Tiger's tale 2015 by Thayer Academy

Tiger's Tale

The Thayer Academy Middle School Magazine December 2015

Staff: Eliza Fleming '20 Eileen Gooding '21 Drew Havens '21 Lucy Keller '21 Mikaila Kitchen '21 Giovanni Marinilli '21 Katie McDevitt '21 Olivia O'Connor '20 Erika Plante '20 Grace Quealy '21

Other Contributors: Grace Casey '21 Josh Chaskes '19 Delia Delorie '19 Bejunior Fallon '21 Mr. Farwell's Intro to Algebra Class '19 Molly Fitzpatrick '20 Nicole Nessralla '20 Winston Southworth '20

Cover: Erika Plante '20 Faculty Advisors: Mr. Harrison Mrs. Toussaint

Believe by Winston Southworth '20 "Winnn Stonnn, Winnn Stonnn, Winnn Stonnn" came the thundering roar of chants from my Baseball teammates in the dugout. The bench looked like a war zone of gloves, bats, catcher's equipment, helmets, empty water bottles, gum wrappers, and discarded sunflower seed shells. The sweet, sugary smell of Dubble Bubble hung in the air. As I made my way to the on-deck circle to grab my lethal weapon, my DeMarini CF6, my hands and back vibrated with the slaps my teammates gave to encourage me to win this game. The red glitter of our team BELIEVE sign sparkled as I passed it. As underdogs, our team chose this theme for the season. The pressure was mounting and getting heavier and heavier as I jogged to the batter's box. I felt like I had a 25 pound bag of sand on my shoulders, and it was pushing me down. You see, this wasn't just any game; it was the final playoff game for the Hingham Little League World Series. This was my fourth and last year in Little League. I had never won before; we had made it to the playoffs, but were never able to clutch that championship. At the bottom of the 6th inning, with the score tied at 3-3, victory was on the line. And now, in this moment, it was all on me. I did not want to let my teammates down; I knew they were counting on me. Disappointing my dad was something I did not want to do; he had devoted the past four years and countless hours to Hingham Little League, and he is a fierce and passionate competitor. As I stepped up to the plate, my Dad barked, "Come on, Winston! End it Now!" I knew the colossal gold trophy, the symbol of victory, was in reach, and I knew what I had to do. Gripping my bat, I took a deep breath; my heart was pounding, dirty sweat was dripping down my face. I took a few practice swings. My mom yelled her usual phrase to me, "You got it, Winston! Get in your zone!" Digging my cleats in, I got into my stance, and settled in. I stared down the pitcher as he went into his windup. Breaking all the homerun records in Hingham Little League this season, I was in a groove. My Mom had the video camera rolling. Could I do it? Could I extend my homerun rally one more time and finally bring a championship to my team? Would the footage be Cooperstown worthy and be on Sunday's ESPN Top Ten Classic Plays Countdown, or would I be rushing to delete the tape? Hundreds of fans lined against the backstop and fence and filled the stands. Everyone was either screaming cheers for me or for the opposing pitcher. Pressure, pressure, pressure: enough to crack a huge boulder. Get in your zone, Winston! Visualize it sailing over that fence. Breathe, believe is what I told myself. My eyes shot a glance at the fence, which seemed miles away; the score was brightly lit up in yellow lights, 3-3, against the red scoreboard. All of a sudden, the pitcher hurled a fastball, and I saw it coming right down the middle of the plate. I stepped back, and I threw all my weight into it. Crack! and the ball then soared higher and higher and eventually landed over the fence. The crowd erupted with screaming applause. A wave of incredible joy almost knocked me over. As I floated to first base, I was stormed by my teammates chanting "Winnn Stonnn, Winnn Stonnn, Winnn Stonnn." As the gate door was opened, fans and parents spilled out onto the field. As my dad tried to stop jumping up and down, he and my mom, who had tears streaming down her face, ran on the field and wrapped me in a big hug. Yes, there is power in believing.

Present Joy by Josh Chaskes '19 Perfection of this world abounds todayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; The plants, the sun, the animals sublime. I know in fall the skies will turn to grey; For now I will rejoice in summer time. The bluebirds' songs are carried by the wind, The insects' buzz a constant melodyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; I dread the moment autumn will rescind The joy that summer's light has brought to me. I wish the shining sun would never fade, But in reality I know it will. I now must force myself to seize the day And make the most of Nature's bounty still. Although depressing forethoughts worry me, The joy in present day I still do see.

Interviews with New Middle School Faculty by Eliza Fleming '21, Olivia O'Connor '21, and Erika Plante '21 The Tiger's Tale staff interviewed all new faculty members affiliated with the Middle School this fall. We asked Ms. Apfel, Ms. Bairos, Mr. Cibelli, and Mr. Ghiden a couple questions about themselves.

Ms. Apfel Tiger's Tale: What is your past teaching experience? Ms. Apfel: I have been a teacher almost my whole life. I taught in elementary schools, as a student teacher, and then I taught adults at a company that I worked at. I taught them how to use the tools that we had at the company, and then I decided I wanted to be an official teacher for children, so I applied to a program and I got in. I became a computer teacher and technology coordinator in New York City. I spent six years in the New York City public schools, teaching and doing technology in schools and then I became an educational technology coordinator at an independent school in Manhattan. I was teaching teachers how to use technology in their classrooms, and I was teaching students how to use technology and to make smart decisions about the technology that they use. Tiger's Tale: Where are you from, and where did you go to school? Ms. Apfel: I'm from New York, and I went to college in western Mass. at UMASS Amherst, and then I lived in Boston for four years, but I didn't go to school there. I applied to a program in New York at Brooklyn College, and so I got a Master's Degree in Childhood Education, but

