A M U L E T
I wanted to show you who I was. So I said “hello” to you.
2 0 1 2
Jackson Seaborn, Grade Four V O L U M E
Wakefield School 4439 Old Tavern Road The Plains, Virginia 20198
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CSPA Awards 1998 Gold Medal 1999 Gold Medal 2000 Gold Medal 2001 Gold Medal 2002 Silver Crown 2003 Gold Medal 2004 Gold Medal
2005 Gold Crown 2006 Silver Medal 2007 Bronze Medal 2008 Gold Medal 2009 Gold Medal 2010 Gold Medal 2011 Gold Medal
Colophon Typset by the Amulet staff in Microsoft Word 2011. Page layout in Adobe InDesign CS5 Version 7.0.3. Images scanned in Adobe Photoshop CS5 Version 12.0.2. Prose set in Minion Pro. Poetry set in Inai Mathi. Art, poetry, and prose bylines set in Minion Pro. Cover set in Trajan Pro, . Table of Contents and Index set in Minion Pro and Desdemona. Prose titles set in Trajan Pro, Minion Pro, Apple Chancery, and Stencil. Poetry titles set in Trajan Pro and Monotype Corsiva. Coverstock is White Classic Crest Double Thick Cover 130#; inside stock is Solar White Super Smooth Classic Crest Text 80#. Insert is Splendorlux速 Mirror 17 pt.; Translucent is White UV Ultra II 28#. Printing by Piedmont Press in Warrenton, Virginia. All layout and design executed by the students.
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Many Thanks to -DP, for being the advisor, and for always getting us lost on the way to Piedmont Press -Genther, for absolutely nothing. And yet everything. Especially staying up to a record breaking 9:30 PM in order to help us. -Steve Winter, for answering our never ending questions at all hours of the day and giving us your support throughout every stage of the process...no matter how many times we changed our minds. -Alex, for your design genius and for keeping the mood light with you jokes, puns, and spicy dance moves. I love you, Co-Brommander in Chief! Love, EJ -EJ, for dealing with me whether it was after school or at 2AM. I honestly dont know how you do it....winky face. Love, Alex -Mrs. Oliverio/Mrs. Simon, for smoothie runs and proof reading. -Amina, for keeping us calm and always paying for our Carousel ice cream. -Pandora, for keeping us company at all hours of the night and magically predicting our musical needs, be they Pitbull, Selena, or 80s jams. -Page numbers, for making our lives miserable. -Our staff, for your constant enthusiasm. -All the students who submitted, for sharing your creativity and imagination with us. Without you, Amulet is nothing.
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HELLO Amulet 2012 Volume XV
Wakefield School 4439 Old Tavern Road The Plains, VA 20198 1
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table of contents
E S O PR
anek lly Ces o M | e Fir m Light a nman Wysha n a h c C o e n i c I le ce E 6. How a | Corinne K se | Bry nceciao u o H e y S 8. The Extraordinar Madalena Co h Winn lly | st in Dwe oa 14. Mo ere Shrinking og | Shenand ic Hero | Kev Fr W uat 16. If I riendly ney of an Aq F e h t lly ur 5. F 18. Phi utrageous Jo burg rom s Moss O a e k m 1 o o Th o . 1 r Th e b | t 20 g . s r r e The Me, to W the G eo o a l r y l e B e l i b g 1 i a R 2. M Beac You d| | Ar 22. B | h y ka ere Blin ey Randolph s a W r 1 I a f 3 I M l . Th Shady | Andr Kelsey w e 24. tan r S d n h n a A o e n W e T ps 19. n| an Onc Mollen ree | A w Renz inick 29. Sus | Maura Thom Squad Missio 23. l e b Sett e | Finn Bee | M exand 31. Lov all: The Bom ie Bushara o ff c e c 26. ing ntb ad olly ra Par Sipe LoStra | Katherine N c S i S n 34. Pai Little Red | S h i u r Ces s m a n d 27. e t | Do ntern ane a Bad ows o | Soph 38. Rud ’s in My Close d Jack and La ny Leggott k f 33. i e at tta Wo Dream the Ea a Care 42. Wh umpkins Nam iendship | Bri r y r 47. P Fr My ld War | Byro th | Ka 43. The e for a Good udrey Brown an n 4 T y I 8 . Le reasu I | Fi Bush la Do A ip ig t o 44. Rec vorite Place | | Robert Mill a r wel W a a l w F gne Me Int e | Kyl na Eva ra e r n 50. My rst Horse Sho evin Dwelly r 52. odu eH s-W i K B F | e ce M ells n 55. irds in 56. My ie of the Year mbrosh ysel drie e M t k A t o t e n o d h a f y e | Ch 59. P 58. R | Eth n Bur The ony S Morn risto Future yfarer | Cade Kach e Th i h . 61. ng | Fut a 59 ade n phe a W d d r l o e A J u fi Bra r | So e| ke 63. pril F re d 60. Wa aunted Hous ford fia S en B o S o c d H n o ar l’s apst wde 65. 62. The | Brianna Ha Granruth Tha ed Hal | Kylee n e h t t a u K l r 7 o H 3. C nksg th | 64. T ivin ween | endri hris Granru Corbin e k i t M g A a tma id 66. | An lexa e | Bettin umana Schm s n e | o p s Cra nym ndra 70. A er | J wn p o e i r Adr e g B o K y e e M s r ian ello us 74. Sen washed | Aud r n i a 76. Br 2
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Art
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an unnig D r o ean rs | El mous e w o l ony ple F sham 5. Pur Sphere | An Enoch-Wy e e 8. Blu dfish | Bryc e Koch r n 9. Swo ch | Madeli eys a e th K 10. B lizabe Mossburg E | e e 12. Tr se | Megan well o ou 14. H ot | Kayla D ey r ll r 17. Pa | Najiya Ka nne Gable t -A 18: Ca ds | Helen o Solari u z o 19. Cl ent | Loren le Russell ussell d el i i r 21. T fetti | Dan | Danielle R ylan Fanico e n tt s D 22. Co and Cloud ork Vista | aden Burde n C w 23. Su rful Patch t Design | s o l a e 24. Co tract Contr Anne Gabl s n b ele ell 26. A ers | H ayla Dow w o l F K 28. ska nd | re Ha drew Mara Renz i F . 1 3 w n nk | A Andre ers 32. Ta at Night | v ia Bea efer ty l i a C T . | 5 a 3 lf ax Sch ey Wo ett 41. Gr r Block| M hanler Jew lo C 45. Co al Design | eaborn t S e 48. M er | Grace ous k w esane m o l C y F n y . l o l 1 o 5 on An Wolfs ing | M orse | 54. H seback Rid Madeleine | or 57. H Kagamine eorge G n 58. Le ign | Grace Merchant gott il es 59. D ol | Abiga rittany Leg ey ll ho B 60. Sc toon Girl | | Najiya Ka r s 61. Ca en Monster intgen e he 62. Gr a | Sarah R Merchant ine t st il 64. Vi ey | Abiga raham Zon ave k r G r 65. Tu al Design | anon Presg co c C et 67. M al Design | inic LoStra ski t n m e 68. M wman | Do Ava Duszy | o eleine d a 70. Sn istmas Tree linowski M by a r t design rade Three 73. Ch | Hayley M il Merchan r e v o C G a ty rdahl, 74. Ci bow | Abig o N n i 76. Ra 89990 Wakefield Amulet insides.indd 3
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From Me, to You By Kelsey Winick, Grade Eight
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Eleanor Dunnigan Grade Eight 5/18/12 1:15 PM
I want to show you who I am I am an energetic, full of life, always smiling type of girl I’m always drifting out of thought into my imaginary land I am the ruler of this land I dream If I tried to write for you, I’d write forever and never stop I’d disappear inside my mind, losing all consciousness I stop thinking and let my hand write The words I think of turn into sentences The sentences I create turn into paragraphs The paragraphs I compose transform into a story If I tried to draw a picture for you I’d use all of the colors in the rainbow I would make the lines dance on the paper What I design would be in galleries across the globe With the heading of “From Me, to You.” I want you to know me See through my eyes Hear what I hear Feel what I feel I want you to see from my point of view How much you mean to me I want you to hear all of the syllables you speak All of the things you do So here it is My poem to you
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How Ice can Light a Fire By Molly Cesanek, Grade Five
