thing I ever did hear! (Drops his keys accidentally at the cell door without knowing, exits right off stage) JIM: (Sitting up and yawning) What’s all this ruckus goin’ about? I’m tryin’ to sleHUCK/TOM: Jim! JIM: Huck? Tom? I’m so happy to see you! What’re ya guys doin’ here? HUCK: That’s just what we’s been discussin’. (Glares at Tom coldly) TOM: (Sighs) Ok, Huck, let me learn ya somethin’ good, my plans or schemes might just not always work all the live long day, but at least they’re somethin’. I guess what I’m gettin’ at is that, well, I’d rather have a bad plan goin’ into a fight then goin’ into it all bland in borin’. I guess it’s kinda fun to try to imagine what the road ahead will bring ya and make somethin’ of it, and I’d rather do that and be wrong than let it all pass by and do nothin’. We may’ve been
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captured, but at least we got to Jim, right? (Both boys look at each other silently for 5 seconds) We still friends? HUCK: (Sighs and pauses for a moment) Yeah, I reckon’. JIM: This is great ‘n all, but how we gettin’ outta here? Tom, ya got anythin’ up your sleeve? TOM: (Looking at the ground, sad) Nah. HUCK: Aw shucks, that’s right, we ain’t ever gettin’ out of here! We’ll be stuck in here for all eternity ‘till we’re just dust and bones! (Begins to sob loudly) TOM: Or ‘till my auntie and uncle git here. (Notices the keys on the ground) Hey, wait a second, Huck, looky here! HUCK: (continues to sob loudly) We ain’t ever gonna be free again! TOM: Huck, look! (Huck continues to sob and not notice) HUCK YOU SAP HEAD LOOK AT THE KEYS!
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HUCK: (Finally noticing the keys) Wow! This is bully! Tom, why waran’t ya tellin’ me this earlier? (Tom Sighs and glares at Huck) TOM: I don’t think I can reach ‘em, but I knows you can. (Huck reaches through the bar and grabs the keys) HUCK/JIM/TOM: (Cheers as Huck unlocks the cell door and opens it) TOM: (Exiting the cell and into the hallway with JIM and HUCK) Now hurry up before the president sends the army and the navy, we ain’t got that long before they notice! (Exits left off stage with JIM) HUCK: (Sighs and looks at the audience) I reckon’ some folks never change, but I guess I’d rather head off with Tom to the territories than do it without ‘em, wild plans or not, I reckon’ this’ll turn out fine n’ dandy in the end anyways, so what’s the point of goin’ it all by my lonesome? (Exits quickly LEFT off stage) END OF PLAY
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Huck finn scene rewrite 2 This scene is taking place in Act 1 Scene 4 right after Judith says, “I know exactly who you are.” ACT ONE: Scene Four LIGHTS UP: Scene is set in JUDITH LOFTUS’ living room which looks similar to WIDOW DOUGLAS’ home. There are pictures on the walls of JUDITH’S family and TWO ROCKING CHAIRS are set up in center stage of the room. HUCK is sitting on a BLUE WOODEN ROCKING CHAIR with JUDITH next to him sitting in a similar chair. In the middle of HUCK and JUDITH there is a WOODEN TABLE with extra yarn. JUDITH is sewing a shirt. JUDITH: You’re Huckleberry Finn, aren’t you? HUCK: (Thinks for a bit then sighs.) Shucks, you caught me. But you can’t tell no one or I’ll be in deep trouble.
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JUDITH: (Raises voice a little.) Well you’re about as dumb as a door nail! Why would you fake your own death boy? You got everyone scared that there is a murderer walkin’ round. HUCK: I know, but it was the only way! My pap treated me so badly every night, I was scared to close my own eyes. JUDITH: Well don’t you have a mother? HUCK: (Stops to think for a second.) Kind of… I have Widow Douglas and Miss Watson. JUDITH: Well why didn’t you go back to em’. HUCK: Oh Miss, you don’t understand how bad my Pap is. He’d surely find me and take me back. JUDITH: Oh, you poor lamb! Let me ask you a question. HUCK: Yessum.