during that time I was teaching technology, so I got another Master's Degree a few years later from the University of Michigan, and that was in Technology in Education. Tiger's Tale: What made you want to come to Thayer? What have you enjoyed the most about Thayer so far? What has been the most challenging thing so far? Ms. Apfel: Good question. I was ready to return to Massachusetts, and there happened to be an opening at Thayer that matched what I do. When I came to the Thayer campus, I was just amazed by the campus and the students and the amount of technology and what they were asking of the position. I love the students, and I love the faculty so far. The students are so nice. They're nicer here at Thayer than at any other school I've ever worked at. I'm not even just saying that. And the faculty are so respectful, and also just so nice, and they look to me for advice, and I feel really respected, and I would have to say, really, I'm enjoying the people. But waking up at five o'clock every morning is challenging. Tiger's Tale: What's your favorite book? Why? Ms. Apfel: One of my favorite books is a volume of poetry, and it's called Run with the Hunted. It is by a poet named Charles Bukowski. Tiger's Tale: How do you like to spend your free time? Ms. Apfel: In my free time, I love to ride my bicycle. I also really like to travel, and I love to try new restaurants, and also play with my dog and my cat. Tiger's Tale: Why did you want to work in a school setting? Does anyone else in your family work in a school? Ms. Apfel: I think when I was really young, like the youngest that I can think of, that I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I think I was in sixth grade, and I remember riding the bus to middle school, and people would talk about what you wanted to be when you grew up, and I just remember always thinking I'm going to be a teacher. I am, and I really, really enjoy teaching students, and I also really enjoy teaching adults. Almost everyone in my family works in a school. My grandmother was a teacher on my mother's side, my mother is a teacher, and she teaches reading in an elementary school. My father was a teacher when he finished college. He taught social studies in a middle school, and then he went on to do other things. And then he came back to teaching, and he was an eighth grade history teacher for the last twenty years of his career. He retired five years ago. Tiger's Tale: What subject do you teach? What got you interested in that subject? What other responsibilities do you have at Thayer? Ms. Apfel: I teach technology, and so at Thayer I'm teaching a class called Fundamentals of Learning, and I teach all freshmen. For example, I'll teach them all about how Notability works, also how to use Evernote to stay organized, and I'll teach them how to keep organized in Google Drive and back your files up, and bring files from Notability into Google Drive and Evernote, and things like that. I also manage the Hanflig Technology Center, and I'm responsible for making sure that I stay ahead of the curve with technology tools that are coming up and being used in schools. It's my job to support teachers and think about how they can use technology with their students, and

help them to use that technology, and also to help students make good choices about how they use technology. I'm co-faculty facilitator of the Allies group, which is the Gay/Straight Alliance, and I am also going to be joining the Diversity Committee and the Professional Development Committee. Tiger's Tale: Do you have any special talents? Ms. Apfel: I am pretty good at fixing computers, but I don't really like to. I'm also really good at riding my bike and taking care of animals. Tiger's Tale: And finally, the question we've all been waiting forâ&#x20AC;Ś Coke or Pepsi? Ms. Apfel: I don't really drink soda, but when I do, I really like cream soda.

Ms. Bairos Tiger's Tale: What is your past teaching experience? Ms. Bairos: I have been teaching science at Choate's Summer Program for seven years but most recently I come from teaching math and science to high schoolers at a small boarding school in Lake Placid, New York. Tiger's Tale: Where are you from, and where did you go to school? Ms. Bairos: I am originally from Los Angeles, California, but I went to boarding school in Connecticut, followed by college at Middlebury College in Vermont. Tiger's Tale: What made you want to come to Thayer? What have you enjoyed the most about Thayer so far? What has been the most challenging thing so far? Ms. Bairos: I wanted to come to Thayer because it is a school with a strong history and sense of community. The students at Thayer have definitely been the thing I have enjoyed most so far; the students have also been the most challenging. To acclimate to a new school and new set of students is difficult for any teacher, but everyone has been very helpful with the transition thus far. Tiger's Tale: What's your favorite book? Why? Ms. Bairos: My favorite book is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger because the story is written from the perspective of a 17 year-old boy whose insights could apply to individuals at any age. Tiger's Tale: How do you like to spend your free time? Ms. Bairos: I spend my free time outdoors hiking, mountain biking, and golfing.

Tiger's Tale: Why did you want work in a school setting? Does anyone else in your family work in a school? Ms. Bairos: I wanted to work in a school setting because I love working with students who are engaged in learning and eager to explore scientific topics. No one else in my family works in a school, though. Tiger's Tale: What got you interested in the subject you teach? What other responsibilities do you have at Thayer? Ms. Bairos: I teach 7th grade science here at Thayer. I have loved science since my time in high school because, for me, it is tangible and easily applied to things I see every day. I studied science in college as well and got a more detailed look into the importance of the application of science so I enjoy teaching it to others. I also coach the varsity hockey team in the upper school here at Thayer with Coach Cibelli. Tiger's Tale: Do you have any special talents? Ms. Bairos: Special talents? Not sure if this counts but I can speak Swedish. More of a random fact. Tiger's Tale: And finally, the question we've all been waiting for… Coke or Pepsi? Ms. Bairos: Pepsi. For sure.

Mr. Cibelli Tiger's Tale: What is your past teaching experience? Mr. Cibelli: For the past four years, I taught at the Kent School. It's a boarding school in Connecticut. When I was around 18, I attended Hobart College. Tiger's Tale: Where are you from, and where did you go to school? Mr. Cibelli: I'm from Syracuse, New York. I went to my public high school up there. Tiger's Tale: What made you want to come to Thayer? What have you enjoyed the most about Thayer so far? What has been the most challenging thing so far? Mr. Cibelli: I certainly knew of the school, and when I visited, everyone was so welcoming, and kind, and the students were so enthusiastic. I was looking for a new job, and at one point someone at Thayer saw my résumé and called me. What have I enjoyed the most? The students, obviously. The kids here are very into class discussions. Challenging? Basically, starting fresh with teaching new books and new materials. It's taking a long time to get all my materials up to date and get ready for class each day. Tiger's Tale: What's your favorite book? Why?

Mr. Cibelli: Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. I read it just after I graduated college, and it just has a lot of really interesting and colorful characters, and it's really a book about community and what makes a good friend, and just a really enjoyable book. I just love it. I'd certainly recommend it for when you're in high school. Tiger's Tale: How do you like to spend your free time? Mr. Cibelli: I like to read, go to the movies and watch a lot of movies. I try to keep up with the latest. Eat food, sleep. Spend time with family and friends. Tiger's Tale: Why did you work in a school setting? Does anyone else in your family work in a school? Mr. Cibelli: No one else in my family is a teacher. My dad's been a coach for a long time. It kind of felt like he would've loved to have done this. Everyone was telling me that this is what I should do, so I tried it, and agreed. Tiger's Tale: What got you interested in the subject you teach? What other responsibilities do you have at Thayer? Mr. Cibelli: I had always loved reading as a kid and was pretty good at writing. When I was in college, looking for a major, and I just kind of fell into it. I just read a couple books while I was in college that kind of reminded me of what I loved about it and decided that this was what I wanted to do. For my other responsibilities, right now I'm coaching sixth grade soccer. I'm also an advisor to the yearbook, and I also coach Girls Varsity Hockey. Hockey's a big thing for me. Tiger's Tale: Do you have any special talents? Mr. Cibelli: Special talents? Nothing crazy special. I'm a pretty average guy. Though I am good at drinking coffee very quickly. Annabel (one of his advisees overhearing): "He can tie Sperries and does Brazilian interpretive dance." Tiger's Tale: And finally, the question we've all been waiting forâ&#x20AC;Ś Coke or Pepsi? Mr. Cibelli: I'm not a big soda drinker, really, at all. But, I will say, if I had to look at a can in the summer, the Coca-Cola can, when you're looking at it, it looks pretty good. I'd say Coke.