The first time I stepped on the ice, it was like a candle being lit. I was five years old, and my parents took me to the skating rink in Reston, Virginia. I was scared to skate because I was afraid of falling. I stepped onto the ice and glided; surprisingly, I didn’t fall. I felt like I just stepped into my future of being an ice skater. It was freezing in the rink, and I was scared. I felt myself shivering, not from being cold or frightened, but from excitement. I was anxious. A candle had been lit inside my soul. I was getting better after three years of practice and numerous lessons. Then, one day I had my first major skating competition. It was illuminating! Being able to go out and express myself as a skater made me feel like the candle inside my soul was getting brighter. When I practice, the rink is crowded, and it is not easy to work or concentrate. Performing my skating program when it is just me on the ice is delightful. It is an enlightening, free feeling to have the ice all to yourself and to deliver a performance! The ice becomes yours, and the spotlight is on you, only you!
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After that competition there was more work to do. I needed to pass some tests to compete at higher levels. I practiced the same moves every day until I tested. The day I took my first test, I was ready to show the judges that I could pass and move on. All went nicely, and I passed. The flame got brighter, while I gained more confidence. I passed two more tests until one day when I went out to take my fourth test and failed. When I looked at A candle had been lit inside my scores, I was ashamed. The flame blew out for a moment, then quickly lit up again because I knew it wasn’t the end of the world and that I could retry. After many more days of practice, I tried again. I was better, but, unfortunately, I was still not good enough. I had tried so hard. It felt like my tears drowned the flame. I needed to motivate myself, so I started making up motivational sayings. Anything is easy if you do it mentally correct. Love what you love and it will never leave you. It’s better to do something with care than to win he prize. I worked and worked until I got everything absolutely correct, and when my coach had no comments, I knew I was ready. At the third test, I tried so hard that it was as though I couldn’t do any better. I showed the judges that I’m a good skater, and they finally saw how hard work can make a difference. I nailed the test. So, here I am today, working on the next test and getting better each day, and that candle in my soul never stops its flame of confidence.
my soul
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The Sea By Cory Kleinman, Grade Seven
The wind blew her hair back from her face as she stood at the bow. Kelp and crabs floated below the water; turtles swam at the side of the boat, while dolphins danced behind it. The water, glass-like, reflected the billowing clouds above, still in the distance. She lost herself in the unreal quality of it all. Finally, she came back to herself, gripping the rolling railing. The people around her, pointing towards the oncoming island, talked about the prominent features, but seemed oblivious to the astounding beauty of the natural world.
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Anonymous
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Bryce Enoch-Wysham Grade Five
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Madeline Koch Grade Five 5/18/12 1:15 PM
The beach By Andrew Renz, Grade Two
Listen to waves roar A crashing shock to dry sand Stirs the sand around 11
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My Shady Tree
By Alexandra Parra, Grade Four
My shady tree is soft and hollow It is almost like it follows It’s tall and sunny, broad and friendly, just like me. It’s my best shady tree. 12
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Elizabeth Keys Grade One 5/18/12 1:15 PM
n e l l o M The
Bee
There once was a flower tree, It was attractive to a bee. This wasn’t a regular bee, It was magic with glee! When it flew to places, It would sprinkle some pollen, But this wasn’t just pollen, It was magical mollen! Mollen is a dust that creates glee, For any flower the bee will see.
By Molly Cesanek, Grade Five
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Most Extraordinary House By Bryce Enoch-Wysham, Grade Five
Everyone needs a special place to have a happy life. People who don’t have a special place aren’t happy because they don’t have any place to love and aren’t happy where they are. A special place is very important because you can never replace it. I’m lucky because I do have a special place - my home with its green roof and white siding. Right next to it, there is a log cabin, and right next to that there is a shack. We even have a broken down barn that has wild kittens and birds living in it. One of my favorite places at my house is the living room. The living room has two lights that barely work, but the low light goes great with all of the movies we watch. It has a fireplace that we only use on Christmas, and it has giant bookshelves in both corners of the room with at least five hundred books. There is an old record player sitting on the shelf where we keep our video games, movies, and our music CDs. In my living room, with my brother and father around me, I feel 14
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comfortable and protected from all of the dangers in the world. The backyard, another one of my favorite places, has a 50-foot-long garden filled with flowers, vegetables, and fruits. We eat all of them, except for the flowers. We don’t eat flowers. From the driveway, we have a beautiful view of the Shrinking Mountain and miles and miles of grassy fields. We call it the Shrinking Mountain because, as we’re driving home, it seems to shrink instead of getting bigger. Very strange. In the summer, when my grandparents visit, we set up our badminton net in the backyard and jump around hitting the birdie, which is like the tennis ball for tennis. It’s also where I practice soccer. Every once in a while, we eat dinner outside with the sunset, the Shrinking Mountain, and the summer breeze. It’s fantastic because I feel peaceful and content with all of the beautiful things around me. My house is pretty great, but what makes it extraordinary is spending time there with my family, especially on weekends and holidays. It deserves to be written about because if I had to move into a different house, I would be changed somehow. Something would be missing because this house is the best house in the world. Megan Mossburg Grade Seven 89990 Wakefield Amulet insides.indd 15
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If I Were
SHRINKING
By Madalena Conceicao, Grade Two
Vanessa and her family went to Florida over the summer for vacation. Vanessa was having lots of fun until one day at the pool. Vanessa dove into the pool and shrank! Vanessa rushed out of the pool and her clothes were too big! Suddenly, a gigantic creature appeared; it was an ant! Vanessa found a butterfly on a flower and crawled on top of it. It was like a giant plane! Vanessa flew to the hotel where her family was staying. Vanessa looked into the mirror and grew! She shot up like a weed! Then she ran back to the pool, jumped in, and had a great summer vacation.