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JUDITH: (Confused.) Why did you come here of all places? I mean St. Petersburg... Wait, how did you get here? You’re awful far away from home. HUCK: (Worried.) You promise you won’t tell no one my story. Especially not your husband, you know the slave hunting one. JUDITH: I promise. Now stop beating around the bush and tell me what’s going on boy. HUCK: I learned m’self how to build a raft, went to Jackson Island, and stayed out there. Then after a while Jim showed up and we ran away together to free him so he could get his family back. JUDITH: So this Jim fellow, is he here with you? HUCK: Yessum, he’s out back restin’ so we can get goin’ soon. JUDITH: I see. So where are you goin’ now? HUCK: Well, we were going to try to go to Goshen.
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JUDITH: (Surprised.) Wow! Jim must be an awful good fella for you to do that for him. Goshen’s a while away. HUCK: Oh he is! Jim is always around and looks out for me. (Looks outside to where Jim is hiding.) JUDITH: (Turns to Rose who is off stage left.) Rose honey, go pack two lunches for Huckleberry Finn. (KNOCK AT THE DOOR.) Huckleberry go hide in the kitchen and don’t come out until I say so, okay? (Huck runs off stage left.) JOE: (Cheerful.) Honey, I’m home! JUDITH: I thought you were out hunting for that slave. JOE: Well I was just about to head out until one of the townsfolk said that he disappeared a couple days ago. Everyone’s searching for him. JUDITH: (Wipes forehead in relief.) Oh! So you’ve come back to get more supplies to catch em’ then?
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JOE: Of course not! With everyone searching for him already, he’ll be found any day now and there’s such a small chance I’ll find him. There’s no use for me to go out there and waste my time. JUDITH: Joe! Do you know how big that prize money is? If you catch him we’ll have 200 dollars. (Puts hands on hips.) Do you know who much money that is? JOE: Now Judith, why are you in such a hurry for me to leave? Are you hiding something from me? JUDITH: Of course not! Now go catch that slave so we can have 200 dollars. (Shoos Joe out the door.) JOE: Fine I will. But first I want to see Rose. Where is she, in the kitchen? JUDITH: (Stumbles a little.) U..umm, I’m not sure where she is. Why don’t you check her room, she might be in there. JOE: (Stops for a second.) Did I just hear something in the kitchen? JUDITH: (Contemplates whether to tell Joe or not.) Fine you caught me. I’m having some kitchen work done, but it’s a surprise so you can’t go in until it’s finished. ~ 97 ~
JOE: (Gets very angry.) Judith! How do you expect us to pay for this? I guess I’m goin’ to have to go searchin’ for this slave after all. JUDITH: (Trying to seem upset.) Oh I’m sorry, that never crossed my mind. Try searching south I bet he’s down there since everybody is searching north. JOE: Will do. I’ll be back in a couple of days. (EXITS STAGE RIGHT.) JUDITH: Quick Huckleberry Finn, come out here! (HUCK ENTERS FROM STAGE LEFT.) HUCK: What? Did I hear your husband out there? Why isn’t he lookin’ for Jim? JUDITH: You sure did, he decided not to since the whole town is looking for him!
HUCK: Well then Jim and I need to scurry out of here as fast as a mouse! (BLACKOUT.) End of Act One Scene Four
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Huck finn scene rewrite 3 Huck has just arrived at Aunt Sally and Uncle Silas’s house. He is mistaken for Tom Sawyer, their nephew who they were expecting to arrive soon. Jim, the runaway slave who Huck has helped escape to freedom, has been detained by Sally and Silas Phelps, and is currently locked away in a shed. The following day, Sally and Silas, head into town to the Sheriff’s office to report/turn-in Jim. Huck has been left alone at the Phelps’ home, with Jim still locked away in the shed. The scene begins with Sally and Silas entering the Sheriff’s office in town. ACT TWO Scene Six (and a half) LIGHTS UP: Inside of SHERIFF’S office. Two cargo boxes are CENTER LEFT and drapes appearing as curtained windows hang on each cargo box. DOOR is placed DOWN CENTER. Two more cargo boxes are placed MID CENTER representing desks. Papers and office materials are placed ON desk. SHERIFF sits in chair behind desk wearing light grey/green uniform. SALLY and SILAS ENTER ~ 99 ~