Mr. Ghiden Tiger's Tale: What is your past teaching experience? Mr. Ghiden: Before coming to Thayer, I was working at a public high school in Concord, New Hampshire. Tiger's Tale: Where are you from, and where did you go to school? Mr. Ghiden: I was born in Boston, and I lived there for ten years. I moved to Concord, New Hampshire, where I went through the public school system. When I was 18, I went to Amherst College.

Tiger's Tale: What made you want to come to Thayer? What have you enjoyed the most about Thayer so far? What has been the most challenging thing so far? Mr. Ghiden: I really enjoyed the community feel of Thayer. All of the people that I met at Thayer were very inviting, and I instantly felt comfortable. As for what I've enjoyed the most, aside from the food, it would have to be the people, and how caring, thoughtful, and respectful they are. The most challenging has been coaching for the upper school, with keeping everyone positive and making adjustments due to the large number of injuries we've had. Tiger's Tale: What's your favorite book? Why? Mr. Ghiden: It's hard to say, but I would say that my favorite book is The Giver by Lois Lowry because it makes you think of the future and possible outcomes. Tiger's Tale: How do you like to spend your free time? Mr. Ghiden: I like hiking, reading and playing video games. Tiger's Tale: Why did you want to work in a school setting? Does anyone else in your family work in a school? Mr. Ghiden: I wanted to work in a school setting because I like working with young people and hope to guide them through adolescence, and I had some great teachers that I wanted to be like. My mother works at the University of San Antonio in Texas, and my father taught briefly at a law school. Tiger's Tale: What subject do you teach? What got you interested in that subject? What other responsibilities do you have at Thayer? Mr. Ghiden: I teach 6th grade English, Social Studies, and Math. I think I like them because they were just my favorite subjects in school. I liked reading historical stories. I enjoyed writing, and math is just fun! I also coach JV football and middle school lacrosse. Tiger's Tale: Do you have any special talents? Mr. Ghiden: I am a writer, and my secret talent is rapping. Tiger's Tale: And finally, the question we've all been waiting forâ&#x20AC;Ś Coke or Pepsi? Mr. Ghiden: Tough one, but I'm going to say Coke.

Zipline by Grace Casey '21 The bright blue water with whitecaps dances below me. Rubbing of wire and people screaming in fear and joy is in the background, but the rushing water of the waterfall below soothes me. Little pebbles rub against the bottom of the stream, turning from rough to smooth, sounding like a beat of a drum. The instructor in the background mumbles, "Are you ready to fly?" Rough ropes hold me up and rub against the back of my leg. A relaxing breeze brushes through my hair. My grip loosens as my fear of falling disappears. I am a bird in the rainforest. Morning air makes my mouth feel like a desert during a sandstorm. The sweet smell of exotic fruit fills me with joy and makes me smile like a jack o' lantern.

My grip tightens again—the fear rising inside me. My heart races like a horse galloping around a racetrack. Teardrops of fear sweat from the palm of my hand. A big gust of wind slams my face. My feet are dangling; they feel like they are a hundred pounds of steel. A screech shoots out of me and takes me over with powerful force. The slide disappears from below me and the harness tightens around my legs. The rushing water grows louder and closer. I spot my friend patiently waiting on the other side, as her eyes fixate on me. The scenery blurs as she grows bigger. My feet land on a sturdy, worn, wooden platform. My muscles relax but tighten again as I begin to swing back. I feel a cold hand grab my harness and my shirt, a tug, and I swing back to the platform safely. I am unclipped and just dangling towards the waterfall. I hear the clinking of the instructor rummaging through his clips. The restraint of the harness loosens and I am placed on the platform. I hear my friend's giggle as her warm arms wrap around my shaking body. I stand there in disbelief that I just flew on a zipline over a waterfall.

Where Darkness Lives by Olivia O'Connor '12 A dark, unclear shape beckoned her to come closer. It radiated an air of malice. She knew better than to obey, but something drew her in. She now stood only a foot away from the shadow. She stepped closer. She could see the darkness beginning to take shape. It had a distinct form now. All of a sudden, the silhouette shifted. She could now see a sort of face that had started to form. She gazed upon it and screamed in horror. A girl hurried down a shadowy street in the silent city. She felt as though she were being followed, even though the road behind her was abandoned and empty. She had felt like she was being tailed all day now, by some sort of dark shape, just out of sight. Quite frankly, she was beginning to get paranoid. Every few minutes, she'd feel a chilly breeze that wasn't there, foreboding whispers when no one was nearby. The girl walked faster, so fast that she was almost running. She darted into a convenience store at the edge of town. Upon entering, she immediately dashed inside the restroom. Clutching at her head and rocking back and forth on the floor, she noticed what appeared to be a shadow in another corner. An odd sense of déjà vu struck her, though she couldn't seem to figure out why. Wait. This has happened before. In a dream. But how can that be, it's not as if– her muddled thoughts were interrupted by terror. The shadow in the corner seemed to be multiplying, growing impossibly larger. The girl now stared in complete awe and fear. From the large shape, many strange and terrible shadows seemed to spring, until the entire wall was tattooed with the silhouettes of horrific creatures. Tendrils of darkness stretched toward her, and the beast made a sound like the screams of a thousand tortured souls. With absolutely no way to escape, she shut her eyes tightly and screamed loudly, frozen with fright and dreading what was about to happen. When she finally opened her eyes, the shadows had retreated. She blinked once, and they didn't come back. They were just gone. Dazed and bewildered, she stumbled clumsily back into the store and made her way toward the exit. She heard the crunch of broken glass beneath her feet, and realized she had shattered the glass door in her panicked state. For the first time, she glanced around the room, and noticed that she was all alone. And then she saw the sign on the window that was turned to Sorry, we're

closed. As she fell completely back into reality, sirens wailed in her ears from outside the convenience store. She turned and ran though the building's back door. The dim streetlights flickered, and the image of the shadowy monster flashed across her vision. She ran faster.

Ice Cream Survey Results by Lucinda Keller '21 and Katherine McDevitt '21 We asked the whole Middle School what its favorite combination of ice cream and toppings was. Most girls chose mint chocolate chip, and the most enjoyed flavor of the boys in the school was Cookie Dough. Most girls chose sprinkles as their favorite topping with an impressive thirty-one votes, and for boys it was hot fudge, which had seventeen votes. When asked how they like to eat ice cream, sixty-four respondents said in a cone, while forty-four preferred a dish. Swirl was the least favorite flavor with only two votes! Cookies got only four votes, the least favorite topping. The adults' favorite flavor was vanilla, which we found interesting. That is because barely any students voted for vanilla. The adults' favorite topping was sprinkles, which as we mentioned was also the student favorite. Three people said that they don't like to eat ice cream. Seven members of the community do not like any toppings whatsoever. The favorite sixth grade flavor was cookie dough. The favorite seventh grade flavor was mint chocolate chip. Lastly, the eighth grade favorite was also cookie dough. Note: We did not use everybody's survey because some people did not fill out their grade and/or gender, and some people didn't follow the directions. This is not a scientific study. But now we know why the line is so long on mint-chocolate chip days!