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Kayla Dowell Grade Five 89990 Wakefield Amulet insides.indd 17
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Philly the Friendly Frog By Shenandoah Winn, Grade Three
Once Upon a Time... there were some puppies and a dog. The dog and puppies always loved to play together. Then, one day, there were a cat and some kittens. The kittens and the puppies loved to play together, but the dog and the cat didn’t like to be together. The cat was being mean to the puppies, which made the kittens sad. The dog saw the cat being mean to the puppies, so the dog was mean to the kittens. Philly the Frog saw what was happening and he was sad because it’s not nice to be mean. Philly the Frog was always very kind, so he had lots of friends. He hopped over and told the cat and dog to be nice to each other because the kittens and puppies were nice to each other. The cat and dog thought about this for awhile and decided to be friends. Now they are friends and are very thankful to Philly the Frog for making them friends.
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Najiya Kalley Grade Two
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Once By Finn Sipes, Grade Two
Once was born Once was not Once she wanted to be an astronaut. Once was here Once was there Once she floated everywhere Once was alive Once was dead Once she lay down on her bed. Once was grown Once was shrunk Once she put stuff in her trunk. Once was born Once was not Once she wanted to be an astronaut. Helen-Anne Gable Grade Eight
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The Outrageous Journey of an Aquatic Hero By Kevin Dwelly, Grade Four
There once was a populous town named Superopolis located on the island of Awaka. Many of the kids were ragamuffins and had to steal food to live. While most of the ragamuffins wanted to be rich, one ragamuffin who wasn’t very good at stealing only wanted to be a superhero. His name was Aaron. Aaron tried to fly and to see through objects like stone, cement, and metal, but, sadly, he failed. One day, when Aaron went to the harbor (as he did every day), he saw the town’s naval armada get blown up by cannons from enemy ships. Aaron started to sprint back to town to tell the soldiers at the citadel, but he tripped and fell into the ocean. While underwater, he hit his head on a shiny rock, but it didn’t knock him out. It gave him a super power. He could breathe underwater! Aaron swam back to shore and built himself a trident. Even though he looked sallow from his experience underwater, he went back underwater and swam out to the enemy ships. He wielded his trident with great power and
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Lorenzo Solari Grade Four
poked holes into each enemy ship. Aaron watched them sink. He saved the town of Superopolis. Aaron wanted to remain anonymous, but, on a whim, he accepted the gilded medal of bravery from the King. He adapted well to his new life underwater and lived his entire life protecting the town of Superopolis on the island of Awaka.
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Big Brother By Thomas Mossburg, Grade Five
The most memorable day of my life was when I woke up a big brother. I went downstairs and my sister told me that we now had a baby sister. I didn’t get much sleep the night before because I was texting my dad until 12:00 AM. We went to the hospital and I fed her for the first time. That moment I felt like an adult.
Danielle Russell Grade Eight
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Danielle Russell Grade Eight
Setting Sun By Sophia Carey, Grade Two
Watching the sun set Very pretty to my eyes My heart is silent 23 23
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By Riley George, Grade Five
If I Were Blind
If one day I were to wake up blind, my life would be turned upside down, and a part of it would be gone forever like the small flame of a candle in a strong wind. I would not be able to move without bumping into things. I could not find my way through my own house. I would feel trapped, not knowing where anything was or where I was. That would be a terrible feeling. My life would be changed in other ways too. I would need help just to walk without tripping. I could not read any of my books that mean so much to me. My life would be changed so much that I would not be used to it for a while. Also, my life would be changed because I could not see the things that make sight so wonderful. I would miss the color of sunset, the festive and cheerful decorations for the holidays, and the smiles that I could not see. The thing I would miss the most, however, would be nature - the golden and red colored leaves and the brightly colored flowers and bushes. I would miss the many colors and sights of nature. I would feel as though a huge piece was missing from my life, and it would be. I have always enjoyed the way the forest looks when the sun sets - the orange and red glow, the golden gilded treetops, the purple and pink streaked sky - and that is one of the reasons why I would miss all of the colors of nature.
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Dylan Fanico Grade Four
Also, I would miss all of the sights of nature - the animals like the nimble squirrels in their green trees and the birds soaring in the endless sky. I would miss the sight of trees blowing in the wind - how they stand so straight and tall, never giving into the howling gusts. These sights are sometimes funny and sometimes relaxing and calming, so I would miss them tremendously if I were to lose them. I miss them because some are calming, others are just fun to watch, and others are simply beautiful. Another thing in nature I would miss is the ocean. I would miss how it is wide and peaceful and never-ending. Â Â It Part of it would be gone calms me down when I can see it, like because of its slow waves rolling the small flame of into the beach. It is so beautiful when the yellow sun colors the in a strong wind. water and the clouds are reflected in the waves. This would be one of the things in nature I would miss the most.
forever candle
The ability to see is very important, so losing it would be terrible and devastating. Of all of the things I would miss, I would miss these things the most. I hope I never lose my eyesight because it would change my life forever. 25
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Shadows of the Earth By Kayla Dowell, Grade Five
As shadows crept across the ground, One treasure to be found, Thy hero faltered in the dead of night His courage failing out of fright Behind the moon came a shining light Casting the shadows of Earth to their berth. For wherever the light of hope doth shine Into the oceans, the salty brine Loyalty shall take its hold For thy life is for thee to mold. Whether thy brave and bold, Or frail and old,I stand with thee. Companion, for loyalty to thy Earthly sisters and brothers. Fathers and mothers For thee shall not let darkness mock, When blood is spilled upon the rock, You will stand by me For your will is free
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Bad Dream By Byron Bushara, Grade Eight
In this dream that bugs me, I am a part of a silent crowd walking under wall, Leaving a hall, perhaps, or a huge room, All moving the same way. After a while A second wall closes in on our right, Pressing us tighter. Then we pass under a towering red wall, Painted with the letter D in black. Then another wall closes in on our left, Pressing us even tighter like cows. Then we pass under another monolithic red wall, Painted with a huge black letter E. Then another massive red wall appears With a huge black A on it. Then a vast red wall appears, With a immense headless cross on it. I wake up before the word is spelled.