door DOWN CENTER. SALLY carries a purse, wearing a casual outfit. SILAS wears jeans and a ragged button down shirt. SALLY: (ENTERS DOORWAY.) Silas, I be hopin’ Tom okay by himself. SILAS: (ENTERS DOORWAY.) Don’t worry ‘bout him, the boy’ll be fine by himself. That slave we got locked up won’t do no harm in that shed. I locked it up real well so he ain’t got no chance of escaping. SALLY: I know, I just don’t want nothin’ to happen to precious little Tom. SHERIFF: (ENTERS STAGE LEFT.) What can I help y’all with? SALLY: We’ve got a runaway slave from down south, and we thinking he’s fleeing north. We locked him up in a shed, and came here to turn ‘em in. SHERIFF: I see, I see ma’am... there been so many runaways from down south lately. You got his name or anything? SILAS: Nosum... Just that he’s a runaway. Slaves don’t got names anyway. Could you make it down to our place to arrest him? ~ 100 ~
SALLY: (Worried.) I’m afeared for my nephew–Tom Sawyer (Lays hands on SHERIFF’S desk.) He’s left home alone, who knows what’s happenin’ there. We need you quickly. SHERIFF: Ma’am, you is as worried as that runaway slave probably is. Your boy’ll be fine, assuming that sheds’ locked down tight. We can come down quickly… you mind waiting here for a minute while I go and get some paper to make a report. SALLY: Yes, quickly. (SHERIFF runs off STAGE LEFT.) SILAS: (Quietly.) I feel bad for that runaway slave… he’s probably got a family too. But we are doin’ the right thing by turn’n em in. SALLY: Are you outta your mind, Silas? Of course we doin’ the right thing. He don’t got no family, he’s someone’s rightful property. (Angry.) It’s our duty to turn ‘em in, he ain’t nothin’, not even a human for our purposes–just an asset to someone. Now stop worryin’ about the “property” we got in the front yard, and worry about lil’ Tom… We hain’t seen him in years!
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SILAS: You right, but just imagine if we was him. Sold, and taken ‘way from our family. SALLY: You is a dumb ding-dong deef you fool. He was born into slavery, he ain’t worth a penny. Slaves don’t got no feelings anyway, they ain’t like us. Probly’ forgot ‘bout his family by now if he even had one. Now where dis Sheriff at? He been gone for awhile. SILAS: I reckon he’ll be back soon, Sally. He’s doing that official stuff since we turn’n him in. TEDDY: (ENTERS LEFT wearing ripped overalls and straw hat.) I’ve been hearin’ ‘bout a runaway slave in this town. Where he at? SILAS: Yah, we has ‘em up at our place locked in a shed. What about ‘em? We came here to turn him in. TEDDY: He’s mine, I’m Teddy Doofdiddle. I came to get ‘em back. He ran away from my tobacco fields last month.
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SILAS: Says who? You got somethin’ to prove it? TEDDY: Who me? I am the richest man in N’awlins. My tobacco fields make-up the whole landscape of Louisiana. How dare you question a man of such importance? SHERIFF: (ENTERS LEFT carrying papers.) My ‘pologies for the wait. (Sees TEDDY.) Sir, can I be of much assistance? (Sets papers on desk.) TEDDY: Yessum. I am Teddy Doofdiddle, the richest man in N’awlins, and I came to retrieve my runaway slave. SHERIFF: The richest man in N’awlins, I see. And how could anyone possibly so far away, know ‘bout a slave all-way down here. SALLY: An interestin’ story if y’all ask me. TEDDY: (Not paying attention to what SALLY said.) Why me, Sir? You sound’n crazy! I know everything! SHERIFF: I hain’t the one that sound’n crazy. You better scram before I arrest you ~ 103 ~
Doofdiddle! If you think I won’t catch your lies then you a dumb fool. SILAS: This gettin’ out of hand, can we just finish up? TEDDY: (Knows he has been caught) I ain’t tryna mess with you Mr. Sheriff, I’m just here to get my runway. SHERIFF: Oh I see (Pulls out pistol and aims at Teddy.) You need to leave now or else you’re gonna pay the piper. TEDDY: (RUNS OFF THROUGH DOOR and yells.) It ain’t my fault, it ain’t my fault, I was blackmailed! SHERIFF: (Slams door shut… puts pistol back in holster.) I apologize for that. I’ve seen so many con boys tryna’ claim runaway slaves as theirs so they can sell ‘em. It ain’t ever work with me, I’m too smart for that. SALLY: It’s bully Mr. Sheriff. Somethin’ was up with him when he walked in. Can you wrap this up? My Tom been home ‘lone for a long while now.