Disney World

by Nicole Nessralla '20 After a long day of conquering the Expedition Everest roller coaster and chasing down princesses for their autographs, I was exhausted. I thought my family was going to Disney World for a vacation! At last we had arrived at Cinderella's castle in the Magic Kingdom to watch the fireworks. I eagerly waited for bright colors to burst on the surface of the castle. Squeezing my way through the crowd, I quickly headed for the front to get a closer look. As people were searching the sky in case of rain, a spark caught my eye. A tiny glittering fairy shot across the sky, turning the heads of every single person in the Magic Kingdom. As I craned my neck to see where Tinker Bell flew off to, a friendly voice boomed over us. "Hi everyone, Jiminy Cricket here," the voice introduced himself. While Jiminy Cricket narrated the show, I focused on the animations that were being projected on the castle. An animation of a golden Simba from The Lion King roared to the crowd. Suddenly, a fat octopus with purple tentacles and heavy makeup appeared on the castle. I cringed as I looked upon the face of Ursula the Sea Witch. Finally, the animations ended with the most beloved one of all, the mouse that started it all: Mickey Mouse. Instantaneously, I became six years old, watching old Disney movies and combing my hair with a fork like Ariel. I drifted away from reality and into the magical atmosphere.

A loud bang echoed and I noticed a shock of color from the corner of my eye. My head shot up, eyes staring at the smoky remnants of the firework. In one boom, a shimmering star appeared in the sky and then burst into a golden fizzle. My cheeks lifted up into a smile as I applauded. I was enchanted by the vivid pink and the blazing blue fireworks that popped like a kernel of corn. My flip-flops squeaked against the plastic rain poncho that I lay upon as I gazed at the luminous sky. As I stared at the castle, my mind wandered to the classic scene in Cinderella where Prince Charming put the glass slipper on Cinderella's foot. A double firework shook me from my daydream and left me in awe during the finale. As soon as the last firework appeared, I felt a wet drop on my forehead. It had finally begun to drizzle, and just in time for the show to end. Chaos struck as people quickly gathered their things and raced out to the shuttle buses to escape the rain. Although people believe that it is impossible to go back in time, I have gone back to my six-year old self, humming Disney tunes and imitating the characters. As Walt Disney himself said, "It's kind of fun to do the impossible."

iPad Survey by Eileen Gooding '21 We asked a series of questions about the iPads to students and teachers, and we got a variety of answers. Question 1. What do you think the benefits of having an iPad for school uses are? Most people, both students and teachers, said that the biggest benefit is easy access to the Internet. Ms. Soule said, "I think the benefits are quick access to the Internet for educational programs, an online calendar, ebooks, and keeping up with all the ways education is going." Gabby Grattan said, "It makes everything much faster to get to and easier, and saves a lot of paper. GO EARTH!" Question 2. Do you think that it is a distraction in the classroom? 40% of people said that the iPad can sometimes be a distraction. Ms. Lodge said, "I personally have not had my students be overly distracted by the iPads." Grace Quealy said, "Well, it depends on the kid really, because some kids think of it as a toy, but others think of it as a tool." Question 3. What is your favorite school app? 62% of the twenty one people that we asked named Notability as their favorite. Mr. Ghiden said, "Notability because I use it the most. I use it everyday in my class." Katie Dawson agrees and said, "I like Notability because you can draw and type, and everything." Question 4. Is the iPad frustrating sometimes? 76% of the people we asked said that iPads are frustrating sometimes. Mr. Robarts, an 8th grade teacher said "Yes, yes, learning all the different apps, learning how they connect, synchronizing, coordinating, my laptop to my iPad, and make it work cohesively." One person who found the iPad was not frustrating happened to be a teacher. Mr. Lanagan, an 8th grade teacher, said, "Right now, the only thing that's frustrating is Google Drive, so a

lot of times my students will have an assignment and they won't be able to put it in their folder. But, that's a Google Drive problem, not an iPad problem." Question 5. Would you recommend the iPad program to other schools? 86% of the people said that they would recommend using the iPads to other schools. Katie Dawson said, "Yes, I would recommend it because it's good for school and it's really helpful." Question 6. If you had a choice between using the iPad and not using the iPad, which would you choose? Only two people said they would rather not use an iPad. Mr. Robarts reported that he would rather use his laptop than an iPad. We were very surprised by some of the answers, and maybe reading this article has inspired you to use your iPad in a different way.

Climbing Higher by Eliza Fleming '20 Lazily gliding through the air, effervescent birds chirped radiantly overhead. An immense clearing surrounded the colossal Alpine Tower; and on the periphery of it, massive trees appeared miniscule due to the span of the field. Faintly, the balmy breeze rolled off the glimmering water, its winsome, spring-like aroma filling the warm, early fall day. Hanging in the cloudless, sapphire blue sky, the sun's rays beat down malevolently on Thompson Island. The immaculate skyline of Boston stood brilliantly in the distance. A girl clung tightly to the rough, oddly-shaped hand holds lining the tower, waiting as her belayer took up the slack on the seemingly infinite rope. She crinkled her nose as the stiff, smoky stench of the wooden logs crept up her nostrils. Climbing higher, the girl's dark eyes attempted to focus with the haphazardly placed assortment of fraying, ragged, ropes and broad beams. Vivacious cheers of "Good job, Eliza!" and "You can do it!" sounded from beneath her. Already, the hand and footholds began to diminish in size. A rigid beam acted as a deterrent to Eliza's path upwards, forcing her to maneuver her foot to an unstable-looking triangular piece of wood suspended by three sections of sturdy rope. She shifted her weight onto the hazardous fragment of wood, and it wobbled precariously. Eliza swiftly switched from using her legs for support to using her arms to handle the majority of the burden. From there, laboriously, she half jumped-half swung herself over to another wooden pole with hand holds. She glanced up at the one thing preventing her tragic death, the rugged rope connected to her harness; double checking that it wasn't ensnared in any of the abundant planks or cables. Pausing briefly, Eliza peered out towards the ocean, drinking in the wondrous scene of the adjacent Boston Harbor Islands. She kept clambering upwards, moving back and forth clumsily like a newborn monkey. Abruptly, her sneaker slipped off the practically microscopic foothold, catching her off guard. Eliza gripped tightly with her other limbs, taken aback by the sudden increase of gravity dragging her towards the ground. She replaced her foot onto the tiny piece of rough plastic, careful to not put too much pressure on it. As she regained both her balance and her senses, the call of "You okay?" from the ground pierced her ears. She couldn't make out the voice entirely, but it was probably either the counselor, or Colin, her coach.