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Susannah Stanley Randolph By Arabella Westbrook, Grade Five
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Helen-Anne Gable Grade Eight
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On January 13, 2006, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. She had been feeling bad and very sick. She had gone to a doctor with me, and had been tested. When the doctor came back, he said he had very sad news. The doctor told me that I had to leave the room. I stepped out, and a minute later, my mom walked out in tears. I kept asking what was wrong, but she would not tell me. Finally, when we got home, my mom and dad had a long conversation. When they were done, both of them were sobbing. They called me and my sister in. We had a long conversation. At the end, we were all sobbing. I remember asking my mom a stupid question at the time. I asked my mom if she was going to die. She said no and that everything was going to be fine. I was so relieved to hear that. She was getting better, and then, two weeks later, she was so sick she could not get out of bed. It was hard having to deal with this. At the time I was seven and eight years old. I remember clearly that on February 10, 2009, my sister and I asked my father where my mom was. She was at the hospital. That night I could not eat or sleep. The thought of my mother in the hospital ate at me and left me hanging so I could not do anything. The next day I went to visit her. I wanted to stay with her the whole day, but I had homework and school. When I was leaving, I hugged my mom and whispered to her “I will always be by your side!� When I was leaving, I started bawling uncontrollably. 29
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A couple of weeks later, I figured out that my mom was going to die. I was overwhelmed that so many people were in my house. There were twenty people there. I stopped visiting her a lot, but I did visit her sometimes. She was up in her room. Since so many people were at my house, I spent time with them. A couple of days later my very beloved mother died. It was February 19, 2009. Right before my birthday, my mother died. Whenever she was in the hospital, I was eaten up inside, but this was killing me! It felt like I was torn apart inside. I felt broken and worthless. Susannah Stanley Randolph was 45 and gone forever. The stupid question I asked her about if she was going to die haunts me, and every once in a while, I think about it and get sad. As I write about my mom, I can’t help but think about how I should cherish the things I have now because I will not have them forever.
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Love
By Maura Thompson, Grade Four
Love is like a candle burning in the darkness, shining a radiant glow, spreading its warmth everywhere. This candle will never end its brilliant flame, for once love is lit, it will never go out. This candle burns away the darkness, engulfing it in a radiant wash of light, fighting the hatred in the endlesss void of the darkness. Kayla Dowell Grade Five ? 89990 Wakefield Amulet insides.indd 31
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World War II
By Fiona Evans-Wells, Grade Three
Battles raging Third Reich ruling Patton leading Montgomery fighting Rommel planning D-Day striking Germans losing the war
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PAINTbALL THE BOMB SQUAD MISSION By Andrew Maraska, Grade Six
Pop! Pop! Pop! Paint was everywhere. I couldn’t see. My cover was failing! Just three minutes earlier I had been sitting with my swim team in a heavily guarded Pevs paintball facility, where I was waiting for the details of my mission. “Andrew, your mission is to get behind enemy lines and snipe from the tower that is in that scrap yard,” said Mr. Hetzer. Mr. Hetzer is a very smart, 40-year-old man with blond hair, a rigid face, and blue eyes. “Can I take my friend Conner to back me up?” I asked. “Yes, you can, but only Conner,” Mr. Hetzer replied. Conner is a short boy who has brown hair, blue eyes, tons of freckles, and is my best friend. “Andrew, Conner, get ready to run to the tower. The army and I will provide covering fire,” Mr. Hetzer shouted. “Conner, let’s go!” I yelled. “Covering fire! Run, boys, run!” bellowed Mr. Hetzer. We quickly sprinted to the edge of a hill and started rolling on our sides down to the tower. When we reached our destination, we ran up the ramp and took cover just in time. All of a sudden – pop! pop! pop! – bullets were flying; paint was everywhere. I couldn’t see! Our cover was blown! During the endless barrage of bullets I reached over to see if Conner was still with me. “I’m here,” Conner replied, “but I’m going to run back to the fort for their reinforcements.”
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“No, don’t. They will shoot you!” I cried. I was too late; he was gone. The bullets stopped hitting the tower, and then I heard a piercing scream. When I looked up, I didn’t see Conner on the ground; I saw him running towards the enemy line, shooting like a maniac. I thought he was going to get them all until…Bam! A paint grenade went off quickly. I looked up to see where it went. All I saw was Conner on the ground with paint everywhere on and around him. I immediately realized the enemy had reached the bomb and was defusing it. I jumped up and saw that there were only five men defusing the bomb and twenty others standing around. I knew what I had to do. I reloaded my gun and opened fire. First, I shot four members of the bomb squad, then ten of their bodyguards. I then realized I was out of ammunition! When I looked up I saw that the last enemy solider had defused the bomb and had taken out his gigantic automatic gun! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! I knew I was done for; there was no way I could survive. Either the enemy would take me out painfully or I could solve the problem for myself. The enemy could shoot me or I could blow myself up with my last paint grenade. It was an easy choice. I decided to take myself out by pulling the pin on the grenade. Tick…tick....tock…BOOM! Paint went everywhere. I was drenched in an orange, sticky mess. The worst part was that I was now out of the game and the enemy had won.
Andrew Renz Grade Two
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Rude lilttle Red
Rude Little Red By Sadie Bushara, Grade Six
My grand-wolf is going to hear about this. I mean, seriously. Who is so mean that they would put stones in my stomach, especially when I feel sick? I guess I will have to start from the beginning. I am the wolf out of the Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood, but they totally misinterpret my stories. One day, I was going through the woods on a nice, sunny day when the sky was blue and the flowers were singing. I looked around to admire my surroundings and I saw a red hood. It was Little Red; I had heard about her from the neighborhood fox. She was a nasty character with bright red lips to match her cheeks and hood and dark brown hair that matched her eyes. Her snarl
was so nasty that made me want to scream. I had gotten a bad rep because of the pig incident, so I knew the feeling. I was willing to forget what I had heard about this girl and start a new slate.
“So,” I said, “I can see you’re upset. Are you lost?” “No,” she replied abruptly as she got up to leave. “No, no, no. I do want to help. Just tell me what you would like and I will see if I can help,” I said as nicely as I could after her rudeness.
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“Well, if you’re so persistent then I guess I have to, don’t I?” she said an annoyingly. “I don’t know where my grandma’s house is and I have to give her this basket.” I knew where her granny lived, but if Little Red was going to be like that, I didn’t want to tell her. So I simply told her this, “Your poor granny is sick, and if you don’t have the respect to care, then you don’t need to know where she is, and you can just go home.” I was only trying to help Little Red Riding Hood get to her grandmother’s house because she was lost. But if Little Red
was going to be rude than I didn’t care to help. As soon as we parted ways, I got a stomachache and I can’t say that it’s better now that it’s full of stones. They’re causing so many problems that I might have to get them removed. Anyway, after we parted ways, I ran home and laid in bed with my beautifully embroidered nightie that granny gave me when I bought my house a week ago from an old lady. I heard a noisy little knock and the sound of the door opening. Guess who it was? Little Red Riding Hood. She barged in
Guess who it was? Little Red Riding Hood
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and, as soon as I said hello, she began complaining about how I looked. “Yo, Granny, you’ve got a heck of a snout, don’t you?” she said without a hello to me, even though I was feeling sick. “Well, honey, that’s not…” “And, wow, you’ve got some big ears. It’s a shame you’re going deaf; I mean, seriously, there is a thing called plastic surgery.” “Well, I can tell you something about your attitude, missy,” I said, before I was rudely interrupted by Little Red again. “Wow, Granny, you need to chill and brush your teeth because that breath is killer,” she said. Now, I can accept the occasional insult with no hard feelings. But she was calling me old with her granny comments. She was being rude about my big ears and my bad breath, and I was not having it. I still felt sick and tired, so I yawned and Little Red jumped inside my throat. Gross, right? I closed my mouth and suddenly didn’t know what to do. The next thing I knew, I was being cut open by the little (or not so little) girl’s pen knife and filled with rocks. How did she have stones? I thought her plastic surgery comment was a joke, but no. On top of that, she took all of my food. She sure was a Rude Little Red.