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SHERIFF: (SITS DOWN at DESK.) Yes ma’am, I just need to write down that a runaway has been found and make a report. It’ll only take a few minutes, and I’ll be on my way. Y’all free to leave, and I’ll meet you at the house. SILAS: Perfect, it’s 317 Bridle Lane. I’ll grab the key to open the shed. (SILAS and SALLY get up and walk out the door… BLACKOUT.) End of Scene Six
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Souls by Brooke Griffin ‘22 Strip yourself clean, Bare skin on sunshine. Then go further. Muscles on strong afternoon light. Dig down deeper. Milky bones on sunset’s last rays. Push past it all. A bright soul on the pale full moon’s light. This is what you are. Skin sheds, Muscles tear, Bones break. Your first breath You take in your soul.
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Each breath you release, In, out, Through your lungs Just muscles, A piece of your soul Flies back into the world. Your last breath You release the last piece of yourself Into the air. Souls, Forever scattered on the wind. Never complete again. To change yourself, You’d have to change your soul. But what if the part’s already gone? Already flying away Mixing with other pieces of souls In a beautiful rainbow of life? ~ 107 ~
How can you change the past? The past is gone. The future is set. We can only change the events The feelings The emotions That we fill the present with Leading to our eventual future. So look up to the skies. See the rainbows of souls, Each different Each unique. See them intertwine and race Over the sunset of colors. You’ve stripped yourself clean Now be released. Now, be free.
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Super villain by Aiden Gilroy ‘23 Original: Mi malvado nombre es Doctor Tornillo. Él es un dios de la relámpago. Doctor Tornillo está encima de la tierra destruida. El es muy enfadado porque su familia es muerto. Doctor Tornillo quiere venganza ahora. Él perdido su ojo en una lucha contra un demonio. Doctor Tornillo es muy inteligente pero el está muy demente porque él tiene tanta poderes. Sus poderes es relámpago y gravedad y velocidad y inteligencia. Él está muy poderoso. Sus hogar planeta es planeta Glaxia. Las personas viven de la planeta está muy molesto. Sus planeta está en el destructor galaia. Doctor Tornillo mejor amigo es Zeus. Zeus es muy inteligente y aprendido Doctor Tornillo. Sus armadora es de los dios. Él no está feliz porque sus hogar planeta es destruida. Él es muy egocéntrica porque él tiene tanta poderes. Doctor Tornillo está en la Milky Way Galaxia. Él destruida más de 300 planetas y está destruir más ahora. El no está
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un beuna persona porque él saberlo destruido tú. Doctor Tornillo es muy malo porque le gusta herir las personas. Translated Version: My evil name is doctor Bolt. He is the God of lightning. Doctor Bolt is standing above a destroyed planet. He is very angry because his family was killed. Doctor Bolt wants revenge and is preparing his revenge now. He lost his eye in a fight against a fiend. Doctor Bolt is very smart but he is very ruthless because he has so much power. His powers include lightning, gravity, speed, and intelligence. He is very powerful. His home planet is planet Glaxia. People living on the planet are very annoying. His planet is in the destroyer Galaxy. Doctor Bolt’s best friend is Zeus. Zeus is very intelligent and helps Doctor Bolt. His armor was made by the Gods. His swords are behind him. He is not happy because his home planet was destroyed. He is very self-centered because he has so much power. Doctor Bolt is in the Milky Way Galaxy. He has destroyed more than 300 planets and is destroy more now. He is not a good person because he will destroy you. Doctor Bolt is very bad because he likes to hurt people.