Shakily, she replied "Yeah!" Still keeping his bright, obnoxiously cheery tone, the counselor asked, "Do you want to keep going?" Reviving her morale, and looking towards the top of the 62-foot tower, Eliza called "Yep," and resumed climbing higher.

The Bad Bell by Giovanni Marinilli '21 That morning I got up from bed, hoping it would be a good day. I got ready very eagerly because I was going to have a math quiz. I had been preparing for it since preschool. My family and I thought I would ace it. Luckily, I did, but that was not the problem. Want to know what it was? Now please just wait and see. I got out of my dad's new car, feeling confident that it would be a good day. I met up with my best friend, Bob. He has the weirdest last name, Malware. Think of it: Bob Malware, and last school year he lost his glasses. After school Bob and I were going to get ice cream. We went to first period together, foreign language. I was going to math after language, or so I thought. I said good-bye to Bob, knowing that I was going to ace the math test. The bell rang for the end of first period. A bell was on top of my locker, and it was quite loose, I thought. I got my stuff and was going to leave. You won't believe what happened next. It went by quickly. I was about to leave; then the bell rang. Then I blacked out on the floor. That was all I remembered until the next day at the doctor's office. The nurse told me that the bell was so loose that when it rang, it fell on my head. She said I may have a mild concussion and some amnesia. She told me to tell her what I remembered about the previous day. I replied I didn't remember anything about the week so far. I was treated and sent home. The nurse told my parents and teachers I should stay at home for the rest of the week. The rest of the week at home was very dull. The next week, I went back to the doctor's office. The same nurse said I could go back to school. I had forgotten about the math test so I was surprised when I had to take it. Later, when I got the quiz back, I found I had scored 110% because there were a lot of bonus questions. The next week the major effects of the concussion were gone and, I noticed, so was the bell. Except for that life went back to normal. Now I see why the quiz wasn't important.

Should We Buy Lottery Tickets or Put Money into Savings Accounts? a group effort by Mr. Farwell's Intro to Algebra Class '19 Saving and investing money is a much better idea than attempting to win the lottery to save $800,000 for retirement. Sure, it is slow, but if you start early and don't spend too much, you can retire in comfort. The odds of winning the Powerball are 1 to 175,233,510. That means there is 1 winning combination of numbers and there are 175,233,510 incorrect combinations. Playing the Powerball is extremely similar to selecting the right quarter from a line of 175,233,511 quarters. If you line up 175,233,511 quarters, they would span 2729 miles and would stretch from Braintree, Massachusetts to Las Vegas, Nevada. If you placed down one quarter every

second it would take roughly 5 and a 1/2 years to put down 175,233,511 quarters. If you were to drive along the line of quarters to choose the winning one, it would take 42 hours and 30 minutes at a speed of 65 mph, without stopping, to get to the last quarter. If you do decide to play the lottery and spend $800,000 on tickets, the odds will still stay the same for any one ticket. Spending 2 bucks for a ticket doesn't seem much at all, but 2 dollars a day is about $60 dollars a month. Instead we might choose to invest that money in a bank. If the bank offered a 6% interest over 47 years, beginning at age 18 until age 65, the total accumulated money over time would be $155,955.91. When our retirement comes, having invested our $60 a month would have been a smarter choice than buying lottery tickets each day because then we would have more money for retirement.

The Shark Slide by Molly Fitzpatrick '20 Swimming around the water, the anxious sharks continue circling the tank. The hot Bahamian sun glistens off the ocean behind me as my feet immerse in the warm pool water. My sister rushes down the slide, hands and legs crossed, with a big smile on her face stretching from ear to ear when she reaches the bottom. I know that I will enjoy it too, but the nerves still run through my body almost like an electric shock. I inhale the chlorine of the pool water clashing with the salty air. The faint aroma of barbecue in the distance fills my nose. My feet sink into the melting rubber as the slight ocean breeze brushes my body. The droplets of water from the rain the night before drip from the palm trees slowly, one by one, making a pitter-patter. The water from the intimidating slide is splashing everywhere. The delicate voices of children on the slides nearby come and go. I shiver, and I can feel the people watching me impatiently. Everyone else seemed to have the time of their lives on the slide, laughing and smiling and getting back in line! My hands are grasping the slide, which feels like a wet fragment of silk; I step onto the water and my heart races twenty times a second. My nerves finally calm as the green light flashes radiantly and rapidly, telling me that it is my turn. I step into the slide. My back is now in the gleaming, pleasantly warm water. I am being rushed down the slide by gallons of water forcing me so fast almost like I am a slab of butter on a hot piece of bread. The sharks surrounding me seem as if they were awaiting my arrival. All I can taste are chemicals from the chlorine as some water slips into my dry mouth. My body splashes in the pool of water. I observe my sister standing at the edge of the pool so we can ride the terrifying slide again. The smell of the barbeque grows stronger, and the children's voices grow louder as the taste of the chlorine vanishes from my mouth. The warm water makes me feel weightless as I lie under the steaming sun; the nerves that once filled my body disintegrate. A smile spreads from ear to ear and refuses to go away.

Movie vs. Book Review: If I Stay

by Katie McDevitt '21 SPOILER ALERT: If you have NOT READ THE BOOK or SEEN THE MOVIE, you might not want to read this! If I Stay, book or movie? In my experience with most movies that are based on books, the books are much better. However, Shauna Cross, who wrote the screenplay for If I Stay, did a

very good job. Movies typically don't give as much background as the books do. That is true for If I Stay. Fortunately, I had read If I Stay before I watched the movie. That turned out to be helpful. The book gives lots of background about Mia and her family, making me feel almost as though I knew them. The movie does provide enough background for one to be aware of what is going on, but not as much as the book. Most of the story takes place in a hospital, where Mia is in a coma. The book told a great deal about everyone who was in the hospital waiting room to give Mia support. But the movie only told about the most major characters. I liked and disliked this aspect at the same time. I liked it because it made the movie less confusing for me, but I also disliked it because I like details in a movie and book. Also, the book described how Mia's boyfriend and her best friend snuck into Mia's hospital room while they arranged for Brooke Vega, a famous singer, to perform, there by distracting the doctors and nurses. Unfortunately, the movie didn't include that part. I thought it was an important part and should have been included. Also, in the sequel to If I Stay, (which is called Where She Went) Brooke Vega comes back, which could confuse people who only saw the movie If I Stay and didn't read the book. All in all, I think the book If I Stay is better than the movie. Both the book and the movie made me cry and kept me in suspense. It was one of the best movies I have ever watched, and one of the best books I have ever read. If I Stay provided me with a great movie-watching and book-reading experience. I hope your experience will be similar. I strongly recommend both. But read the book before you watch the movie, so you have a better understanding of the plot. I rate the book five stars, and the movie 4.5 stars out of 5.