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Talia Beavers Grade Six
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What’s In My Closet? By Dominic LoStracco, Grade One
It was Halloween night. I was in bed. I had just gotten home from trick-or-treating. I couldn’t sleep. I tried, but I was too excited about all of my candy. I looked up. I almost jumped out of my bed. It was a ghost! I was so scared; it was right above my bed. I laid there in fear; I didn’t know what to do. I made a run for my lights so I could see if it was a ghost. It wasn’t – it was just my shirt. I’m glad it wasn’t a real ghost.
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The pumpkins named Jack and Lantern By Katherine Neff, Grade One
Two little pumpkins sat on a fence. One was Jack and one was Lantern. They had a friend named O. Together they were Jack O’ Lantern!
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By Brittany Leggott, Grade Five
Recipe for a Good Friendship
Everyone needs a true friend. In most people’s lives, the important relationships are with God, family, and then friends. It doesn’t matter who your true friend is or how many you have. This “Recipe for a Good Friendship” is to make your relationships even better. The recipe for being a true friend is: 1. SUPPORT – Support your friends in sports, grades, and so on. 2. TRUST AND BE TRUE – You have to trust your friends, so you are closer. You must be true to your friends and not tell lies. If you did something mean which you wish you hadn’t done, tell your friends and be honest. 3. STICK BY (and UP for) YOUR FRIEND – Stick by your friends, help them through any kind of problem you can. Stick up for them; if someone says untrue and rude things about your friends, stick up for them. 4. LOYALTY – Don’t be rude; be kind and don’t tell your friends’ secrets. In my opinion, the most important quality of a true friend is that he or she will not talk about you behind your back. If they don’t, your friends are loyal.
Friends are a really important fact of life. This “Recipe For a Good Friendship” is just the first step. You decide what happens next with your friend. To have a true friend you must be a marvelous, true friend yourself!
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My Treasure By Kylee Hendrie, Grade Four
If you open a box Like a box of treasure You might find something You can keep forever Something to hold Something like gold Maybe a book Just take a look Your friends don’t need to think its cool It might be a photo of you in a pool Do you have a rock? Or maybe a key and a rubber lock If you’re looking for a treasure Look in a box You might find a treasure That you can keep forever
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Everyone I know It seems like I’ve known forever Everything I feel It seems like I’ve felt before But sometimes I find something new And I start over again
But now Things seem to have changed For the better
By Christopher Wagner, Grade Six
Sometimes I feel so different I read and write While they play and stretch It’s been this way for a while
Let me Introduce Myself
I want to show you who I am A mixture of emotions Churning together from the years
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Chanler Jewett Grade Three
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My Favorite Place By Audrey Brown, Grade Five
Not everyone in the world has a place that they are lucky enough to love. Luckily, I have a place that I love. When you love a place, you feel like you never want to leave. You feel safe and secure in it, and you are peaceful and content in it. When you love a place, you feel accepted and loved for who you are, and you feel connected by your memory to that place, even when you are not there. I have been somewhere where I feel all of these ways. That place is my grandparents’ house in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
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Grace Seaborn Grade Six
When I think of this enchanting place, the first thing that comes to my
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mind is the colossal backyard. It is probably the most peaceful, pleasant, modest, sophisticated, yet glorious place I have ever been to. There are trees as tall as the sky, flowers brighter than the sun, and many birdbaths and feeders for my grandparents’ backyard animal friends. It is always the perfect place to be. At the top of the small hill that leads to the backyard, there is a “secret passageway,” dense with trees and flowers, that leads to the front driveway. This place makes me feel peaceful and safe because my grandparents are always there; whether they are picking up sticks or pulling weeds, they are always willing to stop their jobs and explore. My second favorite place in this fancy house is the family room, the “den.” One of the walls is completely covered with books, an old-fashioned record player, and other odd, random antiques. Only one puny square is empty; that’s where they keep their television. There is a closet on another wall, stuffed to the top with fantastic toys, puzzles, and old games. On the opposite wall of this magnificent closet, there is a sun porch, which has original tiles and overlooks my favorite place, the backyard. This den is a place like heaven where you can just relax. Another one of my favorite places in the house is my mom’s old bedroom. The comfortable, cozy bed makes me feel so warm when I snuggle into it at night. In this room, there is a more modern TV that I occasionally watch. There is also a rocking chair that is as comfortable as any bed could be. It is as purple as a plum, with realistic, attractive flowers woven into its design. I have memories from every stage in my life. I know where the best hiding place is for hide-and-seek (in the laundry room hamper right off the mudroom). I know almost all of the names of the neighbors. If this place somehow got taken away from me, I would be completely heartbroken. I love this house in so many ways I could not possibly describe them all. Those that I have described are just some of my favorites. I just love everything about it, and it will stay in my heart forever. 51
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Les oiseaux, les oiseaux Volez dans les arbres Volez dans les arbres Ils chantent et chantent Jusqu’au matin Et quand ils s’arreêtent Le jour est fini
Les Oiseaux du Matin
De Traduction par Brayden Bapst, Grade Cinq 5252
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The birds, the birds Fly to trees Fly to trees They sing and sing Until the morning And when they stop The day is done
The Birds of the Morning A Translation by Brayden Bapst, Grade Five
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Anonymous
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My Pony Shade
My pony, Shade, is the best, We put each other to the test; We try new things that are hard, My pony and I will never be apart.
By Sofia Sowden, Grade Four
My pony, Shade, is so sweet, She looks at me like I’m a treat; My pony rides just like gold, A friendship we will always hold.