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SUPER CAT by Victoria Miller ‘24
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Excerpt from the novel ‘Shattered’ by Ava Wisnom ‘22 Chapter 11 Estelle-19 THIEVES FOREST, BETWEEN DENKAR AND CHASMIRE - 9 DAYS AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT -- Estelle was trying very hard to stay calm. A few days ago, her biggest worries were how to find dry clothes and how to shut Silvio up. Then Ivy had walked into their camp. As they tramped through the forest, Estelle tried to sort out how she had ended up walking through the woods with a priceless gem strapped to her back, with a clever 17-year old storyteller, musician twins (one of whom can’t talk), and an oblivious thief who Silvio couldn’t stop drooling over, for company. Oh, and they were on a mission to save the queen and possibly the country after getting the information from a terrifying witch vision and some thieves. ~ 112 ~
She figured it had probably started when she signed that paper in Sento. Did she regret it? She had yet to see, but after the latest adventure in a magic cabin straight out of a children's story (but much creepier), Estelle was unsure. It was the last day of the week, which meant no work. She could’ve been still in bed, warm and comfortable instead of freezing in the woods in the middle of nowhere after a ridiculously terrifying revelation that they weren’t only stopping a murder, but also going up against the most feared person in the country (yay!). She thought her company might be rubbing off on her with their love of nature, though. Estelle just wished it was a bit less muddy nature. The leaves were turning, the first snowfall would come within the month. The autumn mist was setting in, it would be hard to find dry wood for a fire tonight. Temperature fell rapidly after midday and by sunset it was quite chilly. Another night in the woods before they arrived in Chasmire, the land of noblemen and the affluent and wealthy. It was only a day's ride from Opilia and
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the companions would only have to spend a single night in the woods since they were on foot. When they were ready to settle in for the night, Ivy climbed a large tree and broke off a few sticks and twigs. They were up high, and fairly safe from the mist and thus mostly dry. She built a fire while Helena re-wrapped Basti’s bandages and everyone else set up tents, Estelle included. Ivy attempted to cook dinner, but only succeeded in burning her hand and leeching all of the flavor out of the attempted stew before Silvio took over and salvaged it. The tents were set up on the muddy ground, but Ivy chose to climb a tree to sleep, cheeks still flushed with embarrassment over the soup fiasco. “Less mud, more fun.” She yelled down at all of them gathered around the trunk staring up at her. Basti shook his head and walked away. The morning was bright and beautiful. The sun was rising over the mountains, casting warm colors through the shifting leaves. A fiery haired girl stepped out of her tent and stood on the damp ground.
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A breeze blew past, sending amber, gold, and crimson leaves swirling down from the trees. The girl closed her eyes and looked up, the light hitting her face, to any bystander, the warm toned petals seemed to engulf her in a tornado of fire. Another, smaller, slighter girl clambered out a few moments later and a curly haired boy after her. One by one, five companions crawled out of their tents and the sixth remained on the lowest branch of a tree. No one spoke. The six of them stood side by side, silhouetted against the early light as the leaves settled to the ground. Someone yawned and the spell broke, they all began rushing around the camp, breaking it down. They set off as the sun finished its ascent over the peaks in the distance. They hiked through the last few miles of the forest and as they got closer, the path became more worn and branched off in different directions. About a mile away, they saw the first signposts, they were worn, wooden, planks pointing towards the city.
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They continued and crested a hill to see the city of Chasmire spread out below them. All of them gasped softly at the sight. The patchwork of beautiful buildings seemed to sparkle, sending light bouncing everywhere. The building materials were different here, no more rotting wood or crumbling bricks. They had stone and fresh cedar planks. The group started down the hill, Ivy in the lead. They reached the base of the hill with the sun directly overhead. They would draw a lot of attention if they went into the elegant city covered in mud with a blood-stained towel wrapped around Basti’s head. Ivy led them to the Erisrai river on the western border of the city, they cleaned up as best as they could and dried off in the sun. They entered the city in the afternoon and walked together between the tall, magnificent buildings. The group looked around in wonder at everything. Estelle was stunned by the majesty of it all, having lived in Sento all her life, she had never seen anything so beautiful. Everything that had once been shiny was caked in dust by the time Estelle had seen it.
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They stepped onto the main street and heard it, the music. Estelle had never heard anything like it, everything turned muted and dull except the sound. It grew sharper and focused until it was the only thing that mattered. Estelle looked around, Silvio and Ivy seemed to be having the same reaction as her. Helena as well, except that she looked at Skylar with slight confusion, having heard this type of music from them before. Meanwhile, the twins looked at each other smiling widely, Skylar bounced on her toes and squealed and the two ran off towards the mysteriously beautiful noise‌.
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Escaping Judea by Rameses Bright ‘22
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Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay by Konner Smith ‘23 Just imagine, Caribbean turquoise water so clear fish can be seen 100 feet down. Now think of Virginia, with a Bay the color of murky brown. The contrast is shocking. There are 8.5 million Virginia residents who live along the Chesapeake Bay, and 97 percent of them support cleaning it up. The Bay benefits Virginia with both beauty and income, including $24 billion in tourism. Now that the old law is expiring and $75 million is available, we must take action. First, Virginia’s biggest detriment to the health of the Bay is nitrogen from agriculture and development runoff. About 28 percent of farms are on the Bay and Virginia’s population has grown by 5 million people since 1980. This leads to nitrogen pollution and dead zones. Another detriment is the destruction of unprotected wetlands, which provide natural filter systems to keep it clean. The old law took a standardized approach to improving the Bay, but the old law failed. Now we need to compromise and address the unique needs of Virginia. To ~ 119 ~
the Senators from Pennsylvania, Virginia recognizes your focus on local water quality, but you must think about the bigger picture. To the Senators from West Virginia, Virginia supports your plan to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous levels, especially your upgraded water treatment centers. However, Virginia is off-track in agriculture and development. We must create and fund programs to help farmers, including fencing livestock, planting forested buffers, and educating the public. In addition, we need to fund a program that restores and protects our wetlands. Virginia proposes a bill to spend $56,250,000 of the $75 million budget attacking the nitrogen problem under the Chesapeake Blueprint, and the remaining $18,750,000 to fixing the wetlands problem. Together, we can envision clear waters, restored wetlands, and a Bay that rivals the Caribbean’s finest water.