Staff Picks: Restaurants by Giovanni Marinilli '21 and Grace Quealy '21 We have asked the staff of Tiger's Tale what their favorite restaurants are. Check it out: Name: Mikaila Kitchen Favorite Restaurant: T. G. I. Fridays Type of Food: Finger Food Location: Randolph/Stoughton Border Favorite Dish: Pulled Pork Sandwich

Name: Mrs. Toussaint Favorite Restaurant: The Corrib Type of Food: Pub Style Location: West Roxbury Favorite Dish: Baked Scallops

Name: Drew Havens Favorite Restaurant: Sel de la Terre Type of Food: Seafood Location: On Boston Harbor Favorite Dish: Chicken Fries

Name: Eliza Fleming Favorite Restaurant: Fairmount Grill Type of Food: Sandwich Shop Location: Hyde Park Favorite Dish: Chicken and Brie Sandwich

Name: Katie McDevitt Favorite Restaurant: Abby Park Type of Food: Modern American Location: Milton Favorite Dish: Grilled Cheese

Name: Erika Plante Favorite Restaurant: Outback Steakhouse Type of Food: Steak Location: Quincy Favorite Dish: Victoria Filet

Name: Mr. Harrison Favorite Restaurant: Coffee Corner Type of Food: Breakfast Location: Hingham Favorite Dish: Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Muffin Name: Olivia O'Connor Favorite Restaurant: The 99 Restaurant Type of Food: Modern American Location: Braintree Favorite Dish: Balsamic Grilled Chicken Name: Eileen Gooding Favorite Restaurant: Chapin's Fish and Chips Type of Food: Seafood Location: Dennis Favorite Dish: Fish and Chips

Name: Lucy Keller Favorite Restaurant: Bertucci's Type of Food: Italian Location: Derby Street, Hingham Favorite Dish: Foccacia (cheese bread) Name: Giovanni Marinilli Favorite Restaurant: Orinoco Type of Food: Venezuelan Location: Shawmut Avenue, South End Favorite Dish: Pernil (Arepa filled with shredded pork, imported Venezuelan cheese, and tomatoes) Name: Grace Quealy Favorite Restaurant: Uno's Type of Food: Chicago Style Pizza (deep dish) Location: Near The South Shore Plaza Favorite Dish: Deep Dish cheese pizza (Vegetable Soup on the side)

Before the Swim Meet by Delia Delorie '19 The slippery movement's power hides my doubt, For I have worked to find its loveliness. And though I am another person here, I am still swimming in this loneliness. So beautifully the feeling haunts my soul That's captivated by the water's gloss. The depths that swallow me through calm wet space Refresh my view of paralyzing lossâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; That place in which ideas are left behind, That trap in which I do not wish to fall. I move away to ease my troubled mind, For I will not succumb; I keep my groove. I will not let my mind swim to this hole, I will not give my precious self that toll.

World's Weirdest Animals by Drew Havens '21 There are a lot of animal species in the world. In fact, about 1,500,000 species of animals have been discovered, but what about the animals that are just weird? What about the ones that 16

look like they came from outer-space or from a storybook? Well, here's the list of some of those animals. There are a ton of weird ones out there, but I'll just give you eight. I also recommend searching these animals on the Internet and checking them out. Blobfish Ugh. The Blobfish. This guy is hideous (no offense, Blobfish.) This fish was ranked the ugliest animal in the world by the Ugly Animal Preservation Society and the National Science and Engineering Competition. It lives in very deep water, and it looks like a pink blob of goop with a big, fat nose. If you look at a picture of one, it actually has a big frown on its face as well. Blobfish are no bigger than a foot long. They live off the coast of Australia. Pink Fairy Armadillo The Pink Fairy Armadillo is strange, but it looks kind of funny, or even cute. It doesn't even look like an armadillo. It looks like a little squirrel with a shield on its back. They also have feet that look like they belonged to an alien. They're mainly found in grasslands in Argentina. It's the smallest species of armadillo, measuring only about 4 inches long. Yeti Crab The Yeti Crab is a species of crab that is by far the strangest of them all. It looks like a regular crab, but it's pure white, and its legs are all covered with a thick layer of white, hair-like material. Just like the name, it looks like a Yeti! It lives in the South Pacific Ocean, and it's about 6 inches long. Sarcastic Fringehead When I saw these fish, they made my skin crawl. I saw a video of them, and they are terrifying. These fish are extremely territorial. When they fight over territory, they open up their mouths to an incredible size and show off some razor-sharp teeth. These guys live in the Pacific Ocean and grow to about a foot long. Mudskipper The Mudskipper fish basically defies the rules of the ocean. It's a fish that can walk on land. That's right. Mudskippers have adapted to using their pectoral fins to walk on land. They live in the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and grow to about 4 inches long. Rhinoceros Hornbill This is a type of bird that looks like a hybrid of a rhinoceros and a toucan. These birds are about the size of a typical swan, and they have a big horn growing out of their forehead like a rhinoceros or a unicorn. They're typically found in rainforests within Asia. Frilled Shark The Frilled Shark is often described as a living fossil. It actually looks like it's prehistoric. They look like an eel with pure white eyes and needle-like teeth. They live in deep waters of the Pacific Ocean and grow up to about 5 feet long.

Saiga Antelope The Saiga Antelope looks like something out of a Star Wars movie. It looks like an antelope with a big nose like an elephant's trunk. When I saw it, I thought it was fake, but it's a 100% real animal. They live in Europe and Asia and grow to about 5 feet long. Unfortunately, Saiga Antelopes are critically endangered due to poaching. They're already extinct in China.