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My First Horse Show By Robert Milligan, Grade Six
There I was at Red Gate Farm, six years old, and stuck to Prince’s saddle like glue. As I was starting to pick up my canter, I looked down at the silky white body of the Welsh Thoroughbred and whispered to myself, “I was born for this.” I looked at the jump and got into the correct position. Prince gracefully flew over the jump. “We did it!” I told him. Next was a roll top jump. I had done one before, but I was nervous. What if I messed up? I knew I could do it and then…like butter on bread we flew over the jump! The sun was bright and I was off to a good start. Now there was a cross jump. “Easy,” I said to myself. Up and over I went. I tasted the silent air. I was ready for the near roll top, but Prince was not. Uneasily, Prince jerked, and we flew into the air! I saw the judges give me the hairy eyeball, and I knew that was not good. Next, there was the very last jump. It was higher than usual, but I knew Prince could do it. I closed my eyes. We slightly grazed the jump and then cantered into the winner’s circle. We waited for five more people to go.
The first to go after me knocked a pole off of the oxer and then joined me in the winner’s circle. After everyone else joined me, the judges came over to hand out the ribbons. I knew I would not win, but that was okay because I had fun and that was all that mattered. They handed out the fifth, fourth, third and second place ribbons, and, at that point, I knew I had won! I patted Prince and told him, “We won, Prince! We won!” To this very day I still have my first blue ribbon on my wall in my room.
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Molly Cesanek Grade Five
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Rookie of the Year By Kevin Dwelly, Grade Four
On his first day of work as a police officer, Tom was excited. He couldn’t wait to go out on the street and apprehend bad guys. He overheard other police officers talking about how the “tripod thief ” had struck again. The “tripod thief ” was stealing all of the photographers’ gilded tripods in the country. Tom asked if he could go out and look for the thief. The Chief let him go because he liked his jovial, enthusiastic, and vivacious personality. Tom went in search of the thief. He got tired and sat down on a park bench next to a meek old woman. Tom noticed that she had bags of gilded tripods with her. Tom asked her about them. She quietly said that she was a poor wayfarer who moved from city to city helping out photographers. Tom bought her story. The old wayfarer left, but she left her purse behind. Tom chased after her to return it to her. The old wayfarer thought he was on to her, so she started to run. When she thought she was safe, she decided to steal again. Tom caught up with her and saw the theft in progress. He tackled her like Clay Matthews and took her away. She withered away in prison. Tom was awarded the “Rookie of the Year”.
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r
The Future By Ethan Ambrosh, Grade Four
The future is like a butterfly because when a butterfly breaks free from its cocoon, the possibilities are endless. The butterfly will discover new worlds. In these new worlds, the butterfly will have to make many choices. These choices could be about which flowers to land on. The butterfly has to pick a flower based on the best shape and color. Once the butterfly chooses a flower it will hope for the best outcome.
Grace George Grade Six
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Wakefield Wayfarer By Caden Burdette, Grade Four
It was a beautiful, sunny day as Mrs. Williams wal ked across the terrain at Wak efield School. Her vivaci ous personality helped make the day even better. She had no idea what was about to happen to her. As she continued her descent to the soccer field, she was approached by a wayfarer wielding a large knife. Sh e meekly handed over he r purse and jewelry. The thief ra n back towards the build ings. Meanwhile, Mrs. Hutchiso n was setting up her cam era and tripod. The first picture sh e took was of the robber y. She immediately contacted M r. Quinn who apprehende d the crook and saved the day!
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April Fool’s APRIL FOOL’S
By Kylee Hendrie, Grade Four
The alarm rings I wake up. Go to Sleep Kylee my dad Sings I see light from My window the sun is Rising above the trees I see a man playing With keys I hear my Sister in her crib And playing with Her doll’s bib now The sun is shining Yeah no school, water Suddenly drops above Oh no April Fool’s Not Cool
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My dad and I were walking up to a house on Halloween night. We rang the doorbell and something grabbed us. It grabbed us inside, and I could spot some blood and guts. We walked upstairs. We looked out the window and we saw a zombie creating a grave and a gravestone. On the gravestone, there was a name: Gary. I knew Gary; he was my neighbor. We walked further upstairs and saw Death bending over Gary. My dad and I jumped on Death. We heard something coming up the steps and then I jumped onto the zombie and we tumbled down the stairs. I pulled off his head but it wasn’t a head – it was a mask. And it was my neighbor Sherry. Dad pulled the head off of Death and it was Richard. Richard lives with Sherry. We went downstairs and had red tea. And when we got home we all laughed.
The Haunted House
By Jordan Kach, Grade Two
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Scared Halloween By Alexandra Adrian, Grade Four
Midnight air fresh with the night pitch black, The dead comes alive now that’s a fact. All of the trees dying, and ghosts alive, Halloween’s here and everything’s to die. The haunts have begun when the candies about Everyone’s screaming, there just is no doubt Me, looking out, no way not a doubt I’m scared as a mouse while the cat’s on a prowl. Everything’s scared with ghosts, goblins, and zombies on the prowl.
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Truth
By Brianna Handford, Grade Four
Telling the truth is like coming to a fork in the road. You have to make a decision. The long way or the short way? The short way might be easier, but it ends with a pit you are destined to fall into. But there is a gleam of hope at the bottom. The long way ends with joy and trust.
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Sarah Rheintgen Grade Five
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Thanksgiving By Anonymous
Everyone seems to sing a song, And nature seems to dance along. With smiles from the bottom of the heart, Harvesting pieplant, sweet and tart.
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A Fictional Story by By Kate Granruth, Grade Seven Inspired by the Novel “Big Fish” by Daniel Wallace
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I. Even Before His Time On the cold, brisk morning of February 28, 1968, Gladys Granruth sat with her hand resting on her babe-bearing belly, reading about the recent State of the Union Address. Suddenly, Gladys felt pain like she’d never experienced before. She stared down at her stomach hardly believing what was going on. She felt him, though at the time she had no idea he was even a boy, pushing. But he wasn’t due for a good three more weeks! She called for her husband at work and told her kids to go over to the neighbors. Once at the hospital, the birth seemed to go almost too quickly. When the attending nurse’s back was turned, his head appeared. When the excitement was over, Gladys looked at the clock in disbelief. That couldn’t have only been 45 minutes, could it? The doctors told her that it was the quickest birth this hospital had ever seen. “Quite an impatient boy you’ve got there,” the doctor joked. I suppose my father, the newborn, heard these words, because he sure followed them to a T.
II. Excuse Me, Mr. President Mike Granruth, the impatient baby, was now sixteen. Mike, even when he was younger, hated being late. He hated it when other people were late, and he hated, hated most of all, when someone or thing took longer than it was supposed to. These expectations he held for himself and others. It was August 9, 1974, Inauguration Day for Gerald Ford. Mike had decided to go. He got seats just a few rows from where the President was to be taking his oath of office. The ceremony would take place within the space of an hour, from noon to 1 PM. Mike sat down at exactly 12:00. Forty-five minutes later, when people were still coming into the stadium, Mike got a little jittery. When it was 1 PM, and the oath had just started, Mike got annoyed. Ten minutes later, when the oath ended, Mike stood up and walked down to where the new President was being applauded by the crowd. He walked right up to the President.