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Rose by Helena English ‘24
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Someone I can relate to by Raeha Richman ‘24 This morning, I woke up early and had a light breakfast of three small slices of naan with a little bit of rice. After that I fetched water from the tap down the street. Now, I have to help father down to the market. I do not mind these chores. It is refreshing to not have to stay in the crowded one room apartment day-in and day-out. As I am getting on my chador, I remember what it was like before the Taliban came. We had a large, fancy house, we were very wealthy, I could go to school, and I had a lot more freedom to go out in public. “Parvana!” My father called; a snap back into reality. I helped my father to the bustling market. I space off again for a while. When I see the Taliban, I cannot help but wish these times were better. I wake up, then I realize that it is only 6:00 A.M. So, I go back to sleep for half an hour. I wake up at 6:30 and get dressed. After that, I read for a few minutes, do a few stretches, and go downstairs. There is muesli for breakfast. Lastly, I make sure I have everything I need for school. My mom wakes up to see my brother and I off to school as my dad, my brother and I start walking to the
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bus stop. The bus picks us up at 7:20 A.M. and I’m off to school! I can relate to Parvana. We are both 11-year-old girls. We are both energetic sisters and daughters. We both eat breakfast and take a walk in the crisp morning air. I wonder what it would be like if I were forced to not go to school all of a sudden, but my brother could. How could I learn if I had to switch from learning to doing physical work? What would it be like to have to share a room with five people, including a bossy older sister?
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Rising with the fish by Morgan Dettor ‘24
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The german experience by Sam Grady ‘24 Hi, my name is Sam Grady and I am in sixth grade. I lived in Germany for three years. Hallo meine name ist Sam Grady und ich bin in der sexte klasse. Ich hat govohnen in Deutschland fĂźr drei jahre. I lived in a village called Ramstein and attended Wendulinus Elementary School from grade 2 to 4. Ich hat gevonnen in eine villa es name var Ramstein und ich hat gesungen zur der Wendulinus Grundschule von lassen 2 zur 4. German school is similar to American school except teachers are called Herr and Frau, and we get out at 12:45 and have lunch at home. Also soccer is a real class like science or art.
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Deutscher schule var ein bist wie Amerikanisch schule aber Lehras sind Herr oder Frau. Hier habe keine schule mehr wen is ist 12:45 und hier habe Mittagessen zu hause und Fussball ist eine echte klasse wie wissenshaft und kunst. Speaking of soccer - in America we have American football and in Germany we have futboll. Germany is currently World Cup and Confederation Cup Champions. My favorite soccer player is Manuel Neuer who plays for Bayern Munchen and plays on the German National team. GO GERMANY! Apropos Fussball in America wier haben Amerikanische Football und in Deutschland hier haben Fussball. Deutschland ist heute Weltmeisters und der Gewinners von der Confederation cup. Meine lieblings Fussballspieler is Manuel Neuer. Er spielt fĂźr Bayern MĂźnchen und Deutschland. Gehe Deutschland! I like German food. My favorite is bratwurst und schnitzel. I do not like currywurst. Ich liebe Deutsche essen meine Liebling ist Bratwurst und Schnitzel aber ich liebe nicht Currywurst. ~ 126 ~
Octoberfest is a big celebration in Germany. My Dad would like to get beer, but I am an ApfelSchürle and pretzel guy. Cheers! Oktoberfest ist eine große Celebration in Deutschland. Meine Papa werde beer trinken aber ich bin eine Apfelshürle und pretzel Kerl. Prost! My little Sister Eleanor was born in Germany and we like to say she’s German. She’s two years old and her favorite word is “mein,” which is the same in German and English. Meine kleine Schwester Eleanor war geboren in Deutschland und hier gerne sagt das sie est Deutsh. Sie ist zwei Jahren alt und seine lieblich wort ist mein und das ist der gleiche wort in English und Deutsch. I would like to go back to Germany. It’s a long flight, but it would be worth it for the mustard and Kinder chocolate. Bye! Ich wurde gern zurück zur Deutschland gehen es ist eine lange Flug aber es werde wert fur die Senf und Kinder Shocolate. Auf wieder sehn!