Apple Keynote 2014 by Giovanni Marinilli '21 On September 9, 2014, Apple Inc. hosted a keynote. The keynote presentation was hosted in the theater where Steve Jobs released the first iMac in 1998. It started out with a thoughtprovoking video. Then the CEO Tim Cook announced the arrival of the iPhone 6 and 6 plus. As he described the new iPhone, he talked about how it has no real edges, it has a continuous, seamless design. It is also the thinnest iPhone ever. He talked about the new Retina HD Display. According to Apple, that is the best smartphone display ever. The iPhone 6 has a 4.7Ĺ&#x160;inch display and the iPhone 6 plus has a 5.5Ĺ&#x160;inch display. Now you can have the landscape view in many new things and apps including the home screen and weather. Cook also announced that there are more than 1.3 million apps on the app store. The new A8 chip has up to 25% faster processing speed and up to 50% faster graphics than the A7 chip. The new iPhone is 50% more energy efficient. This means the iPhone can perform more intensive tasks. The M8 coprocessor continuously measures motion data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass. The iPhone 6 has a barometer that senses air pressure to measure relative elevation. The Health app in iOS 8 measures physical activities, like the flights of stairs you climb. Other apps will be able to tap into these features. iPhone 6 now supports voice-over LTE. It's wide-band audio for voice that sounds amazingly crisp and clear. iPhone 6 has faster LTE than iPhone 5s. It also has more LTE bands than any other smartphone for better roaming. iPhone 6 supports over 200 LTE carriers around the world, including all three in China: China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom. VoLTE for iPhone 6 is supported by some of the world's leading carriers. iPhone 6 Wi-Fi speeds are up to three times faster than iPhone 5s. Wi-Fi calling is a new feature for making high-quality calls when cell conditions are poor. A great deal went into making the 8 megapixel iSight camera so much better. Focus Pixels in the all-new sensor helps iPhone 6 focus faster and better. They used to be found only in professional cameras. Professional photographers used to have all the fun! iPhone 6 has better face detection. A new sensor helps with shaky hands and low light. Burst mode detects smiles and blinks better to recommend the best picture. A new feature helps you get a great picture in low light. You can now get slo-mo videos slower now. Focus Pixels make it automatic and undetectable to refocus. It also includes a new time-lapse mode. Burst mode comes to the front camera to take selfies at 10 photos per second. iPhone 6 and 6 plus come with IOS 8. The new iPhones also meet the highest environmentalist standards. They are mercury-free LED-backlit display, arsenic-free display glass, BFR-free, beryllium-free, PVC-free, and recyclable aluminum. Another highlight of the keynote was the introduction of Apple Pay, which is a new way to make payments. Wallet, your days are numbered. Paying for stuff is a real pain. Come on, credit and debit cards have exposed account numbers, outdated magstripes, and vulnerable security codes. According to Cook, it is much easier and secure to use Apple Pay. When you pay using

your phone, don't blink, or you will miss it. The iPhone 6 has everything, for Apple Pay in Passbook. Passbook is a secure place to store your coupons, gift cards, and boarding passes. For extra security, iPhone users use touch ID to pay. You can use either your iTunes credit or debit card or take a picture of your credit card to add it to Apple Pay. Credit card information is stored on a chip in your iPhone, never through Apple servers. Payments are authorized by a one-time use code. No more canceling cards, just suspend payments using Find my iPhone. Apple knows nothing about your payments and cashiers don't see your name, your card number, or your security code. With Apple Pay the happiest place on earth just got happier. Apple Pay is going to be accepted at Disney World and Disney stores. As Steve Jobs would say, One more thing: The last feature of the keynote was Apple Watch. The Apple Watch is the most personal device Apple has ever made. It's a precise and customizable timepiece. John Ive explained that it's an intimate way to connect and communicate. It's also a comprehensive health and fitness companion. Apple also introduced the Digital Crown. With the Digital Crown, you can scroll, zoom, and navigate Apple Watch without covering the display. The Digital Crown lets you navigate Apple Watch fluidly and precisely. Apple Watch has a flexible Retina Display made of sapphire, the hardest transparent material after diamond. Apple Watch photosensors and LEDs can detect your heart rate. The phone is as much about self-expression as utility. The company tweeted, "Apple Watch is built from custom alloys of stainless steel, aluminum, and 18-karat gold with bands, as thoughtfully designed as the watch itself." To get to the clock just tap the clock app icon. To switch between watch face designs, just use Force Touch and swipe. To choose a watch face, tap it. You know you have incoming communication when you feel it on your wrist. Apple Watch has Siri. Press and hold the Digital Crown to activate. Apple Watch comes with the Photos app. Zoom in on a picture with a turn of the Digital Crown. Maps doesn't just show you the way, it guides you to go right or left with a tap. Press the side button to bring up Friends, a place to see the people you stay in touch with most. From Friends, you can make a call, send a message, or connect with new Digital Touch features. If your friend has an Apple Watch, you can give him or her a gentle tap on the wrist, even from thousands of miles away. Some apps include two related to health: the activity app and the workout app. Apple Watch is designed to help anyone who wears it lead a healthier life by being more active. Apple Watch is an all-day fitness tracker and a highly advanced sports watch in a single device. It has an accelerometer to measure body movement. A custom sensor measures intensity by tracking heart rate. Apple Watch measures three aspects of movement. The move ring gives you an overview of how active you are. The exercise ring measures brisk activity. The stand ring shows how often you've stood up to take a break from sitting. The workout app can track workouts like running, walking, and cycling. Over time, Apple Watch gets to know you the way a good personal trainer would. Apple Watch aims to change the way we look at fitness.

Do Not Read This Article If You Have Phobophobia! by Grace Quealy '21 According to Webster's Dictionary, a phobia is: "an extremely strong dislike or fear of someone or something." Many of us have at least one. Many of us have common ones like the fear of the dark (Achluophobia). Some of us have some not-so-common fears. On that note, I bet 19

you can't solve this puzzle. This puzzle includes a word bank that you can use to fill in the blanks. Good luck! Word Bank for Answers marshmallows, home, long words, otters, botanophobia, confined spaces, sophophobia, astraphobia, anything new, misophobia, anatidaephobia, mythophobia, dreams, heights, xanthophobia

Not so Common Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia is the fear of ________

Common Altophobia is the fear of _______

________ is the fear of plants

_______ is the fear of learning Ecophobia is the fear of ________

Lutraphobia is the fear of ________ ________ is the fear of thunder and lightning

_______ is the fear of the color yellow

Claustrophobia is the fear of ________

Oneirophobia is the fear of ________

________ is the fear of being contaminated with dirt or germs

_________ is the fear of myths or false statements

Neophobia is the fear of _________

Althaiophobia is the fear of ________ __________ is the fear of ducks watching you

Well, how did you do? Congrats if you got all of them, because this quiz was super hard, in my opinion. If you didn't, that's ok. I wouldn't be able to do well either if I were doing the quiz. These are just some of the fears people have. Trust me, there are many more. I got these fears from www.phobialist.com. If you want to check out some more, go to that website! I would write more, but there is a spider in the room, and I have Arachnophobia.

Shapeshifting by Grace Quealy '21 The dark night approached as I slipped on my hoodie. I was getting ready to do the unthinkable. I slipped past the gates, unaware of the dangers ahead. There was no turning back now. The smell of sulfur entered my nose as I walked through the door. This building was very old, no doubt. I walked in the main room, and a glint caught my eye. It was the thing I was looking for. I touched it. It was cool beneath my fingers. I felt as though it was speaking to me. It glowed brighter and brighter, and I was more enchanted than ever. It was pulling me forward, although I had no idea that that was happening. I was getting closer and then, poof, I was gone, with no idea where I was going.