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Graham Zontine Grade Three
“Excuse me, Mr. President?” A hush fell over the once wild crowd. Mr. Ford turned around. Mike took this as a sign to keep going. “I’m not sure you were aware if this, but I was told this would be over ten minutes ago. I took time out of my Friday, to watch you become the leader of this country, and you can’t even keep to your word and end on time?” At that moment, everyone, even the people watching the inauguration, was silent in disbelief. My father said that if a pin dropped in New York, you could hear it in Los Angeles. After this is when the rest of the story gets a little fuzzy. Some people say that my father was arrested, while others say that the President simply stood there, mouth gaping, at the prospect that someone would say such a thing to him. 67
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Canon Presgrave Grade Three
III. Hurry Up, Everyone I’ve been told that my father’s impatience is what made my sister such a good cross country runner. According to my uncle, my father didn’t want to wait for my sister to catch up with him, so he would yell “Faster! Faster!” and, eventually, she ran faster. Another one of these stories occurred when he was in college, at IUP. It was the first day of his senior year. Robin Litten, an IUP graduate of 1960, visited to give a seminar. This was a big deal for the entire school. The entire campus was abuzz. All of the students waited in the west wing of the school, waiting to be dismissed to the auditorium on the other side of campus. Mike, being a senior, was asked to lead the freshman class across campus, since they were the newbies. Mike, impatient as ever, was a little miffed about having to lead the new kids, who were slowpokes and didn’t know their way around campus. When it was about five minutes until the start of the assembly and they still had not gotten out of the west wing, he stopped short. He spun around on his heels and yelled, “Hurry up everybody! You all want to see this assembly right? Well we’re about to miss it. So get MOVING.” That got everybody going. They got out of the west wing, and were almost to the auditorium when a freshman yelled, “The west wing is on fire!” If my father hadn’t yelled out, he and the others would have been incinerated. His impatience saved lives.
IV. Jealous Much?
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My father’s family didn’t go on many vacations. Mike was very jealous of the other kids who would come back from summer vacation, bragging about how they went on these lavish va
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cations. When he was in second grade, he yelled in response to some kid telling him about his trip to Florida, “Well, I went to the moon!” Then he spun an elaborate story about how his uncle (whom he said was Buzz Aldrin) had packed him and his family up and flown them up to the moon. Some kid challenged his authenticity enough that Mike said, “I’ll prove it! I’ll get my Uncle Buzz to come to school and he’ll tell you!” So, Mike went home. Walking up to his father, he asked if he knew Buzz Aldrin’s phone number. His father said, his voice dripping sarcasm, “No, but why don’t you call the operator?” But seven year olds don’t understand sarcasm, so Mike did. And he got through. “Hello? Mr. Aldrin? My name is Michael Granruth. I was wondering if you could come to my school and pretend to be my uncle.” And so, Buzz did. True story.
V. No Man’s Land When my father was a teenager, Billy Joel was very popular. However, with this popularity came great responsibility, and Billy found that he needed an assistant. When Mike saw the ad in the paper for the job, he filled out an application form. Though he couldn’t have been more than fourteen at the time, he needed cash. Mike he got the job. So he began working for Billy Joel. After a few weeks, Billy had to travel out to Kansas to perform a song he’d written. There was only a small glitch. He was leaving the next day, and he hadn’t written the song yet! Billy was under immense stress. When my father came in after school, Billy told him that he didn’t need Mike. My dad asked if he could stay for a while, since no one was home at his house. Billy said “Sure, just please don’t bother me”. So my father started his homework. He had to write a poem about how inventions changed the course of America. Mike said out loud, not really thinking, “I see those big machines plowing through their quiet lives. I see the soldiers with their guns and their battle lines.” Billy looked up. “Hey, hey, hey. That’s not bad.” Mike looked up. “What, this? I just wrote this for composition.” “Well I like it,” Billy said, whipping out a pencil and jotting down a few lines. And then a few more. And with that, the hit song “No Man’s Land” was written. And that is the story of how my dad was the inspiration for a song by Billy Joel.
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Dominic LoStracco Grade One
Aspen
By Bettina Corbin, Grade Five
What makes a place so special? Is it its memories? It could be anywhere, but when you think about this place the walls of your heart start melting like chocolate in the oven.
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The place where my heart starts to melt and I have memories that are warm and inviting is Aspen. I can remember when I was two or three, and my dad snapped me into my tiny skis. He gave me a push, and I gently glided down sprinting the small slope at Buttermilk Mountain. The slope was so through my veins, small it was practically flat. At the bottom I stopped and as if I were running fell over into the cold snow. I was frozen, but I want a marathon. When I ed to do it again. From then on I wanted to be looked up at the slope I just a skier. When I turned four or five, I startconquered, it felt amazing. I would ed to ski more. I would ski like I was stay at the hotel that my uncle worked at. running from a big bear that It was called the Aspen Alps. It was small, but was trying to eat me. It I loved it. My favorite place there was standing was exhilarating feeloutside my room on the porch watching as the snow fell ing the adrenato the ground. I felt like a cup of hot cocoa. line My next favorite place is Boogies. I’ve been going to Boogies since I started skiing. Boogies is a three way cross between a 60s diner, an air brush tattoo store, and a clothing store. I used to hate pie until I tried it at Boogies.
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The next place is the mountains. I love riding the gondola, and feeling it swing on the cable when it stops. I love the view from the top of the mountains. I love smelling the smoke when I stop for lunch at the rest stop. After I eat my lunch, I enjoy skiing down a tree trail. I get lost in the beautiful trees filled with snow. I follow the slope to a chair lift, and glide up for more.
“I still
wonder to
this day if there is
Anything more beautiful”
Once my dad took me to the Maroon Bells. It is a frozen lake surrounded by large, untouched mountains. At dawn the perilous mountains cast a large glamorous shadow over the icy lake. These views are breathtaking. When I first saw them, I stood in awe. I still wonder to this day if there is anything more beautiful. I’ve longed to touch the mountains’ silver smooth surface, but I cannot. All I can do is stare at the trees on the mountain far away.
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I have had so many good times there that if something changed I would never be the same. The town would be different forever. That is why I love Aspen the way it is. Small, quiet, and full of love. . . .
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Christmas By Craig Mellor Grade Two
Christmas wake up call Get up; see all of the gifts Best time of the year
Ava Duszynski Grade Two
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Once there was a meek, poor, dirty ragamuffin named Orion who was a wayfarer and traveled to many places. Orion reached a city ruled by a citadel. The city was named Sense and it had no rhyme or reason. The city of Sense had buildings that were upside down, people that talked backwards, and one man was running up to people saying, “One plus one, one plus one.” Fortunately, Orion met a couple of people who had some sense left. Their names were Wise, Smart, and Genius. Orion said, “I am really baffled; can you tell me why this place makes no sense?” They said, “Sense does not make sense because the Sense Keeper took away everything
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Hayley Malinowski Grade Three
that made sense. In order to restore rhyme and reason or sense, someone must steal sense or rhyme and reason back!� The group was shivering by now. So, Orion thanked them and set off. He decided to help the people by restoring sense and rhyme and reason. Orion found a secret way into the citadel. He went through a secret passage and crept through a back door. He saw a gold case that had Rhyme and Reason written on it. He also saw the Sense Keeper sitting on a tripod or a stool. Orion quickly grabbed the case and the guard came running. Eventually Orion got outside and he opened the case. Then, suddenly, everything was back to normal! The Sense Keeper wasn’t looking so vivacious anymore.