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Purple Breeze by Sarah Gershman ‘22
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The ones looking up Brooke Griffin ‘22 The Ones Looking Up Crawling through the crack Skittering between the fisher Creatures of imagination prepare to attack. Take you by surprise - Beware, they might Just be your demise - Claws poised they strike Giving you an idea you might like. Impossible to tell when they’re coming, Walking softer than a guitarist strumming, You can always tell who they’ve struck, Cause they’re the ones looking up. Clouds of cotton Raining on a field yellow and grassy ~ 129 ~
The inhabitant’s eyes dull and glassy, Seeds of color planted Will sprout with a flourish. Never take ideas for granted Then creates of imagination will not feel wanted. Washing away like run off They’ll leave you with a scoff To find someone who cares. It’s easy to find who their victims were Cause they’re the ones looking up. Sprinkles of powder sugar snow Fall from the sky in a steady flow Like a giant’s salt shaker. Never tell the baker What’s become of the bread Tell him only that our imaginations Had to be fed. Creates of imagination will soon begin to breed ~ 130 ~
But who will know Where that will lead. Two by two They’re coming through Ideas and ideas litter the earth. Walking upright on an invisible patch Always moving - It makes it hard to do the math. But it’s visible once they’re still Mountains of people whom they’ve imbued their will. You can always tell who we are, Cause we’re the ones looking up.
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Doodle for google adventure by Aiden Gilroy ‘23
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Family tree Lucy Whitaker ‘22 C’est ma mère. Elle s’appelle Andrea. Elle a 47 ans. Elle est très belle et intelligente. Les cheveux de ma mère sont blonds, courts, et ondulés et les yeux de ma mère sont bleus et petit. Elle déteste les chats mais, elle adore les chiens. Elle adore mon frère, Kendall et moi beaucoup. Ma mère est très optimiste. J’adore ma mère. This is my mom. Her name is Andrea. She is 47 years old. She is very beautiful and intelligent. My moms hair is blonde, short and wavy, and her eyes are blue and small. She doesn’t like cats but she loves dogs. She loves my brother and I so much. My mom is very optimistic. I love my mom C’est mon père. Il s’appelle Matt. Il a 47 ans. Il est très grande, beau et musclé. Les yeux de mon père sont brun et petit. Les cheveux de mon père sont marrons, courts et raides. Il est sympa et drôle. Il aime regarder football. Il aussi aime regarder mes jeux de lacrosse. J’adore mon père. ~ 133 ~
This is my dad. His name is Matt. He is 47 years old. He is very tall handsome and muscular. His eyes are brown and small. His hair is brown, short and straight. He is nice and funny. He likes to watch football. He also likes to watch my lacrosse games. I love my dad. C’est moi! Je m’appelle Lucy. J’ai 14 ans. Je suis grande et mince. Mes yeux sont noisettes et petit. Mes cheveux sont blondes, longs, et ondulés. J’ai un frère et un chien. J’adore le lacrosse. Je suis drôle, intelligente et énergique. Je suis aussi fière et sûre. This is me. My name is Lucy. I am 14 years old. I am tall and thin. My eyes are hazel and small. My hair is blonde, long, and wavy. I have one brother and one dog. I love lacrosse. I am funny, smart and energetic. I am also brave and confident. C’est mon frère. Il s’appelle Kendall. Il a 17 ans. Il est très grand et musclé. Les yeux de mon frère sont bleu et petit. Les cheveux de mon frère est blonds, courts et ondulés. Il est intelligente, très drôle et vilante. Il est parfois sympa. Aussi il est parfois ennuyeux. Mas, J’adore mon frère.