7 hours earlier: Class was taking forever. How to find an area of a circle was the most boring subject to talk about in the world. If you wanted to hold my attention, talk to me about finding the area of triangles. Ring! "Finally," I thought as I walked out the door, heading to the museum to find information for my math report on triangles. "Hey, Isosceles," my friend Austin called to me. Austin called me Isosceles for no apparent reason all the time. "Hey, Scalene," I called back. "Where are you heading?" he asked. "The museum," I replied. "No way, me too!" exclaimed Austin. The conversation ended when we got to the museum. "We are taking this jewel for government purposesâ&#x20AC;Ś" said an unfamiliar voice. Austin and I quickly ran around the corner to see two government officers in a fight with the museum curator. "You can't take it," whined the museum curator. "It belongs to the museum. The Shapeshifter Crystal is an important artifact! The Native Americans of this land believed that this crystal is a portal to another dimension." "That is exactly why we are taking it," said the other government agent. "It is too dangerous." The government agents took the jewel and left. The curator started crying. Austin and I went up to him. "We saw the whole thing and we want to help," I said. The curator looked puzzled, but then he said, "I can't let you kids get yourself into trouble, plus going against the government is far too dangerous for little children." I wanted to tell him we were not little, but I decided not to because that would be very rude. "Well," I said formulating a plan, "I guess we won't go after your crystal, but my grandfather is a government agent, and he said that they are just keeping the jewel because the museum did something to offend the government," I lied. "Oh man, they found out about the badgers," the curator said under his breath. "Wow, it worked," I thought. Then I said; "Granddad said that they were making it a tourist attraction. Do you know where they are keeping the jewel?" "Yeah, in that abandoned car shop down the street," he said. "Thanks," Austin shouted. "Now, let's go get that jewel," I whispered to Austin. A little less than seven hours later: Austin and I got to the car shop, ready to break in. "To cover more ground, let's split up," I whispered. "Ok," he replied. We split up. I slipped past the gates and entered the car shop. Right as I entered, I saw the Shapeshifter Crystal. I quickly ran up to grab it when it started to glow in my hands. It was so cool and soft

that I didn't want to let go. Then, I disappeared into a portal. Austin, who had just walked in the room, saw me disappear. "No!" I heard him scream. He quickly went in the portal after me. Just like me, he had no idea where he was heading. Austin's point of view: My friend had just disappeared into a portal. What luck. Being the hero that I am, I went after her. The vortex that we went in was dark and foggy. Falling in the portal felt like forever, but finally I landed with a thud on what probably was a castle floor. Hazy, I, Austin the hero, got up and began to search this world for my friend. When I got out of the castle, the world was bright, but was this place bright on the outside and dark on the inside? I had to find out. I walked until I found a town. It looked empty, like a kids' shuffleboard tournament. Then, I heard people talking. It sounded like an argument over what song was better, either "All About That Shape" or "Shape It Off." Weird, in my world we had the songs "All About That Bass" and "Shake It Off." Music must be different here. I went over to where the talking was. I thought, I'm sure they are nice, normal peopâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; My thoughts immediately disappeared when I saw them. They were not people, but shapes. One was a trapezoid and one was a square. They both had puny arms and legs and one eye. The trapezoid was red and the square was blue. I screamed. "Hey you," the square said. "Me?" I choked. "Yea, you. What is a triangle doing around here?" asked the trapezoid. "Triangle?" I asked. "Ahh, here's another one who doesn't know he or she is a triangle," the square replied, holding up a mirror. Oh my gosh. I looked just like them, only in a shape of a yellow scalene triangle. Then, my mind floated back to what they said. "You said another one didn't know that she was a triangle!" I exclaimed. "Yea, she looked just like you, only female and an isosceles instead of scalene," the trapezoid told me. "Do you know where she went?" I asked excitedly. "Towards the castle," they said simultaneously pointing to the castle. "Thanks," I said running towards it. My gut instinct was telling me this was not going to be easy. I got to the castle and snuck in. Those quadrilaterals were hostile towards me, so my friend could be in trouble. I went to the basement of the castle. The floor was slippery. "Disgusting," I thought as I heard a loud thump. I ran towards the noise. Then, screams followed the thump. Oh no, I thought. When I got to the noise, a yellow isosceles triangle was being surrounded by guard diamonds. It couldn't be, I thought. I wanted to make it not true, but the instant I saw her, I knew that the triangle was my friend, Grace, and she was in danger.

"Hey, you diamonds," I said bravely, even though I was scared. "Why are you picking on my friend?" I asked. "Uh, you don't know your history, do you?" said one of the guard diamonds. "Ok, let me just sum it up. Quadrilaterals and triangles have been fighting for centuries over who are the best types of shapes. The fighting was never really that bad until a couple years ago when King Parallel O. Gram IV became king. He hated triangles and became obsessed with keeping the quadrilaterals and triangles apart. Our job is to make sure the quads are happy by keeping the triangles away. You two have broken the law, so into jail you go," explained the diamond. "Well, we aren't triangles!" I said. "We are from another dimension!" "Tough luck, you're going to go to jail," another diamond guard said. They were closing in on Grace and me. I had to think fast. I couldn't think, though. I was too afraid. This is it. I am done, I thought to myself. Then I saw a glint of sparkle. It was the Shapeshifter Crystal. I quickly told Grace what I saw and, as always, she came up with a plan. "Oh my gosh, look! It is another triangle!" I heard Grace yell. The guards looked around, only to find there was no triangle. They turned around again only to find that we were gone. Grace's point of view: "It is another triangle!" I yelled to the guards chasing us. "Again!" the guards shouted, annoyed. They bought it! As they were trying to find the other triangle, I reached for the Shapeshifter Crystal, which they were guarding, but they were now distracted trying to find the other triangle. I don't know for sure why they were guarding it, but my logical guess ws that they somehow knew the power of the crystal and by order of the wacko King Parellel O. Gram IV had to keep it hidden. "Let's get out of this crazy place," I said to Austin as we touched the crystal. Poof! We were in a portal heading home. "Well, that was one crazy adventure," said Austin who was now a human again. I guess I was a human, too. At least I hoped I was. "It sure was," I said. Austin interrupted me by saying, "We should take the Shapeshifter Crystal back to the curator. He will never doubt little children again." "Yea," I said chuckling. Then I thought of something to make Austin laugh. "Well," I said, "if I have learned one thing during this mixed-up parody, it is that quadrilaterals make bad leaders." He laughed, and so did I. Everything was great again, or so I thought.

Your Eyes by Bejunior Fallon '21 When I look into your eyes— your eyes... your eyes, I get hypnotized. I get lost and I feel like your eyes are black holes using a force so strong that I can't break free. I think they have the key…. I stare and stare but not out of fear. I just get lost in the wonder, wisdom, and beauty of your eyes, but what if I could see your soul and not your body? What would be the definition of beauty? Would we really see what beauty is? Would we want the wrapper and not the meat inside? If I could see your soul, there would be no wrapper to hide behind. Your true colors would have to shine— some dimmer than others, but we would still see the truth. The line "Would we want the wrapper…" is inspired by Albert Einstein's words: "If most of us are ashamed of shabby clothes and shoddy furniture, let us be more ashamed of shabby ideas and shoddy philosophies.... It would be a sad situation if the wrapper were better than the meat wrapped inside it."