By Jumana Schmidt, Grade Four
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Brainwashed By Audrey Brown Grade 5
Hello. My name is... Wait! What is my name? Oops, sorry, mental malfunction. Give me a second. Ok. Start over. Forget everything I just said. Da da da DAAA! Now introducing...WHAT??? I still can’t remember my name! I have to run over to tell, um... WAIT! Who should I tell? I don’t even know who I am, let alone anyone else in this place. Where am I anyway? Hey! I’m in someone’s bedroom! Oh no, I’ll get into trouble. I need to leave, but where to? I don’t even know where I am in the first place! I guess I should go home to my family. Where is my home, though? Who is my family? I hear a lady calling a girl’s name. That must be the kid who lives in this house. She probably sleeps in this very bed!! But, where is this girl? Oh, no! This is the worst yet! The lady who I guess was talking to me is actually walking through the door. She sees me, smiles, and asks why I didn’t answer her when she asked me to come down to eat breakfast. Am I the girl she was calling for? No! It can’t be!
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Abigail Merchant Grade Two
But, no, that lady who must live here with her daughter (who is, by the way, quite nice), is insisting for me to come down and eat. Who am I? Is this a nightmare or something? Nope. OW! I just pinched myself for no reason. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY LIFE???? Wait, what did I just say? I said, ‘What is happening to my life?’ Right? Well, I don’t remember my life! What school do I go to? I don’t know. What did I eat for dinner last night? I don’t know. Who is this lady standing in front of me? I don’t know. Who am I? I DON’T KNOW!!! The lady is leaving the bedroom. Everything is made of swirling colors. The room goes black. Am I falling asleep? What is happening?? I wake up. Hello. My name is, umm, OH YEAH! Hello. My name is Audrey Brown, and I had a REALLY weird dream last night.
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INDEX
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Adrian, Alexandra Ambrosh, Ethan Anonymous Bapst, Brayden Beavers, Talia Brown, Audrey Burdette, Caden Bushara, Byron Bushara, Sadie Carey, Sophia Cesanek, Molly Conceicao, Madalena Corbin, Bettina Dowell, Kayla Dunnigan, Eleanor Duszynski, Ava Dwelly, Kevin Enoch-Wysham, Bryce Evans-Wells, Fiona Fanico, Dylan Gable, Helen-Anne George, Grace George, Riley Granruth, Kate Handford, Brianna Hendrie, Kylee Jewett, Chanler Kach, Jordan Kalley, Najiya Keys, Elizabeth Kleinman, Corinne
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63 59 8, 54, 65 52 41 50, 76 27, 60 27 38 23 6, 13, 57 16 70 17, 26, 31 5 73 20, 58 9, 14 33 25 19, 28 59 24 66 64 47, 61 49 62 18, 62 12 8
Koch, Madeline Leggott, Brittany LoStracco, Dominic Malinowski, Hayley Maraska, Andrew Mellor, Craig Merchant, Abigail Milligan, Robert Mossburg, Megan Mossburg, Thomas Neff, Katherine Nordahl, Madeleine Parra, Alexandra Presgrave, Canon Renz, Andrew Rheintgen, Sara Russell, Danielle Schaefer, Max Schmidt, Jumana Seaborn, Grace Sipes, Finn Solari, Lorenzo Sowden, Sofia Thompson, Maura Thompson, Maegann Wagner, Christopher Westbrook, Arabella Winick, Kelsey Winn, Shenandoah Wolfson, Madeleine Zontine, Graham
10 44, 61 42, 70 74 33, 34 73 60, 65, 76 56 14 22 43 cover 12 68 11, 35 64 22, 23 45 74 50 19 21 55 31 52 48 29 5 18 58 67
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CSPA Awards 1998 Gold Medal 1999 Gold Medal 2000 Gold Medal 2001 Gold Medal 2002 Silver Crown 2003 Gold Medal 2004 Gold Medal
2005 Gold Crown 2006 Silver Medal 2007 Bronze Medal 2008 Gold Medal 2009 Gold Medal 2010 Gold Medal 2011 Gold Medal
Colophon Typset by the Amulet staff in Microsoft Word 2011. Page layout in Adobe InDesign CS5 Version 7.0.3. Images scanned in Adobe Photoshop CS5 Version 12.0.2. Prose set in Minion Pro. Poetry set in Inai Mathi. Art, poetry, and prose bylines set in Minion Pro. Cover set in Trajan Pro, . Table of Contents and Index set in Minion Pro and Desdemona. Prose titles set in Trajan Pro, Minion Pro, Apple Chancery, and Stencil. Poetry titles set in Trajan Pro and Monotype Corsiva. Coverstock is White Classic Crest Double Thick Cover 130#; inside stock is Solar White Super Smooth Classic Crest Text 80#. Insert is Splendorlux速 Mirror 17 pt.; Translucent is White UV Ultra II 28#. Printing by Piedmont Press in Warrenton, Virginia. All layout and design executed by the students.
Many Thanks to -DP, for being the advisor, and for always getting us lost on the way to Piedmont Press -Genther, for absolutely nothing. And yet everything. Especially staying up to a record breaking 9:30 PM in order to help us. -Steve Winter, for answering our never ending questions at all hours of the day and giving us your support throughout every stage of the process...no matter how many times we changed our minds. -Alex, for your design genius and for keeping the mood light with you jokes, puns, and spicy dance moves. I love you, Co-Brommander in Chief! Love, EJ -EJ, for dealing with me whether it was after school or at 2AM. I honestly dont know how you do it....winky face. Love, Alex -Mrs. Oliverio/Mrs. Simon, for smoothie runs and proof reading. -Amina, for keeping us calm and always paying for our Carousel ice cream. -Pandora, for keeping us company at all hours of the night and magically predicting our musical needs, be they Pitbull, Selena, or 80s jams. -Page numbers, for making our lives miserable. -Our staff, for your constant enthusiasm. -All the students who submitted, for sharing your creativity and imagination with us. Without you, Amulet is nothing.
A M U L E T
I wanted to show you who I was. So I said “hello” to you.
2 0 1 2
Jackson Seaborn, Grade Four V O L U M E
Wakefield School
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4439 Old Tavern Road The Plains, Virginia 20198
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