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This is my brother. His name is Kendall. He is 17 years old. He is very tall and muscular. His eyes are blue and small. His hair is blonde, short and wavy. He is smart, very funny, and naughty. He is sometimes nice. He is also sometimes annoying. But, I love my brother. C’est ma chienne. Elle s’appelle Bailey. Elle a 4 ans. Elle est très amusante. Bailey est très belle! Les cheveux de ma chien sont blonds, longs, et ondulés. Les yeux de ma chien sont brun et grand. Bailey est grande et muscle. Elle est énergétique. J’adore ma chien! This is my dog. Her name is Bailey. She is 4 years old. She is very fun. Bailey is very beautiful. Her hair is blonde, long et ondulés. Her eyes are brown and big. Bailey is big and muscular. She is energetic. I love my dog!
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Family tree continued‌
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A little monster by Vivian Miller ‘24
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Late by Sydney Owens ‘24 I rubbed my sleep-filled eyes until they were clear. Groggy and not quite fully awake yet, I could feel the warmth evaporating off my body as I rolled out of bed and slowly got dressed. I glanced at my clock – it read 6:25. I rubbed my eyes one more time to clear them completely. Wait, that wasn’t a six, it was a seven! I felt a surge of energy pulse through a like a shockwave, and I drastically quickened my pace. Dozens of thoughts swirled through my head like a raging tornado. Why didn’t my mom wake me up? Why were everyone’s lights off? Had they already left? Practically jumping down a flight of steps, I grabbed a bowl, milk, and a box of cereal and made myself breakfast. The racket I was making would surely wake anyone up that was still sleeping and if they didn’t hear me, they were probably deaf. I grabbed my sneakers and shoved them on my feet without untying them. I ran my hand through my hair – it was knotty, but I could brush it in the car, I thought to myself. I heard someone running downstairs like a herd of elephants stampeding. It was my dad. By the look on his face, I could ~ 138 ~
tell that he was upset, annoyed, and tired, all at the same time. “What are you doing up at 7:30 in the morning making such a racket?” He said while in the middle of a yawn. “And why are you wearing your uniform?” I grew even more puzzled than him. “I need to get to school on time, dad!” I urged. “We should have left by now if we want to get there on time, but if we hurry, I won’t be that late.” “School?” my dad asked. “School!” I replied. “On a Saturday?”
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Beyond the pink sand by Cole Keefer ‘23
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Thoughts of darry Grace Knipe ‘23 (Darry) I am awful sorry for that slap when you came back late from the lot. I just want you to be the best you can be and I want you to be safe so our family does not lose another loved one. I try my best to be like Mom and Dad but I’ll admit that nobody can ever replace them. I am sorry if I have not tried hard enough for keeping this family together. (That was to Pony) I feel that as Greasers we lose the temptation to seek something better but I try to work hard and impress my Dad as we were awful close. I have great intentions but they may just come off as insecurities because I know that without a father or someone to look up to, there is not much farther I can go than here. I am already partially screwed up so I am taking my chances to raise Pony right. With all of the misconceptions it doesn’t give any latitude for actual success and did you hear about that crime a bit a go? I can’t believe Pony was in that! That was when I started to second guess what I had been doing all this time but I am confident there is still a light at the end of the tunnel. I go to sleep some nights believing that I did my best and I hope someday it will pay off.
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Poetry Conceals by Madison Howell ‘23 Poetry hides in the cold first snow, as the tiny and elegant snowflakes fall on my nose and eyelashes
Poetry travels in my blue headphones, as my ears fill with the rhythm and beat;
Poetry is tucked away into the pages of a book, begging to be read
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Poetry conceals in the aging wooden floorboards of my home that creak with every passing step
Poetry prints onto a plane ticket, to a new place that's filled with sights to see and people to meet
Poetry swirls in a coffee mug filled with fluffy marshmallows and hot chocolate
Poetry is tied into pinky swears before a secret is told
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Poetry embeds in a lively playground where friends were made, games played, and dress-up lasted forever
Poetry hides in places old and fresh
All you have to do is open your eyes
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A Special thanks to: § § § § § § § § § § §
Daniel Berlin ’22, Layout Director Chris Sixbey ’22, Student Editor Rachel Weinberg ’22, Student Editor Emily Giorgio ’22, Student Editor Fiona Griesser ’22, Student Editor Sarah Gershman ’22, Student Editor Emma Hlousek ’22, Student Editor Cole Keefer ’23, Student Editor Margaret Cravens ’23, Student Editor Maggie Cahouet ’23, Student Editor Ms. Drossner, Faculty Advisor
§ Nate Long ’24, Front Cover Art § Grace Knipe ‘23, Back Cover Art
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